@Victor Manuel Bustamante Alvarez, A few racquets with a similar feel but a little more control would be the Yonex EZONE Ai 98, Babolat Pure Control Tour and Wilson Blade 98 18x20. Andy, TW
@Victor Manuel Bustamante Alvarez, It's impossible to say whether you'd get injured or not from a racquet switch because it depends on too many different factors. The Pro Staff 90 will certainly be heavier and no where near as easy to use with its smaller head size. If you have the strength to swing it though you'd appreciate its precision and exceptional feel. Andy, TW
Andy! If you were comparing the Ai 98 with this RF 97. What would you say that makes them different from each other. The pro's and con's if you would like to say. Thanks!
@InfamousCharacter, I got more power and spin with the PS97 but more control with the Ai 98. Since I feel like I still get adequate spin and power from the Ai 98, I prefer it overall for the control that it offers. Andy, TW
The swingweights on these seem to be all over the place. I RDC'd the one I have and got a SW of 334 (three measurements of 334, 334, 335). Someone else on the TW message boards got a SW of 326.
And Chris could you correct me if I am wrong? Feel means feedback. In other words, vibrations to tell how you just have hit the ball. Right? Too much vibrations: “brassy”. A good mid point: “crisp”, “clean”, or also “lively response”. Little vibrations: dampened, muted, and “dead response”? Comfort is a combination of Feel and Flex right? While you can have a stiff, mid flex, or flexy racket, what you care generally is that you don’t get vibrations to be harsh (excessive and painful) or too little (dead and muted). But rather in a good midpoint. Over Plow Through and Stability: Low range: fluttering Good range: solid, in other words good stability High range: super stable, but hefty and slow Right?
Yep. You are pretty much spot on there. I'd add the word shock to "brassy" in that you get a sudden jolt at impact. Good feel is a smooth response that still connects you to what is going on -- good vibes in other words! Cheers, Chris, TW
Andy hi,where will u put this racket if compare to aeropro drive. Plow thru , stability , serve and volleys ? I have played with apd n I dnt know its only I feel or it is actually that babolats are bit inconsistent when comes to sweetspot. Some time more power some time drop of power. Plz compare ps 97 . Thanks
@ossamah durrani, They are pretty different types of racquets. The APD will be more forgiving, more maneuverable and offers a very crisp and modern feel. The Pro Staff 97 is going to be more of a traditional-feeling racquet. I'd probably still give the edge to the APD in all those categories except for plowthrough though. Andy, TW
Thanks for the reply , i think i am looking for something which sets in between the Roddick and APD , so dont know what to get , this ps 97 , i was guessing seems to lie in between above both ? or any suggestions u have ?
Hello TW, This is my current racquet and I am looking to upgrade. I like this racquet, but there are some things that I am looking to change. I would like a more crisp feel on the volley, serve, and slice. I feel this racquet is a bit "flimsy" around the frame which makes the control on my volley, serve, and slices all a little off. I tend to hit a "loopy" topspin forehand most of the time and this racquet is fine for that because I feel I can whip it around and get great spin. I demoed the updated version of this racquet, Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail and the Black. I felt the Pro Staff 97 Countervail was very similar to this racquet. The Black one was nicer in the sense that it felt better on the slice and volley. I feel I liked the black better than the newest countervail version. I felt the newest Pro Staff 97 Countervail was also a little thick on the frame which I usually do not prefer. I also demoed the Yonex Vcore 98 (305) and VCore Pro 97 (310) recently. I loved the serve, slice, and volley on the Vcore Pro 97...but I felt like I had to change my swing or work harder on my groundstrokes. I felt that when I used my usually forehand swing, the balls would would go long and it would be harder for me to hit a loopy shot. The Vcore 98 felt pretty good, but I still felt that I had to adjust on the groundstrokes and the volley and serve was not as crisp as the Vcore Pro 97. Sorry if my blabbering confused you, but are there any other racquet suggestions that would play similar to this racquet with a more crisp feel on my serve, volley, and slice? Or is there a racquet that will play similar to the Vcore 98 or VCore Pro 97 with the adjustments on the groundstrokes? Thank you, Shun
@Sjoerd Witt, Have you tried the Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) Countervail? It could be a good alternative to your Pro Staff 97. I would also consider the Dunlop Srixon Revo CX 2.0, Tecnifibre TFight 305 XTC, Head Graphene XT Radical Pro, and Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19. The racquets I just listed have somewhat of a crisp feel, and provide some added power compared to the VCORE Pro 97 (310), so you shouldn't have to work quite as hard on your groundstrokes. If possible, I would consider trying some demos of these racquets. Troy, TW
Thank you for the recommendations. The only one I've tried is the Pure Strike and Wilson Blade 98. I felt that the Pure Strike was really stiff and head heavy. My arm started to get tired just trying to swing through the balls. The Blade 98 (although I may have only tried 18x20 required me to hit through my shots more as well and did not appeal right away) I probably would like the 16x19 better.
silentashhoward , We found the Extreme Pro to offer more control than the Pro Staff 97. However, I'm sure if you experimented with some different string setups and got it dialed in you could get additional control with the ProStaff. Andy, TW
If you add about 4 grams to the head at 3 and 9 o'clock position and 4 grams in the handle and this racquet is a beast. Best quality about this racquet is the control. Still love the feel of the RF97 but the PS97 reigns in the consistency department for me!
Hi Andy, Just wonder if you might elaborate about the differences between the Blade 98S, Blade 98 18x20 and the RF97? I play Cyclone Tour 16 #54 on the 18x20 and cyclone tour 16 #59 on Blade98S leaded. Thanks!
@sm2012, The Blade 98 18x20 will offer the most control out of the bunch while the RF97 will be the most powerful. They all feel fairly similar in terms of stiffness and responsiveness (connection with the ball). The RF97 is certainly the heaviest and most stable out of the three. Andy, TW
@Eric Cheng, Thank you! When we say "modern" feel, we are trying to describe a racquet that feels crisp, stiff and/or lively. A Babolat Pure Drive or AeroPro Drive epitomizes the "modern" feel. Andy, TW
Hello, I'm 4.5 NTRP player and actually using babolat aero pro drive 2012. I'm going to switch this raquet. I was thinking about PS97 or Yonex Ai 98. My current Babolat is good enough in comfort, but i need more power and maybe a bit more spin. I have a one handed backhand. Which raquet do you reccommend?
Andy, could you compare the Head Graphene Radical Pro with the Wilson Pro Staff 97? I've looked at all the statistics but I still need a comparison in words to make sense in my mind. Cheers!
@Genghis, The Radical Pro offers a stiffer, crisper feel with a bit more power, forgiveness and spin. The Pro Staff 97 is a little plusher feeling and offers more of a connection to the ball. It'll be a bit more maneuverable and offers slightly more control. Andy, TW
@Jondaliner, The PS97 is going to be more powerful, solid and stable compared to the Pure Control. It'll also offer a crisper, stiffer, more modern feel. Andy, TW
What line of rackets that offers better shots plans and straight. Not much spin and do not like, I need something to improve my plans shots. May indicate some rackets?
@ Melwin Mark, Unfortunately, there isn't a specific way to customize a racquet to get rid of an erratic or inconsistent sweetspot. You could try adding weight at the 3 and 9 o'clock position on the hoop to help improve the torsional stability, but whether that improves the feel of the sweetspot is really going to up to your own personal preference. When customizing, it's important to try different things and find what feels best to you. Andy, TW
I have been playing with this tennis racquet for over a month now and I was able to adapt to the erratic sweet spot to the point where it is no longer an issue. Like most Wilson Pro Staff/player's racquet, it requires sound mechanics to play consistently with this frame. Having said that, I did the following to help improve the sweet spot: 1) I added 5 inch of 1/4 lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock, it maintains the whippy feel but with a bit more stability and weight behind my shots 2) I strung this racquet with a soft string at the highest end of the recommended tension, in my case I have Babolat Origin at 60 lbs. 3) I added a leather grip to make it more head light and swing faster through the air without losing control As Andy said, you have to try out different ways to customize this frame and see what works best for you. Good luck, and have fun on the tennis courts!
@Devin Blackburn, The ProStaff97 is the most powerful and forgiving of the three. It has the largest and liveliest sweetspot. However, it won't offer the same level of control as the other two. In terms of feel, they are all comfortable but the PS97 feels the "crispest" and most modern. Andy, TW
+Trey Scott , String choice will really depend on your stroke style and personal preference. If you have shorter, slower strokes and don't break strings often, you may enjoy the softer feel and playability of a multifilament string like Wilson NXT at 58 lbs. If you have longer, faster strokes and can generate much of your own power, try a nice polyester string like Luxilon ALU Power at 54 lbs for a bit more control, spin and durability. Andy, TW
@Brendon Toh, This is a great option, as well as the newer version. We actually prefer the versions without Countervail, such as this one, but that is mostly personal preference. Troy, TW
Hey Chris, I have hit with the Babolat Pure Control Tour. I know there are some spec differences but was curious how it would compare to this racket? Thanks!
@Taylor Ermoian, I'm going to step in for Chris here if you don't mind since I've hit with both racquets extensively. The ProStaff 97 is livelier and more powerful while the PCT offers better control. The PS 97 has a slightly crisper, more modern feel while the PCT is a little softer and more plush. While we really enjoyed both racquets, we may have to give the slight edge to the PCT for the control that it offered. Andy, TW
@Oliver Chonoles, No new colors for the Gel Res 5 are scheduled to be released. As for the racquet comparison, please see my segment in the video, as I touch on this at length. Andy, TW
Hi Andy and TW Team, Thanks for the great review! I was wondering how you would rate and compare the Prostaff 97 against the Head Youtek Graphene Speed Pro (control, spin potential, sweet spot, plow through)? Which one would you recommend? Would you recommend adding some weight to 3 & 9 o'clock? Thanks again!
@Joe S, They feel fairly similar in terms of stiffness, maneuverability, sweet spot and plowthrough. I'd give the edge in power to the PS97 but in spin and control to the Speed Pro. Overall, I'd give the slight edge to the Speed Pro, although I think both are nice racquets. Andy, TW
I currently use a Juice 100 blx and I was wondering how different the feel of this new Pro Staff is. The autograph model is a tad too heavy for me, but this lighter version might just be great from what I've seen.
