Prince 90 sq inch 1980,s frames not the usual suspects

[teachingprotx]

I’m back on this prince thing . What I’m looking for is spec info on the lesser known prince 90,s thin beamed 1980,s frames that shared the graphite pro mold. There were many.
I’m interested in the following frames:
Graphite finalist 90
Prince precision graphite 90 ( no plastic throat piece )
Sierra 90
Volley 90
I’m on the hunt for these in hoping they are the softer flex than all the usual suspects ie graphite comp, graphite pro ,power pro etc.
If anyone has any info please let me know !

 

[kevin qmto]

I actually just picked up the Precision Graphite 90. I snapped some pics, and was shocked to see a lack of a nylon throat piece like its 110 edition. It should be softer than than most of the 90's of the era but how much so I'm not sure yet. It weighs only 338g strung, about 30 less than some of my other Prince 90s.

 

[Grafil Injection]

The first Precision Graphite with its open neck and Nylon throat from the early 1980s weighed the usual 356g strung (+/- 7g). Then in 1984-5 the closed neck, Nylon throat model came out, I guess around the same weight (?). Then from around 1987 Prince seem to have knocked 1/2oz of each model. I have a 1987 4-stripe POG 90 at 342g strung and a 1987 Spectrum Comp LE at 338g strung, both with their leather grips.

Given that in 1988 Prince also launched the CTS Precision and various other wide-bodies, it's a reasonable bet that the thin-beamed models from then onwards used the more advanced epoxies and required less graphite layers.

 

[teachingprotx]

Whoa Kevin , that is crazy . I’ve been looking for that same precision graphite 90
No nylon throat ) version .
I was thinking that it may be even more flexy than the graphite pro 52 RA and the power pro / power flex both at 50/48 RA .
Would love to hear what you think as far as flex and balance !

 

[ey039524]

I need to check my stash, but for sure I have the graphite pro and a about 3 of the power flexes. I'm at Wimbledon at the moment, so won't be back until after mid July.

 

[galain]

The Graphtec DB is another very very sweet frame worth thinking about. Not sure what the specs are on it but it's a beautiful hitting stick.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I think you can rule out the Graphite Finalist 90. It has a similar flex to the Spectrum. Nice feel and looks good though.

 

[kevin qmto]

I think you can rule out the Graphite Finalist 90. It has a similar flex to the Spectrum. Nice feel and looks good though.

does the opposite side of the throat say anything about its layup besides something like "constructed of a combination of graphite and fiberglass" like the Precision 90 does?

 

[Grafil Injection]

does the opposite side of the throat say anything about its layup besides something like "constructed of a combination of graphite and fiberglass" like the Precision 90 does?

Just that and the usual stuff, inc 1986 patent year and 55-70lbs recommendation. I think if it starts with Graphite it is at least 50%, because there are some rackets like the PowerFlex and Sierra which start with Fibreglass, which I think are lower than 50%. Probably a legal requirement to say what the main constituent is first in some countries (ignoring the epoxy).

 

[Grafil Injection]

If you want long dwell-time flex, the Tricomp is the one out of all the Princes I've used, despite being a 23mm wide-beam.

If you want thin beam flexiness, the Fred Perry Master or the Slazenger Phantom Silver Boron are even more plush than the Prince Graphite Pro, but perhaps not as stable.