New Prestige

[SCSI]

Just came back from the Davis Cup in North Carolina. I had a chance to see Emilio Sanchez (the Spanish Captain) play a set against the practice partner. He still plays well and makes funny grunt when he hits the ball.

Anyhow, he was using what appeared to be an old Head Prestige but the color was black. So, my friend asked him what racket it was. He said that it is the new prestige that they have been testing with more open string pattern with 16 main strings. He said it will be coming out soon. It was painted black and had no bumper guard nor the CAP grommet. It had a bit of heft and had some lead tape on the throat of the racket.

Also, he was carrying a Liquid Metal prestige as a backup. But it was almost orange in color vs. red. Emilio said that is the way they come in Europe.

Anyhow, I am not sure if anyone has heard of this, but I thought I would pass it along. Personally, I have used prestiges in the past and wished that it wasn't as dense in string pattern.

 

[tintin]

sorry but do you have pics?

 

[Dunlopkid]

An open pattern prestige? It won't be "prestigious" anymore.

 

[SCSI]

I didn't take any photos. The racket seems to work well for Emilio Sanchez when slicing backhands and serves. He also said that they will have CAP grommet for the production model.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

An open patterned Prestige?! Could be the holy grail! Just what I've been waitin....oh shoot, it still has that crappy Head grip shape.

 

[stormholloway]

The Head grip shape is pretty nice these days actually. It's not like the Classic anymore.

 

[Roger_Federer.]

Wow, original

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Just came back from the Davis Cup in North Carolina. I had a chance to see Emilio Sanchez (the Spanish Captain) play a set against the practice partner. He still plays well and makes funny grunt when he hits the ball.

Anyhow, he was using what appeared to be an old Head Prestige but the color was black. So, my friend asked him what racket it was. He said that it is the new prestige that they have been testing with more open string pattern with 16 main strings. He said it will be coming out soon. It was painted black and had no bumper guard nor the CAP grommet. It had a bit of heft and had some lead tape on the throat of the racket.

HAHAHAHA that is so weird and funny.

I sent John Cauthen a Brand NEW from the mid 90's Premier Tour (16X19 )which is a PT630 with open pattern same beam width and made in Austria. John had weights put above the handle. Boy I can't wait to tell John about this one. He made my PT630 to feel and play like the Prestige Mid, even down to the head shape. Even though the Premier tour says 600mid on the top of the frame it is closer to 95, with Johns stringing method it felt almost like a mid.

 

[Ronny]

i still hope they make a new 18x20 prestige

 

[SCSI]

I imagine that Head will continue to make the Prestige with 18X20 pattern. Emilio said that the new version will feature 16X19 pattern.

 

[Racquet Masetro]

Classic will stay as classic

Don't worry, there will be three models. 2@18x20 and 1@16x19. Head won't mess with their flagship model. However it'll be a long time before they launch the new Prestige.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Don't worry, there will be three models. 2@18x20 and 1@16x19. Head won't mess with their flagship model. However it'll be a long time before they launch the new Prestige.

So if there is going to be a 16X19 chances are it is going to be an MP. So don't you think it is just a premier tour?

 

[Pleepers]

If I'm not mistaken the premier tour was basically a prestige with an open pattern?

 

[stormholloway]

Yeah will the open pattern model be a mid or MP?

 

[Page_Boy]

Anyone any idea if these new models are comming out this year or next year

 

[rafa_prestige89]

Flexpoint Prestige Mid rlzz!
By the way, I think the new Prestige will come only by the beggining of next year...and the radicals may be avaiable on this year's July, am I right???

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

If I'm not mistaken the premier tour was basically a prestige with an open pattern?

well kind of, it says 600 mid on the frame but it is closer to a 630 so when you say "prestige" you are being too general, do you means prestige Mid or MidPlus?

 

[galain]

If I'm not mistaken the premier tour was basically a prestige with an open pattern?

