With heavier racquets I struggle to generate as much topspin and am late setting up on fast balls, with lighter racquets I can't serve as hard or generate as much power. The feel with these is insane. Youll find a bit more detail in this written version, but they pair nicely to answer all your questions about this tennis racquet. Racquet feels sturdy and love the feel with volleys, and to top it off, huge fan of the black frame aesthetics. For the volleys I could volley deep and the next ball, drop volley. Second, it's control-oriented. Featuring a refined, elegant design and coloring inspired by rich earth tones, the Wilson Pro Staff 97L v14 is a lighter version of our Pro Staff 97 v14, with the same Braid FORTYFIVE construction that offers a pronounce All aspects of my game obtained an extra edge, serves, volleys, off position shots, and dirty dirty slices, it is so good! It's not the easiest racquet to use, but once you get a feel for it, it's very reliable. Overall, I found this update and the new Braid 45 construction to improve the frames comfort and response, offering better ball pocketing without trading the crisp feel and excellent feedback youd expect from a Pro Staff. Discussion Boards the Wilson Pro Staff 97UL V13 Tennis Racquet offers superior precision at an arm-friendly swing weight for transitioning juniors and adults with elbow . I can place my shots short or deep very easily and precisely. / 625.81 sq. Catered toward intermediate to advanced players with an all-court style of play who value precision and control, the Pro Staff 97 v13 is a terrific frame and one of my picks for the best tennis racquets in 2022. This racquet has amazing stability, 347 grams in total, feel, maneuverability, power, and control. Weight influences a racquets power, so this change helps counteract the power loss. With strings installed, youll find the balance reduces a bit to 7 pts HL at 32cm. But the positive far outweighs the bad. 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. Roger Federer has once again partnered with Wilson to redesign the Pro Staff, the new Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph Tennis racquet is even better than before. However, what further distinguishes these two racquet lines is their feel. See the full specs and the reasons Federer uses the RF97A. So far, so good. Simply physics: there is no replacement for the weight of the racquet. Shift 99/315. Pro Staff 97 w/ Countervail 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. I sent my racquets in for evaluation an about 10 days later, I received a email stating they all had exposed graphite. 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. Then in 2015 I tried out the Pro Staff 97 red and black model and honestly wasn't that much of a fan, so I stuck with the BLX model. (23 - 27 kgs.) Maybe that was just a bad string combo for this stick.From: Bo, 11/23/20, Comments: In my opinion of the v13 was more maneuverable compared to v11. Players who have wanted to upgrade but have held off should absolutely consider this model, which I expect to be a popular upgrade. I bought a second one and I'm excited about becoming a better player. It's brought new excitement in my tennis game. I have been using Pro Staffs my whole life. Very maneuverable with the right amount of weight. If you are looking to ship somewhere else, or prefer a different language please select another version below. I even think I'll buy a second. The one drawback is that it does not have too large of a "sweet spot". String pattern: 16 mains/18 crosses. Be the first to hear about the latest products, sales and events from Wilson. The RF97 Autograph was another story. The one major complaint our playtesters had was the inconsistent depth, especially on groundstrokes and returns. RacketLogger. Volleys were butter with good contact. I'm happy it's working for some players though, so I encourage you to demo for yourself. The Pro Staff 97 is well-suited for a lower-powered polyester string setup. The v11 are available again and I personally am planning on buying a couple more of the older version simply due to the lower price. I personally don't think anyone should play with the actual RF version seriously, unless they have UTR well above 10. One thing to note, the change in the butt cap is easier on my hand. 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 started playing with the Pro Staff line back in 2012 with the Six.One Classic 95. . Some Restrictions Apply. In-depth Resources The original description of this braid, that first appeared in a 1985 Wilson catalog, still holds true: The core of the Pro Staff is a braid of Kevlar and graphite. Pro Staff 97 v13. The Pro Staff RF97 is built using layers of braided Graphite and Kevlar which create a solid frame with a consistent feel throughout. I use Black Code 16 orange and yellow at 56 pounds. This new Pro Staff is a strange animal. It does not generate a lot of power on its own. 