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

el sergento · Oct 11, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
No no no no, not you. The other dude who thinks these heavy mids (and now midplus) is foolish. You're the one who wants to practice, work on things, and to get better.

That other fool just wants instant glory.

Fool? Don't be so insecure guy and don't confuse wanting instant glory with picking a stick that maximizes your chances of winning.

Like I told you, I own an 85, in fact I collect Pro Staffs (I'm a regular on the holic thread, ask PP). I grew up playing the 95, own an 85, a 90, an 88 and a pair of n6.1's.

And guess what, I can play at a very high level with all those mids, what I can't do is win regularly with them, especially against better players. No matter how long I play with the 85, high balls to my one hander, on slow, high bouncing clay, will always be super tough to deal with, and my opponents will exploit that mercilessly.

Also, those mids, with the exception of the 88, have relatively low SW's and are actually quite easy to use and swing super fast. The 97A, with it's high static and SW combo is the outlier, but not due to its head size.

And I'm sticking to what I said earlier, no racquet, no matter which one, will help you improve. You can work on your footwork with a mid plus, or even oversize racquet just the same as with any mid or super heavy racquet.

There's a reason coaches don't use racquets as developmental tools, and there's a reason the vast majority of pros are still using the same 11oz midplus racquets they used as juniors. Only their coaches, very gradually, added weight over the years as they got stronger, and not the other way around.

BreakPoint · Oct 11, 2014

Maximagq said:
Maximagq is a real 5.0 and plays the same with any racket.

Even this one?

BreakPoint · Oct 11, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Yeah serious, I just recently switched out of my PS 6.0 85 back into a 90 (2014 PS 90), and the 90 square inch head feels like a gift from God.

I would have put money on you choosing the 2014 PS 90 over the BLX90.

Maximagq · Oct 11, 2014

BreakPoint said:
Even this one?

I've played with wood and I feel like I can play the exact same style without a significant drop in level. The only thing I noticed is that the grip is rough on my hand and it hurts to play for long periods of time.

kingcheetah · Oct 11, 2014

Maximagq said:
I've played with wood and I feel like I can play the exact same style without a significant drop in level. The only thing I noticed is that the grip is rough on my hand and it hurts to play for long periods of time.

I only know one response to this.

fuzzfactory · Oct 11, 2014

kingcheetah said:
I only know one response to this.

That is literally my reaction to 90% of that guy's posts lol.

Anyway, what strings at what tensions have you guys tried for this racket? Results? I'm gonna get a second frame soon and was gonna try new strings at a new tension. I'm loving my 4G @ 50/54# so far but experimentation keeps things interesting :grin:

Maximagq · Oct 11, 2014

kingcheetah said:
I only know one response to this.

fuzzfactory said:
That is literally my reaction to 90% of that guy's posts lol.

Anyway, what strings at what tensions have you guys tried for this racket? Results? I'm gonna get a second frame soon and was gonna try new strings at a new tension. I'm loving my 4G @ 50/54# so far but experimentation keeps things interesting :grin:

It's not the racket; it's the player. I can beat so many players below 5.0 using different equipment than I am used to simply because I am technically superior. Rackets don't make that big of a difference.

Sander001 · Oct 11, 2014

EasternRocks said:
Does the 97RFA have terrible paint quality as well? Aka chips galore, random paint damage, dings?

Sounds like Wilson may have manufactured the racquet.

Maximagq · Oct 11, 2014

BTW, I play tested the RF 97 when I visited Tennis Warehouse and it is a nice, solid racket. I don't really feel a noticeable difference from my BLX 6.1 95 16 x 18, though, because I felt I played about the same level with both.

parasailing · Oct 11, 2014

I got the TW demo yesterday and had a chance to hit with it today. Mine came to around 12.5oz strung with Wilson NXT.

First impression, this is a heavy and solid racquet. It felt sluggish but that's probably because my ideal static weight is around 12oz and this was just outside my comfort zone.

If you have great preparation, you will be rewarded with a very solid shot. This racquet is very stable and great for those that can handle the weight.

