Blade V8 Official Thread.

[DJTaurus]

This is the matching of 3 random racquets. It’s the 98S model 18x16. And they are pretty spot on. I choose number 3 cause of the higher RA. Unfortunately Wilson continues the V7 path with low flex …. we shall see how it goes but i don’t have high hopes.

 

[Vaust]

Second outing with the blade v8 18x20 yesterday, and this is my impression:

* Like everyone said, V8 is a little lighter and more maneuverable, and it is easier to swing than V7.
* The feel of V8 is a little firmer, direct, and clean than V7 which was super plush and muted to me.
* V8 is not at all unstable, but due to its mass and tip heaviness, V7 feels more stable to me, and it produces heavier penetrating flat balls.
* V8 seems to have more spin potential due to its lower swingweight, and overall it is more versatile than V7 to me.
* V8 is less powerful to me than V7, and the power from V7 comes mainly from the mass of the head.
* V8 produces really nice backhand slice, and it is a little easier to lift up low balls than V7 can.

If you like weight, plow-though, plush feel, and rock solid stability, I think V7 is the one.
If you like maneuverability, spin-potential, firmer feel, and versatility, I think V8 is the one.

I will hit again tomorrow and report it back to you.

I totally agree with you.Am a v7 16 user, tried v8 today.I felt that it is indeed easier to swing, but not by alot. Feel is better, not by a huge margin either. More like 10% easier to swing and 10% more feel.
The v8 felt less powerful for sure, my usual balls are landing shorter.
Dwell time is better on v7. Honestly if u own a v7, I'd say stick with v7.That minuscule differences is not gonna change or level up your game much.

I still prefer the plow and heft of the v7 to be honest.

 

[Vaust]

Forgot to add, i saw and handled the 100inch v8, 300g. Honestly, the head just felt weird. Small oval hoop, wide middle frame, small throat. Like two smaller edges of 2 eggs joined together.It just looks weird, at first i was interested in getting this frame for doubles game, just can't stand of the weird looking shape.

 

[JOSHL]

If you like a whippy racquet then you'll more likely enjoy the v8, but it's not going to overpower your opponent. There is a little free power, not a lot. I think it lacks a little in weight of shot unless you really catch it right. It's great in stock form, but if you do hit with someone that has some serious weight to their shots you'll want to add lead to it. It has a lot of stability, but I had a couple of bad experiences last night on return of serve where the racquet twisted pretty hard in my hand. For the most part it was great, but my opponent started really going after his serve because I was returning a bit too well for his liking. Racquet twisted so hard on a few mishits that it hurt my hand a little and they almost knocked the racquet out of my hand.

It does lack pop on volleys... another slight issue. You have to really stick a volley to get it through the court. We just had our courts repainted and they really slowed them down (lots of sand). It's crazy slow like playing on clay. Sounds like I'm walking on sandpaper and balls are destroyed after one set. With the Speed Pro I have no issues getting pop on volleys, but the v8 Blade makes me feel like I have to put something extra on it especially with our courts. If I didn't really stick a volley I knew there was a very good chance my opponents were getting to it and getting it back.

I had the v8 strung up with Diadem Soltice Power 17ga at 50lbs. Nice combo... very plush, good bite, some nice power... but the strings bagged out quickly. I had to hit sessions by myself and ball machine and then the match last night. By end of the second set (played doubles) ball was starting to launch and fly a bit. Hyper G 17ga at 50lbs is nice, but not as powerful. Anyone have a recommendation for a lively 17ga edgy poly string that can hold tension well?

I'm still very intrigued by the v8 as the feel is sublime. If I can get just enough weight added to keep the whippy feel and get a little more weight of shot it might challenge my Speed Pro. I'm not completely convinced on this since the Speed Pro hits beast level shots with control. I really don't mind switching between the two... if I want a little more control, easier launch angle and easy swinging... Blade v8 is a nice change up.

I wouldn't call this frame demanding like TN. It might be demanding in stock form against better players that aren't going to be fazed too much by the weight of shot that is slightly lacking. Basically he might have meant demanding in the sense that you're going to need to work points for an open shot.

Try silver 7 tour if you haven’t.

 

[abhi_trip]

This is the matching of 3 random racquets. It’s the 98S model 18x16. And they are pretty spot on. I choose number 3 cause of the higher RA. Unfortunately Wilson continues the V7 path with low flex …. we shall see how it goes but i don’t have high hopes.

