Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson Ultra v5
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
EastAngels2014
Semi-Pro
I wouldn’t saw it was raw but it did feel crisp and connected. Got plenty of feedback on my shots to know what I did wrong. It was comfortable not sure due to what seems to be a large sweet spot or from tech in the racquet.
Got it. Reassuring. Seems like they may have just left the layup alone, which is miraculously good news. Thanks for the info.
LordGulbis
Rookie
We would love to know how it plays.
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-its nice 
-i would call the color DISCO BLUE!!
-i strung it with lux.element.SOFT IR string (neon orange)
-the color contrast is good
-IMO, this racquet w.ultra v5 99 pro delivers on power and spin!!
-both key features of this line!!
-im not a w.ultra player, but this one is nice!
-i would call the color DISCO BLUE!!
-i strung it with lux.element.SOFT IR string (neon orange)
-the color contrast is good
-IMO, this racquet w.ultra v5 99 pro delivers on power and spin!!
-both key features of this line!!
-im not a w.ultra player, but this one is nice!
How's the feel compare to the pro staff 97 v14 and the blade 98 v9 16x19?-its nice
-i would call the color DISCO BLUE!!
-i strung it with lux.element.SOFT IR string (neon orange)
-the color contrast is good
-IMO, this racquet w.ultra v5 99 pro delivers on power and spin!!
-both key features of this line!!
-im not a w.ultra player, but this one is nice!
Finally got to hit
2hrs at a clinic, mostly doubles "live ball" but the first 4.0-4.5 clinic that was actually that level.
The racquet is dampened but not disconnected feeling. You still get some raw feedback. When people talk about how older Yonex racquets feel, this is what I envision.
I also think it must be on the firmer side.
Neither of those are really my preference but even with BBO it never felt uncomfortable.
I didn't notice the racquet being spectacularly powerful, however, i think my string choice played a role in that. Despite that, there was a bit of launchiness and the stringbed was really soft after hitting, so not sure if maybe it was a bad stringjob or maybe traveling with it on a plane messed with it but it definitely feels like it lost tension already. The open pattern does seem like it'll be a string killer through breakage or tension loss.
I see why the racquet isn't rated super high for spin, it is definitely there but my balls didn't seem to jump as much. I definitely noticed this on serve where my kick was not kicking as much.
The racquet feels light to swing but not particularly fast. (I know my assessment is full of contradictions
) But this is probably more user-error because the balance on my normal racquets is around 32 strung, this is at least 33. So there was definitely some adjustment on timing happening. I intend to add a leather grip at some point too, so it'll be curious what that does.
Playing again tonight and over the next few days, so looking forward to getting adjusted. Also already pondering next stringjobs. I was thinking my favorite PT Strike 1.20 to see how a thin guage would do but also thinking Mach10 1.25 could be interesting to add spin.
I'm open to suggestions.
2hrs at a clinic, mostly doubles "live ball" but the first 4.0-4.5 clinic that was actually that level.
The racquet is dampened but not disconnected feeling. You still get some raw feedback. When people talk about how older Yonex racquets feel, this is what I envision.
I also think it must be on the firmer side.
Neither of those are really my preference but even with BBO it never felt uncomfortable.
I didn't notice the racquet being spectacularly powerful, however, i think my string choice played a role in that. Despite that, there was a bit of launchiness and the stringbed was really soft after hitting, so not sure if maybe it was a bad stringjob or maybe traveling with it on a plane messed with it but it definitely feels like it lost tension already. The open pattern does seem like it'll be a string killer through breakage or tension loss.
I see why the racquet isn't rated super high for spin, it is definitely there but my balls didn't seem to jump as much. I definitely noticed this on serve where my kick was not kicking as much.
The racquet feels light to swing but not particularly fast. (I know my assessment is full of contradictions
) But this is probably more user-error because the balance on my normal racquets is around 32 strung, this is at least 33. So there was definitely some adjustment on timing happening. I intend to add a leather grip at some point too, so it'll be curious what that does.Playing again tonight and over the next few days, so looking forward to getting adjusted. Also already pondering next stringjobs. I was thinking my favorite PT Strike 1.20 to see how a thin guage would do but also thinking Mach10 1.25 could be interesting to add spin.
I'm open to suggestions.
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-ps.97 is more solid, since it has more weight
-but this model is also weighted enough that is was NOT getting pushed around (at my 4.0-4.5 level)
-i did not note any fluttering/buckling of the racquet when i countered shots
-the ultra.99pro is more like a blade IMO, but a nicer friendlier version of the blade
-IMO, the ultra (this V5 model) is a more notable POWER than the blade, and more slightly more notable SPIN than the blade!
-and thats saying something, because the w.blade can produce spin on its own, just not as easily as this ultra!!
-a possible DOWNSIDE of this v5 w.ULTRA.99pro is "string durability"
-if you are a spin player, i do not see strings lasting a long time for you on this frame!?
-the string gaps are bigger, thus the spin is easier, thus the string movement is MORE = string breaking quicker!
-but if you are not a "string breaker", then this one is going to be fun to play with
-control might also be a factor for some, since it does boost your power, but you could counter that with some tighter tensions and poly strings
-i strung the w.ultra.99.pro with lux.element.SOFT at 50lbs
-i liked the tension, but i would provably go up 2-3 lbs next time,,, same string!
-or use stiffer polys at 50-51lbs !?
99 Pro
LordGulbis
Rookie
Anyone compared the Ultra 100 to the Pure Drive yet?
Short answer is the Ultra 100 more comfortable, slightly less power, and slightly more accurate than the Pure Drive.
Olly Tennis
New User
How’s the stiffness on the 99 pro? How is it as a racket for flat hitters?
antony
Hall of Fame
Thanks @Chairman3 for hitting this week and letting me try out your playtest of the Ultra 99 Pro V5 today. Thank you by extension to @TW Staff for making this all possible.
Thing's a beaut. Nice classy, glossy blue. Vibrant. Before I forget, here goes my short review of my short ~15 min. playtest with the racquet. Also didn't know what these playtest questions asked so I didn't fully test.
String and tension used for test: Luxilon BBO @ 50lbs
Tennis experience/background: 5 years, ~5UTR, inactive USTA member but have beaten 4.0C's and can get games from 4.5's. Probably somewhere around average high school varsity to below average D3 player level
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): all-court
Current racquet/string setups: RF97, polyester, usually strung somewhere in the 50's with a differential of 2-3 lbs (more on the mains, obviously)
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 0.25?
