closest semi current option is the IG prestige MP but its not the same... if you want a sub 60ra like a pt630 its just hard to find from the big manufacturers.I had a couple matched pt57a's but they were customized with a swingweight that made my RF97 seem like a junior racquet, so despite the amazing feel I had to let them go.
What would be a good option to get back into this amazing frame? I love the feel, but would want an affordable option, ideally one I could customize that starts less than 11.5oz static. Anything other than getting another un-customized pro stock?
He-Man, you're not going to like this, but if you had a pair of pro stock PT57As, you could have just re-modded them. With these frames, you can basically achieve all the specs you personally desire. Just use as much lead / other stuff as you need on the frames.
closest semi current option is the IG prestige MP but its not the same... if you want a sub 60ra like a pt630 its just hard to find from the big manufacturers.
Well I didn't necessarily mean current options; would be willing to search for an older retail frame, just wanting something lighter from the start (as opposed to the 280 etc). If an actual pro stock is my only option so be it I reckon but hoped to avoid the price premium.
Check out the Angell rackets threads. The TC95 strung is supposedly below 60 RA. With the Angell, you can order them with different specs...aka customized.
On the other hand, with the PT630, depending on which generation, you can use different grommets with vastly different weight such that your starting base static weight can be reasonable low. And stay away from CAP grommet on the PT280 or PT630 Trek Font otherwise you are swinging a hammer.
Recently, I modified my PT630/280 by adding a lot more lead to the handle to get to around 11 points head light which bumped the static to 360ish gram (lighter sticks) and 370ish gram (heavier sticks). Note that these are strung full poly, with leather and OG. Surprisingly, its maneuverability improved quite a lot and didn't seem as demanding as in the past. I wished I had tried this a long time ago. This modification came about as I switched to the Yonex Tour G 310 last year and it was at 11 points head light with leather and OG; and I had been playing really well with it. So on a whim, I decided to give the PT630/280 another go by making it 11 points head light and this worked out really well. I was having such a great time hitting with this setup and how much I missed that plush, soft, and solid feeling. Now, I've only been hitting for a couple of hours with this setup of the 360ish gram 11 pt head light PT280. I have to play a few more time to see if this is OK where I don't get tired out prematurely. And I can't wait to try to the 370ish gram PT630 Trek Font. Just FYI so before you dump them due to weight, try making them super head light and see how it goes. Basically, don't be afraid of high static weight.
Awesome Collection! Yes, The original Radical bumblebee is a PT57AHere it is my PT57s collection [emoji7]
PT57A
PT57E
PT57B
( I think it's exact code for Radical Tour "Twin Tube", but I'm not sure it's the same for the "Bumblebee" )
Thanks VS [emoji106]Awesome Collection! Yes, The original Radical bumblebee is a PT57A
Here it is my PT57s collection [emoji7]
PT57A
PT57E
PT57B
( I think it's exact code for Radical Tour "Twin Tube", but I'm not sure it's the same for the "Bumblebee" )
Thank you very much [emoji106]Man, congratulations!!! Awesome collection!! All your racquets are in excellent condition. Did you ever use them?
That's the amazing thing. The PT57A is much better than the current offerings by Head that its astounding. You have the number 2 player in the world playing it getting to Slam finals and winning Wimbledon, US open, Olympic Gold, and Davis Cup with the spectacular PT57AI still sometime whip out my radical tour bumblebee just to feel the flex. It's a sweet racquet and I don't understand why most rackets seem to approach 70 RA today. Madness. My SG10 at 65 RA is tbh the upper limit for me. I can really appreciate why you made a thread for the PT57, it's one of those sticks you got to have in your racquet collection. If you're a collector. Still viable in today's game. It's really an extension of the arm. Many similarities to Older Volkl racquets IMHO. Smooth hitting.
