Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson Ultra v5
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
Yes it was. Thanks for the reminder. Can't believe I forgot the most important info
Hey, gnawhb, thanks for your great review. I just had a quick question. Comparing the Blade Pro versus the Ultra Pro 99, which has more power and which has more spin? Also if anyone else has tried both, feel free to let me know how those two compare. Thanks.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Did you ever play with the RF97A or ProStaff? I found that they break strings fairly quickly as well. With 1.25mm strings I strung as high as 60 lbs, but with 1.30 Volkl Cyclone, I dropped down to mid/upper 40s and it felt much better.
Wilson Ultra 99 Pro Review
String and Tension Used for Test:
I’m a 4.0+ male player in my late 40s. My forehand is my primary weapon, and I hit a one-handed backhand. I play an attacking style, looking to finish points at the net. I started tennis at 13 and played competitively through high school and into my first two years of college, where I focused on counterpunching from the baseline. Those were probably my best tennis years. After a long break to focus on school and work, I returned to recreational tennis in my early 30s, competing in USTA leagues and tournaments (and winning a couple of singles events). I paused again to focus on raising my neurodiverse child. In my 40s, I restarted tennis more seriously and, through local clinics, became a regular hitting and drill partner for my community college’s tennis team. Playing with ITA-ranked college athletes keeps me sharp and motivated. Over the past few years, I’ve transitioned to a more aggressive style, aiming to end points early, especially when facing younger players with stronger endurance.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Aggressive all-court player. I favor attacking tennis, finishing points at the net whenever possible. Forehand is my primary weapon; I use a one-handed backhand.
Current Racquet/String Setups:
~15 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
Groundstrokes:
With the ALU/NXT hybrid, the Ultra 99 Pro offered solid control on both wings—but I didn’t quite feel the power that the racquet’s marketing promised. Switching to a Solinco Hyper-G Hybrid made a difference. Power potential came alive, especially when flattening out mid-height balls. That said, this is a demanding frame. You need to fully commit—good footwork, full swings, and good racquet head speed—to get consistent depth and pace. Half-swings or tentative strokes result in erratic shots.
Serves:
Flat serves down the T or into the body felt great—solid pace and plow-through thanks to the stock slight head-heaviness. However, I had trouble generating as much spin as I wanted on kick and slice serves, likely due to needing more racquet head speed or adjusting to the balance. I haven’t tried adding weight to the handle yet, but that’s next on my list to see if it helps improve spin performance.
Volleys:
This racquet shines at net. On one particular day, I felt like I could do no wrong up there. It’s stable and solid—even slightly off-center volleys against big hitters didn’t cause any noticeable twisting. That said, if I was lazy with footwork or didn’t stay firm through the shot, volleys tended to sit up more than I’d like, probably due to the launch angle. Despite that, maneuverability at net was excellent.
-Serve returns:
Excellent stability on block returns, with enough mass to redirect pace effectively. On aggressive return attempts, the racquet provided great feedback and pop. I especially enjoyed using sharp-angled slice returns from the ad side—there’s enough touch to pull them off with confidence. Just be mindful of the slightly high launch on these shots.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power / Control – 4/5
Great blend of both—but you’ll need to find a string setup that suits your game. The ALU/NXT hybrid leaned control-heavy for me, while the Hyper-G Hybrid gave me the power I was looking for. However, with the added power came a bit of unpredictability on blocks or shorter. slower swings.
Topspin / Slice – 4/5
Topspin production was average with ALU/NXT, but solid with the Hyper-G hybrid—definitely a heavier ball. Slice shots were excellent with both setups, though the launch angle requires some attention to avoid floaters.
Comfort – 4/5
Surprisingly arm-friendly for a stiffer frame. I experienced no elbow or shoulder issues even after extended sessions. I may bump up the tension slightly on the Hyper-G setup to improve control.
Feel – 4/5
Very good feel overall. It’s not as raw or connected as my Ultra Pro v4, but it never felt muted or disconnected. I had full confidence on touch volleys and drop shots.
Maneuverability – 3.5/5
This is where I needed some adjustment. Compared to my slightly modded Ultra Pro v4 or stock Tempo 298, this frame felt a bit slower to whip around, especially on groundies and spin serves. At net, maneuverability wasn’t an issue.
Stability – 5/5
No complaints here—this racquet is rock solid. On groundstrokes, volleys, and returns, the frame felt incredibly stable. A major reason why I enjoyed it so much at the net.
I wish I had more time to dial in the balance and try more string setups before writing this, but I’ll definitely keep experimenting and contributing follow-up thoughts.
Is this a racquet I could wield deep into a grueling match with perfect footwork, high racquet head speed, and aggressive shotmaking? Honestly, probably not. The “Pro” label is deserved—this frame demands clean technique, physical preparation, and mental focus.
Bottom line: advanced players—especially flat-hitting, attacking types—should absolutely consider giving the Wilson Ultra 99 Pro a try.
Thanks to Wilson for making such a high-performance racquet available to the consumer market, and big thanks to Tennis Warehouse for offering this fun and exciting playtest! I’ll definitely be keeping this frame in my rotation.
String and Tension Used for Test:
- Luxilon/Wilson ALU Power 48 lbs (mains) / NXT 52 lbs (crosses)
- Solinco Hyper-G Hybrid 17g at 49 lbs
I’m a 4.0+ male player in my late 40s. My forehand is my primary weapon, and I hit a one-handed backhand. I play an attacking style, looking to finish points at the net. I started tennis at 13 and played competitively through high school and into my first two years of college, where I focused on counterpunching from the baseline. Those were probably my best tennis years. After a long break to focus on school and work, I returned to recreational tennis in my early 30s, competing in USTA leagues and tournaments (and winning a couple of singles events). I paused again to focus on raising my neurodiverse child. In my 40s, I restarted tennis more seriously and, through local clinics, became a regular hitting and drill partner for my community college’s tennis team. Playing with ITA-ranked college athletes keeps me sharp and motivated. Over the past few years, I’ve transitioned to a more aggressive style, aiming to end points early, especially when facing younger players with stronger endurance.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Aggressive all-court player. I favor attacking tennis, finishing points at the net whenever possible. Forehand is my primary weapon; I use a one-handed backhand.
Current Racquet/String Setups:
- Wilson Ultra Pro v4 (16x19, modded): Solinco Hyper-G Hybrid @ 48 lbs
- Tecnifibre Tempo 298 (stock): Solinco Hyper-G Hybrid @ 48 lbs (used on days I want a little more pop)
~15 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
Groundstrokes:
With the ALU/NXT hybrid, the Ultra 99 Pro offered solid control on both wings—but I didn’t quite feel the power that the racquet’s marketing promised. Switching to a Solinco Hyper-G Hybrid made a difference. Power potential came alive, especially when flattening out mid-height balls. That said, this is a demanding frame. You need to fully commit—good footwork, full swings, and good racquet head speed—to get consistent depth and pace. Half-swings or tentative strokes result in erratic shots.
