2010 Pink/Black Blade 98 18x20 Grommets?

[graycrait]

I have a friend's racket to string and she needs a new grommet set in her Blade 98 18x20. Will any 18x20 Blade 98 grommet set work in this older Blade? I think that pink/black model came out around 2010/11. Would 2015 Blade 98 18x20 grommets work?

 

[Wes]

@graycrait,

I don't know for sure.
However, I would greatly suspect that the 2015 grommet set would not be interchangeable, since that is when Wilson started incorporating "parallel drilling" on the Blades.

Although I'm not certain whether a grommet set for the 2013 Blade 98 (BLX2/Amplifeel/v4) is interchangeable with the 2010 Blade 98 (BLX1/v3), I think there's a very good chance that they would work.

I'm pretty sure that the 2015 Blades were the first generation (v5) that had "parallel drilling".
Since previous generations (v1-v4) had normal drilling, it may be more reasonable to think that grommet sets for those (nBlade, kBlade, 2010, 2013) are more likely to be interchangeable.

Wait to see what others may have to say on the matter.

 

[Wes]

@graycrait,

This is one of those scenarios where it may be easier (and possibly less expensive) to just get her another frame (used, of course) than to obtain just the grommet set alone.

1) If she loves the 2010 Blade, but is not married to the idea of it being the pink/black model, she/you can find the standard gold/black ones very easily, for very reasonable prices.
2) If she is married to the pink/black cosmetic, then those are a little more difficult to track down (especially considering that you're looking for a specific grip size).

What grip size does she use?

 

[dak95_00]

My advice would to search for them on eDay and get the product number/code/whatever it’s called and go from there. The pink/black was just like the gold/black racquet so they’re interchangeable. Don’t forget to then contact more obscure retailers to ask for older sets. I’ve had luck before with klipperusa.

 

[travlerajm]

@graycrait,

This is one of those scenarios where it may be easier (and possibly less expensive) to just get her another frame (used, of course) than to obtain just the grommet set alone.

1) If she loves the 2010 Blade, but is not married to the idea of it being the pink/black model, she/you can find the standard gold/black ones very easily, for very reasonable prices.
2) If she is married to the pink/black cosmetic, then those are a little more difficult to track down (especially considering that you're looking for a specific grip size).

What grip size does she use?

Ironically, back when I bought my Pink/Black Blades, the Pink/Black color scheme ones were a dime a dozen and could be bought cheap at half the price of the Black/Gold ones.

 

[snoflewis]

The 2015 grommets will not fit

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

The 2015 grommets will not fit

2015 had this extra top piece that won't work on earlier versions.

 

[Wes]

@graycrait,

What grip size does she use?

 

[graycrait]

3, 4&3/8, L3 She is a US Army Combat Engineer Lt. @Wes

 

[Wes]

@graycrait,

The big auction site has a 2010 pink/black, in excellent shape, w/ 3/8 grip & Fairway leather grip...
https://www.****.com/itm/A-Rare-Wilson-Pink-BLX-Blade-98-MIdPlus-4-3-8s-L3-Grip/114311016379?hash=item1a9d77afbb:g:kA4AAOSwqehe~Eaz

I'm not certain, but these very well may be the grommet set that you're looking for...
https://www.****.com/itm/Bumper-Grommet-set-for-Wilson-Blade-98-18-X-20-WRG716100-original-older/324221111942?hash=item4b7d158e86:g:QJAAAOSwk8Re7mX1

 

[dak95_00]

Take that code and call around to tennis stores. You might get lucky and find some for $8/set.

I also remember the Pink Blade was $50/racquet.

 

[esgee48]

@graycrait
https://gssalliance.com/bg-sets/wrg716100/ has one available for $16. Does not include shipping, so you should ask your client if she wants it.

 

[lwto]

What's wrong with the grommet? Is it frayed at the 10 and 2 spots?