Blade 98 - Pros who actually play these (all versions)

[Matt G]

Big John, im currently using the TGT 293.1 (YT IG prestige pro) and control with gut mains / poly cross (alu power) is great.

Plow on both topspin, but more so slices, is amazing, but very controlled.

Just let the gut break in for 2 hours if using BT7 gut. After 4 hours its magic now.

I really look forward to comparing a H19 to the TGT Prestige Pro

 

[TennisAddiction]

Add Roger Federer to the list.

Doesn't seem like it's a blade he's using. Yet to be identified...

 

[Ross K]

Remind me again, what pros (if any) actually play with the K Blade 98...

BTW, That's Raonic's hand ^ I believe...

 

[Ross K]

The P25, now that I have a couple and am certain that they are P25's as they came in a bag that said so.. are not a blade at all. So the pro stocks blades that I have seen and played with are - H19 (copy of a prestige, often painted as blade 98 or 93), H22 (copy of a radical, mostly painted as a blade 98) and the Kblade pro stock (as written on the bag from the factory again) that also come painted mostly as a blade 98 ).

In summary then -

H22 - comes in different layups, some more flexy, others quite stiff in the head (especially the open pattern ones?), 22mm beam - Former Djoko racquet

H19 - more flexy in the head than the h22, 21mm beam - Former Ivanovic stick, now Monfils

Kblade pro stock - flexier layup of the kblade mold - Raonic racquet

P25 - looks like an extreme or instinct with a slightly less pointy beam, around 65 flex - Azarenka?

And all of them seem to come fairly heavy in the head, with the odd rare exception?

Can anyone else out there add to this?

Just bumping Big John's last sentence... Anyone snagged any of these frames or got any fresh insights or thoughts on these or what some of the pro Bladers are wielding?

BTW, keep the great pics coming!

 

[Ross K]

Just from a performance perspective, I'd love to hear more about these frames (H22) from present/past users...

 

[SharkysMV1]

Which 18X20 Blade 98 is Robson using?

 

[tlimster]

I've heard from a reliable source that the KBlade Pro Stock is actually a paint job NBlade 98, which is actually what Raonic is using.

I have two H22s, not sure whether it's the stiff or flexible layup, but they are much harsher than the retail Blade, especially the newest one. I've gone through other H22s in various paint jobs, and for whatever reason they all tend to irritate my arm. If I could use one without having that happen then I would switch to it. They all tend to hit the same for me. Although I don't doubt that there are different layups, perhaps there's a stock layup and then special layups that a pro can order if he's ranked high enough and/or doesn't like the stock layup.

Compared to a 57e, the H22s that I've used are still significantly more powerful.

 

[Big John]

I've heard from a reliable source that the KBlade Pro Stock is actually a paint job NBlade 98, which is actually what Raonic is using.

I have two H22s, not sure whether it's the stiff or flexible layup, but they are much harsher than the retail Blade, especially the newest one. I've gone through other H22s in various paint jobs, and for whatever reason they all tend to irritate my arm. If I could use one without having that happen then I would switch to it. They all tend to hit the same for me. Although I don't doubt that there are different layups, perhaps there's a stock layup and then special layups that a pro can order if he's ranked high enough and/or doesn't like the stock layup.

Compared to a 57e, the H22s that I've used are still significantly more powerful.

I agree, that's also what I heard, that the Kblade Pro Stock is actually the Nblade and that is what Raonic uses in tight pattern.

Agreed on the h22 having more pop than the pt57e, also more mass in the head. The h22 feels nothing like 64 flex when you hit it.

I think the P25 is actually a copy of the o3 white, put them over one another and hey presto. Any idea who this might have been developed for then? Obviously there are no 'o' holes.. Have a number of these in open pattern. Low 60's flex, 100 head, more rounded beam (like an o3 funnily enough..).

The H25 is the Instinct copy for Azarenka. Has anyone ever seen an open pattern one of these?

 

[KIWI69]

Yes, pro-wise, who does actually play with a real Blade 98, be it the new Black Blades, gold/black, K Blade, etc, etc?

Just curious.

TIA

question, these both are XL?, regards, KIWI69

 

[isherlock]

No, it is neither. A H22 has a boxy beam like a Prestige, The Blade has a D-beam where the inside of the beam is flat and the outside is rounded. Raonic's racquet is a O-beam more similar to the Six One 95 (without the PWS of course)

Interesting... Because I also have a couple of raonic' personal racquets(blx paint), they are definitely D beam and not O beam.

 

[TennisHound]

I wonder how much difference it really makes when you weight up a stock Blade 98. For example, I weighted up my Blade 98 up to 13oz, and it was really easy to swing (and felt pretty solid). I added Wilson leather grip, Blue Tac plus fishing weights in the handle and all the rest under the head guard around the top. Without any lead up top it weighs around 12.7oz. and about 12 pts headlight, and about 13oz 7-8 pts hl with the lead under the bumper. I am amazed at how easy it swings. The weight in the handle makes all the difference. The fishing weights are about 1.5 inches from the butt.

Anyway, I would imagine there would be a little difference between a retail and pro stock at this weight, but not that much.

 

[tennisfan17]

I know laaksonen has switched to a blade racquet. Got to talk to him and his team a bit at the Waco F34 futures tournament

 

[TennisHound]

Why

 

[thomaszoso]

Up and coming Swede Elias Ymer is using what looks like a Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Looks like some lead tape at 3/9.

 

[parasailing]

Does anyone know what model a pro stock with 18x20 string pattern but has the 2015 Blade 16x19 paint job is?

 

[Ihatetennis]

Does anyone know what model a pro stock with 18x20 string pattern but has the 2015 Blade 16x19 paint job is?

H22 or h19

Basically anything similar to prestige or radicals

To be fair Tho it's at the discretion of Wilson because speed users also use the same prostock molds

Drill pattern is interchangeable so that doesn't help too much