Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Prince Ripstick 2025

[mogo]

Interesting that you didn't feel the stick stood out for spin. The ports, 16x18 pattern and whippy
manoeuvrability lead most players to state the opposite. Still, the opinion of a player of your calibre and experience cannot be discounted!

Yeah, I could get Spin but it was not heavy and penetrating through the court. I felt it sat up and was not as tight in comparison when I hit with my blade v9. For me the RS100 was best hitting flat and through the court. Overall I think the RS100 was similar to the Ultra Pro 99, and that frame also has a 16x18 pattern. To me they both feel like attacking racquets. The spin is there just not as heavy as I would like.

The O-ports definitely help you cut through the air. I think this was the reason why I preferred the flatter shots during the playtest. I am interested to see how others thought the RS100 and RS98 handled spin for the playtest too.

 

[BBender716]

Prince Ripstick 98 2025 playtest
String and tension used for test: OToro Mains / Wasabi X crosses (48/46)
Tennis experience/background: 4.0 NTRP, 10 yrs
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Aggressive Baseliner w/OHBH
Current racquet/string setups: Pure Aero 98, OToro Mains / Wasabi X crosses (48/46)
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10+hrs

-Groundstrokes: 8/10: Groundstrokes felt very solid. For being relatively easy to swing through the air, it felt nice and stable through contact without being clubby. The power was easy to tap into without being a rocket launcher. The OHBH drive with this frame was especially nice where if I had late prep or couldn't get my full weight/drive into the swing, I still was able to hit a competitive shot with some oomph. Felt a tad less spinny than my PA98 and was less in touch with where I was hitting the ball on my strings so control/feel definitely was lacking, but I really enjoyed the "crack" sound this frame makes when making solid contact on a groundie. The fun level is off the charts with this on groundstrokes between the comfort and sound of the racquet whistling through the air and cracking a shot.

-Serves: 8/10: Flat serves and serves with more pace were improved due to the slightly higher swingweight than my PA98 and the extra "pop" the racquet affords. I didn't notice many issues with accuracy, though that could be more due to the fact that my accuracy in general on serves is to be desired! It was absolutely easy on the should/arm, but sometimes I found myself struggling to get enough shape on second serves/spinnier serves, which is in line with the lower amount of spin on my groundstrokes as well. Part of this may be that I found it more difficult to get higher racquet head speed or make more mid-serve adjustments to swing path etc. to compensate for sub-optimal tosses. Either way, the biggest pros on the serve is the injection of additional pace at the cost of some safety/spin.

-Volleys: 9/10: This might have been the most surprising part of the playtest-- I absolutely loved volleying with this frame. It was stable, comfortable, and punchy. I felt like I made solid contact each time, knew where my volley was going, and it always went with some authority. It's truely a unique blend of stability but still quite maneuverable.

-Serve returns: 8/10: Serve returns were fine. Nothing was extraordinarily remarkable or a detriment. I thought blocking back serves was especially nice on this frame given it's stability, whereas swinging out on return of serves were a bit more hit or miss due to being a bit more demanding to swing/react and imparting spin to try and control the return.

Power – 9/10: The power here is fantastic. Like I mentioned in the groundstrokes, I really liked the easy access to power but without it feeling like a rocket launcher or completely unpredictable from a depth standpoint. When I swung out, it had a good amount of pop and flatness and didn't feel overly spinny (looking at you, Shift 99). I also appreciated the power from a defensive standpoint-- it was nice to still have some competitive shots made from defensive positions and found myself surprising opponents with shots that flipped the point from defense to offense.

Control- 7/10: Depth control was less of an issue but directional control was a bit to be desired, in addition to spin. The ball had a tendency to spray a bit more on me than on my other frames in a similar category (Shift 99, Pure Aero 98). Part of this is related to the other category I had this lower in (Feel) where I found it a bit muted and less able to clearly feel the ball on the stringbed and therefore shape and direct the ball. It wasn't egregiously bad by any means, but the overall muted/vagueness of the racquet along with a bit of a higher swingweight than my normal made it difficult to direct sometimes.

Top Spin/Slice- 7/10: Topspin was adequate, not great and less than my PA98 but certainly more than say a Blade. Again, I think this also comes from more of that sense of vagueness on the stringbed and not feeling as confident in shaping the ball. Slice was fine, though I found myself catching the frame a bit more than usual or struggling to really nail the stringbed contact. Maybe it's due to the O-Ports or slightly thicker 9/3 part of the frame. Either way, nothing that was god awful, but certainly not a standout.

Comfort- 9/10: Along with the power, this was the other standout. I guess coming from a Babolat in this area there's nowhere to go but up. For a powerful frame like this though, it really does shine as an extremely comfortable frame. It was a true pleasure to hit with and even hitting with a bunch of pressureless balls (serving and ball machine), I didn't have any discomfort and surprisingly didn't mind the Prince grip shape as much as I anticipated I would. Comfort was excellent-- right up there with the Clash I played with years ago.

Feel- 7/10: My least favorite part of the frame. It was comfortable but again the word I'd use is "vague". The ball was hitting my strings, but I had no idea how on / off center it was. Not a ton of sensation of pocketing or feel on the strings when I purposefully tried to keep the ball on the stringbed for added spin or directional control. I didn't have much of an issue with this on flat serve, volleys, or ROS when I blocked, but when I needed to impart spin on a forehand or hit a spinny second serve, I found it difficult to track how my racquet moved across the ball, if that makes sense.

Maneuverability- 8/10: No issues with maneuverability other than it being a touch higher than my normal swingweight. Slightly more difficult to make midstroke adjustments on serve and groundstrokes but volleys didn't suffer at all it seems.

