Man, maybe i'm crazy, but i think the new RF97A 2018 is different from the 2016 version.

[haegger]

Hi, people. How are you?

I bought the new RF97A 2018 and when i compare the 2016 version, it seems it's not the same. I think the design of the throat in the new version is different from the older version when i compare side by side. I haven't played the new one yet

Maybe i'm wrong, but man, i think the mold have changed.

I want to know if you have the same feeling that i have.

Thanks.

 

[JonnyAbs]

I noticed a difference between the 2015 and 2017 PS 97s. I don't use the autographs but I would assume the differences would be similar (no irony intended).

 

[danbrenner]

Hi, people. How are you?

I bought the new RF97A 2018 and when i compare the 2016 version, it seems it's not the same. I think the design of the throat in the new version is different from the older version when i compare side by side. I haven't played the new one yet

Maybe i'm wrong, but man, i think the mold have changed.

I want to know if you have the same feeling that i have.

Thanks.

Same exact racquet.

 

[Zoolander]

I vote crazy!

 

[ONgame]

The only thing thats really different is the 20 dollar price increase.

 

[KaiserW]

Same exact mould but of course could feel different due to balance, swingweight, etc...

I did think the previous all black version swung easier than the original red/black version. I still use the originals.

 

[movdqa]

The spec range is so wide that it can feel like a completely different racquet.
A good test would be to try two with the same specs.

 

[tennis4fun]

2018 and 2016 are exact same racquet. only difference is the paint job. with wilson QC not being the best, it would not be surprising to have a 2018 RF that is different from a 2016 RF.

 

[Jonathan P.]

Same racket just with an ugly paint job.

 

[Bogdan_TT]

Same racket just with an ugly paint job.

Amen brother

 

[coolschreiber]

Geez!! Wilson QA even screwing up with the mold now smh

 

[movdqa]

Same racket just with an ugly paint job.

I liked the Black version. Not really digging the tuxedo pj.

 

[Crocodile]

They are meant to be the same racquet but with Wilson's QC it's almost impossible to find two racquets of the same generation to feel the same let alone those of a different generation. One guy I know actually has 2 RF's and one is longer than the other which I have never seen before.
Even with the Ultra Tour, the average SW of 319 is rarely achieved. One player I know has one that is 316 and the other 305.
Local retailors here are selling the demo's to customers because they couldn't garrsntee that players would get the same feel if they bought the new one sitting on the shelf.
I don't know why people still buy this brand that doesn't seem to care what the public end up with.

 

[haegger]

Well, the final verdict: I am crazy.

I went to my local shop to see the weight of this racquet and SW and the difference between the new and the old one is minimal.

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[stronzzi70]

They are meant to be the same racquet but with Wilson's QC it's almost impossible to find two racquets of the same generation to feel the same let alone those of a different generation. One guy I know actually has 2 RF's and one is longer than the other which I have never seen before.
Even with the Ultra Tour, the average SW of 319 is rarely achieved. One player I know has one that is 316 and the other 305.
Local retailors here are selling the demo's to customers because they couldn't garrsntee that players would get the same feel if they bought the new one sitting on the shelf.
I don't know why people still buy this brand that doesn't seem to care what the public end up with.

Which brand is good now ?

 

[Jonathan P.]

Maybe I am lucky but I have 3 wilson Prostaff 97L in stock form and all tree are withing 1g of weight and 1 balance point of each other...

Racket + overgrip:

Racket 1: 311 grams and 3HL
Racket 2: 311 grams and 4HL
Racket 3: 312 grams and 3HL

Dont know the SW but they all feel the same to me.

 

[IowaGuy]

I noticed a difference between the 2015 and 2017 PS 97s. I don't use the autographs but I would assume the differences would be similar (no irony intended).

Well, those rackets have published specs that are different, so no debate there.

The RF 2018 and 2016 have the same published specs.

You also have to consider Wilson's (lack of) quality control whenever trying to compare rackets

 

[beltsman]

I bought a black/red PS97 and the specs are exactly on point. My two cents.

 

[Crocodile]

Which brand is good now ?

I'm going to say:
1. Yonex - v Core generation
2. Volkl - Classic range, v sense, v engine, tour and PB series
3. Pacific: X Feel range and X Pro
4. Angell- Current V3
5. Dunlop - Biomimetic and 4 D Aerogels, Current range can't comment
6. Tecnifibre - Samurai and next two gens, current not so good.
7. Maybe Donnay but I haven't seen their current stuff.

 

[movdqa]

This is what customization services are for.

 

[Crocodile]

I think customisation is easy to do if you want to increase static or SW, but if you have a racquet with an abnormally high SW and you want to go the other way, you are stuffed.
I know of two shops in here where the Blade CV's arrived with SW's all over the place. One shop sent them all back and the other measured each one and labelled them so that customers knew what they were getting.
A third shop I know kept selling the demo.
You should be able to get two identical frames from all the manufacturers.
I wonder if Pacific still offer their no tolerance policy or have they given up.

