So for this third installment, Wilson wanted the hitting notes to be closer to the original sheet music. Accordingly, the new SI3D technology softens the racquet in key places for an absolute pillowy feel at contact. More of the frame’s mass has been positioned at 3 and 9 o’clock of the hoop—dubbed Hit Stabilizer—to prevent the racquet from twisting for more reliable shots.
If you’ve hit with a prior Clash, then this one won’t really surprise. The ball sinks deep into the pocket at contact and effortlessly slingshots over the net. It’s a powerful frame in that it rewards a relaxed, medium-paced swing with good depth, and bails out imperfect contact, but doesn’t necessarily put a huge amount of pace on the ball. You can swing out on a first serve or bossy groundstroke, and still maintain a respectable measure of control. It’s arm-friendly, too: There’s virtually no shock on impact.
The spread 16×19 string pattern and spacious grommets can generate plenty of spin. With all that dwell time, the ball has an eternity to sit on and move the strings, before getting snapped back into the court. The breezy handling means you can generate racquet head speed to ramp up the rpms. For players with longer, faster swings the access to topspin is helpful for keeping shots inside the lines.
