Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson Ultra v5

[slal1984]

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/

Thanks for the video...i tried mine out yesterday and strung it at 52. I did not find it stiff to be honest. It could be because i already play with a stiff racquet.

I agree, it is a demanding racquet, however it is more forgiving and has a bigger sweet spot then the blade pro 16x19. Overall, i liked it as well and will be tweaking the SW to bring it closer to 330 (325 right now) and switch from a shaped poly to a more rounder poly.

 

[gnawhb]

Thanks for the video...i tried mine out yesterday and strung it at 52. I did not find it stiff to be honest. It could be because i already play with a stiff racquet.

I agree, it is a demanding racquet, however it is more forgiving and has a bigger sweet spot then the blade pro 16x19. Overall, i liked it as well and will be tweaking the SW to bring it closer to 330 (325 right now) and switch from a shaped poly to a more rounder poly.

Yeah I think it's just cause I've been playing with the 305s for the last few months and the Percept 100D for like a year before that. Honestly the tecnifibre felt great but was having issues where my shots would be dropping near the service line with full swings. I have no issues with stiffness was just a shock after so long, but agree with the forgiveness and bigger sweetspot. I used to play with 5 inches of lead at 3/9 on the Blade kinda how Djoko used to have it so weight isn't an issue, but just need a few more practice sessions to dial it in. Already ordered another LOL

 

[slal1984]

Yeah I think it's just cause I've been playing with the 305s for the last few months and the Percept 100D for like a year before that. Honestly the tecnifibre felt great but was having issues where my shots would be dropping near the service line with full swings. I have no issues with stiffness was just a shock after so long, but agree with the forgiveness and bigger sweetspot. I used to play with 5 inches of lead at 3/9 on the Blade kinda how Djoko used to have it so weight isn't an issue, but just need a few more practice sessions to dial it in. Already ordered another LOL

I had the same issue with the 305's. Full swings would just have no dept.

 

[slal1984]

I think this racquet has a lot of potential, for me i will order a few more and keep one that matches the one i have.

 

[gnawhb]

I had the same issue with the 305's. Full swings would just have no dept.

Hah! Glad I'm not the only one. I agree with the potential excited to get a few more hits in. One of the reasons I switched away from the blade pro was because I really couldn't get my serve going for whatever reason. Certainly felt better with the 99 so we'll see. How was the string movement for you? Definitely noticed it, but nothing too crazy but that may be just due to tension. First time playing with a 16x18 so was a bit worried with response but really not bad at all.

 

[slal1984]

Hah! Glad I'm not the only one. I agree with the potential excited to get a few more hits in. One of the reasons I switched away from the blade pro was because I really couldn't get my serve going for whatever reason. Certainly felt better with the 99 so we'll see. How was the string movement for you? Definitely noticed it, but nothing too crazy but that may be just due to tension. First time playing with a 16x18 so was a bit worried with response but really not bad at all.

I grew up playing a 16x18 on the prince racquets. So to me the adjustment was not bad at all. Plus i tend to hit a flatter ball, so did not really feel the difference. Where i really enjoyed it was the clearance and margin on my 1HB.

I played with firewire/ghostwire so did not notice much movement, but i bet if i played a rounder poly i would notice it.

I feel this will be an awesome singles racquet..

 

[Cowboy]

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.

I think I agree with this mostly in lock step. I would make small adjustments in that I think the spin is better than I anticipated. 3/5 is just sort of middle of the road, but I'm actually getting really good spin with the Lux Alu Power that TW included. I also don't feel that it needs any weight. It is much more stable at the net than my Blade 100 v9 with the same string.

The one area that I'm struggling with right now is in mixed doubles. I seem to be getting paired up against a lot of people that like to lob and/or hit with no pace, which is throwing me off. So I'm having to adjust to that. I had a match on Tuesday where I just couldn't get dialed in, so I switched to the Blade for the second set. Unfortunately, I had the same problem, so switched to a Pure Strike w/ NXT Control in it. While the higher tension of the NXT was helpful, it wasn't enough to turn the match around. I've also read that the playable life of Alu Power is quite short, so I may be combating that as well. I have another match on Saturday morning. I plan to stick with the Ultra for the entire match unless I'm just stinking it up.

 

[Chairman3]

I think I agree with this mostly in lock step. I would make small adjustments in that I think the spin is better than I anticipated. 3/5 is just sort of middle of the road, but I'm actually getting really good spin with the Lux Alu Power that TW included. I also don't feel that it needs any weight. It is much more stable at the net than my Blade 100 v9 with the same string.

The one area that I'm struggling with right now is in mixed doubles. I seem to be getting paired up against a lot of people that like to lob and/or hit with no pace, which is throwing me off. So I'm having to adjust to that. I had a match on Tuesday where I just couldn't get dialed in, so I switched to the Blade for the second set. Unfortunately, I had the same problem, so switched to a Pure Strike w/ NXT Control in it. While the higher tension of the NXT was helpful, it wasn't enough to turn the match around. I've also read that the playable life of Alu Power is quite short, so I may be combating that as well. I have another match on Saturday morning. I plan to stick with the Ultra for the entire match unless I'm just stinking it up.

Are you doing the 99 or 100?

 

[Cowboy]

Are you doing the 99 or 100?

100

 

[Circa 1762]

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/

Counterpoint to @gnawhb’s excellent post:

My 99 Pro demo is freshly strung with Hyper-G 16 at 54 lbs, and I was shocked to find that it didn’t feel stiff at all. I would have guessed it was maybe 64, not 69. It felt less stiff than my last-gen Radical MP, which is supposed to be 65. Maybe my forays into 4G have made everything not strung with 4G feel like a comfort frame? Who knows.

Also, I’m also most definitely not anywhere close to 11.5 UTR (I’m floating around the 6-7 UTR range lately), but even with my demo at 335 swingweight, I’m not finding it overly difficult to use. It has great plow and what FEELS - though I can’t be sure - like lower twistweight, because it’s easy to modulate spin but still stable (presumably because of the higher swingweight). It’s also quite powerful, but I’m not finding major issues with directional control. I do agree with other commenters that it’s not a super spin-friendly frame, and the higher launch angle can trick you into thinking you’re hitting with a lot of spin when you really aren’t. But it still has adequate spin, and the string pattern isn’t so open that I would have expected incredible spin anyway.

Just some initial thoughts, but I’ve come out of my first real hit with the 99 Pro a lot more interested in it than I was previously.

For reference, I perpetually demo rackets because it’s fun, but when I play more competitive matches, I usually use a last-gen Radical MP or current-gen Vcore 98 at around 330 swingweight, so those are my best reference points.

