(Customized) Wilson BLX prostaff 95's Power?

[DNA2002]

Hey Guys,

I am just asking those who use Wilson BLX prostaff 95.
I am now using Blx ps 90 (federer's) and prostaff 6.0 95 original too.
Definitely the 95 is more power than ps 90, but i love feel of ps 90.
So i am considering to get Wilson BLX prostaff 95. But many people complain its low power.

So i just ask you. if the 95 is customized to add weight as same as PS 90 (around 12.6 strung weight), does the BLX 95 have same power as ps 90 or more? If you have another midplus rackets, you can compare with them too. any comments, appreciate! thank you.

[sunof tennis]

Even if the PS 95 weighed the same, I think the PS90 would have more power since it is slightly stiffer.

[Yveskim89]

I have two blx ps95's .. Just add 6 grams hoop, leather grip.. Power is ok.. Lifting weights, fitness, plus the racquet makes you better athlete^^

[corners]

Originally Posted by DNA2002

Hey Guys,

I am just asking those who use Wilson BLX prostaff 95.
I am now using Blx ps 90 (federer's) and prostaff 6.0 95 original too.
Definitely the 95 is more power than ps 90, but i love feel of ps 90.
So i am considering to get Wilson BLX prostaff 95. But many people complain its low power.

So i just ask you. if the 95 is customized to add weight as same as PS 90 (around 12.6 strung weight), does the BLX 95 have same power as ps 90 or more? If you have another midplus rackets, you can compare with them too. any comments, appreciate! thank you.

Yes, if you add lead to make a PS 95 match a PS 90 it will have equivalent power in the middle of the string bed, if you adjust string tension. If you string the 95 at the same tension as the 90 the 95 will have slightly more power, but only slightly.

However, it may or may not have more power outside the sweetspot. If you add lead at 3&9 o'clock the 95 will have more power near those locations than the 90, as in stock form the 95 has about the same twistweight as the 90, despite the fact that is has a very low swingweight, and thus has much less weight in the head than the 90. The 95 is more flexible than the 90, so it will be slightly less powerful towards the tip than the 90, unless you add the lead at 11&1 or 12 o'clock, in which case the 95 will probably be slightly more powerful than the 90 at the tip after adding the lead.

Because of the fairly high twistweight of the 95 in stock form, and how flexible it is in the head, I would add lead at 12 o'clock and then counterbalance in the handle. Just go ahead and buy the 95, use lead to match it to your 90 (must match weight, balance and, especially, swingweight) and then compare them on the court with the same strings (with the 95 strung about 2 pounds tighter). You'll figure out which of them is best for you when compared like this.

[DNA2002]

Originally Posted by corners

Yes, if you add lead to make a PS 95 match a PS 90 it will have equivalent power in the middle of the string bed, if you adjust string tension. If you string the 95 at the same tension as the 90 the 95 will have slightly more power, but only slightly.

However, it may or may not have more power outside the sweetspot. If you add lead at 3&9 o'clock the 95 will have more power near those locations than the 90, as in stock form the 95 has about the same twistweight as the 90, despite the fact that is has a very low swingweight, and thus has much less weight in the head than the 90. The 95 is more flexible than the 90, so it will be slightly less powerful towards the tip than the 90, unless you add the lead at 11&1 or 12 o'clock, in which case the 95 will probably be slightly more powerful than the 90 at the tip after adding the lead.

Because of the fairly high twistweight of the 95 in stock form, and how flexible it is in the head, I would add lead at 12 o'clock and then counterbalance in the handle. Just go ahead and buy the 95, use lead to match it to your 90 (must match weight, balance and, especially, swingweight) and then compare them on the court with the same strings (with the 95 strung about 2 pounds tighter). You'll figure out which of them is best for you when compared like this.

Thank you for detailed information. May I ask you one more question? If I add weight equvalant to 90, does the 95 have the similar feel as 90? The reason why I use the 90 is feel. Thanks.

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by DNA2002

Thank you for detailed information. May I ask you one more question? If I add weight equvalant to 90, does the 95 have the similar feel as 90? The reason why I use the 90 is feel. Thanks.

I have hit with both, and currently use the 95'', customized now(strings+overgrip):
Mass: 355gr, SW: 345, Balance: 32,4cm

If you use the same string on both, same specs, but increase 1 or 2 kilos in the tension in the 95'', the feel in both will be identical, but the 95'' will allways be more forgiving on offcenter hits, so you will allways feel like if the 95'' is "softer" or not so harsh.

