Wilson Python/ Defyer - Released July 2026

tele said:
Yes, I got the reasoning behind the Pro Labs releases and the use of the term “Pro Labs”. I also understand how “pro” is generally used by racquet companies. No disagreement there.

My point was just that Wilson has been inconsistent/messy with their usage of “pro” (i.e., there is not a consistent “real logic" behind it, to use the expression in a previous post by someone else). As a result, you have a blade 98 and a blade 98 pro, despite the fact that both the blade 98 and the H22 are in the control/player end of the spectrum, weigh the same, and are used by pros on the tour (not sure if anyone is using a v10). However, there is no regular defyer 98 but there is a defyer 98 pro.
Click to expand...
Well I think the point is that the 100 is the "regular" Defyer and the 98 is a Pro model inherently (like Pure Aero/Pure Aero VS being the 98 from Babolat in the past), Blade is a bigger silo so it has more models understandably.
 
Interesting that translating from the Taiwanese site the 9 pack bag that is usd165, the duffle 112 and the racquet 390. Hopefully they are a 299 and not a rf like 350
 
Last edited:
Wilson Australia were awesome enough to host a demo event across some clubs in Aus. Managed to hit with the 98 and 100 for about 45 mins today. Main racquet: 23 aero 98 with 2g at 10-2, confidential soft 1.2 50lbs

98
- more manoeuvrable than aero
- feels slightly more head heavy? Feels better on backhand side
- buttery with slices, aeros the same
- better comfort when hitting outside sweet spot; no nasty vibrations like the babs
- dampened but less than Yonex
- spin wise pretty similar but I guess depending on stroke
- more forgiving
- less power than aero
- better feel “Wilson feel”

100
- easier to swing than P98
- bigger sweet spot
- comfy, no nasty vibrations
- less weight towards head but still stable on the backhand
- slices good but more floaty
- same feel as P98
- on par or probs even better than speed mp as more manoeuvrable

Between the two, can’t go wrong with either depending on what you want. I’m probably leaning towards 98 as it has that “solid” feel but probably the 100 is the easier option. Will definitely demo both more in a match condition to really test the frame. I was expecting to be testing the retail frame pj but all had the snakeskin pj

Both can definitely benefit from lead either at 3-9 or 10-2
 
Last edited:
thebigz said:
Tbh the pro labs models really don’t move as many units in the grand scheme of things. They are mainly just there to serve the very small slice of highly informed consumers. Or advanced players that makes up for a tiny percentage of overall tennis players. Massive units being moved in local pro shops network that doesn’t even carry these models. And maybe the direct order with Wilson site is slightly better margin. But again the volume does not move the needle

Maybe there’s a tiny edge here, is scaling these models and availability so it’s easier for supplying to lower level pros/ juniors/college players. The upcoming girls getting signed today are not given some special pro stock steam 100. Just supplied the same Blade 100 Pro we can buy. The top 50 guys can get whatever they want made, but moving down the chain, most players don’t care or don’t have enough pull to get some very specific custom layup/string pattern made for them like Dimitrov(he has the clout regardless of ranking)

The level of knowledge here does not represent 98% of the tennis players out there. I have to explain my Blade 100 Pro to decent amateur players I hit with and 9/10 don’t know how it’s not a Blade, and half don’t know what Steam molds are. People don’t follow racquet releases like they do football.
Click to expand...
There's a bunch of different layups for the steam 100/99. Most of us probably couldn't tell the difference if we played with one or another. I wouldn't be surprised if there's production runs for a bunch of different layups to fulfill a each group of players needs.
 
robdogg said:
Between the two, can’t go wrong with either depending on what you want. I’m probably leaning towards 98 as it has that “solid” feel but probably the 100 is the easier option. Will definitely demo both more in a match condition to really test the frame. I was expecting to be testing the retail frame pj but all had the snakeskin pj

Both can definitely benefit from lead either at 3-9 or 10-2
Click to expand...
Thanks for comparison, so you tested prototypes not retail specs?
Do you think it might be switch from the Aero?
 
JoaoN said:
My local shop will be getting them this week, already put a hold on a 98. Been hitting with the new extreme pro 2026 since last week, will compare them side by side
Click to expand...
Could you already tell us something about the new Head Extreme compared to the old one?
And please keep us updated on your test extreme vs. P98
 
Last edited:
kvan said:
Interesting to see the shark skin-like textures on the retail pj, and Wilson marketing it in the promotional videos so far. Given the snakeskin pj didn’t have the texture it feels pretty gimmicky to me.

Reminds me of the of the old dunlop biomimetic series textures (tech was called AeroSkin), which were more pronounced.
Click to expand...
Good call back to the biomimetics!
 
Unsure if I should get the 98 or 100... Currently use blade 98 (v6, 18x20) and want to try to switch for some more power & spin. It's hard to know what reviews are really accurate since there were all sorts of prototypes going around. What is everyone's thoughts on 98 vs 100, which one do you think you'll get?
 
tgwilkinson said:
Really interesting. RA of 65 for both models and SW of 289 for D98 and 291 for D100. Sounds much more promising... thought we'd see D100 at high 290s. However, twist weights of 14.8/14.9 is interesting...
Click to expand...

65? No thanks. (n)(n)(n)Thought they were gonna be softer.
 
