Blade_X
Professional
Tour byte soft 1.25 for example adds 27 points.
Wilson Blade V9 2024
- Thread starter Blade_X
- Start date
Keep it, it looks slightly handle heavy and light on SW which gives you room to weight the hoop as needed.
About adding weight: The static weight already exceeds the target quite clearly. I'm not entirely sure if it is quite viable. I am switching rackets from a Pro Staff 97 to a Blade to essentially operate a lower weight racket.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
I don't know, that swingweight is pretty close to spec - a 1.25 poly, depending on which one, could easily get the SW to low 320s. Also the cardboard swing vision insert under the plastic wrap? Plastic adds about 2-3 grams alone I believe.
If the static weight is handle biased, you really don't feel it. When it comes to swinging the racquet, you feel the hoop mass, not so much the handle mass.
The paper swing vision insert looks like this. It seems that not all rackets have it, but there is one in the racket I received
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
Honestly, you'll probably be back using your Pro Staff after a brief honeymoon period.
Is the thought process that for someone who wants to customize the hoop, the racket has to be underspec by an amount. For that my racket would be ideal due to the balance and swinweight?
ClownCar96
Semi-Pro
I rolled the dice and ordered one blind but got a nice spec:
V9 18x20
307g, 300 SW, 32.25
BTW I’m going to list on classifieds if anyone wants please PM. Only used for 3-4 hours. Awesome stick just doesn’t quite suite my play style, I’m rolling with v8 Noir as my main.
Also have a v9 16x19 I’m going to list:
Unstrung 296 SW, 306g, Bal 320
V9 18x20
307g, 300 SW, 32.25
BTW I’m going to list on classifieds if anyone wants please PM. Only used for 3-4 hours. Awesome stick just doesn’t quite suite my play style, I’m rolling with v8 Noir as my main.
Also have a v9 16x19 I’m going to list:
Unstrung 296 SW, 306g, Bal 320
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Yeah underspec gives you more room to modify to your liking. For reference I have a V9 that was 304g static and 293 SW unstrung before modding to 349g static, 315mm balance, and 333 SW strung w/ 18ga poly.
How did you modify, how much lead, where?
2.5g at 12 on the hoop, leather base grip, about 10g of putty in the buttcap to match my other Blade frames setups.
Fluffy_Skye
Semi-Pro
I finally gave in and bought a blade 98 16*19. Added 2.5g at 3&9, strung, plus overgrip, I’m at 325g, 32.7cm, 322SW. I’m happy with the specs. However, the grip size is larger than what I’m used to on Pro Staff v13 series, possibly due to the new buttcap design. I’m now trying hard to squeeze down the grip…
My hands basically don’t sweat at all. However, some of my friends have really sweaty hands, and I notice that their grip size would get smaller from playing pretty fast. Should I try to get the grip wet and squeeze hard? Would that work lol?
My hands basically don’t sweat at all. However, some of my friends have really sweaty hands, and I notice that their grip size would get smaller from playing pretty fast. Should I try to get the grip wet and squeeze hard? Would that work lol?
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
Wetting it seems like a bad idea.
You can take a roller and roll up and down the bevels and that will compress it faster. Something like a wall paper roller or rolling pin.
You can regrip it and pull it tight to reduce the thickness. I replaced it with Babolat Team grip, it kinda made it half-size smaller which is perfect for me.
Fluffy_Skye
Semi-Pro
I have done that before and if I really pull hard, I would reduce the weight on the handle by 2g. My blade is already under spec so this would not be my first choice.
Add weight back to the buttcap.
Circa 1762
Rookie
More thoughts on the 104: With some weight, this is an intermediate short player’s and/or scrambler/counterpuncher’s dream.
For reference, I’m 5’7”, 30s, and play USTA 4.0 league but hit with 4.5s fairly frequently. My game relies heavily on chasing down balls that I really have no business getting back (think budget Michael Chang, if I’m really being honest with myself).
The sweet spot on the 104 is enormous and consistent, including in the upper hoop. The extra half inch shouldn’t make that much of a difference, but so many times I have thought there’s no way I’m going to get to a ball but stick the 104 out anyway and manage to not only get a frame on it but actually hit a reasonable shot back. Reaction volleys are great. Offensive lobs are easy. Spin is there if you want it, and not if you don’t. The frame is pretty plush (and muted, but not just muted), so touch shots work well. And the special bonus for short players is that it serves huge. I’ve never measured my serve speed, but I’m regularly hitting 1/3 to halfway up the curtain at my club with this thing, whatever that means. Yes, I’m probably honeymooning somewhat, but it’s a good start.
The other nice thing is that I’ve tried the 104 at everything from 325 swingweight all the way up to 340 (just for kicks), and it’s worked well over that entire range. It’s a great platform stick.
For reference, I’m 5’7”, 30s, and play USTA 4.0 league but hit with 4.5s fairly frequently. My game relies heavily on chasing down balls that I really have no business getting back (think budget Michael Chang, if I’m really being honest with myself).
The sweet spot on the 104 is enormous and consistent, including in the upper hoop. The extra half inch shouldn’t make that much of a difference, but so many times I have thought there’s no way I’m going to get to a ball but stick the 104 out anyway and manage to not only get a frame on it but actually hit a reasonable shot back. Reaction volleys are great. Offensive lobs are easy. Spin is there if you want it, and not if you don’t. The frame is pretty plush (and muted, but not just muted), so touch shots work well. And the special bonus for short players is that it serves huge. I’ve never measured my serve speed, but I’m regularly hitting 1/3 to halfway up the curtain at my club with this thing, whatever that means. Yes, I’m probably honeymooning somewhat, but it’s a good start.
