SinneGOAT
Legend
A little less weight in the head and more around the throat. 18/20 has more mass obviously, and 16/19 more spin and a little more headlight.
2019 Wilson Blade
- Thread starter TennisCounrty
- Start date
djNEiGht
Legend
a nice shaped string has helped me with the 18m get some nice spin.
SinneGOAT
Legend
Very normal, if you hit with a lot of spin that can break it, but the rough texture of the Alu power can shred the gut very easily. Might wanna try standard Alu to increase durability.
lynx tour 1.25mm in v7 18m gets a very good amount of spin.. so does HG 1.20mm... in my experience...
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
I think he's saying that the poly crosses are breaking, not the natural gut mains. So the NG is sawing through the poly's.
Dbrizz
Rookie
Yes my poly cross is breaking before my natural gut mains lol odd
Illuminatu
New User
Picked up two Blade 98 16x19 frames this week. Both came in overspec and one of them strung with Touch VS 1.30 (Mains) Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 (Cross) @ 22/21kg. The other one unstrung until playtest with the first one. First impressions, it's very different compared to demo. Swingweight was measured 339!, balance 33.4cm, weight 322g on Babolat RDC.
First time NG user, very different feeling on impact, very long pocketing. Tension way to loose for my type of playstyle, likes to generate high RHS and combination with HH balance and hefty swingweight got balls flying way past the baseline. Did NOT like!
Customization so far: Overgrip as an general rule of course, which got balance down a bit. Additionally 5g of bluetack in the buttcap to make it even more HL. My sensations now is that it plays better, pinching in the shoulder from serving gone because of the more HL balance. Still higher static weight but solved my issues.
Customization in future: Will change the ultra soft and thick base grip to leather grip as I want more pronounced bevels which adds more control, feel and favor to my OHB. Adds even more weight to handle to lower balance. Goal is 32.5cm balance which I'm used to. Scissors will become handy and will hurt both my feelings and wallet when cutting out fresh natural gut x poly hybrid. At least now I know. I'm going full poly this time, Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25 @ 21kg for the first racket and Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 @ 23kg for the other one. Additionally blue tack in buttcap to match the balance of the two frames to be identical. Different static weight doesn't affect me nearly as much as swingweight or balance does.
Don't get me wrong. I love the Blades. After demoing over half a year I put my coins on them. Just have to get the right strings, tension & balance! The high swingweight is addictive together with that nice ball pocketing. Of course the last part will be less when going full poly but, I know from demo how it feels with these type of strings. Still awesome, super soft and plush frame.
Will check in with updated playtest soon!
First time NG user, very different feeling on impact, very long pocketing. Tension way to loose for my type of playstyle, likes to generate high RHS and combination with HH balance and hefty swingweight got balls flying way past the baseline. Did NOT like!
Customization so far: Overgrip as an general rule of course, which got balance down a bit. Additionally 5g of bluetack in the buttcap to make it even more HL. My sensations now is that it plays better, pinching in the shoulder from serving gone because of the more HL balance. Still higher static weight but solved my issues.
Customization in future: Will change the ultra soft and thick base grip to leather grip as I want more pronounced bevels which adds more control, feel and favor to my OHB. Adds even more weight to handle to lower balance. Goal is 32.5cm balance which I'm used to. Scissors will become handy and will hurt both my feelings and wallet when cutting out fresh natural gut x poly hybrid. At least now I know. I'm going full poly this time, Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25 @ 21kg for the first racket and Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 @ 23kg for the other one. Additionally blue tack in buttcap to match the balance of the two frames to be identical. Different static weight doesn't affect me nearly as much as swingweight or balance does.
Don't get me wrong. I love the Blades. After demoing over half a year I put my coins on them. Just have to get the right strings, tension & balance! The high swingweight is addictive together with that nice ball pocketing. Of course the last part will be less when going full poly but, I know from demo how it feels with these type of strings. Still awesome, super soft and plush frame.
Will check in with updated playtest soon!
guilhermefdc
Semi-Pro
I preferred the V7 (18x20) with full poly rather than gut/poly, which was too powerful and “too soft” for my taste.
Comparing polys, I preferred the crisper ones (Alu > Element) as I found them to improve the feedback from the frame, which I found rather lackluster. Intended on trying 4G, but sold it first
Dbrizz
Rookie
Been playing outdoors now and feel like balls are flying a bit on me. I’m at 52 nat gut mains / 48 lbs alu power rough. I never change tension. But I’m feeling like I have to use more spin and height to control ball and not hitting as early and flat as I was indoor.
