Vantage...solid racquet!

[BHud]

I recently started palying with a Vantage racquet that has the following specs:

100" head
16x19 string pattern
27" length
11.9 oz. (strung)
9 pts. headlight (strung)
RA 63
Swingweight approximately 318 (strung)
21mm straight beam

I have to say that I am most impressed. For the past 2 years I've been bouncing back and forth between a POG OS and the Wilson HPS and nCode 6.1s as my main sticks (this doesn't include the nearly 30 or so demos I've tried, but never found to my liking). I love the feel of the POG (19mm beam), but found that it was not overly maneuverable at net (12.3 oz., 107" head). I also had trouble bringing the heat on my 1st serve. The Wilson's were fantastic serving sticks and also volleyed very well, but were very demanding, especially deep into matches (12.2 oz, swingweight 330, 95" head, 22mm beam).

With the Vantage, I was trying to capture the best attributes of the POG and 6.1s in a slightly lighter, more maneuverable package. While I'm not going to say that the Vantage plays like either (it has it's own personality), I believe that I have certainly accomplished what I set out to do. This racquet is solid in all areas...no significant deficiencies or compromises that I have noticed yet, and the quality is superb.

I would recommend to anyone who has been in demo hell to consider designing your own racquet through Vantage, especially if you know what specs your game is best suited to. I'm a strong 4.5 (former D1 college player in the late 70s) with an all-court game and a one-handed backhand. Their return policy is very liberal, and the price isn't much more than you're paying for many of the newer sticks (I'll certainly make up the difference in demo fees alone).

Also, the service is excellent...I received the racquet within 6 days from the time I ordered it (England to Ohio), and was able to easily communicate with Paul Angell (the head guy) by email to ensure that he would target a 318 swingweight.

Hats off to Vantage...I hope they can continue to generate enough demand in this specialty segment of the market to make this concept successful.

 

[El Diablo]

I'm using a Vantage with essentially the same specs and curiously had been using a POG OS with good effect except on serve. The Vantage has given me extra pop and a much more penetrating serve. Comfort is superb.

 

[BHud]

Yep...the groundies provide that same comfort I felt with the POG OS, but unlike the Prince, I can really get some good heat and kick on my serves (like I could with the Wilson nCode 6.1). I supect that the 21mm straight beam is responsible for that. At net, the 100" head size is more maneuverable than the POG (107") yet more forgiving than the n6.1 (95").

Overall, I couldn't be more pleased!

 

[bobdstrategy]

HBud and El Diablo, thanks for the great info on the Vantage. I am considering almost the exact same spec model. I am very concerned with arm friendliness and I am currently using a ProKennex 5G because of that factor. I wanted to ask if you had any experience with the 5G and could perhaps compare the arm friendliness of your Vantages to this racquet? If not, I would like to hear a little more of how the arm friendliness factor compares to the POG as I have used that racquet as well.

Thanks in advance for any input you might be able to give. Bob

 

[gmlasam]

BHud,

Great to hear you enjoy your Vantage racquet. But, I got one question. How did you confirm if infact the swing weight is really 318 with your vantage?

Would you also post a pic of your Vantage racquet?

 

[BHud]

bobdstrategy...I've used the PK5g and found it to be a strange combination of harshness and comfort due to the kinetic technology (I didn't like the combination...seemed to rob me of too much feel). The Vantage will play more like the POG...no-nonsense (i.e. no woofers, kinetic beads, catapults, etc), solid feel. It also reminds me of the softer Volkls, but much more lively. I've got about 12 hours of play on mine and have felt no arm twinges at all (I had tennis elbow several summers ago and am very sensitive to this).

 

[GuyPerez]

My Vantage spec is the same exept I have 27.25 length and since I have the overgrip and a worm dampener, the weight is more like 12.2 oz. I have played with the Ki 5 and I liked it also. The Vantage has more power in my opinion.

 

[BHud]

gmlasam...for pics, go to the "vantagetennis" website. As for the swingweight, I've played with enough different racquets over the past 3 years to have developed a reasonably good feel for it (I would guess it's between 316-320). In any event, if I'm wrong, I don't want to know...the racquet plays exactly the way I was hoping it would.

 

[bobdstrategy]

Thanks for you clear response Bhud, that helps a lot. I would like to ask another question since you have played the 5G. Could you compare the general sweet spot size of your Vantage to the 5G and/or comment in general on the sweet spot size and location of your Vantage? All your info is much appreciated.