Serves:
Flat serves down the T or into the body felt great—solid pace and plow-through thanks to the stock slight head-heaviness. However, I had trouble generating as much spin as I wanted on kick and slice serves, likely due to needing more racquet head speed or adjusting to the balance. I haven’t tried adding weight to the handle yet, but that’s next on my list to see if it helps improve spin performance.
Volleys:
This racquet shines at net. On one particular day, I felt like I could do no wrong up there. It’s stable and solid—even slightly off-center volleys against big hitters didn’t cause any noticeable twisting. That said, if I was lazy with footwork or didn’t stay firm through the shot, volleys tended to sit up more than I’d like, probably due to the launch angle. Despite that, maneuverability at net was excellent.
-Serve returns:
Excellent stability on block returns, with enough mass to redirect pace effectively. On aggressive return attempts, the racquet provided great feedback and pop. I especially enjoyed using sharp-angled slice returns from the ad side—there’s enough touch to pull them off with confidence. Just be mindful of the slightly high launch on these shots.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power / Control – 4/5
Great blend of both—but you’ll need to find a string setup that suits your game. The ALU/NXT hybrid leaned control-heavy for me, while the Hyper-G Hybrid gave me the power I was looking for. However, with the added power came a bit of unpredictability on blocks or shorter. slower swings.
Topspin / Slice – 4/5
Topspin production was average with ALU/NXT, but solid with the Hyper-G hybrid—definitely a heavier ball. Slice shots were excellent with both setups, though the launch angle requires some attention to avoid floaters.
Comfort – 4/5
Surprisingly arm-friendly for a stiffer frame. I experienced no elbow or shoulder issues even after extended sessions. I may bump up the tension slightly on the Hyper-G setup to improve control.
Feel – 4/5
Very good feel overall. It’s not as raw or connected as my Ultra Pro v4, but it never felt muted or disconnected. I had full confidence on touch volleys and drop shots.
Maneuverability – 3.5/5
This is where I needed some adjustment. Compared to my slightly modded Ultra Pro v4 or stock Tempo 298, this frame felt a bit slower to whip around, especially on groundies and spin serves. At net, maneuverability wasn’t an issue.
Stability – 5/5
No complaints here—this racquet is rock solid. On groundstrokes, volleys, and returns, the frame felt incredibly stable. A major reason why I enjoyed it so much at the net.
General Thoughts:
I really like the glossy blue paint job—it reminds me of the old Wilson Ultra FPK, which I have fond memories of.I wish I had more time to dial in the balance and try more string setups before writing this, but I’ll definitely keep experimenting and contributing follow-up thoughts.
Is this a racquet I could wield deep into a grueling match with perfect footwork, high racquet head speed, and aggressive shotmaking? Honestly, probably not. The “Pro” label is deserved—this frame demands clean technique, physical preparation, and mental focus.
Bottom line: advanced players—especially flat-hitting, attacking types—should absolutely consider giving the Wilson Ultra 99 Pro a try.
Thanks to Wilson for making such a high-performance racquet available to the consumer market, and big thanks to Tennis Warehouse for offering this fun and exciting playtest! I’ll definitely be keeping this frame in my rotation.
Last edited:
Somehow the second part of my review got omitted when I pasted it, here it is...
Power/Control-The Ultra v5 offers plenty of power, but has a slightly smaller sweetspot. Off the sweet spot, I was mishitting shots a bit some plopping into the net while a few sailed long. If I had great technique, I might have felt different. Overall, I would definitely say that this is not a control oriented racquet, but rather a power oriented racquet.
Top Spin/Slice-Partly because of the open string pattern (16×19), and the higher launch angle, it was easy for me to generate good topspin and slice as I noted above. It was more maneuverable which helped me generate spin than the EZone, but felt similar to Pure Drive in this aspect.
Comfort- The Ultra felt stiffer than previous generations, however felt less hollow as I noted above. The racquet dampens vibrations well but I felt it was hard to absorb pace and redirect it.
Feel- When hitting the sweet spot, the feeling is awesome and consistent. Off-center, it is slightly jarring. This jarring effect is lower when I hit through the ball and put my weight behind my shots. It is easy to know when you haven't hit the ball at the center.
Maneuverability- As I noted earlier, this is a highly maneuverable racquet (much more so than Pure Drives and EZone, a bit like Elevate). Very easy to hit a powerful approach shot and get to the net, which is my favorite part of this racquet. Volleys are easy as long as you don't swing the racquet too much and let the ball sail.
Stability- The racquet is very stable on volleys and returning flat shots. Against heavy spinners, technique is needed and I had to ensure that I am hitting through, dropping my racquet, and giving it a bit of spin. Off-center hits can be jarring if the technique is bad.
In summary, if you're a developing or intermediate player seeking playability with power, spin, and a reasonable flex—the Wilson Ultra 100 V5 is compelling.
Wilson Ultra 100 V5 Playtest:
String and tension used for test:
Full bed of Luxilon Alu Power 125 that comes with the package at 51/48.
Tennis experience/background:
Self rated NTRP 4.0. I learned to play tennis at a very young age and played throughout my high school days. I took a long break from tennis until 2019 and since then I have been playing at least twice a week. I don’t play in any leagues due to other priorities. However, many of my hitting friends are flex league players, so all my hitting sessions are filled with quality rallies and matches.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
All-court player who likes to finish the point at the net, Top spin forehand, 1HBH.
Current racquet/string setups:
Babolat Pure Strike 100 (16x20). Strung with Dunlop Explosive Speed 16L (Blue) at 51/48.
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
I have played with this racquet for over 12+ hours since receiving it.
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: In the first few hours of the playtest, I struggle to dial in with the racquet since I constantly find my normal pace groundstrokes would bounce close to the service line but end up landing short of the baseline. My hitting partners would oftentimes need to step into the court to hit the ball to continue the rally. Once I adjusted to hitting more flat at a higher angle on both my forehand and 1HBH, the whole experience changed. I can gain easier depth with the ball bounce within the no man’s land and with better access to power. Whenever I swing out my flat forehand with a spin finish, I almost can’t miss. And to my surprise, my backhand drop shot is becoming more effective as the shot is now less floaty and lands closer to the opposite side’s net.
-Serves: I can hit my flat first serve with good pace and placement, and most importantly it stays in most of the time! Just focus on your serving technique and follow through, and this racquet will keep things under control for you.
