Exactly. I use the Pro version and it is the best feeling racquet I've used, and adding a leather grip, and 2g at 10 and 2 it's stable, gains a bit more power, and everyone else that has used it were impressed with how good it feels and how much they can control where the ball goes. This guy doesn't really know what he's talking about😅
Disagree, these are great player’s racquets, will be around for a long time. Nothing like the feel and precision of a straight box-beam, headlight racquet at about 330gm swing-weight.
I've been playing with a prestige since I gave up my head 280 almost 25 years ago. I just ordered the 360 as I was using the prestige touch for the last couple of years. I personally don't feel comfortable with anything that is not a Prestige MP. Even the speed feels odd to me, the radicals I couild stand but but they are no Prestige. The rectangular grip is what I love the most about head rackets. It gives me a better sense of the angle of the racket face. And why is it hard to string? I do my own stringing and I have no issues.
With the introduction of Graphene, the HEAD Prestige was buried. The new MP and the MID aren't true constant beam rackets because the bridge looks like from a fuckin Babolat racket. Thank God the IG series is still around in pro stock form, even the real MID with 18/20 (TGT 292.1). Hit with the newest MP. Feels kinda soft but it's like playing with 10 dampeners in the racquet. Fuck that... !
I'm with you on the naming. I really hate extra letters and numbers with "pro tour tough plus interlocked weave attack dog" tacked onto the end of a stock racket that's only 10g heavier than the original model. You only need one word to tell me its heavier or extended etc.
I can’t speak to the other versions but I reviewed the Prestige Pro on my channel and loved it. Even gave it the highest score out of the racquets I’ve reviewed so far. The stability made it like 🧈 to hit with. Also, the 360+ works. I call bullshit too when I see it but I played with the gravity and then the prestige that both have the spiralfibre and felt that both were extremely stable compared to all the other frames I’ve reviewed. To each their own but I’d say this one is definitely worth a test if you’re looking for a well balanced stable frame.
I play with prestige, it's gorgeous and awesome racquet, solid control and maneuverability, and love the rectangular shape of the grip, all fun to make long strokes!!
I play tennis for 7 years and I am 43 now, I got the prestige mid and has blown my mind! It is like I got a level up as a player. Easy power and precision at the same time and very maneuverable. I used to believe that playing with this smaller head size would increase my mishits but the opposite happens.. I think that thanks to the smaller and more maneuverable head it is easier to find the sweet spot. ps, I do play and practice almost every day for the last 3 years so maybe I am not the average club player.
I’ve been playing head prestige line up since the prestige classic days. Tried a few others recently like Wilson RF and blade, also the Babolat pure strike. Nothing plays like the prestige. It’s a great players racquet. I agree most people won’t gravitate towards it since there isn’t any huge marketing. Plus it’s a racquet you need to know how play and have a good swing. It’s made for the advanced player. But it’s a players racquet. I still play to this day the flex point prestige mid. It’s my tried and true favorite racquet. Can’t move away from it.
Exactly, I grew up playing the Pro Staff but have been playing Prestige the last 7 years and love it. It's a players racquet, so it's not for everybody. While a lot of the things mentioned in this video are true, I feel like you could say all those same things about any other players racquet in any other brands line because that's the nature of a "players racquet." The Prestige is a great feeling racquet in that category, and I hope they keep making it forever, but it sure isn't for everybody.
I've been playing with iterations of the Prestige since the iPrestige. For a committed player who tunes in their playing to their Prestige, it can work wonders for their game. Then, once accustomed to it, will always crave the control that only this racket can produce. It's a difficult but rewarding racket to play with.
I remember working all summer back in the 80's to buy my first players racket Wilson Pro Staff (St. Vincent) a few years later I tried the Prestige 600 and I converted to Head Prestige for life. I now prefer the MP because offers a little more forgiving and easier to contact the ball with a modern forehand swing path.
If you want to improve your game. Footwork weight transfer and full swings use a prestige. It reveals your weaknesses... Its not for the weakend warriors and people who wants easy power
I have news for you. Prestige is NEVER going to disappear. It is a head classic which pros and advanced players love. I learned with a prestige and still use the prestige MP latest version. And have all the versions of the MP since it’s inception. I do agree with you regarding the “wannabe” (lighter and bigger versions) prestiges that should have never been manufactured. Keep the prestige a “prestige”. A true players racket. So head should just make the prestige MP and the Pro for those that want a little extra pop. I hate the new modern thick frames that are way to stiff with zero feel and way overpowered. But that is my preference. Also agree with the names that racket companies are coming up with. It is just ridiculous like you say. Most people won’t remember the damn name to begin with.😂 I am enjoying your pros rackets unveilings. Thanks
They're not beginners' rackets. I've been playing with several versions of the Prestige Pro for the last 7 years and really enjoy the feel and control of these rackets.
The Prestige is an awesome raquet and yes it was the equivalant of the Pro Staff that Sampras and Courier used, Ivanisavic used the Presitige and many on the tour and they all used the smallest head side, I believe that Agassi and Sabatini started the bigger head size use but the smaller head size give so much more power and control. The Prestige was amazing to use as was the Pro Saff and Donnay Pro One (orange/grey).
I'm currently using a Prestige Pro from 5 years ago, like YouTek something. It is my favorite racquet. Here is the reason why: I can keep throwing my opponent nice (or nasty) topspins. Unless the opponent is so strong that he can smash everything I send, I tend to gain an advantage slowly based on consistency. I do make stronger topspins using a Pure Aero, but with higher error rates. Similarly, a friend of mine uses an MP version, which consistently generates "flat topspins" driving me crazy. Trading consistency with a little bit of power is really a good deal.
The 360+ prestige mp is a brilliant racquet. Anyone who walks into your shop asking about a prince phantom, give them a prestige mp and tell them to thank you later.
I actually prefer to use the Head grip that is rectangular. I have tried many racquets but prefer the Head just because I grew up playing with Head racquets. The prestige line has always been only for the elite or advance players(no hackers allowed and not forgiving), that is why they are called prestige(advance attributes).
Quality content, humor, and vibes on this channel, OG! You have something special going here that holds a candle to the very best out there like Tennis Nerd, Top Tennis Training...etc. I appreciate your brutal honesty about the Prestige line and can respect your personal sentiment. As a Prestige Pro user since the Graphene Youtek IG days, these are NOT for guys below 4.5 level. I would even say you have to be a 5.0+ (Fit, athletic, technically sound) to really get the most out of these. It is easy to see why most tennis players stay away from them...but it is also what FURTHER contributes to their legendary status and small, but loyal following to this day. I think as long as Head exists, there will always be a Prestige frame. It may not have the biggest sales revenue like most Babolat frames, Yonex's, or say an Extreme...but Prestige is the standard to which all other players frames are held to. It continues to be so. I currently use the Graphene Touch Pro, and I really like it. I tried the Pro & MP 360+ versions and liked them, but I see no need to switch.
I've used a Prestige MP since the Youtek IG. You won't convince me to switch away from it. Flirted with the RF97 Pro Staff then went back to the Prestige MP
SAME! Swapped rackets with my hitting partner recently and he uses a babolat fluorescent yellow whatever... felt like cheating... more ways than one....
I play with an prestige liquid metal mp flex point and it is one of the best rackets I’ve played with. I would like to see Head come out with some rackets that resemble older models
i think this should be considered a classic style racquet meant for developed classic strokes vis a vis lighter more powerful racquets to fit other developed playing styles or someone working on strokes. for the latter, as i've heard and been told, its better to train with a more advanced racquet so techniques are developed to realize the racquet's potential. so maybe not say hard to play with, but something you may want to strive to play with
I prefer the flatter more rectangular grip! I use an Eastern forehand grip and it really improves my forehand by making the racquet more stable in my hand. The design allows more of the palm of my hand to be securely behind that flatter bevel of the grip, resulting in a more secure hold on the handle and less twisting of the frame in my hand. These are frames for touch / flat ball hittting players who can provide their own power. They are also designed to feel plush (as opposed to crisp feeling) on contact with the ball. I am a fan of the comfort and control they offer.
