The Pro Staff 97 weighs in at a reasonable 315 grams (unstrung) with a very head light balance and an open 16x19 string pattern, making it forgiving and easy to use. The lively stringbed gave us easy power and loads of spin potential. The one major complaint our playtesters had was the inconsistent depth, especially on groundstrokes and returns.

The upshot of this is a great racket for players that have sound foundations in their technique, but are looking to add more accuracy and control to their game. This is not a particularly powerful racket, but it is a great option for a player looking to get the same plush feel as the fully weighted Pro Staff models, in a more accessible package.

All in all, fans of the Pro Staff 97 line preferred this updated model to versions past, and newcomers were able to find notable standout features. Intermediate to advanced players who want to experience the magic of a Pro Staff should find this update a good entry point into the line.