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Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review

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The Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver has good forgiveness, particularly directionally.  Mid launch and spin.  Adjustable hosel and two models allows for a good range of fitting options.

Introduction

No OEM has as deep a historical well as Wilson Golf.  They’ve successfully traded on that history to build their updated Staff family, with some of the more desirable irons in the last decade in the Staff Model Blade [review HERE ] and Staff Model CB [review HERE ].  For 2023, they’re reaching into the more recent history to try to breathe some mojo into their woods.  Can the Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver emulate the success of Staff?  I tested one to find out.

The Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver earns its name with a large swath of carbon fiber covering the majority of the head.  It is long from front to back, but the shape is symmetrical and round .  The alignment aid sits slightly toward the heel, but the head does sit square at address.

Flipping the club over, you see a variety of different greys and blacks.  The majority of the sole is a dark, matte grey, and there’s a carbon fiber patch on the toe.  There is a good deal of branding, but it’s all shifted away from the leading edge, which seems to minimize its influence.  My favorite element is the outlined Wilson Staff shield at the edge of the toe.

Sound & Feel

A strike with the Wilson Dynapower Carbon drive yields a hollow “pop.”  The sound is low pitched, slightly above average in volume, and lacking in metallic tones.  This staccato sound is a bit quieter and tighter on center, giving the player modest feedback.

In the hands, the feel is a solid slap.  The tactile feedback is stronger than the audio, allowing players to locate the strike with some focus.  You also get a faster, hotter feel on perfect hits .

Performance

While the name is a callback to days gone by, the Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver is powered by the same modern technology that most OEMs are using.  The PKR2 dynamic face thickness was designed with the help of artificial intelligence to create more ball speed across more of the face .  In my testing, I found good ball speed on center and off.  It’s short of elite, but the differences are hard to notice without a launch monitor.

Wilson states that the Dynapower Carbon driver has a low, forward CG for lower spin.  While it may be more forward than their previous models, the performance leads me to believe that it’s not pushing the envelope – which is both good and bad.  To the good, the Dynapower is quite forgiving.  Particularly in terms of left-right dispersion , I found this club to be impressive .

On the “bad” side – depending on your needs – the spin is not terribly low.  Overall, I would rate the Wilson Dyanpower Carbon driver to be mid launch and mid-low spin .  The stock shot for me was a penetrating ball with good roll out.

Check out the Wilson Dynapower fairway wood HERE

The Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver is adjustable through the hosel .  There are six settings that allow players to remove as much as one degree of loft or add up to two degrees, all in half degree increments.  Per Wilson, each degree of loft equates to 250 RPM and 7 yards left or right.

Finally, the Wilson Dynapower family has two drivers – the Carbon model reviewed here and a Titanium version.  Per Wilson, the Titanium version will launch higher and spin more than the Carbon with a stronger draw bias and higher MOI.  The Titanium version is also $70 less than the Carbon.

The Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver is a step in the right direction of getting their woods on par with their irons.  This is a solid overall performer with good ball speed and impressively tight dispersion.

Visit Wilson Golf HERE

Wilson dynapower carbon driver price & specs.

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In is south Africa, where can I find this wood

I would suggest using the Wilson Golf website to find your nearest retailer.

I am a Wilson SA brand ambassador. Send me a DM on Instagram @faffbrugman We should be finding out about stock in the next week or so. Unfortunately there has been quite a back log with the Dynapowers.

Kind regards,

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Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review

Wilson hopes its new Dynapower Carbon driver can compete with the big four in terms of performance but does it deliver?

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The Dynapower Carbon is a tech-advanced, visually appealing driver that, well fitted, should perform admirably against what’s in your bag. Didn’t quite match the big four’s recent launches for ball speed but we certainly enjoyed the dull, dense sound and feel at impact.

Premium looks

Dense, satisfying feel at impact

Stable and forgiving off-center

Initial ball speed fell short of 2023 marquee launches

Hosel settings aren't visible when secured

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The driver market is becoming increasingly congested with genuine challengers to the big four of TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping and Titleist. Brands like Cobra, Mizuno and Srixon have made significant strides in creating new drivers that compare favourably with the products most popular out on tour, and now it’s Wilson’s turn to have its voice heard.

The new Dynapower driver is one of the most adjustable drivers ever created by Wilson and is available in both Carbon and Titanium head options. The carbon model is designed for the slightly better player - we’ve even seen it in the hands of new signing Kevin Kisner out on tour - and features, as the name suggests, sizeable carbon fiber panels on the sole and crown to make the weighting of the head more efficient.

The sole view is relatively subdued but it certainly looks premium in the bag. Flip it over and there is a comparison to be drawn with the new Callaway Paradym driver in the way the carbon fiber section contrasts subtly with the front edge and how it adopts more of a gloss finish. Factor in the subtle markings on the PKR2 face and there isn’t much to go on in terms of alignment, but the shape manages to be both traditional and inviting behind the ball at the same time.

The abundance of carbon fiber built in means the impact sound is quite dull, dense and short. Some may want a little more feedback but I actually quite like the reassuring ‘thud’ that accompanies a well struck shot. This driver feels solid and stable.

I got custom fitted for this driver, albeit in pretty terrible weather conditions on an outdoor covered driving range, into a Fujikura Ventus Blue 6-X shaft and a 10.5° lofted down, which isn’t something that normally happens because my attack angle is typically significantly on the up. On the day in my fitted spec, it got very close to the Titleist TSR3 driver currently in my bag, matching it at times for both distance or dispersion but the TSR3 still probably edged it. When testing it again indoors on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor with Titleist Pro V1x golf balls , it again struggled to keep up with the new launches like the Callaway Paradym and TaylorMade Stealth 2 , falling between 5-10 yards short in terms of carry distance. It was a touch spinny, but not excessive, and the launch angle was healthy, it just seemed to be lacking that last few percentiles of performance that perhaps a re-fit could solve in better conditions and with premium balls .

It certainly delivered on its promise of a neutral to slight fade shot shape bias, toning down my draw shape nicely, which allowed me to swing with full commitment and still find fairways. Off-centre forgiveness was more than ample - I didn’t see big drops in ball speed when I hit the ball slightly from the heel or toe, although it didn’t always stop me from missing fairways. The adjustability certainly helps in optimising your ball flight, although the settings aren’t visible until you unscrew the head, which is a little annoying - although does contribute to a cleaner overall look.

There really is a lot to like about the Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver - it's comfortably among the best Wilson golf clubs you can buy. Get fitted for it and it will be competitive, especially if your driver is a few years old. Versus the best golf drivers of 2023, it may struggle but the £420 price point makes it a mightily appealing prospect.