Stability- 9/10: Excellent stability where I though it was extremely stable compared to how easier it was to swing. Would my Blade Pro be considered more stable? Absolutely. But it's also way less maneuverable and more difficult to generate RHS. This has the best of both worlds in that regard and would have no issue recommending this to someone who plays against hard hitters.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Overall I would say this racquet was extremely FUN to play with. It was comfortable, had great pop, and made awesome sounds on groundstrokes that makes you feel way better than you actually play. In retrospect, I may have more enjoyed 100 sq in frame in that it's likely a bit more friendly to my level and normal swingweight, but wanted a more apples to apples comparison with my PA98. The downside is the racquet definitely is more on the "vague" side in terms of feedback on the stringbed. I'm currently personally focusing on staying as loose as possible on my groundstrokes and smooth hitting / maintaining contact and in comparison back to back with the PA98 and the same string setup, they are polar opposites in terms of feedback.

I'm legit curious how the 100 would play and given the level of stability/demand that the 98 requires but vagueness of the stringbed. I wonder what player might be skilled enough to choose the 98 over the 100 but be ok with the lack of feedback/very vague feel of the stringbed? The closest comparison I have of this racquet is akin to a slightly more demanding Clash 98, which isn't a bad thing!

Huge thanks to @TW Staff and Prince for the chance to test my first Prince racquet and first racquet with O-Ports! The QA on the specs was on point, the playability of the frame was so much fun, and I'll definitely bust it out to hear the "crack" on these groundstrokes when I need to feel like a pro!

 

[ericykchan]

Wondering if anyone can compare RS100 and Legacy 105? I am interested in spin and stability.

 

[Manolo]

Wondering if anyone can compare RS100 and Legacy 105? I am interested in spin and stability.

I am also interested in this comparison. I am enjoying the Legacy 105 very much. Incredibly stable for a 280 grs. It does all well with very good control. Despite I have many frames, it is the one I am more confident to play with. I would also be interested in a comparison with the RIPSTICK 280 grs. I used the previous version...very fun racket with tons of spin and incredibly manuvreable, but lack stability and directional control. I thought this was a problem with the O ports, but no problem with the Legacy on these aspects. So, I hope the new technology helped improving these two weak points of the previous version. Anyone tried the 280 grs? Thanks!

 

[Way2Slow]

Prince Ripstick 100 2025 Playtest


Tennis experience/background: Senior player (60+), 4.5 level, former college player. Still play competitively in tournaments and leagues.

Describe your playing style: Left-handed with an all-court game. Groundies include moderate topspin forehand, and both topspin & slice on the backhand side (one-hander). Serve varies with flat, slice and kicker. Still hit with decent pace for an old guy, and still serve & volley on almost every serve in doubs and mix it up in singles.

Current racquet/string setups: Volkl V8 Pro 18x20 typically strung with 1.20 Mach-10 mains & 1.15 Mach-10 crosses @35-36#. Also use 1.20 Hyper-G Soft, Tour Bite Soft, and Pure Rush for mains, and 1.15 Hyper-G Soft, Pure Rush, Razor Soft, and Outlast for crosses.

String and tension used for test: First up was 1.20 Tour Bite Soft – I figured a bit more control would be useful with the Ripstick 100 frame. Second up was 1.20 Mach-10 since that’s what I’m using most often these days. And the last was 1.20 Pure Rush - a nice softer poly with playability I like. I didn’t bother using a thinner cross since the Ripstick 100 has a more open pattern, and by default, strings will typically not last as long as in an 18x20 pattern, and I also figured there would be less sting movement.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 15-17 hours. The Tour Bite Soft lasted about 5 hours, the Mach-10 about 7 hours, and the Pure Rush about 5 hours. It was a mix of drilling (probably 8-10 hours) and playing both singles and doubles (the remainder of about 6-7 hours). Not surprisingly, the strings did not last as long in the Ripstick 100 as they typically do in my V8 Pro (18x20), but it wasn’t too bad – about what I expected, and something I could live with, or just go to a slightly thicker gauge. For reference, I typically get 8-10 hours of play with the strings I used in this playtest, and sometimes cut them out instead of having them break.


Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum)

Groundstrokes: For me, this is where the Ripstick 100 really excelled. It’s a groundstroke machine – I was able to consistently hit with depth, plenty of spin when I wanted, and with above average power. My current stick is 305g, and this Ripstick 100 at 300g felt very similar when hitting groundies. The main difference is that the Ripstick 100 felt stiffer, but it was never uncomfortable. Understandably, the launch angle of the 16x18 Ripstick 100 was somewhat higher than my current 18x20 frame, but it was never too much. I felt my backhand slice had a bit less bite, and its trajectory was almost always a bit higher over the net than I like, but it remained nice and deep, and fairly penetrating nonetheless.

Serves: Serves were also very solid with the Ripstick 100. I was able to hit all my serves with consistency and accuracy (well, as accurate as I usually can – it’s all relative). With the more open string pattern of the Ripstick 100, my slice and kick serves were especially fun to hit.

Volleys: This is the one area I found the Ripstick 100 didn’t feel great for me. Volleys were okay, but I just couldn’t get the same feel I like for volleys and net play. The volleys were solid, but my touch and placement weren’t as dialed in and as natural as I like.

Serve returns: Returns were also a lot of fun with the Ripstick 100. The frame felt very solid and stable when returning both in singles and doubles (and in practice). At no time did I feel the racket get overpowered. I felt I could attack returns when the opportunity presented itself, but could also use some nice short at-your-feet slice returns in doubles.


Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)

Power/Control: Power was the name of the game with the Ripstick 100. I had several players comment on the heavier pace I was hitting with while using the stick. However, even with the added power, I never felt the frame was lacking in control – I wasn’t overhitting or having balls fly on me. Overall, a really nice balance of power and control.

Top Spin/Slice: Topspin was very easy to generate with the Ripstick 100. The open string pattern and O-ports/maneuverability of the frame make it simple to get more than enough topspin. Slice was also solid, but not quite up to my current frame. The more open string pattern creates a slightly higher launch angle that is difficult to bring down/hit lower over the net on slices. While they don’t sit up, they just don’t bite as much and stay as low to the court.

Comfort: The Ripstick 100 felt stiff but comfortable to me. I experienced no arm issues, so no complaints. It’s a fairly stiff racket by design, so I wasn’t expecting a super plush ride, but it was more comfortable than I thought it would be. As I went to softer strings, the comfort did increase a bit, so a softer type string can definitely make a difference with this frame.

Feel: Feel was just okay for me with the Ripstick 100. Especially at net, I couldn’t get the connected feel I like for volleys, half-volleys, etc. From the baseline though, the feel was fine, even when hitting dropshots and shorter angles. While the feel improved as I went with softer strings, it still wasn’t quite what I prefer. I think someone who doesn’t go through strings a lot, and uses a multifilament or gut, the frame would perform just fine in the feel category (but power may be off the charts). Unfortunately, even at my age, I still go through those types of strings way too fast to be able to use them on a regular basis.

Maneuverability: I was pleasantly surprised with the maneuverability of the Ripstick 100. I was able to get the racket around on all of my groundstrokes. All my serves were easy to execute as well. And at net, I had no problems with quick exchanges or overheads.

Stability: I thought the Ripstick 100 had really good stability, especially for a frame at 300g. At no point did I feel pushed around or feel my racket was unstable on any shots. In particular, my returns felt consistently solid, even returning some fairly heavy balls.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall, the Ripstick 100 is a solid frame. I think it’s probably better suited for the prototypical baseliner who likes to hit hard, heavy balls. If all I did was hit/drill/serve and didn’t like coming to net so much, I’d be perfectly happy swinging this stick – it was a blast from the baseline and serving.

Thanks to Prince and Tennis Warehouse for the chance to check out this solid stick! It was my first racket playtest and a fun experience.

 

[mixtape]

Prince Ripstick 98 (2025) Playtest

String and tension used for test: Prince SGD 16g Mains / Gosen OGSM 17g Crosses both at 58lbs

Tennis experience/background: High School Tennis, Junior League and USTA matches and now rec pick-up games with friends the past 30+ years. 3.5 NTRP. 3.0 when I'm HANGRY. lol

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Baseliner

Current racquet/string setups: Prince Phantom Pro 100P with Prince Lightning Pro 17g Mains and Gosen OGSM 17g Crosses both @ 53lbs.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 30+hours

-Groundstrokes: It's definitely a lot whippier than I initially thought. There were times when I had to slow my swing speed to get the timing right. When I got my timing down, I got better feedback and then I was 'ripping' shots! On the forehand, the ball really pops off and generates a lot of spin as well. Even with it's 16x18 string pattern, I could hit flat with pop and controlled direction. I read that O-ports opens up the sweet spot and so at times, I felt like I was hitting with a 100sq in² head. It's definitely stiff and the plush at the same time. On my backhand I can hit some fun angle shots but down the line shots fell short. For me, it lacks plow through, especially on my backhand slices. Adding a little weight would definitely solve that. I really had to play aggressive and switch to an offensive game style with the Ripstick.

-Serves: I was excited to get more spin and kick with the racquet, but I actually enjoyed hitting flat serves. It was point and shoot serving down the T for me. I could easily slap a few out wide as well. The pace from the flat serves was a lot faster according to my friends. When I tried to brush up on the ball and generate spin, I would hit the edge of the frame too many times, but that's most likely because I'm used to the ultra-thin beam of my Phantom 100P. Serves were comfortable and muted. I would probably use this for doubles or when I play more serve and volley.

-Volleys: The Ripstick is quick to maneuver and made it easy to volley. Off center shots and the occasional framed shots were comfortable and the frame stayed stable. No harshness on my arm. Playing aggressive was rewarding and I could easily put away volleys. On the defensive end, the racquet held up well and half volleys were very stable. It didn't take much thought to volley with the Ripstick.

-Serve returns: It's more of a timing issue with the whippiness of the O-ports, so I had a tough time returning when I reacted late to fast paced serves where I would normally block it back. The serves that I blocked back was comfortable and the racquet was very stable. Serves that got me running out wide was easy to counter and spin back in a sharper angle.

Power/Control- The Ripstick has plenty of power! If Prince were to bring back their Power Level label, I would probably put it at 1050 for 98 and maybe 1100 for the 100. There's a wonderful amount of free power and the ripstick delivers. I'm glad I went with the 98 because it also has has a point and shoot feel for control. I could 'slap' the ball on forehands with control.

Top Spin/Slice- It's very easy to generate topspin on the Ripstick especially for a flat hitter like me. The O-ports make it easy to generate the fast RHS, so even using a full bed of syn gut I was able to swing up and get the ball to drop in. Slices as mentioned earlier were lacking, due to the weight and lack of plow through. I couldn't get the ball to stay low over the net.

Comfort- Suprisingly comfortable for a RA 67 rating. Nice and plush feeling. Framed shots (trying to get used to the thicker beam) didn't shock my arm. The Resi-Tex grip was squishy with good tack and I plan to replace it with leather and an overgrip.

