edelp
Semi-Pro
Yes, the Microgel Radical MP fits to the 57a, and the prestige MP
The Cult of PT57
- Thread starter vsbabolat
- Start date
Yes, the Microgel Radical MP fits to the 57a, and the prestige MP
tennisnoob1949
Semi-Pro
The more I play with the I.Prestige MP, the more I find myself wondering why people compare it to the PT280 or to the PC600 (As evidenced by some threads on this website). It has a very different feel, much stiffer and 'modern' - feels a lot like many recent racquets (albeit more 'solid'). Even just bouncing a ball on the 3 racquets (Identically strung), I get a distinct high-pitched 'ping' sound with the I.Prestige (not nearly as bad as the graphene ones and definitely no vibrations, just the sound), but only solid 'thwok' sounds from the PT280 and PC600.
The PT280 and PC600 are something else - the feel you get is really like nothing else I've played with. I'm having a really hard time deciding which of these 2 racquest should be my main 'go-to' stick
The PT280 and PC600 are something else - the feel you get is really like nothing else I've played with. I'm having a really hard time deciding which of these 2 racquest should be my main 'go-to' stick
rafa_prestige89
Professional
Come on, the i.Prestige MP is awesome, you can’t compare it to today’s piece of crap sticks!
tennisnoob1949
Semi-Pro
Completely agree with that. I was merely comparing it to the pt280 and pc600.
SOY78
Professional
After about couple of years of putting most of my PT57's in the closet I played with the MG & Youtek Presige Pro's and got bigger spin with them but less consistency. I recently dugout the old PT57's and wow I missed the consistency from 18x20 pattern and the control I get with these sticks. I won't put them back in the closet for a while
HeadClassic
Rookie
Alright boys, it's settled. I've named the Head Tour Xtra-Long my stick of choice. It's just too easy to serve with. And I have large hands, so the longer handle is welcomed for my 2 handed backhand. I still get the solid feel from the graphite/twaron, and slightly more power with a 21mm compared to a 20mm on the PT630. And the forest green color is classic
Dansan
Semi-Pro
Just want to share my findings with string setups thus far since i’ve been the lucky owner of a PT280 about a year now.
First setup I have tried was the string that came with the racquet. 16g HEAD multifilament probably around 55 lbs. Rocket launcher, mushy trampoline albeit super comfortable and soft. Everything felt out of control, everything sailing long. Really difficult to feel much.
Hybrid setup... ( not my tension of choice, again this was string already on the stick) Shaped ALU crosses around 53 lbs, gut mains 55 lbs. super comfortable, a lot of power, too much power and lack of spin. Unpredictable for me. I think if the strings were fresh and higher tension by 2 or 3 lbs it would have been better.
Full bed of HyperG 16L at 51.5 lbs. Comfortable, crisp, plenty of pop, tons of spin potential, and a lot of feel/touch. Just an incredible feeling setup on the PT280. I felt the racquet become a different animal. Before this setup, I couldn’t really connect with the racquet and almost lost hope. Downside is longevity...hyperG lasts longer than most polys I’ve played with, but after going dead they become unpredictable and stiff. Lasted maybe 4 sessions.
Next up is a cheap full bed of Gosen of sheep micro 17 synth. gut at 59 lbs. Just for curiosity sake, the Gosen synth gut feels really crisp in my other racquet. I think it’s underrated, I’ll report back with my findings. But so far, the full 16L Hyper G is phenomenal at low 50s when fresh.
First setup I have tried was the string that came with the racquet. 16g HEAD multifilament probably around 55 lbs. Rocket launcher, mushy trampoline albeit super comfortable and soft. Everything felt out of control, everything sailing long. Really difficult to feel much.
Hybrid setup... ( not my tension of choice, again this was string already on the stick) Shaped ALU crosses around 53 lbs, gut mains 55 lbs. super comfortable, a lot of power, too much power and lack of spin. Unpredictable for me. I think if the strings were fresh and higher tension by 2 or 3 lbs it would have been better.
