Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
Not sure how that's possible unless you added weight to the hoop of your RF97 to make it less headlight or played with no over grip on the RF97.
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson RF 01 Family
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
Icsa
Professional
I think TW will send email once everything shipped. I believe the people that reported above have signed up for UPS My Choice and got their notifications automatically.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
I can’t wait. I predict this thread, more than any other, will be dichotomous to the max. Y’all are gonna love it and hate it. 
StringStrungStrang
Professional
A picture is worth 1000 words !!! Wilson RF01 Playtest !!
OEEspino
New User
Alright so I was otw to work, checked my package bin, and lo and behold there was the racket LOL. TW didnt email that they sent it out so it was a pleasant surprise to see it. Thank you TW. Will post the racket here later. And can’t wait to review it!
StringStrungStrang
Professional
RF01 meet my ProStaff family !
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
RF01 meet my ProStaff family !
You still have the Tuxedo version that was only used for like 1 season haha! I hated that pj so much. I felt like it screwed with my game. I was glad when they released the V13 in all black.
Icsa
Professional
This is great - are you in CA or anywhere near TW warehouse? No email or racquet for me, but I'm in NW
OEEspino
New User
I live in California! And yeah no email or anything that they sent it already. But i got it exactly a week after they emailed me the first time
OEEspino
New User
RF01 meet my ProStaff family !
Mine is the step brother lol
saigonbond 2.0
Rookie
Where is it made? China?
HypnoticLasagna
Rookie
Same here. Already strung with Alu and on the court!
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
A couple design details on the Wilson RF 01 in the images below: unstrung weight, handle and buttcap (foam filled) , throat shape, smooth throat grommets, and beam.
Next to my Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19. The design and beam width is not too different from the PS 98, just a touch taller and thinner. Definitely going for that smoother aero profile to let you swing away!
Next to my Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19. The design and beam width is not too different from the PS 98, just a touch taller and thinner. Definitely going for that smoother aero profile to let you swing away!
A picture is worth 1000 words !!! Wilson RF01 Playtest !!
Jelly
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Mine is here as well. Beautiful in person and I really like how the beam looks and the frame feels in the hand. Specs at 297/277/315.
SteveI
Legend
300 gms on the nose?A couple design details on the Wilson RF 01 in the images below: unstrung weight, handle and buttcap (foam filled) , throat shape, smooth throat grommets, and beam.
Next to my Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19. The design and beam width is not too different from the PS 98, just a touch taller and thinner. Definitely going for that smoother aero profile to let you swing away!
My RF97A weighs 357 grams, balance point with overgrip and strung is within 1mm of the balance of the RF-01 pro. My RF-01 Pro weighs 345grams strung with overgrip. Nothing was done to my RF97As except overgrip which is a gamma supreme from Academy Sports local stores.
esgee48
G.O.A.T.
Straight forward skipping 7 & 9 at throat and hoop. No shared holes. Tie off points are within 3 holes of first/last strings as expected. (They’ll be the holes where 2 strings can easily fit.)
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mpournaras
Hall of Fame
I wonder what the orange NXT is meant to match with?
Geoff
Hall of Fame
Looks good in the Shift. Being located in Tennessee, my members who are Vol fans love it. The Blade v9 also has the orange W on the side (which I don't get would have thought that would be red)
SteveI
Legend
Thanks...
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
Wonder if it's the same pattern as the RF97A. Maybe tie-offs slightly different, but the RF97A also skipped 7 and 9 Top an Bot.
JEDI MASTER
Professional
Stringing the 01's is pretty straight forward with 2pc
datsveryinterestin
Professional
Just got mine! TW is amazing!
I got Orange wilson Nxt which i don't think Roger would approve of so I'll probably buy natural color NXT to emulate the Champions choice setup without looking garish!
321g with plastic on handle unstrung.
I got Orange wilson Nxt which i don't think Roger would approve of so I'll probably buy natural color NXT to emulate the Champions choice setup without looking garish!
