Another noteworthy improvement for Blade v9 is a narrower spec tolerance. Wilson is aware that you don’t need to be a pro to want your racquets to be closely matched. New Blades will have a tighter spec range in terms of unstrung weight (+/- 5.5g), balance (+/- 7.5mm) and swing weight (+/- 10kg-cm2). This way, avid players with multiple frames can more easily customize them to be as identical as possible.

Lastly, the new Blade will have what Wilson calls Click & Go B&G. If you look closely at the racquet face, there are a couple of lime green grommets located around 2 and 10 o’clock. This is a special staple that makes it much easier to connect the bumper to the frame. Again, this is done for the serious player who needs to swap out the bumper and grommets due to frequent stringing and play.

And speaking of green—a familiar color in the racquet’s past few generations—the v9 sports a dynamic emerald green cosmetic. The inspiration behind the choice is to exude a calm exterior that hides a force underneath. A neon red “W” on the throat gives the frame a pop of color, while relaying the brand’s classic logo and coloring.

There are eight models in the Blade line, including two junior racquets. The adult racquets are priced at $239 or $259 depending on the frame. In addition there are four accompanying bag options: Super Tour 15pk, Super Tour 9pk, Duffel and Backpack.

The Blade v9 hits stores on February 1. Check back in the coming weeks for more detailed reviews.