The Prince Vortex Pro 650 is a 2019 model from Prince.
BEWARE THE VORTEX.
Image via sgssports.co.nz →
Product Info
Release year: 2019
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Search:Racket Specs chart
Advertised weight (unstrung): 125 grams
Head size: 464 cm sq
String pattern: 16x17
Measured weight (all-in): 159 grams
Measured balance: 35 cm
Prince Vortex Pro 650 Review and Notes
Here’s my rundown of six of the new Prince squash rackets:
This replaces the Prince Pro Warrior 650.
Side view:
Photo via sgssports.co.nz →
In the video below, Paul from PDH Sports compares this to the Prince Venom Pro. He also says this will be Ramy’s racket when he starts playing again. Ramy’s pretty mercurial so we’ll see if that pans out.
Here’s a different colorway that I saw on Control the T in 2023. Not sure if this is just a different cosmetic or what.
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Buy (Canada): controlthet.com
Search:Thanks
Thanks to Viktor, Richard and Ivan for the tips!
Youssef Zeinelabdien says
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the grommets of VENOM PRO fits for the vortex pro 650? please
Tor says
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You need this one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/113858079175
Read the description
Qasim says
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Used the Prince air stick 130 for a few months and I enjoyed it with the original factory strings. Once I swapped them with the green strings the balance and power seemed to have diminished. Can anyone recommend a good string and tension that would balance the frame and feel.
Also any recommendations among the current price range. I’m looking for decent power with good control.
Been using the techie fiber 130 S for the last few months. It’s head heavy and I relished though my rails have improved my short game has suffered. Can’t seem to get it to an open phase as quickly as the prince. Also I found that with the price the shaft feels shorter and that gives superior control and feel. Not the same with the 130S
João says
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The Airstick is my all time favorite racket and I keep getting back to it whenever I try something else – Harrow, Tecnifibre and Dunlop over the last few years. I have recently moved into the Prince Pro Warrior X and I am very, very happy with it. Once you change the grip and the strings it seems like a solid replica of the Airstick. If you can, give it a try.
As to strings: Ashaway Ultranick 18 (blue) is my string of choice and it goes very well with both the Airstick and the Pro Warrior at 25 lbs. In my opinion 25 lbs gives it a perfect balance for power and control. I have also used the Ashaway Powernick and the feel is different but very good as well. Give it a try!
Hope this helps.
Qasim says
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This was helpful! Thanks
kieran says
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Have you had any durability issues with the warrior x?
Rick S says
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I’m torn between Vertex Pro 650 and Venom Pro 950 :((
I’ve been using Prince Textreme Pro Warrior 600 (Ramy Ashour Signature) all along and its my go to racket, purely for its power and control.
Can anyone suggest which one out of Vortex Pro 650 and Venom Pro 950 would be an ideal choice, if power and control is of utmost importance (keeping in mind that the new racket shouldn’t be too head heavy compared to Prince Textreme Pro Warrior 600 or else it requires more time to adapt)
Thanks in advance
Rick
Joao says
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I am a fan of the glorious Airstick 130 and moves to the Vortex assuming that they would be similar. The Vortex is significantly more head-heavy than the Airstick. I know that the specs tell you otherwise but the advertised balance has nothing to do with reality because it is an unstrung balance!!! In the hand the Vortex is not that manouvrable and significantly head-heavy IMO – not as much as Farag’s Dunlop though.
Rick S says
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Thanks for your feedback, Joao
Josh says
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Here is my review of this racket:
Pros: Very different from the Prince Pro warrior in that it is head heavy. Overall took some getting used to but has a very large sweet spot.
Cons: same flimsy Prince workmanship. The grommet broke at the string within the first 30 seconds of hitting. Messaged prince but no response.
Verdict: buy it for your wall collection, not for your game!!!
Armin says
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I played the Vortex Pro now for a couple of hours and can compare it with the imo great Pro Warrior 600, which was my all time favorite racket. Yes, the Vortex is quite similiar to the Warrior, but significant more headheavy. May be i get a little more balance with a thicker grip.
Btw, i also have the Dunlop Ali Farag Racket. It’s a way different feeling which i don’t like. This racket isn’t as powerful as the Pro Prince range. Not to stiff too. I think this is a racket for a defensiv oriented player. I’m definitly not a dunlop fan.
