Wilson

Pro Staff 97 review

Tennis's most iconic control frame. It asks for your best tennis and gives it back.

Racquet product shot
Highly recommended
Head 97 RF97: 97
Weight 315g RF97: 340g
Pattern 16×19 RF97: 16×19
Stiffness 65 RA RF97: 68 RA
Swingwt 334 RF97: 335
Balance HL RF97: HL
Full specsPro Staff 97 · Pro Staff RF97 · Pro Staff 97L
Pro Staff 97Pro Staff RF97Pro Staff 97L
Head size97 sq in97 sq in97 sq in
Weight (unstrung)315 g340 g290 g
Weight (strung)340 g357 g315 g
Swingweight334335310
Stiffness65 RA68 RA64 RA
String pattern16×1916×1916×19
BalanceHead LightHead LightHead Light
Fit check

Is it for you?

Level (NTRP)
Swing
Arm
Your match Strong fit
Strong fit. Bring a clean, full swing and it gives back surgical control and feel.

    Performance

    Pro Staff 97 Pro Staff RF97

    Playtest

    Surgical, if you swing.
    Full notes

    Plush, dwell-heavy pocketing and pinpoint directional control. Low free power: a full swing drives the ball deep, a lazy one dies short.

    + Pros

    • Exceptional feel and connection
    • Surgical control on drives and slice
    • Stable, with plough-through
    • Outstanding at net

    − Cons

    • Low free power
    • Demanding for slower swings
    • Not for beginners
    • Buzzes as poly dies

    String for

    50–54 lbs 22.7–24.5 kg Co-poly, full bed, 1.25mm Pick: Luxilon ALU Power

    Recommended strings

    1. 1
      Wilson Natural Gut Gut mains · ALU Power crosses The definitive Pro Staff setup.
      53–57 lbs 24–25.9 kg · 1.30mm
    2. 2
      Luxilon ALU Power Tour control poly Surgical control without gut's upkeep.
      51–55 lbs 23.2–25 kg · 1.25mm
    3. 3
      Luxilon 4G Rough-surface poly Adds spin to a flat-oriented frame.
      50–54 lbs 22.7–24.5 kg · 1.25mm

    Who plays it

    Tour frames customised

    No player in our database uses this frame.

    Verdict: 8.4

    One of the great players' frames: plush feel, surgical control and a serious tool at net. More forgiving: Blade 98 16×19 V9. Federer's spec: Pro Staff RF97.

    Related racquets

    FAQ

    Is the Wilson Pro Staff good for beginners?

    No. It demands a full, technically sound swing. The Pro Staff 97L (290g) is more manageable.

    Pro Staff vs Blade: which should I buy?

    The Pro Staff for the classic, plush, feel-first frame. The Blade for a livelier, more spin-friendly, more forgiving modern frame.

    Is the Wilson Pro Staff arm-friendly?

    Largely, yes. Use a gut hybrid or soft multi in the low 50s and restring poly before it goes dead.

    What racquet did Roger Federer use?

    A custom frame based on the Pro Staff; his retail signature is the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph (97 sq in, 16×19, 340g).

    What string and tension is best for the Pro Staff?

    The heritage gut / ALU Power hybrid (gut ~53–57, ALU ~49–53 lbs), or ALU Power full bed at 51–55 lbs.

    Is the Pro Staff a control or power racquet?

    Control. It transmits your intention to the ball rather than generating pace.