 

[Chairman3]

100

Ok, mine is the 99

 

[Chairman3]

Whew....
The power can be addicting on this 99...

Now that I have a good string setup, BBO was a real dud, I'm getting alot more comfortable using it.

And as I said, the power can be addicting. It is so easy to get the ball deep and Mach10 is definitely upping the spin.
I still prefer softer stringbeds, so that may be where we go next in terms of string.

But what about control, the yin to powers yang...let's meditate on it.

The 16x18 still responds like an open-pattern (duh it is) volley and slice technique need to be good or balls float or sit up too much. I'm struggling a bit on droppers, either too short into the net or just too floaty.
The repeated surprise is the controlled launch angle. At 51lbs with this string the launch angle is moderate and when you go for an extreme topspin, loopy ball it can launch on you a bit. I'm sure someone with a more natural windshield wiper technique could be fine.
But end of day, this still leans toward a big target, baseline weapon. Something like a Tfight, Speed, or even Gravity. Some of those obviously offer tighter patterns and more precision.

Honestly, this racquet is giving me some Pure Drive 98 vibes but with less spin. Now I used the PD98 strung at 48, so at the same tension the 98 undoubtedly has more control. But the ease of use, power, and decent touch (for power frames) are similar.

 

[Trip]

@Chairman3 - Appreciate your feedback so far. On string setup, instead of trying softer string at higher tension, what if you strung something more firm, controlled and fairly dent-resistant, but at lower tension (like low-40's or lower)? That might help to give you the best mix of control, easy depth but not uncontrollable, and playable longevity. I'm thinking something like Head Hawk 1.30 at, say, 35 or 40 lbs or so? The U99P's hoop mass and open pattern should still force enough trampoline that it might be a nice match. Plus, with less reference tension to lose, you might get longer playability that way. Might be worth a try.

 

[Chairman3]

@Chairman3 - Appreciate your feedback so far. On string setup, instead of trying softer string at higher tension, what if you strung something more firm, controlled and fairly dent-resistant, but at lower tension (like low-40's or lower)? That might help to give you the best mix of control, easy depth but not uncontrollable, and playable longevity. I'm thinking something like Head Hawk 1.30 at, say, 35 or 40 lbs or so? The U99P's hoop mass and open pattern should still force enough pop that overall the slack and low power of such a string setup could end up being a perfect match. Plus, with less reference tension, there's less to lose over time, so playability should remain for constant for longer. Maybe worth a try.

My experience using low 40s is mostly not great, the strings I've used just feel too dead and seem to be almost inelastic.
For the strings I prefer, the usable range seems to be 45-50 for most racquets.
Since I mostly test with strings from my top 5 list, I tend to go with tensions I'm more familiar with too. My current racquets I string at 50 but may drop to 48 soon.
For me, it gives the most realistic impression of a racquet and provides a good baseline to compare to my normal racquet.
I also won't go up in tension if I go to a softer string here. The only reason I went up 1lb for Mach10 is because at my shop there are two guys who string and the guy who did this his stringjobs usually feel looser than the other guys.

That's not to say I don't like to experiment and definitely would consider it after posting my review. Sometimes I wish we had 6 weeks for these because it would give more time for more setups and customization.

 

[Trip]

@Chairman3 - Fair enough, and well explained.

As for the time period, I, too, wish we would have 6+ weeks. As it stands, people don't often get their frames until less than 3 weeks left in the playtest, and at that point, it almost feels rushed. On the last two or three playtests, I asked TW Staff for an additional week for exactly that reason (which they happily granted me), but it would be nice if we could get more time by default. Even a simple floating deadline, based on when each recipient takes delivery of their frame. Then again, I get the motivation to collect reviews ASAP. Still, I think there's a balance to be had, and a little more time would hit a better middle ground.

 

[Chairman3]

I think there's a balance to be had, and a little more time would hit a better middle ground.

100% agree
The floating deadline is a great idea.
I in FL received my racquet a week after some folks plus the longer distance almost guarantees a delay (the norm from UPS lately).

 

[Trip]

100% agree
The floating deadline is a great idea.
I in FL received my racquet a week after some folks plus the longer distance almost guarantees a delay (the norm from UPS lately).

Indeed.

@TW Staff - What do you think about the idea of a floating deadline for play-testers, based on the date of when each takes delivery of his/her frame?

 

[Cowboy]

The OP still shows TBD, so I think we are getting a little more time with the frame...

... maybe I need to go back and read the email. I will say that I am enjoying not having the pressure of a deadline currently. I should have a competitive match tomorrow morning. The ultra is definitely in my starting lineup.

 

[Cowboy]

Well, I'm glad I went back to the email...

"Please post your review by Friday, July 31st, 2025 by 5 pm PST."

I've played with it enough to write a review at this point, but I was hoping to play with multiple string setups.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Well, I'm glad I went back to the email...

"Please post your review by Friday, July 31st, 2025 by 5 pm PST."

I've played with it enough to write a review at this point, but I was hoping to play with multiple string setups.

I did the tfight 305S playtest and bc I got my racket a bit later than most, @TW Staff did allow me an extension from the deadline.
Just send them a private message if needing more time to write a review.

 

[Circa 1762]

The string pattern is interesting. Compared to my Speed MP, the mains are about the same, and the top 12 crosses are about the same, but the bottom 4 crosses are spaced way farther apart on the 99 Pro than on the Speed MP. The difference between the 99 Pro’s 16x18 and the Speed MP’s 16x19 seems to be almost entirely in those bottom 4 crosses.

 

[gnawhb]

2nd hit this morning with the 99. Felt much much better, didn't notice the stiffness at all. Think it was just the initial shock after playing with the 305s/100D for the last year and a half. Everything started dialing in much better. It felt great letting the swingweight do the work, loosening up my grip and letting my arms swing freely. Had no issues with balls launching and things felt rock solid from the baseline with great depth. Again, slightly more spin that the Blade Pro, just enough where things felt pretty perfect. Volleys were great and overheads were great as well. Didn't get a chance to serve, but planning on playing some sets tomorrow, so will see how well it performs in a more serious scenario. If all goes well think this will be a switch for myself! Got another vid of some crosscourts from this morning, felt super dialed in https://www.instagram.com/tennisbentist/reel/DMS31ACsZvL/

 

[Fighting phoenix]

2nd hit this morning with the 99. Felt much much better, didn't notice the stiffness at all. Think it was just the initial shock after playing with the 305s/100D for the last year and a half. Everything started dialing in much better. It felt great letting the swingweight do the work, loosening up my grip and letting my arms swing freely. Had no issues with balls launching and things felt rock solid from the baseline with great depth. Again, slightly more spin that the Blade Pro, just enough where things felt pretty perfect. Volleys were great and overheads were great as well. Didn't get a chance to serve, but planning on playing some sets tomorrow, so will see how well it performs in a more serious scenario. If all goes well think this will be a switch for myself! Got another vid of some crosscourts from this morning, felt super dialed in https://www.instagram.com/tennisbentist/reel/DMS31ACsZvL/

What about it do you like better than the 305S?

