Blade 100 V9 - Swallow your pride..!!!

[CVT]

I did test the PS X, though it has been too long ago for me to remember finer details. They headlines would be that the PS X was probably a bit too much for me - it felt more controlled but less forgiving in the sweet spot. It was higher swingweight, which gave it less mobility but more plow. It has a firmer feel with more solid feedback compared with the more plush feeling in the Blade. While the PS X characteristics are ones that I should prefer on paper, it was made for a stronger and more advanced player than me. It requires you to supply more energy into your swing - if you do, it will reward you with more power than the Blade. The Blade 100 v9 is in a better zone of forgiveness and power/control for me. The Blade would help my sense of feel and touch where my game is at now. The PS X would do that if my fundamentals were just a bit sharper.

An analogy is if you wanted to hit a fast pitched baseball, you would choose the PS X if you were very confident in your swing. Swung correctly, and making contact in the sweet spot, it would return more power in kind to the ball. The Blade 100 v9 would provide stability and comfort for more off-center hits but would have less peak power. The PS X will produce more home runs, but the Blade will hit fewer foul balls, better batting average, and more comfort if you hit it just off the center of the barrel.

 

[AlexKangaroo]

I did test the PS X, though it has been too long ago for me to remember finer details. They headlines would be that the PS X was probably a bit too much for me - it felt more controlled but less forgiving in the sweet spot. It was higher swingweight, which gave it less mobility but more plow. It has a firmer feel with more solid feedback compared with the more plush feeling in the Blade. While the PS X characteristics are ones that I should prefer on paper, it was made for a stronger and more advanced player than me. It requires you to supply more energy into your swing - if you do, it will reward you with more power than the Blade. The Blade 100 v9 is in a better zone of forgiveness and power/control for me. The Blade would help my sense of feel and touch where my game is at now. The PS X would do that if my fundamentals were just a bit sharper.

An analogy is if you wanted to hit a fast pitched baseball, you would choose the PS X if you were very confident in your swing. Swung correctly, and making contact in the sweet spot, it would return more power in kind to the ball. The Blade 100 v9 would provide stability and comfort for more off-center hits but would have less peak power. The PS X will produce more home runs, but the Blade will hit fewer foul balls, better batting average, and more comfort if you hit it just off the center of the barrel.

Thanks that's a good analogy. PS X might prove to be a bit too difficult racquet to handle especially, if I come up against hard hitters and more difficult opponents. I've also read that the handle is a bit too short for some 2 handed backhand players.

 

[zykoniko]

I customized my Blade 100 V9 with 2g at 3 and 2g at 9 oclock.

SW is 330 - 332 now ...
What a beast. Really nice power, but also control and somehow easy to swing. Forehand nice and deap, double handed backhand shines. Return ist really nice and much better, more aggressive.
Only downside, too much power on serve, i have to put a lot Spin in the Serve motion. But this is training .




Its really the best racket i have every played with.

String setup: Hyper-G @50 lbs

 

[Hankenstein]

I customized my Blade 100 V9 with 2g at 3 and 2g at 9 oclock.

SW is 330 - 332 now ...
What a beast. Really nice power, but also control and somehow easy to swing. Forehand nice and deap, double handed backhand shines. Return ist really nice and much better, more aggressive.
Only downside, too much power on serve, i have to put a lot Spin in the Serve motion. But this is training .




Its really the best racket i have every played with.

String setup: Hyper-G @50 lbs

If you want to have more control on the serve, try the Tour Bite instead.

 

[zykoniko]

If you want to have more control on the serve, try the Tour Bite instead.

Do you play this racket as your main stick?
How is your customization?
Tourbite 1,25 @50 lbs?
thanks a lot !

 

[slal1984]

Best SW for the Blade 100 v9?
I have 2 Blades 100 with SW 292 without lead

1g at 3 and 9 ?
1g at 12 ?
playing wit or without dampener?

any opinions? thanks a lot

This racket is a dream !!!

292 unstrung? If thats the case then its about 322 strung.

Mine came in at 310 strung, so now i have
2g at 12
2g at 3 and 9
leather grip + half overgrip.

Final specs - 330g, 325SW, 32.2cm

 

[slal1984]

I customized my Blade 100 V9 with 2g at 3 and 2g at 9 oclock.

