asianoutcast87
New User
Title says it all. What is the difference between the two? Is there even any difference? Or did they just do a paint job and alter it a little?
Youtek prestige vs microgel prestige
- Thread starter asianoutcast87
- Start date
KuanMaster
Semi-Pro
the specs are different too,
the handle is the same
the handle is the same
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
Quite different, in my opinion. YouTek line seems stiffer across the board, in general, although I think they're more comparable for slower swings. The specs are different across the board as well, but from my experience the YT MP's weight felt centered in the throat/top of handle much more than the MG MP. I also feel the YTPP's swingweight is superior to the MGPP.
I spoke to a well known racquet customizer in NYC regarding switching from the Youtek Rad to the Youtek Prestige MP. He felt that the Youtek Prestige line was stiffer than past versions of the line.
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
I think it is, but I don't think it's as extreme as some people find it to be. Not sure if it's actually the d3o at work, but it seems stiffer the faster you swing. I think a good multi or gut would help a lot as well. I'm going to be put a multi in one of mine shortly.
Based on responses to my thread on elbow soreness using the Youtek Prestige MP demo w/ Sonic, I am going to buy the Youtek version and put in VS.
Blade0324
Hall of Fame
Being a user of the MGPP for some time now and having tried out the YT pretty extensively I have to say that IMO the MG is much better then the YT. The MG feels more solid and seems to be less hollow feeling at ball impact. Also I find the MG to have a better combination of power and control.
tennisdude083
Semi-Pro
^^ My thoughts exactly. MGPP > YTPP imo. Like supineAnimation said, the YT definitely feels stiffer than the MG.
TennisPassion5
Rookie
Anyone else feel the MG Prestige MP has more control than the Youtek MP counterpart?
asianoutcast87
New User
Ahhhhh, then screw it. I'll just get the Pure storm. I actually really liked how the MG feels like but the thing is, I really don't think I'm good enough to use it. Yes, I can actually recognize what I do wrong and don't, not just some idiot like some people posting threads btw.
Ok back to the topic
I tested the MG for 4 hours straight, and I have to say it felt nice. I found some new angles and was hitting very consistently. But there was one big problem. When somebody hits a ball without much power, I couldn't return it with much power. Only when the opponent hits it with power is when I was able to hit it back equally as well as him. I've got to say that it felt magnificent hitting hard shots. It had control, consistency, and power. But just those soft balls screwed this racquet up for me.Does this happen with the YouTEK? Because I'm trying to choose a racquet right now and its either the youtek or the pure storm. Pure storm has a tad too much power. I just wanted to see if the MG and youtek were alike so I could compare them vs pure storm.
Ok back to the topic
I tested the MG for 4 hours straight, and I have to say it felt nice. I found some new angles and was hitting very consistently. But there was one big problem. When somebody hits a ball without much power, I couldn't return it with much power. Only when the opponent hits it with power is when I was able to hit it back equally as well as him. I've got to say that it felt magnificent hitting hard shots. It had control, consistency, and power. But just those soft balls screwed this racquet up for me.Does this happen with the YouTEK? Because I'm trying to choose a racquet right now and its either the youtek or the pure storm. Pure storm has a tad too much power. I just wanted to see if the MG and youtek were alike so I could compare them vs pure storm.
BobFL
Hall of Fame
Well, let me tell you: it is not about racquet, it is about you. That is not easy and it requires some skills- to create pace out of fluffy paceless ball. Just practice more and you will be able to do that with any racquet...
Mike Werblin
Rookie
I've been thinking about possible switching to either the YOUTEK Prestige-MP or the Microgel Prestige-MP. It seems the general consensus here is that the YOUTEK is definitely stiffer than the Microgel. Is that correct??
BobFL
Hall of Fame
Well, I would not say 'stiffer'. I would say that it plays more solid. It is not harsh by any means. Babolats are stiff but YT is just solid AND comfy...
I completely agree
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
I agree. I'm very skeptical of the d30 (not as a substance - it's actually super cool to see and feel it in action by itself - only as one of the materials in a mostly-graphite frame) being able to do what they purport for the frame, but I have to admit that my frames do seem to stiffen more the faster I swing. I preferred the YouTeks over the MGs I demoed in terms of feel. I've just dropped one of my YTPPs off at the stringer to put in a multi (Multi-Feel 16) after years as a full poly man, so this might be a wise experiment for anyone that thinks the YTs are too stiff.
AlpineCadet
Hall of Fame
The i.Prestige has much more pop than the YouTek Prestige when swinging hard. The Microgel line just feels numb and underpowered.
Sidd Finch
Rookie
I would LOVE to hit with a Youtek Prestige with VS. Yowza that sounds sweet.
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
Funny you should say that, because "numb" is exactly the term I always use when I've hit with my buddy's MGs. It's tough to describe, but my FXPs felt flexy, but in a good way. Maybe the the hoop flexing at the flexpoints? Who knows? But the MGs don't feel flexy to me or soft or plush or any of the terms I associate with really flexible frames, which I often like a lot. I like the feel of a flexible frame grabbing and sling-shotting the ball. But the MGs didn't feel like they did that. It felt like the frame absorbed the energy of the ball and that energy simply disappeared without transferring into the shot. I'm probably not explaining it well, but I much prefer the crisp feel of the YouTeks even if some would consider them too stiff.