The other nice thing is that I’ve tried the 104 at everything from 325 swingweight all the way up to 340 (just for kicks), and it’s worked well over that entire range. It’s a great platform stick.
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EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I wonder if that is just something Wilson is doing for the 98s?
I’ve ordered 12 100s from Wilson (don’t judge me) and they all just had basic plastic wrap on the handle. I’ve only kept two, so I’m not totally insane. I just love Wilson’s process of sending you the order lightning fast, being able to take my own measurements and find a matched pair and send the rest back for a refund.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
This is a great description. I feel very much the same about the 100 version. The 104 blade has always been slept on, but I knew some higher level rec players who swore by it.
Did you keep up with specs from the grouping? Would be interested in how close/far off 12 would be.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
Killed me
But no judgment here.Does this exist anywhere to buy??It has more power than v8 16x19. Trust me. And i tried one with low 320 SW and 1.25 string when I usually opt for 1.20 on dense 16x19s. I don’t know how they achieved this but it’s better. Give it a demo. My only issue with V9 was mostly that I found the new softer feel more muted but on the contrary I had better control than V8…. It just felt offering less feedback outside the sweet spot. And it’s way more stable and arm friendly.
Blade_X
Professional
I can’t even find to buy the optic colors of Wilson pro overgrip.
Fluffy_Skye
Semi-Pro
I looked up some more methods. I wrapped the grip first in Saran Wrap and then wrap really tight with scotch tape. I can already feel the grip getting compressed.
Exact same thing happened with my pro staff. Super annoying man.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I didn’t. In general, the static weights were good. Between 301g-303g with plastic. Swingweight were 282 - 298, with the majority in the 283-285 range. I didn’t check balance on all of them because my first pass was swingweight and static to find two that could match. I probably measured the balance on 5-6 of them. I think 31.4 was the most headlight with 32.1 being the most head heavy.
These were the v9 100s.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I learned that in the old Blade Pro days where the specs were all over the place. But it’s a great way to get matching blades if you have the tools. That’s how that pair of v8 18Ms were found.Killed me
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
The lead won’t sit flush at 12 under the bumper
TwinCinema
Semi-Pro
So far I haven’t read about any that were lower spec than mine, which came in at 300g unstrung and with strings and overgrip my final specs were
320g
320 SW
5 pts head light
If my balance was 6-7 pts HL I’d have added lead in the hoop but since it’s already about as head heavy as I like, I’m reticent to do that.
I suppose I could add weight in the handle too, but I’ve already shelved the racket in favor of my PSVS. Maybe I’ll customize it if I ever decide to pick it back up.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
It does for me with no problem at all.
What grip size is yours? That’s the same spec roughly as my 100 v9
TwinCinema
Semi-Pro
L3. I am a size L4 but I got my v9 98 for the TW Playtest and they only send L3.
Ah, yeah that’s how I got my 98 18x20 though I was able to get the L2. Mine is 302gm unstrung and was 321sw strung.
I think I’m going to use some 18g gut/poly to see if I can open it up a bit more. I like the frame a lot, but got used to the 100 and MPL string beds
The one I received from TW as part of the playtest was 303g/285sw unstrung.
Woah, that’s crazy low. Nice platform to get to a desired swingweight
ClownCar96
Semi-Pro
Anyone with a 16x19 V9 spec around 290 SW want to trade for a heavier spec, 296 SW? It’s like knew… it’s amazing. I have a bad shoulder needing surgery so I need it to be a little lighter. Love the feel… I’m not sure if the silicon in the handle is the common thread but I love the feel on contact with my v8 noir and v9.
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ClownCar96
Semi-Pro
I would add ~ 10g in putty to the handle. That baby will come alive! 7 pts HL is where it’s at on the Blades for me at least
Fluffy_Skye
Semi-Pro
I took off the stock grip on my new blade 98 and noticed that there are an extra 4 pairs of staple holes on the buttcap. It seems like the buttcap was stapled and then took off and then stapled on again. Is that normal for a new racket? Would there be potential issues?
Fluffy_Skye
Semi-Pro
You could try lighter strings. Mine is 290SW unstrung. With 130 Multi main and 122 Poly cross the strung SW is at 317. With 130 Gut main and 127 Poly cross the strung SW is at 321.
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
100% agree min 32cm balance strung ideal is 31.75
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
I got a second v9 and it was of course off spec because I didn’t get to hand pick it. 309g with the plastic on handle 307g without which is fine but the balance was 32.3 cm instead of 32, like my first one which was on spec.
Ended up settling with adding 11 grams of putty to the butt cap vs 7 on my first one and they feel pretty close now. Both have Wilson leather grip, solinco overgrip, same strings and dampener. Ended at 342g vs 345g and 32.0 cm vs 32.2 cm.
Ended up settling with adding 11 grams of putty to the butt cap vs 7 on my first one and they feel pretty close now. Both have Wilson leather grip, solinco overgrip, same strings and dampener. Ended at 342g vs 345g and 32.0 cm vs 32.2 cm.
TwinCinema
Semi-Pro
The problem is that won’t increase the swing weight right? I’d prob want over 325, maybe 330. But I do love how stable it is even at this spec.
Waiting for the Pro Stock version, until then i will just keep playing with my BP98 v8s and v7s. just restrung all of them for
the spring weather after months of rainouts.
hopefully the v9s are stiffer and more head heavy than then previous generations so i wont have to add some much
lead in the hoop
i guess the Pro Stock v9 should be out in the summer
z
the spring weather after months of rainouts.
hopefully the v9s are stiffer and more head heavy than then previous generations so i wont have to add some much
lead in the hoop
i guess the Pro Stock v9 should be out in the summer
z