Compared to the PS 90, I felt that was more maneuverable mainly because of the smaller head size.

kingcheetah · Oct 12, 2014

Soo... back to discussing the racquet...

fuzzfactory said:
Anyway, what strings at what tensions have you guys tried for this racket? Results? I'm gonna get a second frame soon and was gonna try new strings at a new tension. I'm loving my 4G @ 50/54# so far but experimentation keeps things interesting :grin:

I'm using the 24kg luxilon savage setup... which I've enjoyed a lot, although I'll probably try 4g once I get back to the US and can get it cheaper.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 12, 2014

kingcheetah said:
To me the paint seems to be of high quality-- it hasn't come off the frame with ease like some of my more recent Wilsons, although I've only touched the ground with it a couple of times.

Not to steal this frame's thunder, but my 2014 Pro Staff 90 has been unchippable/unscrapable. Wilson used some good a** paint on the matte white/red 90.

kingcheetah · Oct 12, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Not to steal this frame's thunder, but my 2014 Pro Staff 90 has been unchippable/unscrapable. Wilson used some good a** paint on the matte white/red 90.

Hmm, I guess Wilson played favorites then, beacuse my six one 95 from 2014 had the paint come off so easily it was like it was still wet... :shock:

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 12, 2014

kingcheetah said:
Hmm, I guess Wilson played favorites then, beacuse my six one 95 from 2014 had the paint come off so easily it was like it was still wet... :shock:

To give you an idea. I was playing doubles and mine and my partner's racquet collided on a high volley and I got NO chip in the loop.

kingcheetah · Oct 12, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
To give you an idea. I was playing doubles and mine and my partner's racquet collided on a high volley and I got NO chip in the loop.

Damn! Wilson must be borrowing paint from Nokia these days...

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 12, 2014

kingcheetah said:
Damn! Wilson must be borrowing paint from Nokia these days...

Yeah I hope it's not a one-off.

Because my older batches BLX90, PS 6.0 85 (TW re-issue), all chipped very easily.

But these 2014 paint seem to be quite sturdy.

kingcheetah · Oct 12, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Yeah I hope it's not a one-off.

Because my older batches BLX90, PS 6.0 85 (TW re-issue), all chipped very easily.

But these 2014 paint seem to be quite sturdy.

In my experience the 2012 PS 90 and the current six ones had awful paint for durability purposes (obviously won't make or break a racquet decision but frustrating for consumers that spend ~$200 on a racquet to have crappy paint!

Geoff · Oct 12, 2014

I just posted a Pro Room RF97 review in the "Pro Staff RF97 - Pro vs Retail?". It is also posted in my review in Drakulie's OP. Also, for your convenience here is the link.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=8792151&postcount=48

Pleb123 · Oct 12, 2014

Side-by-side comparison of RF97 and H22

Just received my RF97. Came in right on spec at 12.6 ounces and 9 points head light. Strung with Big Banger 1.25 @ 50.

Thought it would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison with my H22 paint job (18x20 string pattern). They would appear to share the same head shape and size apart from the PWS bumps on the RF97.

Have only hit the RF97 against the wall but initial difference in feel is that the RF97 is more refined while the H22 more raw. Could that be explained by the addition of braided kevlar in the latter? Seem to have similar power. I expect the 18x20 will give more control/ less spin. Will be having a proper hit on Friday so will report back.

Really glad Wilson have brought the same racquet used at pro level to the market - something other manufacturers should take note of I believe, especially given the level of interest in the RF97. Surely it makes economic sense to do the same with Nole's and Andy's racquets?

Pleb123 · Oct 12, 2014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/121187344@N05/15334518190/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121187344@N05/15334367129/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121187344@N05/15334530400/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121187344@N05/15334617058/

drakulie · Oct 12, 2014

fuzzfactory said:
Ok so I got sick of waiting forever for the RF97 demo (I've been on the waiting list for two weeks too :-?) and I just decided to buy one (YOLO). I was phantom swinging it at the store and for some reason, I felt that my usual L3 grip was a tad too big.. decided to go with the L2 instead. Figured since it was so heavy, a smaller grip could make it more maneuverable. Strung it up with 4G 16L at 50/54 and the final strung weight was 12.7 oz.

Just a quick bkgrd I'm 29 years old, about NTRP 4.5, SW grip, 1HBH, and I would consider myself pretty athletic. I like to play at the baseline and I go for winners way more than I should. My usual racket is the PST/PCT, usually strung with either 4G or BBAlu.

Here's my incomplete review for the RF.

First thing I noticed was the weight. It feels significantly heftier than my PCT and it also feels somewhat head heavy. Didn't get the chance to measure its balance yet but my first notion was that it could be a little hard to swing.

