What would Wilson do with the Pro Staff line after Federer retired?

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
The 90 and 85 headsizes are obsolete. The info of the headsize alone makes like 80% not look at it.
Remember the Sampras-Agassi rivalry. You get my drift. So it's not obselete. Hopefully the earth will uncover the raw talented tennis player in the future era.
 

naturalexponent

Hall of Fame
Don't disagree that they're probably obsolete at the pro level given the game currently being played, but you have to take a beat if anyone thinks just because something is not tenable at the pro level it is obsolete at the amateur/rec level. Completely different games being played (like half speed, literally). Which is why I also think it's funny when people often talk in the recreational context about how they need modern frames to play the "modern game" as if they are facing 3000 RPM groundstrokes and 90 MPH forehands in their flex leagues.
 

Vlasta

New User
Whether any pros are endorsing it or not I think the current Pro Staff v13 is a great racquet, and that's more important. The Blade might be more popular on the tour, but I preferred the Pro Staff. And I went into demoing thinking I wanted the Blade. Actually, I just demoed the RF97 too, and that's even better for me, but obviously, I can't get that one anymore cause everyone will think I'm a newb who only got it cause of Fed. And I am a huge fan of Fed, but that racquet, great as it is, comes with a certain reputation among the rec players. So, I'm getting a set of regular v13s instead. My point is, even if it weren't endorsed by Federer, I'd get it, and so would a lot of other people, at least enough to keep Wilson making them, but with his endorsement, they're obviously going to sell much more.
 
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Whether any pros are endorsing it or not I think the current Pro Staff v13 is a great racquet, and that's more important. The Blade might be more popular on the tour, but I preferred the Pro Staff. And I went into demoing thinking I wanted the Blade. Actually, I just demoed the RF97 too, and that's even better for me, but obviously, I can't get that one anymore cause everyone will think I'm a newb who only got it cause of Fed. And I am a huge fan of Fed, but that racquet, great as it is, comes with a certain reputation among the rec players. So, I'm getting a set of regular v13s instead. My point is, even if it weren't endorsed by Federer, I'd get it, and so would a lot of other people, at least enough to keep Wilson making them, but with his endorsement, they're obviously going to sell much more.

Why do you care about what random strangers may or may not think about you based on the racquet you use? Believe of not, only a small percentage of rec players form their idea of what tennis, and tennis equipment is based on the idiots on these forums.
 

Automatix

Legend
Don't disagree that they're probably obsolete at the pro level given the game currently being played, but you have to take a beat if anyone thinks just because something is not tenable at the pro level it is obsolete at the amateur/rec level. Completely different games being played (like half speed, literally). Which is why I also think it's funny when people often talk in the recreational context about how they need modern frames to play the "modern game" as if they are facing 3000 RPM groundstrokes and 90 MPH forehands in their flex leagues.
In general this is a more complicated issue...
On one hand you're saying that since you don't face pace, speed and accuracy from your opponents on pro level you can even use a PS85 and stay competitve.
BUT on the other hand one can say that amateurs don't have the technique, fitness, heck even warm ups before matches which are nothing compared to how many pros prepare.
So one could say that it evens out and you won't see <90 square inch frame users on the pro circuit and it's a very rare sight on the block (haven't seen one in >5 years)...

IMHO play with what you like, don't pay attention what others are saying BUT don't preach about how your choices are optimal, even for you, if you don't have the game and results to back it up. Or heck, preach all you want but don't expect to be treated seriously.
Going back to manufacturers, we can't expect them to produce something which won't sell and the fact is that small headsized frames don't sell as good as the Midplus lot. It's similar to gripsizes offered.
 

Vlasta

New User
Why do you care about what random strangers may or may not think about you based on the racquet you use?
don't pay attention what others are saying
I don't know, I guess I got my own issues too. But I hate it when people have prejudices and make assumptions so I don't like to give them the cause. Stupid, I know, but it's hard to ignore the eye rolls.

