Almost convinced to abandon Wilson...Quality Control is unbelievable.

[Arthuro]

I love the feel of the Wilsons and always use the TW matching service. Never a problem. Frankly, from what I have seen and used over the years, all manufacturers have similar tolerances and most times, the variances, when they occur, are easily remedied. I find it hard to imagine that such small differences significantly affect anyone's ability to play the game (if it is in your head, well, lead tape won't solve that).

Max Ply: Come on...I am not simply trying to create a magical or psychologically induced coping strategy for my tennis game. I coach, string, and customize frames as I thought could be gathered from the thread. This is about having paid for a racquet that cannot be used inter-changeably with my other frames. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. No need for the ad hom.

 

[MAX PLY]

Sorry, the "your" wasn't really directed at you--it was meant to be more of a general statement. My intent was not to offend so I am sorry if you took it that way. My point is really that racquets not being identical is not unique to any manufacturer and I suspect that the QC is better today than ever across the board (think about wood sticks or even the early graphites). I suspect it is also true for golf clubs, baseball bats, etc. I have been playing for over 40 years and have been a CRT for a very long time and find most differences are minute and easily remedied. Likewise, I find it astonishing that such small differences truly affect anyone's game (Pete Sampras' OCD not withstanding)--irritating perhaps, but not nearly as big a deal as different strings or tensions can be. I have never lost a match because one of my racquets "let me down."

I think most folks like a frame for how it "feels" in their hand when they strike a ball--that's where one dervives confidence--weight and balance are just fine tuning after that.

 

[Playtimefun]

First... I agreee with you whole heartedly. Wilson's QC is absoloutely HORRIBLE. Considering when I switch racquets, I generally wind up owning about 6 of them and I always tune them to be the same weights and balance (or as close as I can without having to go way up in weight).

BUT in comparison to what you got for specs and the relative "closeness" and in comparison to some of the huge variances that I have seen, you got about as close and you can possible get from Wilson in terms of their QC.

 

[Arthuro]

First... I agreee with you whole heartedly. Wilson's QC is absoloutely HORRIBLE. Considering when I switch racquets, I generally wind up owning about 6 of them and I always tune them to be the same weights and balance (or as close as I can without having to go way up in weight).

BUT in comparison to what you got for specs and the relative "closeness" and in comparison to some of the huge variances that I have seen, you got about as close and you can possible get from Wilson in terms of their QC.

I understand and take the points made in the thread seriously. Its just that this variance went the wrong way and as such I am left out in the cold so to speak.

 

[TennisCJC]

if you are ordering wilsons order those suckers matched.

TW will match them for about $10 per frame. I asked for 2 matched and they were exact bal, exact SW, and 2.5 grams difference in static weight. I can live 2.5 grams difference in static weight and this was well worth the $20 ($10 per frame) to me. If you send in the spec you want, they may be able to get something really close for you. Call them and see.

By the way, I bought 2 blx 6.1 awhile back off the self and the balance was perfect and the static weight difference was under 3 grams. Not sure about the SW but they felt identical. I did have the shop throw them on the scale to make sure they weighed the same before I bought them. Under 3 g with exact balance is pretty good QC - less than 1% variance.

 

[BreakPoint]

Rackets that are significantly different from intended shouldn't have been sold. They should've been discarded. Instead, they're sold at much higher prices. That means the company made money where they should've lost money to begin with.

This lessens the fraud claim. Arturo should've received a high quality product he expected. Instead, he got a factory 2nd that should've been discarded. He's asking to be placed where he should've been to begin with.

But the racquet the OP sent in was within Wilson's spec tolerance. Why should Wilson discard a racquet that's within their specified tolerance?

 

[Arthuro]

But the racquet the OP sent in was within Wilson's spec tolerance. Why should Wilson discard a racquet that's within their specified tolerance?

I was not given any proof of these variances. I am curious to know how a racquet 306 kg/cm2 and a racquet with 324kg/cm2 could be in the same limit? The current racquets I have are 315 kg/cm2...9 kg/cm2. That's an amazing variance.

 

[Bud]

But the racquet the OP sent in was within Wilson's spec tolerance. Why should Wilson discard a racquet that's within their specified tolerance?

