Question for Prince Players . . .
- Thread starter max
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Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Phantom 100G, Phantom Pro 100P, Textreme Tour 100 310.
tennis347
Hall of Fame
IMO the new Phantom 100p is the most versatile frame in the Phantom line with addition of twaron at 10 and 2 as well as in the throat. I started a thread on the new Phantom 100p. I am really surprised that this racquet doesn't have more of a following. It's the best players frame that I have used over the last 10 years!! Check out my thread.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, I think the ATS really does something special to the Phantom line. I have older Phantoms and my new 107G is significantly more stable. The upper hoop had a little too much flex in the older models which led to power loss. I compensated by adding lead to 12 Oclock. But the ATS at 10 and 2 essentially fixes that one bugaboo and now the Phantoms are really a complete line of modern player frames.
max
Legend
I was impressed with the 100P when I swung with it, but I did feel it was a tad underpowered (I don't use power racquets/tweener stiff stuff). I kept wishing it was a 98.
I own the 93P 18x20, but I'm having bad results with its low launch angle: I like lifting the ball over the net, and lost my drive shot margin of error. I also owned the TT 100P (2015) and the TT 310----never liked the 310 from the get-go, wondered about all the hoopla and figured its folks used to Babolat that thought highly of the frame. The 100P is nice, though.
I own the 93P 18x20, but I'm having bad results with its low launch angle: I like lifting the ball over the net, and lost my drive shot margin of error. I also owned the TT 100P (2015) and the TT 310----never liked the 310 from the get-go, wondered about all the hoopla and figured its folks used to Babolat that thought highly of the frame. The 100P is nice, though.
I have a Prince Phantom 100 and consider it a baseliner's racquet. With the thickest part of the frame at the top of the racquet, I don't find the Phantom to be especially maneuverable. I'd suggest going with a Prince model without the CTS design for a serve and volley player.
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
I’m not super familiar with the Volkl C-9 but for serve and volley the 93p is tough to beat. For some reason I can’t get along with the 100in Phantoms, they all feel weird to me, like they swing super heavy despite being HL and thin beam. The 93p though swings very fast despite its weight. Now I’m having fun with the Iga stick with cyclone 18g in it. Feels great and does everything well. I also am testing the phantom 100G but like I said earlier it feels kinda sluggish. Love the look of it though.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I love serviing with the 93P. It's the volleying that I'm not so good with. I think old eyes are letting me down and the smaller sweetspot just gets me in trouble at the net with that frame. For me its a frame where I serve to get short balls and then put them away with a FH. I can punish the short ball with the 93P like no one's business. But I can't midcourt volley with it to save my life.
I'm using the 107G as my doubles frame right now and I really like it. More power than most of the other phantoms and great pocketing and soft touch. And a spin window that is the largest i've played with. Not as controlled as the 93's or 100's but not as far off as I'd have expected.
Surprised you find the 100G sluggish since it's got a lower SW than the other Phantoms. I find the 107G pretty whippy for an OS. Way quicker than my POG 107.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
I like the Prince Phantom line and have played extensively with the 1st generation 93P in both 18x20 and 14x18, and the 1st generation 100P.
All great racquets, but eventually I parted way with them:
- 93P 18x20: too tiring over a long singles game, not enough tolerance in defense
- 93P 14x18: easier to play than the 18x20, but shots were too loopy
- 100P: lacked power on serve, was a tad jarring on off-centre hits
The new generation 100P apparently fixes most of those issues, so that's where I'd go if I was looking for a Prince.
I have since migrated to Angell and am currently tremendously enjoying the TC95 16x19 63RA. It's like an easier to play, more tolerant and powerful 93P, whose launch angle is somewhere between the 18x20 and 14x18 patterns. Its most remarkable feature, in my view, is that it's a 95 sq.in. frame that plays similar to a 97 or 98.
All great racquets, but eventually I parted way with them:
- 93P 18x20: too tiring over a long singles game, not enough tolerance in defense
- 93P 14x18: easier to play than the 18x20, but shots were too loopy
- 100P: lacked power on serve, was a tad jarring on off-centre hits
The new generation 100P apparently fixes most of those issues, so that's where I'd go if I was looking for a Prince.
