Bridgestone X Blade rackets

[25-TENNIS]

Just saw this on Instagram

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It's a Bridgestone X Blade BX300. Seems like they are only available at Rakuten.
Anyone played with a Bridgestone?

 

[PSC85]

I've used vx300 before and it was quite capable frame, similar to APD but with softer feel and more comfort. bridgestone racquets are really well made

 

[mhkeuns]

I‘m lucky enough to have one of their earlier frames that plays a lot like the PT57A with the cross-bar stabilizer of the POG. It’s super flexible and powerful. It also takes added weight really well. That said, I heard that the newer ones are mostly repainted Tecnifibre frames. I could be wrong, though.

 

[FD3S]

I went to Japan in October 2018 and came back with the X-Blade 315 from 2011 (weighted up match the specs of my 2001 Pure Control) and honestly it just felt like a nice, solid stick. Nothing remarkable (besides the really nice PJ) but in a good way; I didn't want for anything. Maybe a bit more feel than my PC, but slightly less power. I'd still use my Bab above all else, but at this point I think that's more to me being used to the Woofer experience.

I also came back with the X-Blade Zero Mid (2008), but I'm not nearly enough of a player to use that thing on a regular basis Buttery smooth, insane plow-through, great feel but very, very demanding racquet off the ground.

 

[Thiem's 1HB]

They look like Pure Drive clones.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-here are some bridge-stone racquets i've come across
-they look very interesting

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[Guttersnipe]

I Was Pure Drive “Swirly” kind of guy until I was told that BS X-Blades were better and cheaper (second hand as they recently bowed out of the tennis market). I now use
- XBlade VX 305
- XBlade RS 300
it’s a shame BS tennis was only marketed in Japan. I still can’t find the RA & swingweight but they play like a dream

 

[galain]

I Was Pure Drive “Swirly” kind of guy until I was told that BS X-Blades were better and cheaper (second hand as they recently bowed out of the tennis market). I now use
- XBlade VI-R 300
- XBlade VX-R 290
- XBlade RS 300
- XBlade Naslon 295
Had to test as many as I could get my hands on to find the one...as there is no way demo them I pulled the trigger and never looked back! They are well made but it’s a shame BS tennis was only marketed in Japan.

Oh that's a shame they've left tennis. Yes - they were only ever found in Japan but they had some fantastic frames. Very high quality.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Do you think a potential lawsuit/patient prevented the expansion into the west?
And do you have any idea where I can find the specs? I can’t seem to find the Flex/RA or swing-weight. Cheers

 

[Strayfire]

Just bought a used Bridgestone X-Blade 300 RS 2018 second hand off Japanese auction site.

Strung it up with syn gut and had a quick hit.

Feels very similar to a Pure Aero.

 

[Pmasterfunk]

I also came back with the X-Blade Zero Mid (2008), but I'm not nearly enough of a player to use that thing on a regular basis Buttery smooth, insane plow-through, great feel but very, very demanding racquet off the ground.

I bought one as a joke in 2013 because it was 35$ CAD (before shipping admittedly), and I mean, a Bridgestone tennis racquet?

I ended up using a pair of those for almost 10 years at this point. I tried a bunch of different racquets during that time, but I just kept going back to the X-Blades. They've gotten pretty beat up, the grommets are on their last legs, and they're mushy as hell at this point. I had one of tested on an RDC machine around the time I got it, and its flex rating was like 57 or something, and I'm pretty sure they've dropped a couple points since then. I can still hit a decent forehand and serve with it, but I've been looking for something a bit easier to play, and in better shape.

Although it's pretty different, I just got ordered a BX 305. 21mm frame, braided graphite, it has elastomer grommets or something to make it more comfortable, I dunno, it sounds cool. It looks like some effort was put into the design. Used prices are pretty reasonable, even with the shipping included. I'll post when I get it and try it out.

 

[gino]

i cant believe they had the audacity to name their frames blades

Wilson would like a word

 

[FD3S]

I bought one as a joke in 2013 because it was 35$ CAD (before shipping admittedly), and I mean, a Bridgestone tennis racquet?

I ended up using a pair of those for almost 10 years at this point. I tried a bunch of different racquets during that time, but I just kept going back to the X-Blades. They've gotten pretty beat up, the grommets are on their last legs, and they're mushy as hell at this point. I had one of tested on an RDC machine around the time I got it, and its flex rating was like 57 or something, and I'm pretty sure they've dropped a couple points since then. I can still hit a decent forehand and serve with it, but I've been looking for something a bit easier to play, and in better shape.

