Is the Shift BETTER than the prototype? Wilson Shift 99 v1 Review | Rackets & Runners
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лип 2023
- After playing with the prototype for several months, Luca Berg reviews the brand new Wilson Shift 99 v1.
Wilson Shift 99 v1: Cracketsandrunners.ca/products...
#wilson #wilsontennis #federer #wilsonshift #wilsonshift99 #wilsonracket #wilsonprototype - Спорт
I made the switch to the 315 and have not looked back---truly an incredible racket---and zero comfort issues. I think Wilson hit this out of the park.
Pareillement , je n'avais joué avec une raquette au poids supérieur de 300 gr , la Shift 315 est un pure régal. A voir avec le temps je n'ai que pu la tester que 4heures
Playtesting it this week and I have to say I am also under the charm...
What string, gauge and tension?
@@PhxRacketnot op but I tried a 1.15mm gauge string and worked really well to counter the dense string bed. It also takes a little static weight off. I’d also go for a light replacement grip to additionally lower the static weight.
@@docstranger9520 thinner string are less comforteble
Cosmetic wise I wish they had kept the Wilson logo in the abstract dot pattern....it was unique amongst the Wilson line of racquets. Demoed it and pleasantly surprised how well it played. Could replace my go to racquet...Yonex VCore 98
another great racket review! your racket journey video's gonna be very interesting to watch! i will look forward to that!!!!
Great video thanks.
Please make one for Tfight and TF40 315. Your reviews are the best.
Thank you! Really nice to hear. I’d really like to do that but may wait until the next ones come out.
I don't know why, but these videos are fascinating to me. Best racket reviewer out there in my book 💪
Since I know you read all comments, here's a question: as someone split between the Pure Aero Rafa (aka the French elbow destroyer) and Pro Staff 97 v14, do you think the Pure Aero 98 would be a good fit for me?
Yeah, I agree - this guy is excellent with his racquet reviews. Best I've seen on UA-cam.
Thank you so much :) I gotta say those are two hilarious rackets to be split between but I understand the feeling better than most of liking two drastically different frames. On paper the Aero 98 would be the perfect mix so if you can demo it go for it, but it isn't really anything like either of those two.
This might be the best explained/ words used to explain a racket than ur normal generic racket reviews. This is amazing. That being said, you mention topspin a lot. I’m curious to see if it’s very good on forehand slice since I’m a big forehand slicer and hit very flat when I’m not slicing. That’s my only spin shot really. My coach has a Wilson deal and has this racket in his bag so I’m wondering to try it again. I did it once and the feel just felt so weird. And a little wild lol. I’m also not a big hitter too. He gave me a pro staff to use and my forehand slice became so much better for directionality even in the 15 minutes I used it.
Thank you very much! I don't think it's the right racket for you to be honest. It really comes into its own when playing with top spin and if you're not tapping into that, you're right, it feels quite weird. Go for something with a more traditional flex/feel. The Blade would be great if you want to stick to Wilson.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver The pro staff seems to be workin quite well! great directionality and control and I'm not a super fast swinger so it helps with my counterpunching game. But I really appreciate your analysis on the shift. I don't think it is right for me either
Great video man. I’m definitely interested in the Shift now.
Just one note: I didn’t really understand when you stated the feel of the “graphite snapping back and forth.”
The graphite fibers in the prepreg material used to make rackets get cured and do not move at all. The layup and orientation def contribute to the flex of the overall racket, but the graphite itself do not move as they have cured solid.
Did you mean the sensation of the strings snapping back?
It's a vert difficult sensation to describe which is why even watching the video back now, I'm almost confusing myself (lol). But, yes, it boils down to feeling the strings snapping back, just not in the way I've become accustomed to. It's not dependent on having a super slick poly or because the strings have so much space to move, but it's almost like that extra bit of ball pocketing sensation you get from very soft rackets, you're getting with the Shift, but it's only when you're hitting with spin. Hopefully that makes sense.
Hi Luka, I really enjoyed the video!
Currently I use the Pro Staff 97 L CV (Special Edition) U3 coming in at 290/295g.
I’m looking for more of a spin friendly racket going back into comps and was wondering if you think the 300g shift would be a good cross over for the control and spin.
I recently tested out the wilson blade 98s v8 16 x 18 315g and 295g which was way too heaving (315g) and didn’t have enough wow factor.
What are your thoughts?
I actually think the shift 300 could be perfect but I would definitely recommend you try it first because it is quite unique.
Thank you for this professional review. I missed only mentioning the recommended string type for Shift. ??
I fell in "love" with Wilson Sensation Plus a year ago and preferably I would use it in Shift too. What do you mean?
It will certainly work but I do think the shift is even better with a slick poly so you can feel the string snap back.
