At the finals of the 2008 Australian Open, Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga squared off to start off the new year. Coincidently, both of the finalists played with Wilson’s newest series of rackets: the KBlade. Tsonga’s amazing performance in the Australian Open caught the world’s attention, but it also publicized the KBlade 98. The KBlade 98 features Wilson’s latest technology in the tennis industry known as the KFactor, an improvement from the well-known nCode nano technology. Overall, the KFactor technology improves both the control and stability of a racket. The KBlade 98 blends power and control into a 98 sq. in. frame, weighing 10.7 oz. unstrung, and offers players a solid performance racket.

 

 

Groundstrokes
When I first hit a forehand with the Wilson K Factor KBlade 98, I was definitely surprised by the amount of spin I could put on the ball. With each hit, I was easily clearing the net and landing deep shots. My forehand shots went exactly where I wanted them to go, indicating the sheer amount of control that the KBlade 98 has in store. Also, I was feeling more pop on every one of my shots. The only downside was when I took too big of a swing, the ball went flying away. On my two-handed backhand I was able to easily hit down the line and pass my opponent when he approached the net. Both my forehand and my backhand slices were low and deep, allowing me plenty of time to return to my ready-position. I was simply amazed at how the KBlade 98 performed with all of my baseline groundstrokes.

 

Volleys
Next test was at the net. The KBlade 98 performed magnificently, providing the punch needed to finish a point. My volleys were placed with great precision and depth that left my opponents in awe. Each volley was accompanied by a great solid feel and very little recoil. With the light weight, the K Blade 98 tennis racquet was quite easy to maneuver for those split-second decisions at the net. Also, with a 98 sq. in. headsize, the racket was very forgiving on shots that weren’t timed perfectly. I was very pleased with the Kblade’s effective performance at the net.

 

Serves
As I mentioned before, I felt I could easily put topspin on my groundstrokes, adding a pop to my shots. I felt the same ease with my serves as well. With the racket’s light weight, I was able to produce a much faster head speed on my serves, giving them the additional spin that I desire. On another note, I did feel a lack of power on my serves, but placing the ball with great precision was more than enough to make up for it. Based on the previous performance on groundstrokes and volleys, I would have expected nothing less from the KBlade 98.

 

Serve Returns
The mobility and control on my other shots applied to my serve returns as well. With the awesome control of the KBlade 98, I was able to mix up my returns every point to keep my opponent guessing. I felt confidence that in every swing the ball will go where I aimed it. The Wilson KBlade 98 was easy to maneuver around in order to hit angle shots across the court. For those slower serves I was bashing them back at my opponents. The sheer power behind my shots was easily controlled, scoring me quick points.

 

Final Words
The KBlade 98 definitely helped me add the extra spin I was looking for in a racket. I could really feel the KFactor technology at work, providing great stability on every shot. One of the characteristics that appealed to me the most was its amazing maneuverability on all shots. The KBlade 98 is designed to be a player’s racket, which does require a bit of a longer backswing. However, if you are looking for a racket that can produce plenty of spin and control on your shots, as well as an added pop, then the KBlade 98 should be the first racket choice to demo.