TennisHound
Legend
The question is gonna be how the 97 performs with the added SW
Last edited:
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson Pro Staff 97 and X v14
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
It performs amazingly. I've been using it for 4 weeks now and can truly say that it's the best PS97 yet... period. Super accurate. Hits a big ball. Solid as hell. And the classic Pro Staff feel that can not be duplicated.
powerrangers
Rookie
im wondering what the comfort is like for these new versions, im a long time 2014 PS97 user but its too stiff for me now and I now have tennis elbow, comfort is quite bad compared to newer racquets
Icsa
Professional
An increase in swingweight should reduce the impact on elbows by attenuating vibrations.
powerrangers
Rookie
i forgot to mention im playing with a weighted up PS97
TennisHound
Legend
The V14 felt quite a bit more dampened and a little softer.
This is an expected occurrence when weight is added, especially at the ends of a racquet which is what likely happened here considering mass and balance are about the same and swingweight has noticeably bumped up. Not arguing your statement or anything. Just highlighting a point.
Though, I heard Wilson changed this layup to get a little more pro staff heritage. The Classic through nCode Pro Staffs had a reputation for being slightly smoother/softer feeling while maintaining feel and crispness off the stringbed. My old v13 shop demo has the same specs from the factory as my v14 demo, and the v14 feels closer to an nCode or Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 while the v13 was more like a K Factor 6.1 which was a bit crisper. So there is likely an actual difference in the guts of the frame, not just the specs and paint. Curious what the reviews will say. It's clearly still a pro staff despite the slight (slight for me, some may find it significant if they are loyal players of the recent iterations of the frame) difference in feel. Good control, no nonsense, and the ball does what you tell it to do.
Last edited:
TennisHound
Legend
Like I say, the V14 feels different than previous version. I didn’t notice the extra SW or different balance when swinging, just the different feel. It has a slight crisp undertone, similar to Graphene just not as horrible (lol).
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
Yea I came here to say the v14 is the best racquet on the market currently probably. I've tried most the major racquet lines... Babolats new pure aero origins are also near the top too
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
I was playing a match the other night and late in the second set I popped a ball when stepping in and flattening out a huge forehand. 
I did add a couple of grams to 12oclock bringing the swingweight up to 340. But like I said... this thing can hit a huge ball if you know how to hit with it.
I did add a couple of grams to 12oclock bringing the swingweight up to 340. But like I said... this thing can hit a huge ball if you know how to hit with it.
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
I'm curious how that string setup goes
Surprised the swingweight isn't higher with that balance.
Isn't balance supposed to be 31cm unstrung?
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Edited, it's 30.7cm. I am holding it next to the v13 six.one and they are so similar, yet so different.
Seems like a good spec, be interested in the stability in stock form.
You got the X right?
time_fly
Hall of Fame
How did you decide to string it? If I use their strings then I am thinking hybrid with 4G in the mains.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Will play with the PSX more this week. Initial impressions were it's easier to swing than the 6.1 100 v13 (at the same spec). It's less muted with a nice, clean feel.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Initially I did BK/ GW on both the PSX and my 6.1 100 v13. I normally play gut/ poly in the 6.1 100 v13. I'll string up the PSX with gut/ poly once the BK goes dead.
I joked around with my friend that they included 4G to break my arm and NXT Comfort to heal it.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Has anyone else who's been selected not yet received their racquet and strings? I haven't gotten mine yet - thanks!
Never mind - just arrived in the mail an hour after posting!! Excited to string it up and start the playtest! I'm thinking the NXT in the mains at 52, 4G in the crosses at 48. Any other stringing recommendations?
Never mind - just arrived in the mail an hour after posting!! Excited to string it up and start the playtest! I'm thinking the NXT in the mains at 52, 4G in the crosses at 48. Any other stringing recommendations?
Last edited:
Mine is due to arrive this evening.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
Yes; the strings are provided so that you don’t have to buy strings for the racquet if you don’t want to (and if you string yourself), but you aren’t required to use them. I was actually re-thinking my approach and considering doing the classic gut / poly hybrid instead of using the provided strings, but I haven’t made up my mind yet. I will probably flip a coin later tonight when I string it.
I strung it with NXT at 58 lbs, and found the sweet spot was very small. I'm actually gonna try Luxilon Gut/4G at 50/44 to open up the string bed. I normal tension for medium-stiffness poly is around 46-48
time_fly
Hall of Fame
Strung with Babolat Touch VS gut in the mains at 54 lbs and Head Hawk in the crosses at 50. Strung specs are 341g, 7pt HL, and 335 SW. Can't wait to try it out, except our annoying club is hosting a "college showcase" this weekend and I can't get court time until Sunday evening. Looks like rain outdoors.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
I had my first session with the 97 today, and it was a "honeymoon hit". Unfortunately I've been battling a calf strain and I re-aggravated it early on in the session, so we just hit cooperatively for the rest of the time. Once I got used to the timing, the PS 97 was effortless and smooth and I was able to hit a consistent ball with the good margin and depth. Since I was in “racquet test” mode I took 6 different frames with me, and my hitting partner and I both gravitated to the PS 97 as our favorite. I look forward to giving it a more match-like test soon.
Last edited:
Rasheeq Haq
New User
So I bought a pair of matched sticks from TW on the prostaff v14 97. Unstrung weight was ~322g 9HL and 300SW even. When strung, the TW team measured the SW closer to 330. Strung these up with 53/55lbs with Lux alu rough x Nat gut.
I'm switching from a Yonex Vcore HD 18x20 with added lead on the hoop, so this has been an extremely difficult transition (and quite frustrating). Outside of weight/SW similarities between the two racquets, I have been struggling with the HL balance on this one. I think it whips through a lot faster so I end up hitting too many of my balls early. Anyone have some success adding lead to the hoop to even out the balance?
I'm switching from a Yonex Vcore HD 18x20 with added lead on the hoop, so this has been an extremely difficult transition (and quite frustrating). Outside of weight/SW similarities between the two racquets, I have been struggling with the HL balance on this one. I think it whips through a lot faster so I end up hitting too many of my balls early. Anyone have some success adding lead to the hoop to even out the balance?
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
You need a few grams of lead at 12oclock. Trust me.... do it.
rafafan20
Professional
Some first impressions after 3-4 hitting sessions (testing the X):
The paint job is awesome. I know some folks are partial to blacked out frames but the brown/bronze paint job is unique and looks stunning (especially with a black string). The matte-ish finish is beautiful - one of my favorite paint jobs of any racket I've ever hit with.
