Category Archives: PEEK
Lets compare the Head Prestige Pro 16×19 v Head Prestige Pro 18×20
The following graphic will show clearly why the pro stock (SMU) racquets are very important in our quest to enhance the performance of all players!
Compare Prestige Pro
A primary reason we work with custom racquets is the length of the racquet as we receive it, which allows us to create up to 28 inches (71cm) long. We can extend racquets however reducing the length is the preferred option.
Of course, we can customize the SMU to match the specifications of the retail (27-inch) racquet but with a 16×19 string pattern.
If you look closely you will recognize the tremendous possibilities beginning with a lighter, more flexible racquet for players of all physical abilities!
The supply of the 16×19 racquets is limited, however, demos are available for both.
Head Prestige Pro 18×20 2023 Retail
This Head Prestige Pro 18×23 Retail version offers a high performance racquet ready for serious play! However, we offer the custom version for players who prefer a slightly more open string pattern and some customization.
As you will see on the specifications, this racquet is serious, but most players can use this racquet if they get over the idea that these are stiff racquets!
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Prestige Pro 2023 18x20 Retail |
| Reference Tension | 52 |
| String | MonoGut ZX Pro (PEEK) |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 54 |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 56.4 |
| String Bed Stiffness - SBS | 44 |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 35 Kg/Cm |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 58 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 44 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 342.9 |
| Weight, Grams | 340 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.99 |
| Balance, mm | 3234 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.72 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.03 |
| Head Width | 9.476 |
| Head Length | 13.052 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 626.7 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 97.1 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 20.8 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 20.0 |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 20.0 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 10.7 |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 10.8 |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 11.5 |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.2 |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio | .655 |
| Main String Grid | 7.56 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.25 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | 71.4% |
| Average Cross String Space | .513 |
| Average Main String Space | ,453 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.76 |
| First Moment, Nm | .844 |
| Polar Moment | 335 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 319 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.25 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 354.7 |
| Power, RDC | 44 |
| Control, RDC | 57 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 74 |
| Power, Calculated | 1811.3 |
| Head Points | 6.3 |
| Head Weight, % | 47.1% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.5 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 6.125 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 28.0 |
| K, Lb/In | 173.08 |
| Recoil Weight | 152.3 |
| Twist Weight | 229.34 |
| End Weight | 139.8 |
| Tip Weight | 198.9 |
| 9 O'Clock | 100 |
| 3 O'Clock | 101.7 |
| Butt Cap | 137.4 |
| COF, Main | .383 |
| COF, Cross | .204 |
Head Prestige Pro 2023 16×19 SMU
I told you something special is coming soon! Soon is here now! And it is special!
Head Prestige Pro 16×19 2023 SMU
We have a limited number of Head Prestige Pro 2023 with a custom 16×19 string pattern instead of the standard 18×20 (we have those as well). These are full custom racquets, meaning they need some customization, and are usually referred to as “Pro Stock” racquets.
These racquets have a different finish than the retail version, primarily shiny instead of a matt finish anywhere.
We receive these in “raw” form, meaning they are not cut or have any post-manufacturing additives, i.e., swing weight and overall weight.
This means we can make a “full custom” version of the retail model up to 27.8 inches long (70.6 mm) except with a more open 16×19 string pattern!
However, to get things started, we will post the specifications of each racquet “as is.”
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Prestige Pro 2023 16x20 SMU |
| Reference Tension | 52 |
| String | MonoGut ZX Pro (PEEK) |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 49.0 Units |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 59.5 pounds |
| String Bed Stiffness - SBS | 43.0 pounds |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 35 Kg/Cm |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 57 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 43.0 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 346.1 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 296 |
| Weight, Ounces | 10.44 |
| Balance, mm | 331 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.03 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.03 |
| Head Width | 9.476 |
| Head Length | 13.052 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 626.7 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 97.1 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 20.0 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 20.0 |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 20.0 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 10.7 |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 10.8 |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 11.5 |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.2 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .611 |
| Main String Grid | 7.25 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.0 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | 74.6% |
| Average Cross String Space | .526 |
| Average Main String Space | ,453 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.76 |
| First Moment, Nm | .758 |
| Polar Moment | 299.0 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 285.0 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 10.05 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 324.3 |
| Power, RDC | 37 |
| Control, RDC | 64 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 97 |
| Power, Calculated | 1593.8 |
| Head Points | 3.78 |
| Head Weight, % | 48,3% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.3 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 6.048 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 26.3 |
| K, Lb/In | 157.05 |
| Recoil Weight | 129.23 |
| Twist Weight | 199.70 |
| End Weight | 117.0 |
| Tip Weight | 179.2 |
| 9 O'Clock | 89.5 |
| 3 O'Clock | 90.0 |
| Butt Cap | 116.6 |
| COF, Main | .412 |
| COF, Cross | .331 |
Now for some GOOD news!
