Which Wilson Racquet?

[HPTennis]

So I have just finished playing with a Pure Strike 16x19 and really didn't like it, destroyed my arm and had that horrible trampoline twang when hitting, plus I also found it to be a strange shape (anyone else find this?). Also it wasn't 98 square inches as stated as in comparison to other 98s it comes up smaller.

I'm now looking at purchasing a Wilson (the new versions), either a 100 Burn CV, a ProStaff 97 or a Blade CV 98 16x19.

To demo all three would cost me the price of a new racquet where I live so I was wondering if the community could help me.

For those who've played with these racquets, which offers the most crisp, solid contact? It's difficult to explain but I need to have that 'thwock' solid hit and sound and not a trampoline like 'twang'. I play with a Head Graphene Radical and like the weight (it's around 333g with my overgrip) and think the headsizes of all 3 Wilsons fall in my range.

I typical like to hit lots of groundstrokes from the baseline and am working on my net game but it's not that prevalent atm.

My reservations about each would be that the Burn CV 100 is too light and perhaps not as manoeuvrable, the ProStaff may be too heavy and the Blade CV is not as head light as the others (only 3 pts).

Any help or advice is appreciated!

 

[Tommy Haas]

Usually a string vibration dampener takes care of the annoying sounds. Was the racket that hollow that not even a string vibe was able to quiet it down? What strings did you use on the Babolat?

 

[HPTennis]

I had a dampener on, it's something I have noticed with different rackets but as I say it's hard to explain. It's not just the sound but also the feel, there's a difference between a crisp, solid hit and like a vibrating twang.

I was using Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power strings at 54lbs tension on the crosses and mains.

 

[SpinToWin]

Pro Staff hands down

 

[swinter07]

Wilson quality control problems may help you...

Maybe ask the retailor to pick a lighter pro staff 97 from stock.

or pick up a lighter blade, and add some blu-tac into trapdoor, or add thin lead under replacement grip, to make it more headlight.

 

[HPTennis]

Pro Staff hands down

Have you played with all three?

 

[HPTennis]

Wilson quality control problems may help you...

Maybe ask the retailor to pick a lighter pro staff 97 from stock.

or pick up a lighter blade, and add some blu-tac into trapdoor, or add thin lead under replacement grip, to make it more headlight.

Okay thanks, do you have experience with playing with the rackets? Like the Pure Strike fell within my spec range but I just hated the feedback from it.

 

[Zavist]

It's been my experience that the CV racquets are more head heavy than the stated specs. That was a deal breaker for me and the Blade CV.

 

[SpinToWin]

Have you played with all three?

Not all in the current iteration, but yes. The Blade's feel isn't what you're looking for.

The Burn's comfort is lacking to say the least.

The Pro Staff is foam filled, has a solid crisp feel and a good balance of all other attributes.

 

[pfrischmann]

If you are going Wilson make sure someone can measure the specs before you buy. It is laughable oh much their specs vary. I hear you on the Babs 16X19. It's a good racquet but requires you to hit with a lot of top spin or the ball goes....BOING! I find it difficult to control even with poly at 55lbs. The PS-97 can be a hammer and has much better stability and control. Mine come it at 12 ounces strung, so they are not particularly light but very stable. The CV is like a PS-lite. It fees similar but in a much lighter package.

I'd say stay with one of the others if you are a baseline guy. If you cover the whole court, I really like the PS-97.

 

[pfrischmann]

If you are going Wilson make sure someone can measure the specs before you buy. It is laughable oh much their specs vary. I hear you on the Babs 16X19. It's a good racquet but requires you to hit with a lot of top spin or the ball goes....BOING! I find it difficult to control even with poly at 55lbs. The PS-97 can be a hammer and has much better stability and control. Mine come it at 12 ounces strung, so they are not particularly light but very stable. The CV is like a PS-lite. It fees similar but in a much lighter package.

I'd say stay with one of the others if you are a baseline guy. If you cover the whole court, I really like the PS-97.

Oh, I played with the Blade, 16X19 and PS-97 at the same time.

 

[Tommy Haas]

The QC on pro stock frames should be way more stringent than the commercial frames. They are custom made after all. It's sad how low QC causes frame specs to be way off. Yet some manufacturers like Yonex can produce commercial frames with such good QC that I've measured a dozen of them and they were all almost identical in specs with only negligible variations in balance and weight.

