@Tom Middleton, Unfortunately no, the grommets for this racquet are bright green and there are no others that we've tried that fit. Wilson's way of distinguishing the two different string patterns in the Blades (16x19 vs 18x20) is the grommet colors. Andy, TW
@Benjamin Kobberdal libonati, Out of the two we preferred the Blade 98 for it's more controllable and solid feel. Both of those racquets will give you a bit more heft and pop, just like you're looking for. Andy, TW
@Yutong Sun, This has been our favorite iteration of the Blade yet, so we preferred it over the BLX Blade. It has a softer, plusher feel yet still feels really solid at contact. Other than that the performance will be pretty similar, so you can be confident that if you liked the old model you'll most likely enjoy this current version. Andy, TW
Yeah he's talented. Wouldnt say world class tho - you have to be a consistent member of the worlds top 100 to deserve that kind of praise. What really distinguishes top pros is their speed and footwork and an ability to defend. Andy is good but he hits the ball too short when under pressure.
Hey Handy thank you guys for the great job ! Got back to blade 18x20 (new model) or still playng with yonex ai98 ? And how do you compare this latest version of the 16x19 blade to the yonex ai98 in terms of power control spin and confort ? Thanks Paolo....big fan cheers !
@paolo forti, I did enjoy the playtest of the new Blade 18x20, but I'm sticking with my Ai 98 because of its spin potential. This 16x19 Blade offers a bit more power, similar spin but less control than the Ai 98. Andy, TW
Can you guys fix the stats for this racquet on the "Racquet Comparison Tool", it's the default racquet on that page and the stats are totally different from the ones here and racquet review. Sorry for digging it up and hope you guys see this comment
Hey Andy, I use this racket with solinco tour bite 16L. I'm looking for a string that has more power than tour bite but still maintains that really crisp feel that tour bite has. Any recommendations? Thanks.
Dear TW, last year I switched to the blade 93, I love the control and stability but, as I began to face tougher and tougher opponents I find that I lack the spin and confidence hitting with the 93, are there any rackets that you would suggest that gives me the control of my 93 but also the spin of something like my aeropro. Thanks!!
@Vish And Chips The updated Blade 98 16x19 with Countervail will be the one you will want to check out as it is the newest iteration of this model and will be the closest to this racquet. Michelle, TW
I am currently using the aeropro drive and an looking to get an new racquet, I am not switching over, just getting a new racquet. I was wondering if I should get the yonex ezone ai 98, or the blade 16x19
I used this for a year and a half. I liked it at the timebut I hit with a 2015 pure drive and realized that the 2015 blade is way to damn stiff and was giving me tennis elbow.
Hi, what tension would you recommend I string this racquet with volkl cyclone 16 strings, where I can find a balance between feel and control? I currently have it strung at 57 with the cyclone but the racquet feels very stiff and dead to me. Thank you.
Hey TW. Im searching for a new racket. My current racket is the 97ls. But its Way to lite, and i ofrene hit flatter balls. Im 4.0 player, who plays mostly on the baseline but i dont mind to come in. I Think my 97ls its a littele underpowered. Im kinda looking for somthing a littele more powerfull. Ive narrowed my search Down to the technifibre tflash 315 and this blade 98 16/19. I cant really Pick in between Them. Can you please compare the two.
Thinking of upgrading from my BLX Blade 98 18*20 which is quite dated now. I'm looking for some more spin and a tiny bit more power but love everything about the weight, feel, comfort and control. Could you suggest a few options?
Could you compare the racquet to the Pro Staff 97 in terms of power, control, spin, feel and comfort please? Also, a comparison for their performance on different parts of the court (serve, groundstrokes and volleys) would be nice. Thanks in advance guys and (as always) keep it up! :)
@ninisgreekronaldo, The ProStaff 97 is a little more powerful and offers a bit more feel while the Blade 16x19 offers more control, spin and comfort. As you can tell from the video, there were differing opinions amongst the playtesters regarding which racquet we preferred from different areas of the court. Andy, TW
@yu c, The green headguard and grommets will only be for the 16x19 version and won't be available for the 18x20 version. It's a way of telling the two versions apart. Andy, TW
Hi Andy, Thinking about getting this blade 98 16x19. Had a k blade 98 18x20. Loved it. Outstanding feel and control, but destroyed my elbow and shoulder. Changed to radical mp 18x20. Lighter, a lot more manouverable, but less stability, not very forgiving, sweetspot the size of a partridge egg! So considering blade 98 16x19, F3.0, Ai 98, even blade 98 18x20. Baseliner, onehand backhand, short swing, a little bit of spin. Always loved Wilson and dense pattern (more control) What d U think? Thanx.
