proracketeer
Professional
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Vantage Bast Core
- Thread starter Meaghan
- Start date
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
It is. I add a secret formula
)) to the butt cap so that the flat of my fingers can find the ridge and my little finger sits on top. I have full western fh and 1hbh and don't change grip. Its a bit like soderlings custom molded handle. It helps me find my groundstrokes grip very quickly and adds support to my fingers. Its not crooked tho just the angle.forthegame
Hall of Fame
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Yeah i saw thanks Ftg but i will go to the source instead.....
Marcus
Semi-Pro
Guys.....
had an email from Paul to say the .co.uk site was working and BC frames could be ordered from it...
however everytime I log onto it I get the message that all orders are dealt with via the international store based in Florida ?
Anyone been onto the .co.uk site recently
I've deleted all my setting etc to make sure it's not my PC, it doesn't work from any PC I try or my Iphone
Mark
had an email from Paul to say the .co.uk site was working and BC frames could be ordered from it...
however everytime I log onto it I get the message that all orders are dealt with via the international store based in Florida ?
Anyone been onto the .co.uk site recently
I've deleted all my setting etc to make sure it's not my PC, it doesn't work from any PC I try or my Iphone
Mark
thompenator
New User
On the international site, at the top right it says 'Your store location - International | UK'. Clicking on the 'UK' takes you to *.co.uk/root, where you can order BC frames [custom frames not back up though].
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Yeah....Funnily enough i was just gonna say something about it.
Played last night four sets of doubles. These are the social crowd from the club and its very competitive but the standard is not always the highest. I was partnered with the weakest player. Remember both rackets are modded to a very similar spec.
I played the first set with the bc30 won 6-3. The racket played really well off the ground i really like it from the baseline and Volleying was solid. Serving was ok found it difficult to get big pace but otherwise fine.
Played the next three sets with my bc20 immediately a big difference serving. For me the racket is more versatile, my touch shots come alive, i feel like i can do more off the ground. The bc30 plays that lovely deep baseline shot but i like to whip an angle or drop it short now and again and the 20 seems more adept. I did need to concentrate on my groundies but once in tune the big recoil and flex come to life. Won the next three sets 6-4 6-3 6-4.
The bc20 fits my game, its a more difficult racket than the 30 but it is so versatile. Really love this racket for singles and doubles
ced
Professional
Great racquet, but .....
The BC20 is a great racquet and you won't go wrong in accumulating a few of them, everything about it is impressive, but it is for a younger player and I'm having to list mine in the FS section.
The BC20 is a great racquet and you won't go wrong in accumulating a few of them, everything about it is impressive, but it is for a younger player and I'm having to list mine in the FS section.
Got a few hits with the BC20 strung with PLII at 56/58. A very good low-powered racquet, great control, I have to get used to it switching from my custom 95. However my VT95 was more solid since it is heavier, I might put some lead at 3-9 on the BC20 to give it more stability.
Great spin as well, I think stringing the BC20 hybrid would give a very good result, I am not sure I like full poly on this at high tension (Meaghan!!!), unless you love taking big cuts every hit.... Adding lead at 12 would sure help with the power.
I am going to experiment with a few more string setups, so far it is definitely less string sensitive than VT95 18x20.
Great spin as well, I think stringing the BC20 hybrid would give a very good result, I am not sure I like full poly on this at high tension (Meaghan!!!), unless you love taking big cuts every hit.... Adding lead at 12 would sure help with the power.
I am going to experiment with a few more string setups, so far it is definitely less string sensitive than VT95 18x20.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
I've always stated that poly at higher tensions suited my game with this stick. Interestingly it reminds me of my custom Vt at 45lbs. Just a balance between flex and tension that i like. Also im stringing around 60 but it has probably dropped a few pounds overnight before a match.
I do take big cuts at the ball and my consistency is better when i know i can hit out without fear of going long.
I've booked my place in the semis of my singles league by coming top. Hopefully a chance to win my first little trophy
Very true, after spending more time with the BC20, I found myself taking really big cuts at the ball, and interestingly, the ball doesnt go long, it just lands around the service line with a lot of spin. I am able to control where I hit more when I take big cuts.
I might have to work on my conditioning as my arm was pretty dead after 3 hours.
Meaghan, would you rate the string you're using softer or stiffer than PL-II?
