Wilson Blade 98 16 x 19 Countervail

[tennis347]

I am currently playing with Pro-Kennex 5G and thinking about upgrading to Blade 98 CV. I find the 5G a bit too low powered and my shoulder can’t handle the stiffness of most modern racquets today. I heard that the CV adds a lot of comfort to the frame.

I am 4.0-4.5 player looking for a slight upgrade in power but still want a players frame with a fairly thin beam. Will the Blade CV give me more power than the 5G?

Does any have any other thoughts? Thanks to all.

 

[A_Instead]

Yes...more power..most certainly..

 

[Bobble]

Demo first...although I loved the cv 98s and 16 19 for all around playability , both gave me arm issues. This is likely for due to the low weight and more HH balance of the frames I believe. I’ve similar playability without the discomfort recently in the head touch prestige mid & pro, but I’m not necessarily recommending those for you.

 

[tennis347]

Demo first...although I loved the cv 98s and 16 19 for all around playability , both gave me arm issues. This is likely for due to the low weight and more HH balance of the frames I believe. I’ve similar playability without the discomfort recently in the head touch prestige mid & pro, but I’m not necessarily recommending those for you.

Aggravating my shoulder is always a concern. I was reading that the Blade CV have more of HH balance which is not a good thing if you have any arm issues. I use to play with the original prestige from years ago and that was one of the best racquets of all time, feel, control and comfort. Most of the modern racquets are too stiff.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Speaking about the Blade 98, I see a lot of the pros using it (men and women).
Does anyone know if it is the CV or non-CV they are using?
Is there an easy way to check?

 

[tennis347]

Speaking about the Blade 98, I see a lot of the pros using it (men and women).
Does anyone know if it is the CV or non-CV they are using?
Is there an easy way to check?

Most of the pros are using the CV version as you can see the green accents on the outside of the frame.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Most of the pros are using the CV version as you can see the green accents on the outside of the frame.

Not so fast!
I just bought a couple of Blade 98L's a few weeks ago, (no CV).
They also have the green accents on the outside of the frame.

 

[DanS]

Most of the pros are using the CV version as you can see the green accents on the outside of the frame.

NONE of the pros are using the countervail versions... Just the paint jobs. They are all using pro stock frames.

 

[Mark-Touch]

NONE of the pros are using the countervail versions... Just the paint jobs. They are all using pro stock frames.

Thanks Dan. That's what I would have thought.

 

[redmini]

Not so fast!
I just bought a couple of Blade 98L's a few weeks ago, (no CV).
They also have the green accents on the outside of the frame.

How do they play compared to the CV?


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[Notirouswithag]

How do they play compared to the CV?


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Lighter frame all around.. Strung and an overgrip puts it at around 10.8 strung. I own 2 of them and have very small amounts of lead tape at 3/9 for stability on volleys.


But it is a good racquet to weight up and customize to your spec

 

[TennisHound]

Edit

 

[redmini]

But it is a good racquet to weight up and customize to your spec[/QUOTE]

That’s what I was recently considering as I liked the 16x19 cv except for the balance and I felt I was never quite sure of the depth I was going to get on a shot - which I put down to the cv as I didn’t have the same issue with other frames. My tentative plan was to add weight to approximate to a more headlight version of the 305g blade. How’s the feel and comfort of the 98L?



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[Mark-Touch]

But it is a good racquet to weight up and customize to your spec

That’s what I was recently considering as I liked the 16x19 cv except for the balance and I felt I was never quite sure of the depth I was going to get on a shot - which I put down to the cv as I didn’t have the same issue with other frames. My tentative plan was to add weight to approximate to a more headlight version of the 305g blade. How’s the feel and comfort of the 98L?

I couldn't do a fair A/B of the Blade 98 CV to the Blade 98L (non-CV) because they only had a 4 1/4" grip size for the Blade 98 CV.
I use a 4 3/8" grip.

But if I put that aside, I just didn't have the same feel/connection with the ball with the CV version that I got with the non-CV version.

Now the reason I bought the Blade 98L was because it was the ONLY Blade 98 they had that was non-CV !!!
If you check around, you will see most stores are going almost total CV with their Wilsons.

I actually didn't mind the lighter weight of the 98L. For some strange reason, it feels a lot heavier than its actual weight.
The first thing I did was put on a leather grip on one of my 98L's. With overgrips my 98L's now weigh:
315 gm and 309 gm. (and as I say, they feel heavier than that).

For the time being I will leave their weights alone and see how they play.
I can always add weight later if I want to. So I see the 98L's as a perfect platform to customize.

You asked about feel and comfort. That is the million dollar question!
I haven't played with them long enough to know how my tennis-elbow arm will hold up with the racket.

It is a bit stiffer than I would like. But all the Blades/Pro Staffs/Burns etc. are.
You get good feel from the non-CV versions.
Check back with me in a few months about the feel/comfort question.

 

[Notirouswithag]

But it is a good racquet to weight up and customize to your spec

That’s what I was recently considering as I liked the 16x19 cv except for the balance and I felt I was never quite sure of the depth I was going to get on a shot - which I put down to the cv as I didn’t have the same issue with other frames. My tentative plan was to add weight to approximate to a more headlight version of the 305g blade. How’s the feel and comfort of the 98L?


Depending on what strings you use and tension range i thought it comfortable either way. Ised to used poly/co poly/multi hybrids and still felt very comfortable

Currently using a multi hybrid in one stick(head velocity/diadem evolution) and love, love, love the comfort. Got my other stick strung up with a poly that im play testing for pre production and it still feels great.

I dont have issues with control or off center hits. But im not sure its me, my lime green handle feels bigger and the racquet feels evenly balanced(dots of lead 3/9) my black one the handle feels smaller and it feels a tad head heavier but i need to get the sticks measured to see how off they arw


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