Just bought a Prince Classic Response 97

[ushynoti]

Weight repartition is key. It has no weight in the upper hoop.

So how much weight did you put and where? Did it really make a difference in how it played? Seems so hard to believe for me just because it seems like this racquet is so hopeless, haha

 

[Lukhas]

So how much weight did you put and where? Did it really make a difference in how it played? Seems so hard to believe for me just because it seems like this racquet is so hopeless, haha

Well since it has no weight in the upper hoop, there's not thousands of options...
I've said it earlier in this thread (first page), I've said it in other threads, but it needs lead tape at noon to fix its issues: the low power/launch angle and dead/flimsy upper hoop. Lead at 3&9 o'clock won't help since it's already very stable. I was satisfied with 6 grams at noon on my stock frames (which means with their dampener in) in one long stripe. I didn't feel I needed any counterbalancing. I may or may not add 3 more grams since I went down two gauges in string thickness and it changed the weight of the racquet.

Once that said, if you don't like the feel of any given racquet to the point you can't tolerate it, I wouldn't bother trying to make it work. Just get rid of it and find something else, no need to bend yourself backwards for a frame you don't like. It's not my case, I just added the 6 grams, an OG like I always do and that was it.

 

[dak95_00]

I decided to take it out for a hit. It's a nice racquet as is for me. The specs are right where I like them. I say it was very similar to my Mono except it's a bit stiffer. The Mono really flexes.

 

[dak95_00]

I should say that I have very classic strokes and generate plenty of power with any racquet and tension. The only racquet I struggled with in my life was the Graphene Prestige MP XT. That racquet had zero power.

 

[graycrait]

I took this thing up to 12.4oz with 5 grams in the hoop. Had my first serving session with new weight/balance/strings. Stiffer than what I normally play with but was really nice serving topspin and slices. Dramatic attitude change about this one. Even thinking about getting another one due to price just to compare various string set ups side by side.

 

[graycrait]

Hard to explain but now like playing with this racket enough to have picked up another from TW's used section. At 12.40z with 5 grams in the hoop plays "fast" compared to the POG OS.

 

[graycrait]

I received my latest "used" Prince Classic Response 97 from the TW used racket section. I find no evidence that this racket has ever even been handled, not one scratch, smudge or whatever. The grip looks "ungripped." Even though I requested "unstrung" it came strung with a shaped poly that not one speck of green fuzz was caught in the intersections. Also, not even the slightest indication of notching. I'll use those strings just for the fun of it.

I still think the racket, as others have said, can use some lead at 12 o'clock.

 

[graycrait]

Man, I like this racket especially service returns. I feel like a traitor to the POG OS & Kevlar x Zyex, but I am going to this in poly for awhile.

 

[ushynoti]

I tried the Response 97 with a full bed of multifilament at 58 lbs the other day and it definitely felt better than having any poly in it...overall a much better spring off the stringbed which I always felt was missing with this frame...

 

[graycrait]

Playing with this regularly now with 18G Ashaway Kevlar x 17G Zyex at 60/60.

 

[ushynoti]

I took this thing up to 12.4oz with 5 grams in the hoop. Had my first serving session with new weight/balance/strings. Stiffer than what I normally play with but was really nice serving topspin and slices. Dramatic attitude change about this one. Even thinking about getting another one due to price just to compare various string set ups side by side.

Did you put 5g all at 12 o'clock? Definitely need to see what is missing in this racquet, I know something is, I just don't know what, but seems like everyone says it needs lead. It feels heavy to me already, but willing to give it a shot...

 

[graycrait]

I hit with a 28 yr old former DII player today using the stock Prince Response 97. I think it works fine, even when I took off the lead. But I am not ready to give up the PCG/POG OS just yet.

 

[mixtape]

Still playing with this racquet. I experimented with tungsten tape at 12 o'clock (2.8 grams) and thought it was too heavy. I cut the tape in half and it still felt awkward to me. Perhaps it's my style, but in stock form, it plays well for me. I was getting a slight arm/elbow irritation after hitting with poly, so I went to a full bed of multi @ 58lbs and enjoyed it more. So for now syn gut and multi work well for me.

 

[ushynoti]

Still playing with this racquet. I experimented with tungsten tape at 12 o'clock (2.8 grams) and thought it was too heavy. I cut the tape in half and it still felt awkward to me. Perhaps it's my style, but in stock form, it plays well for me. I was getting a slight arm/elbow irritation after hitting with poly, so I went to a full bed of multi @ 58lbs and enjoyed it more. So for now syn gut and multi work well for me.

