Video Review |
Racquet Specs |
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When I first saw the racquet marked “Lite”, I figured it was going to be a racquet that has little to no pop and that the tennis ball will die on the strings. To my surprise, Prince has redefined my meaning for “Lite” type frames. The racquet’s performance is not diminished, just different.
 Groundstrokes The strung weight on this racquet is only in the 9-10 oz range but it doesn’t feel as light as one would expect of a frame of that spectrum. Instead, the frame solidified my heavy groundstroke returns that would have otherwise torqued the racquet in lieu of its light weight build. Groundstrokes felt great off of both sides and I had excellent power and control. The extra extension in length is a blessing for 2 handed backhanders to aid in driving heavy balls across the court. Personally, I might add a bit of weight to aid in plow through in lieu of a fast swing but nothing else. Topspin and slice were very well and with a nice blend of control. There are no real weaknesses off the ground with The EXO3 Tour 100 Lite Racquet. Serves/Returns I loved this racquet on serve. I found it to have excellent power and enough depth and control to place it wherever I directed. Even though it’s a light racquet, it didn’t feel as light on serves due to a uniformed and solid feel on impact. In addition to good power and control, kick serves jumped and threw my opponents off a loop. My returns were solid and I could return even the heavy big serves. I would have liked a bit more weight in the head to aid in getting the ball back with more authority and force but it wasn’t too much of an issue. Pace! Pace! Pace! I adjusted by aiming a bit higher over the net with a more flat out swing to generate a bit more power and down force. Volleys/Overheads The 100 square inch head definitely aided at the net as volleys were easy to place. With a light weight build, direct volleys requiring quick reaction were a bit easier to execute. It lacked a little punch due to the light weight but I just had to make sure that I brace and punched the volleys firmly. As expected, overheads were solid and I felt in control at all times. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this playtest. I loved the look of the black, white and copper graphics. Real sharp. It might be a little light for some players while others will love the easy swinging feeling they get. The frame does come in a heavier variation for those heavy hitters who need more solid mass to plow through, check out the EXO3 Tour 100 standard! For someone who is looking for a solid, predictable and reliable racquet, they should look no further. Groundstrokes were a breeze, while net play was solid and serves were a sure winner. 4.5 players and lower will find this to be a great racquet to consider or if you are looking for a more forgiving frame that will still allow you to step in and rip the ball. |