Feel- The muted feel is mild, so I still felt a little connection to the ball. I think experimenting with different strings would increase feel for me. Experimenting with tension as well. I did experiment with different string types and definitely a crisper string helped enable feel for me.

Maneuverability- Whoa. Easy there, O-ports... This tech is no joke. It really does cut down drag and swings across the body so quickly. The specs really make it easy to maneuver even for its stock swingweight.

Stability- This racquet is very stable. The ATS really holds firm through impact. I didn't feel any major twisting, especially on volleys. Serves and groundstrokes were stable as well.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: This was a fun playtest. The racquet was a unique experience for me, being it's the first time I ever hit and strung an O-port racquet. The Ripstick, I feel, would be well suited for the agressive type of player. The Ripstick 98 reminded me of some racquets that I own; The stock spec felt similar to my 100P minus the thicker CTS beam and O-ports. The head light whippiness and point & shoot style reminded me of the Response 97. The power felt simlar to the CTS Approach and Textreme Warrior and the comfort was similar to the Pro Kennex Ki-Q+5. The Ripstick is so much nicer looking in person. Speaking of rip, it rips through strings easily. I did string twice with my intial set up and on the third string job, I went with a 15L Prince Topspin with 16g PSGD @ 58 lbs for a little more durability. My fourth string job, I actually ventured to the land of poly (GASP!) and went with Prince XP 16g in the mains @ 50lbs and Prince Lightning Pro 17g @ 53lbs. The Ripstick is so comfortable, I forgot I was playing with poly and I got a lot more control and bite. My only minor (very minor) issue I have is the "whistling/whooshing" sound I occasionally hear when I take fast swings due to the O-Ports. It won't replace my Phantom 100P for everyday use, but it's something I will use when I'm in a agressive playing frame of mind. Thanks @TW Staff and Prince for the opportunity!

 

[Molk]

Wondering if anyone can compare RS100 and Legacy 105? I am interested in spin and stability.

Yes and also
New
Prince Premier 105

 

[TW Staff]

Reminder to playtesters:

Your comments are due this Friday, September 26th by 5 pm.

Thanks so much!
TW Staff

 

[jmnk]

Prince Ripstick 98 16x18 2025 playtest Racket Review

Few initial notes to put the review in perspective:

I never played as a junior, started playing in early twenties, never took a formal tennis lesson. Accidentally the first 'proper' racket I played with was a Prince brand, the CTS Blast Midsize. Then I used to play with Head rackets: Head Pro Tour 280, Head Ti Fire Tour Edition, and then with Head i.prestige XL version for like 10 years. As I got older I've started looking for 100sq racket and at the time Head Speed MP was really the only Head racket in that size. I can honestly say that Head Speed MP is the _worst_ racket ever (ok, exaggerating a bit). Then I got handed Yonex Duel G 100 - and immediately liked it so I've switched to it. From there I went through Yonex Duel G 97, and then to Yonex VCore Pro 97 - because I like 16x19 stringbed better, plus I'm somehow addicted to thin-beamed rackets, plus I couldn't get used to 100sq racket. Next was Tecnifibre TF40 305 which I absolutely loved. Finally, a year or so ago I caved in and picked up Babolat, the 1st Gen Aero Pro Drive Plus - which happens to combine being extended length and being 100sq. My 'scores' in Prince Ripstick review will be compared to those when playing with Babolat.

I'm also an engineer so I do not believe in 'stuff' that can't be measured (or more correctly - that cannot be noticed by a human being in non-lab environment). So I will not be commenting on 'launch angle' - since that is essentially a function of string tension or racket face angle at contact. Or about 'power' - since that is essentially a function of how deep you can hit the ball - and racket is literally the last thing that matters in that area.

Tennis experience/background: I'm going to claim 4.0/4.5 NTRP, I've been playing for 30 or so years by now.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I play singles almost exclusively since doubles is not even a proper sport , the low risk low reward kind of player. I would say my backhand (two handed) is my best shot, but I'm pretty consistent from both wings. No major holes and no major weapons.
Current racquet/string setups: see above / Signum Pro Tornado mains with Prince Premier Control crosses in low tension
How many hours did you play with the racquet: 20+hrs

Initial thoughts:
-I've asked for 98sq version in size 2. I have small hands, I'm still a bit worried about 100sq rackets so that choice made the most sense to me. It's always easier to make teh grip bigger if needed, not as easy to make it smaller. The O-ports make it a bit difficult to add weights around the hoop - there's just no grommets to hide those under.

-Stringing: I was a bit worried about the O-port Prince racket thingy but there were no problems. In fact, the racket is nicely marked with pointers where to tie off strings, where to start crosses, etc. The string pattern is fairly open. While Tennis Warehouse graciously provided sets of strings I've used my regular setup: Signum Pro Tornado/Prince Premier 51/53 (yes, a very lower range of recommended tension)

-Info: I like when a racket has technical details printed on the frame - and this one does, including the swingweight. However, the placard had the QR code that led me to a page about Ripstick 100sq rackets and not the 98sq that I had. Oh well.

-Look and Feel: I'm a bit torn here. The colorway is nice, albeit a bit too 'uniform' for me. I do not mind the red color, including the grip, but perhaps a sprinkle of a different color or at least some lettering here and there would be nice. My wife and daughter liked it though so who am I to argue... The shape is fairly normal, I was expecting more circle like head that Prince rackets are known for (or at least used to be). Now the beam - oh boy, that is _wide_. More on that later. And obviously O-port holes...