-Volleys: I can volley well using this racquet. It is very maneuverable. I can react to all balls from different angles without much trouble. And when I am in attack mode, I am almost certain that I can keep the ball in as long as I step in and focus not to over swing. But on off center volleys, I do find this racquet “twisted” a bit more than preferred that leads to quite a few missed volleys to the net.
-Serve returns: My return game consists of two main strokes - flat forehand and slice backhand returns. Both strokes perform well when using this racquet, thanks to the “controlled power”. Because of that, I almost never miss any of my returns long. But when returning a pacier serve off center, that is when the ball will mostly miss at the net.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- This isn’t the kind of power racquet that i can expect to hit the ball and it will launch. In fact, I find this racquet only has access to power when you hit a flat stroke well. Otherwise, most of my hits would end up short of the baseline. And if “control” means keeping the ball within the court’s singles or doubles line depending on your game play, you will be compensated with good control due to the limited access to power. You just can’t easily hit balls out using this racquet unless you intentionally launched it.
Top Spin/Slice- I struggled to get my top spin forehand going. It could be my technique or the racquet or the string, I kept feeling the ball slide through the string bed that results in no ball bite. Thus causing most top spin shots landing short. Slice is OK.
Comfort- I do have a sensitive arm/elbow, and I do not feel any discomfort at all. I would say this is a comfortable racquet to use.
Feel- “Weird”… Sorry for my lack of vocabulary to better describe the feel of this racquet. Throughout the play test, I kept having this funny feeling that this racquet was made with plastic as all contacts feel plasticky… Besides, I struggle to feel the sweet spot the entire time despite hitting the ball much better during the 2nd half of the playtest (6th~12th hr mark).
Maneuverability- This is a very maneuverable racquet to me. No problem getting to all the shots especially when at the net.
Stability- Unless you are being tee’d off at the net or returning a good pace serve that results in some off centered shots, this racquet is overall a very stable racquet to hit with.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: To be honest, I don’t feel connected with this racquet despite having some success towards the later part of this playtest. But to my tennis partners, I do hit very well with it because I managed to keep a lot more balls in play (AND WITH GOOD POWER) during our singles or doubles matches. Overall, I do enjoy this racquet. I will continue playing with it and experiment different string setups/tensions just to see if I can find a solution to the “Feel” issue that I had.
Thank you TW and Wilson for picking me to participate in this playtest!
String and tension used for test:
Full bed of Luxilon Alu Power 125 that comes with the package at 51/48.
Tennis experience/background:
Self rated NTRP 4.0. I learned to play tennis at a very young age and played throughout my high school days. I took a long break from tennis until 2019 and since then I have been playing at least twice a week. I don’t play in any leagues due to other priorities. However, many of my hitting friends are flex league players, so all my hitting sessions are filled with quality rallies and matches.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
All-court player who likes to finish the point at the net, Top spin forehand, 1HBH.
Current racquet/string setups:
Babolat Pure Strike 100 (16x20). Strung with Dunlop Explosive Speed 16L (Blue) at 51/48.
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
I have played with this racquet for over 12+ hours since receiving it.
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: In the first few hours of the playtest, I struggle to dial in with the racquet since I constantly find my normal pace groundstrokes would bounce close to the service line but end up landing short of the baseline. My hitting partners would oftentimes need to step into the court to hit the ball to continue the rally. Once I adjusted to hitting more flat at a higher angle on both my forehand and 1HBH, the whole experience changed. I can gain easier depth with the ball bounce within the no man’s land and with better access to power. Whenever I swing out my flat forehand with a spin finish, I almost can’t miss. And to my surprise, my backhand drop shot is becoming more effective as the shot is now less floaty and lands closer to the opposite side’s net.
-Serves: I can hit my flat first serve with good pace and placement, and most importantly it stays in most of the time! Just focus on your serving technique and follow through, and this racquet will keep things under control for you.
-Volleys: I can volley well using this racquet. It is very maneuverable. I can react to all balls from different angles without much trouble. And when I am in attack mode, I am almost certain that I can keep the ball in as long as I step in and focus not to over swing. But on off center volleys, I do find this racquet “twisted” a bit more than preferred that leads to quite a few missed volleys to the net.
-Serve returns: My return game consists of two main strokes - flat forehand and slice backhand returns. Both strokes perform well when using this racquet, thanks to the “controlled power”. Because of that, I almost never miss any of my returns long. But when returning a pacier serve off center, that is when the ball will mostly miss at the net.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- This isn’t the kind of power racquet that i can expect to hit the ball and it will launch. In fact, I find this racquet only has access to power when you hit a flat stroke well. Otherwise, most of my hits would end up short of the baseline. And if “control” means keeping the ball within the court’s singles or doubles line depending on your game play, you will be compensated with good control due to the limited access to power. You just can’t easily hit balls out using this racquet unless you intentionally launched it.
Top Spin/Slice- I struggled to get my top spin forehand going. It could be my technique or the racquet or the string, I kept feeling the ball slide through the string bed that results in no ball bite. Thus causing most top spin shots landing short. Slice is OK.
Comfort- I do have a sensitive arm/elbow, and I do not feel any discomfort at all. I would say this is a comfortable racquet to use.
Feel- “Weird”… Sorry for my lack of vocabulary to better describe the feel of this racquet. Throughout the play test, I kept having this funny feeling that this racquet was made with plastic as all contacts feel plasticky… Besides, I struggle to feel the sweet spot the entire time despite hitting the ball much better during the 2nd half of the playtest (6th~12th hr mark).
Maneuverability- This is a very maneuverable racquet to me. No problem getting to all the shots especially when at the net.
Stability- Unless you are being tee’d off at the net or returning a good pace serve that results in some off centered shots, this racquet is overall a very stable racquet to hit with.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: To be honest, I don’t feel connected with this racquet despite having some success towards the later part of this playtest. But to my tennis partners, I do hit very well with it because I managed to keep a lot more balls in play (AND WITH GOOD POWER) during our singles or doubles matches. Overall, I do enjoy this racquet. I will continue playing with it and experiment different string setups/tensions just to see if I can find a solution to the “Feel” issue that I had.
Thank you TW and Wilson for picking me to participate in this playtest!
Wilson Ultra 99 Pro
String and tension used for test: Toroline O-Toro Spin / Wasabi X Hybrid @ 53/54, Toroline Toro Toro / Enso Pro 55/54, & Toroline Toro Toro / Gamma TnT2 Hybrid @ 55/55
Tennis experience/background: Started playing 3.5 - 4 years ago. NTRP 3.5, play primarily USTA doubles leagues, average 4-5 hours / wk of tennis.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court, attacking style from both baseline and net. Don't typically come in from the baseline unless a ball brings me in.
