Wilson Pro Staff V14.0

PhxRacket said:
I have one more outing with the 6.1 this weekend and we will see how it handles the smoke from my hitting group this weekend. I preferred the X as well.
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Just spent a week with the Pro Staff X strung with EcoPower at 47#. It was nice! Absolute smoke on serves. Backhand slice was great. Struggled when stretched out wide or playing defensively.
 
Pro Staff 97. Beautiful racquet. Excellent feel. Very rewarding. I asked about string setup last time and got many responses. Thanks everyone. I tried full bed 4g soft at 52/48. Very good setup. The string feels like 4g with more power, spin and forgiveness. Next up I'll try Alu Power.
My setup: a little bit of lead at 12, 3/9, throat and butt. 345.5g bal 31.9 sw 330
 
Anyone playing this with gut mains?

Thinking of taking the plunge, but didn't love the feel of this stick with full poly. I'm assuming gut mains would be great in this stick, just worried it might have a little too much pop.
 
bluebonsai said:
Anyone playing this with gut mains?

Thinking of taking the plunge, but didn't love the feel of this stick with full poly. I'm assuming gut mains would be great in this stick, just worried it might have a little too much pop.
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You’re probably asking in relation to the 97, but I have tried gut/poly with the X and loved it. No issues with pop.
 
bluebonsai said:
Anyone playing this with gut mains?

Thinking of taking the plunge, but didn't love the feel of this stick with full poly. I'm assuming gut mains would be great in this stick, just worried it might have a little too much pop.
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It's probably amazing. You just have to get the tension right. Probably best to ask the question in the string forum, there's a big thread on Gut/Poly hybrids.
 
bluebonsai said:
Anyone playing this with gut mains?

Thinking of taking the plunge, but didn't love the feel of this stick with full poly. I'm assuming gut mains would be great in this stick, just worried it might have a little too much pop.
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Gut mains and Poly crosses are amazing in the PS97. But getting the tensions just right is a science. Takes a few attempts at it to get it right. And considering the price of Gut, it takes a lot of money to get it figured out. Which is why I think most just don't bother.
 
I play my PS97s with gut in the mains and Head Hawk in the crosses (probably any control round poly would do). The feel is the best part, and the string pattern is open enough that there is still a ton of spin available.

Also I have two with very different swing weights. One is in the low 320s strung, the other is mid 330s. Typical Wilson QC. The higher one feels noticeably more plush.
 
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bluebonsai said:
Anyone playing this with gut mains?

Thinking of taking the plunge, but didn't love the feel of this stick with full poly. I'm assuming gut mains would be great in this stick, just worried it might have a little too much pop.
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Yes, and it’s awesome. VS gut is softer and has more pop than Wilson gut, which I prefer. VS main, ALU cross. You really feel the dwell time on the string bed, and it just shoots off with control and spin. String the crosses (poly) 2lbs looser.
 
tennis_balla said:
Yes, and it’s awesome. VS gut is softer and has more pop than Wilson gut, which I prefer. VS main, ALU cross. You really feel the dwell time on the string bed, and it just shoots off with control and spin. String the crosses (poly) 2lbs looser.
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I’m using 54 VS mains, 50 or 51 on the poly crosses.
 
1St hit with the PS this evening. First impressions: it feels quite light. I had to keep checking I didn't have the L version. It swings easily and the directional control is incredible. I had no issues finding the sweet spot which was always a concern using a 97 Sq inch. It felt no different from using a 98 TBH. I really liked it on my OHBH, much better than the Blade.

The power output is directly proportional to your input. You can take a big cut at the ball and it stays within the lines. Volleys were direct and easy to execute. It's a highly manoeuvrable frame. Serves were pretty good but nothing amazing. The standout feature is you can put the ball where you want when you want. The PS is very precise with a unique connected feel.

I may lead this a little. Has anyone else modified theirs/ suggestions?
 
I just got my hands on Pro Staff X which I am demoing, along with a Blade 98 v9 16x19. I am a current PS 97 v14 user. I haven't hit the X yet; I posted my Blade impression in the Blade v9 thread. But I was surprised when I compared it to my 97 that the main difference is that Wilson elongated the head to make the main strings longer. This should offer more spin and power, but I was expecting the X's head to be a bit wider to make the sweet spot bigger and more forgiving. I'm looking forward to seeing how differently they actually play.
 
time_fly said:
I just got my hands on Pro Staff X which I am demoing, along with a Blade 98 v9 16x19. I am a current PS 97 v14 user. I haven't hit the X yet; I posted my Blade impression in the Blade v9 thread. But I was surprised when I compared it to my 97 that the main difference is that Wilson elongated the head to make the main strings longer. This should offer more spin and power, but I was expecting the X's head to be a bit wider to make the sweet spot bigger and more forgiving. I'm looking forward to seeing how differently they actually play.
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The X is its own thing. I like it. I am actively looking at transitioning to 100” and the X caught my eye. First few outings were generally unimpressive. Changed string and tension a couple of times and I really like it. Sure it’s not really a Pro Staff, but if that was what I was looking for, it already exists. I was looking for an easier to use, slightly more forgiving, a little more comfortable Pro Staff. Have been a Blade user for some time and we will see how the Spring goes, but I am now enjoying the X.
 