The issue is their stated tolerances are way too loose

I can imagine the next generation of Wilson frames: ±15g and ±6 pts. balance

 

[BreakPoint]

The issue is their stated tolerances are way too loose

I can imagine the next generation of Wilson frames: ±15g and ±6 pts. balance

Yes, I understand. But Wilson is not going to discard a racquet that falls within their specified tolerance specs.

 

[Larrysümmers]

seeing your sig i see that you have done the free market thing, and move on. until robots control 100% of the process, there will be some error, hence the tolerance of specs. if you dont like it, then go to a different brand.

 

[pvaudio]

OP, I'm not too sure why you just got blasted to hell and back. I'm with you completely. While the weight difference is rather negligible for a non pro, the swing weight difference is atrocious. If that's within their tolerance range, then yep, it's just more of the same from Wilson I'm afraid.

 

[pug]

OP, I'm not too sure why you just got blasted to hell and back. I'm with you completely. While the weight difference is rather negligible for a non pro, the swing weight difference is atrocious. If that's within their tolerance range, then yep, it's just more of the same from Wilson I'm afraid.

+1.

I bought 2 BLX 95 and they were 10 grams different. Same problem, I had to match to the higher weight which was more than I wanted.

Glad I didn't post that here and get smacked around.

 

[sheridanengland]

i don't know....i tend to chew up my frames pretty quickly trying to dig out low volleys (i'm a S&V). even if my rackets were exact spec when i bought them, they get "head lighter" pretty quickly. i wonder if anybody considers normal wear (grommets getting worn down) when trying to match specs....

 

[Arthuro]

OP, I'm not too sure why you just got blasted to hell and back. I'm with you completely. While the weight difference is rather negligible for a non pro, the swing weight difference is atrocious. If that's within their tolerance range, then yep, it's just more of the same from Wilson I'm afraid.

I don't know either. I guess I should post my tennis resume so people think I am a serious player. The fact that I string and coach wasn't good enough for me to know what I am talking about, or the small fact that I owned 11 of these racquets. Which I am totally willing to give/sell away...I don't want to support this corporation given this response. But hey its an internet forum any complaint can be turned to evil...

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

It's an internet forum, Arthuro, don't worry too much. Any post will always draw responses from well informed folks who wish to help and idiotic comments from numpties with no idea.
I'll let you decide which is which!

cheers

 

[Arthuro]

Someone from Wilson replied

Someone from Wilson Tennis replied and apologized for the problem. I don't know what they will do, but it meant a lot to me personally that they are attending to the problem. This at least makes me feel better that a corporation is claiming some responsibility for their product. Bravo Wilson Sporting Goods, Bravo!

 

[UCSF2012]

Someone from Wilson Tennis replied and apologized for the problem. I don't know what they will do, but it meant a lot to me personally that they are attending to the problem. This at least makes me feel better that a corporation is claiming some responsibility for their product. Bravo Wilson Sporting Goods, Bravo!

How'd you manage to pull that off? My last return to Wilson ended up with them sending my racket back, just like you. I had the same reason, wrong balance. I'm now 3 rackets into Prince, unfortunately for Wilson.

 

[Arthuro]

How'd you manage to pull that off? My last return to Wilson ended up with them sending my racket back, just like you. I had the same reason, wrong balance. I'm now 3 rackets into Prince, unfortunately for Wilson.

Just called back and complained again. What Prince racquets?

 

[TennisMaverick]

Industry Standards:

10 grams+/-
10 mm+/- (Recently moved to there)

Yonex, Head, BB/Volkl, and Babolat, all come out of the same factory. Maybe Wilson needs to pay a little more to their manufacturer and switch.

 

[Fugazi]

Why 12 racquets?

 

[UCSF2012]

Just called back and complained again. What Prince racquets?

Exo3 Graphite 93. It's a pretty good racket. Harder to string because of the port holes, but hits well. Slightly wider head, so it's more forgiving. Hits very well. Even better that it's $90 shipped.

 

[Fugazi]

Someone from Wilson Tennis replied and apologized for the problem. I don't know what they will do, but it meant a lot to me personally that they are attending to the problem. This at least makes me feel better that a corporation is claiming some responsibility for their product. Bravo Wilson Sporting Goods, Bravo!

