Prince to release grommeted racquets again in 2013

CaptinStiff

New User

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
The O-Port, Speedport frames were actually very successful (at least for a while) and many people liked frames in those lines (including myself).

But, clearly they weren't for everyone, so I always wondered why Prince didn't produce new regular grommeted frames as well and sell them side by side with the "holes" frames. They have such a long history of producing great, basic frames, that I thought it was odd that they'd give it up completely.
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
Did they not have standard grommets that you could switch into the Exo frames anyway?

I don't know, I'm asking the question.
 

tinyman

Rookie
Did they not have standard grommets that you could switch into the Exo frames anyway?

I don't know, I'm asking the question.

I'm not extensively versed with Prince (well, I'm not extensively versed with anything, really) - but when I used the EXO3 Tour, you could indeed swap out the port holes for standard grommets. I think there were, at least in some versions of them doing it, problems with the standard grommets 'breaking' off from their mount if strung less than awesomely? I'm not so sure about that...
 
Oh snap! 30% spin increase! I wonder how many gear heads are going to flock to these racquets because it advertises 30% spin increase.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I like Prince. They make some real nice, flexible sticks, and that is a nice thing in terms of feel and comfort. It separates them from the other companies who's main focus is the stiff racquets it seems.

Whomever can make a modern specced stick with that nice classic feel (like the prince OG) will sell some racquets.
 

Vlad_C

Semi-Pro
Key quote:
Circo told ESPN that the Prince brand will be back with a grommeted racket in 2013, with technology that he says allows the player to put 30 percent more spin on the ball.

Wow, 30%...
All of a sudden my interest in generating topspin has just jumped from 0% to 0.1%
 

sansaephanh

Professional
Did they not have standard grommets that you could switch into the Exo frames anyway?

I don't know, I'm asking the question.

Yes they do/did. It actually made quite a huge difference. The normal grommets made prince rackets hit like most other traditional rackets, but the ports really opened up the sweatspot and added that signature "prince" feel.

Which I personally enjoyed.

Prince called it the Prince Racket Tuning System.

I did an experiment on my rebels. same rackets, same tension, same strings, different grommets.

Results were quite simple.

Ports: Less feel, more power, more comfort, open sweetspot, more spin, less control.
Grommets: The opposite of above
2012 Thermoplastic Grommets: Hard to tell the difference from original grommets, but it's supposed to be stiffer and give a tighter response.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Prince's decline had very little to do with its product and its technological innovation is run out of Italy.

Obviously the new owners want to herald their arrival with a change of product line, which is good, but the old product line was hardly responsible for their decline.
 

USS Tang

Rookie
Over the past 45 years I have played with all kinds of rackets from Dunlop, Wilson, Head, PDP, etc. Now I play with an open-port Prince. I can say unequivocally that I hardly notice the difference.
 

Mateo

Rookie
Shame, ports are ok, I only hope that new owners would stay in that prince feel of racquets...if not...i will buy 10x tour's 100 and forget about them.
 

000KFACTOR90000

Professional
The o ports were good sticks but they should have come with the boomerang tool for stringing. I've got a feeling they were the most mis-strung racquet on the market.
 

martini1

Hall of Fame
I didn't like how poly would have a harder time to snap back based on my own exp. And the feel on the exo was a little bit better than the speed port. The pj are a lot nicer, only yonex can equal that.

The reason they didn't sell is because of Marsha was out but they were still paying her. Double dipped there. And prince doesn't have another super stars. They should have got a few more good looking faces.
 

Automatix

Legend
First of all there is no mention that Prince will completely cease to use O-ports in frames.

However if it would be true the only question I've got is: Why so "take it or leave it" policy?

Wouldn't it be better if Prince would analyse their sales and kept the best selling O-port frames which they'd continue to update in the future?

Why can't they just release "grommeted racquets" and O-port frames?

I know, I know... the same problem as with the 2x different pattern Tecnifibre frames.

However look what Dunlop did/does with the new collection. They introduce a new head shape and beam design frames in the new line, while they still offer some models in "classic" version.
 
Prince did fairly well by leading the market, first with oversize racquets, then with things like elongated racquets, comfort gimmicks, and finally string ports. Building a racquet with a spin gimmick is hardly a revelation in the current market and one wonders if it will be enough for them.
 

scotus

G.O.A.T.
"Take it or leave it" was the exact attitude displayed by the Prince rep who answered questions from TW members some time ago.
 
I thought Prince racquets were getting more and more popular now? I play junior tennis and at tournaments the most seen ractuet is the exo3 tour, which I use as well. I think it'd be a bad idea to stop the port and hole designs.
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
As others have said, why does it have to be one or the other? Make some traditional grommeted frames, make some o-port frames.
 