I bought the X after watching all the reviews. Its a difficult to describe but its has very little in common with the 97. I'd call it a love child between a Pure Drive and Blade 100.

Its more powerful than the 97, has little feel and the control element is quite erratic. Definitely better for spin and does not like it when you're flattening out the ball. The launch trajectory is higher than the 97 too.

Weight wise, there is little discernible difference but X felt slightly heavier. Ultimately , if you're a heavy Top spinner with a baseline game go X. If you're a classic all court player that values precision , 97.
 
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Jono123 said:
I bought the X after watching all the reviews. Its a difficult to describe but its has very little in common with the 97. I'd call it a love child between a Pure Drive and Blade 100.

Its more powerful than the 97, has little feel and the control element is quite erratic. Definitely better for spin and does not like it when you're flattening out the ball. The launch trajectory is higher than the 97 too.

Weight wise, there is little discernible difference but X felt slightly heavier. Ultimately , if you're a heavy Top spinner with a baseline game go X. If you're a classic all court player that values precision , 97.
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Kinda felt the same but as a spin player I was not getting any power unless driving through the ball flatter. Feel like this is a racket for flat player with SW grip. 97 did better on everything except spin and maybe the feel on volleys. X is not good imo.
 
I hit the X briefly last night. It just didn’t suit me. It felt more clunky than the 97 and had less feel. It was more lively, but the 97 already has enough power for me. I was hoping it might play the same but be a bit more forgiving off-center at the net, which is where I am most likely to shank, but it just didn’t seem to fit that description.
 
Yamin said:
Kinda felt the same but as a spin player I was not getting any power unless driving through the ball flatter. Feel like this is a racket for flat player with SW grip. 97 did better on everything except spin and maybe the feel on volleys. X is not good imo.
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I think you'll find most flat hitters have Eastern FH
 
Yeah I think I tend to agree with the aforementioned statements. I played same guy two sets today. One with the 24 MP and one with the X. His comment was that the set where I played with the MP was the most difficult set I’ve played against him. Whereas the set with the X, he was able to dominate short balls and I struggled to hit finishing volleys (but that is probably user error).
 
Bought a 2nd 97. Noir edition. Looks really nice. My specs: 346/31.9/330
Stick really comes alive with lead at 12 and butt. I also added a smidge at 3 and 9 and throat. I'm done with other sticks.
Pro staff has that amazing solidness and predictable stringbed paired with great feel. I played it alongside the Vc95 for a while now but ultimately the vc95 imo lacked feel and the stringbed was too hot. Fun hit though..
 
A bit oot, I just retired my Pro Staff 95 and RF 97A. I have the Eurostaff v13, but even with hybrid Tour Bite/Vanquish I feel the groundstrokes are not that penetrating (the depth is there though). I recently bought Pure Strike 16x20 and the balls pop with much more pace. Do you guys have insight about the benefits of Pro Staff in a era of "modern comfortable control rackets" 2023 and up? My Pure Strike has good feel too so imo "feel" is super overrated in this racket.
 
I tried adding lead at 3 & 9 but it felt off. Could be because there is significant weight there already. I will try the 12 and a little under the handle.
 
Jono123 said:
Super. This frame feels 5 grams too light and ripe for modification.
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Just got a pair delivered yesterday and had my 1st hit with it today but in non match conditions. Exact same impression, it felt quite light and super easy to swing, yet very solid and good feedback on contact. I took my old k90 and 360+ Mid with SWs in the high 330s to switch back and forth, and the PS97 v14 just felt easier to swing. Definitely a candidate to weigh up a little, but only if necessary. Will try to get SW measured.
 
lelopez said:
Just got a pair delivered yesterday and had my 1st hit with it today but in non match conditions. Exact same impression, it felt quite light and super easy to swing, yet very solid and good feedback on contact. I took my old k90 and 360+ Mid with SWs in the high 330s to switch back and forth, and the PS97 v14 just felt easier to swing. Definitely a candidate to weigh up a little, but only if necessary. Will try to get SW measured.
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Had a chance to measure the SW with the swingweight app. I've had good sucess in the past correlating app measurements to RDC measurements so I'm confident in these numbers:
Racquet 1: 327.6g wt / 31.5cm bal / 314kg-cm2
Racquet 2: 327.1g wt / 31.6cm bal/ 315kg-cm2

So good thing is that both racquets are well matched to one another. However they are a tad off from spec. I should be able to put about 7g of lead right on the top hoop to get me in 335/32/335 territory. Probably end up with something closer to 339-340g static with OG, or even 343-344g if I replace the synthetic with a leather grip. Time to experiment a little.
 
