Upgrade: (K)Blade Team 104 --> Blade 104 2014??

[MMQB14]

Hi all

I am still very happy with my KBlade Team 104 racquet and its combination of mid-plus size and 18x19 string-bed. I play it with a leather grip, overgrip and some lead at 10&2.

I am 4.0 player, mid-forties, play a base-line game, DHBH and like to come in occasionally after a good first serve.

However, the racquet is getting up in years and the frame has some significant chips already. Plus I only have one of them.

Should I upgrade to the Wilson Blade 104 ?

I am a bit worried about some of the specs of the new Blade 104:
- Length (27.5 vs. 27.3)
- Stiffness (60 vs. 57)
- Power level (Medium vs. Low-Medium)
- Grip shape (on the TW play-test they talk about the "new" grip shape)

I tried the Donnay Pro One OS but struggled with the 27.5 length and the lack of control with the 16x19 string-bed.

Can anybody share some experiences with moving to the later version of the Blade 104?

Thanks.

 

[A_Instead]

Having own and played with both.. Yes the newest Blade 104 is the best offer to date...
May want to consider trying a one of the newer flexy Prince offers.. Similar but overall better...

 

[kingcheetah]

I wouldn't be too concerned with the flex differences or length differences... the frame is still pretty easy to control, and is a very versatile player's option. The only difference with the grip is that the butt cap is now more flared than it used to be... I think you should be fine with the new 104.

 

[MMQB14]

Swing weight & plow-through differences?

@kingcheetah & A_instead

Thanks for your feedback.

Forgot to mention the one aspect that I am unsure about: swing weight & plow-through.

The swing weight of the original K-Blade Team is listed at 320.
With the added lead at 10&2 I am probably around a SW of 330 - which makes for a nice plow-through against bigger hitters.

The new Blade 104 has a listed SW of (only) 308. I would have to add more weight to bring it up what I am used to.

How is the plow-through of the new Blade 104?

 

[A_Instead]

The Blade 104 could use some weight to bring the weight of shot up... I could not get a heavy enough ball with the 104. Had to work to hard due to its light weight... It not a powerful racket.
Its a easy swinging lighter racket with a nice 104 head size for room of error...

 

[kingcheetah]

@kingcheetah & A_instead

Thanks for your feedback.

Forgot to mention the one aspect that I am unsure about: swing weight & plow-through.

The swing weight of the original K-Blade Team is listed at 320.
With the added lead at 10&2 I am probably around a SW of 330 - which makes for a nice plow-through against bigger hitters.

The new Blade 104 has a listed SW of (only) 308. I would have to add more weight to bring it up what I am used to.

How is the plow-through of the new Blade 104?

In stock form there were a few stability issues when I was playing against my d3 college teammates. The racquet didn't feel like a twig but as I demoed I thought I'd definitely add some weight at 3 and 9 to make the frame more stable (eventually I went with 4g each at 3 and 9, 2g at 12 and 24g in the length of the handle, just so the static weight was closer to what I had been used to.) I don't think you'd need to go as crazy as I did with the lead, but adding a little bit does make the racquet have solid plowthrough.

 

[MMQB14]

The Blade 104 could use some weight to bring the weight of shot up... I could not get a heavy enough ball with the 104. Had to work to hard due to its light weight... It not a powerful racket.
Its a easy swinging lighter racket with a nice 104 head size for room of error...

I hear you. That is why I customize it to bring up the static weight & SW.

 

[MMQB14]

Your Sw

In stock form there were a few stability issues when I was playing against my d3 college teammates. The racquet didn't feel like a twig but as I demoed I thought I'd definitely add some weight at 3 and 9 to make the frame more stable (eventually I went with 4g each at 3 and 9, 2g at 12 and 24g in the length of the handle, just so the static weight was closer to what I had been used to.) I don't think you'd need to go as crazy as I did with the lead, but adding a little bit does make the racquet have solid plowthrough.