@ Alberto Blasi, The PS97 is going to be more plush and traditional feeling compared to the Juice. It will offer slightly less power and more control. It's a fairly different racquet than the one you use, but you may find that it works out for you. Give it a try and see what you think. Andy, TW
@Brian Moreland, It depends on your stroke style and personal preference. If you have shorter, slower strokes and don't break strings often, you may enjoy a soft multifilament like Wilson NXT for more power, comfort and feel. If you have longer, faster strokes and can generate all of your own power, try a polyester like Luxilon ALU Power for more control, spin and durability. I'd go with ALU Power over Max Power for a better connection with the ball and a livelier feel. Andy, TW
Thanks Andy! Well I'm a 4.0 player with dependable strokes. It seems that the general consensus for this racquet is that it's pretty lively. Which more affordable string (I love ALU Power, but too pricey) would you recommend that is control-oriented?
Tennis Warehouse would you suggest cyclone in 16 or 17? Is there much difference in control between the 16 and the 17? Andy and Chris both love the 16, do you love the 17 as much? Would you think I should try it at 50 Lbs? My (local) PS97 demo had an 18 soft round poly in it, so I don't know what the shaped cyclone is going to feel like in it. I found a little bit too much power in the soft light co-poly at 54 Lbs (I don't know what the string was), but I could deal with it, and the feel & connection to the ball was awesome, so I think the deader cyclone is going to be perfect. The racquet was really comfortable, spinny, and reliable -- it surprised me with how much control I got from it. I love this frame! What do you think, cyclone 16 or 17? And if I want to experiment with a softer poly, what would you suggest? Emphasis on control and feel I guess. Would you suggest... ? Lux 4G 16L ? Alu power 16L? Alu power spin? Kirschbaum Pro Line X 17? Others? (I do understand a full bed of poly is never going to be soft). Thanks!
@Jeremy Morse, I prefer the 17 gauge for the slightly livelier, more spin-friendly feel, while Chris prefers the thicker gauge for the better control and deader feel. They will both play fine in your racquet, so just choose based on your personal preference and what you're looking for. As for soft polys, two great ones I'd recommend are Polyfibre TCS and Dunlop Black Widow. Andy, TW
Hey guys, big fan of all your reviews! Keep them coming! Just a quick question, I recently bought this racquet, strung it up with wilson NXT power mains at 56lbs, alu power crosses at 54lbs, and had far too much power. With that setup, I felt the ball was launching on me and I had to slow down my swing to keep the ball in. I am a 4.5 player who prefers to take big cuts at the ball from the baseline (semiwestern forehand, double backhand), but I also want to develop softer hands at the net so feel is also important. Thank goodness those strings broke after 2 sessions or I would have probably cut them myself. My question is, what brand of strings, and what setup would you recommend for control from the baseline and feel at the net? I am not too big a fan of sharp-edged polys that increase spin as I feel that volleys and slice come off at a higher trajectory and I want my slices to stay low off the stringbed. (Do you guys experience this with strings like volkl cyclone?) Thank you for your reply!
@SuperTennisManiac, You could try a full bed of a responsive poly like Luxilon ALU Power and that may give you the control and feel that you're looking for. If you want to stick with your hybrid setup, I'd suggest just increasing the tension a couple of pounds and see if that gives you the control you need. Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks for the reply Andy! Love the personalised service you guys provide. May I know what string setup Chris used to reign in the control? and at what tension? Thanks!
@SuperTennisManiac, Chris like a stiffer, deader poly like Luxilon 4G or Wilson Revolve to help provide a bit more control. He liked it around 55 lbs. Andy, TW
@Vishwas, The ProStaff 97 is more powerful, a little more spin-friendly but less controllable than the Ai 98. The PS97 also offers a slightly crisper feel. Overall, I prefer the Ai 98 for the precision and softer feel. Andy, TW
Hello Chris! Hope you are hitting heavy topspin 🎾 and 🍌 shots! How would this first gen PS97 compre to the Babolat Project One 7? Maneuverability, plow through, flex, vibrations, power, comfort?
The two racquets are very comparable both in terms of specs and playability. The Pro Staff offers me a little more of a classic, crisper feel, whereas the One7 feels a little more open, forgiving and modern. I play with very similar spin from both, but just personally prefer the feel of the One7. Both are great racquets and you should find an easy transition going from one to the other. Cheers, Chris, TW
Hey Tennis Warehouse ! I bought a Babolat AeroPro Drive GT and have been playing quite well with that stick. The only problem I find with the stick is when I try and hit a flat hard forehand... it tends to go out. Would this Pro Staff 97 give me a bit more control on the FLAT FOREHANDS?
@tennisswimmingrugby, We found the Pro Staff 97 to offer similar levels of power as the AeroPro Drive. I'd recommend getting your racquet strung at a slightly higher tension to give you a little boost in control. That way, you won't have to switch racquets and you can get a little more precision out of your current one. Andy, TW
Hi Tw, yesterday I tested the Head YouTek graphene radical pro and this gave me a little too much power. How do you compare the Radical Pro with the Wilson Pro staff 97 (315gr)? Thought that this one could be a good option for me. Thanks. Sem, Netherlands
hi , currently i am using head graphene XT instinct Mp , had trial of Wilson prostaff 97 , a bit heavier than the current racket but the ps97 gave better increased comfort control with power same as head racket. I have one question i am 30+ i want to know what tension and which softest poly string i can use please give me atleast 5 option from top to bottom.
I 100% agree with Michelle on this , i found a ton of power in this frame , much more than i expected , so i'm going to go with a much deader poly to compensate that . also i really felt well at the volley too and for my one hand back angles that were phenomenal . However i tend to disagree about the "comfort" part . Maybe my RPM at 57 lbs was too stiff for the frame ( i'm going to try ripspin at 53 my usual tension) but after several sessions my arm and shoulder started to hurt a little . That put aside , its a great racket , even though i miss the "amplifeel" technology of my 6.1 that i don't think is present on this frame . TW , would you give an advice to which deader but still comfortable poly i could look into if the ripspin doesn't fit the bill ? Also do you think the leather grip on it might actually kill a bit of the comfort ?
@Romain Legay, First off, it comes with a tan colored synthetic grip that looks like a leather grip. As for strings, I'd recommend looking into Luxilon ALU Power Ice or Yonex Poly Tour Spin. Both of those will be deader but with a softer, plusher feel than RPM. Moreover, Poly Tour Spin is shaped like RPM Blast for a little extra boost in spin. Andy, TW
Thanks for your answer Andy and yes i know for the grip i just changed it ^^ Ok i will track those strings then , i'm pretty sure the discomfort comes from the string and tension here for me ! I'm sure though that fans of the pro staff 95 will hate this racket its very different ^^
Hi TW, have been hitting with the 97 - but also eyeing the Babolat Pure Control Tour. Am looking for something more flexible than the Wilson, yet still has equal stability and manoeuvrability. From your experience, does the Babolat fit the bill? My main concern is the extra static weight making it a bit sluggish. Thanks.
+Matthew Theobald-Cearns , The Pure Control Tour would be a good one to try, but I'd also suggest trying the Yonex EZONE DR 98. Both of those should feel just as maneuverable with a softer, yet solid feel you're looking for. Andy, TW
I was really hoping that the same play testers used for the autograph would also test this so we would be able to tell more what it played like in comparison to the autograph..... I thought TW would have done this for sure as you guys are known for your pragmatic approach when it comes to gear reviews!
@GUS GRAND, Two of the four playtesters on this frame were also on the RF97 review, and though we weren't on it, Karly and I have both hit with it extensively as well. Chris and Michelle also offer a nice comparison between the two frames. I've also offered a number of comparisons between the two frames below in questions asked by RUclips members. I hope this suffices for your inquires comparing the two frames. Andy, TW
I Andy I recently demoed both graphene radical pro and prestige pro both in the same weigth and frame type range. How would you compare the PS97 to the 2 frames as power, spin, manuvrability and confort are concerned ? Thanks for all the nice videos !
@paolo forti, The PS 97 will have around the same power as the Radical Pro, less control than both, spin potential like the Radical Pro and the most comfortable of the three. Andy, TW
Hi TW! I'm looking to buy a new racquet and was just wondering what you would suggest. My last racquet was a BLX pro staff 6.1 90 and I really enjoyed playing with it :). Don't really know much about the racquets this year but I'm currently looking at the Pro Staff 90 &97 and Blade's 98 & 93. What are your thoughts?
@Baydz Karst, If you like the midsize racquet I'd go with either the Pro Staff 90 (which will be very similar to your current one) or the Blade 93 for a little more pop and forgiveness. Andy, TW
Hey Chris, in previous videos I notice you used knee straps for patellar tendon. Any advice to get over this problem? I have it on my right knee. Thanks
@João Botelho, Nothing beats resting an injury for getting it better. Also, make sure you ice it after activity to take down the inflammation. Stretch out your quads and hip flexors to take pressure off the patellar tendon and also work on your leg strength with quad exercises. Andy, TW
Chris say " I would have liked a tad more stability, and I had to find the right string to get the stringbed consistency I like." so witch string would you recommend for this racket ? atm i play with Volkl cyclone
@ Tobias Christensen, Cyclone is one of our favorite strings and would provide the control needed in order to get more consistency out of the stringbed. Andy, TW
Tobias Christensen , Try a softer poly like Volkl Cyclone Tour then or a nice multifilament like Wilson NXT. We just found that softer, more powerful strings caused the stringbed to be a bit too erratic. Andy, TW
+Fourat WADI , They will be pretty similar in terms of both maneuverability and ease of use. They do have slightly different "feels" though, so I'd recommend trying them both and seeing which one feels best in your hands. Andy, TW
Hi TW, I am surprised by the more than adequate controllable power level and high comfort level of this PS97. Currently with Prince Tour100(TE rehabilitation:)), the PS97 power+stiffer yet comfortable feel is extremely addictive. I am considering a switch to this or a 0.5oz lighter Donnay F100. How would you compare PS97 vs F100 in terms of comfort, stability and ability to hit heavy ball;) ?Thanks.
@MikeK, The Pro Staff 97 will be equally powerful and spin-friendly, but will offer better touch with a little less control. It won't be quite as forgiving because of its smaller head size. Andy, TW
Hi Andy, I don't know if you have tested Dunlop Biomimetic Max 200G, but how would you compare PS 97 with that one? I thought I have found my stick at least for a while in 200G, but as you probably know, it has been discontinued. I am thinking about choosing between PS 97 and PS RF 97 A.
@Art Cho, We found the racquets to play pretty similar. Both are lively, "whippy" to swing and spin-friendly. The PS97 is maybe a bit more powerful and forgiving. Andy, TW
Hi, TW I used to play with the babolat pure drive roddick, I liked the weight and playthrough but i had issues controling the power, I changed to the wilson blade 18x20 I liked it for practice but in matches I need more spin would you recomend me this racquet? Thanks for the reviews.
