2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Well the 321 SW for the regular 104 is much higher than any previous version.
Have to applaud the return to the 60 ra[emoji4]
Oh wow, just noticed it is 16 mains now. Somewhat disappointed by that.
2019 Wilson Blade
- Thread starter TennisCounrty
- Start date
Have to applaud the return to the 60 ra[emoji4]
Oh wow, just noticed it is 16 mains now. Somewhat disappointed by that.
tennis347
Hall of Fame
Yes, I like the low flex but a 321 SW is a little light for heavy hitting. It’s going to need lead tape at 3 and to add stability. I think the control is going to suffer a bit with the open string pattern and the 104 head size. This frame is probably suited more for doubles or players that are 3.5 and below. I am not tinkering with lead tape anymore. It’s too much trial and error. The Blade 98 16 x 19 is more suited to my game. No real modifications needed with the 328 swing weight. Maybe a few grams to the but of the handle to make it tad more headlight.
Lots of words in the description, but don't know what they mean.The new basic grip used on Blades.
Wilson Pro Performance Replacement Grip | Tennis Warehouse
www.tennis-warehouse.com
No pictures or videos of the Easy Wrap Tech.
This grip comes with Wilson’s Easy Wrap Technology, which involves a longer starting taper, a shaded upper edge, embossed cutting lines at the top, and an innovative under-grip for a flatter surface.
As usual with Wilson, no thickness #.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I think dgoran is on to something with the typhoon. This string is sweet for me. I love it in the Blade. At 46#s there was a ton of spin and the guy I warmed up with told me he felt like he was against the fence because of it, which was a bit of an exaggeration but still nice to hear. Once it came down to points I was able to play nice and consistent tennis again and touch shots like slice were nasty.
In the review the TW peeps said shaped polys give more trajectory. I have no idea about that, but I can say the trajectory was great for me. The tension dropped 5 pounds over 2 hours of hitting so I’m at 41.5 now. I will see how I do at this tension. Regardless, I am not cutting it out for a while hopefully. I feel like I can control the ball quite well still and it’s not launching. I just need to get a good idea of the tension loss and what tension I want to play at in the Blade. I can see the low 40s being very very nice if you like to hit heavy shots with a lot of spin.
In the review the TW peeps said shaped polys give more trajectory. I have no idea about that, but I can say the trajectory was great for me. The tension dropped 5 pounds over 2 hours of hitting so I’m at 41.5 now. I will see how I do at this tension. Regardless, I am not cutting it out for a while hopefully. I feel like I can control the ball quite well still and it’s not launching. I just need to get a good idea of the tension loss and what tension I want to play at in the Blade. I can see the low 40s being very very nice if you like to hit heavy shots with a lot of spin.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Happy you liked it...
It should not drop much more than that. I have racquest that are strung over 2 years ago with typhoon and still plays ok.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Awesome. Yeah i love it. It reminds me of alu in how
I can shape the ball. And it has a similar feel. I imagine you will love the combo in the blade as well.
parasailing
Legend
Lots of words in the description, but don't know what they mean.
No pictures or videos of the Easy Wrap Tech.
This grip comes with Wilson’s Easy Wrap Technology, which involves a longer starting taper, a shaded upper edge, embossed cutting lines at the top, and an innovative under-grip for a flatter surface.
As usual with Wilson, no thickness #.
Not a fan of this new grip. I switched it back to the Wilson sensation perforated grip instead. It has a bit more plush and I put an overgrips over it so it doesn't matter how tacky it is.
parasailing
Legend
I am liking my Blade v7 18x20 the longer I use it. My backhand is getting closer to being dialed in and my top hand on my two handed feels a lot more comfortable.
They fixed the issue for those who use two handed backhand. No more digging into your top hand.
I guess I will need to try out Typhoon and RS Lyon given the positive feedback on these two strings.
They fixed the issue for those who use two handed backhand. No more digging into your top hand.
I guess I will need to try out Typhoon and RS Lyon given the positive feedback on these two strings.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Lead tape is a necessity for me no matter the frame. I've added 25+ grams to the handle and 7 grams at 3 and 9 o'clock to my SW104. Final specs are static weight of 357 grams and a swingweight of just under 350, and there's literally no stock racquet with those specs. So I have no concerns about added 40 grams to a v7 Blade 104 if it's going to give me the same kind of hitting experience I got from the v7 Blade 98 18X20.
tennis347
Hall of Fame
I hear you. I don’t like changing the balance and weight that dramatically anymore. I am now looking for a frame that weighs around 11.5 ounces with a swing weight in the high 320’s.
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
I agree. I also switched out that grip as seen in the stringing picture I posted.
DJTaurus
Hall of Fame
Is this the same one as on the Clash? Cause I love that oneWilson Sublime Replacement Grips | Tennis Warehouse
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
Good to know. I will use these absolutely, but will update with NOT “Federer Fuzzy” paint when available.
