I liked both in the old days, if I had to pick I slightly prefer beam...thought extra power and spin was nice from the O3. Feel is Different, but I played well with both. I picked up O3 this time.
Prince Beast 98
- Thread starter DanS
- Start date
This may sound funny but I've decided I don't like rackets that enhance power - at least not demonstrably. There's always a trade-off in being able to harness all that power.
And spin is kind of the same thing for me and one of the reasons I don't really use poly anymore, and when I did it was only in the crosses. I 'd invariably hit short with those spinny frames, including short topspin lobs.
I thought I liked big discernible sweet spots but discovered I don't care for those much either. I play guys in doubles that hit the ball big and I have to be able to keep my returns in play and control defensive groundies and volleys.
For that reason, I've discovered, it's better to have a regular, not very discernible sweet spot - probably why I stayed on the PT280 for so many years. I think there's a number of similarities between the non-ported Beast 98 and the PT280 like twaron, balance etc. The biggest though is that muted feel - I feel like I get what I hit with the non-ported Beast.
Normally Play with a Gravity Pro so I understand ... There is normally two phases where someone likes a little more power. Sometimes a intermediate player likes a little extra pop. Second phase is a little later after reaching advance there might be a day or two were you just want to shorten up your swing and hit the ball back gently. Assuming they made them in the same numbers the beam version sold out first. I am not against either version. O3 I have to play/string a little differently, but with a very light touch it handles most things well.
Muted feel racquets...What is good about a muted racquet is it helps some players get out of their head when things are going wrong. Lets you just play versus worrying about every shot being perfect.
phases - totally agree!
My problem was that I got a second set of really nice frames after I’d invested in two Beast 98s. A guy traded a couple of barely used pro One GTs for a couple of my 280s. I got intoxicated with the huge sweet spots and the free power for awhile and set the Beasts aside. I mean the Pro Ones are serious frames that retail higher than the Beasts. But then I started realizing that against the big hitting 4.5s, I was getting outhit because I was committing too many errors. because I didn’t get what I hit, I got more. Finally committed to the Beast and it’s paid dividends.
damianduytran
New User
Hey I can totally relate because I used to play with the Prince Textreme 100 Pro Longbody and realized the hefty 350 SW and heavy weight was making me hit shots short cause it demands you get prepped with good footwork and timing. I switched to the 98 and it has the same feel but more controllable and easier to swing. I was worried as a 4.0 player that I was gonna lose huge pop on the serve coming from the LB to the 98. I was surprised I got almost if not even more pop on the serve but with better directional control. My groundstrokes were not coming up short since the SW was way lower and its stable enough against return. Sad there is no more Prince Beast 98 left on the website. I wonder if Prince will consider restocking this as this is a hidden gem
Uncoil
Semi-Pro
No chance of a restock from Prince. The Beast lineup is dead except in Japan.
damianduytran
New User
Oh right they mentioned that but man I hope Prince comes out with something similar cause 98 racquets like the Ezone and Pure Strikes are popular for today's modern player
damianduytran
New User
Dude I totally agree, I had two of my friends who are Pure Strike users and would switch to the Beast 98 but TW sold out. They stated it felt like a more soft Pure Strike and more forgiving on their arm
Odd that when it first came out there was little interest in it but seemed to have picked up towards the end. Lucky I stocked up so that I an extra o3 and solid beam version as back up.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
Being more than half off also piques interest XD
damianduytran
New User
Yeah it peaked more interest cause of the sale for sure and the great specs. Does the 2 different racquets throw off your game when switching during a match?
Not exactly. I know what to expect when I change across. I usually change mid match because I am wanting a different response off the one in hand and the one in the bag is what will give it to me.
Has anyone experienced grommet break issues with these? Not long ago one of the grommets in my 03 b98 broke down at the bottom and could slide up and down the string. So I replaced that piece at the next string job using the grommet part from the set I have. Then I noticed in my b98 one of the grommets at the top has cracked which I probably will replace once it gets worse and splits open more. I am about to take the newly strung 03 b98 out tomorrow and now I noticed another grommet down the bottom just before the tie off is split open. This grommet is the one that seems to be constantly stretched a bit since the string runs vertical but the grommet comes out slightly diagonally. So what gives? Am I framing the ball too much?
I've had other Prince frames in the past that I've had for years and not ever had a grommet break on me. I mean they would deform at the tie offs from the stringing but never actually break. I bought grommet sets for both beasts thinking I wouldn't touch them years later but the o3 is a little over a year and the solid beam is a little over 6 months.i bought 2 of each frame and 2 grommet sets for each one but at this rate...
