Why pro players love the Blade (and some of their specs)

[@andrewdecicco7012]

The sign of a true tennis nerd is when he NAILS the pronunciation of a dozen+ top players' names in rapid succession flawlessly. Great video, I'm a lifelong Pro Staff guy and fell in love with v13 last year, but I'm demoing the new blade in April. Timely video, thanks for the insights!

[@Tennisnerd]

That's nice of you, Andrew. I'm sure I got many of them wrong, but at least I'm trying! :)

[@goldencalf5144]

Be sure to let us know how the blade compares to the Pro Staff. I'm also a happy user of the V13, but I do like the sweet paintjob of the Blade. Superficial, I know.

[@sylvainbauge]

@@Tennisnerd that's right, a few were mispronouced 😉

[@fonovx]

Same here, would be interested to hear about your pro staff to blade comparison. I’m also using pro staff v13 but am looking for something a bit more forgiving until I improved my game.

[@TimTheMusicMan]

@@Tennisnerd You should watch this video. Interesting. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmXNcnR-lNCsh9U

[@aceslizeski1882]

For anyone curious here's who uses what: Tstsipas: Blade 18x20 (Proof: Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Carreño Busta: H22 18x20 (Mains skip: 9T, 8H, 10H) Sonego: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Khachanov: H22 18x20 (Mains skip: 9T, 8H, 10H) Paul: Blade 16x19 (Mains skip: 8T, 8H) Brooksby: Blade 16x19 (Mains skip: 8T, 8H) Krajinovic: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Korda: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Martinez: H22 18x20 (Mains skip: 9T, 8H, 10H) Humbert: Blade 16x19 (Mains skip: 8T, 8H) McDonald: Blade 16x19 (Mains skip: 8T, 8H) (fun fact: he used to use a blade18x20!) Djere: H22 18x20 (Mains skip: 9T, 8H, 10H) Gaston: Blade 16x19 (Mains skip: 8T, 8H) Molcan: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Goffin: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Vesely: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Carballes Baena: Steam 100 16x20 (Mains skip: 7T, 9T, 7H, 9H) Blade paintjob, not a blade! Ymer: Blade 16x19 (Mains skip: 8T, 8H) Pella: Blade 18x20 (Mains skip: 8T, 10T, 8H, 10H) Gulbis: H22 16x19 (Rare! Mains skip: 7H, 9H, 7T, 9T) (No longer in the top 100, included for fun) Total count: Blade 18x20: 8 players (Tsitsipas, Sonego, Krajinovic, Korda, Molcan, Goffin, Vesely, Pella) Blade 16x19: 6 players (Paul, Brooksby, Humbert, McDonald, Gaston, Ymer) H22 18x20: 4 players (Carreño Busta, Khachanov, Martinez, Djere) H22 16x19: 1 player (Gulbis, but he is no longer in the top 100)

[@aceslizeski1882]

@Allday Just saw your reply. This is what I was able to find: Tsitsipas- Luxilon 4G 1.25 Sonego- Luxilon Alu Power Soft Krajinovic- Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 Korda- Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 Mains Alu Power 1.20 Crosses Goffin- Luxilon Alu Power Vesely- Luxilon Alu Power Rough Pella- Luxilon Big Banger Original

[@atiok3]

What does Mains skip mean exactly?

[@Bambotb]

You are a legend

[@aceslizeski1882]

@@atiok3 when you string racquets, you don’t pass the string through every hole. Since you string the mains first, you will skip certain holes because those holes need to be left free for the crosses. So if you skip the 8th hole at the throat (8T) you later use that hole for a cross string. Not all racquets have the same patterns, so looking at which holes are skipped can give you an idea of which racquet it is

[@aceslizeski1882]

@@Bambotb thanks

[@johnrb9397]

I have the Blade Pro. I like it as I will never have excuse that the racquet is no good. Good for my mental thought on the court. If I'm not good enough for racquet then I need to improve.

[@Tennisnerd]

It's a good racquet for sure! I like the mindset. Keep working!

