@ ironrongerka, We are fairly certain we strung the racquet correctly for the video, so you may just be used to your older racquet with the tighter string pattern. Many other racquets with open string patterns like this have that gap at the bottom as well. Andy, TW
@Jassiel Rodriguez, The blue string is a Volkl prototype string that has not been released yet. It offered a little more pop and power, but not as much control as Spiky Black Shark. It also didn't have the same spin potential. Andy, TW
@Sebastian Lau, I would give the edge to the Blade, but both are solid racquets that provide lots of access to power and spin. The VCore is a little stiffer and more crisp feeling, whereas the Blade is slightly softer and more plush. Andy, TW
@ cane gatto, The open 16x19 string pattern makes this racquet pretty powerful and feel lively. The stiffness and maneuverability is what gives the APD powerful. I think the power level of the two are pretty similar, and we will fix the power level listed on our website for the Blade. Sorry for the confusion. Andy, TW
@ Alex Li, The APD will be crisper and livelier feeling, and will also be more maneuverable and easier to swing. It will give you more power and spin from all areas of the court. The Blade will be heftier, and thus more solid feeling, especially on off-center hits. It will offer better control than the APD and a softer, more comfortable feel. Andy, TW
@ anas eid, This racquet has a good blend of power and control, and the open string pattern definitely gives it a livelier feel. We did not have any issue with the comfort, so you'll have to play around and see if this is too heavy for you. Only you will be able to tell. Try it with a soft co-poly string like Dunlop Black Widow for great spin, control and comfort. Andy, TW
@Ben Garver, The Blade will have a slightly plusher feel and will offer better control and ball feel, while the Steam will be stiffer/crisper feeling and have a little more power, spin and forgiveness. Overall, we preferred the Blade. Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯, The Radical Pro (Murray's racquet) will offer more weight in the hoop of the racquet, making it more stable and powerful. It will also feel a little more solid on the one-handed backhand. The Blade will also offer good heft and stability, but it doesn't have all the weight in the hoop that the Radical has that may feel better on a one-handed backhand. Andy, TW
@ Tai Lee, They are two very different feeling racquets. The Blade is heavier and more solid feeling. It's also stiffer, crisper and produces a livelier feel. It will give you a blend of power and control. The PS 95 is much lighter and more maneuverable, and it will also have a softer, more plush feel. It's lower-powered than the Blade, but will provide more control. Andy, TW
@ Teun Kuijken, The Blade is crisper and livelier feeling, whereas the Six.One is softer and more plush. They both are super solid frames though with great plowthrough. Andy, TW
@ Sharvin Sivakumar, I currently am playing with the Blade 98 and love it because it feels like an extension of my hand. So, I'd have to say the Blade is the more "natural" feeling, although that's a very subjective thing. The Juice is also a great racquet, as it possesses a little more power, forgiveness and access to spin, while the Blade feels a bit more solid and offers more control. Andy, TW
@ Cali Xiong, Compared to the 18x20, the 16x19 will produce a livelier response that has more power and spin, but less control. Compared to the Pure Drive Roddick, the Blades will have more traditional ball feel and offer more control. The PDR will be more powerful and feel much crisper and stiffer. Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯, That's really going to be a matter of personal preference, as both will work great. The 16x19 will offer more power, spin and a friendlier sweetspot. The 18x20 will offer more control and feel, but will feel a little stiffer and less forgiving. Andy, TW
@ Nicool333, At the bottom of our written reviews, you can see the player profile for all the playtesters on the test. It describes their level and style of play, and the racquet they typically use. Andy, TW
@ zeevmon1, ALU Power will feel powerful and comfortable to you if you are used to a stiffer polyester string. If you are not, I'd recommend going with a nice multifilament like Wilson NXT Tour, which is designed to be powerful and comfortable. Polyester strings (like ALU Power) are stiffer and lower-powered by nature, and won't offer the same comfort and pop as a multifilament or natural gut. Andy, TW
@ ironrongerka, I think that if you are already used to polyester strings (like Barbed Wire), then stick with that over Hollow Core. HC will give you a lot more power and comfort, but you won't be able to get the same control and spin that you get with the Barbed Wire. Andy, TW