foxtail , If you like a denser string pattern, I'd recommend looking at the 18x20 version of the Blade. The newer version will be softer-feeling and more comfortable compared to the one you had that hurt your arm. Andy, TW
Hey TW, Are there any current racquets that you feel are similar to this one and the Yonex vcore duel g 97 310, but that offer more power? A Wilson racquet is preferable. Kind Regards, Vishal
@Vishal Ganeshan, The Wilson Pro Staff 97 Black, will have more power than the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 310, but not necessarily more than the Blade 98 16x19. The next step-up in power, from Wilson racquets, is either the Ultra 100, or Burn 95, both being quite stiffer racquets. I would also consider the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19, Yonex EZONE DR 98, and Head Graphene XT Radical Pro. Troy, TW
Hi Tennis Warehouse, I have a question for what racquet I should buy from the 98 series. Right now, I am using the Pure Drive 2013 version. Which racquet do you think I can transition to the best from my pure drive, either the 16x19 or the 18x20. Also, does the 16x19 string pattern feel less controlled than the 18x20, or about the same. I want a good blend of power, but also good control as well with whichever racquet suits best. Thank you!!!!
+Danny Wilshere , The 16x19 will be the most similar to your Pure Drive. It doesn't have quite the same level of control as the 18x20, but it will give you more power and spin potential. Andy, TW
How would you compare this racket to the old Blade 98S? That's what I have currently, and I am looking to switch to this racket, the regular 2015 Blade 98.
+Ricky Dartawan , This 16x19 will be slightly heavier and more solid feeling, but won't be quite as easy to maneuver. It'll offer more control and feel but less power and spin. Andy, TW
+Junha Baek , The current grommets should fit the previous model, however we cannot guarantee it. You're welcome to give it a try yourself though and see if you can make them work. Andy, TW
Hey Tennis Warehouse, As a follow up, I just recently purchased this racquet. I was wondering what type of strings, specifically luxilon or a blend, I should purchase. I am primarly a grinder from the baseline with a good variety of serves (flat, kick). I am currently using RPM blast and I feel that i want a better blend of control and power from my string. What would you recommend? Again thanks for your feedback you guys are the best!
+Danny Wilshere , A couple other good strings to try are Volkl Cyclone and Y-Tex QuadroTwist. I'd also recommend dropping your tension a couple pounds with your current string to get a bit more power and comfort. Andy, TW
I'm currently using head speed pro and i'm an all court player with a semi western grip. I'm thinkig to switch to this blade or to the dunlop f3.0 tour. Which one do you think would fit me better ?
Stefan Hunceac , Well, it depends on what you're looking for out of a new racquet and what you like about your current one. The F3.0 Tour and Blade 98 feel and perform pretty similarly. This 16x19 version will offer better spin potential and power while the F3.0 Tour will have better precision and feel. Both of them won't be as forgiving or as spin-friendly as your Speed Pro. Andy, TW
Im currently using the wilson blx blade 98 16x19 (2013) and Im planning on upgrading to the newest model, but not sure which one to get: 16x19 or the 18x20. I tend to hit more on the flat side and I heard that the 18x20 is generally more favorited than the 16x19, and I can generate my own power. Im still hesitant on which one to get because I seem to like both strings patterns. I do admit that I need more control in my shots. Which string pattern should I use? Im afraid of not having enough topspin, but I heard with the luxilon alu power 16L thats not too much of a problem. thoughts?
