@@tantennis 20kg would be ridiculous. This needs a crisp, control orientated stringbed to get the best out of the racquet. I have mine at 53lbs with Alu Power and it plays great (when the strings are fresh). When the tension gets too loose the racquet just turns into a cannon without enough control. The racquet encourages you to rip on the ball which is why you need a tighter tension or at least a tension thats not too low.
I agree with the others - tension is too low to get the best out of this racquet. There are only 4 mains that are closely spaced, and even then, they're the longest string so they end up feeling softer.
Some feedback from a 4.5 USTA player as for background and skill level - Playing with the RF-01 (300g) Specced to be 310 Unstrung (10g in Handle) (which for me packs the stability but not the arm wear-down over time as a 320 unstrung) Using 17g poly hybrid strung at 47 (this is probably the most important IMO, I tried my second one at 53lbs starting out and it was atrocious compared to starting it a few pounds lower) Total time now at 10 hours with the racquet, final strung weight - 334g. Plays better than my Aero 98s and Radical Pro for me. Important to note this was never designed to be a Prof-staff or replace a pro-staff. This is to compete with the Aero 98, Speed, Radical, and Vcore lines. and it absolutley is just as good and even a bit 'crispier' than those on strike and contact. Playing against some variety of servers, but notably a couple guys that hit around 115-120mph, never had any issues getting good cuts on return, ESP. if you like to step in and do slice blocks aka sabr type of returns. I play 2H but am competent in 1H backhands as well, I will say it plays great for both but it does have a little extra something for 1h backhanders. Best shots with this are by far the Serve, slice and volleys. I'd give the RF-01 300g a 9/10 in performance and a 10/10 in style and looks ;) I only hit with the Pro about 2 hours so wouldn't say for sure but it felt amazing if you like heavier frames. I've spent a couple weeks with Shift and Clash and this is not even in the same universe as the Shift or Clash, not even remotely resembling those frames. This is leaps above. The Blade will have some more control but this will have a little more accessible Power (at least on the Pro Version directly compared to the Blade 98) The 300g versus the Blade 98 is hands down more powerful which is intended.
I would have to disagree with you point on the competition for the RF 01, The specs are most close to an Ezone 98, same stiffness RA64, same balance, same tapered variable beam, same 16 x19 dense string pattern The main differences are its foam filled, 5g lighter and the head and grip shape. This is the perfect platform racquet to customise with lead tape!
Did you try adding any weight to the hoop? Want to know if adding lead to hoop will make it play similar to the Pro version. Also, is the 300g 01 version softer than Pro 320g version? According to Tenniswarehouse, RA is lower for the 300g 01 model. Thanks for insight btw
@@ptssa9896 I think in terms of overall softness both versions are pretty similar in my opinion, they were both strung with the same string (vokyl cyclone 17) which is a somewhat comfort poly. They both played pretty crisp but I didn't feel any discomfort, and could definitley tell they were a little firmer than the Blades which was nice. The Pro still felt pretty head light when going through the ball, just overall felt a little heftier after an hour of swinging it, I think they play pretty similarly except the Pro has that natural weight on the shots. Generally 3oclock/9oclock head weight can made a racquet product a little more heft in my experiences.
I like your reviews but I personally liked this racket! I am NOT a Federer groupie so I care 0 if it is RF or named differently .I have demo for 3 days (about 5 hours play) the pro strung with Ali power 125 at 50 lbs and I loved it. I used to play with Babolat pure arrow, head speed, head extreme. I found good power and spin (not extreme but the right amount), very stable and great to swing, very good at the net. The string pattern is very interesting, gave me good forgiveness on ground stroke and at the net is very precise.I am considering switching to it. I also dont care about esthetic of the racket. For me was a very stable racket, easy to swing with a good mix of power , spin and control. It seems like a blade with more spin and power access, that is good!
I hate the TW reviews and the usual OTT hype when new products are released so Tan's review was pretty refreshing BUT having tried this racquet, I completely disagree with him. This racquet is actually very good. It needs lead tape in the hoop as 300g is far too light but once weighted up, I think its better than the Blade 98, Pro Staff 97 etc and it isn't as stiff at the Shift 99. It suits someone with an attacking game style as it hits a very penetrative flatter trajectory ball through the court, rather than a loopy shaped ball. I was expecting to hate his racquet based on this review, but I actually really like it (once weighted up) - it plays really well. Think about for a moment - do you really think RF is going to put his name to a racquet that's junk? Of course not! Throw out the pre-conceptions and try it for yourself with weight added.
I just had another 2 hours hitting with the racquet (+6g lead at 3,6,12 to bring it to 330g all in), bringing my total playing time to over 10 hours now. I'm genuinely loving this racquet!! Better than a Blade 98, more useable that a Pro Staff 97, less stiff and more precise than the Shift 99, more power and spin than a Prestige......I honestly think its the best 98sq" racquet on the market right now for an attacking player.
Thank you for this honest and (to my opinion) spot on review of the RF 01 ! Your experiences with this RF 01 are equal to mine and I can tell you that I have spent a couple of days on the court to test this frame with several settings (strings, tension, adding lead tape), but unfortunately I could not get it playable the way I wanted..... I have a reasonably to good experience with customizing rackets and am also a long time user of Wilson prostock frames like the H22, and retail frames like the Pro Staff and the Blade because these are the rackets which fit my playing style the best. With regard to aspects like stability, control, and ball feel my Pro Staff v14 and my H22 (18x20) are my reference frames, and the performance of the RF 01 which I experienced is simply far behind the overall performance of the mentioned frames. What stood out the most for me in negative way with the RF 01 was the lack of torsional stability in the hoop in combination with the small sweetspot; on moments that you want to hit heavy groundstrokes with lots of acceleration and depth you have to hit the ball exactly in the sweetspot otherwise you feel the frame torsional twisting and flexing and the ball will come of the stringbed almost ''dead''.... Adding some lead tape at 3/9 o'clock position will give a slight advantage, but does not solve the problem at all and the frame will also feel somewhat sluggish and unnatural. The best way to improve the playability of the RF 01 is to add around 4 grams of leadtape on the 12 o'çlock position, which increase the swinghweight with some necessary points and take a bit away the overwhelming feel of lack of mass and torsional stability in the hoop of the frame. I do understand that the RF 01 line is a new line and not a successor of the Pro Staff line, but I can't imagine that Wilson produced a racket line in close collaboration with Roger Federer that performs slightly better than a Wilson Clash and feels like a mix of a Clash and a Shift....
Maybe next time you should get a swingweight balance machine to check sa specs rather than just basing it from what it says in the decals on the rackets. Cuz its usually not accurate what they put on those specs 🤦🏻♂️ Amazing review! Honest!
Thank you for sincere review. Today, I tested the racquet, but it was little bit heavy for me so I was used to fail control. Also like your mention, it was too hard to find sweet spot. So I decided to stay using Blade V9. Thanks.
