I'm on a quest to either find a new ideal racket or conclude that the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4) is the ONE for me

[forzamr_b]

In brief: I'm on a quest to either find a new ideal racket or conclude that the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4) is the ONE. I have tried several rackets recently (details below), but have yet to find anything similar. Appreciate your thoughts, experiences, and recommendations for a racket with a similar feel to the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4). Particularly if you've hit with it or any of these rackets of similar specs (based on TWU's similar racket tool) before: Link to photo of similar rackets

Why I like the Blade 98 18x20 2013?
I will try to articulate why as best I can. The racket is extremely stable, has a great "plow through feel", and offered me great control so I could swing freely without fear of hitting long (I still do but that's down to poor timing/technique ). And the most unique and appealing feature for me is the sensation of racket's centre of mass/weight in the throat of the racket when hitting groundstrokes. This is something I have not found in other rackets I've played with. Overall, this racket helped me to be the most consistent on my groundstrokes and approach shots.

Blade 98 18x20 2013 key specs (taken from TW):
Weight: 11.4 oz / 318g
Swing Weight: 330g
Balance: 2pts HL
Flex rating: 65
Beam width: 21.5mm

My tennis history and playing style:

• Male in my late 30s, 175cm in height, 70kg in weight, slim built.
• Played juniors for my school ages 12 to 16 before switching to soccer for the next 20 years! Just returned to tennis recreationally this year as soccer had taken its toll on my ankles and knees. Since my return to tennis, the biggest change has been strings! Been exploring the "new world" of multis and polys and my favourite so far is Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs for the softness and ball pocketing (except that it can be a bit too lively/unpredictable).
• I would rate myself as a rusty NTRP 4.5 player who is aggressive and tries to approach the net, with a modern swing stroke.
• I use a forehand grip that is between an Eastern and Semi-western (index knuckle on 4, heel of palm on 3), and a double-handed backhand.
• I predominantly hit with topspin but not at the massive spin levels seen in the modern game.

Rackets I have tried or am about to try:
Before my 20-year hiatus, I played with a 100sq Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.1 Surge (which I still have today). Recently, I've been on a shopping spree on the secondary tennis racket market. So here's my general sentiments about rackets I've tried the past 2 months, ranked in descending order of preference.

Side note: After trying these, I've come to realise that perhaps an 18x20 string pattern works best for me. Which is a real pity since it is less common and I do have a soft spot for Pro Staffs...

Pro Staff 97 v11 (black with red at 3/9)

Weight: 11.7 oz / 332g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 7pts HL​

Flex rating: 66​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs​

Pretty pleased with it, but can't trump the the Blade 98 at the moment. Great maneuverability and feel at the net (volleyed best with this), and the lighter weight meant I could generate more racket head speed and more spin. But was unpredictable when hitting mid-court shoulder height balls aggressively (it could be my technique).

RF97 Autograph (original version)

Weight: 12.6 oz / 357g​

Swing Weight: 335g​

Balance: 9pts HL​

Flex rating: 68​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs​

Tried it for the first time 2 nights ago for 45mins, and it could be a contender to displace the Blade 98 or at least the PS97. Excellent control and stability. Great power if you hit the sweet spot. Will have to play more to see if the weight is an issue for me and lacks that unique "weight in the throat" feel. I did frame volleys or miss-hit groundstrokes a bit more than usual, but they tended to creep in and got me a few points I didn't deserved .

Pro Staff K Factor 6.1 95

Weight: 12.3 oz / 349g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 8pts HL​

Flex rating: 69​

Beam width: 22mm​

String setup: Confidential 17g main @ 52 lbs, Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16g cross @ 50 lbs​

Great racket to hit with, but too unforgiving for my technique level and struggled on defensive shots. Also, probably at the limit of the swing weight that I can handle.

Blade 98 18x20 2015 (v5)

Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g​

Swing Weight: 327g​

Balance: 3pts HL​

Flex rating: 64​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: ALU Power Rough 17g @ 42 lbs (inherited from previous owner)​

The other racket I tried 2 nights ago, but only played it for 30 mins. Was a bit disappointed considering Blade threads here seem to prefer the 2015 to the 2013 and specs wise they are very similar. Unfortunately, the 2015 didn't feel like the 2013 to me at all. But I will probably need to re-string it to my preferred Hyper G @52 lbs and play a little longer for fairer assessment.

Blade 98S 18x16 2013

Weight: 11 oz / 312g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 1pt HL​

Flex rating: 64​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 48 lbs​

Not enough control, a bit unpredictable when hitting aggressively, swing weight is a bit low for me

100sq Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.1 Surge

Weight: 11 oz / 312g​

Swing Weight: 312g​

Balance: 5pts HL​

Flex rating: 68​

Beam width: 26mm​

String setup: synthetic gut @ 55-58 lbs (I can't recall my exact preferred tension as it has been too many years)​

Having tried more rackets now, I've realised this racket is a bit stiff, lacks stability, swing weight is a bit low for me, and causes too much vibrations in my arm.

Blade 98 v8 16x19

Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g​

Swing Weight: 317g​

Balance: 5pts HL​

Flex rating: 61​

Beam width: 21mm​

String setup: X1 Biphase main, ALU Power cross (tension & gauge unknown)​

Only played with it for 5-10 mins because I quickly realised it wasn't going to be a better fit than the Blade 98 2013. Lacked control and launch angle felt a bit too high for me.

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1

Weight: 11.5 oz / 326g​

Swing Weight: 322g​

Balance: 3pts HL​

Flex rating: 55​

Beam width: 24.5mm​

String setup: LXN Smart 16g @ 39 lbs (inherited from previous owner)​

Bought it primarily to experience the flexibility of the Clash. Will share my thoughts once I hit with it.

Other things to note:

• I won't spend more than USD$150 for a second-hand racket. For comparison, brand new flagship models cost upwards of USD$195 unstrung in my country. Average cost of stringing is USD$20.
• I won't consider a brand new racket unless I can demo it as new rackets are just too expensive and not necessarily any better than older models.
• I reside in a small country where tennis is moderately popular. This means:
  • <5 tennis pro shops
  • Only a few online businesses that offer racket demo services
  • Small secondary market for tennis rackets (so I have to be opportunistic and options are probably limited to popular brands and models)
  • All racket specs are taken from TW reviews.
• Apart from a Prince racket in my beginner days, I've only used Wilson rackets. However, open to trying other brands too.

 

[Rosstour]

Blade 98 lacked control? That's...odd

 

[forzamr_b]

Blade 98 lacked control? That's...odd

Yes, relative to the Blade 98 18x20 2013 version, I found I had less control with the v8 and to a lesser extent the 2015 version. But strings and tension were different and could be at play too. Nevertheless, the feel was different and I am still unable to find something similar to the 2013.

