Alright, party people. Back from a first proper hit with the Blade Pro 16m. Recently I've been breaking out into cold sweats, regretting not going with the 18m version instead due to early feedback, but today's hit pretty much put those fears to bed. I think the 16m (with a built-up handle to get it HL enough) is a great stick, and things weren't getting overspinny as I'd feared. Nor did I feel any of the claims of there being instability. On the contrary low pickups where I met the ball on the lower half of the stringbed were flicked back without issue, even with some authority. Didn't volley much, but when I did, there was no flutter. Honestly I don't feel like any lead is necessary in the hoop of this frame. Perhaps it's my frame compared to those others. I don't know.
However: I do wish the stick was just a little less firm. Perhaps I've gotten so used to butter and softness, but that firmness combined with a swingweight that I would guess to be somewhere in the 333-335 range meant that I was hitting comfortably big (and not overhitting, thankfully) but occasionally struggled to 'gear down', if that makes sense; like when I would actually want to throw in some touch or draw the opponent in with a shorter ball, I didn't feel like I had the feel to pull these maneuvers quite like I do with my other frames. Once I described the Ultra Tour as like a yoyo in your hand, one that you can pull the string on early or let it unspool fully, play with depth and shape, etc., just so wonderfully. More difficult to do that here with this Blade. I also feel like I have a better feel for this kind of 'shifting down' with my Blade 104, though still not close to King Ultra in this department. After awhile I switched to the 104 today and felt like I was hitting roughly the same as I was with the Blade Pro, but it was easier. The lower SW of the 104 (high 320s) and what I perceive to be some added flex and softness than the BP just seemed to make the game more easy. Of course I've been hitting with this stick primarily for awhile now, so I know it a helluva lot better than the BP. At the same time, there is a satisfying 'quality of build' aspect to Blade Pro feel on ball contact that you don't get with the standard 104. To be expected, of course. But my initial gut feeling is that the quality-of-build aspect probably won't be enough to push the Blade Pro over top the Grandpa Blade in terms of what I would reach for if I really need to, say, win something.
However I'm still working my way back from injury and not playing competitive matches just yet, so there is a certain joy factor to hitting the completely solid Blade Pro. But that joy factor is also not as high as the Ultra Tour, which I reached for to finish up my session with. Again and again I'll shout this to the moon: the Ultra is an absolute pleasure to hit tennis balls with. The thinner beam and buttery goodness is, for me, another level up from the Blade Pro in terms of feel alone. I like that the Blade Pro offers more controlled pop by comparison, but the inner holic in me, who's tried countless frames, will always beat the drum on the brilliance of the Ultra Tour. Anyone who can't appreciate the beauty of it, who nitpicks about its layup not being exactly that of a real H19 or whatever such garbage you want to say, to me knows nothing of tennis racquets. Or at least he's someone I'll never agree with on taste, on the finer things in life. And yeah, I'm feeling more and more like the 16m Ultra will be an instant purchase for me. I just have to try it.
So the JGads update:
Wilson Blade v7 104 (weighted up)
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Easy, breezy. Just so solid. One of the best last-second pivots / impulse purchases I have probably ever made.
Ultra Tour / Ultra Pro Lust
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"We told you, ***hole."
Head Speed Pro pro stock (on loan)
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More hitting with this next week I hope. Need to finally figure out if there is something to work with there, or whether it should head back to its owner, the gentleman and scholar Mr. 808.
Blade Pro 16m
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Happier than I thought I'd be a couple days ago. But not quite as happy as I'd hoped when I made the purchase. Deserves more hits, though, as getting to know it more may yet open up deeper feelings. The other BP will remain firmly untouched for a likely return, in exchange for an Ultra Pro 16m whenever that does become available.
*Overall, what I'm most happy with is just finding some form again. The game is coming back to me. The bionic knee is feeling pretty strong and pretty good.