Condition
9
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
|
Rarity
9
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
Borg was contracted to use Bancroft rackets worldwide from 1977 to 1980 but eventually he was won over by Donnay with a deal worth $600,000 a year, plus royalties. On a high from Borg’s success Bancroft made several Borg special editions. This excellent racket is less known and more traditional in design with brown and white colors and red highlights. I do not think it was actually used by Borg. higher end models were made in the US, cheaper models in Taiwan.
Historical Photos
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 |