ENRIQUE MERCHAND , This sounds like it could be the nice blend of attributes that you're looking for. A couple others worth checking out would be the Yonex EZONE Ai 98 and Babolat Pure Control Tour. Andy, TW
+Junha Baek , All of the Wilson racquets will possess a softer feel with better control and precision compared to your APD, but they won't be quite as powerful, spin-friendly or forgiving. Andy, TW
Andy. Which would u prefer between the pro staff 97 (2014) and the pro staff 97 (new model) and could you pls list out the pros and cons. Thanks, Andy.
i saw a grip on reaquet on the start of the video. is that tourna grip or tourna tac. if is tourna grip i want to now how many time do this grip stay cool for paying. i got it for about one week. is this enouh or not. thanks for your answer
@Hugh Mo, I think that would play great! I typically like lower tensions for better ball pocketing and comfort. Give it a try and see what you think. Andy, TW
Andrea Bucci , While it won't be quite as forgiving, the Blade 98 16x19 will feel more similar with its stiffer feel and nice blend of power and control. Andy, TW
@Vishwas, The ProStaff 97 will be a little crisper/stiffer feeling, more powerful and whipper feeling. Your VCore will offer a bit more control. Andy, TW
Hey TW thanks for the great review! How would you compare the PS 97 to the RF 97 in terms of power, spin, control, feel, maneuverability and stability? Also, how would you compare the racquets to my current racquet, the BLX Pro Staff Six.One 95 (customized to 355g strung static weight, 8.5 pts HL and wíth a swingweight in the 330 range) in the same areas? Thanks as always and best wishes to the play test team from Germany! :D By the way, does Andy prefer the PS 97 to the PS 95 (which he apparently loves too) and does he see a possibility of switching? Sorry for bombarding you with questions and thanks again :)
@ninisgreekronaldo, Since it's heavier, the RF97 is more powerful and spin-friendly, so long as you have the strength to swing it. The PS97 is more maneuverable while the RF97 is more stable. Both of those will be crisper, stiffer and more modern feeling than your current frame. I like both the PS97 and the PS95 for different reasons. The PS97 is a much more modern, forgiving racquet that I'd be more likely to go compete with (because it's easier to use), while the PS95 has such a plush, comfortable, traditional feel. I'm not planning on switching to either of those frames though. Andy, TW
Hi TW-Team, where are the main difference between this Racquet and the previous versions of the Pro Staff Six.One 100 or 95 (2012) and the Pro Staff 100 or 95 (2013) ? I have playtested the Pro Staff Six.One 100 and it feelt very stiff and blund. I hope the new Version Pro Staff 97 has different Specs or Feeling and worth doing a playtest with the new one. Thank you very much :)
Felix Neuhäuser ,We actually found the older Pro Staff to feel pretty soft, flexible and plush, and this new version is a little stiffer/crisper feeling than those. This new Pro Staff will be more powerful and spin-friendly but doesn't have the classic precision and feel of the older ones. Andy, TW
Is this racket good for juniors? I am just wondering because i might switch to this racket. Also, can u tell me the difference between this racket and the aeropro drive
Hi, I am using wilson juice 100s and now feeling to switch to either blade 16x19 or PS97. I can generate the spin with my playing style nut the control with juice 100s was always an issue. I am looking for more control oriented racket with good spin potential. (Not as much as juice 100s). Kindly suggest. Blade or PS97? Thanks.
Hi tennis warehouse, i am playing with this amazing racket. I string it with a hybrid: mains babolat rpm and crosses babolat Vs Natural gut. But i have some control issues: sometimes the stringbed gets erretic. Is there a way to remedy this? Because of my slender built sometimes i lack power to generate my own pace. Can you give me à tip? Keep up the good work! Greetings from Belgium
+imranSBS1 , We did find in our review of this racquet (as we discuss in the video above) that the stringbed felt erratic at times. With that said, over time your strings will inevitably lose tension and may play erratic at times. It may be time to re-string your racquet. You could also try stringing a couple of pounds tighter in order to give yourself a bit more control. Andy, TW
I want to buy this racquet today but which strings should I put on? I am used to an old wilson 6.1 95 with champion choice. Is xcel a god choice? I usually don´t preffer dead poly like you mentioned in the video. I hit big/full strokes and need a little bit more power than before but at the sametime I need control to stay in the game. I playtested this stick but don´t remember what it was strung with (fabric). Any thoughts what would be a good starting point?
MrTaserud , Both your usual Champion's Choice or XCel would be great options in this racquet. I'd first try your usual setup with Champion's Choice and see if that gives you the feel you're looking for. Andy, TW
what's karly's height? how could she manage using it? or what im meaning to ask is, would it be possible for a 5'3 boy to use this racquet effectively?
+Kenneth Achilles Bernardo , Whether you can handle the racquet depends on much more than simply your height. Your strength, flexibility, stroke mechanics and simply what type of racquet you are used to will determine whether you can swing it or not. Andy, TW
well, i actually asked about her height because im one of the shortest among my tennis friends, and Karly doesn't seem to be easily dominated--which is the exact opposite with me. i used to play with a quite heavy racket, about 370 grams, i think, but now i have a lighter racket. guess i'll just have to get used to it for quite some time to tame this beast XD . any professional tennis player you might suggest that i should watch who is short but still not easy to beat ? I appreciate your reply, btw. thanks.
Kenneth Achilles Bernardo , David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori are both pretty slight of build but certainly hold their own against the best players in the game. Andy, TW
@Tom Bowers, The ProStaff 97 will be a little crisper feeling and much more powerful than the Pure Control, which will be plusher-feeling and more precise. Andy, TW
hey TW! I currently own the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick 2012 and I have to admit it is a very strong racquet but I just cant seem to dive the ball down on most of my shots. How would the Pro Staff 97 compare to the 2012 Roddick Standard Version?
@ John Domondon, The Pro Staff offers a bit more feel with less power and spin than the PD Roddick. If you're looking for more spin, the PS 97 probably won't be the right option for you. I'd suggest checking out the Wilson Burn 100S and Yonex VCORE SV 100. Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse So if it’s 320 SW for the 1st gen Prostaff 97 does this mean that except for Countervail it has the same specs as the latest tuxedo prostaff97?
@ronaldo lanzanas, The target specs for each generation of the Pro Staff 97 have been the same, 310 grams unstrung, and 10 Points Head Light (unstrung). Each generation we have received, we take a batch of strung racquets, measure the specs, and list the average specs on our website. Troy, TW
How's blade98 (tighter version) compared to this PS97 ? I demoed the blade98, really enjoyed the connected feel and power, plow through, almost everything except the spin. To me the blade98 18x20 lacks quite amount of spin. then how about PS97? from 16x19 pattern it should generate more spin I guess, but I don't want to lose the lancet control the blade has.
@Rqe, The ProStaff 97 does offer a little more maneuverability and more spin potential than the Blade 98 18x20, but it won't have the same level of control. Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thnanks for your reply, Andy. But it is very OBVIOUS fact we all know, at least from the string pattern you can see. is PS97's spin potential worth much while sacrificing Blade's control? what is your thought about it? which one would be your choice? I'd like to ask you some specific words, not that true things. Sorry to say that, but, yes I really appreciate your reply, too.
@Rqe, That's really a matter of personal preference. I've played tournaments with the Blade 98 18x20 in the past year, so clearly I value the feel and control over the spin potential. However, other people may feel otherwise. You really just need to figure out which attributes are most important to you. Andy, TW
Hi, I have read trough whole the looong list of customer feedback reviews on tennis-warehouse.com about this racquet. And I can't help myself to see a two main streams of the feedback types. While one stream of customers are reporting inconsistent strung bed, typically with stiffy feel, hurting the arm. There are others who are very surprised why anyone can say such a thing, and themselfs they are reporting superb consistency and very soft-arm feel. I bought that racquet yesterday and it came on already with Wilson Sensation on, with 25/24kg (measured during the hand over). And unlike the demo racquet, today training was a disaster. No I have so bad feeling for the ball depth in all shots (both FH, BH, both top spin slices, stopping volleys end up behind base line instead of just behind the net! And overall almost no power in my shots. I was shocked. If such a string would be on demo racquet I tried day before, I would put it down in one minute and never consider buying. I saw some recomendations TW made here. So I dont want to repeat same question over again - what string fits... but. My question is: what string fits - and provide maximum depth consistency and enough power? I am looking for strings, which will endure more then just few playing hours ($ friendly). Thank you very much!
+Pavel Vresnak I am replying to my own question, with first sort of successful experience with PS97. I strung it with the Volkl Cyclone Black 1.30, 24/22.5kg tension. It plays very well in most of the shots. I have excellent feedback from every ball. Almost no inconsistency caused by racquet what so ever, definitely not experienced anything like erratic strung bed. I love volleying with this one, and doing stop volleys from heavy FH shots with exceptional accuracy just behind the net. Approach shots are excellent. I like service with it, but I feel I have not yet touched the potential of PS97 here, so I think I will love the service soon too. I have average feeling about the returning of faster serves. Where I struggle a bit are basic swings from the baseline. I have been already more consistent and confident with other racquetes, both lighter or heavier. This one has kind of very special feel of plow trough the ball. It is not so smooth as I would expect it would be, with that weight of approx.340g. I still have a feeling that I have to push it trough the ball rather then swing it trough. Perhaps not good enough technique. I have read that many people add leads to 3&9, and 12 sometimes too. Will try it and share feedback once more. So to add, I am used to play 6x a week per 2 hours a day without any physical issues. And after two trainings with PS97, my arm sore. I am not sure if that can be because of the weight increase from 315 to 340? I don't have feeling of any nasty vibrations..
Hello TW, I am just switching to this PS 97 from a blade 98 16x19, i am just afaid of aditional weight of the Ps 97, is the difference is significant ? Thanks.
