The 2016 all black RF97A

[TennisManiac]

I'm considering purchasing the all black 2016 version RF97A. I've been using the 2015 PS97 for the past 4 years and think it's time to try a beefier racket for a number of reasons that I won't even get into. I'm under the impression that the 2016 RF97A does not have the countervail technology correct? I hit with the newer PS97 with the countervail technology and hated it. I'm hoping it's not in the 2016 RF97A.

Also, I was wondering if anyone out there could share their thoughts on the 2016 all black version compared to the 2018 skunk paint job version. I hear some say that the 2018 version feels sluggish compared to the 2016 all black version. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Nadal shall rise again]

The 2016 RF97A does not have countervail, thankfully. The black and white version (2018) should be exactly the same as the all-black version (2016). Any comments you may read about one being more sluggish than the other has to do with poor Wilson quality-control. Otherwise, just go with the one you prefer the cosmetic of.

 

[tribesmen]

All PS 97RF are the same. It could be that some players feel it "sluggish" if racquets are out of specs. But "sluggish feel" is very personal. What someone feels sluggish is too fast for another. I know a few people who added a lead to 12 because SW 335 was too low for them and they want something heftier in their hands.

Maybe before you buy RF put lead to your PS 97 and you will see if is it time to go to a beefier stick.

 

[n8dawg6]

what they said ... RF97s are the same other than paint and QC. great frame i might add, just a bit much for me if im honest.

 

[TennisManiac]

All PS 97RF are the same. It could be that some players feel it "sluggish" if racquets are out of specs. But "sluggish feel" is very personal. What someone feels sluggish is too fast for another. I know a few people who added a lead to 12 because SW 335 was too low for them and they want something heftier in their hands.

Maybe before you buy RF put lead to your PS 97 and you will see if is it time to go to a beefier stick.

I've been playing the PS97 with 4 gms at 12 o'clock and 1 gm each at 3 and 9 o'clock. I also added 3 gms in the butt cap. And I use an overgrip that weighs 5 grams. Perfect for counter balancing the weight I added to the head. So yeah.... I've been playing a modified PS97 for years. I guess I could just keep adding more lead to the PS97. But I'm just itching to try the RF97A.

 

[JoaoN]

The RF97 is a great frame, but not for everyone, me included, and as said before all the versions are the same, and none has CV.

I just have a feeling, from what i've read, that QC issues are more often on the white and black version. Even on TW playtest of the black and white, Michelle pointed that one of the frames was out of spec.

 

[tribesmen]

I've been playing the PS97 with 4 gms at 12 o'clock and 1 gm each at 3 and 9 o'clock. I also added 3 gms in the butt cap. And I use an overgrip that weighs 5 grams. Perfect for counter balancing the weight I added to the head. So yeah.... I've been playing a modified PS97 for years. I guess I could just keep adding more lead to the PS97. But I'm just itching to try the RF97A.

It is a good time to buy it now, you can find Tuxedo one at really good prices at the moment. I believe you won't be disappointing with RF. It is a great racquet and if you will play with it more than 1-2 hours and feel you're a little tired, you can still take PS97 in your hands. Given that you have a weighted one, the transition will be really easy.

PS: QC maybe is not so bad with RF or I was lucky. I have black one, it came 339gr and 30.5cm unstrung and I bought tuxedo one last week and it was 340gr and 30,7cm unstrung. Maybe QC for RF is better than for regular PS97, I got PS97CV 309gr and 30.5cm , but at end I was happy, great and easier to put lead on it.

 

[Addxyz]

According to TWU Racquet Comparison Tool, the 2015 is a little different to the 2016/2018. Red/Black one has a higher twistweight- 14.9 vs 13.9. It should be more stable but less maneuverable than the black or the tuxedo.

 

[tribesmen]

I also had the first edition and I can not say one is more stable, manoeuvrable. I am not expert for figures, but maybe twistweight 14.9 vs 13.9 is really negligible, just another number ?

 

[Rally]

If you use the TW racquet matching service, you can find nearly identical RF97s in either paint job to the listed specs on the product pages for the 2016 and 2018 paint jobs. I did just that for the 2018 paint job and couldn't be happier. I think it was a worthwhile expense because of the horrible factory tolerances that Wilson has. Otherwise you're hoping against hope that your racquets will have similar specs.

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[Addxyz]

I also had the first edition and I can not say one is more stable, manoeuvrable. I am not expert for figures, but maybe twistweight 14.9 vs 13.9 is really negligible, just another number ?

Lol... Everything is just a number. Just like the thread where people are arguing over whether people can tell the difference between 2 string jobs that are 2 pounds difference.


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[Rally]

Lol... Everything is just a number. Just like the thread where people are arguing over whether people can tell the difference between 2 string jobs that are 2 pounds difference.


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Most people might not feel the difference on contact, but they'll notice the difference in the balls produced with the exact same stroke.

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