Meaghan
Hall of Fame
bc20 ~ 260mm
bc30 ~ 266mm
about as accurate as i could make it on a basic tape measure.
Vantage Bast Core
- Thread starter Meaghan
- Start date
bc20 ~ 260mm
bc30 ~ 266mm
about as accurate as i could make it on a basic tape measure.
eleventeenth street
Semi-Pro
this measurement confuses me. am i mistaken, or wasn't he just asking for the beam width at the longest cross stirng?
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Well if he is its already been mentioned on a few occasions..........
"Along the longest cross string" i thought gave me a clue!
Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
He might have been asking for (a) the playable width of the stringbed – i.e., not including the frame; (b) the beam width at the sweet spot, as you assumed, to estimate likelihood of shanks; or (c) the playable stringbed width including the frame. I believe Meaghan provided (c).
I'm curious about (a) and (b) myself, Meaghan, if either or both wouldn't be too much trouble.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
eleventeenth street
Semi-Pro
ahh, ok. thanks for the clarification. and thank you Meaghan for all the great info.
Spray-N-Pray
New User
Finally got a chance to hit with my BC40. For me, the feel and sound of the racquet is very unique and does take some time to get used to. My previous racquet was the Tecnifibre 325XL VO2 max. In comparision I found the BC40 to be more maneuverable but had a touch less power. My tennis instructor thought the added maneuverability of the BC40 made me more consistant. The racquet is about the most comforable I've ever used. I would classify the BC40 as a true OS players stick. Don't expect the free power you usually get from OS sticks. With the BC40 you only get back what you put in. Love the sqaure grip. Popped off the door and the handle is twin chambered, one half has foam and the other has what looks like silicone.
Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
Thanks - much appreciated!
Thank you, Meaghan.
This is very helpful in determining which stick to order, should I decide to give bastcore a try.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
hey no probs...........
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Keep us all informed on how you progress with the 40. I'll have a look inside my handles.Tbh i didnt give it a thought, i just thought it was foam.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
16x19 95" download on thier website
Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses
1 Piece Method (38’, short side 9’):
Start mains at Throat. Mains Skip 7T, 7H, 9T & 9H. Tie Off Mains at 6T.
Start crosses at 7T. Last cross 7H. No shared holes. Tie Off Crosses at 11T
and 5H.
2 Piece Method (Mains19’, Crosses 19’):
Start mains at Throat. Mains Skip 7T, 7H, 9T & 9H. Tie Off Mains at 6T.
Start crosses at 7H, last cross 7T with no shared holes. Tie crosses at 5H &
11T
rudester
Professional
I too could not find this on their website, Just wanted to double check that you must start crosses in throat and string towards head of racquet in one piece method. seems unusual. Where on the site is this info.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Yeah.....if you got 6 grommets in throat (3 ridges) then you start at throat. If you got 8 grommets (4 ridges) start at top........that goes for any racket. Odd amount of ridges at throat=bottom. Even=top.
rudester
Professional
I guess my comment was not clear,
I was referring to starting the cross strings, not the mains, it is usually recommended to start crosses from the top of the head. The Vantage instructions you posted start the crosses in the throat just wanted to double check. Thanks.
rudester
Professional
Tension: 50 – 65 pounds
Pattern: 18 mains/20 crosses
1 Piece Method (40’, short side 10’):
Start mains at Throat. Mains Skip 8H, 9T & 10H. Tie Off Mains at 7T.
Start crosses at 9T. Last cross 8H. No shared holes. Tie Off Crosses at 12T
and 5H.
2 Piece Method (Mains 20’, Crosses 20’):
Start mains at Throat. Mains Skip 8H, 9T & 10H. Tie Off Mains at 7T.
Start crosses at 8H, last cross 9T with no shared holes. Tie crosses at 5H &
12T
Stringing instructions for all
95” models 18 x 20
www.vantagetennis.com
I had this on file for custom 18x20 if that helps.
Pattern: 18 mains/20 crosses
1 Piece Method (40’, short side 10’):
Start mains at Throat. Mains Skip 8H, 9T & 10H. Tie Off Mains at 7T.
Start crosses at 9T. Last cross 8H. No shared holes. Tie Off Crosses at 12T
and 5H.
2 Piece Method (Mains 20’, Crosses 20’):
Start mains at Throat. Mains Skip 8H, 9T & 10H. Tie Off Mains at 7T.
Start crosses at 8H, last cross 9T with no shared holes. Tie crosses at 5H &
12T
Stringing instructions for all
95” models 18 x 20
www.vantagetennis.com
I had this on file for custom 18x20 if that helps.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
a couple of companies mainly Head always say 2 piece start crosses from top. Never done this always end up starting from the bottom. Much prefer the alignment of the strings being pulled straight from an arc. Ive read somewhere that Nadal requests his strings to be strung bottom to top.
I think its all to do with the weakest part of the frame being the top when stringing so its safer to start at the top. Ive strung hundreds now and not had one problem old and new.
rudester
Professional
Thanks again, and the Vantage stringing instructions also recommend starting from the top in 2 piece job i notice. and Starting at the bottom on 1 piece..