@BodegaBay, The Blade is a tad faster feeling and also crisper in its response. The C10 Pro comes through with even more weight and plow through and is silkier/smoother in its response. Both are pretty lively feeling and I like to up the tension in both and/or use a firmer playing poly. For spin and a faster feel, the Blade has it. For a plusher, smoother feel with more stability & plow through, the C10 Pro has it. Hope that helps, Chris, TW
@ xijustki11edyou, This comes down to more personal preference than anything. The Pro Staff 95 will be the most maneuverable of the three and will feel the softest and most plush. The Blades will have better plowthrough and feel a bit more solid. The 16x19 offers a livelier feel with more access to power and spin, and the 18x20 has more control. Andy, TW
@nadalrocks941, This racquet will have a softer, more plush feel to it compared to the old Extreme. It will also be slightly less forgiving because of the slightly smaller head size. The open 16x19 string pattern does give this version of the Blade a little extra juice to make it a little more comparable with the old Extreme in the power and spin department. Andy, TW
@ Edward Rycroft, It depends on what you are looking for. The Blade will be a bit more comfortable and will give you more control and feel compared to the Juice. It's a great racquet, so if that's what you're looking for, give it a try. Andy, TW
@ AtticussAtticuss, This Blade 98 will play similarly to the EXO3 Tour, but it will feel crisper and "more modern" compared to the soft, plush feel of the Prince. Both will be lively and offer nice access to power and spin. Andy, TW
@ P. Ng, The Six.One will offer a softer, more traditional feel that is more similar to the Tour 90. The Blade will be crisper, livelier and more modern feeling. Try them both if you can and see which one feels best to you. Personally, I prefer the Blade because it's more forgiving and gives you a little easier access to power and spin, but the Six.One will offer more control and a softer feel. Andy, TW
@ Cardshark45, I recommend demo'ing both and seeing which one feels best in your hands. The Blade 98 will be more forgiving and offer easier access to power, whereas the Blade will offer more control and feel, but it will be more difficult to find the sweetspot consistently. Andy, TW
@Ben Garver, Unfortunately, we are all sold out of these. A new version of this racquet will be released in the next month or two, so stay tuned! Andy, TW
@ 중경 최, The tighter 18x20 string pattern will give you better control and feel, but less power and spin. The more open 16x19 will have a livelier, more spin-friendly feel with not as much control. Andy, TW
@ Parker robles, They are pretty different feeling racquets, so it's a bit hard to compare and opinions will differ from playtester to playtester. The Pure Drive is crisp, lively and powerful, offering tons of power and spin. The Blade is still crisp and lively but a little more traditional feeling, offering better control and still decent power and spin. I would go with the Blade but a couple of our other playtesters would go with the Pure Drive. Try them both! Andy, TW
They are very comparable in terms of power, spin and control etc. The feel between the two is the biggest difference due to the unique Donnay frame construction which gives their racquets a very plush and comfortable feel. The Blade plays slightly crisper in comparison. On court, what I can get out of each racquet in regards to my power, control and the amount of spin I'm getting is very, very close. Hope that helps, Chris, TW
@Istvan Tajnay, Andy can give his 2 cents on this, but I have a feeling he will agree with me on this one, the Blade 98 will be a better option and has much better feel at the net and that touch you are looking for as well as a great deal of control. I use the Pure Drive Roddick and do find the weakest part of the racquet to be the touch - it has none! Hope that helps, Michelle, TW
@ John Smith, We have not noticed the handle of the Blade being shorter, so I can't confirm any truth to that rumor. Both are great racquets, so it's really going to come down to you and which one you think feels better in your hands. You'll get a little more spin and forgiveness with the Speed, but better feel and all-around playability from the Blade. Andy, TW
@ Cali Xiong, Compared to the 18x20 version, the 16x19 will offer a livelier response with more power and spin, but less control. The Blades will be less powerful than the Pure Drive Roddick, but will offer more control. The Blades will also offer a little better traditional ball feel, whereas the Pure Drive will feel very crisp and modern feeling. Andy, TW
@ Andy Haws, If you can handle the heft of this racquet, it will be the more powerful of the two. The Blade will be much heavier than the Prestige S, so its harder to generate racquet head speed with it. However, if you have the strength to do so, it'll be more powerful. Andy, TW
@ Viktor Tesarczyk, It's a great racquet. Very maneuverable and easy to swing, good access to power and spin, but since it's on the lighter side it did tend to flutter a bit on off-center hits. Andy, TW
