Head Prestige Tour- what happened to this frame?

roundiesee · Mar 12, 2009

Hi all Head experts. Would appreciate if anyone can help "diagnose" what happened to this frame. I believe this is the same frame as the PC600 (does it come from the same mould?) except that it had a suspension grip. What advantages would it have to alter a racket in such a way? Thanks all!

http://i12.****img.com/05/i/001/37/0e/6b56_3.JPG

http://i8.****img.com/02/i/001/37/0e/6c55_3.JPG

roundiesee · Mar 12, 2009

Sorry, links don't appear to be working. I'll see if I can post another way, thanks.

roundiesee · Mar 12, 2009

Here's another try>>

http://www1.snapfish.com/viewshared...30/l=478644370/g=142192356/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPIC

http://www1.snapfish.com/viewshared...98/l=478644371/g=142192356/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPIC

Rorsach · Mar 12, 2009

IIRC it's the same frame as the Prestige Classic, only for the USA. I think the name was already taken, so they had to change it to Prestige Tour.

Or i could be completely wrong, in that case someone will set me straight.

Deuce · Mar 12, 2009

As far as I can recall, both the Prestige Classic and Prestige Tour were available in North America.

The only difference, as cited in the original post, was the 'Suspension Grip' handle on the Tour. The main body of the two models was the same.

The Tour is generally regarded as having a softer feel than the Classic.
But many people complained of the Suspension Grip making noise...

I think that Head simply discontinued the Tour version (at least in North America) in the mid to late 1990s.

MichaelChang · Mar 12, 2009

I have read from this forum before that the 'Suspension Grip' was discontinued, was considered a merit-less design. Mutes the racket but tend to make noises or even crack after some time.

roundiesee · Mar 12, 2009

Thanks guys! Actually does anyone have any idea re the contruction of the suspension grip? Do you think that the noise was the reason why the owner of the above racket had the suspension grip replaced with a normal pallet? Of course we don't know the real answer but we can hazard a guess....

vsbabolat · Mar 12, 2009

roundiesee said:
Hi all Head experts. Would appreciate if anyone can help "diagnose" what happened to this frame. I believe this is the same frame as the PC600 (does it come from the same mould?) except that it had a suspension grip. What advantages would it have to alter a racket in such a way? Thanks all!

http://i12.****img.com/05/i/001/37/0e/6b56_3.JPG

http://i8.****img.com/02/i/001/37/0e/6c55_3.JPG

The owner of that particular Prestige Tour 600 had the Suspension Grip removed and had a molded pallet put in it's place.

The Prestige Tour was sold in the U.S. from 1993-1999 under these different names: Trisys 300, Prestige Tour 300, and finally Prestige Tour.

plasma · Mar 12, 2009

my prestige tours are awesome. The suspension grip is a better and more usefull innovation than PWS.

MichaelChang · Mar 12, 2009

plasma said:
my prestige tours are awesome. The suspension grip is a better and more usefull innovation than PWS.

Good for you, lol, but not for many others as there were complaints.

During those years HEAD seemed messing around with ways to dampen the vibration. For example the Trisys 270 come out around the same time, with a big rubber-vibration dampening piece in the throat. And that also got discontinued, along with the suspension grip invention.

vsbabolat · Mar 12, 2009

MichaelChang said:
Good for you, lol, but not for many others as there were complaints.

During those years HEAD seemed messing around with ways to dampen the vibration. For example the Trisys 270 come out around the same time, with a big rubber-vibration dampening piece in the throat. And that also got discontinued, along with the suspension grip invention.

The first racquet to have the Suspension Grip was the Discovery in 1991. The Prestige Tour came out in 1993.

plasma · Mar 12, 2009

greatest inventions of all time
#5 Cotton Gin- Eli Whitney
#4 Plumbing- Ancient Mesopotamians
#3 Theory of Relativity- Einstein
#2 Suspension grips/ CAP grommets
#1 Snakebelly Trysis shock absorber frame

Deuce · Mar 12, 2009

roundiesee said:
Thanks guys! Actually does anyone have any idea re the contruction of the suspension grip?

