Happy 30th Anniversary HEAD Prestige On Tour Since 1986

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Its now the 30th anniversary of the 1986 launch of the Original Prestige Pro in Europe and the TXP in the USA. The first player I remember using the Prestige Pro was Henri Leconte at the 1986 French. He had a great run. The only Professional I remember using the TXP paint job was Derrick Rostagno. Its amazing how popular the Prestige became, the most popular racquet on the ATP Tour in the 90's with players such as Rosset, Ivanisavic, Muster, The Sanchez Brothers, Wheaton, Boetsch, Philippoussis, Goellner, Stoltenberg, I could go on and on with all the players that have used the Prestige in the 90's. In the 2000's it had tremendous success in the hands of Marat Safin winning the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open with his Prestige Classic 600. Even today the original Prestige Mid is seeing success in the hands of today's players such as Tobias Kamke and Robin Haase.
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Leconte's Semifinal run at the 1986 French Open with the Original Prestige Pro
http://plazbovo.free.fr/CHRONOPEN-french-open-1986.html

How many graphite racquets can say they have been in use continuously on the ATP since 1986.
 
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Swan Song

Professional
Its now the 30th anniversary of the 1986 launch of the Original Prestige Pro in Europe and the TXP in the USA. The first player I remember using the Prestige Pro was Henri Leconte at the 1986 French. He had a great run. The only Professional I remember using the TXP paint job was Derrick Rostagno. Its a amazing how popular the Prestige became, the most popular racquet on the ATP Tour in the 90's with players such as Rosset, Ivanisavic, Muster, The Sanchez Brothers, Wheaton, Boetsch, Philippoussis, Goellner, Stoltenberg, I could go on and on with all the player that have used the Prestige in the 90's. In the 2000's it had tremendous success in the hands of Marat Safin winning the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open with his Prestige Classic 600. Even today the original Prestige Mid is seeing success in the hands of today's players such as Tobias Kamke and Robin Haase.
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1986-rg-leconte-1_zpsdyuaa79w.jpg

image_zpsohgzhxta.jpg

image_zpsquyrfzvn.jpg

image_zpsivg77djb.jpg


Leconte's Semifinal run at the 1986 French Open with the Original Prestige Pro
http://plazbovo.free.fr/CHRONOPEN-french-open-1986.html

How many graphite racquets can say they have been in use continuously on the ATP since 1986.
I am assuming the Prestige Pro, Classic, and Tour had fibreglass in their layup, yes?
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
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How many graphite racquets can say they have been in use continuously on the ATP since 1986.

Funny how back then Head even printed right on the side of the frame that the Prestige Mid mold is 89.5 sq. in., but then later on started marketing the same mold as being 93 sq. in. LOL (Yes, we know all about the 600 sq. cm. to 93 sq. in. conversion for marketing a nice round number in the name.)

BTW, were these originally manufactured in the USA or just designed in the U.S., as it has an American flag decal on it?

BTW, to answer your question, how about the Prince Original Graphite (POG), which came out in the late-1970's? There must be an ATP pro somewhere still using one (perhaps underneath a paintjob)?
 

PSC85

Semi-Pro
Its now the 30th anniversary of the 1986 launch of the Original Prestige Pro in Europe and the TXP in the USA. The first player I remember using the Prestige Pro was Henri Leconte at the 1986 French. He had a great run. The only Professional I remember using the TXP paint job was Derrick Rostagno. Its a amazing how popular the Prestige became, the most popular racquet on the ATP Tour in the 90's with players such as Rosset, Ivanisavic, Muster, The Sanchez Brothers, Wheaton, Boetsch, Philippoussis, Goellner, Stoltenberg, I could go on and on with all the player that have used the Prestige in the 90's. In the 2000's it had tremendous success in the hands of Marat Safin winning the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open with his Prestige Classic 600. Even today the original Prestige Mid is seeing success in the hands of today's players such as Tobias Kamke and Robin Haase.
image_zpstnuty0sf.jpg

image_zpsicmo54qu.jpg

image_zpsxeoonjmg.jpg

1986-rg-leconte-1_zpsdyuaa79w.jpg

image_zpsohgzhxta.jpg

image_zpsquyrfzvn.jpg

image_zpsivg77djb.jpg


Leconte's Semifinal run at the 1986 French Open with the Original Prestige Pro
http://plazbovo.free.fr/CHRONOPEN-french-open-1986.html

How many graphite racquets can say they have been in use continuously on the ATP since 1986.

