Anyone tried a custom made Vantage ??
I have been using my kps88 for a while now and playing very well. Recently tho with the cold wet weather ive been struggling with the heavy slow balls which makes my racket feel twice as heavy. So ive been looking for something I can mod a little to make a slightly easier playing version of my 88s.
I lke some of the older lighter pro staffs like the classic but i wanted something I wouldnt struggle getting hold of. The problem is there are very few modern rackets with old skool feel etc.
I recently picked up a vantage, quite by accident, I noticed it had the same short throat of the pro staff that i prefer for stability and consistency in my game. It was a 95 and I put the two heads together and other than the box frame of the 88 they were very similar in shape ie where the throat starts, ends, headsize etc.
I strung it up with full Alu at low tension (45lbs)
Vantage 95 - 18x20 - 362g - SW 338 - 10pts HL - full Alu @ 45lbs
Very similar in feel to my 88, although the box beam definately adds to stability, there's little in it, also the width of the throat above the handle is very similar to the 88.
What I did notice with the slightly larger head and whippier frame my forehand came back to me (someting that Ive struggled with with the 88 ).
To summize, the 88 for me raised my game in all departments except my forehand and the early signs with the Vantage are that all those positives have remained the same and my forehand has got back to normal.
I will be picking up a few more of these sticks from Paul in UK once ive tried the 16x19 pattern.
Vantage are a UK born company that allow you to configure and build your own racket. They are doing particularly well in US at the moment.
websites UK & US
http://www.vantagetennis.co.uk
http://www.vantagetennis.com
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Comment by Meags on December 22, 2010 at 5:37pm
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Its had some negative feedback, a lot of Vantage users liked the no frills approach with the all black, red or white.
Personally I like the chrome, ok it reminds me slightly of a cheapish Dunlop but the fact is it plays superbly well.
The pros like soft rackets for control and groundstrokes but like firmness for serving, This is soft but not noodle like and the recoil gives it a lot of pop....best MP about imo
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Comment by Tim Prapong on December 22, 2010 at 5:26pm
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Now that's a beautiful racquet, paint and all. It's just asking for a whirl!
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The new bast core vantages are out soon they are made with natural fibres and have a flex of about 45-49. They come in three specs and i can say after playtesting two that they are very special. Soft like old skool but crisp too. they have a powerful recoil that gives these sticks a lot of punch. This may take a bit of getting used to but well worth it. The best mid plus racket I've played.
As for cost in the US it does seem a lot it works out a lot better in UK at about £120. You can i think phone and ask for demo now. Fotos to follow later when i get time.
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Now that you vouch for Vantage racquets, I am going to have to try one soon. :)
I had three Prestige Tours but the suspension grip annoyed me with its clicking. Great feel otherwise.
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New one has arrived....gonna string it up with Polystar energy in that weird set up Davydenko had in the final maters event in the UK. Davydenko had 41lbs in the mains/37lbs for the first five crosses/39lbs for the rest of the crosses. Im going for 45/41/43 and just see if it makes any difference (??)
Here is the link......http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/Tennis/Media/Videos/2009/...
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These rckets are more than just a clone company, they are fantastic in there own right. With modern day tinny frames abundant, there are only a couple of manufactureres that come close to Vantage in build quality.
These are tremendously stable tennis rackets, they dont do anything spectacular they do all things well. Its up to you to bring your game, you cant blame the racket!
Im thinking of rackets like the Head pt600 that do some things well, unbelievably soft touch. Old Head rackets just own feel IMO although this stopped with the I.prestige. They serve great but yet I dont always know where the ball is going sometimes.
The shorter throated pro staffs (not the k series) all are completely super stable, no twisting, rock solid.
For me, feel is a funny one, you know when you have it in a racket (pt600/head graphite pro) but you dont miss it in a pro staff which is a completely different feel (stiffer).
Therfore stability is the most important thing to me and stability = consistency.
I have found that these rackets have that consistency. I found this quote by a Bosworth user and it seems to ring true about my Vantage frames. Just swap Vantage for Bosworth and kps88 for n90, pt600 for prestige mid.
"Prior to the Bosworth racket, I played with the n90 and the Head Prestige Mid Plus. The Bosworth is the only racket that gives me an incredibly consistent response. With the Prestige, I never felt like my groundstrokes locked in 100%. There was always some gray area as to where the ball would end up. The nCode 90 is more like the Bosworth, but incredibly demanding. The Bosworth has a slightly larger head and gives me the best of both worlds. Consistent response, but also the ability to hit off center and stay in the point".
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Yeah the 95 plays very similar imo to the pro staff classic with a little more flex.
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Comment by CoachV - William Vazquez on January 9, 2010 at 11:06am -
there is a pro here in Marietta Cobb county area of Atlanta that is a Rep. He swears by the racquet. the company looks like a good clone manufacture.... err They can tailor any racquet to any specs you require is what i mean....so if you want a prostaff they can make it type of deal.
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Thanks Mark
I didnt realised he was on here. Hope he likes the blog !
Im hoping to get a little more action going in the UK tennis group, more so than the London one is I'm in Liverpool (300miles away). I will put a little more work into it when i get some time.
Best
R.
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