321g with plastic on handle unstrung.
Mjolnir
New User
Arrived yesterday. A little portly:
Not quite 9HL:
Unstrung/strung SW:
Wow are the mains progressively spaced:
Usually string a new racquet with sacrificial syn gut to bed the grommets. Used the supplied NXT 16 in orange for this and played a 1.5 hour clinic. Strung at 53 lbs/24kg since it’s supposed to be a less powerful multi. Never tried these strings before and never will again! Very lacking in pop. Normally string a powerful multi at 55-58 lbs. Spin really has to be worked for continually. Its one redeeming feature is it’s very comfortable.
The racquet felt great though. It’s easy to swing despite SW and weight. Foam dampens well.
Stringers: do yourself a favor and ignore Wilson’s instructions to tie off mains at 6T(!). Just string it like an RF/PS97 if you’ve done those.
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Don't most of us ignore all instructions anyway? I haven't looked up a stringing instruction in like 20 years!
On the talk tennis podcast they mentioned that they specced out 20 frames and the swing weight were all within like 3-5 pts of each other. So sounds like QC is getting better. You're appears consistent with target as well. That's a plus
Purestriker
Legend
Got mine today and plan to string it tonight after work!
justRick
Rookie
I got my RF 01 (300 gr) and had it strung with Solinco Hyper G soft 16g @ 50 lbs. In a nutshell, it's a pleasure to swing, great feel, more power and spin than my PS L v13. The best way for me to describe the feel is soft, plush, yet with power. The racquet is more head light than what I currently use but it swings so easy. It's like it helps my wrists roll. (I have a 1HBH)
For some background, my current racquet is the Pro staff L v13 (290 gr). I've play tested many (not all) racquets i.e. shift, PS v14, Blade, vcore, ezone, percept and I liked the blade the best. I wanted a blade light 98 sq" but that was only in the 100 sq" racquet, so I waited for the new RF.
For some background, my current racquet is the Pro staff L v13 (290 gr). I've play tested many (not all) racquets i.e. shift, PS v14, Blade, vcore, ezone, percept and I liked the blade the best. I wanted a blade light 98 sq" but that was only in the 100 sq" racquet, so I waited for the new RF.
A_Instead
Legend
The black with the transitioning grayish/silverish is a nice look.
In play the RF 01 300g model reminds me of a Shift with more control. I also get a slight Clash and ProStaff vibe..
It reminds me of the Boris Becker London. It has the old Volkl head shape.
I like this Wilson Head shape... Visually it appears bigger than the Blade 98 Head shape.
The RF 01 98 plays bigger in a good way compared to the Blade 98.
In play the RF 01 300g model reminds me of a Shift with more control. I also get a slight Clash and ProStaff vibe..
It reminds me of the Boris Becker London. It has the old Volkl head shape.
I like this Wilson Head shape... Visually it appears bigger than the Blade 98 Head shape.
The RF 01 98 plays bigger in a good way compared to the Blade 98.
Purestriker
Legend
Mine ended up at 339 strung with an over grip. Taking it out on the courts tonight.
justRick
Rookie
I don't want to bias your results but I was playing the other night and the guy in the court next to me had the RF 01 Pro. I'm an older 4.0 and he was a younger 4.0-4.5, so naturally I wanted the lighter version. He really liked his Pro!!! We both had similar experiences, a great combination of feel, power, and spin. I forgot to ask him what he strung it with. We were both playing sets so we didn't have time to talk a lot.
Purestriker
Legend
Awesome! I am looking forward to hitting with it in a few sets tonight.
SteveI
Legend
Got mine last night and strung it up with the NXT 16 Orange. 56 mains and 54 crosses. Used it to teach a lesson this AM and then had a great drill session with a 4.5 partner and former D2 player. Later while picking up a couple frames from a D1 ladies player for stringing, she took it for 20 min. test drive. Lots of smiles from her. Shes uses a Pure Drive and loved the control from the RF 01.
