Prince Official - Racquets

[WYK]

I think the main problem is Prince went for a control frame with their current 03 Tour. 8 mains through the throat, 16X19. They tried to split the difference between 1618 and 1820.
The Tour line competes with speeds and Pure Strikes is the message Prince has sent out with the ATS paint job, after all.
I mean, they made an 18X20 non port version with 6 mains in the throat...that thing with ports might sell as well.
Had they stuck with the same pattern as the 16X18 Tour, I think it would have been a more successful frame(as far as port frames go).
The current 03 Tour is woefully underpowered and very low on easy spin. The top cross is so high it makes that part of the hoop dead.
In fact, I suggest when you are stringing it that you start by skipping the top cross for a 16X18 pattern, and string it at rather low tensions.
It makes the top of the hoop more lively and doesn't seem to affect the control in the least.

Personally, I always thought an 18X20 Warrior at 64RA woulda been a tough frame.

Just as an update. I found if you string the 03 fairly low in tension, and skip the top cross, that it starts to give u some spin and power.
As of now, I still have the 03 tour, 100 tour ats and ET in my bag.
My main problem with the 03 tour now is it doesn't feel as sublime as the ats.
I mean, even the Extreme Tour feels way better.

 

[10S-Junkie]

Black - great
Glossy - great
I loved the Textreme Tour 310 paintjob and black would be even better but we all know these days everything has to be matte and white …

The glossy black and neon green from 2015-2019 is the standout cosmetic for me.

The white ATS series looks like the love child of a Babolat Pure Strike and a Head Speed.
This new 2024 looks like the love child of a Yonex Percept and a Head Gravity!

Good thing we Prince loyalists choose Prince racquets for performance, feel, arm comfort, etc...

 

[galapagos]

what's the general opinion about phantom 100p 16x18 ? vs phantom 100g?

 

[Yamin]

Think those grey editions will be available in the US? I'm liking the 95 ATS. Great all court racket for spin players.

 

[PBODY99]

Just as an update. I found if you string the 03 fairly low in tension, and skip the top cross, that it starts to give u some spin and power.
As of now, I still have the 03 tour, 100 tour ats and ET in my bag.
My main problem with the 03 tour now is it doesn't feel as sublime as the ats.
I mean, even the Extreme Tour feels way better.

@WYK
i have found the ATS layup adds a feel that I like better. I know it stiffens the top of the hoop, and I have long dropped the top sting in my o3 110's.
I reluctantly purchased a pair of the 105 Legacy just to see what ZYLON adds to the 2024 layup.

 

[PBODY99]

I saw a picture of a light grey / black TxT Tour paint job due out later this year on Instragram.
Much less busy than the current release

 

[longtimelurker]

I saw a picture of a light grey / black TxT Tour paint job due out later this year on Instragram.
Much less busy than the current release

Same as the pic on the previous page of this thread ?

 

[jbdbackfan]

Meanwhile, on planet Prince U S and A:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Their marketing here is on the border of clueless and cringey.

 

[jbdbackfan]

Saw this on IG and came here to see if anyone else had any info. Just recently switched from Prince (again) I find it hard to have confidence in the brand with their history and the lack of new generations of rackets. Now I’m being teased with this…

If brand history dictates your racquet selection over its actual feel, playability and use for your game then your racquet selection criteria is flawed.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Their marketing here is on the border of clueless and cringey.

Prince's marketing makes me feel like Stephen A Smith showing up on a morning sports show after the Knicks lost the 2 first round picks missing Zion Williamson and Ja Morant...

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

 

[mixtape]

 

[Yamin]

Eh. Not a fan of the color. Think the current is dope. Anyone know of a release date?

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Eh. Not a fan of the color. Think the current is dope. Anyone know of a release date?

I'll ask. It's an instagram account from a tennis shop in Netherlands. These guys get their hands very early, for example the Diadem Elevates and Novas here in Europe.
specs say:

Both say "ZYLON" in the throat.

"310G"

310 grams unstrung
315 balance unstrung
295b swingweight
16*18


107 below

 

[mixtape]

So pretty much the same specs as the previous 100P but with "Zylon". Not a fan of the color, but I still want it.