Review:
-Groundstrokes: 7/10: Groundstrokes felt decent but without any 'wow' factor. It took some adjustment as now I play with extended length racket. I'm going to honestly admit that it is hard for me to get over the _width_ of the frame and it is in my head that the racket does not cut through the air. I have no scientific evidence, I'm not claiming that is actually the case - but once that thought got planted it is hard to get rid of. Which makes me think/feel that the racket does not whip and as a result I'm sort of pushing the ball rather than hitting it. It feels a bit clubby. Somewhat less of that feeling on the backhand side but that is probably because I hit a more controlled shot from that wing. Overall - again nothing to complain about but nothing to write home about it either. For comparison I would rate my current Babolat 9/10

-Serves: 5/10: Serves are really the aspect of the game that will make or break the racket for me. Unfortunately this racket just does not do it for me. Again, entirely possible it is in my head but I feel as if wide beam does not allow me to pronate properly, and in general resists the on-edge movement during the serve. I mean _when_ I managed to hit the serve properly then it feels solid and generates decent pace - just does not happen often enough. Could be I got too used to extended lenght and I'm 'missing' that half inch that is so important on serve. (Babolat 10/10)

-Volleys: 7/10: Similar to groundstrokes - good not spectacular. Pretty stable, even on off-center contact but perhaps feels a bit sluggish to react to hard paced shots. Open string pattern not a problem, the ball went to where directed (if it didn't it was an operator's error) (Babolat 7/10)

-Serve returns: 8/10: Probably the best aspect of that racket. I found it very stable. Whether taking a bigger cut or just blocking the return back - it felt very solid. (Babolat 8/10)

-Power/Control: 8/10: As I've mentioned earlier, I'm not sure what exactly 'power' is when referring to a racket. That being said on a nicely setup shot, when you get the racket under the ball and let the arm go you get a nice deep consistent topspin. The ball goes where directed. It's just that I do not get that whipping sensation, as if something was ever so slightly holding the racket back. (Babolat 8/10)

-Top Spin/Slice: 8/10: I liked the feeling on hitting the slice. The racket felt solid, no wobble. While you do not get that 'fast cut through the air' feeling there's certain inertia to the racket movement that almost 'forces' it to complete the intended stroke. On topspin shots I just could not get that acceleration feeling at the end of the racket path. (Babolat 8/10)

-Comfort: 9/10: Another area where this racket shines. No arm or wrist trouble. Even on few framed shots. It is not a flexy racket acby any means yet there was never any jarring like sensation. But then again - I string rather low and used multi in the crosses. (Babolat 8/10)

-Feel: 6/10: I think due to that 'idea' that this racket is wide-beamed I could never quite convince myself to really give it a chance. There's nothing bad about it that you can pinpoint but it is sooo hard to get over the initial impression that 'this racket can't be great because it is so wide with weird O-ports'. It's a shame on my part but I must be honest. (Babolat 9/10)

-Maneuverability: 8/10: No issues here whatsoever. I would not say it is 'quick' but neither it is sluggish. My shots are not wristy anyway. The racket follows a solidly prepared swingth path - whether it is a groundstroke or a volley. (Babolat 8/10)

-Stability: 8/10: Ripstick 98 is a pleasantly solid frame. There's no wobbling, twisting in my hand, no noticeable vibrations. You get a solid feedback when the ball hits. It's definitely not a noodle although the frame is definitely narrower at the throat compared to the hoop area. (Babolat 8/10)

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
It is a very solid racket - I just can't give it a chance to win me over due to the frame width. But my wife will use it so it is a keeper Nice open string pattern, very pleasant feedback on the shots, a pretty distinct look - there is a lot to like.

Many thanks to Tennis Warehouse Staff and Prince for the chance to test this Prince racquet. My first ever with O-Ports.

 

[mixtape]

I put it on my Ripstick 98 as well. It's called Red the Ripster..

Red rifle

Cool names! I restrung again and also added a cool grip I forgot I had. Now it needs a name... Wife calls it the Candy Cane. lol

 

[TwinCinema]

. Or about 'power' - since that is essentially a function of how deep you can hit the ball - and racket is literally the last thing that matters in that area.

Not sure if I’m understanding you correctly. Are you saying the mass and beam thickness of a racket will have little to no effect on the depth of the ball? More specifically, if a player using the same racket head speed with the same strings and same mechanics hits a ball, it doesn’t matter what racket he is using; that ball will travel the same depth?

 

[StringStrungStrang]

TW Playtest of Prince RipStick 98 (2025)

Strings / Tension: Pros Pro DevilSpin 16L mains (48 lbs) and Vendetta 16L crosses (50 lbs)

Tennis background: 4.0+ NTRP, doubles / singles, 2HBH all-court, counter-puncher, can grind at the baseline but like to play inside whenever possible as a result I take a lot of balls out of the air. I like a poly with some pop, but great touch/ feel/ control is what make a difference in my game. . Racquet stringer, tinkerer and frequent customizer of my own racquets.

Regular Set-up:
Racquet: Pure Strike 98 16x19 (Gens 2 and 3)
Strings: Poly / Poly hybrids. Shaped Poly @44-48 mains with round poly crosses usually a couple pounds higher. Lately, been using Hyper-G 17, Confidential, MACH-10, Grapplesnake, Toroline, Ytex Quadro Twist, DevilSpin, as mains and Hyper-G Round, Scorpion crosses,

Hours Played: 15 +

Introduction
I’ve played a wide range of racquets over the years Wilson, Babolat, Prince, Head, Yonex and even some Yamaha back in the day and Prince Racquets have always been easy to play with, filled with innovation and a little under-loved IMO. I think Prince has done it again with their latest RipStick (98); it’s easy to play with (fun actually too), has rather dynamic performance, with O-Ports, Textreme and not-so-common 16x18 string pattern!

