Tennis Magazine

FIRST TAKE:
Wilson�s latest club-level stick is for players who want a racquet that�s light and powerful.

COMPARE TO:
Wilson Triad 3

HOW IT TESTED:
The n3 has a lively, almost springy string bed, thanks to nZone. These large oval channels at the 3 and 9 o�clock positions of the head allow the grommets, and therefore the strings, to move more on impact. Wilson has also super sized the head and given the frame a head-heavy balance. Together, these specs make the n3 a powerful weapon for players with short strokes. It was a favorite among slice-and-dicers, junkballers, and anyone else who generated spin by taking a truncated swing. But hit out and the trampoline-like effect works against you; the problem, primarily, is balls sailing long. Maneuverability could be a little better, particularly at net, where the racquet can be a slight drag on your volleys. The n3 also has a vibration-eating yoke between the head and the handle. Fans of the frame�s three-piece predecessor, Triad 3, which shares the same head size, balance, and weight, will notice more feel and less dampening because the n3 has a thin polymer above the handle instead of a thick one in the throat. Overall, it�s a solid pick if you want comfort to go with your power.

BOTTOM LINE:
Short-swinging, spin-producing gamers will like this frame.

nCode, an exclusive Wilson nano technology process, takes tennis beyond the merely possible. Because nCode releases untapped performance from within the racquet to deliver unparallel stability, greater frame integrity and explosive power. At 10-9, or one-billionth of a meter, the nano scale is too small to see. But the difference in an nCoded racquet's playability is too big to ever forget.

With nano technology, Wilson broke the atomic code of the racquet to create a new class of frames. This revolutionary process, striking new frame design and new string bed technology (nZone) combine to deliver greater life, power and playability.

Racquets are made of billions of carbon fibers linked together and heatshaped. These carbon fibers are strong, light and resilient. Nevertheless, at the nanoscopic level voids exist between the individual fibers which create stress points. By reinforcing the molecular structure of the frame and filling these voids, nCode technology improves a racquet's playability while preserving it's unique playing characteristics.