1st half of footage is mainly the 16x19 2nd half is the 18x20 Any suggestions to format tweaks are appreciated, these videos may be a bit long! Thanks 🙂
I like this longer comprehensive review style particularly the numbers at the end. I’m one of the few people that liked the CV version better than the V7. The old version had more power. I had to lead up the hoop of the v7 to get the same power. The V7 felt like it was 1 point HL with an overgrip. I got a head youtek speed pro on the way.
Thanks, good to know! i was feeling like i was getting less concise with my review so thought might be a bit of a turn off I agree, i liked the v6 in terms of playability, it was a very formidable racquet, i used it for 1.5 years or so, had some decent power, if it had a bit less of a muted feel, i would of stuck with it because the Noir edition was basically my RF paintjob haha, loved it
I prefer the old version of your reviews where you nail the key points eg. EZONE Tour 98. These 'long' reviews remind me of those awful TW racquet promos.
@@svlagonda7417 Problem was i covered 2 racquets in detail in this one, where the ezone was more focused on the tour since it hadnt been done yet, i dont think theyll come out this long if its not a total direct comparison 🙂 i did spend so much time getting the effects together that by the time i voiced, i was tired and rambled a bit 🤣, will keep it in mind, thanks mate🙏🏼
I have both the v8 16x19 and 18x20. Both with leather grip plus over grip and a little bit of lead tape to balance. Poly tour pro 120 at 45-47 lbs. they’re both amazing racquets and have helped me improve my game tremendously. I’m a heavy spin player but both of these racquets give nice power with a full fast swing. They give you what you put into it. 16x19 gives a bit more free spin and pop but still very controlled, while the 18x20 gives more precision pin point and can line drive the ball a bit better. The 18x20 can still give great spin but that’s all technique. Flat and slice serves are better on the 18x20 while the 16x19 can produce really good kick serves and decent flat and slice. Both racquets are great on backhand slice as well. I prefer the feel and consistency overall of the 18x20 but I find when I hit against heavy hitters I have to really work the ball side to side before putting it away. Whereas when I play with the 16x19 I control the point easier and don’t get pushed around as much like I do sometimes with the 18x20. Overall the 18 x 20 feels most consistent but the 16x19 helps dictate the point more. I’m so confused. Not sure what everyone else thinks. :😉
The 16x19 one is hard to hit flat backhands and passing shots. The launch angle is too high and promotes more of a lift. Im using the serena blade right now. easier power and 18x19
Excellent review of the Blade 98 frames. I have been playing with the v7 16 x 19 version since it came out. I agree with your review but the issue for me as I have some arm issues and don't play with poly any longer. IMO the control suffers a bit with a synthetic string and spin potential is fair. You need to be precise on your strokes. Otherwise, the Blade v7 98 line are great frames. I am leaning towards the Phantom 100p for more forgiveness, spin and a bit more power. We just spoke on the Phantom review. I will give my thoughts on the comparison of the Blade and Phantom 100p.
That's true, i hadnt accounted for syn gut, multi or hybrids since i dont use them too often, my wrist is quite flimsy so generally if i have issues with a frame i know others would usually too I can see where you could just lack alot of control using the syn gut in 16x19, you really need the poly for it otherwise it will probably fly alot Thanks mate!
Haha perhaps if they reach out, i usually will buy about 90% of the higher quality releases for review if they sound potentially like good racquets, but i will demo on ocassion for instance, a second version of the same product line, or racquets i'm not sure about but people are very interested in I thknk ushally it's more impotant for me to own it and test it thoroughly, to find those nuaces about a racquet that people won't usually find in a short time, that get overlooked because it's not in their setup and only have it for a couple of days
There's been a few good versions of the Blades over the years, probably depends on your gamestyle on what you like, but many people like the 2013 and 2015 versions aswell as the v7 (2019), just generally a good racquet and specs I use to use the counterveil which people considered the worst, but i still enjoyed it for a while
I've been demoing this for a week (16x19) version. Been comparing to a vcore 98. The flex of the blade and great feel on volleys I think is going to lead me to grab the blade. My opinion was the flex was great to hit heavy spin , but the racquet felt very solid when flattening out the ball. Not a huge fan of the muted feel but something I am getting used to. I can probably change up the strings to get a little more power (was using stiff full poly at 57lbs)
a really good review very very well founded. Also the note decrease the swing weight in the 18x20 i found it very valuable. Can you tell me how the UNSTRUNG swing weight must be to get to the 330? Thx a lot for ur answer...👍
Hard to say, really depends on the balance of the stock, the only way to really tell is just to have swingweight measured, judging off weight and balance alone can be very deceiving
Ive demo the Blade V7 16x19 and it feels fantastic. Much difference from my Wilson K Blade 18x20 back in 2012! Will be buying the V7 16x19 next week. How much weight do you think is best? 15g or 7 g to the bottle cap and any grams needed to be add to the top of the handle?