 

[Trip]

@gnawhb - Nice hitting, and nice to see someone who can hit a pretty clean ball with solid technique in the thread.

Clearly, with an average unstrung SW around 300-ish, the U99P is meant for a higher-level player, and/or someone who is simply used to that level of hoop mass. So you seem to be a combo of both, it should be a good fit. Probably not so much for lower-level rec players and/or those who are used to arming around frames that are sub-320's SW strung.

 

[thenewbig3]

@gnawhb - Nice hitting, and nice to see someone who can hit a pretty clean ball with solid technique in the thread.

Rare indeed. That whole instagram has some really good hitting! @gnawhb AWESOME!

In general see very little correlation between quality posters and quality of strokes albeit there is less video data to judge this on

 

[Otinis]

At times we must look back and reflect on the past to move forward in the future.. Steam 99
A cool move would be to sneak the 99s in the mix..
Stringers would be happy with the increased revenue..

Japan has ultra 98 tour with extra length and 18/19 pattern it seems like absolute perfection is it coming to other countries ?

 

[gnawhb]

What about it do you like better than the 305S?

Heavier swingweight and just the raw feel. I grew up on these types of racquets so it is quite nostalgic. I'm not so much a "feel" type of player; I string pretty tight and rely on timing and the mass of the racquet for my shots. Don't get me wrong 305s is great but I was having some trouble with depth on shots. Not fully committed to a switch quite yet, but certainly on the way. I will say the 99 definitely does eat through strings. Popped it already yesterday on the 3rd hitting session ~3-3.5 hours of playtime. Strung it with alu power 1.25 at 58lbs gonna give 1.30 a try and see.

 

[gnawhb]

Rare indeed. That whole instagram has some really good hitting! @gnawhb AWESOME!

In general see very little correlation between quality posters and quality of strokes albeit there is less video data to judge this on

haha thank you! Made it as a way to get out and play more tennis and it's certainly working. Figured not too many people post actual videos of playtesting racquets so thought why not. I think it gives a nice perspective of racquet performance at higher levels.

 

[codonnell]

I love the cosmetic, it’s a really nice blue. Also excited to see how this plays as there are not too many 99 head size frames out there. Could be a great blend with the 16 18 and make for a great blend of player/tweener frame. Only concern for me is the head light balance but that can easily be fixed with some weight in the handle and clearly it doesn’t need much in the hoop at 330 so it should have a solid all around hoop feel.

 

[ttwarrior1]

the steam i had years ago was extended and thick beam. Is that coming too

 

[Cowboy]

Wilson Ultra V5 100 Racquet Playtest

String and tension used for test: Luxilon Alu Power 1.25
Tennis experience/background: I took a lot of lessons as a child and played "competitively" through middle school. I took a hiatus from tennis from about age ~15 to age ~37. I now play 2-3x per week between ALTA and UltimateTennis. I'm a low B player in ALTA and 3.5 in UltimateTennis. I'm continuing to improve on form and winning more consistently. I would self describe my play as all-court, as I'm just as comfortable at the baseline as I am at the net. I find myself playing the ad side in doubles, as I tend to be more comfortable at the net than anyone else on my ALTA team. I prefer to hit forehands and play with an offensive one-hand backhand, but will hit a two-handed backhand if I feel off-balance.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All Court
Current racquet/string setups: Blade v8 100 with poly @ 45lbs.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 13+ at time of review.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: One word: solid. Groundstrokes felt relatively effortless. Whether I was playing mixed doubles against someone with no pace, or singles against a heavy hitter, I was able to redirect the ball with ease. I was able to put relatively heavy topspin on forehands...especially when the strings were fresh. This tapered off some as the strings died out, but the slightly-higher-than-what-I'm-used-to swingweight was evident. Pure joy. (9/10)

-Serves: Serving was a bit of a love/hate relationship. I loved how slow I could swing and still generate a lot of velocity, but I hated how precise I felt I had to be to get the ball in on flat serves. Spin serves were very good. (7/10)

-Volleys: This is an area where I felt the frame really showed its strength. I'm still on a high thinking about how phenomenal my net game was with this frame. I even wore all white to a couple of my matches because my net game was that of someone playing at Wimbledon. In all seriousness, the Ultra V5 is what volley dreams are made of. (10/10)

-Serve returns: Just like groundstrokes, the frame was very solid here. Whether I was "blocking back" a particularly hard server or taking full cuts at soft serves, I felt like I was in the point more often than normal. Again, I attribute this to the higher swingweight. The one area that it did nothing to help me was if I got aced. The racquet was absolutely deplorable when I got aced....to which I can only recall happening once. (9/10)

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- More power than control. I absolutely found this racquet to be loaded with power (9.5/10), and felt that control suffered a little as a result (4.5/10). I found myself having to really slow down my swingspeed to keep balls in play. This was particularly apparent on serves. I found that I could really slow down my serve and hit some absolute fireballs at my opponents. The downside is that timing was more critical, as anything off would go into the net or long. I think I could really get this dialed in with more time and familiarity.

Top Spin/Slice- I don't believe this is a spin frame, but the spin was fantastic with Alu Power (7.5/10). While I have not played Alu Power before, I have played plenty of other round poly and this was right up there with the best of them. I also had the same string strung in my Blade at the same tension to use for comparison. The one caveat to that is that I didn't use the Blade much during this playtest. My usual doubles partner commented that he hadn't seen me put that much spin on a ball before. I found plenty of spin regardless of whether it was forehand or backhand, topspin or slice.

Comfort- Below average (2.5/10). The racquet feels stiff. I don't know the actual RA stiffness rating, but it felt every bit as stiff as the Blade 100L that I sold due to stiffness. I was hoping that the added weight over the Blade 100L would negate the stiffness. While that was true to an extent, the stiffness of the racquet was still apparent and I found myself noticing my elbow more than I would have thought. String selection matters. I've read that Alu Power dies quickly, so keeping it in past the 10 hour mark may have been a mistake. I replaced the Luxilon Alu Power with v5 Terminator (cheap) natural gut around the 10 hour mark. The NG definitely added to the comfort, but I think Spin suffered a little as a result. All other characteristics held constant.

