Nevertheless, I found this racquet perfect for flatter-hit shots, and I prefer racquets that offer better spin potential. The open string pattern and the fact that I could swing harder meant more spin on my slice and kick serves.
There were no areas where I didn’t feel comfortable with this racket and that is reflected in its solid scores across the board. When we tested the 100L some readers sent messages and wished we test-played the softer Blade 104.
This is a great all-around racquet that holds its own in every category. ", Everything about the Blade 98 16x19 v7 just clicked with Jason's serve. I was able to place the ball and hit different angles. He described, "The power level was very good whether I was hitting flat or with spin, and it didn't compromise control. With its growing popularity, the Blade 98 16x19 Countervail makes a case for inclusion into the modern classic racquet hall of fame. ", Jason - "The Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v7 offers a better feel than previous version but is still arm friendly. ", Marco - "I find slightly compromised maneuverability with this update. You won’t struggle to generate racket head speed with this stick and so long as you keep attacking the ball, you will get good results from it. It also gave me the confidence to grind out some points with my slice. He noted, "Up at net, the stability and feel were strong features for me, and I found it pretty easy to hit touch volleys. ", Jaye - "Comparing this Blade 98 16x19 v7 to the previous iterations, I believe it shines in all the same areas, just with a slightly better overall package. ", Anthony - "I enjoy the Blade 98 16x19 v7 when hitting flat strokes. I'd say both models were equally comfortable, but this new Blade managed to be comfortable without any loss in feel.
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The control is unmatched by anything we’ve tried. ", “The racquet was very comfortable on my groundstrokes,” continued Tennis Warehouse Europe playtester Safwane. Overall, this update was a bit more maneuverable than the v6, so it was easier to get into position. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights | Accessibility*Price comparisons are based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ("MSRP") or Original Selling Price. Hitting down the middle was a pleasure and I personally felt I was given a lot of feedback from the racquet. ", The playtesters' reactions were mixed when it came to returning serves with the Blade 98 16x19 v7.
Anthony: Open level aggressive baseliner with a semi-western forehand and a one-handed backhand. It also provides a solid, connected feel without sacrificing comfort. When I have time to step in and put forehands and volleys away I feel in total control of my game and my opponent. The balance has been moved from 6 to 7 points head light unstrung, which I think is a great change. It sounds simple, but for whatever reason, the Wilson Blade rackets just feel great and allow you to get a lot out of your ga… To give a rough idea of how the Blade 104 feels like you can think of Wilson Clash with a more controlled feel. This racket excels from the back of the court, where it swings fast and offers a lovely blend of power, spin, and control that can suit all game styles. A more predictable response from the stringbed. You have to be able to get into position quickly at the net, and the only way to do that is by having a racket you feel comfortable with.
In order to excel from the back of the court, we need a racket that gives us access to spin, power, and control in equal measures. You'll find more information on cookies at, Stay up to date on arrivals and special offers, Click here to see all Tennis Warehouse reviews. Actual sales may not have occurred at this price. ", Jaye - "I struggle to play defensively with this racquet.
My current racquet of choice, the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19, plays similarly to this version of the Blade and suits my game style well, although the dampened feel is something I would have to get used to.".
He said, "I served well with the Blade 98 16x19. However, I could quickly fix that with some minor customization of this model.
He said, "I wouldn't categorize this racquet as whippy, but it's not too difficult to swing either. I felt like it was tough to overhit, so I would take big cuts at the ball, and the open string pattern helped the ball drop in the court. Also new is the Top Grip taper on the handle, which results in easier hand positioning for players with two-handed backhands. The combination of weight, balance and everything else allowed me to serve at a high percentage. He critiqued, "For me, the Blade 98 16x19 v7 was pretty average in all areas: spin, power and control.
", When it came to serving, the Blade 98 16x19 v7 offered everything Chris needs in a racquet.
As long as the ball isn’t coming at you with too much power, the Blade has the stability to help you control the ball back into court and keep you in the rally. There’s no point buying a $200 racket just to outgrow it in a couple of months. I felt like I could easily put sitter volleys or overheads away with enough punch. Anthony found it to be a versatile racquet from the baseline.
Here is the Wilson Blade 104 V7 racquet review. I liked the good ball pocketing and directional control. Currently plays with the Head Graphene 360 Instinct MP. You’re not going to get quite the performance of the heavier Blades, but the Blade 98L will be able to stand up to a good level of play, nonetheless.
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Chris - "I like the connected feel, control and spin.".
