Prince Demos - Need Aadvice

[The_Racketeer]

I'm going to pick up a few demos and I'm hoping you guys can help me fill in the blank. I know I'm going to grab:

- Prince Tour Pro 98
- Prince Tour 98 ESP
- Prince Classic Graphite 100

I've got 1 more racquet to choose and I can't decide. Options are:

- Prince Tour 100 (16x18 )
- Prince Tour 100T
- Prince Tour Pro 100

All 3 get mixed reviews, and I'm not sure which will be most beneficial to try out. As a point of reference, I have a Warrior 100 that is pretty nice, light and maneuverable, good power & spin, but has no feel and doesn't offer the control I'd like.

Thoughts?

 

[Pro Kenneth]

Try the Response 97 as well, perhaps the best of them all

 

[The_Racketeer]

Try the Response 97 as well, perhaps the best of them all

The Response 97 is a bit too heavy for me, and I figure the 98 ESP will be more along those lines but lighter and with a bit more pop. Has the double bridge and similar head size.

 

[GaryB]

The tour 100 16x18 has a very dampened feel which some don't like but offers a good blend of power, spin and comfort. My favourite Prince of all the current models

 

[robbo1970]

Yeah I'd try the Tour 100 16x18 too.

If you're happy with the ports on the Warrior, then you'll probably feel this is its control oriented cousin.

 

[Irvin]

Are you happy with your Q5 295? The only Prince comparable to that racket is the Prince EXO3 Warrior 100 which is on sale for $80.

 

[The_Racketeer]

I do like my Q5, but I find it lacking at times. The Warrior has more maneuverability, a softer feel, and easier racquet head speed. The Q5 has more control and a firmer feel. I guess I'm looking for something in between.

The comfort and softness of the Warrior with the control of the Q5. I think the EXO ports really increase comfort, despite the dampened feel, and I'm hoping the Tours have that added control and volley-ability.

 

[7zero]

I am theoretic in this field (I play only Tour 100T no other Prince) but studying characteristics I got idea - how about to try Warrior 100 pro. Same specs like your Warrior only with classic gromets - so should be more crisp and control oriented?

 

[Irvin]

Maybe you should just try changing your strings. Look up the 2012/2014 string selector and follow the directions to find a string that may be more suited to your liking.

 

[The_Racketeer]

Strings have always confused me. I use multis cuz they are easy on the arm and last in my racquets. I've got Wilson NXT 16 in my PK and Volkl Power Fiber II 16 in my Warrior.

Always thought that string sensitivity was something that better players could sense and lesser players just said they could. Maybe I'm wrong? All the talk of "this softer poly with better snap..." just seems like too many factors for something as simple as string.

 

[SJSA]

You should consider Tour Pro 100 ESP as well.

 

[Irvin]

Strings have always confused me. I use multis cuz they are easy on the arm and last in my racquets. I've got Wilson NXT 16 in my PK and Volkl Power Fiber II 16 in my Warrior.

Always thought that string sensitivity was something that better players could sense and lesser players just said they could. Maybe I'm wrong? All the talk of "this softer poly with better snap..." just seems like too many factors for something as simple as string.

The USRSA has made it easy for you. Looking at the 2012 String Selector NXT 16 has a stiffness rating of 196 and a tension loss of 10.69. That is a very good string. If you want to try a softer string follow the table up. Looking in the stiffness column for a number smaller than 198. Not far up is Tecnifibre NRG2 which has a stiffness of 197 and a tension loss of 8.05. So if you didn't have NXT and you wanted a similar string Tecnifibre NRG2 would be a great option.

If you want an even softer string continue up the table. Babolat Addiction 17 and Tecnifibre NRG2 17 has a stiffness of 190 and you can see there Tension loss also, NRG2 17 having the best rating.

Farther up the table is Babolat Xcel. Look at the Natural Gut section, the stiffness for natural gut is 83-124 and most of the tension loss ratings is below. Very soft string that holds tension very well, but if you want the best you're going to pay for it.

Polyester strings? Well the softest poly is Head FXP Tour but it starts jumping up in a hurry.

I use this selector a lot when someone wants a string I don't have and I want something close. Or if I am going to try some new strings and I want the most economical string when I have more than one to choose from. If you want to start an inventory of strings this selector comes in handy so you don't end up with all your string with a softness in the 190s because many people like them.

Also some times you won't find all your strings in the list. There is also the 2014 String Selector. And some strings have been released even after that Like Tecnifibre HDX Tour. Do a search on "HDX Tour Review" www.tennisindustrymag.com/. Go to the links and you can read even more about a specific string including items like the strings construction, lab testing, player reviews, etc...

I would have to give the USRSA an A+ on the work they have done on strings. I found this not long ago and have used it a lot. Makes me want to join the USRSA just to support their efforts if nothing else.

EDIT: Also if the free version is this good imagine how good the member version would be with everything in one place.

 

[Muppet]

Try a synthetic gut in your Warrior. They're cheap and you will probably feel more connected the ball. Some of the more popular ones to try are Prince Original Syn Gut, Prince Syn Gut w/Duraflex, Gosen OG Sheep Micro, and one that I like a lot is Dunlop S-gut. Forten Sweet is also popular, but I don't reccommend it for you in that racquet. It's soft and muted.