Full bed of HyperG 16L at 51.5 lbs. Comfortable, crisp, plenty of pop, tons of spin potential, and a lot of feel/touch. Just an incredible feeling setup on the PT280. I felt the racquet become a different animal. Before this setup, I couldn’t really connect with the racquet and almost lost hope. Downside is longevity...hyperG lasts longer than most polys I’ve played with, but after going dead they become unpredictable and stiff. Lasted maybe 4 sessions.
Next up is a cheap full bed of Gosen of sheep micro 17 synth. gut at 59 lbs. Just for curiosity sake, the Gosen synth gut feels really crisp in my other racquet. I think it’s underrated, I’ll report back with my findings. But so far, the full 16L Hyper G is phenomenal at low 50s when fresh.
edelp
Semi-Pro
Hi,
I did this a few times, and if i remember well, it removes around 12 gr and thus "makes it around 1cm more headlight". I can check the grommet or the bumper weight difference at home..
But for sure does it make the frame more maneuverable...
At the same time it gives me the impression to make the frame even more flexible than capped.
I did this a few times, and if i remember well, it removes around 12 gr and thus "makes it around 1cm more headlight". I can check the grommet or the bumper weight difference at home..
But for sure does it make the frame more maneuverable...
At the same time it gives me the impression to make the frame even more flexible than capped.
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
After Kuerten won Roland Garros in ‘97, I know he used the Fire mold I believe it was for a bit and then was also seen with a Ti. Radical paint job with CAP grommets. Two questions: What was under his iPrestige MP paint job? and was Guga the reason HEAD made the PT57A to begin with? He was after all their premier player with that racket at the time.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Guga didn’t really use the Ti Fire. It was really the PT57A with a cross bar. The Ti. Radical paint job Guga used had the PT57A under the paint. Guga didn’t use really use the i.Prestige MP it was again the PT57A. No, The PT57A wasn’t designed for Guga. The PT57A is just the code for the mold that came out in 1993 with the Radical Trisys 260 MP. There are 3 layups available for the PT57A. The retail PT57A racquets are the Radical Trisys 260 MP and Pro Tour 630/280
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
Didn’t know about the Fire being PT57A with crossbar but yea I know what the PT57A is, my question is was it made into a pro stock for Guga initially and then just carried on/used by other players?
rafa_prestige89
Professional
I think the first great player that started using the PT57A was Muster.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
No, there was always a Pro Stock in Radical Trisys 260 MP and Pro Tour 630
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
Ok that’s what I was wondering. Also is the mold pretty much the same with the current Prestige MP rackets? I know on the side where the grommets end the indent is different on the PT57A. Anything else besides layup?
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
The PT57A is very similar to the TGK293 (Prestige MP mold since IG). The difference is the grommet channel, the length of the handle is shorter on the PT57A, and the yoke is a little longer on the PT57A
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
I think the handle on retail Prestige MP is shorter than on most rackets which is one of the things I like most about it, especially having a one hander.
FourOutOfFive
Rookie
Not trying to be stupid here but what’s the most you guys would pay for a PT57A? Getting an offer for a brand new one in the 1st gen Graphene paint for 480 euros (540 USD) including shipping from Europe to the US.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
PT630Wannabe
Professional
With so many retail versions of the racquet available on the auction site I don’t see the point of getting pro stock if you’re just curious what the fuss is about. Buy yourself a Radical Tour 630 either Bumblebee, Zebra or Candycane and give that a whirl first. Bumblebee will be closest materials wise to a Pro Tour 630.
federer777
Rookie
do you know who ever played with a Bumble Bee 630 PJ? thanks!And some Radical Tours from the 90ies - used but still awesome
PT630Wannabe
Professional
David Wheaton.
federer777
Rookie
it was 690, thanks all the same
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
The 360 Radical paint looks great on the PT57A
I guess HEAD will never stop the nonsense
I guess HEAD will never stop the nonsense
rafa_prestige89
Professional
HEAD would sell those racquets for whatever price they wanted but they prefer to fool us with craphene.
ProRadTour
Semi-Pro
The Radical paint job PT57's look the best
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
That shape of the mold is the best.