I had a different experience with this racked, I think it is a small gem and deserves some time investment to be tamed. Context: I play some tournaments in Switzerland and I hit 3+ hours a week also with trainers to improve physically and technically. Not sure what in the US system is, but I guess 4.0-4.5 should sort of be the level. I was super curious about this racket, but I was also super skeptical as it sounded like a marketing gig by Wilson. I learned to play with a Wilson Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 a long time ago and sort of always sticked with Wilson until 4 years ago when I moved to Yonex (VCore first and then Percept). I tried many other frames from Wilson, including the Shift that for me has been the greatest disappointment of all times: by far the worst stick I ever tried. Blade, Ultra and Clash were no-go for me, even if the Blade in the latest iteration seems to be another racket I would like to try again. I play a OHBH and right now, I love the 100D, even if it's not super stable with a OHBH, it gives me enough forgiveness to play even against younger players (I am almost 38, fit, but not fast as a 20 yo OFC...), I can defend and volleys are quite nice with that dense pattern, spin requires some wrist work in some situations, but it's still manageable to some extend. I am not a heavy top-spin hitter, so a dense pattern helps to keep control when I hit flat. So after some context, back to the RF 01: I picked both the Pro and the regular of this racket and managed to hit around 4 hours with the pro and 3 hours with the regular, I string with gut in the main and Wasabi X in the crosses (24-22 kg for the mains normally and 1 kg less for crosses, for this I decided to start on the low range, so 22/21kg), I have been so habit to have gut that I can't really let it go, even if I am constantly trying something to cut down on costs as gut is not cheap. 💸 That said, after some time hitting with this racket I have to say that the Pro is a wonderful stick for people having a OHBH. The stability, the way the ball leaves the stringbed, the feeling, etc... it's definitely a racket you can feel it has been designed by a player with a OHBH. I know rackets don't have such categorisation, but this one really feels a first-class option for OHBH. For me the Pro is great for having fun, but it's a bit too heavy to use during matches, especially if I need to defend, the weight makes me a bit slower than I need and I end up mishitting or missing too frequently, but on the offensive side it's a joy to use. Now, let's talk about the regular one, so the 300g, this one is a bit more unstable on OHBH, especially if you need to return a big server, but I think this is an amazing foundation for some customisation. I still think the stock form is amazing, definitely better than the current Pro Staff and even better than the VCore 98 (I never used Babolat or Head, so I can't give any realistic opinion about them, sorry), but to really shine, a bit of weight in some places might be necessary to find the right balance. What impressed me on this racket is that it does everything quite similarly to the Blade, but just a bit better. For the OHBH the 300g are a bit hard to control on full swing vs people playing hard, it really requires a couple of grams more to stabilise the frame at contact, but if you are open to customise it a bit, this racket is a perfect starting point. I known everyone has its own preferences and play style, so just take everything I said with grain of salt, but this frame, for being a first iteration of something new, it is a refreshing product by Wilson. I will keep my Percepts 100D and add 2x RF regular (with some extra weight in the handle, probably 7-10g) to my bag, I really loved this frame and I will try to customise it to perfectly fit my style, I really enjoyed it since the start, can't deny it.
I think your takeaways are pretty much the same as mine in the video tho. You mentioned the unstability of the 300g on service return. It’s great on the attack, I totally agree. The only differences are probably you have OHBH, which I agree, it’s not good for my 2HBH at all. Another thing is that probably you use natural gut so it opens the sweetspot, while mine is on full-bed poly, so you may not notice the small sweetspot as I did. Thanks for sharing.
@@tantennis Don't take anything as criticisms, I by no mean intended to criticise the video which I found quite good, it just sounded a bit negative as I guess the expectations were on having something like the RF97(?). That said, you made a good point about the nat gut vs full poly! I haven't considered that. One of the reasons I struggle to find a poly that suits my game style is probably because I always tried to tension a poly with the same range I do my hybrid. Reading some of the comments on this channel and also watching some other videos made me realise that maybe I need to try to lower 1-2kg the next time I try a new poly (ordered some Grapplesnake as it seems to be a good brand). My 2 hand backhand is a complete disaster, so I can't give any meaningful feedback on this racket, but I have a good friend who plays with a Pure Aereo and has a quite topspin heavy 2HB and I will ask him to try this racket in the next weeks and see what he says, I am curious now :) Quite sure he will hate it as he's a Babolat fan and pretty much trashes everything else, but it's going to be a fun session.
@@bonto_jr Don’t worry I’m not taking it as criticism, and I do appreciate you sharing you experience with the racket. I just found it interesting that we share some key takeaways although we have different preferences.
@@svlagonda7417 I disagree with your comment - I'm just a 60 yo club player and usually have 3-6 rackets in bag or at home, regularly buy and sell rackets just to try - always in the head or wilson range - so your comment is mute IMO.
@@svlagonda7417 Roger gave a comparison with people who bought shoes, watches, and cars every year. There are tons of people who buy at least one or multiple pairs of runners annually. A HOKA pair costs about $100-200. A $300 watch is considered a cheap watch, and there are many people who buy watches every year as well. There is nothing BS about the current trend.
Thanks for the review, I always like your honesty but I will give you a different vision. I have a different opinion on this one, I realy like this racket. I have a OHB and I think like other people in the comment section, it work way better with hybrid or gut setup. Like any racket, it compliment more certain playstyle and for this stick I guess you need a fast arm action and you really need to "go for it" otherwise the sensation and efficiency are not optimal (it's an attacking racket for agressive swing in my opinion). Also people need to test before they buy or talk about it but they don't 😂 I think we need to let the racket finds it's pubilc, because for me it's a really good all around attacking stick, and like any racket it suit certain player more, we need to understand that because there is Roger name on it, it will not magiclly be the perfect racket for all of his fan!! Anyway, continue the goog work, a viewer from France!!!
Finally a video that actually really honest. I play with the RF97 v13 so that could kind of tell u where my tennis game is. Others are making it seem like this new version is a way friendlier version but your take says otherwise.
Playing with a blade v9 16*19 weighted up to 315 grams. Today i hit the first time with the RF Pro. It was a really good experience, a bit more power and spin then my blade, so i really looking forward to test it tomorrow to
Hi thanks for sharing your thoughts on this racket. Was just wondering what forehand grip do you use and does it have an impact on the feel of the racket?
Nice review Tan…I need to try it and even want to buy it purely as a Fed fan but for some reason this whole RF line is giving me the Kmart cheap vibes, apart from the price😂I don’t know why but I still just feel this is a cash grab for Wilson and if he was chasing something lighter he could’ve just gone to the ProStaff 97 being more similar to what he’s been so use to..We’ll see if he actually uses the Pro when he plays with Rafa in Laver Cup for Rafas last match😂That’s my prediction anyway😂😂
Interesting perspective! Demos for me of this and the Pro should be arriving soon...I am in the process of switching to the Blade 98 16x19 v9, which I'm surprised by given that it's lower power and spin than I wanted, but really enjoying the stability and ability to go all out for my shots. People are saying this is going to seriously cannibalize the Blade line - do you think that will be the case? My concern with the Blade is that kick / spinny lefty serves and being a great volleying racquet are what I need most from a racquet, and thinking that the RF Pro might be better in that regard.
