Wilson ProStaff RF97 Autograph

DelPeric said:
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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Try and set up your uni-turn as early as possible, remember slower arm speed on take back but fast release should help to wield the 97 properly.
 
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So I just dropped some Kirschbaum Pro Line II 16 @ 50lbs into the RF. I have to say I really, really like it. Might be replacing the 4G I've been using. Or at least be a nice alternative. I have two with the 4G and one with the Pro Line II so I'm going to A/B them a bunch more. But at first blush the Kirschbaum's are nice and plush, amazing ball pocketing. We'll see about tension retention in the coming weeks.

What are you guys using and at what tension?

Also (and least important of all), I like the look of the Kirschbaum in the RF97.
rf97kirschbaum_zps8b16i61q.jpg
 
Missing my RF97a. Put it away in favor of pure strike 18 x 20. But loved the rf97a except for serving when I was getting tired and my technique (legs) starts to fail. Just to hard to serve well without good technique late into a match in heat index 100+ after 1 1/2 hours. And arguable, the serve is the most important shot in tennis and the only one you have complete control over so I changed. But still miss that racket. It keeps ending up in my bag. Esp miss it against big hitters.
 
Boyd Clary said:
Just to hard to serve well without good technique late into a match in heat index 100+ after 1 1/2 hours.
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I was in this position today. But in 100 degree heat after two hours, I don't think I could have hit a hard flat serve with a 9 oz junior racquet. Haha. Lots of slice serves in the last half hour.
 
Apart from the PJ and the new DNA, are there any real/certified differences between this and the old 97A racket?
 
One thing I didn't see that I liked with the original is the placement of the "signature". Even though I know it was mass produced signature, it purposely went from the frame/paint across a sticker on the racket. This made it seem more real, lol. Though nothing about cosmetics or signatures is the reason I purchased the original RFPS97a. And unless there is some real update, I won't be buying a cooler looking frame just to look cool.
 
macattack said:
So I just dropped some Kirschbaum Pro Line II 16 @ 50lbs into the RF. I have to say I really, really like it. Might be replacing the 4G I've been using. Or at least be a nice alternative. I have two with the 4G and one with the Pro Line II so I'm going to A/B them a bunch more. But at first blush the Kirschbaum's are nice and plush, amazing ball pocketing. We'll see about tension retention in the coming weeks.

What are you guys using and at what tension?

Also (and least important of all), I like the look of the Kirschbaum in the RF97.
rf97kirschbaum_zps8b16i61q.jpg
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If you want to go with Kirschbaum get a set of Max Power. Amazing string. Good alternatives are Head Hawk / Hawk Touch (a bit on the expensive side) and Yonex Poly Tour Tough (cheap but great string as well).
 
ThirdEye said:
If you want to go with Kirschbaum get a set of Max Power. Amazing string. Good alternatives are Head Hawk / Hawk Touch (a bit on the expensive side) and Yonex Poly Tour Tough (cheap but great string as well).
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Thanks for the note on this. I didn't go with the string just because I wanted to try a Kirschbaum, I did it because I heard good things and saw it lying around at a friend's shop. Turned out I really liked it. I'll definitely give the Max Power a try along with the Head and Yonex strings you mentioned. I quite enjoy a/b testing strings like this.

Edit: Are you not a fan of the Pro Line II? I'd be interested to hear you thoughts.
 
RanchDressing said:
Maybe they'll just lower it to the less premium $220 mark the autograph has stagnated at.
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Archive.org is a wonderful thing. Looks like all the past frames were sold same price they were at presale for, and remained at that price until August - September around the time their replacements probably had a press release.

2010 6.1 Tour 90
January 2010 presale 199
sold at 199 until...
August 2011 discounted 169

2012 BLX PS90
January 2012 presale 199
sold at 199 until...
September 2013 discounted 179

2014 PS90
presale 209
sold at 209 until...
September 2014 discounted 169

2014 RF97
presale 219
sold at 219
no discounts yet
 
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macattack said:
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.
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I've been using 4G in my RF97 since it came out. An awesome go-to string! I'm curious to try 4g soft. What are the differences?
 
iceman_dl6 said:
I've been using 4G in my RF97 since it came out. An awesome go-to string! I'm curious to try 4g soft. What are the differences?
Click to expand...

The 4G soft is just a touch more plush than the 4G. It's not a huge different in my opinion, but it's noticeable enough. I prefer the 4G in the RF97. However, as I posted above, I put the red Kirschbaum pro line ii in one of my RFs and I like a bit more than the 4G. Though, I'm not complaining about still having the 4G in my other RF. Great, great string and damn good tension retention (better than the Kirschbaum, actually).
 
Engelworks said:
81QLayF.jpg


Not sure if the basalt on upper side hoop has the typical crystalline structure from southwest Appalachian plains...can anyone confirm?
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This may be super late but did this paint job ever come out for the RF97 or was it just a photoshop? Always thought it looked better as black with red instead of red with black. Must say, I prefer the brown leather over the black too.
 
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PeterFig said:
Hello everyone!
I can officially come out of hiding now. :)
It's been fun reading all the various posts and I appreciate all the feedback on the design (good and bad - it's all great to read).

Funny enough the day BreakPoint posted the "Autograph" name idea I actually had a design prototype with that name sitting on my desk so that made me chuckle a bit.

I know you guys have only seen photos of it so far, but it's actually not that far off from my original designs posted here. It has the red hoop and a different coloured shaft. My original idea did have a white shaft but we decided to go with black to tie it better to the heritage of the Pro Staff which had black as one of it's primary colors for many of it's iterations.

