Specifications Wilson Blade 98 16x19 V9:
The new Blade 98 16x19 V9 is now available in our webshop, including free stringing of your choice !
Intro:
Even before the release I had the chance to test the new Blade 98 16x19 V9. I have tested all the latest versions of this 98 16x19 version in the recent past with the V7 as my favorite. So I was very curious about this update. Wilson promised a 'sharper Blade' and I have to say: they delivered...!
For this update of the Blade 98 16x19, Wilson has made a number of adjustments. For example, the RA (stiffness) has been slightly increased. This was 61 in the previous version and is now moving towards the mid-60. The quality control should also be increased. The rackets should be closer together in terms of specs (weight, balance and swingweight). Always nice if you need multiple rackets as a competition player of course. Our demo is at least neatly on spec, so that is promising. Stablefeel technology should provide more stability and the renewed bumpers (recognizable by the 2 green grommets at 10 and 2 o'clock) are super easy to change/remove. This is very useful for tuning/matching rackets, but also for replacing the bumper itself in due course.
Baseline:
From the baseline, it's a blast with this new Blade 98 16x19 V9! You can deliver great (controlled) hits and the frame feels super solid. You get exactly what you put in, so you will have to deliver yourself in terms of stroke/technique. The racket feels a bit more direct than its predecessor, without being too stiff. I tested this racket in the hall (on carpet) and the balls really come super directly from the racket. Even when you are put under pressure and have to make corners, you do not quickly lose control over the ball. The V7 and V8 may have had a bit more touch/a softer playing feel, but performed a bit less under pressure than this V9. So that is really very nice!
The spin potential is solid - controlled spin I would say. What I also noticed is that the racket offers a bit more plow-through (mass in the ball). I noticed this quickly when cutting my slice backhand, for example. This V9 also has a higher swingweight than the V8. I prefer a swingweight of around 325 for my rackets: then the racket is sufficiently manoeuvrable, but then you have sufficient mass behind the ball. In that respect, our demo of the Blade 98 16x19 V9 with a swingweight of 323.5 worked very well for me. A great weapon from the baseline all in all!
Service:
I don't know if it was because of the fast inner court, but I had the feeling that my serve with V9 really came through better than with its predecessors. I'm not exactly a service cannon and unfortunately I've had shoulder problems in the (recent) past, but with this Blade V9 that was no problem at all. I'm curious to see how my serves will come off on the gravel outside, especially the kick serve. Slice serves from the right to the outside went like a rocket in the fast Fablohal in Haarlem.
Just:
At the net the Blade 98 16x19 V9 feels super solid and reliable. This racket is not easily pushed away. I did find the V7 and V8 versions to have a bit more touch for volleys on feeling such as stop volleys. But steady and reliable at the net, but also definitely agile enough.
Power/control Wilson Blade 98 16x19 V9:
This version (the 98 sq/inch 16x19 variant) of the Blade has always had a strong mix of power and control and fortunately that is no different with the V9. The control of the racket is super fine, especially when it goes a bit faster. Then this racket really holds its own. In terms of power, this Blade is slightly screwed up and that is in my opinion mainly due to the small increase in RA/stiffness. The excellent mix of power and control makes the Blade so enormously popular and this new version successfully builds on that.
Comfort/arm friendliness:
Because the racket is so incredibly stable, you don't get any annoying vibrations through to the arm. Note: this remains a tough racket for the advanced player who has enough power and/or has his or her technique in order. The sweet spot remains relatively fine/compact with this version and with the 18x20 variant that we will review later. But because the racket feels so incredibly solid, the comfort can be called more than decent. Only the racket is just a bit fiercer than its predecessor. 7.5/10 in terms of comfort I would say.