@ 4nth0nyyy, That really depends on the individual and what style of game you have. If you have shorter, slower strokes and you don't break strings often, go with a nice multifilament like Wilson NXT Tour or Volkl Power Fiber II. If you have longer, faster strokes and need a bit more control and durability, go with a nice polyester like Luxilon ALU Power or Volkl Cyclone. Andy, TW
@ Thomas McMichael, Depends on what you're comparing it to, but it is a fairly powerful racquet for it's weight and head size. It'll be more powerful than a Prestige or Wilson Six.One, but not as powerful as a Babolat AeroPro Drive or Pure Drive. Andy, TW
@ gashtoon, I would say the PDR is going to offer more power and spin than the Blade 16x19. The Blade will give you more control, feel and comfort. I would recommend checking out the Dunlop F 5.0 Tour and Wilson Steam 99 S. Both of those are powerful and very spin-friendly. Andy, TW
@ Luis M, There has been no confirmation from Wilson yet regarding which exact racquet Federer is playing with this week. It seems to be a 98 square inch frame with a 16x19 string pattern, with a frame that closely resembles the Blade. Andy, TW
@ Edward Rycroft, Well, if you currently use the Juice and it's working well for you then I wouldn't recommend changing. If you want something that's going to offer you a bit more control and feel and you don't mind the drop in power and spin, then the Blade will be a good one to try. Andy, TW
@TheNextSmoove, The Blade 98 will be much more forgiving and powerful. The PS 90 will have much more control but will be far less forgiving. The feel with both racquets is excellent. Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯, It will be lively like the Blade 98 16x19, so you may not find the control that you are looking for. Instead, the Six.One 18x20 may be better. Andy, TW
@ ironrongerka, Yes, this new Blade is awesome! It's super solid and offers a nice blend of power and control. This open patterned 16x19 one also offers a nice lively feel with some great access to spin. I'd definitely recommend it! Andy, TW
@ Steve K., It won't be as soft and plush as the Pro One, but it's a little more forgiving and will give you some more pop and access to spin. If the Pro One is a 7 on your scale, I'd give the Blade a 6. Andy, TW
@ jlankester3, This would definitely be the more powerful racquet. It has a more open string pattern so the feel of the strings is livelier, and it has more mass which, once you get it moving, will produce more power. Andy, TW
We've seen it! I recommend the 104. That was my racquet of choice for a long time and I really like the power, spin and the way the racquet whips through the air really fast. The 98 is a bit heavy, a bit stiffer and with a higher swing weight making it a little bit tougher to handle. The 104 will be an upgrade from your KZero 118, but a good change, as you'll still get the power you like, and despite the weight being a little bit heavier, you'll notice how fast it moves. Siobhan, TW
@ John Ricks, Both of those are awesome racquets. I found the Speed Pro to offer a bit more control and spin, while the Blade offers more power and is better for flattening shots out. I found the Speed Pro to outperform the Blade from the baseline, but everywhere else the Blade was superior. Make sure to try both of those, and also try the Head Youtek IG Extreme Pro 2.0 if you want one more for your demo order. Andy, TW
@ UnoriginalName001, The feel of both racquets is great but different from one another. The Radical has a soft, plush feel whereas the Blade has a crisp, lively feel. The Radical will be more comfortable but the Blade also has some nice dampening features to make it not too harsh on the arm. The Radical Pro has a lot of weight in the hoop of the frame, giving it tremendous power and plowthrough once you get in moving through the air. The Blade has a nice blend of power and control. Andy, TW
@ KJKING326, This is more low-powered than a Pure Drive, but offers better control. It would be great for doubles, as it plays well from all over the court. Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯, The Blade will offer you a little more control and feel whereas the Steam will give you better access to power and spin. Overall, I'd give the edge to the Blade. Andy, TW
@ CorbinP21, Try the Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour / XCel hybrid in this racquet. It will unlock the great spin potential while also providing plenty of comfort and playability. Andy, TW
@ keijimuto, The spin potential of the 98 S is much more compared to the other versions. The Spin Effect technology makes a big difference when it comes to spin. Andy, TW Andy, TW
Oh, and the control is good, sorry I missed that off the first part! There is no loss of power with the control and you're able to also add more control with spin :) Siobhan, TW
Totally right, if you transmit your power into the racket its at least twice as powerful as the Prestige S. The S is lighter to handle and generates a bit more spin than the 98.