@DJTaurus , what are your preferred stiffness and SW ranges by the way ?

 

[AA7]

This is the matching of 3 random racquets. It’s the 98S model 18x16. And they are pretty spot on. I choose number 3 cause of the higher RA. Unfortunately Wilson continues the V7 path with low flex …. we shall see how it goes but i don’t have high hopes.

Yeah somehow they tricked the RA but these rackets are not soft. They are stiffer for sure to me. 100%.. now i don't know if that translates into power or not. It does feel more direct and pocketing is reduced.

 

[Dasol]

Which one will be more comfortable to arm ?

I think both of them are comfortable to arm because of the low stiffness.

Which one will be more comfortable to arm ?

I think both V7 and V8 are pretty comfortable to arms due to the low stiffness.
V8 is just a tad easier to swing due to its lower swingweight.
V7 felt super comfy and plush to me, but its heavier swingweight made my arms tired during long matches.

 

[Dasol]

Al lot of "honeymoon" period with this racket it seems it can't do anything wrong. I'll give it a month or two and see what the results are. I'm to scared to test it after switching to the rs305 two months ago

I also switched to Tfight RS 305 about 3 months ago, and although the blade V8 18X20 is an awesome frame, I will not switch to it.
Overall RS 305 is easier to play and it has more inherent power than the blade V8 18X20.
The blade V8 18X20 is a great racquet when I just do regular rallies, but during actual matches, it does not give you free power especially in defensive situation.
RS 305 is not a powerful racquet, but it possesses enough put away power from the mass of the head. Very stable and solid, and it is an awesome frame for counterpunchers.

 

[RF_PRO_STAFF]

Got 3 V8's 16x19 US Open to match for someone today + customize it a little bit further + stringing.

#1 unstrung, stock
303.19g
316mm
284 SW

#2 unstrung, stock
306.32g
319mm
293 SW

#3 unstrung, stock
304.00g
313mm
282 SW

All strung with Kirschbaum Max Power 1.30 at 24kg. Don't have the written final, unstrung specs here right now but final specs strung, without overgrip are:
327.5g
326mm
325 SW

The guy will play with an overgrip, no dampener. Will wait for his feedback to see if any further customization is needed.

 

[DJTaurus]

@DJTaurus , what are your preferred stiffness and SW ranges by the way ?

If not mistaken V5 is 64RA…. i prefer SWs between 320-325 combined with a 32,5 balance unstrung…. i lead up my 98S at 300gr….. I mostly prefer them with lead at 3/9.

 

[abhi_trip]

If not mistaken V5 is 64RA…. i prefer SWs between 320-325 combined with a 32,5 balance unstrung…. i lead up my 98S at 300gr….. I mostly prefer them with lead at 3/9.

I see, then the v8 blades are right up your alley. Hope you find the one which suits you the best.

 

[HitMoreBHs]

edit: and of course he hits a onehander for which the blade is not ideal (i think tsitsipas uses silicone to make it more HL?)

How headlight is the ideal for a OHBH?

 

[sasho]

would you please explain performance difference In tenson between 21 - 24 kg used with Blade 98 16 x 19 V8
also what Is Impact of string thickness from 1.2 - 1.3

I use Technifibre Razor Code black 1.20 at 21kg.Similar to 4G but half the price.Very happy with it.

 

[JonathanRF]

I have just published my review of this frame. Conclusion:

A subtle update overall that retains what we expect in a Blade but is easier to swing and more manoeuvrable than previous models. It might lose some v7 stalwarts but opens up the Blade to a larger group of players due to the increase in playability.

I liked it, 18 x 20 got the most playtime and felt great. Easy to swing, plenty of control. Slice in particular felt great for me. I know some 1 handed backhanders don't like Blades but I enjoyed it.

 

[StanAO14]

How headlight is the ideal for a OHBH?

I would say 6 points HL or lower (strung racquet). As for me: as a teenager I played with Dunlop 200’s and prestige MP/ mid - because of the lowish swingweight (around 320) and thin beam (around 20mm) quite easy to hit a one hander. I would say go lower in balance when the head size increases and/or the beam size gets thicker because of the inherent increase in swing- and twistweight on average. If I would customize a blade I probably want to start at 7 pts HL strung..

edit: in that regard - does someone know if there is room to add putty in the butcap of the V8? cause adding a leather grip on previous blades wasn’t a success for me - the racquet became too cumbersome. Might be different this time because of the lower SW..

