To Erik: Wilson Blade v7 16x19 vs Phantom 100x 305

[soulfree914]

Erik,

I have finally got a chance to demo the Phantom 100x 305 and was 98% sure that I was going to switch to it from TT310.... until I tried the blade 98 v7 16x19. I've noticed that you were not part of the review for the blade but chose it as one of your top 3 racquets. Can you help my indecisive state of mind and provide a comparison between the two solely based on your experience? The reason I ask is because I tend to have a similar experience when I read and hear your reviews.

Thanks!

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[TW Staff]

Erik,

I have finally got a chance to demo the Phantom 100x 305 and was 98% sure that I was going to switch to it from TT310.... until I tried the blade 98 v7 16x19. I've noticed that you were not part of the review for the blade but chose it as one of your top 3 racquets. Can you help my indecisive state of mind and provide a comparison between the two solely based on your experience? The reason I ask is because I tend to have a similar experience when I read and hear your reviews.

Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Hello!

Both racquets have larger sweetspots, but overall the Phantom seems to be slightly more user-friendly than the Blade. I find the feel to be exceptionally plush with both racquets, they are silky smooth, but up at net I prefer the Phantom a little more because it just feels more natural to volley with. At the baseline the Phantom allows me to scramble and make a bunch balls in the court consistently deep as well. However, from the baseline and on serve I can get more spin and plow through overall with the Blade. I also love how whippy it is, I can generate more racquet head speed as a result, and I can knife my slices a little better than I can with the Phantom. These two are very close for me and I could play with either of them in a tournament depending on the conditions and the situation. The Babolat Pure Strike Project One7 16x19 is also close contender as well and I have been hitting a lot with that frame as well, with a little weight added to the handle. Hope this helps and hope all is well! Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Erik, TW Staff

 

[soulfree914]

Hello!

Both racquets have larger sweetspots, but overall the Phantom seems to be slightly more user-friendly than the Blade. I find the feel to be exceptionally plush with both racquets, they are silky smooth, but up at net I prefer the Phantom a little more because it just feels more natural to volley with. At the baseline the Phantom allows me to scramble and make a bunch balls in the court consistently deep as well. However, from the baseline and on serve I can get more spin and plow through overall with the Blade. I also love how whippy it is, I can generate more racquet head speed as a result, and I can knife my slices a little better than I can with the Phantom. These two are very close for me and I could play with either of them in a tournament depending on the conditions and the situation. The Babolat Pure Strike Project One7 16x19 is also close contender as well and I have been hitting a lot with that frame as well, with a little weight added to the handle. Hope this helps and hope all is well! Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Erik, TW Staff

Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts on Blade v7 and the Phantom. I've demoed both for a week (from TW), and I gelled more with the Blade. I'm not sure though if I'll put it over the Prince TT310 that I'm currently playing with just yet. The Phantom was very plush. Feel was a bit "cleaner" than the Blade, and maybe that matches what you described as "more natural" (or maybe it was the strings on the Blade that has been used for a while that caused it to feel a bit mushy), but I thought it would take some time for me to adjust to the racquet as my shots were falling a bit shorter than usual and I had to put more effort in to get it right.

Now that you've mentioned the Pure Strike 17, I remember buying it in like-new condition from the TW marketplace(buy/sell) a few months ago and it went missing due to a misdelivery by the post office. Since then I just deemed it a no-luck racquet for me and didn't bother to look at it again. I see it going on sale now on TW. Maybe it's a good time to get one.

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[agu]

Hello!

Both racquets have larger sweetspots, but overall the Phantom seems to be slightly more user-friendly than the Blade. I find the feel to be exceptionally plush with both racquets, they are silky smooth, but up at net I prefer the Phantom a little more because it just feels more natural to volley with. At the baseline the Phantom allows me to scramble and make a bunch balls in the court consistently deep as well. However, from the baseline and on serve I can get more spin and plow through overall with the Blade. I also love how whippy it is, I can generate more racquet head speed as a result, and I can knife my slices a little better than I can with the Phantom. These two are very close for me and I could play with either of them in a tournament depending on the conditions and the situation. The Babolat Pure Strike Project One7 16x19 is also close contender as well and I have been hitting a lot with that frame as well, with a little weight added to the handle. Hope this helps and hope all is well! Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Erik, TW Staff

Hi Erik, I'm an intermediate player using a blade v7 16*19. Sometimes I feel hart to get my shots deep, despite playing full Nat gut 46s.

What does it mean the blade has more plow? does it mean it has a bit more power and is it easier to hit from the baseline?

I was looking for an easier racquet, sort of the same comfort and control, but probably easier to play with, maybe the V7 is too demanding for my level?

Would you recommend me the 305x as a choice or should I look for another racquet?

thank you!

 

[soulfree914]

Hi Erik, I'm an intermediate player using a blade v7 16*19. Sometimes I feel hart to get my shots deep, despite playing full Nat gut 46s.

What does it mean the blade has more plow? does it mean it has a bit more power and is it easier to hit from the baseline?

I was looking for an easier racquet, sort of the same comfort and control, but probably easier to play with, maybe the V7 is too demanding for my level?

Would you recommend me the 305x as a choice or should I look for another racquet?

thank you!

I think the phantom won't help much if your balls are landing short with the blade v7. I found the phantom to be lower powered than the blade in stock form. By "more plow", it would mean there is more mass behind the ball when you are hitting through the ball with the racquet. It could mean more power if you're the type of player that likes to hit more through the ball, but not necessarily if you rely more on topspin and racquet head speed.

I would recommend to try racquets that provide a bit more free power, e.g. pure strike 98 gen3, the new aero VS, clash 98, Prince beast 98 (both O3 and standard port). If you are willing to go up to a 100 head size, there are even more options to try out. (e.g. Prince TT310, clash 100 tour, Head speed 360+ MP, etc.) I mainly play doubles thesedays and found that the blade v7 can be a bit demanding up at net in a fast paced game if strung too tight (52lbs+ with a stiff poly) as it absorbs the pace of the incoming ball too much for me. The flex of the racquet is great for touch volleys but makes it difficult for put away volleys. I think it's fixable if I go lower in string tension though or hybrid with a multi/gut. Meanwhile, I've been gelling with the new Aero VS in doubles and it is much easier to sustain hours of play than the blade and I have no issues in depth whatsoever. It isn't jarring to my arm/shoulder as I thought it would be either. I would say demo the racquets to find what feels and works best for you.