Prince RipStick 300 - coming soon!

[Ph4ntom]

Hi @TW Staff,

Very curious about the Synergy 98. Could you comment on how it compares to Blade v7, Pure Strike, Head Speed, etc? I've been trying out the Pure strike 3rd gen 16x19, but looking for something with similar power potential but with more control and some more comfort? Could you touch upon the CTS beam width measurements - the Prince catalog said it would be 20-24 mm but on the TW website im seeing 21.5-25mm? Do you know when the written review will be up?

Thank you!

 

[Harry_Wild]

...
the Feb. 15 launch of the Ripstick and Synergy franchises.

The new models replace the brand’s Beast tweener catch-all, instead putting a focus on specific frame attributes. “We have been most successful when we have had stand-alone models and people understand them,” says Tim Puttock, Prince senior director. “The franchises won’t get lost with their own distinct point of view in aesthetics and technology.”

Everything about the Ripstick, designed for intermediate to advanced players, points toward power, Puttock says. “It is the most powerful racket we have in what is now this tweener segment,” he says. A Constant Taper System that varies the beam width—the new Ripstick ranges from 27mm at the tip to 22mm at the handle—couples with larger O-Ports, allowing the frame to swing faster with less resistance. Puttock says they loaded the Ripstick with technology throughout, also adding a Power Rails design from 3 and 9 o’clock to 5 and 7 o’clock to prevent the bottom of the racket hoop flexing too much and reducing power.


https://www.forbes.com/sites/timnew...a-break-new-technical-ground/?sh=3613efeb5ee1

 

[luke27586]

Hi @TW Staff

How does the ripstick compare to the most powerful 100 square inch racquets available on the market in terms of power? Can you list the top ten in terms of power? Does it make the list?

 

[Harry_Wild]

 

[tata]

We will be recording a podcast TOMORROW on these new Prince racquets (Ripstick and Synergy 98) so leave your questions on them here and we will do our best to address anything that comes up

Michelle, TW

What other offerings can we expect from the synergy line? What's the main target market of this line?

 

[ericykchan]

Hi @TW Staff
I am using 107G and love the spin potential and higher launch angle, is the Ripstick similar in those areas?

 

[ron schaap]

why is this model called ripstick? it totally doesnt look like the ripstick of the past. Lack of creativity in names by Prince?

 

[ron schaap]

Thanks for the reminder about the Ripstick. But I think Mirjana Lucic won the '98 Aus Open Dbls with Hingis.

Prince should reissue the original Ripstick!!

 

[Nostradamus]

Does this come in Extended version ?

 

[ron schaap]

The only positive is there area lot of big tie off holes. Why put caviar in ones racquet? We put it on toasts

 

[TW Staff]

Hi @TW Staff
I am using 107G and love the spin potential and higher launch angle, is the Ripstick similar in those areas?

Speaking as a mostly flat hitter, I'd say the spin potential is there for the Ripstick but doesn't have nearly as high a launch angle as the 107G. The Ripstick was comparable to other open pattern 100-square-inch head size racquets in terms of launch angle.

Thanks,
Tiffani, TW

 

[lefty10spro]

No beast line is still ongoing

This is incorrect. I am a Prince dealer. The Beast line is discontinued. Along with the Ripsticks and Synergy, the Phantom, Tour, and Legacy lines continue.

 

[cmmarcoux]

@TW Staff I'm curious to learn about how the new Synergy compares the current Phantoms and Tours. What's the closest racquet, in those lines, to the Synergy 98...and what makes the synergy stand out? Basically, who is it for?

This might be more of a podcast question...

 

[ne1410is]

Prince should reissue the original Ripstick!!

I think Tyler from Prince discussed the (multiple?) requests they’ve heard about reissuing the Mono/Ripstick frame in the Prince Official thread. It’s post #12 :

“... The Mono.....where should I start.....

In it’s time it was truly a leap forward in racquet design and was the stepping stone to one of the most important improvements to racquet design....the long body. You have to remember that the mono shaft was incredibly maneuverable and really cut through the the air...but what it wasn’t.....was stable. I’m not sure there’s enough Textreme in the world to fix that one.

