Wilson releasing Pro Staff 97S for Dimitrov (specs. included)

Automatix said:
What I'm missing in the PCG100 is lack of free power, this is the reason I'm so interested in the Burn. Thicker beam but not by much and hopefully only slightly stiffer, hoping for a 64-66RA. I'm with you. The pattern can take over some of the stiffness but there's only so much a string and/or string pattern can do.

I'm eagerly waiting for the Burn FST 99S to come out so I can demo it. However if the stiffness is north of 66 I'll pass. I'd also like to demo the 97S but the balance & weight combo is not my cup of tea. 335mm is a bit to close to even and depending on the swingweight it might be very tough to get it to a nice headlight balance while maintaining a manageable swingweight. You're preferred specs are actually close to my ready to play (with strings, overgrip, dampener etc.) PCG 100 which is 8HL, 330g, swingweight 316, stiffness 62. Right, I actually know quite a bit of people who play with the 18x16 pattern and none with a 16x15. To tell the truth even those who use Prince frames with a 16x16 stringpattern are looking for an alternative due to string breakage.
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I tried the PCG100 but I too felt the lack of free power. You and I do indeed have very similar tastes in Stiffness, weight and swingweight. It will be interesting to get your input on the PS97S and the Burn FST 99S. Any idea what the stiffness is forecast on that Burn FST 99S?

I am also curious your thoughts on the Blade 98S? I didn't connect with the 98S, but it could have been the strings and I was just too comfortable with the 99S.

Also curious, what are you using now? And the exact name of the Yonex 16x17 frame (I believe it was a 95 inch frame)

Thanks again,




smalahove said:
@g4driver Have you tried the Prince Tour Pro 100 ESP? A great thin beamed spin frame (16x16). If you're looking for a Wilson option, I'd def wait for the new Burn FST frames.
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samalhove, I had very high hopes for the PTP 100 ESP. I waited for it to be released when Anna Lottner was testing using it as Junior. I found it to be too muted for my taste. Mikeler uses this frame with Cylone Tour 16g but he came from the Prince 16x19 version and it was a very nice transition for him. I was hoping to do the same moving from a Wilson Pro Open (16x19) to the Steam 99S, but Wilson made the Steam 99 (16x18) even stiffer :mad: than the Steam 99S (16x15), so Wilson gave me two pitches to swing at. I have been hitting with the 99S for over two years, 15 days a month minimum, sometimes 20 days a month, sometimes two and three times a day (just practice matches or ladder matches). Being able to hit two to three times per time day really helps when playing tournaments which require that. I feel like I have reached a peak with the 99S. It has been a very good ride. But I think to grow as a player, I need to move away from the very open 16x15 pattern, but I want to take a very small incremental step back towards 16x16, 16x17 (which doesn't exist), and possibly to an 18x16 frame.
 
g4driver, are you sure we are thinking about the same frame? Afaik, Mikeler uses the Tour 100T ESP which has a 16x16 pattern, exo3 ports and Prince's double bridge, whereas the Tour Pro 100 ESP only has regular grommets (and a 16x16 pattern of course), and a crisper feeling. I haven't tried the Tour 100T ESP, but did have the Tour 98 ESP which also had a 16x16 and exo3 ports and the double bridge, which makes for a very muted feel, in deed.
 
g4driver said:
I tried the PCG100 but I too felt the lack of free power. You and I do indeed have very similar tastes in Stiffness, weight and swingweight. It will be interesting to get your input on the PS97S and the Burn FST 99S. Any idea what the stiffness is forecast on that Burn FST 99S?
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Sadly I have no intel on the stiffness. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a <66RA.

g4driver said:
I am also curious your thoughts on the Blade 98S? I didn't connect with the 98S, but it could have been the strings and I was just too comfortable with the 99S.
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I'm not a fan of this Blade mainly due to the combination of a high swingweight (mine was supposedly +330)and an almost even balance (336-338mm). I found it to allow for a better slice than the Pro Staff 97LS though at most other aspects the PS97LS seemed better. From the Wilson SET frames I think I've enjoyed the 6.1 95S the most but it was missing some forgiveness. Currently I'm aiming for a 98-100 square inch headsize though in my searches I also pay attention to the head shape. I prefer the rounder (think 6.1 95, Pro Staff 97, Prince Graphite Classic 100) rather then the more oblong ones (old Prestige Mid, Prince Tour 98).