ProRadTour
Semi-Pro
@kailash It's not really close to the PT57. It was a soft muted frame, but just doesn't play the same IMO. So in characteristics, yeah you could say it's close. The 315 ltd didn't really have that deep ball pocketing the PT57s do. Yeah no new Head frames play like the PT57.
I would say the 315 ltd was closer to a Radical than a PT57 IMO.
I would say the 315 ltd was closer to a Radical than a PT57 IMO.
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kailash
Hall of Fame
Ok, thx. How to get a PT57A? Saw some on auction site, but very expensive and could be fake.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
They are true PT57A
ProRadTour
Semi-Pro
@kailash Yeah PT57s are expensive, but when you consider you might buy and try multiple different frames that are supposed to be like a PT57 you would have spent what a PT57 costs. Also, you can get the early Radicals (Bumblebee, Zebra and Candycane) off the auction site which are retail PT57A's for a much lower cost and they are great frames.
ProRadTour
Semi-Pro
I have pro stock PT57A's and retail PT57A's and to be honest you end up weighting up the pro stocks to similar weights of the retail variants. They are low powered players frames and in my experience really need be weighted up quite high to get the best out of them.
In my experience, of the retail variants, the Candycane has the lowest swing-weight and would be the most user friendly option to pursue. If you play the Candycane without CAP grommets, the weight is very manageable and the swing-weight is not excessively high. So you would have a little room for customization with lead tape.
The candycane is also probably the most reasonably priced or least sought after.
jonestim
Hall of Fame
I recently sold a PT280 - Designed in Austria - that weighed about 330 strung with syn-gut. Lighter ones are out there.
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
The Tecnifibre TFight 315 Limited (2013), and all 315 LTD's, are Tecnifibre's copy of the PT630 and are an identical mold of the PT57A. They even have Head pallets that are changeable and a code on the pin (PT965A).
They don't have the identical feeling to the PT57A's but with the correct customization and strings, they will be a major weapon. The advantage I find with the Tecnifibre 315 Limited racquets IS that they can be customized to the desired weight and balance, and still be lighter than a Radical Tour 630 or a PT630. The end result is a racquet that has a bigger sweet spot, equal stability, still produces a heavy penetrating ball, but is lighter in weight and much cheaper to purchase.
At the end of the day, this is all personal and it will come down to you and what you like and are comfortable with.
I gave my coach a PT630, a Wilson Ultra Tour (97), and a Tecnifibre TFight 315 Limited 18x20 (2013). The latter two were modified to around 350g strung (depending on the string used) and swung similar to my PT630... He liked the Tecnifibre 315 Limited the best and said that it gave him the most confidence in where the ball will go as it leaves his racquet. That's him...
If you have tried a PT630 and you like that feeling when the ball is struck... then you need to play with that racquet because none are the same, but some come close (Radical Tour 630's, Ultra Tour (Modified), Tec 315 Limited (Modified), Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 Tour - Modified).
Last thing, I completely agree with @ProRadTour, the PT57A's are made for the Pros and either come at their specs (which might not suit you personally) or are light and need to be modified anyway to your personal specs. So you end up doing the same thing and they cost so much more... you need to decide whether you think it's worth it. You can buy one of the other Retail Racquets, add silicone to the handle, add weight in the appropriate areas to match your needs... and voila... you too have a Customized Pro Stock racquet. In the case of the Tecnifibre TFight 315 Limited... it will also come with a Pro Stock Code...
Enough ranting for one day...
kailash
Hall of Fame
The Tecnifibre TFight 315 Limited (2013), and all 315 LTD's, are Tecnifibre's copy of the PT630 and are an identical mold of the PT57A. They even have Head pallets that are changeable and a code on the pin (PT965A).
They don't have the identical feeling to the PT57A's but with the correct customization and strings, they will be a major weapon. The advantage I find with the Tecnifibre 315 Limited racquets IS that they can be customized to the desired weight and balance, and still be lighter than a Radical Tour 630 or a PT630. The end result is a racquet that has a bigger sweet spot, equal stability, still produces a heavy penetrating ball, but is lighter in weight and much cheaper to purchase.