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: Fun to use! I could see myself using it. Balls fly from this thing. Pretty natural to use and do what I want. Balls just popped off the thing in a controlled manner. More power racquet than spin but somehow no matter how hard and fast I swung the racquet even with sometimes suboptimal technique, it had enough spin to keep it in. Slices were easy. Overall stable, definitely had power, but plenty of spin to keep those powerful fast shots in. Makes it super easy to be pretty lazy and hit effortless balls, which in its own way lends a lot more control. Can make it very easy to play patient but still threatening points while still saving a lot of juice (margin) reserved for when you wanna really whack and put away the ball. It feels like I have more control over the upper bands of power by giving up some control at the lower bands. I don't know, maybe I'll switch to one of these power sticks!
-Serves: should've taken serves. Judging from ground strokes, I'm sure it'd be deadly.
-Volleys: Few I took were fine. I didn't exactly develop pinpoint control with it yet but it was super easy to volley with p'zazz. Super maneuverable frame. No complaints. Stable. Seems very deadly at the net.
-Serve returns: didn't take any unfortunately but block returns would be easy and normal groundstroke replies would easily have enough pop and spin on them to make it an extremely effective weapon for RoS.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Easy power. Balls just pop off the frame. Consequently I think drop shots and lobs require extra care. Because I feel like the frame magnifies things a little bit, it may be harder to hit smaller, but it may also be easier to hit harder too. When I hit small/push with it, my balls come back deep and with respectable pace, which is great for playing patiently, building a point, and setting up an opening. When I hit normal rally balls with it, they pretty fast and respectably heavy. When I really wail on a ball, it's super fast yet still makes enough spin to keep pretty easily. Easy winners.
Top Spin/Slice-Slices seemed to have come off the frame a little higher than I'm used to, which isn't really a bad thing at least for defensive slices as it usually just means more time in the air for me to recover. Hard to describe but it was felt very natural for me to get them to land deep and still in. Easy spin and power both top and back spin directions. Strokes I'd hit out with my rf97 would stay in with the Blade 99 Pro due to easy access to enough spin.
Comfort- totally fine. light and easy to swing. stable. not sure what else to say.
Feel- might be stiff (maybe about or less than 6.1 95's stiffness it felt like?) but not harsh at all. in terms of touch, you might need to be a little more sensitive as the balls seem to pop off the frame more
Maneuverability- easy to swing, fast, well balanced, light. zero complaints here.
Stability-very stable. didn't have any shots where the racquet wobbled in my grip. returning heavy shots was easy-peasy
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I'm a fan. I could see myself maining it. I think a lot of people will like it. Very capable racquet. Not really a touch racquet IMO though you probably still work with it, it but the easy power and spin combined with the strong maneuverability, comfort, stability make it my opinion a fantastic stick. Nice job Wilson. I really love how easy it is to play easy tennis with it and still hit a strong ball while having a ton reserved for big swings.
Edit: after reading some comments here, all i gotta say is, tf is the Steam?
Thing's a beaut. Nice classy, glossy blue. Vibrant. Before I forget, here goes my short review of my short ~15 min. playtest with the racquet. Also didn't know what these playtest questions asked so I didn't fully test.
String and tension used for test: Luxilon BBO @ 50lbs
Tennis experience/background: 5 years, ~5UTR, inactive USTA member but have beaten 4.0C's and can get games from 4.5's. Probably somewhere around average high school varsity to below average D3 player level
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): all-court
Current racquet/string setups: RF97, polyester, usually strung somewhere in the 50's with a differential of 2-3 lbs (more on the mains, obviously)
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 0.25?
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: Fun to use! I could see myself using it. Balls fly from this thing. Pretty natural to use and do what I want. Balls just popped off the thing in a controlled manner. More power racquet than spin but somehow no matter how hard and fast I swung the racquet even with sometimes suboptimal technique, it had enough spin to keep it in. Slices were easy. Overall stable, definitely had power, but plenty of spin to keep those powerful fast shots in. Makes it super easy to be pretty lazy and hit effortless balls, which in its own way lends a lot more control. Can make it very easy to play patient but still threatening points while still saving a lot of juice (margin) reserved for when you wanna really whack and put away the ball. It feels like I have more control over the upper bands of power by giving up some control at the lower bands. I don't know, maybe I'll switch to one of these power sticks!
-Serves: should've taken serves. Judging from ground strokes, I'm sure it'd be deadly.
-Volleys: Few I took were fine. I didn't exactly develop pinpoint control with it yet but it was super easy to volley with p'zazz. Super maneuverable frame. No complaints. Stable. Seems very deadly at the net.
-Serve returns: didn't take any unfortunately but block returns would be easy and normal groundstroke replies would easily have enough pop and spin on them to make it an extremely effective weapon for RoS.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Easy power. Balls just pop off the frame. Consequently I think drop shots and lobs require extra care. Because I feel like the frame magnifies things a little bit, it may be harder to hit smaller, but it may also be easier to hit harder too. When I hit small/push with it, my balls come back deep and with respectable pace, which is great for playing patiently, building a point, and setting up an opening. When I hit normal rally balls with it, they pretty fast and respectably heavy. When I really wail on a ball, it's super fast yet still makes enough spin to keep pretty easily. Easy winners.
Top Spin/Slice-Slices seemed to have come off the frame a little higher than I'm used to, which isn't really a bad thing at least for defensive slices as it usually just means more time in the air for me to recover. Hard to describe but it was felt very natural for me to get them to land deep and still in. Easy spin and power both top and back spin directions. Strokes I'd hit out with my rf97 would stay in with the Blade 99 Pro due to easy access to enough spin.
Comfort- totally fine. light and easy to swing. stable. not sure what else to say.
Feel- might be stiff (maybe about or less than 6.1 95's stiffness it felt like?) but not harsh at all. in terms of touch, you might need to be a little more sensitive as the balls seem to pop off the frame more
Maneuverability- easy to swing, fast, well balanced, light. zero complaints here.
Stability-very stable. didn't have any shots where the racquet wobbled in my grip. returning heavy shots was easy-peasy
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I'm a fan. I could see myself maining it. I think a lot of people will like it. Very capable racquet. Not really a touch racquet IMO though you probably still work with it, it but the easy power and spin combined with the strong maneuverability, comfort, stability make it my opinion a fantastic stick. Nice job Wilson. I really love how easy it is to play easy tennis with it and still hit a strong ball while having a ton reserved for big swings.
Edit: after reading some comments here, all i gotta say is, tf is the Steam?
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Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
It's interesting how Chris didn't say the word "Steam" lol. I also got the impression that the 100 is a minor update from the prior model - is that the case from anyone who's testing the 100?
jimdontcare
Professional
The v4 had comparable forgiveness, less top end power, a bit easier depth control, less precise targeting for me. A lot of people said it was more maneuverable than the PD, and it did have a lower target swingweight at the time, but everything else about it was clunkier for me. I have a feeling that's what this round is going to be as well but I'd love Wilson to prove me wrong.
