Playtesters - Prince Classic Graphite 100 and the POG Mid?

[TripleB]

T-W Playtesters,

Awesome reviews (as always) on the new line of Prince 'Classic' Racquets...appreciate you having so many reviews ready at one time.

As a former POG Mid user who always hoped for something between the POG Mid and the POG Oversize, this new Prince Classic Graphite 100 obviously caught my eye...after seeing (and reading) your review my interest is peaked even more.

For any one of you who have played both (in seeing the review I think a couple of you have) the POG Mid and the new Prince Classic Graphite 100: how much does the new Prince Classic Graphite 100 truly have in common with the Prince Original Graphite Mid?

* In what areas does it make you think of the POG Mid: control, power, spin, maneuverability, touch, balance, groundstrokes, flex, serves (kick/power/control), etc.

Do you truly sense that POG Mid heritage there?

I used the POG Mid for the longest time (years upon years) and always kept coming back to it when my game needed a lift. Unfortunately due to some knee surgery last November I'm limited to doubles for the rest of my tennis days.

The POG mid really doesn't lend itself very well to doubles (at least at my skill level) so I recently went with some Prince TT Warriors.

Just wondering if the lineage of the POG Mid is shown in the Classic Graphite 100 enough to make me look further into this racquet for dubs...do you feel it would make a pretty good racquet for doubles?

Thanks for any and all help.

TripleB

 

[TW Staff]

T-W Playtesters,

Awesome reviews (as always) on the new line of Prince 'Classic' Racquets...appreciate you having so many reviews ready at one time.

As a former POG Mid user who always hoped for something between the POG Mid and the POG Oversize, this new Prince Classic Graphite 100 obviously caught my eye...after seeing (and reading) your review my interest is peaked even more.

For any one of you who have played both (in seeing the review I think a couple of you have) the POG Mid and the new Prince Classic Graphite 100: how much does the new Prince Classic Graphite 100 truly have in common with the Prince Original Graphite Mid?

* In what areas does it make you think of the POG Mid: control, power, spin, maneuverability, touch, balance, groundstrokes, flex, serves (kick/power/control), etc.

Do you truly sense that POG Mid heritage there?

I used the POG Mid for the longest time (years upon years) and always kept coming back to it when my game needed a lift. Unfortunately due to some knee surgery last November I'm limited to doubles for the rest of my tennis days.

The POG mid really doesn't lend itself very well to doubles (at least at my skill level) so I recently went with some Prince TT Warriors.

Just wondering if the lineage of the POG Mid is shown in the Classic Graphite 100 enough to make me look further into this racquet for dubs...do you feel it would make a pretty good racquet for doubles?

Thanks for any and all help.

TripleB

The classic, traditional feel of the POG Mid is completely there in the Graphite 100. It's a classic layup, and doesn't have any of the modern technologies, so the feel is virtually the same as the POG Mid, just a little more forgiving with the 100 square inch head. It has the same great control, plowthrough, access to spin and feel/response, but the larger head size just makes it more forgiving for taking bigger cuts at the ball. It's definitely worth a try, because it sounds like it's going to be right up your alley!

Andy, TW

 

[TripleB]

The classic, traditional feel of the POG Mid is completely there in the Graphite 100. It's a classic layup, and doesn't have any of the modern technologies, so the feel is virtually the same as the POG Mid, just a little more forgiving with the 100 square inch head. It has the same great control, plowthrough, access to spin and feel/response, but the larger head size just makes it more forgiving for taking bigger cuts at the ball. It's definitely worth a try, because it sounds like it's going to be right up your alley!

Andy, TW

Thanks Andy!!! I appreciate your input!!!

I guess the two areas that concern me, now that I'm strictly a doubles player, are 1) stability at net (less weight than the POG Mid and larger head size makes me worried about twisting up there) and 2) the power level to put balls away up there.

Can you make a brief comment on those two areas?

Also, the 14x18 on the POG Mid lead to enormous spin potential...how close does the Prince Classic Graphite 100 to the spin potential of the POG Mid? (for those heavy dipping shots at the net man)

Again, I appreciate you taking the time to give me your feedback.

TripleB

 

[TW Staff]

Thanks Andy!!! I appreciate your input!!!

I guess the two areas that concern me, now that I'm strictly a doubles player, are 1) stability at net (less weight than the POG Mid and larger head size makes me worried about twisting up there) and 2) the power level to put balls away up there.

Can you make a brief comment on those two areas?

Also, the 14x18 on the POG Mid lead to enormous spin potential...how close does the Prince Classic Graphite 100 to the spin potential of the POG Mid? (for those heavy dipping shots at the net man)

Again, I appreciate you taking the time to give me your feedback.

TripleB

The larger head size lends itself to a larger sweetspot, so I would say it's more forgiving at net than the Mid. I didn't find the 100 any less stable or powerful than the Mid.

The spin potential is also similar to the Mid. It has an open string pattern like the Mid, and it's also more forgiving with the big head size, allowing you to take big cuts at the ball to generate even more spin.

Andy, TW

 

[TripleB]

The larger head size lends itself to a larger sweetspot, so I would say it's more forgiving at net than the Mid. I didn't find the 100 any less stable or powerful than the Mid.

The spin potential is also similar to the Mid. It has an open string pattern like the Mid, and it's also more forgiving with the big head size, allowing you to take big cuts at the ball to generate even more spin.

Andy, TW

Thanks again for all your help and the information Andy.

1 last bit of information needed: How long is the waiting list to demo this racquet and how do I get my name on that list?

I appreciate your advice!!!

TripleB

 

[TW Staff]

Thanks again for all your help and the information Andy.