Very nice. Just to clarify. The PT57E - so the microgel one is actually I.Prestige painted as microgel?Here it is my PT57s collection [emoji7]
PT57A
PT57E
PT57B
( I think it's exact code for Radical Tour "Twin Tube", but I'm not sure it's the same for the "Bumblebee" )
Very nice. Just to clarify. The PT57E - so the microgel one is actually I.Prestige painted as microgel?
Thanks. This is really nice. If you don't mind me asking - how can you tell that it is not an off-the-shelf microgel?Yep!
The i.Prestige MP XL is the PT57E in a longer length. No difference in layup. Just when it's a hairpin it's cut to 27.5 instead of 27 inches. Racquets when they are manufactured are much longer and then cut to the desired length.Excuse my ignorance, but what is the i.Prestige MP Xtralong?
After reading through this thread and the Head Prestige thread, I've decided I'm going to cap my XLs and also take my Prestige Pro for a hit soon too.
I like heavy racquets and I think the Caps will make the XLs just about perfect.
Thanks. This is really nice. If you don't mind me asking - how can you tell that it is not an off-the-shelf microgel?
There are some signs like the shape of grooves on the throat (where head joints to the shaft), the extended grommets channels, a bit more than current retail Prestige, but even more than that in this case there is the PT57E code written on the throat [emoji16] (even if it is not visible in this picture)Thanks. This is really nice. If you don't mind me asking - how can you tell that it is not an off-the-shelf microgel?
I've removed about 11g of lead at 12 o'clock in my PT57A Flexpoint, since it was a bit to head heavy for my personal taste, and I added about 3g both at 3 & 9 o'clock under the bumper.I was wondering guys, if you have modified your PT57's with lead tape. I want to put a little lead tape at 12'o clock or at 10 and 2 o'clock to get more power from this racquet, but i am afraid that would "kill" the marvellous feel of this racquet.
What do you guys think about it? Thanks.
I've removed about 11g of lead at 12 o'clock in my PT57A Flexpoint, since it was a bit to head heavy for my personal taste, and I added about 3g both at 3 & 9 o'clock under the bumper.
Now it weights 350g with an approx 305mm BP
Correct me if I'm wrong.The i.Prestige MP XL is the PT57E in a longer length. No difference in layup. Just when it's a hairpin it's cut to 27.5 instead of 27 inches. Racquets when they are manufactured are much longer and then cut to the desired length.
No, ALL production of the i.Prestige was done in HEAD's own factory in Kennelbach, Austria.Correct me if I'm wrong.
No doubt about the mold ( the same in both length version, as you stated), but I have a question about manufactoring site.
I've read on an Italian forum that latest production ( if not all ) of i.Prestige MP XL was China.
Is it right ?
Still a wonderful feel, as you can imagineThanks, man. And what about the feel? Still the same?
Never to late to learn!No, ALL production of the i.Prestige was done in HEAD's own factory in Kennelbach, Austria.
Still a wonderful feel, as you can imagine
Probably a bit flexier on the head, at least it's my recreational player feedback [emoji1]
Definitely more maneuverable than before, which is a good improvement considering the yet high weight, and it has (if possible) even more "touch", better on volley, slice and drop shot
However the latest pro stock PT57 all have Chinese writing on the hairpin.Never to late to learn!
Thanks to provide us all your limitless knowledge! [emoji106]
Very nice. Just to clarify. The PT57E - so the microgel one is actually I.Prestige painted as microgel?
Yep!
Thanks. This is really nice. If you don't mind me asking - how can you tell that it is not an off-the-shelf microgel?
I think only @vsbabolat could answer this, man.
