Power Player
Bionic Poster
@Say Chi Sin Lo - side question, did you ever try the Yonex V89 mid?
The Prince Phantom 93P is a gift to us from TW - My Review/AMA
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jayserinos99
Hall of Fame
I have to take the bait on this one. I've had the Vcore89 and POG and I currently have my trek PC600s and PB10mids. I'll probably use this mid in the upcoming season along with a Bridgestone x-blade mid 325.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
I did! 10mins later, I realized I couldn't swing a Yonex, the head shape was just too unconventional for me.
BUT, the impact was sweet!
Power Player
Bionic Poster
How are off-center hit vibrations on the 93P vs. 100PP? Sounds like it'd be shank city for me, but worth a demo
No vibrations on the 93P when I shank. It is extremely comfortable there. I remember when I first got it, I was bouncing the ball before starting a service game and I realized that it really never vibrated at all. Just felt real nice and solid.
100PP - very comfortable. No real vibrations either. I liked the feel of the frame almost as much as the 93, but it wasn't quite as good.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
@Power Player what type of string and tension compliments the 93P best in your opinion? I'm prone to TE and use Babolat Xcel 17 strung at mid tension on all my rackets.
I'm like you and prefer to play with rackets in stock form. I don't like messing with lead tape, but I'd need to use an overgrip over the leather with the 93P. Would that throw off the perfect stock feel?
I'm like you and prefer to play with rackets in stock form. I don't like messing with lead tape, but I'd need to use an overgrip over the leather with the 93P. Would that throw off the perfect stock feel?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I always use an over grip too. It will definitely not affect the balance too much or the feel. Don't get too sucked into the details there.
Use the strings you want to use at your preferred tension. Maybe drop it 3 pounds or so if coming from a larger racquet.
I always use RS Lyon 17 in everything. Makes things a lot easier for me. With this frame I can string at 45#s and have plenty of control.
Use the strings you want to use at your preferred tension. Maybe drop it 3 pounds or so if coming from a larger racquet.
I always use RS Lyon 17 in everything. Makes things a lot easier for me. With this frame I can string at 45#s and have plenty of control.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Rs lyon...so good...
stephenclown
Professional
Quick follow up with feel. Have you played the PB10 mid and does the Prince live up to this level of feel and performance or exceed it? And would the power level be higher or lower than the PB10?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have not played with the pb10 in a very long time unfortunately .
The prince reminds me of a classic head but with some added wilson firmess and thin beam feel. Best way i can describe it.
When i hit the pt280 and the p93, they are very similar. The 280 is a little softer and has bit of a “deeper” feel since its beam is a little thicker. The p93 feels fantastic to me though. It hits a bigger ball than a pc600 and the sweet spot is a bit bigger.
It is a very addictive frame to hit with due to all those reasons.
The prince reminds me of a classic head but with some added wilson firmess and thin beam feel. Best way i can describe it.
When i hit the pt280 and the p93, they are very similar. The 280 is a little softer and has bit of a “deeper” feel since its beam is a little thicker. The p93 feels fantastic to me though. It hits a bigger ball than a pc600 and the sweet spot is a bit bigger.
It is a very addictive frame to hit with due to all those reasons.
parasailing
Legend
Great job answering all our questions. I have the PT 630 so if you are saying that the P93 is up there with the PT280, then this is a great thing. Nowadays so hard to find racquets that have that type of feel.
Does the P93 have a smaller sweet spot than the PT 280?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
It feels to me to be a similar size. Ill get more court time with them and report back on this.
stephenclown
Professional
This is the issue! you keep comparing to the PT280 - but in a smaller package. Using my 18x20 TC97 its got an amazing feel that I think surpasses the TC95 but the headsize and shape is not my favourite at the moment, loving those mids. Damn that feeling though... Why do this to me TW and PP...
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Sounds like I need to dust off my pt280 and pc600 and bring them out this weekend.
