Racquet Recommendation (coming from Prestige Pro IG)

FractaL

New User
Hey all!

Thanks in advance for reading this and trying to help :)

I have been playing for over 21 years (now 28 years old). Unfortunately, I do not understand anything about racquets. I think it is about time that I changed my 7 year old Head Prestige Pro IG. Since I did not like the new Prestige at all, and I have tested many other racquets, I am a bit desperate and asking for help. Also, it is very hard to find and test some racquets in my country.
Playstyle:
Defensive, lots of forehand topspin, flat atacking backhand (2 hands), flat 1st serve > 170km/h, sliced second serve. Very long and fast swing - I count on my long swing to really attack or put spin on the ball.

Previous racquets (my thoughts):
1. Prestige IG Pro (+lead tape @ 11 and 1) -
I used love this racquet (playing 7 years with it), especially how serves come off it. Now I feel it is a bit stiff, and it takes me a lot of effort to return defensive shots into the court.
2. Prestige Pro Microgel - Very similar to the IG. Voleys felt much much worse on this racquet, so I quickly changed it to the IG version.
3. Head iTour L4 - played with this from 12-17 competitively. Still use it sometimes.
4. Head Titanium S2 - junior raquet does not count :)

Racquets tested (starting from most recent):
1. Wilson Blade 16/19 @ 305g -
Felt better than most I have tested recently, but too light. I found it much harder to put spin on the ball.
2. Wilson Burn @320g - Definitely not my racquet.
3. Latest Prestige Pro, Speed Pro & Radical - The Prestige felt the same in the hand, compared to my Prestige Pro IG, but balls were flying everywhere. I had no control what-so-ever. The Speed Pro is just not my racquet. The Radical is ok, but still not my racquet.
4. The predecessor of the Babolat Pure Strike @320g - My tennis partner told me that my balls were 10% faster and with more speed. Felt ok in the hand, but slightly more HL than I am used to. Lighter than what I am used to. The only one I liked in my recent tests so far.
5. Wilson K-factor Six one @ 340 or so grams - Unless I hit the ball very accurately in the sweet spot, it was very hard for me to handle this racquet. Felt unnaturally heavy, due to the extra weight in the handle (compared to my Prestige). That was waaaay back, so things may have changed with the newer models.
6. Babolat Aero Pro Drive (6-7 years ago) - Felt like no matter how much power I put, nothing was happenning. This was waaaay back, so the racquet may have changed (same as 5.)
7. Pure Drive @300g (many years ago) - It was a very hard decision for me to choose between the iTour and the (maybe first ever?) Pure Drive. I ended up with the Head, but I really liked the Pure Drive back then.

My latest thoughts..:
I have ordered a Babolat Pure Drive Tour Plus to test. I was advised to go with the Pure Strike VS Tour but the reviews were not so great, so I decided against it.
I read and watched great reviews of the Yonex VCore Pro 330g, but there is no way for me to test it so I have to order one and see if I like it. Selling it afterwards will be difficult.
The reviews of the Wilson Pro Staff Autograph are also fantastic, but I am afraid it will be similar to the K-factor version I tested a while back.

What do you guys/gals think? Any suggestions or comments?
PS: Sorry for the long post and thanks for taking the time to read it.
 

JoaoN

Semi-Pro
I had the same issue with the newest prestige pro. Balls were flying crazy on me, no control at all.

I tested both Vcore Pro 97, 310 and 330g, i preferred the 310 version with some lead.

I also had my time with the RF97, great racquet if you can swing it for more than 1 hour/1h30min.

I would recommend the Vcore Pros, specially the 310g version. I really like this one and might settle with it.
 
I really enjoyed the new v feel 320g. Might pick one up.

Also play with a weighted tt100p and touchspeed pro.

But my go to is pro staff 90 from a few years ago.
 

Hansen

Professional
based on your post you want a racquet that is softer and easier to play than your ig prestige pro, with easy acess to spin and good power.
my best advice is to choose a racquet that you like in terms of feel, comfort and spin and customize it to the weight you want.

my recommendations based on your preferences which could work:
pro kennex q+ tour pro (315), yonex vcore 95, yonex vcore pro, wilson pro staff 97 all 4 are relatively similar to your current racquet
prince tt 100p, yonex ezone 98 if you want to try something different
 

Henry Hub

Professional
Not the easiest frame to track down but the path from prestige pro (YTPP/IGPP) to the Tec T Fight 315 Ltd (2013 version) seems pretty well worn... The 18M will tick the control box and it’s heaps flexier than the IG.
 
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LordRaceR

Semi-Pro
Was using Youtek Prestige Pro for long time and now I switched to Pure Strike 2017 16x19. It requires some mods to be good, leather grip and some weight it the hoop, but over 340g plays really, really nice.

That is what I did; total weight is 346g, bit less then 356g specs on my Prestige Pro, but it like it.

Hence you already liked previous Strike, that is my recommendation. Just add weight to match your specs and it will fly, on latter or newer, but I recommend to try newer version before you decide.
 

Isn_fish

New User
I was playing recently with the ig prestige pro, and the dunlop srixon cx 200 tour 16x19 is my next choice, but I still haven’t tested it yet.
Last week i had the chance to test 2 sticks that would never be chosen as per my preferences: the babolat pure aero, and dunlop srixon revo cv 3.0.
Altough they are far away from being player sticks, they did improve my ball speed, spin, and more important, they kept me in shape for the 2nd and 3rd sets in singles.
As I’m reaching the 40yo, I’m really considering making the switch for the dunlop, as they played very similar, but with better feel in the dunlop


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JustTennis76

Hall of Fame
I have been using the Youtek Prestige Pro last 2 years after acquiring some used ones off the bay in great condition. If comfort is your issue with the IG prestige pro, why not try a gut poly hybrid? It plays so wonderfully with some much comfort. That's what I am doing with my prestige pro right now. I also stocked up on grommets for these as well.
 

