Next Generation of Pro Staff is Here; Pro Staff RF 97 Review

dr325i

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
BreakPoint said:
OK, thanks. So it does indeed have PWS. Awesome! PWS definitely makes the hoop more stable, IMO.

Funny how in this pic from the front you really can't see the PWS:

wilson_rf97_01.jpg
Click to expand...

Ater 50k posts and non-stop starring at the screen, no wonder you're getting blind. The PWS are clearly visible in the picture you attached...
 
movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Thanks for the review. The video had it looking almost orange (close to the grip color). The pictures here show it as being more red.

I have the feeling that this won't be the frame for me though. I had trouble with the stiffness of the K90 and later the KPS88 and the RF is right around the KPS88 but with lower swingweight. I think that I'd have to add quite a bit of lead to get this up to my specs and I don't think that there will be an XL options to be had.

I wouldn't mind hitting a few balls with it but I don't think that I'm into racquets this light anymore.
 
Geoff

Geoff

Hall of Fame
Hi Drak!

Great review (not that I expected anything less!)! Your previous reviews are always spot on for me. You were the one who deserved to do this review in my opinion for the TW community. I appreciate all of your help that you have provided to me through the years on these boards and in personal contact. You are always very gracious with your time in answering questions (no matter how stupid they are!). Keep up the great work and enjoy Cincinnati!
 
T

TobyTopspin

Professional
drakulie said:
I did hit with it, but didn't care for it much. Oddly, I really enjoyed hitting with the lighter Strike (16x19). Strike Tour although feels pretty good, left something to be desired. Seemed like I was playing with a dead frame. The 16x19 version was much fresher feelilng frame.
Click to expand...

Same with me! That's why I went with that stick (and the killer deal I got). The 16X19 is very underrated, but a lot of the fan boys on here are not going to use it since no one on the tour uses it. Oh well more for me :)

I'm looking forward to a hit with the 97. I loved the 85, KPS88, and the 90s, but I always wanted a little more room for error. It should be a fun hit.
 
bad_call

bad_call

Legend
MikeHitsHard93 said:
Lol only gets on TT to market for his Wilson rep. I seem to recall a particular frame, the Steam 99s, being the next big thing by drakulie.

Cool, glad you liked it, but I'm taking this post with a grain of salt.
Click to expand...

still hitting "home runs" with the 99S...lol
 
BHBeguile

BHBeguile

Semi-Pro
Thanks, drak! Any info/perspective on the lighter RF would be greatly appreciated (when you get a chance; you must have your hands full right now).
 
cknobman

cknobman

Legend
Nice review thanks drak.

LOL @ the haters. Even if drak was doing this for ulterior motives once demos get in the hands of the hundreds of people in line the truth would come out.
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
drakulie said:
As you saw in the video, frame specs are as follows

Unstrung:
340 grams
12 pts head light
71 Flex
304 Swing Weight

Strung specs with overgrip:
359 grams
8 1/2 pts head light
68 flex
331 swing weight
Click to expand...

Any word on the flex for the 315g version? 340g would have been a perfect fit for me...20 years ago...
 
D

dman72

Hall of Fame
Looks like this will be very close in spec to his actual frame. I wonder if the materials are the same or cheaper.
 
R

ringwraith

Rookie
Great to read the review! I am also interested in the 315 grams version. Does anyone know if the lighter version comes with a leather grip?

Hoping it is not too different feel wise versus the autograph version, just a bit lighter so as to have more room to customize.
 
dgoran

dgoran

Hall of Fame
But is it better than 300g... (you're welcome lee)

Does it come complete with metal shanks in the handle :) (you owe me Tim)

And finally, problem we all will face is that due to air tight Wilson qc some of us will receive it at 350g unstrung while some will have it at 330g.
I guess Wilson should just paint all versions the same that way they can always claim closest to the pin :) (that idea is for free Wilson)
 
Last edited:
Power Player

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Good point..you could request the light Fed autograph using TW spec selection, have it at the 315 weight since Wilson QC sucks and everyone on the courts would believe it to be the true FedStick and forfeit as soon as you unveil it.
 
dgoran

dgoran

Hall of Fame
Power Player said:
Good point..you could request the light Fed autograph using TW spec selection, have it at the 315 weight since Wilson QC sucks and everyone on the courts would believe it to be the true FedStick and forfeit as soon as you unveil it.
Click to expand...

"I be like"
Female-Tennis-Player-Calls-Upon-Her-Lightsaber-To-Win-This-Match.gif
 
T

TennisLogic

Semi-Pro
ProRadTour said:
Based on the flex, weight and swing-weight seems like a slightly modified Pro Staff Classic 6.1 95 - now 97sq and 16 x 19.

http://web.archive.org/web/19990911144646/www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=61

Sounds very promising indeed.

I personally thought the PS 6.1 95 played nothing like it's stiffness rating which also seems to be the case with the RF97.

drakulie, how does it compare to a PS 6.1 95?
Click to expand...

I am also curious to read about how it compares to the 6.1 classic. Specs are very close indeed.
 
tarkowski

tarkowski

Professional
Pro_Tour_630 said:
so if it does have the PWS then it is not an H22, :confused:
Click to expand...

