Wilson Clash 100 Pro v2 Racquet Review

Groundstrokes - Score: 80

Our playtesters were eager to hit the court with the Clash 100 Pro v2 to see how it stacked up against the distinct feel of the first version. Michelle explained, "This racquet just makes tennis easier and fun! I think a lot of my comments with this update will echo what I said with the first version of the Clash 100 Pro since I didn't find this new version to play drastically different from the original. I tend to gravitate toward demanding racquets that require me to work a bit harder to execute the 'perfect' shot, and this racquet is quite the opposite. The stringbed is plush, and the ball pockets so well. I found the most success swinging freely instead of forcing the ball. Unfortunately, even with the updated 16x20 string pattern, I craved more control in point situations. I also noticed that I tended to play a lot of first-strike tennis with this racquet when it came to pressure situations. However, when I was just loose, relaxed and drilling, the balls were consistently going in with depth. That said, once I was in a pressure situation and trying to step up, go for more defined targets and add a bit more oomph behind the ball, I was hitting more erratically. I can't say I found a ton more control from this update, but I can say there was just as much spin and power. I loved teaching with this racquet and just think it's a great pick for more social-tennis situations, including doubles or hitting with friends. It was easier to relax and appreciate what the racquet had to offer rather than use it in pressure-filled point play where mistakes can feel soul crushing."

Mark was intrigued by this update's slightly stiffer beam combining with the tighter string pattern. He said, "Like Wilson's Clash 100 Pro, this racquet was a great rally stick from the baseline. The combo of a 9-points head-light balance and hefty swingweight afforded me a nice blend of maneuverability and stability from the back court. The difference was relative to the v2's increased precision rather than power with the new 16x20 pattern. I also felt a slightly firmer layup of graphite in the hoop, giving my groundstrokes increased put-away power compared to the prior Clash 100 Pro."

Chris noted plenty of similarities from one version to the next. He described, "I found a very similar response from this new version of the Clash 100 Pro, which made it a seamless transition when coming from the previous model. The racquet offered lots of flex at impact and a muted feel. My topspin shots had some nice loop to them, and I was able to hit with lots of net clearance and get the ball to dip nicely inside the baseline. I had several shots that felt like they were missing long but ended up dropping well inside the baseline. Even though I didn't feel connected to my targets, I was somehow finding them most of the time. My slice backhand worked best when I drove through the ball to hit a knifing slice rather than trying to float and place the shot."

Sage had trouble with accuracy, but he couldn't complain about how many of his shots proved to be effective. He said, "The two standout categories were maneuverability and comfort. Wilson stayed true to the arm-friendly feel on contact, and the switch to a 16x20 pattern worked well. Access to spin was never an issue; if anything, I would have liked slightly tighter string spacing in the middle of the stringbed to give me more control. A shaped polyester string helped me gain some control with a racquet that had a high launch angle and plenty of power. I could certainly hit a nice rally ball with it, but the muted nature of the racquet made it difficult for me to adjust during point play. I struggled to pinpoint where I made contact, so I couldn't really address it throughout a match. There were plenty of shots I thought I had launched into orbit that found their way back into the court. And while that is far from the worst-case scenario, I prefer more precision. Ultimately, my groundstrokes were like Katy Perry — hot or cold."

Volleys - Score: 80

Just like the first version, the Clash 100 Pro v2 dominated at net with its rare combination of maneuverability and stability. Mark explained, "Control and command over my volleys with the Clash 100 Pro v2 were top notch for sure! I could feel the ball sink into the 16x20 pattern and dwell there long enough for me to decide where to send it. Overall, I felt pretty bulletproof with the Clash 100 Pro v2 anywhere inside the service court."

Chris found success putting the ball away. He said, "I volleyed pretty well with the Clash 100 Pro v2. The sweetspot felt generous, and I didn't feel like I had to get much behind the ball to make a decent volley. In quick reaction situations, I felt that the racquet helped me stay in the point. I was able to volley the ball back with depth even when I didn't have the time to do anything but hit a block volley. I would have liked a better connection to the ball on touch volleys. However, I was able to get lots of spin to help me get my drop volleys dropping."