I just put 5 grams at 12 o'clock, but haven't hit with it yet. My impression of this racquet has always been that it was a little heavier, but didn't have the plow that usually came with heavier frames. My Prostaff 85 stock hits with more plow than this frame, so we'll see. I also agree that full bed of multi has felt good in this frame, better than even a gut/poly blend (I tried Babolat VS Gut/ Luxilon Big Banger Ace 18 and it was horrible) or a full poly bed (no power, I felt I had to swing harder just to generate any meaningful pace)...

 

[veecee]

I tried the Response 97 with a full bed of multifilament at 58 lbs the other day and it definitely felt better than having any poly in it...overall a much better spring off the stringbed which I always felt was missing with this frame...

What polys did you try? I thought Tourna Black Zone at 50lb felt really good with this racquet.

 

[ushynoti]

What polys did you try? I thought Tourna Black Zone at 50lb felt really good with this racquet.

I tried Weiss Cannon Scorpion 17L and Golden Set Snakebite 17 mains/ Golden Set Powercord 17 Crosses, both at 45 lbs...I guess I didn't really give polys a shot because those 2 just felt so terrible...

 

[mixtape]

Restrung with Gosen MS syn gut 17 gauge @ 60lbs and really liked the way the racquet responded. The 16 gauge was great, but I missed the bite that I had when I was hitting with poly. I also tried a vibration dampener (rubber band is my preference) and the additional weight (4 grams) felt great. I'm wondering if I should try adding weight near the throat. The experiment continues...

 

[veecee]

I tried Weiss Cannon Scorpion 17L and Golden Set Snakebite 17 mains/ Golden Set Powercord 17 Crosses, both at 45 lbs...I guess I didn't really give polys a shot because those 2 just felt so terrible...

I know where you're coming from. I felt exactly the same when I had MSV Focus Hex in it. It just felt boardy and unforgiving. Got it restrung with BHBZ and it felt like a different racquet.

 

[graycrait]

Working out yesterday with a stock Response 97 and hitting over a 100 serves too boot, my shoulder hurt enough to take some Ibuprofen several times yesterday. Took the PCG OSs out today to hit some serves and hit over 100 with no arm issues. I think I'll hang the Response 97's up in the back of the closet with the Wilsons, Volkls and my playable "collector" rackets. The PCG/POG OS ( I have both) seem almost therapeutic to me.

 

[JonnyAbs]

Working out yesterday with a stock Response 97 and hitting over a 100 serves too boot, my shoulder hurt enough to take some Ibuprofen several times yesterday. Took the PCG OSs out today to hit some serves and hit over 100 with no arm issues. I think I'll hang the Response 97's up in the back of the closet with the Wilsons, Volkls and my playable "collector" rackets. The PCG/POG OS ( I have both) seem almost therapeutic to me.

I am not surprised, I wouldn't consider my PR97 particularly arm friendly. A good dampener seems to help though.

 

[ushynoti]

I know where you're coming from. I felt exactly the same when I had MSV Focus Hex in it. It just felt boardy and unforgiving. Got it restrung with BHBZ and it felt like a different racquet.

What's BHBZ? I imagine it's Tourna Big Hitter in some form? It's so disappointing, the racquet feels great in the hand and swinging it but once you hit a ball with it, it's just not very user friendly...

 

[ushynoti]

Working out yesterday with a stock Response 97 and hitting over a 100 serves too boot, my shoulder hurt enough to take some Ibuprofen several times yesterday. Took the PCG OSs out today to hit some serves and hit over 100 with no arm issues. I think I'll hang the Response 97's up in the back of the closet with the Wilsons, Volkls and my playable "collector" rackets. The PCG/POG OS ( I have both) seem almost therapeutic to me.

I feel the same way when I switch to the Prostaff 85....I also have some POGs in MP and OS and both feel better than the Response, although I like the MP better because it's more maneuverable and I have a one handed backhand...

 

[ushynoti]

I am not surprised, I wouldn't consider my PR97 particularly arm friendly. A good dampener seems to help though.

The funny thing is I have some Prince TT Warriors, which are almost the same frame, but lighter and different balance, and they are much more playable than the Response 97...

 

[veecee]

What's BHBZ? I imagine it's Tourna Big Hitter in some form? It's so disappointing, the racquet feels great in the hand and swinging it but once you hit a ball with it, it's just not very user friendly...

Tourna Big Hitter Black Zone

 

[graycrait]

One of these days I hope to stumble on a PCG 100 just to see how it compares to the Response and PCG 107.

 

[Lukhas]

[...] I plan at some point to replace the grip with Wilson FeatherThin which is very, very light and thin as its name implies, but that won't be until some time.

