This Wilson Clash 100 review deals with the Wilson Clash 100 V3. The popular comfort racquet returns to its former glory.
The Wilson Clash took the club tennis world by storm when it arrived in 2019. A great launch campaign paired with a racquet that offered a mix of comfort and power and spin made the Clash into a bestseller.
When V2 was launched in 2022, it was not quite as successful. The feel was a little more muted and some of that addictive ball pocketing from the 1st generation was gone. Now, the Clash returns back to its origin with a V1-inspired cosmetic and performance and playability more reminiscent of the original. Players looking for a fun mix of comfort, power and spin should demo the Clash. It has saved many elbows over the years.
Where to buy the Wilson Clash V3?
The Wilson Clash V3 is now available from Wilson.com or Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada), Tennis Warehouse Europe (10% discount using code TNERD10) and Tennis Only (AU).
You can also get the latest gear from Tennis Point Germany!
You can also get the latest gear from Tennis Point Spain!
According to Wilson, they have tightened up spec tolerances, similar to what they did with their Blade V9. This effort is much appreciated!
Tech
Wilson claims to have refined the layup with SI3D, which is supposed to increase horizontal bending (for added dwell time, pocketing, and control) while maximizing vertical bending (for easier access to spin).
They also introduce Hit Stabilizer technology for greater torsional stability, resulting in easier access to power and less racquet wobbling on off-center impact.
Other updates include minor tweaks to the geometry in the shaft and yoke to facilitate multidirectional bending.
These are small tweaks of make what was good about the V1 Clash even better in the V3.
Specifications
As we can see in from the average strung specifications from Tennis Warehouse, the swing weight is maneuverable and the stiffness is low. But you get surprising levels of power and stability despite these low-ish numbers.
The Clash 100 remains very fast to swing and the sweet spot is relatively large and forgiving.
Head Size: 100 in² / 645.16 cm² |
Length: 27in / 68.58cm |
Strung Weight: 11oz / 312g |
Balance: 12.59in / 31.98cm / 7 pts HL |
Swingweight: 308 |
Stiffness: 54 |
Beam Width: 24.5mm / 24.5mm / 24.5mm |
Composition: Graphite |
Power Level: Low-Medium |
Stroke Style: Medium-Full |
Swing Speed: Medium-Fast |
Racquet Colors: Black/Red |
Grip Type: Wilson Pro Performance |
String Pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses |
Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H |
Playability and performance
From the first hit, you are taken back to the beautiful ball pocketing of V1. The lower flex helps the trampoline effect, while the high twist weight makes it ultra stable for its weight. It’s addictive to play with and can produce a heavy ball with a little bit of weight added, but when you slow down the swing, it can be somewhat difficult to control.
But the Clash is not made for players craving maxium precision. Then you can go for a Wilson Blade 98 or RF 01 or Pro.
Still, the racquet is just so easy and fun to play with that most players can overlook a slight lack of control at times. For the vast majority of club players, this racquet will do fine and for players looking for comfort, it will do more than fine, it will be an excellent choice!
At around 305 swing weight strung, this racquet lacked some weight to create a powerful shot. But it did not need much in terms of customization to have more punch from the back of the court. And if you don’t want to customize your racquets, you can go for the Clash Pro instead. They have lowered the weight on that one to 305g and made it slightly less headlight than for example V1. Also, the 16/20 string pattern of the Pro, gives the racquet more control.
The Clash 98 is discontinued in the V3 version. But there is the aforementioned Blade 98 or RF racquets if you want a control frame from Wilson.
Pros and cons
+ Comfort
+ Feel
+ Power
— Control
— Not for everyone in its unique feel
Summary
There are really no comparison or competitors to the Clash. It is such a unique racquet that you have to try it to find out if it is for you. If you prioritize comfort and like a long dwell time in the string bed, this is a must-demo.
High-level players that value control above all, might find the string bed a little launchy, as the unique playability of the Clash comes from its trampoline effect. But V3 is the best Clash yet, with improved control, while yet retaining that addictive feel.
The Clash 100 V3 is all about the fun of tennis. It is a racquet that brings a smile to your face and makes tennis feel easier than the impossibly difficult sport it is. Let me know what you think about the new Clash V3 in the comments below.
Jonas, how mushy does this version feel? Because of elbow issues I tried the previous two versions, but I felt the rackets were so dampened that I never knew where the ball was, a bit like the latest iteration of Yonex racket where the tech dampens the feel so much that you’ve no idea where the ball is.
I felt connected to the ball, not like a Prestige maybe, but the best Clash feel so far.
What are your views on the clash pro v3
I forgot to post the review; I will type it up now. It is an excellent racquet, more stable than the regular 100, but it requires more from the user with the higher swing weight.