Mini Review of Prince O3 Silver..
Review Date : October 19
Racket Type : Prince O3 Silver
Specs : 3UG4
Strings: Yonex BG80
Tension: 26lbs , 2 Piece Stringing
Stringing Machine : Babolat Sensor
Grip: SOTX Overgrip.
technology: O-ports.
Specification:
Headsize: 59.8inches2/385cm2
String pattern: 22 x 22
Weight: 85g Unstrung
Balance: 285mm
Length: 675mm
First Impression:
The racket looks sharp, and the o-ports make it look differnt and really cool imop. Swinging in it a bit reveals it is very light and speedy... feels quite headlight!
Warm Ups:
The racket feels so much lighter than the Mizuon TC700 I normally use.. So Timing was completely off. Especially for backhand and "pick-ups" deep in the forehand and of course smashes.. Wasted a few shuttles just hitting the feathers before getting somewhast to grips with timing..
Flat play and blocks felt excellent... really quick racket!
Game Time:
The power was ok.. and the sweetspot felt really big, once starting to get more adjusted to the timing. Smashes was far more powerful than I would have guessed after initial warmup.. However, I don't think this is a Power-player racket.. Light, and rather flexy at it is.. Power-wise my first feelings went to the direction of NS7000 type play-feel.
But and this is a very big but.. The racket felt horrible!! It felt like it was all plastic.. The feeling was not solid and the sound was very unnapealing...
Judging from the shots I produced the performance of the racket was ok.. But it felt like plaing with a piece of plastic stick... Not nice at all..
Placement and control was pretty bad (probably due to the flex, and of course maybe could be a bit attributed to not completely adjust timing etc).
When holding the racket I was afraid slicing would be bad due to the very wide body casued by the O-ports.. But on the contrary the slices felt very nice with the racket.
conclusion:
I would hesitate to recommend this racket, as I can't se any areas where there are not better alternatives, and because the lack of solidness and feeling in the shots..
Not impressed with the Silver.. Will try the White & red later to see if the problems I felt are similar to all O3 or if they are very different.
Feel: 4/10
Control: 7/10
Power: 8/10
Defense: 9/10
Pros : Quick, and good power for its lightness.
Cons: Lack of that big punch, and extremely "plastic" feel..
/Twobeer