08/16/2026
I'll be upfront...the Wilson Defyer 98 Pro has one flaw. At the net, specifically on low volleys and touch situations below the waist, it felt a little weak. Like the racquet just couldn't hold up the way I needed it to when I had to rely purely on angle and stability.
That's the honest part.
Now here's the thing: I believe a small amount of lead tape fixes it. I haven't confirmed that yet, since I didn't want it to affect the review, but that's my read.
Because everything else about this frame is genuinely exceptional. The sweet spot is massive for a 98 and you can mis-hit and still hit a quality ball. Depth comes easily whether you're swinging hard or backing off. Flat serves off this thing have a sound to them I haven't heard from another frame. You can play flat or load up spin and switch between the two on a dime, which isn't something a lot of racquets let you do.
Dad even hit with it and he is a 4.0 player in his 50s and came back with the same reaction I had. Easy depth, good maneuverability, loved it on serve.
I've been playing with the Speed Tour, and I lean toward modern traditional frames, like the Extreme Tour, the Radical, the Speed Tour. This fits that world but takes it somewhere further. I genuinely think Wilson was missing a frame like this, and they nailed it on the first try.
Top-two racquet of the year for me. Possibly number one right now.
Full review is up on the channel if you want the full breakdown before you demo or buy. Links in the description to try it at a discount.