I use RF97 and I love it, this model is not convincing to me - doesn’t seem like the racquets Roger played with throughout his whole career - seems like a cash grab. Thanks for your honest review!
I often agree with you. I understand everything you said in your review, except about the feel ! Dude, it is so unfair to compare it with shift or clash which are garbage ! Mine came with 4g (don't know the tension) and it's the best feeling i have ever had with a racket
Clash is the best selling rackets of Wilson I cannot say it’s garbage. Feel is subjective, it depends on what tour background is. At sweetspot I think the feel is ok but not to the level of Blade or PS97 or H22 etc, but better than Radical and PA98. But if you like how it feels then the racket is good for you, buy it.
@@tantennis well, cause marvel sell a lot of tickets, it's good movies ? i didn't say the racket is garbage but the feel is... Stick is 300g, doesn't make sense to compare it to PS97 or H22. I think there is a misunderstanding between feel and pocketing. Blade pockets the ball better but it's way more ambiguous in the strings
The RF 01 is certainly a players racquets perfect for customisation, at 300g its the perfect platfom racquet with plenty of room to customise without making it too heavy with lead tape! On specs its very close to another attacking player racquet that being, the Ezone 98 its has the same stiffness RA 64/65, same balance, same tapered variable beam, same 16 x19 dense string pattern. The main differences are its foam filled, 5g lighter and the head and grip shape.
People have to understand Roger is retired and now he's a business man with his brands. He will say anything to make his products shine on the market. I wouldn't buy into such marketing gimmicks, even as a huge Roger fan... they tried to mimick some popular frames with this like an Ezone, Aero 98 or Speed MP. But unfortunately it doesn't work out, the racquet is nothing special and more of a copycat in a "RF" jacket...
Completely agree. Similar things have been happening on those On Running tennis shoes, selling for double the price of the other shoes yet the performance is not there according to reviews. Making a good product is hard, and making a product that's worthy of his name in the tennis world is even harder. I personally think it would be better if he sticked to clothing or just helped brand some already very successful products than to come up with his own...
@@ericzhong5863 I agree, ON is a totally overpriced brand that spends huge money just on marketing. Their materials are cheap feeling and not durable at all. Would avoid at all costs. But thats another story. I mean I would be happy seeing a great new lineup from Wilson, but these new RF frames seems like a cashgrab, using the RF legacy as marketing and selling point... there are just better tennis racquets on the markekt!!
You guys haven’t even tried it lmao. Others are saying it plays like a more solid version of an aero 98… and I was personally looking for a foam filled version of the aero 98… and sounds like they put some shift tech into it which is that vertical flex that the babolat aero racquets absolutely suck at
Thanks, good honest review! Looking forward to your review of the RF01 Pro version and whether it is more confidence inspiring than the RF97 autograph. Really wanted to demo the RF01 pro version to see if it's a more forgiving/user-friendly stick than my RF97 autograph that i've been using for 9 years.. but no one has any available because they're so popular i guess. I've tried to switch to a pure strike 98, ezone 98 and although they offered more maneuverability, better access to top spin and forgiveness from off center shots, none of them had the plow through, stability from heavy balls, control or feel of the RF97(with a gut/poly hybrid) so i stuck with the RF97 for now.
Blade has bigger sweetspot and by far a better racket for my game. This RF 01 as well as the pro version feel like half-shank on most of the shots I hit.
Hi Tan. Insaw you wanted to replace your blade 98 with somethint with more spin. So why don t you test the blde 98s (v8) and add some lead to match your 98 ?
Looking to buy the RF 01 Pro. Consider using a thick 15L poly string at 65 lbs to achieve a lower launch angle and reduce power. Add lead tape to bring the total weight to 360 grams for better stability.
I hate the TW reviews and the usual OTT hype when new products are released so Tan's review was pretty refreshing BUT having tried this racquet, I completely disagree with him. This racquet is actually very good. It needs lead tape in the hoop as 300g is far too light but once weighted up (I have +6g across the entire hoop but am experimenting with slightly more), I think its better than the Blade 98, Pro Staff 97 etc and it isn't as stiff at the Shift 99. It suits someone with an attacking game style as it hits a very penetrative flatter trajectory ball through the court, rather than a loopy shaped ball. I was expecting to hate his racquet based on this review, but I actually really like it (once weighted up). It is a racquet that rewards only if you after the ball and can rip on it shot after shot. Think about it for a moment - do you really think RF is going to put his name to or tarnish his legacy with a racquet that's junk? Of course not! Throw out the pre-conceptions and try it for yourself with weight added. I think you will be very surprised how good it is provided of course you're a decent level and prefer an attacking style of play ie not really suitable for grinders who just want to keep the ball in play.
@@tantennis Thanks for great review video! Always interesting hearing different opinions from people. I think you should try it again with added weight though and different strings + tensions! I don't see how you can describe it as firm as its a 62RA racquet when strung. It feels great strung with Alu Power ie a string with more stingbed stiffness.
@@gavlatennis2824 will do. It has a firm stringbed imo and this is because the tight mains. That’s why many people say you need to string it low. I can feel the flex of the racket itself but combine with that type of stringbed it’s definitely not plush in anyway.
@@IbrahimHassan-xd1fy I prefer radical 360 plus over auxetic. More connected raw feel and more power. Both of them low on spin. I tested only extreme tour and auxetic version not pro. Even with lead i found them to offer low power but high spin potential in a controlled way. You must go for the shot not an easy stick to hit with casually.
I've not been convinced even by the hyped reviews that I've seen. On a separate note, where is the court that you're playing on there? I was looking at BKK courts online a few days ago as I'm considering moving to BKK or Phuket. Thanks for the honest review
@@tantennis thank you for the reply. Is there a more central part of Bangkok that you'd recommend with access to good covered courts? I'm considering moving to Bangkok and I'm wondering which more Central parts to consider.
As a Shift 99 user, I do really like the way the RF01 plays and feels... however, the fact that the RF01 is less forgiving means I can't really think of any reason why I wouldn't stick with my Shift for a real match.
i think shift is more unforgiving. RF01 'non forgive' will result is less power, thats it, but Shift will result is a sudden jolt to a totally opposite direction
I believe Ezone 98 is better for 80% of the recreational players. RF01 has very small sweetspot it becomes a problem when you didn't make clean contacts.
Agree with this review. Think too many people are blinded with the RF hype on this one. I will say the Pro version is much better but still wasn't for me.
