I had the privilege of testing the new Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 . For this model, Wilson removes the Countervail, a somewhat controversial material that was added to the racquet in 2017. They also changed the material layup of the racquet slightly and adjusted the 16x19 string pattern, all of which I will discuss as part of this review.
Tester
Tested racket:
Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 on the course
Those of you familiar with the legendary original Pro Staff 6.0 85 that Federer used early in his career will immediately see how this latest V13 pays homage to perhaps the most iconic racquet of all time. I personally played the much lesser known Pro Staff 6.0 95 in the 80s/90s in the same color scheme and setup as the 85. A beautiful blade that felt like a glove to my game. The 97 (with the exception of Countervail) has seen little change over the years. But with the release of the 13th 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. While the Countervail and the all-black Pro Staffs were solid blades, I was always a little unsure about them. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something made the racquet feel a little dead. Also the string pattern was not always consistent, which in turn affected the control. Whether it was the Countervail, the string pattern or the material layup: I dare not say. They were certainly good blades but I preferred the red/black version from 2015, which was partly the reason why I started using Yonex like 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 to get me hooked again. Then the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 was announced. Of course I was immediately curious to see what changes Wilson had made.
The Pro Staff 97 V13 felt good to play from the start and I felt very confident with it right from the start. That's a good start. To be able to compare it to my old Wilson Pro Staff 97 (with Countervail) Mike also put a Diadem Flash 17 string in it at 24.5-23.5 kilos .
Baseline
The racquet I’ve been playing with lately is the Wilson Pro Staff 97 (with Countervail). As mentioned, the stability of that frame sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. This new Pro Staff 97 is the complete opposite, and the string pattern felt very consistent from the start. It didn’t take long before I felt like I could hit the balls very precisely. The denser string pattern due to the new “string spacing” in the middle of the blade helps with that. The previous models, although also 97 sq/inch, felt like they had a very open string pattern. This V13 version feels a bit more closed in terms of string density, which works very well for a player like me who hits a more flat ball. It should also help with string durability, as there is less movement. After a few hours of play, there was no visible wear.
Control and spin Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13
Even with a lively string like the Diadem Flash, I felt like I had more than enough control on both my backhand and forehand. That doesn’t mean spin is an issue, though. When pushed further back, I was able to find plenty of topspin when needed. The Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 doesn’t have the same “loopy” launch angle as other blades, but I was able to produce a heavy ball that went over the net by a wide margin while still maintaining good pace.
You notice that the Pro Staff 97 V13 is a traditional and quite stiff frame. I don't have any problems with it, but I believe the Pro Staff 97 V13 is around 66 RA. I do think that this new version feels a bit less stiff than its predecessor. By removing the Countervail you do have a more direct playing feel. The Pro Staff 97 V13 is clearly not a very flexible frame, but also not as stiff as a Babolat Pure Aero . Lately I have had some minor arm problems, but I don't blame that on this frame. I think that with the right string and tension you can get the stiffness of a frame under control.
Slices and drop shots from the baseline are amazing. I was able to get some nice rotation where the ball really slides down the lane. This Pro Staff rewards aggressive play, whether it's firing a winner down the line or slicing deep into a corner. The precision of this new version reminds me of the Prince Textreme Tour 95 but the light weight makes the Pro Staff 97 V13 easier to swing. Also the depth of my shots is more than fine, besides the consistency and precision. What more could you want?
Serve
Serving with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 is fine. I have only hit a handful, but the low balance point makes swinging effortless. I do notice that the speed is a bit less than with real power frames, but that is logical. The precision that you can show with this Pro Staff, you produce venomous serves that are always a nice prelude to a "one two punch", Federer's trademark.
Volleying
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 thanks to the low balance point, and you also have a lot of feeling with drop volleys. My volleys felt solid and direct. If you bring the racket forward in time to put the ball away, you get a great response and you have the feeling 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 mainly reserved for the real master Roger Federer. My “no-looks” can often be placed in the category of bloopers.
Returns
The Pro Staff 97 V13 is a solid frame for returns and is not pushed away. For players who like to block returns and place them against the baseline, this racket works well. Especially due to the direct ball contact (partly due to the absence of Countervail) and sufficient weight, all forms of returns can be hit perfectly and very consistently. I had little trouble with swerves or mishits. An absolute advantage of this frame. This means few free points for the opponent. The Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 is of course not as heavy as its brother the RF97 with which you can simply hit the ball back without a backswing, but there is enough mass to provide stability with 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 blade. I find it hard to say if this is the best Pro Staff ever as I have only hit it a few times. Also I am still a big fan of the (K) Six.One 95 but I think the V13 is the best 97 sq/inch Pro Staff version so far. I am glad they got rid of the Countervail as it makes the racquet feel more consistent. You also have more feel with the tighter string pattern and it gives you that little bit more control. It is not easy to play with a lot of power. This racquet rewards good technique but if your legs work well and you can get your feet in the right position and swing fast you will be rewarded with a heavy ball that will leave your opponent behind.
In short, aggressive players with a fast arm who are looking for a lot of feedback and feel in their shots and who can handle a reasonably heavy, stiff frame should definitely try out this version of the Wilson Pro Staff 97. Players who currently play with the Countervail version will also 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!