TobyTopspin
Professional
There was a very positive review conducted by the TW playtesters on this new Prince release. I've hit with it for about an hour last night and wanted to provide some feedback as well.
One reason I was interested in this stick is because of the headsize. It's the same size as my POG OS that I've used for almost two decades. While looking at the stats on this stick you may misjudge the intended player that would benefit from this frame. Let me put this to rest really quick. This stick can be used by any level player.
In a way, Prince as went 'Back to the Future' with this new release. This is not one of of those huge headed senior light sticks. To me, this is much like the original POG OS release from back in the 70s. It is a stick that makes the game a little easier for players, but still has attributes that higher level players will enjoy.
First off, the head is 107, but the head shape is not the same as the POG OS. It is a little more oval verses the wider POG OS shape. The sweet spot is very generous in size with only the areas closer to the frame results in a thinner feeling response.
The weight is 11.2 ounces with a swing weight of 317 with a balance of 7pts headlight according to TW's measurements. The stick I was using was in that range, but the swing weight felt heavier to me than 317. It felt more like a 320 to 325 sw to me, but that's not really that far off from TW's stats.
The racquet was strung with 17g Prince Premier Control at 57 lbs. and produced an easily controllable ball. From the baseline, I was getting plenty of spin and nice plow from the stick. My shots felt heavy and were penetrating the court with easy depth. I had no issues hitting shorter wide shots either. I could hit loopy high topspin shots as well as skidding slices without any issues. Flatter shots were easy to pull off as well and control was never an issue.
The comfort of the larger head and frame flex make this stick a winner with players with arm problems. Somehow Prince was able to get this lighter stick to have close to the same solid feel as the POG OS!!!!! For players that crave old school feel with the added forgiveness of modern technology, this stick may be for you!
Volleys were very easy to snap away and touch volleys were very easily controlled as well. All of this with a stick that immediately made me feel like I was playing my best. This stick is so forgiving while still maintaining great ball feel. It seems the best of two worlds has finally been realized. The stability was spot on as well. I do not remember ever feeling the racquet wanting to turn in my hand from a mishit and I know there were some because I could feel the thinner contact of the ball contacting the frame closer to the edge of the stick. You just don't get that type of feel from larger headed sticks now days.
Serves had generous pop and I could easily move the ball around the box. Spin servers were equally accurate and head high kickers were the norm without very much effort at all.
Defensive situations, a way I always judge sticks, was off the charts compared to most of the sticks I normally play with. I could easily turn a mad scramble into a neutral ball to reset the point or if I had a little more time an outright winner. The swing weight and maneuverability is certainly much easier for me that my POG OS are.
Now the question comes, will I switch to this stick full time? I'll be honest. No, I won't switch from my POGs, but it's not for any other reason than the financial payout. I just don't feel like paying for three new sticks right now. In the future, if I find a good deal on a few of these, I will not hesitate to take the plunge as it does everything that I feel a modern version of my POG OS should be.
I know that the trend to shun Prince and use stiffer and harsher feeling sticks that the Pro's are using, but Prince has a few real winners with these new Textreme releases. I have loved everyone I have tried. Hopefully players will give these a try. I highly doubt you will be disappointed.
One reason I was interested in this stick is because of the headsize. It's the same size as my POG OS that I've used for almost two decades. While looking at the stats on this stick you may misjudge the intended player that would benefit from this frame. Let me put this to rest really quick. This stick can be used by any level player.
In a way, Prince as went 'Back to the Future' with this new release. This is not one of of those huge headed senior light sticks. To me, this is much like the original POG OS release from back in the 70s. It is a stick that makes the game a little easier for players, but still has attributes that higher level players will enjoy.
First off, the head is 107, but the head shape is not the same as the POG OS. It is a little more oval verses the wider POG OS shape. The sweet spot is very generous in size with only the areas closer to the frame results in a thinner feeling response.
The weight is 11.2 ounces with a swing weight of 317 with a balance of 7pts headlight according to TW's measurements. The stick I was using was in that range, but the swing weight felt heavier to me than 317. It felt more like a 320 to 325 sw to me, but that's not really that far off from TW's stats.
The racquet was strung with 17g Prince Premier Control at 57 lbs. and produced an easily controllable ball. From the baseline, I was getting plenty of spin and nice plow from the stick. My shots felt heavy and were penetrating the court with easy depth. I had no issues hitting shorter wide shots either. I could hit loopy high topspin shots as well as skidding slices without any issues. Flatter shots were easy to pull off as well and control was never an issue.
The comfort of the larger head and frame flex make this stick a winner with players with arm problems. Somehow Prince was able to get this lighter stick to have close to the same solid feel as the POG OS!!!!! For players that crave old school feel with the added forgiveness of modern technology, this stick may be for you!
Volleys were very easy to snap away and touch volleys were very easily controlled as well. All of this with a stick that immediately made me feel like I was playing my best. This stick is so forgiving while still maintaining great ball feel. It seems the best of two worlds has finally been realized. The stability was spot on as well. I do not remember ever feeling the racquet wanting to turn in my hand from a mishit and I know there were some because I could feel the thinner contact of the ball contacting the frame closer to the edge of the stick. You just don't get that type of feel from larger headed sticks now days.
Serves had generous pop and I could easily move the ball around the box. Spin servers were equally accurate and head high kickers were the norm without very much effort at all.
Defensive situations, a way I always judge sticks, was off the charts compared to most of the sticks I normally play with. I could easily turn a mad scramble into a neutral ball to reset the point or if I had a little more time an outright winner. The swing weight and maneuverability is certainly much easier for me that my POG OS are.
Now the question comes, will I switch to this stick full time? I'll be honest. No, I won't switch from my POGs, but it's not for any other reason than the financial payout. I just don't feel like paying for three new sticks right now. In the future, if I find a good deal on a few of these, I will not hesitate to take the plunge as it does everything that I feel a modern version of my POG OS should be.
I know that the trend to shun Prince and use stiffer and harsher feeling sticks that the Pro's are using, but Prince has a few real winners with these new Textreme releases. I have loved everyone I have tried. Hopefully players will give these a try. I highly doubt you will be disappointed.
Last edited:
