Hey, it’s the Prince Pro Airstick Lite 550.
The 2017 version of the Prince Pro Airstick Lite 550 was first spotted all the way back in April. Then there was a long lag during which people were asking, “Where did Prince go?” You couldn’t buy their rackets and they seemed to drop all the squash professionals they were sponsoring.
But now it looks like Prince is back, baby.
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Racket Specs chart
Advertised weight (unstrung): 130 gramsHead size: 480 cm sqString pattern: 16x17Measured weight (all-in): 146.5 gramsMeasured balance: 37.5 cm
Reviews
Here are three videos I did about this racket.
First is a roundup of 8 current Prince squash rackets. This was my favorite racket of the bunch at the time.
However then I tested the racket more extensively and had a different experience.
Here’s an overview of the racket cosmetics etc. (before playing with it):
And here’s my review of the racket after I’d played with it for a bit. I didn’t like it as much when I got it into a match. Also, it broke pretty quickly 🙁
Spotted
Joey Chan, 2017 World Champs:
Photo via Steve Cubbins →
Prince Textreme Pro Airstick Lite X 550
This “X” version of the Prince Pro Airstick Lite 550 popped up for sale in 2017. Thanks to Max for the tip!
Product Notes
Important update from Bassem in the comments:
Got 4 of the new matte grey finish thinking this would be similar to the previous model. I was wrong, this is not an airstick. It’s incredibly head heavy. The racket is generally much heavier too. Went back to the previous model
Prince Textreme Pro Airstick Lite 550
This is the new 2016 version:
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Buy (Italy): amazon.it
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Prince Pro Airstick Lite 550
Here’s the original Prince Pro Airstick Lite 550, which came out in 2014:
Image via holabirdsports.com
This is supposed to be the successor to the Prince Airstick 130, which was Ramy’s 2013 racket. (In 2014, Ramy is promoting the Prince Pro Beast, which is slightly different).
Specs
Weight: Light (130 grams)
Balance: Head-heavy (36 cm)
Head Size: Medium (480 sq. cm)
Strings: Prince Lightning 17 red
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Buy (Australia): ebay.com.au
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Buy (US): amazon.com | holabirdsports.com | squashgear.com
Prince Pro Airstick Lite 550 Reviews
Here’s my personal take on this racket.
Spotted
Here’s Egypt’s Youssef Soliman with this racket in 2016:
Photo via SquashSite →
And Shehab Essam as well, at the 2016 World Championships:
Photo via SquashSite →
Have you tried this racket? Please leave a review in the comments!
Calvin says
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Hi, I’m looking to replace my racket that I bought 5 years ago as a beginner and I was able to find the Prince Pro Airstick 550 and Prince Pro Beast 750 (both are 2017 edition) in my nearby local store. The price for both rackets is almost similar, but I’m not sure which one is better. Can anyone tell me what are the differences between them and how they feel? I wasn’t able to find any reviews on the internet, but based on the specs, Airstick is a bit lighter but it’s head heavy. I frequently work out so I don’t think power is an issue, but it got me thinking that a head heavy one sure is useful since I have a weaker backhand. Thoughts?
Ahmed says
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I guess you will very little feedback about the 2017 pro beast because its specs are totally different than the previous 2 pro beast models. The first 2 models weighted below 128grams but the new one is 135grams. However, they all share one thing in common, which is a very open string pattern, which gives an amazing cut on the ball. The drawback is that you’ll have to string your racquets every other week because they’ll break too often.
The Airstick on the other hand is one of the best racquets I’ve ever played with. It is very maneuverable and solid when hitting length or drops. If you need power from a more head heavy racquet, I’ve recently moved to the Dunlop Revelation pro (Ali Farag) and it is really good. It is also way more durable. However, I still have a soft spot for the airstick.
Calvin says
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Having to restring every other week sounds like a pain! I definitely do not want that kind of hassle.
Most people seem to dislike head heavy rackets, and since Airstick is head heavy, what do you say about it? Is it just slightly head heavy or is it too much? Care to share a bit more on your experience with the Airstick?
I checked the online catalog for my local store but unfortunately it doesn’t have Dunlop Revelation Pro 🙁
Ahmed says
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I’m gonna tell you my own opinion which many people might disagree with. For nearly 10 years people used head light racquets because they are very maneuverable. All the pros also used head light and extra head light racquets. They are great because you can move them fast but if your technique and your wrist muscles are undeveloped, they will not be so great. Later, pros started moving from head light to light weight racquets but head heavy. In this category are most Harrow and prince racquets. They are still easy to maneuver because of the light weight but the head heavy balance gives more power on drives and gives the racquet more stability and control especially in vollies and volly drops. The Airstick is among this category of racquets. It has a different feel compared to head light racquet but you will get used to it in a couple of weeks and you won’t go back to head light racquets 🙂
Rod says
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Just a word of warning. If you read through other reviews on recent Prince models you’ll find that many models have had breakage issues after short periods of time. It’s been an ongoing problem for Prince for several years and it’s for that reason that I’d advise you to seek out an alternative option from Black Knight/Dunlop/Tecnifibre.
Calvin says
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Unfortunately I’ve checked around and nobody sells Black Knight and Tecnifibre rackets here. What Dunlop racket do you recommend?
