I have a few remaining reviews before I present my thoughts on the best racquets of 2020. The Wilson Blade Pro, the Blade 102 SW, and more.
The racquet that has generated the most interest among fellow tennis nerds is the Wilson Blade Pro from the Wilson Pro Labs line. Is it the famous H22 pro stock or something else? By all accounts, it is the H22 and that means a quite hefty racquet that is not for the faint of heart. Still, I like the H22, have owned a few of them and I’m keen to try the Blade Pro.
Besides the Blade Pro, I am also looking forward to testing the Serena Williams Autograph racquet, the Blade 102. As a shorter tennis player, I am curious about how the extended length will impact my game. For some, it’s a game-changer, other players find it too difficult to get around efficiently.
Talking about Wilson racquets, I will also review the new Wilson Burn 100 V4. The stiffness of 71 RA strung scares me a bit, especially since I have recently had some minor arm issues. I am therefore more excited to revisit my review of the Clash Tour, which is nowadays called the Clash Pro – around 18 months from my first review. Will I enjoy it as much as I did the first time around? I still believe that the Clash line was the strongest innovation in tennis racquets in a long time.
I always applaud the focus on arm comfort, so the Clash still gets a thumbs up from me, although, like all racquets, it has its pros and cons.
Not only Wilson racquets…
I will also finish my review of the Tenx Xstrike racquets. You can find my first impressions of the Xstrike 100 here. But I also have the heavier, XStrike 315 to test and review. I will create a joint review for these frames.
That should be it. Then I will finish my e-book/booklet about tennis racquets that will be published before the end of the year. It will cover some tennis racquet fundamentals and give you some ideas of the best racquets per category right now.
Is there some other type of content you would like to see from Tennisnerd? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
4 comments
If the SW 102 is anything like the SW 104, string choice will make a big difference.
I have found the SW 104 is much better with more control oriented strings so if you find the 102 too powerful, make sure you give it a chance with less powerful strings.
I think you will have fun serving with SW 102. Also, double handed backhand benefits from the 28″ and you will find more power than you may have thought you could get.
I do have a wish for content: Shoulder problems and how racquets might to affect it. Many years ago I had tennis elbow and luckily I did not get it again. My shoulder however has been a bit sore/painful the last 6 months or so. Perhaps a coincidence but it started more or less when I started playing with the latest version of the Ezone 100. I only feel the pain after serving (not during the game, but only afterwards). Normal strikes are fine and I love the racquet. I use approx 24 kg, Volkl Cyclone and lately a hybrid setup, Volkl Psycho with 24kg/25kg. The hybrid did not really help my shoulder. I workout in the gym and also do plenty of rotator cuff exercises with elastic bands. Last week I tested the Volkl V8 Pro and played the whole weekend with it…..and no shoulder pain afterwards. I do play far better with the Ezone 100 so next step will be to try the new Tecnifibre Triax string to see if it helps. I will be 48 years next spring so for sure my shoulder is not the same as when younger but then again I am decently fit. Mostly I hear about “arm problems” but at the least for me now the biggest problem is the shoulder. Having played 4 hours during a weekend with the Volkl V8 Pro which is also quite stiff, it felt far more comfortable. It got me thinking what it could be. Stiffness? Both are fairly stiff with the Ezone 100 at 69 and V8 Pro at 67 (both strung). However I could clearly feel the Volkl flex slightly when hitting while the Ezone 100 for me flexes very little. So perhaps an article about “shoulder health” and how racquets might affect it……stiffness, racquet balance, beam width, strings etc….?
Keep up the good work Tennis Nerd. Your site is truly unique and at the least for me it is the BEST tennis website around. I will for sure soon join your Patrons as this is a very valuable site.
I look forward to the review of the Blade Pro, as that seems to have good specs in stock condition. Can you try with a ‘standard’ hybrid set-up like Alu-Power and Sensation, or RPM Blast and Sensation please, as this will minimise string characteristics. Both of those combine the control of the poly with a little pop and comfort from the multi, and are like a cheap version of many Pro’s hybrid set-ups.
The Clash Pro is also an interesting frame. Although it’s classed as having a flexible 55 RA, I heard that all the flex is in the throat but other parts of the frame are actually quite stiff to give power, so in a way it’s about considering where you want the flex to be. Similar to other’s comments, I recently tried the Volkl V-Feel 8 300g, which is rated at 70 RA, but doesn’t feel stiff at all. With an overgrip and a few grams in the hoop, it plays very stable too.
I have a wish for content. Larger MidPlus frames in the 102 -105 range. I played with the HEAD Classic MidPlus ( a larger headed Prestige) 660. for years but have recently found smaller frames 97in. (18×20) to my liking. I hit a pretty flat ball. Eastern/continental grip.
I wonder what the new Wilson SW 102 would feel like cut down to 27.25 vs the 28in stock? How about that older SW 104″? Is the HEAD Radical S any good if modified? The HEAD Gravity “S”? Finally, Can a light frame like the Yonex Ezone 105 be modified to a decent swingweight?