 

[Zoolander]

Geez!! Wilson QA even screwing up with the mold now smh

Ha! . Soon im gunna stop telling people their RF97 is a fake because it only has 18 crosses instead of 19 or the mold is different and theres no PWS.

With Wilsons QC who says its still not genuine?!

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Maybe I am lucky but I have 3 wilson Prostaff 97L in stock form and all tree are withing 1g of weight and 1 balance point of each other...

Racket + overgrip:

Racket 1: 311 grams and 3HL
Racket 2: 311 grams and 4HL
Racket 3: 312 grams and 3HL

Dont know the SW but they all feel the same to me.

I have (4) of these and same observation: VERY close (I.e. within 2 grams of one another and virtually identical balance). HOWEVER my K90’s were historically all over the place. Maybe there is progress?? Maybe just good luck???? [emoji41]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Jonathan P.]

The last time I played with pure drives of the 3 I had 1 weight 314 another weight 317 and the last one weight 328. That one feel and play completely different so it is not just Wilson. Same history with head...
2 speed touch mp 1 at 320 and 1 at 325.

 

[Sander001]

There’s a saying which I have above my bed:

“No two Wilson racquets are exactly the same.”

 

[comit]

In Japan,wilson Japan sales representative,Michiba san,says　that　Roger requested 0.3 points flexible hoop for 2018　tuxedo.

, from 3:13. He says that this change is made public only in Japan.

 

[GN-001]

I'm going to say:
1. Yonex - v Core generation
2. Volkl - Classic range, v sense, v engine, tour and PB series
3. Pacific: X Feel range and X Pro
4. Angell- Current V3
5. Dunlop - Biomimetic and 4 D Aerogels, Current range can't comment
6. Tecnifibre - Samurai and next two gens, current not so good.
7. Maybe Donnay but I haven't seen their current stuff.

dunlop biomimetic QC isn't that good. I received one that had a cracked grip pallet so I returned it and got a replacement. My 2x dunlop bio300s both got a crack on the top of the frame after 2 years. Never had that happen with any other brand.

 

[Crocodile]

dunlop biomimetic QC isn't that good. I received one that had a cracked grip pallet so I returned it and got a replacement. My 2x dunlop bio300s both got a crack on the top of the frame after 2 years. Never had that happen with any other brand.

Probably the exception for you unfortunately because all the retailors I've talked to rarely have any problems with Dunlop, whereas the Wilson issues are quite wide spread at the moment.

 

[IowaGuy]

In Japan,wilson Japan sales representative,Michiba san,says　that　Roger requested 0.3 points flexible hoop for 2018　tuxedo.

I don't think Wilson's quality control could hit that tight of a spec if they tried

 

[Shroud]

I don't think Wilson's quality control could hit that tight of a spec if they tried

Its just a guess but I bet the ones for pros and us are built to different tolerances.

 

[IowaGuy]

Its just a guess but I bet the ones for pros and us are built to different tolerances.

That's possible, but it's also possible that Roger's people test out dozens (hundreds?) straight off the production line to find the ones that most closely meet his specs? That's what I would do if I had Roger's connections/cash...

 

[Big Bagel]

You can get 3 Wilsons pretty close if you're lucky enough to get them from the same batch of racquets made. But if you don't, they can be way off.

I don't know for all the companies, but I know Yonex and Pacific both do a great job of quality control. Pacific does the best with the handles, because no matter what grip size you buy, they will all weigh the same, whereas other brands are slightly heavier if you get a 5/8 vs a 1/8 grip size.

Wilson is about as bad as it gets with quality control because each time they make a batch of racquets, they go to the factory with the lowest bid, whereas other companies will go with the company with the lowest bid for their first round of production, but then keep using that same factory for all future production runs.

That said, it doesn't mean Wilson makes bad racquets, just that you can't expect two of the same racquet to feel the exact same. I still enjoy some of Wilson racquets and used to use the RF97, the Six.One 95 before that, the Juice before that, and the Six.One Team when I first started out. It wasn't until recently that I've gone away from Wilson racquets.

 

[IowaGuy]

Wilson is about as bad as it gets with quality control because each time they make a batch of racquets, they go to the factory with the lowest bid, whereas other companies will go with the company with the lowest bid for their first round of production, but then keep using that same factory for all future production runs.

Does anyone know if all of the RF97's of a given color (red version, black version, tuxedo) have been produced at the same factory?

 

[Big Bagel]

Does anyone know if all of the RF97's of a given color (red version, black version, tuxedo) have been produced at the same factory?

None of their racquets are all made in the same factory with every production run. Every iteration will have multiple production runs, and there's no way to guarantee they will use the same factory for each one.

 

[a12345]

The problem of changing the specs is that the RF97 Autograph is "supposed" to be Federers personal racket that he helped design for his own game, even if thats just the marketing claim.

So if you change the specs all the time you would have to imply Federer is changing his racket specs once a year too which might be a marketing own goal.

 

[4-string]

I bought a black/red PS97 and the specs are exactly on point. My two cents.

This has been the case with the 9 Wilson racquets I have bought over the last three years or so as well.

