What is the main difference between the old and new Blades?

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
i'm racket shopping for the new tennis season and I'm probably gonna buy a Blade

problem is, there's a metric ton of Blades on the market with so many variations it makes my head spin

there's two variations of Blades I'm looking at right now

1). new style black/neon green PJ with the counterveil tech

2). old style mostly black with white letters PJ tour Blade

for the Blade owners on here, what would you say is the main difference between the new and old Blades?

does the CV tech add anything (or even make the frame worse) or is it just marketing?

is the old Blade more powerful, more control etc?

thanks
 

TennisHound

Legend
i'm racket shopping for the new tennis season and I'm probably gonna buy a Blade

problem is, there's a metric ton of Blades on the market with so many variations it makes my head spin

there's two variations of Blades I'm looking at right now

1). new style black/neon green PJ with the counterveil tech

2). old style mostly black with white letters PJ tour Blade

for the Blade owners on here, what would you say is the main difference between the new and old Blades?

does the CV tech add anything (or even make the frame worse) or is it just marketing?

is the old Blade more powerful, more control etc?

thanks
The CV adds something for sure. It’s like a numbing agent in the racquet. It dampens the racquet to the point of not feeling the ball hit the racquet (at times). Some people like it some don’t. I would suggest a demo if you can. If you can’t then buy a cheaper used one on the bay and try it out.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
The CV adds something for sure. It’s like a numbing agent in the racquet. It dampens the racquet to the point of not feeling the ball hit the racquet (at times). Some people like it some don’t. I would suggest a demo if you can. If you can’t then buy a cheaper used one on the bay and try it out.

i've had hand issues related to racket vibrations in the past however i'm not sure if losing racket feel would be worth it

unfortunately the old style Blade is not available to demo anymore, i can just buy it at a reduced price
 

TennisHound

Legend
i've had hand issues related to racket vibrations in the past however i'm not sure if losing racket feel would be worth it

unfortunately the old style Blade is not available to demo anymore, i can just buy it at a reduced price
Gotcha. The Blades are gonna be significant lighter feeling with less stability and power than the 6.1. The CV is the most solid feeling out of the Blades. I prefer the older ‘15 and ‘13 models. The ‘15 is the softest and has the least amount of vibrations.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.

Chezbeeno

Professional
A lot of people say that the CV kills "all feel"...I disagree. It definitely feels dampened, but honestly to me the feel seems a bit like that of a much heavier racquet (I switched from the RF97), so this was the first racquet below about 12 oz. that had a solid feel I really liked (and it seems like I'm not the only one who has found the CV more solid - cf Tennishound above). Regardless, I find it quite comfortable, and especially if you've had hand issues connected to vibrations before, the CV is definitely worth demoing. I'm also finding that the Clash is a very hand-friendly racquet that plays more solidly than its listed specs.
 

Tour_G

Semi-Pro
Gotcha. The Blades are gonna be significant lighter feeling with less stability and power than the 6.1. The CV is the most solid feeling out of the Blades. I prefer the older ‘15 and ‘13 models. The ‘15 is the softest and has the least amount of vibrations.
Is it that significantly lighter feeling?
I barely remember the time when I swung a 6.1 and not so much time ago I tried a 2013 Blade and if my memory serves me right, the last one felt sluggish and cumbersome, in comparison to the 6.1.
The Blade has lesser static weight but I think it's way head heavy and has a nice swingweight.
 

TennisHound

Legend
Is it that significantly lighter feeling?
I barely remember the time when I swung a 6.1 and not so much time ago I tried a 2013 Blade and if my memory serves me right, the last one felt sluggish and cumbersome, in comparison to the 6.1.
The Blade has lesser static weight but I think it's way head heavy and has a nice swingweight.
Yeah, the strung balance on the Blade 16x19s is about 4 pts HL, and about 1-3 on the CV Blades (that I've owned and tested). I played with an ncode 6.1 18x20 about 3-4 months ago and it was pretty HL from what I remember (estimate about 6-7pts HL). It was still heavy though. I was late on a lot of hits. The Blade, not so much

The Blades play well, stock. When using the CV, I added a heavier grip and some weight at 3&9, but it also played fine without the weight.
 