 

[Jbmgh]

Yes, they need to get more promotion and get the right people involved to help grow this brand. The product looks great but certainly to me there has been very limited pro endorsement to raise awareness. It's difficult though as this costs a lot of money and if things are tight in that regard its not straight forward. I will have to decide whether or not to try a 100p or the 98. Maybe I need to go used or demo to try them or even used before committing more money to buying new. I have a pretty good feeling they will be close and having just purchased some TT 310 100 frames I will get an idea of how the layups play on the 2019 series.

I have a 2015 100p in decent condition for sale in the uk. DM me if you’re interested!

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Too many reasons not to be a fan of the military green colourways nowadays.

 

[mixtape]

To be fair, I wasn't a fan of the 2nd Gen 100P colorway, but once I saw it in person, I had to have it. I'm feeling, I'll be the same when I see this 3rd Gen in with my own eyes.

 

[libel]

Honestly the new white paintjob is quite nice in person. I just picked up a pair and it looks way better in person imo.

 

[Crocodile]

I'll ask. It's an instagram account from a tennis shop in Netherlands. These guys get their hands very early, for example the Diadem Elevates and Novas here in Europe.
specs say:

Both say "ZYLON" in the throat.

"310G"

310 grams unstrung
315 balance unstrung
295b swingweight
16*18


107 below

The Phantoms should be various shades of purple - not this.
The 100p in fact should be deep purple

 

[Trip]

Happy to see Prince is continuing the Phantoms, but my god does that paint job look fugly... What is going on with racquet makers lately? The glaring lack of design taste and/or proper gloss finishes... deplorable.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Hot Take: Twistpower 97x Tour is the best feeling Racquet Prince has put out in recent memory & it’s the only thing I’m holding out for at this point

Still have no word on if the West is even going to get the older Purple ATS (that only comes in 100”) or will they bypass that and give us the Frozen Emerald that does come in a 98 this time round...why?

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Phantoms have been released in Japan with black paint and some green grommets. Don't know if those have Zylon in them. They for sure had Twaron added towards the throat area too, like Head did with the Auxentic 2.0. I also prefer the purple colour.
Paul Espie from Dubai is raving about the TwistPower 97X.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Phantoms have been released in Japan with black paint and some green grommets. Don't know if those have Zylon in them. They for sure had Twaron added towards the throat area too, like Head did with the Auxentic 2.0. I also prefer the purple colour.
Paul Espie from Dubai is raving about the TwistPower 97X.

Have we only seen the cross bar G in that army green? Prince still might do something different for the other phantoms, who knows?

An Olympic special edition (G/S/B) would be cool, we got a Chrome one a couple of years back, so why not?

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Have we only seen the cross bar G in that army green? Prince still might do something different for the other phantoms, who knows?

An Olympic special edition (G/S/B) would be cool, we got a Chrome one a couple of years back, so why not?

Army green is seen on 2 Phantoms: the regular 16*18 290gram and the oversized one with the crossbar

 

[Gee]

Happy to see Prince is continuing the Phantoms, but my god does that paint job look fugly... What is going on with racquet makers lately? The glaring lack of design taste and/or proper gloss finishes... deplorable.

I complete agree.
Hopefully they'll give the 100x series a more aesthetic paint job than that disgusting army green one.

 

[WYK]

If only there was a spark ATS.

 

[PBODY99]

From what the good players of this board have found, it seems that Ported Tour frames are fading away,

 

[WYK]

From what the good players of this board have found, it seems that Ported Tour frames are fading away,

Well the old 03 Tours before 2013 were great. A la Ferrer. The ones based on the Tour shape need to be more of a CTS shape/thicker beamed.
They need more spin and pop.

 

[Crocodile]

I wonder who makes the decision on cosmetic choices with Prince Racquets. I just can’t see how the army green colour way will do anything positive for the sales of a new Prince Phantom range. They must rethink what they plan to do with the world release of these racquets otherwise the frames will look dated and old even at the time of their release.
Can’t they be a little more imaginative, creative, modern yet classy and do something with the purple or deep purple tones that relate to the name of this range. The Phantom line should be a premium line of the connoisseurs choice of exquisite silky feel and precision - something like a special formal elegant suit. Come on Prince - you can do it. Don’t do the camouflage green please.

 

[Crocodile]

And I will add that the purpose of this thread was started by the people from Prince to share communication with Prince fans on future directions of product lines.
Now my understanding if I’m correct is that there has been some changes in personnel at Prince but would like to hear more from the new team moving forward as most of us want the brand to do well.