Although it's pretty different, I just got ordered a BX 305. 21mm frame, braided graphite, it has elastomer grommets or something to make it more comfortable, I dunno, it sounds cool. It looks like some effort was put into the design. Used prices are pretty reasonable, even with the shipping included. I'll post when I get it and try it out.

Looking forward to your thoughts! Really cool to hear you made the Zeros into daily drivers but I can 100% see how they might be showing their age a decade later; I use my 315 primarily as a backup stick so it still plays fairly well.

 

[2ndServe]

I used this for a bit. Great rackets, went through the air really well. Great players racket but I got lazier and went with bigger rackets

 

[Guttersnipe]

I’ve got a pair of Zero 3.2 mid plus
(342g with shockie, 4gs of lead @ 3&9, 99”)

They play absolutely beautifully, you can hit out and trust the ball is going to dip in.
If I only used it I’d have no qualms...but when I use something stiffer/less noodle-ish it’s night & day.
The thin box beam cuts through the air like nothing else (even being 99”), feels amazing on both FH & (2H)BH.

Never tried the 94” Zero but the Naslon Xblade 325 (95”) has me covered & plays much more stable against harder hitters. (Thickness of 22-20-20)

 

[Pmasterfunk]

Looking forward to your thoughts! Really cool to hear you made the Zeros into daily drivers but I can 100% see how they might be showing their age a decade later; I use my 315 primarily as a backup stick so it still plays fairly well.

I grew up playing with stuff like Prestige mids, and Pro Tour 280s, 6.0 Pro Staff... it's just stuff that was "cool" at the time. I'm not all that good a player, I'm just used to stuff in that weight/feel range.

I used this for a bit. Great rackets, went through the air really well. Great players racket but I got lazier and went with bigger rackets

I've been trying to find easier racquets to play with, but I've been having a hard time finding something that actually improves my game. Lighter racquets help my backhand and volleys, but my forehand goes awol. Heavier racquets make my forehand better, but I'm often late on my backhand and volleys then. The 3.25 mid is what has worked best for me in a while.

Having said all that, I just got my BX 305, and goddayum do I love the used Japanese market. 80$ CAD for a 9/10 racket, even with the shipping and fees and import taxes it's less than half price of new rackets. Cheaper than Decathlon, too. I probably won't get a chance to try it out before Wednesday, weather permitting. I'll report back after I give it a whirl.

 

[Pmasterfunk]

So I took it out for a spin yesterday in my "summer" doubles league, and I really liked the racquet. I was surprised at how well I played with it considering it was my first try. I found it very comfortable, more so than the Artengo Monfils racquet I've been trying unsuccessfully to get to work for me. It is quite muted, and I actually looked under the buttcap to see if it was foam-filled. It's not.

Hopefully it's not just a honeymoon thing, but I felt like it didn't require a big adjustment from my 3.25 mid. Sure there's less plow-through, but it's got more spin, it's much less mushy while still being pretty comfy, it's more forgiving, it's easier to swing on my backhand, I was able to get some good pace on serve. I was worried about launch angle issues because of 16x19, but I had less issues yesterday than with the Monfils racquet in the past year ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. It's as good a racquet as I've tried in the past 10 years, and happens to work well with my mechanics. I'm pretty happy about it.

In a somewhat unrelated note, I do find it a very strange advertising move to change the the series lettering from VX to BX considering it's a Japanese brand... are they both written the same ビーエクス?

 

[Guttersnipe]

I went to Japan in October 2018 and came back with the X-Blade 315 from 2011 (weighted up match the specs of my 2001 Pure Control) and honestly it just felt like a nice, solid stick. Nothing remarkable (besides the really nice PJ) but in a good way; I didn't want for anything. Maybe a bit more feel than my PC, but slightly less power. I'd still use my Bab above all else, but at this point I think that's more to me being used to the Woofer experience.

I also came back with the X-Blade Zero Mid (2008), but I'm not nearly enough of a player to use that thing on a regular basis Buttery smooth, insane plow-through, great feel but very, very demanding racquet off the ground.

I’ve come full circle. either got rid of or don’t use the other BS frames...except for the Naslon X-Blade 315 (only just realised its slightly extended) with its added graphite shank & parallel drilling the sweet spot is massive (almost the whole string bed aside from dead tip).

It even feels GREAT in my off hand (when holding the throat, perfect shape and width. Found that an O ring shaped shockie really makes the racquet Zing.

(Customisations: 2g of Lead @ 3&9, G2 built up with 2 over grips to give it an even more HL balance, thickening & rounding off the Tecnifibre-esque pallet With a static weight of 342g)

Wishing I had Briffidi SW to check the other specs...big sad (maybe one day)

 

[Guttersnipe]

So I took it out for a spin yesterday in my "summer" doubles league, and I really liked the racquet. I was surprised at how well I played with it considering it was my first try. I found it very comfortable, more so than the Artengo Monfils racquet I've been trying unsuccessfully to get to work for me. It is quite muted, and I actually looked under the buttcap to see if it was foam-filled. It's not.

