", Having hit just about every important Pro Staff this side of the wooden Jack Kramer, Granville was like a kid in candy store. I can boldly say this is the best racquet I have ever used for slices. As long as I could get the strings on the ball, I felt confident in at least getting the return to land in. All aspects of my ground game benefited from the RF97, as long as I was on time to the bus stop, so to speak. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph Review That felt so good!" As you can see the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is not a racquet for intermediate players. Amazon.com, Here is a great racquet buying guide to get you started. Length: 27 inches On defense, the stability shone and allowed me to stab at balls and get myself back into the point successfully. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. It evolved from over 127 prototypes and endured one of Wilsons most public product development processes ever. However, I found myself wishing for more free power and better maneuverability at times. WebSlice. Pushing the scale at 12.6 oz and with a 330 swingweight, the RF97 helped our wilson pro staff rf97 autograph v13 review. I served much better with the Pro Staff 6.0 85, even though it had an almost identical strung weight and swingweight. Although serves and returns proved more demanding for some, our testers loved what this racquet had to offer once they got used to its heavier feel. Brand New. The Gear of the Year 2017 This was a hefty racquet to swing off the ground. The depth on volleys came with ease, but I also found the short angles and drop volleys were enhanced with a responsive and crisp feel. It has very similar specs to the RF97. Very subtle changes, just the composition of the mold so the stiffness for instance is ajusted depending on the conditions of play. Pushing nearly 13 ounces, the RF97 delivered the unmistakable and incalculable benefits of stability. Speaking of fizz, access to spin is surprisingly effortless considering the rackets beefy swingweight. ", Marco - "The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph provided me with similar stick on my shots as the VCORE Pro 97 (330), although the RF97 did give me a slightly livelier response on slices and volleys. ", Peter - "Despite its heavier weight, the Pro Staff RF97 had relatively easy handling from the baseline and net. He currently plays with the Babolat Pure Control. Maneuverability-wise, this racquet reminded me a lot of the Yonex Tour G, which also felt very hefty. Jul 3, 2023 With this string setup shots outside the sweetspot felt firm but not harsh though I dont know what will happen when the poly goes dead. However, it was easy to fix this by adding an overgrip for more comfort. By the end of this playtest everyone was happy to report that this racquet remains one the best options available for advanced, big-swinging players. By the time we shot the review I was loving the serve with this racquet. Amazon.com: Wilson Pro Staff Rf97 He said, "Flat serves down the middle were coming off the racquet with some nice pop. Actual sales may not have occurred at this price. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph Some Restrictions Apply. I am very pleased with my purchase and would recommend it, but if you have the chance, find a place where you can demo a racquet and see if it fits your swing. He described, "When I was facing high-speed serves this racquet allowed me to deflect the ball back with ease. If you don't like it, return it for free! Since the RF97A is a pretty stiff racquet, I would try stringing Tour Bite Soft at 24 kg first and see how that feels. On service returns, our team discovered there is no substitute for a racquet that does not get pushed around. Any advice for the strings? ", Troy - "Just a bit out of the spec-range (12.9 oz. I can generate all the power available in my body and game and essentially repackage it with more spin out wide or more power down the middle. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 V13 Federer Autograph Tennis Racquet Whether I made contact in the sweetspot or slightly off center, it didn't seem to matter thanks to this racquet's stability. The RF97 definitely has a hefty feel to it, but I found I didn't need a whole lot of maneuvering to be effective. This racquet was always stable and effective when I was crushing volleys aggressively, but also when I was pulled wide and just sticking my racquet out to make something happen. Appreciate it. ", Big-hitting, left-handed Marco, of Australia's Tennis Only, liked the added plow through this racquet provided on his groundstrokes. The retail version vibrated when the ball touch the string bed while pro room version is quite stable. does it makes sense to have two so different rackets like RF97 Autograph and the blade? ", "Whoa! If you don't like it, return it for free! Wilson. and I like it through its still have less power than RF97A. Pro Staff RF97 Autograph: He explained, "I only needed minimal backswing to get the ball deep and low on the other side of the court. And its not just another new racket its an Autograph, reserved for tennis legends. I have three RF97As and the one that weighs a bit more (366 grams, 31,5 cm balance strung) plays much softer! Currently, Im using the Wilson Blade 98, which is a much lighter racket, so my initial worry was that the 340g Pro Staff would cause me to play the ball late. Engineered for one of the greatest players of all time, the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph 2018 plays just like the previous two versions, but has been dressed up with a Ive genuinely never felt as dialed in in terms of accuracy as I did