 

[Zavist]

So I have just finished playing with a Pure Strike 16x19 and really didn't like it, destroyed my arm and had that horrible trampoline twang when hitting, plus I also found it to be a strange shape (anyone else find this?). Also it wasn't 98 square inches as stated as in comparison to other 98s it comes up smaller.

I'm now looking at purchasing a Wilson (the new versions), either a 100 Burn CV, a ProStaff 97 or a Blade CV 98 16x19.

To demo all three would cost me the price of a new racquet where I live so I was wondering if the community could help me.

For those who've played with these racquets, which offers the most crisp, solid contact? It's difficult to explain but I need to have that 'thwock' solid hit and sound and not a trampoline like 'twang'. I play with a Head Graphene Radical and like the weight (it's around 333g with my overgrip) and think the headsizes of all 3 Wilsons fall in my range.

I typical like to hit lots of groundstrokes from the baseline and am working on my net game but it's not that prevalent atm.

My reservations about each would be that the Burn CV 100 is too light and perhaps not as manoeuvrable, the ProStaff may be too heavy and the Blade CV is not as head light as the others (only 3 pts).

Any help or advice is appreciated!

Why are you wanting to move away from your Head Graphene Radical? I get that you did not like the Babolat, although different strings & tension may have helped. I think you are barking up the wrong tree with the Wilsons.

 

[HPTennis]

It's been my experience that the CV racquets are more head heavy than the stated specs. That was a deal breaker for me and the Blade CV.

Okay I hear you, that's what I was concerned about!

 

[HPTennis]

Not all in the current iteration, but yes. The Blade's feel isn't what you're looking for.

The Burn's comfort is lacking to say the least.

The Pro Staff is foam filled, has a solid crisp feel and a good balance of all other attributes.

Ah okay, thanks! What effect does being foam filled have?

 

[Tommy Haas]

If you a solid feeling and sounding racket when the ball is struck, you need to move away from tech. Babolat, Wilson, Yonex, and especially Head are overloaded with excessive tech. Take a look at ProKennex and Prince for a more pure hitting experience.

 

[Tommy Haas]

Ah okay, thanks! What effect does being foam filled have?

Internal vibration dampening where using a string dampener may not even be necessary.

 

[HPTennis]

If you are going Wilson make sure someone can measure the specs before you buy. It is laughable oh much their specs vary. I hear you on the Babs 16X19. It's a good racquet but requires you to hit with a lot of top spin or the ball goes....BOING! I find it difficult to control even with poly at 55lbs. The PS-97 can be a hammer and has much better stability and control. Mine come it at 12 ounces strung, so they are not particularly light but very stable. The CV is like a PS-lite. It fees similar but in a much lighter package.

I'd say stay with one of the others if you are a baseline guy. If you cover the whole court, I really like the PS-97.

Okay fair enough, ergh it was a horrible sound/feel, so stiff too - like playing with a frying pan...

 

[HPTennis]

Internal vibration dampening where using a string dampener may not even be necessary.

I see! And are the Burn and Blade hollow?

 

[HPTennis]

Why are you wanting to move away from your Head Graphene Radical? I get that you did not like the Babolat, although different strings & tension may have helped. I think you are barking up the wrong tree with the Wilsons.

Well I need a second/back up racquet - I suppose I could buy another Head but there are aspects I don't like about it!

 

[HPTennis]

If you a solid feeling and sounding racket when the ball is struck, you need to move away from tech. Babolat, Wilson, Yonex, and especially Head are overloaded with excessive tech. Take a look at ProKennex and Prince for a more pure hitting experience.

Okay thanks - I'll take a look!

 

[SpinToWin]

Ah okay, thanks! What effect does being foam filled have?

Solidity in feel mostly

 

[Dartagnan64]

I wouldn't go with the Burn as its essentially Wilson's ode to the Pure Aero. Stiff light frame bad for the elbow and wrist.

The Blade is pretty comfy and a good all-rounder in my opinion. Mid range power, mid range spin, good server, solid feel. My aging body prefers the forgiveness of the 104 over the 98, but they both feel roughly similar.

The Prostaff is a very solid frame with a ton of plowthrough. Feels really good on smooth swings and awesome at returning heavy serves. Arm friendly. But the RF version certainly needs a bit of strength to wield it. Of course the same could be said of the Blade 104 SW model.

 

[HPTennis]

I wouldn't go with the Burn as its essentially Wilson's ode to the Pure Aero. Stiff light frame bad for the elbow and wrist.

