Wilson RF 01 Playtest and Review

On this overview, I discover the RF 01, a racket designed by Roger Federer to convey parts of his sport to a broader viewers.

Wilson says it’s the road of rackets Federer would have used if he had efficiently recovered from knee surgical procedure in 2021.

Sadly, everyone knows that by no means occurred, so we will’t make sure if that’s true, however at first look, it actually seems and looks like the kind of racket you’d have seen him wielding on the court docket.

The RF 01 is positioned between the tour-level RF 01 Professional and the lighter RF 01 Future. It’s constructed for superior intermediates and aggressive gamers who search a flexible steadiness of spin, management, and manoeuvrability.

With its exact body geometry and Braid 45 know-how, the RF 01 is claimed to supply the best center floor within the RF lineup. It delivers the ability and stability to help an aggressive taking part in fashion whereas sustaining a player-friendly really feel.

It’s additionally foam-filled, which isn’t new however comparatively uncommon in most fashionable rackets and never widespread within the different rackets I’ve playtested this 12 months.

On this detailed overview, I’ll share my expertise testing the RF 01, specializing in the way it carried out in varied conditions and whether or not it meets my expectations.

Wilson RF01 Cosmetics & Options

One of many standout features of the Wilson RF 01 is its glossy, minimalist design. The racket boasts a clear, polished look with no flashy colors or gimmicks.

Its matte black end and refined Roger Federer and Wilson logos convey sophistication and understated class.

This racket is designed for purists—gamers preferring understated efficiency over fashionable aesthetics. Its lack of vivid colors or daring patterns displays its seriousness, geared toward those that strategy the sport with focus and intention, like Federer himself.

Concerning supplies, the RF 01 is not any totally different from most different rackets in the marketplace. If something, the “know-how” facet of issues isn’t closely pushed on this racket like in most new releases with the most recent and best developments.

As an alternative, it’s marketed as high-quality graphite with braided fibres at 45-degree angles, which ensures a sturdy but light-weight body.

It is usually foam-filled with PU to optimise vibration dampening, which Federer requested, as he should like that feeling.

Apart from the cosmetics, this racket’s design incorporates a fastidiously chosen beam width. As talked about within the specification chart, the RF 01 incorporates a singular 23.2mm/24mm/22mm beam, which goals to supply a mix of stability and manoeuvrability.

The marginally wider center part (24mm) ought to be certain that the racket has sufficient stiffness to generate energy. Compared, the tapered beam in the direction of the pinnacle (22mm) is supposed so as to add to its management and finesse, making it simpler to control for contact photographs and volleys.

Specification and Setup

I had the racket strung with Luxilon Component 1.2mm. Rigidity was 22.5kg on each mains and crosses. Component is a cushty poly to think about if you’d like an arm-friendly monofilament.

 
Wilson RF 01 2024
My Wilson RF 01 2024

Head Measurement
98 in² / 632.26 cm²
98 in² / 632.26 cm²

Size
27in / 68.58cm
27in / 68.58cm

Unstrung Weight
10.6oz / 300g
10.6oz / 300g

Strung Weight
11.2oz / 318g
11.1oz / 316 g

Unstrung Steadiness
12.85in / 32.64cm / 5 pts HL
12.85in / 32.64cm / 5 pts HL

Swingweight
319
320

Stiffness
64
Not measured

Beam Width
23.2 mm / 24 mm / 22 mm
23.2 mm / 24 mm / 22 mm

Composition
Carbon + Carbon braid (Graphite)
Carbon + Carbon braid (Graphite)

Racket Colours
Gradient black to gray
Gradient black to gray

Grip Kind
Wilson Professional Efficiency
Wilson Professional Efficiency

String Sample
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
16 Mains / 19 Crosses

String Rigidity
23-27 kg
22.5 kg

Wilson RF01 Playtest

First Impressions

From the primary moments of testing the Wilson RF 01, it appeared clear that this racket is constructed for precision and high-level efficiency regardless of its fairly light-weight really feel.

Once I first held it, the burden distribution and steadiness felt nicely suited to an aggressive, fast-paced fashion of play.

The racket feels stable and nimble, giving me confidence that my swings might be met with a terrific response.

As quickly as I began hitting balls, these first impressions had been confirmed. The RF 01 is clean and responsive, providing distinctive suggestions on each shot.

Inside a couple of minutes, I realised this racket was designed to let me dictate play whereas sustaining full reliability on my contact photographs.

Past its technical prowess, I additionally honeymooned with this racket’s aesthetics. It’s a great-looking body.

Groundstrokes

The RF 01 carried out admirably concerning groundstrokes, particularly on flat photographs and attacking strokes. The racket supplies a stable reference to the ball, providing clear, crisp responses whether or not you’re taking part in aggressive photographs from the baseline or going for exact placement.

