Prince Woodie weight

I thought Light < 13 oz; Light-Medium 13-14 oz; Medium 15 oz; Heavy > 15 oz
BITD, I knew of only one guy who used the Prince Woodie OS, and I thought it was Heavy. He was always late with the groundies. Good at the net if he could get his frame on the ball.
 
I have one. With leather grip, thin overgrip, poly, and 10-string TW dampener, it comes to 370 g.

Back in the day I found it heavy too, but strangely underpowered for its weight. I sorta like that about it now, but it's more flexible than I really like. TT poster Dino Lagaffe measured one at RA 35.

Incidentally, due presumably to engineering constraints with wood, the Woodie has the smallest head size of any Prince OS at 100-101 sq in.
 
Loads of protective tubing, original grip, all nylon:

167336744.3I4gMI2V.woodienylonleather.jpg


Strung with poly, slightly less teflon tubing, Prince Calfskin grip:

167322189.ype6SOo5.jpg


167322187.VxTmidqB.jpg
 
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Like everyone said, that thing was heavy, My high school coached used it and was really good at hitting spinny shots with it. I picked up a 9.5/10 used one but got rid of it after a few hits with it because it was too heavy to keep playing with it.
 
I used to play baseball. So I see the benefit of a a heavy racquet, especially one that's arm friendly. I play with it sometimes just to keep the strength up.
But, honestly, the butter feel is worth it to hit with it on the odd occasion.
 
A petite girl on my high school team, circa 1985, used the Prince Woodie, and it didn’t seem such a big deal.

I was watching some archival footage of John McEnroe st Roland Garros in 1984... swinging two Max 200g’s (which he leaded up) in pre-match stretching, like a baseball player might, with multiple bats.

Maybe we’re devolving into a generation of weaklings who hit the ball very hard, and get hurt?
 
This info is from TW for one of the pro stock models:

Launched in 1980, the Prince Woodie is a true classic. It combines the sublime feel and control of wood with the strength and power of graphite. In addition to being a great collector's item, this racquet provides a great hitting experience. With its 331 swingwight, it is loaded with plow-through and power. The 41 RA makes this an extremely arm-friendly racquet. Players looking for a nice snapshot of the wood/graphite era should give this legendary racquet a serious look.

**** Pro stock racket Strung Specs ****

Headsize: 110in²
Length: 27"
Weight: 374 grams
Balance: 31,5cm
Stiffness: 41
Swingweight: 331
String Pattern: 16x19
Composition: Wood/Graphite
Grip: Leather
 
Prince Woodie Graphite 100 in good condition picked up for $4.76 at Goodwill, to play test for senior game just for fun. Measured 13.1 oz straight from Goodwill with Leather grip and nylon strings. I planed grip from L5 to L3, and added quarter(s) to butt tip for 12.9 oz 4-pt HL, or 13.1 oz 6-pt HL, with new Head Hydrosorb Tour grip. Good for moderate hits and serves, and with feel for slice/spin control We'll see!
 
Played twice in 2 days with the Woodie, at full weight 13.1 oz 6-pt HL, and for my mid-level game the Woodie plays quite nice, AND GREAT FOR TENNIS ELBOW. Very comfy, cushioned feel, and one can hit fairly hard, given your best stroke (2HBH & serve). Given my recent elbow injury, 1HFH and 1HBH's cannot be hit hard for now -- that will have to wait until healed. At least the Woodie did not cause further injury during play, like my newer racquets. Measured string tension was 40 lbs via RacquetTune iPhone app. Volleys nicely with touch and placement!

The original Goodwill racquet was 13.1 oz, 4-pt HL. My customized 4 3/8 grip with two quarters at butt made racquet more HL by 2-pts. Just having fun, all that matters.

Correction to initial post: Woodie RA 35. VERY flexible, and 25% software than the very pliable Wilson Triad 4's RA 46 (which has that damped layer separation of hoop from the yoke).
 
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I never thought of the Woodie as heavy (4M), but I was coming from the T-2000 strung in the mid 40 lbs. I always considered it very smooth and buttery. A spinmeister on the serve both slice and kick. Though not as good as the Graphite Director in painting the corners from a wide serving position. It had great baseline spin and quick net responsiveness.
 
While still healing tennis elbow, continuing experimenting with tennis elbow. The two quarters were unstuck from butt, to give a more manageable 12.7 oz. My serves are as good as ever), but ground strokes and volleys are very low in power. Control seems to be an issue with RacquetTune measured 40 lb tension (orig Goodwill syn gut), unless ball is hit perfect. Might restring with 17g multi-syn gut at 55 lbs (hoping it doesn't warp), improve control as tension settles into 45 lbs range. I've seen tension on my Prestige Tours drop by 10 lbs after a few months, and then holding.
 