@Fourat WADI, The PS 97 is head light enough that it still feels whippy and maneuverable. I wouldn't be concerned about the additional weight. Andy, TW
Hi guys! Great review. I must say I got the same very feelings towards this new pro staff 97. Very erratic stringbed and no pro staff blood anywhere. I was looking for a more forgiving and less demanding racket but that could still be somewhat close to my pro staff 90 in feel and plow through. This 97 has none of it. I guess I'll try the 95 and maybe customize it a bit. Do you think this would be a correct move? Any customization ideas to make the 95 a bit closer to the 90? Thank U everyone
Burn Guitarded , The Pro Staff 95 is much lighter than the 90, so I'd recommend utilizing the Customization Tool on the TW University site to help you figure how much and where to add weight to get the specs to be more similar. Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks a lot Andy! I will but in the meantime I found in your website the Babolat Pure Control Tour which specs are pretty much what I'm looking for. I usually hate babolat rackets because they're too stiff. Is this Babolat any close to the Pro Staff feel? Does it plays like a pro staff? Thanks again
Burn Guitarded , Though most Babolat racquets are much stiffer, the Pure Control is a little different and feels much softer and plusher, similar to a Pro Staff. It's a little more solid and stable than the Pro Staff and would certainly be worth a try. Andy, TW
+justin gafoor , We found the Pure Strike to offer a more flexible and powerful feel while the Pro Staff 97 had a crisper, more controllable feel. Andy, TW
+justin gafoor , We found the Pure Strike to offer a more flexible and powerful feel while the Pro Staff 97 had a crisper, more controllable feel. Andy, TW
On a control aspect is the pro staff 97 a lot better compared to the ai 98 and the Head Graphene xt pro? I want a raquet with tons of control and where I can dictate the point with placement. Which is best?
@ Terry Curve, The ProStaff 97 will offer the least amount of control of the three racquets. Please see my other responses to you on other videos for racquet recommendations. Andy, TW
Hi Andy, I'm considering which racquet to switch to, Yonex Ezone Ai 98 or PS 97, would you give me some suggestion? I use the Wilson k six one team. Thank you :-)
Dear TW, I am 14 years old and workout a decent amount. I play in USTA tournaments and would say that I am around a 4.5 level player. I use the blade 98 16x19 right now. I recently tried this out and while I liked it a lot, it was just a bit too erratic of the string bed. Are there any other rackets similar to this that can give me a slight upgrade over my current racket?
@Oliver Chonoles, Two racquets I'd recommend trying are the Yonex EZONE Ai 98 and the Babolat Pure Control Tour. Both of those will offer a similar feel to yours and this Pro Staff 97. Andy, TW
@Nick Tran, We posted an updated swingweight of 320 directly above the "314" in the video. We re-posted the swingweight after we were able to test many more frames and find a more accurate number. Andy, TW
@НикитаМазурин, Please watch the video for my comparison between this and the Blade 98 16x19. Personally, I prefer this PS97 to that version of the Blade. Andy, TW
@@LArabmo This was a while ago, and Andy no longer works at TW anymore. That said, there was a point where he preferred the PS97 over the Blade 16x19. As far as I know he is still using his DR98 and has been with it for a while. Troy, TW
Hi, I've got this racquet and i just bought a Tecnifiber black code 4s from you guys. What tension would you recommend for this combination? I understand that this strings are low-powered?
+Tennis Warehouse hi Andy, I'm about to restring my racket with the tecnifiber black code 4s 18gauge. You mentioned 51 pounds for more power. When do ppl have different tension for mains and crosses? Should I try that with the black code 4s
Justin Seah , That's really a matter of personal preference. I don't notice much of a difference or improved playability, but some people do. The theory is to string your crosses a little tighter because they are shorter than length than your main strings, and thus the tension will be "more consistent". You're welcome to try it and see what you think - try your crosses 2 lbs tighter than your mains. Andy, TW
@Pratyush R, The Pro Staff 97 will be more maneuverable while the Radical Pro is more solid and stable. Both will offer equal levels of power and spin, but the Radical Pro is a bit more controllable and spin-friendly. Andy, TW
Hey tennis warehouse! I'm thinking of stringing this racquet up with either RPM Blast or Luxilon Alu Power (ice blue color), do you have any thoughts on what would be a good string to try in this racquet?
@Tamlan, Both strings would play great in this racquet. The ALU Power will give you a softer feel that's slightly more powerful while the RPM Blast will be stiffer and more spin-friendly. Andy, TW
@Shashwat Eternal, The ProStaff 97 will be a little stiffer feeling (though we didn't find it uncomfortable), more powerful, more forgiving and more spin-friendly. The Prestige MP will offer better control and feel. Andy, TW
@ JohnnyMo007, The easiest and best way to add control is just to adjust your string setup. First, get your racquet restrung and try adding 2-3 lbs to the tension that you normally use. You can also opt for a stiffer string than you normally use that gives you less power and more control. Lastly, adding a little bit of lead tape at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the hoop helps improve racquet stability, keeping it more steady at impact and improving control. Andy, TW
@Tennis Warehouse Hi Andy! Please help me decide for which new racquet to buy. I'm a 4.0 all-rounder one-handed backhand and I use to play with a hyper pro staff 6.1, but as I got older my shoulder and arm got injured and my swing speed decreased. Also my game is now lacking power. So I thought I should get a lighter racquet (max 11.9 oz), the PS97 is the first in mind because I never played with anything but Wilson and I'm a little afraid I might not get used to another brand. But I've read a lot of your reviews and comments and I noticed you favor Yonex AZONE Ai 98 a lot, and also Babolat Pure Control Tour, Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 and Head Radical Pro (all in the range I think is correct for me). Should I get the most similar racquet to my previous one (control oriented, so Pure Control), the best overall racquet (Ai 98) or the best mix of comfort/power/control as to fix the previous problems stated (PS97 even with less control then others)? I don't mind giving a try and making an effort to adapt to the best racquet possible for me though. If you have any other suggestions I'd appreciate that. ps: I can't demo any of the racquets because my local stores are really small and don't have any of the racquets I want. Thank you so much, congratulations for the excellent work!
+Luciano Rizzi , First off, I'd recommend utilizing our demo program to get the racquets in your hands to see how they feel to you. We have the largest demo program in the country so all of these racquets would be available to you to try. With that said, I think you could definitely get used to all the racquets you mentioned. My favorite out of the bunch would be the Yonex EZONE Ai 98, but you should try all the racquets you mentioned and see which one feels best to you. Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thank you so much Andy, I'm a huge fan of you guys! I actually live in Brazil so I'll make an effort to at least borrow some of the racquets at my club! Cya mate!
What are some string recommendations, I'm interested in this racquet but don't know what strings I would use. I currently use the 2nd generation aero pro drive with alu power silver. I'm a heavy server, hit spin heavy, and do a lot of volleying. If y'all could give me some recommendations that would be awesome!
@Victor Manuel Bustamante Alvarez,
A few racquets with a similar feel but a little more control would be the Yonex EZONE Ai 98, Babolat Pure Control Tour and Wilson Blade 98 18x20.
Andy, TW
Has any clocked Michelle's forehand speed?
...she really is a highlight reels dream
Michelle hits so hard!! I love her forehand. I'm impressed.
@Victor Manuel Bustamante Alvarez,
It's impossible to say whether you'd get injured or not from a racquet switch because it depends on too many different factors. The Pro Staff 90 will certainly be heavier and no where near as easy to use with its smaller head size. If you have the strength to swing it though you'd appreciate its precision and exceptional feel.
Andy, TW
Andy, your introductions are just the best! Lol. Keep it up!
Andy! If you were comparing the Ai 98 with this RF 97. What would you say that makes them different from each other. The pro's and con's if you would like to say. Thanks!
@InfamousCharacter,
I got more power and spin with the PS97 but more control with the Ai 98. Since I feel like I still get adequate spin and power from the Ai 98, I prefer it overall for the control that it offers.
Andy, TW
Thanks Andy! Since I'm still a college player, I like to really swing with all my might sometimes so I decided on the Ai 98.
Michelle and that power O.o, I'm always in awe seeing her hit the ball
The swingweights on these seem to be all over the place. I RDC'd the one I have and got a SW of 334 (three measurements of 334, 334, 335). Someone else on the TW message boards got a SW of 326.
And Chris could you correct me if I am wrong?
Feel means feedback. In other words, vibrations to tell how you just have hit the ball. Right?
Too much vibrations: “brassy”.
A good mid point: “crisp”, “clean”, or also “lively response”.
Little vibrations: dampened, muted, and “dead response”?
Comfort is a combination of Feel and Flex right? While you can have a stiff, mid flex, or flexy racket, what you care generally is that you don’t get vibrations to be harsh (excessive and painful) or too little (dead and muted). But rather in a good midpoint.
Over Plow Through and Stability:
Low range: fluttering
Good range: solid, in other words good stability
High range: super stable, but hefty and slow
Right?
Yep. You are pretty much spot on there. I'd add the word shock to "brassy" in that you get a sudden jolt at impact. Good feel is a smooth response that still connects you to what is going on -- good vibes in other words! Cheers, Chris, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks Chris you’re the man!
Hey Andy which racket will be more spin friendly speed pro prostaff 97 prostaff 97ls or pure aero team
+SuperSnorkelDuck ,
The Pro Staff 97 LS will be the most spin-friendly.
Andy, TW
Andy hi,where will u put this racket if compare to aeropro drive.
Plow thru , stability , serve and volleys ?
I have played with apd n I dnt know its only I feel or it is actually that babolats are bit inconsistent when comes to sweetspot.
Some time more power some time drop of power.
Plz compare ps 97 .
Thanks
@ossamah durrani,
They are pretty different types of racquets. The APD will be more forgiving, more maneuverable and offers a very crisp and modern feel. The Pro Staff 97 is going to be more of a traditional-feeling racquet. I'd probably still give the edge to the APD in all those categories except for plowthrough though.
Andy, TW
Thanks for the reply , i think i am looking for something which sets in between the Roddick and APD ,
so dont know what to get , this ps 97 , i was guessing seems to lie in between above both ?
or any suggestions u have ?
@ossamah durrani,
This may be what you're looking for. A couple other good ones would be the Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 and the APD+.
Andy, TW
Chris! The video says the sw is 314, yet the TW site says 320. Could you help me out?
@ JorgeAndresCoppiano.,
Please see the note in the video that shows the updated swingweight number.
Andy, TW
thanks, didn't show on my iPhone
Hello TW, This is my current racquet and I am looking to upgrade. I like this racquet, but there are some things that I am looking to change.
I would like a more crisp feel on the volley, serve, and slice. I feel this racquet is a bit "flimsy" around the frame which makes the control on my volley, serve, and slices all a little off.
I tend to hit a "loopy" topspin forehand most of the time and this racquet is fine for that because I feel I can whip it around and get great spin.
I demoed the updated version of this racquet, Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail and the Black. I felt the Pro Staff 97 Countervail was very similar to this racquet. The Black one was nicer in the sense that it felt better on the slice and volley. I feel I liked the black better than the newest countervail version. I felt the newest Pro Staff 97 Countervail was also a little thick on the frame which I usually do not prefer.
