I played with them for the first time this past week and wow. This is a good "reference" stick to have in the bag, as it seems to do all things well. I'm happy it's working for some players though, so I encourage you to demo for yourself. I got use to it after a week, and then loved playing with it ever since. The Ultra line is lighter and offers a more generous 100 in (645 cm) head size, making it more approachable than the Pro Staff. Furthermore, many pros endorsing a specific frame use an older Pro Staff model, referred to as pro stock, which isnt available to the public, but they paint to look like the racquets latest version. Definitely it has much more pocket effect and I can feel the ball much better, all groundstrokes and the serve are especially much more accurate. Keep in mind that the string you choose for the mains will dominate the overall feel. Pro Staff Six.One (18x20) v13. It's definitely a control racquet, and not as powerful as RF97. One thing to note, the change in the butt cap is easier on my hand. cm 2: String pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H One Piece No Shared Holes: Length: 27in / 68.58cm: Beam width: 21.5mm / 21.5mm / 21.5mm . String Pattern Both the PS97 and B98 have a 1619 string pattern so they will be a good option for players who like hitting lots of topspin balls from the baseline Availability Both of these rackets are available to buy on online shops such as Tennis Warehouse, and Tennis-Point. The image for this product is generic and may not reflect the actual product Wilson Pro Staff RF97 / 97 Grommet Details: Head Size: 97 sq. I cannot wait to string some natural gut with polyester closer to 50 pounds tension. The Pro Staff 97UL v13 also gets updated with Wilson's String Mapping, which creates denser spacing in the hitting area for a more predictable and controlled response. When facing a big server or a hard hitter the racquet provides some excellent feedback and stability. I feel that if you can contact the sweetspot and can't handle the weight of the RF97, this racquet will reward with great feel, control, and power. It wont offer much free power, but plenty is on tap if you put in the effort. So, I'm pretty dedicated to play with this new stick, I will try to give more time and attention on correcting that missing stuff, but I think the hype is too much for what this really offers. Maybe a thinner frame would be better on improving the feel and as well a little bit more swingweight. The Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 is a precision-oriented racket ideal for advanced players. Welcome to Racquet Sports - The Pro Shop Pros and your store for tennis, running and fitness. Very stable on volleys and returning hard shots and serves. The Blade has a thinner beam, lower stiffness, and keeps more weight in the racquets head, for maximum flex, added feel, and comfort. Mainly used a Pro Staff RF97 for many years. Switching from a Wilson Clash to this was very weird at first. I've been hitting with the Pro Staff for my whole life and am now a 50+ year old, 3.5 level male. However, recognizing demo programs arent always readily available, please let me know in the comments below if you have any additional follow up questions. This newest addition to the Wilson Pro Staff lineup lives up to its reputation. . Pro Staff 97 v13. I'm not sure if I got a lemon, but it was matched to web specs, always a stellar service by Tennis Warehouse by the way. The stick has incredible feel and pockets the ball well. I love the weight of the racquet. Racquet feels sturdy and love the feel with volleys, and to top it off, huge fan of the black frame aesthetics. Yes, the racquet can sometimes be less powerful than you need it to be, but it provides the ultimate precision and consistency for your shots, also it's really easy to follow through with your swing because of the great feel it provides, and the fast swing as a result of the highly headlight balance which compensates for the heavy weight of the racquet as well. About the 2020 Pro Staff RF97 v13 Born in 1983, the Pro Staff debuted as an oversized racquet with a 110 square inch head size. I personally loved this racquet because I have a fast and heavy swing which sometimes make the ball go a little bit too wide, but with the Pro Staff 97 v13 I got perfect power and spin for my swing style save for some miss hits in the beginning. Furthermore, the racquet features an all-black butt cap without rounded edges, and instead of a synthetic grip, it comes with leather. We never want to change any aspect of the racket unless we can do so in a meaningful way that gives our players a true advantage on the court. +9 colors/patterns. When I was on the run and returned the balls they were falling short. Taking another step down in weight from the 97, the 97L or light version of the Pro Staff is 10.2 oz (289g) unstrung, making it considerably more approachable and a reasonable entry point for many players. It's plush feeling but gives great feedback and the ball goes where you tell it to. The Pro Staff 97 is 11.1 ounces unstrung, but it has a very mobile and head-light balance that makes the racquet easy to whip through the hitting zone. This is a reasonably open string pattern which means more spin . I could say more, but I won't. Once again, the racquets balance allows for excellent racquet head speed despite the frames heavier weight, so you can still generate plenty of pace when you need it, but youll have to work for it. String pattern: Wider Cross-Strings (Open 16x19 string pattern) for added Power, Control and Spin. Had to weight up the frames at the 3 and 9 position to increase the swing weight from 318 to Mid 320's and counterbalance with tail added weight for an 8 point head light balance. Description. My favorite parts of this racquet are the volleys, slices, and the serves. Learn with comprehensive resources to help you improve your game. Learn more. Huge balls coming at me and the Pro Staff blocks them and catapults them back, solid.From: Anonymous, 2/13/21, Comments: An absolute beast of a racquet. I even bought the TW reissues when they were around. Compared to the first version,2015, this v13 is lousy. Here are a few additional of my favorite polys worth considering from a variety of brands: Although I dont get much durability out of the 1.25 guage, its a reasonable tradeoff with this frame for a bit extra bite and added feel, which you could buffer with string savers if you feel compelled. On returns, the Pro Staff 97 offers an ideal performance. Wilson boasted about that 45 carbon weaving and I thought it was just marketing lingo, but it truly does make a difference. First serve doesn't bomb as hard as the RF, but my double fault rate is down quite a bit. 1914. The 19mm beam and softer flex provide a plusher feel at impact with nice precision, and the even balance gives the Pro Staff 97S exceptional plow through and stability. My opponent also said that my balls are much heavier with the v11 compared to the v13, this may be because of lower swingweight on the v13. So, in stock form my one handed backhand was good, serve was good, but forehand couldn't dial-in properly. Wilson needs to rethink the racquet, especially since so many pros use it. Take a look in detail at Roger Federer's racquet, the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph. Wilson hasnt always had the greatest track record in hitting these specs, so its great to see that this particular offering is accurate. For the 2020 line, we brought forth new, advanced technologies to enhance Pro Staffs playability and precision, while honoring the rackets roots with cues from its iconic past and 117 Grand Slam wins.. I am a 3.5-4.0 level rating.From: Bryan, 1/3/21, Comments: I am very happy with this racquet. I used ALU Silver at 55 pounds on the mains and a Babolat string at 52 pounds on the crosses for control. I am sure Wilson may play with the weight and balance slightly. Wilson recommends a string tension between 50-60 pounds (22.7 27.2kg) for the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13. The Wilson PRO STAFF 97 v13 provides the control, speed, and maneuverability to let you work on your game and to take the ball out in front hit the ball a little bit earlier, and finish up that net as much as you can. Wilson is committed to achieving Level AA conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and achieving compliance with other accessibility standards. Here are a few alternate destinations that might help. There is no substantial difference in slice strokes between the two. Wilson Pro Staff 97 CV Black Tennis Racquet Review Racquet Specs Head Size: 97 sq. Pro Staff 97 v13 Technologies For the thirteenth generation of the Pro Staff, you'll find many familiar technologies players have come to expect from this line of racquets. Fearing for my sensitive elbow, I got Bi-Phase 18 gauge. Out of the two, the denser string pattern helps out with a bit more control and string durability. With Pro Staff 97 v13, I noticed that to get the best out of the service, I had to be very accurate in the strike zone. Serves are great with the faster racquet speed and enhanced wrist snap, but I do miss the plow through of the RF97's.From: Raj, India/US, 9/16/21, Comments: Equally solid at baseline and net, and seems very accurate for ball placement due to denser string pattern. Federer's new racquet helped him re-establish himself as one of the best players in the world. Last but not least, the Pro Staff 97 maintains its higher-end weight, significant head light balance, and relatively thinner beam, all of which combine with the technologies mentioned above to produce a feel thats unique to this family of racquets. 7:31 Serves While I am still fine-tuning the string tension and the grip size, I still nevertheless catch myself wearing a big grin each time I walk off the court given the control, the accuracy, the power, and the mere fun that hitting with it provides. String Pattern String Length ' ' ' Pro Sta RF 97 v13.0 WILSON.COM 2020 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO. EST. I even think I'll buy a second. The 97 UL bring the iconic Pro Staff precision and feel to players who needed a much lighter weight than the 97, RF97, or 97L. We chose this particular Pro Staff after using TW's information tables which we found extremely helpful in finding the right fit. Both are strung with Solinco Hyper-G 18 at 55 lb. I started playing with the Pro Staff line back in 2012 with the Six.One Classic 95. Now enough about the playability, can we talk about this awesome matte black paint job? The feel is very strange as well. 6:01 Groundstrokes It's great at the net, stable with plenty of mass and crispiness behind my volleys. The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph, Roger Federers signature racquet with specs that he uses on the court, is the heaviest model available. Sorry, Yonex, I'm back home at Wilson!From: Phoenix, 10/20/20, Comments: Awesome racquet from Wilson, no more Countervail! With