Executive Summary
The Prince Ripstick is the flagship of Prince's modern lineup and the heir to the brand's O3 port-hole technology. Where conventional racquets use grommet strips to hold strings, the Ripstick uses circular O3 ports drilled directly into the frame — each string passes through an oversized circular hole rather than a tight grommet channel.
Key Characteristic: The O3 port system allows string movement in multiple planes rather than restricting it to a single axis. The effective sweet spot is measurably larger than a geometrically equivalent conventional frame, and the open port geometry reduces airflow resistance through the swing. The result is a frame with unusual feel — strings behave slightly differently at contact, with a broader, more forgiving response across the hitting zone.
Key Positioning: The Ripstick 100 occupies a moderate-stiffness position (~67 RA) — stiffer than a Head Prestige but softer than a Pure Drive. It delivers genuine power from a relatively light frame while the O3 system adds a distinct feel and sweet spot advantage that separates it from conventional alternatives.
Performance Profile
The Ripstick 98's tighter pattern offers more directional control and precision than the 100's open 16x19 geometry — while both benefit equally from the O3 port system's sweet spot expansion.
Performance Comparison: Ripstick Models
Ripstick 98 leads in control and stability · Ripstick 100 leads in spin and maneuverability
On-Court Playtest
We took the Prince Ripstick through a full hitting session strung with a spin poly in the low 50s. Here's how Prince's O3 spin frame plays, shot by shot.
Groundstrokes
Off the ground the Ripstick is built for spin and access: Prince's O3 port technology expands the sweet spot and frees up the string bed, so the ball launches with a high, heavy, dipping arc and easy depth. It rewards a fast, brushing swing with heavy topspin and good net clearance, while the ports add forgiveness. It is a spin-and-power frame for aggressive modern baseliners rather than a flat control stick.
Serve
On serve the Ripstick is spin-friendly: kick and slice jump and curve, and flat serves get accessible pace from the open, lively platform.
Volleys & Net
At net the expanded sweet spot makes volleys forgiving and easy, with enough stability for an aggressive baseline game's occasional forays forward. The feel is open and lively rather than ultra-connected.
Return & Defence
On the return the spin access lets you take a big cut and bring the ball down, and on defence the easy spin helps you loop heavy recovery balls while the forgiving frame keeps you in points.
Comfort & Feel
It is a moderately stiff spin-power frame, but the O3 ports take some sting out of contact. For comfort, string a soft or shaped poly at a sensible tension rather than a firm poly at high tension.
Pros & Cons
The quick scannable summary of what we liked — and what to be aware of.
Pros
- Heavy topspin and a high, dipping ball from the O3 platform
- Expanded sweet spot for extra forgiveness
- Accessible power and easy depth
- Spin-friendly kick and slice serves
- Great for aggressive modern baseliners
Cons
- Open, lively feel rather than connected and precise
- Less pure control than a flat-pattern frame
- Rewards fast swings; demanding for compact strokes
- Needs careful stringing to stay comfortable
Model Context
The Ripstick family covers three distinct profiles: the control-oriented 98, the balanced 100, and the radical O-Port 100P with its extreme 16x15 open pattern designed for maximum spin generation.
Ripstick 98
The precision-oriented Ripstick. Smaller head and equivalent pattern to the 100 — the tighter geometry improves directional control and feel at the cost of some forgiveness and natural spin. Preferred by advanced players who want O3's sweet spot advantage with maximum precision.
Ripstick 100
The flagship Ripstick. Larger head and identical pattern to the 98 provide a measurably larger sweet spot. The most versatile entry point to the Ripstick family — balances power, control and maneuverability with the O3 system's distinctive feel and forgiveness advantage.
Ripstick 100P
The most radical string pattern in the modern pro lineup: 16 mains but only 15 crosses creates an exceptionally open bed with massive string movement potential. Combined with O3 ports, the 100P produces extraordinary spin from relatively modest swing speeds. Not for precision players — this is a pure spin weapon.
Technical Must-Knows
Who Plays With This?
Prince occupies a niche position in the professional game — their tour presence is smaller than the major brands, but players who use Prince tend to be committed, long-term brand loyalists who specifically value the O3 system's feel advantage.
One of the most recognisable Prince users on the ATP tour. Moutet's touch-heavy, creative game — drop shots, angles, slice — is ideally matched to the O3 system's expanded sweet spot and distinctive feel. His style demands exceptional feel and control over raw power, making the Prince platform a natural fit.
Prince was the original graphite racquet innovator — developing the oversized racquet (Prince Classic, 1976) and the O3 port system in the 2000s. The Ripstick is the modern evolution of the O3 heritage. Former tour users include players who valued the feel and sweet spot advantages of the port-hole technology over a generation of frames.
String Setup Guide
The O3 port system interacts uniquely with string tension — the multi-plane string movement means tension changes have a slightly amplified effect on feel versus conventional frames. Reference range (Ripstick 100): 48–60 lbs (21.8–27.2 kg).
Quick Start (Most Players)
- Start point (soft-medium poly, 1.25mm, full bed): 50–54 lbs (22.7–24.5 kg) — the O3 system provides additional feel; don't over-tension and eliminate the sweet spot advantage.
