Prince Phantom 100P.

The Gavler Review.

Prince Phantom 100P Review: The Flex Connoisseur's Racket

The Prince Phantom 100P sits at number ten on our Best Tennis Rackets list with an 8.2, and it's the flex connoisseur's pick of the group — the softest, most arm-friendly frame here by a wide margin. Buy it if you prize feel, comfort, and pinpoint control over raw power and are willing to generate your own pace. Skip it if you want a racket that adds free depth to your shots.

What it actually is

The Phantom 100P is the flex specialist on this list. Where most modern frames chase stiffness for power, Prince goes the other way: a very thin box beam, roughly 16.5 to 20.5mm through the hoop, and a remarkably low 59 RA stiffness rating that make it one of the most flexible, comfortable player's frames on the market. The 2024 edition swaps Zylon in for Twaron in the Anti-Torque System at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions, emphasizing plush, damped control, and trims the swingweight to sit just under 325 for a slightly more maneuverable feel than the outgoing model.

An open 16x18 string pattern on a 100 square inch head adds spin potential and a lively, pocketing feel at contact — a deliberate counterbalance to the frame's otherwise control-first identity.

In use

Tennis Warehouse's assessment captures the frame's core appeal precisely: "The Phantom 100P melds comfort and control, allowing players to go for bigger shots with peace of mind." That phrase — "peace of mind" — is doing real work here. A frame this flexible and forgiving lets a player commit fully to a swing without worrying the racket will punish a slightly mistimed hit the way a stiffer frame would.

The same review is equally direct about the honest limitation: "However, it isn't particularly known for power." That's not a minor caveat buried in fine print — it's the central trade-off of the entire design. Prince built this racket to prioritize feel and control above all else, and power was never the goal.

Tennisnerd's testing corroborates the comfort story from a different angle: "A thin box beam with a low 59 RA provides comfort and good control, with a swingweight close to 330." The consistency between two independent reviewers on the same core traits — plush feel, real control, modest power — makes this one of the more reliably characterized frames on the list.

Where it shines

• The softest, most arm-friendly frame on this list. A 59 RA stiffness rating on a thin box beam is exceptionally low for a player's frame, making this the clear pick for anyone managing elbow or arm sensitivity.
• Confidence-inspiring control. Testers specifically describe the "peace of mind" that comes from committing to bigger swings without the frame punishing a slight mishit.
• Real spin potential from the open pattern. The 16x18 layout on a 100 square inch head adds a lively, pocketing feel that helps compensate for the frame's modest raw power.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

• You want the racket to generate power for you. Every reviewer says the same thing plainly: this frame isn't known for power. Players who rely on the racket for free depth and pop should look elsewhere on this list.
• You have a compact, blocking swing. A frame this flex-forward needs a full swing to produce pace — players who block or punch through contact won't get much out of it.
• You want the densest possible string pattern for precision. At 16x18, the pattern here is more open than the Tecnifibre TF-40 305's 18x20 — great for spin and comfort, less so for pinpoint pattern-driven control.

How it compares

The Dunlop CX 200 one rank up takes a similar comfort-first approach but through a different mechanism — a flexible box beam with Sonic Core and Vibroshield damping, plus new Powergrid spin tech that gives it noticeably more pop off the string bed than the Phantom 100P. For a player choosing between the two purely on comfort, the Phantom 100P's 59 RA is the softer of the pair; for a player who wants a bit more free power alongside that comfort, the CX 200 edges ahead.

The Phantom 100P's case on this list is singular: nothing else here is this flexible, this arm-friendly, or this confidence-inspiring for a player who supplies their own pace.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.2, reflecting Tennis Warehouse and Tennisnerd praise for the Phantom 100P's exceptional flex, comfort, and control — the most arm-friendly frame on this list — held at the tail by its openly modest power, which asks the player to supply pace. For a control-first player who values feel and comfort above all else, nothing on Gavler's Best Tennis Rackets list touches it. If you need the racket to add power to your game, look higher up the list instead.

Common Questions

Is the Prince Phantom 100P worth it in 2026?

Yes, for a control-first player who prizes feel and arm comfort above all. It ranks tenth on Gavler's Best Tennis Rackets list with an 8.2, and Tennis Warehouse says it 'melds comfort and control, allowing players to go for bigger shots with peace of mind.' The trade-off, stated plainly by every reviewer, is power — this frame doesn't generate much on its own.

Is the Prince Phantom 100P good for tennis elbow or arm issues?

It's built to be one of the most arm-friendly options available. Its 59 RA stiffness rating is exceptionally low for a player's frame, and Tennisnerd confirms the thin box beam 'provides comfort and good control' — the softest, most flex-forward construction on Gavler's Best Tennis Rackets list.

Does the Prince Phantom 100P have enough power for match play?

Not on its own, and Tennis Warehouse is direct about it: 'It isn't particularly known for power.' This is a frame built for players who generate their own pace through technique and full swings — anyone relying on the racket for free power should look elsewhere.

What changed in the 2024 Prince Phantom 100P?

Prince swapped Zylon in for Twaron in the Anti-Torque System at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions, emphasizing plush, damped control, and trimmed the swingweight to just under 325 for a slightly more maneuverable feel than the outgoing model.