Review of the PRINCE DIABLO XP Mid Plus / Oversize

For those of you who jumped off the 27+-inch player’s racquet bandwagon several years back, may be looking to jump back on after hitting this 27 ½ inch boomer. When you first pick this racquet, you can feel the extra length, but when you swing into that first groundie, your apprehension melts away. Being a player’s frame, you have to supply the pop, and if you have it, this racquet will enhance it a great deal! Looking at the frame, PRINCE is using a new version of its MORPH frame technology it brought out in the mid 90’s, squared throat to add stiffness and power and kidney shaped head to cup the ball with control. As with any extra long, groundies and serves go from big to bombs, but with more precision than earlier models. Volleys are solid, but you had better have a quiet volley motion because this will let you know when you have missed the sweetspot. Its head lightness gives it much more mobility than its ancestors. Yes, some may feel the need to choke up for a while, but if the adjustment can be made, that is when this racquet will really show its colors. Will you have to move a little more to avoid being jammed? Yes, but when has a little movement hurt a tennis player! Touch… well, not so much. The stiffness in the throat makes the drop volley pop. You had better have VERY soft hands. But this is not what this racquet is going to be known for. This is a hitter’s frame, pure and simple. If you like to punish the ball from all spots on the court, then this is your weapon.

WhatsAllTheRacquet.com Ratings: (1 – 5 best)

Playability 4.0
Power 3.5
Control 4.0
Touch/Feel 2.5
Spin control 3.0
Overall 3.5

The 28in Oversize is a great frame if you are modeling yourself after Capriati or Seles. Huge off of both sides, the Oversize packs a huge wallop, with more feel that the older extra-longs. This serve can make the Henin-Hardenne’s of the world fire like Williams, with the extra inch. This model though will not transfer over to many different styles of play, like a Babalot Pure Drive or Prince Graphite Original. If you are going to hammer from the baseline and visit the net just to shake hands with your opponent, than this is your stick. Emphasis on HAMMER!. This frame will give you enough spin to keep it in. Volleys and touch, are you kidding? If you are at net with frame, you are most likely lost. Not a “feel” frame at all. Any other game style, all-court, serve and volley, etc, you might want to look for another model to give you the help you need.

WhatsAllTheRacquet.com Ratings: (1 – 5 best)

Playability 3.5
Power 3.5
Control 4.0
Touch/Feel 2.0
Spin control 3.0
Overall 3.5

Review Contributed by Mike O'Keefe, Tennis Director, South Carolina Yacht Club

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