Head Elite Pro

big bang · Nov 26, 2009

does anyone still play with this great frame?
its not mentioned that often, but I really think its one of the best frames I have ever used.. unfortunately my last one cracked when I had it strung on a training camp in the early 90´s. the shop couldnt get a new one from head so I got a pc600 instead. not a bad trade, but I still think I played better with the elite.
I have been looking to buy a few of them lately, but cant find them anywhere

audioaffliction · Nov 26, 2009

Yeah these are hard to find. I'd love to have one as well.

MichaelChang · Nov 26, 2009

First of all I could be wrong. But I believe the elite pro shares the same mold as the pp600, and had some twaron in it. I don't know what exactly is the difference between it and the pp600. probably the elite pro also had some fiberglass. It is indeed one of the best frames. Ask Retrowagon he will tell you all about it.

But no matter what, the elite pro is no where to be found. Seriously.

Bud · Nov 26, 2009

big bang said:
does anyone still play with this great frame?
its not mentioned that often, but I really think its one of the best frames I have ever used.. unfortunately my last one cracked when I had it strung on a training camp in the early 90´s. the shop couldnt get a new one from head so I got a pc600 instead. not a bad trade, but I still think I played better with the elite.
I have been looking to buy a few of them lately, but cant find them anywhere

I believe Retrowagen still plays with the original Elite Pro

big bang · Nov 27, 2009

Bud said:
I believe Retrowagen still plays with the original Elite Pro

then hes one lucky guy

big bang · Nov 27, 2009

MichaelChang said:
First of all I could be wrong. But I believe the elite pro shares the same mold as the pp600, and had some twaron in it. I don't know what exactly is the difference between it and the pp600. probably the elite pro also had some fiberglass. It is indeed one of the best frames. Ask Retrowagon he will tell you all about it.

But no matter what, the elite pro is no where to be found. Seriously.

I believe you are right about it was made from the same mold as pp600, and yes it had twaron in it, fiberglass I dont think though..
its been so mant years since I hit with this frame, but the feel of it is still crystal clear in my memory

great frame, still miss it after all these years.
my first head was the graphite pro(black edition without powerwedge), then elite pro, pp600 and pc600. these old frames beat anything made these days by miles!! I would pay almost anything for a few elite pros..

retrowagen · Nov 27, 2009

Yes, I do still play this model, the green/black 1988 model, that is (not the 1989 power wedge model). It's still my everyday racquet, from 1988 to today. I have four of them, barely enough for me to play tournaments. At one time, I tried to switch to the PC600, but that frame is too light and has awful ball feel.

The frames are from a slightly different mold from the PC600 or PP600. There is a notch where the bumper guard (CAP) ends. The PC and PP600's have a full-length bumper on either side of the frame, so there is no notch. The composition is Graphite/Fibreglas/Twaron.

Conchita Martinez won her Wimbledon title with this frame! That's an interesting trivia.

These are incredibly hard to find. Occasionally, friends on this forum will help other friends locate them, if the need is urgent enough to have one. But unfortunately, mine are not for sale.

pshulam · Nov 27, 2009

big bang said:
my first head was the graphite pro(black edition without powerwedge), then elite pro, pp600 and pc600. these old frames beat anything made these days by miles!! I would pay almost anything for a few elite pros..

Which racket(s) do you like best? I have a Graphite Pro (black - made in USA) and a PC600 (Designed in Austria -- halogen buttcap). The Graphite Pro is hefty and can really crush the ball. My arm/shoulder, however, becomes fatigue after an hour of play. The PC600 is more comfortable but does not have the same crushing power (or stability) as the GP.

ericsson · Nov 27, 2009

retrowagen said:
Yes, I do still play this model, the green/black 1988 model, that is (not the 1989 power wedge model). It's still my everyday racquet, from 1988 to today. I have four of them, barely enough for me to play tournaments. At one time, I tried to switch to the PC600, but that frame is too light and has awful ball feel.

The frames are from a slightly different mold from the PC600 or PP600. There is a notch where the bumper guard (CAP) ends. The PC and PP600's have a full-length bumper on either side of the frame, so there is no notch. The composition is Graphite/Fibreglas/Twaron.

