Team mijnracket.nl player Stephan has tested the Wilson Pro Staff 97 2016 the past few weeks! In this blog you can read his findings and he compares this new Pro Staff 97 with its predecessor.
Tested racket: Brand: Wilson Model: Pro Staff 97 2016 Head size: 97 sq/inch Weight: 315 gr Balance: 31.0 cm Stringing pattern: 16/19 Length: 27 inch RA: 66 Stringing: Diadem Elite XT 17 on 24/23 kg Tester: Player name: Stephan Couzijn Level: 5 Player type: 40 year old, all-courter, eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat strokes Own racket: Yonex EZONE DR 98 , 98 sq/inch, 310 gr, 31.0 cm balance, 16 x 19 stringing pattern Player's racket history: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95, Wilson Six-One 95, Head Radical, Dunlop Aerogel 300 Tour, Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson Juice Pro.
From the racket line of master Roger Federer, the Wilson Pro Staff 97 in a new guise!
Baseline: At the first ball contact the Wilson Pro Staff 97 2016 feels very nice again. The beautiful thin box beam frame fits nicely in the hand and the matte varnish adds something extra. The headlight balance of the Pro Staff 97 makes the racket very easy to get moving. From the baseline the Pro Staff 97 2016 plays very steady with a good dose of control and sufficient power. Compared to its predecessor this new Pro Staff seems to be a bit more lively.
In addition to the modest amount of power, the frame also has a lot of feeling. Probably due to the material of the slim box beam frame and the flexibility of the frame (66 RA). This also makes it easy to place slice balls from the baseline. Due to the modest amount of power, you do need a fairly full swing to get the most out of this frame. The sweet spot of the Wilson Pro Staff 97 has remained virtually the same and is not overwhelmingly large, but if you manage to hit the ball within the sweet spot, you will be rewarded with crystal clear and heavy shots. I was able to get more than enough length in my shots with my average swing. Service returns were easy to do with the Wilson Pro Staff 97.
Service: Serving with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 2016 is excellent. The thin box beam frame makes the racket accelerate easily, allowing you to produce solid serves. Both flat and slice and kick serves are easy to perform. The relatively low weight also means that serving is not a strain on your arm during a longer match. I think that this new version of the Wilson Pro Staff 97 generates a bit more power than its predecessor.
Net: The Wilson Pro Staff 97 is a very maneuverable racket, making it easy to hit volleys. The weight also allows for hard volleys. The narrow frame of the Pro Staff 97 ensures that volleys can be placed with great precision.
Power: The new Wilson Pro Staff 97 offers a bit more power than its predecessor. The slightly higher swingweight (swingweight 324 grams) and the relatively low balance allow you to create a lot of racket head speed, allowing you to hit heavy balls. Personally, I think it is a good development that the swingweight has been increased slightly. This allows players with a smooth technique to let the racket do the work.
Control: The Wilson Pro Staff 97 2016 plays stable on every spot on the court. I am inclined to call this new version a bit more stable, especially if you use your slice backhand a lot.
Comfort/Arm-friendliness: The Wilson Pro Staff 97 feels comfortable and did not give me any arm problems.
Overall impression: The new version of the Wilson Pro Staff 97 has not only been refined in appearance but also in terms of playing characteristics. The differences with its very successful predecessor are subtle but noticeable. For example, the swingweight of the frame has been increased slightly from 320 to 324 grams. The other specifications have remained completely the same. Due to the slightly higher swingweight, the racket feels a bit livelier than its predecessor and the playing feel is a bit closer to its heavier brother, the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph . Just like its predecessor, the new Wilson Pro Staff 97 is a wonderful all-round frame with classic playing characteristics in a modern box beam frame. The racket performs both from the baseline and at the net. Whereby this Wilson Pro Staff 97 2016 especially shines at the net with super tight volleys and unprecedented ball feel.