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Wilson Blade Tennis Racquet Review: Comparing the Blade 98, 104, & Other Models

Will Boucek · October 3, 2023

When you buy a product through our links below, we may earn money from our affiliate partners to help support the site. However, this does not affect our evaluation or recommendation of each product. See our list of partners & how we get paid here. You can also learn our process for reviewing tennis gear here.

The Wilson Blade is one of the best tennis racquets for feel on the market. Below, we’ll review the Wilson Blade, including pros, cons, and different models of the racquet. Then, we’ll compare it to other tennis racquets to help you decide if the Blade is right for you.

Quick Navigation
  1. Review Summary & Ratings for the Wilson Blade
    1. Our Ratings for the Wilson Blade
    2. Pros
    3. Cons
  2. Different Versions of the Wilson Blade Tennis Racquet
    1. What did Wilson Update with the Blade v8?
  3. Wilson Blade 98 Review: A Modern Control-Oriented Racquet
    1. Wilson Blade 98 Racquet Specifications
    2. The Blade 98 Racquet has Excellent Comfort and Control
  4. Wilson Blade 104 Review: A Comfortable, Powerful Frame
    1. Wilson Blade 104 Racquet Specifications
    2. The Blade 104 is the Power Racquet in the Blade Series
  5. Reviewing Other Versions of the Wilson Blade
    1. The Wilson Blade 100L is a Great Beginner to Intermediate Racquet
    2. Serena Williams’ Wilson Blade SW102
  6. The Best Alternatives to the Wilson Blade
  7. My Experience Playing with the Wilson Blade
  8. Wilson Blade Video Review

Review Summary & Ratings for the Wilson Blade

Wilson Blade tennis racquets are one of the most popular models in the world. The newest version of the blade offers slightly better stability than the older model but overall, not much has changed.

Used by Serena Williams and many other top pros, Wilson makes Blade racquets player friendly with different versions for all skill levels. It is one of the best tennis racquets on the market today. The Blade racquet is known for its excellent combination of comfort and control on the tennis court.

Wilson Blade v8 tennis racquet

See our ratings, plus the pros and cons of the Wilson Blade below for a quick glance at how it performs compared to other tennis racquets.

Our Ratings for the Wilson Blade

  • Power: 7
  • Control: 8
  • Spin: 8
  • Serve: 7
  • Return: 8
  • Groundstrokes: 8
  • Volleys: 7
  • Price: $$$

Pros

  • Great high-level intermediate & advanced level racquet
  • Excellent combination of comfort & control
  • Easy spin with the 16×19 version
  • Easy to swing
  • Flexible frame can help with tennis elbow

Cons

  • Not great for players who need help with power
  • Very muted feel on contact that some players may not like

Different Versions of the Wilson Blade Tennis Racquet

The Wilson Blade tennis racquet comes in several versions that vary in weight and size. Below is a list of the different Wilson Blade racquets on the market today.

  • Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8
  • Wilson Blade 98 18×20 v8
  • Wilson Blade 104 v8
  • Wilson Blade 100L v8
  • Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph
Wilson Blade 98 v8 tennis racquet

We’ll review each version of the Blade in more detail below.

What did Wilson Update with the Blade v8?

With the newest versions of the Blade, Wilson did not make significant changes.

  • The Blade v8 is slightly lighter than its predecessor (0.1 oz.) and otherwise is virtually the same.

You can still purchase the old version of the Blade and its family of racquets for a discount.


3 Steps to Find the Perfect Tennis Racquet for Your Game

Free checklist with 27 racquet recommendations

Wilson Blade 98 Review: A Modern Control-Oriented Racquet

We’ll start with the most popular version of the Wilson Blade. The Blade 98 comes in two versions, one with a 16×19 string pattern, and another at 18×20.

Wilson Blade 98 16x19

Wilson Blade 98 Racquet Specifications

  • Weight: 11.3 oz. strung
  • Head Size: 98 square inches
  • Length: 27 inches
  • Balance: 326 mm
  • String Pattern: 16×19

This racquet has a relatively thin, yet flexible frame for a modern tennis racquet. The weight allows you to generate enough power while the head size and frame are designed for control and feel.

