TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
Easy power?
Wilson Pro Staff V14.0
- Thread starter DJTaurus
- Start date
Up to the moment you test PSX and you find it even better...
optic yellow
Legend
But that has a triple digit head size.
Still performs as a PS
You'll get more spin from a poly main regardless and usually more durability because the mains take the brunt of the wear.
Using a multi in the main does not accomplish the same as natural gut, but I know that's probably heresy to say on the forum.
Hyper-G round is a good string for a hybrid.
I'm just giving you my opinion, it comes with a money back guarantee.
Yes, that string at 45lbs in this racquet, just the right amount of give and trampoline to get the ball deep but not uncontrollably launch it.Easy power?
optic yellow
Legend
No it doesnt natty gut is unfortunately better, there is a reason people still use it.
I would put multi on the mains to keep the multish sensation. Poli on crosses keep the multi mains in position, thus spin access is given via fixing the mains.
TheRareCreature
New User
Thank you for the feedback. I agree the multi in main does not accomplish the same from my limited experience but it feels great at the moment. However, durability definitely not great…I’ll research some round polys. I have a nice spiderweb of feedback and thoughts based on this thread, string reviews, and my limited tinkering with different setups.
But multi mains break very quick even with a softer poly, at least from my experience.
Syngut in the mains is actually a better substitute as a main.
@TheRareCreature I was going to recommend what I said above, try a syngut main. Little more durable but plenty soft.
TheRareCreature
New User
Okay, thank you. I am guessing if I am willing to pay, you would say nat gut would also be good. Thoughts on using a softer poly in mains and a multi in cross or same issue? I was intrigued by the polytour air after reading about that string when someone mentioned one of the other polytours.
you could check out triax and rexis speed which are sorta multi/poly mixes
TheRareCreature
New User
Triax is very high on my list to try. I was not familiar with the Yonex Rexis line but am intrigued - I’ll add it to the list. Thanks!
Rexis Speed is a multiester same as Triax but have different feel to eachother so worth trying both
Also Babolat Xalt
That string was really nice and pretty durable.
@TheRareCreature Nat gut mains is a classic. Lot of people use it, I'm not so sure most of those people really reap the benefits like a Pro player does.
Softer poly main with a multi cross is a classic. I am a big proponent of poly main and multi/syngut cross. You get the most benefit of poly while getting a softer and slightly more powerful stringbed.
DG21
Rookie
I thought I would never switch from my Gravity Pro 2021 until i tried my friend’s PS 97 v14 with Alu Power 1.25. My world has changed. The next day i bought my own PS 97 v14 from a local shop, modified it to the specks of my friend, put Alu Power 1.25 23/22kg, trained for 2 hours today and I don’t think i will look back. This frame is just perfect in every aspect. I manipulated my gpro a lot to keep it within 328-330g range, because 335g already felt super sluggish to me and i could not gell with it. I had to adapt my forehand, my backhand was unstable and low powered.
My PS is way heavier: 343g static, 32cm balance, i dont know SW but i guess it is around 325-328 kg. I don’t feel this weight at all. It feels i play without a stick even. But it anyways crashes the ball and has a laser precision. I frankly speaking dont think it is a hard racket to use if you have a classical full stroke technique (PS 85 user as a kid, prestige pro user as a grown up). I believe gpro is tougher to use. It is also more painful for your wrist and elbow. I have a TE from the old times when i used Pure Drive but i dont feel any discomfort after playing with PS. My Pure Aero 98 used to destroy my elbow after even a short training session with much lighter specks (325g static, 32.5cm balance and 328kg SW). As a result it was sold quite fast.
My PS is way heavier: 343g static, 32cm balance, i dont know SW but i guess it is around 325-328 kg. I don’t feel this weight at all. It feels i play without a stick even. But it anyways crashes the ball and has a laser precision. I frankly speaking dont think it is a hard racket to use if you have a classical full stroke technique (PS 85 user as a kid, prestige pro user as a grown up). I believe gpro is tougher to use. It is also more painful for your wrist and elbow. I have a TE from the old times when i used Pure Drive but i dont feel any discomfort after playing with PS. My Pure Aero 98 used to destroy my elbow after even a short training session with much lighter specks (325g static, 32.5cm balance and 328kg SW). As a result it was sold quite fast.