@ LegendaryMinecraft27, This one might still be a bit too heavy for you. I'd recommend taking a look at the Babolat AeroPro Lite, Wilson Juice 100L or the Head Graphene Instinct S. Andy, TW
@ andyhaws1, This WIlson Blade would be an excellent one to try, along with the Babolat AeroPro Drive, Pure Drive and the Head Youtek IG Extreme Pro 2.0. Andy, TW
@ LegendaryMinecraft27, I don't think it would be as good a fit for you as the other two you want to try. We also didn't find it to be as solid as the other Blade 98s. Andy, TW
thx i bough already the spin is better than 18x20 i have to say i like Wilson's feeling forehand can make more power but i think double backhand is better used this i wish i can change
Hi Andy, I try to hit B98 16x19 two days,it's really powrful but when I want hit winner the ball a lways out,maybe is tension too low?(APR 50lbs) or just not good for me?I got stean 99,B98 18x20,Six.One 95S,overall which one is better?I always hit ball at baseline,I like the 99 control and power but isn't comfortable,the Six.One is a little bit low power for me,18x20 B98 swimweight is too high
i played 1619 B98 i don't know why when i want control ball to attack 80% will be out will i try PSB90 the ball very low high speed even i did a out side in forehand...but PSB90 is heavy i can't make high racket speed should i used PSB95?i saw you guys say 90 power more than 95?
Wow these points seem a lot better than before! I'd that why you guys took some more time reviewing the blades? Cos I can really notice the difference of you did. Incidentally I'm looking for a spin (top and back spin) oriented racquet. I was looking to string Kirschbaum Spiky Shark 16 into a Prince exo3 warrior db team 100. Is there anything to watch out for if I go for that? Also what are some other spin racquets? Thanks in advance
@ UnoriginalName001, The Radical is very maneuverable, more so than this Blade. Those strings will play great and will provide good power and comfort. Andy, TW
Hi Chris, I demoed the Blade 98 16x19 today and it was right in my wheelhouse. It's got that traditional feel with plowthrough but greater access to spin and power. However, I'm curious how this would compare to the Volkl C10 Pro? Thx ahead for any response.
How does this racquet compare to the Prince EXO3 Tour 100 16X18? I'm demoing the Tour from you guys right now and I really like the feel and the pop I get on topspin shots with it. I'm wondering if there are any similar sticks I should try out before I make the big purchase? And by the way, I am now completely addicted to these racquet review videos. I just want to take a year off work and demo EVERY SINGLE racquet!
TW, Can You give me a bunch of advice? I'm intermediate tennis player. I like to play both at the baseline and near the net. I like to feel the ball on my racquet. I'm considering between : Babolat Aeropro Drive Gt, Wilson Steam 99, Wilson Prostaff Six.One 100 BLX2, Wilson Blade 98, Wilson Blade 104, Head Graphene Instinct Pro. I would like the racquet wouldn't be so heavy. Thanks Jakub :)
I think I'm going to order a couple of these from you guys. Btw it would be helpful to see what NTRP level these guys are playing AT&T...to give a better feel for the target player for the racket.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
@ ironrongerka,
We are fairly certain we strung the racquet correctly for the video, so you may just be used to your older racquet with the tighter string pattern. Many other racquets with open string patterns like this have that gap at the bottom as well.
Andy, TW
@Jassiel Rodriguez,
The blue string is a Volkl prototype string that has not been released yet. It offered a little more pop and power, but not as much control as Spiky Black Shark. It also didn't have the same spin potential.
Andy, TW
@Sebastian Lau,
I would give the edge to the Blade, but both are solid racquets that provide lots of access to power and spin. The VCore is a little stiffer and more crisp feeling, whereas the Blade is slightly softer and more plush.
Andy, TW
@ cane gatto,
The open 16x19 string pattern makes this racquet pretty powerful and feel lively. The stiffness and maneuverability is what gives the APD powerful. I think the power level of the two are pretty similar, and we will fix the power level listed on our website for the Blade. Sorry for the confusion.
Andy, TW
@ Alex Li,
The APD will be crisper and livelier feeling, and will also be more maneuverable and easier to swing. It will give you more power and spin from all areas of the court. The Blade will be heftier, and thus more solid feeling, especially on off-center hits. It will offer better control than the APD and a softer, more comfortable feel.
Andy, TW
@ anas eid,
This racquet has a good blend of power and control, and the open string pattern definitely gives it a livelier feel. We did not have any issue with the comfort, so you'll have to play around and see if this is too heavy for you. Only you will be able to tell. Try it with a soft co-poly string like Dunlop Black Widow for great spin, control and comfort.
Andy, TW
@Ben Garver,
The Blade will have a slightly plusher feel and will offer better control and ball feel, while the Steam will be stiffer/crisper feeling and have a little more power, spin and forgiveness. Overall, we preferred the Blade.
Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯,
The Radical Pro (Murray's racquet) will offer more weight in the hoop of the racquet, making it more stable and powerful. It will also feel a little more solid on the one-handed backhand. The Blade will also offer good heft and stability, but it doesn't have all the weight in the hoop that the Radical has that may feel better on a one-handed backhand.