Buy the Blade 98 16×19 on Tennis Warehouse

Other Sellers: Amazon.com | Wilson.com

The Blade 98 Racquet has Excellent Comfort and Control

When making contact with the ball, the Wilson Blade might be the most comfortable advanced tennis racquet on the market. The frame design and flexibility give it a solid, stable feel without much feedback.

The Blade 98 16×19 version can help you generate excellent spin as well.

For even more control, consider the Blade 98 18×20 version. You will find it more difficult to hit with spin and power, but slightly easier to control and feel the tennis ball. The Blade 98 18×20 is one of the best 8 tennis racquets for control.

Buy the Blade 98 18×20 on Tennis Warehouse

Other Sellers: Amazon.com | Wilson.com


Wilson Blade 104 Review: A Comfortable, Powerful Frame

For a racquet with added power and spin, the Wilson Blade 104 is one of the best choices in tennis. It still offers excellent comfort and control for a racquet of this size.

Wilson Blade 104 Racquet Specifications

  • Weight: 10.8 oz. strung
  • Head Size: 104 square inches
  • Length: 27.5 inches
  • Balance: 330 mm
  • String Pattern: 16×19
Wilson Blade 104 v8 tennis racquet

This is a great tennis racquet for intermediate players. The 104 head size gives it a big sweet spot, and the extra length (27.5 inches) adds to the power of this racquet.

Because of the open string pattern, you’ll be able to hit with excellent spin as well. Beginners or intermediate players learning topspin will find the Blade 104 easy to use.

Buy the Blade 104 on Tennis Warehouse

Other Sellers: Amazon.com | Wilson.com

The Blade 104 is the Power Racquet in the Blade Series

This racquet’s size automatically places it in the category of power racquets.

However, there is probably no racquet on the market that is this size and has a comfort level like the Blade 104.

Most skill levels can play with the Blade 104. Players who play from the baseline will be able to create a combination of power and spin that few racquets offer. This combination makes it great for both serving and groundstrokes.

The Wilson Ultra tennis racquet and the Babolat Pure Aero offer more spin and power, but not with this level of comfort.

When you make contact with the ball, the Blade racquet absorbs the impact better than most racquets, making it very arm-friendly as well.


Reviewing Other Versions of the Wilson Blade

The other two versions of the Wilson Blade that we will review here are the 100L and the SW102.

The Wilson Blade 100L is a Great Beginner to Intermediate Racquet

This is the low-level intermediate racquet in the Wilson Blade series. Here are the racquet specifications for the Wilson Blade 100L.

  • Weight: 10.6 oz. strung
  • Head Size: 100 square inches
  • Length: 27 inches
  • Balance: 340 mm
  • String Pattern: 16×19
Wilson Blade 100L v8 tennis racquet

The specs of the Wilson Blade 100L make it great for serious beginner to intermediate players seeking a comfortable, easy-to-swing tennis racquet.

Because of the lightweight nature of this racquet, you will sacrifice some stability. This will be noticed at higher levels of tennis when the ball is moving faster.

Buy the Blade 100L on Tennis Warehouse

Other Sellers: Amazon.com | Wilson.com

Serena Williams’ Wilson Blade SW102

This SW102 version has some unique characteristics that make it different from most advanced racquets you’ll find on tour.

  • Weight: 11.4 oz. strung
  • Head Size: 102 square inches
  • Length: 28 inches
  • Balance: 335 mm
  • String Pattern: 18×19

The Blade SW102 has added length and head size for a bigger sweet spot and more power. With this racquet, you will find it easy to generate depth and control on your groundstrokes.

Serena Williams plays with Wilson Blade SW102 tennis racquet
Serena Williams plays with the Wilson Blade SW102. (Photo Credit: @serenawilliams on Instagram)

The Wilson Blade SW102 is a great racquet for singles players who like to control the opponent from the baseline. This racquet can add power to your serves as well.

Buy the Blade SW102 on Tennis Warehouse

Other Sellers: Amazon.com | Wilson.com

However, I don’t recommend this racquet for doubles players who like to move forward to the net. The size of the racquet makes it a bit more difficult to maneuver at the net.


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The Best Alternatives to the Wilson Blade

Below are 3 other tennis racquets similar to the Wilson Blade that you may want to consider.

  • Babolat Pure Strike – A stiffer racquet with better power but less comfort on contact.
  • Head Radical – A very similar racquet with slightly more power and stability, but provides less precise shot making.
  • Head Prestige – An even more advanced, control-oriented racquet with versions similar to the Wilson Blade.

