Have a Prince More Control, thinking about an NXG or a Diablo?

[enwar3]

So... I've been playing with the More Control DB 800 for four years, although I've only seriously played with it for the last couple months. I just dragged it out of the closet since it's my only racquet. Now I'm looking for a racquet to grow with. The More Control isn't BAD, but it's super-uncomfortable and I don't hear many good things about it.

I'm looking to switch to either an NXG or a Diablo (mp). I've demoed the new O3's, along with some other new racquets from various brands but I'm not too impressed. I'm looking for something somewhat like the More Control but friendlier. And again, I'm looking for a racquet that will force me to hit with the sweetspot and also help me lengthen my strokes.

For those of you who have used a More Control - or even those that haven't - what do you think about the NXG or Diablo?

 

[stevekim8]

well, i never tried diablo mp, but i did try diablo mid that one of the coaches had. it's a really solid stick

 

[keithchircop]

the NXG is hated by people on these boards, especially its handle. it's a reaction against prince changing too many things from the Prince Original Graphite. the diablo mid on the other hand has legions of fans around here. would love to hit with it someday.

 

[enwar3]

Hm... by handle, do you mean the hollow handle that's part of the "More" technology (I think that's what it's called)?

I really would like to try the Diablo, but I'm not sure what headsize would be more beneficial to me. And has anybody that's used the More Control tried either of these two racquets? How did it feel?

 

[Tennis High]

Despite it's smaller size, I played with both for about a week and I believe the Mid actually has a bigger sweetspot than the MP. The MP also had a 'tinny' feel to it. There are some who love the MP after adding some lead weight but I never bothered to try that. Even though the Mid is a bit heavier, I think it's a much better choice between the two stock frames.

 

[ollinger]

Want to be forced to hit the sweetspot, and lengthen your strokes? Get the Diablo. You'll have to, because the sweetspot is small and power is low.

 

[Tennis High]

Want to be forced to hit the sweetspot, and lengthen your strokes? Get the Diablo. You'll have to, because the sweetspot is small and power is low.

While it's true it's in the low powered category, it's the highest powered player's frame I've tried. As for the sweetspot -- definitely not small. The Diablo Mid has a large sweetspot, making it play bigger than it's size.

If you really want a small sweetspot, try Fed's KSix-one. Then get ready to hit for about a couple hundred hours and then just maybe you might find some consistency.

 

[borrachodemierda]

definitely go with the diablo MID. Very solid and much more maneuvarable then the NXG. Some said to me on these boards, with whom I completely agree "don't be afraid of the small head size", the diablo mid has a huge sweetspot. BTWE I demoed the more control DB800 and found it a good stick but nothing really outstanding.

hope that helps

 

[enwar3]

Thanks for all your help guys! I'm new to TT, but everyone seems friendly =D

Alright... sounds like I'm going to buy a Diablo. What head-size should I get? Most people I hear say buy a mid, and I think that would help me on my game too.

Btw, I've talked to a couple people who have played with the DB 800, and none of them really liked it all that much.

 

[keithchircop]

the diablo XP gets no love on these boards.

 

[fuzz nation]

It's too bad that you don't have access to demos - hope I'm not making that up, but it sounds like you're going to buy a new racquet after some research.

I've had fun with the NXG mid and mp, but they're both a little off beat and the mp might have a bad reputation because its tension range is too low. I've had to run mine 3 to 4 lbs above the rec'd max to get it to behave and I don't care for especially hard feeling stingbeds. Although the Diablos have a loyal following, I've tried them both and they did nothing for me. They both just felt crappy.

If you're looking at the Diablo mid, I'd encourage you to look into the POG mid as well - I think it could be a superior alternative. The other frame that you might want to keep an eye out for is the Volkl DNX-9 which looks like a potentially great transition from the More Control.

 

[enwar3]

Yea... I've tried some demos from tennis shops around here but the closest one is 40 min away in good traffic. And, they don't demo old racquets like the Diablo or NXG, which is really what I'm looking for.

As a matter of fact, I did look at some Volkls (admittedly not the DNX-9 though) but, same thing, I couldn't demo any around here. It sounds like the Diablo is my best bet - I just want to know whether to buy a mid or mid-plus. Can someone who has played both sizes compare them? It sounds like it's not the usual arrangement, as several people have mentioned that the mid has a larger sweet spot than the mp.

When I finally decide on the racquet, I'll be browsing FS threads for a while =D. Or I might break down and just purchase it from TW..

 

[Tennis High]

Well, I've already put my two cents in as to which Tour Diablo headsize I liked the best, but if you want more detail you could try reading this:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=141703

I've never played with the More Control DB 800, but I took a look at the specs and I can see the direction you're moving in. With a flex rating of 71, I can really see why you'd said it was uncomfortable. Just looking the Diablo Mid's 66 rating alone I would think you'd be considerably happier with the comfort. Still, why not shell out the 35 or so bucks to play with 4 rackets from TW for a week? Even if you are low on cash, it seems like a small price to pay for finding the best stick you'd wanna hit with for maybe another 4 years.