Btw, there are online forums full of players that use the Prestige frames. You are also less likely to experience pain in your shoulder, arm and wrist with these frames. That’s why Wilson went back to the more flexible frames like the Clash, which is a 59 ra. Don’t knock them unless you actually are advanced enough to play with one.
Whilst I agree with you on the prestige I think Ra is just a number and not very telling about a racquet true stiffness. The clash feels and is much stiffer than 59ra. It simply bends a lot precisely in the point where Ra is measured near the throat, but it's very stiff elsewhere.
@@msalvs That's correct. However, Head racquets, and I have played with Head for many years, are typically true to their flex measurements. This guy is complaining because, like most old guys, he likes the big thick racquets with the large head, so he can't miss. If this was a professional player telling me how awful this racquet line is then I may believe them, but consider the source.
I am a 4.5 player and the IG Prestige MP is still my favorite racquet of all time. I learned to play in the 80s and racquets at the time did not provide much power. I know today the game is faster and spin is generally more desirable than stabi;ity, so I understand your opinion.
Chris Lin same, currently have LM as well as YTK prestige and although there might be much better rackets out there, I've always stuck with Prestige. Only having 1 racket sucks when you break strings regularly so I think I’ll test the new G360+ version out
Hey Fellow.....this is an amazing "modern" easy to play with racket!!! After a break for 25 years playing tennis, started with the speed mp a with 16/19.........awful!!! Then changed to the Prestige Tour....and.....THE coming out of tennis coma!!! Precise playing and powerful playing and easy playing! (Tested the Radical, Instinct....no, Gravity which could also be a choice)You can call me a dinosaur, when I felt like the "vibrations" with my loved Kneissl White Star Pro from the late 80`s ;-)
I love these videos. Combination of honesty, tongue in cheek criticism, and horse sense. That said, I do use the prestige MP. Was using the Yonnex V-Core for a while, which I really liked, but enjoy this new racket as much, if not a little bit more.
People want easier power and spin these days. These Prestige racquets are hard work. Prestiges are a derivative of the old pro racquets but what pros play with aren't really suitable for amateur players.
Man, the Prestige IG line is still one of the best ever. Also the TK82 and TK57 grip shapes are my faves of all time. I can't play with any other modern rackets but the Prestige anymore. Best match feel ever. So much connection to the ball. Also, my opponents always give me the feedback that my balls are more penetrating and harder than with any other racket I've tried.
These racquets evoke feelings of nostalgia. I used to play with the mid-plus version (burgundy) in the 1990s. The grip had a strange suspension / dampening system in it which made it very comfortable to use. Frames on two out of the three I had eventually became ‘soft’ and I moved on to the Dunlop MW200G in early 2000s.
Definitely a racquet for competitive players not for recreational ones. Played with a Prestige MID 18x20 before switching to MID PLUS. The MID had the smallest sweetspot ever and was very unforgiving, but when I got my timing right the precision it gave me was insane, the ball would hit exactly where I wanted it. I kind of miss that.
Hi. Based on this review I wanted to buy and I did bought the Head Prestige Graphene 360 Tour... the one that you said it does not belong in this series. To be honest, I always knew that for Prestige which is a Control oriented series, you need the stength of Hulk to send the ball over to the net. I'm very pleased with Tour and is almost like a Wilson Pro Staff v13 only it's not that stiff. Great power, control, spin and highly playable! This was the reason that I wanted to get it and add it to my collection. I had a look on various reviews and tests + I wanted to see how this racquett will fit into my game. Cheers!
I love the Prestige Tour and can't find a 99 or 98 sq inch racket with an 18x19 pattern in the speed or most any brand. 18x19 pattern is honestly the best blend of spin and control I've played with. Lower launch angle than 16x19 and not as unforgiving and stiff as 18x20. Also the feel of the layup used in the Prestige line is unique (solid not hollow and plush) and the rectangular grip is unique offering a bit more leverage on impact. It is a players frame for people who have good footwork and sound stroke mechanics. The extra sq inches held when defending and hitting against heavy hitters you start experiencing at 4.5+. Did i mention the CAP system? I like to keep the racket intact when digging out low balls. I also use lead at 3 and 9 with a leather grip to help balance the weight and stabilize off center shots.
Guys. I am prestige fan. I used to play for long, but now at 46, it is no longer possible. Sometimes I picked it up to play just for fun and I will tell you, when you hit it right, it is amazing. no other racquet compares to.
What's great about head prestige, you can replace handle pallets with the ones from speed line, called TK82S, to make it more square. TW Europe got those. I replaced them on all 4 of my mids. Just wanted to let you know 🙂
One of the premier problems with today's racquets are all of the different variations of the company's flagship frame. One you stray away from the regular and go to "S" version, "Tour", or "Pro" or variance in sq. in. or string pattern, when you decide to buy 2 or 3 of the same, the chance of the frames swinging and feeling different goes up. All of the companies are guilty. The regular standard flagship frame tends to stay consistent, at least with my experience.
Thanks for your great video. I used Prestige Of various “names” from 1995 till about 2014, but still think Prestige Mid the last of Made on Austria be the best. Sad that they decided to lower the weight for no apparent reason, though the change in pattern made stringing a touch easier on later versions.
Well, the Prestige line started with TXP / Prestige Pro, Prestige Classic and the likes, and of course the Pro Tour 630. And even for intermediates, with some training on stroke mechanics on footwork, the Prestige is precision weapon. You can’t compare it with tweeners and believe the Prestige is for the elites.
I appreciate a lot of your perspectives and opinions, but this one felt over-generalized and did not line up with my own experience, at least in regards to the MP. I'm a 3.5 player coming back to the sport in my mid-40s after a couple decades away, and I've been putting in a lot of court time this last year working hard to get up to a 4.0 rating. But I've also been looking to upgrade from the XT Instinct MP that I started with when I decided to start playing again, so I've been demoing a lot of racquets lately. Anyhow, last week I demoed the MP along with a 2020 Yonex VCore Pro 330 and an Ezone 98+. I really liked all three racquets, but I was really surprised to discover how much I enjoyed playing with the 360+ Prestige MP... by the end of the trial, I was grabbing the Prestige MP to begin and end my sessions. And while I enjoyed my SHBH and the plow through of the Vcore 330 more, and my serving power and placement with the Ezone more, In terms of all-around, the Prestige MP felt like the best all-around racquet of the three. I would love to have one of each of those three racquets, but if I end up having to pick only one, I'm gonna go with that Prestige MP.
Thank you for this. I love your review! I play 2020 prestige MP with some customization, and I like its unique feel. I would love to see how you string prestige rackets!
I can tell you from experience that the prestige line (I’ve been using them since the liquid metal one, back a long time ago) has been through some changes but it still keep a very special feeling and way to play with. I also bought and sometimes play with a blade 98 v6 16x19 that I bought exactly because of this. A tennis partner played with one of my youtek prestige’s and said I should try something else, that it was too underpowered and that I’m almost 50 yo so I need to find something more friendly, etc.. and so, I bought a couple of blades a while ago. Man, I can only say that being a long time user of the prestige line became somewhat addictive. Everytime I play with the blades most of my shots go wide, or off the court. It’s really all a matter of control, and controllable power. Prestige’s need for you to measure the input, allow you to be truly aggressive and reward you with a predictable response. It’s a real player’s racquet. Not a beginner stick. It not all about power, it’s about control and predictable output. I really can’t play (somewhat well) with anything else. Quick note: I started 40 years ago with wooden racquets, and my first graphite one was a Dunlop max 200g (John McEnroe) that I still keep.
I collect vintage rackets - have a few MAX 200G's, PS 6.0, Rossignol F200 and I play them. I also have a Prestige Mid the one with the red and white swirly markings on the hoop and I find the Prestige a little easier to hit. I like the 200G but I can frame a ball on those with up tempo rally pace which is the most embarrassing so I usually stick with the Prestige as the 93 (or 90 they say) head size feels enormous.
I totally agree.I use the Prestige Graphene Touch Tour and also switch off to the YouTek Prestige Pro. They play very similar. Although, the Touch version is slightly more flexible. I'm 56 and I still can run very fast and hit the ball really hard. It gives back what you put in, just as you described. If you are under 50, I imagine that you can handle it just fine. It sounds as though you really know your game and what you need to hit with precision. Keep playing!