The Blade is pretty comfy and a good all-rounder in my opinion. Mid range power, mid range spin, good server, solid feel. My aging body prefers the forgiveness of the 104 over the 98, but they both feel roughly similar.

The Prostaff is a very solid frame with a ton of plowthrough. Feels really good on smooth swings and awesome at returning heavy serves. Arm friendly. But the RF version certainly needs a bit of strength to wield it. Of course the same could be said of the Blade 104 SW model.

Okay thanks for you help

 

[HPTennis]

On a similar note, can anyone suggest strings/tension for the feeling I have described?

 

[Tommy Haas]

On a similar note, can anyone suggest strings/tension for the feeling I have described?

The problem is that if you like the audible rewarding thwock sound, you need to use strings that don't stretch much like poly and it's not really arm friendly.

The thwock sound is caused by the ball is compressing and decompressing. It's the rubber shell of the ball that makes that sound. So you want the ball to basically hit hard strings and deform more. That's why when you play with pressureless balls, they sound so loud.

Soft multi-filament strings usually results in a splat type of sound. It's the strings stretching that makes this sound as the ball doesn't compress much because the strings have a lot of give to them. It's these playing characteristics that's most arm friendly

 

[HPTennis]

The problem is that if you like the audible rewarding thwock sound, you need to use strings that don't stretch much like poly and it's not really arm friendly.

The thwock sound is when the ball is compressed and decompressed. The rubber shell of the ball is what makes that sound. So you want the ball to basically hit hard strings.

Soft multi-filament stings usually results in a splat type of sound. It's the strings stretching that makes the splat sound while the ball doesn't compress much because the strings are so soft.

Okay and does that go hand in hand with the solid response too, ie. the racquet not vibrating in your hand? Plus do you need to string at a higher tension?

 

[Tommy Haas]

Okay and does that go hand in hand with the solid response too, ie. the racquet not vibrating in your hand? Plus do you need to string at a higher tension?

Stringing at higher tension would only help with creating a thwock sound if the racket is flexible and low powered. If you strung at a high tension on a stiff and powerful frame, the ball would have deflected off the stringbed before you can do anything to the ball resulting in a lack of feel and control.

This is especially the case if you're an advanced player with a fast a wing. Stiff and powerful frames are meant for beginners to use because their swings are much slower and shorter.

 

[Zavist]

On a similar note, can anyone suggest strings/tension for the feeling I have described?

If you are talking about strings for the Pure Strike I have used:
Revolution 18 52/50
Pro Supex Big Ace 1.27 51/49
Weisscannon Silverstring 53/51

 

[HPTennis]

If you are talking about strings for the Pure Strike I have used:
Revolution 18 52/50
Pro Supex Big Ace 1.27 51/49
Weisscannon Silverstring 53/51

Ah okay, I meant for the Wilson... didn't like the Pure Strike

 

[Tsongham]

Sorry i'm interrrupting, but i have a question about wilson racquet(s).

I'm gonna buy Wilson Pro Staff (2015 model) What are the biggest differences of Pro staff 97 and Pro Staff 97LS?

 

[SpinToWin]

Sorry i'm interrrupting, but i have a question about wilson racquet(s).

I'm gonna buy Wilson Pro Staff (2015 model) What are the biggest differences of Pro staff 97 and Pro Staff 97LS?

They're completely different frames?

One's considerably lighter and has a thicker, stiffer beam with a open spin effect string pattern. It will play more like a (more controlled) APD style frame

 

[HPTennis]

They're completely different frames?

One's considerably lighter and has a thicker, stiffer beam with a open spin effect string pattern. It will play more like a (more controlled) APD style frame

The LS that is.

 

[HPTennis]

Also in my stupidity only just realised that the ProStaff does not have countervail. Is this a deal breaker for me? - As that muted, crisp feel is what I'm looking for & the technology is present in the Burn and Blade.

I know some people say in the forums that it's a gimmick whilst other swear by it.

 

[SpinToWin]

Also in my stupidity only just realised that the ProStaff does not have countervail. Is this a deal breaker for me? - As that muted, crisp feel is what I'm looking for & the technology is present in the Burn and Blade.

I know some people say in the forums that it's a gimmick whilst other swear by it.