Welcome onboard
The mith that PS is "very hard to play" is, IMHO, the poisoned fruit of the marketing actions of other competitors on the market. For obvious reasons.
Btw, I also have tons of problems from PD, not only for the TE but also for the erratic control I get with my old school tech (which is quite complete and ripe, actually). I can not use my forehand in any "intuitive way" without sending a ball on the moon. For some obscure reasons I bought them around 2010. Perhaps just because I felt under pressure to buy them because I was demoing stick taken from a very small shop of the very small village of my wife and this shop had rather few alternatives at that time.
My only real struggle is the accessibility of Grip 5 PSs. NO way until Xmas, right now. I don't want to buy a stick and have to sleeve it up to a L5 adding some 15-20g and altering the balance. It's not fair to be forced to modify brand new sticks.
That's why I'm also investigating on custom racquets, like Angell.
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@DG21 you made the right choice. I was doing a similar comparison about 4 months ago and could tell after a few hits the Pro Staff was the right choice for me. To take nothing away from the Gpro, I still get tempted by it, but I could do more with my game with the Pro Staff.
Agree with @gfwp on the marketing, I also don't think Wilson did a good job reversing the myth that the Pro Staff is hard to play with.
Agree with @gfwp on the marketing, I also don't think Wilson did a good job reversing the myth that the Pro Staff is hard to play with.
TheRareCreature
New User
I love that the G Pro came up.., I play with the G Pro 2023 too and leaned heavily on it while rehabbing a knee injury. That thing is sublime from the baseline. However, it is harder to maneuver at the net and get in position when playing players that hit with solid pace. I also didn’t come to the net much while recovering… That being said, much prefer the PS when I am feeling good and aggressive. G Pro still wins from baseline overall but PS is not far behind. G Pro wins on flat serves due to swing weight/sweet spot but PS is easier to spin it in on 2nd serve. At the net… PS by miles. Overall, I feel like PS is definitely a better all around racquet but the G Pro is a baseliner’s dream and amazing racquet.
Going to drop the PS off tomorrow to get restrung… any last minute recommendations? I am weighing them all and still undecided.
Going to drop the PS off tomorrow to get restrung… any last minute recommendations? I am weighing them all and still undecided.
DG21
Rookie
Alu Power Silver 1.25 23/22kg or Pacific Poly Power Pro Black 1.25 23/22kg.
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DG21
Rookie
Copy from the Rf01 thread and tribute to how good PS97v14 actually is!
So. I compared my PS97v14 with RF-01Pro today. They are very interchangeable rackets and i would say they are quite identical to me. Well, more than i expected them to be.
Feel: After the first hit with RF you notice this very familiar PS feel. RF clearly has PS’s DNA (this twack sound when you hit the ball in the center. No other racket i had or tried has this unique feel).
Comfort: The only difference is that this feel is more raw rather than dampened like in PS97. After hitting with RF i have some slight pain in my elbow, exactly how i had it every time i used my PA98. I guess this aerodynamic beam design is simply not for me. Also, i felt a bit tired after hitting with RF though it weights only 4g more than my PS. I guess it is because of the higher SW.
Control: I think RF is slightly more precise due to the tight strings spacing in the middle but it is also more demanding when you dont hit the ball in the middle. The power drops much more than with PS97 and vibrations are more jarring, similar to PA98.
Power/Spin: i did not notice major differences here compared to my PS97. RF might produce a bit more spin but nothing critical.
Maneuverability: I think RF is slightly faster through the air but with my strokes mechanics i prefer the smaller head size and the box beam of PS97. It is just more natural to me.