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.. Very stable on volleys and returning hard shots and serves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. I bought a couple of these v13 racquets sight unseen because the reviews cleared up any concerns I might have had. I love this racquet.From: Tristan, 11/12/20, Comments: I've been using the Pro Staff dating back to the original. What I didn't like was TW's trade-in program. Either racquet is a great choice for better players that want precision and can generate their own power. I thought the frame delivered excellent feel and stability for precise targeting off both wings, which translates to added confidence. Best for continental and eastern grip players. Players looking for a bit extra comfort might consider opting for a hybrid string setup, which combines a multifilament with polyester to improve the racquets comfort without sacrificing too much on the topspin front. The racquet was strung at 50 pounds with yellow Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.20 mm. I love the feel, but a bit too loose as my flattish ball is consistently landing about a couple of inches out. Great for volleys. I know this line of racquets inside and out. Tried the PS97 and it's pretty whippy in stock form, but about 4 grams of lead at 12 o'clock dialed in the control right where I want it while still letting me swing away and provides some extra pop. String pattern: Wider Cross-Strings (Open 16x19 string pattern) for added Power, Control and Spin. I heard Roger talk about this racquet being a good one for people who hit flatter balls and want precision so I decided to give v13 a shot as I didn't like the previous version. Whilst in recent years the Pro Staff has been made more user friendly thanks to its thicker beam and larger head size, it is still a weighty racket that demands respect. The Pro Staff 97 uses a synthetic grip and a red butt cap with rounded edges, while the RF97 uses a leather grip and a more traditional flat black butt cap. All those racquets are great, arm-friendly and I'm sure you'll find a good match! But when you strike the ball well with this one, it has plenty of oomph! I am more confident hitting balls closer to the net tape with this racquet, so the string pattern seems just right for me. Like Federer and Musetti, I like head light racquetsThis racquet moves through the air pretty quickly with some weight behind the shot. Some colleagues hit few balls and feedback was confusing because one said it is slow and dead, he usually playing with a Pure Strike 18x20, previous generation. I found the racquet to have enough control for my swing. The Pro Staff 6.0 version was manufactured in four head sizes: 85, 95, 110, and 125 square inches. In essence, Countervail dampened the racquets feedback and subsequently reduced its feel. As you might expect from a Pro Saff, its a lively racquet that can deliver exceptional pace derived through sound technique. I'm 27 year old 4.5 level male player, and long time Pro Staff user. Similarly, higher racquet head speed helped generating more spin. 3.5 out of 5 stars 8. . From: John, 1/23/21, Comments: Amazing racquet, so glad they decided to go with the old school look of the 6.0 Pro Staff 85 square inch. Description. 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. Very impressed with this 97 v13: not as cushy as my Blade but a lot more stable. Some Restrictions Apply. . All in all, theyll both terrific options. = $220/220 Head size = 97 sq in Weight = 290g String pattern = 16/19 In conclusion Testing new rackets is a very personal experience as most tennis players have been used to one type of racket with their game and swing having adapted to suit that racket. Grip Type:Wilson Pro Performance: String Pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses: Mains skip: 8T,7H,9H: One Piece: No Shared Holes: String Tension:50-60 pounds: . The other said that is fast enough, even faster than current stick he used, Blade v7 18x20. 2023 Wilson Sporting Goods All rights reserved. Hans-Martin Reh, GM at Wilson Racquet Sports, sums it up nicely. The stick has incredible feel and pockets the ball well. This is a reasonably open string pattern which means more spin . I do like weighted tape at the top of the frame, but the racquet is well balanced on its own. I am going to experiment with lower tension to see how the racquet plays.From: Charles, 12/30/20, Comments: I'm a long time Pro Staff user, 3.5 to 4.0 Rating, mid 40's. Players looking to put their spin on the design should keep an eye on Wilsons custom racquet center, where I expect the pain job will be customizable in the future. The racquet has a higher-end weight, but its head light balance retains excellent usability, which is well-suited for intermediate to advanced players with an all-court style that relies on precision and control. The 2020 Pro Staff 97s specs and technologies combine for a racquet thats responsive, yet delivers exceptional control. Pro Staff V14 97UL. . Not as heavy as the RF version, but one can definitely feel the difference from a Blade. It's great at the net, stable with plenty of mass and crispiness behind my volleys. To help broaden the Blade's appeal, Wilson offers a lighter version that weighs only 10.1 oz (285 g) unstrung, which helps improve the frame's maneuverability for a more user-friendly option. While the 315 gram is really good, I feel the 340 gram is way better (if you can swing it). Kind of reminds me of the Pro Staff Six.One Classic that I mentioned I started out with. However, while helpful for comparison, they wont tell you how a racquet will feel, so I encourage players to demo a racquet whenever possible. For that reason, Ive put the Pro Staff 97 v13 to the test over the past few weeks. Featuring Spin Effect Technology with a 18x17 string pattern, the 97S allows for extreme spin creation without sacrificing control and feel. Perimeter Weighting System (PWS) Reducing the string tension helped me get the depth and the heaviness back to my shorts.If I have to sum it up I would say the racquet is much more maneuverable and offers more control than the earlier versions.From: Harshal, 11/22/20, Comments: The Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13 is magnificent, I use Tecnifibre NRG2 16 at 56 pounds. I strung them with a hybrid of Babolat RPM Blast, 51 pounds on the mains, and a Babolat multifilament, 53 pounds on the crosses. I got two Pro Staff racquets for my daughter and the balance is not as per specs. 