Current racquet/string setups: Tecnifibre TF-40, one with Toroline O-Toro Spin / Wasabi X Hybrid @ 53/54 (purposely same as the Ultra), one with Hyper Mach BD Hybrid.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? Logged about 20 hrs with the racquet in both casual settings and matches/tournaments.
-Groundstrokes: Loved the way this racquet hit on groundstrokes. I was not used to the thickness of the beam, and that took about 30 minutes to get used to, but once I broke in the strings and adjusted to the way the racquet hit, it was phenomenal. The launch angle was a little less predictable than my TF-40, largely dependent on where I made contact on the stringbed. When I hit at or near the sweet spot with good technique, I was able to hit deeper in the court with a little more net clearance and a heavier, penetrating ball. I played against a few big hitters during the playtest, and I was worried I would get pushed around on the baseline, but not only did the racquet feel stable while absorbing big groundstrokes, I was able to return the favor with big shots of my own, particularly from the forehand side. The racquet did feel a little less forgiving on the backhand side, but I think that's a technique and a confidence issue. When I got ahold of a topspin backhand, I could get a ton of power on it and bring it down deep in the court. Slice backhands were more erratic and ended up floating, but when I caught them right they had loads of spin and stayed low off the bounce. Chip returns and approach shots felt great, particularly from the forehand side, and I was able to punch them deep and keep them low. The racquet felt great from the midcourt taking some power off, but needed to be a little more precise with my technique or the ball would sail on me. The one thing that took the most to get used to was flattening out my forehands. The TF-40 is definitely more forgiving in this aspect. I chalk that up mainly to the predictability of the launch angle. I had to be more focused and hit with good technique to flatten it out with the Ultra, but the reward is worth it in terms of easier access to power.
-Serves: Not a big server at the moment due to recovery from a shoulder injury, but my serve was never a liability. I found it easier to get depth on my serve with the Ultra vs. TF-40. I typically hit more of a spin serve, and that came easy with this racquet. I also found it a little easier to flatten out the serve compared to my TF-40. The racquet maneuvered easily throughout the serve motion, and it was easy to generate racquet head speed for both spin and power. Similar to groundstrokes, I had to make sure I kept my eye on the ball all the way to contact to hit the sweet spot, otherwise it could be unforgiving and a little erratic. When I missed, it tended to be long. Directional control was not a problem on serves.
-Volleys: Depth and power came naturally at the net. The racquet was easy to maneuver at net, and volleys in the sweet spot would go just where I aimed with plenty of power. I experienced a bit of instability when making contact out of the sweet spot, and a few times mild instability when trying to absorb or block back heavy pace. However, as long as I punched through the ball, volleys felt silky smooth on both sides. Another area this racquet shined for me was on drop volleys. I was able to take low balls from the middle of the service box and forward and drop them gently over the net for drop shot winners. I absolutely loved overheads with this racquet. Easy to maneuver when going backwards, and it didn't take much to hit a booming overhead and finish off a point. This racquet really makes a lovely sound when you catch the sweet spot.
-Serve returns: Fantastic returns from the forehand side against a few big servers during the playtest. The racquet did extremely well negating the spin on kick serves and returning deep with topspin. Also did well blocking back serves with lots of pace and hitting low and flat. When called upon, I was able to hit lob returns accurately, as long as I didn't just let the ball hit the racquet. The racquet felt great redirecting any sort of pace or spin as long as I was intentional with what I was trying to do. Similar to with the groundstrokes, chip returns from both sides worked great, landed deep and stayed low after the bounce, producing lots of easy floaters for my partner to pounce on at net.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Definitely more power or easier power than my TF-40. I don't think the power comes at the expense of control, though this racquet is harder to control than my TF. I think the racquet just requires a little more technique and precision than I'm used to. So while during a match I may lose a few shots that I might otherwise land in, the reward with this racquet is extra power and the ability to withstand power coming at you. The racquet felt easy to swing, and I could hold my shots longer and whip it through the strike zone later and generate more power. Again, as long as my technique was good, lateral control was not an issue. I was more likely to hit long than to spray my shots wide.
Top Spin/Slice- Very easy access to spin. Top spin was magnificent on both forehands and backhands from the baseline. I could hit deep, heavy topspin forehands with tons of net clearance, or low penetrating forehands when stepping into the court with ease. Also, when playing doubles and looking at both players up at net on the other side, I was equally as comfortable hitting a topspin lob or taking some power off and hitting heavy spin to get the ball to dip over the net and force a pop-up volley. Slice was easy to generate, but I had a harder time keeping it flat, it would tend to float. I don't think it's a racquet issue, just think it required more precision than I could manage consistently.
Comfort- Zero issues with arm, elbow, or shoulder pain. The racquet absorbs impact well and didn't appear to translate much of it to my arm. Absorbed pace at the baseline and at net no problem. Played a Sectionals Tournament where I played 5 matches in a little over 48 hours and experienced a little arm fatigue but no pain.
Feel- When first hitting with the racquet I was a little worried about the feel. With the thicker beam and new strings I wasn't getting a lot of feel. But after about 30 minutes of hitting, getting used to the frame and the strings softening up, the feel improved dramatically. It was not quite as good as my TF40, but still great feel. I think it excelled in the sense that when I mishit a shot, I could pretty much tell exactly what I did wrong, whether on the baseline or at the net. When I hit it right, I was rewarded with great feel and precision. I'm not great at judging frame stiffness, but the racquet definitely felt better with softer strings. While I strung it at 53 lbs, the strings seemed to settle at about 43-45 lbs and felt great there.
Maneuverability- Racquet was easy to maneuver both from the baseline and at net. It felt lighter than my TF-40 even though they're the same. I have quick hands at net and was able to get my racquet on anything close to me like usual, even with lots of pace. As I mentioned earlier, I felt like I could hold my shots longer and still get the racquet through the hitting zone with power and on time. I felt like I was rarely late on balls and was able to pick up balls on the half volley that were behind me a number of times.
Stability- The racquet felt very stable when swinging through shots. As long as I was intentional and not just letting the ball hit the racquet, no issues with stability. The only issues I experienced were with hard shots, baseline or at net, where I hit the strings off center and/or was trying to just block the ball and didn't push through the shot at all.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I really loved playing with this racquet and may even make the switch to make it my main racquet. It is more demanding than my TF-40 and I feel like I have to be more precise, but the reward is more power and a sweeter feeling shot. I loved the way the racquet played against big hitters, standing up to powerful serves and groundstrokes from the baseline and at the net. This racquet did take some getting used to. When I first started hitting with it, I could not figure out the launch angle and a lot of shots went long or floated on me. But once the strings softened up and I got used to it, I was able to dial it in and really play well with it.