Conclusion: i am a huge Roger’s fanboy and if i did not have PS97v14, i would buy this RF. But 300 euro for an almost identical racket but even slightly more demanding…? I will have to pass this time.
So. I compared my PS97v14 with RF-01Pro today. They are very interchangeable rackets and i would say they are quite identical to me. Well, more than i expected them to be.
Feel: After the first hit with RF you notice this very familiar PS feel. RF clearly has PS’s DNA (this twack sound when you hit the ball in the center. No other racket i had or tried has this unique feel).
Comfort: The only difference is that this feel is more raw rather than dampened like in PS97. After hitting with RF i have some slight pain in my elbow, exactly how i had it every time i used my PA98. I guess this aerodynamic beam design is simply not for me. Also, i felt a bit tired after hitting with RF though it weights only 4g more than my PS. I guess it is because of the higher SW.
Control: I think RF is slightly more precise due to the tight strings spacing in the middle but it is also more demanding when you dont hit the ball in the middle. The power drops much more than with PS97 and vibrations are more jarring, similar to PA98.
Power/Spin: i did not notice major differences here compared to my PS97. RF might produce a bit more spin but nothing critical.
Maneuverability: I think RF is slightly faster through the air but with my strokes mechanics i prefer the smaller head size and the box beam of PS97. It is just more natural to me.
Conclusion: i am a huge Roger’s fanboy and if i did not have PS97v14, i would buy this RF. But 300 euro for an almost identical racket but even slightly more demanding…? I will have to pass this time.
Mine's high 13s.
Thanks! I wanted something close to 14 in stock form. Seems like it would be a good fit.
Wow pro spec! Hows the maneuverability? What level player are you?
Fantastic. 4.0.
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Jono123
Hall of Fame
Just hit up the middle of the court as it has the accuracy of a scud missile.
DG21
Rookie
Now there is RF-01 Pro. As far as i understood you really liked it. Did you end up switching to it? What is your racket of choice now?
Not yet, but I'll get one soon I hope. I've been playing with Aero VS for the last 3 years or so, tried going with the Blade v9 for a while but reverted, lacked power and more varied trajectories I get with the VS
DG21
Rookie
What does RF-01 Pro give you that Aero VS cant in comparison?
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RF01 Pro has more mass overall, easier for my one handed backhand, easy depth, while Aero VS has to be swung fast non stop. Also it has better overall tuning, response of the stringbed is much more linear, while VS has a nice sweet spot, but outside of the sweet spot I have to cover the ball a lot, even spin for control, and it doesn't always work out great
There's a 15g difference between them, so it balances itself out in a way
They are basically different.
RF01 and in general all Pro Staffs are very rigid in the longitudinal axis (90° from the classical RA measurement), thanks to the box construction (and thanks to other features on the RF01). Most spin oriented frames are longitudinally flexy to help enhancing the spin potential (like on Wilson Shift for instance).
For this reason, it's a bit like comparing apples with oranges. That's it
No. Aero throat is made in that shape precisely to achieve highest possible lateral stiffness, for top spin and kick serves for example. Aero VS throat is super stiff in all directions, just like RF97A.
Shift is experimental, and while its lateral give softens the stiff impact it also kills the energy transfer racquet->ball, top spin balls with Shifts aren't very energetic, they are easy to place but slow and noticeably weak. RF97 and RF01 Pro are the exact opposite, it's very obvious how pacey and energetic top spin balls get, difficult for the opponent.
RF97A has a superstiff throat and general lateral stiffness, so does RF01 Pro, measured at 82 and 85 respectively. Aeros are in the sameish ballpark, some stiffer ones especially, like VSes.
