tim-ay
Legend
Yeah I saw that a few weeks ago. That’s fking crazy
Official Wilson Clash thread
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tim-ay
Legend
Ive been hitting with the 98 for a few months now. I think I’ve gotten used to it, because feel is at least decent for me now. Tour sniper at 50 just plays really well overall.
I’ve been flirting with a few other frames but decided tonight that I like the 98 overall better than the new pure drive. Which is surprising to me but - hey- I’m happy about it. Just seems to have a lot more control, slightly less power, way more comfort, and a different sort of feel on touch shots.
WYK
Hall of Fame
He's trying to find the same thing I was looking for. Feel. I would go further testing, but my wife uses the stick now. I am nearly fully healed and back to my 340g Prince NXG's.
tim-ay
Legend
Dude probably adds 25-30 grams to the handle and who knows how much more to the hoop. But making the clash a 13 ounce racket isn’t going to find feel. I’m not sure what he’s searching for.
Edit. He has 16g of lead and the 1/2 size shrink wrap. Can’t remember but think those are around 12grams. I have one somewhere but don’t feel like weighing it tonight.
WYK
Hall of Fame
Feel isn't just flex or vibration or over all weight. It's also swing weight. He has been using heavy sticks since he was young with high swing weights. I've used 12 ounce racquets, but with medium to low swingweights.
I am comfortable with my 12 ounce NXG's, and was using a set of 12.4 ounce 97S for a while.
I like the Clash, quite a lot, in fact. But I just play better with the NXG's, and they feel much better to boot. My honeymoon was during my injury. Now I am nearly healed and can swing my usual stick.
tim-ay
Legend
I hear you. He likes a heavy racket. I get that, I still love six ones. But why do that to a clash? There are way better platforms for that type of racket.
I haven’t hit the regular clash much but the 98 is all about modern swing path. I’m guessing the regular clash is too. Making that racket that heavy is just down a weird path given all of the other great options out there.
WYK
Hall of Fame
His RHS is a standard recreational level RHS. Having a bit more weight helps with feel, control, spin, and power usually for the same stroke. I did find more power leading up my Clash 100. The bad thing is I didn't need it.
I would think he could have done better going with a Gravity or Prince etc and leading it up, too. Maybe he wants the 54 flex more than anything. Personally, my 97s feels more flexy than my Clash does.
But the proof is in the pudding, I was able to play through my elbow problems using the Clash when the 97s just simply stopped working for me, and was just pain to swing.
I put a few sticks up in hopes to get a clash in trade to continue leading it up and messing with it since it's just such an intriguing stick.
I would think he could have done better going with a Gravity or Prince etc and leading it up, too. Maybe he wants the 54 flex more than anything. Personally, my 97s feels more flexy than my Clash does.
But the proof is in the pudding, I was able to play through my elbow problems using the Clash when the 97s just simply stopped working for me, and was just pain to swing.
I put a few sticks up in hopes to get a clash in trade to continue leading it up and messing with it since it's just such an intriguing stick.
tim-ay
Legend
There is an adjustment period. At first you will find it quite a bit higher. But after playing with it, now it is very easy for me to control it. I can go big or really drive it if I want to. This has been a surprise for me and one of the reasons I’m enamored with the frame. I can get balls that look pure drive-esque or balls that look like they are coming off a players frame. I’ve been playing a lot of tennis lately so YMMV.
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
It's more like the Blade's launch angle, maybe even a bit more.
MasterZeb
Hall of Fame
So you found the launch angle to be lower than that of the RF97?
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
No, the RF had a lower launch angle. I am currently hitting with the new PS 97 V13, which also has a lower launch angle than the Clash. The Clash is easy to get used to though and fun to hit with.
Burn
New User
I don't know about the Ezone but I have one Prestige 360+ Tour and don't think it's more powerful than the Clash Tour at all. And both extended to 27,5". I also couldn't adapte to the head shape and although it's 99sq it feels like a 97 or so. I've tried a few rackets in the last month against my Clashes Pro:
Prestige Tour
Ultra Tour
first edition of the old Youtek Speed Pro (335g unstrung)
Gravity Pro
I couldn't bare the weight of the Speed Pro, since the weight is mostly in the hoop. So, is unplayable to me.
The Ultra Tour (weighted strung to 340g) is a fantastic feeling racket with loads of plow (since weighted) but it makes me to change my mechanics to use it properly. This is probably the best Wilson racket in terms of feel (classic).
The Prestige Tour has a nice feel but has a very small sweetspot. Has nice pop but only if you commit, meaning what you put is what you get. I like it but no wow factor here.
