Wawrinka new string pattern 16 X 19

masterboy8

New User
Kooyong Classic Wawrinka uses a prestige microgel 16 x 19 string pattern
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crazylevity

Hall of Fame
He's using the Prestige MP paintjob, though. Funny why they don't want the Pros using the Prestige Pro paintjob...do they think we can't count the number of strings?
 

djokster

Professional
wow, he finally changed racquets.

I believe he used a PT 280 with real flexpoints before...correct me if i am wrong...
 

0d1n

Hall of Fame
He's using the Prestige MP paintjob, though. Funny why they don't want the Pros using the Prestige Pro paintjob...do they think we can't count the number of strings?

Hmmm which leads us (at least me) to believe that there is something not quite "stock" about that racket ...
There are plenty of Prestige MP paintjobs on the tour they don't NEED Wawrinka of all people to endorse it further (they have G. Simon among others).
I can understand (to some extent) head putting a radical paintjob on Murray's racket, but putting the MP paintjob on Wawrinka's (if it truly is a Prestige Pro) makes no sense.
Unless they really don't care, and don't believe there are any watchers obsessed enough to actually detect the difference between the 2 pj's :)
 

JediMindTrick

Hall of Fame
Ha! ha! ha! A MG Prestige Pro painted like a MG Prestige MP! This is ridiculous! I think Head has completely lost track of who uses what, and it's just throwing the paintjobs around at random. The next batch of racquets Wawrinka gets may be painted like a MG Radical, or even ... a MG Prestige Pro!
 

kumat63

Rookie
Good find on the throat code! I agree it's TGK238.3. I have a TGK238.1 which is a microgel prestige mp (from the Kenelbach factory). It was customized by Roman Prokes, weighs 325g unstrung (with lead under the bumper) and flexes at 61 on an RDC machine (a couple points less on the same machine than the 5 or 6 retail microgel frames tested on that machine which were all 63-64). TGK238.2 is a mg prestige pro. Not sure what a .3 is... something different though.

But it is definitely a "microgel" rather than a PT630 or PT280 (PT57a) or an i.prestige (PT57e). Does go to show that not all the Head pros are using PT630/280 under the mg paint job as some on here would have you believe. I think Murray uses a "real" microgel too?
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Good find on the throat code! I agree it's TGK238.3. I have a TGK238.1 which is a microgel prestige mp (from the Kenelbach factory). It was customized by Roman Prokes, weighs 325g unstrung (with lead under the bumper) and flexes at 61 on an RDC machine (a couple points less on the same machine than the 5 or 6 retail microgel frames tested on that machine which were all 63-64). TGK238.2 is a mg prestige pro. Not sure what a .3 is... something different though.

But it is definitely a "microgel" rather than a PT630 or PT280 (PT57a) or an i.prestige (PT57e). Does go to show that not all the Head pros are using PT630/280 under the mg paint job as some on here would have you believe. I think Murray uses a "real" microgel too?

There definitely has been a big effort to get the players to use the Microgels. I know a of lot of players that have made the switch lower down on the ranks. I also think that Murray and Safin have made the switch to Microgel.

I think the Microgel racquets are in the majority now.
 
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0d1n

Hall of Fame
There definitely has been a big effort to get the players to use the Microgels. I know a of lot of players that have made the switch lower down on the ranks. I also think that Murray and Safin have made the switch to Microgel.

I think the Microgel racquets are in the majority now.

I smell some fired staff from the Austrian factory if that's the case.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
And according to the Head home page, they are shutting down the tennis ball factory in Phoenix and moving production to China.

More is coming, I'm sure.

Wow!! You are right. http://www.head.com/corporate/news.php?id=1067

Head’s tennis ball factory in Phoenix, Arizona will close on March 5th, 2009. In January 2007 we started to manufacturing tennis balls in our new factory in China. Since this time we have been increasing the volumes produced by this factory, and we have now made the strategic decision to shut our US facility and manufacture our world wide volume from China
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
I am so not enjoying all the aspects of this so-called globalization. :evil:

This is not globalization it is consolidation of manufacturing in China.