Actually you dont have to put any in the handle if you dont want to, because even with the current balance it is still quite fast through the air, but 10g max should enough, its more like you choose one or the other, so 10g at top of handle or 10g in bottom, up to you, at top of handle is supposed to help with the leverage
Great comparison review thanks. I'm quite interested in the thin-poly idea to reduce the SW of the 18x20, since that's what I mostly hit with. Did you get a chance to try that concept? I would be aiming to achieve a pretty big SW reduction of about 8-10pts, so I believe the strings would need to be about 5g lighter. I guess given that the bed is 18x20, a 19-guage would still be fine for control. I would be interested to know if such an approach really makes the frame feel significantly more manoeuvrable as I found the 18x20 with 16-guage string quite hefty. Cheers.
Should work on any racquet that has a head heavier balance, to make it a little more headlight and also slight reduction to swingweight and static weight - and yes i basically dont use 16g or 16L on any 18x20 racquets anymore
For spinning, I like 18x20 more, as 18x20 more low power, more bite, the ball stays on string bed more time, I can have more time to slice the ball more, before it leaves the string.
Great review!! I have the Pure Strike 18 x 20 which I have enjoyed but my coach has said for me the feel of the blade 18 x 20 would be better. I've got one on order and can't wait to try it but was wondering how you would compare the pure strike to the blade. Can you review the pure strike? Thanks
To be honest, i think the strike 18x20 gen 3 is a superior racquet, feel is not that bad in my opinion, lots of power and spin, and solid level of control - blade 18x20 will serve flat serves alot better, will have extra precision and arguably better feel, but will be quite a bit more demanding and suited for advanced players
I use the Gravity, i personally don't need to customize it weight wise, i do use 18g strings to reduce swingweight slightly and fix the lower launch angle, other than that perfect as is Blade i would add 8-10g to the handle or leather grip Gravity is a little bit more powerful, slightly more forgiving, the rest of the categories are fairly similar though - except Blade is better for serving So unless you like everything opposite of Gravity, like smaller headsize, more head heavy etc. then go with Blade
Blade 18x20 good all around racquet, but not as good feel as Gravity Pro, needs some weight in handle to make it really nice Gravity Pro amazing feel, sweetspot is even bigger (Blade is already good), slightly more power and spin - i have both racquets, but i've used Gravity Pro for very long time now
Great video. Which one would you recommend for my 17y old daughter who will be playing college tennis next year ?She's switching from Blade BLX 289g, which she's been using for a few years. Do you think this will be too heavy for her? I understand it's a great racquet and a good pick, I'm just worried about the weight.. My guess from this video is 16x19, right?
Thank Dario - depends on her technique, i think the 16x19 will definitely be a step up in terms of ensuring you use your body and swing properly and efficiently, but it's not impossible to use, i see alot of girls use it in tournaments here who play a good level - if you want to be safe you could ask the shop to measure the swingweight in advance before you buy it, and look for a light one, try to get one between 320-325, would be a good range (minus ~30 if there are no strings) Otherwise a Vcore 98 2021 is also good option, same weight as Blade but definitely more manageable to swing, still give good power and spin and not overly stiff and bad for the arm Last choice would be Head Gravity MP - lots of feel, lots of spin, super forgiving, and only 290 unstrung, may seem low powered to start with but once you adjust to the swing speed you require, it provides some decent power as well
It's all preference at the end of the day, it was a good balance between control, power, spin, racquet speed and stability The newer ones are less powerful, more flexible and controlled , so suits a different style of player
Radicals felt quite unstable in stock form and were a bit hollow in its feel, i would wait for the new radicals to come out, they could be quite good with the way all the new models are going
Quite different models, the 2015 gives you a more direct response off the string bed, as in doesnt look to pocket the ball or flex significantly in any way, which also means it provides a decent amount of power and spin - all Blades due to shape are very fast through the air, so the biggest differences are in the feel and power levels I would say
This is world class editing for the 2 Wilson racket review 👍🎾 keep up the awesome work 🏆👌 we post tennis videos and would love to welcome you to our channel and videos as well and would appreciate your support 🙏💕🎾🎾🎾
I truly appreciate the quality of the feel to the Blade v7 98 16 x 19. It's one of the best on the market IMO. However, the quality control is incredibly inconsistent. I had purchased a couple of Blades last year and they were quite over the SW spec of 328. The Clash 98 is also a quality racquet but very headlight. Tennis is all about feel IMO!
Yeah it's a very nice racquet for a variety of players, my partner has just switched to it recently and it fits her game very well - i requested for an under spec one for her, but one around the 328 SW mark is just about right
Absolutely is an excellent racquet but your footwork has to be good all the time and you need to be on the throttle constantly to get the full potential of the Blade.
@@ACTennis I decided to buy a new Blade v7 98 16 x 19 with the lime green finish as an in between racquet with my Phantom 100p. I will use when I am just hitting around to keep my technique sharp but the Phantom 100p will most likely remain as my main racquet. I just love the feel of the Blade v7 98 16 x 19 as it's the best IMO among players frames 👌!
Good review! I wish I have a woman tennis partner as good as you 8-) I currently play with Ultra 100 and love it and wonder if Blade is suitable as I saw one on sale.