 

[FRV4]

RF97 autograph is used by Fed, therefore the best

 

[MomentumGT]

Love my 2013 Blade 98’s s well! Too bad the grommets are very difficult to find or I would have more than just a pair. I’m kind of like yourself where I do go back and forth with my Pro staffs. Mainly the 6.1 Classic but I have varying generations of the 6.1 that I jump around with also. The closest racquets I feel that may come close to the blade 2013 would be Radicals of the same era and or Dunlop 300 Tours from that era. Haven’t tried the current Radical or Blade so I can’t comment on that

 

[forzamr_b]

Love my 2013 Blade 98’s s well! Too bad the grommets are very difficult to find or I would have more than just a pair. I’m kind of like yourself where I do go back and forth with my Pro staffs. Mainly the 6.1 Classic but I have varying generations of the 6.1 that I jump around with also. The closest racquets I feel that may come close to the blade 2013 would be Radicals of the same era and or Dunlop 300 Tours from that era. Haven’t tried the current Radical or Blade so I can’t comment on that

Thanks @MomentumGT will see if I find them on the secondary market!

 

[ProRadTour]

I loved the Blade v4 and find the Extreme Tour as a good replacement. I haven't hit the v4 in a while but when I play with my modded Extreme Tours with similar specs to a blade I think to myself this reminds me of the Blade v4 when I used play with that frame.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Weight: 11 oz / 312g
Swing Weight: 340 kg*cm*cm
Balance: 1pt HL
Flex rating: 64
Beam width: 21.5mm
String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 48 lbs

Not enough control, a bit unpredictable when hitting aggressively, swing weight is a bit low for me

Weight: 12.3 oz / 349g
Swing Weight: 340 kg*cm*cm
Balance: 8pts HL
Flex rating: 69
Beam width: 22mm
String setup: Confidential 17g main @ 52 lbs, Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16g cross @ 50 lbs

Great racket to hit with, but too unforgiving for my technique level and struggled on defensive shots. Also, probably at the limit of the swing weight that I can handle.

Hmmmmmmmmmm...

This is why we do our own measurements.

 

[forzamr_b]

Weight: 11 oz / 312g
Swing Weight: 340 kg*cm*cm
Balance: 1pt HL
Flex rating: 64
Beam width: 21.5mm
String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 48 lbs

Not enough control, a bit unpredictable when hitting aggressively, swing weight is a bit low for me

Weight: 12.3 oz / 349g
Swing Weight: 340 kg*cm*cm
Balance: 8pts HL
Flex rating: 69
Beam width: 22mm
String setup: Confidential 17g main @ 52 lbs, Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16g cross @ 50 lbs

Great racket to hit with, but too unforgiving for my technique level and struggled on defensive shots. Also, probably at the limit of the swing weight that I can handle.

Hmmmmmmmmmm...

This is why we do our own measurements.

Apologies, made typos but couldn't correct them as a new poster. The accurate TW specs can be found in the links (click the racket name). The swing weight should have been 321g for the Blade 98S and 324g for the PS97 v11. That said on paper I shouldn't have felt a noticeable difference between the 98S and the PS97, but it just felt lighter to swing. Also, I didn't do any actual measurements, so what I played with may be different from the specs quoted by TW.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Apologies, made typos but couldn't correct them as a new poster. The accurate TW specs can be found in the links (click the racket name). The swing weight should have been 321 kg*cm*cm for the Blade 98S and 324 kg*cm*cm for the PS97 v11. That said on paper I shouldn't have felt a noticeable difference between the 98S and the PS97, but it just felt lighter to swing. Also, I didn't do any actual measurements, so what I played with may be different from the specs quoted by TW.

The problem is that even TW specs aren't going to tell you the specs of your racket, especially for Wilson rackets. The quality control is so bad that swingweights can go from -20 to +10 of the target spec. You can be 20 kg*cm*cm below the target swingweight and 5 grams over on the target weight. That's why I'm saying you should measure the specs yourself, so you have a better idea of what you're actually looking at. Pocket scales are relatively cheap. A balance board can be made on your own or you can buy one. Measuring swingweight isn't particularly difficult, just takes a bit of time and the ability to measure the weight and balance.

My recommendation is to find the specs you like (that you measured yourself) and just replicate those. After that, the difference between frames falls down to string spacing (string pattern), strings, racket head size, racket length, head shape, and beam thickness. While, yes, there is a lot of variation here, at the very least, if you pick a popular line of rackets, these specs will never change until the company decides to kill the line (like Wilson did with the 6.1s and tour 90s). The materials used will change, which affects the feel and flex, but at the very least you don't need to search through dozens of rackets every few years to figure out what you like - you'll know exactly what you like, you just buy the frame with that mold and bring the weight up to your specs. And you can always change what your preference specs are.

 

[Chairman3]

I'd try the new TF40s, all the different weights and string patterns.
Then I'd try the Yonex Vcore Pro 97D
Or if you want something lighter the Vcore Pro 97 310g, the 310g has a 16x19 but people say it is very controlled
The 97D is great, easy power and plow, plus stability and control

 

[forzamr_b]

Thanks @xFullCourtTenniSx for pushing me to take my own measurements. Have to say swing weight took a while to get reliable measurements. After triple checking, these are my measurements. I don't have specs for the K 6.1 95 (sold it) and the Surge (no grip so will measure another time).

Quite surprising that the Blade 2013 is quite ahead in swing weight compared to the rest, and quite far off its TW specs too.

Firstly, do you think I got reliable measurements?

If so, how should I make sense of the specs below? Does this mean I like a heavy swing weight? Does a heavy swing weight translate to the qualities I liked about the Blade 2013, i.e. weight at the throat, stability, good plow through?

If matching swing weight will get the feel I'm seeking, how can I increase swing weight to match the Blade 2013?

Lastly, given the RF97 is much heavier, I assume there's no viable option to increase swing weight without increasing its weight?

Thanks everyone!

Blade 98 18x20 2013:
Weight: 343.5g
Balance: 32.8cm
Swing Weight: 347g

PS97 v11:
Weight: 341.4g
Balance: 32.1cm
Swing Weight: 330g

RF97 Autograph:
Weight: 358.3g
Balance: 31.4cm
Swing Weight: 332g

Blade 98 18x20 2015:
Weight: 339.1g
Balance: 32.8cm
Swing Weight: 334g

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1:
Weight: 333.8g
Balance: 31.0cm
Swing Weight: 331g

 

[StringStrungStrang]

In brief: I'm on a quest to either find a new ideal racket or conclude that the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4) is the ONE. I have tried several rackets recently (details below), but have yet to find anything similar. Appreciate your thoughts, experiences, and recommendations for a racket with a similar feel to the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4). Particularly if you've hit with it or any of these rackets of similar specs (based on TWU's similar racket tool) before: Link to photo of similar rackets

Why I like the Blade 98 18x20 2013?
I will try to articulate why as best I can. The racket is extremely stable, has a great "plow through feel", and offered me great control so I could swing freely without fear of hitting long (I still do but that's down to poor timing/technique ). And the most unique and appealing feature for me is the sensation of racket's centre of mass/weight in the throat of the racket when hitting groundstrokes. This is something I have not found in other rackets I've played with. Overall, this racket helped me to be the most consistent on my groundstrokes and approach shots.

Blade 98 18x20 2013 key specs (taken from TW):
Weight: 11.4 oz / 318g
Swing Weight: 330g
Balance: 2pts HL
Flex rating: 65
Beam width: 21.5mm

My tennis history and playing style:

• Male in my late 30s, 175cm in height, 70kg in weight, slim built.
• Played juniors for my school ages 12 to 16 before switching to soccer for the next 20 years! Just returned to tennis recreationally this year as soccer had taken its toll on my ankles and knees. Since my return to tennis, the biggest change has been strings! Been exploring the "new world" of multis and polys and my favourite so far is Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs for the softness and ball pocketing (except that it can be a bit too lively/unpredictable).
• I would rate myself as a rusty NTRP 4.5 player who is aggressive and tries to approach the net, with a modern swing stroke.
• I use a forehand grip that is between an Eastern and Semi-western (index knuckle on 4, heel of palm on 3), and a double-handed backhand.
• I predominantly hit with topspin but not at the massive spin levels seen in the modern game.