Just bought my prestige mp after demoing. Only bought 1 for now to make sure its the one.
Very curious to find out how much different my string setup will feel. Hopefully its good. The demo had tight average syn gut. I usually use poly / syn gut hybrid better strings on the looser side.
Very curious to find out how much different my string setup will feel. Hopefully its good. The demo had tight average syn gut. I usually use poly / syn gut hybrid better strings on the looser side.
Jaewonnie
Professional
my MG felt pretty crisp to me..especially on hard, fast shots. But feel was numb-er when drop shotting and hitting slower....actually there wasnt any feel at all...felt like thin strips of wood woven around a racket.
Blade0324
Hall of Fame
Based on my experiences with them I would say that the YT has more power. For me it was actually pretty noticeable. Also I found the MG to feel as though it had much more stability and plow through.
TennisPassion5
Rookie
Anyone agree the Microgel has more control than the YT?
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
Obviously it's a personal thing, but for me the YouTeks are superior in both power and feel.
Like I wrote, the stiffness is the main difference for me, but I just put a multi string in one of my YTPPs (Multi-Feel 16 at 57lbs) after years as a full-poly addict, and I think it's the perfect combination. The greater stiffness of the YTs, particularly on hard-hit balls, is more than offset with the softness of the multi string (I'm sure the same would hold true for gut, but I won't use natural gut) and I hit the ball as well last night on my maiden outing with this new multi string job as I ever have. Well, since I became a crippled old man that is, but that has nothing to do with the racquet. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be breaking strings more often with multis, but the combination of my YTPPs with the multi strings is a dream and any fears of developing TE, after 20 years of never having a single twinge of it or any arm problems for that matter, are gone. I was a little worried that the increased stiffness might present a problem down the line, even though I haven't had any arm pain since I started hitting with the YTPPs, but I really hit the stuffing out of the ball last night and it was as comfortable as can be.
callmethedoctor
Banned
I agree- I'm skeptical as well. With the d3o in there, there must be a very little amount in order for the racket to be, well, solid at room temperature and sea level pressure, right? And how do we know the d3o isn't so sensitive that it just stiffens at every single impact? Or maybe it's so insensitive that the amount of impact force it takes to make the stuff stiffen is too great for the average human to produce? Anyone get what I mean? Still, many reviews say they can feel it. Placebo effect?
Sorry for being so skeptical- I have a thing against bogus technologies
lol
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
I suspect that Head didn't just put the stuff in without testing to see, at the very least, if it would make the frame unusable. d3o is real. You can actually play with a sample of it in a lot of shops, and I read about it in Wired magazine years ago. It seems like science fiction but it isn't. I believe I read that there's a layer of d3o surrounded by graphite and possibly some other traditional racquet materials. I just don't know how much the d3o contributes to the functionality of the frame if it's surrounded by graphite. But I've played tennis long enough and at a high enough level with enough different frames to attest that these racquets do seem to change in stiffness depending on the speed of the respective swing. It's not a wildly high degree of variance, but it's noticeable to me. Maybe that's the d3o? Maybe not. But I demoed the YouTek Prestiges (MP and Pro) and YouTek Radical Pro, along with a Pure Storm Tour frame and my old FXPs, and there is no question in my mind that all three of the YouTeks seemed to vary in stiffness far more than any of the other frames.I agree- I'm skeptical as well. With the d3o in there, there must be a very little amount in order for the racket to be, well, solid at room temperature and sea level pressure, right? And how do we know the d3o isn't so sensitive that it just stiffens at every single impact? Or maybe it's so insensitive that the amount of impact force it takes to make the stuff stiffen is too great for the average human to produce? Anyone get what I mean? Still, many reviews say they can feel it. Placebo effect?
Sorry for being so skeptical- I have a thing against bogus technologies
Arize
Rookie
When I tried the YTPMP it felty really stiff and light, it was strung with ALU Power 16L 55/59... I would like to give it another go maybe with some sort of softer poly 17g at a 53 or 55 tension but most of all a stiff racquet that seems to have no weight at all is a terrible mix in my opinion and from what I remember when using the Microgel MP's with Head intellitour string setup it was hard to beat the feel and the nice flex the frame had was totally different when I had it strung with full poly, this is why I would like to give the YouTek another shot with Intellitour 16 at about 58 pound tension before I can be sure.
TennisPassion5
Rookie
Anyone else care to share which they believe has the better control?
for me:
YT Mid > MG Mid
YT Mid Plus < MG Mid Plus
YT Pro > MG Pro
to me, the YTPM had way more control, feel, and power than the MGPM... MGPMP won me on control and feel but lost out on power... the MGPP just felt overall unstable to me... the YTPP felt much more solid...