[@evanbechtel5902]

My opinion is that is that it’s not necessarily particular to the blade-I think that players lock in on a feel/weight distribution/head size and shape in their junior careers. The blade is an accessible “players frame” for kids - it is effectively a lighter prestige which works for juniors. As the junior enters the pros, it might make more sense to switch to a prestige or pro-staff, but it’s just as easy to simply add weight to the blade over time.

[@user-yt7ss2py4w]

I have to say that I hate Wilson quality control so much. Some batch will have silicone/foam injected in the handle while some are completely empty. Therefore, it’s harder to get 2 or more racquets with identical feel due to material usage. Spec usually differ a lot too. Unless you get the same batch from the same Wilson factory, I doubt you will get 2 racquets which play similar. However, I love prostaff v13 so much and nothing compares to it in my opinion, it feels superb and great control. I just hope they take quality control more seriously.

[@vitaliyburlaka691]

I’m with you on the PS v13. Amazing stick. Surprised more people are not using it.

[@eyeofhorus1301]

@@vitaliyburlaka691 The main problem and critique with it is its anemic... its just hard to get enough power on the ball to trouble the opponent, I notice opponents just return the balls quite easily against the pro staff

[@everettyee6128]

Bought four Pro Staff v13 three months ago: they were all close in weight and balance (don't have a swingweight machine), impressed by the quality control

[@gregmaier5151]

Ah dude. This is a Blade review 😂

[@Sly_404]

Fully agree. The Blade is basically the modern answer to the Pro Staff!

[@benjaminmoreau1443]

Hey Jonas ! Gaël Monfils Artengo TR960 Tour control is out of stock everywhere because Decathlon only put it on their website for a limited presale, but they said that the racquet will be officially available at the beginning of May 🙂

[@Tennisnerd]

Hi Benjamin, then I understand! I hope I get to review that one.

[@tigrefacile]

My relationship with my Blade 98 18 x 20 2015 is a little like an arranged marriage, I think. I got into it for all the right reasons, had to overcome some initial scepticism, on a bad day it can be really hard work, with very little forgiveness and even less encouragement, but when it’s going well it’s a thing of surprising beauty and I wonder why I ever questioned my parents for forcing me into it.

[@sharkanalyst]

sounds pretty much like ANY marriage, lol!!!

[@dlw2982]

Yo...lol....that was funny.

[@cseland]

Looking around at the rackets being restrung at the racket shop, you do indeed see a ton of Blades around, so much so that I’ve wondered what the fuzz is about (I’m a pro staff user)

[@Eliott-K]

I gave the countervail blade a chance for a year a while back. I never really clicked with the frame and always felt like I struggled to hit deep or play aggressively from the baseline. I dropped it for a Yonex Ezone Tour and never really looked back.

[@Mmoran64]

The blade pros are completely different rackets than the retail versions (nothing is the same other than shape/size , different materials boxier frame and they play differently, only available directly from wilson. I just got a blade pro V8 16X19. Have the retail V7 16X19 which I found to be lacking in control and feel. Blade pro's are more like the old school rackets from 15-20 years ago which I am use to (dunlop aerogel 200's, dunlop 200G midplus pro, 2009 Prince Rebel 95) . Solid, firmer very controlled and even with a little more power than the retail blades , but only if you are hitting the sweet spot with good technique. Just played a match last night straight out of the box no mods. Can't see myself ever going back to my retail V7s

[@MatthewNeiger]

Never found a racquet as stable at the same weight as a Blade. The pure strike is very close, but requires 5% more effort to get similar results.

[@earlychristianhistorywithm8684]

I use a Blade 100L v 7. Love it. A good all-round racquet. More power and more forgiving than the Blade 98. Plus it can generate some decent spin too. That said, I did playtest a Blade 104 v 8 and I'm tempted to switch for the bigger sweet spot and extra weight. The only racket I've played with that felt similar to the Blade is the Head Gravity.

[@FatKid07]

Lazlo Djere uses some form of the blade as well, guy hits a heavy ball, feels like racquet gets pushed back at contact

[@Tennisnerd]

Yeah, he was in my notes but forgot about him when recording...

