Prince Classic and Prince Pro

[robbo1970]

Can anyone tell me the specs of the Prince Pro (or Pro 110 - Black alu with black plastic throat) and the Prince Classic (Alu with green throat).

I have just acquired one of each at a very reasonable price and they are on their way to me in the post. But apart from recognising the frames as classics from the late 70's and early 80's, I don't really know too much about them (shame on me).

Could someone tell me the head size, length, weight and if possible, suggested stringing tension?

I am intending to play with them so will probably get them re-strung.

Does anyone here still use them to play with?

Many thanks

[dak95_00]

You are not alone. I've always wondered the difference between these two frames aside from the green vs. black. I knew many people used these when I was in high school.

[NLBwell]

From what I remember at the time, the Prince Pro was stiffer. It was actually used by serious players, while the Classic was thought of a just a hackers frame. (Different Aluminum, I believe) More acceptance of larger headed frames at the time could have been a factor in that, too.

[gavna]

Both are 110 sq in, they also had the same shape - difference was the stiffness - as for tension they played best and designed to be strung at 70lbs + you can use any good nylon -

Prince techs claimed that stringing nylon in the low 70s in the 110 frames played better than gut. Even pros were using nylon on tour.

[PrinceMoron]

I bought a classic last year but gave it away soon after, it weighed a ton, an absolute ton, made Woodie feel like a toothpick.

It rattled, was ugly and useless. Vibration right up your arm.

Why anyone would use it in preference to say a head vilas is a mystery to me.

[retrowagen]

The aluminium tubing used on these two models was of different grade and cross-section. Both racquets weighed in at a typical of the era 12.0-12.5 ounces, both a standard 27" long, both more or less 110" inch hitting surfaces. Same string pattern, too.

Pro was stiffer; had better feel, and was more expensive when new.

[Don't Let It Bounce]

It is true that the recommended string tension at the time was in the low 70's, but that was when Prince's customer base was coming from standard-size wood rackets. Prince later changed the recommended tension on their rackets with that head size, and you can safely string them at the tension you would normally use now for an OS. It's nice to know they were engineered to handle the high tensions, though.

If there were such thing as a racket that could instantly improve my on-court results the way the Prince Pro did in 1981, I'd pay a lot of money to get it. (Hmmm... Maybe I should try a Weed.)

[robbo1970]

Thanks for the info. I did see on one of the old Prince magazine charts that the Pro was stiffer, but it never gave any weight details.

But 12 to 12.5 is great. I very much get on with that weight of racket and it'll be good to hit with one with an oversize head. Most 12+ rackets I have are old school midsize 80-90. And I actually like using aluminium rackets, I just wish there were some decent quality ones still being made.

Thats quite a high tension isn't it? Most these days seem to be about 55-65lbs

[robbo1970]

The rackets have arrived and they are great!

The Pro is in amazing condition and will definately get used.

I grew up loving the 70's and 80's era and when I got back into tennis last year I promised I would honour my intention to use some retro equipment.

Having won my local league undefeated using my Prince Graphite 93, I now want to have some fun and I'm looking forward to enjoying the Pro.

I just need to get some Adidas Nastase shoes and a couple of Adidas tshirts now and I'll be right back to 1985.

[JNewton25]

are you talking about the original graphite

[robbo1970]

Originally Posted by JNewton25

are you talking about the original graphite

No, the Prince Pro (black with black plastic throat bridge) and the Prince Classic (natural alu with green throat bridge).

I think they were both originally made in 1976 through to the early 80's.

[kfa111]

I like the Prince graphite tour oversize that was made in 1980

[Rabbit]

The Prince Classic, or when it came out Prince, was made in like 1974 to start. It was very, very flexible. The Prince Pro came out a couple of years after and was intended to address the criticisms of the Classic.

I had hit with the Classic and thought it unplayable. When I tried the Pro, it was at least playable albeit way more powerful than the Kramer ProStaff I was using. The Pro was my first OS racquet and I stuck with it for about a year from 1982 - 1983. I graduated college and bought a Prince Graphite because I had the "wants" real bad.

All in all, the Graphite was probably the ultimate, but I distinctly remember canning it because I couldn't serve with it. From there, I went to the PK Silver Ace.

[robbo1970]

When I first became aware of the Prince Pro in about 1982, it was very much a case for me of look but dont touch, I was only 12. It was the ultimate racket to me back then as I recall seeing pro's on TV using it and rich people at tennis clubs.

I have used it a bit now and I do like it. The combination of having some heft behind my shots and the oversize head almost feels like I'm cheating.

I have tried modern rackets and I keep coming back to the oldies. I don't know why it is that I prefer the feel of an aluminium racket and with a weight that just says L3. Maybe its because I can spend more time thinking about playing tennis and enjoying tennis rather than wondering if the spec/set up of my racket was helping or hindering my game.

I guess I'm trapped in a more innocent age...but I have to say, its a nice place to be.

[Specialjustin]

Originally Posted by robbo1970

I guess I'm trapped in a more innocent age...but I have to say, its a nice place to be.

Yeah good for you and i'm with ya!