Head Prestige Tour 300/Classic/Mid/600 all feel different?

[4sound]

I recently switched back to the Head Prestige Tour 300/Classic/Mid/600 and found odd differences between all 4 of these.

1st got a used Classic Mid with a black butt cap (looks to be replaced) and a brown grip sleeve (possibly added?). L4 grip. Plays and feels great.

2nd traded my old Pro Staff for a Prestige Classic 600 (Star Trek font). L4 grip 600cm inside top of hoop. Has the brown grip sleeve. Brown butt cap (with a sticker that says Made in Czech Republic) Darker paint overall and also darker contrast around the throat & 3/9 o’clock on the hoop. This one plays very nice but heavier than the 1st Classic Mid. Very similar but definitely different feel.

3rd got a Prestige Tour 300 from a TT sale. L3 grip, I built up to L4. This one has the suspension grip with the built up grip so obviously feels different from the first 2. The think there is more differences between the PT300 and the Classic Mid than just the suspension grip. The dimensions of this frame are different than the 3 classics. It’s a little bit longer. At first, I thought that it was because of the different clear butt cap on the PT300 but then I measured the distance on the inside of the throat and the PT300 is also a little bit longer. Brown CAP grommets are also a little different. Pat numbering on the PT300 is larger than on the other 3 and the channel is extremely close but this may be because it hasn’t been strung a lot.

4th Classic Mid L4 I got on auction (great price around $110) practically new. Brown butt cap with head laser sticker. Does not have the grip sleeve but plays heavier and closer feel to the PC600 (#2) than the other Classic Mid (#1) with the grip sleeve.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the feel of all of these rackets. It’s just a little different between them all. Enough that if I break a string there is a little more feel adjustment than just the string tension difference. The 3 MG Mids I have are so close when I pick them up I don’t really notice any difference.

Has anyone else felt differences between their Classic/Mid/600s? What can you do to get them all the same? Or is that just the way it is with these; they all have their own personalities?

 

[pshulam]

I have one Prestige Tour and one PC 600. Both rackets were designed in Austria. The prestige tour feels more muted and softer than my pc600. I prefer the PC600 better as it has more pop and crisp feel.

4th Classic Mid L4 I got on auction (great price around $110) practically new.

You must be the one who outbid me. This was the racket from Chris Downs, right?

 

[4sound]

pshulam,

Yes, that's the one I got from Chris Downs. Sorry dude. I had to have it. The condition is as he said practically new.

 

[pshulam]

4sound,
No big deal. Bidding is not my cup of tea. I just got outbid on a mint condition Prestige Tour 600 for $120.

Which Prestige do you like most?

 

[godukedevils]

I have 2 Prestige Tour 600's and 1 Trysis 300. Visually they are all the same (paintjob, suspension grips, etc), but I do think that the 300 hits just slightly different than the PT 600's. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it (and it could indeed be in my head) but it seems there is a very small difference.

 

[MichaelChang]

Bidding is not my cup of tea. I just got outbid on a mint condition Prestige Tour 600 for $120.

I understand you guys are searching for steals on the bay. But to be fair, if you really like these rackets and you know their real value, you would have bid way over 120, and so nobody else could have stole it for only 120.

 

[4sound]

4sound,
No big deal. Bidding is not my cup of tea. I just got outbid on a mint condition Prestige Tour 600 for $120.

Which Prestige do you like most?

Its kind of a toss up between the Classic Mid with the grip sleeve (1st on my list above) and the PC600 Star Trek.

 

[4sound]

I understand you guys are searching for steals on the bay. But to be fair, if you really like these rackets and you know their real value, you would have bid way over 120, and so nobody else could have stole it for only 120.

I hear you. I believe value is subjective & everyone should have a set limit before going into an auction. At this point I won't go over $135. I now have 4, I got over the last month, all in very good to excellent condition & I didn't pay more than that for each.

I figured out I go thru a racket around 2 years of average use. I'm very good not to abuse rackets and string them pretty low. Within the next 2 years I'll probably pick up a few more. If it starts getting too hard to find them at this price I'll use the MG & we will see how the YouTek and others after play. At this point I don't expect there ever will be another Head that feels the same as the Classic Prestige. If I do, I feel I'm only setting myself up for disappointment. I look at the new Prestige Mids as children with their own virtues to make their own mark on the tennis world. They have to earn their place to become classics some day.

 

[MichaelChang]

A racket should be ok for 50 string jobs. So if you not a frequent string breaker, 1 mint racket should last you more than 2 years. Now that you have 4 of these, I think you should be good for quite some time. Buying racket is additive, that you never know when to stop.

 

[pshulam]

^I feel the same way - not paying more for it as I already have two Prestiges in excellent condition - not to mention that I also have a Head Graphite Pro (USA black version) and a Head Comp Tour. Both are pre-prestige rackets that are stable and crisp.

 

[pshulam]

Buying racket is additive, that you never know when to stop.

I definitely need help in this area.

 

[MichaelChang]

I am glad you liked the Classic Mid. This thing is somewhat underpriced on the bay. Some people didn't know it is the same as the PC600.

 

[pshulam]

I am glad you liked the Classic Mid. This thing is somewhat underpriced on the bay. Some people didn't know it is the same as the PC600.

I am not sure that's really true. I have been watching about 5 Prestige Classic Mids over the last few weeks. 4 of them in 8/10 condition ended with a price of $175. Only one of them in mint condition ended up with a bid of $110. The final seconds saw the biggest jump in price. It seemed people waited until the last 10 seconds to place the final bid. I saw a big jump from $80 to $176 in less than 10 seconds to finish the bidding process.