[@aceslizeski1882]

h22

[@jaynainani4529]

I know deminaur uses steam but it’s a blade pj

[@samburrell3288]

I'm going to get the 98 S, I have the one from 2015 and I am playing well with it, was using pure drive VS before, so will get the latest one

[@gilmillan1909]

My racket is the Blade 98 18x20 V7, although it is too muted, I love the power it offers, comfort and plow through, but of course you can't have everything in life and I have been struggling with spin for many months, until Now with Volkl Cyclone Tour 1.20mm I can get what I've been looking for. Lately I got the new Blade PRO V8 (Paintjob) 16x19 its design and glossy paint is a beauty. Unfortunately, despite being 98 headsize just like my regular Blades, I feel it clumsy on my one-handed backhand, I don't know if it's because the beam is thicker, because the balance and swinweight don't differ much from my regular Blades, it's like I'm playing with a 100 headsize racket. It's a shame because it offers great power, pop, control, comfort and an AMAZING FEEL, sadly it forces me to change the mechanics of my shots.

[@Mmoran64]

boxier, definitely feels and plays different than retail blades (much better). took me a set to adjust to my new Blade V8 pro 16X19 once I did it really feels perfect so much control, crisper and more stable than my retail versions really enjoying this racket has some of that old school feel

[@jamesj590]

Just trialled the 98 v7, of the 3 racquets I used it was my preferred - bit too uch power for my style. The search continues in the meantime I've tracked down a ccouple of my old favourite Dunlop 300G seconhand. The racquets that now interest me are potentially the Blade 100l and the Head Speed MP, which hopefully come close to the 300Gs

[@tomr1056]

The Blade 98 V7 had too much power for you?! It's the lowest power racket I ever tried and I've tried many! What rackets have lower power than the V7?!

[@earlychristianhistorywithm8684]

I actually used an Artengo 990 Pro for a bit. For a recreational racquet, it's not bad. Light, whippy, and reasonable spin.

[@frankojudoka]

I have a Blade sw 104 v7 18x19. 305g. I like the green colour.

[@allchannel1841]

have someone tried The 4G and alu power on the blade? can i have your feedback ? ( I think Jonas needs to do a video about those two strings for advanced players )

[@thomasferval4955]

I put Alu power on my V7 Blade 16x19, at 23kg . I feel very confortable with that combination, it s sweet and butter s feel. I have to recently bought a 4g bobine and I will string with that . I tried the 4g on the prostaff CV it was really nice , the sound of the hit was amazing . 4g is harder than Alu and gives you more spin. But Alu is sweeter than 4g .

[@buck6068]

Blade 93 the blacked out one was legendary

[@M_emmerson96]

From what I gather jenson brooksby uses the Wilson blade v7 and previously used the v6 looking at pictures close up

[@AlexIsUber]

Tsonga was amazing when he used Blade nCode the first generation.

[@jebbiethevoodoomaster2690]

Brooksby is using stock blade 16x19

[@bushmenaa]

I got the Artengo TR960 pro 16/19, leather grip and some lead at 12 under. The string bed is very open i really need to spin all my shots, maybe i had to buy 18/20, because i had hard time hitting flat.

[@mattiastennis]

This is 2 weeks old but you should add to the list- De Minaur and I think there is a few more also

[@theroadie08]

Would you say the V7 and V8 have much difference between them? Been using the v7 for about 2 years but looking to get the v8 for that beautiful paint job.

[@rogerkingdev]

How do these players get onto the special moldings of the racquets? Is it their coach guiding them to try the other moldings?

[@LiamApilado]

What about Mackenzie Mcdonald? He uses the Blade and is top 100

[@Tennisnerd]

I wrote him down in my notes but missed him in the video 😬

[@JohnPrevost424]

Curious to know what Mackie McDonald uses. I know that he is using a blade paintjob and has since college, but I'm not sure what he's actually using

[@samcpage]

probably v6 blade

[@Tennisnerd]

H22

[@aceslizeski1882]

@@Tennisnerd wrong! blade 98 16x19

[@graceandtruth13]

Do you have any video on Yonex racquets?

[@footballnut1]

Hmm..You can't really bundle up the Blade Pro/H22 with the blade. Only thing they have in common is the head size but so different playability.

