K90 User Compares K90 to new BLXPS 90

[asifallasleep]

In comparison the the K90 and to a degree the BLX90, Wilson's new BLXPS90 feels like a toy. It's lighter, easier to use, and more spin friendly. Feels like a tweener frame to me. Like Wilson wants to make it closer to the Babolat line of racquets. You can spin with ease off both sides, but you definitely lose pace, plowthrough and power. The whole point imo of the 90 line was the plowthrough. You had to work a bit harder and get setup earlier, but you were rewarded with the plowthrough. With the BLXPS90, I feel that the only thing you are rewarded with is a rally racquet. Lot's of spin, less depth on your shots, less feel for the ball, easier on the arm, easier to play with, but less rewarding.

If I wanted a racquet that was easier to hit with, that rewarded me with loads of spin, I wouldn't be looking at a 90 inch frame from Wilson. There are a lot of frames by other manufacturers that do that much much better than Wilson. See Babolat.

The 90 line was never suitable for the masses, so what's the point of continually tweaking it to make it "easier" to play with? Perfection was attained with the K90. A tweener 90 frame makes absolutely no sense.


K90
More feel
More plow through
More power

BLXPS90
Less feel than the BLX and definitely less feel than K90
Beam feels thicker
Swingweight lighter and quicker than K90 and BLX90
Less power than both previous models

[corners]

The BLX PS 90 is about the same weight, but with a little higher swingweight, than the Pro Staff 85. Try calling the PS85 a toy.

[michaelscoots]

One thing to keep in mind is that many of the PS BLX 90's are coming in under spec weight. So, you're starting off with a racquet that has a lower swing weight to begin with, now take into account that the racquet probably weights 11.82 unstrung and it's much lower than a K90.

I brought my stick up to 370 grams, which is what I'm used to with my customized K90's. Even still, the swing weight is a touch too low for me. Other than that, I believe Wilson did a good job bringing the touch/feel back to the racquet compared to the original BLX. To me, the original BLX (while I liked the black paint) was way too muted. I think Wilson overcompensated trying to take the rawness out of the K90. Truthfully, if you string at the mid range or lower in tension, and you're in good shape, there is nothing wrong with K90. To me it's the ultimate stick - a modernized Prostaff 85 on steroids. And yes, it's polarized, but that's what makes it so amazing! Yes, I'm an addict, I admit it!

Next time I string the PS BLX 90, I plan on adding more weight to bring the swing weight up to around 340. Then I think I can make a real comparison.

[stormholloway]

I think it's generally being called a toy because of the lower swing weight compared to the K90.

To me, it feels like a slightly more powerful, more spin-friendly, more dampened PS85, and that's just about perfect for my tastes.

Less feel than the BLX and definitely less feel than K90

This is where you're wrong IMO. The BLX was completely muted. There was basically zero feedback. The PSBLX is clearly more raw than the previous model, still nowhere near the K90 in terms of rawness, but less muted than the BLX. I own and have played extensively with both.

I'm hitting great with this new frame. I absolutely love it, but I may throw a bit of lead at 3 and 9 if I feel the racquet is tapped for power.

[asifallasleep]

Originally Posted by stormholloway

I think it's generally being called a toy because of the lower swing weight compared to the K90.

To me, it feels like a slightly more powerful, more spin-friendly, more dampened PS85, and that's just about perfect for my tastes.



This is where you're wrong IMO. The BLX was completely muted. There was basically zero feedback. The PSBLX is clearly more raw than the previous model, still nowhere near the K90 in terms of rawness, but less muted than the BLX. I own and have played extensively with both.

I'm hitting great with this new frame. I absolutely love it, but I may throw a bit of lead at 3 and 9 if I feel the racquet is tapped for power.

I hit my friend's BLX today and I still feel that the BLX has more feel than the BLXPS90. I may be in the minority, but the BLXPS90 feels mushy and less responsive in the stringbed and less stiff framewise when compared to the BLX90. My faves are still 1)PS88 2)K90.

Going to add weight to the BLXPS90 at 3 and 9 to see if it makes a difference feel wise for me. I guess I prefer polarized stiff frames!!

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by asifallasleep

I hit my friend's BLX today and I still feel that the BLX has more feel than the BLXPS90. I may be in the minority, but the BLXPS90 feels mushy and less responsive in the stringbed and less stiff framewise when compared to the BLX90. My faves are still 1)PS88 2)K90.

Going to add weight to the BLXPS90 at 3 and 9 to see if it makes a difference feel wise for me. I guess I prefer polarized stiff frames!!

I don't know anyone who didn't appreciate the K90. It's probably the racquet I've played the most in the past 5 years. It's flawless.

I think I just appreciate the softness and the non-polarized setup of the new 90. I never really like how the K90 felt 'top heavy' if that makes any sense. It irked me just a little during racquet take-backs on groundstrokes. I definitely think a few grams of lead in the hoop is in order to bring the swing weight closer to the K90.

I'll see how I feel when the honeymoon wears off.

[doodlyd]

I want to say something about BLX90 not PSBLX90 but its may be the same

I run out of K90 and bought BLX90 and i put some lead at the top to level the Swingweight of my K90 to the swingweight of BLX90 , my friend has a machine to measure balance weight and swingweight ,so i level them up ,but BLX90 was a bit heavier 2gr and the balance 31.75 instead of 31.9 on K90
swingweight was the same

but what surprised me is that Blx felt lighter, swing lighter and hit lighter.
With K90 u can feel the power and stability just by holding it and u know that plow through is there .I dont know what to do to make it play like a K90 i run out of ideas =) So i cant mimic the weight distribution of K90 on my Blx90 and the swingweight is not the case.

i guarantee that if i cant make a BLX90 to swing like a K90 iam not talking about the dampened feel , u cant make a PS BLX 90 to play like a 75% K90 with that new weight distribution

[asifallasleep]

Originally Posted by stormholloway

I don't know anyone who didn't appreciate the K90. It's probably the racquet I've played the most in the past 5 years. It's flawless.

