Recently, I acquired a rare piece of collector’s item and almost complete my POG collections except the mid and mid-plus versions. It is the very first generation of POG, the one with 1 stripe, head size 110 (though a bit bigger than other POG 110 4 stripes and heavier). This version came out around 1978 and Made in USA. This version of POG was used by many big names back in the 80s, super stars like Andre Agassi, Gabriela Sabatini and of course my favouite, Michael Chang.

Searching through the net, I discovered there are actually two different versions of POG with 1 stripe, see the followings:

POG with 1 stripe – very 1st version, no side deco (ie, blank on both side)

POG with 1 stripe - the 2nd version, note Prince Logo and side deco

Some more information I found on Tennis-Warehouse Forum

POG 1 = Tear dropped shaped head single line with no grommets/no bumper and no printing on top or side or racket (possibly just sticker) except for Prince/graphite- circa 1978

POG 2 = Tear dropped shaped head, single line with grommets/no bumper no printing on top or side or racket (possibly just sticker) except for Prince/graphite- circa 1980?

POG 3 = Normal shaped head, single line with grommets and bumper, printing on side is “graphite series 110″ top has no printing front is Prince/Graphite. Printed stringing weight is 70-80 – Circa 1983

POG 3.5 = Same as 3 but side says “graphite 110″, String weight 60-75
Circa ?

POG 4 = Norm head, 4 line with grommets/bumper, printing on side is “graphite 110″, top is “110″ , side sticker says “series 110″ front is Prince/Prince- , Printed stringing weight is 60-75 – Circa 1987

POG 4.5 = Same as POG 4 but top is printed “oversize”, side is “graphite oversize” , front is Prince/Prince, printed stringing weight is 50-60 -
Circa > 1987 (any ideas?)

POG 5 = Straight shaft-Not sure of OS had straight shaft?

POG 6 = Tour

One Response to “Prince Graphite Original, The very 1st Generation”

1. Kim says:

   September 24, 2014 at 9:59 am

   Thanks for the history. I have a POG1 and it is the most bad ass racquet in the world. No grommets and no bumper. This thing is 17mm thin and it’s heavy, just they way I like it. Huge sweet spot, but lots of feel.

   Reply