Wilson ProStaff RF97 Autograph

PSC85 said:
Did some random search and saw this thread and the photo. This particular prototype he used seemed to have thinner beam width... o_Oo_Oo_O

Or is it my eyes playing tricks on me? o_Oo_Oo_O
Click to expand...

I think its just the angle of Rogers left arm playing a optical illusion.
 
PSC85 said:
Did some random search and saw this thread and the photo. This particular prototype he used seemed to have thinner beam width... o_Oo_Oo_O

Or is it my eyes playing tricks on me? o_Oo_Oo_O
Click to expand...

But seriously, as a photography nerd I can say this was shot with a very long lens which causes a effect called foreshortening. Notice how the beam where the head guard starts looks thinner than the throat by his index finger.

The effect is the opposite of the photo below.

stan.jpg
 
Here are a few more angles from 2014 Wimbledon, assuming he played with the same mold the whole match. Just from the angles the second photo totally looks thinner.

I did find a few more pics that had 4 loops of the main in the bridge, so the prototype certainly wasn't in stone. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in the process it was less than 21.5mm or more boxy. @PSC85

fed-pt-4.jpg

fed-pt-2.jpg

fed-pt-5.jpg


thus ends my overshare
 
moon shot said:
Here are a few more angles from 2014 Wimbledon, assuming he played with the same mold the whole match. Just from the angles the second photo totally looks thinner.

I did find a few more pics that had 4 loops of the main in the bridge, so the prototype certainly wasn't in stone. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in the process it was less than 21.5mm or more boxy. @PSC85

fed-pt-4.jpg

fed-pt-2.jpg

fed-pt-5.jpg


thus ends my overshare
Click to expand...

Mmm Federer has some serious French nails going on o_O
 
Most of us have gone through strings pretty quickly with this racquet. I've had the most luck with 4g and 4g soft, but tension (48 vs. 56 lb) didn't make much of a difference in durability.
aer0pr0 said:
can someone tell me how the strings behave in this racket, do they break easily?

given the weight of the racket and 16x19??
i had to change my wilsons 6.1 95 16x18 to 18x20 because i was breaking strings every hour (1.30 mm polys), and im not exagerating. heavy rackets with open patterns are difficult for strings.

anyone having trouble in that regard with the rf97?
thank you
Click to expand...
 
kingcheetah said:
Most of us have gone through strings pretty quickly with this racquet. I've had the most luck with 4g and 4g soft, but tension (48 vs. 56 lb) didn't make much of a difference in durability.
Click to expand...

The 4G and 4G soft have been my best bets as well. Good call. I have one strung with 4G and one with 4G soft. Both at 52 lbs. It's fun to switch them off occasionally.
 
tribesmen said:
Even Pros don't break strings every hour. It must be incorrect string job.
Click to expand...

The top pros change their racquets every seven games so we wouldn't know if they'd break them every hour but they likely don't as a string/racquet combination that fragile would likely lose tension and playability fairly quickly. There are some thin strings out there that don't last very long in open pattern racquets if you string them loose. I tried Wilson Sensation 17 a long time ago and that lasted a little over an hour. Great power and spin but it started fraying shortly after I started using it.
 
"The new Wilson Pro Staff line includes the RF 97 Autograph and four other models designed for a variety of attacking players. Importantly, Federer requested Wilson produce two lighter weight versions of the racket – the Pro Staff 97 LS and Pro Staff 97 ULS – in his signature black on black design specifically for young tennis players."

Does this mean no more Pro Staff 97?
 
gplracer said:
"The new Wilson Pro Staff line includes the RF 97 Autograph and four other models designed for a variety of attacking players. Importantly, Federer requested Wilson produce two lighter weight versions of the racket – the Pro Staff 97 LS and Pro Staff 97 ULS – in his signature black on black design specifically for young tennis players."

Does this mean no more Pro Staff 97?
Click to expand...
It means no more 97s. The regular 97 is all black except for red at 3 and 9.
 
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
No it means you're wrong.
Click to expand...
why? RF97 plus 4 more models: PS97, PS95s, PS97ULS, PS97LS. In the article it specifies that the two lighter versions are all black, As we have seen from the leaked pictures the regular 97 is in fact not all black, It is all black expect for red tabs at 3 and 9 to distinguish all the 97 paint jobs from the RF97A on tour. So from process of elimination we can deduce that since Dimitrov is no longer using the 97S or even the paint job of it (he is using his old custom 93 painted as a 95s) Wilson has no reason to continue selling a signature racquet that their signature endorser (Grigor) is no longer endorsing. At least my theory
 
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macattack said:
Too powerful? My RF97 is not too powerful at all. I have to generate most of my own power, which I like a lot.

Also...is that you, BP?....
Click to expand...
No, it's not me. And the RF97 is indeed too powerful. Compare it to something like a PS 6.0 85 and it's a vast difference in power.

To me, if I was going to use the RF97 then I might as well just go all in and use the APD. It's just another modern, stiff, big and thick racquet like so many that are out there, IMO.
 