Just bought a woodie today at my local pro shop, unstrung, for $15. It’s in great shape. I put in LXN Elemental Rough mains and black synthetic crosses simply because I liked how it meshed with the colors of the woodie. I was shocked at the recommended tension of 70-76lbs. I wasn’t sure what to string it at since I’d never hit with one, nor had I ever used this specific poly.

so I decided to go with 58, that sound ok?
 
Mine is strung at 60# with Prince Lightning crossed with 4g in sort of a Lendl style since I ran out of nylon(It was for my squash racquet).

It weighs exactly the same as with poly(though I did remove all the teflon tubing and use leather instead):

171835398.QQ8SN786.jpg


I haven't had a two-handed BH since HS, but man does it feel good to swing this thing with two hands(she said).
 
kevin qmto said:
I was shocked at the recommended tension of 70-76lbs. I wasn’t sure what to string it at since I’d never hit with one, nor had I ever used this specific poly.... so I decided to go with 58, that sound ok?
Click to expand...
You can safely ignore the early-80s Prince tension recommendations. Prince was marketing primarily against the standard-size wood frames, whose <70 sq" head size and 18x20 patterns made a stiff string bed even at what we'd call today normal tensions. The main reason players would refuse to switch to a Prince (besides not wanting to "look like a granny") was how hard it was to keep the ball inside the lines with 'em. The high recommended string tension tamed the power a little and made it feel more like what everyone was used to in those days.
 
Don't Let It Bounce said:
You can safely ignore the early-80s Prince tension recommendations. Prince was marketing primarily against the standard-size wood frames, whose <70 sq" head size and 18x20 patterns made a stiff string bed even at what we'd call today normal tensions. The main reason players would refuse to switch to a Prince (besides not wanting to "look like a granny") was how hard it was to keep the ball inside the lines with 'em. The high recommended string tension tamed the power a little and made it feel more like what everyone was used to in those days.
Click to expand...
True PLUS there were more lock-out machines back then(and pre-stretching was in its infancy).
 
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AggieJason said:
Anyone have any idea how much a Prince Woodie weighs?
thanks!
Click to expand...

369g, 373g and 382g string without dampener and without overgrip but with grip plastic... There are 3 frames on the Bay right now where the seller listed then with weights
 
Prince Woodie 376/13.26/35/335

gold325 said:
369g, 373g and 382g string without dampener and without overgrip but with grip plastic... There are 3 frames on the Bay right now where the seller listed then with weights
Click to expand...

Very much inline with these specs:
Prince Woodie 376/13.26/35/335
 
ext2hander said:
While still healing tennis elbow, continuing experimenting with tennis elbow. The two quarters were unstuck from butt, to give a more manageable 12.7 oz. My serves are as good as ever), but ground strokes and volleys are very low in power. Control seems to be an issue with RacquetTune measured 40 lb tension (orig Goodwill syn gut), unless ball is hit perfect. Might restring with 17g multi-syn gut at 55 lbs (hoping it doesn't warp), improve control as tension settles into 45 lbs range. I've seen tension on my Prestige Tours drop by 10 lbs after a few months, and then holding.
Click to expand...
Finally got the Woodie restrung with an extra set of Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17 at 55 lbs. Tennis Anywhere shop said it was one of easiest racquets to string. With RacquetTune App, tensions measured 59 lbs strung (larger deviation vs my graphite racquets!). Played for 3 hours doubles, tension now 56 lbs. For my game, the Woodie has a plush feel, large sweet spot, with control and easier to keep the ball on the court, with more spin. Volleys are much improved, balls not flying off. Serves are still nearly as hard as my 2021 Dunlop CX200 OS 105 strung 56 lbs with Live Wire 17 -- but with more spin control. The increased tension really helped -- without observable warpage. I'll keep playing with the racquet until elbow completely heals. Hopefully, tension will settle to ~50 lbs, like all my other mid-plus, low RA 56-62 racquets. A very nice shock absorber, you can't beat for <$5 Goodwill. [12.8 oz, with grip shaved 1/4" to 4 3/8 + double layer head tape]
 
Bummer, my Woodie strung 55# with Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17 started to crack just above the yoke. Having gotten used to the Woodie, the racquet plays now really nice with power/spin serves, and volleys with great feel! I'll play it until it splits apart. The heavy 13.5 oz weight has improved my (senior) strokes, requiring fuller, longer strokes -- and controlled volleys with plow through and a little slice, i.e. touch and feel.