+Junha Baek , The 16x19 will have a livelier, more spin-friendly feel while the 18x20 will offer more control and feel, especially on flatter shots. I'd really suggest utilizing our demo program to get both racquets in your hands and seeing which one feels best to you. It's hard to say which will work best for you because it is really just going to come down to personal preference. Andy, TW
lxn.novak , Unfortunately, there's a new drilling pattern to the grommets that slightly changed the shape, so the older versions won't fit this current one. Andy, TW
@ jack liang, The 2013 grommets will not work because the 2015 version of the Blade has a slightly different drill pattern due to the Parallel Drilling technology. Andy, TW
hey tennis warehouse I usually hit my forehand relatively flat but I'm looking to add more spin to my game, should I consider the 16x19 which as Sebastian said "great alla round racket for the player who hits it flat" or should I consider the 98s for more spin
+Adrian Pierce , The 98S will certainly offer the most spin potential, but it's important to see/feel how each racquet works for you. Use our demo program to get both racquets in your hands so you figure out which is best suited for your game. Andy, TW
Hi I currently have the APD 2013 model, and I am thinking of switching to the wilson blade 98 16x19. I am looking for more control and precision as i can generate my own power at my physique. Do you think this is a good choice?
@waynefoxracing, Please watch the review as we compare to the two versions a bit. We found the response off the racquet to be pretty similar to the old model. Andy, TW
Hey! Im currently using the Dunlop Biomimetic M5 racquet but I want something that I can harness more spin and power with. What can you recommend? I want to head towards Wilson racquets preferably...
Hi, so I demoed this racket yesterday and totally loved it. If I buy it, I will string it with Luxilon Element 16L (1.25) strings. What tension would you recommend to fix the problems you guys saw. Also, please keep in mind that I don't hit as hard as you guys do.
Jakob Esch , Tension is really a matter of personal preference, so what is "optimal" is up to each individual player. You're welcome to try it at 55 lbs though and see how it works for you. This racquet offers excellent control but was a little unstable on off-center contact. A lower tension will open up the sweetspot a bit more and make the racquet more forgiving. Andy, TW
Hey! Tennis warehouse can you guys help me choose out a racket that can produce the most spin but also the weight on the racket is kind of heavy thank you
There's something I don't understand Andy : in this video you say in the end that you like the 18x20 better, but in the other play test, the one of the 18x20, you say that even though you've played for over a year with the 18x20, you've given it up for a more open pattern, so obviously the 16x19 right? Did I misunderstood something?
+CHTIT Gash , In the Blade, I preferred the tighter 18x20 string pattern over the 16x19. Now in my Yonex EZONE AI 98 I prefer having the more open pattern for more spin, but for whatever reason I just didn't like how the open pattern felt in the Blade. Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse Thanks for your answer Andy. I have one more question : how would you compare this Blade 98 to the Pure Strike 100? I'm coming from a Pure Drive Team and I'm hesitating between these 2 frames : which is the one more powerful? more control providing? more spin generating? more confortable? which is the easiest to play? Thank you so much once again.
CHTIT Gash , The Pure Strike 100 will be more powerful, more spin-friendly and easier to use while the Blade will offer more control and comfort. Andy, TW
@Tim Engel, The Blade offers a softer, plusher feel compared to the Graphene Radical Pro, which will be more powerful, spin-friendly, solid and forgiving. Overall, I'd go with the Radical Pro. Andy, TW
@Ashrafee Hossain, We do ship to Singapore, but unfortunately we are limited by Wilson and we can't ship their products specifically internationally. However, if you contact our customer service department either by email or phone we may be able to help you out. Andy, TW
Hi, i was just wondering what sort of wilson/luxilon strings you would recommend for this racquet. Im looking for strings with spin and an even balance of power and spin
+Chips Gaming and Trickshots , I'd recommend giving Luxilon ALU Power a try. String it around 52 lbs to get enough power out of the stringbed. Andy, TW
Hi TW, I recently recovered from a shoulder injury and I was wondering what sort of strings you would recommend that have a lot of bite on this racquet.
@ Chips Gaming and Trickshots, I'd recommend checking out Gamma Ocho XP. It's a soft multifilament that offers plenty of comfort and feel, but it also has an 8-sided design that helps bite the ball and give you lots of spin. Andy, TW
+Duy Truong , We found the Ai 98 to offer a bit more control and a more solid feel whereas the Blade was a bit livelier and more spin-friendly. Andy, TW
Hi, how does this racquet compare to the Babolat Pure Strike 16x19? Also, I really liked the Babolat pure control (98 16x20) but I felt like it was lacking weight making me feel restricted, any other racquet recommendations? Thanks, much appreciated.