FractaL

New User
Thanks all.
Based on your recommendations, I will first try the new RF 97 as I can find one quickly to test. If that doesn't work for me I may risk it with the VCore pro 330g.
Afterwards I will check your suggestions again and go down the list :)


@LordRaceR How do you weight your racquets so much? I have put 2 led strips and a tape protector on my Prestige Pro and it comes at 345g (from 325g unstrung). Maybe my scales are broken...

@JustTennis76 I don't really care about my strings too much... Anything durable used to work for me (like the RPM blast). Maybe I should try your suggestion.
 
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LordRaceR

Semi-Pro
My Youtek Prestige’s: 325g (around that, don’t remember exactly) + strings (around 15g) + 12g of lead (6g on both sides on 3 and 9) + overgip + vibra stop = 356g, 32.8 balance.
 

FractaL

New User
I just received my Babolat PDT+ and got the RF 97 Autograph for testing. Will keep you posted, but the RF 97 feels great in the hand. Much different than the K-factor series I tried last.
 

JoaoN

Semi-Pro
I just received my Babolat PDT+ and got the RF 97 Autograph for testing. Will keep you posted, but the RF 97 feels great in the hand. Much different than the K-factor series I tried last.

The RF will fell and play much different than the k90, i have played both and the RF97, due to the bigger head, i think, swings way heavier. It is a great racquet tough, but for me it was only great for the first hour.
 

FractaL

New User
Thanks for the info @JoaoN . I just measured my prestige the right way and the RF 97 is only 8 or so grams heavier. Hopefully it won't be a problem for me :)
Can't wait to try them out!
 

FractaL

New User
Hi all. Today I tested both the PDT+ and the RF97 Auto. Both felt better than my Prestige Pro, but the RF97 was a clear winner. Groundstrokes, volleys, slices, dropshots, top spin, flat shots.... everything felt amazing. I made some magical shots that I haven't been able to do in a long time. I felt I could place the ball anywhere I want. The only thing I could not get used to is serving because of the different balance. Second serve was great though. Did not feel heavy, so I may put some tape and a couple of lead strips.
The PDT+ was quite good as well. Serves were amazing with this racket, but I it was too light for me. Going for winners was tough as the balls were long most of the time. On defensive shots the racket felt great.

Thank you all for the recommendations :) I can now happily get 2 RF97's and destroy opponents for the next couple of year!
 

blai212

Hall of Fame
RF97 is good til ur arm drops off...

which is exactly what happened to me, feels great to smack balls around with what feels like Thor’s hammer, mjollinor, but after 45 mins I have a dead arm. Killed my arm playing multiple hours of doubles, multiple days in a row...switched over to the ezone and never felt better. Perfect combo of comfort/spin/power and the racquet just whips through the air so easily due to the aerodynamic engineering of the throat. When your arm dies from the RF97, give the ezone a try...the extended models are heavenly for power/spin but require better footwork due to less maneuverability.


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blai212

Hall of Fame
update: i switched to vcore 98 then diadem elevate tour cuz I needed more power that the ezone could not provide. Added some lead tape at 10/2 to my elevate tour and loving it except for the fact I have to restring at least once a week. I’m glad u enjoyed the RF97. It is perfect in every aspect while the arm can sustain the exertion.


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blai212

Hall of Fame
UPDATE: switched to the VCP 100 300g and leaded up 10/2 and added leather grip plus some more lead tape on the grip and it feels great! It has the forgiveness of a 100 sq in frame while also having the control/precision of a thin beamed frame. Hopefully I’m done with this racquet switching fiasco...


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FractaL

New User
Hey all,

Thanks for your comments. Here is what happened with my hunt for a new racket:

I have bought 2xRF97A rackets. They play a bit differently compared to the test racket I was trying out. Here are my observations:
1. I have lost so much control in comparison to the test racket and the prestige pro. The balls I hit fly way off the court.
2. I have no troubles with the weight - in fact I have placed 2 Wilson lead strips at 12 o'clock to compnesate for the different balance from the Head Prestige. I do not play that regularly and still I am absolutely fine hitting for two hours straight, once or twice a week.
3. When I hit a ball properly, it flies so much faster. I have increased the speed of my shots by at least 20-30%, making every 3rd or 4th shot an absolute killer.
4. To increase the control I switched from 23-22kg stringing (on the Prestige), to 26-25kg with RPM Blast. I am planning on trying out 27-26kg when I break my strings.
5. Volleys are amazing. An occasional one handed backhand feels superb - too bad I play 2 handed BH. Because of this racket I am thinking of switching :D
6. I feel my serves to be much worse. It is very hard for me to hit with all my power and still get the ball in.
7. I am just sad that I lost the feel from those amazing two sets with the test racket. I even asked at the store to restring my two rackets with the same string and weight (24-23kg Luxilon 4g) to no avail. Balls were hitting the back net of the court.

All in all, an amazing racket, but I feel that either I have not gotten used to it yet, or it is just not my racket. The only major issue I have is the control. From what I can tell I am stringing it much heavier and with a much stiffer string than most players. Still, I cannot get that control from the Prestige Pro (or the test racket) back. The power has increased significantly, though.

Any suggestions on fine-tuning it or whether I should switch, please let me know (thinking of trying out the VCore 330g in the future).
 
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