Review of HEAD IG Prestige Mid and IG Prestige MP

vsbabolat · 01-17-2012, 07:54 AM

I just received my HEAD IG Prestige Mid and MP. I've got good news for those of you like me are not a fan of the Clear CAP Grommets. The black grommets will fit.

I think it looks great with the black grommets. Now if only the Black CAP Grommets were glossy like in the old days.

IG Prestige MP Review
Cosmetics: The cosmetics have grown on me. I really like the asymmetrical burgundy graphite braid look with lighter red in the braid around the hoop. It reminds me of the Austrian Prestige Pro and the Prestige Pro 600. However the Silver decals are very fragile. I already getting them to come off. But the paint quality is very high and the racquet should not chip. I've never had a HEAD frame with hard paint chip. Why the decals can't be the same high quality as is what was on the Microgel does not make sense.

On Ground strokes I found the IG Prestige MP to have very nice pop with decent access to spin. It is a nice control oriented racquet with pop. I found it very stable on off center hits. It has some nice ball pocketing and a softer feel over the more recent irritations of the MP.

On Volleys I found it excellent. You have a sweet spot that goes pretty north in the string bed combined with the great stability of the racquet.

On the Serve I felt I got a little more spin on my Kick serve do to the larger head of my normal racquet and more string spacing. When I played a set I did not lose serve with it and did not double fault. My kick serves had some nice height over the net and nice high bounce.

Off the return of serve the stability and head size was a help in getting good depth. I was chipping returns and hitting returns. The first return I hit with it I ripped. The power is there if you have the skills.

Overal: I think this will be the most popular Prestige model in the line. The only thing that gives me pause is the feel. There is a very slight buzz to the string bed. It is no where near as bad as the YT which was like a tuning fork or a nice way of putting it brassy. It is a huge improvement over the YT. The IG Prestige MP a step in the write direction. If it was more muted I would switch tomorrow. I will have to think about it and hit with it some more.

IG Prestige Mid Review:
Cosmetics: The cosmetics have grown on me. I really like the asymmetrical burgundy graphite braid look with lighter red in the braid around the hoop. It reminds me of the Austrian Prestige Pro and the Prestige Pro 600. However the Silver decals are very fragile. Why the decals can't be the same high quality as is what was on the Microgel does not make sense.

Ground Strokes: I feel like the IG Prestige is a extension of my arm. It is so comfortable. I feel connected to the frame. It is a finally honed instrument, a scalpel. If you have the skills of being able to provide your own power and spin it will absolutely reward you. It is also not jarring on mishits.

Volleys: The IG Prestige Mid rewards you with great feel and great ball pocketing on the volley. You have fantastic stability which is great on the volley.

Serve: I loved serving with it. I felt like my serves were very heavy and I had pin point accuracy.

Return Of Serve: The racquet's stability, control, and plush feel made me feel confident on my returns.

The IG Prestige Mid is the best Prestige Mid since the i.Prestige Mid. I think I like the IG Prestige Mid more than the i.Prestige Mid. The IG Prestige has a very generous sweet spot, great stabilaty, and wonderful velvaty smooth plush feel

dadozen · 01-17-2012, 08:00 AM

Booooo!!! I thought the review was ready yet!!!

Just kidding VS, can't wait to read your review. I also don't dig the clear CAP grommets, but haven't seen one personally yet. The new pj, with the circuit, is worse than the YT IMO.

vsbabolat · 01-17-2012, 08:12 AM

I added a photo to my Original post. Look how good it looks now.

maxpotapov · 01-17-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

I added a photo to my Original post. Look how good it looks now.

Looks kinda cheaper now :/

vsbabolat · 01-17-2012, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

Looks kinda cheaper now :/

I thought it looked cheaper with the clear grommets. It looks much richer in color with the black grommets. It always had brown or black (and Green on the Prestige 600) grommets until now.

JGads · 01-17-2012, 10:13 AM

Black for the win. Not even a contest. Clear cap looks terrible.

dr325i · 01-17-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

I just received my HEAD IG Prestige Mid and MP. I've got good news for those of you like me are not a fan of the Clear CAP Grommets. The black grommets will fit.

Aren't they the identical mold to the Youtek/Microgel frames?

sargeinaz · 01-17-2012, 10:46 AM

Brown is the goat, but that black looks great VS. The clear is very meh.

vsbabolat · 01-17-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr325i

Aren't they the identical mold to the Youtek/Microgel frames?

The grips are longer on the MP and the Mid now (that's all I have don't know about the Pro). Other than that they seem the same.

scotus · 01-17-2012, 04:31 PM

Do the clear grommets and the black grommets weigh the same?

MAXXply · 01-17-2012, 04:54 PM

Remember how in mediaeval times wrongdoers and villains were forced to wear stocks on their heads? I think the people at HEAD who signed off on the clear caps design should be forced to do the same.

fundrazer · 01-17-2012, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

The grips are longer on the MP and the Mid now (that's all I have don't know about the Pro). Other than that they seem the same.

Ah, interesting to hear that Head changed the grip length. I'm going to be dabbling with the blx prostaff 95, but the MG prestige MP is still my stick of choice. I think I actually preferred the shorter grip length on em. Not that it makes a whole lot of difference. Wonder why they would change it though?

JGads · 01-17-2012, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

The grips are longer on the MP and the Mid now (that's all I have don't know about the Pro). Other than that they seem the same.