Hopefully it's not just a honeymoon thing, but I felt like it didn't require a big adjustment from my 3.25 mid. Sure there's less plow-through, but it's got more spin, it's much less mushy while still being pretty comfy, it's more forgiving, it's easier to swing on my backhand, I was able to get some good pace on serve. I was worried about launch angle issues because of 16x19, but I had less issues yesterday than with the Monfils racquet in the past year ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. It's as good a racquet as I've tried in the past 10 years, and happens to work well with my mechanics. I'm pretty happy about it.

In a somewhat unrelated note, I do find it a very strange advertising move to change the the series lettering from VX to BX considering it's a Japanese brand... are they both written the same ビーエクス?

VX = 5th Xblade (Roman numerals)
BX = Box beam (much more squared off)

Are you still using your BS?

 

[Pmasterfunk]

VX = 5th Xblade (Roman numerals)
BX = Box beam (much more squared off)

Are you still using your BS?

The VX is still fairly boxy though, so is the VX like a pun on BX and 5?

Which racquet are you referring to, the 3.25 or the newer 305? I’m planning on using the 305 as my main racquet, I got a second one to go with it. I still have the 3.25, but I don’t plan on using it very much. I might bring it on vacation if I’m nervous about my racquets getting damaged on the plane or something.

 

[Guttersnipe]

The VX is still fairly boxy though, so is the VX like a pun on BX and 5?

Which racquet are you referring to, the 3.25 or the newer 305? I’m planning on using the 305 as my main racquet, I got a second one to go with it. I still have the 3.25, but I don’t plan on using it very much. I might bring it on vacation if I’m nervous about my racquets getting damaged on the plane or something.

Check out this Vid if you haven’t, the head honcho of BS go through the different gens, you will need to turn Subs & auto translate.

Have a look the 5th gen is not as cleanly cut as the rest, it’s still boxy but the least of the bunch. I owned a couple and sold them because of that fact...lol

The white & orange Naslon (no clue what that means (with the carbon fibre shank bonded on) plays MUCH more solid & stable, I love how the heavier 315 is thinner beam (22-20-20) and I realised the other day they are all slightly longer than 27”

P.s yeah it’s defs a Pun, they don’t have the letter “V” in their language (and becomes a “B”) lol

 

[FD3S]

Check out this Vid if you haven’t, the head honcho of BS go through the different gens, you will need to turn Subs & auto translate.

Have a look the 5th gen is not as cleanly cut as the rest, it’s still boxy but the least of the bunch. I owned a couple and sold them because of that fact...lol

The white & orange Naslon (no clue what that means (with the carbon fibre shank bonded on) plays MUCH more solid & stable, I love how the heavier 315 is thinner beam (22-20-20) and I realised the other day they are all slightly longer than 27”

P.s yeah it’s defs a Pun, they don’t have the letter “V” in their language (and becomes a “B”) lol

Yep, the Naslon 315 is the one I have! Solid stick and got it for a steal (6000 JPY all in all for 9/10 condition, easy).

 

[Guttersnipe]

Yep, the Naslon 315 is the one I have! Solid stick and got it for a steal (6000 JPY all in all for 9/10 condition, easy).

Their second hand Japanese pricing and thrift culture is Insane!

I bought a couple BS off a guy locally and best of the bunch was the 295 naslon (100” clunkier beam, 320 balance (tweener) and it has a nice feeling on contact but the specs felt straight up wrong…sent me down the tennis rabbit hole of BS.
Found the 315 Naslon where the whole stringbed feels like a sweet spot.

(Parallel drilling, small grommets would make time410s swoon (guy on YT who makes some of the best tennis content)

 

[Crocodile]

Does the racquet brand still release new frames and are they made in Japan or China ?

 

[Guttersnipe]

Does the racquet brand still release new frames and are they made in Japan or China ?

COVID was the final nail in the coffin.
In 2022 they bowed out of tennis racquet manufacturing.

Pretty sure they stared off being made in Taiwan and as time went by they moved to mainland China.

Bridgestone is literally Japanese branded/marketed Tecnifibre (made in the same factory)

I had a Tflash 315 (was 30aud brand new)
And the Xblade RS and aside from the shape of the throat it was the same racquet mold

 

[Guttersnipe]

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The one with demo printed inside the throat came in Pristine condition and the hybrid in there was brand new for me...best 5000yen ever spent.