The Cult of PT57

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Would you be able to explain that a little further for me, please?

When you say "identifying the mold used to cook the racquet", do you mean they all flex in the same way (all TK57A-5s flex the same and all A-2s flex the same but different to the A-5s), or what?

Because when you use the word "mold" to me that means the TK57A part. That's how you identify them as TK57As when you look at the racquet (if nothing was seen in the throat area).

Does the fact that my Zebra have the TK57A stamp (embossing) mean that it is not a TK57-B, or is it still a TK57-B because it's a Zebra and therefore a Twin Tube Construction?
Im talking about how they identify the mold used to manufacture the racquet. Meaning TK57A-5 was the mold used to make your racquet. Because they have more than one TK57 mold being used to manufacture thousands of racquets.
The big metal thing below is the mold
HEADFactoryTour3.jpg
 

Pawel

New User
"Head Radical Tour Twin Tube 630 18x20, Made in Austria"
Can you please advise what grommets and head protector will fit for this racket from currently availble ones?
 

Imago

Hall of Fame
I don't like pj. I suppose, Zebra is one of the best pj ever. It looks modern and nice even 25 later.

Ha-ha, a govoryat, chto na vkus i na cvet tovarishchey net. Three times now I am reluctant to buy candy cane because of the PJ - but mainly because it seems to me it is too flexy, if the material is the same as with candy cane 690.
 

cdik

Rookie
Candy cane has less s/w so it's more user friendly then Zebra. It's easy to play 2 hours. I'd to remove bumper from Zebra to lower swingweight
 
"Head Radical Tour Twin Tube 630 18x20, Made in Austria"
Can you please advise what grommets and head protector will fit for this racket from currently availble ones?
All versions of prestige mid plus grommets will fit, including the latest Graphene touch prestige mp. If you don’t want caps, look for a grommet for microgel or youtek radical mp
 

djNEiGht

Legend
changing pallets on one of my iPrestige. It has a glossy black finish and does not say "made in". The paint around the hoop is chipped but over all structure is great. h22057EIN on the barcode sticker with 1507205. stamped in a circle is T57E with a 6 below it. There is another circle that says 689. I don't recall what my other iPrestige said which had a more matte black color and also says "made in austria" on the throat.
 

wimps

New User
Just acquired these relics from a time gone by. Full restoration completed with change of pallets to TK82S, leather grips and new grommets.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
changing pallets on one of my iPrestige. It has a glossy black finish and does not say "made in". The paint around the hoop is chipped but over all structure is great. h22057EIN on the barcode sticker with 1507205. stamped in a circle is T57E with a 6 below it. There is another circle that says 689. I don't recall what my other iPrestige said which had a more matte black color and also says "made in austria" on the throat.
There was a sticker on the butt-cap that said made in Austria. The ones with the shinier paint and the made in Austria sticker on the butt-cap are from the later production in 2003
 

HeadClassic

Rookie
I own two PT57A2 in Graphene XT Prestige paint. Made in China. Is there any speculation/evidence whether or not these play more stiff or different than the original PT630? I have never hit with the originals. I know this has been asked before. But whenever I play with my Radical Tour Candy Cane, it is never harsh on my arm like these China made PT57A2.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
I own two PT57A2 in Graphene XT Prestige paint. Made in China. Is there any speculation/evidence whether or not these play more stiff or different than the original PT630? I have never hit with the originals. I know this has been asked before. But whenever I play with my Radical Tour Candy Cane, it is never harsh on my arm like these China made PT57A2.
I have PT57A2 in Graphene paint and they don’t feel harsh on my arm and feel as silky smooth as my Austrian PT630
 
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HeadClassic

Rookie
I have PT57A2 in Graphene paint and they don’t feel rash on my arm and feel as silky smooth as my Austrian PT630
Good to know. And great to hear they are still producing quality! I prefer the feel of the PT57A over the Candy Cane. However, after playing roughly 2 hours using my PT57A I get pain and aches in my bicep. A similar feeling like doing too many arm curls with dumbbells, and remains sore for about a week before I can play with the stick again. Never experienced this with any other racket. With the Candycane, I do not get this pain. And yes, both my PT57A and Candycane are similarly weighted between 12.5 and 12.9 oz and I have tested lighter weight too. It's a mystery to me! Maybe it's the magic of twin tube technology that protects me from harsh vibration. But because the buttery feel of the PT57A is addicting, I keep picking it up.
 

Imago

Hall of Fame
With the Candycane, I do not get this pain. And yes, both my PT57A and Candycane are similarly weighted between 12.5 and 12.9 oz and I have tested lighter weight too. It's a mystery to me! Maybe it's the magic of twin tube technology that protects me from harsh vibration. But because the buttery feel of the PT57A is addicting, I keep picking it up.

How old is your elbow?
 

HeadClassic

Rookie
Interestingly, the Candycane on the far right has a hairpin that is a whopping 0.4 oz heavier than the other two. As far as I've researched, that is as big of a disparity as it gets when they're manufactured. So when I got my hands on the third one, I got lucky that it was the same weight as the first.
 

HeadClassic

Rookie
I have a myth buster for everyone on this forum. One that I'm sure many of you would be interested in the result. Ready? The PT57A has a slightly higher RA than the original "Made in Austria" Pro Tour 630. If there is anyone out there with an RDC, I would consider you a legend for solving this myth. #mythbuster
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
I have a myth buster for everyone on this forum. One that I'm sure many of you would be interested in the result. Ready? The PT57A has a slightly higher RA than the original "Made in Austria" Pro Tour 630. If there is anyone out there with an RDC, I would consider you a legend for solving this myth. #mythbuster
There is actually 3 different PT57A. So it depends on what you have. Anyway I have PT57A2 in Flexpoint Radical paint that comes out on the RDC lower than my made in Austria Pro Tour 630 but on the court feel the same.
 

HeadClassic

Rookie
There is actually 3 different PT57A. So it depends on what you have. Anyway I have PT57A2 in Flexpoint Radical paint that comes out on the RDC lower than my made in Austria Pro Tour 630 but on the court feel the same.
I wasn't aware anyone actually performed this test. That is great information! So are you of the opinion that PT57A really are infused with Twaron?
 
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