Prince Official - Racquets

Do any other ATS Tour users notice their white rackets getting paint smudges pretty frequently? Like a black smudge of paint, or often red? I have to assume the red smudges are coming from the pink part of the paint job. I just don't get how some of the paint is just like... appearing on a different part of the racket. I just wipe them off instantly, so it's no big deal. I will try to remember to take a photo next time it happens.
 
Remioli said:
Do any other ATS Tour users notice their white rackets getting paint smudges pretty frequently? Like a black smudge of paint, or often red? I have to assume the red smudges are coming from the pink part of the paint job. I just don't get how some of the paint is just like... appearing on a different part of the racket. I just wipe them off instantly, so it's no big deal. I will try to remember to take a photo next time it happens.
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Do you mean the edges of the paint are getting blurred? I have not noticed that. I occasionally get marks when I frame a ball on the part of the ball where the logo is printed.
 
finalfantasy7 said:
did you review the prince 98 tour?
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I was hoping to play with it during August, but it was crazy hot to play any tennis. 37-40 degrees Celsius non-stop.
I've only hit with it twict in July and as I've said then, it felt like a powerful 16x19 Prestige. Small sweet-spot - need to be strung a bit low. Attacker's frame. Super stable at the net. Easy power on serves and deathly slice.
I feel my Diadem Elevate V2 FS98 is better overall in a more forgiving package, but I've been using that 3 years now, so...
If I had to buy one of the ATS, I would go for the 16x18 ATS100, the 290gram and customize it.
 
Federerkblade said:
Not much hype on here either
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I think marketing affects people on here a lot as well. Just look at how many people are obsessed with knowing exactly what frame and specs pros use. They spend four figures getting their pro stock frames. The whole idea that pros have better rackets is inadvertent marketing imo.
 
Happi said:
I think that Prince has a very loyal croud of players, I really like their approach with softer frames. I have POG OS 107, Phantom 107G, Prince Textreme Tour 100P (2015 and ATS versions) and TT95 (2015). Favorite right now is ATS 100P such a great all round racquet, but the feel of TT95 is unique.
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agree. I like them a lot despite currently Prince not being my go-to, but I like and had so many for years, both textreme / Phantom models like the TT95, the first textreme tour 290, the various 100P with the ATS being a bomb, Phantom 16x18 305gr, but also before with the Exo series, the Rebel 98, the POG OS 107, plenty of superb frames, and I simply guess that some people of this board (small tennis community admittedly compared to the mass market) will like, have or had Prince frames. they are very good and basically close to ALL soft and comfortable frames! My elbow loves them.
 
esm said:
Would be cool if they reintroduce the entire CTS line…..
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If they did a CTS 26 MidPlus 97" (non-DB) with more open central mains and a 310g weighting, same green-to-gray paintjob and laid it up like they used to at the Thailand factory, I'd buy an entire pallet of them, and a shipping container full of grommets!
 
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konstantinos kalfountzos said:
I've said it before, I'll say it again. I'd go low-badget mode by pushing the brand through social media - Instagram/YouTube. A blend of Toroline-Karue Sell kind of marketing mix.
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I think for sure they don't need to try to be Wilson/Babolat/Head/Yonex and lots of focus on socials is definitely the direction they should go in, get their frames with ppl like Hit With Me, Gladiators etc... - but they do need to lock down some pros even if not top level to have any kind of impact - they should be making videos with Pim Pim Johansson while he's in NYC coaching Vavassori with his 100p with the new paint and stencil, Pouille (the fresh PJ is a good sign that they might be heading in that direction) would make a great Karue style video presence for them imo, and they need to make an investment and get Agassi even just for an ad campaign for the Phantoms - they need credible influencers like Karue Sell but on a slightly bigger level than Toroline.
 
First and foremost, if I were Prince, I'd make sure I'd properly promote my rackets on Instagram a la Nordicdots. It's not that hard to post some ground level hitting with pure sound and get some people talk about your gear.
It's all about a fresh image, make Prince cool again and brainstorm social media with content that is super cheap to produce and post
 
One of Prince’s greatest strengths is also one of its greatest weaknesses imo—their racquets are super nuanced.

I think one reason Dunlop was able to rise from the grave is it is super easy to understand who each racquet is for. Really easy to add them to a demo bucket.

A lot of Prince frames are not easily understandable just by looking at them online. It’s not immediately clear what kind of player in 2024 is looking for a 100 sqin, 310 gram, thin-ish beam, 16x18 racquet—and that’s one of their two most marketable lines. Of course, this also is what we love about Prince—they don’t care how it looks on paper, they just want to make a good racquet where everything comes together nicely in a very playable package. And they do it well.

But the downside is it’s not clear where Prince fits in the modern market, so it’s hard to pull in that first-time user.