I do not like this racket! I totally agree with you! I definitely enjoy some of the power but the balance messes my arm up and it does not FEEL good. I have a great slice usually, but not as good with this racket. It’s a spin monster I was able to control groundstrokes and kick serve, bit overall I don’t really like it
I think what's gone wrong here is that you're using the racquet without customisation / added weight. That's why you're getting all these issues of lack of plow, instability etc. I suspect the racquet that Fed wanted to produce would have been maybe 330g unstrung but they've offered 320g and 300g versions to make it useable for a wider audience and allow for customisation (something the 340g RF97 never catered for). But 300g for a racquet like this is too light - that sort of weight only really works for thick beamed stiff Pure Drive type racquets - this 300g RF001 needs some lead tape in the hoop. Then it will play much better and I suspect you will not get the issues you're describing in the video.
@@tantennis I like the Percept 100D. Never tried the Blade Pro Stock though. I also like the Blade V8 16x19 and really liked the Blade V9 18x20. But I am mainly a Pro Staff user (OG 6.1 Classic 16x18 and PS 97 V14). I also use the Tecnifibre TF40 18x20 weighted to 340 grams. Hopefully I'll be able to demo the RFs tomorrow.
The round oval, similar to Babolat aero design would probably suit alcaraz, seems not to be an all rounder 🎾 on the. Court, for most players, a design ergonomically 🎾 uncomfourtable, so it seems, and looks, I cant figure how federer could ever use this tool, been a pro staff user, he would have to adjust himself to the new frame 🎾
I think just like the lighter version of the Rafa Origin (290g version), the RF 01 300g is probably a lesser version of the 320g Pro? Maybe the heavier version is better suited to your style of play? I think Federer does intend to use the 320g Pro version, albeit customised to his specs (string savers, power pads etc.), because it's going to be his 'retirement racket'. We can only know for sure if we ever see him take to the court and use this racket. I'm looking forward to your review of the Pro version. If I were to guess, you would like it much more. Your review will also influence my decision on which version to get. It's mad expensive though. I cannot imagine how much it would cost in Singapore.
Just gonna give you a spoiler. The 320g feels better and plays better but it’s not in my weight class anyway. So in terms of performance I play better with 300g but the stringbed doesn’t feel good for me and it has a very small sweetspot. To me it’s more difficult than Pro Staff.
I have play tested both RF01 and RF01 Pro and have to disagree. RF01 Pro is a beast, it doesn't feel as perfect as Pro Staff but in trade, its softer, more spin, more power. Its like the Blade but better in everyway (i still hate the v9). Its very comparable to my PA98 but probably because of the foam filling, it feels lot more solid feeling and less muted. Maybe because you literally put no spin and push the ball back you're not having the same experience as me but its a really good racket.
This stick needs racquet head speed to achieve its full potential and he has no racquet head speed on his strokes, thats why cant produce good shots easily.
@@tantennis So much depends also upon strings/tension, etc. I often think people are comparing apples to oranges even with the same racquet. I love the PS13 and get amazing dwell/pocketing. For me it has scalpel-like precision. Hope they continue the RFPS line.
@@tantennis Any prediction on where the Pro Staff line is going to go? I'm kinda hoping that with the release of the RF that it sticks to its roots. I wonder if fed will be involved with its evolution?
Federer is incredibly narcissistic and greedy. He’s already a billionaire yet still looking for any opportunity to grab more money. Pure greed and gluttony
Both rackets are strung with Tour Bite Soft 17 at 46 lbs main and 44 lbs cross.
Tension is waaay too low for this racquet IMO
@@svlagonda7417 other people say it must be strung at 20kg.
@@tantennis 20kg would be ridiculous. This needs a crisp, control orientated stringbed to get the best out of the racquet. I have mine at 53lbs with Alu Power and it plays great (when the strings are fresh). When the tension gets too loose the racquet just turns into a cannon without enough control. The racquet encourages you to rip on the ball which is why you need a tighter tension or at least a tension thats not too low.
@@bojack3827 I also think it’s too low cuz now it’s already powerful but scroll down in comments and you will see
I agree with the others - tension is too low to get the best out of this racquet. There are only 4 mains that are closely spaced, and even then, they're the longest string so they end up feeling softer.
Thank you for your HONEST review! So few doing these now a days
Glad you like it!
Some feedback from a 4.5 USTA player as for background and skill level - Playing with the RF-01 (300g) Specced to be 310 Unstrung (10g in Handle) (which for me packs the stability but not the arm wear-down over time as a 320 unstrung) Using 17g poly hybrid strung at 47 (this is probably the most important IMO, I tried my second one at 53lbs starting out and it was atrocious compared to starting it a few pounds lower) Total time now at 10 hours with the racquet, final strung weight - 334g. Plays better than my Aero 98s and Radical Pro for me.
Important to note this was never designed to be a Prof-staff or replace a pro-staff. This is to compete with the Aero 98, Speed, Radical, and Vcore lines. and it absolutley is just as good and even a bit 'crispier' than those on strike and contact. Playing against some variety of servers, but notably a couple guys that hit around 115-120mph, never had any issues getting good cuts on return, ESP. if you like to step in and do slice blocks aka sabr type of returns.
I play 2H but am competent in 1H backhands as well, I will say it plays great for both but it does have a little extra something for 1h backhanders. Best shots with this are by far the Serve, slice and volleys.
I'd give the RF-01 300g a 9/10 in performance and a 10/10 in style and looks ;) I only hit with the Pro about 2 hours so wouldn't say for sure but it felt amazing if you like heavier frames.
I've spent a couple weeks with Shift and Clash and this is not even in the same universe as the Shift or Clash, not even remotely resembling those frames. This is leaps above.
The Blade will have some more control but this will have a little more accessible Power (at least on the Pro Version directly compared to the Blade 98) The 300g versus the Blade 98 is hands down more powerful which is intended.
I would have to disagree with you point on the competition for the RF 01, The specs are most close to an Ezone 98, same stiffness RA64, same balance, same tapered variable beam, same 16 x19 dense string pattern The main differences are its foam filled, 5g lighter and the head and grip shape. This is the perfect platform racquet to customise with lead tape!
Did you try adding any weight to the hoop? Want to know if adding lead to hoop will make it play similar to the Pro version.
Also, is the 300g 01 version softer than Pro 320g version? According to Tenniswarehouse, RA is lower for the 300g 01 model. Thanks for insight btw
@@ptssa9896 I think in terms of overall softness both versions are pretty similar in my opinion, they were both strung with the same string (vokyl cyclone 17) which is a somewhat comfort poly. They both played pretty crisp but I didn't feel any discomfort, and could definitley tell they were a little firmer than the Blades which was nice.
The Pro still felt pretty head light when going through the ball, just overall felt a little heftier after an hour of swinging it, I think they play pretty similarly except the Pro has that natural weight on the shots. Generally 3oclock/9oclock head weight can made a racquet product a little more heft in my experiences.
Lack of weight, cheap poly strings will not improve the racket, go with gut main and co-poly setup
@@CH-yp5by Yeah definitely going to need some lead. 300g with this spec is too light.
Appreciate your Honest review. Thanks.
