Prince spectrum comp series 90

[tennisboy2121]

I found one of these rackets for $5. Is it worth picking it up. I am a huge prince fan but don't have much knowledge or experience with this model or 80s sticks. I am a 5.5 all court player, was a top ranked Jr. I dont like swing weight over 335 but it might be fun.

 

[NLBwell]

Pick it up. It's very much like an original Prince Graphite but a little stiffer feeling because of the ceramic.

 

[graycrait]

@tennisboy2121 , Forget it. I have had more Princes than you have had birthdays including just about every 90(93") Prince made. If you think you need a Prince 90 (93") in 14x18 get a POG 4 stripe and/or a Graphite Pro. If you think you need to delve just a bit deeper then get a Graphtech DB 90. Otherwise jump to the future at least a decade in Prince, then continue to explore.

 

[NLBwell]

@tennisboy2121 , Forget it. I have had more Princes than you have had birthdays including just about every 90(93") Prince made. If you think you need a Prince 90 (93") in 14x18 get a POG 4 stripe and/or a Graphite Pro. If you think you need to delve just a bit deeper then get a Graphtech DB 90. Otherwise jump to the future at least a decade in Prince, then continue to explore.

gracait, it's only $5. Unless he is like my son who didn't eat for 2 days because he spent all his money on concert tickets he can afford it. It's a good racket to play with, even if not as nice feeling as the POG. I break mine out from time to time and enjoy hitting with it.
[By the way, my son said the concert was totally worth not eating for two days.]

 

[tennisboy2121]

What kind of tension would you recommend. I know the string makes a big difference. I will probably string Kevlar and synthetic gut, prince problend. Still love playing with it.

 

[onehandbh]

@tennisboy2121 , Forget it. I have had more Princes than you have had birthdays including just about every 90(93") Prince made. If you think you need a Prince 90 (93") in 14x18 get a POG 4 stripe and/or a Graphite Pro. If you think you need to delve just a bit deeper then get a Graphtech DB 90. Otherwise jump to the future at least a decade in Prince, then continue to explore.

How does the Spectrum 90 compare to the POG 90, POG 4 stripe and Graphite Pro in terms of power feel?
From most power to least? Is it more powerful? least? in the middle?

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Pick it up. It's very much like an original Prince Graphite but a little stiffer feeling because of the ceramic.

I always thought Spectrum Comp was the more flexible of those. Something like

Spectrum Comp<Graphite Pro<Graphite

 

[NLBwell]

I always thought Spectrum Comp was the more flexible of those. Something like

Spectrum Comp<Graphite Pro<Graphite

I don't know the actual stiffness, it could be low. It does feel stiffer though, it is more harsh because of the ceramic.

 

[graycrait]

How does the Spectrum 90 compare to the POG 90, POG 4 stripe and Graphite Pro in terms of power feel?
From most power to least? Is it more powerful? least? in the middle?

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Thanks!

 

[lucieisland]

I always dreamed of having original graphite when I was 12 years old (Gabi Sabatini), my father preferred to take me Prince Spectrum. because I'm a girl, and white is more for girls.

I then bought prince graphite pro series 90 with my Christmas pennies.

spectrum and graphite pro feel close, but spectrum is more muffled, (I read by the way that the frame was filled with foam. like the current xenecore donay).

At the time, I could easily switch from Prince Graphite Pro 90 to Spectrum 90. I have never played volleyball 90, finalist 90 or powerflex 90. So I could not say how compared to the latter. but for a long time I hesitated to resume spectrum 90 or 110.

there, I had (finally) prince graphite III 107. these are my new best best snowshoes.

 

[graycrait]

@lucieisland , I am sticking a lot of rackets in a yard sale today to see if I can clear some space on my wall and the only Prince 93" 14x18 rackets I "plan" on keeping are the POGs. However in the 110s I am keeping a Graphtech DB110, Spectrum 110, Graphite Pro 110 and two POGs, although one POG has a Natural two-grip handle. That 2-handle POG hangs right next to the Blackburne 107, both gathering dust. I just had to see what those two would hit like - no magick

 

[big ted]

i have a spectrum 90 and think its an very good racquet..
heavy and powerful with excellent spin...
not the most maneuverable racquet but stable and feels good..

