Blade 98 V8 16x19 Help

RF2017

Rookie
So I currently have a blade 98 16x19 but I've always felt that it feels too soft for my preferences. Any suggestions on strings and/or tension to help with this? I currently use wasabi at 48 and 46 lb.

Racket History
Pro Staff 85 6.0
Pro Staff BLX 90
Pro Staff 97 v13
Blade 98 16x19
 

TwinCinema

Professional
I use a Blade 97 v8 16x19 - after trying a few different strings (Wasabi and 4G among them), I settled on a full bed of Element at 46 lbs. It has pop, control, predictability, and the right amount of liveliness. You could go up to 50 lbs with it if you wanted.

If that doesn’t work for you, go with ALU Rough. And if that doesn’t work, then the Blade isn’t your stick I’m afraid.
 

LeftyMagic

Rookie
So I currently have a blade 98 16x19 but I've always felt that it feels too soft for my preferences. Any suggestions on strings and/or tension to help with this? I currently use wasabi at 48 and 46 lb.

Racket History
Pro Staff 85 6.0
Pro Staff BLX 90
Pro Staff 97 v13
Blade 98 16x19
what is the preference specifically you’re seeking? in other words, what isnt the frame doing for you?
 

RF2017

Rookie
It doesn't have the pop and putaway power that I am used to from the pro staff when I hit them solid. I am an aggressive baseliner who likes to come up to the net every so often to switch it up a little. My issue with it is that it just doesn't have the power when I'm trying to finish shots from the baseline.
 

TwinCinema

Professional
Yeah, that’s exactly what a Blade is. I demoed 16 different rackets trying to find one with more put-away power but had all the same other qualities and didn’t find one. You do have to sacrifice a bit of pace to get all the benefits a Blade provides but to me it’s worth it. I found a string setup I like and we’re good to go.
 

RF2017

Rookie
Yeah, that's the same conclusion that I'm coming to. I'm probably going to either use a multi/gut hybrid or just lower the tension a good amount.
 

J D

Semi-Pro
I have Diadem Solstice Power in my Blade. The extra power and spin add a lot to the playability. I also found a thinner gauge of TB Soft (18) had much of the same effect while slightly reducing the SW.
 

ls206

Hall of Fame
It doesn't have the pop and putaway power that I am used to from the pro staff when I hit them solid. I am an aggressive baseliner who likes to come up to the net every so often to switch it up a little. My issue with it is that it just doesn't have the power when I'm trying to finish shots from the baseline.
Why did you move away from the pro staff?
 

RF2017

Rookie
I've recently started to hit with d2 and d3 college players and I was just struggling to hit it in the sweet spot everytime. I found that the blade was a lot more easier without it being completely different to what I was used to.
 

Mischko

Professional
It seems that you're lacking a bit of swingweight and static weight. Try getting the strung sw to 327-328 with lead at 12, counterbalance - a lot even - at the top of the handle maybe, and tighter fresh strings, alu 1.30 works great, should help you unleash the full fast swings. If you play with soft mushy strings it's very difficult to constantly give a lot of pace to the ball, you're forced to shorten the swing and spin the ball, you lose a huge amount of ball speed potential. And the frame is soft, more than enough, so even stiff string isn't an issue.

It's a very controlled racquet, for all kinds of trajectories, and you can pick up low balls with a full flat drive, or have a full swing easily at a ball above the shoulder, no half swings with it. Balls are dipping in very nicely with it anyway. Swing wide and early, and there you go. With lighter racquets you need to take the ball early, and hit hard non stop. It's a bit of a change coming from a 340g 340sw racquet where you can block back balls with moderate backswing, and it hasn't got the stiffness of the PS97 v13 either, but actually allows for a higher average ball speed, for harder more constant hitting compared to PS97 v13, plus it allows for much more variety, as described above. Very good serves and returns too.
 
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