Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph 2018 Global Tennis Racquet Review
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
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Roger Federer's racquet of choice gets playtested by our team around the World! From Australia to Germany & back all the way to California, our Global team reviews this solid racquet from Wilson. With a tuxedo cosmetic, the RF97 2018 is purely a cosmetic update and offers advanced players amazing stability, feel and plow through from all areas of the court. See what our team thought of the GOAT's racquet of choice!
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#tenniswarehouse #rf97 #federer
that smile from Michelle when she crushes the ball sent chill down my spine
Serial killer vibes haha
Hi , I'm from the EU and I'm liking the vids from us team more. So this one was perfect, switching from us to EU to us is great. Better than making the "same" videos for different "regions". Keep it up
@Dangermike,
Thanks for the feedback! We're glad you enjoyed it! Happy hitting!
Michelle, TW
@Mike...the first team is from Australia mate.
I love this colour compared to all black
We can see this racquet move from far distance as well
5:30 is where the real deal starts.
Just bought this racket and can't wait to play it !! Strings first . . 😎
Just ordered mine I can’t wait !
how long have you already played with it ? Can you share any paintjob impressions ? Does it fall off quickly like most people say :(
E46 Experience with Martin I just got mine so i can let you know
@@hamzaabbaszaidi8788 Is it good?
I’m buying this racquet. It’s not in my spec range but I want one just because I’m fed fan boy lol
Dominic Robinson Well, he won’t be around forever - might be a nice collectible
Good review to play test on the different surfaces. I have the previous all black version and still think cosmetically looks better than this version. May have considered it if it was all white; idk.
I just got this racket today! Can't wait to try it out and demolish rivals!
Good luck! Let me know how you find it.
Gabriel Hourigan Its very good 👍 The power, control, spin is very good. When I hit the ball it lands mostly right on the baseline which put my opponents off. Also slicing, volley, and serve was very good. Im 13 and switched from Pure Aero to this racket. Its a perfect racket for me
Interesting! Should do this international play test every now and then. Personally I didn't like the "handing over to you.." part.... it reminded me of another rival company. Great video nonetheless!
Just came back to say that rf97 is amazing. I put zero effort and get amazing shots. Big improvement from ps90 blx
I did the reverse thing lol, i was playing for 2 years with rf97 and I tried the 90 blx and it was pretty nice to be honest, I felt like I had a bit less power but the sensation of control compensate for this.
Hi...where are the measurements/stats like weight printed on this racquet?
Do you own several racquets? How are they in terms of weight, swing weight and balance? The same? or all they all over the Place?
I got a custom Rf97A in full gloss paint. Much more resilient than the velvet paint and while I get a little more feedback I am really pleased with how the paint job has held up.
Definitely requires gut or multi mains, I simply did not like it with a full poly bed and while the velvet paint looks great while it lasts, not resilient at all unless one is really careful.
Where's Andy? He gives the best reviews.
@Eduardo Huerta,
He left Tennis Warehouse about a year ago, to pursue other ventures.
Troy, TW
Good to see Marco again.
No offense to TW but if the specs are all the same, just a different cosmetic, what's the point of a review on a product that has already been reviewed last year?
@Saketh J,
Good question :) We have been asked several times about it, so we wanted to make sure we made it clear it was a cosmetic update and then since our sister companies in Australia and Europe have not playtested the racquet yet, we thought it would be fun to add their opinions and perspective from the other ends of the World! Plus, any excuse to hit with the RF97 is a good one for me ;) Happy hitting!
Michelle, TW
Ahh, I see. Didn't know that. Thanks for the reply!
Because.....well, Federer.
Michelle , are there any particular arm exercises that you use in order to be able to maneuver this racquet ?
It's called advertising dude. They want to sell the racquets. Duh.
Wow.. Robertson park.. i haven't been here in a long time :(
Is it worth buying? I am considering it. Is it a good racquet?
It's definitely a good racquet. It just comes down to the weight. If you are used to using something that heavy with a smaller sweet spot then go for it. - Munish, TW Staff
Does everyone model of Wilson Pro Staff RF Autograph V12 (BLACK AND WHITE) is lighter than V11, or than V13 version?
Sorry, but not quite sure what you are asking here? All three versions, (v11 v12 v13) all have the same target 340 grams unstrung weight. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse yeah, but some customers said that V12 has more headlight balance and it is easier to swing...
