StringingIrvine
Semi-Pro
In case you guys weren't alerted the TW playtest review is uploaded on youtube now, for RF97, PS97, PS97s
Saw this on the black Pro Staff page:
"Although the description has changed (due to a licensing agreement), this racquet's braided composition has the exact same ingredients as the previous generation."
@TW Staff , is Wilson not allowed to use "Kevlar" anymore in their advertising?
In case you guys weren't alerted the TW playtest review is uploaded on youtube now, for RF97, PS97, PS97s
Thanks! What impresses me about this racket is the control you get with it that allows you to really hit out.That's some pretty nice power.
97S has the 18/17. The 97 has regular 16/1997 is black/red and still has the weird stringbed according to carly.. bummer.
Wilson has no clue that their spin technology is a failure atleast at the high levels even the Demitrov moved over to his old racquet.Agree Demitrov racquet is still 18*17 and effect may be minimal on smaller head and may not launch the ball just as the 97s does.
I wish they release this Wilson 97s thin beam in 16*19 or 18*20 as I heard some juniors also asked the wilson for this and it seems Wilson has plans in 2017.
Thanks! What impresses me about this racket is the control you get with it that allows you to really hit out.
I will be playing friday and the guy hits pretty flat and fast so I will be pressed I think and will see if I can still hit with the heft I have this at...
Call me crazy but the paint or color has some psychological affect i think, it exudes solidity
Don't both Nishikori and Dolgopolov still use spin patterns? I wouldn't call that a failure...
Don't both Nishikori and Dolgopolov still use spin patterns? I wouldn't call that a failure...
When only 2 top(ish) pros uses a new "technology" while the rest, and the better tour players are not switching over, I'd say it's a failure.
Not if it went from a 95 to a 97.After reading the TW review I'm left to believe that the new frame is the old frame in the new suit...but I guess the added mental game game is a bonus
When only 2 top(ish) pros uses a new "technology" while the rest, and the better tour players are not switching over, I'd say it's a failure.
I mean relative to all the other basic patterns out there, sure. But I find it hard to believe that Wilson would keep making blades, burns, ultras, and pro staffs with the S pattern if it wasn't selling around the globe. The 6.1 95S was a really popular frame with an S pattern. As well as the Steam 99S.. Maybe it's not as prevalent on the tour. But we have no clue what Wilson's sales figures look like across their different offerings.
So, no more Kevlar for the RF97 and Pro Staff 97?
On the Tennis-warehouse description I was reading they just have it as braided graphite for both racquets.The layup has not changed from previous models. Still there.
On the Tennis-warehouse description I was reading they just have it as braided graphite for both racquets.
If you notice in our description at the bottom:
Although the description has changed (due to a licensing agreement), this racquet's braided composition has the exact same ingredients as the previous generation.
Thanks,
Brittany, TW
If you notice in our description at the bottom of the RF97:
Although the description has changed (due to a licensing agreement), this racquet's braided composition has the exact same ingredients as the previous generation.
Thanks,
Brittany, TW
PS- I have also added it to the Pro Staff 97 for better clarity.
Layup is for sure unchanged.
The SpinEffect technology is more aimed more at recreational players (like Say Chi Sin Lo and myself) to help them generate extra spin. Most tour players (like Federer) have no issues with generating spin on their own. The popularity of the SpinEffect models has been reflected in their ongoing existence through all of Wilson's main model lines.
The SpinEffect technology is more aimed more at recreational players (like Say Chi Sin Lo and myself) to help them generate extra spin. Most tour players (like Federer) have no issues with generating spin on their own. The popularity of the SpinEffect models has been reflected in their ongoing existence through all of Wilson's main model lines.
@PeterFig are we to infer anything from the re-release of the 6.1 95S? TW is expecting a shipment next week. They are pre-strung, are these new stock or just left over from old production cycles?
Thanks for letting me know, Peter. Appreciate it.I'm sorry I don't have any additional info on this from my end - best might be to ask @wilsontennis direct on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/WilsonTennis )
The specs are identical. Maybe the stiffness is like at most a few RA below, but all together any difference people feel is going to be either manufacturing variation between two frames they used, OR purely mental.After reading the TW review I'm left to believe that the new frame is the old frame in the new suit...but I guess the added mental game game is a bonus
Coming from a person who has tried a ton of frames (but surprisingly not the RF97a original) I think this is a pretty awesome frame!! I absolutely crushed someone last night and for the duration of the playtest, I am resisting my usual urge to switch frames (RF only for 30 days). It has a satisfying sound when you crush a first serve, it looks awesome, and the stiffness hasn't bothered me at all (I even like the way the ball comes off the strings). I am not a Wilson fan boy, but I have to give credit where it is due, this is one helluva racquet
Agreed about the stiffness, it seems to be much softer than the RA rating indicates.
