Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson RF 01 Family

I got my email last week that I got approved and they said it’ll take a week before they’ll email again that they’ll send out the racket. But haven’t gotten an email yet. Anyone in the same boat?
 
OEEspino said:
I got my email last week that I got approved and they said it’ll take a week before they’ll email again that they’ll send out the racket. But haven’t gotten an email yet. Anyone in the same boat?
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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.
 
A picture is worth 1000 words !!! Wilson RF01 Playtest !!

20240816-145654.jpg


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OEEspino said:
I got my email last week that I got approved and they said it’ll take a week before they’ll email again that they’ll send out the racket. But haven’t gotten an email yet. Anyone in the same boat?
Click to expand...
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!
 
OEEspino said:
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!
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This is great - are you in CA or anywhere near TW warehouse? No email or racquet for me, but I'm in NW
 
Icsa said:
This is great - are you in CA or anywhere near TW warehouse? No email or racquet for me, but I'm in NW
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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
 
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!

weight-us.jpg
buttcap.jpg


handle.jpg
throat.jpg
beam.jpg
 
StringStrungStrang said:
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!

weight-us.jpg
buttcap.jpg


handle.jpg
throat.jpg
beam.jpg
Click to expand...
300 gms on the nose?
 
Big_Dangerous said:
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.
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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 said:
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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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.
 
https://imgur.com/OaSg8Ml

Arrived yesterday. A little portly:
https://imgur.com/GuZPhYD

Not quite 9HL:
https://imgur.com/NedMTCP

Unstrung/strung SW:
https://imgur.com/F0Uwcuy

Wow are the mains progressively spaced:
https://imgur.com/3CT3fq0

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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Mjolnir said:
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.
Click to expand...
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
Alcawrath said:
Just finished stringing up my RF 01 pro. It came in at 337g strung and then a Wilson pro over grip bumped it up to 343g. I don't have a way to measure swing weight at home, but plan to have it measured next time I'm in the pro shop. We'll see how it plays tomorrow!
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Mine ended up at 339 strung with an over grip. Taking it out on the courts tonight.
 
Purestriker said:
Mine ended up at 339 strung with an over grip. Taking it out on the courts tonight.
Click to expand...
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.
 
justRick said:
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.
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Awesome! I am looking forward to hitting with it in a few sets tonight.
 
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.
 
A_Instead said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
It also reminds me of the Boris Becker NYC..
Maybe Wilson bought the old stock on the cheap and rebranded it as Fed..
Is so similar..it's scary..
 
I will agree that the handle shape is rectangular.
String spacing is different than delta core NYC. There’s 8 mains in the bridge of the NYC
 
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Hi. Just got it today unstrung. What type of string will enhance the playability of this frame? I have eastern grip and 1hbh btw. Thx before
 
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.
 
7vJQiOj.jpeg


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
 
Last edited:
Burn said:
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.
Click to expand...
It feels and looks like a widebody racket from the early 90’s.
 
Burn said:
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.
Click to expand...
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
 
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