@@cezarysipurzynski9664, oh I see what you are saying. Well, I think it comes down to the whole quality control, and spec tolerance for the racquets in general, and not just the version (11,12,13). No matter which version you are interested in, if we still had stock for all three of them, we could go into the warehouse, and get specs for a dozen of each one and find a variety of specs to choose from, and this is why we offer our MRT racquet matching, and custom spec services. If you would like to know how this works, please contact our racquet expert department, and they will talk you through it:
Toll Free: 1.800.799.9230,
Email: racquets@tennis-warehouse.com,
Hours: M-F 6am-5pm PST. Troy, TW
It’s Troy will try to switch rf97 again XD
I have this RF97 as a guilty pleasure. It's so smooth and solid. Interestingly, I also found the 97LS feels quite smooth and solid despite being 50g lighter. So what I'm wondering now is whether the 315g PS97-tour has such a nice feel? I've seen lots of different versions of that with and without Countervail (and even some say they are just graphite and others say graphite+aramid). Which version of the 315g 97 would you recommend for a lovely classic & solid feel similar to the RF?
Also, I could not find a review from TW, who I highly regard, of the 97L and the 97LS (non countervail ideally). Do you think you'll have a chance to analyse them soon for us all? Although they are lighter, they are potentially quite impressive rackets. Thanks very much.
We found the 315g version to feel pretty smooth, and solid. We have always preferred the version that does't have Countervail. Not certain if we will review the 97L, but it is a pretty popular racquet for someone looking for a lighter option, and if you like it, that is great! Troy, TW
TW does love the Hyper G on RF 97 tests!
@Rajeev Sudhakar,
That we do! We love it in general, so you will see us use it in many playtests since we are all very familiar with how it plays!
Michelle, TW
Hi guys,
Any update is coming this year for pro staff 97? Some of my friend who works in the tennis shop said we can expect in September 2020, is it so?
Yes, an update to the Pro Staff line is set to launch late September, 2020. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks Troy ))
Are you going to sell the special laver cup edition of the pro staff RF97 autograph?
@pasterase,
Yes, available very soon.
Troy, TW
You do ship your products to Brazil, don't you?
@pasterase,
We do, but due to manufacturer restrictions, we are not allowed to ship Wilson products internationally.
Troy, TW
I used the RF PS and liked it fine (I think RF puts some lead tape at 12 o’clock on this racket?) but I switched to the regular PS to go down in weight some but then found myself trying lead tape on it. I’m not sure if I want the RF version or the regular version for my regular play. I have both frames but I’m leaning towards regular 97. I’ve been using all poly and I think I need different string to. I need control but sometimes I feel I need more power and I can hit pretty hard I just feel like the racket is too dead so I’m going to change strings I think
Will TW be supplying Diadem rackets anytime soon? I’m eager to see some play tests with them.
Michelle!! Do you still use this version or do you prefer the all black still?
@Mason Harris,
I have both in my bag, but prefer the all black ones still!
Michelle, TW
Michelle or Troy, the previous all black model was also supposed to be the same spec as the red and black one. However, we all know the all black model swung a lot easier as the SW was noticeably less. Therefore, just want to double check and ask either/both of you if this latest tuxedo model hits more similar to the red/black one or the all black model? Thanks for your input.
@Mirdad,
Based on our findings, when using the Babolat RDC Machine to obtain specifications of these racquets, (on the three different generations of the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph), we have found the swingweight numbers to fluctuate. The playtest sample that we had for the all black version, had a swingweight right around 330, and with the first generation red and black, the swingweight number was just about 340. With this newest update (tuxedo) we were lucky enough to have multiple samples, and had swingweight numbers, of roughly 329, 335, and 343. To answer your question, we have found the maneuverability factors to come down a given batch of racquets, and how much the specs fluctuate based on mass production, and not so much on the different paint-jobs. We do have MRT racquet services, where a technician will go through a batch of racquets, for a fee, and search for certian specs (weight, balance, swingweight) within reason, when looking to purchase a racquet. If interested in this service, please call our racquet experts, at 1.800.799.9230.
