Isner using EXO3 Warrior?

[TripleB]

I know that there has been a great deal of talk about John Isner and the fact that he has been using the Prince O3 White since it first came out and Prince just paints it to match whatever new model they are trying to push at the time.

But it appears to me that he has really made the switch this time - to the EXO3 Warrior 100: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/story/2012-03-17/john-isner-tops-novak-djokovic-in-the-np-paribas-open-indian-wells/53592366/1

In looking at the picture it seems the Prince he is using now has the more rectangular holes on the side compared to the rounder ones of the O3 White.

What are your thoughts?

TripleB

 

[BobFL]

I think you are right. It is quite easy to switch from one tweener to another.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Holes look round to me. Not sure what you are looking at.

 

[greystar403]

Round.


http://home.machlink.com/sports/index.php?display=story&article=BRE82D1GZ

 

[Power Player]

I think he is still using the white.

 

[ollinger]

Same old White. Go to the Tennis section of Yahoo News/Sports, look through the Gallery photos, and you'll see some closeup pix of the racquet, very clearly showing the round 03 White ports.

 

[kimguroo]

He is using old o3 white and don't think he will change it since he Play well with the racket.

 

[Ashanti]

the 03 white was a great racket

 

[vsbabolat]

Isner is still using the O3 White. Don't be fooled by the paint job inside the hoop of the frame with square paint borders around the big giant round O Ports.

 

[BobFL]

Isner is still using the O3 White. Don't be fooled by the paint job inside the hoop of the frame with square paint borders around the big giant round O Ports.

VS has spoken. It is set in stone. Close this thread!

 

[drakulie]

Photo of his racquet while being strung at Delray last year:

Ken stringing Isner's frames (notice all the tubing that had to be completed on all his frames)

Blake's frames:

 

[Ashanti]

definatly loves his red code string

 

[Doubles]

definatly loves his red code string

If I'm not mistaken, he uses Pro Line II now.

 

[TripleB]

I believe you all are exactly right: http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/get...39d6ef2e04afeeaa0b2aed13d-getty-141498956.jpg

Once I hit 43 my eyes really started getting bad...obviously I should have put on my reading/computer glasses before I looked at the pictures of him playing this week.

The holes just looked a bit more rectangular than the O3 White T-W is selling: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_O3_Original_White/descpageRCPRINCE-PO3W.html Obviously upon closer examination, they are not.

Amazing price on the O3 White...especially with a pro still using it.

I still remember playtesting that racquet and loving it...at the time I felt like it was more geared towards a serve and volleyer though.

TripleB

 

[BobFL]

Great photos Drak! Thanks!

Btw, the racquet looks VERY thick in the first photo. I have no idea how he can play with it. It felt sooooo clunky and cumbersome to lug it around.

 

[Nostradamus]

If I'm not mistaken, he uses Pro Line II now.

how do you know that is proline 2 ? proline is such different string than the Red code. it is hard to believe he could make the switch.

 

[Seth]

I believe you all are exactly right: http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/get...39d6ef2e04afeeaa0b2aed13d-getty-141498956.jpg

Once I hit 43 my eyes really started getting bad...obviously I should have put on my reading/computer glasses before I looked at the pictures of him playing this week.

The holes just looked a bit more rectangular than the O3 White T-W is selling: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_O3_Original_White/descpageRCPRINCE-PO3W.html Obviously upon closer examination, they are not.

Amazing price on the O3 White...especially with a pro still using it.

I still remember playtesting that racquet and loving it...at the time I felt like it was more geared towards a serve and volleyer though.

TripleB

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by the bold statement? I've got my eye on this racquet and I enjoy S&V.

 

[Up&comer]

Photo of his racquet while being strung at Delray last year:

Do you remember his string or tension?

Great pics by the way.

 

[drakulie]

Here is another photo of his frame:

as for string and' tension, I can't recall exactly, but remember asking Ken (stringer in photo) what he was using and him saying Pro Line 2.

 

[movdqa]

Why is the spaghetti tubing needed? Is there one layer or two at 3/9? Anyone have the static weight and swingweight? Seems like he could be using a beast of a frame.

 

[drakulie]

two layers of lead.

as for the tubing, the strings on his frame break crazy fast when not tubed. They rub against the frame and snap.

 

[movdqa]

I have tubing on my old Head Pros - I didn't think that it was needed for modern racquets.

His setup sounds like that of Berdych - 2 layers of six inches at 3/9. Makes for a potentially huge swingweight. I wonder if there's lead under the bumper at 12 too.

 

[TripleB]

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by the bold statement? I've got my eye on this racquet and I enjoy S&V.

