Is this Prince Power Pro 90 savable?

[kevin qmto]

So I found this classic Power Pro 90 while thrifting. Complete with original case, overall in great shape, sure a few cracked grommets but I've hit with plenty of racket with trashed grommets that still played quite well. Head is in great shape, no cracks and few paint chips or scuffs, for 2 bucks I thought it was a no brainer.


Get the thing home, and went about removing the original deteriorating grip, which for some reason had duct tape around the base. As soon as I removed the tape, the reason became apparent. The buttcap immediately fell off, and upon inspection, it had taken a chunk of the foam core with it. Can this just be reglued back in place? And what glue should be used? Should I remove the staples? Plz help.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Looks like if you dug out the small chunk of PU in the buttcap, then smoothed the PU on the handle a bit, you should be able to re-attach it. Might end up with a 26.75 inch racket, but the Yonex RQ-180 is that length to start with, and it's superb.

 

[Grafil Injection]

BTW what's the lay-up of that Power-Pro? It looks like a Graphite Pro.

 

[esgee48]

I would remove the grip carefully. Then harden the foam with with epoxy rebuilding the tail. Sand, then reinstall the butt cap. and a new grip. Odds are very high that all the foam is a mess.

 

[vsbabolat]

BTW what's the lay-up of that Power-Pro? It looks like a Graphite Pro.

That’s the Power Pro 90. The Graphite Pro 90 is black with white and gold stripes.

 

[Grafil Injection]

That’s the Power Pro 90. The Graphite Pro 90 is black with white and gold stripes.

Yes, I was wondering how they compare since the shapes look similar.

 

[kevin qmto]

Yes, I was wondering how they compare since the shapes look similar.

I’ve heard the Power Pro is very flexible.
wouldn’t be able to confirm this yet for obvious reasons lol.

 

[graycrait]

 

[Grafil Injection]

I’ve heard the Power Pro is very flexible.
wouldn’t be able to confirm this yet for obvious reasons lol.

Yeah, if you do manage to fix that butt-cap, start with gentle hitting!

 

[Grafil Injection]

Does 'Pro' = 'Power Pro' ?

 

[kevin qmto]

Does 'Pro' = 'Power Pro' ?

I think I read somewhere here that the Power Pro and Power Flex were the same frame just one was renamed after a while.

 

[graycrait]

@kevin qmto ,

At one time I had most Prince 90s from that period. In my mind the Power Flex was noticeably more flexible than the Power Pro.

 

[kevin qmto]

@kevin qmto ,

At one time I had most Prince 90s from that period. In my mind the Power Flex was noticeably more flexible than the Power Pro.

Ok you’re probably right, I wouldn’t know anyways. I’ll probably try to fix this thing as best I can next weekend and then post how it went.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I know it's just marketing puff, but the chart suggests the Graphite Pro and the Pro have the same flex, just the Pro seams to have a thicker beam.

I'll have a Graphite Pro 110 shortly, and I'm hoping it's not too much of a noodle.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yes, I was wondering how they compare since the shapes look similar.

Yeah same mold. The Power Pro is even more flexible

 

[kevin qmto]

Update, Forever Tennis in STL hooked me up with a solution. A heatshrinked grip build-up sleeve. It seems to hold quite tight, and with a new Prince Dura Shock grip in place, its ready to hit the court! Might order a new grommet set, surprised to see several sellers online still have NOS sets. Some LXN Alu-Power Rough strings would really match the matte grey paintjob on this thing methinks.

Studio pics:

You'd never know this thing was "this" close to the trash bin lol.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Update, Forever Tennis in STL hooked me up with a solution. A heatshrinked grip build-up sleeve. It seems to hold quite tight, and with a new Prince Dura Shock grip in place, its ready to hit the court! Might order a new grommet set, surprised to see several sellers online still have NOS sets. Some LXN Alu-Power Rough strings would really match the matte grey paintjob on this thing methinks.

Studio pics:

You'd never know this thing was "this" close to the trash bin lol.

Looks good. Did you/STL have to cut off any of the handle foam to get the butt-cap back on?

 

[graycrait]

@kevin qmto , How much does it weigh ?

