the Wilson Ultra 2

[Kirko]

Originally Posted by roundiesee

Guys, in those days if you saw a pro actually playing a certain racket, you can be sure it wasn't a paintjob of some other racket?

it was the real deal with Rosewall and Mal Anderson ; Anderson used the Yonex R-27 & the time I saw him play Rosewall he used the Dunlop 200G. as the ultra fit Rosewall the 200G was a "hand in glove" fit for Anderson. just think guys well into their fifties and hittting so so "clean". I was amazed at how well they traded groudstrokes.

[roundiesee]

Originally Posted by Kirko

it was the real deal with Rosewall and Mal Anderson ; Anderson used the Yonex R-27 & the time I saw him play Rosewall he used the Dunlop 200G. as the ultra fit Rosewall the 200G was a "hand in glove" fit for Anderson. just think guys well into their fifties and hittting so so "clean". I was amazed at how well they traded groudstrokes.

Originally Posted by Virginia

There is no way on earth that Ken Rosewall would use a paint job. With him, it's WYSIWYG!

Thanks Kirko for that clarification. Now all I have to do is find them!

Thanks for the info! Makes me wish that today's pros would have the same level of integrity. I think the last pro to repeatedly refuse a paintjob was Pete Sampras. I've heard that he kept playing the PS 85 without a contract until Wilson actually felt "bad" and offered him one.

[plasma]

I like how connors rejected the ps 85 which was designed for him in favor of his t2000's. He put ads up in the back of papers and bought up a huge stock of t2000's. Decades before the PS 85 was synonymous with Sampras it was associated with Chris Evert and Jimbo. Wilson not producing a single 85 is a facist move! fight the pawa!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Kirko

I saw in person Rosewall use the old standard ultra (with the side-plates) to give PWS sensation and then some of the Best senior tennis I saw ever he used the midsized ultra II.

Kirko,

Ken Rosewall was using a Wilson Ultra during a veterans event (America vs Australia) held here in Australia at the, then, newly opened National Tennis Centre. Would have been some time between 1988 and 1990.

Australian players were (again, those I remember), Tony Roche, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall and - I think- Mal Anderson.
American players I can remember were Stan Smith, Bob Lutz and Tom Gorman. I'm not 100% sure but I believe the other American player was Marty Riessen.

If memory serves - Smith was using a Prince oversize, Lutz was using a Prince Magnesium (thought it was OS but not sure), Gorman was using either a Wilson or a Wimbledon (it was white -ceramic- and not a mid-size) and Riessen was using a Puma (Red and Blue model). Newcombe was using Prince OS (think it was one of the CTS line), Roche was using a Mizuno (black, their smallest head size: think it was 95sq-ish), Anderson was using a POGOS and Rosewall was using a Wilson Ultra.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by roundiesee

Thanks for the info! Makes me wish that today's pros would have the same level of integrity. I think the last pro to repeatedly refuse a paintjob was Pete Sampras. I've heard that he kept playing the PS 85 without a contract until Wilson actually felt "bad" and offered him one.

roudiesee,

I think that 'integrity' is going a bit too far. Pete's reason for refusing a paintjob was simply due to him being so particular about his racquets that he refused to have anything about them altered. That decision was made definite for him when the St.Vincent plant shut down and the stock he purchased all had the old decals on it. No way was he going to allow them to strip the paint off and re-paint them. Of course, if they'd continued to make racquets at the St.Vincent plant they could have painted them to look like whatever they wanted.

End of the day, he allowed the Wilson (who sponsored him in the early days) contract to lapse because the money they were willing to pay him to endorse a racquet that wasn't part of their premier range was negligible. What he lost in racquet endorsement he picked up in 'luggage' endorsement with Tacchini and then Nike (he used one of their duffle bags instead of a Wilson bag).

[plasma]

he also recouped on a few wimbledon singles Champioship paychecks. I'd say roundissee was very wise. I know pros rank 800 who try to pawn racquets to me constantly. Stepahanek has class though. He pays for his sticks...and apparently...its a good investment...

[saigonbond 2.0]

Played with the Ultra 2 St. Vincent and the Ultra FPK when I was a kid.
Too bad I could never hit the rock like Krickstein and Mandlikova.
Definitely WMDs!

[Arafel]

I bought another of the bay a few weeks ago, so now I have 5. If anyone wants to part with 4 3/8 ones in good condition, PM me.

[zcarzach]

I just found a Chicago Ultra 2 standard today. Has the old metal PWS plates riveted on. What looks to be the original leather grip. 4 1/4 size. Needs a string job but looks ready to be hit with. Might have to take her out this weekend! Also picked up a Prince CTS Graduate 110 with what looks to be a fresh Luxilon string job. Bought them both second hand, paid next to nothing.

[Tennishacker]

Wow, I remember paying over $200 for those racquets.

[gplracer]

I used to play with the Ultra and then the Ultra II as a junior. I still have the original Ultra. I really liked playing with those.

