MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Hahaha now I want to try it just to say I did it.
Why do people say the Prestige (MP) is a difficult racquet to play with?
- Thread starter DonDiego
- Start date
Hahaha now I want to try it just to say I did it.
cork_screw
Hall of Fame
Exactly. The sweet spot is narrow, it goes a bit more vertical from up and down to side to side. The feel is very metallic and I don't get the same pocketing as other frames. That and it's a bit low powered, and the spin takes more effort to generate. I thought the IG prestige MP was a bit too brassy for my liking.
Also when you get some extreme spin that kicks up thrown at you, it's even less forgiving.
Most player's string their new Heads WAAAAAY too tightly, thinking they are stringing within specs.
Actual specs should be closer to "40-52 lbs".
That's why you get a tiny sweetspot, a harsh feel, a tinny hollow feel, and extreme twisting on off center hits, AND, you lose out on easy power.
Actual specs should be closer to "40-52 lbs".
That's why you get a tiny sweetspot, a harsh feel, a tinny hollow feel, and extreme twisting on off center hits, AND, you lose out on easy power.
stronzzi70
Professional
prestige = low tension ...........easy play!
rudester
Professional
Agree...........
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
Right on.
Strung with a multi at 53, it has as big a sweetspot as any other racquet and more than enough power. That's the beauty of this frame, you can use multi at low tension and you still get higher than average control.
I switched between so called tweeners and players frames back and forth
during last decade or so. That include Prestige MP.
I do not see much differences in difficulties of playing with prestige MP
compared to tweeners. For me, prestige Mid was too demanding, though.
And I string my Prestige MP (not new one) at 63- 68 lbs with natural gut.
It has surprisingly large sweet spot.
during last decade or so. That include Prestige MP.
I do not see much differences in difficulties of playing with prestige MP
compared to tweeners. For me, prestige Mid was too demanding, though.
And I string my Prestige MP (not new one) at 63- 68 lbs with natural gut.
It has surprisingly large sweet spot.
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Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
I read these threads and can't help but smile.
Play with whatever works, sheesh.
Some MP frames are user friendly, some aren't, and different players like different things.
Sure, chumps like Djokovic, Federer and Nadal might need to lean on those MP sticks, obviously incapable of mastering the subtleties of the mid size head., but don't let that put you off.
And if those unskilled hackers like Agassi and Chang need OS racquets, don't let it get to you. Just persist with your mids secure in the knowledge of your superior stroke mechanics..
So funny
Play with whatever works, sheesh.
Some MP frames are user friendly, some aren't, and different players like different things.
Sure, chumps like Djokovic, Federer and Nadal might need to lean on those MP sticks, obviously incapable of mastering the subtleties of the mid size head., but don't let that put you off.
And if those unskilled hackers like Agassi and Chang need OS racquets, don't let it get to you. Just persist with your mids secure in the knowledge of your superior stroke mechanics..
So funny
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DonDiego
Hall of Fame
Ok, let me nuance a bit my view.
I played this morning and I must say, playing outside, at current temperature (50F) plus a bit of wind, the Prestige IS demanding... My arm is about to fall apart. It's a HUGE difference compared to my Youtek Rad Pro, which is the complete opposite racquet, with tons of free power.
This being said, it has nothing to do with sweetspot or footwork. The Prestige is simply a lower-powered racquet (or lower plowtrough would be more precise), with the benefit being more control.
Now it's back to the garage to tinker with lead tape, and probably lots of it.
I played this morning and I must say, playing outside, at current temperature (50F) plus a bit of wind, the Prestige IS demanding... My arm is about to fall apart. It's a HUGE difference compared to my Youtek Rad Pro, which is the complete opposite racquet, with tons of free power.
This being said, it has nothing to do with sweetspot or footwork. The Prestige is simply a lower-powered racquet (or lower plowtrough would be more precise), with the benefit being more control.
Now it's back to the garage to tinker with lead tape, and probably lots of it.
yangster007
Professional
Maybe also string lower ? Or use a more powerful string ?
ivan987
Rookie
IMHO, people who can't generate enough power with their swings should not be considering playing with a Prestige. Basically low power and lots of control is all what Prestige series is about. Tinkering with low string tension or awkward string setups will just bring you further away from the desired effect.
I think people need to realize just how many hours of training you need to put in to learn the strokes the right way, and to be in an adequate physical condition to execute those strokes. Purely recreational players should come nowhere near the Prestige series, since they (in most cases) lack both power and technique.
I think people need to realize just how many hours of training you need to put in to learn the strokes the right way, and to be in an adequate physical condition to execute those strokes. Purely recreational players should come nowhere near the Prestige series, since they (in most cases) lack both power and technique.
