@@@@@The OFFICIAL Prince EXO3 Tour 100 Club@@@@@

[klementine79]

^ I'm changing string beds once a week. 2 out of the 4 string jobs on the 16x18 have busted, the other 2 just lost too much tension and felt really mushy.

Maybe I should just string up some syn.gut but weary of that since Beast broke in about 4 sessions, ~5 hours.

Which is why I put my one 16x18 exoTour 100 up for sale on fleabay. I'm stickin' with the 18x20. Deader? Yes. Less Kick? Yes. But I can string it lower and use a greater variety of strings, gauges and tensions.

For someone who doesn't break strings often, it's a great stick, I think deep down, I'm just an 18x20 guy.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^ I'm changing string beds once a week. 2 out of the 4 string jobs on the 16x18 have busted, the other 2 just lost too much tension and felt really mushy.

Maybe I should just string up some syn.gut but weary of that since Beast broke in about 4 sessions, ~5 hours.

Which is why I put my one 16x18 exoTour 100 up for sale on fleabay. I'm stickin' with the 18x20. Deader? Yes. Less Kick? Yes. But I can string it lower and use a greater variety of strings, gauges and tensions.

For someone who doesn't break strings often, it's a great stick, I think deep down, I'm just an 18x20 guy.

I took the 18x20 out for a demo a few years ago and HATED it. It only took a few minutes of hitting on the wall and a few serves to make me drive it back to the shop. The 16x18 feels like a completely different racket to me. Luckily I string my own or I'd be going broke on labor charges.

[maggmaster]

I am having good luck with gut in the mains and a poly cross, seems to last a long time.

[corbind]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I took the 18x20 out for a demo a few years ago and HATED it. It only took a few minutes of hitting on the wall and a few serves to make me drive it back to the shop. The 16x18 feels like a completely different racket to me. Luckily I string my own or I'd be going broke on labor charges.

We fully agree the EXO3 Tour is a great stick. Yet we're diametrically opposite which Pattern is the "best." I've put in 100+ hours with the open/16x18 and 60+ hours with the closed/18x20. Results are clear.

My game is s/v, net play and precision using Eastern FH & BH. So it may come as no surprise that the closed pattern provides my style of play vastly more controlled shots. YMMV.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by corbind

We fully agree the EXO3 Tour is a great stick. Yet we're diametrically opposite which Pattern is the "best." I've put in 100+ hours with the open/16x18 and 60+ hours with the closed/18x20. Results are clear.

My game is s/v, net play and precision using Eastern FH & BH. So it may come as no surprise that the closed pattern provides my style of play vastly more controlled shots. YMMV.

Makes sense to me. My game is primarily baseline with an emphasis on spin so the open pattern fits my game much better. I volley amazingly well with this frame which seems counter intuitive to me since the frame is so flexible.

[nxd241]

i have a exo3 tour 100 16x18 so count me in, ive heard stories that they break easily though is this true?

[jk175d]

Originally Posted by nxd241

i have a exo3 tour 100 16x18 so count me in, ive heard stories that they break easily though is this true?

I haven't heard such stories. I've been playing with mine for a year and a half. I'm pretty hard on a racquet. The only thing that is fragile is the paint job.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by nxd241

i have a exo3 tour 100 16x18 so count me in, ive heard stories that they break easily though is this true?

You would think with a thin beam and holes all over the racket this would be the case. I'm picking up a 4th one used this weekend just in case.

[Dags]

Originally Posted by mikeler

So how fast is everyone breaking strings with the 16x18 version?

A 'tough' syn gut (PSGD, Wilson Extreme SG) lasts about 8 hours.

A multi is around 5.

Gut / poly hybrid has pushed 30 hours.

I'm pretty sure these are above average, as I wouldn't class myself as a frequent string breaker. In a dense 18 x 20 such as the Prestige, I very rarely pop a string before cutting out.