strings installed, youll find the balance reduces a bit to 7 pts HL at 32cm. I'm sure I have more to say about the racquet, but for now I hope this review helps you make your decision. From: Mikey, LA, CA, 8/11/21, Comments: I have both the 340 gram Pro Staff RF97 and this 315 gram Pro Staff v13. Generating racquet head speed is easier for v13 and so I liked it on serves. TW always helps when you need it. Below youll find timestamps to various sections of the video so that you can quickly jump around or reference a specific part in the future. Angell TC 97 Custom - choose string pattern, grip shape and more! If possible, Id encourage players to consider trying or demoing the racquet before buying. I wrote Tennis Warehouse on how they string this racquet and received three different answers. Actual sales may not have occurred at this price. They are harkening back to the era of their older Pro Staffs with the subtle red and yellow lines along one side of the throat and the inside of the top part of the head. Instant improvement. So, overall, the backhand is okay, forehand still needs work, the volleys needs some training as well, the serve works great. A new addition to the racquets design is the exposure of the frames braided graphite construction, which displays under a clear gloss finish while also continuing the red and yellow racing stripes. On serves, I thought the Pro Staff 97 held its own, and while it may underwhelm to a degree from a power standpoint, it makes up for it by delivering greater precision. Paired with a low-powered polyester, I found I could swing freely to maximize topspin while maintaining command over the ball. Solar noon: 01:03PM. RACKET STRINGING - SHIPS IN 3-5 DAYS. I get more control and more spin from the v13. Title: Pro Staff 97 2015 Created Date: The current local time in Vitry-sur-Seine is 63 minutes ahead of apparent solar time. 8:09 Returns, 8:42 Summary Having used and enjoyed the heavier Fed model --albeit with limited success due to being a mere mortal -- this lighter, less head-heavy version simply fits my all-court game to a T. Regardless of your level, your style of play or the racquet that you are currently using, I would definitely recommend that you at least demo this one before buying something else. It has the best blend of power, spin, and control I have found. Braid 45 construction arranges the double braided fibers at 45 degree angles for enhanced pocketing feel alongside incredible stability. this racket really helped all of those things and provides good stability and especially up at net this felt like a magic wand . Discussion Boards Kudos to Wilson!From: MichaelT, 4/15/21, Comments: Bought this for my teen junior for tournament play after using the TW demo option. Highlighted by a design that pays tribute to the historic Pro Staff series, the Pro Staff 97 v13 features a new Braid 45 construction that increases precision by adjusting the angle of the double braided fibers for enhanced feel and stability. Instead, the braided graphite construction remains unchanged, and the frame contains foam for dampening as the original Pro Staff models did. . WILSON Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph Tennis Racquet Specifications: Playability: The Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph is a great option for the Advanced tournament players looking for control-oriented racquet. Coming from an oversized head racquet, I did not expect the transition to be as smooth as it was, even though the racquet is 97 square inches it still felt so consistent. I have bought two Pro Staff 97 v13 racquets, with Luxilon 1.15, as recommended by Wilson at 54 pounds, and am loving it. However I find them to be erratic when you don't hit with a ton of spin. The previous generation was tearing up my hand and this has been a nice improvement.For those who are new to Pro Staff, this stick is solid, but not too heavy. But still, I think it will perform better on one handed backhand than these. Love it! Paradigm Bending technology alters the bending profile of the shaft and . Very stable on volleys. Another time-tested Pro Staff technology is Wilsons Perimeter Weighting System (PWS), which strategically places extra weight at three and nine oclock on the racquets head to reduce twisting and improve stability. Unlike its bigger brother, the RF97 v13, which specs remain the same as the prior generation and only receives an upgraded design, the Pro Staff 97 is an exciting refresh for what it adds and removes. Theyve also updated the racquets graphite braid and tweaked the 1619 string pattern, all of which well cover as part of this review in greater depth. Product Description. From: Craig, Acton 8/27/21, Comments: My opinion on this racquet at first was critical. But one could just add lead tape if needed in the frame if you wanted a bit more plow through, or a closer feeling to the replica RF heavy version. What are the string recommendations to get the most out of this frame and at what tension? Coming from the BLX Pro Staff 95, this was a fairly easy transition. In my opinion, this is by far the worst Pro Staff 97 yet. While getting use to this, I still played the same with my Clash whenever I switched back to it. It is a tank. Despite its weight, the racquet swings with reasonable ease thanks to its head light balance while still leaving room for players to customize. The Pro Staff RF97 is built using layers of braided Graphite and Kevlar which create a solid frame with a consistent feel throughout. It hits