Which way to go next: graphene 360+ extreme tour vs prestige?

[GuilhermeG]

Hey folks,

After a brief period (~1 year) using a pair of 18x20 v7 blades, I'm planning to go back to head racquets.

Every time I pick my i. prestige's for matchplay I miss the extra plushness, control and fast swing it has (although it sits at 352g ready to play, cause they have a leather grip added). Problem is: I really wish it had more forgiveness, for one of those "off days". I've moved from my prestige's because of lack of forgiveness, in fact. Was looking for something more modern, easier to use.

With that in mind, which racquet from head sounds as a better option: the new 98" 18x20 prestige mp (graphene 360+, not auxetic) or the 360+ extreme tour?

I've used my prestiges for a looong time, so I'm really used to their plush feel. Does the extreme tour really feel bad? I read some comment about it having some tiny feel...
The extreme tour sounds like a good platform racquet, but I don't wanna have to add a ton of weight to make it playable.

The prestige, otoh, starts at a high weight, in a way that it doesn't have much of a margin for customization/racquet matching. Is it more forgiving, in comparison to the 95" prestiges of old?

What are your thoughts?

Oh, and btw... I can't demo racquets where I live.

Ps.: I really want to stick to head racquets this time. No particular reason, I just like the brand.

Ps. 2: My blades were totally over-spec. 308g unstrung weight, 311 unstrung swingweight (!!!). Strung, their swingweight sits around ~340. I prefer a 320-330 sw, otherwise I tend to hit late.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Ps. 2: My blades were totally over-spec. 308g unstrung weight, 311 unstrung swingweight (!!!). Strung, their swingweight sits around ~340. I prefer a 320-330 sw, otherwise I tend to hit late.

I don’t think your blades were really that over spec. Mine was 336 sw, from 313 g strung. Tdub listed them at 334 sw.

Anyways, the lower swingweight of the v8 blade 18x20 might be up your alley in the mid 320s. I didn’t care for how they balanced it though.

I liked the Extreme Tour without the weighted buttcap (too polarized). Is the Prestige S or MP L available to you? I have an S and it’s basically the Prestige version of the Extreme Tour, same swingweight, though slightly firmer for a more solid hit.

Speed Pro and Boom Pro might be more up your alley for racquets you wouldn’t have to add weight to. Speed Pro (360+) is still the plushest racquet I ever recall hitting with.

 

[Soundbyte]

get the extreme tour. I'm not sure what you mean by "ton of weight." But 6-8g from 10 to 2 or 3/9 is really all you need. And if you desire to add weight to the handle, I'd just swap to a leather grip or add some stickytac to the buttcap. I just did this for a client yesterday. 8g of BlueTak (sticky tac) fits easily into the buttcap, and then a few inches of tape to the hoop.

I know some people on youtube talk about weighting up the Extreme Tour to like a 330+ static weight....I wouldn't do that personally. I added 8g to the hoop, 8g under the buttcap. Took about 5 minutes to do.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Red prestige MP is very different than Extreme tour. Prestige feels way more plush and has a super low launch angle compared to the ET which is a higher launch angle spin machine.

If you hit flat and low go prestige MP if you hit more whippy and have a lot of racquet head speed you might like the extreme tour.

You should check out the Radical Mp. It’s my favorite G360+ generation frame. I’ve owned or currently own Rad Mp, Rad pro, Speed pro,
Gravity pro, Prestige MP and Extreme tour in the G360 line.

 

[CosmosMpower]

I don’t think your blades were really that over spec. Mine was 336 sw, from 313 g strung. Tdub listed them at 334 sw.

Anyways, the lower swingweight of the v8 blade 18x20 might be up your alley in the mid 320s. I didn’t care for how they balanced it though.

I liked the Extreme Tour without the weighted buttcap (too polarized). Is the Prestige S or MP L available to you? I have an S and it’s basically the Prestige version of the Extreme Tour, same swingweight, though slightly firmer for a more solid hit.

Speed Pro and Boom Pro might be more up your alley for racquets you wouldn’t have to add weight to. Speed Pro (360+) is still the plushest racquet I ever recall hitting with.

Speed pro is way too head heavy out of the box mine was like 3 HL strung. Prestige Mp is way plusher than speed pro.

 

[esm]

The 360+ Prestige Mid is amazing.
tiu Can always get one size up, slap on a featherthin grip and remove the weighted piece in the trap door - it will give you about 15g to play with. I have managed to get mine down to 337g with a full length 0.60mm OG

 

[GuilhermeG]

I don’t think your blades were really that over spec. Mine was 336 sw, from 313 g strung. Tdub listed them at 334 sw.

Anyways, the lower swingweight of the v8 blade 18x20 might be up your alley in the mid 320s. I didn’t care for how they balanced it though.

