In-Depth Blade 98s v9 Spec Reviews: Is It Worth Buying?

Are you a passionate tennis player looking for an excellent racket and expect good spin potential from your racket? This article on  Wilson Blade 98S V9 spec reviews in 2024 is only for you. 

According to Wilson, the Blade V9 is the “sharpest” performance tennis racket ever produced. So, does it live up to the expectations? In this review, I’ll go over the most important things to know about the Blade 98S V9, which has enhanced stability for better control and feel.

I’ll go over the key benefits and drawbacks of this excellent racket, as well as offer my opinion on whether it’s worth the investment. So let’s delve into the world of the Wilson Blade 98S V9 Review.

Wilson Blade 98s v9 Spec Reviews

The Blade racket range has been around for more than 20 years and is one of Wilson’s best-selling models.

The Blade range, which is designed to deliver optimal feel and control, is extremely popular, and the V9 version of the racket includes some excellent advancements over prior models.

The Blade V9 range consists of ten versions, each with a distinct head size and weight.

Although today we are going to review the Blade 98S V9 (18×16) for this review, we recommend exploring the whole selection of Blade rackets on the official Wilson website to find a model that suits your skill level and playing style.

The V9 version has a number of noticeable enhancements over the V8, including an enhanced bumper and grommet design, a new composition for increased stability, and a fresh emerald green night finish for a striking appearance.

The V9 also features new ‘StableFeel’ technology, which provides a slightly firmer feel for improved stability and power potential. 

Our Test for Blade 98s V9 (18×16)

In our testing, we were immediately pleased by the Blade 98S V9’s superb steadiness and touch. Its open 18×16 string design improved our shots by providing more arching and dynamic trajectories.

Compared to the v8 version, this racket stands out for its enhanced responsiveness and somewhat higher power, even outperforming its 16×19 predecessor.

We were able to hit with confidence and assurance because of the racket’s exceptional touch and accuracy at the net or on serve.

However, we discovered a little flaw: when hitting off-center, the ball does not leave the string bed as easily, necessitating very exact centering to effectively exploit the racket.

The Blade range’s magic is fully expressed in this racket, which combines stability, spin potential, control, and touch, though it requires a certain level of centering precision to fully exploit.

Wilson Blade V9 – Key Specifications

The Wilson Blade 98s V9 racket primary specifications are as follows: 

• Head (sq cm): 632
• Head (sq in): 98
• Length (cm): 68.58
• Length (in): 27
• String Pattern: 18X16
• Strung balance (cm): 33.5
• Strung balance (pts): -2
• Strung weight (grams): 311
• Strung weight (ounces): 10.97
• Taper System (mm): 20.6
• Unstrung balance (cm): 32.5
• Unstrung balance (pts): -6
• Unstrung weight (grams): 295
• Unstrung weight (ounces): 10.41
• Model Number: WR15240

Note that the following figures are specific to the Blade 98 (18×16) V9 version and will vary slightly depending on the model.

Pros

• Exceptional spin potential
• Control and precision
• Comfortable and arm-friendly
• Stylish design
• Maneuverable

Cons

• Limited power
• Smaller sweet spot

Design & Look

Wilson Blade 98S v9  includes the most recent specifications and aesthetics from Wilson’s latest blade series. The matte and gloss finishes, available in black and green, give it a sleek, expensive appearance. The sleek, narrow appearance of the tapered beam makes it seem more polished on the court. The racket’s minimalist branding and sleek lines contribute to this, ensuring that it not only performs well but also looks great.

I’m not a fan of the color green, but Wilson creates such sleek, elegant rackets that they look great on the tennis court.

I understand that your performance won’t be significantly impacted by the appearance of your racket, but it still feels good to look the part on the court!

Technologies of Blade 98S V9

• Parallel Drilling: Innovative grommet design provides a more consistent and forgiving string bed response, considerably increasing the sweet spot.

• FORTYFIVE° Technology: This patent-protected frame layout improves the connected-to-the-ball feel and complements current, vertical swing trajectories. The innovative material composition maintains flexibility and stability throughout the swing.

• Braided Graphite + Basalt: A blend of elastic and reactive materials that increases the racket’s flex, extending ball contact with the strings, and improving feel and control.

