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O3 Speedport Leads Prince's 2008 Tennis Range
O3 Speedport, the latest development in the pioneering and internationally successful O3 racquet series from Prince, leads the brand's tennis product range for 2008.
In only two short years, the visible O3 technology - which transformed pin-sized string holes into giant Oports - has revolutionised tennis. Named “Hottest Racquet Technology” by Tennis Magazine in the USA,O3 has given close to 100 ATP and WTA touring pros unmatched racquet speed, a larger sweet spot and increased racquet stability – sparking conversation and huge buzz among top players and true tennis enthusiasts around the world.
Prince,widely acknowledged as having evolved the modern game of tennis through equipment technology and innovation, is attacking the next frontier in tennis equipment innovation by delivering a new racquet line that brings a critical component to a player’s game: EXTRA SPEED.
Mike Ballardie,Vice President and Managing Director of Prince Sports Europe, explained: "Prince innovation is changing the game, again. 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. In any sport, aerodynamics and speed are essential to equipment performance.”
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.
The new racquets use Prince’s patented larger O-Port string hole technology as a starting point, but these holes – called Speedports and sculpted like the air intake ducts on fighter planes and high-performance sports cars - are enlarged and reshaped to reduce air drag and deliver the promise of extra racquet speed without the need for extra body effort.Wind resistance is reduced by up to 24 percent.
“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,” Ballardie continued. “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 is up to 59 percent larger than traditional racquets.”
Top of the range is the O3 Speedport Sovereign, a premium, high image model targeting a niche market of tennis players who want the ‘’best of the best". Retailing at £350.00, the racquet will be distinctively packaged in a steel-look carry case; each sequentially numbered,with a certificate of authenticity.
The 118 sq in head-size Sovereign has a calfskin leather grip, additional O-ports in the shaft and string through the throat, thus providing the largest sweetspot in tennis.
In addition, the series includes the O3 Speedport Silver, a mid-plus 105 sq in head-size racquet engineered for a broad range of players looking for controllable power; the O3 Speedport Blue, an advanced oversize racquet for effortless power and control; and the 118 sq in head-size O3 Speedport Red, the ultimate racquet for light weight power.
Brand new for 2008 are the O3 Speedport Black and O3 Speedport Tour, aimed at the competitive player. Not only is Prince incorporating O3 technology into two, thin beam, smaller head-size, player-weighted frames, but is also providing elite players the opportunity to personally customise their racquets through the patented new Speedport Tuning System (STS).
Every new O3 Speedport Black and Tour will come complete with two sets of inserts to be placed at 12, 3 and 9 o’clock. These inserts will offer consumers options for tuning a racquet to their own preferences:
The String Port Inserts (pre-installed) will provide a softer hitting feel,more string damping and a sweet spot up to 59% larger than a traditional racquet while capitalising on a racquet that moves up to 24% faster through the air – while the String Hole Inserts have traditional pinsized string holes incorporated into the Speedport opening. These inserts provide a firmer hitting feel, more string feedback and a more traditional sweet spot while still capitalising on the aerodynamic benefits O3 Speedport provide.
After 25 years with their previous company, the world’s No1 doubles team Mike & Bob Bryan clinched their 40th team title immediately on switching to the new Prince O3 Speedport Black racquets.
"We knew we could get better, raise our game, and we needed a racquet that would help us do that. The difference is incredible. I have increased my serve speed by about five miles per hour," said Mike Bryan. “Without question,O3 technology is turning a lot of heads on tour. We just hope not everybody finds out about it too quickly!”
A new Prince development to bring O3 technology into the mid-price market sees the launch of three new Ozone frames. By infusing the O-Ports with Carbon Wave Matrix construction, Prince has re-engineered the O3 hitting zone to provide players with an enhanced sweet spot and increased stability to create the Ozone One, Four and Seven.
Jelena Jankovic and Marion Bartoli switched to the Ozone Seven – with a mid-plus 105 sq in headsize frame – on the eve ofWimbledon.World No3 Jankovic immediately won the DFS Classic in Birmingham and went on to earn her first Grand Slam title in the Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon, while French star Bartoli took the tennis world by storm by reaching the women's final at Wimbledon for the first time!
In a powerful promotion with the launch of Ozone, Prince is offering a free three-racquet thermo bag with every racquet from the new series.
