I've been a loyal Prince user since the Precision Equipe many moons ago. Heck, before that it was the CTS Approach! More recently I've been hitting with the ESP Tour 98 and enjoying it. My question is.... will Prince even be around in a year or two? Grommets, new frames, customer support? Should I be thinking about switching to a more stable mfg like Head, Wilson, Yonex, etc for the long term? Seems like Prince is a dying brand which is sad. Someone talk me off of the ledge!!!
Is it worth staying with Prince?
- Thread starter Glennie
- Start date
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
People ask this every year. Rumors have abounded for a long time. Yet, Prince is still here. Might as well stick with them! People have said they are dying, yet they are still around.
tegg96
Semi-Pro
Tennis Warehouse have done some sort of tie up with Prince. TW are part owners and will be heavily pushing the Prince wheel barrow. They have already begun some sort of trade in deal with your old racquet if you buy a Prince. Prince will basically become the TW Home Brand. Proberly only sold at TW outlets only. So yeah the future of Prince looks rocky road.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
What's the point of switching brands? It's not like models stay consistent throughout regardless of brand. So if you eventually have to buy new rackets, they'll have to be replaced with something different anyway. If you like a Prince racket, stick with Prince, and just make sure to stock up on grommets. Now if the current Prince you like has no available grommets, I'd start looking for a new racket. But it can still be a Prince, just make sure grommets are available for purchase.
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
I'd give some thought to exactly what it is you think you're loyal to. The company has changed hands many times and doubtless changed employees, especially moving south. Are you loyal to the word, the green color, what??? "Loyalty" in this matter sounds a little silly
Snarky "word, the green color?" comment aside....I would have hoped that my OP was relatively clear. By loyalty I meant that over the years I have had and enjoyed many a Prince frame and currently use their sticks as well (I've also had pretty much every other mfg frame and Vantage/Angell)....I'm a <cough> "veteran" player
). Rumors abound about the future of the company and rather than invest in, or explore, additional Prince racquets, I was simply wondering what some of the opinions here might be of the future of the company. Silly? Maybe....but it's the weekend and I have some time on my hands. Thanks anyway.
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
it's as simple as buying extra grommets. You make it sound as if your 401K was held by Prince, fretting over "the future of the company"
S
SafinSucks
Guest
Hard to say but I would keep this racket if I were you, good racket...
Yeah, whatever ollinger. You're reading WAY to much in to the OP .....and I was pretty sure my last post would help you a bit. I didn't realize that pondering the future of an iconic racquet manufacturer on some tennis board would rub someone this way but hey...it's a wonderful world!
SafinSucks - agreed, the frames I'm using now are very arm friendly and are fun to use.
True. That's pretty much where I am now, good points. Interesting to see what the future holds for Prince. I'd hate to see just a small handful of big mfg's dominate the industry, but we're already there I guess. But when the dust settles there are no doubt enough options out there. Hopefully some quality production will be there as well!?
nvr2old
Hall of Fame
Well I have 3 models of Prince frames (2 TT Tour 110p's 18x20, 2 tour Pro 100 ESP's 16x16, and 1 TT Warrior 107T 16x19) all with extra grommets thatI have bought in the last 6 months. I think they are all fantastic frames with different attributes. I also have other manufacturers frames that I like as well. The quality of the Prince frames is as good as any as is their performance. I have no qualms about buying their frames in the future.
kimguroo
Legend
I understand that TW becomes or became US distributor. Not part ownership.
I don' think TW has that much money to spend or willing to spend becoming part ownership of Prince.
Current owner try to sell the brand but looks like ownership wants more money and no one is willing to take over.
Fortunately, Prince Japan operates normally and introduces new rackets but without marketing, it's impossible to survive. It does not look good but prince will be staying business for a while in my opinion.
Even if prince is completely gone now, you will be able to find grommets and rackets for at least two years so don't worry about it.
Very strange company (running horribly)... and if they manage like this, I don't see their future.