I think this was the original idea but it just didn't translate in the real world. The Premier didn't feel anywhere nearly as solid as the Prestige, spin wasn't that much better and it had a tendency toward being unstable.

Michael I'd be interested to know how your modded one is playing...

 

[SCSI]

The one Sanchez was using was Mid.

 

[SCSI]

Also, the frame that I saw didn't have the flexpoint thingy.

 

[mileslong]

he new prestiges wont have the flexpoints. now if dunlop would just make the aerogel 200 with a 16X19 with the same weight as the 18X20 version then they would have a big winner....i hope head does this...

 

[LarougeNY]

he new prestiges wont have the flexpoints. now if dunlop would just make the aerogel 200 with a 16X19 with the same weight as the 18X20 version then they would have a big winner....i hope head does this...

plus dunlop would have to market it to the US. If they only opened up the Aerogel 100 to the US market...

 

[Pleepers]

well kind of, it says 600 mid on the frame but it is closer to a 630 so when you say "prestige" you are being too general, do you means prestige Mid or MidPlus?

Well, I think the premier only came in the 93si (600) not the 103si.

I think this was the original idea but it just didn't translate in the real world. The Premier didn't feel anywhere nearly as solid as the Prestige, spin wasn't that much better and it had a tendency toward being unstable.

You're right about "feel". I guess I was talking more about the actual mold of the frames -which I think were identicle except the stringing pattern.

 

[ktownva]

Hey Sunny (SCSI), it's me Keith.

How was the Davis Cup? I watched it on Tennis Channel and saw Francesc in the Spanish box like 10 times. Were you the official stringer? Why didn't you get me a ticket?!?! Damn you.



Anyway, the new Prestige sounds interesting. Did you get to hit with it?

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Well, I think the premier only came in the 93si (600) not the 103si.

Nope, it says 600 mid on the frame which you would think it is a mid but it is closer to 95 than 97/98 so it is a 630. your 103 is 660 way off

 

[Pleepers]

Nope, it says 600 mid on the frame which you would think it is a mid but it is closer to 95 than 97/98 so it is a 630. your 103 is 660 way off

I don't have the racquet in my hands and you are right that it says 600, so I guess HEAD was just lying to us.

How do you figure that 660 square cm does not = 103 square inches?

1 square centimeters = 0.15500031 square inches

660 x 0.15500031 = 102.3...

I really don't think the 0.7 si difference constitues being "way off". What is it we're missing here?

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

I ment to say that the premier is 630, not 600 nor 660, dont even know why you brought up 103(660) that is all, 660 is out of the question, it was between 600 and 630. I have the racquet in my hand and will lay it up against my PT630 and take photos tonight, they are identical frames only difference is the string pattern, which makes a huge difference in how it plays, many people hated it hence it was discountinued. Stock, It was unstable but after John modified it, it became very stable almost like my PT630's with tons of spin.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

he new prestiges wont have the flexpoints. now if dunlop would just make the aerogel 200 with a 16X19 with the same weight as the 18X20 version then they would have a big winner....i hope head does this...

Or get an Mfil 200Plus with 16X19 and cut 1/2 off and rebalance. Or if you do not like to cut TW already had the 2006 Mfil200G 27 which was 16X19 not sure about now. There is also the dunlop Maxply 16X19 27 or the HX200G XL 27.5 16X19

 

[SCSI]

Hey Keith. Thanks for revealing by ID... I didn't get to hit with the racket nor was I there to string for the Spanish team. Anyhow, thanks to Francesc, I got to sit with the Spanish folks right behind the Spanish bench and actually talked to Verdasco's family (sister, etc.) and the folks from Spanish tennis federation. One of the girls related to Verdasco was unbelievably exotic beauty but she is probably a little too young for me... Hopefully, I will see her at the US Open or in Madrid.

Anyhow, I actually had extra tickets that I ended up not using. I gave the Sunday tickets to some strangers at McDonalds... Sorry...

