Wilson BLX Blade 98 (16x19) or ProStaff Six One 95 BLX?
Discussion
I currently own a rather rare Wilson Tour 95 that I had strung with Babolat VS Touch 16 1.30mm @52lbs last week. See review of stick here: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/WT95/WT95R...
However, since playing with it for around 4 hrs I am not happy at all with the feel or my capacity to hit a ball cleanly. It feels dead, lacking in pop and not forgiving. I left the other WT 95 on the train coming back from holiday and that had a poly mixture that played easier with, what seemed, a larger sweet spot. Perhaps I mistakenly assumed natural gut would provide even more control and feel?
Anyway, coming to the nub of the problem - I don't think I'm good enough to play with this racket consistently. Sometimes I hit it perfectly, especially when I've been playing a lot and I get massively powerful and accurate shots; the serves are always consistent and I do generate my own power well but...
I'm drawn to the larger heads offered by the Blade 98 and PS Six One 95. I feel as though these would allow me to make more of the slightly off-centre hits and offer more forgiveness.
Out of the two, which would be more sympathetic to a higher level intermediate who plays with an Eastern forehand grip from the baseline with a single handed backhand. I generate my own power and prefer heavier players rackets.
Thanks
However, since playing with it for around 4 hrs I am not happy at all with the feel or my capacity to hit a ball cleanly. It feels dead, lacking in pop and not forgiving. I left the other WT 95 on the train coming back from holiday and that had a poly mixture that played easier with, what seemed, a larger sweet spot. Perhaps I mistakenly assumed natural gut would provide even more control and feel?
Anyway, coming to the nub of the problem - I don't think I'm good enough to play with this racket consistently. Sometimes I hit it perfectly, especially when I've been playing a lot and I get massively powerful and accurate shots; the serves are always consistent and I do generate my own power well but...
I'm drawn to the larger heads offered by the Blade 98 and PS Six One 95. I feel as though these would allow me to make more of the slightly off-centre hits and offer more forgiveness.
Out of the two, which would be more sympathetic to a higher level intermediate who plays with an Eastern forehand grip from the baseline with a single handed backhand. I generate my own power and prefer heavier players rackets.
Thanks
cool racquet btw and rare too
if you look at the specs of the new PS 95 it is spookily similar to the Tour and both have a box beam, so choosing that may just mean more of the same< I have not played with the new PSs
the Blade however is a different racquet altogether and very nice it is too, more powerful though and less headlight
you really need to demo them and maybe a couple of others whilst you are at it to get a feel:
http://www.topspintennis.co.uk/demo_rackets.htm
I moved from a 95 to a 98 and glad I did
if you look at the specs of the new PS 95 it is spookily similar to the Tour and both have a box beam, so choosing that may just mean more of the same< I have not played with the new PSs
the Blade however is a different racquet altogether and very nice it is too, more powerful though and less headlight
you really need to demo them and maybe a couple of others whilst you are at it to get a feel:
http://www.topspintennis.co.uk/demo_rackets.htm
I moved from a 95 to a 98 and glad I did
chippy17 said:
I moved from a 95 to a 98 and glad I did
Thanks for the feedback and yeah, wish I could play properly with it! Can't believe I lost the other 
What was the biggest difference you noticed moving to the larger head? The Blade seems like the one to go for from my research. Wigmore Sports will let me do demos and then I can buy them £50 cheaper from tennisnuts.com!
The Stiglet said:
chippy17 said:
I moved from a 95 to a 98 and glad I did
Thanks for the feedback and yeah, wish I could play properly with it! Can't believe I lost the other What was the biggest difference you noticed moving to the larger head? The Blade seems like the one to go for from my research. Wigmore Sports will let me do demos and then I can buy them £50 cheaper from tennisnuts.com!
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/lc/selectingracque...
I moved to a larger head for a bit more forgiveness when I get it wrong, but I also moved because I needed a more flexible racquet due to age related shoulder and wrist problems thus needed a bit more power to offset the flex, a larger head will give you a bit more power
on the negative side there is a slight loss in maneuverability, especially a net but it is not great, I mean you put a 98 on top of a 95 and it is a small difference in size, although I stuck to a very headlight racquet (10pts) to offset that...
Perhaps I can offer some insight given that I have own a couple of Pro Staff Six One 95 and play with similar approach to you - a (modified) eastern grip on the forehand and a single backhand .
Having read the review of the Tour 95, I would say the Pro Staff Six One 95 is going to be a very comparable and similar racquet. The PS 6.1 95 in stock form, in my view, definitely lacks pop and mass and has a very small sweet spot so not at all forgiving unless you have a very full swing and can consistently find the sweet spot. To help increase the mass and add pop to the racket I swapped out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and added around 4 -5 grams of lead tape at the 12 position to bring the swingweight up. This has helped give the racquet more plow through and weight. I also find the racquet quite sensitive to string set up and have typically found it plays best with a hybrid set up of a quality poly in the crosses ( I string it at a very low tension of between 46-48lbs) and either natural gut or a decent multifilament in the mains (at around 49-51lbs) which I feel offers a nice blend of playability, control and feel.
