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Wilson Pro Staff Review: Compare 4 Models & The Best Alternative Tennis Racquets

Will Boucek · June 2, 2024

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The Wilson Pro Staff is one of the best tennis racquets for control on the market. Below, we’ll review the Wilson Pro Staff, including pros, cons, and different models of the racquet. Then, we’ll compare it to other tennis racquets to help you decide if the Pro Staff is right for you.

Review Summary & Ratings for the Wilson Pro Staff

For advanced players looking for a control-oriented racquet, the Wilson Pro Staff is in a class of its own.

It is a great racquet for high-intermediate or advanced players looking to complement their power with precision. This in-depth review of the Wilson Pro Staff will help you understand why the Pro Staff is one of the best tennis racquets on the market today.

See our ratings, plus the pros and cons of the Wilson Pro Staff below for a quick glance at how it performs compared to other tennis racquets.

Our Ratings for the Wilson Pro Staff

• Groundstrokes: 8
• Great advanced control-oriented racquet
• Heavy frame provides excellent stability on volleys & defending against pace
• Very precise feel helps with touch around the net
• Easy access to spin
• Good handling at the net for an advanced racquet
• Comfortable on contact
• For advanced players only
• Small sweet spot

Different Versions of the Wilson Pro Staff

The Wilson Pro Staff racquet comes in different versions that vary in weight, and a few other specifications. Below is a list of the different Wilson Pro Staff tennis racquets available.

• Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14
• Wilson Pro Staff X v14
• Wilson Pro Staff 97L v14
• Wilson Pro Staff 97UL v14

We’ll review each version in more detail below.

What did Wilson Update with the Pro Staff v14?

With the newest versions of the Pro Staff, Wilson again only made minor changes

The main difference is the increased swingweight to 332 on the Pro Staff 97. This gives the racquet a little extra power and stability compared to the previous version.

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Wilson Pro Staff v14 Review: A Racquet Built for Control

We’ll start with the main version, the Wilson Pro Staff v14. Below are the specifications and on-court performance you should expect from this racquet.

Wilson Pro Staff v14 Racquet Specifications

• Weight: 11.7 oz. strung
• Head Size: 97 square inches
• Length: 27 inches
• Balance: 320 mm
• String Pattern: 16×19
• Swingweight : 332
• Stiffness : 66

Read our  guide on how to choose a tennis racquet .

This is a relatively heavy tennis racquet, built for control and feel. The Pro Staff is one of the top 8 tennis racquets for control . The 16×19 string pattern allows you to generate plenty of spin on your groundstrokes or slice on your backhand like Federer himself.

The beam width is narrower than many modern racquets which helps with control. Wilson’s carbon technology enhances the feel and comfort of this racquet as well.

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The Pro Staff is an Excellent Racquet for Control & has Great Stability

When compared with some of the other best tennis racquets for advanced players , the Pro Staff has fantastic control. The racquet’s narrow frame and smaller head size allow you to move the ball around the court with precision.

Singles players will find that their groundstrokes, volleys, and returns are more accurate with the Pro Staff. With the open 16×19 string pattern, you can still create good spin as well.

Doubles players will love the control, feel, and touch from the Pro Staff. You’ll be able to hit more accurate volleys and better drop shots too.

Because the Pro Staff is slightly heavier than most other racquets on the market today, it is a more stable option.

The technology behind the frame helps with stability as well. This means that any shots that you hit off-center won’t have that shock feedback that often comes with more power-focused racquets. The stability also helps the ball stay in the court.

The Pro Staff is Great for Returns & Volleys

The Pro Staff performs well on both returns and volleys.

• On groundstrokes,  the Pro Staff provides a lot of plow-through.
• On volleys,  the racquet has lots of stability, making it very playable.
• On returns,  the Pro Staff is very forgiving on mishits and helps tame fast serves.
• On serves,  this racquet doesn’t provide a lot of its own power but is very solid.

Overall, the Pro Staff is great for players who can generate their own power and are looking for control.