+Justin Pang , The Blade offers more control while the Pure Strike offers more power and spin. A couple other racquets to check out would be the Wilson Pro Staff 97 and Yonex EZONE DR 98. Andy, TW
@ Vish And Chips, The new Pure Strike 100 will be more powerful, spin-friendly and forgiving while this Blade 98 will be plusher feeling and more control-oriented. Andy, TW
Sebastian had nice looking strokes . Great addition !!!!
@Tom Middleton,
Unfortunately no, the grommets for this racquet are bright green and there are no others that we've tried that fit. Wilson's way of distinguishing the two different string patterns in the Blades (16x19 vs 18x20) is the grommet colors.
Andy, TW
@Benjamin Kobberdal libonati,
Out of the two we preferred the Blade 98 for it's more controllable and solid feel. Both of those racquets will give you a bit more heft and pop, just like you're looking for.
Andy, TW
Marco's backhand looks so sweet!
@Ameer Hosain,
A couple strings I'd recommend trying are Volkl Cyclone and Head Sonic Pro Edge.
Andy, TW
@Kane Bobier,
The Wilson Blade 98S and 98 18x20 would both be worth trying. Another good one to check out is the Yonex EZONE Ai 98.
Andy, TW
@Yutong Sun,
This has been our favorite iteration of the Blade yet, so we preferred it over the BLX Blade. It has a softer, plusher feel yet still feels really solid at contact. Other than that the performance will be pretty similar, so you can be confident that if you liked the old model you'll most likely enjoy this current version.
Andy, TW
A big welcome to the new guys on the test team!
What I would love to see in the future is Tennis Warehouse putting together all racquets that have similar specs and feel and comparing them!
andy footwork, serve motion, aggression looks world class. Hope he does another summer tournament this year.
Yeah he's talented. Wouldnt say world class tho - you have to be a consistent member of the worlds top 100 to deserve that kind of praise. What really distinguishes top pros is their speed and footwork and an ability to defend. Andy is good but he hits the ball too short when under pressure.
Hey TW what is the weight of this racket
Hey Handy thank you guys for the great job ! Got back to blade 18x20 (new model) or still playng with yonex ai98 ? And how do you compare this latest version of the 16x19 blade to the yonex ai98 in terms of power control spin and confort ? Thanks Paolo....big fan cheers !
@paolo forti,
I did enjoy the playtest of the new Blade 18x20, but I'm sticking with my Ai 98 because of its spin potential. This 16x19 Blade offers a bit more power, similar spin but less control than the Ai 98.
Andy, TW
what's the main differences between this model and the 2013 blade 98 16x19?
How does this compare to the old Wilson BLX Blade 98? I love that raquet but it's discontiued, trying to look for a substitute.
Can you guys fix the stats for this racquet on the "Racquet Comparison Tool", it's the default racquet on that page and the stats are totally different from the ones here and racquet review. Sorry for digging it up and hope you guys see this comment
Hey Guys and Lady, why don't you try switching the hybrid strings. String the multi in the mains and the poly in the cross strings??
Hey Andy,
I use this racket with solinco tour bite 16L. I'm looking for a string that has more power than tour bite but still maintains that really crisp feel that tour bite has. Any recommendations? Thanks.
Dear TW, last year I switched to the blade 93, I love the control and stability but, as I began to face tougher and tougher opponents I find that I lack the spin and confidence hitting with the 93, are there any rackets that you would suggest that gives me the control of my 93 but also the spin of something like my aeropro. Thanks!!
hey tw, i was wondering which of the new wilson racquets(2017) are most similar to this one.
Any reply would be appreciated
@Vish And Chips
The updated Blade 98 16x19 with Countervail will be the one you will want to check out as it is the newest iteration of this model and will be the closest to this racquet.
Michelle, TW
Just sayin. That beard is perfetco.
