Prince Graphite Pro 110
- Thread starter Z-Man
- Start date
Assuming its the same standard beam Graphite Pro that we had in Australia (black with white trim) then its a hell of a good racquet. Was used by pros as well as by club players and was part of a line-up (in my opinion the best ever Prince line-up) that included the Spectrum Comp, the Powerflex and the Magnesium Pro. Each one was a top quality racquet and you just selected on the basis of how much flex you wanted in your frame. The Graphite Pro was a really nice, nicer in the 90sq, all-around frame that played just as well from the baseline as it did at the net. Not too stiff and lovely feel. Wouldnt have given it to a 10 year old kid though.
I recently picked up a Prince Pro Series 110 that says on it "Patented 1979" and "String Tension: 65-80 lbs/30-36KGS"
Is that 65-80 correct? Can anyone comment?
The racquet is strung and the tension is high. I hope to hit with it to see if I want to re-string it and try it out seriously.
Tennista
Is that 65-80 correct? Can anyone comment?
The racquet is strung and the tension is high. I hope to hit with it to see if I want to re-string it and try it out seriously.
Tennista
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
I just got my hands on a Prince Graphite Pro 110. It weighs 344 grams (12.13 oz) unstrung with an over grip. What strings should I try with it? I was thinking about Cyclone Tour 17 or should I go with something deader, or something livelier perhaps?
Yes that was the recommended tension at that time. But note most played it with syntectic gut or natural gut. Or cheaper strings line prince nylon.
Using ploy at that tension is not the best choice.
Peter
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
I too reacted on that tension recommendation.
I'll probably try it with a full bed of Cyclone Tour 17 first. Any objections?
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Sounds nice. I bought it for 9 bucks. I assume it's pretty low powered?
Prince Pro was an aluminum racket with plastic throat piece.
Well, compared to modern frames yes, but the large headsize certainly adds some power (longer strings).
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
But this is Graphite Pro 110.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
But no way it's 110 sq in. Must be closer to 100 than 110.
Yes, that reply was to a different poster.
Yeah, perhaps. Depends on how frames are measured, etc. (outside, inside, etc)
Nope it is your choice. Did string a lot of these rackets. And indeed natural gut and easy 30 Kg or more. Do not know if it will play that well with poly. If you take poly at lower tension you will need longer spin strokes to not let the ball fly.
Peter
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Well I have a set of CT in my bag so I figured I could try it. I won't be investing in nat gut for a nine dollar frame.
I might have a half a set of some multi (Sensation or Vanquish) somewhere so a hybrid could also be an option. No one has tried this with poly? 
joah310
Professional
I have the 90 series with its original synthetic gut strings. but If its comparable to the POG, my dad has one strung with Tour bite 16l mains and nxt power in the crosses at i think it was 57#. He says its too powerful, but that could also be because the strings have been sitting in the racket for some time. I think I would reccomend about 59 or 60 if using a hybrid, or maybe about 55 or 56 if full bed poly (also depends on thickness of strings).Well I have a set of CT in my bag so I figured I could try it. I won't be investing in nat gut for a nine dollar frame.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Well a full bed of poly, albeit a more powerful one like CT, shouldn't be too powerful? I was thinking about 24-25 kilos.
joah310
Professional
i think 24-25 kg should work fine, definitely gonna get the most spin out of this racket
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
I just got my first hour with this stick. Wow, it's wonderful! My opponent was "complaining" that my ground strokes have never been heavier, landing just inside the baseline almost every time. I've lost to him several times lately but now I got him 6-2 quite easily. I was just returning and not trying to go for aggressive winners. Serving was also really easy and I made zero double faults. On the backhand I was able to hit with full swing but on FH I was struggling a bit if I wasn't hitting with enough top spin. And that's because the strings (Cyclone Tour 17) felt so powerful. I'll definitely try this with something a bit more controllable like the new Tecnifibre Razor Code White 18 that has turned into my favorite string right now. The racquet weighs 360 g with CT. One thing a noticed was that the sweetspot was pretty small but it must be the strings? You could really feel every off-center hit. Volleying was also really easy.
joah310
Professional
That's great! Alot of old prince oversized rackets play pretty well. Especially the old ones. Never tried any with a full bed of poly. Most come with old prince syngut that's works really well. glad u like this one. Will it be your main?
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Well probably not quite yet, but it has sure owned its place in my bag. It sure plays nice with poly. CT just feels a bit too springy. But I'll try it with Razor Code White.
My buddy, who's played and trained actively for about a year and a half (now at 3.0-3.5) and has only been using a Blade Countervail 16x19, really liked it as well. He was suspicious about the weight first but thought that it was somehow easier to hit with it and definitely easer to get some good spin on the ball.
I've played with "heavy" sticks all my life and just lately been trying something lighter, only to end up adding weight to them.
Since I have the physics need and have grown up using heavier stuff, I might as well stick to that recipe and forget about becoming more "modern".
joah310
Professional
I agree I have a harder time playing with lighter rackets, but some light rackets just need some lead at 3 and 9. That's what I felt like when I tried my friends 2013 blade 98 18/20. It was a solid stick needed some more stability, but a solid stick.Well probably not quite yet, but it has sure owned its place in my bag. It sure plays nice with poly. CT just feels a bit too springy. But I'll try it with Razor Code White.
My buddy, who's played and trained actively for about a year and a half (now at 3.0-3.5) and has only been using a Blade Countervail 16x19, really liked it as well. He was suspicious about the weight first but thought that it was somehow easier to hit with it and definitely easer to get some good spin on the ball.
