New Boast tennis racquet-anyone played with it?

[Kevin T]

Boast isn't nearly as popular as it's 70's/80's heyday but they've done a few collabs in the past, most recently with Prince ~4 years ago. Does this frame/shape look familiar to anyone? Very light for me at 282 grams but I loved me some Boast back in the day. My high school team had Boast polos for unis back in the late 80's/early 90's and my local golf club was full of Boast stuff (pro was from FL, where the original owner had relocated).

 

[kkm]

Boast isn't nearly as popular as it's 70's/80's heyday but they've done a few collabs in the past, most recently with Prince ~4 years ago. Does this frame/shape look familiar to anyone? Very light for me at 282 grams but I loved me some Boast back in the day. My high school team had Boast polos for unis back in the late 80's/early 90's and my local golf club was full of Boast stuff (pro was from FL, where the original owner had relocated).

Is that a ganja leaf logo/stencil?

 

[Kevin T]

That's what everyone unfamiliar with the brand thinks but it's actually a Japanese Maple Leaf. However, the founder has admitted the original logo was meant to essentially confuse and offend in a passive/aggressive way.

 

[dr. godmode]

weird specs

 

[Hawks9451]

weird specs

Admit you're intrigued!
also, Grip type: Boast Wrap

 

[A_Instead]

Looks like a racket that you could customize the paint and sell under your own brand, logo, etc..
As long as you purchase a minimum lot size of X units...

 

[kevin qmto]

Donald Young probably has.

 

[Seth]

Looks like a racket that you could customize the paint and sell under your own brand, logo, etc..
As long as you purchase a minimum lot size of X units...

Exactly my thought but you stated it better. Seems like a novelty offering instead a real attempt at a racquet line, especially given the two grip sizes and two color options.

 

[dr. godmode]

Admit you're intrigued!
also, Grip type: Boast Wrap

I mean… Canadian leaf and PJ what’s not to like?

 

[JeffG]

If that’s unstrung weight, it’s Pure Strike Team-ish.

 

[Kevin T]

Now available in 4 colors. I lLOVE, LOVE, LOVE the field green color. Might need to add 40-50 grams to the frame but what the heck.

 

[Crocodile]

Is it a Canadian brand ? Quite light

 

[revrock81]

Got TWO frames; One in Navy and One in Field Green, they were shipped next day and arrived 3 days after I ordered. AMAZING!!! Was totally worth the gamble!! It's boutique I say the quality is like a Lacoste frame.

-Derek in Wilmington NC

 

[Kevin T]

Got TWO frames; One in Navy and One in Field Green, they were shipped next day and arrived 3 days after I ordered. AMAZING!!! Was totally worth the gamble!! It's boutique I say the quality is like a Lacoste frame.

-Derek in Wilmington NC

Glad you volunteered to be the crash test dummy on these frames. Those are the exact colors I would get...lovely looking frames! Have you had a hit yet?

 

[longtimelurker]

Got TWO frames; One in Navy and One in Field Green, they were shipped next day and arrived 3 days after I ordered. AMAZING!!! Was totally worth the gamble!! It's boutique I say the quality is like a Lacoste frame.

-Derek in Wilmington NC

1st post boasting about a new frame sounds like a paid review posters here are well experienced with these sales tactics

 

[Kevin T]

1st post boasting about a new frame sounds like a paid review posters here are well experienced with these sales tactics

Who cares? Lets hear it. I trust Derek in Wilmington, NC-lovely town.

 

[revrock81]

So what I can say is at 282g they are light... I'm gonna take them to check balance but I will take a few swing with out Lead first, but they give me the vibes of Wilson Shift, which I ended up NOT liking. The frame is familiar and they do have a HEAD Style Grip.

 

[Rabbit]

Heck, for $80/frame I could learn to love them! I’d have to get a stencil though.

 

[Kevin T]

Just wear a tie dye shirt, slap on some patchouli and you’re good to go, Rabbit.

 

[vsbabolat]

Is that a ganja leaf logo/stencil?

It’s a Japanese Maple leaf

 

[vsbabolat]

Is it a Canadian brand ? Quite light

American. Was started in West Palm Beach, FL. I think now they are owned by someone in the North East.

 

[Kevin T]

American. Was started in West Palm Beach, FL. I think now they are owned by someone in the North East.