Forehand: Absolutely a joy to hit. It is noticeably powerful and the plowthrough was incredible. Once I felt comfortable going for it, I felt like the balls I were hitting were much pacier. My opponent noticed it and said it was significantly heavier than before. Another thing I immediately noticed was that this racket was very stable, which allowed me to be able to redirect and/or absorb pace easily. Other reviews kept on stressing the racket's stability and I wholeheartedly agree. I've always added lead at 3 & 9 to stabilize my other rackets but this one takes it to a whole another level. Lastly, the heft of the racket (and maybe due to the smaller grip) allowed me to maintain a very loose grip on the racket, which seemed to aid in keeping the RHS up.

Backhand: I have a 1 handed BH. Took me a while to be able to tone down some of the racket's power as most of my balls went sailing 2-3 feet beyond the baseline. However, once it was dialed in, the stability of the racket allowed me to redirect pace controllably. I think it'll take me a while before I'll be able to swing out on my topspin BHs because of the heft, but I have no doubt it'll get there. Slices were buttery smooth and this area is another one that I will have to agree with other reviewers in. The mass and stability allowed me to have more control than usual on my slices, as well as increase the RPM.

Volleying: I usually avoid the net but I forced myself to volley today so I could see if the racket was as stable at the net as every other review has been saying. Results were a resounding YES. Very easy to block back shots, the racket's stability shining thru once again. Didn't feel like the ball would ever be able to push me around but that I owned the ball, and thus, gave me a lot of confidence if I ever do decide to come in.

Serves/returns: Didn't get to try in this dept today.

After rallying hard for about three hours, I'm very happy with my spur-of-the-moment purchase. I'm also glad I decided to size one down on the grip size, as I think the smaller handle allows me to play with a slightly looser grip and to be able to roll over the ball a little easier given the weight. Although I think its a challenge to be able to wield it for long durations, I think when I'm in the zone with this racket, I'm playing at my maximum potential. My two biggest pros for me about this racket at this point is it's stability and plowthrough. Biggest drawback is the weight and maybe the balance.. my arm feels like a noodle after today's session. Oh well, at least I know I got a good workout. Can't wait to hit the courts again tmr!

Thanks for sharing your review. Keep us updated. I added your review to first page.

Geoff said:
I just posted a Pro Room RF97 review in the "Pro Staff RF97 - Pro vs Retail?". It is also posted in my review in Drakulie's OP. Also, for your convenience here is the link.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=8792151&postcount=48

Thanks for sharing, Geoff. Very nice to have someone on the boards who has actually received a "pro stock" frame from a top pro, and it's the same as the retail one. Keep us updated on your set up.

Also, our good friend, Sup2dresq got a chance to hit with one for a little while, and although wasn't able to give me a lot of feedback, he did say it felt easier to swing than he would have thought.

drakulie · Oct 12, 2014

Pleb123 said:
Just received my RF97. Came in right on spec at 12.6 ounces and 9 points head light. Strung with Big Banger 1.25 @ 50.

Thought it would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison with my H22 paint job (18x20 string pattern). They would appear to share the same head shape and size apart from the PWS bumps on the RF97.

Have only hit the RF97 against the wall but initial difference in feel is that the RF97 is more refined while the H22 more raw. Could that be explained by the addition of braided kevlar in the latter? Seem to have similar power. I expect the 18x20 will give more control/ less spin. Will be having a proper hit on Friday so will report back.

Really glad Wilson have brought the same racquet used at pro level to the market - something other manufacturers should take note of I believe, especially given the level of interest in the RF97. Surely it makes economic sense to do the same with Nole's and Andy's racquets?

Thanks for the input, and for the photo comparisons. Look forward to reading your thoughts, especially compared to the H22.

Geoff · Oct 12, 2014

drakulie said:
Thanks for sharing, Geoff. Very nice to have someone on the boards who has actually received a "pro stock" frame from a top pro, and it's the same as the retail one. Keep us updated on your set up.

Also, our good friend, Sup2dresq got a chance to hit with one for a little while, and although wasn't able to give me a lot of feedback, he did say it felt easier to swing than he would have thought.

Maybe if the stars align this weekend BHBH and I can do a video review to add to yours. We will need some major editing!

drakulie · Oct 12, 2014

Geoff said:
Maybe if the stars align this weekend BHBH and I can do a video review to add to yours. We will need some major editing!