Thanks for watching
I like your reviews but I personally liked this racket! I am NOT a Federer groupie so I care 0 if it is RF or named differently .I have demo for 3 days (about 5 hours play) the pro strung with Ali power 125 at 50 lbs and I loved it. I used to play with Babolat pure arrow, head speed, head extreme.
I found good power and spin (not extreme but the right amount), very stable and great to swing, very good at the net. The string pattern is very interesting, gave me good forgiveness on ground stroke and at the net is very precise.I am considering switching to it. I also dont care about esthetic of the racket. For me was a very stable racket, easy to swing with a good mix of power , spin and control. It seems like a blade with more spin and power access, that is good!
Thanks!
Thanks for your honest review. It feels like many UA-camrs are biased because of sponsorship deals and selling their products.
Thanks!
I feel the same way too. I value your review as it is no-nonsense and unbias
I hate the TW reviews and the usual OTT hype when new products are released so Tan's review was pretty refreshing BUT having tried this racquet, I completely disagree with him. This racquet is actually very good. It needs lead tape in the hoop as 300g is far too light but once weighted up, I think its better than the Blade 98, Pro Staff 97 etc and it isn't as stiff at the Shift 99. It suits someone with an attacking game style as it hits a very penetrative flatter trajectory ball through the court, rather than a loopy shaped ball. I was expecting to hate his racquet based on this review, but I actually really like it (once weighted up) - it plays really well. Think about for a moment - do you really think RF is going to put his name to a racquet that's junk? Of course not! Throw out the pre-conceptions and try it for yourself with weight added.
I just had another 2 hours hitting with the racquet (+6g lead at 3,6,12 to bring it to 330g all in), bringing my total playing time to over 10 hours now. I'm genuinely loving this racquet!! Better than a Blade 98, more useable that a Pro Staff 97, less stiff and more precise than the Shift 99, more power and spin than a Prestige......I honestly think its the best 98sq" racquet on the market right now for an attacking player.
Thank you for this honest and (to my opinion) spot on review of the RF 01 !
Your experiences with this RF 01 are equal to mine and I can tell you that I have spent a couple of days on the court to test this frame with several settings (strings, tension, adding lead tape), but unfortunately I could not get it playable the way I wanted.....
I have a reasonably to good experience with customizing rackets and am also a long time user of Wilson prostock frames like the H22, and retail frames like the Pro Staff and the Blade because these are the rackets which fit my playing style the best.
With regard to aspects like stability, control, and ball feel my Pro Staff v14 and my H22 (18x20) are my reference frames, and the performance of the RF 01 which I experienced is simply far behind the overall performance of the mentioned frames.
What stood out the most for me in negative way with the RF 01 was the lack of torsional stability in the hoop in combination with the small sweetspot; on moments that you want to hit heavy groundstrokes with lots of acceleration and depth you have to hit the ball exactly in the sweetspot otherwise you feel the frame torsional twisting and flexing and the ball will come of the stringbed almost ''dead''....
Adding some lead tape at 3/9 o'clock position will give a slight advantage, but does not solve the problem at all and the frame will also feel somewhat sluggish and unnatural.
The best way to improve the playability of the RF 01 is to add around 4 grams of leadtape on the 12 o'çlock position, which increase the swinghweight with some necessary points and take a bit away the overwhelming feel of lack of mass and torsional stability in the hoop of the frame.
I do understand that the RF 01 line is a new line and not a successor of the Pro Staff line, but I can't imagine that Wilson produced a racket line in close collaboration with Roger Federer that performs slightly better than a Wilson Clash and feels like a mix of a Clash and a Shift....
OMG this is exactly what I experienced but you explain it way better than me hahaha. Thanks for this.
Maybe next time you should get a swingweight balance machine to check sa specs rather than just basing it from what it says in the decals on the rackets. Cuz its usually not accurate what they put on those specs 🤦🏻♂️
Amazing review! Honest!
Thanks!
We always appreciate candid, honest reviews instead of hype. Many thanks.
I appreciate that!
Thank you for sincere review.
Today, I tested the racquet, but it was little bit heavy for me so I was used to fail control. Also like your mention, it was too hard to find sweet spot. So I decided to stay using Blade V9. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Have you tried 01 Future? It is lighter
@@protossmr2344 I tried using both two. Lighter one was better than that, but I think there was no merit for buying new one.
Interesting review, I’ve heard much differently from other reviewers!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review. Love your 2 hand backhand.
Thanks!
I had a different experience with this racked, I think it is a small gem and deserves some time investment to be tamed. Context: I play some tournaments in Switzerland and I hit 3+ hours a week also with trainers to improve physically and technically. Not sure what in the US system is, but I guess 4.0-4.5 should sort of be the level.
I was super curious about this racket, but I was also super skeptical as it sounded like a marketing gig by Wilson. I learned to play with a Wilson Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 a long time ago and sort of always sticked with Wilson until 4 years ago when I moved to Yonex (VCore first and then Percept). I tried many other frames from Wilson, including the Shift that for me has been the greatest disappointment of all times: by far the worst stick I ever tried. Blade, Ultra and Clash were no-go for me, even if the Blade in the latest iteration seems to be another racket I would like to try again.
I play a OHBH and right now, I love the 100D, even if it's not super stable with a OHBH, it gives me enough forgiveness to play even against younger players (I am almost 38, fit, but not fast as a 20 yo OFC...), I can defend and volleys are quite nice with that dense pattern, spin requires some wrist work in some situations, but it's still manageable to some extend. I am not a heavy top-spin hitter, so a dense pattern helps to keep control when I hit flat.
So after some context, back to the RF 01: I picked both the Pro and the regular of this racket and managed to hit around 4 hours with the pro and 3 hours with the regular, I string with gut in the main and Wasabi X in the crosses (24-22 kg for the mains normally and 1 kg less for crosses, for this I decided to start on the low range, so 22/21kg), I have been so habit to have gut that I can't really let it go, even if I am constantly trying something to cut down on costs as gut is not cheap. 💸
That said, after some time hitting with this racket I have to say that the Pro is a wonderful stick for people having a OHBH. The stability, the way the ball leaves the stringbed, the feeling, etc... it's definitely a racket you can feel it has been designed by a player with a OHBH. I know rackets don't have such categorisation, but this one really feels a first-class option for OHBH. For me the Pro is great for having fun, but it's a bit too heavy to use during matches, especially if I need to defend, the weight makes me a bit slower than I need and I end up mishitting or missing too frequently, but on the offensive side it's a joy to use.
Now, let's talk about the regular one, so the 300g, this one is a bit more unstable on OHBH, especially if you need to return a big server, but I think this is an amazing foundation for some customisation. I still think the stock form is amazing, definitely better than the current Pro Staff and even better than the VCore 98 (I never used Babolat or Head, so I can't give any realistic opinion about them, sorry), but to really shine, a bit of weight in some places might be necessary to find the right balance. What impressed me on this racket is that it does everything quite similarly to the Blade, but just a bit better. For the OHBH the 300g are a bit hard to control on full swing vs people playing hard, it really requires a couple of grams more to stabilise the frame at contact, but if you are open to customise it a bit, this racket is a perfect starting point.
