whamilton318
Rookie
The US Open Blade is the new v8. Same racket.
Blade V8 Official Thread.
- Thread starter J011yroger
- Start date
Looking good
Pleb123
Semi-Pro
Published specs on Tennis Only website in Australia for Blade v8 US Open special edition:
Specifications
Specifications
| Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm |
| Length: 27in / 68.58cm |
| Strung Weight:11.3oz / 320g |
| Balance: 12.85in / 32.64cm / 5 pts HL |
| Swingweight: 320 |
| Stiffness: 61 |
| Beam Width: 21mm / 21mm / 21mm |
| Composition: Braided Graphite |
| Power Level: Low-Medium |
| Stroke Style: Full |
| Swing Speed: Fast |
| Racquet Colors:US OPEN!! |
lychee_boy
New User
so much for the RA 69 that wilson customer service quoted me!
yeah, I have a feeling these are the targeted specs Wilson is going for with the v8. A little bit more maneuverable racquet for whippier strokes, Prefer higher SW so I'll probably be interested in the new blade pro, but definitely still going to check this out too.
These are copy paste from Tw-europe
Nope. It is not. Blade is 6-7hl unstrung and 3-4hl after strung..always has been. Where are you even coming up with this stuff??
The amount of just purely bad information on this thread reached maximum tolerable amount by me.
And yes @lychee_boy Wilson customer service did quote about 8 RA points wrong not to mention 315unstrung SW that they quoted you.
Yes TW US has the same copy paste as well
61RA plus 315SW = Super stiff and wrist pain -> what the fook
DJTaurus
Hall of Fame
First of all there is no way that it would have 315SW un strung. With Wilson’s QC this thing could have 350SW strung. No way.
As for stiffness correct me if i am wrong but we are talking about 61RA strung so around 58 un strung. Pretty soft…. curious we’re all the power comes from and the harsh ps like feel….
The other way around . 61strung so 64 unstrung
Keizer
Hall of Fame
61 strung or unstrung? 61 strung should be 64 unstrung. But yeah, I think we’re in the same
boat when it comes to the blade. Cannot understand what the difference is from the v7 if the thing actually ends up being 61 RA and 327 SW strung (for the 18x20). So do I buy this and add lead to basically get a v7?
boat when it comes to the blade. Cannot understand what the difference is from the v7 if the thing actually ends up being 61 RA and 327 SW strung (for the 18x20). So do I buy this and add lead to basically get a v7?
Unforgiven79
Rookie
Gosh! Finally, the first good-looking Blade paintjob since the 2013 version! Stylish and good-looking at the same time.For some weird reason we got this in Europe :
Wilson Blade US Open 98 Racket | Tennis Warehouse Europe
www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com
If only it was available in the 18x20 version, I would purchase it immediately...
My thoughts exactly
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-the v8 was said to be a tweak to the v7 model
-2 major modifications that the wilson rep. mentioned to me
-the dampening on the handle material, and the 45 degree layup of the fibers on the 12 o'clock position
- i like the the v8!, the feel, the power, the color is okay,
-not sure if i would go from a v7 to a v8, ???? more side by side hitting would be great to make that call, 4me
-as for the stiffness numbers, i do like the comfort of the blades,
-the blades are not as high (66<) as the wilson.PROSTAFFS, so i don't know where these high stiffness numbers are coming from (from previous posts/posters here)
-the low 60sRA is iconic to the blade line, one of the appeals of it IMO
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-finally a number i agree with
-some ppl were placing/putting the w.blade RA numbers in the high 60s, 67?? nope!
-blades have always been a low power, comfortable racquet
-without being able to test the RA myself, i would guess that the new v8 is prov 1 or 2 pts higher, maybe!!??!
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alexg
Rookie
Did not measure the balance before the string job unfortunately.
SinneGOAT
Hall of Fame
Tell me you are joking.
alexg
Rookie
OK Played a friendly doubles match with my v8 yesterday. I'll compare how this 329g static / 321 SW Blade v8 plays compared to my trusty 330g static / 329 SW Blade v7.
v8 gives more feedback. I know where I hit the ball, and the feel is simply more direct, more defined. I would describe the v7 feel as "plush", while the v8 feel as "direct".
v8 gave me slightly less power the v7. Suspect that if I bumped its 321 SW to 329 it'd be identical. At first I thought the v8 was stiffer because of the added feel and spin, but the similar / lower power level makes me think that maybe the hoop is stiffer but the throat is softer? Just guessing.
v8 did give me easier spin that the v7.
I had more precise ground strokes, but had difficulty with power on my serve. Put this on the account of using a 321 SW stick after two years at 329.
Keep in mind that this is all with a super-fresh bed of strings, which might play into the power / spin feelings.
I will bring the swing weight to 328-330 and play with the v8 again. Cheers
Too subtle?