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Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.

One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.

Joel's current What's In The Bag?  

Driver: Titleist TSR3 , 9° 

Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3 , 15° 

Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 , 18° 

Irons: Ping i230  4-UW

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 , 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind

Putter: Evnroll ER2V  

Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x

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Wilson Dynapower Titanium

• Hot List Silver

Hot List Score

Why We Like It

The objective of this all-titanium model is forgiveness. The key is a 16-gram weight that sits deep in the rear perimeter. It stabilizes the head so that it loses less energy on off-center hits. Its depth also produces a higher trajectory to help average golfers get more carry distance. That weight’s position also slightly favors the heel side, which will make it easier to square the face at impact and add draw spin to counter a slice.

More on this club

Characteristics

• The more forgiving of the two models uses a 16-gram rear weight for extra stability on off-center hits.
• Expect a higher flight and a built-in slight draw bias to minimize a slice.
• Designed for most average golfers with swing speeds of less than 100 miles per hour.
• 9, 10.5, 13 degrees (with a six-way adjustable hosel)
• Top 5 fastest ball speed drivers, high-handicaps

All products featured on Golf Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

HOT LIST SCORE The overall star rating is based on a club’s total weighted score across our three Hot List criteria. Our judges’ star ratings reflect each club’s score relative to the other clubs in the category.

The aggregate star rating of all three categories rounded to the nearest half star.

Performance

Look / sound / feel, hot list players feedback.

Ratings are based on players’ assessments in three key performance areas.

Ball Flight

Playability.

The titanium head gives it a more metalwood feel at impact. Firm thump, less cushioned. Has an understated design. Feels lightweight and not as dense as others. Good medium to high trajectory and gives me consistent results.

Easy to swing. I don't feel the need to manipulate anything. Ball goes high and straight. One of the most consistent in ball flight. Gives me tremendous confidence.

Even on off-center hits, it performs. My normal draw turns into a pretty straight shot, and I could just hit that relentlessly. Plenty of distance mixed with height. I like it when the sound matches the feel. An unassuming looking club but formidable.

Max-out Your Speed and Carry Distance with The Driver

Whether you want more distance or a consistent shot shape, you need one skill above all others: the ability to make flush contact with the ball. It’s the No. 1 fundamental in golf, and without it, this game can be an eternal mystery. Here, Sean Hogan, one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Florida, helps you improve your impact with the driver.

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Wilson Staff Dynapower Driver review: The surprise package of 2023

Wilson Staff haven't been big players in the driver game for some time, but that's about to change

The Wilson Staff Dynapower can hold its own against anything else on the market in 2023, and it comes in at a lower price point than most. You should definitely consider it if you're upgrading your driver this year.

Tour level performance

Available in carbon or titanium

Great value for money

No, I got nothing.

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Wilson Staff are not the first name you think of when it comes to the best golf drivers, but they are making a big effort to change that with their new offering for this year. The Dynapower is a premium, tour-calibre driver that Wilson believe can compete against the best any of their competitors have to offer. I’ve tested it, and I agree. This driver could be the biggest surprise package of 2023. 

But before I get into why this is the best golf driver for those after a fantastic value-for-money golf accessory, allow me to recommend some of our useful guides to the best golf watches , best golf bags , best golf shoes and the best putters on T3. And if you're in the UK, don't let the bad weather deter you from playing your favourite sport: the best golf waterproofs will keep you dry, even if it's pouring down on the green.

But where was I? Ah, yes, the Wilson Staff Dynapower driver, which is replacing the D9 in Wilson’s lineup. The D9 was very underrated, but it was not a premium driver and it offered no adjustability. It was, however, fantastic value for money and an ideal option for any mid-high handicap golfer who doesn’t want to spend four or five hundred pounds on a new driver.

It was not a tour-level club, though, and therefore you wouldn’t see many of the Wilson stable of professionals using the D9. Dynapower is a different animal entirely. You can expect to see it in the bags of most of Wilson’s tour pros this year, including the latest addition to their stable, US President’s Cup team member Kevin Kisner. 

Not only is the Dynapower Wilson’s most adjustable driver in years, offering a variety of loft combinations, it also comes in a choice of two different heads. There’s a Titanium version, which is more forgiving in nature and aimed at the average golfer, and a Carbon head offering which is said to be more suited to the better player due to its extra workability and lower spin.

I was professionally fitted for this driver by Wilson’s expert fitters, and I have spent several weeks putting it through its paces and testing it against other drivers, including the D9. Initially, I was mainly using the Titanium head, but I have recently been experimenting with the Carbon head, too, and both performed to an impressive standard. How impressive? Read on and find out.

Wilson Staff Dynapower Driver review – Price and availability

The Dynapower drivers, fairway woods and irons will be available from March 2023. The Carbon has an RRP of £420/$500/€480, while the Titanium model has an RRP of £370/$430/€420 although most of the major retailers are offering it for slightly less. In the UK, at American Golf , you can grab the Titanium for £349 and the Carbon for £399. In the US, you can buy direct from Wilson .

Wilson Staff Dynapower Driver review - Looks, sound & feel

I’m a big fan of the design of both drivers, which are quite similar. The head design is very sleek and stylish, the red and black compliment each other nicely, and I find the colour scheme to be a welcome throwback to the traditional Wilson colours. The head itself is not too busy, and there aren’t loads going on underneath. The crown and face are quite plain and very traditional looking on the Titanium version, while the Carbon has a slightly different crown with a subtly patterned design.  

Both the Titanium and Carbon sound nice on impact but there is a noticeable difference between them. As you would expect, the Titanium has a slightly higher pitch to it, but both basically just make a solid, pleasing noise when you catch it right in the centre. 

I love the feel of both Dynapower drivers at contact. The Carbon has a softer feel than the Titanium, although it isn’t as soft and springy as the 2021 TaylorMade Sim2 Max D , which is perhaps my favourite driver when it comes to sound and feel. There is a really solid feel about the Dynapower driver, though, particularly on the Titanium head, which reminds me a little of the Ping G425.

Wilson Staff Dynapower Driver review - The Technology

The new Dynapower Driver is one of the most adjustable drivers ever created by Wilson. As well as having a choice between Carbon and Titanium, it comes with a host of custom fitting combinations – from swing weight, flex, shaft, loft & lie – that enable golfers to find the perfect club off the tee, depending on the preferred shot shape and ball flight.