I have since migrated to Angell and am currently tremendously enjoying the TC95 16x19 63RA. It's like an easier to play, more tolerant and powerful 93P, whose launch angle is somewhere between the 18x20 and 14x18 patterns. Its most remarkable feature, in my view, is that it's a 95 sq.in. frame that plays similar to a 97 or 98.
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Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Well TBH 95 isn't that much different from 97.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
Well, 93 is not that different to 95, which is not that different to 97, which is similar to 98, which is not far off 100. It doesn't mean that 93 is similar to 100.
I've played a 95 in the Dunlop CX200 Tour 16x19, and it was nowhere nearly as tolerant as the Angell TC95. Neither is the 93P, which many people say plays close to a 95 given the head shape. When playing the Angell, the closest I have in mind in terms of both power and tolerance is the Yonex DR98 I used to play, but obviously with a very different feel.
max
Legend
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Well TBH, 4 degrees of separation are more than one degree of separation.
I mostly play with my 93 and my 107. There is a pretty big difference between those two frames. A 95 and a 97 would be almost super-imposable if place one on top of the other.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
20g? What weight did you order it at? If you ordered a 330g version, I can understand why it would feel so heavy, especially since Angell frames swing heavy due to them being filled with foam.
Mine's a 310g / 315mm, and it already swings pretty heavy. Angell measured the SW at 303 unstrung, which would bring it at 330 or slightly above once strung. Which is about where I want it, but I certainly wouldn't want it any higher.
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flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
I hear you, there's not too much difference, and less than people think. Paul Angell told me that between the TC95 and the TC97 there was only 1mm around the circumference of the head. Other factors, like flex profile and string pattern are going to make more of a difference in terms than 2 sq.in. of head size.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
3loudboys
G.O.A.T.
My mistake I thought you were referring to the TT 100P.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
Then definitely do not get the Dunlop. I found the launch angle very low, even for the 16x19 version.
I haven't played the 97P, unfortunately, so I can't help really help you there. But being a 16x18 in a larger frame, the launch angle has to be noticeably higher than the 93P 18x20.
Also, have you thought about the Prince TT95? I've had a hit with it the other day, and thought it was a really good frame. Definitely easier to use, and with a higher launch angle than the 93P.
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jmacdaununder2
Legend
Looking forward to the TT95 with ATS if it ever escapes from behind the bamboo curtain.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
That will be a point and shoot monster.
max
Legend
Maybe the 95s the way to go. Not sure what ATS stuff is. anti-traction system? torsion? the little throat piece?
Let me tell you: 13 years ago I bought a used Prince 90 classic, with the 14 x 18 pattern and absolutely hated it. Just felt stiff and hard to control the ball. I figured I spent plenty of time with the Mighty Max 200G and the Wilson PS 6.0/85 and that I should know the prince offering along these classic lines. . . but quite disappointed.
Let me tell you: 13 years ago I bought a used Prince 90 classic, with the 14 x 18 pattern and absolutely hated it. Just felt stiff and hard to control the ball. I figured I spent plenty of time with the Mighty Max 200G and the Wilson PS 6.0/85 and that I should know the prince offering along these classic lines. . . but quite disappointed.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
I have a 97P. I was curious about the spec, since I typically like 95-98" frames. I think the goal was to make a more comfortable and easy-to-use version of the 93P. Unfortunately "comfortable and easy to use" means they dropped the stiffness, weight, and the swing weight, so it comes off as under-powered. On the plus side, it's very plush and a little lead beefs it up nicely. The string setup is tricky because you'll probably want low tension for some extra bite and power, but you don't want the strings to be too soft or the plushness of the frame becomes downright mushy. I don't notice the sweet spot being unexpectedly small versus other control frames with similar specs. Overall it's a frame I can practice with and enjoy, but not something I would play a competitive match with. Being a Prince fan, I have a variety of Phantoms and I would play my 2nd Gen Phantom 93P 14x18 or leaded-up first-gen Phantom 100 Pro ahead of this one.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
agree, may be a good option. Not as soft as a volkl but with gut plays nice. Good S@V stick. All court may need a bit of weight to hit groundstrokes.
max
Legend
hmm, no. That's advanced stuff for me. I think I have some figured poly in my box, though. Will there be any noticeable effect? (there must be, though, you have mentioned it).
