The king returns
The Pro Staff 6.0 85 is back! Used by countless pros, including Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier and Roger Federer, the Pro Staff 6.0 85 is literally the stuff of legend. With its Kevlar/Graphite layup, ultra thin beam and surgical midsize head, this magical stick delivers a near unmatched combination of control and feel. It also delivers plenty of pop to those who can leverage its mass (think Sampras). Although too small headed for the modern game, this racquet still enjoys cult status among tennis purists. Ultimately, the Pro Staff 85 not only delivers an incredible hitting experience (making it great for the occasional hit), it's also an indispensable collectible. (Supplies are limited)
Specs based on 3 samples. As with all racquets, the specs of your sample may vary.
Specifications
| Head Size: 85 in² / 548.39 cm² | ||||
| Length: 27in / 68.58cm | ||||
| Strung Weight: 12.5oz / 354g | ||||
| Balance: 12.3in / 31.24cm / 10 pts HL | ||||
| Swingweight: 323 | ||||
| Stiffness: 66 | ||||
| Beam Width: 17mm / 17mm / 17mm | ||||
| Composition: 80% Graphite 20% Kevlar | ||||
| Power Level: Low | ||||
| Stroke Style: Full | ||||
| Swing Speed: Fast | ||||
| Racquet Colors: Black / Red / Yellow | ||||
| Grip Type: Wilson Leather | ||||
String Pattern:
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| String Tension: 50-60 pounds |
Videos
Other Items to Consider
Customer Reviews
Nice item to put up on a mantle but…I'm not sure what all the other reviewers were thinking, but this racquet is not playable! I'm a 4.0 70 year-old lifelong player. Former USPTA teaching pro and all that. I got sucked in by all the great reviews on this racquet so I gave it a try. Currently using a PS 97 v11 and the 6.0 is no comparison to that. I wouldn't use this racquet to play competitively any more than I would use Jean Claude Keely's 1964 gold medal winning skis to get down a mountain these days! Technology has changed people - from golf clubs to skis to pole vault poles, to hockey sticks, you name it. Roger might have used this racquet at one point, but when the better PS 97 came along, he went with that. There are no pros using this racquet now for a very good reason - it's old school!!! I've used Wilson racquets most of my life and I wish them well with this re-issue. But I'll be using the ones I bought as expensive kindling for my wood stove next winter. Remember that old expression- caveat emptor!
A true player’s racquetI’m a 5.0 player. I use this racquet against players half my age and it’s perfect. The racquet provides perfect control and precision. For volleys, it is crisp and accurate. This racquet is for those that still love a stick shift sports car and know how to a maximize it to full potential. I have five of them and have no plans to switch.
Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 RacquetNice stick! Strokes are like lighting, wish I had two!
It’s what I rememberThis is an iconic racquet. Anyone before before 1978 will know it well. It really kicked off the graphite era for racquets. It has good plow through, so power is not an issue. The issue is the smaller head and denser pattern given the head size. It’s not great for today’s baseline slugfest style or topspin. Buy for the wall or the occasional hit. Maybe play a retro night with buddies. The build quality is quite good, by the way.
Wilson's Love Letter to Tennis! Fall In Love!I can't help but be romantic about the Pro Staff 6.0 85. Hitting the sweet spot of this frame is an emotional experience. It has the most magical feel you'll experience. The frame has this mystical quality that gives you clear and crisp feedback on which exact section of the stringbed hit the ball, how much spin you used, and how much pace you used. It does this with exceptional clarity, and it does so very comfortably even with the 65 RA. With this unparalleled quality of feedback from the frame, you'll want to do nothing more than to play an all court finesse game where you surgically attack all areas of the court from the baseline and at net.
I'm a 4.0 with an eastern forehand and one-handed backhand. I'm also quite small in stature, but the weight of the racquet does not bother me. Even though the racquet weighs 12.6 ounces strung (12.8 for me with an overgrip and 8 grams of lead all over the hoop), it is still faster swinging than every other racquet on the market.
