Prince Launches New Line of Tennis Racquets: O³ Speedport™
Engineered to Deliver the Remarkable Benefits of Extra Racquet Speed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Riggs
101 N. Cherry Street
Winston Salem,
336-774-9227
mark.riggs@mullen.com
11/20/06 - Bordentown, NJ – Prince Sports is widely acknowledged as having evolved the modern game of tennis through equipment technology and innovation. Beginning in 1976 with the introduction of the first oversize tennis racquet and continuing with the introductions of Longbody in 1995 and O³ Technology in 2005, Prince has made the game easier and more fun to play. Now, Prince is attacking the next frontier in tennis equipment innovation by delivering a racquet line that brings a critical component to a player’s game: EXTRA SPEED.
Racquet speed determines the pace and spin of the ball and allows a player to hit a wider selection of shots. A racquet with extra speed can compensate for a late set-up, add power and spin to a good set-up, or add versatility around the court when selecting what shot to hit. Until now, this is something often experienced by only the best players in the world. Many companies have tried to build a faster racquet, but the constraints of conventional racquet technology have made it difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Prince's O³ Technology, launched in 2005, is a natural platform from which to deliver extra racquet speed.
"O³’s core premise revolves around oversize string holes (O-Ports), which are ideally suited to improve aerodynamics,” said Roberto Gazarra, director of research and development at Prince. “By refining the size, location, and shape of these ports we've been able to increase racquet speed dramatically, which improves the ability for players to get their racquet in position, making better ball contact and hitting more clean and precise shots.”
“Prince innovation is changing the game, again,” said Prince Chairman and CEO George Napier. “Equipment that delivers extra speed is the next frontier in technological innovation for the tennis industry, and we're proud to be leading the way.”
Introducing O³ Speedport
Tackling the challenge of improving racquet speed for all players fits perfectly with Prince’s driving passion to engineer and build equipment that improves tennis players’ on-court experiences.
Today, Prince proudly introduces the next frontier in racquet innovation – O³ Speedport – a line of racquets built on the company’s award-winning O³ Technology platform and focused on adding speed to players’ games, so they can hit more powerful serves, more penetrating ground strokes and crisper volleys more consistently. In short, O³ Speedport racquets are engineered to improve players’ chances for better set-up and recovery, and cleaner ball contact.
“Conventional thinking about racquet speed has led to the development of super light-weight racquets which are easy to maneuver but, by their design, reduce the size of the sweet spot, increase vibration and generally reduce power, precision and comfort,” Gazarra said. “Never thinking conventionally, our fanatical engineering team assumed the challenge of increasing racquet speed without compromising weight, power, precision or comfort. It’s a feat that’s never been done in our sport.”
How does O³ Speedport Work?
O³ Speedport racquets are up to 24 percent faster than traditional frames – allowing them to cut through the air more quickly with no extra effort. This leads to increased racquet head-speed through the entire swing pattern and produces consistently sharper, cleaner shots. “In any sport, aerodynamics and speed are essential to equipment performance,” remarked Doug Fonte, president of Prince Americas, the company’s largest operating unit. O³ Speedport gives players the opportunity to elevate their game to the next level without using more energy or changing their stroke.”
The string holes, called Speedports, are sculpted like the air intake ducts on fighter planes and high performance sports cars. They allow more air to pass through the frame more quickly, dramatically reducing aerodynamic drag. Wind resistance is reduced by up to 24 percent. “This is a breakthrough achievement allowing for quicker racquet acceleration, faster reactions, greater head speed and more spin. All these things improve players’ power and precision,” said Dave Holland, head of Prince’s Racquet Product Team.
“The inspiration behind finding a way to increase speed developed through our work with touring professionals, including James Blake,” commented Linda Glassel, Prince’s head of Communications and Sports Marketing. “We also spent time with Nick Bollettieri to understand, from his perspective, what critical parts of the game he emphasizes in his teaching method. Speed kept coming up as a secret ingredient.”