 

[4evertennis]

When you will receive it go to a shop and measure it by yourself…. if it’s off TWs matching send it back. I would also demand another free matching to choose again. In Europe they doubled the price of matching 3 years ago. They should be more accurate and careful. #f.WilsonsQC

Received the frames today and just measured them. One is spot on to the TWE measurement. The other two are 2 points lower on SW than indicated by TWE, but can live with that.
FYI the weight that was measured by TWE was still with the plastic on the grip.

 

[DAB942]

I have just published my review of this frame. Conclusion:

A subtle update overall that retains what we expect in a Blade but is easier to swing and more manoeuvrable than previous models. It might lose some v7 stalwarts but opens up the Blade to a larger group of players due to the increase in playability.

I liked it, 18 x 20 got the most playtime and felt great. Easy to swing, plenty of control. Slice in particular felt great for me. I know some 1 handed backhanders don't like Blades but I enjoyed it.

I have a one handed backhand and I like the laser guidance on the Blade. I can almost not overhit with it.

 

[WYK]

Yeah somehow they tricked the RA but these rackets are not soft. They are stiffer for sure to me. 100%.. now i don't know if that translates into power or not. It does feel more direct and pocketing is reduced.

I suspect the throat is slightly more flexible, but the hoop is stiffer. I have a few other racquets like this that behave similarly - a stiffer hoop helps make the racquet more stable.

 

[AA7]

A little report on the v8 16/19 with some lead at 3 and 9. Strung SW with Signum pro plasma pure 1.24 is 326. A totally different experience now compared to the very light 314 strung sw without lead. Now it is my top choice of the blades. The 18/20 is good when just trading baseline strokes but under pressure out in the corners the 16/19 helps me a lot better.

So maybe with enough lead it's ok. But v7 16m stability was very poor for me. if you made contact anywhere outside the center ball lost energy return a bit and racket twisted easily. It also did not have good power for defensive situations. I do not understand how with same twistweight and lower swingweight and almost lower RA any of those issue are resolved. I hit with v8 18m it's decent. Not sure it's a whole lot different bc my 18s in v8 were 326sw. And my v7s are hand picked 330sw (lighter side). I will say this.. v8 definitely feels and plays stiffer than v7. It has less pocketing and ball exit is little faster than v7. It does not have the max plow of v7 but it is close.. slightly faster thru the air. It is more maneuverable. So like other users reported. Not a huge difference in playability.

So question is more for 16x19...all the reviews seems to say more stable and easier power etc.. i understand numbers/specs don't tell everything but I still find hard to believe that it is. Oh well.. i will test it out myself.

 

[Yamin]

So question is more for 16x19...all the reviews seems to say more stable and easier power etc.. i understand numbers/specs don't tell everything but I still find hard to believe that it is. Oh well.. i will test it out myself.

This probably only applies for the people who didn't have the strength for the v7. Still haven't tried the v8 myself, but my 18x20 v7 is 340 swing weight with 18 gauge poly... Jealous of your 330 swing weight.

All videos posted look like people are playing with lighter prince phantom's power wise.

Twisting racket is annoying though and I get the same with Blade and Clash as well. I'm thinking of trying a bigger grip...

 

[AA7]

This probably only applies for the people who didn't have the strength for the v7. Still haven't tried the v8 myself, but my 18x20 v7 is 340 swing weight with 18 gauge poly... Jealous of your 330 swing weight.

All videos posted look like people are playing with lighter prince phantom's power wise.

Twisting racket is annoying though and I get the same with Blade and Clash as well. I'm thinking of trying a bigger grip...

Yeah I really have hard time finding any racket topping my v7 18x20 that are 330sw. It's a fantastic racket. The only thing that makes me sometimes contemplate is that life sometimes is easier with something that has a little bit more sweetspot and a bit higher energy return on defense and pulled out wide, which is probably bc i am not reacting quick enough and pressed for time. So all my shortcomings .. not moving quick enough on the court probably. So anyways, you can't have it all.. no other racket inspires the same confidence and precision and power/plow on demand as V7 18x20 for me. Vc95 and Extreme Tour are interesting lately. They are the ones that came close to bridge that gap. Keep control and power enough.. give up plow and get back forgiveness etc...