Joao says
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Many thanks Pierre. So, based on your measurements over the years, is the Vortex Pro clearly the most similar model to the famous Prince Airstick 130 in terms of specs?
Thanks in advance
Pierre says
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Unfortunately I never measured the Airstick 130 so I am not sure (and I definitely couldn’t tell from memory)
Joao says
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Many thanks anyway.
farzin says
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i have a head 120 slimbody it is 120 gram and its Measured weight with string and grip is 145 gram. and i have also a prince pro vortex it is 125 gram and its Measured weight with string and grip is 165 gram!!!! why is that? is it realy 125 gram ? or more.. ?maybe 135 gram
J says
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Sorry can’t really help you on your question. However, if you could share your thoughts on the Vortex Pro that would be trully welcome. There seems to be a group of players – me included – willing to give that racket a try but the lack of information is getting in the way. So, if you could be so kind to share your views, particularly on:
Is it really head-light? Do you find it more of a control or power racket?
Don’t know what other rackets do you own or have tried but comments on a head-to-head with the X-speed or any Dunlop would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Simulator says
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Pierre has just done a review on the new Dunlop Hyperfibre XT Revelation Pro and Pro Lite rackets. Very helpful! Though not a head to head comparison.
J says
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I saw it, thanks. Still missing info on the Prince Vortex though…
farzin says
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hello j
i play with vortex pro for about one month and this is my experience, vortex pro is extremely head heavy racket with the most power which i had during this 10 years that i play squash.and to me is is most heavy in comparison with other 120-125 gram rackets
during last year i played with head touch speed 120 slim body that was really good if you change it’s string(it’s company string is really nonsense) and I was very comfortable with it.
in conclusion vortex pro is a great racket for a professional PSA player and need a player like ramy, that he can use and discover all of this racket’s abilities, not for a normal club player like me.
J says
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Many thanks Farzin. Always helpful to have others input. The fact that it feels head-heavy, when the specs seem to indicate otherwise, is very useful input in my particular case…. I will leave it to Pierre to clarify the difference between his measures and the advertised measurements from Prince to clarify this. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
Pierre says
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My measurement always includes the stock string and grip — whatever it weighs out of the box — whereas the manufacturers usually provide a frame weight i.e. without strings and grip, since those are variables. (If you use a thicker/thinner string it will change the weight for example.) So my weight should usually be higher than the manufacturer’s number.
B says
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Will Prince start being used by the professionals again? they’ve pretty much disappeared from the pro game right now
John says
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That’d be nice! I think with all the questionable ups and downs about the parent company’s status and their subsidiary company in the racquetball world (Ektelon) they couldn’t afford to keep pro’s on board except Ramy, and their production line was getting shorter in terms of options and quantities made. But it seems like no Prince is getting back on their feet, and Ektelon was purchased by Racquetball Warehouse, so with this new 2019 release hopefully some Pros will give them a try. Abouelghar still uses the EXO3 Rebel and is currently sponsorless.. so by the looks of it, the Venom Pro is based on the same frame with some little tweaks to balance and weight, what he should do is try it out, and if he likes it, get Prince to sponsor him. It’d be a good move for both parties.
Simulator says
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Anyone compared this to the X-speed 125 yet? Comments?
Thanks!
Philip says
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Does anyone have any new impressions for this racket? Pierre I was surprised to hear you liked the Phoenix version more than the Vortex one, considering (as far as I know) this stringing pattern is the one Ramy Ashour has used with his Prince rackets. Of course it’s a matter of preference… Have you had time to test both some more?
Lloyd says
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Ramy ashour will be using this racket apparently.
https://youtu.be/FVntKXSoiWo
Rod says
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I’m sooooooo tempted by one of these…will probably wait for a while though to see if others report any durability issues.
Pierre, any chance you’ll be getting your hands on these for a review any time soon?!
John says
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I’m right there with you … Love me some Prince. It’s gonna be a hard choice if I want to get the Venom pro, Phoenix pro or Vortex pro *sigh*
Geoffrey jones says
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Anyone know if this or the other new rackets will be coming to North America / Canada sometime this year? If you have any idea on when Prince is looking to distribute here, none of the ones in New Zealand appear to offer shipping here.
Geoff
Pierre says
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I think that must be the plan (assuming Prince gets their distribution sorted…) and NZ might just get them first