Wilson Blade Pro 16x19 v9 tennis racquet review; feel & tour level stability from their Pro Labs! 🔥

[@krt24x7]

Zsofi......your one-handed backhand is just amazing. You are my favourite playtester right now.

[@sebastiancastellanos6165]

For this kind of racquets I really miss Andy on the reviews... Good old times

[@WaltKurtz68]

I always love to see Michelle's racquet reviews because I am the same kind of player with the same kind of preferred racquet specifics

[@WaltKurtz68]

As always Loving to see Zsòfi's backhand!! 👌

[@Mmoran64]

I have the Blade pro V8 and V9 16X19 (also regular blade 98's v7, v6, reissue NC) I believe no change between the two blade pros other than paint. I add weight in the handle (tungsten putty) and 2.5" lead tape at 12 O'clock makes for a solid frame can really rip my shots and serves tons of spin, precision and control I just can't get from the regular blades. It does require good footwork and proper stroke mechanics (loading, trunk rotation, good timing etc....) makes me a better player and provides me with much better quality shots and precision. very comfortable to play with can really feel the ball on this racquet just so solid (you wont get pushed around with this racquet providing you can swing it). If you have modern stroke mechanics with a full fast swing good footwork this might be the racquet for you. I string mine with Tour bite in the mains and Microsheep OG in the crosses at 48Lbs

[@ipincoyyy8214]

Weight, SW, and Balance ?

[@michaelp9061]

The feel of the blade pros are unlike any other racquet on the market. I have the V8 bpro and it has a perfect blend of power and control. They definitely nailed the material but the sw can be lower. Great to see this review TW

[@hybrid11theory75]

It's bc these frames have a pure graphite layup without any technologies altering the feel. It's great for advanced players, but is punishing and uncomfortable outside the sweetspot...

[@OldSkoolLegend]

its not that the swing weight is too much... its that its unevenly balanced. Its way too head heavy compared to the handle.

[@tophersuwita]

Yea imo advanced rec players will find more success with Ultra Pro

[@OldSkoolLegend]

@@tophersuwita I got the Ultra Pro. I fiddled with the weight placement for months and came to the conclusion of placing a long strip from 11 to 1 oclock gives the best swing weight feel. i use the TW tungsten strips. the length is just perfect for this.

[@tophersuwita]

​@@OldSkoolLegendWhich do you think is better for all court players? The weighted UP will still be maneuverable with lower power imo, kinda like Pure Strike VS

[@promotry6934]

This is like a lighter rf97 but more forgiving . Amazing offering.

[@JTACTR]

It has nothing to do with the RF family…

[@nikolaljubisavljevic2719]

I play with that racket. It's the most unforgiving racket in the world 😄

[@marcinsobolewski7984]

@@nikolaljubisavljevic2719did u play with stock form or you added weight to the handle ? Racket is unforgiving when u play with that balance. I added around 15g to the handle and now it’s playable.

[@nikolaljubisavljevic2719]

@@marcinsobolewski7984 my specs are 357 grams strung, balance 33.6 and sw 357...

[@nikolaljubisavljevic2719]

@@marcinsobolewski7984 my specs are 357 grams strung, balance 33.6 and SW 357...

[@jacobb5296]

I'm curious to see if Wilson will ever release a Blade Pro 18x19 🤔

[@michaelp9061]

Exactly waiting for this. They already have this pattern for blade , but is only for Korda. Bpro will benefit from this pattern and low sw.

[@jacobb5296]

@@michaelp9061 I 100% agree

[@SY-it7xs]

Yeah 16x19 seems too open outside the centre. 18x20 is quite dense.

[@meinsouza]

but they do, seb korda plays with one of these

[@jacobb5296]

@@meinsouza I probably misspoke, but I wish they sold a 18x19 pattern. With the two Blade Pros coming out. I wish they also came out with a 18x19 one

[@jonathanchen1026]

Is being a Playtester a full time job? How does one become one? Is there a minimum level requirement?

[@tenniswarehouse]

It is not. It is actually a small part of what we do at Tennis Warehouse! We do have locations all over the world (California, Georgia, Germany and Australia) if you are interested in checking out openings, here is a link to available jobs: www.tennis-warehouse.com/custservice/careers.html Michelle, TW

[@MithTang]

Blade Pro! Finally!

[@MithTang]

and Oak!

[@MrDavi009]

When will they be available in europe?

[@107372]

Will this be available at tennis warehouse Europe also?

[@tenniswarehouse]

We are hoping, yes! But waiting to hear on the timeline for when they get them in stock! Michelle, TW

[@derekpappas1556]

When was the release date , since the release date for the ultra pro 97v4 was released in Sept 2022 . A 3 year release cycle .

[@tenniswarehouse]

They were just released at TW this week! Michelle, TW

[@derekpappas1556]

@@tenniswarehouse The release date with tennis warehouse is not in question , when was the official release date for this version , when it was only on the wilson pro labs sight is what I and others probably would like to know ? If it is like the ultra pro, then there is less than 1/2 of it's life cycle left .

[@therealkylekelly]

@@derekpappas1556 v9 just came out in febuarary, there won't be another for a long time.

[@javace79]

Is the sweetsport more classic than a 98 305 blade?

[@jfattor]

Will the 18X20 be offered at TW as well ?

