Help on a Prince racket

namepoc10

New User
Years ago I played with a Prince Graphite Comp Series 90 and since then I have never found a better racket. Now it's just about dead so I want to find something that will match up close.

However, I can't find the specs of the racket anywhere on the internet so hard to even come up with a potential demo list.

Does anybody know the specs?

Does anybody have some suggested demos that may match up similar?

I'm a 4.0 that only gets the chance to play once a week at the moment but hope to find time to play more soon.

Any help. Would be VERY VERY appreciated!
 
Last edited:

jonestim

Hall of Fame
I believe the weight, swing weight and balance are al very similar to the Prince Original Graphite Mid, but the flex is lower. The POG Mid lists the flex at 66 and I believe the Comp 90 flex is probably somewhere in the low 60s or high 50s.

Maybe try a Volkl Power Bridge 10 mid? Similar flex, a tad lighter with a bit lower swingweight, and a 16x19 pattern. It isn't quite as open as your 14x18, but not much is.

Good luck.
 

namepoc10

New User
Thank you very much.

Somebody at work suggested the Boris Becker Delta Core London Tour as its may feel the same because of the fibreglass content like the Prince Graphite Comp Series 90. What do you think?
 

dak95_00

Hall of Fame
If you look on that auction site, you'd probably be able to buy a couple that are in great condition for next to nothing.

I'm not a believer in racquets going dead. I've got some oldies including POGs I know are older than your Comp and I play alot. You might want some new strings.

My last bit...Don't fix what ain't broken. I tried for years to replace the POG w/ something more modern and it all led me back to the POG. If you like the Comp, stick w/ it. The Prince 14x18 pattern's feel is awesome and cannot be duplicated by any other stringing pattern or frame.

If you've got to fix it, try the Head Prestige midplus (98) line. They;ve got a nice solid feel. I've never played it but hear they are good is the PK Redondo racquets. Any Head Radical is nice too but I think they are too light overall for certain parts of the game.
 

floydcouncil

Professional
Years ago I played with a Prince Graphite Comp Series 90 and since then I have never found a better racket. Now it's just about dead so I want to find something that will match up close.

However, I can't find the specs of the racket anywhere on the internet so hard to even come up with a potential demo list.

Does anybody know the specs?

Does anybody have some suggested demos that may match up similar?

I'm a 4.0 that only gets the chance to play once a week at the moment but hope to find time to play more soon.

Any help. Would be VERY VERY appreciated!

Go with a Babolat APD or a PD. If you are a 4.0 player, you will be limiting yourself playing with an old relic like the Graphite Comp.
 

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
The old Graphite Comp 90 was a really REALLY sweet frame. Best Prince frame ever made, IMHO. I had kept a nice specimen in my collection until last year; sold it... Too bad Prince only made them for one year - the 80:20 G:F composition had excellent ball feel and power and was arm-friendly, the 90 head had good manoeuverabilty and control, and the wide but even string pattern was great for spin. It was good looking, too.
 

dak95_00

Hall of Fame
If you are a 4.0 player, you will be limiting yourself playing with an old relic like the Graphite Comp.


I hate, hate, hate when people make comments like this! Total BS! You can't say the racquet a player has been using for 20 years can be replaced by another and make the player a better player. There used to be a phrase that I still swear by and isn't used enough these days......

It's not the racquet. It's the player.

As soon as you lose sight of this, you are lost. You'll be searching and searching and searching for the grail. If you find it, you'll then begin the search for the string and where to place the lead tape, silicone, etc. If the OP changes racquets, he'll have a whole new set of variables to learn to play with; string pattern, power, stiffness, weight, headsize, etc.

I'm not trying to be offensive or attacking. It is just a peave of mine since I play a 20+ year old racquet and do just fine against many fine players. I tried to switch after reading this and that and went back to find I was playing better than ever before w/ my dear OLD friend. Good strokes are good strokes. Good players can play w/ any racquet and I'm certain Federer could beat any 4.5 player w/ a stiff fly swatter; no strings necessary.
 

floydcouncil

Professional
I hate, hate, hate when people make comments like this! Total BS! You can't say the racquet a player has been using for 20 years can be replaced by another and make the player a better player. There used to be a phrase that I still swear by and isn't used enough these days......

It's not the racquet. It's the player.

As soon as you lose sight of this, you are lost. You'll be searching and searching and searching for the grail. If you find it, you'll then begin the search for the string and where to place the lead tape, silicone, etc. If the OP changes racquets, he'll have a whole new set of variables to learn to play with; string pattern, power, stiffness, weight, headsize, etc.

I'm not trying to be offensive or attacking. It is just a peave of mine since I play a 20+ year old racquet and do just fine against many fine players. I tried to switch after reading this and that and went back to find I was playing better than ever before w/ my dear OLD friend. Good strokes are good strokes. Good players can play w/ any racquet and I'm certain Federer could beat any 4.5 player w/ a stiff fly swatter; no strings necessary.