Ok thank you for your spec details. I am at just under 12oz with my leaded up KBlade Team. Really solid and still manouverable with the original 27.3 length...but just.

With all the lead you are adding your swing weight must be around 330ish. How does swinging the racquet work for you with the 27.5 length?

I tried the 27.5in Donnay Pro One OS. Loved the comfort and the sweet spot but I could just not groove my swing at this length. Sounds ridiculous that 0.2in make a difference at my level but that is how it feels to me...

 

[kingcheetah]

Ok thank you for your spec details. I am at just under 12oz with my leaded up KBlade Team. Really solid and still manouverable with the original 27.3 length...but just.

With all the lead you are adding your swing weight must be around 330ish. How does swinging the racquet work for you with the 27.5 length?

I tried the 27.5in Donnay Pro One OS. Loved the comfort and the sweet spot but I could just not groove my swing at this length. Sounds ridiculous that 0.2in make a difference at my level but that is how it feels to me...

It really didn't take me too long to get used to the racquet... I honestly don't have issues with it compared with swinging a 27" racquet. I've gotten my swing grooved pretty well so that I can take full swings and get plenty of spin and depth on the ball. It does take a little bit to get used to this racquet when you first start using it, because it has a lot of natural power.

 

[keithfival]

@kingcheetah & A_instead
The swing weight of the original K-Blade Team is listed at 320.
With the added lead at 10&2 I am probably around a SW of 330 - which makes for a nice plow-through against bigger hitters.

The new Blade 104 has a listed SW of (only) 308. I would have to add more weight to bring it up what I am used to.

The K Blade Team definitely hits a heavier ball than the BLX version due to the higher SW (and the Blade 104 has an even lower SW than the BLX I believe). I think you will definitely notice the reduced SW/plow. However, on the other side of the SW coin, the BLX feels a little whippier and more precise/controlled and I play better with it than with the K.

The BLX is much flexier than the newer Blade 104, but I think from a SW standpoint, either way you are dealing with a lighter feeling frame with less beef than the K. But as I said, I play better with the BLX and with the big sweetspot from the 104 head I wouldn't say it's unstable at all, just not as beefy as the K.

And this with the BLX at ~335g, 7HL. (The K really packs a surprisingly high SW.)

 

[mats88]

The K Blade Team definitely hits a heavier ball than the BLX version due to the higher SW (and the Blade 104 has an even lower SW than the BLX I believe). I think you will definitely notice the reduced SW/plow. However, on the other side of the SW coin, the BLX feels a little whippier and more precise/controlled and I play better with it than with the K.

The BLX is much flexier than the newer Blade 104, but I think from a SW standpoint, either way you are dealing with a lighter feeling frame with less beef than the K. But as I said, I play better with the BLX and with the big sweetspot from the 104 head I wouldn't say it's unstable at all, just not as beefy as the K.

And this with the BLX at ~335g, 7HL. (The K really packs a surprisingly high SW.)

For me it's quite opposite. I had K blade team - SW 310 in stock form. The new Blade 104 has SW 328 in stock form. That's Wilson quality...

Both are great but Blade 104 is a bit stiffer.

 

[MMQB14]

Wrap-Up

@cheetah/mats88/keithfival

Thx for sharing your experiences, guys! Two thumbs up. I definitely now have an idea on the good and the bad of upgrading from the K.

Interesting side-note is the mention of Wilson QC (or the lack thereof). First of all I must have been lucky on my current KBlade with a stock SW of 320ish.
Secondly I could be good if I can find a BLX or new 2014 Blade with a higher stock SW as I do not want to throw gobs of lead on the racquet.

I know there are plenty of BLX old stock to be had at decent prices. And I will get a 2014 Blade 104 tester provided TW Europe can provide one with a higher stock SW than the listed 308.

If all else fails I think I found a source that might give me another 1-2 KBlades.

Thx again.