Breakdown

Groundstrokes: 8.5

The Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v9 was a hit with our playtesters, who could swing big and keep the ball in the court. Although Chris typically prefers denser string patterns, this open patterned Blade impressed him. He said, "I tested both versions of the Blade 98 v9 and was surprised to break away from my preference for 18x20 string patterns and prefer the 16x19. I usually prefer dense string patterns because they offer me better depth control, but with the Blade 98 16x19 v9 I was controlling the depth of my shots very well. By going with the 16x19 I was able to take advantage of a higher launch angle for more net clearance and a higher margin for error. I loved that I could play aggressively and consistently at the same time. I was able to get lots of spin on my shots, which helped me keep everything well within the lines. The Blade 98 16x19 v9 felt fast through contact and was a useful weapon when I was looking to whip an angle or lob. I liked the overall feel of the racquet and would play this one bone stock and strung up with some Luxilon ALU Power 1.30."

The Blade 98 16x19 v9’s combination of power and control stood out to Alex. He said, "On my forehand, I was able to be both aggressive on approach shots and very precise on groundstrokes. On my backhand, I had very good control on my defensive slices, but I also found good power when I wanted to take advantage of the point." 

James agreed, adding, "The Blade felt very stable on both my forehand and backhand. I found all my targets and was very pleased with the amount of control I had. It felt a little bit more solid than the v8 and had a decent amount of power."

Jason was on the review for the previous version and compared it to this Blade 98 16x19 v9, saying, "I thought this racquet performed really well off the ground, and I was getting similar results with the v9 as I did with the previous version. Thanks to the slightly higher swingweight, this racquet did feel more stable on off-center hits. I was able to get good spin on my shots, but I did notice that my slice shots tended to float on me more than I would've expected."

Although this racquet was physically demanding for Benji, he was rewarded with good control and stability. He described, "I always like to play with Blade racquets because I find the perfect balance I need between power and control. This 16x19 string pattern brings enough spin to hit deep shots and control rallies. In terms of playability, I think the Blade 98 16x19 v9 feels very demanding at times, physically speaking. Otherwise, it's very stable, and I could control powerful shots from my opponent with ease."

Volleys: 8.4

With a swingweight in the mid-320 range and a 4-point head-light balance, the Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v9 combines maneuverability and excellent stability, making it a formidable weapon at the net. This Blade paired well with Chris' varied net game. He said, "I liked the Blade 98 16x19 v9 at net because it felt fast and easy to maneuver while also being adequately stable. I felt like I was volleying well. The sweetspot felt forgiving, and the response was very comfortable. When hitting drop volleys and angles, I was able to find my targets well."

The control and stability of this racquet were the most important features for Alex at net. He said, "At the net, stability was the watchword on my low volleys and approach shots. Precision was the key to my attacking volleys when I wanted to be aggressive and finish points."

Benji echoed that sentiment and added, "The stability was a plus in making very good volleys from below the net or finishing points with higher flat volleys. Also, the combination of maneuverability and stability made me feel secure when I was at the net and pushed me to go to the net more often to finish off points."

Jason enjoyed the Blade 98 16x19 v9 at net, but he would have liked a crisper feel. He explained, "I felt like this update made the racquet feel a little more muted, which made it just slightly more difficult to hit touch volleys and drop shots. Feel aside, I really liked it up at net. It was maneuverable enough to hit reflex volleys, but it also had enough mass in the hoop to help with stability."

Net play with this racquet was a highlight for James, who noted, "The Blade was very comfortable to volley with. I felt I could get into position quickly and get good depth and punch on my volleys."

Serves: 8.2

Our playtest team agreed that the Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v9 allowed them to serve aggressively and still hit their targets. The new Blade checked all of the boxes for James in the serve department. He said, "I found the Blade very whippy on serves. I could generate a lot of spin and thought it had the right blend of power and accuracy. It was near perfect for my taste."

Benji appreciated the control he found on serves. He said, "You have no limits when serving with this racquet! I could hit some powerful first serves and put a lot of spin or slice on second serves to push my opponent back and be aggressive. The precision of the Wilson Blade was most evident during my service game because I could aim and hit my targets easily."

Alex felt that he could dictate points when serving with the Blade 98 16x19 v9. He said, "I was able to vary my first serves, using slice serves to keep my opponent off the court and powerful flatter serves to gain the upper hand. For second serves, I had the confidence to be aggressive and still hit my marks."

Precision and spin were key for Jason when serving with this racquet. He explained, "I have no real complaints here. Being a Blade, I thought control was really good on my serves. I had nice access to spin to make my serves more effective. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the pace I was getting when trying to hit a hard, flat serve."

This racquet impressed Chris, who got good results with his flat and slice serves. He said, "I served well with the Blade 98 16x19 v9. I liked that I could go after my serves and stay nicely inside the lines. My slice serve was working very well. I was generating impressive spin and was able to add pace while serving with solid consistency. When I went for a bigger, flatter serve, I found good accuracy and decent pace. Compared to a more powerful racquet, like an Ultra or Pure Drive, I felt like I was accurate and effective rather than bombing it big and hoping for the best."

Returns: 8.4

The enhanced stability of the Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v9 impressed our playtesters on serve returns. Whether his shot was defensive or aggressive, Jason liked the response he got on returns. He said, "Whether I was hitting a defensive shot like a chip or slice, or an offensive one where I was taking a full cut at the ball, this racquet excelled. The spin helped bring the ball down inside the lines when I was being more aggressive, and I thought the improved stability was certainly noticeable when blocking a big first serve back."

The stability of this racquet gave Benji the freedom to go on the offensive. He described, "Stability is the key to having a good serve return. I could be very aggressive and put a lot of pressure on my opponent because it was easy to block powerful serves. Again, all these qualities combined with the precision to make this racquet a very good weapon to start a point."

Chris explained why he really enjoyed hitting returns with this racquet, saying, "The blend of stability and maneuverability I found from the Blade 98 16x19 v9 made it a fun racquet for hitting returns. I felt like I could position the racquet and accelerate it quickly through contact. At contact, the racquet felt solid, and I had fun driving through the ball. I felt confident hitting a variety of returns. As with groundstrokes, I was able to go high enough over the net to boost consistency without worrying about hitting long or wide. I was very happy with the amount of spin I had on my shots, and I felt more accurate and consistent because of it."

Comparing this version of the Blade to the previous one, James said, "The return of serve was a substantial improvement over the v8. This is the shot that left me wanting a bit more from the older version, and I think Wilson has really made a big improvement in this department."

Alex appreciated the steadiness of his returns with the Blade 98 16x19 v9. He said, "On my returns, stability was once again one of the strong points of this racquet, enabling me to respond to my opponent's heavy shots while at the same time being able to fully swing without hitting the ball long. I was able to be more precise and settle into the point with greater serenity." 

Breakdown Summary