[@tenniswarehouse]

It will! It is currently available and the full video review will be out very soon! www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-WBPROV.html Michelle, TW

[@AkaAloo]

How would this compare to the Ultra Pro 16x19? Both seem very similar as Wilson Pro Lab creations

[@tenniswarehouse]

Both 305 grams unstrung, this one a 98 and Ultra Pro is 97. Besides that, I kind of talk about in the upcoming 18x20 Blade Pro review, but it is a big difference in balance and swingweight specifically. This one you can notice much more of the weight up in the hoop and that higher swingweight, so most of us would add weight to the handle for a more headlight balance. The Ultra Pro on the other hand feels pretty head light and easy to maneuver, so most of us thought it needed a little more head weight for plow through power. Ultra Pro feels a bit more controlled and precise, whereas this one feels a bit more forgiving in terms of sweet-spot, but also swings like a club, but once you get it moving fast it has a lot of plow through power. Hope that helps, Troy TW

[@anthonynitkowski5341]

Available for demo soon?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Soon-ish...we are hoping to have demos available in the next couple weeks but there is a bit of a delay at this moment. Happy to answer any further questions until then! Michelle, TW

[@andrewfinkelsteintennis1915]

Thanks for the great review folks, what do you estimate the effect of a leather grip would be on the swingweight?

[@tenniswarehouse]

The leather grip usually doesn't add too much to the swingweight; maybe about 3 points or so, I don't believe it will add much more than that. Troy, TW

[@andrewfinkelsteintennis1915]

@@tenniswarehouse ah thanks, I thought it might actually change the balance point and make it feel easier to swing?

[@tophersuwita]

Will nonpoly work in this racket? My usual setup is Triax-Cream hybrid. If poly is needed to control the power (eg in VCore Ezone etc) I usually play with Lynx Tour-Hawk Touch

[@tenniswarehouse]

Sure, give it a try with the hybrid and see what you think. You might even consider increasing the tension for added control. The vibration dampening is great with these pro labs racquets, so a slightly higher tension might not be a bad thing. Troy, TW

[@hanseat7290]

Hi TW Team will this racket be available from the Europe website?

[@tenniswarehouse]

We are still waiting on details if they will be carrying it; fingers crossed! Michelle, TW

[@hanseat7290]

@@tenniswarehouse thanks Michelle. Btw love your podcasts snd reviews. Keep them coming. Forner RF97 user here but switched to the new Blade 98 V9 when I turned 50.

[@carlo8899]

Don’t see them on your website yet?

[@tenniswarehouse]

www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Pro_Lab_Racquets/catpage-WILPROLAB.html

[@carlo8899]

Found it thanks

[@ThoughtsFromTheVoid]

when will they make a heavier blade

[@tenniswarehouse]

How heavy?! You can always customize!

[@ThoughtsFromTheVoid]

@@tenniswarehouse I would love a 330g blade.

[@Roger-i6c]

Which racket is better babolat pure aero 2023 or Wilson blade v9 in terms of power , control, comfort

[@tenniswarehouse]

Which Blade v9 are you referring to? This Blade Pro or the 98 16x19, 18x20, 100? Troy, TW

[@aeron1758]

Is this racket available on Europe?

[@abokickel]

You can always order it directly from Wilson.

[@aeron1758]

@@abokickel you cant. Only in us

[@chuongdo3334]

1:04 " I really felt the ball in there " Michelle

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Your point?

[@albertoescobosa179]

This BLADE 9 has almost the same specifications as the VOLKL VOSTRA 9 , only difference is the swing weight …

[@tenniswarehouse]

There are a few differences that set these racquets apart including: headsize, materials, beam thickness, beam stiffness, feel at contact, balance...

[@mrfofung]

Drop the tension on these sticks. 46-48 lbs with a poly and they are money. You just need to be used to heavy swing weight rackets or you will struggle

[@OldSkoolLegend]

I had to put in 15g plus a leather grip into the handle just to get a better more even balance.... I think Wilson overdid the head-heaviness on this racket. too much. I'm an advanced player and usually play with 345g rackets.... and this racket was just too bulky because of the head being so heavy and the handle feeling empty with nothing in it.

[@SY-it7xs]

Kind of reminds me of the tfight 305. I had to put tons of weight in the handle for that racquet. I think both racquets are for a certain type of player. Very hard to use racquet. I rather play with prestige pro with weight both in head and handle for the same plough through.

[@rogerclemens157]

Couldn’t disagree more. Most of the weight felt in the middle. Really felt like I could easily whip around and get a sharp angle on the ball on my cross court forehands

[@OldSkoolLegend]

@@rogerclemens157 depends what you are used to man. Some players have played their whole life with a racket that is very heavy but headlight and their stroke mechanics evolved around that. It's very weird to suddenly go to a very head heavy racket that has nothing in the handle. The handle feels hollow af. Sorry but its a fact that Blade Pro's are head heavy. its all over the internet. no big secret. Head heavy can feel nice too... but THIS racket is out of balance... and i DON'T KNOW WHYYYYY.

[@Official.tadiwa]

The regular blades played better I have both

[@LaSalviaBodysurf]

I agree, I preferes the regular one

[@LL-kz1qe]

Too head heavy with a long neck you need too much space on the strokes

[@OldSkoolLegend]

Yeah I agree... the Percept 97H is heavier than this racket but feels a whole lot lighter due to the better balance. But I think this racket has ppl hooked because of the looks.

[@rogerclemens157]

Yea so move your feet and get it position 🤯

[@OldSkoolLegend]

Actually Blade Pro is EXACTLY the same mold as the Pro Staff (except the bits at 3 and 9). If you put the two rackets on top of each other you will see they are identical in shape. But Pro Staff is SO MUCH better in feel and balance than the Blade Pro. Pro Staff is what the Blade Pro should have been imo.