Employing advanced Artificial Intelligence methods, thousands of clubhead aesthetics were analysed using the same computer design process that produced the award-winning Wilson D9 wood range. Simulating a wide variety of data variations to produce the most effective design possible, it resulted in the deployment of exclusive PKR2 Technology on both Carbon and Titanium heads, providing a dynamic face thickness optimised over an extended area of the clubface for fast ball speeds and maximum forgiveness on off-centre hits. 

A new dynamic 6-way adjustable hosel enables fitters to make quick shaft changes, while golfers can benefit from easy one-click launch and spin adjustments.

Aimed at the avid golfer looking to work the ball off the tee, the lightweight Carbon composite panels on the crown and sole, plus a 12g weight moves the Centre of Gravity low and forward, creating a lower spinning driver head with neutral to fade ball flight tendencies.

Designed more for the aspirational player looking to maximise distance with a straighter ball flight, the Titanium head incorporates a 16g rear weight that produces a high MOI driver with a deep, rear centre of gravity, delivering a forgiving higher launch angle with a neutral to draw bias.

The Titanium drivers are available in three different lofts; 9°, 10.5° and 13°. The Carbon options are 9°, 10.5° and 12°. You can adjust the loft on all of these in .5° increments which allows you to go down by 1° and up by a total of 1.5°. This will alter your shot shape slightly as reducing loft promotes more of a left-to-right bias while increasing it does the opposite.

The stock shaft options are different for both drivers. The Carbon head driver features the premium Fujikura Ventus Blue, while the Titanium driver comes with the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX. Both heads and shaft options come with a Lamkin Crossline 360 grip.

Wilson Staff Dynapower Driver review - Performance

As mentioned above, I was custom fitted for the Dynapower driver by Wilson’s team of professional fitters. If you have never had a professional fitting, you should check out my article on it , as it’s very interesting, even if I say so myself. Anyway, based on my 12 handicap and distinctly average ability, the fitter recommended the Titanium head rather than the Carbon option. I have since tried the Carbon head option too, and I shall get to that, but first, I’ll concentrate on the Titanium driver and how it performed.

As I explained in the article on the fitting, the shaft was the key to the increased performance I got from the Dynapower. I use a stiff shaft in my driver but Wilson’s fitters informed me that the particular shaft I was using was not especially well suited to me and that I’d be better served with a Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 stiff instead. They were right, at least sort of. I’ll clarify that shortly.

Initially, I was hitting the Dynapower Titanium slightly further than anything else I put it up against, and it was also going straighter, with a lower launch and more penetrating flight. That’s to be expected as the shaft is different to the other drivers and more suited to my swing. I didn’t feel like that was a fair comparison, though, so I went on eBay and bought the same Ventus Blue 6 stiff shaft for my TaylorMade Stealth HD, just to level the playing field, as it were.

And it did. With the same type of shaft in both drivers, there was virtually nothing to choose between the Dynapower and the Stealth HD. I also compared them with the D9, the club that the Dynapower is replacing. While it isn’t a like-for-like comparison (as mentioned above, the D9 isn’t adjustable and had a different loft and shaft), the Dynapower and Stealth HD only outperformed the D9 by a tiny amount in terms of distance (and they were slightly more accurate too), which backs up my view that pound for pound the Wilson Staff D9 was the best value driver of last year.

Here are some numbers from a range session where I put the Dynapower up against the 2022 TaylorMade Stealth HD as well as the D9. As you can see, I'm not a big hitter, but most of you reading this won't be either, so you can relate far more to my experiences with drivers than the golf pro on Youtube hitting it 100 yards further.

A couple of other points on the above numbers. The data is based on the best 30 shots I hit with each driver. All of the bad shots and mishits were disregarded to provide a more accurate comparison. The Stealth and Dynapower had the same set-up. Loft was set to 9.5, and both had the same stiff flex shaft. The D9 is not adjustable, so it was 10.5-degree loft and a regular flex shaft. 

In terms of dispersion, there wasn’t a massive difference, but the D9 was less accurate and had a tendency to drift a little more right than the others, but you’d expect that as the Stealth HD is strongly draw-biased and the Dynapower has a slight draw tendency too. The D9 should not really be getting that close, but I put that down to the difference between the stiff flex and regular flex. Basically, I can hit it further with a regular flex driver.

I have used the Dynapower Titanium extensively on the range but only once on the golf course to this point due to the awful winter weather, we’ve had in the UK of late. I did play 18 holes at Royal Birkdale with it, and on a difficult day for finding fairways, it fared pretty well. Other than a few bad swings that got me in trouble to the right (the story of my golfing life) it performed solidly, and I managed to hit a monster drive on the 17th that travelled 273 yards. Ok, that may not sound that impressive, and ‘monster’ is stretching it, but by my standards, that’s a big ‘un.

But as the test results showed, on the range the Dynapower Titanium was performing almost identically to the TaylorMade Stealth HD, which is good because Wilson drivers are generally regarded as being inferior to the likes of TaylorMade and Callaway etc. Clearly, that’s not the case and the Dynapower stands up quite well in any comparison. 

However, when I began testing the Carbon version, the results were not at all what I expected. It, too, had a Ventus Blue 6 shaft in it, only this time it was a regular flex shaft. Rather than switch to the stiff flex, I decided to just hit some shots to see how it went. And it ‘went’ alright. 17 yards further is how it went.

I’d hit a couple of hundred balls over two days at the range using the Titanium Dynapower, the D9 and the Stealth HD, and I was maxing out at around 240yds total distance. You can see from the data above that my average is around 227 yards, and it didn’t seem to matter how well I struck any of them, I just couldn’t get past 240 on the driving range. 

The first shot I hit with the Dynapower Carbon went 242 yards, and after hitting around 20 shots, my average was 244. Twice I reached 260 yards, and I was averaging 17 yards more distance.

The Wilson fitter had told me that a stiff flex would be better for my game because it would give me a bit more control, but that a regular flex might give me a few more yards at the cost of some accuracy. So naturally I opted for the stiff option as what’s a few more yards when you’re missing fairways? 

He was right in that the Titanium head / stiff flex combo does give me slightly more control and I definitely lose less shots to the right with it, but an extra 12 yards carry is huge for me as I don’t hit it that far to begin with, so any extra is most welcome. And if you give me an extra 12 yards carry to play with, well that’s a game changer.

I needed to know if it was just the shaft flex or if it was the head that was giving me the extra distance, so I switched the shafts around to find out. It was indeed the shafts. The Titanium gained an extra 10 yards with the regular shaft, while the Carbon lost a similar amount when matched with the stiff flex shaft.