Conchita Martinez won her Wimbledon title with this frame! That's an interesting trivia.

These are incredibly hard to find. Occasionally, friends on this forum will help other friends locate them, if the need is urgent enough to have one. But unfortunately, mine are not for sale.

Retro, i'm pretty sure Conchita used a Donnay PO International winning Wimbledon in 1994...

tandayu · Nov 27, 2009

big bang said:
I....... I would pay almost anything for a few elite pros..

Becareful of what you wish for....

rij_tan@yahoo.com

tandayu · Nov 27, 2009

ericsson said:
Retro, i'm pretty sure Conchita used a Donnay PO International winning Wimbledon in 1994...

If my memory still good, I remember she used the green Elite pro, and Tennis Magazine has a one page full picture of her swinging with the green thing

audioaffliction · Nov 27, 2009

tandayu said:
Becareful of what you wish for....

rij_tan@yahoo.com

Just as I would. Except mine would be a TXP over the Elite Pro. Both would be nice though.

vsbabolat · Nov 27, 2009

ericsson said:
Retro, i'm pretty sure Conchita used a Donnay PO International winning Wimbledon in 1994...

ericsson, you are right Conchita won Wimbledon in 1994 with the Donnay Pro Limited.

Before Donnay Conchita did use the HEAD Elite Pro.

tandayu · Nov 27, 2009

Thanks Vsbabolat

I forgot Ericcson has great collection of Donnay frames

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--UzumGV3kQ

retrowagen · Nov 28, 2009

vsbabolat said:
ericsson, you are right Conchita won Wimbledon in 1994 with the Donnay Pro Limited.

Before Donnay Conchita did use the HEAD Elite Pro.

Sorry guys; my mistake.

big bang · Nov 29, 2009

pshulam said:
Which racket(s) do you like best? I have a Graphite Pro (black - made in USA) and a PC600 (Designed in Austria -- halogen buttcap). The Graphite Pro is hefty and can really crush the ball. My arm/shoulder, however, becomes fatigue after an hour of play. The PC600 is more comfortable but does not have the same crushing power (or stability) as the GP.

they are both great frames, but Ill take the pc600 over the graphite pro..
the 4 old models I played I would put in this order: 1. elite pro (double power wedge), 2. pp600, 3. pc600, 4. graphite pro ( black w/o power wedge)

tandayu · Nov 29, 2009

big bang said:
they are both great frames, but Ill take the pc600 over the graphite pro..
the 4 old models I played I would put in this order: 1. elite pro (double power wedge), 2. pp600, 3. pc600, 4. graphite pro ( black w/o power wedge)

So you are talking about the Elite pro with double power wedge (the beige metallic frame with white bumper guard),
not the green elite pro:

big bang · Nov 29, 2009

tandayu said:
So you are talking about the Elite pro with double power wedge (the beige metallic frame with white bumper guard),
not the green elite pro:

yep you are right, heard the green was very nice too though!
just send you a mail by the way

MichaelChang · Nov 29, 2009

well there is a Elite Pro with double wedge, on the bay. Has been there for long time already I think.

Bud · Nov 29, 2009

MichaelChang said:
well there is a Elite Pro with double wedge, on the bay. Has been there for long time already I think.

It's a completely different racquet and nothing like the original.

MichaelChang · Nov 29, 2009

Bud said:
It's a completely different racquet and nothing like the original.

But that is what OP is talking about. See post #16 and #17. I too thought he was talking about the green one, but he indeed was talking about the Double Wedge...

mberrevoets · Feb 27, 2010

Well gentlemen, today at my local good will I have found a 1988 head elite pro.
Leather grip, L4, probably 7/10. 3 dollars and 99 cents. Even better than the PS85 SV i picked up two years ago for 5 dollars. Does anyone know of a place to find CAP grommets for this bad boy?

teachingprotx · Feb 27, 2010

Classic Rackets with out bumper/headgaurds Help..