The Gravity Pro was a big surprise to me. Very different from the Clash but does almost everything well with great comfort. Better Plow than the Clash and better kick serves but not so easy to play with. It requires more of you than the Clash. I've considered to switch to this one really and if I didn't have my Clashes, this would be my racket. Is that good! I defend and serve better with the Clash overall.
Tonight I will try a relic from the 90s. It's a Wilson ProStaff 6.1 classic 110sq Stretch. I used to play with the 95sq back in the day and loved those sticks. Never played this version and I'm curious. It feels like a players racket and not those Granny frying pans. It weights 350g with strings!
So, so far, the Clash Pro rules and even better now since I tried it with Dunlop Black Widow at 21kg
Funny, I thought I was being irrational switching between a weighted Clash 100 and the Gravity Pro and Tour--they are quite different! For me it's forgiveness vs. feel. Since you like the GPro, you might want to try a GTour. It's lighter than the Pro and I get similar RHS to the Clash (whereas I tend to slow-up over a match with the Pro). I'm currently trying the Tour with Hyper G to push up the spin just a touch. I added a bit of lead at 12 to get a little more pop on my serve and swapped in a leather grip for balance.
Burn
New User
I must say my GPro is customized by Ring & Rolls to 27,5” which brought the static weight to 320g unstrung and the swingweight to 350. It is strung with Yonex Polytour Fire at 21kg (wanted to try this out). I like it a lot (the racket I mean, not so much the string). So, the reason I don’t think I’ll try the Tour is because it’s just too light for me. I tried the MP though but it feels like a toy.
I must try the Pro with my go to string (black widow) but i’m afraid to like it even more than my Clashes Pro
My Clashes are also extended and weighted to 340g strung and they’re perfect...I feel very connected. I honestly think I could get used to play with the GPro very easily.
Did you switch to the Gravity for good?
Not yet decided. I do enjoy my GPro as well! I am intending to try thinner strings to ease up its swingweight (which you, obviously, have no problem with!), currently 343 at 343 grams strung static weight (probably about the same as yours!). I was thinking it might be fun to extend the Gravity Tour a little--it would never have occurred to me to extend the GPro!
What strung balance do you end up with in your GPro? It sounds pretty head-heavy!
Interesting idea! The Clash handle is clearly larger than my Gravity handles, so this might be a useful exercise for two reasons.
Unfortunately he never explained what exactly he was trying to accomplish with all that weight (other than...weight).
tim-ay
Legend
yeah. Maybe symmetry and a roll of the fat lead tape laying around that you want to use up. A 13 oz clash- well really what could possibly be the point. Better frames out there for that. Still it would be fun to hit it and break the strings in 45 minutes a la Jolly.
AlittleMad
New User
I wonder if I will love the clash 100 (295) ? If I love flex feeling like Nblade 98, Rqis 1 tour, Radical mp microgel ... meaning I love to feel the racquet flex on contact, long long dwell time, but want more easy power, could the clash 100 be a good choice ?
Someone tried the clash and the textreme tour 100T to compare ? I have actually the prince, but I am looking for something a bit easier to play, and if it is flexible, it is really cool.
Someone tried the clash and the textreme tour 100T to compare ? I have actually the prince, but I am looking for something a bit easier to play, and if it is flexible, it is really cool.
AlittleMad
New User
Thank you, and what about control ? I like the control of the prince, with the clash is it good too ?
Babolix
Rookie
I'd say the opposite : the PRince Tour 100T as far better control than Clash 100. I ended witht he Clash 98 which was (for me) a Blade with easier playability, power and spin.
If you're into control and like flexy racquet, go for the Gravity line that will give you way more feel. Clash line lacks feel...
If you're into control and like flexy racquet, go for the Gravity line that will give you way more feel. Clash line lacks feel...
Burn
New User
Yes, leather will add 20 to 25g to the handle and will make it too headlight. I’ve removed the original cushion grip and replaced it for two overgrips. Added feel and less weight to the handle therefore it becomes less headlight
Burn
New User
I haven’t measured yet the balance strung. After the extension job the balance was 32,5 cm unstrung. With strings and dampener is still headlight but must be around 4pts although I feel the mass distribution is mostly in the head.
Extended rackets have an higher swingweight. If is that what you seek it’s a great way without adding much weight but you’ll have an adjusting period to fix timing.
Burn
New User
Quite accurate! I’m using Dunlop Black Widow 17 (1.26) and since it’s a lively string and tension drops rather quickly I started at 46lbs. Now it has dropped to around 42lbs and the strings are less lively and the outcome is pretty much as you describe and I’m loving it. I’m completely in tune with my Clash Pro!
