Condition
7
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
|
Rarity
8
10: Impossibly rare
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
– – – – – – – – – – –
About This Racket
Billy Jean King was a star for Bancroft, but they lost her to Wilson in 1972/1973. In 1973 she competed in Battle of the Sexes. Up to 1972 Bancroft were one of the largest tennis equipment manufacturers but they were stuck in a hand made era (nothing wrong with that but costs were high and innovation slow). They made Billy Jean Personal and Tournament. Notice the red weave thru the top and bottom of the strings? This was called Tribling and originally stopped the strings from deviating and breaking in the era of natural gut. Later tribling was retained for cosmetic effect.
Historic Gallery
Specifications
Measurements | Value | Performance | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Weight | 360g | Power | 19/100 |
Head Size & Length | 65sq in | 27inch | Control | 41/100 |
Balance | 5pt head heavy | Spin | 40/100 |
Grip | Perforated leather | Handling | 78/100 |
Strings | 18 x 20 | synthetic | Comfort | 89/100 |
Flexibility | RA 43 | Consistency | 59/100 |
About Bancroft
Bancroft was a very traditional wooden racket company from USA. It was extremely successful in the 60s and 70s and produced some amazing rackets and nice innovations including the use of Bamboo. However it failed to expand outside of USA and failed to adapt to new materials and technologies of the 80s 90s.
Gallery
Bancroft by Time
Year | Event |
1882 | Founded by Frederick J. Bancroft in Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
1906 | Bancroft is manufacturing over 35,000 rackets a year |
1912 | Bancroft offers its first racket under its own name (“The Bancroft”) |
1915 | Bancroft patents the 3-ply laminated racket |
1920s | Bill Tilden, world’s top player, uses Bancroft |
1941 | Bancroft introduces the “Streamliner” model |
1940s | The Bancroft brothers sell the company |
1950s | Bancroft introduces its first aluminium tennis racket |
1960s | Bancroft begins using fiberglass in their rackets |
1970s | Bancroft introduces the iconic “Big Stick” racket |
1976-79 | Billie Jean King uses a custom Bancroft |
1978 | Bancroft introduces the Scorpion, their first graphite racket |
1980s | Bancroft is acquired by Spalding |
1990s | Bancroft ceases operations |