Feel- Boardy. During the first outing, I felt some odd vibrations. I have no explanation as to what caused them, but they seemed to resolve on their own. There were some vibrations on off-center shots that were not resolved with a (very wide) dampener. Touch shots were effortless. I felt like I was hitting drop shots and touch shots like a pro. The racquet definitely inspired a lot of confidence in those shots.

Maneuverability- I did not find this to be a light and whippy frame, but I did not find it to be cumbersome either. I was able to quickly adjust to redirect shots aimed at my feet while playing the net in doubles. I found the frame to be adequately maneuverable.

Stability- I felt the racquet was very stable. I do not once recall the ball imposing its will on the racquet, but felt that the racquet easily imposed its will upon the ball. Even off center shots felt very stable.


Overall, I think this is a very powerful frame with good spin. It's both stable and maneuverable and allowed for excellent touch shots. I would have liked a touch more comfort and control. I think this is a seriously underrated frame that has potential to be an absolute weapon. This frame is ideal for those with a slower swing speed who need the added power. Ideally, this person is not hampered with arm issues. This frame is not going to be well suited to someone with pre-existing arm issues or poor form.

As I mentioned toward the beginning of this playtest, I wanted to compare this to my Blade 100 v9. The length (27"), weight (300g) and balance (32cm, 7pts HL) are all identical. At first, I wondered why Wilson would bring two racquets with such similar statistics to market. I weighed and measured both racquets with a full (uncut) Wilson Pro Black overgrip, Head smartsorb dampener, and full bed of Alu Power 1.25.

Category Ultra v5 Blade v9
Weight 323g 325g
Balance 14 1/8" 14 1/8" (I measured this from the head, so subtracted from 27" to find proper length for measuring swingweight)
TopstrDist 25 1/8" 25 1/8"
Avg SW 322.25 317.75

So what does all of that mean? Well, obviously, the Ultra has a higher swingweight despite having a lower overall strung weight. While the addition of the overgrip and dampener is not "stock form," I did not add any weight to either racquet...so I would not consider these customized in any way either. That higher swingweight makes sense given the enhanced perception of stability. The racquets felt equally maneuverable, but the lower stiffness rating of the Blade translated to more comfort (duh!) At the end of the day, I enjoy both racquets. I think the Ultra is (again) going to suit someone better who needs the added power. The Blade, to me, is a more all-around racquet. Spin is good with both frames.

Swingweight How-to: https://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/howto_swingweight.php
Swingweight Calculator: https://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/swingweight_calc.php

I want to again say "Thank you" to @TW Staff and Wilson for allowing me to participate on this playtest. I think these (playtests) are an absolutely AWESOME way to engage this community and I'm honored to be a part of it.

 

[Cowboy]

I'm going to continue playing with it for a bit, and I have another match scheduled before the end of the playtest, but I'm heading out of town to visit with my grandfather, who isn't doing very well in the health department. I wanted to go ahead and post my review so that I don't accidentally miss the deadline. I don't expect my perception is going to change much at this point, but I will certainly comment here if I pick up on anything different. I look forward to seeing how other's perception compares.

 

[gnawhb]

Quick update. 4th hit with the 99 pro and have popped the strings again. Seems like 2 sessions or around 3 hours is all it’s taking me to rip through the 1.25 Alu power. Those reviews weren’t kidding lol. Been stringing it at 58 lbs, gonna bump it to 64 and see if there’s any improvement (played with the blade 18x20 at 64 for almost a decade during competitive days). If no help, probably gonna order a reel of 1.30 Alu Power and see. Really loving the 99, but really gotta find a setup that works better for durability. Can’t be dropping off a racquet every time I pick one up lol gonna add up quick on my wallet

 

[A_Instead]

That's why they called it the Steam 99 back in the day..you were "steamed" every time you broke your strings as it literally made you broke.. especially with the 99s..

 

[JOSHL]

Wilson Ultra V5 100 Racquet Playtest

String and tension used for test: Diadem Solstice Black mains, Head Velocity crosses at 46/51lbs

Tennis experience/background: I started playing in 2016 as a way to get in shape/healthy and have since become obsessed with all things tennis- racquets/strings/shoes/bags etc. I play USTA and am a 4.0 rated player. My serve is probably my biggest weapon and I have a pretty good OHBH.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Counter puncher
Current racquet/string setups: Babolat Pure Drive 2021 with various string setups but have been using poly main multi crosses lately for arm safety.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10+ at time of review.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):

-Groundstrokes: I found groundstrokes to have pretty easy depth with the Ultra 100. The frame I received had a pretty beefy swingweight for this type of frame but I didn't feel it was sluggish when hitting off the ground. I will say that my current frame has easier depth and did feel faster to swing from the ground. All in all though no complaints here!

-Serves: Serving for me was very similar to ground strokes. The Ultra has good pop/power but not as good as the Pure Drive. The same can be said for slice/kick serves as well, the Pure Drive provides better spin on those types of serves.

-Volleys: Volleys were well above average for the Ultra. I do play a lot of doubles and had zero issues at the net. I have been on a long journey to find a 100in frame as I've gotten older and have used a ton of them, when I finally settled on the Pure Drive one of the main reasons was stability at the net. I can safely say that the Ultra 100 is just as stable at the net as the Pure Drive. I also had no issues with maneuverability at net either.

-Serve returns: Returning serves with the Ultra was also a plus for me. I had no problems swinging out on weaker serves or blocking back harder serves. The string pattern compared to my Pure Drive provides a bit more control which I was going to save for that portion of the review but when returning serves it is really important. I do still prefer the Pure Drive on returns- maybe due to familiarity- but also because of the easier depth it provides as well as it feels faster through the air.

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)

Power/Control- For sure more power than control but it's not an uncontrollable frame. I feel like I could easily switch to this frame mid match if for some reason my Pure Drive was feeling uncontrollable and not skip a beat. The Pure Drive power is addicting though so the edge goes there. The string pattern is a bit more closed than the Pure Drive providing that little bit extra control.

Top Spin/Slice- I would not consider the Ultra a spin monster type frame but for sure it can hold its own. The Pure Drive has a more open string pattern so spin comes easier to me. I'm also in the camp that spin production is mostly technique related but certain strings/string patterns do have an influence. Top spin and Slice were both above average for me compared to most other frames, I'd put both above the current EZone 100 for example.

