Wilson Blade 100 v8 best racket ever ! Its a mutant - a real x-men !

[zykoniko]

I tested and played a lot of rackets the last 10 years. I am a racket tester and i change my racket every 2 months.
I played Pure Aeros, Blades, Ezones, Radicals etc...

But now i think the search and testing period is over...

2 weeks ago i playtested the Wilson 100 v8 300g and i was blown away. It was only a standart test because i read a lot of positiv reviews about this hidden gem.

I was shocked and really surprised:

This is by far the best racket i have ever played. So much control, but also power and spin. The sweetspot is soooo much bigger like other rackets with such control.

I can hit flat and also with spin if i want. Volley and serves are also a dream. Kick, slice, flat serve no problem,And the best: its very comfortable.
My forehand is so much faster than with any other racket i played.

I think this is the only racket that has no negative aspects... i cant find any negative....

My racket was strung with Wilson Revolve Spin 16 with 54 lbs. And this string was so nice, i also bought a reel.

With this racket you can play with spin high over the net and if the ball comes shorter you hit a flat winner that cant come back...
There is no other racket, that plays so easy with this tactic.

Returns also really easy... you can block or play aggresive.

Now i have 3 Wilson 100 v8 and never will test another racket.

Please test this racket and tell me what you think about it!

This Blade100 is like a mutant: pick the best character from every racket and put it into the blade 100, thats it.

I am from germany and i think i am 4.0 level.

 

[Blade_X]

If only it was as thin as 98 it would be great. 98 blades of the past used to have the free power of current v8 100 and that’s a sad thing with Wilson’s choices.

 

[A_Instead]

If the Blade 100 excites you..
Try the Prince Textreme Tour 100.. it will really excite you...

 

[Lee580]

I got one recently. There is some potential there but it feels extremely light to me. Not sure if mine is under spec or not. Added a few grams of lead at 3 and 9 but it’s not enough. I wanted to add some weight in the handle but it’s filled with foam so that makes it a little harder. I might try the trick I read about on here with putting a few nails into the foam. There is potential there if I want to keep experimenting, but I may have found some setups I like better without needing to mess with mods. The blade 100 seem kind of ok at everything but it doesn’t particularly shine at anything.

 

[MinDango]

I tried the blade 100. My issue with it was the high launch angle

 

[Trip]

As with almost everything, there is no perfect racquet; only the perfect racquet for you and your game.

The Blade 100 is the embodiment of "middle ground" if there ever was one, from weightings, to balance, to flex, to beam thickness/shape, to string bed pattern/behavior. It's a mixture of in-betweens in almost every way. If your game mirrors such a balance, then yes, it could be quite a nice match. But if your game is tilted towards wanting more free power or more control, then it's highly likely there are better options, in both directions. That doesn't make the Blade 100 any less great; it just is what it is.

TL;DR - We live in what is arguably a golden age of tennis racquets, and IMHO there are simply way too many excellent frames out there for any single one to be deemed universally the best.

 

[Ryebread]

Glad you found the right sword for your game!!!
Thrilled for you.

We are all unique. Different age, conditioning/physical makeup, experience, level, swing path and speed, type of opponent. Context makes these sort of reviews more valuable. This way a person with similar characteristics can find even more value.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

I tried the blade 100. My issue with it was the high launch angle

With 8! mains in the throat? There really isn’t another 100” 16x19 with tighter mains.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Ti. S6

 

[Jono123]

My main stick is the Blade 98, I also own the 16x19 but dont tend to play with it as my trajectory is flatter by nature. Ive ordered the V8 100 which should arrive this week. I'll add a little lead to give it more mass and string it with a multi. Cant wait to have a hit.

Edit: V8 100 has now arrived. Has a nice weight and cuts through the air easily. Noticed the beam is thicker than its two older siblings and it has a flared butt cap.

 

[18*20]

@zykoniko- Its almost coming close to two months. Are you still using the Blade 100?

 

[zykoniko]

no, i use an EZONE 100 2022 ! magic stick!

 

[danbrenner]

Ti. S6

That’s a unique stick. Have you played it ?

 

[zykoniko]

Ti. S6 is crazy, but too unstable against big hitters

 

[ivanjo]

no, i use an EZONE 100 2022 ! magic stick!

Wait what? I thought you have found your stick. What makes you choose ez100 over the blade100? I sold my ez100 after playing with Head Gravity MP Auxetic

 

[Anni.Angel]

Wait what? I thought you have found your stick. What makes you choose ez100 over the blade100? I sold my ez100 after playing with Head Gravity MP Auxetic

 

[Jono123]

This stick does not really work for me. The feedback is quite muted and I dont get a sense of where the ball is on the racket. I played a couple of sets last night and switched to the 98 16x19. I found better plough through and immediately felt more connected. Its not a bad racket but not as good as its bigger brothers.

 

[JediMindTrick]

Wait what? I thought you have found your stick. What makes you choose ez100 over the blade100? I sold my ez100 after playing with Head Gravity MP Auxetic

But then zykoniko should also try the Head Gravity MP.

 

[ivanjo]

But then zykoniko should also try the Head Gravity MP.

LoL... Many dislike Gravity line because of the head shape so I don't blame you if you don't like it. But I felt Ez100 is too sluggish in comparison to Gravity MP (stock at that moment) who is more head heavy yet more whippy than the ez100. Maybe because of the beam size? Weight allocation?

