switch from Prince Precision Response Ti

[saf]

I Am currently playing with the Prince Precision Response Ti (Rafter). It's an old stick, but I still enjoy it and have had a hard time finding a "new" stick that I like as much (especially a Prince frame). It's a heavy stick that is arm friendly and pretty good at everything.

I really liked the Prince Tour o3 (Coria - Orange and black) when I hit with it recently (similar to my PPR). I might switch to it when it comes out in May. Any suggestions of some other non-Prince racquets that might be similar? Could maybe use a little more spin potential. - Thanks!

 

[monologuist]

I was playing a Precision Response Ti a while back....great racquet...you're gonna be hard pressed to find anything to top it...but...Although I personally haven't tried these , I think they might be similar based on specs and what I've heard others say:
Fisher Pro Number One
Slazenger x One

 

[AAAA]

I've demo'ed the Response Ti and own a Fischer Pro #1 320g unstrung version. They are not similar sticks at all. I found the Response Ti great for flat serves, slices, volleys and driving groundstrokes. Never tried it for topspin serves during the demo because i was enjoying it's other qualities. Like Monologuist said you'll be hard pressed to find any current frames to top it.

 

[saf]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice.

 

[Alex]

Hi Saf...

I used to play with Response Ti ... but has move on. What i missed the most about the Response Ti is the huge sweet spot, slight muted feel and spin potential.

I would suggest that you tried the Wilson nCode 6.1 95, it has that slight muted feel that similar to Response Ti.

Another things that you might feel slight differeces is the sweet spot, the response Ti has a big hitting zone yet good control and power. The nCode6.1 give you that same control but smaller sweet spot and lot of lot of power.

Anyway.. just demo and get the feel of it. If you don't like it ... just drop it and look for other.

Btw Saf ... i have some question about Prince Tour O3 ... Does the Tour O3 has very thin Beam Width, say between 17mm -20mm like the Wilson PS 6.0(85)? Thanks.

 

[saf]

Coria o3

I think it is around 19mm -20mm thick. Yes, on the thin side. I was not able to get the specs on it, but this is how it appeared:

mid plus (around 98)
around 12 oz (similar to my Ti Pre Response)
Head light - around 6-9 points head light
It was a month ago, but I'm pretty sure it was a 27" in length.

I know there has been some debate as to what the final specs on the racquet are going to be. These demos are the "experimental" sticks, so it's possible that there are different types floating around within the Prince community.

It was a smooth feeling stick though...

Shawn

 

[louis netman]

Why don't you just stockpile more PRTis...I, too, loved the PRTi, but it's stiffness created a wrist condition for me. IMO, it's one of the best attacking sticks made. In the two months I used it, I compiled close to five of them, 3 of them brand new with tags. I have one left that I'm keeping to have Pat Rafter sign when I get out to Bermuda (when I catch him riding his moped around...). You can also weight and customize the Warrior to get a pretty close match to the ti....

 

[raftermania]

hehe, what convenience, you can find pat riding around on his moped in bermuda.

I also enjoyed the PRT, but I got bad wrist problems too and had to leave.

 

[saf]

I have had some wrists problems in my off wrist (left) also. However, it's hard to find a tennis player that has not. Did your wrist problem go away after you switched? Just curious if you think it was definitely from the racquet.

Any shoulder or arm problems? I kind of thought it was an arm friendly racket???

I currently have four of them. Plan on using them until I find something I like better.

Thanks...

 

[raftermania]

Yeah I found the strong handle heaviness concentration put a lot of strain on my wrist.

I'm play with the Warrior now but added some weight on it to make it 12.5 oz but it still has the same balance (4 pts. head light). Personally, I get elbow strain with a racquet that is too head heavy and wrist strain with a really handle heavy stick.

 

[louis netman]

Although I've had shoulder problems, I've never, ever had wrist problems until the PRTi....It was so great for my game that I didn't let it go. Then I was sidelined and knew that I had to make a change back to a more flexy stick. Believe me, I tried gut at all tensions. What worked in the pain department was 18g gut at 48lbs. Unfortunately, the racket literally became a rocket launcher...

 

[saf]

louis netman or raftermania

just curious, did either of you guys put lead on your PRTi's? I currenlty play with 4 5/8 handles with two overwraps (probably making it 3/4+). I also have 2.5 grams at 3 o'clock and 2.5 grams at 9 o'clock. I currently play with the racquet strung at 64.5-66 lbs with Prince Syn Gut with Dura Flex.

My only gripe is that sometimes I would like to have a little more spin potential on my groundies. I REALLY have to roll the sucker. That's not a problem against 4.5 players but when I am playing a big ball college hitter or 5.0-5.5 players I sometimes have a hard time catching up. It is probably because the racquet is approaching 13 oz with my additions. Do you think pulling some lead off would give me a little more control/spin potential.

Also last summer, when playing 5-6 days a week of demanding tennis and lifting, I inherited a rotater cuff problem. I had to take some time off and rehab. Still is not 100% (probobly 90-95%). Since you guys have experience with this frame, do you see it as a problem for my shoulder? I know Patrick had some rotater cuff problems also.

Like I said, I am pleased with my game and I really like the stick as a whole. Just curious what you guys think as to whether a switch, or racquet tweak, should be made.

Thanks...