I should have added that the presenter is dashingly handsome and speaks with remarkable speed.
because of the added feel and spin, but the similar / lower power level makes me think that maybe the hoop is stiffer but the throat is softer? Just guessing.
-this would be interesting, and somewhat similar to my experiences with Yonex EZone and how that racquet, while 64RA strung creeps up on people over time and hurts their arm. Though at 61RA strung is probably low enough to avoid this.
-this would be interesting, and somewhat similar to my experiences with Yonex EZone and how that racquet, while 64RA strung creeps up on people over time and hurts their arm. Though at 61RA strung is probably low enough to avoid this.
Thank you for the review. This is all 16m on both versions, I suspect?
well i think it's ok...
if you think about it... the main thing that changes in the versions of the blade is layup and hence feel. As many of us pointed out, weight, balance, beam thickness, and even for the most part RA and SW do not significantly change. There is a blade formula and they just tweak around that. What they do change is feel. To me, I would say v5 is the best feel. It has the characteristics of Blade Pro feel, which is so crisp and so direct and still comfortable. I like the way v7 plays better (v5 is too much power for me) and even though it is quite a different feel than v5, I am a fan of v7 feel. If v8 was the same mostly but lower SW and more "direct" feel like v5, I think that would still be a solid racket. So I guess what I am trying to say is that this was my expectation. I did not expect big spec changes that changes the main characteristics of the racket but only small tweaks and change in feel. So I am actually not surprised.
Maybe you mean added spin due to the low swingweight and your ability to swing faster vertically? I didnt see any change on the pattern , they seem identical with v7.
alexg
Rookie
Yessir, that is indeed very possible. Pattern is identical, I just double checked. I added 2 grams at 12 o'clock, and it now measures 328 in swing weight. I'll report when I play again (sunday).
To AA7: Yes, all my blades are 16x19.
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whamilton318
Rookie
They have an RDC to measure swingweight on the 18m?
Not that shop no. Theres another one nearby where they might be able to
puppybutts
Hall of Fame
i just checked out some playtester profiles out of curiosity. that new-ish playtester andrew:
www.tennis-warehouse.com
already has the v8 blade listed as one of his top 3 racquets. i wonder if that's a typo or if he fell in love with it that quickly. excited for the eventual review either way.
Andrew M Playtester Profile
www.tennis-warehouse.com
already has the v8 blade listed as one of his top 3 racquets. i wonder if that's a typo or if he fell in love with it that quickly. excited for the eventual review either way.
rv75
Rookie
Just played an hour and a half of doubles. Great feel, control and power with the v8. Can’t speak about stiffness coming from the Clash 98. Definitely stiffer but I liked it. Crossing my fingers that my arm stays healthy. No pain today.
Now I’m not sure if I should order another us open edition or wait for the regular color To add a second one. Anyone have an opinion on the colors?
Now I’m not sure if I should order another us open edition or wait for the regular color To add a second one. Anyone have an opinion on the colors?
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
The retail paint would look sick….if it were gloss.Just played an hour and a half of doubles. Great feel, control and power with the v8. Can’t speak about stiffness coming from the Clash 98. Definitely stiffer but I liked it. Crossing my fingers that my arm stays healthy. No pain today.
Now I’m not sure if I should order another us open edition or wait for the regular color To add a second one. Anyone have an opinion on the colors?
US Open is sickJust played an hour and a half of doubles. Great feel, control and power with the v8. Can’t speak about stiffness coming from the Clash 98. Definitely stiffer but I liked it. Crossing my fingers that my arm stays healthy. No pain today.
Now I’m not sure if I should order another us open edition or wait for the regular color To add a second one. Anyone have an opinion on the colors?
You just made me think about the customs. Will they remain the same 3 color way? Also will the new ultras have a similar chameleon but in neon blue?
rv75
Rookie
I agree. That’s why I bought it without demoing. Having it in a different color could make it easier to know which one has different tension/newer strings
stefmeister
Rookie
thats the KITH collab bladeOne last special edition Blade before its send off to v8?
Humbert is using it.
Rofl
Christoforos Giatzakis
Rookie
Man for real though , is it so difficult to understand that the specs will be the same and only the paintjob will differ?? DAMN
Christoforos Giatzakis
Rookie
Not as difficult as it is for you to understand that based on the data presented in this thread, the us open is v7 specs ( look at the throat in the Instagram pic. Hint.... It says v7.0) and the v8 is going to be different specs (much stiffer probably according to the two videos posted in this thread before). SW wise i can't comment as it is all-over the place with wilson...
bwongman
Rookie
That picture is probably a mistake by the Wilson marketing team. I think the writing is probably computer generated or it's an initial sample that they used for the photo. I have seen and held the US Open Blade and it says v8 on the racquet and has a small US Open logo on it..