Pure capable tennis players love the Prestige line and others like it (Wilson Pro Staff). If you “can run”, if you do “have energy” and you can generate your own power there isn’t a better racquet. If you can’t run, get any 110 inch banger and stop winning.
Prestige for advanced fit players (which you are obviously are not). It forces you to improve your tennis and has history. The grip is fine and racket feels great in your hand. Try it, fine if you dont like it. Not everyone like a Clash
Yes, Head Prestige is maybe for more advance players and flat hitters with great technique and who can generate their own power for example with the MP, but you can still easy get big power shots and serv as a non-super-advance player on faster courts, because you get so much free power from the fast court.. And you can do full swing on clay on the return without be afraid of overhitting, thanks to the solid control the great Prestige gives you..
I played with almost all Head Prestige rackets since the beginning. I played college tennis with the Prestige Classic. Oh, baby...nothing even comes close. The grip shape used to be different. They changed them a few years ago and I don't like the newer shape... I''ve played with many frames, almost all brands but nothing like a good ol Prestige. I hope Head doesn't stop making them. I agree with you that less and less people will play with them because they are just hard to play with if you don't have good footwork and/or strokes...
The head grips was changed over to the current shape when Novak moved brands from Wilson. The speed grip shape is tk82s, s means speed. All head grips are now tk82s and resemble prince grips per the tennis warehouse podcast with Troy who measured all the different racket makers. Prince is known for a more equal distance bevels. I use the prestige mp 18x20, and I can see how the naming is a nusance, but I think it’s easier to say with string patterns and head size .
agree, head grip is more rectangular thus feel bigger than Wilson/Prince/Dunlop... I think this Prestige line is better than the last 10 years, would love to try.
Great presentation. Can you do a segment on Prince Racquets? They revolutionized tennis with their oversized racquets and was such a dominant presence in the sport. They seemed to have disappeared. What happened?
I have a pair of IG Youtek Prestige pro 95 16x19 strung with polyester at 46lb and they play great, on a good day you put the ball wherever you want, great to serve with too. If I am hungover on a Sunday morning match I will play with the speed MP instead as the prestige is hard to handle indeed. I take this new prestige is more flexible which is great, I would definitely try the MP 98 18x19 and put some lead at 12. Regarding the grip shape, I have played my whole life with head racquets and have extreme western grip, I know no different so can't complain. Keep the reviews coming, good work.
I'm a 69 year old 4.0 and just switched to a Prestige Pro. I modded mine with added weight at the 12 and changed to a leather grip along with an overgrip to also add more weight in the handle. One of my racquets weighs in at 12.3 oz. while the other is at 12.6 oz., the difference being more weight in the handle on one of them. I have yet to decided which one works best. The key to making these more playable is the choice of strings and string tension. So far I really like the Kirschbaum Xplosive Speed string at 48 lbs. This setup favors plow through and power over top spin, but I still get decent top off both sides. It also gives good power on serves. I don't find it difficult to get results from this racquet at all, even at my age and my rating.
With prestige you really need to know thing or two about tennis. All you said its true, they are not for beginner's ,they are hard for anybody the way they came out from the factory, in my opinion. But only when customised they open up and became play friendly. I have customised my own prestige graphene pro's 16-19 to Length 70 cm, Weight 363 g, Balance 32.5 cm ,String hybrid, multi mains at 21 kg and poly crosses at 20 kg. Grip size 5. A lot of work, but best frame i had ever hit with. PS. To put the string on is still pain in the ass so if you know some trick please show it sometimes. :-) Thanks for your reviews they're great!
I’m a beginner intermediate player who picked up tennis this year. I’m young and athletic so I think this type of racquet would help to learn proper technique, any tips from experienced players?
The Head Prestige traces back to the 1st Graphite Professional, not the Director In the USA the 1st model with caps was the TXP{rofessional}. The Director was the "oversize' entry, surplanted byttthe TX Master, which only had a half cap system.
The Prestige Tour is made to customize. You need to add silicone in the handle and perhaps some lead at the top to get the most out of the Tour. It's plush. It reminds me of the old Pro Tour 280/260 Trisys flex. Once you dial it in with mods, it's amazing.
Craig Lucas the cap grommets on the Prestiges make it a more narrow space to pass string through. It slows you down a tiny bit. Just annoying to deal with. The O-port prince frames you have to lock the turntable before each pull which also adds time and is a pain to string.
i'm 50yrs old and I grew up and played with Gorans Prestige classic and Sampras Pro staff 85 and these rackets are the real players racket, the power and the feel on the Head prestige is unbelievable, you need to know how to play with these rackets to get the most out of them. Like golf clubs blades are the purest but you need to know how to strike the ball n the middle period, not for the average player.
...ah, but I want to say I do appreciate that you tell your opinion openly. Honest reviews are getting rare these days with all that influencers. Additionally, you're right on that naming bs and all those technologies inside. That#s marketing hoax indeed. :/
I currently own several different racquets, Ncode N6one 90, 95, Six-one 95, Kfactor 95 Kfactor 90 Karophite and Karbon, Head TiS6, 2005 First Gen Pure Drive, Pure Drive Plus roddick, 2011 Youtek Speed MP 16x19 and 18x20's , 2013 Graphene speed pro 18x20, and 360 Graphene Speed pro 18x20. Most of those racquets with the objection of Pure Drives and Head TiS6 ALL have lack of stability if hit not in dead center, I truthfully do not think there are many racquets period that dont offer this category of "Stability" that some swear by, If hit off center there usually is a defected feeling on most racquets, just my observation and thoughts.
I’ve read these prestiges have a more squared handle shape now. I have two pros of this gen. It’s definitely more squares feeling in hand to me. I used to play with the ones two generations ago. Those felt like a classic rectangular shape.
The grip shape is the best thing about the Head rackets In my opinion love all the prestiges up to the I.Prestige after that the weight was never there anymore nor the stiffness.
At the time of its release the prestige wasn’t the most powerful racket at all. The Prince rackets were much more popular and much more powerful than any of the prestige rackets, just to mention the producer of largest chunk of the racket market at the time. Prestige rackets have always been about control. With the exception of Nadal, look at the players having dominated the grand slams in the last twenty years blocking two younger generations to break through: these players all had (and as the case may be, still have) exceptionally difficult rackets to play with: very heavy, control and no-power rackets with small head sizes: Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, Cilic, etc. There are certain basic laws in physics that cannot be bent by marketing and subsequent herd behaviour. The general level of (basic or top) tennis players, however, can be degraded by these. Let’s not forget that the tennis racket producers generally don’t produce their rackets for top-tennis players but for the masses. Certainly not after the period in which nearly all of them went bankrupt. So what quality racket will the young future Federer-kid be buying in the stores now? And to what optimal level will he be able to co-evolve with such racket? As to Nadal; my two cents: his unique strength of body and mind (also being actually right handed while playing as a lefty) compensates for his lack of technique and feel, even overpowering the aggravation of such lack by a racket that rewards nor stimulates the development of technique or feel. And indeed the long names of the Head rackets make no sense indeed. 😄
I will say this. The prestige classic mid was one of the sweetest feeling rackets ever. Hitting the ball with that racket was just the best. However, it is very demanding, and not for me. Not for most players. What I have been hating about the head rackets lately is the damn matte finishes.
I believe that some of the “player type “ racquets coming in at a light static weight allows it to be a platform racquet. You have room to modify with weight instead of already having it at 330 unstrung. Would be interested in your stringing hack on this racquet. Always something to learn. With the mid had CAP grommets. Microgel Mid & MP, intelligence, IG Youtek Prestige user 👍🏽
Actually all head pro stock are like that :) my prestiges are tgt293.2 and their stock weight was 255grams....you add what you want - leather, led, silicone, balance it and njoy. Mine are 342 strung, 315 ballance. My hitting partner uses pt57a, 330 strung (while pt630 was 340 unstrung i believe).