Rod says
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I’m afraid I’ve never personally played with Dunlops so I would find it hard to recommend one model over another. I was a club pro for a while and plenty of players who I knew and played with used their rackets and I would trust their judgment on them. I know that Pierre played the Hyperfibre+ Evolution 130 for a while so that probably isn’t a bad place to start. But I’d you can find a BK Ion Element PSX I promise you won’t be disappointed 😉.
Bassem Fahmy says
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Got 4 of the new matte grey finish thinking this would be similar to the previous model. I was wrong, this is not an airstick. It’s incredibly head heavy. The racket is generally much heavier too. Went back to the previous model
Pierre says
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Thank you for leaving this feedback, I have added it to the post
Max says
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Can confirm this. Just received my matte grey one today and the balance point seems slightly higher (towards the head) compared to my airstick 130. It does feel more solid/weighty and in general heavier.
A.Kanon says
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I have got one Red Pro Airstick Lite X 550 and seemed to be very good, decent power plus very high control and yes head heavy as most of Price rackets, I don’t really know if there is a diferrence in the perfromance to the one without the X, does anyone have answer
Thanks
Max says
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Spotted updated cosmetic 2017 – a matte gray finish. Not sure if they change anything in the frame but they probably didn’t. It’s called Prince TeXtreme Pro Airstick Lite X 550
https://www.tennisnuts.com/prince-textreme-pro-airstick-lite-x-550-2017-squash-racket-1387124.html
Pierre says
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Thanks Max. I was hearing that Prince was no longer making squash rackets, but maybe they’re not dead yet!
az says
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What is a good tension for this racket, in both, vertical and horizontal?
Thanks.
az says
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I mean string tension, of course.
A says
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Range between 24-26lbs. I have a racquet with 24-25lbs for the winter and 26lbs for the summer. I feel if you go with more than that with the tension, it will be dead. Also, on one of the older squash forums, it was mentioned that Ramy Ashour used 24lbs on that racquet.
Nikhil says
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Hey guys, could you please tell me how the Prince Airstick Lite compares to the Sovereign 650? Thanks in advance! 🙂
Topias says
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Hi Nikhil! I’ve had both from the 2014 series. I would say Airstick is the better and more complete racket out of these. It’s lighter and not as head heavy so it’s got better control and it’s more maneuvrable. The Sovereign is surprisingly heavy, rather 140g and more head-heavy than it says in the specs. This makes it a bit clumsy. It does generate power easier than the Airstick. Lack of power is a minus for Airstick. But if you want a power racket, I wouldn’t choose the Sovereign 650, it’s simply not the best product Prince have to offer.
Ammad Nadim says
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Hi all,
I have been using prince racquets for 4 years. I was playing with prince exo3 rebel before switching to air stick lite 550. I find the durability better as compared to the old rebels. Green, yellow and black and the yellow one. I tried the new neon one as well but I think it’s too stiff. My game has significantly improved after switching it’s relatively hard to cut the ball as compared to rebel that was 135. But in return I think this racquet has far more control. Highly recommend for wristy players.
Lior Lotem says
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Hi everyone,
I have just come accross a very similar (seems identical) racket named :
Prince Pro Airstick 550 Team
Can anybody tell me if it’s the same racket (maybe named differently in different countries) or a completely different one that happens to share the exact same colouring scheme ?
Pierre says
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I’ve never heard of that one – did you see it online somewhere?
Lior Lotem says
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Hi Pierre,
I have actually seen this racket with my own eyes in a shop earlier this week.
The racket does exist online tough it is rather hard to find.
The only place I did find it in is this polish website where you can see some photos as well :
http://sprzedajemy.pl/rakieta-do-squasha-prince-pro-airstick-team-550,34260627
Any thoughts ?
nick says
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weight and balance are same as non-team airstick 550…..so its same racket?
Pierre says
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Interesting…
Here’s the photo:
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Luke says
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I’m on my third racquet and found that the slightest touch on a wall breaks at about the 13:30 mark on the clock.
Not happy at all. Great feel, durability is crap and that’s with head tape….. Why Prince, why ?
rohan says
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Which one is better
Prince air stick pro lite 550 or
Tecnifibre dynergy 117
Steven Kwan says
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Dynergy has too much vibrations, it’s overall a bad racket.
Raja says
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carboflex 125 vs air stick 550. which ones is better for power, cutting the ball short and durability?
Steven Kwan says
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If u want raw power and durability go for 125, that’s what technifibre are famous for. But it’s heavy so it’s hard on your wrist. Prince, on the other hand, it’s so fun to play with, it’s light, hit the ball glued to the wall, cut the ball in short easily, do all deceptions with your wrist. However one big problem is that the frame might break before factory string break. I have broke 2 myself, im not a wall hitter. That’s when i switched to 125s because no money. If u have your trust fund go for prince. If not technifibre last forever.
Nico Poore says
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I have changed to this racket recently, having changed from the Head Xenon 135 which I started to find a bit limiting in the front court due t it’s head heaviness. I have found that the Prince Pro Airstick Lite has a very light pick up weight, with a hint of weight balanced towards the head. While the racket is great for drives and offers excellent power and control, it is also light and maneuverable enough for deceptive front court play and accurate drop shots. The factory string is decent enough, but I will no doubt thread in either Ashaway Ultranick 18 (Blue) or Tecnifibre 305 17 when it’s done it’s dash. All in all this is a great racket which offers all the power and control my old Xenon 135s, but with significantly more maneuverability and is much kinder on the wrist, especially when flicking out backhand shots from the back corner. Highly recommended !!
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks Nico!