How to Compare Prince Racquets

Prince Sports is one of the top three racquet manufacturers in the market today. As with other companies, Prince designs rackets that meet the needs of a wide range of players. Knowing how to compare racquets for power level, head size, string pattern and weight differences will help you choose a Prince racquet to suit your playing style and level.

Things You'll Need

  • Assortment of Prince racquets
  • Access to a local tennis pro shop
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Examine a few Prince tennis racquets and take note of any numerical markings on the inside of the V-shaped throat of the racquet or on the frame at the bottom of the racquet head. Prince designates the power level of each racquet with a number. If you want to compare racquets by power level, the higher the number, the more powerful the racquet. The power level can range from 600 to 1700. A racquet with a power level at the higher end of the range will do a lot of the work for you when hitting a ball, where as a racket at the lower end of the range will require you to supply the power behind the shot.

    • 2

      Count the number of main strings on the head of the racket. The main strings are the longer strings that run from the tip of the racquet head to the throat. Most Prince racquets will have either 16 or 18 main strings. If you want to compare how well a racquet will bite the ball or how quickly the strings may break, this number is important. A wide string pattern, one that has 16 main strings, will bite the ball better and assist in putting spin on the ball, however, the strings may break quickly because there will be more string movement. The strings in a racquet with 18 mains will not break as often, but some feel for the ball may be lost.

    • 3

      Compare the different head sizes of the Prince racquets. The Prince racquet head sizes can vary from 93 square inches to 125 square inches. The larger the head size of a tennis racquet, the larger the sweet spot. This is the spot on the string bed that feels "sweet" when hitting the ball; no jarring or vibration is felt upon ball impact here. A larger head size will provide you more success on off-center shots as compared to a racquet with a smaller head size.

    • 4

      Visit a local tennis pro shop to compare the differences in the overall weight and the weight distribution of the racquets. A certified stringer will be able to tell you the overall weight and whether the racquet is head heavy or head light. Heavy racquets are suited for strong, experienced players and lighter racquets are better suited for novice players who are not physically strong. Tennis players who like to play from the baseline like racquets that are head heavy and those who like to end the point at the net, like an evenly weighted or a head-light racquet.