. in. You've to create your own power and a hybrid string it's always a good choice in this outstanding racquet. 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 hits very well, even with the 65 tension on a full bed of ALU Rough, the frame is stiff and has get feeling on the serve and volley. Now just played with this new v13, 54 pounds on the mains and 51 pounds crosses and I love it. From: Mikey, LA, CA, 8/11/21, Comments: I have both the 340 gram Pro Staff RF97 and this 315 gram Pro Staff v13. Wilson Tennis Racquet Stringing Patterns About Us Contact Us (847) 742-1300 780 Church Road Elgin, IL 60123 USA Racquet Stringing Machines Racquet Strings Racquet Grips Accessories Gift Cards How to String a Racquet How to Choose the Perfect Racquet String Brand Comparison Racquet Stringing Patterns String Performance Charts After I got the racquet, I took it to a tournament. I love the control the Pro Staff gives you. Wilson can credit 117 Grand Slam titles to the racquet, whos past champions include Pete Sampras, Steffi Graff, Stefan Edberg, and Chris Evert. 11:00: Wrapping Up. For this review and playtest, Im diving deep to examine the specs and technologies while explaining how it differs from the prior model. The Pro Staff series of racquets no longer uses laser engraving. As a lifelong and former collegiate tennis player, one who has played with virtually every racquet made, rarely has a stick left me with the confidence that it would allow me to get the most out of my current game, but also allow me to do even more in certain areas of it. 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. Sure, on swingweight you can correct with stain stripes. The racquet itself has been superb. 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. Serving was easy and crazy accurate though felt a bit less speedy as with my Yonex EZONE 98+ racquets. Not only is there minimal to no pain, I am also generating more spin and pace.From: Bhaskar, 12/30/20, Comments: I am very happy with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13 racquets, I did notice that even at low tensions Solinco Hyper-G 17 gauge, 51 pounds and 49 pounds, the racquet is very low powered, I personally prefer this. Keep in mind that the string you choose for the mains will dominate the overall feel. I am not sure what Wilson has done, but it's almost as if they intended to string this racquet as a one-piece. It feels like I don't even have to try. 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. I also notice the frame is a bit heavier, but I think with a few more hitting session to get use to.From: Jonyu, 1/4/21, Comments: New to the Pro Staff series and really happy with this particular iteration. I've been playing with the Pro Staff line of racquets for 17 years. Very maneuverable with the right amount of weight. 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. I get more control and more spin from the v13. Some Restrictions Apply. This is a great model for anyone looking to attack the net.From: Robert, 2/11/21, Comments: I have played with the two previous versions of this racquet which I enjoyed; but this version is even more satisfying.From: Anonymous, 2/8/21, Comments: Excellent, very happy with it.From: Ilal, 2/3/21, Comments: Nice work done with the strings and overall the racquet seems to be very satisfyingFrom: Jongchan, 2/3/21, Comments: This is an amazing racquet! And when you do make contact in the "sweet spot", I found myself either hitting winners or getting weak returns for a second shot put-away. String Pattern String Length ' ' ' ' Pro Sta RF 97 Autograph Recommended String Tension 50 - 60 lbs. It's solid, easy to swing, and sharp looking. For this model, Wilson removes Countervail, a somewhat controversial material added to the racquets layup in 2017. This is what people mean by having a difficult racket to master, but the reward is certainly there if you are strong enough and coordinated to hit that sweet spot. It has the best blend of power, spin, and control I have found. 9:29 vs. 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. While getting use to this, I still played the same with my Clash whenever I switched back to it. Instant improvement. I got two Pro Staff racquets for my daughter and the balance is not as per specs. Pro Staff 97 v13. The racquets head light balance makes it easy to maneuver, but it also has enough weight to absorb and redirect pace effectively. Very light in weight. I demoed this against a Babolat Pure Strike Tour, which I thought was a pretty good racquet, but the grip style and familiarity with Wilson racquets sealed the deal for me. Although some players may opt for lower string tension, which polyester strings are well-suited for, I prefer to string a bit tighter, especially when hitting with a heavier frame. String Pattern String Length ' ' ' Pro Sta RF 97 v13.0 WILSON.COM 2020 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO. EST. Lets start by looking at the racquets specifications, which are useful to gain a sense of what to expect. This racquet has a smaller sweetspot compared to most racquets these days. I can take full swings and control where it goes in the court compared to my previous racquets where my ball would sail somewhere. The Pro Staff 97 is well-suited for a lower-powered polyester string setup. / 625.81 sq. 