Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson Clash v3

fed1

Professional
Shaped poly in thin gauge, at low tensions. 35-45lb is perfect IMO. Combines high dwell time with the high flex and the racquet becomes a catapult

I use Cyclone Tour 17 but have been messing with the @j0llyroger combo of Lynx Tour main/Hawk Touch cross and that has played amazing as well
Hyper G Soft 1.25 at 46lbs is where I ended up on the Clash Pro V2, it worked really well.
 

A_Instead

Legend
I couldn't tame the clash or clash pro..I couldn't tame the Pure Drive either..
I wasn't good enough and can't go up in tension either..
I prefer the RF 01 and Ezone 100..I can use both effectively.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
I couldn't tame the clash or clash pro..I couldn't tame the Pure Drive either..
I wasn't good enough and can't go up in tension either..
I prefer the RF 01 and Ezone 100..I can use both effectively.

Haven't hit with the RF01 but it seems like it would be even more demanding to play with, no?
 

A_Instead

Legend
Not a matter of demanding.. which the RF 01 is..
The clash can be a wild pony at times that I could not control..
Hence I am not good enough to tame it.
I swing to big to control the power of the clash..
It takes skills to harness power of powerful rackets.
But once you do..one can use that to their advantage..
 

Mr.Lob

G.O.A.T.
Bought the Clash 108 V2 about a month ago.. $169. Mainly for arm issues... which seems to be helping. Strung at 52 lbs, Wilson NXT, which seems a bit loose. Ill go up 2-4# next restring. Like the weight and feel of the racquet. RA rating of the V3? Think the V2 is 64.
 

Icsa

Professional
Bought the Clash 108 V2 about a month ago.. $169. Mainly for arm issues... which seems to be helping. Strung at 52 lbs, Wilson NXT, which seems a bit loose. Ill go up 2-4# next restring. Like the weight and feel of the racquet. RA rating of the V3? Think the V2 is 64.
For Clash 108 v3, the RA rating is 58 according to TW.
 

thenewbig3

Rookie
Damn tell us how you really feel

I stopped using this quote - as soon as found this out - because most of the time I was one of those two or more fools. I assume this will have the same effect on you.

This below is one of my favorite quotes with regard to tennis equipment :-D
b7f1ecc77930234fad85e1393fab96e8--stupid-people-smart-people.jpg
 

gino

Legend
I stopped using this quote - as soon as found this out - because most of the time I was one of those two or more fools. I assume this will have the same effect on you.

This below is one of my favorite quotes with regard to tennis equipment :-D
b7f1ecc77930234fad85e1393fab96e8--stupid-people-smart-people.jpg
lmao i like the twain quote. makes me feel good about the dozens of old pro staffs and prestiges i hoard. no new graphite friends needed!
 

1HBHfanatic

Legend
Anyone remember the Gen 1 play test..? that was Huge..

Anyone remember the pre market paint scheme..?
I wonder if the resale value of those are still high?
-yeah i remeber the black/gray/white "camo" look to it!!
-it was something new for wilson, they made a hughe deal about it
-i think they realised they lost that "formula" in the v2, so they are trying to go back and find it with the v3!?
 

A_Instead

Legend
Back when Gen 1 came out it was actually a new racket so high interest was there..once users found that performance didn't necessarily match marketing claims interest was lost.. they tried the same approach with the Shift..but it didn't seem to catch on.. additionally both don't have anyone using it on both Tours so the they won't capture that market of people who buy cause they see players on Tours using a particular racket..
But the Clash has a market and the fact it's on its 3rd Gen.. people are still using it and Wilson is making $ on it..
 

Fintft

G.O.A.T.
I just saw this. Hopefully not too late to toss my name into the hat.

I enjoyed the Clash 98 v1 with a little lead at 3 and 9.

I think the Clash concept in general (i.e., softer flex in a thicker beam) is sound racquet design. In fact one of my favorite racquets ever was the Aluminum-Graphite hybrid Blade Feel Team, with fatter beam but super soft flex.
Ok, but does it swings easily? For fast swings.
 