Reviewing Other Versions of the Wilson Pro Staff

The three other Pro Staff versions differ in weight and head size. Wilson has discontinued the Pro Staff RF97 and added a new offering, the Pro Staff X. Here are the specifications for the Pro Staff X, Pro Staff 97L, and Pro Staff 97UL.

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The Best Alternatives to the Wilson Pro Staff

Below are several tennis racquets similar to the Wilson Pro Staff.

• Head Prestige – A more powerful advanced racquet, the Prestige doesn’t offer the same spin as the Pro Staff but provides great stability and control.
• Wilson Blade – This Wilson racquet has a slightly larger, more forgiving frame than the Pro Staff making it a great alternative for intermediate players.
• Head Radical – A slightly more power-oriented racquet than the Pro Staff, the Head Radical still provides good control and comfort. It’s also a bit easier to swing.
• Babolat Pure Strike – This racquet has better power and spin than the Pro Staff, but isn’t quite as precise or comfortable on contact.

My Experience Playing with the Wilson Pro Staff 97

I played with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 for a few practice sets and drills. When hitting with the newest Wilson Pro Staff, I didn’t notice a significant difference from the previous v13 model.

The Control, Feel, and Touch of the Pro Staff are Still Off-the-Charts

This is still one of my favorite racquets for control and feel. The racquet feels so comfortable and stable on contact that I can redirect the tennis ball with ease. The volleys and transition shots are especially effective with the Pro Staff.

Similar to Ons Jabeur, who uses the Pro Staff, my drop shots and short angles were extremely accurate.

The Pro Staff’s Stability Helped Me Defend Against Pace

The Wilson Pro Staff offers great stability because of its weight. This, of course, varies depending on which version you choose.

I had no issues volleying against hard-hit groundstrokes. Even when I made contact slightly off-center, I still had decent control. The ability to absorb pace with this racquet is excellent.

Returning against big servers was also a nice bonus. I could stretch out on my backhand or forehand side and still hit a solid return. Again, even slight mishits were getting over the net and staying in the court.

The stability made defending hard-hit balls much easier. The Pro Staff allowed me to stay in the point and transition to the net with ease.

My Depth & Baseline Power was Lacking

The only drawback to playing with this racquet was the lack of power from the baseline, especially if the opponent hit a slower ball. I did not easily hit the ball with depth on my groundstrokes, and my serve was definitely slower than normal.

I was playing mostly doubles, so I tried to get to the net as quickly as possible, where this racquet excelled.

After testing the Wilson Pro Staff v14, I’d recommend it for high-level intermediate & advanced players who like to get to the net and can generate their own power from the baseline.

If I were to stick with the Pro Staff, I think I would love it for the 3 games I’m not serving (in doubles). However, since I don’t generate much natural power on my serve, I struggled to get free points from missed returns.

Wilson Pro Staff Video Review

In the video below, I review 4 versions of the Wilson Pro Staff racquets.

About Will Boucek

Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of Tennis Tribe. With over two decades of experience playing & coaching tennis, Will now works as a doubles strategy analyst for ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. Will helps tennis players at every level play better doubles through smarter strategy. He also has expertise in tennis racquets & gear, testing the latest products from Wilson, Babolat, Head, Prince, and other tennis brands.

Reader Interactions

July 12, 2022 at 12:20 pm

There’s also a 100 sq. In. version exclusive to Tennis Warehouse called the Six One. I’m not good enough to use a 98 or 97, but the 100 is a the perfect balance of power, spin, and control. It’s been a total game-changer for me.

July 12, 2022 at 6:55 pm

Thanks for the comment Jim! I haven’t had a chance to try out the 100 version yet. It’s great that they have a more forgiving version of this racquet. Glad it’s working for you 🙂

May 23, 2023 at 2:40 am

How does this compare to the TEAM edition? Why pay extra, i mean for 100 sq inches when does it for cheap?

May 23, 2023 at 3:20 pm

Hi Johnny, the Team version is lighter and has a bigger head size. It’s better for beginner or intermediate players who need something more forgiving with a bigger sweet spot.

