In the tennis community, the Wilson Blade is a famous racket used by many. The Blade series has many versions, exactly 10 as of now, and there are many disputes about which version is the best. Personally, in this review, I will be focusing on the 8th generation, the V8. This is the version I personally use, and as a person who used the 8th, 9th, and 10th, I would say that the 8th is the best overall.
In terms of tennis rackets, there are many specs that decide the play style of the racket. There are four main categories: power, spin, control, and feel. The blade series falls more into the control area; however, it is an all-rounder. The racket is baselined at a 16×19 string pattern, which highlights the power aspect of the ‘all-rounder’, but it has a 98 square inch head frame, which gives it great control. The string pattern also allows the racket to generate a lot of spin, which highlights how it is an overall good racket for any level of player to use.
However, the blade series is incredibly stiff, meaning that it sacrifices some of the feel for the performance. Generally, stiffer rackets can mean that it can be tiring to play with, and especially for someone with elbow issues can feel extreme strain. However, personally, I really like the feel of the racket, so that part is not a minus.
Therefore, the Blade V8 is my personal favorite racket as of now, and I will continue to use it. When this racket is compared with the new counterparts, I feel like it stands out. The newer ones, in my opinion, are too stiff and feel like a wall to hit with, unlike the 8th generation having more of a ‘trampoline’ like feel. If I had to recommend a racket to a beginner, this wouldn’t be my first choice; however, as you improve, this would be one of the best options out there.
