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
Although the Maxply was Dunlop’s hero racket, it made a number of others, including the Alpha which was entry level and the Blue and Red Flash. I believe Pioneer was at the bottom of the range, with a cost about £1 vs £7 for the Maxply in the 1950s and 1960s.
Specifications
Measurements | Value | Performance | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Weight | 394g | Power | 33/100 |
Head Size & Length | 68sq in | 27inch | Control | 28/100 |
Balance | 8pt head light (220) | Spin | 26/100 |
Grip | Perforated leather | Handling | 30/100 |
Strings | 18 x 20 | gut | Comfort | 49/100 |
Flexibility | RA 49 | Consistency | 33/100 |
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
Year | Event |
---|---|
1888 | Dunlop patented his chamber of rubber to contain air under pressure and fastened it to a rim, effectively inventing the modern tire |
1923 | Dunlop enters the tennis ball market. |
1932 | Dunlop launches the Maxply tennis racket. |
1936 | For the first time, there are more Dunlop rackets at Wimbledon than any other brand. |
1956 | Lew Hoad wins Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens with the Dunlop Maxply racket. |
1960 | Dunlop introduces the new ‘Flying D’ logo. |
1962 | Rod Laver wins all four Grand Slams in a single year using Dunlop Maxply rackets. |
1969 | Rod Laver becomes the only man in history to achieve a second, career-calendar year Grand Slam using Dunlop Maxply rackets. |
1980 | Dunlop launches the game-changing 150G racket – the first injection moulded carbon fibre racket. |
1981 | John McEnroe signed for Dunlop and beat Bjorn Borg in the Wimbledon final with the Maxply Fort racket. |
1982 | Dunlop launches the legendary 200G, injection-moulded, carbon fibre racket. |
1988 | Steffi Graf wins all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic Gold in the same calendar year – all using the Dunlop 200G racket. |
1988 | Dunlop sells its one millionth injection-moulded racket. |
2018 | Kevin Anderson reaches the men’s final at Wimbledon |