 

[tele]

This may be old news, but a Prince dealer said that the new Phantoms will be out in May, and in addition to the 93p, the 97p will also be discontinued. Anyone else heard the same?

 

[PBODY99]

@WYK
If they used the 2024 _Z layup I think it would give the Ported Tours the extra boost players are looking for. The 2024_Z layup in my O3 Legacy 105 allows me to get the level of spin my 2020 O3 Legacy gives me.
The return of the 18 x 20 OS Tour would also be nice

 

[Crocodile]

The other question is what is the relationship between what Prince releases in Japan compared to the rest of the world ? Even in the UK the previous Tour 100p could be bought in a limited white colour way and the Twist Weight was meant to be a Japanese release but then came to the other markets,
Would like to know a bit more on how the whole operation functions. It does seem that Prince Japan gets new models earlier than say the US or Australia.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

The other question is what is the relationship between what Prince releases in Japan compared to the rest of the world ? Even in the UK the previous Tour 100p could be bought in a limited white colour way and the Twist Weight was meant to be a Japanese release but then came to the other markets,
Would like to know a bit more on how the whole operation functions. It does seem that Prince Japan gets new models earlier than say the US or Australia.

Just have a look to the previous Jap Beast release with the amazing all red glossy paintjob and tell me how Prince managed no to release it in the Westworld, at least in a limited amount. The later version is red with orange details.
No way it wouldn't sell well.

All we got here was the one PH Tennis reviewed quite favorably, the black coloured with sparkles...

I just cannot follow-up with what Prince is doing.

Glossy-red Beasts tweeners for intermediates like me.
The Tours are just very very good, but lack promotion.
No need to get into details about the Phantoms, Twist power and Ripstick

 

[WYK]

Just have a look to the previous Jap Beast release with the amazing all red glossy paintjob and tell me how Prince managed no to release it in the Westworld, at least in a limited amount. The later version is red with orange details.
No way it wouldn't sell well.

All we got here was the one PH Tennis reviewed quite favorably, the black coloured with sparkles...

I just cannot follow-up with what Prince is doing.

Glossy-red Beasts tweeners for intermediates like me.
The Tours are just very very good, but lack promotion.
No need to get into details about the Phantoms, Twist power and Ripstick

Prince killed themselves with the O port gimmick. A combination of a rumor they fall apart(I havent seen a scientific study on them), the fact they look and sort of feel gimmicky, and the fact many people who sell racquets also have to string them. I do not enjoy stringing my 03, and I actually usually enjoy the act of stringing. I was using an 18X20 Blade for the longest time. I liked how the 18X20 prince played, but stringing an 18X20 blade took long enough, no way was I gonna buy an 03 prince.

 

[PBODY99]

Prince killed themselves with the O port gimmick. A combination of a rumor they fall apart(I havent seen a scientific study on them), the fact they look and sort of feel gimmicky, and the fact many people who sell racquets also have to string them. I do not enjoy stringing my 03, and I actually usually enjoy the act of stringing. I was using an 18X20 Blade for the longest time. I liked how the 18X20 prince played, but stringing an 18X20 blade took long enough, no way was I gonna buy an 03 prince.

@WYK
Wilson Rollers predate the Prince O-ports. and they had the same problem with the stringing I thought the rollers would fail but I still service a player who uses the 6.6 Roller 95 {Yellow} all these years later that I sting for him with Kevlar / PSG/df @ 60. lbs. No specail tools were offered.
They were dropped after maybe 2 years, but was just one line in Wilson's lineup
In both cases using the two piece 50 / 50 method I was taught worked just fine. Except for a starting clamp you worked from the middle of the string bed alternating 2 crosses up , then down. . The pushing the use of the Boomerang tool, only boomerang on them as they were not uniform and people just lost them.
A failure to educate the general tennis public really hurt the acceptance of the ports.

 

[TripleFault88]

If brand history dictates your racquet selection over its actual feel, playability and use for your game then your racquet selection criteria is flawed.

I played Prince in the past and enjoyed the racket. They went out of business/ bankrupt/ sold. ( whatever the case was) They weren’t making the racket anymore or coming out with a new generation, so I was forced to switch. Just trying to avoid being forced to switch again because the company is no longer making the racket ( or a new generation that is similar) that I enjoy.