Looks like current ownership does not care promoting, marketing developing products. Only care about who will take over the brand. If prince struggles more and more, their selling value will decrease more and more.
DJ-
Hall of Fame
As long as the Asian and some Euro market is strong they will do fine... TW can have some influence, I mean they asked for the primer to be changed in the paint production of the Phantoms.. that's a positive.
CopolyX
Hall of Fame
And also Isner & the Brian Bros! Gives them some media exposure....
Hope they last, good for the market!
If they could just get an act together, maybe some support on grommets.
Maybe time for them to move on, something anyway from the textreme hype.
How about connecting and listening with there core user/player base( you know - the ones that pay for frames) ?
and if I missed some pros using a prince frame...see below..
Sad, it is all about the Pied Piper effect / Benjamin's......endorsements / sponsors / review followers...
Let the racquet pick you...
New! Updated list of which tennis racquets do the ATP pros use for the 2017 Tennis Season!
Adrian Mannarino – Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Albert Ramos Vinolas – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Alejandro Falla – Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT
Alex Bogomolov Jr. (retired) – Prince EXO3 100 Tour (18×20)
Alexander Peya – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Alexander Zverev – Head Graphene XT Speed MP A
Alexandr Dolgopolov – Wilson ProStaff 97 S
Aljaz Bedene – Tecnifibre TFight 315 Ltd. TP ATP (18×20)
Andreas Beck – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Andreas Seppi – ProKennex Q Tour (2013)
Andrey Kuznetsov – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Andrey Rublev – Wilson Burn 95
Andy Murray – Head Graphene XT Radical Pro
Andy Roddick (retired) – Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Plus
Benjamin Becker – Babolat Pure Strike 100
Bernard Tomic – Head Graphene XT Radical Midplus
Benoit Paire – Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Bjorn Fratangelo – Babolat Pure Strike 16×19 (Project One7)
Blake Mott – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Bob & Mike Bryan – Prince Tour 95
Borna Coric – Yonex EZONE Dr 98 (310g)
Brian Baker (retired?)- Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Bruno Soares – Wilson Six.One 95 BLX (18×20)
Daniil Medvedev – Tecnifibre Tfight 325 DYNACORE
David Ferrer – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
David Nalbandian (retired) – Yonex RDiS 100 Midplus
Denis Istomin – Tecnifibre TFight 325 Dynacore
Denis Kudla – Technifibre TFight 325 Dynacore
Denis Shapovalov – Yonex VCORE SV 98
Dimitry Tursunov – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Dominic Thiem – Babolat Pure Strike 16×19 (Project One7)
Donald Young – Tecnifibre TFight 315 DC
Dudi Sela – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Edouard Roger Vasselin – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Ernests Gulbis – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Fabio Fognini – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Federico Delbonis – Babolat Pure Aero
Feliciano Lopez – Wilson Ultra 100
Fernando Gonzales (retired) – Babolat Pure Storm GT
Fernando Verdasco – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Filippo Volandri – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Florian Mayer – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Francis Tiafoe – Yonex VCORE Duel G 97
Frank Dancevic – Wilson ProStaff RF 97
Gael Monfils – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Giles Simon – Head Graphene XT Prestige Midplus
Grigor Dimitrov – Wilson Pro Staff 97S
Guido Pella – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez – Head Graphene XT Prestige Rev Pro
Horia Tecau – Wilson ProStaff 97
Igor Sijsling – Wilson Six.One 95 BLX (16×18)
Illya Marchenko – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Ivan Dodig – Head Graphene XT Radical MidPlus
Ivan Ljubicic (retired) – Head YouTek IG Extreme Pro
Ivo Karlovic – Head Graphene XT Radical Pro
Jack Sock – Babolat Pure Aero
Janko Tipsarevic – Tecnifibre TFight 325 Dynacore
Jared Donaldson – Head Graphene XT Prestige MP
Jarkko Nieminen – Wilson Six.One 95 BLX (16×18)
Jeremy Chardy – Head Graphene XT Radical MidPlus
Jerzy Janowicz – Babolat Pure Aero
Jesse Levine – Babolat Pure Drive
Jiri Vesely – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Joao Sousa – Wilson Ultra 100
John Isner – Prince Textreme Warrior 100
