Wilson and New York are a powerful combination driving the sport of tennis forward more than four decades now leading to this moment when the new design DNA of the Blade v8 has arrived for all consumers. Wilson Sporting Goods Co. just launched the new racket along with two more limited edition rackets that highlight the New York City roots and culture. Wilson is known for being the US Open’s official tennis ball and racket stringer. These sports tech enhanced products are made to improve performance, especially the Blade v8 as its innovation “returns to the wild” through an innovative look and better play. It also features FORTYFIVE°, the company’s patent-protected layup technology first integrated in Clash to increase flexibility and stability while not sacrificing on power. Because it is the most popular Pro Tour frame and is in use by Stefanos Tsitsipas, Simona Halep, Karen Khachanov and more, other professionals, amateurs and recreational players are sure to want Blade v8. This racket fosters love of the game behind the return to natural elements and the feelings competitive tennis brings forth, along with connecting users and renewing the passions for a sport nearly any athlete can play, while having fun doing so. The Sports Techie community blog hopes all participants and patrons at the US Open stay safe as the pandemic continues to impact American and global tennis fans alike. Wilson’s history with the sport has even more to it.
Blade v8 Gamechanger
COVID-19 has shifted life and sport perhaps, but hopefully not, forever, yet it is the resilience of humans that is the clear fundamental so many US Open athletes possess that pushes us to press on in both. Men and women have instinctive athleticism which is exactly what Wilson captured in the Blade v8. The racket’s natural form and function comes with full body color while the innovative design in motion is designed to play how it looks, whether that be in earth dark tones or shifting to elemental copper as a way to stay close to the wildness of nature.
“The Blade has been a dynamic tour favorite for many years,” said Hans-Martin Reh, Global General Manager of Racquet Sports at Wilson. “It was important that the product innovation and design DNA evolve with the natural athleticism and instincts of athletes today. We are proud to see the new aesthetic of the v8 used on the courts in Flushing Meadows.”
Beyond the look, Blade v8 produces a true connect-to-the-ball feeling complimenting the game’s updated, vertical swing path in use by a score of today’s most competitive male and female players.
To finish off the revolutionary manufacturing process, the end cap is directly connected to a newly tapered carbon fiber portion of the handle improving the feel of Blade v8 swings while increasing torsional stability.
The cost for the Blade 98 16×19 v8.0 and Blade 98 18×20 v8.0 is $229 and the Blade 98 100L v8.0 and Blade 104 v8.0 is priced at $219. Get 10% off for signing up on the Wilson website with an email and also get free shipping on orders over $50.
NYC Represented
New York City inspired and new for the US Open are the limited editions Clash 100 and Blade 98 created to represent the famous Big Apple street grids in the borough where the tournament is played.
Clash 100 US Open Edition: The manifestation of Wilson’s most noteworthy racquet innovation, Clash 100 US Open Edition features the same composition and specifications as the in-line Clash 100, donning a NYC map, inspired by the brightness and energy of the day sessions of the most popular tennis tournament on U.S. soil.
3D Bending uses proprietary carbon mapping to generate new dimensions of frame bending, giving players free-swinging accuracy with every stroke. A highly playable performance racket that maximizes flexibility without sacrificing stability, Clash provides absolute confidence for players of all ages and styles. Retail price is $249.
Blade 98 (16×19) US Open Edition: The Blade 98 (16×19) v8 US Open Edition sports the same features and specifications as the Blade 98 (16×19) v8, celebrating the remarkable aura and history of the US Open’s night sessions.
Still characterized by its superior presence in the hands of the best players in the world, this evolution of Blade rewards aggressive, precise ball-strikers with a top-tier blend of connected-to-the-ball feel, torsional stability and innovative design to wow teammates and opponents alike. Retail price is $229.
Availability, History and Sustainable Courts
Look to the company web site or the Wilson Pop-Up Museum and Retail Store, located in New York City’s SoHo district at 594 Broadway for the three iconic rackets. Titled “Love All: A Wilson Tennis Experience,” this entertaining pop-up offers tribute to Wilson’s long-standing history in the sport of tennis while at the same time giving tennis enthusiasts an opportunity to experience and purchase Wilson’s latest tennis-inspired sportswear collection for men and women. The store has a curated assortment of footwear, balls, accessories and tennis racquets, including the Big 3 I blogged about – and the Kith x Wilson Pro Staff 97 and Kith x Wilson Ultra.
Progressive determination led Wilson to collaborate with Kith, Recycleballs, US Open court surface Laykold, and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to resurface and refurbish a tennis court right outside of the gates of the US Open. The community tennis court known as the Ella Fitzgerald Playground in Kissena Corridor Park in Fresh Meadows got a complete resurfacing job using the tournament balls from the 2020 US Open tournament, donated by the USTA. I call this pure awesomeness.
The sustainably-minded community project is a highlight of the yet to be released premium sportswear and sports equipment collaboration between Wilson and Kith, forthcoming in the next several weeks. Wilson Sportswear is new for 2021 and has been called, “a performance-based lifestyle athletic apparel collection, that combines Wilson’s heritage and innovation with a modern and stylish flair for all to live like an athlete.”
A schedule of special events throughout the US Open can be found at wilson.com by following the @wilsontennis handle across social media as well as the following hashtags – #wilson #wilsontennis #tennisracket #blade8 #returntothewild
Sports Techie, back in 2015, I covered The Burn racket for the Chicago-based company when Wilson Tennis partnered with Japanese superstar, Kei Nishikori, the 2014 U.S. Open winner.
Kei Nishikori Play Tests Wilson’s “The Burn” Racket And The Court Can’t Contain Him | Sports Techie blog
Wilson’s parent company, Amer Sports Corporation, is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance sports equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories with over a century of innovation, history and heritage. This includes Racquet Sports, Baseball, Softball, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, and Golf.
It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say something about a bathroom break in jest. Google the Blade v8 pro’s mentioned above together with bathroom break and you’ll understand what I am talking about, lol.
As natural as that performance is, even when it takes a while, so to is the “Return to the Wild” Blade v8 fully captures.
Same as the Clash 100 and Blade 98 capturing the inner essence of NYC.
There can only be one US Open and it isn’t a golf major.
The US Open is the tours last tennis major and together with Wilson, the 2021 version promises to be historical once again.
See you later sportstechie in Seattle, Atlanta and around the world!
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