Wilson RF 01 vs Blade 98

Wilson’s Blade 98 and RF 01 are popular with intermediate to advanced recreational tennis players due to their excellent balance of power, spin, and control.

Wilson developed the RF 01 in partnership with Roger Federer while the Blade 98 is endorsed by several different top ATP/WTA players including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Aryna Sabalenka, and Emma Raducanu.

Below I will look at the racket specs of both rackets to see how they compare to each other.

Wilson RF 01 vs Blade 98 Comparison

For the below racket specs comparison, I used the V9 of the Blade 98 and the V1 of the RF 01.

Racket Specs Comparison

Specs:	RF 01	Blade 98
Version:	V1	V9
Design:
Head Size:	98in	98in
Length:	27in	27in
Strung Weight:	337g (11.9Oz)	323g (11.4oz)
Swingweight:	331	324
Balance:	6 Pts HL	4 pts HL
Stiffness:	67	62
Power:	Low	Low
Beam Width:	23.2mm / 23mm / 22mm	21.0 mm
Composition:	Carbon +Carbon Braid	Graphite
Colors:	Black	Green
String Pattern:	16 by 19	16 by 19
Grip Type:	Leather Grip	Wilson Pro Performance

Length and Head Size

Both rackets have a standard length of 27 inches and a 98 square-inch head sizemaking them versatile options for players seeking a balance between reach and maneuverability.

This combination of racket length and head size makes both rackets suitable for a wide range of playing styles, from aggressive baseline play to all-court strategies.

Balance

The RF 01 (6 pts HL) is more head light than the Blade 98 (4 pts HL) so it will favor players with a one handed backhand, as generally speaking a more head-lighted tennis racket will offer more maneuverability and control.

Strung and Swing Weight

The RF 01 is heavier in terms of swing and strung weight when compared with the Blade 98with a heavier tennis racket offering more increased power, stability, and plow-through.

Stiffness Rating

The Blade 98 (62) has a lower stiffness rating than the RF 01 (67), but I would not consider either racket to be particularly arm-friendly or comfortable to play with.

Beam Width

Both rackets have relatively thin beam widths (23.2mm / 23mm / 22mm vs 21.mm) so they will both offer enhanced control, feel, and flexibility.

Power

Both of these tennis rackets are low-powered but the RF 01 would provide slightly more power as it has a thicker beam width and a heavier strung/swing weight.

However, you will be better off going with the Babolat Pure Drive or the Wilson Clash 100 if you are looking for a frame that helps you generate power.

String Pattern

Both of these tennis rackets have a 16 by 19 string pattern so they will be good for players who are looking for a frame that offers good spin generation.

Design

I am not a big fan of the design of the V9 and V8 versions of the Blade 98 as I much preferred the design of the V7 Blades.

In my opinion, the RF 01 boasts a more refined design and is visually more appealing.

Where to buy?

Both of these frames are available to buy on online shops such as Tennis Warehouse, and Tennis-Point.

Player Recommendations

If you are a beginner to intermediate tennis player then I would not recommend either of these two tennis rackets as they are too low-powered, with relatively small sweet spots.

If you are more of an advanced tennis player then these rackets will be more suited to you as they offer tons of control and decent amounts of spin.

In terms of different playing styles, the RF 01 and Blade 98 will suit players with an all-court game