The MP grip is really longer now? That was among my main gripes with the MP always. The Mid had a longer grip before, but not the MP.

rudester · 01-18-2012, 07:25 AM

And will The old Prestige Pro microgel/youtek grommets also fit the IG Prestige Pro?

vsbabolat · 01-18-2012, 09:16 AM

I had my first hit with the Mid today.

movdqa · 01-18-2012, 09:21 AM

How was the feel compared to the YT?

maxpotapov · 01-18-2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

I had my first hit with the Mid today.

And what was the feel and sound right off the bat?

Anton · 01-18-2012, 10:07 AM

Clear grommets look much better.

Where is the review?

vsbabolat · 01-18-2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anton

Clear grommets look much better.

Where is the review?

That's your opinion. I don't like the clear. I only just got the racquets yesterday. I had my first hit with the Mid this morning. When I get done testing the racquets the review will be written. Have a little patience.

vsbabolat · 01-18-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

And what was the feel and sound right off the bat?

The feel of the IG Prestige Mid is the closest to the Prestige Classic 600 that I have yet to hit with.

01-17-2012, 07:54 AM	#1
vsbabolat Legend Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 7,388	Review of HEAD IG Prestige Mid and IG Prestige MP I just received my HEAD IG Prestige Mid and MP. I've got good news for those of you like me are not a fan of the Clear CAP Grommets. The black grommets will fit. I think it looks great with the black grommets. Now if only the Black CAP Grommets were glossy like in the old days. IG Prestige MP Review Cosmetics: The cosmetics have grown on me. I really like the asymmetrical burgundy graphite braid look with lighter red in the braid around the hoop. It reminds me of the Austrian Prestige Pro and the Prestige Pro 600. However the Silver decals are very fragile. I already getting them to come off. But the paint quality is very high and the racquet should not chip. I've never had a HEAD frame with hard paint chip. Why the decals can't be the same high quality as is what was on the Microgel does not make sense. On Ground strokes I found the IG Prestige MP to have very nice pop with decent access to spin. It is a nice control oriented racquet with pop. I found it very stable on off center hits. It has some nice ball pocketing and a softer feel over the more recent irritations of the MP. On Volleys I found it excellent. You have a sweet spot that goes pretty north in the string bed combined with the great stability of the racquet. On the Serve I felt I got a little more spin on my Kick serve do to the larger head of my normal racquet and more string spacing. When I played a set I did not lose serve with it and did not double fault. My kick serves had some nice height over the net and nice high bounce. Off the return of serve the stability and head size was a help in getting good depth. I was chipping returns and hitting returns. The first return I hit with it I ripped. The power is there if you have the skills. Overal: I think this will be the most popular Prestige model in the line. The only thing that gives me pause is the feel. There is a very slight buzz to the string bed. It is no where near as bad as the YT which was like a tuning fork or a nice way of putting it brassy. It is a huge improvement over the YT. The IG Prestige MP a step in the write direction. If it was more muted I would switch tomorrow. I will have to think about it and hit with it some more. IG Prestige Mid Review: Cosmetics: The cosmetics have grown on me. I really like the asymmetrical burgundy graphite braid look with lighter red in the braid around the hoop. It reminds me of the Austrian Prestige Pro and the Prestige Pro 600. However the Silver decals are very fragile. Why the decals can't be the same high quality as is what was on the Microgel does not make sense. Ground Strokes: I feel like the IG Prestige is a extension of my arm. It is so comfortable. I feel connected to the frame. It is a finally honed instrument, a scalpel. If you have the skills of being able to provide your own power and spin it will absolutely reward you. It is also not jarring on mishits. Volleys: The IG Prestige Mid rewards you with great feel and great ball pocketing on the volley. You have fantastic stability which is great on the volley. Serve: I loved serving with it. I felt like my serves were very heavy and I had pin point accuracy. Return Of Serve: The racquet's stability, control, and plush feel made me feel confident on my returns. The IG Prestige Mid is the best Prestige Mid since the i.Prestige Mid. I think I like the IG Prestige Mid more than the i.Prestige Mid. The IG Prestige has a very generous sweet spot, great stabilaty, and wonderful velvaty smooth plush feel Last edited by vsbabolat : 01-28-2012 at 10:47 AM. Reason: I've added the two reviews to the first post so it is easier to find.

01-17-2012, 08:00 AM	#2
dadozen Hall Of Fame Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,623	Booooo!!! I thought the review was ready yet!!! Just kidding VS, can't wait to read your review. I also don't dig the clear CAP grommets, but haven't seen one personally yet. The new pj, with the circuit, is worse than the YT IMO. __________________ 3 Yonex VCore 89 Tour -MSV Focus Hex 1.10 @ 43 Gamma X6-FC

01-17-2012, 10:13 AM	#6
JGads Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,224	Black for the win. Not even a contest. Clear cap looks terrible. __________________ 42

01-17-2012, 04:54 PM	#11
MAXXply Professional Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,180	Remember how in mediaeval times wrongdoers and villains were forced to wear stocks on their heads? I think the people at HEAD who signed off on the clear caps design should be forced to do the same. __________________ Before TW: POG Mid user for over 20 years After TW: confirmed racketholic

01-18-2012, 09:21 AM	#16
movdqa Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,138	How was the feel compared to the YT? __________________ 4 x IG Prestige MP, 70 cm, 376 grams, 386 SW, ALU Power @54