So the stiff flex will help me hit a couple more fairways but if I want that extra distance I need the regular. The fitters were right about the choice of shaft though, because the Ventus Blue 6 performs better for me than anything else I’ve tried, but I get better results with the regular over the stiff. 

As for the two variants of the new Dynapower, with the same shaft set up the Carbon is slightly longer, with a lower ball flight and considerably less spin, but there is some trade off in accuracy and forgiveness. For the average golfer I’m not sure it’s worth the extra cost and the Titanium is probably the better option as it’s slightly more forgiving. For the better player the Carbon is supposed to be more suitable, but I’m not so sure there’s much difference.

So to find out, I asked one of of the assistant pros at my local driving range to hit some shots with both and to give me his feedback. He preferred the feel of the Titanium and he was able to work the ball just as well with either. I watched him hit draws, fades, he hit some high and he kept some low (not gonna lie, it was pretty sickening how easy he made it look) and his verdict was that he couldn’t really see any noticeable difference in either. He loved them both but said if he had to choose he’d go with the Titanium version. 

Earlier in the day he'd been testing the new TaylorMade Stealth2 and the Callaway Paradym drivers and he wasn't expecting much when I handed him the Dynapower to try out. He was shocked at how well it performed in comparison to the more hyped clubs from the bigger brands.

I prefer the feel and looks of the Titanium but the Carbon clearly gave me a little more distance, which is more important to some golfers than others. Both are excellent drivers but - other than perhaps the aesthetics - I didn’t see much to make me think the Carbon is worth an extra fifty pounds.

Wilson Staff Dynapower Driver review - Verdict

A premium driver at a less than premium price, what’s not to love about that? As with any driver, you’ll need to try it out and see if it agrees with you first though. I would recommend trying both the Titanium and the Carbon because there is a difference in feel and sound, and if possible try them with different shafts too as that can have a big impact on performance. 

So if you are in the market for a 2023 driver then make sure the Dynapower is one of those you try out because for the average golfer it stands comparison with any of the more hyped models out there and it’s a fair bit cheaper too. Don’t be put off by any perceived stigma there is about Wilson drivers as this is a premium club that is taking Wilson back into the big leagues again.

Dave is a distinctly average golfer with (fading) aspirations to be so much more than that. An avid collector of vintage Ping putters and the world's biggest Payne Stewart fan, Dave turned his front garden into a giant putting green to work on the weakest area of his game, but sadly to date he has seen no improvement. In addition to his work reviewing golf gear for T3, Dave is also the founder and editor of Bang Average Golf TV website . 

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Designed to battle with other top paddles on the market, the Wilson Blaze Tour 16mm Pickleball Paddle provides control, reach, and spin to pickleball players looking for an edge. Manufactured through a thermoforming process with edge foam for stability, this 16.5" overall length paddle boasts a 7.5" wide Raw Performance carbon fiber hitting surface and frame. The "Raw" aspect of this surface uses the natural structure of carbon fibers to impart spin on the ball, as opposed to a coating over the top of the face material, while the rigid properties of carbon fiber cause the ball to linger so you can mitigate pop ups and place passing shots precisely. The Blaze Tour 16mm Paddle from Wilson Pickleball adds a 5.6" long handle to its elongated proportions to provide you with reach near the net and leverage that helps you achieve a higher swing speed on drives and overheads. To remain balanced, the poppy polypropylene honeycomb core measures in at 16mm (0.63") thick to return energy to the ball, limit vibrations, expand the sweet spot, and provide valuable cushioned control. The Wilson Blaze Tour 16mm Paddle is a feature-packed all-court control paddle that is designed to help you elevate your game. Actual grip sizes may vary up to 1/8"

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School me: Wilson Hyper Carbon Pro Staff Tour 95

• Thread starter golden chicken
• Start date Oct 2, 2020

golden chicken

Hall of fame.

• Oct 2, 2020

Longtime Tour 90 user. Picked up a Tour 95 on a whim. It is everything I didn't know I wanted from my Tour 90. When I opened the box I thought I bought a fake, since it wasn't box beam, but a few minutes of googling showed me I was panicking over nothing. I was under the impression the Tour 95 was from the same mold as the original PS 6.0 95 but with Hyper Carbon and new paint. Strung it up quickly (Velocity 16 @ 50#) and went for a hit. It's amazing. I want another. Bonus: I don't think my wife knows I bought another racket, since it looks the same as my Tour 90s! Was there anything to come before/after using the same mold, or should I just scour the big auction site and the wanted here? The 2014 PS 6.1 95 looks like a weird hybrid with a true box beam hoop and elliptical neck, but I've never handled one and I could be wrong.  

• Oct 3, 2020

are you referring to the black and yellow one? i owned a few back around 2003. it's not really a true "pro staff" in the sense that it doesnt fall in the 6.0 or 6.1 range. at the same time, Wilson sold the HPS 6.1 and the rare HPS 6.0 95. i recall the feel being pretty decent but it was pretty unstable even at the stock specs of 11.5 oz and 325 sw.  

Subway Tennis

golden chicken said: Longtime Tour 90 user. Picked up a Tour 95 on a whim. It is everything I didn't know I wanted from my Tour 90. When I opened the box I thought I bought a fake, since it wasn't box beam, but a few minutes of googling showed me I was panicking over nothing. I was under the impression the Tour 95 was from the same mold as the original PS 6.0 95 but with Hyper Carbon and new paint. Strung it up quickly (Velocity 16 @ 50#) and went for a hit. It's amazing. I want another. Bonus: I don't think my wife knows I bought another racket, since it looks the same as my Tour 90s! Was there anything to come before/after using the same mold, or should I just scour the big auction site and the wanted here? The 2014 PS 6.1 95 looks like a weird hybrid with a true box beam hoop and elliptical neck. Click to expand...

snoflewis said: are you referring to the black and yellow one? Click to expand...

golden chicken said: Longtime Tour 90 user. Picked up a Tour 95 on a whim. It is everything I didn't know I wanted from my Tour 90. When I opened the box I thought I bought a fake, since it wasn't box beam, but a few minutes of googling showed me I was panicking over nothing. I was under the impression the Tour 95 was from the same mold as the original PS 6.0 95 but with Hyper Carbon and new paint. Strung it up quickly (Velocity 16 @ 50#) and went for a hit. It's amazing. I want another. Bonus: I don't think my wife knows I bought another racket, since it looks the same as my Tour 90s! Was there anything to come before/after using the same mold, or should I just scour the big auction site and the wanted here? The 2014 PS 6.1 95 looks like a weird hybrid with a true box beam hoop and elliptical neck, but I've never handled one and I could be wrong. Click to expand...

golden chicken said: Are the later Pro Staff 95 and Pro Staff 95 BLX similar enough frames? I see the swingweight is way down on those, but the rest of the specs seem very close. Click to expand...

