BLX Blade, how is it?

[phishbiscuits]

I use the 93 inch Tour. Great racquet. Not my primary choice, but I always have it handy... It was the racquet I first used after taking 15+ years off of tennis.

[Power Player]

You can hit loopers or really anything you want with the blade. It just takes a little time to learn the racquet. Initial impressions will be that the ball comes off lower, and that was a concern at first for me but now its become a non issue.

[LanEvo]

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

I can only compare it to the 6.1 95's. I don't have experience with the Pure Drive.

I strung the 98's 2lbs higher with the same string combo, and the stringbed feels more bouncy. It swings faster and generates the same amount of spin. However, this spin comes with increased power. This has a big implication: with the 98, there is less ability to increase net clearance. No loopy shots. Aim 1 ft above the net. If you aim 1.5 ft, you start hitting a few long.

My playing style changed to 3/4 swings, guiding the ball. Full RHS is either a winner or a UE.

Kick serves jump forward with the 98. It jumps high with the 6.1.

Less stable in off-centered shots.

No arm problems with the 98, partly because the stringbed is so cushioned. You can feel the ball sit on the strings longer.

Anything else you wanna know?

Which version of the 95s? I have both 16x18 and 18x20 in the N-Code variants.

[thecrusher956]

Isn't it true stringing the Blade like Raonic makes it killer?

[thejackal]

Peliwo used to play with the pd, then the k6-1 95 before switching to the blade. He told me that the blade is a lot better than the 6-1 at putting away short balls, but had better control than the pd. He played all of them stock fyi

[LanEvo]

Originally Posted by thejackal

Peliwo used to play with the pd, then the k6-1 95 before switching to the blade. He told me that the blade is a lot better than the 6-1 at putting away short balls, but had better control than the pd. He played all of them stock fyi

Yea, I remember him telling everyone that in his thread.

And now I have a better reason to buy one, the first was it was Pink... I prefer the Pink color over the other one easily.

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yeah $69 is a score, ill probably buy one soon and skip on the new black one for now.

Spray paint (and it's then the perfect cheap black Wilson frame). BHBH

[adamX012]

Originally Posted by BounceHitBounceHit

Spray paint (and it's then the perfect cheap black Wilson frame). BHBH

well said BHBH

[UCSF2012]

Originally Posted by LanEvo

Which version of the 95s? I have both 16x18 and 18x20 in the N-Code variants.

16x18, BLX and K Factor. I don't have the nCode version, but I suspect it's about the same.

One more thing, with the Blade 98, I can arm my serve and still slam dunk it in at about 100mph. Full motion gives it blistering speed, albeit at 20% consistency.

[UCSF2012]

Originally Posted by LanEvo

I like my PDRs, perfect as they are, and my go to all day long. I just figure for the price, it is worth a pickup for demo, and if I dont like it, I can always resell it for near cost.

Or if I can pick up a used one, I would buy that as well.

Good luck reselling a pink racket. Even the prices on the auctions are abysmal. It's more like, you'll be donating it to a goodwill or spray painting it black.

[dhdriver]

I got to try out the new 93. I love it way more than the previous BLX model. IT reminds me a lot of the k-factor model. Groundstrokes felt really solid. Lots of control and a decent amount of power (I think my demo was strung with Prince Premier LT).

Overall I liked it. It swung through the air pretty nicely too.

[rohit1986xyz]

I got to play with 2013 BLX blade 18x20 version for week

Background:
Have been playing tennis on-and-off for about 10 years. Picked up tennis again this August after an injury last year that lasted 8 months. I started playing as a 3.0 but quickly picked up my flow due to earlier experience. I now play competitively with 4.0 level players.

Game type: Flat strokes which I mix with high topspin sometimes, when I don't want to put energy or I am in a bad position. My main weapons are serves, and fast forehand with accuracy. I have double handed backhand with decent topspin (its like a safe shot). In Forehand, overheads and down the line winners are my fav shots.

Current Racket Its a very old Wilson Superlite (10 years old, never changed it) -- head balance, 11Oz strung weight, extremely light, stable and very powerful (i really mean it -- its of head hammer class)

I was basically looking for a racket to improve my game, and replace my old racket. I am quite sold out on Blade BLX after demoing Juice 100, Babolat APD, Djoko's 2012 speed, Fedex's pro staff, Murray's Radical. The Blade BLX racket felt slightly heavy to start with as I used to play with a very light racket. But, I immediately saw the advantage of that. It was very stable under heavy baseline exchanges (I tried with a 4.5 guy) on both wings (forehand and backhand), as well as for better volleys and overheads. You do need to get used to the weight so give it some time whenever you demo/start with. Serves are very good if you get them right but if you miss your timing, its not going to be very good. Basically, this racket will force you to correct your strokes. Its like a lighter easily manueverable version of Pro-staff 6.1 90.

Because of higher weight than my current racket, I found that my shots were not flying around (as in APD) and I could pin-point balls from left-to-right with a lot of ease. So, if your game is mostly counter-punching or attacking in baseline play, this is a good choice for you. If your game is mostly serve and volley, I would recommend a slightly more control oriented racket.