It's hard to focus on the stringpattern characteristics when most of the specs aren't in your alley.
I prefer a strung setup of slightly higher static weight (330-345g ), a noticeable headlight balance (6-8 points) and a managable swingweight (around 320 give or take 5 units).


g4driver said:
Also curious, what are you using now? And the exact name of the Yonex 16x17 frame (I believe it was a 95 inch frame)
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I'm currently using the mentioned Prince Graphite Classic 100 mainly due to the fact it's lighter and easier to use. Currently I'm dabbling with Isospeeds new string - Cream. For me this monofilament bridges the gap between polys and synthetic guts. Good access to spin, softer than any poly, and longer lasting and better tension holding than lets say Polyfibre Viper.

The Yonex full model name is Pro RD 70 Long 95. It's a 12oz players racquet with a 16-19mm beam (16mm at the tip), 28 inches long, though mine are cut down to 27,5 inches. Great frame but too unforgiving at some aspects. Though I can't say a bad word about it. Stable, comfortable, quite manoeuvrable for its specs, also quite robust construction, the pj is very sturdy.
 
smalahove said:
g4driver, are you sure we are thinking about the same frame? Afaik, Mikeler uses the Tour 100T ESP which has a 16x16 pattern, exo3 ports and Prince's double bridge, whereas the Tour Pro 100 ESP only has regular grommets (and a 16x16 pattern of course), and a crisper feeling. I haven't tried the Tour 100T ESP, but did have the Tour 98 ESP which also had a 16x16 and exo3 ports and the double bridge, which makes for a very muted feel, in deed.
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Thanks for the info. I clearly had the wrong frame in mind. And no, I have not tried it.

Prince didn't do us any favors by using the same words "tour, Pro, and 100" in two of their frames . - ;)

I will check it out - thanks for keeping me straight.
 
Automatix, you and I are on the same page.

The Blades high stringweight, forces you to do what I did with my Steam 99S frames - custom order them with 281 unstrung swingweights, then add leather grips, overgrips, strings , and then some lead to get the. 340 gram static weight, and 320 swingweight.


The standard Steam 99S has a 333 swingweight- if I bought those and added leather grips and lead tape to increase the static weight to my desired weight, the swingweight would ballon up :(
 
g4driver said:
Automatix, you and I are on the same page.

The Blades high stringweight, forces you to do what I did with my Steam 99S frames - custom order them with 281 unstrung swingweights, then add leather grips, overgrips, strings , and then some lead to get the. 340 gram static weight, and 320 swingweight.


The standard Steam 99S has a 333 swingweight- if I bought those and added leather grips and lead tape to increase the static weight to my desired weight, the swingweight would ballon up :(
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Right. I thought of a similar approach for the Pro Staff 97S before I saw the specs of the Burn 99S. The Burn, providing the stiffness remains lower, will be much easier to modify up to my preferred specs.
 
Specs unstrung:
Weight: 299g
Balance: 305mm (12 HL)
Beam: 21mm DTB
Length: 27 inches
Pattern: 18x17

Release date: February 2015
 
g4driver said:
Thanks Automatix
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Wonder how any 18x17 frame would play, if one should choose to string the frame 16x17? I know the distribution across the mains would still be tighter (except for the out mains), but was wondering if you would get slightly more spin than the 18x17, and more importantly would the frame play softer if Wilson unleashes it with a 67+ Flex (which I hope they don't)
 
washington-2015-monday-fish-dimitrov.jpg
 
It may not be a true box beam, but in that picture above it sure looks close. At least boxier than the 21.5mm. drool.
 
my local shop preordered some... i love my blade 98S and cant hit my RF quite the same.. could this be the answer... I hope so!
 
This entire thread and one of the most crucial questions has yet to be answered. How flexible is this? I imagine they'd go for less stiff than the 97 range - otherwise it's too similar a frame overall to bother. 62-65 would be good.
 
Bobby Jr said:
This entire thread and one of the most crucial questions has yet to be answered. How flexible is this? I imagine they'd go for less stiff than the 97 range - otherwise it's too similar a frame overall to bother. 62-65 would be good.
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And being thinner should bring the flex down. If it comes mid 60s flex, 320ish swingweight then with just a bit of weight in the handle it might be a dream frame for me.
 
Bobby Jr said:
This entire thread and one of the most crucial questions has yet to be answered. How flexible is this? I imagine they'd go for less stiff than the 97 range - otherwise it's too similar a frame overall to bother. 62-65 would be good.
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I asked this in another thread in the racquet section. I hope it is < 66.
 
We know how much weight, but I think a more specific answer of where would be better. We know its probably mostly in the handle, but depending on how deep into the handle the weight is put it can affect the balance differently. Any thoughts?
 