I'm not sure I agree with you that the Prestige-type racquet is (a) unpopular or (b) hard to play. The Wilson Blade 18x20 seems to remain a very popular racquet with similar specs. I play with the ProKennex Ki Q+ Tour Pro 325 (after playing with the sadly deceased Type C Redondo 98 for years), which has a very similar build to the Prestige Pro 2021 (12.1 ounces, 20.3 mm frame thickness, 18x20 string patter.) Racquets like these allow good players to take a big swing at the ball and still hit small targets. I used to play the Wilson ProStaff Autograph, but I found that the tighter string pattern actually allows me to generate more spin because I can take a bigger cut and still hit my targets. The thin beam and flexible frame keep the player in touch with the ball. If you're fit and willing to move your feet to get in good hitting positions, racquets like these will always reward you.
The older Head grips TK82 are pretty rectangular in shape. I believe current catalog of Head racquets have the TK82S pallet grip which is a bit more on the round side.
I disagree with this guy, unless you are below a 4.0 and out of shape, this is a great racquet. Easy on the arm, good control and easy to maneuver. Love to see this guy out there on the court hitting balls
I’ve been playing with the MP for the last four years. I definitely made it my racquet before my level of play was ready for it. Such a small sweet spot has made things tough. As I started stringing at my club this past summer I started to realize how racquets and string jobs fit with different playing styles. I’m definitely going to try your tip of stringing it lower for more power, even with a poly like hawk touch? Any thoughts on hybrid stringing in this racquet? Also, all that being said, I recently hit with the newer Speed MP and generated a lot of spin and power. Almost like swinging with a donut in baseball.
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I know what do you mean but you could say the same about Wilson RF97 and it's not true. These rackets are the closest you can get into performance expert racket of choice. With these rackets play lot of people on tour. Lot of great doubles players. In recent doubles Masters in London, in the final (Melzer/Roger-Vasselin vs Koolhof/Mektic), 3/4 players (Mektic, Koolhof, Melzer) played with this racket - Prestige. This racket is deadly on volleys. I know for most people out there, amateurs or intermediate club players, this racket is devastating. But for competitive players who play tournaments, it's a great choice. In our club, there are like 150 players who play with Gravity, Speed, Radical etc., but only our number 1 in club ranking is using the older version of Prestige MP with Graphene XT, 320 g unstrung. And he can swing that thing you can't imagine - look at him th-cam.com/video/i5CtU74Z528/w-d-xo.html. Exactly for these people is this racket. Maybe 1/10 can play with it and that's why the racket is so good and will be there for a long time. Instead, my personal opinion is that the Head Instinct is dying and will be forgotten very soon, it's a useless racket.
I’m currently playing with a Wilson K Factor six one tour 90. I love the racket but have been looking at newer rackets lately. Would this racket be a good alternative to my six one tour? Or what rackets would be the most similar? I already tried the latest model of the Federer Pro Staff 97 and it’s just not anything like the old k factor. Also tried the Yonex vcore 97 330g and again not a bad racket but just didn’t have the feel I’m looking for. Now this prestige pro 95 and the prestige mid 93 have caught my attention... would these be worth trying?
I'd have bought that 93 racket when it came out if it was 18x20 and flexier. With that flex it is more like a Wilson. The full length headguard was also missing. For the record, favorite racket of all time was the 89inch red Prestige 600 mid. Love the Head grip shape. I've ended up with the 18x20 Prince Phantom mid with lead tape to make them 13 ounces.
The TOUR fits into the Prestige line. easier to play with but still a control frame. but maybe for modern hard hitters from the baseline who prefer thinner beam (than e.g speed) Many Prestige players nowadays play TOUR..
I used to like smaller and heavier rackets and I catch myself looking at 90, 93, and 95 headsize close to 12 oz or more! However, I went to the Wilson pro staff 97 because of the larger headsize and upper 11oz weight. Even used the RF for a while. I think I need larger head and lower weight BUT I always gravitate to the smaller heavier rackets. Wonder if I should just go back? I’m 49 yrs old and losing power . 🤷🏼♂️ used clash for a while but I keep looking at these types of rackets
The only racket in the Prestige line that interests me is the MP. However, it looks like a great racket! It's a 98 size thin beam, flexible frame close to 12oz and with decent swingweight. In fact the specs are pretty close to my Yonex VcorePro 97HD which is a top player's racket. I think the trend is going to this kind of flexible thin beam with better feel again. Examples would be the Yonex 97HD, Head Gravity Pro, Prince Phantom line, Dunlop Srixon CX 200 Tour. Head even brought back the Pro Tour (PT 2.0) after 30 years.
I watched this video 2 years ago, before buying my new set of racquets, and I was certainly doubting about choosing the pro (wich i wanted to have for so long ago) But I tok the risk and bought a pair of Prestige pro´s. It is by far my favourite racquet, It´s been amazing to hit with them since day 1, and I just get a new hexagonal String (Hexa Infinite) It´s absolutly amazing, never thought something will suit better for my game, The point i, Don´t believe on a really ba or good opinion on someones experience, your racquet of choice is a very personal thing and If you´re not able to demo the stick first, at least try to watch some reviews were the tester play the way you do
Had the predecessor of this and it killed my arm used with a hard poly. Something to consider playing this. Nearly had to stop playing tournaments. Lesson learned: if you get older, dont use rackets like this with hard poly strings strung at high tensions. I now know its obvious but there are so many people out there like me who didnt give a damn till they learned the lessons the hard way.
I got my hands on a Prestige Classic 600 and I also recently bought a couple of Pro Tour 2.0s, These all have the capped grommets as well. The holes in these capped grommets seem awfully small, or is that an optical illusion? I'm wondering if there's a gauge maximum on racquets with capped grommets. Do any of you stringers out there have any experience with that?
I am enjoying playing with my prestige MP (Full bed of hawk touch)! But, please could you recommend me some strings or good combinations for the prestige MP?
The Prestige is not a dying line of racquets. Rather, it is a line of SPECIALTY racquets for advanced players seeking control.
I'd say 3.5 players enjoy it as well, especially for doubles.
Exactly. I use the Pro version and it is the best feeling racquet I've used, and adding a leather grip, and 2g at 10 and 2 it's stable, gains a bit more power, and everyone else that has used it were impressed with how good it feels and how much they can control where the ball goes. This guy doesn't really know what he's talking about😅
@@ZaresCk how heavy is your prestige 350?
Disagree, these are great player’s racquets, will be around for a long time. Nothing like the feel and precision of a straight box-beam, headlight racquet at about 330gm swing-weight.
I'd like your comment twice if I could.
Best comment on this video
I've been playing with a prestige since I gave up my head 280 almost 25 years ago. I just ordered the 360 as I was using the prestige touch for the last couple of years. I personally don't feel comfortable with anything that is not a Prestige MP. Even the speed feels odd to me, the radicals I couild stand but but they are no Prestige. The rectangular grip is what I love the most about head rackets. It gives me a better sense of the angle of the racket face. And why is it hard to string? I do my own stringing and I have no issues.
With the introduction of Graphene, the HEAD Prestige was buried. The new MP and the MID aren't true constant beam rackets because the bridge looks like from a fuckin Babolat racket. Thank God the IG series is still around in pro stock form, even the real MID with 18/20 (TGT 292.1). Hit with the newest MP. Feels kinda soft but it's like playing with 10 dampeners in the racquet. Fuck that... !
Totally agree. Best racket I ever had was a Head Prestige 1993 ! These MPs are just superb
you are filling a niche here with so many reviews etc and honest appraisals. you show dedication!
I'm with you on the naming. I really hate extra letters and numbers with "pro tour tough plus interlocked weave attack dog" tacked onto the end of a stock racket that's only 10g heavier than the original model. You only need one word to tell me its heavier or extended etc.
I wanna get an attack dog model!
Gotta love the name brother XDXD! Seriously, wassup with these long ass names! Seems counter-intuitive to me lol.
Lol dying laughing from your comment ahhahaa
I can’t speak to the other versions but I reviewed the Prestige Pro on my channel and loved it. Even gave it the highest score out of the racquets I’ve reviewed so far. The stability made it like 🧈 to hit with. Also, the 360+ works. I call bullshit too when I see it but I played with the gravity and then the prestige that both have the spiralfibre and felt that both were extremely stable compared to all the other frames I’ve reviewed. To each their own but I’d say this one is definitely worth a test if you’re looking for a well balanced stable frame.
