The best racquets in history?

Thanks to racquets.tennisfame.com for some great photos.
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[@nealT]

The prince graphite being omitted is ludicrous.

[@rg2metairie]

agree!!! it was a game changer.

[@koubasaki]

My favorite was the prince cts approach mid plus!

[@thomasfisher5742]

i was thinking the same as it was getting to the end

[@caniac44]

Yes! Played with a Prince Woodie my senior year in high school. You could not use a heavier racket but it had a great sweet spot for serve and volley.

[@michaelpowell9152]

The Prince Pro was a game changer also. Racquet was great for hitting my kick serve!

[@josephbarbarie692]

The Prince Graphite is, in my view, the racquet industry's chef d'oeuvre. My own personal experience with the racket (having played D1 college, and still active in tournaments and leagues) spans over dozens of years. I still use it today. My experience aside, the fact that it is still being manufactured under license (at Tennis Warehouse) speaks to its excellence. It is unique in the history of the game.

[@techsocial626]

I agree with you! Though maybe a little biased of me, but also based on my own experience. I had 5 of these frames (the original) and found out first hand how the materials changed, ultimately changing the whole frame for the undesired. I had stopped playing for several years before taking the sport back up 10 years ago and had a hard time accepting there was no other frame for me that could replicate that kind of feel.

[@tamagonbagel6569]

Maybe it's just because they were released when I was a kid, but those KFactor designs are timelessly cool.

[@varo4793]

Facts

[@JV-py3lg]

They look like repainted PS 6.0s

[@anttitapio4145]

They are also one of the best feeling rackets.

[@oldatarigamer]

Prince Graphite was a big favorite of a lot of folks

[@Tennisnerd]

100% True

[@jburgo15]

Prince and Rossignol t200deserve to be there

[@randrothify]

Need to also include the Prince Graphite Original 110, the Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph, the Dunlop Maxply Fort, the Wilson T-2000, the Yonex R-22, and the Dunlop Max 200G.

[@MegaMilher]

Preaching truth!🎾

[@Chislim80]

You nailed it! I would have said Wilson Staff - but I had a Jack Kramer.

[@stevenbenjamin818]

Wilson 6.1

[@fitgraphisva]

Completely agree! And I used some of the racquets on your list! I had the T3000 instead of the 2000, but I used the Maxply Fort and R22. Just for kicks, the Wilson Chris Evert Autograph could be on the list simply because so many women used it in the late 70s and early 80s at “the courts”.

[@dugfriendly]

JK Autograph was my last wood in the 80’s - beautiful and affordable ❤

[@gingrai00]

Prince Oversized Graphite… a true classic.

[@mishellgagnon5771]

Of course, the PRINCE GRAPHITE ORIGINAL 110 changed the tennis world, and for good. The Wilson Hammer was quite something too.

[@mazinmattar]

The pro staff 6.1 is a legend racket.. Used by del potro many other pros..

[@pierreduboue-sadron408]

Hi ! A racket no yet mentioned l believe would be the Rossignol F200 Carbon of Mats Wilander and maybe the Donnay Borg Pro. (My collection includes the F200, the Max 200g, the Arthur Ashe comp 2, the Coq Sportif TCO Yannick Noah, the Lacoste metal... all a pleasure to hit with)

[@vnishpt7036]

Donnay Borg Pro (wood) would be on my list. Think you mentioned most of the rest 👍

[@davidlever3107]

Prince Original Graphite POG is one of the best frames ever made.

[@honuman39]

No Prince Pro? I think it was aluminum. That was the first oversized head I think and it was a huge hit in the north east at least. Had a big sweet spot and it just seemed that everyone had one.

