I had the privilege of testing the new Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13. For this model, Wilson has removed Countervail, a somewhat controversial material that was added to the racket in 2017. They have also slightly changed the racket's material layup and adjusted the 16×19 string pattern, all of which I will discuss as part of this review.
Tester
Tested racket:
Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 on the court
Those of you who are familiar with the legendary original Pro Staff 6.0 85, which Federer used at the beginning of his career, will immediately see how this latest V13 is a tribute to perhaps the most iconic racket of all time. I myself played with the much less well-known Pro Staff 6.0 95 in the 80s/90s in the same color scheme and setup as the 85. A beautiful frame that felt like it was made for my game. In recent years, the 97 has undergone little change (apart from Countervail). But with the release of the 13e version, something historic seems to be in the making.
First impression
My first impression of the Wilson Pro Staff V13 is that it is an improvement over the previous model. Although Countervail and the all-black Pro Staffs were solid frames, I was always a little unsure about them. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something made the racket feel a bit dead. The string pattern was also not always consistent, which in turn came at the expense of control. Whether it was due to Countervail or the string pattern or the material layup: I can't say. They were certainly good frames, but I preferred the red/black version from 2015, and that was partly the reason I started using Yonex, such as the EZONE DR 98 and the VCORE Pro 97 and the VCORE 98. Recently, I switched back to the Wilson Pro Staff 97 (black/white version). Mainly to try out my favorite string, the Diadem Flash. This combination of racket and string gave the racket just enough liveliness that I became hooked on it again. Then the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 was announced. Of course, I was immediately curious about what adjustments Wilson had made.
The Pro Staff 97 V13 felt good to play with from the start and I felt very confident with it right away. That is immediately a good start. To make it comparable to my old Wilson Pro Staff 97 (with Countervail), Mike also had a Diadem Flash 17 string put in at 24.5-23.5 kilos.
Baseline
The racket I have been playing with lately is the Wilson Pro Staff 97 (with Countervail). As mentioned, the stability of that frame sometimes leaves something to be desired. This new Pro Staff 97 is the opposite, and the string pattern felt very consistent from the start. It didn't take long before I felt that I could hit the balls very precisely. The denser string pattern due to the new “string spacing” in the center of the head helps with this. The previous models, although they were also 97 sq/inch, felt as if they had a very open string pattern. This V13 version feels a bit more closed in terms of string density. What works very well for a player like me, who hits a flatter ball. It should also help with the durability of the string, because there is less movement. After a few hours of playing, no wear was visible yet.
Control and spin Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13
Even with a lively string like the Diadem Flash, I felt that I had more than enough control, both on my backhand and my forehand. However, that does not mean that spin is a problem. When I was pushed further back, I could find a lot of topspin when needed. The Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 does not have the same “loopy” launch angle as other frames, but I was able to produce a heavy ball that went over the net with plenty of margin and at the same time still had plenty of pace.
You can tell that the Pro Staff 97 V13 is a traditional and fairly stiff frame. I don't have a problem with it, but I believe that the Pro Staff 97 V13 is around 66 RA. I do think that this new version feels slightly less stiff than its predecessor. By removing Countervail, you do get a more direct feel again. The Pro Staff 97 V13 is clearly not a very flexible frame, but also not as stiff as a Babolat Pure Aero. I have had some slight arm problems lately, but I don't attribute that to this frame. I think that with the right string and tension, you can easily get the stiffness of a frame under control.
Slices and drop shots from the baseline go amazingly well. I was able to get beautiful rotation where the ball really skids over the court. This Pro Staff rewards aggressive play, whether it is to fire a winner down the line or slice deep into a corner. The precision of this new version reminds me of the Prince Textreme Tour 95, but due to the low weight, the Pro Staff 97 V13 is easier to maneuver. Also, the depth of my shots is in great shape next to the consistency and precision. What more would you want to say?
Serving
Serving with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 goes great. I have only hit a handful of them, but due to the low balance point, swinging it is effortless. However, I do notice that the speed is slightly less than with real power frames, but that is logical. Due to the precision you can achieve with this Pro Staff, you produce vicious serves that are always a nice setup for a “one two punch”, the trademark of Federer.
Volleys
As you would expect with a strung weight of 334 grams and a relatively stiff frame, the Pro Staff 97 V13 is very solid at the net. It is easy to maneuver again thanks to the low balance point, moreover, you have a lot of feel on drop volleys. My volleys felt solid and direct. If you bring the racket forward in time to put the ball away, you get a wonderful response and you feel that you can put the ball anywhere. The touch volleys were also nice to hit. Even the “no-look” volleys sometimes fell beautifully over the net. Although “no-look” volleys are still mainly reserved for the real master Roger Federer. My “no-looks” can often be placed in the category of bloopers.
Returns
On returns, the Pro Staff 97 V13 is a solid frame and it does not get pushed back. For players who like to block returns and lay them against the baseline, this racket works well. Especially due to the direct ball contact (among other things due to the absence of Countervail) and sufficient weight, all forms of returns are great and especially very consistent to hit. I had little trouble with off-swings or mishits. An absolute plus of this frame. This gives little free points to the opponent. The Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 is of course not as heavy as its brother the RF97, with which you can simply push the ball back without a backswing, but there is enough mass to offer stability on heavy serves.
The new Pro Staff 97 V13 is now available in our webshop, including free stringing of your choice!Conclusion
For me it is clear that the new Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 is an excellent frame. I find it difficult to say if this is the best Pro Staff ever, since I have only hit with it a few times. I am also still a big fan of the (K) Six.One 95, but I think the V13 is the best 97 sq/inch Pro Staff version to date. I am glad they are off Countervail, the racket feels more consistent because of this. You also have more feel with the denser string pattern and it gives you just that little bit more control. It is not easy to play with a lot of power. This racket rewards good technique, but if your legs work well and you get your feet in the right position and swing fast, you are rewarded with a heavy ball that leaves the opponent with nothing to do.
In short, aggressive players with a fast arm who are looking for a lot of feedback and feel on their shots and who can handle a fairly heavy, stiff frame should absolutely try this version of the Wilson Pro Staff 97. Also players who are currently playing with the Countervail version will experience significant improvements with this new version. If you play more of a classic game, then the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 is one for your shortlist!