This is the bluest blue that ever blued
Alright so have had a couple hits, some with @antony. Great guy to hit with if you are ever in Indy.
First and foremost, BBO just died immediately. It is the worst performance I have ever gotten from that string. I guess it's the open pattern...?
But I'm trying to filter out what was caused by the string and also going to get it restrung this weekend.
What I like is you get pretty decent control from such an open pattern and volleys aren't bad either. I think the balance helps with stability.
I felt like I could target decently well and go for lines.
You do get some good zip when you hit or serve flat.
Spin is not its strength, which is really surprising given how open the pattern is. You have to wrist it and for my stroke that isn't sustainable.
For its weight, it also isn't super fast swinging, so I am still adjusting a bit to the balance. I'm not an expert but wonder if the mass is centralized/not polarized and that contributes to its slower swing feel and lower spin production. (Just a theory, some nerd can correct me
) (Jokes)
But as I said, stability is decent.
It feels a little less solid outside the sweetspot where it just feels "light." I haven't really had frame twisting or anything it just feels like it needs a little weight, especially at the top of the hoop.
Ultimately, I'd probably want to make it more HL and add a small amount of weight in the hoop. At a minimum it's getting a leather grip.
For now, the biggest thing is finding the right string that will make all the difference.
First and foremost, BBO just died immediately. It is the worst performance I have ever gotten from that string. I guess it's the open pattern...?
But I'm trying to filter out what was caused by the string and also going to get it restrung this weekend.
What I like is you get pretty decent control from such an open pattern and volleys aren't bad either. I think the balance helps with stability.
I felt like I could target decently well and go for lines.
You do get some good zip when you hit or serve flat.
Spin is not its strength, which is really surprising given how open the pattern is. You have to wrist it and for my stroke that isn't sustainable.
For its weight, it also isn't super fast swinging, so I am still adjusting a bit to the balance. I'm not an expert but wonder if the mass is centralized/not polarized and that contributes to its slower swing feel and lower spin production. (Just a theory, some nerd can correct me
) (Jokes)But as I said, stability is decent.
It feels a little less solid outside the sweetspot where it just feels "light." I haven't really had frame twisting or anything it just feels like it needs a little weight, especially at the top of the hoop.
Ultimately, I'd probably want to make it more HL and add a small amount of weight in the hoop. At a minimum it's getting a leather grip.
For now, the biggest thing is finding the right string that will make all the difference.
Circa 1762
Rookie
Hat tip to Chris for sneaking in that Spinal Tap reference.
What does everyone think the Team is based on? Sounds intriguing.
antony
Hall of Fame
I liked the BBO lol, and that was after you hit with it awhile. Surprised me because I always have thought lowly of ALU Power performance drop off. Thought the mains were still moving back okay and thought the string job hit fine personally.Alright so have had a couple hits, some with @antony. Great guy to hit with if you are ever in Indy.
First and foremost, BBO just died immediately. It is the worst performance I have ever gotten from that string. I guess it's the open pattern...?
But I'm trying to filter out what was caused by the string and also going to get it restrung this weekend.
What I like is you get pretty decent control from such an open pattern and volleys aren't bad either. I think the balance helps with stability.
I felt like I could target decently well and go for lines.
You do get some good zip when you hit or serve flat.
Spin is not its strength, which is really surprising given how open the pattern is. You have to wrist it and for my stroke that isn't sustainable.
For its weight, it also isn't super fast swinging, so I am still adjusting a bit to the balance. I'm not an expert but wonder if the mass is centralized/not polarized and that contributes to its slower swing feel and lower spin production. (Just a theory, some nerd can correct me
But as I said, stability is decent.
It feels a little less solid outside the sweetspot where it just feels "light." I haven't really had frame twisting or anything it just feels like it needs a little weight, especially at the top of the hoop.
Ultimately, I'd probably want to make it more HL and add a small amount of weight in the hoop. At a minimum it's getting a leather grip.
For now, the biggest thing is finding the right string that will make all the difference.
az_cyclist
New User
I'd be curious how the new Ultra 99 Pro compares to the Shift 99 Pro then, since you basically described how the Shift 99 Pro feels/plays.....I currently have one of my Shift Pro's w/ ALU Power 1.25mm originally strung at 55 lbs - have several hours of playtime with the strings (starting to get a bit launchy), but your description is pretty on par with the Shift. Although for me, the Shift is a fairly powerful racquet - I can dial back the swing speed with the Shift and still hit a decent ball with a lot more margin for error, versus taking a full hard/flat rip (which even then, still has a decent margin for error with the Shift, all things considered).Back in town from a work assignment and picked up my racket from my stringer. The only unstrung specs I have was from my first post in this thread - 306g unstrung and balance 32.5cm. I had it strung with the included strings, ALU 48lbs mains, NXT 52 crosses. Strung specs with overgrip, weight 328g, balance 33cm, swing weight 327
Wilson Ultra v5 99 Pro with ALU mains, NXT crosses, Wilson Pro Overgrip version 2
First impressions from my evening's 2 hour practice session - besides the blue glossy paint job, nothing stood out as amazing, but this is a very nice racket to play with. The 99 Pro felt comfortable, not stiff but not flexible either, and with a slightly dampened/muted feeling (I don't play with a string dampener) but still gave enough feel and feedback that I did not feel disconnected when hitting the ball. Bear in mind, I'm coming from using a Wilson Ultra Pro v4 which for me has the feel and feedback I like. The 99 Pro has some decent power, but I was impressed more by the level of control especially on full fast swings; got nice depth too. Spin production (topspin/slice) is nice - I'm not a big spin player, but the racket spins the ball adequately for my attacking style game. During the hitting session I decided to switch rackets and compare to my TF Tempo 298 which I use when I feel like I need a bit more pop to my game. I felt my Tempo has slightly more power and flies faster through the air, but the 99 Pro gave more control. I'm loving the 99 Pro on volleys - nice directional control..no problems manuvering...seemed like I couldn't do anything wrong at the net this evening. So far so good. Looking forward to continuing the playtest tomorrow.
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This is based on about 2 hrs demoing the Shift Pro, so get some salt ready.
Shift Pro has alot better directional control and to me better spin. The downside is it does feel a little stiffer and a little more muted, especially outside the sweetspot. So for me you can make really hard contact and not necessarily realize it wasn't in the center, which I don't prefer. One of the days i demeod was particularly windy and was making more off-center hits than normal.
I think you do get more power from the frame with the UP99 and a little more mass based power and stability in the Shift Pro.
If you don't mind the slight lack of connection with the Shift then there isn't alot of reason to switch. Also the loss of spin would probably be noticeable in the UP99.
