Amazed by the old Prestige sticks!

pointbreak

Rookie
I grew up playing with the Prestiges... My last stick as a junior was a Candy Cane Radical XL... heavy raquet and old school and played my best matches wih it beating some ranked juniors...

After starting playing again in my 30s I just played modern sticks, low weight and higher SW and now lately an XL pro stock...

Was amazed how good I played with a Youtek IG Prestige Pro last night! I dont have very modern strokes and I guess the familiarity makes a big difference to, much better forehands especially... the feel and plushness is just insane... Ordered a microgel prestige pro as well as an XL Flexpoint to try as well.

Pete
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
I like to think of the prestige as the racket if truth in that you get out exactly what you put in with it. It doesn't excel in trying to give you extra which is what most modern frames are sold on it seems. This is why I love these frames, you know exactly where you are at all times. There are some other newer rackets out there that do some aspects of the shot making very well but I would always encourage anyone where possible to work on their technique and timing and footwork. I appreciate some people haven't got the time or fitness and can get better results from using other frames. I think the beam width for the older prestige was perfect, it's interesting using the newer thin version with the bigger head size but I love the slightly smaller head once my timing is in a good place to get maximum accuracy and precision. I don't find the new prestige series handle as well as the net which I am sure is reflecting on where the game has gone and where most players play the game now. I've just picked up a mid, it is the graphene touch version but it's a pretty nice racket, after trying a red 360+ mid too but hear it plays very similarly.
 

pointbreak

Rookie
I like to think of the prestige as the racket if truth in that you get out exactly what you put in with it. It doesn't excel in trying to give you extra which is what most modern frames are sold on it seems. This is why I love these frames, you know exactly where you are at all times. There are some other newer rackets out there that do some aspects of the shot making very well but I would always encourage anyone where possible to work on their technique and timing and footwork. I appreciate some people haven't got the time or fitness and can get better results from using other frames. I think the beam width for the older prestige was perfect, it's interesting using the newer thin version with the bigger head size but I love the slightly smaller head once my timing is in a good place to get maximum accuracy and precision. I don't find the new prestige series handle as well as the net which I am sure is reflecting on where the game has gone and where most players play the game now. I've just picked up a mid, it is the graphene touch version but it's a pretty nice racket, after trying a red 360+ mid too but hear it plays very similarly.
True that man! They are perfect raquets... Just get fit, strong and healthy and you get all you need from them..., I see tennisnerd loved the Red MP stick... might try that someday
 

JFrijhoff

Rookie
A friend just bought some graphene+ prestige mods and pro’s. Great sticks, especially for training to dial in. The Pro feels quite powerful, after playing the mid that is :)
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
True that man! They are perfect raquets... Just get fit, strong and healthy and you get all you need from them..., I see tennisnerd loved the Red MP stick... might try that someday
Yeah, I played with the red MP for a while, it felt fantastic and is a lovely racket but just lacked power for me when you put the hammer down. The other frames do give a bit more such as the newer auxetic 2021 frame but feel is slightly compromised as a result but still a very nice racket. I'm using the 2021 pro at the moment to get my swing more consistent. With that I have to improve technique a little to get the most out of it.
 

pointbreak

Rookie
Yeah, I played with the red MP for a while, it felt fantastic and is a lovely racket but just lacked power for me when you put the hammer down. The other frames do give a bit more such as the newer auxetic 2021 frame but feel is slightly compromised as a result but still a very nice racket. I'm using the 2021 pro at the moment to get my swing more consistent. With that I have to improve technique a little to get the most out of it.
Awesome, what do you play now and fav Prestige? I will choose between the Toutek Pro and the Microgel Pro... the right weight for me and love the design and old school style
 
I have a pair or Youtek Mids, they are still racquets that i absolutely love to hit with :giggle:

Many year ago i have the Silver/Green Prestige mid that didn't have the Cap Strip bumper, to this day I so miss this racquet, unfortunately it went to heaven after i had it repaired a couple of time after the frame cracked (it wasn't new when I got it, and have been used by a tour pro). I so should have actually kept it, even broken. Oh well, the power of 20/20 hindsight lol

The closest think I've tried recently was the gravity pro, but it still wasn't the same and you cant get it in a 90-95 head size.
 

pointbreak

Rookie
I have a pair or Youtek Mids, they are still racquets that i absolutely love to hit with :giggle:

Many year ago i have the Silver/Green Prestige mid that didn't have the Cap Strip bumper, to this day I so miss this racquet, unfortunately it went to heaven after i had it repaired a couple of time after the frame cracked (it wasn't new when I got it, and have been used by a tour pro). I so should have actually kept it, even broken. Oh well, the power of 20/20 hindsight lol