Comfort- Obviously coming from using the notorious arm wrecker Pure Drive not much will be less comfortable! To me the Ultra has a perfect blend of feedback and mutedness. If the Ezone 100 is devoid of any feel (which I think it is) and the Pure Drive is super harsh (I wouldn't go that far but some do) this Ultra is right smack dab in the middle.

Feel- To echo what I said above the Ultra feels nice. Here is where I like the Pure Drive more though- the Pure Drive just has this crispy energy return feel when you hit the ball that I have yet to experience in any other frame. The only other frame that has come kinda close is the 360+ Prestige Mid with Alu power. I think the Ultra feels a lot nicer than what the stiffness indicates for sure.

Maneuverability- Not quite as whippy as my Pure Drive but for the thick beam and 100in head size and pretty high SW I found the maneuverability excellent. As I said above in the volley section, this is important for doubles to not only have maneuverability but also stability and this frame does both very well.

Stability- Stability is one of this frames stand out features for me. I never had an issue with stability in volleys at the net, blocking back fast returns or anywhere else. I would put it right up there with the Pure Drive which in my opinion is the most stable frame at 300g.


Overall, I think anyone looking for a more comfortable Pure Drive (2021- I hear the new one is pretty comfy/muted) with a touch more control but the same stability and a killer paint job then look no further. Honestly if the Pure Drive 2021 didn't exist I could easily switch to and main this frame (until the next shiny new object comes along- Ultra 99- holics amirite?)

Huge Thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for letting me be a part of this test, it was awesome to have this frame in my hands before it even launched, my most rockstar feeling tennis moment for sure!

 

[A_Instead]

My observations are similar to Josh's..

 

[Wessiee]

I wonder if its ever worth it to buy a string-eater?
Isnt there any racket that comes close to it or something?

 

[JoaoN]

Quick update. 4th hit with the 99 pro and have popped the strings again. Seems like 2 sessions or around 3 hours is all it’s taking me to rip through the 1.25 Alu power. Those reviews weren’t kidding lol. Been stringing it at 58 lbs, gonna bump it to 64 and see if there’s any improvement (played with the blade 18x20 at 64 for almost a decade during competitive days). If no help, probably gonna order a reel of 1.30 Alu Power and see. Really loving the 99, but really gotta find a setup that works better for durability. Can’t be dropping off a racquet every time I pick one up lol gonna add up quick on my wallet

I am getting 4h from mine. Alu Power 1.25 also. BUT, from the 3rd hour it is full locked up, no snapback at all.

 

[A_Instead]

Anyone who has the 100 get any Juice version 1 vibes?
I think I do.. just the new Ultra is more comfortable..

 

[EastAngels2014]

Wilson Ultra 99 Playest

String and tension used for test: Luxilon Ali Power @ 52 lbs

Tennis experience/background: 4.5 league player, been playing for 10 years.

Describe your playing style: Aggressive baselines/counter puncher when necessary. Working on coming to net more often. Been playing more doubles so working volleys more than I have in the past.

Current racquet/string setups: T-Fight 305 strung with Grapple Snake M8 at 50lbs.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? Played about 10-12hrs with the racquet, mixture of singles and doubles.

-Groundstrokes: Ground strokes are where this racquet was tough for me to get a feel for. I loved it when I made good clean contact, great amount of spin and power but the head heavy balance made it tough for me to catch up to the ball at times (not the biggest guy out there). I could really feel the power, there were plenty of time that I hit a winner expecting it to be a more neutral ball. I did try put about 5g in the handle but still didn’t feel timing the ball.

-Serves: Again the balance point was tough for me on serves. The power on flats was great, and plenty of bite of the ball for slice serves, kick serves are where I struggled at times. If my arm was fresh then kick serves were incredible due to the 16x18 string pattern, but later in to sets and my arm was tired I couldn’t get the tip of the frame around as quickly as I would like.

-Volleys: I loved this racquet in volley. The power and stability of the racquet made it very easy to stick a volley. There was plenty of mass behind the racquet with all the weight in the hoop that it doesn’t get pushed around. This is again though where I struggled with the balance and SW of the racquet. Quick reflex volleys were tough, especially in doubles when getting in to back to back volley rallies.

-Serve returns: I liked the racquet on serve returns, the stability really helped here. Was able to block back big first serves with unexpected depth. There were times that the ball did launch off the string bed quicker than anticipated that made returning a little unreliable.

Power/Control- the power was something I really enjoyed about this racquet. Made it very easy to find good depth on shots. There was plenty of put away power which is not something I am used to from racquets I played with in the past. The control was also very good given a much more open pattern than I am used to using (Only 18x20 until the T-Fight).

Top Spin/Slice- The spin was great here, every ball I hit had plenty of top spin the bring it back down inside the court at the last second. It didn’t create as much a jump off the court as I expected but decent amounts of doing. Slices were like a knife through butter, could really feel the strings bite the ball to keep it low.

Comfort- I expected the racquet to feel much stiffer with a 69RA but the comfort was great with this racquet. I had no arm issues. It very forgiving when hitting off center.

Feel- This again was an area that I was happy with. There was plenty of feedback from the racquet on what I did wrong which is something I look for. I did wish for a little bit more predictability for the string bed though.

Maneuverability- this was the biggest problem I had with this racquet. The head heavy balance just made it too difficult for me to use over a long period of time. Especially on ground strokes, there were too many times I was caught late trying to bring the racquet head around. As stated earlier, even with weight in the handle I couldn’t make up for it.

Stability- Amazing stability, this was probably one of my favorite things about this racquet. Every ball was solid but also connected. I never felt pushed around by my opponents shots because of the stability of this racquet.



General reaction/comments on overall performance: I want to start by saying thank you TW and Wilson for the opportunity to redo this racquet. This is a very solid racquet!! Overall I enjoyed this racquet a lot, the power and spin was something I could get used to but the balance made it tough for me to use for an extended period of time. I also wish it had a more closed string pattern, the 16x18 was just a little bit too much for me personally.

 

[TennisHound]

The Wilson Ultra Pro v5 99 is a tennis racquet with a 99 sq. in. head size, a 16x18 string pattern, and an unstrung weight of 305g. Beam unknown.

• Balance: 32.5cm (approximately 6 points headlight)
• Swingweight: ~325-328g strung
• Frame Stiffness: ~66 (unstrung)
• Mold: Based on the Wilson Steam 99 Pro Stock mold.
• Other Features: Glossy paint job, spin-friendly.