Troy, TW
Troy, thank you very much for your informative post. This is why I like TW.......very honest. But this is also why I'm very disappointed in Wilson! I had demoed two tuxedo racquets from TW and found: First racquet had static weight of 350 and h/l balance of 8.5. According to published specs, the racquet should weigh 357 grams without dampener+OG. So it was about 7 grams off. My previous all black version seemed to be right on spec as it weighed 363 grams with dampener/OG and 17g NXT. The other demo was much worse off in specs as it weighed only 349 grams and only 7 pts h/l. It's great that you have MRT services but I don't think it's fair for the customer to pay for it if he/she is wanting to buy a racquet that is within published specs. I suggest that TW bills back Wilson for the extra labor you endure to get the customer a racquet that meets Wilson's published spec. I would like to order a racquet with static weight of 355 to 358 with h/l balance of 9.0 to 9.5 (strung w/17 multi), 66 to 68 flex and SW of 333 to 335. If you can find me this spec I'd be a happy camper, but don't want to pay any extra for it for reasons discussed . (I gave a range in order to be fair to Wilson as I do understand there can be some subtle variations). Thanks
I am an advanced aggressive baseliner. I need a racquet with control and precision. Would you recommend this for me? Are there other racquets you would recommend?
@Justin Chung,
All the racquets you commented would be a good option -- we would recommend demoing them and giving them a try yourself to see what is best! Definitely check out this RF97, the Head Gravity Pro (or Tour as well), the Babolat Pure Strike, the Wilson Blade 98 18x20 and the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 330 and possibly the 97HD model as well.
Good luck!
Michelle, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank you for the quick and helpful reply! What string pattern would you recommend if I typically hit flat?
@@justinchung5934, 18x20 offers a lot of feel for the ball, and works well on flatter shots. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Would you recommend a Radical, Speed, or a Prestige? If so, which ones?
Hi...where are the measurements/stats like weight printed on this racquet? In the older versions, we could see the specs printed on the inside of the throat of the racquet. Recently bought this racquet online but could not see the specs on the racquet :-(
@Mansoor Andr,
Wilson removed specs on this version of the RF97, I'm assuming to go with a more simplified look, and since they printed his autograph on the inside of the throat. It has the same target specs, as the previous verisons of the RF97.
Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank you Troy, was worried I had ended up with a fake/cheap copy of RF :-). Also while playing this does not feel that heavy at all, it feels lighter than my white prostaff 95. So I am not getting the plough through that I was expecting, I have strung this with Weiss cannon explosive at 56lbs. Which string would you recommend for this version of RF?
Hey Tw,
I'm a 18 year old 3.5 level intermediate player who has been playing on the pure aero and I am looking to step up my level. I was wondering if this racket would still be a good option for me because a lot of people say it is too heavy and should only be used by advanced players.
Thanks!
I typically would not recommend jumping up in weight to this RF97 Autograph version, as it 340 grams unstrung, and has a relatively high swingweight. You might consider going with the Pro Staff 97, 315 grams unstrung version. Troy, TW
Thanks for the input, would the countervail option also be worth looking at instead of the Pro Staff 97?
you can always do play test of different racket and then feel that which racket suits your style best. the pure aero and rf97a are really on the same level, depending on your style of play. i would say that this racket is probably the best all court attacker's racket. it is hits good topspin, slices, solid volies, etc. but 1 catch, it is a jack of all trades racket, which means it is good at everything, but not the best at anything. for example, i can hit with good topspin, but not as good as the pure aero. or i can hit good kick serves, but not as good as say the vcore pro 97. and the weight will definitely be a problem, not just because of arm fatigue, but also because of injury risk. if lets say you have a bad wrist or shoulder, you will risk injuring your wrist or shoulder after a while because of the weight of the racket.
How many onces of weight difference between this raquet and the pro staff 97l ? and what do you think are the differences and advantages when playing?🎾 thank you!
1.8 ounces, or 50 grams difference between this one, and the 97L. There is also the Pro Staff 97 which is in the middle at 315 grams unstrung. This RF97 Autograph is the most stable, and hefty feeling, but packs a lot of power if you are able to wield it effectively. The Pro Staff 97L is much more maneuverable. The Pro Staff 97 is in between this one, and the 97L in terms of maneuverability. Troy, TW
I hope it goes on sale during quarintine.
@Mason,
The black/white version has been on sale for a bit now!
www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-PRF97A.html
Michelle, TW
@@tenniswarehouse hey Michelle, thanks for the response. I know the rf97 is your racket of choice, just curious, which one do you use right Now? The black or white? Which do you personally think looks cooler? Thanks.
Wilson Racquets is the No 1 racquet are best other racquet doesn't have everything equal like this racquet
How is the RF97 in terms of quality? Read a lot about weight, balance and swing weight not being very accurate to what is specified. Is this only smoke and no fire? Or is the quality Control not as good at Wilson any more?
