POG: How "original" is original?

[superstition]

The real first POG was in 1977. I believe it was used by Gene Meyer, Carling Bassett, Paul Annacone). The early one was for one hand grip (shorter handle), the racket has no grommet, nor bumper guard, the mold was different (thinner). These are made in USA. I am not sure if the pros are using these.

The 1983 has thicker beam with bumper guard, and longer grip handle.

Anybody else has a different version of the early ones?

Before the bumper guard version on the current Prince rackets, the POG (Oversize) had all individual grommets. This was true on all of their composite frames at that time. The bumper guards were introduced when Prince released their entry to the mid size market with the Series 90 as well as their entry to the super size market with the Series 125. They called the Oversize at that time the Series 110. Their first midsize racquest were the Magnesium, Graphite, Precision Graphite. The release of the Series 90, 110, 125 was either 1984 or 1984.

The earliest Graphite version was a two-piece, with the handle piece fused on to the racket. It's been a one-piece for over two decades now.

Also, there was a very short-lived Graphite 2 in the late 70's. Cosmetics were identical to the Graphite (except the former said "Graphite 2" where the latter said "Graphite"), but with a little fiberglass for flex.

The first one I had was grommetless. It finally gave up the ghost when the string pulled through the throat.

The head shape of the very early POG from the 70's had more of a tear drop shape, similar to the early Head Radicals. The POG head shape became much more oval or egg shape by mid to late 80s, and the current POGs.

These posts don't have all the details I've heard concerning the so-called Prince "Original" Graphite racquets. One detail that wasn't mentioned is that the real "original" model had cork in its handle. How many changes has Prince made over the years? How many changes can a racquet go through and still be referred to as the "original" model?

Another question I have is... if the first Prince Graphite debuted in the late 70s, why were pros still using wood years later?

 

[lethalfang]

Prince no longer officially calls it the Original. They call it the Classic that's sometimes described as "original" with the quotation marks around it.
Many pros who were already successful with wooden racquets were not going to change racquets, hence the phrase "don't fix it if it ain't broke." But many did and succeeded with the change. Eventually, graphite and graphite composites drove wooden racquet to complete extinction.

 

[superstition]

Many pros who were already successful with wooden racquets were not going to change racquets, hence the phrase "don't fix it if it ain't broke." But many did and succeeded with the change. Eventually, graphite and graphite composites drove wooden racquet to complete extinction.

Yes, but it seems strange that it took as long as it did. When was the mid released? Perhaps Prince's emphasis on oversize racquets slowed the adoption of their graphite frame(s)?

 

[lethalfang]

I'm pretty sure the midplus/mid was released after the graphite 110.
The drastic change in head size from a standard wooden racquet to the 110 sq. inch. could have something to do with the reluctance to change.