Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 Review & Test: 
Is It That Good?

Performance

This section breaks down how the Pro Staff 97 v14 performs across key areas of play, including groundstrokes, volleys, serves, and returns. I’ll also share how it stacks up in specific attributes, such as power, control, comfort, and feel, to give you a clear sense of its overall character.

Groundstrokes: 8.7/10

From the baseline, the Pro Staff 97 v14 delivers the crisp, controlled response I’ve come to expect from this line. I found it rewards clean technique and full swings with excellent directional control, which helped me confidently hit my targets and construct points thoughtfully.

Compared to earlier generations, I found it a bit more forgiving on slight mishits while still demanding solid preparation and footwork. It’s not a racquet that compensates when you’re late or off balance, so I needed to stay disciplined with my footwork and positioning. However, when I was striking cleanly, it offered exceptional command over depth and placement, allowing me to build points with greater precision and intent.

Volleys: 9.1/10

At the net, the Pro Staff 97 v14 feels incredibly solid and predictable. I found it delivered outstanding touch and control, allowing me to guide volleys exactly where I wanted with minimal effort. Thanks to its braided graphite construction, the feedback through the frame is firm yet composed, providing a clear sense of connection without being harsh.

What stood out most for me was its stability against pace. Even when redirecting heavy shots, the racquet remained steady and didn’t flutter, allowing me to block volleys cleanly with less effort. I also appreciated how naturally it handled reaction volleys — the head never felt sluggish, and I could respond quickly without overcompensating.

For me, the Pro Staff 97 v14 shines brightest at the net, where feel and precision matter most. Like its predecessors, it’s a dependable performer for players who like to close points with confidence, offering the same stability and command that have long defined the Pro Staff line.

Serves: 8.5/10

On serve, the Pro Staff 97 v14 feels controlled and stable, rewarding a fluid, rhythmic motion rather than muscling for pace and letting its weight do most of the heavy lifting. I found it easy to locate targets, especially when aiming for precise spots out wide or down the T. The racquet’s head-light balance helps it move quickly through contact, but it doesn’t produce effortless pop and remains relatively demanding to swing.

For me, the biggest advantage was predictability. My first serves consistently landed with solid accuracy and depth, and the response off the strings felt uniform from one delivery to the next. With good mechanics, I could swing more aggressively to generate additional spin and pace, but it still trails more powerful frames like the Pure Drive.

Second serves were reliable as well, and the frame responded well to adjustments for added spin and trajectory, even if it had slightly less bite. Overall, the Pro Staff 97 v14 delivers dependable precision and control on serve, ideal for players who value placement and rhythm over raw power.

Returns: 8.5/10

The Pro Staff 97 v14 feels steady and precise on returns, helping me stay dialed in against pace. I found it easy to block back serves and redirect with control, especially when keeping my swing compact. Its head-light balance made it quick to position, and the racquet’s stability gave it a composed feel when meeting the ball out in front.

That said, timing is key. The racquet performs best with clean contact, so I needed to stay sharp with preparation to maintain depth on returns. When I was dialed in, it rewarded me with consistent, accurate placement, though off-center contact was noticeably less forgiving.

The Pro Staff 97 v14 stands out on returns for its stability and feel, which let me chip and block effectively to work my way into my opponent’s service games more easily. It’s not the most explosive option for aggressive returners, but its control and predictability make it a dependable ally when mounting pressure to break serve.

Power: 8.2/10

The Pro Staff 97 v14 offers a measured level of power that stems from its weight and rewards clean technique over brute force. With smooth, deliberate strokes, it’s plenty capable of pace, but it generates less shape and spin, producing flatter, more penetrating shots.

Unlike modern, livelier frames, the Pro Staff feels intentionally restrained. A quality that allows you to dictate your own pace and mix speeds, rather than swinging all-out on every shot. When I connect cleanly, the mass behind the frame provides satisfying plow-through, resulting in a heavier, yet controlled ball.

Overall, the Pro Staff 97 v14 delivers a consistent, predictable level of power that complements its emphasis on precision. It’s not designed to give you free power, but players who can create their own will find the response solid, balanced, and easy to trust at higher drive speeds.

Topspin: 8.4/10

Generating topspin with the Pro Staff 97 v14 feels natural and measured, rather than explosive as you’d find with a frame like the Pure Aero. I found that when I brushed up on the ball with intent, the racquet delivered reliable spin, but it’s far from overwhelming. The 16×19 string pattern, combined with the smaller 97 in² head size, affords plenty of bite while still keeping trajectories a bit flatter and predictable.