Some of my favorite things about the racket:
The paint job is awesome. I know some folks are partial to blacked out frames but the brown/bronze paint job is unique and looks stunning (especially with a black string). The matte-ish finish is beautiful - one of my favorite paint jobs of any racket I've ever hit with.
Some of my favorite things about the racket:
- Absolute weapon on returns. The 100 sq inch head size + stability + the more dense than average string pattern for a 16x19 allows for huge cuts and annihilating returns. I was routinely able to step up against big first serves and hammer a return back deep. My favorite part of the racket so far.
- Really enjoying it on my 2HBH. The weight + string pattern allows me to hit some really heavy crosscourt shots - the BH is really not a very strong part of my game but this racket seems to fit that side
- I love rackets with a headlight + soft feel so that piece is as advertised - not a big surprise there
- I felt really confident with approach/put away shots on the forehand. Felt like I could swing through the ball and trust the ball would dip in.
- Slices are a dream
- It's probably a touch heavy for my game, I think I generate more speed with my Extreme Tour
- The weight probably affected my serve, but I'm going to try to get used to it.
- Still finding the feel on flat forehands
Last edited:
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Here's what the X I received looks like strung up with NXT in the mains at 53 lbs, Black 4G in the crosses at 49 lbs - looks beautiful and can't wait to get the playtest underway!
Fighting phoenix
Professional
First hit impressions of the X - first off, I need to point out that my racquet came over spec both in static weight (319g) and in swingweight (334g). I got my hands on another X w/in spec (318sw, so slightly underspec), so that playtest will come later, and in my final write-up I'll compare the two.
I played singles against a weak 4.0/strong 3.5, and crushed him 6-0, 6-0, so I wasn't pushed like I usually am against somewhat at my level, but he had a big serve and a solid two-handed backhand, so I did get a good sense of how the racquet feels on returns against strong competition.
Plowthrough on groundstrokes was a noticeable feature - given the overspec swingweight, I wasn't surprised by this, but I did enjoy the easy pace and depth I was able to generate as long as I was able to get into proper position.
Defensive shots were great with this racquet - maybe due to the extra weight and multi in the mains, it was easy for me when in a defensive position to just get the racquet on the ball and get lobs and slice shots back with depth.
Serves had a lot of pace, but not the bite that I typically get with my lefty kick serves - this could be due to using a multi in the mains, but also can just take me some time to adjust. It also could be due to difficulty generating racquet head speed given the high sw.
Returns benefited from a very stable frame, and one return stood out - he hit a big slice serve into my body on the ad side to my backhand (I'm a lefty), and I blocked a slice backhand back cross court for an outright winner. Not a shot that I'm typically able to hit and my opponent was clearly impressed.
Volleys - since it was pretty one-sided, I didn't get a lot of time hitting volleys, but I did notice that the frame was very stable and able to hit balls deep, but mobility could be an issue. More to come here.
Topspin forehands felt great! I'm used to my Shift 315 and the ability to hit heavy topspin forehands with that stick, and the X did not lack at all in this regard.
So far very impressed. Not sure it will unseat my Shift 315 as my racquet of choice, but a strong contender - maybe one with a lower sw will work better for me.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
Are both those swingweights “strung”?
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Sorry, those were strung swing weights.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
I just measured a second 97 v14. Specs are 315g, 11pt head light, 289 SW. It looks like the static weight is consistent but the weight distribution variation is leading to a pretty big difference in balance point and SW. Unfortunately it will be hard to match these perfectly without making both of them quite a bit heavier, so I probably will settle for "close enough".
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
PS 97 is the best, a pro staff just belongs at 97 supposed to be more difficult and much more rewarding and maneuverable
time_fly
Hall of Fame
The PS 97 is for the weak, like old-version Roger Federer. The greats of the past played the PS 85, maybe the 90 in a pinch.
But seriously, the X is a great idea; it makes sense for Wilson to continue to modernize the spec and keep the frame relevant to more players while still keeping Pro Staff DNA like the 315g weight. I just wish they'd also moderrnize the grip length now that so many players use 2 handed backhands.
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
Its a great idea for business but meh pro staffs are meant to be smaller headsize!! They're about precision tooThe PS 97 is for the weak, like old-version Roger Federer. The greats of the past played the PS 85, maybe the 90 in a pinch.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
I watched the TW podcast on the Shift last night. It was interesting because they discussed at length the product positioning of the Shift in the Wilson lineup, saying that it was for someone who wants more power than a Blade but more control than a Clash or Ultra. Although the Shift doesn't really overlap the Pro Staff (although maybe someone would cross shop the Shift Pro / 315g?), I just thought it was interesting that the Pro Staff wasn't mentioned at all among the positioning of the various lines.
SlowTiger
Professional
WILSON PS X REVIEW
String and tension used for test: Lux Eco Power @48 / OEHMS Matador Strike 17 @48
Tennis experience/background: HS varsity, college club, light coaching, on and off recreational
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): 4.0 Aggressive baseliner
Current racquet/string setups: Modded Dunlop CV 3.0
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 15ish
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: 8.5 The ground strokes were good. Easy pace and power off both wings. The weight worked out great for my backhand. I could take slower swings on the BH and the plow/weight still gave it decent pace while going deep. Had to slow down the RHS to tame the forehand because the balls can really go flying with this racquet. That's not to knock the racquet as I've only transitioned to 100" post COVID and that's the difference in nature between 95-98 compared to 100". It's not a Bab PD or PA but it's got some extra power to it. The head size does also make it cut through the air slower then a PS 97 or a 6.1 95.
-Serves: 9 Loved the racquet on serves. The weight and racquet style gave it easy access to controllable power. Great for flat first serves.Was ok for 2nd serves but not huge in the spin area.
-Volleys: 7 The racquet wasn't bad on volley's but it felt off to me. I shanked a lot and a lot of what I was hitting was going out. I feel like this is a me problem but stronger net players may be able to advise better than me in this
-Serve returns: 9 The racquet really shined in return of serves and was my part of the racquet. The lower SW helped with reaction but the racquet had enough weight that I can easily block or take big swings when returning.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- 8.5/8 I think the power to control ratio was good. Physics tells us we can't have everything. It lost some control compared to the V13 97 but it upped the power a lot. I still prefer the feels of 97-98 racquets but I'm finding that I need a little more help with free power now a days. Maybe a little too much power but I haven't decided to up the tension yet
Top Spin/Slice- 8 Not a spin monster but it was there. It's ok, my game is a blend between old and new. I can turn the spin up or down but I actually prefer a hitting flatter for more pace. Not trying to grind out points. Slices were nice and pentrating. No floaties.
