*****THE OFFICIAL HEAD PRO TOUR 630/280 Club*************

[mombops]

Originally Posted by Richie Rich

i have a new PT630 with LM paintjob. Seems a little lighter than normal PT, even with the calfskin grip. Would that be so the pro's can customize the weight easier?

My son is a former D1 player and has been sponsored by Head for the last 6 years. He first started out playing with an Intelligence Prestige 630 but was soon offered some customized racquets from Head. They sent him an A57 and E57 models to test. Both racquets came straight to our home from the factory without grips, pallets, or butt caps (since I do all of his racquet set up myself). I can verify that these custom racquets from Head are significantly lighter than retail models. It allows for a very wide range of customizing and it really helps me out. When he used the retail Intelligence Prestige 630, there were some unable to be used since the swingweights were too high stock. I was easily able to make the A57 and E57 to his specs since they are so light and there is so much weight to work with.

[jayserinos99]

Hi mombops, can you tell us the stiffness of the A57 and E57? Also, you mentioned that you got the bare frame; can you go into a bit more detail as to how your configured your son's frames? Thanks!

[mombops]

Originally Posted by jayserinos99

Hi mombops, can you tell us the stiffness of the A57 and E57? Also, you mentioned that you got the bare frame; can you go into a bit more detail as to how your configured your son's frames? Thanks!

I've got an RDC (and a Star 3) that I use to use for setting up my sons racquets and keep a log on my computer of all the racquets and set ups we've tried over the years. The A57 we had was a 60 and the E57 is around a 63. After testing both, the E57 was the winner. It played much more crisp and with more feel than the A57. His serving improved with the added stiffness of the E57 compared to the A57.

We've never really changed his set up, except for strings. It ususally required 2-5grams under the CAP grommets, 4-8grams at the sides of the hoop, 2-8grams at the top of the handle, and over 20grams of silicon in the bottom of the handle. His weight is 340g, balance is 31.2cm, and swingweight is 325. This is a great set of numbers for his style of play. Anything heavier was too powerful and hard to get around.

He has since switched to the MicroGel Prestige TGK 231.2 and uses the same set up. Which require 20grams under the non-CAP bumper, 5-10grams at the top of the handle, and over 20grams of silicon at the bottom of the handle.

[Pro_Tour_630]

mombops fiirst welcome to TW and to the club, something is not right, the TGK231.2 is an MG radical MP with 18X20 not a MG prestige MP

[mombops]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

mombops fiirst welcome to TW and to the club, something is not right, the TGK231.2 is an MG radical MP with 18X20 not a MG prestige MP

How dare I make such a mistake?

Okay, you got me, its Radical. And yes, its is the 18/20pattern. The 16/19 Pro was missing that stable feel the 18/20 had. Head was no longer offering the E57 and forced the switch to the MicroGel. It was welcomed in the end though. The MicroGel has more pop on the ball than the E57, and is also a little stiffer with a 65 RDC rating.

[Pro_Tour_630]

don't sweat it the reason the MG radical MP has more pop than a 57E is because not only it is stiffer but it is a different mold, it is THICKER by 1mm, the bridge/shoulder is also different.

[grimmbomb21]

Quick question: I have a couple pt 630s and I have read here that the 280 is a stiffer racquet. Is this a fact or is it just a "feel" thing? If it is true, what is the flex rating of the 280 versus the 630?

Thanks

[mombops]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

don't sweat it the reason the MG radical MP has more pop than a 57E is because not only it is stiffer but it is a different mold, it is THICKER by 1mm, the bridge/shoulder is also different.

The E57's and MicroGel Radical 630 TGK231.2 have the same beam width, +-21mm. Believe me, I measure all racquets with a digital micrometer. While the A57 has a 20mm profile. But yes, the MicroGel is more powerful at the same specs, its about the graphite layup. The entire MicroGel line was really an improvement. I felt like the MicroGel Prestige 600 was a great update, equal to that of the Prestige Classic. And the MicroGel 630 was also much better than the previous FlexPoint 630 and Liquid Metal 630's. Really good frames they are coming out with.

[mombops]

Originally Posted by grimmbomb21

Quick question: I have a couple pt 630s and I have read here that the 280 is a stiffer racquet. Is this a fact or is it just a "feel" thing? If it is true, what is the flex rating of the 280 versus the 630?

Thanks

The Chinese Pro Tour 280's measured stiffer RDC ratings than their European counterpartsthe Pro Tour 630. They played a little more hollow and with less feel in my opinion. Also lighter since the Austrian Pro Tour 630 came with CAP grommets usually.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by mombops

I've got an RDC (and a Star 3) that I use to use for setting up my sons racquets and keep a log on my computer of all the racquets and set ups we've tried over the years. The A57 we had was a 60 and the E57 is around a 63. After testing both, the E57 was the winner. It played much more crisp and with more feel than the A57. His serving improved with the added stiffness of the E57 compared to the A57.

We've never really changed his set up, except for strings. It ususally required 2-5grams under the CAP grommets, 4-8grams at the sides of the hoop, 2-8grams at the top of the handle, and over 20grams of silicon in the bottom of the handle. His weight is 340g, balance is 31.2cm, and swingweight is 325. This is a great set of numbers for his style of play. Anything heavier was too powerful and hard to get around.

He has since switched to the MicroGel Prestige TGK 231.2 and uses the same set up. Which require 20grams under the non-CAP bumper, 5-10grams at the top of the handle, and over 20grams of silicon at the bottom of the handle.