@vsbabolat
When did the head stencil logo change? I rather liked the pointy old school logo before they changed into the current type.
 

insiderman

Semi-Pro
The only "blip" in the historic heritage of the; Prestige.... was the advent/addition of the: "Suspension Grip" - a great concept, yet in actual use... failure % was too high - that darn 'pin' breaking did cause some 'flying' frames~ My personal fav was the 'green' one... without the CAP - loved that 'stick'~
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
That is not a Ti.Fire Pro edition mold. The grooves at the throat bridge are not what was on the Ti.Fire Pro Edition and the cross bar was there as decoration. His stick there even has CAP grommets. This is not a thread about GUGA or the Pro Tour 630.
Actually, he is a bit picky about his equipment. He never played a Ti Fire Pro, it was a Pro Tour with the crossbar added in the mold of a Pro Tour. There are flex point holes on his frames, but they're not real. And he just got a shipment of fresh frames. He is picky with his grips, he's the only one who really knows how to do it. Hard to explain how he does it. String wise, I'd say he's trying the new Sonic Pro, he's tried Head strings before, even almost switched to the Ultra Tour
And that's from a guy that strung and customized Guga's racquets.
Please stop derailing this thread and making it into another train reck.
Ask Thomas all about Guga's racquets.
 
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BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
That is not a Ti.Fire Pro edition mold. The grooves at the throat bridge are not what was on the Ti.Fire Pro Edition and the cross bar was there as decoration. His stick there even has CAP grommets. This is not a thread about GUGA or the Pro Tour 630.

And that's from a guy that strung and customized Guga's racquets.
Please stop derailing this thread and making it into another train reck.
If you add a crossbar to a mold, then it becomes a different mold. And a crossbar would change how a frame plays.
 

Swan Song

Professional
Its now the 30th anniversary of the 1986 launch of the Original Prestige Pro in Europe and the TXP in the USA. The first player I remember using the Prestige Pro was Henri Leconte at the 1986 French. He had a great run. The only Professional I remember using the TXP paint job was Derrick Rostagno. Its a amazing how popular the Prestige became, the most popular racquet on the ATP Tour in the 90's with players such as Rosset, Ivanisavic, Muster, The Sanchez Brothers, Wheaton, Boetsch, Philippoussis, Goellner, Stoltenberg, I could go on and on with all the player that have used the Prestige in the 90's. In the 2000's it had tremendous success in the hands of Marat Safin winning the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open with his Prestige Classic 600. Even today the original Prestige Mid is seeing success in the hands of today's players such as Tobias Kamke and Robin Haase.
image_zpstnuty0sf.jpg

image_zpsicmo54qu.jpg

image_zpsxeoonjmg.jpg

1986-rg-leconte-1_zpsdyuaa79w.jpg

image_zpsohgzhxta.jpg

image_zpsquyrfzvn.jpg

image_zpsivg77djb.jpg


Leconte's Semifinal run at the 1986 French Open with the Original Prestige Pro
http://plazbovo.free.fr/CHRONOPEN-french-open-1986.html

How many graphite racquets can say they have been in use continuously on the ATP since 1986.
I kept thinking that David Wheaton played with an Elite Pro. Should have guessed that he has played with the Prestige Pro at one time or another. On another note, I remember seeing a picture of Michael Stich playing with a Prestige Pro prior to the Fischer Vacuum Pro.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
I kept thinking that David Wheaton played with an Elite Pro. Should have guessed that he has played with the Prestige Pro at one time or another. On another note, I remember seeing a picture of Michael Stich playing with a Prestige Pro prior to the Fischer Vacuum Pro.
Wheaton was famous and had his best years using the turquoise Graphite Pro. The Graphite Pro was also a model year 1986 frame.
 

Swan Song

Professional
Wheaton was famous and had his best years using the turquoise Graphite Pro. The Graphite Pro was also a model year 1986 frame.
That is what it was. I kept thinking Elite Pro because it had a greenish hue, but did not take a second look.

