Racquet Review: Head Prestige Classic 2.0

Price: $269 (Purchase now at TennisShop.com)
Head Size: 93 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 12.2 oz.
Balance: 7 pts. HL
Swingweight: 320
RA Rating: 59
Beam Width: 19.5 mm
String Pattern: 18x20

What’s New

Almost nothing. Same midsize head, static weight, thin beam, dense string pattern and soft flex. Head did make some subtle tweaks to the layup to try to give the Prestige Classic 2.0 some added firepower and stability. But the playability is a dead ringer for the original icon.

What Works

If you played tennis in the 1980s and 90s, there’s a good chance you came across the Prestige Classic 600. Along with racquets like the Wilson Pro Staff and Prince Graphite, it was a fixture from tennis camps to Grand Slam champs. However, as the game shifted to more pace and spin, the frame’s emphasis on heightened precision and feel fell out of fashion.

Does this reissue breathe new life into the all-time classic?

Well that probably depends on your tennis ambitions. If you’re accustomed to the more powerful and user-friendly current models, it’s arguably still too demanding and unforgiving for serious competition. However, if you’re simply looking to hit a clean, repeatable ball and value comfort, control and a tantalizingly buttery feel, this frame hits the sweet spot. Especially if you’ve got a penchant for the golden oldies.

For one thing, it’s a looker. The combination of deep maroon coloring and glossy veneer is just timeless. The stock leather grip is the finishing touch absent from nearly all modern frames.

But more than a pretty face, it brings talent to the court as well. When strikes are on point with bodyweight transferred through the stroke, shots have plenty of stick and the response is superb. Although I couldn’t do a direct comparison to its predecessor, this version appears to be less head-light. This gives the frame a little more stability and energy return at contact for a bump in power.

Still, this is a precision instrument with pace primarily provided by the user’s mechanics. Even though it has substantial static weight, the combination of compact head and thin beam encourages impressive racquet head speed. Paired with the mass, it's capable of producing offense when chances present. I find serving with the Prestige to be such an opportunity, when I can really go after the ball and take advantage of the racquet’s exceptional directional control.

Being able to whip the racquet through contact also helps add spin to shots, which doesn’t come naturally from its 18x20 string pattern. It’s never going to be a terror in the topspin department, but it can generate enough for safety on ground strokes, as well as to make use of kick serves, lobs and short angles. On the other hand, if you like hitting slice backhands, this thing cuts like a katana. The ball hums just over the net, skids and causes trouble.

Those needing it, experimenting with string tension and composition may help wring out additional power and spin. My sample came strung with Head Hawk Power 17g, which is probably about as firm and underpowered as I’d go with this frame. I think a thinner, shaped poly strung low would be a worthwhile option to get more work on the ball. I did try it with a softer multifilament, and although it was more challenging to produce spin, depth was easier to achieve and the feel was outstanding.

An unexpected positive I discovered is the racquet can be a helpful warm-up tool when practicing or going a few rounds on the ball machine. Its exacting nature forces you to be just that much sharper and refined in terms of technique. It doesn’t tolerate lazy footwork or late contact. Like a baseball player swinging a heavier bat in the on-deck circle, I’ll then switch to my match racquet and the ball just seems a bit bigger and impact a little purer.

This is particularly true on volleys. Perhaps it was the era in which the racquet was designed, but it truly feels like an extension of the arm at net. Whether blocking back hard-hit passes with interest, or catching the ball on the strings to deliver something more delicate just over the net, the touch, feel and control are all first-rate.

What Needs Work

As mentioned above, with a 93 square-inch head, 18x20 string pattern and 19.5 mm beam, only accomplished players need apply. Even with subtle tweaks, there’s just not much margin for error. Lowering string tension can help squeeze out more power, but it’s a slippery slope if you go too low on a racquet as flexible as this one. If you’re outside the sweet spot, which isn’t expansive, the ball basically dies.

Along those lines, it’s definitely not for players who favor a firm, crisper response. Its mass gives it backbone, but it’s soft with a dampened feedback. What’s buttery to some, could feel mushy to others.

Lastly, the handle is on the short side. When the Prestige Classic debuted, one-handed backhands were much more prevalent, requiring less of a grip. I’ve got a two-hander and above-average sized hands, so when I doubled-up I would often feel the plastic casing above the grip with my thumb and index finger. Not a huge demerit, but a bit more coverage would be preferable.

Bottom Line

The Prestige Classic 2.0 is as niche as racquets come these days. But if you prefer the performance of old-school player’s frames, or even just like to collect them, it’s the perfect trip down memory lane.