0:58 Length, Head Size, String Pattern 4:43 Playtest String Setup, 5:37 Playtest Although not ideal for my game, which relies on heavier topspin, I think long-time Pro Staff users will appreciate the tightened up 1619 string pattern, which trades a bit of topspin for a mild improvement to control. 2:48 String Mapping We offer 100% Price Protection for 7 days on all orders. String pattern: Wider Cross-Strings (Open 16x19 string pattern) for added Power, Control and Spin. 3:05 Perimeter Weighting System, 4:35 Strings & Tension 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. 1914. Spin comes easy thanks to the open 16x19 string pattern. I demoed a total of seven racquets. Cosmetically there are small differences as well. Most racquets layer smaller sheets of graphite to form the produce their frames, which, although a perfectly acceptable approach, changes how the racquet feels and performs. Sorry, Yonex, I'm back home at Wilson!From: Phoenix, 10/20/20, Comments: Awesome racquet from Wilson, no more Countervail! However, Im confident the update to the Pro Staff 97 will appeal to a broader audience than the RF97. Hitting the serve flat is much easier while getting big topspin is harder, although that is probably the string. WILSON Pro Staff 97 UL V13 Tennis Racquet Specifications: Playability: The Pro Staff 97 V11 is a great option for Advanced players looking for control-oriented racquet. Youll also find the racquet has a control-centric 21.5 mm beam. FREE . No major changes, but I do feel the tighter string pattern creates a slightly flatter ball and I had to adjust to that over the first few hours of playing. Power level wise I found both v13 and v11 similar.The area where I struggled was on defense. And has a lot of pop. I also had a friend hit with it to make sure I wasn't just imagining things, and he immediately agreed, in fact, he couldn't hit more than two rallies before saying that was enough. 00 $279.00 $279.00. Very stable on volleys. Although he now has a signature model, Federer has worked closely with Wilson to help evolve and refine the Pro Staff line for the modern game. With that being said, after playing with the racquet several times, I'm sad to report it was one of the most uncomfortable, jarring, and odd feeling racquets I've ever played with. These are the specs for the standard Wilson Pro Staff 97 racquet. I notice this frame absorbs the shock really well, not too muted, so you can feel the ball. I'd consider it a more arm-friendly version of my Six.One BLX.From: Philanthropenos, 1/9/21, Comments: I used to play with a Pro Staff 95 BLX, decided to switch to the 97 to give it a shot. As long as I commit and rip it, it's a winner. Order with confidence. Just so you know, TennisCompanion may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running. In fact I made the final of the first USTA tournament I played with it. Wilson Pro Staff 97 V14.0 Tennis Racket. If you don't like it, return it for free! Paired with a low-powered polyester, I found I could swing freely to maximize topspin while maintaining command over the ball. The volleys have great feel and put-away power. It's plush feeling but gives great feedback and the ball goes where you tell it to. String pattern: Wider Cross-Strings (Open 16x19 string . Sunset: 05:38PM. Pro Staff Rf97 v13 The design is amazing and maybe that's why I want to put energy on playing with it.From: Cristian, 11/16/20, Comments: The racquet works well. I have been playing with a variety of racquets from Babolat and Yonex over the years. Both are strung with Solinco Hyper-G 18 at 55 lb. Roger Federer's personal racket ; Heavy composition ideal for advanced players with experience swinging substantial frames ; Braided Graphite composition delivers a pure, consistent feel Out of the two, the denser string pattern helps out with a bit more control and string durability. I my opinion, it feel great as it has lower stiffness rating, too. I pair it with black strings, Wilson NXT at 55 pounds, and pink overgrip to create a black and pink racquet. While the RF plow was superb, the stick didn't allow the racquet head speed I should be hitting with. We couldnt find any products that match your search. This is a good "reference" stick to have in the bag, as it seems to do all things well. As a reminder, heres what I used for my playtest: A poly like ALU Power allows players to take full cuts at the ball without compromising control and maximizing topspin. The racquet offers a great balance of power and precision. It gave new meaning to the concept of a brassy feel. 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. Similar control to the Prestige, but virtually no pain. In stock form it looks pretty slow with a strange feel at the ball. 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. 