Hello, I am Jori Jori.
Wilson has released a new series, "DEFYER," which has garnered significant attention even before its launch, with rumors circulating that top pros are testing it in "Pro Stock."
Among them, the "DEFYER 98 PRO V1" is a tour model that fuses high-level control sought by competitors with modern spin performance.
It has an exquisite finish that adds spin performance to Wilson's unique "flexible softness," and it felt different from the 2023 Pure Aero 98, which has a similar mold (shape). If anything, it's closer to the feel of the latest "2026 Pure Aero 98."
By the way, the author, after comparing the "DEFYER 100" and "98,"I definitely prefer 98.It was!
(※Reviews for the "Wilson DEFYER 100 V1" areThis way!）
Overall evaluation
Compared to the 100, the feel was a bit firmer. However, it had decent spin performance with less explosive spin.
An excellent "control racket."
In stark contrast to rackets that generate spin on their own when you hit the ball hard, this one is the type where you “grip the ball firmly and use your own power to drive it and apply spin.” While the power assist is modest, there was very little face wobble even on full swings.
- Stroke: ★★★★★ (5 stars) The basic trajectory is low to medium, but with good spin, it can rise to a "slightly high" arcing trajectory. The ball-to-racket contact time is long, and it has high reproducibility, so it doesn't back out even when you hit it with a rising shot. The follow-through after the bounce seemed to have more power than Pure Aero or VCORE.
- Volley: ★★★★☆ (4 stars) It has minimal uncontrolled rebound (over-bounce). While the assist rating is lower than 100, the ball doesn’t feel like it floats, making it quite easy to handle. I fell in love with this racket’s volley performance, which is rated at 98.
- Serve: ★★★★☆ (4 stars) The swingweight is at an average level for a 98-square-inch racquet. However, because the "time to push the ball" is longer, you can apply power and spin effectively. It's a very easy-to-handle 98-square-inch racquet that makes it easy to hit any type of shot, whether it's flat, topspin, or slice.
Radar Chart Specifications
Catalog specs
| Item | Specifications |
| Face area | 98 square inches |
| Average weight | 305 grams |
| Balance point | 315 millimeters |
| Frame thickness | 22.0 – 23.5 – 22.0 mm |
| String pattern | 16 × 20 |
| Total length | 27.0 inches |
| Main Technologies | TORQ SHAFT, AIRFOIL BUMPER, SI3D |
impression
Stroke
"The security of not backing out even when driven in. Heavy balls fly."
The finish of the stroke was quite good. Some people might find it "a little stiff," but I personally liked the feel of the ball being crushed, which I really enjoyed.
The trajectory doesn't tend to rise on its own; when hit normally, it tends to come out a bit low. However, if you actively apply spin, the trajectory rises significantly, making it easier to control arcing shots.
If you try to meet it halfway, you'll feel like you're "flying off," but players who swing with conviction have less variation.This is a racket that is unlikely to cause mis-hits like accidental shots.
volley
High frame rigidity for zero surface shake
Even against your opponent's powerful shots, I feel absolutely no flex or flutter in the face of the racket. For volleys, it has a crisp, dry feel.
It doesn't have the same hold (ball-pocketing) feel as a stroke, but rather a feeling of cleanly "popping" it out. Volleys with a sharp finish were quite easy to hit.
Serve
I can hit any pitch without a problem.
From the toss of the serve to the finish, my swing was fine.
Given that the string pattern is somewhat dense at "16x20," the speed of flat serves and the sharpness of slice serves that slide sideways were particularly outstanding. While high spinning serves that bounce up require considerable head speed, it was well-suited for serves that keep the trajectory low and break down the opponent with speed and spin.
Comparison with competing rackets
| Racquet name | Soft feel when hitting the ball | Hold | Power assist | Spin performance | Trajectory height | Low incidence of explosive incidents (reproducibility) |
| Wilson Defyre 98 PRO V1 | 3/5 stars (A little firm) | 3/5 stars (If you shake it well, it holds well too) | 3/5 stars (Slightly reserved) | ★★★★☆ (Crushing Spin) | Low to medium | ★★★★★ (Reproducible 👍) |
| Yonex VCORE 98 | ★★★★☆ (YONEX's characteristic softness) | 3/5 stars (Slightly quick release) | ★★★★☆ (Good) | ★★★★★ (Catching spin) | Higher | 3/5 stars (Occasional accidental discharge) |
| Babolat Pure Aero 98 | 3/5 stars (Slightly firmer than Defyre) | ★★☆☆☆ (Slightly harder than Defyre?) | 3/5 stars (Slightly reserved) | ★★★★☆ (Crushing Spin) | Low to medium | ★★★★☆ (Almost no misfires) |
| Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) | ★★★★★ (Softly flexible) | ★★★★★ (Hold ○) | ★★☆☆☆ (Discreetly) | 3/5 stars (Natural rotation) | Low | ★★★★★ (Reproducible 👍) |
Recommended player
- A hard hitter who wants to swing the racket with a full swing.
- For those who want to hit heavy spin that drops sharply from a low trajectory, rather than spin that lifts the ball too high.
- For those who want a little more power than power assist, a boost in distance from their swing, and high controllability.
- Competitive students, and intermediate-to-advanced to advanced players.
Conversely, for those who prioritize assistance, wanting the racket to send the ball forward to some extent and to easily apply spin with little force, the "DEFYER 100 (300g/16x19)" from the same series would likely feel easier to handle.
Summary
In a word,"A slightly firmer feel, and an easy-to-hit 98 square inch racket."Is.
My impression was that the feeling of hitting it was close to the "2026 Pure Aero 98." The sharpness of volleys, in particular, is very similar. However, when it comes to strokes, the DYNER offers a "crushable softness" that feels characteristic of Wilson.
Wilson's new series, launched with great anticipation, is a highly complete and high-performance 98-square-inch racquet that lives up to expectations!
Thank you for reading this far.