Rackets I have tried or am about to try:
Before my 20-year hiatus, I played with a 100sq Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.1 Surge (which I still have today). Recently, I've been on a shopping spree on the secondary tennis racket market. So here's my general sentiments about rackets I've tried the past 2 months, ranked in descending order of preference.

Side note: After trying these, I've come to realise that perhaps an 18x20 string pattern works best for me. Which is a real pity since it is less common and I do have a soft spot for Pro Staffs...

Pro Staff 97 v11 (black with red at 3/9)

Weight: 11.7 oz / 332g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 7pts HL​

Flex rating: 66​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs​

Pretty pleased with it, but can't trump the the Blade 98 at the moment. Great maneuverability and feel at the net (volleyed best with this), and the lighter weight meant I could generate more racket head speed and more spin. But was unpredictable when hitting mid-court shoulder height balls aggressively (it could be my technique).

RF97 Autograph (original version)

Weight: 12.6 oz / 357g​

Swing Weight: 335g​

Balance: 9pts HL​

Flex rating: 68​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs​

Tried it for the first time 2 nights ago for 45mins, and it could be a contender to displace the Blade 98 or at least the PS97. Excellent control and stability. Great power if you hit the sweet spot. Will have to play more to see if the weight is an issue for me and lacks that unique "weight in the throat" feel. I did frame volleys or miss-hit groundstrokes a bit more than usual, but they tended to creep in and got me a few points I didn't deserved .

Pro Staff K Factor 6.1 95

Weight: 12.3 oz / 349g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 8pts HL​

Flex rating: 69​

Beam width: 22mm​

String setup: Confidential 17g main @ 52 lbs, Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16g cross @ 50 lbs​

Great racket to hit with, but too unforgiving for my technique level and struggled on defensive shots. Also, probably at the limit of the swing weight that I can handle.

Blade 98 18x20 2015 (v5)

Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g​

Swing Weight: 327g​

Balance: 3pts HL​

Flex rating: 64​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: ALU Power Rough 17g @ 42 lbs (inherited from previous owner)​

The other racket I tried 2 nights ago, but only played it for 30 mins. Was a bit disappointed considering Blade threads here seem to prefer the 2015 to the 2013 and specs wise they are very similar. Unfortunately, the 2015 didn't feel like the 2013 to me at all. But I will probably need to re-string it to my preferred Hyper G @52 lbs and play a little longer for fairer assessment.

Blade 98S 18x16 2013

Weight: 11 oz / 312g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 1pt HL​

Flex rating: 64​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 48 lbs​

Not enough control, a bit unpredictable when hitting aggressively, swing weight is a bit low for me

100sq Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.1 Surge

Weight: 11 oz / 312g​

Swing Weight: 312g​

Balance: 5pts HL​

Flex rating: 68​

Beam width: 26mm​

String setup: synthetic gut @ 55-58 lbs (I can't recall my exact preferred tension as it has been too many years)​

Having tried more rackets now, I've realised this racket is a bit stiff, lacks stability, swing weight is a bit low for me, and causes too much vibrations in my arm.

Blade 98 v8 16x19

Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g​

Swing Weight: 317g​

Balance: 5pts HL​

Flex rating: 61​

Beam width: 21mm​

String setup: X1 Biphase main, ALU Power cross (tension & gauge unknown)​

Only played with it for 5-10 mins because I quickly realised it wasn't going to be a better fit than the Blade 98 2013. Lacked control and launch angle felt a bit too high for me.

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1

Weight: 11.5 oz / 326g​

Swing Weight: 322g​

Balance: 3pts HL​

Flex rating: 55​

Beam width: 24.5mm​

String setup: LXN Smart 16g @ 39 lbs (inherited from previous owner)​

Bought it primarily to experience the flexibility of the Clash. Will share my thoughts once I hit with it.

Other things to note:

• I won't spend more than USD$150 for a second-hand racket. For comparison, brand new flagship models cost upwards of USD$195 unstrung in my country. Average cost of stringing is USD$20.
• I won't consider a brand new racket unless I can demo it as new rackets are just too expensive and not necessarily any better than older models.
• I reside in a small country where tennis is moderately popular. This means:
  • <5 tennis pro shops
  • Only a few online businesses that offer racket demo services
  • Small secondary market for tennis rackets (so I have to be opportunistic and options are probably limited to popular brands and models)
  • All racket specs are taken from TW reviews.
• Apart from a Prince racket in my beginner days, I've only used Wilson rackets. However, open to trying other brands too.

Good luck with that! On the one hand you've found a racquet you really like. On the other, there are always new racquets or racquets you've never tried that call out to you.

 

[forzamr_b]

Good luck with that! On the one hand you've found a racquet you really like. On the other, there are always new racquets or racquets you've never tried that call out to you.

Yes my wife is keeping me in check . I went from 1 racket to 7 in 2 months

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Yes my wife is keeping me in check . I went from 1 racket to 7 in 2 months

She is doing an excellent job!

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Thanks @xFullCourtTenniSx for pushing me to take my own measurements. Have to say swing weight took a while to get reliable measurements. After triple checking, these are my measurements. I don't have specs for the K 6.1 95 (sold it) and the Surge (no grip so will measure another time).

Quite surprising that the Blade 2013 is quite ahead in swing weight compared to the rest, and quite far off its TW specs too.

Firstly, do you think I got reliable measurements?

If so, how should I make sense of the specs below? Does this mean I like a heavy swing weight? Does a heavy swing weight translate to the qualities I liked about the Blade 2013, i.e. weight at the throat, stability, good plow through?

If matching swing weight will get the feel I'm seeking, how can I increase swing weight to match the Blade 2013?

Lastly, given the RF97 is much heavier, I assume there's no viable option to increase swing weight without increasing its weight?

Thanks everyone!

Blade 98 18x20 2013:
Weight: 343.5g
Balance: 32.8cm Expected: 33.7 cm
Swing Weight: 347 kg*cm*cm

PS97 v11:
Weight: 341.4g
Balance: 32.1cm Expected: 32.0-32.1 cm
Swing Weight: 330 kg*cm*cm

RF97 Autograph:
Weight: 358.3g
Balance: 31.4cm Expected: 31.4-31.5 cm
Swing Weight: 332 kg*cm*cm

Blade 98 18x20 2015:
Weight: 339.1g
Balance: 32.8cm Expected: 33.3-33.4 cm
Swing Weight: 334 kg*cm*cm

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1:
Weight: 333.8g
Balance: 31.0cm Expected: 31.4-31.5 cm
Swing Weight: 331 kg*cm*cm

Aside from the 2013 Blade, the difference (in swingweight) amounts to 2 extra grams in the head for the PS97, 1 gram missing from the head in the RF97A, 2 grams extra in the head for the 2015 blade, and 3 grams extra in the head of the Clash, all well within the real of possibilities. The 2013 Blade amounts to about 6 extra grams in the head, which happens, but is more rare, even for Wilson. If this racket had the most stability (or one of the most) and the most plow through feel of all the rackets you tried, then there's a good chance that the measurement is somewhat correct.