It was pretty much all plastic... and many of them 'creaked' like an old rocking chair...

plasma · Mar 17, 2009

the prestige tour feels almost identical to the prestige pro. It is IMHO, on the same tier as the ps 85. Presite tour is easier to play with than the prestige pro, exact same feel though, part head director, part txe...ps 85 might be ideal for easterners or continental folks wheras semi westerners and 2 handers might prefer the prestige...

roundiesee · Mar 17, 2009

Thanks very much every one! You people really know a lot about the classic frames! Perhaps consider writing a coffee table book with pictures/reviews and get everyone on the boards to contribute.

Bud · Mar 17, 2009

roundiesee said:
Thanks guys! Actually does anyone have any idea re the contruction of the suspension grip? Do you think that the noise was the reason why the owner of the above racket had the suspension grip replaced with a normal pallet? Of course we don't know the real answer but we can hazard a guess....

Deuce said:
It was pretty much all plastic... and many of them 'creaked' like an old rocking chair...

That creaking was the suspension grip dispersing energy and vibration :roll:

Bud · Mar 17, 2009

plasma said:
greatest inventions of all time
#5 Cotton Gin- Eli Whitney
#4 Plumbing- Ancient Mesopotamians
#3 Theory of Relativity- Einstein
#2 Suspension grips/ CAP grommets
#1 Snakebelly Trysis shock absorber frame

What exactly was the purpose of the 'snake skin' grommet piece in the throat of the Trisys 270?

Was it a shock dampener of sorts?

Also, why not just make it black... or some other neutral color... but snake skin? :lol:

Bud · Mar 17, 2009

Calling Anirut!

vsbabolat said:
The owner of that particular Prestige Tour 600 had the Suspension Grip removed and had a molded pallet put in it's place.

The Prestige Tour was sold in the U.S. from 1993-1999 under these different names: Trisys 300, Prestige Tour 300, and finally Prestige Tour.

vsbabolat said:
The first racquet to have the Suspension Grip was the Discovery in 1991. The Prestige Tour came out in 1993.

Anirut... these are the tidbits of info I was referring to in your 'racquet museum' thread.

plasma · Mar 20, 2009

the diamondback pattern of the trysis was chosen because the snake is an ancient sign of fertility

the trysis shock absorber sysytem and "suspension ankh" was given as a textbook to mankind for the betterment of knowledge and akashik harmony. Instead of enlightening our civilization modern consumerism treaded on the diamond back trysis, which is currently extinct in North America as well as its native Austria

"don't tread on me"

retrowagen · Mar 20, 2009

plasma said:
the diamondback pattern of the trysis was chosen because the snake is an ancient sign of fertility

the trysis shock absorber sysytem and "suspension ankh" was given as a textbook to mankind for the betterment of knowledge and akashik harmony.

Yikes. Dry this out and you can fertilize your lawn... :-|
At least no falafel was harmed during his post.

So - It's just carbon weave. Looks cool. Sorta strong.

plasma · Mar 20, 2009

sorry about that last post, sometimes I put a little extra harrif (spicy) on my fallafel...it makes me ferklempt!...

oy vey!

Janne · Jun 2, 2009

I am sorry to bump this thread up but just to make things even more clear:

The only difference between a PC 600 and the PT600 is the "Suspension grip" and slight cosmetic difference, with the PT600 having darker shades here and there. Correct? I am asking because I need to be absolutely sure, as I might be able to buy two PT600s for a really good price.

Thank you in advance.

vsbabolat · Jun 2, 2009

Janne said:
I am sorry to bump this thread up but just to make things even more clear:

The only difference between a PC 600 and the PT600 is the "Suspension grip" and slight cosmetic difference, with the PT600 having darker shades here and there. Correct? I am asking because I need to be absolutely sure, as I might be able to buy two PT600s for a really good price.

