Speaking of fizz, access to spin is surprisingly effortless considering the rackets beefy swingweight. 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. ", Our playtest team was able to hit some very effective serves with the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph. Value 4.0. I have to say, RF97 not that big a weight, rather RF97 a big weapon if you spreading your arm and re-position feet correctly and stepping in early before hits the ball, will have a total satisfaction matches. I buy a couple of frames every year. 194 reviews. So, if your technique isnt optimal or you dont possess a high level of strength, we would recommend looking at a racket with a bigger head, more forgiveness, and consequently, a little more easy power. There was also some serious power to be had when our mechanics were sound and the mass was effectively deployed. You have to be extremely confident with your technique with the Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph and need to be able to generate a lot of your own power without relying on the racket. I just wouldn't recommend this to anyone that's not a 5.0 level player that's not playing at an extremely high level. Although the Pro Staff 90, and the 85, swing faster and easier, I was amazed at what the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph did for my game. It may be the most stable racquet I have played with thus far. Become clinical at the net with our in depth volleying walkthroughs! As is the case on forehand and backhand, you will need a very solid foundation in order to wield this racket effectively. The weight is perfect and forgiving. I believe Wilson found the perfect balance of feel and comfort. Click here to see all Tennis Warehouse reviews. I was waiting for a long time for this release, and it did not disappoint. Many people will buy this racket looking to emulate their heroes. If this sounds like you too, theres no need to look any further than the 340g Wilson Pro Staff. These people think, because Federer uses it it must be the best racket. Today's 4,000+ jobs in Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany. The mass of this racquet allowed me to crank up the MPH on flat serves. Maybe it's ball feeling. Much to our disappointment though, the pin-stripes on the Autograph version are grey and silver. Wilson may have made a rushed mistake with the v12, as even Roger got away from the white side tuxedo cosmetics that plagued the swingweight and classic Pro Staff feel. The Blade was great, but moving to the similarly-weighted Ultra Tour was a revelation, with it's truly buttery all-graphite. Service 4.4. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. I felt we had our Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph strung a little bit looser than I would ideally have liked, and if I was to go back again, I would string it much tighter to see the effects on my forehand. Standing up before the racquet follows through will drive the ball like a bee line or straight to the rafters if your wrist isn't relaxed enough and your racquet head speed isn't there. wilson pro staff rf97 autograph v13 review. On the forehand side I had a few more difficulties than the backhand side. It is extremely forgiving for a heavy control-oriented racquet. I served much better with the Pro Staff 6.0 85, even though it had an almost identical strung weight and swingweight. You will notice a BIG difference between string sets and tension with this racquet, so be patient as you figure out what works best for you. My volleying isnt great, to be honest its something Im working on, but after my initial warm-up period with the racket, I had such a fun time volleying with it! This racquet was also very comfortable, with a plush feel. Our strategies can be quickly implemented for instant results! Location 4.6. It has dreamy stability and fast maneuverability and that just makes for a good volleying racket. "Anything on the stretch was met with confidence and with a good result off the stringbed. Tennis Warehouse has great service and two day delivery was right on time. From: Brandon, Lambertville, NJ 7/31/21, Comments: I found this racquet works best for someone who likes hard, flat, and powerful strokes. On volleys, the rock solid feel, amazing touch and controllable power were simply undeniable. Very good. Sampras. Wilson Champion's Choice Hybrid 16 String, Exclusive Offers Sent Right to Your Inbox. He said, "Wow! I like that it is a little heavier than my previous racket. Sub 100 square inch racquet heads are a must for me. The volleys are so crisp. Clash The matte black in combination with the glossy carbon fiber braided skin under the top of the hoop makes this a pretty sexy racquet. It was like finding a key to a new tool box, and inside the box are bigger, better tools allowing me to create a new game. ", Chris - "Maneuverability! I've touched mine up with a black Sharpie several times. Helps me a lot with power and control. It is quite heavy compared to related sticks and is certainly not forgiving. Troy explained, "I loved the plow through and stability this racquet was providing when I was hitting from the baseline; I could feel this racquet pancake the ball. You'll also find the required power, spin and precision on serve to rack up free points. I wouldnt want to take anything off my best shot and main weapon though, so thats what would stop me buying the Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph. We definitely will order again for her tennis needs.From: Michael, 5/8/21, Comments: I bought five v13 after had 13-15 all black RF 97 Autograph and two grey and red. ", Granville - "As mentioned, the 'pancake' feel is reminiscent of the old Pro Staff 85. Both the Pro Staff 90 and Pro Staff 6.0 85 felt faster and easier to swing. Volleying is probably my least favourite part of tennis, so before heading out on court I was wondering how my time at the net was going to pan out. When the stars aligned, I managed to hit an unbelievably heavy ball, with great flight path over the net. ", Mark - "I sort of preferred the monochromatic paint scheme of his earlier prototype RFs, but I cannot regard it as a dislike. Ive genuinely never felt as dialed in in terms of accuracy as I did with this stick. Simple blocks result in penetrating replies, and there is enough touch and pop to hit every shot in the book. Sometimes this can lead to the feeling that youre not 100% in charge of whats going on, and I didnt love that aspect. The racquet is heavy and has lots of power and control. Ordered the racquets through TW, including very specific stringing/grip instructions, and the two racquets arrived in perfect compliance. The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph performed like a dream on blocks, chips and counter punches. Bought a pair of these & had racquet matching service to pair them as close as I could get to the same specs. However, if you are confident enough in your technique to stay on the gas and consistently find the sweet spot then youre going to be rewarded with an extremely heavy ball and laser like precision. It immediately added a little power to my normal strokes and made me feel like I was always in control of the ball as well. This time also with a video review. 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. Smooth lines, a small, round shaped head, and an extremely minimal black paint job. Granville: 5.5 all-court player currently using a Babolat Pure Drive 107. #9 of 46 hotels in Erfurt. Wonderful racquet - as other reviews mentioned, great solidity feel and precision. He said, "Our playtest racquet came in at close to 13 ounces (strung), with a substantial 340-ish swingweight. This racquet is perfect for physically strong players with an aggressive approach to tennis. Its not the easiest racket to find the sweet spot with, but when you do, it feels perfect on contact. My opponents have told me that they see my balls coming faster and more powerful. Grip 4 1/4! 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? A special matte black paint and laser engraved graphics give this racket its dressed up, black tux look, while the graphite/Kevlar layup, the head light balance and the Perimeter Weighting System maintain the crucial . I am not a good player, as I am quite overweight and my knees are bad; but I have sound and developed strokes. Travelers' Choice. Every time I went to the court with this racquet I was looking for new placement, better pace and more depth. My favorite return with this racquet, and one that Roger utilizes often, was the backhand chip. The weight might seem manageable, but it pulls on your body and it pulls on your joints and these racquets although the weight seems not that much heavier, let me tell you they are heavy! You might well find this kills your tennis as well as your body if your game isnt suitable for such a heavy, advanced level racket. However, strong players will find pleasing levels of RPM with this stick. Hotel Elephant Weimar, Autograph Collection. 