 

[CameronS]

Here's my situation...

Pro Staff 97L was my previous racket. Loved the feel, control, and sound. Did not like the tennis elbow that resulted after the fact, sadly (I also have gone back to taking some lessons to try and perfect technique, but 69RA is not arm friendly).

Clash 98 is not for me. Great on the arm, great serving, but I have no confidence in my groundstrokes with it. It's as if I'm generating too much power for the racket, or perhaps just not enough spin production in my swing. Not really sure.

Now I'm considering the Blade 98 v8. Am I wrong in thinking it's basically the middle ground of the two rackets above? If I was a happy Pro Staff player, would I be happier with the Blade v8 (likely)? And if so...16x19, or 18x20? My Pro Staff and Clash were 16x19, but it seems some of the reviewers are really favoring the v8 18x20 here.

 

[rv75]

Here's my situation...

Pro Staff 97L was my previous racket. Loved the feel, control, and sound. Did not like the tennis elbow that resulted after the fact, sadly (I also have gone back to taking some lessons to try and perfect technique, but 69RA is not arm friendly).

Clash 98 is not for me. Great on the arm, great serving, but I have no confidence in my groundstrokes with it. It's as if I'm generating too much power for the racket, or perhaps just not enough spin production in my swing. Not really sure.

Now I'm considering the Blade 98 v8. Am I wrong in thinking it's basically the middle ground of the two rackets above? If I was a happy Pro Staff player, would I be happier with the Blade v8 (likely)? And if so...16x19, or 18x20? My Pro Staff and Clash were 16x19, but it seems some of the reviewers are really favoring the v8 18x20 here.

I feel like I could've written this post . I've had a similar experience, only difference being that I started with Wilson Blade 18x20 v6 CV. I got a bad case of GE and a mild case of TE. After a year long recovery I started with Clash 100 and moved to Clash 98. I also couldn't find confidence in my groundstrokes with the Clash, especially when trying to go for a winner.
I got the Blade v8 US Open 16x19 during the presale and this past week experienced a little soreness after stringing it with VCT @ 46 LBS. I'm hoping it's just due to the fact that I did a somewhat intense weight workout during the day and played at night. I plan on restringing with Hyper G soft/GW at 46/44 and playing this weekend. Next step will be to ditch poly altogether. Fingers crossed because I do enjoy hitting with the Blade V8

 

[CameronS]

I feel like I could've written this post . I've had a similar experience, only difference being that I started with Wilson Blade 18x20 v6 CV. I got a bad case of GE and a mild case of TE. After a year long recovery I started with Clash 100 and moved to Clash 98. I also couldn't find confidence in my groundstrokes with the Clash, especially when trying to go for a winner.
I got the Blade v8 US Open 16x19 during the presale and this past week experienced a little soreness after stringing it with VCT @ 46 LBS. I'm hoping it's just due to the fact that I did a somewhat intense weight workout during the day and played at night. I plan on restringing with Hyper G soft/GW at 46/44 and playing this weekend. Next step will be to ditch poly altogether. Fingers crossed because I do enjoy hitting with the Blade V8

Elbow issues aside, how do you find the 16x19?

 

[Regord]

 

[rv75]

Elbow issues aside, how do you find the 16x19?

I like it. Much lower launch angle than Clash 98. I hit both FH and THBH with topspin so 16x19 suits my game better

 

[Znak]

People have to stop posting this garbage channel. Dude is a chump.

 

[Wilsonbro]

People have to stop posting this garbage channel. Dude is a chump.

Tennispin is that Dude . He owns the Brad Gilbert tennis store in the Bay Area . He is cool .

 

[Wilsonbro]

Tennis spin AllDay

 

[TimePlease]

Here's my situation...

Pro Staff 97L was my previous racket. Loved the feel, control, and sound. Did not like the tennis elbow that resulted after the fact, sadly (I also have gone back to taking some lessons to try and perfect technique, but 69RA is not arm friendly).

Clash 98 is not for me. Great on the arm, great serving, but I have no confidence in my groundstrokes with it. It's as if I'm generating too much power for the racket, or perhaps just not enough spin production in my swing. Not really sure.