Anyone else have to play a bit differently or consider increasing tension? I always feel like I have to dial it down and hit more spin outside.
Anyone else have to play a bit differently or consider increasing tension? I always feel like I have to dial it down and hit more spin outside.
SinneGOAT
Legend
Change tension. 57/52 will help with controlling the ball.
Dbrizz
Rookie
What about indoor during cool / cold water drop it back? Or stay at that higher tension all the time?
SinneGOAT
Legend
I’d drop it to the original tension, maybe a pound or 2 higher if you want to keep that control but added comfort of the lower tension.
Illuminatu
New User
Good to hear, not just me then. Could have gone higher in tension, but I think that gut feeling still would be very present, which I don’t know if I like.
Both rackets handed over to stringer today, excited. Will probably get them home, add the leathergrips and get balance right @ 32.5cm. Then playtest. Hoping for a much more controlled racket which allows me to swing freely and with lots of rhs.
Future strings to try should be some version of Hyper G at thinner gauge 1.15 / 1.20 and with slightly higher tension. To enhance more feel. 1.30 gut was thick
Last edited:
Illuminatu
New User
First sensations with the new stringjob, pretty much nailed it this time. Can’t make up my mind which I like the most but Alu Power felt a little bit crispier and less muted than 4G Soft which I think is a good thing with this frame. At the same time it’s tension varies, 23kg Alu Power, 21kg 4G Soft. Even though im using higher tension with Alu, it felt more powerful, especially on serves. Slicing was amazing, so much control. Serves also got way more concistent, enough power for me with the control I want. 4G Soft could be strung a little tighter, would probably go with the same tension as Alu Power for this one next time. Standard 4G with higher stiffness rating could probably go as rec, 10% lower tension than regular polys. Will try it and compare with 4G Soft as well as Hyper G. There where slightly different sound on impact, 4G Soft had a more dampened sound, Alu Power a more pingy and louder hit. Could be differences in tension, but overall, 4G felt more dampened and muted in comparison.
Think I found two very good contenders for this frame
Think I found two very good contenders for this frame
ImportPer4mance
New User
you guys reckon it will get any cheaper than current price? It’s 33% discounted but v8 will be here in two weeks…
I play with the v7 16x19, and just demoed the gravity pro and tour. The gravity pro is such a nice stick. I like it about as much as the v7, and I’ll be possibly switching to this frame if the v8 is a dud. The 305 gram weight of the tour spread out into 100 sq inches with 2 mm thicker beam (20 mm on the pro and 22 mm on the tour) just wasn’t my thing. The Blade 98 v7 smokes the Gravity Tour in all aspects, in my opinion.
Last edited:
Vicious49
Legend
Where are you seeing this? TW and TE are still asking $219 for it.
Dbrizz
Rookie
What’s your blade and gravity pro string setup ?
Gravity pro was a demo with stock multifilaments. Blade 98 v7 is strung with a full bed of nxt 16 @ 55 lbs. I think for my next stick I’m going to switch back to an 18x20 because I really like the feeling of a full bed of a soft multifilament, but it might be too powerful in a more open string pattern.
ImportPer4mance
New User
Tennis warehouse Europe have it for 33% discount
Interested in what tilted you towards the gravity pro over the blade v7 18x20. Which one would you say have more flex? Also more free power?
I’ve never hit a v7 18x20. The Gravity Pro was just a demo that I enjoyed. Not sure if it’s my next stick, but it might be. Still need to demo both new blade 98 v8 string patterns, as well as the new Prestige MP 2022 coming in Dec-21. The 360+ version was a great stick, so I’m hoping that’s another great frame. I’m assuming I end up with one of the frames I listed.
Right you said you play with the Blade V7 and I just assumed it to be the 18x20 like the Gravity pro and gravity tour. So it's the blade v7 16x19? Still would be interested what you though to the flex/power of that compared to the gravity pro
Yes, the 16x19 string pattern. I thought the flex and power were the same, though I’d give the blade the edge on power because of the open string pattern. I’ve learned this go around that going for a full bed of multi in an open string pattern makes me have to think about making sure not to overhit. I figure if multifilaments are made to mimic natural gut, and older generations had to have an 18x20 string pattern to control that power, maybe I should switch back to an 18x20 string pattern. The prestige mp and gravity pro were my first demos back into the denser string pattern world, and I thought both racquets were great. Low flex, great ball pocketing, control, and surprisingly plenty of spin from both sticks. I held the blade 16x19 up against the prestige mp, and the string spacing was almost the same in the center.
