I'll be taking shipment of a brand new Wilson Ultra Tour tomorrow. I've read enough stuff on here to make my eyes bleed but I have yet to see a thread dedicated to the ultimate setup for this players frame.
Fortunately I am a racquet stringer and know that the first string job should be considered temporary as the strings seat themselves into the grommet strips. I'm thinking of a gut/poly hybrid for the second string job.
I anyone has suggestions on a string setup, I want to hear it.
The specs seem almost ripe for customization. I typically play with a frame in the 11.8oz. range so I'll be considering a leather grip, some silicone in the handle and some lead in the hoop.
If one reads the TW review for this frame, it would seem the playtesters see power as the one drawback.
I'd like to know what other folks have done to the frame to coax more power and stability from the frame. I also wouldn't mind hearing from people who have moved on to other frames and why.
Hi Mark, i hope you are enjoying the racquet.
I have tried dozens of strings in this racquet, go through a lot of strings. Thought i would share my experience and maybe help you along...
My UT setup is at 12.3oz, 31.4 HL. I have 8-strips of lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock - 4" long double layered equally on each side. 2.5 grams of lead under number at 12 o'clock. Leather grip, silicone in handle.
I am a solid 4.5 that plays with descent spin off the baseline. I like to come to the net as much as i can and play a lot of doubles. I posted a video on the Ultra Tour thread as point of reference for playing style and swing speed.
Stating this because a lot of people state string recommendations without weight or tension and it makes a huge difference. Hopefully this context helps you figure out where you'd like to be.
My tension hovers between 48-50 lbs.
Favorite setups so far are hybrids and my theory/personal preference is that this relatively flexible racquet plays best with a crisper string. I just prefer the feel of crisper strings in general, and this racquet just seems to take them better.
Poly used:
Tour Bite 17g. 50/49 lbs. - favorite full poly setup. for me, this setup is just great everywhere. It breaks or i cut it out around 5/6 hours.
AluPower 125 @ 50 to 53 lbs. - great setup. not quite the bite as TB, and i like the feel and volleying with TB better.
Hawk touch @ 50lbs
lynx 17 yellow @ 54
Hyper G 50-52lbs. - great string, similar to TB, better tension maintenance. I preferred this string prior to switching to UT, but this just didn't gel quite like the TB for me in this one.
Revolve 17 - 53lbs. Too muted for my liking. went dead too quickly.
AluPower Rough - 53lbs.
All of the above tried in hybrids: NRG 17 is my go to multi, also NXT Power 17 or Origin 17, OG Micro 16 synthetic cross. I prefer the poly mains, but have run them all both ways. NRG is my go to poly main. I have also tried all of the poly's with gut mains and crosses.
Tour bite 17 / Micro 16 = Favorite setup to date. 49lbs on the TB mains. 46 on the micro 16 cross. This is a great setup for me. Currently experimenting different combinations with this setup between 45-49 lbs. This is the setup i am going into the season with.
- TB/Gut and Alu/Gut are awesome, all 17g. I preferred the feel of the wilson 17g gut over 16g. options in the cross. And prefer the wilson over the VS personally.
- Gut/Lynx is awesome, also liked Gut/TB, Gut/Alu.
- NRG or NXT Power make great multi mains, not so great crosses... lasts me 45 minutes. Gut lasts me 2-3x longer in crosses than multi.
- Multi main setups i have liked: NRG/Alu Rough, NRG/TB17, NRG/Alu125, NRG/Lynx.
Happy hitting!