Rumor of a new RF racquet at French Open 2018

[Federette33]

I heard there will be a new RF at French open 2018.
Anyone else have any information on this ?

 

[NuBas]

I posted this interview around and at 3:40 seconds in, he does mention a new RF97. Hopefully its not just a reverse paint job or the red nCode paint job with white pws.

 

[styksnstryngs]

I posted this interview around and at 3:40 seconds in, he does mention a new RF97. Hopefully its not just a reverse paint job or the red nCode paint job with white pws.

Ah, yes. The reverse black on black pj, aka black on black.

 

[moon shot]

Ah, yes. The reverse black on black pj, aka black on black.

I think @NuBas means polarized gloss.

 

[ohiostate124]

I hope it’s glossy. Not a fan of the velvet stuff.

 

[every7]

I hope it’s glossy. Not a fan of the velvet stuff.

The velvet finish was a production nightmare for Wilson. They are still dealing with product returns from some of the faulty batches.

 

[Seth]

They should release a Fed frame annually at this point. People will buy it regardless.

 

[asifallasleep]

If released it would definitely just be a paint job. As well as Fed is playing no way he changes his racquet!!!

 

[Bartelby]

It's to be called the 'Rafa Basha'.

 

[NuBas]

BTW OP where did you hear this from and can you provide any images or links?

 

[tribesmen]

Fed likes velvet, so it will be probably still velvet with even less emphasis on text . I just hope Fed picture will be removed.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

It's to be called the 'Rafa Basha'.

Then the lighter weight version would be the 'Rafa Thrasha', as a thrash has more tip speed but less plough through than a bash?

 

[Fedforever]

Who would be playing with it at RG2018?

 

[projectone7]

Who would be playing with it at RG2018?

Rafa

 

[moon shot]

Who would be playing with it at RG2018?

Ons Jabeur

 

[jmacdaununder2]

The velvet finish was a production nightmare for Wilson. They are still dealing with product returns from some of the faulty batches.

Yeah, apparently the only thing that material is resistant to is clay...

 

[Harry_Wild]

If released it would definitely just be a paint job. As well as Fed is playing no way he changes his racquet!!!

RF plays with a custom setup so if the racquet looks a little different in retail stock, does not matter since he plays with a completely different racquet then the retail racquet. His racquet is customized at the Wilson Pro Shop. He pays nothing for Wilson's racquet services including one day shipping and gets all his Wilson gear free; compliments of Wilson.

 

[Semper]

RF plays with a custom setup so if the racquet looks a little different in retail stock, does not matter since he plays with a completely different racquet then the retail racquet. His racquet is customized at the Wilson Pro Shop. He pays nothing for Wilson's racquet services including one day shipping and gets all his Wilson gear free; compliments of Wilson.

Is this a joke?

 

[Rabbit]

They're changing the butt cap from red to black and adding $50 to the price.

 

[NuBas]

They're changing the butt cap from red to black and adding $50 to the price.

LOL this might actually be true. Either that or they might throw some gold in the paint but actually since they are trying to modernize things I hope they don't do like a Babolat Play sensor thing.. or did that already happen?

 

[Harry_Wild]

LOL this might actually be true. Either that or they might throw some gold in the paint but actually since they are trying to modernize things I hope they don't do like a Babolat Play sensor thing.. or did that already happen?

It may have help Rafa comeback to #1, so I almost certain RF probably not against it! RF by the way, is going great too, probably better then Rafa is right now, so...maybe he does not need the sensor thing after all?

 

[Surion]

RF plays with a custom setup so if the racquet looks a little different in retail stock, does not matter since he plays with a completely different racquet then the retail racquet. His racquet is customized at the Wilson Pro Shop. He pays nothing for Wilson's racquet services including one day shipping and gets all his Wilson gear free; compliments of Wilson.

As discussed for months before, he doesn't play a completely different racquet.

He plays the retail racquet with a custom grip.

 

[sureshs]

Rafa will still beat him

 

[Sentinel]

Rafa will still beat him

Whilst currently afraid of playing Federer ?

 

[Tennease]

It will have a new paintjob, sprayed by Suresh.

 

[NuBas]

It will have a new paintjob, sprayed by Suresh.

Nooo they gonna replace Roger's face with the Suresh tennis silhouette

 

[Rabbit]

Nooo they gonna replace Roger's face with the Suresh tennis silhouette

Is the new frame going to be a wide body?

