Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph Racket Review
Summary
The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph adds an impressive chapter to the iconic Pro Staff story, a story that is already crowded with Hall of Fame players and Grand Slam victories. It seems only fitting that the Pro Staff legend include a racket engineered under the guidance of Roger Federer, the man for whom this version of the Pro Staff was made. For our playtest team, the key to this formidable beast of a racket rested squarely upon its weight. Pushing nearly 13 ounces, the RF97 delivered the unmistakable and incalculable benefits of stability. There was also some serious power to be had when our mechanics were sound and the mass was effectively deployed. On volleys, the rock solid feel, amazing touch and controllable power were simply undeniable. Service returns were also a high point, in large part because this racket's mass allowed us to counterpunch the biggest serves with ease. On the flip side, the higher weight posed some challenges for each playtester. It made some of us yearn for the explosive whip of our modern (lighter) player's rackets. The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is supposed to be a little challenging for us mortals, but the payoff for wielding Federer's racket correctly is simply as good as it gets.
| Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph Scores | |
|---|---|
| Power | 88/100 |
| Comfort | 89/100 |
| Touch/Feel | 89/100 |
| Serves | 84/100 |
| Groundstrokes | 84/100 |
| Returns | 84/100 |
| Slice | 89/100 |
| Topspin | 85/100 |
| Volleys | 92/100 |
| Overall | 88/100 |
Overall - Score: 88/100
Groundstrokes - Score: 84 / 100
From the backcourt, the RF97 delivered truly phenomenal plow through and enabled us to hit some extremely heavy and precise balls, but there were also some issues when it came to handling the weight. Troy was impressed by the stability at impact along with how effectively this stick drove the ball through the court, but like Mark he recognized the challenges of effectively harnessing the mass on certain shots. Chris summed up the RF97 best, saying, “When I had time to set up and take a crack at the ball everything was golden.”
Volleys - Score: 92 / 100
At net, the specs of the RF97 were, for our team, ideal. Even the higher weight was more blessing than a curse. Thanks in part to compact nature of the stroke, Troy andChris had no problems moving this racket into position on volleys. Along with Granville they not only appreciated the amazing stability and surgical placement, but they also noted how effectively the mass translated into penetrating depth. Appreciating the headlight balance and overall heft, Mark had the stability and speed to hit effective volleys even when stretched out.
Serves - Score: 84 / 100
The majority of our playtesters were able to hit very effective serves with the RF97. Troy and Mark channelled the mass into some powerful bombs, and Granville was able to work the entire service box with pace and spin. As we discovered from the baseline, though, the higher weight placed some limits on the range of serves we could hit. Some of our playtesters found it difficult to generate the head speed needed for effective spin, especially on kickers where high head speed is crucial. As Chris and Mark found out, the key to unlocking the full service potential of the RF97 was patience and time.
Serve Returns - Score: 84 / 100
On service returns, our team discovered there is no substitute for a racket that does not get pushed around. The RF97 performed like a dream on blocks, chips and counter punches. Troy and Chris found an absolute groove on backhand slices. The racket’s formidable weight came through contact with authority and loaded the ball with extra pop and nasty action. Mark found it a bit too heavy when taking a full swing, but also found good depth and placement on chip shots. Granville summed up most convincingly, exclaiming, “Whoa, that felt so good!
Likes:
Granville - "Great new cosmetics (getting tired of white). It's a better spec for my game -- as opposed to the 90, where the balance did not suit my preferences."
Troy - "Tons of plow through, super stable feel, easy access to spin, and it comes stock with a leather grip!"
Chris - "I loved the plow through, solid feel and touch. This racket was also very comfortable, with a plush feel. The sweetspot was generous, and it remained comfortable even when we installed a stiff co-poly like Luxilon 4G at a high tension."
Mark - "I like everything about it, even its stock weight. 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. I went in to the review thinking I was just going to be humbled; not the case at all. I also liked that the racket feels different, at least to me, from all the other heavier player's frames available. It may be the most stable racket I have played with thus far."
Dislikes:
Granville - "I'd prefer it to be a bit more head light, but at 12.6 oz there is little room for more weight to achieve that balance."
Troy - "Just a bit out of the spec-range (12.9 oz. and 340 swingweight with overgrip and dampener) that I am used to with my Six.One 95. If I can get my hands on one that has a swingweight closer to 330, I will definitely consider making a switch."
Chris - "Maneuverability! Or should I say a lack of maneuverability? This was a tough racket to wield and one that I would need more time with before I could play confidently."
Mark - "I sort of preferred the monochromatic paint scheme of his earlier prototype RFs, but I cannot regard it as a dislike."
Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:
Troy - "This racket is everything I've always wanted out of a Head Prestige Pro, but that the Prestige Pro hasn't quite delivered for me. I find comparisons to the Yonex Tour G (Wawrinka) and the old Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour, although this Pro Staff RF97 Autograph has better feel and I feel more connected to the ball. I was waiting for a long time for this release, and it did not disappoint."
Chris - "Hitting with this racket reminded me very much of the Yonex Tour G. Just like Stan the Man's stick, this Fed racket offers immense plow through and more heft than I really want to handle. If I get everything right, though, both rackets allow me to hit with maximum power."
Mark - "You have to mention the other really heavy stock rackets, like the Pro Kennex Ki 5 PSE, the Yonex Tour G (330), Yonex VCORE 89 and the Pro Staff 90 as similar frames. That said, I still think the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph from Wilson stands alone."
Granville - "As mentioned, the 'pancake' feel is reminiscent of the old Pro Staff 85. Other than that, this is a much friendlier Pro Staff than the 90 version."
Playtester Profiles:
Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Wilson Six.One 95 S. Chris uses a semi-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Granville: 5.5 all-court player currently using a Babolat Pure Drive 107. Granville is an aggressive player who uses an eastern forehand grip and goes continental on everything else, hits with a flat swing and a one-handed backhand.
Mark: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a one-handed backhand. He currently plays with the Wilson Steam 99S.
Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two-handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a Wilson BLX Six.One 95.
Review date: June 2014. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
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