SW is 330 - 332 now ...
What a beast. Really nice power, but also control and somehow easy to swing. Forehand nice and deap, double handed backhand shines. Return ist really nice and much better, more aggressive.
Only downside, too much power on serve, i have to put a lot Spin in the Serve motion. But this is training .




Its really the best racket i have every played with.

String setup: Hyper-G @50 lbs

I'd say try a low powered control poly or up the string tension by a couple of pounds.

 

[Hankenstein]

Do you play this racket as your main stick?
How is your customization?
Tourbite 1,25 @50 lbs?
thanks a lot !

No, not at this moment. But I did use both v8 and v9 100 for a while as main stick. I had about 5 grams of silicon in handle and about 5 grams of lead at 3 and 9. Strung sw of around 330 with TB 1,25 in 22 kilos

 

[Federerkblade]

Using v8 with Novak paint jobs blade x and also speed 360 black and white

 

[mesaage85]

Is it worth upgrading from blade 100 v8 to blade 100 v9?

 

[taylor15]

Is it worth upgrading from blade 100 v8 to blade 100 v9?

Yes

 

[forzamr_b]

Just got myself one and a little bummed the SW came in at 327 strung on my Briffidi. I usually like 320-325 strung. Thankfully on the court the few extra SW points weren’t perceptible.

It was quite nice to play with, will see if it’ll replace my PS Xs.

 

[Federerkblade]

Yes

Why ?

 

[MtgJr]

Just got myself one and a little bummed the SW came in at 327 strung on my Briffidi.

Their QC is just awful. Mine came in at 312 strung SW.

 

[Internety]

I switched from the Wilson Clash 100 to the Wilson Blade V9-100 because I wanted more penetration through the court and better stability. When I first started using the Blade, I immediately noticed that it is incredibly stable, especially on my backhand and volley’s.

However, the forehand was a completely different story. My forehand technique has always been a bit flawed, especially with spacing. I tend to keep my elbow too close to my body, which often causes me to get jammed and hit into the net. With the Clash 100, the higher launch angle and forgiveness masked this issue. But the Blade’s lower launch angle exposed this technical flaw.

At first, I was really struggling. In matches, I kept hitting the net, especially when I was tight or under pressure. I lost several matches that I felt I should have won, simply because I couldn’t trust my forehand anymore. I started questioning my decision to switch, wondering if it was really worth it. I even considered going back to the Clash, because I knew I wouldn’t hit the net as often with it.

Over the next four to five months, I took lessons, and used the ProStrap tool to create more space between my elbow and body. It was a tough learning curve, but as I practiced, I began to hit the net less and gain confidence. My forehand started to adapt to the Blade’s lower launch angle.

Now, I’m seeing the results of reworking my forehand. I’ve developed much better spacing, and I get more clearance over the net with my forehand. My shots have more spin, control, and weight, and they penetrate the court much better than before. It’s surprising how a racket that’s only 300 grams can produce such heavy shots.

Interestingly, when I go back to the Clash 100 now, I notice I get even a higher margin over the net, and the ball dips in with more spin. It’s clear that the work I’ve put into improving my forehand technique has made me a better player with both rackets.

Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t switch back to the Clash 100. While it’s a great racket and much more forgiving, it was masking my technical issues. The Blade 100 exposed my weaknesses and forced me to improve, and now I’m a better player because of it.

 

[taylor15]

Why ?

I find the v9 to be more stable in stock form, and slightly a bit more power. The v8 had a lower twist weight and I have lead at 3/9 on them. I have two of each and they’re pretty much at stock specs outside of the 3/9 weight on the v8.

The v9 100L with tip weight and leather is a beast though. It’s stiffer so provides some crispness which I like.

 

[Federerkblade]

V8 on tw university shows a slightly higher or same twistweight

Maybe the slightly higher flex feeling provides more stock stability and power ?

 

[slal1984]

Been playing around with my specs. I ended up going more HL on balance and moving to a thicker gauge.

324g to 330g
323 to 325sw
32.5 to 32

Best string setups ranked (52/50)
1 - 1.23(Wasabi)/1.23(Wasabi X) - best control to compliment the power of the frame
2 - 1.20(firewire)/1.22(ghostwire) - felt great initially and then too loose after about 4hrs of hitting.
3 - 1.25(Firewire)/1.22(ghostwire) - less spin (launch angle) then 1.20/1.22
4 - 1.23(Wasabi)/1.22(ghostwire) - the wasabi X just had more feel as a cross with wasabi.

