Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Racket Review
Summary
After playtesting the new Wilson Pro Staff 97, we'd have to say that this could be pretty close to what we've all been anticipating. And we've been expecting a lot. We're looking for that holy grail of rackets, one that could offer the perfect blend of power, control, spin and feel. We're searching for something that gives us a little taste of the Roger Federer magic but from something that is easier for us mere mortals to swing. The Pro Staff 97 weighs in at a reasonable 315 grams (unstrung) with a very head light balance and an open 16x19 string pattern, making it forgiving and easy to use. The lively stringbed lent itself to easy power and loads of spin potential, while the classic Pro Staff feel and precision was still prevalent. The major critique we found was an inconsistency with depth, especially on bigger strokes like our groundstrokes and returns. With such a generous sweetspot the ball would fly at times, and we'd miss long as shots that normally feel good. But all in all, the Pro Staff 97 impressed from all areas of the court and is certainly a viable option for any intermediate to advanced player.
| Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Scores | |
|---|---|
| Power | 82/100 |
| Comfort | 84/100 |
| Touch/Feel | 86/100 |
| Serves | 85/100 |
| Groundstrokes | 84/100 |
| Returns | 80/100 |
| Slice | 84/100 |
| Topspin | 83/100 |
| Volleys | 86/100 |
| Overall | 83/100 |
Overall - Score: 83/100
Groundstrokes - Score: 84 / 100
From the baseline, the Pro Staff 97 offered loads of spin and a generous sweetspot in a very manoeuvrable package. Our playtesters were able to generate plenty of pace with relative ease on their groundstrokes. However, the lively sweetspot did send many of our shots long, forcing our team to notice a lack of consistency with depth. As Karly indicated, "There was so much power and pop in the centre of the sweetspot, but it felt dead and muted when hitting outside of it. It took an adjustment period for me to get used to the response, and at the start of the playtest I struggled with my consistency. The ball would either fly off the strings or land very short of where I was aiming."
Volleys - Score: 86 / 100
With the Pro Staff 97, the team had a little more success around the net, where the lively stringbed was a little easier to control and allowed us to put volleys away with ease. Manoeuvrability was also a standout feature, and it was easy to get the racket in position at contact for volleys and overheads. In typical Pro Staff fashion, the responsive feel also had us feeling totally connected to the ball as it left the strings. One of our testers noticed a slight lack of stability due to lack of weight in the hoop, but overall at net was probably our favourite place to be with this racket.
Serves - Score: 85 / 100
Opinions varied amongst the testers when it came to serving with the Pro Staff 97, but everyone did notice the excellent spin potential. Chris was using spin to serve very effectively. He said, "My favourite serve was my slice. I hit several aces out wide on the deuce side and down the T on the ad side with slice. I felt like I got a lot of control with that shot, which allowed me to use as much pace as I could muster and still be confident I'd enough consistency." However, a couple testers wished for more heft and more power, which would've helped get their more aggressive serves through the court more easily.
Serve Returns - Score: 80 / 100
The fast-swinging feel of the Pro Staff 97 was very evident when returning serve, and all our testers appreciated how easy it was to get the racket around our bodies, even when defending against the fastest serves. Power was easy to come by as well, allowing us to block back returns deep in the court with little effort. However, once again the lack of depth control came into play, and we really to be sure we were in control of our shots before we went for them. As Michelle noted, "Again, I was craving a bit more control, and at times I felt like I was overhitting."
Likes:
Chris - "I liked the fast feel, comfort and easy power."
Andy - "Excellent blend of power, control and spin, all with the signature Pro Staff feel that leaves you so connected to the ball. Very forgiving on off-centre shots, too."
Karly - "I loved how arm-friendly it played. The racket was very easy to swing and felt extremely comfortable on contact. Oh, and I can't leave out the tremendous spin potential either."
Michelle - "Loved how easy every volley was to hit. "
Dislikes:
Chris - "Would have liked a tad more stability and I had to find the right string to get the stringbed consistency I like."
Andy - "At times, the stringbed response was a little inconsistent, and I'd lose control of the depth of my shots. With seemingly the same swing the ball would go in on one shot and five feet long with the next."
Karly - "I wish the response wasn't so inconsistent. Hitting within the sweetspot was drastically more powerful than hitting outside of it, which took a bit of time to get used to."
Michelle - "I was hoping for more control and was surprised how much power I was getting out of it. Would have liked a bit more weight and mass behind my shots."
Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:
Chris - "This reminded me of a lighter and faster Volkl C10 Pro. Both rackets are string sensitive for me, and I prefer stiffer strings at higher tensions in both. I thought the response was very lively for a Pro Staff and was right in there with the likes of the Blade 98. Out of the two current Blade 98 models, this one was most similar to the 16x19 version. I'd also compare it to the Volkl Super G 10 (295g) I've been hitting recently. While the manoeuvrability between the two isn't far off, this racket is livelier but not as control oriented as the Volkl."
Andy - "This fits the bill as a 'modern player's frame' and compares favourably to the Wilson Blade 98 16x19, Yonex EZONE Ai 98, Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 and Head Graphene Prestige Pro. It certainly packs a punch, but I think this frame's specs sit right in the wheelhouse of a large number of players."
Karly - "I've been playing a lot lately with the Yonex VCORE Tour G 310 racket, which has similar specs to the Wilson Pro Staff 97. Both frames offered excellent touch and feel, were extremely comfortable on the arm, provided great access to spin and had a good combination of power and control. The biggest difference though to me was the response. The Yonex felt more lively and played more consistently; it didn't make too much of a difference where I made contact on the stringbed, the result was similar throughout the racket. On the other hand, the Wilson Pro Staff felt softer and not as stiff on the arm. I also felt like I could get better control with the Pro Staff because the racket didn't feel as lively as the the Yonex Tour G 310."
Michelle - "It felt similar to the Dunlop iDapt Force 98 with its power and lively stringbed. It didn't feel like any previous Pro Staffs to me. Compared to the RF 97 Autograph, it is much livelier and more powerful, faster and easier to swing."
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.
Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick.
Karly: 4.0 baseline player currently playing with the Volkl Organix 10 Mid. She hits with a semi-western forehand grip and uses a two handed backhand.
Andy: Open level all court player with a semi-western forehand grip and a two handed backhand. Andy currently using a Wilson Blade 98 18x20.
Review date: August 2014. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
All content copyright 2014 Tennis Warehouse Europe.