Rackets411.com

108 Sq In
27.25 in
10.2 oz strung

An update to the popular K-Factor Five, the Khamsin Five gets the BLX treatment interweaving Basalt fibers into the frame to lessen vibration and enhance feel. The 16*20 string pattern provides ample option for spin while the extended length, head heavy balance and 329 swing weight keep you from getting pushed around. My demo was strung with Wilson Hollowcore Pro midrange.

I tested it out over a weekend of mostly doubles play with a variety of players ranging from 3.0-4.5 and here’s what I learned.

Groundstrokes:
This racquet brings the power, regardless of your swing speed. If you have a faster swing speed the open pattern will also allow for deep and penetrating topspin strokes. My forehand cleared the net with more room to spare with the Five. On the backhand, I had to work on following through, however again found the same depth along with a bit more power for my one hander. The ability to hit a good slice was a nice surprise for me, as I had doubts about the 26mm beam and if it would get in the way. Slices were full of bite instead of the usual defensive play, despite the occasional mishit.

Volleys:
Coming from a smaller midplus (<100sq in) background, I wondered if my net game would lack control from the larger head size and if the head heavy frame would make it tougher to get around on well-hit passing shots. The swingweight is closer to a BLX 95 model. I enjoyed it at the net and found as long as I was in position, the Khamsin Five would do the rest. The head heavy balance allowed for good depth and penetration within the court while the oversize head provided some forgiveness for mishits. Without getting too scientific, I do believe this is an area where the Articulated Grommet Technology (AGT) is helpful. The system placed in the 3 and 9 o’clock areas allow the strings up to 76 degrees of movement, enhancing the sweetspot and ball pocketing.

Serves & Returns:
Once again, the power and spin this racquet affords is evident in each department. My kick serve benefited and along with general net play, received the most comments during my testing. The overall stiffness of the frame also allowed easy access to power, and I found myself using a slightly lower toss when going for bigger serves than normal.

Returns were a breeze. If you were able to get the racquet on a serve, the ball was getting back to your opponent. Even a simple block would carry some heaviness and pace while a modest swing could allow you to go from defense to offense in a flash. My fave return with the Khamsin Five is the inside out forehand while playing doubles. Hitting behind the server and out of reach from the net person was almost too easy.

The last time I hit with a racquet that even reminds me of the Wilson BLX Khamsin Five was when my dad had an original Wilson Profile Hammer 2.7 nearly 20 years ago. Up until it arrived from TennisExpress.com to review I’d never have even thought about even using a lighter, yet head heavy option. While I will continue to use my current sticks for singles play, my experiences with it have me considering adding it to my bag when doubles is the order of the day.

If you are someone who plays mostly doubles and is looking for more access to spin, yet not a thin players racquet, or someone who wants a different option for doubles while keeping a high swingweight put the Wilson BLX Khamsin Five on your demo list from Tennis Express and test it out. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.