Alcawrath

Professional
Back when Gen 1 came out it was actually a new racket so high interest was there..once users found that performance didn't necessarily match marketing claims interest was lost.. they tried the same approach with the Shift..but it didn't seem to catch on.. additionally both don't have anyone using it on both Tours so the they won't capture that market of people who buy cause they see players on Tours using a particular racket..
But the Clash has a market and the fact it's on its 3rd Gen.. people are still using it and Wilson is making $ on it..
Totally agree with everything here. The clash was a fantastic idea to provide a mainstream arm friendly racquet to rec players that are aging or have fragile arms. What Wilson doesn't really have is a dedicated spin racquet. Yes you can generate spin with a number of their frames, but the shift feels too much like a wonky novelty than a serious spin frame like the aero, extreme, vcore, sx, etc. Wilson has a reputation through the pro staff and blade for being able to create frames with incredible feel, I think they missed the mark with the shift line and should create a spin line with the classic Wilson feel. Please don't try and tell me that the burn fills that role, we all know the burn is more like the head instinct than the head extreme.
 

Ombudsman

Rookie
Back when Gen 1 came out it was actually a new racket so high interest was there..once users found that performance didn't necessarily match marketing claims interest was lost.. they tried the same approach with the Shift..but it didn't seem to catch on.. additionally both don't have anyone using it on both Tours so the they won't capture that market of people who buy cause they see players on Tours using a particular racket..
But the Clash has a market and the fact it's on its 3rd Gen.. people are still using it and Wilson is making $ on it..

Clash definitely has a large market. It may not be the primary racquet for most, but for folks like myself, or those seeking simply to reduce wear and tear, the Clash is a great alternative and has a place in most bags IMO.

Yes, the Clash is super plush, the v1 more so than the v2
 

TwinCinema

Professional
Clash definitely has a large market. It may not be the primary racquet for most, but for folks like myself, or those seeking simply to reduce wear and tear, the Clash is a great alternative and has a place in most bags IMO.

Yes, the Clash is super plush, the v1 more so than the v2

I agree with this; Clash is the most common Wilson stick I see at parks and clubs outside of the Blade. It’s far more popular than ProStaff or Shift or RF01 or Ultra. For players frames Wilson has PS and Blade and Blade Pro, and Clash fills a pretty big need for recs apparently. I think the v3 will sell like hotcakes.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
I agree with this; Clash is the most common Wilson stick I see at parks and clubs outside of the Blade. It’s far more popular than ProStaff or Shift or RF01 or Ultra. For players frames Wilson has PS and Blade and Blade Pro, and Clash fills a pretty big need for recs apparently. I think the v3 will sell like hotcakes.

I wish we could stop calling it a non-player's frame

I have a couple "real" player's frames and they don't even necessarily offer more control.
 

TwinCinema

Professional
I wish we could stop calling it a non-player's frame

I have a couple "real" player's frames and they don't even necessarily offer more control.

I actually don’t even like the term “players frame.” Everyone holding a racket is a player of some kind. There’s a spectrum from beginner to Alcaraz, and for those in between you can’t cleave a line between “rec” and “player.” We like the frames that make tennis fun for us.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
I actually don’t even like the term “players frame.” Everyone holding a racket is a player of some kind. There’s a spectrum from beginner to Alcaraz, and for those in between you can’t cleave a line between “rec” and “player.” We like the frames that make tennis fun for us.

Exactly

I don't even know what disqualifies the Clash from "traditional player's frame" status, is it really the beam width? Or the bending tech?

Friends have said that it's not predictable enough and that they can't control their ball as much. But maybe they just don't understand how to use it? You have to be delicate at low speed but brutal at high speed
 

Ombudsman

Rookie
I believe the Clash is more susceptible to slight racquet face variations than most, due to its trampoline effect. We’ll see if the 16x20 pattern helps.
 

TwinCinema

Professional
I believe the Clash is more susceptible to slight racquet face variations than most, due to its trampoline effect. We’ll see if the 16x20 pattern helps.

The v2 98 was a 16x20 and I didn’t find it too erratic or uncontrolled. It’s no Blade but it’s fine. Kind of a shame there’s no v3 98.
 