Thank you in advance.

There is no difference in cosmetics. The darker shades of red here and there were on early Production of both the Prestige Classic 600 and the Prestige Tour 600.

The Suspension Grip is the difference.

Janne · Jun 2, 2009

Thank you vsbabolot. From what I remember, you're one of the Head-gurus of this board, so the help is very much appreciated. I think I'll try to get my hands on the racquets, just to try them out, as I've seem to take a liking to older, classic racquets.

foetz · Jun 2, 2009

Janne said:
I am sorry to bump this thread up but just to make things even more clear:

The only difference between a PC 600 and the PT600 is the "Suspension grip" and slight cosmetic difference, with the PT600 having darker shades here and there. Correct?

no, the classic had a more round head. the tour was more oval.
didn't like the tour's shape so i switched to the classic.

the main reason for the different grip was the possibility to insert weight sticks.

Bud · Jun 2, 2009

plasma said:
the diamondback pattern of the trysis was chosen because the snake is an ancient sign of fertility... the trysis shock absorber sysytem and "suspension ankh" was given as a textbook to mankind for the betterment of knowledge and akashik harmony. Instead of enlightening our civilization modern consumerism treaded on the diamond back trysis, which is currently extinct in North America as well as its native Austria

"don't tread on me"

I had a Trisys 270 and always thought that bridge grommet design was fugly :twisted:

What in god's name would ever cause Head to create such horrid aesthetics? The color doesn't even match the rest of the TS270...

Bud · Jun 2, 2009

foetz said:
no, the classic had a more round head. the tour was more oval.
didn't like the tour's shape so i switched to the classic.

the main reason for the different grip was the possibility to insert weight sticks.

It sounds like your Classic was strung too tightly in the mains

:lol:

The frames were/are identical.

!Tym · Jun 2, 2009

The Trisys 270 was one of the sweetest feeling frames I've ever tried. It was crispy to a capitol T...crispiTy. ...yet soft.

The best way to describe it is a Prestige Classic but with some startch to it. The Prestige Classic on the other hand was a bit more sumptuous in taste and feel, a bit more subtle, a wine vs. the kitschy bubble gum 'pop' vibe of the 270.

Both were/are astonishing products. Imo, the 270 like the Pyramid Tour are Head's two great undiscovered gems. Expensive and high quality when new, but the very definition of bust of busts in terms of sales. These two should be classics. Imo, both were greater than the venerable 280 in my mind, and it's not even that close.

Big 5 used to sale the 270 as one of the $59 special rackets, such a shame you can't find them now. I really think it would have been the cat's meow and the little extra vroom-vroom some laboring Prestige Classic wannabe users would have loved.

What this racket needed was a big name pro tour marquee such as a Guga Kuerten or Goran Ivanisevic to make it a best seller. With the 300 Prestige lingering just above, and the flashier looking 260 Radical and blue 280 the more mainstream "realistic" players frames with the larger head sizes, the racket just never found a market. And Head not doing ANY marketing for the racket only exacerbated matters.

Btw, the suspension grip Prestige/Trisys imo TRUMPS the Prestige Classic for me. The suspension grip was the greatest handle system ever imo. It added a uniquely dampened feel to me. It didn't take away tactile hand-racket feel the way other dampening systems like the Dunlop Isis did. Yet, it also REALLY worked. It's like it only filtered out the junk, but left all the good stuff behind. I guess the best way to describe how suspension grip felt is like comparing a good sumptuous yet *delicately* sweetened and creamy bakery quality frosting/icing vs. the kind of stuff you get on a Walmart special cupcake. Filtered vs. unfiltered, what's your preference?

The Prestige Tour had a SPECIAL feel rivaled only by the Fischer Vacuum Pro 90. The Prestige Classic, however, had its appeal too...the crisper Made in Austria versions that is. The Prestige Classic brang a little MUSTANG SALLY to the table, and I liked her too!