It seems like it is based on it. The throat is long like the H22 (longer than the 6.1 series), but it does look a little different. And it also has PWS. So this frame looks pretty unique in the family, but perhaps closest to a stiffer H22?

Thanks again Drak for posting. It's always great to read your insights!
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
nickellwood said:
Hey does anyone know when this racket will be available in Europe?
Click to expand...

It is already available in Europe since Federer is using it.

Seriously, I think it will be around the same date, Oct 1. There is a TW Europe blog and it says get ready to order, so I assume it is around the same time.
 
MikeHitsHard93

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
bad_call said:
lol...yeah who's got the "home run" koolaid ? the 99S delirium is starting to wear off so need another dose... :)
Click to expand...

Lol yup. I haven't seen drakulie post here in months, and every time Wilson brings out their "next big thing", he makes a glorified review.
 
darklore009

darklore009

Hall of Fame
thanks for providing us with the specs and the review. I really motivated to go buy it and play with it the rest of my life. Although I'll take out the PS90 once in awhile to take me to a memory lane.
 
BreakPoint

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
dr325i said:
Ater 50k posts and non-stop starring at the screen, no wonder you're getting blind. The PWS are clearly visible in the picture you attached...
Click to expand...
Sure, if you had a microscope.

Yes, because the PWS on Federer's new racquet is SO CLEARLY VISIBLE. :???:

hi-res-464044465-roger-federer-of-switzerland-celebrates-a-point-in-his_crop_north.jpg


topelement.jpg



Now here's what proper PWS looks like:

Federer-Wimbledon-2003.jpg
 
Last edited:
Power Player

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Personally I love the Drakulie threads. Really good reviews.

Also, what got me into his reviews was his review of the Microgel Prestige. I was just finding out all the millions of sticks available in my return to tennis so it really helped to read that type of detail.

Another goat poast is his review of the Sampras PS.

Sure he may be a little biased towards wilson because he likes their frames compared to Babolat, but its not like he made a 30 page thread about the Juice Spin version.

A drakulie review is one, maybe two a year. I enjoy them.
 
meltedsteam

meltedsteam

Semi-Pro
BHud said:
MikeHitsHard93 is from Michigan...leave it at that. Thanks for the review drakulie!
Click to expand...

No need to make such generalizations about such a diverse region. I am sure I could generalize about whatever region you are from, and would those generalizations be accurate? Whatever accounts of a small portion of a large state you have come across are not giving you an accurate representation of the region.
 
BreakPoint

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Sander001 said:
Or a decent monitor
Click to expand...
My monitor is just fine.

If you already know it's there, it's easier to see because you know it's there.

If you don't know if it's there, it's not as easy to see.

But you must be right, the PWS on the new RF97 is even more clearly visible than the ones on the PS Tour 90 if you only had "a decent monitor". :rolleyes:


wilson_rf97_01.jpg




2WilsonProStaffTour90458.jpg
 
Last edited:
S

Say Chi Sin Lo

G.O.A.T.
^^^

Picture 1 = Far away

Picture 2 = In your face

Not really a fair comparison. Also, the box beam helps too.

How is it that we're arguing about PWS now?
 
Sander001

Sander001

Hall of Fame
BreakPoint said:
My monitor is just fine.

If you already know it's there, it's easier to see because you know it's there.

If you don't know if it's there, it's not as easy to see.

But you must be right, the PWS on the new RF97 is even more clearly visible than the ones on the PS Tour 90 if you only had "a decent monitor". :rolleyes:


wilson_rf97_01.jpg




2WilsonProStaffTour90458.jpg
Click to expand...
No, just admit you have poor vision or an old monitor; no need to retcon your story or build a city of strawmen, just let it go for once! Why must you pollute everything with your nonsense and try to derail every thread you enter?
 
BreakPoint

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
^^^

Picture 1 = Far away

Picture 2 = In your face

Not really a fair comparison. Also, the box beam helps too.

How is it that we're arguing about PWS now?
Click to expand...
OK, here's one of the Tour 90 from even further away. Do you find it easier or harder to see the PWS compared to the new RF97?


images


wilson_rf97_01.jpg
 
Last edited:
BreakPoint

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Sander001 said:
No, just admit you have poor vision or an old monitor; no need to retcon your story or build a city of strawmen, just let it go for once! Why must you pollute everything with your nonsense and try to derail every thread you enter?
Click to expand...
Because you keep polluting and derailing them! :-?

Let it go. It's not my eyesight nor my monitor. Just admit the PWS is harder to see on the RF97 than on previous versions of the Tour 90.
 
Last edited:
meltedsteam

meltedsteam

Semi-Pro
You guys aren't helping though. It is harder to see it's there vs other pws racquets. Not sure that point is with more than a post, but to each their own.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
SmilinBob's Racquet Reviews
5 6 7
Replies
345
Views
77K
SmilinBob
S
Kal-El 34
Kal-El's Racquet Review Section
7 8 9
Replies
420
Views
57K
Kal-El 34
Kal-El 34
T
APD GT review
Replies
1
Views
778
torre_dresen
T
drakulie
Wilson Hits Homerun with Wilson Steam 99S (mini review)
56 57 58
Replies
3K
Views
553K
g4driver
g4driver
Automatix
Playtest: RF97 vs PS97 vs PS97 LS
3 4 5
Replies
221
Views
75K
SpinToWin
SpinToWin
Top