The Phantom series is Prince’s most popular racquet series. Plush, controlled, and good-sized sweet spot. This is my Prince Phantom 97P Racquet Review.
The new release of Prince Phantom racquets includes 7 racquet models so there is plenty to choose from. One addition to the Phantom line this time around is the 97P. Based on the bestselling 93P, the 97P comes with 4 extra sq inches but retains many of the features from the midsize brother. So how different is it? Well, you have to read this Prince Phantom 97P Racquet Review to find out.
As you might know, I love the Prince Phantom 93P (18×20) (click for my review). It is just such a fast-feeling racquet with a classical feel. Thanks to the round shape it also plays bigger than its head size, but I have often wondered what would happen if you increased it. Now I do not need to wonder anymore, because here is the 97P.
Specs
The Prince Phantom 97P is a bit lighter than the 93P. Reason: a larger head size does not need as much weight to play stable.
Unstrung specs:
Weight: 320g
Balance: 31 cm, 12.2 in
Swing weight: 295
Beamwidth: 20.5/19.5/16.5 mm (CTS)
String pattern: 16×18
String tension: 24 kg (+-2kg) or 53 lbs (+- 5lb)
Code: TC330A-97 7T5F
I tried it strung with a full bed of synthetic gut (prototype string) and strung with a hybrid of Babolat Xcel
1.30 in the mains @56 lbs and HEAD Lynx tour in the crosses @54 lbs
Strung specs with the hybrid setup:
Weight: 342 grams
Balance: 31.8 cm
Swing weight: 326
I think these are excellent specs for attacking players looking for control-oriented racquets.
Tech
The Phantom series does not come loaded with tech lingo. Tech included:
Anti-Torque System in the shaft and at 10 and 2 o’clock in the head. This included both Textreme and Twaron to create a more stable racquet and to increase plow-through.
The CTS Beam is quite unique for Prince racquets. The beam is ultra-thin in the shaft (16.5 mm) and moves up to 20.5 mm in the head.
Ps. Racquet nerds will know Twaron from old-school HEAD classics like the HEAD Pro Tour 630. DS.
How does it play?
I think most tennis nerds were excited about this model. The 93P is a fan-favorite, but a lot of players find it a bit too demanding, especially on defense. So is the extra square inches you get with the 97P solving this issue?
Well, everything around tennis racquets is a trade-off. You add something here and subtract something there. You rarely get everything you want at once, in one racquet. And if you find that you do, make sure you play with that racquet!
The main benefit of larger head size is an increased sweet spot and stability. But can a thin beam, low stiffness, and head-light balance create a stable response? Well, yes and no. In stock form, it flows effortlessly through the air and you can still blast winner. But it does suffer from some instability at times and I would not say that the sweet spot is significantly larger than on the 93P.
It still feels beautiful on impact, plusher than the 93P. Like a mix of a Pro Staff 85 and a HEAD Pro Tour 630. But I am still not convinced that this racquet is an overall improvement over the 93P. It is still quite difficult to use, the sweet spot is not significantly bigger and you are not getting much more spin despite the larger head and 16×18 string pattern.
For the right player, I think this one can create a holy grail-level of racquet. One of my hitting partners, an Italian coach living in Malta, tried the racquet the other day and exclaimed: “This is a RACQUET, THIS is a racquet!”.
Pros and Cons
I really, really like these old-school Phantoms. Box beam, plush, controlled and still with a good plow-through. They are not that easy to use, but for the right player, they are the best frames out there.
Pros:
+ Great feel
+ Excellent control
Cons:
– Smaller sweet spot
– Not the most spin-friendly
Player type: For advanced players who like to attack, enjoy traditional racquets and have a flatter game style.
The key question for many will be: is the 97P better than the 93P?
I find that they are quite similar. The 93P is a bit faster through the air, while the 97P has a slightly sweeter feel. In stock form, I find the plow-through to be a bit better with the 93P and that is why that is likely my preference of the two.
But I think fans of the 93P will love the 97P. And if you are looking for an easier to use Pro Staff 85, either of these frames will make you very happy.
Have you the Prince Phantom 97P and what did you think about it?
6 comments
I’m looking forward to this model. Unfortunately there have poor distribution of Prince in Russia.
Thanks Jonas. This seems to confirm the feedback on TW forum that this racquet plays more like the Phantom Pro 100P than the 93P, especially the instability outside a relatively small sweet spot (compared to the head size). It is quite interesting that the 93P (both 18×20 and 14×18) have a sweet spot that’s more generous than their 93 sq. in. head would suggest, whereas it’s the opposite for both the 100P and the 97P. And all these racquets share the same box beam frame. It’s probably more suited to a mid than a mid plus, and perhaps they should have limited the increase to 95 sq. in. rather than 97.
Speaking of 95 sq. in., I didn’t fully gel with the Dunlop CX200 Tour 16×19 I got, as the launch angle is much flatter on ground strokes than what I expected for a 16×19 pattern, though it’s very good on serves and at the net. Out of curiosity, and nostalgia (the cross bar), I managed to pick up a couple of Prince Classic Graphite 100, and after period of adaptation to the 100 sq. in. head, I can safely say that I find it better than the Phantom Pro 100P in virtually every area. Bigger sweet spot, better stability, more power on serve, and much better feel. It is truly one of the sweetest feeling racquets I have ever played, incredibly plush. I know you have tried the Classic OS 107, but I think you would feel more at home with the PCG100. Definitely give it a try, if you can procure one.
Out of curiosity, how does this frame compare to say a Wilson Ultra Tour or a Head Prestige MP Graphene 360+ ? I’ve been trying to find something easier to use than my Head Radical Tour MP (Bumblebee). This year has been shaping up to be a year of fun releases!
STANISLAV, if You are in Moscow, I can give a try (grip 3). Collected almos all Phantoms :))) prosto81 ??? ????? ??? ???
I got one of these recently and based on one hit I really like it.
Early days obviously but I was hitting consistently with it straight away. I wanted something more flexible than my regular Pure Strike 16×19 which is a bit stiff and uncomfortable at times.
Strung with Hyper-G Soft at 40lbs it’s very comfortable but still controlled. It’s definitely less powerful than the Pure Strike but I’m not seeing any less spin or directional control.
I didn’t notice the small sweetspot that you’d expect from a flexible frame. It seemed no more or less demanding than my Pure Strike.
I’ve got a Vcore Pro 97HD too and tried that side by side with the Prince and didn’t feel the sweet spot was significantly different.
Going to keep using the Prince for a few weeks and see how I get on. I’d like more arm comfort without slowing down my strokes or moving to a multifilament and the 97P might be that racquet.
Time will tell.
Thanks for that advice on stringing. A soft poly at 40 lbs might indeed do the trick. I am kind of in the same place, in that I want more arm comfort too. My theory is that I have been using polys too long and that’s why my arm has become a bit sensitive. I am leaning towards the Phantom 93P 18×20. But you make a good case for the 97P, too.
How did you get along in the meantime with the 97? Any updates on your earlier comment?
Cheers.