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Tennis has given me soul. - Martina Navratilova |
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The Wilson Pro Staff 97 CV (Countervail) Tennis Racket has a slightly more flexible (slightly - this is still a Pro Staff), lighter, and "quieter" feel than the RF97 Autograph version, yet is an excellent user-friendly entry into the Pro Staff family. It is nearly an ounce lighter than the RF97, the amount of aramid was been reduced slightly, giving the frame just a little bit more flex, and the Countervail carbon fiber layer keeps most of the unwanted shock and vibration from traveling up the stick and into your arm. This translates into extra energy going into the 2nd and 3rd sets, and is also recommended for players with reoccuring arm issues. As for playability, it has that familiar Pro Staff feel we've all come to know and love over the years, only with less vibration. This means a fairly stiff frame, made possible by Wilson's patented braided graphite with aramid added. Aramid is a synthetic polymer closely related to nylon, often used in aerospace applications, and its fibers are known for incredible strength and resistance to heat. It helps with energy return, not just from the strings, but from the frame itself; and it won't warp as easily in the hot, Summer sun. It comes strung at 11.7 ounces, which is not tour weight, but still heavy for a club player's racquet. This gives it stability and "plow-through" on most shots, and is able to re-direct heavy shots with ease. When hitting balls off-center (not that any of us do this), the weight and stiffness of the frame make it more forgiving, as the sweetspot is slightly enlarged from the extra weight. Volleys caught out in front with little punch can still generate ample pace for putaways. Serves are rewarded with extra MPH as well. The string pattern is 16x19, and being less dense lets the slightly larger "squares" in in the stringbed to bite more of the ball. This results in greater access to spin as you brush up or slice downwards. It is also weighted at 7 points headlight, which helps to counteract the heft of the frame, and allows the head itself to be whipped through the zone more easily. The frame is relatively thin-beamed at 21.5mm/21.5mm/21.5mm and comes with a Wilson Pro Performance base grip. To get as close as you can to having the experience of playing with Roger's racket and play a little more like Fed (just a little more - they do not have magical powers), you should really try his hybrid string setup, known as Champion's Choice (what else would they call it?!). This is a pre-packaged hybrid set from Wilson that has half a set of Wilson Natural Gut in 16 gauge (for playability) and half a set of Luxilon's ALU Power Rough in 16 gauge (the textured and rough poly strings bite the ball even more and provide extra snapback for extra revolutions per second). Disclaimer: We do not guarantee 8 Wimbledon titles, or even winning your club's annual tournament - your results may vary! Wilson Racquets WRT73911U