I known everyone has its own preferences and play style, so just take everything I said with grain of salt, but this frame, for being a first iteration of something new, it is a refreshing product by Wilson. I will keep my Percepts 100D and add 2x RF regular (with some extra weight in the handle, probably 7-10g) to my bag, I really loved this frame and I will try to customise it to perfectly fit my style, I really enjoyed it since the start, can't deny it.
I think your takeaways are pretty much the same as mine in the video tho. You mentioned the unstability of the 300g on service return. It’s great on the attack, I totally agree. The only differences are probably you have OHBH, which I agree, it’s not good for my 2HBH at all. Another thing is that probably you use natural gut so it opens the sweetspot, while mine is on full-bed poly, so you may not notice the small sweetspot as I did. Thanks for sharing.
@@tantennis Don't take anything as criticisms, I by no mean intended to criticise the video which I found quite good, it just sounded a bit negative as I guess the expectations were on having something like the RF97(?).
That said, you made a good point about the nat gut vs full poly! I haven't considered that. One of the reasons I struggle to find a poly that suits my game style is probably because I always tried to tension a poly with the same range I do my hybrid. Reading some of the comments on this channel and also watching some other videos made me realise that maybe I need to try to lower 1-2kg the next time I try a new poly (ordered some Grapplesnake as it seems to be a good brand).
My 2 hand backhand is a complete disaster, so I can't give any meaningful feedback on this racket, but I have a good friend who plays with a Pure Aereo and has a quite topspin heavy 2HB and I will ask him to try this racket in the next weeks and see what he says, I am curious now :) Quite sure he will hate it as he's a Babolat fan and pretty much trashes everything else, but it's going to be a fun session.
@@bonto_jr Don’t worry I’m not taking it as criticism, and I do appreciate you sharing you experience with the racket. I just found it interesting that we share some key takeaways although we have different preferences.
This review helped more than any other. Thank you for your thoughts.
Thanks!
So many naysayers on the comments bashing Federer. You may or may not like the racket but to attack his integrity is just low class.
He did talk some BS about people should buy a new racquet every year. He clearly has no insight into normal tennis players
@@svlagonda7417 I disagree with your comment - I'm just a 60 yo club player and usually have 3-6 rackets in bag or at home, regularly buy and sell rackets just to try - always in the head or wilson range - so your comment is mute IMO.
@@eastcoastphotography You clearly didn't understand the other guy's comment or either Federer's comment.
@@svlagonda7417 Roger gave a comparison with people who bought shoes, watches, and cars every year. There are tons of people who buy at least one or multiple pairs of runners annually. A HOKA pair costs about $100-200. A $300 watch is considered a cheap watch, and there are many people who buy watches every year as well. There is nothing BS about the current trend.
@@svlagonda7417 he didn't say that, he said that changing racket is fun. I agree with him
Very balanced and honest review. Looking forward to the next one.
Much appreciated!
was your racket on spec? Wilson QC sometimes can be quite off. interesting to know if your measured specs are similar to tenniswarehouse specs.
Thanks for the review, I always like your honesty but I will give you a different vision. I have a different opinion on this one, I realy like this racket. I have a OHB and I think like other people in the comment section, it work way better with hybrid or gut setup. Like any racket, it compliment more certain playstyle and for this stick I guess you need a fast arm action and you really need to "go for it" otherwise the sensation and efficiency are not optimal (it's an attacking racket for agressive swing in my opinion). Also people need to test before they buy or talk about it but they don't 😂
I think we need to let the racket finds it's pubilc, because for me it's a really good all around attacking stick, and like any racket it suit certain player more, we need to understand that because there is Roger name on it, it will not magiclly be the perfect racket for all of his fan!!
Anyway, continue the goog work, a viewer from France!!!
I think your take is the most accurate. I totally agree with you and those are the reasons why the racket doesn’t suit me. Thanks for sharing!
Finally a video that actually really honest. I play with the RF97 v13 so that could kind of tell u where my tennis game is. Others are making it seem like this new version is a way friendlier version but your take says otherwise.
Thanks!
Thanks for the great video! How does the RF01 future or tennis compare to the Babolat Pure Drive? Thanks!
Playing with a blade v9 16*19 weighted up to 315 grams.
Today i hit the first time with the RF Pro. It was a really good experience, a bit more power and spin then my blade, so i really looking forward to test it tomorrow to
Nice!
Hi thanks for sharing your thoughts on this racket. Was just wondering what forehand grip do you use and does it have an impact on the feel of the racket?
My grip is between eastern and semi-western. I think this racket suits semi-western grip with compact modern swing much more.
@@tantennis pretty much eastern, i would say
Nice review Tan…I need to try it and even want to buy it purely as a Fed fan but for some reason this whole RF line is giving me the Kmart cheap vibes, apart from the price😂I don’t know why but I still just feel this is a cash grab for Wilson and if he was chasing something lighter he could’ve just gone to the ProStaff 97 being more similar to what he’s been so use to..We’ll see if he actually uses the Pro when he plays with Rafa in Laver Cup for Rafas last match😂That’s my prediction anyway😂😂
Thanks!
Interesting perspective! Demos for me of this and the Pro should be arriving soon...I am in the process of switching to the Blade 98 16x19 v9, which I'm surprised by given that it's lower power and spin than I wanted, but really enjoying the stability and ability to go all out for my shots. People are saying this is going to seriously cannibalize the Blade line - do you think that will be the case? My concern with the Blade is that kick / spinny lefty serves and being a great volleying racquet are what I need most from a racquet, and thinking that the RF Pro might be better in that regard.
😂 the blade is still the better racquet it is not going anywhere
I use RF97 and I love it, this model is not convincing to me - doesn’t seem like the racquets Roger played with throughout his whole career - seems like a cash grab. Thanks for your honest review!
Looking forward to the pro review - hopefully some additional stability and more comparable to the blades
Coming soon!
I often agree with you. I understand everything you said in your review, except about the feel ! Dude, it is so unfair to compare it with shift or clash which are garbage !
Mine came with 4g (don't know the tension) and it's the best feeling i have ever had with a racket
Clash is the best selling rackets of Wilson I cannot say it’s garbage. Feel is subjective, it depends on what tour background is. At sweetspot I think the feel is ok but not to the level of Blade or PS97 or H22 etc, but better than Radical and PA98. But if you like how it feels then the racket is good for you, buy it.
@@tantennis well, cause marvel sell a lot of tickets, it's good movies ? i didn't say the racket is garbage but the feel is...
Stick is 300g, doesn't make sense to compare it to PS97 or H22.
I think there is a misunderstanding between feel and pocketing. Blade pockets the ball better but it's way more ambiguous in the strings
The RF 01 is certainly a players racquets perfect for customisation, at 300g its the perfect platfom racquet with plenty of room to customise without making it too heavy with lead tape!
