Youtek Prestige Pro - but lighter..????

[slal1984]

Hi Guys,

So ive played with the YTK prestige pro's for over 2 years now and really need to switch to something lighter.

Have demoed the following frames..
- Bio 500 tour
- Bio 200 lite
- IG radical pro
- blx 6.1 16x18 (2012)
- IG prestige S

I need to find a frame which plays like the prestige pro, around the following range (11-11.5oz). I am baseline player, single hand backhand and seldom volley.

Any suggestions... recommendations...

 

[boomerTennis]

Have you tried the Blade 98 16x19? I found that the feel is pretty similar, except that the Blade does provide a bit more power with the higher swing weight.

 

[dje31]

No love for the IG Prestige S? That's sort of what it's intended to be, a lighter, friendlier IGPP.

 

[TennisHunter]

Try with :

Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed MP
Dunlop Biomimetic 500
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)

 

[rich s]

Wilson BLX Pro Open

 

[dje31]

You might try the Graphene Speed Rev, but add 2+ oz to the handle via lead, silicone / Blue Stick. Lower RA than the MP, very customizable platform.

 

[Murray_fan1]

The specs on the Yonex VCore Tour 97 310g look intriguing. Similar stiffness, balance etc. but with a lighter static weight.

 

[logrock]

I played with the Mid Plus Prestige (18 x 20) versions for a few years until I could not handle the weight any longer, age catches up with us all. The LM Radical was a pretty easy transition as it retained many qualties I likes about the Prestige except the plow through factor. With a little lead tape that can be fixed. At $80.00 a stick it's worth a try.

 

[rich s]

I played with the Mid Plus Prestige (18 x 20) versions for a few years until I could not handle the weight any longer, age catches up with us all. The LM Radical was a pretty easy transition as it retained many qualties I likes about the Prestige except the plow through factor. With a little lead tape that can be fixed. At $80.00 a stick it's worth a try.

Sounds like me, except I transitioned to the MG Rad MP..... would have liked for it to be a little stiffer or have a 16x19 pattern though....

 

[spinovic]

If you got time/resources/etc to take a flyer and try one out...I'd recommend the Extreme Pro 2.0.

It is a little over your weight target, but I think you might like it.

 

[sm01]

OP--Have you tried trimming some of that big bumper guard off of the grommet strip of your YT PP? You can trim it with an exacto knife or better yet do it when you restring. If you don't like it you can buy a new grommet strip for 6 bucks or so.

You might also try adding some weight in the butt cap area, that will make the racquet "feel" lighter.

Otherwise, the Prestige S may be the best option, its mostly the same feel but a little softer though, kinda between the PP and the Radical P. I would guess you will want to upweight it a bit.

Good Luck.

 

[BigM]

The specs on the Yonex VCore Tour 97 310g look intriguing. Similar stiffness, balance etc. but with a lighter static weight.

Yep when I first hit with this frame I was amazed how much it felt like a prestige. Really crisp and comfortable. A very underrated frame IMO.

 

[NLBwell]

Pacific X Force (if you don't mind a flexible frame)

 

[tmc5005]

I think you should take a look at the Prince EXO3 Tour (100) 16 x 18 It is 11.4 oz strung.

 

[Adidas_Anderson]

A pro Stock Youtek Prestige Pro without the leads?

 

[toucano]

How about the dunlop bio 300 tour,
I use mine with leather grip and a little lead 3&9 weighs 344g but swings very easy so feels lighter

 

[jftennis]

Head IG Prestige S! Same great feel - 11.4 oz. strung. Trust me, you'll love it.

 

[slal1984]

The Prestige S is not stable at all against big hitters...plus it felt very awkward on my backhand...it was really weird.

 

[Vasuri]

Swap the leather grip on the prestige pro to light/medium weight synthetic grip:

Leather grip + overgrip = 30 gr weight, 2,0 - 2,2 cm thick
Synthetic grip = weight 12 - 17 gr, 1,8 - 2,2 thickness

You may not need an overgrip with the synthetic replacement grip. You will save 13 - 18 gr of weight compared to leather grip & overgrip.

Just tried wilson comfort hybrid on my ig prestige pro, racquet specs with this grip are: weight 328 gr, 3.5 HL. Racquet feels noticably lighter and faster. Power level is about same as swing weight is unchanged. Actually spin and power level feels higher easier because the swings faster.

Unfortunately I do not particularly like the feel of wilson comfort hybrid. I might try something like babolat syntec grip (weight about 17 gr, thickness 2,0 cm) without an overgrip. With babolat syntec grip my prestige pro will weight about 333 gr and be 4.5 HL.

 

[JackB1]

Swap the leather grip on the prestige pro to light/medium weight synthetic grip:

Leather grip + overgrip = 30 gr weight, 2,0 - 2,2 cm thick
Synthetic grip = weight 12 - 17 gr, 1,8 - 2,2 thickness

You may not need an overgrip with the synthetic replacement grip. You will save 13 - 18 gr of weight compared to leather grip & overgrip.

Just tried wilson comfort hybrid on my ig prestige pro, racquet specs with this grip are: weight 328 gr, 3.5 HL. Racquet feels noticably lighter and faster. Power level is about same as swing weight is unchanged. Actually spin and power level feels higher easier because the swings faster.

Unfortunately I do not particularly like the feel of wilson comfort hybrid. I might try something like babolat syntec grip (weight about 17 gr, thickness 2,0 cm) without an overgrip. With babolat syntec grip my prestige pro will weight about 333 gr and be 4.5 HL.

yes, you are taking some weight off, but it's all in the handle. This makes the racquet less headlite and not necessarily lighter through the air.

 

[JackB1]

Head IG Prestige S! Same great feel - 11.4 oz. strung. Trust me, you'll love it.

The Presige S IS lighter than the Pro, but not necessaily easier to use. It's a racquet than most people either love or hate. You really need to demo it to see if it works for your own game. It's very unique.

 

[Vasuri]

yes, you are taking some weight off, but it's all in the handle. This makes the racquet less headlite and not necessarily lighter through the air.

Yes that is absolutely correct. Balance becomes less head light, the change is racquet balance may not be to everyone's taste. Overall weight is reduced though, so there is less mass to swing around. Price of trying this is max two grips and a little work. Personally I'd say that there is a clear difference - the racquet feels lighter and faster.

The other reason why I think this is worth trying is that is that the resulting racquet overall weight and balance (328gr, 3.5 HL) are similar to many suggested alternative racquets (Blade 98 or Radical Pro for example, with overgrips).

 

[dje31]

If you skip the leather, you could get the weight back in the handle with silicone / Blue Stick inside the trap door. More HL @ same overall static weight feels lighter, swings easier, IMO.

 

[chizzle]

Donnay Pro One 16x19 is also another option (~ 0.5 oz's lighter).

Great feeling stick.