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. The balance is extremely head light at 9PTS HL, which means you get great racket head speed for such a heavy racket, and as you bring the racket forward it just wants to keep going, plowing through the ball and giving you a seriously heavy contact with the ball. Order with confidence. I didnt feel like I would every miss! He said, "I can feel the speed and mass of the tennis ball being fully absorbed into the stringbed, into the racquet, down my arm and planting my feet into the court -- rock solid. *Price comparisons are based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ("MSRP") or Original Selling Price. This has been a great beginner's racquet and has improved her game significantly. Amazon.com : Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 V13 Federer Autograph Tennis Racquet - Quality String (4-1/2) RF97 : Sports & Outdoors Sports & Outdoors Sports Tennis & Racquet Sports Tennis Racquets $21900 FREE delivery Wednesday, May 3. Im prone to wrist injuries though, so this would be something to look out for if I was playing more often with the Pro Staff. Thanks TW, we'll be back! The Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph maintains all the classic Pro Staff technology, which has kept this racket as the classic pro style racket for so long. Now switched to RF97. That's the only reason this racquet makes sense is to use the mass to handle speed and pace. ", This playtest helped Mark appreciate the benefits that come with a heavier racquet. "I just ripped that backhand return on the ad side -- deep cross court. Federer's unforced errors dropped dramatically after using the 97. Congratulations on an engineering masterpiece!From: Metz, 10/9/20, Comments: This is an awesome racquet! Details Select delivery location In Stock Qty: 1 Buy Now Payment Secure transaction Ships from Do It Tennis Sold by Comfort and health aside, this racket seems like a fantastic all around stick. I also liked that the racquet feels different, at least to me, from all the other heavier player's frames available. But then, as the song goes, I fooled around and fell in love with the Pro Staff RF. Best Racquet ever, no doubt in my mind. Its easy to see why a guy like Federer has used the racket his whole career. With this racquet my backhand becomes a weapon. We only needed one to take for volleys during filming. You do need to play a few games to get used to it though. Babolats Dominic Thiem also plays with a racket under 320g, according to our sources, and Nadals racket is nowhere near 340g, either. I wish this racquet was around for me in college! I think the serve was probably the weakest area with thePro Staff 97. It was not comfortable to hold so I bought a gel grip that provided comfort and helped with shock absorption. Something similar to the Kevlar, and even some of the basalt in 90's frames.From: Adam, St. Augustine, FL 9/12/21, Comments:Amazing racquet to play with. Start playing the best tennis of your life and win more matches! Wilson ProStaff RF Autograph 97 Black/White (2x). All in all, on paper it doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, but once you play with it you can feel the improvements from v11 and is well worth the splurge.From: Anonymous, 10/12/20, Comments: Plays similar if not better than v11 black that Roger used for his miracle 2017 season. With such a high swingweight you'll need to have this racquet out front and ready; there can be no hesitation or your racquet will be late and the ball is going, going gone! With this kind of mass, blocking the return back with decent depth was an easy thing to do. I prefer control-oriented racquets that are on the heavier side. 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. Maybe I'm just used to the heft of the racquet now, but this one almost felt a touch lighter. Racquet pairs very well with Luxilon ALU Power. More control, spin, power with less effort.From: Patrick, 5/9/21, Comments: It shipped fast and was everything that I ordered. I get a lot more racket head speed on the forehand side so the Pro Staff 97s head light balance made it a little bit difficult to get as much control on the ball as I would have liked. The sweetspot feels a bit larger to me. I like to call the Wilson Pro Staff Autograph v13 a true point and shoot racket on serve! It's not for everyone, even if you are a higher level player. After several orders to demo the RF97 racquet, I finally decided to purchase one in honor of Federer retiring this year, 2022! It made some of us yearn for the explosive whip of our modern (lighter) player's racquets. Grip Size 4 3/8! While the latest version is still only a few weeks old, it appears Wilson may have solved some of the problems with paint chipping that have plagued the earlier black version. Other than that, this is a much friendlier Pro Staff than the 90 version. On groundstrokes, you must take full swings at the ball to benefit from this racket, as it doesnt supply easy power. But there are people out there who will swear by this racket and couldnt imagine playing with anything else. I strongly urge Wilson to reintroduce Pro Staff 85, whether Sampras' version or the RF version. He said, "I am not known to really crush the ball on serve, but the more I served with the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph, the more effective and confident I became with it. NEW Roger Federer LAVER CUP Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph Red! Ultra 5.0 30 yr old male player. With the