5 Point Friday Compared to the first version,2015, this v13 is lousy. 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. Aesthetics-wise, I love the paint job, but in true Wilson fashion, it won't last long. For the serves the head light balance lets me maneuver the racquet for a kick serve and also due the tighter string pattern, could hit spots on the court.Now for the negatives. 2023 Model Year Rackets. We hope you love this article. 8:09 Returns, 8:42 Summary For starters, the Pro Staff RF97 has a standard 27-inch length and features a smaller 97 square inch head size with a 1619 string pattern.. 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. The Pro Staff 97LS weighs in at 290g unstrung but with a decent 314 swingweight that should help to give this racket some of the classic Pro Staff feel. I have looked for years to find a lower powered racquet. It's not apples to apples because I strung this new racquet with gut versus my typical polyester. in. A huge thank you to Wilson for sending me the Pro Staff 97 v13 ahead of its release. I would recommend but also demo first. Unfortunately, all the specs, tech, and marketing cant tell you how a racquet feels and performs. Although the slightly tightened up string bed left me wanting a bit more topspin on groundstrokes, I found it worked well for me on returns offering extra control, especially with a more compact stroke. Good balance of power and control. I have compared with my old racquets and measured as well. 1:36 Balance This is the best Pro Staff 97 they've made. Definitely have more control with this racquet, but feel that power is more difficult to generate compared to RF97. We are a wholesale tennis distributor and retail store based in West Lawn, Pennsylvania. Switching from a Wilson Clash to this was very weird at first. Wilson Pro Staff 97 Specs Now explore this countervail racquet further and dig into Wilson pro staff 97 specs: String pattern: 1619 Length: 27 inches (69 cm) Stiffness: 66 RA Unstrung weight: 315 grams (11.1 ounces) Strung weight: 330 grams (11.6 ounces) Head Size: 97 square inches (626 square cm) Balance: 32 cm (12.6 inches) 7 pts. Tennis Stringing Instructions; Tennis Stringing Instructions. Despite its lighter weight, the frame still falls on the heavier end of the spectrum when considering racquets more broadly. I heard a lot of hype regarding this new version of the Pro Staff. Players looking to enhance the Pro Staff 97s moderate comfort might consider a hybrid string setup. They said they would take them and evaluate them and reimburse me later. A 1619 string pattern will give you more topspin on your shots which will allow you to hit your shots harder while an 1820 string pattern will give you more control. I had demoed this model in the past, but I found it lacked the mass and heftiness of the RF97. Its maneuverable enough to quickly get the racquet into position while still retaining enough weight to stand up to the pace from a heavier serve. Ill also hit the court to showcase how the Pro Staff 97 v13 performs and share my experience, so youll know what to expect from this iconic frame. All in all, its a subtle yet refined update to an already great looking tennis racquet and one of my favorite designs. It works very good. Holds up better against players who are big hitters. The Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 is a precision-oriented racket ideal for advanced players. Create a free account and explore my latest videos below. $220.00 $ 220. Great control and accuracy. What are the string recommendations to get the most out of this frame and at what tension? I love the weight of the racquet. The best racquet from Wilson hands down!From: Justin, 10/18/20, Comments: In my honest opinion this is the worst Pro Staff 97 yet. Besides Wilson Pro Staff offered a vivid black color that I like.From: Kevin, 12/24/20, Comments: Love the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13. cm* Length: 685mm** Weight: 315g (11.1oz)* / 330g (11.64oz)** Balance: 310mm (10HL)* / 321mm (6.8HL)** Beam: 21.5mm* String pattern: 16x19 ____________________________________ The frame has an illustrious history, which began back in 1983. However, we would limit our player recommendation on this model to junior players ages 12-13. I am not sure what Wilson has done, but it's almost as if they intended to string this racquet as a one-piece. The racquet also pays tribute to the old-school Pro Staff Original 6.0 by adding subtle red and yellow racing stripes that complement the racquets modern aesthetic to give it a classic feel. 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. Same on my backhand, but it has to be clean contact and not muscle-ing the ball. I can take full swings and control where it goes in the court compared to my previous racquets where my ball would sail somewhere. Wilson Pro Staff 97 LS Review Price: $ Upsides Swings fast Plenty of spin Generous sweetspot Downsides Bit unstable outside of sweetspot Summary Players looking for a racquet that's easy to swing, comfortable and spin-friendly should look no further than the Wilson Pro Staff 97 LS. Even on serves I found the v13 better. 