The way you get everything back, perhaps it would be wise to use time-lapse camera.

It would be awesome if you two do a video review. Thumbs up!!!!

Nostradamus · Oct 12, 2014

Maximagq said:
I'm 5.0 you idiot. I'm better than 4.5. My national junior ranking was 314 in the nation. You are only as good as me in tennis in your dreams.

Just so that you people know, 314 in the nation is INSANE good ranking. Most juniors would be happy to take 314 in California. That is more like 5.5 or 6.0 rating. Maxim only didn't get on the Varsity because he goes to the TOP tennis program in the country in UCLA where guys are turning Pro left and right like Giron.

Anyhow Maxim is planning on getting on the coaching staff at UCLA as part time job and impress the women on the Varsity team with his Skills...........................

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 12, 2014

Review from a Pro Staff 6.0 85 user

I wrote this in my own thread, just want to add my review on this racquet:

So I got a chance to hit with this racquet. I played an impromptu practice set against a strong 4.5/5.0. Took him to a tiebreak until his strings snapped and settled for the night unfortunately.

Power:
This has been well documented AND expected, the larger headsize definitely help with the power. Coming from a Pro Staff 6.0 85, there was a TON of power. It was probably the most noticeable on serves. The larger headsize also helped with returns too. No surprises with the power department.

Spin:
Even though it maintained the traditional layout of the Pro Staff 6.0 lineage frames, with a 16x19 pattern, the stringbed is actually quite open because of the larger headsize. I thought this was most noticeable on 2nd serves. I guess you can say this frame is tremendous on serves. 1st serves with its outright power (relative to my 85's), and 2nd serves with its (super) open pattern.

Maneuverability:
I don't understand what everyone is complaining about with this frame. This racquet moved around just fine. If anything, I find this RF97A to be more maneuverable than the Six.One 95 16x18 that I playtested earlier. I think it's because this frame has a flatter and less oval beam compared to the Six.One 95, and there's just a little less "beam" going through the air. HOWEVER, coming from a Pro Staff 6.0 85, this is still a big a** racquet, and it swings like it. Not a fan.

Feel:
My thoughts about this racquet was good up until now. There's a "tinny" sensation associated with this, and many of these "modern player's racquet". I can't believe I'm saying this, but this RF97A kind of feels like the Babolat Pure Strike Tour, that "tinny", tin-cat sensation which I absolutely hated. This is not the kind of feel that I would associate a "Pro Staff" with, FAR from it. HOWEVER, though I don't like the feel of this racquet, just like all Pro Staffs, the racquet still communicates to you and tell you exactly how your stringbed is interacting with the ball upon impact. So, the feel is still there, just not what I would come to expect when it comes to a Pro Staff. Lastly, that sweet, soft, and lively upper loop that I've come to love when it comes to Pro Staff is gone. This RF97A feels rigid throughout the entire frame upon impact. Long story short, I didn't care for the way this racquet felt upon impact.

Overall: Coming from a Pro Staff 6.0 85, Pro Staff/Tour 90 user
It's hard for me to justify this frame, with its ONLY advantage in the power department. Everything that I've come to love about my Pro Staffs is either the same (maneuverability), or worse (feel). After a long, competitive, and ultimately drawing even against this strong 4.5/5.0, I'm not impressed. Power is great, but the feel is just way too foreign to me. And this head is too big.

I don't hate this RF97A, but I also don't love it. It's far from the "top of the list" for me.

smirker · Oct 13, 2014

Truce. Guys, take a chill pill. Can we get back on topic please.

Hit with this frame yesterday for two hours. Tremendous power from all areas but still felt like I could hit out without fear of the ball going long. Don't get me wrong, it's a demanding racket and you have to get set up in time to play a decent shot but when you connect properly the pace and spin you get is kind of addictive. It makes you want to play aggressive, attacking tennis, much like Federer is doing so well at the moment. (not that I am comparing myself to him in any way!) The mindset I mean.

nickellwood · Oct 13, 2014

smirker said:
Truce. Guys, take a chill pill. Can we get back on topic please.

Hit with this frame yesterday for two hours. Tremendous power from all areas but still felt like I could hit out without fear of the ball going long. Don't get me wrong, it's a demanding racket and you have to get set up in time to play a decent shot but when you connect properly the pace and spin you get is kind of addictive. It makes you want to play aggressive, attacking tennis, much like Federer is doing so well at the moment. (not that I am comparing myself to him in any way!) The mindset I mean.