Btw, to whoever found the head roundness different, the molds were no ifs ands or buts about it the same. The Prestige line, however, was NOTORIOUS for warping while stringing...NOTORIOUS.

!Tym · Jun 2, 2009

Btw, it just occurred to me. You know how Zach would call Maddie, "Hey, sweet thzang!" on the Suite Life of Zach & Cody?

Yeah, THAT is how I fondly remember the Trisys 270 feeling like, like Maddie Fitzpatrick, like Ashley Tisdale, like sweet blueberry pie, like, like...looooove and napalm in the morning.

Bud · Jun 2, 2009

!Tym said:
The Trisys 270 was one of the sweetest feeling frames I've ever tried. It was crispy to a capitol T...crispiTy. ...yet soft.

The best way to describe it is a Prestige Classic but with some startch to it. The Prestige Classic on the other hand was a bit more sumptuous in taste and feel, a bit more subtle, a wine vs. the kitschy bubble gum 'pop' vibe of the 270.

Both were/are astonishing products. Imo, the 270 like the Pyramid Tour are Head's two great undiscovered gems. Expensive and high quality when new, but the very definition of bust of busts in terms of sales. These two should be classics. Imo, both were greater than the venerable 280 in my mind, and it's not even that close.

Big 5 used to sale the 270 as one of the $59 special rackets, such a shame you can't find them now. I really think it would have been the cat's meow and the little extra vroom-vroom some laboring Prestige Classic wannabe users would have loved.

What this racket needed was a big name pro tour marquee such as a Guga Kuerten or Goran Ivanisevic to make it a best seller. With the 300 Prestige lingering just above, and the flashier looking 260 Radical and blue 280 the more mainstream "realistic" players frames with the larger head sizes, the racket just never found a market. And Head not doing ANY marketing for the racket only exacerbated matters.

Btw, the suspension grip Prestige/Trisys imo TRUMPS the Prestige Classic for me. The suspension grip was the greatest handle system ever imo. It added a uniquely dampened feel to me. It didn't take away tactile hand-racket feel the way other dampening systems like the Dunlop Isis did. Yet, it also REALLY worked. It's like it only filtered out the junk, but left all the good stuff behind. I guess the best way to describe how suspension grip felt is like comparing a good sumptuous yet *delicately* sweetened and creamy bakery quality frosting/icing vs. the kind of stuff you get on a Walmart special cupcake. Filtered vs. unfiltered, what's your preference?

The Prestige Tour had a SPECIAL feel rivaled only by the Fischer Vacuum Pro 90. The Prestige Classic, however, had its appeal too...the crisper Made in Austria versions that is. The Prestige Classic brang a little MUSTANG SALLY to the table, and I liked her too!

Btw, to whoever found the head roundness different, the molds were no ifs ands or buts about it the same. The Prestige line, however, was NOTORIOUS for warping while stringing...NOTORIOUS.

Yup... PT280/630, older Radicals and the PC/600 will all round out if the mains are too tight/stiff in relation to the crosses.

foetz · Jun 2, 2009

Bud said:
It sounds like your Classic was strung too tightly in the mains :lol:

The frames were/are identical.

well i have a trisys 300 and a classic 600 right in front of me and they are not identical. i was not referring to any other 270s or whatsoever model.
but the example is nice

tandayu · Jun 2, 2009

foetz said:
well i have a trisys 300 and a classic 600 right in front of me and they are not identical. i was not referring to any other 270s or whatsoever model.
but the example is nice

They all have same mold. Maybe you have one or both no longer how it supposed to be

foetz · Jun 2, 2009

tandayu said:
They all have same mold. Maybe you have one or both no longer how it supposed to be

it's not about the mold it's the shape. the head of the classic is more round.
that's not a secret. the pro tour's head has always been a little "longer".

