If you've been hunting the internet for the Wilson Python, the Wilson Redline, Project P, or a mysterious P98, P98 Pro or P100 spotted on tour, you can stop searching. They're all the same racket, and it finally has an official name: the Wilson Defyer.
As official Wilson stockists, here's the full story of the racket behind all those names – what it's called now, what's actually in the frame, who's playing it, and how to get one in the UK from our tennis racket range.
One racket, many names: Python, Project P, P98/P100, Redline & Defyer
New Wilson franchises don't stay secret for long. Months before launch, blacked-out frames started appearing on practice courts, and tennis forums lit up trying to name it:
- Project P / P98 / P100 — the placeholder names attached to the prototype frames seen with tour players, the numbers pointing to the two head sizes in testing: a 98 and a 100.
- Wilson Python — the nickname that stuck in online chatter as speculation grew about a new spin-focused Wilson franchise sitting alongside Blade, Clash and Pro Staff.
- Redline — this one was real. Before Wilson settled on a public name, the franchise was developed internally under the name Redline — and that name survives on the very first production run (more on that below).
- Defyer — the official name. The Wilson Defyer V1 2026 is Wilson's all-new spin franchise, built to hit heavy, dipping topspin and dictate baseline exchanges.
The Wilson Defyer range at a glance
The Defyer arrives in the unmissable Adrenalyn Red colourway in four frames:
- Wilson Defyer 98 Pro — the precision weapon. 98 sq in, 305 g, 16x20 pattern for heavy spin with a controlled launch. This is the frame the P98 Pro rumours were about and the one tour players have switched to.
- Wilson Defyer 100 — the heart of the range. 100 sq in, 300 g, open 16x19 pattern: heavy topspin with a forgiving sweet spot. The P100 is one of the leaks.
- Wilson Defyer 100L — the same spin DNA at a lighter 285 g, ideal for improvers building a modern top-spin game.
- Wilson Defyer 100UL — the easiest-swinging Defyer at 265 g, perfect for juniors stepping up and anyone who values fast, fatigue-free swings.
What's actually in the frame
The Defyer isn't a repaint — it's a new technology package built for one job: spin you can control.
- TORQ Shaft Tech — a sculpted shaft that transfers kinetic energy from your swing into the hoop for leverage, stability and racket-head speed.
- SI3D — a flexible hoop for ball interaction and feel, paired with a stiffer throat for power and spin.
- Airfoil Bumper — smooths airflow around the hoop so the frame cuts through the air faster.
- Dual Taper Beam & Parallel Drilling — an expanded sweet spot for a confident response under pressure.
Who's playing the Defyer on tour?
The frames you saw blacked out in practice weren't a mirage. Karen Khachanov and Sebastian Korda have switched to the Defyer 98 Pro, while young French star Moise Kouame and WTA power hitter Peyton Stearns are competing with Defyer frames.
The Redline Concept Edition — the name that survived
Here's the part collectors will care about. Before the Defyer name went public, the project was called Redline — and the very first production run of the Defyer 98 Pro and Defyer 100 carries that original development name etched on the hoop. Identical frame, layup and performance to every Defyer that follows – but a finite first batch with a piece of the franchise's origin story on it. These are the Redline Concept Editions, and once they're gone, they're gone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wilson Python a real racket?
Python was never an official Wilson name — it was the internet's nickname for the unreleased spin franchise. The racket was launched as the Wilson Defyer.
What is the Wilson Redline?
Redline was the internal development name for the Defyer project. The first production run of the Defyer 98 Pro and Defyer 100 carries the Redline mark on the hoop — the limited Redline Concept Edition.
What were the P98, P98 Pro and P100?
Prototype designations for what became the Defyer 98 Pro and Defyer 100.
Who is the Wilson Defyer for?
Baseline players who want heavy, controllable topspin. The 98 Pro suits advanced and competitive players; the 100 is the all-rounder; the 100L and 100UL bring the same spin DNA to lighter swings.
Get yours at Central Sports
We're an official Wilson stockist with the full Defyer V1 2026 range – including the first-run Redline Concept Editions while they last. Browse the Wilson tennis racket range or the full tennis racket collection, and if you're not sure which frame fits your game, our team restrings and custom-fits rackets every day — get in touch and we'll point you to the right Defyer.