with this stick. On fast reflex volleys, it was a little challenging at times to snap the racquet into position. I play for 3-4 hours at a time and it feels great. Maybe I got one from Federers batch . Good luck / Jonas. Any ball hitting the sweetspot felt plush and comfortable no matter how fast I swing the frame. "Up at net, I found that the racquet did the talking," started Marco. Serving was my absolute highlight, as the combination of power and control was pretty much unbeatable. This RF97 holds its ground and deflects the ball back easier than just about any racquet I have ever played with. In the playtest it felt like I was killing the point instead of leaving a half-finished ball for my opponent to eat up, as can often happen. thanks for any advice and keep up the good work. Stiffness: 68 RA ", Mark - "I sort of preferred the monochromatic paint scheme of his earlier prototype RFs, but I cannot regard it as a dislike. I also found it a little more difficult to access spin with this frame due to the added heft. Please suggest heavy racquet with low stiffness. Again, it was tough for me to whip this racquet around so I just used its mass to drive the ball deep with pace. in. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V13.0 Tennis Racquet RacquetCommitment Issues. When hitting a topspin return I found it easier to drive through the ball rather than try and roll it with a lot of spin. Federer would be using different frames depending on the surface is playing on. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. I have strung the 2018 up with Luxilon Alu Power at 23 kg and I think they play quite comfortable with a good mix of power and control. The Blade has more weight in the racquet head than the Pro Staff 97 CV, which is why it will still play stable. Featured Signings. Sub-forums. WebWilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph 4-3/8" Tennis Racket 1 product rating About this product Brand new $1,000.00 Make an offer: Brand New 2 watching Brand new: Lowest price $1,000.00 Free Shipping Buy It Now Add to cart or Best Offer Make Offer Watch Get it by Thu, Jun 22 - Tue, Jun 27 from Gladstone, Oregon New condition ", Troy - "This cosmetic update plays just about identically to the previous black version and the original version of 2015. Project Shift 99 In todays review, Ill be taking a look at the Wilson Pro Staff Autograph v13, in particular. WebAt 12.0 ounces unstrung, the RF97 is designed for advanced tennis players who are used to swinging a heavier racquet. My older racquet was oversized, and I can definitely tell I have more precision when targeting the edges of the court. We offer 100% Price Protection for 7 days on all orders. couple of my friends blindly test them and also noticed the difference. "And I noticed that my second serves weren't sitting up on the other side of the net at all, which was a big positive as well. Due to the extra weight, I was forced to keep my hands out in front to avoid hitting the ball late. My Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph review might seem to come out of the blue, but the reason I picked up the racquet again is that I wanted to compare it to the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 330, that I've written my first impressions about here. Wilson Premium Leather: Latest updates. However, the racket really is geared more towards control top players using this racket will already have all the power in the world and the Pro Staff will help them to find their targets with ease. I was able to slice my returns deep into my opponent's side of the court, keeping the ball low off the bounce. WebNew Listing Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V13, autograph, 1/2 grip, unstrung. ", "As I've said many times, I love to attack returns, and this racquet has the perfect blend of controllable power to allow me to be effective doing so," said Michelle. Wilson generously supplied us with both their 315g Pro Staff v13 recently, as well as the Autograph, so we were eager to find out if they played as great as they looked out the box! Wilson Roger Federer Junior/Youth Recreational Tennis Rackets. i bought a Wilson RF 97 Autograph now cause it feels like a crazy piece of racket and this wow effect. The RF97A has a slightly higher swing weight and feels even more stable than the kSix One 95. Power levels were adequate, but not great. He said, "Wow. News August 25, 2017 Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph 100 Hours Review Yes, Mr. Federer, it does come in black. For me (Tom), my serve is my biggest weapon and I naturally generate some good, 120 mph-ish speed and decent spin regardless of the racket Im using. Starting off with the playtester who has called the RF97 her racquet of choice for some time, US tester Michelle was happy to spend some dedicated time with the 2018 Autograph. With a short and compact punch at the ball this racquet was allowing me to take control at net. ProKennex offers some 325 gram unstrung flexible sticks that are nice. This particular prototype he used seemed to have thinner beam width Or is it my eyes playing tricks on me? When it came to my slice serve, the racquet felt solid and I was able to be very precise with my targets.". He said, "I was able to tap into the power potential on first serves, but I had to make sure I was making contact in the sweetspot. The Pro Staff 97 V13 and the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph are not as easy to match though, because the RF97A is foam-filled and doesn't contain the 45 braid of the PS 97. I haven't been bothered at all by the stiffness (which used to be an issue for me) despite having the racquet strung with a full bed of Luxilon Alu Power (Roger Federer uses Wilson's Champions Choice, a hybrid with Alu Power Rough and natural gut). Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph (V12) Racket Review You wont get anything for free in terms of power or spin! I still keep the RF97A and play it once a while. It delivered truly phenomenal plow through and enabled us to hit some extremely weighty and precise balls, but there were also some issues when it came to effectively harnessing the mass. If it's good enough for Roger, it's good enough for me! Tennisnerd, have you ever hit with the discontinued Pro Kennex Ki5pse? However, even many professional players, including Britains own, Dan Evans, prefer the feel of the lighter stick! However, strong players will find pleasing levels of RPM with this stick. It may not be as easy to use as other power-oriented racquets on the market, but I have found nothing out there to tempt me to switch to anything else. Weight: 340 grams Babolats Dominic Thiem also plays with a racket under 320g, according to our sources, and Nadals racket is nowhere near 340g, either. I havent found any endurance issues, and I frequently go out for 3-4 hours at a time. it really doesnt make sense for me to be chasing more power with a more powerful racket. This is a heavy stick! For this playtest our team strung the racquet with Federer's favorite string, Wilson's Champion's Choice, as well as a full bed of poly. ", Michelle - "None to report! The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph felt solid and stable, and it gave our playtesters all the right tools they needed to be successful at net. 00 HEAD Microgel Radical Midplus Tennis Racket - Pre-Strung 27 Inch Adult Racquet 652 Hi Ivan, As you played a long year with six one 95. how does it compare to this RF97A. See below a preview of the next upcoming events or select your state. I bought the Pro Staff 97 CV too and i like it so far. The sweetspot was generous, and it remained comfortable even when we installed a stiff co-poly like Luxilon 4G at a high tension. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph v13 Review The legendary, black, Wilson Pro Staff immediately evokes imagery of Roger Federer, as well as conjuring up memories of the old masters. Blue Wilson ProStaff RF97 Autograph The serve that was a bit difficult for me to execute consistently was the kick serve. I presume the Pro room version may not contain Aramid. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph Review - Reviews For Tennis Because I am muscular 6 and 220 lbs (should be closer to 205), the extra weight didnt scare me. I also found my serves were lacking some spin, as I wasn't finding the racquet head speed to really spin the ball. The court looks bigger with this racquet in my hand, or am I just seeing extra inches inside the lines that I have never noticed before? Here is a great racquet buying guide to get you started. My drop volleys were working very well, and I found excellent placement on my angle volleys. The lively stringbed gave us easy power and loads of spin potential. On forehand returns, a short backswing and good timing allowed for an offensive shot. But a post comparing these racquets will be live this week. Is Mens Tennis Heading for a Seismic Change? I was able to get the ball to skid low off the bounce with good pace. He explained, "I prefer a little more access to free power on my first serve. Is a pro stock racquet better than a retail one? Interesting. While this racquet offers a much improved sweetspot and lots of free power, I can maneuver the 6.0 85 better and that gives me more options. By the third session with it I started to rethink my light racquet plans, especially against guys, like Troy, who are pushing the envelope lately with lots of pace, depth and spin on the ball. ", Although he appreciated the stability, Granville recognized the need for sound preparation. In a hot climate, it might make sense to avoid natural gut and then a string such as Hyper-G or Tour Bite Soft can be interesting. Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazons commitment to empowering them. So, you are curious to get the lowdown on the latest iteration of Wilsons iconic Pro Staff frame, the fourteenth edition of maybe the most identifiable and desirable racket of the past decade? The ball jumped off this racquet with easy depth and pace. Fitness and Food for Professional Tennis Players. Weighing in at a hefty 340g, delivering the racket effectively and consistently upon impact will require good levels of strength and technique. While the Yonex was easier to maneuver, I was able to generate more power with the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph Review - Tennis A Name you've come to trust! Free shipping. My arm got tired, but I guess this is because I am not in adequate shape. Wilson Pro Staff Rackets Serve: 8/10 We see far too many lower club level players using rackets with far too hefty a swingweight for their level of ability. Second serves also benefited from the extra plow through, and the open string pattern allowed me to access plenty of spin and slice when needed. Im only a 4.0 player and have never even considered all the metrics to selecting the proper racquet for my game, but I know what feels right. If you love to serve and volley too, I think your true love is just one click away, Supercharge Your Doubles With TheTennisBros.com. The Blade is stable enough to be used by advanced players in stock form so the weight should be enough for you. I found that this racquet was a little less maneuverable than my Six.One 95 (12.6 oz, 332 swingweight), and it was harder to whip the racquet and get the ball to jump off the court.