Comments: I sent my O3 silver back after I cracked it. They sent my the O3 black. I love the weight and its power. I hit so much more with power and my drive serves are low and flat. Very little vibration and feels much better than with anything I have played with..
From:Ramon
City, State, Country:San Marcos, TX
Skill-level:A
String type and tension: factory strings

Comments: Got my Ektelon 03 Black today. I was playing with the 03 Red. I kept breaking the string and became tired of replacing them. The 03 has a very aggressive play, accurate, and powerful. The only complaint I have is the head weight. (very heavy) This racquet should be called the "03 Black Head"
From:From: Charles
Richmond VA 03/09
Skill-level:B player

Comments: I have had this racquet for 1 1/2 years and it broke this morning. I loved this racquet but not durable enough.
From: Jason
South Carolina 12/08

Comments: I bought the 03 Black and I like it for the most part. There was some vibration but I got a better dampener than came with the racket and it fixed the problem. BUT I have had to restring it 4 times now in under a year. And every time the string had broken in the same place which is the top corner not on the racket face but where it goes through an O-port I can't explain why it breaks so often I had it restrung 3 weeks ago and it broke again today.
From: Daniel, Rexburg, ID, USA, 02/08

Comments: Got my Ektelon 03 Black today. Factory stings stink! Broke R1 & R2 within 10 minutes on taking the plastic off the handle. Lots of power, but all over the place. Will restring and see if its a keeper.
From: Chris
Petersburg, VA 02/08
Skill-level:B player

Comments: I was interested to read the comments about the O3B from other folks and found similar experiences. I have used Ektelon for years and after using the Arc2 Fusion for 10 years, decided to go looking for an upgrade 18 months ago. I Literally tried a dozen different frames, mostly in the 190G range, since trying out a 170G years ago and finding it hurt my right elbow. I was disappointed with the O3 Silver as it had a vibration in the grip, even with the string dampener in place. Another player at a tourney felt there was a flaw inside the handle structure and suggested I ship it back to Ektelon for repairs. I did and they sent the O3 Black back instead. What a difference!

I think this is one of the best sticks Ektelon has ever made. Contrary to what someone else wrote, I find the Vision II grip to be the best stock grip on any racquet. My racket bud, who has used nothing but Pythons for the last 10 years, was so impressed with the Vision II grip he puts them on his E-Force sticks now. If you have slippage, try washing the grip off with soap and warm water as the installation directions suggest. It does restore the surface to maximum tackiness.

Having used everything from the TT Warrior (felt hollow) to the TT Vendetta to the More Game to the More Attack to the DPR and DPR Light (again felt hollow) to the O3 Red and Silver in the last 18 months, the O3 Black is the best of the bunch. Feels solid, wonderful sweet spot, gives extra gas on the hard drive serves. Oh, I have tried the O3 White with the extra weight plugs in the head. No thanks, the plugs can come sailing off in the heat of combat (I've seen it). I'm glad to have the extra racket mass built into the frame. No need to customize the frame here.

Someone else had complained about the bumper guard? I like the bumper guard design. On my O3 Red (my dog stick, not used for serious play) I cracked the frame at the 0200 position going for a wallpaper shot. The bumper guard continues to hold the frame together, and I still use it two months after it broke.

When you have the racket restrung, make sure they change the bumper guard at the same time. I would recommend restringing the stock Lightning 16G. It's great string but I think it's strung too tight. (I think all stick manufacturers do that since they have no idea how long the sticks will sit on the shelf before selling. Think flabby strings will look good on a new stick?) I put on Ashaway SuperKill II 16G at 32 lbs.
I have no intention of changing to any other mod.
From: Anonymous - 12/07
String Type and Tension: Ashaway Superkill II 16G - 32 lbs

Comments: I really liked this racquet; actually I liked it tons more than the new O3 white. The only problems that I had with both of my new Ektelons is that they would hurt my elbow soooooo bad after I was done playing and the grips on these are horrible. They start slipping after 2 games, maybe less, and I use gloves but they still slip. Good power and control on the racquet but not as much as with the Head Extreme! Also, too much recoil when you hit the ball.
From: Preston
Cedar Hills, UT 11/07

Comments: I have to agree with Brad. I have had the Ektelon O3 Black less than 3 months and I had to replace the strings. Then 1 week after replacing the strings, the frame cracks. I didn't string it past it's recommended tension. I rarely ever hit the walls on a swing so I can't attribute the frame cracking to abuse. Durability on this racquet and the Ektelon O3 Red are to be questioned. My Black is still "under inspection" by Ektelon. Hope they find their QC was faulty.
From: Chris
San Francisco, CA 10/07
String type and tension: OEM

