Category Archives: Demo

Wilson SHIFT 99 PRO – Jason’s Racquet Review

HIGHLIGHTS:

Fun racquet to try! Very different in both looks and feel, from the usual Wilson offerings. More suited to the advanced player, and aggressive baseliners who play with fast swing speeds, and a lot of spin.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

The most noticeable impression, on first pick up, of the PRO version, was the slightly thicker beam, and overall heft of the racquet. At 327g swing weight, this racquet is definitely in the heavyweight category, but it had a good feel in the hand, and generally good maneuverability, both at the baseline and at the net. As for looks, the contemporary aesthetics are very different from the usual Wilson look, and the string bed looks noticeably tighter than I’m used to.

CONTROL:

The sweet spot on this racquet feels small, suiting it to a more advanced player. Faster swing speeds seemed to produce more control, but with the smaller sweet spot, and low dwell time, I experienced some balls flying when I didn’t expect them to. The tight string bed does produce a lower trajectory, but I didn’t find that this prevented those occasional wayward balls. At the net, the racquet had a damper feel than I’m used to, and again, I felt I was in control as long as I hit the sweet spot.

SPIN:

I was looking forward to testing this racquet because of the new increased horizontal bending in the head of the racquet, which should generate more spin. Hitting my regular strokes, I didn’t notice any extra spin being produced naturally. However, when I really tried to increase the swing speed, and increase the spin myself, the racquet responded well and would allow for great spin creation.

POWER:

The thick beam gave the racquet a very solid and stable feel, and with the weight of the racquet, it was very powerful coming off the sweet spot. Great on days you’re playing well, but if you miss the sweet spot the racquet had a dull, non-responsive feel. Solid on returns and good momentum, but the flatter hitter may struggle for control.

OVERALL:

This is a very different racquet that takes a while to get used to. It would be well suited to an advanced player, who swings fast, and already plays with a lot of spin. Don’t expect this racquet to transform flat strokes into heavy topspin. I tested at 55 lbs but would string a little tighter than this if using it again.

Now you have Jason’s perspective! Click here to look at the “numerical” review of this racquet and see how the two reviews stack up!

I did also test the non-pro version of the Shift. With the more open string bed and lighter weight, I experienced even more balls flying long than with the pro version. It was definitely more forgiving on the arm, and easier to maneuver, but the trade-off was less control. Would be well suited to a more intermediate player. I feel an advanced player would have to add some extra weight, and string tighter.

Click here to see Jason’s tennis biography. Please contact Jason if you have questions or anything to contribute to the review!

Compare Wilson Shift 99/300 to Shift 99/315

Comparisons are fun and can be informative as one of the steps in selecting a tennis racquet that is right for you!

If you have read the individual reviews of these two (2) racquets you may wonder about some of the numbers.

This comparison table makes it easy to see the properties.

  • You will notice very little difference in these racquets’ overall weight and swing weight. Typically tolerances will be in the plus/minus 7-gram range.
    What does that mean?
    For example:
    • A 300-gram racquet can weigh from 293 to 307 grams.
    • A 315-gram racquet can weigh from 308 to 322 grams.
      • Different model racquets can be the same weight. 
      • Same-model racquets can be an ounce different in weight.
This much variation is very rare!

So, when multiple racquets are received at the World Headquarters they are characterized to match similar racquets within a model.

Wilson Shift 99/315 Pro

The Wilson Shift has introduced a new movement in racquet design, and the Shift 99/315 Pro rounds out the two (2) racquet series for now!

If you read the review of the 99/300 Shift, you have a good idea about the concept: on the impact, the ball moves the head down, and before the ball can leave the strings, the head moves up! 

It is like you are swinging from low to high! It sounds simple, but there is more to it than that.

Look at the numbers below then we will have a comparison of the two (2) versions! Click here to get a refresher course on what the numbers mean

 