 

[PBODY99]

@konstantinos kalfountzos
Prince Japan makes in own decisions , designing frames and soft goods for their market. The other global licensee's design products for their markets, within the limits that ABG Group sets with each area. In Japan they have a deal with Disney. In NA there are life style soft goods deals.
I compete with a model that Prince NA did not update in 2024to the Zylon layup O3 Legacy 110,} The Legacy line is only released in the US market as far as I know.
I have picked up several Japan designed models and a European only frame.
Companies try to set product lines in a way that will make them a profit, as we all know.
Even if we don't like it.

 

[Crocodile]

Just have a look to the previous Jap Beast release with the amazing all red glossy paintjob and tell me how Prince managed no to release it in the Westworld, at least in a limited amount. The later version is red with orange details.
No way it wouldn't sell well.

All we got here was the one PH Tennis reviewed quite favorably, the black coloured with sparkles...

I just cannot follow-up with what Prince is doing.

Glossy-red Beasts tweeners for intermediates like me.
The Tours are just very very good, but lack promotion.
No need to get into details about the Phantoms, Twist power and Ripstick

I just would like to say to Prince management - connect and communicate with the tennis community and let’s see what we can all do to get things going.
Depending off course on the companies finances, but I think that a different strategy can be employed compared to the big 4 that can grow the business. I say this about Volkl as well. People need to get motivated and inspired.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I just would like to say to Prince management - connect and communicate with the tennis community and let’s see what we can all do to get things going.
Depending off course on the companies finances, but I think that a different strategy can be employed compared to the big 4 that can grow the business. I say this about Volkl as well. People need to get motivated and inspired.

Can't be a coincidence that these past 2 months my eyes are on Prince and now on Volkl. Bought a Synergy 98 from a retail store, too much head-heaviness for me, but it was a very informative experience for me to swing a 330+ swingweight racket, so flexible in the throat and evenly balanced racket. Taught me not to go for a Prestige MP 18*19 or an ISO 305, for instance. Gave it to a friend of mine, much more advanced, he also noticed it suited best a Medvedev flat hitter's swingpath but requires super early preparation (footwork) and also the same vagueness out of the stringbed that Jonas, myself and this friend took notice.

Then, the Textreme Tour 95 (2015), borrowed for 1+ months, didn't eventually keep it because I think my Diadem Elevate V2 FS98 with 4-5 grams beneath the basegrip does everything that Tour did with more forgiveness, except for the much whippier slice/kick serves. One of the best molds for someone to use (100P!).

Rainy weather for 7 days straight, unable to play, I've doing the same amount of research on Volkl who unlike Prince, we can get an idea of what to expect from them, interesting molds, not too many to be confused, the names are a bit confusing, less than Pro Kennex, but still confusing for the median consumer.

I don't know how hard can it be for both these brands, especially Volkl who has a solid presence in Europe to make 10-20 frames available for reviews to be done by some reviewers, like Tennis Guy from Czech Republic. I remember myself looking to buy my first tennis racket about 1+ years ago, what I did first was go on youtube and watch review.

Too little presence there for these 2 brands. Not completely giving up on Prince yet, but my next racket will be a Volkl, maybe the V-Cell 8 300 grams.

 

[dennis]

@WYK
Wilson Rollers predate the Prince O-ports. and they had the same problem with the stringing I thought the rollers would fail but I still service a player who uses the 6.6 Roller 95 {Yellow} all these years later that I sting for him with Kevlar / PSG/df @ 60. lbs. No specail tools were offered.
They were dropped after maybe 2 years, but was just one line in Wilson's lineup
In both cases using the two piece 50 / 50 method I was taught worked just fine. Except for a starting clamp you worked from the middle of the string bed alternating 2 crosses up , then down. . The pushing the use of the Boomerang tool, only boomerang on them as they were not uniform and people just lost them.
A failure to educate the general tennis public really hurt the acceptance of the ports.

I don't do the 50/50 as I worry it might stress the hoop, in the same way that stringing from the throat to the top might. I use my hip or leg to stop the racket rotating when stringing ported frames. If my machine's brake were more convenient to use, I would use that.

 

[PBODY99]

I don't do the 50/50 as I worry it might stress the hoop, in the same way that stringing from the throat to the top might. I use my hip or leg to stop the racket rotating when stringing ported frames. If my machine's break were more convenient to use, I would use that.

Over the years I h have not had a company object not have I damage a frame using this method.
Since I was taught to go up two then down to alternating the stress is spread evenly.
Using your hip or a brake works just fine as you well know.
Prince missed the boat by not stressing methods that did not require a gimmick,, a tool that was frame specific & was a pain to stock .
It is good to hear from a stringing who doesn't worry about ports.