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Tour_G

Semi-Pro
Personally, I'm looking for the perfect 18x20 frame (for me) or 16x20.
Lots of racquets pop on my head but I'm not sure which one could be better.
Ultimately I've been thinking about the Six One and Blade, so appreciate your comments.
 

kabrac

Professional
Personally, I'm looking for the perfect 18x20 frame (for me) or 16x20.
Lots of racquets pop on my head but I'm not sure which one could be better.
Ultimately I've been thinking about the Six One and Blade, so appreciate your comments.
What are you using now?...
 

Tour_G

Semi-Pro
I don't want to bother op, but maybe it helps him too.
I'm playing with a TI Rad MP with lead and leather grip but one of my favorite racquet is the 95 D (have one of this).
I tried to go tweenerish a couple of times but it always end up being a mess. Too much power, high launch, etc.
The last racquet I bought was a V Core 98, but meh, I can't play comfortable with it, don't give me enough confidence to take big swings as I like.
 

TennisHound

Legend
18x20 is a whole different deal than 16x19. I’m kind of partial to the ‘13 on both patterns. I would choose the CV Blade 16x19, but I’m not fully confident in it. It’s the most solid and provides the most predictable ball trajectory, but the ‘13 is less “clubby” and is a fast swinging, plain no-nonsense frame.
 
No love for the nBlade on here? The only truly flexible blade? Man is that a well-performing racquet. Does require some adjustment/tailweighting if you’re not accustomed to the blade characteristics though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

PeterFig

Professional
From the recent iterations, which is the best blade?

For me the latest Blade 98CV (16x19) is my favorite Blade I've played with. However with the Blade because it's not a big power frame, the main 'feature' is feel and control - and those (especially feel!!!) are so subjective.
 

PeterFig

Professional
A lot of people say that the CV kills "all feel"...I disagree. It definitely feels dampened, but honestly to me the feel seems a bit like that of a much heavier racquet (I switched from the RF97), so this was the first racquet below about 12 oz. that had a solid feel I really liked (and it seems like I'm not the only one who has found the CV more solid - cf Tennishound above). Regardless, I find it quite comfortable, and especially if you've had hand issues connected to vibrations before, the CV is definitely worth demoing. I'm also finding that the Clash is a very hand-friendly racquet that plays more solidly than its listed specs.

This is exactly me as well. Like the CV feel. Coming from the RF97 and before that other 12+ oz racquets and for me I felt the same about this Blade feeling solid vs other lighter racquets I tried.
 

n8dawg6

Legend
For me the latest Blade 98CV (16x19) is my favorite Blade I've played with. However with the Blade because it's not a big power frame, the main 'feature' is feel and control - and those (especially feel!!!) are so subjective.
i have been pretty obsessed withe the 98S other than the short stringbed life ... wondering if the 16x19 is the answer
 

hurworld

Hall of Fame
Personally, I'm looking for the perfect 18x20 frame (for me) or 16x20.
Lots of racquets pop on my head but I'm not sure which one could be better.
Ultimately I've been thinking about the Six One and Blade, so appreciate your comments.
I'm wondering too if the Phantom Pro 100 (18x20) would be the one, and VCore 95 for 16x20.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
For me the latest Blade 98CV (16x19) is my favorite Blade I've played with. However with the Blade because it's not a big power frame, the main 'feature' is feel and control - and those (especially feel!!!) are so subjective.
18x20 is a whole different deal than 16x19. I’m kind of partial to the ‘13 on both patterns. I would choose the CV Blade 16x19, but I’m not fully confident in it. It’s the most solid and provides the most predictable ball trajectory, but the ‘13 is less “clubby” and is a fast swinging, plain no-nonsense frame.


this would probably be it's own thread if we started down that path

i've always played with an 18x20 headsize but i've heard quite a few comments on here saying how the 16x19 Blade variant has just as much control but also more spin and feel so idk

racket talk is so confusing sometimes
 

TennisHound

Legend
this would probably be it's own thread if we started down that path

i've always played with an 18x20 headsize but i've heard quite a few comments on here saying how the 16x19 Blade variant has just as much control but also more spin and feel so idk

racket talk is so confusing sometimes
Yep. The 18x20 has more control, but is also slightly head heavier.
 