I have all of the above sticks. 16x19 blade 18x20 blade and the gravity pro. The 18x20 blade is my favourite. It does everything very very well. I like the feel of gravity pro a lot as well, and it hits insane spin for an 18x20, but its a little heavy for me, and I dont like it on my one handed backhand as much. It doenst come around quickly enough.
Can you compare the 18x20 blade vs the gravity pro on 2 criteria of flex and power. Which one did you feel was more flexible? Which had more power?
To complicate things more. Have you tried or considered a 18x20 blade pro?
Dbrizz
Rookie
Hmm not sure why I'm even going to test other racquets lol. I'm waiting for a gp pro and yonex pro vcore to come in to test. My 18x20 v7 blade is just so good on forehand side. I can really step in and BWEH the ball on that side. Occasionally I miss the 100 head on my bh side though for my 2hb. Just not sure if the gp pro is going to help with that or if I'll end up sticking with my v7 blade. I feel like it's going to be very hard for me to move on from the v7 anytime soon.
I feel like for me using the blade the last year or so has really improved my game. I have really had to clean up my mechanics and generate my own pace. But if you can move your feet and get into position you can smoke the ball with this racquet. From my experience though you just don't get much "free" from it which has been good for me.
I feel like for me using the blade the last year or so has really improved my game. I have really had to clean up my mechanics and generate my own pace. But if you can move your feet and get into position you can smoke the ball with this racquet. From my experience though you just don't get much "free" from it which has been good for me.
ImportPer4mance
New User
Please update this thread with your review (blade v7 vs Grav Pro) after getting the Gravity Pro!! I’m literally in the same position as you and feel the same way! For me the PS 61 v13 was perfect alongside the blade, but I’m also curious about the gravity pro.
16 or 18m?
Oh man... I would think it should not require lead. Sorry no help there. Mine are 330sw so perfect for me. Swings like a butterfly stings like a bee!!
ImportPer4mance
New User
Got the last 18x20 in my size. Specs came in at 310 grams unstrung, 302 Swing weight (unstrung) & 61 stiffness.
let’s see how she does when she arrives. Should be approx 335 swing weight with hyper G, maybe a tad lower. With an overgrip hopefully it stays below 335
let’s see how she does when she arrives. Should be approx 335 swing weight with hyper G, maybe a tad lower. With an overgrip hopefully it stays below 335
yeah if you string 17g HG you should be +30sw and no more really..
ImportPer4mance
New User
ImportPer4mance
New User
Update: Changed from Hyper G 16L to Hyper G-soft 17 after reading reviews here, so I assume it should be approx 332 SW, with an over grip hopefully closer to 330 Strings will be at 51 lbs / 23 kg. Am thinking about going to 24 kg / 53 lbs but let’s see how it plays
Strings will be at 51 lbs / 23 kg. Am thinking about going to 24 kg / 53 lbs but let’s see how it plays
Last edited:
DJTaurus
Hall of Fame
Hyper G 1.20 is the best string for V7 18x20 and 16x19. Racquet is too soft and plush…. I don’t agree with your change to hyper g softUpdate: Changed from Hyper G 16L to Hyper G-soft 17 after reading reviews here, so I assume it should be approx 332 SW, with an over grip hopefully closer to 330
….. it will be like butter in hot weather.ImportPer4mance
New User
Normal hyper G in 17 is sold out. Only 16L is available. Either that or hyper g soft at 17Hyper G 1.20 is the best string for V7 18x20 and 16x19. Racquet is too soft and plush…. I don’t agree with your change to hyper g soft
tennisintheeighties
Semi-Pro
I am using head velocity main / bhb7 crosses on my 18x20 v7Hyper G 1.20 is the best string for V7 18x20 and 16x19. Racquet is too soft and plush…. I don’t agree with your change to hyper g soft
Really good. Arm saver.
Nico Mahut uses nat gut main and Element crosses for example on his blade.
I think up the tension by 2 kilos...usually about 5lbs between poly and multi...
Dbrizz
Rookie
Alright so had a chance to hit with Gravity pro, Yonex Vcore Pro 97 330 and 310. I first warmed up with my v18x20 blade and then switched to the Gravity pro. I noticed when I picked it up that it had some grey poly in it and thought it was going to be stiff but it was actually very soft even trampoline like. I don't know what TW strings their demos with but all three racquets had the same grey string in it at very low tension. I'm sure this had an impact on my hit.
Anyway, right away I noticed my ball coming off the Gravity pro was about 2-3ft higher over the net with more spin. The ball was slower but kicked up more. On the backhand side I felt like I couldn't miss with the Gravity pro but on the forehand side it felt a bit sluggish and my ball wasn't as penetrating as with my blade.