Also, as you mentioned, the dense pattern on the Shift makes it a little more forgiving compared to the open 16x18.
If you don't take good consistent swings (consistent speed) the balls can come off a little weak or a little uncontrollably.
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Cowboy
Semi-Pro
Well, sorry guys, it seems that Postimages has a limit to the number of photos you can upload. Anyone have another suggestion?
I've now hit with the 100 for 5 sets....I played a 4th set after a match the first Thursday after receiving it. I went to my ALTA team practice on Tuesday, but opted to go home and eat dinner with the family as there were already 8 people filling both courts by the time I arrived. I also I played a full 3 set match with it this past Thursday.
Today, I had a match and opted to take the Blade v9 100 with the same string and tension (but more freshly strung) for the first two sets. I wasn't playing great, so I switched and noticed an instant improvement.
I'm liking this racquet a LOT more than I thought I would. I don't feel that I have a ton of control, but I don't necessarily feel that the control is lacking either. It's not a spin frame, but I feel like it is really shining in the spin department. I'll get these random rockets that come off the stringbed if hit just right. It's almost like it has a sweetspot like an egg with a tiny yolk. You hit within the perimeter of the sweetspot and you are rewarded, but if you hit that yolk (which again, isn't very big) you get a flyer/trampoline/rocket. It's like there is a spot that is too sweet.
I feel like this frame is really shining on the volleys and touch shots. I'm able to absorb the balls energy and produce some deadly drop shots. I'm hitting those with precision.
My only complaints, so far, is that is feels a little "boardy" and I'm still getting some vibration on off center shots that I don't ever feel with my Blade. This is despite the fact that I have a very wide dampener installed (Head Smartsorb).
I've now hit with the 100 for 5 sets....I played a 4th set after a match the first Thursday after receiving it. I went to my ALTA team practice on Tuesday, but opted to go home and eat dinner with the family as there were already 8 people filling both courts by the time I arrived. I also I played a full 3 set match with it this past Thursday.
Today, I had a match and opted to take the Blade v9 100 with the same string and tension (but more freshly strung) for the first two sets. I wasn't playing great, so I switched and noticed an instant improvement.
I'm liking this racquet a LOT more than I thought I would. I don't feel that I have a ton of control, but I don't necessarily feel that the control is lacking either. It's not a spin frame, but I feel like it is really shining in the spin department. I'll get these random rockets that come off the stringbed if hit just right. It's almost like it has a sweetspot like an egg with a tiny yolk. You hit within the perimeter of the sweetspot and you are rewarded, but if you hit that yolk (which again, isn't very big) you get a flyer/trampoline/rocket. It's like there is a spot that is too sweet.
I feel like this frame is really shining on the volleys and touch shots. I'm able to absorb the balls energy and produce some deadly drop shots. I'm hitting those with precision.
My only complaints, so far, is that is feels a little "boardy" and I'm still getting some vibration on off center shots that I don't ever feel with my Blade. This is despite the fact that I have a very wide dampener installed (Head Smartsorb).
antony
Hall of Fame
agreed, thought there was sometimes a pinginess on such shots.
az_cyclist
New User
My favorite racquets are still my old 1990 Pro Staff 95 5.5 SI's (v2), which have a very direct/crisp feel to it (but doesn't feel harsh), a reasonably stiff racquet and exceptionally good control/precision.....so to me, the Shift has an "interesting" feel. It's muted but not too muted if that makes sense, and with the ALU power in it, it's passable in the feel dept. It has good general directional control, but not as good as the 5.5's where back in the day, I could pretty much paint lines at will with them. The Shift Pros are my lightest racquets, but they feel very stable out of the box, although not as maneuverable. However, I find the Shift to be generally easier to play with, especially when I'm having an off day....and after a 30 year break and getting back to playing (well, against a ball machine since I don't know anyone around here that plays), I have a lot of those. Most of my Pro Staffs have a 16x18 string pattern, but I don't really concern myself too much with the numbers, I pay more attention to stringbed density which can/will vary among racquets with the same number of holes. Sounds like the new v5 Ultra Pro is nice, but I'll prob save my money.....although I do have a thing for those glossy blue Wilsons (like my 1990 Pro Staff 5.5's), so one might end up in my bag at some point lol.
Guttersnipe
Professional
Will Demon be using this paint job? He’s the poster boy, on the placard.
heavyD
Hall of Fame
Most likely will be switching to it in the upcoming hardcourt season.
He posted an ad on his IG for the ultra. I’m sure it’ll appear at the hard court season
Definitely a fun racquet to have in the bag.
I can kind of already tell I like more versatility, in part, because I mostly play on clay.
So on demand I want to hit deep, topspin forehands or whip up short angles. This racquet just doesn't quite take to that treatment as easily or at least doesn't execute it quite as well as my normal racquet.
I also plan to add a leather grip and maybe a little weight in the head just for fun to see if it plays different.
But I am enjoying it for serves, [mostly] volleys, and the power is a nice bonus. Any lack of enjoyment on volleys is mostly me but a little because the power level drops off outside the sweetspot (as is the case on most racquets) and my technique forgets to show up sometimes.
The biggest difference is comfort. V5 feels more comfortable but I have not been able to locate the stiffness number. Stiffness on V4 is 70 which is too stiff for my arm, wrist, hand and shoulder but, V4 is a great racquet for many.
I play with a V4, the stiffness has never been an issue for me. Looking at pictures of the frame it looked very similar to the V4, so not shocking that is the only major difference. The V4 is a very good frame overall.
Bigfoot10s
New User
I was told by a Wilson rep the V5 was softer than the V4, but haven’t seen a number yet either. I’ve never felt the V4 played to a 70RA, felt softer to me. Hoping the new version is around a 67-68
thenewbig3
Hall of Fame
Did any "SERIOUS PLAYERS" get onto the V5 100?
Interested in comparisons to the V7/V8 Ezone100 and Classic Babs (PD12 or older)
Interested in comparisons to the V7/V8 Ezone100 and Classic Babs (PD12 or older)
Alright, good news
Mach10 1.25 is working well.
Predictability from the stringbed, more control, better spin, to give myself 1% credit...I am also adjusting more to the racquet.
As expected, first couple hours were stiffer, that's just Mach10, but it's getting broken in.
I've used it almost 4 hours, so the next few will be critical to see how it holds tension in the open pattern.
Volleys and touch shots are getting better, my main issue is just technique. These racquets with a more powerful response require better technique to hit your spots or the ball can launch a bit.