The closest think I've tried recently was the gravity pro, but it still wasn't the same and you cant get it in a 90-95 head size.
Lovely to hear! Love the paintjob on those as well!
 

mhkeuns

Hall of Fame
I’ve played with almost all versions of the Prestige Mids & MP‘s. While Austrian made Prestiges are nice, my favorite is still the IG Prestige Mid & MP. They just feel so nice to hit with.
 

goldenyama

Professional
Awesome, what do you play now and fav Prestige? I will choose between the Toutek Pro and the Microgel Pro... the right weight for me and love the design and old school style
Harder to find and probably exxy these days, but the i.Prestige was an absolute weapon.
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
Those are quite easy to find in Germany... will get one, so the 18/20 is nice?
The IGMP is the best racket, it's very light to swing for a 320g frame. Or course it can be modded depending on your taste but plays great stock. Has a bit more power when you give the ball a good hit than the 360+ MP. I found the bigger head gives more mid range power with the same swing but when you really hit the ball harder the response from the IG is in a different league. It is a little harder to use than the newer prestige lines regarding sweetspot size but handles much better especially at the night and in shots when you improvise. I was a bit disappointed with the latest auxetic prestige pro frames at the night, they are slightly harder to manoeuvre meaning it wouldn't be my go to doubles stick like the prestige IGMP was.
 

pointbreak

Rookie
The IGMP is the best racket, it's very light to swing for a 320g frame. Or course it can be modded depending on your taste but plays great stock. Has a bit more power when you give the ball a good hit than the 360+ MP. I found the bigger head gives more mid range power with the same swing but when you really hit the ball harder the response from the IG is in a different league. It is a little harder to use than the newer prestige lines regarding sweetspot size but handles much better especially at the night and in shots when you improvise. I was a bit disappointed with the latest auxetic prestige pro frames at the night, they are slightly harder to manoeuvre meaning it wouldn't be my go to doubles stick like the prestige IGMP was.
Awesome! Never tried that stick! They are the easy to find in Germany, much higher numbers then The Pro... Did you ever hit with the Flexpoint?
 

tele

Hall of Fame
Yes, the IG is supposed to be the softer (more classic) feeling of the two lines. I think "IG" was some kind of polypropylene they added to the layup. I have two IG mids, and although they have a mid-60s RA, they feel pretty soft, whereas I have heard the Youtek Mid feels a little harsh.

p.s. I recommend trying a Prestige Classic 2.0. if you can
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
Yes I have both versions and they pretty much identical as the frames are identical. As mentioned the layup is slightly softer feeling so the majority of people prefer the IG version but the non IG version is very good too. Great frames.
aren't they different molds? I'm unsure of the differences other than IG introduced Prestige S to the lineup. it'll never sit well with me that it's currently the longest active Prestige mold

does anyone have experience with Liquidmetal Prestige MP? it's allegedly TwinTube construction, which makes it sound more like an iteration of Candycane or Bumblebee
 

AndrewUtz

Semi-Pro
aren't they different molds? I'm unsure of the differences other than IG introduced Prestige S to the lineup. it'll never sit well with me that it's currently the longest active Prestige mold

does anyone have experience with Liquidmetal Prestige MP? it's allegedly TwinTube construction, which makes it sound more like an iteration of Candycane or Bumblebee
afaik LM prestige is the only prestige with twin tube. i have not played it but i hear it’s not a as highly regarded as the LM radical, which i can confirm is a lovely frame.
 
afaik LM prestige is the only prestige with twin tube. i have not played it but i hear it’s not a as highly regarded as the LM radical, which i can confirm is a lovely frame.
LM Radical is sweet. one of my favorite frames of all time. which makes the diminishment of the LM Prestige all the more perplexing... probably because they came out around the time mass production in Austria was winding down
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
aren't they different molds? I'm unsure of the differences other than IG introduced Prestige S to the lineup. it'll never sit well with me that it's currently the longest active Prestige mold

does anyone have experience with Liquidmetal Prestige MP? it's allegedly TwinTube construction, which makes it sound more like an iteration of Candycane or Bumblebee
It is TwinTube and has a different layup to the Radical Tour TwinTube 630 and slightly different mold as the throat bridge with LM Prestige MP is flat without grooves at the corners.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Yes I have both versions and they pretty much identical as the frames are identical. As mentioned the layup is slightly softer feeling so the majority of people prefer the IG version but the non IG version is very good too. Great frames.
They are different molds as the IG has a longer handle
 
It is TwinTube and has a different layup to the Radical Tour TwinTube 630 and slightly different mold as the throat bridge with LM Prestige MP is flat without grooves at the corners.
The FlexPoint Prestige was also Twinatube.
interesting, so would it be a stretch to say these two runs are more line with the early Radical lineage which I'm distinguishing from "classic Radicals" (Titanium to Youtek IG)? is this what made them so polarizing in addition to the early China racquet batches not being up to par with the Austrian ones? what did or didn't you like about them, Unc?