I think I'm about to move on though... much as I like this racquet, I've lost my two biggest strengths - serve and 1hbh.

[Dags]

Originally Posted by jk175d

I haven't heard such stories. I've been playing with mine for a year and a half. I'm pretty hard on a racquet. The only thing that is fragile is the paint job.

I've found the same. No structural issues, but the paint falls off if you look at it too aggressively.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by Dags

A 'tough' syn gut (PSGD, Wilson Extreme SG) lasts about 8 hours.

A multi is around 5.

Gut / poly hybrid has pushed 30 hours.

I'm pretty sure these are above average, as I wouldn't class myself as a frequent string breaker. In a dense 18 x 20 such as the Prestige, I very rarely pop a string before cutting out.

I think I'm about to move on though... much as I like this racquet, I've lost my two biggest strengths - serve and 1hbh.

Not enough mass behind the ball?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Dags

A 'tough' syn gut (PSGD, Wilson Extreme SG) lasts about 8 hours.

A multi is around 5.

Gut / poly hybrid has pushed 30 hours.

I'm pretty sure these are above average, as I wouldn't class myself as a frequent string breaker. In a dense 18 x 20 such as the Prestige, I very rarely pop a string before cutting out.

I think I'm about to move on though... much as I like this racquet, I've lost my two biggest strengths - serve and 1hbh.

I'm at anywhere from 2-8 hours depending on the multi. Full Klip Legend was 11 or 12 hours. I can't see how having a harder poly cross in would extend the gut mains for me. OK, so the strings slide more but I think one of the reasons the Exo is such a string breaker is because the strings move so much.

[nxd241]

Originally Posted by jk175d

I haven't heard such stories. I've been playing with mine for a year and a half. I'm pretty hard on a racquet. The only thing that is fragile is the paint job.

i had noticed that the paint chips away pretty easily even if you are careful so i was a little concerned about the durability, so long as its structurally solid i dont mind the thin beam makes it look so fragile

[nxd241]

Originally Posted by mikeler

You would think with a thin beam and holes all over the racket this would be the case. I'm picking up a 4th one used this weekend just in case.

just wondering actually do strings break easier on the open string pattern? i may pick up another one if thats the case

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by nxd241

just wondering actually do strings break easier on the open string pattern? i may pick up another one if thats the case

I'm breaking strings like crazy in the 16x18.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I'm breaking strings like crazy in the 16x18.

I hit a few balls with pre-EXO3 Tour with long dead full poly, and it felt plush! Can I put any barbed wire string in EXO3 Tour 16x18 and play for weeks until it breaks?

[corbind]

Originally Posted by nxd241

just wondering actually do strings break easier on the open string pattern? i may pick up another one if thats the case

By definition, an open pattern racquet will eat strings faster than a closed (dense) pattern. To accelerate the string-eating, the EXO3 Tours have ports as opposed to traditional grommets so strings move more. It's the price we pay.

So if you have the 16x18 have your wallet ready.

[mxmx]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I'm breaking strings like crazy in the 16x18.

consider ashway crossfire strings or even string savers (the wilson kind)

[wolfinsignia]

i don't know what it is about guts, but even with professional stringing i tend to break it at the 8 hour mark. i have yet to break any poly, but they tend to drop in tension pretty quickly. i usually string 3 pounds higher and let it sit for a day before i use it and the tension stability is perfect for me.

my only complaint is i don't 100% like how the racquet is balanced. over the past 2 years i've been messing around with the weight but i can't find the balance i like without sacrificing plowthrough and control.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

I hit a few balls with pre-EXO3 Tour with long dead full poly, and it felt plush! Can I put any barbed wire string in EXO3 Tour 16x18 and play for weeks until it breaks?

That does not surprise me all that much because the frame is so flexible.

Originally Posted by mxmx

consider ashway crossfire strings or even string savers (the wilson kind)

Nah, I'll stick with my multis. I have my own stringer, so no biggie.