Wilson Blade 98 – Review

Throughout the years, many people have loved the Wilson Blade as one of the most dependable racquets out there. Its overall versatility and control allow players to hit the ball where they want to and play the style they feel fits their game best.

I’ve played with the Wilson Blade 98 for over a year now and these are my honest thoughts about the racquet so far.

Before going into the review, here are our overall ratings.

First Impressions

When taking a Blade out for the first time, all these racquets are very stunning overall. A new paint design has made them a stand-out option from Wilson, and they are meant to perform well right out of the box. Depending on what version the person gets, they can begin to hit with it and feel that they are getting just the right precision and feel that they are looking for.

It is true that after just a few strokes, people notice just how much of an impact a racquet makes. Players will feel the FeelFlex technology inside all of the new Blades, and that will make it the most comfortable racquet they have ever tried.

Groundstrokes

From the first groundstrokes a person takes, they will notice that this racquet is more control-oriented and provides a better feel than any other version before. That certainly is saying a lot, since the Wilson Blade line has always been known for doing these types of things.

The difference comes in the technology, and it certainly seems like Wilson is trying to make these racquets as user-friendly as possible. That is good news for intermediate players, and even advanced players find it to be generally positive overall.

Those used to hitting with a more whippy type of racquet from the baseline will find this to be a little challenging at first. It is not that it is ultra heavy, but it is just a little more challenging to swing as hard as possible with the higher swingweight. The good news is that with the weight behind the racquet, a slower swing does not necessarily mean that the ball will lose any juice.

This is one of the easiest racquets for people to pick up and start to hit consistent groundstrokes, thanks to all the improvements to control. A person might need to swing a little faster and go for more to hit the same type of shots they are used to, but that usually takes just a little time to adjust.

There is not a ton of free power whatsoever, but having the freedom to hit balls and not feel like they are constantly selling out certainly helps.

Serving

As long as a player has somewhat fast serving strokes, they will find hitting with a Wilson Blade as a perfect setup overall. The added control will increase a person’s ability to get first and second serves in, and they will, in turn, go for more and more. There is a pretty large sweet spot for those who might not have the most consistent serve, which is excellent news for people who want to spin in second serves.

Some versions of the Wilson Blade in the past have not been the best when it comes to serving, but it seems like Wilson put a lot of effort into making this one a little bit better overall. A denser string pattern will help even more consistency, but a person might not be able to get quite as much kick on a second serve.

The good news is that no matter what version a person goes with, it does not take long to get dialed in and start hitting serves the way a person visualizes everything going in their head.

Volleying

Volleys with a Wilson Blade are pretty solid overall, as long as they fit a person’s particular playing style. If you’ve played with other Wilson racquets before, volleys will feel a bit weird in the beginning. However, when you get used to the feel, it will be a very rewarding racquet at the net.

When punching the ball and trying to hit pretty hard volleys overall, the ball will not travel as fast as one might expect. However, where this racquet line comes through is simple blocks or angling a ball off with just the right touch.

Different Versions

The two main different versions of the Wilson Blade include the 16 x 19 version, and the 18 x 20 version. Both of these offer pretty much the same type of playability, but there is some added control with the dense string pattern. What a person gives up is a little less spin potential, but most people will be able to find a decent amount of spin anyway.

Beyond that, there are plenty of Blades to try out that can fit different playing styles as well. For example, Serena Williams endorses a Wilson Blade Racquet that is 102 in.², boasting a string pattern of 18 x 19 and with a length of 28 inches. This is the version that most pro players uses.

Having this customization level to get just the right fit for a Wilson Blade is certainly something worth exploring. Most people do not even think about getting a longer racquet that is all the way up to 28 inches, but it is one way to see what works.

No matter what version a person goes for, a Wilson Blade is going to help with control and have a solid feel overall. Many people were excited when the Wilson Clash was released because of the FeelFlex technology it used, but now that it is in the Wilson Blade, this line might be the most comfortable of them all from Wilson.

These are the racquet specs for the standard Wilson Blade 98.

Wilson Blade 98Specs
Head Size98 sq. in
Length27 in
Weight (strung)11.3 oz / 320g
Balance2pts Head Light
Flex65
String Pattern18×20
Swingweight330

Final Thoughts & Recommendations 

Overall, it still seems like the Wilson Blade is the most well-rounded line of racquets from the company right now. There is an improved amount of precision and feel with these latest versions, but there is still some modern spin-friendly value as well.

With the beam of all the racquets being thinner and more flexible than ever, players can get the type of feel that is hard to beat from any other company. It’s not hard to understand why the Wilson Blade is the most popular racquet among pro players right now.

ATP players that currently plays with the Wilson Blade 98 includes:

The Wilson Blade should always be on the shortlist of any person trying to find a brand new racquet. They make options for beginners, all the way to the most advanced players out there. If you are interested, you can check the current price on Amazon here.

Since Wilson is a company that makes racquets that are the same as their pros are using, advanced players can know that they are getting quality options that they can count on every time they take the court. That is all many tennis players out there are hoping for when they make a new type of investment into racquets.

Check out my other Wilson racquet reviews:

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