Where it shines is in how it blends spin with precision. I can easily vary my spins, flattening the ball out for a deeper drive or adding just enough margin when hitting tighter angles with more clearance, and the response always feels consistent. The frame’s weight and stability also helped maintain control through contact, especially against a heavier ball.

Ultimately, spin is a function of racquet head speed, so those who can handle its solid weight will find it more than capable, with its weight helping enhance spin. However, those seeking to maximize RPMs from their frame will likely be disappointed. For me, Pro Staff’s spin potential complements its controlled DNA, deliberate, consistent, and precise rather than explosive.

Control: 9.3/10

The Pro Staff 97 v14 delivers exceptional control, offering optimal feedback and a predictable response that gives me the confidence to aim for smaller targets while maintaining enough margin for consistency.

What stood out most was how well the racquet maintained accuracy under pressure. Even when I was stretched or defending, it remained stable and dependable, helping me manage depth and keep the ball inside the lines. Ultimately, that consistency made it easier to stay patient in rallies and stick to my game plan.

This level of control is what defines the Pro Staff’s identity. It rewards clean mechanics and clear intent, allowing players to dictate with precision rather than power. For those who value accuracy and placement above all else, the v14 delivers reliability few racquets can match.

Comfort: 8.6/10

For a traditionally firm player’s racquet, the Pro Staff 97 v14 offers impressive comfort. I found the feel to be solid and connected without excessive shock or vibration, even on off-center hits, which is notable for a frame rated at 66 for its stiffness. Wilson’s double-braided FortyFive graphite construction and updated layup appear to add a bit more flex and dwell time than previous generations, helping to soften the response without sacrificing feedback.

During longer sessions, the racquet remained easy on my arm as long as I stayed relaxed through contact, though its mass could cause fatigue for players moving up to this weight class. Mishits still felt firm but never harsh or jarring. My string choice made a noticeable difference — with the Champion’s Choice hybrid, the setup felt lively yet cushioned, adding a layer of comfort while preserving control.

Overall, the Pro Staff 97 v14 strikes a thoughtful balance between classic feedback and modern playability. It’s firm enough to remain stable and precise yet forgiving enough to ward off excessive shock and vibration, making it surprisingly comfortable without losing its dynamic edge.

Feel: 9.0/10

The Pro Staff 97 v14 delivers the classic, unmistakable connected feel that defines the line. From the first few hits, I could sense the ball sink into the string bed before releasing with a clean, responsive snap. That combination of connection and clarity made it easy to sense contact and make subtle adjustments on the fly.

In contrast to previous generations, the v14 feels a touch softer and more forgiving without losing its signature feedback. Wilson’s use of Paradigm Bending introduces just enough flex and dwell time to enhance touch shots and volleys while keeping impact sensations clean and direct. I never felt disconnected from the ball, and every shot provided usable feedback without straying into harshness.

For players who appreciate that classic, connected response, the Pro Staff 97 delivers in full. It strikes a rare balance between tactile sensitivity and modern comfort, rewarding those who rely on feel to guide timing, touch, and shot selection.

Stability: 8.8/10

The Pro Staff 97 v14 feels exceptionally solid through contact, even against heavy pace. I found it held steady on off-center hits, keeping the racquet face stable and reducing twisting that compromises accuracy. The weight distribution feels well-judged, offering enough plow-through to absorb pace while maintaining quick handling at the net.

From the baseline, that stability gave me a consistent response when redirecting pace or counterpunching. The racquet doesn’t get pushed around easily, and the added mass helps drives stay composed even when contact isn’t perfect. Relative to lighter or more modern frames, the Pro Staff feels anchored, rewarding players who can handle the weight with a dependable, predictable response.

At the same time, it never felt cumbersome or sluggish. Its head-light balance kept it maneuverable enough for quick exchanges, especially when returning serve or volleying. The result is a frame that blends the Pro Staff’s trademark composure with surprising agility, giving it stability that inspires confidence without compromising feel.

Maneuverability: 8.1/10

Despite its weight, the Pro Staff 97 v14 moves more easily than you might expect. I found its head-light balance and thinner 21.5 mm beam helped it come around quickly on volleys and returns, making it surprisingly capable during fast exchanges. Its weight is apparent, but once I found a rhythm, the racquet felt fluid and controlled through contact.

At the baseline, I felt its weight most on defensive shots or when scrambling. It’s not the quickest racquet to maneuver, and I had to work harder to get it into position, but the tradeoff was a greater sense of stability and command once I made contact. Players comfortable with traditional weighting will find the balance well-tuned, allowing for confident swings without feeling sluggish.

Overall, the Pro Staff 97 v14 offers maneuverability that complements its identity: substantial, but balanced for its weight. It rewards early preparation and clean mechanics while remaining responsive enough to handle quick exchanges and transition play.