Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph Review

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Upsides

Stability
Control
Power
Feel & Touch

Downsides

You have to be able to swing it

Summary

When Roger Federer approached Wilson regarding an update of his iconic racket, he knew one thing for sure: The specs were already perfect. So Roger and Wilson set out together to update the look, agreeing upon an all black cosmetic for the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph. 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 elements of the original RF97 Autograph. At 357 grams strung, this stick does not get pushed around, and it rewards players who can swing it with authority. This racket provided our TW testers with phenomenal control, but there was plenty of put-away power when they were able to deploy the mass. The high level of stability hid weaknesses and helped on defensive strokes, allowing our testers to get back into points. While we may not possess the perfection of Federer's game, we were thrilled to swing the racket he helped design, and we did our best to tap into some of his magic. If you're looking to show your opponents what power and precision can look like, don't think twice about trying this most modern and evolved version of the Pro Staff -- a racket designed by one of the best players our sport has ever seen.

Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph scores
Power	84/100
Comfort	87/100
Touch/Feel	89/100
Serves	88/100
Groundstrokes	86/100
Returns	83/100
Slice	88/100
Topspin	87/100
Volleys	89/100
Overall	87/100

Overall - Score: 83/100

Groundstrokes - Score: 86 / 100

The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph has all the ingredients to be a serious weapon in the right hands. Pushing the scale at 357 grams and with a 330 swingweight, the RF97 helped our playtesters hit heavy, penetrating shots from the baseline.

Volleys - Score: 89 / 100

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. A crisp, responsive feel allowed them to place their volleys with precision, while the racket's weight provided the depth to hit penetrating volleys.

Serves - Score: 88 / 100

Our team noted the effectiveness of the blend of precision and power this Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph had to offer on serves. There was plenty of weight in their serves to hit dangerous flat serves, but spin was also plentiful on slice and kick serves.

Serve Returns - Score: 83 / 100

Whether our TW testers were attacking returns or tapping into their defensive games and blocking serves back, the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph lent them a plethora of return options.

Likes:

Michelle - "I had no issues with the original RF97, but I must admit, the new paint job looks sharp and feels great. I still love this racket and see no reason why I would switch away from it. I love the plow through and heft -- it rewards all areas of my game. "

Troy - "Solid, stable, good control, easy spin, and it is pretty maneuverable considering the spec. I'm going to be hitting with the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph side-by-side with my customized Wilson Blade 98 (18x20) to see which one can win me over! "

Granville - "Mass, stability, good pocketing. "

Mark - "The power, stability, feel and the new cosmetics are all top notch. The first two aspects make it my favorite racket for the initial 45 minutes of play. This racket unlocks that little bit of Federer in us all, and I was able to hit some shots in a way that I never had before. "

Dislikes:

Michelle - "None. "

Troy - "A bit on the stiff side when strung with a stiffer co-poly. I'd stick to a soft co-poly or a gut/poly hybrid for a more comfortable feel. "

Granville - "The leather grip seems thin. "

Mark - "The exact same traits that benefited me for the first 45 minutes held me back later. While the racket did not change over that period of time, my ability to swing it effectively did. I suppose that is more of a knock on myself, rather than the racket itself. "

Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:

Michelle - "Why change a good thing? I am glad Wilson didn't mess with the perfection of the original RF97. So many companies go to update a great racket and mess with something (whether it's the weight, balance or string pattern). I'm glad Roger didn't want to change the specs, and I have to thank Wilson for keeping the integrity of the original RF97! A similar racket to compare it to today would be the Yonex Duel G Tour 97 330. The Yonex also offer a great amount of control, plow through and power, and I really enjoy swinging it. The string pattern is slightly different, with an extra cross string on the Yonex, and it is a bit lighter, but it is a comparable racket for sure. "

Troy - "I found the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph to play nearly identically to the original cosmetic. I also found some similarities to the Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro racket, but this Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph feels heftier and has a bigger sweetspot and more stability. Compared to the Wilson Six.One 95 (18x20), the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph has a stiffer feel and more pop, but slightly less control. "

Granville - "It obviously compares closest to the original model. Then, perhaps the Yonex V Core Dual G 97 330g. "

Mark - "There are not many rackets over 12 oz. nowadays, but with the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph, you have one of the better ones by far. Most of the other rackets in our system that weigh over 12 oz in strung form have a combination of a thinner, more flexible beam and a tighter, lower powered string pattern. That said, there is at least one other racket that I am familiar with that is comparable to the RF97, the Pro Kennex Ki 5 PSE. "

Playtester Profiles:

Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph.

Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two-handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a Wilson Blade 98 18x20.

Granville: 5.5 all-court player currently using a Wilson Pro Staff 97. 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 Babolat Pure Aero Tour.

Review date: August 2016. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.