Closet Prince Mono lovers?

Do you love the Prince Mono?

  • I love it... wish I could find more!

    Votes: 20 51.3%
  • They are cool and different, but just okay.

    Votes: 16 41.0%
  • They are weird and ugly and there is no reason to want one.

    Votes: 2 5.1%
  • Completely indifferent.

    Votes: 1 2.6%

  • Total voters
    39

vwfye

Semi-Pro
Are you out there? Other than the head size, I love the Monos! I've had two for awhile and just picked up a third on Tuesday. I'm going to string it with poly at 45lbs and see how I like it. Today is doubles day with my squads, so out comes the Mono... can't volley better with any other stick out there!
 

AndrewD

Legend
The only reason I joined TW was to find a replacement for my Precision Mono. The only reason I ever bought a new racquet was because I couldn't find a ready supply of them (I realise they're out there but not in Australia, where I live, and I've had too many bad experiences with the big auction site).

Good luck with the poly. I had mine strung with Big Banger and absolutely hated it. Lost so much of the bite I got on my slice shots and ruined the overall feel/touch. Never again!
 

Kemitak

Professional
Never even seen a Prince Mono in person, but I like the idea. Don't know why no one makes a mono-shaft graphite.
How does it compare to the Fischer mono-shaft?
 

galain

Hall of Fame
Half a fan here. I've never found anything better at net. Nothing. This thing just moves so easily it's ridiculous.

Had a little trouble getting adjusted to it on groundies though - I wasn't good enough to keep hitting it square in the middle each and every shot, so it would sometimes feel a little unstable.

But if you like to come in (and I do), it's damn near perfect.
 

jayserinos99

Hall of Fame
I shouldn't have sold the ones I had. I agree with galain with how maneuverable they are; so much so I had to add lead at 3/9 which helped with stability and to slow down my swing speed a little.
 

AndrewD

Legend
Half a fan here. I've never found anything better at net. Nothing. This thing just moves so easily it's ridiculous.

Had a little trouble getting adjusted to it on groundies though - I wasn't good enough to keep hitting it square in the middle each and every shot, so it would sometimes feel a little unstable.

But if you like to come in (and I do), it's damn near perfect.

Galain,

I think the problem people have on groundstrokes is that the sweetspot is lower on the string bed. Being slightly flared it's not such a bother on slice shots (personally I've never hit with a racquet that was so exceptional on the slice backhand) or topspin but can take some adjustment when you flatten out your shots.

Here's a pic of mine (along with two of the best racquets I've ever used - and one dog)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/AndrewDtw/F1000005hg.jpg
 

galain

Hall of Fame
Galain,

I think the problem people have on groundstrokes is that the sweetspot is lower on the string bed. Being slightly flared it's not such a bother on slice shots (personally I've never hit with a racquet that was so exceptional on the slice backhand) or topspin but can take some adjustment when you flatten out your shots.

Here's a pic of mine (along with two of the best racquets I've ever used - and one dog)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/AndrewDtw/F1000005hg.jpg

Which one was the dog mate? I'm pretty sure that was the Prince Mark Kratzmann had in his hands when he told me Pat Cash's midsized Woody was really a Kennex Golden Ace.

God I feel old!
 

Centered

Hall of Fame
Do any of your Monos shake inside the shaft? Mine has a shaking feeling when the ball strikes it, like something inside the racquet has come loose.
 

vwfye

Semi-Pro
i have one that had the weight shake loose. the others are all solid. i've said it before, and i'll say it again... if the Mono was the same specs, but in an 88 or 90 head, i'd be in heaven!
 

Mick

Legend
i have 12 prince monos, 1 used one and 11 new ones.
I collected them before their prices went up.


iqj2om.jpg
 

jaydubbs15

New User
Galain,

I think the problem people have on groundstrokes is that the sweetspot is lower on the string bed. Being slightly flared it's not such a bother on slice shots (personally I've never hit with a racquet that was so exceptional on the slice backhand) or topspin but can take some adjustment when you flatten out your shots.

Here's a pic of mine (along with two of the best racquets I've ever used - and one dog)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/AndrewDtw/F1000005hg.jpg

There's my old racquet! But it's not a "mono." It's the second from the left. Mine was bumper-less and grommet-less, had a rich brown leather grip, with a heavy dark green cover. I don't believe that mine had a green stripe around the hoop at all. I gave that racquet to my friend's wife, who gave it to my friend's niece who sold it to a collector (grrrr!) What's that racquet called? And what's it worth on the market these days?
 
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coachrick

Hall of Fame
There's my old racquet! But it's not a "mono." It's the second from the left. Mine was bumper-less and grommet-less, had a rich brown leather grip, with a heavy dark green cover. I don't believe that mine had a green stripe around the hoop at all. I gave that racquet to my friend's wife, who gave it to my friend's niece who sold it to a collector (grrrr!) What's that racquet called? And what's it worth on the market these days?

