However, for the latest release of the Pro Staff 97, theyve tweaked the construction. The v13 comes in slightly lighter, but still has plenty of mass that allows me to relax through my strokes. Although their studies suggest improvements with this material, many players, including me, recognized a noticeable change in feel. The Pro Staff v13 has a more plush feel and better control than my past racquets. 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. Maybe a thinner frame would be better on improving the feel and as well a little bit more swingweight. I got use to it after a week, and then loved playing with it ever since. Technical specifications for Wilson Pro Staff 97 racket. After trying the Federer signature model, I knew it had the feel I like, but was a bit too heavy for me. 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. 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. Both are fantastic racquets. and also has power and control performance that can be used for modern power tennis. in: Length: 27 in: Weight (strung) 11.7 oz / 330g: Balance: 7pts Head Light: Flex: 66: String Pattern: 1619 . 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) cm* Length: 685mm** Weight: 315g (11.1oz)* / 330g (11.64oz)** Balance: 310mm (10HL)* / 321mm (6.8HL)** Beam: 21.5mm* String pattern: 16x19 ____________________________________ Great for volleys. Definitely been winning more with this. Just so you know, TennisCompanion may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running. Technical specifications for Wilson Pro Staff 97 ULS racket. I was excited to see the new v13 line with the amazing old school eighties look, in homage to the famous tennis players, well done Wilson! Don't believe me? inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 290g Beam Width: 23 x 23 x 23 mm String Pattern: 16 x 19 - Bio-based materials reduce environmental impact of the bumper, grommet, and end cap. As far as touch and finesse goes, Id say this is another area where this generation improves. It has the best blend of power, spin, and control I have found. I'm a 6'3, 190 lb. 1914. 2:22 Braid 45 I have bought two Pro Staff 97 v13 racquets, with Luxilon 1.15, as recommended by Wilson at 54 pounds, and am loving it. It also includes Wilson's classic PWS (perimeter weighting system), meaning added weight at 3 and 9 for more stability, plow . Good racquet, good control, decent power, until I started using more wrist and shoulder to generate power and spin when I started getting pain on the inner side of the forearm. $220.00 $ 220. Very stable on volleys and returning hard shots and serves. First serve doesn't bomb as hard as the RF, but my double fault rate is down quite a bit. Also they're not the easiest on the wrist or arm. Additional nuances include the grip and butt caps. The control level of this racquet is fantastic, and it's got a great feel to it. Sure, on swingweight you can correct with stain stripes. I bought a couple of these v13 racquets sight unseen because the reviews cleared up any concerns I might have had. However, Wilson also changes this racquet by increasing the beam width by 1.5 mm to 23 mm, which improves the racquets power by making the frame slightly more rigid or stiff. The flat 21.5 millimeter beam offers predictable control for advanced players that like to create their own pace and dominate with an all court game. 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. Juniors transitioning to a full-length tennis racquet or adult beginners who might have started with an inexpensive racquet and are looking for an easy-to-swing premium frame will likely find what theyre looking for with this low-weight option. Orders over $50 will ship for free! The Blade has a thinner beam, lower stiffness, and keeps more weight in the racquets head, for maximum flex, added feel, and comfort. However, we would limit our player recommendation on this model to junior players ages 12-13. The 85 is unforgiving for the currently popular semi-western topspin style with its 12.6 ounce (357 g) weight and low power. Paired with a low-powered polyester, I found I could swing freely to maximize topspin while maintaining command over the ball. Weight influences a racquets power, so this change helps counteract the power loss. With v13, I decided to twist things a little, I switched to a leather grip, nod to RF97, kept the original balance by adding 6 grams of lead at 12 o'clock, strung it with Babolat VS Gut 1.30 in mains at 55 pounds and Luxilon ALU Power Spin 1.27 in crosses at 53 pounds and wow! All aspects of my game obtained an extra edge, serves, volleys, off position shots, and dirty dirty slices, it is so good! It comes in a 16 x 19 string pattern, as well as an 18 x 20. 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. I have been using Pro Staffs my whole life. Volleys were butter with good contact. Finally, the Pro Staff 97UL or ultralight rounds out the Pro Staff lineup for a frame with an entry-level weight. 