The gravity pro was very comfortable though and I'm sure if was so inclined I could probably switch to it. I would most likely play full poly in the gravity though with tension in the low 50s. It just felt so powerful to me compared to my blade where I have to swing fast as I can on almost every shot but I feel like the blade is more rewarding and hits a cleaner ball when struck perfectly.
Serves and volleys I felt were similar to my blade at least in my case. Maybe a bit more spin with the gravity. Overall solid racquet but not enough for me to switch away from blade for it.
Next were the Yonex racquets and I almost immediately put them down after feeling the handle / buttcap area. Just felt strange to me but I hit with them anyway. I felt like they hit a very similar ball to my blade but the sound was different then the gravity maybe more vibration I'm not sure. I liked the heavier 330 more personally because it felt like my blade mostly.
Very easy power and felt like I could really rip balls with the racquet. I would have a hard time adjusting to it though as the handle is so different from what I'm used to.
Then I went back to the blade and my ball was going 2.5ft over the net again and diving 2ft from the baseline and I felt like ok I'm good you looked for a bit but this is your racquet. My hitting partner told me the ball of the blade was just faster and got on him quicker then the other racquets. This could be a comfort thing or my strings or how I have balanced my blade all of the above but I just felt like the blade is the racquet for me for the coming years.
I do think the Vcore and gravity are fine racquets and I could see anyone in that 4.0-5.0 utr 6+ range really like them. I think if I had to pick one out of the gravity and yonex it would be the gravity.
After doing this demo though I'm tempted to go out and buy 3 more blade 18x20 v7s.
Anyway, right away I noticed my ball coming off the Gravity pro was about 2-3ft higher over the net with more spin. The ball was slower but kicked up more. On the backhand side I felt like I couldn't miss with the Gravity pro but on the forehand side it felt a bit sluggish and my ball wasn't as penetrating as with my blade.
The gravity pro was very comfortable though and I'm sure if was so inclined I could probably switch to it. I would most likely play full poly in the gravity though with tension in the low 50s. It just felt so powerful to me compared to my blade where I have to swing fast as I can on almost every shot but I feel like the blade is more rewarding and hits a cleaner ball when struck perfectly.
Serves and volleys I felt were similar to my blade at least in my case. Maybe a bit more spin with the gravity. Overall solid racquet but not enough for me to switch away from blade for it.
Next were the Yonex racquets and I almost immediately put them down after feeling the handle / buttcap area. Just felt strange to me but I hit with them anyway. I felt like they hit a very similar ball to my blade but the sound was different then the gravity maybe more vibration I'm not sure. I liked the heavier 330 more personally because it felt like my blade mostly.
Very easy power and felt like I could really rip balls with the racquet. I would have a hard time adjusting to it though as the handle is so different from what I'm used to.
Then I went back to the blade and my ball was going 2.5ft over the net again and diving 2ft from the baseline and I felt like ok I'm good you looked for a bit but this is your racquet. My hitting partner told me the ball of the blade was just faster and got on him quicker then the other racquets. This could be a comfort thing or my strings or how I have balanced my blade all of the above but I just felt like the blade is the racquet for me for the coming years.
I do think the Vcore and gravity are fine racquets and I could see anyone in that 4.0-5.0 utr 6+ range really like them. I think if I had to pick one out of the gravity and yonex it would be the gravity.
After doing this demo though I'm tempted to go out and buy 3 more blade 18x20 v7s.
Solid playtest review!
I had a chance to play with my son's V7 18x20. I strung it with Wilson Revolve Spin 17G at 58.5lbs - yeah, I know -- .5 . I was expecting higher launch angle, I did not get it. I hit with our pro on Friday for about 90 mins and did a few drills with my wife -- she just started play after knee surgery earlier in the year. It felt pretty good.
I was going to play the weekend -- was rained out. My wife and I had a mixed match on Tuesday -- which is the very best time to practice with a new racket. It felt really good. I felt like I could swing away and the ball was staying deep and staying in. Volleys and touch shots were excellent. I didn't have nearly as much spin as I did with the PA, which is expected. I had not served with it much prior to match. I was still able to move the ball around and still had a lot of spin -- still not as easily accessible as the PA -- but there. I struggled with the backspin drops - kept hitting the tape. That will come will actual practice. I wasn't comfortable with big backhand swings -- I kept them flat or slices, since I didn't work a lot on them with the racket. I kept trying to talking myself in to -- I failed.
I hit very few shots wide or long -- most of my unforced errors were in the net - mostly tape shots -- this will come with more practice.
