Vantage a disappointment - no players OS frame

goldenyama

goldenyama

Professional
I finally decided to get a Vantage to add to my collection.

Visited the site, chose 105 head size.

Wanted 18*20 but only 16*19 available, thought oh well and went ahead.

Only 70 or 76 flex available in 105!? Thats way too stiff for me.

Also you can only go up to 300 grams in the 105...way too light.

I sent them a polite email inquiring about the possibilities of a players OS option.

Are there so few of us out there that like heavy, flexible, headlight OS frames that it's not worth their while to have even one?
 
Last edited:
goldenyama

goldenyama

Professional
Oh....
Maybe you're right
Come to think of it, with the Radical OS getting lighter and lighter, there aren't any players OS sticks still being made by the big boys these days
Cept the POG of course
Need another Agassi or Chang to come and make em popular again
 
nickb

nickb

Banned
Im sure that has changed...before you could go up to 330g unstrung with the OS and 63RA...strange.
 
origmarm

origmarm

Hall of Fame
nickb said:
Im sure that has changed...before you could go up to 330g unstrung with the OS and 63RA...strange.
Click to expand...

I was going to say this also, from memory you could go up for a 63 on the OS. No 18*20 ever though from what I remember

Incidentally, did you get the specs right on your 90s eventually?
 
ollinger

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
I've played with the heaviest, most head-heavy Vantage 105. Pretty good racquet, modest power for its size. The one listed as 70 flex does not feel terribly stiff, and it's not too difficult to add weight. As noted above, heavier oversizes seem not to sell very well anymore.
 
K

Keifers

Legend
goldenyama said:
...

Are there so few of us out there that like heavy, flexible, headlight OS frames that it's not worth their while to have even one?
Click to expand...
Don't know if you'd consider an old, old frame...

Last year, by chance, I discovered the Prince Graphite Pro Series 110. From the late 80s/early 90s, it's one heck of a heavy, flexible, headlight OS. ~350 grams strung, 8-9 pts HL. Fiberglass in its composition makes it more flexible than a 100% graphite frame and gives it great control with excellent feel and dwell time. 16X19 string pattern, nice, thin 18mm box beam, leather grip. The name is 110, but it's the exact same head size as the POG OS.

Comes up from time to time at the big auction site. You can get lucky and get one in very good shape...
 
Last edited:
feyya

feyya

Banned
Keifers said:
Don't know if you'd consider an old, old frame...

Last year, by chance, I discovered the Prince Graphite Pro Series 110. From the late 80s/early 90s, it's one heck of a heavy, flexible, headlight OS. ~350 grams strung, 8-9 pts HL. Fiberglass in its composition makes it more flexible than a 100% graphite frame and gives it great control with excellent feel and dwell time. 16X19 string pattern, nice, thin 18mm box beam, leather grip. The name is 110, but it's the exact same head size as the POG OS.

Comes up from time to time at the big auction site. You can get lucky and get one in very good shape...
Click to expand...

Agree completly. I am still lucky enough to be holding two of them. :)
 
BreakPoint

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Keifers said:
Don't know if you'd consider an old, old frame...

Last year, by chance, I discovered the Prince Graphite Pro Series 110. From the late 80s/early 90s, it's one heck of a heavy, flexible, headlight OS. ~350 grams strung, 8-9 pts HL. Fiberglass in its composition makes it more flexible than a 100% graphite frame and gives it great control with excellent feel and dwell time. 16X19 string pattern, nice, thin 18mm box beam, leather grip. The name is 110, but it's the exact same head size as the POG OS.

Comes up from time to time at the big auction site. You can get lucky and get one in very good shape...
Click to expand...
Isn't that the racquet Michael Chang used to win the French Open in 1989?
 
nickb

nickb

Banned
origmarm said:
I was going to say this also, from memory you could go up for a 63 on the OS. No 18*20 ever though from what I remember

Incidentally, did you get the specs right on your 90s eventually?
Click to expand...

No...I didnt go with the vantage thing...using my fischers again.

Nick
 
K

Keifers

Legend
BreakPoint said:
Isn't that the racquet Michael Chang used to win the French Open in 1989?
Click to expand...
Hmm...could be...

A friend who knows a lot about the older Prince racquets told me that Prince intended/thought that the Graphite Pro (110 and 90) would become their top players racquets. But people went much more for the POGs, including pros such as Agassi and Chang. (Maybe people bought more POGs because Agassi and Chang played with them.)
 
goldenyama

goldenyama

Professional
I guess it must have changed coz nobody was buying those frames.

I was thinking of buying a Donnay Pro One, would you recommend I get the new TW version or look out for one of the originals?

I definately would consider an old, old frame, check my sig! I will have a look out for one of those Prince's, thanks!

I have considered the Radical LE, but as I have an original Trysis 260 OS I didn't think it was worth buying a remake of it.
 
K

Keifers

Legend
^^^

goldenyama,
Yes, I did notice the racquets in your sig. I'd like to e-mail you about a couple of sticks that may interest you, but your user profile doesn't allow e-mails. Send me an e-mail at kwpsp-tt @ yahoo.com (remove spaces), won't you?
 
goldenyama

goldenyama

Professional
Hey Keifers, I sent you an email.

I also changed my profile to allow emails from other users, I didnt realise I didnt have that option ticked.
 
A

AndrewD

Legend
goldenyama said:
Are there so few of us out there that like heavy, flexible, headlight OS frames that it's not worth their while to have even one?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it is true.

Remember that the oversize was introduced to give the club player (beginner to good) a larger sweetspot and more power in a lighter package (lighter than wood). These days they can achieve something quite similar with midplus racquets and give you a bit more control than the OS - all at an anaemic weight.

So you've lost the 'players' who were looking for a larger sweetspot in a frame that still had a bit of weight and the 'hackers' who were looking for more power in a lighter frame. Given that most people play from the baseline and that is the style you see in the pro ranks, the balance has become less head light.

As someone who does still prefer to use an OS frame, I'm disappointed in the lack of quality choices but, at least, with only 2-3 options its easier to pick the best of the bunch.
 
goldenyama

goldenyama

Professional
You're right AndrewD...

Back when I was playing singles mainly (from the baseline) I always used a smaller head (Classic, Hyper Pro Staff 95's)

Now I live in Japan and play 90% doubles (at a high level club) on weekends only, the OS really helps when you rock up hungover from last nights excesses, hit balls for 10 mins then get straight into playing sets...

The fact that all my frames are heavier, flexier head-light frames also means I can take full, fast swings as I used to with the 95's...although obviously the placement isn't quite as pinpoint.

Also the fact that I can find the sweetspot 99% of the time is good for my TE.

Hey davey, I'm from New Zealand and I don't understand big words like oxymoronic. Does oxy mean like super? As in, 'My statement is super moronic?'
 
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