Comfort- 8 It was good. Felt a bit softer then what the RA would state. No arm issues.
Feel- 8 It's feels good. It's stable and solid. At no point would I say it's boardy, hollow or a wet noodle and with good feedback. Still a notch down from the BLX with amplifeel. That was my favorite line from the Wilson family.
Maneuverability- 8. I don't think it was the SW or balance because those are in my wheelhouse. Just felt like it cut through the air slower. May be the head size. I had a similar feeling when I transitioned from the prestige mid to mid+.
Stability- 8.5 despite the head size, it's still true to the pro staff name, unlike the old pro staff 95 or 100 with the boxed frames.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: So I do have to say I tried it with Eco power because I read somehow these strings were released specifically to be used for this generation of racquets. It might be true as the string and racquet does everything well, but nothing great. Jack of all trades. The string lost tension fast and first 3 times I played with the racquet, it was almost like a different experience. After I put my normal string in there, I got to see the racquet it a good stable all rounder. To the people who have suggested we use well known strings for these Playtest, that's why it's better to use our normal set up over trying something new because then we're also playtesting a string in there and not the racquet. I feel like this racquet was a good move for Wilson to transition to the more modern game. 8.5/10 all rounder racquet. Only change I may consider is a gram or 2 at 12 to up the SW to 330 but that's also a little iffy as the racquet comes with ample power. Can easily just keep it stock
String and tension used for test: Lux Eco Power @48 / OEHMS Matador Strike 17 @48
Tennis experience/background: HS varsity, college club, light coaching, on and off recreational
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): 4.0 Aggressive baseliner
Current racquet/string setups: Modded Dunlop CV 3.0
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 15ish
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: 8.5 The ground strokes were good. Easy pace and power off both wings. The weight worked out great for my backhand. I could take slower swings on the BH and the plow/weight still gave it decent pace while going deep. Had to slow down the RHS to tame the forehand because the balls can really go flying with this racquet. That's not to knock the racquet as I've only transitioned to 100" post COVID and that's the difference in nature between 95-98 compared to 100". It's not a Bab PD or PA but it's got some extra power to it. The head size does also make it cut through the air slower then a PS 97 or a 6.1 95.
-Serves: 9 Loved the racquet on serves. The weight and racquet style gave it easy access to controllable power. Great for flat first serves.Was ok for 2nd serves but not huge in the spin area.
-Volleys: 7 The racquet wasn't bad on volley's but it felt off to me. I shanked a lot and a lot of what I was hitting was going out. I feel like this is a me problem but stronger net players may be able to advise better than me in this
-Serve returns: 9 The racquet really shined in return of serves and was my part of the racquet. The lower SW helped with reaction but the racquet had enough weight that I can easily block or take big swings when returning.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- 8.5/8 I think the power to control ratio was good. Physics tells us we can't have everything. It lost some control compared to the V13 97 but it upped the power a lot. I still prefer the feels of 97-98 racquets but I'm finding that I need a little more help with free power now a days. Maybe a little too much power but I haven't decided to up the tension yet
Top Spin/Slice- 8 Not a spin monster but it was there. It's ok, my game is a blend between old and new. I can turn the spin up or down but I actually prefer a hitting flatter for more pace. Not trying to grind out points. Slices were nice and pentrating. No floaties.
Comfort- 8 It was good. Felt a bit softer then what the RA would state. No arm issues.
Feel- 8 It's feels good. It's stable and solid. At no point would I say it's boardy, hollow or a wet noodle and with good feedback. Still a notch down from the BLX with amplifeel. That was my favorite line from the Wilson family.
Maneuverability- 8. I don't think it was the SW or balance because those are in my wheelhouse. Just felt like it cut through the air slower. May be the head size. I had a similar feeling when I transitioned from the prestige mid to mid+.
Stability- 8.5 despite the head size, it's still true to the pro staff name, unlike the old pro staff 95 or 100 with the boxed frames.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: So I do have to say I tried it with Eco power because I read somehow these strings were released specifically to be used for this generation of racquets. It might be true as the string and racquet does everything well, but nothing great. Jack of all trades. The string lost tension fast and first 3 times I played with the racquet, it was almost like a different experience. After I put my normal string in there, I got to see the racquet it a good stable all rounder. To the people who have suggested we use well known strings for these Playtest, that's why it's better to use our normal set up over trying something new because then we're also playtesting a string in there and not the racquet. I feel like this racquet was a good move for Wilson to transition to the more modern game. 8.5/10 all rounder racquet. Only change I may consider is a gram or 2 at 12 to up the SW to 330 but that's also a little iffy as the racquet comes with ample power. Can easily just keep it stock
Last edited:
Wilson Pro Staff X V14 Review
String and tension used for test: Luxilon Natural Gut 16 (Mains) Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.25. Tension was 53/51.
Tennis experience/background: Director of Tennis/Tennis Professional "4.0" USTA League player participating in Men's and Mixed.
Describe your playing style: All court playing style. Doubles only.
Current racquet/string setups: Wilson Blade 100 V8 strung with Luxilon Natural Gut in the mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.25 in the crosses. Tension is 53/51.
How many hours did you play with the racquet: 25-30 hours.
Groundstrokes: This was area that was a pleasant surprise for me as the racquet had more power than I expected. My forehand had good pop and depth. The onehanded backhand, my weaker stroke, benefitted from the extra weight and was consistently a powerful stroke for me throughout the test. Groundstrokes may have been the area where the Paradigm Bending really showed.
Serves: The serve was an area where I had to really focus on my technique, more than likely due to the bit of extra weight. Power was good and spin was accessible for the second serve as well.
Volleys: Absolute pleasure to volley and attack the net with. The stability made sure the racquet was not going to get pushed around even by the harder/heavier balls. The racquet was fast and I had zero issues with putting balls away, string combo/tension may have aided. Great directional control as well.
Serve returns: Returns was the area that I had to make the most adjustments; the increased weight compared to my Blade had me a little late returning bigger first serves in the beginning. The weight and stability helped with blocking and chipping returns. The increased weight was a big aid in attacking shorter/slower second serves.
Power/Control: The X would definitely still be leaning towards a control racquet but the racquet has a decent amount of power. The string pattern seems to be a bit more dense in the middle so maybe going to a thinner gauge may provide a little extra free power.
Topspin/Slice: Slice backhands were easy to hit with confidence, low net clearance and good pace as well. Topspin was decent, not a spin monster. Again, maybe a change in string gauge would help.