[@Tennisnerd]

They are a bit different yes, but I would put them in the same family like Wilson does. I think they are close enough to be called Blade and Blade Pro

[@footballnut1]

@@Tennisnerd We will have to agree to disagree. Zero relationship and play so differently. Wilson got too used to painting their H22 in blade PJs

[@aceslizeski1882]

@@footballnut1 Its like saying the pure aero and pure drive are the same. Sure, both 100 sq in, 16x19. But not the same racquets

[@Robust2013]

I wonder how Headlight Tsitsipas racquet is. I struggle with an even weight racquet on the onehanded backhand. The blade fits two handers better in my opinion.

[@sebastiandomagala9233]

Au contraire! I use the V7 18/20. I do struggle a bit to create rpm with my forehand, but it definetely helps my backhand very well (one handed). I added some lead though, it is now 357g strung.

[@allchannel1841]

Tsitsipas racquet is headlight, 31,7cm strung balance, because he adds 10 grams in the handle!

[@Robust2013]

@@allchannel1841 Good to know, thanks. That would be the blade for me I think

[@sjjapp]

@@Robust2013 tennis nerd did an article on it. Think it's 31.7cm (think unstrung), 315g (unstrung) with a 343 strung swing weight. Looks also like a higher RA than retail. The blade suits neither the double hander or the single hander specifically. It's what suits your one hander.

[@tds7078]

What players use retail rackets that are just weighted up with lead or silicone?

[@madihismail802]

I switched from the prestige 93 inch 330g unstrung to the blade 18x20, I just hated this racket😂😂I really didn t get it, Even the babolat pure drive 285g was fun to play with!

[@sjjapp]

We all have different preferences because we don't play the same way. To some, the blade is it. For others, it's garbage. It really depends on the player, and this goes for any racket, be it a pure drive, a blade, a prestige, or whatever else.

[@p4ulodi4s]

I use blade 98 v7 (3x) with extra height in the top of the head. For me, the best racquets.

[@EduardoPlatais]

Hi! Thanks for your videos. As long as I could check, TR960 is available in Brazilian Decathlon market. Maybe you could import it from here. Regards!

[@antonzdziebczok3447]

I think Alex De Minaur plays with a Blade 98 as well doesn’t he?

[@Tennisnerd]

He uses the Steam 99

[@ramz8248]

How would you compare the blade to the Solinco whiteout?

[@Tennisnerd]

The whiteout is more spin-friendly and powerful

[@typouny]

DO u know where can I find a DCR Machine???? plzzzzz

[@buck6068]

Blade V4 (2013, Darth vader Blade) and V5 (2015 Master Joda) are the best blades every made in the history of Wilson. The rest are crap.

[@CH-yp5by]

Interesting competitors that you chose I cannot see how TF40 is a competitor since its a fairly stiff racquet, I would think a Vcore Pro 97 310 or the D is a fairly close competitor as their stiffness is 62RA close to the blade 60 RA and also a control racquet

[@Mewborne89]

Have you tried the new TF40? It doesn’t feel stiff at all. The foam filling takes any stiffness it may have had before away. I use both the Blade V8 and the TF40 back and forth from time to time. They’re that similar. I don’t think there’s a racquet on the market as close to the Blade as the TF40 from my experience and a lot of people I’ve talked to.

[@Tennisnerd]

The TF40 does not play stiff at all - it's a pretty plush frame. The RA doesn't tell the whole story

[@sooylun]

I played tf40 with different setup of strings at same tension at 50/48 it feels lot of differences . When strung with solinco hyper G, it was a lousy version of blade v8, when changed to mains X1 bi phase and cross is the poly tour Yonex soft and it become an upgraded version of blade v8.

[@phillip391984]

It would be interresting if you could do a review of blade 98s

[@AB-nk5sq]

The blade pro stock is more of rounder frame compared to H22. Even in this picture, we can tell blade98 is rounder frame and H22 is really a boxy design.

[@Shabo2112]

Does he mention how heavily Wilson tries to sponsor top college schools and players in the US? I think this is a contributing factor the blade is used on pro tour. How many on that list are ex college players? After looking at the list it's fewer than I thought.