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. I can also generate decent topspin. It's also great on serve; easier to swing around, which helps me with hitting my spots with still plenty of power. 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. Maybe not as much cushion as a 60-64 flex racket, but more comfortable power and slice. In the broad scheme of tennis racquets, the Blade and the Pro Staff share many similarities, but generally speaking, the Blade will offer players with a bit less power and extra topspin, in a slightly lighter package. Players with healthy arms looking to get the most out of the racquets excellent feedback and response will likely appreciate swapping out the synthetic grip for leather, which will add a small bit of extra weight too. I demoed a total of seven racquets. in: Length: 27 in: Weight (strung) 11.7 oz / 330g: Balance: 7pts Head Light: Flex: 66: String Pattern: 1619 . . I pair it with black strings, Wilson NXT at 55 pounds, and pink overgrip to create a black and pink racquet. FREE . This is a reasonably open string pattern which means more spin . 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. 0:58 Length, Head Size, String Pattern 15 of those years I've been playing USTA 5.0 Mens League Singles and Open Middle States Tournaments. Solar noon: 01:03PM. Either racquet is a great choice for better players that want precision and can generate their own power. This latest iteration of the V13 felt different. I have been a long time Pro Staff user. The 97 ULS's thin beam provides players with great feedback so you are connected with every ball. I'm 27 year old 4.5 level male player, and long time Pro Staff user. john added a stringing of Yonex Poly Tour Spin 1.25 16L Blue to Yonex EZONE 98 (285g) about 2 months: Designed with Paradigm Bending technology to optimize the bending profile between the shaft and hoop, this racket offers precision and pinpoint control. Mainly used a Pro Staff RF97 for many years. I can easily control pace from a heavy hitting opponent. . 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. But still, I think it will perform better on one handed backhand than these. 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. Although specs are the same as the 2016 model, the feel and ball pocketing are a world apart in my opinion. I absolutely love this racquet and bought a second one right away. Great for returning fast serves or absorbing pace and punching volleys.I don't get as much free power but I'm much more accurate and hitting was less errors. There are four distinct Pro Staff models available, which are primarily distinguished by their weight to appeal to a broader range of players. A huge thank you to Wilson for sending me the Pro Staff 97 v13 ahead of its release. I love the weight of the racquet. 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. 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.. Great for volleys. Wilson Pro Staff 97 CV Black Tennis Racquet Review Racquet Specs Head Size: 97 sq. I have been using Pro Staffs my whole life. Furthermore the little tighter string pattern helps to place the ball wherever you want and it's more precise than the v11 version. 1:47 Stiffness Wilson Pro Staff RF 85 specs: . He is happy with this racquet performance.From: Alena, FL. I use Black Code 16 orange and yellow at 56 pounds. 3:05 Perimeter Weighting System, 4:35 Strings & Tension 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. 6:01 Groundstrokes 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. The Pro Staff 97 v13 is a tool for stability, feel, precision, and spin. 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. I hit with Babolat frames my whole life because of the free power they give you. Only thing I might switch up is to use a hybrid set up with Solinco Tour Bite 16 mains, but keep Hyper G Soft 16 in the crosses, for more jump on kick serves, but retain the comfort. Similarly, higher racquet head speed helped generating more spin. I also like the rounded butt cap on the handle, which is much more comfortable than the v11 squared-off cap.From: Philip, 3/21/21, Comments: Awesome racquet. cm. Sorry, Yonex, I'm back home at Wilson!From: Phoenix, 10/20/20, Comments: Awesome racquet from Wilson, no more Countervail! . Prior to this racquet, I was using the RF97 model for many years, and eventually the weight of that racquet started getting the best of me. Nice transition. Next time, I plan to go with Hyper-G Soft. Please contact Customer Service at 1-800-401-7967, if you have any issues accessing information on this website. String