Lucky I got a 2nd Goodwill Woodie for $7. This one plays with more control and power, given tighter 60# tension and same React Pro 17 (hope the 2nd Woodie doesn't crack at higher tension!). Perhaps, I ought not try for 65# with next string job. Given the racquet's extreme flexibility for shock absorption, the tight string bed is needed for control. The Woodie plays better than my 2021 Dunlop CX200 OS with same string, or Gamma Live Wire XP 17 (and weighted to 12.2 oz to improve the CX200 OS's play). My other vintage pro racquets still play excellent, with a little more pop.


271271002_4965070380198300_3235400081996486776_n.jpg
 
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My 4 1/2" unit just came in. Frame is not warped or cracked.

Strung Specs (no OG, original leather, unknown 16g syngut, 7 mini leather powerpads)
  • 369g weight (13.0oz)
  • 320mm balance (7HL)
  • 324SW (TW method)
Couldn't have asked for better numbers!

After Wilson Pro OG it's 373g / 8HL.

Excited!

IMG-20220106-191828416.jpg
 
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Played today with the Woodie. Enjoyed it. It had old Syngut that has no spin compared to fresh Syngut or any fresh string really. I'm thinking 18G OGSM Strung at 48 lbs.

What are some string recipes for good spin yet retain racquet integrity? I don't want to go gut but am willing to if absolutely required since it will probably last a long long time in this frame and how little I will use it.
 
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Now, try and find and grab a few of the mid composite woods - those will take a full gut job and with the stiffened up modern guts, you can string down and baby the older wood frames.
I really enjoy a wood mid (85) @50 with full bed natural gut.
Besides, they are beautiful in hand...
 
Frankc said:
Now, try and find and grab a few of the mid composite woods - those will take a full gut job and with the stiffened up modern guts, you can string down and baby the older wood frames.
I really enjoy a wood mid (85) @50 with full bed natural gut.
Besides, they are beautiful in hand...
Click to expand...

@Frankc Can you mention a few that are easily obtained and that you like as well?
 
As you know, it is all personal preference. Just from all the comments that I have seen, the Kennex Ace series are well respected - especially the Graphite Ace. Will be lighter and stiffer than your Woodie, imo. Problem is that the string patterns are somewhat open on those - but that opens up multi and syn gut strings... Maybe gut, just maybe... Dunlop A Players are nice, but far more scarce... Both of these seem more durable and I have seen many Kennex wood composites strung up and played and played on and on... There are good posts on the Kramer woodie midsize.
Just as a note, the Prince Woodies can be quite fragile with age - but maybe that is why they play so well ( and soft)... Gardnar Mulloy played the Woodie for years and won many national senior championships - he liked thin natural gut. Word was though, that he was always searching them out - his 80th Birthday card, from memory, had him poised with a beloved Woodie...
 
Some of the pro kennex ace rackets have 97f printed on the handle does this suggest its 97 sq headsize?
 
gold325 said:
Played today with the Woodie. Enjoyed it. It had old Syngut that has no spin compared to fresh Syngut or any fresh string really. I'm thinking 18G OGSM Strung at 48 lbs.

What are some string recipes for good spin yet retain racquet integrity? I don't want to go gut but am willing to if absolutely required since it will probably last a long long time in this frame and how little I will use it.
Click to expand...
You might like this clip, playing with my brand new Woodie. The off-the-shelf Goodwill strings measured 40# with Racquet Tune iPhone app. Served fine, but less control on volleys and strokes. ZERO shock on arm. I've fixed my volley technique since, adding a little wrist rotation on contact advised by an advanced player. But having a really good partner helps more than anything, when playing against better players than I. In fact, other three were all 10 to 25 years younger, so Woodie held its own modestly, and likely have won the game with the volley improvement.
 
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ext2hander said:
You might like this clip, playing with my brand new Woodie. The off-the-shelf Goodwill strings measured 40# with Racquet Tune iPhone app. Served fine, but less control on volleys and strokes. ZERO shock on arm. I've fixed my volley technique since, adding a little wrist rotation on contact advised by an advanced player. But having a really good partner helps more than anything, when playing against better players than I. In fact, other three were all 10 to 25 years younger, so Woodie held its own modestly, and likely have won the game with the volley improvement.
Click to expand...

Yes. This was one of the few Woodie videos I was able to find on YouTube. It partially inspired me to buy one myself! Nice job.

I played a minute set double with the Woodie myself. It was heavy and slow compared to my regular racket and didn't have spin (due to decades old Toa Strings Leona 66) it was some of the most fun I had playing.

It was especially fun that due to the relatively low swing weight of 324 the 375g Woodie was very manageable and it was with other players who didnt hit the ball too hard or spinny.
 
gold325 said:
Played today with the Woodie. Enjoyed it. It had old Syngut that has no spin compared to fresh Syngut or any fresh string really. I'm thinking 18G OGSM Strung at 48 lbs.