• Top Grip Taper: The tapered grip shape enhances the feel for top-handed grip placement, which is especially useful for two-handed backhands.

• DirectConnect: This feature increases torsional stability and improves overall feel by extending the carbon fiber handle to connect directly with the end cap.

• StableFeel: The newest Blade technology provides a harder and more solid feel, encouraging a stronger connection to the ball. This feature is intended for experienced players wishing to improve their game with a more responsive racket.

Performance Review of Blade 98S V9

There is no doubt that the Blade V9 18/16 racquet is a robust and outstanding choice. Blade 98 is still one of the top control racquets on the market. The Wilson Blade 98 18/16 V9 is not much different from the predecessor. However, I agree with the other players who tested it with me that it is a little favorable improvement. The sweet spot feels a little larger as your stability improves and you gain more depth on your strokes.

Groundstrokes

The Blade 98 18×16 V9 is relatively stable for its weight class. The twistweight has increased somewhat as compared to the V8, and the slightly greater swing weight delivers a more solid feel on impact, particularly on off-center hits.

The racket supports both aggressive striking and calm, precise blows. I was able to swiftly switch from topspin to flat, penetrating drives, indicating versatility right away.

Volleys

The Blade 98S V9’s maneuverability on the net is excellent. Its sturdy yet responsive frame enables quick adjustments and robust, precise volleys.

I also practiced driving volleys, and the racket performed admirably. I’m not sure if I was just having a fantastic day, but I felt like I couldn’t miss the stroke, hitting each ball cleanly and with pace.

Serving

Serving with the Blade 98S V9 was a satisfying experience. The racket’s design enabled an outstanding balance of power and spin, allowing me to safely place my serves. Whether I was aiming for a flat, powerful serve down the T or a slicing serve out wide, the racket delivered consistently.

Returns

The  Wilson Blade 98s V9 racket provided reliable steadiness upon return. You still need to swing, and it’s not a racket designed for solely blocking returns, but its spin-friendly string pattern allows you to add depth to your turn, opening up attacking options from the baseline.

Comfort

The Blade 98S v9 has a low stiffness, making it pleasant on the arm. FeelFlex technology improves overall comfort by making the frame more flexible and responsive. It absorbs shock efficiently, which is useful for players who participate in lengthy rallies. However, players who prefer a firmer frame may find that the flex takes some getting used to.

Overall

If you’re looking for a racket under 300g that is extremely spin friendly, the Blade 98S is an excellent choice. I just don’t believe it’s as excellent as the Wilson Blade 98 (16 x 19), and the weight difference isn’t significant.

If you try the Blade 98S, I highly recommend that you also try the standard Blade 98. You may still like the 98S, but there will be no doubt in your mind.

I like serving with the 98S, and I felt it was excellent at the net for its weight.  However, I think a relatively weak component for me was the groundstrokes, where I felt it leaned too far toward spin potential rather than providing a beautiful equal balance.

The 98S, on the other hand, provides something unique to the other Blades while still producing a decent end result. With its slightly different features, it will appeal to a different sort of player than the other rackets, and some will find this stick ideal.

In comparison to the normal Blade 98, which performs better at a higher level, I believe this racket is better suited to intermediate players who prefer playing with a high flight path and plenty of topspin. For someone with really advanced strokes, I believe the 98S’s spin potential would be wasted, and I personally would prefer a little more control.

Who is This Racket For?

The Wilson Blade 98 V9 racket is designed for higher intermediate and advanced players who desire precision and control. 

It is best suited to players who are comfortable generating their own pace and spin because of the racket’s balanced features.

But it’s not a racket for your average “weekend warrior” player; any flaws in stroke production and footwork make the Blade less of a weapon and more of a liability.

With slightly improved stability and a less mushy feel, it may appeal to a wider spectrum of players than the previous generation, but you must be a competent player with full, quick strokes to use this racket efficiently.

Final Verdict

This is our overall Wilson Blade 98S V9 Spec Reviews. Its Spin Effect Technology and superior materials make it a fantastic alternative for aggressive baseliners who gain points through topspin and placement. While it may not be appropriate for players looking for more power or those new to the game, the 98S v9’s adaptable frame, spin potential, and precise control make it a favorite among more experienced players looking to take their game to the next level.

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