2019 Wilson Blade
- Thread starter TennisCounrty
- Start date
What are your favorite strings on the blade 16x19 (and/ or 18x20). I played the 18x20 with lyon, lynx green, ice code, 4g and silver 7 tour. I am now thinking about going gut/lynx green on the 16x19. But to get objective comparisons to the 18x20 I might start with silver 7 tour.
dis anyone try isopeed baseline in the v7?
dis anyone try isopeed baseline in the v7?
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
4G 1.25 worked really well for me in both patterns. Since it’s a firm string, it complements the soft layup of the v7 nicely. I’m currently hitting with the kBlade 98 which is stiffer and 4G doesn’t feel as good unfortunately unless I add a dampener. Tour bite 1.20 worked well in the 18x20 and I assume 1.25 would work well in the 16x19.
mscream
Professional
Vey curious about this - I have two blades coming and have S7T in a DR98 at the moment. I think it should work very well at lower tensions. Tension stability is great but the sharp edges wear out quickly.
D
Deleted member 756272
Guest
Loving the 18x20. Going to try to pick up a few more frames that are under spec. If it was Wilson’s long game/plans to discount soon after launch to entice platform switchers, I’ve bitten hook, line, and sinker.
Agree with other posters about adding weight to the head. Currently have some at 10/2. Feel like the twistweight is high enough so may move it to noon and test again. Anyone tried comparing weight at noon vs the 9/3 areas?
Strung with technifibre pro red code and KB proline 2 in 17g at 40/37.
Every shot was dipping just inside. I feel like this frame can handle even lower tension. Would like to try 30.
Agree with other posters about adding weight to the head. Currently have some at 10/2. Feel like the twistweight is high enough so may move it to noon and test again. Anyone tried comparing weight at noon vs the 9/3 areas?
Strung with technifibre pro red code and KB proline 2 in 17g at 40/37.
Every shot was dipping just inside. I feel like this frame can handle even lower tension. Would like to try 30.
1.18 gauge? I have been thinking about using this in mine also!
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
Yep!
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
The rain let up enough yesterday afternoon for me meet up with @snoflewis to do some good hitting with the Blade v7 18/20. I requested the lowest swing weight Blade they had when I ordered mine and this one is definitely very maneuverable. Typically a lower SW stick will lack power and penetration. Yesterday I was hitting into a head wind and this Blade v7 was surprisingly able to hit through the wind. While others have mentioned the 2015 Blade 18/20 having a tad more power than the v7, i find the power levels to be pretty similar. The feel is definitely different. The 2015 offers more direct feedback while the v7 has a muted and plush feel. The v7 definitely has a Clashified feel to it. I say this not as a negative. It's just different. The feedback is not as direct as the 2015 blade or direct and clean like my modded Ultra Tour, but the string bed was certainly very communicative in what the ball was doing. Both of my 2015 and v7 18/20 are super stable on volleys. In fact they are both an absolute joy to volley with. I can see myself easily choosing the v7 18/20, the 2015 18/20 or the modded UT as my main stick. Since all 3 rackets are so much fun to play with and all perform great, they have earned permanent spot in my bag. Just love all 3 of these sticks. 
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Lozannois
Rookie
Thanks for your feedback ! Did you try Tecnifibre TF40? If yes, why would you say It's not in your bag ?The rain let up enough yesterday afternoon for me meet up with @snoflewis to do some good hitting with the Blade v7 18/20. I requested the lowest swing weight Blade they had when I ordered mine and this one is definitely very maneuverable. Typically a lower SW stick will lack power and penetration. Yesterday I was hitting into a head wind and this Blade v7 was surprisingly able to hit through the wind. While others have mentioned the 2015 Blade 18/20 having a tad more power than the v7, i find the power levels to be pretty similar. The feel is definitely different. The 2015 offers more direct feedback while the v7 has a muted and plush feel. The v7 definitely has a Clashified feel to it. I say this not as negative. It's just different. The feedback is not as direct as the 2015 blade or direct and clean like my modded Ultra Tour, but the string bed was certainly very communicative in what the ball was doing. Both of my 2015 and v7 18/20 are super stable on volleys. In fact they are both an absolute joy to volley with. I can see myself easily choosing the v7 18/20, the 2015 18/20 or the modded UT as my main stick. Since all 3 rackets are so much fun to play with and all perform great, they have earned permanent spot in my bag. Just love all 3 of these sticks.
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
I did try the Tf40 305. It just wasn’t as good as these 3 frames. For me, these 3 frames are really special.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Make sure to swap out the base grip to improve the feedback.
Lozannois
Rookie
Yep same for me... I did try it as well and found out it was a good stick but I did not win points with it... Don't know why... Blade once, Blade for life...I did try the Tf40 305. It just wasn’t as good as these 3 frames. For me, these 3 frames are really special.
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Yup. I just put it through the paces and concluded this is a keeper. Only an OG and no tail weighting of any sort and I liked the frame to know this wasn’t going anywhere. Next step is swapping out the base grip for leather.
Wilson has been knocking it out of the park with their recent releases. I now have 6x Ultra Tours, 2x 2015 blade 18/20s and this v7 18/20 in my bag. The vcp97 HD is in there for now as well but will probably end up being the red-headed stepchild.
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gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Need to bring it to the shop and have it measured but it feels a tad bit easier to swing than even the 2015 18/20 that is 291 unstrung. Doesn’t feel anemic at all to me. The flex and lower SW are all preferred specs in my wheelhouse though.
