Condition
8
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
|
Rarity
7
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
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About The Head Vilas Racket
No player had as many iconic rackets as Guillermo Vilas. This Argentine former no 1 tennis player won 62 singles titles and 16 doubles titles during his career. In 1969 he started with the Dunlop Maxply (1969) changing to Wilson Jack Kramer in 1974 and quickly the Spalding Pancho González in 1975). But he was most successful with this racket the Head Vilas (1977-79) although he tried the Head XRC (1980). In 1981 he switched to the Slazenger Tour and then the Slazenger V24 (1982). Finally in 1984 he went to Puma with the Puma G Vilas and Puma Azul Puma (1985) and Puma G Vilas Power (1986). Later Head would make the Head Vector. Looking at adverts from 1985 the Head Vector Mid was £60, in 1979 the Head Vilas was £70.90 over twice the price of the Maxply Fort
This is how it was described by HEAD: Take a close look at Guillermo Vilas’ Head racket. It’s not wood like other rackets are wood. This one has two layers of graphite completely encompassing the head. It also has a black, thick wedge of fiberglass up at the top, as well as fiberglass face sheets top and bottom. The two layers of graphite make this racket more powerful than a racket made of wood alone. The fiberglass wedge puts weight and strength behind the stroke. The face sheets add incredible strength and durability. If you’re a confirmed wood player, pay particular attention to Guillermo Vilas’ opinion of this unusual wood racket. To quote Guillermo: “My first impression of the racket was that the ball was going much faster than with any other racket I had before.” Now, the Head Vilas racket is not customized for Guillermo’s use only. It is a racket you can buy: Exactly as Guillermo Vilas plays it. With the two layers of graphite. With the fiberglass wedge. Because, while the racket was made specifically to Guillermo Vilas’ tastes, it was not made exclusively for his use. It is a model that you can own. Like Guillermo, we predict that when you play it, your first impression will be that the ball is going faster than ever before. Your second impression will be of hitting the ball on the sweet spot more often. That’s because the extra weight is in the right place—at the top, where it expands the sweet spot into a large oval, rather than circular shape. Like all Head rackets, the Vilas features the now-famous open throat design to keep the racket from twisting. (Many players view the Head open throat as still another way to expand the sweet spot.) So the Head Vilas has all the advantages of wood, the added power of graphite, and finally the extra strength and durability of fiberglass face sheets. Play a demonstrator model. See for yourself. And when you’re done, remember one more thing: WE PLANNED IT THAT WAY. Head
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 Head
For a brief period everone went open throat crazy and Donnay was late to shift its traditional process to make the midwood series. It was a clear improvement but Borg had already given notice to leave and never used it. The writing was on the wall for the World’s most successful brand. A steep decline would follow. The Mid-wood would be horribly expensive and misunderstood. Sales were low and it remains a big rarity!
Gallery
HEAD by Time
Year | Event |
1947 | Howard Head takes his first ski trip and is inspired to create better skis |
1950 | Head Sport GmbH founded in Baltimore, Maryland by Howard Head |
1950 | First durable prototype of the Head Standard ski is developed |
1960s | Head captures over 50% of the US ski market |
1967 | Howard Head hires Harold Seigle as company president |
1969 | Howard Head sells the company to AMF |
1969 | Head introduces the first aluminum frame tennis racket at the US Open |
1975 | Arthur Ashe wins Wimbledon using a Head racket |
1985 | Minstar Inc. acquires Head through hostile takeover of AMF |
1987 | Head starts making athletic footwear |
1989 | Management buyout forms HTM (Head, Tyrolia, and Mares) |
1993 | HTM sold to Austria Tabak |
1995 | Johan Eliasch takes over the company |
1997 | Head creates the first titanium and graphite tennis racket |
2009 | Head shuts down the Penn ball manufacturing factory in Phoenix, Arizona |
2019 | Head reportedly purchases ASE assets, but later backs out of the deal |