Prince · Polyester
Prince Vortex
Hexagonal co-polyester monofilament with added softening agents for elasticity
Performance ratings
Lab test data
- Stiffness
- 188 lbs/in
- Tension loss
- 58.5%
- Spin potential
- 8
Overview
Prince Vortex is a shaped co-poly with a hexagonal profile and softening agents in the material. In the Tennis Warehouse playtest its strongest score was spin, and TW notes it has one of the top spin scores in the TWU string lab. Comfort scored very high for a co-poly and power was lively for the type. The trade-off is tension: the TWU lab measured a high tension loss, and testers raised tension and pre-stretched to manage it. At about $8 a set it is one of the cheapest ways to try a spin poly.
Best for
- Juniors moving to their first poly
- Spin-oriented baseliners on a budget
- Players who restring often
- Families wanting poly performance at synthetic gut prices
Not ideal for
- Players who need tension to hold for weeks
- Juniors with arm pain
- Young beginners
Pros
- Very high spin for the price
- Soft and comfortable for a co-poly
- Livelier than most polys
- Low set and reel price
- Three gauges including 18
Cons
- High tension loss in lab testing
- Needs frequent restrings to play its best
- Still a poly: not for young or sore arms
Stringer notes
Shaped co-poly. TW testers raised tension 3-4 lbs and pre-stretched to offset the early tension drop.
Break-in period
Short. Settles within the first hour.
When to replace
Every 8-12 hours of play, or when it starts to feel loose and dead.
Hybrid setup ideas
- Vortex mains with a synthetic gut cross for extra comfort
- Vortex mains + Prince Premier Control crosses
Specifications
- Type
- Polyester
- Construction
- Hexagonal co-polyester monofilament with added softening agents for elasticity
- Gauges
- 16, 17, 18
- Colors
- Black, Red
- Set price
- $7–$8
- Reel price
- $79–$79
- Brand
- Prince (USA)
Prices outside the US
The prices on this page are US retail in USD. We have not checked UK or Australian prices for this string yet, so we do not list them. Check a local retailer: gauges and colours can differ by country.
Sources & reviews
Data verified October 2026. Something wrong? Send a correction.
- Specs: Tennis Warehouse (Prince US retailer)
- Pricing: Tennis Warehouse
- Lab data: TWU String Performance Database
- Review: Tennis Warehouse Review