It felt unstable when playing guys with big serves and heavy topspin. The main switch was a leather grip and string gauge change.

 

[acjz]

This is one of the best 100 sq in frames ever made! It needs some lead at 12 and between 2 and 3. and its a beast.

This is the racuquet you need instead of 95 and 97's. Its stable, higher launch angle than the 98, just a tab more power. where this frame shines, is its manuverablilty and angles.

The blade v9 100 is my first real racquet I’ve ever purchased. I’ve had such a great experience with it.

 

[zykoniko]

Any experiences with adding a leathergrip ? more stable and better? thanks a lot

 

[Pure Babs]

Very pleasantly surprised by a recent demo of this racket. It will be my first new frame in over 10 years (when I switched from the kblade 98 to the speed pro). I have gone back and forth between the kblade 98 and speed pro since then. To me the v9 100 blade actually feels a lot like the old nblade 98, albeit with a bit more power and forgiveness. I actually felt when I first took it out that it was going to be too light and that I wouldn't be able to hit out, but, that was not the case.

 

[zykoniko]

Here ist the magic setup :

300g unstrung
293 SW unstrung
2g lead at 3 and 9 , each side
Overgrip
Dont use a vibration killer
String setup : Head Lynx Tour 52 lbs

This is by far the best combibation i have ever used !!!
Please try this setup!

Serve soooo nice
Return soooo nice
Double handed backhand sooo nice

Best setup ever !

 

[GermanBeast]

4.0 Player, semi western forehand, OHB. Play style: counter punch, but I like to end points quickly and go for the lines

I tried many many rackets to replace my 360+ Prestige Pro, because I would like to have a bit more for free, but don‘t want to sacrifice too much in precision.

For example from what I’ve tried:
Extreme Tour and Vcore 98: Stringbed felt too hot and sometimes unpredictacle
Speed MP 2024, Blade 98 16/19 V9, Pure Strike 16/19 V4: too head heavy. Speed MP also felt too chunky

Percept 100D: Launch angle was very low. I need a bit more lift. My PP has way more lift than the 100D

Radicals: Too stiff and launch angle too low

Boom Pro: Stringbed in the upper hoop felt very launchy and unpredictable. Really important for me is an predictable stringbed to get confidence in matches

Pro Staff 97 V14: A bit too demanding. I felt, I had too move perfectly all the time and stay on the front foot

PA98: I am still testing this thing. I struggle a bit with the high twist weight. Because of that, I am sometimes late to the Ball. Early preparing is really important with this racket. Also, it plays a bit weird. Hard to describe why. I didn’t understand the racket in how to play with it. If I go with it, it will definitely take some time to adjust.

After reading some reviews about the Blade 100, I am very interested in this.
I would add a leather grip to it and hope it doesn‘t need more customization.

Could be the Blade 100 V8 or V9 a racket for what I am looking for and maybe checks all the important boxes?

 

[TwinCinema]

4.0 Player, semi western forehand, OHB. Play style: counter punch, but I like to end points quickly and go for the lines

I tried many many rackets to replace my 360+ Prestige Pro, because I would like to have a bit more for free, but don‘t want to sacrifice too much in precision.

For example from what I’ve tried:
Extreme Tour and Vcore 98: Stringbed felt too hot and sometimes unpredictacle
Speed MP 2024, Blade 98 16/19 V9, Pure Strike 16/19 V4: too head heavy. Speed MP also felt too chunky

Percept 100D: Launch angle was very low. I need a bit more lift. My PP has way more lift than the 100D

Radicals: Too stiff and launch angle too low

Boom Pro: Stringbed in the upper hoop felt very launchy and unpredictable. Really important for me is an predictable stringbed to get confidence in matches

Pro Staff 97 V14: A bit too demanding. I felt, I had too move perfectly all the time and stay on the front foot

PA98: I am still testing this thing. I struggle a bit with the high twist weight. Because of that, I am sometimes late to the Ball. Early preparing is really important with this racket. Also, it plays a bit weird. Hard to describe why. I didn’t understand the racket in how to play with it. If I go with it, it will definitely take some time to adjust.

After reading some reviews about the Blade 100, I am very interested in this.
I would add a leather grip to it and hope it doesn‘t need more customization.

Could be the Blade 100 V8 or V9 a racket for what I am looking for and maybe checks all the important boxes?