Andy, TW
@ Tai Lee,
They are two very different feeling racquets. The Blade is heavier and more solid feeling. It's also stiffer, crisper and produces a livelier feel. It will give you a blend of power and control. The PS 95 is much lighter and more maneuverable, and it will also have a softer, more plush feel. It's lower-powered than the Blade, but will provide more control.
Andy, TW
@ Teun Kuijken,
The Blade is crisper and livelier feeling, whereas the Six.One is softer and more plush. They both are super solid frames though with great plowthrough.
Andy, TW
@ Sharvin Sivakumar,
I currently am playing with the Blade 98 and love it because it feels like an extension of my hand. So, I'd have to say the Blade is the more "natural" feeling, although that's a very subjective thing. The Juice is also a great racquet, as it possesses a little more power, forgiveness and access to spin, while the Blade feels a bit more solid and offers more control.
Andy, TW
@ Apaullo L,
We think Pete's blacked out racquet is a Babolat Pure Storm Tour, but we can not say for certain.
Andy, TW
@ Cali Xiong,
Compared to the 18x20, the 16x19 will produce a livelier response that has more power and spin, but less control. Compared to the Pure Drive Roddick, the Blades will have more traditional ball feel and offer more control. The PDR will be more powerful and feel much crisper and stiffer.
Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯,
That's really going to be a matter of personal preference, as both will work great. The 16x19 will offer more power, spin and a friendlier sweetspot. The 18x20 will offer more control and feel, but will feel a little stiffer and less forgiving.
Andy, TW
@ Nicool333,
At the bottom of our written reviews, you can see the player profile for all the playtesters on the test. It describes their level and style of play, and the racquet they typically use.
Andy, TW
@ zeevmon1,
ALU Power will feel powerful and comfortable to you if you are used to a stiffer polyester string. If you are not, I'd recommend going with a nice multifilament like Wilson NXT Tour, which is designed to be powerful and comfortable. Polyester strings (like ALU Power) are stiffer and lower-powered by nature, and won't offer the same comfort and pop as a multifilament or natural gut.
Andy, TW
We had several, the yellow tinted one is Luxilon 4G, and a Volkl prototype co poly. (The team just loved the polys in this racquet).
Siobhan, TW
@ ironrongerka,
I think that if you are already used to polyester strings (like Barbed Wire), then stick with that over Hollow Core. HC will give you a lot more power and comfort, but you won't be able to get the same control and spin that you get with the Barbed Wire.
Andy, TW
@BodegaBay,
The Blade is a tad faster feeling and also crisper in its response. The C10 Pro comes through with even more weight and plow through and is silkier/smoother in its response. Both are pretty lively feeling and I like to up the tension in both and/or use a firmer playing poly. For spin and a faster feel, the Blade has it. For a plusher, smoother feel with more stability & plow through, the C10 Pro has it.
Hope that helps,
Chris, TW
@ xijustki11edyou,
This comes down to more personal preference than anything. The Pro Staff 95 will be the most maneuverable of the three and will feel the softest and most plush. The Blades will have better plowthrough and feel a bit more solid. The 16x19 offers a livelier feel with more access to power and spin, and the 18x20 has more control.
Andy, TW
@nadalrocks941,
This racquet will have a softer, more plush feel to it compared to the old Extreme. It will also be slightly less forgiving because of the slightly smaller head size. The open 16x19 string pattern does give this version of the Blade a little extra juice to make it a little more comparable with the old Extreme in the power and spin department.
Andy, TW
@ Edward Rycroft,
It depends on what you are looking for. The Blade will be a bit more comfortable and will give you more control and feel compared to the Juice. It's a great racquet, so if that's what you're looking for, give it a try.
Andy, TW
@ AtticussAtticuss,
This Blade 98 will play similarly to the EXO3 Tour, but it will feel crisper and "more modern" compared to the soft, plush feel of the Prince. Both will be lively and offer nice access to power and spin.
Andy, TW
@ P. Ng,
The Six.One will offer a softer, more traditional feel that is more similar to the Tour 90. The Blade will be crisper, livelier and more modern feeling. Try them both if you can and see which one feels best to you. Personally, I prefer the Blade because it's more forgiving and gives you a little easier access to power and spin, but the Six.One will offer more control and a softer feel.
Andy, TW
@ Cardshark45,
I recommend demo'ing both and seeing which one feels best in your hands. The Blade 98 will be more forgiving and offer easier access to power, whereas the Blade will offer more control and feel, but it will be more difficult to find the sweetspot consistently.