Groundstrokes
Prince’s latest Ripstick 98 is a “beast” from the baseline. The 328 swingweight give you plenty of plow through power and the thicker beam (25.5) keeps flex to a minimum delivering power and The open 16x18 string pattern and O-Ports deliver power and control with plenty of spin on demand. My groundstrokes launched a bit higher and deeper with more power and spin than my trusty Pure Strikes. It was fun seeing the ball consistently dip back into the court. I like how I could play more within myself and still easily generate spin and power. Very solid and stable too. Don’t get lazy though the extra power needs the proper attention to direct it wisely.

Serves
RipStick 98 shines in serving with just the right amount of Power and Spin. The extra pop the RipStick puts into your serves is enough for many to make the switch. Power up the Tee was fun and the open string pattern, makes slices move and kick serves kick! It felt precise and controlled too – which was quite a surprise to me. The open string pattern let me move the ball around and hit spots confidently.

Volleys
Surprisingly comfortable, stable and forgiving and plenty of put away power. Again punch volleys had the pace that made a difference, but the power was harder to control in low balls to the net-person. The stable racquet face and weight was just right for digging out low shots or on swinging volleys. Not quite as quick as my Pure Strike but more stable powerful and comfortable.

Return Of Serve
Controlled power. Much the same way it handles groundstrokes the 98 did an excellent job absorbing pace in a stable comfortable way and redirecting big serves back to your advantage. The stable pop and placement put returns deeper and faster when done well. If you like to return aggressively – meet your new friend.

Power/Control – 9/10. Plenty of power for everyone. Definitely a more powerful racquet, similar to a Speed MP, but not too powerful and with a little practice easy to control. The spin and stability help greatly here.

Top Spin/Slice -9/10. With a 16x18 stringbed topsin is not an issue! The launch is a little higher than a 16x19 and much more so than a 18x20, but after you adjust to it no issues at all. I felt similarly with slices. Plenty of generation but getting used to the launch was all that was needed to really enjoy it.

Comfort- 9/10. Another strong point! I don’t think I felt any discomfort at anytime, just solid stable and mildly muted. If you like comfort and still enjoy precision – you got to give this one a strong look. FYI I strung mine up with poly, so I can’t imagine how comfortable it would be with a multi or SG.

Feel- 8.5/10. I thought it was nice, especially from the baseline, where it felt just right to me. Feel on contact especially coming in on half-volleys is also excellent, firm, stable and comfortable. The only complaint I had was it lacked some finesse when playing up at the net.

Maneuverability- 8/10. Quick and balanced, definitely better than most, especially given the level of stability it delivers. For me I had more of an issue playing a thicker beam than with the actual maneuverability. When I messed up I got the racquet in position in time but hit the frame a few too many times.

Stability- 9/10. Another strength!! If you’ve made it this far you already know how I feel – Very stable, comfortable especially considering its relatively lightweight. The Textreme and Zylon must be engineering magic because that stuff really works. The 328 SW helps with that too.

Other Thoughts
The Ripstick 98 is a gorgeous racquet and we all know looks do matter!! Performance wise Prince checks a lot of boxes with the 98; Spin, Power, Stability and Comfort.

Stringing: Not really difficult, just a little different. I didn’t have any issues. The open pattern will definitely put more stress on your strings, but the results will make it worth it! I’d definitely recommend poly.

O-Ports: I like them! I like the look, innovation, comfort and spin. They do whistle a little, but it’s like a feedback loop that lets you know how and where you develop racquet head speed.

Who’s it for? Prince has delivered a racquet with wide appeal from casual rec. players to more aggressive advanced players looking from a more comfortable alternative to a Pure Aero or Head Speed MP. If you are in the market for a new racquet or just like trying something new this racquet should be on your short-list for a playtest.

THANKS!! Thanks TW and to Prince for making this playtest happen!!

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Cool names! I restrung again and also added a cool grip I forgot I had. Now it needs a name... Wife calls it the Candy Cane. lol

Overgrip of the year award !!!

 

[ttgrinder]