Wow, a Blade 99/Steam 99 coming back? Sweet

 

[Molk]

Wilson Ultra 100 V5 Racquet Playtest


Strings & Tension Used:
I tested the Ultra 100 V5 with three different string setups:

• Wilson NXT Comfort 16 at 48 lbs. (8 hours of play)
• Luxilon ALU Power 125 at 46 lbs. (6 hours of play)
• Isospeed Professional Classic 17 at 44 lbs. (8 hours of play)

I didn’t get the chance to use a hybrid setup, but I’ve long considered Wilson NXT Comfort and Luxilon ALU Power to be the best strings ever made. The NXT Comfort, in particular, continues to impress with its arm-friendly playability.


Tennis Experience/Background:
I’m a senior tennis player with a lifelong passion for the game. I played Division III tennis at UW-Eau Claire, am a former USPTA member, and coached high school tennis for several years. I’ve been stringing racquets for over 50 years—both my own and for friends. I love clay court tennis and primarily play doubles now. My current NTRP rating is around 4.0.


Playing Style:
I’d describe myself as an all-court player with a counter-punching mindset. I rely on slice and topspin serves, drop shots, lobs, and whatever it takes to stay in the point. When my back allows, I’ll throw in a twist serve with some leg drive.


Current Setup:
My go-to racquet is the Wilson Ultra 108 V3, strung with Wilson NXT Soft 17g. I’m always on the lookout for a racquet that gives me access to spin through poly strings without hurting my elbow, while also offering more control and stability—especially on groundstrokes and volleys. I want it all! Is that too much to ask?


Time Spent with Racquet: Approx. 24 hours

---

Performance Breakdown​

Groundstrokes: 8/10
The Ultra 100 V5 felt solid and predictable from the baseline. I could hit a flat ball comfortably and generate depth without worrying about spraying balls long. Compared to Version 4, the lower flex rating gives it a much more arm-friendly feel. I did wish for just a little more plow-through so I wouldn't have to swing quite as hard—“easy power” is always a plus.


Serves: 8/10
This racquet excels on slice serves. You can easily serve short and wide to pull your opponent off the court. The open string pattern rewards topspin and twist serves too. However, I’d like a little more pop on flat serves.


Volleys: 9/10
Touch and control at the net were standout features. The racquet is maneuverable and stable—even on reflex volleys or against heavy hitters. Drop volleys, half volleys, and redirecting pace were all comfortable and confident with this stick.


Serve Returns: 8/10
The Ultra 100 lets you take aggressive cuts at returns without fear of launching. Its maneuverability allows you to chip and charge or half-volley returns effectively. However, a bit more mass would help block or absorb pace better.


Power/Control: 8/10
There’s a good balance between power and control. I’d still like a bit more “easy power” across all strokes so the racquet can do more of the work. Access to spin helps with control, and I’d love even more of it.


Topspin/Slice: 8/10
Slice generation felt easier than topspin with this frame. If you’re not using a full western or semi-western grip, it may be harder to generate heavy topspin compared to more spin-friendly racquets.


Comfort: 8/10
This version is noticeably more arm-friendly than its predecessor. The softer flex makes it one of the few racquets that lets you play with a quality poly like ALU Power without paying for it with elbow or shoulder pain.


Feel: 8.5/10
Feel was controlled and connected. I always knew what the ball was doing off the strings. The sweet spot was decent, but I’d love it to be just a bit larger—maybe something Wilson can engineer in a future version.


Maneuverability: 7.5/10
The Ultra 100 V5 is maneuverable, but I found the swing weight just a touch high for my preference.


Stability: 8/10
Stability is good when the ball is hit cleanly in the sweet spot. However, on high shots or slight mishits, especially against heavy hitters, I felt it could use just a bit more stability.

---

Overall Impression: 8/10​

The Ultra legacy continues with this new version. Wilson has delivered a well-engineered, arm-friendly, and performance-driven frame that blends control, feel, and a touch of pop. It’s stable, comfortable, and maneuverable enough for serious play, especially in doubles. And let’s not forget—the bright blue finish is stunning, like a premium guitar. It turns heads on the court.


Many thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for including me in this playtest. It was an honor and a blast to be part of it!

 

[rwinger]

Wilson Ultra 100 v5 Playtest

A big thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for including me in the Playtest.

Background: 3.5-4.0 mainly doubles player.
Play style: all courter + counter puncher
String setup: Alu power at 42 lbs
Duration: 10 hours
Usual setup: TF40 18x20; Elevate;both with Multi or Multi/Poly hybrids at ~45 lbs.

Initial impressions: The racquet is matte/less glossy than the Ultra 99 pro. Looks great overall, slightly thicker beam - doesn't appear like a slicer's dream at first glance. It feels about half an ounce lighter than the 305g racquets. It feels (this might seem arbitrary, but it feels like a mix of Pure Drive, EZone 100 and Elevate V3)

Groundstrokes: forehands, no surprise here. It has a blend of power and spin that feels like an EZone or Pure Drive (closer to the latter) but more maneuverable. Generating power was easy for keeping the ball deep, but most of the time I had to remember to hit with spin so that the ball won't sail long. Racquet feels more like 315 sw (strung) to me, which is fairly light and a flat hitter's dream too. Vibrations are minimized, but the stick felt a tad firmer than the peers. So, a little more control was needed, but then again I would just go with a racquet with a thinner head if that were the criteria.

Groundstrokes: backhands: I hit with a two-handed backhand in competitive play and one hand for casual hitting, used to using heavier racquets for more stability. However, stability was not an issue with this racquet. It felt a bit unstable against hard shots unless the body weight was behind the racquet pushing forward... for a racquet that only weighs 11.1 oz strung, the stability is impressive. Topspin shots were loopier, but flat hitters can hit with ease, but there were times when it sailed long when I drove the stick through the ball a little more. Doesn't look like a slicer's dream but slices were effortless.

Volleys: The relatively light weight helps a lot with maneuverability at the net. The racquet packed punch on volleys, but I had to remember the ball might fly long. The sweetspot is big, but at times where I missed the sweetspot, the stick twisted a bit and there was a bit of jarring feeling.

Serves: This racquet is unique in this aspect. There was easy power, and it didn't take a lot of effort, but placement takes getting used to. The low swingweight helps a lot with acceleration, and the racquet made a satisfying impact with the ball. It has to be reigned in with body behind it and good RHS. Slice serves were decent and easy to make.

Returns: A more advanced player can make some impressive returns with just a little good technique. The stability against really spinny serves could have been better but for the most part the racquet remained stable. The power helped but also was a bit of a disadvantage with returns. It was easier to get the ball deeper on returns, but the power made it harder to control where exactly the ball was going to go.