[@mikemike1183]

Here! I still have a Prince Pro from 1983, which is still playable today, but heavy. And yes, it was aluminium. And I still play my best tennis today with a Prince Graphtech db110 from 1989. 😅

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

I was camping with no Wi-Fi and I missed watching your videos! This is a great one to return to! I think the Head Vilas racket deserves recognition too! Tak tak

[@bobmurphy3061]

Have you done a wood racket episode? It would be fun to hear the history of these iconic frames, maybe from the Kramer on. Dunlop max ply, Bancroft players special, Wilson pro staff wood, Davis Imperial…..loved them all. Some were beautiful works of art as well

[@nicolasfortier5478]

Yonex DR 98 would be one of my picks! Great video.

[@vinylrulesok8470]

What about the Puma racket that Boris Becker used? And that lovely looking Adidas GTX Pro that Lendl used to use? That was a great looking stick

[@LinusFeynstein]

Adidas(=Kneissl) for Lendl, Puma/Estusa for Becker, Rossignol for Wilander, Snauwaert for Mecir, , Prince for Chang, Rafter, Sharapova, Donnay for Borg

[@zeroelus]

Agree with your dad on the n6.1 95 16x18. Still have one in my bag and it's a joy to play with, but unforgiving. If you get spin and power on it, it's all you, you feel like a hero, and approach shots/net play is lethal with it. Now that I've spent some time back on the courts, have more fitness and am almost done ironing out some kinks in my FH, I'll be switching back to it, just got it re-strung :)

[@KillSanchezVol.1]

I've got several wooden racquets. 4 or 5 Donnay Bjorn Borg models 1 and 2, some of them with the original Donnay leather grip, Dunlop Maxply McEnroe, Wilson ProStaffJack Kramer, Snauwart Brian Gottfried and a few more, all of them in almost perfect condition and fully playable. Even some of them are still in the original plastic wrap with the original labels with info attached. It took me several years to have this little collection, but sometimes I take one to the courts just for fun.

[@haryhaswidi3996]

Apreciate this review 😊

[@luismartin7780]

Prince Graphite is missing, is definitely one of the best racket of all times!

[@skylaxx]

Great content as always. Really enjoyed it ;) Instead of Prestige Tour 600 I'd do Prestige pro 600 2nd edition the burgundese one. Had way higher cult status than Prestige Tour 600 imho, as way more pros played with it (Muster, Mancini, E.Sanchez, Ivanisevic, McEnroe, Leconte, etc. There's a list of at least 50 pros who played with it). Perhaps an honourable mentions of Wilson Pro Staff Classic 6.1 and definitely Prince Original Graphite 110 which was also extremely widely used (Sabatini, Agassi, Chang, Seles, etc...), then the Yonex R-22 and R-7 made famous by Navratilova would be great addition as well. Also maybe Lendl's Adidas GTX Pro-T, Becker's Puma G.Vilas Power and Puma Boris Becker Super. From the "newer" ones also Stan's Yonex Vcore 95D. Cool that you mentioned the Yonex RD-7 and Dunlop Max 200G.

[@jericdomingo9902]

As someone who loves traditional feeling beat sticks, the k factor tour is unbeatable. It demands the absolute best from you from foot work to ground stroke but if your fundamentals are sound, you will be rewarded. I used the pure strike tour v1 in highschool and used the rf97 through all of college and after finally getting my hands on a k factor last month, the plow through on that behemoth is irreplaceable. Sure I lose a little spin due to the nature of its head size and string pattern but your shots are going through the fence if they aren't giving tennis elbow to the pour soul receiving those shots on the other side. The racquet is only as good as you are and if you have good fundamentals, the k factor will reward you. The rf97 is most natural feeling evolution to it and is good for when I'm feeling a little lazy but man the k factor tour is the purest feeling I've had from a traditional beat stick.

[@pdiseris]

I have one too, one of the best rackets ever. I used it for 15 years, until more recently. I now use a 97P and Phantom Graphite 97 from Japan.

[@Mikishots]

I also have the K-Factor, bought it as an ex-demo for a great price when the newer models came out. If you hit it well, it's pure bliss. If you don't, you're punished. I've since switched to a lighter stick, but will always keep the K-Factor.