My Experience Playing with the Wilson Blade

After testing and reviewing the newest Wilson Blade v8, it felt like I had lost some feel from the previous version on groundstrokes.

The comfort level and overall control are still off the charts, but there were times when the tennis ball didn’t respond how I expected.

Sometimes you barely feel the ball bouncing off the strings.

The racquet was easy to swing and control. I noticed the added stability which helped me with volleys and returns.

Overall, I personally liked the Wilson Blade v7 better for its feel.

Wilson Blade tennis racquet on court
The Wilson Blade v7 is still available at Tennis Warehouse and other retailers.

Wilson Blade Video Review

In the video below, I review 5 versions of the Wilson Blade.

About Will Boucek

Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of Tennis Tribe. With over two decades of experience playing & coaching tennis, Will now works as a doubles strategy analyst for ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. Will helps tennis players at every level play better doubles through smarter strategy. He also has expertise in tennis racquets & gear, testing the latest products from Wilson, Babolat, Head, Prince, and other tennis brands.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sergio mauricio miecznikowski says

    June 23, 2023 at 6:33 am

    Dear Will

    What is happen with Wilson Blade TEAM (99 head size – 280g – 16×18) ?

    https://wilsonloja.com.br/blade-team-v8

    This is bad racquet ? Why ther no exist this racquet to buy ?

    Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Will Boucek says

      June 23, 2023 at 4:10 pm

      Hi Sergio, the Wilson Blade Team v8 is for beginner and lower-level intermediate players. It isn’t made with the same quality as the other Wilson Blade racquets, which is the reason it is priced lower. It can still be a good option for players with a lower budget.

      Reply
  2. Ram Krishnamoorthi says

    July 12, 2023 at 1:07 am

    Hi there,
    What about the Wilson Blade 100 v8 ? (Not 100L)
    Is it as arm-friendly and comfortable? Does it provide a bit more power than the 98?

    Ram

    Reply
    • Will Boucek says

      July 12, 2023 at 10:43 am

      Hi Ram, the Blade 100 v8 is still very arm-friendly and comfortable. It will have slightly better spin and power than the 98 version with a bit less control and stability. For intermediate or even advanced players who want a more forgiving racquet, it’s a great choice.

      Reply
  3. Will says

    July 31, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    Tried the Blade 101L V8?

    Reply
    • Will Boucek says

      July 31, 2023 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Will, I have not tried that one, but it looks like a great racquet. I’m a fan of the 16×20 string pattern for club players since it adds a bit of feel while keeping good spin and power.

      Looks like TW Europe has it, but I live in the US.
      — https://www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com/Wilson_Blade_101L_v8_Racket/descpageRCWILSON-101LV8-EN.html?from=tribe
      Sometimes manufacturers release different models to different countries and this one isn’t available in the US.

      Reply
  4. Kevin says

    October 25, 2023 at 7:49 am

    The Wilson Blade 98 is the best racquet by far I have ever owned. The racquet helps keep my ball in the court by gripping the ball more than other racquet’s I have in the past. Control, spin, balance, power, is excellent with this racquet. I may never switch to a different racquet.

    Reply
    • Will Boucek says

      October 25, 2023 at 8:26 am

      Thanks for the comment Kevin! Yep, it’s a fantastic racquet for many players. Very balanced for higher level players but I wouldn’t recommend the Blade 98 for beginners 😉

      Reply
  5. Fernando says

    November 3, 2023 at 3:00 pm

    Hi! Thanks for the review. Would you recommend the v8 100 or the 104 for an early intermediate player? I like to play baseline with some spin.

    Reply
    • Will Boucek says

      November 7, 2023 at 12:12 pm

      Hi Fernando, It sounds like the Wilson Blade 104 is a better option for you. It will have a larger sweet spot and can give you great power and spin from the back of the court.

      Reply

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About Will Boucek

Will is an ATP & WTA doubles strategy analyst. He helps doubles players at every level of tennis improve their game using smarter strategy & tactics. He has worked with players at the USTA 3.0 level, all the way up to Wimbledon and the US Open.

"I think most club-level players focus too much on technique and not enough on strategy. You probably don't have 10 hours per week to improve your serve... but you can improve your court position, movement, and shot selection immediately!"
- Will Boucek, Tennis Tribe Founder

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