Is my Blade a pro stock?

pitsquared · Jul 12, 2016

Maybe a year ago I bought what was advertised as an H22 from a gentleman in Singapore but what he sent me did not look like an H22. It looked like a blade so I let him know and he ended up sending me the H22 and letting me keep the blade which he said was a pro stock that he got from the big auction site. I think he tried to get one over on me but hey I got two nice frames out of it. Anyways the frame has a molded handle and very neatly done silicone in the handle but other than that I can't distinguish it from a retail blade which I've never held. It's a super solid frame and pretty plush feeling. I ended up giving it to my dad but my gf plays extremely well with it and I'm going to try to get one for her. Other than demoing a retail blade to compare the two frames, is there an easier way to distinguish a pro stock blade from a retail blade?

vsbabolat · Jul 12, 2016

Photos would help a lot.

pitsquared · Jul 12, 2016

How so? Is there something distinguishing the two? I can upload some pics later

dak95_00 · Jul 12, 2016

Don't question vs on such issues. He's definitely an expert and if he asks for pictures, post the pictures. What he says goes!

Other than that, I'm sure there are plenty of threads already about this stuff. VS will be able to tell you though just based upon pics.

pitsquared · Jul 12, 2016

All I did was ask him what exactly he'd be looking for because it'll take me awhile to upload pics. It's good to know you're a fan of his though. Everyone needs support.

Pleb123 · Jul 12, 2016

pitsquared said:
Maybe a year ago I bought what was advertised as an H22 from a gentleman in Singapore but what he sent me did not look like an H22. It looked like a blade so I let him know and he ended up sending me the H22 and letting me keep the blade which he said was a pro stock that he got from the big auction site. I think he tried to get one over on me but hey I got two nice frames out of it. Anyways the frame has a molded handle and very neatly done silicone in the handle but other than that I can't distinguish it from a retail blade which I've never held. It's a super solid frame and pretty plush feeling. I ended up giving it to my dad but my gf plays extremely well with it and I'm going to try to get one for her. Other than demoing a retail blade to compare the two frames, is there an easier way to distinguish a pro stock blade from a retail blade?

Posting weight and HL balance specs of the 'pro stock' would also help. For example, if your racquet including silicone weighs the same or less than the retail specs then that would tend to indicate a lighter than retail hairpin pro stock. I don't think the molded handle indicates anything different because from memory the retail stick has a molded handle also. However, if the shape of the handle mold was more rectangular like Head (or more rounded like Prince, etc) compared to a retail Wilson, that would indicate pro stock.

pitsquared · Jul 13, 2016

Pleb123 said:
Posting weight and HL balance specs of the 'pro stock' would also help. For example, if your racquet including silicone weighs the same or less than the retail specs then that would tend to indicate a lighter than retail hairpin pro stock. I don't think the molded handle indicates anything different because from memory the retail stick has a molded handle also. However, if the shape of the handle mold was more rectangular like Head (or more rounded like Prince, etc) compared to a retail Wilson, that would indicate pro stock.

I'll check the specs tomorrow when I get ahold of it. I wish I could measure the flex because I believe the pro stock is less stiff than the retail version. It plays very similarly to an H22 regarding power, spin, comfort and just how solid it is. I would be surprised (happily) if it was a retail frame.

Alan_Hill · Jul 13, 2016

People used to think Wilson prostock is H19 or H22, since Raonic and Goffin using the actual Blade mold, I've seen some guys selling the Wilson blade prostock on some auction sites.
Here are some pics of the prostock blade, same mold to the retail. I believe they come in different layup just like H22 so the spec can be various. It's hard to tell if only looking at the pics. But I've heard the blade prostock also use the pallet handle like H22. Anyone has experience please share your thoughts.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pleb123 · Jul 13, 2016

Don't know about Blade pro stock but my H22 had a molded handle not pallets.

leejayh · Jul 13, 2016

I have two different Blade 98 16x19's (green bumper guard) bought at two different times. One has silicone in the handle. The other has foam. Really annoying. I have not weighed them, but was hoping they would both have silicone. My guess is that either one of these was pro-stock, or Wilson made them differently in different manufacturing plants.

Minion · Jul 13, 2016

@Alan_Hill

They look identical - which one is the pro stock?

dr325i · Jul 13, 2016

pitsquared said:
How so? Is there something distinguishing the two? I can upload some pics later

The H22 is a squarish beam vs. Blade "D" like beam.
Also, the string pattern (although still 18x20 for example) may be drilled differently - the H22 has 2 crossing strings on the bottom side of the hoop, blade has 3...
There may be other differences, too...

pitsquared · Jul 13, 2016

dr325i said:
The H22 is a squarish beam vs. Blade "D" like beam.
Also, the string pattern (although still 18x20 for example) may be drilled differently - the H22 has 2 crossing strings on the bottom side of the hoop, blade has 3...
There may be other differences, too...