 

[4sound]

yeah its a mixed bag out there. I got my first Classic Mid on the Bay for $91. Big paint scratch on the inside of the neck but the hoop and everything else was in great condition. I think some people look at the cosmetics of the frame and pay a lot. I personally think $175 is too much.

I hit with the PT300 exclusively today. I like the Classic Mids better.

 

[pshulam]

yeah its a mixed bag out there.

I saw 4 separate bids from the same seller yesterday on four Prestiges - 1 Classic Mid and 3 PT600 (made in Austria). The end time is about 30 to 60 minutes apart. The first three rackets (Classic Mid + 2 PT600) ended with a final bid of ~$167 while the last PT600 in mint condition ended up with no bids. It seemed there were two bidders fought fiercely on the first two rackets (Classic Mid + PT600). One of them won both bids. The loser won the third racket, PT600. The funny thing is that those three rackets were listed as good condition while the last PT600 with a starting bid of $120 in mint condition left unsold. I think the starting bid price and the closing time may have something to do with it. People like low starting bids in hopes of getting it on the cheap. They also do not miss the opportunity to getting the racket and therefore go after the first three bids.

Anyway, the whole bidding process is both exciting and frustrating to me. For example, it was exciting to see my bid of $115 with less than 10 seconds to go .. but lost to someone who came in with $167 bid in the end.

 

[MichaelChang]

Bidding on the bay is a strange thing. That is why some people (me included), like to hunt for deals (steals). The HEAD Classic Mid, note: its name does not include "Prestige" anywhere, is underpriced sometimes. I think it is because the seller (or buyer) does not know it is the same as the Prestige Classic mid (or 600).

 

[MarrratSafin]

I saw 4 separate bids from the same seller yesterday on four Prestiges - 1 Classic Mid and 3 PT600 (made in Austria). The end time is about 30 to 60 minutes apart. The first three rackets (Classic Mid + 2 PT600) ended with a final bid of ~$167 while the last PT600 in mint condition ended up with no bids. It seemed there were two bidders fought fiercely on the first two rackets (Classic Mid + PT600). One of them won both bids. The loser won the third racket, PT600. The funny thing is that those three rackets were listed as good condition while the last PT600 with a starting bid of $120 in mint condition left unsold. I think the starting bid price and the closing time may have something to do with it. People like low starting bids in hopes of getting it on the cheap. They also do not miss the opportunity to getting the racket and therefore go after the first three bids.

Do you know why the 2 used PT600 went for $160+ and the mint PT600 remained untouched at $120? If you look carefully they are different- the $120 one is a later version while the other 2 are the Austrian 'trek font' ones.;-) That alone will bring the value up by about $50 on average of all I've seen.

 

[pshulam]

Do you know why the 2 used PT600 went for $160+ and the mint PT600 remained untouched at $120? If you look carefully they are different- the $120 one is a later version while the other 2 are the Austrian 'trek font' ones.;-) That alone will bring the value up by about $50 on average of all I've seen.

Good observation -- Is the 'Trek Font' one has the Italicised "Prestige Tour 600" marking on the side of the throat?

 

[pshulam]

Bidding on the bay is a strange thing. That is why some people (me included), like to hunt for deals (steals). The HEAD Classic Mid, note: its name does not include "Prestige" anywhere, is underpriced sometimes. I think it is because the seller (or buyer) does not know it is the same as the Prestige Classic mid (or 600).

I would not say $175 is under-priced as I witnessed in recent weeks from auctions.

 

[MarrratSafin]

Good observation -- Is the 'Trek Font' one has the Italicised "Prestige Tour 600" marking on the side of the throat?

Yeah, that's the one. They are a bit harder to find nowadays than the later versions, which may explain the higher value..

 

[retrowagen]

I have a theory that web-based "buzz" about certain frames or manufacturers (exactly like this thread) is the engine that is driving up the prices of said discontinued frames.

Didn't get one for $120 this week? Post about it on the internet, and next week you won't be able to buy one for $150! :roll:

 

[pshulam]

I have a theory that web-based "buzz" about certain frames or manufacturers (exactly like this thread) is the engine that is driving up the prices of said discontinued frames.

Didn't get one for $120 this week? Post about it on the internet, and next week you won't be able to buy one for $150! :roll:

It's okay if people are willing to pay premium to get the racket of choice. I have enough classic rackets that would last for many years to come. I should have my head examined for looking.

 

[pshulam]

Has anyone hit with all Prestiges (or almost all of them)? I heard that they pretty much play the same in terms of feel and control. What's puzzling is that why certain variants demand a much higher premium than others. For example, the asking price of a Prestige Pro is 2 - 3x that of a PC600. Is it because the Pro is the first of the series? The Prestige 600 (lime/gray/black/silver) is 1.5x that of a PC600. Is the because of the neon green grommets?

It seems that Classic Mid is the best value since it has the same (or very similar) playability as all others but at a much lower price.

 

[MichaelChang]

the asking price of a Prestige Pro is 2 - 3x that of a PC600. Is it because the Pro is the first of the series?

I think so. It is the first one, and also the best paint job.
Plus it was really used by about 25% of the pros at that time.
Some people here have reported that this one feels better than the later PC600s.

The Prestige 600 (lime/gray/black/silver) is 1.5x that of a PC600. Is the because of the neon green grommets?

I think so too. It is the grommets not the racket itself. The racket is lighter and I don't think the frame itself is better or anything special.

It seems that Classic Mid is the best value since it has the same (or very similar) playability as all others but at a much lower price.

that is what I was trying to say in my previous posts. I think this one is underpriced and could be the best deal.