It excelled on drive photographs, notably when getting into the court docket. Nonetheless, I’d have appreciated it if the racket had delivered extra weight to the ball throughout acceleration.

I’m not sure if including extra weight or altering the burden distribution would negatively have an effect on the body’s manoeuvrability, however the specs do go away room for customisation, or as some gamers wish to name it, a “platform racket.”

Nonetheless, for the reason that racket isn’t designed for monotone, fast-paced baseline play, this slight lack of energy from the baseline shouldn’t pose an excessive amount of of a difficulty in case your sport fashion is extra of an all-court variable sort of play.

I additionally observed that the racket misplaced management when trying heavy topspin photographs at larger speeds.

The difficulty arose after I tried to keep up a quick tempo whereas producing topspin. The spin potential was first rate however not as sturdy as another rackets I’ve examined, particularly underneath these circumstances.

Whereas wonderful by way of feeling and luxury, I believe that the Luxilon Wilson Component string will not be one of the best match for the RF 01 300g with regards to dealing with aggressive topspin photographs at pace.

That being mentioned, the racket’s excellent manoeuvrability allowed me to generate good spin after I slowed down and targeted purely on creating topspin, although I needed to sacrifice some pace for that added spin.

This steadiness may match nicely for gamers prioritising management over uncooked energy of their topspin sport.

Contact Photographs and Volleys

The RF 01 shines in contact photographs and volleys. The racket felt quick and responsive on the web, making it simple for me to exactly hit delicate drop photographs and angle volleys. The body presents wonderful suggestions, which gave me confidence when making an attempt extra artistic and exact performs.

The racket was extremely simple to manoeuvre on the web, nearly as if I had been gripping it from its throat. This allowed me to react shortly to fast-paced rallies and end factors effectively.

Furthermore, feeling the tender and managed response on contact photographs made me perceive what Wilson and Roger had in thoughts when claiming this racket was designed for artistic tennis gamers.

Serves

If I needed to describe my expertise serving with RF 01 in a single phrase, it might be “clean.” The racket allowed for a great mixture of energy and precision.

I discovered it simple to put serves precisely, and the ability was there when wanted for flat, aggressive first serves. The top-light steadiness additionally contributed to a fast swing, which helped generate first rate racket-head pace on serves.

Nonetheless, like with groundstrokes, I felt the racket lacked some spin potential on second serves. The spin serves didn’t appear to have as a lot kick as I sometimes anticipate, possible once more influenced by the string setup.

Returns

I notably loved testing my return with RF 01. The racket’s stable construct offered stability towards huge serves, whereas its mild head made it simple to manoeuvre when reacting to fast-paced photographs.

Whether or not blocking a serve again into play or attacking a second serve, the RF 01 delivered with energy and precision. Its distinctive management makes it simpler to information the ball to particular spots on the court docket, and I believe the foam-filled side provided some added stability and made the sound much less pingy when returning quick incoming balls.

Who’s This Racket For?

The Wilson RF 01 is undeniably designed for gamers who admire precision and contact of their sport. It is a perfect racket for gamers who take pleasure in a artistic, all-court fashion, permitting them to combine up their photographs and hold their opponents guessing.

The mix of energy and management makes it good for gamers who wish to dominate factors with finesse, aggression, and selection.

Whereas the RF 01 might not excel in producing heavy topspin, its strengths in different areas make it a superb alternative for gamers who prioritise contact, web play, and strategic shot-making.

I agree with Wilson that this racket is geared towards the following era of artistic tennis gamers.

In comparison with the RF 01 Professional and RF 01 Future

In comparison with the RF 01 Professional, which is heavier and geared towards superior gamers looking for most stability and management, the RF 01 is lighter and extra accessible, perfect for intermediate to superior gamers who need versatility with simpler dealing with.

In distinction to the RF 01 Future, the lightest of the trio and finest suited to novices or early intermediates, the RF 01 supplies a extra substantial really feel whereas nonetheless forgiving sufficient for a variety of taking part in kinds.

I like to recommend that almost all gamers who play frequently and have just a few years of expertise demo the RF 01 first. The Professional mannequin has a narrower match at 337g strung.

In the event you like lighter-weight frames however nonetheless like the98 square-inch head measurement, then the RF 01 Future is an possibility,  

Closing Ideas

In abstract, the Wilson RF 01 300g delivers a great mixture of class and efficiency. Its minimalist design is visually interesting and displays its on-court efficiency, the place precision and contact photographs really shine.

I genuinely love the design—it’s undoubtedly one of the lovely rackets I’ve ever seen. I’m additionally inquisitive in regards to the RF 01 Professional’s efficiency, and I hope to check out that model (the one they are saying Federer would have used) to see if it might meet the calls for of ATP and WTA-level gamers.

Execs

Cons

Have you ever tried any rackets from the brand new Wilson RF line? What did you assume?