2020 (?!) Prince CTS Synergy DB26

TypeRx

TypeRx

Semi-Pro
Prince decided to re-release this "classic" stick. https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_CTS_Synergy_DB26/descpageRCPRINCE-PRCTSY.html

I have been a fan of the Prince CTS lineup from since I was in HS. I still hit from time to time with my Prince CTS Graduate 90, which is a little thinner (I think 24mm max) and doesn't have the integrated dampener the DB26 had. In fact, seeing the re-release of the DB26 made me restring my Graduate...I'll use it for my match tomorrow for fun :D

Looks like the new stick has a 97 sq-in headsize and hopefully that is the only thing they did to "modernize" it.

Here is the TW review:
 
joah310 said:
I'm pretty sure the og mid plus already had a 97 si head suze
Click to expand...

You know I think you are right. There was a DB24 and DB26 and think both came in mid-plus (95 or 97?) or oversize (110) variants. Guess they were ahead of their time in that regard. I still like to use my 90 sq in racket from time to time if for nothing else than to force me to focus more on hitting the sweet spot haha
 
TypeRx said:
You know I think you are right. There was a DB24 and DB26 and think both came in mid-plus (95 or 97?) or oversize (110) variants. Guess they were ahead of their time in that regard. I still like to use my 90 sq in racket from time to time if for nothing else than to force me to focus more on hitting the sweet spot haha
Click to expand...
Yeah prince did good with their frame head sizes. 90s are too small for me, but they are a pleasure to play with. I use a 95 and still feel like it's too small
 
joah310 said:
I'm pretty sure the og mid plus already had a 97 si head suze
Click to expand...
TypeRx said:
You know I think you are right. There was a DB24 and DB26 and think both came in mid-plus (95 or 97?) or oversize (110) variants. Guess they were ahead of their time in that regard. I still like to use my 90 sq in racket from time to time if for nothing else than to force me to focus more on hitting the sweet spot haha
Click to expand...
Back in 1992 Prince called the Synergy 26 DB MP 100sq.in. With the Synergy series the head sizes were MP 100 and Oversize 107
 
scotus said:
Like how their old "Midplus" is now called "Midsize"
Click to expand...

LOL I remember that. I was like...

tenor.gif
 
Spec here has it as a 97 also, might check my old ones against my Prince 100's, definitely feels like a bigger head size.


Edit: just remembered my 93p and and an old Prince 90 had exactly the same shape and size. Different ways of measuring?
 
I love this racquet but sometimes transitioning from a 100 sq inch racquet to a 97 sq inch racquet, I tend to miss hit the sweet spot and this racquet is forcing me to get better. Has anyone tried any other string hybrids to help open up the sweet spot a bit? I like it with a soft poly at 51 lbs with 2 to 3 grams of lead at 12 O Clock
 
vsbabolat said:
Back in 1992 Prince called the Synergy 26 DB MP 100sq.in. With the Synergy series the head sizes were MP 100 and Oversize 107
Click to expand...

Almost certainly is a 100" frame, it's the same size and shape as a PCG 100 ...
I overlaid these two racquets before (also a Blade 98 for posterity):

https://imgur.com/a/sf2HKdJ

The Synergy 26 is a goldilocks frame for me. I've been playing my best ever tennis with it ever since I had it—a few months now. Never intended to use it as my primary but it just suits my game perfectly, and it gives me the extra pop and spin I was looking for over my Blades.
 
McGradey said:
Almost certainly is a 100" frame, it's the same size and shape as a PCG 100 ...
I overlaid these two racquets before (also a Blade 98 for posterity):

https://imgur.com/a/sf2HKdJ

The Synergy 26 is a goldilocks frame for me. I've been playing my best ever tennis with it ever since I had it—a few months now. Never intended to use it as my primary but it just suits my game perfectly, and it gives me the extra pop and spin I was looking for over my Blades.
Click to expand...

LOL wow it definitely feels big for a 97. The blade looks just a bit less wide from your pic
 
McGradey said:
As soon as I started playing with it, I thought there's no way this thing is smaller than a 98.
It's weird that it's been marketed as a 97.
Click to expand...
yeah maybe back in the 90s that was their measurement standards. What strings are you playing with in the CTS Synergy? I love the racquet but sometimes when I hit outside the sweetspot I can feel the power drop and was hoping to find something to help me with more of a forgiving feel. I like it with head lynx 17 yellow at 51 lbs, it gives me good spin and control with some adequate power. This racquet punishes me when I am not in a decent position to hit my shots and then the power is diminished and drops
 
damianduytran said:
yeah maybe back in the 90s that was their measurement standards. What strings are you playing with in the CTS Synergy? I love the racquet but sometimes when I hit outside the sweetspot I can feel the power drop and was hoping to find something to help me with more of a forgiving feel. I like it with head lynx 17 yellow at 51 lbs, it gives me good spin and control with some adequate power. This racquet punishes me when I am not in a decent position to hit my shots and then the power is diminished and drops
Click to expand...

I’m using Tour Bite at 50lbs. It gives me the control I’m looking for. For context, my previous racquet was a Blade 18x20, and the Synergy has a fair amount more power than that, so for me it’s about getting as much control as possible for now.

This is definitely a racquet that needs a proper swing and decent footwork, but for me it's quite powerful as well. If you’re looking for more power, I’d try a hybrid with some syn gut, either in the mains or crosses. Keep your current poly in the hybrid so you are only changing one thing and know what the difference feels like.

It depends how you play as well, do you break strings if you use syn gut? Michelle in the TW review mentioned that this racquet works best with a full bed of syn gut because that’s what it was designed for. She seemed to love that setup. It will give you more forgiveness and power.

But durability will obviously be reduced.

I’ve never used a full bed of multi but that will also give you more forgiveness and pop than poly. And again, less durable.
 
Last edited:
McGradey said:
I’m using Tour Bite at 50lbs. It gives me the control I’m looking for. For context, my previous racquet was a Blade 18x20, and the Synergy has a fair amount more power than that, so for me it’s about getting as much control as possible for now.

This is definitely a racquet that needs a proper swing and decent footwork, but if you’re looking for more power I’d try a hybrid with some syn gut, either in the mains or crosses. Keep your current poly in the hybrid so you are only changing one thing and know what the difference feels like.

It depends how you play as well, do you break strings if you use syn gut? Michelle in the TW review mentioned that this racquet works best with a full bed of syn gut because that’s what it was designed for. She seemed to love that setup. It will give you more forgiveness and power.

But durability will obviously be reduced.

I’ve never used a full bed of multi but that will also give you more forgiveness and pop than poly. And again, less durable.
Click to expand...
I actually tried it in a full bed of Synthetic gut first at 57 lbs and it was too tight. Then I dropped it down to 53 lbs and love it so much more. I am not too concerned with durability as I string my own racquet. I think I will try a hybrid to see if I can get the best of both worlds whether it be poly in the cross or main. I have always used full polys for the last 10 years and never had an arm issue. Since I have 2 racquets, I think I will try next a poly/syn hybrid and then a multi/poly hybrid. For reference my game style is very similar to Michelle where I like to hit the ball flat except she moves better than me lol
 
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