In the end, it doesn't necessarily matter if the numbers are correct, so long as they are correct relative to each other (i.e. racket A is in the 330-340 range and racket B is in the 320-330 range) and the measurements are consistent. There will be some level of error, but so long as the error is consistent, it's not a big deal. Worst case scenario, you can take an object of known inertia and measure it and keep repeating measurements until you get the hang of making a correct measurement.

For example, if you had a small lead ball attached to a string, the inertia would approximately be the d*d*m, where d is the distance from the hang point to the center of the lead ball (length of string+1/2 the radius of the ball) and m is the mass of the ball in kg. If you consistently get a reasonably close result, then you're doing it right. You can also slap 3 grams of lead to the top of the hoop of a racket, and if you remeasure it and consistently get 10 units higher than your previous measurements, then you're probably doing it correctly.

The fact that you're reading weight and balance to 1 decimal place means those measurements should easily be accurate to 1 cm and 1 gram. However, the balance numbers are way off target aside from the PS97 and RF97A. The mass is also significantly higher than expected for the Blades. Things like overgrips, leather grips, and poly strings could noticeably bump up the weights, but I'm not sure if they go that far up (I don't remember the weight difference of leather grips off the top of my head). If anything, I would double check the weights of the Blades, the other 3 seem within reason. RF97A is roughly in line with a stock RF97A without overgrip and 16g poly strings, though you wrote that it has an 18g, it could also be in line with an underweight racket with an overgrip.. The PS97 and Clash numbers make sense if they have overgrips on.

After using the TWU customization worksheet, the 2013 Blade numbers are realistic, if it's modded, which is a real possibility since it's a pre-owned racket. If someone took a perfect stock Blade and added about 5 grams under the bumperguard, and put on a leather grip, an overgrip, and maybe added some extra weight on/in the handle, you'd have the exact specs you recorded. Having a perfect stock Blade is unlikely, but with this level of a difference, you can use a relatively average Blade that's not crazily off-spec. The 2013 Blade is about equivalent to one with 2 extra grams to the head, a leather grip (and maybe overgrip) added, and a slightly off target balance in stock form (so this is also well within reason if the racket has weight on/in the handle and/or a leather grip).

The balance on the Clash seems off, maybe the previous owner added weight to the top to compensate for an extremely off-spec balance (I have a racket in a similar state).

A heavy swingweight does account for the plow through feel and (on some level) stability. There is torsional stability as well, which is associated with twistweight. If you add 5 grams under the bumper, that equates to 2 10 inch strips of 4 5 inch strips of lead. The 10 inch strip would result in a larger increase in twistweight, though only more sensitive players (not necessarily more skillful players) would notice.

Easy way to bump up twistweight is to add weight at the 3&9 o'clock positions of the racket (the sides). Easy way to bump up swingweight is to put it at the top of the hoop or under the bumper guard (which is what I do to hide my lead). 3 grams under the bumper equates to about 10 kg*cm*cm increase in swingweight. The amount needed to increase twistweight varies from racket to racket since every racket has a different head width, but the amount you gain is equal to d*d*m, where d is the distance to the width of the racket head in cm divided by two (basically the distance from the application location to the center axis) and m is the amount of weight added in kg. Same idea applies to swingweight, except you subtract 10 cm since swingweight is measured from 4 inches above the buttcap. For 27 inch rackets, the distance is very similar and equates to about 10 kg*cm*cm.

"Weight in the throat" feeling isn't associated with swingweight. You can get some lead tape and apply a ~3-5 grams to various locations and see if it gives you more of that "weight in the throat" feeling.

If you want the RF97A to feel more like your 2013 Blade, you can replace the leather grip with a synthetic one and add ~4.5 grams at the top of the frame. It'll still weigh more than the Blade, but will at least be lighter than it initially was. There are other ways to take off mass from the racket, particularly the handle, but I don't recommend doing it, because you could easily end up breaking the handle. But if you're curious, there are metal weights inside the handle sandwiched between the graphite that can be forcibly be taken off. Taking them out though could probably shave another 20g off easily and would barely affect the swingweight.

Gonna leave this useful link here. It also includes a link to an automated calculator if you don't wanna do it yourself.

Customization Worksheet Tool

A tennis racquet customization tool that allows the user to define the amounts and locations of lead weight to add to the racquet, and the tool then calculates the resulting weight, balance, swingweight, twistweight, plowthrough, and power.

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[Hulger]

Aside from the 2013 Blade, the difference (in swingweight) amounts to 2 extra grams in the head for the PS97, 1 gram missing from the head in the RF97A, 2 grams extra in the head for the 2015 blade, and 3 grams extra in the head of the Clash, all well within the real of possibilities. The 2013 Blade amounts to about 6 extra grams in the head, which happens, but is more rare, even for Wilson. If this racket had the most stability (or one of the most) and the most plow through feel of all the rackets you tried, then there's a good chance that the measurement is somewhat correct.

In the end, it doesn't necessarily matter if the numbers are correct, so long as they are correct relative to each other (i.e. racket A is in the 330-340 range and racket B is in the 320-330 range) and the measurements are consistent. There will be some level of error, but so long as the error is consistent, it's not a big deal. Worst case scenario, you can take an object of known inertia and measure it and keep repeating measurements until you get the hang of making a correct measurement.

For example, if you had a small lead ball attached to a string, the inertia would approximately be the d*d*m, where d is the distance from the hang point to the center of the lead ball (length of string+1/2 the radius of the ball) and m is the mass of the ball in kg. If you consistently get a reasonably close result, then you're doing it right. You can also slap 3 grams of lead to the top of the hoop of a racket, and if you remeasure it and consistently get 10 units higher than your previous measurements, then you're probably doing it correctly.

The fact that you're reading weight and balance to 1 decimal place means those measurements should easily be accurate to 1 cm and 1 gram. However, the balance numbers are way off target aside from the PS97 and RF97A. The mass is also significantly higher than expected for the Blades. Things like overgrips, leather grips, and poly strings could noticeably bump up the weights, but I'm not sure if they go that far up (I don't remember the weight difference of leather grips off the top of my head). If anything, I would double check the weights of the Blades, the other 3 seem within reason. RF97A is roughly in line with a stock RF97A without overgrip and 16g poly strings, though you wrote that it has an 18g, it could also be in line with an underweight racket with an overgrip.. The PS97 and Clash numbers make sense if they have overgrips on.

After using the TWU customization worksheet, the 2013 Blade numbers are realistic, if it's modded, which is a real possibility since it's a pre-owned racket. If someone took a perfect stock Blade and added about 5 grams under the bumperguard, and put on a leather grip, an overgrip, and maybe added some extra weight on/in the handle, you'd have the exact specs you recorded. Having a perfect stock Blade is unlikely, but with this level of a difference, you can use a relatively average Blade that's not crazily off-spec. The 2013 Blade is about equivalent to one with 2 extra grams to the head, a leather grip (and maybe overgrip) added, and a slightly off target balance in stock form (so this is also well within reason if the racket has weight on/in the handle and/or a leather grip).

