Some live photos of RF97 and RF97 Autograph

[Hankenstein]

Just strung up one RF 97 340 gram and one RF97 315 gram with Luxilon Savage in 51 lbs each. The weight was 337 and 313 grams. 340 has leathergrip and 315 has synthetic grip (Here it´s easy to replace the synt. grip with leather and add about 10 grams weight making it 325 grams)

At first the 340 unstrung felt very heavy but when strung and overgrip on, it felt just perfect. 315 felt "whippy" and fast.

I have not played them yet. Will take them out on court tomorrow. I just tried some volleys against a wall, and they are both ROCK SOLID. The 340 feels 100% pro-stock but what surpsised me was the solid feel of the 315 as well.

It will be extremely interestring to try them tomorrow evening here in Sweden (about 2 pm NYC time). Will post the initial feeling of them tomorrow.

Here are some photos.

 

[Hankenstein]

 

[Hankenstein]

 

[anubis]

Sure is a purdy racquet. Can't wait to buy it used!

 

[Dharmaboy]

Oh God, *falls to the ground*. Slipped on my drool again.

 

[485129]

Very nice!

How did you manage to them so early??

 

[Hankenstein]

Very nice!

How did you manage to them so early??

I write equipment articles for the swedish tennismagazine. I always get new frames to test for a week or two long before the publice gets them so we can present the article when they are about the be released

 

[Federerkblade]

Hank 2 questions ?

What grip size were you delivered and how long is the handle for s two hander ? Or is it more suited to a one hander .

 

[Hankenstein]

Hank 2 questions ?

What grip size were you delivered and how long is the handle for s two hander ? Or is it more suited to a one hander .

Grip 3 and grip is no problem for a twohander. It is same lenght as Blade and Head Prestige

 

[atatu]

Thanks !

Awesome, thanks very much and we look forward to your reviews from the hit....

 

[485129]

Interesting that they put Fed's string tension on the racket. Is that 59lbs/56lbs on an electronic constant pull machine?

 

[SpinToWin]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, starting to feel like a little kid just before christmas :3

 

[ringwraith]

Awesome. So both the autograph and the regular PS97 have the same color scheme (except the leather grip on the autograph). How about beam width and stiffness? Looking forward to the play test.

 

[smalahove]

If i understand you correctly, the unstrung weight of the RF97 autograph was 337 g? How much does it weigh with ovegrip, dampener and strings? And how is the strung balance?

Thanks!

 

[BreakPoint]

Is that a leather grip on the non-Autograph 97 or a tan colored synthetic grip? It looks so different from the stock leather grip on the RF97 Autograph.

BTW, thanks for the pics. They both look awesome!

 

[Hankenstein]

Is that a leather grip on the non-Autograph 97 or a tan colored synthetic grip? It looks so different from the stock leather grip on the RF97 Autograph.

BTW, thanks for the pics. They both look awesome!

Tan colored. Same as some of the recent Prince-retros

 

[Hankenstein]

If i understand you correctly, the unstrung weight of the RF97 autograph was 337 g? How much does it weigh with ovegrip, dampener and strings? And how is the strung balance?

Thanks!

Didnt weight it when it was ready, but i estimate 355-360 grams

 

[Hankenstein]

Awesome. So both the autograph and the regular PS97 have the same color scheme (except the leather grip on the autograph). How about beam width and stiffness? Looking forward to the play test.

Beam width seems to be the same. They are actually 100 % the same apart from the minor text-differencies and the weight. Same pattern, width, form,color tone etc

 

[aimr75]

Interesting, the original teaser pics had the rounded butt cap. Yours has the squared off version

 

[tennisnut09]

Nice!!! can't wait to see the review for the 315 gr.

 

[Federerkblade]

Are you a one hander or two hander Hank ? Finally thank you for pics and look forward to tomorrow reviews

 

[Hankenstein]

Are you a one hander or two hander Hank ? Finally thank you for pics and look forward to tomorrow reviews

I can hit both, and i tend to play maybe 60 % with 2 hands and 40 % one hand. Sounds strange, i know, but it´s just as it has developed last years.

 

[BreakPoint]

Tan colored. Same as some of the recent Prince-retros

OK, thanks. I didn't know they made synthetic grips that mimic the color of leather grips. I guess to make people "look" like they're using a leather grip without actually having to "use" a leather grip? LOL

 

[smalahove]

Thanks for the info, Hankenstein.

Btw. do you have pics of the other new rackets and paintjobs? F.inst. the new PS 95S?

 

[Shangri La]

OP what is your regular racquet and preferred specs?

Thanks for the photos and looking forward to the review.

 

[dje31]

I know it's a petty thing, and I'm an RF fan...but the text "The Roger Federer Autograph" text on the RH throat is a bit off-putting. That and the stringing specs...but I guess it appeals to the fanboys.

I suppose the "Braided Graphite & Kevlar" on the 315 is a bit better, but in general, WAY too much text on racquets these days, from all brands.

 

[485129]

I know it's a petty thing, and I'm an RF fan...but the text "The Roger Federer Autograph" text on the RH throat is a bit off-putting. That and the stringing specs...but I guess it appeals to the fanboys.

I suppose the "Braided Graphite & Kevlar" on the 315 is a bit better, but in general, WAY too much text on racquets these days, from all brands.

(if it bothers you that much)

 

[smalahove]

Is that the new pentel roger federer autograph pen?

