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Before looking at specific models, it helps to know more about what’s behind Wilson BLX technology. In a nutshell, it is an improvement over Wilson [K]arophite technology, which combined carbon black and silicon dioxide (SiO2) with graphite fibers for improved strength while maintaining lightness. BLX uses basalt, a rock formed from the cooling of volcanic lava. Basalt fibers are added to [K]arophite fibers, resulting in a racquet that is even stronger but has a better feel because of reduced shock and vibration from striking the ball.

Intermediate Players
The term, ‘intermediate’, can be vague, but for our purposes we will use it to describe players with NTRP ratings of 3.0-4.5. There are a few models of Wilson BLX racquets for players who fall in this range.

The Pro Open BLX racquet has a 100 square inch head with a 16 x 19 string pattern with a four point, head light design. It has a moderate power level and is meant for players with a moderate to full, medium or powerful swing.

The Blade 98 BLX racquet has a two point, head light balance with a 98 square inch head and 18 x 20 string pattern. Its characteristics more closely resemble those on racquets used by competitive players. The power level is low to moderate, and is meant for 4.5+ level players who have an aggressive, long stroke.

The Surge BLX has a two point, head light balance with a head size of 100 square inches and a 16 x 19 string pattern. It’s almost identical to the Pro Open BLX except it has a lighter feel with a two point, head light balance.

Competitive Players
For the sake of discussion, we will use ‘competitive’ to describe players with NTRP  ratings of 5.0-7.0. There are several more options of Wilson BLX racquets suited for this level of player to choose from with a few new models for 2012.

The Six.One Tour BLX racquet is designed for the more elite tennis players. If you have a long aggressive stroke and an NTRP rating between 5.0 and 7.0, this model may be right for you. It has a 90 square inch head size, 16 x 19 string pattern and a nine-point, head light balance. It comes as no surprise that one of the top players in the world, Roger Federer, used this racquet in competition.

The Six.One BLX comes in a couple of variations, each with 95 square inch heads and an an eight point, head light balance. The biggest difference is that one has a 16 x 18 string pattern, while the other has an 18 x 20 string pattern.

Juan Martin del Potro, winner of the 2009 US Open, uses the Wilson Pro Tour BLX racquet. It has an 18 x 20 string pattern and a seven point, head light design with a 96 square inch head.

The Blade Tour BLX has a smaller 93 square inch head size and designed for those who want more control and maneuverability in a racquet. The six point, head light model has an 18 x 20 string pattern.

New Models
Several new models of Wilson BLX racquets are scheduled to ship on January 22 and can be pre-ordered now!

The Pro Staff Six.One comes in three different variations. The 90 square inch model uses a 16 x 19 string pattern and designed for players with NTRP ratings of 5.0-7.0. The other two variations are the 95 square inch model (16 x 19, 5.0+) and the 100 square inch model (16 x 18, 4.5+).

The Juice Pro BLX model is another racquet used by Juan Martin del Potro. It comes in a 96 square inch model (16 x 20, 4.5+), a 100 square inch model (16 x 18, 3.0+) and the large headed 108 square inch model (16 x 19, 3.0+)

The Steam BLX comes in a 100 square inch model, new for 2012. It has a 16 x 20 pattern with moderate power for 3.0+ players.

Conclusion
If you are an intermediate to competitive player looking for a racquet with good feel and state of the art materials, look no further than the many fine Wilson BLX racquets. There are several models to choose from for any skill level and style of player. The new racquets for 2012 are coming out in just a few days and are also worthy of consideration. Regardless of what racquet you prefer, you can rest assure that if it comes from Wilson, it comes from one of the leaders in providing quality tennis equipment.

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A Closer Look at [K]arophite Black
To better understand the benefits of the advanced technology in the design of Wilson K Factor racquets, it’s helpful to look at how the material is produced. [K]arophite Black is a nanotechnology done at a microscopic level to improve racquet strength without sacrificing the lightness of graphite.

Take a look at a simple graphite racquet. It’s made up of a light, yet sturdy material, a great improvement over aluminum and wood racquets of previous generations. At a microscopic level you would see the graphite fibers with lots of open space between them.

Wilson improved on this by filling the spaces between the graphite fibers with silicon dioxide. If you’re wondering what silicon dioxide is, it’s one of the most plentiful substances on earth. You typically see it everyday in the form of sand, silica or glass. Wilson scientists found that adding this material to the spaces between graphite fibers on a microscopic level resulted in an even stronger racquet body. This become the nCode technology used in previous generations of Wilson racquets.

Not content to stop there, scientists found that they could take nCode technology a step further. Using carbon black fibers to connect the silicon dioxide particles to the graphite fibers added to the racquet strength even further. Thus, [K]arophite Black and the Wilson K Factor racquet was born.

Other Technologies Found In Wilson K Factor Racquets
The [K]ontour Yoke is an improvement in frame technology, limiting the twisting movement that the racquet can make while striking the ball.

The [K]onnector is one of two wing shaped fittings molded to the hoop the racquet for an increased sweet spot and greater control.

The [K]ompact Center is a rounded triangular shaped design in the area between the hoop and handle. This innovation was inspired by Roger Federer and improves the handling characteristics of the racquet.

Specific Models
If you are a beginner (NTRP 1.5+) then the K Factor Zero is ideal for you. Its 4 points, head heavy balance is best for players with a short stroke looking for power. The head is a large 118 square inches with a 16 x 19 string pattern.