Here is the link to my Playtest Review for the O3 White if you want to read it all: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/playtests/TRIPB07.html

I just remember hitting huge kick serves, very low slice approach shots, and having superb volleys with power, placement, maneuverablity, and touch.

TripleB

 

[Bartelby]

Tubing - unsurprisinly, there is a point to grommets after all.

 

[Yourtenniscoach]

I wonder if Isner will help revive the popularity of the 03 white.

 

[Faithfulfather]

I wonder if Isner will help revive the popularity of the 03 white.

I seriously doubt it. Prince will not even tell the truth about what racquet he is really using.

 

[BobFL]

Here is the link to my Playtest Review for the O3 White if you want to read it all: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/playtests/TRIPB07.html

I just remember hitting huge kick serves, very low slice approach shots, and having superb volleys with power, placement, maneuverablity, and touch.

TripleB

OT but I gotta say - the 'dedication' is written beautifully. My father lives in Europe and I miss him a LOT.

 

[Doubles]

Here is another photo of his frame:

as for string and' tension, I can't recall exactly, but remember asking Ken (stringer in photo) what he was using and him saying Pro Line 2.

how do you know that is proline 2 ? proline is such different string than the Red code. it is hard to believe he could make the switch.

That's how.

 

[Nostradamus]

That's how.

Ok but Proline 2 is pretty powerful string. but i guess he took all the power out of it with all that lead

 

[li0scc0]

Ok but Proline 2 is pretty powerful string. but i guess he took all the power out of it with all that lead

? Adding lead would add power (assuming same swingspeed, which doesn't seem an issue for an Isner).

 

[Doubles]

Ok but Proline 2 is pretty powerful string. but i guess he took all the power out of it with all that lead

Theoretically, the lead would add power, as more weight further from your arm would create a hammer-like effect. If I were to fathom a guess, I would say that the control comes from the fact that he's a pro.

 

[Nostradamus]

Theoretically, the lead would add power, as more weight further from your arm would create a hammer-like effect. If I were to fathom a guess, I would say that the control comes from the fact that he's a pro.

Tell that to Sampras. He added huge amounts of lead and took all the power out of prostaff he was using.

 

[Champs990411]

If you told that to Sampras, he'd be like, "Wha??"

 

[TheOneHander]

Tell that to Sampras. He added huge amounts of lead and took all the power out of prostaff he was using.

Yeah...sure. We'll go with that.

 

[Doubles]

Tell that to Sampras. He added huge amounts of lead and took all the power out of prostaff he was using.

You're clueless.

 

[vsbabolat]

Ok but Proline 2 is pretty powerful string. but i guess he took all the power out of it with all that lead

You don't know about physics do you?

 

[SFrazeur]

Lead and Power

I think what might confuse some people is this quote by Nate Ferguson who customized Pete Sampras' racquet.

I custom "build" his racquet to take as much of the power out of the racquet as possible. It is a stiff racquet, has a very small head size, weighs nearly 400 grams/14 ounces and is strung with gut at around 75 lbs. He adds the power. I make the paddle, Pete gives the spanking.

Sampras is known for using a lot of lead on his PS 85 St. V. and this quote can be misunderstood to state that it is the weight customization that takes the power out of a frame.

The truth is that weight is power. Take two identical frames and add weight to one and it will be more power assume the player can swing it with equal the speed/force as the lighter one. Players who add lead to a racquet and find it reduces power simply are not strong enough to swing it equally as before.

-SF

 

[nn]

I think what might confuse some people is this quote by Nate Ferguson who customized Pete Sampras' racquet.



Sampras is known for using a lot of lead on his PS 85 St. V. and this quote can be misunderstood to state that it is the weight customization that takes the power out of a frame.

The truth is that weight is power. Take two identical frames and add weight to one and it will be more power assume the player can swing it with equal the speed/force as the lighter one. Players who add lead to a racquet and find it reduces power simply are not strong enough to swing it equally as before.

-SF

agree with you. also consider lighter and heavy frame (same racquet) swing with same speed... ball will go faster but heavy frame will create heavy balls (for your opponent)

if you look at Milos racquet speed on serve you will know how fast they swing heavy frames (fitness and hours of practice)

 

[leroy_sunset]

My stringer at the club showed me a press release from Prince, stating he's using the Warrior. I also saw a pic of more squared ports. Now I dunno what to believe!

 

[vsbabolat]

My stringer at the club showed me a press release from Prince, stating he's using the Warrior. I also saw a pic of more squared ports. Now I dunno what to believe!

It's no Warrior.

Can you see a difference between Isner's O3 White and the EXO3 Warrior?

 

[Faithfulfather]

Many pros use paint jobs to conceal the real racquet they are using. Nature of the beast.