People around here tend to exaggerate how poor Wilson’s qc is. Wilson is just as good or bad as Babolat, Head et al IME.

 

[Big Bagel]

This has been the case with the 9 Wilson racquets I have bought over the last three years or so as well.

People around here tend to exaggerate how poor Wilson’s qc is. Wilson is just as good or bad as Babolat, Head et al IME.

No, it really isn't. Look at my first post:

Wilson is about as bad as it gets with quality control because each time they make a batch of racquets, they go to the factory with the lowest bid, whereas other companies will go with the company with the lowest bid for their first round of production, but then keep using that same factory for all future production runs.

That is a fact, not an opinion. 2 of the same Wilson racquets might be spot on, or they might be 15+ grams off. You won't find that in Babolat or Head. Yonex and Pacific are even better than Babolat and Head. While those 15 or so grams might not mean much to a recreational player, it makes a HUGE difference to serious players.

 

[4-string]

No, it really isn't. Look at my first post:

That is a fact, not an opinion. 2 of the same Wilson racquets might be spot on, or they might be 15+ grams off. You won't find that in Babolat or Head. Yonex and Pacific are even better than Babolat and Head. While those 15 or so grams might not mean much to a recreational player, it makes a HUGE difference to serious players.

I haven't seen anything but anecdotal evidence supporting your view, and the post you refer to is more of the same.

It would be cool if TW was willing to share findings in this regard, to see what differences there really are. Not holding my breath though, and until then I trust Wilson just as much as any other, based on my personal experience with the brand which has been outstanding. Some people complaining about out of spec racquets (more often than not strung specs no less!) will not change that.

Babolat 2013 APD (now sold), it the most off-spec racquet I have come across in recent years.

 

[ppmishra]

Which brand is good now ?

Yonex followed by volkl (though admittedly not recent, based on my past experience).
Yonex has superb QC, based on my personal experience selecting a Ezone 98+.
Heard good things about Pacific but never tried them.

 

[ppmishra]

No, it really isn't. Look at my first post:

That is a fact, not an opinion. 2 of the same Wilson racquets might be spot on, or they might be 15+ grams off. You won't find that in Babolat or Head. Yonex and Pacific are even better than Babolat and Head. While those 15 or so grams might not mean much to a recreational player, it makes a HUGE difference to serious players.

Amen, I purchased a 2015 97s prostaff off the bay and it was 9 grams lighter than spec. I guess it was not a deal breaker for me since I ended up adding more weight to the throat and handle to make it more hl but I was still shocked as it was my first Wilson.

 

[ppmishra]

This has been the case with the 9 Wilson racquets I have bought over the last three years or so as well.

People around here tend to exaggerate how poor Wilson’s qc is. Wilson is just as good or bad as Babolat, Head et al IME.

Not better than Yonex.

 

[IowaGuy]

Amen, I purchased a 2015 97s prostaff off the bay and it was 9 grams lighter than spec. I guess it was not a deal breaker for me since I ended up adding more weight to the throat and handle to make it more hl but I was still shocked as it was my first Wilson.

My 97s have all been slightly lighter than spec as well (8 frames).

I just customize by adding lead to the hoop and buttcap to get the weight, swingweight, and balance as close to each other as possible.

 

[NuBas]

@haegger if you are talking about the Red/Black one versus the All Black PJ then I think you are not wrong. It does feel different. The Red/Black one felt more club-like while the All Black feels easier to swing and more head light. I played with a couple guys who had both and can agree it does feel different.

 

[time_fly]

Didn't Roger dump the tuxedo version because he thought the white paint gave it a different feel? I thought I heard that during the US Open when he had gone back to the all black version.

 

[Big Bagel]

Didn't Roger dump the tuxedo version because he thought the white paint gave it a different feel? I thought I heard that during the US Open when he had gone back to the all black version.

He just liked the all black better, it didn't feel any different.

 

[NuBas]

Didn't Roger dump the tuxedo version because he thought the white paint gave it a different feel? I thought I heard that during the US Open when he had gone back to the all black version.

You heard right, in an interview during Stuttgart or Halle, he mentions this that it feels different.

 

[heninfan99]

The red one hits a hotter ball

 

[morten]

Wilson quality control guys... all over the place. I tested them, a lot on a swingweight machine and it differred 35 swingweight points.. the same batch. Horrible

 

[IowaGuy]

Wilson quality control guys... all over the place. I tested them, a lot on a swingweight machine and it differred 35 swingweight points.. the same batch. Horrible

How many different rackets, and what was the high/low swingweight of the range?

 

[stephenclown]

He just liked the all black better, it didn't feel any different.

Great post here with zero evidence. The frame was changed as confirmed through Japanese media and interviews with Roger. Even different paintjobs can have slight variations in feel. If they increased the flex in the upper hoop on his advice it would be easily recognised by Roger and could impact performance. He did play with a lack of confidence with the skunk when I was watching his matches.

Wilson quality control guys... all over the place. I tested them, a lot on a swingweight machine and it differred 35 swingweight points.. the same batch. Horrible

Jesus.... at least you still have a chance to get Rogers specs haha.