DanS
Semi-Pro
I agree
Prince Phantom Pro and Phantom Pro100P
- Thread starter Hayward Butler
- Start date
Here is the review of a 3.5 rated 40 years old player for the Pro100. I am basically a baseline player with very weak 2nd serve, zero net game and my current racket was Pure Aero 2017 model with RPM Blast 1.20 strings. I read many posts and reviews to decide to buy the Prince Pro100 racket and ordered it from tenniswarehouse without trying first cause in Greece Prince is orphan right now without a dealer.
Before choosing it I was 50-50 between this and the latest pure drive (100 inches). I also tried the yonex e-zone and 2 Volk models but I did not like them at all. Pure drive was very nice and my two hand backhands and first serves were blazing fast. Finishing weak short balls with winners was also piece of cake. BUT the positive reviews for the PP100 convinced me to chose the Prince racket and I have not regret it.
I went with the Technifibre HDX 17 @ 48 lbs as it had many recommendations here from many gurus. When I started hitting I immediately understood what you guys meant by the buttery feeling. Strokes were super deep and the spin was amazing. Slices were flawless due to the extra thin frame of the racket, I never failed due to hitting the frame using the slice. Also it never felt underpowered. The ball was traveling fast and deep with minimal effort. Now the cons:
When I tried to hit winners though and used all my strength, the ball was going long. Also the service game was difficult to hit fast aces. Balls were also going long when using full strength. However my random spin serves were wicked when they went in.
I played 2 sets with my young female teacher and it was the first time I won so easily. 6-1 6-1 both sets. She just couldn't keep up with my the hi trajectory deep top spin balls and my backhand slices (Fernando Lopez style). The pressure was tremendous. Highly recommended for 3-4 rated players. My risk to buy it blind paid off.
Before choosing it I was 50-50 between this and the latest pure drive (100 inches). I also tried the yonex e-zone and 2 Volk models but I did not like them at all. Pure drive was very nice and my two hand backhands and first serves were blazing fast. Finishing weak short balls with winners was also piece of cake. BUT the positive reviews for the PP100 convinced me to chose the Prince racket and I have not regret it.
I went with the Technifibre HDX 17 @ 48 lbs as it had many recommendations here from many gurus. When I started hitting I immediately understood what you guys meant by the buttery feeling. Strokes were super deep and the spin was amazing. Slices were flawless due to the extra thin frame of the racket, I never failed due to hitting the frame using the slice. Also it never felt underpowered. The ball was traveling fast and deep with minimal effort. Now the cons:
When I tried to hit winners though and used all my strength, the ball was going long. Also the service game was difficult to hit fast aces. Balls were also going long when using full strength. However my random spin serves were wicked when they went in.
I played 2 sets with my young female teacher and it was the first time I won so easily. 6-1 6-1 both sets. She just couldn't keep up with my the hi trajectory deep top spin balls and my backhand slices (Fernando Lopez style). The pressure was tremendous. Highly recommended for 3-4 rated players. My risk to buy it blind paid off.
liftordie
Hall of Fame
Totally agree. If you have a PP100 and add weight... It is because you finally need a PP100P, lol......
liftordie
Hall of Fame
Most important thing, did you feel really much more comfort with the Prince than the Pure Aero?? What your joints have to say?Here is the review of a 3.5 rated 40 years old player for the Pro100. I am basically a baseline player with very weak 2nd serve, zero net game and my current racket was Pure Aero 2017 model with RPM Blast 1.20 strings. I read many posts and reviews to decide to buy the Prince Pro100 racket and ordered it from tenniswarehouse without trying first cause in Greece Prince is orphan right now without a dealer.
Before choosing it I was 50-50 between this and the latest pure drive (100 inches). I also tried the yonex e-zone and 2 Volk models but I did not like them at all. Pure drive was very nice and my two hand backhands and first serves were blazing fast. Finishing weak short balls with winners was also piece of cake. BUT the positive reviews for the PP100 convinced me to chose the Prince racket and I have not regret it.
I went with the Technifibre HDX 17 @ 48 lbs as it had many recommendations here from many gurus. When I started hitting I immediately understood what you guys meant by the buttery feeling. Strokes were super deep and the spin was amazing. Slices were flawless due to the extra thin frame of the racket, I never failed due to hitting the frame using the slice. Also it never felt underpowered. The ball was traveling fast and deep with minimal effort. Now the cons:
When I tried to hit winners though and used all my strength, the ball was going long. Also the service game was difficult to hit fast aces. Balls were also going long when using full strength. However my random spin serves were wicked when they went in.
I played 2 sets with my young female teacher and it was the first time I won so easily. 6-1 6-1 both sets. She just couldn't keep up with my the hi trajectory deep top spin balls and my backhand slices (Fernando Lopez style). The pressure was tremendous. Highly recommended for 3-4 rated players. My risk to buy it blind paid off.
Looking to enlarge sweetspot. Sometimes just feels hard to find as though I'm playing with a 95. Could be string tension but that's still work in progress.