I think if your complaints about the Percept 100D and Radicals are the launch is too low, and that the Speed MP and Blade 98 are too head-heavy, then you might be looking for a Percept 97. At 310g unstrung it's a similar weight to the Prestige Pro and Blade 98, but it's more head-light and the stringbed is more precise and predictable, especially for a 16x19. I really liked it except for its low swing weight, which you can easily increase with some mods. For a 97" frame it's much less demanding than something like the ProStaff 97 or the Strike VS.

 

[Federerkblade]

Here ist the magic setup :

300g unstrung
293 SW unstrung
2g lead at 3 and 9 , each side
Overgrip
Dont use a vibration killer
String setup : Head Lynx Tour 52 lbs

This is by far the best combibation i have ever used !!!
Please try this setup!

Serve soooo nice
Return soooo nice
Double handed backhand sooo nice

Best setup ever !

Tour champagne colour ? For you

 

[JOSHL]

I think if your complaints about the Percept 100D and Radicals are the launch is too low, and that the Speed MP and Blade 98 are too head-heavy, then you might be looking for a Percept 97. At 310g unstrung it's a similar weight to the Prestige Pro and Blade 98, but it's more head-light and the stringbed is more precise and predictable, especially for a 16x19. I really liked it except for its low swing weight, which you can easily increase with some mods. For a 97" frame it's much less demanding than something like the ProStaff 97 or the Strike VS.

How are you not using this??? And should I try it?

 

[TwinCinema]

How are you not using this??? And should I try it?

I’ve always got my eye on the classifieds for a used one, but I think the main reason is that it’s so similar to a PSVS and I’ve got two of those. Not much reason to add the P97 to the ranks but then again the Yonex DOES have a much more forgiving head; I just can’t bring myself to put down that PSVS. Also since I only played the Percept as a demo I didn’t have much time to tinker with the modding. I really would love to spend time with it with a boosted swing weight. Most underrated Yonex frame imo because the 100D gets all the love (not to mention the VCore and EZone popularity).

 

[GermanBeast]

I think if your complaints about the Percept 100D and Radicals are the launch is too low, and that the Speed MP and Blade 98 are too head-heavy, then you might be looking for a Percept 97. At 310g unstrung it's a similar weight to the Prestige Pro and Blade 98, but it's more head-light and the stringbed is more precise and predictable, especially for a 16x19. I really liked it except for its low swing weight, which you can easily increase with some mods. For a 97" frame it's much less demanding than something like the ProStaff 97 or the Strike VS.

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, Percept 97 is also on my radar, but I am worried about it, that it has not enough plow through power and stability. Of course, I could add lead to the hoop, but I don‘t want to make the racket to heavy.
Could you describe the level of power, plow and stability and maybe compare it to other rackets?
Does it offer me more help (free depth) than my 360+ PP?

 

[TwinCinema]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, Percept 97 is also on my radar, but I am worried about it, that it has not enough plow through power and stability. Of course, I could add lead to the hoop, but I don‘t want to make the racket to heavy.
Could you describe the level of power, plow and stability and maybe compare it to other rackets?
Does it offer me more help (free depth) than my 360+ PP?

First, re: the 360PP. I haven’t played with that one but I do have the gen before it, the Graphene PP. I assume they play somewhat similarly, and I’d say the P97 is a little easier to use. What I like about the GPP is that the entire face of the racket is a sweet spot it feels like, so it’s forgiving for a 95” head. But with the right strings I actually get plenty of depth with the Prestige. So no I don’t think the P97 gives you more, it’s just easier to handle.

The power level on the P97 is very good; it’s not a monster by any means, but it gives more pop (again, with the right strings) than something like the Blade 98. It does lack plow and stability if you play it stock. But you mentioned adding hoop weight would make it too heavy - I don’t think so! The balance is so head light that it won’t feel sluggish with an extra 4g of so at 12 or maybe 2g at 3 and 2g at 9. Then again I haven’t tried this so I’m just speculating. But to me the stock P97 is so much more maneuverable than the GPP that a little modding won’t hurt.

The closest racket to the P97 to me is the Strike VS. Similar levels of power, flex, and access to spin. Strike has a smaller sweet spot.

 

[GermanBeast]

First, re: the 360PP. I haven’t played with that one but I do have the gen before it, the Graphene PP. I assume they play somewhat similarly, and I’d say the P97 is a little easier to use. What I like about the GPP is that the entire face of the racket is a sweet spot it feels like, so it’s forgiving for a 95” head. But with the right strings I actually get plenty of depth with the Prestige. So no I don’t think the P97 gives you more, it’s just easier to handle.

