Agent Orynge
Professional
The Princes that I've demoed had no feel at all to speak of. The Rebel 98 does have me intrigued, but I'm worried that I'll come away dissapointed again.
TW Review: Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 & 98
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
Have you tried with the string holes rather than the EXO ports? The feel is far different from what I hear. To me, the ports were very different but fine. IMO it's just about giving it time to adjust.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
The EXO 100 feels like an anti inflammatory on my wrist..lol. But the harder you hit the ball, the better and more plush it gets. I found them rather solid, but I did not like the rebel's feel that much.
I think the EXO tech requires a longer demo. They come through the air fast, so your timing gets thrown. Most people mistake this with a lack of power. The feel is real soft and plush compared to other sticks so that also is something that you may not like at first. For me, it just gets better and better, and I am able to play pain free tennis and still use high racquet head speed and aggressive spin.
I think the EXO tech requires a longer demo. They come through the air fast, so your timing gets thrown. Most people mistake this with a lack of power. The feel is real soft and plush compared to other sticks so that also is something that you may not like at first. For me, it just gets better and better, and I am able to play pain free tennis and still use high racquet head speed and aggressive spin.
Agent Orynge
Professional
I can only play with the demoes that are given to me. I'm sure Prince is a fine brand, and some of their racquets might even suit my preferences, but I'm not about to buy frames at random on the off chance they can be modified to feel better. First impressions are the only impressions that matter, and there are plenty of other brands that suit my tastes right off the bat. That having been said, I'm still open to new things, but the demo has to be a complete product. That's part of the reason why I can't get into Donnay.
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dParis
Hall of Fame
What does this mean? The weighting system? Something else?
TW Staff
Administrator
Sorry for the late reply! As for your question:
I enjoy the Rebel 98 more than a stock Boris Becker DC London (mine is customized and weighted up). Even though both are around 11 ounces, the Rebel 98 feels more stable. But for maneuverability, I'd give the slight edge to the London. I think that spin and comfort are about equal, even though the London reads stiffer on the RDC machine. As for power, the Rebel 98 provides more power from all areas of the court.
Both are very user friendly in my opinion. They are easy to swing, easy on the arm and have easy access to spin. Again, my London is weighted up, so I'd pick my London over the Rebel 98, but comparing stock racquets, I'd go with the Rebel 98 if I were to play a match tomorrow.
Hope that helps.
Jason, TW
Agent Orynge
Professional
Pretty much. I try to keep mods on my own frames to a minimum, for fear of peripheral (or unforseen) complications. The Donnays that I demoed were just OK, but as novel as the accesories are, they may have made them into completely different frames. I'll never know, because that's just part of the demo process.
dParis
Hall of Fame
That's good stuff. I'll have to demo.
The weighting system is only there as an option, I believe. I don't think the Donnay racquets are designed to take playability advantage of additional weight any more than any other frame. Do the newer X or XP Duals even sport this feature any more?
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Thanks J. Your words are very encouraging to me. I will definitely demo the Rebel 98 when you guys get the demos in. The 98 has a substantial swingweight of 325, so no lead would probably be needed for me. Just curious...how do you have the London weighted? How much and where?
I used the London for a good amount of time and liked it a lot, but lost some velocity on my serve. I since switched to the DC Pro and love it, but am intrigued by this new Rebel. I loved the Rebel 95 but it was over my head.
Also, have you ever tried the DC Pro. Seems like the specs would be right up your alley. BTW, another great job in the review by you and the crew. The reviews have really improved in the past 6 months.
Agent Orynge
Professional
Sure it's just an option, much like Prince's string holes / EXO ports are just an option. I think it's a fair comparison, which is why I threw Donnay out there in the first place.
dParis
Hall of Fame
I might have taken your words too literally. Whatever options you choose or don't choose, both racquets are complete in a physical sense, but I agree, the demo has to feel right and not leave you trusting to luck that tweaks and mods will make the racquet work for you.