August 18, 2022 at 12:13 am

Thanks for the helpful review. I’m looking to move from a prestige to a pro staff and the 97 v13 rounds right in my ball park. My only concern is lack of power, would you recommend a certain string to address this and added weight in the head?

August 19, 2022 at 9:48 am

Hi Richard, those racquets are very comparable. You shouldn’t lose much power from that switch. If you do feel like you’re missing some power, you can do one of three things.

1) add some lead tape to the head 2) change your string type to a more power-oriented string 3) lower your string tension

I’d recommend trying out a lower tension first if you already have a string you like. Adding lead tape would be the next best option.

June 4, 2023 at 6:14 pm

Hi Will, I really love pro staff feel and touch but i have some problem with it. The weight of the pro staff when i carry it around the court and the swing of it made me struggle after 3 games.

So could you recommend me the racquet that quite similar to Pro staff but fix the issues that i have. Thank you

June 6, 2023 at 2:04 pm

Hi Sai, it sounds like you just need a lighter weight version of the Pro Staff. They make several lightweight options.

The 1st lightweight version is the 97L: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Pro_Staff_97L_v14/descpageRCWILSON-97V14L.html?from=tribe The lightest version is the 97UL: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Pro_Staff_97UL_v14/descpageRCWILSON-9714UL.html?from=tribe

December 12, 2023 at 12:53 pm

I have been playing with the RF97 and earlier models for years and I like the stability and control of that racquet. They are getting harder to find however, and I was wondering if you have a replacement idea. I’m a 4.0, strong enough to wield it, and play doubles exclusively.

December 13, 2023 at 10:02 pm

Hi Nino, Your racquet is heavier than the current Pro Staffs available so you could purchase the newest version and add weight. TW sells tape here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Customization_Putty__Tape/catpage-HEADTAPE.html?from=tribe

Learn how to customize your racquet here: https://www.thetennistribe.com/how-to-customize-a-tennis-racquet/

Other similar racquets are below. You may still need to add weight to match the RF97. — The new Yonex Percept 97H: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_Percept_97H/descpageRCYONEX-PERC9H.html?from=tribe — Head Prestige Tour (great volley racquet): https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_Prestige_Tour_2023/descpageRCHEAD-THPRTR.html?from=tribe — Babolat Pure Strike Tour: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Pure_Strike_Tour_3rd_Gen/descpageRCBAB-BPSTTO.html?from=tribe — Prince Tour series 95 or 98: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Tour_Racquets/catpage-PRINCETOUR.html?from=tribe

December 19, 2023 at 10:56 pm

Hello Will, thanks a lot for the helpful review here. Im struggling a bit with depth and power in my backhand and service too, im trying to find a new frame that gives me the same feeling i have with the ProStaff 97 CV ( i use it with poly strings at 22kg already to get more power). What do you recommend for 2024? I grew up using Prince racquets so the prince sinergy 98 seems interesting, maybe yonex? Im an advanced player, have been playing for more then 25 years. THANKS!

December 29, 2023 at 8:48 pm

Hey Nestor! I’m Nate, the new racquet expert for Tennis Tribe. Based on what you’ve mentioned , you have a few choices. First, don’t be afraid to try to drop the tension even further, to the 18-20kg range. Poly strings work great at low tensions.

Another option would be to customize your racquet by adding a little bit of weight at the tip of your racquet. Tourna makes power strips you can put on your racquet to increase the power of your racquet you can purchase here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pete_Sampras_Power_Strips/descpageUNIQUE-PSSW.html?from=tribe

If you’re looking to switch racquets though, the Prince Synergy 98 would definitely be a good racquet to check out. The main difference you’ll notice is that your Pro Staff will be a little more head light and easier to swing.

The other racquet I’d recommend demoing is the new Yonex Percept 97. They added a little extra stiffness to the racquets with this update giving them a little more power than the previous version. You can find the new Percept 97 on Tennis Warehouse here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_Percept_97/descpageRCYONEX-PERC97.html?from=tribe

I hope those suggestions help! Let me know if you have any other questions.