I liked the Extreme Tour without the weighted buttcap (too polarized). Is the Prestige S or MP L available to you? I have an S and it’s basically the Prestige version of the Extreme Tour, same swingweight, though slightly firmer for a more solid hit.

Speed Pro and Boom Pro might be more up your alley for racquets you wouldn’t have to add weight to. Speed Pro (360+) is still the plushest racquet I ever recall hitting with.

A friend of mine has the v8 blade, but I didn't like it very much.

Yes, I guess I could look for the prestige S or MP-L. I read the "S" version is pretty good, but is it close enough to the old prestiges? Does it have the "prestige feel"? If it does, I guess it really fits the bill, since it has enough margin for customization.

get the extreme tour. I'm not sure what you mean by "ton of weight." But 6-8g from 10 to 2 or 3/9 is really all you need. And if you desire to add weight to the handle, I'd just swap to a leather grip or add some stickytac to the buttcap. I just did this for a client yesterday. 8g of BlueTak (sticky tac) fits easily into the buttcap, and then a few inches of tape to the hoop.

I know some people on youtube talk about weighting up the Extreme Tour to like a 330+ static weight....I wouldn't do that personally. I added 8g to the hoop, 8g under the buttcap. Took about 5 minutes to do.

Does it get more comfortable after you add 16g of lead? I read it vibrates a lot on stock form.

I don't have a sensitive arm, but last time I hit with a stiff racquet I started feeling my joints a little bit sore.

Red prestige MP is very different than Extreme tour. Prestige feels way more plush and has a super low launch angle compared to the ET which is a higher launch angle spin machine.

If you hit flat and low go prestige MP if you hit more whippy and have a lot of racquet head speed you might like the extreme tour.

You should check out the Radical Mp. It’s my favorite G360+ generation frame. I’ve owned or currently own Rad Mp, Rad pro, Speed pro,
Gravity pro, Prestige MP and Extreme tour in the G360 line.

I usually hit with spin, and I find my i. prestige's to be very whippy. A lot more than the blade, at least. I don't have any problem generating RHS using the prestige. The launch angle is low indeed.

I read a lot of good stuff about the radical, but I'm afraid to pull the trigger on a G360+ so close to the release of next iteration and lose cash.

The 360+ Prestige Mid is amazing.
tiu Can always get one size up, slap on a featherthin grip and remove the weighted piece in the trap door - it will give you about 15g to play with. I have managed to get mine down to 337g with a full length 0.60mm OG

I've read a lot of good stuff about the mid, but I'd rather go the other way: more forgiveness (from a bigger head size) instead of such a demanding racquet.

 

[J-Wildcard]

If you use a iprestige and are after that feeling, the red 360+ is more of an easier to play racket but lacks the clinical putaway power and advanced level excellence. I have been using the Red 360+ prestige mp for a few hours today, it's a nice enough racket but still doesn't deliver the level of control over power that the older generations do. It has a much wider string bed which is where I am having issues adjusting. I need to increase the tension. Everyone on the forums was encouraging a lower tension but got me on this racket, if you are coming from the older gen head prestiges you need to increase tension by a few pounds. It's pretty different, more like a 16/19 spacing wise if you got back to say ig prestige and radical lines.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Yes, I guess I could look for the prestige S or MP-L. I read the "S" version is pretty good, but is it close enough to the old prestiges?

I can’t say, the S I bought was my first Prestige. RA is 65ish so not the plushest. Not uncomfortable though.

 

[Soundbyte]

I wouldn't say the Extreme Pro is a stiff frame. I, like many others, feel that a little lead unlocks the Extreme Tour to be a fantastic frame.

The new version is coming out in a few weeks, you can grab the outgoing E360+ for cheap!

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Speed pro is way too head heavy out of the box mine was like 3 HL strung. Prestige Mp is way plusher than speed pro.

I’ve only played with the Prestige S so no frame of reference, but yeah, the only reason I didn’t buy a 360+ speed pro was how glacial it made my serve. I understand they brought the swingweight down in the auxetic?

 

[GuilhermeG]

Got offered a pair of ET G360+ for a good price. They're in 9/10 condition, and I believe I could sell my pair of blades for more money. Almost pulling the trigger...

Staying on the prestige course or switching to a more modern approach?

Decisions, decisions...

 

[JoaoN]

Got offered a pair of ET G360+ for a good price. They're in 9/10 condition, and I believe I could sell my pair of blades for more money. Almost pulling the trigger...

Staying on the prestige course or switching to a more modern approach?

Decisions, decisions...

hey, brazilian mate here.

Had both of them, for what you are looking, i think you would like the prestige MP more. ETs can feel a bit brassy and unstable outside the sweetspot.

I have the Auxetic MPL and had the prestige 360+ S. Not the same classic prestige feel, but feel better than the ET, IMO.