I've played with "heavy" sticks all my life and just lately been trying something lighter, only to end up adding weight to them.
graycrait
Legend
If I am going for a hit with Prince "110s" from the 80s then I usually use a POG 4 stripe
I have a number of Prince 110s from the 80s and I think the consensus is that most Prince 110s are 107".
Out of my 30 or so Prince 90s from the 80s I put the Graphite Pros at the top of the list, next would be Advance Response 90 and then Graphtech DB 90 with POG 90s.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Took another scalp today with my GP 110, 6-2 against a guy who I lost to last time with same numbers using my TF40 and trying to be more aggressive and dictate the game. But it sure needs a different set of strings to tame the power. Cyclone Tour might also work only if I had strung it even higher than 24 kilos. I'll try it with either Razor Code White or Volkl V-square. After an over grip switch it weighs now 363 g. Volleying with it is out of this world. We played on a fast carpet today and I was able to hit really mean slice and kick serves, alternating with heavy flatters.
We played on a fast carpet today and I was able to hit really mean slice and kick serves, alternating with heavy flatters.
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graycrait
Legend
@Notorious_Junkballer , you "forced" me to go to the auction site last night It appears I am going to add one more Prince to a group of over 50 Princes.
It appears I am going to add one more Prince to a group of over 50 Princes.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Sorry for that@Notorious_Junkballer , you "forced" me to go to the auction site last night
joah310
Professional
Told ya it needs tight stringsTook another scalp today with my GP 110, 6-2 against a guy who I lost to last time with same numbers using my TF40 and trying to be more aggressive and dictate the game. But it sure needs a different set of strings to tame the power. Cyclone Tour might also work only if I had strung it even higher than 24 kilos. I'll try it with either Razor Code White or Volkl V-square. After an over grip switch it weighs now 363 g. Volleying with it is out of this world.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
You did. 30 kilos for poly felt just little overkill.
But 25-27 should be fine. I think I'll it it with Volkl V-square 16. Should get "decent" spin and a tad less power than with Cyclone Tour. The frame feels so flexible that I'm not afraid to get any arm issues even with stiffer polys.
joah310
Professional
The greatness of flexible rackets. I once had a dunlop black max and strung it with rpm blast at 58#. No problems at all.You did. 30 kilos for poly felt just little overkill.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Will 27 kg be too much for V-Square in this frame?
joah310
Professional
will probably be fine considering its a oversize and its flexible. i personally would probably do 27-28ish
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
So I went for V-Square at 26 kg. It plays really with tons of spin. But all the excess power I experienced with Cyclone Tour is gone. The control, especially directional, is much better with V-Square. My playing buddy noticed that my shots weren't as heavy and long as with Cyclone Tour. I'll try it today against another friend who I demolished with Cyclone Tour (with only moderate swings due to the power) the last two times and who was really struggling with the easy depth and spin in my shots. I would guess I'll be much closer with V-Square since I'll have to be more in the driving seat and to dictate the game to win points. Short easy balls with a lot of time to make up my mind are a nightmare for me.
Grafil Injection
Hall of Fame
My Graphite Pro 110 just arrived. Very classy simple black design with one stripe. Mine is labeled Series 110 on the side, which I believe is the first version.
Specs are 359g strung with OG, 32.5 balance, 18mm beam, 16x19. I would estimate the flex as mid 50s, and SW around 345. Lovely solid yet sweet feel. Headsize is definitely not 110 as others have mentioned. More like 105-7 sqi. Average cell size of the central 100 cells is 1.475cm2, which is very open, same as RF97 in fact. Came strung with a standard multi, still at good tension (est. 55lbs). Looking forward to a first hit shortly!
Specs are 359g strung with OG, 32.5 balance, 18mm beam, 16x19. I would estimate the flex as mid 50s, and SW around 345. Lovely solid yet sweet feel. Headsize is definitely not 110 as others have mentioned. More like 105-7 sqi. Average cell size of the central 100 cells is 1.475cm2, which is very open, same as RF97 in fact. Came strung with a standard multi, still at good tension (est. 55lbs). Looking forward to a first hit shortly!
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Grafil Injection
Hall of Fame
Briefly compared serving with the GP110 to a similarly weight MAX 200G. The Prince is very solid, no concerns with flex at all. The feel actually reminds me of a PS85! I can see why the GP90 is highly rated. Despite being an open 16x19, there is plenty of precison on serves, albeit helped by the good tension in my strings. I've revised the SW up to 345 as the head size does make the Prince feel somewhat less manoeuvrable compared to the little headed MAX. Very good spin though, and I can imagine returns will be great as the sweetspot is definitely large. Another superb 80s racket.
Grafil Injection
Hall of Fame
Really enjoying my GP110, but the SW combined with large head-size is a bit difficult to manoeuvre sometimes. Noting that 1g at 12 o'clock is 3pts SW, does anyone know how much the thin bumper guard weighs? I'm thinking of removing it next time I string the GP110, and hope it weighs somewhere around 3-5g for 9-15SW reduction.
Many years ago, I won a Prince Graphite Pro Oversize. It was an overly flexible (though comfortable) noodle and I could not play with it - I had no idea where the ball would land. Also, maneuverability was lacking as was the ability to generate racquet head speed. Sold it to an acquaintance after playing with it once or twice and being both disappointed and underwhelmed. However, my best friend had the 90 square inch version and that was a great racquet! It had a wonderful combination of spin, power, comfort, control and maneuverability.
Grafil Injection
Hall of Fame
Yes, I'd like to try a GP90 too. I find all 105+ heads lack control unless you have a pretty tight stringbed, but even then the SW just feels higher with all that real estate.
