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The Wilson Pro Staff is one of the best tennis racquets for control on the market. Below, we’ll review the Wilson Pro Staff, including pros, cons, and different models of the racquet. Then, we’ll compare it to other tennis racquets to help you decide if the Pro Staff is right for you.
Review Summary & Ratings for the Wilson Pro Staff
For advanced players looking for a control-oriented racquet, the Wilson Pro Staff is in a class of its own.
It is a great racquet for high-intermediate or advanced players looking to complement their power with precision. This in-depth review of the Wilson Pro Staff will help you understand why the Pro Staff is one of the best tennis racquets on the market today.
See our ratings, plus the pros and cons of the Wilson Pro Staff below for a quick glance at how it performs compared to other tennis racquets.
Our Ratings for the Wilson Pro Staff
- Power: 7
- Control: 9
- Spin: 8
- Serve: 7
- Return: 8
- Groundstrokes: 8
- Volleys: 9
- Price: $$$
Pros
- Great advanced control-oriented racquet
- Heavy frame provides excellent stability on volleys & defending against pace
- Very precise feel helps with touch around the net
- Easy access to spin
- Good handling at the net for an advanced racquet
- Comfortable on contact
Cons
- For advanced players only
- Small sweet spot
Different Versions of the Wilson Pro Staff
The Wilson Pro Staff racquet comes in different versions that vary in weight, and a few other specifications. Below is a list of the different Wilson Pro Staff tennis racquets available.
We’ll review each version in more detail below.
What did Wilson Update with the Pro Staff v14?
With the newest versions of the Pro Staff, Wilson again only made minor changes
The main difference is the increased swingweight to 332 on the Pro Staff 97. This gives the racquet a little extra power and stability compared to the previous version.
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Wilson Pro Staff v14 Review: A Racquet Built for Control
We’ll start with the main version, the Wilson Pro Staff v14. Below are the specifications and on-court performance you should expect from this racquet.
Wilson Pro Staff v14 Racquet Specifications
- Weight: 11.7 oz. strung
- Head Size: 97 square inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 320 mm
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Swingweight: 332
- Stiffness: 66
Read our guide on how to choose a tennis racquet.
This is a relatively heavy tennis racquet, built for control and feel. The Pro Staff is one of the top 8 tennis racquets for control. The 16×19 string pattern allows you to generate plenty of spin on your groundstrokes or slice on your backhand like Federer himself.
The beam width is narrower than many modern racquets which helps with control. Wilson’s carbon technology enhances the feel and comfort of this racquet as well.
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The Pro Staff is an Excellent Racquet for Control & has Great Stability
When compared with some of the other best tennis racquets for advanced players, the Pro Staff has fantastic control. The racquet’s narrow frame and smaller head size allow you to move the ball around the court with precision.
Singles players will find that their groundstrokes, volleys, and returns are more accurate with the Pro Staff. With the open 16×19 string pattern, you can still create good spin as well.
Doubles players will love the control, feel, and touch from the Pro Staff. You’ll be able to hit more accurate volleys and better drop shots too.
Because the Pro Staff is slightly heavier than most other racquets on the market today, it is a more stable option.
The technology behind the frame helps with stability as well. This means that any shots that you hit off-center won’t have that shock feedback that often comes with more power-focused racquets. The stability also helps the ball stay in the court.
The Pro Staff is Great for Returns & Volleys
The Pro Staff performs well on both returns and volleys.
- On groundstrokes, the Pro Staff provides a lot of plow-through.
- On volleys, the racquet has lots of stability, making it very playable.
- On returns, the Pro Staff is very forgiving on mishits and helps tame fast serves.
- On serves, this racquet doesn’t provide a lot of its own power but is very solid.
Overall, the Pro Staff is great for players who can generate their own power and are looking for control.
Reviewing Other Versions of the Wilson Pro Staff
The three other Pro Staff versions differ in weight and head size. Wilson has discontinued the Pro Staff RF97 and added a new offering, the Pro Staff X. Here are the specifications for the Pro Staff X, Pro Staff 97L, and Pro Staff 97UL.
| Pro Staff X | Pro Staff 97L | Pro Staff 97UL |
|---|---|---|
| Larger 100 square inch head size. | Lighter than the 97 v14, at 10.8 oz. | Lighter than the 97 v14, at 10.0 oz. |
| This adds spin potential and power. | This version offers less stability and power. | Lightweight and easy to swing. |
| More user-friendly and forgiving. | Easier to swing. | Maintains control. |
| Great for intermediate and advanced players who need a bigger sweet spot. | Great for intermediate or advanced players who prefer a lighter racquet. | Great for high-level beginners or intermediate players, or juniors who need a light racquet. |
| Buy the Pro Staff X on Tennis Warehouse | Buy the Pro Staff 97L on Tennis Warehouse | Buy the Pro Staff 97UL on Tennis Warehouse |
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The Best Alternatives to the Wilson Pro Staff
Below are several tennis racquets similar to the Wilson Pro Staff.