I’ve had that same racquet in 90sqin (tour 90) but it had the 17mm width box beam as you mention. The 95 does not seem a 6.1 mold but the beam is indeed similar. Reminds me of a ROK, which also featured an elongated head, but with the longer handle of the tour 90. I think the really elusive models that go for big bucks are the Tour 95 or HPS 95 with box beam but cool racquet nonetheless.  

I remember demoing a ROK and not meshing with it, though the specs are similar.  

golden chicken said: I remember demoing a ROK and not meshing with it, though the specs are similar. Click to expand...

• Oct 4, 2020

golden chicken said: It's black and yellow like my Tour 90s, with a 16x19 pattern. 20mm beam unlike my n6.1 16x18 and BLX Six.One 16x18. But it's rounded, unlike the 6.0 85, 95, and my Tour 90s. These are not my pictures, but it's the same. Notice the rounded beam, the rounded throat bridge, the sort of regular throat? It's definitely not of the same mold as a 6.0 95 Original. I found a copy of the original TW review and it says right in the first paragraph that says, "Unlike the Tour 90, which features a flat beam design similar to the Pro Staff Original, the Tour 95 features a rounded beam design - similar to the Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 and the Pro Staff ROK. " http://brown-snout.com/tennis/equip/archive/wilson_prostaff_tour95/review_wilson_prostaff_tour95.pdf I do remember back in the day there were like 7 rackets in Wilson's lineup with nearly the same name. It was definitely confusing. Click to expand...

Professional

• Oct 6, 2020

I used to have a pair that I played with for several months. Good frames, could do a little bit of everything. The only problem for me was that I picked up a hyper prostaff 6.1, and at the time, it was sort of an “anything you can do, I can do better” situation compared to the tour 95. That said, if I were to have to choose between the two today, the tour 95 would probably work better for my game. That was the first racquet I ever had strung with a full bed of poly (pro hurricane), and I remember that not feeling great.  

teachingprotx

• Oct 10, 2020

The rok should have been the greatest racket of my life . But it just couldn’t accept any of my spin attempts no matter what . I dropped the tension in 30’s nothing. I used volkl V square nothing . No spin . Not really . Not enuff which sucks cause I absolutely love the way it felt in hand I loved the way my hand cradled it in the bridge ready position. Loved the way it swung . Loved the kevlar like feel on impact it really breathes nice on the hit. Plush . Comfy . but no spin what so ever . Matter Of fact , it’s the only stick I have used that I could hit the ball and literally see the seams on the ball NOT rotate at all . I could see the “Wilson lettering fly straight thru the air and not rotate a true flat ball drive. Incredibly so ...  

teachingprotx said: The rok should have been the greatest racket of my life . But it just couldn’t accept any of my spin attempts no matter what . I dropped the tension in 30’s nothing. I used volkl V square nothing . No spin . Not really . Not enuff which sucks cause I absolutely love the way it felt in hand I loved the way my hand cradled it in the bridge ready position. Loved the way it swung . Loved the kevlar like feel on impact it really breathes nice on the hit. Plush . Comfy . but no spin what so ever . Matter Of fact , it’s the only stick I have used that I could hit the ball and literally see the seams on the ball NOT rotate at all . I could see the “Wilson lettering fly straight thru the air and not rotate a true flat ball drive. Incredibly so ... Click to expand...

Bionic Poster

golden chicken said: Let's start a petition for a 16x19 ROK! Click to expand...

• Oct 17, 2020

what_army said: I’ve had that same racquet in 90sqin (tour 90) but it had the 17mm width box beam as you mention. The 95 does not seem a 6.1 mold but the beam is indeed similar. Reminds me of a ROK, which also featured an elongated head, but with the longer handle of the tour 90. I think the really elusive models that go for big bucks are the Tour 95 or HPS 95 with box beam but cool racquet nonetheless. Click to expand...

LeoFulgencio

• Oct 18, 2020

The first capture of Rok 93 comes from 1 Apr 2003, the last from 17 Jun 2005. The Rok 102 arrives at 6 Jun 2004. At this time the price for the Rok 93 was already reduced from $159.99 to $89.95. Pro Staff Tour 95 first at 12 Feb 2004, ends 21 Feb 2006 . No info on 18*20 string pattern!  

• Oct 20, 2020

LeoFulgencio said: Pro Staff Tour 95 first at 12 Feb 2004, ends 21 Feb 2006 . No info on 18*20 string pattern Click to expand...

• Oct 21, 2020

frinton said: I suppose Wilson must have produced at least one in that string pattern... I am sorry, I can’t embed the pic in Google Photos... so I have to add links instead! https://photos.app.goo.gl/UxcZUCj4e8xRwGHz9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/BV7o8VLocWYxQeUs6 https://photos.app.goo.gl/zJ8pZErkYv8K5jqF8 Click to expand...

proracketeer

• Oct 23, 2020

Ronaldo said: String it 14x16, easy peasy Click to expand...

proracketeer said: Click to expand...

• Oct 25, 2020
• Jan 23, 2021

Never liked the ROK but just scored the rare Wilson Hyper ProStaff 6.0 Tour 95 "... same mould as 6.0 95 and never knew if it was just the same stick or if it did have hyper carbon in there... TBH been so long since I hit with the original 6.0 I couldn't tell. Sweet racquet though! I sold it for a pretty penny and always regretted it, happy to have one again... and looking forward to hitting with it! Had some Volkl Cyclone kicking around in 19 gauge, dropped it off at stringer today. Used to have the PS Tour 90 pictured here on thread, but didn't quite get the feel of that one too. It was a very demanding racquet. Other Hyper Carbon stick I do like to hit with, however, is 5.0 95, stretch version not so much though, a bit unwieldy; this past week I pulled out k factor pro tour 96 frame in nice green cosmetics that I added lead to at 3 & 9... feels a lot like the PSC 6.1 but maybe better?  

