Prince Tour XP is a round co-polyester tennis string designed to combine control with a more responsive and forgiving feel than Prince Tour XC. It uses a modified polyester formulation that Prince describes as containing a unique alloy intended to improve feel and tension behavior.
Within the Prince Tour polyester family, XP is the more accessible option. It remains controlled and relatively low powered in the wider market, but it supplies more liveliness and pocketing than the extra-control XC model.
Tour XP targets intermediate and advanced players with developed swings who want a smooth, value-oriented polyester rather than maximum shaped-string bite. It can also serve as an introduction to polyester for suitable players who understand the material’s maintenance demands. The Tennis String Finder can help compare it with softer materials.
Prince Tour XP Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Power | 6.5/10 |
| Spin | 7.5/10 |
| Comfort | 7/10 |
| Control | 8.5/10 |
These ratings reflect Tour XP across the broader string market. It offers strong control and useful spin, with comfort and power that are accessible only relative to many other co-polyesters.
Prince Tour XP Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| String type | Round co-polyester monofilament |
| Composition | Co-polyester with a proprietary alloy |
| Profile | Round and smooth |
| Common gauges | 16 / 1.30mm and 17 / 1.25mm |
| Documented colors | Black, Green and Red, depending on gauge and market |
| Set length | Approximately 12.2m |
| Reel length | Approximately 200m |
| Position in range | Softer and livelier than Tour XC |
Not every color is offered in every gauge. Buyers should verify the package rather than assuming regional listings are identical.
Material and Construction
Tour XP is a co-polyester monofilament, meaning it is extruded as a single solid string rather than assembled from many fibers. Prince uses a proprietary alloy in the formulation to improve feedback and performance stability.
The term alloy does not mean the string contains a conventional metal wire. In polymer marketing, it refers to a blended material formulation that adjusts the properties of the polyester base.
The profile is round and smooth. Tour XP does not use edges for direct ball bite, so spin depends on low surface friction, main-string movement, snapback and player acceleration.
Some descriptions connect Tour XP with earlier Prince polyester technology, but current product information should be used rather than assigning an undocumented construction label. The verified facts are its co-polyester monofilament structure, round profile and proprietary alloy.
Prince Tour XP Performance
Power
Tour XP provides moderate power for co-polyester but remains restrained compared with nylon, multifilament and natural gut. Players need a developed swing to create reliable depth.
The string feels livelier than Tour XC and many firm control polys. The 17 / 1.25mm gauge adds response and pocketing, while 16 / 1.30mm supplies a calmer launch.
Defensive blocks, volleys and compact replies receive more assistance than they would from an especially dead polyester. This makes Tour XP more approachable without turning it into a power string.
Players with slow swings should still choose a softer material. Lowering tension can improve depth but does not replace the elasticity of multifilament.
Power rating: 6.5/10
Spin
Tour XP offers good spin for a round string. Its smooth surface allows the mains to move and return, while the controlled launch gives players confidence to accelerate.
The 17 gauge provides quicker string movement and greater ball interaction. The 16 gauge offers more stability and may remain effective longer in open patterns.
It lacks the mechanical bite of Prince Vortex or Vortex Triad. Players who brush steeply and want maximum geometric assistance should prefer a shaped option.
Tour XP’s spin is best understood as balanced rather than extreme. It supports topspin, slice and kick serves without making shape the dominant feel characteristic.
Spin rating: 7.5/10
Control
Control is Tour XP’s strongest quality. The co-polyester base restricts launch enough for intermediate and advanced players to swing fully and target confidently.
Its response is not as dead as Tour XC. The additional liveliness creates a more complete all-court feel but reduces the absolute margin against overhitting.
Round construction produces a clean, predictable contact rather than the pronounced grab of a sharp string. This can appeal to flatter hitters and players who vary pace and direction.
Control is strongest while tension and snapback remain functional. Even a durable, physically intact Tour XP bed should be replaced when launch or response changes substantially.
Control rating: 8.5/10
Comfort and Feel
Tour XP sits on the softer side of Prince’s polyester line. Product evaluation describes a comfortably firm response with useful ball feedback and pocketing.
The feel is more responsive than Tour XC and less sharply edged than Vortex. Players can sense contact without the stringbed feeling excessively lively.
This comfort is relative to co-polyester. Tour XP remains firmer than natural gut, multifilament and synthetic gut, and it should not be presented as protection against injury.
Racket stiffness and reference tension are important. Installing the string excessively high can eliminate its relative softness and make off-center contact demanding.
Comfort rating: 7/10
Durability and Tension Maintenance
Tour XP offers good physical resistance to breakage. The 16 / 1.30mm gauge is the logical choice for open patterns and frequent string breakers.
The smooth profile reduces concentrated edge wear, although the strings still notch at intersections. The thinner 17 gauge prioritizes response and may break sooner.
Prince positions the proprietary alloy as supporting tension behavior, and current evaluations describe playability duration as above average for polyester. That does not mean the string maintains its original response indefinitely.
Physical durability and useful playability are separate. Replace Tour XP when the mains stop returning, trajectory becomes inconsistent or the bed feels unusually dead, even if it remains unbroken.