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Babolat Pure Aero
Julian Reister – Wilson Ultra 100
Juan Ignacio Chela (retired) – 2011 Babolat Pure Storm GT
Juan Martin Del Potro – Wilson Burn FST 95
Juan Monaco – Yonex VCORE Si 98
Julien Benneteau – Babolat Pure Drive Plus (2012)
Jurgen Melzer – Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour
Kei Nishikori – Wilson Burn 95
Kenny De Schepper – Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Kevin Anderson – Srixon Revo X 2.0 Tour
Kyle Edmund – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Leonardo Mayer – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Lleyton Hewitt (retired) – Yonex VCORE Tour 97
Lucas Pouille – Prince Textreme Tour 100P
Lukas Rosol – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Lukas Lacko – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Matthew Ebden – Head Graphene Touch Instinct MP
Marcel Granollers – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Marcelo Melo – Babolat AeroPro Drive GT
Marcin Matkowski – Babolat Pure Drvie Plus
Marco Baghdatis – Pacific BX2 X-Force Pro #1
Mardy Fish (retired) – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Mariusz Fyrstenberg – Babolat Pure Storm GT
Marin Cilic – Head Graphene XT Prestige Rev Pro
Marinko Matosevic – Head Graphene XT Radical MidPlus
Martin Klizan – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Max Mirnyi – Wilson ProStaff 97
Michal Przysiezny – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Michael Llodra (retired) – Wilson BLX Juice Pro
Michael Russell (retired) – Babolat Pure Drive
Mikhail Kukushkin – Head Graphene XT Speed MidPlus
Mikhail Youzhny –Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Milos Raonic – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Nick Kyrgios – Yonex EZONE DR 98
Nicolas Almagro – Volkl Power Bridge 10 98
Nicolas Mahut – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Nikolay Davydenko (retired) – Prince Tour 100P
Novak Djokovic – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Pablo Carreno Busta – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Pablo Cuevas – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Paul Henri Mathieu – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Peter Gojowczyk – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Philipp Kohlschreiber – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Radek Stpanek – Head Graphene XT Speed MidPlus
Rafael Nadal – Babolat Pure Aero PLAY
Reilly Opelka – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Ricardas Beraniks – Yonex Tour G
Richard Gasquet – Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Roberto Bautista Agut – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Robert Lindstedt – Wilson Ultra 100
Robin Soderling (retired) – Head YouTek IG Prestige Midplus
Roger Federer – Wilson ProStaff RF 97 Autograph (Black)
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Ryan Harrison – Babolat AeroPro Drive
Sam Groth – Babolat Pure Aero
Sam Querrey – Babolat Pure Aero
Santiago Giraldo – Babolat Pure Strike Tour (18×20)
Sergiy Stakhovsky – Head Graphene Speed XT MidPlus
Somdev Devvarman (retired) – Babolat Pure Drive
Stanislas Wawrinka – Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 330g
Steve Darcis – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Stevie Johnson – Yonex VCORE SV 98
Taro Daniel – Babolat Pure Drive
Tatsuma Ito – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Taylor Fritz – Head Graphene XT Radical Midplus
Teymuraz Gabashvili – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Thanasi Kokkinakis – Babolat Aero Pro Drive Plus
Thomaz Bellucci – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Tim Smyczek – Dunlop Biomimetic F3.0 Tour
Tobias Kamke – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Tomas Berdych –Head Graphene Touch Instinct MP
Tommy Haas – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Tommy Robredo – Dunlop Force 98 Tour
Vasek Pospisil – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Victor Estrella Burgos – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Viktor Troicki – Babolat Pure Aero
Yen-Hsun Lu – Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Yūichi Sugita – Babolat Pure Drive
Read More http://www.tennisthis.com/tennis-racquet-reviews/which-tennis-racquets-do-atp-pros-use/
Maximus XXIV
Rookie
Will 3D printing be a solution for out of production grommets? It seems like that could be an excellent solution.
geoxtennis
New User
I think Prince will still exist in a couple of years....