I don't remember what were Shifts' values for lateral stiffness, but like 65-70. However, RF01 has a measured lateral stiffness of 70, dramatically lower than RF01 Pro at 85, and it's immediately noticeable in play. RF01 really prefers full flat hitting, is generally a softish but stable frame with a totally different flex profile vs Pro which plays with loopy spins super easily, picks up balls at ankle level with total ease etc. RF01 is still OK with spin, it's torsionally relatively stiff, but as a whole it's a quite different raquet from the Pro
I cannot say about the Aero. But I have a lot of different PD at home (2 are mine, the others are racquet for other family members) and they are all very longitudinally floppy compared to my old Wilson Sting, the PS X of my son and even the C10 Pro. They are stiff only in the ball direction. But I also think that Aero and PD are not totally different. I remember it as even a worse Babolat with even an higher launch angle than PD
Comparison was RF01 Pro and Aero VS, you quoted it yourself, and wrote that most spin frames are laterally flexy, which is exactly the opposite of what they are. Lateral stiffness is crucial for spin. I've never hit with any Pure Drive I think, only hit 3x with players who played with it, years ago, don't know how it flexes, only thing I know is that it's a power racquet
yourtennisfit
Professional
Your obvious dislike of Babolat racquets doesn't change that your statement on spin racquets is wrong.
The Shift might be different, but it was designed as an experimental racquet and surely doesn't compare to a Aero.
The Drive is a completely different racquet again, which honestly is quite stiff in any direction but much more designed for flat strokes, both by flex and beam shape - so it isn't too surprising that they feel different.
DG21
Rookie
I read you messages from 2022 in other threads related to PAVs where you mentioned that you were still playing around the specks, adding and removing lead, trying out different strings etc. May i know what are the final specks and strings you settled in for your PAVs? My coach plays with PAVs and has always told me that i must switch because i hit the heaviest ball with it. But i never did because i tried PA98 and did not like it at all. I know that PAVS is a very different racket compared to PA98, so i think i will finally give it a more thorough shot. I hit couple of balls with it some time ago and to be frank with you i l-o-v-e-d it! But i am always scared of Babolat rackets as they give me bad tennis elbow and wrist pain. Probably one of the reasons i never considered switching to it from my PS97v14.
Specs that work best for me is essentially the Alcaraz spec, sw of 326 or so, depending on the string, so only a bit of lead at 12 to get there, my racquets are around 306g unstrung. It's a stiff racquet that can cause injury, but v14 isn't that much softer either, and both demand fast swings and attacking play
Strings I like most in it are stiffer control power polys that are not dead, 1.30, although Rev in 1.25 is great but at a lower tension
Strings I like most in it are stiffer control power polys that are not dead, 1.30, although Rev in 1.25 is great but at a lower tension
DG21
Rookie
Thank you!
What are the stiffer control power polys you would recommend? I know you mentioned many of them like RPM Power, Blast, Alu Power, Head Hawk Touch etc but it was long time ago and you might settle on smth else.
I string myself, and I'm often trying out something new, tried some softer strings, and it's a no go, for me at least. Now I have Kirschbaum Pro Tour Control 1.28, very good but not great, so I'm back to those you listed above. Of all the strings I tried, if I recommended something that would be Alu RG 1.28 orange at 24/23kg, and Rev 1.25 orange at 21/20 or maybe 22/21kg - less stiff, those would play well for a very long time, surprisingly long. Alu lime 1.25 plays identically to the RG one, both have much longer playability, but with a different crisper feel- than the standard silver 1.25, which also goes really well into the VS. Blast orange 1.30 would also be very good, but not great, Hawk Touch 1.30 needs high tensions, 25/24 or higher, is very good too and not stiff, 4G bronze is excellent also, can be strung low also, long lasting also
If you don't hit hard enough then Element 1.30 Green, quite soft, very nice overall, RPM Team 1.30 for less soft but still not stiff at all, more power than Element, beyond those two there's no need to look for anything else really
Tried all Solinco strings at long last, very mediocre, not a fan at all, especially at the hyperinflated prices they now have. I only see them useful if you have a racquet with way too much power, like a Pure Drive or Ezone 100, and you need a deader string in it for control
