Prince is a brand that has a unique place in tennis history. Many mainstream manufacturers have chased ultra-stiff, wide-body designs for effortless free power, but Prince has always been the spiritual home of pure ball pocketing, arm-friendly flex and iconic thin-beam control.
Prince frames are built for players who value responsive feedback and aggressive ball shaping from the legendary Original Graphite (POG) bloodline to their state-of-the-art TeXtreme and ATS (Anti-Torque System) layups.
The company’s contemporary line of rackets is structured around specific performance silos: the Phantom series is the benchmark for traditional ultra-flexible control; the Tour line embodies the modern player’s combination of power, precision and spin; the Ripstick family provides explosive comfort and aerodynamic whip with giant O-Ports; the Ripcord series offers easy, fast power; and the Legacy line provides oversized comfort and ease of play.
Prince has a phenomenal array of performance options to take your game to the next level, including the standouts Phantom 100X, Tour 98, Tour 100P, and Ripstick 98.
The main Prince lines
Phantom (Flexible Precision / Classic Feel)
Prince’s Phantom family is for traditionalists and advanced shotmakers. Boasting razor-thin beam profiles (often down to 16-20 mm) and sub-60 RA flex ratings, the Phantom lineup provides buttery pocketing, incredible dwell time and surgical accuracy. Made for the player with a full, fast swing who sets their own pace and wants a plush, arm-friendly connection to the ball.
Within the Phantom family, you get options like:
- Phantom 100X (305g / 16×18) – The quintessential thin-beam control frame offering massive dwell time and easy spin.
- Phantom 100P – A slightly more traditional box-beam spec with an open 16×18 pattern for supreme baseline touch and volley feel.
- Phantom 107G – A modern reimagining of the classic Prince oversized graphite player frame, blending huge sweet-spot forgiveness with rare flexible control.
- O3 Phantom 100X – Combines the signature thin Phantom layup with giant O-Port string tech for maximum string movement and zero vibration.
Tour (Modern Control / Spin & Speed)
The Prince Tour racquet series is their most versatile, high-performance competitive line. Tour frames are improved with TeXtreme with Twaron and ATS technology in the hoop, delivering a more solid, crisper response than the Phantom line but without ever feeling stiff. They offer direct point-and-shoot accuracy, fast air speed and predictable trajectory control for today’s aggressive baseliners and all-court players.
Within the Tour family, you get options like:
- Tour 98 (305g) – The surgical modern player’s frame balancing crisp precision with rapid maneuverability (16×19 pattern).
- Tour 100P (305g) – The dense 18×20 pattern hero, delivering laser targeting and low-launch trajectory control.
- Tour 100 (310g) – A stable, plow-through-oriented 100 sq in frame with an open 16×18 string bed for heavy baseline ball-striking.
- Tour 100 (290g) – A lighter, faster variant tailored for rising intermediates seeking easy head speed and arm-friendly precision.
Ripstick (Comfortable Power / Heavy Spin)
The Ripstick series is built from the ground up for massive power, explosive spin and vibration dampening. With Prince’s signature, oversized O-Ports along the edges of the frame, the Ripstick reduces aerodynamic drag and allows the strings to move freely for exaggerated snapback and lively net clearance.
Within the Ripstick family, you get options like:
- Ripstick 98 – The more surgical, controlled spin weapon for intermediate-to-advanced ball strikers wanting power without losing court discipline. See our full review of the Prince Ripstick 98.
- Ripstick 100 (300g) – The flagship spin and power cannon, offering deep pocketing, high ball launch, and plush dampening.
- Ripstick 100 (280g) – A rapid, lightweight platform designed for fast swings and effortless depth.
Ripcord & Warrior (Accessible Performance & Speed)
The Ripcord and Warrior lines are great values for club players, improving intermediates and aggressive hitters looking for modern speed and pop without the big price tag. They use standard grommets and modern beam geometries to provide a direct, responsive feel and easy playability.
Within this range, you get these options:
- Ripcord 98 XS – An aggressive, spin-loaded 98 sq in frame built with an open 16×18 pattern for fast, attacking tennis.
- Ripcord 100 (300g / 280g) – Versatile, speedy modern frames designed to deliver clean power and spin off the ground.
- Warrior 100 (300g / 285g) – Reliable graphite performance workhorses offering straightforward power, comfort, and baseline consistency.
Legacy & Premier (Oversized Luxury / Arm-Friendly Power)
Prince pretty much created the oversize category and the Legacy (and the Premier series) carries on that legacy. The frames are built with extended lengths, generous head sizes and O3 dampening for maximum sweet spot size, no shock to the elbow and shoulder and to allow players with shorter, compact swings to hit deep, penetrating shots with zero strain.
