Current Raquet Equivalent to Wilson Pro Staff 6 85
- Thread starter Raqueter1
- Start date
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
LMAO I used to play with the St Vincent PS. At one time i had 4 of them. I started with the Chicago version that had no bumper guard over the top. When i switched to the St Vincent I thought it just felt better. Then i moved on to the Austria PT280 racket. Later I tried the China versions of both rackets and for some reason I never got the feel back I experienced with either of the original rackets.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Best feeling racket I've got is the Phantom 93P. I've never played with the PS 85 so I can't compare. It's probably hard to replicate a PS 85 in a modern frame.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
@Raqueter1 It told me I was never going to find what I thought was the feel I ever had.
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Jeff Klyne
New User
Agreed re Prince Phantom Pro 93p. I have both racquets, best I've found since the PS85 and 61 90s.
wangs78
Legend
The racquets that most closely approximate the feel of the original Pro Staff are the current Pro Staff models, especially the heavier ones (i.e., the RF97). For something very similar you have to go to the PS90 which is no longer being made, but if you're a good player it is still a very good racquet to play with. I expect Wilson to release an RF90 at some point to commemorate Fed's career so you can wait for that as well if you don't want to buy a PS90 off of the big auction website.
Grieeegoorr
Semi-Pro
Give the new Head Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid a demo, I agree with @Irvin that it will be neigh impossible to replicate the exact feel. I think that what you will find though is that the shots that worked really well for you with PS 85 will work as equally well with the Prestige Mid.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
It doesn't, but it ups his post count and makes him feel superior.
The short answer is to demo. I played the PS85 back in the day as well. You could add the Volkl C10 to the above list, also possibly the Yonex VCore Pro 97 and the Prince 93P 14X18 or 18X20. Heck, you can demo them all from TennisWarehouse.
Maybe @TW Staff has some recommendations as well.
bogdan101
Semi-Pro
I agree with Irvin that you won't find that feel except in another PS 85; part of it is the small head cutting through the air, another part is the thin beam and the graphite/kevlar layup. No modern racquet I played with comes remotely near to that feel. You may like the Head Pro Tour 2.0, very solid feeling, but still not the same.
deaner2211
Semi-Pro
Basically he is saying that nothing feels like the original PS85 not even the latest models of the same racket
I was going to suggest that 97S, but thought I'd be laughed off the forum. But I agree entirely -- it has that stiffer, solid box-beam feel, and a very satisfying feel on impact.
Kemitak
Professional
I’ve played with the PS85 for most of my life. I think each iteration was progressively more flexible, so the answer to your question depends on which version you want to replace.
I play with two matched ones from the last TW batch, and I’d say the two rackets that feel and play the most similarly to them is my Yonex Vcore Tour G 330 (orange), so I can’t say if the current Vcore 330 is far off, but I imagine it’s pretty close too; and the Volkl Power Bridge 10 Mid, which is the best bang for your buck right now. The PB10 is probably the most similar in swing speed, weight, spin, and plow through, but it’s more forgiving than the PS85 and it’s more flexible, which I like, but just string it 5lbs tighter and you’re good.
(Edit: the Phantom 93 14x18 doesn’t feel like the PS85, but it would be a very easy and rewarding transition.)
(Edit #2: no 18x20 frame, no matter how good in it’s own right, will feel or play like a PS85.)
I play with two matched ones from the last TW batch, and I’d say the two rackets that feel and play the most similarly to them is my Yonex Vcore Tour G 330 (orange), so I can’t say if the current Vcore 330 is far off, but I imagine it’s pretty close too; and the Volkl Power Bridge 10 Mid, which is the best bang for your buck right now. The PB10 is probably the most similar in swing speed, weight, spin, and plow through, but it’s more forgiving than the PS85 and it’s more flexible, which I like, but just string it 5lbs tighter and you’re good.
(Edit: the Phantom 93 14x18 doesn’t feel like the PS85, but it would be a very easy and rewarding transition.)
(Edit #2: no 18x20 frame, no matter how good in it’s own right, will feel or play like a PS85.)
I agree, the graphene 360+ mid is the most similar modern racquet to the PS 85 I have played with.
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