Thanks for sharing your experience, just confirming that there were no misprints in directions.
I guess i'd never strung from the bottom up, if this is okay it is probably actually easier.
Thanks for sharing your experience, just confirming that there were no misprints in directions.
I guess i'd never strung from the bottom up, if this is okay it is probably actually easier.
Today was the day. Really like my BC 20 but just wanted to make sure it was the right decision. I did not like the strings by the third time of playing with it. Today was the last day for the London demo so I installed lead on the handle to make the swing weight and weight close to the BC 20. I also restrung the BC 20 with gut mains at 55 and Isospeed crosses at 58. Played singles with my USTA team captain. We go back and forth on wins and most wins are by tiebreaker. Played the first set with the London. Won 6-4. I thought it played very well. Second set I played with my BC 20. The London is the second best stick I have ever played with. The BC 20 is the first. I won the second set 6-1. It is amazing to me the control and dwell time the racket produces. Not to mention there is just something magic when you connect dead in the sweet spot. It reminds me of my overall favorite racket the Head Edge Pro from 30 years ago. And again after the match the captain is telling me how much my game has improved. (It really is the racket) I ordered the second BC 20 today and returned the demo.
I normally string gut/synthetic around 50 or lower because I do not have very much power at 62. For some reason I decided to string at 55/57 because I liked the feel the first time I used the racket. I have all the power I need at that tension.
I strung two piece, starting at throat and crosses from the top.
I normally string gut/synthetic around 50 or lower because I do not have very much power at 62. For some reason I decided to string at 55/57 because I liked the feel the first time I used the racket. I have all the power I need at that tension.
I strung two piece, starting at throat and crosses from the top.
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rudester
Professional
Great information, Just ordered BC 20 yesterday, looking forward to checking it out, have been playing with Vantage Custom racquets and my sister bought me a BC20 for my birthday, All these posts have got me really enthused about this racquet.
interesting Levy, at first it reminded me of my Head comfort edge
I remember you saying that and I lit up like a Christmas tree.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
as soon as you get it and play let us know rudes....
rudester
Professional
I will indeed, however it may be a couple of weeks, currently recovering from arthoscopic knee surgery. Feel like i can play soon. The wait should be worth it.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Looking to get another bc20 in a couple of weeks when I have some cash!
Looking forward to having Tour Bite in one and Revolution in the other at the same time so I can determine what reel I want for the forthcoming season.
Good to hear Levy playing with gut, that set up must have some wallop. I will try gut mains/poly cross in the bc20 when it warms up a bit. Love this set up for S&V
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
I have been used to an 18x20 i like the control and i get a lot of spin anyway and i had a little trouble with a custom 16x19 although it did have the elastic polystar energy in it. I haven't found control an issue with the bc20 except i had a some problems with rpm another soft elastic poly. I have noticed a higher trajectory with the 16x19 and the added spin. Is it better than the custom? Imo yes. Different feel i like and bigger sweetspot imo.
As for pl2 its a good string but id deffo recommend solinco revolution. Loads of spin and pop with lovely feel. Much better imo.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Prob due to the PD having A wider head and your Vt having a dense sp.
I did notice a extra jump on serve with fresh revolution. more than i ever did with alu and although slightly less grippy better on serve than tour bite.
I have two of the Custom VT222. Now at 63, they are a little heavy for me. They are also 70RA, 10pts head light and weigh 12.3 with overgrip and head tape. The BC 20 hits totally different. I was looking for the quality stick of the Vantage but a lighter racket. I was going to buy a London as all of you know but the BC 20 came out and after reading the posts I bought one based on the quality of the custom Vantage. I love the RA and fat sweetspot. Now I bought two!
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Looking to get another bc20 in a couple of weeks when I have some cash!
Looking forward to having Tour Bite in one and Revolution in the other at the same time so I can determine what reel I want for the forthcoming season.
Good to hear Levy playing with gut, that set up must have some wallop. I will try gut mains/poly cross in the bc20 when it warms up a bit. Love this set up for S&V
Man did that gut combo wake the racket up!
Wouldn't it be terribly powerful with gut mains. The VT95 with closed pattern is already pretty powerful for me. However I am using poly at low 40s.
The first few balls I hit out. Then everything settled in. In my other rackets I just finished about 10 string jobs using natural gut/poly combos. The best setup was Timo mains and gut crosses. I dont have enough power to use poly and that setup kept my arm just a little sore but I am older. The new setup feels just right but there is going to be more break in and I expect more power as everything loosens up. Also I read where the Isospeed goes dead quickly. With the second racket coming I can do more experimentation with some different crosses but I will probally keep gut mains.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
I had a kps88 with pacific prime gut mains and alu rough crosses. In the heat of the summer i could do things on serve i haven't quite been able to do with poly (although solinco barb wire is close). Amazing power and swerve and movement in the air. Ok i couldn't keep my fh in but that wad also to do with the small headsize and my full western grip.
I want to try it again with the bc20 to see if i have the same success serving and Volleying and to test out how it affects my topspinning baseline side of my game.