Are we looking at the Prince Comp? Individual grommets, very shallow string channel, green suede-like cover, IIRC. Very nice racket in the early/mid '80s.
 

jaydubbs15

New User
Galain,

I think the problem people have on groundstrokes is that the sweetspot is lower on the string bed. Being slightly flared it's not such a bother on slice shots (personally I've never hit with a racquet that was so exceptional on the slice backhand) or topspin but can take some adjustment when you flatten out your shots.

Here's a pic of mine (along with two of the best racquets I've ever used - and one dog)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/AndrewDtw/F1000005hg.jpg

Which are your two best and which is the dog?
 

KFwinds

Professional
Man, the Mono was a great stick; one of those unique "crisp but flexy" feels. And yes, very maneuverable and awesome at the net. I bought one off the 'bay several years back to get some of the Jimmy Connors magic happening - is he still using this?
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Man, the Mono was a great stick; one of those unique "crisp but flexy" feels. And yes, very maneuverable and awesome at the net. I bought one off the 'bay several years back to get some of the Jimmy Connors magic happening - is he still using this?

Ah, the revival of a two and a half year old thread! :) Learning to play in the early '70s, I was hitting topspin forehands before 'everybody' took to that style. Two decades later, I tried hitting with the Mono and thought the head was going to twist off the handle ;) . Great if you hit dead flat, a noodle if you drive heavy topspin from 1+2 strings off-center.

Jimbo just had his second hip done, yes? Might not be hitting anything for a bit.
 

KFwinds

Professional
Yeah, I dug mine out of the collection recently and got the itch to hit with it. Didn't want to start a new thread since I knew there were already some out there; just wanted to see if this stick was still on anyone's radar. I know one other guy in my area that plays with one, but it's the larger headsize version (can't remember the name). Love the 650, tho :)
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Yeah, I dug mine out of the collection recently and got the itch to hit with it. Didn't want to start a new thread since I knew there were already some out there; just wanted to see if this stick was still on anyone's radar. I know one other guy in my area that plays with one, but it's the larger headsize version (can't remember the name). Love the 650, tho :)

Mach 1000, IIRC. A major baloon...talk about twisting on off-center hits!
 

PBODY99

Legend
There were two larger Monos

Mach 1000, IIRC. A major baloon...talk about twisting on off-center hits!
RipStick 800 was the middle frame of the group. At 29" long 105 head size it was very different than the Mach 1000. One of the few extra long frames I did not like.
 

KFwinds

Professional
I came up with an elegant solution for those off-center hits :D

5o5bmr.jpg

Yep, got one of those too - picked it up at a second-hand sports store for $10. The ONE racquet I've never been able to hit with :)

I've never had a problem with off-center hits or stability in regards to the Mono 650; feels very stable to me, albeit slightly flexier than I normally prefer.
 

Snaab

Semi-Pro
I was more of a FISCHER Mono Series Fan - the "Mono Pro 95" which Henri LeConte briefly used (actually in his last professional match against Thomas Johansson at the French) was heavier and more stable IMO than the Prince version. Came with a great black Fairway leather grip as stock from the factory.
 

Hannah19

Professional
I was more of a FISCHER Mono Series Fan - the "Mono Pro 95" which Henri LeConte briefly used (actually in his last professional match against Thomas Johansson at the French) was heavier and more stable IMO than the Prince version. Came with a great black Fairway leather grip as stock from the factory.

Was that the olive/drab coloured version or the Bright red one??
 
It was the bright red one. The Torsion Box made it a better design than the Prince Mono, indeed (although I did like the Prince as well — great volleying racquet).
 

Hannah19

Professional
It was the bright red one. The Torsion Box made it a better design than the Prince Mono, indeed (although I did like the Prince as well — great volleying racquet).

I quite like the Prince Mono too, I have a Fischer Mono, the drab one, but never actually played with it.
Maybe I will take it for a spin soon.......
 

Ciaron

Semi-Pro
They look like over sized squash racquets but I'd still love to own one and give it a twirl on the court . Is it true that jimmy Connors used to play with one ?
 

dak95_00

Hall of Fame
Yes Connors played it and I've heard he's still seen using it recently.

I just picked one up this summer and loved it so much I've picked up three more and I'm selling off everything else.
 

djkahn86

Rookie
got one today and need to put some strings on it.. been reading a ton of old threads... usually hit with 50# poly.. PS 6.0 95 and RF 97 ..


any suggestions???
 
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I want more of them! I don't have the money to get them at the moment and I've already bought two new Responses, but dammit if they aren't one of the coolest racquets ever made!
 
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