March 5, 2024 at 12:12 pm

I have a couple of questions, what is X in pro staff v14? What is the difference between Pro Staff v14L and TEAM? What do you recommend between both?

Thanks, David

March 9, 2024 at 5:16 pm

Hi David, this is Nate, the new gear reviewer/expert. The “X” is just the name of the new 100 square inch version of the Pro Staff. It is a little lighter and more forgiving than the standard Pro Staff. As for the 97L vs the Team, the two main differences are the head size and the weight/swing weight. The 97L has a 97 square inch head, while the Team has a 100 square inch head. The Team is also a little bit lighter than the 97. If you’re a beginner or low-intermediate, I would recommend the Team because it is a little easier to swing and more forgiving. If you are a higher-level intermediate or a promising junior player that prefers more control but isn’t quite ready for the weight of the standard Pro Staff, then the 97L would be the better choice.

April 12, 2024 at 3:48 pm

I am using PS97 v14 for the last 2 months Till now I have been using Ezone 98 Tour

I love Pro Staff using with Confidential at 50lds. Nice felling and excellent control.

But what I noticed is that few shots go long beyond base line Is it related to launch angle or string or someting else? Any recommendations?

April 15, 2024 at 12:06 pm

Hi Konstanitinos, I’m Nate, the gear reviewer/expert here at The Tennis Tribe.

You are already using a fairly low-powered string with good spin potential, so it probably isn’t the strings. While both racquets have a 16×19 string pattern, the Ezone 98 Tour actually has a slightly pattern. One way you can see this is by noticing that there are 8 holes in the throat of the Ezone 98 Tour, but only 6 holes in the throat of the Pro Staff.

If you want to achieve a lower launch angle with the Pro Staff, I would recommend increasing the tension 2-4 pounds.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Wilson Hyper ProStaff 6.5

Hyper prostaff 6.5 midplus, hyper prostaff 6.5 midplus technical & statistical data, technical specifications, babolat rdc ratings, hyper pro staff 6.5 oversize, hyper prostaff 6.5 oversize technical & statistical data, playtester profiles.

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Wilson Hyper Pro Staff 6.1

Wilson's update in 2003 of the legendary ProStaff 6.1. Existing and time proven technologies (ProStaff, Perimeter Weighting System, Flat Beam) now mesh with Hyper Carbon and a Double Braid of graphite/kevlar. The Double Braid construction increases the strength of the racquet while maintaining a "player's" feel. The Hyper ProStaff 6.1 95 (standard) swings surprisingly lighter than its predecessor (ProStaff 6.1 Classic) but with the same extensive sweetspot we've come to know. Less power (in comparison) probably due to a small shave in overall weight. Regardless, the Hyper 6.1 standard lends excellent stability with the substantial feel "players" love. Spin potential and control remain at a level consistent with ProStaff 6.1 quality.

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THE HISTORY OF THE WILSON PRO STAFF TENNIS RACKET

AN EVOLUTION OF THE BRAND’S MOST ICONIC RACKET FAMILY

37 years of pro staff.

There’s no question about it: the   Pro Staff   is our most iconic tennis racket franchise. Having been around for 37 years, it’s best known for its classic double braid of carbon and aramid fibers (commonly known as graphite/Kevlar®), and of course the many greats who use(d) it: Chris Evert, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Steffi Graf, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer. All totaled, 117 grand slam titles have been won with Pro Staff.

With the 13 th   version of Pro Staff launching, we felt it was only fitting to go digging into the archives to answer the question:   what were the other 12 Pro Staffs like, and why do we keep making them?

LET’S ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST.

It’s safe to say that if you make something for 37 years, people must like it. And more importantly, you build a following. Pro Staff players are perhaps the most loyal when it comes to their choice of tennis racket. It’s nearly impossible to convince them to play with anything else. Whether they played the original Pro Staff growing up, or they’re just a huge fan of Roger Federer, you can forget putting any other racket in their hands. They can’t get enough of that classic “Pro Staff feel”.

