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Wilson's racket collection expands with the newly introduced Shift V1, specially designed for extra spin. With three models, 285, 300 and 315 grams, the American tennis brand offers players of all different levels the opportunity for optimal rotation in their strokes.
In modern tennis, topspin shots are absolutely dominant. The majority of balls hit on the ATP and WTA tours contain forward rotation, to control the powerful shots and allow the ball to descend in time to land neatly within the lines. That is why almost every major racket manufacturer offers at least one racket family, which focuses entirely on adding as much spin as possible to the game of tennis players at different levels. For example, one of the most well-known manufacturers, Wilson, introduces the Shift V1.
Revolutionary ARC 3D Technology
The Wilson Shift V1 is produced with the revolutionary ARC 3D technology. Due to this technology, Shift tennis rackets offer unparalleled vertical flexibility. Compared to the well-known spin-oriented tennis rackets from other brands, the performance of the Wilson Shift V1 rackets in terms of vertical bending is superior. While the best of the existing spin racket families bend up to a maximum of 4.4 mm, the Shift V1 frames reach 8.0 mm. Taking into account the aforementioned modern, vertical swing movements of tennis players, this extra flexibility of Wilson's new spin-oriented rackets results in an increase in the number of ball rotations of an average of 100 RPM (rotations per minute) per stroke.
Experiences
Before Wilson launched this new racket family, the brand had the prototype frames tested by many players from all over the world. This is also done by Eliza and Ruben on behalf of Tennis Only. A useful and unique detail of these prototype rackets was the integrated QR code on the frame. After scanning the code, you were guided to a digital environment where your feedback was asked. The results of the prototype testing revealed that more than 62% of players who provided feedback preferred the Wilson Shift V1 over their current proprietary racket(s).
Our Findings
While hitting the first few balls, both Eliza and Ruben experience a different racket feeling than normal. Ruben in particular had to switch gears in the beginning. His swing is mostly horizontal and must now accelerate from bottom to top to maintain control. Once adjusted, he noticed that the racket does what it promises, namely imparting spin to the ball. The vertical flexibility of the frame also ensured that he retained sufficient feeling in his shots, unlike other spin-oriented rackets he tested. His colleague Eliza agrees with the majority of 62% who prefer the Shift V1 over their own racket. In fact, she has officially switched to the Wilson Shift 99 and now plays with the limited Session de Soirée version.
What models are there?
The current collection of Wilson Shift V1 rackets consists of three models: the Wilson Shift 99L V1, Wilson Shift 99 V1 and the Wilson Shift 99 Pro V1. The Wilson Shift 99 V1 is also available in a limited edition Roland Garros 'Session de Soirée' version. The 99L is the lightest of the three at 285 grams. This makes this the most accessible version for beginning or intermediate players. A step heavier, at 300 grams you will find the 99. Like the 99L, this version has a 16x20 string pattern, which offers the right balance between spin potential, control and string durability. Partly because of this, as well as the weight of the 99, this is the most popular variant among (slightly) advanced tennis players. The heaviest of the three, the 99 Pro, weighs 315 grams and has a slightly denser, 18x20 string pattern. This improves control and string durability, so that even players with the most powerful spin strokes can use a Wilson Shift V1 tennis racket.
Are you also curious about how the rackets play? Then you are always welcome to pick up a test tracket in the store, or order one online (only for customers with a delivery address in Belgium and the Netherlands).