Yeah agree with what you're saying. The pleasure you get from hitting balls with this racket is addictive

kingcheetah · Oct 13, 2014

nickellwood said:
Yeah agree with what you're saying. The pleasure you get from hitting balls with this racket is addictive

I also experienced this feeling-- I think the feedback this racquet gives is just right, so people feel compelled to try and hit great shots.

coloskier · Oct 13, 2014

Maximagq said:
I don't want to keep derailing this thread, but here's a word of advice. Respect someone who knows more than you. Quite frankly, my opinion is worth more than yours because of a couple of key reasons. 1. I am a better tennis player than you and I have had far more experience playing competitively, so I know more about the ins and outs of the game than you do. 2. I know more about tennis than you do because of my playing experience and I still watch and analyze a lot of tennis. I am a very objective fan and am particularly strong at noticing tactics and strategic advantages, as well as which techniques work better. 3. I have more credibility because my posting history has shown that I have astute analysis and am well-respected for my analytic abilities. You are not nearly as highly rated for analyzing tennis. I coach tennis and have been rated highly by my students and their parents for my coaching ability. I definitely know more about technical analysis than you do.

Maximagg, I can feel your pain a little. I was ranked in the top 50 in singles in the US 18 juniors, top 10 in doubles, played the 80's equivalent of the Challenger tour for three years, quit for 20 years (burnout), have coached a top 10 junior girl who used to beat Sloane Stephens and Bouchard like a bad stepchild before she had the same shoulder issues as Sharapova only worse (2 surgeries so far). Some of the kids on this site have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Some do, most don't.

bad_call · Oct 13, 2014

coloskier said:
Maximagg, I can feel your pain a little. I was ranked in the top 50 in singles in the US 18 juniors, top 10 in doubles, played the 80's equivalent of the Challenger tour for three years, quit for 20 years (burnout), have coached a top 10 junior girl who used to beat Sloane Stephens and Bouchard like a bad stepchild before she had the same shoulder issues as Sharapova only worse (2 surgeries so far). Some of the kids on this site have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Some do, most don't.

whoa...that's WAY WAY more hours on the court than this player has ever logged (had but a few serving lessons and a single 5 min backhand instruction). hats off to you.

Dgdavid · Oct 13, 2014

Respect is earned not requested.
In some cases it is granted by default because of position but can certainly be lost from that position.
Wearing it on your sleeve is not a good way to keep it.

Dgdavid · Oct 13, 2014

Anyone tried a full bed of natty gut in this?
How did it work out? What tension did you use?

kingcheetah · Oct 13, 2014

Dgdavid said:
Respect is earned not requested.
In some cases it is granted by default because of position but can certainly be lost from that position.
Wearing it on your sleeve is not a good way to keep it.

This. So much of this.

kaiser · Oct 13, 2014

PeterFig said:
Now that I've had a good number of hours under my belt with the RF97, both in practice situations and matches, I thought I'd post my thoughts on it.

I'll start of with a disclaimer: I am currently under a work contract with Wilson. Having said that I've played with a Wilson Pro Staff racquet since the PS85 so I think I can objectively post this review and not be swayed by my recent work relationship with Wilson.

Racquet before switching to RF97
For the last year or so I started playing about half the time with a PS95S, and the other half the time with my trusty PS90. The PS95S was strung with 4G in the high 50's, while my PS90 was strung with champion choice around 50lb.

Setup of RF97
Initially I strung it up with Champions Choice using Federer's tension (59/56lb), but lately I've gone down to 56/53lb. I also have one frame strung with 4G but have not put much time on it at all so I'll keep my feedback to my experience with the Champions Choice strung frame. I've switched the Wilson leather grip to TW's 1.3mm leather grip (I like the thinner feel that gives better feel of the bevel edges) and then have Wilson Pro Overgrip on top.