Looks like somebody from Wilson read your thread...

 

[Arthuro]

You might be right...

 

[tennis4josh]

Arthuro

There is nothing wrong with you wanting a racket which matches your other rackets. But I am wondering how did you end up with this situation. Since you know the specs you want, you could have specified your requirements to the shop where you bought the racket.

For example, if you call TW to place an order and request them to send you something that is close to your specs, I am sure they will oblige.

-Josh

 

[Arthuro]

i don't know....i tend to chew up my frames pretty quickly trying to dig out low volleys (i'm a S&V). even if my rackets were exact spec when i bought them, they get "head lighter" pretty quickly. i wonder if anybody considers normal wear (grommets getting worn down) when trying to match specs....

I do. I measure the racquet from 4 specs. Frame, frame w/grommets, frame w/overgrip, frame and overgrip and strung. I keep these specs in excel files for myself and my customers and print out tags for the frames with the specs for the customers to view and know.

 

[SStrikerR]

Unless you're relying on your racquets for survival or money, I don't care. You don't even need that many racquets anyway.

 

[dadozen]

seeing your sig i see that you have done the free market thing, and move on. until robots control 100% of the process, there will be some error, hence the tolerance of specs. if you dont like it, then go to a different brand.

Larry, the thing is that even if controlled 100% by robots, there will still be variances. That's because the tooling used has a life-time expectation, thus it needs periodical maintenance. In one cycle between each maintenance work, the tooling produces different parts, and that's why the variances happen.

I know that because I work at the automotive industry and it's common to get deffective parts even from good batches.

 

[Arthuro]

Arthuro

There is nothing wrong with you wanting a racket which matches your other rackets. But I am wondering how did you end up with this situation. Since you know the specs you want, you could have specified your requirements to the shop where you bought the racket.

For example, if you call TW to place an order and request them to send you something that is close to your specs, I am sure they will oblige.

-Josh

Josh TW does not sell the KBT anymore...nor does anyone else online outside of the auction site. I found a place with some and tried to scoop them up and ended up with a bogus one.

 

[Arthuro]

Got new Racquet from Wilson

Wilson did send out a new racquet prestrung...unfortunately it was the wrong make and wrong grip size. I was sent a BLX Blade team in a 4 1/2 grip.

I guess they tried, but I can't really use the racquet.

 

[stoble]

Give Pacific a shot. They got some racquets that offer zero tolerance.

 

[Arthuro]

Wilson Tennis...No More...

I have officially made a change...while I feel they tried, ultimately Wilson has disappointed me...so long to a 5 year relationship.

 

[forthegame]

I have officially made a change...while I feel they tried, ultimately Wilson has disappointed me...so long to a 5 year relationship.

How does the Prince EXO3 Rebel compare to your KBTs? Was it difficult to transition? Just curious. I hope your results stay the same or improve after this switch, that's the ultimate yardstick, no?

 

[Arthuro]

It swings well. The Rebel is not as hard on my arm, though the KBT wasn't either really, but you can feel the different. Serves are harder with the rebel probably from the increased swing weight and the volleys and touch are sick. The transition is not difficult...I have to put leather grips on my Rebels though...I hate...HATE...the synthetic grip it comes with standard. I put the prince premier string in it, but am starting to hybrid that with the X-1 biphase (my favorite multi). Groundstrokes with the Rebel are deeper and are heavier than the KBT, though the KBT seems to give more access to spin.

 

[forthegame]

Cool. Glad you're getting on well. I have 2 "identical" Wilson frames that feel and swing differently. First time I've ever had 2 of the same so cannot blame QC with my limited experience.

 

[nalvarado]

That's a shame. I've been debating buying a blade recently to see how it stacks up against my prestige but after reading this I'd rather just get another prestige.

 

[wilfreb]

get a dunlop and forget about this...

 

[TennisMaverick]

That's a shame. I've been debating buying a blade recently to see how it stacks up against my prestige but after reading this I'd rather just get another prestige.

I know a couple of guys who switched from the Prestige to the Melbourne.