Now I'm considering the Blade 98 v8. Am I wrong in thinking it's basically the middle ground of the two rackets above? If I was a happy Pro Staff player, would I be happier with the Blade v8 (likely)? And if so...16x19, or 18x20? My Pro Staff and Clash were 16x19, but it seems some of the reviewers are really favoring the v8 18x20 here.

Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 100 v13 is ideal for what you're looking for - the precision and feel of the Pro Staff but softer on the arm and more forgiving.

 

[Juggernauts]

I have just published my review of this frame. Conclusion:

A subtle update overall that retains what we expect in a Blade but is easier to swing and more manoeuvrable than previous models. It might lose some v7 stalwarts but opens up the Blade to a larger group of players due to the increase in playability.

I liked it, 18 x 20 got the most playtime and felt great. Easy to swing, plenty of control. Slice in particular felt great for me. I know some 1 handed backhanders don't like Blades but I enjoyed it.

When you say "easier to swing", is it due to lower SW (compared to v7) ?

 

[JOSHL]

Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 100 v13 is ideal for what you're looking for - the precision and feel of the Pro Staff but softer on the arm and more forgiving.

This is a great recommendation

 

[Automatix]

Could anyone who has taken off the grip could post pictures of how the endcap from the handle side looks?
Visualisations show the agiplast buttcap being mounted over a flared graphite hairpin...
Visual aid on Lafino website...

 

[DJTaurus]

would you please explain performance difference In tenson between 21 - 24 kg used with Blade 98 16 x 19 V8
also what Is Impact of string thickness from 1.2 - 1.3

1.20 hyper g. It worked like a charm on V7, it will work the same as good with V8 which has a more dense pattern than modern 16x19 sticks.

 

[PrinceMoron]

If Radacannu won the USO with a v7 she must be a genius. The most disappointing racquet ever after the clash. Can see why even a Steam 100 is better and she must be pretty good to use that

 

[JonathanRF]

When you say "easier to swing", is it due to lower SW (compared to v7) ?

Maybe, although I do not know the exact swing weight of the racquet I was using, I will be measuring mine shortly, don't know anyone who has a machine where I am currently and I don't have a balance board with me either to do the DIY method.

I see on TW, V8 has a higher swing weight than V7 as per their recordings, 334 to 327 but I did not get that feeling it was higher. I found it quicker through the air compared to the V7, it feels easier to generate racquet head speed.

 

[Juggernauts]

If Radacannu won the USO with a v7 she must be a genius. The most disappointing racquet ever after the clash. Can see why even a Steam 100 is better and she must be pretty good to use that

IMO, her racket was not Blade because its pattern was 16x20, more like Steam with Blade PJ.

 

[A_Instead]

" demanding" has different meanings to different people..
"pop" and "power" does as well..
They could be associated together in some discussions.

The V8 16x19 with Rpm blast at 45 lbs has big power with big swings.. very heavy and damaging to opponent.. control is top notch..
Short to medium strings it's not powerful..it's a liability..

The ezone 98 and pure strike 98 provides more power on slower swings..they both have less control over all..

 

[Red Bird]

Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 100 v13 is ideal for what you're looking for - the precision and feel of the Pro Staff but softer on the arm and more forgiving.

This looks like an interesting racquet, hadn’t heard of it before. The only place I can find it is TW in the US and nowhere in Canada where I live. It’s not even on Wilson.com as far as I can tell. Does anyone know if this is a TW exclusive or limited edition?

 

[JOSHL]

This looks like an interesting racquet, hadn’t heard of it before. The only place I can find it is TW in the US and nowhere in Canada where I live. It’s not even on Wilson.com as far as I can tell. Does anyone know if this is a TW exclusive or limited edition?

It is somewhat limited. Offered only in Europe for a while until a bunch of people on these forums started buying them all and having them sent to the the US so a few US retailers now have them.

 

[Muffinhat]

Any good comparison to v5? I’ve still been rocking that one,

 

[MICHELUZZO]

Can anyone compare the Blade V8 to the Pure Aero VS 2020 ? I'm sure Blade is more comfortable, but how how about spin and control ?

 

[4evertennis]

Can anyone compare the Blade V8 to the Pure Aero VS 2020 ? I'm sure Blade is more comfortable, but how how about spin and control ?

To me Blade v8 is much more solid feeling than the VS 2020. Blade v8 feels also much softer than the VS 2020.
Had trouble to flatten the shots with the VS 2020, but this is most likely also due to the fact that I'm used to play with 18x20 string patterns.
Both are good racquets, but it always depends on the playing style in the end.