I do admit that it would be fun to make a small run of them again, but alas the mold for the racquet is long since passed it’s useable state and is probably not worth reproducing for such a limited audience.

I love the thought though. Are there any other Prince heritage frames that you would like to see again?

Tyler...”

 

[SVP]

Prince should reissue the original Ripstick!!

I also like reissues that pay some homage to the original. But I like what the new Ripstick conveys: ripping the cover off the ball. Fun!

 

[PrinceMoron]

The Prince Lipstick 300 is out in Japan.

Alveolar ridge is that hard part of the mouth behind the teeth in case you were wondering what a post alveolar approximant or lateral is.

 

[PT280 Fan]

Never played an o port frame and doubt I ever will due to the adjustment factor. In terms of arm friendly technology, I'm rather fond of the Donnay and Volkl solutions. And yeah, I am a bit leery of free power as that has always equated to lack of control in my experience. That being said, I think this may be a brilliant marketing move by Prince as they've just had way too many choices in the past. I experienced this when buying a pair of clearance Beast 98s earlier this year. I had to research what the heck O3 referred to and what it entailed which stalled the decision making process somewhat. Prince makes a quality product in my experience and this could be the push they need to secure greater market share.

 

[ozbikebuddy]

I think Tyler from Prince discussed the (multiple?) requests they’ve heard about reissuing the Mono/Ripstick frame in the Prince Official thread. It’s post #12 :

“... The Mono.....where should I start.....

In it’s time it was truly a leap forward in racquet design and was the stepping stone to one of the most important improvements to racquet design....the long body. You have to remember that the mono shaft was incredibly maneuverable and really cut through the the air...but what it wasn’t.....was stable. I’m not sure there’s enough Textreme in the world to fix that one.

I do admit that it would be fun to make a small run of them again, but alas the mold for the racquet is long since passed it’s useable state and is probably not worth reproducing for such a limited audience.

I love the thought though. Are there any other Prince heritage frames that you would like to see again?

Tyler...”

I think with current tech this might be able to be addressed, but it the cost of the R&D that would be the issue, as for example Yonex make a fair few "Soft Tennis" racquets that use the MonoShaft design, and Fischer als made a number of MonoShaft frames back on the day.

With FEA and CAD design I think it would work, but likely with an even to head heavy balance to also help with the stability, maybe add some of the prince Triple Threat tech in that way too.

It would all come down to the R&D costs

 

[lefty10spro]

Monoshaft - seriously? Played like crap back in the day and would play much worse now as the balls we face now are heavier with more topspin. If you can't find something that works for you in the great lineup of Prince frames then you will forever wander lost in the jungle of racket choices.

 

[Power Player]

It’s a PITA to string the O port frames and it appears that the Ripstick will eat strings. Now will it eat them any faster than a Pure Drive or Pure Aero? If not than that may be acceptable IF the thing is not a hassle to string. But stringing frames all the time that are not easy to string gets old and usually causes me to move on.

But if this frame isn’t too bad in that regard, and it rivals the Pure Drive in playability, Prince may have something. A lot of IFs there. I love the Paint Job though, totally epic.

 

[PBODY99]

@Power Player ;

Prince needs to promote two piece 50 / 50 stringing for all of the ported frames.
Since they removed the ports from 6 o'clock, the rest of the stringing is rather straight forward.
I have two brothers one uses the ported 98 Beast, the other the regular model. They are 4.5 players in the 45 age group, their string consumption is about the same. However they do not use full western grips to generate their spin
I guess we will see what the market decides.

 

[Uncoil]

It’s a PITA to string the O port frames and it appears that the Ripstick will eat strings. Now will it eat them any faster than a Pure Drive or Pure Aero? If not than that may be acceptable IF the thing is not a hassle to string. But stringing frames all the time that are not easy to string gets old and usually causes me to move on.

But if this frame isn’t too bad in that regard, and it rivals the Pure Drive in playability, Prince may have something. A lot of IFs there. I love the Paint Job though, totally epic.

Stringing O ports gets easier once you've strung up 1 or 2 ported frames. The only annoying part is locking the turntable when stringing the crosses.

