Wilson’s Blade Rackets Utilise Aerospace Technology

Wilson has introduced high performance rackets using Countervail technology, integrating technology from the aerospace industry.

Countervail is a patented, layered carbon fibre originally designed for the aerospace industry to disperse vibration energy in aeroplanes and space craft.

Wilson LABS, the Wilson innovation hub, has placed precise amounts of the technology into certain areas of each Blade racket frame. This gives players physiological benefits, including maximum energy and less fatigue, with athletes having more control over their shots and recover from training and matches faster.

Countervail will minimise the effects of vibration, making it unlike any other racket material introduced in the tennis industry. The technology is also undetectable by the player, so the feel of the racket is maintained.

Milos Raonic transitioned to his new Blade racket with Countervail this year, and was the first professional athlete to use the technology on tour.

“When Wilson shared this technology with me at the start of the season, I knew I had to have it,” said Milos Raonic. “I made the switch just three days before the Australian Open, which was a risk, but it has paid off. I’ve had the best season of my career, and as I train, practice and play nearly every day, I’ve found that my energy, shot placement and late match power have gotten much better. The best part though, is that my Blade feels the same in my hands. I honestly can’t tell Countervail is in there, but I can feel it working.”

Wilson collaborated with the University of Minnesota’s School of Kinesiology to better understand how Countervail could aid performance tennis players. The School conducted a study with competitive collegiate players to determine if playing with the racket delivered benefits. In the study, athletes playing with a racket with Countervail, experienced up to 30% less vibrational energy in the racket, leading to 10% less fatigue when playing and also found with greater energy, these players had 40% more control over their shots.

Hans-Martin Reh, general manager of Wilson Racquet Sports said: “For years, we’ve heard from players, including Milos Raonic, about the compounding effects of rigorous training, playing and hitting on the body, specifically the hand, wrist, arm and shoulder.

“Our Wilson LABS team has continually explored how we could best protect a player’s body from absorbing vibrational energy from every shot. When we discovered Countervail from Materials Sciences Corporation, we knew we had found something special and that was unlike anything in tennis today.”