Review of HEAD IG Prestige Mid and IG Prestige MP

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
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.:cool: I think it looks great with the black grommets. Now if only the Black CAP Grommets were glossy like in the old days.


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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
 
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dadozen

Hall of Fame
Booooo!!! I thought the review was ready yet!!! :D

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.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
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.:cool:

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

MAXXply

Hall of Fame
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

G.O.A.T.
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

G.O.A.T.
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.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
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.
 

Anton

Legend
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.

NO! I was promised a review and I want it now! :cry:
 

maxpotapov

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

Closest but still not exactly there? I mean, would you spend $200 on brand new IG Mid rather than Chinese Prestige Classic 600 in 9/10 condition?
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
OK, that's good to know, thanks.
Anyway, would you opt for brand new IG Mid versus PC600 in 9/10 condition given the same price? I'm in a situation like that right now...

What are you looking to do? Are you looking to have a couple of the same racquet? Or are you just playing with one racquet and no back-up?
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
What are you looking to do? Are you looking to have a couple of the same racquet? Or are you just playing with one racquet and no back-up?

Of course identical backup would be perfect, but I can live with my PT600 or even LM Mid or just be cautious about re-stringing when I have a match to play.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Of course identical backup would be perfect, but I can live with my PT600 or even LM Mid or just be cautious about re-stringing when I have a match to play.

The LM is as far away from the Prestige Classic 600 as you can get. If you use the Prestige Tour 600 as a back then the buy the Prestige Classic 600 if it is great almost new condition. But I would just buy 2 IG Prestige Mid it is a very good racquet.
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
The LM is as far away from the Prestige Classic 600 as you can get. If you use the Prestige Tour 600 as a back then the buy the Prestige Classic 600 if it is great almost new condition. But I would just buy 2 IG Prestige Mid it is a very good racquet.

OK, I hope there's more to IG Mid than feel. Does it compensate whatever it lacks in feel (compared to PC600) with other characteristics, such as power, sweet spot etc.?
 

APG

Rookie
VS, I look forward to your review of the mid & midplus. I am particularly interested in the arm friendliness of the IG Prestiges.
I am convinced the YT Mp caused an elbow injury(GE)
Which led to a year long recovery. I am back playing with my microgel mp and toying with a couple of Volkl. I have played with other prestiges and pro tours without injury.The YT played far stiffer than it's specs. Thanks for providing us with your critique.
 

nikosrf

Rookie
VS, I look forward to your review of the mid & midplus. I am particularly interested in the arm friendliness of the IG Prestiges.
I am convinced the YT Mp caused an elbow injury(GE)
Which led to a year long recovery. I am back playing with my microgel mp and toying with a couple of Volkl. I have played with other prestiges and pro tours without injury.The YT played far stiffer than it's specs. Thanks for providing us with your critique.

I had the same elbow problem with Youtek. I decided to change and go for another. So i am curious if the IG made the Prestige MP more comfortable.
 

APG

Rookie
I had the same elbow problem with Youtek. I decided to change and go for another. So i am curious if the IG made the Prestige MP more comfortable.

What are you playing with now? Others have had the same experience with the Youtek.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
So far I'm really liking the IG Prestige Mid. I hate to say it but HEAD and their OEM have done a great job on the IG Prestige Mid. It is the best Prestige Mid since the i.Prestige Mid. It is very muted and feels nothing like the YT Prestige Mid. The IG Prestige Mid feels like a classic racquet. Closest to the Prestige Pro/Prestige Classic 600.

I have not hit with the IG Prestige MP yet. I will try to and hit in with it tomorrow.
 
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Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Is there any reason why the feel would not transfer throughout the new Prestige line?

I suppose we await your test of the mp for this answer.
 

Facepalm

New User
What about the grip shape? Are they any more square/octagonal like the Speeds or did they stick to the more rectangular/oval profile of the YOUTEK Prestiges?
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Are the results of hitting with it more or less the same as the YT? That is if you swing the racquet the same way, do you get the same result (I'm excluding the feel aspect).

I use the YT and I get good results with it. I find the feel okay too though I'm always curious about something that could be better. I wouldn't mind better feel with the same performance results.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
What about the grip shape? Are they any more square/octagonal like the Speeds or did they stick to the more rectangular/oval profile of the YOUTEK Prestiges?

