to anyone that has tried this stick.... general thoughts? how might it compare with the ozone pro tour. i have just aquired 2 of these sticks...the hybrid 18x20... and i was thinking it might blend the feel of my capped 1998 rad twintubes with some modern day stiffness. looking for a little more power but i love the 18x20 pattern. thanks! p.s. i know, i know, the head will provide more feel because of the flex blah, blah, and i am a huge old school head fan, but this 03 tour might be a solution to my baseline game. thanks for all replys. 44 year old 5.0 teaching pro.
the prince 03 tour hybrid 18x20
- Thread starter greg280
- Start date
BiGGieStuFF
Hall of Fame
been using the 18x20 for over a year. The racket is solid all around. Nothing about it amazes you but it's a well balanced racket. Power is not overwhelming and the feel isn't to die for. Control is phenomenal though. That is probably the best part that stands out about this frame.
I've been cheating on it a few times with the MG Prestige MP and it's a pretty amazing net racket as well as better control on the serves but the groundies don't feel as solid as the 18x20 O3HT.
I've gone back to my O3HT and appreciate it much more now after playing with the prestige and what it's capable of doing from the baseline which is where my game is most of the time.
O3HT does get a bit heavy to wield after a while and my control suffers in long matches though. Surprisingly the prestige feels easier to weild around even though it's 2pts head heavier.
I've been cheating on it a few times with the MG Prestige MP and it's a pretty amazing net racket as well as better control on the serves but the groundies don't feel as solid as the 18x20 O3HT.
I've gone back to my O3HT and appreciate it much more now after playing with the prestige and what it's capable of doing from the baseline which is where my game is most of the time.
O3HT does get a bit heavy to wield after a while and my control suffers in long matches though. Surprisingly the prestige feels easier to weild around even though it's 2pts head heavier.
Zielmann
Semi-Pro
I tried the hybrid tour, and if you're looking for some extra power, it's there. It actually seemed to have too much for me. Also, note that the head shape is different from Prince's standard, and this does change how it feels. If you like the way classic prince frames play, this might not be for you.
I thought it was interesting: I also tried the speedport tour. The SP was marked as having a higher power level than the hybrid tour, but i found much more power in the hybrid tour. I could easily use the sp tour strung a little tight with a good dampener. Would love to see a SP tour with the 18x20 pattern.
I thought it was interesting: I also tried the speedport tour. The SP was marked as having a higher power level than the hybrid tour, but i found much more power in the hybrid tour. I could easily use the sp tour strung a little tight with a good dampener. Would love to see a SP tour with the 18x20 pattern.
jayserinos99
Hall of Fame
I had this frame as well. I agree with what Bigs said, especially the part where nothing about it amazes you but it's just a good well-rounded frame. My bias will show though as I think that the Pro Tour 630 for me is the best 18x20 midplus frame and everything else is measured to it. When I had this frame, I figured I had PT630s and sold off my 18x20 hybrid tours.
joeellis
Rookie
I own 2 of the 16 X 18 versions and I just purchased an O3 Speedport Tour and had it strung with the small hole grommets. Honestly, I really like the standard Hybrid Tour. I read the not so positive review in TW and took their advice and strung them with a poly (BB Ace 112). I normally use this string combined with natural gut in my racquets. The BB Ace works really well in the Hybrid Tour, because I can string it tighter than most poly's and it still maintains some softness.
I have read in these threads that everyone really prefers the 18 X 20 version, but I have never had the opportunity to try it. Mine gives me a lot of accuracy with my serve and I don't seem to have much of a control issue on groundies. It also adds more feel than most O3 racquets.
As for the Speedport Tour, I had never given it any consideration until very recently. I have been playing with another brand, but have finally come to the realization that these are a little too demanding when I don't have my best game. A lady at our club actually encouraged me to try it. I like heavier racquets for their stability, but I needed a midplus, so I took her advice. This is a very solid racquet that does everything well for me. It is very accurate and I am controlling it very well. It has more pop than what I was using, but I strung it @ 62 lbs. in the mains with natural gut and 58 lbs. in the crosses with BB Ace 112. I agree that even though the power rating is higher than the Hybrid Tour, the Speedport doesn't seem to have quite as much power.
jayserinos99
Hall of Fame
^ I don't believe they were sold through normal retail channels. I had to pick mine up from the bay a while back.
Richie Rich
Legend
didn't **** sell the 18x20 some time ago? it wasn't a stock retail frame
jayserinos99
Hall of Fame
They probably did. I remember calling them up once and they said they were able to procure frames that regular retailers didn't have.
pfchang
Professional
Actually, as a former SPT user, i found that it had much more power than i thought it would. It had pop, but my shots were only landing in because i'm a topspin player. i found that control was deceptive, the frame was not too consistent and control was not great. but right when i started using the Kblade Tour, i found that, like Chris from TW said, it was a scapel in precision.
great control from that stick. most i've ever seen.