Not too long ago you had tennis racquets manufactured in U.S.A., England, Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore (my Yamaha Secret 06 says "Made By Yamaha MFG. Singapore). That is globalization
 

Fredrik

Rookie
This is not globalization it is consolidation of manufacturing in China.

Not too long ago you had tennis racquets manufactured in U.S.A., England, Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore (my Yamaha Secret 06 says "Made By Yamaha MFG. Singapore). That is globalization

I think we agree;)

Good angle, though, I like the way you think:)

Note that I said, so-called globalization. It only applies to the money.
 

kumat63

Rookie
I smell some fired staff from the Austrian factory if that's the case.

I'm not sure that follows... the Microgels I have are Austrian made. They have a noticeable amount of lead under the CAP grommets, possibly silicone in the handle and with a leather grip they still weigh less than some of the retail China run frames we flexed and weighed. So the Austrian factory must make them to a lighter spec, which pros would like because it allows a greater range of customization options. There may be other reasons to keep the Austrian factory open too. Hard to say.

Honestly I can't tell any difference at all in the way my Austrian run frames play compared to the retail. But I'm playing them at pretty close to retail specs.

VSBabolat--why do you think Head is pushing so hard to get their players into real Microgels? Are they more sensitive to the paintjob issues than in the past?
 

crazylevity

Hall of Fame
^^ Well I don't know about the pros, but I've felt a real difference in the MIcrogel series. It just feels a lot more solid than the LM and FXP range. It could be that the pros have tried it and liked it enough, such that they want the Microgel and just match it to their old weight and balance.
 

Cl1ntrock

Rookie
but the Microgel is weird..i got some tgk238.1 here at home..and it vibrates like hell its unstable and bad power and..the MID plays stock completely different..i am waiting for the Speed Pro..see what nole comes around with...
 

kumat63

Rookie
^^ Well I don't know about the pros, but I've felt a real difference in the MIcrogel series. It just feels a lot more solid than the LM and FXP range. It could be that the pros have tried it and liked it enough, such that they want the Microgel and just match it to their old weight and balance.

I agree with you that the Microgel Prestige feels much better than the LM and FXP. I was comparing Austrian run MGs to the Chinese made retail version and saying they both felt the same--quite good--to me. Very few pros played the LM or FXP Prestiges--they were almost all playing old PT630/280 painted like LM or FXP, so it is interesting a number seem to have actually switched to real Microgel Prestiges.
 

PurePrestige

Semi-Pro
Hmm I am interested in Wawrinka's switch to a open pattern. He has been playing well to begin with.
Mainly I'm wondering if it will have the same effect as Murray. Murray lowered his swingweight a bit and switched to the open pattern and he has made great strides. Maybe we are in for Wawrinka making some leaps in his game.
 

0d1n

Hall of Fame
Hmm I am interested in Wawrinka's switch to a open pattern. He has been playing well to begin with.
Mainly I'm wondering if it will have the same effect as Murray. Murray lowered his swingweight a bit and switched to the open pattern and he has made great strides. Maybe we are in for Wawrinka making some leaps in his game.

As far as I saw the "throat piece" is the same on the prestige pro and the MP (i.e the PRO has 8 mains in the throat just like the MP). It's the same with the Dunlop AG 16x19.
As a result, the string pattern is not THAT open even if it's 16x19...in fact ... in the sweet spot it might be quite similar in response to an 18x20. There might be a small difference in the distance between the crosses, but the mains are not that far apart in the sweet area on the Prestige Pro.
 

PED

Legend
As far as I saw the "throat piece" is the same on the prestige pro and the MP (i.e the PRO has 8 mains in the throat just like the MP).

That's an excellent point and one that I've not thought of. Just curious have you ever measured the distance between the central mains on the mp versus the pro (I haven't). It looks like the 2 mains in the center of the MP are a bit tighter than that of the Pro but that just may be the photo making it look that way.

here's the pro: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/viewlarge.html?PCODE=MGPP

here's the mp: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/viewlarge.html?PCODE=MGP
 
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