BreakPoint said:
No, it's not me. And the RF97 is indeed too powerful. Compare it to something like a PS 6.0 85 and it's a vast difference in power.

To me, if I was going to use the RF97 then I might as well just go all in and use the APD. It's just another modern, stiff, big and thick racquet like so many that are out there, IMO.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, Fed was thinking of you. He had them paint the Pro Staff 97 ULS the same as the RFA so you can go with the lighter frame without looking the part.
 
BreakPoint said:
No, it's not me. And the RF97 is indeed too powerful. Compare it to something like a PS 6.0 85 and it's a vast difference in power.

To me, if I was going to use the RF97 then I might as well just go all in and use the APD. It's just another modern, stiff, big and thick racquet like so many that are out there, IMO.
Click to expand...

Nah. I'm good with my RF97 and PSC 6.1. Thanks, though.
 
moon shot said:
Don't worry, Fed was thinking of you. He had them paint the Pro Staff 97 ULS the same as the RFA so you can go with the lighter frame without looking the part.
Click to expand...
Lighter? One of the problems I have with the RF97A is that it's too light. If I were to use the RF97A, I would have to add weight to it.
 
BreakPoint said:
BTW, the PSC 6.1 is also very stiff and powerful. If you're used to that then that's probably why you don't find the RF97A to be stiff and powerful in comparison.
Click to expand...

Totally true. That could be the reason. Started playing with those PSCs back in the mid 90s. Returned to them recently after some years out of the game and damn they feel like home.

And FWIW - I think the PS85 is a legendary racquet. We may disagree on the racquets that came after it, but I have all the respect in the world for the PS85.
 
movdqa said:
The top pros change their racquets every seven games so we wouldn't know if they'd break them every hour but they likely don't as a string/racquet combination that fragile would likely lose tension and playability fairly quickly. There are some thin strings out there that don't last very long in open pattern racquets if you string them loose. I tried Wilson Sensation 17 a long time ago and that lasted a little over an hour. Great power and spin but it started fraying shortly after I started using it.
Click to expand...
I don't want to argue, but come on, I believe you don't think seriously :) If you break strings in one hour only three possibilities are possible: string job/bad (lemon) strings/constantly miss hitting.
PS: and there are lots of pro who don't change racquets every seven games ...
 
tribesmen said:
I don't want to argue, but come on, I believe you don't think seriously :) If you break strings in one hour only three possibilities are possible: string job/bad (lemon) strings/constantly miss hitting.
PS: and there are lots of pro who don't change racquets every seven games ...
Click to expand...
Or if you put a 19 gauge poly in a Wilson Steam 105 spin effect frame :)
 
morten said:
Such a big wide frame will play much more sluggish than the original 6.0 series if weight is the same as the original thin 85 sq.in .. way too powerful too imo
Click to expand...
You can never have too much power the RF97A has excellent control and precision. As you move up in skill you will need all the power you can get against better players that can get to almost everything you throw at them.
 
kingcheetah said:
Most of us have gone through strings pretty quickly with this racquet. I've had the most luck with 4g and 4g soft, but tension (48 vs. 56 lb) didn't make much of a difference in durability.
Click to expand...
I suggest using spaced out string savers they help a lot. I use about 10 in the top portion of my racquet like Roger does. Plus they help with snap back for spin.
 
I just love the RF97, but i can barely manage to play with PS 97( made switch from PS97 LS month ago). Im 32 years old, 3.5-4.0 player. Even if i started working in gym, lifting weights, i feel that after half an hour of tennis using the RFA stick my hand would go numb...

Someone had that problem? Solutions? :)
 
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tribesmen said:
I don't want to argue, but come on, I believe you don't think seriously :) If you break strings in one hour only three possibilities are possible: string job/bad (lemon) strings/constantly miss hitting.
PS: and there are lots of pro who don't change racquets every seven games ...
Click to expand...

Most racquet changes in pro matches are for consistent playability, which is noticeable much earlier. Time to break string that doesn't have a flaw or strung poorly can vary quite a bit based on how long you rally, how hard your opponent hits, and how much spin and thereby string movement you create.

This player breaks Alu Power 1.25 in 40 minutes with a Blade 16x19 - http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/breaking-strings-in-40-mins.560057/
 
DelPeric said:
I just love the RF97, but i can barely manage to play with PS 97( made switch from PS97 LS month ago). Im 32 years old, 3.5-4.0 player. Even if i started working in gym, lifting weights, i feel that after half an hour of tennis using the RFA stick my hand would go numb...

Someone had that problem? Solutions? :)
Click to expand...
You don't use the hands with the RF97A or any racquet you use the hips first to provide a sling shot effect (force multiplier) the arms will follow and require less effort. Cheers.
 
Hollywood2 said:
You don't use the hands with the RF97A or any racquet you use the hips first to provide a sling shot effect (force multiplier) the arms will follow and require less effort. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Will try that!! Thnx.. I'll try with adding some lead on my PS97-making it same swingweight like RF97 with time....and..If I manage to play with it and control it.. I'll consider buying the Rogers autograph 340g. stick.. [emoji41]
 
DelPeric said:
Will try that!! Thnx.. I'll try with adding some lead on my PS97-making it same swingweight like RF97 with time....and..If I manage to play with it and control it.. I'll consider buying the Rogers autograph 340g. stick.. [emoji41]
Click to expand...

