CNBC article on Sharapova racquet

[baseline_monster]

Originally Posted by drakulie

The reason Maria has no "P" for the stencil is because of the string she is using. The mains being black, with the crosses being white, would make it difficult to do the stencil, as it won't be visible.

As for the frame, like vsbabolat, I too would like to know what the stringer meant when he/she said they placed "custom strips" over the grommet strip.

Should be OK to do, Andy Roddick uses black mains at his lines are very visible.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by baseline_monster

Should be OK to do, Andy Roddick uses black mains at his lines are very visible.

very different stencil. (By the way, Roddick has gone back to his old string set-up of BHT/Natural Gut. He is no longer using RPM Blast).

As stringer, I would know. To do this stencil (on Marias Frame), one would need to use Silver stencil, and quite frankly it is barely visible.

so Prince is going to try to get some old school feel back in their frames to make their contract players happier. Sharapova is telling them "I need something exactly like This (points to Head racquet)."

[pug]

Originally Posted by Doubles

The things companies will do for marketing...

Originally Posted by DudeBro

Is tennis the only sport in which the equipment companies consistantly lie to their consumers about the products their atheletes endorse?

It really is sad and pretty disgusting if you think about it, having to hide the truth from the very people who are keeping you in business. Lying is a poor business strategy, but I guess it works for many tennis manufacturers.

Are there any honest tennis racquet companies out there?

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by pug

It really is sad and pretty disgusting if you think about it, having to hide the truth from the very people who are keeping you in business. Lying is a poor business strategy, but I guess it works for many tennis manufacturers.

Are there any honest tennis racquet companies out there?

I am thinking Vantage. The rest are all involved in the paint job game. They have down now to a 2 year cycle for the latest and greatest technology that will transform your game.

[Tyrus]

“She will be using some experimental frames over the next few months in practice and in competition. We are well aware that some of the frames she may be using may include racquets that Prince does not carry in its current line. That is part of our program. During this phase of experimentation, she may or may not stencil, but she is a Prince contracted player. We are using one of our marquee athletes to play test, under match conditions, products to help future offerings.”

Right, why would professional athletes "experiment" with the new frames during competition? Esp when it could be your career.

Sounds like a load of BS to me.

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

I am thinking Vantage. The rest are all involved the paint job game. They have down now to a 2 year cycle for the latest and greatest technology that will transform your game.

Agreed. Even lowly Pro Kennex paint-jobs their only visible pro's (Seppi) frames.

[LPShanet]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

Funny thing is....some years ago when Prince put out the "Experimental" frame which later became the NRG. All the pros played blacked out frames with "Experimental" on them. They were the rage on the boards. Everyone had to have one.

The pros were also stenciled.......

The truth is out there...

Just for sake of total correctness, I believe is was NXG not NRG. Typo, I assume.

[LPShanet]

Originally Posted by drakulie

The reason Maria has no "P" for the stencil is because of the string she is using. The mains being black, with the crosses being white, would make it difficult to do the stencil, as it won't be visible.

As for the frame, like vsbabolat, I too would like to know what the stringer meant when he/she said they placed "custom strips" over the grommet strip.

That isn't quite correct. While there are some issues with stenciling black strings, that isn't the reason she isn't sporting one. The reason is that she isn't actually using a racquet made by that company, and stenciling would expose Prince legally, as has happened before in some previous racquet fiascos. Prince is just playing it slightly safe at this point.

[djokster]

Originally Posted by drakulie

very different stencil. (By the way, Roddick has gone back to his old string set-up of BHT/Natural Gut. He is no longer using RPM Blast).

As stringer, I would know. To do this stencil (on Marias Frame), one would need to use Silver stencil, and quite frankly it is barely visible.

Roddick was using RPM blast in the mains in his loss to Tipsarevic. But, it doesn't matted, as RPM Blast and PHT are THE SAME STRING.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by LPShanet

That isn't quite correct. While there are some issues with stenciling black strings, that isn't the reason she isn't sporting one. The reason is that she isn't actually using a racquet made by that company, and stenciling would expose Prince legally, as has happened before in some previous racquet fiascos. Prince is just playing it slightly safe at this point.

ahh, thanks for pointing that out.

