If you play with it for around 10 years it might still be structurally sound, but it won't play the way it used to so it's probably a good idea to swap it out by then.
I use 2001 Head i.prestige mids and I hit daily. They still work perfectly and the flex is amazing. Maybe they’re more flexible than 23 years ago but they feel and play like a dream. Thanks for this video 🎾
So what you're saying is, my two ProKennex Black Aces from high school (1986'ish) are a little more flexible now than they were back in the day? 🙂 I still hit with one of them every now and then. 🙂
I still play with my Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 si Classic from college and I love it. I rotate between that and my Wilson Pro Staff v10. My newest racket is a RF97 v11 but it’s not my gamer.
I like the softer feel of my old pro staff, I got a new version of it spec matched them, and the old one still doesn't feel the same as the new. Harry is right.
I still use my 2015 Head Radicals mp. I have tried the newer ones and have tried many other racquets. I have gone thru all the Head Ti Series several Wilsons like the Pro Staffs and smaller Hammers even the Pure Drive and just didn't like it. I like the 98-100 sq in. I have tried a lot of racquets over the last few years and keep going back to my Radicals. I just trust them.
I'm still using the IG Prestige. I bought 4 of them so they should last me another 10 years or more. I just hate testing racquets but I do have an RF-97 and could play fine with that if I needed to move on. I have a friend who's using the Microgel Prestige. He's a 5.0 player and his son is at least a 4.5 college player. His son uses his old racquets. I think that he bought about 8 of them way back when and he just keeps using them. Mine have a lot of lead on them which I think helps increase longevity of racquets. I have lots of spare cap-grommets too.
I am so jealous of people who stockpiled the old prestige. They are so unique and nothing else feels like them. Even the new prestiges. I still have my liquidmetal but my i.prestige and flexpoint are gone so I'm only left with one. I know they came out with the classic reprint on TW so I ordered one. Here's hoping they are as good.
I still use head liquidmetal, all the new head rackets are garbage and don’t have the same feel or weight. I can say this about all racket companies, and it’s frustrating when they discontinue previous rackets for newer rackets when the previous rackets play better. It’s such a joke
I'm measuring (using stiffness machine) and trying several 80's racquets (Rossignol, Head Prestige/Elite pro/Elektra Pro, many Prince series 90, Pro Kennex Aces), and 90's racquets (Head Pro Tour/Radical Tour bumblebee/Lite Tour, Yonex Rd-7 and Rd-70 95 plus), and I can't say the most worn are softer than the barely used (identical model, of course); even I guess some of them are stiffer than they were before, dunno the reason. Anyway, a soft racquet always vibrates less than a rigid one (at least high frequency vibration, the nastier for your joints), and guess its stability (recoil weight?) depends more of other factors (swing weight and weight polarity)
What racquet do you recommend for girls 12-14? My daughter is wanting to start playing. Also, what string tension do you recommend. I see a lot of female players using Yonex. I was an old Prince and Wilson player in high school and league tennis. Thanks
Great video. Completely unrelated, but what are the unstrung specs of the recreated RF97 racket? I'm trying to recreate the setup but don't have champions choice in my area and it’s too expensive to ship it to where I live.
only 1% of the amateurs players would notice all the things you mentioned the frames are going through; form stringing to playing. Most of the people I know don't notice the difference of playing with polys or multis. :)
Is there a way to measure racquet flex and vibration? I think if this can be done, then it'll be easy to make the decision towards a new one. Thanks for all the good videos Harry. M
I heard from a former pro player that after 20 to 30 string jobs (depending on the quality) the frame is pretty much done. I kinda tend to agree, because I used my old Head racquet so long that at the end of its life it became unplayable for me. To its defense it must be said that I tended to crush balls like hell, the stick got beaten up pretty badly. Maybe I can still accept a racquet after 40 or even 50 string jobs, but not for 20 years again.
Advice..... Your conversation video setting is not good at all. Try leather couches in coffee shop setting or by a fire place in winters and on the beach in summers
If you are a touch player, you need to replace racquets more often. I would say replace them after they've been played for about 450-500 hours...that's 2 years of an hour every alternate day.
If the frame is structural sound, all you have to do is replace the grommets, bumper guard, and grip. Don't fall into the marketing pressure.
…and if you don’t get new grommets…?
@@TheBlessedLionYou would probably need to replace the frame.
3d print them!
If you play with it for around 10 years it might still be structurally sound, but it won't play the way it used to so it's probably a good idea to swap it out by then.
I use 2001 Head i.prestige mids and I hit daily. They still work perfectly and the flex is amazing. Maybe they’re more flexible than 23 years ago but they feel and play like a dream. Thanks for this video 🎾
So what you're saying is, my two ProKennex Black Aces from high school (1986'ish) are a little more flexible now than they were back in the day? 🙂 I still hit with one of them every now and then. 🙂
I still play with my Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 si Classic from college and I love it. I rotate between that and my Wilson Pro Staff v10. My newest racket is a RF97 v11 but it’s not my gamer.
