Round-up review: our score and verdict are based on published specs and reviews from across the web, not our own play-testing yet.
Wilson’s Pro Staff 97 v14 is a classic player’s racket for advanced players who want maximum control, a connected feel and the confidence to close at the net. It rewards clean preparation and full swings. Beginners, and anyone hoping the frame will lend them power, should steer clear of it.
Precision first
TennisCompanion’s Jon Crim scored control at 9.3 out of 10, volleys at 9.1 and feel at 9.0, with a combined 8.68. The double-braided graphite layup gives feedback he describes as firm yet composed, and the perimeter weighting means the frame stays put against pace. At net it never fluttered when redirecting heavy balls, and reaction volleys came quickly thanks to the head-light balance.
Power is deliberately restrained at 8.2. With smooth, deliberate strokes there is plenty of pace, and the mass gives satisfying plough-through, but the ball flies flatter and more penetrating than from a modern power frame. Serving rewards rhythm over muscle and lands with reliable depth and accuracy rather than easy pop.
Where reviewers split
The costs are the ones you would expect. Manoeuvrability was Crim’s lowest mark at 8.1, spin is natural and measured rather than Pure Aero heavy, and off-centre contact is noticeably less forgiving than on a 100 square inch frame. Late preparation is punished rather than rescued.
One clarification for shoppers. This isn’t a renamed Federer racket. Wilson’s RF 01 and RF 01 Pro are a separate signature line sold alongside the Pro Staff, with different specs and a different feel.
Specs
- Head size 97 in²
- Stiffness (RA) 66
- Beam width 21.5 mm
- String pattern 16 x 19
- Balance head light
Verdict
A rewarding scalpel for advanced technicians who live at the net and trust their footwork. Everyone else will find it hard work.
