mhkeuns
Hall of Fame
It’s probably the string spacing that you should be more concerned about. I think the 14x18 in a 93” isn’t all that different from the 16x19 of a tweener. The pattern should give you some more spin compared to the 18x20.
The Prince Phantom 93P is a gift to us from TW - My Review/AMA
- Thread starter Power Player
- Start date
It’s probably the string spacing that you should be more concerned about. I think the 14x18 in a 93” isn’t all that different from the 16x19 of a tweener. The pattern should give you some more spin compared to the 18x20.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
I get so much spin from the 18X20 i'm definitely sticking with that pattern for the extra control. I also got gobs of spin from my i-prestige mids. I did find that my rpms increased with the 18X20 pattern in these frames. The balls are just nastier.
Anton
Legend
You mean it lets you hit out more without sailing the ball? Because apples to apples more open pattern should launch the ball with a higher angle and spin.
frogboy2002
Rookie
ok guys picked one of these rackets up, I have Hyper G, Vokyl Cyclone and Quasi Gut Armor strings, which should I use for this racket and at which tension? For reference I use around 53lbs for Hyper G in the OG Pure Strike and DR98
donnayblack99
Semi-Pro
I'm interested in the best strings for this frame... what are your experiences? I need to move off of playing with poly due to elbow issues. Is anyone playing with basic synthetic gut on this monster?
Anton
Legend
My vote goes for Cyclone. Your 93P Pattern? Guage of string?
I use 17g Cyclone at ~50lb in my DR98 (52 in the summer), ordered 93P 14X18 wioth same string at 48lbs
One thing I'm really looking forward to is testing out natural gut main hybrid in 14x18....will it make K90 obsolete?
93P 18x20 wasn't bad with this setup but I could feel 17g natural gut was just too thick for that string spacing and some of the sweet pocketing Fed frames have was missing.
P.S. leave Quasi Gut to go fishing or something.
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I've been working my way down tension wise. Big hyper g fan, always feels nice and soft to my arm.
Perhaps try 50 if you want to start working your way down too.
Have Prince XP 18g at 42 and feels great.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I tried OGSM 17 and it was surprisingly good. Not as long lasting as gut/cream ( which I’d also suggest for elbow sensitive) but at $4 a set it was a bargain.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
I get spin off both frames, a higher natural launch with the RF97 yes, but i get more rpms and a more aggressive nastier spin with the 93P and the i-Prestige Mid. It's probably due to the thinner beam and smaller heads allowing me to ramp up my racquet head speed. So i can match the launch angle of my RF97 by adjusting my stroke and the end result of spin is nastier. Obviously string patterns effect launch but stroke mechanics are the real determining factor. Guga got gobs of spin with his 18X20. But yes, the RF97 does get the ball deeper easier due to the launch angle. My shots never sail or launch, lol. What's really exciting about this stick is that it feels like the larger PS85 i always wanted. Michelle the tw playtester was also getting more power and spin from the 93P vs her usual stick the RF97.
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Gut syn at 50/45 feels great. A little more power than I like. But if I had to move from poly I'd experiment more w this setup.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Hyper G (mostly cuz it looks great in the racket) at 42. Of course none of them if they are 16g. 17g and thinner only.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
I love cyclone in all my frames. 19g @ 40lbs for me.
Anton
Legend
No doubt more rpms = more spin, but 18x20 in itself doesn't cause more rpms unless maybe if it gives you more control and confidence to swing faster.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
In my case it's definitely the thinner beam and smaller head allowing me to increase my RHS which is yielding more rpms. Of course topspin, launch angle and rpms are three different things. It would be interesting to
find out if a tighter string pattern does increase rpm's, same stroke same player same racquet 16X19 vs 18X20.................measure the results. Would Thiem get more rpms if he switched to a 16X19?
Does more strings (tighter string bed) contacting and gripping the ball at impact create more friction and therefore more rpms.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have the same experience. The racquet speed i can generate with this frame is fantastic. Its a great frame for hitting deep constantly without missing long too often.
Honestly the secret to great spin for me was a higher takeback. I learned that from a national player who hit massive spin with an old school 18x20 radical.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
It's like a controlled rage. The ball is just nasty and aggressive.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
I think Thiem gets more rpm's by using a 18X20. A higher natural launch if he used a 16X19 but i think more strings grabbing the ball in a tighter string pattern would create more rpm's.
Anton
Legend
I think he gets it by jumping out of his shoes haha
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I often wonder if the spin benefits of 16x19 are over stated at high RHS. I think at slower speeds, the 18x20's will get a lot less snapback and string movement. But at high speeds Its likely the collision forces will easily overcome any string inertia in the tighter string beds and offer similar levels of spin and snapback. Lot of pros with 18x20's or tight 16x19's out there getting huge spin.
For me the 18x20 is just so superior on control that any spin would be fine with me. The fact that I can get good levels of spin and all that juicy touch and directional control is a big plus.
For me the 18x20 is just so superior on control that any spin would be fine with me. The fact that I can get good levels of spin and all that juicy touch and directional control is a big plus.
frogboy2002
Rookie
any semi-westerners who love this racket?
frogboy2002
Rookie
Good to hear seen a few say easterns will love it but not semis.
Are you inferring we are all easterners?
Edit: I am strong (extreme?) eastern, can play with SW but isn’t my natural stroke. Basically, I’m not saying you’re wrong
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Raises hand. Although my grip is slightly less extreme than it used to be with my old Aeropros.
I'm just guessing based on the posts that Power Player, asifallasleep, and anton are SW grip users.