One other note that is probably more me than the racquet. I tried to string it with Toro Toro in the Mains and Syn Gut in the crosses and could not control the ball at all. I tried hitting with it for about an hour and a half on two separate occasions, but ended up cutting out the syn gut and restringing with a poly and it was back to the way it was when I first strung it.
Thanks to Wilson and TW for the opportunity! This was a great playtest.
String and tension used for test: Toroline O-Toro Spin / Wasabi X Hybrid @ 53/54, Toroline Toro Toro / Enso Pro 55/54, & Toroline Toro Toro / Gamma TnT2 Hybrid @ 55/55
Tennis experience/background: Started playing 3.5 - 4 years ago. NTRP 3.5, play primarily USTA doubles leagues, average 4-5 hours / wk of tennis.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court, attacking style from both baseline and net. Don't typically come in from the baseline unless a ball brings me in.
Current racquet/string setups: Tecnifibre TF-40, one with Toroline O-Toro Spin / Wasabi X Hybrid @ 53/54 (purposely same as the Ultra), one with Hyper Mach BD Hybrid.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? Logged about 20 hrs with the racquet in both casual settings and matches/tournaments.
-Groundstrokes: Loved the way this racquet hit on groundstrokes. I was not used to the thickness of the beam, and that took about 30 minutes to get used to, but once I broke in the strings and adjusted to the way the racquet hit, it was phenomenal. The launch angle was a little less predictable than my TF-40, largely dependent on where I made contact on the stringbed. When I hit at or near the sweet spot with good technique, I was able to hit deeper in the court with a little more net clearance and a heavier, penetrating ball. I played against a few big hitters during the playtest, and I was worried I would get pushed around on the baseline, but not only did the racquet feel stable while absorbing big groundstrokes, I was able to return the favor with big shots of my own, particularly from the forehand side. The racquet did feel a little less forgiving on the backhand side, but I think that's a technique and a confidence issue. When I got ahold of a topspin backhand, I could get a ton of power on it and bring it down deep in the court. Slice backhands were more erratic and ended up floating, but when I caught them right they had loads of spin and stayed low off the bounce. Chip returns and approach shots felt great, particularly from the forehand side, and I was able to punch them deep and keep them low. The racquet felt great from the midcourt taking some power off, but needed to be a little more precise with my technique or the ball would sail on me. The one thing that took the most to get used to was flattening out my forehands. The TF-40 is definitely more forgiving in this aspect. I chalk that up mainly to the predictability of the launch angle. I had to be more focused and hit with good technique to flatten it out with the Ultra, but the reward is worth it in terms of easier access to power.
-Serves: Not a big server at the moment due to recovery from a shoulder injury, but my serve was never a liability. I found it easier to get depth on my serve with the Ultra vs. TF-40. I typically hit more of a spin serve, and that came easy with this racquet. I also found it a little easier to flatten out the serve compared to my TF-40. The racquet maneuvered easily throughout the serve motion, and it was easy to generate racquet head speed for both spin and power. Similar to groundstrokes, I had to make sure I kept my eye on the ball all the way to contact to hit the sweet spot, otherwise it could be unforgiving and a little erratic. When I missed, it tended to be long. Directional control was not a problem on serves.
-Volleys: Depth and power came naturally at the net. The racquet was easy to maneuver at net, and volleys in the sweet spot would go just where I aimed with plenty of power. I experienced a bit of instability when making contact out of the sweet spot, and a few times mild instability when trying to absorb or block back heavy pace. However, as long as I punched through the ball, volleys felt silky smooth on both sides. Another area this racquet shined for me was on drop volleys. I was able to take low balls from the middle of the service box and forward and drop them gently over the net for drop shot winners. I absolutely loved overheads with this racquet. Easy to maneuver when going backwards, and it didn't take much to hit a booming overhead and finish off a point. This racquet really makes a lovely sound when you catch the sweet spot.
-Serve returns: Fantastic returns from the forehand side against a few big servers during the playtest. The racquet did extremely well negating the spin on kick serves and returning deep with topspin. Also did well blocking back serves with lots of pace and hitting low and flat. When called upon, I was able to hit lob returns accurately, as long as I didn't just let the ball hit the racquet. The racquet felt great redirecting any sort of pace or spin as long as I was intentional with what I was trying to do. Similar to with the groundstrokes, chip returns from both sides worked great, landed deep and stayed low after the bounce, producing lots of easy floaters for my partner to pounce on at net.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Definitely more power or easier power than my TF-40. I don't think the power comes at the expense of control, though this racquet is harder to control than my TF. I think the racquet just requires a little more technique and precision than I'm used to. So while during a match I may lose a few shots that I might otherwise land in, the reward with this racquet is extra power and the ability to withstand power coming at you. The racquet felt easy to swing, and I could hold my shots longer and whip it through the strike zone later and generate more power. Again, as long as my technique was good, lateral control was not an issue. I was more likely to hit long than to spray my shots wide.
Top Spin/Slice- Very easy access to spin. Top spin was magnificent on both forehands and backhands from the baseline. I could hit deep, heavy topspin forehands with tons of net clearance, or low penetrating forehands when stepping into the court with ease. Also, when playing doubles and looking at both players up at net on the other side, I was equally as comfortable hitting a topspin lob or taking some power off and hitting heavy spin to get the ball to dip over the net and force a pop-up volley. Slice was easy to generate, but I had a harder time keeping it flat, it would tend to float. I don't think it's a racquet issue, just think it required more precision than I could manage consistently.
Comfort- Zero issues with arm, elbow, or shoulder pain. The racquet absorbs impact well and didn't appear to translate much of it to my arm. Absorbed pace at the baseline and at net no problem. Played a Sectionals Tournament where I played 5 matches in a little over 48 hours and experienced a little arm fatigue but no pain.
Feel- When first hitting with the racquet I was a little worried about the feel. With the thicker beam and new strings I wasn't getting a lot of feel. But after about 30 minutes of hitting, getting used to the frame and the strings softening up, the feel improved dramatically. It was not quite as good as my TF40, but still great feel. I think it excelled in the sense that when I mishit a shot, I could pretty much tell exactly what I did wrong, whether on the baseline or at the net. When I hit it right, I was rewarded with great feel and precision. I'm not great at judging frame stiffness, but the racquet definitely felt better with softer strings. While I strung it at 53 lbs, the strings seemed to settle at about 43-45 lbs and felt great there.
Maneuverability- Racquet was easy to maneuver both from the baseline and at net. It felt lighter than my TF-40 even though they're the same. I have quick hands at net and was able to get my racquet on anything close to me like usual, even with lots of pace. As I mentioned earlier, I felt like I could hold my shots longer and still get the racquet through the hitting zone with power and on time. I felt like I was rarely late on balls and was able to pick up balls on the half volley that were behind me a number of times.
