With the Pro Staff 97 v13, Wilson adds another chapter to the lighter, faster version of Federer's RF97 Autograph. Like the previous generation, this 11.7 ounce stick provides intermediate and advanced players with a surprisingly maneuverable entry point into the feel and precision of the Pro Staff universe. Updated with Braid 45, this racquet's graphite and aramid fibers have been strategically woven at a 45 degree angle to enhance feel, pocketing and stability. The Pro Staff 97 v13 also benefits from Wilson's String Mapping technology, which creates denser spacing in the hitting area for a more predictable and controlled response.
Thanks to its speedy 321 RDC swingweight, the Pro Staff 97 comes around fast on groundstrokes while still offering decent stability against higher levels of pace. It also has a tad more control than the previous version, which translates into greater confidence on full cuts. Compared to Federer's heavier RF97, this racquet is slightly more user-friendly when hitting shots on the run or whipping up the required stroke speed for heavy spin.
The Pro Staff 97 also shines at net where it packs a great balance between speed and stability, with enough touch to drop the ball into tight spaces. All in all, with incremental tweaks to the feel and response, Wilson has created an impressive update to the Pro Staff 97. Players looking for a speedy player's racquet with controllable power and great feel should give this update a serious look.
In conclusion...
Overall, I feel that the Pro Staff 97 V13 is an outstanding racquet. The denser string bed offers more control, and with a little more muscle, you’ll find you get plenty of power for those deeper shots. The lighter head also allow for a faster swing, which is especially great for handling opponents with bullet serves. And I may play around with the lead tape to see if it’s that I really want or not. I am going to continue playing with it and post another review later on.
In my opinion, this racquet is perfect for intermediate to more advanced players who prefer a stiffer frame: aggressive baseliners with big swings on those deep shots, as well as doubles players and those who love to serve and volley.
The stiffer frame is not for everyone – especially those who are prone to tennis elbow. If you are such a player and still want this racquet, talk with your coach and/or stringing tech and they will make sure you get the right strings (natural gut is a great choice) and string tension.
I’ve only played with the Pro Staff 97 V13 racquet, but there are two more in this 13th generation release: the Pro Staff RF97 V13 and the Pro Staff L97 V13 tennis racquets, and all can be found at Wilson.com.