Prince O3 Speedport Black
Squash Racquet Review

by Ron Leon

Introduction:


The Prince O3 Speedport Black features the latest technology from Prince, always a leader in technical and design innovation for squash players, and it feels great from the first moment you pick it up until the last ball is struck.  You can really feel the racquet’s ability to move through the air faster and the new shaft design adds stiffness and control.  This is a great all-around racquet and despite its even balance it has a very light feel.  The power is incredible and it also has great response for the touch player.  It doesn’t get any better than this …


General Impressions:

As one of the first players in the USA to have the opportunity to test and play with the first prototypes of the Prince O3 squash racquets, I have understood the significant advancement that the technology offered to squash players.  The O3 racquets responded differently than any other racquet I’d ever used, but once I got the feel for it nothing else seemed to compare.

It was no secret that the Speedport technology would be introduced next for squash players, and my expectations were very high … I expected the square shaped O3 “speed” ports would allow for more string movement than the oval shaped O3 ports, but even at very low string tensions I did not notice a significant difference in the sweet sport or ball response.  However, the Speedport shaft is much beefier than the Power Groove shaft that is used for the O3 Black, and although at first it seemed a little less maneuverable, after playing with it for a while I’ve concluded that it allows for a more powerful drive and less vibration at the grip in comparison to the Prince O3 Black.

I also like that the Speedport Black is black, unlike the Prince O3 Black, which is silver.


General feel:

Just holding this racquet gives you confidence.  It is a high quality product with a great feel and a great look.  Very easy to swing, with a light feel that is easy to flick and also maintains its position through the entire arc of the stroke.  It’s a very stiff racquet and doesn’t contain the space-age gel material that’s used in many top racquets from other manufacturers, some players will find that it feels rather “hard” when compared to the “soft” response that gel frames offer.


Speed-to-preparation:

It is very easy to take the racquet from the middle “ready” position to either the forehand or backhand prepared position, due to the overall light weight and even balance.  The O3 ports undoubtedly add to the quick feel when preparing.

Maneuverability:

This is one of the most maneuverable of all evenly balanced racquets, which means you can execute more options from any position on the court.  I often find myself forced to change my shot after I’ve started the stroke, and the Speedport doesn’t resist the changes at all.  It responds to quick flicks of the wrist with as much momentum through the stroke as a head-heavy racquet.


Stroke momentum:

The Speedport Black doesn’t have as much stroke momentum as it’s slightly heavier companion (the Speedport Tour), but any player at an advanced skill level will find the stroke momentum is more than adequate.  For a touch player, the lighter weight allows for more accurate shots with a compressed stroke arc.


Sweet spot:

Prince claims that the Speedport racquets have a 59% larger sweetspot, but I don’t notice it being any larger than the O3 racquets.  As in all Prince racquets with the Power Ring feature, the sweetspot is relatively long and narrow.  The unique shape of the head accommodates the fan string pattern in such a way that contacting the ball outside the sweetspot still produces decent control.


Power:

This is one of the most powerful racquets I’ve ever used, despite the light weight and even balance.  I almost feel like I can hit as hard as John White when I play with this racquet, and I can understand why John had chosen to play with this racquet until his recent move to Dunlop.


Driving to length:

Finding and maintaining length is easy with the Speedport Black.  The response from the racquet allows me to continually vary the height and pace of my shots without sacrificing the accuracy of my length, which is the key to controlling the rally.  This may be the strongest point in favour of this racquet.


Retrieving tight shots:

It’s very easy to take the balls which seem to be glued to the wall and send them right back just as tight and with perfect length.  The frame beam surrounding the head is very narrow and that makes it easier to get more strings onto the tightest balls without taking unnecessary risks in striking the wall.


Volleys to length:

The combination of light weight and even balance in the Speedport Black allows for accurate volleys to a length or to a width, especially when attacking from the T.  Even volleys from shoulder height can be sent to a good length consistently.


Volley kills:

This racquets seems designed for the players who looks for the volley kill.  Again, think John White …



Volley drops:

Volley drops and stop-volleys are easy to execute with the Speedport due to the excellent feel the racquet provides the player.  Advanced players who have mastered the stop-volley will find the Speedport Black to be well suited as a tool to execute this useful skill.


Drops:

The racquet favours the player who executes drops with a full stroke rather than a tapping drop.  Again, well suited to the advanced player who disguises their drop with a properly-prepared backswing and a complete follow-through.


Boasts:

I love to boast and this racquet provides the necessary touch and finesse required to execute consistently perfect boasts.   If you love to boast you’ll love this racquet!


Lobs:

I don’t have any problem lifting the ball to a perfect height with the Speedport Black.  The follow-through after contacting the ball seems effortless and adjustments can be made very quickly due to the excellent feedback that the stiff frame provides when striking the ball softly.


Spins / Cuts:

The agility and racquet head speed allow for accurate spins and cuts.  The Jonathan Power topspin backhand drop can be executed consistently with this racquet.  The Ramy Ashour backhand volley crosscourt cut can also be executed more easily with this racquet than nearly any other, which may be the one of the reasons why Ramy chose to abandon his sponsorship deal with HEAD in order to continue playing with this head shape racquet.


Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a racquet at the leading edge of technology, look no further.  This is it.  If you want a slightly heavier head to assist you with your stroke momentum, consider the Speedport Tour which is slightly heavier towards the head but identical in all other respects.   The absence of lightweight gel to bind the frame material gives the racquet an overly stiff feel compared to racquets with the gel, but this is only noticeable when switching from one to the other.  Like I said earlier: it doesn’t get any better than this.

If you’re an advanced player, you owe it to your game to try the Prince O3 Speedport Black.