Topspin on your shots with racket is medium to high. Don't expect APD levels of spin but its not bad either. You will, however, need to develop the skill to play with oponents who use a lot of spin in their shots (if at all you play them). This is more of an all-round racket than a spin-friendly racket.

I am going to demo blade 93 now in the coming week, as TW has good reviews about it.

FYI: Other rackets that I liked were Juice (hits great power shots but isn't good if you want to have ball pocketing and hit angled shots). Djoko's racket was also pretty good, except that it had way less power (which is handle-able) but on overheads and volleys, it wasn't that stable as the BLX blade. I have had my hands on the new Head G (haven't played with it though), but its much better than the 2012 version. I will definitely wait for it before purchasing any racket.

[dhdriver]

Originally Posted by rohit1986xyz

I got to play with 2013 BLX blade 18x20 version for week

Background:
Have been playing tennis on-and-off for about 10 years. Picked up tennis again this August after an injury last year that lasted 8 months. I started playing as a 3.0 but quickly picked up my flow due to earlier experience. I now play competitively with 4.0 level players.

Game type: Flat strokes which I mix with high topspin sometimes, when I don't want to put energy or I am in a bad position. My main weapons are serves, and fast forehand with accuracy. I have double handed backhand with decent topspin (its like a safe shot). In Forehand, overheads and down the line winners are my fav shots.

Current Racket Its a very old Wilson Superlite (10 years old, never changed it) -- head balance, 11Oz strung weight, extremely light, stable and very powerful (i really mean it -- its of head hammer class)

I was basically looking for a racket to improve my game, and replace my old racket. I am quite sold out on Blade BLX after demoing Juice 100, Babolat APD, Djoko's 2012 speed, Fedex's pro staff, Murray's Radical. The Blade BLX racket felt slightly heavy to start with as I used to play with a very light racket. But, I immediately saw the advantage of that. It was very stable under heavy baseline exchanges (I tried with a 4.5 guy) on both wings (forehand and backhand), as well as for better volleys and overheads. You do need to get used to the weight so give it some time whenever you demo/start with. Serves are very good if you get them right but if you miss your timing, its not going to be very good. Basically, this racket will force you to correct your strokes. Its like a lighter easily manueverable version of Pro-staff 6.1 90.

Because of higher weight than my current racket, I found that my shots were not flying around (as in APD) and I could pin-point balls from left-to-right with a lot of ease. So, if your game is mostly counter-punching or attacking in baseline play, this is a good choice for you. If your game is mostly serve and volley, I would recommend a slightly more control oriented racket.

Topspin on your shots with racket is medium to high. Don't expect APD levels of spin but its not bad either. You will, however, need to develop the skill to play with oponents who use a lot of spin in their shots (if at all you play them). This is more of an all-round racket than a spin-friendly racket.

I am going to demo blade 93 now in the coming week, as TW has good reviews about it.

FYI: Other rackets that I liked were Juice (hits great power shots but isn't good if you want to have ball pocketing and hit angled shots). Djoko's racket was also pretty good, except that it had way less power (which is handle-able) but on overheads and volleys, it wasn't that stable as the BLX blade. I have had my hands on the new Head G (haven't played with it though), but its much better than the 2012 version. I will definitely wait for it before purchasing any racket.

I have the same opinion as you do on the new Djokovic racquet (or at least the 2011 model). My groundstrokes had like no power to them. My hitting partners just bashed the crap out of all of my shots.

[thecrusher956]

Which 95 do you like better?

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by LanEvo

Hey guys, for the price, I am really thinking about getting one to try, I use a PDR and have a couple of N95s 18x20 and 16x18.

How is this frame? I tried searching, but could not find too many solid reviews aside from TWs.

Surprising stability for the weight, but it's mainly a soft poly spin racquet, not a all around racquet IMO. Flat shots are weird.

If you are into the 95+ head, go with the K-95, they are only $99.00 on TW, more plow through, stability, wider head for more spin, you can do just about anything with it. Smaller do the 6.1 90, unbelievable racquet!

[quest01]

I got the new 93 just recently and its an awesome racquet. It has so much control compared to my old racquet, the babolat aeropro drive gt. The plowthrough and feel is amazing, I think this will be my primary racquet for now on.

[cmendez79]

Originally Posted by quest01

I got the new 93 just recently and its an awesome racquet. It has so much control compared to my old racquet, the babolat aeropro drive gt. The plowthrough and feel is amazing, I think this will be my primary racquet for now on.

Hi

Are you going to modify the 93 or you like it as stock?

[quest01]

Originally Posted by cmendez79

Hi

Are you going to modify the 93 or you like it as stock?

I add one layer of 4 inches of lead at the 3 and 9.

[Frankauc]

wrong thread

[roundiesee]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought this thread was about the old "BLX" Blade 98, and not the new "BLX" with "amplifeel"?