It seems that I am recovering from this cold or whatever it is, so now we can return to a relatively normal schedule!
I want to start with some comments from Willie B. regarding string. After you read Willie’s comments, we can talk about the string and why it does what it does: to allow players of any level to play without discomfort.
Here is from Willie:
“FYI, my inability to play tennis more than 1-twice a week due to the pain for over 4 years impacted my game. The last time I was ranked was 5.0, but now at 47, probably more like 4.5 (No tournament for the previous 5 years)
The good news is that with the feel of those strings, I can hit back (I practiced with a top player last Sunday, and he even felt it as I am not scared to go big… I have played with him for over a decade)”.
Willie’s racquet technician is Henry Hamels of String MD. Thank you, Henry, for sharing!
If you have not already guessed, the string material is PEEK, polyetheretherketone, which was marketed as Zyex by Ashaway under the MonoGut ZX and ZX Pro models! This monofilament format offers an alternative to stiffer monofilament strings while providing, in most cases, better performance and durability!
- The raw material is expensive.
- Some
racquet techniciansstringers simply don’t know how to handle PEEK.- The high elongation of PEEK is a surprise to the first-time stringer.
- Marketing hype is not strong.
- Very few players and stringers know about this alternative.
- See Marketing Hype above!
- Stringers may have had a poor experience before and are wary.
- The material does not change shape; therefore, knots are not as tiny as some stringers prefer.
- PEEK will “tighten” its own knots.
- Beginning stringers may over-tighten the knot, causing failure…never to be used again!
- Currently, the material is available in two (2) colors, tan and black.
- MonoGut ZX is 16 gauge
- MonoGut ZX Pro is 17 gauge
Depending on the player’s tennis intentions, we may start them on PEEK at age nine (9) but no later than twelve (12).
Thank you, Willie, for your comments!
To see if this material will benefit your game now and for the long term, ask your racquet technician.
- Please text us if you need additional information: 407.491.4755
- Comment on this site, and we will respond to specific questions.
- If, based on our player history, your application may not be the best, we will tell you.
- Very beginning players and those players experimenting with various strokes creating mis-hits need to be recognized.
An Inside Look at String Evaluation
In this series, we will look at the various characteristics of tennis string without the tennis racquet!
Racquet Quest evaluates every string we use plus strings submitted from other sources. These evaluations are “No Prep” and “Prep”, which simply means the Prep string has been pre-stretched in the entire length. It has not been through a tennis racquet…yet!
The following images represent a string that has not been “prepped.” After these plots are fully understood we will do the same string in the”prepped” format to see if there is a difference.
Ultimate Tensile Strength
What we notice immediately is the string is very “soft” as seen in the deflection of 47.8 mm to reach 50 pounds. Also, the elasticity, the ability to recover to the original length, is fairly low.
The area under the 50-pound and 47.8 mark is the stress/strain curve that shows how the string behaves in three (3) cycles. The load and number of cycles can be changed.
The long run (linearity) from the 50-pound mark to failure is quite good and suggests consistency.
The UTS, the ultimate tensile strength, of 127.1 pounds is good for this thin string.
The following plot shows the knot strength of this string.
Knot Strength
This plot is overlayed on the previous image so a quick comparison can be made. It is common for knot strength to be lower than un-knotted string. Knot strength is primarily important to the person tying the knot. Knots rarely fail after they are successfully tied. Pulling a knot too tight or jerking can break a knot.
This plot says to us that this string needs to be handled carefully when it comes to knots! We would expect a knot strength of at least 80 pounds for typical monofilament strings, however, if this string exhibits extraordinary play characteristics anyone can learn to tie the knots!
Based on this information we would suggest this string for a player looking for extraordinary comfort, power, and relatively short life!
Racquet Quest, LLC