Which string do you like then the most
Great video! I think I am an outlier… A 4.0 senior , ohb… sw forehand, trying to hit with more spin, but do hit a lot of flat. I’ve been hitting with the 300 for a while now with lots of success . Can’t seem to put it down. Here is my question. In stock form, is the final edition of the 300 much different, and is it worth switching to from my lab edition? Would you switch from lab to final edition in stock form? thanks..
Great to hear! If you're happy with the Lab Shift, stick to it. It's not different enough or "better" and if you do want another one down the line, it's similar enough.
6:04 Hi, what’s the reference of that leather grip ? Love your content btw, carry on! 👍🏼
Not sure if you're asking for the brand or what a leather grip is but it's the Head Leather Tour and a leather grip is just a little bit firmer/more defined and adds some weight!
As always great reviews! What are your thoughts between the Wilson Shift vs Babolat Pure Drive 100 - both being 300grams unstrung weight options. Thanks
Thank you! They are two very different rackets; the Shift being much more difficult to use and requiring that spinny style while the Pure Drive is very user friendly and works for a variety of different player types.
Thank you Luca!@@RacketsRunnersVancouver
I liked the prototype with rpm blast at 24kgs. What string set up did u have on both of them and do you have a few string recommendations for the shift 99?
I think somewhere between 48-55 pounds is the sweet spot here for control and spin. Any poly should do the trick!
The sweetspot didn’t feel small at all. Felt pretty ok.
Merci beaucoup pour votre avis. Je vais donc essayer la Gravity Pro. Je le sens bien effectivement. A voir ensuite le cordage idéal ….😅
Je pense que la Gravity devrait avoir plus de contrôle
Hi
Can you publish the actual vertical bending measurements that you measured on the Shift versus other rackets?
I'll try to compare the Shift to another racket in a video soon where I'll compare the specs.
Does anyone know when the lighter version like 285g/280g will be released?
I've had the prototype Shift 300 for about 4 weeks now and I REALLY like the way it plays. It's a players racquet tweener that does a bit of everything (once you add a bit of lead tape). But I'm not sure I can switch to long term as I do find that stiffness a bit tough on the arm as a flatter hitter. It might be more suited to someone who hits with more spin/vertical swings rather than flattening out shots. I wish they could bring out a slightly softer version as I think there's magic in this racquet...
I have a hitting partner who has your game and he's loving the new Ultra.
You hit the nail on the head. There is definitely some "magic" in this racket but there are inherent flaws that will be tough to swallow for flat hitters.
285gr ready
Whats the comparison between this racket, the vcore 100 and the pure aero 98 in your opinion? Im not able to demo any of these rackets but I am looking at buying one of these and I was wondering your thoughts on comparing these three rackets.
The VCORE will be by far the most powerful with similar levels of spin and much less control. The Shift and Aero are similar in a lot of ways; small sweet spot, precise, fantastic spin. Tough to say between the two but if you've played with an Aero before go for the 98 and if you like the feel of Wilson rackets go for the Shift.
Just curious your opinion now on the 300 vs 315 shift? i’m debating getting one and have only demo’d the 315 for 90 mins, no real arm issues with it either.. BUT i tend to use a lot of top spin when i play (pure aero) and so am unsure what to use. LOVED the 315 at net as well..
Go for the 315. It has tons of spin for an 18x20 and way more stability than the 300.
Hey Luka, hope you're going to review the Shift 99 Pro V1 (315) as well!
Just got off court with the Pro! Review coming soon!
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I don't think the codes designate stiffness. I think that is grip size from 0 to 5/8".
Those codes don't relate to stiffness. They're simply different SKUs for the different grip sizes.
Right before watching video 0:55 - did you put leather grip on it?
Cuz i put on mine speed pro black ed. - not much difference.
I tried it with and without a leather grip but always prefer the added stability it gives me.
Is the retail version more flexible / more comfortable on the arm by any chance? I love the Prototype version but after 4 weeks of using it (about 5 hours per week) my arm feels pretty tender 😞
According to the listed specs it is pretty much the same in terms of flex. I had the same experience, love the racquet but too stiff for my arm
It unfortunately isn't. I should have discussed comfort in my review since it's a real issue with the Shift and I'll address it in the Pro review this week.
you should have like 100.000 subscribers
Working on it 😅 maybe one day
Hello Luka, grate video! I’m now playing with Ultra v4 300g, switching to the shift what are the gains/losses? Thanks in advance
Thank you! You will gain some spin and control but lose power/forgivingness.
Thank you @@RacketsRunnersVancouver
Hey Luca, Iam still deciding between the shift 300 and 315. I would say Iam an intermediate player. I like the stability and plow through of the 315, but am a bit concerned that over time ist Could be too Heavy. Any recommendation?