I currently play with an ESP 98 and its a great racket.
If I were you I'd stay with it. But yes Prince I have to agree that Prince is slowly dying. In 5 years they might file for bankruptcy again and just clsoe
I currently play with an ESP 98 and its a great racket.
If I were you I'd stay with it. But yes Prince I have to agree that Prince is slowly dying. In 5 years they might file for bankruptcy again and just clsoe
AMGF
Hall of Fame
That is brand loyalty level: master. If Prince had more customers like you, they wouldn't be a dying brand. But in my opinion, if the frame plays well, who cares if the company goes bankrupt? Stack a couple set of grommets and you're done.
It's hard for me to understand as I have no brand loyalty whatsoever. I play with what I like and couldn't care less for the brand. My game frames are Angell, my coach frame is usually my Wilson 6.1, I love to just hit with my Babolat Pure strike from time to time, my doubles frame is my Ultra Tour, I still carry my Head MG Radical MP because they were my match frames for so long, until recently I still played with my Prestige and one of my kid plays Prince TT100. I also had Spalding frames, Slazengers, Tecnifibre, demo'd a ton of frames over the years.
The only company I feel some brand loyalty to is Angell because it is a small company and the frames are truly amazing. I want Paul to stay in business forever as the market needs specialist niche racquet companies like that. It's probably, at least in some part, why Wilson launched the Ultra Tour. Angell proved there is a market for these type of frames.
Anyway, keep the frames as long as they suit you, do not switch because the company might close its doors.
It's hard for me to understand as I have no brand loyalty whatsoever. I play with what I like and couldn't care less for the brand. My game frames are Angell, my coach frame is usually my Wilson 6.1, I love to just hit with my Babolat Pure strike from time to time, my doubles frame is my Ultra Tour, I still carry my Head MG Radical MP because they were my match frames for so long, until recently I still played with my Prestige and one of my kid plays Prince TT100. I also had Spalding frames, Slazengers, Tecnifibre, demo'd a ton of frames over the years.
The only company I feel some brand loyalty to is Angell because it is a small company and the frames are truly amazing. I want Paul to stay in business forever as the market needs specialist niche racquet companies like that. It's probably, at least in some part, why Wilson launched the Ultra Tour. Angell proved there is a market for these type of frames.
Anyway, keep the frames as long as they suit you, do not switch because the company might close its doors.
skydog
Professional
You can still find Tour 98 ESP's new at uber cheap prices. Grommets, I bought as many as I could, but I think I cleaned out the North American supply which was about 10 sets. To offset that shortage, I have acquired several additional frames since they have been on clearance. Prince or no Prince, I should be set with my stash of Tour 98 ESP's for the conceivable future.
And also Isner & the Brian Bros! Gives them some media exposure....
Hope they last, good for the market!
If they could just get an act together, maybe some support on grommets.
Maybe time for them to move on, something anyway from the textreme hype.
How about connecting and listening with there core user/player base( you know - the ones that pay for frames) ?
and if I missed some pros using a prince frame...see below..
Sad, it is all about the Pied Piper effect / Benjamin's......endorsements / sponsors / review followers...
Let the racquet pick you...
New! Updated list of which tennis racquets do the ATP pros use for the 2017 Tennis Season!