It was all about aiming for shoelaces for Sage. He described, "Considering how head light this racquet is, I thought it handled itself well at net. I wasn't confident in feeling the ball off the strings, but the resulting volley was good enough to be effective in singles and doubles. I strayed away from lining up drop volleys and angles, and instead I looked to drive through the ball and aim deep in the court or at my opponent's feet. There was no shortage of power."

"This racquet felt forgiving at the net, whether I was sticking a volley or swinging away," added Michelle. "With big targets, there was a lot of success. I didn't always feel super connected to where the ball was going, but it performed consistently well and held up against big hitters. I found myself moving forward in the court in point play, so ending points at the net happened often."

Serves - Score: 84

Though the Clash 100 Pro v2 offered easy power, our team agreed that kick and slice serves were the most effective primary options. Sage settled in nicely. He described, "Serving was where I found the most consistency. This was where the slightly more closed string pattern may have helped me aim for my usual spots instead of opening my target zones like I did with my groundstrokes. A high-percentage slice or kick to the body was the go-to shot with this racquet. I will note the big-time power it possessed if I wanted to flatten out a first serve, but I primarily used that option as a change of pace. That said, it felt like more returns were coming back with pace than I'm accustomed to. Following what felt like a well-struck serve, there were times my regular hitting partners were able to get more on the ball than usual and put me in a tough position early in the point."

Chris had to be mindful and stay focused on hitting his targets. He said, "I was able to get solid pace and spin with the Clash 100 Pro v2, but I wouldn't say I was hitting my heaviest serves. When I got the ball out of my opponent's strike zone I was very successful. My wide serves had solid pace and action on them. I wasn't able to hit through opponents with this racquet because I simply could not get enough penetration, so my body serves had to be very accurate. If I was slightly off the returner's body, I would leave the ball in the returner's strike zone and quickly find myself on defense."

For Mark, serving was one of the highlights of the playtest. He added, "As much as I like the new Clash 100 Pro v2 from any part of the court, I especially liked the effect it had on my serve. The head-light balance undoubtedly helped with generating lots of racquet head speed, and the higher swingweight helped with actual ball speed. I felt quite capable serving with the Clash 100 Pro v2."

Like Chris, Michelle looked to take advantage of spin serves. She explained, "Similar to my groundstroke experience, if I was relaxed I served well. There's no doubt about it, the Clash 100 v2 packed power and spin, but if it was forced, I found myself making more mistakes. In relaxed situations, I wasn't missing serves and loved how smooth it felt. I think I preferred tapping into the amount of spin I could access with this racquet over the power."

Returns - Score: 78

Our playtest team was split when it came to returning with the Clash 100 Pro v2. Chris found a nice blend of power and control that allowed him to mix in different strokes on return. He said, "The Clash 100 Pro v2 was an easy racquet to use when hitting returns. I could generate plenty of power off a compact swing, which helped me hit a decent return in defensive positions. When given time to take a rip at the ball, I was able to use plenty of spin to help control the racquet's power. Likewise, I could knife my backhand slice well thanks to the pace and spin I was able to generate."

The head-light balance was the highlight for Mark. He said, "This was another part of the playtest that was complemented by the balance and substantial swingweight. In addition, the slightly tighter 16x20 pattern helped me judge shot depth and trajectory for both my usual chip style of return and an occasional topspin attempt."

Staying loose was Michelle's key to success on returns. She said, "If I remember correctly, the original Clash 1100 Pro performed a bit erratically for me on returns the first time around, and unfortunately, I'm here to report much of the same. I am starting to sound like a broken record, but if I was just swinging freely, the result was positive. But when stepping up to take a big swipe at the ball and dictate with a big return, it started to get messy. I tend to aim for small, low-percentage shots, and this didn't line up great with the Clash 100 Pro v2."

Sage had a bit of trouble here, but he eventually unlocked what the Clash did best. He explained, "It was a bumpy ride on returns, and I struggled to hit with consistency. Contact remained comfortable, but depth control and keeping the ball in the court felt like a roll of the dice during more than one hitting session. All that said, when I did slap a big forehand return, I couldn't help but smile. It was fun to chase highlight-reel returns during practice or drills, but match play just didn't translate."

Overall - Score: 82