- Head Prestige – A more powerful advanced racquet, the Prestige doesn’t offer the same spin as the Pro Staff but provides great stability and control.
- Wilson Blade – This Wilson racquet has a slightly larger, more forgiving frame than the Pro Staff making it a great alternative for intermediate players.
- Head Radical – A slightly more power-oriented racquet than the Pro Staff, the Head Radical still provides good control and comfort. It’s also a bit easier to swing.
- Babolat Pure Strike – This racquet has better power and spin than the Pro Staff, but isn’t quite as precise or comfortable on contact.
My Experience Playing with the Wilson Pro Staff 97
I played with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 for a few practice sets and drills. When hitting with the newest Wilson Pro Staff, I didn’t notice a significant difference from the previous v13 model.
The Control, Feel, and Touch of the Pro Staff are Still Off-the-Charts
This is still one of my favorite racquets for control and feel. The racquet feels so comfortable and stable on contact that I can redirect the tennis ball with ease. The volleys and transition shots are especially effective with the Pro Staff.
Similar to Ons Jabeur, who uses the Pro Staff, my drop shots and short angles were extremely accurate.
The Pro Staff’s Stability Helped Me Defend Against Pace
The Wilson Pro Staff offers great stability because of its weight. This, of course, varies depending on which version you choose.
I had no issues volleying against hard-hit groundstrokes. Even when I made contact slightly off-center, I still had decent control. The ability to absorb pace with this racquet is excellent.
Returning against big servers was also a nice bonus. I could stretch out on my backhand or forehand side and still hit a solid return. Again, even slight mishits were getting over the net and staying in the court.
The stability made defending hard-hit balls much easier. The Pro Staff allowed me to stay in the point and transition to the net with ease.
My Depth & Baseline Power was Lacking
The only drawback to playing with this racquet was the lack of power from the baseline, especially if the opponent hit a slower ball. I did not easily hit the ball with depth on my groundstrokes, and my serve was definitely slower than normal.
I was playing mostly doubles, so I tried to get to the net as quickly as possible, where this racquet excelled.
After testing the Wilson Pro Staff v14, I’d recommend it for high-level intermediate & advanced players who like to get to the net and can generate their own power from the baseline.
If I were to stick with the Pro Staff, I think I would love it for the 3 games I’m not serving (in doubles). However, since I don’t generate much natural power on my serve, I struggled to get free points from missed returns.
Wilson Pro Staff Video Review
In the video below, I review 4 versions of the Wilson Pro Staff racquets.
There’s also a 100 sq. In. version exclusive to Tennis Warehouse called the Six One. I’m not good enough to use a 98 or 97, but the 100 is a the perfect balance of power, spin, and control. It’s been a total game-changer for me.
Thanks for the comment Jim! I haven’t had a chance to try out the 100 version yet. It’s great that they have a more forgiving version of this racquet. Glad it’s working for you 🙂
How does this compare to the TEAM edition? Why pay extra, i mean for 100 sq inches when does it for cheap?
Hi Johnny, the Team version is lighter and has a bigger head size. It’s better for beginner or intermediate players who need something more forgiving with a bigger sweet spot.
Thanks for the helpful review. I’m looking to move from a prestige to a pro staff and the 97 v13 rounds right in my ball park. My only concern is lack of power, would you recommend a certain string to address this and added weight in the head?
Hi Richard, those racquets are very comparable. You shouldn’t lose much power from that switch. If you do feel like you’re missing some power, you can do one of three things.
1) add some lead tape to the head
2) change your string type to a more power-oriented string
3) lower your string tension
I’d recommend trying out a lower tension first if you already have a string you like. Adding lead tape would be the next best option.
Hi Will, I really love pro staff feel and touch but i have some problem with it. The weight of the pro staff when i carry it around the court and the swing of it made me struggle after 3 games.
So could you recommend me the racquet that quite similar to Pro staff but fix the issues that i have. Thank you
Hi Sai, it sounds like you just need a lighter weight version of the Pro Staff. They make several lightweight options.
The 1st lightweight version is the 97L: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Pro_Staff_97L_v14/descpageRCWILSON-97V14L.html?from=tribe
The lightest version is the 97UL: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Pro_Staff_97UL_v14/descpageRCWILSON-9714UL.html?from=tribe
Hi Will,
I have been playing with the RF97 and earlier models for years and I like the stability and control of that racquet. They are getting harder to find however, and I was wondering if you have a replacement idea. I’m a 4.0, strong enough to wield it, and play doubles exclusively.
Thanks,
NS
Hi Nino, Your racquet is heavier than the current Pro Staffs available so you could purchase the newest version and add weight.
