Welcome to the New Wilson 2006 Tennis Line

Just like in every other year, Wilson will be introducing new products into its already massive line of tennis racquets, strings, grips, balls, and shoes. Also there will be some items that have been discontinued, but replaced by an upgraded, and usually improved replacement. I will take you through all of the above mentioned categories, and let you know what is new, and what to expect. I will give shorts bios of all of the new stuff, but I will not be spending a lot of time on the old stuff since you can read my reviews on those on an item by item basis. Also don't look for this info on wilsontennis.com, it isn't there as of today (2/27/06), so consider this an insider look at the new gear!

Racquets:

In 2006 Wilson will be introducing 4 new performance nCode frames. The nCode technology stays in line for it's third year of dominating tennis. nCode is the use of silicone oxide crystals to fill in the microscopic gaps between graphite fibers to produce a stronger, more powerful, more stable racquet. Trust me it works.

The n1, n3, n4, n6.1 95 and tour, and the nTour stay in the line and remain unchanged.

Over the next year
the following racquets will be "phased out" and replaced. Say goodbye to the n5, n6, nPro, nPro Surge, nPS 95, and nVision. If you use and love any of these, look to find them at closeout prices online in the next few months.

Now for the new stuff.

n5 Force 98 & 110

The n5 Force replaces the n5. Essentially it is the same racquet, but with added power and the addition of nano foam, for a more quiet frame. The Triad technology stays and is still the best technology for players with arm issues. This would be a good frame for advanced intermediate players with arm injuries. Others may not like the dead feel you get from the Triad technology. It's head heavy balance will suit baseliners best. Look for this frame to hit the street mid April.

nSix-Two 100 & 113

This is the replacement for the n6, but is actually the next generation of the old Hammer 6.2 or "the skunk." Wilson has owned the market on this type of racquets for the last decade. This racquet also feature nano foam, and I predict it will be a best seller among intermediate and advanced intermediate players who prefer a head heavy frame. Look for this one around the middle of March.

nBlade 98 & 106

There isn't a lot to say about this frame. It replaces the nPS 95. It is a head light frame for players that can't quite handle the heft of the n6.1 95. I'm not sure how this frame will do, but give it a look mid April.

nPro Open & nPro Open X

These replace the nPro and nPro Surge. I loved the nPro for advanced doubles players, but didn't love the nPro Surge as much. Both frames come in a 100" head size and are head light, which makes them great at the net. Both frames also feature nano foam, but that is all that has really changed.

W Line

Wilson's W line consists of three different racquets made specifically for women. They were introduced in September, and have done amazingly well at my club. There are very few clubs that carry them, but they are very good racquets. The cool thing about these racquets is that you have color options. The W2 is a lighter more powerful racquet, the W4 is a "tweener" racquet that most players will like, and the W6 is a serious playing racquet for a serious lady. I will be writing an entire Epinion on the W line in the near future so I'll go into depth at that time. Nothing changes about this line for now.

Strings:

There isn't a lot of change in the string line for Wilson in 2006. NXT is the top synthetic they make, and it is also available in a poly-hybrid, as is Sensation, and Natural Gut. They now also offer a line of string that goes with the W racquets, called Reflection. It is offered in some colors including red and pink.

You may also know that Wilson is now the US distributor of Luxilon strings, the bench mark for polyester strings in the industry. The entire line is now availible through Wilson and is widely used on tour.

Grips:

There is even less new about the grips in 2006. There is the addition of a replacement grip that feels like the mega popular Pro Overgrip (read my opinion on that), and they now make the Pro Overgrip in a variety of colors, which I don't understand since what makes the Pro Overgrips so great is that there is no dye in them to get in the way of sweat absorbsion. Oh well, they will sell like hotcakes no matter what!

Shoes:

This is where you will see the most change from 2005. Wilson has discontinued all of their performance shoes that were made before this year (with the exception of the Pro Staff Clasics), and replaced them with much better looking and performing shoes.

The men have 6 new shoes to look forward to. But I will only be focusing on four of them.

Open

These are a super light radical looking shoe that is due to release in April. It comes in white and red or white and black. But the best thing about this shoe is the new foot ventilation system. You can feel the air sweep beneath your feet during play! This could be interesting on clay courts, but we'll see! I love these shoes, and am eagerly awaiting my pair from Wilson.

Tour

These are a more traditional looking shoe, but it comes in a non-traditional charcoal color as well as white. It features DST heel cushioning, and a 6 month outsole guarantee.

ETF

This is a light tennis/fitness shoe. It features a velcro wrap rather than laces, so it doesn't have the lateral support that serious players demand. It comes in navy and white, or grey and red. They look cool, but I'm not sure how well they will do.

Qualifier

This is the new updated Pro Staff 1000. They are re-styled but instantly recognized. They also have the new ventilation system, and the heel lock technology that keeps your toes from slamming into the front of the shoe. I have loved the Pro Staff 1000 shoes for the last two years, and I'm sure these will be as good if not better. They also come in widths.

The other two shoes this year are the Challenger and Wildcard. These are basic shoes that perform well, but there is nothing special about them . The Wildcard comes in a 3/4 top, for extra ankle support.

The Women's line shares all of the same shoes with the exception of the Open. The colors are softer and more pastel, to appeal to women, and the Wildcard comes in two color options(white/grey, white/pink). The colors are great, but you will have to see them with your eyes.

So that is the extensive look at the 2006 Wilson line. If you have any questions please feel free to shoot me a message, or leave a comment. I hope that this will help to you make a better decision when deciding what new equipment you want from the #1 brand in tennis, Wilson.