Wilson Sporting Goods has unveiled its new 2020 Pro Staff v13 tennis racket collection. This racket line was introduced in 1983 and was the equipment of choice of the sport’s greatest players on their way to 117 Grand Slam triumphs.
Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, and Chris Evert all played with Pro Staff, while in 2020 the 13th version will be used by Wilson Advisory Staff Members Petra Kvitova, Grigor Dimitrov, Reilly Opelka, and Kyle Edmund, among others. Roger Federer will play with the 2020 Pro Staff RF97 Autograph when his Tour play resumes.
The 2020 Pro Staff v13 includes the following new technologies:
- To enhance the racket’s pocketing feel while maintaining its stability, Wilson LABS engineers arranged the racket’s hallmark graphite and para-aramid fiber braid at 45-degree angles. Called “Braid 45”, this strategic placement of the braid allows the frame to “breathe” more upon impact while maintaining its stability and preserving that classic Pro Staff feel.
- To deliver unmatched precision and feel across the racket face, product designers used String Mapping. This technique updates the racket’s string pattern to add density to the string bed by decreasing the space between each string. This approach tightens the zone where most players hit (towards the upper 1/3 of the racket’s frame).
- To improve comfort and playability, the Pro Staff now features an ergonomic end cap at the bottom of the handle. This end cap is the same one found on all Wilson performance racket lines. The Pro Staff RF97 Autograph model maintains the traditional end cap Roger Federer uses on court.
Five models make up the 2020 Pro Staff v13 collection, including the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph and Pro Staff 97. Two lighter weight models, the Pro Staff 97L and Pro Staff 97UL round out the adult models. Two junior models, the Pro Staff 25 and Pro Staff 26, which are smaller and lighter than the 97L and 97UL, are designed for younger athletes.
Players and Pro Staff fans can purchase the 2020 Pro Staff v13 line on wilson.com. The collection will be available at Tennis Warehouse USA and Tennis Warehouse Europe on September 21st. The full line goes on sale globally on September 28th. The Pro Staff 97UL is exclusive to the European tennis market. The adult rackets retail between $219 and $249 (MRP), based on weight, while the junior models start at $119 (MRP).