Is it the head shape round or oval?
@@ssportslivetvstreaming round on gravity, oval on prestige
I play with prestige, it's gorgeous and awesome racquet, solid control and maneuverability, and love the rectangular shape of the grip, all fun to make long strokes!!
@@TimTheMusicMan I had the 95 squares
I play tennis for 7 years and I am 43 now, I got the prestige mid and has blown my mind! It is like I got a level up as a player. Easy power and precision at the same time and very maneuverable. I used to believe that playing with this smaller head size would increase my mishits but the opposite happens.. I think that thanks to the smaller and more maneuverable head it is easier to find the sweet spot. ps, I do play and practice almost every day for the last 3 years so maybe I am not the average club player.
I totally agree. Strangely I hit the sweetspot much more often with this 93sq headsize. Best racquet I ever had.
Hitting with a racket like this can kind of expose some weaknesses of your strokes.
I’ve been playing head prestige line up since the prestige classic days. Tried a few others recently like Wilson RF and blade, also the Babolat pure strike.
Nothing plays like the prestige. It’s a great players racquet. I agree most people won’t gravitate towards it since there isn’t any huge marketing. Plus it’s a racquet you need to know how play and have a good swing. It’s made for the advanced player.
But it’s a players racquet. I still play to this day the flex point prestige mid. It’s my tried and true favorite racquet. Can’t move away from it.
Exactly, I grew up playing the Pro Staff but have been playing Prestige the last 7 years and love it. It's a players racquet, so it's not for everybody. While a lot of the things mentioned in this video are true, I feel like you could say all those same things about any other players racquet in any other brands line because that's the nature of a "players racquet." The Prestige is a great feeling racquet in that category, and I hope they keep making it forever, but it sure isn't for everybody.
Have you tried Yonex vCore 97? I would like to know if vCore and Prestige are similar sticks.
I've been playing with iterations of the Prestige since the iPrestige.
For a committed player who tunes in their playing to their Prestige, it can work wonders for their game. Then, once accustomed to it, will always crave the control that only this racket can produce.
It's a difficult but rewarding racket to play with.
This channel will be no1 on TH-cam for tennis very soon I feel..it’s outstanding
Head Mid was made light for advanced players who wanted to Customise !! There was method in their madness :))
I remember working all summer back in the 80's to buy my first players racket Wilson Pro Staff (St. Vincent) a few years later I tried the Prestige 600 and I converted to Head Prestige for life. I now prefer the MP because offers a little more forgiving and easier to contact the ball with a modern forehand swing path.
If you want to improve your game. Footwork weight transfer and full swings use a prestige. It reveals your weaknesses... Its not for the weakend warriors and people who wants easy power
I totally agree! Thanks for watching!
Well if u Wana really reveals ur weakness use a frying pan and play
1000% this comment
I have news for you. Prestige is NEVER going to disappear. It is a head classic which pros and advanced players love. I learned with a prestige and still use the prestige MP latest version. And have all the versions of the MP since it’s inception. I do agree with you regarding the “wannabe” (lighter and bigger versions) prestiges that should have never been manufactured. Keep the prestige a “prestige”. A true players racket. So head should just make the prestige MP and the Pro for those that want a little extra pop. I hate the new modern thick frames that are way to stiff with zero feel and way overpowered. But that is my preference. Also agree with the names that racket companies are coming up with. It is just ridiculous like you say. Most people won’t remember the damn name to begin with.😂 I am enjoying your pros rackets unveilings. Thanks
I agree Prestige is here to stay. Thanks for watching!
They're not beginners' rackets. I've been playing with several versions of the Prestige Pro for the last 7 years and really enjoy the feel and control of these rackets.
@saigonbond not true.
The original YouTek version was great and the Graphene Touch Prestige Tour is also fantastic.
The Prestige is an awesome raquet and yes it was the equivalant of the Pro Staff that Sampras and Courier used, Ivanisavic used the Presitige and many on the tour and they all used the smallest head side, I believe that Agassi and Sabatini started the bigger head size use but the smaller head size give so much more power and control. The Prestige was amazing to use as was the Pro Saff and Donnay Pro One (orange/grey).
I'm currently using a Prestige Pro from 5 years ago, like YouTek something. It is my favorite racquet. Here is the reason why: I can keep throwing my opponent nice (or nasty) topspins. Unless the opponent is so strong that he can smash everything I send, I tend to gain an advantage slowly based on consistency. I do make stronger topspins using a Pure Aero, but with higher error rates. Similarly, a friend of mine uses an MP version, which consistently generates "flat topspins" driving me crazy. Trading consistency with a little bit of power is really a good deal.
The 360+ prestige mp is a brilliant racquet. Anyone who walks into your shop asking about a prince phantom, give them a prestige mp and tell them to thank you later.
I actually prefer to use the Head grip that is rectangular. I have tried many racquets but prefer the Head just because I grew up playing with Head racquets. The prestige line has always been only for the elite or advance players(no hackers allowed and not forgiving), that is why they are called prestige(advance attributes).
Thanks for the honest review. However, ill play with my Prestige Mid forever!
Quality content, humor, and vibes on this channel, OG! You have something special going here that holds a candle to the very best out there like Tennis Nerd, Top Tennis Training...etc.
I appreciate your brutal honesty about the Prestige line and can respect your personal sentiment. As a Prestige Pro user since the Graphene Youtek IG days, these are NOT for guys below 4.5 level. I would even say you have to be a 5.0+ (Fit, athletic, technically sound) to really get the most out of these. It is easy to see why most tennis players stay away from them...but it is also what FURTHER contributes to their legendary status and small, but loyal following to this day. I think as long as Head exists, there will always be a Prestige frame. It may not have the biggest sales revenue like most Babolat frames, Yonex's, or say an Extreme...but Prestige is the standard to which all other players frames are held to. It continues to be so.
I currently use the Graphene Touch Pro, and I really like it. I tried the Pro & MP 360+ versions and liked them, but I see no need to switch.
I've used a Prestige MP since the Youtek IG. You won't convince me to switch away from it. Flirted with the RF97 Pro Staff then went back to the Prestige MP
SAME! Swapped rackets with my hitting partner recently and he uses a babolat fluorescent yellow whatever... felt like cheating... more ways than one....
I play with an prestige liquid metal mp flex point and it is one of the best rackets I’ve played with. I would like to see Head come out with some rackets that resemble older models
One of The best racquets out there.
Yep
i think this should be considered a classic style racquet meant for developed classic strokes vis a vis lighter more powerful racquets to fit other developed playing styles or someone working on strokes. for the latter, as i've heard and been told, its better to train with a more advanced racquet so techniques are developed to realize the racquet's potential.
so maybe not say hard to play with, but something you may want to strive to play with
I prefer the flatter more rectangular grip! I use an Eastern forehand grip and it really improves my forehand by making the racquet more stable in my hand. The design allows more of the palm of my hand to be securely behind that flatter bevel of the grip, resulting in a more secure hold on the handle and less twisting of the frame in my hand. These are frames for touch / flat ball hittting players who can provide their own power. They are also designed to feel plush (as opposed to crisp feeling) on contact with the ball. I am a fan of the comfort and control they offer.
Btw, there are online forums full of players that use the Prestige frames. You are also less likely to experience pain in your shoulder, arm and wrist with these frames. That’s why Wilson went back to the more flexible frames like the Clash, which is a 59 ra. Don’t knock them unless you actually are advanced enough to play with one.
Whilst I agree with you on the prestige I think Ra is just a number and not very telling about a racquet true stiffness. The clash feels and is much stiffer than 59ra. It simply bends a lot precisely in the point where Ra is measured near the throat, but it's very stiff elsewhere.
@@msalvs That's correct. However, Head racquets, and I have played with Head for many years, are typically true to their flex measurements. This guy is complaining because, like most old guys, he likes the big thick racquets with the large head, so he can't miss. If this was a professional player telling me how awful this racquet line is then I may believe them, but consider the source.
I am a 4.5 player and the IG Prestige MP is still my favorite racquet of all time. I learned to play in the 80s and racquets at the time did not provide much power. I know today the game is faster and spin is generally more desirable than stabi;ity, so I understand your opinion.