Overall: The main difference from previous Ultra is - it is a bit stiffer, and somehow the racquet feels less hollow. Performance wise, there is a little more power and a potential for flat hitters and spin hitters alike in this version. This Ultra is appropriate for many levels of players, but might not give enough feel or control for more advanced players who really emphasize precise ball placement. This racquet is fun to use and I would be happy to adjust to it for long term use.

Once again, thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for including me in this Playtest!

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

Wilson Ultra 99 Pro Playtest

String and tension used for test: Luxilon 4G 1.25 at 48/45
Tennis experience/background: 4.0 – 4.5 USTA
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): all court player
Current racquet/string setups: RF01Pro, Lynx Tour 125/Head Hawk 125
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 8-9 hrs

Racket specs
Unstrung: 303.9g / 32.5cm / SW300
After hitting with it stock, decided to add 1.5g to 12, and add about 7gram in handle

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: The racket looks like a Blade, but performs quite different off the ground. With a thicker beam, bigger head size, and much more open string pattern, you get access to more power, but also a much higher launch angle on all balls. I was having trouble controlling the forehand, either going super short, or going very long. Whereas for my one handed bh, everything was flying long with no spin. I added about 1.5g of lead at 12 oclock, bringing my unstrung SW to about 305-306, and this allow for me to control a little bit more of the spin that is generate, ultimately allowing for me to bring the ball back down to the ground.
-Serves: Racket felt overall very good on the serves. The higher swingweight allowed for me to drive through the flat balls well. Even if the serve contact was off center, I did not feel like it was giving up too much on the power side. With the spin serves, the was some difficulty with trying to control the amount of spin, resulting in some of the serves flying. It will require additional dialing in, to get the serve to where I want it to be.
-Volleys: Surprisingly, the volleys were great! I noticed on multiple occasions where I had to do a pick, half volley, I was always successful and put back a good ball. The big sweetspot allowed for easy contact on the volleys, and overall good stability. When the racket was stock, I did find the racket maneuverability difficult to get into the right place for volleys. After adding some weight into the handle, it did help much more.
-Serve returns: On serve returns, I felt the racket swung a little clunky. Due to the balance of the racket, I had a difficult time of getting the racket around and timing it correctly to get good precise cuts on the serve. On the occasions I did get good contact, the swing through felt good as the bigger sweetspot allowed from better returns, even when off center.

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control-Lots of easy power. No control at all. Unfortunately the amount of power you get vs the lack of control on the racket, just doesn’t combine for a good racket overall. I had a difficult getting the ball where I wanted it to go, since the drill pattern is so open, the ball tends to fly.
Top Spin/Slice-With an 16x18 string pattern, you would think there would be an intense amount of spin. From my experience, you get a great high launch angle off the racket, and the ball just continues to fly and fly and fly. I could not get the spin to come back down to the ground. Even though my initial unstrung SW is 300, I still need to add a little bit more lead at the top. Once I added the lead, it definitely helped more with getting some dipping spin. For the slices, the balls more often than not would fly further than anticipated.
Comfort-The big racket face was great. Very comfortable when it came to contacting the ball. Did not have any discomfort.
Feel-To me the racket had average feel. Due to the bigger headsize, the ground strokes did not feel as connected as compared to a Blade.
Maneuverability-The racket felt quite clunky in all aspects on the court. Moving it around for groundstrokes, volleys, serves, it just didn’t feel smooth and easy. Even after adjusting the balance by adding some weight in the handle, it still didn’t feel quite right.
Stability-Over the racket felt stable. I did not feel as if the racket would be pushed back by any ball hit my way.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I know there is a lot of hype around this racket. From a visual standpoint, the racket is gorgeous. Wilson has knocked it out of the park with this gloss Blue, and the v4 Ultra gloss and v9 Blade gloss. But as good as the racket looks, it's got to perform on court. Unfortunately for me, this racket is just not the right fit. I can try to tinker with the specs more to see if there is any improvement. One thing to note, I initially strung the crosses 3 lbs less than the mains. Going forward, I might do same tension for both, and potentially try stringing higher by 5+lbs, around 53 or 55, to stiffen up the current stringbed. That might help with the control on the racket. The fact that Wilson would re-issue a once discontinued racket, shows they listen to us fans, and are an always evolving company. The next step would be to re-issue the Steam 100.


Thank you to @TW Staff and Wilson Tennis for the opportunity to playtest this racket!

 

[TwinCinema]

It would be cool if playtesters mentioned which racket they’re reviewing! @lidoazndiabloboi I assume based on the string pattern you mentioned it’s the 99 pro?

 

[A_Instead]

Review coming once I get the format corect

 

[A_Instead]

Wilson Ultra 100 V5 4 ¼ with Wilson Pro overgrip and TW Worm Dampener
These are my observations, my aim is to articulate my experiences with the new fantastic looking new Ultra 100 v5.
String and tension used: Lux Big Banger 1.25 at 44 lbs. I will go down to 42 lbs next time and string with something more to my preference.
Tennis experience/background: Over 25 years of casual nonprofessional tennis. Club player, Local Tournaments both singles and doubles. I play tennis approx. 5 times a week, weather permitting on fast public hard courts. Some indoor over the winter. I play tennis for the health benefits, social engagement and spending time with the people I love and enjoy hanging out with. I don’t add 10 grams of lead to my frames but do tweak a little to match frames to my preference. A gram here or there. I have both a two hand and one hand backhand and use both accordingly. Simi western forehand. Sonic serve. I own and/or have owned many rackets in this 300G 100 inch segment. I currently own the current Ezone 100 and current Pure Drive 100 and kept those in my bag as I play tested the Ultra 100. Each of these have their own brilliant attributes as well as disappointments. While they are all similar, they do have their own unique differences that separate themselves. All perform well in capable hands. Basically, it comes down to preference and preference to brand. Or which one you deem is the “cool” racket to use.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All court nowadays as it is more fun and produces easier victories and better workout with the opponents that I play. I can play other styles as I have been playing long enough to know the advantages and disadvantages of each and limitations of my game and fitness, as well as what works with the trends of the game.
Current racquet/string setups: Current edition Pro Kennex Ki15 with RPM Blast at 45 lbs. I also have the current Pure Drive 100 and current Ezone 100… I prefer the added benefits of a + racket, hence the Pro Kennex as well as the power, feel, control, stability it offers compared to the others.

Continued in next post.

