Prince EXO Rebel Review

[themitchmann]

Speaking about HT, I think that Rebel would be even better frame with holes only on 3 and 9, just like HT...

Yes, the Speedport Tour has that similar shape as well. I'm really happy with it. The great thing about the SP Tour and Black, as well as the new EXO3 models, is that they have the tuning system (different inserts for the ported areas). That way, you can put in the string hole inserts at 12 and port inserts at 3 and 9 to replicate the setup of the Hybrid Tour.

I've been playing with full string hole inserts, so I think I'll try to keep that consistent. Apparently, that's how the Rebel comes stock (you have to request the port inserts, while the Graphites come stock with port inserts). Thanks again, and I'll weigh in when I finally get my moment with one of these sticks.

 

[mrmo1115]

When will the racket be avaliable? I might want to give the racket a hit just to see how it feels, though I won't be switching for sure.

 

[themitchmann]

When will the racket be avaliable? I might want to give the racket a hit just to see how it feels, though I won't be switching for sure.

The new line comes out 1/15 (at least 4 of the racquets...2 Graphites, and 2 Rebels). The EXO3 Red and Silver come out mid-February.

 

[mrmo1115]

The new line comes out 1/15 (at least 4 of the racquets...2 Graphites, and 2 Rebels). The EXO3 Red and Silver come out mid-February.

Thanks alot. I heard bad reviews on the Graphites. Sort of love and hate on the Rebels. I guess I will have to try myself, although switching won't be possible.

 

[themitchmann]

Thanks alot. I heard bad reviews on the Graphites. Sort of love and hate on the Rebels.

I've heard both good and bad with both sticks. It seems a lot of people on here hate Prince for no real reason, while others have provided there own experiences with these new sticks. Though I've heard mostly mediocre/negative reviews of both models, I'll have to play with one. I just remember how much I disliked my O3 Tour Mids until I zeroed them in with weight and the right strings. Then, I didn't want to switch to the SP Tour...but then have found that the right customization does wonders. I've realized that I'll probably never love a stock racquet...EVER. So as helpful as all of the reviews have been, I won't know if I like a racquet until I hit with it, then weight and string it myself.

 

[gd!]

The racquets should come with interchangable grommets, right?

 

[themitchmann]

The racquets should come with interchangable grommets, right?

You can get them, but they aren't coming with both sets of grommets. Prince wanted to cut down on wasted material (even if you liked it, you have to admit it is pretty wasteful). I'm sure we'll find out how to order them as soon as they're officially released on Thursday.

 

[tennisntn3477]

Had a similar experience with the Rebel as BobFL. Really liked the frame - solid/stable/nice controllable power and great feel. Enjoyed it stock with the new power hybrid string - demo from TW.

 

[tyler_durden]

i can get them and the new graphites for $50 a frame with our prince preferred discount (demo pricing really)... im going to get 4 of each and sell them immediately when i get them... im a wilson player haha

dude thats not allowed man, I get a huge discount from prince as well, and thats against contract policy

 

[tyler_durden]

think what you want.... you guys on this board are so petty...

you got a few extra sets of free strings youre a terrible person..

you hit with a racquet for 2 hours and thats not nearly enough time for you to give your thoughts on the racquet...

sorry i know a little more about the game than most of you i am not going to be in a petty argument..

just keep to the topic i posted.. if you don't like the review, shut up and write your own...

and im not selling demo recquets... that's just the price i am able to buy them at... sorry if my prince guy is cool and yours is not.. he knows damn well what i would do with the racquets and he has shown no concern.. but whatever

dude no ones hating on you for getting a few extra strings. You're just so full of yourself. You're not the only really good player on this board, you do realize that right? you just gotta be more humble.

 

[Kal-El 34]

indeed you are correct.. i apologized and have snapped at no one since that...

so no need to beat a dead horse here bro, it's all good... I just wasn't liking the negative critisism for a review I took time to write...

but I realize that is why I wrote the review now, for people to comment on both positively and negatively... SO with that being said I have started a racquet review section on here and welcome any and all criticism; it only makes future reveiws stronger..

cool?