Yes definitely lucky 😁 Ultra 100 is going to be alot stiffer and more power than the Blade, but you may be more accustomed to its weight and balance as they might be a little more similar Blade willl be alot less power and more control if you come from that kind of racquet, also alot softer feeling and better for your wrist and arm If that's what are looking for then go for it 🙂
@@ACTennis I just got my Blade 100 yesterday, string Solinco Outlast 16 50lb, it just feels great, a bit less stiffer than Ultra like you said earlier, overall love it, and thanks for your advice/comments.
Thanks for the video, I really enjoyed the detail. I just purchased an 18x20 and also have thought of adding weight to the handle. Would you recommend a leather grip or silicone in the buttcap?
I personally put tungsten putty in the buttcap so it can be removed (check TW video on how to apply) - sometimes i sell my racquets so i wouldnt put silicone and also hard to measure how much weight you want to add - and i dont use leather grip because my hands get torn up easily , any way doesnt really matter, but silicone may dampen the feel more whilst leather may give you a little more
@@ACTennis thanks for the tip, I got the 18x20 and love it on all aspects of my game except the serve. Feels like a lug on the serve, not sure why. Might add tape to the 12 o’clock.
Hey man, enjoying the videos, bit of a delayed response but been using v7 16*19, does most things well for me but struggling to generate heavier spin ball and like you said power seems to a little dissappear in the air, really like to switch to sth easier to generate spin and has more power without sacrificing the goods that blade has, such as easy serves, decent volleys, and good control. Not so keen to go back to 100 sqi, so considering pure strike 16*19, vcore 98( although hear better comments about vcore 100) or head extreme tour 360+... Your opinion would be much appreciated.. All the best
Extreme Tour is only an option if you want to weight it up - Tecnifibre TF40 16x19 actually has some wicked spin with the right string aswell - or you could wait for the new Vcore 98 coming out soon, that could be a good one - the current one is ok but didn't think it provided enough spin for a spin orientated frame
Thanks man, I think will try pure strike first due to easy power despite having some arm issues in the past, what string set up do you recommend for that for an arm friendly response... I will def check out new vcore when its out, like feel of yonex but didn't get to like one enough to switch yet...
Hi I change from pro staff 97 s to blade 98 s 18/16 good decision. Have you played blade 18/16 version and what difference did you notice from 16 /19 Thanks for replying to everyone
Thanks Michel - i feel as more the v5 will give you a bit more freebies in terms of spin and pace, where the v7 is more control orientated, requiring a more demanding swingweight to compensate for what it will lack, so really the v7 is a more advanced racquet, as in it requires more refined technical skills, but the performance of both are great, it just kind of depends which playstyle you are, and what you require from a frame, i wouldn't consider either or significantly better or worse than the other
Thanks 🙂 , Pure Strike has alot more power, muted feel is somewhat similar but Blade is more comfortable, control may be also not too different, Strike easier to serve big, stability also similar, but my Strike was a bit better probably because of the spec variance If you like power and have no problems with tennis elbow or wrist pain, i think Strike is better 🙂
Makes sense if you have the strength, i am better with lighter swingweight for more racquet head speed, too head heavy slows down my style and don't generate as much pace, e.g. i hit alot harder with a 285 pure drive team than the normal 300 pure drive 18x20 is great all around though, i could play matches immediately with and maintain an acceptable form Is it your main or you use something else?
AC Tennis I am not such a good player like you are. I have tested more than 40 racquets the last 8 years but i always return to my beloved modified at 300gr Blade 98S 2015 (V5) coupled with Luxilon 4G which tamed its power and spin :)... my second favorite is the latest VCore 98 with weight at 10/2.
I dont think they sell the Prestige Tour in my country anymore, although i may be buying a Prestige MPL soon which is the same as the Tour (2021 version, but with 16x19 pattern) I have the 2022 Speed Pro , not the 360+ one, it's a good all around racquet, hopefully have a review soon
Blades probably easier to use in long run and has similar playing characteristics, but is more suitable to customize and also better to swing with thinner beam, would be careful of the quality variance in specs however
Not really comparable, they are both just muted, but Blade you shouldn't really get any arm injuries with it, and it flexes quite alot, Strike is also very muted but very direct off the string bed , in terms of how fast the ball comes off, it has some pocketing, but the frame stays relatively still
Sorry! totally forgot to reply, i will have to get back to you on that, but they are a couple years old now, i don't think you'd be able to find them anymore
Ultra has IMO best feel of all racquets, perfect balance between flex and stiffness, Blade 18x20 i could play a match with and perform relatively up to par, Ultra id probably not be able to hit through any higher level players But as a secondary racquet the Ultra is more fun for me 🙂
@@ACTennis Ultra I found to be totally underwhelming. It's way too light on stock. I weighted my brand new demo with 2.5g at both 3 & 9, but they still wasn't great. It was strung with tour bite at 54lbs. Perhaps I needed to keep tweaking, but returned it after a weekend of play, rather disappointed as I had high expectations. Also the paint job was the worst I've ever seen. Guess that's just Wilson's notorious poor quality control.
@@nostro1001 I string it at 44/42lbs and even 42/40 for winter, bumps up the power enough, gives it great feel, obviously a very demanding frame overall, no frills, its just nice to hit with for practice sessions
@@ACTennis Yup, I was expecting much more, but as per above, didn't have the opportunity beyond adding 5g lead in total. Settled on my frames for the minute now after about a year+ of trying & buying most 'players' sticks.