I've had other Prince frames in the past that I've had for years and not ever had a grommet break on me. I mean they would deform at the tie offs from the stringing but never actually break. I bought grommet sets for both beasts thinking I wouldn't touch them years later but the o3 is a little over a year and the solid beam is a little over 6 months.i bought 2 of each frame and 2 grommet sets for each one but at this rate...
tennisboy2121
Rookie
I had an extended demo with a beast 98 o3. While on my first hit I noticed the grommets at the bottom were broken. They could slide up and down. The plastic piece that holds the bottom grommets seems very week. I think that plastic is very heat sensitive.
Subway Tennis
Hall of Fame
This is such a great point. I feel like the first thing you should do when trying a new racquet is to hit with someone who lands a heavy ball on or around the baseline! I love frames that hit a great ball when you have time to point and shoot, but a great test of a new frame is how reliable and comfortable you are when trying to be aggressive on R.O.S. or half-volleying heavy balls skipping off the baseline. I know exactly what you are taking about in regard to sweetspot. Some forgiveness there is welcome.
I would love to play with a prestige mid, but a man has to know his limitations...... For me a yonex V-core pro 97 with a loose tension to open up the sweetspot and some lead to steady the hoop is more my speed
Of the racquets you have acquired recently, is the beast 98 with regular grommets your full-time setup now?
I love those frames and have no intention of getting rid of them, still carry at least one in the bag and use it. But I’m back on the Pro One GTs for the serious competitive dubs. And I know that sounds crazy after what I said before about control issues. But I changed my sting set-up in them from Zyex mains and poly crosses to Kevlar mains and zyex crosses and it’s made all the difference in the control game.This is such a great point. I feel like the first thing you should do when trying a new racquet is to hit with someone who lands a heavy ball on or around the baseline! I love frames that hit a great ball when you have time to point and shoot, but a great test of a new frame is how reliable and comfortable you are when trying to be aggressive on R.O.S. or half-volleying heavy balls skipping off the baseline. I know exactly what you are taking about in regard to sweetspot. Some forgiveness there is welcome.
I would love to play with a prestige mid, but a man has to know his limitations...... For me a yonex V-core pro 97 with a loose tension to open up the sweetspot and some lead to steady the hoop is more my speed
Of the racquets you have acquired recently, is the beast 98 with regular grommets your full-time setup now?
If I played from the baseline with a two hand backhand, then the Beast 98 would definitely still be my number one. I do return with two against the better servers but I play with one. I’m a doubles specialist and I was getting picked at net with the Beast cause I wasn’t ripping the backhand top. I’ve discovered that my upper limit for hitting big one handed backhands is 97”.
But I’m in my 60s and as my skills diminish I’ll revert back to the Beast for the comfort and slightly lower weight. And after that maybe a screen door!
My stringer that looked at it noted the plastic was very dry, which is why they're so brittle and broke.
Simplicius
Semi-Pro
.
A friend of mine has a Prince Beast 98 solid beam version which is way off the TW review specs (Weight 323 g, Balance 32 cm / 7HL).
His racquet is 328 g and 33 cm / 4 HL !!!
But the worst thing is that the racquet has a lot of silicone under the butt cap, in the hair pin, in order to achive this off the specs balance!
Meaning that starting balance, before that factory tuning, was close to Even.
In order to achive the listed 32 cm / 7HL he adds 15 grams in the butt!
I have not the opportunity to hold the racquet (this friend lives too far away) but as I can understand the swingweight must be a mess too...
Something like 335 as all the "off" weight is on the hoop... (He complains that it is cumbersome).
Do you experience something similar with your Beast 98 solid beam? Have you find any silicone in it, under the butt cap door?
Btw, I had the O-Port version and mine was right on the specs (maybe a little down, which is a lot better of course to fix it).
A friend of mine has a Prince Beast 98 solid beam version which is way off the TW review specs (Weight 323 g, Balance 32 cm / 7HL).
His racquet is 328 g and 33 cm / 4 HL !!!
But the worst thing is that the racquet has a lot of silicone under the butt cap, in the hair pin, in order to achive this off the specs balance!
Meaning that starting balance, before that factory tuning, was close to Even.
In order to achive the listed 32 cm / 7HL he adds 15 grams in the butt!
I have not the opportunity to hold the racquet (this friend lives too far away) but as I can understand the swingweight must be a mess too...
Something like 335 as all the "off" weight is on the hoop... (He complains that it is cumbersome).
Do you experience something similar with your Beast 98 solid beam? Have you find any silicone in it, under the butt cap door?
Btw, I had the O-Port version and mine was right on the specs (maybe a little down, which is a lot better of course to fix it).
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BillKid
Professional
I ordered two Beast 98 and thanks to TW customization service I got 2 racquets that were right on the advertised specs (31 cm 300g 290sw unstrung). I saw under the buttcap that TW had put a little bit of silicone but the amount seems minimal. I don’t know if they also added some lead or tungsten under the bumper guard but they told me that overall it was just a small customization.
