Here’s a video and a post about a popular Wilson racquet you might not have heard of. Feliciano Lopez uses it, for example.
Feliciano Lopez racquet is, like with most pro player racquets, heavily customized to suit his specs. But he is not alone in using this popular Wilson racquet you might not have heard of. It’s called the Wilson Pro Open and it’s a somewhat popular pro stock racquet on the medium to lower level of the ATP rankings (its also not infrequent on the WTA Tour).
Why is it popular? Because it offers good power with its typical “power specs”, but it’s not as stiff as a Pure Drive and the string pattern offers decent control for this category of racquet.
I met ATP 544 Imanel Lopez Morillo during my trip to Mallorca and he uses the racquet, only adding 20g of silicone into the handle and no lead tape in the hoop.
Specifications
Head size: 100 sq. in. / 645 sq. cm.
Length: 27 in. / 68.6 cm.
Unstrung weight: 10.5 oz. / 298 gr (it’s usually around 300g unstrung)
Unstrung balance: 316 mm
Stiffness: 66 (usually around 66-68 stiffness)
String pattern: 16 mains / 19 crosses
The Wilson Pro Open has become a classic among players looking for a powerful and spin-friendly racquet with easy playability. It was so popular that Wilson brought it back at some retailers.
Since it has a decent amount of weight in the head, you can add a leather grip and/or some weight to the handle and you will get a nicely balanced frame.
The video
In this video, I show Imonel’s Pro Open, talk about the difference in levels of tennis and show some highlights from Imonel’s practice set with Robin Bucher (who I played with in a previous video).
Have you tried the Wilson Pro Open? What are your thoughts?Â
5 comments
Cool footage, Jonas.
As to the Pro Open – it never became very popular among the general public, I suppose. I myself played (k)Pro Tour for a couple of years. It was a beefier version – 310g unstrung, a 96 headsize with a 16×20 pattern. Quite a control-oriented frame with PWS and nice green cosmetics. For obvious reasons, even less popular among amateur tennis players :).
Do you know what string Imonel is using?
Thanks
I don’t but I can try to find out!
In the 2010s I have played about 5 years with that racketmodel (pro open; 100cm2, 299 gram unstrung). And babolat RPM blast @ 24/23 kg for string setup. Spin friendly racket, with decent power and control, and not stiff on the arm. I do not know RA ratings. Last Year (2021) one of the bigger tennisshops in Europe did a re-issue of that Wilson pro open 100 model. I tried it, but it didn’t give me that same feeling/experience. Felt too Powerfull, and less control. Maybe my gameplay has changed over the years. Nowadays I play with a Wilson Clash pro/tour 100. Still looking my holy grail…
I stumbled across the nPro 100 after starting with the Wilson Clash and going to an Ultra and beginning to have arm issues. It’s a great racket for control and power. I wish Wilson understood the flexy rackets feel mushy and the reason why I like this is it gives more power and feel than the Blade. I am going to try a Yonex Ezone 98 at 64 stiffness to see if it’s friendly on my arm but gives the same power.