 

[The_Racketeer]

Try a synthetic gut in your Warrior. They're cheap and you will probably feel more connected the ball. Some of the more popular ones to try are Prince Original Syn Gut, Prince Syn Gut w/Duraflex, Gosen OG Sheep Micro, and one that I like a lot is Dunlop S-gut. Forten Sweet is also popular, but I don't reccommend it for you in that racquet. It's soft and muted.

I've tried something similar in my Warrior and didn't like it. Felt like I couldn't get the spin and pop I wanted. Multis helped.

 

[The_Racketeer]

@Irvin: thanks! I'll definitely give that a look when I get more time. What's the significance of a softer vsstiffer string?

 

[smalahove]

You should try out the (new) Tour Pro 100 ESP.

Btw, the Tour/Rebel 98/95 have a different hoop shape and weight distribution than the the Tour 100. Initially I prefered the 98, but I've always struggled at net with all the 98/95 due to this (my net play with the Graphite Pro 90 and the Prestige IG MP/Pro is very solid in comparison).

 

[The_Racketeer]

You should try out the (new) Tour Pro 100 ESP.

Btw, the Tour/Rebel 98/95 have a different hoop shape and weight distribution than the the Tour 100. Initially I prefered the 98, but I've always struggled at net with all the 98/95 due to this (my net play with the Graphite Pro 90 and the Prestige IG MP/Pro is very solid in comparison).

I noticed that from the pictures. The Tour 100s seem to have the same roundish shape (and I'm assuming weight distribution) as my Warrior 100, while the 98's are more oval-ish. I added weight at 12 to my Warrior to shift some hoop weight towards the tip and I like that better, so I'm guessing that will be similar to the 98's stock set-up. We'll see.

As to the Tour Pro 100 ESP, I'm hesitant. The only reason I'm trying the 98 ESP is because the regular Tour 98 gets such an awful review and the 98 ESP's review makes it seem like it'll be perfect for my game. Ordinarily I wouldn't try an ESP pattern for fear of loss of control and the ability to hit anything remotely flat.

 

[Irvin]

@Irvin: thanks! I'll definitely give that a look when I get more time. What's the significance of a softer vsstiffer string?

User preference for feel. Different people like either softer or stiffer strings. Could be the harder you hit has something to do with it too, how much you spin the ball, touch shots, etc. I have always felt like I gets lots more spin with kevlar than any other string. Kevlar being by far the stiffest string.

 

[smalahove]

I noticed that from the pictures. The Tour 100s seem to have the same roundish shape (and I'm assuming weight distribution) as my Warrior 100, while the 98's are more oval-ish. I added weight at 12 to my Warrior to shift some hoop weight towards the tip and I like that better, so I'm guessing that will be similar to the 98's stock set-up. We'll see.

It might alter the weight distribution, but it won't change the shape, which ime, seems to have a negative impact on my net play. The strange thing is that I feel confident playing with it at net, but the results are not so good ...

As to the Tour Pro 100 ESP, I'm hesitant. The only reason I'm trying the 98 ESP is because the regular Tour 98 gets such an awful review and the 98 ESP's review makes it seem like it'll be perfect for my game. Ordinarily I wouldn't try an ESP pattern for fear of loss of control and the ability to hit anything remotely flat.

I haven't played the tour 98 esp stock (since mine are customized), after trying the warrior 100 ESP (which I sold), and now playing with the tour pro 100 ESP, I can tell you this: the ESP tech / extremely open pattern is altogether a different beast than your reg 16x19, 18x20 racket.

I customized the tour 98 esps to rebel 95 specs, in hope of creating a perfect ESP Rebel 95 hybrid, but it doesn't work that way. Yes, I did manage to get an ESP racket with high weigh and SW, but those specs do not manifest themselves as they do in the more trad tight(er) pattern.

In my experience, the ESP racket work best at lower SWs, where you hit full swings aggressively (going for it). This makes them play the opposite of how I normally play a Prestige IG Pro f.inst.

String choice and tension also plays a big part here. These rackets are made for thicker gauges, and there is little consensus on tension. Some like full poly at 60lbs and above, some like low 50s / high 40s. In my stock TP100E I have 15 g Volkl V-star @58 lbs, and that feels very, very plush and soft. If I went with the same string, I'd prob. go 60-62 lbs next time. In comparison, I use Volkl Cyclone / Cyclone tour 18g at 50-52 lbs in my Prestiges and Rebel 95s.

Btw. I sold the Warrior 100 ESP I had for a short while as they were way too powerful and erratic. Those were strung with prince beast xp 16 @ 60 lbs. Leading up that racket would not result in anything positive without a thicker gauge string with even higher tension to regain control.

 

[The_Racketeer]

Ok, so I've changed my to-demo list. I think the 98's will be too demanding for me. They're heavier and lower powered; too much of a departure from my Warrior 100. So the new list is:

- Tour 100 (16x18 )
- Tour Pro 100
- Warrior Pro 100
- Tour Pro 100 ESP

Throwing the new ESP in there cuz I've never hit one and it's getting favorable reviews. The Warrior Pro idea is a good one. And I figure the 16x18 will be the closest Tour/Warrior comparison for what I have.

Now...how to get TW to throw in a 5th so I can demo the Classic Graphite too.......

 

[smalahove]

That's a great list, wouldn't mind demoing those myself ;-)

I wouldn't sweat it not having the POG on the list. The classic Prince frames are great, I sometimes hit with a Graphite Pro 90 and CTS Lightning 90, but when push comes to shove, the newer frames are simply a bit better.