Only from memory, maybe because the v7 had a very high average swingweight but low headlight balance, and V5 was a bit lower on average , 332 vs. 327 i think
Depends on your level and strength, i dont mind it, it has a large sweet spot for alot of forgiveness, and if you get the right swingweight it can be very good - at the same time, i do also prefer smaller headsizes for more pinpoint accuracy for a one hander - but because gravitys beam width is thin, it's still fairly fast through the air
Hey bro, the Pure Strike has zero ball feel, I hate it. Is it like that? Or is it more like the Gravity Pro where the comfort and flex is there but you still get a nice feel for where the ball is on the stringbed?
Definitelty more towards the Strike than the Gravity...lol both of those are my 2 main racquets too If Strike was most muted, then Blade would be a close second
@@ACTennis oh my god thank you so much bro you saved me so much money lmao. I was going to buy them off eBay right now but I decided to watch your video and then wait for your reply. You are the man!
@@2ndAveScents Haha glad i could be helpful, not bad racquets, but still muted, not so much so like counterveil or Strike, but seems theres still some people that enjoy it enough Just on the spectrum of feel, not up there, but if you get a chance to demo, give it a shot still 🙂
Can open the buttcap trapdoor and put cotton balls and tungsten putty or bluetac in it (cotton balls so it stops the putty or bluetac dripping down into the handle)
Yeah, you can wrap it around the handle underneath after you take off the grip that the racquet comes with, just do it on around in circles, doesnt have to be all in 1 line otherwise it will protrude the grip - if you have trouble getting it to stay, maybe place it on sticky tape first then stick it around, that way you can also use it for another racquet and don't need to chuck out the lead wasting it
@@tennis-fan specs like on TW are averaged out from maybe a box , quality and specs will vary between each racquet, you can also distribute weight equally at 0 pts balance and then tinker from there - a little difficult to explain but it is what it is haha
I tried the 18x20 since I usually prefer that pattern. I liked it but not that much, mainly because of the flex and SW was too high for me. My preferred racquet is a leaded up Ti.Radical mp, which I believe has a 65 RA and around 326 SW. If the blade were a little more stiff and less SW I think I would have loved it. Is there another blade version that has that spec? I know the 2013 version is stiffer. I cant find a better racquet than my radical lol
SW wise i cant remember off the top of my head one that is as high, but the particularly the 2015 one in 18x20 more specifically has been a huge favourite as the best Blade ever, also has around the type of stiffness you're looking for, very much in the middle
1st half of footage is mainly the 16x19
2nd half is the 18x20
Any suggestions to format tweaks are appreciated, these videos may be a bit long! Thanks 🙂
This is awesome. I like how you have the timeline sectioned off. I didn't know that can be done. It's cool.
Thanks, i just figured it out, pretty convenient for a long ass video 🤣
Great video!! I like how detailed it was. I hope you keep doing it this way. Can’t wait to see some pro stock review 😉
All i can say is thanks for supporting as usual mate, here and insta, keeps me going, these videos are getting harder and so much longer to pull off 😅
Excellent review and explanation. Very user friendly and informative.
Best review channel on UA-cam!! We need more of these big ass in deth reviews please 😍 can’t wait to see more!
Haha thanks buddy, just got out of lockdown so i'm going to be able to record more very soon
Thank You so much! Been having trouble deciding!
Thanks for checking it out 😁!
Great review- really enjoyed that. Nice ground strokes too! 👍🏽
Thanks alot! our lockdowns is finished, will be getting new videos out in next few weeks 🙂
Thanks for going over the differences between the launch angles. So critical when selecting a racquet but almost always overlooked.
This is an excellent video. Exactly what I was hoping to know and a good format, thank you.
Thanks for that, good to hear some people like this style 🙏🏼
I think I’m going to get this thank you for the great review
Very useful review. Much appreciated.
Thanks Tim
I like this longer comprehensive review style particularly the numbers at the end.
I’m one of the few people that liked the CV version better than the V7. The old version had more power. I had to lead up the hoop of the v7 to get the same power. The V7 felt like it was 1 point HL with an overgrip. I got a head youtek speed pro on the way.
Thanks, good to know! i was feeling like i was getting less concise with my review so thought might be a bit of a turn off
I agree, i liked the v6 in terms of playability, it was a very formidable racquet, i used it for 1.5 years or so, had some decent power, if it had a bit less of a muted feel, i would of stuck with it because the Noir edition was basically my RF paintjob haha, loved it
I prefer the old version of your reviews where you nail the key points eg. EZONE Tour 98. These 'long' reviews remind me of those awful TW racquet promos.
@@svlagonda7417 Problem was i covered 2 racquets in detail in this one, where the ezone was more focused on the tour since it hadnt been done yet, i dont think theyll come out this long if its not a total direct comparison 🙂 i did spend so much time getting the effects together that by the time i voiced, i was tired and rambled a bit 🤣, will keep it in mind, thanks mate🙏🏼
The music in this id a good balance between chill and exciting
Will keep that in mind 🙂 i just try to do something different every other video
Best detailed review. Thanks!