Hoping for others to chime in on this.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
So you put a strip on one side top and the other side bottom?
Must always do 4 spots if adding tape at 3/9. Above and below stringbed on both sides.
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Yeah. I followed it from a YouTube video from TW on expanding the sweetspot. Troy explained tungsten is denser which permits it spread out like that. Didn't work out for me so going back to the normal way. Hoping for different result. Not sure how it'll play.
DanS
Semi-Pro
Let us know how it works out! You may or may not remember, but I tried adding weight at first, but ended up removing all of it. I traded the PP100 I had for another PP100P. It came strung with Signum Pro Tornado @35. After hitting with it, I realized that low string weight solved all my issues with the racquet. The funny thing is I probably would have never gone that low on my own. I guess even old dogs can learn new tricks if you force them to! lol
Yea I could end up the same. Right now it's 6 grams total at 3 and 9. Failing that I'll try 3 grams total at 3 and 9. If still no good then I'm pretty sure my ideal placement is at 10 and 2 which I tried before. I liked it but it didn't solve my sweetspot problem so that part might boil down to string tension.
DanS
Semi-Pro
Honestly, almost the entire string bed feels like the sweet spot at that tension. I would have never guessed a poly could feel so comfortable either! Definitely worth a try.
topspinlob
Rookie
I put half of full strip on each side 3 & 9 totaling 3grams on my PP100P. I get more plow-thru and didnt' feel an increase in stiffness.. anyhow I think the tungten englarge the sweetspot
DanS
Semi-Pro
If you really want to increase plow through put it at 12. When you put lead/tungsten at 3 and 9 it increases the twist weight/stability which is something I don't think this frame really needs. Loweing your string tension will increase the sweet spot a lot more, and increases power as well.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
You mean the Oport 100? I have to agree with the description that the feel is very "vague." Not my cup of tea.
The Pro is almost my perfect racquet but becomes a liability when on defense due to the low stockweight gets killed by a heavy shot.
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Most important thing, did you feel really much more comfort with the Prince than the Pure Aero?? What your joints have to say?
Never had arm pains while playing tennis (cause I play 1-2 hours per week) but the PP100 sure felt much more comfortable than the babolat ones.
Nick777
Semi-Pro
Its a Very thin frame designed mostly for comford but that can be improved by just adding weight
Or because your pp100 came in severley unber weight....like mine. After stringing it weighed in at 11oz flat. Way lighter than the one i demoed (which was 11.35oz).
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Well ... buy the 2 Phantom Pro 100 !!!
They came strung with a black rope that made a crispy noise.
The only bad thing is that the 2 came with a very different weight ... With the same rope one weighs 321 and the other 315 ... Taking into account that the string weighs approximately 17 grams ... they would be in 304 grams one and 298 grams the other ...
I would like to pair them to be similar ... but I do not have the possibility to measure the swingweight
Anyone who knows could give me a hand with this ???
Thank you!!!
EDIT: I forgot to tell you that the balance is 32.2 in the two rackets.
They came strung with a black rope that made a crispy noise.
The only bad thing is that the 2 came with a very different weight ... With the same rope one weighs 321 and the other 315 ... Taking into account that the string weighs approximately 17 grams ... they would be in 304 grams one and 298 grams the other ...
I would like to pair them to be similar ... but I do not have the possibility to measure the swingweight
Anyone who knows could give me a hand with this ???
Thank you!!!
EDIT: I forgot to tell you that the balance is 32.2 in the two rackets.
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I have a PP100P and I don't think it needs more weight from a plowthrough/mass standpoint, but I *do* think it needs a little weight added to increase the sweet spot a bit, hits outside the sweet spot can be a little harsh. So, I am conflicted, and haven't added any weight as of yet. Still thinking about it, though.
I tried a full bed of Cyclone 17 at 33x29 and it didn't increase the sweet spot near as much as I was hoping, still a bit harsh on hits outside. Liked the set-up pretty well on groundstrokes, but felt it was underpowered for my 1st serves. Ended up cutting it out and am going to try Prince Tour XP in there to see how I like it in that racquet, as I love it in one of my other racquets, an 03 Speedport Black.
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I found the sweet spot to be lower in the frame than i was accustomed (esp on serve) so some weight at the tip helped me. I dont have issues with torsional stability but its fair weak/dead too far off the centre 6 strings. Guess I need to just get better haha
I demo Phantom pro 100 today and hit it around 2 hours..... since the flex is 54, but I dont feel that much different compared to Phamton 93p which is 61. That is wired. Does anyone know? Also, I feel pro kennex redondo 98MP is more flexy than these two.... I mean the feel and comfort.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Well I've done some tinkering. So before I had 2 TW tungsten strips with a strip each at 3 and 9 but on opposite string planes, as per TW improve YouTube video on expand the sweet spot. That didn't work out for me so i halved each strip and placed them the traditional way at 3 and 9. So still 6 grams total. And it still didn't work out. Serves consistently missing long. Frame still played quite boardy and firm. Erratic. So I pondered maybe it was too much weight to add so I pulled a strip off at 3 and 9 on opposite string planes (so that I'm back to the first method I had but this time total weight is 3g). Suddenly I can feel the ball dwelling in and the strings flexing again. My serves were going in the box. The change made the racquet half a point more headlight and reduced swingweight about 5 to 6 points. However upper edges of the strings still felt pretty dead so now I am at 3 grams total at 2 and 10. Did serves and still remained consistent but with more power. Haven't played off the ground yet with this latest set up so will report back again.