Oh, and GuyPerez, thanks as well for your comparison to the 5Ki.

 

[swedechris]

how much were your vantage rackets ?? i am interested in buying one but think the idea almost sounds too good to be true so therefore this question ..
would liek to know from someone who has bought from them rather than contaqcting them straight away. thanks.

 

[BLiND]

they are £130, which is about the same price as any new racquet.

 

[monologuist]

Compared to the major manufacturers, which do you think Vantage's FEEL is most similar ? : Head (Radical or Prestige), Dunlop (200g), Prince (POG or Diablo), Yonex (MP Tour-1 or RDX-500), Wilson (PS 6.0, nSix One 95), Fischer (Pro #1, Pro Tour FT), Pro Kennex (Laver S, 5g) , Volkl (Tour 10, V1).....Finally, aside from the ability to make your own specs, if Vantage were just selling prebuilt racquets that happened to have the specs you wanted, what playing characteristics do you think are the most distinctive/desirable in them and would be reason enough to switch to Vantage over other major manufacturers' models? (for example, many play Dunlop 200g's for their superior control, POG OS and PK 5g for the great comfort, Yonex RDX-500 MP for stability and great spin potential, Fischers and Volkls for their buttery feel, Wilson Pro Staffs for their great performance serving and at the net...etc....i.e, are you getting something or a combination of things from a Vantage racquet that you can't get from a mass-procuced model that already exists?

oh, and was it the 12 pts. headlight UNSTRUNG spec that you had to choose for it to end up 9 pts. headlight STRUNG?

 

[BHud]

bobdstrategy...the Vantage I designed is a livelier racquet than the PK5i with a sweetspot just above 9&3...it also seems larger than the PK to me...maybe it's because the head is shaped more like a Wilson Pro Staff (oblong) rather than the more rounded shape of the PK.

monologuist...it has it's own feel, but it's similar to a Diablo/POG w/ Wilson serve & volley capabilities, so I guess it's your ability to mix and match that makes it different. I don't feel I am sacrificing in any area of play w/ this stick. On my model, I chose 12 pts headlight unstrung, which is about 9 pts headlight when strung. There are multiple options to choose from though depending on what suits your game.

 

[bobdstrategy]

Thanks again BHud, I hope your new Vantage (and you) just keeps playing better and better.

 

[prostaff_6.1_classsic]

i just had a knock with my new vantage (221110) and it felt fantastic on serve and in the volly, but lacked a little on groundstrokes. im going to try it in a competitive match tomorrow and see how it plays before i buy anouther.

 

[harryhai]

Hi, I just need to ask you guys if you demoed the vantage before buying or you just buy it online or thru Paul.

 

[J D]

they are £130, which is about the same price as any new racquet.

This is true ONLY if you are live in the UK. Otherwise, a Vantage is going to cost approximately twice as much as many frames and about 2/3rds more than the more expensive frames in the US.

BLiND, how about giving a little more comprehensive info since it isn't your own money you're encouraging people to spend.

 

[BLiND]

JD... I stated it was in POUNDS (£)... anyone with half a brain knows you need to convert the currency if you don't have any £ yourself. Or do you really think people are so stupid?

 

[GuyPerez]

Uh, Oh. Here we go again.

 

[THE ANIMAL]

This is true ONLY if you are live in the UK. Otherwise, a Vantage is going to cost approximately twice as much as many frames and about 2/3rds more than the more expensive frames in the US.

BLiND, how about giving a little more comprehensive info since it isn't your own money you're encouraging people to spend.

There are allot of current rackets on sale that are the same price or maybe a bit more then a Vantage take the Prince O3s more $260 and also Babolat aren’t that far off either and those are bog standard off the shelf rackets. He wasn’t encouraging anything just stating fact about the price if its too much then buy something else here in the UK we have to pay close to 300 dollars for Wilson rackets.

You have to remember your paying for a custom hand built racket if you had another custom frame done it would cost you I recon not far off a $1000 frame maybe more also having custom matching of rackets will cost you around 30 to 50 dollars buy a technician so to pay around just over 200dollers for your own custom vantage I think is a bargain.

 

[BLiND]

Just for info, Head Protector frames are £250 here in the UK... which is nearly $500!

 

[prostaff_6.1_classsic]

im converted. well worth the extra cash, althoguh im a brit and am very used to spending that kind of money on a frame. the 221110 played fantasticly even with the heavy wet balls. now its just a case of finding the will power to part with my beloved ps classics.

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

Specs on the racket sound like the new FP Rad Tour.