I'm just thinking out loud, then. other than i.Prestige, Head didn't offer a "true" Prestige from Prestige Classic until the introduction of Microgel. Even before i.Prestige there was Ti.Classic or something
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
interesting, so would it be a stretch to say these two runs are more line with the early Radical lineage which I'm distinguishing from "classic Radicals" (Titanium to Youtek IG)? is this what made them so polarizing in addition to the early China racquet batches not being up to par with the Austrian ones? what did or didn't you like about them, Unc?

I'm just thinking out loud, then. other than i.Prestige, Head didn't offer a "true" Prestige from Prestige Classic until the introduction of Microgel. Even before i.Prestige there was Ti.Classic or something
I liked LM better than FlexPoint. To me the FlexPoint felt very stiff. A lot of guys liked the LM Prestige MP because it was soft and on par as far as flex Pro Tour 630. It was a true Prestige. I thought the Prestige MP was more lineage with Pro Tour 630 than anything else. I was harsh with the mid 20 years ago because I was so in love with the Prestige Classic 600.
Edit: also when the Microgel was so welcomed was because there was no FlexPoint and or LiquidMetal ridges. No external technologies just a straight forward frame.
 
Last edited:
I liked LM better than FlexPoint. To me the FlexPoint felt very stiff. A lot of guys liked the LM Prestige MP because it was soft and on par as far as flex Pro Tour 630. It was a true Prestige. I thought the Prestige MP was more lineage with Pro Tour 630 than anything else. I was harsh with the mid 20 years ago because I was so in love with the Prestige Classic 600.
Edit: also when the Microgel was so welcomed was because there was no FlexPoint and or LiquidMetal ridges. No external technologies just a straight forward frame.
thanks for the write-up! LM Prestige MP has been an enigma on here which has made me all the more intrigued. I periodically check the auction website for one I can afford and my grip size but those are few and far between anymore lol
 

tele

Hall of Fame
Thanks for the reply guys... Prestige 2.0 is epic but a bit small in the long run?
I don't know that you will find it that much less forgiving than an old 95-inch prestige mp, and it feels wonderful. I can switch between my rebel 95 (comparable in specs to an old prestige mp) and prestige mids (ig and pc 2.0) without thinking much about it. Compared to a true 98-inch racquet, like the current prestige pro (2019 mp) mold, I think you would notice a more significant difference. The PC 2.0 is easy to get a lot of racquet head speed with, but it needs a decent swingweight, particularly for returns. If you like to stay on the gas and just play matches for fun, it is great. If you are playing more defensively and/or are focused on winning tournaments, there are probably better options.
 

pointbreak

Rookie
I don't know that you will find it that much less forgiving than an old 95-inch prestige mp, and it feels wonderful. I can switch between my rebel 95 (comparable in specs to an old prestige mp) and prestige mids (ig and pc 2.0) without thinking much about it. Compared to a true 98-inch racquet, like the current prestige pro (2019 mp) mold, I think you would notice a more significant difference. The PC 2.0 is easy to get a lot of racquet head speed with, but it needs a decent swingweight, particularly for returns. If you like to stay on the gas and just play matches for fun, it is great. If you are playing more defensively and/or are focused on winning tournaments, there are probably better options.
great answer! Thanks! I was shocked how much my FH improved with the Youtek Prestige pro vs my modern frames... going between the Speed Pro, Radical 2021 Pro, Head Extreme Tour changes nothing but the prestige is a huge step up for me... Just right in the specs
 

pointbreak

Rookie
Yes, I like that the handle is slightly longer on the IG. I realised when hitting with the pro tour 2.0 more recently that I didn't like the shorter handle as much. Definitely an improvement on the handling.
Just found an IG MP=) I have a Candycane Radical which I am extending now, really struggle with a short handle
 

pointbreak

Rookie
The handle was definitely shorter on The Microgel Pro then the youtek, will do an extension and a new palett and then leather grip, stringing it up with alu power
 

pointbreak

Rookie
Top