Vantage - Morten/BreakPoint/jayserinos/Seacoast...

[stevewcosta]

Can you guys provide more feedback on your Vantage experiences? I am hoping to find either a 90 or 95 sq. in. replacement for my 6.0 85. Anyone know the unstrung specs. for the 6.0? I am hesitant to buy Vantage because of beam shape (box beams are my favorite by far). Thanks for your help. Also, what would the approx. sw be for the 90, 330g, 12pt. HL, 11.7 ounce Vantage? Thanks!!

[0d1n]

Can you guys provide more feedback on your Vantage experiences? I am hoping to find either a 90 or 95 sq. in. replacement for my 6.0 85. Anyone know the unstrung specs. for the 6.0? I am hesitant to buy Vantage because of beam shape (box beams are my favorite by far). Thanks for your help. Also, what would the approx. sw be for the 90, 330g, 12pt. HL, 11.7 ounce Vantage? Thanks!!

It will depend on the actual built frame, but the "estimate" would be 320.
As far as I've seen/heard the estimates you will be given if you call Vantage are as follows :

~ 320 ish for the 90 sq inch head size
~ 325 ish for the 95 sq inch head size
~ 330 ish for the 100 sq inch head size

In my experience those are probably accurate, with the mention that there may be a "tolerance" of something like roughly 5 points between them.
Also ... the 18x20 95's will have a slightly higher SW than the 16x19 95's (as a rule)...so a 18x20 with the same specs will probably have 3-5 SW points more than a 16x19.
Hope this helps.

[stevewcosta]

It will depend on the actual built frame, but the "estimate" would be 320.
As far as I've seen/heard the estimates you will be given if you call Vantage are as follows :

~ 320 ish for the 90 sq inch head size
~ 325 ish for the 95 sq inch head size
~ 330 ish for the 100 sq inch head size

In my experience those are probably accurate, with the mention that there may be a "tolerance" of something like roughly 5 points between them.
Also ... the 18x20 95's will have a slightly higher SW than the 16x19 95's (as a rule)...so a 18x20 with the same specs will probably have 3-5 SW points more than a 16x19.
Hope this helps.

Thank you!

[Lphansen]

Hi,

if you know what you´re looking for with regards to specs., feel, feedback etc. then Vantage is a excellent choice !

With regards to "the vantage beam shape" I do not even notice it !
The frame is a bit tapered from the handle and towards the tip but not much.

What I do get from Vantage is a uniform excellent feel/feedback without any gimmicks ...

Currently using 95 sqin/ 27.25 inch and RA 63, 16 x 19 and 290 g...SW is app. 330 kgcm2

Hope its usefull :)

lphansen

[Dino Lagaffe]

My Vantage (Specs unstrung):
Unique code: 2211111
95 sq in, 16x19, 63RA, 27", 330 g/11.64 oz, 315 mm

Strung specs on the RDC:
348 g/12.28 oz 60RA 328SW

[Seacoast Stringer]

Hey Steve,

I have been a huge Vantage fan ever since I bought my first frame from them several years ago. I have been able to get matched frames, to my spec (including swingweight range) and have never looked back. It has been great to be able to focus on my game rather than worry about my equipment or get suckered in to the "switching racquets every year" mentality. Personally I really like the beam of the Vantages and they have also been very good on my arm. Best frames on the market IMO - and from some truly good people.

I think Od1n is pretty close to the swingweights to expect depending on the racquet length and balance. I have hit with a sweet Vantage 90, 9 pts HL, unstrung weight of about 325 or 330 (I forget) and it was a beast, in a good way. It would definitely be worth checking out. Good luck!

[stevewcosta]

Hey Steve,

I have been a huge Vantage fan ever since I bought my first frame from them several years ago. I have been able to get matched frames, to my spec (including swingweight range) and have never looked back. It has been great to be able to focus on my game rather than worry about my equipment or get suckered in to the "switching racquets every year" mentality. Personally I really like the beam of the Vantages and they have also been very good on my arm. Best frames on the market IMO - and from some truly good people.

I think Od1n is pretty close to the swingweights to expect depending on the racquet length and balance. I have hit with a sweet Vantage 90, 9 pts HL, unstrung weight of about 325 or 330 (I forget) and it was a beast, in a good way. It would definitely be worth checking out. Good luck!

Thanks Seacoast. I will let you know what I decide. Vantage is sounding VERY appealing, especially with the direction taken by other cos. = zero feel/less maneuverability/no customization.

[Meaghan]

I have been using my kps88 for a while now and playing very well. Recently tho with the cold wet weather ive been struggling with the heavy slow balls which makes my racket feel twice as heavy. So ive been looking for something I can mod a little to make a slightly easier playing version of my 88s.

I lke some of the older lighter pro staffs like the classic but i wanted something I wouldnt struggle getting hold of. The problem is there are very few modern rackets with old skool feel etc.
I recently picked up a vantage, quite by accident, I noticed it had the same short throat of the pro staff that i prefer for stability and consistency in my game. It was a 95 and I put the two heads together and other than the box frame of the 88 they were very similar in shape ie where the throat starts, ends, headsize etc.
I strung it up with full Alu at low tension and added 10g in the hoop and it played great (spec below). Very similar infact to my 88, although the box beam definately adds to stability, there's little in it, also the width of the throat above the handle is very similar to the 88.
What I did notice with the slightly larger head and whippier frame my forehand came back to me (someting that Ive struggled with with the 88 ).

To summize, the 88 for me raised my game in all departments except my forehand and the early signs with the Vantage are that all those positives have remained the same and my forehand has got back to normal.
I will be picking up a few more of these sticks from Paul in UK once ive tried the 16x19 pattern.

[Ross K]

2 Vantage Q's:


Can someone tell me how the Vantage frames feel in terms of stiffness... I'm thinking of the RA 63 versions in particular... pretty stiff?... relatively flexy?... what?

Also, can someone say how they think the Vantages tend to perform all round on service please?

Thanks,

R.

[Meaghan]

2 Vantage Q's:


Can someone tell me how the Vantage frames feel in terms of stiffness... I'm thinking of the RA 63 versions in particular... pretty stiff?... relatively flexy?... what?

Also, can someone say how they think the Vantages tend to perform all round on service please?

Thanks,

R.

Hi Ross good to see you back from work!
The 63 ive got feels real flexy, now I dont know if thats due to the stiffer 88s i been playin ? There is another Vantage thread where one fella put his unstrung and strung spec up and the stiffness went from the stock spec of 63 to 60, yet in other threads Ive heard people express that they felt stiffer. IMO it feels real nice, not stiff at all, rather arm friendly but not too flexy.
As for serve can only say it reminded me of the rebel, very similar in fact, that easy feeling that ive only really felt with the reb. Felt like I could swing it hard if i wanted to.

[Mansewerz]

How much SW do strings add?

[Meaghan]

How much SW do strings add?

not sure but i averaged out say 20g (string weight) at about 55cm (half way from top to bottom of hoop) fom buttcap on http://www.usrsa.com/store/learningcenter/lc_combinedswtbal.html