You could include both the Mid and Mp like I did 3 years back. It's natural to think that MP might be better because of the size, but see for yourself. Had I known about the POG back then I would have tried that too I think. But I've recently acquired a Prince Spectrum Comp 90 which is said to practically a twin to the POG and while I like the feel and enjoy hitting with it, it just isn't a Diablo Mid.

If you are set on going the used route, grab yourself the next Mid that comes along in your size for $75 or so and let us know how you like it. Even if you had to buy one new I think they are a bargain now. I paid 150 or 160 for one when they first came out.

 

[enwar3]

Thanks so much for your help Tennis High!

I just need some final input from the evening crowd as to which head size to pick up. If you've tried em, let us know what the experience was like!

 

[travlerajm]

The NXG OS is a really fun racquet to play with if you string it up right (mid 60s) - it's so spinny you can hit unfair angles.

 

[inferno303]

this may be off topic but i reckon its a damn shame prince moved away from the classics and started all that o3 stuff

 

[fuzz nation]

I think the mid has the higher risk vs. reward factor - it would probably take you a little longer to adjust to, but you'll ultimately be able to do a lot more with it. The midplus isn't bad, but if you're still expanding your game, you could easily grow out of it rather soon. I found that it could make lots of spin, but there was definately a ceiling to its power level.

If you decide to go with a midplus, I think the NXG is better than the Diablo (it certainly was for me). It offers lots of spin and maneuverability, only moderate power, but the NXG has some stability that the Diablo does not.

 

[ps60]

If only U live here in HK, then i could sell U my Diablo MP, with lot of pleasure

If U like the More series, then u may like the NXG, for the same construction, aren't they ?

If i were U, i would look else where than Prince...
I've 4 Princes now (not including the the only good one -the broken CTS Approach), just want to sell them all...

 

[ngtaj88]

i used to play with the more db 800 and loved it. then i tested out all the nxg's and both the diablos because the db was discontinued. so i switched to the diablo mid because it was a good stick and then switched to the 03 tour midsize. now im looking to go back to the diablo mid because its a solid stick. no regrets on the diablo mid for me.

 

[PBODY99]

Hm... by handle, do you mean the hollow handle that's part of the "More" technology (I think that's what it's called)?

I really would like to try the Diablo, but I'm not sure what headsize would be more beneficial to me. And has anybody that's used the More Control tried either of these two racquets? How did it feel?

My Diablo player< 4.5 male 43 years young>has a pair in both sizes , the smaller faced frame is his favorite. He saves the larger head size for friendly doubles. Hope this helps.

 

[superstition]

The More Control 800 DB was named Tennis Magazine's racquet of the year, if that means anything to anyone here.

What I recall is that Martina Navratilova went from winning one or two doubles titles total with the More Game racquet to winning a lot of titles with the More Control. When she switched to the Bosworth, the frequency of title wins plummeted. Fellow fans have credited this to her switch from Kuznetsova to Raymond in order to be eligible for the Olympics, and she almost won the French Open mixed (her partner became injured) with the Bosworth, which suggests good performance given that clay is her worst surface.

Lisa Raymond also was the world's #1 doubles player with the More Control and I think she beat Venus with it as well.

The key is probably to use soft gut. Martina plays with uncoated (rough) gut, and that probably helps her to use such stiff racquets. The More Game was identified as the stiffest racquet in history according to one poster here.

When I demoed the More Control DB 800, I didn't like it, but it had hard Prince Lightning string in it, and there really isn't much a person can learn with such bad string in a demo. The grip was also too small.

 

[travlerajm]

The key is probably to use soft gut. Martina plays with uncoated (rough) gut, and that probably helps her to use such stiff racquets. The More Game was identified as the stiffest racquet in history according to one poster here.

Martina's Bosworth, designed to her preferences, has a stiffness of only 62.

 

[superstition]

Martina's Bosworth, designed to her preferences, has a stiffness of only 62.

I was referring to the Prince racquets she used before the Bosworth: The More Control DB and the More Game. The More Game, as I noted, was called the stiffest racquet ever sold by a poster here, and the More Control DB was cited as being very stiff in this topic.

Her Bosworth also has an asymmetric grip.

 

[enwar3]

Seems like the consensus is that the mid is better than the midplus.

Several things I've heard include the mid offering both more power and more stability because of its weight. How about the control factor? Any significant difference in control between the mid and midplus?

Also, what type of string should I be looking at? I know the Diablo is a stiff racquet and might have very specific needs. I'm just looking for a relatively durable string with very, very good spin.

 

[Jonny S&V]

Seems like the consensus is that the mid is better than the midplus.

Several things I've heard include the mid offering both more power and more stability because of its weight. How about the control factor? Any significant difference in control between the mid and midplus?

Also, what type of string should I be looking at? I know the Diablo is a stiff racquet and might have very specific needs. I'm just looking for a relatively durable string with very, very good spin.

String it up with a good syn gut like PSGD (Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex) or hybrid with Topspin Cyberflash and Gosen OG Micro or PSGD. The mid is WAY better then the midplus, but that's my opinion.

 

[enwar3]

I have synthetic gut in my racquet right now, but that's more because I don't care than because I like it.

Now I'm looking for a string that has good spin, and can be found at most tennis shops. Preferably not one that I have to order off the internet every time I re-string....