We couldn't wait to try out the Wilson RF 01 racket. Designed with the help of Roger Federer, this racket promises a spin-friendly, precise experience, and the frame's weight puts it right in the middle of the new RF lineup.
Intermediate players will find it approachable, while advanced players will find a lot to love in stock form as well as a solid platform for customization. The RF 01 features a new mold, beam shape and thickness compared to other rackets in the Wilson's lineup. Make no mistake, this is not a Pro Staff; instead, this racket has been designed for the modern game. Our team couldn't agree on anything when it came to dislikes, so we would encourage you to grab a demo and see what this racquet can offer your game!
Groundstrokes:
Designed with input from Federer, our testers discovered that the RF 01 racquet is swift and provides players with controllable power. Paul remarked that the racquet allowed him to shape the ball and create different angles, although it lacked some of the power found in the RF 01 Pro. He found it easy to move his opponent around the court but noticed that his shots were sitting up a bit on our slower indoor court, making them vulnerable to attacks. On faster outdoor courts, he could hit through more effectively, forcing opponents into defensive positions. He suggested customising the racquet by adding weight for more power without sacrificing its quick feel. Paul particularly liked the spin he was able to generate, using it to his advantage in creating angles and pulling opponents off the court.
Paul quickly noticed that the racquet offered fast swing speeds, helping him generate topspin on his forehands due to its manoeuvrability and open string pattern. While he appreciated the depth he could achieve with this racquet, he sometimes struggled with controlling the ball and hitting long shots when going for winners. However, he found it easy to hit angled groundstrokes to outmanoeuvre opponents.
Alex felt confident with the stability and precision of the RF 01, especially when approaching the net to finish points. She found it challenging for opponents to handle her spin shots, both slice and topspin.
Ben praised the RF 01 for its balance between power and control, allowing him to play at a faster pace while maintaining proximity to the baseline. He found the racquet manoeuvrable, aiding in generating spin and achieving accuracy. However, he noted that the racquet felt quite stiff.
Volleys:
The RF 01 racquet proved to be just as speedy and reliable at the net as it was at the baseline, according to our testers. They found it easy to manoeuvre and quite steady, giving them the confidence needed to win points with volleys. Jason commented, "I could position the racquet quickly for reflex volleys and overheads without any delay, which was great. However, I did notice some shakiness on off-centre shots, which was a downside for me. I felt connected to my shots and could judge drop shots and volleys accurately."
Alex noted an improvement in the precision of his volleys, saying, "The stability of the RF 01 made finishing points easier for me."
Ben shared that the RF 01 was responsive for all kinds of volleys, making it enjoyable to come to the net and win points.
Paul found the RF 01 forgiving and user-friendly at the net, expressing, "I appreciated the swift feel of this racquet. The crisp response made me feel in control of my shots. I had good touch for drop volleys and angles. The racquet provided enough power for deep, angled volleys. It was fun to use in doubles matches due to its quick responsiveness and excellent volleys control."
Serves:
The team collectively agreed that the RF 01 excelled in generating spin on serves. Paul particularly highlighted the racquet's performance on kick serves, saying, "I found it really helpful when aiming for spin on my serves. I valued the precision, and there was also enough power behind them."
Paul favoured spin over sheer power when serving with the RF 01. He noted, "While comparing the RF 01 with the Pro version, I felt the Pro had more power. Nevertheless, I managed decent pace with the RF 01 while hitting my targets consistently. The spin helped me serve accurately, giving me enough clearance over the net to land the ball inside the service box. My slice serve had good movement, and I was pleased with the spin on the ball."
Ben enjoyed serving with the RF 01, especially on first serves. He mentioned, "I had a better success rate with my first serves than usual. It set up the point nicely to take control of the rally."
With the RF 01, Alex could deliver effective flat and slice serves to keep opponents on the defensive. He added, "I felt secure on second serves thanks to the spin, which allowed me to start the point without being immediately pressured."
Returns:
Once again, the RF 01's speed stood out as a key feature for returning serves, offering plenty of power that some of our team members felt lacked a bit of control. Alex shared, "I felt a surge of power in my returns! When I hit the ball right in the middle of the racquet, I could dominate the point with an advantage. Against strong serves, I relied on my slice backhand to give myself time to get into the point more steadily."
Paul felt motivated to be aggressive with his returns and kick off points confidently.
"The quick feel of the RF 01 made returning serves enjoyable," Paul added. "I could step up, anticipate returns early, and hit with intent. The spin I could generate, along with the precise feel, offered great control."
Ben found that the RF 01's steady response helped him start points assertively. He explained, "Thanks to its stability, I felt extremely confident attacking returns and starting points aggressively. I never played a passive shot when returning and felt very assured hitting my targets on the court."
Ben appreciated the agility of the RF 01, which enhanced his returns. He remarked, "I liked that I could really swing at the ball, even against powerful servers and fast first serves. When blocking a return was my only option, I wished for a bit more weight to improve depth and overall racquet stability."
Summary
Paul
This Wilson RF 01 reminds me a bit of the Wilson Blade 100, but with a bit more control and a firmer feel. It also has similarities to the Yonex Percept 100 in terms of the whippy response and access to spin.
Likes
Very manoeuvrable and spin friendly. The RF 01 also provides good net clearance and depth on groundstrokes.
Dislikes
I'd add a little bit of weight to increase power on serves.
Ben
This racquet is very, very different from the Pro Staff family of racquets that have always been associated with Federer. This RF 01 provides a more modern response with easy access to spin and is very manoeuvrable. I think there is still some Wilson DNA in the feel, and the contact felt clean, crisp and precise. I would likely demo this racquet against the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19. Both have similar static weights, flex, string pattern, head size and balance, but the Pure Strike has a higher swingweight.
Likes
I like the manoeuvrability, spin and precise feel.
Dislikes
I'd add a little bit of weight to increase power on serves.
Alex
I think the Wilson RF 01 is like a Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v9, but with more power and a bit more spin. With this shape, I think we can also compare it to a Babolat Pure Aero 98.
Likes
The RF 01 has great control, good power and good feel.
Dislikes
It is not easy to produce spin.