The balance on the Clash seems off, maybe the previous owner added weight to the top to compensate for an extremely off-spec balance (I have a racket in a similar state).

A heavy swingweight does account for the plow through feel and (on some level) stability. There is torsional stability as well, which is associated with twistweight. If you add 5 grams under the bumper, that equates to 2 10 inch strips of 4 5 inch strips of lead. The 10 inch strip would result in a larger increase in twistweight, though only more sensitive players (not necessarily more skillful players) would notice.

Easy way to bump up twistweight is to add weight at the 3&9 o'clock positions of the racket (the sides). Easy way to bump up swingweight is to put it at the top of the hoop or under the bumper guard (which is what I do to hide my lead). 3 grams under the bumper equates to about 10 kg*cm*cm increase in swingweight. The amount needed to increase twistweight varies from racket to racket since every racket has a different head width, but the amount you gain is equal to d*d*m, where d is the distance to the width of the racket head in cm divided by two (basically the distance from the application location to the center axis) and m is the amount of weight added in kg. Same idea applies to swingweight, except you subtract 10 cm since swingweight is measured from 4 inches above the buttcap. For 27 inch rackets, the distance is very similar and equates to about 10 kg*cm*cm.

"Weight in the throat" feeling isn't associated with swingweight. You can get some lead tape and apply a ~3-5 grams to various locations and see if it gives you more of that "weight in the throat" feeling.

If you want the RF97A to feel more like your 2013 Blade, you can replace the leather grip with a synthetic one and add ~4.5 grams at the top of the frame. It'll still weigh more than the Blade, but will at least be lighter than it initially was. There are other ways to take off mass from the racket, particularly the handle, but I don't recommend doing it, because you could easily end up breaking the handle. But if you're curious, there are metal weights inside the handle sandwiched between the graphite that can be forcibly be taken off. Taking them out though could probably shave another 20g off easily and would barely affect the swingweight.

Gonna leave this useful link here. It also includes a link to an automated calculator if you don't wanna do it yourself.

Customization Worksheet Tool

A tennis racquet customization tool that allows the user to define the amounts and locations of lead weight to add to the racquet, and the tool then calculates the resulting weight, balance, swingweight, twistweight, plowthrough, and power.

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

This is epic how many words you used for that amount of info, not to say you are incorrect by any means
I would recommend racquet tune and swingtool for iphone

 

[TennisHound]

In brief: I'm on a quest to either find a new ideal racket or conclude that the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4) is the ONE. I have tried several rackets recently (details below), but have yet to find anything similar. Appreciate your thoughts, experiences, and recommendations for a racket with a similar feel to the Blade 98 18x20 2013 (v4). Particularly if you've hit with it or any of these rackets of similar specs (based on TWU's similar racket tool) before: Link to photo of similar rackets

Why I like the Blade 98 18x20 2013?
I will try to articulate why as best I can. The racket is extremely stable, has a great "plow through feel", and offered me great control so I could swing freely without fear of hitting long (I still do but that's down to poor timing/technique ). And the most unique and appealing feature for me is the sensation of racket's centre of mass/weight in the throat of the racket when hitting groundstrokes. This is something I have not found in other rackets I've played with. Overall, this racket helped me to be the most consistent on my groundstrokes and approach shots.

Blade 98 18x20 2013 key specs (taken from TW):
Weight: 11.4 oz / 318g
Swing Weight: 330g
Balance: 2pts HL
Flex rating: 65
Beam width: 21.5mm

My tennis history and playing style:

• Male in my late 30s, 175cm in height, 70kg in weight, slim built.
• Played juniors for my school ages 12 to 16 before switching to soccer for the next 20 years! Just returned to tennis recreationally this year as soccer had taken its toll on my ankles and knees. Since my return to tennis, the biggest change has been strings! Been exploring the "new world" of multis and polys and my favourite so far is Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs for the softness and ball pocketing (except that it can be a bit too lively/unpredictable).
• I would rate myself as a rusty NTRP 4.5 player who is aggressive and tries to approach the net, with a modern swing stroke.
• I use a forehand grip that is between an Eastern and Semi-western (index knuckle on 4, heel of palm on 3), and a double-handed backhand.
• I predominantly hit with topspin but not at the massive spin levels seen in the modern game.

Rackets I have tried or am about to try:
Before my 20-year hiatus, I played with a 100sq Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.1 Surge (which I still have today). Recently, I've been on a shopping spree on the secondary tennis racket market. So here's my general sentiments about rackets I've tried the past 2 months, ranked in descending order of preference.

Side note: After trying these, I've come to realise that perhaps an 18x20 string pattern works best for me. Which is a real pity since it is less common and I do have a soft spot for Pro Staffs...

Pro Staff 97 v11 (black with red at 3/9)

Weight: 11.7 oz / 332g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 7pts HL​

Flex rating: 66​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs​

Pretty pleased with it, but can't trump the the Blade 98 at the moment. Great maneuverability and feel at the net (volleyed best with this), and the lighter weight meant I could generate more racket head speed and more spin. But was unpredictable when hitting mid-court shoulder height balls aggressively (it could be my technique).

RF97 Autograph (original version)

Weight: 12.6 oz / 357g​

Swing Weight: 335g​

Balance: 9pts HL​

Flex rating: 68​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 52 lbs​

Tried it for the first time 2 nights ago for 45mins, and it could be a contender to displace the Blade 98 or at least the PS97. Excellent control and stability. Great power if you hit the sweet spot. Will have to play more to see if the weight is an issue for me and lacks that unique "weight in the throat" feel. I did frame volleys or miss-hit groundstrokes a bit more than usual, but they tended to creep in and got me a few points I didn't deserved .

Pro Staff K Factor 6.1 95

Weight: 12.3 oz / 349g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 8pts HL​

Flex rating: 69​

Beam width: 22mm​

String setup: Confidential 17g main @ 52 lbs, Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16g cross @ 50 lbs​

Great racket to hit with, but too unforgiving for my technique level and struggled on defensive shots. Also, probably at the limit of the swing weight that I can handle.

Blade 98 18x20 2015 (v5)

Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g​

Swing Weight: 327g​

Balance: 3pts HL​

Flex rating: 64​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: ALU Power Rough 17g @ 42 lbs (inherited from previous owner)​

The other racket I tried 2 nights ago, but only played it for 30 mins. Was a bit disappointed considering Blade threads here seem to prefer the 2015 to the 2013 and specs wise they are very similar. Unfortunately, the 2015 didn't feel like the 2013 to me at all. But I will probably need to re-string it to my preferred Hyper G @52 lbs and play a little longer for fairer assessment.

Blade 98S 18x16 2013

Weight: 11 oz / 312g​

Swing Weight: 340g​

Balance: 1pt HL​

Flex rating: 64​

Beam width: 21.5mm​

String setup: Hyper G 18g @ 48 lbs​

Not enough control, a bit unpredictable when hitting aggressively, swing weight is a bit low for me

100sq Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.1 Surge

Weight: 11 oz / 312g​

Swing Weight: 312g​

Balance: 5pts HL​

Flex rating: 68​

Beam width: 26mm​

String setup: synthetic gut @ 55-58 lbs (I can't recall my exact preferred tension as it has been too many years)​

Having tried more rackets now, I've realised this racket is a bit stiff, lacks stability, swing weight is a bit low for me, and causes too much vibrations in my arm.