Stability- The racquet felt very stable when swinging through shots. As long as I was intentional and not just letting the ball hit the racquet, no issues with stability. The only issues I experienced were with hard shots, baseline or at net, where I hit the strings off center and/or was trying to just block the ball and didn't push through the shot at all.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I really loved playing with this racquet and may even make the switch to make it my main racquet. It is more demanding than my TF-40 and I feel like I have to be more precise, but the reward is more power and a sweeter feeling shot. I loved the way the racquet played against big hitters, standing up to powerful serves and groundstrokes from the baseline and at the net. This racquet did take some getting used to. When I first started hitting with it, I could not figure out the launch angle and a lot of shots went long or floated on me. But once the strings softened up and I got used to it, I was able to dial it in and really play well with it.
One other note that is probably more me than the racquet. I tried to string it with Toro Toro in the Mains and Syn Gut in the crosses and could not control the ball at all. I tried hitting with it for about an hour and a half on two separate occasions, but ended up cutting out the syn gut and restringing with a poly and it was back to the way it was when I first strung it.
Thanks to Wilson and TW for the opportunity! This was a great playtest.
The Chairman3's review of the Wilson Ultra 99 Pro
String and tension used for test:
Big Banger Original@50lbs (6hrs)
Solinco Mach10 1.25@51lbs (15hrs)
PT Strike 1.20@50lbs (2hrs)
Tennis experience/background:
Slightly above average 4.0, playing about 7 years now. More traditional strokes, a little flatter, but versatility is key.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court/attacking style, I like to use all the shots and finish points when the opportunity presents itself.
Current racquet/string setups:
Wilson Blade 18x19, modded
Poly strings at 50lbs, I test alot but do keep a top 5 (ask me for it if you're interested).
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 23 hrs
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: This is an easy category as this racquet was designed for the ground-game. All you baseliners/counterpunchers/grinders/defenders/etc. this is for you. It hits alot like other "counterpuncher" racquets something like a Speed Pro, Tfight, or Gravity except it really is designed for those who take the ball out in front. It punishes two-fold, punishes you if you're late or punishes your opponent if you time it right. The power comes off so nicely and consistently. I found alot of consistency in the stringbed and only slight loss of power outside the sweetspot; I noticed this most on volleys. So forehand or backhand, good power and stability, it can punch above its weight class. The one downside is I didn't find it overly fast or whippy through the air. This comes into play for topspin where it took more deliberate vertical swinging or more deliberate use of wrist to get really good arc and loop. The string also helped alot I'd say. It felt much easier with the shaped Mach10 than the round BBO. But once you adjust it's not much problem. For me, when I really tried to ramp up the RPMs and swing super vertical, I'd launch the ball but that's not my natural swing either. Another positive though, the racquet defends super well. This will be hit on in power, but I'd be remiss not to mention how easy it is to defend from the ground due to the good power level. Those little check-swing blocks end up at your opponents feet on the baseline.
-Serves: Here is an area where I really wish I could take a piece of this racquet and put it in my normal one. I served so well with this thing. I mostly rely on kick, I'm not a power-server, so the racquet hasn't added alot there. BUT the power it added has been hugely beneficial. I really feel like I can start points off better and, despite the open pattern, hit spots really well. The spin has come back too, partially string but mostly adjusting to the balance compared to my normal racquet and getting the timing right. And even if the kick is down, the pace is up so it still produces a quality serve. People talk about the Pure Drive as a great serving racquet, I'd stack this one against it for sure. Serves are definitely a place where this racquet won me over.
-Volleys: This ones a coin flip. The racquet is pretty stable and ok on maneuverability but I struggled with touch volleys. I either didn't step into it enough so they floated or I'd try to get under it too much and not get the center of the stringbed and the power dropped and I'd usually hit the top of the tape or into the net. Most of this is me, no doubt. But the stringbed is lively, the racquet has some juice. What did work and ultimately what I'd probably do all the time, punch or line drive volleys. Any of these "power" volleys were great. Hit back to your opponents feet, push them back, and make them react to a ball with good pace on it. This kind of goes along with the inherent character of the racquet which is more of a power versus finesse player. The power volleys usually elicited a scoop lob which launched out, a flat shot into the net, or a weak shot for a putaway.
-Serve returns: This was mostly an area I liked. As mentioned previously, when forced to hit defensive it still produces a decent, quality ball. Where the negatives come in is some high kick serves. High kicks could be hard to muscle down if you weren't able to catch it on the rise. If you let the ball get too high and were positioned incorrectly it was easy to launch because it was harder to swing up through the ball. As long as you stood back further or took it early it was fine though. Specific to doubles, short angle returns could be a little tricky as this racquet really wants to hit through the court. While I hit short angles, sometimes they felt a little weaker and like an opportunity for my opponent to step in and take a good crack at the ball. A bit of personal preference because I like versatility from my racquet but overall mostly good. I'd say almost nit-picky by me but relevant to doubles players.
PART 1
String and tension used for test:
Big Banger Original@50lbs (6hrs)
Solinco Mach10 1.25@51lbs (15hrs)
PT Strike 1.20@50lbs (2hrs)
Tennis experience/background:
Slightly above average 4.0, playing about 7 years now. More traditional strokes, a little flatter, but versatility is key.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court/attacking style, I like to use all the shots and finish points when the opportunity presents itself.
Current racquet/string setups:
Wilson Blade 18x19, modded
Poly strings at 50lbs, I test alot but do keep a top 5 (ask me for it if you're interested).
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 23 hrs
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: This is an easy category as this racquet was designed for the ground-game. All you baseliners/counterpunchers/grinders/defenders/etc. this is for you. It hits alot like other "counterpuncher" racquets something like a Speed Pro, Tfight, or Gravity except it really is designed for those who take the ball out in front. It punishes two-fold, punishes you if you're late or punishes your opponent if you time it right. The power comes off so nicely and consistently. I found alot of consistency in the stringbed and only slight loss of power outside the sweetspot; I noticed this most on volleys. So forehand or backhand, good power and stability, it can punch above its weight class. The one downside is I didn't find it overly fast or whippy through the air. This comes into play for topspin where it took more deliberate vertical swinging or more deliberate use of wrist to get really good arc and loop. The string also helped alot I'd say. It felt much easier with the shaped Mach10 than the round BBO. But once you adjust it's not much problem. For me, when I really tried to ramp up the RPMs and swing super vertical, I'd launch the ball but that's not my natural swing either. Another positive though, the racquet defends super well. This will be hit on in power, but I'd be remiss not to mention how easy it is to defend from the ground due to the good power level. Those little check-swing blocks end up at your opponents feet on the baseline.
