The History of the HEAD Prestige Series

UPDATE 12.10.2023:

A HEAD classic, the Prestige has been enhancing control and precision since the 1980s.

As one of the most successful racquet series of all time, the Prestige is truly a tennis icon, up there with the sport’s most celebrated athletes. First launched in 1987, and upgraded and relaunched 15 times since, the Prestige has always appealed to tour professionals as well as to other tournament and performance players. From Marat Safin to Goran Ivanisevic to Emilio Sanchez, some of the greatest players have won big titles with the Prestige over the years. Now endorsed by Marin Cilic, the Prestige continues to add to its story.

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Alongside a new upgrade - the 2023 Prestige Auxetic 2.0 - HEAD is also bringing back one of the first racquets in the series with the limited-edition relaunch of the Prestige Classic 2.0.

Discover the rich history of a classic racquet that lets you play your modern game.

2023 Prestige Auxetic 2.0

The introduction of state-of-the-art Auxetic 2.0 technology takes the Prestige series to new heights of performance. Everything that players love about the Prestige just got even better, with enhanced feel and feedback at ball impact for the ultimate connection between a player and their racquet.

The upgrade includes a fresh, premium and distinctive design which adds to the appeal of the 2023 Prestige Auxetic 2.0. With see-through carbon elements at the throat and tips which are different each time, your racquet will have its own unique look while there is also a special red flip lacquer in the central color block.

2023 Prestige Classic 2.0

True fans of the Prestige series have been asking HEAD to bring back this racquet – and HEAD has listened.

If you have ever wondered how some of the sport’s most legendary players would have felt back in the day when winning titles with the Prestige, you can now experience that for yourself with this limited-edition, one-time-only production. Designed for highly advanced players, the Prestige Classic 2.0 offers timeless precision and control.

2021 Prestige Auxetic

You will swing your Prestige with more confidence, thanks to the Auxetic construction in the carbon fiber yoke piece of your racquet, which actively responds in real time as you hit the ball. It adapts its internal structure, deforming to supply optimal impact feel and highly accurate feedback.

The Auxetic reaction depends on where the ball hits the string bed, and also on the amount of force - the greater the force, the bigger the reaction. The construction will improve your feel on every shot you play. Innovation comes with a design update. Every racquet has a unique appearance as the new and highly distinctive see-through carbon element is slightly different in each frame. While truly modern, the design also references Prestige's rich history. Inspired by the Prestige frames from the 1980s, the racquet has a translucent Bordeaux color that elevates the premium aesthetic.

2019 Prestige Graphene 360 +

For greater energy, flex and feel, the Prestige racquet series was upgraded with Graphene 360+ technology.

Created from a combination of HEAD’s Graphene 360 technology and innovative spiralfibers, Graphene 360+ enhanced the energy transfer from your racquet to the ball, while also improving flex and providing a clean impact feel.

2018 Prestige Graphene Touch

Saving the best for last. After the successful introduction of Graphene Touch back in 2016, the 2018 Prestige series is the first one with the iconic Graphene Touch Technology.

HEAD started to re-engineer Graphene, the world's strongest yet lightest material, and added a unique shock-absorbing material to the frame construction. The result is less shock thanks to faster vibration reduction after ball impact an unparalleled touch providing even more wow moments.

Besides each model of the Graphene Touch Prestige series, comes in a unique design. While the Prestige Tour stands out with his silver lines, the Pro model uses a rose-gold to match its playing personality. Different Carbon finishing in red and black allows every player to choose his preferred style.

2016 Prestige Graphene XT

Going the extra mile. In 2016 HEAD introduced the Graphene XT Prestige series. Sticking to Graphene, HEAD inserted the world’s strongest and lightest material in an even better way to provide players with optimal weight distribution for a faster swing and more power. A faster racquet for a faster game.

Thanks to the improved stronger material structure of GRAPHENE XT, it wa possible to make the racquets up to 20 % lighter compared to a conventional racquet with the equivalent swing weight. In other words, players have a faster racquet, but with the same weight behind the ball when they hit it.

Coming in a totally classic black design with some red highlights, this racquet is what can be called an accessory on court.

2014 Prestige Graphene

In 2014, HEAD once again, made a step away from the classic red color of the iconic frame. While keeping the frame mainly black, what really stood out, was the flashing red CAP, that protects the frame.

On top of this, HEAD for the first time introduced a Prestige racquet with one of their most successful technologies – Graphene. The very light and stable material enabled HEAD to take away the weight from the heart and position it more strategically towards the head and the grip, resulting in a higher swing weight and better maneuverability.

Combining the classic control oriented frame with the new Graphene technology made this racquet a true performance weapon.

2012 Prestige Youtek IG

In 2012 the Prestige family got even bigger. To offer the special Prestige-feel to a wider target group the Prestige S was introduced.

With 305 grams and a 16x19 pattern this new lighter Prestige enabled also players looking for more maneuverability to enjoy the famous Prestige-Feel. However most Prestige-freaks will remember this Prestige-Line most likely for something else: the transluscent CAP. We can imagine that there are still discussions ongoing among Prestige-die-hard-fans whether this was a nice feature or a clear-no-go.