weight, it can be rough for most people and after 1-2 hours of heavy hitting, your arm will definitely feel it. After several service games my shoulder got tired, and that was the end of that. Choosing the right racket can make a big difference to your game, so weve researched Wilsons most popular racket models to give you a complete guide. I use an ALU Power Soft string that I cannot find a suitable replacement for. We are a tennis family, and that includes our 14 year old grandson, Riley, who lives down the street from us; he and his family are in our lives on a daily basis. It is one of a kind. Wilson, Trying to compare the Wilson Clash, Blade, and Ultra tennis rackets? I have been playing tennis for over 25 years -- started with a Wilson Hypercarbon then switched to the Pro Staff 6.0 mid size. It has definitely improved my game and I couldn't be happier. ", Troy - "This racquet is everything I've always wanted out of a Head Prestige Pro, but that the Prestige Pro hasn't quite delivered for me. Ive played with heavier rackets for many years and they take their toll on my body. This might be a bit of a strange way to end such a positive review, but it needs to be said. I went down to the regular 97 for awhile when my shoulder was acting up, but as soon as I got a handle on that I was back on this big boy. He said, "This was the one area I thought the higher weight of the racquet was going to trouble me. I found a much better fit on my backhand slice. You will need some solid technique to unlock this, so beginning players will want to consider one of the more forgiving Wilson rackets out there. No more frustration in your game, due to your equipment failing you! Discover your perfect racket and string combo! You must possess very sound technique in order to wield it effectively. I also like Hyper G and Volkl Psycho both around 48 lbs.From: Mike , 6/7/21, Comments: The Pro Staff RF97 was the first new racquet I purchased in over a decade. No more frustration in your game, due to your equipment failing you! Mar 16, 2023 The Wilson Pro Staff Autograph v13 has to be one of the most solid rackets of all time. Comments: Girls varsity tennis coach at Martha's Vineyard Regional HS. With a short and compact punch at the ball this racquet was allowing me to take control at net. Our strategies can be quickly implemented for instant results! However, this was one of the best parts of the playtest for me! Languages spoken by staff: German, English Accessibility Information For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms . In terms of rating, I gave the Wilson Pro Staff 97 an8.5 out of 10 on groundstrokes. At first use, my arm became fatigued very quickly, but it was never a problem after that first time. 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. From: Jeffrey, 6/16/21, Comments: Great racquet. I am sorry, but I didn't go to in depth to find out. Thanks Roger and Wilson!!!! note: Troy's a lefty) was getting some nice pace and spin. Just as it is with the groundstrokes, the Pro Staff 97 is like a train on the serve, once you start the motion it just gathers steam and is impossible to stop, unloading all your energy through the ball. The only thing I did not like about the racquet was the grip. It is pretty unforgiving, but will remain in my bag for days when I'm seeing the ball pretty big on the pitch. The additional width can be offset by using a thinner overgrip, e.g. Everyone loves its power and plow through, but is too much of a racquet to swing for hours of play. One thing that helps deal with the weight of this racquet is the 9 pts HL balance. Youll have to search high and low to find a racket that feels better at the net than this one. With the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph v13 Wilson updates Roger Federer's racquet with a new cosmetic but keeps everything else the same, including the magical target specs and sublime feel that Roger Federer helped engineer with the original red/black version. They have consistently sweetened the deal on new racquets to include the strings as well as stringing. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph (4 1/8) Tennis Racquet - Ok Condition, NEW Wilson Pro Staff RF97 v13 Roger Federer Autograph 4 1/8 Racket Racquet. Troy currently plays with a Wilson BLX Six.One 95. Review date: August 2014. Both are scalpels. Will take some adjustments and time.From: James, 2/9/21, Comments: I used to deal exclusively with another of the bigger online tennis stores, but have switched my allegiance to TW. Wilson got it right this time. Supercharge Your Doubles With TheTennisBros.com. I expect to wield this frame to a US Open title by 2027 as no other racquet on the market compares to its fluidity. If you don't like it, return it for free! The RF 97 and I didnt connect on the forehand, but on all the other strokes it felt great and played well. It will take time to get used to the weight, but if you work for it, it will reward you handsomely. 