Today's BLX Pro Open?

TripleB

TripleB

Hall of Fame
What racquet today is closest in play (and specs?) to the Wilson BLX Pro Open?

A lot of people used to say the Pure Drive, which still may be the case, but I believe my BLX Pro Open has a stiffness of 66 which IMO gives it a bit softer flex than the Pure Drives.

Over the years I have found myself coming back to the BLX Pro Open again and again. Open pattern, solid feel, nice head light balance without getting pushed around, crisp (but not stiff) feel, and great control for a "power" racquet.

I've tried several different ways to replicate the play of this racquet with very little success. My latest attempt was to take a Prince Textreme Tour 100T (which my arm found to play a bit stiffer than the 62 flex) and weight it up to have identical specs to my BLX Pro Open but to no avail.

My go to stringing is Tour Bite mains and Gosen OG Sheep Micro Super 16L cross...yes, somewhat stiff, but usually strung in the 40s and no arm problems with this combo.

Specs alone would say the following: Pure Drive '15, Textreme Warrior 100, Ultra 100 Countervail Mid+ (74 stiffness...wow), Burn 100CV Mid+, Srixon Revo CV 3.0, Srixon Revo CV 3.0F, Pure Aero VS - but we all know specs are at times misleading.

Thanks for any and all options!

TripleB
 
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This is a tough one...none really..I have been looking for years...the current pure drive team...maybe a little bit..
What made the open a nice racket it wasn't overly powerful...
A racket that is similar to that trait is the technifibre ps300..
 
The Ultra is the answer. I like non-CV version a bit more than the CV.
I also used to play with ProOpen and it truly is a beautiful frame.

Edit: Ultra 100
 
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I hit with the BLX Pro Open today for the first time thanks to @mpournaras. Fantastic frame.

The Burn 100 CV and Ultra CV 100 were both too harsh compared to the Pro Open. The Textreme Warrior 100 is close IMO but not the same obviously. Pure Drive was more like the Ultra but not as harsh. Of the frames you listed, I’d try the Textreme Warrior 100 first. Too bad Wilson did away with the Pro Open specs.
 
Thanks for all the input so far!!!

I also hate that they discontinued the Open series of racquets...they must have been less popular than I thought they were :confused:

Earlier today I checked to see if there were any recent (recent meaning in the last 12 years or so) racquets that had similar specs (or I had made have similar specs) to the BLX Pro Open. I figure if I can't find something very similar I'll just use the BLX Pro Open I own and use one of the following as a back up:

- Wilson BLX Pro Open 11.55 oz, 328g, 6.5 pts HL

- Babolat Pure Drive Cortex 11.55 oz, 328g, 5.5 pts HL
- Prince Textreme Tour 100T 11.45 oz, 324g, 6 pts HL
- Babolat Pure Strike 11.55 oz, 327g, 6 pts HL
- Tecnifibre T Fight 295 11.3 oz, 321g, 4 pts HL
- Head MicroGel Radical Midplus 11.45 oz, 325g, 5 pts HL (I know, 18x20 but worth a shot...LOL)
- Becker Pro DNX 11.2 oz, 316g, 5 pts HL

* specs are with an overgrip, head tape, and rubber band

TripleB67
 
Have a look at Angell TC100 in 70 RA (RA 65-66 strung up and gripped ) format. They’ll do a weight and balance and Wilson grip shape to match your Wilson. Lots of positive reviews and posts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've never tried the Pro Open, but I'm currently playing with the V Core 98 and it feels like it's what you are looking for.
Good power but very controllable, a bit crisp but comfortable, nice touch, good spin, easy to move, etc.
I'd demo it if I were you.
 
B Triple....
I highly doubt you will find a replacement for the unique Pro Open ...I am lucky to have easy access to try pretty much every racket and i haven't came across one yet....if you do find something....Let me know..
 
Tour_G said:
I've never tried the Pro Open, but I'm currently playing with the V Core 98 and it feels like it's what you are looking for.
Good power but very controllable, a bit crisp but comfortable, nice touch, good spin, easy to move, etc.
I'd demo it if I were you.
Click to expand...

I second this. Not a Pro Open obviously, but the 98 feels great.
 
Thanks for all the input!!!

Got my BLX Pro Open freshly strung up with a Tour Bite 17/Gosen OG Sheep Micro Super 16L hybrid at 50/53. I'm also going to get my Pure Drive Cortex (I think it was the model right before the 2015 model) strung up the exact same way in order to compare the two side by side. I'll also take my weighted up Textreme Tour 100T (strung the exact same way) to compare to the others.

I'll let you know how it goes and whether I need to look further for a replacement and/or backup!

TripleB
 
Since this thread was first active, Wilson have released the Pro Staff 6.1 100 v13, which is a very close match as well, albeit a slightly lower twist weight of 13.9 (versus 14.4) and RA of 64 (vs 67). Possibly worth a try alongside an Ultra 100 or PS Precision 100 if wanting to stay with a Wilson.
 
I also second the advice on trying Yonex Ezone 100 - may be even better than the BLX with a larger sweet spot if Yonex is to be believed.

I have the PS Precision 100 which I paid $72 for new and I'm very happy; ultimately I belive that what matters is head size, balance and stiffness - the rest is strings - whether the graphite is steeped in basalt or not matters not. Returned a Blade 98 V8, as a beginner baseliner I prefer the extra power + larger head & sweetspot of the PS P100 and find that the frame that works better with defensive play when really reaching. Plan to add 20 grams to to further help this.

Sometimes I think what you pay for is to get the same frame stiffness with lower beam thickness..which is mostly an aesthetic consideration..
 
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The Wilson Pro Open line was great..
Not overly powerful.. but could pound the ball..
Each line update was unique and good in it's own way.. my favorite was the black and yellow one..and the k factor army green one was a close second..
In my journey... I have found nothing that compares to the pro open...
 
