Prince Official - Racquets
- Thread starter Prince Tennis Official
- Start date
10S-Junkie
Semi-Pro
... We should start a next gen Prince Textreme Tour series petition thread!
Free Moby!!!
jmacdaununder2
Legend
... We should start a next gen Prince Textreme Tour series petition thread!
Free Moby!!!
Actually Tennis Warehouse has increased their television presence considerably in the last six months (mostly Tennis Channel) and they’re totally featuring Prince rackets particularly the Vortex line. Hopefully it does some good and the brand regains some market share because they make a great racket- though I can’t speak to the latest innovations. Love the textreme in the Beast 98 - hope they continue to make something with that combination of power, feel and control.
TennisHound
Legend
@Prince Tennis Official, Are you even around anymore?Hey there Talk Tennis fans!
It's been quite a while since Prince has been present here on the message boards and we're excited to finally be back. Now we know there's probably going to be a lot of questions about the brand....and rightfully so....it's been a bit of a rollercoaster the past few years to say the least. But what I can say here today with absolute certainty is that we are still here, we are still in love with this game, and we are certainly still obsessed with making the best tennis products that we possibly can. And that's where everyone here is hopefully going to help play a part.
We're probably not going to be able to answer all of the questions that come our way, but I promise that we will do our level best and we will commit to being as transparent as possible. We're here for the good, the bad and the ugly...as long as we keep things civil
Before we jump into this adventure, let us take a few moments to share some background on the two of us who are going to be managing this conversation over the coming weeks and months.
Tyler:
My journey with Prince began in 2005 right after I graduated college (University of Illinois), so next year will mark 15 years for me with the brand. I can say that I've done just about every different kind of job over my many years, but my absolute passion is for products development. I started as a tech rep, traveling the world putting on clinics from California to Dubai. Shortly thereafter I took over the US Junior program where I managed over 250 junior players from all over the country. After that I was given my first opportunity to work in product development where I helped to launch my very first product the Prince 5000 stringing machine. From there I moved on to manage the string and accessories business where I helped launch one of my favorite products of all time...Prince Recoil strings. From there I moved into the racquet business and eventually worked my way up to becoming the global director of product development and R&D for the brand. Now, in my latest role with the brand I'm overseeing all aspects of our global business and working with over 40 different partners around the world to try and bring new and exciting Prince products back to the market.
As a product developer I'm a bit of an equipment chameleon as I rarely play the same racquet 2 times in a row, but if I was pressed to pick my current favorite set it would be the Beast 98 with Prince Vortex 16 @ 48lbs.
Tim:
Like Tyler, I have been with the Prince brand through the ups and downs over the last few years. I started with Prince in 2006 working out of the R&D center in Italy as a Junior Engineer at an exciting time following the introduction of the O3 range. The first racquet that I was involved in developing was the Speed Port Black. After spending 4 years with the team in Italy, I made my way to China to work directly with the production teams to refine all of the production processes in an effort to improve the efficiency and quality of the complex processes at a time of economic challenges. Following the restructuring of the Prince business in 2011, I spent a brief period as the Product manager for Asia before starting my current role as Director of R&D. The first task in this new role was to develop a new line and technology which resulted in the introduction of the first generation of TeXtreme racquets in 2014. In this role I am responsible for the line development of all hard goods products, 3D CAD, layup development and product performance and quality. My favorite project I’ve worked on over recent years is the development of the Phantom line, which challenged us to develop a modern version of a thin beam players racquet. It’s something which Prince had been well known for and something that is unique in the current landscape of the tennis racquet market.
While we are a small team, we are passionate about developing the best product we can that has a real reason for being to help players enjoy the game of tennis more. I’m excited about the projects that we are currently working on and hope that you’ll enjoy trying them as much as I’ve enjoyed developing them.
Looking forward to the discussion everyone! Happy New Year!
The Prince Team
TennisHound
Legend
These “tennis officials” are a dime a dozen.
- Head hired one who didn’t know that much about tennis, and spent the majority of his thread discussing bags, grips, and balls. Head quickly yanked him from the forum.
- Wilson quickly yanked theirs when questions got too specific
- Prince probably yanked theirs due to lack of sales.
- Babolat is still hanging on.
- Head hired one who didn’t know that much about tennis, and spent the majority of his thread discussing bags, grips, and balls. Head quickly yanked him from the forum.
- Wilson quickly yanked theirs when questions got too specific
- Prince probably yanked theirs due to lack of sales.
- Babolat is still hanging on.
HitMoreBHs
Professional
They’d be better off hiring someone from this board in a freelance or otherwise similar capacity. In fact, they might already do!
Yep, just like Head did - their presence here is loud and clear.
HitMoreBHs
Professional
A wise move greatly appreciated by the HEAD fans here!
TennisHound
Legend
Is there a @HeadPennTennisOfficial active on here at the moment?
HitMoreBHs
Professional
Come on, TW/TWE! When are we getting the present gen Textreme Tour with ATS? Aramid cravings need satisfied!... We should start a next gen Prince Textreme Tour series petition thread!
Free Moby!!!
https://princetennis.jp/product-category/tennis/tennis-racket/tennis-racket-tour
HitMoreBHs
Professional
Some Dr who loves Beamers, whether an official official or not, already serves the role admirably.
TennisHound
Legend
I agree the dr325i and Babolat Official have done a great job.
I’m not sure where the disconnect has been with the others. It’s not difficult. Even Tecnifibre had an official on here that lasted only for a short time.
HitMoreBHs
Professional
Perhaps we are a more demanding mob than our congenial natures might initially suggest?
