wilson pro staff history

There’s no question about it: the Pro Staff is our most iconic tennis racket franchise. The Pro Staff 85 6.0 was Federer’s first Wilson racquet when he burst onto the scene in 1998. Having been traditionally a 90” or 95”, Version 10 of Pro Staff featured mostly 97-square-inch models. The Pro Staff family tends to have more flexible beams than the Burn and Ultra families, giving them a more classic & buttery response. The series produced Steffi Graf's racquets of choice in the 1990s as she signed an endorsement deal with Wilson in 1994 after having played with Dunlop since the beginning of her career. To put it more simply, the original Pro Staffs had a 50/50 mix of carbon and aramid fibers. "The GOAT that never came... Wilson ProStaff Limited Edition - Midsize 95 ** 17mm beam width** | Page 2 | Talk Tennis", http://www.tennis.com/gear/2012/06/tennis-radar-modern-classics/38583/, http://ca.complex.com/sneakers/2012/08/the-evolution-of-the-tennis-racket, https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/what-a-racket-the-wilson-prostaff-circa-1983/, http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/PSRF85/PSRF85Review.html, http://tennisnerd.net/gear/racquets/wilson-pro-staff-rf-85/5524, http://www.wilson.com/wilson/racquet/products.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673997475&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302756111, http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_K_Factor_KPro_Staff_88/descpageRCWILSON-KPS88.html, http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/60/60Review.html, http://av.warehousesports.com/tw/Features/9908NateFerguson.html, http://www.allabouttennis.com/Wilson-Pro-Staff-Original-6-0-85-L3-4-3-8-p/t5799.htm, http://www.tennisexpress.com/category.cfm/tennis/wilson-tennis-racquets, http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/W6085/W6085Review.html, http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/W6085/ProstaffOrigins.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wilson_ProStaff_Original_6.0&oldid=966753523, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 July 2020, at 00:29. Born in 1983, the Pro Staff debuted as an oversized racquet with a 110 square inch head size. The 95 is more forgiving of off-center shots with an overall weight of 12.2 ounces (346 g) and a lower swingweight (317 as opposed to the 85's 326). A flat hitting power-oriented game will therefore benefit considerably from the inherent control and stability of the frame. Ask your Dad), jumped in bed with Wal-Mart. For v13, our R&D team arranged the racket’s famous double braid at all-new 45-degree angles. Called “Braid 45”, this strategic placement of the braid allows the frame to “breathe” more upon impact, increasing dwell time while maintaining the stability responsible for the classic Pro Staff feel. This model was yet to be released to the market but came out as the Pro Staff 90 in 2003. Fun Fact: While many remember the Pro Staff 85” 6.0 as the original Pro Staff released, the first Pro Staff actually developed was the Pro Staff 110”. Fun Fact: This was the first time we started using “Stiffness Index” to differentiate our Pro Staff models. In fact, there is nothing "original" about this model, as it is not the first Wilson graphite racquet by any means, and the 110 square inch model was the original in the line, not the longer-lived 85 square inch variant. The graphite iron has an extreme undercut cavity, which achieves an exceptionally low centre of gravity ensuring your balls soar high & reach a great distance on the golf course. Documenting my thoughts and some hitting of the Wilson Staff Tour Blade 6 iron. Inspired by a recent comment from a reader I thought I'd look into the various models of racquet Roger Federer has used since he went pro way back in 1998. The gold BLX butt cap in place of the original white & red butt cap. Originally manufactured in Chicago, Illinois and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Pro Staff line was Wilson's answer to the Prince Graphite, Yonex Rex series, and the Dunlop Max 200G. Racket: Wilson Pro Staff. The Pro Staff design combined the braided construction of the earlier Ultra line with the most of the shape of the Sting (that was produced without a throat bar). Sold Out Wilson's ProStaff ROK could be called a retro or throwback racquet. Piggybacking on the success of Version 11, v12 introduced a timeless black and white design to the minimalistic design used on v11 that Pro Staff fans loved. This “K Factor” produced a stronger, denser frame layup. The small headsize of the 85 and Perimeter Weighting System also minimize the torque on off-centre hits, further enhancing control at impact. In comparison, the original Pro Staffs were very heavy, at 12+ oz. The Wilson Pro Staff 85 is not the correct naming, but I think it simplifies it a bit. Fun Fact: While we no longer use Basalt in our Pro Staff frames, we are still using a braid of carbon and Basalt in our