Thank you very much :)
I have both the v8 16x19 and 18x20. Both with leather grip plus over grip and a little bit of lead tape to balance. Poly tour pro 120 at 45-47 lbs. they’re both amazing racquets and have helped me improve my game tremendously. I’m a heavy spin player but both of these racquets give nice power with a full fast swing. They give you what you put into it. 16x19 gives a bit more free spin and pop but still very controlled, while the 18x20 gives more precision pin point and can line drive the ball a bit better. The 18x20 can still give great spin but that’s all technique. Flat and slice serves are better on the 18x20 while the 16x19 can produce really good kick serves and decent flat and slice. Both racquets are great on backhand slice as well. I prefer the feel and consistency overall of the 18x20 but I find when I hit against heavy hitters I have to really work the ball side to side before putting it away. Whereas when I play with the 16x19 I control the point easier and don’t get pushed around as much like I do sometimes with the 18x20. Overall the 18 x 20 feels most consistent but the 16x19 helps dictate the point more. I’m so confused. Not sure what everyone else thinks. :😉
The 16x19 one is hard to hit flat backhands and passing shots. The launch angle is too high and promotes more of a lift. Im using the serena blade right now. easier power and 18x19
Excellent review of the Blade 98 frames. I have been playing with the v7 16 x 19 version since it came out. I agree with your review but the issue for me as I have some arm issues and don't play with poly any longer. IMO the control suffers a bit with a synthetic string and spin potential is fair. You need to be precise on your strokes. Otherwise, the Blade v7 98 line are great frames. I am leaning towards the Phantom 100p for more forgiveness, spin and a bit more power. We just spoke on the Phantom review. I will give my thoughts on the comparison of the Blade and Phantom 100p.
That's true, i hadnt accounted for syn gut, multi or hybrids since i dont use them too often, my wrist is quite flimsy so generally if i have issues with a frame i know others would usually too
I can see where you could just lack alot of control using the syn gut in 16x19, you really need the poly for it otherwise it will probably fly alot
Thanks mate!
With the quality of these videos, you should get an online store sponsor so you get more racquets and we get more content. :p
Haha perhaps if they reach out, i usually will buy about 90% of the higher quality releases for review if they sound potentially like good racquets, but i will demo on ocassion for instance, a second version of the same product line, or racquets i'm not sure about but people are very interested in
I thknk ushally it's more impotant for me to own it and test it thoroughly, to find those nuaces about a racquet that people won't usually find in a short time, that get overlooked because it's not in their setup and only have it for a couple of days
I still have my BLX Blades 18x20 and they are rocket sticks for serves and forehands. I haven't used any of the new versions of Blades in years.
There's been a few good versions of the Blades over the years, probably depends on your gamestyle on what you like, but many people like the 2013 and 2015 versions aswell as the v7 (2019), just generally a good racquet and specs
I use to use the counterveil which people considered the worst, but i still enjoyed it for a while
Great job m8, helpful review. Subbed.
I've been demoing this for a week (16x19) version. Been comparing to a vcore 98. The flex of the blade and great feel on volleys I think is going to lead me to grab the blade. My opinion was the flex was great to hit heavy spin , but the racquet felt very solid when flattening out the ball. Not a huge fan of the muted feel but something I am getting used to. I can probably change up the strings to get a little more power (was using stiff full poly at 57lbs)
Probably just lacks pin point control, probably because of how it launches off the racquet, 18x20 in a low swingweight is better in that aspect
Awesome video, really enjoyed this.
Thank you 😁
@@ACTennis A suggestion, if you get the chance, would really be interested to see a review on the Head Graphene 360+ Prestige MP
@@zainw24 Possibly on the cards soon
I RDC'd a load of these. The swingweights were all over place.
Haha i guess i would suspect so, it was not so hard to find an underspec SW
Great review
Nice detailed review! Informative for racket selection
Thank you very much 🙂
Great review your partner is poetry in motion 👌 guess 16/19 safer option 🤔
Excellent review.
Thank you!
a really good review very very well founded. Also the note decrease the swing weight in the 18x20 i found it very valuable. Can you tell me how the UNSTRUNG swing weight must be to get to the 330? Thx a lot for ur answer...👍
Hard to say, really depends on the balance of the stock, the only way to really tell is just to have swingweight measured, judging off weight and balance alone can be very deceiving
Ive demo the Blade V7 16x19 and it feels fantastic. Much difference from my Wilson K Blade 18x20 back in 2012! Will be buying the V7 16x19 next week. How much weight do you think is best? 15g or 7 g to the bottle cap and any grams needed to be add to the top of the handle?
Actually you dont have to put any in the handle if you dont want to, because even with the current balance it is still quite fast through the air, but 10g max should enough, its more like you choose one or the other, so 10g at top of handle or 10g in bottom, up to you, at top of handle is supposed to help with the leverage
Great comparison review thanks. I'm quite interested in the thin-poly idea to reduce the SW of the 18x20, since that's what I mostly hit with. Did you get a chance to try that concept? I would be aiming to achieve a pretty big SW reduction of about 8-10pts, so I believe the strings would need to be about 5g lighter. I guess given that the bed is 18x20, a 19-guage would still be fine for control. I would be interested to know if such an approach really makes the frame feel significantly more manoeuvrable as I found the 18x20 with 16-guage string quite hefty. Cheers.