Too bad, we didn't think this through before hand. If we had stayed where the Spanish Team stayed, I am sure we would have met and talked to all the guys from the team. Regardless, Ferrer and Robredo knew Dani and said hello. Verdasco actually came over talk to Hose (Dani's friend from Madrid) after everyone left and talked a bit. Apparently, Hose used to hit a bit with Verdasco when he was a kid. It was interesting to see him talk about how he lost it when a American hackler said something about how Verdasco was playing bad because he was using a crappy Technifibre racket. Dani said that Verdasco started using a Technifibre when noone has even heard of Technifibre rackets, so perhaps that was a bit more personal to him somehow.

Emilio did beat Francesc in a tight tiebreaker but he blantantly and cheerfully cheated on a few line calls and Francesc was probably a bit tight with several of his friends there watching. The captain wasn't gonna let a practice parner beat him... Emilio was very comfortable at the net and his backhand slice was still amazing.

 

[Pleepers]

dont even know why you brought up 103(660) that is all, 660 is out of the question

I was talking about how the premier and prestige where similar in size and you said I was being too general about the prestige:

well kind of, it says 600 mid on the frame but it is closer to a 630 so when you say "prestige" you are being too general, do you means prestige Mid or MidPlus?

So I responded with:

Well, I think the premier only came in the 93si (600) not the 103si.

Because from what I know the prestige only came in the 600 (mid) and 660 (“midplus” but many would consider this oversize) and a 630 prestige was never made. So to compare apples to apples I thought it was obvious that when I was talking about the prestige I was talking about the one closest to the premier…The 600, not the 660 (which does come to 103si).

You do actually read other people’s posts before you respond to them?

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Pleepers, let us back up shall we, What is the head size of the premier?

and a 630 prestige was never made.

I know you know this

i "prestige" 630
LM "prestige" 630
flexpoint "prestige" 630

 

[mileslong]

TW already had the 2006 Mfil200G 27 which was 16X19 not sure about now.

michael, i demoed that racket and it wasnt the same. it weighed less and the balance was weird. it wasnt nearly as solid in my opinion. i then put lead in the handle and at 3 & 9 and it helped but it never felt right. i simply want the regular AG200 mold with a 16X19 pattern and i would take it and not demo again...

 

[Pleepers]

Pleepers, let us back up shall we, What is the head size of the premier?



I know you know this

i "prestige" 630
LM "prestige" 630
flexpoint "prestige" 630

This techno babble is getting unnecessary. If you remember the topic at hand, and stop incorporating irrelevant info, we were talking about the premier being based on the prestige with exception to the string pattern.

If I'm not mistaken the premier tour was basically a prestige with an open pattern?

The iprestige, LMprestige, and FXP were not made at a time when they could be used as a model to design the premier. So the fact that these do come in the 630 head size is irrelevant to the topic at hand and is really just moot.

Look, I have lurked on this forum for some time before becoming an active member and have read a lot of your posts in the past. You are a racquet "God" and I will admit that you are as close to anyone in terms of reaching tennis racquet knowledge nirvana. You could probably teach a course if you wanted to -heck you could even work as consultant for any of the racquet companies.

But the one thing I've noticed is that you tend to jump into conversations to "flex" your racquet knowledge "muscles" without completely reading the thread or the post before responding. Take it as some constructive criticism. Beyond the period at this sentence I won’t waste my time anymore.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

You can't even answer on simple question? let me answer for you. 600 is the answer you would have given.

If I'm not mistaken the premier tour was basically a prestige with an open pattern?

YOU ARE MISTAKEN!!!!!!!!You ment that the Premier is a MID 600. Which is clearly NOT. YOU ARE WRONG, JUST ADMIT IT AND MOVE ON!!!!! it is a 630, I was soft on you with my first reply since you are a newbi. It is OK I have done the same mistake and thought that the premier is a mid untill I got one right in my hand.

I don't have the racquet in my hands and you are right that it says 600, so I guess HEAD was just lying to us.

