Pro Staff 97 vs Pure Strike?
- Thread starter beltsman
- Start date
I have played with the Pure Strike for about a year and a half, modified to 339 grams. I enjoy it but experience on and off elbow pain with it so I had gone back and forth with Yonex DR98 until it is relieved.
I've recently been hitting with the PS97 CV with same string setup and tension, and my first impression is that the PS97 is lower powered by comparison. It's clearly more headlight and maneuverable with thinner beam which translates to lesser power. With just an overgrip and dampener, it weighs 336 grams I think, but I don't know the balance or SW. I am adding some lead tape at 12 o'clock gradually to measure the power increase.
both nice racktets..kinda similar but kinda different. PS97 i feel is more of the classic side, and the Strike more Tweener. The Strike is lighter, more manoeuvrable and more power and more spin. the PS Non CV is slightly heavier, and more plow through and stable. So a bit of a trade off. Depends on your style a bit. I recon is a flatter hitter and more classic all courter, then the the PS. if more topspin, whipper type of player, then the Pure Strike. I play with the PAT and and a back foot topspin player, and somewhat like the Strike. as more my style of play.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
I've only hit a little with the Pro Staff, but I think it's spinnier than the Strike. The Strike hits pretty flat.
TW Professor
Administrator
Here are your two racquets in the new TWU Racquet Performance Analysis Tool. The racquets are indicated by color as indicated in top left of image. The big dots are the racquets and the smaller colored ones are the racquets similar to each. Go to the tool for details and further searches.
Bender
G.O.A.T.
I disagree with this; if anything I think you have hit the other way around. Perhaps you got some off spec Strikes / PS97s?
The velvet + red PS97 and the first gen PS97 are fairly similar if not the same, but the PS97CV is far more head light and manoeuvrable than the older two, but all the ones I have tried have been lighter, spinnier, and more HL / easier to swing the Strike. The stringbed is more dense in the middle of the Strike than it is on any of the PS97s as well. Stiffness is around the same, with the Strike being more flexier than it would appear, and the PS97 being more stiff than it looks.
PS97 is more classic only to the extent that it's called a Pro Staff. Beyond the name there really is very little if anything about it that screams "classic". At least the RF97A has weight going for it. The PS97 CV is almost like a Wilson Surge disguised as a Pro Staff.
Karma Tennis
Legend
IMO, the PS97CV requires better stroke technique to get the most out of it. It is great control racquet.
That said I think the stock PS97CV is also much more of an All Court Playing style racquet than the Pure Strike. The PS97CV works great as a Baseline Racquet and as a Serve&Volley racquet in stock form.
Also, the PS97CV makes a fantastic platform for customisation. I personally think that a leaded up PS97CV offers a great alternative to the RF97A for some players.
That said I think the stock PS97CV is also much more of an All Court Playing style racquet than the Pure Strike. The PS97CV works great as a Baseline Racquet and as a Serve&Volley racquet in stock form.
Also, the PS97CV makes a fantastic platform for customisation. I personally think that a leaded up PS97CV offers a great alternative to the RF97A for some players.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
I’ve had a P17 that I played sparingly with due to arm discomfort in full poly. Added leather grip, 3g @12 and plays beautifully. Total extension of my arm and I totally hit out and other then arm discomfort, no issues. I have now been trying the Kevlar hybrid crossfire ZX and based on feedback went 55/45lbs. I have close to 10hrs so far and I am amazed at the comfort and no longer get arm pain playing this frame. Control is fantastic and so is heavy top spin that really kicks. I am not missing out on power either or any adjustment to launch angle. Everything is just clicking with this setup and I’m truly surprised it’s coming from a Kevlar hybrid
JonnyAbs
Semi-Pro
I agree with everything except the last paragraph. It is more classic than modern racquets in that it is a bit heavier (11.8-12.0 ounces) and is more head light (around 7 points). Also, it has a thinner beam than most modern racquets.
You are totally right about the strike having a higher swingweight even though it is lighter, and this is because it is less head light. Strike is also more dense in middle because it has 8 strings in the throat compared to 6 in the ps97. Wilson has more spin potential and power while the strike hits a flatter ball, but it is by no means weak or spinless. Just less imo. I prefer the pro staff.
Bender
G.O.A.T.
Bear in mind when I think classic Pro Staff, I refer to my long stint with the PS90, and my short stint with the RF97A, before switching to the 16x19 Strike.
The PS90, RF97A, and the PS97 (including the CV) all have bigger string spacing than does the Strike, so they all produce more spin all else being the same—both in theory and in practice as I’ve played with all of them.
Of the lot, the Strike and the PS90 are surprisingly similar in terms of power, and by that I mean how much power it can create is proportional to how hard or soft you can drive the racquets.
With all the PA97 variants (and I include the RF) IME, power generation was disproportionate to how much power I used, amplifying my power more than I would have liked where I opted for softer or more finesse shots, yet not providing enough power when I did choose to swing for the fences. Drop shots and drastic injection of pace with the RF and the first two PS97s were more difficult because they came off heavy-handed. Of the 97 iterations, the CV was probably the best but still behind the the PS90 and the Strike. With those last two frames, I could pull off a big first serve and hit a drop shot that spun back into the net off the first bounce from the baseline without focussing too hard. With the RF and the PS97 variants, the drop shot would bounce halfway up the service box, which just isn’t good enough at all.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
I find the PS97 touch to be nearly on par with the PS90. It's that good. My slice and droppers are sublime.
The PS97 is a really unique frame. Enough spin and power to feel like a tweener, but maintaining the Pro Staff feel and touch. I think that's what the Strike was going for but slightly missed the mark.