TennisManiac said:
3 grams at 12 and 1 gram each at 3 and 9 with an overgrip and it turns into a lethal weapon.
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Does the weight at 12 help it rotate better? Help with spin?

Got a demo that is hitting serves so good I don't even have to hit ground strokes but the tension is really high and with the round string launch angle pretty low. Does an edged string help a good amount with lift on this?
 
Yamin said:
Does the weight at 12 help it rotate better? Help with spin?

Got a demo that is hitting serves so good I don't even have to hit ground strokes but the tension is really high and with the round string launch angle pretty low. Does an edged string help a good amount with lift on this?
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Weight at 12 definitely helps with spin production. But racket head speed is most important when generating spin. I personally don't like any shaped string in this frame. With proper technique and racket head speed you don't need a shaped or textured string to produce spin. Only lazy players need those types of strings. ;)
 
Got an X on the way. Thinking of going gut/poly as that is what I had in my RF97. In the RF I went 52/50. With the bigger head size planning to bump to 55/53, especially with some folks expressing some concerns about inconsistency. Thoughts? Should I go a little higher to reign it in? 55/55 or 57/55? Thanks.
 
Nojoke said:
Got an X on the way. Thinking of going gut/poly as that is what I had in my RF97. In the RF I went 52/50. With the bigger head size planning to bump to 55/53, especially with some folks expressing some concerns about inconsistency. Thoughts? Should I go a little higher to reign it in? 55/55 or 57/55? Thanks.
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Yeah, I would go a little higher. When you think about it, it makes sense to do that.
You could also go up a gauge in size too, so like if you currently use 17 gauge, maybe try 16 for example.
It's good that you're thinking about that stuff though, because a lot of people don't.
Using a thinner gauge string in a larger racquet, can possibly make you "string-breaker" when you weren't one before. Just things like that to think about.
People coming from something like a Tour 90, who were using 17 gauge strings at 53lbs, will think the same string and tension will play the same in an RF, or maybe they just don't stop and consider those kind of things.
 
I've owned both frames but currently use the PS. TBH the 97 isn't that much harder to use as its sweetspot is pretty large.

Most of the weight is in the handle and it swings lighter than the weight would suggest.
 
Jono123 said:
I've owned both frames but currently use the PS. TBH the 97 isn't that much harder to use as its sweetspot is pretty large.

Most of the weight is in the handle and it swings lighter than the weight would suggest.
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Well, if I find the control to be a little off on the X but like everything else, the next racket in the search won't be hard to find.
 
The determining factor is your swing style.

If you're a top spinner then X, more of a flatter hitter = PS. Both are good frames.
 
TennisManiac said:
Could someone please refresh my memory. Does the RF97 V13 have the same string mapping as the Regular 97 V13 and the 97 V14. I know as of the V13 Wilson began their new tighter string pattern in the center of the stringbed. But was it done to the RF97 as well?
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The RF string pattern remained unchanged for its life, while the regular 97 changed the string placement with the V13/14.
 
RF user recently switched to the PS97v14. Customized both of mine to 347-348g static (depending on the scale), about 315mm balance (measured manually) or 320mm balance measured with a Yonex precision scan (not sure why the big difference), 2 overgrips, no dampener, about 338SW (with briffidi) or 335-336SW (with Yonex machine).

More plow and power with the v14
More spin with the RF (possibly due to the more HL balance of the RF?)

Strung with gut/tour sniper @ 59/56.

I feel the spin is less with the v14 compared to the regular v13 but definitely more plow. Softer than the v13, the hoop is super stable and can feel the paradigm bending in the throat as advertised.
 
skip11 said:
RF user recently switched to the PS97v14. Customized both of mine to 347-348g static (depending on the scale), about 315mm balance (measured manually) or 320mm balance measured with a Yonex precision scan (not sure why the big difference), 2 overgrips, no dampener, about 338SW (with briffidi) or 335-336SW (with Yonex machine).

More plow and power with the v14
More spin with the RF (possibly due to the more HL balance of the RF?)

Strung with gut/tour sniper @ 59/56.

I feel the spin is less with the v14 compared to the regular v13 but definitely more plow. Softer than the v13, the hoop is super stable and can feel the paradigm bending in the throat as advertised.
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Is there a reason you with multiple over grips vs. putting weight in the handle?
 