What I do like is the pretty well defined sweetspot. It doesn't feel small or hard to hit but you definitely know when you've hit toward the edge of the frame as the power drops and you get a little unpleasant feedback. This is a marked improvement from alot of new racquets with their dampening tech where the whole face of the racquet feels the same.
The racquet, for its weight, is very stable. I think I'd want a little weight in the head just to sure up the feel a bit. I think I'd just like a little more mass for incoming pace so my arm isn't bearing as much if the load.
Serves are still good and spinning in more now with the Mach10.
You kind of have to be careful with shot selection because sometimes I want to go for a more loopy shot and it just doesn't work as well. I'm trying not to buy too much into the placard with "horizontal" swing style and "3/5" spin but it is a conclusion that's lingering around.
Mach10 1.25 is working well.
Predictability from the stringbed, more control, better spin, to give myself 1% credit...I am also adjusting more to the racquet.
As expected, first couple hours were stiffer, that's just Mach10, but it's getting broken in.
I've used it almost 4 hours, so the next few will be critical to see how it holds tension in the open pattern.
Volleys and touch shots are getting better, my main issue is just technique. These racquets with a more powerful response require better technique to hit your spots or the ball can launch a bit.
What I do like is the pretty well defined sweetspot. It doesn't feel small or hard to hit but you definitely know when you've hit toward the edge of the frame as the power drops and you get a little unpleasant feedback. This is a marked improvement from alot of new racquets with their dampening tech where the whole face of the racquet feels the same.
The racquet, for its weight, is very stable. I think I'd want a little weight in the head just to sure up the feel a bit. I think I'd just like a little more mass for incoming pace so my arm isn't bearing as much if the load.
Serves are still good and spinning in more now with the Mach10.
You kind of have to be careful with shot selection because sometimes I want to go for a more loopy shot and it just doesn't work as well. I'm trying not to buy too much into the placard with "horizontal" swing style and "3/5" spin but it is a conclusion that's lingering around.
TennisBros
New User
Wilson Ultra 99 Pro Playtest
1. String and tension used for test:
-The Strings that I used for this play test were: Luxillon ALU Power (1.25), O-Toro (1.23, White), Diadem Solstice Power (1.25)
-Tension: All at 50 Lbs
2. Tennis experience/background:
-15+ years of experience. Typically play at a 4.5 level, but don’t play that often due to coaching and other life necessities. My baseline level of play is 4.0 USTA. I don’t care too much about my singles ranking, so I'll join singles 4.0 tournaments without practicing for months.
3. Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
- I would say that I am an all-court player, but if I were to pinpoint a playing style: Serve and volley, since I like to take time away from my opponent, approach the net and put pressure on my opponent.
4. Current racquet/string setups:
-My normal forte for a type of racquet would be Classic Control Racquets, but am slowly trying to transition to more modern control racquets due to not playing so much. I grew up with Wilson Prostaff’s BLX’s: 95’s, 95S, and 90.. Currently am switching off between the Head Prestige Pro (2021) and Prince ATS Textreme Tour 98, both strung with Diadem Pro-X with 50lbs/48lbs (Mains/Crosses)
5. How many hours did you play with the racquet?
-about 15+ hours with 3-4 hours of tournament play.
Racket Gameplay:
1. Groundstrokes:
-The groundstrokes of this racquet were amazing. It honestly reminded me of those old school prostaff’s due to the high stiffness and ease of plowthrough you are able to get, but not in the sense of sheer mass, but through its open string pattern. Speaking of the high stiffness rating, I felt more directional control on more of my open stance shots having a more “direct” response. The strokes that it shined the most were the high forehands from the baseline. The strokes where I was finding the most difficulty were: low flat shots where I needed to impart tons of spin. Maybe it was just me and my usual racket choice, but I felt the need to really get under the ball only to blast it out. Probably should've let the open string bed do the work for me, but was disconnected on those shots because I’m used to doing the work, not the racket.
2. Serves:
-The serves that particularly stood out were: flat and slice. I definitely saw my serve go up in MPH/KPH, however my hitting partners said that it was faster than usual, but lacked the spin that made my serve particularly hard to get. On the receiving end of those returns, it had felt like my opponents were easily able to absorb the pace and redirect it. If they weren't able to absorb the pace then they would do 1 of 3: completely miss it, hit it out, or float it into the “no-mans land” (3/4ths court) for what would normally be an easy forehand finish or a set up for a winner. A key thing to note is, I had changed nothing with my serve form or technique and my intentions are to hit slices, but the result is flat.
3. Volleys:
-I am a Doubles Player, but like to play singles. When I was playing doubles with this racket, and I was up at net while my partner was serving, it felt like the stringbed was extremely erratic, not being able to control most of my volleys. The only time when I felt a good “POP” on my volleys were when I emphasized my cross-over steps going forward, but that’s is just solely a technique issue. When up at net for defensive volleys: it felt like my balls would just pop up and float.
-When playing singles, it felt easier to volley mainly due to how in control of the rally I was. However, that was only if and when I was able to get up at the net.
4. Serve returns:
-Serve Returns for this racquet was just a DREAM. I don't think I have had this many return aces in succession. Like I had previously mentioned: high forehands from the baseline is one of this rackets biggest strengths. Most of the time when players serves came in, it would rise to the higher percentage of the regular strike zones to the lower percentage of the high forehand strike zone so I felt like I was able to take advantage of those points. On backhands returns it felt great at redirecting shots as long as there was pace on the ball.
Racket Characteristics:
1. Power/Control
-The power of this was actually a lot, maybe even too much for me (subjective). In my opinion, this racket excels in aggressive baseliner tactics. Being able to overpower your opponents pace, taking time away from them, being on the offensive, and pressuring them to force an error or even open up the opportunity for a winner. To my surprise, I felt that the open string pattern slightly hindered the racket's ability to control the rally and be precise. The power of the racket definitely allowed for the player to go from defensive to offensive. However, if you are coming from a more dense string pattern, there will be a learning curve on figuring out the launch angle on different places on the court. For example, I had difficulty deflecting balls that were landing within the 5% margin of the baseline: too close for me to hit it off the bounce (racket’s too stiff and powerful for me to flick it), which forced me to hit on my back leg and would instinctively try to swing hard, aim higher, and impart tons of spin…only for it to fly out.
2. Top Spin/Slice
-Being a 16x18 string pattern, I had thought that it would generate its own topspin, but I think I overestimated the amount of spin that this racket would give me for free. I later realized that it had only given me a higher launch angle. A lot of the times when I tried to impart my own spin, it would just spurt out leaving me to later change my gamestyle and strokes. The slices felt like butter: Balls were low and stayed low after passing the net, actually winning a majority of my points and I would personally say, is one of the stronger characteristics of this racket.