• Jan 24, 2021

GugaClone said: Never liked the ROK but just scored the rare Wilson Hyper ProStaff 6.0 Tour 95 "... same mould as 6.0 95 and never knew if it was just the same stick or if it did have hyper carbon in there... TBH been so long since I hit with the original 6.0 I couldn't tell. Sweet racquet though! I sold it for a pretty penny and always regretted it, happy to have one again... and looking forward to hitting with it! Had some Volkl Cyclone kicking around in 19 gauge, dropped it off at stringer today. Used to have the PS Tour 90 pictured here on thread, but didn't quite get the feel of that one too. It was a very demanding racquet. Other Hyper Carbon stick I do like to hit with, however, is 5.0 95, stretch version not so much though, a bit unwieldy; this past week I pulled out k factor pro tour 96 frame in nice green cosmetics that I added lead to at 3 & 9... feels a lot like the PSC 6.1 but maybe better? Click to expand...

Ronaldo said: Still have a new HPS 5.0 95. Regret selling a pr of HPS 6.0 95, gorgeous with that leather grip. No longer worthy of either. Can barely lift a fork, a players racquet, forgetaboutit! Click to expand...

GugaClone said: A few reps a day with that fork and you'll be back in business! Very customizable frame (the HPS 6.0 95) so you can match it to your preferences... keep on swinging! Click to expand...

• Jan 30, 2021

V7 Blade 16x19 looks to have similar specs if you account for additional weight due to adding a leather grip and/or increasing the grip size...and assuming you get one on spec. Can anyone compare the two?  

Ive tried the v7 18x20 and the CV 16x19. If the blades are more modern versions of the wilson 6.1 95, then the tour 95 plays and feels like a crappy copy of the 6.1 95 without any of its positives. if the tour95 intrigues you, the racket you should really be looking at is the ultra pro 16x19. It's a much more stable frame in stock form with good feel  

Enjoying the thread. Here's the HPS 6.0 95 box beam model for reference vs. pro staff tour 95: https://flic.kr/p/2kwU6k5  

That is a great looking racket. I never gelled with the 6.1 hyper carbon 95s or any of their descendants, either but I sometimes wonder if I would enjoy a PS 6.0 95.  

• Feb 1, 2021

I love the Hyper Carbon paintjobs; they all remind me of my teenage years when this line was all the rage—I always wanted one. A buddy still hits with the orange one, 5.2, specs are kind of like a precursor to the Blade, with low static and high swingweight. That red/black 6.0 above is tough  

Tough? Not sure what you mean, 6.0 hits like a dream though, it's a sweet ride...  

GugaClone said: Tough? Not sure what you mean, 6.0 hits like a dream though, it's a sweet ride... Click to expand...

McGradey said: Tough/cool looking. Love the red and black with yellow accents Click to expand...

• Feb 2, 2021

LeoFulgencio said: I There was also a Pro Staff 6.0 Original 95 with a Pro Staff Tour 95 cosmetic. Click to expand...

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Back on the road, Nancy Wilson of Heart still kicking at 70

Nancy Wilson, at age 70, can still perform her signature kick move while sporting her guitar.

“I can do that and more!” she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on a Zoom call from her home in Sonoma, California, on the eve of the 2024 Heart tour. “I can’t not dance and move.”

The tour, which will run throughout the year, started April 20 in Greenville, South Carolina. It’s the first time the band has hit the road since 2019.

“I’m happy for us to be together again,” she said. “It’s been a little too long for us to get back out there.”

Wilson said a combination of the pandemic and behind-the scenes management changes delayed Heart’s return. For the first time, the sisters have different managers, resulting in what she called “power grabbing” disputes.

“There were extra moving parts to sort out what was highly unnecessary drama,” she said. “We finally sorted it out and now we’re here.”

The band spent more than a week in rehearsals before the tour began.

“There are a lot of things about Heart songs that are not simple,” Wilson said. “There are intricacies in these songs to get right.”

At the same time, perfection is not the goal: “It will be fun regardless of the mistakes that we make. In my view, it’s definitely a human show.”

Heart uses no prerecorded music. Every note is live.

“Last New Year’s Eve, we had only done our third show with this lineup. We had to start a song over,” she said. “We forgot to transpose the keyboard. People were surprisingly appreciative of the mistake we made. Sometimes, the imperfections are the perfection of it.”

The bottom line is she still gets plenty of joy being on stage performing rock classics like “Magic Man,” “Barracuda” and “Crazy on You,” along with “These Dreams,” in which she sings lead.

The rituals before the concert, though, are far different than they were in the cocaine-addled 1980s . Now it’s a diffuser with calming scents, homeopathic arnica pellets to reduce swelling, vitamin C pills and a yoga room backstage.

“We used to be made out of rubber in our 30s,” she said. “We now have a wellness space for massage and strengthening.”

Over the decades, both sisters have worked in other bands, but they always come back to Heart, which Wilson dubs “the family business.”

“We’ve had a band together since I was like 9,” she said. “We’ve always been tight and soulmates and best friends. We’ve had our ups and downs. Mostly outside influences have made it challenging for us to find our emotional footing with each other. But first and foremost we are sisters. And secondly, we have to steer this business venture.”

Part of the business is doing publicity and she has been entirely game this go around. For instance, earlier this month, she grinned through a cheeky version of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” with Jimmy Fallon during the actual eclipse.

“We have been friends with Jimmy for a long time,” she said. “I knew him when he made a cameo in ‘Almost Famous,’” the classic 2000 film from her ex-husband Cameron Crowe to which she contributed original music.

And she had no problem jousting with Howard Stern. “We actually really hit it off,” she said. “I knew him when he was more of an [expletive]. He’s turned into a real human now. He’s become a real masterful interviewer.”

That extensive Stern interview included tidbits like the Van Halen brothers wanting to hook up with the Wilson sisters , which she said did not happen, as well as an extensive discussion of their 2012 cover of “Stairway to Heaven” in front of the living members of Led Zeppelin, who were being honored by the Kennedy Center.

“It was such a beautiful moment,” she said. “It connects the feeling of history in rock and roll, the through line that ‘Stairway to Heaven’ brings us to modern-day culture. People are still discovering how significant and emotional that connection can be today.”

Their respect and adoration for Led Zeppelin has never waned and there is a 100% chance they will cover at least one Zeppelin song on the current tour.

“We have to try to not do too many Zeppelin songs!” she said, with a chuckle. “We can’t help it!”

They’ve also come to embrace their legendary status as many of their peers start to retire.

“People say we’re the grandmothers of rock and roll and broke the glass ceiling,” Wilson said. “It’s true. When ‘Dreamboat Annie’ came out in 1975, there were no female role models for us.”

Unleashing the power of career readiness programs

As the new school year begins, local juniors and seniors in the Greater Spokane area find themselves standing at the precipice of their future.