BUT WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES PRO STAFF FEEL UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE?

The answer is what’s inside: a classic braid of two materials: carbon and aramid fibers. The original description of this braid, that first appeared in a 1983 Wilson catalog, still holds true:

The core of the Pro Staff is a braid of Kevlar® and graphite. This construction blends the extraordinary strength of graphite with the durability of Kevlar®, a space-age material. The result is a breathtaking power and a solid feel with every shot.

Space age, huh? Sounds like some high-tech stuff. To put it more simply, the original Pro Staffs had a 50/50 mix of carbon and aramid fibers. Other brands were already making rackets with carbon, but the addition of the aramid fibers both added weight and dampened feedback felt in other frames, giving the Pro Staff its unique feel. As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, we haven’t. Today, Pro Staff is still made with this classic double braid.

HOW WE GOT HERE

Okay, time to answer the first question, which was,   what were the previous versions of Pro Staff like?   It took a lot of digging through old catalogs, but we’ve been able to track down every Pro Staff racket ever made!

BUT WAIT.   It’s important to understand a few things before you geek out in this Pro Staff Time Machine:

1.  HEAD SIZE:   A tennis racket’s head size is the circumference of the racket’s hoop, typically measured in square inches in the US and square centimeters everywhere else. For example, the very first Pro Staff line in 1983 featured 125”, 110”, and 85” head sizes. We mention this because head size was used in both the 80’s and again beginning in 2003 to differentiate the models.

2. STIFFNESS INDEX:   In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Wilson’s engineers developed a system known as the “SI SYSTEM” where “SI” standing for “Stiffness Index”. This system is a measurement of a racket’s flexibility and stability. The 90’s graphic below paints a visual, but in a nutshell, the lower a tennis racket’s SI, the more stiff, while the higher a racket’s SI, the more flexible. Stiffer rackets produce more power while flexible rackets produce more control.

In Wilson’s current racket lines,   Ultra   is the most stiff at a 3.9si while   Clash   rackets are the most flexible, topping out at 11.2si. For reference, the most popular Pro Staff’s typically have measured around a 6.0si, which is considered an ideal blend of flexibility and stability. The new Pro Staff v13 line measures in at a 5.5si. All important to note as you look through every Pro Staff ever, as you’ll notice SI was used to differentiate the models in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

37 Years of Excellence

1983 - 1989: Pro Staff (125”, 110”, 85”)

Developed as one of the first carbon tennis rackets, the Pro Staff line was actually our third venture into the carbon tennis racket space, following our “Galaxy” and “Sting” racket lines. In fact, when the original Pro Staff started rolling out in 1983, we were selling wood, steel, and carbon tennis rackets. However, Pro Staff’s unique carbon and aramid fibers double braid instantly garnered the attention of serious players due to its combination of power, feel, and control. It’s safe to say that the success of this original Pro Staff line ensured carbon would be the premier material used in performance tennis rackets going forward.

Fun Fact: While many remember the Pro Staff 85” 6.0 as the original Pro Staff released, the first Pro Staff actually developed was the Pro Staff 110”. The 85” and 125” were then developed from the 110”. According to our catalogs, this version wasn’t called the Pro Staff “Original” until 1990.

1990: Pro Staff (4.5si, 5.5si, Original)

1991: Pro Staff 6.0si

With the massive success of the Wilson “Profile” racket in the late 80’s, our engineers decided to bring the all-new “Dual Taper System” to the Pro Staff Franchise. The result was a few very powerful thick-beam Pro Staff frames made out of carbon and fiberglass.

Fun Fact: This was the first time we started using “Stiffness Index” to differentiate our Pro Staff models. Scroll up to read up on “SI” if you haven’t already…it’s a system our engineers still use to this day.

