Flex point difference between Pure Strike 16x20 vs Blade 100

slal1984

Professional
Where is the flex point on the Pure Strike 16x20 vs the Blade v9 100?

Just trying to understand the differences in these frame to make more precise adjustments to the Pure strike to get is close to the blade 100.
 
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So I've spent a pretty good amount of time with the Strike 100 16x20 (both an over-spec playtest sample, and an on-spec retail one), and I can confidently say it mostly flexes in the neck (those long, fairly soft neck pieces can really get bending/bowing, especially if you load up the racquet with a heavier string and enough swing weight), That said, it has a very rock-stable and torsionally rigid lower hoop and mid hoop, with just the tiniest amount of upper hoop flex/give, but very minimal. An overall very stable experience, provided you don't mind, or even prefer, that feeling of the hoop lagging/pocketing just bit behind any momentary movement you're doing with the handle.

As for the Blade 100, I've only swung the v8 briefly, but from that brief hit, it seems like it has a bit more of a uniform, singular, tree-branch style flex profile, at least compared to the Strike.

As for how best to modify the Strike to get closer to the Blade, that's a tough one. First off, you really need to start with a lower-spec sample to begin with, and then if you're going to add weight, IMHO do so more centrally (as I did at 6 o'clock), to keep the added weight less apt to exert more bending/bowing force on those neck pieces. Additionally, you also want to keep the string bed as thin/light as possible, to keep face weight as low as you can. That will also help keep the hoop less apt to cause the neck to overly flex on contact.

Hope that helps! That said, I'll let others chime in and add their comparative takes on these two, especially on behalf of the Blade 100.
 
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Unstrung my frame is 292 SW, 30.8cm and 305g.

Strung with firewire/ghostwire (1.25/1.22)
Lead - 0.5 at 12 and 1g at 3 and 9.
Current SW is - 326.8 SW.

i played around with some lead at 6, liked about 1g there - but have not decided on keeping it.
 
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the only other thing i can think of is the difference in grip shape between the babolat and wilson.
 
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If that's for the Strike, then with on-spec static weight and SW, balance should be closer to 31cm. You sure you got an accurate stock unstrung balance measurement?
Your right, i went back to my sheet and its 30.8cms. Good catch!
 
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