Andy, TW
@Ben Garver,
Unfortunately, we are all sold out of these. A new version of this racquet will be released in the next month or two, so stay tuned!
Andy, TW
@ 중경 최,
The tighter 18x20 string pattern will give you better control and feel, but less power and spin. The more open 16x19 will have a livelier, more spin-friendly feel with not as much control.
Andy, TW
@ Parker robles,
They are pretty different feeling racquets, so it's a bit hard to compare and opinions will differ from playtester to playtester. The Pure Drive is crisp, lively and powerful, offering tons of power and spin. The Blade is still crisp and lively but a little more traditional feeling, offering better control and still decent power and spin. I would go with the Blade but a couple of our other playtesters would go with the Pure Drive. Try them both!
Andy, TW
They are very comparable in terms of power, spin and control etc. The feel between the two is the biggest difference due to the unique Donnay frame construction which gives their racquets a very plush and comfortable feel. The Blade plays slightly crisper in comparison. On court, what I can get out of each racquet in regards to my power, control and the amount of spin I'm getting is very, very close.
Hope that helps,
Chris, TW
@Beeronx521,
We are in the process of stringing up all the demos, and they will be available very shortly.
Andy, TW
@Istvan Tajnay,
Andy can give his 2 cents on this, but I have a feeling he will agree with me on this one, the Blade 98 will be a better option and has much better feel at the net and that touch you are looking for as well as a great deal of control. I use the Pure Drive Roddick and do find the weakest part of the racquet to be the touch - it has none!
Hope that helps,
Michelle, TW
@ John Smith,
We have not noticed the handle of the Blade being shorter, so I can't confirm any truth to that rumor. Both are great racquets, so it's really going to come down to you and which one you think feels better in your hands. You'll get a little more spin and forgiveness with the Speed, but better feel and all-around playability from the Blade.
Andy, TW
@ Cali Xiong,
Compared to the 18x20 version, the 16x19 will offer a livelier response with more power and spin, but less control. The Blades will be less powerful than the Pure Drive Roddick, but will offer more control. The Blades will also offer a little better traditional ball feel, whereas the Pure Drive will feel very crisp and modern feeling.
Andy, TW
@ Jassiel Rodriguez,
That string is Luxilon 4G, and it plays great in the Blade. I'd definitely recommend it!
Andy, TW
@ Andy Haws,
If you can handle the heft of this racquet, it will be the more powerful of the two. The Blade will be much heavier than the Prestige S, so its harder to generate racquet head speed with it. However, if you have the strength to do so, it'll be more powerful.
Andy, TW
@ Viktor Tesarczyk,
It's a great racquet. Very maneuverable and easy to swing, good access to power and spin, but since it's on the lighter side it did tend to flutter a bit on off-center hits.
Andy, TW
@ 4nth0nyyy,
That really depends on the individual and what style of game you have. If you have shorter, slower strokes and you don't break strings often, go with a nice multifilament like Wilson NXT Tour or Volkl Power Fiber II. If you have longer, faster strokes and need a bit more control and durability, go with a nice polyester like Luxilon ALU Power or Volkl Cyclone.
Andy, TW
@ Jan Michael,
We used Luxilon 4G for this playtest.
Andy, TW
@ Ethan Tan,
It will give you more power and spin, but less control than the 18x20.
Andy, TW
@ Thomas McMichael,
This is not the racquet Roger uses.
Andy, TW
they are avaiable at tennis warehouse europe. i have received the package containing the 2 blades 98 just today!
@ Thomas McMichael,
Depends on what you're comparing it to, but it is a fairly powerful racquet for it's weight and head size. It'll be more powerful than a Prestige or Wilson Six.One, but not as powerful as a Babolat AeroPro Drive or Pure Drive.
Andy, TW
@ gashtoon,
I would say the PDR is going to offer more power and spin than the Blade 16x19. The Blade will give you more control, feel and comfort. I would recommend checking out the Dunlop F 5.0 Tour and Wilson Steam 99 S. Both of those are powerful and very spin-friendly.
Andy, TW
@ Luis M,
There has been no confirmation from Wilson yet regarding which exact racquet Federer is playing with this week. It seems to be a 98 square inch frame with a 16x19 string pattern, with a frame that closely resembles the Blade.
Andy, TW
@ Edward Rycroft,
Well, if you currently use the Juice and it's working well for you then I wouldn't recommend changing. If you want something that's going to offer you a bit more control and feel and you don't mind the drop in power and spin, then the Blade will be a good one to try.
Andy, TW
Good to see Sean is still alive!