1992:   Pro Staff Classic (6.1si)

1993: Pro Staff Classic (7.5si)

1994: Pro Staff Classic (4.2si), Pro Staff Tour Classic (6.6si), Pro Staff Lite (5.8si)

1995: Pro Staff Lite (6.8si, 7.0si)

1996 - 1997: Pro Staff Stretch (5.9si, 6.1si), Pro Staff Lite 6.9si

1998: Pro Staff EB Stretch (4.7si, 5.7si), Pro Staff EB (6.7si)

While many of these models are carry-overs or evolutions of models launched in 1990, the Pro Staff Classic was one that gained some serious traction. Today, the Pro Staff Classic is known by many as the Pro Staff Six.One.

Fun Fact:  While many remember the 1991 US Open for Jimmy Connor’s historic run to the semifinals at age 39, it was Wilson Advisory Staff member Stefan Edberg who used the Pro Staff Classic to win his first US Open title that year.

1999: Hyper Pro Staff 5.0, Hyper Pro Staff 5.0 Stretch

2000-2001: Hyper Pro Staff 6.5, Pro Staff Titanium 6.6

One of our most famous racket technologies, the Hammer Series launched in 1999 using “Hyper Carbon” technology, which was designed to be four times stronger, stiffer, and 65% lighter than Titanium. While a few “Hyper Carbon” Pro Staffs were made, the original cdouble-braided models remained more popular.

Fun Fact: While Wilson typically show our pro athletes in marketing images, we have used an astronaut, a hooded figure, and even Teddy Roosevelt to market our rackets!

VERSION 4.5

2002 - 2003:   Hyper Pro Staff Surge (5.1si, 98”), Hyper Pro Staff (6.1si, 95”), Hyper Pro Staff Extreme (6.7si, 110”),  Hyper Pro Staff Zone (7.1si, 95”)

Because Pro Staff players largely preferred the double braid of the original Pro Staff, the Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 was designed to be the first Pro Staff to use both the double braid AND Hyper Carbon technology. 

Fun Fact: The 2002 Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 was the last racket an up-and-coming Roger Federer would use before he was known as Grand Slam Champion. Also, what a ponytail.

2003: Pro Staff Tour 90”, Pro Staff Rok (93”), Pro Staff Torch (110”)

Version 5’s playability wasn’t really all that different than the Hyper Pro Staff from the year before. Carrying on the traditional black/red/yellow color combination, Version 5 became much more famous because of the hand that held it.

Fun Fact: In 2003, Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam Title and first of eight Wimbledon titles, beating Andy Roddick in the semi on the way to the final. Federer was 8-0 against Roddick in grand slam match-ups.

2004 - 2006:  nCode nSix.One (95”), nCode nSix.One Tour (90”)

Continuing the trend of innovating every couple of years, our nCode line included two Pro Staffs; most notably the third edition of the Pro Staff Six.One. Wilson's nSix-One 95 racquet made use of nano-sized silicone oxide crystals to create a denser frame construction at the molecular level. The result was a significant increase in strength, stability, resiliency and power.

Fun Fact: Roger would go on to win 7 grand slam titles with the nCode series, the most with any one racket in his career. Runner-up racket was the (K) Factor with 6 grand slam singles titles.

2007 – 2009: (K) Factor Six.One Tour (90”, 95”), (K) Pro Staff 88 (6.0si)

Continuing the trend of making the overall makeup of our tennis rackets “stronger”, (K) Factor technology was designed to bond Carbon Black, graphite and SiO2 together at the nano level to create “Karophite Black”. This “K Factor” produced a stronger, denser frame layup.

Fun Fact: Yes, Roger Federer won plenty of slams with the (K) Factor Pro Staff. But many will remember this racket as the one that Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro used to beat Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open.

2010-2012: BLX Pro Staff Six.One (90”, 95”, 100”); BLX Six.One Tour; Six.One 95 BLX (different than BLX Pro Staff Six.One 95)

2013: Pro Staff 90, 95, 100L (Amplifeel)

The BLX frames we launched back in 2012 were our first using a new racket material: basalt. This new material was used to reduce the amount of racket vibration felt at impact. BLX technology evolved into “Amplifeel” technology, which was adding the vibration-reducing effect of basalt to the racket handle. A year after the BLX Pro Staffs launched, a version with the Amplifeel handle was introduced with an almost identical design.

