Wilson Pro Labs: Blade Pro Official Thread
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fundrazer
G.O.A.T.
No thet do not.
Crashbaby
Semi-Pro
Awesome, but demanding stick. Has me regularly questioning my skill set/sanity! Then to make matters worse I watch a podcast with legend play tester Andy Gerst suggesting he ain’t getting any younger and maybe he will try a 100 inch stick. I’m not in his league, so what am I thinking....
Are we seduced with promises of greatness based on what gifted players can do with this stick and also the gorgeous glossy paint.. hmmm
Are we seduced with promises of greatness based on what gifted players can do with this stick and also the gorgeous glossy paint.. hmmm
yes. for sure. truth to that...Awesome, but demanding stick. Has me regularly questioning my skill set/sanity! Then to make matters worse I watch a podcast with legend play tester Andy Gerst suggesting he ain’t getting any younger and maybe he will try a 100 inch stick. I’m not in his league, so what am I thinking....
Are we seduced with promises of greatness based on what gifted players can do with this stick and also the gorgeous glossy paint.. hmmm
satchmo_d
Rookie
Awesome, but demanding stick. Has me regularly questioning my skill set/sanity! Then to make matters worse I watch a podcast with legend play tester Andy Gerst suggesting he ain’t getting any younger and maybe he will try a 100 inch stick. I’m not in his league, so what am I thinking....
Are we seduced with promises of greatness based on what gifted players can do with this stick and also the gorgeous glossy paint.. hmmm
Love the look of the racket, didn't do much for my game. Not the racket's fault, just my game.
Have posted this before but find this a relatively easy racquet to play with - easier than the normal blade IMO. But everyone is different and has their own preferences. There aren’t many racquets on the market with such a high SW and low static weight. Can see some not clicking with the weight distribution.
sphinx780
Hall of Fame
Alright, I've had a few months to dial in and play around with these. Bottom line - I love them for my game.
Coming from the past 4 years with the RF97 - I'd say the simplest way to explain the BP 16x19 with my game is that the RF97 is like a high end single speed bike. It'll make you a better player by virtue of it's weight and single faceted nature. It can bludgeon* a ball and be highly effective when you're on your game. So, it's on you to put in the work to be on your game.
The BP is more like an 18 gear bike to me. Compared to the RF97, depending on the day and what's working, I can bludgeon* the ball like the RF, but when my game is off, I can also dial it down a few notches and play a more nuanced and precise game. I can't recommend this racquet more. Serve, Volley, Forehand, Backhand on my best days are just as good as the RF97. When one is off, I'd argue that I much more room for error with the BP and can adapt to my poor play/footwork/headspace to fully run with a plan B effectively.
* Editor's note: Bludgeoning is a highly subjective term. My best shots could be slightly better or much, much worse than yours. Make of it what you will ;-)
Coming from the past 4 years with the RF97 - I'd say the simplest way to explain the BP 16x19 with my game is that the RF97 is like a high end single speed bike. It'll make you a better player by virtue of it's weight and single faceted nature. It can bludgeon* a ball and be highly effective when you're on your game. So, it's on you to put in the work to be on your game.
The BP is more like an 18 gear bike to me. Compared to the RF97, depending on the day and what's working, I can bludgeon* the ball like the RF, but when my game is off, I can also dial it down a few notches and play a more nuanced and precise game. I can't recommend this racquet more. Serve, Volley, Forehand, Backhand on my best days are just as good as the RF97. When one is off, I'd argue that I much more room for error with the BP and can adapt to my poor play/footwork/headspace to fully run with a plan B effectively.
* Editor's note: Bludgeoning is a highly subjective term. My best shots could be slightly better or much, much worse than yours. Make of it what you will ;-)
Bobble
Semi-Pro
Does anyone like or play with the 18m anymore? I love how great it is for counterpunching…the feel, depth, control, etc.
I’m obviously pretending that I’m a pro with these things, but doesn’t seem to matter at the 4.5 level since me not missing is the best weapon I really have.
I’m obviously pretending that I’m a pro with these things, but doesn’t seem to matter at the 4.5 level since me not missing is the best weapon I really have.
sphinx780
Hall of Fame
Haven't tried crosses. Using gut/multi at 55/55. I like a softer bed for feel. Was at 56/52 with the rfa97. Tried that first in the BP and it was a mess. Very inconsistent string bed. 55/55 tamed the random power boost and balanced out the power/feel blend for me.
Gonna have to try that, like the softer feel of a natural gut hybrid but for whatever reason Gut/poly didn’t feel right to me in this frame at 55/52.