Prince Ripstick 98 2025 Play Test​

• String and tension used for test:
  • Prince Vortex 17 full bed at 52lb all around for most of the play test.
• Tennis experience/background:
  • Picked up tennis over the last 12 years or so.
  • Recreational tennis hacker, who is so addicted to tennis equipment/racquets/strings etc. Spends illogical amounts of time researching random technicalities of tennis equipment.
  • Stringer for the local tennis club and high school tennis team.
  • Plays NTRP 4.5 USTA adult leagues, mostly singles.
• Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
  • Baseline Counter Puncher. I usually try to gain space advantage by neutral shots, and use the opponents pace against them.
• Current racquet/string setups:
  • Head Speed Pro 100sqinch strung with Head Lynx Tour 17.
  • Even though that is the current racquet and string I am using, I am pretty much a free bird now, and switch racquets and string setup often.
• How many hours did you play with the racquet?
  • 25+ hrs
• Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
  • -Groundstrokes:
    • Above Average: As someone who loves to stick around beyond baseline and hit loopy topspins all day, I really love this racquet for that. Gets plenty of spin and very high launch angle probably because of the open string pattern and the o-ports. Easy depth, Easy high launch angle and Easy TopSpin. Flattening the balls was not bad, but needed a bit of adjustment/learning time especially if coming from a more control oriented racquet. The only real draw back for me was in trying to execute deep slices. The feeling of hitting a slice was a bit different, and I also really struggled to keep the slice low, especially when trying to hit it deep and skiddy. Also short slices became drop shots accidentally at times. Now it is to be mentioned that, as I was expecting, the control, especially on change of direction drives is a bit lacking.
  • -Serves:
    • Above Average: I was assuming that hitting topspin/kick serve would be magical and hitting flat serve could be difficult. But to my surprise, flat serves were excellent, and had really good speed and consistency on them. Topspin serves were good, and the open pattern helps with the spin. But I guess I had over expectations for it and was a bit disappointed after the first few kick serve attempts. That being said, it definitely gives me as much spin/kick as my other racquets. So no real issue there. I was framing a lot of slice serves though. Originally I thought it was me having a bad day with timing, but I think the thicker width at the head may have something to do with it.
  • -Volleys:
    • Above Average: Volleys were very stable and convincing. Surprisingly there were no control issues in redirecting volleys, or even changing directions. Of course most of my volley testing was from baseline feeds, since I don’t come to the net often enough in my matches. But in general, the volleys were solid and did what it intended to do. Keeping the volley short or deep or low was not an issue.
  • -Serve returns:
    • Below Average: My returns were flying a bit more than usual, especially against fast servers. But second serve returns were excellent. So essentially block returns had some issue personally for me when using this racquet. On the other hand, when I was able to “swing through”, I was able to get the return deep and out of the strike zone of the opponent.
• Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
  • Power/Control-
    • Power is excellent/Above average, but Control is a bit lacking, especially on directional control. So hitting big to big targets is the way to go with this racquet. But if depth was easy to gain, and so if I hit targeting a larger area, I could push the opponents back.
  • Top Spin/Slice-
    • Excellent on topspin. The technology (O-Port) and spin friendly string pattern does help with topspin, and also a naturally higher launch angle. Theoretically it should help with backspin as well, and so my expectations were probably high for the slice. But for me personally the slices were sitting up a bit, I think because they were going in a bit more higher trajectory. Even after 25 hours of use, I could not get that tuned in.
  • Comfort-
    • Above average. The racquet felt very comfortable. No arm stiffness even after long hours of playing. The racquet by itself did not feel flexing too much, but still the stringbed provided good softness on impact. Also I felt like the sweet spot was large.
  • Feel-
    • Below average. Had a bit of “muted” feel. So again hitting big to big targets was the way to go. Trying to pin point the shot or hit magical touch shots were a bit difficult for me with this racquet. Also I the feedback on mishits were not great, probably because of the forgiving nature of the racquet.
  • Maneuverability-
    • Above average. Easy to maneuver around. Even with some lazy footwork, getting into jammed positions, it was easy to get the ball across the net, with questionable techniques. Also I think it helped with better volleys, especially to redirect pace with some reaction moves.
  • Stability-
    • Good. I think this racquet has the right amount of stability to absorb and redirect incoming pace or heaviness. Nothing extra ordinary. But with good racquet speed and swing, it does plow through heavy balls with ease. Also as mentioned above, it was very stable to redirect incoming pace on volleys.
• General reaction/comments on overall performance:
  • Definitely an interesting racquet and technology. Very fun to play with. That being said, I do prefer a bit more control to provide me match time confidence. Also the color is very bold and attractive. I will continue experimenting with this racquet a bit more with different strings. Overall very pleasant play test. Thanks TW and Prince for providing the opportunity.

 

[nadalex]

Prince Ripstick 98 Review​

String and tension used for test: Head Lynx Tour 1.25 @ 54 lbs (mains) / 52 lbs (crosses)
Tennis experience/background: ~4.5–5.0 level; former varsity singles player. Play several times per week with a regular group of competitive players.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Aggressive baseliner with a big first serve and forehand, willing to come forward but not a traditional serve-and-volleyer.
Current racquet/string setups: Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 with Head Lynx Tour / Pro Line Evolution hybrid at ~52/50 lbs.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? ~20 hours across multiple sessions (drills, practice sets, and matchplay).

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Comments on racquet performance for each stroke​

Groundstrokes:
Forehands were a lot of fun with this racquet — I could really rip into the ball and generate heavy spin with depth. Topspin production was excellent and gave me good clearance over the net. Backhands, however, felt less dialed in. I struggled a bit with timing and control, and slices especially tended to float more than I would have liked. The free power was nice, but I occasionally felt like I was losing precision when flattening out balls.

Serves:
Serving was a highlight. The Ripstick 98 felt extremely easy to accelerate through my pronation, and I could hit big flat serves with minimal effort. Kick serves jumped off the court nicely, and slices out wide had good movement. I really enjoyed serving with this frame — probably my favorite part of the test. The extra free power gave me a boost over my TF40s without feeling uncontrollable on spin serves. Really loved serving with the frame in doubles play specifically.

Volleys:
At net, the racquet performed well. Stability was solid, even against pace, and it felt maneuverable enough to handle quick exchanges. Touch volleys were better than I expected, though not quite as precise as a more classic frame. Overall, volleys felt clean and dependable, and I trusted the racquet at the net more than I thought I would.

Serve returns:
Returns were mixed. Against second serves, I could take big cuts and use the spin to my advantage. Against heavier first serves, I sometimes struggled to feel fully connected with the ball. The muted response from the O-Ports and some string movement made me wonder if I was losing performance — whether psychological or actual. When timed well, returns were heavy and deep, but I didn’t always feel as locked in as with my TF40.