Last edited:
AlphaDave said:
Fery's still out there using the snakeskin pj and no sign of the Defyer bags either today.
Click to expand...
If you are thinking that this red frame is anything like the frame Fery is using then you are exactly the person that Wilson’s marketing department is looking for with their campaign. So many of Wilson’s frames over the years are built on the same layup and people buy whatever the new paint job is thinking they have some new frame and the grandest delusion of all is that they are using the same frame seen being used by a professional player.
 
For me RA doesn’t really matter it’s more about sweetspot size. My arm can handle a stiffer frame as long as the sweetspot is a good size. But if it’s a stiff frame and I’m hitting outside the sweetspot? Game over
 
USPTARF97 said:
If you are thinking that this red frame is anything like the frame Fery is using then you are exactly the person that Wilson’s marketing department is looking for with their campaign. So many of Wilson’s frames over the years are built on the same layup and people buy whatever the new paint job is thinking they have some new frame and the grandest delusion of all is that they are using the same frame seen being used by a professional player.
Click to expand...
Too kind.
 
tgwilkinson said:
Other specs are unstrung so assuming that's the same
Click to expand...
Extreme tennis always gives strung numbers, tw is obviously also strung. Plus this is a 65RA racquet for sure, they test on Wilson Tune Pro

Maybe they will post lateral stiffness numbers in their youtube test video
 
Last edited:
heavyD said:
This is quite the overreaction. In this day and age of variable beams and dampening technologies, RA is not an overly effective measurement of comfort. The 26 PA98 has an RA of 66 and to me is as comfortable as the 26 Speed MP which has an RA of 60.
Click to expand...
New Speed MP is measured strung at 63 on the Tune Pro on youtube. In play it also feels 63ish, I really liked it. TW themselves measured batches of 6 or 8 for people who wanted matching service, they were all around 67 unstrung, those tables were posted here on the forum shortly after the b/w pj came out
 
pbb said:
New Speed MP is measured strung at 63 on the Tune Pro on youtube. In play it also feels 63ish, I really liked it. TW themselves measured batches of 6 or 8 for people who wanted matching service, they were all around 67 unstrung, those tables were posted here on the forum shortly after the b/w pj came out

26 PA98 does feel like 65-66
Click to expand...

I also use Speeds. They all play like they are rated RA wise.
 
pbb said:
Extreme tennis always gives strung numbers, tw is obviously also strung. Plus this is a 65RA racquet for sure, they test on Wilson Tune Pro

Maybe they will post lateral stiffness numbers in their youtube test video
Click to expand...
Fair enough. They've taken the rackets down now but looking at Speed MP they show unstrung weight, balance and swing weight but then strung stiffness and twist weight. So in summary, super easy to follow
 
So seeing that unstrung SWs are at around 290, it seems like the strung SW will be roughly 320 right?
Trying to match my snakeskin ones to retail specs.
 
The racket looks great... As long you like red. I think looks better than any fully red racket till date.

The name doesnt sound or look as bad as it initially did... Maybe we are just getting used to it

Maybe the junk name was some kind of guerilla marketing play :-D
 
jj4545 said:
Smaller local shops in Germany (without online store etc.) also told me direct 25% discount at start, so I think it is fairly common practice.
Click to expand...
Where? I was only able to get 10% discount because tennis-point recently partnered with my uni
 
USPTARF97 said:
I’m just going to keep playing with the Blade Pro 16/19. Will demo this new frame at some point, but rushing out and buying this frame..why.
Click to expand...
1. Because $15 or $20 to hit with it a week seems like a waste of money and isn't enough time to determine anything
2. My local shop I can demo for free but inconveniences them to restring it with my own strings (plus I'd have to pay) and they have a soft limit of 1 week as well.
3. Demos will be hard to come by given the hype and how many will want to try it.
4. I can add a leather grip and other customizations if I want

I'd rather lose $100 bucks reselling it but be able to try it for a month or two with several of my own strings.
 
Chairman3 said:
1. Because $15 or $20 to hit with it a week seems like a waste of money and isn't enough time to determine anything
2. My local shop I can demo for free but inconveniences them to restring it with my own strings (plus I'd have to pay) and they have a soft limit of 1 week as well.
3. Demos will be hard to come by given the hype and how many will want to try it.
4. I can add a leather grip and other customizations if I want

I'd rather lose $100 bucks reselling it but be able to try it for a month or two with several of my own strings.
Click to expand...
☑
☑️
☑️
☑️
 
Chairman3 said:
1. Because $15 or $20 to hit with it a week seems like a waste of money and isn't enough time to determine anything
2. My local shop I can demo for free but inconveniences them to restring it with my own strings (plus I'd have to pay) and they have a soft limit of 1 week as well.
3. Demos will be hard to come by given the hype and how many will want to try it.
4. I can add a leather grip and other customizations if I want

I'd rather lose $100 bucks reselling it but be able to try it for a month or two with several of my own strings.
Click to expand...
Gentleman, clear guide what to tell your wife tomorrow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Wilson Defyer 100 V1
4 5 6
Replies
263
Views
19K
Cayenne321
C
thenewbig3
Wilson Defyer 98 Pro V1
17 18 19
Replies
939
Views
44K
WillGinRVA
WillGinRVA
TW Staff
Beyond The Playtest : Project P; Python; DEFYER ❤️ ; & Compare It to the VCORE, Pure Aero!
Replies
0
Views
59
TW Staff
TW Staff
Jack the Hack
Andreescu Wins 2026 ITF W35 in Bradenton
Replies
17
Views
1K
USPTARF97
U
Ryebread
Wilson Clash V3 100 Pro 16 x20 thread
2
Replies
63
Views
9K
Marc_Landauer
M
Back
Top