I also demoed the Yonex Vcore 98 (305) and VCore Pro 97 (310) recently.
I loved the serve, slice, and volley on the Vcore Pro 97...but I felt like I had to change my swing or work harder on my groundstrokes. I felt that when I used my usually forehand swing, the balls would would go long and it would be harder for me to hit a loopy shot.
The Vcore 98 felt pretty good, but I still felt that I had to adjust on the groundstrokes and the volley and serve was not as crisp as the Vcore Pro 97.
Sorry if my blabbering confused you, but are there any other racquet suggestions that would play similar to this racquet with a more crisp feel on my serve, volley, and slice?
Or is there a racquet that will play similar to the Vcore 98 or VCore Pro 97 with the adjustments on the groundstrokes?
Thank you,
Shun
@Sjoerd Witt,
Have you tried the Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) Countervail? It could be a good alternative to your Pro Staff 97. I would also consider the Dunlop Srixon Revo CX 2.0, Tecnifibre TFight 305 XTC, Head Graphene XT Radical Pro, and Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19. The racquets I just listed have somewhat of a crisp feel, and provide some added power compared to the VCORE Pro 97 (310), so you shouldn't have to work quite as hard on your groundstrokes. If possible, I would consider trying some demos of these racquets.
Troy, TW
Thank you for the recommendations. The only one I've tried is the Pure Strike and Wilson Blade 98. I felt that the Pure Strike was really stiff and head heavy. My arm started to get tired just trying to swing through the balls. The Blade 98 (although I may have only tried 18x20 required me to hit through my shots more as well and did not appeal right away) I probably would like the 16x19 better.
Because you guys mentioned about the erratic stringbed.
So I want to know about the controll of PS97 compare to IG Extreme Pro 2.0 (which I am using).
silentashhoward ,
We found the Extreme Pro to offer more control than the Pro Staff 97. However, I'm sure if you experimented with some different string setups and got it dialed in you could get additional control with the ProStaff.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks Andy.
If you add about 4 grams to the head at 3 and 9 o'clock position and 4 grams in the handle and this racquet is a beast. Best quality about this racquet is the control. Still love the feel of the RF97 but the PS97 reigns in the consistency department for me!
i have a question currently I'm using the 97ls will i have arm pain if i switch to the 97
Hi Andy,
Just wonder if you might elaborate about the differences between the Blade 98S, Blade 98 18x20 and the RF97? I play Cyclone Tour 16 #54 on the 18x20 and cyclone tour 16 #59 on Blade98S leaded.
Thanks!
If important, play at 5.0 - 5.5 level
@sm2012,
The Blade 98 18x20 will offer the most control out of the bunch while the RF97 will be the most powerful. They all feel fairly similar in terms of stiffness and responsiveness (connection with the ball). The RF97 is certainly the heaviest and most stable out of the three.
Andy, TW
Hey TW, what would a "modern feel" racquet be? BTW Andy, love your backhand.
@Eric Cheng,
Thank you! When we say "modern" feel, we are trying to describe a racquet that feels crisp, stiff and/or lively. A Babolat Pure Drive or AeroPro Drive epitomizes the "modern" feel.
Andy, TW
Comparison: Wilson RF 97 315g and the Yonex TourG 315g ? I tested the TourG and was dissapointed, but interested in the RF 97? Any recommendation?
@keijimuto,
The RF97 is heaver than 315 grams, and the Tour G only comes in 310g and 330g versions.
Andy, TW
i ve change my racket after 6 months to these one and iam happy
Hello, I'm 4.5 NTRP player and actually using babolat aero pro drive 2012. I'm going to switch this raquet. I was thinking about PS97 or Yonex Ai 98. My current Babolat is good enough in comfort, but i need more power and maybe a bit more spin. I have a one handed backhand. Which raquet do you reccommend?
Andy, could you compare the Head Graphene Radical Pro with the Wilson Pro Staff 97? I've looked at all the statistics but I still need a comparison in words to make sense in my mind. Cheers!
@Genghis,
The Radical Pro offers a stiffer, crisper feel with a bit more power, forgiveness and spin. The Pro Staff 97 is a little plusher feeling and offers more of a connection to the ball. It'll be a bit more maneuverable and offers slightly more control.
Andy, TW
How is this racquet compared to a Wilson prostaff hyper carbon tour 95( very old model)?
Are you gonna do a review of the 97s?
@Jondaliner,
The ProStaff 97LS is being playtested now. Look for the review to be posted within the next few weeks.
Andy, TW
How would you compare this to a Babolat Pure Control?
@Jondaliner,
The PS97 is going to be more powerful, solid and stable compared to the Pure Control. It'll also offer a crisper, stiffer, more modern feel.
Andy, TW
What line of rackets that offers better shots plans and straight.
Not much spin and do not like, I need something to improve my plans shots. May indicate some rackets?
how can u customize the racket for the inconsistency of the sweetspot
@ Melwin Mark,
Unfortunately, there isn't a specific way to customize a racquet to get rid of an erratic or inconsistent sweetspot. You could try adding weight at the 3 and 9 o'clock position on the hoop to help improve the torsional stability, but whether that improves the feel of the sweetspot is really going to up to your own personal preference. When customizing, it's important to try different things and find what feels best to you.
Andy, TW
I have been playing with this tennis racquet for over a month now and I was able to adapt to the erratic sweet spot to the point where it is no longer an issue.
Like most Wilson Pro Staff/player's racquet, it requires sound mechanics to play consistently with this frame.
Having said that, I did the following to help improve the sweet spot:
1) I added 5 inch of 1/4 lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock, it maintains the whippy feel but with a bit more stability and weight behind my shots
2) I strung this racquet with a soft string at the highest end of the recommended tension, in my case I have Babolat Origin at 60 lbs.
3) I added a leather grip to make it more head light and swing faster through the air without losing control
As Andy said, you have to try out different ways to customize this frame and see what works best for you.
Good luck, and have fun on the tennis courts!
JohnnyMo007 thanks
@@johnnymo0072 These already come with a leather grip
Tennis Warehouse How would you compare the Prostaff 97 to the Yonex AI 98, and the Babolat Pure Control Tour? Thanks!
@Devin Blackburn,
The ProStaff97 is the most powerful and forgiving of the three. It has the largest and liveliest sweetspot. However, it won't offer the same level of control as the other two. In terms of feel, they are all comfortable but the PS97 feels the "crispest" and most modern.
Andy, TW
would this racket go good with kirschbaum pro line x 17? @tennis warehouse
+Marco Vela ,
That string will play great in this racquet. Try it and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Love the racquet, I did notice the erratic string bed. What string/tension would you recommend to help dial it in?
+Trey Scott ,
String choice will really depend on your stroke style and personal preference. If you have shorter, slower strokes and don't break strings often, you may enjoy the softer feel and playability of a multifilament string like Wilson NXT at 58 lbs. If you have longer, faster strokes and can generate much of your own power, try a nice polyester string like Luxilon ALU Power at 54 lbs for a bit more control, spin and durability.
Andy, TW
I'm currently picking up tennis, and I was wondering if this racket is still worth getting. Or should I get the newer version instead?
@Brendon Toh,
This is a great option, as well as the newer version. We actually prefer the versions without Countervail, such as this one, but that is mostly personal preference.
Troy, TW
Hey Chris, I have hit with the Babolat Pure Control Tour. I know there are some spec differences but was curious how it would compare to this racket?
Thanks!
@Taylor Ermoian,
I'm going to step in for Chris here if you don't mind since I've hit with both racquets extensively. The ProStaff 97 is livelier and more powerful while the PCT offers better control. The PS 97 has a slightly crisper, more modern feel while the PCT is a little softer and more plush. While we really enjoyed both racquets, we may have to give the slight edge to the PCT for the control that it offered.
Andy, TW
Dear TW,
Are there any new colors for the Asics Gel Res 5 coming out soon? Also, can you compare this racket to the Blade 98 16x19?
@Oliver Chonoles,
No new colors for the Gel Res 5 are scheduled to be released. As for the racquet comparison, please see my segment in the video, as I touch on this at length.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy and TW Team,
Thanks for the great review! I was wondering how you would rate and compare the Prostaff 97 against the Head Youtek Graphene Speed Pro (control, spin potential, sweet spot, plow through)? Which one would you recommend? Would you recommend adding some weight to 3 & 9 o'clock? Thanks again!
@Joe S,
They feel fairly similar in terms of stiffness, maneuverability, sweet spot and plowthrough. I'd give the edge in power to the PS97 but in spin and control to the Speed Pro. Overall, I'd give the slight edge to the Speed Pro, although I think both are nice racquets.
Andy, TW
I currently use a Juice 100 blx and I was wondering how different the feel of this new Pro Staff is. The autograph model is a tad too heavy for me, but this lighter version might just be great from what I've seen.
@ Alberto Blasi,
The PS97 is going to be more plush and traditional feeling compared to the Juice. It will offer slightly less power and more control. It's a fairly different racquet than the one you use, but you may find that it works out for you. Give it a try and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Great review. What specific strings would you recommend for this racquet? I was thinking Kirschbaum Max Power, but would that be too much crispness?
@Brian Moreland,
It depends on your stroke style and personal preference. If you have shorter, slower strokes and don't break strings often, you may enjoy a soft multifilament like Wilson NXT for more power, comfort and feel. If you have longer, faster strokes and can generate all of your own power, try a polyester like Luxilon ALU Power for more control, spin and durability. I'd go with ALU Power over Max Power for a better connection with the ball and a livelier feel.
Andy, TW
Thanks Andy! Well I'm a 4.0 player with dependable strokes. It seems that the general consensus for this racquet is that it's pretty lively. Which more affordable string (I love ALU Power, but too pricey) would you recommend that is control-oriented?
@Brian Moreland,
Give Volkl Cyclone a try! It offers excellent control and spin at a great price.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse would you suggest cyclone in 16 or 17? Is there much difference in control between the 16 and the 17? Andy and Chris both love the 16, do you love the 17 as much? Would you think I should try it at 50 Lbs?
My (local) PS97 demo had an 18 soft round poly in it, so I don't know what the shaped cyclone is going to feel like in it. I found a little bit too much power in the soft light co-poly at 54 Lbs (I don't know what the string was), but I could deal with it, and the feel & connection to the ball was awesome, so I think the deader cyclone is going to be perfect. The racquet was really comfortable, spinny, and reliable -- it surprised me with how much control I got from it. I love this frame! What do you think, cyclone 16 or 17?