 

[Bambooman]

I also found one of these but the grommets were bad. Also got a Response in mint condition with it.

Nice to know grommets are available.

 

[kevin qmto]

Looks good. Did you/STL have to cut off any of the handle foam to get the butt-cap back on?

No, I just slid the cap on with the chunk that broke off still inside. It fits like a puzzle piece, so no reason to remove anything.

 

[kevin qmto]

@kevin qmto , How much does it weigh ?

362g strung.

 

[Bambooman]

Polyurethane construction adhesive seems to be the best substitute for pallet/buttcap repair. It is denser and doesn't foam up excessively like Gorilla glue.

 

[kevin qmto]

Broke a string 20 mins into first hitting session lol. But it held up and hit great! I’ll have to get that new grommet set and film a video next time!

 

[Steve Huff]

Love the recommended tension: 55-70. Obviously no poly's around at that time.

 

[kevin qmto]

Love the recommended tension: 55-70. Obviously no poly's around at that time.

I’ll probably put in alu power at 52 and call it good.

on the Prince Classic I have, it says 70lbs + or - 5 lol.

 

[graycrait]

@kevin qmto , I sincerely hope you do not go down the Prince 90 14x18 rabbit hole like I did a few years ago I had several dozen at one time not that long ago. I still look with longing at the Phantom 93 but continuously fight the devil whispering in my ear IMHO all those Prince 90s came up short of the Volkl Tour 10 Mid, but that "new" Prince makes me wonder...

 

[kevin qmto]

@kevin qmto , I sincerely hope you do not go down the Prince 90 14x18 rabbit hole like I did a few years ago I had several dozen at one time not that long ago. I still look with longing at the Phantom 93 but continuously fight the devil whispering in my ear IMHO all those Prince 90s came up short of the Volkl Tour 10 Mid, but that "new" Prince makes me wonder...

I don’t have the space for a full line of Prince 90s, I’ll probably just keep this one and call it good. My trifecta of classic Princes are: Prince Classic (naturally) POG (3rd Gen single stripe from 1983-6), and this Power Pro 90.

but now I’m curious, which was your favorite of the 90 line? @graycrait

 

[graycrait]

I don’t have the space for a full line of Prince 90s

This is what the "devil" whispered in my ear. Cheap but stained furring strips attached to the wall. Cut coat hangers and drill upward angled holes in furring strip to accommodate 4 rackets per wire

 

[Grafil Injection]

This is what the "devil" whispered in my ear. Cheap but stained furring strips attached to the wall. Cut coat hangers and drill upward angled holes in furring strip to accommodate 4 rackets per wire

You don't happen to have a close up of the fittings do you? I've got a blank wall that needs filling.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I don’t have the space for a full line of Prince 90s, I’ll probably just keep this one and call it good. My trifecta of classic Princes are: Prince Classic (naturally) POG (3rd Gen single stripe from 1983-6), and this Power Pro 90.

but now I’m curious, which was your favorite of the 90 line? @graycrait

I haven't hit the 90, but I can say the Graphite Pro 110 is very nice.

 

[graycrait]

You don't happen to have a close up of the fittings do you? I've got a blank wall that needs filling.

I'll take a pic later.

@Grafil Injection , I didn't spend a lot of time on this and was sort of surprised how easy and fast it went up. I got the spacing between furring strips so that the rackets wouldn't get too low as that is spare bed underneath. Once the furring strips went up I placed a racket and then made a pencil mark at the mid point of the racket hoop on the furring strip and the outside edge of the racket. In the earlier pic that far wall was for OS rackets and went down the line. Rackets come in a lot of widths and hoop heights so if you have one wall allow spacing for what you might have as your biggest racket hoops then everything smaller will fit and not look too odd.

I simply used a wood screw in a predrilled hole in the furring strip straight into the studs, very fast and crude. Note the coat hanger wire. Recommend finding a drill bit just a hair smaller than the coat hanger wire so that the coat hanger wire has to be twisted or gently forced into the upward slanting hole, but that is not a big deal. I just didn't want the aggravation of the wife coming out and falling on the bed waiting for an accident to happen.

It would be possible to make this a lot fancier, but at the time I was going for fast and cheap and it has worked well enough I haven't felt the need to upgrade.