I have been testing the Wilson Shift racquets with Nikki Roenn, and we are both positively surprised. This is my Wilson Shift review.
Wilson Shift Review
The Wilson Shift is similar to a HEAD Speed. It is a racquet for the modern player who wants spin and power but in a controlled package. As far as I understand, two models have been released for now in a prototype cosmetic, but more to come this summer.
The Wilson Shift will be available through our friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only.
Wilson Shift 300
Here are the unstrung specs for the Wilson Shift 300g racquet, as listed by Tennis Warehouse Europe.
| Head Size: | 99 in / 639 cm |
| Length: | 27in / 68,5cm |
| Strung Weight: | 318g / 11,2oz |
| Unstrung Weight: | 300g/10,6oz |
| Balance: | 32,39cm / 6 pts HL |
| Unstrung Balance: | 31,5cm/9 pts HL |
| Swingweight: | 320 |
| Stiffness: | 68 |
| Beam Width: | 23,5mm / 23,5mm / 23,5mm |
| Composition: | Graphite |
| Racket Colours: | White |
| Grip Type: | Wilson Pro Performance |
| String Pattern: | 16 Mains / 20 Crosses Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H |
| Tension: | 22-27kg / 50-60lb |
Wilson Shift 315
Below are the specifications of the Wilson Shift 315, as listed by Tennis Warehouse Europe.
| Head Size: | 99 in / 639 cm |
| Length: | 27in / 68,5cm |
| Strung Weight: | 332g / 11,7oz |
| Unstrung Weight: | 315g/11,1oz |
| Balance: | 32,39cm / 6 pts HL |
| Unstrung Balance: | 31,5cm/9 pts HL |
| Swingweight: | 329 |
| Stiffness: | 68 |
| Beam Width: | 23,5mm / 23,5mm / 23,5mm |
| Composition: | Graphite |
| Racket Colours: | White |
| Grip Type: | Wilson Pro Performance |
| String Pattern: | 18 Mains / 20 Crosses Mains skip: 8T,10T,8H,10H |
| Tension: | 22-27kg / 50-60lb |
How do they play?
My friend Nikki (ex-pro and coach) and I tested these racquets and we were both very positively surprised. Nikki is not easy to please with tennis racquets, but he was captivated by the 315g version from the first hit. I had a similar feeling, but gravitated towards the lighter 300g version. I might add a tad of lead tape to it, but overall it allows me to play with confidence on both clay and hard courts.
The beauty of the Wilson Shift is that it blends different characteristics beautifully. Good power, but not too much. Nice spin potential, but no crazy launch angle. Solid, but not too stiff or harsh on the arm.
I felt very connected to this racquet. It worked well on serves and groundies, but was also stable at the net. I think this is Wilson’s best racquet in years.
I find it difficult to find any flaws in this frame, at least during my first ten hours with it. I rarely have this much of a positive experience from a racquet test, so the Shift puts a smile on my face.
Have you tried the Wilson Shift?
9 comments
Hi,
What are the string tension setup, please?
Cheers!
hi,
how could you compare shift with ezone or speed?
Hi – were you able to measure the swingweights of your two racquets to see if they were roughly in-line with TW’s estimates? I’m hearing rumblings that the swingweights can be wildly different for these two frames. Thanks!
Yes, they were in line, the 300 a bit lower, the 315 a bit higher than the TW average, but nothing outrageous. Still, quality control is an issue.
After 8 hours on court with the 16×20 300 gram version strung with Kirschbaum Black Shark 17g @ 53/52 lbs, its a good frame, but not a game changer. The 16×20 pattern is fairly dense leading to a lower launch angle especially if you are full western on the forehand side. I have a one handed backhand and the lack of mass in the head leads to shots that don’t penetrate through the court especially on clay. On the other hand, the dense string pattern gives plenty of bite on the backhand slice. Serves were decent but without adding weight at 12 o’clock, you’re not going to be hitting big thumpers down the T.
The Shift 99 300 reminds me alot of the Babolat Pure Strike v2 VS version (basically a slightly stiffer Pure Control under a Pure Strike paint job). To me, it also feels like what the former Wilson Steam 100 16×20 would feel like if it had been modernized using a different design in the throat.
Is it a game changer type of frame? Probably not, and there’s tons of competition in the 300 gram racquet category. The Babolat Aero 98 and Dunlop FX 500 Tour are much better overall performers. Is it better than the Clash 98 or 100? Yes, if you are concerned about better control; no, if you want free power. If you are concerned about elbow comfort, the Bolt 98L plays softer and provides near Clash like power even in a dense 18×20 string pattern.
When is the final review of these frames going to hit?
Hi,
I have noticed that both Babolat and Wison have lowered the number grip sizes they offer in Europe, compare to US. Babolat pure aero 98 is not offered in L1 in at all. Not even in US. Wilson Lab shift 315 is available with L1 in US, not Europe. I find that sad and also a bit strange since there is a trend towards using smaller grip sizes. Many men are today using L2, which earlier were more a womens size.
I have tried to contact both Babolat and Wilson, but so far no “good” answeres. More regular customer service replies.
Would be interesting to hear your view here and reactions if you would bring it up,
best regards,
Kamilla Kohn Rådberg,
Sweden
Have played alot of tennin since the 80s. Mostly with yonex and prostaffs. Last 15 years with ncode sixone. Played today with my new shifts 315 on clay. Simply amazing! My partner where so impressed, what a racket!
How much grams of leadtape on your shift racket head?