Did you make the Wilson to Head switch?

[JGads]

Curious if any of you who've long played with Wilson ever switched the the Head line of racquets, and if you stuck with it, or went back to Wilson, etc.

Specifically also curious about the Head grip shape. It's comfortable enough on groundies for me but seems really bothersome on serves. Just seems easier/more natural for me to pronate with the rounder Wilson grip than the more rectangular Head grip. Would going with a smaller Head grip help to combat this feeling at all, or is it a bad idea?

Any feedback is appreciated. For reference, I'm currently comparing a K-Blade Tour and a Microgel Prestige MP.

 

[bad_call]

Curious if any of you who've long played with Wilson ever switched the the Head line of racquets, and if you stuck with it, or went back to Wilson, etc.

Specifically also curious about the Head grip shape. It's comfortable enough on groundies for me but seems really bothersome on serves. Just seems easier/more natural for me to pronate with the rounder Wilson grip than the more rectangular Head grip. Would going with a smaller Head grip help to combat this feeling at all, or is it a bad idea?

Any feedback is appreciated. For reference, I'm currently comparing a K-Blade Tour and a Microgel Prestige MP.

no problem switching here. currently content with head.

 

[2ndserveace]

I switched from wilson to head and it has been pretty smooth so far. I have had a tiny bit of trouble with pronation, where the racquet feels like it's going to slip out of my hand. I have actually had one of my racquets slip on a serve and crack.

 

[steve728]

Interestingly, I'm making the move from Head to Wilson. Since I switched to a OHBH, I'm finding the Wilson gives me better control, especially on a topspin BH. Also, on serves, I have more accuracy -- and like you said, it's easier to pronate. There are other factors at play here but I feel more aware of and in control of the racquet face with the Wilson-shape. I'm sort of new to Wilson, having played mostly with Prince, Head, and some Volkls.

With Head, I did move down a grip size (from 3/8 to 1/4) and I thought it helped on serves and backhands. I used leather and an overgrip, so I thought the drop in grip size wasn't too dramatic (as opposed to using the standard Head hydrosorb grip). With Head 3/8, my groundstrokes were a bit flatter. With 1/4, I found it easier to hit with more spin.

 

[bad_call]

Interestingly, I'm making the move from Head to Wilson. Since I switched to a OHBH, I'm finding the Wilson gives me better control, especially on a topspin BH. Also, on serves, I have more accuracy -- and like you said, it's easier to pronate. There are other factors at play here but I feel more aware of and in control of the racquet face with the Wilson-shape. I'm sort of new to Wilson, having played mostly with Prince, Head, and some Volkls.

With Head, I did move down a grip size (from 3/8 to 1/4) and I thought it helped on serves and backhands. I used leather and an overgrip, so I thought the drop in grip size wasn't too dramatic (as opposed to using the standard Head hydrosorb grip). With Head 3/8, my groundstrokes were a bit flatter. With 1/4, I found it easier to hit with more spin.

headsize affects the topspin 1HBH for this player. what models exhibited this difference?

 

[steve728]

headsize affects the topspin 1HBH for this player. what models exhibited this difference?

For Head, I played with Prestige Mid and MP. For Wilson, K90/AK90 and currently BLX90. As for headsize, the midsize with a more open pattern is ideal for my 1HBH.

 

[NLBwell]

I have switched between them a couple times. I've always felt the Head grip shape feels better for the forehand and the Wilson feels better for the backhand. However, I don't play significantly better with either. I've never really noticed any difference on the serve.

 

[Kemitak]

Call me crazy, but the difference I've noticed is that, over time, Wilsons break in, whereas Heads break down: Wilsons seem to me to soften up and adapt to my game; while Heads become pingy, and less stable.
(And I'm very nice to my racquets. They never touch the ground.)

 

[BagelMe]

I just switched from a BLX90/N90 to a Head Youtek Prestige Mid. My flat serve, volleys, backhand and forehand are amazing /w this racket. Best choice of my life!

 

[pyrokid]

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that switch from wilson -> head means the player hits flatter, head-> wilson when they hit more spin.