[@Tennisnerd]

Yes, the college sponsorships make a difference. The other big brands also do that to some respect though.

[@Brown2099]

I tried the Blade 98S and it was not my cup of tea. Perhaps I need to try the 18x20 but i quite like the Prestige MPL at the moment.

[@andrewallin42]

I am surprised when switching från Clash 98 to Blade V8 18x20 that it was still easy to play with different amount of spin. Love the Blade and it gives me the choise to play many strokes and feel confident.

[@GamerSverige]

Du föredrar Blade framför Clash? Får du någon känsla av att du offrar väldigt mycket, eller en aning, av bekvämligheten mellan modellerna?

[@thehandseesall]

Isn't the Blade 98 a completely different racket apart from the livery than the Blade Pro or H22?

[@Tennisnerd]

It's a bit different, but in the same family of racquets in my opinion. Hence why Wilson calls it the Blade Pro

[@aceslizeski1882]

After having noticed quite a few errors in this video I decided to make this video in response in order to educate on how to tell the difference between H22s and blades. Please check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ql6uh2yfibGqfbM

[@fonovx]

Is the Blade 98 16x19 suitable for lower intermediate players around 3.0-3.5? Any other recommendation for control oriented rackets at that level, with possible upside?

[@Tennisnerd]

If you are a player that can generate power and value feel and control over everything, sure. But I think you will probably get more out of your strokes with a more powerful and forgiving racquet.

[@fonovx]

@@Tennisnerd thanks, appreciate your reply! Would you have a recommendation for a slightly control focused yet more forgiving and powerful racket?

[@3Slippers]

Can the Angell K7 (red in my case) be called a direct competitor to a Blade 98?

[@Tennisnerd]

Yeah, it's pretty close, but I put it more in the Prestige camp with its 315g unstrung weight and thinner beam.

[@Tennisnerd]

I was thinking of the green, yeah the Red one is in the Blade 16x19 camp.

[@tunganh]

Monfils last racquet before Artengo was H19 27.5, not H22. But his Artengo is 22mm beam, I think it's closer to H22 than H19

[@Tennisnerd]

Yes, H19.

[@joshuajamesbanks]

de Minaur?

[@CH-yp5by]

lol yep a big name that too

[@dymiyasa]

I think de Minaur uses a paintjob over a Wilson Steam.

[@joshuajamesbanks]

@@dymiyasa Very interesting! I stand corrected 😅🤦‍♂️

[@Tennisnerd]

Yeah, he uses a Steam 99!

[@Jakub_G_Tennis]

Where is the yonex mention! :) Hurkacz, Futcovic, Ruud, Shapavalov, Kyrgios, Tiafoe, etc. Give some love.

[@Tennisnerd]

More content on pro player frames to come!

[@Jakub_G_Tennis]

@@Tennisnerd Love your content and constant hard work you do for us ! Thank you.

[@aceslizeski1882]

Hey man I suggest you take this video down because you clearly aren’t able to distinguish an h22 from a blade. Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda don’t use H22s they both use Blades. Paul uses a 16x19 blade and Korda an 18x20. For example, if you look at the drill patterns you’ll find they are different in blades and h22s. An 18x20 blade’s drill pattern will always skip the same holes: 8T and 10T, as is the case with Korda, Tsitsipas, Krajinovic, all of whom use some iteration of the blade 98 18x20. An 18x20 H22 will always skip the 9th hole in the throat, as is the case with Khachanov, Carreño Busta, and Djere, for example. Also the blade doesn’t have a box beam in the hoop, it is more rounded on the sides; to the untrained eye this can be hard to see in pictures but if you find the right angle it can help you see more easily. The one of Korda celebrating that you used in the video illustrates this perfectly. Definitely not an h22. Sorry to keep hounding you on this but I’m still triggered since you said Elias Ymer used an H22 when it’s clearly always been a typical blade. You even held his racquet, come on tennisnerd! You gotta step your nerd game up if you want to make videos that go into this detail. Otherwise it’s just misinformation which there’s already a ton of on the talk tennis forums. If you’d like I could make a video to prove my points. I’ve got both pro stock h22s and blades so I have a well trained eye.