Adrian Mannarino – Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Albert Ramos Vinolas – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Alejandro Falla – Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT
Alex Bogomolov Jr. (retired) – Prince EXO3 100 Tour (18×20)
Alexander Peya – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Alexander Zverev – Head Graphene XT Speed MP A
Alexandr Dolgopolov – Wilson ProStaff 97 S
Aljaz Bedene – Tecnifibre TFight 315 Ltd. TP ATP (18×20)
Andreas Beck – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Andreas Seppi – ProKennex Q Tour (2013)
Andrey Kuznetsov – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Andrey Rublev – Wilson Burn 95
Andy Murray – Head Graphene XT Radical Pro
Andy Roddick (retired) – Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Plus
Benjamin Becker – Babolat Pure Strike 100
Bernard Tomic – Head Graphene XT Radical Midplus
Benoit Paire – Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Bjorn Fratangelo – Babolat Pure Strike 16×19 (Project One7)
Blake Mott – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Bob & Mike Bryan – Prince Tour 95
Borna Coric – Yonex EZONE Dr 98 (310g)
Brian Baker (retired?)- Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Bruno Soares – Wilson Six.One 95 BLX (18×20)
Daniil Medvedev – Tecnifibre Tfight 325 DYNACORE
David Ferrer – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
David Nalbandian (retired) – Yonex RDiS 100 Midplus
Denis Istomin – Tecnifibre TFight 325 Dynacore
Denis Kudla – Technifibre TFight 325 Dynacore
Denis Shapovalov – Yonex VCORE SV 98
Dimitry Tursunov – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Dominic Thiem – Babolat Pure Strike 16×19 (Project One7)
Donald Young – Tecnifibre TFight 315 DC
Dudi Sela – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Edouard Roger Vasselin – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Ernests Gulbis – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Fabio Fognini – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Federico Delbonis – Babolat Pure Aero
Feliciano Lopez – Wilson Ultra 100
Fernando Gonzales (retired) – Babolat Pure Storm GT
Fernando Verdasco – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Filippo Volandri – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Florian Mayer – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Francis Tiafoe – Yonex VCORE Duel G 97
Frank Dancevic – Wilson ProStaff RF 97
Gael Monfils – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Giles Simon – Head Graphene XT Prestige Midplus
Grigor Dimitrov – Wilson Pro Staff 97S
Guido Pella – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez – Head Graphene XT Prestige Rev Pro
Horia Tecau – Wilson ProStaff 97
Igor Sijsling – Wilson Six.One 95 BLX (16×18)
Illya Marchenko – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Ivan Dodig – Head Graphene XT Radical MidPlus
Ivan Ljubicic (retired) – Head YouTek IG Extreme Pro
Ivo Karlovic – Head Graphene XT Radical Pro
Jack Sock – Babolat Pure Aero
Janko Tipsarevic – Tecnifibre TFight 325 Dynacore
Jared Donaldson – Head Graphene XT Prestige MP
Jarkko Nieminen – Wilson Six.One 95 BLX (16×18)
Jeremy Chardy – Head Graphene XT Radical MidPlus
Jerzy Janowicz – Babolat Pure Aero
Jesse Levine – Babolat Pure Drive
Jiri Vesely – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Joao Sousa – Wilson Ultra 100
John Isner – Prince Textreme Warrior 100
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Babolat Pure Aero
Julian Reister – Wilson Ultra 100
Juan Ignacio Chela (retired) – 2011 Babolat Pure Storm GT
Juan Martin Del Potro – Wilson Burn FST 95
Juan Monaco – Yonex VCORE Si 98
Julien Benneteau – Babolat Pure Drive Plus (2012)
Jurgen Melzer – Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour
Kei Nishikori – Wilson Burn 95
Kenny De Schepper – Babolat AeroPro Drive (2013)
Kevin Anderson – Srixon Revo X 2.0 Tour
Kyle Edmund – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Leonardo Mayer – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Lleyton Hewitt (retired) – Yonex VCORE Tour 97
Lucas Pouille – Prince Textreme Tour 100P
Lukas Rosol – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Lukas Lacko – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Matthew Ebden – Head Graphene Touch Instinct MP
Marcel Granollers – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Marcelo Melo – Babolat AeroPro Drive GT
Marcin Matkowski – Babolat Pure Drvie Plus
Marco Baghdatis – Pacific BX2 X-Force Pro #1
Mardy Fish (retired) – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Mariusz Fyrstenberg – Babolat Pure Storm GT
Marin Cilic – Head Graphene XT Prestige Rev Pro
Marinko Matosevic – Head Graphene XT Radical MidPlus
