Wilson Blade 98 18x20 v8 Racquet Review

Groundstrokes - Score: 85

Our playtesters were fairly familiar with what to expect when hitting the Blade 98 18x20 v8 from the baseline because each one has spent some time hitting with previous versions. Troy, who considers himself a fan of the Blades going all the way back to the KBlade 98 in 2008, really loved this update's feel on contact. He began, "The Blade 98 18x20 v8 felt comfortable, smooth and plush — similar to the previous version, but I also found it to be a bit more responsive, and the feedback felt slightly less muted. The test racquet we hit with was also more maneuverable than the average spec of the previous iteration. The control and precision were great, and I could drive through the ball with ease. It was solid and precise when hitting backhand slices, and I loved the smooth feel and easy plow through on my two-handed backhand. My only knock was that it took a little bit of adjusting during the first week to get dialed in with the launch angle from the 18x20 string pattern. I found that I had to focus on getting more net clearance, whereas with my usual 16x19 I don't really think about it."

Mark, who has always liked the 18x20 Blades, was able to get dialed in from the baseline. He described, "This racquet definitely gets the 'point-and-shoot' title from me. The substantial, but not overwhelmingly high, swingweight and the tight 18x20 pattern helped minimize how long it took for me to confidently aim at smaller court targets. Wilson's evolution of this frame has yielded a racquet that is light enough for me to rally from the baseline all day long, yet is heavy enough for me to absorb pace and change the direction of the ball, which is pretty much my game style."

While Michelle plays with a Pro Staff rather than a Blade, the previous Blade was her favorite yet, so this v8 update had big shoes to fill. She said, "I know a lot of big hitters love these controlled frames, so with this playtest, I tried my best to get along with this racquet better. Right off the bat, I noticed a bit of a softer feel at contact compared to the previous Blade. The racquet felt comfortable and easy to swing, maneuverable and quick to accelerate. I noticed the precise, controlled stringbed right away and picked up on a little less plow through than the previous model. With that being said, I was craving a bit more from the racquet since I prefer to end my points quickly rather than work the point for several balls. I enjoyed drilling with the Blade 98 18x20 v8, though, because I could hit a consistent ball and was able to hone in on depth and a consistent swing speed. I remember loving redirecting balls with the previous version, but I felt like I didn't have enough behind my shots with this racquet; when I redirected, it wasn't necessarily a good enough shot to do the damage I was hoping for. The Blade 98 18x20 v8 felt stable and comfortable, but I just never felt like I had an offensive weapon in my hands."

For Sage, this racquet was yet another excellent option from Wilson. He said, "The Blade 98 18x20 v8 offered a ton of control, giving me the confidence to swing out from the first hitting session. The tight pattern and resulting lower launch angle demanded an adjustment to create depth, but it wasn't an issue beyond the first few hours of court time. I picked up this racquet directly after reviewing the Blade 98 v8 16x19, so the difference in my access to spin was noticeable. That said, the drop in spin was seamlessly replaced with control. My shots were more naturally flat, but I could open the court by hitting spots I usually wouldn't go for. I loved taking a ball coming cross court and redirecting it down the line with my forehand. Change of direction was a big plus during point play."

Volleys - Score: 84

Like many previous versions, the Blade 98 18x20 v8 provided a classic, plush feel, which was especially noticeable at the net. Mark described, "The combination of its overall weight, balance and tight string pattern made it feel like the ball was on the stringbed for a long time, giving me an extra moment to decide where the volley should be aimed."

For Sage, precision and touch were both excellent at the net. He said, "Off-center shots felt forgiving, while the sweetspot gave me the confidence to choose my targets and really attack with stellar ball placement. As with previous generations, stability was also top tier. This racquet sparked creativity in doubles with the consistency and shot making it provided."

Troy thought the feel of the Blade 98 18x20 v8 at net was superb. He said, "I felt like the Blade 98 18x20 v8 was stable enough against hard hitters but was still maneuverable enough during quick exchanges. The smooth feel on contact made for a very comfortable response, and I felt like it enhanced my touch and drop volleys. This racquet felt very precise, and I could place the ball anywhere I wanted to within the court. If I were to change anything, I might add some handle weight for an even more head-light feel."