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
I love the prestige line.
You guys, what do you think is the best: Youtek or IG prestige MP?
Best regards from argentina!
I'm still trying to figure this out.
I just put Black Widow 18 in the IG, to get some crispness, and tame its power. With the same multi in both, I find the IG more powerful (less control) and overly muted. It is more comfy though, which is a plus.
So far I prefer the Youtek with a few grams of lead at 3-9, 2-10. A bit stiff and low-powered, but absolute control. I hope the poly int the IG will make it even better than the Youtek. I'll see in a few days.
Backhanded Compliment
Legend
I love the prestige line.
You guys, what do you think is the best: Youtek or IG prestige MP?
Best regards from argentina!
Ive played both... IG is better for everything but tricky touch shots in doubles... YT has a bit more ball feedback but very very similar.
Overall I find that the prestige line MP and Pro in particular is all about consistent response. Big hitters and touch players with good strokes like this. I find they tend to be very tempered sticks... they dont really enhance anything especially but do everything well. No weaknesses but no tremendous strength qualities. For some that will make them demanding as you dont get anything special for free... it has to be constructed. Really a good stick if you want to work on every aspect of your game instead of hyperfocusing on one weapon.
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Thanks!
I thought the Youtek have a little more power than the IG but now I see I'm wrong
Should buy the IG Mp?
TEST IT
You have to take the comments here with a grain of salt as they are subjective experiences and opinions. Some prefer the YT, many prefer the IG, but we cannot say which of the two you are. The IG will have more power, be more solid, muted and forgiving, but whether this suits you is for you to find out and not us to determine.
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
hey Backhanded, can I ask what strings and tension you use to make the IG work for you? Thanks.
For me, most demanding aspect of Prestige MP is smaller sweetspot. Racquet is very manuverable despite decent static weight and low power can be adjusted with a bit of lead at 12 and lower string tension. But when i face good server it is hard to find sweet spot consistently. Also form my expirience it is better racquet for hard courts where timing is easier. On clay courts however, bounces are more unpredictable and bigger sweet spot = better.
I tested last Saturday and I would not say is hard to play with but it takes you to be fit for tennis if you like to play decent.
The Prestige Pro is far more friendly and forgiving than the MP. Although I really liked it, the precision, the feel, the power and the and control. I did not see any weaknesses on this frame and I will keep on using it. It is not as demanding as the Pro Staff Classic being similar specs.
What I have realized is that Babolat (aero drive) frames have much more power than the HEAD Prestiges.
Now I will be looking for the Speed Pro Ltd. if I get to know the actual specs. What actual head size is the Speed Pro? 98?
Best regards.
D.
The Prestige Pro is far more friendly and forgiving than the MP. Although I really liked it, the precision, the feel, the power and the and control. I did not see any weaknesses on this frame and I will keep on using it. It is not as demanding as the Pro Staff Classic being similar specs.
What I have realized is that Babolat (aero drive) frames have much more power than the HEAD Prestiges.
Now I will be looking for the Speed Pro Ltd. if I get to know the actual specs. What actual head size is the Speed Pro? 98?
Best regards.
D.
hrstrat57
Hall of Fame
Agree, intellitour in YT Prestige MP plays most excellent. As mentioned earlier in the thread just a smidge of lead at 3/9 helps huge too. Leather grip is also required.
Plays nice with much bigger sweetspot and more punch plow.
However if you try pushing with this stick it will punish you......
5point5
Hall of Fame
I'd say it's the other way around. You want to develop your strokes with a racket you're comfortable with..
Take juniors as an example, you start them with very easy accessible rackets so they can develop their strokes without trying to overwork/injure their arms with heavy rackets. Teaching adults is the same concept, you want to start them out with a lighter racket, and then choose a more suitable racket when their game develops.
DeShaun
Banned
Because t does not give nearly as much free punch as many other frames do. One has to actually stroke with real intent w/a Prestige in hand, and there is no such thing as repeatedly bunting balls deep into your opponent's backcourt with a Prestige swung in the manner of a check-swing or a bunt/block. So, typically aggressive foot work and working doubly hard--to set himself up so he'll be in the "right" stance (for stroking completely through the hitting zone EVERY TIME)--are the very activities that one must do repeatedly simply to win a single point from his baseline. The frame is a ball striker's dream come true, but we can probably agree that playing winning tennis is not even close to being solely about hitting sweet and gorgeous shots all the time. Opportunities for doing so will intermittently arise or be created over the course of any match, but not in the form of every last ball that one will get a look at. I could be completely wrong, though, so please take all of the above with a grain of salt. Cheers
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Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
And that's how people get stuck in their ways, and usually flawed ways. Because their racquets allow them to make mistakes, and they stick with it.
