What's the consensus regarding the iPrestige?

A

AverageJoe

Rookie
I'm curious about what the consensus is regarding whether there is a difference in the flex rating between the iPrestiges that have "Made in Austria" on the throat and those that dont. As I understand, the ones that do not were made in Austria but were sent to the Czech to be finished which ended up making them a few RA points stiffer. But I'm also hearing that Head didnt start sending frames to the Czech till after the Intelligence line. Can someone clear this up for me?

I only ask because I have the chance to get my hands on a couple PT57E's and before I pull the trigger I'd like to get a feel for the frame. And if there is a difference between the iPrestige frames I would like to try the frame with the lowest flex rating, partially because I assume that will be closest to the E, but also because I have recurring elbow problems.

Thanks guys!
 
ryushen21

ryushen21

Legend
All iprestige were made in Austria and to my knowledge have the same feel and flex. There are different paint finishes on them: one rubber and one hard coat.

They are excellent frames and cheaper than those PT57e you are looking at.
 
hrstrat57

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
Not aware of any i Prestige made anywhere but Austria....tho some have a made in Austria sticker on the buttcap instead of embossed on the frame.
 
S

scotus

G.O.A.T.
hrstrat57 said:
Not aware of any i Prestige made anywhere but Austria....tho some have a made in Austria sticker on the buttcap instead of embossed on the frame.
Click to expand...

I remember reading a thread wherein vsbabolat (whose knowledge of Head frames is second to none) maintained that all i.prestiges were made in Austria, and then someone presented a pic of an i.prestige made in Czech Republic.
 
T

TheRed

Hall of Fame
scotus said:
I remember reading a thread wherein vsbabolat (whose knowledge of Head frames is second to none) maintained that all i.prestiges were made in Austria, and then someone presented a pic of an i.prestige made in Czech Republic.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, all Iprestiges were made in Austria but that's only from playing and selling them at a pro shop. Maybe they made some in czech later in the production, after I stopped running the pro shop.
the rubber painted iprestiges felt different to me. Better honestly. Slightly heavier and more solid. I know most don't think so but I happen to think the rubber ones were more of a thud when you hit it. Maybe it was the rubber absorbing some sound.
 
A

AverageJoe

Rookie
ryushen21 said:
All iprestige were made in Austria and to my knowledge have the same feel and flex. There are different paint finishes on them: one rubber and one hard coat.

They are excellent frames and cheaper than those PT57e you are looking at.
Click to expand...

The PT57E's would be completely free. They are from a top 100 ATP player who is a good friend and training partner of mine but I'm only going to take them if I will use them, I wont sell them.
 
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hrstrat57

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
AverageJoe said:
The PT57E's would be completely free. They are from a top 100 ATP player who is a good friend and training partner of mine, but I'm only going to take them if I will use them, I wont sell them.
Click to expand...

What paintjob is on the frames? If you post pics of the frames you might get a more focused response from some of the Head prostock experts on this forum.

Personally I would jump on them in a second, you will have a history of the frames from the orig owner re any modifications he did and should be able to tweak them to your own playing specs easily.....

I am still under the impression that the i prestige MP is a retail layup PT 57E....don't know about the end of the run Czech assembled frames, first I have heard of that.

I will say the choice of string and tension will cause huge variance...most of my experience with 18/20 Head frames has been with Head Intellitour strung at 57 tho I did play natural gut extensively for quite a bit and have experimented with tension as low as 54 esp with gut.

Good luck, I sure would like to see pics of the frames for my entertainment/enjoyment purposes.
 
vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
AverageJoe said:
The PT57E's would be completely free. They are from a top 100 ATP player who is a good friend and training partner of mine, but I'm only going to take them if I will use them, I wont sell them.
Click to expand...

Get them they are great racquets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
 
A

AverageJoe

Rookie
hrstrat57 said:
What paintjob is on the frames? If you post pics of the frames you might get a more focused response from some of the Head prostock experts on this forum.

Personally I would jump on them in a second, you will have a history of the frames from the orig owner re any modifications he did and should be able to tweak them to your own playing specs easily.....

I am still under the impression that the i prestige MP is a retail layup PT 57E....don't know about the end of the run Czech assembled frames, first I have heard of that.

I will say the choice of string and tension will cause huge variance...most of my experience with 18/20 Head frames has been with Head Intellitour strung at 57 tho I did play natural gut extensively for quite a bit and have experimented with tension as low as 54 esp with gut.

Good luck, I sure would like to see pics of the frames for my entertainment/enjoyment purposes.
Click to expand...

They are IG prestige paint. I don't have any pics cause I don't have them, still deciding. They just look like the retail frame with a small black B0xxxxxx code inside the throat
 
hrstrat57

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
TheRed said:
the rubber painted iprestiges felt different to me. Better honestly. Slightly heavier and more solid. I know most don't think so but I happen to think the rubber ones were more of a thud when you hit it. Maybe it was the rubber absorbing some sound.
Click to expand...