Then you tried to be cute with me by being, sarcastic?!?!

Not only Head is LYING to us but more like misleading us. You should know that.

Oh and welcome to the boards you got alot to learn, son.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

michael, i demoed that racket and it wasnt the same. it weighed less and the balance was weird. it wasnt nearly as solid in my opinion. i then put lead in the handle and at 3 & 9 and it helped but it never felt right. i simply want the regular AG200 mold with a 16X19 pattern and i would take it and not demo again...

wow good job, I did not think many people knew about the 2006 Mfil 27 with 16X19. But how does the mold differ from the AG200. The AG200 would be stiffer I would assume. have you tried any of the tfight with open pattern they are stiff. Mabe you should check out the Premier Tour it is soft. There should be an AG200 with 16X19 coming out soon I beleive, maybe 2008

 

[kingdaddy41788]

So what we've got is a new prestige mid, with 16 mains, and no flexpoint. Someone at Head still has their head on straight... I can't wait for this thing to come out.

 

[mileslong]

michael, the specs are pretty different on the mfil200 and the mfil200 2006. here are the specs for each. i simply want the exact mold for the MFil200 or AG200 or MW200G but with a 16X19 string pattern, i truly think that would be the perfect tennis racket. i GUARANTEE you that model would sell more than the current 200 16X19 verison and would probably outsell the 18X20 version as well. thats why the wilson ncode 95" is such a big seller, players racket weight and balance but with a spin friendly setup in a 95" head. i couldnt control the wilson like i can my dunlops however...

1) MFil 200 2006 16X19:
Head Size:97 sq. in. / 625 sq. cm.
Length: 27 inches / 69 cm
Strung Weight: 11.4oz / 323g
Balance: 7pts Head Light
Swingweight: 309
Stiffness: 64
Beam Width: 20 mm Straight Beam
Composition: Hot Melt Braided Graphite w / Elastomer / Kevlar Yoke
Power Level: Low-Medium
Swing Speed: Fast
Grip Type: Hydramax Tour
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H
One Piece
No shared holes
String Tension: 55-65 pounds

2) MFil 200G 18X20
Head Size:
95 sq. in. / 613 sq. cm.
Length: 27 inches / 69 cm
Strung Weight: 12.1oz
Balance: 6pts Head Light
Swingweight: 337
Stiffness: 61
Beam Width: 20 mm Straight Beam
Composition: Hot Melt Braided Graphite w / Elastomer / Kevlar Yoke
Power Level: Low-Medium
Swing Speed: Fast
Grip Type: Hydramax Tour
String Pattern:
18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: 9T,8H,10H
One Piece
No shared holes
String Tension: 55-65 pounds

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

here you go

http://www.teamdunlop.de/dunlop-tennis/include.php?path=content/content.php&contentid=89

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=1368507&postcount=3

 

[mileslong]

yeah michael i have been following that website for a long time now. they actually have the specs reversed on their website for the 200 models, i cant believe they havent changed that yet, they hae the 18X20 model under the 16X19 icon.

the 16X19 AG version is closer than the MFil version was, this new one is 10.5 grams lighter however with supposadly the same balance and head size. but its not the same mold and im worried about that loss of weight and mass. when i try to lead it up to match it never plays the same.

im going to order one i think if i can get it to the US and will review it. i will probably order the 100 as well.

 

[Rob_C]

I think this was the original idea but it just didn't translate in the real world. The Premier didn't feel anywhere nearly as solid as the Prestige, spin wasn't that much better and it had a tendency toward being unstable.

Michael I'd be interested to know how your modded one is playing...

The Premier Tour replaced the Pro Tour, so I would say it was a mid sized, open pattern version of the Pro Tour.