Comfort: Not sure if it was my string combo and tension but the comfort was great. Nice feel and no harsh vibrations.
Feel: The X had a nice crisp yet forgiving feel. Touch and feel shots were easy to execute and were a standout feature of this racquet!!
Maneuverability: With the exception of small adjustments that I needed to make on returns I felt the racquet to be very good maneuverability. My swingweight came in at 323. Even after extended hitting I did not feel the 315g weight of the racquet.
Stability: Solid and stable is the best way to describe this racquet!!! The stability transitions to every area on the court.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Even with it's 100sq inch head the Pro Staff X is still a demanding racquet for the advanced level player with good technique. With that being said, the X is a great option for players who may be intrigued by the Pro Staff line but are intimidated by the specs of the 97. Solid, versatile racquet that excelled from pretty much every area of the court!!
Big thanks to TW and Wilson for this great playtest !!!
String and tension used for test: Luxilon Natural Gut 16 (Mains) Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.25. Tension was 53/51.
Tennis experience/background: Director of Tennis/Tennis Professional "4.0" USTA League player participating in Men's and Mixed.
Describe your playing style: All court playing style. Doubles only.
Current racquet/string setups: Wilson Blade 100 V8 strung with Luxilon Natural Gut in the mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.25 in the crosses. Tension is 53/51.
How many hours did you play with the racquet: 25-30 hours.
Groundstrokes: This was area that was a pleasant surprise for me as the racquet had more power than I expected. My forehand had good pop and depth. The onehanded backhand, my weaker stroke, benefitted from the extra weight and was consistently a powerful stroke for me throughout the test. Groundstrokes may have been the area where the Paradigm Bending really showed.
Serves: The serve was an area where I had to really focus on my technique, more than likely due to the bit of extra weight. Power was good and spin was accessible for the second serve as well.
Volleys: Absolute pleasure to volley and attack the net with. The stability made sure the racquet was not going to get pushed around even by the harder/heavier balls. The racquet was fast and I had zero issues with putting balls away, string combo/tension may have aided. Great directional control as well.
Serve returns: Returns was the area that I had to make the most adjustments; the increased weight compared to my Blade had me a little late returning bigger first serves in the beginning. The weight and stability helped with blocking and chipping returns. The increased weight was a big aid in attacking shorter/slower second serves.
Power/Control: The X would definitely still be leaning towards a control racquet but the racquet has a decent amount of power. The string pattern seems to be a bit more dense in the middle so maybe going to a thinner gauge may provide a little extra free power.
Topspin/Slice: Slice backhands were easy to hit with confidence, low net clearance and good pace as well. Topspin was decent, not a spin monster. Again, maybe a change in string gauge would help.
Comfort: Not sure if it was my string combo and tension but the comfort was great. Nice feel and no harsh vibrations.
Feel: The X had a nice crisp yet forgiving feel. Touch and feel shots were easy to execute and were a standout feature of this racquet!!
Maneuverability: With the exception of small adjustments that I needed to make on returns I felt the racquet to be very good maneuverability. My swingweight came in at 323. Even after extended hitting I did not feel the 315g weight of the racquet.
Stability: Solid and stable is the best way to describe this racquet!!! The stability transitions to every area on the court.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Even with it's 100sq inch head the Pro Staff X is still a demanding racquet for the advanced level player with good technique. With that being said, the X is a great option for players who may be intrigued by the Pro Staff line but are intimidated by the specs of the 97. Solid, versatile racquet that excelled from pretty much every area of the court!!
Big thanks to TW and Wilson for this great playtest !!!
WILSON PS 97 v14 REVIEW
String and tension used for test: Lux Alu Power 1.15, 48#/46#. Weight with string and tournagrip, 335g
Tennis experience/background: playing league tennis, doubles SW Fla., social tennis and invitational match play
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): 3.5 doubles, prefer baseline
Current racquet/string setups: Yonex VCore Pro 97H, 1.25, Lux Alu Power, 48#/46#. Yonex EZone 98, 1.15, Lux Alu Power 48#/46#
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 23
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: Swings very smooth and easily on forward and backhand, surprisingly so for a 335g racquet. Power is very controllable and proportional to swing speed on both sides. Noticed an audible difference in pace off of the string bed. Racquet become more challenging when having to generate more of your own pace on slower balls.
-Serves: This is where I struggled the most with the frame. I felt the weight and the difficulty of getting the weight consistently up to speed. When I was consistent, the flat serve was great. Kick was good, but getting the racquet up to speed and finding the right upward contact point was tough to do consistently. More practice time focused on the serve would help.
-Volleys: Volleys to me were outstanding! The racquets head light balance and whatever Wilson has done in the frame material and construction seems to negate what I expected to be a lack of mobility due to its heavier weight. Crisp under spin hits that really bite the court, beautiful volleying stick.
-Serve returns: The racquet does not get pushed around. Good power off of both sides, when using a compact backswing. Short backswing in combination with the significant mass worked well for deep consistent returns. Very stable at contact.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Power was big. Pure fun connecting consistently in deep baseline rally’s on both sides. Great for players who enjoy hitting a flatter ball. Control was good, accuracy was fine especially considering the power being generated.
Top Spin/Slice- When pushed deep by a high looping shot, I could return with a solid topspin drive in order to get back to neutral in the point. The mass helped to impart some good spin. On the slice side, the backhand slice was great, very nice bite and easy to get the ball deep. The forehand slice however was not so good. Probably not due to the racquet though, more my technique, or lack of it. My forehand slices turn into ugly, high bouncing drop shots
Comfort- No vibration or shock at impact. I have had some on and off wrist issues in the past, but not even a little twinge with this racquet. Oddly it felt relatively soft to me.
Feel- A bit more muted and dampened that the previous Pro Staffs that I have owned. Could be related to string and tension.
Maneuverability- Very good at net, quick enough with that head light balance. Ground strokes were fluid and smooth.
Stability- No extreme twisting with off center hits. Very stable on service returns.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: This is a great racquet to play with, just plain old school fun with innovations that improve the iconic Pro Staff in many areas that make easier, smoother and more comfortable to play with. Did not like the cosmetics from the photos on line, but in person I think it looks great, sort of a “mid-century modern” matte copper/bronze color. Kudos to Wilson for coming up with an atypical color scheme not often seen on a racquets theses days.
Thanks very much to Wilson and to Tennis Warehouse for this playtest opportunity!
