What’s the closest racquet on sale atm to the Pro Staff 95?

[MasterZeb]

Things I really appreciate about the pro staff 95 (2012) is the whippyness/spin and the control. Two I’m looking at are the new cx200 tour and phantom 100p. Shame the 97p isn’t on sale anymore. The Prince has the tapered beam with 17 in the throat and 20.5 at it’s widest in the hoop. But then it also has the 100 square inch head. The cx200 tour has the 95 inch head, and a 20.5 beam. Would the cox be the better pick? Are there any others to keep in mind. Weight isn’t an issue at all as I will add lead.

 

[dantesinferno18]

I am interested as well. I played with the Pro Staff 95's all through college for nearly 10 years now. I've tried to switch frames multiple times, first the prestige, then the yonex Ezone 98 (Loved it during the demo and haven't liked it since I bought 3 lol). I keep going back to my trusted 95's. I ordered a demo of the Cx 200 Tour both 18x20 and 16x19, hoping I gel with them.

 

[Gee]

Angell TC95 16x19 63RA (customized to your desired specs) may be a great alternative to the PS95.

 

[Villain]

Although it’s slightly firmer and thicker than the 2014 PS 95, the new PS 97 is really whippy and has a nice, solid feel.

 

[Steve Huff]

I got the impression that the person who posted this was looking for something "on sale". I'd go for the Prince, but that's just me. I don't think they feel at all like Wilsons, but you might like it anyway.

 

[MisterP]

Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16x19
Prince Textreme Tour 95
Yonex Vcore 95

 

[Ft.S]

Pure Strike

 

[papado]

I would venture a vcore pro 97 310 would probably be a damn close option (has narrow 20mm beam and 7 pts headlight balance) for a similar feel. I switched from old school six one 95's (332g 12pt headlight unstrung) to the vcore pro 97 (330g 10pts hl unstrung) and have been super happy with making the switch.

 

[MisterP]

Try a 360+ Prestige Mid while you’re at it.

 

[tim-ay]

I used to play with the 95. Check out the ultra pro 16x19. Has a lot of the same feelings but more power. Needs lead, just like the 95. It’s an H19.

 

[MasterZeb]

Although it’s slightly firmer and thicker than the 2014 PS 95, the new PS 97 is really whippy and has a nice, solid feel.

I used to use the RF97 and I found it quite cumbersome compared to my pro staff 95 even though it has a higher swingweight. I think beam width is down to that quite a bit. And also, it completely destroyed my arm so I’m scared of anything that stiff

 

[MasterZeb]

I got the impression that the person who posted this was looking for something "on sale". I'd go for the Prince, but that's just me. I don't think they feel at all like Wilsons, but you might like it anyway.

Sale as in discounted? Nah just meant something that’s available to purchase. Need multiples and it’s hard to come by a good pro staff 95.

 

[MasterZeb]

Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16x19
Prince Textreme Tour 95
Yonex Vcore 95

The textreme looks nice, but has the 22mm beam. Reason I’m being picky, is because I found the RF97 a little cumbersome, but the my pro staff 95, which is heavier, whippy, and so would love to retain that fee. It’s a possibility though. The vcore 95 I’ve considered before but the 16x20 pattern put me off. Numerous people saying it has a low launch angle, and I love that about the pro staff 95. The vcore pro 97 I’ve considered also, but am scared of that RA number.

 

[MasterZeb]

Pure Strike

My arm hurts just thinking about it

 

[MasterZeb]

I would venture a vcore pro 97 310 would probably be a damn close option (has narrow 20mm beam and 7 pts headlight balance) for a similar feel. I switched from old school six one 95's (332g 12pt headlight unstrung) to the vcore pro 97 (330g 10pts hl unstrung) and have been super happy with making the switch.

Did you feel the stiffness was similar? I’ve had arm issues and knowing the six one is quite stiff and you liked both it and the vcore, I’m guessing the vcore pro is also?

 

[MasterZeb]

Try a 360+ Prestige Mid while you’re at it.