 

[mhkeuns]

I found one of these rackets for $5. Is it worth picking it up. I am a huge prince fan but don't have much knowledge or experience with this model or 80s sticks. I am a 5.5 all court player, was a top ranked Jr. I dont like swing weight over 335 but it might be fun.

It was, at one point around 87 to 88, one of the most popular (*if not the most popular) frame in the market for its looks and playability. It plays great. Just a bit heavy for today’s standards, but it is a nice stick,

 

[dak95_00]

What kind of tension would you recommend. I know the string makes a big difference. I will probably string Kevlar and synthetic gut, prince problend. Still love playing with it.

60#s

I’ve got plenty of grommets and bumpers for the Spectrum 90.

 

[Used to be Good Guy]

I remember my mom and dad buying me two brand new Prince Spectrum’s in around 1986’ish. I forget exactly when they came out. They felt great, but the white paint came off pretty easily. I remember using things like white-out to try and keep it looking new.

 

[struggle]

The white paint/coating was prone to cracking where the head meets the throat.

I never liked them as much as the graphite, but they were quite popular. Also came in yellow
for a limited time.

 

[vsbabolat]

I remember my mom and dad buying me two brand new Prince Spectrum’s in around 1986’ish. I forget exactly when they came out. They felt great, but the white paint came off pretty easily. I remember using things like white-out to try and keep it looking new.

Yeah, they came out in 1986

 

[StringGuruMRT]

The white paint/coating was prone to cracking where the head meets the throat.

I never liked them as much as the graphite, but they were quite popular. Also came in yellow
for a limited time.

I wanted the yellow one soooo bad as a kid, but my parents would never cave... Still looking for one at a good price as a 44 yr old!

 

[junbun]

I'm loving the one i got off one of the TW members.

it measures 335 SW, 380g, 30.75 CM balance, but i find it pretty easy to swing with.

Does anyone know where the weight is distributed in the lower part of the frame? maybe compared to more modern-day racquets.

From my understanding for modern racquets, most of the additional weight above a certain threshold ~270g in a graphite racquet is from a weight added inside the hairpin about 6in from the buttcap. Then there may be silicon starting at the bottom of the buttcap up to 10g to bring it specs.

Is the spectrum done the same?

 

[tonylg]

it measures 335 SW, 780g, 30.75 CM balance, but i find it pretty easy to swing with.

You must have an arm like Rafa.

 

[junbun]

Typo i meant 380g hahaha..

 

[JRW911]

I picked a Spectrum Comp 90 off of the 'bay really cheap about a month ago to compare to the POG 90s I've had for a few years. The weight and balance of the SC is very similar to the POG (360 grams strung with OG & 32 cm balance), but it's definitely less stiff than the POG (mid 60s vs high 60s?). To my surprise, after a few hitting sessions, I much prefer the SC to the POG. Due to it's slightly lower flex rating, the SC has much better feel while having a similar power level and plow through as the POG. I liked it so much I went ahead and got two more off the 'bay plus an ugly brown retro Prince tennis bag to complete the mid 80's look!

 

[JRW911]

 

[StringGuruMRT]

Ha! I have that same bag for my retro Princes (well some of them)!

 

[coachrick]

Looks like one earlier one(middle) with the squared off bumper guard(or maybe an early replacement bumper?).
Certainly enjoyed stringing those...about 12 minutes once the frame was mounted
The always hit like plaster to me.

 

[BorgCash]

I think Pat Cash got the same (only in blue/green) for his Magnesium Pro 90

 

[JRW911]

Looks like one earlier one(middle) with the squared off bumper guard(or maybe an early replacement bumper?).
Certainly enjoyed stringing those...about 12 minutes once the frame was mounted
The always hit like plaster to me.

Correct, coachrick. The middle one is one of the first versions as it has the squared off bumper guard and says "spectrum comp series 90" on the throat as opposed to the other two that say "spectrum comp 90". Of those two, I can tell which one of them is newer as it has the grip size printed on the butt cap instead of on the side of the throat. It may just be my three racquets, but they get a little lighter as they get newer. The oldest one weighs 373.5 grams strung with an overgrip, the middle one 361, and the later version 354.5. All strung identically and with the leather grips still intact.