I would go for the prestige or maybe the radical 360+, which, for me, feel better than the ETs.

 

[Soundbyte]

Got offered a pair of ET G360+ for a good price. They're in 9/10 condition, and I believe I could sell my pair of blades for more money. Almost pulling the trigger...

Staying on the prestige course or switching to a more modern approach?

Decisions, decisions...

Grab em. But be sure to weight them up appropriately to get the most out of them!

 

[Fed Kennedy]

If you use a iprestige and are after that feeling, the red 360+ is more of an easier to play racket but lacks the clinical putaway power and advanced level excellence. I have been using the Red 360+ prestige mp for a few hours today, it's a nice enough racket but still doesn't deliver the level of control over power that the older generations do. It has a much wider string bed which is where I am having issues adjusting. I need to increase the tension. Everyone on the forums was encouraging a lower tension but got me on this racket, if you are coming from the older gen head prestiges you need to increase tension by a few pounds. It's pretty different, more like a 16/19 spacing wise if you got back to say ig prestige and radical lines.

I’m currently a/b ing the PT 2.0 and the 360 + Prestige MP and the above is spot on. Definitely more forgiving but lacks a little bit of that killer instinct.

 

[Trip]

@GuilhermeG - What, if anything, did you enjoy about the Blade v7 18x20 in contrast to your i.Prestige? Any qualities you'd want to retain in a replacement?

Before knowing more of that info, it sounds like a G360+ Prestige Tour may be in order here -- 305g unstrung, 99", 18x19 very consistent string bed that is both controlled and spin-friendly, nice and high 14.9 twist weight, and a ready-to-play swing weight in the mid to upper 320's, no messing around with lead necessary. Just string, pickup and play. It lists at 65RA, but it plays more like a 61-62RA; layup is just a bit more crisp than the MP but it's more friendly to play with and splits the difference of almost everything talked about in this thread so far. The only challenge? Finding them. Still, IMHO it's heavily worth some consideration.

 

[veelium]

The Extreme Tour is a nice frame but it doesn't feel plush at all imo.

Can't really comment too much on the new prestiges but if you want plush with a forgiving sweetspot, try the gravity pro.
Well maybe not if you want your swingweight to be 320-330, gpro tends to be more ~335.

 

[J-Wildcard]

I’m currently a/b ing the PT 2.0 and the 360 + Prestige MP and the above is spot on. Definitely more forgiving but lacks a little bit of that killer instinct.

Yes, I've never felt a racket had strings that were too low in tension that I am feeling with this latest version. The increased head size has altered the drill pattern which as I understand would have been intentional. The question is though what is the players stick now if the prestige has been dumbed down a little, I also used the prestige pro 360+ which I would have had more time for had it been a softer frame but with a tighter pattern on a 95" head. The MP is a step closer, I will get hold of a pt2.0 as it sounds a nice racket. Hearing it is demanding for some but that is what the prestige is, a pro level frame where you bring your game to the table. I have seen so many players using the Blades at ITF level and the tecnifibres, maybe it's sponsorship but out of 100 odd players only seen one prestige and these are professional full time players. It has to be that the prestige is too low powered. Unlike Wilson who do the pro labs series it seems the classic head frames are hard to get unless you are sponsored or like to gamble on the second hand market and often pay about double the normal price of a racket.

 

[Soundbyte]

The Extreme Tour is a nice frame but it doesn't feel plush at all imo.

Can't really comment too much on the new prestiges but if you want plush with a forgiving sweetspot, try the gravity pro.
Well maybe not if you want your swingweight to be 320-330, gpro tends to be more ~335.

I would go with one of the Prince frames if "plush" is sought after feeling. They're the only modern frames I've used that come anywhere close to classic Pro Staffs, Prestiges, etc.

That being said, I haven't used a Prestige since the Microgels when it was clear the Prestiges are not in the same lineages of the ones I grew up with.

 

[dr325i]

I usually hit with spin, and I find my i. prestige's to be very whippy. A lot more than the blade, at least. I don't have any problem generating RHS using the prestige. The launch angle is low indeed.

I read a lot of good stuff about the radical, but I'm afraid to pull the trigger on a G360+ so close to the release of next iteration and lose

Wait, you are ok to go for last Gen Prestige or extreme but afraid to pull the trigger on the current radical?

here is a few things to think about - Auxetic is definitely an improvement over the 360+.
Auxetic Extreme Tour is an amazing stick, definitely worth testing. I recommend Hawk Touch at ~45lbs
Auxetic Radical MP is a few months away but a great improvement to the 360+, softer, stable, great stick (I was just OK with the 360+)
Auxetic Prestige has the prestige launch angle you are talking about and a great plush feel and excellent feedback

 

[dr325i]

The Extreme Tour is a nice frame but it doesn't feel plush at all imo.