The RF 01 is a brand new frame for sure. Not a Pure Drive.. not a Radical. One can see and feel it is a Federer design. I really enjoy my 1st 2 experiences with it. It is solid as a rock, solid build and really goes through the air. Mine is a bit more HL than the TW specs.
The RF 01 is a brand new frame for sure. Not a Pure Drive.. not a Radical. One can see and feel it is a Federer design. I really enjoy my 1st 2 experiences with it. It is solid as a rock, solid build and really goes through the air. Mine is a bit more HL than the TW specs.
SteveI
Legend
It indeed has the old Volkl head shape and has the Volkl dynamic string spacing. Thanks so much for the post. I kept looking at the frame and thinking the head shape was so familiar. The RF 01 98 does appear and play bigger than the Blade 98. The handle shape also appears to be like the old head shape and seems bigger than the 4 3/8s I have.
Burn
New User
I have the RF 01 Pro and I'm selling it.
I just say try it before you buy it.
It's not everybody's cup of tea. Didn't work for me at all. Found it unstable and boardie and never felt connected with it even when adding weight (no pocketing whatsoever). The sweetspot is very small and the stringbed unpredictable. Honestly, it was one of the worst racquets I've tested in recent years (and I tested a lot). Long live the RFA 97...it's night and day. Even the Prostaff X tops this one by miles.
I'd say it's slightly comparable with the Ezone Tour, although the later is best in every single angle.
Different strokes for different folks, so try it before going with the hype.
I just say try it before you buy it.
It's not everybody's cup of tea. Didn't work for me at all. Found it unstable and boardie and never felt connected with it even when adding weight (no pocketing whatsoever). The sweetspot is very small and the stringbed unpredictable. Honestly, it was one of the worst racquets I've tested in recent years (and I tested a lot). Long live the RFA 97...it's night and day. Even the Prostaff X tops this one by miles.
I'd say it's slightly comparable with the Ezone Tour, although the later is best in every single angle.
Different strokes for different folks, so try it before going with the hype.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
Updated to add SW!
301g Unstrung and 320mm balance (~7 pts HL).
321g strung and 327mm balance and 318 SW strung with Alpha and with a Tourna Grip
Mine came in a little more HH than spec so I would imagine that pays off in having a comparatively high SW. I will need to measure that eventually.
The paint is sharp. The fake brown grip is oddly cheap looking. I feel like the brown synthetic grip on the ProStaff is a better feel and shade of brown. Small apples no big deal but I leave some of mine exposed... so I notice it.
I decided to do my play test with tried and true Grapplesnake Alpha at 51lbs. Initial impressions are strong. Not earth moving new frame tech but it’s a competent and easy to swing racket. I find it rather comfy even with full poly (Alpha is soft). Will need time to adjust! The foam fill is smart.
More to come soon
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vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
It feels and looks like a widebody racket from the early 90’s.
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
Yeah... I think the racket looks horrible to be honest.
Blade_X
Professional
I was curious when i saw the review of @Tan Tennis and agreed after playtesting it by myself. My observations:
-Suitable for flat hitters. With the right swing style / path it can produce the heaviest ball among most 300 racquets i ve ever tested
-Very dense in the middle.
-Great penetration and power on flat serves too
-Feel is just ok. Nothing in common with pro staff. I would say it reminded me sth like a less plush shift or more firm ultra / clash.
-I am not a fan of the mold or the thickness of it. It’s just me….. I prefer box beams at 98inch racquets.
-It’s lighting fast through the air so in the beginning some would face timing issues to make contact.
-Best shots to me were slice, serve and ease of changing directions.
-I would like it to have more dwell time and byte….. ball comes out very fast.
I suggest anyone to try it and see. To me it’s not an easy racquet to compete with. If you are of those willing to commit in every shot and have a mostly attacking style it’s great. If you want sth to play relaxed or to help you in days you are lazy it won’t. That’s how it felt to me. Demanding and for 4.5 level and up
Go get a blade v9. Best blade since the legendary V5