pattern: Wider Cross-Strings (Open 16x19 string pattern) for added Power, Control and Spin. Getting used to the weight coming from a 10.8 to 11.4 ounce racquet. However, while helpful for comparison, they wont tell you how a racquet will feel, so I encourage players to demo a racquet whenever possible. Racquet feels sturdy and love the feel with volleys, and to top it off, huge fan of the black frame aesthetics. Simply provide the full Wilson racquet model, including the head size and string pattern in the "Your Wilson Racquet" field above. This is a shotmaker's racquet, for a player that doesn't need help from the racquet to generate power. The service with the Racquet Matching by Tennis Warehouse makes these racquet almost identical. I'm a 3.5 player; haven't played all that long, only 2+ years. It's more rounded. 8:09 Returns, 8:42 Summary Gives predictable launch angle and allows for decent top spin, and really effective slice on BH. Groundstrokes have improved depth, which I figure has to come from a higher spin rate combined with swinging more freely. I do like weighted tape at the top of the frame, but the racquet is well balanced on its own. In other words, it took a bit of the life out of the racquet. The stick has incredible feel and pockets the ball well. When I was on the run and returned the balls they were falling short. 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. I did find the racquets new tighter string pattern to reduce its bite on slice and kick serves a bit, but Id expect that to become insignificant after spending more time with the frame. 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. It has less power than RF, but I love the accuracy of this v13 and will buy another one soon.From: Bill, 10/15/20, Comments: The best racquet ever produced by Wilson, period.From: JCF, 10/15/20, Comments: Finally found my perfect set up! RACKET STRINGING - SHIPS IN 3-5 DAYS. Give it a try.From: AJI, Walnut Creek, 2/21/22, Comments: Strung my brand new Pro Staff 97 v13 with Solinco Hyper G Soft (16g) at 52/50 lbs and a Gamma Razortac overgrip: exactly 12 oz. Exclusive Offers Sent Right to Your Inbox. Wish I made the switch sooner.From: Ryan, 6/10/21, Comments: Racquet plays well, very similar to my 2014 Six.One. It's brought new excitement in my tennis game. Wilson Pro Staff 97 V14.0 Tennis Racket Paradigm Bending optimizes bending location for precision Braid 45 construction arranges the double braided fibers at 45 degree angles for enhanced pocketing feel alongside incredible stability String Mapping provides a denser string bed for excellent precision and feel Its far lighter and dramatically more flexible than the Pro Staff and offers more generous head sizes for added topspin. On the other hand, the Pro Staff shifts weight toward the handle, retains extra rigidity and plays a bit more lively. We couldnt find any products that match your search. Spin comes easy thanks to the open 16x19 string pattern. The Pro Staff RF97 is built using layers of braided Graphite and Kevlar which create a solid frame with a consistent feel throughout. Description. For the most part, the Pro Staff 97 specs remain very close to the prior generation from 2017. I cannot wait to string some natural gut with polyester closer to 50 pounds tension. 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: . If I need to be a serve and volleyer, it's solid. It gave new meaning to the concept of a brassy feel. See the full specs and the reasons Federer uses the RF97A. In many ways, were talking about subtle differences, but I felt in tune with the racquets consistent response, which added to an overall sense of control I had with it. I got this racquet to match up better with my long time drilling and hitting partner who has a stack of prized Stefan Edberg 12.2 oz Pro Staff 95 (red/yellow color theme). It's fine to go with either choice, but the 18 x . The Pro Staff 97 really allows you to plow through the ball effortlessly. 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. My favorite parts of this racquet are the volleys, slices, and the serves. 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. Of course, not all racquet innovations hit the mark, so keep reading to see whether the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 v13 gets it right. The Pro Staff 6.0 version was manufactured in four head sizes: 85, 95, 110, and 125 square inches. A racquets stiffness measures how flexible the frame is and contributes to the racquets feel and power. Beyond helpful customer service. And the black paint job is super cool looking. 2:22 Braid 45 I am more confident hitting balls closer to the net tape with this racquet, so the string pattern seems just right for me. The Pro Staff 97 is a modern take on the RF97. I have not demoed EZONE Tour and new Radical Pro. It also includes Wilson's classic PWS (perimeter weighting system), meaning added weight at 3 and 9 for more stability, plow . I would recommend this racquet to players who are looking for similar features. Wilson Pro Staff 97 V14.0 Tennis Racket. They don't get pushed around at all. 