Muted and crisp are opposites. I don't think you're expressing yourself clearly

 

[HPTennis]

Muted and crisp are opposites. I don't think you're expressing yourself clearly

I see, well I mean what I explained in the original post. I prefer a solid 'thwock' sound, where the racket doesn't vibrate all over the place in my hand and produce a trampoline like 'twang'.

 

[Dominic]

Off the 3 rackets you mention HPTennis...i felt the PS97 is the most solid...and hits with a nice 'thud'. The Burn is loaded with power..and more of a hollow 'ping'...i havent played enough with the blade other to say I did struggle with the balance.
My vote PS97 with 4G around 50lbs.

 

[SpinToWin]

I see, well I mean what I explained in the original post. I prefer a solid 'thwock' sound, where the racket doesn't vibrate all over the place in my hand and produce a trampoline like 'twang'.

Crisp is a direct response. If it doesn't vibrate excessively it can be called a clean and crisp feel. It's usually quite direct in terms of response off the stringbed.

Meanwhile muted refers to a certain lack of vibrations/feedback. Frames which are notorious for this are prince's o-port frames. Frames which have this while still having good feel tend to be called buttery, they have a soft feel where it feels like the ball sinks into the frame and thus one has a feel for it.

I still think that based on your description the PS is for you. The last Blade felt muted and brittle to me. Based on what I've heard on the new one its specs can turn out somewhat overwhelming and its feel is quite muted.

 

[kingcheetah]

The burn line was previously stiff as anything-- I'd stay away from that. Blade is very soft, that's what I'm currently using. The Pro Staff is close in flex, but has a more traditional balance than the blade-- so it kind of depends on what kind of player you are.

EDIT: Missed that you are a baseliner, in this case, I'd recommend you go Blade.

 

[HPTennis]

Off the 3 rackets you mention HPTennis...i felt the PS97 is the most solid...and hits with a nice 'thud'. The Burn is loaded with power..and more of a hollow 'ping'...i havent played enough with the blade other to say I did struggle with the balance.
My vote PS97 with 4G around 50lbs.

Okay thanks!

 

[HPTennis]

Crisp is a direct response. If it doesn't vibrate excessively it can be called a clean and crisp feel. It's usually quite direct in terms of response off the stringbed.

Meanwhile muted refers to a certain lack of vibrations/feedback. Frames which are notorious for this are prince's o-port frames. Frames which have this while still having good feel tend to be called buttery, they have a soft feel where it feels like the ball sinks into the frame and thus one has a feel for it.

I still think that based on your description the PS is for you. The last Blade felt muted and brittle to me. Based on what I've heard on the new one its specs can turn out somewhat overwhelming and its feel is quite muted.

Okay thanks for clearing that up

 

[HPTennis]

Off the 3 rackets you mention HPTennis...i felt the PS97 is the most solid...and hits with a nice 'thud'. The Burn is loaded with power..and more of a hollow 'ping'...i havent played enough with the blade other to say I did struggle with the balance.
My vote PS97 with 4G around 50lbs.

Why 4G?

 

[TennisManiac]

No brainer. ProStaff 97. And it won't be too heavy. I'd actually add a bit of lead to the tip with an overgrip if I were you. See my sig. I highly recommend it.

 

[Dominic]

Why 4G?

I felt the PS97 had a lot of Power and 4G reeled the power in, and added the control.

 

[HPTennis]

No brainer. ProStaff 97. And it won't be too heavy. I'd actually add a bit of lead to the tip with an overgrip if I were you. See my sig. I highly recommend it.

Alright cheers

 

[HPTennis]

I felt the PS97 had a lot of Power and 4G reeled the power in, and added the control.

Ah I get you!

 

[DJTaurus]

After being a blade user i happily switched to PS97 with 4G at 23kg. I wanted more punch and weight on my shots and my balls are now heavier. More control and power than blade 98s. Love it!

 

[TennisHound]

Why limit yourself to just Wilson? Currently there aren't any retail Wilson frames that I would advise (other than the SW Blade 104 CV or the RF97). There is one coming out in August that I would wait for.

 

[HPTennis]

After being a blade user i happily switched to PS97 with 4G at 23kg. I wanted more punch and weight on my shots and my balls are now heavier. More control and power than blade 98s. Love it!

Okay thanks!

 

[HPTennis]

Why limit yourself to just Wilson? Currently there aren't any retail Wilson frames that I would advise (other than the SW Blade 104 CV or the RF97). There is one coming out in August that I would wait for.

What else would you suggest? And what's coming out in August?