The Blade 98 18x20 v8 was not quite as firm as Michelle was hoping for at net. She said, "I know it is an unpopular opinion, but I prefer a firm feel from my racquet at the net, and this Blade 98 18x20 definitely felt a bit softer, making it great for a player looking for loads of touch. I noticed I was swiping more at volleys than I should have been and trying to force some power behind the ball rather than let the racquet do the work. I did find good access to touch shots or drop balls, though, and the racquet was maneuverable and fairly stable. I just wanted a bit more punch out of it for my style of play."

Serves - Score: 82

Our team unanimously agreed that control and precision were the standout aspects of this Blade 98 18x20 v8, even on serves. Troy, who considers himself more of a spot server, still noted that this racquet made him feel in command of the ball. He explained, "Whether hitting a flat serve down the middle or the kick serve out wide, I was able to move the ball around confidently. I also appreciated a slightly more maneuverable feel compared to the previous version, which made it easier to whip the racquet through contact on my spin serves."

Michelle thought that this racquet provided pinpoint accuracy on serves. She added, "While it did not amplify any power or spin on my serves, I liked how the Blade 98 18x20 v8 helped me dial in my targets. I loved it most on big 'T' flat first serves, and although they weren't the biggest first serves, they were very precise. The racquet also allowed me to hit into the body of my opponents effectively. I wasn't breaking any speed barriers here, but I could appreciate the precision I gained."

Sage found his access to spin to be better than he anticipated. He described, "I'm always looking for more spin since I rely on a slice with plenty of movement, and this Blade 98 18x20 v8 did very well compared to most other closed-pattern racquets I've hit with. Most important was the placement I could use for my second serve. Just like volleying, this racquet demonstrated consistent control. Doubles play shone because I could easily set up points with my serve."

Although Mark prefers to serve with frames heavier than 305 grams, he did agree that this racquet complemented his serve as well. He said, "Both accuracy and consistency came in spades. If I had adequate pace and spin on my serve, it was enough to keep my opponents focused. I could mix up my serves well and surprise them consistently."

Returns - Score: 84

When it came to returning with the Blade 98 18x20 v8, the weight distribution and solid feel were a good mix for our team. Sage found success when taking a shorter backswing. He said, "Neutralizing the point by blocking the ball or chipping it deep worked great. That said, I typically attack the second serve, but I found it more difficult to try to whip the racquet through contact. I think the issue there was that my comfort zone relies on the trajectory of an open pattern, where I can use topspin to get the ball to dip into the court more aggressively."

Like previous versions, this racquet was one of Troy's favorites to return with. He explained, "I like this racquet not because it packs a ton of power, but because it feels stable on contact and has a smooth feel. That makes me feel confident stepping in and taking returns early. It also had enough plow through to make it easy to return deep in the court. I was able to take time away from my opponents and put pressure on them with my returns. I also enjoyed hitting slice returns because of the smooth feel and easy plow through. The Blade 98 18x20 v8 gave me great control on my returns for hitting through the smaller windows when playing doubles."

Michelle also found returning with the Blade 98 18x20 v8 to be the highlight of the playtest. She said, "Because of its more controlled response and precise feel, I could hit out, aim for big targets and find a consistent response. I was able to step in and take aggressive swings, but I could also block back big serves effectively. Plus, the swingweight of the Blade 98 18x20 v8 wasn't too hefty, so I could access angles if that was what I was going for. In a perfect world, I would always have an 18x20 racquet to use for returning! It was stable, yet quick to swing, and because I tend to hit out on my returns, I didn't even feel like I needed more plow through."

The Blade 98 18x20 v8 offered Mark a reliable return of serve, which is always a positive in his book. He said, "I was happy to find that the same tight pattern that benefited my chip, half volley style of return also helped with the quality of my topspin return attempts."

Overall - Score: 85