These specs felt extremely good right off the batt but then I just added 2x1g at 10+12. I’m very happy with these racquets. Comfort, spin, balance between power and control, who could ask for more?
Last summer, I hit a little bit with my old Precision response titanium. It may surprise you but I think that these two racquets feel a bit similar.
Same racket and the same issue.
I had a grommet break in the throat, then the plastic under the six throat grommets piece was protruding.
Lucky I had purchased spare grommets when I bought the rackets.
That said, I am extremely happy with my 2 beast 98 O3s
SlvrDragon50
Semi-Pro
Really tempted to grab one of these since the price is outstanding, but I haven't played with a "power" frame in so long. I already feel like I'm a pretty hard hitter with my RF97 so I'm worried absolutely everything is going to be flying out.
On closer inspection the grommets before the main and cross tie off have split open. These ones are stretched out by the direction of the strings. Worth contacting TW/prince about it?
Both my beasts were pretty on spec. They were just about 2 to 3g off static weight. So it was good for me. But seems like grommet quality is poor.
Edit - I don't think mine has silicone. But I remember a textreme warrior 100 I had before did.
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Concerned now about the grommet issue. Nothing so far but it’s just 6 or 7 months. Grommets still available? And if so, where? The racket itself is so well made, irritating that they skimped on quality grommets. Just picked up a second hand Prince Response 97 and those old grommets seem thicker and sturdier by comparison. I’ll bet the Japanese version doesn’t have these issues.
Concerning spec, I bought my solid beams a week apart and though I’m not as anal as some, they seem spot on and static weights did come in on target.
Now to figure out how to order grommets from Prince Japan.
Concerning spec, I bought my solid beams a week apart and though I’m not as anal as some, they seem spot on and static weights did come in on target.
Now to figure out how to order grommets from Prince Japan.
Yes, this has occurred also on mine
Thanks gazz
Uncoil
Semi-Pro
Same thing happened on a Beast O3 100 that I string frequently. The plastic used on the grommets for the Beast line does not like to stretch as much.
Got one of the beast 98s in my closet strung up which was purchased unstrung and straight away I can see the main tie off grommet has split open. The grommet quality in the beast 98 line is horrendous!! First string job and grommets breaking already. The first gen phantom 100p I bought doesn't have this problem.
PBODY99
Legend
I generally buy one spare grommet set / frame if I plan to make it my main frame.
I keep some https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Tubing_Nylon_10_ft/descpageALPHA-TUBING.html
to extend the life of tie off on some frames.
I keep some https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Tubing_Nylon_10_ft/descpageALPHA-TUBING.html
to extend the life of tie off on some frames.
Actually I've got 2 sets of grommets for the b98 but seeing how easily they break I'm afraid I'll run out sooner than I anticipated. Do stringers generally refuse to string a frame with broken grommets or as long as they're still able to tie the knots and it doesn't affect playability then just roll with it?
I've never had a problem and I bought a Kneissl Aeramic Pro off **** on the cheap with the worst grommets I've ever layed eyes on - break off if you looked at them wrong. Stringers don't seem to care. I got spoiled playing the PT280s for twenty five years, keeping them in my trunk year long, never replaced grommets.
Regarding the Beast 98, it won't be an issue as far as I'm concerned as I only use Ashaway Crossfire with kevlar and Zyex anymore and I just never have to restring. Well, the truth is, I wasn't ready to give up the precision and extra weight of my PT57 frames (Head, Donnay 95s) just yet but by the time I hit 70 I'll probably be ready for a lighter, bigger headed frame and the Beast is the best 98 I've used. (I do still use the Beasts currently, just not my main frame at this juncture.)
I did get one set of spare grommets one for each of my two Beast 98s. I'd be more concerned about the ported Beasts regarding that issue. It's a shame they chose to skimp on the grommets, but I've found the quality of the frame itself to be totally top notch. I plan to be using these frames for another ten, fifteen years and I don't foresee a problem with that. Actually, in my case though I can see that the grommets are indeed flimsy, I haven't noticed any split ones.
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Same as what a coach I spoke to about it said. He has used his racquet for 20 years or so and never had to replace grommets. Issue seems strictly in the beast line as the textreme warrior I had before and first gen phantom 100p doesn't exhibit this problem. I hope the spare grommets I bought are of better quality.
It could potentially be a particular batch of beast 98s. So far I am 3 for 3, with each having at least 1 defective grommet.
Both. I have 2 solid beams and 1 ported version strung up. Haven't strung up the 2nd ported one though. But it's 3 for 3 for me so far. My ported one has issues on 4 spots (throat, tie off, and 2 other spots in the lower hoop where they get stretched in one direction by the string) while the solid beams are 1 grommet each, one at a main tie off and other at 12 o'clock.