Man, i am really tempted to pull the trigger on this racquet without demoing it. This thread has me hooked. I've been a Prince player most of my life. I've never found a teacher to replace my prince titanium chang midplus. That was a 95sqin, 14x18, 28" long stick. After retiring this sticks after 14 years, I've played a lot of Babs, currently have 5 aerostorms (2 2011s, 2 2013 prostocks, and 1 2016 USA). The prince only lacked a bit of pace on serve. Other than that, the prince hit a bigger, heavier ball. More forgiving, softer, everything.
My only reservation is the 18x20 pattern. I'll a lefty and play a heavy spin game.
Really looking forward to seeing this frame becoming available in Europe.
Also thanks for the review, PP!
However, I think semantically, labelling this a "gift" might evoke false hopes... TW is a business, after all.
Don't give into the hype and warm Prince nostalgia - this frame spec is obviously more classic driver than high launching spinster, so unless you want to play more flat (and precise) this frame is probably not for you.
I'd recommend you demo it first...along with a DR98
You can really play however you want with it. I don't play flat, I hit with a lot of spin and an extreme SW.
Are there better racquets suited to that? Sure, and I have some, but it's not a dramatic difference.
I'm just trying to keep expectations grounded haha
True. It is just a racquet after all, but I am really enjoying it. You should have yours by now right?
I am not sure it will be available in Europe...Really looking forward to seeing this frame becoming available in Europe.
Also thanks for the review, PP!
However, I think semantically, labelling this a "gift" might evoke false hopes... TW is a business, after all.
Don't give into the hype and warm Prince nostalgia - this frame spec is obviously more classic driver than high launching spinster, so unless you want to play more flat (and precise) this frame is probably not for you.
I'd recommend you demo it first...along with a DR98
How thick is the Prince Leathergrip in general? Is it a softer one? Or like Wilson?
You can use castor oil to soften up old leather grips.So far it is soft and not too thick. Very easy to feel the bevels. I like the gripshape a lot.
My Tfight 315's leather is pretty hard at this point - I think I have used it for 3 or 4 years. Not sure if you can soften that up or not. I always use an overgrip.
You can use castor oil to soften up old leather grips.
How can I smuggle one of these to Europe [emoji3] Would love to test one out.
How does it compare to the RF97 in terms of feel? I love the RF97, but i really miss a thin beam and the classic feel of the pro staff line.
This racquet might make change back to prince. I think the last racquet of theirs that I used was the Prince DB90 graphtech back in 1996 or so.
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I never thought the RF97 felt all that great honestly.
It doesn't make the grip slippery?
I never thought the RF97 felt all that great honestly.
Clean the leather first. After allowing it to dry off first, then apply and let the oil be absorbed into the leather. It restores the natural tackiness of the leather.It doesn't make the grip slippery?
The following is based on the TW demo court, so take it with a grain of salt.
I found the Dunlop CX 2.0 Tour does everything the 93P tries to do, but with more authority. That, or it could just be my dislike of non-uniform beam width.
Dunlop only goes from 20mm to 19mm, so hardly noticeable.
But the 93P goes from 20mm to 18mm and then yet again to 16mm! It gave me a less solid feel upon impact.
Are you sure you’ll like the PD Tour Plus? Maybe try it first before getting rid of the pure aero plus.I had been planning to change over to the new PD Tour Plus. I want a little tighter pattern and a little more weight. I really love these extended Babolats.
I just have too many frames right now. It's a little silly, so I need to sell some. Plan is to have those and the P93, since I have gone back and forth between the two styles for so long. May as well play both.
I've been down the road with the Ai98 and again with a dr98+. I sensee to have timing issues with those racquets. They both send to play better the more neutral balanced they were. Those racquets did not work well for me with balance points around 8PtsHL
@Power Player , thanks again for this review. Did you play or demo the Babolat Pure Control 95 or 95+? It used to be called the Pure Storm Gt LTD.
Any way, i demoed the 95+ and it was the sweetest serving stick. Also, a perfectly hit ball feels amazing. It was a low power, high flex18x20 too. It shouldn't have been powerful but it was. At the time, i couldn't get into 18x20 frames but i regret not buying the racquet. It's no longer made.
I'm so tempted by this new Prince but am also considering the Tec 315 LTD (16x19)
I appreciate your input.
Are you sure you’ll like the PD Tour Plus? Maybe try it first before getting rid of the pure aero plus.
True. If I recall correctly, you played with the black drive for a bit.I mean, yeah - I have tried it locally. I love the Pure Drives - always have.
True. If I recall correctly, you played with the black drive for a bit.
this is one of the reasons why I love 18x20s now!One of my favorites tweeners ever.
The PA+ is right there too. I just finally needed a break from a year of restringing the wide open pattern.
I found the exact opposite to be true. The Dunlop stock was one of the worst most anemic frames I tried this year. Not enough weight,plow at all.The following is based on the TW demo court, so take it with a grain of salt.
I found the Dunlop CX 2.0 Tour does everything the 93P tries to do, but with more authority. That, or it could just be my dislike of non-uniform beam width.
Dunlop only goes from 20mm to 19mm, so hardly noticeable.
But the 93P goes from 20mm to 18mm and then yet again to 16mm! It gave me a less solid feel upon impact.