Within this family, key models include:
- O3 Legacy 105 – A versatile midplus-oversize frame combining manageable handling, plush comfort, and easy spin.
- O3 Legacy 110 / 120 – The ultimate game-improvement and doubles weapons offering massive sweet spots, ultra-cushioned contact, and effortless depth.
Which line suits which player
| Racquet | Key Specs (Unstrung) | Feel & Flex | Power & Spin Profile | On-Court Strengths | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Phantom 100X (305g) |
100 sq in 305g / 315 mm 16×18 pattern 22/20.5/18 mm beam |
Ultra-flexible (~58 RA), buttery pocketing, supreme dwell time | Low power, high spin bite from open 16×18 string spacing | Exceptional arm comfort, touch volleys, drop shots, and flat redirection | Full swingers, purists, and players needing maximum joint protection without sacrificing precision. |
| Prince Tour 98 (305g) |
98 sq in 305g / 315 mm 16×19 pattern 23/23/20 mm beam |
Crisp, connected, highly stable with ATS / TeXtreme layup (~64 RA) | Controlled pop, predictable launch angle, and solid spin access | Point-and-shoot accuracy, fast aerodynamic swing speed, off-center torsional stability | Modern all-court attackers wanting crisp feedback, agile maneuvering, and aggressive baseline targeting. |
| Prince Tour 100P |
100 sq in 305g / 310 mm 18×20 pattern 22.5/23.5/21 mm beam |
Plush, classic box-beam response (~62 RA) with solid dampening | Low power, laser-flat trajectory with dense 18×20 string bed | Pinpoint depth control, driving backhands, and heavy serve returns | Advanced players who love a dense string pattern for surgical trajectory control inside a forgiving 100 sq in hoop. |
| Prince Ripstick 98 |
98 sq in 305g / 315 mm 16×18 pattern 27/25.5/22 mm beam |
Firm frame (~67 RA) softened by large, shock-absorbing O-Ports | Medium-high power, explosive snapback, and high net clearance | Heavy RPM topspin, kick serves, deep baseline penetration with minimal effort | Aggressive topspin baseliners wanting massive rotation, easy power, and zero arm harshness. |
Best Prince Racquets I’ve Tested
If I had to compile a “best of Prince” list of the specific frames I’ve playtested on court, these four stand out:
1. Prince Phantom 100X (305g)
It’s my standard go-to recommendation whenever a player comes to me with elbow soreness but won’t give up a player-spec frame. The Phantom 100X has a wafer-thin beam and a sub-60 RA, so hitting with it is very plush and soft. The 16×18 string pattern offers plenty of spin bite so you can swing full out without fear of overhitting. Touch volleys and drop shots at the net are great fun..
2. Prince Tour 98 (305g)
The Prince Tour 98 is their most complete modern player racquet. The TeXtreme and ATS layup also help the frame resist twisting on off-center hits remarkably well. I found the response to be crisp and connected. It slices through the air quickly, allowing for pinpoint targeting as you step inside the baseline to control with flat or rolling groundstrokes. Feels like a proper players frame.
3. Prince Tour 100P
For lovers of dense string patterns, Tour 100P is a solid choice. It has a forgiving 100 sq in head size, but with an 18×20 pattern to give you the pinpoint launch control of a smaller, more classic frame with the sweet-spot of a modern frame. I strung it mainly with softer polys at about 48-50 lbs and got excellent directional control and feel on flat backhands and serve returns.
4. Prince Ripstick 98
The Ripstick 98 was a surprise for me in testing. The O-Port frames can feel a bit disconnected at times but the 98 sq in head adds a lot of control without sacrificing that explosive trampoline snapback they are known for. The ball comes off the string bed with heavy spin and easy baseline depth, while insulating your arm from any harsh shock.
Final take
If I had to rank these top Prince frames for player profile, it would depend on what your game needs:
- Prince Phantom 100X (305g) For the purist and full swinger who demands maximum flex, plush dwell time and classic thin-beam control.
- The Prince Tour 98 caters to the modern all-court attacker seeking an agile, stable and precise weapon for aggressive shotmaking.
- The Prince Tour 100P is the go-to for players who love the 18×20 pattern and want laser-like shot control in a comfortable 100 square inch head
- Prince Ripstick 98 is perfect for baseline spin grinders who want free power, generous net clearance and supreme arm comfort.
You can buy all the Prince racquet models over at Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada), Tennis Only (AU) or at Tennis Warehouse Europe (code TNERD10 for 10% off).
