The new Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 Review is here. This racquet review deals with the Pro Staff 97 and the RF97 Autograph.
I have received the new Pro Staffs a while ago and I know a lot of you have been looking forward to this Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 Review. I will start by telling you two key things. The RF97 Autograph V13 is just cosmetically different from the previous version, while the Pro Staff 97 V13 has a different layup and a tighter string pattern. I think the new PS 97 V13 is a subtle, but a significant improvement over the all-black non CV version I reviewed recently and a major improvement in feel over the Pro Staff 97 CV edition
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Cosmetics
For this edition of the Pro Staff, Wilson wanted to give a nod back to the legendary Pro Staff original line with the all-black design with the red and yellow stripes. I’m a big fan of classic racquets and thought this was a great idea, but I would have liked them to go a bit further. Now, the red and yellow is only on the side of the throat, and at 12 o’clock. At the top of the frame, there is also an exposed carbon fiber weave that I’m sure car enthusiasts will approve of.
The black color is matte and I would personally have liked to see a shiny look that the pros get, but I guess I will have to wait for that one.
I’m not saying the design is bad, on the contrary, just a bit understated. The RF97A on the other hand looks the same, but the lines are white and grey instead of red and yellow.
You can check out the new Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 here, the Wilson Pro Staff 97L V13 here, and the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V13 here.
If you want to buy the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13, please consider doing so with one of our affiliates: Tennis Warehouse Europe, Â Â Tennis Only (AUS)Â or Tennis Warehouse (US).
Specs and Tech
Like I wrote above, the tech is unchanged for the Pro Staff RF97A. But when it comes to the Pro Staff 97 V13, there are some important improvements. There is a new Braid 45 construction that increases precision by adjusting the angle of the double braided fibers for enhanced feel and stability. It also has a denser string bed that improves control and a new more comfortable end cap (similar to other Wilson lines).
I like that they didn’t introduce feel flex and made it into a noodle. The Pro Staff should be stiff or crisp, but the new layup has made it more comfortable in my opinion. I did feel an improvement in this area over the predecessor.
I strung it up with Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.30 gauge at 53 lbs or 24 kg and hit the courts.
The strung specs of the Pro Staff 97 v13 were:
97 sq inches, 16×19 string pattern, 21.5 mm beam, 331g, 32 cm balance (7 pts HL), 329.5 SW
I played it with an overgrip which made it 337g, 31.8 balance. This spec is spot on for my game.
The RF97 Autograph was another story. I strung that up with Luxilon Alu Power 1.30 at 54 lbs or 24.5 kg, added an overgrip, and got:
97 sq inches, 16×19 string pattern, 21.5 mm beam, 365g, 31.5 cm, 341.5 SW
These specs are pretty heavy, even for the Autograph version. Federer is reported to use exactly these specs, give or take one gram, so I definitely need to be on my A-game to even try to play well with this racquet.
How does it play? Pro Staff 97 V13
When I started the play-test, I had no idea about any possible tech or spec changes. It looked and felt the same on the first couple of hits. But after a couple of hours, I started to notice a subtle difference in how the PS97 behaved. I felt I had a better connection to the tennis ball. This racquet really started to shine as soon as the tension of the string bed dropped a bit. I got really nice pocketing, excellent control and power when I needed it. The sometimes unpredictable string bed of the previous edition is gone. I felt completely in command of my shots here.
Still, it’s not an easy racquet to use. The sweet spot is pretty small by today’s standard and you need to have good technique and footwork to swing this racquet effectively. But I think advanced level players will really appreciate this update. They haven’t done a whole lot to it, it seems, but the changes make a huge difference to how the racquet plays in the long run. I also noticed improved comfort, despite the lack of dampening tech.
I felt so confident with this frame that I brought it into two Open level tournament matches and felt right at home. So the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 goes on my MRR-list. This means Match-Ready-Racquet list and includes racquets that I trust a hundred percent and could play a tournament with.
How does it play? Pro Staff RF97 V13
The RF97A is Roger Federer’s racquet of choice and he is one of the few players that can play his best tennis with it. I know a lot of players the world over love the stability, plow-through, and control this racquet provides. And I love it on days when I’m moving and playing well. However, it is far too demanding and punishing for my game to use on a daily basis.
I like that Wilson did not try to change this frame with any technology updates. This the racquet Roger uses and it remains that way. But if you already have an RF97A and you’re happy with that, there is no real reason to buy this one unless you love the cosmetics.
I have reviewed this racquet in various paint jobs over the years and always come to the same conclusion. A great frame for an attacking, advanced level player who appreciates heft and stability. You need to have superior footwork and technical abilities to swing this racquet efficiently. For this reason, I much prefer the playability of the Pro Staff 97 V13. But I can see why a player of Roger’s qualities, likes this one.
Summary
Sadly, I did not get a demo of a Wilson Pro Staff 97L V13 to review. But I would assume that the braid 45 construction and the string mapping helps that racquet as much as it did with the heavier Pro Staff 97.
It would have been interesting to play a Pro Staff RF97A with these new technologies, but at least it remains true to what Roger actually plays with. In the end, it will be too heavy and demanding for 90% of the tennis-playing population. But for some, it’s just nice to have one on the wall or take it out from time to time, to feel what racquet one of the greatest of all time swings on the court.
As a classic racquet nostalgic, I did like the nod to the Pro Staffs of old that Wilson did with the V13, but I think they could have done a bit more. I would also have enjoyed a glossy paint job instead of a matte, but design tweaks are, as you know, highly personal. Overall, I was very happy with the update to the Pro Staff 97 V13 and I will keep it in my bag for match play. I don’t have one racquet model I use for tournaments anymore, but a list (an MRR-list!) of a couple of different models, that I’m comfortable with. This one has just gotten a spot on the list and that’s no small feat considering how many racquets I test in a year.
