Wilson Blade 16 x 19 V9 Evaluation

The Blade collection has been Wilson’s flagship racket for precision and management for practically twenty years. Whenever you see any best-selling record, the Blade is often amongst the High 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 basic Blade efficiency with a number of delicate modifications that supply 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 fans have come to anticipate.

Sporting an attention grabbing Emerald Night time matte end, the racket additionally appears extremely fashionable, however how does it play? Is it value altering in case you’re a V8 or V7 Blade consumer?

On this evaluate, I’ll look at how the brand new Blade 98 (16×19) V9 performs below match play and what kind of participant can maximise its potential.

Wilson Blade V9 Tour Cosmetics & Options

Specification and Setup

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. Stability was 5 pts headlight.

These specs are within the vary I like, though a contact below my most popular swingweight.

Wilson Blade V9 Playtest

First Impressions

The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 arrives with a recent new look, and I believe the emerald inexperienced matte end appears 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, this can be a Blade, and that’s about it.” Wilson has a keen method for the Blade, so there’s no cause to alter 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 enjoying body however 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 a very good stage of stability for its weight class. In comparison with the V8, the twistweight has jumped a number of factors, and the marginally increased swing weight in comparison with its predecessor offers a extra stable really feel on affect, particularly noticeable on off-centre hits.

The racket permits for aggressive putting and managed, exact pictures. 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 obtainable 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 stress situation? I’m unsure, however I struggled to familiarize yourself with that shot when it’s sometimes one in every of my finest.

Volleys

On the internet, the Blade 98 16×19 V9’s manoeuvrability performs nicely. Its secure but responsive body permits for fast changes and stable, exact volleys.

I additionally practised drive volleys and the racket excelled. I’m not sure whether or not I used to be simply having a very good 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 superb mixture of energy and spin, permitting me to put my serves confidently. Whether or not I used to be going for a flat, laborious serve down the T or a slicing serve out huge, the racket delivered constant outcomes. I a lot choose it over the V8 18 x 20 I additionally had in my bag.

Returns

On return, the soundness of the Blade 98 16×19 V9 labored nicely. You continue to have to swing, and it’s not a racket nicely suited to simply blocking returns, however its spin-friendly string sample means in case you again up a bit behind the baseline, you may add depth to your flip, organising offensive alternatives from the baseline.

Wilson Blade V9 vs Wilson Blade V8

I had a Wilson Blade V8 readily 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 modifications issues, it nonetheless provides me a really feel of what’s modified.

I additionally performed with the 16 x 19 V8 model a few weeks earlier than this evaluate, so it was nonetheless recent within the reminiscence to match.

Basic Adjustments within the Blade V9

1. 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 improve will improve stability and energy however can barely scale back manoeuvrability in case you can’t swing it as quick.
2. Flex Score: The V9 has a barely stiffer flex score, a +1 improve 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.
3. Secure Flex Know-how: 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.
4. High quality Management: Wilson claims to have considerably improved the standard management with the V9. This enchancment means gamers can anticipate extra consistency within the product, addressing a typical critique of variability in earlier fashions just like the V8.

On-Court docket Efficiency Comparability

Groundstrokes

Volleys

Serves

Who Ought to Improve?

Gamers glad with the V8’s efficiency is not going to discover the V9 a groundbreaking improve, as the basic traits stay comparable; nevertheless, for many who felt the V8 might enhance stability and provide a much less mushy really feel, the V9 is value demoing to see in case you choose it.

Who’s This Racket For?

The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 is a racket for increased 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 to your typical ‘weekend warrior’ sort participant – any shortcomings in footwork and stroke manufacturing flip the Blade from a weapon to a legal responsibility. As an alternative 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’d attraction to a broader vary of gamers than in comparison with the earlier technology, however you must be an achieved participant with full, quick strokes to wield this racket successfully.

General, the V9 isn’t considerably totally different from earlier iterations— however the fabulous new beauty and delicate modifications make it a surefire finest vendor within the management racket market.

In the event you get a racket like mine with specs of 320g and 318 swingweight, there’s additionally loads of scope for customisation.

My Execs

My Cons