 

[PeterFig]

Nice pics! Thanks for posting these. I think these represent the "true" colors of the frames well.

Let me know how you like them once you've hit with them!

 

[Matchball]

Interested to see how they play/feel. If I get my hands on a pair of the heavy ones I will try to compare it to the Vcore 330. Similar specs, different string paterns.

 

[fuzzfactory]

Looks damn beautiful, can't wait ahhh!!

 

[mach2joe]

can't wait to have it in our tennis bag!

 

[EasternRocks]

Please comment on how it compares to the Blade (18 mains)

 

[Power Player]

Sorry to the whiners but the racquet looks great in these pictures.

 

[485129]

Sorry to the whiners but the racquet looks great in these pictures.

The design is actually pretty awkward looking. At best...old fashioned and uninspired. At worst...really fugly!!

 

[maxpotapov]

Actually, it's quite "pro staff" looking: it means business when you hold it in hand. Understated elegance for serious players.

 

[SpinToWin]

I quite like the cosmetics actually… They've really grown on me.

 

[485129]

I quite like the cosmetics actually… They've really grown on me.

You show a picture of anything long enough, associate it with success and people will eventually like it no matter how plain or ugly it is.

 

[SpinToWin]

You show a picture of anything long enough, associate it with success and people will eventually like it no matter how plain or ugly it is.

beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

don't try to force your opinion on others or to call it a fact.

 

[Federerkblade]

Await your review tonight Hank. Perhaps you culd comment on this ? The TW university suggests the RF97 fed version is more powerful and has a bigger sweetspot than the wilson pro open 2012 which is a fantastic Tweener. Can you perhaps comment on teh sweetspot size and comapre it to a pro open and if you have not replied to it then the Pure drive which I know you have played with

 

[Power Player]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

don't try to force your opinion on others or to call it a fact.

This was another poster who I won't name that did the same thing on his prior account.

Yes his behavior is odd.

Reality is the racquet seems to look rather good to most people in these pictures that Hank posted.

Also - Hank the White Pacific O dampener. Where and how? I want these if they are soft and feel like the Tourna Sampras Dampeners.

 

[morten]

(if it bothers you that much)

That pen looks great... I wish RF97 looked like that...

 

[BreakPoint]

That pen looks great... I wish RF97 looked like that...

Looks like the same guy who designed that pen designed the current Blade 93.

 

[morten]

So how to sand down and repaint black?

 

[Hankenstein]

ok guys! Now i have tried both.

Both are strung with Luxilon Savage white 51lbs on a Ektelon Neos 1000.
Tourna Grip XL and a pacific ring damper.

340 gram autograph version.
I am a decent player. Maybe 5.5-6.0 with a good ranking here in Sweden. I like to hit big shots with much topspin.
With the 340 gram version it was very hard to generate enough racquet head speed to hit with spin. This frame is good on serve, volley (the best!) and sliced backhands. 51 lbs was to soft though. Very hard to control the ball for me. Returns was really tough to hit as the heavy frame is simply to demanding for me.

My hitting partner for the evening, a good college-player with a monster serve said same thing. To heavy to snap through on topspin shots. Made for flat hitters that hit one attacking shot and rushes to the net.
We both agreed it did not feel like a wilson frame. If it was black painted and the PWS was not visable, we could not say it was a Wilson.

315 on the other hand.. Here we are onto something. Easier to generate speed with. Spin was no problem. Solid enough on both wings, but on the backhand it was easier to hit one then two handed shots. Serves was easy and the sweetspot is big. No jarring on mishit´s. Volleys really easy and solid.
Only thing we both felt was the grip was to spongy for this type of frame. I will install a leather grip and string it up with champions choice and take it out for a spin early next week.

Conclusion; 340 version. Will be hard to use for the normal player. Good if you are like Max Mirnyi or similar playing type. To demanding for both. Got a word with a guy ranked 900 ATP and he said same thing. 340 version is to much mass in the corners.

315 version. This is the frame to use for most. Dont bother about the autograph in the 340 version. Its this frame the normal player shall use. Easy to add some weight just by replacing the synt grip with leather. The interior of the handle is foamfilled on both versions so not easy to inject silicone.

 

[Federerkblade]

Honest review Hank ! I do think the LS version may be the best of the bunch

 

[Shangri La]

Thanks for the review. How would you compare the ball feel/feedback of the 2? And do you think the 315 has good stability for its weight?

 

[SpinToWin]

Thanks for the review! I quite like a hefty stick so I'm curious as to how the RF97 performs, but I'll demo both and decide then

What is your usual racquet setup by the way?

 

[Hankenstein]

Thanks for the review. How would you compare the ball feel/feedback of the 2? And do you think the 315 has good stability for its weight?

The 315 is solid for its weight. No problem there.

The feel of the 340 is more a crushing the ball type of feel. You can not hesitate (spelling?) with it. It has to be 100 % flat out each shot

 

[Hankenstein]

Thanks for the review! I quite like a hefty stick so I'm curious as to how the RF97 performs, but I'll demo both and decide then

What is your usual racquet setup by the way?

I dont have a problem with hefty sticks in the past. My all time favourite is the so much hated (among others) Head Youtek Speed Pro 335 gram.

I normally play frames with 315-320 gram weight and balance of 31,5 cm. Strings co-polys in 48 to 52 lbs depending of frame power level