Overall Rating
PROs:
+ perfect control of the ball
+ easy to swing
+ lightweight but still full of power
+ with the introduction of v2, the price of the original Clash model went significantly lower
CONs:
– frame color is not very appealing
View prices at the Wilson store here
Wilson Clash was the most expected racket in 2019. 15th February, was the day of the big premiere. Wilson uses the word “revolution” as the synonym for the Clash in its marketing. And that, of course, raised high expectations among tennis players.
The second version of Clash, Clash V2 was introduced in March 2022.
At the moment, there are six different versions for adult players (Clash 100, Clash 100 Pro, Clash 98, Clash 100L, Clash 100UL and Clash 108) and two versions for junior players. See full specifications in the table below:
WILSON CLASH SPECIFICATIONS
| WILSON | Clash 100 | Clash 100 Pro | Clash 98 | Clash 100L | Clash 100UL | Clash 108 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Players | Intermediate | Advanced | Advanced | Beginners | Beginners | Beginners |
| Head Size | 100 sq in/645 sq cm | 100 sq in/645 sq cm | 98 sq in/632 sq cm | 100 sq in/645 sq cm | 100 sq in/645 sq cm | 108 sq in/697 sq cm |
| Length | 27 in/68.58 cm | 27 in/68.58 cm | 27 in/68.58 cm | 27 in/68.58 cm | 27 in/68.58 cm | 27.25 in/69.22 cm |
| Weight [unstrung] | 10.4 oz/295 g | 10.9 oz/310 g | 10.9 oz/310 g | 9.9 oz/280 g | 9.3 oz/265 g | 9.9 oz/280 g |
| Balance | 10 pts HL/31 cm | 12 pts HL/30.6 cm | 12 pts HL/30.6 cm | 9 pts HL/31.5 cm | 1 pts HL/34.1 cm | 3 pts HL/33.5 cm |
| VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON or read our REVIEW | VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON | VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON | VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON | VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON | VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON |
Wilson changes the name of Tour Rackets to Pro Rackets (Pro as professionals) as of February 2020. The new name should give a clear signal of who is the target player of the Pro racket.
WILSON CLASH FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS
| WILSON | Clash 26 | Clash 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Head Size | 100 sq in/645 sq cm | 100 sq in/645 sq cm |
| Length | 26 in/66 cm | 25 in/63.50 cm |
| Weight [unstrung] | 8.64 oz/245 g | 8.46 oz/240 g |
| Balance | 4 pts HL | 4 pts HL |
| VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON | VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON |
I would say that the specifications point to the exact group of players. Clash 98 and 100 Pro are aimed at professionals or more advanced players. The Clash 100 is the model most suited for an intermediate or advanced player. The Clash 100L and Clash 108 are mostly for juniors and recreational players. Clash 25 and 26 are shorter and lighter rackets for junior players.
I decided to test the Clash 100, the model for advanced or upper-intermediate players. It took three months to get the brand new Wilson Clash 100 in my hands. And now you can read below my notes from playtesting this revolutionary model.
What exactly did I test?
Let’s start with the technical specifications of the racket I played with.
Racket: Wilson Clash 100
Weight: 295 grams/10.4 ounces (without strings) 312 grams/11 ounces (with strings)
Length: 27 inches/685 millimetres
Head Size: 100 square inches/645 square centimetres
String pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses
Recommended String tension: 47 to 57 lbs/21 to 26 kgs
Unstrung balance: 310 mm/10 pts HL
Embedded technologies:
Free Flex technology for maximum control.
Stable Smart frame geometry for maximum stability and power.
Version 1.0 is written inside the Wilson Clash frame. Does it mean Wilson is planning version 2.0? How do they want to improve the perfect racket?
Design
Wilson Clash 100 Color Design (black-grey-orange)
View the price of WILSON CLASH at the official store HERE
Wilson keeps a unified design for all its tennis racket models. Looking at the colour on the middle part of the frame gives you a clear hint of what type the racket is. The green frame is Blade, orange is Burn, black is ProStaff, blue is Ultra and grey is Clash.
The brand new Wilson Clash got a black handle, grey middle of the frame, and orange top. The change compared to the other models is clearly visible. The colour of the handle and the colour of the top is different. It is probably the message that Clash is the mix of the best features of ProStaff (black) and Burn (orange) tennis rackets.
The colour combination and matte design look very decently. However, I prefer more courage from Wilson designers, as I do not think grey is the most appealing colour. But I understand the point that the mass market does not like the crazy colour combination as much as I. (Wilson now provides the possibility to choose custom frame colours when ordering Clash racket)
The frame looks massive and I expected Clash will be a heavy racket. The first touch proves my first impression was wrong.
Playing with Wilson Clash 100 Tennis Racket
I am calling myself an upper-intermediate player. That makes me the target audience for Wilson Clash – the racket revolution. And I will make it clear right at the start. I was impressed! (And I am still impressed.)
Read the full list of our Tennis Racquet Reviews or Best Tennis Racket for Every Player Guide
Comfort – Feel
Wilson Clash 100
I never got used to a new racket so quickly. No need to play weeks with The Clash to get accustomed to its features and tweaks. Immediately after I start hitting I was connected. It sounds incredible, but that is true. This racket really worked right at the start.