 

[Power Player]

Stringing O ports gets easier once you've strung up 1 or 2 ported frames. The only annoying part is locking the turntable when stringing the crosses.

thats the issue for me. I have a stringway and it only locks in a few positions. Just makes it a challenge. Not the end of the world though as the frame is probably not the best fit for my game, but i do love the concept of a softer pure drive.

 

[PBODY99]

@Power Player
You do not need to lock the turntable since with the 50/50 pattern as you work the crosses from the middle
An example by Mr10sStringer from this board
However I string 2 up then 2 down, alternately to equalize the stress on the frame.
I have had no problems since the release of o-ports, with a couple a my Speedport Golds having over 50 restrings each

 

[mucat]

I just use a S hook to string o ports, not too much difference from a non o ports (no ports ) racquet.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Speaking as a mostly flat hitter, I'd say the spin potential is there for the Ripstick but doesn't have nearly as high a launch angle as the 107G. The Ripstick was comparable to other open pattern 100-square-inch head size racquets in terms of launch angle.

Thanks,
Tiffani, TW

I'm still shocked at this concept that the 107G has a super high launch angle. I've been playing with it for a few months now and it's launch angle is no different than my wife's Clash Tour or my old Pure Drive. It's pretty comparable to my Phantom 100 O3.

I would be surprised if this Ripstick had a lower launch angle than the 107G. Open String Pattern + O-ports is going to have a lot of string movement.

 

[TW Staff]

I'm still shocked at this concept that the 107G has a super high launch angle. I've been playing with it for a few months now and it's launch angle is no different than my wife's Clash Tour or my old Pure Drive. It's pretty comparable to my Phantom 100 O3.

I would be surprised if this Ripstick had a lower launch angle than the 107G. Open String Pattern + O-ports is going to have a lot of string movement.

I didn't hit them side by side, so could be my memory is fuzzy. I just recall that I had more issues transitioning into the 107G than I did the Ripstick as far as my depth control.

Thanks,
Tiffani, TW

 

[Dartagnan64]

I didn't hit them side by side, so could be my memory is fuzzy. I just recall that I had more issues transitioning into the 107G than I did the Ripstick as far as my depth control.

Thanks,
Tiffani, TW

Well, If we ever get to go to Indian Wells again, I'll be sure to try them out side by side at the TW tent

 

[tennispro492]

Anyone know when the ripstick will be available in the UK?

 

[your best friend]

Wilson must compete with that port by introducing a Roller Blade!

They already did that.

 

[mikeler]

For those of you who think the O-ports provide comfort, I'd argue the double bridge technology used in the 100T ESPs I use is the ultimate for arm comfort. I can use almost any string with the exception of a few very stiff polys in them with no arm issues. @TW Staff bring back the double bridge!

 

[esm]

Anyone know when the ripstick will be available in the UK?

Looks like TWE will be releasing the new Prince racquets soon on their site. Suppose there will be additional VAT if they are over £135....
Not sure if any UK based retailer will be selling these in the UK.. lol

 

[mucat]

For those of you who think the O-ports provide comfort, I'd argue the double bridge technology used in the 100T ESPs I use is the ultimate for arm comfort. I can use almost any string with the exception of a few very stiff polys in them with no arm issues. @TW Staff bring back the double bridge!

They are not mutually exclusive (prince....listening?)

 

[Ronaldo]

They are not mutually exclusive (prince....listening?)

Still own a pr of More Control DB 800 and despite the double bridge throat, still stiff AF

 

[luke27586]

anyone got their hands on one of these yet?

 

[TennisHound]

This thing sounds pretty badas-

 

[A_Instead]

Hope it's not just a updated beast 100 03..but a new racquet with it's own identity..

 

[Power Player]

I switched my Synergy Preorder to the Ripstick. I have been using Babolats recently so this will be a better comparison. I just need to learn how to string it quickly and I should be good to go.

This is not an updated Beast 100. The designer talks in depth about the frame with the tennis nerd on his podcast.