WillGinRVA
Rookie
How much SW do strings add to 18x20 Blade? I’ve got one that is 300 unstrung and one that is 307 unstrung and not sure how to figure out the strung SW with various types of string.
AJvR
Rookie
I do not know for the Blade, but my 18x20 TF40 has a measured SW of 296 and 330 strung (with Ice Code), so add 34 SW points for a poly.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
33 sw points with max power rough 1.25. I know that. Maybe use that as a baseline. Like the 1.20 probably adds 30 sw points.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
My rule of thumb is just under 2x the static weight of the strings. 1.25 gauge poly in an 18x20 pattern typically adds 17-18 grams, so that's usually a 30-34 sw point increase.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
I know what you mean. I am doing an extended demo of the kblade 98 right now and it is super crisp. I have hit with the 2015 in the past and the kblade has even more direct feedback. Shades of grey though, I think they are all great in their own way. Even the countervail isn't that bad, just very, very muted.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Usually around 25-35 points of SW depending on material and gauge. Gut and poly being heavier than multi and syn gut. Thicker gauge being heavier than thinner gauge.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Yup. Both 2015 and v7 18/20s are awesome sticks. Could play with either.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Which is the kblade? The 2013? I wonder how it compares to the 2015 vs v7?
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
The kblade is the second blade, after the nblade. It is before the BLX blade and the 2013 blade, which supposedly Tsitsi uses under the paint. I guess that makes it the 2009 blade? Message me if you are interested, I have a few in my bag and I would let go of one.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
WillGinRVA
Rookie
I believe the current 25% off excludes the CV Blades since they are below the $179 threshold
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n8dawg6
Legend
nah, TW has em for $126!I believe the current 25% off excludes the CV Blades since they are below the $179 threshold
djNEiGht
Legend
Tried out the v7 18 with synthetic gut. Great feel and control. Then put poly. Still not bad in terms of feel. Love how this racquet has nice stability/plow in a 340g - ish string weight.
Had a good day with my first serves. Easy power. Groundies have a nice low trajectory but doesn’t lack in the spin department
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Had a good day with my first serves. Easy power. Groundies have a nice low trajectory but doesn’t lack in the spin department
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ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Tried out the v7 18 with synthetic gut. Great feel and control. Then put poly. Still not bad in terms of feel. Love how this racquet has nice stability/plow in a 340g - ish string weight.
Had a good day with my first serves. Easy power. Groundies have a nice low trajectory but doesn’t lack in the spin department
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Whats the padding on the bottom loops?
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
They appear to be make-shift Power Pads.
Znak
Hall of Fame
Nice! My setup is a little less colorful just in the shoes!Tried out the v7 18 with synthetic gut. Great feel and control. Then put poly. Still not bad in terms of feel. Love how this racquet has nice stability/plow in a 340g - ish string weight.
Had a good day with my first serves. Easy power. Groundies have a nice low trajectory but doesn’t lack in the spin department
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Would love to hear more of everyone's favorite string setup in the v7
n8dawg6
Legend
im using a full bed of 16L element starting at 50 lbs in the 16 x 19. fantastic stuffNice! My setup is a little less colorful just in the shoes!
Would love to hear more of everyone's favorite string setup in the v7
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Okay, I have no idea what a power pad is or does either.
I swing lots of racquets, but know little about customizing and such.
Hyper-G 17g at 47/44. When it's fresh hyper-g is something else. Little lack of power and little too muted maybe but it really brings the ball down pretty damn good.. you can swing away all you want.
Tour Sniper will be a good fit (rs lyon like...) only if i can get my stringer to get the tension right.. it needs to be strung low b/c it doesn't particularly have a high launch angle, therefore needs to be strung on the quite low-end and then it'll be perfect. I like the crispness of tour sniper and insane control. Good spin too... i keep asking for 45/42 and keep getting back 49... why??? i am pretty sure my tennis tension app is fine.. it measures other stuff pretty damn accurately...
tour sniper fits 16x19 like a glove sir... at around 45lbs... highly recommend.
djNEiGht
Legend
Back in the day, power pads were used to protect natural gut on the sharp bends of the racquet. With the advancement of racquets/grommets, the need isn't there any more. How I understand the use of power pads in modern tennis are two fold.
1) adds some level of dampening
2) elongates the main strings just a tad which opens up the sweet spot and adds power with the longer strings.
bonus) Federer does it
FedGR
Professional
I have also heard from a couple different people that they feel they get slightly longer good performance out of the stringbed.
parasailing
Legend
Best string for the Blade v7 is Hyper-G 17g. I tried Tour Silver Tour 7 and it has more power but less spin. Hyper-G is a spin monster.
Holdfast44ID
Semi-Pro
Do any of you find the 18x20 v7 is perfectly stable in stock form or did you need to add a little lead tape? At around 11.5 oz strung, it just seems like it would still get pushed around. 11.7 oz seems like a good weight for these sticks. On the 18x20, I'd probably add equal weight at 12 and inside the buttcap to retain the same balance. In stock form, it feels very light even though it is head heavy. Hopefully, no rain this weekend so I can test it out (two weeks without hitting!).
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Very stable in stock form for me and I asked for the lightest SW stick the store had on hand. Are you finding that you are getting pushed around? Or you just feel it would based on the static weight?
Holdfast44ID
Semi-Pro
I have some new 18x20 frames and will hit with them this weekend for the first time. I have several 16x19 frames and had to add weight to make them feel more stable. So it is a little disconcerting to feel the weight difference between frames. Just looking forward to more control and plow with the 18x20 sticks. I might keep the 16x19s as backups.
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