", Anthony - "I do not like how the Blade 98 16x19 v7 performs when hitting backhand slices. Visit Other Sports Warehouse Websites Tennis Warehouse Europe • Tennis Only (Australia) • Running Warehouse • Running Warehouse Europe • Running Warehouse Australia • Skate Warehouse • Tackle WarehouseInline Warehouse • Ice Warehouse • Derby Warehouse • Racquetball Warehouse • Riding Warehouse • Total Pickleball, We use cookies to make our website and your shopping experience effective, secure and user-friendly.
I could get the racquet into position easily, which left me time to decide if I wanted to punch the ball, angle it off or drop it short. I find great accuracy on my shots.
On both sides, the 98L is fast through the swing and solid on contact, allowing you to play with fast swings, and convert your racket head speed into power and spin. While I couldn’t hit with the same kinds of speeds I would expect from my regular, heavier racket, I was still able to put my opponent under pressure with some good placement, and I generally didn’t lose too many points on serve. I really enjoyed being able to get a lot of depth on my strokes to push my opponent far behind the baseline. I didn't find quite as much stability as I did with the previous model, but this racquet felt more stable than my regular racquet, the Tecnifibre TFlash 300 PS. Our international team of playtesters was eager to get their hands on this update. Returning a second serve was easier for me since I was able to play around with my topspin to keep the ball in the court. However, hitting volleys with this racquet felt quite easy when I needed to punch the volley at big targets and end the point. Once you’re more confident swinging the racket you can move up to heavier rackets which will give you more power, but when you’re starting out, the swing speed is essential. ", Marco found that the Blade 98 16x19 performed best when he had time to get the racquet into position. The first thing you notice is the flex! It feels like the ball is staying longer on the stringbed. It's comfortable and more control-oriented than the previous model. Nice review! ", On the other hand, Safwane again struggled a bit with the feel. On the other side of the equation though, when you’re a beginner or intermediate player, you’re going to be improving rapidly. Likes.
Required fields are marked *. Do you suggest replacing with a leather grip to make it a bit more headlight?
Even though this update played smoother, I wasn't always confident at contact. ", Across the pond, the Tennis Warehouse Europe playtesters tried out the Blade 98 16x19 v7 on red clay.
We’ve loved the Blades we’ve tried so far, with the Blade 98 (16 x 19) particularly impressing us as a great racket for intermediate and advanced players. There’s nothing worse than having to try and make these alien movements with a racket that’s too heavy for you and difficult to move. The new frame has the same 104 sq.inch hitting surface with a somewhat rounder shape (that I personally love very much), same 22 mm beam but now a 16/19 pattern that is pretty progressive with tighter spacing in the middle and more open towards the outer parts. Review date: August 2019. The Wilson Blade 98L certainly allows you to find those positions without worrying about a heavy frame, and it also gives you good performance considering its weight. I never had the chance to test this frame so I can not comment on how it felt or played at all. I would put the Wilson Blade 98L at the same level as the Yonex Vcore Pro 97 (290) and give it an 8 out of 10 for groundstrokes. I did struggle slightly with topspin, though. Blade fans looking for a bit of extra power and forgiveness have an option in the 100L. It was very simple to get good depth and generate power. I have an aggressive playstyle, and it definitely rewarded me with pace and depth. With one major win already under its belt, this iron is on its way to carving out its own spot in the Wilson Staff story. I think this was due to the ball staying in the strings a bit too long, and this racquet didn't have the firmer feel I prefer. Your email address will not be published. SW is a fraction higher at 321 compared to the old version despite the 32 cm balance in the V7-version. ", Our playtesters found that starting points off on the offensive was a breeze with the Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v7. I liked the response of the Blade 98 16x19 v7 and volleyed well with it in both singles and doubles. The Wilson Blade 98L brings a lightweight option to the excellent Blade family. ", Jason - "The Blade 98 16x19 v7 is slightly underpowered and harder to swing than I typically like. The feel and stability were ideal when redirecting serves or driving hard down the middle. The key to power as an intermediate or beginner is swing speed, and you need a lighter racket like the 98L to get that. With a bit more time, I believe I could really dial in and aim close to the lines. I would've liked a bit more free power, but the access to spin was great. ", "I loved the feel of the Blade 98 16x19 v7 at net," added Chris. Some of the light rackets simply don’t have levels of control that you need as you advance your game, but the Wilson Blade 98L has enough performance to ensure you’ll have a long relationship with this racket. Now in its seventh iteration, the Blade 98 16x19 moves forward without Countervail material, instead featuring Wilson's new FeelFlex technology, which strategically places Carbon Mapping for added torsional stability and flexibility. The Wilson Blade is one of the most popular racquet series on the market for control-oriented players.
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