3. Comfort
-I'm quite surprised that this racket was actually comfortable. My initial reaction to the 70 RA stiffness was pure insanity. Thought my bones would shatter upon contact. An obvious exaggeration, but that wasn’t the case. It had felt like the open string pattern along with the 70 RA stiffness was actually complimentary to each other. The only times I had felt discomfort was only due to a technique issue or when I shanked it.
4. Feel-
-The feel of this racket was definitely there, but definitely not one of its main strong points. In comparison to touch of another racket: I would most compare this racket to the Head Speed MP 2022. It felt like I was able to feel where the ball made contact on the stringbed on ground strokes, but when it came to volleys and touch volleys, the string bed seemed erratic and my feel for the ball lessened.
5. Maneuverability
-Not going to lie, it was quite easy to maneuver this around. If you are a flatter style of hitter: I had extreme trouble with trying to whip this racket upwards on the low flat shots. More towards the end of the play test I was able to figure it out, by having a more extreme grip and just flick harder (no pain has occurred).
6. Stability
-Stability was pretty good, the only thing that I wasn’t used to was the thicker beams, I had a lot of tendencies to clip the frame when I imparted spin on my own, but that’s a me thing. Felt very stable on all areas of the court and especially when dealing with high velocity/penetrating shots. I for the most success with my backhands on those shots. The only area where I felt it unstable were when getting hit at for volley’s for doubles. Not a simple block, but I would have to use a lot of my body to punch through it.
General reaction/comments on overall performance/ Personal Recs:
-Overall, the racket is geared towards power. It excels in offensive and defensive power and in a pinch can easily help you turn the tide in a rally through counter punching and slices. If you're coming from a classic control racket or an 18x20 string pattern the launch angle and power is something(s) to get used to. I would recommend this racket to someone who is an aggressive baseliner and likes to come up to the net. For me I felt the racket was string sensitive, tried Alu Power (1.25) first, seemed to love it, but had trouble generating spin and had low confidence in really flicking under those low balls, but great for anything above the waisted groundstrokes. Next I tried Toroline O-Toro (1.23), I almost immediately took them out after an hour of hitting: it felt too erratic and wasn’t getting the response I wanted. Finally, had the most success with Diadem Solstice Power (1.25) everything felt right, same stiffness as ALU, helps really grab the ball on those low shots and the need to incorporate spin is through the strings itself. It seems like Stiff Shaped Poly’s are in favor for this racket, but would definitely consider a thicker gauge to tame and enhance the rackets performance.
1. String and tension used for test:
-The Strings that I used for this play test were: Luxillon ALU Power (1.25), O-Toro (1.23, White), Diadem Solstice Power (1.25)
-Tension: All at 50 Lbs
2. Tennis experience/background:
-15+ years of experience. Typically play at a 4.5 level, but don’t play that often due to coaching and other life necessities. My baseline level of play is 4.0 USTA. I don’t care too much about my singles ranking, so I'll join singles 4.0 tournaments without practicing for months.
3. Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
- I would say that I am an all-court player, but if I were to pinpoint a playing style: Serve and volley, since I like to take time away from my opponent, approach the net and put pressure on my opponent.
4. Current racquet/string setups:
-My normal forte for a type of racquet would be Classic Control Racquets, but am slowly trying to transition to more modern control racquets due to not playing so much. I grew up with Wilson Prostaff’s BLX’s: 95’s, 95S, and 90.. Currently am switching off between the Head Prestige Pro (2021) and Prince ATS Textreme Tour 98, both strung with Diadem Pro-X with 50lbs/48lbs (Mains/Crosses)
5. How many hours did you play with the racquet?
-about 15+ hours with 3-4 hours of tournament play.
Racket Gameplay:
1. Groundstrokes:
-The groundstrokes of this racquet were amazing. It honestly reminded me of those old school prostaff’s due to the high stiffness and ease of plowthrough you are able to get, but not in the sense of sheer mass, but through its open string pattern. Speaking of the high stiffness rating, I felt more directional control on more of my open stance shots having a more “direct” response. The strokes that it shined the most were the high forehands from the baseline. The strokes where I was finding the most difficulty were: low flat shots where I needed to impart tons of spin. Maybe it was just me and my usual racket choice, but I felt the need to really get under the ball only to blast it out. Probably should've let the open string bed do the work for me, but was disconnected on those shots because I’m used to doing the work, not the racket.
2. Serves:
-The serves that particularly stood out were: flat and slice. I definitely saw my serve go up in MPH/KPH, however my hitting partners said that it was faster than usual, but lacked the spin that made my serve particularly hard to get. On the receiving end of those returns, it had felt like my opponents were easily able to absorb the pace and redirect it. If they weren't able to absorb the pace then they would do 1 of 3: completely miss it, hit it out, or float it into the “no-mans land” (3/4ths court) for what would normally be an easy forehand finish or a set up for a winner. A key thing to note is, I had changed nothing with my serve form or technique and my intentions are to hit slices, but the result is flat.
3. Volleys:
-I am a Doubles Player, but like to play singles. When I was playing doubles with this racket, and I was up at net while my partner was serving, it felt like the stringbed was extremely erratic, not being able to control most of my volleys. The only time when I felt a good “POP” on my volleys were when I emphasized my cross-over steps going forward, but that’s is just solely a technique issue. When up at net for defensive volleys: it felt like my balls would just pop up and float.
-When playing singles, it felt easier to volley mainly due to how in control of the rally I was. However, that was only if and when I was able to get up at the net.
4. Serve returns:
-Serve Returns for this racquet was just a DREAM. I don't think I have had this many return aces in succession. Like I had previously mentioned: high forehands from the baseline is one of this rackets biggest strengths. Most of the time when players serves came in, it would rise to the higher percentage of the regular strike zones to the lower percentage of the high forehand strike zone so I felt like I was able to take advantage of those points. On backhands returns it felt great at redirecting shots as long as there was pace on the ball.
Racket Characteristics:
1. Power/Control
-The power of this was actually a lot, maybe even too much for me (subjective). In my opinion, this racket excels in aggressive baseliner tactics. Being able to overpower your opponents pace, taking time away from them, being on the offensive, and pressuring them to force an error or even open up the opportunity for a winner. To my surprise, I felt that the open string pattern slightly hindered the racket's ability to control the rally and be precise. The power of the racket definitely allowed for the player to go from defensive to offensive. However, if you are coming from a more dense string pattern, there will be a learning curve on figuring out the launch angle on different places on the court. For example, I had difficulty deflecting balls that were landing within the 5% margin of the baseline: too close for me to hit it off the bounce (racket’s too stiff and powerful for me to flick it), which forced me to hit on my back leg and would instinctively try to swing hard, aim higher, and impart tons of spin…only for it to fly out.