MichaelChang · Jun 2, 2009

foetz said:
it's not about the mold it's the shape. the head of the classic is more round.
that's not a secret. the pro tour's head has always been a little "longer".

If you read the posts above, the Prestige Mid tends to 'deform' during stringing. 2 rackets come out from same mold, but deformed a little bit so they now might look slightly different. If you find one prestige mid 'rounder' than the other, well, that might just be it. It is not the mold, it is the warp. But don't worry, even if they deformed a little bit, it is fine. These better be strung with 2 piece string job, or 'around the world' or 'box' pattern.

foetz · Jun 2, 2009

ah, my bad, i was talking about the prestige tour not the pro tour.

vsbabolat · Jun 2, 2009

Here is what the innards of Suspension Grip looks like from this ad of the Discovery SG.

vsbabolat · Jun 2, 2009

Here is a Prestige Classic 600 and a Prestige Tour 600 from about 1995.

Bud · Jun 3, 2009

They are identical...

foetz said:
it's not about the mold it's the shape. the head of the classic is more round.
that's not a secret. the pro tour's head has always been a little "longer".

The mold determines the shape of the frame (unstrung). However, if you string the mains too tightly, the head compresses and appears rounder.

foetz said:
ah, my bad, i was talking about the prestige tour not the pro tour.

What we're trying to tell you is that the Prestige Classic 600, Classic Mid (600) and Prestige Tour 600 are all IDENTICAL save graphics. The frames are exactly the same.

If you have one that appears more round than another, the mains are strung too tightly in relation to the the crosses. This compresses the head and makes it appear more round.

Measure the lengths of both frames and you'll discover the frame with the rounder head shape is about an eighth of an inch shorter than the other frame.

Next time you have them both unstrung, place them on top of one another and you'll discover they are the same size, length and shape.

Deuce · Jun 3, 2009

!Tym said:
The Trisys 270 was one of the sweetest feeling frames I've ever tried. It was crispy to a capitol T...crispiTy. ...yet soft.

The best way to describe it is a Prestige Classic but with some startch to it. The Prestige Classic on the other hand was a bit more sumptuous in taste and feel, a bit more subtle, a wine vs. the kitschy bubble gum 'pop' vibe of the 270.

Both were/are astonishing products. Imo, the 270 like the Pyramid Tour are Head's two great undiscovered gems.

The 270 is a frame I've always wanted to try.
Had a chance to get a couple some years ago, but I balked, for some dumb reason.

I've got Prestige Classic Mids, iPrestige Mids, and 280s in my bag - so I know I'd like the 270.

MichaelChang · Jun 3, 2009

The 270 has a thicker beam, about 1 or 2mm thicker than the Prestige Mid. It was as if Head made a Radical 630 with a 600 head size. Plus the 270 had the shock-absortion piece in the throat. Indeed is a very unique HEAD racket. Different to all other HEAD mid rackets.

pshulam · Jun 3, 2009

this may be off-topic: What's on-going price of a Prestige Tour Mid Plus? I saw an ad of a new Prestige Tour MP for $90. It sounds like a very good price.

foetz · Jun 3, 2009

Bud said:
The mold determines the shape of the frame (unstrung). However, if you string the mains too tightly, the head compresses and appears rounder.

What we're trying to tell you is that the Prestige Classic 600, Classic Mid (600) and Prestige Tour 600 are all IDENTICAL save graphics. The frames are exactly the same.

If you have one that appears more round than another, the mains are strung too tightly in relation to the the crosses. This compresses the head and makes it appear more round.

Measure the lengths of both frames and you'll discover the frame with the rounder head shape is about an eighth of an inch shorter than the other frame.