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darkother
Rookie
I've been hitting with the Blade Pro on and off for the last few months and have really enjoyed my time with it. Coming from the Aeropro Drive and Pure Drive, I feel like I have more plowthrough and stability on almost every shot, which is what I've really been looking for from a racquet. However, I feel like I haven't been able to fully gel with it in match play when I'm playing against guys that are in the 12 utr range or better. I'm used to playing with lower swingweight racquets and while the Blade Pro gives me the stability and feel I want, I tend to not be able to get as much spin or swing speed as I would like on the ball. Do you guys have any suggestions on racquets that might give me a similar amount of stability (without needing a bunch of lead) and provides a decent amount of spin as well?
darkother
Rookie
Some of the racquets I've tried and liked recently besides the Blade Pro are the Extreme Tour and the Ezone 98. The Extreme Tour suited my forehand but I can't seem to find the backhand, (I think the swingweight even with extra lead is too low), and I liked the Ezone 98 with a bit of extra lead, but I felt it was a little lacking when at the net and serving. I've also tried and liked the Pure Strike 3rd gen, so I may give that another shot as well. Would anybody that's played with the Vcore Pro 310 or the Pure Drive VS (with lead) say that they might split the Blade Pro/Extreme Tour difference?
dgoran
Hall of Fame
I just switched to it and just waiting for the honeymoon to blow over to proclaim that my search is over.
For my game is way better than 16x19 version which I also tested
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
Have you tried changing the balance of the BP to more HL? That's what I did for mine and it swings nicely. Just a thought... if all other things are working for you.
Bobble
Semi-Pro
Since it sounds like you play at a high level, I’d suggest trying to make the BP more headlight before giving up. Thinner gauge strings, hybrids, tail-weighting…this helped me make it play better under pressure (although still challenging vs tweener type frames).
nohandedbackhand
Semi-Pro
I have one I should probably let go of - L4 grip though
darkother
Rookie
I’ll have to try adding some weight to the grip then. I’ve never been a huge fan of leather grips, so maybe a little lead underneath possibly. I’ve been hitting a bunch recently with the extreme tour and it seems to suit my game pretty well. I’ve added some lead to make it a bit more stable, and the only thing that isn’t great yet is the backhand, but I’m starting to find the range with it now.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Sorry I forgot to put I need 3/8
DrewRafter8
Professional
What is everyone stringing their BP 18x20 with? I've made the switch and have yet to have the honeymoon period wear off too. It's an amazing frame if you can swing it. I currently use Tour Bite 1.20 and like it, but I'm interested in trying a few strings.
Bobble
Semi-Pro
Currently trying tour bite 18/1.15, and loving it. Have tried tour bite 17, Diamond rough 17, 4g, and BBO. Will be trying more 18g because it makes the racquet a bit more headlight, but also want to try some hybrids as well.
pfrischmann
Professional
Hi guys, I'm curious what you are coming up with for swing weight. I got a pro 16X19 used with VS gut and ALU. The SW is 340, which I though was a bit high even with having gut on there. I put a bout two wraps of lead on the tail and it's now an 11.9 ounce racquet with a balance point at 33CM.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
That's probably on the medium-low end of the spectrum. Some folks are up to around 350 SW. With 1.15 poly, I can get close to 333-336SW, 1.25 poly I'm up to 339 SW.
pfrischmann
Professional
You guys are beasts! It truly is a great racquet, If you have the technique.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Just strung my Blade Pro 16x19 (L2) and will try it out for the first time soon.
309g - stock, unstrung weight
319g - Changed the grip to black Fairway leather grip and unstrung
337g - strung with Volkl Cyclone (52/50 lbs; no overgrip yet)
Balance with strings & leather grip is now about 5 pts head light.
My current racquet is 362g (strung w/overgrip), but it is more head light.
309g - stock, unstrung weight
319g - Changed the grip to black Fairway leather grip and unstrung
337g - strung with Volkl Cyclone (52/50 lbs; no overgrip yet)
Balance with strings & leather grip is now about 5 pts head light.
My current racquet is 362g (strung w/overgrip), but it is more head light.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
You can buy from Wilson.
Andy Wang
New User
Does the regular blade 98 v7 grommets fit the blade pros?
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Played a few sets of doubles with the Blade Pro 16x19. Initial feelings/review:
319g (unstrung w/leather grip)
337g (strung wt with Volkl Cyclone 17 @ 52/50 lbs)
343g w/overgrip
The BP16x19 feels much more polarized than my Yonex 95D. I initially struggled a bit with timing.
I feel like I have to relax more and use my body more to pull the racquet into the contact.