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
I've been enjoying an ezone 98 extended lately so I got one of my Clash Tour extended as well to 27.5 Only briefly tried last night and this AM since I've got league play tonight and I'll probably use the yonex. Once I got used to the timing of Clash it was very fun to hit with power. I'll have to see against different opponents and different balls.
You get the added power from leverage and added SW but get that natural easy spin that the Clash gives on power shots. I'll give it more time maybe this week. I'll give the edge to yonex for precision but they are both really fun to hit with from the baseline.
Specs are something like 330g, 32.5bal and 340SW.
You get the added power from leverage and added SW but get that natural easy spin that the Clash gives on power shots. I'll give it more time maybe this week. I'll give the edge to yonex for precision but they are both really fun to hit with from the baseline.
Specs are something like 330g, 32.5bal and 340SW.
tim-ay
Legend
This is an interesting idea. Did you use one of those fancy heat shrink butt caps?
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
No, printed buttcap. Iteration #2, #1 didnt last 10minutes lol. This one has a few hours, so far so good. Idea came after playing more with extended ezone. I then modded the Clash at 340sw to see how it would sort of feel . The regular tour with lead at 12 (6g up to 340sw), no counter weight, is also very fun and nice to swing with. You still get a head light, light weight but high swing weight.
Someone may have already covered this, but I just wanted to mention that the feel in my weighted-up Clash 100 is *much* better since putting a leather grip on it. I've accepted a bit more handle weight (even more head-light), but with the payback of finally having a bit of stringbed feel after months of failed experiments with various strings (using full bed of Tour Bite 17, BTW).
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
Nothing in the head? I guess if its regular Clash it comes down to around 31.5 which is like the stock Tour. I'd bet it gives more feel adding the leather.
Yes, I have 3g at 12, 1g each at 3 and 9, and 2g in the lower hoop (hadn't realized I had so much lead on this guy!). Balance is 31.8 with leather and an overgrip, 340g static weight. This may not be surprising to others, but I have not previously experienced such a change in feel by changing to leather. The Clash is a strange beast, though, with all the flex tech and, perhaps more importantly, the foamless, palletless hairpin. Having the grip sit directly on carbon fiber may make it more sensitive to grip characteristics than other racquets. Anyway, leather may be worth a try if you are annoyed by lack of feel in the Clash family!
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Bluenose62
New User
After many attempts I’ve finally found a string set up for my Clash 100. Tier One FireWire mains and Ghostwire crosses at 54lb, love it.
Hefty Lefty
New User
Having read all post from square 1 on this thread, I'm still undecided which Clash to get. I played with the Tour for a few hours with dead Solinco Confidential and liked it a lot, except the serves. I played with the '100' for half an hour with Alu Power. I liked it less than the Tour except for the serves. I guess I can always customize it to Tour specs. But then I face two dilemmas.
First, I will get the racket from Japan where they also sell '100S', same as the 100 except it's 16x18. Very few direct comparisons even in Japanese but obviously people point out better spin. As I hit with a lot of spin, that may be a good thing. (??) Now I play with either Prince TT 100p - not enough spin, or Prince TT95 - enough spin but not enough power, also I bit small for my level (around 3.5 - 4.0)
Second, the price of all Clash models in Japan is reduced to about half of any other Wilson rackets (to about $140) which makes me wonder if ver.2.0 is coming? And they are popular, so that's not it.
Anybody played with the 100s here or know about ver.2.0?
First, I will get the racket from Japan where they also sell '100S', same as the 100 except it's 16x18. Very few direct comparisons even in Japanese but obviously people point out better spin. As I hit with a lot of spin, that may be a good thing. (??) Now I play with either Prince TT 100p - not enough spin, or Prince TT95 - enough spin but not enough power, also I bit small for my level (around 3.5 - 4.0)
Second, the price of all Clash models in Japan is reduced to about half of any other Wilson rackets (to about $140) which makes me wonder if ver.2.0 is coming? And they are popular, so that's not it.
Anybody played with the 100s here or know about ver.2.0?
Rosstour
G.O.A.T.
I played with one of these yesterday, loved it and am considering switching. Such easy power and depth. So much stability.
Felt harder to generate RHS on the serve and overhead, but my groundies were so much deeper and easier to place. I shank a lot of balls with my Warrior but that didn't happen with the Clash at all.
Felt harder to generate RHS on the serve and overhead, but my groundies were so much deeper and easier to place. I shank a lot of balls with my Warrior but that didn't happen with the Clash at all.
Clash Ah ah
Rookie
I did the same during the big lockdown in the UK around March. Bit the bullet and decided to go for a Pro/Tour. I love it. Previously played with a pure aero and pure drive. I much prefer the clash pro. My all round game has improved with it.
