The Blade sequence has been Wilson’s flagship racket for precision and management for practically 20 years. Once you see any best-selling checklist, the Blade is often amongst the Prime 5, with a number of execs on the ATP and WTA Excursions utilizing the most recent 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 adjustments that provide rivals a well-known 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 appears to be like extremely fashionable, however how does it play? Is it price altering in case you’re a V8 or V7 Blade consumer?
On this evaluation, I’ll look at how the brand new Blade 98 (16×19) V9 performs underneath 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 fashionable, vertical swing paths. The distinctive materials mix improves flexibility and stability all through the swing with out compromise.
Braided Graphite + Basalt: A mixture of elastic and reactive supplies that reinforces the racket’s flex to delay ball contact with the strings, enhancing really feel and rising management.
Prime Grip Taper: The tapered grip design supplies an improved really feel for top-handed grip placement, which is very useful for two-handed backhands.
DirectConnect: This function extends the carbon fibre deal with to attach immediately with the top cap, enhancing the general really feel and enhancing torsional stability.
StableFeel: The newest Blade expertise gives a firmer and extra secure really feel, fostering a deeper connection to the ball. This function is designed for avid gamers seeking to sharpen their recreation with a extra responsive racket.
Specification and Setup
Blade 98 16 x 19 v9 Specs
My Blade 98 v9
Head Dimension
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
Steadiness
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 Velocity
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 Rigidity
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. Steadiness was 5 pts headlight.
These specs are within the vary I like, though a contact underneath my most well-liked swingweight.
Wilson Blade V9 Playtest
First Impressions
The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 arrives with a contemporary new look, and I feel the emerald inexperienced matte end appears to be like 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 variety 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.
Publish-session, I assumed, “Yup, it is a Blade, and that’s about it.” Wilson has a prepared formulation for the Blade, so there’s no purpose 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 taking part in body however that you must have first rate footwork in any other case you’ll run into issues.
Groundstrokes
On the baseline, the Blade 98 16×19 V9 has an excellent degree of stability for its weight class. In comparison with the V8, the twistweight has jumped just a few factors, and the marginally larger swing weight in comparison with its predecessor supplies a extra strong really feel on influence, particularly noticeable on off-centre hits.
The racket permits for aggressive putting and managed, exact photographs. 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 drawback I had from the baseline was the slice, as I both ballooned it or dumped it into the online. String pressure problem? I’m undecided, however I struggled to familiarize yourself with that shot when it’s sometimes one among my finest.
Volleys
On the internet, the Blade 98 16×19 V9’s manoeuvrability performs properly. Its secure but responsive body permits for fast changes and strong, exact volleys.
I additionally practised drive volleys and the racket excelled. I’m uncertain whether or not I used to be simply having an excellent 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 put my serves confidently. Whether or not I used to be going for a flat, arduous serve down the T or a slicing serve out vast, the racket delivered constant outcomes. I a lot desire it over the V8 18 x 20 I additionally had in my bag.
Returns
On return, the steadiness of the Blade 98 16×19 V9 labored properly. You continue to must swing, and it’s not a racket properly suited to simply blocking returns, however its spin-friendly string sample means in case you again up a bit behind the baseline, you’ll be able to add depth to your flip, establishing offensive alternatives from the baseline.
Wilson Blade V9 vs Wilson Blade V8
I had a Wilson Blade V8 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 adjustments 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 evaluation, so it was nonetheless contemporary within the reminiscence to match.
Elementary Adjustments 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 enhance will improve stability and energy however can barely cut back manoeuvrability in case you can’t swing it as quick.
Flex Ranking: The V9 has a barely stiffer flex ranking, a +1 enhance from the V8. This variation is negligible, however the V9 has an improved really feel and responsiveness, with extra of a crisper suggestions throughout play.
Secure Flex Expertise: Wilson has launched a brand new layup expertise within the V9 referred to as Secure Flex. This expertise is designed to offer 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-Courtroom 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: Provides a crisper response and a extra pronounced candy spot, which reinforces suggestions on good and dangerous contacts. The rise in swing weight provides stability, making the V9 really feel extra strong throughout high-impact photographs.
Volleys
V8: Felt secure and exact, however the suggestions might really feel dampened as a result of softer flex and layup expertise.
V9: Supplied me a extra exact volleying expertise.
Serves
V8: Stable efficiency and gives an excellent 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 quicker.
Who Ought to Improve?
Gamers happy with the V8’s efficiency is not going to discover the V9 a groundbreaking improve, as the basic traits stay comparable; nonetheless, for many who felt the V8 might enhance stability and supply a much less mushy really feel, the V9 is price demoing to see in case you desire it.
Who’s This Racket For?
The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 is a racket for larger 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 a substitute the Blade 100 or Blade 104 swimsuit these searching for a extra user-friendly racket.
With its barely enhanced stability and fewer mushy feeling, it would attraction to a broader vary of gamers than in comparison with the earlier technology, however that you must be an achieved 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 adjustments make it a surefire finest vendor within the management racket market.
For those who 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