And if I want to experiment with a softer poly, what would you suggest? Emphasis on control and feel I guess. Would you suggest... ? Lux 4G 16L ? Alu power 16L? Alu power spin? Kirschbaum Pro Line X 17? Others? (I do understand a full bed of poly is never going to be soft). Thanks!
@Jeremy Morse,
I prefer the 17 gauge for the slightly livelier, more spin-friendly feel, while Chris prefers the thicker gauge for the better control and deader feel. They will both play fine in your racquet, so just choose based on your personal preference and what you're looking for. As for soft polys, two great ones I'd recommend are Polyfibre TCS and Dunlop Black Widow.
Andy, TW
Hey guys, big fan of all your reviews! Keep them coming!
Just a quick question, I recently bought this racquet, strung it up with wilson NXT power mains at 56lbs, alu power crosses at 54lbs, and had far too much power. With that setup, I felt the ball was launching on me and I had to slow down my swing to keep the ball in. I am a 4.5 player who prefers to take big cuts at the ball from the baseline (semiwestern forehand, double backhand), but I also want to develop softer hands at the net so feel is also important. Thank goodness those strings broke after 2 sessions or I would have probably cut them myself.
My question is, what brand of strings, and what setup would you recommend for control from the baseline and feel at the net? I am not too big a fan of sharp-edged polys that increase spin as I feel that volleys and slice come off at a higher trajectory and I want my slices to stay low off the stringbed. (Do you guys experience this with strings like volkl cyclone?)
Thank you for your reply!
@SuperTennisManiac,
You could try a full bed of a responsive poly like Luxilon ALU Power and that may give you the control and feel that you're looking for. If you want to stick with your hybrid setup, I'd suggest just increasing the tension a couple of pounds and see if that gives you the control you need.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks for the reply Andy! Love the personalised service you guys provide. May I know what string setup Chris used to reign in the control? and at what tension? Thanks!
@SuperTennisManiac,
Chris like a stiffer, deader poly like Luxilon 4G or Wilson Revolve to help provide a bit more control. He liked it around 55 lbs.
Andy, TW
Thanks Andy. That brings me to next question. How is it compared to the Yonex AI 98 that you are currently using?
@Vishwas,
The ProStaff 97 is more powerful, a little more spin-friendly but less controllable than the Ai 98. The PS97 also offers a slightly crisper feel. Overall, I prefer the Ai 98 for the precision and softer feel.
Andy, TW
Hello Chris! Hope you are hitting heavy topspin 🎾 and 🍌 shots!
How would this first gen PS97 compre to the Babolat Project One 7?
Maneuverability, plow through, flex, vibrations, power, comfort?
The two racquets are very comparable both in terms of specs and playability. The Pro Staff offers me a little more of a classic, crisper feel, whereas the One7 feels a little more open, forgiving and modern. I play with very similar spin from both, but just personally prefer the feel of the One7. Both are great racquets and you should find an easy transition going from one to the other. Cheers, Chris, TW
Hey Tennis Warehouse ! I bought a Babolat AeroPro Drive GT and have been playing quite well with that stick. The only problem I find with the stick is when I try and hit a flat hard forehand... it tends to go out. Would this Pro Staff 97 give me a bit more control on the FLAT FOREHANDS?
@tennisswimmingrugby,
We found the Pro Staff 97 to offer similar levels of power as the AeroPro Drive. I'd recommend getting your racquet strung at a slightly higher tension to give you a little boost in control. That way, you won't have to switch racquets and you can get a little more precision out of your current one.
Andy, TW
Hi Tw, yesterday I tested the Head YouTek graphene radical pro and this gave me a little too much power. How do you compare the Radical Pro with the Wilson Pro staff 97 (315gr)?
Thought that this one could be a good option for me.
Thanks.
Sem, Netherlands
hi , currently i am using head graphene XT instinct Mp , had trial of Wilson prostaff 97 , a bit heavier than the current racket but the ps97 gave better increased comfort control with power same as head racket.
I have one question i am 30+ i want to know what tension and which softest poly string i can use please give me atleast 5 option from top to bottom.
I 100% agree with Michelle on this , i found a ton of power in this frame , much more than i expected , so i'm going to go with a much deader poly to compensate that . also i really felt well at the volley too and for my one hand back angles that were phenomenal . However i tend to disagree about the "comfort" part . Maybe my RPM at 57 lbs was too stiff for the frame ( i'm going to try ripspin at 53 my usual tension) but after several sessions my arm and shoulder started to hurt a little . That put aside , its a great racket , even though i miss the "amplifeel" technology of my 6.1 that i don't think is present on this frame . TW , would you give an advice to which deader but still comfortable poly i could look into if the ripspin doesn't fit the bill ? Also do you think the leather grip on it might actually kill a bit of the comfort ?
@Romain Legay,
First off, it comes with a tan colored synthetic grip that looks like a leather grip. As for strings, I'd recommend looking into Luxilon ALU Power Ice or Yonex Poly Tour Spin. Both of those will be deader but with a softer, plusher feel than RPM. Moreover, Poly Tour Spin is shaped like RPM Blast for a little extra boost in spin.
Andy, TW
Thanks for your answer Andy and yes i know for the grip i just changed it ^^ Ok i will track those strings then , i'm pretty sure the discomfort comes from the string and tension here for me ! I'm sure though that fans of the pro staff 95 will hate this racket its very different ^^
Hi TW, have been hitting with the 97 - but also eyeing the Babolat Pure Control Tour. Am looking for something more flexible than the Wilson, yet still has equal stability and manoeuvrability. From your experience, does the Babolat fit the bill? My main concern is the extra static weight making it a bit sluggish. Thanks.
+Matthew Theobald-Cearns ,
The Pure Control Tour would be a good one to try, but I'd also suggest trying the Yonex EZONE DR 98. Both of those should feel just as maneuverable with a softer, yet solid feel you're looking for.
Andy, TW
I was really hoping that the same play testers used for the autograph would also test this so we would be able to tell more what it played like in comparison to the autograph..... I thought TW would have done this for sure as you guys are known for your pragmatic approach when it comes to gear reviews!
@GUS GRAND,
Two of the four playtesters on this frame were also on the RF97 review, and though we weren't on it, Karly and I have both hit with it extensively as well. Chris and Michelle also offer a nice comparison between the two frames. I've also offered a number of comparisons between the two frames below in questions asked by RUclips members. I hope this suffices for your inquires comparing the two frames.
Andy, TW
I Andy I recently demoed both graphene radical pro and prestige pro both in the same weigth and frame type range. How would you compare the PS97 to the 2 frames as power, spin, manuvrability and confort are concerned ? Thanks for all the nice videos !
@paolo forti,
The PS 97 will have around the same power as the Radical Pro, less control than both, spin potential like the Radical Pro and the most comfortable of the three.
Andy, TW
Hi TW, what strings are used in the demo version of this racquet? (Multi and poly, if available) Thanks!
Daniel Kava ,Multifilament demos are stung with Wilson NXT and poly demos are strung with Luxilon 4G.
Andy, TW
Awesome, thanks TW! Your reviews are the best!
Should I buy a Pro Staff 95 or this 97 version ? Which do you prefer ?
Hi TW!
I'm looking to buy a new racquet and was just wondering what you would suggest. My last racquet was a BLX pro staff 6.1 90 and I really enjoyed playing with it :). Don't really know much about the racquets this year but I'm currently looking at the Pro Staff 90 &97 and Blade's 98 & 93. What are your thoughts?
@Baydz Karst,
If you like the midsize racquet I'd go with either the Pro Staff 90 (which will be very similar to your current one) or the Blade 93 for a little more pop and forgiveness.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Sweet thanks for that!
Hey Chris, in previous videos I notice you used knee straps for patellar tendon. Any advice to get over this problem? I have it on my right knee. Thanks
@João Botelho,
Nothing beats resting an injury for getting it better. Also, make sure you ice it after activity to take down the inflammation. Stretch out your quads and hip flexors to take pressure off the patellar tendon and also work on your leg strength with quad exercises.
Andy, TW
Chris say " I would have liked a tad more stability, and I had to find the right string to get the stringbed consistency I like."
so witch string would you recommend for this racket ? atm i play with Volkl cyclone
@ Tobias Christensen,
Cyclone is one of our favorite strings and would provide the control needed in order to get more consistency out of the stringbed.
Andy, TW
The only problem with Cyclone is it a bit hard for the arms :/
Tobias Christensen ,
Try a softer poly like Volkl Cyclone Tour then or a nice multifilament like Wilson NXT. We just found that softer, more powerful strings caused the stringbed to be a bit too erratic.
Andy, TW
u dont have a Volkl Cyclone tour Scores graphic??
Tobias Christensen ,
We have reviewed that string...check it out.
Andy, TW
Dear Andy,
Is this PS 97 better than the latest Wilson Blade 16X19 in terms of maneuverability and how easy it plays ?
Thank you.
+Fourat WADI ,
They will be pretty similar in terms of both maneuverability and ease of use. They do have slightly different "feels" though, so I'd recommend trying them both and seeing which one feels best in your hands.
Andy, TW
Hi TW, I am surprised by the more than adequate controllable power level and high comfort level of this PS97. Currently with Prince Tour100(TE rehabilitation:)), the PS97 power+stiffer yet comfortable feel is extremely addictive. I am considering a switch to this or a 0.5oz lighter Donnay F100. How would you compare PS97 vs F100 in terms of comfort, stability and ability to hit heavy ball;) ?Thanks.
@gengwai loo,
The Pro Staff 97 is going to be more comfortable and solid, and sounds like it would be the better fit for you.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy, how does this compare to the Head Youtek IG Extreme Pro 2.0? Particularly with regards to power, control, touch, spin. Thanks.
@MikeK,
The Pro Staff 97 will be equally powerful and spin-friendly, but will offer better touch with a little less control. It won't be quite as forgiving because of its smaller head size.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks Andy
Hi Andy, I don't know if you have tested Dunlop Biomimetic Max 200G, but how would you compare PS 97 with that one? I thought I have found my stick at least for a while in 200G, but as you probably know, it has been discontinued. I am thinking about choosing between PS 97 and PS RF 97 A.
@Art Cho,
We found the racquets to play pretty similar. Both are lively, "whippy" to swing and spin-friendly. The PS97 is maybe a bit more powerful and forgiving.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks, Andy!
Hi, TW I used to play with the babolat pure drive roddick, I liked the weight and playthrough but i had issues controling the power, I changed to the wilson blade 18x20 I liked it for practice but in matches I need more spin would you recomend me this racquet? Thanks for the reviews.
ENRIQUE MERCHAND ,
This sounds like it could be the nice blend of attributes that you're looking for. A couple others worth checking out would be the Yonex EZONE Ai 98 and Babolat Pure Control Tour.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks Andy I'll keep in mind.
I have a apd 2013 at the moment and I was thinking of switching to a pro staff, blade, or a six one
what are the pros and cons of this choice?
+Junha Baek ,
All of the Wilson racquets will possess a softer feel with better control and precision compared to your APD, but they won't be quite as powerful, spin-friendly or forgiving.
Andy, TW
Andy. Which would u prefer between the pro staff 97 (2014) and the pro staff 97 (new model) and could you pls list out the pros and cons. Thanks, Andy.
@ Abhinav k,
They are the same racquet - the new one just has a different paintjob.
Andy, TW
Thanks, Andy!
Tennis-warehouse, Im a big fan :) Question- This or the PS97 v13?
Thanks! Fairly similar, and both good racquets, but we like the v13 update quite a lot. Troy, TW
i saw a grip on reaquet on the start of the video. is that tourna grip or tourna tac. if is tourna grip i want to now how many time do this grip stay cool for paying. i got it for about one week. is this enouh or not. thanks for your answer
Andy,
Is Luxilon ALU Power @52 lbs something you would personally like in this frame? Is 52 too loose for a powerful frame like this?
@Hugh Mo,
I think that would play great! I typically like lower tensions for better ball pocketing and comfort. Give it a try and see what you think.
Andy, TW
I usually play with a Wilson Pro Open 2012, which racquet do you think is more similar to it between the Pro Staff 97 and the Blade 2015 16x19?
Andrea Bucci ,
While it won't be quite as forgiving, the Blade 98 16x19 will feel more similar with its stiffer feel and nice blend of power and control.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy, how does this racket compare to Yonex Vcore Tour 97 (310) which is my current racket.
@Vishwas,
The ProStaff 97 will be a little crisper/stiffer feeling, more powerful and whipper feeling. Your VCore will offer a bit more control.
Andy, TW
Hey TW thanks for the great review!
How would you compare the PS 97 to the RF 97 in terms of power, spin, control, feel, maneuverability and stability?
Also, how would you compare the racquets to my current racquet, the BLX Pro Staff Six.One 95 (customized to 355g strung static weight, 8.5 pts HL and wíth a swingweight in the 330 range) in the same areas? Thanks as always and best wishes to the play test team from Germany! :D
By the way, does Andy prefer the PS 97 to the PS 95 (which he apparently loves too) and does he see a possibility of switching?
Sorry for bombarding you with questions and thanks again :)
@ninisgreekronaldo,
Since it's heavier, the RF97 is more powerful and spin-friendly, so long as you have the strength to swing it. The PS97 is more maneuverable while the RF97 is more stable. Both of those will be crisper, stiffer and more modern feeling than your current frame.
I like both the PS97 and the PS95 for different reasons. The PS97 is a much more modern, forgiving racquet that I'd be more likely to go compete with (because it's easier to use), while the PS95 has such a plush, comfortable, traditional feel. I'm not planning on switching to either of those frames though.
Andy, TW
Hi TW-Team,
where are the main difference between this Racquet and the previous versions of the Pro Staff Six.One 100 or 95 (2012) and the Pro Staff 100 or 95 (2013) ?
I have playtested the Pro Staff Six.One 100 and it feelt very stiff and blund. I hope the new Version Pro Staff 97 has different Specs or Feeling and worth doing a playtest with the new one.
Thank you very much :)
Felix Neuhäuser ,We actually found the older Pro Staff to feel pretty soft, flexible and plush, and this new version is a little stiffer/crisper feeling than those. This new Pro Staff will be more powerful and spin-friendly but doesn't have the classic precision and feel of the older ones.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse
Thank you for your answer :)
Is this racket good for juniors? I am just wondering because i might switch to this racket.
Also, can u tell me the difference between this racket and the aeropro drive
Hi,
I am using wilson juice 100s and now feeling to switch to either blade 16x19 or PS97.
I can generate the spin with my playing style nut the control with juice 100s was always an issue.
I am looking for more control oriented racket with good spin potential. (Not as much as juice 100s).
Kindly suggest. Blade or PS97?
Thanks.
Tejas Kathiriya ,
I'd recommend going with the Blade as it will offer you a bit more control than the Pro Staff 97.
Andy, TW
Hi tennis warehouse, i am playing with this amazing racket. I string it with a hybrid: mains babolat rpm and crosses babolat Vs Natural gut. But i have some control issues: sometimes the stringbed gets erretic. Is there a way to remedy this? Because of my slender built sometimes i lack power to generate my own pace. Can you give me à tip? Keep up the good work! Greetings from Belgium
+imranSBS1 ,
We did find in our review of this racquet (as we discuss in the video above) that the stringbed felt erratic at times. With that said, over time your strings will inevitably lose tension and may play erratic at times. It may be time to re-string your racquet. You could also try stringing a couple of pounds tighter in order to give yourself a bit more control.
Andy, TW
I want to buy this racquet today but which strings should I put on? I am used to an old wilson 6.1 95 with champion choice. Is xcel a god choice? I usually don´t preffer dead poly like you mentioned in the video. I hit big/full strokes and need a little bit more power than before but at the sametime I need control to stay in the game. I playtested this stick but don´t remember what it was strung with (fabric). Any thoughts what would be a good starting point?
MrTaserud ,
Both your usual Champion's Choice or XCel would be great options in this racquet. I'd first try your usual setup with Champion's Choice and see if that gives you the feel you're looking for.
Andy, TW
When will you guys review the new pro staff 95?
what's karly's height? how could she manage using it? or what im meaning to ask is, would it be possible for a 5'3 boy to use this racquet effectively?
+Kenneth Achilles Bernardo ,
Whether you can handle the racquet depends on much more than simply your height. Your strength, flexibility, stroke mechanics and simply what type of racquet you are used to will determine whether you can swing it or not.
Andy, TW
well, i actually asked about her height because im one of the shortest among my tennis friends, and Karly doesn't seem to be easily dominated--which is the exact opposite with me. i used to play with a quite heavy racket, about 370 grams, i think, but now i have a lighter racket. guess i'll just have to get used to it for quite some time to tame this beast XD .
any professional tennis player you might suggest that i should watch who is short but still not easy to beat ?
I appreciate your reply, btw. thanks.
Kenneth Achilles Bernardo ,
David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori are both pretty slight of build but certainly hold their own against the best players in the game.
Andy, TW
Hi TW, how does this racket compare to Babolat's Pure Control, I'm currently stuck between the two. Any thoughts?
@Tom Bowers,
The ProStaff 97 will be a little crisper feeling and much more powerful than the Pure Control, which will be plusher-feeling and more precise.
Andy, TW
hey TW!
I currently own the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick 2012 and I have to admit it is a very strong racquet but I just cant seem to dive the ball down on most of my shots. How would the Pro Staff 97 compare to the 2012 Roddick Standard Version?
@ John Domondon,
The Pro Staff offers a bit more feel with less power and spin than the PD Roddick. If you're looking for more spin, the PS 97 probably won't be the right option for you. I'd suggest checking out the Wilson Burn 100S and Yonex VCORE SV 100.
Andy, TW
Andy, do you still use the Wilson Blade 98 18x20?
@Tennishead21,
I just recently switched to the Yonex EZONE Ai 98.
Andy, TW
Andy/TW, greetings! Which is true in terms of swingweight 314 based on the video or 320 based on the specs on your website?
@ronaldo lanzanas,
Once we were able to receive a larger sample size, we found the average swingweight to be 320.
Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse So if it’s 320 SW for the 1st gen Prostaff 97 does this mean that except for Countervail it has the same specs as the latest tuxedo prostaff97?
@ronaldo lanzanas,
The target specs for each generation of the Pro Staff 97 have been the same, 310 grams unstrung, and 10 Points Head Light (unstrung). Each generation we have received, we take a batch of strung racquets, measure the specs, and list the average specs on our website.
Troy, TW
How's blade98 (tighter version) compared to this PS97 ?
I demoed the blade98, really enjoyed the connected feel and power, plow through, almost everything except the spin. To me the blade98 18x20 lacks quite amount of spin.
then how about PS97? from 16x19 pattern it should generate more spin I guess, but I don't want to lose the lancet control the blade has.
@Rqe,
The ProStaff 97 does offer a little more maneuverability and more spin potential than the Blade 98 18x20, but it won't have the same level of control.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thnanks for your reply, Andy. But it is very OBVIOUS fact we all know, at least from the string pattern you can see.
is PS97's spin potential worth much while sacrificing Blade's control? what is your thought about it? which one would be your choice? I'd like to ask you some specific words, not that true things.
Sorry to say that, but, yes I really appreciate your reply, too.
@Rqe,
That's really a matter of personal preference. I've played tournaments with the Blade 98 18x20 in the past year, so clearly I value the feel and control over the spin potential. However, other people may feel otherwise. You really just need to figure out which attributes are most important to you.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse oh that's a wise answer to a sily question. Thanks Andy! As you said, it seems a personal thing, actually.
Hi,
I have read trough whole the looong list of customer feedback reviews on tennis-warehouse.com about this racquet. And I can't help myself to see a two main streams of the feedback types.
While one stream of customers are reporting inconsistent strung bed, typically with stiffy feel, hurting the arm.
There are others who are very surprised why anyone can say such a thing, and themselfs they are reporting superb consistency and very soft-arm feel.
I bought that racquet yesterday and it came on already with Wilson Sensation on, with 25/24kg (measured during the hand over). And unlike the demo racquet, today training was a disaster. No I have so bad feeling for the ball depth in all shots (both FH, BH, both top spin slices, stopping volleys end up behind base line instead of just behind the net! And overall almost no power in my shots. I was shocked. If such a string would be on demo racquet I tried day before, I would put it down in one minute and never consider buying.
I saw some recomendations TW made here. So I dont want to repeat same question over again - what string fits... but. My question is: what string fits - and provide maximum depth consistency and enough power? I am looking for strings, which will endure more then just few playing hours ($ friendly).
Thank you very much!
+Pavel Vresnak I am replying to my own question, with first sort of successful experience with PS97. I strung it with the Volkl Cyclone Black 1.30, 24/22.5kg tension.
It plays very well in most of the shots. I have excellent feedback from every ball. Almost no inconsistency caused by racquet what so ever, definitely not experienced anything like erratic strung bed. I love volleying with this one, and doing stop volleys from heavy FH shots with exceptional accuracy just behind the net. Approach shots are excellent. I like service with it, but I feel I have not yet touched the potential of PS97 here, so I think I will love the service soon too.