The racquet plays great if you are seeking plow through, a very solid feel at contact, and a lot of control. The specs can have some fluctuation within a given batch of racquets, and that is why we often recommend our MRT custom, and matching services, where we can go through our stock and pick out a spec that is close to the manufacturer target as possible. This tuxedo cosmetic is just as good as the all Black version, it just doesn't get as much attention, because Roger only played with it for a short time. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouseThanks Troy!!! Much appreciated!!! I bought two of the tuxedo frame and they are absolutely fantastic!!! 365 grams unstrung, but as far as I can tell identical, or at least I can't measure or feel any difference between the two.
@@johanmelander4521, Nice! I hope those frames play great for you, and your game. Very solid feeling racquets. Troy, TW
Hi Tennis Warehouse, currently I use the Pro Staff 97 LS. Recently it has become to light for my liking, so I would like to switch. I like the feel of the racket, but not the weight, so what do you recommend for me to buy?
@Aidan Robinson,
The Wilson Blade 98S (18x16) Countervail racquet is a good option. It has a bit more mass, a higher swingweight, and still possesses the Spin Effect 18x16 string pattern that is on the Pro Staff 97LS racquet. If you want even more weight in the racquet, then the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Black is the way to go.
Troy, TW
How can you be smiling and hitting that well?! I cant hit that well when I have my game face on! lol Thanks for clearing up on cosmetic update!
Hey TW I enjoy this racket with Wilson’s champion choice string, but it is too expensive! Could you guys recommend any alternatives that are more economically friendly? Thanks!
@Joel Howell,
You could try Volkl V-Fuse Hybrid, which is also a natural gut/co-poly hybrid, and is about half the price of Champions Choice, on our website. Besides that, the next best thing, would be a co-poly, and multifilament hybrid. Something like the Wilson Duo Power, or mixing a string like Signum Pro Poly Plasma, and Tecnifibre NRG2, are some good hybrid options.
Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse I’ll try them out, thanks Troy!
Hey guys! This is a random question but what kind of strings should I use for my blade?? What strings make good contect sound, power and little less spin
Master Cycle Zero try guitar
@Master Cycle Zero,
Tecnifibre NRG2, or Wilson NXT Power are some great options. If you break your strings frequently, then maybe try a co-poly like Volkl Cyclone, or Solinco Hyper-G.
Troy, TW
Michelle, how do you have your RF97 strung up? What set up would you recommend to facilitate greater directional control? Thanks.
She has been loving the new Tecnifibre Ice Code 16 gauge, strung up at 58 pounds. The control is great with that string. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank, Troy. Can you recommend something comparable sold through Tennisonly Australia?
@@eloquench,
We all really enjoy playing Solinco Hyper-G. It is one of the favorites among the playtest team. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Cheers :)
Can I get the weight of about 215 of this racket? Because the one I am using now is too heavy
Sorry, but 215? Did you mean 315, as in grams of the frame? or 315 as in the swingweight? Troy, TW
Hi TW. Hi have the 1st iteration of this racket. I use poly strings usualy luxilon savage or luxilon alu power, but I feel some arm discomfort. Would you be so kind to recommend a couple of hybrid options (no Champions choice too expensive) . And would you string the multi on the mains ir crosses? Thanks in advance
@André castro,
For about half the price of Champions Choice, you could still do a natural gut hybrid. Volkl has the V-Fuse Hybrid, or you could go with something like Babolat Tonic+ 16, and Signum Pro Poly Plasma. With a natural gut hybrid, I prefer the gut in the mains, as it provides great feel, and spin. Some other hybrid strings I recommend are Tecnifibre NRG2, Yonex Rexis, Head Velocity MLT, Gosen AK Pro CX, and Head Synthetic Gut PPS. For co-polys, Luxilon ALU Power is a great choice. I also enjoy the Signum Pro Poly Plasma, Prince Tour XP, and Tecnifibre Pro Red Code Wax. With a synthetic gut, or multi hybrid, I prefer the co-poly in the mains. There are a ton of options to choose from when it comes to a hybrid, these just happen to be some of my favorites.
Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Some of the options you mentioned are not availabe on the European website. I'll take a look at those that are.
Thanks for the feedback Troy.
