A lot of players were disappointed when Wilson discontinued their beloved 6.1 95. It’s back! Here is my Wilson Six One 95 racquet review.
Wilson Six One 95 Racquet Review
My first love in player racquets was the Wilson Six One 95 nCode 18×20. I used it for quite a while before I discovered racquetholism and hundreds of racquets later I still appreciate its plush and controlled response. Wilson has now re-released the Wilson Six One 95 (sadly, only 18×20 string pattern) in the heritage colors of red and white. Since I have played every iteration of the series, I thought it was time to write a Wilson Six One 95 racquet review.
Check out the new Wilson Pro Staff V14 at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only.
It is hard to tell if Wilson Six One 95
is still in fashion on the ATP world tour, because no one endorses this line anymore. Despite the excellent new paint job, not one player uses it and instead most Six One 95 players endorse the Wilson Pro Staff 97 (see pic below from David Wimpenny who owns a pair), a racquet which very few professional tennis players actually use. The rising British player Kyle Edmund endorses the Pro Staff 97
along with Philipp Kohlschreiber (and many more), Del Potro for some reason endorses the old Wilson Burn FST 95 (he is notoriously picky with paint jobs for his Hyper Pro Staff and it took him a long time to switch from this k-Factor paint job!) only to name a couple of players.
How does it play?
Since the Six One 95 version I have enjoyed the most is the nCode Six One 95, I was a bit skeptical of doing this Wilson Six One 95 racquet review. I did play a bit with this racquet before, but remember not liking it as much as the nCode. However, you change as a player and your preferences change too and with Luxilon Alu Power
I thought this racquet was a joy to hit with. It is noticeably crisper than the nCode edition, but plays close to the recent BLX racquets.
You need to have a full swing and solid technique to play with the Six One 95 and since I still have some issues with my knee, my movement is not a 100%, which makes it more difficult to use. I always thought the Six One 95 is quite an easy racquet to play with, but this is when my movement is normal and I feel fit. I currently appreciate a slightly bigger head size than 95 sq inches, but this might change once I get back in form. So I would say the racquet is definitely for advanced players. But compared to the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph
(read my review here), it is definitely easier to swing and also slightly more comfortable so I think a lot of people who struggle with the RF97A, but want a hefty racquet, will appreciate the Six One 95.
Unstrung Specs
Head size: 95 sq inches
Weight: 332 grams unstrung
Balance: 31 cm (10 pts HL)
RA: 68
Beam width: 22 mm
String pattern: 18×20
As you can see the balance is slightly less head light than the older Six Ones, the stiffness is a little bit higher and the swing weight too. This makes Six One 95 an excellent choice for advanced players! You get full-on control in a racquet that still packs a good amount of power. However, it will require a transition if you are coming from “tweener” racquets such as the Babolat Pure Drive
(read my review) or Yonex DR98
(review here).
So the Wilson Six One 95 specs are definitely built for advanced players. But if you are worried about the stiffness rating I would urge you not to let it fool you, the racquet is heavy and handles vibrations quite well. The first edition of the Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 had a stiffness rating of 72, but felt a lot plusher than that. You still need to be quite reliable when it comes to hitting the sweet spot however, few racquets allow shots close to the frame to be “pillowy”.
Ratings
POWER: 8/10 – More power than many 95 sq inch racquets.
CONTROL: 8/10 – But with the tight pattern it manages to stay controlled. (16×18 version is a bit more erratic).
MANOEUVRABILITY: 7/10 – For the weight the head light balance makes it easy to swing.
TOUCH: 6/10 – I would not put this as a great touch racquet. You attack the ball with it.
COMFORT: 7/10 – This racquet is definitely more comfortable than its stiffness rating.
SPIN: 6/10 – You need to provide your own spin.
GROUNDSTROKES: 8/10 – Really happy grinding from the baseline with this stick.
VOLLEYS: 8/10 – Stable and fast at the net. Great for serve and volley players.
SERVE: 8/10 – Thanks to the head light balance you can get some good racquet head speed.
SLICE: 9/10 – The RF97A is a bit better, but this is a top slicing racquet.