Fun Fact: While we no longer use Basalt in our Pro Staff frames, we are still using a braid of carbon and Basalt in our Blade frames to provide as much feel as possible for the competitive players that rely on feedback from the ball to feel confident going for their shots.  

2014: 95S, 100LS

Three words: Spin Effect Technology. This was a string-bed innovation used across our racket franchises. By using fewer cross strings than main strings, we were able to create a racket that naturally increased spin without players having to change their swing. Also worth noting was the first (and only) 100-square-inch Pro Staff in the 100LS.

Fun Fact: In 2004, Wilson Advisory Staff member Grigor Dimitrov was the first to play the Spin-Effect Pro Staff on Tour. Grigor had one of the best years of his career, winning 3 titles and making the semi-finals at Wimbledon after beating Andy Murray in the quarters.

2014: RF97 Autograph, 97, 95S, 97LS

2015: Pro Staff 97ULS

Two very notable additions with Version 10. First, the increase in the Pro Staff’s head size. Having been traditionally a 90” or 95”, Version 10 of Pro Staff featured mostly 97-square-inch models. Second, the introduction of the RF97 Signature Model.

Fun Fact: Roger Federer has used 3 different head sizes throughout his professional career, starting with he 85”, then 90”, and then began using the 97” in 2014.

2016: RF97 Autograph, 97, 97S, 97LS

2017: Pro Staff Countervail (Black)

While we could say many things about Version 11, perhaps most notable is the all-black, minimalistic design featured on the RF97 Autograph model. This “tuxedo-style” cosmetic, co-designed with Roger Federer, has inspired every Wilson racket design since. Also worth noting was the introduction of Countervail technology, designed to reduce the amount of energy sent from the ball up the racket into a player’s arm, minimizing fatigue and allowing players to play better, longer.

Fun Fact: While there has been much talk since Roger Federer started winning slams again about increasing his racket’s head size and how it’s improved his backhand, he actually switched to the 97” back in 2014. However, he didn’t win his first slam with a 97” until the 2017 Australian Open.

2018 – 2020: RF97 Autograph, 97 Countervail, 97L, 97UL

Piggybacking on the success of Version 11, v12 introduced a timeless black and white design to the minimalistic design used on v11 that Pro Staff fans loved.

Fun Fact: In July 2018, Wilson worked with former Beastie Boys producer “Money Mark” to create a music track using “tennis sounds” performed by Roger Federer. C’mon, you know you want to watch it .

2020: RF97 Autograph, 97, 97L, 97UL

The all-new Pro Staff v13 line brings together modern technology with a heritage-inspired design paying homage to the original 1983 Pro Staff. For v13, our R&D team arranged the racket’s famous double braid at all-new 45-degree angles. Called “Braid 45”, this strategic placement of the braid allows the frame to “breathe” more upon impact, increasing dwell time while maintaining the stability responsible for the classic Pro Staff feel. Version 13 also features a denser string bed to increase precision and a more rounded end cap for added comfort..

Fun Fact: The red-and-yellow pinstripes found on the Pro Staff Original that inspired v13’s design was sold in our catalog from 1983 up until 2004. There have been limited edition racket releases that featured the pinstripes over the years, but v13 is the first time the pinstripes have again been used on the in-line Pro Staff franchise models.

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Why is the wilson hyper pro staff 6.5 awesome or is it not?

• Thread starter teachingprotx
• Start date Sep 8, 2018

teachingprotx

• Sep 8, 2018

ive never hit w this frame but I’m thinking how can a light pto staff 95 in the most flexible ra 54 -package manufactured ever feel other than wonderful? Has anyone ever hit with this blast from the past .? Love to hear others chime in on there personal experience with this sleeper stick  

Talk Tennis Guru

Moar Treads! Moar!  