The power level on the P97 is very good; it’s not a monster by any means, but it gives more pop (again, with the right strings) than something like the Blade 98. It does lack plow and stability if you play it stock. But you mentioned adding hoop weight would make it too heavy - I don’t think so! The balance is so head light that it won’t feel sluggish with an extra 4g of so at 12 or maybe 2g at 3 and 2g at 9. Then again I haven’t tried this so I’m just speculating. But to me the stock P97 is so much more maneuverable than the GPP that a little modding won’t hurt.

The closest racket to the P97 to me is the Strike VS. Similar levels of power, flex, and access to spin. Strike has a smaller sweet spot.

I played with both GPP and 360+. Most difference is feel. GPP felt much stiffer.
Which string and tension can you recommend for the PP and the Percept 97?

 

[Trip]

@GermanBeast - I'm fairly similar to you in bio, mechanics and play style, and have extensive time with the G360+ PPro (TGK291.2) – a solid stick, and quite possibly the best current frame for a purely attacking OHBH player, but the design is showing its age, and IMHO is a bit hampered by being a bit too oval-shaped up top between 10 & 2, for those of us who hit higher in the string bed and/or with a bit more swipe (most modern-enough players these days), as well as a bit too one-dimensional at times. That said, stand-out qualities in pretty much stock form for me are the combo of hoop stability, plow-through, sweet spot size / effective hitting area for the head size, string bed consistency, precision level and direct/crisp/connected feel. It's also brings power with all that precision, due to the 22mm beam, mid-60's RA and high-ish natural swing weight. Trying to replace all of that in a stick that offers just a bit more for free – ie. forgiveness, free power/depth, maybe spin, and easier playability in general – is a tall order, mainly because of what you've already highlighted in your take-aways from your latest demos.

That being what it is, the Blade 100 v9 with either a leather grip or spiral-wrapped lead tape under the stock grip, might work. Versus the Blade 98 16x19, to me, the overall swing physics are more "correctable" (to a more head-light balance and mass distribution), mainly due to the 100 being 5g lighter and feeling slightly less hoop-centric in mass location, so the same amount of added grip weight will do more to re-balance / re-proportion the 100, than the 98.

Beyond the Blade 100, though, I think you have more options, including, as redundant as it may sound, a revisit with the Strike 98, but only a sample low enough in spec (as I presume you got a demo with the typical 300+ unstrung swing weight and no more than 4pt HL strung balance). This would include:

- Babolat Strike 98 16x19 v4 via matching service for unstrung SW <= 297 - Mostly all of the same benefits, without as much of a balance/maneuverability/RHS penalty.
- Babolat Strike 100 16x19 v4, with leather/grip-weight - Might be just whippy/maneuverable enough to make the 15-ish twist weight usable.
- Head Radical MP/Pro, possibly customized - They don't yield a whole lot of power per unit spec, but their string bed consistency/acuity is their hallmark – Head's best, outside the Prestige, by far.
- Prince ATS Tour 98, per the same approach at the Strike 98 - looking for unstrung SW not much higher than 295-ish. Somewhat Strike-like in that "meat mallet" way, if you desire that feel/solidness over anything else.
- ProKennex Ki Q+ 5 Pro - Almost literally an upsized G360+ PPro. It does have a high stock swing weight (low-mid 330's), but hits a big ball. If any PK is worth a try, this is probably the one.
- Wilson Pro Staff X - For me, if there was a Wilson for you that was most playable in stock form, this would probably be it. Supposedly a 2" larger sweet spot than the 360+ PPro, and more free pop/depth.
- Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 100 v14 - A bit more Pestige-y than the X – more laser-like/focused – though, I think you still may prefer the X (larger sweet spot, easier spin/arc, etc). Still worth a try if you can, though.
- Yonex Percept 97, spec'd up - Supposedly the more firm hoop fixed the power plateau of the floppy '21 VCP 97, and if so, with added weight at 10 & 2 and/or 12, it could be an option (per @TwinCinema)
- Yonex EZone 98 2025, maybe stock, maybe ever-so-slightly spec'd up - A bit of an outlier in beam thickness/shape, but absolutely worth a demo. It's also supposed to be more forgiving than the 2022.

Hope that helps. If you need to jump further down the rabbit hole, probably best to make a separate thread.