String and tension used for test: Lux Alu Power 1.15, 48#/46#. Weight with string and tournagrip, 335g
Tennis experience/background: playing league tennis, doubles SW Fla., social tennis and invitational match play
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): 3.5 doubles, prefer baseline
Current racquet/string setups: Yonex VCore Pro 97H, 1.25, Lux Alu Power, 48#/46#. Yonex EZone 98, 1.15, Lux Alu Power 48#/46#
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 23
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: Swings very smooth and easily on forward and backhand, surprisingly so for a 335g racquet. Power is very controllable and proportional to swing speed on both sides. Noticed an audible difference in pace off of the string bed. Racquet become more challenging when having to generate more of your own pace on slower balls.
-Serves: This is where I struggled the most with the frame. I felt the weight and the difficulty of getting the weight consistently up to speed. When I was consistent, the flat serve was great. Kick was good, but getting the racquet up to speed and finding the right upward contact point was tough to do consistently. More practice time focused on the serve would help.
-Volleys: Volleys to me were outstanding! The racquets head light balance and whatever Wilson has done in the frame material and construction seems to negate what I expected to be a lack of mobility due to its heavier weight. Crisp under spin hits that really bite the court, beautiful volleying stick.
-Serve returns: The racquet does not get pushed around. Good power off of both sides, when using a compact backswing. Short backswing in combination with the significant mass worked well for deep consistent returns. Very stable at contact.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Power was big. Pure fun connecting consistently in deep baseline rally’s on both sides. Great for players who enjoy hitting a flatter ball. Control was good, accuracy was fine especially considering the power being generated.
Top Spin/Slice- When pushed deep by a high looping shot, I could return with a solid topspin drive in order to get back to neutral in the point. The mass helped to impart some good spin. On the slice side, the backhand slice was great, very nice bite and easy to get the ball deep. The forehand slice however was not so good. Probably not due to the racquet though, more my technique, or lack of it. My forehand slices turn into ugly, high bouncing drop shots
Comfort- No vibration or shock at impact. I have had some on and off wrist issues in the past, but not even a little twinge with this racquet. Oddly it felt relatively soft to me.
Feel- A bit more muted and dampened that the previous Pro Staffs that I have owned. Could be related to string and tension.
Maneuverability- Very good at net, quick enough with that head light balance. Ground strokes were fluid and smooth.
Stability- No extreme twisting with off center hits. Very stable on service returns.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: This is a great racquet to play with, just plain old school fun with innovations that improve the iconic Pro Staff in many areas that make easier, smoother and more comfortable to play with. Did not like the cosmetics from the photos on line, but in person I think it looks great, sort of a “mid-century modern” matte copper/bronze color. Kudos to Wilson for coming up with an atypical color scheme not often seen on a racquets theses days.
Thanks very much to Wilson and to Tennis Warehouse for this playtest opportunity!
Fighting phoenix
Professional
My final review of the Wilson Pro Staff X. Caveat: my racquet came in over spec @ 319g static weight unstrung, and 334sw strung.
String and tension used for test: I used Wilson NXT 16 in the Mains at 52 lbs, Luxilon 4G 1.25 (Black in the crosses at 48lbs).
Tennis experience/background: 51 yr old 6.6 UTR, 4.0/4.5 mostly singles and some doubles, former junior and college tennis player (used the old pro staff in college), basically played hardly at all from 30-45 due to kids/work/life, started playing 1x/week 5 years ago, now an avid USTA and tournament player over the last 1.5 years (4-5x/week barring injury setbacks).
Describe your playing style: all court player, described by others as a "crafty" lefty who can grind from the baseline, serve and volley when necessary, big kick and slice serves, lots of topspin on my forehand, slice one-handed backhand, flatter two-handed backhand.
Current racquet/string setups: recently switched to the Shift 315 (99 pro) @ ~ 330sw strung, after a lengthy racquet exploration (left the Pure Strike, dabbled with the Radical MP and Extreme MP). Prefer a softer but somewhat crisp poly like MSV Swift or Toroline Wasabi (17g), love Lynx Tour when my arm feels good, will switch to a multi/poly hybrid if having arm issues (like what I used for this playtest).
How many hours did you play with the racquet? At least 10 hours, in drills, singles matches, and doubles.
-Groundstrokes: 8/10 Excellent from the baseline, easy potential for spin and touch. Maneuverability wasn't great due to the over-spec sw, but plow through was awesome. Not as spinny as my Shift 99 Pro, or other more spin oriented racquets like the Extreme MP, but easier for spin generation than a more "average" spin racquet like the Radical MP.
-Serves: 6.5/10 I found serves to be above average - excellent for placement on flat and slice serves, average for my kick serves, and power was slightly above average. Some of this might have to do with the above spec swingweight - the extra weight helped with power on flat and slice serves, but limited w/r to racquet head speed needed to generate more brush up for kick serves.
-Volleys: 8.5/10 True to its heritage, I found this to be an excellent racquet at the net - highly stable, maneuverable enough even at the higher swing weight, and great touch and feel overall. I found myself serving and volleying more often than usual and with confidence, and in general was one of the most fun aspects of playing with this racquet.
-Serve returns: 9/10 As with volleys, this was a core strength of this racquet - I found it to be one of the most stable racquets I've tried, which made this an easy racquet for blocking back big serves with depth and control. The general touch and feel of the racquet (core strength) added to the strong performance in this regard. My only knock on this particular frame was due to the high swingweight which did impact maneuverability - but of course this also helped with stability and plow through, so it was a trade off that worked.
Power/Control- 7.5 Power / 8.0 Control I found the power level to be above average, which surprised me given that this was a 21.5mm beam. The control was very good, but I could tell that it was a trade-off w/ a 100 sq in head - I appreciated the extra forgiveness on off center shots and power the 100 sq in head provided, but recognized that the control isn't what I would feel from other racquets like the Shift 99 Pro or Radical MP, but definitely more control than from an Extreme MP. Given my age and playing style, it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make. Contrary to other Pro Staff purists on these boards, I'm glad they made a 100 sq in version (like Wilson did when they upped this frame from an 85, to a 90, to a 95, etc.).
Top Spin/Slice- 7.5 Very good top spin on forehands, and easy to generate a penetrating slice one-handed backhand. One guy I played in particular told me after we played that he was going to try to stay away from my slice backhand and hit to my forehand, which surprised me given that my forehand tends to be more of a weapon. I think the stability of the frame definitely plays a role in this regard.
Comfort- 8.0 I have had arm issues in the past, so comfort is important to me and something I'm sensitive too. I know that I tested this in a multi/poly hybrid, but even though the racquet felt firm, I had no arm issues at all, even when I switched to an all poly Luxilon 4G version of this racquet (see note below). I know there are those with severe arm issues and really want a flexible/arm friendly racquet (ie Wilson Clash), but I would rather play with a stick that feels firm w/ good feel, and this is a perfect happy medium for me in that regard.
