Welcome to a new age of Prince Racquet Sports! The new line of EX03 racquets represents a return to the advance player focus that once made Prince the market powerhouse and equal of Wilson. This new series is constructed and designed with the tournament to tour level player in mind and is nothing short a success for the company that has languished in the mediocrity of the game improvement segment for the last decade.

Prince EX03 Rebel 95:

The Rebel 95 is a like the Prince Tour Diablo on steroids! I have been down on Prince for quite a while and I am not a fan of the O series of racquets. In spite of those personal feelings I found that while hitting with the Rebel 95 that I quite forgot that I was playing with a racquet that had gigantic holes in the side of it. The flexible response frame provides excellent control without sacrificing any of the power necessary to compete in today’s fast paced game. The updated O-ports are more squared than previous issues and boasts a string hole grommet system that, while still allowing the free string movement, reduces string vibration. The Rebel 95 still however, provides solid feedback for advanced player who like such things.

While the Rebel 95 is the heaviest frame in the EX03 line (12.3 oz, strung) it plays deceptively light. Where you will notice, and appreciate the weight is on ground stroke against heavy pace. The girth of the Rebel 95 allows for solid response to any manner of shots and is surprisingly sturdy on off center hits. The head light balance on the other hand provides quick response at the net and allows you to generate terrific racquet head speed on serves.

The new Resi Pro grip is one of the features that grabbed my notice immediately! It is both firm yet extremely absorbent! It also provides great tack without being ‘sticky’. I also was astonished by the soft feel and ease with which I was able to generate spin despite the 18×20 string pattern. Players of every style will find this racquet well suited to their needs with the caveat that you are at least a 4.0 player. (Lower and Sub 4.0 players see the Rebel Team). The balance, heft, and traditional feel will score high marks with with baseliners for accuracy and power while serve and volleyers will appreciate the maneuverability and rock solid response.

For the best combination of power and touch I suggest that the Rebel 95 be strung as a hybrid with any combination of the following:

Mains:
Technifibre Pro Red Code, Prince Poly EXP, Klip K-Boom, Babolat Pro Hurricane, Luxlion Big Banger Org. or Big Banger ALU.
Crosses:
Gamma TNT, TNT Fat Core, Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex, Prince Lightning XX, Wilson Stamina, Wilson Sensation, Babolat SuperFine Play, Babolat Excel Premium, or your choice of natural gut.

Comparisons:
Becker 11, Head MicroGel Prestige, Volkl Power Bridge 10, Dunlop AeroGel 200.

Final Analysis:
Players of every style will find many benefits to this extremely solid frame. This stick hearkens back to the 80’s & early 90’s when Prince was the only choice for players who eschewed the use of Wilson racquets. Good balance + Solid Feel + Superior Response = Terrific Racquet.

Frame Statistics:
Weight: 11.8 (unstrung)
Head Size: 95 sq. in.
Swing Weight: 337
Length: 27 in.
Balance: 9 pts Head Light
Beam Width: 20mm Straight Beam
Construction: 100% Graphite

Prince EX 03 Rebel 95 retails for $189 on the Internet or at your local Prince Dealer.
Prince EX03 Rebel Team:
While the Team version shares the Rebel name, head size, and cosmetic that is where most of the similarities end.

While the Rebel 95 is targeted towards high level tournament players, the Rebel Team is designed for the recreational player and the up and coming young junior. The Rebel Team is significantly lighter and stiffer that the 95 version. Weighing in at 10.7 oz (strung) the Rebel Team is not nearly as solid as its heavier 95 brother it also lacks some of the maneuverability due to its head heavy balance (1pt head heavy).

The hoop construction is the same as that of the Rebel 95 and they vibration dampening effect is also quite effective in creating a comfortable feel. The lighter construction of the Rebel Team will allow junior players who are still developing physically to use a control oriented racquet without dealing with the 11.5+ oz girth of most racquets of that progeny. Recreational & junior players alike will also find the Rebel Team more forgiving than the 95 on off center hits and more powerful from the baseline.

The head heavy balance is most notable at the net where the Team seems somewhat sluggish. Volleying also gives away the difference in the weight and solidity between the the Team & 95. While volleying is still effective, experienced serve and volleyers will feel a definitive difference. The missing weight can also be felt against big hitting baseliners where the racquet is just not as stable against extreme power. The head heavy balance was designed to compensate for this but is not entirely effective. I would suggest a similar stringing pattern for the Rebel Team as I do for the Rebel 95:

Mains:
Technifibre Pro Red Code, Prince Poly EXP, Klip K-Boom, Babolat Pro Hurricane, Luxlion Big Banger Org. or Big Banger ALU.
Crosses:
Gamma TNT, TNT Fat Core, Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex, Prince Lightning XX Wilson Stamina, Wilson Sensation, Babolat SuperFine Play, Babolat Excel Pemium, or your choice of natural gut.

Comparisons:
Head MicroGel Radical, Volkl Power Bridge 8, Babolat Pure Storm, Wilson K Surge or Wilson K Tour.

Final Analysis:
For the top level tournament player this racquet is a pass. However is you are a USTA League All-Star or a young up and coming junior looking for a control racquet that still provides solid power for all court play the Rebel Team is a solid bet. Players who are upper level 3.0-4.0 are in the ideal range for this stick as are 9-15 year old junior who are not quite at the elite or tournament level.

Frame Statistics:
Weight: 10.2 (unstrung)
Head Size: 95 sq. in.
Swing Weight: 329
Length: 27 in.
Balance: 1 pt Head Heavy
Beam Width: 20mm Straight Beam
Construction: 100% Graphite

Prince EX 03 Rebel Team retails for $169 on the Internet or at your local Prince Dealer.

Jay Wiseman is a certified Master Racquet Technician (MRT) by the United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA), a certification that is bestowed upon only the elite racquet and equipment service professionals. Additionally Jay is a certified P-1 Professional by the USPTA and has served as the Head Professional and Pro Shop manager at multiple clubs on the East Coast and Midwest. Jay has previously spent 3 years coaching Division I collegiate women’s tennis and currently serves as a teaching professional at the largest tennis club in Toledo, Oh and is the Head Boy’s & Girl’s Tennis Coach at Sylvania Southview High School.