TennezSport

Hall of Fame
Well.......

What I heard from the few reps that are left is that Prince will keep 3 or 4 Speed Port racquets in the lineup and add regular grommet racquets for variety. The Rebel, Tour, Warrior and maybe one more will stay and they will add something like the CTS or Triple Threat type racquets to the lineup; updated of course. Have to wait and see as I don't think they know for sure themselves.

Cheers, TennezSport :cool:
 

CaptinStiff

New User
What I heard from the few reps that are left is that Prince will keep 3 or 4 Speed Port racquets in the lineup and add regular grommet racquets for variety. The Rebel, Tour, Warrior and maybe one more will stay and they will add something like the CTS or Triple Threat type racquets to the lineup; updated of course. Have to wait and see as I don't think they know for sure themselves.

Cheers, TennezSport :cool:

Yeah I think you're right. They'll probably keep a limited line of exo port racquets, and add a limited line of more traditional grommeted racquest to satisfy that unmet need.

I think not having enough variety of frame tech over the years, and missing out on signing one of the big 3 men's superstars has hurt them the most. Oh yeah and that whole economy thing too.
 

Automatix

Legend
What I heard from the few reps that are left is that Prince will keep 3 or 4 Speed Port racquets in the lineup and add regular grommet racquets for variety. The Rebel, Tour, Warrior and maybe one more will stay and they will add something like the CTS or Triple Threat type racquets to the lineup; updated of course.
And that seems to be the most logical way of getting back to the "grommeted frames" biz.

Still as Scotus mentioned...
"Take it or leave it" was the exact attitude displayed by the Prince rep who answered questions from TW members some time ago.

... when some TT members advised/asked about introducing at least 1 or 2 models with traditional grommets the guy from Prince was like "What do you know?!". I guess the $$$ balance is the only thing that gets through to these guys.
 
My only hitting experience with port holes was with the Speed Port Tour. Strings moved too much - didn't like it - but it sounded awesome when you swung it through the air. Put some grommet holes in it, and got a much more consistent feel. My stringing experience was with the Rebel (and my Speed Port), and I hated stringing port inserts. The grommet inserts on the Rebel split in half on the crosses on more than one occasion. Felt cheaply made. If you're going to use some tech in a racquet, go all the way. I don't think building a frame as a "hybrid" makes sense. Maybe money sense.
 

louis netman

Hall of Fame
Indeed, the ports had some positive qualities, however they rendered the frame devoid of feel. The concept worked for a generation of players who all played the same way. Players nowadays are evolving and may be discovering how ball "feel" enters the equation. IMO, the grommet inserts were a half-hearted attempt at creating an option with minimal tooling expense. Unfortunately, (I don't think) they were in direct contact with the frame--this kept me from checking them out. Perhaps the new frames will be worth examining...
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Yep. The ports were the way to go, but the ball feel was not there. Yonex has that same large sweetspot, but their grommets are much better and the ball feel is as well.

The ports were just a pain to string,I could never get the tension right on certain strings.
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
ESPN.com has a nice article on Prince and their reorg. Basically they're with new owners and out of bankruptcy. Also looking like thery're going to go back to basic with there racquet tech.

Key quote:
Circo told ESPN that the Prince brand will be back with a grommeted racket in 2013, with technology that he says allows the player to put 30 percent more spin on the ball.


http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dollars/post/_/id/1295/tennis-company-prince-eyeing-a-comeback

Wow! Rafa would be super tough if he switch racket companies and went with Prince technology. 30% more spin for Rafa would be curtains for all opponents.
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
I must say I'm very pleased that it looks like the Prince brand will be continuing. With its history it would be a shame to see it disappear and its also good news that they are looking to release some standard grommet rackets. Maybe using the Exo3 system for their top end racket range was a little restrictive and narrow minded.

However, some of the stories I read about re-stringing the Exo3 port rackets does seriously concern me. I use my Exo3 Graphite 93 about once a week and its a pleasure to play with, but I am very worried that if a string goes then the racket will be useless and there does not appear to be a like for like replacement model.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I must say I'm very pleased that it looks like the Prince brand will be continuing. With its history it would be a shame to see it disappear and its also good news that they are looking to release some standard grommet rackets. Maybe using the Exo3 system for their top end racket range was a little restrictive and narrow minded.

However, some of the stories I read about re-stringing the Exo3 port rackets does seriously concern me. I use my Exo3 Graphite 93 about once a week and its a pleasure to play with, but I am very worried that if a string goes then the racket will be useless and there does not appear to be a like for like replacement model.

If you break a string, the racquet is useless? Even after re-stringing????

Btw, I own two Graphite 93, they are ok but the feel is lacking compared to the i.Radical or i.Prestige, PK Redondo.
 