Are there going to be grommet options on the new Rebel?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
EXO holes are the way to go imo..they grow on you. Most of the pros use them as well. Saw Ferrer with the giant ones from his PJd Shark last night.
TW Staff
Administrator
Thanks for the feedback! We continuously strive to make our videos better and better.
As for my customization..... I wanted just a bit more weight and more torsional stability in the hoop. So I added lead at 3 and 9 o'clock and then counter balanced it with some lead at the point where the handle meets the frame. I didn't want to change that low swingweight too much. Brought up the overall static weight to 11.6 ounces.
I've tried the DC Pro and I do like it. I find it to be more powerful than the London. But I didn't like the thicker beam width and found it to be not as maneuverable as I wanted.
Jason, TW
themitchmann
Hall of Fame
^^^Dealer book says the cross section on the 95 is 20mm, and the 98 is 21mm.
kimguroo
Legend
what is the power level for 98?
themitchmann
Hall of Fame
775 for the 98, 750 for the 95.
kimguroo
Legend
I wanted power level range of 800-850 for 98.
I will stick with my Japanese rebel 95 and 105.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
thanks for the response. I don't find the DC Pro more powerful than the London. I think they both have a healthy amount of pop. I agree it may be slightly more maneuverable, but I got used to the little extra swingweight pretty quickly. One last thing Jay...you were crushing the ball with the new Rebel like I have never seen you before. You should give that stick some serious consideration
TW Staff
Administrator
thanks for the response. I don't find the DC Pro more powerful than the London. I think they both have a healthy amount of pop. I agree it may be slightly more maneuverable, but I got used to the little extra swingweight pretty quickly. One last thing Jay...you were crushing the ball with the new Rebel like I have never seen you before. You should give that stick some serious consideration
I may have take a look at the DC Pro again then.
Thanks for feedback! Yea, I really enjoy that racquet, its part of a group of racquets I'm considering switching to. On the list of potential racquets: Prince EXO3 Rebel 98, Slazenger Pro Braided, Head Youtek IG Prestige S, Head Youtek IG Radical MP, Dunlop Biomimetic 400 Tour.
And I just hit with a new Donnay that tickled my fancy too. Oh, decisions, decisions!
Jason, TW
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
,
Why are you dumping the London?
I thought the Bio 400 Tour was nothing special and waaay too headlite.
Not sure about the new Heads, but then you have to adjust to that grip shape.
The Slazenger is a VERY advanced players frame. The Rad will be a closed pattern, no?
and the Prestige may be too low powered for you. You should go with the Reb 98 or revisit
the DC Pro, but give yourself time to adjust to it. It feels polarized, but that seems to really work for me especially on serves and overheads.
I may have take a look at the DC Pro again then.
Thanks for feedback! Yea, I really enjoy that racquet, its part of a group of racquets I'm considering switching to. On the list of potential racquets: Prince EXO3 Rebel 98, Slazenger Pro Braided, Head Youtek IG Prestige S, Head Youtek IG Radical MP, Dunlop Biomimetic 400 Tour.
And I just hit with a new Donnay that tickled my fancy too. Oh, decisions, decisions!
Jason, TW
Why are you dumping the London?
I thought the Bio 400 Tour was nothing special and waaay too headlite.
Not sure about the new Heads, but then you have to adjust to that grip shape.
The Slazenger is a VERY advanced players frame. The Rad will be a closed pattern, no?
and the Prestige may be too low powered for you. You should go with the Reb 98 or revisit
the DC Pro, but give yourself time to adjust to it. It feels polarized, but that seems to really work for me especially on serves and overheads.
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Anton
Legend
it is? Why?
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
95 inch to start.
I may have take a look at the DC Pro again then.
Thanks for feedback! Yea, I really enjoy that racquet, its part of a group of racquets I'm considering switching to. On the list of potential racquets: Prince EXO3 Rebel 98, Slazenger Pro Braided, Head Youtek IG Prestige S, Head Youtek IG Radical MP, Dunlop Biomimetic 400 Tour.