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. I enjoyed the opportunity, and I hope my thoughts and experience with the racquet help guide your decision making. 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. Although the Pro Staff is a fan favorite, its only one of a handful of purpose-built tennis racquet lines from Wilson designed to cater to a wide variety of player needs and preferences. The most notable difference between the Pro Staff 97 and the RF97 is weight as the Pro Staff 97 is roughly an ounce or 25 grams lighter, making it easier to swing and maneuver while leaving room for personalized weight customization if desired. They don't get pushed around at all. The string pattern plays more like an 18x20 with a relatively low launch angle, so a high follow through is a must. This new Pro Staff is a strange animal. Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis. Learn with comprehensive resources to help you improve your game. I will say, my shots have become more accurate with the smaller head size. I love the feel, but a bit too loose as my flattish ball is consistently landing about a couple of inches out. With strings installed, youll find the balance reduces a bit to 7 pts HL at 32cm. While getting use to this, I still played the same with my Clash whenever I switched back to it. 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. Its lighter, easier to handle, and features the upgraded technologies weve covered earlier, including Braid 45 and String Mapping. Maybe not as much cushion as a 60-64 flex racket, but more comfortable power and slice. It's solid, comfortable and user friendly. These are amazing. Close to 12 oz with 16 gauge, so not too heavy or light. To this end, Wilson offers a few lighter versions to consider. It's more rounded. This newest addition to the Wilson Pro Staff lineup lives up to its reputation. Sunrise: 08:28AM. I notice very little difference between the v11 and v13. I am a stringer and string about 10-15 racquets per week for people who have arm problems, lack of power, control, etc. Very light in weight. 3.5 out of 5 stars 8. . So far, so good. The RF97 is a little heavier, harder to create top spin because the stringing pattern in the sweet spot is closer together and stringing the racquet is a bit more difficult. Wilson Pro Staff 97 Tennis Racquet. Wilson hasnt always had the greatest track record in hitting these specs, so its great to see that this particular offering is accurate. It weighs in at 12 oz (340 g) unstrung, nearly a full ounce heavier than the Pro Staff 97. Enjoy! Serving was easy and crazy accurate though felt a bit less speedy as with my Yonex EZONE 98+ racquets. I have been playing with the Wilson Pro Staff since the first on back in 1984 - the "Sampras 85". Players who have honed their technique and have an all-court style of play will appreciate the Pro Staffs well-rounded performance, which offers mid-range power and topspin with excellent precision and feel. It is much easier to handle with less weight. Description. 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: . Some Restrictions Apply. Some Restrictions Apply. The 7-point head light balance helps to ensure quick handling at the net, with enough heft for stability against hard hit passes. 1:36 Balance I'm happy it's working for some players though, so I encourage you to demo for yourself. Sorry, Yonex, I'm back home at Wilson!From: Phoenix, 10/20/20, Comments: Awesome racquet from Wilson, no more Countervail! If you're like me and a Pro Staff 95 user, now is the time to upgrade!From: Joshua, 12/31/20, Comments: I started learning and playing tennis actively in November 2019. Sunset: 05:38PM. The feel is unbelievable. The 2020 Pro Staff 97s specs and technologies combine for a racquet thats responsive, yet delivers exceptional control. 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 service with the Racquet Matching by Tennis Warehouse makes these racquet almost identical. In this section, youll find my thoughts and experience hitting with the racquet, which I hope helps serve as a useful reference point whether youre considering this racquet or just curious what it has to offer. I pair it with black strings, Wilson NXT at 55 pounds, and pink overgrip to create a black and pink racquet. In fact I made the final of the first USTA tournament I played with it. 11:00: Wrapping Up. It's definitely a control racquet, and not as powerful as RF97. 0:58 Length, Head Size, String Pattern ft. tennis warehouse is home to approximately 22,000 unique racquet sport product SKUs. 