I’ve enjoyed using tour bite 17 and I’m now trying hyper g 18 - two sessions in, playing great. Serves are better and getting more spin for ground stroke angles too.
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
Clash plays well with weight as well if you want to add some to 12. It always seems to swing lighter then it is. No need to counter balance.
Wilson should come up with an extended version of the Clash ! Maybe just a good night, but spent more time with mine at 27.5 and it was (well I was) hitting awesome. Super solid at net, spin and power when you want from the baseline. It didn't care if it was a soft ball or heavy one coming back, it remained the same solid with flexy feel. Feels also better to me on touch shots as well with the added swingweight. Backhand is awesome since that change on both 2 hander and slice shots. @WYK You don't want to give the extended another chance
? I think you mentionned it became too flexy with the added length ?
I thought about leather like @alpenglo suggested and appreciates but I like the light weight, high swing weight for now. I kind of like the balance like that as well for my backhand.
Wilson should come up with an extended version of the Clash ! Maybe just a good night, but spent more time with mine at 27.5 and it was (well I was) hitting awesome. Super solid at net, spin and power when you want from the baseline. It didn't care if it was a soft ball or heavy one coming back, it remained the same solid with flexy feel. Feels also better to me on touch shots as well with the added swingweight. Backhand is awesome since that change on both 2 hander and slice shots. @WYK You don't want to give the extended another chance
? I think you mentionned it became too flexy with the added length ?I thought about leather like @alpenglo suggested and appreciates but I like the light weight, high swing weight for now. I kind of like the balance like that as well for my backhand.
WYK
Hall of Fame
It just felt odd. I didn't like it. My main racquet nowadays is a Prince NXG. It has a flex of 63, but has a very stiff hoop with the prototype EXO3 ports in it. The CLash can't compare to these for feel and spin. But the Clash is very forgiving, has just as big a sweetspot, and is easier on my arm. I can swap between the two because their sweetspots are the same size and distance from my hand even though the NXG is 1/4inch extended. Once I extended the Clash, it just fell too far from the NXG for me to be able to use it.
This is the first time I've heard of the 100s Clash. Any way to get one in the US?
Burn
New User
Clash plays well with weight as well if you want to add some to 12. It always seems to swing lighter then it is. No need to counter balance.
Wilson should come up with an extended version of the Clash ! Maybe just a good night, but spent more time with mine at 27.5 and it was (well I was) hitting awesome. Super solid at net, spin and power when you want from the baseline. It didn't care if it was a soft ball or heavy one coming back, it remained the same solid with flexy feel. Feels also better to me on touch shots as well with the added swingweight. Backhand is awesome since that change on both 2 hander and slice shots. @WYK You don't want to give the extended another chance
I thought about leather like @alpenglo suggested and appreciates but I like the light weight, high swing weight for now. I kind of like the balance like that as well for my backhand.
I only play with extended rackets these days and extended my clash Pro’s since I bought them. I tried to have it professionally extended by Ring & Rolls in Germany but for somewhat technical reason they can’t do it with the Clash (there are very few they can’t make that customization and unfortunately the Clash is one of them) so, I’ve installed those XTP butcaps and it came out great and stable, although it increases the grip size slightly. Plus it is a reversible solution. I’ve also added 10g to 3&9 and the outcome is fantastic. Great plow, easy power and still controlled and plush.
Wilson should have extended versions in the Clash line as Babolat does with the PD line.
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
Nice setup !
The handle is graphite, its not foam like other racquets. I imagine Ring and Rolls do extended handles, which we did for my Ezone, but it was a matter of scrapping the foam handle and sliding the new handle. We had to get a but cap as well for the clash but that makes it a few steps easier to reverse which is nice, like you mentioned for XTP.
Damn, added 10g!! I was thinking how good it was that I was getting acclimated easily with the higher extended swing weight. You have it to another level, must be a beast of a racquet ! You got yours to 27.5 ? I tried to add a bit of weight at 3-9 this summer but thought it didn't swing as easily but was extra solid. You must be now around 360 SW and a twist weight of like 16.
Burn
New User
When you say “we did” what do you mean?
Ahahahahah 10g it seems worst than it is really. The overall static weight is 340g. The swingweight must be around 350 but coming from the Bisner (John Isner’s Prince Textreme Beast 100 LB) which had a 350 swingweight stock and I still added 5g to 3&9, I’m really down stepping on SW. That one yes was a total beast. Compared my Clash Pro extended to 27.5” is a tamed beast really but as solid as a RF97. The best attribute I would say is the incremented plow but it retained the inbuilt control.