@ Emilio Yanez,
Yes, we haven't experienced any discomfort when playing with this racquet.
Andy, TW
@TheNextSmoove,
The Blade 98 will be much more forgiving and powerful. The PS 90 will have much more control but will be far less forgiving. The feel with both racquets is excellent.
Andy, TW
@ Jakub Jabłoński,
I'd recommend the AeroPro Drive, Yonex Vcore Tour 97 310g or the Instinct.
Andy, TW
@ Thomas McMichael,
You'll get better feel with the Blade, but more power and spin with the Juice.
Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯,
It will be lively like the Blade 98 16x19, so you may not find the control that you are looking for. Instead, the Six.One 18x20 may be better.
Andy, TW
@ ironrongerka,
Yes, this new Blade is awesome! It's super solid and offers a nice blend of power and control. This open patterned 16x19 one also offers a nice lively feel with some great access to spin. I'd definitely recommend it!
Andy, TW
@ Steve K.,
It won't be as soft and plush as the Pro One, but it's a little more forgiving and will give you some more pop and access to spin. If the Pro One is a 7 on your scale, I'd give the Blade a 6.
Andy, TW
@ jlankester3,
This would definitely be the more powerful racquet. It has a more open string pattern so the feel of the strings is livelier, and it has more mass which, once you get it moving, will produce more power.
Andy, TW
We've seen it! I recommend the 104. That was my racquet of choice for a long time and I really like the power, spin and the way the racquet whips through the air really fast. The 98 is a bit heavy, a bit stiffer and with a higher swing weight making it a little bit tougher to handle. The 104 will be an upgrade from your KZero 118, but a good change, as you'll still get the power you like, and despite the weight being a little bit heavier, you'll notice how fast it moves.
Siobhan, TW
@ T David,
This Blade would feel most similar to the Babolat Pure Storm GT.
Andy, TW
@ John Ricks,
Both of those are awesome racquets. I found the Speed Pro to offer a bit more control and spin, while the Blade offers more power and is better for flattening shots out. I found the Speed Pro to outperform the Blade from the baseline, but everywhere else the Blade was superior. Make sure to try both of those, and also try the Head Youtek IG Extreme Pro 2.0 if you want one more for your demo order.
Andy, TW
@ UnoriginalName001,
The feel of both racquets is great but different from one another. The Radical has a soft, plush feel whereas the Blade has a crisp, lively feel. The Radical will be more comfortable but the Blade also has some nice dampening features to make it not too harsh on the arm. The Radical Pro has a lot of weight in the hoop of the frame, giving it tremendous power and plowthrough once you get in moving through the air. The Blade has a nice blend of power and control.
Andy, TW
@ KJKING326,
This is more low-powered than a Pure Drive, but offers better control. It would be great for doubles, as it plays well from all over the court.
Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯,
The Blade will offer you a little more control and feel whereas the Steam will give you better access to power and spin. Overall, I'd give the edge to the Blade.
Andy, TW
@ CorbinP21,
Try the Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour / XCel hybrid in this racquet. It will unlock the great spin potential while also providing plenty of comfort and playability.
Andy, TW
@AlboHabbo,
We will be releasing reviews for the new Steam racquets for their pre-sale on 1/1. Stay tuned!
Andy, TW
@ keijimuto,
The spin potential of the 98 S is much more compared to the other versions. The Spin Effect technology makes a big difference when it comes to spin.
Andy, TW
Andy, TW
Oh, and the control is good, sorry I missed that off the first part! There is no loss of power with the control and you're able to also add more control with spin :)
Siobhan, TW
Totally right, if you transmit your power into the racket its at least twice as powerful as the Prestige S. The S is lighter to handle and generates a bit more spin than the 98.
@ Jeff Miller,
Topspin Cyberblue at 56 lbs.
Andy, TW
@ Viktor Tesarczyk,
This Blade 98 16x19 is great! For even more control and precision, check out also the Head Youtek IG Prestige Pro.
Andy, TW
@ 巴呆 斯,
Try the Wilson Blade 98 18x20. It will offer lots more control than the 16x19 version. Also, check out the Head Prestige Pro.
Andy, TW
Not really. They have a very different feel and response. I would say the Blade 98 16x19 would be getting closer to the Organix 10 295.
Chris, TW
@ TheMaclavellianXCIII,
I would give the 18x20 version a try. It will give you more control than the 16x19 version.
Andy, TW
@ Sharvin Sivakumar,
I'd go with the Blade.
Andy, TW
@ Andy, TW thanks for your opinion I think I will give the Wilson Juice 100L a try as well as the Blade 98 16x19.
