Wilson Blade 98 18x20 CV Review
Summary
First launched in 2006, the Blade 98 18x20 is becoming a Wilson classic. Although it's still far from the sacred status of the wooden Jack Kramer or the original 6.0 85, the Blade 98 18x20 is emphatically no slouch, especially when it comes to control and feel, the bedrock of so many Wilson classics. At only 329 grams strung, the Blade is lighter than a traditional player's racket, but as you will learn from our playtesters, this stick is no lightweight. Thanks to an RDC swingweight in the upper 320s along with some effective mass north of the handle, this racket gave our team a remarkably smooth and stable ride. Slices ploughed through the ball like a hot knife through butter. While not every playtester reported optimal maneuverability, our team definitely appreciated having the needed mass for powering the ball through the court or redirecting heavy pace deep into opposing territory. This version of the Blade is made with Countervail, a uniquely flexible carbon layer that enables the racket to soak up more of the impact vibrations en route to your arm. The extra dampening is no gimmick, and it helps explain why the highest score for this playtest was awarded for comfort. The downside, albeit a very minor one, is that one of our playtesters found the Blade too muted, which made it harder to feel the ball at contact. Ultimately, though, when you add this racket's stability and surgical precision to its arm-friendly feel, the Blade 98 18x20 is an awfully attractive option for intermediate and advanced ball strikers.
| Wilson Blade 98 18x20 CV scores | |
|---|---|
| Power | 80/100 |
| Comfort | 88/100 |
| Touch/Feel | 83/100 |
| Serves | 83/100 |
| Groundstrokes | 85/100 |
| Returns | 83/100 |
| Slice | 87/100 |
| Topspin | 80/100 |
| Volleys | 84/100 |
| Overall | 84/100 |
Overall - Score: 84/100
Groundstrokes - Score: 85 / 100
All of our testers felt the "Countervail difference" in the Blade 98 16x19 CV from the baseline, as everyone took note of the more muted, dampened feel that translated to a very comfortable and stable response. The open 16x19 string pattern offers a nice blend of power, control and spin, allowing our team to access their full array of groundstrokes. A couple testers also mentioned the heft of the frame, especially in the throat and hoop area. This translated to great stability at impact and easy depth but also made it a little difficult to maneuver at times (if you’re a player who prefers a lighter weight racket).
Volleys - Score: 84 / 100
At net the Blade 98 18x20 impressed our entire team with its stability and control. The playtesters enjoyed the extra mass for stability on put-away volleys and for the most part enjoyed the solid feel on more precise, finesse shots. One playtester would add a little weight to the tip of the racket to make it even more manoeuvrable for quick volley exchanges during doubles play.
Serves - Score: 83 / 100
With its powerful and precise delivery, the Blade 98 18x20 allowed our team to paint the service box with plenty of pace and spin. The higher swingweight came with its challenges, but the playtesters couldn't argue with the pop and precision they received from it. The tight string pattern gave the TW playtesters the precision they needed to find their intended targets as well especially on second serves. In addition, the playtesters were able to tap into the spin potential to hit a variety of slice and kick serves.
Serve Returns - Score: 832 / 100
On service returns, the Blade 98 18x20 drew high praise for its stability, plough through and control. There was also no shortage of love for how smooth and solid this stick felt on chips and slices. The playtesters even found penetrating depth on compact strokes thanks to the higher swingweight. All in all, though, this was an effective racket to return with.
Likes:
Mark - "I do like the cosmetic of the new Blade 98 CV frames. With swingweights in the 320s, I am going to swing a stable feeling 320 gram racket. This particular iteration felt a little more muted to me compared to previous examples of the Blade 98 (18x20), which helped make even a full bed monofilament pretty comfortable on the arm."
Chris - "I liked the feel, control and overall response of the racket. This was the best Blade 98 I've hit to date."
Andy - "Good control and stability. More power than previous version as well."
Troy - "The standout feature was control, which gave me trust in where the ball is going to land. I found a little more forgiveness in this racket compared to my old Wilson Six.One 95 (18x20)."
Dislikes:
Mark - "Personally, I would probably add some weight and experiment with different string/tension configurations, but that is not really a knock on the frame itself. I am happy enough with it to where I would take the time to modify it a little."
Chris - "None."
Andy - "The feel was too muted and dampened, leaving me too disconnected from the ball at impact. I also found the racket to be sluggish and not very spin friendly. "
Troy - "In stock form, I would have preferred some more weight in the handle to help with maneuverability and make it closer to the weight and balance of my typical stick. Although control is very good with this racket, it isn't quite the level of my old Wilson Six.One 95 (18x20)."
Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:
Mark - "If we are strictly going on other 300 gram rackets paired with tight 18x20 patterns, this list will look like my hairline -- thinned out. The Babolat Pure Strike (18x20) is comparable and at an average weight difference of 0.2 oz., the Prince Textreme Tour 100P is in the conversation. I have to say the newer example of the Pro Staff 97S is similar with its 18x17 pattern and muted feel at contact of the ball."
Chris - "Compared to other brands, I'd consider the Prince Textreme Tour 100P and Yonex Duel G 97 310. Both have very similar static weights but have lower swingweights. My test Blade 98 18x20 had a swingweight of 330, which gave it a very solid feel compared to most other 320 gram rackets available. The Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro swings similarly but had a lower powered and even more control oriented feel to me."
Andy - "Unfortunately I think this iteration takes a step backward in terms of performance. While it may be a bit more comfortable and more powerful than the version it replaces, the muted feel eliminates the exceptional responsiveness that I really liked in past versions."
Troy - "There is definitely a more modern, crisper feel compared to the 2015 version, which has a bit more flexible and classic feel to it. For me this Wilson Blade 98 (18x20) CV sits somewhere between the Wilson K Blade 98 and the 2015 Blade 98 (18x20). There is a firm feel in this new update, similar to the K Factor version, but with a solid dampened feel I found with the 2015 version."
Playtester Profiles:
Andy: Open level all court player with a semi-western forehand grip and a two handed backhand. Andy currently using a Yonex EZONE DR 98.
Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Baboalt Pure Drive Plus. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Mark: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a one-handed backhand. He currently plays with the Babolat Pure Aero Tour.
Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two-handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a Wilson Blade 98 18x20.
Review date: October 2016. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
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