And to conclude - since you mentioned elbow injury, I'd start with Team 1.30, it seems to be working fine for Alcaraz, Element is even softer, then Hawk Touch and Rev as the stiffest in this less stiff category
If you don't hit hard enough then Element 1.30 Green, quite soft, very nice overall, RPM Team 1.30 for less soft but still not stiff at all, more power than Element, beyond those two there's no need to look for anything else really
Tried all Solinco strings at long last, very mediocre, not a fan at all, especially at the hyperinflated prices they now have. I only see them useful if you have a racquet with way too much power, like a Pure Drive or Ezone 100, and you need a deader string in it for control
And to conclude - since you mentioned elbow injury, I'd start with Team 1.30, it seems to be working fine for Alcaraz, Element is even softer, then Hawk Touch and Rev as the stiffest in this less stiff category
DG21
Rookie
I've just had a hit with PAVS (331g, 31.8cm) today and compared it to my PS97v14 (343g, 32cm). PAVS is a great racket, i liked it MUCH more than Pure Aero 98 i had before. I would agree with everything you mentioned about this racquet in all your posts. Nevertheless, i find my PS97v14 superior almost in every category, at least for my game, my stroke mechanics and muscle memory (i played with PS85 and then PS95 as a kid). The only place where i liked PAVS better was 2HBH - easier power, higher launch angle, sharper cross court angles. The biggest issue was volleying. It felt quite poor, the racket felt unstable and flimsy compared to PS97v14. Another thing which i cant figure out is maneuverability. My PS97v14 is a heavier racket on paper but PAVS feels heavier and it's much harder to swing. I had the same issue with the PA98 which i sold. Probably due to high TW, i dont know.
And this knifing pain in my forearm every time i use Babolat rackets... i feel it again. So, unfortunately, Babolat racquets are not for me.
I think PAVS is quite similar to RF-01 Pro i have tried recently and i understand why you consider to move from your PAVS to the RF. So far RF97A is a number 1 racquet i have ever tried among all the racquets i either played or tested. I am convinced i will not be able to play with it competitively but at least i will have some fun with it playing casually. It should be fine for the winter season on carpet or rebound ace but for the summer season i will have to think again - i am not so sure that PS97v14 or RF97A would be capable to deal with heavy topspin some of my partners hit on clay.
Rasheeq Haq
New User
So with my PS 97 v14's I'm noticing a lot of instability with my volleys. I'm not sure if it's the lack of mass or just the amount of twist weight on the frame, but it quite literally requires near perfect precision to use at net.
Anyone test a slightly more polarized set up on this frame? Just to keep swingweight the same but add more mass? Wondering if that might get me some more success. From the baseline it's incredible for my game, but lacking a bit at the net department for the put aways I like.
Anyone test a slightly more polarized set up on this frame? Just to keep swingweight the same but add more mass? Wondering if that might get me some more success. From the baseline it's incredible for my game, but lacking a bit at the net department for the put aways I like.
What string setup do you use? I play with a hybrid, with the multi in the mains, not too high tension, and I do not experience any problems with instability with volleys; quit the opposite, even more consistent than the RF pro one, whereas that’s a great volleying stick as well
Rasheeq Haq
New User
I use Natural Gut mains (56lbs) and Alu Rough crosses (54 lbs). IMO probably the best set up for this racquet and for any racquet that wants touch and feel on volleys. Still feels off to me? I just feel like I have to really firm up my grip and punch to get the ball going vs. where I could somewhat use mass + legs to get the outcome I wanted in my old frames. Just feels like I have to try a lot harder with this frame to get the outcome I want at net.
Note that I was playing with much heavier racquets when I was younger (RF 97, POG mid, K90, BLX 95, yonex Duel G, Yonex Regna), so not sure if its just the feeling of mass that I'm missing in this one.
You might get 1 that's underspec. Try measuring the SW, balance, and TW and see what the numbers are. My slight overspec PSv14 is really stable on volleys, whereas my other 2 was so underspec I needed lead all the way from 3 to 9.
optic yellow
Legend
How much weight does that much lead add?
