POLIDATA ® INDEX TO RACKET ILLUSTRATIONS, Alpha by Maker/Model Name

Selected Makers and Models

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BANCROFT (F.J. Bancroft, Pawtucket, RI)

1. BANCROFT, THE [?] c. 1910s, (beg. 1910s)
   One of the first Bancroft models. Intrusive wedge with a long hand carved handle. [488]
2. COMPETITION MODEL c. 1970s, (c.1974-78)
   An initial use of composite materials, a copy of this racket is on display at the ITHF museum. [543]
3. EXECUTIVE c. 1970s, (c.1972)
   One of the early examples of fiberglass used as an overlay for frame reinforcement. [778]
4. EXECUTIVE c. 1980s
   The Executive, a top-of-the-line model, in a later rendtion, one of the last wood rackets for Bancroft. [1333]
5. NEW BANCROFT c. 1910s
   One of the first "plied" racket frames using rawhide as the insert between two plys of wood strips. [60]
6. NEW WINNER c. 1920s, (late 1920s)
   An early example of both the plied frame and cloth reinforcements on the shoulders. [93]
7. NEW WINNER c. 1930s, (late 1930s)
   A model which appears to be from the 1920s yets has a leather grip on a smaller square handle. [592]
8. NEW WINNER c. 1930s, (mid 1930s)
   Basically the same as previous example yet with wood "exlaminations" as reinforcements. [919]
9. NEW WINNER c. 1930s, (mid 1930s)
   The same as previous yet with less paint highlighting the natural beauty of the wood. [1287]
10. BJORN BORG PERSONAL c. 1980s, (c.1980)
    One of the modern classics with multiple types of wood used to showcase the natural beauty of wood. [777]
11. PLAYER'S SPECIAL c. 1970s, (c.1976-77)
    Bancroft's best seller in the 1970s was a cousin to the WILSON Jack Kramer Autograph. [544]
12. PLAYER'S SPECIAL c. 1970s, (c.1978-80)
    Another rendition of this popular racket with newer graphics. [972]
13. SUPER WINNER c. 1940s
    Another rendition of this long-running model name, with later graphics, more paint. [1334]
14. SUPER WINNER c. 1950s, (est.1950s)
    This rendition includes a feature description right on the shaft, an early use of bamboo. [668]
15. SUPER WINNER c. 1960s, (c.1967-68)
    A more modern version of this long-running model, again with the stiffer shaft. [545]
16. SUPER WINNER c. 1960s
    Not the last rendition by far, just the most recent in the collection. [1335]
17. SUPER WINNER DELUXE c. 1930s, (c.1936-39)
    Another variation on the Winner models, this model was one of the first to use colorful graphics. [12]
18. SUPER WINNER I c. 1950s, (est.1950s)
    A slight variation from the previous example, yet with several changes in features. [968]
19. TEAR DROP c. 1970s, (c.1974-78)
    One of Bancroft's experiments of the 1970s with different composite material, this with Armadyn. [84]
20. VOLLEY c. 1930s, (late 1930s)
    A mid-level quality racket in very good-excellent condition highlights the beauty of wood. [106]
21. WEST COAST c. 1930s
    One of the first experiments for BANCROFT using multiple types of wood and variations on the shaft. [1289]
22. WINNER c. 1920s, (late 1920s)
    A later rendition of what BANCROFT would later claim as their first "laminated" (now called plied) frame. [550]
23. WINNER c. 1940s, (late 1940s)
    A much later rendition of this model name made popular by BANCROFT. [551]
24. WINNER DELUXE c. 1940s, (late 1940s)
    This racket illustrates the more colorful graphics used through much of the 1940s. [14]

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TAD (T.A.Davis, California)

1. BLACKSTREAK c. 1950s
   A later rendition of a TAD model yet still with the netting logo. [99]
2. CLASSIC c. 1970s
   One of the first TAD rackets with fiberglass (Clasiden) around the head for reinforcement (later the Classic I). [98]
3. CLASSIC II c. 1970s
   Another step in the nice fiberglass composite TAD rackets (leather grip just missing). [82]
4. CLASSIC III c. 1970s
   The last of the TAD Classic models, full fiberglass all the way around head and down the shaft. [685]
5. CORONET c.
   For TAD, a bottom-of-the-line model which still showed the natural beauty of the wood, wide grip strips. [1324]
6. DUKE c. 1970s
   A top-of-the-line model which featured lighter wood, fiberglass reinforcement and an aluminum underlayment. [1325]
7. HIPOINT c. 1970s
   The bottom-of-the-line model for TAD through the 1970s, a very prevalent racket in the market today. [3]
8. HI-POINT [C] MID-SIZE c. 1980s, (1983-1986)
   Trying to make the transition to mid-size in the 1970s/1980s, the Hi-Point continued. [1318]
9. IMPERIAL c. 1950s
   An early rendition of the TAD best-seller with wood underlayment and the netting logo. [1326]
10. IMPERIAL c. 1960s
    A more recognizable rendition of this popular racket yet with cord for wraps. [1327]
11. IMPERIAL c. 1970s
    Tape wraps but still the nice quality wood overlayment and fiberglass underlayment. [4]
12. IMPERIAL c. 1980s
    The last rendition of this popular model which I have seen before the Midsize. [1328]
13. IMPERIAL DELUXE c. 1970s
    Considered by many the "best looking racket ever made". Well perhaps so after 1960. [101]
14. IMPERIAL [C] MID-SIZE c. 1980s, (1984-1986)
    Another last attempt to survive the transition from wood to all composites. [1317]
15. JET c. 1950s
    An early lower-end racket from TAD. Has straight striations on the grip. [1329]
16. LADY ELITE c. 1970s
    A variation of the Classic models with graphics (i.e., blue with a blue grip) to appeal to women players. [1330]
17. PROFESSIONAL c. 1950s
    An early rendition of this model which survived several decades. [783]
18. PROFESSIONAL c. 1960s
    Another rendition with more modern graphics but still the painted shaft. [95]
19. PROFESSIONAL c. 1970s
    Another rendition with even more modern graphics. [97]
20. PROFESSIONAL c. 1980s
    With a greenish-blue grip this was possibly designed for the women's market. [1331]
21. SUPREME c. 1970s
    A slight variation on the Classic models. [1]
22. TAD c. 1960s
    One rendition of the TAD namesake racket. [1300]
23. TAD c. 1970s
    A somewhat later version of the TAD namesake racket. [1332]
24. TOPSPIN c. 1980s
    A return to the diagonally strung rackets which were innovated by TAD in the 1930s. [100]

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PERIOD 1, GENERATION 1

PERIOD 1, GENERATION 2

Notes

Clicking on the racket name will link to a picture of the racket.
My apologies for the poor quality of the pictures, both flash and resolution.
Pictures intended to provide general differences in overall characteristics.
All dates are only general estimates of the decade of production.
Comments may be modified from earlier versions of this page.
I try but inconsistencies may exist between descriptions on web pages.
Racket identifiers [] are for database identification purposes only.