I agree with Hollywood2 here. My hips and plowing through with my left hand brings that racquet around with little trouble for me and I'm not particularly young or fit. However, I will say that as much as I love the RF97, if it isn't the right racquet for you then play with whatever feels good. Nothing wrong at all with the PS97. Great racquet. Good luck with the testing!
 
macattack said:
I agree with Hollywood2 here. My hips and plowing through with my left hand brings that racquet around with little trouble for me and I'm not particularly young or fit. However, I will say that as much as I love the RF97, if it isn't the right racquet for you then play with whatever feels good. Nothing wrong at all with the PS97. Great racquet. Good luck with the testing!
Click to expand...
I'll surely try.. Didn't play since i was a kid, and started year ago again with PS 97 LS. It lacked power so I switched now to 315g PS 97(25g difference),and still getting used to it...(better positioning, timing, serve...)... Wanted to buy PS RF97, but it scared me how heavy it was... I hope..as time goes by, i'll work on my tehnicque and body rotation while hitting.. And i'll manage to handle the GOAT's stick [emoji16]
 
DelPeric said:
I'll surely try.. Didn't play since i was a kid, and started year ago again with PS 97 LS. It lacked power so I switched now to 315g PS 97(25g difference),and still getting used to it...(better positioning, timing, serve...)... Wanted to buy PS RF97, but it scared me how heavy it was... I hope..as time goes by, i'll work on my tehnicque and body rotation while hitting.. And i'll manage to handle the GOAT's stick [emoji16]
Click to expand...

Good on you for truly working up to the stick and not just buying it because you want it. It will be a lot more rewarding once you get there. Knowing your limits and setting goals is the way to go.
 
macattack said:
Good on you for truly working up to the stick and not just buying it because you want it. It will be a lot more rewarding once you get there. Knowing your limits and setting goals is the way to go.
Click to expand...
I absolutley agree, just hope i will be able to do it(weight difference is big).. Thanx again
 
DelPeric said:
Will try that!! Thnx.. I'll try with adding some lead on my PS97-making it same swingweight like RF97 with time....and..If I manage to play with it and control it.. I'll consider buying the Rogers autograph 340g. stick.. [emoji41]
Click to expand...
Lead tape will help for sure, remember 1 gram at hoop equals 3 points increase in swing weight. When making contact with the ball in most situations keep it around your hip area height so it's hit in your wheel house power zone. The racquet handle should be above (tilted slightly up) the hoop when at contact with the ball (brush up). Keep your grip somewhat loose as well like 4 out of 10 or the amount of strength you use to hold a Venti coffee from Starbucks in your hand. This will keep your arm loose like a noodle so it's acts like an elastic band. At contact make sure your hitting arm is extended and elbow is locked.

If you find you're getting crammed when setting up shots, take smaller baby steps when setting up and use your non hitting arm as a guide by extending it out sideways straight (no bend in elbow) all the time parallel to base line.

Good luck.
 
Agreed with all of the above except I hit with a bent arm. That's purely preference, though. Either way, whatever you're most comfortable with.
 
moon shot said:
Most racquet changes in pro matches are for consistent playability, which is noticeable much earlier. Time to break string that doesn't have a flaw or strung poorly can vary quite a bit based on how long you rally, how hard your opponent hits, and how much spin and thereby string movement you create.

This player breaks Alu Power 1.25 in 40 minutes with a Blade 16x19 - http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/breaking-strings-in-40-mins.560057/
Click to expand...
The pros must change racquets during the match, because the constancy is the most important for them. The problem is pros have fresh string jobs and don't leave racuets rest and we all know the racquet loose the majority of its tension and constancy in first few days after stringing. So, my motto, of course for rec players, is: leave the racquet after stringing for a week and you will be playing a lot more hours than if you start to use the racket immediately after stringing.
 
Hollywood2 said:
Lead tape will help for sure, remember 1 gram at hoop equals 3 points increase in swing weight. When making contact with the ball in most situations keep it around your hip area height so it's hit in your wheel house power zone. The racquet handle should be above (tilted slightly up) the hoop when at contact with the ball (brush up). Keep your grip somewhat loose as well like 4 out of 10 or the amount of strength you use to hold a Venti coffee from Starbucks in your hand. This will keep your arm loose like a noodle so it's acts like an elastic band. At contact make sure your hitting arm is extended and elbow is locked.

If you find you're getting crammed when setting up shots, take smaller baby steps when setting up and use your non hitting arm as a guide by extending it out sideways straight (no bend in elbow) all the time parallel to base line.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Nice info on getting used to rf97, ..i will have to change speed of my swing probably, because i had to force fast swing with lighter stick to get extra spin/power(holding relativly firmly on some shots- especialy when serving after i switched to more heavy PS 97).
I'll try those things.. my friend has pro staff tour 90, black yellow..340 g - i will give it a try with it...Hope it will be ok for me.
 
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