What are some string recipes for good spin yet retain racquet integrity? I don't want to go gut but am willing to if absolutely required since it will probably last a long long time in this frame and how little I will use it.
Click to expand...
I'd be careful with the 18ga, even at the low tension. Check for any places the string has embedded into the frame and tube/pad accordingly.
 
coachrick said:
I'd be careful with the 18ga, even at the low tension. Check for any places the string has embedded into the frame and tube/pad accordingly.
Click to expand...

Would you say 16g at a lower tension is better to avoid the channels becoming deeper? As someone who doesn't string I can't tube/pad anyway
 
gold325 said:
Would you say 16g at a lower tension is better to avoid the channels becoming deeper? As someone who doesn't string I can't tube/pad anyway
Click to expand...
It might be fine if the frame doesn't show any signs of weakness; but I'd say 16ga is safer. Since you aren't stringing it yourself, I'd vote for the safer route.
 
Well, one Woodie cracked after playing 4-5 months with Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17, strung 55#. My other Woodie ok after two months Live Wire XP 17 60# (lost 14# tension quickly), followed by one month with React Pro 17 60# with no hairline cracking yet. The latter played better with more control. React Pro tension loss was just ~6#, given its solid center core with multifilament wrap.

I hope the 17 gauge is not the cause for first one cracking. I monitor all my string jobs with the Racquet Tune app for tension loss over time. All my graphite racquets with Live Wire XP 17 seem to settle in at 12# tension loss over a long period of time.

Aside from offering a firmer string bed, the TNT2 React Pro has a slick outer coating, with minimal notching. This allows more snap back of the strings for hitting topspin, or any spin for that matter; whereas, Live Wire strings get stuck in the wear grooves. So for topspin, I suggest trying a set of TNT2 React Pro for its slick outer coating for snap-back. Harry at TennisSpin channel alerted me to the React Pro slick coating.
 
t-swede said:
Some of the pro kennex ace rackets have 97f printed on the handle does this suggest its 97 sq headsize?
Click to expand...

I'm going to say NO.

I've seen 97F printed on some Pro Kennex Golden Ace also and those are around 85 sq.
 
My $5 Woodie #1 (55# TNT2 React Pro 17) was showing cracks after five months, so its being replaced by Woodie #3 just purchased for $22, a real beauty. My $7 Woodie #2 was strung at 60# same strings for two months w/o cracks, and plays super, more control than at 55#. The new racquet appears to have been lightly played or restrung recently with basic synthetic gut, strings not yet grooved. Rather than immediately restring to 60# or higher, I just played with the new one and its 32# tension via Racquet Tune app. Surprisingly, the softly strung racquet played quite well for serves, volleys, and ground strokes (zero shock, of course) -- I must be getting used to the weight and plow-through, having adjusted my strokes to the heavy racquet. The trick is to find a lightly used one in excellent condition. I saw this one, described as perfect, and grabbed it without hesitation!

My Prince Woodie Graphite 100 photos

Weight with new grip, overwrap, and head protection tape is 13.1 oz
FYI, the racquet with original Leather grip (0.75 oz) weighed 13.0 oz
 
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WYK said:
I put teflon tubing on mine:

167336744.3I4gMI2V.woodienylonleather.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow pretty heavy. Do you know the balance of your unit.? Mine is 7HL and so very easy to play with.

I just got a Head Edgewood in the mail. It is 376g including Overgrip, balance is 330mm. Feels considerably heavier in hand. Probably harder to play with as a result (also smaller head). Swingweight calculated out to be 344 using TW method.

Edgewood (18x19) vs Woodie (16x19)
IMG-20220115-180729908.jpg
 
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That scale has got to be off. I just weighed it and it's 380 now with original leather grip. Might have had an extra grip on it at the time. Or lead I can't see in that pic.
Mine isn't terribly head light just hefting it right now. The teflon came out to less than a gram, btw. I have since swapped it out with leather pads.
This is a previous 'DEMO' stick and is marked as such. It has never seen a hard or natural clay court. Only synthetic or synthetic clay. So is in great shape.

167322188.ff0I4Lzs.woodie2.JPG


167322189.ype6SOo5.jpg


My A Player weighs the same, but is way head light and doesn't play as solid:

167380997.PTVEm44t.jpg
 
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WYK said:
My A Player weighs the same, but is way head light and doesn't play as solid:

167380997.PTVEm44t.jpg
Click to expand...

I tried to looks for used A-Players. They are selling for pretty high prices.... Oh well Ill have to wait to get one I guess
 
They will fetch high prices if they are not warped. Mine eventually warped. It is very common on the A Player as the hoop is relatively thin and likely not made of terribly dense ash.
I think the maple? in the woodie prolly helps them a lot as it is laid perpendicular to the other layers..
 
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