I found the exact opposite to be true. The Dunlop stock was one of the worst most anemic frames I tried this year. Not enough weight,plow at all.
Yeah, the Pure Storm limited was awesome. That was a pretty demanding frame. I guess the P93 would be considered that too, but I have found it pretty easy so far, considering it's a mid that weighs 12.5. I really focused way more on footwork and positioning than racquets over the past few years. I haven't written a review or demoed much because of that. I also have a nice collection of frames so I usually don't move on something unless I have been interested in it for a little while.
I can tell you that the Tec 315 is so killer. I still have mine in 16x19. But it's super low powered stock.The SW is like 313 or so, so you have to add lead at 12, and that makes the balance around 4 pts HL if you want any real plow. I don't mind that, but some will. You can counter weight it, but you will need to make sure you put the weight at the buttcap to get the head back closer to stock.
The P93 (well, mine at least) is balanced perfectly out of the box so you don't have to do anything unless you want to.
I tried to get one of those a while back but Dunlop was sold out. Was yours stock? I feel like the 93P should have more plow if they are both un leaded.
I found the exact opposite to be true. The Dunlop stock was one of the worst most anemic frames I tried this year. Not enough weight,plow at all.
paradoxically i lurve them too. big sweet spot, crisp feel, effortless tennisI love the Pure Drives - always have.
I wanted to like it so much. MFil 200 was one of my fav frames ever.I loved it, it was a throw back to my younger days. See the post above
Both are great. The Tec is more head heavy and sluggish once weighted. They both serve incredibly well. The 93P is just weighted to perfectly in stock form that serving is as powerful and easy. I would say the power is about the same, but the plow of the 93P is better.
I didn't really like that racquet much at all, and I don't like frames with the balance that close to the head. So I much prefer the 93P. I also think it feels better as well.
I never played the Tour 89. One of my regrets, because that was a frame I wanted to check out. Based on the specs of the 89, I have to think both frames are going to be quite close in power.
Demo the PK plus and PD Tour Plus side by side before committing. There’s not much in the way of manoeuvrability between the two I think. Plus I’m curious about your thoughts (surely not my main agenda here! Hehe)I had been planning to change over to the new PD Tour Plus. I want a little tighter pattern and a little more weight. I really love these extended Babolats.
I just have too many frames right now. It's a little silly, so I need to sell some. Plan is to have those and the P93, since I have gone back and forth between the two styles for so long. May as well play both.
Join the club of people who are sad about the PSL/PC 95 being discontinued...@Power Player , thanks again for this review. Did you play or demo the Babolat Pure Control 95 or 95+? It used to be called the Pure Storm Gt LTD.
Any way, i demoed the 95+ and it was the sweetest serving stick. Also, a perfectly hit ball feels amazing. It was a low power, high flex18x20 too. It shouldn't have been powerful but it was. At the time, i couldn't get into 18x20 frames but i regret not buying the racquet. It's no longer made.
I'm so tempted by this new Prince but am also considering the Tec 315 LTD (16x19)
I appreciate your input.
Both were whatever they had at the TW courts at IW.
Hence the disclaimer on the top of my original post
"The following is based on the TW demo court, so take it with a grain of salt."
ALSO, I grew up on the PC600, and a little bit of HM 200G. So, anything that resemble that elongated egg shaped head with a thin boxy (enough) beam will get me going.
PSL is a fantastic frame, stuck with it for years. Did you prefer the feel of the 93 over the PSL? I regret selling my PSL, can still buy new on the bay so may buy one at some stage for nostalgia but its 200AUD delivered and if can get the 93P could be better.
Is the string pattern similar between the two? I remember the PSL being incredibly dense which was fantastic for my game. Also the hoop of the PSL was fairly narrow from memory, made swinging the thing a breeze! not as wide as the 93P perhaps?
I use the TC90 so size isn't an issue, I just prefer narrower profiles, PSL and TC90 preferred over the TC95/97
It's been so long that I don't want to say anything inaccurate about the two. The P93 definitely feels like a thin beam frame. That is why to me, it is a bit like a Head meets a Wilson. It has no vibrations like the Head. Sweet spot is similar. It has that thin beam flex thats a bit like a Pro Staff.
The main thing that got me into it, was that it plays very solid and just does not vibrate. Really has that classic feel. Mishits are so far not jarring for me. I also mishit a lot less than I expected. I think this is because I am not playing lazy and my technique has sharpened up a bit using this. One bad habit for me with stiff Babolats was relying too much on the wrist flick on defense. It is a good shot to have, but it is easy to use it too much when you defend, instead of taking a few extra steps and setting up proplery.
Anyway, back your question - the main thing I remember was the PSL had a really small sweet spot and was really, really low powered. The P93 is not for me. The sweet spot is a little bigger than a PC600 and the plow is a little better.
Demo the PK plus and PD Tour Plus side by side before committing. There’s not much in the way of manoeuvrability between the two I think. Plus I’m curious about your thoughts (surely not my main agenda here! Hehe)
I wanted to like it so much. MFil 200 was one of my fav frames ever.
I actually balance the Blade 98 to 6 pts HL and also added more weight to bring it closer to 12oz. I just curious how it felt in terms of flex, power, and control.