GROUNDSTROKES
The launch angle felt higher than my 95D. It also feels much softer and more muted than my 95D. The ball seems to pocket and stay on the strings longer. This might be partially due to my stringing it at a lower tension than my 95D, which was at 55/53. Overall, I feel like I can hit more spin, but I am not sure if I am or not. I will be playing with it again tomorrow and will ask the person I am hitting with if he notices any difference.
VOLLEYS
I initially struggled a little bit on low volleys and also on high volleys b/c it is more polarized.
SERVES
Again. I am not sure if I am hitting harder or with more spin, but it feels like I am getting more spin.
TOUCH & DROPSHOTS:
These were tough for me b/c I had less feedback on the stringbed. I think a thicker and/or tighter tension might help with this.
STRING WEAR:
Probably about the same as my 95D.
After 3 hours, my Volkl Cyclone strings are already notched a bit and not sliding anymore, but it is a textured string, so this seems pretty normal.
319g (unstrung w/leather grip)
337g (strung wt with Volkl Cyclone 17 @ 52/50 lbs)
343g w/overgrip
The BP16x19 feels much more polarized than my Yonex 95D. I initially struggled a bit with timing.
I feel like I have to relax more and use my body more to pull the racquet into the contact.
GROUNDSTROKES
The launch angle felt higher than my 95D. It also feels much softer and more muted than my 95D. The ball seems to pocket and stay on the strings longer. This might be partially due to my stringing it at a lower tension than my 95D, which was at 55/53. Overall, I feel like I can hit more spin, but I am not sure if I am or not. I will be playing with it again tomorrow and will ask the person I am hitting with if he notices any difference.
VOLLEYS
I initially struggled a little bit on low volleys and also on high volleys b/c it is more polarized.
SERVES
Again. I am not sure if I am hitting harder or with more spin, but it feels like I am getting more spin.
TOUCH & DROPSHOTS:
These were tough for me b/c I had less feedback on the stringbed. I think a thicker and/or tighter tension might help with this.
STRING WEAR:
Probably about the same as my 95D.
After 3 hours, my Volkl Cyclone strings are already notched a bit and not sliding anymore, but it is a textured string, so this seems pretty normal.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Unfortunately, it can vary by a bit.
Andy Wang
New User
I do understand that but is there like a manual for what the base should be? Just wanna compare SW, Balance and static to what it actually should be listed
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
It's listed on the webpage...
Andy Wang
New User
Cant find the swingweight
That's because it's a range lol.
These are coming in heavier than blades that are high 330s. 340 to 350 I'd guess is where most fall
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Andy Wang
New User
I mean there’s a range in both balance and static weight but they list it. Was just wondering if there’s a baseline swingweight
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
That's what I did, too.
I think h6 could work for the cross, too, but I would probably weave the 1st cross and then 2nd cross and go from the 2nd cross to h6 so that it won't be as close to the knot. Then go from 1st cross to 3rd cross.
My current setup on my 18x20 BP is Cyclone Tour 17g/Gosen 17g at 53/51. The first 6 hours of play is great. The second 5 hours or so is good. Then once everything notches the ball slides off the strings.
I just strung up Black Knight 17g/NRG2 17g at 53/51. Will see how that plays.
Previous setups
Fire Wire/Ghost Wire
Tour Bite full bed
Tour bite/Gosen
Cyclone/Gosen
Isospeed Cream Full bed
Wilson revolve/ Gosen
Hyper G/ Gosen
So far Cyclone Tour is best choice and gives me great access to spin. Serve is a bit weaker, but I can shape groundies really nicely.
My setup is leather grip with thin over grip. Lead at 2 and 10. Static weight on one is 336g. Other is 339g
topspn
G.O.A.T.
I have two and strung they measured 350 and 346 SW. They seem to carry SW quite well
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
I don't use my RF97 much but I strung it at:
60 /56.5 lbs (VS Gut Touch 1.30 / Volkl Cyclone 1.25)
The RF97 seems to have a wider string spacing in the middle and feels very soft to me so I like it at a higher tension.
I haven't found a string stetup I like yet with the Blade Pro 16x19.
So far I have tried:
Black Volkl Cyclone 1.25 at 52/50 (good power but, prefer more feel.)
Yellow Volkl Cyclone 1.30 at 44/42 (good pocketing, but not enough feel. Much less power than above strings)
Just ran out of 1.25, otherwise I'd string it at 55/53 next.
I'll try 1.30 at 46/44 next.
I hate the yellow 1.30. Feels totally different and stiffer than the black one. Will never buy it again in yellow.
Hyper G 17 at 48 is solid.
I'm putting my BP 16x19 up for sale if anyone is interested. Great racket for full strokes but I need to focus on improving with a frame I can use in competition immediately.
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