I think I just appreciate the softness and the non-polarized setup of the new 90. I never really like how the K90 felt 'top heavy' if that makes any sense. It irked me just a little during racquet take-backs on groundstrokes. I definitely think a few grams of lead in the hoop is in order to bring the swing weight closer to the K90.

I'll see how I feel when the honeymoon wears off.

hey storm starting to like the new frames. i got two more. take a look:

[asifallasleep]

Originally Posted by asifallasleep

I hit my friend's BLX today and I still feel that the BLX has more feel than the BLXPS90. I may be in the minority, but the BLXPS90 feels mushy and less responsive in the stringbed and less stiff framewise when compared to the BLX90. My faves are still 1)PS88 2)K90.

Going to add weight to the BLXPS90 at 3 and 9 to see if it makes a difference feel wise for me. I guess I prefer polarized stiff frames!!

Well i tried adding weight to the BLXPS90 and yep, still hate it. My K90's rule. This baby is going up for sale.

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by asifallasleep

Well i tried adding weight to the BLXPS90 and yep, still hate it. My K90's rule. This baby is going up for sale.

I might take it.

[asifallasleep]

Originally Posted by stormholloway

I might take it.

let me know.

[michaelscoots]

Originally Posted by asifallasleep

Well i tried adding weight to the BLXPS90 and yep, still hate it. My K90's rule. This baby is going up for sale.

It's a good thing you have 5 of them! What's your favorite string? Me: I love the Proline II at 55lbs on the K90's. And every now and then I get side tracked with MSV Focus Hex 1.18. It is hard to beat this stick if you have a love for Wilson player frames. Many complain of arm pain, but I think if you work out regularly on your bi's, forearm, tris, and rotator and keep it in the mid's or lower then it's a really nice ride! And the amount of pace you can get on the ball if set up right...that's the real treat with this stick. Saying it's not a modern frame is way off base!

[asifallasleep]

Originally Posted by michaelscoots

It's a good thing you have 5 of them! What's your favorite string? Me: I love the Proline II at 55lbs on the K90's. And every now and then I get side tracked with MSV Focus Hex 1.18. It is hard to beat this stick if you have a love for Wilson player frames. Many complain of arm pain, but I think if you work out regularly on your bi's, forearm, tris, and rotator and keep it in the mid's or lower then it's a really nice ride! And the amount of pace you can get on the ball if set up right...that's the real treat with this stick. Saying it's not a modern frame is way off base!

i'm actually down to three as i found out the two most recent editions were fake!!! right now my favorite setup is babolat vs gut in the mains and babolat hurricane pro in the crosses. sometimes i use volkl cyclone.

[asifallasleep]

I've only hit with it for two hours and i may take a few more spins around the block before i completely give up on it. I do still feel the blx had more feel than this. When i bought the blx's i hated them, got rid of them, and went back to my k90's.

[stormholloway]

I had a honeymoon period with the BLXs and bought three, then realized I liked my K90s much more after extensive playing with the BLX.

With the BLX I just had no idea where the ball was going to go as I could barely feel it on the strings. With the new frame, I find the same amount of comfort with a bit more feel.

The K90 is special though, no question. I prefer the non-polarized design of the new model though. That was always a turnoff for me with the K90.

[sixone90]

Are you using the same strings in the BLX90 and the PSBLX90?

[asifallasleep]

Originally Posted by sixone90

Are you using the same strings in the BLX90 and the PSBLX90?

Different strings in my K90 but i compared the BLXPS90 to my friends BLX90 which have the same strings, and I preferred the BLX90. Which says a lot because I don't even like the BLX90 when compared to my K90.

[Dgdavid]

Hi all. I was thinking about getting a PS BLX 90. However, I just found that while I love my IG Prestige Midplus, I find my IG Mid unforgiving in comparison. Is there any point in trying the PS 90 or does my Mid experience suggest the headsize is just too small and I will find the PS 90 similarly unforging?

In trying to fine tune my choice, I can say I do like the Midplus a lot but would maybe like a bit more spin so was thinking PS BLX 90 or maybe a Prestige Pro with its 16x19. The guy in the shop looked doubtful when I mentioned my interest in a 90 inch head and suggest the Prince Rebel 98 and Wilson BLX Blade 98!

ps. sorry if this is slightly OT but I didn't want to start a new thread as you guys seem to be the ones to ask!

[sunof tennis]

Originally Posted by Dgdavid

Hi all. I was thinking about getting a PS BLX 90. However, I just found that while I love my IG Prestige Midplus, I find my IG Mid unforgiving in comparison. Is there any point in trying the PS 90 or does my Mid experience suggest the headsize is just too small and I will find the PS 90 similarly unforging?

In trying to fine tune my choice, I can say I do like the Midplus a lot but would maybe like a bit more spin so was thinking PS BLX 90 or maybe a Prestige Pro with its 16x19. The guy in the shop looked doubtful when I mentioned my interest in a 90 inch head and suggest the Prince Rebel 98 and Wilson BLX Blade 98!

ps. sorry if this is slightly OT but I didn't want to start a new thread as you guys seem to be the ones to ask!

You might still try the PS BLX90. Has an open string pattern which seemed to me anyway to enlarge the sweetspot as compared to the Prestige Mid

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by sunof tennis

You might still try the PS BLX90. Has an open string pattern which seemed to me anyway to enlarge the sweetspot as compared to the Prestige Mid

Thanks, appreciated.