Wilson Blade 98 (16 x 19) - Will V7 or V9 grommets fit the Blade V8?

T

Tennisspieler

Rookie
Hi all, the title of this thread says it all: As grommets for the Blade V8 are hard to come by, has anyone successfully fitted grommet sets from other Blade 98 (16 x 19) versions into a V8?

I understand that some people have rather unssuccessfully tried to fit Blade V7 grommets into a V8. But maybe someone else has found a way to make it work? Or has anyone even used earlier version, V6, V5, etc.?

The Blade V9 is still a recent release, but perhaps someone has some experience with V9 grommets in a V8?

Thanks for any feedback or ideas!
 
Blade Pro 98 v7 16x19 grommets: if the mold remains the same for 16x19 v7,8,9...can all grommets be interchanged? (grommets WR8425600 vs WRG059700 or others) will newer "staple grommet" version in v9 fit a v7? The v7s are hard to find at reasonable cost..
 
PETERSANG said:
I recently changed v8 grommets with v9.
Fits perfect.
Click to expand...
Regarding, "Fits perfect": Were your v9 headguard (top portion piece) shorter than the v8 version? Encountering issues getting the last few grommets to reach the grommet holes.

Thanks, Peter.

-Br.
 
BravoRed691 said:
Regarding, "Fits perfect": Were your v9 headguard (top portion piece) shorter than the v8 version? Encountering issues getting the last few grommets to reach the grommet holes.

Thanks, Peter.

-Br.
Click to expand...
Hi Br,
I haven't tried V8 grommets so I can't tell you about the length.
Last few holes, just like other grommets, I used the grommet awl with some effort, guided through outer/inner frame hole. Other than that, it was pretty easy process.
You can use hair dryer to make the grommet soft. This will make it easier to put in last few holes.
 
You should warm your grommet strips up in warm water (100-110F). Fit all the tubes on each strip into the external side holes first. Then go back and guide the tubes thru the internal side holes starting with the longest tubes first. Use an awl to do the guiding. Use masking tape to hold strips in place..
 
PETERSANG said:
THi Br,
I haven't tried V8 grommets so I can't tell you about the length.
Last few holes, just like other grommets, I used the grommet awl with some effort, guided through outer/inner frame hole. Other than that, it was pretty easy process.
You can use hair dryer to make the grommet soft. This will make it easier to put in last few holes.
Click to expand...

esgee48 said:
You should warm your grommet strips up in warm water (100-110F). Fit all the tubes on each strip into the external side holes first. Then go back and guide the tubes thru the internal side holes starting with the longest tubes first. Use an awl to do the guiding. Use masking tape to hold strips in place..
Click to expand...

Thanks Peter and Esgee. So the base grommet strips fit with no issues at all. It was the separate outer bumper guard (which do have grommets but only at the ends) that was short and its grommet holes do not line up well with the base grommet strip's holes.

After applying some heat from a heat gun and with some less than gentle stretching, I secured one end/side via the clip and lock grommet. Then with some more heat and stretching, the bumper guard was stretched until all the holes were lined up and the opposite end grommets on the bumper guard reached the holes on the other side of the racket head.

I used a couple of awls to line up and hold the bumper guard in place to the base grommet strip, along the way, as I applied heat and stretched the guard to the other side.

Process took a while as I was concerned about heating the guard too hot, and pulling the guard too fast and too much. Once completed however, the fit does look quite good, like it was a perfect fit.

Gonna string it up shortly and see how well it holds.

Thanks everyone!

-Br.
 
I use warm water cuz it heats the plastic uniformly. Heat guns don’t do that. I suspect I had less trouble than you cuz the entire bumper guard was more malleable. Water does not harm the frame so I don’t even bother drying the grommet strips before installing.
 
esgee48 said:
I use warm water cuz it heats the plastic uniformly. Heat guns don’t do that. I suspect I had less trouble than you cuz the entire bumper guard was more malleable. Water does not harm the frame so I don’t even bother drying the grommet strips before installing.
Click to expand...
Let's just say i need to charge to do this next time, lol!

-Br.
 
It’s a learning experience. Actually Babolat designs grommet sets that feel harder to install than Wilsons. It will get easier once you do a few, especially Babolats. FWIW I charge $5. Some take a few minutes and others take forever. I also charge lazy players $2 per fittex tube.
 
Anyone succeed with the reverse?
I know from personal experience that the V9 98 16x19 grommet fits just fine in the V8 98 16x19.
But does the V8 100 grommet fit in the V9 100?
I don’t care about losing the V9 grommet staple feature or the slight change in swing weight.
But the V8 100 grommet is currently available yet the V9 100 is not.
(The reverse of when I wanted to replace a V8 98 grommet earlier this year!)
Sounds like all the V9 Blade models retained the V8 drill pattern so I should be good?
 
All you can do is try. I haven’t any experience with Blade 100s. If you undertake this experiment, make sure all the holes on the new set line up with the frame before removing the old ones. If it works, please document it here.
 
And the answer is …
… yes.
With caveats.
So the v9 98 grommet on v8 98 was just the usual struggle with a combination of awl and cussing.
The v8 100 grommet on v9 100 just wasn’t going to work for the bumper guard without heat.
Which I should have resorted to from the start. Instead of trying sans heat.
I eventually put the bumper guard in the toaster oven, at first 120F then set at 180F, although monitored frequently, and probably never reached that temperature.
I then had a couple more holes that I got to fit just fine with a hairdryer.
I have another v9 100 whose bumper I need to replace with another v8 set, and I suspect it will go easily now that I’ve learned my lesson with heat!
 
Another option if you have one, is a Sous Vide heater. I don't use mine for cooking, but for developing color photographic film at home, and now also for warming up grommets, too many times I've accidentally deformed a small spot with a heat gun.
 
I cook and braise meats in my Dutch Oven. My sister has a Sous Vide, but it requires more water than a Dutch Oven and she won't let me borrow it. :cry::alien::rolleyes:
 
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