Wilson Blade 16 x 19 V9 Review

The Blade sequence has been Wilson’s flagship racket for precision and management for almost twenty years. Whenever you see any best-selling checklist, the Blade is usually amongst the Prime 5, with a number of professionals 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 refined adjustments that provide opponents a well-recognized racket.

The V9 model introduces a tweaked body composition and design enhancements that promise a extra steady and highly effective response whereas sustaining the meticulous management and sharp really feel that Blade lovers have come to anticipate.

Sporting an eye catching Emerald Evening matte end, the racket additionally seems to be extremely fashionable, however how does it play? Is it value altering should 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 underneath 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 underneath my most well-liked swingweight.

Wilson Blade V9 Playtest

First Impressions

The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 arrives with a recent new look, and I feel the emerald inexperienced matte end seems to be nice.

After stringing, I hit the courts with a ball machine, and my preliminary ideas have been that the racket felt extra steady and fluid than the V8, permitting for simpler tempo technology.

I hit with the racket for round 90 minutes in a spread 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.

Submit-session, I assumed, “Yup, this can be a Blade, and that’s about it.” Wilson has a prepared method for the Blade, so there’s no motive to vary the setup dramatically. If it’s not damaged, don’t repair it.

Over the subsequent few days, I examined the racket throughout some hitting classes 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 general a pleasant taking part in body however you might want to 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 stage of stability for its weight class. In comparison with the V8, the twistweight has jumped a number of factors, and the marginally greater swing weight in comparison with its predecessor supplies a extra stable really feel on affect, particularly noticeable on off-centre hits.

The racket permits for aggressive hanging and managed, exact pictures. I may 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 have been accessible in spades. The one actual drawback I had from the baseline was the slice, as I both ballooned it or dumped it into the web. String pressure situation? I’m undecided, however I struggled to become familiar with that shot when it’s sometimes considered one of my finest.

Volleys

On the web, the Blade 98 16×19 V9’s manoeuvrability performs effectively. Its steady 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 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 position my serves confidently. Whether or not I used to be going for a flat, onerous serve down the T or a slicing serve out huge, the racket delivered constant outcomes. I a lot want 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 effectively. You continue to have to swing, and it’s not a racket effectively suited to simply blocking returns, however its spin-friendly string sample means should you again up a bit behind the baseline, you possibly can 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 check 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 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 check.

Elementary 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 enhance will improve stability and energy however can barely scale back manoeuvrability should you can’t swing it as quick.
2. Flex Score: The V9 has a barely stiffer flex score, a +1 enhance from the V8. This transformation is negligible, however the V9 has an improved really feel and responsiveness, with extra of a crisper suggestions throughout play.
3. Steady Flex Know-how: Wilson has launched a brand new layup know-how within the V9 known as Steady Flex. This know-how 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 standard critique of variability in earlier fashions just like the V8.

On-Courtroom Efficiency Comparability

Groundstrokes

Volleys

Serves

Who Ought to Improve?

Gamers glad with the V8’s efficiency won’t discover the V9 a groundbreaking improve, as the basic traits stay related; nonetheless, for many who felt the V8 may enhance stability and supply a much less mushy really feel, the V9 is value demoing to see should you want it.

Who’s This Racket For?

The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 V9 is a racket for greater 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.

Nevertheless, 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 looking for a extra user-friendly racket.

With its barely enhanced stability and fewer mushy feeling, it would enchantment to a broader vary of gamers than in comparison with the earlier technology, however you might want to be an achieved participant with full, quick strokes to wield this racket successfully.

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

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

My Professionals

My Cons