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Its difficult to say as its been a while since i used it (in OPT). I did however like pl2 but i was just getting into string set ups at the time.
What i can say is that TB feels stiff in this racket i think because of its flex and recoil but Thats relative to the other strings I've been testing. It is also in relation to my usual alu set up. I may also be saying it feels stiff because of the 'crunch' off the stringbed from the big recoil. TB is a super grippy string that is control orientated like alu and the feel combined with the racket is unique in a way that I've never felt that level of control. spin and feel before. I've come close to bliss with alu in the custom Vt at 45lbs but even that doesn't quite give me that security. I am also stringing a lot more. If i have a match then i restring the night before so im not getting into that dodgy dying poly stage.
In the bc20 I've tested alu, solinco revolution and barb wire, pacific poly force and xforce, rpm and a toalson tournament string with alu and poly force playing really well (i think pl2 would fall into the category) xforce was good also but had a big drop in control. Barb wire i struggled with and rpm felt too powerful and again i struggled with control.
I do seem to like the stiffer control orientated strings compared to the softer polys. I know TB is a co poly but i feel it falls into old school feel with more pop.
Its all very difficult to explain when you are changing rackets and tensions etc to compare one to the other. For instance I did have one session with barb wire that felt lovely, very stiff to string, nightmare tbh but soft and powerful too. Problem was i couldn't recreate that feel again (??) and by its twisty nature i couldn't be sure of what it would do and i lacked some control again. I know what i get with TB like alu and pacific poly force but with more grab so i can go for my shots a bit more. This also coincides with me playing a more baseline game and less s&v which has been great as i can mix it up a lot more. One of our team captains mentioned how my unforced errors had dramatically dropped and this is definitely down to me concentrating on one racket and string and a few small things from my coach which include throwing the ball a little higher on serve, fh volley with my wrist at right angles to my arm and front foot hop when putting mid court balls away. Added to this the strength of this racket and string to find the corners from the baseline and my biggest strength which is my serve. I am now contending at the highest level at my club and i am excited about up and coming tourneys. Its amazing how mentally strong you need to be with this game and confidence goes a long way.
Sorry Deee for waffling on im just excited by the set up and my improving standard. It took me 3 years to go from 9 handicap to scratch in golf when i was young and this Will be my fourth year playing regular tennis and i will hopefully get my chance this year in the A team and 1st division. All this at 40 makes me wish i played as a youngster instead of football golf squash basketball athletics US football table tennis cricket and .........chess!
Had a hitting session, the BC20 felt lovely again, begging for big cuts, extremely consistent. I let my hitting partner try my racquet and he instantly felt in love with it, saying it was better than his Volkl C10 he bought new many years ago.
We had some awesome rallies and due to the lightness of the BC20, it was extremely easy to change directions. My VT95 weights 15g more than this with the same balance, it packs more punch, but I am not sure I want to increase the weight of the BC20 anymore, it is pretty good as is.
Topspin was very good with semi-western grip since I was swinging fully on every shot. When I hit it flat, the ball explodes off the frame, not as fast as my old Bab, but gives me a lot more confidence. Defensive shots are interesting with this low powered frame, I found it much easier to keep balls in the court.
The PL-2 strings are broken in, was a little easier to hit with compared than freshly strung. I strung it at 56/56, 4 knots.
In terms of volleying, this frame rewards you only if you have good form. Really need to prepare well and punch the ball, otherwise the ball usually lands pretty short if you're simply blocking.
We had some awesome rallies and due to the lightness of the BC20, it was extremely easy to change directions. My VT95 weights 15g more than this with the same balance, it packs more punch, but I am not sure I want to increase the weight of the BC20 anymore, it is pretty good as is.
Topspin was very good with semi-western grip since I was swinging fully on every shot. When I hit it flat, the ball explodes off the frame, not as fast as my old Bab, but gives me a lot more confidence. Defensive shots are interesting with this low powered frame, I found it much easier to keep balls in the court.
The PL-2 strings are broken in, was a little easier to hit with compared than freshly strung. I strung it at 56/56, 4 knots.
In terms of volleying, this frame rewards you only if you have good form. Really need to prepare well and punch the ball, otherwise the ball usually lands pretty short if you're simply blocking.
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Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Dilemmas dilemmas dilemmas!!!!!!
Played three sets of doubles last night changing partners each set. Won 6-1 6-4 6-2 very comfortably.