Martin Klizan – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Max Mirnyi – Wilson ProStaff 97
Michal Przysiezny – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Michael Llodra (retired) – Wilson BLX Juice Pro
Michael Russell (retired) – Babolat Pure Drive
Mikhail Kukushkin – Head Graphene XT Speed MidPlus
Mikhail Youzhny –Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Milos Raonic – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Nick Kyrgios – Yonex EZONE DR 98
Nicolas Almagro – Volkl Power Bridge 10 98
Nicolas Mahut – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Nikolay Davydenko (retired) – Prince Tour 100P
Novak Djokovic – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Pablo Carreno Busta – Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Countervail
Pablo Cuevas – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Paul Henri Mathieu – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Peter Gojowczyk – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Philipp Kohlschreiber – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Radek Stpanek – Head Graphene XT Speed MidPlus
Rafael Nadal – Babolat Pure Aero PLAY
Reilly Opelka – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Ricardas Beraniks – Yonex Tour G
Richard Gasquet – Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Roberto Bautista Agut – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Robert Lindstedt – Wilson Ultra 100
Robin Soderling (retired) – Head YouTek IG Prestige Midplus
Roger Federer – Wilson ProStaff RF 97 Autograph (Black)
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Ryan Harrison – Babolat AeroPro Drive
Sam Groth – Babolat Pure Aero
Sam Querrey – Babolat Pure Aero
Santiago Giraldo – Babolat Pure Strike Tour (18×20)
Sergiy Stakhovsky – Head Graphene Speed XT MidPlus
Somdev Devvarman (retired) – Babolat Pure Drive
Stanislas Wawrinka – Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 330g
Steve Darcis – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Stevie Johnson – Yonex VCORE SV 98
Taro Daniel – Babolat Pure Drive
Tatsuma Ito – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Taylor Fritz – Head Graphene XT Radical Midplus
Teymuraz Gabashvili – Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Thanasi Kokkinakis – Babolat Aero Pro Drive Plus
Thomaz Bellucci – Wilson Pro Staff 97
Tim Smyczek – Dunlop Biomimetic F3.0 Tour
Tobias Kamke – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Tomas Berdych –Head Graphene Touch Instinct MP
Tommy Haas – Head Graphene XT Prestige MidPlus
Tommy Robredo – Dunlop Force 98 Tour
Vasek Pospisil – Wilson Burn 100 CounterVail
Victor Estrella Burgos – Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Viktor Troicki – Babolat Pure Aero
Yen-Hsun Lu – Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Yūichi Sugita – Babolat Pure Drive
Read More http://www.tennisthis.com/tennis-racquet-reviews/which-tennis-racquets-do-atp-pros-use/
Murray - Graphene ?
@vsbabolatMaximus XXIV
Rookie
I wonder if that can even be strung. Not really an answer to OOP grommets though. I wonder if grommets are copyrighted.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
I think if you're not a pro, use Prince if you like them. If you think your gear will be discontinued, stock up and play with them until they go dead. Amateurs have less stringent requirements than the pros, or else we'd get fresh string jobs before every match.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
I don't think Prince will go away anytime soon. Their TM and IP are worth too much to fade away into oblivion. Even Hostess came back from the dead and we have Twinkies to get fat eating again.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
PK also went bankrupt or was about to go out of business too. That's when I stocked up on classic 5G's. Now I have too many unstrung frames laying around and need a really good replacement racquet for me to abandon the 5G's. I went through three already. One cracked from restringing, one cracked from hitting with, and one went dead from being played with too much and I intentionally smashed it. The one I'm using now is starting to go dead too and I couldn't even fit a replacement bumper guard on it as the hoop has lost too much of its shape already and actually enlarged a little bit from the weakening of the graphite bonding.
That material fatigue thing really worries me. I have 20 different racquets, and dont have enough space and money to duplicate the collection
LuchoVena
Rookie
I heard Srixon bought Dunlop and appear to be using Dunlop as their western name brand still...makes sense to use their profile already semi-stablished than introducing a whole new brand few people know
So if it comes to that, Prince can be acquired and still be used as such.