Yep. Started in the early 70s in Connecticut, but the owner moved to FL soon after. You couldn’t walk into a tennis or golf pro shop in FL or much of the southeast in the 80s and 90s without seeing it. It’s changed hands a few times since the OG owner sold it:

No need to Boast; brand sells itself

Is that a pot leaf you're wearing? In the 1970s and '80s, sportswear brand Boast earned love from young suburbanite prepsters and the country club set for its polo shirts with Japanese maple leaf l…

www.palmbeachpost.com

If you like cotton, some of the comfiest I’ve owned.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yep. Started in the early 70s in Connecticut, but the owner moved to FL soon after. You couldn’t walk into a tennis or golf pro shop in FL or much of the southeast in the 80s and 90s without seeing it. It’s changed hands a few times since the OG owner sold it:

No need to Boast; brand sells itself

Is that a pot leaf you're wearing? In the 1970s and '80s, sportswear brand Boast earned love from young suburbanite prepsters and the country club set for its polo shirts with Japanese maple leaf l…

www.palmbeachpost.com

If you like cotton, some of the comfiest I’ve owned.

I was at the Boast factory in 1985 where they did all the embroidery work for the all different club logos. The clothes were made in Hong Kong and then shipped to West Palm. My high school team used Boats shirts as well for uniforms. I also lived in CT.

 

[Kevin T]

I was at the Boast factory in 1985 where they did all the embroidery work for the all different club logos. The clothes were made in Hong Kong and then shipped to West Palm. My high school team used Boats shirts as well for uniforms. I also lived in CT.

Interesting. That’s funny, as my high school team in VA also had Boast polos.

As late as 2013, the new owner was making the tees in Los Angeles and they were very comfy and high quality. I haven’t bought any in a while but I have a soft spot for the brand.

 

[Rabbit]

I remember back in the mid to late 70s, everybody wore Levi’s, Stan smiths, and either Boast or Lacoste shirts. Ahh the good old days.

 

[Kevin T]

I remember back in the mid to late 70s, everybody wore Levi’s, Stan smiths, and either Boast or Lacoste shirts. Ahh the good old days.

Sounds like my current wardrobe but replace jeans for shorts. Good to see you posting, Rabbit!

 

[Rabbit]

Sounds like my current wardrobe but replace jeans for shorts. Good to see you posting, Rabbit!

UK looking good this year in football, State not so much.
I have a couple of pair of Boast shorts but probably will get some shirts just for the heck of it.

 

[Kevin T]

UK looking good this year in football, State not so much.
I have a couple of pair of Boast shorts but probably will get some shirts just for the heck of it.

First of all Rabbit, you totally jinxed my Wildcats!! Terrible stretch since your comment. Can't imagine Stoops surviving much longer.

I finally decided to bite the bullet and order a couple of these frames. Just like revrock said, the racquets came quickly after ordering (~4 days from Connecticut-I'm in NorCal). I also ordered the field green and navy blazer colors. Visually, the frames look fantastic! The Boast grip is a faux leather with decent tack. Tension range is 50-60 lb and it looks to be a basic syn gut strung closer to 60 lb. Boast lists the balance at 12.8 inches and it is very obviously quite head heavy. The throat is wide in the hand, particularly compared to player frames that I generally prefer. I took it out for a quick hit with my 9 and 11 yo boys. They really liked it, though both complained it felt heavy in the hand. It certainly needs some weight in the grip to make it less head heavy, IMHO. Groundstrokes were fun and easy but I really had to shorten my swing to keep balls from flying. Very stable on volleys but I wasn't playing against hard hitters. I gravitate towards 12 oz, head light, flexible frames, so these certainly aren't my jam but they're great to have around for casual hitting with my kids or if I need to loan out a frame to a beginner/friend that I might be hitting with. I would compare it to the older Wilson Hammer frames and the stiffness rating has to be high 60's to 70 or so. The paint job and quality are good and it's a very unique looking racquet. The field green is particularly nice. You can Google for a Boast discount code and find one that gives you an additional 15% off, so I was able to get the frames for $68 each. Not bad.

 

[revrock81]

Fantastic... I agree thoroughly. I also think it reminds me now of the old Hammer 4.7 EB. Me, I alway liked sub 19mm frames, and they are harder to find. Haven't played them in weeks. Good to hear you got an additional discount.