I don't know for sure but it sounds like we have similar strokes.
I for one am firmly in the SW grip camp.
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am1899
Legend
I'm right between Eastern and SW. I've been a 16x18 or 16x19 player my whole career, until this frame. It has taken some effort on my part to adjust to the lower launch angle. But also, previous to switching to the 93p, I had gotten into some bad technical habits with my forehand. Changing to a 18x20 frame forced me to address those technical flaws. It hasn't been all roses and puppy dogs, but it's really coming along now. Now I'm able to accelerate the racquet way more that I ever could with the PA - with confidence that the ball will stay in. Icing on the cake? My slice backhand was always a weapon with frames I used in the past. Now it's even better. Dare I say filthy, totally different level. Even more icing on the cake? In my 38 years, 20 or more of which I've played this game, I've never volleyed this well - both in terms of the quality of the volleys I can hit, and the improvement in consistency. I haven't changed anything technical with my volleys, so most (if not all) of the improvement has to be attributed to the racquet in some way.
Hyper G 18 at 40 lbs was perfect for me. Very controlled, but plenty of pop when I needed it. It continued to get better as it broke in, until maybe 2 weeks down the line it finally tapped out. I've been testing some Tier One strings for the last few string jobs. So far, haven't found anything that wowed me like Hyper G did. I also have a set of RS Lyon 17L to try at some point. But if nothing else, I know I can go back to Hyper G 18 and be happy.
Hyper G 18 at 40 lbs was perfect for me. Very controlled, but plenty of pop when I needed it. It continued to get better as it broke in, until maybe 2 weeks down the line it finally tapped out. I've been testing some Tier One strings for the last few string jobs. So far, haven't found anything that wowed me like Hyper G did. I also have a set of RS Lyon 17L to try at some point. But if nothing else, I know I can go back to Hyper G 18 and be happy.
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frogboy2002
Rookie
I read a lot of the customer feedback and one person said SW will probably not like this, glad to see this is not true!
I don’t know why, everything said about it playing bigger than a 93 are true. It’s wider than my Dunlop bio 200 by a descent margin, but the hoop is shorter. For me this helps because the sweet spot feels just a bit farther towards the tip so I am hitting the sweet spot much more often. That with the width and it’s an easier frame to play for me.
mhkeuns
Hall of Fame
I think it matters more with your style of play than actual placement of your hand. In my opinion, the 93P rewards attack minded players. It may not be the best option for the topspin baseliners who like to grind out points because there are lighter sticks that can generate more power and spin than the 93P. However, I’d rather pick my spot and build a strategy to end points sooner than hitting hard, spinny balls to the general area over and over until someone makes an error first.
By the way, the 93P is pretty versatile, imo. I’m more in between SW & Eastern now, but I was originally SW.
donnayblack99
Semi-Pro
TW Staff
Administrator
donnayblack99
Semi-Pro
That 93P 14x18 looks tempting...
Power Player
Bionic Poster
@kenyee
While the stiffness is definitely a contributing factor, I think the launch angle is more salient in producing easier depth. The higher RA did crisp up the feel though.
If people are happy with the 18x20 that's great! Don't fix something that isn't broken
-Sean, TW
Exactly. The 14x18 offering is awesome, but i get good trajectory with the 18x20. I have no real need to open up the pattern, but now other people have options - which is great.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I could see myself using the 18x20 as a doubles frame and a 14x18 as a singles frame for days I just want to trade groundies. But I'm too addicted to the 18x20 control to give it up as a main racket.
TheOtherBecker
Rookie
Anyone in or around SoCal who still loves the 18 x 20, I’d recommend a trip to the doctor ASAP. I just got back and they had the cure for what ails me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
@kenyee
While the stiffness is definitely a contributing factor, I think the launch angle is more salient in producing easier depth. The higher RA did crisp up the feel though.
If people are happy with the 18x20 that's great! Don't fix something that isn't broken
-Sean, TW
Thanks for the feedback, Sean. On the point of "crispness": was it the same string tension you played the 14x18 and the 18x20 at? If at the same tension, a 14x18 pattern would feel softer by virtue of the ball sinking more into the stringbed. And Prince might have decided to firm up the frame as an offset.
If people are happy with the 18x20 that's great! Don't fix something that isn't broken
I meant racquetholism
I'm a bit curious about how much crispness it added too....at least in theory, the open string pattern should taken away some feel so it should be about even.
Would be curious to see what the 18x20 folks think about the new pattern ..
Probably won't demo the pattern. Don't need more spin. Don't like the way open patterns look, especially after a session when the strings start moving.
Love the TW video reviews, but would be great if they could add a tester who is hitting the ball with more pace and spin.
donnayblack99
Semi-Pro
Where is Granville? He'd be perfect for this review.
I wish I had the extra cash to pick up a 14x18. I think it would be tempting to use both of them, but tend towards the 14x18 when wanting to trade groundstrokes more. I love the 18x20 though, I don't think it could be replaced for the touch and control, especially when flattening out the ball.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
It's definitely the handle shape. My FU finger and leading to my index finger are in insane pain. I had this only once before with a defective RF97 where Wilson forgot to add silicone to the handle. In general i've experimented with many different handle sizes and never had this issue. I certainly don't grip the racquet too tight, lol. I probably should have gone a grip size up when purchasing. I added a 2nd over grip but then I couldn't feel the bevels and the grip felt too rounded.
donnayblack99
Semi-Pro
Can prince phantom pallets be filled? There was a time when you popped the buttcap off and there was nothing to fill underneath...
