Wilson RF 01 Tennis Racquet Review

The Wilson RF 01 is the Federer racquet for the rest of us. It is the middleweight of Wilson's RF Collection, the Federer line co-created with Roger, and it is designed to give a competitive player the feel of a Federer frame without the punishing weight of the old ones. It is precise and quick on the move, and it is not a Pro Staff, which is the point.

The Federer racquet for the rest of us

Wilson introduced the RF Collection in 2024, built in tandem with Roger Federer, and it has settled in as an established line since. Wilson describes it as the racquet Federer would have played had he come back from his 2021 knee surgery, an evolution of the RF97 Autograph into something more modern and user-friendly. It comes in three weights, and the RF 01 is the middleweight, the accessible center of the range, the one most players will actually reach for.

Federer's own brief drove the design. He loved what the RF97 did for his backhand, but he wanted more spin and more speed on the forehand so he could open up easier angles, and the RF 01 is the answer. It is a genuine player's frame, but a friendlier one, which is why it has quietly become the Federer racquet a wide range of players can own.

Not a Pro Staff

This is the thing to understand before you hit a ball with it. The RF 01 borrows some of Wilson's DNA -the firm, connected, precise feel- but it is built for the modern game, not the box-beam era. It is more forgiving, more maneuverable, and gives up spin far more easily than a Pro Staff, and the 98-inch head, one square inch larger than the old 97, noticeably opens up and reactivates the string bed. Our testers, several of them Pro Staff players, kept asking the same question and getting the same answer.

Spencer, on the RF 01

Aerodynamics and feel

The frame is built on Wilson's SABR design, named for Federer's sneak-attack return, which uses a dual taper beam for aerodynamics and easy acceleration. A smooth, integrated bumper and grommet system called Glide Guard cuts air resistance for more racquet-head speed, and Braid 45, here an all-carbon braid, adds stability and ball pocketing. Feel Fill polyurethane foam is injected through the frame for comfort and vibration dampening, a detail Federer specifically wanted, and FORTYFIVE carbon sheets add torsional stability so off-center hits stay forgiving.

What it's like to hit

The RF 01 plays like a modern control frame that rewards a swing. It is quick and precise, and it gives you back exactly what you put into it.

Quick on the move

At 10.6 ounces, the RF 01 is quick through the air and a joy to move with. You can get the racquet into position fast and put the ball where you want it, which makes it a natural for an attacking, all-court player who likes to take time away from an opponent. Our testers singled out how easy it was to swing and redirect on the run.

Alex, on the RF 01 and Future

Spin and a reactive bed

The extra square inch of head size does more than add margin. It opens the string bed and makes it noticeably more reactive, so the strings grab and release for easy spin, and a thicker throat beam helps you load up topspin from the back of the court. You do not have to find the exact center to get a clean, heavy ball, which is a real departure from the Federer frames of old.

Firm, but smooth

The feel is classic Wilson, firm and connected, but the Feel Fill foam takes the harshness off, so it plays smoother and more comfortable than a Pro Staff without turning soft. The serve is a highlight, since the frame is not as stiff as the old RF frames and lets you wrap around the ball. Be honest with yourself on one point, though: this is a control frame, so you supply the power, and it can feel a little demanding on defense.

Stringing it

The RF 01 is firm and control-oriented, so string it for comfort and feel rather than power. A soft co-poly, or a poly and multifilament hybrid, keeps it arm-friendly and takes the edge off the firm layup. Because you bring your own power, most players will not want to string tight, and testers who wanted a little more pop, especially on serve, found a touch of added weight helped more than a tighter string bed.

Which RF is yours

The RF 01 is the versatile middle of the range, the pick for a competitive all-court player who wants the RF feel in a manageable weight. If you want more mass and feedback, and you have the game to drive it, read our take on the RF 01 Pro. If you want the lightest, quickest, most forgiving version, the RF 01 Future is the one. And if you are cross-shopping, the RF 01 lines up closely against the Babolat Pure Strike 98.

Who should swing it

The RF 01 is for advanced intermediate and competitive all-court players who want a modern Federer frame with control and spin that stays maneuverable. It is quick on the move, forgiving enough through the bigger head and FORTYFIVE construction to be far more playable than the RF97, and comfortable thanks to the foam fill, while still delivering the firm, precise feel Wilson players love. For a player who supplies their own pace, it does everything well.

If you need the frame to make power for you, or you are still building your strokes, this is not the one, since it rewards a real swing and can feel demanding on the stretch. Beginners should look elsewhere. But for a competitive player who wants the closest thing to a Federer frame they can actually enjoy, the RF 01 is exactly that.