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robbo1970

Hall of Fame
If you break a string, the racquet is useless? Even after re-stringing????

I meant that from what I have read in other threads about re-stringing the Exo3's, most peoples experience seems to be that most stringers don't know how to re-string them properly and they just make a pigs ear of it, not getting the tensions right and just generally stringing them incorrectly.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I meant that from what I have read in other threads about re-stringing the Exo3's, most peoples experience seems to be that most stringers don't know how to re-string them properly and they just make a pigs ear of it, not getting the tensions right and just generally stringing them incorrectly.

Never heard that they could not get the tension right again. Yes, they are a PITA to string, even with a brake. Strung a few, child's play compared to those Wilson Roller racquets from BITD.
 
I meant that from what I have read in other threads about re-stringing the Exo3's, most peoples experience seems to be that most stringers don't know how to re-string them properly and they just make a pigs ear of it, not getting the tensions right and just generally stringing them incorrectly.

I know what you mean, I've strung almost nothing but them now so I'm used to it, I guess you could say, but at tournaments when I need mine restrung, people usually string them wayyy too high or really low. There are certain differences in stringing them as compared to more traditional racquets.
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
Well I have two of them, one is still in its plastic bag.

They are pre-strung, I think with Duraflex Synth Gut so hopefully they will last. I'm not a huge hitter of the ball so fingers crossed I don't need to re-string in a hurry.

FYI I'm not a serious enough player to need to re-string unless I break one.

But.....maybe the 'new' Prince will have something of similar spec for me when that eventually happens!
 

michaelkoren

New User
The grommet-less technology produced racquets that whistled in the air and, for the most part, lacked the 'fee'l of Prince's earlier racquets. The EXO line was an improvement but most players felt Prince racquets were 'tricked out'. I've been demoing them for a while now trying to replace my old Precision Response 660. Am excited that Prince will be building grommeted frames again. If a product manager at the 'new' company reads this, please make something that closely resembles that frame again. Control, solidness, spin and yes, precision.
 

Top Jimmy

Semi-Pro
I'd like a re-issue of the Reponse 90. One of my favorite rackets I ever owned. Think the string pattern was 16/20 and how can you not like a flexible bridge to pocket the ball.
 

floide

Rookie
Good! I'm a fan of Prince, since the old Prince CTS Approach was my first racquet. Also a fan of thouse classic 80/90's frames, and still got my Graphite Comp Classic II (sometimes I take it to the court, and it plays real well).

Never hit with a "holed" frame, though.
 

nyc

Hall of Fame
ESPN.com has a nice article on Prince and their reorg. Basically they're with new owners and out of bankruptcy. Also looking like thery're going to go back to basic with there racquet tech.

Key quote:
Circo told ESPN that the Prince brand will be back with a grommeted racket in 2013, with technology that he says allows the player to put 30 percent more spin on the ball.


http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dollars/post/_/id/1295/tennis-company-prince-eyeing-a-comeback

Bull *cough* S#!t *cough*

Another pseudo scientific marketing claim. Getting tired.
 
The Precision series including the Mono was nearly perfect. Used the Precision Graphite 640 and 700. 700 OS was the best racquet Prince ever made IMHO.

Also make a modern version of the woody! Its still one of those racquets that you hit with and forget how old it is, and that you're hitting with a wood racquet! Feels so good
 

nalvarado

Semi-Pro
Never heard that they could not get the tension right again. Yes, they are a PITA to string, even with a brake. Strung a few, child's play compared to those Wilson Roller racquets from BITD.

Oh god I bought one for a few bucks when I started stringing to practice on. Never again. Promptly sold it.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Oh god I bought one for a few bucks when I started stringing to practice on. Never again. Promptly sold it.

Sorry to hear you sold your stringer after stringing either of those racquets. Maybe Wilson will bring back shared holes to chase away more stringers.
 

wolfinsignia

New User
First of all there is no mention that Prince will completely cease to use O-ports in frames.

However if it would be true the only question I've got is: Why so "take it or leave it" policy?

Wouldn't it be better if Prince would analyse their sales and kept the best selling O-port frames which they'd continue to update in the future?

Why can't they just release "grommeted racquets" and O-port frames?

I know, I know... the same problem as with the 2x different pattern Tecnifibre frames.

However look what Dunlop did/does with the new collection. They introduce a new head shape and beam design frames in the new line, while they still offer some models in "classic" version.

from a business standpoint, you say that the o ports are a revelation, but yet you still stick to grommets. especially if the sales on the grommets outrake the o ports.

the o port has great advantages and are not infrerior to any other racquet outside of opinion but its new, but from a smaller company to do it is a horrible business point anyways. but they had to seperate themselves from the rest to stay top of the line.

so yea business is the reason.
 
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