The specs are identical. Maybe the stiffness is like at most a few RA below, but all together any difference people feel is going to be either manufacturing variation between two frames they used, OR purely mental.
Kevlar frames always play much softer than what the RA indicates.
Very excited for my first PS85 in the mail. One of the more flexible graphite/kevlar blended frames at 62/63 RA
You should try a PC600 (with Twaron) or the Muscle Weave/Hotmelt 200G, both were in the mid-high 50 RA, and they had Kevlar too.
It's like playing with a pillow.
Love the suggestions. I hit with the hotmelt 300g, but never the 200g. love the black/yellow cosmetic as well.
Those PC600's with Twaron look great. Quite expensive on the big auction site, though
Should have came to me, I sold 3 matched PC600 from TW-reissue not too long ago.
Just got off the court after my first hitting session with the racquet so this is just an informal note. I have a file which contains the ongoing overall review.
I had it strung with the included strings at 55 pounds and put on two Wilson Pro overgrips with more overlap than usual to get to 4 3/8s and this worked out rather well. My impressions playing with it stock is that the power level is pretty low but it's a fairly precise racquet. It felt slightly stiffer than my current frames despite a much higher stiffness rating and I'd guess that the stuff in the handle which makes it so headlight provides additional comfort. It didn't feel as brassy as the KPS88. I had to put much more effort into hitting the ball and I had a LOT of problems on the serve, similar, I'd guess to Shroud's.
Hitting with it stock, I'd say that it's a racquet that rewards good footwork and preparation and an attacking game. I had the feel of wanting to come to the net with it. I have 70 minutes of video that I need to run through iMovie to whittle it down and then upload it. There's a warmup and then a set. I'm not experienced with shooting and editing video so we'll see how I do. I should have it up by Sunday. I have many more hitting sessions to go with this.
Question for playtesters:
I don't remember where I read but someone said that the black leather was fairly thin vs a normal leather.
With that being said, is the grip size smaller to that of other Wilson rackets of the same grip size? Has anyone noticed any differences in the grip size vs other Wilson leather gripped rackets?
Question for playtesters:
I don't remember where I read but someone said that the black leather was fairly thin vs a normal leather.
With that being said, is the grip size smaller to that of other Wilson rackets of the same grip size? Has anyone noticed any differences in the grip size vs other Wilson leather gripped rackets?
Great to hear your initial thoughts. I find interesting that you had some issues on serve as well. I am excited to see some of the footage you have as I went through the same process (having never edited film or a video before), so I understand that. Best of luck dialing the serve in. I really enjoyed coming forward with this frame as well
It was worst on the serve but I had problems getting the ball over the net during the warmup. The solution was to hit the ball higher of course. I'm sure that it will feel a lot more comfortable at my usual specs.
I have only used gut/poly in the playtest I have hit with a full bed of Luxilon Element in the original RF97 and liked it quite a bit.Have any of the other play testers used a full bed of poly/poly hybrid? @Shroud @JohnBPittsburgh @Geoff @movdqa @haqqani1777 @kvan
I have only used gut/poly in the playtest I have hit with a full bed of Luxilon Element in the original RF97 and liked it quite a bit.
Have any of the other play testers used a full bed of poly/poly hybrid? @Shroud @JohnBPittsburgh @Geoff @movdqa @haqqani1777 @kvan
My issues were rooted in lack of control. I couldn't really hit my typical heavy/controlled kicker. I detail more about it in my written/video review. Should be finished up with that later today..
How did you feel about the liveliness of the string bed at 52lbs? Mine was pretty powerful after the first 10 hours or so, lost a lot of controlI used a full bed poly (Cyclone @52) for the first 8-10 hours. Liked it alot. Broke the string. Re-strung with Tonic/RPM @56/52. Didn't like it that much. So many possible combinations out there to try for hybrid setups. Makes it next to impossible for a perfectionist like me to settle on one thing, lol