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. I have bought two Pro Staff 97 v13 racquets, with Luxilon 1.15, as recommended by Wilson at 54 pounds, and am loving it. Based on the latest reviews and removal of the Countervail, purchased the Pro Staff v13. In stock form it looks pretty slow with a strange feel at the ball. Head Size:97 sq. About this item . 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. 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. It's solid, comfortable and user friendly. and also has power and control performance that can be used for modern power tennis. 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. I am a stringer and string about 10-15 racquets per week for people who have arm problems, lack of power, control, etc. The 97UL's weight (9.5oz/270g unstrung) makes this a great racket for those who grew up . 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. 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. And has a lot of pop. The feel is unbelievable. And for Federer it's the reverse, the mains are strung tighter to create a more even feeling. Featuring a refined, elegant design and coloring inspired by rich earth tones, the Wilson Pro Staff 97UL v14 is an even lighter version than the Pro Staff 97L v14, with the same dense string pattern that allows you to swing aggressively while maintaining pinpoint accuracy. Wilson is committed to achieving Level AA conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and achieving compliance with other accessibility standards. I am a 5'9 aggressive 14 year old with a single hander. Wilson Pro Staff 97L v13 R.R.P. Product Description. Helpful Tip I wasn't quite convinced with the first iteration of the Pro Staff 97, but in the last five years they have definitely improved in that aspect. I got use to it after a week, and then loved playing with it ever since. The biggest difference between the two versions is actually the butt cap, which is more comfortable on the newer version. I enjoyed the opportunity, and I hope my thoughts and experience with the racquet help guide your decision making. In 2017, Wilson updated the Pro Staff line and introduced a new technology called Countervail, which the aerospace and cycling industries had successfully implemented. String Pattern String Length ' ' ' ' Pro Sta 97 WILSON.COM 2016 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO. EST. It comes in a 16 x 19 string pattern, as well as an 18 x 20. For example, if you have polyester strings in the mains, the softer string crosses are strung tighter to create a more even feeling stringbed. Sunrise: 08:28AM. Actual sales may not have occurred at this price. I found the racquet to have enough control for my swing. Federer's new racquet helped him re-establish himself as one of the best players in the world. Weight: 290 grams/10.23 ounces (without strings) 306 grams/10.79 ounces (with strings) Length: 69 centimeters/27 inches. Overall, I found the Pro Staff 97 to perform excellent hitting returns with depth and control while remaining stable and doing a fantastic job redirecting pace. 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 notice this frame absorbs the shock really well, not too muted, so you can feel the ball. I have looked for years to find a lower powered racquet. 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. 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 sweetspot is pretty small. 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. 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. But the positive far outweighs the bad. There is no substantial difference in slice strokes between the two. I sent my racquets in for evaluation an about 10 days later, I received a email stating they all had exposed graphite. We both are 5.0 level players. RacketLogger. I had really high hopes for this frame, but it was a huge disappointment. Same on my backhand, but it has to be clean contact and not muscle-ing the ball. 1:33 Swingweight Not powerful. On returns, the Pro Staff 97 offers an ideal performance. this racket really helped all of those things and provides good stability and especially up at net this felt like a magic wand . Featuring the same head size and open string pattern (16x19) for added pop, forgiveness and spin potential, this racquet continues to promise enhanced performance . 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. Kudos to Wilson quality control who really have stepped up their game! The Pro Staff 97 has a mid-range RA or stiffness rating of 66. Featuring Spin Effect Technology with a 18x17 string pattern, the 97S allows for extreme spin creation without sacrificing control and feel. It's not apples to apples because I strung this new racquet with gut versus my typical polyester. 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.