Stiffness problem. RF97 shattered my arm and now I’m incredibly limited and picky.

 

[MasterZeb]

I used to play with the 95. Check out the ultra pro 16x19. Has a lot of the same feelings but more power. Needs lead, just like the 95. It’s an H19.

I’ve tried the ultra tour v2 and it was very plush, but I felt it lacked spin and the whippyness feel. Idk I just never fell in love with it’s feel like others have. I much prefer the pro staff 95 feel (not sure what the difference is). Perhaps thinner beam? Box beam? Idk. This could of course be partly down to the 18x20 string pattern of the ultra tour.

 

[MasterZeb]

I am interested as well. I played with the Pro Staff 95's all through college for nearly 10 years now. I've tried to switch frames multiple times, first the prestige, then the yonex Ezone 98 (Loved it during the demo and haven't liked it since I bought 3 lol). I keep going back to my trusted 95's. I ordered a demo of the Cx 200 Tour both 18x20 and 16x19, hoping I gel with them.

Very interested in your feedback

 

[tim-ay]

I’ve tried the ultra tour v2 and it was very plush, but I felt it lacked spin and the whippyness feel. Idk I just never fell in love with it’s feel like others have. I much prefer the pro staff 95 feel (not sure what the difference is). Perhaps thinner beam? Box beam? Idk. This could of course be partly down to the 18x20 string pattern of the ultra tour.

Yeah the 16x19 gets it closer. But there is more of that classic pro staff feel in the PS95. But less power also. The UP 16 feels really good though considering it has more power, just not quite the feel to the level of the 95.

 

[beez71]

Try the Prince Phantom 93P. Its close enough in head size, has a thin beam and is really arm friendly.

 

[papado]

Did you feel the stiffness was similar? I’ve had arm issues and knowing the six one is quite stiff and you liked both it and the vcore, I’m guessing the vcore pro is also?

I was having arm issues when I came back to the Wilsons too--the vcore pro is a little softer which helps, but is not super flexy either. The 330g is a 65RA while the 310 is showing 64RA per TW and I think most of the pro staffs are around 68ish+

 

[MisterP]

The textreme looks nice, but has the 22mm beam. Reason I’m being picky, is because I found the RF97 a little cumbersome, but the my pro staff 95, which is heavier, whippy, and so would love to retain that fee. It’s a possibility though. The vcore 95 I’ve considered before but the 16x20 pattern put me off. Numerous people saying it has a low launch angle, and I love that about the pro staff 95. The vcore pro 97 I’ve considered also, but am scared of that RA number.

The VCore 95 does indeed have a very low launch angle. The Textreme swings fast. I wouldnt worry about the beam thickness. It still knifes thru the air nicely.

What’s the stiffness on a pro staff 95?

 

[RF_PRO_STAFF]

I really don't feel like the VCORE 95 has a low launch angle. Especially when you use thinner strings at not too high of a tension, the ball really shoots out of the racket with good height.

When I used my Ultra Tour in the session before, it really feels like the balls are flying on me when I use the VCORE 95 again. I need to adjust to get the balls over the net again that aren't going 13 feet high.

 

[tim-ay]

I’ve tried the ultra tour v2 and it was very plush, but I felt it lacked spin and the whippyness feel. Idk I just never fell in love with it’s feel like others have. I much prefer the pro staff 95 feel (not sure what the difference is). Perhaps thinner beam? Box beam? Idk. This could of course be partly down to the 18x20 string pattern of the ultra tour.

Was just thinking - the clash 98 might be worth a hit. The flex feels very similar to a pro staff to me. It’s a totally different ball, but it has some of that pocketing feel of the 95 in a whippy package.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

I don't really find the Clash98 at all like the Pro Staff 95 IMO. Pro Staff's all play with a certain old school stiffness and are much heavier than the Clash 98. Yes, the HL balance of both is similar, but the play and feel completely different to me.

I would recommend the Blade Pro 16x19... has almost exact same string pattern as the Pro Staff 95, similar feel... but more comfortable and the playability/power/touch all really reminded me of the PS 95. The CX200 Tour also gets a nod as well in my book.