Forehands: I play with a mix of spin and flat strokes off the forehand wing. The open 16x18 pattern paired with my 16G natural gut mains at 48 lbs and prestretched Wilson Revolve 16L crosses at 45 lbs provide me with as much spin as I want, whenever I want it. I can rip balls heavy or flatten out at will with this racquet, and my opponents are often surprised at how much spin I get from this small 85" head. Precision angles are automatic too, and small margins feel big as a result of the inherent control you get from the PS85. The only caveat to this is you are on time with your swing. More on that later.
Backhand: As a one handed backhand player (I'm sure many will relate), my backhand wing is a mix of topspin and slice. If I were to ballpark it, I probably go 60% topspin, 30% slice, and maybe 10% flat. Slice is so sweet with this racquet. I can hit dirty low skidding offensive slices almost at will. Directional control is exceptional too. Topspin is a little bit different. I'll be blunt here, this racquet needs a 330+ SW for you to get reliable weight on the topspin backhand. When I played with my underspec frame (315 SW strung) without any added weight, my backhand was extremely vulnerable. Bringing it to 330 SW made it reliable. I can stand up to heavy hitters with it now. It's still more of a set up shot for me than a point finisher, but I'm happy with the ball it produces. The flat backhand benefits greatly from high SW too. At 330 SW I can flatten out pretty easily on neutral balls.
Serve: This frame is a monster on serve. Unbelievable precision with loads of spin when you want it, and with a high SW the flat serve packs some serious heat too. I'll be honest, this is where you'll get the most tired using the PS85. My suggestion is to ease up a little bit and let your big muscles and the frame do the work. The less arm you use, the better.
Volleys: The PS85 was made for volleys. When you have it in your hands, you'll want nothing more than to do your best Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras impression as much as possible. Punch volleys and touch volleys are so easy, and this racquet is extremely stable if you add a little bit of lead at 3 and 9 to help with off-center hits.
Offense: As you can tell, this racquet was made for one playstyle and one playstyle only: ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK. Use this racquet the way it was intended. Attack all the angles and all the open court. Move your opponent and rush up for the putaway volleys. Don't yield an inch and always fight to move up the court. If you're not a natural attacker, don't worry. The PS85 will make you want to attack more because it inspires so much confidence in you.
Defense: If you are a 6 feet behind the baseline grinder, you'll be miserable with the PS85. It does not offer much when it comes to wars of attrition. A few missteps and you will cough up short balls that your opponents can attack.
Intangibles: The PS85 is a legendary racquet, and I firmly believe every player needs to experience hitting with this frame at least once in their life. If for no other reason, it brings back the happiness and the soul to tennis. If you want to compete, this might not be the racquet for you. However if you genuinely love this sport, you deserve to experience the deeper level of feel that you can only get with a Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85. If nothing else, the joy it will bring you in your practice sessions is worth every penny. I hope they never stop making this frame, and I hope everyone gets the chance to play with such a special racquet.
Thank you, Wilson, for bringing this back. Please give us the K90 too.
Pro Staff 85Recently started playing with my old Pro Staff 85 and remembered how nice it is to use. Soft on the arm and the most precise racquet I've ever used.
I only had one left and wanted to buy a spare, so I bought this last reissue from TW. I was not sure how close it would match to my other one, but I've weighed it, checked the balance and it weighed exactly the same as the other one. Balance is almost identical with maybe a couple of millimeters of difference.
Oldie, clearly still a goodieI bought this racquet for nostalgia purposes. The racquet I wanted but couldn't afford 30 years ago when I was a kid. So I thought "Why not?" Thought it would be without power and very dated compared to today's models. But it's a really solid racquet, great power and control. The 85 inch frame is a lot smaller compared to most today, but hit it right and you won't be disappointed. I was very surprised how well it hit, coming from a Pure Drive.
The StaffSuch a great stick to wield. The feel, accuracy, touch and nostalgia are a wonderful combination. It is also just a great piece of tennis history to have in your collection.
I will admit that my arm was sore the next day after using it in a match. So I will not be doing that again unless I get in better shape to use it. Moving forward I will be using it for occasional hitting sessions, I do however use it every time I practice my serves as it keeps me sharp.
I absolutely recommend purchasing the Pro Staff 85.
