Skip to main content

Wilson Blade 98L tennis racket - 16x19 and no Countervail

Image
By

My real world test and consumer review of the lightweight version of the Blade 98 - the Wilson Blade 98L 16x19 without the Countervail material

Wilson Blade 98L tennis racket review
Not really impressed after playing with the Wilson Blade 98L
I have used my rackets in the last ten years and many of them I liked a lot but many I didn't like so much. That is the case with the Wilson Blade 98L 16x19 so far.

I have tested this racket only for an hour but I am not really impressed considering the premium price Wilson asks for it and the marketed features and specifications of the Blade 98L.

Wilson Blade 98L tennis racket specifications
Wilson Blade 98L tennis racket specifications
Wilson Blade 98L comes without the innovative Countervail material but I don't think that is the main reason for its fail. Check which are its main drawbacks in my short list below.
Here are the top 3 things I didn't like in the Wilson Blade 98L tennis racket:
  1. Comfort - it is promoted as the lightweight and more comfortable version of the 98L and that it is tuned for rather young or recreational players... but that is not entirely true. The weight balance is towards the head of the 98L and I mean too much in the head so the 285g feel even heavier than the 290g in the Pro Staff 97LS I previously used. The overall balance and first feeling of the racket is something I didn't like at all.
  2. Rather small sweet spot - I tested the 98L together with the similarly sized Blade Team 99 Lite and the sweet spot of the 98L felt so much smaller that I couldn't wait to get my hands back to the 99L Team which in a good way feel like a much much bigger racket. With the Wilson Blade 98L you need more concentration and if you get a good center shot it is quite rewarding, but for recreational games it is pretty difficult to get your shots right.
  3. The price - I think the Blade series and the 98L are way too overrated and in this manner I believe they are overpriced. 
Wilson Blade 98L and Blade Team 99 Lite reviewed
Wilson Blade 98L and Blade Team 99 Lite - in comparison (98L on the right)
Another fact that really pisses me off is the amount of fake reviews I found online prior testing the Blade 98L. And by fake I don't particularly mean paid but just such that are not corresponding very well to the real feeling, features and specifications of this tennis racket.

Most tennis companies promote it as a forgiving racket and even such that is suitable for players with elbow or other physical problems, I personally don't think so. It really felt heavy in the hand, despite its 285 gr.

The Wilson Pro Staff 97LS review

I will give it some more time and probably few more games with the Wilson Blade 98L 16x19 and I will take my decision whether to sell or keep it. I really meant to have it as my main racket for 2019 season but for now I will stick to the more comfortable and forgiving Blade Team 99 Lite. 

Please let me know what you think about the Wilson Blade 98L tennis racket, I will be happy to hear your opinion.

P.S.
For this test I used HEAD Pro tennis balls.
Wilson Blade 98L and HEAD Pro balls



What tennis racket should you buy in 2018
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Sony Bravia KDL-42W650A Full HD LED TV review

By
Sony Bravia KDL-42W650A Full HD LED TV price, specs and review Sony Bravia KDL-42W650A  Full HD LED TV Sony Bravia KDL-42W650A review - today at our consumer blog we are going to take a look at one of the latest 42-inch Sony Full HD TVs which offers great picture quality and will suit best everyone who needs an excellent home cinema experience without 3D effects. Sony Bravia KDL-42W650 is still not very popular around the world and the reason for that is not the lack of quality or functions which this TV is fully packed with but because of the fact that the  KDL-42W650/ KDL-42W650A is mostly going to be sold in Eastern Europe and some parts of Asia. Of course you can find this TV in other countries as well but it is still not presented in huge markets like UK and USA.
29 comments
Read more

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 vs. Gen 2: The Key Upgrades Review

By
Why the ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 Is Worth the Upgrade The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 series is designed to be the "budget titan" of the business laptop world, offering the classic ThinkPad durability without the premium price tag. In this review, we compare the latest Gen 3 model against its predecessor, the Gen 2, to see if the upgrades justify the jump. While both are solid, the Gen 3 delivers crucial quality-of-life fixes that make it the far superior option.
Post a Comment
Read more

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 First Look Review: Did They Fix the Flaws?

By
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3: Flaw Fixed, Efficiency Gained Hey everyone, and welcome back! I was excited to finally get my hands on the third generation of the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 . As many of you know, I spent a good amount of time with the Gen 2, and while it was a solid business machine, there were definitely a few things that needed attention. This is my very first look at the Gen 3, and I wanted to share my initial feedback on what’s improved and what hasn’t. The E16 Gen 3 I’m reviewing here is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, shared Intel graphics, and 32GB of RAM.
Post a Comment
Read more