Dunlop-Maxply-Fort-Graphite

Dunlop

Dunlop Maxply Fort Graphite (1976)

Condition
10
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
| Rarity
6
10: Impossibly rare
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
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About This Racket

In the 1970s everyone thought that the next big thing was graphite. Graphite was a predecessor of carbon fibre but not as strong, although it was stronger than traditional wood. Almost everyone begin laminating with either graphite or glass fibre. Sadly, at least in the early days, it hardly made any difference. The Maxply Fort Graphite has a graphite lamination running all around the hoop and down the shaft into the handle as part of the 6 other layers of wood lamination. The reinforced shoulders in black are made of fibreglass. The rackets were just slightly stiffer and slightly more powerful but also heavier and difficult to maneuver. Maybe this is why they were discontinued in early 1981….leaving just the McEnroe series reinforced with glass fibre (not graphite). However, these were fairly big sellers on account of their stunning Black on White graphics.

Specifications
MeasurementsValuePerformanceScore
Weight370gPower19/100
Head Size & Length67.5sq in | 27inchControl41/100
Balance5pt head heavy 219Spin40/100
GripPerforated leatherHandling78/100
Strings18 x 20 | syntheticComfort89/100
FlexibilityRA 43Consistency59/100
About Dunlop

Dunlop’s journey in tennis began in 1924 when the company started manufacturing tennis balls . This marked the beginning of a century-long legacy in the sport. In 1925, Dunlop strategically acquired F.A. Davies, a tennis racquet manufacturer, establishing itself as a recognized brand in the tennis world . In 1931 with the introduction of the Maxply Fort it became one of the most popular in tennis history, used by legendary players like Rod Laver . Dunlop continued to innovate, introducing one of the first metal tennis rackets in the 1950s . In 1980, in collaboration with Slazenger (which Dunlop acquired in 1959), they created the Max 200G, one of the first graphite tennis racquets . This racquet was used by tennis legends like Steffi Graf and John McEnroe

Gallery

Dunlop by Time
YearEvent
1888Dunlop patented his chamber of rubber to contain air under pressure and fastened it to a rim, effectively inventing the modern tire
1923Dunlop enters the tennis ball market.
1932Dunlop launches the Maxply tennis racket.
1936For the first time, there are more Dunlop rackets at Wimbledon than any other brand.
1956Lew Hoad wins Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens with the Dunlop Maxply racket.
1960Dunlop introduces the new ‘Flying D’ logo.
1962Rod Laver wins all four Grand Slams in a single year using Dunlop Maxply rackets.
1969Rod Laver becomes the only man in history to achieve a second, career-calendar year Grand Slam using Dunlop Maxply rackets.
1980Dunlop launches the game-changing 150G racket – the first injection moulded carbon fibre racket.
1981John McEnroe signed for Dunlop and beat Bjorn Borg in the Wimbledon final with the Maxply Fort racket.
1982Dunlop launches the legendary 200G, injection-moulded, carbon fibre racket.
1988Steffi Graf wins all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic Gold in the same calendar year – all using the Dunlop 200G racket.
1988Dunlop sells its one millionth injection-moulded racket.
2018Kevin Anderson reaches the men’s final at Wimbledon