 

[GermanBeast]

@GermanBeast - I'm fairly similar to you in bio, mechanics and play style, and have extensive time with the G360+ PPro (TGK291.2) – a solid stick, and quite possibly the best current frame for a purely attacking OHBH player, but the design is showing its age, and IMHO is a bit hampered by being a bit too oval-shaped up top between 10 & 2, for those of us who hit higher in the string bed and/or with a bit more swipe (most modern-enough players these days), as well as a bit too one-dimensional at times. That said, stand-out qualities in pretty much stock form for me are the combo of hoop stability, plow-through, sweet spot size / effective hitting area for the head size, string bed consistency, precision level and direct/crisp/connected feel. It's also brings power with all that precision, due to the 22mm beam, mid-60's RA and high-ish natural swing weight. Trying to replace all of that in a stick that offers just a bit more for free – ie. forgiveness, free power/depth, maybe spin, and easier playability in general – is a tall order, mainly because of what you've already highlighted in your take-aways from your latest demos.

That being what it is, the Blade 100 v9 with either a leather grip or spiral-wrapped lead tape under the stock grip, might work. Versus the Blade 98 16x19, to me, the overall swing physics are more "correctable" (to a more head-light balance and mass distribution), mainly due to the 100 being 5g lighter and feeling slightly less hoop-centric in mass location, so the same amount of added grip weight will do more to re-balance / re-proportion the 100, than the 98.

Beyond the Blade 100, though, I think you have more options, including, as redundant as it may sound, a revisit with the Strike 98, but only a sample low enough in spec (as I presume you got a demo with the typical 300+ unstrung swing weight and no more than 4pt HL strung balance). This would include:

- Babolat Strike 98 16x19 v4 via matching service for unstrung SW <= 297 - Mostly all of the same benefits, without as much of a balance/maneuverability/RHS penalty.
- Babolat Strike 100 16x19 v4, with leather/grip-weight - Might be just whippy/maneuverable enough to make the 15-ish twist weight usable.
- Head Radical MP/Pro, possibly customized - They don't yield a whole lot of power per unit spec, but their string bed consistency/acuity is their hallmark – Head's best, outside the Prestige, by far.
- Prince ATS Tour 98, per the same approach at the Strike 98 - looking for unstrung SW not much higher than 295-ish. Somewhat Strike-like in that "meat mallet" way, if you desire that feel/solidness over anything else.
- ProKennex Ki Q+ 5 Pro - Almost literally an upsized G360+ PPro. It does have a high stock swing weight (low-mid 330's), but hits a big ball. If any PK is worth a try, this is probably the one.
- Wilson Pro Staff X - For me, if there was a Wilson for you that was most playable in stock form, this would probably be it. Supposedly a 2" larger sweet spot than the 360+ PPro, and more free pop/depth.
- Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 100 v14 - A bit more Pestige-y than the X – more laser-like/focused – though, I think you still may prefer the X (larger sweet spot, easier spin/arc, etc). Still worth a try if you can, though.
- Yonex Percept 97, spec'd up - Supposedly the more firm hoop fixed the power plateau of the floppy '21 VCP 97, and if so, with added weight at 10 & 2 and/or 12, it could be an option (per @TwinCinema)
- Yonex EZone 98 2025, maybe stock, maybe ever-so-slightly spec'd up - A bit of an outlier in beam thickness/shape, but absolutely worth a demo. It's also supposed to be more forgiving than the 2022.

Hope that helps. If you need to jump further down the rabbit hole, probably best to make a separate thread.

Hi Trip,

thank you very much for your detailed post.
You are absolutely right with your description of the 360+ PP. I really like the overall package and it feels great for the OHB. But for me, PS 97 V14 feels even better on my OHB because of that more stable and stiff response.
It would be great to find a racket that offers a simalar overall package but in a more user friendly package. As you said, it is really tough to find one. Maybe, I have to try some strings again for PP.


From the rackets you have mentioned, I have read a lot of reviews or tested them already. Really nice was Radical Pro, but it was the first racket, where I got arm pain. Also the string bed is a bit too closed.
Wilson Pro Staff six one 100 looks really interesting, but I can‘t order it in Europe. PS X, I think, will be too much racket.

I don‘t want to go any deeper the rabbit hole as I am already really deep , so I will try another two rackets and after that I make a decision between PP and the other two. I think, one would be Blade 100 but Version V8, because from what I have read, Blade 100 V9 is quite muted and V8 is a bit more direct.

