Did Prince’s series of different O Ports hurt their ability to have pros endorse one racket while using another?

[Remioli]

Like I remember Malisse and a couple other guys using a Diablo or Graphite well after they stopped being produced. Cause obviously Prince couldn’t paint them like a O3 white.

Now if you wanted to stick with the O3 white, there’s really no racket you can pretend that pro is using to endorse. (even their rackets with O ports are pretty different now)

I’m curious if this is a minor reason why they have exactly 1 player endorsed right now.

 

[Ihatetennis]

honestly the prince o port was amazing, the late 2000s lines could have been updated and kept similar to what they were. They just didnt come back to them quickly enough.

shame honestly

 

[Alexh22]

Common issue with companies revamp every 2-3 years. It is a shame they have to change the proven O port to a different shape.
In the future companies will do triangle frames and call it a new technology.

 

[Fedinkum]

I love the Tour 100 and Tour 98. The O port tech was a real tech, unlike many other brand's gimmicks. Gotta give Prince the credit to take a risk with real innovation. Pity it is not more popular.

 

[Remioli]

I love the Tour 100 and Tour 98. The O port tech was a real tech, unlike many other brand's gimmicks. Gotta give Prince the credit to take a risk with real innovation. Pity it is not more popular.

I don’t buy into any tech, but when I just think about having giant holes in your racket.... it seems like it’d have a noticeable effect. Did it lower swing weight? I used the tour MP and mid and both were awesome.

It is a shame they have to change the proven O port to a different shape.

Any reason why they did? Are the square shapes worse?

 

[Fedinkum]

I don’t buy into any tech, but when I just think about having giant holes in your racket.... it seems like it’d have a noticeable effect. Did it lower swing weight? I used the tour MP and mid and both were awesome.

If you compare two rackets with same weight and balance, you definitely feel the O-port racket is swinging faster and more maneuverable. Is simple physics, it has less surface resistance.

 

[Ihatetennis]

If you compare two rackets with same weight and balance, you definitely feel the O-port racket is swinging faster and more maneuverable. Is simple physics, it has less surface resistance.

the increase in flex too

 

[Fedinkum]

the increase in flex too

I didn’t think of that! But yeah, of course it will! Both my Tour 98 and 100 are super comfy.

 

[FD3S]

The O-Ports were definitely one of the few racquet gimmicks that actually worked, but from what I saw you either swore by them or swore at them with no in-between; I used an O3 Tour for a year or two and just couldn't get used to the feel when I struck the ball. It didn't help that Prince went all in with them for a while in what IMO was a mistake, people simply didn't have a lot of options from the company if they preferred more conventional racquets.

 

[jarko111]

And they had a whole league of players using the O-Ports when they came out. Some retired using the frame.. some rode it out with EXO3 paint, then the color coded system was done away with and everyone was either on a Warrior or a Tour.
But yea.. it's hard to come up with new technology and paint jobs over a racket full of holes. John Isner transitioned pretty well. But the Beast probably plays more like a White than a Warrior (elements of both the white and black).