 

[tim-ay]

Funny - as I am playing with the blade pro now 16m. To me , it has nothing in common at all with a PS95. Great frame though. At opposite ends of the power spectrum. Flex is at the throat vs. the head. balance is way more even, takes lead on the handle to get to 5 or 6 HL. 340+ SW. totally different feel at net. great, but so so different from a PS95.

 

[Pneumated1]

Angell TC95 16x19 63RA (customized to your desired specs) may be a great alternative to the PS95.

I used to play with the 95. Check out the ultra pro 16x19. Has a lot of the same feelings but more power. Needs lead, just like the 95. It’s an H19.

I hit the TC95 for three years and currently hit the UP 16x19 as my main frame, and I agree that they perform like you'd expect a PS95 to perform. The UP is more muted than any PS I've ever hit, but it's better overall in performance, imo.

I’ve tried the ultra tour v2 and it was very plush, but I felt it lacked spin and the whippyness feel. Idk I just never fell in love with it’s feel like others have. I much prefer the pro staff 95 feel (not sure what the difference is). Perhaps thinner beam? Box beam? Idk. This could of course be partly down to the 18x20 string pattern of the ultra tour.

You'd find the UT and UP to be different animals, performance-wise, but if the raw PS feel is what you prefer, I second the TC95 suggestion.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

Funny - as I am playing with the blade pro now 16m. To me , it has nothing in common at all with a PS95. Great frame though. At opposite ends of the power spectrum. Flex is at the throat vs. the head. balance is way more even, takes lead on the handle to get to 5 or 6 HL. 340+ SW. totally different feel at net. great, but so so different from a PS95.

I never hit my Blade Pro stock... added leather grip before I even strung it up. Once strung I was at 11.7oz and 6pts HL. It plays the same as my PS95 based on the ball flight, spin, and depth but with a little more power. Of course different string setups, weight modifications, variable QC from Wilson... can all lead to different outcomes. My impression of my BPro from the first hit has always been as a more comfortable modern playing PS95. But, as we all know... it's all very subjective and different swings, preferences, etc. can vary our personal interpretations.

I'm nowhere near what I've read other people do with weighting up the BPro, might account for some of our opposite opinions/results.

 

[tim-ay]

I never hit my Blade Pro stock... added leather grip before I even strung it up. Once strung I was at 11.7oz and 6pts HL. It plays the same as my PS95 based on the ball flight, spin, and depth but with a little more power. Of course different string setups, weight modifications, variable QC from Wilson... can all lead to different outcomes. My impression of my BPro from the first hit has always been as a more comfortable modern playing PS95. But, as we all know... it's all very subjective and different swings, preferences, etc. can vary our personal interpretations.

I'm nowhere near what I've read other people do with weighting up the BPro, might account for some of our opposite opinions/results.

Yeah, that sounds like a light one. It took 14.5 grams to get mine to 6 HL, 10 grams along the handle (like a grip change) and 4.5 under the butt cap. I’m guessing my stock SW was probs 10 points higher than the one you hit - on both of mine. The swingweight would normally be out of my range, but not in the BP for some reason. It pancakes the ball - far closer to a six one than a PS95.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

That would explain a lot

 

[MasterZeb]

Try the Prince Phantom 93P. Its close enough in head size, has a thin beam and is really arm friendly.

I’ve always been interested in it but have always thought, if Rogers using a 97 and Novak is using a 95, what makes me think I’m good enough to use something smaller.

 

[MasterZeb]

I was having arm issues when I came back to the Wilsons too--the vcore pro is a little softer which helps, but is not super flexy either. The 330g is a 65RA while the 310 is showing 64RA per TW and I think most of the pro staffs are around 68ish+

Ahh right. I’m using the 2012/14 pro staff 95, which is 62 ra actually. RF97 shattered my arm and am now very racquet sensitive and so I’m very careful about stiffness.

 

[MasterZeb]

The VCore 95 does indeed have a very low launch angle. The Textreme swings fast. I wouldnt worry about the beam thickness. It still knifes thru the air nicely.