Can't really comment too much on the new prestiges but if you want plush with a forgiving sweetspot, try the gravity pro.
Well maybe not if you want your swingweight to be 320-330, gpro tends to be more ~335.

Auxetic Prestige Pro is definitely “plusher” than the 360+ Gravity Pro or Auxetic Gravity Pro.

 

[J-Wildcard]

Wait, you are ok to go for last Gen Prestige or extreme but afraid to pull the trigger on the current radical?

here is a few things to think about - Auxetic is definitely an improvement over the 360+.
Auxetic Extreme Tour is an amazing stick, definitely worth testing. I recommend Hawk Touch at ~45lbs
Auxetic Radical MP is a few months away but a great improvement to the 360+, softer, stable, great stick (I was just OK with the 360+)
Auxetic Prestige has the prestige launch angle you are talking about and a great plush feel and excellent feedback

Interesting to hear your thoughts on the auxetic, is it really a big change from the 360+ series? I have heard generally speaking it is a slight change but I really need to hit with one myself to be sure. I feel with the the 360+ MP it is great for Medium pace hitting and rallying but when you look to give the ball the full treatment it doesn't seem to respond and gives what feels like a diffused hit and not transferring the energy into the ball. I was surprised the drill pattern has opened up so much though it is similar to the gravity pro so I should have expected it. I just feel with the bigger sweetspot whilst it's easier to use it has taken it from advanced level racket to intermediate in that regard. In the Head line this is the lower powered frame though I see the latest line (auxetic) has now removed the mid frame from the range. Whilst I don't want too big a sweetspot I find the 95 head a minimum requirement for the 2handed backhand. 90 felt limited for me personally on that wing, fine on my forehand side.

 

[GuilhermeG]

hey, brazilian mate here.

Had both of them, for what you are looking, i think you would like the prestige MP more. ETs can feel a bit brassy and unstable outside the sweetspot.

I have the Auxetic MPL and had the prestige 360+ S. Not the same classic prestige feel, but feel better than the ET, IMO.

I would go for the prestige or maybe the radical 360+, which, for me, feel better than the ETs.

Thanks for your input!

Grab em. But be sure to weight them up appropriately to get the most out of them!

You convinced me. Bought the pair because it was a good offer, and I could flip'em very easily in case I don't make the switch.
I'll try factory specs first (maybe add a leather grip), and add lead to match my target specs on the second try.

@GuilhermeG - What, if anything, did you enjoy about the Blade v7 18x20 in contrast to your i.Prestige? Any qualities you'd want to retain in a replacement?

Before knowing more of that info, it sounds like a G360+ Prestige Tour may be in order here -- 305g unstrung, 99", 18x19 very consistent string bed that is both controlled and spin-friendly, nice and high 14.9 twist weight, and a ready-to-play swing weight in the mid to upper 320's, no messing around with lead necessary. Just string, pickup and play. It lists at 65RA, but it plays more like a 61-62RA; layup is just a bit more crisp than the MP but it's more friendly to play with and splits the difference of almost everything talked about in this thread so far. The only challenge? Finding them. Still, IMHO it's heavily worth some consideration.

I liked how the blades felt solid, but not how ultra sluggish they are. I know that's how blades are supposed to be, but since I switched to a OHBH earlier this year, I'm missing a more maneuverable racquet.
The blades also had a lot more put away power, compared to my prestiges.

To be honest, I'm yet to see a G360+ prestige tour around here. Prestiges are becoming rare animals these days.

The Extreme Tour is a nice frame but it doesn't feel plush at all imo.

Can't really comment too much on the new prestiges but if you want plush with a forgiving sweetspot, try the gravity pro.
Well maybe not if you want your swingweight to be 320-330, gpro tends to be more ~335.

I've used the gravity pro for ~7-8 months, but started feeling sore on my shoulders. I thought it was because of the high swingweight, but I never felt similar pain using the blades (which have 340+ sw).
The gravity pro also lacked maneuverability, and the head size felt too big.

Wait, you are ok to go for last Gen Prestige or extreme but afraid to pull the trigger on the current radical?

here is a few things to think about - Auxetic is definitely an improvement over the 360+.
Auxetic Extreme Tour is an amazing stick, definitely worth testing. I recommend Hawk Touch at ~45lbs
Auxetic Radical MP is a few months away but a great improvement to the 360+, softer, stable, great stick (I was just OK with the 360+)
Auxetic Prestige has the prestige launch angle you are talking about and a great plush feel and excellent feedback

Yes, because prices have already dropped for the G360+ extreme/prestige, but not for the radical, for which ppl are still asking a lot of money, even for used frames.

The radical also has less room for customization and would be harder to match in case of a bad QC sample. The loud paintjob is kind of a turn off, also...