If you string with full copoly, don't string above 21kilos... with gut or multi, around 23~24kilos.
My current favorite string setup after tested with many setups including gut+poly, is full Proline2 16 @ 19/17kilos. Nice control/spin, and the power is provided by you

[corners]

Originally Posted by DNA2002

Thank you for detailed information. May I ask you one more question? If I add weight equvalant to 90, does the 95 have the similar feel as 90? The reason why I use the 90 is feel. Thanks.

Feel is very subjective, so I think you'll have to try the 95 and find out for yourself. But the layup of both the 90 and 95 are the same - braided graphite with basalt fibers - so they are pretty similar. But feel changes quite a lot with added mass, and will change depending on where you put that mass. I find that lead tape at 12 o'clock really firms up the response in the top of the hoop and provides more power, but also deadens vibration quite a lot. You may like this or you may not. Lead at 3&9 or 10&2, on the other hand, doesn't change the feel very much, in my experience. But definitely adding the 30 grams or so you'll have to to match the 90 will change the 95's feel and make it more similar to the 90. I think if you're patient and try different lead tape placements you'll definitely be able to get the 95 to feel very similar to your 90.

One lab measurement that can be used to quantify feel is vibration frequency, or dynamic stiffness, which is measured in Hz. Racquet manufacturers use this spec when matching and designing frames for pro players. TW University tests all new racquets for this spec and provides them for us here: http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-...bfrequency.cgi

You can see that the Pro Staff 90 that they tested weighed 354 grams, had an RDC (static) stiffness of 66 and a vibration frequency at 142. The PS 95 they tested weighed 326 grams, had an RDC stiffness of 64 and a vibration frequency of 144. So even though the 95 is more flexible, it has a higher vibration frequency, in other words is stiffer dynamically, due to the fact that it is 28 grams lighter. If you add those 28 grams to the 95, the vibration frequency will decrease, and it will decrease more if you add the mass at the poles - at 12 o'clock and inside the buttcap, and will decrease less if you add nearer the center of the frame, at 3&9 and at the top of the grip.

Here's a short explanation of vibration frequency: http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/lear...xplanation.php

The 95 is noticeably flexy at the top of the hoop, which I actually liked when I hit with it. You might actually dig that aspect of the racquet, especially after you've beefed up the head with some lead tape.

Art Art above says the feel can be made identical. I'd listen to him.

For matching, these two tools are indispensable:
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/lear...tomization.php
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/lear...ionReverse.php

[Bdarb]

I'm in the same boat. Hit with 90's and I have a blx ps 95 coming in the mail. Really hope this racquet delivers, I've heard mixed reviews.

[DNA2002]

Thank you so much every guy. You said more than I expected. Greatly greately helps! No need to hesitate to get the 95 now! Thanks again.

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by DNA2002

Thank you so much every guy. You said more than I expected. Greatly greately helps! No need to hesitate to get the 95 now! Thanks again.

Remember that you have to check the exact specs of your 90'' and the new 95'' when you get it.

In order to customize the 95'' to be like the 90''.

Give some feedback when you get it...

[DNA2002]

Originally Posted by ART ART

Remember that you have to check the exact specs of your 90'' and the new 95'' when you get it.

In order to customize the 95'' to be like the 90''.

Give some feedback when you get it...

Ok I will leave a feedback after getting it. Thanks

[Long Face]

I use both 95s (original 6.0, and the new BLX six.one). They are almost identical in power and swing weight. The BLX is lighter in static weight, and slightly stiffer.

I can use them interchangably without affecting my game much. If you like the 6.0, I don't think you will have any problems with the BLX.

[NickJ]

Originally Posted by Long Face

I use both 95s (original 6.0, and the new BLX six.one). They are almost identical in power and swing weight. The BLX is lighter in static weight, and slightly stiffer.

I can use them interchangably without affecting my game much. If you like the 6.0, I don't think you will have any problems with the BLX.

As I've mentioned in other threads, the Original 95 has been the only frame I've ever been truly happy with, looks like a purchase of a new BLX 95 is on the cards! Not keen on the paint job though, too white/light for me. prefer something a bit darker & stealthy . . . Maybe they'll re-issue in a year or so with a new look frame!?!

[Chewie]

I have two pro staff 6.1 95.
Added 2 grams at 12o clock and another 1gram at 3 and 9 o clock. Also changed the grip to leather. No complaints in the power department. Feel and control is very good! Much better than in stock form.