The Prince Phantom 93P is a gift to us from TW - My Review/AMA
- Thread starter Power Player
- Start date
I'm not overly interested in the 14x18 pattern as I have really meshed with the 18x20. That said, I hope someone near me gets one just so I can see what the difference is like. I can see advantages to such an open pattern for some shots but overall I like the 18x20 and plan to stock up on it over time.
My main racquet for the last nine years was an exo3 graphite 93 but I'm also used to a 18x20 after using a speed pro, radical, and finally the current 93p but the nostalgia of using a 14x18 will definitely have me try it. I hope it comes with an old school suede/leather carry case like the old graphites. I know it won't but I can dream.
I have so many Prince 90 14x18s it is hard to justify the upcoming "new and improved" 93 14x18. It is probably in my head but since playing with the Graphite Pro 90 I have had several people comment on well I have been playing. I can dial up or down the stiffness ladder in 90 14x18s with varying degrees of muting as well. One of my old pals is sending me a Magnesium Pro 90 which I am looking forward to. I can go modern with a "bighead" racket by bringing out the Mono's
So who's gonna bite first?
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Phantom_Pro_93P_14x18/descpageRCTWABG-P93P14.html
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Phantom_Pro_93P_14x18/descpageRCTWABG-P93P14.html
TBH more interested in the Phantom Pro 100 18 x 20. I just love tighter stringbeds for doubles play which is 90% of my tennis life.
Hopefully TW will have these available for Demo at Indian Wells Parabas so I can try them out. Bit disappointed they went stiffer with the RA on the 14x18 93P. Will need to try it out to see if its as plush as the 18x20.
Hopefully TW will have these available for Demo at Indian Wells Parabas so I can try them out. Bit disappointed they went stiffer with the RA on the 14x18 93P. Will need to try it out to see if its as plush as the 18x20.
Ditto.
I’m going to restring my whole POG made with a low tension poly to try to get a sense of what this new frame might feel like first.
I got to hit for a short time with the Wilson class today, which made me miss my phantom pro 100. Phantom pro 18 x 20 seems really intriguing to me right now.
Decisions, decisions.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m going to restring my whole POG made with a low tension poly to try to get a sense of what this new frame might feel like first.
I got to hit for a short time with the Wilson class today, which made me miss my phantom pro 100. Phantom pro 18 x 20 seems really intriguing to me right now.
Decisions, decisions.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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What would everyone say the biggest differences are going to be in the new 100 18x20 versus the 93p 18x20? I have three 93p 18x20’s but I’m wondering if it’s really worth it out of temptation and curiosity. Also, what would be some recommendations on string and tension since the head size is larger? I currently do the klip lightning hybrid in my 93p’s @ around 51/48 or so...
I’m already producing a great amount of spin with the current 93p. Don’t need the new model for any additional spin. But would love to hit with it just to see how it compares to my old pog mid. Haven’t had the chance to string my old one with current string setups but hopefully within the next week. Has anyone played with the old pog mids with new poly setups?
I liked the 93p MUCH more than any of the other Phantoms. I did sell them,again, but only because it was easier for me to play with a larger face on clay. The 93 with that open pattern will be a killer stick for serves and spin no doubt. I am also selling my 2015 Tt100ps. Love them too but I think I am addicted to my tour 100s with the ports. I will probably demo the Phantom with the 18 20 (I have begged for it) but all those phantom 100s felt clumsy to me compared to my tours. The tours have a really high twist weight, which I like, but go through the air we’ll. I think it is possible that I am Blount to the ports.
Hey Mark - your racquets just arrived and I'm quite excited to use them with your specs. Haven't played 93p with gut mains yet.
Was playing last night with Prince Tour XP 18g (TW member Shawn James included in a 93p I bought from him) at 42lbs mains and crosses. Oh. My. God. Not incredibly comfortable, but man, sure can crush balls with it.
And just to echo Power Player and mhkeuns, this racquet is awesome. Feels better and more exhilarating every time you play with it.
I'd probably demo the 14x18 but not even excited about it. This racquet is perfection.
Was playing last night with Prince Tour XP 18g (TW member Shawn James included in a 93p I bought from him) at 42lbs mains and crosses. Oh. My. God. Not incredibly comfortable, but man, sure can crush balls with it.
And just to echo Power Player and mhkeuns, this racquet is awesome. Feels better and more exhilarating every time you play with it.
I'd probably demo the 14x18 but not even excited about it. This racquet is perfection.
