POG 90s and their cousins

[graycrait]

I've had 3 POG 90s, two of the more recent Tours and a 4-stripe hanging on the wall for a good while. I briefly took them for a spin with several types of string but shrugged and hung them up. I've had an off and on again love affair with a trio of POG OSs, two Tour and a PCG. Then there are current 9 PCG 100s I have and a trio of PowerPro/Flex rackets I have. Even got a grommetless Wilson Sting OS that was made "alongside" the early Prince POGs just to "see."

I traded with @dak95_00 for a couple of 1 stripe grommet POG 90s. I'm looking at my now 5 POG 90s and wondering. Then the other day this hard hitting topspin producing female college player wants me to string her current "pedestrian" Head rackets, but has no backup for a hit with another prospective college recruit the next morning. I somewhat sheepishly slid her one of my PCG 100s strung with prestretched Ashaway Kevlar x Origin, 60/60. Later that day when I get her ho hum Heads back to her I asked how it went? She told me she loved that Prince and hit with so much spin that the prospect could barely stay on the court. We have now planned on a private hit to see if it is the string, racket, novelty or simply the opponent that gave her that feeling. I digress, now I am really looking at those POG 90s.

I had strung the two 1 stripe 90s with Origin at 60lbs. Why both, I loved the first one with that string so much when matched to my 63 yr old game, I duplicated the second. Then college girl tells me that she loves PCG 100 with Ash Kev x Origin.

After ruminating I strung a Tour POG 90 and a 4 -stripe POG 90 Ash Kev x Origin 60/60. Right now I would rather play for points, feed or just have a friendly hit with any of those POG 90s. I have to be "on my game" to extract the benefits of the extra power of fullbed Origin in the POG 90, but if and it is likely, my game resembles a 63 yr old wanna be then the extra spin/dead mains, of Ash Kev x Origin gives keeps me in the court.

I was looking at my Prince Power series rackets, Flexes and Pro a couple of days ago. I strung one up with 17g Tour Bite at 52 and the other Ash Kev x Origin 60/60. I'm about ready to hang those on the wall permanently as a testament to a racket whose time has passed it by. But the POG 90s... not so much.

I have a pair of Wilson Largehead ProStaffs and the Largehead Sting, strung with Ash Kev x Origin. Along with the POG OSs similarly strung - they are all a nice swing with friends enjoying an hour or so of "playing catch" with friends. I'm lending out 3 of 9 PCG 100s to "college girl" to see if she is just infatuated or has found a new stick.

But the POG 90s, they are fun to swing and even more fun to construct and even hammer points. I am probably going to look for a few more POG 90s. I'm so fickle.

 

[dak95_00]

I've had 3 POG 90s, two of the more recent Tours and a 4-stripe hanging on the wall for a good while. I briefly took them for a spin with several types of string but shrugged and hung them up. I've had an off and on again love affair with a trio of POG OSs, two Tour and a PCG. Then there are current 9 PCG 100s I have and a trio of PowerPro/Flex rackets I have. Even got a grommetless Wilson Sting OS that was made "alongside" the early Prince POGs just to "see."

I traded with @dak95_00 for a couple of 1 stripe grommet POG 90s. I'm looking at my now 5 POG 90s and wondering. Then the other day this hard hitting topspin producing female college player wants me to string her current "pedestrian" Head rackets, but has no backup for a hit with another prospective college recruit the next morning. I somewhat sheepishly slid her one of my PCG 100s strung with prestretched Ashaway Kevlar x Origin, 60/60. Later that day when I get her ho hum Heads back to her I asked how it went? She told me she loved that Prince and hit with so much spin that the prospect could barely stay on the court. We have now planned on a private hit to see if it is the string, racket, novelty or simply the opponent that gave her that feeling. I digress, now I am really looking at those POG 90s.

I had strung the two 1 stripe 90s with Origin at 60lbs. Why both, I loved the first one with that string so much when matched to my 63 yr old game, I duplicated the second. Then college girl tells me that she loves PCG 100 with Ash Kev x Origin.

After ruminating I strung a Tour POG 90 and a 4 -stripe POG 90 Ash Kev x Origin 60/60. Right now I would rather play for points, feed or just have a friendly hit with any of those POG 90s. I have to be "on my game" to extract the benefits of the extra power of fullbed Origin in the POG 90, but if and it is likely, my game resembles a 63 yr old wanna be then the extra spin/dead mains, of Ash Kev x Origin gives keeps me in the court.

I was looking at my Prince Power series rackets, Flexes and Pro a couple of days ago. I strung one up with 17g Tour Bite at 52 and the other Ash Kev x Origin 60/60. I'm about ready to hang those on the wall permanently as a testament to a racket whose time has passed it by. But the POG 90s... not so much.

I have a pair of Wilson Largehead ProStaffs and the Largehead Sting, strung with Ash Kev x Origin. Along with the POG OSs similarly strung - they are all a nice swing with friends enjoying an hour or so of "playing catch" with friends. I'm lending out 3 of 9 PCG 100s to "college girl" to see if she is just infatuated or has found a new stick.