Forehands
Let me start off with saying that I've been tweaking / changing my forehand lately so I'm not as dialled in / connected with that shot at the moment. Having said that I was blasting my forehands. The frame adds very noticeable extra power on that shot. I could also tell some increased spin I got with this over the PS90 (but maybe not quite as much as the PS95S). This is also the shot where I felt the increased size of the sweet-spot the most.... and it is much bigger. Maybe because I'm tinkering around with my forehand I needed a larger sweet-spot here more than on any other shot to give me that extra margin of error. Now, let me cover the most talked about issue: weight / swing weight. To me this is just 'slightly' (almost not noticeably) heavier than the PS90 but to be honest now that I've played with it for a month or so I can't really tell the difference. Compared to the K88 which I have played with a bit, the RF97 is much easier to swing. The K88 is the only racquet that I really found heavy to swing.

Backhand
Love it! Instant added plow-through on the topspin backhand! Heavy ball on the slice. I was able to abbreviate my backswing on the slice and still get a hard and biting ball ... in the end I think my slice backhand is now a better shot technically too as a result. I think the only shot that I'm still not totally dialled into is a heavy topspin backhand, not sure really why but it might be just the slight extra swing weight, but I'm finding my backhands to be flatter with this frame. My favorite shot with this racquet overall is a block/flat backhand hit off a heavy and deep ball from my opponent. That ball that bounces just inside the baseline... I'm able to basically half volley it from there with almost no backswing and just letting the frame's weight, stability and increased sweetspot do all the work.

Volleys
Very solid. I tend to take a little bit too much of a swing at some of my volleys so just like the slice backhand this racquet is actually helping my volley technique as I can take a much shorter 'punch' at the ball and get some sweet pace and bite. A 12oz "game improvement" frame? .... maybe for me with my long swings.

Serves
From day one with this racquet my serves have been huge! The first match I played with the racquet I hit more aces that I had done in any match in my life. The extra power is the most noticeable here for me. One the downside, I'm still not quite there with heavier spin second serves. I'm finding they tend to fly a bit long. I'm getting them in range a bit better lately, but it is a work in progress still.

Returns
As I mentioned before I have quite long / loopy swings, and they have always been my achilles on service returns. It's always been the weakest part of my game especially on the forehand. With the RF97 I'm still struggling with the forehand return. I think if I really shorten my swing the stability and weight of the racquet would help here, but I'm not there yet. However on the backhand where I do tend to chip the ball often, things are going much better. The returns have more depth and bite on them so I'm pretty happy there.

Overall
Very happy with this frame. It was a pretty easy, but very welcome transition from my PS90. I'm using the RF97 as my main frame and loving it more every day. Yes, it's taken a bit to get used to the fact that I'm not holding a thin, box-beam, and smaller frame in my hand, but I think I'm OK with that now and just enjoying the extra benefits I get with this frame. As for the cosmetics.... well I'm sure they'll grow on me in time

And here again is that "in-depth" 6 second video of me hitting with the RF97:
VIDEO: 6 seconds with the RF97

Peter

Hi Peter, thanks for your insightful review and for a wonderful job on the new cosmetics, easily the best since the HPS 6.1 (my former stick).

Seeing that you are familiar with the PS 95s, could you expand a little on a comparison between the RF 97 and the PS 95s? Eg, how significant is the difference in spin-friendliness between the two, did you play the 95s stock or leaded (and if so, by how much), etc?

I have been considering the PS 95s for some time now, but coming from the 4D200T I expect I'd need to add considerable lead to tune it to my swing. The reason I'm interested in the PS 95s is that when I'm a bit tight, I tend to hit my forehand just a bit long and thought that the spin effect pattern might just help me there. However, the RF 97 with glowing reviews by yourself, BHBH, drakuli and a host of others, now presents a very interesting alternative. Spec-wise it is very similar to the 4D200T and should fit me like a glove, except perhaps for its stiffness (but that should also contribute to its large sweet spot).

LiquidWhip · Oct 13, 2014

kingcheetah said:
This. So much of this.

I second that

Irvin · Oct 13, 2014

Drakulie do you happen to know the strung and/or unstrung twist weight I for the RF97A?

EDIT: I think I found it here http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/twistweight.cgi at 14.9 Kgcm^2

Alexrb · Oct 13, 2014

Anyone's autograph have navy blue grommets? Not that I care, just curious as to why they would do this.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 13, 2014

Alexrb said:
Anyone's autograph have navy blue grommets? Not that I care, just curious as to why they would do this.

It is? I didn't look closely but I thought mine had black grommets on?

Power Player · Oct 13, 2014

Kaiser, if you hit long when you get tight, the RF97 will probably only accentuate that. I do the same thing, and as a result went to lower powered frames.