 

[A_Instead]

Wilson Ultra 100 V5 4 ¼ with Wilson Pro overgrip and TW Worm Dampener

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 40 plus hours. Both match play, training and casual hitting
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke
Groundstrokes: The new Ultra is an easy racket to use essentially. Not as lively or powerful as the EZ100 or PD100. But more of an equal input equals equal output type of racket. It took me a few hours to figure out how to optimize its benefits. Balls hit lower in the string bed have better results in terms of depth and placement. I preferred backhands to forehands. Its best trait was its ability to dig lower balls out very easily and controlled and not have those shots fly like other rackets. It worked well with low balls around my feet. It didn’t feel clunky or cumbersome. It felt very fast with those lower balls and the head shape allowed a control response. Most rackets don’t have good trait like this. The weight distribution is more at 3/9 compared to 10/2 of the others. The new Ultra absorbed pace really well which is something I look for in a racket. Nothing I hate more is having to limit the throttle of a racket. I still want help from a racket of course. But I don’t want a backboard that shoots my opponents pace into the back fence on little to no swing. I know I can go up in tension to help with this, but then higher tensions bother my wrist. Ultra at 44 lbs. as nearly prefect. I will try a lower tension to see if I can get a little easier depth.
Serves: I really like the service perspective from the new Ultra. While I thought my serves were not popping as much as it does with my current racket. My regular hitting partner said my serves were coming very well and kicked right at him with more velocity than with my other rackets. I thought my serves were slower with the Ultra, but he said not. It did seem that I could find my targets more easily than with my others. I think the weight distribution/twist weight ratio helped with this. Weight distribution is not near the top part of the hoop like the Pure Drive and Ezone. The weight placement seems to be more at the 3/9 positions.
Volleys: It can say its volleys are fine, again, the weight preference at 3/9 is more to my liking as when weight is located there it doesn’t propel the ball as much. I did not have any issues with the ball popping up which enables opponents to tee off on errant volleys. I was able to direct balls low and off the court.
Serve returns: The quick response helped with balls that were hit straight at my body. I didn’t have fear of balls sailing when I miss hit returns. I trait of a good racket is how good it can absorb pace. The new Ultra absorbed pace well. In case where I could take big cuts on soft serves, I was able to pound and place the ball where I wanted to. I did not notice any vibration or buzzing with incoming ball strikes. The new Ultra did not collapse or fold. Stability is fine.
Power/Control- The new Ultra is not an overly powerful racket as its color would indicate. Not a good thing or not a bad thing. It’s an equal opportunity racket. I’d say this racket sort of reminds me of the new Radical MP in a way with slightly more power. Ultra has more control than the Pure Drive and Ezone, but also less pop and power. The Ultra has less power and less control than my Pro Kennex Ki15. I thought it offered better control than it did power. It didn't lack power, it just wasn't a rocket launcher destroyer type of racket.
Top Spin/Slice- The new Ultra is capable of modern-day spin if you have the technique. Its not an Extreme MP, but not indented to be as it’s a “blue” racket . Slice is my game especially on the back hand side. The new Ultra delivers results in spades. It is also worthy of the chop and drop game that I see nowadays. Unfortunately, most recreation players of today’s game seemed to be pushers who chop, drop and lob. The new Ultra offers spin capability, but I found better success hitting low flat penetrating balls that knife through the court.
Comfort- The new Ultra is not the best at comfort at least for me. I have to watch string and tension combo I use in every racket as my wrist will hurt after play. The Pure Drive hurts during play. I also have found that Wilson big butt pistol grip bothers my wrist as it puts it at an unnatural angle. So I have to manipulate the grip shape regardless by using various overgrip wrapping techniques.
Feel- the new Ultra has a wooden baseball bat feel strung with Lux Big Banger.. I liked that I didn’t hear a high ping. I like the sound coming off the string bed especially hen using Wilson US Open balls. I almost felt professional with the sound of the ball coming off the string bed.. I prefer the new Ultra feel over the Ezone 100 and Pure Drive 100.
Maneuverability- Nimble is the best word. The new Ultra had a head heavy feel with a higher swing weight than it specs would indicate holding in hand.. But it didn’t feel head heavy in play, which is good. It swings fast and easy, but not too easy where it felt like a fly swatter. As I mentioned above. It swung easy with balls at my feet. Additionally, it swung easy with strokes above my head. IMO Yonex head shape hinders maneuverability. The new Ultra has a more narrow head shape which cuts through the air better at least for me and my technique.
Stability- Typical for this category for my level of play. I am not professional like some here on TW so I don’t need swing weight of 340 and a bunch of lead in order for the Ultra to perform. I have grown accustomed to extra mass at 3/9 which my Pro Kennex Ki15 has. Once that the playtest is over I will add weight at 3/9 with the aim to get the same twist weight of my Pro Kennex. Stability in stock form is fine.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: the new Ultra 100 is an adequate entry in the “blue” 300g 100 inch segment. It is not a copy of the Ezone or Pure Drive which is a good thing. It has its own identity, which is a good thing. It is sort of lame that it paint shade is so very similar to Ezone and Wilson could not innovate on the paint color. At least a big “ W “ will be seen on TV with the touring professionals that I hope that will draw the youth of today and professionals of tomorrow to Wilson. I often wish that Wilson would reintroduce PWS as just seems like it needs to be there on a Wilson racket. That’s me old and reminiscing the glory of the past. The Wilson Pro Open was ones of Wilsons GOATS but I know times change and one must let the days of yesterday go by. The new Ultra Ultra gave me hints of the 1st generation Wilson Juice. Which I liked. I hope I see new Ultras on the courts in my surrounding are. I doubt I will as Yonex owns the marketplace at least around here. There are way too many professions using the an Ezone on both tours. I will do my best to promote this new Wilson Ultra as I have an obligation to support Wilson and TW as they send me products to review.
Pros: not much power as one would think, neutral input to output
Cons: not enough power based on color, but that isn’t really a con.
Again, the opportunity to playtest is a special gift from TW and I try to do my best to support them and any manufacture’s racket that they send me to enjoy. Which I DO!! I am not a social influencer, nor trying to make $ with review videos, followers with likes and views etc. I am just a normal guy who loves all aspects of tennis including hanging out on TW Talk Tennis.. Its nice that TW still does this type of thing nowadays for the common folk. I will continue to use the new Ultra for a while and if I have success without any pain.. It will remain in the my bag as my go to. TY TW and W.. your are the Best !

 

[Chairman3]

Lux Big Banger 1.25

Do you mean ALU Power or do you have some really old version of original big banger that is 1.25?
I've only seen Big Banger Original in 1.30

 

[TW Staff]

Friendly reminder, reviews are due Friday, August 1st by 5 pm (the initial email said Friday, July 31st so sorry for any confusion).

Thanks,
Brittany, TW