A class of its own

New owner “impressed by how well The Masterpiece performs”

Posted Wednesday, 17 December 2025

By Ingmar Bauer

My other racket is a Wilson Pro Staff Original 6.0si with an 85-square-inch head, dating from the late 1990’s. Like many players, I added extra weight to the head, and it has synthetic strings. I have never played with natural gut strings. With the extra weight, the racket is a bit heavier than The Masterpiece, and the balance is more towards the head. Without the extra weight, it should be about the same. I am therefore accustomed to the weight and to at least a medium head size. The Masterpiece's 69-square-inch head makes it slightly more challenging, which I like. Since I only use moderate spin, the small head size is very playable for me.

I am impressed by how well The Masterpiece performs compared to a modern graphite racket. I love the natural feel of the wooden racket combined with natural gut strings. A modern racket with synthetic strings feels rather artificial by comparison. It's like playing an old, traditional board game instead of a modern computer game.

In terms of winning games, the graphite racket gives you an edge. However, when it comes to enjoyment, the wooden racket is in a class of its own. Its charming naturalness somehow makes the game come to life – a slower-paced life, yet one that is captivatingly enchanting.

I am looking forward to getting more practice with The Masterpiece.