I have average feeling about the returning of faster serves.
Where I struggle a bit are basic swings from the baseline. I have been already more consistent and confident with other racquetes, both lighter or heavier. This one has kind of very special feel of plow trough the ball. It is not so smooth as I would expect it would be, with that weight of approx.340g. I still have a feeling that I have to push it trough the ball rather then swing it trough. Perhaps not good enough technique. I have read that many people add leads to 3&9, and 12 sometimes too. Will try it and share feedback once more.
So to add, I am used to play 6x a week per 2 hours a day without any physical issues. And after two trainings with PS97, my arm sore. I am not sure if that can be because of the weight increase from 315 to 340? I don't have feeling of any nasty vibrations..
Hello TW,
I am just switching to this PS 97 from a blade 98 16x19, i am just afaid of aditional weight of the Ps 97, is the difference is significant ? Thanks.
@Fourat WADI,
The PS 97 is head light enough that it still feels whippy and maneuverable. I wouldn't be concerned about the additional weight.
Andy, TW
Hi guys! Great review. I must say I got the same very feelings towards this new pro staff 97. Very erratic stringbed and no pro staff blood anywhere. I was looking for a more forgiving and less demanding racket but that could still be somewhat close to my pro staff 90 in feel and plow through. This 97 has none of it. I guess I'll try the 95 and maybe customize it a bit. Do you think this would be a correct move? Any customization ideas to make the 95 a bit closer to the 90? Thank U everyone
Burn Guitarded ,
The Pro Staff 95 is much lighter than the 90, so I'd recommend utilizing the Customization Tool on the TW University site to help you figure how much and where to add weight to get the specs to be more similar.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks a lot Andy! I will but in the meantime I found in your website the Babolat Pure Control Tour which specs are pretty much what I'm looking for. I usually hate babolat rackets because they're too stiff. Is this Babolat any close to the Pro Staff feel? Does it plays like a pro staff? Thanks again
Burn Guitarded ,
Though most Babolat racquets are much stiffer, the Pure Control is a little different and feels much softer and plusher, similar to a Pro Staff. It's a little more solid and stable than the Pro Staff and would certainly be worth a try.
Andy, TW
Is it safe to say that this racket is like a blend between the 6.1 95 and the Blade 98?
@DarkStrikers97,
I'd have to agree - that's a good comparison.
Andy, TW
How does the babolat pure strike 16x19 compare to the wilson pro staff 97
+justin gafoor ,
We found the Pure Strike to offer a more flexible and powerful feel while the Pro Staff 97 had a crisper, more controllable feel.
Andy, TW
+justin gafoor ,
We found the Pure Strike to offer a more flexible and powerful feel while the Pro Staff 97 had a crisper, more controllable feel.
Andy, TW
On a control aspect is the pro staff 97 a lot better compared to the ai 98 and the Head Graphene xt pro? I want a raquet with tons of control and where I can dictate the point with placement. Which is best?
@ Terry Curve,
The ProStaff 97 will offer the least amount of control of the three racquets. Please see my other responses to you on other videos for racquet recommendations.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy, I'm considering which racquet to switch to, Yonex Ezone Ai 98 or PS 97, would you give me some suggestion? I use the Wilson k six one team. Thank you :-)
@poyeh0817,
Please watch the video for my comparison between those two frames.
Andy, TW
Dear TW,
I am 14 years old and workout a decent amount. I play in USTA tournaments and would say that I am around a 4.5 level player. I use the blade 98 16x19 right now. I recently tried this out and while I liked it a lot, it was just a bit too erratic of the string bed. Are there any other rackets similar to this that can give me a slight upgrade over my current racket?
@Oliver Chonoles,
Two racquets I'd recommend trying are the Yonex EZONE Ai 98 and the Babolat Pure Control Tour. Both of those will offer a similar feel to yours and this Pro Staff 97.
Andy, TW
N the website the swing weight is 320, and in this video it say 314? Which is true?
@Nick Tran,
We posted an updated swingweight of 320 directly above the "314" in the video. We re-posted the swingweight after we were able to test many more frames and find a more accurate number.
Andy, TW
Hi Tennis Warehouse, what do you think, which of this two racquets racquets is better one RF97 or Blade 98 (16x19) and which one would you recommend?
@НикитаМазурин,
Please watch the video for my comparison between this and the Blade 98 16x19. Personally, I prefer this PS97 to that version of the Blade.
Andy, TW
Which prostaff would be the best adjustment coming from a head ig radical pro? 95s, 100l, 100ls, or 97?
@ragemini99,
I'd recommend going with the 97.
Andy, TW
Any suggestions for good strings with this Pro Staff?
Seeking spin and durability, but also some comfort.
you can try, tornado, hexpoly thunder or luxilon 4g
i find luxilon 4g at 52lbs a little bit low powered
Blade 98 16x19 or pro staff 97 which feels heavier because my friend said blade is heavier feeling also which is better Tennis Warehouse
@john speedy,
The Blade will feel slightly heavier and we preferred it overall for its better control.
Andy, TW
Andy,
Do you prefer this over the Blade 16/19? Which one has more control between in the two?
@Hugh Mo,
I do prefer the RF97 over the Blade 98 16x19, and I do find it to have more control and better stability and plowthrough.
Andy, TW
Andy,
I meant the current Pro Staff 97, not the RF version.
@Hugh Mo,
Sorry, I was speaking of the ProStaff and accidentally wrote RF97.
Andy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse hi. did you(andy) mean the blade over pro staff? Because you have wrote in some other comments that you prefer the blade
@@LArabmo This was a while ago, and Andy no longer works at TW anymore. That said, there was a point where he preferred the PS97 over the Blade 16x19. As far as I know he is still using his DR98 and has been with it for a while. Troy, TW
Hi,
I've got this racquet and i just bought a Tecnifiber black code 4s from you guys. What tension would you recommend for this combination? I understand that this strings are low-powered?
+Justin Seah ,
Try it at 51 lbs and see what you think.
Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse hey Andy! Appreciate the input..cheers
+Tennis Warehouse hi Andy, I'm about to restring my racket with the tecnifiber black code 4s 18gauge. You mentioned 51 pounds for more power. When do ppl have different tension for mains and crosses? Should I try that with the black code 4s
Justin Seah ,
That's really a matter of personal preference. I don't notice much of a difference or improved playability, but some people do. The theory is to string your crosses a little tighter because they are shorter than length than your main strings, and thus the tension will be "more consistent". You're welcome to try it and see what you think - try your crosses 2 lbs tighter than your mains.
Andy, TW
Hi TW
I was wondering how you would compare this to the HEAD graphene radical pro. thanks
@Pratyush R,
The Pro Staff 97 will be more maneuverable while the Radical Pro is more solid and stable. Both will offer equal levels of power and spin, but the Radical Pro is a bit more controllable and spin-friendly.
Andy, TW
Yonex Ai 98, Pro Staff 97, Pro Staff 95, or the new Wilson Blade 18x16? Which would be best for a lot of spin, control, and power in once package?
@Terry Curve,
Out of the bunch, I'd recommend the Ai 98 for the best blend of attributes.
Andy, TW
Hey tennis warehouse! I'm thinking of stringing this racquet up with either RPM Blast or Luxilon Alu Power (ice blue color), do you have any thoughts on what would be a good string to try in this racquet?
@Tamlan,
Both strings would play great in this racquet. The ALU Power will give you a softer feel that's slightly more powerful while the RPM Blast will be stiffer and more spin-friendly.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy,
Could you please compare the PS 97 to the HEAD Youtek IG Prestige mp?
@Shashwat Eternal,
The ProStaff 97 will be a little stiffer feeling (though we didn't find it uncomfortable), more powerful, more forgiving and more spin-friendly. The Prestige MP will offer better control and feel.
Andy, TW
Hi TW, what can I do to increase the control of this tennis racquet?
Please let me know. Thanks!
@ JohnnyMo007,
The easiest and best way to add control is just to adjust your string setup. First, get your racquet restrung and try adding 2-3 lbs to the tension that you normally use. You can also opt for a stiffer string than you normally use that gives you less power and more control. Lastly, adding a little bit of lead tape at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the hoop helps improve racquet stability, keeping it more steady at impact and improving control. Andy, TW
Thank you Andy, your advice worked well for my game!
When will there be demos for this?
@ jkl;,
We are still waiting on Wilson to get us our set of demos. We should be receiving them, stringing them up and sending them out soon.
Andy, TW
@Tennis Warehouse
Hi Andy! Please help me decide for which new racquet to buy. I'm a 4.0 all-rounder one-handed backhand and I use to play with a hyper pro staff 6.1, but as I got older my shoulder and arm got injured and my swing speed decreased. Also my game is now lacking power.
So I thought I should get a lighter racquet (max 11.9 oz), the PS97 is the first in mind because I never played with anything but Wilson and I'm a little afraid I might not get used to another brand. But I've read a lot of your reviews and comments and I noticed you favor Yonex AZONE Ai 98 a lot, and also Babolat Pure Control Tour, Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 and Head Radical Pro (all in the range I think is correct for me).
Should I get the most similar racquet to my previous one (control oriented, so Pure Control), the best overall racquet (Ai 98) or the best mix of comfort/power/control as to fix the previous problems stated (PS97 even with less control then others)? I don't mind giving a try and making an effort to adapt to the best racquet possible for me though. If you have any other suggestions I'd appreciate that.
ps: I can't demo any of the racquets because my local stores are really small and don't have any of the racquets I want.
Thank you so much, congratulations for the excellent work!
+Luciano Rizzi ,
First off, I'd recommend utilizing our demo program to get the racquets in your hands to see how they feel to you. We have the largest demo program in the country so all of these racquets would be available to you to try. With that said, I think you could definitely get used to all the racquets you mentioned. My favorite out of the bunch would be the Yonex EZONE Ai 98, but you should try all the racquets you mentioned and see which one feels best to you.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thank you so much Andy, I'm a huge fan of you guys! I actually live in Brazil so I'll make an effort to at least borrow some of the racquets at my club! Cya mate!
Michelle really has a powerful forehand... Andy has quite an impressive backhand!
What are some string recommendations, I'm interested in this racquet but don't know what strings I would use. I currently use the 2nd generation aero pro drive with alu power silver. I'm a heavy server, hit spin heavy, and do a lot of volleying. If y'all could give me some recommendations that would be awesome!
@Eric Nguyen,
ALU Power is an excellent string, and I'd certainly recommend using it on this frame. Try it and see what you think!
Andy, TW