2. Top Spin/Slice
-Being a 16x18 string pattern, I had thought that it would generate its own topspin, but I think I overestimated the amount of spin that this racket would give me for free. I later realized that it had only given me a higher launch angle. A lot of the times when I tried to impart my own spin, it would just spurt out leaving me to later change my gamestyle and strokes. The slices felt like butter: Balls were low and stayed low after passing the net, actually winning a majority of my points and I would personally say, is one of the stronger characteristics of this racket.
3. Comfort
-I'm quite surprised that this racket was actually comfortable. My initial reaction to the 70 RA stiffness was pure insanity. Thought my bones would shatter upon contact. An obvious exaggeration, but that wasn’t the case. It had felt like the open string pattern along with the 70 RA stiffness was actually complimentary to each other. The only times I had felt discomfort was only due to a technique issue or when I shanked it.
4. Feel-
-The feel of this racket was definitely there, but definitely not one of its main strong points. In comparison to touch of another racket: I would most compare this racket to the Head Speed MP 2022. It felt like I was able to feel where the ball made contact on the stringbed on ground strokes, but when it came to volleys and touch volleys, the string bed seemed erratic and my feel for the ball lessened.
5. Maneuverability
-Not going to lie, it was quite easy to maneuver this around. If you are a flatter style of hitter: I had extreme trouble with trying to whip this racket upwards on the low flat shots. More towards the end of the play test I was able to figure it out, by having a more extreme grip and just flick harder (no pain has occurred).
6. Stability
-Stability was pretty good, the only thing that I wasn’t used to was the thicker beams, I had a lot of tendencies to clip the frame when I imparted spin on my own, but that’s a me thing. Felt very stable on all areas of the court and especially when dealing with high velocity/penetrating shots. I for the most success with my backhands on those shots. The only area where I felt it unstable were when getting hit at for volley’s for doubles. Not a simple block, but I would have to use a lot of my body to punch through it.
General reaction/comments on overall performance/ Personal Recs:
-Overall, the racket is geared towards power. It excels in offensive and defensive power and in a pinch can easily help you turn the tide in a rally through counter punching and slices. If you're coming from a classic control racket or an 18x20 string pattern the launch angle and power is something(s) to get used to. I would recommend this racket to someone who is an aggressive baseliner and likes to come up to the net. For me I felt the racket was string sensitive, tried Alu Power (1.25) first, seemed to love it, but had trouble generating spin and had low confidence in really flicking under those low balls, but great for anything above the waisted groundstrokes. Next I tried Toroline O-Toro (1.23), I almost immediately took them out after an hour of hitting: it felt too erratic and wasn’t getting the response I wanted. Finally, had the most success with Diadem Solstice Power (1.25) everything felt right, same stiffness as ALU, helps really grab the ball on those low shots and the need to incorporate spin is through the strings itself. It seems like Stiff Shaped Poly’s are in favor for this racket, but would definitely consider a thicker gauge to tame and enhance the rackets performance.
Last edited:
StringStrungStrang
Professional
TW's FB ad - Introducing the Wilson Ultra V5 !!
"A redesigned geometry boosts spin and raw power, while refined ball pocketing sharpens accuracy."
The blue in our playtesters' pictures really pops !!
"A redesigned geometry boosts spin and raw power, while refined ball pocketing sharpens accuracy."
The blue in our playtesters' pictures really pops !!
Circa 1762
Rookie
I didn’t get selected for the playtest but lucked out and got the first 99 Pro demo at my local shop. Specs strung fresh with Hyper-G 16 and an overgrip are 329 g weight, 33.2 cm balance, and 335 swingweight. Kind of a weird spec, but actually quite similar to what I prefer, so I’m going to test it stock. Will report back.
Also the spec is almost identical to prior Tfight 305 models.
They were 305g, 32.5cm balance unstrung and usually resulted in 330-340sw strung
2025 Wilson Ultra 100 v5 Playtest
Will add my own thoughts shortly but thought I'd share this Playtest from my kid who is way better than me in everything – competitive junior - 7.8 UTR currently (Top 25 in age group in state) - 4.5 NTRP player who plays mostly singles (a fourth of these matches are doubles).
Play style: Counterpuncher
I usually play flat, but sometimes use spin when I am on offense. I like using the opponent’s pace, and I enjoy picking targets on passing shots. My net game is average, but I don’t incorporate it into my singles game very often.
Current racquet/ String setup:
I usually play with the Ezone 100 2022 strung with Hyper G at about 40 lbs. For this playtest, I will compare the Ultra 100 v5 with my experience with the Ezone 100. I have played doubles and singles with this racquet . I strung the racquet with ALU Power at 44 lbs. I played about 12 hours with this racquet.
Groundstrokes: I think this racquet shined at the baseline.The racquet was easy to maneuver, which helped me reach more balls and also attack with more head speed. Whenever I got a short ball, I was comfortable with ripping it at the angles and putting the opponent on defense. The shot occasionally launched from my racquet, but that’s not always a bad thing. In this aspect, the Ultra was better than my Ezone. However, on defense my shots were not always as great. I struggled to use pace from the opponent, and though this wasn’t a huge deal, it cost me a few points here and there. I preferred the Ezone more for defense. Overall, this is a great racquet to play offensive tennis but isn’t the best racquet for “defense-first” tennis.
Serves: Overall, the serves were pretty solid with this racquet . Serves aren’t usually my strength, and I usually play a slice or top-spinny kick serves. This racquet gave me really nice margins when using spin on my serves, so I made a lot fewer net errors on my slice and kick. However, this also became a downside for my flat serves, as I couldn’t control the ball as well as I usually could with my Ezone.
Volleys: This racquet was pretty good for volleys. I also don’t rely too much on volleys for my game, so this wasn’t a huge focus for me while I was playing. The racquet was stable at the net, and didn’t twist too much on impact. When I played doubles and I tried to attack at the net, it sometimes went well, but sometimes dropped in the net. This was likely an issue on my part, though. I think that this is a good racquet for volleying as long as your fundamentals are sound, as it won’t provide any extra help but will behave solidly.
Serve returns: Overall, I liked returning with this racquet. It was slightly more maneuverable compared to my Ezone, so I was able to swing at the ball more when I had the time. This allowed me to attack weaker serves with more ease than usual. However, an issue came up when returning hard serves. Due to the racquet’s stiffness, I struggled to put the ball back with pace like I usually do, so it could behave very unpredictably or land very short if I made a small mistake. I was able to get used to this after playing with it for a few more hours.
Racquet Characteristics:
Power/Control- This racquet wasn’t super powerful, but it was very good at amplifying the power in my shots when I went for it. There was also a good amount of control, but there were a few instances where the ball launched a little too far. This just took time to get used to, and the issue was resolved after hitting a few times.
