鲨鱼王子

apologies to my loyal fans for not updating my blog. had been quite caught up at work last 2 weeks, and thankfully, i think the meetings went very well yesterday.

like to just talk about my recent purchase, the Prince O3 Hybrid Shark OS (110 sq inch face). i strung it at 60 lbs, exactly middle of its recommended string tensions, using Prince Elliptic polysynthetic 16L gut. i went for an eighth inch smaller grip as opposed to my usual 4 3/8 as an experiment -- some articles had said that a smaller grip can help prevent twisting of racquet in hand, and also enhance spin potential.

so far, the racquet feels fantastic. i had been looking for a racquet to give me added stability and control, and this racquet thus far has been everything. it took me a while to get used to the dampened feel and the slightly unusual *ping* of the ball thundering off my stringbed, but after that, it just feels rock solid. i could really swing hard and the racquet does not overreact.

compared to my Fischer Spirit FT, this racquet is definitely more solid, a lot more control, and being slightly head light, does not overcompensate for my aggressive Eastern Forehand strokes. the 16/19 open string pattern has also given me a lot more ability to generate spins, which is an area i am really looking for technological assistance.

this is my fifth racquet over the last 18 years. and so far this racquet has represented to me the biggest leap in feel and performance since i switched from my second to third racquet. here, have a look at my racquets over the last 18 years...

my first racquet. ok this isnt the actual racquet, i could not find a picture of it on the web, but it looks somethng like this.

it was a horrid racquet and although my skills are really not good by any means, this racquet was painful to play with. actually its really my sister's racquet back in 1989, but i used it for a while.


my second racquet, the Dunlop X10. another alumnimum racquet and similarly painful to play with. (1992)

my third racquet represented my first serious racquet, a Wilson power something. Oversize (110 sq inches), one piece graphite construction. it was very cheap (90 bucks i think) but my first graphite racquet. its sold to renegade already but i loved it very much. i bought it in 1995 after my O levels, as a treat to myself. i cant find pictures of it (renegade, post it if u still have it!), sorry.



my next racquet was bought in 2003. i had wanted to get the Prince Triple Threat Scream, but edwin in Queensway Shopping Center recommended me the Fischer Spirit FT OS. FT stood for frequency tuning. decided to try it. its an extremely head heavy racquet, very stiff, close string pattern. it gives good power, control is not exceptional, and rather hard to generate spins. i don't really particularly like it, nor hate it, but it accompanied me through the period when my game really improved. will keep this as my backup racquet. costed me 170 bucks.

and now finally, the Prince O3 Hybrid Shark OS. a fantastic steal for such a highly rated racquet (maria sharapova used the non O3 port version of this in her victorious 2004 Wimbledon campaign!), only 165 bucks!