Arek’s Classic Collection

And it’s a wrap! What a happy slam it was with many rollercoasters and revelations! Thank you for putting together this fantastic world class event for tennis enthusiasts worldwide! Such a privilege to be able to watch the players, games and enjoying the vibes 💯! See you soon. Tennis rule the world!

Well done Jannik you legend! Has been a privilege to see your play live at

🙌

Fischer Vacuum Twin Tec Pro (Midplus 98) from 1991, Made in Austria

Known also as the model endorsed by Karl Uwe-Steeb.
An innovative engineering concept borrowing from Fischer’s ski sport department used two symmetrical molded halves and Vestoran (used commonly as a ski base) sandwiched between them.
From a manufacturing standpoint, the entire process of creating the frame was very complex and according to highest quality standards of that era, also very expensive to make in comparison with today’s standards.
Material: Graphite/Fiberglass/Silicon Carbide layup with Vestoran core.

This racket gives and excellent feel, good spin and control from the 16x20 stingbed and a unique vibration dampening from that Vestoran inlay.
The Vestoran inlay allowed for grommet holes avoiding traditional grommets.
This racket has no grommets at all, besides just in the bridge.

It’s a heavy frame and partially a widebody in the handel/throat area, then getting narrow leading into the hoop. It is not an easy to manoeuver frame if you are not used to heavier rackets or if you are not Charlie Steeb himself:)
The lower swingweight does give some support but the width and stiffness of the throat/bridge one must get used to it. Overall it’s a very solid frame and a pleasure to hit with.

The camouflage paintjob is definitely one of the best in history created by Nicole Duerr Design.
My Twin Tech version has no ‘Carl Uwe-Steeb’ signature imprint in the throat area as other version have.

Specs:
Swingweight: 332
Weight: 349,5
Head size: Midplus 98

HEAD SPECIAL EDITION PRO (MidPlus)

Time to add this gem into my collection grid here too. Predecessor of the PRESTIGE PRO from a slightly different mold.
Same mold as the GRAPHITE PRO. Both came out before the first PRESTIGE PRO in 1986. The SPECIAL EDITION is heavier, stiffer and with a higher swing-weight (more head heavy) than the GRAPHITE PRO. A serious stick and a perfect match when strung with a multifilament string.
Plays like butter giving great control and power for such a small head size. In short: A great feeling frame.

Specs: (strung and without a leather grip)
Head size: 89,5
Length: 27cm
Swing-weight: 346
Weight: 345
Balance: 3 HL
Material: 100 % Graphite
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Head ELITE PRO, Made in Austria in 1988.

Conchita Martinez won her Wimbledon title with this frame!
The ELITE PRO is the sister of the famous PRESTIGE PRO and ELEKTRA PRO.
The Elektra was the flexiest of the three, the Prestige the stiffest, the Elite just a little flexier than the Prestige but stiffer and more crisp than the Elektra.
Head's flagship racket line which was soon forgotten by the average US player as Head, and everybody else, transitioned to 'widebodies' at that time. :) HEAD (Austria) only made this model for one year, 1988. In 1989, it was replaced by a model of the same name, but vastly different "widebody" mold, hence, the green/black Elite Pro "thinbeam" is extremely rare today. The original white grommets and half-CAP bumper also were prone to brittleness and disintegration. I retrofitted my ELITE with black full-CAPS and trimmed them to size. There is a "notch" on the frame's mould where the half-CAP would end (at roughly 10 and 2 o'clock positions), and the beam beneath was bulked up slightly to make the frame smoother looking. The original Prestige Pro and subsequent Prestige Mids - all fitted with full-length CAPS - did not have the "notch."
A sensational playing stick!

Specs:
Pattern: 18x20
Weight: 340
SW: 319
Flex: 52
Balance: 9 HL

Saying bye to Australian Open holding Roger Federer’s racket, the Wilson Pro Staff RF97, not his own, but replicated specs of his Pro Staff by
Interestingly much lighter in swing-weight than Novak’s…
I haven’t had my PTC to measure and compare the exact specs, but I will post more on that topic soon.

season start!

Wilson Pro Staff Classic 95
First generation - Made in Taiwan
16x18 pattern
Years manufactured: 1990 onwards
White butt-cap with code: SEZ
With original Fairway leather grip under the over-grip.
One of the top selling rackets back in the day.
Very firm and solid weapon. Hefty specs
but interestingly still comfy and easy to swing for a “Pro” stick of this kind. One of the not many Wilson’s I have in my collection, but it’s a ‘must have’ classic - it's a feel! A dream on volleys and serves.
I still haven’t found the best string set up for it, but I believe only natural gut is the way to go!

Text inside the throat:
"PWS the original Perimeter Weighting System
gives you the advantage of repositioned
weight to provide extra stability, power and control in a head light racket"

Specs:
Head Size: 95 sq. in.
Strung Weight: 363,5g
Balance: 9 pts HL / 31,5cm
Swingweight: 347
Stiffness: 72
Beam Width: 21 mm Straight Beam
String Pattern: 16x18