Feel- 9.5 This was the racquet's core strength (although I miss the raw feel of racquets of the past) - I was able to hit slice, angles, touch volleys, off speed top spin cross court forehands, etc., easily and in a way that gave me much joy. This aspect alone makes this racquet tempting to switch to, and is a hallmark of this series I believe in general.
Maneuverability- 7.5 Even though the sw was overspec, I still found this racquet to be maneuverable enough to be effective for my all-court game. The larger head size isn't as maneuverable as the 98s (or probably the 97 Pro Staff) I've played with, but still very good and the extra forgiveness was worth the tradeoff.
Stability- 9.0 As I've stated in my comments on returns and volleys, this is a core strength of this racquet (in addition to feel). Off center shots would still usually go where I wanted them too, and I loved how the stability allowed me to hit more penetrating slice backhands.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I truly believe this to be an excellent racquet - it delivers with the classic pro staff feel and stability, but in a slightly larger headsize that provides more forgiveness and is more in line with topspin oriented modern game. I would consider switching to this racquet, but my largest concern would be that my kick serve is one of the most important parts of my game, and this racquet doesn't give me extra in that area. Also, I get the issue others have brought up in terms of where this racquet fits - not quite enough power and forgiveness to compensate for the tradeoff in control. But I do think that those looking for that classic pro staff feel but aren't the super advanced players they once were would really enjoy and appreciate this racquet ;-)
Note - I did get my hands on a 320sw strung version at the end of this playtest, and I strung that with Luxilon 4G (1.25) (desert bronze, which looks awesome in this frame) @ 49 lbs, and absolutely loved that version - more maneuverable, slightly better for my kick serves - but it didn't have quite as much power and plough through as the version I was sent by TW. Otherwise, it didn't play that much different.
Great racquet and super happy to be able to play test this racquet - thank you TW and for this community for reading my long-ish review!
String and tension used for test: I used Wilson NXT 16 in the Mains at 52 lbs, Luxilon 4G 1.25 (Black in the crosses at 48lbs).
Tennis experience/background: 51 yr old 6.6 UTR, 4.0/4.5 mostly singles and some doubles, former junior and college tennis player (used the old pro staff in college), basically played hardly at all from 30-45 due to kids/work/life, started playing 1x/week 5 years ago, now an avid USTA and tournament player over the last 1.5 years (4-5x/week barring injury setbacks).
Describe your playing style: all court player, described by others as a "crafty" lefty who can grind from the baseline, serve and volley when necessary, big kick and slice serves, lots of topspin on my forehand, slice one-handed backhand, flatter two-handed backhand.
Current racquet/string setups: recently switched to the Shift 315 (99 pro) @ ~ 330sw strung, after a lengthy racquet exploration (left the Pure Strike, dabbled with the Radical MP and Extreme MP). Prefer a softer but somewhat crisp poly like MSV Swift or Toroline Wasabi (17g), love Lynx Tour when my arm feels good, will switch to a multi/poly hybrid if having arm issues (like what I used for this playtest).
How many hours did you play with the racquet? At least 10 hours, in drills, singles matches, and doubles.
-Groundstrokes: 8/10 Excellent from the baseline, easy potential for spin and touch. Maneuverability wasn't great due to the over-spec sw, but plow through was awesome. Not as spinny as my Shift 99 Pro, or other more spin oriented racquets like the Extreme MP, but easier for spin generation than a more "average" spin racquet like the Radical MP.
-Serves: 6.5/10 I found serves to be above average - excellent for placement on flat and slice serves, average for my kick serves, and power was slightly above average. Some of this might have to do with the above spec swingweight - the extra weight helped with power on flat and slice serves, but limited w/r to racquet head speed needed to generate more brush up for kick serves.
-Volleys: 8.5/10 True to its heritage, I found this to be an excellent racquet at the net - highly stable, maneuverable enough even at the higher swing weight, and great touch and feel overall. I found myself serving and volleying more often than usual and with confidence, and in general was one of the most fun aspects of playing with this racquet.
-Serve returns: 9/10 As with volleys, this was a core strength of this racquet - I found it to be one of the most stable racquets I've tried, which made this an easy racquet for blocking back big serves with depth and control. The general touch and feel of the racquet (core strength) added to the strong performance in this regard. My only knock on this particular frame was due to the high swingweight which did impact maneuverability - but of course this also helped with stability and plow through, so it was a trade off that worked.
Power/Control- 7.5 Power / 8.0 Control I found the power level to be above average, which surprised me given that this was a 21.5mm beam. The control was very good, but I could tell that it was a trade-off w/ a 100 sq in head - I appreciated the extra forgiveness on off center shots and power the 100 sq in head provided, but recognized that the control isn't what I would feel from other racquets like the Shift 99 Pro or Radical MP, but definitely more control than from an Extreme MP. Given my age and playing style, it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make. Contrary to other Pro Staff purists on these boards, I'm glad they made a 100 sq in version (like Wilson did when they upped this frame from an 85, to a 90, to a 95, etc.).
Top Spin/Slice- 7.5 Very good top spin on forehands, and easy to generate a penetrating slice one-handed backhand. One guy I played in particular told me after we played that he was going to try to stay away from my slice backhand and hit to my forehand, which surprised me given that my forehand tends to be more of a weapon. I think the stability of the frame definitely plays a role in this regard.
Comfort- 8.0 I have had arm issues in the past, so comfort is important to me and something I'm sensitive too. I know that I tested this in a multi/poly hybrid, but even though the racquet felt firm, I had no arm issues at all, even when I switched to an all poly Luxilon 4G version of this racquet (see note below). I know there are those with severe arm issues and really want a flexible/arm friendly racquet (ie Wilson Clash), but I would rather play with a stick that feels firm w/ good feel, and this is a perfect happy medium for me in that regard.
Feel- 9.5 This was the racquet's core strength (although I miss the raw feel of racquets of the past) - I was able to hit slice, angles, touch volleys, off speed top spin cross court forehands, etc., easily and in a way that gave me much joy. This aspect alone makes this racquet tempting to switch to, and is a hallmark of this series I believe in general.
Maneuverability- 7.5 Even though the sw was overspec, I still found this racquet to be maneuverable enough to be effective for my all-court game. The larger head size isn't as maneuverable as the 98s (or probably the 97 Pro Staff) I've played with, but still very good and the extra forgiveness was worth the tradeoff.