[@BrendonBellbg8ell]

Prince Graphite stands out for its absence.

[@user-zn4pi2qq5u]

The original Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 was one of the most widely used sticks on the pro tour tour. Del Potro, Dan Evans, Shapovalov and Bautista Agut are some of the more recent players who used this stick. Many like Bautista Agut are still using the old 6.1 95 painted to look like the current Pro Staff 97.

[@Dasato123]

Conners and Evert were actually the first big name players to use the Wilson Prostaff 85.

[@danschannel169]

I think Conners helped design it.

[@cextine]

Would recommend hitting with the T-2000. For me the 2-handed backhand hit amazing, unlike any other racquet, felt like I was slugging a baseball with good control, but struggled to land forehands...

[@travissimmons5561]

Thanks for the history lesson!

[@jorgetirado3201]

Great list! Glad you included the Dunlop 200G - I played with the 300i, very similar and I still have one in my collection! Like others have mentioned, I would have included the Prince Original Graphite, and probably also the classic Prince Pro (aluminum), which was ubiquitous for a long time (even five years ago or so I ran into someone who still plays with them!)

[@mylesgalos6465]

Dunlop max 200g my most fave racquet, yamaha yfgs my first composites, dunlop maxply fort first first racket.

[@arvinjuntereal1004]

To me the best racquets are Wilson ProStaff 6.0 85 original, Prince Original Graphite, Dunlop Revelation 200G midplus, Wilson ProStaff 6.0 95, and Prestige Classic 600.

[@TennisNeedsMore]

Lets goooo. Legendary vid my friend. I have just strung a volkl ns 14 world cup for the weekend tournament I'm playing with my friends. I do have an extreme western grip and play with a lot of spin, so I wonder how it will go 😂

[@movdqa]

Dunlop Maxply Fort, Jack Kramer Auto, Head Pro, Head Master, Head Vilas, Head XRC, T-2000 - some of the racquets that I used in the 1900s. I had the AA Comp and played a bit with the Comp II and I did like them. I still have 3 Head Pros, a Bancroft Players Special and a Maxply Fort in the basement. The Head Pro sweetspot is about the size of a dime.

[@CJ-6993]

I have not been on the Tennis Warehouse forum in like 10 years' but I recognize your MOVDQA handle. I think you had a Berdych pro stock at one point?

[@movdqa]

@@CJ-6993 I have a pair of them. I haven't used them in a while though.

[@unclejamo94553]

No DUNLOP MAXPLY? In the words of one of its most well known users, “YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!

[@zTheBigFishz]

I played - contemporaneously - with the Dunlop Maxply, Jack Kramer Autograph, Head Ashe model 2, and Max 200G

[@michaelm1105]

I loved the Prince Graphite 93!!

[@MrJohnnyblazed]

Definitely a European bias here with all the Head frame Prince graphite 110!!! played with multiple grand slam winners! Michael Chang Gabriella Sabatini Andre Agassi Etc.

[@tennisace40]

The POG is one I have and still play with.

[@iakona23]

Prince Magnesium Pro was a very good raquet from the 1980s . I vote for that one!

[@elmergrizwald184]

Didn't Pat Cash use one when he won Wimbledon?

[@Mikishots]

Strung racquets at a pro shop in my late teens - the Pro Staff 85 was purchased by nearly every fan-boy junior in town and ruined almost as many elbows. Was a beast of a stick. I never could play with it.

[@carloscuevas4442]

Yonex RQ-180, one of the early wide body rackets (the Navratilova white). I still have one of mine, it is a power beast that I don't know that I appreciated at the time

[@skylaxx]

Absolutely agreed. Many player used it (Zvereva, Tarango, ...). The grey version of this racquet was also used by Cash

[@franksampson477]

Thank you for this fun video. I’d like to recognize two classics: The ProKennex Kinetic Pro 5g and my beloved Babolat Pure Control Tour with GT technology. The latter racquet lacked power but in my opinion is unmatched in control.

[@Richibald1]

Jonas, the Yamaha Margaret Court 95 racquet had the most enormous whipping action. Very akin to a slingshot effect and stealthily accurate because of the enormous injection of pace. Heck lasers weren't invented yet but laser like trajectory. It wasn't an Iconic racquet, I'm betting you've never seen one much less tried one. But if you get the chance take it. The harder you hit the ball the harder that head whipped that ball rocketing. Delightful feeling you just can't get today. I'm guessing, but production was roughly between 1975-1980. Mine was jet black with yellow accenting. 👍👍👋👋🚀🚀

[@BurnsTennis]

Great job. It's a pity you have never been able to get a hold of a Puma Becker or Estusa Power Beam racquets. The Estusa is incredible. Great weight, great for serving, can hit with a lot of topspin or flatter drives. Listed as 92 but plays like a 95 sq inch racquet due to its head shape and open string pattern. It is one of the great racquets and definitely should be included.

[@philanthropenos1074]

I am a big fan of Yonex RQ series who define Yonex's late 80s and 90s, especially 180, 190 (my favorite by far) and 200, used mainly by female players but I remember also Pat Cash using 180 at a later stage of his career.

[@houdini8o8]

the wilson profile being omitted as well is ludicrous!

[@Mikishots]

Likely because it was more of a club racquet. I know that Gullickson and Pugh used one for a bit, but it wasn't popular at all for pros.

[@michaelingram2549]

Durbin Graphite 1983. Easy to serve 125+.

[@neraka-z4n]

Liquid Metal radical mp was a beast back in the day

[@paulelverstone8677]

I have a couple of Head Radial (not Radical) Graphites circa 1987. Very nice to use (still), tight string pattern and with something called Twaron... whatever twaron is, that I still use today. I would guess that the nearest in this line-up would be the Head Prestige but if you have any pearls of wisdom on this racquet I'd be happy to hear them. It was also sold as the Radial Comp. Good bat...

[@marcboozman]

My ideal axe is the Prince oversize that Michael Chang made popular. Razor-thin, massive sweetspot, tons of power, perfect feel. String it super-tight with thick gut for control.

[@carloslaffitte4230]

Marcelo Rios played with the Yonex RD 10 Long. In the image you put at minute 11:56, he is with the RD 10.

[@paulmcmaster4047]

Dunlop Maxply. Donnay Borg Pro and Prince woodie were my 1st weapons of choice.

[@fretstain]

damn, I've had 4 of theses. I had the ps85, original aeropro drive, regular pure drive, and k90 (even the Asian spec k90 as well)

[@jonm2522]

Adidas GTX PRO Lendl racket, Wilson ProStaff 85, Sampras, Edberg, Courier, Conners, used.

[@dmitryt9286]

Can't believe that while talking about Pure Drive you have mentioned Nadal but not Andy Roddick or Carlos Moya. Before them nobody knew about Babolat, especially in US.

[@urbaneindiana3089]

Babolat Roddick was missed

[@trenerpotennisu]

PS90 and PC600 for me, playing with this two legends everyday ❤

[@Multisportamateur]

I own both the head radical tour OS as well as well as the head radical OS. The difference in head size 98 vs 107 make the feel extremely different. The OS ia extremely clunky and head heavy. Although the OS has the large sweet spot, any mishit would make the stick feel extremely flimsy. Whereas the Mid plus feels sooo much softer and plush while also feeling like a very soft frame. I switched from a Head Pro Tour (I own all models) to the Head radical Tour mid plus. Best racquet I’ve ever used as a 4.0-4.5 level player.

[@haugchiropractic]

head graphite edge!!! In the mid 80's half the juniors would be using the wilson 85 and half the head graphite edge. It was the just prior to the prestige line. I really was kinda the first prestige racket.

[@b.lakeberg7456]

Love the Volkl C10 pro. It is a nice bridge between the Head Prestige and Wilson Prostaff. You absolutely cannot mention everything. Head missed an opportunity with the Speed legend frame. Lazy is what comes to mind. I agree Murray should have been marketed with Prestige and Djokovic on Radical. Speed 95 could have been cool as a marketing switch and something closer than the Speed Pro.

[@TooleyPeter]

Yonex R-22, absolute gem, used by Martina in her prime.

[@royphair9676]

When I was growing up a lot of top tennis players used Dunlop rackets and Ivan lendl used Adidas

[@IncognitoChild]

Prince and Dunlop definitely need to have better visibility in the list. Steffi and John's weapon of choice the 200G, particularly.👍😎

[@KingCast65]

No Kramers? No MaxPly? No Yamaha YFG's? I have all of them still (a McEnroe MaxPly) and an Ashe Comp.

[@giacomomineo73]

What brand is your jumper? I like it!

[@blakeballard]

No Prince graphite OS?.. that’s right up there with the Pro Staff.

[@hymansahak181]

Top 3 classics are: Wilson Pro Staff 85 St Vincent Dunlop Max 200G Prince Diablo

[@fab873]

You forgot Puma boris becker Wilander's Rossignol F200 But my preferred. All time is the pro staff OG 85 Classic (the one with og format but the classic paint)

[@ChrisAcheson]

You forgot the iconic Prince Pro

[@lucianogreiner]

Forgot to mention Roddick on the Pure Drive. That's why I bought this racket in 2003

[@kilmoretimmyg]

Dr98 is still the most in demand used racquet of the past 15years

[@LindaOswald-me2xh]

My two playing racquets: Pro Staff 85 and Prestige Pro 2.0. Extensions of my inner being.

[@ududebun]

The Mizuno Lendl was a handful

[@sacredxgeometry]

Two words. Pete Sampras Wilson 95sq in ProStaff 6.0 Original (1994, turquoise) PS he DID use this AND also said he hated the 110 version he tried out at the Open around that time, so I’m not sure why he came out to say he didn’t use a larger size, when he definitely did…

[@ErnstvanderGrijp]

I play a wilson 7.5 PS- Any advice on a new racket?

[@keyur8873]

Would there be a review of genesis hexonic power coming !!!!!!!

[@MichelBertrand]

WIlson Pro Staff should probably be included in this. Related to your video: I have a Babolat Pure Control Team from probably early 2000s *black and red with white), and I started playing again a couple of years back, and I find all modern racquets to be too stiff and with no feeling. Could you recommend a modern racquet that us similar to the Pure Control Team from about 20 years ago?

[@jamesbittle9789]

The biggest oversight is the Prince Graphite.

[@Tennisnerd]

I mentioned it, but did not have one on hand, so did not use it for the video. It should be in there, for sure.

[@TheJstaples]

​What racquet model has won the most grand slam trophies? I'm guessing its the Wilson Pro Staff 85? ​@@Tennisnerd

[@BurnsTennis]

@@TheJstaples Pete Sampras with 14, Jim Courier with 4, Stefan Edberg with 6, Mary Pierce with 1, Chris Evert with 4. That's 29 in total.

[@andreh202]

The Head pro Tour was made famous by Thomas Muster

[@craigmckernan4056]

How is it the POG isn't on this list?

[@Tennisnerd]

I mentioned it but did not have one for this video, awesome racquet

[@lucidlagomorph5809]

I agree the ProStaff K Factor was best of all time

[@1gendreemer]

I think the sub 95sq in (and later 97sq in), heavier and stiffer version of the Wilson Pro Staff line is arguably the most iconic and most winning "model" in modern tennis. Add up Pete and Roger and how many wins do you get? Pioneered the Stiffnees Index (SI) measurement and tech, and from start to finish the best, albeit very demanding control frames that still allow you to plow through and hit big. Later in the line with the RF97 versions, also access to massive spin. Just fantastic frames in my opinion, up until with they ruined it with the latest v14. Pro Staff died at 13 in my opinion.