There is certainly less spin than on the PA and that's expected with the dense pattern. But, the laser sites on the racket with the comfort and feel really felt good. I will have to change the way I play a bit, but, I liked that Blade. the low power allows me to rip in to it with reckless abandon.
I don't know if I should even bother with the V8.
. I was expecting higher launch angle, I did not get it. I hit with our pro on Friday for about 90 mins and did a few drills with my wife -- she just started play after knee surgery earlier in the year. It felt pretty good.I was going to play the weekend -- was rained out. My wife and I had a mixed match on Tuesday -- which is the very best time to practice with a new racket. It felt really good. I felt like I could swing away and the ball was staying deep and staying in. Volleys and touch shots were excellent. I didn't have nearly as much spin as I did with the PA, which is expected. I had not served with it much prior to match. I was still able to move the ball around and still had a lot of spin -- still not as easily accessible as the PA -- but there. I struggled with the backspin drops - kept hitting the tape. That will come will actual practice. I wasn't comfortable with big backhand swings -- I kept them flat or slices, since I didn't work a lot on them with the racket. I kept trying to talking myself in to -- I failed.
I hit very few shots wide or long -- most of my unforced errors were in the net - mostly tape shots -- this will come with more practice.
There is certainly less spin than on the PA and that's expected with the dense pattern. But, the laser sites on the racket with the comfort and feel really felt good. I will have to change the way I play a bit, but, I liked that Blade. the low power allows me to rip in to it with reckless abandon.
I don't know if I should even bother with the V8.
Dbrizz
Rookie
Alright boys another test for ya. Going into this I was looking for a stiffer version of the v7 18x20 blade. More direct feedback less muted. More pop.
I tested a 2021 Head radical MP and a Pure Aero VS. Hit with both of these in stock form and knew right away they needed weight. I didn't fall in love with either of them right away. I liked the Head rad more though.
After playing with smaller beams it's really hard to get back into thick Babolat beams again. Just a preference thing I guess.
Anyway after researching what to do on this Rad mp I put a leather grip on + og, some blue tac and lead in the hoop to get it to 6pt hl and a little over 347g.
I decided since I was doing this on the rad I might as well try this out on one of my blade v7s as well since I have 3. I threw a leather grip + og on one of the more beat up blades and put some weight under buttcap and 4 grams at 3 and 9. 6PTS HL 349g.
I took all racquets out to the court with me tonight 1) my normal v7 blade 18x20 lightest version 339g 6pts hl 2) leather grip and leaded blade v7 349g 6pts hl 3) rad mp and 4) pure aero vs.
Warmed up first with normal spec. Felt good clean ball. Hit with the rad mp next and ball was falling a bit short albeit with more spin.
Next hit with the leather grip leaded heavy v7 18x20 and immediately I was like hmm this is new. The only way I can describe it the ball just felt bigger and sounded louder. I liked it alot.
Next pure aero vs and almost immediately put it back down. Went back to leather grip + og v7 again and ended up hitting with that the most.
Next up Vcore 95 and blade pro 18x20
No idea why I liked the heavy v7 so much but maybe I made myself a poormans blade pro??
Stay tuned
I tested a 2021 Head radical MP and a Pure Aero VS. Hit with both of these in stock form and knew right away they needed weight. I didn't fall in love with either of them right away. I liked the Head rad more though.
After playing with smaller beams it's really hard to get back into thick Babolat beams again. Just a preference thing I guess.
Anyway after researching what to do on this Rad mp I put a leather grip on + og, some blue tac and lead in the hoop to get it to 6pt hl and a little over 347g.
I decided since I was doing this on the rad I might as well try this out on one of my blade v7s as well since I have 3. I threw a leather grip + og on one of the more beat up blades and put some weight under buttcap and 4 grams at 3 and 9. 6PTS HL 349g.
I took all racquets out to the court with me tonight 1) my normal v7 blade 18x20 lightest version 339g 6pts hl 2) leather grip and leaded blade v7 349g 6pts hl 3) rad mp and 4) pure aero vs.
Warmed up first with normal spec. Felt good clean ball. Hit with the rad mp next and ball was falling a bit short albeit with more spin.
Next hit with the leather grip leaded heavy v7 18x20 and immediately I was like hmm this is new. The only way I can describe it the ball just felt bigger and sounded louder. I liked it alot.
Next pure aero vs and almost immediately put it back down. Went back to leather grip + og v7 again and ended up hitting with that the most.
Next up Vcore 95 and blade pro 18x20
No idea why I liked the heavy v7 so much but maybe I made myself a poormans blade pro??
Stay tuned
Last edited:
