Famous for being Roger Federer’s weapon of choice, the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph is quickly becoming one of the most iconic tennis rackets in the history of the game. Unfortunately for most though, it takes an advanced player to wield it. So, to give you a better idea of what the racket is like and if it suits your game, we’ve put together an in-depth Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V13 Autograph review.
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Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V13 Autograph Specs
| Length | 27 inch / 68.58 cm |
| Head Size | 97 in² / 626 cm² |
| String Pattern | 16 Mains / 19 Crosses |
| Unstrung Weight | 11.98 oz / 339 g |
| Strung Weight | 12.53 oz / 355 g |
| Strung Balance | 8 pts HL / 31.5 cm |
| Composition | Graphite braided with Aramid / Kevlar |
| Beam Width | 21.5mm |
| Swingweight | 335 |
| Stiffness | 68 RA |
| String Tension | 50-60 pounds |
RF97 Design & Aesthetics
Appearance
At a glance, the racket looks incredible. A minimalistic all black matte paint job carefully decorated with luxurious details, the RF97 V13 is simply stunning from a design perspective.
Combining the modern RF97 Autograph all black look with a 1980s retro feel, the RF97 V13 sees the return of the classic pin-stripes that featured in the early days of the Pro Staff rackets. Much to our disappointment though, the pin-stripes on the Autograph version are grey and silver. We much prefer the original red and yellow stripes that just glow on the Pro Staff 97.
A section of exposed carbon fiber weave with a glossy finish at the tip of the racket head gives it more of a modern look and Roger Federer’s signature in the throat just adds to the overall classy appearance of the RF97 V13.
Braided Graphite + Kevlar
The Pro Staff RF97 is built using layers of braided Graphite and Kevlar which create a solid frame with a consistent feel throughout. The vibration dampening properties of the Kevlar also help provide a little extra control and touch in a relatively stiff frame.
Perimeter Weighting System (PWS)
A feature of the Pro Staff rackets for as long as we can remember, Wilson’s Perimeter Weighting System (PWS) incorporates more of the racket’s weight at 3 and 9 o’clock on the racket head, adding more stability and control to the frame.
Our Racquet Testing Setup
The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is a racket we’ve had the pleasure of using for a number of years now and have tested it just about every playing condition you’ll come across. We tested the original 2018 tuxedo version of the RF97, but the racket’s specs and design remain unchanged for the V13.
As for our racket setup, we strung the racket at three different tensions (48 lbs, 53 lbs and 57 lbs) to see how it performed at low tension, high tension and somewhere in between. As for the string, we used a full bed of MSV Focus Hex, which we use for all our racket tests.
Overall Test Results - Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph
Here’s a quick overview of the ratings we awarded the racquet in our test:
Groundstrokes - Score: 90
From the baseline, the racket is a real weapon. Thanks to an 8 points HL (Head Light) balance and a rock-solid stable frame, the RF97 excels when in comes to control and it almost makes keeping the ball in the court seem easy. Combined with the 335 RA swing weight, it also packs la heck of a lot of power too. That’s not exactly a common combination and makes the RF97 one of our favourite rackets out there.
As for spin, there’s no doubt that the RF97 favours flat hitters, but it still provides plenty of access to spin, particularly on the backhand slice.
Of course, that’s if you can swing it! There’s no doubt that with a strung weight of around 355 grams, there’s no doubt that it’s a difficult racket to wield and definitely favours players with a full swing.
Despite all the rackets we’ve tested, none come even close to how stable the RF97 feels on groundstrokes.
Volleys - Score: 90
The RF97 can be a little difficult to handle at the net. This is where manoeuvring a 355 gram racquet can be a bit of an issue, particularly for fast reaction volleys. While most advanced players will get used to the weight, it’s still heavy enough to slow things down by a fraction of a second, which can make all the difference at the net.
That being said, it feels incredible when you connect with the ball. Once again, the incredible blend of control and power makes it a great racket for volleying with!
Serves - Score: 89
Again, the RF97 can be a little difficult to swing when serving. However, if you can swing it, it packs more than enough weight to hit huge flat serves and the very stable frame offers plenty of control and spin on so precision serves. Personally, we feel the racket favours players looking for well placed serves rather than faster serves.
Returns - Score: 87
On return, the RF97 is feels great. The super stable frame really helps to keep the ball under control, even when facing huge servers, and it’s particularly impressive when chipping the ball back into play. The only downfall is that the stiffness can make off-centre shots rather difficult to keep under control and can be a little uncomfortable, which becomes more apparent when facing down big serves.
Compared To Other Rackets
FAQs About the RF97
Is there a difference between the Autograph and Tuxedo edition?
No, it’s just a different paint job. All the specs and layup are the same between the autograph, tuxedo and Laver cup edition rackets.
Is the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 too heavy?
Most recreational level players will probably find the Pro Staff RF97 to be too heavy. At 12.6 oz or 340 grams, it’s definitely one of the heaviest frames on the market and many players say the racket is too heavy and struggle to play with it for more than an hour or so.
The Wilson Pro Staff 97, which weighs 315 grams, is a much more suitable racket for recreational players.
Is the RF97 Autograph V13 better than previous versions?
The only difference between the RF97 V13 and previous editions of the racket is the paint job. All other specs and layup have remained the same since V11, which was released in 2016.
Overall - Score: 89
Pros:
- Control
- Power
- Stability
Cons:
- Not suitable for beginners
- Very Heavy
- Difficult to manoeuvre
We hope you enjoyed our RF97 review and found all of the information helpul. If you have any other questions or comments about the racket, please feel free to let us know in the comments below.