The next step up is the K Factor Three, designed for a slightly better skill level (2.5+ NTRP) but an 8 points, head heavy balance for those who still have short strokes and need power from the racquet. Its 115 square inch head is slightly smaller than the K Factor Zero’s with a 16 x 19 string pattern.

Those with an NTRP skill level in the 3.5+ range should look at the K Factor Blade Team. Its 4.2 points, head light balance works well for those with a moderate swing. The head size is 104 square inches and has an 18 x 19 string pattern.

Another option for those with a moderate swing is the K Factor Four. The skill level for this racquet is in the 3.0-4.5 NTRP range, so it would likely be a good fit for those considering the Blade Team model. It has a 3 points, head heavy balance with a head size of 105 square inches and a 16 x 19 string pattern.

If your skill level has advanced to the 4.5+ range, the K Factor Blade 98 is worthy of consideration. Its 98 square inch head allows greater maneuverability and its 3 points, head light balance works well with aggressive swings and it has an 18 x 20 string pattern.

Conclusion
The Wilson K Factor series represents a big step in racquet engineering and design. Players of all skill levels can take advantage of this technology that uses common, everyday materials.

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HEAD are celebrating their 25th anniversary with a Prestige racquet giveaway. On the 25th of every month this year Head will be giving away a Free HEAD Prestige. To win a racquet all you need to do is go to the Head Facebook app: https://www.facebook.com/headtennis?sk=app_322073137816607

The Power of Prestige Teaser:

25 years of Prestige Film:

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Over the years, tennis racquets have evolved, going from wooden racquets with animal intestine strings to that of Volkl`s Power Bridge 1 tennis racquet which uses Power Bridge technology, the Prince EXO3 Silver 115 made with an enhancing Energy Channel and many more racquets from top brands in the industry.

The Power Bridge 1 tennis racquet from Volkl is perfect for a player searching for the best racquet with a lightweight and powerful frame. It`s Power Arm technology offers punishing acceleration on the ball. The Power Bridge technology is implemented in two mechanisms; the DNX technology and the reduction of the cross-section of the bridge while maintaining stability.

The Prince EXO3 Silver 115 has reduced the head size to 115 square inches from the previous model and has shortened the length to 27.25 inches. Also included in this tennis racquet is the patented Thermocarbon string suspension inserts, resulting in a better feel and a larger sweet spot.

The EXO3 technology is an active technology that works to transfer a maximum of 26% more energy back into the ball on impact giving more spin and precision. The Energy Channel is a channel within the frame that promotes more strength, increased ball control and raises spin up to 25%. The Energy Bridge is an exo-skeletal configuration that hangs the string bed from the frame, thus making the head size for a sweet spot up to 83% larger.

Over the years tennis racquets have come quite a long way from the original wooden frame and catgut strings. Top tennis equipment brands have introduced technology into their racquet lines.

New racquets from industry tycoons like Wilson, Prince, Babolat, Volkl and many others now offer more stable racquets with larger sweet spot sizes, increased control, more power and many other benefits. The game of tennis has more or less remained the same, but the equipment has changed the sport for the better.

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Babolat’s Pure Drive racquets have been a consistent leader in sales volume and are recognized as appropriate sticks for a wide variety of skill levels. There must be a reason…

All Babolat Pure Drive racquets feature three main technologies:
1)  Cortex System
2)  GT
3)  Woofer

Benefits of the Vibration Filter
The Cortex Dampening System (CDS) is an active vibration filter that enhances feel.  “Feel” is tough to describe and may mean different things to different people.  Babolat Pure Drive racquets, however, have had great success with the Pure Drive Series and one of the most common remarks heard is “it just feels great”!  The CDS is an interface between the upper half (racquet face/frame) and the lower half (racquet handle).  It interrupts, or “filters” unwanted vibrations from reaching the player’s hand.  This, in turn, improves the player’s sensation of ball impact, i.e., ball “feel”.  Not all vibrations are removed (players need to know what’s going on).  Generally speaking, high-frequency vibrations are removed while useful low-frequency vibrations are retained.  Any regular tennis player seems to know the difference between “good sound” and “bad sound” upon ball impact (I was SURE that ball was going to be IN—it sounded so GOOD!).  Babolat says that Expert Players will benefit from the CDS because of its enhanced feel and that intermediate players will benefit from the additional comfort it provides.

Lighter Weight through Scientific Advancements
Babolat GT refers to the materials used to manufacture Pure Drive racquets:  Graphite Tungsten.  Used throughout the entire racquet, GT is a hybrid technology that combines braided carbon fibers with tungsten filaments added.  Babolat states that GT technology improves racquet performance in the areas of “control” and “feel”.  Babolat scientifically applies different concentrations of tungsten at strategic locations on each racquet to maximize its beneficial aspects.  Babolat also states that GT technology results in a 10%  increase in energy recovery which provides more power.

We’re Not Making Music Here
Woofer is Babolat’s invention and is designed to increase the interaction between the frame and the strings.  Part of thePure Driveracquet’s grommet system, it consists of raised areas between the grommet holes which act as cushions for the strings.  When a ball hits the stringbed this allows 25% more contact time of the ball on the strings.  The result is more control and a very comfortable feel.

As you can now tell, there is more to selecting a racquet than a pretty paint job. Tennis companies spend a great deal of money designing features that will give their products an edge over the competition.  Babolat has been, and remains, a leader in the industry.  Their racquet technology has surely been instrumental in their success—many racquets are purchased because they “feel good”.  And why not?

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