I also think about the Babolat pure Aero plus, but couldn‘t get my hands on one.
If you're able to give the 315 a good test over a 2+ hour session then I don't see any issues with the weight in the future. As you get more used to it, it will only get better.
I've been playing with the Wilson Steam 105S for the last 4-5 years and enjoy it, as I don't hit a very flat shot. 16x15 string pattern. How do you think the Shift compares?
Here’s the thing, it’s very different but it’s definitely geared towards players who have played with Wilson spin rackets before. Give it a demo if you can but it will be much more precise, less spin friendly, and harder to use.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I have a demo racquet now. I played my first match with it yesterday - I liked the feel, power, and precision. My backhand slice felt very good as well. Topspin off the forehand felt much harder for me to generate than off of my Steam 105S.
I think the issue may be the strings in the demo racquet, though. It has Wilson NXT - they feel very plush, but I usually play with a Poly hybrid setup. I think I'd like the Shift more with poly, but I'm not sure if I want to commit...
Thinking of switching out my Head Boom MP and this is one of the contenders. Would you say it’s similar or drastically different to that? Any help and comments welcome! Cheers
It's quite different; stiffer feeling, less forgiving and more spin-friendly!
Hi thanks a lot for the video. You say Wilson reduce risk of discomfort with higher RA. I thought a lower RA was better for comfort. Can you explain please ? Thanks !
Higher RA does not reduce risk of discomfort but they have dampened this racket well to reduce risk despite it having a higher RA.
Thanks ! Which string tension would you recommend for Shift 300g please ?
what do you think of this with a natural gut strings? will it perform well or at the very least reduce the stiffness?
Gut is fantastic and will reduce the stiffness big time!
Sorry, new viewer here. You keep mentioning that you're considering switching to the shift, but didn't really solidify which racket you would be switching from. So, what is your current Top racket? And what makes that better than the Shift that is keeping you from switching as well as their differences?
I'm currently on the edge between three rackets from demos (Blade V8 vs Radical MP Aux vs Speed MP Aux....and Extreme Tour Aux.) Ok four rackets.😅 Thinking of demoing Gravity. Thoughts?
My current racket is the 360+ Gravity Tour. Familiarity would be the big thing that makes it better, so not actually any performance benefit.
I would always recommend demoing the Gravity but also think you should narrow down the list to 2-3 rackets so that's a bit contradictory 😅. The problem with going for so many rackets is that you'll get really lost in what you like/dislike about them and it's somewhat unlikely that one will drastically stick out above the rest.
Sweet! Suprised the shift has a 285 version. Why is everyone going all tecnifibre on the colors?
Exactly!! Must be a sale on white paint in the Chinese factories
@HardCandy-fd4vz haha "I play shit with this racket, but man, look at that pj!"
Really bro? When 285ver released?
Hi from France Luca. J’ai joué quasi toute ma ´carrière’ avec une prestige mid (600): Classic, Liquid Metal…. J’ai ensuite essayé Wilson (pro staff 90 et Blade). Puis …. La pure drive pour trouver de la puissance facile. Ce que j’ai trouvé mais j’ai perdu le feeling que j’avais avec une raquette Mid. Ce qui est normal ! Car j’adorais frapper et ça rentrait dans le court sans problème (et je ne parle pas des amorties et coups en toucher). J’aimerais m’orienter vers Head à nouveau pour trouver un peu des deux et je pencherais pour la gravity pro. Penses tu que ça peut le faire ?
Salut! Pour moi, il n'y a pas mieux que la Gravity Pro pour les personnes comme vous qui sont habitués à ce genre de racket "mid" mais qui veulent évoluer avec les raquettes modernes. La Pro maintient cette sensation classique mais elle a beaucoup plus de ce characteristics moderne (spin, un plus de puissance facile, etc...)
Je joue beaucoup avec la Pro Tour 280, et ça me prends 5 minutes pour m'habituer aux sensations un peu plus puissantes de la Gravity Pro. Je dirai presque que c'est la racquet parfaite, mais bon, cette sensa classique n'est pas pour tout le monde!
Hi Luca can you do comparison video of Babolat Pure Aero 100 VS Shift 99?
That's a good idea, I'll look into it.
How would you compare the feel/performance of the Shift to the Gravity?
Two very different rackets, the Gravity feels much more traditional in its flex but also way less spin-friendly than the Shift.
Man do I retire the blade v8 and move on to this just so i can put it on fb marketplace and crawl back home to the blade?
Hahaha story of the advanced player that!
So as a summary, the 300g prototype and v1 differ in that the v1 has a slightly stiffer flex on the vertical axis and a higher swingweight? That's about it right?