You're fooling yourself if you think a 4.0 player plays "better" with an antiquated Prince Pro whatever in today's game of spin and power.

Let me guess... you're a proponent of the PS85 in the modern game, I'd bet.
 

dak95_00

Hall of Fame
I'm saying a person w/ 20 years experience playing a 93 sq in racquet w/ a 14x18 string pattern isn't going to find better equipment. They're not going to be happy w/ a 10-11 oz 16x19 100 sq in racquet that doesn't produce the same spin because it doesn't have the same mass, stiffness, or open string pattern. Before long, their arm will hurt because of trading form to produce the same effortless power and spin their old racquet produced w/ such ease.

I play a POG which is also 93 sq in and a 14x18 pattern. I'm not a big fan of the Wilson 85s. They always felt hollow and had too much power for me or lacked spin. I just never cared for them. Of all of the Wilsons, I only somewhat like the PS 6.1 Classic in standard length but only when it was strung w/ Prince Pro Blend at 70lbs. It had a nice solid feel like that. Otherwise, too much power.

I had my phase where I tried out the Microgel Radical. Great groundstroke racquet w/ nothing else. I tried out a PT57A. Great racquet but not worth the money and it was a good thing I got the three of them for roughly $100. I tried the Liquidmetal Radical.....Yuck! I've hit w/ every variety of Wilson 6.1....too much power and not enough spin.

There is no better spin producing racquet out there or has ever been out there than a 14x18 open pattern. These racquets have weight for plow through all by themselves; no need to add lead, etc.

Let me guess.....You play a 98-100 sq in racquet that weighs 11 oz w/ a 16 or 18x20 pattern and thinks it produces the same spin.....not even close. You also believe in cortex, karophite, blx, nano, microgel, liquidmetal, and a million other myths.

Do yourself a favor and go hit w/ a POG mid. If you are a string breaker, watch out. They won't last 1/2 the time as usual and that IS the weakness of the POG. That and you have to produce your own power through correct form. Hackers need not apply. 4.0 is not a hacker.
 

PBODY99

Legend
As a player who used a POG when it was state of the art, I agree that you won't find any "modern" frame that does what this classic does. Yes the 14 M pattern eats string, but that is part of what makes the Prince 90's such great frames as it produces a great ball in the right hands.
 

michael_1265

Professional
I second Dak's sentiments. It's all about what fits your game. Also, the march of technology between your racquet and today has been largely smoke and mirrors. The big leap forward has been in string technology. Finally, I don't believe any graphite era racquet will wear out. Find a couple more Comps, and enjoy. String one of them up with an all-poly, 18g, low-tension set up, and open up a whole new world of possibilities........
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
POGs rule!

I do agree with trying the re-stringing route. I use rackets that are 20+ years old and a new set of strings does the trick. Its more likely the strings that are dead, not the frame. Ive never heard of a frame going dead.

I too use a 93sq head a do very well against the APD topspinners....its all about playing to your strengths.

If you do re-string, let us know how it goes.
 

namepoc10

New User
Thanks everyone for youR views.

I have decided to get my racket restrung as suggested (thanks!) plus I demonstrated a POG Mid and a Volkl Powerbridge 10 as recommended today. Another Graphite Comp Series 90 is hard or impossible to get in the UK which is a shame, hence the demo today.

I really liked the Volkl (agree with all the commenst on the TW review on YouTube) but I absolutely loved the POG Mid. I think it is the 14 x 18 that i lobe most in a racket, despite the cash burn on strings. I am going to hit with it for the next week or so and if it still feels as good I my invest in a couple of them.

Appreciate all the views, especially those sticking up for the classic rackets!
 

Hannah19

Professional
You're fooling yourself if you think a 4.0 player plays "better" with an antiquated Prince Pro whatever in today's game of spin and power.

Let me guess... you're a proponent of the PS85 in the modern game, I'd bet.

If you are so "anti-classic" when it comes to playing with them, what are you doing on Classic Racquet Talk?
 

michael_1265

Professional
Thanks everyone for youR views.

I have decided to get my racket restrung as suggested (thanks!) plus I demonstrated a POG Mid and a Volkl Powerbridge 10 as recommended today. Another Graphite Comp Series 90 is hard or impossible to get in the UK which is a shame, hence the demo today.

I really liked the Volkl (agree with all the commenst on the TW review on YouTube) but I absolutely loved the POG Mid. I think it is the 14 x 18 that i lobe most in a racket, despite the cash burn on strings. I am going to hit with it for the next week or so and if it still feels as good I my invest in a couple of them.

Appreciate all the views, especially those sticking up for the classic rackets!

I will keep an eye out for a Graphite Comp 90 locally. If I find one, I will e-mail you. If I do, you can have it for whatever I paid (typically <$5) plus whatever it costs to ship it across the pond.
 

namepoc10

New User
Michael_1265 that is amazingly kind and I'd buy it off you instantly! Thank you so much. If you find two, I'd take them and possibly more as like gold dust over here. Thanks!
 
Top