The Blade sequence has been Wilson’s flagship racket for precision and management for practically 20 years. Once you see any best-selling record, the Blade is usually amongst the Prime 5, with a number of professionals on the ATP and WTA Excursions utilizing the newest and earlier inventory Blade rackets on tour.
With the discharge of the Blade 98 (16×19) V9, this legacy continues, and this newest iteration marries traditional Blade efficiency with just a few delicate modifications that supply opponents a well-recognized racket.
The V9 model introduces a tweaked body composition and design enhancements that promise a extra secure and highly effective response whereas sustaining the meticulous management and sharp really feel that Blade fanatics have come to count on.
Sporting an attention-grabbing Emerald Night time matte end, the racket additionally seems to be extremely trendy, however how does it play? Is it value altering should you’re a V8 or V7 Blade person?
On this assessment, I’ll study how the brand new Blade 98 (16×19) V9 performs beneath match play and what kind of participant can maximise its potential.
Wilson Blade V9 Tour Cosmetics & Options
- Parallel Drilling: Revolutionary grommet building permits for a constant and extra forgiving string mattress response, considerably enhancing the candy spot.
- FORTYFIVE° Expertise: This patent-protected body layup enhances the connected-to-the-ball really feel, completely complementing trendy, vertical swing paths. The distinctive materials mix improves flexibility and stability all through the swing with out compromise.
- Braided Graphite + Basalt: A mix of elastic and reactive supplies that enhances the racket’s flex to lengthen ball contact with the strings, enhancing really feel and growing management.
- Prime Grip Taper: The tapered grip design offers an improved really feel for top-handed grip placement, which is particularly helpful for two-handed backhands.
- DirectConnect: This characteristic extends the carbon fibre deal with to attach instantly with the tip cap, enhancing the general really feel and enhancing torsional stability.
- StableFeel: The most recent Blade know-how presents a firmer and extra secure really feel, fostering a deeper connection to the ball. This characteristic is designed for avid gamers seeking to sharpen their sport with a extra responsive racket.
Specification and Setup
| Blade 98 16 x 19 v9 Specs | My Blade 98 v9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Head Measurement | 98 in² / 632.26 cm² | 98 in² / 632.26 cm² |
| Size | 27in / 68.58cm | 27in / 68.58cm |
| Unstrung Weight | 10.8oz / 305g | 10.7oz / 303.6g |
| Strung Weight | 11.4oz / 323g | 11.3 / 320.8g |
| Stability | 13in / 33.02cm / 4 pts HL | 12.8in / 32.6cm / 5 pts HL |
| Swingweight | 324 | 318 |
| Stiffness | 62 | 62 |
| Beam Width | 21mm / 21mm / 21mm | 21mm / 21mm / 21mm |
| Composition | Basalt/Braided Graphite | Basalt/Braided Graphite |
| Energy Degree | Low-Medium | Low-Medium |
| Stroke Fashion | Medium-Full | Medium-Full |
| Swing Pace | Medium-Quick | Medium-Quick |
| Racquet Colours | Inexperienced | Inexperienced |
| Grip Kind | Wilson Professional Efficiency | Wilson Professional Efficiency |
| String Sample | 16 Mains / 19 Crosses | 16 Mains / 19 Crosses |
| String Pressure | 50-60 kilos | 40lbs with MSV Bussard. |
My Wilson Blade v9 16 x 19 got here in at 303.6g unstrung, just below the goal 305g, so it’s an A+ for high quality management on this racket. Good job, Wilson.
When strung with MSV Bussard, it weighed 320.8g and had a swingweight of 318g as measured on my Briffidi SW1 swingweight machine. Stability was 5 pts headlight.
These specs are within the vary I like, though a contact beneath my most well-liked swingweight.
Wilson Blade V9 Playtest
First Impressions
The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 arrives with a recent new look, and I believe the emerald inexperienced matte end seems to be nice.
After stringing, I hit the courts with a ball machine, and my preliminary ideas had been that the racket felt extra secure and fluid than the V8, permitting for simpler tempo technology.
I hit with the racket for round 90 minutes in a spread of drills, beginning with static hitting, side-to-side drills, lobs, volleys, after which a cardio-type drill the place you get one ball into the forehand nook, one down the center, after which one into the backhand nook, so that you’re primarily hitting on the run.
Submit-session, I believed, “Yup, it is a Blade, and that’s about it.” Wilson has a prepared system for the Blade, so there’s no motive to vary the setup dramatically. If it’s not damaged, don’t repair it.
Over the following few days, I examined the racket throughout some hitting periods and 10-point tie breaks, and my preliminary ideas didn’t change—it had a barely crisper really feel, a contact extra stability, and is total a pleasant enjoying body however you’ll want to have first rate footwork in any other case you’ll run into issues.
Groundstrokes
On the baseline, the Blade 98 16×19 V9 has a great degree of stability for its weight class. In comparison with the V8, the twistweight has jumped just a few factors, and the marginally greater swing weight in comparison with its predecessor offers a extra stable really feel on impression, particularly noticeable on off-centre hits.