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Comments on racquet performance in each area​

Power/Control:
Noticeably more free power than my TF40, which was a welcome change at times. That said, I did feel like I gave up some control, especially on the backhand wing and flatter drives. Would definitely call this a "powerful frame."

Top Spin/Slice:
Topspin was excellent — one of the racquet’s strongest qualities. Slices, on the other hand, floated more than I prefer and lacked some bite compared to my TF40. Felt very much that this was a "spin-friendly" frame

Comfort:
Comfort was solid even at a slightly tighter tension than my usual setup. Found the racquet to be relatively muted for a "power" frame, which was interesting. The O-Ports helped absorb some shock from my POV, though I didn’t love them more broadly.

Feel:
This was where I struggled most. The muted feel of the O-Ports, the “whooshing” sound, and string movement made me less confident in the feedback. It wasn’t bad, but I prefer the direct response of my TF40.

Maneuverability:
For a 98 with a bit of mass, it was easy enough to whip around. Forehands and serves felt fast through the hitting zone, and volleys were maneuverable enough at net.

Stability:
Stable on most exchanges, especially for a racquet in this class. Handled pace decently well, though not quite as solid as some denser-pattern 98s.

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General reaction/comments on overall performance​

Overall, I liked the Prince Ripstick 98 and had a lot of fun hitting with it. The combination of free power, spin, and easy serving made it one of the more enjoyable frames I’ve tested in a while. The cosmetic is fantastic — I absolutely loved the all-red look. That said, I struggled with the O-Ports: the unusual sound and string movement left me questioning performance, and the muted feel wasn’t quite to my taste. If you’re a player who thrives on big spin, free power, and aggressive serving, this racquet is worth a look. For someone like me coming from the TF40, I enjoyed the ride but ultimately missed the precision and connected feel of my usual stick. I did love playing doubles with the frame however just was so easy to crank serves and move to net aggressively, so will prob keep this guy in the bag and pull it out every so often.

Thanks Prince and TW for the chance to try!!

 

[jwocky]

Thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Prince for the playtest racquet. Also, multiple apologies for the late review (as explained in a prior email). Thank you for your patience and understanding.

PRINCE RIPSTICK 98 PLAYTEST

String and tension used for test: 1) Volkl Cyclone Tour 1.25mm 24.5 kg/54 lbs , 2) Prince Warrior Response 1.30mm 24 kg/53 lbs

Tennis experience/background: Family of tennis players. HS team and intramural tennis through grad school,<life break>, then competitive doubles leagues after kids. Current Doubles/Singles 75/25.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All court with emphasis on shot variety, pace and depth variation for point construction.

Current racquet/string setups: regular is the Dunlop CX 200 Tour 2021 (18x20) - Yonex PT Rev Orange 1.30 mm at 23.5 kg. I will switch racquets around once in a while just for interest. For example: I have a couple of Prince EXO3 93 ported (green - see pics) that I bring n to the mix.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 20 hours (5 singles, 15 doubles)

Customization: The entire play test was in stock form plus OG and a dampener.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke
-Groundstrokes: My biggest issue was the occasional framing of balls because of the thicker beam than the 20mm beansI normally use and an attempt to overpower the ball because of the lack of weight. This could have been a timing issue from not weighting the racquet. I was able to hit a range of shots from the baseline and mid-court including my favorite fine angled cross court dippers. There was good access to spin and I could hear the string snap back. There was an excellent level of comfort.

-Serves: Serving was great - flat, slice, kick serves (the last is not my strength) were all achievable with pace and location control. There was no jarring even though the frame is stiffer than my usual. Double faults were a result of me rushing the second serve rather than a fault attributable to the racquet.

-Volleys: Stable and maneuverable enough at the net and for mid-court drive volleys and half volleys with excellent pop. This is was not one specific feature, but a combination of frame stiffness relative to the EXO 3 93s and the strings coming to the fore. Little weigh would help here.

-Serve returns: It could use more weight to return the heaviest of serves as it did get pushed around without perfect timing. However, I could control deep backhand slice cross court returns, forehand cross court for either wing and, of course, the lob over the server’s partner with control.

Comments on racquet performance in each area :
Power/Control- Control was a standout feature and I was surprise as this is a 98 16x18. I was not confident in being able to put the ball where I needed/wanted to. There was adequate power although I would prefer to add some weight when playing bigger hitters - I don’t vary string reference tension much.

Top Spin/Slice- Given the 16x18 pattern there was an above average access to spin whether to be top or back on sliced drives. I was able to execute drop shots with ease and did not have to second guess the calibration of slice factor with the drive factor.

Comfort- This is a comfortable racquet! Not sure what else I would write for three sentences other than repeat the first sentence. I have always loved my EXO3s and the Ripstick took me back to this days when they were my first choice before moving to 95 s.i. heads

Feel- The Ripstick provides an average amount of feel. nothing jarring as even slightly off center shots feel comfortable. One can tell when middling the ball because the nice pop off the string is discernible.

Maneuverability- This is a light racquet in my book and maneuverability is not a problem. For the the small issue of frame width and eyeing the ball on to the string bed and adjusting to avoid a frame ball was an early issue, but not later. I still prefer the thinner frames.

Stability- The frame is mostly stable for doubles play but gets pushed around against heavy hitting singles players in a baseline brawl. However, I am not sure it needs more than 15 gram placed to maintain HL balance to overcome that.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I will keep experimenting with some weights to dial in the set up, and can see this as a very good fram option for a wide variety of players. It is good to see Prince build the ports into the frame versus the EXO3 port or hole grommets - given that grommet availability becomes an issue sooner than one expects.