Stability- 9.0 As I've stated in my comments on returns and volleys, this is a core strength of this racquet (in addition to feel). Off center shots would still usually go where I wanted them too, and I loved how the stability allowed me to hit more penetrating slice backhands.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I truly believe this to be an excellent racquet - it delivers with the classic pro staff feel and stability, but in a slightly larger headsize that provides more forgiveness and is more in line with topspin oriented modern game. I would consider switching to this racquet, but my largest concern would be that my kick serve is one of the most important parts of my game, and this racquet doesn't give me extra in that area. Also, I get the issue others have brought up in terms of where this racquet fits - not quite enough power and forgiveness to compensate for the tradeoff in control. But I do think that those looking for that classic pro staff feel but aren't the super advanced players they once were would really enjoy and appreciate this racquet ;-)
Note - I did get my hands on a 320sw strung version at the end of this playtest, and I strung that with Luxilon 4G (1.25) (desert bronze, which looks awesome in this frame) @ 49 lbs, and absolutely loved that version - more maneuverable, slightly better for my kick serves - but it didn't have quite as much power and plough through as the version I was sent by TW. Otherwise, it didn't play that much different.
Great racquet and super happy to be able to play test this racquet - thank you TW and for this community for reading my long-ish review!
time_fly
Hall of Fame
Pro Staff, Amateur Player: A Review of the Pro Staff 97 v14
Long the choice of champions, does the latest iteration of the iconic Pro Staff still have any relevance to the modern weekend warrior?
Pros: Exemplary comfort and stability; ample power and spin for a classic frame; unique cosmetic
Cons: “That’s bronze, not brown, thank you”; You'd-better-hit-the-gym specifications are increasingly out of favor in modern tennis
Verdict: Federer may be gone, but his racquet line isn’t ready for retirement yet
Introduction
I approached this play test with a bit of trepidation, knowing that I’m at the bottom of the skill range for which the PS 97 is intended. As an aging league player, I have naturally gravitated towards easier-to-use frames in recent years and I’ve been impressed with how racquet companies have been able to provide increasing amounts of comfort, stability, and controllable power in lighter packages. On the other hand, as a long-time player and certified racquetholic I have plenty of experience with more traditional frames and even used the first generation of the Pro Staff 97 as my main racquet for over 6 months when it first came out. So I decided to focus my review on whether a mainstream recreational player like myself should still consider a more classic, heavier frame or if they have become completely obsolete in the age of modern tweeners.
I ended up in possession of two Pro Staff 97 v14s during this playtest; the first was the official test frame which I used for most of the review. That one clocked in at 341 grams strung with an overgrip and dampener, with a 7 pt headlight balance and a beefy 335 swingweight. The second frame was nearly identical in static weight, but was 9 pt headlight and had a swingweight in the low 320s as measured with the Briffidi SW1. So, it seems that the motivated buyer may be able to find versions of the PS 97 v14 that sit in different swingweight ranges. I put these two frames up against my latest tweeners, the Wilson Shift 99 300g prototypes, each customized with lead at 12 to bring the swingweight up into the low 320s. Obviously these are very different racquets, but they became the proxies for my tweener-vs-classic-frame battle. This comparison comes with very real consequences for me: I am playing in a USTA 8.0 mixed doubles sectionals tournament at the conclusion of this playtest, and the winning frame will be my racquet for those matches. Does the Pro Staff 97 v14 have what it takes to fend off more modern racquet designs for a recreational player with real match wins on the line? Read the test results below and find out …
Test Results
Racquet Received: Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14
String and Tension Used: Babolat Touch VS Natural Gut 16 mains at 54 lbs; Head Hawk 16 crosses at 50 lbs
Tennis Experience / Background: Played youth and high school tennis. Returned to tennis after an 18-year hiatus and have been playing USTA leagues for about 8 years as a 3.5 with some 4.0 league play as well. Currently 51 years old, male, 5’8”, 185 lbs. I play both singles and doubles.
Reviewer Playing Style: Left-handed, semi-western forehand and 2HBH. In singles I play an aggressive baseline strategy emphasizing spin.
Current racquet/string setup: Wilson Shift 99 300g prototype with lead at 12 o’clock, Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 17ga. mains at 52 lbs, Head Velocity MLT 17ga. crosses at 52 lbs. For this playtest, I did also restring one Shift with the gut / poly setup identical to the Pro Staff for comparison.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 18 hours
Comments on Strokes
Ground Strokes (9.5/10)
This frame was excellent from the baseline. I found it to feel softer than the RA suggests and it was more arm-friendly than the more modern racquets such as the Shift and Dunlop FX 500 that I’ve used lately. With the 335 swingweight of my copy, stability and plow-through were excellent. I could let the racquet do the work and hit solid, consistent, deep balls with relatively little effort. Topspin was also very good, although a notch below spin-monster frames like the Shift 99 300g or Pure Aero. Despite the weight I was still able to easily pick up short, low balls and roll them sharply with topspin using my wrist and forearm. As is expected for the Pro Staff line, it was also easy to knife the slice backhand. Since this is a heavier frame, early preparation is key. However, as a 97 it still maneuvered well, and the sweet spot seemed generous for the head size. Stability when slightly off center was also very good. Overall, I found it quite usable for what qualifies as a “heavy racquet” by modern standards.
Serves (7.5/10)
I started the playtest coming off a calf injury, so I was cutting back on jumping and serving mostly with the upper body and arm. That made this racquet especially difficult to use. The high static weight and swingweight meant that I really needed to involve my whole body in the serve, unlike a lighter tweener like the Shift where I could still snap off an acceptable serve without a big leg drive. As I recovered, I was able to serve with closer to maximum effort, and the Pro Staff was certainly stable and powerful enough to hit big serves. But the racquet head speed wasn’t quite there compared to the Shift, so I felt kick and slice serves didn’t have the same bite. Overall, I found the decrease in spin and the increased effort necessary to get velocity were drawbacks in the serve category compared to my usual tweeners.
Volleys (9/10)
I found the PS 97 v14 to be outstanding at the net. The stability, comfort, and feel were top notch, and obviously better than the Shift. Redirecting pace and punching away crisp volleys came easily; in fact the frame was so solid that I found that keeping touch volleys short required a bigger adjustment than hitting deeper ones. Although it’s heavy, the 97 maneuvers well enough for most circumstances except the fastest reaction volleys. The smaller head size does make it slightly less forgiving than 100” frames, and especially for doubles I would be interested to try out the 97’s new sibling, the Pro Staff X.