Summary
OVERALL: 8/10 – This is a top racquet for advanced players and it has been in fashion for more than 20 years. String it with a hybrid for more comfort and go out and murder the ball. Yes, it has a high static weight and swing weight so you need to make sure to be fit, have solid movement and technique, etc, but if you connect with the ball properly you are instantly rewarded. Just look at how Kyle Edmund plays with this racquet (not sure which version he uses)! Boom!
In general, I am not sure if I prefer this slightly beefier and more powerful version or the softer nCode (I have two). They have some differences but share that nice, plow-through and good mix of control and power. I could easily take either one into a tournament and not blame the racquet for losing.
PS. Now that I have tested this racquet I am selling it to make room for more racquet reviews and play-tests. Let me know if you are interested. DS.
Have you tried the Wilson Six One? Which version is YOUR favorite? Let me know in the comments below.
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29 comments
I played extensively with PS classic and N-Code 6.1, both in 16×18, and I have a couple 6.1’s has collectibles – I still take my N-6.1 18×20 of the bag from time to time, it’s a great doubles stick.
Nowadays I like more flexible racquets, they have better feeling and are easier on the joints. I stashed 6.0 95’s has my go to racquets, but I flirt a lot
The 6.1 are racquets for hard hitters and/or serve and volleyers. Not the best racquet in terms of feeling, not the easiest to move around, but in terms of cheer controllable power there’s not much racquets that can beat them.
The 16×18’s have a bit more pop and spin access, the 18×20 is a punch volley machine, and hits a nasty slice.
Fast feet, good technique and a strong arm are needed to move this thing from the baseline, it’s a sluggish racquet. Proper loose motion strokes will be rewarded with an heavy ball.
Both versions are rock solid and handle power like a brick wall. Has long has you can get the racquet there, it handles big first serves easy.
Currently, I have that NCode, an HPS 18×20 and a classic 16×18. I also have a clone by Slazenger, the Henman’s Pro Braided. I hit a couple shots with the first generation BLX, in 18×20.
The classic has a very old school raw feeling, it might be my favourite, and the HPS is the one I like less.
I’m still hunting for an elusive “K”, 6.1 fans usually mention this version has the a best one.
How does the k factor version compare to the latest version as well as relative to all of the other versions of it?
How does the KFactor version compare the most recent version and all of the other versions of the 95?
Good question, Branko. The kFactor is really stiff and stable, close to the Hyper Pro Staff. The newer one is not as stiff and has a bit more “spring” from the string bed. I know some love the kFactor, but I don’t think it’s better than the new one. If you want massive plow-through however, the kFactor could be your friend.
Regarding other versions, they’re all quite close, what differs is a point here and there head light balance and slightly different swing weights. The response from the stringbed is also slightly different. The most recent version with parallell drilling offers a somewhat bigger sweet spot in my opinion than the BLX 1 and 2 editions. This is all so subjective so you could be fine with any Six One 95.
I tried the old Wilson nCode Six One 95 which my coach gave me, and I ended up breaking the string. I tried a lot of different racquets from the newer crop, and now I have to decide between Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×19 and the Yonex eZone 98 (store didn’t have the DR version).
The specs you show are a copy from TW. They are not correct. On the racket it says 30.5 balance unstrung. Not 31.
I havent played with other 6.1’s. I switched today from a PS97 as my hibrid setup just didnt last long enough in that 16*19 pattern (less than 2 hours as 6+ rated player).
Loving it so far. With leather grip and overgrip I end up a bit high at 357 strung with 31,2 balance. But because it being so head light it maneuvers well.
Volleys/slice/returns, a big part of my game, might make my long search for the right raquet end here. Or I might be a rackatholic too. Also posible :)
Have a good day.
I’ve been playing with 6.1 95 since the very first model Classic. I have been playing with the 18×20 with parallel drilling for 3 years. Love the way this racquets hits. So plush and the plow through is amazing. You can absorb pace and direct it back with no problem. You can hit balls on a dime pretty much point and shot. You can flat or spin and it just goes in. Volleys are very clean and crisp. Now it is heavier than most all of these new modern racquets but you have something solid feeling in your hand when you hit the ball. I can’t stand how the newer racquets feel. Wilson please bring this back again and don’t stop making it. PLEASE!!!
Hello.
I have been playing with the PSC 25th Anniversary for about 1,5 years and i love everything about it. Great power/stability/comfort.