The Strike is a great racquet but different. It hits much flatter and plays stiffer. Less touch and feel. Even though power is similar (Strike may have more), the PS97 hits a consistently deeper ball due to the more open string bed. With the PS97, I miss long. With the Strike, I hit the net.
Serve is similar but the same qualities apply. The Strike has slightly more power but hits flatter. Stiffer. The PS97 gives more action with a tad less power but better placement due to spin.
For me, the big difference is on groundstroke depth and touch, where the PS97 takes the edge. Obviously it's a matter of preference, but so far the PS97 suits my game more (helps my service consistency, gives me some free depth, is more natural for my 1hbh, and provides much better touch and slice - I play a lot of slice BHs).
counterpuncher
Hall of Fame
They are my main two racquets and similar enough to switch between the two.
My Strike in stock form is 5g heavier, more evenly balanced and has a slightly higher sw.
It hits flatter, is more muted, has slightly less power and a larger more consistent sweet spot.
The Pro Staff (original black and red) has a more raw feel which provides better touch, more spin and has more power over the Strike in the sweet spot and less so outside of it. I feel this is what the TW reviews keep referring to when they mention an inconsistent string bed.
I feel the Pro Staff is more of a weapon for an attacking player with bigger flat serves, better volleys and big power when going for a winner. With the Strike i feel i can grind all day consistently from the baseline or work my opponent from side to side and create opportunities for a put away shot into the open court.
My Strike in stock form is 5g heavier, more evenly balanced and has a slightly higher sw.
It hits flatter, is more muted, has slightly less power and a larger more consistent sweet spot.
The Pro Staff (original black and red) has a more raw feel which provides better touch, more spin and has more power over the Strike in the sweet spot and less so outside of it. I feel this is what the TW reviews keep referring to when they mention an inconsistent string bed.
I feel the Pro Staff is more of a weapon for an attacking player with bigger flat serves, better volleys and big power when going for a winner. With the Strike i feel i can grind all day consistently from the baseline or work my opponent from side to side and create opportunities for a put away shot into the open court.
It really depends on how you play, personally with the way I play I prefer the pure strike better as it have more power and spin in general but if you want your game to be for controlled I would recommend the pro staff 97. Both rackets feel great I’ve tried the Red pure strike 98(16x19) and Pro staff 97 CV but personally if you’re looking to control the ball more I would go for the Pro staff but if you’re looking to penetrate and add more pace to your ball I would go for the pure strike
TennisHound
Legend
Pure Strike 18x20 vs PS97 18x20?
Oh wait, Wilson doesn't make a PS97 18x20. Hmmm
Oh wait, Wilson doesn't make a PS97 18x20. Hmmm
DonDiego
Hall of Fame
Are you talking about the latest Pure Strike 16x19 (project one 7) or the first iteration? Cause they play differently. New one has a thicker beam at 3 and 9, a different drilling (a bit more open) and feels more powerful and bulky.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Thread bump. I've been playing with the Pure Strike Gen 3 and was looking for a bit more control with not a big drop off in power. Any thoughts on the Gen 3 Strike vs. the current Pro Staff 97 (gold color)?
If you've played with both, how demanding is the new Pro Staff 97 coming from the Strike?
If you've played with both, how demanding is the new Pro Staff 97 coming from the Strike?
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Try the Strike Tour and the Strike VS - at least one of them will give you what you are looking for, if not both depending on your swing speed.
Pro Staff 97 v14 is demanding kind of, needs long fast swings. And it's not very comfy either, for the arm. Strike 98 is easier to play with and get depth for sure. But PS97 v14 gives pin point precision, while Strike is more like aiming for a side or a wider part of the court. Easier returns with the Strike definitely, depending on your level, and ball speed of course
Last edited:
ZeroandOne
Rookie
Pro Staff is demanding as hell. Small sweetspot. It asks for fast swings. If you want more control look to the blades or tf40's.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
I play the PS97 v14 currently and played the Project 17 generation of the Pure Strike for about a year until the arm pain got out of control. PS97 takes more effort but I find it very comfortable and powerful with my gut/poly hybrid. The feel helps with the control. The Strike as I remember it had very little feel and was stiff, but gave similar power and spin with less effort.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
There is quite a bit of difference in comfort and dampening between Gen 2 and Gen 3 of the Strikes as Babolat had to fix the comfort issue after Project17 got the reputation of being an arm killer. The Tour in particular has a VF below 140.
The main difference comes down to swingstyle. Pure Strike allows for a whippier motion, whereas PS97 requires a more linear swingpath. You might force either racquet onto the other swingpath, but using them to max out on their properties, this is a solid guideline to consider IMHO. Just compare them side by side and see what fit's your style.
Harshness can come from the racquet being too stiff, tension being too high, string being too old, or from a problematic motion.
Harshness can come from the racquet being too stiff, tension being too high, string being too old, or from a problematic motion.
Any feedback on how the two-handed backhand feels with the PS97? I know a lot of one-handers like it, but seems like it would it have some nice mass for coming through the ball with a two-hander as well. Thoughts?
Most double handers are a shorter blocking shot, a counterpunch sort of. With PS97 v14 you would need to swing back and through more, a bit like with a Prestige. A simple short block won't always be enough. But that doesn't describe the feel, which would be stiffer but not too stiff, and very crispy, exact opposite of Strike 98 probably
Thanks for this feedback. My backhand is more of shorter counterpunching shot currently. Although I'm trying to lengthen it so perhaps the PS97 would push me in that direction a bit. Only way to know is to demo of course.