The 295 grams weight of the frame seems too light but is absolutely enough for me. The swings went so easy with the Wilson Clash. I did not need any extra effort to give the power to the ball. Everything you need is to focus on your swing. It has to be easy to learn the perfect swing with this racket.
And there is no need to be afraid of arm injuries or muscle fatigue. The racket is 295 grams light, so very arm-friendly. Another positive point was earned by Wilson Clash.
View the price of WILSON CLASH at the official store HERE
Control – Accuracy
I am not afraid of the control with rackets under 300 grams. And that is the case with Wilson Clash. But I was surprised by how easy it was to put the ball exactly where I want.
I appreciate the way how you can play the balls immediately after the bounce. You can hide the hit from your opponent, you will surprise him and you can pick the side and length of the shot.
Volleys were another point I try to find something negative, but I gave up. Wilson Clash simply worked for me on the net too.
Power – Strength
The power of the hits was the main question before the practice. Would I be able to hit powerful flat strikes with such a light tennis racket? The answer is pretty simple. Yes, I was.
Wilson Clash is doing a lot of things instead of you. For example, you do not need to put extra effort into the shots. I could pressure the opponent with fast swings, with no need to do anything except the perfect swing. It was really easy to come from defence to attack mode. It is really hard to describe how easily the shots went.
I am not using the spin often or better said I could use spin more often than I do. Wilson Clash has a big spin potential which I did not use almost at all. The reason was simple. I enjoyed how easy was to shoot powerful forehands anytime I wanted from every possible position or angle.
I am always struggling with the strength of my backhand. This time I had a great time on the backhand side. I was never shooting so powerful backhand flat shots on the line like with Wilson Clash. The technologies embedded in the frame do their job well.
View the price of WILSON CLASH at the official store HERE
Summary
I was really impressed with Wilson Clash 100. It really has the potential to be a revolutionary model. I recommend it to anyone looking for a new racket to try Wilson Clash. It has all you need. It is light and saves your arms, it provides excellent control and does not take you back on power. An ideal combination for all intermediate and advanced players. This time the marketing did not lie.
Wilson Clash has the potential to be a really big hit. It made it to the number one spot in my ranking of best tennis rackets immediately.
WILSON CLASH
Wilson Clash is the latest model from Wilson. Version 1 was introduced in February 2019, and Version 2 in March 2022. Clash offers a unique combination of power, control, and spin for all intermediate and advanced players. Version 1 prices went significantly lower after the introduction of Version 2.
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Thank for this, well done.
And between clash 100 and 98?
It depends on your level of play. I am satisfied with 100 as it is more forgiving and more comfortable to play; however, if you are an advanced player, then no need to be afraid of 98.
Thanks so much for your helpful review of Wilson Class 100. I have owned a Babolat Pure Drive Lite racket since 2012. I am only 5′ tall and weigh 44kg. This was the reason why I picked Babolat Pure Drive Lite (275g unstrung). I consider myself now a hobby intermediate player. I enjoy tennis much and always aim to improve my skills so I can enjoy more but not for competition purpose. I used to have tennis arm some years ago and it was mainly due to lack of skills and proper technique. I don’t get tennis arm anymore and prefer to avoid getting one again. The string I use is Signum Pro Fire Storm which I am comfortable with. Now My question to you is: there are many reviews about Clash 100 for intermediate players. I am wondering for my size and weight, is it OK to buy Clash 100L(280g unstrung) instead of 100 (295g unstrung). Will Wilson Class 100L be a disadvantage to me as I am not a beginner player anymore? Thank you in advance for your advice! Jule
Thanks for your kind words about our review.
Per your question:
Frankly, the tennis arm is a tricky issue. I would try to find a shop where they have both versions for trial purposes. That is the only (and the best) way how to find out. A few practices with both specifications give you the answer.
Generally, the slight difference in length can influence your performance for a while. The same is true for the difference in weight. It would take some time to get used to that. But it is always better than have any health problems.
Let me know how you decided and what your experience was. It can help many people with similar issues.
My Wilson Clash Tour 100 had major cosmetic paint issues. All the light gray paint bubbled off. I am in Florida, but when not playing the racquet is in air conditioned house (and not car.) Then all the decal paint peeled off. Then all the rest of the paint chipped. It plays great but looks like a mess. I called Wilson and they revealed it was a common problem with the 1.0 version and expected to be better in the 2.0 version. They would not support my model since I purchased it thru an ebay vendor even though new in box. Still living in Florida, so wondering has anyone had a paint issue with the 2.0 version?? I hesitate to buy another with the same bubbling away paint problem.
Any structural difference between the Version 1.0 and Version 2.0? Or is it only cosmetic?
Not revealed yet. We have to wait.
Hi great review! What string and tension did you use? I heard the racquet is string sensitive. Thanks in advance
Hi, I use Babolat RPM Blast and tension 23 x 24 kg at the moment.
Hello, very in-depth review, what string did you use with the Clash models?
I currently have Babolat RPM Blast. I am satisfied but will try Luxilon next time I’ll restring.