 

[FiveO]

I had switched to the PRTi from the PS 6.0 when I got back into tennis after being away from the game for a few years. Prior to the layoff I had used the PS for years and loved it. But when coming back and trying to knock the rust off for the first time I developed severe medial tennis elbow pain and grudgingly went to the PRTi. Great results. My elbow pain subsided and with time I found I could do anything with the PRTi I had been able to do w/ the PS, EXCEPT BOMB MY FIRST SERVE. I accepted the loss of first serve pace becoming more of a pitcher than a thrower, mixing more slice, topspin and kicks. Never experienced any wrist, elbow or shoulder problems. Stockpiled several and still have them. However I missed the feel and perceived precision of the smaller headed thinner beamed PS (whether real or imagined) and the very real first serve pop.
I wanted a more comfortable PS 85. Demo'd the N-Codes Tour 90, 6.1 95 and Yonex RDX500 mid. Results:
1) Tour 90: Expected a PS 85 type feel. NOT. Maybe it was due to coming directly from the much more comfortable PRTi but the 90 felt to me like a 12+ oz. cinder block. God bless the children, beasts and Roger Federer.
2) N-Code 6.1 95: Very similar to the PRTi. Great first serve pop. = on everything else. With a dampener almost a perfect match for the PRTi with that added 1st serve pop. Spin, power, control, comfort, etc. but missing the precise feel I was in search of.
3) RDX500 mid: The one for me. Just picking it up reminded me of my beloved PS 85. After adjusting for the immediate power drop off the ground I slipped into a familiar groove. To me this frame is the perfect blend of both the PS 85 and the PRTi. Comfort, spin, and (shockingly) large sweet spot of the PRTi combined with the first serve pop and precision of the PS 85. The feel is its own, but to me the mid gives reliable and consistent, albiet muted feed back. No surprises. It gives you, well....NOTHING. You get EXACTLY what you put into it. I like that.

 

[saf]

FiveO,

Thanks for your advice. I have a friend that really likes the N-Code 6.1 95. I also have a player on my high school team that just switched to the RdX500 mids. Did you try the mid plus RdX500? Just curious how similar they are.

Thanks!

 

[FiveO]

Saf,
Sorry no I didn't. Alot of people on this board seem to like the MP. I would suggest demoing 2-3 sticks at the same time. I narrowed my list from the start and may have passed up some good frames. I feel my options are limited to start with because I am very grip shape sensitive. I prefer the boxier shaped grips i.e. Wilson, Prince, Yonex... Players here speak highly of Head, Volkl, etc., but when I pick up a flat or rectangular shaped grip I react like I picked up the wrong end of a fireplace poker. Just not for me.

 

[raftermania]

Hey Saf, sorry to hear you're having some shoulder issues; I hope you get better! Have you tried a polyester job or a polyester/gut hybrid? I play with a lot of spin too and found too much string movement with gut.

Be forewarned though, if you have shoulder issue a polyester string would elevate the stiffness of how the racquet plays. If you really want to try it, don't string too high - you'll injure yourself!!! It sounds like you're an ambitious player, but remember if you push yourself too hard, you run the risk of picking up an injury and putting yourself out of commission, watch out!

 

[saf]

Thanks Raftermania,

I used to play with kevlar. Arm problems! Then I tried Poly blends. I did not care for the tenision loss. I felt like I was having to re-string them after 1-2 matches to keep the tenion where it needed to be. Since then I just switched to the duraflex. I don't get much life out of it, but it holds its tension better and feels a little better on my arm.

Did you weight your PPRTi's?

Shawn

 

[raftermania]

Hey, I mentioned it before I got wrist problems with the PPRTi I tried putting one layer of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock but it wasn't enough and that's all the lead I had at the time. But, at this point Warriors were on sale so I had to buy them and I've been at home ever since. The Warrior is a similar racquet but with different aesthetics (a lot of people can't stand the whiteness), I've added lead in the hoop and handle to bring it to 12.5 oz with a 4 pt. head light balance, I've discovered this is "the wall." If I add more weight, it becomes to hefty for me and I can't control the ball. It's all about finding out what fits your game best. What works for me may not work for you, so I'd encourage you to experiment with your other frames if you're really intend on staying with the PPRTi.

If still stand unsatisfied than perhaps a change of sticks is in your best interest! And again, take it easy on the shoulders!!!!

 

[louis netman]

SAF, shoulder problems are usually caused by rackets with swingweights that are too high. Although I had a shoulder problem caused by cops, after rehabbing, I was able to use my PRTi at 13 ounces, 16 points headlight. The racket got this way by building up the butt and adding a fairway. As with with Pat Rafter, this racket was truly a weapon combined with my chip & charge, serve & volley style. Unfortunately, the stiffness ended up hurting my wrist. Try making yours a bit more headlight and adding some weight at the butt. I'm back to experimenting with with flexy volkl c10, tour 10 mid and possibly the gen2...

 

[raftermania]

You cannot be serious! 16 points headlight!!! yikes! My wrist would break off!!!

 

[louis netman]

Raftermania, regardless of how much one tailweights a racket (e.g. my 16 pts HL stick), the hoop still maintains all of the original mass. In other words, a stock PRti at let's say 8 pts HL, has the same amount of mass as my tailweighted one at 16pts HL (adding no weight to the hoop)....

 

[raftermania]

ah, I guess so. But that's still pretty insane, I've never heard that kind of balance before. I'm sure it works well for your body, technique and style of play.

 

[saf]

Thanks!

Louis and Raftermania,

Thanks for the advice! This weekend I experimented with pulling some of the lead off of the head. It did feal a little easier on my shoulder, so that makes some sense about lowering the swing weight. I did miss a little bit of the extra stability the frame normally has (with lead at 3 & 9), but it did feel better on my arm. I'll keep playing with it to see what combo works best.

Thanks again for the tips...

Shawn