Nblade kblade or blx blade?
- Thread starter Shaochieh
- Start date
flashfire276
Hall of Fame
Yes, the nBlade is the softest feeling racquet out of the line. Probably the softest racquet in its class. A lighter-weighed player's frame. Which results in more control.
The K Blade is stiffer, much more solid feel. Which results in more power.
Haven't played with the BLX Blade. However, I do hear its a bit muted and underpowered.
The K Blade is stiffer, much more solid feel. Which results in more power.
Haven't played with the BLX Blade. However, I do hear its a bit muted and underpowered.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
EVEN IF YOU DO NOT END UP WANTING THE nBLADE... BUY IT... AND SIT ON IT UNTIL IT BECOMES THE NEW PS85!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Or buy it for me
Or buy it for me
Automatix
Legend
Where are you located? New nBlades? Midplus nBlades?
Germany, my landlord have a shop and he had two new ones. He just sold one this past week for 170 dollars.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
who used the retail KB98?
flashfire276
Hall of Fame
Yep! What about it?
Funbun
Professional
He meant who used the KB98 on the tour. Nobody does, as far as I know. Probably one of the lower ranked pros.
Regardless, how does it play? I'm considering to get it, since I've heard it's a bit more solid and stiffer. I'm departing from the K Pro Tour eventually; it was just too soft. I need something solid and directionally strong. I felt that the K Pro Tour was just too clumsy.
I haven't played with a lighter weight, thinner-beamed racquet. Hopefully the K Blade 98 would be a good fit. I need a racquet that allows me to play a defensive game, but kill points with directional control, too.
Cengusiento
Rookie
I've played with nblade for 3 years, kblade for 8-9 months and BLX blade for 3 months.
nBlade is by far the best out of three.
Kblade has more power , but nothing more: less stability, less touch, less control.
BLX blade has more power and more stability, but its maneuverability suffer a lot, very hard to swing out quickly.
nBlade is the winner for its unique mix of control, feel, confort and, surprisingly, access to spin.
nBlade is by far the best out of three.
Kblade has more power , but nothing more: less stability, less touch, less control.
BLX blade has more power and more stability, but its maneuverability suffer a lot, very hard to swing out quickly.
nBlade is the winner for its unique mix of control, feel, confort and, surprisingly, access to spin.
I am a bit surprise for a racket with the same specification can have such different playing character. Maneuverability is really important for me but I only can get my hands on one stick and not two nblade. I might go with BLX.
sixone90
Hall of Fame
Milos Raonic
stronzzi70
Professional
Blx blade 98 for sure=
Better flex, nice pace, if you can handle 335 SW you got it.
K blade was very stiff for my taste.
Better flex, nice pace, if you can handle 335 SW you got it.
K blade was very stiff for my taste.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
OK, anyone else?
I replied to the comment: "KFactor was Wilson's best line and the kBlade 98 and kBlade Tour were some of their best/most used on the pro tours."
BTW, I found that the KB98 was the worst of the Blade series sticks...
tennisexecutor
Rookie
i have playtested all 3 versions extensively and found that my preference goes to the kblade, bblade, and finally the nblade, in that exact order.
for me, the kblade had the best feel which equated to a massive amount of control that is paramount to my game. i knew exactly where the ball would land just from the feedback it gave me. the nblade in comparison was bland in its response on impact. in the end i just couldn't jive with the feel. not because of the "low flex" because there are "flexy" frames that i absolutely love but perhaps because of HOW it flexed that proved to be inconsistent for me. somewhere in the middle there is the bblade which is more difficult to get around than the other two yet still playable for me, unlike the nblade. if the so called stiff frames bother you then consider this bblade. it feels closer to the kblade with a damper on it that takes away the crisper feedback.
for me, the kblade had the best feel which equated to a massive amount of control that is paramount to my game. i knew exactly where the ball would land just from the feedback it gave me. the nblade in comparison was bland in its response on impact. in the end i just couldn't jive with the feel. not because of the "low flex" because there are "flexy" frames that i absolutely love but perhaps because of HOW it flexed that proved to be inconsistent for me. somewhere in the middle there is the bblade which is more difficult to get around than the other two yet still playable for me, unlike the nblade. if the so called stiff frames bother you then consider this bblade. it feels closer to the kblade with a damper on it that takes away the crisper feedback.
