Head (Prestige) mid history

[retrowagen]

Yes, the “Pre-Prestige” was from the same box beam mold as the 1986-1988 Graphite Pro(fessional) and Composite Pro(fessional), and a bevy of other models from said mold (Team Pro, Club Pro, etc.), and was available in Europe in 1985, never in North America or elsewhere, as far as I know.

The model name was quickly moved in late 1985 to the revolutionary new-for-1986 thin-beamed, 89.5 square inch mid-plus Prestige Pro—except in North America, where (from 1984 up to that moment), the TX models (TXE Edge and TXD Director) had been the top performance models. Head (US, in Colorado) marketed the new Prestige Pro as the TXP, and also introduced a new oversized model called the TXM (Master), both of which replaced the TXE and TXD, which were retired. In 1988, after a global restructuring of the Head company, the TXP and TXM were standardized in their graphics and model names with the “rest of the world” Prestige Pro and Prestige Master models.

That original 1985 Prestige was an interesting footnote to the lineage, but not from the same engineering brief as the thinbeam models with CAP grommets, which has seemed to always define the model franchise.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Yes, the “Pre-Prestige” was from the same box beam mold as the 1986-1988 Graphite Pro(fessional) and Composite Pro(fessional), and a bevy of other models from said mold (Team Pro, Club Pro, etc.), and was available in Europe in 1985, never in North America or elsewhere, as far as I know.

The model name was quickly moved in late 1985 to the revolutionary new-for-1986 thin-beamed, 89.5 square inch mid-plus Prestige Pro—except in North America, where (from 1984 up to that moment), the TX models (TXE Edge and TXD Director) had been the top performance models. Head (US, in Colorado) marketed the new Prestige Pro as the TXP, and also introduced a new oversized model called the TXM (Master), both of which replaced the TXE and TXD, which were retired. In 1988, after a global restructuring of the Head company, the TXP and TXM were standardized in their graphics and model names with the “rest of the world” Prestige Pro and Prestige Master models.

That original 1985 Prestige was an interesting footnote to the lineage, but not from the same engineering brief as the thinbeam models with CAP grommets, which has seemed to always define the model franchise.

Yes, the weird thing is the Austrian Graphite and Comp Pros with the same styles as the gold Prestige are advertised in March 1985 edition of UK Tennis World, so it seems like it either came after them for a few months later in 85 but before the PP in 86, or perhaps it was even released in 1984 given the old style AMF label. Leconte seems to be using the brown PP at FO86 and certainly is at Wimbledon 86, so that leaves a very narrow retail window for the mysterious gold Prestige, unless it was available at the same time as the PP.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yes, the weird thing is the Austrian Graphite and Comp Pros with the same styles as the gold Prestige are advertised in March 1985 edition of UK Tennis World, so it seems like it either came after them for a few months later in 85 but before the PP in 86, or perhaps it was even released in 1984 given the old style AMF label. Leconte seems to be using the brown PP at FO86 and certainly is at Wimbledon 86, so that leaves a very narrow retail window for the mysterious gold Prestige, unless it was available at the same time as the PP.

1985 was the last year of the AMF logo. From 1986 onward it was gone off HEAD rackets. I have early production USA Comp Pro that were made in Austria with the same AMF HEAD butt-cap sticker

 

[Kafel69]

bumping up to the first page of classics, just because lol btw, did they ever release the 2.0 grommets? was curious if they fit the OG mids.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Yes, the weird thing is the Austrian Graphite and Comp Pros with the same styles as the gold Prestige are advertised in March 1985 edition of UK Tennis World, so it seems like it either came after them for a few months later in 85 but before the PP in 86, or perhaps it was even released in 1984 given the old style AMF label. Leconte seems to be using the brown PP at FO86 and certainly is at Wimbledon 86, so that leaves a very narrow retail window for the mysterious gold Prestige, unless it was available at the same time as the PP.

It looks like the mystery has been solved, if my postulation about the 3-digit engraved codes on Austrian 1980s Heads is correct. Given I have 484 and 055 code, I believe that relates to week 48, 1984 and week 5, 1985, so the Prestige Midplus (gold colour) would be the first Austrian Pro Mould model, probably released in late 1984. That makes sense since the Midplus has the gold Head label, and there was a Prestige Mid in the 1983-4 period.

 

[kevin qmto]

I still want one of those gold original Prestige MP’s. But they’re super rare to find even on the bay.

 

[fritzhimself]

https://www.head.com/en/rs/stories/head-prestige-right-on-point-from-day-one#prestige-1987

1987 the very first Prestige entered the tennis market. Claiming perfection of tennis technology, especially international tour players got interested in this racquet.
Due to high tech materials such as TWARON and the HEAD C.A.P. system, it was possible to develop a very thin frame, which resulted in outstanding aerodynamics............................................

 

[kevin qmto]

https://www.head.com/en/rs/stories/head-prestige-right-on-point-from-day-one#prestige-1987

1987 the very first Prestige entered the tennis market. Claiming perfection of tennis technology, especially international tour players got interested in this racquet.
Due to high tech materials such as TWARON and the HEAD C.A.P. system, it was possible to develop a very thin frame, which resulted in outstanding aerodynamics............................................

Funny how brands forget their own history after enough time passes.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Funny how brands forget their own history after enough time passes.

Not even a mention of Henri Leconte who had the Prestige Pro from early 1986. They've got 3.5 months to correct their error, in time for a 40th Anniversary celebration!

 

[vsbabolat]

Not even a mention of Henri Leconte who had the Prestige Pro from early 1986. They've got 3.5 months to correct their error, in time for a 40th Anniversary celebration!

Yeah, I’ve been saying this since 2012. Leconte made the 1986 French Open semifinals with the brown Prestige Pro. TXP came out in 1986 and is the same frame except for the paint and the name.