@ LegendaryMinecraft27,
This one might still be a bit too heavy for you. I'd recommend taking a look at the Babolat AeroPro Lite, Wilson Juice 100L or the Head Graphene Instinct S.
Andy, TW
@ alencode,
I would go with the Blade. It's going to be more solid and offer more control than the Yonex.
Andy, TW
@ aenemalateralis,
The Blade 98 16x19 would be a great choice. Also, try the Head Youtek IG Prestige Pro and the Graphene Speed Pro.
Andy, TW
@ Devin Blackburn,
It will be better in all those categories compared to the APD.
Andy, TW
I would also be interested in Prince and Yonex racquets.
Great to hear! Pick a good string and you'll be good to go!
Siobhan, TW
Having trouble deciding between this model and the blade 93.
@ mattblakely2010,
I like going with a medium-powered shaped polyester like Volkl Cyclone or Babolat RPM Blast.
Andy, TW
thank you guys it really means alot!
@ andyhaws1,
This WIlson Blade would be an excellent one to try, along with the Babolat AeroPro Drive, Pure Drive and the Head Youtek IG Extreme Pro 2.0.
Andy, TW
how about this racket for single backhand i have 18x20 but single backhand feel some uncomfortable
@ LegendaryMinecraft27,
I don't think it would be as good a fit for you as the other two you want to try. We also didn't find it to be as solid as the other Blade 98s.
Andy, TW
@ Thomas McMichael,
It would play great! Give it a shot!
Andy, TW
He doesn't play with a Blade, he plays with Wilson BLX Pro Staff Six.One 90.
Siobhan, TW
thx i bough already the spin is better than 18x20 i have to say i like Wilson's feeling forehand can make more power but i think double backhand is better used this i wish i can change
between the pro staff 95 blx, blade 98 16x19 and blade 98 18x20
Hi Andy, I try to hit B98 16x19 two days,it's really powrful but when I want hit winner the ball a lways out,maybe is tension too low?(APR 50lbs) or just not good for me?I got stean 99,B98 18x20,Six.One 95S,overall which one is better?I always hit ball at baseline,I like the 99 control and power but isn't comfortable,the Six.One is a little bit low power for me,18x20 B98 swimweight is too high
i played 1619 B98 i don't know why when i want control ball to attack 80% will be out will i try PSB90 the ball very low high speed even i did a out side in forehand...but PSB90 is heavy i can't make high racket speed should i used PSB95?i saw you guys say 90 power more than 95?
Wow these points seem a lot better than before! I'd that why you guys took some more time reviewing the blades? Cos I can really notice the difference of you did.
Incidentally I'm looking for a spin (top and back spin) oriented racquet. I was looking to string Kirschbaum Spiky Shark 16 into a Prince exo3 warrior db team 100. Is there anything to watch out for if I go for that?
Also what are some other spin racquets?
Thanks in advance
@ UnoriginalName001,
The Radical is very maneuverable, more so than this Blade. Those strings will play great and will provide good power and comfort.
Andy, TW
and how about this and L4 Murray Racket
Andy, would love your thoughts, thanks!
Hi TW, how about 16x19 and 18x20 work for single-hand back hand which one is better?
Hi Chris, I demoed the Blade 98 16x19 today and it was right in my wheelhouse. It's got that traditional feel with plowthrough but greater access to spin and power. However, I'm curious how this would compare to the Volkl C10 Pro? Thx ahead for any response.
How would you rate the SPIN Potential between the 98 Blade and the new Blade 98S, is it extremely different when it comes to control/spin?
How does this racquet compare to the Prince EXO3 Tour 100 16X18? I'm demoing the Tour from you guys right now and I really like the feel and the pop I get on topspin shots with it. I'm wondering if there are any similar sticks I should try out before I make the big purchase?
And by the way, I am now completely addicted to these racquet review videos. I just want to take a year off work and demo EVERY SINGLE racquet!
TW,
Can You give me a bunch of advice? I'm intermediate tennis player. I like to play both at the baseline and near the net. I like to feel the ball on my racquet. I'm considering between : Babolat Aeropro Drive Gt, Wilson Steam 99, Wilson Prostaff Six.One 100 BLX2, Wilson Blade 98, Wilson Blade 104, Head Graphene Instinct Pro.
I would like the racquet wouldn't be so heavy. Thanks
Jakub :)
I think I'm going to order a couple of these from you guys. Btw it would be helpful to see what NTRP level these guys are playing AT&T...to give a better feel for the target player for the racket.