Blade 98 v8 16x19

Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g​

Swing Weight: 317g​

Balance: 5pts HL​

Flex rating: 61​

Beam width: 21mm​

String setup: X1 Biphase main, ALU Power cross (tension & gauge unknown)​

Only played with it for 5-10 mins because I quickly realised it wasn't going to be a better fit than the Blade 98 2013. Lacked control and launch angle felt a bit too high for me.

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1

Weight: 11.5 oz / 326g​

Swing Weight: 322g​

Balance: 3pts HL​

Flex rating: 55​

Beam width: 24.5mm​

String setup: LXN Smart 16g @ 39 lbs (inherited from previous owner)​

Bought it primarily to experience the flexibility of the Clash. Will share my thoughts once I hit with it.

Other things to note:

• I won't spend more than USD$150 for a second-hand racket. For comparison, brand new flagship models cost upwards of USD$195 unstrung in my country. Average cost of stringing is USD$20.
• I won't consider a brand new racket unless I can demo it as new rackets are just too expensive and not necessarily any better than older models.
• I reside in a small country where tennis is moderately popular. This means:
  • <5 tennis pro shops
  • Only a few online businesses that offer racket demo services
  • Small secondary market for tennis rackets (so I have to be opportunistic and options are probably limited to popular brands and models)
  • All racket specs are taken from TW reviews.
• Apart from a Prince racket in my beginner days, I've only used Wilson rackets. However, open to trying other brands too.

The 2013 Blade is going to be hard to beat. To me it was the fastest of the Blades. The blade headshape is also unique. I don’t have recommendations atm but will be looking.

 

[forzamr_b]

Aside from the 2013 Blade, the difference (in swingweight) amounts to 2 extra grams in the head for the PS97, 1 gram missing from the head in the RF97A, 2 grams extra in the head for the 2015 blade, and 3 grams extra in the head of the Clash, all well within the real of possibilities. The 2013 Blade amounts to about 6 extra grams in the head, which happens, but is more rare, even for Wilson. If this racket had the most stability (or one of the most) and the most plow through feel of all the rackets you tried, then there's a good chance that the measurement is somewhat correct.

In the end, it doesn't necessarily matter if the numbers are correct, so long as they are correct relative to each other (i.e. racket A is in the 330-340 range and racket B is in the 320-330 range) and the measurements are consistent. There will be some level of error, but so long as the error is consistent, it's not a big deal. Worst case scenario, you can take an object of known inertia and measure it and keep repeating measurements until you get the hang of making a correct measurement.

For example, if you had a small lead ball attached to a string, the inertia would approximately be the d*d*m, where d is the distance from the hang point to the center of the lead ball (length of string+1/2 the radius of the ball) and m is the mass of the ball in kg. If you consistently get a reasonably close result, then you're doing it right. You can also slap 3 grams of lead to the top of the hoop of a racket, and if you remeasure it and consistently get 10 units higher than your previous measurements, then you're probably doing it correctly.

The fact that you're reading weight and balance to 1 decimal place means those measurements should easily be accurate to 1 cm and 1 gram. However, the balance numbers are way off target aside from the PS97 and RF97A. The mass is also significantly higher than expected for the Blades. Things like overgrips, leather grips, and poly strings could noticeably bump up the weights, but I'm not sure if they go that far up (I don't remember the weight difference of leather grips off the top of my head). If anything, I would double check the weights of the Blades, the other 3 seem within reason. RF97A is roughly in line with a stock RF97A without overgrip and 16g poly strings, though you wrote that it has an 18g, it could also be in line with an underweight racket with an overgrip.. The PS97 and Clash numbers make sense if they have overgrips on.

After using the TWU customization worksheet, the 2013 Blade numbers are realistic, if it's modded, which is a real possibility since it's a pre-owned racket. If someone took a perfect stock Blade and added about 5 grams under the bumperguard, and put on a leather grip, an overgrip, and maybe added some extra weight on/in the handle, you'd have the exact specs you recorded. Having a perfect stock Blade is unlikely, but with this level of a difference, you can use a relatively average Blade that's not crazily off-spec. The 2013 Blade is about equivalent to one with 2 extra grams to the head, a leather grip (and maybe overgrip) added, and a slightly off target balance in stock form (so this is also well within reason if the racket has weight on/in the handle and/or a leather grip).

The balance on the Clash seems off, maybe the previous owner added weight to the top to compensate for an extremely off-spec balance (I have a racket in a similar state).

A heavy swingweight does account for the plow through feel and (on some level) stability. There is torsional stability as well, which is associated with twistweight. If you add 5 grams under the bumper, that equates to 2 10 inch strips of 4 5 inch strips of lead. The 10 inch strip would result in a larger increase in twistweight, though only more sensitive players (not necessarily more skillful players) would notice.

Easy way to bump up twistweight is to add weight at the 3&9 o'clock positions of the racket (the sides). Easy way to bump up swingweight is to put it at the top of the hoop or under the bumper guard (which is what I do to hide my lead). 3 grams under the bumper equates to about 10 kg*cm*cm increase in swingweight. The amount needed to increase twistweight varies from racket to racket since every racket has a different head width, but the amount you gain is equal to d*d*m, where d is the distance to the width of the racket head in cm divided by two (basically the distance from the application location to the center axis) and m is the amount of weight added in kg. Same idea applies to swingweight, except you subtract 10 cm since swingweight is measured from 4 inches above the buttcap. For 27 inch rackets, the distance is very similar and equates to about 10 kg*cm*cm.

"Weight in the throat" feeling isn't associated with swingweight. You can get some lead tape and apply a ~3-5 grams to various locations and see if it gives you more of that "weight in the throat" feeling.

If you want the RF97A to feel more like your 2013 Blade, you can replace the leather grip with a synthetic one and add ~4.5 grams at the top of the frame. It'll still weigh more than the Blade, but will at least be lighter than it initially was. There are other ways to take off mass from the racket, particularly the handle, but I don't recommend doing it, because you could easily end up breaking the handle. But if you're curious, there are metal weights inside the handle sandwiched between the graphite that can be forcibly be taken off. Taking them out though could probably shave another 20g off easily and would barely affect the swingweight.

Gonna leave this useful link here. It also includes a link to an automated calculator if you don't wanna do it yourself.

Customization Worksheet Tool

A tennis racquet customization tool that allows the user to define the amounts and locations of lead weight to add to the racquet, and the tool then calculates the resulting weight, balance, swingweight, twistweight, plowthrough, and power.

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

Thanks @xFullCourtTenniSx for the detailed post. Really appreciate the time you've spent helping me. All my rackets have synthetic grip + overgrip (but different brands). I'll re-check the weights and balance points when I get the time.

Blade 98 18x20 2013:
No visible mods, but as you've pointed out, weight may have been added to the handle and/or under the bumper. The handle does feel heavy, too bad I can't locate a second 2013 for comparison at the moment.

Blade 98 18x20 2015:
I bought this from a junior national player and his listing did say he had all 4 of the Blades matched. Unfortunately, he already sold the other 3 when I contacted him. So I won't be surprised it this is modded. Nothing visible though.

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1:
I highly doubt this was modded as the previous owner only hit with it twice before selling to me and she didn't strike me as a serious player who would be customising her rackets.

