Prince Ripstick 98 Review

An in-depth review of the Prince Ripstick 98. This bold, firm, and spin-friendly racquet is built for aggressive baseliners who thrive on topspin and power.

Introduction

The Ripstick line has always stood out as something a little different in the Prince catalog. It’s not the classic, all-court, controlled type of frame you might associate with a Phantom or a Tour. Instead, it’s unapologetically aimed at the modern baseliner who wants easy spin and power. The Ripstick 98 adheres to that philosophy and takes it a step further.

The first thing you notice is the design. The aggressive cosmetics fit the personality of the racquet. This is not a “blend-in” frame. The same can be said about how it plays. From the baseline, you get a high launch angle and a lot of help producing spin. If you like to brush up on the ball, it rewards you with heavy trajectories and good depth without much effort. Players who hit flatter, however, might find that the ball tends to fly on them. Control is bad at all, but not the racquet’s strongest suit, so if you prefer carving through the court with flatter drives, it can be a bit of a mismatch.

Video review:

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Specifications

Prince’s 2025 Ripstick 98 is unmistakably a racquet made for a particular type of modern baseliner. It’s not a racquet that aims to be versatile; it doubles down on its character. The whippy yet stable specification appears to be particularly well-suited to the one-handed backhand player.

Specifications

Head Size: 98 in² (632 cm²)
Length: 27 in (68.58 cm)
Strung Weight: 11.4 oz (323 g)
Balance: approx. 12.65 in / 32.13 cm, ~7 pts head-light
Swingweight: ~328
Stiffness: 67 RA
Beam: 27 mm (tip) / 25.5 mm (mid) / 22 mm (throat)
Material Layup: Textreme/Zylon/Graphite with Anti-Torque System (ATS)
String Pattern: 16×18
Recommended String Tension: 48–58 lbs

How does it perform?

Power is decent, but not overwhelming. It sits in that window where you can dictate play without feeling like the ball is running away from you, provided you pair it with the right strings and tension. Don’t let the stiffness rating scare you too much. The O-ports are not the most fun to string, but they do improve the comfort of the frame. I would still avoid going above 55 lbs or 25 kg, but at 24/23 with a firm poly, it still played pretty comfortably.

At net, the racquet is stable enough, but it is not a scalpel. On serve, the open pattern and stiff layup provide good access to spin and some free power, which aligns well with the target player profile.

I’ve hit with several former pros using this racquet, and they really loved the whippiness and the fun aspect of the frame. One guy wanted to use this racquet for coaching and hitting, which I understand. I find it excellent on the one-handed backhand, but I am not confident enough with it in my game to take it into a match.

However, this is mainly because I am not the type of player (despite being a one-hander) that this is intended for. If you look at the Tennis Warehouse reviews, it looks like this racquet was a hit with the testers, so I definitely think it is worth a demo for many intermediate to advanced players who want a fast-swinging spin racquet.

Pros and cons

This isn’t an “all-rounder” racket. It’s a specialized weapon for a specific archetype: the aggressive, spin-first baseliner who values modern flair over old-school control.

Pros:

Spin potential off the charts
Solid, penetrating feel thanks to heavy swingweight
Comfortable string-bed feel via O-Ports
Great for spin-heavy serves and baseline weapons

Cons:

Not ideal for flatter hitters—control can suffer
Limited versatility across styles; best for baseline aggression

Who is it for?

Aggressive baseliners who play with heavy topspin
Players who want a modern, spin-oriented frame with free depth
Servers looking to add kick and slice with ease
Those who enjoy racquets with a bold, distinctive feel and design

Who is it not for?

Flatter hitters who rely on precision and linear ball trajectories
Players seeking a versatile, all-court frame
Players looking for plushness

Summary

Overall, the Ripstick 98 is a fun racquet to use if you fit the description. It’s not what I would call versatile—this is a specialized tool for players who want maximum spin and a modern baseline game. If that’s you, it can be very rewarding. If you’re looking for a frame that adapts to different styles and situations, there are better options in the Prince lineup, like the Phantom or Tour racquets.

In short, the Ripstick 98 is an extreme racquet for an extreme audience. If you like to play aggressively with heavy topspin, it delivers. If not, you may find it harder to control.

The Prince Ripstick 98 is a powerful, spin-friendly racquet designed for aggressive baseliners. With its open 16×18 pattern, firm layup, and hefty swingweight, it produces heavy topspin and penetrating shots with ease. Fun, specialized, and rewarding if you play with spin, but not the most versatile frame on the market.

If you are curious about which racquet might suit you, check out our Recommended Racquets and Recommended Strings.