And I just hit with a new Donnay that tickled my fancy too. Oh, decisions, decisions!
Jason, TW
I am interested in any feedback on how the EXO 3 Rebel 98 compares to the EXO Tour 18x20. Any input appreciated.
Anton
Legend
its a stiff 11.5oz midplus frame, almost tweenish. I thought it was pretty easy to use.
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dParis
Hall of Fame
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
yes. They are interchangeable. You can order them from Prince if need be.
dParis
Hall of Fame
Thanks, Jack.
Agent Orynge
Professional
I disagree. While the Slaz may be player-ish, it's not on the same level of 'advanced' as modern, 12+ ounce frames. The 95 inch headsize - easily within the bounds of midplus classification - is irrelevant. Have you hit with the Slaz?
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Jack, I always enjoy your posts and thoughts, but you crack me up at how absolute you are with the stick that you are currently playing. As I've been looking at rackets over the last few months, I've done a ton of searching here and have found you owning and raving about the Head IG Speed 300, 315 16x19, and the IG Instinct MP. Over those times you commented on the grip shape but clearly it was good enough for you to own and rave about those sticks. You gave up on the London Tour, the IG Instinct MP, and some of the other sticks because you found that you wanted that more powerful tweener, but now the Rebel 98 creeps in?
I'm curious how long you hit the 400 Tour for? It has a different feel for sure as stock with it being so HL and having a low SW, but you and the rest of the folks on this forum are so into modding with lead, it's not hard to add a little and bring up the SW. For me though, I've found it to work very well stock and I can see why Jason really likes this one. This stick is also more in line with the EXO Tour 100 and IG Speed 315 and since you moved passed those, I'm not surprised you didn't find it that great.
Even though I love the 400 Tour, that doesn't mean I'd recommend it for everyone. The DC Pro is great I'm sure, but it isn't the holy grail.
I don't mean this as an attack, and hopefully you won't take it that way, but I just had to comment given your racket journey that I've come across as I've been in search for my stick.
I tend to agree. Just like the Dunlop Bio 200 Lite is not necessarily a full players racket just because it has 95 head. It's weight and characteristics are more intermediate, and Dunlop even rates it for 3.5 - 5.5 players. I think the Slaz is in the same line although it's probably more 4.0 to open.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
True, but TW recommends it for 4.5 level minimum. That's no tweener.
TW Staff
Administrator
There really is nothing wrong with the Londons, but with so many great racquets coming out, I can't resist the urge to make a switch. It's not the London, it's me.
The Slazanger may be best suited, spec wise, for an advanced player, but I think it's easy to use. I didn't feel like it was sluggish at all and had great blend of power, control and spin. As for tight string patterns, I don't really have a problem with them because I was a former Radical and Blade Tour user, both have the 18x20 pattern.
The 400 Tour is nice and head light, which is why I think I like it so much. Very whippy. And it packs a punch!
My 2 Cents.
Jason, TW
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Jack, I always enjoy your posts and thoughts, but you crack me up at how absolute you are with the stick that you are currently playing. As I've been looking at rackets over the last few months, I've done a ton of searching here and have found you owning and raving about the Head IG Speed 300, 315 16x19, and the IG Instinct MP. Over those times you commented on the grip shape but clearly it was good enough for you to own and rave about those sticks. You gave up on the London Tour, the IG Instinct MP, and some of the other sticks because you found that you wanted that more powerful tweener, but now the Rebel 98 creeps in?
I'm curious how long you hit the 400 Tour for? It has a different feel for sure as stock with it being so HL and having a low SW, but you and the rest of the folks on this forum are so into modding with lead, it's not hard to add a little and bring up the SW. For me though, I've found it to work very well stock and I can see why Jason really likes this one. This stick is also more in line with the EXO Tour 100 and IG Speed 315 and since you moved passed those, I'm not surprised you didn't find it that great.