Anyway, I'm not preaching that my choices are optimal. I'm saying, it may not be the optimal racquet for me at all but it's the one I enjoy using the most. It makes me feel good on the court. My current racquet is Yonex Ezone 98 (2022), and it's a very good racquet, but I enjoy the PS97 v14 and the RF97 more, much to the chagrin of my Yonex loving friends.
 

sb94

New User
Very curious to see whether Wilson drop the RF97 from the Pro Staff lineup once the V14s are released…
 

naturalexponent

Hall of Fame
In general this is a more complicated issue...
On one hand you're saying that since you don't face pace, speed and accuracy from your opponents on pro level you can even use a PS85 and stay competitve.
BUT on the other hand one can say that amateurs don't have the technique, fitness, heck even warm ups before matches which are nothing compared to how many pros prepare.
So one could say that it evens out and you won't see <90 square inch frame users on the pro circuit and it's a very rare sight on the block (haven't seen one in >5 years)...

IMHO play with what you like, don't pay attention what others are saying BUT don't preach about how your choices are optimal, even for you, if you don't have the game and results to back it up. Or heck, preach all you want but don't expect to be treated seriously.
Going back to manufacturers, we can't expect them to produce something which won't sell and the fact is that small headsized frames don't sell as good as the Midplus lot. It's similar to gripsizes offered.
Yup.
 

slipgrip93

Professional
Wilson should take the Pro Staff back to basics....
Graphite/Kevlar layup and never update it, except maybe new paintjobs
Sell it on legacy not on technology-marketing nonsense.

Whether any pros are endorsing it or not I think the current Pro Staff v13 is a great racquet, and that's more important. The Blade might be more popular on the tour, but I preferred the Pro Staff. And I went into demoing thinking I wanted the Blade. Actually, I just demoed the RF97 too, and that's even better for me, but obviously, I can't get that one anymore cause everyone will think I'm a newb who only got it cause of Fed. And I am a huge fan of Fed, but that racquet, great as it is, comes with a certain reputation among the rec players. So, I'm getting a set of regular v13s instead. My point is, even if it weren't endorsed by Federer, I'd get it, and so would a lot of other people, at least enough to keep Wilson making them, but with his endorsement, they're obviously going to sell much more.

I recall @MyFearHand has been posting recent videos and threads of his 5.0 play and matches with his RF97 here on TTW.

I'd foolishly tried the ps85 reissue mid-last decade on coming back to tennis, since I'd used an 85 sqin. pro kennex, then a ps 95 sqin 6.0 classic in the 90's. A problem was I was then a flat eastern hitter, but never talented enough to get along with the times in rec play and my flat eastern play hit a limit without enough topspin. And I gave up on the ps85 finally a few years ago, then got the kps88, and also tried a few other secondhand racquets of the last decade. Yes, even the kps88 (which as they say is more like a heavier k90) has that much more head space feel compared to the ps85 in order to attempt to go for topspin with a semi-western grip which I finally had to change my grips and strokes in the last couple of years.

So however Wilson continues on with the prostaff, I do hope they consider going back to some 17-18mm frames also, since Fed's defection to the RF97 in 2014 has now run its course, and the last 17mm prostaff was the prostaff six one 95 blx up to around that time. So yes, I do have prostaff six one 95 blx I got from the bay ready as a secondary, if I want to try to go for more spin than the kps88 (or to rest my joints and arm). And it's probably the lightest prostaff ever with that so comfortable and easy on the joints, light BLX, where I'd added weight tape to the 3,9, and 12. So it would be nice if Wilson did a reissue of a prostaff blx 95 , 17.5mm beam, or maybe come up with a new version of it with heavier weighting in the pws. And of course there are some who hope for reissues of the ps90's that Fed used, (or even the (sampras) kps88,) now after Fed's retirement.
 
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brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
Does Micheal Jordan still make shoes? What about tiger woods logo clothing?

both example of athletes past their prime but still selling products. Of course Fed helped boost sales. The PS/ RF frames also perform well. Based on that alone I think Wilson will maintain the line. We don’t know if there will be a up and coming player to endorse the line. Seems like Every up and coming player has been either playing with a pure drive like or blade like frame.
 
Does Micheal Jordan still make shoes? What about tiger woods logo clothing?

both example of athletes past their prime but still selling products. Of course Fed helped boost sales. The PS/ RF frames also perform well. Based on that alone I think Wilson will maintain the line. We don’t know if there will be a up and coming player to endorse the line. Seems like Every up and coming player has been either playing with a pure drive like or blade like frame.

Can you wear Pro Staffs? No.
 

Komapoulus

New User
Well, I can tell there's a "Wilson Federer" line of racquets incoming... maybe in late 2023 or beginning of 2024.
 
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