Think I can relate. I think sweetspot is low. I am currently experimenting with weight to address the sweetspot issue. I think 2 or 3 grams total at 10 and 2 will fix the issue. I have tried 1.5g at 12 before but volleys felt harder to control. 2 grams total wasn't bad either and now I am going 3 grams total to see how much I can push it. I tried weight at 3 and 9 before and it didn't fix the issue. For me it's definitely weight in the upper hoop.
It's definitely more flexible than either. These volley a bit better. The other issue is what string you put in them. These frames love lower string tensions. The demos are strung wayyyyy too high.
I like the 93P quite a bit and am a former Redondo user...even with gut, it's stiffer though. If you want something that feels more like a Redondo, maybe have a look at the PK Q+ 325 Tour.. More stiff but they added the kinetic beads.
liftordie
Hall of Fame
I would say if your name is "The Incredible Hulk" you should probably avoid the Phantom line all together! lol
I would say if your name is "The Incredible Hulk" you should probably avoid the Phantom line all together! lol
What about during stringing? I have a 2 point mount and it does make me very nervous seeing how it bends out of shape after im done with the mains.
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liftordie
Hall of Fame
DanS
Semi-Pro
One of my PP100P's was on spec, one was over by 4g, and the PP100 I used to have was under by 3g.
liftordie
Hall of Fame
How it was?
Yes, very curious as well.
Hayward Butler
Rookie
Multifeel in the Phantom Pro is phenomenal. There are a lot of superlatives I can name to describe how good this string -frame combination is, like fantastic, outstanding, amazing, the list just goes on. Multifeel in the Phantom Pro went beyond my expectations. Dipping spin on serves , ground strokes and angles was just so nice when you realize that this is a multi and not a poly. The power and comfort were superb. I felt like the control was so good that I almost didn't think that I could make a mistake. You really need to try this string- frame combination in order to understand what I experienced. Power, control, spin and comfort are all there in large quantities, so do yourself a favor and give this combination a try, you want regret it.
Hayward Butler
Rookie
I used the black Multifeel in 16 guage strung at 21 kg (45 lbs.)
liftordie
Hall of Fame
I'm actually playing with both Multifeel 15L natural and HDX 15L at 53/50lbs (24/23kg) in my PP100's and it is really good. But it would be even better with 16 or 17g and lower tension like 49/46lbs (22/21kg).
Is black Multifeel marking the balls?
liftordie
Hall of Fame
I don't hit too much flat serve so no problem for me. Kick and slice serve are perfect. And the PP100 was designed to NOT BE powerful....... It's an incredibly comfort, precise and control frame.
Nick777
Semi-Pro
Yes i agree... DR98 is also a comfort frame So no problem for me, i dont like stiff rackets either
Hayward Butler
Rookie
Have you tried a multi like HDX or Multifeel? Both strings provide good power. I like HDX in 17 guage and Multifeel black in 16 guage.
Nick777
Semi-Pro
I play heavy topspin and multi is not my thing, only When my shoulder Hurt i use hybrid or full bed of multi otherwise full bed of yptp which is a soft poly at 48-50pounds.At PP100 or tour 100 i string 46-48 pounds because its low power frames
Nick777
Semi-Pro
Never tried hdx, i use isospeed control classic and i am Very pleased for a multi perspective. My PP100 setup has 1gr at 12,32,2 balance, 328gr strung with yptp/isospeed control classic 46/48pounds, nice combo
I've been a big fan of Prince Premiere Control. I think we have some other fans on here. It's got the feel of multi, and decent pop. But it's also a little more firm, so it holds tension and doesn't fray. I love the combo of a decent multi in the plush feel of Prince rackets.
liftordie
Hall of Fame
It's why I will try Signum Pro X-perience 17L. HDX provide really good spin but not enough for my taste.
Nick777
Semi-Pro
I dont see a problem using a soft poly to a very soft racket like pp100, cyclone tour is another good string really soft if someone gas a sensitive arm and tons of spin. For a 4.5-5.0 player with heavy spin no multi will last after 5-6 hours max and no multi can offer the same playability compare to polys, thats my experience
liftordie
Hall of Fame
Agree. Cyclone Tour is really good but really poor tension maintenance. I will try pretty soon Cyclone 1.15 and X-perience 1.18. Cannot wait!!!