Recently Tried the Textreme 95 and ohmfg, very solid. Prestige-esque if I will. So I guess gotta get them before they are gone lol
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
It's here but it's not thriving like tennis-specific companies under strong leadership. It will keep going because the production of racquets keeps the brand in the marketplace
LuchoVena
Rookie
@Tennisist just the 98s?
Im guessing you only use 98sq and thus only had those... Im looking to try the 95s of those
Im guessing you only use 98sq and thus only had those... Im looking to try the 95s of those
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
It's like this, say you like the new Prince Phantum, so you go out and do a deal and buy 5 including any accessories you might need. If you take care of your racquets they should last you for years and by then if you are in the market for another racquet the offerings may be different from every company anyway.
The only way you can garrantee having access to the same type if racquet is you go and buy a classic like a Volkl C10 or Wilson Pro Staff. These frames hang around for a long time and usually if they are deleted there are usually derivatives that offer an easy transition,
The only way you can garrantee having access to the same type if racquet is you go and buy a classic like a Volkl C10 or Wilson Pro Staff. These frames hang around for a long time and usually if they are deleted there are usually derivatives that offer an easy transition,
QuadCam
Professional
Sometimes I play with my old Prince Titanium Chang Midplus racquets. They are 28" long. 95 sqin head. 11.5oz strung. 10 pts HL. 350-360 SW..., and a 14x18 string pattern. Needless to say, there is nothing on the market like them.
Hitting is so solid yet plush. The spin is outrageous! And the angles you can create are sick!
It wasn't a racquet for everyone but if you could master it, it was a hell of a weapon .
Last edited:
Seth
Legend
Good point. Offerings can change dramatically. Imagine people who were bouncing along with each HEAD release. They've got to be sorely disappointed with the Graphene and XT lines.
ricki
Hall of Fame
These activities cost millions of dollars (mainly promotion - you have to pay millions to the right pro players) and you need to support network of international dealers and it costs huge... If someone really packed buys the brand and pays like 5 million of dollars to Kyrgios, Shapovalov, Zverev and maybe few more talent then they can make some good sale but... who would risk such a big investment? Maybe some Chinese conglomerate will buy the brand..
Stretchy Man
Professional
I don't quite understand the question. Did I stop listening to The Smiths when rumors were going around about them splitting up? Of course not. I still listen to their albums (except the first one which is ****).
PBODY99
Legend
I plan to stay with the brand. They got _Ports and you can't paint job that
Prince is owned by Authentic Brands Group. The last licensee I know of was the Waitt group, which decided that their franchise was not worth continuing. This release goes into detail of the last move.
http://www.paddlepro.com/news2012/08-16-12.shtml
Prince is owned by Authentic Brands Group. The last licensee I know of was the Waitt group, which decided that their franchise was not worth continuing. This release goes into detail of the last move.
http://www.paddlepro.com/news2012/08-16-12.shtml
graycrait
Legend
I was pondering a change then acquired a used Head Graphene Prestige Pro which I like to swing but do not like to play with. Took my two Textreme Warrior 100s and matched my GPP specs. Head went back into closet, and only 2 rackets in the bag. Waiting for the used Phantom Pro 100 XRs to hit the market. I'm 62 now, maybe I will be able to snag a used 100XR for my 65th birthday.In the meantime a 12.2oz Textreme Warrior 100 7pts HL plays pretty nice or at least nice enough. I still need to shake out my new to me Prince Powerflex 90 and the Prince Power Pro 90. I'm leaning toward the Power Pro 90 though. I like the PP90's feel on the court better than the Powerflex and Prince Graphite Classic 93's. POGs and PCGs continue as my therapy rackets when my string experiments go awry which they often do.
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
Yes in Head's case they should have kept at least one frame with the twin tube construction either in a Radical or Prestige line up. They are a real disappointment in this regard.
