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HEAD YouTek Prestige Mid Tennis Racquet

93 Square Inches, 18 x 20 string pattern, 11.8 ounces

Big bangers will really appreciate the Head Prestige Youtek Mid. The Prestige line has been acclaimed for a couple of generations of players. Reintroduced and updated for a new decade, this latest offering from Head has found the sweet spot again with this one.

After playing with more flexible responsive frames the last few years, I’d almost forgotten what a true, dyed-in-the-wool player’s frame was like. The Head Youtek Prestige Mid reminded me in just a few short swings that there’s not much better than a clean, no-frills frame to remember what you love about hitting tennis balls. Everyone wants the racquet to do something for them out on the court, and there’s no shortage of those types of frames on the shelves. But there’s still a lot to be said for doing it for yourself between the baselines, and this frame really shines in that regard.

The boardy feel of the Youtek Prestige Mid took some slight adjustments and moderations in swing lengths at first, but once I dialed it in, it was one slick stick. Groundstrokes required a bit more effort to get length and depth, but the results were true and consistent. Sweet spot hitting with this 93-square inch was heavenly. Balls rocketed from corner to corner in baseline exchanges.

It’s not a huge spin generator, so if you have a big, loopy swing and are looking for even more topspin and kick on the ball, look elsewhere. But, if you’re looking to augment those types of strokes with an intoxicating blend of power and control, this thin-beamed frame is definitely worth a look-see. Flat hitters will really like this stick’s dampened feel. It’s almost like putting a governor on your game, but for many of us, that’s just what we need.

Volleys were aided by the firm feel and really plowed through the court. Serves definitely required a full swing to generate heat, but kickers and slices felt more under control so the tradeoff was a good one.

I will say I loved my touch shots with this frame, with one stipulation: I needed ample time to really take advantage of the deader-feeling stick. Drop shots, angle volleys and lobs were sinister.

Reflex volleys and off-center hitting forced out shots like a wide service return, however, and my results tended to be a bit more mixed. I found myself wondering what I could’ve done with a more flexible, player-friendly frame on errors of that ilk. However, a point or so later I’d hit a screaming return or booming groundstroke and a smile would quickly return to my face remembering why I loved this frame. I felt like it was more me than the frame, and that’s a really sweet feeling.

I will say in no uncertain terms this is not your grandmother’s stick. This is a serious player’s frame for 4.0 + players who have no trouble generating their own power or are looking to tone their games down a bit and find the court a bit more regularly.

I’d also like to throw some kudos out to Head for the Hydrasorb grip on this stick and many of their other newer frames. The cushy, squishy feel and extra tacky feel is a player’s delight. I just wish it had lasted longer than the three sets I used it before going from white to dark.

To purchase the HEAD YOUTEK PRESTIGE MID click here.
To demo the HEAD YOUTEK PRESTIGE MID click here.