I play with the RF97 as well and tested many hybrid setups as I got arm discomfort playing with polys. Now for over a year and a half, I'm using Signum Pro Micronite main 25kg and Signum Pro Hyperion cross 24kg. It works for me. I have a feeling that the ball stays longer on the racquet thus providing me more control and touch, especially at the net. Cheers.
Hi tennis warehouse, why I dont get to see player using federer playstyle?
Is it also necessary to swing like federer since its heavy?
Ive been meaning to ask this ever since. Because Im also going to purchase from you guys since my friends always recommends this. I have pro staff 95 autograph and would like to upgrade.
It is necessary to swing with good technique and with a certain amount of strength
Hello Troy,
I switched from ncode 6.1 95 and blx 6.1 95 (+3grs at 9 and 3 at 6 o'clock and leather grip) to RF 97 and I'm still trying to decide wich one I like more (2 years and counting, hehe), because I like the feel of both of them. I have a pretty good and accurate flat fast forehand that take advantage of the mass of my racquets. Due to tennis elbow I started to used multis and they improved my game a lot but they have low durability even when I use string savers (save you from cutting strings during a match but I think detriments string performance). Can you recommend me a good budget multifilament string? I'm currently using Pro Supex Maxim Touch wich I like a lot. but it's not easy to find here in my country and my reel is running out. Thanks for the response.
Pablo
@p fc,
Here are a few strings to consider: Tecnifibre Multifeel, Prince Premier Control, Wilson Optimus, Head Velocity MLT.
Troy, TW
Hi I'm curious about how we can get the racket matching option? Is that during checkout or where?
@Jonathan Chen,
It is something that has to be set-up by one of our racquet experts, as the order is being placed. You can contact them at,
Toll Free: 1.800.799.9230, or, Email: racquets@tennis-warehouse.com.
Troy, TW
Hello, i want to know what of the new racquets is the most similar compare to the Pro Staff Six.one 100 blx or the Pro Staff Six.one 95 blx
@tennis alv,
Racquets that I would compare to the Wilson Six One 95 BLX, are the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph, Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (330), Yonex VCORE SV 95 (with some added weight), and the Volkl Super G 10 Mid 330. For the Pro Staff Six One 100 BLX, I would consider the Prince Textreme Tour 100T, Yonex VCORE Pro 100 (280), Volkl V-Sense V1 MP, and the Babolat Pure Strike Team.
Troy, TW
Ok, thanks for the information
I wonder, is this racket basically the same as the black one, with the same feel, except for the difference of the painting?
@Luan Carvalho,
Correct. It is just a cosmetic (paint) update!
Michelle, TW
Tennis Warehouse thank you:)
Hello. I am 15 years old and I'm 5ft 9in. Do you think this is the right racket for me?
I would likely go with the Pro Staff 97 (315 gram version), as this racquet is very hefty. Troy, TW
TW - what tension would you recommend for Champions Choice setup? I currently use this racquet with Gosen Sidewinder 17 @ 50lbs. Gosen loses tension way too quickly and ball starts sailing on me after about 45 minutes of playing ... would CC’s Gut Main @ 53 lbs and Poly @ 50 lbs be comparable to my current setup? I do hit with a lot of topspin, and I’m looking for a similar response. Thanks.
@Michael Hwang,
That sounds about right for the tension on Champions Choice. I was going to recommend either 53/51, or 54/52, with the gut mains and Lux rough crosses.
Troy, TW
Thanks, Troy
This is probably what Justine Henin and Lindsay Davenport would use if they were still playing on tour today right?
It is hard to say what they would be endorsing at this point. That said, for most of their careers they both used some iteration of the Tour 95, which the closest racquet now would be the Wilson Ultra 95 Countervail, www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-U95CV.html. Troy, TW
Hi guys,
i just switched from my babolat pure drive to wilson pro staff RF autograph 2018, could you suggest any strings and tension coz this racquet is more stiff ?
I've used for pure drive vs touch in main and alu power rough in crosses . Im intermediate player with aggressive play mostly at the baseline. I would like to maintain or even excel same level of power, control, feel and spin as i have with my pure drive.
I would continue to use the hybrid, VS Touch & ALU Power Rough. Since the RF97 Autograph is slightly smaller in headsize, and offers more control, you may want to consider dropping the tension by a pound or two, to help compensate. Troy, TW
Does pro staff rf 97 v11 and v12 same grommet?