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. From: Rob, 1/20/21, Comments: It's an amazing racquet, just release your hand and it will make the job as longas you are hitting the correct way. Wilson needs to rethink the racquet, especially since so many pros use it. For this review and playtest, Im diving deep to examine the specs and technologies while explaining how it differs from the prior model. The slices feel really great and I can't slice better with anything else. Please contact Customer Service at 1-800-401-7967, if you have any issues accessing information on this website. The Wilson Pro Staff has historically been an uncompromising racket aimed at serve and volley players that demand as much control and precision as possible. I demo'd several Babolat and Yonex racquets, but couldn't make them work. Racket Recommendations 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. 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. Until recently, my primary stick was the Pro Staff RF97, I loved stability and plow through, however for long rallies it was quite a challenge to handle, especially off position shots. From: Abdulrahman, 2/11/21, Comments: I have been using mostly Wilson frames for the last five years and this new version of the Pro Staff is the best model I have used yet. The 95 is more forgiving of off-center shots with an overall weight of 12.2 ounces (350 g) and a lower swingweight (317 as . It doesnt diminish the latest models quality or performance, but it does highlight that pros dont change racquets as frequently as one might expect purely based on racquets appearance. Love it! Here are a few alternate destinations that might help. One needs to generate a lot of racquet speed to hit big serves though. Beyond weight, the Pro Staff 97 receives the upgraded Braid 45 construction and String Mapping tech while Federers signature model, the RF97, remains unchanged with identical specs to the prior version. Head Size:97 sq. This construction blends the extraordinary strength of graphite with the durability of Kevlar, a space-age material. Wilson recommends a string tension between 50-60 pounds (22.7 27.2kg) for the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13. 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. I strung mine up with Solinco Confidential 17 gauge at 54 pounds on the mains and Gamma Live Wire Professional 17 gauge at 56 pounds on the crosses for awesome feel, added pocketing, comfort, and easy access to spin.From: Joshua, 2/20/21, Comments: Best racquet I have ever had. In addition to RF, 97, and 97L, PRO STAFF X, which is 100 square inches and has excellent operability, is also newly introduced. More power in this frame, but still plenty of control everyone knows and loves about the Pro Staff. The general heavier weight and exclusive 97 in (626 cm) head size of the Pro Staff line makes a statement that targets experienced players who demand a responsive control-oriented racquet. In other words, it took a bit of the life out of the racquet. please contact Wilson's customer service center by telephone at USA 1-800-401-7967 . As far as touch and finesse goes, Id say this is another area where this generation improves. However, keep in mind that most professional tennis players customize their racquets, so although the players mentioned below are endorsing the Pro Staff, theyve likely made additional customizations to suit their preferences. 6:57 Volleys In my opinion, this is by far the worst Pro Staff 97 yet. Also, the tighter stringbed in the sweetspot they got by adjusting the positioning of some of the grommet holes is evident by the effortless spin and control you get when you hit the sweetspot. Buy one and find out for yourself.From: Chad, 10/18/20, Comments: Very Pro Staff feel. I absolutely love this racquet and bought a second one right away. 10:09 vs. Recommend to 4.0 or higher players simply because of the weight.From: Vladimir, 10/9/20, Comments: This is a great stick in my opinion. Wilson Grommet Strips stocked for nearly all Wilson tennis racquet models. 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. A racquets stiffness measures how flexible the frame is and contributes to the racquets feel and power. However, many others, who enjoy the classic Pro Staff feel werent fans of the update. Although the modern and evolved Pro Staff 97 v13 will work well for various styles of play, aggressive baseliners who rely on maximum topspin and free power will likely want to look elsewhere. The image shown is a stock image and used for display purposes. Day length: 9h 10m. I used to use the RF 97, but at 51 now, it's just too heavy after one and a half hours. I'd say the TW reviews were on point except for comfort. Wilson offers some of the cleanest racquet designs, and the Pro Staff line is no exception. The Pro Staffs continuous braided graphite and Kevlar construction sits at the foundation of the racquets performance and feel, which has been in use since the Pro Staff Original 6.0. This year, after demoing racquets I decided to switch back to a Pro Staff. Finally, the Pro Staff 97UL or ultralight rounds out the Pro Staff lineup for a frame with an entry-level weight. Shift 99/300. Now the graphite and Kevlar fibers braid together at a 45-degree angle for enhanced feel and ball pocketing. Serving with this racquet is also rewarding and I feel more confident serving with this racquet in my hand.From: Reyad, 12/4/20, Comments: I've played with every version of the Pro Staff 97 the last years and liked every model except the Countervails. Although we can attribute Roger Federers use of the Pro Staff line throughout his career to the racquets continued popularity, he doesnt endorse the Pro Staff 97.