Well I just did it. It's really thin, I've ripped a bit of the ends (which are narrower) when pulling it tight when wrapping it.

It's not really a firm/dense grip, there's still a slight cushion but the edges of the handle come quite sharply due to how thin and light it is.

 

[haqq777]

Just bumping to check if anyone was able to find that perfect string for this stick? I can not seem to understand this one. Lowered my full poly cyclone to low 40s and still not feeling it. Perhaps syn gut or multi at higher tension will bring out the wow factor in the frame? It just feels like it lacks something - can not seem to put my finger on what.

 

[python]

Just bumping to check if anyone was able to find that perfect string for this stick? I can not seem to understand this one. Lowered my full poly cyclone to low 40s and still not feeling it. Perhaps syn gut or multi at higher tension will bring out the wow factor in the frame? It just feels like it lacks something - can not seem to put my finger on what.

I'm thinking pure gut in this frame would be pretty sweet at 58 lbs. I used Bow Brand gut (not sure if they are still around) at that tension in the Prince Precision Response Patrick Rafter endorsed back in the nineties. I think I still one or two of those in my summer home and wouldn't be surprised in the natural gut was still in them (and that it still plays great!).

 

[NLBwell]

It's a pretty open string bed. I hit with my old Response the other day with Prince Lightning at 66 lbs. Hadn't tried that setup before. It hit pretty well and seemed to have decent control.
My issue was always control on approach shots. It serves very well, volleys well, and groundies are very good with power and spin. Getting up to that tension seemed to add the control.

 

[haqq777]

It's a pretty open string bed. I hit with my old Response the other day with Prince Lightning at 66 lbs. Hadn't tried that setup before. It hit pretty well and seemed to have decent control.
My issue was always control on approach shots. It serves very well, volleys well, and groundies are very good with power and spin. Getting up to that tension seemed to add the control.

Maybe I need to try upping the tension. I play low 50s with full poly and the stick just does not wow me at all anymore. Hey @JonnyAbs just curious if you are still using this stick? I know you were getting great results with this one

 

[zalive]

Precision Response 660 mp from the mid '90's is low powered but it doesn't feel like a plank. It's a hitters stick, comfortable just enough, with full control over groundstrokes. I've met a guy who plays for long years with this stick (660), he tried the new Response 97 as well but didn't like it near as much.

To revisit this.

Tried again Response 660 MP. Specified at 67 RA it feels firm but not stiff. You can feel a bit of flex. Whole feeling when you hit the ball is muted. There's no way you can replicate this with todays full graphite layup and modern manufacturing practice. It's not an 80's graphite stick, but its layup is clearly better. So I fully understand why this guy was not satisfied with new Classic Response. At the same time I can understand why this design was good enough for Patrick Rafter. It has enough quality for good all court performance.

So, while design itself is great, because of quality of layup it can never be quite the same as old sticks. But perhaps customization might help (it's pretty useful on my old Response too because upper hoop is dead otherwise and stock twist stability is not enough to be forgiving).

 

[graycrait]

I'm going to cut my remaining 97 Response down to 25.75", weight it up to 12.2oz 6pts HL. If it doesn't play it is going in the burn barrel.

 

[Lukhas]

I'm going to cut my remaining 97 Response down to 25.75", weight it up to 12.2oz 6pts HL. If it doesn't play it is going in the burn barrel.

Why would you cut it that much?

 

[graycrait]

I cut a POG 107 and a Dunlop Biomimentic M3.0, both at 25.75 and leaded up the butt and 12 O'clock. I was hitting with a weighted up 29" Ripstick and got thinking, what happens when you go short but keep the weight up around 12oz. The reason so short was I was eyeballing where I like to choke up to hit short sitters and return some serves. What is really fun is to drop shot with the shorty Dunlop.

 

[peter bollini]

I received my latest "used" Prince Classic Response 97 from the TW used racket section. I find no evidence that this racket has ever even been handled, not one scratch, smudge or whatever. The grip looks "ungripped." Even though I requested "unstrung" it came strung with a shaped poly that not one speck of green fuzz was caught in the intersections. Also, not even the slightest indication of notching. I'll use those strings just for the fun of it.

I still think the racket, as others have said, can use some lead at 12 o'clock.

what size was the grip im in search of 4 5/8

 

[graycrait]

what size was the grip im in search of 4 5/8

Sorry, I am a fickle racket owner, those two Prince Responses are long gone.

 

[tata]

There is one on 'the bay' for a 1/2 size brand new in australia. You swap out for a thicker grip with overgrip on top. Seems like the best bet so far.