Which is the most readily available Prince CTS Oversize?

AndrewD

Legend
I'm a Prince oversize user but, these days, they're low in quantity and the quality is poor . Ideally I'd like to go back to the Prince OS frames I used in the early 90's which were the Approach, Graduate and Lightning (my all-time favourite). That will mean I've got to look for them second-hand and I was just wondering which of them is the easiest to come by without having to spend a fortune? (I'm in Australia and almost never see them out here).
 

VGP

Legend
I think the Prince CTS oversize racket that is the most readily available, if you don't mind the Synergy series is the Prince CTS Synergy DB26 OS.

If you're wanting the "original" line, the Approach (green - 28mm tip) and Graduate (bluish silver - 26mm tip, graphite/fiberglass) came first, then the addition of the Thunderstick (dark blue - 36mm tip) and Precision (dark purple - 24mm tip, graphite/fiberglass), then the Lighting (gold - 26mm tip). Those frames came out in '88-'90. They were labeled as 90 and 110. In '91 Prince started labeling them as Midplus and Oversize.

In mid-'91 came the Response (26mm tip) which looked like a red Lightning since it had the DB. Then came the Blast (26mm tip) and Storm (32mm tip).

Then in '92 came the Synergy line available in MP and OS. Each labeled by the width at the tip. The DB24 (MP only available in Europe), DB26, 26, 28, and 32.

The reason the Synergy DB26s are the most readily available is because they were made for the longest time. I don't know about the rest of the Synergy frames. The line debuted in '92 but were available until 2000. The other frames of the CTS lineage were only made for a year or two before Prince discontinued them or changed the cosmetics.......I'm familiar with these frames, not some of the extended and other iterations made toward the mid-90s.

Of the original line, I'd have to say the Thunderstick (which might be too unwieldy) and the Approach are the most available still. The Approach comes up on e-bay about one or two times a month. The Synergy DB26 OS has several examples on e-bay as of this post.
 

VGP

Legend
Virginia,

The CTS Lightning 110; it's the oversize version of the midsize 90 that Capriati used when she first went to Prince .

She used to put lead tape under the bumperguard. I remember seeing the silver of the tape peeking through from under the perforated bumperguard. Makes sense because she switched from the PS85. The Lighting's a little light.
 

Virginia

Hall of Fame
Virginia,

The CTS Lightning 110; it's the oversize version of the midsize 90 that Capriati used when she first went to Prince .
Ah, I just checked and I have only the midsize Lightning.

I do have both the OS Synergy DB 24 and DB 26 though, if either of those would be of interest.
 

AndrewD

Legend
Ah, I just checked and I have only the midsize Lightning.

I do have both the OS Synergy DB 24 and DB 26 though, if either of those would be of interest.

Virginia,

I would prefer the Lightning OS but, if I couldn't locate a couple of them, the DB 26 would be next cab off the rank.

I've ended up with a clutch of racquets (i-Prestige Mids, t10 MP GenII, t10 MP V-engine, RDX 500 MP) that are almost brand new (some unused, some very lightly used) but, as I prefer an OS, have no use for them (I don't really collect racquets). As a result, I'd prefer to trade them off for something I will use at some point.
 

philxor

Rookie
I played with both the Lightning OS and the DB26 OS years ago and they are very similar. I still have my original 4 1/2 DB26 which I started playing with again just a couple of years ago. I started looking on *bay and other places for DB26s or Lightning and didn't have much difficulty finding them. The DB26 seems to be very easy to get ahold of.
 

AndrewD

Legend
I played with both the Lightning OS and the DB26 OS years ago and they are very similar. I still have my original 4 1/2 DB26 which I started playing with again just a couple of years ago. I started looking on *bay and other places for DB26s or Lightning and didn't have much difficulty finding them. The DB26 seems to be very easy to get ahold of.

Philoxor,

Thanks for the comparison. Have you tried the TT Warrior OS? If so, how do you think it compares to the Lightning OS and DB26 OS?

I did have a look at 'the bay' and saw quite a lot of DB 26 OS for sale, along with a few Lightning OS. If I lived in the States I'd just snap up a couple, no trouble at all. However, living in Australia and having had a bad experience in the past (including a bad one with Paypal) I'm very, very hesitant to buy from it again.
 

VGP

Legend
I was wondering if being in Australia might be an issue.

Other than e-bay and going to thrift stores and garage sales, I'm not sure what else to do.

Do you have a nice online classifieds network in Australia?

I've liked the Prince double-bridge frames for a while. I started with the first one, the Prince Graphtech DB 110. My sister still uses her Prince Lightning 110s. I know that it's not a direct comparison, but when I hit with her last I used my Prince Synergy DB26 MPs and I hit a bit with her Lighting 110.

I found the Lightning a little crisper than the Synergy. But, my frames were leaded up and hers were not. It could be the supposed dampening by the "liquid crystal polymers" of the Synergy line.....but there were a lot of variables to consider. Head size, string type and tension, etc.

FWIW, here are a couple of pics from a thread on the Prince Synergy DB26 MP. Two I got from local used sporting good stores, one from e-bay, and one from the TTW classifieds.

I guess the TTW classifieds is another way to go.

be7o88.jpg


el2k9e.jpg
 

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
I have an Approach in decent shape in a closet around somewhere.....I have it packed a way with 2 ti Radical OS which will make up my bag probably within 5 yrs when my game needs more forgiveness...

They do pop up often on the big auction site, but I rarely see CTS Lightnings either in mid or os on there.....

The db26 as VGP mentions is a great stick!
 

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
BTW a couple of ti Radical 107's would make you smile and those remain avail pretty readily tho the prices are climbing.

I will not be selling mine, they are matched and balanced.
 

AndrewD

Legend
VGP,

I've posted this in a fresh thread but, in case you don't see it, can you make any comparison between the TT Warrior OS and either the Lightning OS or Synergy DB OS?

I think I might have to pick Virginia's brain in regards to purchasing racquets from outside Australia-New Zealand.
 

VGP

Legend
AndrewD - I saw your thread in the other section. Sorry I don't have any experience with the TT Warrior OS. AFAIK, Virginia does a lot of e-bay and TTW classifieds. I recall she may have a liaison in the US. I'm sure she'll be able to help you out.
 

AndrewD

Legend
AndrewD - I saw your thread in the other section. Sorry I don't have any experience with the TT Warrior OS. AFAIK, Virginia does a lot of e-bay and TTW classifieds. I recall she may have a liaison in the US. I'm sure she'll be able to help you out.

Thanks mate. I'm hanging in there at the moment with the Prince 03 Tour Oversize cut back to 27 inches (closer to 27.25 - I didn't quite take enough off). I'm playing very well with them but I remain inherently suspicious of the 03 racquets in terms of comfort.
 

jayserinos99

Hall of Fame
Of the original line, I'd have to say the Thunderstick (which might be too unwieldy) and the Approach are the most available still. The Approach comes up on e-bay about one or two times a month. The Synergy DB26 OS has several examples on e-bay as of this post.

I'll have to agree with the Thunderstick 110 being unwieldy. I measured mine out to be 12.8oz, 9pt HL strung and I'd to estimate it being around 345sw. Just a beast of a racquet.
 
Top