I want to try it again with the bc20 to see if i have the same success serving and Volleying and to test out how it affects my topspinning baseline side of my game.
Thats interesting. I really miss the crazy spin I could generate with the different setups using poly and kevlar with gut. Right now with my current setup the power and control is the best I have ever had. We will see how the string breaks in. I also need to be ready to play on clay outside as the weather breaks. I usually like a little more power on the clay.
Keeping your FH in is more important than dropping 1st serve bombs!!
How did you guys find weight of the racquet, 335g strung. Meaghan I see that you leaded up yours, did you find it too light? and SW too low?
I don't hit that hard so I did not have that problem. Fraying yes. I strung the gut 5 lbs higher. I did 20/25, 25/30, 30/35, 35/40, full timo poly at 45 and full gut at 45. Wound up buying a stringer and I am glad I did. I can now get away from going crazy trying to find the best racket and transfer my energies to being crazy finding the right string which is a lot of fun!
I use a scale. Overgrip and head tape no lead.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Ive been used to playing with a racket about 360-370g never found it a problem logging it around until winter sets in and heavy balls means its very tiring. I decided this winter to drop the weight 20g and keep the SW high. My bc20 has leather, og, extended and 6g @12 which makes it about 352g whilst keeping the SW in the region of 360+ it makes it very manouverable and light compared to what I've had and very stable with lots of plow. This winter i haven't felt the racket become too heavy as the cold sets in.
Im a big strong boy (ha just turned 40) and gotta say the slight lowering of weight has proved amazingly productive for my game.
Im getting coached by a former world ranked player and even at my age my game is getting better and better to the extent where we are having very close matches that have gone either way.
Boxofweasels
New User
I finally had the chance to hit with my new Vantage Bastcore30 today! I'm a strong 3.5 all-court player and love coming in to the net when I have the chance. I've been playing with ProKennex frames for the last five years because I have wrist and shoulder problems; the PK Black Ace 98 has been my racquet of choice for the last year.
My quick first impression of the Vantage Bastcore 30:
How in the hell did they do that? Vantage has managed to make a wonderfully comfortable racquet without losing feel and feedback. From the first hit I felt totally connected to the racquet and it was an easy transition to play with the BC30.
I was concerned that the power level would be too high and that I wouldn't be able to control the racquet because I'm used to an 18x20 string pattern. To the contrary, I didn't feel any loss of control and I never once felt that the racquet was working against me.
I frequently use a backhand slice approach shot to come into the net and with the BC30 plow-through and racquet stability were excellent. Volleys were a bit more muted than with my BA98 but control was excellent and I was able to hit most of my volleys deep and with accuracy.
My serve was the only shot that will take a bit of practice as I'm used to a racquet balance that is quite a bit more head light than the BC's almost even balance. I may experiment with adding a little weight to the handle to make the racquet a bit more headlight.
When you hit the sweet spot the racquet seems to pocket the ball and then shoot it out like it was coming out of a slingshot; it's extremely comfortable and satisfying. As far as I'm concerned Vantage has demonstrated that you don't have to give up feel and performance for comfort. I'm very happy with my purchase and look forward to exploring the full potential of this racquet!
Joel
My quick first impression of the Vantage Bastcore 30:
How in the hell did they do that? Vantage has managed to make a wonderfully comfortable racquet without losing feel and feedback. From the first hit I felt totally connected to the racquet and it was an easy transition to play with the BC30.
I was concerned that the power level would be too high and that I wouldn't be able to control the racquet because I'm used to an 18x20 string pattern. To the contrary, I didn't feel any loss of control and I never once felt that the racquet was working against me.
I frequently use a backhand slice approach shot to come into the net and with the BC30 plow-through and racquet stability were excellent. Volleys were a bit more muted than with my BA98 but control was excellent and I was able to hit most of my volleys deep and with accuracy.
My serve was the only shot that will take a bit of practice as I'm used to a racquet balance that is quite a bit more head light than the BC's almost even balance. I may experiment with adding a little weight to the handle to make the racquet a bit more headlight.
When you hit the sweet spot the racquet seems to pocket the ball and then shoot it out like it was coming out of a slingshot; it's extremely comfortable and satisfying. As far as I'm concerned Vantage has demonstrated that you don't have to give up feel and performance for comfort. I'm very happy with my purchase and look forward to exploring the full potential of this racquet!
Joel
When you hit the sweet spot the racquet seems to pocket the ball and then shoot it out like it was coming out of a slingshot; it's extremely comfortable and satisfying. As far as I'm concerned Vantage has demonstrated that you don't have to give up feel and performance for comfort. I'm very happy with my purchase and look forward to exploring the full potential of this racquet!
Joel[/QUOTE]
Glad you like it. Slingshot is the right word, I would add slingshot with control!
Joel[/QUOTE]
Glad you like it. Slingshot is the right word, I would add slingshot with control!
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Out of interest why did you choose the 30 over the 20 if you are used to a much higher hl balance?
goldenyama
Professional
Anyone been playing with the BC40?