Rather than splash out over a hundred pounds for a new racquet I would try experimenting with lead tape and a leather grip, both which are relatively inexpensive and will vastly change the feel of the racquet. You could then perhaps change the strings (though I note you’ve only had your current strings in for less than a week) if you’re still unhappy.
However, this is not really going to make the racquet any more unforgiving or increase the size of the sweet spot so if this is a concern then switching to a racquet with a larger head may help, though the Blade 98 (especially the 16x19 model), as chippy 17 has mentioned, is considerably more powerful than the racquet you currently have and somewhat lighter in mass which don’t seem to match what you are looking for in a racquet.
Are you only willing to consider Wilson racquets?
Having read the review of the Tour 95, I would say the Pro Staff Six One 95 is going to be a very comparable and similar racquet. The PS 6.1 95 in stock form, in my view, definitely lacks pop and mass and has a very small sweet spot so not at all forgiving unless you have a very full swing and can consistently find the sweet spot. To help increase the mass and add pop to the racket I swapped out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and added around 4 -5 grams of lead tape at the 12 position to bring the swingweight up. This has helped give the racquet more plow through and weight. I also find the racquet quite sensitive to string set up and have typically found it plays best with a hybrid set up of a quality poly in the crosses ( I string it at a very low tension of between 46-48lbs) and either natural gut or a decent multifilament in the mains (at around 49-51lbs) which I feel offers a nice blend of playability, control and feel.
Rather than splash out over a hundred pounds for a new racquet I would try experimenting with lead tape and a leather grip, both which are relatively inexpensive and will vastly change the feel of the racquet. You could then perhaps change the strings (though I note you’ve only had your current strings in for less than a week) if you’re still unhappy.
However, this is not really going to make the racquet any more unforgiving or increase the size of the sweet spot so if this is a concern then switching to a racquet with a larger head may help, though the Blade 98 (especially the 16x19 model), as chippy 17 has mentioned, is considerably more powerful than the racquet you currently have and somewhat lighter in mass which don’t seem to match what you are looking for in a racquet.
Are you only willing to consider Wilson racquets?
Always played with Wilson, Pro Open BLX, 100 sq/in strung with Yonex pro spin at 55lbs.
Wanted more control so demoed Wilson Blade 98 in both 16 x 19 and 18 x 20. Found the later offered more control but you needed to work to generate the pace.
The 6:1 95 is an arm killer, and very unforgiving. Great when your footwork is up there , but In all honesty unless youre on the tour I cannot see the point in considering one.
Also demoed Head Radical MP, not the Pro as swing weight too heavy, in 18 x20.
Never thought I'd change, but found the MP superb for touch, thinner beam and string pattern offered superb control and pop.
One handed backhanded showed instant improvement, and could really drive off a wide serve to the BH with confidence.
Serving with the 98 was pin point too, though the 16x19 would offer more spin if considering the blade, I found I was landing too man balls short of base line wit the Blade. The 18x20 sorted that.
So, demo the MP before making a decision IMO. Bought 2.
Wanted more control so demoed Wilson Blade 98 in both 16 x 19 and 18 x 20. Found the later offered more control but you needed to work to generate the pace.
The 6:1 95 is an arm killer, and very unforgiving. Great when your footwork is up there , but In all honesty unless youre on the tour I cannot see the point in considering one.
Also demoed Head Radical MP, not the Pro as swing weight too heavy, in 18 x20.
Never thought I'd change, but found the MP superb for touch, thinner beam and string pattern offered superb control and pop.
One handed backhanded showed instant improvement, and could really drive off a wide serve to the BH with confidence.
Serving with the 98 was pin point too, though the 16x19 would offer more spin if considering the blade, I found I was landing too man balls short of base line wit the Blade. The 18x20 sorted that.
So, demo the MP before making a decision IMO. Bought 2.
hkwc104 said:
Perhaps I can offer some insight given that I have own a couple of Pro Staff Six One 95 and play with similar approach to you - a (modified) eastern grip on the forehand and a single backhand .
Having read the review of the Tour 95, I would say the Pro Staff Six One 95 is going to be a very comparable and similar racquet. The PS 6.1 95 in stock form, in my view, definitely lacks pop and mass and has a very small sweet spot so not at all forgiving unless you have a very full swing and can consistently find the sweet spot. To help increase the mass and add pop to the racket I swapped out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and added around 4 -5 grams of lead tape at the 12 position to bring the swingweight up. This has helped give the racquet more plow through and weight. I also find the racquet quite sensitive to string set up and have typically found it plays best with a hybrid set up of a quality poly in the crosses ( I string it at a very low tension of between 46-48lbs) and either natural gut or a decent multifilament in the mains (at around 49-51lbs) which I feel offers a nice blend of playability, control and feel.