[@vs-theearlyworks3019]

I understand why Blade is so popular, but I don't know why it is so much more popular than Pro Staff 97. Pro Staff is really not that much harder to play with. It's very close in terms of user-friendliness. But why are Federer and Dimitrov literally the only notable ATP players (maybe there's one or two more) playing with Pro Staffs these days? (Obviously, Fed's now retired, so one less PS user on the ATP). Why do professional players seem to avoid the Pro Staff these days?

[@garybarawidan9252]

I own 5 n-code blade frames that I still use in 2022.

[@Tennisnerd]

Sweet racquets!

[@ssportslivetvstreaming]

any pro using the blade 101? ostapenko?

[@lwmpark4080]

What about de minaur? 😂he uses blade as well, right?

[@marlonqualizza4640]

In the Netherlands the red and White colourway off the monfils racquet is still available.

[@sooylun]

Yes it was tr960 but not the “tour” model used by monfils. The frame itself was different from the picture.

[@marlonqualizza4640]

@@sooylun ah I see. Thank you for the update.

[@hellohello-yi8yr]

I'm kinda shocked the phantom 100 isnt more popular on tour

[@friarcisco8717]

What about DeMinaur?//

[@Tennisnerd]

Steam 99

[@juancristobalec]

you are missing Pedro Martinez! he also uses the blade. Cheers from Germany

[@Tennisnerd]

Is he top 100? Then I did miss him. Thanks

[@harryp3804]

Artengo has huge supply chain issues with their top priced merchandise

[@stevekim578]

Milos Raonic?? Vasek Pospisil??

[@Tennisnerd]

Yes, not in top 100 though

[@levanabrzeni]

The most powerful female hitter Serena was using blade too

[@sooylun]

@tennisnerd yet not mentioned the women pro players who used blade in Indian wells…

[@Tennisnerd]

next video :)

[@PL-fh8cz]

Just an idle question... #tennisnerd If you have a gut feeling, can you also have a 'synthetic feeling', or a 'multi-filament feeling'??? 🤣🤣😂 Love the level of detail you get into. I've picked up a Blade many times but I've never it with it. I'm a 1 racquet kind of guy, I would feel like I was being unfaithful to Roger. I've been playing with an RF97A and it was an upgrade from the ProStaff 90.

[@typouny]

blade left H22 right

[@asantesamuel13]

Ugh. I hate seeing the Blade everywhere on tour. They're ugly and Wilson racquets are my least favorite brand of racquets. Not to mention Brooksby uses one... nuff said. Love that Patrick called him out on his nonsense behavior, that stuff needs to be snuffed out from pro tennis. You're a professional - act like one. Korda is a great example of how players should behave... he doesn't make a big spectacle when he gets frustrated and doesn't when he wins either. This culture of excessive grunting and hyperemotional behavior is bad for the sport in my opinion.

[@Nopanop]

I thot my racket wud be a competitor , yonex vcore pro 97hd

[@sjjapp]

It is.

[@Nopanop]

@@sjjapp heavier by 15g tho

[@sjjapp]

@@Nopanop still a competitor performance wise. They occupy the same bracket of rackets: modern control/precision. Same with the other vcore pros. Obviously different weights and I think swing weights as well, but that doesn't stop them from occupying the same group by design. Others in the group include the pure strike, Dunlop CX 200, Tecnifibre tf40, and so on and so forth. The 315 and the 305 Tf40 for instance both still occupy the same class of racket, as the extra weight hasn't changed the design performance of the racket (it does affect how it performs though, things like plow through) but it does factor in when people go to choose one, be it for customising or using in stock form.

[@Tennisnerd]

It's quite a bit heavier so I didn't feel like I could put it in the same category.

[@Tennisnerd]

But overall, it's playability is similar.

[@frankojudoka]

It's what is best for you, not what is best for the pros.

[@Tennisnerd]

Amen

[@johnsmithvbl3d]

Blade pro is not an h22 mold

[@mutton4ever]

Wrong

[@nathanho9467]

How could u forget alex de minaur using the blade?

[@Tennisnerd]

It’s a Steam 99, not a Blade

[@Cicastcod]

But they arent winning tournaments or big players …