I’d rather string a Prestige with the cap grommets than an Prince with O-Ports.
I love these videos, never knew someone had a passion for racquet technology and history. Keep it up!
Thanks dingleberry
This channel's my new obsession
The Head iPrestige and Liquid metal Prestige are my personal favorites of the Prestige line.
Chris Lin same, currently have LM as well as YTK prestige and although there might be much better rackets out there, I've always stuck with Prestige.
Only having 1 racket sucks when you break strings regularly so I think I’ll test the new G360+ version out
My 2 favourite are the Microgel and Youtek IG. But there are probably only 2 in the whole line I don't like
Hey Fellow.....this is an amazing "modern" easy to play with racket!!! After a break for 25 years playing tennis, started with the speed mp a with 16/19.........awful!!! Then changed to the Prestige Tour....and.....THE coming out of tennis coma!!! Precise playing and powerful playing and easy playing! (Tested the Radical, Instinct....no, Gravity which could also be a choice)You can call me a dinosaur, when I felt like the "vibrations" with my loved Kneissl White Star Pro from the late 80`s ;-)
I love these videos. Combination of honesty, tongue in cheek criticism, and horse sense. That said, I do use the prestige MP. Was using the Yonnex V-Core for a while, which I really liked, but enjoy this new racket as much, if not a little bit more.
People want easier power and spin these days. These Prestige racquets are hard work. Prestiges are a derivative of the old pro racquets but what pros play with aren't really suitable for amateur players.
I'm an amateur and play with a prestige-like racquet, and can beat the crap out of a lot of other amateurs out there using whatever racquets.
@@msalvs There is no substitute for placement, depth, tactics, good technique, accuracy, clutch performace etc..
Ah, I know that feeling. I still own a PS 85 to play with when I want to be punished at every mistake...and man, it is something ahah
I find that most “beginner rackets “ are complete crap . They weigh like 9 ounces
@saigonbond Well said.
Thanks for being honest about these racquets, good information and video.
Probably replace 'honest' with ignorant - Prestige, a great players racket
@@ttc744 Hey if you like these racquets good for you! Lol
Man, the Prestige IG line is still one of the best ever. Also the TK82 and TK57 grip shapes are my faves of all time.
I can't play with any other modern rackets but the Prestige anymore. Best match feel ever. So much connection to the ball.
Also, my opponents always give me the feedback that my balls are more penetrating and harder than with any other racket I've tried.
These racquets evoke feelings of nostalgia. I used to play with the mid-plus version (burgundy) in the 1990s. The grip had a strange suspension / dampening system in it which made it very comfortable to use. Frames on two out of the three I had eventually became ‘soft’ and I moved on to the Dunlop MW200G in early 2000s.
I used to play with the mid version. Was called the Trisys 300, I believe.
Definitely a racquet for competitive players not for recreational ones.
Played with a Prestige MID 18x20 before switching to MID PLUS. The MID had the smallest sweetspot ever and was very unforgiving, but when I got my timing right the precision it gave me was insane, the ball would hit exactly where I wanted it. I kind of miss that.
Hi. Based on this review I wanted to buy and I did bought the Head Prestige Graphene 360 Tour... the one that you said it does not belong in this series. To be honest, I always knew that for Prestige which is a Control oriented series, you need the stength of Hulk to send the ball over to the net. I'm very pleased with Tour and is almost like a Wilson Pro Staff v13 only it's not that stiff. Great power, control, spin and highly playable! This was the reason that I wanted to get it and add it to my collection. I had a look on various reviews and tests + I wanted to see how this racquett will fit into my game. Cheers!
I love the Prestige Tour and can't find a 99 or 98 sq inch racket with an 18x19 pattern in the speed or most any brand. 18x19 pattern is honestly the best blend of spin and control I've played with. Lower launch angle than 16x19 and not as unforgiving and stiff as 18x20. Also the feel of the layup used in the Prestige line is unique (solid not hollow and plush) and the rectangular grip is unique offering a bit more leverage on impact. It is a players frame for people who have good footwork and sound stroke mechanics. The extra sq inches held when defending and hitting against heavy hitters you start experiencing at 4.5+. Did i mention the CAP system? I like to keep the racket intact when digging out low balls. I also use lead at 3 and 9 with a leather grip to help balance the weight and stabilize off center shots.
Guys. I am prestige fan. I used to play for long, but now at 46, it is no longer possible. Sometimes I picked it up to play just for fun and I will tell you, when you hit it right, it is amazing. no other racquet compares to.
13:13 is when the epic ranting start guys
What's great about head prestige, you can replace handle pallets with the ones from speed line, called TK82S, to make it more square. TW Europe got those. I replaced them on all 4 of my mids. Just wanted to let you know 🙂
All Head racquets use the same pallets now
Confirm please. You can swap out the pallets on THESE rackets here? You're SURE?
Nicely summarised. Great stuff Harry. Very entertaining too :)
One of the premier problems with today's racquets are all of the different variations of the company's flagship frame. One you stray away from the regular and go to "S" version, "Tour", or "Pro" or variance in sq. in. or string pattern, when you decide to buy 2 or 3 of the same, the chance of the frames swinging and feeling different goes up. All of the companies are guilty. The regular standard flagship frame tends to stay consistent, at least with my experience.
Thanks for your great video. I used Prestige Of various “names” from 1995 till about 2014, but still think Prestige Mid the last of Made on Austria be the best. Sad that they decided to lower the weight for no apparent reason, though the change in pattern made stringing a touch easier on later versions.
Loving all the videos you're doing at the moment! Subscribed.
Awesome! Thank you!
Just curious. How are sales of the Gravity line in comparison to the Prestige? I read somewhere the Gravity Pro is a success in Europe. Thank you.
@Mauro...from my understanding the gravity line has been a good seller. Having Zverev endorsing the pro definitely helps.
Cheers.
@@nostro1001 And now that Rublev and Barty are endorsing as well.
prestige MP is a work of art. one of the best rackets to play with (currently i think the latest one is called pro 2022)
Well, the Prestige line started with TXP / Prestige Pro, Prestige Classic and the likes, and of course the Pro Tour 630. And even for intermediates, with some training on stroke mechanics on footwork, the Prestige is precision weapon. You can’t compare it with tweeners and believe the Prestige is for the elites.
I appreciate a lot of your perspectives and opinions, but this one felt over-generalized and did not line up with my own experience, at least in regards to the MP. I'm a 3.5 player coming back to the sport in my mid-40s after a couple decades away, and I've been putting in a lot of court time this last year working hard to get up to a 4.0 rating. But I've also been looking to upgrade from the XT Instinct MP that I started with when I decided to start playing again, so I've been demoing a lot of racquets lately.
Anyhow, last week I demoed the MP along with a 2020 Yonex VCore Pro 330 and an Ezone 98+. I really liked all three racquets, but I was really surprised to discover how much I enjoyed playing with the 360+ Prestige MP... by the end of the trial, I was grabbing the Prestige MP to begin and end my sessions. And while I enjoyed my SHBH and the plow through of the Vcore 330 more, and my serving power and placement with the Ezone more, In terms of all-around, the Prestige MP felt like the best all-around racquet of the three. I would love to have one of each of those three racquets, but if I end up having to pick only one, I'm gonna go with that Prestige MP.
Thank you for this. I love your review! I play 2020 prestige MP with some customization, and I like its unique feel.
I would love to see how you string prestige rackets!
Second this request! String a capped grommet racquet please. Need to learn your tricks to make it easier!
I can tell you from experience that the prestige line (I’ve been using them since the liquid metal one, back a long time ago) has been through some changes but it still keep a very special feeling and way to play with. I also bought and sometimes play with a blade 98 v6 16x19 that I bought exactly because of this. A tennis partner played with one of my youtek prestige’s and said I should try something else, that it was too underpowered and that I’m almost 50 yo so I need to find something more friendly, etc.. and so, I bought a couple of blades a while ago. Man, I can only say that being a long time user of the prestige line became somewhat addictive. Everytime I play with the blades most of my shots go wide, or off the court.