Comments: I purchased the O3 Black in July of 2007. I've played with Ektelon racquets for years and was excited to see the 175 weight. The playability of this racquet is phenomenal. It swings easily and strikes crisply. Also, though I've had some recurring shoulder problems with other racquets, this one just hit my groove and I never felt a twinge. There have been, however, frame durability issues in my experience. I play at a competitive A level, and often play some high-open/IRT players. I don't hit the ball as hard as the pros, but I can put some speed on it. Twice now, the racquet frame has cracked near the lower tie off. I'm strung at an even 30 using technifibre 17, so I'm not putting additional strain on the racquet in the stringing process. The first racquet, I sent back to Ektelon and it was replaced. The second, they are refusing to replace because they don't believe it's a manufacturing defect...which is nonsense...if you strike a ball cleanly and the racquet cracks, that's defective in my opinion. Anyhow, it's a great racquet but heads up for durability issues.
From: Brad
Las Vegas, NV, USA 10/07
String type and tension: Technifibre 17 @ 30 lbs

Comments: Great racquet, best one I have ever played with. The only negative thing I have to say about this racquet is the factory strings and tension settings. In my opinion the factory settings are way too tight, I was experiencing some elbow/shoulder pain. I replaced the factory strings and had it restrung at 30 lbs and what a difference. Excellent power and control. I could put the ball anywhere after making this change. I love this racquet and can't see myself ever switching at this point.
From: Bryan
Kingwood, Tx, USA 12/06

Comments: I'm superstitious and a little bit old school, so I don't switch equipment in any sport unless I have to. (I played Ektelon Strobes for 12 years!) I've demo'd racquets from almost every manufacturer over the years, but nothing convinced me to switch from the thinner, heavier RTS series to the newer look and feel of today's racquets... Until now. The 03 Black is the best racquet I've played, hands down. I was skeptical about the holes because I like a balanced or slightly head-heavy frame, but Ektelon got this one right in just about every respect. Great balance and power right off the shelf, and good control becomes pinpoint control after just a few sessions to get the stringbed broken in. There is plenty of good equipment on the market today, but Ektelon just leap-frogged every other manufacturer with the 03 Black. I am officially converted!
From:Stephen Washington D.C., USA

Comments: I loved this racquet from the moment I demod it. In the first game after i bought this racquet i barely needed to make an adjustment (I switched from infinity 165). The power is a blast, you can definetely feel that 3000 power level in your hand. The control is absolutely amazing. The factory string could be improved, i believe after i replaced the string with technifibre 505 it will become the best racquet i have ever played with.
From: Masurie
Los Gatos, CA USA 11/06

Comments: I bought this racquet about a month ago and have loved it ever since! I had a Wilson nLite before this and the 03 black blows it out of the water on the power aspect! My playing partner couldn't believe the difference it made in my serves! It's about 10 grams heavier which has its advantages and disadvantages but overall, it is well worth the money! Best racquet I've ever played with! Plus it looks cool too!
From: Brian Munford, TN USA String type and tension: Ektelon 16 gauge Duraflex 32lbs.

Comments: I purchased the Ektelon O3 Black in July 2006 based on great reviews and my own "hands-on" in-store tryout. I feel that I have actually upgraded from the EKTELON O3 Red that I traded-in (it was in "store-new-condition). Not just because of the increase in Power Level (3000 vs. 2700), but in the increased playability and control. I had purchased all new RB equipment in January 2006 following a ten year break (back problems). The O3 RED at that time was my weapon of chose. I found that I was having a problem "locating" the racquet head during playing sessions and even during practice workouts. In addition, vibration and elbow soreness told me to move away from a "head-light", to an even balanced or head heavy racquet. Enter the O3 Black! It gave me back my precision shot placement with plenty of power. And yes, I know where the racket head is at all times. ! SWEET!
From:Pete Converse, TX, USA

Comments: The best Ektelon has made yet. It is the DPR lite 2500 frame with the O3 string pattern and O3 ports. Ektelon took the best of both and made this one. The only negative that I noticed is they changed to bumper protector on the end of the racquet, and it seems to be less durable. I would add the bumper tape for the end of the racquet. Sweet spot is larger than the O3, about the same size as the DPR, and more toward the center. Weighted more toward the center (not head heavy). String type and tension: Cut the orginals off, never used. Used Megablast 16mm, strung for control, 28lbs. tension.
From:K. Taylor Miami, Fl, USA