To add, there is no issues stencilling an all black string job. The issue comes in when stringing a hybrid (black strings with white strings).

If you apply the stencil in a dark color (black/red), it will only effect the white string.

If you apply the stencil in a light color (white/silver), it will only effect the black string.

Originally Posted by djokster

Roddick was using RPM blast in the mains in his loss to Tipsarevic. But, it doesn't matted, as RPM Blast and PHT are THE SAME STRING.

Wasn't aware he switched back to the RPM nor noticed. Perhaps this is why he lost.

[West Coast Ace]

OP, thanks for the link.

I don't mind the pros playing custom rackets based on something produced by the company they have the endorsement contract with; but when it's from another company, that's not right.

[marosmith]

Originally Posted by pug

It really is sad and pretty disgusting if you think about it, having to hide the truth from the very people who are keeping you in business. Lying is a poor business strategy, but I guess it works for many tennis manufacturers.

Are there any honest tennis racquet companies out there?

Hey Pug, that's the funniest sig line I have ever seen.

[Jim A]

for those who are asking about other sports, hockey is a traditional PJ type of industry as well

Stick are often a certain mold then painted with the most relevant graphic, curves are custom and nothing you can buy in the store,

skates may have an outer cosmetic yet and completely different set up or package under it...

keep in mind, these sticks go for $200 and skates $500..a pair of skates per season and about a dozen sticks...

[Bartelby]

I think we're forgetting that she has suffered badly from shoulder injuries and the pro is quite a soft racquet, so it's a reasonable thing for her to do and it's sensible of Prince to approve of it.

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by LPShanet

Just for sake of total correctness, I believe is was NXG not NRG. Typo, I assume.

No...I meant (wrongly) NRG. I guess I got string confused with frame. Thanks for the catch.


I've heard that Prince may be in a spot of trouble from a business standpoint. A high up formerly with Volkl has moved to Prince. I'm not sure of the name, but can ask.

It would seem the whole O-port line is not moving as well as Prince had hoped.

[LPShanet]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

No...I meant (wrongly) NRG. I guess I got string confused with frame. Thanks for the catch.


I've heard that Prince may be in a spot of trouble from a business standpoint. A high up formerly with Volkl has moved to Prince. I'm not sure of the name, but can ask.

It would seem the whole O-port line is not moving as well as Prince had hoped.

They seem to find themselves in trouble every few years. Then again, the entire racquet biz is in some trouble...too many players, not enough buyers, and the price point is absurdly low.

[Hidious]

Originally Posted by Jim A

for those who are asking about other sports, hockey is a traditional PJ type of industry as well

Stick are often a certain mold then painted with the most relevant graphic, curves are custom and nothing you can buy in the store,

skates may have an outer cosmetic yet and completely different set up or package under it...

keep in mind, these sticks go for $200 and skates $500..a pair of skates per season and about a dozen sticks...

Yes, but for some obscure reason, pro stock hockey gear is widely and easily available in some e-stores. And it's usually cheaper than retail . For example, http://www.prostockhockeygear.com/ .

All the opposite in tennis

[new_tennis_player]

Originally Posted by pug

It really is sad and pretty disgusting if you think about it, having to hide the truth from the very people who are keeping you in business. Lying is a poor business strategy, but I guess it works for many tennis manufacturers.

Are there any honest tennis racquet companies out there?

Prince is an innovation leader, but their contempt for their own customers is pretty embarrassing.

To think that they could so blatantly lie about this issue is just sad.

It's telling that it's impossible to obtain "customer service" from the prince customer service department. They don't answer their phones OR reply to emails.

Makes me want to switch rackets asap.

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Thanks for posting the link. No stringer would say what the reporter has him saying; I'd bet the rent that he guessed that Sharapova was using a Prestige with traditional grommets substituted for CAP grommets, and the reporter garbled it when writing up his notes.

That's not to say the stringer's guess is right. It looks like something out of the Rad Pro mold to me, too.