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. The racquet plays most beautiful with set of natural gut, but also works well with a hybrid or a multifilament string setup. Mainly used a Pro Staff RF97 for many years. On all orders over $75! Wilson Staff Model Gloves . String pattern: Wider Cross-Strings (Open 16x19 string . All-new for 2020, the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13 is a welcome update to this popular frame, one of the games control-centric racquets. in. For some players with arm issues or discomfort, this type of change might be welcome. - Paradigm Bending Tech Gear I played with them for the first time this past week and wow. Paradigm Bending technology alters the bending profile of the shaft and . Not only will you get to see the racquet in action, but youll have some extra visuals to go along with my explanations. +9 colors/patterns. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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. MP Length: 27 inches Weight: Strung 11.6 oz Unstrung 11.1 oz Tension: 50-60 Pounds Balance: 10 Pts Head Light Beam Width: 21.5mm Composition: Braided Graphite Flex: 65 Grip Type: Wilson Pro Performance Power Level: Low String Pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses 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. Thanks to its speedy 321 RDC swingweight, the Pro Staff 97 comes around fast on groundstrokes while still offering decent stability against higher levels of pace. I then added a Wilson Pro Overgrip, the only customisation, bringing the strung weight to 326.6g. Now enough about the playability, can we talk about this awesome matte black paint job? Absolutely in love with this frame! Hitting the serve flat is much easier while getting big topspin is harder, although that is probably the string. The last version of this racquet from 2017 was available in a black and white tuxedo paint job and an all-black version. My two-handed backhand definitely requires some cleaning, but I am blasting winners from anywhere in the court with my forehand. Buy one and find out for yourself.From: Chad, 10/18/20, Comments: Very Pro Staff feel. String Pattern String Length ' ' ' Pro Sta RF 97 v13.0 WILSON.COM 2020 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO. EST. I love the weight of the racquet. However, beyond its weight, this racquet does not use Wilsons Braid 45 technology. String Pattern String Length ' ' ' ' Pro Sta RF 97 Autograph Recommended String Tension 50 - 60 lbs. We will then ensure the correct grommets are sent. The stick has incredible feel and pockets the ball well. Generating racquet head speed is easier for v13 and so I liked it on serves. TW always helps when you need it. Two additio . Pro Staff Six.One (18x20) v13. Finally, the racquet offers Wilsons bold red butt caps with rounded edges to improve comfort. 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. 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. in. 1:52 Beam, 1:59: Technologies inches; String Pattern: 16 mains (19 crosses) Check Current Price & Reviews. 1914. I started playing with the Pro Staff line back in 2012 with the Six.One Classic 95. Kudos to Wilson quality control who really have stepped up their game! Keep in mind that the string you choose for the mains will dominate the overall feel. String Pattern: 16 x 19 Wilson Pro Staff 97L v14: Head size: 97 sq. Wilson Pro Staff 97 CV Black Tennis Racquet Review Racquet Specs Head Size: 97 sq. Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 Tennis Racquet - Quality String - Choice of Grip Size. String Pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses Mains Skip: 7T, 9T, . 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. This is a shotmaker's racquet, for a player that doesn't need help from the racquet to generate power. I added some stain at 3 and 9 o'clock, around two grams in total, and it looks that I can hit the forehand better. Wilson Pro Staff 97. Very maneuverable with the right amount of weight. Although specs are the same as the 2016 model, the feel and ball pocketing are a world apart in my opinion. Overall great control, low on power.From: Jay, 1/24/21, Comments: My experience with Tennis Warehouse was fantastic. To help make my experience and thoughts on the Pro Staff 97 v13 more concrete, Ive rated the racquet on a set of criteria players typically find useful when evaluating a frame. This racquet has amazing stability, 347 grams in total, feel, maneuverability, power, and control. The Pro Staff 97 has a mid-range RA or stiffness rating of 66. It seems that I'm getting easier access to power and great feel on volleys. From: Mikey, LA, CA, 8/11/21, Comments: I have both the 340 gram Pro Staff RF97 and this 315 gram Pro Staff v13. The Pro Staff 97 has a mid-range RA or stiffness rating of 66. But the positive far outweighs the bad. Very stable on volleys. / 625.81 sq. I wrote Tennis Warehouse on how they string this racquet and received three different answers. Also the racquet is more heavy than my produce model, it is easier to swing. Not only does the racquet retain the time-tested lively feel and performance youd expect from a Pro Staff, but Wilsons Braid 45 and String Mapping technologies are welcome refinements that enhance rather than detract from the racquets formula.