- If the ball is flying long: Add 2–3 lbs or try a firmer poly (1.27mm). The 100's open 16x19 pattern launches high at lower tensions — a moderate adjustment usually corrects this.
- For maximum spin (100 or 100P): Try a shaped poly (Solinco Hyper-G, RPM Rough) at 49–52 lbs. The O3 system's string movement amplifies shaped string snapback considerably.
- Ripstick 98 note: 2–3 lbs higher than the 100 to compensate for the smaller head's reduced natural power output. Same string type applies.
- 100P note: String 4–6 lbs higher than your Ripstick 100 tension. The extreme 16x15 pattern requires compensation to maintain trajectory control.
Pro Reference
| Player | String | Tension | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corentin Moutet | Prince / co-poly | ~50–54 lbs | Feel-oriented setup for touch game |
| Recommended Ripstick 100 | Solinco Hyper-G 1.25mm | 50–53 lbs | Spin + feel with O3 snapback |
Top 3 String Recommendations
Best for: Maximising the Ripstick's O3 snapback advantage with a spin-focused, square-shaped poly.
Hyper-G's square cross-section bites the ball aggressively during the snap-back phase — a property that the O3's multi-plane string movement amplifies compared to conventional grommets. The combination produces excellent topspin from a frame that also has strong feel. Hyper-G's moderate stiffness is comfortable in the Ripstick's ~67 RA frame, avoiding the harsh edge that very firm polys can create at this stiffness level.
Best for: Players wanting a balanced, comfortable setup that complements the Ripstick's moderate stiffness and O3 feel.
Luxilon Element's unique polymer construction provides an unusually lively yet controlled feel — sitting between ALU Power's firmness and Black Code's softness. In the Ripstick, Element's responsive character pairs well with the O3 system to produce a balanced, all-court feel. Excellent tension maintenance (one of Luxilon's best), making it a practical choice for players who string infrequently.
Best for: Feel-oriented players (like Moutet) who want maximum touch and comfort from the Ripstick's O3 system.
Tecnifibre's X-One Biphase multifilament is one of the finest touch strings available — its elasticity and natural feel in the O3 port system creates an exceptionally connected, responsive sensation at contact. For the Ripstick's creative, touch-oriented players, X-One Biphase delivers feel that no poly can replicate. Durability is limited versus poly, but for the right player the feel trade-off is well worth it.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Ripstick 98 | Ripstick 100 | Ripstick 100P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size | 98 sq in (632 cm²) | 100 sq in (645 cm²) | 100 sq in (645 cm²) |
| Weight (Unstrung) | 300g / 10.6oz | 295g / 10.4oz | 295g / 10.4oz |
| Length | 27 in | 27 in | 27 in |
| Balance | ~318mm / 5–6 pts HL | ~320mm / 5 pts HL | ~322mm / 4–5 pts HL |
| String Pattern | 16x19 | 16x19 (open) | 16x15 (extreme open) |
| Stiffness (RA) | ~67 | ~67 | ~65 |
| Swingweight | ~315–322 | ~308–316 | ~306–314 |
| Beam Width | 23–25mm | 23–25mm | 23–25mm |
| Technology | O3 Port System | O3 Port System | O3 Port System |
| Target Player | Advanced (4.5+) | Intermediate–Advanced | Spin Specialists |
Our Verdict
The Ripstick is Prince's spin flagship — O3 ports expand the sweet spot and free the string bed for heavy topspin, easy depth and forgiveness.
It's the frame we'd recommend to aggressive, spin-oriented baseliners who want easy topspin, accessible power and the extra forgiveness of Prince's O3 ports. You give up the connected feel and pinpoint control of a flat-pattern frame, but for a modern, spin-heavy game it is potent and forgiving. Players who want maximum control and feel should look at a Phantom or other flat-pattern frame instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Prince Ripstick good for beginners?
Improvers can enjoy the Ripstick thanks to its expanded sweet spot and accessible power, but it is tuned for intermediate-to-advanced players who can swing fast to unlock its spin. Complete beginners may prefer a lighter, simpler frame first.
Who is the Prince Ripstick best for?
It is best for aggressive, spin-oriented intermediate-to-advanced baseliners who want heavy topspin, easy depth and the extra forgiveness of Prince's O3 port technology.
Is the Prince Ripstick arm-friendly?
It is a moderately stiff spin-power frame, but the O3 ports take some sting out of contact. For sensitive arms, string a soft or shaped polyester at a lower tension or use a hybrid rather than a firm poly at high tension.
What string and tension is best for the Prince Ripstick?
A spin-oriented co-polyester in the low 50s lbs is the best all-round starting point. Use a shaped poly to maximise spin, drop tension or add multifilament crosses for comfort, and go a touch tighter for more control if the ball flies long.
Does the Prince Ripstick produce a lot of spin?
Yes. The O3 ports free up the string bed and the open pattern launches a high, heavy, dipping ball, making the Ripstick one of Prince's most spin-friendly frames.
Is the Prince Ripstick a spin or control racquet?
It is a spin-and-power frame: built to maximise topspin, easy depth and forgiveness via the O3 platform rather than to deliver the flat, pinpoint precision of a control racquet.