RF 01 Pro Review by Gladiators Worth the Hype?

Glaads! I don’t know if you were as excited as I was but it’s finally here!! The RF 01 Pro. Let’s check this out!

Here are the links to get this staple of tennis history:

Europe:

US:

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[matteodf]

Personally I really in love for RF01PRO. I am playing with it since 2 weeks, and coming from PS97S and PS97 315gr, I find this one super fantastic. Free power, easier to move, super precise and great control. Of course need clean technique and to be physically prepared, but even if demanding it'll give back a lot. Very solid and amazing on volleys, flat groundstroke and slice serve.

[balintkato]

So far the RF01 Pro tennis racket seems very good to me, it works like a cannon (I don't get short with a little energy, I can keep the ball close to the baseline in displaced situations) and with good control. The strings are Luxilon ECO Power 1.25 mm, string tension: 20 kg and 19 kg. For one hand backhand, forhand cross hitting very good. Serve is bomb strong. The racket is stable. Worth trying lower string tensions!!! I think like the sweetpoint is also much bigger at lower string tension, because I had no problem with it.

[mattthornsbury]

Awesome review, I did several hours with the Pro and the reg 01 and while the Pro had an incredible feeling at times, the sweetspot alone of the Pro was the only thing that made me just go with the regular 01 and add a little weight (sweetspot on the regular 01 is way more forgiving). Either way, sexy racquets, bravo Roger.

[germanjaime]

What this racket does for me is really good. It adds power without messing up control. Specially on days where im not super high on energy. I can hit the ball casually and still get 15 more mph than with my ps97. When i decide to go for my big shots i get a tone of spin which is great. Only problem i am having at the moment is with my serve and backhand slice. If i can fined a way to tune those two strokes than i will stick with this racket.

[TennisEva]

I miss the old days... when a racket could actually get a bad review. When every review didn't sound like a sales pitch.

[hybridtheory]

It bothers me why so many ppl turn their brain off when something has "RF" on it. It must be the best racquet on the market.... LMFAO. Appreciate your honesty!!

[b.lakeberg]

I loved this review. I am happy to see a review that was more critical of the racquet. 🎉

[pyrofeaks]

playing ATM with a tester for about 1 1/2 week, The normal 01 300g is way too light and for me I overhitting with it. But The 320g Pro. Damn. I straight ordered 2. what a beauty of Racket. So much Control, Spin Power and moveability. Feedback of the Frame, its just perfect. The Old Pro Staff RF97 which I played before is nothing for an Clubplayer/Tournament Player. Then I switched to the Pro Staff X v14. This was a ton better. But now. I got I manageable modern oldschool racket. It gives me everything I need. Not perfect at all. Its not a Racket for absolutly Spin Player. Not a Racket for Power. But it produces everything on a very very high average. This is amazing.

First I was scared about the weight as the 340g from the RF 97 Autograph. On good days, when swinging good, when your timing is good the weight is not that big problem. But I was scared what is when a "bad" day occures. And the RF 01 Pro does it great. You can handle the Frame WAY WAY WAY easier then the Pro Staffs or other boxed Frame Control Racket. So even on bad days this Racket does its job. I noticed, when you got a bad day, you need to swing kind of slow (but through Of course). Just guard your Swing through the ball with no haste or with overpowering, then the Racket shows you everything. The Racket will do the Job.

Overall you can Say you need a very very clean technique. Not the best as the Pro Staffs required but you need a solid clean technique. Nothing exotic with tons of stupid spin and so on. Just Through. The Racket will do it and generate a solid spin with control and power.

[msalvs]

David Lloyd in Barcelona. I played on those very same courts a lot before COVID, although for clay I preferred the public courts at Montjuic. In any case both are miles better than Vall d’Hebron.

[homeropalacios]

Castigaste mucho su calificación en comfort y poder, yo tengo apenas una semana con ella y la he sentido muy comfortable, pero bueno, cuestión de gustos, a mi me ha encantado esta raqueta. Gracias por la reseña.

[zaz]

i play with the RF97A and in all honesty i love this frame. The only downside is its a bit stiff, so the string setup (type/ tension) is important. but other tha that? fantastic frame in all aspects including power, control, stability and one little facts is not discussed enough. Alcaraz light frame is one reason why he had a forearm injury. The other reason is his string setup. Both matter for lighter frames like the RF 01

[ryanng]

How does this compare to the v13 Pro Staff (315g unstrung)?

[quentincrisp]

Roger left the game of tennis 2 years ago! Wilson (Amer Sport) has left us with this while paying Roger a reported amount of $10M to consult on the RF line. Let's see by next year if any ATP players are using it.

[SSJBen]

I tried it in 2 string configurations: Hybrid gut + luxilon element @ 53/56 lbs and full poly Alu power @ 47 lbs. All of them were 1.25.

The full poly setup was just so much better feeling. There's a lot more leniency even in comparison to the hybrid with gut in it yet doesn't sacrifice too much in the power that gut offers.
I do not think this racquet plays well with string setups in the 50s, it's definitely better in the high 40s IMO.

[ruz]

"the frying pan" part was so good!!

[jessetaylor]

Although I have given them up for the most part, the Pro Staff 90’s are still the best frames I’ve hit with. They demand an immaculate level of footwork and technique so it’s a great barometer for one’s level.

[ClémentCanu]

Balance is supposed to be 31.5 cm not 32.5, probably typo mistake but this makes a huge difference when holding the racquet ! Cheers 😊

[IsaacPeachey]

haha i knew this racquet would be a tricky stick, but you know its gonna be a great seller. How close is it to the blade 16x19 V9?

[ChowTY]

I just bought the laver cup edition RF 01 to own as a collectible and maybe someday sell it for more. I also bought a second laver cup one to just play with but now I’m thinking to not use the racquet at all.

[marcosdoyter]

Let’s get honest. People want that racquet because of Federer’s endorsement. I doubt he really had am active participation in its design. Probably, he had some hitting sessions and provided some feedback. Wilson’s engineer had a previous project of a more user-friendly control racquet. Nothing more than that.

The racquet is as unforgiving as the Pro Staff line models.

I would stay with other options in the market: Yonex Ezone 98, Tecnifibre Tfight300, Head Radical MP.

Please, guys, don’t buy a racquet because the player who endorses it. Buy a racquet because it adapts to your game.

The gladiator is the first honest reviewer of the racquet.