Funny enough I did post a red hoop, black shaft design here back then just a day or two before the thread was removed. It was based on some of you thinking that combo would look better than the white shaft. This final cosmetic of the Pro Staff RF97 is basically that with the 3 & 9 black color blocking. :)

Peter
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I got hold of a brand new Rf97 Autograph from the bay (red/black 1st Gen) some time back more as a memento than anything else, but i was surprised with the easy power and stability of the frame. It really looks striking once you see it up close, better than any picture and I didn't realize how closely you were involved with the design. Amazing job.
I prefer the matte finish of this frame and don't play with it a lot but it's addictive to hit with with the appropriate tension/string
I also have the black/white (v12) which I use fairly regularly but that doesn't look as striking as the 1st gen though it plays just as good.
 
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racquetreligion said:
A weighed up Yonex VCore pro 97 is a much better feeling, precise and spin able racquet
than any wilson 97 RF model. You will be surprised at the quality as well from Japan.
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I was aware of Wilson's poor QC which is why I used TW matching service for my frame but I know exactly what you mean. I also purchased the EZONE 98+ and VCORE 98+ for my son and while I used the matching service I really didn't need to, they were all within 2 grams of average specs. Balance , flex spot on.
I guess I lucked out on my gen 1 autograph since it was exactly on spec (from the bay)
 
My 2 practice partners and I Gen 1 units were also spot on
but gram for gram the Yonex racquets are hard to beat.
Ezone Ai, DR almost play be themselves and ridiculous "POP"
but would like to see those offerings with an 18 x 19 or 20
like the new Vcore HD 97 18 x 20.
 
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I want to string mine up with alu power or rough. Which one do you guys think works well with rf? At what tension ?
 
mctennis said:
I agree with you. I had all sorts of arm issues with the RF auto. Nothing but enjoyment with the Yonex.
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The RA66 is not really indicative of its overall stiffness, like the first gen Babolat APD had an RA65 but
both of these frames feel closer to the 68-70 mark overall by real users and real arm issues.
However most PS units of the past except for some have been quite stiff in general.

DelPeric said:
Why dont you go and write about Yonex in Yonex group... This is Pro staff 97 RF topic group..

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
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Dont worry we will and done so however opinions, thoughts, free speech
as is helping others see the light is "just" still possible for now.
 
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racquetreligion said:
The RA66 is not really indicative of its overall stiffness, like the first gen Babolat APD had an RA65 but
both of these frames feel closer to the 68-70 mark overall by real users and real arm issues.
However mos PS units of the past except for some have been quite stiff in general.


Dont worry we will and done so however opinions, thoughts, free speech
as is helping others see the light is "just" still possible for now.
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Exactly. These forums are an invaluable source of information for intermediates like me but coming back to the RF Autograph, the strung flex in both my frames is 68 which warns non professional players, watch your string stiffness and tension (and technique) or you will suffer painful arm elbow and shoulder injuries. In my case volkl cyclone tour 53/54 (max) works well without any issues for me but try luxilon or snakebite at 56 lbs and don't say you weren't warned. So far so good. I do want to mention that there have been QC issues with the RF97A (similar to the babolat PST which one can research) which was missing foam in the handle causing the frames to vibrate as well as be head heavy. Just a Fyi
 
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Alexh22 said:
I want to string mine up with alu power or rough. Which one do you guys think works well with rf? At what tension ?
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If you see the fine print on the gen 1 frame it indicates Roger uses gut on the mains at 59 lbs and luxilon in the crosses at 56 lbs and I personally can't even imagine using luxilon at this tension for a frame as stiff as this. Besides I believe his tension varies depending on the surface , balls used etc.
You need to read the TW reviews / User feedback to decide what works for you.
My go-to string is Volkl cyclone tour and I strung 3 lbs less than my normal tension.
 
ppmishra said:
Exactly. These forums are an invaluable source of information for intermediates like me but coming back to the RF Autograph, the strung flex in both my frames is 68 which warns non professional players, watch your string stiffness and tension (and technique) or you will suffer painful arm elbow and shoulder injuries. In my case volkl cyclone tour 53/54 (max) works well without any issues for me but try luxilon or snakebite at 56 lbs and don't say you weren't warned. So far so good. I do want to mention that there have been QC issues with the RF97A (similar to the babolat PST which one can research) which was missing foam in the handle causing the frames to vibrate as well as be head heavy. Just a Fyi
Click to expand...
Which rf97 gen is affected the most ?
 
Forgot to mention RA63 for PS97 japanese edition and I have halve a dozen for back up
when I cant swing the yonex sv95 as sweetly yet looking to the new vcore hd 18 x 20 soon.

PS/RF 97 have very open patterns even compared to babolat 100 apd and PDs so it helps
to use thicker strings than used in the reviews by TW. eg 1.35mm and up

One thing to note swinging in the past my heavier RF97A that I often shanked more often than
the lighter versions and my overheads became my weakness were now they are destroyed
with ease and pleasure. Im sure Fed would not have missed those 2 overheads recently vs
TseTsepest if he did what Djokovic did and gone down 10+ grams at least (eg improved overheads
serve accuracy is up and easy winners off the FH at full stretch, great volleys, more racquet head speed etc.)
 
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I wanted to post an update on a new string setup I tried out in my RF97A in February. Babolat Gut 15 mains and pro supex BAM 19g (grey) @57/54 lbs and I have to say I was shocked. This was my first gut mains setup and believe it or not but the racquet transformed into one huge sweetspot with no compromise in spin or comfort. Just to echo many previous posts. This frame shines with gut mains and should definitely do more or less the same with a soft multi too (excluding some brands) Of course my poly setup is on the softer scale, not solinco or luxilon. Just an fyi
 
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