-Serves: Here is an area where I really wish I could take a piece of this racquet and put it in my normal one. I served so well with this thing. I mostly rely on kick, I'm not a power-server, so the racquet hasn't added alot there. BUT the power it added has been hugely beneficial. I really feel like I can start points off better and, despite the open pattern, hit spots really well. The spin has come back too, partially string but mostly adjusting to the balance compared to my normal racquet and getting the timing right. And even if the kick is down, the pace is up so it still produces a quality serve. People talk about the Pure Drive as a great serving racquet, I'd stack this one against it for sure. Serves are definitely a place where this racquet won me over.
-Volleys: This ones a coin flip. The racquet is pretty stable and ok on maneuverability but I struggled with touch volleys. I either didn't step into it enough so they floated or I'd try to get under it too much and not get the center of the stringbed and the power dropped and I'd usually hit the top of the tape or into the net. Most of this is me, no doubt. But the stringbed is lively, the racquet has some juice. What did work and ultimately what I'd probably do all the time, punch or line drive volleys. Any of these "power" volleys were great. Hit back to your opponents feet, push them back, and make them react to a ball with good pace on it. This kind of goes along with the inherent character of the racquet which is more of a power versus finesse player. The power volleys usually elicited a scoop lob which launched out, a flat shot into the net, or a weak shot for a putaway.
-Serve returns: This was mostly an area I liked. As mentioned previously, when forced to hit defensive it still produces a decent, quality ball. Where the negatives come in is some high kick serves. High kicks could be hard to muscle down if you weren't able to catch it on the rise. If you let the ball get too high and were positioned incorrectly it was easy to launch because it was harder to swing up through the ball. As long as you stood back further or took it early it was fine though. Specific to doubles, short angle returns could be a little tricky as this racquet really wants to hit through the court. While I hit short angles, sometimes they felt a little weaker and like an opportunity for my opponent to step in and take a good crack at the ball. A bit of personal preference because I like versatility from my racquet but overall mostly good. I'd say almost nit-picky by me but relevant to doubles players.
PART 1
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PART 2
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control: This is a power racquet plain and simple. But not like a Pure Drive, although it does bomb serves, more like a Speed where the power is more accessible and versatile. I could definitely see the power when hitting and feel the balls pushing my opponents back or running in on their feet. The power is really nice once you get the right string setup to help utilize it. Obviously power and control have an inverse relationship. However, this racquet does strike a good balance. For me, controlling the power is about taking the ball earlier and having good timing. Catch it late and it can be unforgiving, although the shaped string did help to add that extra spin needed to keep a late swing in. Having a 16x18 pattern is not going to be the definition of control. Despite this, I did feel pretty confident going down the line and picking my spots because of the predictable nature of the stringbed, once I adjusted. Nevertheless, this racquet is about using the power to counterpunch and keep the ball deep or offensively pushing your opponent back and drawing a weak ball or UE.
Top Spin/Slice: I could actually slice the ball well and get alot of that good junk on it, BUT (and it's a big one) you have to have good technique. I mentioned somewhere, without good technique my slices tended to float too much or if I tried to drop I'd miss the center and the ball would be weak and hit the tape. So a good slicing weapon if you have good technique, no flat feet! Topspin is ok but not great for such an open pattern. Still boggles my mind a bit with the pattern and geometry that this isn't a "spin machine." My technique is a little flatter, more traditional, so that could be it. The other revelation is this racquet is very string sensitive to shaped or round. Mach10 had nice spin so much better than BBO. So shaped strings really up the spin and launch angle. I restrung last night with PT Strike 1.20 and despite the thin string and open pattern it immediately went back to a flatter trajectory because Strike is round. So just something to consider with all the usual caveats, YMMV and your technique may yield different results, etc. etc.
Comfort: I wouldn't call this frame a comfort frame and I might be remiss to recommend it to someone with arm troubles but honestly it really isn't bad given the stiffness. It is kind of old school where it has a dampened but raw feel to it. Very contradictory but to me it sounds like how people describe older Yonex ezones and I'll touch on that more below. I was definitely using stiffer strings and never felt any arm pain or soreness, so with a really soft string I think you'd be fine. The only thing I'll say I did add a leather grip yesterday when restringing and it seemed a little stiffer while playing last night, but my arm isn't sore or stiff today at all so it could've just been the fresh strings feeling stiff, which they usually do to me. I'll update after some more time using the leather.
Feel: As previewed, this reminds me of how people describe like DR Ezones, dampened but a raw and connected feel. That's pretty much how this is, and I like it. While this frame is a little stiffer than I like, in terms of feel, it has that good connected Wilson feel that I'm accustomed. More direct, more raw and without modern muting nonsense. I think they were ahead of their time if this really is the same layup as the old Steam. I don't think you'd ever have arm issues, maybe if stringing stiff poly at 55+lbs, and yet you have a good connection and feel. There's some forgiveness on off-center hits but it doesn't hide the fact you hit off-center. Also as noted, the frame is a little stiffer but not stiff-harsh feeling, more just personal preference that I like more flexy frames. One note, and the sample size is tiny, it did feel a little stiffer and a little less dampened with a leather grip last night. I'll update after more time with the leather and ultimately I think it was the fresh strings that felt stiff, not the leather grip.
Maneuverability: This is one I struggle to rate. I felt this frame was not that maneuvrable when I started out. It has a 32.5cm unstrung balance and a thicker beam, not a super whippy, maneuvrable recipe. Add to that my normal racquet is like low 32cm strung, it took some adjustment and did not feel maneuvrable at the start. As I adjusted it felt more natural to swing but it treads the line. I didn't have a lot of issues at net or on serve but for whatever reason it just didn't feel like it swung fast on groundstrokes and especially if you tried to force a more vertical swing. So maybe it's low-end maneuvrable but I don't think it's whippy. I think it's possible this slow feeling swing contributes to the lower spin potential as well from less racquet head speed. The other aspect is my frame was underspec for balance, a positive for me, so mine may have above average maneuverability compared to others. The upside of the slightly lower maneuverability is more stability. Also mine now has a leather grip and what I'm guessing is 31.8-32cm strung balance so we'll see if that does anything.
Stability: Perfect transition by me, stability is very good for its weight class. 305g and I'd say near rock solid. Didn't experience any of that frame twisting and this thing volleys really well. It is very good on returns, even against big servers, you just point and shoot and its power will do the rest. It also feels solid when hitting, some racquets kind of feel hollow or cheap but this feels like decent quality. I'm not saying pro stock esque and not even on the level of foam filled racquets but right below the latter. If someone revealed it was foam filled I wouldn't be surprised because it has that solid feel at impact. It feels like they spent the time getting the layup right so there was good mass in the head for stability and a solid feel. There were a few times, extended rallies or someone with heavy groundstrokes, where maybe my arm took a little more of the impact than needed, but it is still a "light" racquet in mid 320's strung for static weight so that isn't atypical. In short, it punches above its weight class, with a solid feel and good power.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Here are some random musings, enjoy:
-I think this racquet could be good for those with shorter, more compact strokes. My strokes, especially forehand, is a little loopier, old-school on the take back and that could definitely make the racquet feel slower.
