Wilson Clash 98 v2 Racquet Review

Groundstrokes - Score: 83

The Clash series provides powerful performance from the baseline with an emphasis on comfort, and with the Wilson Clash 98 v2, players will be able to take bigger cuts at the ball thanks to the improved stability and control. Additionally, our playtesters found flat shots and slices to be more effective with this update. However, the updated sweetspot feels smaller and less forgiving than its predecessor, as Zsofi noted. She said, "This update feels a bit stiffer than the previous version, and as a result, I felt less vibration in the racquet head, which I really appreciated. It does feel like the sweetspot shifted a bit higher, which can be a plus or minus depending on your preference. Overall, it does feel like the sweetspot decreased in size a bit. However, if you find that sweetspot and hit the ball at the perfect time, you will be rewarded with this super-plush Clash sensation, which is just super enjoyable. The slice has to be my absolute favorite shot to hit with this racquet. It feels plush, comfortable and controlled. Just an amazing feel, and for that shot alone, this racquet is absolutely worth it."

Andrew was able to utilize the updated stability and plow through for passing shots. He said, "By far my favorite change was the effectiveness of slices and flat shots. The combination of the added stability and the denser string pattern kept the ball low and very precise; however, the sweetspot was less forgiving for me and felt smaller than the last version. To me, the sweetspot shifted up to to 10 and 2 o'clock, with the string density being most prevalent there and then progressing quickly to an open pattern moving toward the throat. Still, it was a soft feel with expected modern power, and I was able to take big swings with confidence. The increased stability added more plow through, which I noticed during my first doubles playtest when I passed my opponents at net with more ease and frequency than usual. Personally, I preferred the original Clash 98 from the baseline, but in my opinion, this is the version that highly skilled players will be able to trust more."

As with the other playtesters, Kristen found success hitting slices and flat shots, and she thought the racquet was user-friendly. She described, "While this racquet was super easy to use and stood out in terms of power, spin access (amazing on slice!) and easy depth, I struggled to feel connected to my shots and get a good read on the ball when it came to point play. When I was under pressure from pace and was being pushed around the court more in a point play scenario, I didn't find the racquet to be very forgiving in nature. I found the response out of the stringbed to be pretty inconsistent. Balls would be super flighty out of the stringbed at times, and other times there would be a deader response with balls falling shorter, so it was hard to truly feel confident in pinpointing targets."

Volleys - Score: 80

The Clash 98 v2's added stability and response offers a more connected feel on volleys. While the previous version got pushed around, this update easily redirects pace and packs a punch. The new string pattern allows for excellent precision on drops volleys and short angles. Andrew noted this versatility for volleys, saying, "I thought the Clash 98 v2 had a lot to offer at net. The touch and feel were great, which allowed me to drop short volleys with confidence. Also, the added stiffness and control were really noticeable when playing doubles and redirecting pace on volleys. Deep volleys had easy power, while angled volleys were precise and controllable. If I have to complain about something, when the ball hit in the lower area of the sweetspot my volleys became lofty and gave my opponent the offensive. Overall, I found the new Clash 98 v2 to be very versatile at net, providing an advantage over its predecessor."

Kristen found the Clash 98 v2 maneuverable and powerful at net. She said, "It was easy to get the Clash 98 v2 into position at net and easy to punch balls deep into the court. I had to be careful with going for more touch, as the balls could pop up more than intended, so I found it performed best when truly sticking my volleys."

"The Clash 98 is pretty comfortable on volleys, and I was able to bring the racquet head around fast as well," Zsofi added. "I generally prefer thinner frames, but maneuverability wasn't really an issue with this racquet."

Serves - Score: 81

The Wilson Clash 98 v2 adds precision on all aspects of serving thanks to its updated string pattern. Additionally, first serves jump off the stringbed with the added stability in the upper hoop. While the spin potential is slightly decreased with the denser string pattern, the trade-off of added stability and control is sure to benefit skilled players. Kristen described, "There was nothing that stood out to me as spectacular on serves, but the Clash 98 v2 is a racquet that offers good access to spin and power. I found enough spin access to hit my spots, and I could get decent pace behind my serves."

With her previous Clash 98 experience, Zsofi favored serving with the v2 due to its added control, along with the familiar spin and power. She noted, "I preferred hitting my second serves with this Clash 98 v2. I felt I was able to add a nice little kick to the ball, and I had more confidence in my placement versus the flatter first serves."

While Andrew had similar feedback, he also described the new Clash 98's comfort after hours of use. He said, "When compared to serving with the previous Clash 98, the denser pattern of the v2 kept my serves more consistent, but with slightly less spin, which was to be expected. However, it still had enough spin for slices and kick serves. My favorite serve to utilize during the playtest was the flat serve. I was rewarded with massive power from the added stability and 325-plus swingweight. With the low flex, I could serve for hours without arm pain, yet still have that familiar serve effectiveness that is typical of modern racquets. The only complaint I have is that the sweetspot felt smaller than the previous version and had decreased power on off-center hits."

Returns - Score: 81

Without a doubt, the Wilson Clash 98 v2 shines on serve returns. Big first serves are better redirected, yet there’s enough maneuverability to get the racquet in position. Zsofi made use of the slice return, saying, "This racquet felt great on returns and it feels similar to the last version when it comes to comfort and maneuverability. I liked hitting slices so much with this racquet that I definitely opted for a slice return more often than normal."

The Clash 98 v2 provided Kristen everything she needed to put pressure on her opponents with her returns. She said, "As is the case with most racquets, I preferred returning with this racquet over serving. I like swinging through returns and starting out on the offensive, and when I had my timing right and found that sweetspot I could hit aggressive returns that were landing deep in the court with good placement."

Andrew found this updated Clash 98 worked better with his return style than the previous generation. He said, "As a counterpuncher, I prefer hitting flat returns, and the updated string pattern and stability quickly made this my favorite Clash 98 for serve returns. In addition to easy pace redirection, the Clash 98 v2 had tons of plow through potential when I made early contact, which gave my returns easy depth and let me focus on my angles. I was also able to knife slices with the lower launch angle. Since the head-light balance made this racquet easy to maneuver, I could dial in topspin angles when I wanted to change things up."

Overall - Score: 84