Have you played with it. If so how does it compare to this ps95?
Hi,
I think it compares really well. It is basically the same mold, the PSC was a little more raw-feeling perhaps, but I do not think you would not notice a huge difference.
Cheers / Jonas
Hi Jonas, great review. I was wondering do you still have this Six One 95 for sale? Thanks
Hi Will,
Not that version anymore, I do have two nCode Six-One 95 in very good condition. They are a bit softer than the most recent edition.
I am not a hundred percent if I want to sell them yet actually, but let me know if you are interested.
Cheers / Jonas
Hi Jonas, thanks for the reply.
Hmmm… I assumed I would get a notification through my email if I got a reply. May have to check my spam. This is my first time commenting.
Thanks, you can keep them. I like it better when people get to have and play with racquets they really gel with. I don’t have any of that version but I think I can source some that are more locally to me. Really cheaply from people who don’t want them at all anymore if I remember correctly.
I think the Six.One 95 is more a different-but-similar flavour racquet for me anyway. I have some K factor versions in an average condition when I bought them second-hand. I kinda like 18×20 string patterns but I feel this racquet doesn’t quite have enough touch on volleys. But still a really great racquet. I think they would still mean more to you than to me.
But I’ll let you know my thoughts on the nCode version if I get my hands on one!
Hi Will,
The K-Factor version is great too, a bit stiffer and more powerful. Comfort and feel is a bit better with nCode in my opinion.
Let me know what you think if you play with one. Cheers / Jonas
Hei from Finland. Been playing with the last version before the remake for 5 years and although I consider myself anything but advanced I haven’t found a stick I play better with. The RF97 Autograph kills me after an hour, the regular one kills just my wrist (the one with CV feels plain dead). A Blade 98 is kind enough and provides easy power but with my full swing it’s just as easy to get the ball flying way out. So I’m out of ideas. I just turned 50 and though quite fit I know time isn’t on my side. Which perhaps strangely brings me to the question of tension. I also use Alu Power (thickest) but at the upper end @ 26 kg. What was the tension of your tester? What I’m wondering is if you think I could get a bit more speed on the ball with less trouble and without losing much precision by decreasing tension. I only have one six.one blx (my reserve is an older kfactor version) in use and since I these days only play once a week need restringing just twice or thrice a year. So if I get one of these remakes what would you suggest regarding tension, thanks.
Moi!
If you like the Six One 95, stick with that. You can always go down in tension to open up the power. I string my Six One 95s quite low. Around 22 kg with Luxilon Alu Power. 26 kg is very high for that kind of racquet! You could also go with a hybrid like natural gut in the mains at 25 kg and luxilon alu power in the crosses at 24 kg. That is a beautiful combo. So my recommendation is going down in tension. Also I would recommend stringing a bit more often. At least every 14 hours of play to get a fresh stringbed and preserve your arm.
Cheers / Jonas
I play with a RF97, but it’s becoming a bit unwieldy in the second set. I am thinking of switching to Six One 95 (11.7 oz) stick. I can’t decide which one to go with 18 x 20 or 16 x 18. Mostly i like hitting with spin from the baseline. So, my question is: are the playing dynamics between these two string patterns very different or we are just splitting hairs.
Any inputs would be appreciated.
It is a tough one! You get more pinpoint precision with the 18×20, but slightly more spin with the 16×18. Coming from the RF97A maybe the 16×18 will translate better? I like both of them…
Thought I’d share my recent racquet journey which has lead me to the six one 95.
I played with a stock Babolat Pure Storm GT (non tour version) for about 6 years, and enjoyed it, but as I Improved I noticed the lack of weight and stability.
After seeing the glowing reviews for the Pure Strike P17, I demoed one and loved it so purchased. Within a couple of weeks I had tendonitis/tennis elbow. There is something about the vibrations from off centre hits with that racquet which really agitate my elbow.
So I put it away and went back to the Pure Storm, but added lead to bring the swingweight up to match the Pure Strike. This transformed the racquet, I could not imagine playing it without lead now. But I still pined to hit with something different.