 

[Power Player]

I have criticised O-Ports in the past. On some models, they are still a bit of a pain due to the size of them. But on the current models, they string up just fine. I do the 50/50 thing without any problems. And, in fact, find them easier to do than most of the 18X20 sticks I have.
I'm not sure using pros as an example to follow is really a valid means to dismiss technology(at least not outside of TTW). Very few pros use a Wilson Clash, yet it is the best selling stick currently on the market. And it is popular for a similar reason Prince o-ports are popular with some of us here. Hell, very few pros use any of the racquets that are actually popular in sales.
It's good to see Prince back at it.

Do you have a good video resource for stringing the crosses on the Oports, or is Irvins the go to? I think starting the crosses in the middle seems fine, I just have to make sure I get all the nuances.

Also, I am curious if stringing this frame requires a Babolat bridge on my stringway like I use with the PD and PA. I am guessing it will, but its tough to tell from the pics.

From my first post in this thread to now I have really come around on this frame. I think it could be a good one.

 

[n8dawg6]

I switched my Synergy Preorder to the Ripstick. I have been using Babolats recently so this will be a better comparison. I just need to learn how to string it quickly and I should be good to go.

This is not an updated Beast 100. The designer talks in depth about the frame with the tennis nerd on his podcast.

TW shoulda never sent me this vcore 100. i havent holiced since i got it. its just too sexy

 

[n8dawg6]

shoot, apologies, i thought this was the holic thread. nothing against the ripstick! carry on

 

[A_Instead]

The VCore 100 is such an over looked racquet..

 

[Power Player]

TW shoulda never sent me this vcore 100. i havent holiced since i got it. its just too sexy

Thats awesome - the newest vcore 100? Thats good news to have yet another potentially arm friendly power frame.

 

[WYK]

Do you have a good video resource for stringing the crosses on the Oports, or is Irvins the go to? I think starting the crosses in the middle seems fine, I just have to make sure I get all the nuances.

Also, I am curious if stringing this frame requires a Babolat bridge on my stringway like I use with the PD and PA. I am guessing it will, but its tough to tell from the pics.

From my first post in this thread to now I have really come around on this frame. I think it could be a good one.

The easiest way to do it is string it like you have two tops and bottoms - half an half like Irvin's video. I mark it with tape before I remove the strings so I know where it wants me to loop the middle bit off of. I use a combination of locking table, using my hip, and 'eh, it's close enough not to lose any much tension' technique. But I rarely string any of these that aren't my own.

 

[Power Player]

The easiest way to do it is string it like you have two tops and bottoms - half an half like Irvin's video. I mark it with tape before I remove the strings so I know where it wants me to loop the middle bit off of. I use a combination of locking table, using my hip, and 'eh, it's close enough not to lose any much tension' technique. But I rarely string any of these that aren't my own.

Ok. im watching this video and it looks like you need 2 starting clamps to do the 50/50 with which I have. It doesn't look like he needs to lock his frame, but I guess I will figure that out when I get it. Also it appears that he counts tocrosses 9 and 10 to find which side is the loop. I always string with the logo up on the buttcap, so I should memorize that part pretty fast.

 

[tim-ay]

Ok. im watching this video and it looks like you need 2 starting clamps to do the 50/50 with which I have. It doesn't look like he needs to lock his frame, but I guess I will figure that out when I get it. Also it appears that he counts tocrosses 9 and 10 to find which side is the loop. I always string with the logo up on the buttcap, so I should memorize that part pretty fast.

I have two clamps but if I didn’t I would not be scared to string the top half first then do the bottom half. Only need 1 clamp that way.

 

[Power Player]

I have two clamps but if I didn’t I would not be scared to string the top half first then do the bottom half. Only need 1 clamp that way.

Yeah I was thinking the same.

 

[JOSHL]

Just read through this whole thread. Ripstick you have my attention....

 

[Power Player]

I have two clamps but if I didn’t I would not be scared to string the top half first then do the bottom half. Only need 1 clamp that way.

What do you think the side to start the cross loop is based on this picture - left?

 

[tim-ay]

What do you think the side to start the cross loop is based on this picture - left?

I think I’ll have to be a simpleton and count it , haha. Starting at the cross anchor mark on the head. I think Prince marks that. But yeah, I would guess the left. But I had a beer and it’s a guess vs. good thought. It’s been so long since Ive strung a prince but I think the loop is opposite the side with the higher grommet hole.