“We were fortunate to have O³ Technology as a platform from which to start development,” Gazzara continued. “O³ is the country’s leading racquet technology which was built on the premise that combining a larger sweet spot with a more aerodynamic frame, would deliver extraordinary benefits to players of all levels. This has been proven on both the ATP and WTA tours, as well as in junior and club circuits. Fifty-six percent of all touring pros who have tried O³ have switched to this technology, including Maria Sharapova and Nikolay Davydenko, both top-three players on their respective tours.”
O³ Speedport uses Prince’s patented larger O-Port string hole technology as a starting point, but enlarges and reshapes the holes to reduce air drag and deliver the promise of extra racquet speed without the need for extra body effort.
“In the development process we found additional things we could do to expand the sweet spot and improve comfort, and they have been added to the final product,” Gazarra concluded. “But these are not the primary benefits. These are an ‘added bonus’ for consumers who buy the racquet for its extra speed and discover the huge sweet spot that’s up to 59 percent larger than traditional racquets.”
Three Models Available in Spring 2007.
O³ Speedport will initially launch in two models – O³ Speedport Silver and O³ Speedport Red. Both models are available at specialty tennis retail stores nationwide beginning Jan. 1, 2007. O³ Speedport Blue will be available beginning Feb. 15, 2007.
O³ Speedport Silver
Power Level: 1600
Length: 27.5”
Head Size: 118 sq in / 761 sq cm
Flex: Firm
Cross Section: 27-30-27
Weight (Unstrung): 8.6 oz / 245 g
Swing Weight (Unstrung): 285
Balance (Unstrung): 14.2 in / 36.0 cm
Suggested Retail Price: $289
Availability: January 15, 2007
Player Type: The ultimate racquet for light weight power, it combines the most powerful sweet spot in tennis with unmatched maneuverability for players with shorter, slower stokes.
O³ Speedport Red
Power Level: 1100
Length: 27.25”
Head Size: 105 sq in / 677 sq cm
Flex: Firm
Cross Section: 23-25-23
Weight (Unstrung): 9.9 oz / 280 g
Swing Weight (Unstrung): 285
Balance (Unstrung): 13.2 in / 33.5 cm
Suggested Retail Price: $249
Availability: January 15, 2007
Player Type: Engineered for a broad range of players looking for controllable power, its mid-plus head-size and aerodynamic design help players swing faster with more spin, control and power. Ideal for players with moderate to fast swing speeds and medium-length strokes.
O³ Speedport Blue
Power Level: 1300
Length: 27.5”
Head Size: 110 sq in / 710 sq cm
Flex: Firm
Cross Section: 25-27-23
Weight (Unstrung): 9.5 oz / 270 g
Swing Weight (Unstrung): 285
Balance (Unstrung): 13.2 in / 33.5 cm
Suggested Retail Price: $269
Availability: February 15, 2007
Player Type: The most advanced oversize racquet for effortless power and control, its light weight, aerodynamic design and cushioned-grip handle help players with moderate to full strokes hit their best shots more often.
* Testing results taken from a 2006 Computational Fluid Dynamics Report by Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.
** 2006 Sports Marketing Surveys/Tennis Industry Association Specialty Store Retail Audit, Third Quarter.
About Prince Sports
Prince Sports, Inc., based in New Jersey, is a recognized leader in game-improvement technologies and engineering-based high-performance sports equipment. Since 1970, Prince and Ektelon have revolutionized tennis, squash and racquetball with innovations including “Oversize,” “Longbody” and “Extender” racquet technologies, Natural Foot Shape footwear technology, Synthetic Gut String and Electronic Ball Machines. Prince gives players speed, stability and a larger sweet spot with O³ racquet technology, building the brand with O³ Original Series (2005), O³ Hybrid (2006) and O³ Speedport (2007). In 2006, Prince introduced M Series footwear with Precision Tube Technology, an innovation that gives players maximum cushioning, stability and ventilation. Prince Sports has operations on three continents and distribution in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.princetennis.com.
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