PhxRacket

Hall of Fame
I love my old v1 98, chiefly when I am having some tenderness or tiredness from feeding balls and trying to find time to play competitively. I run the Hyper G Hybrid now at 47/49. It is a lot of fun. Way easier than my usual v9 Blades. Hopefully I can give the 100 Pro a go.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
I couldn't tame the clash or clash pro..I couldn't tame the Pure Drive either..
I wasn't good enough and can't go up in tension either..
I prefer the RF 01 and Ezone 100..I can use both effectively.
The 2006, 2009, and especially the 2012 Pure Drives along with the 2013 APDO and the OG APD happen to be some of the best racquets ever.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
Exactly

I don't even know what disqualifies the Clash from "traditional player's frame" status, is it really the beam width? Or the bending tech?

Friends have said that it's not predictable enough and that they can't control their ball as much. But maybe they just don't understand how to use it? You have to be delicate at low speed but brutal at high speed
Clash is genius marketing. Take the cheap Big5 flexible thick beam racquets and market them as premium products. That said, I love those Big5 type sticks.
 

thenewbig3

Rookie
The 2006, 2009, and especially the 2012 Pure Drives along with the 2013 APDO and the OG APD happen to be some of the best racquets ever.
I have ONE of every single one of those - my favorite was the 2009 only because I played it so many times with Gut/Poly - unfortunately don't have the skill to use them consistently with full poly or poly mains without my wrist acting up since I don't use the sweet spot as cleanly as you do.

You have to be delicate at low speed but brutal at high speed
Lets make tennis even more complicated. That said I have had no major issues in my short time with the Clash V1 100. Sometimes I feel that people here just read what they hear/read someone else say about a racket and just parrot it to no end.. Yes its a little vague (isnt everything?) but a Clash V1 with 52 lbs LXN 4G is like a match made in heaven. Most rec players cant control powerful rackets within the first 10 minutes of trying them with some rando string at rando tension...... And they do the natural thing - Blame the racket. Give them an injury or something that leads to no other choice - and those same people will figure a way to create control and play.
 

fed1

Professional
I have ONE of every single one of those - my favorite was the 2009 only because I played it so many times with Gut/Poly - unfortunately don't have the skill to use them consistently with full poly or poly mains without my wrist acting up since I don't use the sweet spot as cleanly as you do.


Let’s make tennis even more complicated. That said I have had no major issues in my short time with the Clash V1 100. Sometimes I feel that people here just read what they hear/read someone else say about a racket and just parrot it to no end.. Yes it’s a little vague (isnt everything?) but a Clash V1 with 52 lbs LXN 4G is like a match made in heaven. Most rec players cant control powerful rackets within the first 10 minutes of trying them with some rando string at rando tension...... And they do the natural thing - Blame the racket. Give them an injury or something that leads to no other choice - and those same people will figure a way to create control and play.
I’ve always encouraged clients who demoed the Clash to give it extra time because the feeling is so different, especially V1.
 

Cowboy

Semi-Pro
Clash is the most common Wilson stick I see at parks and clubs outside of the Blade.

I fully agree. I'm not sure which I see more often. I see them both quite frequently.

I’ve always encouraged clients who demoed the Clash to give it extra time because the feeling is so different, especially V1.

I went with the Blade because it felt like it had more direct feel. I've since learned that I don't need a ~70RA (Blade v8 100L) frame to get good feel, and wish that I'd have tried the Clash for longer.
 

pheonix6579

Professional
Yea out of the more modern Wilson Frames Blades and Clashes are literally the only ones I see from players I string for. Maybe a pro staff once in a blue moon.
 

Icsa

Professional
My Clash V.1 response is like my wood frames from the 1960's, swing speed determines distance for all full strokes.
This is what is best from any racquet. In a good racquet the progression is linear; the not so good ones are more like on/off switches - either too powerful or too gummy. Wilson racquets in general provide good feedback/feel.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
This is what is best from any racquet. In a good racquet the progression is linear; the not so good ones are more like on/off switches - either too powerful or too gummy. Wilson racquets in general provide good feedback/feel.

It's great. At low speed you can swing slow and let the racquet do the work. At high speed it flexes AND gives you the power and spin you need for modern shots.
 

Icsa

Professional
Congrats to the ones selected - hopefully there are are more than the 2 that confirmed here. The Clash line captures some unique innovations in racquet tech coming from Wilson, and it is great to learn how it evolves.
 

pheonix6579

Professional
Lucky to be selected for the Clash. I'll be testing it between my V1 pro and the regular V1 (might have to acquire one of those). Kinda wished I would have grabbed one of the V2 when they were on sale.
 
Top