It’s really all a matter of control, and controllable power. Prestige’s need for you to measure the input, allow you to be truly aggressive and reward you with a predictable response. It’s a real player’s racquet. Not a beginner stick. It not all about power, it’s about control and predictable output. I really can’t play (somewhat well) with anything else. Quick note: I started 40 years ago with wooden racquets, and my first graphite one was a Dunlop max 200g (John McEnroe) that I still keep.
I collect vintage rackets - have a few MAX 200G's, PS 6.0, Rossignol F200 and I play them. I also have a Prestige Mid the one with the red and white swirly markings on the hoop and I find the Prestige a little easier to hit. I like the 200G but I can frame a ball on those with up tempo rally pace which is the most embarrassing so I usually stick with the Prestige as the 93 (or 90 they say) head size feels enormous.
I totally agree.I use the Prestige Graphene Touch Tour and also switch off to the YouTek Prestige Pro. They play very similar. Although, the Touch version is slightly more flexible. I'm 56 and I still can run very fast and hit the ball really hard. It gives back what you put in, just as you described. If you are under 50, I imagine that you can handle it just fine. It sounds as though you really know your game and what you need to hit with precision. Keep playing!
Pure capable tennis players love the Prestige line and others like it (Wilson Pro Staff). If you “can run”, if you do “have energy” and you can generate your own power there isn’t a better racquet. If you can’t run, get any 110 inch banger and stop winning.
Prestige for advanced fit players (which you are obviously are not). It forces you to improve your tennis and has history. The grip is fine and racket feels great in your hand. Try it, fine if you dont like it. Not everyone like a Clash
Yaaas! Preach it!
Yes, Head Prestige is maybe for more advance players and flat hitters with great technique and who can generate their own power for example with the MP, but you can still easy get big power shots and serv as a non-super-advance player on faster courts, because you get so much free power from the fast court.. And you can do full swing on clay on the return without be afraid of overhitting, thanks to the solid control the great Prestige gives you..
i have been using the prestige mid since the days goran ivanisevic used it, being the Head Prestige classic 600. Love it.
I played with almost all Head Prestige rackets since the beginning. I played college tennis with the Prestige Classic. Oh, baby...nothing even comes close. The grip shape used to be different. They changed them a few years ago and I don't like the newer shape...
I''ve played with many frames, almost all brands but nothing like a good ol Prestige. I hope Head doesn't stop making them. I agree with you that less and less people will play with them because they are just hard to play with if you don't have good footwork and/or strokes...
for a channel titled "spin," this is the opposite: honest and transparent
The head grips was changed over to the current shape when Novak moved brands from Wilson. The speed grip shape is tk82s, s means speed. All head grips are now tk82s and resemble prince grips per the tennis warehouse podcast with Troy who measured all the different racket makers. Prince is known for a more equal distance bevels. I use the prestige mp 18x20, and I can see how the naming is a nusance, but I think it’s easier to say with string patterns and head size .
One of the greatest. And if you don’t have the game to weild a prestige mid there’s the rest of the lineup.
agree, head grip is more rectangular thus feel bigger than Wilson/Prince/Dunlop... I think this Prestige line is better than the last 10 years, would love to try.
Great presentation. Can you do a segment on Prince Racquets? They revolutionized tennis with their oversized racquets and was such a dominant presence in the sport. They seemed to have disappeared. What happened?
Sure. I don't carry Prince anymore as Tennis Warehouse owns the rights to the brand. I will explain in a upcoming video. Thanks for watching!
I have a pair of IG Youtek Prestige pro 95 16x19 strung with polyester at 46lb and they play great, on a good day you put the ball wherever you want, great to serve with too. If I am hungover on a Sunday morning match I will play with the speed MP instead as the prestige is hard to handle indeed. I take this new prestige is more flexible which is great, I would definitely try the MP 98 18x19 and put some lead at 12. Regarding the grip shape, I have played my whole life with head racquets and have extreme western grip, I know no different so can't complain. Keep the reviews coming, good work.
I love the mid - best racket i ever played with.
I'm a 69 year old 4.0 and just switched to a Prestige Pro. I modded mine with added weight at the 12 and changed to a leather grip along with an overgrip to also add more weight in the handle. One of my racquets weighs in at 12.3 oz. while the other is at 12.6 oz., the difference being more weight in the handle on one of them. I have yet to decided which one works best. The key to making these more playable is the choice of strings and string tension. So far I really like the Kirschbaum Xplosive Speed string at 48 lbs.
This setup favors plow through and power over top spin, but I still get decent top off both sides. It also gives good power on serves. I don't find it difficult to get results from this racquet at all, even at my age and my rating.
With prestige you really need to know thing or two about tennis. All you said its true, they are not for beginner's ,they are hard for anybody the way they came out from the factory, in my opinion. But only when customised they open up and became play friendly. I have customised my own prestige graphene pro's 16-19 to Length 70 cm, Weight 363 g, Balance 32.5 cm ,String hybrid, multi mains at 21 kg and poly crosses at 20 kg. Grip size 5. A lot of work, but best frame i had ever hit with. PS. To put the string on is still pain in the ass so if you know some trick please show it sometimes. :-) Thanks for your reviews they're great!
All True! Will get that hack up soon. Thanks Bro! Thanks for watching!
I’m a beginner intermediate player who picked up tennis this year.
I’m young and athletic so I think this type of racquet would help to learn proper technique, any tips from experienced players?
The Head Prestige traces back to the 1st Graphite Professional, not the Director In the USA the 1st model with caps was the TXP{rofessional}. The Director was the "oversize' entry, surplanted byttthe TX Master, which only had a half cap system.
The Prestige Tour is made to customize. You need to add silicone in the handle and perhaps some lead at the top to get the most out of the Tour. It's plush. It reminds me of the old Pro Tour 280/260 Trisys flex. Once you dial it in with mods, it's amazing.
As a stringer myself I can attest to the pain of stringing a prestige. Also the Prince frames with the O ports are annoying to string!
Why?
Craig Lucas the cap grommets on the Prestiges make it a more narrow space to pass string through. It slows you down a tiny bit. Just annoying to deal with. The O-port prince frames you have to lock the turntable before each pull which also adds time and is a pain to string.
Yeah I remember stringing one of these maybe 10-15 yrs ago. It is a pain in the arse to string because of the grommet.
i'm 50yrs old and I grew up and played with Gorans Prestige classic and Sampras Pro staff 85 and these rackets are the real players racket, the power and the feel on the Head prestige is unbelievable, you need to know how to play with these rackets to get the most out of them. Like golf clubs blades are the purest but you need to know how to strike the ball n the middle period, not for the average player.
I play with the Prestige Pros. String them myself so I’d love to see some stringing hacks for that racket.
...ah, but I want to say I do appreciate that you tell your opinion openly. Honest reviews are getting rare these days with all that influencers. Additionally, you're right on that naming bs and all those technologies inside. That#s marketing hoax indeed. :/
I currently own several different racquets, Ncode N6one 90, 95, Six-one 95, Kfactor 95 Kfactor 90 Karophite and Karbon, Head TiS6, 2005 First Gen Pure Drive, Pure Drive Plus roddick, 2011 Youtek Speed MP 16x19 and 18x20's , 2013 Graphene speed pro 18x20, and 360 Graphene Speed pro 18x20. Most of those racquets with the objection of Pure Drives and Head TiS6 ALL have lack of stability if hit not in dead center, I truthfully do not think there are many racquets period that dont offer this category of "Stability" that some swear by, If hit off center there usually is a defected feeling on most racquets, just my observation and thoughts.
I’ve read these prestiges have a more squared handle shape now. I have two pros of this gen. It’s definitely more squares feeling in hand to me. I used to play with the ones two generations ago. Those felt like a classic rectangular shape.
The grip shape is the best thing about the Head rackets
In my opinion love all the prestiges up to the I.Prestige after that the weight was never there anymore nor the stiffness.
At the time of its release the prestige wasn’t the most powerful racket at all. The Prince rackets were much more popular and much more powerful than any of the prestige rackets, just to mention the producer of largest chunk of the racket market at the time. Prestige rackets have always been about control.