Choosing the Right Gauge
Tour XP has two common gauges that cover most standard patterns.
| Gauge | General characteristics |
|---|---|
| 16 / 1.30mm | Greater stability, resistance and controlled response |
| 17 / 1.25mm | Greater liveliness, feel and spin access |
The 16 gauge is better for open patterns and breakers. The 17 gauge is the more responsive option for dense patterns and players who restring regularly.
Full Bed or Hybrid Setup
Full Bed
A full bed provides Tour XP’s intended balance of control, snapback and comfortably firm feedback. It suits experienced players who already understand polyester maintenance.
The 17 gauge is the easier full-bed option for players who find 16 gauge too substantial.
Prince Tour XP in the Mains With Softer Crosses
Tour XP mains preserve polyester control and sliding. Natural gut or multifilament crosses add depth and soften impact.
The round surface is less abrasive than a sharply shaped main, but it can still notch the soft cross. The hybrid remains firmer than a full bed of the softer material.
Softer Mains With Prince Tour XP in the Crosses
Natural gut or multifilament mains emphasize power, pocketing and feel. Tour XP crosses add control and provide a round surface for main-string movement.
This is a logical use for Tour XP, especially in 17 gauge. Soft mains can still wear against polyester, so the bed should be inspected regularly.
General Tension Guidance
Tour XP should generally start below the player’s nylon or multifilament reference. Its relative softness does not justify installing co-polyester at an unnecessarily high tension.
Players seeking pocketing and depth can make a modest reduction. Those who need more control can adjust upward slightly or select 16 gauge.
Frame stiffness, string pattern and gauge influence the result. Open patterns may suit the thicker gauge, while dense patterns may benefit from 17 gauge and a modestly lower reference.
The Tennis String Tension Calculator can provide a general starting point within the racket manufacturer’s approved range.
Who Should Use Prince Tour XP?
Tour XP is best suited to:
- Intermediate and advanced players with developed swings
- Players seeking a round control polyester
- Users who want more liveliness than Tour XC
- All-court players who value clean feedback
- Players building a polyester/soft-string hybrid
- Value-conscious users who restring regularly
Who Should Avoid Prince Tour XP?
Tour XP is less suitable for:
- Beginners who need easy depth
- Players seeking natural-gut or multifilament softness
- Heavy-spin users who require shaped edges
- Players who keep polyester until it breaks
- Anyone using excessively high tension to create control
- Users who want the absolute lowest-powered Prince string
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong, predictable control | Limited free power in the wider market |
| Softer than many Prince polys | Still firm compared with soft strings |
| Round profile supports clean snapback | No geometric edges for maximum bite |
| Two practical gauges | Playability eventually declines before breakage |
| Good physical resistance | Color availability varies by gauge |
| Useful in full beds and hybrids | Proprietary alloy details are not public |
Prince Tour XP Compared With Other Strings
Tour XP vs Prince Tour XC
Prince Tour XC is firmer, lower powered and coated for extra control and resistance. Tour XP is livelier, softer and more accessible.
Tour XP vs Prince Vortex
Prince Vortex has a hexagonal profile for stronger geometric bite. Tour XP is round and offers a cleaner, more neutral response.
Tour XP vs Wilson Revolve
Wilson Revolve is another round co-polyester designed around low-friction movement. Revolve places more emphasis on spin, while Tour XP has a controlled, comfortably firm identity.
Tour XP vs Tecnifibre Razor Soft
Tecnifibre Razor Soft is a premium round co-polyester positioned as a more comfortable control string. Both target experienced players who want precision without the most rigid response.
Final Verdict
Prince Tour XP is a balanced round co-polyester for players who want control without Tour XC’s extremely low-powered and firm response. Its proprietary alloy is intended to improve feel and performance stability, while the smooth profile supports ordinary snapback.
It is not a soft string in the wider market and does not provide the bite of a shaped polyester. Its appeal lies in predictable trajectory, useful feedback and good value.
The 17 / 1.25mm gauge is the more responsive starting point, while 16 / 1.30mm suits open patterns and frequent breakers. Both should be replaced according to playability rather than breakage alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of string is Prince Tour XP?
It is a round co-polyester monofilament made with a proprietary alloy.
Is Tour XP shaped?
No. It has a smooth, round profile and produces spin through movement, snapback and swing speed.
Is Tour XP softer than Tour XC?
Yes. Tour XP is the livelier and more forgiving option, while Tour XC prioritizes maximum control.
Is Tour XP powerful?
It has moderate power for co-polyester but remains lower powered than nylon, multifilament or natural gut.
Which gauge should most players choose?
The 17 / 1.25mm version favors response and feel. The 16 / 1.30mm version favors stability and physical resistance.
Is Tour XP suitable for beginners?
Most beginners will benefit more from synthetic gut or multifilament. Suitable developing players should use polyester only with informed setup guidance.
Can Tour XP be used as a hybrid cross?
Yes. Its round surface makes it a reasonable control cross beneath natural gut or multifilament mains.