Elevating their status in the tennis world with each passing year, Wilson Tennis recently unveiled its ever-popular Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 for 2021.
Continuing to provide great feel and precision throughout this line, the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 did not disappoint from the moment we took the court. From baseline exchanges to serve-and-volley drills, the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 is about as solid of a racquet that any intermediate to advance player could hope for.
Overall Impressions:
For this update, Wilson also brought forth Direct Connect Technology which fuses the butt cap directly to the carbon fiber portion of the handle for added stability and support. This frame is also highlighted with the same specifications that have worked for the previous seven generations of this racquet line. Continuing to be one of the most of the most control friendly racquets in the industry, the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 will surely become a club favourite in no time.
Specifications:
Featured in a 98 in / 632.26 cm racquet head, 27in / 68.58cm in length, 11.3oz / 320g strung weight, a very flexible 61 stiffness index, a fantastic chameleon green colour way, and a Wilson Pro Performance grip, and the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 surely doesn’t lack any tech or attention to detail for its user.
Groundstrokes and Net Play:
This flexible feeling racquet allowed for great depth on groundstrokes, while not providing the overall punch that a Wilson Blade would offer. That said, the stock version definitely needed some lead tape added for advanced to open players, but the power production and stability of the racquet were more than adequate.
Mishits were made to feel normal, which was courtesy of the generous sweet-spot (even though the racquet has a 98 inch hitting area). Racquet head-speed was also well received with this model, and was made possible due to its 16×19 string pattern.
Serving and Returning:
Serving with the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 was also one of the highlights of this play-test, although the frame did not allow for the type of natural pop that is present with much stiffer racquets. Spin on second serves did not lack in depth, and return of serves were hit past the service line in consistent fashion.
All in all, if you’re looking for an arm-friendly racquet that can be used by a variety of different players and game-styles, coupled with a world-class cosmetic like no other, then the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 racquet is worth a try this Fall/Winter.
To purchase the all-new Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8 edition racquet, please visit the online stores below:
LINK: Wilson Tennis
LINK: TennisWarehouse (USA)
LINK: TennisWarehouse Europe