I don’t have a solution to this other than invent a Time Machine and get some bitcoin money or something to get Iga sponsored
 
Having only starting to use Prince frames over the last 9 months or so, i find them a very unique series of frames. I cam honestly say that to me at least they don't always play how they look on paper (specs wise) a great example of that tour 100 310, which on paper sounded like something that I wouldn't normally choose but the way the string spacing is set up is fantastic. I feel Head who i was always a fan of amd and my favourite frame manufacturer have gradually diluted their range and definitely their frame build quality. They have moved with the times to become something of a fashionista and their frame series that started with the graphene 360+ line was like a kids toy range in very bright colours with awful paint quality. They must be making a lot of money as paints and lacquer all Cost and using these cheap neon colours is all extra profit and the plastics in the grommets feel very soft and fragile compared to their older range. But back to prince as I'm moving off topic, prince seems a very hard to understand line, the swingweight which they seem to move with a lot is not understood by most and the name and image if each frame is also weak. Whilst i like the frames a lot they all look the same which I think is a big own goal in terms of marketing and branding and getting image and character into the product. A lot of work to do but the good news is the product is fantastic so it is worth the effort. I think they need to get the word out ajd get coaches signed up across the board as they provide a lot to the players and are great people of course to provide the frames and sell them and offer demos. They can back the knowledge up. If you are after getting people with little or no tennis knowledge then its always a case of paying the big bucks for the talent coming through that are going to be playing on tv a lot and ideally winning a lot.
In the short few months i have been using Prince i am slowly getting the word out there but people need more thesedays than just a great racket, they want an image and an identity and Prince is almost invisible in that regard.
 
Didn’t Swiatek play with a Prince before switching?

Do we know if that was a financial or a performance based decision?

Maybe a lost opportunity for Prince.
 
Prince could no longer afford her after she won the FO with a 290.
They’re also somewhat hamstrung by the cost of moulds etc. at least as far as the separate, non Japanese company goes.
 
Prince guys leave this thread already? Their website still shows the old phantoms - if you want to promote anything regardless of your method you at least need accurate up to date information that you present…
 
Federerkblade said:
What a frame the synergy 98 is ..
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What string set up and tension did you go for? I can see the racket has a pretty high swingweight and a balance of 320. I guess it has 18 mains so is on the more control side of things but then one less cross but I think that is less of an issue depending on how wide the spacing is. I haven't laced one up yet to get a good feel for that.
 
J-Wildcard said:
What string set up and tension did you go for? I can see the racket has a pretty high swingweight and a balance of 320. I guess it has 18 mains so is on the more control side of things but then one less cross but I think that is less of an issue depending on how wide the spacing is. I haven't laced one up yet to get a good feel for that.
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I think it has a very generous sweetspot and is not too tight

It takes a little while to dial in but once dialled in with a stiff string it’s a monster

Issue for 90 percent plus of tennis players perhaps more will be the 330 plus swingweight

At some point I will try max power which may fit well , I was recommended stiffer grey strings from a member on TT
 
Federerkblade said:
What a frame the synergy 98 is ..
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I found it was a nicely balanced racket, but didn't have quite the "wow" factor. As in, I could see myself playing matches with it, but it didn't rock my world. The beam felt thick even though the racket wasn't clunky. It's really a good frame with a nice string pattern that I'd like to see more of; just not quite that little thing to push me into buying them. But really good racket nonetheless.

If a player turns pro and gets famous with it, we'll all regret it. :whistle:

Test racket: 328.9g, 32.2cm, 329SW, 13.67TW with OG.
 
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Federerkblade said:
Issue for 90 percent plus of tennis players perhaps more will be the 330 plus swingweight
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That was exactly the issue I had with it, the pretty high swing weight and even balanced like the Head Prestige MP 18*19, while the Synergy felt more whippy from inside the baseline.
But, as I;ve already said, in my eyes, this racket needs flat swings and big takeback like Medvedev. As for strings, I liked Isospeed Grey Fire 1.25 more than Kirschbaum Evolution 1.25, both same low 20s tension.
I'd try Max Power strung low first, even 1.20 since it's a VERY durable, low powered and Control-oriented string.
 
Yes, the swingweight is high on paper, i can handle that but i hope it doesn't play like the Speed Pro. That does feel clunky and one dimensional at least for me. I have been hitting with 2015 & 2019 tour 100p frames and they are sweet. I was tempted to get a current ATS version but heard they were a bit muted and not as nice as the older series, especially the 2019. They swing so light to me that i sometimes have mis timed when taking a big cut and also on serve i can get more racket head speed from these frames. I am expecting the Synergy to be more of a steady eddie but also expect a bit better defence from it.
 
Federerkblade said:
Would agree it’s a Greta counter puncher if you can move … it takes a little while to dial it in .. it’s fast racquet
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I agree. I didn’t like it at first, but it was the string that was the issue for me. I ended up liking a control multi like Velocity in the mid 50’s
 
I have found with the prince rackets (tour 310 & tour 100p) that the strings will determine a lot and tensions. Some of the head frames i have used don't seem as string sensitive. Its an interesting concept racket though with the added thickness to the beam towards the head to an extreme. More than most i have seen. If it's right then it's a good thing with the swingweight, how was maneuverability on it? As its being touted as a counter punchers racket that would imply that you can change direction quickly to react. The 100p is incredible in that regard but jus a bit light feeling at times compared to what i am used to.
 
Federerkblade said:
You can hit plenty of spin too and nice angles ..
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Ιt actually felt whippier from the mid-court than from the back of the court for me. Maybe, because from the mid-court the 18 mains offered good directional control, I could guide the ball easy with a very loose grip, but from the back the high swingweight got into me after 30-40 minutes. Still, very whippy for its swingweight class.
 
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