WilsonPlayer101
Professional
For those of you who like the nblade, what tension do you ideally string this racquet at? Just bought one and loving it but one day will need to restring. It's great the way it is but bought it used so don't know what the strings are at right now. Thanks much.
Recoveringhobo
Rookie
Didn't Tsonga and Djokovic both use the K-blade? I only remember this because they both made the final in Australia and used the same racquet.
guedoguedo
Semi-Pro
Do the blx and newer blade 98 have the same response/experience (on groundstrokes) as the k98? i had the most consistent deep forehand with good spin with the k98. Big sweetspot, and easy to get depth with it. I didnt hit a heavy ball like i did with roddick, but i was automatic. I couldnt miss with it. and it was so easy to hit a pinpoint DTL forehand. just like executor said, i know where my ball was going.
If i try the blx or new blade 98 will it be similar on groundstrokes to the kblade?? does it come off the ball clean and crisp like the k?
If i try the blx or new blade 98 will it be similar on groundstrokes to the kblade?? does it come off the ball clean and crisp like the k?
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robok9
Semi-Pro
I personally own the Kblade 98 and the Blx Blade 98 and have for about 5 months with the kfactor and about 4 months with the Blx. I know nothing about the nblade, however. Naturally, the Kblade feels more maneuverable due to the balance. I would say that the feel of the Kblade suits me better when considering personal opinion, however the Blx Blade is overall a better racquet. Even though I find the Kblade more enjoyable for my game, I play a little bit better with the Blx Blade. I'm going to add a leather grip and some lead tape to make the balance of my Blx feel more like the Kblade while still having the overall better playing characteristics. I feel like a lot of people would like the Kblade better, but the majority of people would be better off with the Blx Blade.
robok9
Semi-Pro
From what I've heard, the Blx Blade and the 2013 Blade feel almost identical except for amplifeel which, from what I've heard, is basically a shock dampener in the handle. A select few people say that there are other differences, but I think that it may just be the placebo effect since it looks a little bit cooler and because it's newer. My recommendation is to get the Blx Blade since it's half the price. Either way, people may favor one racquet or the other in stock form, but after personal tweaking, the two racquets will be almost the same.
Doubles
Legend
Bumping this thread because I have the chance to purchase an NBlade for absurdly cheap from a friend, and as a poor college student, any chance to have a third, relatively similar racquet to rotate with my other 2 is potentially worth it. How does the newest Blade compare in terms of feel? I can adjust balance and SW to make it similar to my BLX's, but if the NBlade has noticeably less power, or a totally different feel, I think I'd be better off saving my money for when the newest batch of Blades hit rock bottom prices.
TennisCanada1
Professional
Do it. The newest black and green blade is the best blade besides the Nblade, although the Nblade and the rest of the blades are quite different. The green and black blade is very similar to the k blade, except there's extra stability and comfort. Both of them are better than the black and silver blade, which felt both unstable and tinny. The nblade is firm and plush at the same time, its a hard feeling to describe, but it's controlled power at its finest and it's a true beauty. Grab it and never let go.
Yao_guai_nz
New User
http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Novak+Djokovic+Jo+Wilfried+Tsonga+Australian+7LSfNDzfnNcx.jpg
Here's a pic of them both happy at the net
Yao_guai_nz
New User
dgoran
Hall of Fame
those are paint jobbed racquets neither ever used blade in a match
dgoran
Hall of Fame
BTW @Yao_guai_nz I noticed you have N K and CV blade could you tell me what differences do you feel between them?
I tried all of them long long time ago and I don't have one to try now for reference
I tried all of them long long time ago and I don't have one to try now for reference
NastyWinners
Hall of Fame
Yao_guai_nz
New User
Hi there @dgoran ... really depends on your playing style and tempo. To give you context:
Height 6"3, 37yo, SHBH, long strokes, medium spin, est 4.5+ level. 95% of time I string with Wilson Sensation (multi) @ 51lbs.
Note my history is always with a 18x20 strung with a multi. I always enjoyed the ball crisply popping off the string bed, rather than a "dead poly" feeling. Further, reading suggests that dense string beds and polys feel very stiff and should be strung lower.
I've spend hundreds on different poly's and found that at best, they are nice for 3-4 sets and then they change their characteristic and I end up getting a sore elbow or wrist, hence I always go back to Wilson Sensation.