Blade frames to provide as much feel as possible for the competitive players that rely on feedback from the ball to feel confident going for their shots. This allowed our team to swing big without fear of losing control of their groundstrokes. However, as Wilson transitioned away from wood, steel, and aluminum, the company's first graphite models were not given this name. Fun Fact:  While many remember the 1991 US Open for Jimmy Connor’s historic run to the semifinals at age 39, it was Wilson Advisory Staff member Stefan Edberg who used the Pro Staff Classic to win his first US Open title that year. 2018 – 2020: RF97 Autograph, 97 Countervail, 97L, 97UL. Also unique is that the graphite in the Pro Staff Original is braided. This was a string-bed innovation used across our racket franchises. However, Pro Staff’s unique carbon and aramid fibers double braid instantly garnered the attention of serious players due to its combination of power, feel, and control. It was stiffer than the extremely popular Jack Kramer Autograph model and favored by professional players for that reason. The result was a significant increase in strength, stability, resiliency and power. In Wilson’s current racket lines, Ultra is the most stiff at a 3.9si while Clash rackets are the most flexible, topping out at 11.2si. Perfect for experienced players looking for a racket that delivers the pinnacle of precision and performance. Perhaps one of the best thing about their racquets is the control you have when using them. Fun Fact: The red-and-yellow pinstripes found on the Pro Staff Original that inspired v13’s design was sold in our catalog from 1983 up until 2004. Navratilova, meanwhile, had switched back to the less stiff R-22, a graphite/fiberglass model. The BLX frames we launched back in 2012 were our first using a new racket material: basalt. A similarly misapplied "original" refers to the very famous Prince Graphite oversize. By using fewer cross strings than main strings, we were able to create a racket that naturally increased spin without players having to change their swing. Year: 1983. The material composition utilized nanotechnology to bond new molecules that fill spaces between the racket's graphite fibers (branded [K]arophite Black) to the graphite itself, rather than the unbonded fill used in Wilson's prior N-Code racket series. Having been around for 37 years, it’s best known for its classic double braid of carbon and aramid fibers (commonly known as graphite/Kevlar®), and of course the many greats who use(d) it: Chris Evert, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Steffi Graf, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer. ... Wilson's T200 racquet was the first widely used metal frame racquet. To enhance control, Pro Staff rackets have head sizes that are 97 square inches or smaller. This racquet established the "Pro Staff" branding as being Wilson's finest product. 2002 - 2003:  Hyper Pro Staff Surge (5.1si, 98”), Hyper Pro Staff (6.1si, 95”), Hyper Pro Staff Extreme (6.7si, 110”),  Hyper Pro Staff Zone (7.1si, 95”). But many will remember this racket as the one that Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro used to beat Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open. This was the original St. Vincent version that Pete Sampras used. Pete Sampras, who used the racquet for his entire professional career, established the reputation of the Pro Staff 85 (graphite/Kevlar) as a legendary racquet more than any other player. Contrary to popular belief, the stiffer and heavier Ultra II, not a member of the Pro Staff line, was Wilson's most expensive racquet until the 1987 Profile debuted. It’s an incredible frame, but only if you can wield it. Because Pro Staff players largely preferred the double braid of the original Pro Staff, the Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 was designed to be the first Pro Staff to use both the double braid AND Hyper Carbon technology. The answer is what’s inside: a classic braid of two materials: carbon and aramid fibers. Instead, early Wilson models were the 1980 Ultra, the 1981 Javelin, the 1982 Sting, and the graphite/boron Ultra II. The frames of the latest 2014 Pro Staff models feature graduated lines at 3 and 9 o'clock, prompting players to customize the rather low stock racquet weight with lead tapes. Other brands were already making rackets with carbon, but the addition of the aramid fibers both added weight and dampened feedback felt in other frames, giving the Pro Staff its unique feel. This system is a measurement of a racket’s flexibility and stability. MORE STORIES Top 5 Photos, 2/17: Tsitsipas pulls off unlikely Nadal win Staff (Goose logo) Goose-Neck 1988-90. The high percentage of graphite allows for a 'softer' feel, while the kevlar provides more strength in the frame. JP Wilson Staff 1991-93. He said, "From the first swing, it was apparent Wilson had retained the light and fast feel of the … Check out the best holiday gifts for tennis... © 2019 Wilson Sporting Goods All rights reserved. They featured larger head sizes (95 and 110 sq in) and a more flexible frame than either the 6.0 or the 6.1. in. Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph It was a big change for Federer, from a 90-inch racket to a 97-inch. C’mon, you know you want to watch it. There have been limited edition racket releases that featured the pinstripes over the years, but v13 is the first time the pinstripes have again been used on the in-line Pro Staff franchise models. For example, the very first Pro Staff line in 1983 featured 125”, 110”, and 85” head sizes. It’s safe to say that if you make something for 37 years, people must like it. After his U.S. Open win, a need for a major golfing brand was inherent in the U.S. market. BUT WAIT. Jan 1, 1400. Only upon returning to play exhibition, World Team Tennis and Senior Tour matches post retirement from the ATP, did Sampras switch rackets (to a similar model as that used by Roger Federer at the time) before Wilson produced a new model especially for Sampras, the K Pro Staff 88. Shortly after, Wilson adapted the design to the now-iconic 85 square inch head size, a.k.a., the Pro Staff Original 6.0. The "Original" in the ProStaff name is likely due to the multitude of Wilson releases using the ProStaff title. Continuing the trend of innovating every couple of years, our nCode line included two Pro Staffs; most notably the third edition of the Pro Staff Six.One. Theirs were the first composite ProStaff and thus, the "Original" (composite) ProStaff. As with the earlier Sting and Ultra II, the first graphite/Kevlar Pro Staff model was a "large head" 110 square-inch oversize. For reference, the most popular Pro Staff’s typically have measured around a 6.0si, which is considered an ideal blend of flexibility and stability. In 2012, Wilson reintroduced the Prostaff line with their Amplifeel series of rackets. And more importantly, you build a following. BLX technology evolved into “Amplifeel” technology, which was adding the vibration-reducing effect of basalt to the racket handle. At that time Wilson’s Ultra was one of the best selling balls in golf, giving Titleist a run for its money. 1200 TN Gear Effect 1990-92. HEAD SIZE: A tennis racket’s head size is the circumference of the racket’s hoop, typically measured in square inches in the US and square centimeters everywhere else. Continuing in their history of innovation, Wilson Staff teamed up with Golf Channel to air ‘Driver vs. Driver’, which is a television program where ordinary golfers can submit designs that lead to the next innovative Wilson Staff driver. Ken Sherman was one of 4 Wilson engineers involved in the design and development of the ProStaff and was lead engineer at the fabled St. Vincent factory for 4 years, working on ProStaffs and original Profile racquets, among others. Fun Fact: In 2004, Wilson Advisory Staff member Grigor Dimitrov was the first to play the Spin-Effect Pro Staff on Tour. Wilson reintroduced the ProStaff Original 6.0 85 in May 2011 via an exclusive arrangement with Tennis Warehouse in the USA. With the massive success of the Wilson “Profile” racket in the late 80’s, our engineers decided to bring the all-new “Dual Taper System” to the Pro Staff Franchise. Today, the Pro Staff Classic is known by many as the Pro Staff Six.One. Fun Fact: While there has been much talk since Roger Federer started winning slams again about increasing his racket’s head size and how it’s improved his backhand, he actually switched to the 97” back in 2014. The racket has brought on many variations such as the 6.1 models and the ROK models, both of which are still favoured in the tennis world. 1994: Pro Staff Classic (4.2si), Pro Staff Tour Classic (6.6si), Pro Staff Lite (5.8si), 1996 - 1997: Pro Staff Stretch (5.9si, 6.1si), Pro Staff Lite 6.9si, 1998: Pro Staff EB Stretch (4.7si, 5.7si), Pro Staff EB (6.7si). It’s important to understand a few things before you geek out in this Pro Staff Time Machine: 1. 2010-2012: BLX Pro Staff Six.One (90”, 95”, 100”); BLX Six.One Tour; Six.One 95 BLX (different than BLX Pro Staff Six.One 95). The "descendants" of the Pro Staff 6.0 usually bear the moniker 6.1 in the frame title and have incorporated larger head sizes (90–95 sq in) and more modern graphite composites in their manufacturing, including the production of curved beam rackets instead of the traditional box beam design used in the original Pro Staffs. The first composite version associated with Tour success will always date back to the composite racquet used by the first ProStaff-using number one ranked tennis professionals, Chris Evert & Stefan Edberg. All totaled, 117 grand slam titles have been won with Pro Staff. Runner-up racket was the (K) Factor with 6 grand slam singles titles. Shop Wilson Pro Staff tennis rackets. Wilson designs and … This created more strength and stability in the racquet, while increasing the weight of the frame.

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