The racket permits for aggressive putting and managed, exact pictures. I might simply transition from topspin to flat, penetrating drives, so it’s versatile from the baseline.
I selected to string the Blade with MSV Bussard at 40 lbs, so depth and energy had been out there in spades. The one actual downside I had from the baseline was the slice, as I both ballooned it or dumped it into the web. String rigidity concern? I’m unsure, however I struggled to familiarize yourself with that shot when it’s usually one in every of my greatest.
Volleys
On the web, the Blade 98 16×19 V9’s manoeuvrability performs nicely. Its secure but responsive body permits for fast changes and stable, exact volleys.
I additionally practised drive volleys and the racket excelled. I’m not sure whether or not I used to be simply having a great day, however I felt like I couldn’t miss the shot, hitting each ball cleanly with tempo.
Serves
Serving with the Blade 98 16×19 V9 was a rewarding expertise. The racket’s design facilitated a wonderful mixture of energy and spin, permitting me to position my serves confidently. Whether or not I used to be going for a flat, onerous serve down the T or a slicing serve out huge, the racket delivered constant outcomes. I a lot want it over the V8 18 x 20 I additionally had in my bag.
Returns
On return, the soundness of the Blade 98 16×19 V9 labored nicely. You continue to have to swing, and it’s not a racket nicely suited to only blocking returns, however its spin-friendly string sample means should you again up a bit behind the baseline, you possibly can add depth to your flip, establishing offensive alternatives from the baseline.
Wilson Blade V9 vs Wilson Blade V8
I had a Wilson Blade V8 readily available to match with, however this was the 18 x 20 model. Whereas it’s not a like-for-like comparability, because the denser string sample modifications issues, it nonetheless offers me a really feel of what’s modified.
I additionally performed with the 16 x 19 V8 model a few weeks earlier than this assessment, so it was nonetheless recent within the reminiscence to match.
Basic Modifications within the Blade V9
- Swing Weight: The V8 16 x 19s swing weight was round 317 when strung, whereas the V9 swings heavier at round 325 (when on spec). This improve will improve stability and energy however can barely scale back manoeuvrability should you can’t swing it as quick.
- Flex Score: The V9 has a barely stiffer flex score, a +1 improve from the V8. This modification is negligible, however the V9 has an improved really feel and responsiveness, with extra of a crisper suggestions throughout play.
- Steady Flex Expertise: Wilson has launched a brand new layup know-how within the V9 referred to as Steady Flex. This know-how is designed to supply higher stability whereas sustaining that conventional Blade-type really feel, refining the texture additional than the V8’s layup.
- High quality Management: Wilson claims to have considerably improved the standard management with the V9. This enchancment means gamers can count on extra consistency within the product, addressing a typical critique of variability in earlier fashions just like the V8.
On-Court docket Efficiency Comparability
Groundstrokes
- V8: Offered a dependable and managed really feel, however I at all times felt a slight mushiness and fewer outlined candy spot.
- V9: Gives a crisper response and a extra pronounced candy spot, which reinforces suggestions on good and unhealthy contacts. The rise in swing weight provides stability, making the V9 really feel extra stable throughout high-impact pictures.
Volleys
- V8: Felt secure and exact, however the suggestions might really feel dampened because of the softer flex and layup know-how.
- V9: Supplied me a extra exact volleying expertise.
Serves
- V8: Stable efficiency and presents a great stability of energy and management.
- V9: The elevated swing weight and stiffer body improve energy on serve, and I felt I might hit the primary serve sooner.
Who Ought to Improve?
Gamers glad with the V8’s efficiency won’t discover the V9 a groundbreaking improve, as the basic traits stay related; nonetheless, for many who felt the V8 might enhance stability and provide a much less mushy really feel, the V9 is value demoing to see should you want it.
Who’s This Racket For?
The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 is a racket for greater intermediate and superior gamers who worth precision and management.
It fits gamers assured in producing their very own tempo and spin as they’ll profit from the racket’s balanced traits.
Nonetheless, it’s not a racket on your typical ‘weekend warrior’ kind participant – any shortcomings in footwork and stroke manufacturing flip the Blade from a weapon to a legal responsibility. As an alternative the Blade 100 or Blade 104 swimsuit these in search of a extra user-friendly racket.
With its barely enhanced stability and fewer mushy feeling, it’d enchantment to a broader vary of gamers than in comparison with the earlier technology, however you’ll want to be an completed participant with full, quick strokes to wield this racket successfully.
General, the V9 shouldn’t be considerably completely different from earlier iterations— however the fabulous new beauty and delicate modifications make it a surefire greatest vendor within the management racket market.
When you get a racket like mine with specs of 320g and 318 swingweight, there may be additionally loads of scope for customisation.
My Execs
- Nice beauty
- Extra secure really feel in comparison with the V8
- Retains what individuals like in regards to the Blade – management & precision
- Glorious high quality management (has Wilson turned a nook?)
My Cons
- Demanding racket to play with
- Muted really feel