"Everything slowed down"I'm a 4.0 heavy hitter and I currently use the VCORE Pro 97H (with enough lead to spec it like the PS85, minus the head-size) and the first feedback I got from using this thing was that everything slowed down about ten miles per hour. I had trouble controlling my serves and started shanking things almost right off the bat. But, on the rare occasion I hit the ball exactly in the middle of the racquet, I was rewarded with a snappy shot that had the precision of a laser. Compared to modern sticks, you can't really use these to play, unfortunately. At the net, not as much is sacrificed. I found more control at the net, being able to guide the ball away from my opponent. Serve and volley players may be able to play with it. My serve suffered the most. I just couldn't get the pop I had with my 97H, no matter how hard I tried.
The grips on these sticks (at 5/8) are true to size, which I loved! I strung the racquet from 54 to 65 and found 57lbs to be the butter zone for me. I also found it hard to find grommets for this thing, unless you looked on Ebay, where they were hiked up quite a bit!
If you plan to play with this, and you're currently adapted to a modern stick, don't try and go play with this thing permanently. But as a cult-classic and a racquet I used for ten years, I still have to give this thing a five!
Others like more than meI loved the feeling of touch on volleys and also baseline shots. As expected from a control-oriented racquet, you have to turn your body correctly when going into contact with the ball in order to send it to the right place and depth on court.
Drop shots were very easy to hit with this compared to RF97 V11. And yes this racquet draws attention from others a lot. So if you don't like unsolicited conversation at stringing shops, in between matches, or from folks around you, then this might not be that cool racquet for anonymity lovers.
Very crisp feeling on every shot and the headlight balance makes it more fun. Love it and the small headsize didn't make any difference to me (3.5-4.0 USTA).
Greatest racquet ever!The title says it all. I only wish Tennis Warehouse had grommets for it. I have nine of these (three sets of three matching sticks) and I want to be able to use them for the next thirty years, but need grommets for that.
Second purchase. Still the best racket.Thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for re-releasing the best racquet in history.
Total controlHard and a little bit heavy but with great control!
the greatest racket of all timeI hope this racquet will continue to be released forever. Thank you very much, Tennis Warehouse and Wilson.
the greatest racket of all timeI look forward to this racquet being released forever.
Nice racquet, would be great if I was tallerCan see why people rave about this racquet for volleys. Though heavy, the tip feels super light and rotating it to the right angle is easy. The racquet also feels very de-powered (when not swinging), and so you can almost take a bullet shot and place it fairly accurately on the other side of net. And your margin for error is great (as far as say as placing the ball a certain distance from a line). For comparison, the K Factor 90 I've used, a slightly wrong angle and the ball might shoot somewhat long.
For groundstrokes the racquet is generally much less powered than most current racquets; but it's directionally accurate and there's adequate spin. With a long forehand stroke, oftentimes the racquet will suddenly feel super quick at the end and give surprising power (though accurate too) -- but it's hard to replicate against faster shots. It is sometimes hard to keep up with power players at baseline and screams for you to get to net -- but I have never hit with a better volleying racquet and am often rewarded.
Unfortunately, me being at 5'9", I do struggle against high bounding shots, especially vs servers who hit like that. If taller, think I'd do much better with this racquet. So I'll play with it for fun in the meantime, here and there, or try it out in doubles when the time comes.
Sweet, sweet racquetI have been playing tennis for more than 40 years and this is one of the sweetest-hitting racquets I have ever used. The feel is exquisite. It is a demanding racquet- if your stroke preparation is lazy, you won’t get much out of it. But if you get your feet in the right place, turn your shoulders, watch the ball, and swing from your shoulder, this racquet is buttery.
One of a KindThis racquet is built for elite and professional players with modern strokes. It has an extreme feel for serving and volleying.
Although, it has an 85 square inch head, it can generate massive power and spin with the correct swing.
Overall, it is a well built racket to last for many generations.
A Surprising Classic!!I bought this racquet mostly because it was a classic. An icon of that era. I just wanted to own it, even though it was a reissue. My rationale was "even if I can't play with it, I can own it." But to my surprise, it played amazingly well (strung with hybrid at 54 lb). It is true that the sweet spot is small, and it is hefty, but it is rock solid, has good power when you connect the right way, and has great feel. Spin is limited. My usual racquet is a Prestige midsize, so I'm used to some weight, but I didn't find I struggled to play with this Prostaff 85. I'm even contemplating making this my main racquet, probably just for the challenge!