Yes, grommets are interchangeable for the RF97 racquets v11 and v12. We noticed on some of the RF97's that the grommet strip at the bottom of the sides of the hoop, around 5 and 7 o'clock the plastic tip is a little different, but other than that the string pattern and string spacing is all the same for the RF (340 gram version). However Wilson did change the string spacing slightly with the non RF (315 gram) version with the v13. Troy, TW
Is it good for intermediate level player?
This RF97 Autograph version is heavy racquet, and is best suited for advanced to professional players. For an intermediate that is considering the Pro Staff line of racquets, we recommend looking at the Pro Staff 97L, or Pro Staff 97 (315 gram version), as they will be more maneuverable, and less demanding overall. Troy, TW
How about Wilson burn fst 95 then?
@@tahmidtajwar4596, That one is still more targeted towards advanced players, on the heavier side, and the 95 headsize isn't all that forgiving. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank you Troy
Is there a way to get a pro staff 95
@Winston Gu,
Wilson discontinued that racquet, and we no longer have any in our inventory. You could try searching on a trade site, or check the classifieds section on our Talk Tennis message boards, tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php.
Troy, TW
such a shame this line got discontinued, very successful, just because a certain player moved to a 97, so nothing more demanding can be manufactured anymore for public. logical. as it seems
try a Prestige, similar weight class, swing style, player's mold/frame, same headsize. Serve as butter. You may be surprised.
Can you guys do a string review on the rpm blast + VS Touch hybrid?
@All Blitzball and More,
It is not on our current review schedule, but we will keep it in mind. I have used that hybrid, with VS mains, and RPM crosses, and it plays great. I found slightly more control than Wilson Champions Choice, as RPM play more dead than ALU Rough. Just about any natural gut hybrid with a co-poly cross, that I have tried, plays very well.
Troy, TW
Thanks for answering many of my questions!
Is this an arm friendly frame?
It is on the stiffer side, but feels comfortable with a softer string type, such a Wilson NXT, or Champions Choice. For a softer feel, you might consider the Wilson Blade 98 v7. Troy, TW
Will they ever release that look on the normal pro staff 97? (The non countervail one)
@Riviers,
With the current Black/White cosmetic, they will only have the Countervail version of the Pro Staff 97.
Troy, TW
Would Volkl Cyclone tour be a good alternative to the expensive champions choice on this racket?
@Drink The Earth,
Volkl Cyclone Tour is a good choice for a soft, and spin friendly co-poly. It won't substitute the level of feel, and tension maintenance that Champions Choice provides.
Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse what if I hybrid Cyclone tour with another co-poly?
@Drink The Earth,
I'm sure it will play just fine, whether you go full bed of Cyclone Tour, or mix with another co-poly that has better tension maintenance. That said, you cannot mimic the feel of natural gut, with a poly, or just about any synthetic string for that matter.
Troy, TW
Cyclone > Cyclone tour
My dad uses 17/18 g cyclone tour (usually red, once anthracite) on the 1st Gen Red/ black autograph @53 lbs and loves it in a full bed. Plenty of power and control is perfect with smooth swings. He had used black widow but felt it was too stiff for this frame (though not on other flexible frames). I think cyclone 18 or 19 would work well on this frame too but am not sure what tension would be appropriate for you. It is definitely stiffer and more control oriented than CT.
Will this Racquet be good for a junior player? Im 14.
For a 14yr old junior player, I would consider the Wilson Pro Staff 97L, or Pro Staff 97. What racquet are you currently using? Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse I am currently using the Steam 96 but feel like it is a bit too light for me. I am not sure how heavy the racquet should be for a junior player
@@WiredDragon-fm6sy,
You could try the Pro Staff 97 (it is 315 grams unstrung). I would also consider the Wilson Ultra 95 Countervail, which is the updated version of the Steam 96, and it is also heavier. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse I searched up the Wilson pro staff 97 but is there a 2018 version of it? Also, will there be a new 2019 version coming out soon? I was thinking about the 97L but I heard that heavier racquets are better than lighter ones. Thanks.
best not to use that heavy a racket for a junior player, or there is a good chance of injuring the player's wrist and shoulder, especially because muscles are still not developed enough yet. you would feel it if you are just using for maybe a few weeks, but over long periods of time, you will start to feel the pain in your muscles and joints. if you still want to use it, i suggest you being 2 rackets when playing. use the heavier one of maybe 30 minutes play, before switching to the lighter one
TW Michelle- what’s your strings and tension for the RF Auto
@Senator Seth,
Hyper G at 57 lbs.