Even though I love the 400 Tour, that doesn't mean I'd recommend it for everyone. The DC Pro is great I'm sure, but it isn't the holy grail.
I don't mean this as an attack, and hopefully you won't take it that way, but I just had to comment given your racket journey that I've come across as I've been in search for my stick.
I never liked the Speed 300..tried it briefly but quickly moved to the Speed 315, which I loved. I only dropped it because I thought it might be too much racquet for my level, but I really enjoyed my time with it. I thought the IG Instinct was destined to be the one, but it never really stood out for me in any way. I enjoyed the London (not the tour) for a season and did pretty well with it, but found out that I served much better with stiffer sticks like the Speed 315 and DC Pro. I wasn't crazy about the DC Pro off the bat, but something happened and things just started clicking with it. I have been playing improved tennis with it and have played some of my best tennis ever with the DCP. You have to realize that I only started playing 3 yrs ago, so my game has been evolving through these different racquet journeys and there was a lot of experimenting to find what works best for me. I tried the 400 tour with demo strings hitting with a ball machine for 15 mins and it just didn't grab me enough to want to playtest it some more. I seem to do best with sticks that are only slightly headlite...like 3-5 pts max. It helps get more on my serves and gives more plow behind the ball. I think the 400 Tours extreme HL balance is probably what turned me off and I though the feel on impact was very non-descript and vague. I haven't really liked any of the Bio line nearly as much as the Aerogel 4D line. I might try it again if possible, but usually my first instincts hold true. Glad you are enjoying it. I probably should test out the regular 400. With some weight added I could bring it to my ideal specs. I gotta say though...that green color is just butt ugly
I want to try the Rebel 98 because Jason loves it and we seem to have the same taste in racquets. It has my perfect swingweight on paper (325) and seems like one of those tweenerish players racquets with a lot of pop. Like I said...I have no holes in my game with the DC Pro, but am always interested in at least trying similarly spec'd racquets.
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it's me.
Jason, TW
Isn't that the case with most racket switches?
Unless you develop TE or some other injury, are coming back from a long time off, or need to replace a racket that has been discontinued, a racket change is pretty much always the person. I know I've been there with the WANT to change of a racket rather than the NEED. I never liked the Speed 300..tried it briefly but quickly moved to the Speed 315, which I loved. I only dropped it because I thought it might be too much racquet for my level, but I really enjoyed my time with it. I thought the IG Instinct was destined to be the one, but it never really stood out for me in any way. I enjoyed the London (not the tour) for a season and did pretty well with it, but found out that I served much better with stiffer sticks like the Speed 315 and DC Pro. I wasn't crazy about the DC Pro off the bat, but something happened and things just started clicking with it. I have been playing improved tennis with it and have played some of my best tennis ever with the DCP. You have to realize that I only started playing 3 yrs ago, so my game has been evolving through these different racquet journeys and there was a lot of experimenting to find what works best for me. I tried the 400 tour with demo strings hitting with a ball machine for 15 mins and it just didn't grab me enough to want to playtest it some more. I seem to do best with sticks that are only slightly headlite...like 3-5 pts max. It helps get more on my serves and gives more plow behind the ball. I think the 400 Tours extreme HL balance is probably what turned me off and I though the feel on impact was very non-descript and vague. I haven't really liked any of the Bio line nearly as much as the Aerogel 4D line. I might try it again if possible, but usually my first instincts hold true. Glad you are enjoying it. I probably should test out the regular 400. With some weight added I could bring it to my ideal specs. I gotta say though...that green color is just butt ugly
I want to try the Rebel 98 because Jason loves it and we seem to have the same taste in racquets. It has my perfect swingweight on paper (325) and seems like one of those tweenerish players racquets with a lot of pop. Like I said...I have no holes in my game with the DC Pro, but am always interested in at least trying similarly spec'd racquets.