Should work on any racquet that has a head heavier balance, to make it a little more headlight and also slight reduction to swingweight and static weight - and yes i basically dont use 16g or 16L on any 18x20 racquets anymore
@@ACTennis Cheers. I shall give it a go with an 18g.
For spinning, I like 18x20 more, as 18x20 more low power, more bite, the ball stays on string bed more time, I can have more time to slice the ball more, before it leaves the string.
Yes if you have the right technique then the 16x19 will not be enough
Great review!!
I have the Pure Strike 18 x 20 which I have enjoyed but my coach has said for me the feel of the blade 18 x 20 would be better. I've got one on order and can't wait to try it but was wondering how you would compare the pure strike to the blade. Can you review the pure strike? Thanks
To be honest, i think the strike 18x20 gen 3 is a superior racquet, feel is not that bad in my opinion, lots of power and spin, and solid level of control - blade 18x20 will serve flat serves alot better, will have extra precision and arguably better feel, but will be quite a bit more demanding and suited for advanced players
Very nice review! Out of curiosity, what was your partner playing with?
Thank you 🙂 she just plays with the G360 Speed Mp, very slightly weighted in the hoop and counter balanced
@@ACTennis Thought I recognized a Speed.
Im now between the gravity pro and blade 98 v7 18x20. Which one would choose and how will you customize?
I use the Gravity, i personally don't need to customize it weight wise, i do use 18g strings to reduce swingweight slightly and fix the lower launch angle, other than that perfect as is
Blade i would add 8-10g to the handle or leather grip
Gravity is a little bit more powerful, slightly more forgiving, the rest of the categories are fairly similar though - except Blade is better for serving
So unless you like everything opposite of Gravity, like smaller headsize, more head heavy etc. then go with Blade
Great review! How does the blade v7 18x20 compare to Gravity pro? For which frame goes your choice? Thnx!
Blade 18x20 good all around racquet, but not as good feel as Gravity Pro, needs some weight in handle to make it really nice
Gravity Pro amazing feel, sweetspot is even bigger (Blade is already good), slightly more power and spin - i have both racquets, but i've used Gravity Pro for very long time now
Great video. Which one would you recommend for my 17y old daughter who will be playing college tennis next year ?She's switching from Blade BLX 289g, which she's been using for a few years. Do you think this will be too heavy for her? I understand it's a great racquet and a good pick, I'm just worried about the weight.. My guess from this video is 16x19, right?
Thank Dario - depends on her technique, i think the 16x19 will definitely be a step up in terms of ensuring you use your body and swing properly and efficiently, but it's not impossible to use, i see alot of girls use it in tournaments here who play a good level - if you want to be safe you could ask the shop to measure the swingweight in advance before you buy it, and look for a light one, try to get one between 320-325, would be a good range (minus ~30 if there are no strings)
Otherwise a Vcore 98 2021 is also good option, same weight as Blade but definitely more manageable to swing, still give good power and spin and not overly stiff and bad for the arm
Last choice would be Head Gravity MP - lots of feel, lots of spin, super forgiving, and only 290 unstrung, may seem low powered to start with but once you adjust to the swing speed you require, it provides some decent power as well
Was the 2015 blade 98 really the GOAT? So many on talktennis say it’s that good.
It's all preference at the end of the day, it was a good balance between control, power, spin, racquet speed and stability
The newer ones are less powerful, more flexible and controlled , so suits a different style of player
Can you review the Head Radical MP & Pro
Radicals felt quite unstable in stock form and were a bit hollow in its feel, i would wait for the new radicals to come out, they could be quite good with the way all the new models are going
Good review. Have you played with Blade 16x19 - 2015 model? How do these compare?
Quite different models, the 2015 gives you a more direct response off the string bed, as in doesnt look to pocket the ball or flex significantly in any way, which also means it provides a decent amount of power and spin - all Blades due to shape are very fast through the air, so the biggest differences are in the feel and power levels I would say
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I truly appreciate the quality of the feel to the Blade v7 98 16 x 19. It's one of the best on the market IMO. However, the quality control is incredibly inconsistent. I had purchased a couple of Blades last year and they were quite over the SW spec of 328. The Clash 98 is also a quality racquet but very headlight. Tennis is all about feel IMO!
Yeah it's a very nice racquet for a variety of players, my partner has just switched to it recently and it fits her game very well - i requested for an under spec one for her, but one around the 328 SW mark is just about right
Absolutely is an excellent racquet but your footwork has to be good all the time and you need to be on the throttle constantly to get the full potential of the Blade.
@@ACTennis I decided to buy a new Blade v7 98 16 x 19 with the lime green finish as an in between racquet with my Phantom 100p. I will use when I am just hitting around to keep my technique sharp but the Phantom 100p will most likely remain as my main racquet. I just love the feel of the Blade v7 98 16 x 19 as it's the best IMO among players frames 👌!
@@ACTennis Is there a way to reduce the SW of a racket?