Love the new playtesters
I am currently using the aeropro drive and an looking to get an new racquet, I am not switching over, just getting a new racquet. I was wondering if I should get the yonex ezone ai 98, or the blade 16x19
THE CURLY FRY ,
Overall, we preferred the Ai 98 between the two for its better control and forgiveness.
Andy, TW
I used this for a year and a half. I liked it at the timebut I hit with a 2015 pure drive and realized that the 2015 blade is way to damn stiff and was giving me tennis elbow.
Hi, what tension would you recommend I string this racquet with volkl cyclone 16 strings, where I can find a balance between feel and control? I currently have it strung at 57 with the cyclone but the racquet feels very stiff and dead to me. Thank you.
+Justin Pang ,
Try it at 53 lbs and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Hey TW. Im searching for a new racket. My current racket is the 97ls. But its Way to lite, and i ofrene hit flatter balls. Im 4.0 player, who plays mostly on the baseline but i dont mind to come in. I Think my 97ls its a littele underpowered. Im kinda looking for somthing a littele more powerfull. Ive narrowed my search Down to the technifibre tflash 315 and this blade 98 16/19. I cant really Pick in between Them. Can you please compare the two.
Thinking of upgrading from my BLX Blade 98 18*20 which is quite dated now. I'm looking for some more spin and a tiny bit more power but love everything about the weight, feel, comfort and control. Could you suggest a few options?
@Hitesh Shewakramani,
I'd recommend checking out the new Blade 98 18x20, Yonex EZONE Ai 98 and Babolat Pure Control Tour.
Andy, TW
Could you compare the racquet to the Pro Staff 97 in terms of power, control, spin, feel and comfort please? Also, a comparison for their performance on different parts of the court (serve, groundstrokes and volleys) would be nice. Thanks in advance guys and (as always) keep it up! :)
@ninisgreekronaldo,
The ProStaff 97 is a little more powerful and offers a bit more feel while the Blade 16x19 offers more control, spin and comfort. As you can tell from the video, there were differing opinions amongst the playtesters regarding which racquet we preferred from different areas of the court.
Andy, TW
I love the green grommet on 16x19. Just wondering will 18x20 going to get this grommet also?
@yu c,
The green headguard and grommets will only be for the 16x19 version and won't be available for the 18x20 version. It's a way of telling the two versions apart.
Andy, TW
Dear Andy,
I want to know if tourna big hitter 7-16g will be a good choice to string this racket.
Thanks.
+Fourat WADI ,
It'll play great in this racquet! Give it a try and see what you think!
Andy, TW
Hi Andy,
Thinking about getting this blade 98 16x19. Had a k blade 98 18x20. Loved it. Outstanding feel and control, but destroyed my elbow and shoulder. Changed to radical mp 18x20. Lighter, a lot more manouverable, but less stability, not very forgiving, sweetspot the size of a partridge egg! So considering blade 98 16x19, F3.0, Ai 98, even blade 98 18x20. Baseliner, onehand backhand, short swing, a little bit of spin. Always loved Wilson and dense pattern (more control) What d U think? Thanx.
foxtail ,
If you like a denser string pattern, I'd recommend looking at the 18x20 version of the Blade. The newer version will be softer-feeling and more comfortable compared to the one you had that hurt your arm.
Andy, TW
Hey TW,
Are there any current racquets that you feel are similar to this one and the Yonex vcore duel g 97 310, but that offer more power? A Wilson racquet is preferable.
Kind Regards,
Vishal
@Vishal Ganeshan,
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 Black, will have more power than the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 310, but not necessarily more than the Blade 98 16x19. The next step-up in power, from Wilson racquets, is either the Ultra 100, or Burn 95, both being quite stiffer racquets. I would also consider the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19, Yonex EZONE DR 98, and Head Graphene XT Radical Pro.
Troy, TW
Hi,
How does Sebastian and Marco use their Blade 98 16x19? In stock form? Do they do any kind of customization?
Thanks,
L SR
+L SR ,
Both Marco and Sebastian have just been playing with it in stock form.
Andy, TW
Hi Tennis Warehouse,
I have a question for what racquet I should buy from the 98 series. Right now, I am using the Pure Drive 2013 version. Which racquet do you think I can transition to the best from my pure drive, either the 16x19 or the 18x20. Also, does the 16x19 string pattern feel less controlled than the 18x20, or about the same. I want a good blend of power, but also good control as well with whichever racquet suits best. Thank you!!!!