I was able to source one these and the specs are 315/295Sw and 310 balance.Pretty much the exact target specs I think.

String wise I was thinking full poly at 45#s or so, but I'm reading how people are liking multi and gut mains. So for my first setup I think I will try NXT 16 and ALU crosses since I have both already. I also have gut I can try after that.

I am guessing 54/52 multi/poly may translate well from 45#s full poly?
 
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Purestriker said:
Is there a reason you with multiple over grips vs. putting weight in the handle?
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For some reason the L2 in the v14 is smaller than the RF. I also have leather grip under both rackets, and some in the buttcap in one to match the balance to the other one.

These are the specs:

Pro Staff 97 v14 (5.5g at 12, 1.5g throat, leather grip, 2og, balance 315mm, sw 338) = 347.9g gut/sniper 1.25mm @ 59/56lbs MATCH RACKET 2

Pro Staff 97 v14 (7g tailweight, 1.5g at 12, leather grip, 2 og, balance 315mm, sw 338) = 347.9g gut/sniper 1.25mm @ 59/56lbs MATCH RACKET 1
 
Updated my spec to

racket 1: 338.5g , head hydrosorb grip, 2 overgrip, 333 SW estimate, balance 318mm estimate (haven't measured)

racket 2: 339g, head hydrosorb grip, 2 overgrip, 333 SW estimate, balance 318mm estimate

The previous spec is too powerful esp with the gut hybrid. Against a good player my balls are going long a lot.
 
Got to play with my brand new PS97 tonight and thought it was great. I didn't play very well due to fatigue but I hit well enough to know that everything you all have been saying in here is pretty accurate to my impressions. It is not that demanding of a racquet compared to what I expected. It definitely seems to work well with soft mains for me. I have multi in it as my first string job, but ill put in gut next. I almost felt like ALU crosses were stiffer feeling than I needed, which is wild since I typically string a full bed of stiff poly in the low-mid 40's. This may be me not being used to multis though, its been probably 10 years since I hit with multis at all. I am curious how something softer and round like HIT Pro would do instead of ALU, with a gut main.

Definitely encouraged me to play aggressively and go for angles and attack. Loved that part of it. Has that coaching vibe where if I hit a crappy slice, I made en error, but when I hit a good one, it felt glorious and the ball knifed right where I wanted it. I think this frame just requires good ball vision and footwork, but it's not super demanding to me. It just requires quality technique and I don't mind that. I was able to defend with it pretty well. It's not as easy to defend with as the Blade 100, but that may be the best counter punching stick I have owned. When it comes to attacking, the Pro Staff is a finely tuned sports car. Just a pleasure to lay into an i/o FH and crash in behind it.

Other thing is that I agree with you all that the SW needs to be in the upper 320s at least. Mine is 324 and I really felt like it could use a little more weight in the upper hoop. I am thinking 10 and 2 but ill check where you all have been putting yours. I just need a little bump of lead because this frame is so rewarding of relaxed, proper swings that use the kinetic chain and I found myself overswinging a bit to generate the power I wanted sometimes. I think its just how HL the balance is, it makes it so easy to swing for being 315 grams.

To me this racquet is really fun and has a nice honest and classic feel to it. I did switch in the Blade v9 16x19 for a while and played really well with it in the end. But the Blade has a little more free power to it, and I think some lead in the PS will fix that. I do like this new Blade but it's a more muted feel that reminds me of Head frames, while the Pro Staff has a more raw and honest feel that is signature to the line.
 
Mischko said:
97L v14 is very demanding, you need to perfectly line up and centre every shot, on time, with nice technique. Stable, stiff and crispy clean feel. Tried it over several sessions, stock at around 315sw and with lead at 325 335 and 340ish, with counterbalancing in the handle

I would absolutely recommend Blade instead, to practically anyone, much more playable
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Just realised you we're referring to the L, so my reply is moot.
 
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Anyone compare an RF97A vs a PS97 ?

Do they play similarly?

I put the synthetic grip from my Blade Pro into the RF97 to lose some weight and make it more less headlight.
I like it for everything except for serves, for some reason. Would consider switching to a PS97 if helps my serve while still being stable on groundstrokes. The stability and eas of hitting groundstrokes is amazing on the RF97A. Makes groundstrokes so effortless.

Strung at 52/50 (Black Knight 1.25mm, Isospeed Greyfire 1.25mm)
 
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johnjoes said:
Hi, have you guys ever tried pro staff v14 with Babolat rpm blast? I have speed pro 2022 but I’m planning to buy pro staff v14 because I have one handed backend and I want to increase my volley power.
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I did with rpm power full bed and did not like it at all; I preferred PT fire and will test soon isospeed cream
 
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