| Prince Speedport O3 Black Team |
Price: $220
Head Size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.3 oz.
Balance: 3/10 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal Swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–4.5
Sales Pitch: Good stability and handling for competitive players or juniors in need of a lighter racquet.
Compare To: N/A
How It Tested: Racquets with the “Team” designation have come to mean lighter-weight, user-friendly versions of more advanced frames. Sometimes it works, but often they play like poor imitations. Thankfully the Speedport Black Team is a worthy addition to the Speedport Black family. It’s about an ounce lighter than the standard Black, but it’s more head heavy, so it doesn’t feel flimsy. That also gives it some juice off the ground, which is where the racquet received its highest marks. Volleys got good reviews, but sometimes the head-heavy balance caused faulty handling. The large, rectangular string holes, known as Speedports, cut down on wind drag and give the Black Team that familiar O3 whoosh sound and dampened feel. The racquet also comes with the Speedport Tuning System, string-hole inserts (grommets, basically) that can be placed in the ports if you prefer a more traditional, crisp response. The frame is available in a “zero” grip size for players who prefer a tiny handle or have small hands.
Bottom line: If you’re looking to cut weight from your player frame or aren’t quite ready to step up to one, the Black Team provides a soft landing spot.