At the end of the day, this is all personal and it will come down to you and what you like and are comfortable with.
I gave my coach a PT630, a Wilson Ultra Tour (97), and a Tecnifibre TFight 315 Limited 18x20 (2013). The latter two were modified to around 350g strung (depending on the string used) and swung similar to my PT630... He liked the Tecnifibre 315 Limited the best and said that it gave him the most confidence in where the ball will go as it leaves his racquet. That's him...
If you have tried a PT630 and you like that feeling when the ball is struck... then you need to play with that racquet because none are the same, but some come close (Radical Tour 630's, Ultra Tour (Modified), Tec 315 Limited (Modified), Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 Tour - Modified).
Last thing, I completely agree with @ProRadTour, the PT57A's are made for the Pros and either come at their specs (which might not suit you personally) or are light and need to be modified anyway to your personal specs. So you end up doing the same thing and they cost so much more... you need to decide whether you think it's worth it. You can buy one of the other Retail Racquets, add silicone to the handle, add weight in the appropriate areas to match your needs... and voila... you too have a Customized Pro Stock racquet. In the case of the Tecnifibre TFight 315 Limited... it will also come with a Pro Stock Code...
Enough ranting for one day...
That is helpful, thanks! Currently I am trying out the TFight 315 LTD 16x19 with some customization; may get an 18x20 version also as these racquets are available in retail. I demoed the Ultra Tour; it was good, but not as good as the TFight for my game. Will try PT57A if/when I get a chance.
If the PT57A racquet is so good, why is Head not releasing it like Wilson RF97 or SW104 Blade? They could just release a version that is suitable to the mass or re-issue some of the older radicals. I am pretty sure that those will sell well!
weelie
Professional
It is not sufficient for a product to be good to sell well globally and be profitable. How would they market it? Would even 1% of the buying public be interested or would it only sell to collectors? Would the 1% be interested if it was not produced in the original Austrian plant? Would it be sold as Andy Murray's racket? How would one make it known and accepted that it is the holy grail? Would it kill all the new models / technology if it was marketed as a holy grail? Even so, would tenniswarehouse give superior reviews (to a racket is aimed to be ...like old rackets), and would the current market accept it? Would it need to be light and bright and stiff and what not... or would it need to come with lead tape and guides to mod to Murray (or whoever) specs? 16x19 vs 18x20? So much effort, so little to gain. Most of the market want something new, and selling something old as something new is tricky.
kailash
Hall of Fame
Valid points, but Head has to do some homework and release a closer version that is consumable by the mass. For example, release an autograph version and a light version of Djokovic radicals. If RF97 is selling, why not ND95 or ND100?
pennc94
Professional
jonestim
Hall of Fame
You also have to remember that when RF went to the 97 it was a big deal. He had been playing the 90 and it was quite obvious that he was getting a new stick. Easy for Wilson to come out and say "here it is." No paintjob story.
Head has been telling people for years that ND is playing a Speed, and the hoopleheads believe them. For them to come out and say "Here's ND's actual racquet that is super different than what we have been telling you" would be a big deal. They may then get questions as to what other pros aren't using what they are endorsing. Big can of worms.
lucieisland
Semi-Pro
hello, and about donnay pro one 97 (penta & hexa)? on their eshop, they write: The Pro One 16x19, Hexacore is for advanced players who are looking for the original classic Head Prestige PT57A which were made in Austria but dont want to pay $700.
you think it's just pure marketing, and ultimately it has absolutely nothing to do with head pt57, or any other legendary framework? I'm a little lost, I tried a pro one 97 penta, and compared to what I played (prestige IG MP and S customized), it was better and more comfortable. a little more powerful than phantom 93 too.
so, donnay pro one 97, cousin? brother or no relation with PT57?
you think it's just pure marketing, and ultimately it has absolutely nothing to do with head pt57, or any other legendary framework? I'm a little lost, I tried a pro one 97 penta, and compared to what I played (prestige IG MP and S customized), it was better and more comfortable. a little more powerful than phantom 93 too.
so, donnay pro one 97, cousin? brother or no relation with PT57?
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
No relation at all!