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. If you're looking for a family-friendly hotel in Erfurt, look no further than Hotel Am Kaisersaal. It definitely felt like an upgrade to the Head Speed MP I had been using.From: Whittie, 4/22/21, Comments: I have played the last few years with the Wilson Ultra Tour, after switching from the Blade 98 Countervail 16x19. Pure is like a magical word that gets used for all kinds of things, but there is something about this racket that is just pure. Or to get in feel heaven, Babolat VS natural Gut at 24/23kg. For me personally, too many balls sailed long with this racket, and that makes me wonder if it is too headlight for my forehand. Contrary to my initial feelings, the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is so stable that it helped take my chip return to another level. ", Chris - "Hitting with this racquet reminded me very much of the Yonex Tour G. Just like Stan the Man's stick, this Fed racquet offers immense plow through and more heft than I really want to handle. The plow through is sensational and when the stars align, so to speak, youll experience a consistency of depth and pace without parallel. Tracking was easy to do and very accurate. Blade With this racquet, I deduced the problem was most likely me, not the racquet, and there was something I could do to find the magic. Play like a legend with the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph tennis racket in Black, designed in collaboration with the greatest of all time, Roger Federer. Using shaped polyester will make the racquet very spin-friendly, not my preference. I'm a 36 year vet in high school and college coaching. The RF97 is gentler on the arm. Eventually, we started a few drills and I was excited to see what it could do for my individual strokes. The racquet is great and it came quick in the mail. I have had 3 RF97s and they're all amazing. As a mere mortal, there were very few times/matches or strings of matches when I felt this confident in my game. Cleanliness 4.3. I have been testing a lot of the lighter rackets recently, so switching over to the Pro Staff took a little bit of time to get used to. ", Granville - "Great new cosmetics (getting tired of white). Exclusive Offers Sent Right to Your Inbox. Phone Number: +49 341-2241155 . If you play have great technique, it does give you some very helpful benefits on the groundstrokes and the stability throughout the stroke is most enjoyable. Once I settled down with the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph it started to feel very comfortable and it became clear that this racket delivers an unbelievably heavy ball. But that's why it's not right for me. Wilson. Great choice. This is a unique racket and its not going to suit everyone. Your stops are harmless, lacking placement and aggressive backspin, 4. The RF 97 Autograph is a pro style racket with a hefty 340g weight and a medium sized 97sq. Pretty cool stuff. Sign up to receive your Free Guide to Supercharging Your Tennis Equipment, straight to your inbox! 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On the flip side, the higher weight posed some challenges for each playtester. Not as heavy as I thought it would be, though switching to other racquets immediately made them have a hollow, foamy feel. Considering the Wilson Pro Staff Autograph v13 is designed for those who love to be at the net, I didnt have any high levels of expectation! I have played with many pro racquets and this new RF97 is the best of all in the hands of a 4.0 level player this will take you to the next level. Therefore, its vital that even if you get tired you continue to hit through the ball as if it was the first shot of the day. (23 - 27 kgs.) Big John Isners Prince racket is lighter, still at 300g! Groundstrokes do land a little shorter than I'd like but easy to fix by using less topspin. ", "Keeping a solid and compact swing on returns was paramount with this racquet," said Chris. I could not be more pleased. As we discovered from the baseline, though, the higher weight came with some downsides. Wilson. My daughter loved it!! Being a little injury prone in the wrists, this racket probably isnt best suited to me. I've used much lighter racquets in the past, but always started to customize them by add lead to them to feel right for me. Granville summed it up nicely, saying, "The extra weight is a double-edged sword. The backhand slice felt lovely with this racquet in hand, and it knifed through the ball with ease. I did that many times with college players and many other agressive hitters. When youre hitting the ball on the stretch, the stability of the frame and great plow through allow you to hit incredible shots, even under pressure.