[max]

Originally Posted by Tennishacker

Wow, I remember paying over $200 for those racquets.

The extreme price back then, compared to other frames, kept me from buying one.

What a bad *** racquet! I found it amazing to hit with, when I had the chance.

[giokkk67]

Originally Posted by Arafel

I bought another of the bay a few weeks ago, so now I have 5. If anyone wants to part with 4 3/8 ones in good condition, PM me.

Hi Arafel,
I can't PM you because I've not reached 50 post al least in order to PM.
If you want you can contact me by email

giovannitramacere(at)yahoo(dot)it

[Tennis Man]

Anyone remembers the exact specs for Ultra 2 St Vincent?

Mine weighs around 360g strung and has a sticker 65-70lb in the throat.

[retrowagen]

Originally Posted by Tennis Man

Anyone remembers the exact specs for Ultra 2 St Vincent?

Mine weighs around 360g strung and has a sticker 65-70lb in the throat.

Exact specs:
Weight: Heavy
Stiffness: Immense
Balance: Yes
Swingweight: Don't Let Go Of It

Hope that helps!

[Arafel]

Originally Posted by Tennis Man

Anyone remembers the exact specs for Ultra 2 St Vincent?

Mine weighs around 360g strung and has a sticker 65-70lb in the throat.

From Wood Tennis:

Head Size:
85 sq. in. / 548 sq. cm.
Length: 27 inches / 69 cm
Strung Weight: 13oz / 369g
Balance: 6pts Head Light
Swingweight: 357
Stiffness: 71
Beam Width: Constant Taper Beam 25 mm - 18 mm
Composition: Braided Graphite with Boron
Power Level: Low
Swing Speed: Fast
Grip Type: Leather Fairway
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 18 Crosses
Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H
One Piece
No shared holes

[Tennis Man]

Originally Posted by Arafel

From Wood Tennis:

Head Size:
85 sq. in. / 548 sq. cm.
Length: 27 inches / 69 cm
Strung Weight: 13oz / 369g
Balance: 6pts Head Light
Swingweight: 357
Stiffness: 71
Beam Width: Constant Taper Beam 25 mm - 18 mm
Composition: Braided Graphite with Boron
Power Level: Low
Swing Speed: Fast
Grip Type: Leather Fairway
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 18 Crosses
Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H
One Piece
No shared holes

Thank you.

[Tennis Man]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

Exact specs:
Weight: Heavy
Stiffness: Immense
Balance: Yes
Swingweight: Don't Let Go Of It

Hope that helps!

No wonder I couldn't handle it well before. I recently found a decent hitting partner and tried many of my racquets against him over the last couple of months with mixed results. When I got to the U2, I almost bageled the guy.

The racquet is scalpel-sharp and very well balanced. I had it string with BB Alu Rough at around 50 lb and it was like a magic wand. It seems a bit smaller than 85 sq inch. I put it over my SP85 and you can tell the different. U2 is about 80 sq inch.

[siucbasser]

hello all -

so instead of starting a whole new thread on the same subject racquet, id just bring this one back from the dead...

i just found an Ultra 2 (of a 7.5/10 quality IMO) at the local goodwill, and after a quick **** search finding that these old racquets are worth a considerable amount of money, i decided to spend the little money it cost.

now being that i am just starting out in tennis (registered for a tennis class for my last university semester to start me off in the right direction)

i took it out to play with it yesterday, and it seemed alright, but maybe produced a little bit more power than i expected even with little power of swing.

so would it be suggested that i
-maybe try and sell this racquet to pay for a considerably newer racquet (if it is actually worth any considerable amount)
-keep the racquet and learn with it
-keep the racquet, buy a cheap starter racquet, and move into this Ultra 2 later on

And if i decided to sell this raquet, what information can you guys tell me as to the factory origin/price i could get for such an item?
(pictures below)

I myself am very interested in starting off into this sport right, and appreciate any insite you all can provide.

THANKS!

a little about the racquet quality (all shown in pictures) -
-only major scratches if any at all are on the top of the head/frame where it would have rubbed against the ground (but these only seem to be minor rash compared to others ive seen)
-only one grommet among them all looks bent out (idk if thats the right word to describe it?)
-string seems to be in very good condition with no apparent flaws
-frame overall (besides top of head as mentioned) is without warping, scratches, dents, or marks (besides one small dent on the top right of the face as some may be able to see in the picture)
-grip is very much intact, with only wear seeming to be discoloration of the leather from extended use of an over-grip which was on the racquet when i bought it.
(if any more information/pictures are needed to better judge the quality/price/origin of this item, id be glad to add)

also, i am limited to 4 pictures, so for more, click the links included at the bottom (9 total pictures)






http://i.imgur.com/wM8SpESl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/T0QfWKal.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8fCyuAal.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2jMTq3Ml.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gPHfUaol.jpg

[Hannah19]

^^^ Sell it....should be worth some money to the right person.
It should fetch an easy $100.00....!!
Is it a St Vincent??