Next time you have them both unstrung, place them on top of one another and you'll discover they are the same size, length and shape.

thanks for your explanation but i'm afraid it does not apply to what i've seen over the last 10 years (or even more).
i don't string the mains other than the crosses actually i don't even string 2 piece.
also the shape did not change that much with or without strings. looking at both unstrung the tour still has that more longish head. it's the reason i never liked the tour so much but the classic.

it's not a big difference but it's there. just hold both side by side or on top of each other and you should notice it right away.

however it's just a matter of taste anyway ...

MichaelChang · Jun 3, 2009

pshulam said:
this may be off-topic: What's on-going price of a Prestige Tour Mid Plus? I saw an ad of a new Prestige Tour MP for $90. It sounds like a very good price.

Note the MP should worth a lot less than the Mid. But 90 bucks for a brand new MP, I will take it.

vsbabolat · Jun 3, 2009

foetz said:
thanks for your explanation but i'm afraid it does not apply to what i've seen over the last 10 years (or even more).
i don't string the mains other than the crosses actually i don't even string 2 piece.
also the shape did not change that much with or without strings. looking at both unstrung the tour still has that more longish head. it's the reason i never liked the tour so much but the classic.

it's not a big difference but it's there. just hold both side by side or on top of each other and you should notice it right away.

however it's just a matter of taste anyway ...

Here is the Prestige Classic 600 on top of the Prestige Tour 600

I sure can't see a difference.

foetz · Jun 3, 2009

it's nearly impossible to tell on a photo due to the focus.
but in case you made the pic you might notice it in reality.

anyway as i said it's quite little and might not bother most players at all.

tandayu · Jun 3, 2009

foetz said:
it's nearly impossible to tell on a photo due to the focus.
but in case you made the pic you might notice it in reality.

anyway as i said it's quite little and might not bother most players at all.

one thing I know for sure..you are one genuine Prestige enthusiast to notice any minor variation.

foetz · Jun 3, 2009

tandayu said:
one thing I know for sure..you are one genuine Prestige enthusiast to notice any minor variation.

thanks

Bud · Jun 3, 2009

vsbabolat said:
Here is the Prestige Classic 600 on top of the Prestige Tour 600

I sure can't see a difference.

foetz said:
it's nearly impossible to tell on a photo due to the focus.
but in case you made the pic you might notice it in reality.

anyway as i said it's quite little and might not bother most players at all.

tandayu said:
one thing I know for sure..you are one genuine Prestige enthusiast to notice any minor variation.

foetz said:
thanks

There is no difference.

It's exactly the same frame. I've had both and compared them. They are identical.

!Tym · Jun 3, 2009

Deuce said:
The 270 is a frame I've always wanted to try.
Had a chance to get a couple some years ago, but I balked, for some dumb reason.

I've got Prestige Classic Mids, iPrestige Mids, and 280s in my bag - so I know I'd like the 270.

You would definitely like it. In my short experience with it, it was the HYPER crisp...yet soft. It was definitely the crispest of the Head tour rackets I've tried. I guess in some respects it's like an i.Prestige Mid but with both a crisper and softer (on the arm) response at the same time.

No marketing, no pro endorsers, no sales in this world, a shame, but that's the way it is.

Deuce · Jun 4, 2009

foetz said:
thanks for your explanation but i'm afraid it does not apply to what i've seen over the last 10 years (or even more).
i don't string the mains other than the crosses actually i don't even string 2 piece.
also the shape did not change that much with or without strings. looking at both unstrung the tour still has that more longish head. it's the reason i never liked the tour so much but the classic.

it's not a big difference but it's there. just hold both side by side or on top of each other and you should notice it right away.

however it's just a matter of taste anyway ...

Just to give the others a rest, I'll give it a shot...

Think of it this way - before the handles and graphics are put on the main body of the frames, Prestige Classic Mids and Prestige Tour Mids are all the same. That means there is no difference.
Some are made into Tours, others are made into classics.
Head made only one main body, which was the same on both racquets.
There is no difference in the head size, head shape, drill pattern, beam width, etc.

Ok - that was my shot...

sigh...

Head Prestige Tour- what happened to this frame?

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