TW sells tape here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Customization_Putty__Tape/catpage-HEADTAPE.html?from=tribe
Learn how to customize your racquet here: https://www.thetennistribe.com/how-to-customize-a-tennis-racquet/
Other similar racquets are below. You may still need to add weight to match the RF97.
— The new Yonex Percept 97H: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_Percept_97H/descpageRCYONEX-PERC9H.html?from=tribe
— Head Prestige Tour (great volley racquet): https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_Prestige_Tour_2023/descpageRCHEAD-THPRTR.html?from=tribe
— Babolat Pure Strike Tour: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Pure_Strike_Tour_3rd_Gen/descpageRCBAB-BPSTTO.html?from=tribe
— Prince Tour series 95 or 98: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Tour_Racquets/catpage-PRINCETOUR.html?from=tribe
Hello Will, thanks a lot for the helpful review here. Im struggling a bit with depth and power in my backhand and service too, im trying to find a new frame that gives me the same feeling i have with the ProStaff 97 CV ( i use it with poly strings at 22kg already to get more power). What do you recommend for 2024? I grew up using Prince racquets so the prince sinergy 98 seems interesting, maybe yonex? Im an advanced player, have been playing for more then 25 years. THANKS!
Hey Nestor! I’m Nate, the new racquet expert for Tennis Tribe. Based on what you’ve mentioned , you have a few choices. First, don’t be afraid to try to drop the tension even further, to the 18-20kg range. Poly strings work great at low tensions.
Another option would be to customize your racquet by adding a little bit of weight at the tip of your racquet. Tourna makes power strips you can put on your racquet to increase the power of your racquet you can purchase here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pete_Sampras_Power_Strips/descpageUNIQUE-PSSW.html?from=tribe
If you’re looking to switch racquets though, the Prince Synergy 98 would definitely be a good racquet to check out. The main difference you’ll notice is that your Pro Staff will be a little more head light and easier to swing.
The other racquet I’d recommend demoing is the new Yonex Percept 97. They added a little extra stiffness to the racquets with this update giving them a little more power than the previous version. You can find the new Percept 97 on Tennis Warehouse here: https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_Percept_97/descpageRCYONEX-PERC97.html?from=tribe
I hope those suggestions help! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hey Will,
I have a couple of questions, what is X in pro staff v14? What is the difference between Pro Staff v14L and TEAM? What do you recommend between both?
Thanks,
David
Hi David, this is Nate, the new gear reviewer/expert. The “X” is just the name of the new 100 square inch version of the Pro Staff. It is a little lighter and more forgiving than the standard Pro Staff. As for the 97L vs the Team, the two main differences are the head size and the weight/swing weight. The 97L has a 97 square inch head, while the Team has a 100 square inch head. The Team is also a little bit lighter than the 97. If you’re a beginner or low-intermediate, I would recommend the Team because it is a little easier to swing and more forgiving. If you are a higher-level intermediate or a promising junior player that prefers more control but isn’t quite ready for the weight of the standard Pro Staff, then the 97L would be the better choice.
Hello all,
I am using PS97 v14 for the last 2 months
Till now I have been using Ezone 98 Tour
I love Pro Staff using with Confidential at 50lds. Nice felling and excellent control.
But what I noticed is that few shots go long beyond base line
Is it related to launch angle or string or someting else?
Any recommendations?
Thanks !
Hi Konstanitinos, I’m Nate, the gear reviewer/expert here at The Tennis Tribe.
You are already using a fairly low-powered string with good spin potential, so it probably isn’t the strings. While both racquets have a 16×19 string pattern, the Ezone 98 Tour actually has a slightly pattern. One way you can see this is by noticing that there are 8 holes in the throat of the Ezone 98 Tour, but only 6 holes in the throat of the Pro Staff.
If you want to achieve a lower launch angle with the Pro Staff, I would recommend increasing the tension 2-4 pounds.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks Nate!!
Sorry for the late response but I was trying out some new strings and combinations.
I followed your advice and it worked :). Increasing tension helps keeping the ball in the court. I now play at around 55lbs with stiff strings (tried Head Lynx Tour, Confidential, Alu Power and Element, all play well BTW, next one is Max Power and 4G ) and very happy with my Pro Staff!!
Love it!! Even with high tension and stiff strings I get no arm pain at all. (not the case with other rackets)
Of course after playing 3hours continuously you fell the weight but normally I don’t play so long….
BTW any favorable string for the v14 so I can try 🙂
Thanks again, Costas
Hi Costas, I’m glad that’s working out for you! You already have some of my top string choices, but a couple others you might be interested are Yonex PolyTour Drive (https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_POLYTOUR_DRIVE_16L_125_String/descpageACYONEX-YPTDRI.html?from=tribe), Yonex PolyTour Rev (https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_POLYTOUR_REV_16L_125_String/descpageACYONEX-YREV25.html?from=tribe), or even Velociti Catalyst (https://velocititennis.com/products/velociti-catalyst-16g-1-28-set), a unique biodegradable poly string.