5point5
Hall of Fame
Right, so like when a beginner uses a mid and they're using too much of their arm or what have you?
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
The only problem I seem to have with the stick is not so much lower power but rather a ''low ball trajectory''. At least lower than the other sticks I've been used to. It must have to do with the very tight string pattern of this racket. It makes defending a bit harder sometimes.
I guess it's just a matter of going through an adjustment period. Anyone else had this experience?
Because everything else is quite good. I've tried lighter and more whippy racket these past weeks, but nothing feels as ''solid'' as this stick.
I guess it's just a matter of going through an adjustment period. Anyone else had this experience?
Because everything else is quite good. I've tried lighter and more whippy racket these past weeks, but nothing feels as ''solid'' as this stick.
Joonas
Semi-Pro
The ball trajectory is really lower and it takes a small while to get used to. Depends also on the strings. Gut mains/poly crosses give higher trajectory than eg thick syn gut. Thinner gauge poly, and moderate tension also give higher trajectories. The tight pattern also returns in higher dynamic tension of the string bed. As an example, I just strung FXP Prestige mid with Tourna Big Hitter 1.25 at only 21 kg. The DT was still 39! Which is high.
For me demanding is two fold thing. Later Prestiges (YT and IG) have swingweight at about 310 which makes the frame very easy to maneuver. Serves are so easy to accelerate, reaction shots and half volleys come with ease. Then again you need to have clean shot to drive the ball. And when you do its not short of power at all. And taken the fast head the spin is enough. It is just those lazy days, wind or clay when you really have to put effort for each shot.
But when you are fresh and go for each shot the Prestige rewards for solid and predictable results and you can swing out without fear of over hitting.
For me demanding is two fold thing. Later Prestiges (YT and IG) have swingweight at about 310 which makes the frame very easy to maneuver. Serves are so easy to accelerate, reaction shots and half volleys come with ease. Then again you need to have clean shot to drive the ball. And when you do its not short of power at all. And taken the fast head the spin is enough. It is just those lazy days, wind or clay when you really have to put effort for each shot.
But when you are fresh and go for each shot the Prestige rewards for solid and predictable results and you can swing out without fear of over hitting.
I have to agree. The whole "use a super heavy small racquet to develop your strokes" idea is absurd. You want a racquet that you can control the ball with while still being able to generate enough power so that you're not punished by opponents on the court. It's not like a kid struggling to hit cleanly with a PS 95 will magically develop better strokes by moving to the PS 85.
I have very good strokes. I'm a 5.0. I also grew up using OS racquets because I idolized Agassi. OS racquets didn't prevent me or Agassi from developing good strokes. It's not like Nadal uses a small racquet either.
One has good strokes because he developed good strokes. Using a more frustrating racquet won't make your strokes better.
I know some are going to say "my strokes are fine and I used the prestige classic and now the PS90. those racquets helped my strokes develop" That's fine but many very good players didn't have to use tiny racquets to develop good strokes.
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
Thanks, I guess I should go with the thinniest string I can find to get a bit higher trajectory and facilitate the transition. Apart form string gauge, does poly or multi make a difference in that department?
I picked up my first prestige (Mid) when I was 3.5. Prestige Mid was definitely
demanding. I could hit serve and volley well but not groundies. Baseline ralley
and serve return was a bit too demanding to me at 3.5.
Then a few years later, maybe when I barely made it to 4.0, I tried Prestige
again. That time in Mid Plus (MP). It was not demanding at all. Happy with
its power potential and overall good with no issue with any stroke.
Since then I stick to the Prestige.
But probably its power level is at the minimum I can play with. if a frame
has less power potential than Prestige MP, maybe a bit too demanding (for me).
I am 5'10" and slim build, middle aged guy, soon to be a senior.
I sometimes play in USTA 4.5 team but don't feel like solid 4.5 myself.
demanding. I could hit serve and volley well but not groundies. Baseline ralley
and serve return was a bit too demanding to me at 3.5.
Then a few years later, maybe when I barely made it to 4.0, I tried Prestige
again. That time in Mid Plus (MP). It was not demanding at all. Happy with
its power potential and overall good with no issue with any stroke.
Since then I stick to the Prestige.
But probably its power level is at the minimum I can play with. if a frame
has less power potential than Prestige MP, maybe a bit too demanding (for me).
I am 5'10" and slim build, middle aged guy, soon to be a senior.
I sometimes play in USTA 4.5 team but don't feel like solid 4.5 myself.