What do you think of the new Wilson Pro Staff V13?Â
28 comments
Thank you for the great review. You continue to add tremendous value to the tennis community. Cheers.
Thanks for the nice comment!
I haven’t seen the v13 yet, but I’m a bit concerned about the exposed graphite weave at the top. Seems like that’s more of a 90s design, and could look a bit dodgy once it’s had a few nicks (?). On the other hand, the tighter string-bed on the PS97 makes sense if previously there were erratic responses. The old more open 16×19 is probably ok if you string at 57lbs like Roger, but most people string lower these days so a tighter bed is logical.
Looks like the 45-braid could be very similar to the FeelFlex carbon fibre when you look at the Wilson graphics, even if they haven’t lowered the overall flex. Pro-Staff uses Aramid (Kevlar) rather than Basalt in the matrix, so has a different flex in the lower layers. Changing the butt-cap makes sense too, few people seem to like the sharp-edged version.
PS, can you now see the 45 braid in the top of the PS versus the old 30/60 braid in the RF?
Thanks for another excellent, detailed review. Curious to know what other racquets outside the Soft Drive have made your MRR list?
I will make a separate video and post about the MRR! :)
You say thst it´s a tighter stringpattern but it´s 16#19 on the old one. So what do you mean by tighter stringpattern. i thought it was 18#20
It’s a tighter spacing. It means the grommet holes are drilled differently. Not all 16×19 are the same, there are open 16×19 and tighter 16×19.
Great review, always enjoy them.
How does the feel and playability compare to the TF40? i consider them to be fairly similar racquets, aside from the obvious differences. (string pattern) I’m interested in the TF40 but my shop doesn’t carry them, so I’ve yet to demo one.
Thank you
Excellent, look forward to it.
Hi, nice review as always ! Does it feel like 18 20 string pattern or still close to the 16 19 but just slightly tighter ? I’m a big fan of 18 20 so perhaps I can change, Thanks
Hi, it’s a tighter 16×19, not quite as tight as 18×20, but a low trajectory.
Hey thank you for a great review. One question, how is this frame compared to the yonex vcore pro 97 hd? Thanks!
Hi Raul, thanks. It’s stiffer and more powerful than the VCORE HD. Cheers / J
Thank you for the answer. Waiting for you to be able to make the review on the EZONE 98 TOUR and see how it plays compared to the new ProStaff v13.
what is more like djokovic’s racket, the wilson blade v7 16×19 or the ps97 v13?
Blade
Great review, definitely keen to get my hands on the PS97 v13 to demo. I too wish they did more on the cosmetic side to reflect the classic Pro Staff of old.
How is it compared to the Diadem Elevate Tour?
The Elevate Tour has a higher swing weight and feels more solid, but that also makes is slower through the air and a bit more difficult to control.
I own two of the v11 RF97 (all black signature) and I bought 2 of the new RF97 signature v13s last week. When I started playing with it, I noticed that it felt noticeably more headlight. I decided to weigh it (strings, tournagrip, and a rubberband dampener included but same setup in all 4 racquets because I didn’t feel like cutting strings out and restringing) and balance it. I was right. The 2 older RF97s weighed in at 363 and 364 grams while the 2 new v13 RF97s weighed in at 358 and 359 grams. The balance on the 2 older ones were 319 and 317 mm (7.6 and 8.2 pts HL respectively) and the 2 newer ones were 310 and 309 mm (10.4 and 10.5 pts HL) This was quite surprising to me as the new ones are quite a bit different than the old ones. That being said, I enjoyed the change in balance as I prefer more head light.
Thanks for the review. Could you tell us what else is on your MRR list?
It’s up on Patreon, but I will create a video for YouTube as well…
Hello there,
I am still playing with Wilson Pro Staff Classic 6.0 but I am running low on supplies :( Its a pretty heavy racquet but from your description, I am not sure which new Pro Staff choose as a replacement? I know that in the end ill have to test these on my own anyway but would love to hear what you think :)
Hi Jonas,
Thanks for the great review.
Just to make sure I understand, the new RF97 does NOT have the string mapping technology (tighter string pattern), correct?
Hence, no spec change from previous RF97, and it’s only cosmetic change for this new one.
Just to share my experience, as PS 85 lover from the 80s, I really wanted to like this PS 97 v.13 because
I am looking for something under 100 sq. inch w/ 11.7-11.9 oz weight.
But the tight string pattern (though 16×19) made it hard to put spins.
Granted I don’t have Rafa’s style and have no desire to be;
but I need to be able to put spin to clear the net w/out putting in that much effort.
The racket I demo-ed was from a local shop w/ a full bed polly Volkl V-Square which felt like a board to me (I usually use a multi like X-One Biphase). But V-square is supposed to give you lots of spin but for me, it wasn’t the case.
This racket definitely has precision – but I am not sure if I’ll need THAT much precision if I can’t put minimum spin.
I get enough precision from my old Prince Graphite 110 w/ multifilament string.
Perhaps I could try demo-ing w/ a multifilament string from Tennis Warehouse if I can visit the US (from Canada),
but it doesn’t look good out there.
Or just get the lightest RF97 which has an open string pattern. Not a practical racket to swing though.
Great review! Can you tell us how would you compare PS97 with Ultra Pro?
Thanks! The PS97 is stiffer and more powerful, the Ultra Pro offers better control/feel.
Hey Jonas,
Can you compare this Pro Staff vs. the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Black (originally the red version and version right before wilson introduced CV)