What’s the stiffness on a pro staff 95?

62 ra. Just checked out Tw review and it has 60 ra, even better. This could be a very possible candidate I might have to try out.

 

[MasterZeb]

I really don't feel like the VCORE 95 has a low launch angle. Especially when you use thinner strings at not too high of a tension, the ball really shoots out of the racket with good height.

When I used my Ultra Tour in the session before, it really feels like the balls are flying on me when I use the VCORE 95 again. I need to adjust to get the balls over the net again that aren't going 13 feet high.

Think that’s down to the 18x20 string pattern of the UT though. For example, I tried the V7 blade 16x19, and I felt it’s launch angle was too low for me.

 

[MasterZeb]

Was just thinking - the clash 98 might be worth a hit. The flex feels very similar to a pro staff to me. It’s a totally different ball, but it has some of that pocketing feel of the 95 in a whippy package.

I ended up finally trying one a couple of months ago actually. Absolute cannon. I couldn’t be comfortable at all in my shots.

 

[MasterZeb]

I don't really find the Clash98 at all like the Pro Staff 95 IMO. Pro Staff's all play with a certain old school stiffness and are much heavier than the Clash 98. Yes, the HL balance of both is similar, but the play and feel completely different to me.

I would recommend the Blade Pro 16x19... has almost exact same string pattern as the Pro Staff 95, similar feel... but more comfortable and the playability/power/touch all really reminded me of the PS 95. The CX200 Tour also gets a nod as well in my book.

Really? I was under the impression it was a little stiffer feeling. In case there’s any confusion, I’m using the 2012/14 version pro staff 95, which has a 62 ra. Also, I tried the V7 blade 16x19, and I liked how it played, but I felt the string pattern was a little dense in the middle and so the launch angle I didn’t like at all. Think perhaps due to 8 mains through the throat? Would the blade pro have a similar string density?

 

[MasterZeb]

I hit the TC95 for three years and currently hit the UP 16x19 as my main frame, and I agree that they perform like you'd expect a PS95 to perform. The UP is more muted than any PS I've ever hit, but it's better overall in performance, imo.



You'd find the UT and UP to be different animals, performance-wise, but if the raw PS feel is what you prefer, I second the TC95 suggestion.

Is there any specific reason or is it purely down to the string pattern? I’ve also seen that the ultra pros are a little a stiffer than the ultra tour?

 

[RF_PRO_STAFF]

Think that’s down to the 18x20 string pattern of the UT though. For example, I tried the V7 blade 16x19, and I felt it’s launch angle was too low for me.

The 18x20 of the UT highlights the higher laungh angle I experience with the VC95 but if I take the UT out of the consideration, I would still say the VC95 launch angle is at least very respectable. I used the VC95 for months before I got the UT and even in those months the launch angle felt generous for me.

But agreed, the 18x20 pattern of the UT makes almost every other racket's launch angle feel like a vertical boomerang. That specific pattern is so tight.

 

[jugheadfla]

G360+ Prestige Pro in my opinion is pretty close to the PS 95. It's truly an underrated precision racquet.

 

[beez71]

I’ve always been interested in it but have always thought, if Rogers using a 97 and Novak is using a 95, what makes me think I’m good enough to use something smaller.

LOL....I get where you're coming from but personally I don't think a few square inches makes much of a difference (I actually think the smaller head is more maneuverable). Roger and Novak are competing a bit of a higher level than at least I am

 

[Deki]

Things I really appreciate about the pro staff 95 (2012) is the whippyness/spin and the control. Two I’m looking at are the new cx200 tour and phantom 100p. Shame the 97p isn’t on sale anymore. The Prince has the tapered beam with 17 in the throat and 20.5 at it’s widest in the hoop. But then it also has the 100 square inch head. The cx200 tour has the 95 inch head, and a 20.5 beam. Would the cox be the better pick? Are there any others to keep in mind. Weight isn’t an issue at all as I will add lead.

Prince Phantom 97P will be a more than good replacement! Try it!
But it’s not on sale!