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I have received pp100p (53 hyper g) and 93p (unknown green strings) demo. It seems like pp100p has smaller sweetspot than 93p but more plush. The 93p demo felt like a club and not as maneuvrable as the p100pp. The 93p however felt like it had the potential of more “point and shoot” and definitely was less fussy when hit off center. It’s just I have no way to tell what tension it is strung at and at the moment it’s feeling like a heavy board. ... When both of these are strung at their optimal tensions (mid or low 40s I assume),
1) does the pp100p gain similar good off center character as the 93p
2) which is more plush 93p or pp100p
The head size of the 93p surprisingly is not that much different than other 100sqin racquets
1) does the pp100p gain similar good off center character as the 93p
2) which is more plush 93p or pp100p
The head size of the 93p surprisingly is not that much different than other 100sqin racquets
I am def a beginner beginner so take with a grain of salt
. With that said the hitting it all over frame I felt more often when I hit 100p off centerI feel like the racquet has potential and I have it in my hand but it’s feeling boardy with this current setup. I don’t have time to string it before it goes back to tw. A bit frustrating
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Good answer. But we'll also be looking at a bump in power since the racket is stiffer and the string bed will be more lively and the launch angle will be higher. With a softer racket some power would be absorbed. Otherwise you are going to need higher tension poly to tame it a bit. Unless its spins the ball so well that you can use topspin to maintain control like an APD.
I'm certainly interested in demoing it, but if it doesn't feel as plush as the 18x20, I'm not terrible interested. I'd probably rather look at the 18x20 Pro 100P.
I'm certainly interested in demoing it, but if it doesn't feel as plush as the 18x20, I'm not terrible interested. I'd probably rather look at the 18x20 Pro 100P.
I agree that an open string pattern would result in less ball feel, but we're still talking about a 14x18 pattern on a 93" head. I still think Prince should have either kept the flex the same or go a little softer. Maybe if they made the new 93P a 10x10 then yeah, it would benefit from a higher RA.
Now the new PP100 with 18x20 and 55RA sounds ideal for me as a bigger 93P. It has the same dense string pattern, but much more flexible allowing the ball to stay on the strings longer to impart spin to. That was my main complaint with the 2015 TT100P. It was just too stiff and powerful for me. The 2019 TT100P is even worse as the RA went up. The 2019 PP100 has promising specs.
Now the new PP100 with 18x20 and 55RA sounds ideal for me as a bigger 93P. It has the same dense string pattern, but much more flexible allowing the ball to stay on the strings longer to impart spin to. That was my main complaint with the 2015 TT100P. It was just too stiff and powerful for me. The 2019 TT100P is even worse as the RA went up. The 2019 PP100 has promising specs.
I understand that the higher stiffness is there to offset the looser string pattern, to achieve a similar feel. And also the fact that this combination should result in more power than the 18x20 version. I would be really interested to see the side of the 14x18 to see how Prince themselves rate the power level. On the 18x20, they grade it at 600 on their scale (vs. 800 on the PP100P).
What I am scratching my head about, though, is why they tampered with the balance, going from 9 pt. HL to 7 pt. HL, while decreasing the swing weight. A less HL balance would normally result in a higher swing weight, all other parameters being equal. I get that the strung weight would be slightly less on the 14x18 vs. 18x20, by virtue of having less string, but can't get my head around the balance / swing weight combination. I would also be worried that the very open pattern induces a lack of predictability, taking away one of the strongest suits of the original version.
As for the 100 sq.in. frame with the 18x20 pattern, it appears to the the PP100 (rounded beam), and not the PP100P (box beam). What is interesting on this frame, though, is that they seem to have bumped up the static weight quite significantly, going from 305g to 320g, and conversely made it more HL, going from 6pt to 9pt. This brings the specs much closer to the 18x20 93P, except for the increased headsize and lower stiffness. Interesting indeed.
What I am scratching my head about, though, is why they tampered with the balance, going from 9 pt. HL to 7 pt. HL, while decreasing the swing weight. A less HL balance would normally result in a higher swing weight, all other parameters being equal. I get that the strung weight would be slightly less on the 14x18 vs. 18x20, by virtue of having less string, but can't get my head around the balance / swing weight combination. I would also be worried that the very open pattern induces a lack of predictability, taking away one of the strongest suits of the original version.
As for the 100 sq.in. frame with the 18x20 pattern, it appears to the the PP100 (rounded beam), and not the PP100P (box beam). What is interesting on this frame, though, is that they seem to have bumped up the static weight quite significantly, going from 305g to 320g, and conversely made it more HL, going from 6pt to 9pt. This brings the specs much closer to the 18x20 93P, except for the increased headsize and lower stiffness. Interesting indeed.
Like @Dartagnan64 I'm interested in the PP100 (18x20) too. Yeah I noted the static weight increase as @flanker2000fr pointed out. As mentioned before I feel the 93P (18x20) is at my limit of how heavy a racquet I can swing comfortable with (RF97A is a no go - tried it, can't wield it). 10g lighter in static weight may open up more RHS for me while keeping low launch angle shots, which I like.