My dilemma is down to string tension. I left in my tour bite strung rather high at about 60lbs in my racket and this was the 3rd session with it and as it wasn't a proper match i decided not to restring. It had a bit of give in it and i felt it was probably around low-mid 50s in tension. Now the first session at 60 it played well, the second was good but not quite the same but last nights session the racket came alive again. Everything felt that much easier with no loss of control. Now i had this in my custom Vt which i always at 45lbs now im thinking should i just go low again.
The interesting thing with this poly is it seems to start well then go off then come back to life. This has happened on several occasions when stringing high.
Wow my serve last night was like raonic!!!!
I Will pick up another bc20 this week and do a direct test. One racket @ 52lbs the other 60lbs......yesterday was indoor hardcourt so i need to take that into account, although i played rpm and barb wire lowish and had a terrible time. I think TB has so much bite and control that it works really well at low tensions.......and Deee the string felt much softer yesterday without being mushy. All very exciting because when you can hit the lines on your second serve at a pace faster than most people hit their first serve then your whole game seems so easy.
Cant wait to get bc20 #2..........
Played three sets of doubles last night changing partners each set. Won 6-1 6-4 6-2 very comfortably.
My dilemma is down to string tension. I left in my tour bite strung rather high at about 60lbs in my racket and this was the 3rd session with it and as it wasn't a proper match i decided not to restring. It had a bit of give in it and i felt it was probably around low-mid 50s in tension. Now the first session at 60 it played well, the second was good but not quite the same but last nights session the racket came alive again. Everything felt that much easier with no loss of control. Now i had this in my custom Vt which i always at 45lbs now im thinking should i just go low again.
The interesting thing with this poly is it seems to start well then go off then come back to life. This has happened on several occasions when stringing high.
Wow my serve last night was like raonic!!!!
I Will pick up another bc20 this week and do a direct test. One racket @ 52lbs the other 60lbs......yesterday was indoor hardcourt so i need to take that into account, although i played rpm and barb wire lowish and had a terrible time. I think TB has so much bite and control that it works really well at low tensions.......and Deee the string felt much softer yesterday without being mushy. All very exciting because when you can hit the lines on your second serve at a pace faster than most people hit their first serve then your whole game seems so easy.
Cant wait to get bc20 #2..........
You should do wat I did........ 56lbs, right in between =)
I am thinking of picking up another BC20 as well, but might want to wait a little as I also want to pick up another VT95 =)
The VT95 is better in singles for me, BC20 for doubles.
I love it when I can take huge cuts playing in a doubles match, the opponent will usually take a step back and not be too aggressive seeing how big a swing I take.
I am thinking of picking up another BC20 as well, but might want to wait a little as I also want to pick up another VT95 =)
The VT95 is better in singles for me, BC20 for doubles.
I love it when I can take huge cuts playing in a doubles match, the opponent will usually take a step back and not be too aggressive seeing how big a swing I take.
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So have you given up on the 30?
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
yes and no.......everytime i bring it out of the bag it plays wonderful but the 20 just has something extra and for me there is a difference serving with anything over a 95"............
I know this probably goes against what most people think about the pure drive, but i served much better with the BC20 than i do/did with a PD.I have decided (just then actually) to discount the 30 from my thoughts!
Now wnat to do with an unused aerogel 4d 100 i soent ages hunting down and these tgk 238.1s that are sitting in the corner of the room saying "you'll never truely appreciate us". Oh they're mocking me, that's a bad sign of racquetaholicness right?
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Keep the 100s for a rainy day.......take those lovely tgks and strip them down and mod them back to something you'd appreciate.......pick up a bc20 again and compare directly to your pro stock frames........or just sell the lot cos you know that you really liked the bc20
As for the pd i always had trouble getting power as i couldn't swing it fast enough just something to do with stiffness and bulk.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Yes i find a thickish beamed stiff frame harder to swing. Why i don't know. When i had pdr it sounds ridiculous but i couldn't get any power cos i couldn't get it thro the air. I suppose its like swinging a log and a whippy stick. The whippy stick has less power but you can generate more head speed.
The great thing about the bc20 is it swings like a whippy stick but hits like a log
eidolonshinobi
Professional
Hey meaghan do you by any chance have contact info for Sven or paul? I have a few questions for a custom racquet for them.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
It's really not like a 49 flex in the traditional sense of say a head pt57a or a volkl c10, it tends to go with the ball and recoil more than flex, it felt to me as if it were in the throat more than the hoop if you follow.