Its the same exact HEAD grip shape that they have had for over 40 years. TK82 pallets if you need to know.
 

nikosrf

Rookie
What are you playing with now? Others have had the same experience with the Youtek.

Trying to find something to replace YTPMP..i got 2 RDiS200 but they are less manueverable and have more power.
Tried Pro Kennex Ionic Ki 5. Easy but something is missing, also i didn't find the power.
So still looking for. The Dunlop 200 and the lite version and the Yonex RDTi 80 and the lite version got my interest..
I would like to test the Yonex 95 V and the new Wilson Prostuff 95 though..
I am confused so far because i don't have the demo option for the most of those sticks and i have to choose one fast...
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
VS, I look forward to your review of the mid & midplus. I am particularly interested in the arm friendliness of the IG Prestiges.
I am convinced the YT Mp caused an elbow injury(GE)
Which led to a year long recovery. I am back playing with my microgel mp and toying with a couple of Volkl. I have played with other prestiges and pro tours without injury.The YT played far stiffer than it's specs. Thanks for providing us with your critique.

I had my first hit with the IG Prestige MP today. I prefer the feel of IG Prestige MP over the YT MP. It feels softer with much better ball pocketing. I'm thinking of string it tighter like at 60lbs. I'm right now at 57lbs and it feels loose. The feel is not as nice as the IG Mid but way better than the YT MP.
 

TheRed

Hall of Fame
I had my first hit with the IG Prestige MP today. I prefer the feel of IG Prestige MP over the YT MP. It feels softer with much better ball pocketing. I'm thinking of string it tighter like at 60lbs. I'm right now at 57lbs and it feels loose. The feel is not as nice as the IG Mid but way better than the YT MP.

Wow. I trust VS's opinion so now I really have to try the IG mid and midplus. always loved the prestige mid but never got around to buying the classic before it got hard to find.
 

APG

Rookie
I had my first hit with the IG Prestige MP today. I prefer the feel of IG Prestige MP over the YT MP. It feels softer with much better ball pocketing. I'm thinking of string it tighter like at 60lbs. I'm right now at 57lbs and it feels loose. The feel is not as nice as the IG Mid but way better than the YT MP.

Thanks. That is good news. I look forward to your detailed review, assuming that it is forthcoming. Btw what strings are you using.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Thanks. That is good news. I look forward to your detailed review, assuming that it is forthcoming. Btw what strings are you using.

I have a hybrid in there of Babolat Tonic Ball Feel in the mains and Babolat Synthetic gut in the crosses. Sure a full review after I get to know it better will come.
 

skeeter

Professional
I had my first hit with the IG Prestige MP today. I prefer the feel of IG Prestige MP over the YT MP. It feels softer with much better ball pocketing. I'm thinking of string it tighter like at 60lbs. I'm right now at 57lbs and it feels loose. The feel is not as nice as the IG Mid but way better than the YT MP.

How is the power of the MP overall (i.e., do you feel as if you had enough to put away shots, on serves, etc.), and compared to the Mid? Also, when you say the "feel is not as nice as the Mid", in what ways specifically are you referring? Comfort? Certain types of shots? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these demos!
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
How is the power of the MP overall (i.e., do you feel as if you had enough to put away shots, on serves, etc.), and compared to the Mid? Also, when you say the "feel is not as nice as the Mid", in what ways specifically are you referring? Comfort? Certain types of shots? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these demos!

The IG PMP is not as muted as the Mid. In Terms of feel. I also think I get more spin with the bigger head but that I also get more length on my shots than the Mid. The Mid is almost a perfect copy of the PC600.

I will say I served pretty well with the IG Prestige MP. I warmed up and jumped right in and played a set with it.
 
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seb23

Rookie
The IG PMP is not as muted as the Mid. In Terms of feel. I also think I get more spin with the bigger head but that I also get more length on my shots than the Mid. The Mid is almost a perfect copy of the PC600.

I will say I served pretty well with the IG Prestige MP. I warmed up and jumped right in and played a set with it.

how is the ig prestige mp compared to the pro tour 630?
 
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