For now, I won't venture into customisation just yet. I'm gonna hit with these rackets a lot more first (I've had <10 hrs with each) before deciding what I truly like (although the 2013 has left a very good impression so far).

 

[forzamr_b]

The 2013 Blade is going to be hard to beat. To me it was the fastest of the Blades. The blade headshape is also unique. I don’t have recommendations atm but will be looking.

Guess I got really lucky as the 2013 was the first racket I tried in my quest. It belonged to my bro-in-law who bought it second-hand. He went on a business trip so I took the chance to borrow his ball machine (wanted to experience how it was like) and he offered me the chance to play test his Blade 98S and 98 2013s. The moment I hit with the Blades I realised I could do a lot better than my Surge, which spurred this whole quest I am on now .

My bro-in-law didn't like the 18x20 so much so I found another 98S and we swapped rackets... Perhaps the universe is telling me something

 

[slipgrip93]

ah, maybe don't forget to consider the Wilson Steam 100 BLX 2012 model.
Interestingly, still currently used by plenty of the top 100 wta, under Blade repaints! , thread link: "Paula Badosa racquet".

Wilson Steam 100 BLX

Head Size:
100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27.25in / 69.22cm
Strung Weight: 11oz / 311.84g
Balance: 4 pts HL
Swingweight: 311
Stiffness: 66
Beam Width: 23mm / 23mm / 23mm /
Composition: BLX / Basalt
Power Level: Medium
Stroke Style: Medium
Swing Speed: Medium-Fast
Racquet Colors:
Navy / Yellow / Red / White
Grip Type: Pro Hybrid
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H
One Piece
Shared Holes: None
String Tension: 53-63 pounds

 

[forzamr_b]

Re-did my measurements and tried to be as precise as I could. Updated specs below.

Blade 98 18x20 2013:
Weight: 343.3g
Balance: 32.7cm
Swing Weight: 345

PS97 v11:
Weight: 341.3g
Balance: 31.7cm
Swing Weight: 326

RF97 Autograph:
Weight: 358.3g
Balance: 31.4cm
Swing Weight: 336

Blade 98 18x20 2015:
Weight: 339.2g
Balance: 32.7cm
Swing Weight: 345

Clash 100 Pro/Tour v1:
Weight: 333.9g
Balance: 30.5cm
Swing Weight: 325

Also, I hit with the Blade 2015 for 2 hrs today and it felt much better. Had great control and stability. Definitely rose up my preference list. Will string it with my preferred set-up to decide if it trumps the PS97 and RF97.

It's been awhile since I've hit with the Blade 2013, so I will use it at my next session in 2 days (gotta make sure I still like it the best) and try the Clash too

 

[Trip]

@forzmr_b - There isn't anything in the current market quite like the 2013 BLX Blade 98 (18x20), especially at the specs you listed, which seems quite heavy compared to the stock specs in most places I can reference. Are you sure the racquet hasn't been modified in any non-immediately-visible way (silicone in the handle, lead under the bumper, etc.)?

Before knowing answers to the above, the the closest thing I could find based on stock specs would probably be a 2005 Head FlexPoint Radical MidPlus, which has very similar specs -- 2pt HL balance, 330+ swing weight, similar beam (21 vs 22mm). Difference would be a bit more flex, a larger sweet spot and ever so slightly more power. Might be worth a try if you can get your hands on one in the used market, perhaps new old stock as well.

 

[forzamr_b]

@forzmr_b - There isn't anything in the current market quite like the 2013 BLX Blade 98 (18x20), especially at the specs you listed, which seems quite heavy compared to the stock specs in most places I can reference. Are you sure the racquet hasn't been modified in any non-immediately-visible way (silicone in the handle, lead under the bumper, etc.)?

Before knowing answers to the above, the the closest thing I could find based on stock specs would probably be a 2005 Head FlexPoint Radical MidPlus, which has very similar specs -- 2pt HL balance, 330+ swing weight, similar beam (21 vs 22mm). Difference would be a bit more flex, a larger sweet spot and ever so slightly more power. Might be worth a try if you can get your hands on one in the used market, perhaps new old stock as well.

Unfortunately, I don't know the past history of my Blade 2013. I'll get my stringer to investigate at the next string job.

I'll search for the 2005 radical, thanks!

Anyways, I've got 4 great rackets. So I'm very blessed and this is truly a 1st world problem.

 

[TennisHound]

As odd as it sounds. The Blade Team is an option. While it takes weight to make it usable, it’s certainly an option.

 

[Karma Tennis]

RF97 autograph is used by Fed, therefore the best

Best Wilson racquet for sure.

But Babolat AeroPro Drive is the best racquet overall because it is the racquet of choice for the male player who has achieved the most Major Title wins in the history of the sport.

Seriously though, if you enjoy the Blade, stick with a Blade and tinker with weight and string configuration to refine. Imho, finding the right racquet is 90% of the battle. The remaining 10% is racquet customisation and string configuration (ie string type and tension.)

 

[forzamr_b]

Just a quick update to close the loop on this thread. After predominantly playing with the RF97A the past 1.5 months, it has surpassed my Blades as my racket of choice . It just feels so good to strike with and half volleys have never been so effortless!

It can be a struggle when playing against way more skilled opponents, but it's ok as I don't play competitively. For me, enjoyment trumps results. And when I do struggle it just serves as a reminder for me to work on my preparation, technique, and footwork.

 

[Karma Tennis]

If you want to tinker, you could replace the leather grip with something lighter. It would reduce the static weight of the racquet quite a bit but it would also make the racquet a lot closer to Even Balance. Depending on a player's level, that can be of benefit.

 

[forzamr_b]

If you want to tinker, you could replace the leather grip with something lighter. It would reduce the static weight of the racquet quite a bit but it would also make the racquet a lot closer to Even Balance. Depending on a player's level, that can be of benefit.

Thanks for the tip. I did do that with my 1st 2 RFs. But because they were a grip size too small, I ended up having to use a thick replacement grip + 3 overgrips which brought it back up to a similar weight and made it 3pt more HL. I just accquired a 3rd RF at the right grip size and played with a leather grip + 1 overgrip for the first time. It wasn't as uncomfortable as some make leather out to be and now I understand the appeal of feeling the bevels. So I might stick with this for the better feel and balance for now. But if I do get desperate, I'll consider a thin synthetic replacement grip and see how the balance changes.

 

[Karma Tennis]

Thanks for the tip. I did do that with my 1st 2 RFs. But because they were a grip size too small, I ended up having to use a thick replacement grip + 3 overgrips which brought it back up to a similar weight and made it 3pt more HL. I just accquired a 3rd RF at the right grip size and played with a leather grip + 1 overgrip for the first time. It wasn't as uncomfortable as some make leather out to be and now I understand the appeal of feeling the bevels. So I might stick with this for the better feel and balance for now. But if I do get desperate, I'll consider a thin synthetic replacement grip and see how the balance changes.

Another thing you could try is the "Rafa Solution". Although you might baulk at the idea.

If your grip size is too small, just try taping your fingers especially on your forehand side... if you are a right hander, then right hand etc. You might be surprised at how much bigger the grip feels in your hand that way. It will also protect your fingers from blisters.