Top Spin/Slice- This racquet was surprisingly good for hitting topspin, as I found myself being able to push my opponent back and ripping the ball much more easily. The slice is nothing special, and this racquet is good for slicing as long as your form is correct.
Comfort- This racquet is not super comfortable. It feels pretty nice at the sweetspot, but it felt stiff outside the sweetspot.
Feel- This racquet has average feel. It is a pretty stiff racquet, so I wasn’t expecting too much in the first place. But, I found that I could occasionally hit some really nice dropshots after getting used to it. It is a very easy racquet to go from neutral play to offense.
Maneuverability- I thought this was a very maneuverable racquet for a 300g, and it felt much lighter than my Ezone. This helped me attack with more head speed and move around the court with more ease.
Stability- This was a pretty stable racquet, and it doesn’t twist too much at impact. It is not as stable as my Ezone, which barely twists at all, but it is very stable for how light it feels.
Overall, I thought this was a great racquet. It really helped my shots at the baseline, and I could put a lot more pace on the ball when I felt like it. It didn’t improve many of my other shots, but this wasn’t a problem because I rarely rely on them as much as my baseline groundstrokes. I would consider switching to this racquet after spending a little more time adjusting to it.
Will add my own thoughts shortly but thought I'd share this Playtest from my kid who is way better than me in everything – competitive junior - 7.8 UTR currently (Top 25 in age group in state) - 4.5 NTRP player who plays mostly singles (a fourth of these matches are doubles).
Play style: Counterpuncher
I usually play flat, but sometimes use spin when I am on offense. I like using the opponent’s pace, and I enjoy picking targets on passing shots. My net game is average, but I don’t incorporate it into my singles game very often.
Current racquet/ String setup:
I usually play with the Ezone 100 2022 strung with Hyper G at about 40 lbs. For this playtest, I will compare the Ultra 100 v5 with my experience with the Ezone 100. I have played doubles and singles with this racquet . I strung the racquet with ALU Power at 44 lbs. I played about 12 hours with this racquet.
Groundstrokes: I think this racquet shined at the baseline.The racquet was easy to maneuver, which helped me reach more balls and also attack with more head speed. Whenever I got a short ball, I was comfortable with ripping it at the angles and putting the opponent on defense. The shot occasionally launched from my racquet, but that’s not always a bad thing. In this aspect, the Ultra was better than my Ezone. However, on defense my shots were not always as great. I struggled to use pace from the opponent, and though this wasn’t a huge deal, it cost me a few points here and there. I preferred the Ezone more for defense. Overall, this is a great racquet to play offensive tennis but isn’t the best racquet for “defense-first” tennis.
Serves: Overall, the serves were pretty solid with this racquet . Serves aren’t usually my strength, and I usually play a slice or top-spinny kick serves. This racquet gave me really nice margins when using spin on my serves, so I made a lot fewer net errors on my slice and kick. However, this also became a downside for my flat serves, as I couldn’t control the ball as well as I usually could with my Ezone.
Volleys: This racquet was pretty good for volleys. I also don’t rely too much on volleys for my game, so this wasn’t a huge focus for me while I was playing. The racquet was stable at the net, and didn’t twist too much on impact. When I played doubles and I tried to attack at the net, it sometimes went well, but sometimes dropped in the net. This was likely an issue on my part, though. I think that this is a good racquet for volleying as long as your fundamentals are sound, as it won’t provide any extra help but will behave solidly.
Serve returns: Overall, I liked returning with this racquet. It was slightly more maneuverable compared to my Ezone, so I was able to swing at the ball more when I had the time. This allowed me to attack weaker serves with more ease than usual. However, an issue came up when returning hard serves. Due to the racquet’s stiffness, I struggled to put the ball back with pace like I usually do, so it could behave very unpredictably or land very short if I made a small mistake. I was able to get used to this after playing with it for a few more hours.
Racquet Characteristics:
Power/Control- This racquet wasn’t super powerful, but it was very good at amplifying the power in my shots when I went for it. There was also a good amount of control, but there were a few instances where the ball launched a little too far. This just took time to get used to, and the issue was resolved after hitting a few times.
Top Spin/Slice- This racquet was surprisingly good for hitting topspin, as I found myself being able to push my opponent back and ripping the ball much more easily. The slice is nothing special, and this racquet is good for slicing as long as your form is correct.
Comfort- This racquet is not super comfortable. It feels pretty nice at the sweetspot, but it felt stiff outside the sweetspot.
Feel- This racquet has average feel. It is a pretty stiff racquet, so I wasn’t expecting too much in the first place. But, I found that I could occasionally hit some really nice dropshots after getting used to it. It is a very easy racquet to go from neutral play to offense.
Maneuverability- I thought this was a very maneuverable racquet for a 300g, and it felt much lighter than my Ezone. This helped me attack with more head speed and move around the court with more ease.
Stability- This was a pretty stable racquet, and it doesn’t twist too much at impact. It is not as stable as my Ezone, which barely twists at all, but it is very stable for how light it feels.
Overall, I thought this was a great racquet. It really helped my shots at the baseline, and I could put a lot more pace on the ball when I felt like it. It didn’t improve many of my other shots, but this wasn’t a problem because I rarely rely on them as much as my baseline groundstrokes. I would consider switching to this racquet after spending a little more time adjusting to it.
Got out this morning with a local kid. Former college player in my 30s now sitting at ~11.5 UTR. A little background played with the Blade 98 from 2008 until the end of college in 2015. Switched over to the Blade Pro for a few years and most recently the Tecnifibre 305s for the last 3/4 months. Loved the feeling of the 305 but was having issues with depth as I'm used to high swingweights.
First impressions of the 99 Pro was that it is STIFF. I strung it up with Alu Power at 58lbs (my setup for almost everything) and it felt like an absolute board, loved it LOL. Took a good 20 minutes to get readjusted to the timing/swingweight but once I got that, things started to feel pretty good. I play pretty flat and swing through the ball and had no issues with my backhand or slices. Forehand is still a little shaky and did launch a few times, although it may be the string pattern as I'm used to playing 18x20/18x19. IMO, this racquet shouldn't be touched by anyone below a 4.5. It's similar to the Blade Pro in terms of swingweight, definitely a bit more spin, but not by much. I would say it is pretty demanding and does necessitate full swings to get the most out of the racquet. Only played for an hour and a half this morning with a local junior, but excited to get out this weekend with higher level players to see how well it truly performs. Staying in the bag for now, will update soon enough.
Here's a quick little video from the hit this morning https://www.instagram.com/tennisbentist/reel/DMNvewyM5Sc/