[@NgohOiNei]

Are there any modern thin beam racquets? Under 20mm

[@psomah]

Pro Kennex Silver and Black Ace. 80s weapons of choice.

[@robg7892]

prince woodie suspiciously omitted from this list.

[@robcarter55]

I set up a completion at my club some years back with most being wooden as I and a team mate had a few each in our collections . I actually used a T2000 to play n it and that hurts your arm after a while although it is good to serve with because of the weight. We both have the Wilson Sampras racquets but they were deemed too modern for that competition although we did play each other with them and you have to hit exactly right or disaster. I have a racquet designed by a Scandinavian player I think. The head is offset which is rather strange . It's Graphite and made by Snauwaert . It's brand new never been strung so I never tried it. Do you know anything about this ????

[@tw9535]

I see a lot of comments about Prince. But I also remember thinking it was 'cheating' the first time I saw a guy bring one to the courts. I dont even remember, who were the top (grand slam level) guys who used Prince?

[@SuperFacecloth]

Where did you get your information on Novak's racquet? I would like to learn more about he's actually using and why.

[@kennethsteen3694]

Boris Becker, Puma model from 1986 is a speciel racket.. or was it Puma racket ?

[@alivahidy7254]

❤

[@rickc661]

EXACT. ' play what makes it fun' .... well, IF yer not a pro or maybe pushing for club trophies. back then ( 70's+ now ) I frequently switched back & forth - Wilson 3000 ( the Connors with a throat brace ) a couple head Ashe , a Yonex r10 ( most expensive I've ever bought ) etc. even old Stan Smith fiberglass ' Fischer ski company if I remember... my fave just to play with - the small mid size Head Ashe edge, dark grey. the Yonex r10 somehow I didn't even like, for big bucks. ?

[@ms77-j3y]

Prince lightning

[@TheAlexandersword]

Yonex RDS 001 Mid. Definitely needs a mention.

[@leftyspinn]

Pro staff 85 6.0 Pro staff tour 90 Rf97 Head prestige classic Head radical candycane Pro tour 630 Prince graphite os Dunlop 200g Babolat swirly pure drive Yonex super rd tour 90 You can tell by my list i prefer wilson and head

[@saugus2]

Forgot to mention Roddick when talking about Pure Drive !!! The only Babolat Player with his signature racquet until Rafa Origin last year !!! Also in terms of modern frames I think Blade deserves a mention way over Speed. Whether it’s H22 or Blade, at some instances a third of top 20 players use that racquet!! And for the 2020s decade, I think Aero 98 is gonna be legendary, Alceraz, Rune, FAA, probably new players in near future

[@MiracleAgeGKS]

TBH I am thinking if tennis brands shouldn't be fined for making such a mess around their marketing. Obviously they are constantly misleading customers who is buying frames that are NOT used by players who is advertising them, and who is declaring playing with them.

[@albinocastilho8567]

And The yamaha tennis rackets ?

[@brandonjonathan5670]

The Speed is simply the name being endorsed rather than the racket itself. Sinner and Novak have customized their frames to such an extent that it can't even be considered as the same racket. Other rackets that should make the list are Borg's Donnay, the Head Ti has become a timeless racket of choice among many club level players, the prince graphite deserves a mention and the list wouldn't be complete without atleast one Yonex, possibly the ezone 98.

[@juanpablogariglio9791]

Kneissl white star pro

[@shawnvyasmbamhsa976]

No Princess Graphite 110? Why???

[@Lucasrockon]

What about the Boris Becker Puma With The Turn Key At The Bottom!?!

[@salvatorehest5516]

How could you not have the Price Graphite 2 in this line up

[@loheswaranamirthananthar7168]

Volkl C10pro