 

[tyler_durden]

indeed you are correct.. i apologized and have snapped at no one since that...

so no need to beat a dead horse here bro, it's all good... I just wasn't liking the negative critisism for a review I took time to write...

but I realize that is why I wrote the review now, for people to comment on both positively and negatively... SO with that being said I have started a racquet review section on here and welcome any and all criticism; it only makes future reveiws stronger..

cool?

its all cool man. everything's good. look forward to reading your reviews!

 

[FloridaAG]

Hit the frame today - totally not the feel I was expecting. I preferred the EXO Graphite by a mile

 

[tlm]

I have been demoing both the rebel+the graphite 93.Both are nice racquets, but i like the 93 the best.I finally got the string hole inserts for the 93, this makes this racquet so much better than it was with the ports.I would suggest that anyone interested in the 93 should try it with the string hole inserts.

 

[rlamb101]

Try another string and let me know your thoughts. I went with the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase all the way through and LOVED this stick for serve and volley. My opponent's comment the second day I hit with this "geez, how many highlight reel volleys can you make in one day?"

Totally unlike any Prince I have tried in the past.
Although, the serve is a bit of an adjustment. I would say pace at 7.0 and accuracy at 9.0!

 

[RalphNYC]

I like this answer. Honest and real.

could be but i play a very high level of tennis, and i don't just say that like a lot of people on this board. hopefully, yall will be seeing my names running through some futures and challenegers this spring...

i also play for about 3-4 hours daily, and am in very good shape. i use a very stiff, heavy racquet, and have had the chance to demo a ton of frames from wilson, prince, and head. This rebel is the first one that actually made my arm hurt, and I did not really change anything in my swing or anything... just went out and played my normal game...

so yea, after the experience i've had, and the racquet history/hitting i have had, it was very easy for me to blame the racquet smartass...lol

 

[JHudson]

Rebel 95 thoughts

I too am ready to change. Great control and overall playability, but just no snap to the serve or overhead. Volleys also a bit toned down. Would someone recommend a racket with this type of control but also somewhat power orientedd for a serve and volley game, and agressive ground strokes

 

[chess9]

I have been demoing both the rebel+the graphite 93.Both are nice racquets, but i like the 93 the best.I finally got the string hole inserts for the 93, this makes this racquet so much better than it was with the ports.I would suggest that anyone interested in the 93 should try it with the string hole inserts.

Good idea! I've been playing with the port holes and still like the racquet.

Generally, I don't find the 93 to be an awesome serving stick. I love it for groundstrokes. Given my age, I don't serve and volley as much as I did when I was younger, so I appreciate the solid feel of the racquet. Mine is leaded to 13 oz, by the way. Slices are lovely. It's reminscent of the POG but stiffer.

You do have to hit the ball squarely. If you have a very fast swing with a huge vertical component you might mis-hit the ball a bit. I tend to hit fairly flat most of the time, so it works for me. But, the sweet spot is not huge, IMHO. I loved the 93 instantly, btw. It took about a week to fine tune it to my game, but now we are singing in the same key.

Impressions of racquets, again, IMHO, are almost worthless, because everyone has a different impression of the same racquet. Politics has more certainty than racquet selection.

Oh, and I've tried the 95 for 4 hours and the feel is very similar to the 93. Not much difference that I could tell. So, I just kept the 93.

-Robert

 

[Wes_Loves_Dunlop]

can anyone tell me the difference between the inserts and the port grommets or whatever?
I might buy a rebel 95, but not sure what the difference is

 

[KuanMaster]

Port gives you little more power, string holes gives you more control

 

[Wes_Loves_Dunlop]

so what are the difference in looks?
which one is more open??

 

[KuanMaster]

They are grommets. So it doesnt change th look a lot

 

[Wes_Loves_Dunlop]

i saw that the ones on the site have the string hole right on the edge of the hole.
which one is that?

 

[KuanMaster]

I think string holes grommets, because you get THE string holes grommets when you buy a rebel