Condition
9
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
|
Rarity
10
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 This Racket
Following on from success of the iconic Challenge no 1 from 1965 there was slow development until in 1981 there was a big leap when they released the Vilas open throat frame quickly followed by the V24. But it was late in the day and the writing was on the wall for wooden rackets and indeed for the iconic Slazenger brand in general. This is a clone (or rebranding) of the V-24 made for Virginia Ruzici. Ruzici became a professional tennis player in 1975. One of her main assets on court was her powerful forehand. In a career spanning 12 years, Ruzici won 12 career singles titles, including one Grand Slam title, the 1978 French Open. In the final, she beat 1977 French Open champion Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–2. Ruzici also won the French Open doubles event with Jaušovec in 1978 and reached the mixed doubles final in 1978. She appeared in the French Open singles final in 1980, but lost in straight sets to Chris Evert.[1] Ruzici remained in the world’s top 20 from 1977 to 1983.[2] She regularly featured in the Romania Fed Cup team throughout her career, and began playing for them in 1973, two years before turning professional.
The v24 was part of the last generation of wood rackets before transitioning from wood to composite materials. It competed with other wood-composite rackets like: Prince Woodie, Head Vilas, Rossignol C-15, Dunlop 150G, Bancroft Status Open. Looking at a newspaper advert from 1985, the price of the V-24 was £63.99
Historic Gallery
Specifications (👋 not yet accurate….check back soon)
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 Slazenger
The history of Slazenger is a significant and storied one, closely intertwined with the development and growth of tennis, as well as other sports, through its innovative equipment and strategic marketing. Starting in the mid-1880s, Slazenger UK branched out from its successful military clothing business to promote sporting goods, including tennis, cricket, and football equipment. The company quickly capitalized on the burgeoning popularity of tennis in the UK, producing boxed tennis sets and partnering with key players like William Renshaw, a six-time Wimbledon champion, to boost their brand.Slazenger’s tennis balls began production in 1877, but it wasn’t until 1902 that they became the official ball of Wimbledon, a partnership that has lasted over a century. The company expanded its reach internationally, notably to Australia, where it established a significant presence by the early 1900s. Slazenger opened an Australian factory in 1928 to manufacture rackets and later added cricket bat production. Despite setbacks like the 1932 factory fire and a devastating hailstorm in the late 1990s, Slazenger maintained its production and innovation in Australia.The company was known for its aggressive marketing strategies, including player endorsements and junior tennis development programs. This practice not only promoted their products but also helped maintain player fitness and visibility through exhibition matches. Slazenger’s investment in young talent paid off, particularly in the 1950s, with players like John Newcombe endorsing their products.In the 1930s, Slazenger introduced the “Floating Power” rackets, featuring mercury in the handle to enhance racket weight at the point of impact, a concept initially attempted in the UK in 1889. The company also experimented with unique designs like the famous “All White” racket used by Fred Perry in the 1934 Australian Championships.The post-war era saw the introduction of the “Challenge” racket, made from Canadian Ash, which became popular among club players until the mid-1970s. Despite fierce competition and technological advancements in racket materials in the 1980s, Slazenger maintained its reputation, particularly for its high-quality tennis balls.In 1958/59, Dunlop acquired Slazenger, allowing it to operate independently, and between 1960 and 1973, Slazenger rackets won a significant number of Grand Slam events. However, by the mid-1980s, racket production in Australia had ceased due to competitive pressures and the shift to manufacturing in Asia.
Gallery
Timeline of Slazenger
YEAR | EVENT |
---|---|
1877 | Slazenger tennis balls production begins. |
1881 | Ralph and Albert Slazenger establish a shop in London. |
1883 | Slazenger files a patent for a table tennis net. |
1885 | Slazenger begins promoting sporting goods. |
1889 | Captain Ralph Slazenger visits Australia. |
1902 | Slazenger becomes the official tennis ball supplier for Wimbledon. |
1910 | Slazenger and Sons becomes a public company. |
1928 | Slazenger opens an Australian factory in Sydney. |
1931 | Slazenger acquires H. Gradidge and Sons. |
1939 | Slazenger acquires William Sykes Ltd. |
1942 | Slazenger acquires F. H. Ayres. |
1940 | Slazenger factory bombed during the Blitz. |
1958 | Dunlop acquires Slazenger, allowing it to run independently. |
1959 | Ralph Slazenger Jr. sells the family business to Dunlop Rubber. |
1960-1973 | Slazenger racquets win 38 of 112 Grand Slam events. |
1965 | Slazenger Championship No.1 tennis racket launched. |
1980s | Rise of metal and composite tennis racquets. |
Mid-1980s | Slazenger ceases racquet production in Australia. |
1985 | Dunlop Rubber purchased by BTR plc; forms Dunlop Slazenger Sports Group. |
1996 | BTR sells Dunlop Sport in a management buyout; new company named “Dunlop Slazenger”. |
2002 | Slazenger Barnsley plant closes; production moves to the Philippines. |
2004 | CINVen sells Dunlop Slazenger to Sports Direct International. |