On specs its very close to another attacking player racquet that being, the Ezone 98 its has the same stiffness RA 64/65, same balance, same tapered variable beam, same 16 x19 dense string pattern. The main differences are its foam filled, 5g lighter and the head and grip shape.
Same comment everywhere you re boring
People have to understand Roger is retired and now he's a business man with his brands. He will say anything to make his products shine on the market. I wouldn't buy into such marketing gimmicks, even as a huge Roger fan... they tried to mimick some popular frames with this like an Ezone, Aero 98 or Speed MP. But unfortunately it doesn't work out, the racquet is nothing special and more of a copycat in a "RF" jacket...
Completely agree. Similar things have been happening on those On Running tennis shoes, selling for double the price of the other shoes yet the performance is not there according to reviews.
Making a good product is hard, and making a product that's worthy of his name in the tennis world is even harder. I personally think it would be better if he sticked to clothing or just helped brand some already very successful products than to come up with his own...
@@ericzhong5863 I agree, ON is a totally overpriced brand that spends huge money just on marketing. Their materials are cheap feeling and not durable at all. Would avoid at all costs. But thats another story. I mean I would be happy seeing a great new lineup from Wilson, but these new RF frames seems like a cashgrab, using the RF legacy as marketing and selling point... there are just better tennis racquets on the markekt!!
You think Roger still needs your money? Considering how much he earned during his career.
That’s why I don’t like Federer, he doesn’t need the money but all of his stuff is overpriced. Just a business man cashing in on his fans
You guys haven’t even tried it lmao. Others are saying it plays like a more solid version of an aero 98… and I was personally looking for a foam filled version of the aero 98… and sounds like they put some shift tech into it which is that vertical flex that the babolat aero racquets absolutely suck at
Thanks, good honest review! Looking forward to your review of the RF01 Pro version and whether it is more confidence inspiring than the RF97 autograph. Really wanted to demo the RF01 pro version to see if it's a more forgiving/user-friendly stick than my RF97 autograph that i've been using for 9 years.. but no one has any available because they're so popular i guess. I've tried to switch to a pure strike 98, ezone 98 and although they offered more maneuverability, better access to top spin and forgiveness from off center shots, none of them had the plow through, stability from heavy balls, control or feel of the RF97(with a gut/poly hybrid) so i stuck with the RF97 for now.
Thanks! Will post review on Pro later.
So it did not, what you expected of it😮?
I want to ask about the comparison of tennis rackets
Yonex Regna 98 V3
vs
Wilson RF01 98
Are the two rackets similar in character?
RF 01 or Blade V9 16x19 has the bigger sweet spot and overall which one is the better racket for you?
Blade has bigger sweetspot and by far a better racket for my game. This RF 01 as well as the pro version feel like half-shank on most of the shots I hit.
I'm a Blade 98 player (have been for years) but for me, RF01 spec'd up with a bit of lead tape is significantly the better racquet.
Hi Tan. Insaw you wanted to replace your blade 98 with somethint with more spin.
So why don t you test the blde 98s (v8) and add some lead to match your 98 ?
It’s not available in my country basically hahaha.
@@tantennis ohhhh too bad ! Can t you import it like for the regna ?
Looking to buy the RF 01 Pro. Consider using a thick 15L poly string at 65 lbs to achieve a lower launch angle and reduce power. Add lead tape to bring the total weight to 360 grams for better stability.
That’s monster!
I hate the TW reviews and the usual OTT hype when new products are released so Tan's review was pretty refreshing BUT having tried this racquet, I completely disagree with him. This racquet is actually very good. It needs lead tape in the hoop as 300g is far too light but once weighted up (I have +6g across the entire hoop but am experimenting with slightly more), I think its better than the Blade 98, Pro Staff 97 etc and it isn't as stiff at the Shift 99. It suits someone with an attacking game style as it hits a very penetrative flatter trajectory ball through the court, rather than a loopy shaped ball. I was expecting to hate his racquet based on this review, but I actually really like it (once weighted up). It is a racquet that rewards only if you after the ball and can rip on it shot after shot. Think about it for a moment - do you really think RF is going to put his name to or tarnish his legacy with a racquet that's junk? Of course not! Throw out the pre-conceptions and try it for yourself with weight added. I think you will be very surprised how good it is provided of course you're a decent level and prefer an attacking style of play ie not really suitable for grinders who just want to keep the ball in play.
Thanks for sharing your thought!
@@tantennis Thanks for great review video! Always interesting hearing different opinions from people. I think you should try it again with added weight though and different strings + tensions! I don't see how you can describe it as firm as its a 62RA racquet when strung. It feels great strung with Alu Power ie a string with more stingbed stiffness.
@@gavlatennis2824 will do. It has a firm stringbed imo and this is because the tight mains. That’s why many people say you need to string it low. I can feel the flex of the racket itself but combine with that type of stringbed it’s definitely not plush in anyway.
The playtest was with the Pro or the regular one?
This is the regular version. I will post the video of the Pro version later.
Drop to 19kg and all your issues solved. I am referring to 300. I couldn’t play with it at 22kg. Low power and small sweet spot.
Hello Theodoros, have you had the chance to test Radical mp and extreme tour, I am curious about your thoughts about them.
I think it’s powerful enough for me at this 46/44 lbs, but yea totally agree with small sweetspot
@@IbrahimHassan-xd1fy I prefer radical 360 plus over auxetic. More connected raw feel and more power. Both of them low on spin. I tested only extreme tour and auxetic version not pro. Even with lead i found them to offer low power but high spin potential in a controlled way. You must go for the shot not an easy stick to hit with casually.
Thanks alot Theodoros , yeah new technology makes rackets more muted
I've not been convinced even by the hyped reviews that I've seen. On a separate note, where is the court that you're playing on there? I was looking at BKK courts online a few days ago as I'm considering moving to BKK or Phuket. Thanks for the honest review
This court is CV tennis club.
@@tantennis thank you for the reply. Is there a more central part of Bangkok that you'd recommend with access to good covered courts? I'm considering moving to Bangkok and I'm wondering which more Central parts to consider.
The racquet club. Most sheltered courts are outside of the city tho.
@@tantennis OK. Which good quality sheltered courts are closest to BTS?
Sir, that ball was in at 9:05
😉
Hahahaha yea it seems so
Yeah, the specs of the non Pro version seem too light.
Tan: this would be the best if it was 22mm 18X19. Its not bc of Djokovic or anything
OMG you know exactly what I like hahahaha. Btw it’s not related to Djokovic at all.
As a Shift 99 user, I do really like the way the RF01 plays and feels... however, the fact that the RF01 is less forgiving means I can't really think of any reason why I wouldn't stick with my Shift for a real match.
Yea I think the RF01 and Shift shares some similarities but I prefer the Shift as well.
i think shift is more unforgiving. RF01 'non forgive' will result is less power, thats it, but Shift will result is a sudden jolt to a totally opposite direction
How is it compared with latest ezone 98? Thank you
I believe Ezone 98 is better for 80% of the recreational players. RF01 has very small sweetspot it becomes a problem when you didn't make clean contacts.