Returns (8.5/10)
As a 3.5 / 4.0 league player, I face a very wide variety of serve styles and speeds. Some opponents can hit flat bombs, but there are also a lot of heavy sidespin slicers and players that push it in slow, short, and low. Hence, I’m always adjusting my return technique from full swings, to shortened swings, to blocks depending on the circumstances. The stability of the PS 97 v14 makes it a breeze to execute any of these approaches with confidence, but due to the higher weight I did find myself transitioning to blocking more quickly than I might have with a faster but less stable racquet. Since I tend to prefer swinging when I can, this was a little bit of a drawback for me. But I still generally had no complaints in the returns department, where many of the same attributes that make the Pro Staff great for ground strokes also applied.
Continued ...
Long the choice of champions, does the latest iteration of the iconic Pro Staff still have any relevance to the modern weekend warrior?
Pros: Exemplary comfort and stability; ample power and spin for a classic frame; unique cosmetic
Cons: “That’s bronze, not brown, thank you”; You'd-better-hit-the-gym specifications are increasingly out of favor in modern tennis
Verdict: Federer may be gone, but his racquet line isn’t ready for retirement yet
Introduction
I approached this play test with a bit of trepidation, knowing that I’m at the bottom of the skill range for which the PS 97 is intended. As an aging league player, I have naturally gravitated towards easier-to-use frames in recent years and I’ve been impressed with how racquet companies have been able to provide increasing amounts of comfort, stability, and controllable power in lighter packages. On the other hand, as a long-time player and certified racquetholic I have plenty of experience with more traditional frames and even used the first generation of the Pro Staff 97 as my main racquet for over 6 months when it first came out. So I decided to focus my review on whether a mainstream recreational player like myself should still consider a more classic, heavier frame or if they have become completely obsolete in the age of modern tweeners.
I ended up in possession of two Pro Staff 97 v14s during this playtest; the first was the official test frame which I used for most of the review. That one clocked in at 341 grams strung with an overgrip and dampener, with a 7 pt headlight balance and a beefy 335 swingweight. The second frame was nearly identical in static weight, but was 9 pt headlight and had a swingweight in the low 320s as measured with the Briffidi SW1. So, it seems that the motivated buyer may be able to find versions of the PS 97 v14 that sit in different swingweight ranges. I put these two frames up against my latest tweeners, the Wilson Shift 99 300g prototypes, each customized with lead at 12 to bring the swingweight up into the low 320s. Obviously these are very different racquets, but they became the proxies for my tweener-vs-classic-frame battle. This comparison comes with very real consequences for me: I am playing in a USTA 8.0 mixed doubles sectionals tournament at the conclusion of this playtest, and the winning frame will be my racquet for those matches. Does the Pro Staff 97 v14 have what it takes to fend off more modern racquet designs for a recreational player with real match wins on the line? Read the test results below and find out …
Test Results
Racquet Received: Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14
String and Tension Used: Babolat Touch VS Natural Gut 16 mains at 54 lbs; Head Hawk 16 crosses at 50 lbs
Tennis Experience / Background: Played youth and high school tennis. Returned to tennis after an 18-year hiatus and have been playing USTA leagues for about 8 years as a 3.5 with some 4.0 league play as well. Currently 51 years old, male, 5’8”, 185 lbs. I play both singles and doubles.
Reviewer Playing Style: Left-handed, semi-western forehand and 2HBH. In singles I play an aggressive baseline strategy emphasizing spin.
Current racquet/string setup: Wilson Shift 99 300g prototype with lead at 12 o’clock, Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 17ga. mains at 52 lbs, Head Velocity MLT 17ga. crosses at 52 lbs. For this playtest, I did also restring one Shift with the gut / poly setup identical to the Pro Staff for comparison.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 18 hours
Comments on Strokes
Ground Strokes (9.5/10)
This frame was excellent from the baseline. I found it to feel softer than the RA suggests and it was more arm-friendly than the more modern racquets such as the Shift and Dunlop FX 500 that I’ve used lately. With the 335 swingweight of my copy, stability and plow-through were excellent. I could let the racquet do the work and hit solid, consistent, deep balls with relatively little effort. Topspin was also very good, although a notch below spin-monster frames like the Shift 99 300g or Pure Aero. Despite the weight I was still able to easily pick up short, low balls and roll them sharply with topspin using my wrist and forearm. As is expected for the Pro Staff line, it was also easy to knife the slice backhand. Since this is a heavier frame, early preparation is key. However, as a 97 it still maneuvered well, and the sweet spot seemed generous for the head size. Stability when slightly off center was also very good. Overall, I found it quite usable for what qualifies as a “heavy racquet” by modern standards.
Serves (7.5/10)
I started the playtest coming off a calf injury, so I was cutting back on jumping and serving mostly with the upper body and arm. That made this racquet especially difficult to use. The high static weight and swingweight meant that I really needed to involve my whole body in the serve, unlike a lighter tweener like the Shift where I could still snap off an acceptable serve without a big leg drive. As I recovered, I was able to serve with closer to maximum effort, and the Pro Staff was certainly stable and powerful enough to hit big serves. But the racquet head speed wasn’t quite there compared to the Shift, so I felt kick and slice serves didn’t have the same bite. Overall, I found the decrease in spin and the increased effort necessary to get velocity were drawbacks in the serve category compared to my usual tweeners.
Volleys (9/10)
I found the PS 97 v14 to be outstanding at the net. The stability, comfort, and feel were top notch, and obviously better than the Shift. Redirecting pace and punching away crisp volleys came easily; in fact the frame was so solid that I found that keeping touch volleys short required a bigger adjustment than hitting deeper ones. Although it’s heavy, the 97 maneuvers well enough for most circumstances except the fastest reaction volleys. The smaller head size does make it slightly less forgiving than 100” frames, and especially for doubles I would be interested to try out the 97’s new sibling, the Pro Staff X.
Returns (8.5/10)
As a 3.5 / 4.0 league player, I face a very wide variety of serve styles and speeds. Some opponents can hit flat bombs, but there are also a lot of heavy sidespin slicers and players that push it in slow, short, and low. Hence, I’m always adjusting my return technique from full swings, to shortened swings, to blocks depending on the circumstances. The stability of the PS 97 v14 makes it a breeze to execute any of these approaches with confidence, but due to the higher weight I did find myself transitioning to blocking more quickly than I might have with a faster but less stable racquet. Since I tend to prefer swinging when I can, this was a little bit of a drawback for me. But I still generally had no complaints in the returns department, where many of the same attributes that make the Pro Staff great for ground strokes also applied.
Continued ...