• Sep 9, 2018

Bionic Poster

teachingprotx said: ive never hit w this frame but I’m thinking how can a light pto staff 95 in the most flexible ra 54 -package manufactured ever feel other than wonderful? Has anyone ever hit with this blast from the past .? Love to hear others chime in on there personal experience with this sleeper stick Click to expand...

WestboroChe

Hall of fame.

Can someone remind me of the Wilson system again? Is the 6.1 stiffer or softer than the 6.5?  

Ronaldo said: Seemed everyone that used that stick 20 yrs ago developed TE. Click to expand...

WestboroChe said: Can someone remind me of the Wilson system again? Is the 6.1 stiffer or softer than the 6.5? Click to expand...

• Sep 10, 2018

teachingprotx said: Oh noooooo! Well this scares me off pretty bad then . The reported RA is 59, some say as low as 54 RA .. the balance scares me at only 2 pts head light . Which by all terms to me is hammer head heavy as I like 12to 16 points head light . But for me I would take off the head gaurd first thing so I’m sure that would fix that problem . But back to RA even though the RA is mid 50’s to high 50 ‘s doesn’t necessarily mean it is soft I’ve been fooled more times than not on the whole RA thing . Unfortuneatly it’s the only reference I have for softness . I’ve been fooled with Wilson’s in the past . One great example was the old Wilson N fury . I was so excited with this frame coming out . It was light enough in stock to customize any way you wanted . A perfect platform frame . And the RA was 50 RA ! Man I was so excited , ..... then I hit with her. She may have specd out at 50 but felt more like low to mid 60’s . .. arghhh Fooled again Batman Click to expand...

• Sep 16, 2018

I know the 5.0 PS felt stiff--as in one of the stiffest in its day. It played well though, and the people who used them rarely changed to a newer racket. I haven't hit with the 6.5, but supposedly it was more flexible (as the number indicates). The story I heard as far as how the numbers were obtained is that they clamped a racket where the handle wouldn't move, then pushed pressure, or fired a ball at a given speed, into the string bed. The distance the frame flexed in mm's was the number given to it. I think they've changed all that now.  

It certainly doesn’t seem like it was as popular as the 6.0 or the 6.1 based on how many are out on the resale market.  

• Sep 17, 2018

One of the lowest powered racquets I've ever used. Too light and tight pattern, low swing weight.  

• Sep 18, 2018

BDAZ said: One of the lowest powered racquets I've ever used. Too light and tight pattern, low swing weight. Click to expand...

Looks like it. Same mold, I think. All 18x20. Low to sub 11 oz.  

• Dec 25, 2018

My first Wilson and I still use it. I got a great deal so I rotate the few I have so they are in great condition. I know this thread is about the flex and higher the number, more flexible it is. All the pro staff line, u lock the handle and put a certain weight at the tip of the head and 6.5 flexed 6.5mm. That’s how their numbering worked. So 5.0 would be 5mm. What I like about this stick is that it moves super fast since it only weighs 295g. Like the TW said in its archive, no matter how hard I swing, it goes in. Recently started to play around with spin polys and that added another dimension. Before, I felt like it was for flat hitting piecing the court type of stick, but w spin strings, u can add more arc like modern play even w 18x20. So get the rally going or go for the winner without hitting the ball long. It is unreal at the net. Hold the stick solid and volleys are struck deep. Angle a little and cuts are insane. Considering how old the stick is, I did demo few to see how much racquets gotten better in 18 yrs and the closest thing I liked was Yonex Vcore Pro LG version. Sweet spot felt larger and ball seemed to dip quicker.  

BorgCash said: Yes, it is. Click to expand...

Ronaldo said: Anyone remember the 6.5 Tour? Click to expand...

• Dec 26, 2018

• Jan 18, 2021

How was the torsional stability on the 6.5 if anyone even remembers?  

polksio said: How was the torsional stability on the 6.5 if anyone even remembers? Click to expand...

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