Vantage Tennis Int'l LLC
8549 Surrey Lane
Boca Raton, Florida 33496
United States
Telephone: 561 206 4210
eidolonshinobi
Professional
Thanks a bunch Dave!
Quite alright, they're a good company who make great frames, I enjoyed the bc20 last summer a lot and am hovering over the website "basket" at the moment on another.........
I loved their custom ones but found the bc more comfy, then got sidetracked by other shiney frames in between.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
I see Dave has sorted you out. I only have the usual emails. Do your research on the custom rackets so you don't ask unnecessary questions especially via email as they have less chance being replied to.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Yeah J i agree with Dave in that its a different feel. I find the flex rather uniform and if anywhere its the throat like you would expect but its the recoil that is more noticeable.
For us UK residents here i can inform you with 'delight' that i am posting from Pontins! Wife booked two nights for about a tenner
......actually having a smashing time despite not having a plug or the dodgy decor. Kids love the crock club.....may enter the breakdancing for dads comp tonight....depends on how much drink I've consumed!Back home tmoro for match practise and hopefully the arrival of my new bc20. Cant wait to get it strung up low 50s with my TB and blow everyone away :twisted:
eidolonshinobi
Professional
Yeah I have scouring these forums and most of my questions have been answered. I just really hope spending $240 for a custom racquet is well worth it.
No this recoil is different, it's hard to describe but it's not like a low flexing racquet at all.At the same time i was using the bc20 last summer i had a PT57a and a donnay international (the flexy one) the latter two were similar in terms of flex but the vantage would flex then as you swung forward would add to your stroke.
000KFACTOR90000
Professional
hmmm sounds like my experience with graphite /wood composites which I love !
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
had match with tour bite at low tensions (50lbs) and won 6-3 6-4 6-2 but it was a little problematic. Whilst the feel is soft and easy, slightly larger sweetspot, I really struggled return of serve and some transitional game stuff from the backcoming forward. More importantly I found it difficult to go for my shots and when i did some would come off and others got sprayed wide.
I do find my bc20 at around 58/60lbs to be the best all round.
I do find my bc20 at around 58/60lbs to be the best all round.
That's sort of how it was sold to me actually, a return to an early type of frame!
Would of helped if i had of remembered that earlier!
Will find out soon if the bastcore is as good as i think it is.
I have a vt221 and vt321 and will receive a bc30.
I like both vantage rackets but vt321 is easier and i'm always switching between the apdc and vt321.
I hope the bc30 has the same qualities as the vt321 and aeropro without any power loss
I have a vt221 and vt321 and will receive a bc30.
I like both vantage rackets but vt321 is easier and i'm always switching between the apdc and vt321.
I hope the bc30 has the same qualities as the vt321 and aeropro without any power loss
rudester
Professional
Just some feedback Martin, i have 2 VT221 racquets which i just love, have been playing with bc20 recently and have found that they are so much fun that i have been neglecting my custom vantages. It took a little while to get used to the bc20 but once i did here are my impressions, there is just so much feel with this frame, actually reminds me of my PS85, but much more forgiving, what i am really enjoying about the bc 20 is that when you conciously really want to lean into the ball there is just tons of accessible power. Hitting ground strokes with my normal pace is just so comfortable with great control, I did add a small amount of lead at 12 oclock (3 grams) and strung it up with a gut poly hybrid, although i also used full poly at one point and that felt great also.
I agree with rudester, i had a pair of 330g 90inch headsize 16 by 18s cant remember what the vt number was. I demoed the 90 95 and 100 frames before purchase but i'd also add that if the bc 20 had of been avaliable when i bought the VT ones i'd of gone for them as first choice.
000KFACTOR90000
Professional
I'm after more feedback on the bc30 and 40.
the graphite / wood composites have a great flex / control even in the oversized models and i'm wondering how the oversize bast cores stand up with full alu power @ 60lbs ?
the graphite / wood composites have a great flex / control even in the oversized models and i'm wondering how the oversize bast cores stand up with full alu power @ 60lbs ?
eleventeenth street
Semi-Pro
very very nice shots meaghan! beautiful courts as well. is that carpet or grass?
