Should you’ve been studying Excellent Tennis for a very long time, this submit would possibly really feel like we’ve gone again about ten years.
Throughout Roger Federer’s enjoying days, his newest racket, footwear and Nike/Uniqlo outfits have been a daily fixture on the location.
New gear would seem for just about each match; I’d attempt to discover leaked pictures after which submit when and the place it will be out there.
These posts naturally disappeared when Federer retired in 2022, and I haven’t written a lot about him since, partly as a result of there hasn’t been a lot purpose to.
Federer has saved a comparatively low profile in retirement, which might be smart, and Excellent Tennis moved on with the tour.
Tennis or the location undoubtedly isn’t as a lot enjoyable in a post-Federer tennis world, however with RF about to be inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame, Wilson has offered an excuse to show the clock again briefly.
Federer will formally enter the Corridor of Fame in Newport on August 29 as a part of the Class of 2026, and Wilson has marked the event with a restricted Corridor of Fame model of its RF vary.
The gathering consists of particular editions of the RF 01 and RF 01 Professional alongside matching baggage, all completed in a cream/taupe color scheme celebrating Federer’s profession.
And the rackets look fairly good.
Wilson RF 01 Professional Corridor of Fame
The headline product is the RF 01 Professional Corridor of Fame.
This isn’t a brand new racket beneath the paint. It makes use of the identical specs as the usual RF 01 Professional, the body Federer helped Wilson develop late in his profession.
What you’re paying for right here is the Corridor of Fame beauty.
The body references Federer’s profession achievements throughout the paintwork, whereas the cream, white, and darker detailing provides it a distinctly retro Wilson look.
My first thought after I noticed it was the outdated Wilson nCode vary. It’s not a precise recreation, however the color and graphics instantly jogged my memory of these mid-2000s frames.
Contemplating Federer performed a few of the greatest tennis of his profession with the nSix-One Tour 90 beneath that well-known red-and-white nCode paint job, that’s not a nasty little bit of nostalgia to evoke.
RF 01 Professional Corridor of Fame Specs
Specification
RF 01 Professional Corridor of Fame
Head Dimension
98 sq. in.
Size
27 in.
Strung Weight
337g / 11.9oz
Stability
6 pts head mild
Swingweight
331
Stiffness
67
Beam
23.2mm / 23mm / 22mm
String Sample
16 x 19
Composition
Carbon + Carbon Braid
Grip
Leather-based
Beneficial Rigidity
47-57 lbs
Keep in mind, this isn’t the outdated RF97 Autograph with a brand new paint job.
The RF 01 Professional is a distinct proposition. It has a 98-square-inch head, weighs 337g strung and has a thicker, extra aerodynamic beam. Wilson developed it to retain a few of the precision and solidity related to Federer’s rackets whereas making it faster and extra suited to the fashionable baseline recreation.
It nonetheless isn’t precisely a newbie’s racket. A 331 swingweight and 337g strung weight imply you’ll want affordable approach and preparation to get the perfect from it.
Tennis Warehouse has the Corridor of Fame version listed at $349, which is severe cash for a tennis racket.
However limited-edition Federer rackets aren’t actually being bought purely on a pounds-per-square-inch-of-graphite calculation. Some might be purchased to play with, others will in all probability by no means have a ball hit with them.
Should you’re a Federer collector, I can actually perceive the attraction.
Wilson RF 01 Corridor of Fame
Wilson has additionally given the usual RF 01 the Corridor of Fame remedy.
Visually, it’s basically the identical concept, however the underlying racket is significantly extra manageable.
RF 01 Corridor of Fame Specs
Specification
RF 01 Corridor of Fame
Head Dimension
98 sq. in.
Size
27 in.
Strung Weight
318g / 11.2oz
Stability
5 pts head mild
Swingweight
319
Stiffness
64
Beam
23.2mm / 23mm / 22mm
String Sample
16 x 19
Composition
Carbon + Carbon Braid
Grip
Wilson Professional Efficiency
Beneficial Rigidity
47-57 lbs
At 318g strung with a 319 swingweight, that is the model that can make extra sense for almost all of membership gamers.