+Danny Wilshere ,
The 16x19 will be the most similar to your Pure Drive. It doesn't have quite the same level of control as the 18x20, but it will give you more power and spin potential.
Andy, TW
Hi TW,
I would like to know if this racquet is more maneuverable than the yonex Ai98. Thanks.
Fourat WADI ,The two racquets will feel pretty similar in terms of maneuverability.
Andy, TW
Wilson Blade 98 16x19 or Dunlop Force 98 for more spin and precision?
Merry Christmas!
@ piotrekug,
We definitely prefer the Wilson Blade 98.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy, is Volkl cyclone or Volkl Cyclone tour the best string with this racket? Also what mm and tension?
Thanks a lot
+MJOHGaming ,
All of that is really going to come down to personal preference, but personally, I'd go with Cyclone 17g at 51 lbs.
Andy, TW
How would you compare this racket to the old Blade 98S?
That's what I have currently, and I am looking to switch to this racket, the regular 2015 Blade 98.
+Ricky Dartawan ,
This 16x19 will be slightly heavier and more solid feeling, but won't be quite as easy to maneuver. It'll offer more control and feel but less power and spin.
Andy, TW
do the grommets and bumper guard for this model fit on the 2013 Wilson blade 98 16x19 version?
+Junha Baek ,
The current grommets should fit the previous model, however we cannot guarantee it. You're welcome to give it a try yourself though and see if you can make them work.
Andy, TW
Hey Tennis Warehouse,
As a follow up, I just recently purchased this racquet. I was wondering what type of strings, specifically luxilon or a blend, I should purchase. I am primarly a grinder from the baseline with a good variety of serves (flat, kick). I am currently using RPM blast and I feel that i want a better blend of control and power from my string. What would you recommend? Again thanks for your feedback you guys are the best!
+Danny Wilshere ,
A couple other good strings to try are Volkl Cyclone and Y-Tex QuadroTwist. I'd also recommend dropping your tension a couple pounds with your current string to get a bit more power and comfort.
Andy, TW
How does this racquet compare to the Pure Strike 16*19 in terms of power, control and stability?
+Tai Lee ,
The Blade offers more control while the Pure Strike offers more power and stability.
Andy, TW
I'm currently using head speed pro and i'm an all court player with a semi western grip. I'm thinkig to switch to this blade or to the dunlop f3.0 tour. Which one do you think would fit me better ?
Stefan Hunceac ,
Well, it depends on what you're looking for out of a new racquet and what you like about your current one. The F3.0 Tour and Blade 98 feel and perform pretty similarly. This 16x19 version will offer better spin potential and power while the F3.0 Tour will have better precision and feel. Both of them won't be as forgiving or as spin-friendly as your Speed Pro.
Andy, TW
Im currently using the wilson blx blade 98 16x19 (2013) and Im planning on upgrading to the newest model, but not sure which one to get: 16x19 or the 18x20. I tend to hit more on the flat side and I heard that the 18x20 is generally more favorited than the 16x19, and I can generate my own power. Im still hesitant on which one to get because I seem to like both strings patterns. I do admit that I need more control in my shots.
Which string pattern should I use? Im afraid of not having enough topspin, but I heard with the luxilon alu power 16L thats not too much of a problem. thoughts?
+Junha Baek ,
The 16x19 will have a livelier, more spin-friendly feel while the 18x20 will offer more control and feel, especially on flatter shots. I'd really suggest utilizing our demo program to get both racquets in your hands and seeing which one feels best to you. It's hard to say which will work best for you because it is really just going to come down to personal preference.
Andy, TW
Does the previous models grommets fit this new model? The green is a little much IMO
lxn.novak ,
Unfortunately, there's a new drilling pattern to the grommets that slightly changed the shape, so the older versions won't fit this current one.
Andy, TW
if i found a grommet set for the 2013 version of 98 16x19, would it fit in the racket for 2015 version of 98 16x19?
@ jack liang,
The 2013 grommets will not work because the 2015 version of the Blade has a slightly different drill pattern due to the Parallel Drilling technology.