Yes, I probably should have done a little summary at the end, but that's exactly it.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Which one do you personally prefer, Shift Pro Labs or Shift V1? Is there a noticeable difference in comfort because of the stiffer flex on the vertical axis?
My 300 proto came in at 315.
Can you please compare Wilson v14 Pro Staff X versus the Wilson v14 Pro Staff 6.1 100
Unfortunately, we don't carry the 6.1
Have you tried the Pro V1 yet? The 315g version?
Yes, I reviewed it!
I loved the prototype, bought it, used it for a month and got massive arm and shoulder problems that I have never had before. I really love the spin and power, especially the feel, but not at cost of being injured. That’s not only me, my friend never had any kind of arm problems, he is fit, uses Vcore 98, but he felt pain after just 2h of hitting at exactly the same spots I did. Moreover I watched other reviews and many say it’s uncomfortable. Even a pretty good college player had to sell it after couple of weeks. I would definitely not recommend it to anyone who has had or worried about arm injuries.
Thanks for sharing your experience, and that of others; useful to know for those of us who've been through arm and shoulder injuries.
I had the opposite of this, moved from the Blade to the Pro Staff and had arm issues, so I changed to the Shift and arm issues gone. Great racquet for me
@@DonRobberto interesting. Have you had issues with Blade too? What strings do you use in the Shift? I used Alu power 1.25 at 48, then Iso Speed Cream 1.28 (it’s a softer string).
I really should have talked about comfort with the Shift because I do see how it could become a problem for people down the line. I don't usually have discomfort issues which is why I often let that aspect go by the wayside but I'm not surprised you developed a problem after a while, because I actually did start feeling a little something after the first two hours and switched to the Gravity just for kicks and it completely went away. I'll address it in a future video.
@@villiam7941 no issues with Blade or Shift just the Pro Staff, all three were strung with ALU at 52. The guy in the video commented about moving to Head and pain going away, but funny enough I have the opposite issue with all Head racquets I've ever tested as I get arm pain within 20 minutes. Different racquets suit different arms, best of luck with your search! maybe try the Aero 98 as it is pretty similar spec to the Shift 99
What strings and tension did you use?
RPM Rough 17 at 52 pounds.
How should i customize this racket???
Go for 4 grams of lead at 3 & 9 and a leather grip!
So what’s the diff between the Shift and the Clash?
They're two very different rackets despite similar marketing. The Clash is MUCH softer, more user friendly and less controlled.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Thank you much.
Is its worth it to take the v1 when you have the prototype ?
If you like the prototype then you are all good!
i hit extreme slice and flat and have trouble returning serve in doubles. Ive never had the chance really to experiment. I borrowed a racket strung at 35 when i normally use 57 or higher because of recommended on racket. I played and serve was up over ten mph and i wasnt setting up the next guy. I used triax strings and just stunned. I feel like i missed out the past few years
I had the shift weighted up to 312 grams static with a leather grip and 3 grams of lead @ 3/9 in the hoop!
What evidence do you have that the QC is improved? Did you actually measure a batch of racquets to confirm their specs were consistent? Or are you basing it on the specs of your sample size of one racquet? Wilson QC is notoriously horrendous across every one of their racquet lines, I’m highly skeptical it’s any different with the Shift.
Yes we tested 10 of our Shifts and they all came in within 3 grams of each other in terms of static weight and 10 swing weight points. The prototypes were sometimes 15 grams off and I don't even want to say the swing weights... Wilson QC has been bad in the past but it's gotten much better over the last few years and I think it's due to the rise of racket reviews pointing it out. Still not perfect but better than it was 7-10 years ago.
I’m a clash user… should I shitf?
I did and love the Shift. Just felt i needed a bit less power and more control so went with 315 18x20. Im not sure why, but it did take me a while to dial in my serves with the Shift but everything else immediately ticked the boxes i was looking for.
This is an interesting one for me because they're very different rackets but it seems to have worked for person who responded. It's much stiffer than the Clash (borderline uncomfortable and I probably should have mentioned that), and the sweet spot is much smaller as well. It's a lot tougher to use but if you go into it knowing that you could really enjoy the Shift.
If it’s the clash 98 v2 then don’t switch. The Shift doesn’t do anything a lot better and is a lot stiffer.
@@roypeterka Thank you Roy!.. its 100 V1 …
Luka. I have the Shift 99 with a leather grip and 3 grams of tape (total- 1.5 g on each side) at 3 and 9.
Were you able to measure the swing weight based on the spec you recommended?
Btw. I do love the set up. Just curious. Thanks, Phil
Yes! I got it to 320 swing weight.
i got the prototype thinking it was the final product :/ lol
There really isn't too much of a difference so you're all good!
Nice 🦵🏼…