Colour wise, I personally love the silver and green Prestige 600 with the green CAP grommets.
 

Hnefi

Semi-Pro
One thing I have always counted on to identify classic Head frames is the collar near the top of the grip, as well as the short length of the grip itself! Seriously, I placed my PC600 next to my iRadical MP yesterday and the grip on the iRad is a good 1.5-2" longer. Long live the single handed backhand!

Is that plastic grip collar the same thing as the suspension grip, or is that different?
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
One thing I have always counted on to identify classic Head frames is the collar near the top of the grip, as well as the short length of the grip itself! Seriously, I placed my PC600 next to my iRadical MP yesterday and the grip on the iRad is a good 1.5-2" longer. Long live the single handed backhand!

Is that plastic grip collar the same thing as the suspension grip, or is that different?
Its different than the suspension grip. Safin and Schuettler always have the collar on their OG Prestige no matter the paint job.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
That is what it was. I kept thinking Elite Pro because it had a greenish hue, but did not take a second look.

Colour wise, I personally love the silver and green Prestige 600 with the green CAP grommets.
That is a very cool color way. My personal favorite is the red/brown of the Prestige Pro 600. Love the red that glistens through the brown paint when light hits it.
 

Hnefi

Semi-Pro
Its different than the suspension grip. Safin and Schuettler always have the collar on their OG Prestige no matter the paint job.
What is the suspension grip? I've seen some old frames that have a clear buttcap that was supposed to have vibration dampening purposes, but I can't recall if they were Head frames.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
What is the suspension grip? I've seen some old frames that have a clear buttcap that was supposed to have vibration dampening purposes, but I can't recall if they were Head frames.
It looked like this"

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They were on some Head Prestige Tour racquets in the mid-90's. They worked great for reducing shock and vibration transmitted to the hand.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
What is the suspension grip? I've seen some old frames that have a clear buttcap that was supposed to have vibration dampening purposes, but I can't recall if they were Head frames.
Yes they were Head frames. The suspension grip was on the Discovery and Prestige Tour. They felt great but the suspension grip was very fragile and what @insiderman said earlier in the thread. I broke many a Prestige Tours on my backhand. I kept one for posterity.
 

DJ-

Hall of Fame
Great thread VS, it's a pity that the usual culprits must attempt to derail good threads with pointless information or off subject crap in order to build up their points or status.... Quality people, not quantity !
 

BorgCash

Legend

Thank you, very nice picture!
According to Sergio Tacchini outfit, it is '86 or '87. The same model was wearing Pat Cash when won Wimbledon in '86. I saw Casal was wearing the same outfit at '87 European Community Championship in Antwerpen (full-size gold-diamond racquet trophy). He played against Cash who was wearing newest ST outfit and played with Yonex RQ-180 instead of his winning Prince Magnesium Pro 90. Cash won.
 

Frankc

Professional
Thank you - great thread - still take the red heads (USA and 600 - and add a TXP to the bag) to the dance. Amazing how Head kept the mold and the new grommets fit just fine - allows a great frame to live on... just add looser and thinner natty G as the years pass on by...

Much and always appreciated - the tribute thread and your expertise...
 

Lucas2015

Professional
Great thread VS, it's a pity that the usual culprits must attempt to derail good threads with pointless information or off subject crap in order to build up their points or status.... Quality people, not quantity !


Take it easy.. its just a forum! Nobody is a bad person. The title said Prestige and Head released a racquet called Prestige with the face of man that was supposed to use a Prestige.
Thats all !
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Great thread VS, it's a pity that the usual culprits must attempt to derail good threads with pointless information or off subject crap in order to build up their points or status.... Quality people, not quantity !
I don't consider the fact that the same exact Prestige mold was marketed by Head as being both 89.5 sq. in. AND 93 sq. in. to be either "pointless information" nor "off subject crap"..
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Loved that grip. Man, I miss my Prestige Tours. Like butter.
I've played with both the Prestige Tour with the suspension grip and the Prestige Classic without the suspension grip and the one with the suspension grip felt so much better. Too bad Head couldn't have made it more durable and put it on all of its racquets.
 
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