Lainey Wilson, The Pretty Reckless, and more set to open for The Rolling Stones

I n anticipation of their Hackney Diamonds tour, which kicks off this weekend in Houston, The Rolling Stones have revealed the various artists, and bands that will that will be featured across the trek set to span 19 shows in 16 cities.

Listen to  The Rolling Stones Radio  and more on the free Audacy app

The acts include everything from Blues Rock and Country to Gospel and Mexican with various types of Rockers as well. Those scheduled to perform on select dates throughout the tour include Gary Clark Jr ., Joe Bonamassa , Tyler Childers , Lainey Wilson , The Linda Lindas , The Beaches , The Pretty Reckless , Widespread Panic , Betty LaVette ; and Carin León . See the tour schedule below to find out who is performing where.

The 16-date stadium Stones Tour begins on April 28 and will wrap up on July 17 after hitting cities across North America including Houston, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and more, along with a stop at Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans on May 2. Tickets are on sale now, find them  HERE ..

The Rolling Stones 2024 Tour Dates:

04/28 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium w/ Gary Clark Jr

05/02 – New Orleans, LA @  Jazz Fest

05/07 – Glendale, AZ @ State Farm Stadium w/ Carin León; Electric Mud

05/11 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium w/ The Pretty Reckless

05/15 – Seattle, WA @ Lumen Field w/ Joe Bonamassa

05/23 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium w/ TBA

05/26 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium w/ Lawrence

05/30 – Foxboro, MA @ Gillette Stadium w/ The Red Clay Strays

06/03 – Orlando, FL @ Camping World Stadium w/ Tyler Childers

06/07 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium w/ Ghost Hounds

06/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field w/ Kaleo

06/15 – Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Browns Stadium w/ Ghost Hounds

06/20 – Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High w/ Widespread Panic

06/27 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field w/ Betty LaVette

06/30 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field w/ Lainey Wilson

07/05 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place w/ Ghost Hounds

07/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium w/ The War and Treaty

07/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium w/ The Linda Lindas

07/17 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi’s® Stadium w/ The Beaches

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Rock trailblazer Heart reunites for a world tour and a new song

FILE - Nancy Wilson, left, and Ann Wilson, right, of the band Heart perform as Heart is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Nokia Theatre on Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles. Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.” (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Nancy Wilson, left, and Ann Wilson of Heart perform on opening night of the Heartbreaker Tour at the Cruzan Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Fla., June 17, 2013. Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.” (Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Nancy and Ann Wilson of the classic rock band Heart perform in concert at the American Music Theater on Monday, March 24, 2014, in Lancaster, Pa. Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.” (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)

• Copy Link copied

NEW YORK (AP) — Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring and fall for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.”

“I’ve been strengthening. I’ve got my trainer,” she says. “You go one day at a time and you strengthen one workout session at a time. It’s a lot of work, but it’s the only job I know how to do.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers who gave us classic tracks like “Magic Man,” “Crazy on You” and “Alone” will be playing all the hits, some tracks from of their solo albums — like Ann Wilson’s “Miss One and Only” and Nancy Wilson’s “Love Mistake” — and a new song called “Roll the Dice.”

Nancy Wilson, left, and Ann Wilson perform on opening night of the Heartbreaker Tour in West Palm Beach, Fla., June 17, 2013. (Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP, File)

“I like to say we have really good problems because the problem we have is to choose between a bunch of different, really cool songs that people love already,” says Nancy Wilson.

Like “Barracuda,” a sonic burst which first appeared on the band’s second album, “Little Queen” and is one of the band’s most memorable songs.

“You can’t mess with ‘Barracuda.’ It’s just the way it is. It is great. You get on the horse and you ride. It’s a galloping steed of a ride to go on. And for everybody, including the band.”

The tour kicks off Saturday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, and will hit cities including Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit, as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. International dates include stops in London, Oslo, Berlin, Stockholm, Montreal and Glasgow.

The band’s Royal Flush Tour will have Cheap Trick as the opening act for many stops, but Def Leppard and Journey will join for three stadium dates in Cleveland, Toronto and Boston this summer.

Ann and Nancy Wilson will be filled out by Ryan Wariner (lead and rhythm guitar), Ryan Waters (guitars), Paul Moak (guitars, keyboards and backing vocals), Tony Lucido (bass and backing vocals) and Sean T. Lane (drums).

The tour is the first in several years for Heart, which was rocked by a body blow in 2016 when Ann Wilson’s husband was arrested for assaulting Nancy’s 16-year-old twin sons. Nancy Wilson says that’s all in the past.

“We can take any kind of turbulence, me and Ann, and we’ve always been OK together,” she says. “We’re still steering the ship and happy to do it together. So we’re tight.”

The new tour will take them to Canada, which was warm to the band when they were starting out as what Nancy Wilson calls “a couple of chicks from Seattle.” She recalls Vancouver embracing Heart, and touring in one van across Canada in the dead of winter on two lane highways.

The Wilsons at the American Music Theater on Monday, March 24, 2014, in Lancaster, Pa. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)

The Wilson sisters broke rock’s glass ceiling in the ‘70s and Nancy Wilson says they only had male influences to look to, like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Moody Blues.

Now she says she looks out and loves seeing generations of female rockers. “You have boygenius and you have Billie Eilish and you have Olivia Rodrigo and so many amazing women — Maggie Rogers and Sheryl Crow, who calls us her big influence. And then Billie Eilish might have Sheryl Crow as her influence. So it’s a really nice legacy to pass along. I like to say we’re the OG — the original gangsters — of women and rock.”

Heart has made it into the Rock Hall, won Grammys, sold millions of albums and rocked hundreds of thousands of fans but Nancy Wilson has one place she’d still like to shine.

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of their debut album, “Dreamboat Annie,” which was the same year that “Saturday Night Live” started. “So we’re actually kind of putting it out there — Heart never played on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ But what about the 50th birthday party with Heart?”

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

• Life & Culture

Nancy Wilson talks Taylor Swift, Led Zeppelin before Heart concert in Tampa

• Gabrielle Calise Times staff

After five years, Heart is coming back to Tampa. As always, the rock ‘n’ roll pioneers are doing it on their own terms.

The Royal Flush Tour, which rolls into Amalie Arena on Friday, marks the band’s second tour since sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson reunited following a three-year hiatus . Guitarist and singer Nancy Wilson is delighted to be playing a new song, “Roll the Dice,” and traveling with her older sister.

“It was important to do our separate projects, and then of course, the pause of the shutdown caused a lot of time to go by as well,” said Wilson, 70, in a Zoom interview with the Tampa Bay Times. “But it’s really fun and rewarding and fulfilling to be with my sister again doing what we know how to do best.”