ProStaff85I have used this racquet since 1987. I hope that you will keep this racquet around for many years. It’s a great racquet and if you learn to play the game the proper way the weight of it will not become a burden even as you age. Simply one of the finest racquets ever made.
best racquet for meI have demoed tons of racquets and ended up sticking with this one. I used the Pro Staff 90 BLX in high school but switched to this racquet because it's better. I like small head sizes because they have exceptional control but also hits hard if you have the swing speed. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who likes Roger Federer.
Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 RacquetIt is a precision racquet with not much power. It is a heavy racquet, likely one of the heaviest in the market, but it is a headlight racquet, likely one of the lightest heads among all racquets. Therefore, one does not feel the weight of the racquet. It is perfect for placing the ball on the desired spot on the court on serves or strokes. However, to generate power, it requires a full and very fast swing. Because of its weight, it can generate power, but it requires a full and very fast swing. In sum, it is the best racquet for a player who has a very fast and full swing and can generate power.
Like being in loveAfter taking my sweet time and trying any racquet I wanted, nothing works as well for me as this one. It’s got the power to get you out trouble when backed up to the fence, and the precision to do whatever you want anywhere else. Also included is plenty of spin to do whatever you want, whenever you need it. But most importantly is the feel...feels like true love. I’m not thinking about whether or not the racquet is going to work anymore, which, now that that problem is solved, I can concentrate on other things. Also, what’s nice is when encountering hostile/unsportsmanlike conduct on the court, you know that you do have a friend in your racquet. 85 square inches is not a big deal as long as I watch the ball like I’m supposed to, which would apply to any head size. Works for two hands as well as one hand on backhand….it can do whatever you ask…it is not a racquet for taking shortcuts on your stokes…there are a gazillion other racquets for that.
Just pureThis racquet is just pure joy!! I was using new generation racquets and the feel of this racquet is no match for those!! Have bought 3 of these and absolutely love crushing balls with this!
Sheer joy playing with the 6.0 85 againOh Lord. I cried tears of bliss and joy when I hit with this again. I grew up playing in the 80s on clay courts overseas. Wilson 6.0 85 and Dunlop Max 200 were my go-to racquets growing up. I have been playing with Wilson Pro Staff BLX 90 for the past 11 years after I cracked my last 6.0 85 frame in 2011. Finally my BLX frames seemed like they were cracking. I went back to K-Factor 90 for a while as this was expensive. Then I saw the sale and bought one. It's like a knife cutting through butter. Such control and precision. The small head size is perfect. (I played wooden rackets before the Pro Staff 6.0 85). Tennis was meant to be played with these frames. Small head size. Thin beam. What a combination. Perfect placement. Surprisingly good topspin. I surprise my opponents with my depth now. On shots that the BLX would land long, this frame perfectly lands it deep by the baseline. These frames were designed to deliver accurate depth at a full swing. No longer do I need more swing speed. The racket needs timing and a full length swing. Watch your opponents struggle with the depth it generates. At the net it is precise and surgical. It does what I visualize. Just ordered a 2nd frame. Wilson, please please never stop making these classic Pro Staff 6.0 85 frames.
First SwingsI bought this stick sight unseen to use as a training racquet to improve my preparation, footwork and focus. I am a 4.0 player and had it strung with Head Lynx Tour 17 gauge because I am comfortable with it at 54lbs. I liked the idea of this racquet, the small head, the thin beam, the heavy weight but I was not sure that I would actually like it when I held it in my hands and started to play with it. First contact put my concerns to rest. I have only had an hour on the court so far but my impression is that this racquet is remarkable, the real deal, a players racquet, something of a time capsule. It is very demanding. I had to work hard. I got tired. It is much heavier than the Head Radical that I play with. But it communicates with me, even during this first outing. I would have an idea and an instant later I could produce it. My partner on the other side of the net seemed to pick up on the whole thing and began to move and hit at the next level too. It's like being a part of a dynamic that is different from playing with a modern racquet. I am looking forward to getting out on the court again as soon as possible just to see what happens next.