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Joonas
Semi-Pro
Regarding multi or syn gut. I had some pain in my forehand so last weekend I strung one of Prestiges with multi 1.30 mains (Sensation Control) and syn gut 1.30 (Wilson Extreme) to see if flexy Fxp with soft strings would allow me to hit the ball without pain. Well, it didnt feel painful in my arm but it was just a disaster to play with. I could barely put one forehand in court and netted the rest. The trajectory was so so low that I couldnt get (literally) over with it. I played with another Prestige with gut poly hybrid and hit normally. So that was maybe just me but I will never ever string my Prestige with that combo anymore.
But I remeber trying long time ago full bed of Trchnifibre X-One Biphase and as far as I remember it was ok. Soft and springy but ok nevertheless.
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sundaypunch
Hall of Fame
Exactly this.
Backhanded Compliment
Legend
It is a well behaved stick... very even tempered... it doesnt compensate or enhance much. It forces you to focus on consistency and strategy. Good alll around though and enforces good habits.
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Hi Don,
Please, can you tell me which one is the poly (if any) in the intellistring hybrid?
Regards.
D.
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
It's Intellitour, and there is no poly. I think it's called polyolefin, and it's very soft: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_IntelliTour_16_String/descpageACHEAD-HIT16.html
torpantennis
Legend
Head measures headsize differently compare to other manufactures, as Head measures OUTSIDE size of a frame (include the beams), and other manufactures measure INSIDE size of a frame (not including the beams). Hence the old Prestige Mid, allegedly 93 sq in, is really a 89.5 sq inch by other manufactures' standards; in similar veins, the Prestige MP, allegedly a 98 sq inch, is really a 95 sq in.
As for how much more forgiving people want their racquets to be, I guess a racquet that has the sweetspot of a 120 sq inch racquet, and with the maneuverability of a 85 sq inch racquet, on top of that, with the plowthrough of a 13 oz racquet
That's easy. Just beef up a mid to 13.5-14oz and add enough lead around the head. That'll make the sweetspot the size of the head. :lol:
Just remember to add enough lead also around the balance point, i.e top of the handle or throat. Many people make the mistake that they just add lead at 3/9/12 and counterbalance around the butt. That's bad, my experiments indicate that such a frame is hard to swing. Adding weight around the balance point makes a frame easier to swing!
torpantennis
Legend
I agree with this 100%. I'm about to go back to my K90, after messing up the basics with a 102sq.in. high powered lightweight frame. These kinds of "modern" racquets just create bad habits. They're too forgiving.
And this, coming from the mouth of a 3.0-3.5 player struggling with development.
torpantennis
Legend
Stock Prestige MP IS difficult to play with. Sweetspot is too tiny, there's just not enough weight in the top of head, and too much weight around throat. Adding 10-15g between 10-2 and counterbalancing at butt makes this racquet perfect, specs like 350SW and 365g are perfect for Prestige.
torpantennis
Legend
I already posted this on another thread, but it still amazes me how much wider the strings on the Wilson are even though it's a 95 sq. in. And even though the strings on the Wilson are 1.34mm versus 1.23mm for the Head.
That Prestige stringbed is crazy! In the Wilson there are TWO crosses below the lowest cross of the Prestige, even though both are 18x20! I think this explains, why I feel Prestige needs lead at 10-2. Prestige's stringbed is so much more shifted to the upper part of the head, so it needs lead there to give enough power and mass to that up-shifted stringbed area.
These threads make laugh. Especially, those that say lower level players shouldn't use something like a Prestige MP. Here's the deal: low-powered heavier frames require good technique and good shot selection and punish poor technique and poor shot selection. Tweeners smooth over bad technique and poor shot selection. Is it harder to "win" or "play" with a MP? In the short term, YES. In the long term, probably NO.
I put my wife in a Wilson Blade 98 as soon as she had any semblance of technique. Others that have similar playing time used tweeners or oversize. Her friend's husband is a higher lever player and he put her friend in a Speed MP. Guess who has more developed strokes? My wife and her friend that used the lower powered frames. After a period of losing, they are starting to rack up wins over their peers.
My wife is now using IG Prestige S. Her strokes get stronger every week because bad habits don't help her so she doesn't develop them.
I put my wife in a Wilson Blade 98 as soon as she had any semblance of technique. Others that have similar playing time used tweeners or oversize. Her friend's husband is a higher lever player and he put her friend in a Speed MP. Guess who has more developed strokes? My wife and her friend that used the lower powered frames. After a period of losing, they are starting to rack up wins over their peers.
My wife is now using IG Prestige S. Her strokes get stronger every week because bad habits don't help her so she doesn't develop them.