But just a guess. (based on the fact that I had a harder time hitting spin with prestiges than K90s.)

 

[Big_Dangerous]

I'm switching over from Babolat to Head, mainly because I really like the way the Prestige MP hits, I think the closed string pattern suits me as does the racket better than my Babolats. I just played much better with that racket than I did with my Babolats.

 

[Lawnmower]

I switched from the K95 to prestige. Love it.

 

[Wes_Loves_Dunlop]

To the guy that said people with spin use wilson, i gotta say not really. It depends on your preference for feel. I personally hate the feel of the k90 and blx 90, but i love the feel of the prestige mp even though topspin is a big part of my game.

 

[sliceboy33]

Coming Full Circle

Curious if any of you who've long played with Wilson ever switched the the Head line of racquets, and if you stuck with it, or went back to Wilson, etc.

Specifically also curious about the Head grip shape. It's comfortable enough on groundies for me but seems really bothersome on serves. Just seems easier/more natural for me to pronate with the rounder Wilson grip than the more rectangular Head grip. Would going with a smaller Head grip help to combat this feeling at all, or is it a bad idea?

Any feedback is appreciated. For reference, I'm currently comparing a K-Blade Tour and a Microgel Prestige MP.

I had spend most of my late teen years playing with Wilson Pro Staffs (6.0s Originals and 6.1 Classics). I made the switch to Head in 2000 - Prestige Classic / Tour 600s - and felt that they were lighter and more forgiving.

I've played the last 9 years with those and the Microgel Mid and one day after hitting with my old instructor he noticed how my strokes had changed and were so much flatter (yep... that's what almost a decade of 18x20 does to you).

I never had a problem with spin generation but I started to miss that extra net clearance (specially since I'm playing almost exclusively on clay)
I had a stint with the open patterned Prestige Pros but I ended going to the other extreme: Too spinny strokes with not enough punch / plowthrough. The bigger headsize felt clumsy at net, volleys were difficult to control and my slice approaches would float too much (that was the deal breaker for me).

I missed my old Pro Staffs and was looking for an inspiration to rekindle my serve&volley game. After reading some reviews on how those new BLX Tours "sliced through the ball like a hot knife through butter" and seemed "custom built for volleys") I deemed to moment to be right - or should I say bought into the hype - and made the switch back to Wilson.

The BLX Tour has the same pinpoint accuracy of the Prestige (except for flat serves) yet it's more powerful, more confortable and more forgiving with a slightly larger sweet spot while giving an extra margin for error on my strokes.

I feel I had come full circle now. 16x19 Midsize is indeed the perfect fit for my game.

As for the different grip shapes - those never bothered me as long as they're of similar size and the leather type.
I've noticed that the new HEAD non-leather grips felt much more oval shaped and smaller than the traditional squared ones.

 

[Jyp]

K Blade Tour to Head YT Prestige MP...im loving it

 

[JGads]

K Blade Tour to Head YT Prestige MP...im loving it

Jyp,

Can you elaborate? What are you getting with the Prestige that you weren't getting with the Tour? And the grip shape wasn't a difficult adjustment for you on serve? Would love for you to compare the two sticks, as the Tour is what I'm also loving at the moment.

 

[stingstang]

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that switch from wilson -> head means the player hits flatter, head-> wilson when they hit more spin.

But just a guess. (based on the fact that I had a harder time hitting spin with prestiges than K90s.)

Switched from K95 16/18 to MG mid and i'm getting MORE spin with the prestige, seconds are kicking way higher! not something I was expecting at all (swap was to save arm), especially as it has full multi. weird huh? I figure the lower SW and thin beam means more racket speed. k95's 340 SW was probably too much for me to handle.

Can nail flat serves and forehands into the corners like I never could with the wilson too, good fun!

 

[bad_call]

I had spend most of my late teen years playing with Wilson Pro Staffs (6.0s Originals and 6.1 Classics). I made the switch to Head in 2000 - Prestige Classic / Tour 600s - and felt that they were lighter and more forgiving.

I've played the last 9 years with those and the Microgel Mid and one day after hitting with my old instructor he noticed how my strokes had changed and were so much flatter (yep... that's what almost a decade of 18x20 does to you).