Simply The BestThere is so much and so many superlatives to put upon this racquet. In the interest of time I will start writing and see where this takes me. The feel is extraordinary. The craftsmanship is of a different age. The power on serves and shots that are properly lined up is unparalleled. I began using this 5.5 years ago and it was above my skill level and I suffered and struggled a lot. Over time I grew into it and 3-4 years later people all over began saying I play like Federer, on all shots. This is the power that this racquet contains - the ability to unlock your deepest potential. It's a beautiful classic, and contrary to what some may say or think, it is absolutely relevant to the modern game, if someone has the game to play it. As Tom Cruise kept saying in Top Gun: Maverick: it's the pilot, not the plane. Well, it's the player, not the racquet. And this racquet allows like no other the player to shine through as they never could otherwise.
There is no replacement or equalI played with these growing up in the 80s and throughout the 90s. My strokes were formed with these racquets which are on the very heavy side, but that is what I'm used to. Through the years, I tried to replace them with newer Pro Staffs and other models, but I was never able to get the control that I had with these. That forced me to hit more tentatively with more spin instead of driving the ball like I used to. I also lost the ability to hit with severe angles at will. I tried so hard to shorten my strokes, tighten the strings, try different strings, etc because every model of racquet I tried including the strings gave me too much power being that I always had easy power to begin with, especially on my forehand.
I waited patiently for these racquets to reappear, now that I have these back (I ordered two), my game is back, my confidence has returned, and I'm able to hit all spots of the court much easier. I still need more time to adjust as I just started playing with them again, but as long as my arm holds out, I will never change racquets again. My only regret is listening to others to switch to newer and lighter racquets. The small frame is a bit more challenging when I reach for balls with one hand to return a just out of reach serve and timing is more critical, but other than that, I'm so happy I bought these and I will probably buy a 3rd in fear they discontinue them again.
A classic that is still one of the bestBought a PS 6.0 95 in 1998 and still love it. Always wanted to get a 85 and so happy that I made the purchase. When you hit he sweet spot, it feels great and the sound is amazing.
Thinking about buying another one.
Same Racquet As BeforeI have 2 Chicago models that are almost 40 years old so the racquets flex a lot. I bought this rerelease and it is the same racquet. I could not believe the topspin I was getting from this 85 sq in head. I'm going to buy more and switch back.
Still great racquetI have been playing with this racquet since '85. It's not my regular racquet any longer (currently playing with Prince Phantom 100), but it's always in my bag and I still use it at times to beat younger 5.0 players. I have to laugh.
Swings amazing, I highly recommend it. It's a gorgeous racquet too. Wish they would do a new version of the Classic 6.1 95 as well.
Best in classI had to buy a second one after I played with it. It feels great, it's solid, it's precise. I'm a big fan of the flat beam. I use it as a training racquet.
AWESOME tennis racquet! A MUST HAVE for fans!I bought 2! Strung one with Yonex Poly Tour Rev, and the other with Solinco Confidential. Both at 55 lbs. These racquets brings me back to the 1980's when the original was released in 1983. Both types of strings give me great top spin and slice. My shots have a nice curve ball look to it! I love it when I make a SOLID CONTACT sweet spot shot!
Pete Sampras - do I need to say more?Hi, I bought the racquet because I just wanted to because the legends of the game used to play with this racquet. I currently use the Wilson Blade V8 18x20, I recently bought two. I use this racquet during the warm-up session before the actual match. I noticed I played with more confidence. If you can swing this racquet and play decently with it, you won't have a problem with the match. I'm considering to get a second one.
95?The 85 is great! But also, Wilson please bring back the 95.
Pro StaffThis is literally the best racquet ever. I've been playing with it since I was a kid and its still extremely heavy.
Lovely frameI have the St. Vincent version that I recently restrung, and it is a solid feeling stick. Expect more unforced errors due to the smaller head size, but honestly it feels so good hitting with it.
Thank you, Wilson.The Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 is the best racquet ever. Try one. Be ready to fall in love.