You continue to get the 98-square-inch head and 16×19 sample, however there’s noticeably much less mass to maneuver round than with the Professional.
It must be simpler to speed up on serve, simpler to manoeuvre while you’re rushed and customarily much less demanding over a few hours.
Tennis Warehouse has this one at $329.
Once more, racket costs have develop into fairly ridiculous. I can bear in mind when £150-ish purchased you a flagship participant’s body and even that didn’t precisely really feel low-cost.
Greater than $300 for a racket is troublesome to name good worth in purely sensible phrases, significantly when the common RF 01 will finally play the identical.
However no person is shopping for this model as a result of they desperately want a cream racket with Federer’s achievements written on it to enhance their backhand.
It’s a commemorative version. Should you’re a giant Federer fan, accumulate his rackets or love the cosmetics, you’ll in all probability already know whether or not you need one.
RF Corridor of Fame Observe Duffel Bag
Wilson has carried the identical design over to the RF Corridor of Fame Observe Duffel.
The cream and taupe colors work significantly properly right here, with delicate references to Switzerland within the design, together with facet panels impressed by the Swiss Alps.
It’s additionally a genuinely substantial tennis bag, not only a piece of Federer merchandise.
The primary compartment can carry as much as six rackets and consists of padded dividers, mesh accent storage and elasticated sections for bottles or ball cans.
It additionally has an exterior shoe compartment, accent pockets on both facet, and adjustable handles that reach for shoulder carry.
Dimensions are 89 x 36.8 x 27.9cm.
Tennis Warehouse sells it for $199.
RF Corridor of Fame Backpack
Should you don’t want to show up for a Tuesday-night membership session carrying six rackets such as you’re enjoying the Wimbledon remaining, there’s additionally a backpack.
This makes use of the identical cream/taupe color scheme and Swiss-inspired detailing however in a way more sensible on a regular basis format.
It has a devoted compartment for 2 rackets, a primary storage space with a padded laptop computer sleeve, mesh accent pockets, a separate shoe tunnel, and a fleece-lined valuables pocket.
Wilson has additionally included a baggage strap on the again so it could possibly slide over a suitcase deal with, making it probably extra helpful as a journey bag than a traditional tennis backpack.
Dimensions are 34.3 x 25.4 x 47cm, and Tennis Warehouse lists it at $159.
Once more, premium pricing, however it’s in all probability the merchandise right here you might use most away from the tennis court docket.
A Good Federer Collectable, If You Can Abdomen the Value
There was by no means a lot doubt that Federer’s industrial attraction would proceed lengthy after he stopped enjoying.
Wilson launched the RF 01 mission after his retirement, and a Corridor of Fame version was an apparent alternative.
Federer is being inducted alongside Mary Carillo in Newport this August, and demand surrounding the ceremony has been huge – the Corridor of Fame’s ticket allocation for the induction weekend reportedly bought out inside two minutes.
So sure, Wilson is aware of precisely what it’s doing right here.
Take an present RF 01, give it a horny limited-edition beauty, connect it to one of many largest milestones of Federer’s post-playing profession and watch for Federer followers to succeed in for his or her wallets.
However I can’t complain an excessive amount of as a result of the top consequence seems good. Would I pay $349 for one when the efficiency beneath the paint is unchanged? Most likely not.
Would I’ve been tempted ten years in the past when half this web site consisted of Federer match experiences, outfit posts and discussions about whether or not he’d modified his string stress by half a kilo? Most likely.
I used to be additionally extra into gear again then, however as of late I’ve realised exterior of racket weight most of it’s simply advertising and marketing BS and makes nearly zero distinction to the membership participant. However in the event you’ve bought the money and accumulate Federer stuff, then crack on.
What do you consider the Federer Corridor of Fame assortment? Nice-looking commemorative gear, or has Wilson pushed the Federer tax a little bit too far?