 

[fox]

The problem is with paintjob - they are trying too much. Let’s look at Head or Wilson, just one/two colours and that’s it.

 

[anarosevoli]

The problem is with paintjob - they are trying too much. Let’s look at Head or Wilson, just one/two colours and that’s it.

And Prince even started that kind of design which still sells best: Tour/Warrior 2015 came before Wilson Countervail and Head Graphene 360. It seems that they lost their good designers after the release of the 2nd Phantom series.

 

[WYK]

Over the years I h have not had a company object not have I damage a frame using this method.
Since I was taught to go up two then down to alternating the stress is spread evenly.
Using your hip or a brake works just fine as you well know.
Prince missed the boat by not stressing methods that did not require a gimmick,, a tool that was frame specific & was a pain to stock .
It is good to hear from a stringing who doesn't worry about ports.

Worry or not, it took longer to string a ported stick, and if you weren't familiar with them, it took even longer still.
Most shops string their own racquets. If something is gonna take longer to string, they are simply going to sell other sticks - whether purposefully or subconsciously.
Like you said about Prince:
Companies try to set product lines in a way that will make them a profit, as we all know.
Even if we don't like it.

Like it or not, ports did Prince in. There is a reason they are hard to find in Prince's line-up now.

 

[dennis]

Worry or not, it took longer to string a ported stick, and if you weren't familiar with them, it took even longer still.
Most shops string their own racquets. If something is gonna take longer to string, they are simply going to sell other sticks - whether purposefully or subconsciously.
Like you said about Prince:
Companies try to set product lines in a way that will make them a profit, as we all know.
Even if we don't like it.

Like it or not, ports did Prince in. There is a reason they are hard to find in Prince's line-up now.

It's not significant to me. How long does it take to press the brake on a machine, one second? And it's only the top half of the crosses where you need to do it. I'm more bothered about the faff of blocked holes, or a racket only being designed for one-piece stringing. Also, you don't have to feed the strings through small grommets which is a small upside.

If Prince somehow sponsored a bunch of pros, I'm sure everyone would start buying them. But then the prices of the rackets would be different as well.

 

[WYK]

It's not significant to me. How long does it take to press the brake on a machine, one second? And it's only the top half of the crosses where you need to do it. I'm more bothered about the faff of blocked holes, or a racket only being designed for one-piece stringing. Also, you don't have to feed the strings through small grommets which is a small upside.

If Prince somehow sponsored a bunch of pros, I'm sure everyone would start buying them. But then the prices of the rackets would be different as well.

Nowadays, most stringing machines have brakes. Back when Prince were nearer the top, it was more of a rarity. Even so, it still slows you down considerably. You not only have to set the brake, but you must align the racquet with the tension head in a manner where the string has a clean straight pull. Then you have to disengage the brake. You do this 14X for an O3 or more for the 18X20. If you are a home stringer - that means little. If you have to string dozens of racquets a day professionally, it starts to add up. Time is money.
It's not the end all be all, but if someone comes in and asks about as Prince 03 vs a Pure Drive, I will sell that PD all day long.

 

[LOBALOT]

Just as an update. I found if you string the 03 fairly low in tension, and skip the top cross, that it starts to give u some spin and power.
As of now, I still have the 03 tour, 100 tour ats and ET in my bag.
My main problem with the 03 tour now is it doesn't feel as sublime as the ats.
I mean, even the Extreme Tour feels way better.

I really like the denser 8 in the throat 16x19 O ports like the original Prince O3 white. I think they tamed some of the power from the ports while still offering comfort (I have had several wrist fractures TFCC tears). I currently play with Ripstick 300 which is a 16x18 (6 mains in the throat) and between the more open pattern and much thicker beam/higher stiffness I find it too powerful so much so that I had to ditch my normal gut/poly setup and string it with full poly which then defeats the purpose of the comfort from the ports.

I also have no issue stringing the O ports which I do every time I play. I string it 2 piece top down and It takes me no longer than any other racquet I string.

 

[Ronin74]

This may be old news, but a Prince dealer said that the new Phantoms will be out in May, and in addition to the 93p, the 97p will also be discontinued. Anyone else heard the same?

Wait, the 93P is being discontinued? That's the only prince racquet I like!