@leohaegger - thanks. Not to be argumentative or anything but I'm confused. You said yourself that this racket in Microgel paint is actually i.prestige in a paint-job. But now you are saying that you can't tell if it is/is not an off-the-shelf Microgel. If you can't tell how do you know it is i.prestige under the paint?
yes, indeed, which is why I'm curious. Because from that picture, which very well may be misleading, the shape of those grooves is actually more similar to off-the-shelf microgel than to the i.prestige. Obviously the grommet channel is not visble on the picture - so we can't judge by that.There are some signs like the shape of grooves on the throat (where head joints to the shaft), the extended grommets channels, a bit more than current retail Prestige, but even more than that in this case there is the PT57E code written on the throat [emoji16] (even if it is not visible in this picture)
You are using circular logic. You are essentially saying that this racket, painted as Microgel, is an i.prestige solely because someone posted a picture of it and labeled it PT57E. I'm not saying it is not, but I'd like to know how one can be sure.Because according to @vsbabolat the PT57 models are:
Original Radical Tour 260 Bumblebee
Pro Tour 630/280
Radical Tour TwinTube 630
Lite Tour 630
i.Prestige MP
Lite Tour XL
and various Pro Stock models
As you can see, the Microgel model isn't the PT57. And @daddabompa showed in this thread two PT57E: the i.Prestige and the PT57E with Microgel paint job. I think there is a Microgel Pro Stock version, but it is not a PT57 version. But, of course, i could be wrong. That's why i told you to ask @vsbabolat because he is specialist with Prestige. He knows everything about Prestige.
You are using circular logic. You are essentially saying that this racket, painted as Microgel, is an i.prestige solely because someone posted a picture of it and labeled it PT57E. I'm not saying it is not, but I'd like to know how one can be sure.
As far as asking vsbabolat - let's just say I have less than perfect experience trying to get a detail answer in the past.
I'm perfectly chill. I too have Microgel and i.prestige, it's not like those are that rare or anything. All I'm saying is that from that picture, to me, the Microgel painted racket looks like off-the-shelf Microgel. You said that racket is i.prestige so I politely asked how you can tell. No need to get aggravated. And it turned out you can't tell. Which is perfectly fine. I can't tell either. We are perfectly cool.I have a Microgel and an i.Prestige (PT57E), and i know they are different in mold/layup.
But, if this is not your answer you are looking for, okay, bro. Cool. Chill out.
There are some signs like the shape of grooves on the throat (where head joints to the shaft), the extended grommets channels, a bit more than current retail Prestige, but even more than that in this case there is the PT57E code written on the throat [emoji16] (even if it is not visible in this picture)
That's the amazing thing. The PT57A is much better than the current offerings by Head that its astounding. You have the number 2 player in the world playing it getting to Slam finals and winning Wimbledon, US open, Olympic Gold, and Davis Cup with the spectacular PT57A
No, PT57A. Has since he's been on the ATP Tour.I thought Murray used the PT57e?
This pic I think should take away any doubtI'm perfectly chill. I too have Microgel and i.prestige, it's not like those are that rare or anything. All I'm saying is that from that picture, to me, the Microgel painted racket looks like off-the-shelf Microgel. You said that racket is i.prestige so I politely asked how you can tell. No need to get aggravated. And it turned out you can't tell. Which is perfectly fine. I can't tell either. We are perfectly cool.
I thought Murray used the PT57e?
Still a wonderful feel, as you can imagine
Probably a bit flexier on the head, at least it's my recreational player feedback [emoji1]
Definitely more maneuverable than before, which is a good improvement considering the yet high weight, and it has (if possible) even more "touch", better on volley, slice and drop shot
Today i put 6g of lead at 10 & 2 o' clock. Man, my racquet became a different animal...
The racquet didn't became a beast. It became a CANNON! No, a BAZOOKA!! Even the sound of the racquet changed. It was more like a: BOOOOOOMMMMM!!! I was totally CRUSHING THE HELLA OUTTA ball with this racquet. SMASHING, DESTROYING the ball with no mercy.
The most important thing is it kept the wonderfull feel and, even the beastly amount power i got putting the lead, i didn't lost the control and the precision of this racquet. My opponents was telling me that my ball got much more speed and power today than they have never seen before.
I couldn't be happier now with this configuration. Thanks, people, for taking the red pill.
It is funny to see this picture: Carlos Berlocq using a PT57 with a Graphene paintjob and an IG grommets....
Only HEAD could do this kind of job...