PRINCE Warrior 100 Tennis Racquet Review
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The Prince Warrior 100 combines comfort, spin, and power into one versatile racquet. The Warrior 100 keeps the EXO3 technology of its predecessor which allows for a faster swing and a dampened feel. Featuring a stock unstrung weight of 10.6 ounces, 4 points headlight balance, and a swing weight of 317, this racquet looks to conquer opponents from all areas of the court.
Groundstrokes
After hitting the first couple balls, I felt extremely comfortable hitting groundstrokes from the baseline with this racquet. The specs were very similar to what I am use to playing with. The 16x19 string pattern gave me great access to spin and the power level was just to my liking, and this was especially true when I hit approach shots down the line. The EXO3 technology did give off a somewhat muted feel when hitting, which I prefer in my racquets. Although very maneuverable, the head light balance made it less sturdy when facing harder, heavier incoming balls. Drop shots were also difficult to execute consistently due to the muted response from the racquet. The Prince Warrior 100 kept me in points many times by providing superb depth when hitting my backhand slice.
Volleys & Serves
Like groundstrokes, hitting volleys with the Prince Warrior 100 was an easy transition. The racquet was easy to maneuver from forehand to backhand volley. It was stable enough to handle fast incoming balls; given that the ball was struck in the sweet spot of the racquet. Outside the sweet spot, stability was lost and placement of the ball was hard to execute, which is not unexpected. Angled, touch volleys were hard to hit, but I was able to get good pop and depth when it came to put-away volleys and overheads.
Spin and placement were easy to come by with the Prince Warrior 100. The EXO3 technology allowed me to generate a lot of racquet head speed, which translated into more spin on my serve. I felt confident that I could place both my first and second serve where I wanted, using both topspin and slice. Although I love the spin potential with the Prince Warrior 100, power is something I need to add to my game. Power increased slightly for me when serving with this racquet, but I would have liked a little more. Lowering the string tension or adding a small amount of lead tape to the frame may do the trick.
Fine Points
The most notable update to Prince’s Warrior line of racquets is the cosmetics. Black and red stripe the outside of the frame, giving off a warrior-like demeanor. The Prince Warrior 100 comes with a Prince Resi Pro replacement grip. I found this grip to be very comfortable with a medium level of tackiness. It is very similar to the Wilson Sublime replacement grip. There is room for customization with the Prince Warrior 100. Those seeking a little more plow through with this racquet may want to add some lead tape to the frame.
Overall
The Prince Warrior 100 is a great racquet from all areas of the court. The specs of this racquet would best compliment players who have an all-court style of play. I was able to generate spin along with great depth with this racquet. The Prince Warrior 100 was very maneuverable at the baseline as well as the net, but it can be pushed around in the face of heavier incoming balls. I would recommend this racquet to someone else looking for a blend of power, spin, and maneuverability. Players with a 4.0+ NTRP rating should definitely give the Prince Warrior 100 a try.
.jpg) About the Reviewer: Michael Janz is a graduate of the Professional Tennis Management Program at Ferris State University in Michigan. He is also a certified USPTA Professional.
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