In all honesty, the TT denizens represent some of the most equipment obsessed and knowledgable tennis gearheads. Unless the offical is a gearhead himself (as @dr325i has been for years), he won't last long in here. Tough crowd, ya know!
TennisHound
Legend
Agree somewhat that there are some super arrogant overly obsessed equipment maniacs on here.Perhaps we are a more demanding mob than our congenial natures might initially suggest?
In all honesty, the TT denizens represent some of the most equipment obsessed and knowledgable tennis gearheads. Unless the offical is a gearhead himself (as @dr325i has been for years), he won't last long in here. Tough crowd, ya know!
tennispro492
Rookie
Yeah, Ripstick looks and plays amazing
jmacdaununder2
Legend
HitMoreBHs
Professional
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
Anyone have the specs on the 2022 Phantom?
I hope they make the Phantom 100x 18x20 a bit lighter/user friendly at 315 grams unstrung
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liftordie
Hall of Fame
WYK
Hall of Fame
I see a lot of gear heads here asking for sticks they mostly would collect(A la 95 sq in sticks) vs what is more likely to sell in volume(Like Textreme Tour 100's).
So their on line presence needs to settle these folks with platitudes while gearing up and pushing sticks that will actually sell. Still, it's nice to see an on line presence for us Prince fans.
It's too bad Technifibre poached Iga. We all know she's playing with a pro stock TF that mirrors her old near stock Tour 100.
The Tour and Phantom 100 line are some of the best sticks out there at the moment. The RipStick is incredible.
I would not be so optimistic. The supply delay has pushed everything way back. We are not even sure when the new tours will launch. I would not expect a new phantom earlier than 2023...Phantom 2022??
liftordie
Hall of Fame
That's what I think too.
10S-Junkie
Semi-Pro
Yes, a sad truth and why I couldn't hold out any longer for the 3rd gen TT95 (see "Moby" discussions above).
I therefore made the Vcore Pro 97D my new main stick but still have my 2015 TT95's in my Prince bag and have reserved a special spot in the bag with the hopes that Moby makes it outside of Japan
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liftordie
Hall of Fame
O3 Beast with ATS??
.......
ccmtennis
Semi-Pro
O3 Beast with ATS??
yes it’s only available in Japan
10S-Junkie
Semi-Pro
...Prince's new marketing slogan
jmacdaununder2
Legend
At least there's now a suitable backing track for their eventual release!
stephenclown
Professional
...Prince's new marketing slogan
The beast line was on special for $80 because it didn't sell at all. It's a business decision to take it out of their current lineup obviously. There are other stiff tweeners that sell to the masses and without actual marketing it is hard to break into that bracket. Look at the marketing that Wilson did with the clash, even though its a pretty mediocre frame from where I am sitting, it sells well amongst the lower level players.
I have the American version from 2019 I think. I don’t know anywhere here that offers demos but I’ll ask around.
10S-Junkie
Semi-Pro
My joke was more to do with the newest offerings in the Tour, Phantom and Beast series that are available in Japan (3rd gen. Tour series was available over a year ago).
Prince loyalists salivate at what they see on the Prince Japan site but they are not available outside of Japan unless you are willing to pay double+ for it including shipping, import fees, etc.
Prince is different than other racquet companies.
They have brand partners in different regions and those partners decide which models to produce/sell in their own market.
Production issues due the pandemic have made it worse of course. So we have to wait longer even if a region wants to sell a new release.
liftordie
Hall of Fame
Pictures please?
10S-Junkie
Semi-Pro
Pictures please?
BEAST Series 2022 - Prince プリンステニス公式サイト
princetennis.jp
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I guess the secret is to never look at Prince Japan websites so you won't get disappointed and angry.
10S-Junkie
Semi-Pro
Easier said than done!
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Better than the Ripstick?
ccmtennis
Semi-Pro
Wait till u see the IG post on a lot of top players there … they always seem to be demoing the newest and best stuff from Prince . Arghhhh
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
That's the first time I visit Japan website..... And I'm so agree with you!!!!!!
But Prince isn't an American brand??? Why so much new models on the Japan website than the "official" US website???
@TW Staff
It's complicated.
Authentic Brands Group owns Prince but has a different subsidiary running north american/European Prince Sports than the subsidiary running the Japan Prince group. So they do business differently.
tennis4me
Hall of Fame
I wonder whether the racquets available via Prince Japan are even produced by the same manufacturing place.
It almost looks like they're completely separate not just from subsidiary operational wise, but everything including manufacturing (possibly even design/engineering, especially for those Japan-only models). Then they slap the Prince logo.
It almost looks like they're completely separate not just from subsidiary operational wise, but everything including manufacturing (possibly even design/engineering, especially for those Japan-only models). Then they slap the Prince logo.
PBODY99
Legend
I have the 1st generation O3 Beast 104's both Japan + NA models.I wonder whether the racquets available via Prince Japan are even produced by the same manufacturing place.
It almost looks like they're completely separate not just from subsidiary operational w 1st generation O3 ise, but everything including manufacturing (possibly even design/engineering, especially for those Japan-only models). Then they slap the Prince logo.
The only difference is a slight color lineup and a different id code.
I cannot tell a difference in play.
tennis4me
Hall of Fame
This is too funny. I had a complete typos. Meant to say "not just from subsidiary operational wise" and it ended up saying some garbled text which happened to include O3.
Thanks for the info.
Edit: looks like the typo was when you quoted my post.
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
Haven’t tried the ripstick shockingly.
Doublebounce
Professional
So is the Chrome 100 essentially the Beast 100?
Yep but with a different look.