I just bought a racket from khw..it has no stock head gaurd as alot of the 80's frames didnt...anybody know of a decent and light weight option for protecting the head, besides the gamma type head tape...can you buy universal head gaurds or special order head /bumper gaurds for discontinued models? thanks guys!!!

pshulam · Feb 27, 2010

The MG Prestige Mid CAP grommets may fit. You can get those from TW for $5.00 + shipping (more than $3.99 that you paid at GoodWill for the racquet).

Bud · Feb 27, 2010

mberrevoets said:
Well gentlemen, today at my local good will I have found a 1988 head elite pro.
Leather grip, L4, probably 7/10. 3 dollars and 99 cents. Even better than the PS85 SV i picked up two years ago for 5 dollars. Does anyone know of a place to find CAP grommets for this bad boy?

Post a pic

Any Prestige mid CAP grommets will work on the frame.

vsbabolat · Feb 27, 2010

mberrevoets · Feb 27, 2010

k taking some now. Only have an iphone as a camera though unfortunately.

khw72004 · Feb 27, 2010

mberrevoets said:
Well gentlemen, today at my local good will I have found a 1988 head elite pro.
Leather grip, L4, probably 7/10. 3 dollars and 99 cents. Even better than the PS85 SV i picked up two years ago for 5 dollars. Does anyone know of a place to find CAP grommets for this bad boy?

As for CAP's you could always trim the MG CAPS to fit the cut off length of the elite pro. This will make the racket more similar in weight like the original half CAP's.

I've done it before and it works fine. I was in a rush that day so it wasn't the best job I could have done but works nonetheless.

Anyhow, you should buy at least 2 sets of CAP's, you never know when you need the second set. or if you do a messed up job on the first

mberrevoets · Feb 27, 2010

Here are the photographs, again sorry about the quality.

Grommets are en route. Any advice on strings and tension? Just need the snow to melt in Toronto. Very excited to hit with this thing. Once I install the new grommets will take some proper photographs.

mberrevoets · Feb 27, 2010

khw72004 · Feb 27, 2010

I would recommend a new leather grip too. those old Head Grips are way too dry. I think an elite pro deserves a fresh grip.

As for tension, these guys are subject to warping at high tensions and long periods of time. you might want to keep it as a lower tension I would say no more than 58lb.

I hope this helps.

(is it the lighting or is that color more like the teal graphite pro, all of my elite pro's are green like the vsbabolat's pics)

mberrevoets · Feb 28, 2010

Yeah its just the lighting and the garbage iphone camera. It's identical to the other photos in this thread. I generally string in the low 50s high 40s, so I guess I will start there and experiment. Definitely do not want to warp it.

pshulam · Feb 28, 2010

mberrevoets said:
Yeah its just the lighting and the garbage iphone camera. It's identical to the other photos in this thread. I generally string in the low 50s high 40s, so I guess I will start there and experiment. Definitely do not want to warp it.

Make sure to start the cross from the top (not the throat).

mberrevoets · Feb 28, 2010

Always. 10char

craniopath · Apr 30, 2012

tension

anyone knows the suggested tension range for the elite pro?

thanks

retrowagen · Apr 30, 2012

craniopath said:
anyone knows the suggested tension range for the elite pro?

thanks

I believe, like other Pro series frames of its day, it was recommended 55-70 pounds. I would not recommend higher than 60 pounds, however; I play mine at 55 pounds with a full 16ga. multifilament stringbed... easy on the racquet and the arm, still with plenty of control.

vsbabolat · Apr 30, 2012

retrowagen said:
I believe, like other Pro series frames of its day, it was recommended 55-70 pounds. I would not recommend higher than 60 pounds, however; I play mine at 55 pounds with a full 16ga. multifilament stringbed... easy on the racquet and the arm, still with plenty of control.

Double nickel is my tension too. They play sweet at that tension.

retrowagen · Apr 30, 2012

vsbabolat said:
Double nickel is my tension too. They play sweet at that tension.

Yes, they really do. Hard to imagine a sweeter hitting frame!

craniopath · May 3, 2012

thank you, 55 it is then.
Vsbabolat I recall reading in a thread that your string setup is 16g gut and synthetic hybrid. Is it hour you strung elite pro, or a different setup?

vsbabolat · May 3, 2012

Yes, that's my preferred set-up.

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