 

[Trip]

@GermanBeast - Sounds like a plan. I do wonder, though, why you say that the PS X is "too much racquet"? Perhaps you think the high twist weight would be too cumbersome on your 1HBH? That might be true, but on the positive side, It would be the same static weight as the PPro/PS97, probably a few pts less swing weight and same 21.5mm beam, so should be in the same realm of usability, but you get noticeably more forgiveness. I think it's worth a try. Anyways, keen to see how you get on and look forward to an update!

 

[SpinToWin]

Hi Trip,

thank you very much for your detailed post.
You are absolutely right with your description of the 360+ PP. I really like the overall package and it feels great for the OHB. But for me, PS 97 V14 feels even better on my OHB because of that more stable and stiff response.
It would be great to find a racket that offers a simalar overall package but in a more user friendly package. As you said, it is really tough to find one. Maybe, I have to try some strings again for PP.


From the rackets you have mentioned, I have read a lot of reviews or tested them already. Really nice was Radical Pro, but it was the first racket, where I got arm pain. Also the string bed is a bit too closed.
Wilson Pro Staff six one 100 looks really interesting, but I can‘t order it in Europe. PS X, I think, will be too much racket.

I don‘t want to go any deeper the rabbit hole as I am already really deep , so I will try another two rackets and after that I make a decision between PP and the other two. I think, one would be Blade 100 but Version V8, because from what I have read, Blade 100 V9 is quite muted and V8 is a bit more direct.

I wouldn’t worry about the PS X considering what you’re playing now. Feels very manageable imo. Worth a try at least if you can find one to demo I’d say

 

[GermanBeast]

@Trip
@SpinToWin

Yes, it could be a great fit for me, but in some reviews I have read that PS X had a SW above 330. High SW + bigger head + higher static weight worries me. Than I have to look for an underspec one.
The combination of smaller head + higher static weight like PS97 and PP feels aerodynamic and maneuverable.
Because PS X has a 100 sq head + higher static weight, I think it would be to much racket and I have to go down in weight if I increase the head size to keep some whippiness.

Whatever it may be, I think I will try Blade 100 as a frame with bigger head size and maybe Percept 97, Ezone 98 or another 98-99 racket.

 

[Rvansmith]

No, not at this moment. But I did use both v8 and v9 100 for a while as main stick. I had about 5 grams of silicon in handle and about 5 grams of lead at 3 and 9. Strung sw of around 330 with TB 1,25 in 22 kilos

Why did you choose the blade 100 over the 98? What stick did you switch to from the Blade and why?

 

[SpinToWin]

@Trip
@SpinToWin

Yes, it could be a great fit for me, but in some reviews I have read that PS X had a SW above 330. High SW + bigger head + higher static weight worries me. Than I have to look for an underspec one.
The combination of smaller head + higher static weight like PS97 and PP feels aerodynamic and maneuverable.
Because PS X has a 100 sq head + higher static weight, I think it would be to much racket and I have to go down in weight if I increase the head size to keep some whippiness.

Whatever it may be, I think I will try Blade 100 as a frame with bigger head size and maybe Percept 97, Ezone 98 or another 98-99 racket.

I find it plenty manoeuvrable fwiw. Not as insanely fast as the Blade 100 but easily manageable if you have clean strokes. I don’t think you’ll find it clunky in comparison to the 97, so if that and the PP don’t bother you, I don’t think you’ll have an issue.

 

[chizzle]

How's everyone feeling about this stick?

My first session was meh, but not all that unlikable. I'm used to the PSX and it gave me a lot more direct feedback. But I also played without any goals except to "feel the racquet". So I was definitely sloppy and inefficient with my groundstrokes - and phat from the holidays.

Had a great 30m session with it the other night and was completely on with it. Much more focused on stroke production and focused in general. I"m encouraged.

The new Clash Pro has me curious too, but I do prefer a more traditional stick. Also curious as to what folks are using as a string. I have HyperG soft now, but curious about ALU and ALU soft....

 

[ghostwind]

I hear you KC. Even though people in this thread say that this is not a stiff racquet compared to the Blade 98V9 version, I see you and others in YouTube stating the opposite. So confusing. I haven’t decided on the B 100 V9 because of that. I had a long bad TE experience and still have a small chronic reminiscent of it today so I don’t want to take any chance. Can more people share their stiffness experiences with this racquet? Thanks

I've been playtesting the 100 and the 98, and I definitely find the 100 stiffer/harsher.