Rather than splash out over a hundred pounds for a new racquet I would try experimenting with lead tape and a leather grip, both which are relatively inexpensive and will vastly change the feel of the racquet. You could then perhaps change the strings (though I note you’ve only had your current strings in for less than a week) if you’re still unhappy.
However, this is not really going to make the racquet any more unforgiving or increase the size of the sweet spot so if this is a concern then switching to a racquet with a larger head may help, though the Blade 98 (especially the 16x19 model), as chippy 17 has mentioned, is considerably more powerful than the racquet you currently have and somewhat lighter in mass which don’t seem to match what you are looking for in a racquet.
Are you only willing to consider Wilson racquets?
Saved your first post for me after all that time! I'm honoured Having read the review of the Tour 95, I would say the Pro Staff Six One 95 is going to be a very comparable and similar racquet. The PS 6.1 95 in stock form, in my view, definitely lacks pop and mass and has a very small sweet spot so not at all forgiving unless you have a very full swing and can consistently find the sweet spot. To help increase the mass and add pop to the racket I swapped out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and added around 4 -5 grams of lead tape at the 12 position to bring the swingweight up. This has helped give the racquet more plow through and weight. I also find the racquet quite sensitive to string set up and have typically found it plays best with a hybrid set up of a quality poly in the crosses ( I string it at a very low tension of between 46-48lbs) and either natural gut or a decent multifilament in the mains (at around 49-51lbs) which I feel offers a nice blend of playability, control and feel.
Rather than splash out over a hundred pounds for a new racquet I would try experimenting with lead tape and a leather grip, both which are relatively inexpensive and will vastly change the feel of the racquet. You could then perhaps change the strings (though I note you’ve only had your current strings in for less than a week) if you’re still unhappy.
However, this is not really going to make the racquet any more unforgiving or increase the size of the sweet spot so if this is a concern then switching to a racquet with a larger head may help, though the Blade 98 (especially the 16x19 model), as chippy 17 has mentioned, is considerably more powerful than the racquet you currently have and somewhat lighter in mass which don’t seem to match what you are looking for in a racquet.
Are you only willing to consider Wilson racquets?
Thanks for the tips and I understand what you mean. My grip is leather actually with a Tournagrip over the top so not sure changing that part of the racket would change much. Never really played with weights before your instructions seem quite easy to follow.
I may well consider this although I've definitely gone off the racket for now. I want to keep it pristine so I can punt on eBay to pay for the new one.
I've order a test Blade, which I'll pick up tonight with the 18x20 string pattern based on the feedback from here. I'm supposed to be playing in a charity doubles knock-out tomorrow so will use that. A good 4 hours will act as the definitive test.
Cheers
The Stiglet said:
hkwc104 said:
Perhaps I can offer some insight given that I have own a couple of Pro Staff Six One 95 and play with similar approach to you - a (modified) eastern grip on the forehand and a single backhand .
Having read the review of the Tour 95, I would say the Pro Staff Six One 95 is going to be a very comparable and similar racquet. The PS 6.1 95 in stock form, in my view, definitely lacks pop and mass and has a very small sweet spot so not at all forgiving unless you have a very full swing and can consistently find the sweet spot. To help increase the mass and add pop to the racket I swapped out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and added around 4 -5 grams of lead tape at the 12 position to bring the swingweight up. This has helped give the racquet more plow through and weight. I also find the racquet quite sensitive to string set up and have typically found it plays best with a hybrid set up of a quality poly in the crosses ( I string it at a very low tension of between 46-48lbs) and either natural gut or a decent multifilament in the mains (at around 49-51lbs) which I feel offers a nice blend of playability, control and feel.
Rather than splash out over a hundred pounds for a new racquet I would try experimenting with lead tape and a leather grip, both which are relatively inexpensive and will vastly change the feel of the racquet. You could then perhaps change the strings (though I note you’ve only had your current strings in for less than a week) if you’re still unhappy.
However, this is not really going to make the racquet any more unforgiving or increase the size of the sweet spot so if this is a concern then switching to a racquet with a larger head may help, though the Blade 98 (especially the 16x19 model), as chippy 17 has mentioned, is considerably more powerful than the racquet you currently have and somewhat lighter in mass which don’t seem to match what you are looking for in a racquet.
Are you only willing to consider Wilson racquets?