2008 Prestige Microgel

The Microgel-technology enabling a rock-solid feel was a perfect fit to the Prestige and thereby the Microgel Prestige Line was a big success.

A big success not only in the Clubs but also among players with Marat Safin immediately switching to this version which enabled him a last big hurray by reaching the Wimbledon Semi-final in 2008 alongside Prestige-fellow Rainer Schüttler.

2006 Prestige Flexpoint

The Flexpoint-Prestige-Line came in 2006 with a slightly adjusted CAP in order to match the technology-naming Flexpoints at 3 and 9 o’clock.

Featuring these Flexpoints, HEAD improved the aerodynamics of the racquet and eye-catching simultaneously.

2004 Prestige Liquidmetal

In 2004 Head launched the new Liquid Metal Technology and thereby also the Prestige was reworked.

The Liquid Metal Prestige Mid and Liquid Metal Prestige Midplus were the only Prestige models using Head’s patented Twintube-Technology. In addition they featured the Total-Sweetspot-Construction Rims (TSC).

2001 I-Prestige

Breaking with tradition – again. Exactly 10 years after the green Prestige Pro 600, HEAD launched the totally redesigned I-Prestige series. The silver, black and yellowish design was determined by HEAD’s latest technology called HEAD Intelligence.

The i.Prestige Mid, i.Prestige Midplus and i.Prestige Midplus XL featured intellifibers, which use the mechanical energy of ball impact and convert it - in less than a millisecond - into electrical energy.

If there were any questions about the success of the technology they were answered by Gustavo Kuerten winning the French Open and Goran Ivanisevic topping the field at Wimbledon.

Two men, two straight Major titles - both using Intelligence racquets.

1999 Prestige Classic Mid

1999 HEAD introduced the Prestige Classic Mid in the USA, available in 2 models. The Prestige Classic Mid 600 and the Prestige Classic Mid Plus 660.

Till the Mid 90s the Prestige-models were in the US available as part of the Trisys-series (for example Prestige Tour 600 was the Trisys 300).

1997 Prestige Classic XL

1997 was a special year for the Prestige series, as HEAD launched the Prestige Classic XL. This very special racquet was developed for everyone who wanted to combine the unique characteristics of the Prestige with the advantages of the XTRALONG technology.

The overall length of 703mm enabled players a very powerful serve and aggressive game. Nevertheless, the immense length of the racquet resulted in the fact, that HEAD removed the CAP from this model, to keep the weight (325g) and balance (305mm) reasonable.

Besides this special model, HEAD offered three additional models: The Prestige Tour 600, Prestige Tour 660 and Prestige Classic 600 – all in a beautiful red design.

1993 Prestige Tour 660

“Most of the games are won, by choosing the right racquet”. Back in 1993 HEAD used a very iconic claim for a very iconic racquet.

HEAD claimed, whoever walks onto court with the Prestige in the hand is committed to playing with all his body and soul and the wages of commitment it victory. But at this time 25 of the top 100 Tour players, walked on court with the Prestige (April 1993), supporting and strengthening the message that Prestige is not just a racquet, but a tennis philosophy.

To make this racquet also available for a broad range of players, for the first time HEAD developed a 660cm² model, the Prestige Tour 660.

Both models sported the patented suspension grip which helped to reduce vibrations and also the impact shock.

1991 Prestige Pro 600

Breaking the tradition, in 1991 the Prestige stepped away from his traditional red and brown design, coming in an outstanding green pop-color on a silver basement.

On top of this, for the first time HEAD launched the Prestige without the well-known Prestige CAP, which cleft the fan base. Nevertheless, the frame still stood for a classic tournament racquet. The classic frame construction and the head size of 600cm² was still know for aggressive power play without any compromise. That was only one of the reasons, why pro players such as Emilio Sanchez, Thomas Muster or Goran Ivanisevic used the Prestige.

To be fair, HEAD didn’t totally eliminate the classic red design. In 1992 the Prestige 600 was available in two colorways – the green one and a classic red version.

1989 Prestige Pro

Two years after the very first Prestige, the next generation entered the market in 1989. Its computer calculated flex corresponds exactly to the demands of aggressive players who prefer a powerful and fast game.

The extremely thin racquet profile is made possible by the use of TWARON and the patented C.A.P.-System. They also guarantee excellent aerodynamic efficiency – thus requiring less effort of the player.

HEAD’s Vibration-Control-System and TWARON stand for optimum vibration dampening, while the red racquet heart should define the future generations of Prestige giving him the iconic red color, which made this racquet so recognizable.

1987 Prestige Pro

1987 the very first Prestige entered the tennis market. Claiming perfection of tennis technology, especially international tour players got interested in this racquet. Due to high tech materials such as TWARON and the HEAD C.A.P. system, it was possible to develop a very thin frame, which resulted in outstanding aerodynamics.

The C.A.P. System (Computer Assisted Protection) resulted in three main benefits. The integrated C.A.P. protects the frame and also the strings, because no clay could enter lugs. In addition, the integrated CAP resulted in higher aerodynamics.

The TWARON material, well know from astronautics helped to reduce the vibrations, which made the Prestige to one of the most arm protecting racquets on the market.

The classic design is still an all-time favorite, using a translucent brownish base colors, combined with fine gold, blue and red lines.