Did you all ever try the TGK 231.3? It is the MG Radical MP (630) mold with a 16x19 string pattern.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

I will trim the bumper guard only with an exacto knife leaving the grommets. that should take off around 84 grams from hoop,

look at how i lowered the sw of the k90 to 305 LOL, the same can be done to the psK88


http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=123179

Thanks! Now that I read that, I remember when you first posted it.

Thanks again. And let us know when you hit with the kps88. Look forward to reading your thoughts.

[tandayu]

Mombops, welsome to this thread, and looking forward to read more of your postings

Nice to see another member with elaborate exposure on various "limited availability" Head rackets.

VSBabolat and Protour630 has maintained the high quality of this thread for such a long time.

[mombops]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

Did you all ever try the TGK 231.3? It is the MG Radical MP (630) mold with a 16x19 string pattern.

Yes, Head did send both versions of the MicroGel Radical 630, the 18/20 and 16/19 to test, along with a MicroGel Extreme and Extreme Pro. But the MicroGel Radical 630 18/20 was the instant winner, clearly more similar to the E57. With more strings on the ball, the 18/20 played with more control, stability, and touch. The added spin and power of the 16/19 string pattern was a plus, but was not needed. The Extreme and Extreme Pro never really got much court time, they were quite different from what my son was use to.

[mombops]

Originally Posted by tandayu

Mombops, welsome to this thread, and looking forward to read more of your postings

Nice to see another member with elaborate exposure on various "limited availability" Head rackets.

VSBabolat and Protour630 has maintained the high quality of this thread for such a long time.

I will post some pictures later today of the different variations of paintjobs later today, once I figure out how to work this stupid camera!

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by mombops

The E57's and MicroGel Radical 630 TGK231.2 have the same beam width, +-21mm. Believe me, I measure all racquets with a digital micrometer. While the A57 has a 20mm profile. But yes, the MicroGel is more powerful at the same specs, its about the graphite layup. The entire MicroGel line was really an improvement. I felt like the MicroGel Prestige 600 was a great update, equal to that of the Prestige Classic. And the MicroGel 630 was also much better than the previous FlexPoint 630 and Liquid Metal 630's. Really good frames they are coming out with.

I meansure beam width with a digital micrometer to the nearest .01mm as well

these were my findings regarding the stock MG:

.............Weight SW Balance Shaft Throat Bridge Head

..Prestige Mid 349.5g 331 32cm 19.60 19.80 19.60 19.40

.Prestige Mid+ 344.0g 311 32cm 20.95 20.75 20.75 20.50

..Prestige Pro 338.5g 303 32cm 20.80 20.50 20.60 20.25

...Radical Pro 330.0g 320 33cm 21.00 20.50 17.60 20.40

..Radical Mid+ 317.0g 305 32cm 21.75 21.75 18.90 21.60

..Pro Tour 630 333.0g 325 32cm 20.50 20.30 20.30 20.00


notice the bridge on the MG radical MP, can you tell us the measurement of the E57 compared to the TK231.2 at these four different locations.

It means the PT57E has the same beam specs of a MG radical MP

then the PT57E is a new radical and not a true constant PT57A

then the 57A/E are two different molds altogether not just layup

[mombops]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

I meansure beam width with a digital micrometer to the nearest .01mm as well

these were my findings regarding the stock MG:

.............Weight SW Balance Shaft Throat Bridge Head

..Prestige Mid 349.5g 331 32cm 19.60 19.80 19.60 19.40

.Prestige Mid+ 344.0g 311 32cm 20.95 20.75 20.75 20.50

..Prestige Pro 338.5g 303 32cm 20.80 20.50 20.60 20.25

...Radical Pro 330.0g 320 33cm 21.00 20.50 17.60 20.40

..Radical Mid+ 317.0g 305 32cm 21.75 21.75 18.90 21.60

..Pro Tour 630 333.0g 325 32cm 20.50 20.30 20.30 20.00


notice the bridge on the MG radical MP, can you tell us the measurement of the E57 compared to the TK231.2 at these four different locations.

It means the PT57E has the same beam specs of a MG radical MP

then the PT57E is a radical and not a true constant PT

Here are my measurements with a Mitutoyo 6" Digital Micrometer:

Shaft Throat Bridge Head
E57 21.525 21.438 21.350 21.487

231.2 21.611 21.742 18.994 21.703


The E57 is a true constant beam.

[mombops]

The A57 and E57 are two different molds all together clearly. Not close to being the same. The A57 is much more squared and a thinner beam, while the E57 is more rounded and thicker. The A57 is a Pro Tour 630 mold while the E57 is an Intelligence Prestige 630 mold. I will post pictures soon!

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by mombops

The E57's and MicroGel Radical 630 TGK231.2 have the same beam width, +-21mm. Believe me, I measure all racquets with a digital micrometer. .

then this statement is not true the beam width at the bridge is clearly different to the naked eye it is a different mold altogether

[Pro_Tour_630]

there is also a TK 231.1 maybe that is the true 57E

[mombops]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

then this statement is not true the beam width at the bridge is clearly different to the naked eye it is a different mold altogether

I'm not one to post on message boards, though I do read them often, but I'm especially not one for message board wars. I never said that they were out of the same mold, only that they had the same beam width. The two molds are completely different. But, the beam widths are virtually identical. Earlier you claimed that the MicroGel Radical 630 was more powerful than the E57 due to the "1mm thicker beam". Well that simply isn't true because the beam widths are the same. If anything, since the MicroGel Radical 630 has a thinner bridge, it should be less powerful in your view.

I don't want to argue, I started posting because I had some insight to offer with these racquets. This is first hand experience with all of these racquets (A57, E57, MicroGels, etc), not assumptions that I make blindly. I actually possess all of these racquets.