But the POG 90s, they are fun to swing and even more fun to construct and even hammer points. I am probably going to look for a few more POG 90s. I'm so fickle.

Those two POG 90s have survived 35 years and are still beasts. Unless you are going to start a POG museum, which it appears you might already have, I don’t see why you need any more.

On the Power Pro/Flex, they were too noodle-ly. I didn’t know that was possible until I played with those and got blown off of a court. I’ve never had trouble generating my own power but these were just too little power and oddly uncontrollable power level too. I’ve hit with some Head Prestige (Graphene) MP models and some Redondo Pro Kennex MP models that felt like boards without power but the Power Pro/Flex weren’t uncomfortable boards; they just lacked power.

I switched away from the POG 90 because I was struggling with the launch angle of the ball coming off of the 14x18 string pattern. I then settled on the Head i.Prestige MP XL which I really liked but struggled with volleys. I then messed around just for fun and found I REALLY LIKE the Prince Mono for all aspects of the game.

As part of our trade, @graycrait sent me a Wilson BLX Blade Team 104 which I also like very much. I haven’t found any weaknesses for it either.

 

[graycrait]

I really think the POG 90 strung with Ash Kev x Origin is something to be experienced. I winched the Ash Kev slowly till it broke, then strung it in the mains at 60lbs. Origin at 60 was an easy weave. The trouble with my POG 90s is that they vary rather widely in weight and balance, but even the 12.8oz one swings well. The 4-stripe swings at 12.0 oz and is fun to serve with. The POG 1s @dak95_00 sent me vary by .1oz at 12.6/7. That is why I think I need to cut out the Origin in one and restring it with Ash Kev x Origin to get a proper eval. It may be the Pog 1-stripe is "the one."

 

[Grieeegoorr]

The POG 90 is a great racquet that just gets better with time, so I see no harm in picking up the odd 1 or 5 when the opportunity presents, in fact I think it makes very good economic sense given the cost of new racquets.
Keep an eye out for the odd Graphite Pro 90 as well, 80/20 graphite/fibreglass composition so a bit stiffer than the Power Flex/Pro's. I think they'll go well with either the Ash Kev x Origin or full bed of Origin that you are enjoying, I add a little bit of lead at 3 & 9 for a bit more stability and the same at the butt to counter balance.
Well done on introducing the classics to another generation as well.

 

[graycrait]

@Grieeegoorr
The Prince wall:

 

[Grieeegoorr]

Very nice, you definitely need to get at least 2 Graphite Pro's up there though.

 

[graycrait]

Very nice, you definitely need to get at least 2 Graphite Pro's up there though.

Da..! Ok, I'll be looking for a couple.

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

@Grieeegoorr
The Prince wall:

Are those a bunch of experimental racquets in the lower right section?

 

[graycrait]

Are those a bunch of experimental racquets in the lower right section?

Those are all PCG100LBs ranging in length from 28" to 26.75". Weighing from 11.8oz to 11.2 strung with all sorts of different strings at different tensions. Gut, poly, Zyex, Kevlar, maybe even a multi. Technically not officially dubbed "experimental" but I like swinging them and like to use them to test string. 3 are on loan to a good college player who normally plays with some 98" Head cliche' rackets strung with Tour Bite. However, this player hit with a 27" PCG100 strung with Ash Kevlar x Origin and was intrigued by the spin and feel, so I lent out a 28," 27.5 and 27" all strung the same. The difference between my topspin ground strokes and this player's would be like comparing current Margaret Court's topspin to Rafa's. I hope to get some interesting feedback.

 

[BorgCash]

@Grieeegoorr
The Prince wall:

Upper row at the right - are those two Woody?

 

[graycrait]

Upper row at the right - are those two Woody?

Yup, straight as an arrow in both cases. Regardless of naysayers they swing pretty nicely even if they flutter every now and then. I only use them for casual hitting every blue moon. Hard to find folks who will go out for a hit with older style rackets.

This wall is where most of the bufoonery hangs, going back to the racket I used when I was 13, but with some odds and ends thrown in:

 

[BorgCash]

Yup, straight as an arrow in both cases. Regardless of naysayers they swing pretty nicely even if they flutter every now and then. I only use them for casual hitting every blue moon. Hard to find folks who will go out for a hit with older style rackets.

This wall is where most of the bufoonery hangs, going back to the racket I used when I was 13, but with some odds and ends thrown in:

It's me who like hitting with old racquets. Unfortunately we can't play we you.

 

[BorgCash]

How many do you have in your collection?

 

[graycrait]

Around 60. I've given many away. Any more than 60 and I would have to use another wall. My wife's sense humor does have its limits

How many do you have in your collection?