Saved your first post for me after all that time! I'm honoured Having read the review of the Tour 95, I would say the Pro Staff Six One 95 is going to be a very comparable and similar racquet. The PS 6.1 95 in stock form, in my view, definitely lacks pop and mass and has a very small sweet spot so not at all forgiving unless you have a very full swing and can consistently find the sweet spot. To help increase the mass and add pop to the racket I swapped out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and added around 4 -5 grams of lead tape at the 12 position to bring the swingweight up. This has helped give the racquet more plow through and weight. I also find the racquet quite sensitive to string set up and have typically found it plays best with a hybrid set up of a quality poly in the crosses ( I string it at a very low tension of between 46-48lbs) and either natural gut or a decent multifilament in the mains (at around 49-51lbs) which I feel offers a nice blend of playability, control and feel.
Rather than splash out over a hundred pounds for a new racquet I would try experimenting with lead tape and a leather grip, both which are relatively inexpensive and will vastly change the feel of the racquet. You could then perhaps change the strings (though I note you’ve only had your current strings in for less than a week) if you’re still unhappy.
However, this is not really going to make the racquet any more unforgiving or increase the size of the sweet spot so if this is a concern then switching to a racquet with a larger head may help, though the Blade 98 (especially the 16x19 model), as chippy 17 has mentioned, is considerably more powerful than the racquet you currently have and somewhat lighter in mass which don’t seem to match what you are looking for in a racquet.
Are you only willing to consider Wilson racquets?
Thanks for the tips and I understand what you mean. My grip is leather actually with a Tournagrip over the top so not sure changing that part of the racket would change much. Never really played with weights before your instructions seem quite easy to follow.
I may well consider this although I've definitely gone off the racket for now. I want to keep it pristine so I can punt on eBay to pay for the new one.
I've order a test Blade, which I'll pick up tonight with the 18x20 string pattern based on the feedback from here. I'm supposed to be playing in a charity doubles knock-out tomorrow so will use that. A good 4 hours will act as the definitive test.
Cheers
Anyway - adding lead tape is really simple and non-permanent - you just stick in on the inside of the frame and when you come to sell the racquet or if you don’t like it you just peel it off with no resulting damage. You can also buy the stuff in ¼ or ½ inch width but given you have you have a narrow beam frame, 1/4 inch is much better suited if you do decide to experiment with it.
The Pro Staff Six One 95, I admit, is quite a stiff frame and can lead to some elbow problems but it depends on your technique, style and how you like to play. If you play a lot of doubles or are more of an aggressive all court player who likes to keep rallies short by finishing points at the net as opposed to prolonged baseline exchanges then it really isn’t too bad on the arm. I will however concede it still an unforgiving racket, particularly on off centre shots, and I have contemplated switching.
I’ve heard good things about the Blade 98 18x20 and have considered demoing it. Let us know how you get on.
hkwc104 said:
I’ve heard good things about the Blade 98 18x20 and have considered demoing it. Let us know how you get on.
It is much more powerful. Not quite scarily so but effortlessly, in comparison to my Tour 95. I came away from 5hrs of tennis without a sore shoulder or wrist and I haven't done that in a while. It feels like a much larger sweet spot whilst the ability to add spin to the power makes things rather interesting. I was doing shots that I hadn't done for years - landing balls right on the base line with decent top spin from an inside-out cross court forehand. I can tell you that it was nothing to do with my footwork either, it was my belief that I could hit the shot with that racket.It has great control when receiving from hard servers whilst being easy to manoeuvre at the net with good feeling and accuracy. Again, it felt much softer than my Tour 95 and I can't think of any significant mis-hits all day.
Serving was a delight and the extra power was noticeable and welcome with, as far as I could tell, no loss in control.
If there is a downside, it's me! I found that if I really went for the ball with a long powerful swing then without a good whip of topspin it always went long and I mean always. I changed my grip to a semi-Western and this improved things substantially. I never felt that I generated enough power with the Tour 95 to have this grip before but the results were clear to see.
I'm pretty smitten but may check out some of the other rackets just to be sure. For my game though I think it's a winner!
Go for the regular blx six one 95 (not the white Pro Staff) - I've heard the Pro Staff version is unforgiving and difficult to get on with. The blx six one 95 is more of an all rounder I find, plays nice for me anyway. I can be prone to plenty of off centre hits and spells of inconsistency but I find I play a pretty solid game with these.
It's still your classic players frame and still requires good shot form but is more of an all court racket. Strung at 55 with a mix of luxilon big banger and prince synthetic gut and is a great set up to go for, allows plenty of stroke making with some decent control and good touch at net.
It's still your classic players frame and still requires good shot form but is more of an all court racket. Strung at 55 with a mix of luxilon big banger and prince synthetic gut and is a great set up to go for, allows plenty of stroke making with some decent control and good touch at net.
Edited by Alex10391 on Friday 11th October 23:54
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