 

[mesaage85]

Is blade 100 v9 better than new tecnifibre tfight 300S?

 

[zykoniko]

Tfight is 98... so you cant compare really

 

[MtgJr]

Is blade 100 v9 better than new tecnifibre tfight 300S?

The TFight 300 would be the better comparison.

 

[taylor15]

Is blade 100 v9 better than new tecnifibre tfight 300S?

I demoed the TFight 300, the new 100 in version and I liked the blade better. The new TFight is really great, and could match specs and play almost interchangeably but stuck with what I know. When the blade is worn and beaten could I make a switch to that tec frame? I could and would be very happy, but found stock stability and sweetspot better on the blade.

 

[Wscarthy]

I demoed the TFight 300, the new 100 in version and I liked the blade better. The new TFight is really great, and could match specs and play almost interchangeably but stuck with what I know. When the blade is worn and beaten could I make a switch to that tec frame? I could and would be very happy, but found stock stability and sweetspot better on the blade.

How would you compare comfort between the Tfight 300 and the Blade 100? I'm currently using the Tfight 300 ISO but it's killing my elbow so looking for something similar but with more comfort and maybe a bit more forgiveness.

 

[zykoniko]

which string setup is the best one for the Blade 100 v9?

1) Head Lynx Tour 1,25 50lbs
2) Solinco Tourbite 1,25 50 lbs
3) Solinco Hyper-G 1,25 50 lbs

Any experiences or other suggestions for the Blade 100 v9?

Thanks

 

[succulent_latte]

I liked Lynx tour a lot better than Hyper G. Haven't tried Tourbite.
Currently rocking Gut/Poly for doubles and Otoro/Wasabi-X for singles and having a lot of fun with it.

 

[AZJ1973]

I have 3 Blade 100’s on the way.

Current racquet is the Speed MP 2022. I know they are similar frames but wanted to try the new Blade 100.

With the Speed MP I play with Cyclone Tour or WC Ultra Cable at 40 pounds. Has eliminated elbow issues.

Hoping elbow issues don’t flare up with the Blade 100 using the same string set up.

I did the pairing service.

Stats unstrung with just plastic on grip.

R1: 293 SW, 304g, 32.0 balance.
R2: 293 SW, 304g, 31.6 balance.
R3 292 SW, 303g, 31.7 balance.

 

[MtgJr]

I have 3 Blade 100’s on the way.

Current racquet is the Speed MP 2022. I know they are similar frames but wanted to try the new Blade 100.

With the Speed MP I play with Cyclone Tour or WC Ultra Cable at 40 pounds. Has eliminated elbow issues.

Hoping elbow issues don’t flare up with the Blade 100 using the same string set up.

I did the pairing service.

Stats unstrung with just plastic on grip.

R1: 293 SW, 304g, 32.0 balance.
R2: 293 SW, 304g, 31.6 balance.
R3 292 SW, 303g, 31.7 balance.

Why did you order three of a racket you’ve never tried? That seems like a strange approach to demoing a new racket!

 

[Tommyj]

I demoed the TFight 300, the new 100 in version and I liked the blade better. The new TFight is really great, and could match specs and play almost interchangeably but stuck with what I know. When the blade is worn and beaten could I make a switch to that tec frame? I could and would be very happy, but found stock stability and sweetspot better on the blade.

I'm looking at the Blade 100 V9 and new TF 300 but may not be able to demo both. Based on your TF 300 demo how would you compare them in terms of control/power and comfort? Thanks

 

[jbc1]

I'm looking at the Blade 100 V9 and new TF 300 but may not be able to demo both. Based on your TF 300 demo how would you compare them in terms of control/power and comfort? Thanks

I recently tried the new TF 300. I'd say they are quite similar, with the TF 300 being a little bit more powerful. I think the Blade 100 really nails it in terms of balancing ball feel and comfort/mutedness (I prefer low 60s RA) so the TF 300 felt quite stiff in comparison. The TF300 has a much more direct feel with a higher pitch ping sound that you get from a stiffer racquet.

In terms of game style, the TF 300 may suit a baseliner better, while the Blade 100 would be better for all around game with more touch/feel shots. But again, they are quite similar and occupy the same position in the market, in my opinion.