@@theroadie08 Not truly no, the only work around without doing any weird methods is just to use thinner strings which is just a bit lighter in weight
Good review! I wish I have a woman tennis partner as good as you 8-) I currently play with Ultra 100 and love it and wonder if Blade is suitable as I saw one on sale.
Yes definitely lucky 😁 Ultra 100 is going to be alot stiffer and more power than the Blade, but you may be more accustomed to its weight and balance as they might be a little more similar
Blade willl be alot less power and more control if you come from that kind of racquet, also alot softer feeling and better for your wrist and arm
If that's what are looking for then go for it 🙂
@@ACTennis I just got my Blade 100 yesterday, string Solinco Outlast 16 50lb, it just feels great, a bit less stiffer than Ultra like you said earlier, overall love it, and thanks for your advice/comments.
@@zerodegrekelvin2 Happy it worked out for you!
Thanks for the video, I really enjoyed the detail. I just purchased an 18x20 and also have thought of adding weight to the handle. Would you recommend a leather grip or silicone in the buttcap?
I personally put tungsten putty in the buttcap so it can be removed (check TW video on how to apply) - sometimes i sell my racquets so i wouldnt put silicone and also hard to measure how much weight you want to add - and i dont use leather grip because my hands get torn up easily , any way doesnt really matter, but silicone may dampen the feel more whilst leather may give you a little more
@@ACTennis thanks for the tip, I got the 18x20 and love it on all aspects of my game except the serve. Feels like a lug on the serve, not sure why. Might add tape to the 12 o’clock.
Hey man, enjoying the videos, bit of a delayed response but been using v7 16*19, does most things well for me but struggling to generate heavier spin ball and like you said power seems to a little dissappear in the air, really like to switch to sth easier to generate spin and has more power without sacrificing the goods that blade has, such as easy serves, decent volleys, and good control.
Not so keen to go back to 100 sqi, so considering pure strike 16*19, vcore 98( although hear better comments about vcore 100) or head extreme tour 360+...
Your opinion would be much appreciated..
All the best
Extreme Tour is only an option if you want to weight it up - Tecnifibre TF40 16x19 actually has some wicked spin with the right string aswell - or you could wait for the new Vcore 98 coming out soon, that could be a good one - the current one is ok but didn't think it provided enough spin for a spin orientated frame
Thanks man, I think will try pure strike first due to easy power despite having some arm issues in the past, what string set up do you recommend for that for an arm friendly response... I will def check out new vcore when its out, like feel of yonex but didn't get to like one enough to switch yet...
Hi
I change from pro staff 97 s to blade 98 s 18/16 good decision.
Have you played blade 18/16 version and what difference did you notice from 16 /19
Thanks for replying to everyone
Mostly just be more power , more spin, launch angle is higher and a less control
How do you compare the v7 18x20 with the popular blade v5 18x20? which one would you prefer?
Thanks Michel - i feel as more the v5 will give you a bit more freebies in terms of spin and pace, where the v7 is more control orientated, requiring a more demanding swingweight to compensate for what it will lack, so really the v7 is a more advanced racquet, as in it requires more refined technical skills, but the performance of both are great, it just kind of depends which playstyle you are, and what you require from a frame, i wouldn't consider either or significantly better or worse than the other
Thanx a lot👍
Great video! How does this stick compare to the PS v13? I'm an aggressive one hander baseliner currently using a 16/19 BLX Blade 2013! Thanks!
Check out my most recent review, comparison is there
great video! how does the blade v7 16*19 compare to pure strike 3rd gen 98 16*19 ?
Thanks 🙂 , Pure Strike has alot more power, muted feel is somewhat similar but Blade is more comfortable, control may be also not too different, Strike easier to serve big, stability also similar, but my Strike was a bit better probably because of the spec variance
If you like power and have no problems with tennis elbow or wrist pain, i think Strike is better 🙂
18x20 has more free power due to better plow l.... i also found it a tad bit more plush and with better feel.
Makes sense if you have the strength, i am better with lighter swingweight for more racquet head speed, too head heavy slows down my style and don't generate as much pace, e.g. i hit alot harder with a 285 pure drive team than the normal 300 pure drive
18x20 is great all around though, i could play matches immediately with and maintain an acceptable form
Is it your main or you use something else?
AC Tennis I am not such a good player like you are. I have tested more than 40 racquets the last 8 years but i always return to my beloved modified at 300gr Blade 98S 2015 (V5) coupled with Luxilon 4G which tamed its power and spin :)... my second favorite is the latest VCore 98 with weight at 10/2.
Hi could you test 360+ prestige tour and 360+ speed pro?
I dont think they sell the Prestige Tour in my country anymore, although i may be buying a Prestige MPL soon which is the same as the Tour (2021 version, but with 16x19 pattern)
I have the 2022 Speed Pro , not the 360+ one, it's a good all around racquet, hopefully have a review soon
This or ezone tour?
Blades probably easier to use in long run and has similar playing characteristics, but is more suitable to customize and also better to swing with thinner beam, would be careful of the quality variance in specs however
How does the 18x20 feel in comparison to the strike 18x20
Not really comparable, they are both just muted, but Blade you shouldn't really get any arm injuries with it, and it flexes quite alot, Strike is also very muted but very direct off the string bed , in terms of how fast the ball comes off, it has some pocketing, but the frame stays relatively still
What's the ID on your pants? I like the fit and style. Thanks.