The pt280 always felt too sluggish for me though. Like there is too much weight in the middle of the racket. Will be interesting to see if I still find this to be the case now that I’ve gotten used to the more even balanced blades.
But it's still maneuverable for me, beside I am a S & Ver.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Sounds like I need to dust off my pt280 and pc600 and bring them out this weekend.
The pt280 always felt too sluggish for me though. Like there is too much weight in the middle of the racket. Will be interesting to see if I still find this to be the case now that I’ve gotten used to the more even balanced blades.
I agree, it's a bit sluggish. Mine is leather gripped and a little light at 340 strung. The balance is like my Tfight 315 ltd with lead. I think you will still notice that. The P93 is lot more whippy without feeling like a fly swatter.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Lol, well I just do that because it is what I have on hand. I had the Angell TC97 too. Mine felt so close to my 280 that I just used both. The TC97 had a little more free power. The P93 will feel quite similar, but will not have the same level of pop as the TC97, it is a few clicks below. The P93 in stock form does have more plow through and has a better balance. So the overall power is not much of a drop off.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I'm bad at calculating that and getting remotely accurate, my feel is probably better at this point since I have set up so many frames. I used to have access to an RDC, but I do not now.
It's probably between 330-338. I have no issues with depth or anything, so I have not thought too much about it past that. It definitely swings with more plow than a PC600.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
I'm going to have to disagree with you on the plow and PC600. But neither of us will win that debate.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah, and who knows the exact spec of the frames we have tried. Your P93 demo sounded a bit anemic, my PC600 could have been..its a tough call.
I think the P93 has a little more plow due to the larger sweetspot and the SW feels a bit heftier on my model.
I could amend my statement to say that I find the P93 easier to use and that may be a little more fair.
I think the P93 has a little more plow due to the larger sweetspot and the SW feels a bit heftier on my model.
I could amend my statement to say that I find the P93 easier to use and that may be a little more fair.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
It could be a LOT of things:
- Ball machine fed balls. Like I said previously, that's not real training and you'll never get a ball machine fed ball in a match or a real practice. That in itself throws everything off.
- Strings and tension. Neither of which I know from the demo. Nor am I one of those TT (idiot) expert that can spot a string, gauge, and tension from a mile away.
- I was at Indian Wells, probably the last thing I want to do was to hit there. But being able to move around from a day of sitting was a nice break.
BUT, that Dunlop CX 2.0 Tour was much more memorable than the 93P, just saying.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Using iPhone app, with just string + OG, mine was 336.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Its nice that see dunlop and prince are returning to what they were good at in the first place.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
Also, here's another debate where no one will win...
That Dunlop CX 2.0 Tour was more reminiscent of my PC600 than that 93P. And it had nothing to do with the strings in that demo racquet.
But the shape, size, the way it cut through the air just reminded me of my old PC600.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Thats interesting for sure. If you buy one i am curious if you mod it or stay stock.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
No thanks. I'm finally comfortable with my RF97 after a lifetime of mids. You know me, I'd rather practice, focus on my game, then to look for that next racquet.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Right on, it sounded like you were going to buy one..lol. But yeah I hear you. I have not demoed a racquet in a long time. The P93 just really grabbed me since I started with a Prince mid as a kid and picked it over the more popular 110 graphite at the time.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
You know the saying...”Good things come to those who wait.”
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Strap in.
Good to see more folks are getting these frames in their hands. Dgoran got one and so far is loving it. It's a little odd being the first to really review a frame because you don't want to lead people down the wrong path. I think this is a first for me. I usually get a frame a little later after others have had it.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
I also want to add that I'm not bashing the frame. Anyone who used thin, flexible mids will instantly relate well with the 93P. I'm just confused by the (huge) variable beam width, and it didn't gel with me.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I played the P93 and blended in the PT280 tonight. My 280 is more head heavy, but the feel of both is pretty similar. The 280 has Lux BBO in it, so I can't give an exact comparison. I can say that the P93 feels a little more comfortable to me. Power level is very similar.