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[BorgCash]

Around 60. I've given many away. Any more than 60 and I would have to use another wall. My wife's sense humor does have its limits

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

It's a familiar story with wife. I have more than 200, all walls and around 10 tennis bags.

 

[graycrait]

It's a familiar story with wife. I have more than 200, all walls and around 10 tennis bags.

Have you seen the photos of @Sanglier 's rackets. Oh my...!

 

[BorgCash]

Have you seen the photos of @Sanglier 's rackets. Oh my...!

Don't remember, maybe. I've seen many great collections. I'm very limited in space now, the racquets are everywhere.

 

[Ultra 2]

@Grieeegoorr
The Prince wall:

Love the collection!

Have you tried the Graphite Comp 90 or the Precision Graphite 90? Spectrum and Response 90s are nice too.

There is way too much variance in flex from POG to Power Flex Pro.. it’s like going from their stiffest to the most felxible frames of that era.

The 4 frames mentioned above fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum.

 

[retrowagen]

The Graphite Comp 90 is my favorite of the old Prince “Series 90” line.

Have you ever tried any of the various POG 90 clones that exist? There were models made (or marketed) by other companies that were similar in head size and drill pattern, and had the throat crossbar. I have a Wavex 3003 like this, which seems like a POG 90 painted in a Babolat graphics scheme that has had an allergic reaction of some sort, but is a surprisingly good hit (and considerably lighter than a POG in its stock form).

 

[Ultra 2]

Yeah, I haven’t hit with my comp 90 in years. Having so many other racquets, and so little time, it doesn’t make it into the rotation.

I actually haven’t even heard of the Wavex. Just googled it.. very interesting.

Also came across some interesting Bridgestone Japan only racquets that resemble the POG. Wondering how that plays.

 

[dak95_00]

What’s the difference between the early black, green, gold Graphite Comp 90 and the later turquoise Graphite Comp 90?

 

[Ultra 2]

Early one is a classic box beam that plays somewhere in stiffness between spectrum and POG. The graphite with little glass composition without the stabilizer beam of the POG is often touted as one of the best feeling/touch graphite frames made of that era. The earlier comp 90 is highly sought after.

The next generation comp 90 is a higher beam frame that came out after the wife body craze that probably plays more similar to the graphtech & tricomp. Not sure where it falls in the stiffness rating though.

 

[shamaho]

@graycrait when you say POG 90s... you mean the 93 or thereabouts right ?

Also have a couple, and currently swinging the PCG. Anyway a while ago I took my Wilson Kafctor 90 and the POG 90 for a hit, just to re-check what they felt like compared to the PCG.

The Wilson definitely felt good but with a small sweet spot and kinda heavy to flick. when I switched from that to the POG 90 OMG !!! what sweetness, what quick swinging and flicking... it was so amazing that I broke the string in 5 minutes I was hitting so well... anyway it felt lighter than the memory I had of it, so that feeling kept in my mind and I have to re try it again in other harsher conditions like a colder day, or outside hard court just to see if it still as maneuverable as that particular day.

I just dont have the time to be stringuing this, that and the other thing... so I haven't done yet

 

[graycrait]

@shamaho,

Yes, they are 93" heads. I'm almost sure that all Prince rackets that have a "90" in the name are all"93." But I have been wrong many times so this might be another time.

The issue I have is that these POG 90s vary quite a bit in weight:

POG 4-stripe: 11.4oz
POG 4-stripe: 11.8oz
POG 4-stripe: 12.2oz
POG 1-stripe: 12.3oz
POG 1-stripe: 12.5oz
POG Tour: 12.0oz
POG Tour: 12.5oz(had to drill that one out as a previous owner mixed lead powder with something and stuffed it in the handle and I couldn't get it all out).

If I recall all the 4-stripe and 1-stripes have solid grips while the Tours are hollow.

All have synthetic grips and they are strung different, but I was shocked when I weighed the 4-stripes. But the heaviest 4-stripe has a 4&5/8 grip while the other two are 4&3/8 so that might make a difference.

The Tours seem to play stiffer to me than the "stripes."

I have both the 1 stripes strung with Origin so when I hit with harder hitters I get some free power with the weight. I have the 4 stripes strung with: 17g Tour Bite mains/16g Signum Pro Yellow Jacket 55/55 (just had a half set of each left so why not?); 16g Ashaway Kevlar mains/16g Origin crosses 60/60 and the third 4 stripe fullbed Origin at 59/59.

Day in and day out right now I like the two lightest 4-stripes. They weigh about the same as my 9 PCG 100s, which are taking a hiatus due to my latest Prince infatuation.

 

[retrowagen]

Also came across some interesting Bridgestone Japan only racquets that resemble the POG. Wondering how that plays.

Courtesy of a racquet-collecting friend who occasionally posts here with us, I have played with one of those Bridgestones. It was stiff and crisp, and hit a “heavy” ball. Not sure how it compares to POG 90/93, though, as that is one of very few racquets that in 35+ years of play, I have never yet tried.