IMO the YT Prestige Mid is the best of the 6, second would be the MG Prestige Mid plus, and then the rest XD
YT Mid > MG Mid
YT Mid Plus < MG Mid Plus
YT Pro > MG Pro
to me, the YTPM had way more control, feel, and power than the MGPM... MGPMP won me on control and feel but lost out on power... the MGPP just felt overall unstable to me... the YTPP felt much more solid...
IMO the YT Prestige Mid is the best of the 6, second would be the MG Prestige Mid plus, and then the rest XD
TennisPassion5
Rookie
Because here's the thing:
I had two Microgel Prestiges. Then I sold one and with some additional money bought a Youtek Prestige. My next step would be to sell my last Microgel, and add more money to finally get two of the Youteks. Even though I don't mind spending extra money to upgrade to a better racket, I honestly don't know if I like the Youtek better, as much as I want to like it. Therefore, my decision lies on which has better control, since I generate a large amount of power. Additional opinions on control level of both MP versions would be greatly appreciated.
I had two Microgel Prestiges. Then I sold one and with some additional money bought a Youtek Prestige. My next step would be to sell my last Microgel, and add more money to finally get two of the Youteks. Even though I don't mind spending extra money to upgrade to a better racket, I honestly don't know if I like the Youtek better, as much as I want to like it. Therefore, my decision lies on which has better control, since I generate a large amount of power. Additional opinions on control level of both MP versions would be greatly appreciated.
bad_call
Legend
have great control with the MGPP. the YTPMP swings easier and "appears" (didn't hit enough different shots to accurately assess) to have good control. if it was me, would keep both and start dialing in with different strings/tension.
Azzurri
Legend
agreed. its not a huge difference, but it can be felt when you go from hitting a hard shot to a soft one...its there and I feel it too. I like this new model quite a bit. i liked the MGPMP too, but this has a little more feel and I like the stiffness, but its not still like a Babolat. really a great stick. no vibration at all (feel bad for those that have this issue, must be something wrong and I would send racquet back..there should be literally no "vibrations" coming from typically hit shots. I got two matched pairs and I really like them.
supineAnimation
Hall of Fame
I think any undesired vibration in the YouTeks can be more than offset by either a multi or gut rather than a poly or at least full poly setup, and/or lower tensions. Where I really notice the change in stiffness with my YTPPs is with controlled slices, blocked balls and lobs, more than the far end of the spectrum with dropshots. I was in a drilling session last night and I was able to beat so many guys by just controlling the placement of the ball better, and I find it much easier to do that with my new frame than I ever did with my FXPs. And I was able to lob back overheads much more effectively as well, and it's gotta be the d3o that is making the frame play like a much more flexible frame on these kinds of shots.
Anyone else notice that heads grips are larger than they used to be.
I switched from an old austrian head radical. The grip was much smaller than the china version I bought a year ago. With the youte its the same thing. My friend had some demo's today of 3 different brands. All 4 3/4 and the head grip was bigger than all of them.
I switched from an old austrian head radical. The grip was much smaller than the china version I bought a year ago. With the youte its the same thing. My friend had some demo's today of 3 different brands. All 4 3/4 and the head grip was bigger than all of them.
BigSkyChamp
Rookie
The Youtek Prestige Mid Plus is slightly heavier than the Microgel version (by 2 grams) but is still fairly light in terms of a real player's racket. Has anybody here tried a full bed of poly, and some lead tape to the hoop, off-setted by more lead in the handle to keep the same balance. I believe this would give more stability on off-center hits and less arm jarring even with the poly; instead of having to resort to a multi that breaks all the time. Any opinions?
Azzurri
Legend
yep, the slice is definetly stronger with the YT than the MG. I had some nice strong returns of serve too by just blocking back some hard 1st serves.
frankyue50
New User
Stay with MG. I've been using MGmid for almost 2 years. That's the best racket for my game. I've been trying to love the youtek version ... demo it on and off for almost 2 week. Just don't like it.
TennisPassion5
Rookie
Looking for more opinions on which of the MP's people believe to have more control...
Azzurri
Legend
I don't think any of the the two have more "control" than the other. They both have the same string pattern, so its important to have the right string/tension for your own game. I don't think either has any difference in control. But they do feel a little different. The MG is a little more muted, but the YT has a nicer feel and it is super sharp on hard shots (return of serve and all out shots). It feels a bit more stable than the MG. Both are great racquets.
Azzurri
Legend
they seem to swing the same also. again, depending on specs. but the only real difference is the feel/power of the racquet.
AlpineCadet
Hall of Fame
The YT plays crisp and a bit stiffer in the upper hoop, probably because of the graphite weaving. They swing about the same, but play differently. I suggest demoing both at the same time with the same strings/tension. Feel-wise, I guess you can say Microgel to YouTek is nCode to kFactor.
Arize
Rookie
So Alpine... What are you playing with these days are you sticking with the YouTek Prestige MP? I am still on the i.prestige, I tried the YTPMP 55/59 with BB Power it felt really crappy compared to the i.prestige, what do you string with and what tension are you on, I am thinking of trying it out again at a low tension like 52-53 to get more flex/pocketing feel on it, let me know!?