 

[Ryebread]

Can anyone compare the Blade V8 to the Pure Aero VS 2020 ? I'm sure Blade is more comfortable, but how how about spin and control ?

It’s exactly what you would expect. The blade is more comfortable and has more control. It’s very easy to live with. I would say you can go down in tension and gain desired pop.

The Babolat is a lot more stiff, has a hollow feel, a bit more spin for sure. More pop. The issue with these frames that you can’t go any higher in tension to get more control if you need it. So it’s a better starting point if you have a lower stiffness rating.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Tennispin is that Dude . He owns the Brad Gilbert tennis store in the Bay Area . He is cool .

He doesn't own it.

 

[A_Instead]

V8 are really good...TS review is accurate...

 

[Red Bird]

" demanding" has different meanings to different people..
"pop" and "power" does as well..
They could be associated together in some discussions.

The V8 16x19 with Rpm blast at 45 lbs has big power with big swings.. very heavy and damaging to opponent.. control is top notch..
Short to medium strings it's not powerful..it's a liability..

The ezone 98 and pure strike 98 provides more power on slower swings..they both have less control over all..

How did you find the stability of the v8 m16 in stock form? I’ve hit with both the v7 m16 and m18 and found the m16 lacking while the m18 was solid. Didn’t try adding weight to the m16 as it was a demo racquet. Another poster commented that a weighted up v8 m16 is his favorite of the Blades.

 

[DJTaurus]

Can anyone compare the Blade V8 to the Pure Aero VS 2020 ? I'm sure Blade is more comfortable, but how how about spin and control ?

It’s like comparing apples to oranges mate. You have a racquet like Pure Aero that has literally no consistency and control…. Babolat tried with VS to offer a more control oriented version of that racquet…. and it’s just that. Nothing more and nothing less. You still cannot paint lines with confidence like with a more classic frame like Blade…. with PA and PA Vs you must always have a relaxed wrist to fully spin the ball and extract control from it….. any wrong type of contact and the ball will fly away. Strike line is closer to Blades but they still lack the connected feel of the blade…. you know exactly where the ball is gonna land….. but nevertheless 90% of the racquets out there don’t come close to Blades feel.

 

[nov]

It’s like comparing apples to oranges mate. You have a racquet like Pure Aero that has literally no consistency and control…. Babolat tried with VS to offer a more control oriented version of that racquet…. and it’s just that. Nothing more and nothing less. You still cannot paint lines with confidence like with a more classic frame like Blade…. with PA and PA Vs you must always have a relaxed wrist to fully spin the ball and extract control from it….. any wrong type of contact and the ball will fly away. Strike line is closer to Blades but they still lack the connected feel of the blade…. you know exactly where the ball is gonna land….. but nevertheless 90% of the racquets out there don’t come close to Blades feel.

Never played with any blade. How you compare blade with Head Gravity line?Does blade 16x19 have lower launch angle than Gravity Tour/Pro?

 

[DJTaurus]

Never played with any blade. How you compare blade with Head Gravity line?Does blade 16x19 have lower launch angle than Gravity Tour/Pro?

Never used pro because it has the lowest power on the line. I used MP and Tour. Even MP was a little bit demanding to swing. Despite low SW i couldn’t gel with its head size. I ve tried most of the head sticks 2020/2021 and gravity shines in terms of feel and solidness. I truly believe it’s one of the best molds i ve ever used from Head. V Core 98 21 and Gravity Tour play amazingly stable in stock form. So yeah gravity tour has a more launchy angle than Blade v7 16x19 but on the other hand it cannot plow through and push like a Blade. Another stick with great feel is latest pure strike 16x19…. plush and smooth…. but feel is not enough if you don’t have consistency and depth control….. at the end of the day gravity tour was unpredictable most of the times…. despite the 100 inch head which is very forgiving if you missed the sweet spot it didn’t give you power and control. I only enjoyed slicing and serving with this stick. When you have feel and feedback from a stick you can literally do anything and you won’t care if the X,Y,Z stick offers theoretically 20% more spin…. so i believe you should ask yourself which racquet became an extension of your arm by the first hit? On my case it was the blade line of 2015 with Yonex Dr line second. Heads "blade line" is the radical.