The P93 is down to 43#s. It feels awesome. Really incredible.
This frame is very honest. I never felt held back by the racquet. Mistakes were always on me. The frame does everything well, I can't really find fault with it. One thing I will note is that there is no dead spot at the tip like some frame have. If you hit it a little high, it's fine.
The P93 is down to 43#s. It feels awesome. Really incredible.
This frame is very honest. I never felt held back by the racquet. Mistakes were always on me. The frame does everything well, I can't really find fault with it. One thing I will note is that there is no dead spot at the tip like some frame have. If you hit it a little high, it's fine.
Anton
Legend
GREAT to hear, can’t stand weak top
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
@Power Player I prefer flexible throats over flexible hoops. Where does the 93P flex? Are there any dead spots or the entire stringbed is a sweet spot and it plays like a 95" or maybe even 97/98"?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
No dead spots. Thats what i love. The flex is very uniform. Maybe more in the head, but its pretty well balanced. Not super pronounced in either area.
Its a very satisfying frame to hit hard with. Very loud and feels great. Never feels like the throat is flexing too much on contact to me.
The entire bed is not a sweet spot, but it is a good size. Just no dead spots where the frame flutters or the ball dies on impact.
It plays like a 93 but i can hit with a 95 and go back to it with zero issue.
Its a very satisfying frame to hit hard with. Very loud and feels great. Never feels like the throat is flexing too much on contact to me.
The entire bed is not a sweet spot, but it is a good size. Just no dead spots where the frame flutters or the ball dies on impact.
It plays like a 93 but i can hit with a 95 and go back to it with zero issue.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Just to update on volleys - amazing. I actually can volley well with this frame. The best is that suddenly i can hit drop volleys again. I used to watch the Sureshs drop volley gif and wish i could get to that level of mastery, but now i can come close.
This racquet will make you better at touch shots and volleys if you are decent at them already.
This racquet will make you better at touch shots and volleys if you are decent at them already.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
You ought to be banned from using that racquet for admitting that.
Imago
Hall of Fame
PT630 feels more like PL 850 while 93P is 600.
I've never heard that issue and on the Phantom 93 it isn't really that glaring of an issue. The CTS definitely helps bring some pop in the upper hoop which I think helped particularly on the serve without taking anything away from the great feel. Did it throw you just knowing there was a significant taper? Were you thinking about it before you hit the ball or could you actually notice it when hitting?
Not the same shape. Phantom has a slightly different shape to any of the previous Prince frames.
Mike Bascombe
New User
Any idea when this is coing to Europe?
Never
Power Player
Bionic Poster
You got a P93?
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Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
1) It definitely threw me off since I knew the specs ahead of time, so my personal bias against variable beam width may have skewed my brief moment against a ball machine.
2) It was against a ball machine, doesn't tell me a whole lot.
3) My old Pro Staff 90 was 17mm all around, so even at its thinnest, 16mm by the throat shouldn't be an issue. But I just felt a general confusion from the frame (thick in the head, thin in the throat).
4) Dunlop CX 2.0 Tour was much more solid.
Here's another thing...
The 93P honestly played more like an actual midplus - I found the rounder/near perfect circle of Prince head shape to be unwieldy
The Dunlop CX 2.0 Tour played more like a mid - Maybe it's because I prefer elongated egg shaped heads.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
That's interesting. Maybe why I hit so clean with the damn thing. I will say that when I switched to the 280, the 280 felt a little bigger like it should. But it did not feel bigger in the stringed, just in the fact that it was a bigger frame moving through the air and had a little bit more pop and power.
The more I learn to just chill and trust the 93, the more free power I get. It is very tempting to hit out constantly with this thing because it feels so good, but that's low % tennis.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
It usually takes me a couple of weeks to figure out how to make a racquet sing. I mean I can hit ok with them right away but to figure out exactly how to put maximum mojo on the ball takes some feeling around.
Like a blind man at an orgy.
J
