Help! 2019 Wilson blade 98s “bold edition”

Eathers

New User
Hi,
So I recently really fancied the Wilson blade bold edition (with the black and white paint job..), and after a snoop on ****, I found and won one. Great I thought... then it arrived.
Rather than the Matt effect paint (which I’m not that fussed about anyway) it’s high gloss (which is actually pretty nice). The grip is slightly different to the plain black ones I’ve seen on the others (it has the cream writing where it’s embossed etc) and I also noticed there wasn’t the usual holographic W on the inside of the frame.
When I queried it with the seller, they told me it was a brand new racquet given to him by a pro player he knows who’s in contract with Wilson, and that could explain the modifications. He advised he hasn’t actually seen another one to compare it to so this is the only reason he could think of.
Does this even sound plausible?! Don’t get me wrong the racquet feels nice enough in my hand (Albeit it hasn’t been strung yet) but I just wasn’t expecting it, and I feel a bit wary
 

408tennisguy

Semi-Pro
Might be a fake from asia. Most fakes are glossy and are prestrung. When it has a Holographic sticker on it, you can peel it to see some kind of serial number. Does yours have one?
 

Eathers

New User
It’s not Pre strung, but it doesn’t have the holographic sticker or anything under where that would normally be!
 

Eathers

New User
Might be a fake from asia. Most fakes are glossy and are prestrung. When it has a Holographic sticker on it, you can peel it to see some kind of serial number. Does yours have one?


It’s not Pre strung, but it doesn’t have the holographic sticker or anything under where that would normally be!
 

colan5934

Professional
Could be a pro stock. No holograms on those very often, and they’ll come with different base grips sometimes too. Count the number of string holes and post pics?
 

tennisfan14

New User
Sounds like a pro stock to me, you hit the jackpot! They are often gloss rather than matte and as poster above, have no holograms and different grips given that it is the pro player's preference. Pictures will help confirm
 

Eathers

New User
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I’ve had a quick count and there are 70 string holes


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Eathers

New User
I was suspicious the second I saw the racquet, but really wanted to believe it was genuine. Guess this shows that it’s not. I have asked the seller for proof of authenticity but nothing as of yet, but with everything I suppose I should just try and arrange a return
 

Pleb123

Semi-Pro
If it's an H22 it's worth a lot more than a stock 98S and you migh double or tripple your money by re-selling it. You should ask the seller who the pro was.

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Eathers

New User
If it's an H22 it's worth a lot more than a stock 98S and you migh double or tripple your money by re-selling it. You should ask the seller who the pro was.

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But does that explain the 70 string holes but still 98s 18x16 on the body?! I’m useless at all this!


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tennisfan14

New User
I was suspicious the second I saw the racquet, but really wanted to believe it was genuine. Guess this shows that it’s not. I have asked the seller for proof of authenticity but nothing as of yet, but with everything I suppose I should just try and arrange a return
Just because the racquet isn't what it is listed as being on the racquet, doesn't mean that it isn't a genuine Wilson frame - sponsored players often have their racquets painted to look like a particular model for marketing purposes (in this case, the player may be using a blade 16x19 for e.g., but wilson wanted to paint it as a blade 98s. Hence the writing on the frame).

Edit: I guess if you mean that it isn't a genuine blade 98s, then yes, it isn't. But it does look to me like a genuine Wilson frame made for a professional (aka pro-stock).

Also, it doesn't look like a H22 to me - it's not super clear from those pictures but the rounded outside edge and flat inside edge looks like a blade mold. The H22 is a more squared off beam.
 

Pleb123

Semi-Pro
But does that explain the 70 string holes but still 98s 18x16 on the body?! I’m useless at all this!


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The difference between the printed specs and actual mold is consistent with it being a pro stock racquet.

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Eathers

New User
Just because the racquet isn't what it is listed as being on the racquet, doesn't mean that it isn't a genuine Wilson frame - sponsored players often have their racquets painted to look like a particular model for marketing purposes (in this case, the player may be using a blade 16x19 for e.g., but wilson wanted to paint it as a blade 98s. Hence the writing on the frame).

Edit: I guess if you mean that it isn't a genuine blade 98s, then yes, it isn't. But it does look to me like a genuine Wilson frame made for a professional (aka pro-stock).

Also, it doesn't look like a H22 to me - it's not super clear from those pictures but the rounded outside edge and flat inside edge looks like a blade mold. The H22 is a more squared off beam.