 

[Pneumated1]

Is there any specific reason or is it purely down to the string pattern? I’ve also seen that the ultra pros are a little a stiffer than the ultra tour?

String pattern definitely plays into it, but while those who've measured the UP 16x19 are coming in around 61RA, the flex is more uniform from the throat through the head on the UP. I feel like the UT flexes in the throat and has a firmer head. The UP feels stiffer and hits a more dynamic ball (just my experience), but my arm agrees with the 61 flex rating. The UT has an RA of 62-64 (not sure exactly), but it feels a little more buttery, even with a higher rating. If I had to guess, those would be the differences.

 

[El_Yotamo]

IMO anything with a beam thicker than 20 mm can't really compare to the PS95. Problem is that those are few and far between these days and usually come in denser patterns.

A quick search on racquetfinder for frames between 93-98 sq-in heads with open patterns, under 64 RA and beams under 20 mm yielded some interesting results: The Volkl PB10 Mid and C10 Pro came up but I've played both and their patterns are much denser than the PS95 albeit 16x19. The VCore 97 Pro also came up but I think it's quite different from the PS95 given the difference in head shapes. Finally the Prince Phantom 97P and 93P (14x18) came up and IMO should both be good options since their patterns are actually open and both seem to fit the rest of the criteria quite well.

So overall, I'd say give the Phantom 97P and Phantom 93P 14x18 a try.

 

[mvg93456]

In descending order of what I think plays the most similar

dunlop cxtour 16x19
prince textreme tour 95 (2015 version if you can find one, has more of a raw feel than the newer version)
wilson ps 97 (2014 and 2016 versions, the newest version and the cv version is much more muted)
babolat pure strike and pure strike tour
vcore pro 97 hd and 330 (not as raw feeling, but has the weight and hits like a brick, like the ps 95)

 

[ryushen21]

In my past experiences, I couldn't enjoy Dunlop frames because the sweetspot was microscopic. That could have changed since then but there's no way to know for me.

Based on what you're saying though I think you should take a look at the Yonex VCore Pro 97 and 97HD. The HD has an absolutely sublime feel and as long as you aren't using full poly, should provide good power. The standard 97 (I'd go with the 310) should get you similar feel and leave you the room to mod with lead without making it too heavy.

 

[proracketeer]

IMO anything with a beam thicker than 20 mm can't really compare to the PS95. Problem is that those are few and far between these days and usually come in denser patterns.

A quick search on racquetfinder for frames between 93-98 sq-in heads with open patterns, under 64 RA and beams under 20 mm yielded some interesting results: The Volkl PB10 Mid and C10 Pro came up but I've played both and their patterns are much denser than the PS95 albeit 16x19. The VCore 97 Pro also came up but I think it's quite different from the PS95 given the difference in head shapes. Finally the Prince Phantom 97P and 93P (14x18) came up and IMO should both be good options since their patterns are actually open and both seem to fit the rest of the criteria quite well.

So overall, I'd say give the Phantom 97P and Phantom 93P 14x18 a try.

Pro 100P?

 

[El_Yotamo]

Pro 100P?

As I said above I searched between 93-98 sq-in, I don't think a 100 can play similar enough to a 95.

 

[SinneGOAT]

Things I really appreciate about the pro staff 95 (2012) is the whippyness/spin and the control. Two I’m looking at are the new cx200 tour and phantom 100p. Shame the 97p isn’t on sale anymore. The Prince has the tapered beam with 17 in the throat and 20.5 at it’s widest in the hoop. But then it also has the 100 square inch head. The cx200 tour has the 95 inch head, and a 20.5 beam. Would the cox be the better pick? Are there any others to keep in mind. Weight isn’t an issue at all as I will add lead.

Don’t know if you are still looking OP but check out the prestige pro. Any version, but closest imo would be the youtek ig prestige pro. May not be the closest in terms of the feel you have with a pro staff but it’s worth checking out.

 

[dgoran]

I have a few 97p if you want

 

[Ryanblessed]

New CX200 Tour.