1 last bit of information needed: How long is the waiting list to demo this racquet and how do I get my name on that list?

I appreciate your advice!!!

TripleB

Not sure how long the list is, but just place an order on our website or call up our customer service department and they will put you on the list!

Andy, TW

 

[diredesire]

Andy, you ever played with the older versions (cosmetics) of the POG? I'd say the earlier POGs (4 stripe and earlier) feel very different as compared to the current "classic" line...

 

[NLBwell]

TripleB, you know the POG has always been the right racket for you.

 

[TripleB]

TripleB, you know the POG has always been the right racket for you.

Before knee surgery last November I would probably reluctantly admit to that

Now that I'll be playing doubles for the rest of my tennis days, the 93 square inch head just isn't large enough to compensate for my lack of skills at the net.

Maybe the PCG 100 is just what I need!!!

TripleB

 

[NLBwell]

It could be!

 

[pgtennisconnect]

I completely disagree. There's nothing similar btw the material layup & construction of the current POG classic 100 vs the 1987 4-stripe Original graphite..

Old is definitely gold. With the latter OS version, I can generate plowthru & power seemingly at will, only needing higher string tension & some spin bite to keep the ball within the lines. Feel is addictive & consistent each time the ball is struck; the sound & f/back is unmistakable..

Whereas the current classic lineup incorporates a hollow & stiff-like Babolat PD spec to its frame. The power level (600) is too low to begin wth for a 100sq head. I swung hard &real fast just to create depth on the ball, yet not deep enough..& plow thru severely lacking. Trademark heavy kicking balls gone Awol. Gusts of strong wind can sway this beam in yr hands. The old POG barely moves an inch even under swirling winds. That's how sweet the old school graphites & material integrity are

 

[ollinger]

^^ I also found the recent POG 100 very disappointing, felt nothing like the older frames, woeful lack of plow, dreadful at the net.

 

[TripleB]

^^ I also found the recent POG 100 very disappointing, felt nothing like the older frames, woeful lack of plow, dreadful at the net.

Totally agree with this!

I've recently gone to the Prince Response 97 and found everything I was missing in the Prince Graphite Classic 100...incredible volleys, POG Mid like spin (slice is even better than the POG Mid...a couple of my opponents have deemed my slice with this racquet 'illegal'), touch from baseline/net, good power (although 48/51 was a little high; going to try 43/46), and maneuverability (swingweight was 282 before stringing).

TripleB

 

[counterpuncher]

I've recently gone to the Prince Response 97
TripleB

Funnily enough I picked one of these up the other week and am surprised at how much I like it. I actually though about your posts on the POG while hitting with it and thought this might be worth a shot for you. As per some of the TW review comments, this really does remind me of a PST.

I have Kirschbaum PLII at 44/42 and will probably go to 42/40, which seems to work quite well. I'll be keen to here how you go with your TB hyrbrid at lower tension.

 

[shamaho]

I tried the response 97 first and did not like the feel which I found very unlike the pog and the wide beam, despite being a great stick .

I'm demoing the PCG100 today.

 

[shamaho]

Just tried the PCG100 with a 1h practice session and a 2h club ladder match.

I think how people perceive the rackets plow and weight depends largely on their prior or recent racket and experience.

For me, I've recently tried the Response 97, reverted back to the Mid and demoed the PCG100 alongside the Exo3 Graphite (which has almost identical specs).

My perception for PCG100 is WOW ! for me it was really very much the "something between the POG Mid and the POG Oversize" - I did not have the plowthrough of the POG Mid, but had very similar balance, and the way it swings through the air (unlike the exo3 graphite), great great feel, spin, power when needed, just the extra help from the stick by someone finding the Mid a bit to demanding due to whatever reason.

During the match, with only a 1h practice the week prior, allowed me to execute my game plan to perfection ! I did not think about the racket one bit, it just responded as if I played it it for years (so it mut be the POG OS and POG Mid heritage coming through... and I definitely did not get it with the Exo).

It also gave me great help on those last resort extreme defensive gets on the BH slice with surprising great control and accuracy...

The old graphite feel is definitely there - ok not exactly 100%, but for I'd rate it at 98% which is pretty dammn great!

For me, it's a no brainer really... this is the ONE !

The following day, I played yet another match with my POG Mid (on a cold winter night), and boy did it make me feel much older...

 

[B Cubed]

Just tried the PCG100 with a 1h practice session and a 2h club ladder match.

I think how people perceive the rackets plow and weight depends largely on their prior or recent racket and experience.

For me, I've recently tried the Response 97, reverted back to the Mid and demoed the PCG100 alongside the Exo3 Graphite (which has almost identical specs).

My perception for PCG100 is WOW ! for me it was really very much the "something between the POG Mid and the POG Oversize" - I did not have the plowthrough of the POG Mid, but had very similar balance, and the way it swings through the air (unlike the exo3 graphite), great great feel, spin, power when needed, just the extra help from the stick by someone finding the Mid a bit to demanding due to whatever reason.

During the match, with only a 1h practice the week prior, allowed me to execute my game plan to perfection ! I did not think about the racket one bit, it just responded as if I played it it for years (so it mut be the POG OS and POG Mid heritage coming through... and I definitely did not get it with the Exo).

It also gave me great help on those last resort extreme defensive gets on the BH slice with surprising great control and accuracy...

The old graphite feel is definitely there - ok not exactly 100%, but for I'd rate it at 98% which is pretty dammn great!

For me, it's a no brainer really... this is the ONE !

The following day, I played yet another match with my POG Mid (on a cold winter night), and boy did it make me feel much older...

Prince just discontinued the PCG 100, so stock up.