Super stoked for this frame! Hopefully Wilson will have a couple for sale at flushing meadows as they did with the RF97 last year
 
cuteflu said:
Gees, is that the one Del Potro and Pospisil have been using for these years and Fish? Never tried it I wonder what's good about it other than a bigger PS90
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It's a pretty good racquet, I prefer using the PS 6.0 95 then the 2014 PS model. They are similar in feel, but I felt more connected to the PS 6.0. It's about 12.2 strung, so a little heavier then the 2014 model. Has a 20mm beam compare to the 18mm beam on the 2014 version. It's 10pts headlight. Overall, the touch and feel, and control is what I like from this racquet. Similar to the 2014 but more plusher.
 
David Le said:
It's a pretty good racquet, I prefer using the PS 6.0 95 then the 2014 PS model. They are similar in feel, but I felt more connected to the PS 6.0. It's about 12.2 strung, so a little heavier then the 2014 model. Has a 20mm beam compare to the 18mm beam on the 2014 version. It's 10pts headlight. Overall, the touch and feel, and control is what I like from this racquet. Similar to the 2014 but more plusher.
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Fully agree. I didn't like the PS 95 2014 that much but I love the PS 6.0 95. I struggle a bit on volley and serves though but the forehand and bakchand are great!
 
Played with the frame from local rep. Had some new wilson poly strings in it. Mid-tension. First impression, nice feeling racquet. Liked the gold lettering on the frame. Thin beam like prostaff 6.1 95, Grigors old frame. Flex must be in the low 60s. Really low powered just like his previous frame. Definitely a niche racquet. You need to be able to generate your own power. Decent control. Most racquet-heads will be disappointed. No revolution here, maybe a little evolution only. Sorry if that is not the news you want to hear
 
mdintern91 said:
Played with the frame from local rep. Had some new wilson poly strings in it. Mid-tension. First impression, nice feeling racquet. Liked the gold lettering on the frame. Thin beam like prostaff 6.1 95, Grigors old frame. Flex must be in the low 60s. Really low powered just like his previous frame. Definitely a niche racquet. You need to be able to generate your own power. Decent control. Most racquet-heads will be disappointed. No revolution here, maybe a little evolution only. Sorry if that is not the news you want to hear
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I think it's not intended to be played stock. What Wilson is giving us is a 'platform' for customization, just as many here have been asking for over a number of years on these boards. ;) BHBH
 
mdintern91 said:
Played with the frame from local rep. Had some new wilson poly strings in it. Mid-tension. First impression, nice feeling racquet. Liked the gold lettering on the frame. Thin beam like prostaff 6.1 95, Grigors old frame. Flex must be in the low 60s. Really low powered just like his previous frame. Definitely a niche racquet. You need to be able to generate your own power. Decent control. Most racquet-heads will be disappointed. No revolution here, maybe a little evolution only. Sorry if that is not the news you want to hear
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Thanks for the review. Expected this.

Franklin_B said:
Seems like a missed opportunity if it isn't released for the US open. I can't wait to try it out.
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Yeah, didn't a bunch of Chumley's pay an extra $100 for the bragging rights to being 'first!' last year with the RF97A? (*rollseyes*)
 
So, at 11.5 oz stock, maybe 4-5 points Hl, its a pretty heavy platform. Add leather grip and few grams of lead and you will be at 12.5 oz pretty quickly. Thats before silicone in the handle. Although I didnt open the buttcap, I would assume its foam filled. I thing in the end, one would endup with a flexy, thin beamed, low powered racquet. It, in itself, is a nice tool but I believe you can achieve the same outcome with prostaff 6.1 95 which is much cheaper at the moment. It is mererly a revamp of an existing racquet and not something drastically different like the way RF97 was from prostaff 90.
 
West Coast Ace said:
Yeah, didn't a bunch of Chumley's pay an extra $100 for the bragging rights to being 'first!' last year with the RF97A? (*rollseyes*)
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Not me, I don't live in the USA. Would have been more accurate to say I'm keen for my club to get some that I can demo.
mdintern91 said:
So, at 11.5 oz stock, maybe 4-5 points Hl, its a pretty heavy platform. Add leather grip and few grams of lead and you will be at 12.5 oz pretty quickly.
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Doesn't it come with a leather grip already? I thought that was stock.
 
mdintern91 said:
It was leather on mine but i thought somewhere there was a comment on the grip being synthetic
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I guess the grip is not a deal breaker, the balance is the most curious thing for me. Pretty head heavy if you want to keep it close to stock strung weight though.
 
Looks like this racket's a serious pro stock for people who know how to customize rackets by injecting silicone and stuff. Not for the casual customizer who slaps a few grams of lead here and there till it feels right (like me :-) )
 
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