Wilson also spoke about her influences, legacy and thoughts on the future of women in music. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I watched the recent clip from the Howard Stern show where Robin Quivers talked about how much Heart meant to her. You mentioned the new generation of artists, like boygenius and Taylor Swift, who are empowering women —

Nancy Wilson : And Billie Eilish. Olivia Rodrigo. Maggie Rogers. I mean, there’s just some really cool women coming up. Nowadays, they’re writing their own songs, they’re playing instruments and singing for real on microphones and not just, you know, basically karaoke at their shows. I kind of feel like, “What took you so long!” Little by little, the glass ceiling that I guess we broke just opened up better channels for more women to have the bravery to step out.

I love those new female artists. I love to listen to a lot of these albums that they’re making, and I’m excited for the new Taylor Swift album. I watched the Eras Tour and I really love the fact that she does an acoustic bit all by herself. It’s such a global event, her show, but to make a point of doing that inside of her show was actually really amazing and cool of her to do. She’s a great songwriter. I think the biggest problem she might have is that she’s so extremely good looking. You know, people have jealous reactions to that stuff like that. I know Courtney Love is not a fan. I’ve been a friend of Courtney Love, but I disagree with her opinion about that.

Courtney Love did so much, but she also has a lot of opinions.

It’s her job to have the punk ethics and push against what’s popular in the culture. And that’s why she’s great. She’s written great songs. All hail Courtney Love, but I consider Taylor Swift to be very important at this time in our culture.

I wanted to ask you about when you first started. One of the artists that you mentioned as an influence in that Howard Stern clip was Led Zeppelin.

Right. We didn’t have female role models. There weren’t any women out there really doing rock and roll. We wanted to be the Beatles first, and then we wanted to be Led Zeppelin. Being military brats, we didn’t have any problems just doing it, no matter whether you expected it or not. We didn’t need anyone’s permission to rock. I actually just made a sign that says, “PERMISSION TO ROCK!” I’m going to try and work it into the show to ask the audience: “Do we have permission to rock?” And everybody would say “Yeah!”

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A couple months ago I wrote about Ladies Rock Camp , where women learn confidence through playing instruments in rock bands. We did an exercise where we wrote ourselves permission slips, like asking ourselves what we would give ourselves permission to do —

That is cool!

If you could go back in time, are there things that you wish you’d given yourself permission to do sooner?

Giving ourselves permission to join [the band] The Army and see the world in a rock band, the thing that you have to sacrifice to choose that life is, “What about starting a family? What about being a mom?” In a lucrative business situation, when do you tell everyone and all of their families that you want to stop and start your family? And then resume the business? So that was one of the biggest challenges and balancing acts and the bigger struggle that I faced later, after the Heart thing was really huge. And I was like, “Wait a second. I’m going to start a family pretty soon. My biological clock, you know, has almost dried out.” But that it worked out for me. I took control of my destiny and I did it the way I needed to do it. And then I got back in the band, and then my kids were old enough to go on my bus on tour with me. As a woman, I think that was the most challenging to balance out.

It just sounds like during these different phases of your life, the way you tour and do your job must have changed so much.

Yeah. The landscape of being on a rock and roll tour, the way we do it. We don’t have pre-record. We really do everything live, in person, on the spot, one time only. We have skin in the game. So being as healthy as possible and resting as much as you can is a really huge part of getting that rock on.

We just kind of choose to do the old fashioned method of showing up and doing it — singing, really singing, really playing. Sometimes when stuff happens, it’s not perfect. Like, somebody goes, “Whoops! Stop the train, we’ve got to start the song over again.” That happened to us on New Year’s Eve in Seattle and we had to start over again. And people loved it. It’s like, “Wow, it’s real!” It’s more of an unusual situation nowadays to see something that is completely authentic.

Imagining yourself at the age you are now, did you ever think, “I’m still going to be doing it on my terms with my sister?”

I kind of did always think that like, interestingly, as a little kid wannabe rock star. Before the first album came out and it region-by-region gradually got big, and we played in every place that had electricity in order to put it on the map, I always thought it was going to work because we were proficient musicians and Ann’s voice is so unusually good, you know? She has a rock ‘n’ roll voice that’s on the level of Chris Cornell. It’s on the level of a Robert Plant and she got a lot from Plant as a singer. I got a lot from Jimmy Page as a guitar player. We felt we had what it took, and we weren’t afraid to give ourselves permission and just go for it.

When I told people this week I would be talking to you, at least three different women I talked to said, “Ask about the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ cover from 2012! What was it like to play for them?” Why do you think your performance honoring Led Zeppelin at the Kennedy Center has had such a staying power with people?

I love that that’s become its own iconic viral sort of thing. Everyone who sees it for the first time is really strongly affected. And I think one of the reasons why is there’s been a growing sense of a lack of continuity in rock ‘n’ roll and pop music, where people are kind of grabbing back onto their legacy acts. There’s a lot of bands that are going back out — like Heart, like Def Leppard and Billy Joel . There’s a sense of family, like historic musical family, that people have felt was missing before.

So when you see a song like “Stairway to Heaven” presented in such a gloriously powerful fashion with all the reveal after reveal after reveal after reveal, the way the Kennedy Center musical direction had planned it so beautifully, then I think it made a deeper impression than just how cool the moment was. I think it was the longing for a familiar musical territory that goes meaningfully forward through the timeline of music history. That’s my thesis.

Heart’s Royal Flush Tour comes to Amalie Arena in Tampa at 8 p.m. on Friday. Cheap Trick will open. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.com, with prices starting at $31.25 (excluding fees). www.heart-music.com .

Gabrielle Calise is a culture reporter who covers music, nostalgia and offbeat Florida trends. Reach her at [email protected].

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Lainey Wilson, Tyler Childers, The War and Treaty & More to Open Shows for The Rolling Stones

Other artists opening for the rock band's upcoming shows include KALEO and Ghost Hounds.

By Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson

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The Rolling Stones will launch the group’s Hackney Diamonds North American tour on April 28 at NRG Houston, and the lineup of openers for various dates on the tour includes a few heavy-hitters from country and Americana circles.

The Rolling Stones 2024 ‘Hackney Diamonds’ Tour: Where to Get Tickets for…

Trending on billboard.

The tour supports The Rolling Stones’ album Hackney Diamonds , their first project of new, original material in nearly two decades.

Notably, Wilson and The War and Treaty were part of a 2023 tribute album to The Rolling Stones, Stoned Cold Country, which featured several country artists performing Stones classics.

See the full list of tour dates below:

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