 

[Fintft]

I'd try the new TF40s, all the different weights and string patterns.
Then I'd try the Yonex Vcore Pro 97D
Or if you want something lighter the Vcore Pro 97 310g, the 310g has a 16x19 but people say it is very controlled
The 97D is great, easy power and plow, plus stability and control

Prokennex Doppio > TF40

 

[forzamr_b]

Another thing you could try is the "Rafa Solution". Although you might baulk at the idea.

If your grip size is too small, just try taping your fingers especially on your forehand side... if you are a right hander, then right hand etc. You might be surprised at how much bigger the grip feels in your hand that way. It will also protect your fingers from blisters.

Thanks for the tip. Will give it a go.

 

[Fintft]

Prokennex Doppio > TF40

Please ignore the above (if you haven't done it already), as the string was simply brand new, hence the stiffnes.

I had too many matches to play and didn't trust the TF40 racquet to try it for longer and instead I went to my tested Prokennex Doppio. It was only today, when the same strings got old on the Prokennex that I playeda match with the two TF40 305 18M prev gen and I liked it a lot, for the extra power and didn't feel stiff.

 

[forzamr_b]

It seems my preferences change with the wind hahaha... The RF97A has taken a back seat to the 6.1 90s. Was enticed by its appreciation thread to try them. Really loving the thin box beam and how they cut through the air so much better than the RFs without sacrificing much power and plow through.

Have tried the K90 US and Asian versions, and the BLX 2013. K90 US is tops for me at the moment. Just got my hands on the PS90 2014 but have only practiced serves with it so far. Nevertheless, I felt like I served best with the PS90. Can't wait for tmr when I'll get to hit with it for the first time!

 

[socallefty]

Why do you think there is such a thing as an ideal racquet when a racquet’s performance on power, control, comfort, feel etc. can be changed so dramatically over a wide range by changing strings, gauges, tensions etc. Try stringing a racquet with 17g natural gut and 15 gauge stiff poly at the same tension and then 10-15 pounds higher or lower - you will feel like you have four different racquets. Just pick one that somewhat works and fine tune to your liking with string jobs.

Only a few specs like head size, beam width, swing weight and stiffness (or vibration frequency) matter a lot and you have to find the range that you like on those specs. Once you have a racquet that is within your range of specs, you can just buy the brand and paintjob you like the best and fine tune it with stringing.

 

[forzamr_b]

Why do you think there is such a thing as an ideal racquet when a racquet’s performance on power, control, comfort, feel etc. can be changed so dramatically over a wide range by changing strings, gauges, tensions etc. Try stringing a racquet with 17g natural gut and 15 gauge stiff poly at the same tension and then 10-15 pounds higher or lower - you will feel like you have four different racquets. Just pick one that somewhat works and fine tune to your liking with string jobs.

Only a few specs like head size, beam width, swing weight and stiffness (or vibration frequency) matter a lot and you have to find the range that you like on those specs. Once you have a racquet that is within your range of specs, you can just buy the brand and paintjob you like the best and fine tune it with stringing.

I agree that string, tension, gauge will influence the performance and feel of the racket. But so does the frame. My journey this far has been to explore my preferences on the key specs you've highlighted.

First to be established was static weight, then swing weight, then balance, then head size and beam width. Before I was clueless but now I know my racket's strung specs has to be: static weight between 340g to 370g, I SW >= 320, balance of at least 5.5 HL, beam width of <=18mm.

But having tried a few from the PS90 line, even with similar specs, the feel of the racket is different. It could be stiffness, frame composition, weight distribution etc. So forgive me for wanting to explore.

I think I'm close to the end of my exploration. I'm pretty pleased with the 90s and now it's just between the K90 and PS90 (unless I can get my hands on a Tour 90). After which, I'll be turning my attention to strings. I have a few on my list to try

 

[socallefty]

But having tried a few from the PS90 line, even with similar specs, the feel of the racket is different. It could be stiffness, frame composition, weight distribution etc. So forgive me for wanting to explore

If you demo each racquet with one string job, you just get a glimpse of how it performs and feels only with that string job. If it is poly, the age of the string job affects how it feels a lot too. Feel is affected a lot by the age of strings as poly goes dead so fast.

If you really like two racquets and want to choose between them, buy both and try them with different string jobs that are identical before deciding which you like better. Or you can just buy the one that looks better and tune it to your liking by experimenting with string jobs.

Surprised that you like 90 sq inch racquets the best as almost no competitive player plays with small sizes below 95 sq inches anymore. The 95-98 sq inch racquets offer pros without too many cons and typically have huge sweet spots compared to 90s.

It sounds like you like racquets that Federer uses and I’m guessing that you are his fan. You might want to consider how much you are being biased by your fandom while you think that you are doing a careful scientific evaluation. It is common for big Federer fans to state that one of the racquet models he has used is the best racquet ever made and perfect for their game.

 

[forzamr_b]

If you demo each racquet with one string job, you just get a glimpse of how it performs and feels only with that string job. If it is poly, the age of the string job affects how it feels a lot too. Feel is affected a lot by the age of strings as poly goes dead so fast.

If you really like two racquets and want to choose between them, buy both and try them with different string jobs that are identical before deciding which you like better. Or you can just buy the one that looks better and tune it to your liking by experimenting with string jobs.

Surprised that you like 90 sq inch racquets the best as almost no competitive player plays with small sizes below 95 sq inches anymore. The 95-98 sq inch racquets offer pros without too many cons and typically have huge sweet spots compared to 90s.

It sounds like you like racquets that Federer uses and I’m guessing that you are his fan. You might want to consider how much you are being biased by your fandom while you think that you are doing a careful scientific evaluation. It is common for big Federer fans to state that one of the racquet models he has used is the best racquet ever made and perfect for their game.

Not a Fed fan, though I appreciate his gracefulness on the court. I grew up admiring Sampras and as a consequence built up brand loyalty with Wilson in part because of him and because they are the dominant brand in tennis. That said, it hasn't stopped me from demoing Babolat and Yonex rackets and I'm on the look out to demo a Prince Phantom 93p as it matches my current spec preferences.

I should also point out that with any racket I get, I'll test it as is if the string interests me and the tension is acceptable. If it passes, then I'll invest in my default string setup of Hyper G 115mm at 28kg string bed stiffness using the Stringway guide. I also assess my performance using stats I obtain from the SwingVision app against players of similar or higher standard. For rackets with similar performance stats, the final determine factor is my feel. So I have tried to remain as objective as possible, without the endeavour being too burdensome.

Re: 90 inch rackets. I'm surprised too. But the fact is I got bagelled in the first set against a better player using a Blade 98 2013, but lost 4-6 using the K90 in the 2nd. You may brush it off as a one-off, but how I felt during the game was enough to convince me I prefer heavier rackets.

 

[socallefty]

Re: 90 inch rackets. I'm surprised too. But the fact is I got bagelled in the first set against a better player using a Blade 98 2013, but lost 4-6 using the K90 in the 2nd. You may brush it off as a one-off, but how I felt during the game was enough to convince me I prefer heavier rackets.

Try a Pure Strike Tour - 12 ozs and 98 sq inches. I play with it after demoing all the heavier midplus racquets and love it. I’ve played only with 12 oz 97-98 sq inch racquets for 20 years after playing with the heavier, smaller Max200G and Sting racquets before that.