With the exception of Nadal, look at the players having dominated the grand slams in the last twenty years blocking two younger generations to break through: these players all had (and as the case may be, still have) exceptionally difficult rackets to play with: very heavy, control and no-power rackets with small head sizes: Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, Cilic, etc. There are certain basic laws in physics that cannot be bent by marketing and subsequent herd behaviour. The general level of (basic or top) tennis players, however, can be degraded by these. Let’s not forget that the tennis racket producers generally don’t produce their rackets for top-tennis players but for the masses. Certainly not after the period in which nearly all of them went bankrupt. So what quality racket will the young future Federer-kid be buying in the stores now? And to what optimal level will he be able to co-evolve with such racket?
As to Nadal; my two cents: his unique strength of body and mind (also being actually right handed while playing as a lefty) compensates for his lack of technique and feel, even overpowering the aggravation of such lack by a racket that rewards nor stimulates the development of technique or feel.
And indeed the long names of the Head rackets make no sense indeed. 😄
I will say this. The prestige classic mid was one of the sweetest feeling rackets ever. Hitting the ball with that racket was just the best. However, it is very demanding, and not for me. Not for most players. What I have been hating about the head rackets lately is the damn matte finishes.
I agree. Can’t stand the matte finish. Looks like a toy.
I believe that some of the “player type “ racquets coming in at a light static weight allows it to be a platform racquet. You have room to modify with weight instead of already having it at 330 unstrung.
Would be interested in your stringing hack on this racquet. Always something to learn.
With the mid had CAP grommets.
Microgel Mid & MP, intelligence, IG Youtek Prestige user 👍🏽
Actually all head pro stock are like that :) my prestiges are tgt293.2 and their stock weight was 255grams....you add what you want - leather, led, silicone, balance it and njoy. Mine are 342 strung, 315 ballance.
My hitting partner uses pt57a, 330 strung (while pt630 was 340 unstrung i believe).
I'm not sure I agree with you that the Prestige-type racquet is (a) unpopular or (b) hard to play. The Wilson Blade 18x20 seems to remain a very popular racquet with similar specs.
I play with the ProKennex Ki Q+ Tour Pro 325 (after playing with the sadly deceased Type C Redondo 98 for years), which has a very similar build to the Prestige Pro 2021 (12.1 ounces, 20.3 mm frame thickness, 18x20 string patter.)
Racquets like these allow good players to take a big swing at the ball and still hit small targets. I used to play the Wilson ProStaff Autograph, but I found that the tighter string pattern actually allows me to generate more spin because I can take a bigger cut and still hit my targets. The thin beam and flexible frame keep the player in touch with the ball. If you're fit and willing to move your feet to get in good hitting positions, racquets like these will always reward you.
The older Head grips TK82 are pretty rectangular in shape. I believe current catalog of Head racquets have the TK82S pallet grip which is a bit more on the round side.
Thanks for the insight! Thanks for watching!
Tennis Spin no problem. The tk82S still might not feel comfortable to some.
You're right, but isn't it the other way round? TK82S is elongated and the current TK82 is Wilson-like?
MischkoR tk82 is rectangular and the tk82s is rounder than the other.
I disagree with this guy, unless you are below a 4.0 and out of shape, this is a great racquet. Easy on the arm, good control and easy to maneuver. Love to see this guy out there on the court hitting balls
I played with the prestige growing up. Awesome
I’ve been playing with the MP for the last four years. I definitely made it my racquet before my level of play was ready for it. Such a small sweet spot has made things tough. As I started stringing at my club this past summer I started to realize how racquets and string jobs fit with different playing styles. I’m definitely going to try your tip of stringing it lower for more power, even with a poly like hawk touch? Any thoughts on hybrid stringing in this racquet? Also, all that being said, I recently hit with the newer Speed MP and generated a lot of spin and power. Almost like swinging with a donut in baseball.
I know what do you mean but you could say the same about Wilson RF97 and it's not true. These rackets are the closest you can get into performance expert racket of choice. With these rackets play lot of people on tour. Lot of great doubles players. In recent doubles Masters in London, in the final (Melzer/Roger-Vasselin vs Koolhof/Mektic), 3/4 players (Mektic, Koolhof, Melzer) played with this racket - Prestige. This racket is deadly on volleys. I know for most people out there, amateurs or intermediate club players, this racket is devastating. But for competitive players who play tournaments, it's a great choice. In our club, there are like 150 players who play with Gravity, Speed, Radical etc., but only our number 1 in club ranking is using the older version of Prestige MP with Graphene XT, 320 g unstrung. And he can swing that thing you can't imagine - look at him th-cam.com/video/i5CtU74Z528/w-d-xo.html. Exactly for these people is this racket. Maybe 1/10 can play with it and that's why the racket is so good and will be there for a long time. Instead, my personal opinion is that the Head Instinct is dying and will be forgotten very soon, it's a useless racket.
I’m currently playing with a Wilson K Factor six one tour 90. I love the racket but have been looking at newer rackets lately. Would this racket be a good alternative to my six one tour? Or what rackets would be the most similar? I already tried the latest model of the Federer Pro Staff 97 and it’s just not anything like the old k factor. Also tried the Yonex vcore 97 330g and again not a bad racket but just didn’t have the feel I’m looking for. Now this prestige pro 95 and the prestige mid 93 have caught my attention... would these be worth trying?
I played with Head Prestige Flexpoint Mid since 2007/2008. Hope this isn't the death of the prestige like you said. mine feels great
this channel is so kewl, such information density, intense!
Is this overall your worst seller? If it is whats next to it?
I'd have bought that 93 racket when it came out if it was 18x20 and flexier. With that flex it is more like a Wilson. The full length headguard was also missing. For the record, favorite racket of all time was the 89inch red Prestige 600 mid. Love the Head grip shape. I've ended up with the 18x20 Prince Phantom mid with lead tape to make them 13 ounces.
The TOUR fits into the Prestige line. easier to play with but still a control frame. but maybe for modern hard hitters from the baseline who prefer thinner beam (than e.g
speed) Many Prestige players nowadays play TOUR..
I used to like smaller and heavier rackets and I catch myself looking at 90, 93, and 95 headsize close to 12 oz or more! However, I went to the Wilson pro staff 97 because of the larger headsize and upper 11oz weight. Even used the RF for a while. I think I need larger head and lower weight BUT I always gravitate to the smaller heavier rackets. Wonder if I should just go back? I’m 49 yrs old and losing power . 🤷🏼♂️ used clash for a while but I keep looking at these types of rackets
The only racket in the Prestige line that interests me is the MP. However, it looks like a great racket! It's a 98 size thin beam, flexible frame close to 12oz and with decent swingweight. In fact the specs are pretty close to my Yonex VcorePro 97HD which is a top player's racket. I think the trend is going to this kind of flexible thin beam with better feel again. Examples would be the Yonex 97HD, Head Gravity Pro, Prince Phantom line, Dunlop Srixon CX 200 Tour. Head even brought back the Pro Tour (PT 2.0) after 30 years.
I watched this video 2 years ago, before buying my new set of racquets, and I was certainly doubting about choosing the pro (wich i wanted to have for so long ago) But I tok the risk and bought a pair of Prestige pro´s. It is by far my favourite racquet, It´s been amazing to hit with them since day 1, and I just get a new hexagonal String (Hexa Infinite) It´s absolutly amazing, never thought something will suit better for my game, The point i, Don´t believe on a really ba or good opinion on someones experience, your racquet of choice is a very personal thing and If you´re not able to demo the stick first, at least try to watch some reviews were the tester play the way you do
Had the predecessor of this and it killed my arm used with a hard poly. Something to consider playing this. Nearly had to stop playing tournaments. Lesson learned: if you get older, dont use rackets like this with hard poly strings strung at high tensions. I now know its obvious but there are so many people out there like me who didnt give a damn till they learned the lessons the hard way.
I got my hands on a Prestige Classic 600 and I also recently bought a couple of Pro Tour 2.0s, These all have the capped grommets as well.
The holes in these capped grommets seem awfully small, or is that an optical illusion? I'm wondering if there's a gauge maximum on racquets with capped grommets.
Do any of you stringers out there have any experience with that?
I am enjoying playing with my prestige MP (Full bed of hawk touch)! But, please could you recommend me some strings or good combinations for the prestige MP?