Chezbeeno

Professional
This is exactly me as well. Like the CV feel. Coming from the RF97 and before that other 12+ oz racquets and for me I felt the same about this Blade feeling solid vs other lighter racquets I tried.
Rarely does anyone stick up for the CV Blades on here, glad to know I'm not alone!
 

TennisHound

Legend
I'm a little weird. So it's a perfect match.
Well, maybe "weird" isn't the right word. The CV Blade 16x19 is a completely different racquet than its predecessors. In fact, the only resemblance is the shape is the same, and probably the same synthetic grip. Everything else is different. Hard heads like me are sometimes resistant to change.

When the CV Blade came out, it was so different, that I put a negative on it. Later, I tried it here and there, and warmed up to it. It is all subjective like you said, and I'm looking forward to the new '19 Blade for sure :)
 

PeterFig

Professional
Well, maybe "weird" isn't the right word. The CV Blade 16x19 is a completely different racquet than its predecessors. In fact, the only resemblance is the shape is the same, and probably the same synthetic grip. Everything else is different. Hard heads like me are sometimes resistant to change.

When the CV Blade came out, it was so different, that I put a negative on it. Later, I tried it here and there, and warmed up to it. It is all subjective like you said, and I'm looking forward to the new '19 Blade for sure :)

I had very limited time with Blades before the CV model so I guess I don't have as deep of a comparison. For me it was more about finding a solid feeling racquet that was easier to play with than my RF97 and the 98CV fit that bill really well.

From what I recall the CV Blade is the same 'inside' as the previous generation with the exception of the addition of some Countervail material to the layup.
 

TennisHound

Legend
I had very limited time with Blades before the CV model so I guess I don't have as deep of a comparison. For me it was more about finding a solid feeling racquet that was easier to play with than my RF97 and the 98CV fit that bill really well.

From what I recall the CV Blade is the same 'inside' as the previous generation with the exception of the addition of some Countervail material to the layup.
Like I say, its a very playable racquet. Its very solid and stable, and the previous models were a little unstable and unpredictable off the stringbed. Wilson cleaned all that up, but the feel is about as different as the Head IG Prestige MP is to the Graphene Prestige MP.
 

PeterFig

Professional
Like I say, its a very playable racquet. Its very solid and stable, and the previous models were a little unstable and unpredictable off the stringbed. Wilson cleaned all that up, but the feel is about as different as the Head IG Prestige MP is to the Graphene Prestige MP.

Yes the CV for sure changes the feel. I like how it changes it personally, but realize it's not everyone's cup of tea. :)
 

tribesmen

Professional
I had very limited time with Blades before the CV model so I guess I don't have as deep of a comparison. For me it was more about finding a solid feeling racquet that was easier to play with than my RF97 and the 98CV fit that bill really well.

From what I recall the CV Blade is the same 'inside' as the previous generation with the exception of the addition of some Countervail material to the layup.
I am interested why not PS 97 as lighter vesrion of RF97?
 

PeterFig

Professional
I am interested why not PS 97 as lighter vesrion of RF97?

Great question. To be honest it's because I already had a couple of Blade 98CV's around and didn't have any PS97's - so mainly it was just availability. I would still like to try the Pro Staff 97CV at some point and see.

A lot of the reason why I used the RF97 was the feel (plush) and when I had played with the non-CV Pro Staff 97 before I didn't get that same feel. So maybe the CV version will be a bit closer. I am not looking for the extra power the Pro Staff 97 gives me. I was / am more after the feel.
 

tribesmen

Professional
No PS97 but a CV version. I tested both and I was amazed how CV version was much more pleasant to hit. It's a bit less power than the regular PS97, but I see advantage in this. Which is most surprising is that the CV version is really easier RF brother, PS97 on the contrary, I found it completely different racquet, as if it were not from the same family.

My came out of specifications, 309gr, added 6gr to 3 & 9, a little bit on the handle and total weight with overgrip is 337gr, 6pts HL, string VS Touch main 25kg and Lux 4G cross 24kg. I play without dampener, no ping sound at all, racquet is very stable for its weight.

I still use RF for a game of doubles and when playing for fun.
 
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