Michelle, TW
Which string do you recommend for this rf97 auto?
For the best all-around performance, we recommend Wilson Champion's Choice Hybrid (gut in the mains). A less expensive alternative would be Wilson Duo Control, or Volkl Psycho. Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thank you Troy!! I just purchase four rf97 racquets from TW.
@@stevekim578 awesome, good luck with the new frames! Which string have you tried in the past? Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thank you-!!! I tried only RPM blast & Volkl Cyclone & Pro Hurricane.
@@stevekim578 I see. Those are good strings, but sometimes the RF97A with a full poly can feel a bit "boardy". If you want to try a poly with a bit more feel, and comfort, Tecnifibre Ice Code is a really good one. Troy, TW
How does this racquet compare to the Volkl C10 pro ?
@zeromus2009,
This Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is a bit heftier, has a stiffer feel, and packs more power and plow through. The C10 Pro maneuvers a bit easier, has a softer/flexier response, and a lower powered feel.
Troy, TW
Is there any way y’all think I customize the pro staff 97L to feel just like the pro staff 97 without cv
@Proximity YT,
We offer customization services, where we can take the unstrung frame of the PS97L, and match the specs to the unstrung frame specs of the PS97. Please contact our racquet experts for the details, and pricing, 1.800.799.9230. If you want to try and add the weight yourself, we have a customization tool on our Tennis Warehouse University: twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customization.php. Troy, TW
Nice racket
does rafas new racquet come out in 2018 or 2019?
@HIEPO123,
The new Pure Aero is set to release in October, 2018.
Troy, TW
So if this racket has the exact same specs as the Autograph non-tux, it's been knocked down $90 purely because the tux look has failed? I don't like it either but that's a hard discount to ignore.
Yes, this is the same racquet as the all black RF97 Autograph, just a different cosmetic. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Hi i recently bought black and white because of the discount :), and i must say the spec are not the same, black and white is 9pt HL un strung and the all black is 12pt HL. Please check the spec once again.
@@diemcarpe2, Sorry, I have tried to explain this to many customers in the past. There is not a direct difference between the two different cosmetic versions. There is a difference in all of the RF97 Autograph racquets, no matter the paint on the racquet. It comes down to the racquet manufacturing tolerances for the specs. If you take a dozen all black RF97 Autograph racquets, or Black/White ones, you will find differences in just about all of them. This is why we recommend using our MRT matching services, for a small fee, we will pick out a frame from our inventory, that is closest to the target specs listed on the racquet. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks for the fast reply, just want to mention my friend also purchased one black and white and the spec were identical to mine. Un-strong weight 340gr and 9pt Hl. That why i wrote my comment. So we needed to add lead in the butcap of the handle to reach the balance of the all black and that increased the total weight. But nevertheless it is great racquet and i am planning to use it for years to come.
@@diemcarpe2, I see, and in that case it does seem that it is a specific thing to the Black/White cosmetic. I have measured quite a few racquets of the RF97, and have found a decent amount of fluctuation, between the all black cosmetic, and black/white. I mostly pay attention to the swingweight, and have found as low as 325, up to 340, which can feel very different in hand. Sorry that we weren't able to have one of our MRT's pick you out a racquet that had the 12 pt HL balance unstrung. Maybe you can use that service in the future. Regards, Troy, TW
Hi, I'm looking for a new racquet as a substitute for ProStaff 95 and I have some choices; ProStaff97 or Yonex VCORE Pro 97.
Which racquet do you think is more similar to ProStaff 95?
I tried Blade98(16x19) but this one didn't match for me :(
@あまちゃｎ,
I think that the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (310) is a good one to compare to the Pro Staff 95. The Pro Staff 97 is a bit more powerful, and doesn't quite have the thinner beam feel of the VCORE Pro 97. I would also consider the Tecnifibre TFight DC 315 Ltd. (16x19).
Troy, TW
Thank you! I think I will try VCORE and TFight.
for the sake of familiar feeling, weight class, swing type and keeping the 95 headsize, try a Prestige MP or PRO as well.
Thanks! I will try it too. I'm counting on a MP.
Hayden looked like he was showing off
michelle, you look especially pretty on this review :-)
@ahmad,
Thank you for the smile! :)
Michelle, TW
Tennis Warehouse Pretty game too - nice angles at the net!
@michaelscoots,
Thank you!!