RF for life 💪🏽💯
I playtested this racquet from a friend who bought it. He sold it used the next day. 😂
LOL
Agree with this review. Think too many people are blinded with the RF hype on this one. I will say the Pro version is much better but still wasn't for me.
Thanks!
I do not like this racket! I totally agree with you! I definitely enjoy some of the power but the balance messes my arm up and it does not FEEL good. I have a great slice usually, but not as good with this racket. It’s a spin monster I was able to control groundstrokes and kick serve, bit overall I don’t really like it
Right on!
Comparing with Vcore 98"in 305g
Which better?
Because i want to buy..
I prefer Vcore 98. It’s easier and more solid from the baseline. Depends on your game.
Rf 01 or the speed mp which one would you go for?
Speed MP is more suitable for my game
Try different string setup
I think it’s a Wilson version of Head speed Pro.
Closer to an Ezone on specs
Okay, got it. I’ll stick with my PS85 then. 😊
Try it first!
Sorry Roger? Lol, RF's not going to be losing sleep over this review. 🤣🤣
Then that’s good for my business
waiting for the Pro version review, just string pro at 22 kilo, and give us your opinion
He was using a 97 for a life time and all of sudden they decide to release a 98 with his signature. WTF!?
because a 97 is too much racket for main stream players
thanks. can you share the pro version review as well?
Yes I will post that later
Thank u sir
I think what's gone wrong here is that you're using the racquet without customisation / added weight. That's why you're getting all these issues of lack of plow, instability etc. I suspect the racquet that Fed wanted to produce would have been maybe 330g unstrung but they've offered 320g and 300g versions to make it useable for a wider audience and allow for customisation (something the 340g RF97 never catered for). But 300g for a racquet like this is too light - that sort of weight only really works for thick beamed stiff Pure Drive type racquets - this 300g RF001 needs some lead tape in the hoop. Then it will play much better and I suspect you will not get the issues you're describing in the video.
Thanks!
What is your racquet of choice? Curious of what your expectations were.
Percept 100D
Blade 98 Pro Stock 18x19
@@tantennis Quite a specific taste in racquets. Thanks.
@@gab_ale Blade 98 Noir 16x19 as well
@@tantennis I like the Percept 100D. Never tried the Blade Pro Stock though. I also like the Blade V8 16x19 and really liked the Blade V9 18x20.
But I am mainly a Pro Staff user (OG 6.1 Classic 16x18 and PS 97 V14). I also use the Tecnifibre TF40 18x20 weighted to 340 grams.
Hopefully I'll be able to demo the RFs tomorrow.
Always good idea to demo it
Great review. You're the only tennis reviewer who gives an honest opinion, and doesn't spout sales/marketing BS!
I appreciate that!
have you tried the pro version yet?
Yes I have. Will post reviews when I have time to edit the video hahaha.
@@tantennis haha yea that's fair. Can you give me the spoiler: did you like it more?
@@fretstain Yes it is better overall. But it’s not in my weight class so in a match, the RF01 plays better for me than the Pro, performance wise.
This or 97L ??
For me 97L all day
you gotta try stringing it between 44lbs-48lbs
This one is 46/44 lbs
The round oval, similar to Babolat aero design would probably suit alcaraz, seems not to be an all rounder 🎾 on the. Court, for most players, a design ergonomically 🎾 uncomfourtable, so it seems, and looks, I cant figure how federer could ever use this tool, been a pro staff user, he would have to adjust himself to the new frame 🎾
You’re exactly right. I think the round oval shape is the reason. Another thing is probably the very tight mains in the middle.
I think just like the lighter version of the Rafa Origin (290g version), the RF 01 300g is probably a lesser version of the 320g Pro? Maybe the heavier version is better suited to your style of play? I think Federer does intend to use the 320g Pro version, albeit customised to his specs (string savers, power pads etc.), because it's going to be his 'retirement racket'. We can only know for sure if we ever see him take to the court and use this racket.
I'm looking forward to your review of the Pro version. If I were to guess, you would like it much more. Your review will also influence my decision on which version to get. It's mad expensive though. I cannot imagine how much it would cost in Singapore.
Just gonna give you a spoiler. The 320g feels better and plays better but it’s not in my weight class anyway. So in terms of performance I play better with 300g but the stringbed doesn’t feel good for me and it has a very small sweetspot. To me it’s more difficult than Pro Staff.
I have play tested both RF01 and RF01 Pro and have to disagree. RF01 Pro is a beast, it doesn't feel as perfect as Pro Staff but in trade, its softer, more spin, more power. Its like the Blade but better in everyway (i still hate the v9). Its very comparable to my PA98 but probably because of the foam filling, it feels lot more solid feeling and less muted. Maybe because you literally put no spin and push the ball back you're not having the same experience as me but its a really good racket.
Thanks!
This stick needs racquet head speed to achieve its full potential and he has no racquet head speed on his strokes, thats why cant produce good shots easily.
@@viniciusbarbosa1815 Agree tester has zero plow through on his strokes.
is this racket stiff?
Very firm but has some flex feel
@@tantennis No way is it "very firm". It's as a comfortable as a Blade or Presitge.
Do u hv the pro review?
Will post it sometimes this week
@@tantennis thank you. got it.
Prostaff also doesn't have a pocketing feel though.. stiff AF..
Pro Staff stringbed has more pocketing feels than Blade and this RF01 to me.
@@tantennis So much depends also upon strings/tension, etc. I often think people are comparing apples to oranges even with the same racquet. I love the PS13 and get amazing dwell/pocketing. For me it has scalpel-like precision. Hope they continue the RFPS line.
@@madbadtrad7746 I agree. Yes the frame has high stiffness but the stringbed itself pockets the ball really well like the ball sits into that.
@@tantennis Any prediction on where the Pro Staff line is going to go? I'm kinda hoping that with the release of the RF that it sticks to its roots. I wonder if fed will be involved with its evolution?
I have no idea really. I think the Pro Staff line will stay, not sure about the RF97 tho.
Basically looking at your style and level of play, this racket is not for you, period.
Yea it’s not for me, period. Good takeaway.
It's expensive!
It is! And it’s sold out now in where I am.
Just another cash grabbing opportunity using "RF" name... Roger didn't use it for tournaments.
That's because he is retired. I hope that helps!
Since nobody will order any racquet without at least demoing it first, even Wilson can't pull off a relabeled crap frame.
Michael Jordan has been retired over 20 years! His stuff still selling well!
@sebastiandomagala9233 you'd be surprised. Many people don't demo.
@@sebastiandomagala9233 Lol the frame is far from crap. Tons of other reviewers loved the frame. It's all preference.
Federer is incredibly narcissistic and greedy. He’s already a billionaire yet still looking for any opportunity to grab more money. Pure greed and gluttony
Many people like the racket so can’t blame him
I agree this isn’t really a Federer racquet. It s more for marketing just like the speed aka so-called Djokovic racquet.