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 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 be certain if that’s true, however at first look, it definitely appears to be like 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 stability of spin, management, and manoeuvrability.

With its exact body geometry and Braid 45 expertise, 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 type whereas sustaining a player-friendly really feel.

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

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 modern, 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 class.

This racket is designed for purists—gamers preferring understated efficiency over fashionable aesthetics. Its lack of shiny 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 isn’t any totally different from most different rackets available on the market. If something, the “expertise” aspect of issues will not be closely pushed on this racket like in most new releases with the latest and greatest advancements.

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’s also 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 includes a fastidiously 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 pinnacle (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 Factor 1.2mm. Rigidity was 22.5kg on each mains and crosses. Factor is a snug poly to think about in order for you an arm-friendly monofilament.

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.

After I first held it, the burden distribution and stability felt nicely suited to an aggressive, fast-paced type of play.

The racket feels strong and nimble, giving me confidence that my swings can be met with an excellent 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 concerning groundstrokes, particularly on flat pictures and attacking strokes. The racket supplies a strong reference to the ball, providing clear, crisp responses whether or not you might be enjoying aggressive pictures from the baseline or going for exact placement.

It excelled on drive pictures, significantly when getting into the court docket. Nevertheless, 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 prefer to name it, a “platform racket.”

Nonetheless, because the racket will not be 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 sport type is extra of an all-court variable sort of play.

I additionally observed that the racket misplaced management when making an attempt heavy topspin pictures at larger speeds.

The problem arose once I tried to keep up a quick tempo whereas producing topspin. The spin potential was respectable however not as robust as another rackets I’ve examined, particularly underneath these circumstances.

Whereas glorious by way of feeling and luxury, I think that the Luxilon Wilson Factor string is probably not the perfect 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 once I slowed down and centered purely on creating topspin, although I needed to sacrifice some velocity for that added spin.

This stability may fit nicely for gamers prioritising management over uncooked energy of their topspin sport.

Contact Pictures and Volleys

The RF 01 shines in contact pictures and volleys. The racket felt quick and responsive on the web, making it simple for me to exactly hit delicate drop pictures and angle volleys. The body presents glorious suggestions, which gave me confidence when attempting extra inventive 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 rapidly to fast-paced rallies and end factors effectively.

Furthermore, feeling the gentle 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 might be “easy.” The racket allowed for mixture of energy and precision.

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

Nevertheless, 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 supplied stability towards large serves, whereas its gentle head made it simple 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 feel 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 respect precision and contact of their sport. It is a perfect racket for gamers who get pleasure from a inventive, all-court type, permitting them to combine up their pictures and maintain their opponents guessing.

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

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

I agree with Wilson that this racket is geared towards the subsequent technology of inventive tennis gamers.

In comparison with the RF 01 Professional and RF 01 Future

In comparison with the RF 01 Pro, which is heavier and geared towards superior gamers looking for most stability and management, the RF 01 is lighter and extra accessible, ultimate 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 newbies or early intermediates, the RF 01 supplies a extra substantial really feel whereas nonetheless forgiving sufficient for a variety of enjoying types.

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

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

Ultimate Ideas

In abstract, the Wilson RF 01 300g delivers mixture of class 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 some 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.

Professionals

Cons

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