Michelle, TW
guys, can you do review to Wilson x Bape ?? (hehe sorry for bad english)
@Rifka Agri,
The Camo racquets are just paintjobs, so we don't have any plans to review them at this point but are happy to help answer any questions you might have!
Michelle, TW
Ow i see, thx btw
is the 16x15 string pattern dead?
@Erich Lim,
Wilson still offers it on the Ultra 105S racquet. Troy, TW
Does Tennis Only stock the replacement leather grip found on the RF97 tuxedo version?
Unfortunately, we do not have the Wilson Leather Replacement Grips, at Tennis Only. Troy, TW
Which racquet is more powerful, the blade 98 16x19 or RF97 ??
Your review says the RF97, however the data from Troy's previous RF97 review seems to indicate that the Blade is more powerful.
Could you clarify this
@Jayson Waddell,
I would give the edge in power to the RF97, as it is stiffer, and has a higher swingweight in stock form. As long as you can generate just as much racquet head speed with the RF97, I think you can get more power from it, compared to the Blade 98. I know that my PlaySight data showed me hitting with more power using the Blade 18x20, during the 2016 RF97 review. That said, it may have been a case where I felt more confident swinging harder, and flatter with my racquet of choice. Sometimes I feel more confident swinging freely with my racquet of choice, than I will with a given playtest racquet. I also think that I had my Blade 98 18x20 customized back then, with a swingweight right around 340, which likely helped add some power to my shots.
Troy, TW
Hey Michelle, I want to demo the racquet but really want solinco hyper G on it... Can it be arranged for one of your biggest fans? If there is a size 3 in stock can you put an hold on it for me ?
@Becker's Reviews,
You can borrow mine ;)
Unfortunately, we don't have custom string options on demos at this point, although that would be a great way to demo. Our RF97 demos with poly *should* be strung with 4G, which is a great option as well and will still allow you to see if the RF97 is a good option for you (then you can get yours and string them with Hyper G!)!
Michelle, TW
an option to change the string, albeit with a string fee to recuperate, would be nice
Why is the net so low?
@Neighbor Gamez,
Hmmm...in which region? I think it may just look low but it is of regulation height.
Michelle, TW
Marco!!
Good
I want
That australian net was weird as heck!
Fernando Rodriguez wow,they should have put a better net.
its up side down mate
Not heavy: 1:34 🤣
why still no countervail on this....is beyond my imagination...third time without it this racket is no competition to the blade 98 cv... servewise but thats about it...very unhappy about that, thanks roger
@khan SHAKA,
I can only imagine RF tried the racquet with Countervail and did not like it and that is why that racquet still does not have the CV technology. So until RF likes Countervail, I doubt this racquet will get any unfortunately. You could always weigh up a Pro Staff 97 CV and bring it up to the RF spec -- just an idea :)
Michelle, TW
cant they not make a CV version for consumers? maybe that is what consumers want, the added comfort to play down those high end consumer specs... or will that stain the idea that "there is something updated (meaning "better" pfft lol) than what Roger similarly uses?
Without CV, the racquet feels more firm and powerful. Federer likes those I would think. Plus, he's fit and strong.
how come solinco hyper g is being used everywhere? is it living up to the hype?
Nope worst string ever :D never found any good in it... and i have been used alot of difference strings like cyclone, cyclone tour, blast, blast rough , luxion and alot more :D
@Jonathan Chen,
It's one of our favorites! And it's a favorite on tour...so there must be something appealing ;) But don't just take our word for it, give it a try!
Michelle, TW
would this be good in a hybrid setup? and is this considered like a poly or synthetic?
@Jonathan Chen,
Definitely! That would be a great idea! Hyper G is co-polyester (so yes, a poly).
Michelle, TW
alright ill definitely try it out
finally
Can u do a light edition preview too
@Yash Sharma,
Unfortunately, we are only reviewing the RF97 Autograph version. We did a review for the Pro Staff 97 Countervail here, ua-cam.com/video/NJCdtQh-42c/v-deo.html.
Troy, TW
Holy shit thats robertson park
They need to work on hiding how scripted there descriptions of the racquets.
Honestly answer this Tennis Warehouse. Who do u think is your best play tester and send me the name of a video with him or her in it.
Feel sorry for all who bought this frame because fed played it and now he’s playing with the older model again
Do h fun dynamic. £day
E
double backhand? no stretched arm when in forehand?
REALLY?
What is with all these baseliners reviewing a tiny racquet?
@Ian Ng,
Say what🤔?
TW Staff