 

[sureshs]

It will be a 29 inch longbody

 

[jmacdaununder2]

It will be a 29 inch longbody

Finally!! About time Wilson came to their senses; even 28" would be okay btw...

 

[Rabbit]

It will be a 29 inch longbody

india uses the metric system doesn't it? Shouldn't that read 29 mm?

 

[sureshs]

india uses the metric system doesn't it? Shouldn't that read 29 mm?

No, it would be 29 meters

 

[tennisreflectslife]

If this is going to happen, we should start hearing about it soon !

 

[Booger]

Timing seems odd. I would expect a new paintjob to show up around wimbledon or the US Open.

0% chance they change anything except cosmetics. There's nothing they can add to the frame without sacrificing something else.

 

[TennisHound]

Has it been a year since they changed it to black? I’m not sure what their hurry is.

Probably Countervail

 

[moon shot]

Has it been a year since they changed it to black? I’m not sure what their hurry is.

Probably Countervail

The hurry is max versions sold before he retreats to his lair in a hollowed out mountain and only shows his face to sell rf foundation stuff.

 

[TennisHound]

^^^Just seems like Wilson is pumping out too many frames too fast (as usual).

 

[Nostradamus]

^^^Just seems like Wilson is pumping out too many frames too fast (as usual).

They need to sell,, and they need to sell and make money. If new models lag,, people lose interest in the old model fast and want something new and better... Customer demand

 

[Harry_Wild]

RF racquet is not for me but it would be cool to have a reversal - glossy black frame and inserts be dull black! If they came out with that: I might pickup a 97 that is around 11.4 oz. unstrung!

 

[Subway Tennis]

They're changing the butt cap from red to black and adding $50 to the price.

They know the target audience will buy anything.

 

[ThirdEye]

They'll just add CV. No idea if Federer's current racquet uses it or not.

 

[tennisreflectslife]

Timing seems odd. I would expect a new paintjob to show up around wimbledon or the US Open.

0% chance they change anything except cosmetics. There's nothing they can add to the frame without sacrificing something else.

Yeah I would agree, french open seems like odd timing, also less likely of any other changes besides cosmetic, but wilson is adding CV to everything, so maybe ? nah, probably not. Overall, rf97 is actually a really good racket (solid, powerful, spin friendly and has good control), if the twistweight was a bit low and the wilson specs were not all over the place, it would be my go to racket (i still got one in each color lol).

 

[Doubles]

The velvet finish was a production nightmare for Wilson. They are still dealing with product returns from some of the faulty batches.

Weird. I know of probably 10 people with multiple new racquets and none of us have had those issues.

 

[PeterFederer]

No, it would be 29 meters

hahahahaha really man? mm stands for milimeters. Meters is represented by a single m.

 

[PaceKing]

Does anyone know if fed plays with the 2015 version or 2017 version? I have both and they play differently with same string set up. I’ve noticed 2015 more maneuverable at net and slices much better.

 

[morten]

Does anyone know if fed plays with the 2015 version or 2017 version? I have both and they play differently with same string set up. I’ve noticed 2015 more maneuverable at net and slices much better.

Wilson quality control my friend.. same racket

 

[tennisreflectslife]

Wilson quality control my friend.. same racket

lol yeah, I've had the same experience with these two rackets albeit vice versa.

 

[SeeItHitIt]

Ah, yes. The reverse black on black pj, aka black on black.

But the new one will no doubt be more stealthy, especially at Angels 45.

 

[Deleted member 758553]

Does anyone know if fed plays with the 2015 version or 2017 version? I have both and they play differently with same string set up. I’ve noticed 2015 more maneuverable at net and slices much better.

Might be an obvious question but are all your racquets matched?

 

[PaceKing]

There is a 3 gram difference between the two. I will match them up and see how that goes. The all black rf just seems to be much stiffer to the point where it really takes a toll on my arm. I’ve strung them with gut/poly at 52/49 and while they are more comfortable the black one is still way too stiff and doesn’t pocket or maneuver as well.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

They're changing the butt cap from red to black and adding $50 to the price.

You can just buy one of the black ones off TW for like 6 bucks and do it yourself. I did it for two of my RF 97's, not sure why, but I thought the black butt cap looked cooler.