I own both and I agree with this tho it is a subtle difference. The glossy paint feel a bit more crisp if you will....the rubber more muted, perhaps a bit more "thud" as you say.....

Both are amazing and I would express no preference.

Would be real interested in owning a paint job prostock PT57E just to see if there is any significant difference in feel......

Agree with VS Babolat who always sums it up nicely, the OP needs to snag these frames and post pics for us Head MP frame fans to drool over after he does.

Pics are mandatory repayment for the time we take to comment on the thread
 
A

AverageJoe

Rookie
hrstrat57 said:
I own both and I agree with this tho it is a subtle difference. The glossy paint feel a bit more crisp if you will....the rubber more muted, perhaps a bit more "thud" as you say.....

Both are amazing and I would express no preference.

Would be real interested in owning a paint job prostock PT57E just to see if there is any significant difference in feel......

Agree with VS Babolat who always sums it up nicely, the OP needs to snag these frames and post pics for us Head MP frame fans to drool over after he does.

Pics are mandatory repayment for the time we take to comment on the thread
Click to expand...

Lol if I do take them I'll definitely post pics are "owed payment" for your responses. Thanks again
 
ChicagoJack

ChicagoJack

Hall of Fame
Hey all,

- There were two vastly different releases of the iprestige mid.

- The early release mid was: 65ra, 340g, 334sw.

- The later release mid was: 58ra, 329g, 316sw.
.
 
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A

AverageJoe

Rookie
ChicagoJack said:
Hey all,

- There were two vastly different releases of the iprestige mid.

- The early release mid was: 65ra, 340g, 334sw.

- The later release mid was: 58ra, 329g, 316sw.
.
Click to expand...

Does this apply to the MP as well? And is there any way of verifying which is which? Thanks
 
S

scotus

G.O.A.T.
AverageJoe said:
Does this apply to the MP as well? And is there any way of verifying which is which? Thanks
Click to expand...

Maybe.

I have 2 MP XL's, and there is a 15-gram difference between the two frames. It could just be poor quality control. But that's quite significant, especially on an extended frame.
 
ChicagoJack

ChicagoJack

Hall of Fame
grimmbomb21 said:
I have a rubber finish MP that has a 59 flex rating.
Click to expand...

Cool, how do you know your MP is 59 flex?

Just asking... because the published specs (USRSA) for the two versions of the MP are:

MP Std Length : 335g, 32 cm Bal, 311 sw, 64 flex
MP Xtd Length : 325g, 34 cm Bal, 335 sw, 65 flex

The early release mid : 340g, 334 sw, 65 flex
The later release mid : 329g, 316 sw, 58 flex

As scotus points out, it's not unusual for supposedly identical frames to differ in weight 10-15 grams simply due to poor qc. In my book that's why we have lead tape, no biggie. Flex however, is a whole nuther story, that would be a big deal for sure.
 
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S

Say Chi Sin Lo

G.O.A.T.
The following is about the iPrestige Mid.

I think the iPrestige Mid was the oddball in the Prestige lineage. It was stiff(er), the only Prestige after PC600 that's not red, with a very cool/futuristic and erasable rubber finish (initial batches only).

I could be wrong, but I thought the iPrestige Mid was the stiffest playing Prestige since the PC600. Similar to how a Pro Staff would feel (I use a blx90 now).
 
waginen

waginen

Rookie
I have both made in austria and finished in Czech rep and both have stiffness RA 61 according to babolat rdc. But i do not have any with rubber paint. I have to measure my youtek PT57E to have a comparison.
 
T

TheRed

Hall of Fame
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
The following is about the iPrestige Mid.

I think the iPrestige Mid was the oddball in the Prestige lineage. It was stiff(er), the only Prestige after PC600 that's not red, with a very cool/futuristic and erasable rubber finish (initial batches only).

I could be wrong, but I thought the iPrestige Mid was the stiffest playing Prestige since the PC600. Similar to how a Pro Staff would feel (I use a blx90 now).
Click to expand...

You're somewhat wrong. The Iprestige mid was one of the stiffest but not like the PC600 which was very soft. the FXP was also quite stiff, but not as sweet a feel. Basically the Ipres was stiff and sweet like the old wilsons. The FXP was stiff and crisp like the new wilsons.
 
vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
The following is about the iPrestige Mid.

I think the iPrestige Mid was the oddball in the Prestige lineage. It was stiff(er), the only Prestige after PC600 that's not red, with a very cool/futuristic and erasable rubber finish (initial batches only).

I could be wrong, but I thought the iPrestige Mid was the stiffest playing Prestige since the PC600. Similar to how a Pro Staff would feel (I use a blx90 now).
Click to expand...

Actually the Stiffness on the i.Prestige Mid was pretty low at about 60. While the FXP Prestige Mid was 65. The i.Prestige Mid felt stiff because of the great shock and vibration damping. The real odd balls were the LM Prestige, FXP Prestige and to a certain extent the YT Prestige. Because they all so brassy and harsh.
 
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