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Howard Head and the modern tennis racquet

ill

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Agree, good article.

Is the Prince manufacturing company related to the Prince racquet company?

What pros still use Prince?
yes, they are related.

I am pretty sure Prince is going under though.

I think the Bryan Bros still use Prince. I actually looked at their Tour 95 racquet, but I really don't like those holes on the side of the racquet.

I think Isner uses Prince as well.
 

cezero

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Monfils and Ferrer used Prince racquets in the past. not sure if they stiill do.
 

nuraman00

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yes, they are related.

I am pretty sure Prince is going under though.

I think the Bryan Bros still use Prince. I actually looked at their Tour 95 racquet, but I really don't like those holes on the side of the racquet.

I think Isner uses Prince as well.


What is causing that to happen? How can a company be prominent for so long, then suffer this alleged fate?
 

nuraman00

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yes, they are related.

I am pretty sure Prince is going under though.

I think the Bryan Bros still use Prince. I actually looked at their Tour 95 racquet, but I really don't like those holes on the side of the racquet.

I think Isner uses Prince as well.

Good calls.

JohnIsner_AFP.jpg


CaijXl-UsAEALIg.jpg
 

nuraman00

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This thread says Mike has now gone to Wilson.

Bob has gone to Solinco.

+++++++++++++++++++

Bryan Bro's Finished with Prince?

Seth, Oct 29, 2017
So we all know that Mike has ditched Prince for, at least cosmetically speaking, a Wilson Ultra 100 CV.

They’ve both signed a deal for a few months now with Solinco, using Hyper G and carrying Solinco bags.

Today, Bob posted an Instagram story with a video of him spinning a Solinco RACQUET (Shadow model). We’ll see if they use them in Paris this week.
 

ill

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According to Wiki

Head founded the ski (and later tennis racquet) making firm Head in 1950. Later he became chairman of Prince Manufacturing Inc.
 

Old Lion

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What is causing that to happen? How can a company be prominent for so long, then suffer this alleged fate?

I think too many others do it better than them now. Babolat, Yonex, even Head and Vokyl have surpassed them. Tbh those guys have passed Wilson too but Wilson has the big stars under contract. Wilson made the fatal mistake of going in the 3 piece racket direction temporarily which might have sunk them if not for the Williams sisters and Federer sticking with them.
 

nuraman00

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I think too many others do it better than them now. Babolat, Yonex, even Head and Vokyl have surpassed them. Tbh those guys have passed Wilson too but Wilson has the big stars under contract. Wilson made the fatal mistake of going in the 3 piece racket direction temporarily which might have sunk them if not for the Williams sisters and Federer sticking with them.

What is the alternative to 3 piece?
 

nuraman00

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According to Wiki

Head founded the ski (and later tennis racquet) making firm Head in 1950. Later he became chairman of Prince Manufacturing Inc.

Thanks.

When he was chairman of Prince Manufacturing, how did they let him be a chairman when he had his own company, Head? Especially one that made competing products.
 

Old Lion

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What is the alternative to 3 piece?

Most rackets today are 1 piece. They had 2 piece rackets where the handle is bolted to the rest of the racket, but I have not seen 1 of those in a while either. The 3 piece was a joke. It was basically a 2 piece but with a small 1 inch piece of something at the joint. Could make an argument that it was a 2 piece also.
 

ill

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Thanks.

When he was chairman of Prince Manufacturing, how did they let him be a chairman when he had his own company, Head? Especially one that made competing products.
I believe he sold Head before going over to work for Prince. Head wasn't as big into tennis back then, more of a ski company. They started dabbling in tennis but no where near Princes level.

I didn't realize Howard Head was such an interesting dude. Terrible skiier, but blames the equipment and makes it better. Terrible tennis player but blames the equipment and makes it better. That's impressive
 

nuraman00

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Most rackets today are 1 piece. They had 2 piece rackets where the handle is bolted to the rest of the racket, but I have not seen 1 of those in a while either. The 3 piece was a joke. It was basically a 2 piece but with a small 1 inch piece of something at the joint. Could make an argument that it was a 2 piece also.

Can you post a picture of a 3 piece?
 

nuraman00

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I believe he sold Head before going over to work for Prince. Head wasn't as big into tennis back then, more of a ski company. They started dabbling in tennis but no where near Princes level.

Thanks.

I didn't realize Howard Head was such an interesting dude. Terrible skiier, but blames the equipment and makes it better. Terrible tennis player but blames the equipment and makes it better. That's impressive

Agree, great post.
 

nuraman00

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Monfils and Ferrer used Prince racquets in the past. not sure if they stiill do.

It appears in 2015, Monfils used Prince, but in 2016, he used Wilson.

momfils.jpg


1Le2pRS.jpg
 

nuraman00

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How difficult would it be for Prince to get back in equal footing with those other companies you mentioned?

I could be wrong, but I don't think manufacturing would be a barrier. They wouldn't have to significantly change the materials used, correct?

Just design better racquets?
 

ill

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How difficult would it be for Prince to get back in equal footing with those other companies you mentioned?

I could be wrong, but I don't think manufacturing would be a barrier. They wouldn't have to significantly change the materials used, correct?

Just design better racquets?
I think their attempts with the power holes or whatever the heck they were killed their brand. I wasn't going to buy one of those ugly things even if it did have some kind of effect on my game. It was a stupid gimmick and they went in with both feet.

and what sucks is I wear Prince T22 Lites on the court. I may need to start stockpiling them.
 
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