The Pro Staff 6.1 is a keeper
I like the softer feel of my old pro staff, I got a new version of it spec matched them, and the old one still doesn't feel the same as the new. Harry is right.
I still use my 2015 Head Radicals mp. I have tried the newer ones and have tried many other racquets. I have gone thru all the Head Ti Series several Wilsons like the Pro Staffs and smaller Hammers even the Pure Drive and just didn't like it. I like the 98-100 sq in. I have tried a lot of racquets over the last few years and keep going back to my Radicals. I just trust them.
I'm still using the IG Prestige. I bought 4 of them so they should last me another 10 years or more. I just hate testing racquets but I do have an RF-97 and could play fine with that if I needed to move on. I have a friend who's using the Microgel Prestige. He's a 5.0 player and his son is at least a 4.5 college player. His son uses his old racquets. I think that he bought about 8 of them way back when and he just keeps using them. Mine have a lot of lead on them which I think helps increase longevity of racquets. I have lots of spare cap-grommets too.
I am so jealous of people who stockpiled the old prestige. They are so unique and nothing else feels like them. Even the new prestiges. I still have my liquidmetal but my i.prestige and flexpoint are gone so I'm only left with one. I know they came out with the classic reprint on TW so I ordered one. Here's hoping they are as good.
I still use head liquidmetal, all the new head rackets are garbage and don’t have the same feel or weight. I can say this about all racket companies, and it’s frustrating when they discontinue previous rackets for newer rackets when the previous rackets play better. It’s such a joke
Me too! I still play my Head Liquidmetal S1
I'm measuring (using stiffness machine) and trying several 80's racquets (Rossignol, Head Prestige/Elite pro/Elektra Pro, many Prince series 90, Pro Kennex Aces), and 90's racquets (Head Pro Tour/Radical Tour bumblebee/Lite Tour, Yonex Rd-7 and Rd-70 95 plus), and I can't say the most worn are softer than the barely used (identical model, of course); even I guess some of them are stiffer than they were before, dunno the reason.
Anyway, a soft racquet always vibrates less than a rigid one (at least high frequency vibration, the nastier for your joints), and guess its stability (recoil weight?) depends more of other factors (swing weight and weight polarity)
What racquet do you recommend for girls 12-14? My daughter is wanting to start playing. Also, what string tension do you recommend. I see a lot of female players using Yonex. I was an old Prince and Wilson player in high school and league tennis. Thanks
RF97 autographed version 13 340 with additional 80g lead tape.
All depends on how well you play with it and if it suits your game but I’ll say 4 years then go for the same model at the time be it an update
Great video. Completely unrelated, but what are the unstrung specs of the recreated RF97 racket? I'm trying to recreate the setup but don't have champions choice in my area and it’s too expensive to ship it to where I live.
The problem is having tried new rackets they are pretty much all overly muted. I think i will stick to my burn 95 fst's.
Use 1995 prince db synergy new stings and grips...still hitting like the first day...
Im getting or buying yonex from the 90s. I don’t like anything that’s out on the market. They have to be 90 sq inches
only 1% of the amateurs players would notice all the things you mentioned the frames are going through; form stringing to playing.
Most of the people I know don't notice the difference of playing with polys or multis. :)
Is there a way to measure racquet flex and vibration? I think if this can be done, then it'll be easy to make the decision towards a new one.
Thanks for all the good videos Harry.
M
It's possible since Tennis Warehouse measures it, but the machine is probably not available to the public.
Great to know, thanks!@@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten
What happen to the Yonex Regna 98 and Regna 100?
I’ve got several of those 2015 pro staff RF97 for sale if someone is interested. One brand new in grip 1/2 and two minor used in grip 1/4.
Willl pure aero RAFA ORIGIN keep coming or stop
I heard from a former pro player that after 20 to 30 string jobs (depending on the quality) the frame is pretty much done.
I kinda tend to agree, because I used my old Head racquet so long that at the end of its life it became unplayable for me.
To its defense it must be said that I tended to crush balls like hell, the stick got beaten up pretty badly.
Maybe I can still accept a racquet after 40 or even 50 string jobs, but not for 20 years again.
I’m still using the Wilson Kfactor 95 hahaha
Nice
It’s easy. The new blades is not as good as the older one
Advice.....
Your conversation video setting is not good at all. Try leather couches in coffee shop setting or by a fire place in winters and on the beach in summers
Didn't he already do this topic?
yes. th-cam.com/video/TwYEK_occm4/w-d-xo.html
#5
2
If you are a touch player, you need to replace racquets more often. I would say replace them after they've been played for about 450-500 hours...that's 2 years of an hour every alternate day.
No you don't.... That's rubbish
𐎫𐎠𐎽𐏂
🥱