Oh I know what distinguishes an h22 from a blade. I've owned several h22. I'm trying to distinguish a pro stock blade from a retail blade. Thank you nevertheless

pitsquared · Jul 13, 2016

leejayh said:
I have two different Blade 98 16x19's (green bumper guard) bought at two different times. One has silicone in the handle. The other has foam. Really annoying. I have not weighed them, but was hoping they would both have silicone. My guess is that either one of these was pro-stock, or Wilson made them differently in different manufacturing plants.

That's interesting. Where did you get the blade with silicone? I've never heard of a retail blade with silicone.

pitsquared · Jul 13, 2016

Alan_Hill said:
People used to think Wilson prostock is H19 or H22, since Raonic and Goffin using the actual Blade mold, I've seen some guys selling the Wilson blade prostock on some auction sites.
Here are some pics of the prostock blade, same mold to the retail. I believe they come in different layup just like H22 so the spec can be various. It's hard to tell if only looking at the pics. But I've heard the blade prostock also use the pallet handle like H22. Anyone has experience please share your thoughts.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh I didn't know they came in different layups. I've only seen pro stock blades in sub 60 ra. And I've seen h22 with both molded and pallet handles so I'm assuming the blades are the same. It probably has to do with the player's preference.

Crocodile · Jul 14, 2016

What's the feel of the H22 like?

dr325i · Jul 14, 2016

Crocodile said:
What's the feel of the H22 like?

As Alan pointed out - they vary with different layups. I've had some very soft and flexy and some on a stiff side...

cmendez79 · Jul 14, 2016

Crocodile said:
What's the feel of the H22 like?

Like dr325i is saying not all H22 are equal, they have different flex, but normally they are all very soft with some exceptions.

Right know I have 6 H22, at all are super soft and flexy, they were my answer to my TE, for the last year and a half I was playing with the RF97A , and I was playing awesome, but it was killing my arm, so I was looking for a replacement and ended up with the H22 which were customize almost to the RF97A but with a flex of 61, so it was a dream come true for me! great rackets.

pitsquared · Jul 14, 2016

Crocodile said:
What's the feel of the H22 like?

Almost every h22 I've seen is between 58-60ra and it's a very solid, plush, powerful frame. They're very high in sw. The more I play with the Angell tc95 the more I feel the similarities.

wsk429 · Jul 14, 2016

pitsquared said:
Maybe a year ago I bought what was advertised as an H22 from a gentleman in Singapore but what he sent me did not look like an H22. It looked like a blade so I let him know and he ended up sending me the H22 and letting me keep the blade which he said was a pro stock that he got from the big auction site. I think he tried to get one over on me but hey I got two nice frames out of it. Anyways the frame has a molded handle and very neatly done silicone in the handle but other than that I can't distinguish it from a retail blade which I've never held. It's a super solid frame and pretty plush feeling. I ended up giving it to my dad but my gf plays extremely well with it and I'm going to try to get one for her. Other than demoing a retail blade to compare the two frames, is there an easier way to distinguish a pro stock blade from a retail blade?

Unless you're trying to resale these sticks to make a profit of thousands of...pennies, why does it matter if they're pro stock or not? If they feel good and your game is going well, how does the knowledge further help?

pitsquared · Jul 14, 2016

wsk429 said:
Unless you're trying to resale these sticks to make a profit of thousands of...pennies, why does it matter if they're pro stock or not? If they feel good and your game is going well, how does the knowledge further help?

We'll if you read the OP then you'll see that I gave the frame to my father and I want to get an identical one for my girlfriend who enjoys playing with it.

Jster · Jul 14, 2016

If you got them from ________68 then they are real.

pitsquared · Jul 14, 2016

Jster said:
If you got them from ________68 then they are real.

They are not from Gary.

Jster · Jul 14, 2016

pitsquared said:
They are not from Gary.

I can't help you as a singaporean then.I have no idea about the seller.

Jster · Jul 14, 2016

Jster said:
I can't help you as a singaporean then.. I have no clue who is the seller.

Automatix · Jul 14, 2016

dr325i said:
As Alan pointed out - they vary with different molds. I've had some very soft and flexy and some on a stiff side...

I think you meant layups.

dr325i · Jul 14, 2016

Automatix said:
I think you meant layups.

Correct, thanks

vsbabolat · Jul 14, 2016

Alan_Hill said:
People used to think Wilson prostock is H19 or H22, since Raonic and Goffin using the actual Blade mold, I've seen some guys selling the Wilson blade prostock on some auction sites.
Here are some pics of the prostock blade, same mold to the retail. I believe they come in different layup just like H22 so the spec can be various. It's hard to tell if only looking at the pics. But I've heard the blade prostock also use the pallet handle like H22. Anyone has experience please share your thoughts.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those look glossy. The retail Blade 18x20 is matte now.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Blade_98_18x20/descpageRCWILSON-B98GR.html

Chadillac · Jul 14, 2016

Look at the holes, i think the 5th on the bottom from the center is spaced differently than on normal blades.

TennisHound · Jul 14, 2016

pitsquared said:
That's interesting. Where did you get the blade with silicone? I've never heard of a retail blade with silicone.

Both of my retail Blade 16x19s have a little bit of silicon in the handle. It could be an effort to improve QC.

Is my Blade a pro stock?

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