All the big racquet companies have a flagship racquet that is synonymous with the brand. Wilson has the Pro Staff 6.1 95, Babolat has the extremely popular Pure Drive, and Head has the Prestige. Originally introduced in the mid-1980s as the Prestige Pro, the Prestige family of racquets has become instantly recognizable in the hands of greats like Goran Ivanisevic, Marat Safin, Gustavo Kuerten and the young Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka. Head’s newest incarnation of the Prestige line is the Youtek Prestige infused with Head’s proprietary d3O technology and a sleek new cosmetic. For this particular playtest, I pulled out a new Youtek Prestige Mid Plus strung with a 57-pound Polyblend.
Anyone who has played or tried a Prestige in the past knows that this racket is designed for control and more control. Everything about the frame, from its moderately low stiffness rating (which is 62 by our RA), the slim beam, and dense string pattern (18×20) are designed for pinpoint precision, and this racquet doesn’t disappoint. Starting from the backcourt, I could instantly feel that this racket has superior stability and works its way onto the ground. My ground shots were deeper and more penetrating than the lighter rackets, and I didn’t feel any vibration when landing with my opponent’s well hit balls.
Going online is where I really started to enjoy the feel of the new Prestige. For anyone who has had some top tier player frames from Head in the past (i.e Radical, Prestige), there is a tendency for the racket to feel somewhat dead near the top of the racket. For this reason, I sometimes have problems with my feel at the net with my current racket (Microgel Radical MP). This was not the case with the new Prestige. I felt like all my volleys were sharp and accurate, even when I didn’t land right in the middle of the sweet spot. This was a huge plus for me as I actually got some free points on the net that I wouldn’t normally get.
While I certainly enjoyed the Prestige from the backcourt and at the net, the racket really sticks out when you start serving. From the service line, I was able to break hard flat services at the “T” and cut some great looking services to the width. With other racquets I sometimes have to hold back to gain my control inside the box, but I was able to loosen up with this racquet and earn some much needed free points.
Based on my review, you might think that this racket is magic and will instantly make you a better player. While I certainly approve of this new version of the Prestige, here are a few things to consider. First, the racket is heavy compared to most other rackets on the market, and will be more suitable for strong players from 4.0 to 4.5 and above. If you are not used to playing with such a heavy racket, you can really start to feel the weight, especially if you have to hit a third set. Second, this racket gives you control for days, but that means you need to generate most of your power from your swing. Nothing short or compact will work here; requires those long, wacky strokes. If this sounds like your type of racket, feel free to use the coupon at the end of this newsletter for a free week-long demo of the new prestige!
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