Nblade: per the readings above; Key word: plush. Awesome feel when ploughing through and volleying. I have weights at 3 & 9 o'clock. Low powered.
Kblade: slightly more connected to the ball. More feel/less plush. Slightly more power but smaller sweet spot than Nblade. More mobile/agile at the net. It was my game day stick, although I broke it 2 months ago. If I'm playing well and timing is on, I cannot find a better feeling racket. In conclusion, it's got traditional feel but less forgiving than above.
Blade CV: it arrived (from my friend) strung with some kind of poly (which I don't usually enjoy) so I can't really compare apples with apples. What I can say is that it was back to being more plush, higher swingweight/heft in stock form, strangely I got ridiculous spin (esp from an 18x20), the trajectory of the ball was higher [most likely due to the strings]. I've had it restrung with Sensation, but I'm not due on court for 4 days.... so the verdict is not out yet. Happy to update on Mon night providing I get nice weather. I'm hoping its more like the Nblade with a paint job..... if it's no good, I'll be selling it and using RF97A with Luxilon 4g (I demo'd it in this set up and it was sweet).
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Yao_guai_nz
New User
Yes, I'd previously been trawling my local web for second hand Nblades, but they're rarer than hen's teeth. Hoping the Blade CV will fill its shoes.I'll surely take that off your hands
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Do you have experience with a 2015 blade? I can buy 2015 and CV for same price so it comes down to differences. Can buy only one. With CV I can check the balance and weight before purchase ;p (but not SW), 2015 ver. would be blindfolded
Yao_guai_nz
New User
You're referring to the black with the green bumper?
16x19 didn't like it as it wasn't solid (I don't like the CV version either albeit, slightly more solid)
18x20 never got hands on one.
Spin: better than the 16x19 but not for my game.
Sorry - can't really help you on this one.
gino
Legend
Try and find the nBlade if you can. Flexier, more control. Better than any blade outside of the CV
NastyWinners
Hall of Fame
Yes, I'd previously been trawling my local web for second hand Nblades, but they're rarer than hen's teeth. Hoping the Blade CV will fill its shoes.
They are near impossible to find now these days, but luckily I have found my home with the Prince TT95! Still on the lookout for the nblade at a low price just for nostalgic reasons
Yao_guai_nz
New User
OK so I had my hit today after having the blade CV 18x20 re-strung with my usual wilson sensation... to compare apples with apples.
Comfort: CV > Nblade > KBlade
Power: Kblade > CV = Nblade
Spin: CV > Nblade > Kblade
Sweetspot: CV = Nblade > Kblade
Plough Through/plush factor: CV = Nblade > Kblade
Mobility: Kblade > Nblade = CV
I do have the CV in stock form vs the Nbade (and my dead Kblade) which had lead at 3 & 9 o'clock.
If it had lead I do reckon it would put the power up slightly and the comfort on parr with the Nblade.
I really want to love the bladed and its "player's stick" heritage.... but I have this other new stick in my bag that is also beautiful to play with in different ways... it's not cool though... It's the hype stick called the RF97A. I hate the fact that it's a fanboy stick.
I'm going to have one more hit with both and then one will go up for sale.
The beautiful demo at the tennis centre had some purple ish, mauve/grey Luxilon strings in there that made it so plush. Does anyone know which one this could be?
Mine has some Yellow Yonex Poly Tour Pro, which are nice, but not as nice as above mentioned.
Comfort: CV > Nblade > KBlade
Power: Kblade > CV = Nblade
Spin: CV > Nblade > Kblade
Sweetspot: CV = Nblade > Kblade
Plough Through/plush factor: CV = Nblade > Kblade
Mobility: Kblade > Nblade = CV
I do have the CV in stock form vs the Nbade (and my dead Kblade) which had lead at 3 & 9 o'clock.
If it had lead I do reckon it would put the power up slightly and the comfort on parr with the Nblade.
I really want to love the bladed and its "player's stick" heritage.... but I have this other new stick in my bag that is also beautiful to play with in different ways... it's not cool though... It's the hype stick called the RF97A. I hate the fact that it's a fanboy stick.
I'm going to have one more hit with both and then one will go up for sale.
The beautiful demo at the tennis centre had some purple ish, mauve/grey Luxilon strings in there that made it so plush. Does anyone know which one this could be?
Mine has some Yellow Yonex Poly Tour Pro, which are nice, but not as nice as above mentioned.