precisely. From: Darin, 5/10/21, Comments: Extremely happy with this racquet. A racquets stiffness measures how flexible the frame is and contributes to the racquets feel and power. It features the same technologies as the Pro Staff 97, but the lower weight means it will swing easier, which translates to better maneuverability for players that desire it. I guess they just want brand new racquets. The feel is much better than the previous version. More work is required to generate spin. The vibration dampening properties of the Kevlar also help provide a little extra control and touch in a relatively stiff frame. The Pro Staff 97S injects Wilson's innovative Spin Effect string pattern into a frame with a more traditional feel. So, I string it with RPM Blast 1.20, at 53 on the mains and 49 pounds on the crosses and usually I'm playing with Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310 grams, the 2018 model with red and dark color not the last one, with around three grams of stain at 3 and 9 o'clock. I have been playing with a variety of racquets from Babolat and Yonex over the years. Highly recommend this racquet. String pattern: 18 Mains / 16 Crosses Mains skip: 8T,10T,8H,10H One Piece No Shared Holes: Length: 27in / 68.58cm: Beam width: 23mm / 23mm / 23mm / Composition: Carbon Graphite: Power level: Low-Medium: Stroke style: For the most part, the Pro Staff 97 specs remain very close to the prior generation from 2017. The Pro Staff 97 has a mid-range RA or stiffness rating of 66. The Clash is a newer frame from Wilson that offers an innovative approach to materials and construction, which marries the control of a flexible racquet with a stiffer racquets power. . We distribute tennis racquets, tennis apparel, tennis footwear, tennis strings and court equipment to pro . 2023 Wilson Sporting Goods All rights reserved. For this review and playtest, Im diving deep to examine the specs and technologies while explaining how it differs from the prior model. I personally don't think anyone should play with the actual RF version seriously, unless they have UTR well above 10. One needs to generate a lot of racquet speed to hit big serves though. The racquet was strung at 50 pounds with yellow Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.20 mm. The slices feel really great and I can't slice better with anything else. I'm 27 year old 4.5 level male player, and long time Pro Staff user. The Pro Staff 97 maintains its 1619 string pattern for this release, but theyve adjusted the string beds density by decreasing the space between them for a more tightly woven sweet spot. I'm a 6'3, 190 lb. Exclusive Offers Sent Right to Your Inbox. He is happy with this racquet performance.From: Alena, FL. The unstrung specs of the Pro Staff 97 are: 21.5 mm beam 97 sq inch head size 1619 string pattern 66 RA strung stiffness standard 27 in length 315g unstrung weight (11.1 ounces) 31 cm balance (10 pts HL) I have looked for years to find a lower powered racquet. Players intrigued by what racquet Roger Federer uses but find themselves intimidated by its higher weight and prefer a lighter weight option will want to consider this racquet, the most popular in the Pro Staff lineup. It also includes Wilson's classic PWS (perimeter weighting system), meaning added weight at 3 and 9 for more stability, plow . This new Pro Staff is a strange animal. Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 Tennis Racquet - Quality String - Choice of Grip Size. Overall I love this racquet!From: Dennis, 1/27/21, Comments: Good for control. Youll find a bit more detail in this written version, but they pair nicely to answer all your questions about this tennis racquet. Disclosure: Wilson gave me this frame to evaluate, but they did not pay me to write this review or influence its contents. While the Pro Staff delivers exceptional precision and control, the Ultra provides explosive power, managed through heavy topspin and well suited to the modern power-baseline style of play. the Wilson Pro Staff 97UL V13 Tennis Racquet offers superior precision at an arm-friendly swing weight for transitioning juniors and adults with elbow . (23 - 27 kgs.) The string pattern, which refers to the number of main and cross strings, along with the density or space between each string, directly influences a racquets performance most notably topspin and control. After I got the racquet, I took it to a tournament. First, though lighter than the previous, it is quite stable. . It's also great on serve; easier to swing around, which helps me with hitting my spots with still plenty of power. Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis. The volleys on this racquet make for some great shots, I kind of felt like Federer hitting volleys out there which gave me a confidence boost. Released on September 14, 2020, the Pro Staffs thirteenth generation is a welcome update to Wilsons ever-popular family of racquets, emphasizing precision and control. Head Size: 97 square inches/626 square centimeters. . Home > Gear > Racquets > Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13, Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players. We hope you love this article. On the other hand, the Pro Staff shifts weight toward the handle, retains extra rigidity and plays a bit more lively. Instead, he uses the heavier RF97. Roger Federer's personal racket ; Heavy composition ideal for advanced players with experience swinging substantial frames ; Braided Graphite composition delivers a pure, consistent feel