Wilson RF 01 Playtest and Review

On this evaluate, I discover the RF 01, a racket designed by Roger Federer to convey parts of his recreation 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 ensure if that’s true, however at first look, it actually appears and seems 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 alleged to supply the perfect center floor within the RF lineup. It delivers the facility and stability to help an aggressive enjoying 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 frequent within the different rackets I’ve playtested this 12 months.

On this detailed evaluate, I’ll share my expertise testing the RF 01, specializing in the way it carried out in numerous 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 smooth, minimalist design. The racket boasts a clear, polished look with no flashy colors or gimmicks.

Its matte black end and delicate Roger Federer and Wilson logos convey sophistication and understated magnificence.

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

Relating to supplies, the RF 01 is not any totally different from most different rackets available on the market. If something, the “know-how” facet of issues is just not closely pushed on this racket like in most new releases with the most recent and biggest 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.

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

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

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

Specification and Setup

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

 
Wilson RF 01 2024
My Wilson RF 01 2024

Head Dimension
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 Stability
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 moderately light-weight really feel.

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

The racket feels strong and nimble, giving me confidence that my swings can be met with an incredible response.

As quickly as I began hitting balls, these first impressions had been confirmed. The RF 01 is easy 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 pictures.

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 relating to groundstrokes, particularly on flat pictures and attacking strokes. The racket gives a strong reference to the ball, providing clear, crisp responses whether or not you’re enjoying aggressive pictures from the baseline or going for exact placement.

It excelled on drive pictures, significantly when entering into the court docket. Nonetheless, I might 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 depart room for customisation, or as some gamers wish to name it, a “platform racket.”

Nonetheless, because the racket is just not designed for monotone, fast-paced baseline play, this slight lack of energy from the baseline mustn’t pose an excessive amount of of a difficulty in case your recreation fashion is extra of an all-court variable sort of play.

I additionally seen that the racket misplaced management when trying heavy topspin pictures at greater speeds.

The problem arose after I tried to take care of 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 situations.

Whereas glorious by way of feeling and luxury, I think that the Luxilon Wilson Ingredient string might not be the very best match for the RF 01 300g in terms of dealing with aggressive topspin pictures at velocity.

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

This steadiness may fit properly for gamers prioritising management over uncooked energy of their topspin recreation.

Contact Pictures and Volleys

The RF 01 shines in contact pictures and volleys. The racket felt quick and responsive on the web, making it straightforward for me to exactly hit delicate drop pictures and angle volleys. The body provides glorious suggestions, which gave me confidence when making an attempt extra inventive and exact performs.

The racket was extremely straightforward 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 comfortable and managed response on contact pictures made me perceive what Wilson and Roger had in thoughts when claiming this racket was designed for inventive tennis gamers.

Serves

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

I discovered it straightforward to position serves precisely, and the facility was there when wanted for flat, aggressive first serves. The pinnacle-light steadiness additionally contributed to a fast swing, which helped generate first rate racket-head velocity 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 count on, doubtless once more influenced by the string setup.

Returns

I significantly loved testing my return with RF 01. The racket’s strong construct offered stability towards massive serves, whereas its mild head made it straightforward to manoeuvre when reacting to fast-paced pictures.

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 supplied 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 respect precision and contact of their recreation. It is a perfect racket for gamers who get pleasure from a inventive, all-court fashion, permitting them to combine up their pictures and maintain their opponents guessing.

The mixture of energy and management makes it excellent 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 technology of inventive 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 in search of most stability and management, the RF 01 is lighter and extra accessible, supreme 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 fitted to freshmen or early intermediates, the RF 01 gives a extra substantial really feel whereas nonetheless forgiving sufficient for a variety of enjoying kinds.

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

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

Ultimate Ideas

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

I genuinely love the design—it’s undoubtedly one of the vital stunning rackets I’ve ever seen. I’m additionally inquisitive concerning 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 could meet the calls for of ATP and WTA-level gamers.

Professionals

Cons

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