New Bolt Rackets?

whoopinstick · 11-02-2011, 06:59 PM

http://www.boltadvance.com/

I actually found these rackets as an advertisement on facebook and decided to click on it. I have never heard of this company before but their technology seems interesting. It has a quote from Brad Gilbert about these rackets on the website somewhere. What do you guys think?

Seth · 11-02-2011, 07:07 PM

I think it's peculiar that an upstart company charges a premium for their frames.

[d]ragon · 11-02-2011, 07:08 PM

I strung one for a customer (work at a tennis shop). Cosmetics were rather cheaply done

Can't think of a name · 11-02-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

I think it's peculiar that an upstart company charges a premium for their frames.

Yea, when i saw that $215 price tag.. my mouse cursor instantaneously teleported to the close tab button and clicked it

Fuji · 11-02-2011, 07:54 PM

The specs look awful imo. Such an odd stock balance, and I don't know how they consider a 98 a "players frame", when it has near the specs of a PD.

Of course they could play amazing, but at 215 bucks a pop? I think I'd rather go for some tried and true frames, even the Donnay's aren't that expensive anymore!

-Fuji

6-2/6-4/6-0 · 11-02-2011, 08:40 PM

"That guy's got a Bolt, he's gotta GO!" Brad Gilbert.

I have absolutely no idea what that means...

I would never pass judgement on any technology without knowing what it is and if it really works, but off hand I can say I'm interested in the rackets. First of all, they don't actually tell you anything about the 'technology' or show you anything about how it works. Off hand it looks like some sort of leaf-spring system, or similar string suspension system.

As mentioned above, the specs on those things look a bit ridiculous. I would imagine that the zip-strips add a significant amount of weight, thus the bizarre balance points on the rackets. And if you're going to offer two choices wouldn't it seem reasonable to offer something other than a 98 and a 100 in head size.

Finally, the branding here needs help. Bolt makes me think of a rusty bolt, not a lightning bolt. And Zipstrips sound like something between zip ties and fly strips. All in all, not the most eloquent and compelling stuff out there... Not too much more rubbishy a lot of other nonsense in the industry, but when you're the upstart, I think you need to be better...

goran_ace · 11-02-2011, 08:45 PM

here's another upstart racket company advertising on facebook

http://www.blackracquet.com/

NYCtennis1 · 11-03-2011, 03:14 AM

At Rosvelt Island racquet club all the coaches get free Bolt racquets, I asked to hit with one of the coaches 98's and itvfelt very very hollow.

TennisMaverick · 11-03-2011, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCtennis1

At Rosvelt Island racquet club all the coaches get free Bolt racquets, I asked to hit with one of the coaches 98's and itvfelt very very hollow.

They dumped Volkl? That's been a Volkl club for years.

Rock Strongo · 11-03-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goran_ace

here's another upstart racket company advertising on facebook

http://www.blackracquet.com/

It seems like it's an über-aerodynamic APD... I've signed up for a playtest. Suggest that others do the same, too.

TennisMaverick · 11-03-2011, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

It seems like it's an über-aerodynamic APD... I've signed up for a playtest. Suggest that others do the same, too.

Looks pretty cool! What's the head size?

Dave M · 11-03-2011, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6-2/6-4/6-0

"That guy's got a Bolt, he's gotta GO!" Brad Gilbert.

I have absolutely no idea what that means...

...

A truely odd quote, all of them seem ambiguous (if that's how it is spelt).
Seems any start up racquet company has to either have Pat Cash or Brad commenting on them.

Hankenstein · 11-03-2011, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennisMaverick

Looks pretty cool! What's the head size?

I also signed up for a playtest of the blackracquet. Just from the information and teasers on the site, this frame seems extremely interesting. Like a mix of Babolat Aero and Bosworth

Torres · 11-03-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

I think it's peculiar that an upstart company charges a premium for their frames.

There's no way they could make any money otherwise - not enough volume.