Alexrb · Oct 13, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
It is? I didn't look closely but I thought mine had black grommets on?

I thought everyone's were navy until I recently went to a tennis store in Miami and saw black ones. I'll post a picture when I get home from work, I thought I was going crazy...

Anyone with Navy blue grommets on their Autograph?

kingcheetah · Oct 13, 2014

Alexrb said:
I thought everyone's were navy until I recently went to a tennis store in Miami and saw black ones. I'll post a picture when I get home from work, I thought I was going crazy...

Anyone with Navy blue grommets on their Autograph?

My grommets are black.

samster · Oct 13, 2014

Alexrb said:
I thought everyone's were navy until I recently went to a tennis store in Miami and saw black ones. I'll post a picture when I get home from work, I thought I was going crazy...

Anyone with Navy blue grommets on their Autograph?

You have a counterfeit RF 97 Autograph.

Or you are just crazy.

LiquidWhip · Oct 14, 2014

Alexrb said:
I thought everyone's were navy until I recently went to a tennis store in Miami and saw black ones. I'll post a picture when I get home from work, I thought I was going crazy...

Anyone with Navy blue grommets on their Autograph?

Nope, mine are black...

Alexrb · Oct 14, 2014

samster said:
You have a counterfeit RF 97 Autograph.

Or you are just crazy.

Am I crazy or is this a fake? Never uploaded photos here so please let me know if they don't work.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B6CSC_TPsXS8bGQxQU5oX0hpeWM&usp=sharing

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 14, 2014

Alexrb said:
Am I crazy or is this a fake? Never uploaded photos here so please let me know if they don't work.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B6CSC_TPsXS8bGQxQU5oX0hpeWM&usp=sharing

... Those look black to me...

asifallasleep · Oct 14, 2014

After a lot of back and forth I'm sticking with my Blade 93's and selling my RF97's. I just can't get used to a thicker beamed, larger headed stick. My Blades pack enough power and have better feel and maneuverability than the RF97. And on days when i may be slightly off, i can still play pretty darn good with my Blades, not so much with the RF.

The RF97 is a great stick if you are a pedal to the metal aggressive, attacking style player. I hit with pace, vary my speeds, utilize many angles........am an all court player. The Blade feels more like a paint brush, an extension of my hand, whereas the RF97 retains a somewhat clubby feel. I imagine if you are used to thicker beamed more modern frames, you'd have a different perspective than I. But coming from thin box beam frames, the shift for me is too great and not that appealing or fun.

coloskier · Oct 14, 2014

RF 97 update.... (VS Touch Black 16 mains and Solinco TB 18 crosses, both at 52#)

I played my nemesis last night for the first time with the 97. I beat him for the first time in 2 years. After the match he commented on how much more power and spin I had on my shots with this racket compared to the 90. Now he is going to demo the racket after I let him hit with mine for 15 minutes after the match. He was only able to return about 10% of my first serves, when normally he is around 75%, let a lot of forehands go that he thought were going out and landed in due to the spin. And, for the first time I had no problem returning his kick serve with power and control. For an aggressive all court player this racket may be the new holy grail. Especially if you are used to playing with heavy rackets that are very head light.

ringwraith · Oct 14, 2014

asifallasleep said:
After a lot of back and forth I'm sticking with my Blade 93's and selling my RF97's. I just can't get used to a thicker beamed, larger headed stick. My Blades pack enough power and have better feel and maneuverability than the RF97. And on days when i may be slightly off, i can still play pretty darn good with my Blades, not so much with the RF.

The RF97 is a great stick if you are a pedal to the metal aggressive, attacking style player. I hit with pace, vary my speeds, utilize many angles........am an all court player. The Blade feels more like a paint brush, an extension of my hand, whereas the RF97 retains a somewhat clubby feel. I imagine if you are used to thicker beamed more modern frames, you'd have a different perspective than I. But coming from thin box beam frames, the shift for me is too great and not that appealing or fun.

The blade and RF97 are only 0.5 mm apart in beam width right? Maybe its the larger headsize for you.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Oct 14, 2014

ringwraith said:
The blade and RF97 are only 0.5 mm apart in beam width right? Maybe its the larger headsize for you.

I'm almost certain that these RF97A are 22mm, same as the Six.One line which this frame is more or less based off on.

I know Wilson advertises 21.5mm, but if you line up the Six.One with this frame, they have the same width.

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