 

[jimmy8]

Wilson shift 99 300 is my magic stick.

I used to use blade v8 98 16x19. Not enough control for me. I haven't tried blade 100 v8, but I'm guessing it will be less control than the blade v8 98.

Prior to blade v8 98, I used prestige 360+ pro, so much control.

 

[Cowboy]

I tested and played a lot of rackets the last 10 years. I am a racket tester and i change my racket every 2 months.
I played Pure Aeros, Blades, Ezones, Radicals etc...

But now i think the search and testing period is over...

2 weeks ago i playtested the Wilson 100 v8 300g and i was blown away. It was only a standart test because i read a lot of positiv reviews about this hidden gem.

I was shocked and really surprised:

This is by far the best racket i have ever played. So much control, but also power and spin. The sweetspot is soooo much bigger like other rackets with such control.

I can hit flat and also with spin if i want. Volley and serves are also a dream. Kick, slice, flat serve no problem,And the best: its very comfortable.
My forehand is so much faster than with any other racket i played.

I think this is the only racket that has no negative aspects... i cant find any negative....

My racket was strung with Wilson Revolve Spin 16 with 54 lbs. And this string was so nice, i also bought a reel.

With this racket you can play with spin high over the net and if the ball comes shorter you hit a flat winner that cant come back...
There is no other racket, that plays so easy with this tactic.

Returns also really easy... you can block or play aggresive.

Now i have 3 Wilson 100 v8 and never will test another racket.

Please test this racket and tell me what you think about it!

This Blade100 is like a mutant: pick the best character from every racket and put it into the blade 100, thats it.

I am from germany and i think i am 4.0 level.

no, i use an EZONE 100 2022 ! magic stick!

 

[Jono123]

I went back to the Blade 100 last night and really enjoyed it. It swings very easily so if you're late or returning big serves it gives you time. The plough through , serves and volleying made it a good night. Depth wise it delivers significant power . I keep switiching between the 98 and the 100. I think once Im dialed in the 98 is great but the 100 is just easier to play with.

I have the Pro Staff 100 X arriving this week which is 11.7oz That will be interesting.

 

[CVT]

I gave up on the Blade 100 v8 because it had a bit too much power and loss of control relative to the Blade 98 v8 (both string patterns). That said, I still wonder if I should have tried more string options and weight to corral the racquet. I really wanted to like it and the Blades have such nice feel.

 

[zykoniko]

I think with a dead spin poly like Wilson revolve Spin at 55 LBs its magic ! Perhaps solinco confidental?

 

[CVT]

At the time I was using Champion's choice, which is expensive, so I didn't want to try too many variations. I thought it was too launchy at my reference tension for the Blade 98 v8. I also tried a full poly bed and it also didn't feel right. I'm betting that there is a string and weight setup which would have made me happy, but I'm also happy with the Speed MP that I hit with now. It doesn't have quite as beautiful a feel as the Blade, but it is very good all around. I also don't love the Speed's grip shape - I don't feel the bevels well enough with an overgrip. I didn't love the wider beam of the Blade 100 v7.

 

[Cowboy]

I have the Pro Staff 100 X arriving this week which is 11.7oz That will be interesting.

I couldn't find one of those locally to demo. I'm curious how it compares to the Blade 100.

 

[Jono123]

It should arrive today at some point. The most notable difference is the weight, 11.7 is a beast. So that should serve bombs and be great on my flattish forehand. I hear its very good for the 1HBH as well.

The only potential drawback will be the need for early prep to get that mass moving. .

 

[JM22]

I went back to the Blade 100 last night and really enjoyed it. It swings very easily so if you're late or returning big serves it gives you time. The plough through , serves and volleying made it a good night. Depth wise it delivers significant power . I keep switiching between the 98 and the 100. I think once Im dialed in the 98 is great but the 100 is just easier to play with.

I have the Pro Staff 100 X arriving this week which is 11.7oz That will be interesting.

Can you compare the X and Blade 100? I wonder to switch to Blade v8/v9 because the X causes me an arm and wrist issues.

 

[Cowboy]

Can you compare the X and Blade 100? I wonder to switch to Blade v8/v9 because the X causes me an arm and wrist issues.

I mainly play with a Blade 100L because that's what was available to demo when I was in the market. I'd really like to play with a Blade 100 because of the slightly lower stiffness rating. That said, I found the Pro Staff X to be heavy and cumbersome. Maybe I'm just not the caliber of player who needs that frame, but I felt it hurt my game more than helped it. At my level (3.0 - 3.5), the Blade > Pro Staff.

 

[leojramirez]

Can you compare the X and Blade 100? I wonder to switch to Blade v8/v9 because the X causes me an arm and wrist issues.

I think @Tan Tennis mentioned in one of his videos the Blade was easier to play with and more comfortable.
I play with the Blade v8 100 and for me its the most balanced comfort/performance racket I played with and I had some real bad TE. I also got tendinitis and get very sore on the top part of the hand when the strings are too stiff, dead or the balls are too hard but I get almost nothing with the Blade v8. Its the same with the 98 by the way. I guess the tech or whatever it is on the Blades v8 reduces the vibrations a lot.

 

[Federerkblade]

Maybe pure graphite and also foam ?