All very fair points and a great discussion. I'm glad you didn't take my note personally.
Too funny on the 400 colors. I'm actually a huge fan of bright green, so I love the PJ of the 400 line.
I too tend to follow Jason's reviews and posts closely as I too tend to have similar characteristics to him.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
There really is nothing wrong with the Londons, but with so many great racquets coming out, I can't resist the urge to make a switch. It's not the London, it's me.
The Slazanger may be best suited, spec wise, for an advanced player, but I think it's easy to use. I didn't feel like it was sluggish at all and had great blend of power, control and spin. As for tight string patterns, I don't really have a problem with them because I was a former Radical and Blade Tour user, both have the 18x20 pattern.
The 400 Tour is nice and head light, which is why I think I like it so much. Very whippy. And it packs a punch!
My 2 Cents.
Jason, TW
Be careful with that Slaz J. 73 Stiffness Rating! You complain of elbow pain sometimes and that won't help that.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
All very fair points and a great discussion. I'm glad you didn't take my note personally.
Too funny on the 400 colors. I'm actually a huge fan of bright green, so I love the PJ of the 400 line.
Jason always looks for "maneuverability" it seems like, but I don't like a "whippy" racquet as much. I prefer to take a relaxed swing and let some of the racquet's heft do the work. That is why the DC Pro works so well for me. Just right swingweight...not whippy but not sluggish. Plows through the ball nicely for a 11 oz racquet.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
It's OK. But for me it's too much playa and not enough tweena. And it looks like a pizza oven pan.
You guys haven't posted any written review in a while
Maybe if they did only videos reviews then more rackets could be tested and reviewed as they would have more time.
dParis
Hall of Fame
Got to hold the 98 today, but the demo was out. Had nice heft to it; I'm really looking forward to trying it. The 22m beam is sleek through the face of the racquet. I think it's going to be easy to generate a lot of racquet head speed with it. The head shape was more elongated than I expected. Long mains for a 98"sq. racquet so expect a little extra pop off the stringbed.
Word I got was they had a few demos out at a local club and the Reb 98 was widely applauded by Prince users and non-Prince users alike.
Had nice heft to it; I'm really looking forward to trying it. The 22m beam is sleek through the face of the racquet. I think it's going to be easy to generate a lot of racquet head speed with it. The head shape was more elongated than I expected. Long mains for a 98"sq. racquet so expect a little extra pop off the stringbed.Word I got was they had a few demos out at a local club and the Reb 98 was widely applauded by Prince users and non-Prince users alike.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Got a demo today and will have a hit with it tomorrow. It looks smaller than a 98 due to the very long and narrow headshape. Looks more like a 95. The racquet feels very light through the air. Feels lighter than the published 325 swingweight. My demo is strung with full multi...Gamma live wire. I will report back tomorrow afternoon. The Rebel 98 has almost the same specs as my Becker DCP except the stiffness rating is much lower, so it should feel much flexier.
dParis
Hall of Fame
Good stuff, Jack. I look forward to your report.
I thought it looked bigger than 98" due to the head shape. Then again, it did seem pretty narrow when holding it out to my side...
The shape reminded me a little of the Head IG Instinct, but in a much sleeker frame.
tom4ny
Professional
I am supposed to be getting a blacked out rebel 98 and am looking forward to playing with this frame as the specs and head shape are close to perfect for me. I am assuming that it will have a bit more juice but less precision than the Bio 300T. The flex rating and string ports may take some adjustment so I may string tighter than usual. Still, I am excited about the Rebel 98!
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Well my partner couldn't make it today so I had to settle for a wall instead.
The Rebel 98 feels nice through the air...not too light, not too heavy. Feels like its got a pretty lively stringbed and has a nice cushioned feel on impact. Not much more to report for now. Hopefully I will get to play with it for real tonite or tomorrow.
I see a new Avatar coming, lol.
Agent Orynge
Professional
I was thinking the same thing. You can almost smell it in the air...
