The Wilson T2000 racquet used by Jimmy Connors above was a game changer in the tennis world. The design of the stainless steel "T2000" model was invented in the early 1960s by former player René Lacoste, who licensed his patented design to Wilson. The "T2000" was launched in September 1967 and was last produced in 1984. Although Billie Jean King used this model in the late 1960s, it took Jimmy Connors 18 years to popularize the racquet through continued use, its stainless steel frame giving him the extra power needed to win the 1974 Wimbeldon title.
However, as with any new technology, there were some initial difficulties: the racquet head was small, heavy (imagine playing with a giant stainless steel spoon), and restringing was an arduous process. The Wilson T2000's compact head has a smaller sweet spot and more power and control than traditional woods. This makes it a difficult racquet for the average casual player. Still, it was a popular model for Wilson. An estimated 2 million units have been sold.
The Stainless Steel racquet is chrome plated with clear gut strings. The racquet has an almost round oval head, open neck and open grip. There is a wire string anchor system on the outside of the head. The handle is faceted and covered in perforated tan leather.
Prominent pros like Billie Jean King even went back to using wood, but the genie was out of the bottle - metal wasn't going anywhere.
We don't make stainless steel tennis raquets but we did buy a second hand tennis racquet once and it only cost £10. No strings attached.