 

[jura]

YOU ARE MISTAKEN!!!!!!!!You ment that the Premier is a MID 600. Which is clearly NOT. YOU ARE WRONG, JUST ADMIT IT AND MOVE ON!!!!! it is a 630,

Sorry, but at least here in Europe the Premier Tour was a 600 mold! A former team collegue of me used it at this time and his father - who I see at least once a month - still uses it. And it's a 600.
BTW: At 1998 I strung a racket for Jerome Haehnel: It was a Prestige with CAP and 18x20 pattern but Premier Tour pj.

 

[vsbabolat]

I will just put in my two cents on the Premier Tour. I am a proud owner LOL of Premier Tour 600. It says on the frame 600 cm2. The Premier Tour 600 has a larger head than the Prestige Classic 600. I will also say that the Premier Tour 600 is slightly smaller than the Pro Tour 630. Also the beam width on the Premier Tour is 20mm the same as the Pro Tour 630. The Prestige Classic 600 beam width is 19mm. The Premier Tour replaced the Pro Tour 630 in the commercial line-up of HEAD.

The Premier Tour was the first awful HEAD racquet that I had ever hit with. It was a prelude of things to come.

 

[vsbabolat]

By the way there was no difference between the Premier Tour sold in Europe and North America. Exact same racquet.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

By the way there was no difference between the Premier Tour sold in Europe and North America. Exact same racquet.

same model indeed, VSbabolat. I got mine from Europe and will put them up against a PT 630 tonight to make BC bud smokers eat CROW ;-)

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

I will just put in my two cents on the Premier Tour. I am a proud owner LOL of Premier Tour 600. It says on the frame 600 cm2. The Premier Tour 600 has a larger head than the Prestige Classic 600. I will also say that the Premier Tour 600 is slightly smaller than the Pro Tour 630. Also the beam width on the Premier Tour is 20mm the same as the Pro Tour 630. The Prestige Classic 600 beam width is 19mm. The Premier Tour replaced the Pro Tour 630 in the commercial line-up of HEAD.

The Premier Tour was the first awful HEAD racquet that I had ever hit with. It was a prelude of things to come.

thanks for confirming what I had originally known, it is closer to a 630 but maybe should have been called 625, 95/97

well kind of, it says 600 mid on the frame but it is closer to a 630 so when you say "prestige" you are being too general, do you means prestige Mid or MidPlus?

HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS ON THIS FORUM!! THE PREMIER IS NOT A 600 PERIOD!!!!!!

IT ONLY SAYS SO ON THE FRAME, IT IS CLOSER TO A 630

Geeze, EVEN DEUCE AN EXPERT ON THE PREMIER HAS SAID SO MANY TIMES

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=1209229&postcount=10

Heck, I have even made the mistake of thinking it was closer to a 600 until I got few from Europe right in my hands.

 

[s_andrean]

I spoke to a Head rep the other day, and its due for UK/European launch late next spring, as the Microgel Prestige, and its won't have any flashy colours like the Extreme. There will no longer be an flexpoints either. You guys in the US will get it most probably early spring, or if they push it, late winter, but no sooner.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Sorry, but at least here in Europe the Premier Tour was a 600 mold! A former team collegue of me used it at this time and his father - who I see at least once a month - still uses it. And it's a 600.
BTW: At 1998 I strung a racket for Jerome Haehnel: It was a Prestige with CAP and 18x20 pattern but Premier Tour pj.

Kuerten used a Premier Tour PJ with CAP as well do you think he can switch from 600 to 630 that easily? He has always played with PT630 and sometime it was painted to look like a premier.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

The Pro Tour T280/630 is on top of Premier tour "600" they are very close in head size

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Notice MidPlus on PT280/630 on top and "600" for premier tour on bottom

The Premier tour "600" is on top of Pro Tour 280/630 they are very close in head size

Notice "Mid" on the Premier tour

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

The only subtle difference I noticed is at the outside above the throat

Not even 1/4cm from both sides the Pro Tour 280 buldges a bit

Enjoy one of the rare and few Head made in Austria with Twaron that is just a tad smaller than a Pro Tour 280/630 which can be considered a 625 or 95/97 with open pattern