So I sold the Pure Strike and replaced it with something a bit left field, an n.Code six one 95 in 18×20 pattern. Just a few shots with this racquet tells you everything you need to know about the importance of having proper technique. If you swing loose and fast, you’re gonna have a good time. If you are late and arm the ball, you’re gonna see that ball land embarrassingly short.
The six one is a racquet that puts out exactly what you put in, the control is on another level to anything I’ve felt before. You can swing bigger because you know where the ball is going. Despite weighing in at a chunky 357g when all set up, this thing feels just as manoeuvrable as my leaded up Pure Storm. The heft also means you don’t feel any shocks going into your arm.
Serves have real venom when properly struck. I did frame a few balls at the start, I’ll admit!
I may just buy another one. This feels like the kind of racquet you could use for life.
Hi George,
Thanks for sharing! The Six One 95 is a beast and a true classic. Regards / Jonas
PS. If you feel like my advice is really useful, please consider becoming a patron for $2 at patreon.com/tennisnerd DS.
Hi Tennisnerd
I am currently playing with this racquet but feel a need to change. My two-handed backhand is fine but I have trouble with the forehand and am often times late to the ball. Plus, the small sweet spot leads to lots of mishits and during the serve, I sometimes feel a slight tinge on the hand (above the elbow). But I love the stability and power and plow through of this racquet and don’t feel the need to put any power. I just focus on getting the right contact and the ball flies. It also helps me get out of tight spots as I just open the face and lob a high ball back to the opponent.
I am an intermediate player who plays with a semi-western grip. I like to volley and come to the net with any short ball and hit a few drop shots along the way. If I had to compare my playing style, I guess I would say Djokovic in terms of staying back and only attacking the shorter or few balls. My objective always is to return the ball and prolong the rally and force the opponent to make a mistake. I need a racquet with comfort, feel and touch with a nice balance of power and control. (headsize – 95 to 100, unstrung weight – 300 to 310)
I was thinking power drive but maybe that is too much power for me? What do you think? What sort of racquets should I look for?
Hi Prerit,
Based on what you are writing I would recommend these racquets:
HEAD Gravity Pro – my current favorite (go for the tour if you prefer a lighter weight)
Wilson Clash Tour
Prince Textreme Tour 100 310
Regards / Jonas
Hello Jonas!
Recently acquired a 2014 model PS Six.One 95 18×20 (Parallel Drilling and Amplifeel) and I truly like the way it plays.
I was curious to try the nCode and was wondering if you still own yours, and if you were still thinking of selling, even just one of the two.
If so, get in touch!
Cheers from Italy!
Bernardo
Hi Bernardo,
Sadly, I don’t have the Six One nCode 95 anymore. Great stick though.
Cheers from Malta!
Hi Tennisnerd. Over time I’ve almost become addicted to your videos!
I learned to play as a kid on a SixOne nCode 95 Team. I played for 6 or 7 years with it. My game became great for that racquet: ohbh, flatter shots, attacking the ball on the rise and attacking the net. Then I gave up tennis for almost a decade and I started playing again two years ago with a friend… and ended up joining a tennis club in my city. Tennis is great, I’m hooked again.
I bought an Ultra Tour and added a little bit of lead at 10 and 2 and at the top of handle. Its forgiveness has been great so far. But even if I liked the Six One Team as a kid, I find it flimsy now. It gets pushed and it will potentially hurt my wrist if I use it.
I’m quite tempted to get this full Six One 95 and see how it goes. How would you say this racquet compares with the Ultra Tour I own? Its weight both scares me a bit and makes me want to try it!
If I end up getting the full Six One 95, you’ll be responsible for that.
Keep up the good work, and the good tennis.
Regards from Spain.
Hi Hikuni,
Welcome back to the sport!
The Six One 95 has a smaller sweet spot, but is extremely stable and will offer even better control.
It will be more demanding, but if you grew up with the Six One 95 Team – it might be the racquet for you.
Thanks! Good luck on the court. Regards / J
Hi from Brazil … I’m playing tennis agains after 15 years… Is this racket the same racket as 6.1 classic si ??
I still have the pair I used to play.. if I’m going to look for new rackets, can I go after this Six one 95 ??
Hi Rafael, yes, Six One 95 is the updated version. Cheers / J
Anyone know what layup is underneath this paintjob?
2014 version with parallel drilling.