Torres · 11-03-2011, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuji

The specs look awful imo. Such an odd stock balance, and I don't know how they consider a 98 a "players frame", when it has near the specs of a PD.

Indeed.

Even balance on a 323g 98? What on earth is a 'Zip Strip' anyway? Are they removable? What are they for?

Mig1NC · 11-03-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

I also signed up for a playtest of the blackracquet. Just from the information and teasers on the site, this frame seems extremely interesting. Like a mix of Babolat Aero and Bosworth

Looks like they also took a page from Kneissl's aerodynamic grommet design.

rufusbgood · 11-03-2011, 08:35 AM

Seems to me to be the same technology used in the Volkl Catapults.

zapvor · 11-03-2011, 11:28 AM

very interesting. thanks for posting the info. i am not sure if want to playtest this. if someone actually gets a playtest please give us feedback!

and given the high cost of entry to this industry i think they have no choice but to price the frames higher than normal. i doubt they will even break even with the high price since volume is so low. unless its like a subsidiary of babolat or something....or maybe its a TW frame!!!!!!!! how sweet would that be

heftylefty · 11-03-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

It seems like it's an über-aerodynamic APD... I've signed up for a playtest. Suggest that others do the same, too.

I signed up too...Sweet looking stick.

Fuji · 11-03-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

It seems like it's an über-aerodynamic APD... I've signed up for a playtest. Suggest that others do the same, too.

I've signed up too! I hope I get it, they seem like a jacked up APD!

-Fuji

11-02-2011, 06:59 PM	#1
whoopinstick Rookie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 270	New Bolt Rackets? http://www.boltadvance.com/ I actually found these rackets as an advertisement on facebook and decided to click on it. I have never heard of this company before but their technology seems interesting. It has a quote from Brad Gilbert about these rackets on the website somewhere. What do you guys think?

11-02-2011, 07:07 PM	#2
Seth Professional Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Johnston County, NC Posts: 1,165	I think it's peculiar that an upstart company charges a premium for their frames. __________________ Get in where you fit in.

11-02-2011, 07:54 PM	#5
Fuji Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada, Eh? Posts: 4,453	The specs look awful imo. Such an odd stock balance, and I don't know how they consider a 98 a "players frame", when it has near the specs of a PD. Of course they could play amazing, but at 215 bucks a pop? I think I'd rather go for some tried and true frames, even the Donnay's aren't that expensive anymore! -Fuji __________________ I believe what he says are nuggets of truth. And I collect them. And I store them in the lock-box of my soul. -JD

11-02-2011, 08:40 PM	#6
6-2/6-4/6-0 Semi-Pro Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: about 5000 feet up... Posts: 699	"That guy's got a Bolt, he's gotta GO!" Brad Gilbert. I have absolutely no idea what that means... I would never pass judgement on any technology without knowing what it is and if it really works, but off hand I can say I'm interested in the rackets. First of all, they don't actually tell you anything about the 'technology' or show you anything about how it works. Off hand it looks like some sort of leaf-spring system, or similar string suspension system. As mentioned above, the specs on those things look a bit ridiculous. I would imagine that the zip-strips add a significant amount of weight, thus the bizarre balance points on the rackets. And if you're going to offer two choices wouldn't it seem reasonable to offer something other than a 98 and a 100 in head size. Finally, the branding here needs help. Bolt makes me think of a rusty bolt, not a lightning bolt. And Zipstrips sound like something between zip ties and fly strips. All in all, not the most eloquent and compelling stuff out there... Not too much more rubbishy a lot of other nonsense in the industry, but when you're the upstart, I think you need to be better... __________________ "You lose some, you win some. Nothing wrong with that at all." Stefan Edberg

11-03-2011, 03:14 AM	#8
NYCtennis1 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 183	At Rosvelt Island racquet club all the coaches get free Bolt racquets, I asked to hit with one of the coaches 98's and itvfelt very very hollow. __________________ "If you can win one set, you can win two"