Andy, TW
hey tennis warehouse I usually hit my forehand relatively flat but I'm looking to add more spin to my game, should I consider the 16x19 which as Sebastian said "great alla round racket for the player who hits it flat" or should I consider the 98s for more spin
+Adrian Pierce ,
The 98S will certainly offer the most spin potential, but it's important to see/feel how each racquet works for you. Use our demo program to get both racquets in your hands so you figure out which is best suited for your game.
Andy, TW
Hi I currently have the APD 2013 model, and I am thinking of switching to the wilson blade 98 16x19. I am looking for more control and precision as i can generate my own power at my physique. Do you think this is a good choice?
+Junha Baek ,
That sounds like it would be a good fit for you. I'd also recommend trying the Yonex EZONE DR 98 given what you're looking for.
Andy, TW
In your opinion which is better? The pro staff 97 or the blade 16x19?
@Nick DiBenedetto,
Different playtesters have different opinions on that question. Personally, I would choose the ProStaff 97.
Andy, TW
What's the difference between this and the 2013 (all black) version that has the same string pattern?
They are fairly similar, but we preferred this 2015 version more. We found this one to offer more comfort, feel, and power. Troy, TW
Hi , I bought this racket in TWh less than a month ago and has a very rare sound one of the two raquets , could return the unit ?
+The TAJLAV ,
Please contact our customer service department and they can help you with this issue.
Andy, TW
I know I'm a cat, but wow that guy's backhand looks great
how does this compare to the old blade 98 (16X19). I find at times the ball just fly out when i want to hit it with absolute power
@waynefoxracing,
Please watch the review as we compare to the two versions a bit. We found the response off the racquet to be pretty similar to the old model.
Andy, TW
Andy, which strings best suit this racquet's style? BTW, thank you for the review, and I just bought this racquet from TW!
@5jjt,
Try it with ALU Power at 53 lbs!
Michelle, TW
Hey! Im currently using the Dunlop Biomimetic M5 racquet but I want something that I can harness more spin and power with. What can you recommend? I want to head towards Wilson racquets preferably...
Pro staff 97 / Wilson Juice 100s? I m not sure
Bethany Mota ,
If spin and power is what you're looking for, I'd go with the Juice 100S.
Andy, TW
Hi, so I demoed this racket yesterday and totally loved it. If I buy it, I will string it with Luxilon Element 16L (1.25) strings. What tension would you recommend to fix the problems you guys saw. Also, please keep in mind that I don't hit as hard as you guys do.
@ Jakob Esch,
Try it at 50 lbs and see what you think.
Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse cool, thanks... But since the optimum is 55, wouldn't that give it even more power and less control, which was the problem? Thanks!
Jakob Esch ,
Tension is really a matter of personal preference, so what is "optimal" is up to each individual player. You're welcome to try it at 55 lbs though and see how it works for you. This racquet offers excellent control but was a little unstable on off-center contact. A lower tension will open up the sweetspot a bit more and make the racquet more forgiving.
Andy, TW
Hi! Between this racquet and the Head Graphene XT Speed MP A, which was your favourite and why?
Hui Wang ,
We preferred this Blade 98 because of the better control and feel.
Andy, TW
Hi TW, i am 13 years old now, so what racket i need to use?
Hey! Tennis warehouse can you guys help me choose out a racket that can produce the most spin but also the weight on the racket is kind of heavy thank you
@Andy Tang,
I'd recommend giving the Wilson Steam 99S or Babolat AeroPro Drive a try.
Andy, TW
Hey TW,
Does Marco still wield this Blade? Did he customize it or use it stock? And what strings did he like in it most?
+Duy Truong ,
Marco has moved over to help our sister company in Australia, Tennis Only. So, we're not sure what he's been swinging lately!
Andy, TW
Great looking beard andy!
Andy's hair lookin fresh as hell
There's something I don't understand Andy : in this video you say in the end that you like the 18x20 better, but in the other play test, the one of the 18x20, you say that even though you've played for over a year with the 18x20, you've given it up for a more open pattern, so obviously the 16x19 right? Did I misunderstood something?