ManufacturerWilson
Racquet ModelWilson Shift 99/315 Pro
Reference Tension50
String
Babolat Xalt 130
Machine UsedBabolat Racquet Station
Static
String Bed Stiffness - RDC60.0
String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour64.6
String Bed Stiffness - SBS45.0
String Bed Stiffness - ERT38 kg/cm
Racquet Flex, RDC70 After Stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour45.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness383.6 Lbs/In
Weight, Grams338
Weight, Ounces11.92
Balance, mm321
Balance, Inch12.64
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.03
Head Width9.79
Head Length12.74
Head Area, cm2632.1
Head Area, Sq. Inch98.0
Beam Height @ Grip, mm23.0
Beam Height @ Mid, mm24.0
Beam Height @ Tip24.0
Beam Width @ Grip, mm12.75
Beam Width @ Throat, mm12.8
Beam Width @ Mid, mm11.1
Beam Width @ Tip, mm13.0(including bumper)
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio Cross/Mains.692
Main String Grid7.13
Cross String Grid10.44
Density (% of head filled with string)76.0 %
Average Cross String Space.522
Average Main String Space.396
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT MasterTensometer38 kg/cm
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in212.54
First Moment, Nm.832
Polar Moment341.0
Torsional Stability17
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2324
Swing Weight, Ounces11.43
Swing Weight Calculated346.3 (full-length)
Power, RDC49.0
Control, RDC51.0
Manueverability, RDC74.0
Power, Calculated 2244.1
Head Points6.93
Head Weight, %46.8%
Center of Percussion21.0
Dwell Time, ms5.94
Dwell Time, Spin, ms8.21
Efective Stiffness - lbs32.3
K, Lb/In192.31
Recoil Weight161.30
Twist Weight242.30
End Weight 135.9
Tip Weight 193.8
9 O'Clock98.2
3 O'Clock99.0
Butt Cap130.4
COF, Main.396
COF, Cross.319

 

So, here IS the difference!

This table will clarify the differences between the Pro Staff Six-One and Pro Staff X models.  While numbers are important, it is equally important to actually hit with the racquet(s) setup as you will be using them.

Pro Staff Six-One versus Pro Staff X

Click here to see the Wilson Pro Staff X

Click here to see the Wilson Pro Staff Six-One data

 

So, what IS the difference?

Wilson has presented us with a couple of choices when it comes to choosing a 100-square-inch racquet!

Just what we need…right?

Later we will have a comparison table showing the pertinent property data, but now we can  see the graphics difference between the two racquets:

Pro Staff Six-One 100

ProStaff X v14 100

The Pro Staff Six-One 100 has a very shiny rust color.  The Pro Staff X is the matt finish used on most of the v14 Pro Staff models.

In addition to the “shining,” the Six-One has the “normal” elliptical cross-section, while the “X” has a “box beam” geometry which is a little more narrow.

The Six-One is a Beefier” looking racquet!

The string spacing on the “X” is slightly more open, which may contribute to the power calculation being a bit higher.

The flex of the “X” is a little greater in the shaft area.

That is enough talk!”  

Let’s look at the numbers:

ManufacturerWilson
Racquet ModelWilson Pro Staff X 100, v14
Reference Tension55

String
PEEK 7710
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
String Bed Stiffness - RDC50.0 Units
String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour61.0 Pounds
String Bed Stiffness - SBS47.0 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - ERT38 Kg/Cm
Racquet Flex, RDC64 - After Stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour47.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness467.9 Lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams340
Weight, Ounces11.99
Balance, mm322
Balance, Inch12.68
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.03
Head Width9.73
Head Length13.06
Head Area, cm2643.4
Head Area, Sq. Inch99.7
Beam Height @ Grip, mm22.3
Beam Height @ Mid, mm22.0
Beam Height @ Tip22.0
Beam Width @ Grip, mm11.00
Beam Width @ Throat, mm11.00
Beam Width @ Mid, mm12.00(PWS)
Beam Width @ Tip, mm12.00(including bumper)
Number of Main Strings16
Number of Cross Strings19
Ratio Cross/Mains.627
Main String Grid7.50
Cross String Grid10.81
Density (% of head filled with string)81.2%
Average Cross String Space.569
Average Main String Space.469
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT MasterTensometer38
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in212.54
First Moment, Nm.841
Polar Moment341.0
Torsional Stability17
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2324
Swing Weight, Ounces11.43
Swing Weight Calculated352.2 (full-length)
Power, RDC53.0
Control, RDC47.0
Manueverability, RDC71.0
Power, Calculated 2088.8
Head Points6.61
Head Weight, %46.9%
Center of Percussion20.8
Dwell Time, ms9.00
Efective Stiffness - lbs28.1
K, Lb/In160.26
Recoil Weight158.85
Twist Weight240.78
End Weight 141.3
Tip Weight 198.9
9 O'Clock102.5
3 O'Clock101.9
Butt Cap135.6
COF, Main.529
COF, Cross.499

Click here to see the Comparison Table