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It’s hard to show in the pictures but the throat is fairly squared off albeit smoothly/rounded off/not a sharp edge and then rounds off more around the head, with a very slight squared off edge in towards the strings. The inside edge is quite flat.



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Eathers

New User
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I’ve tried my best to show the outer edge but the pattern makes it difficult to photograph.
I’m wonder how many more locations I’ll end up taking pictures of this ****** racquet in [emoji85] I look like a nut job!


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Power Player

Bionic Poster
I was suspicious the second I saw the racquet, but really wanted to believe it was genuine. Guess this shows that it’s not. I have asked the seller for proof of authenticity but nothing as of yet, but with everything I suppose I should just try and arrange a return

Dude hit me up, ill take it off your hands!
 

Eathers

New User
From those pics I agree with tennisfan that it looks like a Blade pro stock not H22

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Would that still have the 70 string holes though? I’m pretty clueless - clearly


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JoaoN

Semi-Pro
Would that still have the 70 string holes though? I’m pretty clueless - clearly


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Long story short, you hit the jackpot here, i don't know how much you payed, but it looks like a huge jackpot.

In example, this would be like paying for a Volkswagen and receiving an Audi, or, since i see you wear a breitling on your wrist, it would be like buying a longines and getting an omega.
 

Eathers

New User
Long story short, you hit the jackpot here, i don't know how much you payed, but it looks like a huge jackpot.

In example, this would be like paying for a Volkswagen and receiving an Audi, or, since i see you wear a breitling on your wrist, it would be like buying a longines and getting an omega.

Thanks. I didn’t pay a great deal for it really, but I guess that’s what made me so sceptical. I’m only just getting back into the sport after a good few years off, so I’m completely out of touch. Might actually be a racquet a bit beyond my skill level!


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JoaoN

Semi-Pro
Thanks. I didn’t pay a great deal for it really, but I guess that’s what made me so sceptical. I’m only just getting back into the sport after a good few years off, so I’m completely out of touch. Might actually be a racquet a bit beyond my skill level!


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The only issue for you would be finding a matching racquet. But if you only need one then you are good to go.
 

NastyWinners

Hall of Fame
Thanks. I didn’t pay a great deal for it really, but I guess that’s what made me so sceptical. I’m only just getting back into the sport after a good few years off, so I’m completely out of touch. Might actually be a racquet a bit beyond my skill level!


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I’ll help ya out and take the racket ;)
 

tennisfan14

New User
From those pics I agree with tennisfan that it looks like a Blade pro stock not H22

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Yes looks like a blade to me. If you have a scale, I would weigh the racquet - knowing the weight will help you (or us!) decide on whether it is a suitable racquet for you or not.

Note: the weight printed on the racquet is not always the actual weight, especially since it looks like you have a pro-stock frame.
 

mhkeuns

Hall of Fame
Hi,
So I recently really fancied the Wilson blade bold edition (with the black and white paint job..), and after a snoop on ****, I found and won one. Great I thought... then it arrived.
Rather than the Matt effect paint (which I’m not that fussed about anyway) it’s high gloss (which is actually pretty nice). The grip is slightly different to the plain black ones I’ve seen on the others (it has the cream writing where it’s embossed etc) and I also noticed there wasn’t the usual holographic W on the inside of the frame.
When I queried it with the seller, they told me it was a brand new racquet given to him by a pro player he knows who’s in contract with Wilson, and that could explain the modifications. He advised he hasn’t actually seen another one to compare it to so this is the only reason he could think of.
Does this even sound plausible?! Don’t get me wrong the racquet feels nice enough in my hand (Albeit it hasn’t been strung yet) but I just wasn’t expecting it, and I feel a bit wary

I’ve had Prostock Six One and Blade that came with no holographic sticker. There is also a site that sells the Prostock frames, and most of the description will say “no hologram sticker”, iirc. I don’t think it’s a fake. If it was a fake Blade, it would still have the fake hologram sticker.
 

JOSHL

Hall of Fame
I think many of us will gladly buy that from you. Myself included. The fact that they don’t even make a 98s Bold edition would further suggest a pro stock type frame.
 

mhkeuns

Hall of Fame
But does that explain the 70 string holes but still 98s 18x16 on the body?! I’m useless at all this!


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My Mardy Fish’s Six One had the 16x19 written on the throat, but it was actually an 18x20 pattern. The paint job was just that. Just a paint job.
 
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