+CHTIT Gash ,
In the Blade, I preferred the tighter 18x20 string pattern over the 16x19. Now in my Yonex EZONE AI 98 I prefer having the more open pattern for more spin, but for whatever reason I just didn't like how the open pattern felt in the Blade.
Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse
Thanks for your answer Andy. I have one more question : how would you compare this Blade 98 to the Pure Strike 100? I'm coming from a Pure Drive Team and I'm hesitating between these 2 frames : which is the one more powerful? more control providing? more spin generating? more confortable? which is the easiest to play?
Thank you so much once again.
CHTIT Gash ,
The Pure Strike 100 will be more powerful, more spin-friendly and easier to use while the Blade will offer more control and comfort.
Andy, TW
Can you compare this racquet to the Head Graphene Radical Pro?
@Tim Engel,
The Blade offers a softer, plusher feel compared to the Graphene Radical Pro, which will be more powerful, spin-friendly, solid and forgiving. Overall, I'd go with the Radical Pro.
Andy, TW
hi guys, is it significantly different to the BLX blade 98 16/19?
Brandon Law ,We found this new version to feel slightly softer yet more solid and stable than the BLX version.
Andy, TW
Does the older black grommets fit this racquet?
@Trevor Varga,
Due to the new Parallel Drilling technology, the older grommets most likely will not fit this newer update.
Andy, TW
How does this racquet compare to the vcore 97 310?
@SpoonerSpecter,
The Blade offers a slightly softer, plusher feel with more power but less control and spin.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse is there anyway to buy this model in Singapore?
@Ashrafee Hossain,
We do ship to Singapore, but unfortunately we are limited by Wilson and we can't ship their products specifically internationally. However, if you contact our customer service department either by email or phone we may be able to help you out.
Andy, TW
Hey tw. What strings were you using in this play test
miller buckholz ,
We used a number of different strings throughout the playtest, but in the video we had Volkl Cyclone in it.
Andy, TW
So the Blade 98 from 2013 is better?
Will this racket be available in Europe too?
@Mauro Giacometti,
The racquet will be available in Europe very soon. Stay tuned!
Andy, TW
Would this be considered the v5? Wilson Blade 98 v5?
Yes, version 5.0. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks Troy!
Can you guys update the title with a "2015", my OCD is killing me that you guys did it for the other 2015 models but not this one haha.
@ Abe Nguyen, There you go... :-) Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse thank you Andy! I think this should help get more views too :D I'll make sure to make a big order soon from TW!
Rockin that beard
This Sebastian dude runs like a cheetah so fast
The Beard!!!
Hi, i was just wondering what sort of wilson/luxilon strings you would recommend for this racquet. Im looking for strings with spin and an even balance of power and spin
+Chips Gaming and Trickshots ,
I'd recommend giving Luxilon ALU Power a try. String it around 52 lbs to get enough power out of the stringbed.
Andy, TW
Hi TW,
I recently recovered from a shoulder injury and I was wondering what sort of strings you would recommend that have a lot of bite on this racquet.
@ Chips Gaming and Trickshots,
I'd recommend checking out Gamma Ocho XP. It's a soft multifilament that offers plenty of comfort and feel, but it also has an 8-sided design that helps bite the ball and give you lots of spin.
Andy, TW
Hey TW,
How would you compare this racquet to the Yonex Ai 98?
+Duy Truong ,
We found the Ai 98 to offer a bit more control and a more solid feel whereas the Blade was a bit livelier and more spin-friendly.
Andy, TW
How does it compare to the recent head prestige pro?
Hi, how does this racquet compare to the Babolat Pure Strike 16x19? Also, I really liked the Babolat pure control (98 16x20) but I felt like it was lacking weight making me feel restricted, any other racquet recommendations? Thanks, much appreciated.
+Justin Pang ,
The Blade offers more control while the Pure Strike offers more power and spin. A couple other racquets to check out would be the Wilson Pro Staff 97 and Yonex EZONE DR 98.
Andy, TW
Thank you, Andy.
just wondering how does this racquet compare to the new pure strike 100?
@ Vish And Chips,
The new Pure Strike 100 will be more powerful, spin-friendly and forgiving while this Blade 98 will be plusher feeling and more control-oriented.
Andy, TW