I am really considering either repainting my current CV blades, or maybe getting the new v7 and repainting also. This velvet paint is bad to see and to feel.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
My buddy ended up at the US Open stinging so had a few day delay getting more demo sticks but finally ready for tonight’s match.
Excited to see how much difference, if really any, there is in play between the two.
EDIT TO ADD: strung both with my current string, YTex SquareX at 52# so I can compare to the CV and 2015 I have.
Excited to see how much difference, if really any, there is in play between the two.
EDIT TO ADD: strung both with my current string, YTex SquareX at 52# so I can compare to the CV and 2015 I have.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
You are a truly lucky man.My buddy ended up at the US Open stinging so had a few day delay getting more demo sticks but finally ready for tonight’s match.
Excited to see how much difference, if really any, there is in play between the two.
EDIT TO ADD: strung both with my current string, YTex SquareX at 52# so I can compare to the CV and 2015 I have.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
My buddy ended up at the US Open stinging so had a few day delay getting more demo sticks but finally ready for tonight’s match.
Excited to see how much difference, if really any, there is in play between the two.
EDIT TO ADD: strung both with my current string, YTex SquareX at 52# so I can compare to the CV and 2015 I have.
Thats awesome man. Squarex is apparently a fantastic string as well. You are going to love the 18x20. Its special.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
18x20s came in today, buckle up:
Racquet 1: 307 grams, 8 HL, 293 sw
Racquet 2: 313 grams, 5 HL, 311 sw !!!
Racquet 1: 307 grams, 8 HL, 293 sw
Racquet 2: 313 grams, 5 HL, 311 sw !!!
Racquet 2: thor's hammer
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Finally, Wilson QC rears its ugly head. We were all getting them pretty much on spec. I guess that was too good to be true.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
How are you liking the 16/19 vs the 18/20?
FedGR
Professional
Are these 2 new unmodified V.7 Blades?
parasailing
Legend
I prefer my 18x20 Blade and probably thinking going forward I will just stick with 18x20 racquets.
The 16x19 is more whippy and maneuverable but the 18x20 has more stability and plow. The 16x19 has a much higher ball trajectory than the 18x20 and since I can't generate as much racquet head speed, the 18x20 works better for me.
I guess it will come down what you prefer and it seems the more I playtest new racquets, the more I gravitate towards the 18x20 racquets.
parasailing
Legend
Wow that is huge variance. I would take your 293 sw but that other racquet with poly strings and dampener will come out to sw of over 350, yikes!!!
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Thx for sharing your thoughts. I prefer 18/20s, too, but the 334 SW is more than I prefer. Might give the 16/19 a try then.
parasailing
Legend
When I first used it, the sw was about 330 and I had to add a bit of lead to give it a bit more stability and it came to about 335 which made it more stable.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
I can attack short balls and approach shots so much more consistently when the SW is in the ~325 range. Serves have much more action with ~325 sw, too. 330s for groundstrokes are just fine but unfortunately the game consists of more than just hitting groundies.
I am struggling with 330s a little bit so far.. cant get the same RHS as I like.. it is probably fantastic for those who can but it would take me quite a bit of time to get used to it.. I love the gunshot sound that comes out of 18x20..and the plow is amazing.. great racquet but I cant competitively wield it.. sometimes i am late so all that fantastic control thay the racquet offers is wasted on me. that's just me..
tennis347
Hall of Fame
Like. I ordered the 16 x 19 version and may add a few grams to butt of the handle, otherwise plan to play with it stock. I want to keep the swing weight below 330 for the same reasons you have noted.
Yeah... I've told myself that if I were to switch to this racquet, I'd buy in person and bring a scale and balance board with me every time. Mine was off too in terms of strung weight and balance, 320 grams, 33.7cm, but those at least added up to the an accurate swingweight per the published specs. In your case, racquet 1 is definitely the easier one to work with if you customize.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Yes, plastic still on handle, so that’s roughly 3 grams more and 0.5 points more headlight. My swingweight machine may be off by 1 sw point relative to the calibration rod. Overall the specs of racquet 1 seem dead on so I will be using that one for my extended demo.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Man you just said last week it was the best you had hit. Lol. Take more time with the frame regardless of what you end up with. I am no super star but the swingweight is not that bad. Especially on short balls and serves. Its an advantage, you can brush it thin and still get free power.
I think you are demoing too many frames and one bad day or good day on the court is determining your choice. Id give any racquet you like at least 2-3 weeks of solid play before assuming you cant wield it so quickly.