I never had a problem with spin generation but I started to miss that extra net clearance (specially since I'm playing almost exclusively on clay)
I had a stint with the open patterned Prestige Pros but I ended going to the other extreme: Too spinny strokes with not enough punch / plowthrough. The bigger headsize felt clumsy at net, volleys were difficult to control and my slice approaches would float too much (that was the deal breaker for me).

I missed my old Pro Staffs and was looking for an inspiration to rekindle my serve&volley game. After reading some reviews on how those new BLX Tours "sliced through the ball like a hot knife through butter" and seemed "custom built for volleys") I deemed to moment to be right - or should I say bought into the hype - and made the switch back to Wilson.

The BLX Tour has the same pinpoint accuracy of the Prestige (except for flat serves) yet it's more powerful, more confortable and more forgiving with a slightly larger sweet spot while giving an extra margin for error on my strokes.

I feel I had come full circle now. 16x19 Midsize is indeed the perfect fit for my game.

As for the different grip shapes - those never bothered me as long as they're of similar size and the leather type.
I've noticed that the new HEAD non-leather grips felt much more oval shaped and smaller than the traditional squared ones.

interesting...thanks for sharing.

i played with the wilson ps85 for a number of years then quit. picked up the sport again a few years back and wanted/needed an equipment upgrade which took me to volkl T10V mid then the C10 Pro. needed something else (more power, etc) and found the MG Prestige Pro which is working fine for me now.

 

[pyrokid]

Switched from K95 16/18 to MG mid and i'm getting MORE spin with the prestige, seconds are kicking way higher! not something I was expecting at all (swap was to save arm), especially as it has full multi. weird huh? I figure the lower SW and thin beam means more racket speed. k95's 340 SW was probably too much for me to handle.

Can nail flat serves and forehands into the corners like I never could with the wilson too, good fun!

I mostly meant from K90-> prestige mid.

But it was just a guess.
That is a weird observation, though.

 

[Donny0627]

Either way youll get used to it.

 

[lilxjohnyy]

went from the k95 to the MG prestige mid... Loved it !

 

[sliceboy33]

interesting...thanks for sharing.

i played with the wilson ps85 for a number of years then quit. picked up the sport again a few years back and wanted/needed an equipment upgrade which took me to volkl T10V mid then the C10 Pro. needed something else (more power, etc) and found the MG Prestige Pro which is working fine for me now.

Glad to know you're happy with the Prestige Pro!

I felt the need for the open pattern but with its liveliness tamed down by a smaller midsize thin frame. You can't have both with Head since they don't offer a 16x19 mid for their regular customers - only limited leftovers of their pro-stock sticks which sell out like hot cupcakes yet the company is too lazy to make it a regular option.

It's unfair to complain about HEAD after 9 years of brand loyalty though -It was good while it lasted.

 

[Ambivalent]

I owned 3 n6.1 tour 90s, 2 k6.1 95 18x20s. Then i played with a couple Microgel Radical Pros, and now i'm using Flexpoint Prestige MPs.

I made the switch because of availability though. TW was selling demo MG Radical pros for 45$ so i said why not and bought two. I may very well switch back to wilson. Not for the blx though. That pj is just hideous.

 

[ClubHoUno]

Call me crazy, but the difference I've noticed is that, over time, Wilsons break in, whereas Heads break down: Wilsons seem to me to soften up and adapt to my game; while Heads become pingy, and less stable.
(And I'm very nice to my racquets. They never touch the ground.)

Funny detail you mention here - I feel the same happened to me last time I used Head.

When I bought [K] FACTOR 95, 18X20 in '07, they felt very boardy and stiff but after 5-6 months they felt better and better. I sold them in start of '08 and bought 2 Wilson K Blade '98 and 4 Head MG Prestige Pro's and the Head felt better from the get go, and then started to feel more thin or pingy and less stable. I sold them in late '08. I bought 4 Wilson BLX 95, 18X20 3 months ago and they are starting to feel better and better as they sort of 'break in'. Thought I was crazy but since you mention the same detail, either we're both OCD crazy or there is some truth in it....