So will the 2014 Prestige...

A

Alex78

Hall of Fame
... feature the same / a similar racket design like the 2013 Graphene Speed and Instinct lines? By that I mean the polarized mass distribution.
I haven't playtested the G Speed or Instinct, but from what I'm gathering, the different mass distribution leads to a significantly different feel / behavior of the racket. (Is that correct?)
So I'm wondering if such a fundamental deviation from the traditional Prestige racket design wouldn't have to be considered a no-go by both Head and Prestige users.
Maybe Head will call the 2014 Prestige Graphene but do without such a drastic change to the rackets playing characteristics?
- Any input on this?
 
Well I'm certainly hoping this way :-)
But it's correct that the G Speed (Instinct too?) is indeed different from the YTIG version, no?
So they probably can afford to fool around with the non-traditional racket lines - but not with the Prestige. Wondering about the Radicals, then, too...
 
Alex78 said:
Well I'm certainly hoping this way :-)
But it's correct that the G Speed (Instinct too?) is indeed different from the YTIG version, no?
So they probably can afford to fool around with the non-traditional racket lines - but not with the Prestige. Wondering about the Radicals, then, too...
Click to expand...

They would be more likely to tinker with the Radical than the Prestige, but I doubt that they would either way.
 
I agree, but they did increase the beam width of the Radical and even its shape / mold, actually quite frequently in the past.
 
Puh, thanks everybody for your input so far - takes away my "fear" that they will change any substantial characteristics of the Prestige. So unless they decide to drill holes into the frame again, it's more or less just gonna be a new paint job. Maybe tinker with the stiffness a little bit, but that's about it, I hope.
Can't wait for any leaked "official" information, though ;-)
 
Most likely the Prestige and the Radical will carry on with the same headsize variant as the Innegra series and the frost coloured grommet sets, but with the Graphene technology.
 
Swan Song: That is exactly the difference we've been talking about here: If they use Graphene TECHNOLOGY, then it's a significant change from anything a Prestige was in the past. So they will probably just claim they use G tech, but in essence basically leave the racket unchanged and give it a new paint job.
As for the Radicals, however, using G tech may be very well possible, as it's experienced some notable modifications both to its mold and beam thickness over its past iterations. At least that's my assessment at the moment...
 
You guys realize how much they've changed the Speed Pro right? The string pattern now has shared holes and is a fair amount tighter towards the center. SW feels higher, indicating they did move more weight to the head. Every generation of racquet is different from the previous, not just in paint. Whether the "new technology" actually works, I don't know. But I sure do know that every line of Prestige and Radical I've hit with definitely aren't "just paintjobs." I also don't know if they'll change the new Prestige and Radical to be drastically different like the Speed. But the Speed was one of their best selling after Djokovic's 2011 and 2012 seasons so I think it'd be foolish to assume they would never change a best selling model
 
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Good points, especially about the changed string pattern and the shared holes! So even the Prestige may not be sacrosanct.
Oh well, I know it's wayyy early, but I'd really like to know already what they're gonna do to / with it ;-)
 
The new Graphene Prestige (& Radicals) will both be different racquet models just like the Speeds were a complete new racquets.

The big spiel with the Graphene is taking weight out of the middle of the racquet and polarizing them essentially creating a new stick. They will also be more mute than the IG series and will more than likely feature shared holes.
 
Meh...it'll be an extra 1-2mm wider and be predominantly white in the upper hoop, like most of the other HEADs. There will be extra large HEAD branding and white coloured CAP grommets that will also be emblazoned with HEAD logos. Whatever red paint there will be, it will be secondary to HEAD branding and other insignia.
 
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MAXXply said:
Meh...it'll be an extra 1-2mm wider and be predominantly white in the upper hoop, like most of the other HEADs. There will be extra large HEAD branding and white coloured CAP grommets that will also be emblazoned with HEAD logos. Whatever red paint there will be, it will be secondary to HEAD branding and other insignia.
Click to expand...

Now you're just being mean ;-)
 
will they do what all other companies are doing?

make it stiffer, lighter, with a lower swing weight and more logos...

i hope they don't.
 
They can do all they want with their other racket lines, but, please, not with the Prestige.
So no shared holes, no change in mass distribution etc. I think almost everyone here would agree with that.
 
Re: [d]ragon: I'm not sure there was universal love with either the original or the IG Speeds. I know both versions left me cold. They might have sold well, but that's more because of the sponsorship / identification angle with a guy having a couple of great seasons.

The new Speeds are "radical"ly (see what I did there?) different from the YT & YTIG versions, and a good thing, too, IMHO. For me, I could change to the new lineup...I couldn't with the previous two.
 
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Back on topic, haven't they, in recent years, alternated between good and meh versions, at least for the Prestiges? I know it's all subject to opinion, but hasn't it gone something like:

Good: Intelligence, Microgel, IG

Meh: Flexpoint, YT, _______

If that's the case, it might not bode well for the next rev.

I love sweeping generalizations...
 
dje31 said:
Back on topic, haven't they, in recent years, alternated between good and meh versions, at least for the Prestiges? I know it's all subject to opinion, but hasn't it gone something like:

Good: Intelligence, Microgel, IG

Meh: Flexpoint, YT, _______

If that's the case, it might not bode well for the next rev.

I love sweeping generalizations...
Click to expand...

Oooh, that's nice - I love seeing such patterns ;-)
Let's keep our fingers crossed they don't do it on purpose...
I have only played with the old sticks back from the 80ies and the MGMP, so I can't make a judgment on the other iterations. Thanks for pointing this out!

Edit: Although I see the LiquidMetal is missing. - Considered a "Meh" version on this forum, if I presume correctly.
 
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I knew I forgot at least one. Good pickup. Folks smarter than me can give their input, but I think that's probably where it generally falls.
 
Oh yeah, I hope they ditch the clear / opaque grommets, CAP and otherwise, going back to basic black.
 
If they don't change the mold / string holes, then it's no problem to use the MG black CAPs.
But it would be nicer if the racket looked good from the get go...
 
True, but I wouldn't be surprised if they go to shared holes with the next gen.

On the upside, it seems to minimize string buzz / ping / ring, so a damper is less necessary. All of the Heads I've tried with shared holes were fine without a damper.
 
Hopefully they keep it the same, or lower the stiffness a little bit more. It is perfect platform racquet thats been around now for quite some time, hopefully they wont do any dramatic changes
 
Forgive me if this has been covered in one of the Graphene threads already, but how was it determined that they are more polarized? Thats not something one can infer just looking at mass and balance. Are we infering that because of a higher than avg swingweight for the mass and balance? Visible lead under the bumpers? Somebody chop em up into pieces?

-Jack
 
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So do i buy a prestige now or wait for the graphene model? I suppose when the graphene one comes out the price of the current models will drop . . . . but then i like the look of the Speed.
Choices choices choices . . . .
 
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