Just say this because the advantage of a higher sw is huge. And this sw is not super high or an advanced frame that is only for guys who play at a high level. It will take you 2-3 weeks of solid play to get used to it but i am willing to bet you will start to jive with it. The dangers of holicing and trying a ton of frames is that its easy to blame the racquet for stuff that is really about your effort and footwork that day because you want to try something else. It can be an endless cycle if you let it.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
If you dont like a beefier sw id suggesg grabbing a vcore pro 310 and putting lead on it and a leather grip. Get the prior version and save money. I really like that frame a lot but i prefer a higher sw and the blade feels like my old head frames the most.
My issue with the 310 developed over time. The sw was too low for me. I spent a few months with it and modded it, but the blade hits how i want out of the box with zero mods and a lot more punch and control. Anyway based on your posts i think you may like that vcore if somehow you dont jive with the blade.
FedGR
Professional
Wow, that really sucks. Were did you get your rackets from? TW? I am surprised honestly as when I got mine, I measured 9 different rackets and they were all within 4 grams. Balance might have been off but I couldn't measure that at that time but weight variance was small for Wilson standards.
Which Head racket does it remind you of? It honestly really reminds me of my IG Rad Pro, just a little bit stiffer.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Feels like my PT280, just a little firmer if I had to get granular. Real nice and muted and easy on the arm, but I can still feel the ball and the sweet spot is awesome.
10 hours with ALU power is a lot. I dont doubt that you would hate it by that point. I’d suggest RS Lyon or Typhoon if you like ALU. Not sure if there is one that will weight 3-4 grams less though.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Try tour bite 1.20. Max power 1.20 is good too but very stiff (the string is prestretched). You might have luck with the 1.15 gauge Solinco strings but I have not tried.
I’ve been play testing different racquets. Played three weeks with PA 2019 for three weeks. Easy to play with. Tried the pd 107, too light. Pulled out my k factor blades, I have two of them. Heavier, solid. I won a lot of matches with those racquets. I quess that’s why I kept them. They are beat up but still play great. I hit a much heavier ball with them than a PA or even pd. Plus a little more control from the tighter pattern. I got away from the blade after I used the black and gold models for a couple years. Should have kept them also. I think u get pulled in by how easy it is to play with a PA. I feel I can play better with a blade overall. I’m going to play test the new blade 18/20.
u still playing with the prince?
Is that with plastic on handle? Any other packaging?
Get a refund on the 313.
The 18x20 is unstrung 305g.
Wilson's site says, "Reduced spec variance (+/- 5.5 g) for added consistency from frame to frame"
Plastic adds 2 maybe 3 grams. If 3 it's out of spec variance.
hahah... this is a wisdom of a person who has been there done that. You are absolutely correct and I am not being sarcastic. I am demoing way too many racquets. I took all my racquets out of my bag the other day, as I actually did notice that myself which really does make it an endless cycle... Will bring 1 racquet for 2-3 weeks at a time in my bag.
About 18x20... I do like the 18x20 a lot and would love to be able to play with it but i have been hitting low 320sw for a long time... you have to admit, it's no breeze to adjust to 334!.... Also I did have a fantastic hit in a clinic... clinic hitting and competitive playing is not the same thing man... So it's not like I am inconsistent in what I am saying.. Regardless, like i said, you are dead on and I agree with you. will follow on your advice.
tennis347
Hall of Fame
Thanks for the input. I tried the DR98 and didn’t like the feel and it was bit jarring when hitting off center. I think Yonex racquets are too stiff for my liking even though the RA is 64. I am pretty certain that the Blade will be good for me.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah man. Look the blade may end up not being your frame but hell, you own it for now. Give it a nice ride before you make the call. I can say this as a guy whos tried way too many frames out. The blade is one of the few that does about everything you can imagine. And then if you just cant deal with the sw but like everything else you will know your next move because you spent the time to figure everything out. Most days we suck on the court it will be due to footwork but you also need to be comfortable with the racquet so i do get that.
I loved the 2011 blade a lot. It was just a lot stiffer back then and an off center hit was not nearly as forgiving to the arm so i moved on. To have a soft frame that plays this big and controlled is a seriously awesome thing to me. Its fairly rare.
But worst case you can use the extended demo time to really get a good idea of your ideal sw and balance. It may surprise you over time how it plays out. Anyway good luck and stick with it. You are playing a good amount of tennis so you will be improving fast. Something to keep in mind as well.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
PP - now that we’ve all bought blades, do you have any financial interests in Wilson or conflicts of interest you would like to disclose?
FourOutOfFive
Rookie
Real talk though, these “Wilson Ambassadors” on Instagram are pretty damn annoying. I’ve seen several “reviews” of the new Blade where these people talk about how they get sooo much spin, control, and power from the racquet. Add in a sentence about the Feel Flex technology changing the industry and the ball absolutely LAUNCHING off the strings!!!
I don’t know how anyone can take these people seriously and I hate how they don’t disclose that they are literally paid advertisements, which I’m pretty sure is Instagram policy.