Prostaff Precision 100 is actually a rebranded BLX fierce 100 btw, but they are pretty close to the (BLX) Pro Open 100 so should be interchangeable :)

Clean-Shot-2022-06-11.png


(BLX) Pro Open 100
Weight: 299g
RA: 68
Balance: 320 mm
Beam profile: 24/26/23 mm

Pro Staff Precision 100
Weight: 305g
RA: 69
Balance: 320 mm
Beam profile: 23/26/21 mm


 
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Fed Kennedy said:
What about the Ultra Team v3?
Click to expand...

yes, the ultra team v3 is truly a pro open mold. Is it a junior racquet or a quality frame that can be used by adults as well? It has the glossy paint as well like the recent pro stock pro open frames.
Also, the blade feel 100 seems to use the pro open mold.
 
b_ad said:
yes, the ultra team v3 is truly a pro open mold. Is it a junior racquet or a quality frame that can be used by adults as well? It has the glossy paint as well like the recent pro stock pro open frames.
Also, the blade feel 100 seems to use the pro open mold.
Click to expand...
Blade 100 has a different mold
 
Lavs said:
Blade 100 has a different mold
Click to expand...

I mean the Wilson Blade “Feel” 100, not the Blade 100. I am aware that the latest is a different mold. Make a search. Maybe, it is a Europe only model. How about the Ultra Team v3 and v4?
 
Anybody familiar with Blx Pro Open hit with the latest Wilson Ultra V4? What you think? Can it replace Pro Open?

From specs, I see a difference in Stiffness: 66 vs 70
 
Pro Staff Precision 100 do have a wrong picture all around the interweb on the sale pages including Tennis Warehouse. It shows a different racket with 8 grommet holes in the yoke and beam like the Blade Feel 103.
An error they dont want to fix from Wilsons side I guess.
The racket you get when ordered.... looks like the Pro Open.
 
Honestly? The HEAD Extreme MP and the Boom MP both strike that blend of power and control better than any Wilson 100 I have hit recently.
 
mpournaras said:
Honestly? The HEAD Extreme MP and the Boom MP both strike that blend of power and control better than any Wilson 100 I have hit recently.
Click to expand...
The Pro Open molds ( Pro open re-issued, Pro Staff Precision 100, Rolands Gaross Equipe, Ultra team 100) are going throw the air like knife through hot butter. Not many rackets out there do that this good.
Did you try one of them?
 
I made note of the Precision 100 mold but there’s no way to know what layup it is. I’m sure it plays great but the issue of replacement grommets availability is still there as well.

They should properly retro it in BLX black yellow paint just to be safe :)
 
mpournaras said:
I made note of the Precision 100 mold but there’s no way to know what layup it is. I’m sure it plays great but the issue of replacement grommets availability is still there as well.

They should properly retro it in BLX black yellow paint just to be safe :)
Click to expand...
its BLX in the Precision 100 (305 gram unstrung and 32 cm balance). so thats a Pro Open clone.
and socalled updated technologies (maybe Fortyfive) in the Ultra team v3/v4 281 gram 33 cm balance unstrung
and socalled "unique graphite composition" in the Roland Garros Equipe (286 gram 33 cm balance), for good blend of feel, power and control.
I have just purchased one of each and will give some info about how they play... in future not far away.
 
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TripleB said:
What racquet today is closest in play (and specs?) to the Wilson BLX Pro Open?

A lot of people used to say the Pure Drive, which still may be the case, but I believe my BLX Pro Open has a stiffness of 66 which IMO gives it a bit softer flex than the Pure Drives.

Over the years I have found myself coming back to the BLX Pro Open again and again. Open pattern, solid feel, nice head light balance without getting pushed around, crisp (but not stiff) feel, and great control for a "power" racquet.

I've tried several different ways to replicate the play of this racquet with very little success. My latest attempt was to take a Prince Textreme Tour 100T (which my arm found to play a bit stiffer than the 62 flex) and weight it up to have identical specs to my BLX Pro Open but to no avail.

My go to stringing is Tour Bite mains and Gosen OG Sheep Micro Super 16L cross...yes, somewhat stiff, but usually strung in the 40s and no arm problems with this combo.

Specs alone would say the following: Pure Drive '15, Textreme Warrior 100, Ultra 100 Countervail Mid+ (74 stiffness...wow), Burn 100CV Mid+, Srixon Revo CV 3.0, Srixon Revo CV 3.0F, Pure Aero VS - but we all know specs are at times misleading.

Thanks for any and all options!

TripleB
Click to expand...
You can find actual Wilson Pro Open BLX reissued on the market.....but also the Wilson "Pro Staff" Precision 100 (which has BLX) is the Pro Open BLX in new PJ and new Naming...the product pictures are now correct, which it wasnt in the former precision 100 generation ( the product you got was the Pro Open In Precision PJ) the interweb shops displayed a different racket than the one shipped....SO this is might why the Pro Open lovers has not bought it....Luckily they fixed this error of display in the newest version/newest PJ.
 
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thenewbig3 said:
46cd714c4b9d516f5a9c8fd9dd006c4c.jpg

...but I guess the OP found the answer to his question SEVEN years ago :-D
Click to expand...
But people read this massage boards all the time. They Google and come across this thread. Like I did. Also I see others post/adds also years later the OP, both here and other places. Some might find the additional info as a bonus. Maybe.
 
BallsOfFire said:
But people read this massage boards all the time. They Google and come across this thread. Like I did. Also I see others post/adds also years later the OP, both here and other places. Some might find the additional info as a bonus. Maybe.
Click to expand...

My message was also an excuse for me to insert a meme - I love doing that
 
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