Sorry! totally forgot to reply, i will have to get back to you on that, but they are a couple years old now, i don't think you'd be able to find them anymore
Hey, can you do same comparison for the v8 model?
Normally would but i'd go broke trying all string variants lol, if i can demo it i will
@@ACTennis i feel your pain... Wilson should sent you demos to review, great videos! Thanks ;)
Do you still keep the Ultra 100 V3?
Never used the Ultra 100, just the Pro 18x20 and the Pro 16x19, decided to keep the 16x19
Which would you prefer ultra pro v3 vs v7 18x20? In terms of feel and overall performance
Ultra has IMO best feel of all racquets, perfect balance between flex and stiffness, Blade 18x20 i could play a match with and perform relatively up to par, Ultra id probably not be able to hit through any higher level players
But as a secondary racquet the Ultra is more fun for me 🙂
@@ACTennis Ultra I found to be totally underwhelming. It's way too light on stock. I weighted my brand new demo with 2.5g at both 3 & 9, but they still wasn't great. It was strung with tour bite at 54lbs.
Perhaps I needed to keep tweaking, but returned it after a weekend of play, rather disappointed as I had high expectations.
Also the paint job was the worst I've ever seen. Guess that's just Wilson's notorious poor quality control.
@@nostro1001 I string it at 44/42lbs and even 42/40 for winter, bumps up the power enough, gives it great feel, obviously a very demanding frame overall, no frills, its just nice to hit with for practice sessions
@@ACTennis Yup, I was expecting much more, but as per above, didn't have the opportunity beyond adding 5g lead in total.
Settled on my frames for the minute now after about a year+ of trying & buying most 'players' sticks.
Is the v7 18x20 version more head heavy and heavier swing weight than the v5 18x20 version?
Only from memory, maybe because the v7 had a very high average swingweight but low headlight balance, and V5 was a bit lower on average , 332 vs. 327 i think
how does gravity pro work with one headed backheand ? it s 18x20 100 sq ?
Depends on your level and strength, i dont mind it, it has a large sweet spot for alot of forgiveness, and if you get the right swingweight it can be very good - at the same time, i do also prefer smaller headsizes for more pinpoint accuracy for a one hander - but because gravitys beam width is thin, it's still fairly fast through the air
Is the balde 98 v7 better than the pro staff 97 v13 ????
If you are a very good player , pro staff is better, but blade is easier to use and still a good racquet, and suits more levels
Hey bro, the Pure Strike has zero ball feel, I hate it. Is it like that? Or is it more like the Gravity Pro where the comfort and flex is there but you still get a nice feel for where the ball is on the stringbed?
Definitelty more towards the Strike than the Gravity...lol both of those are my 2 main racquets too
If Strike was most muted, then Blade would be a close second
@@ACTennis oh my god thank you so much bro you saved me so much money lmao. I was going to buy them off eBay right now but I decided to watch your video and then wait for your reply. You are the man!
@@2ndAveScents Haha glad i could be helpful, not bad racquets, but still muted, not so much so like counterveil or Strike, but seems theres still some people that enjoy it enough
Just on the spectrum of feel, not up there, but if you get a chance to demo, give it a shot still 🙂
For 18x20 you added weight in the butcap ?
Yeah about 10g
@@ACTennis me too and it got too heavy for me to use unfortunately ( 342-343gr )
Where do you place the lead when you add weight to the handle?
Can open the buttcap trapdoor and put cotton balls and tungsten putty or bluetac in it (cotton balls so it stops the putty or bluetac dripping down into the handle)
@@ACTennis Cool thanks, would placing lead tape under the grip work too?
Yeah, you can wrap it around the handle underneath after you take off the grip that the racquet comes with, just do it on around in circles, doesnt have to be all in 1 line otherwise it will protrude the grip - if you have trouble getting it to stay, maybe place it on sticky tape first then stick it around, that way you can also use it for another racquet and don't need to chuck out the lead wasting it
@@ACTennis Cool, Thanks
How is possible technically that 18x20 blade has bigger swing weight then 16x19 being the same static weight ?
Weight distribution when the racquet is made, more heavier in the top of the racquet
@@ACTennis then should be the balance different ? in specs are the same
@@tennis-fan specs like on TW are averaged out from maybe a box , quality and specs will vary between each racquet, you can also distribute weight equally at 0 pts balance and then tinker from there - a little difficult to explain but it is what it is haha
I tried the 18x20 since I usually prefer that pattern.
I liked it but not that much, mainly because of the flex and SW was too high for me.
My preferred racquet is a leaded up Ti.Radical mp, which I believe has a 65 RA and around 326 SW. If the blade were a little more stiff and less SW I think I would have loved it.
Is there another blade version that has that spec? I know the 2013 version is stiffer. I cant find a better racquet than my radical lol
SW wise i cant remember off the top of my head one that is as high, but the particularly the 2015 one in 18x20 more specifically has been a huge favourite as the best Blade ever, also has around the type of stiffness you're looking for, very much in the middle