-Absolutely brilliant paintjob, it is nothing like the ezone even though pictures kind of look that way. This is a nice royal blue. Paint seems durabe too, no scuffs or scrapes.
-This is kind of a unique racquet, there are some comps but they aren't parallels. Kind of reminds me of a Speed and a little bit Gravity but also the Tfight 305. Playing it though it kind of reminded me of the new Pure Drive 98. The firmer feel, the stability, the power, both have decent all-court versatility, main difference is launch angle. The caveat there is when I used the PD98 it was strung at 48lbs with a powerful string. With a shaped string in the 99 and strung lower you'd get more launch.
Finally, this was a shockingly good frame and a really [really] tempting switch. I went into this not even remotely considering a switch. I'd been playing really good tennis with my Blades and was content with what they gave me. But, I'll tell ya, between the paintjob and the power, there is something to keep you coming back for more. The power is addicting. I have a few more strings to test and this leather grip on so we'll see. Likely I'll go back to my Blades but if for some reason my game is then worse or feels like it's missing something this may be a switch.
HUGE thank you to @TW Staff. I'd been off the playtests for awhile and this was such an awesome return. An unsuspecting racquet that has nearly triggered a switch and may still.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control: This is a power racquet plain and simple. But not like a Pure Drive, although it does bomb serves, more like a Speed where the power is more accessible and versatile. I could definitely see the power when hitting and feel the balls pushing my opponents back or running in on their feet. The power is really nice once you get the right string setup to help utilize it. Obviously power and control have an inverse relationship. However, this racquet does strike a good balance. For me, controlling the power is about taking the ball earlier and having good timing. Catch it late and it can be unforgiving, although the shaped string did help to add that extra spin needed to keep a late swing in. Having a 16x18 pattern is not going to be the definition of control. Despite this, I did feel pretty confident going down the line and picking my spots because of the predictable nature of the stringbed, once I adjusted. Nevertheless, this racquet is about using the power to counterpunch and keep the ball deep or offensively pushing your opponent back and drawing a weak ball or UE.
Top Spin/Slice: I could actually slice the ball well and get alot of that good junk on it, BUT (and it's a big one) you have to have good technique. I mentioned somewhere, without good technique my slices tended to float too much or if I tried to drop I'd miss the center and the ball would be weak and hit the tape. So a good slicing weapon if you have good technique, no flat feet! Topspin is ok but not great for such an open pattern. Still boggles my mind a bit with the pattern and geometry that this isn't a "spin machine." My technique is a little flatter, more traditional, so that could be it. The other revelation is this racquet is very string sensitive to shaped or round. Mach10 had nice spin so much better than BBO. So shaped strings really up the spin and launch angle. I restrung last night with PT Strike 1.20 and despite the thin string and open pattern it immediately went back to a flatter trajectory because Strike is round. So just something to consider with all the usual caveats, YMMV and your technique may yield different results, etc. etc.
Comfort: I wouldn't call this frame a comfort frame and I might be remiss to recommend it to someone with arm troubles but honestly it really isn't bad given the stiffness. It is kind of old school where it has a dampened but raw feel to it. Very contradictory but to me it sounds like how people describe older Yonex ezones and I'll touch on that more below. I was definitely using stiffer strings and never felt any arm pain or soreness, so with a really soft string I think you'd be fine. The only thing I'll say I did add a leather grip yesterday when restringing and it seemed a little stiffer while playing last night, but my arm isn't sore or stiff today at all so it could've just been the fresh strings feeling stiff, which they usually do to me. I'll update after some more time using the leather.
Feel: As previewed, this reminds me of how people describe like DR Ezones, dampened but a raw and connected feel. That's pretty much how this is, and I like it. While this frame is a little stiffer than I like, in terms of feel, it has that good connected Wilson feel that I'm accustomed. More direct, more raw and without modern muting nonsense. I think they were ahead of their time if this really is the same layup as the old Steam. I don't think you'd ever have arm issues, maybe if stringing stiff poly at 55+lbs, and yet you have a good connection and feel. There's some forgiveness on off-center hits but it doesn't hide the fact you hit off-center. Also as noted, the frame is a little stiffer but not stiff-harsh feeling, more just personal preference that I like more flexy frames. One note, and the sample size is tiny, it did feel a little stiffer and a little less dampened with a leather grip last night. I'll update after more time with the leather and ultimately I think it was the fresh strings that felt stiff, not the leather grip.
Maneuverability: This is one I struggle to rate. I felt this frame was not that maneuvrable when I started out. It has a 32.5cm unstrung balance and a thicker beam, not a super whippy, maneuvrable recipe. Add to that my normal racquet is like low 32cm strung, it took some adjustment and did not feel maneuvrable at the start. As I adjusted it felt more natural to swing but it treads the line. I didn't have a lot of issues at net or on serve but for whatever reason it just didn't feel like it swung fast on groundstrokes and especially if you tried to force a more vertical swing. So maybe it's low-end maneuvrable but I don't think it's whippy. I think it's possible this slow feeling swing contributes to the lower spin potential as well from less racquet head speed. The other aspect is my frame was underspec for balance, a positive for me, so mine may have above average maneuverability compared to others. The upside of the slightly lower maneuverability is more stability. Also mine now has a leather grip and what I'm guessing is 31.8-32cm strung balance so we'll see if that does anything.
Stability: Perfect transition by me, stability is very good for its weight class. 305g and I'd say near rock solid. Didn't experience any of that frame twisting and this thing volleys really well. It is very good on returns, even against big servers, you just point and shoot and its power will do the rest. It also feels solid when hitting, some racquets kind of feel hollow or cheap but this feels like decent quality. I'm not saying pro stock esque and not even on the level of foam filled racquets but right below the latter. If someone revealed it was foam filled I wouldn't be surprised because it has that solid feel at impact. It feels like they spent the time getting the layup right so there was good mass in the head for stability and a solid feel. There were a few times, extended rallies or someone with heavy groundstrokes, where maybe my arm took a little more of the impact than needed, but it is still a "light" racquet in mid 320's strung for static weight so that isn't atypical. In short, it punches above its weight class, with a solid feel and good power.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Here are some random musings, enjoy:
-I think this racquet could be good for those with shorter, more compact strokes. My strokes, especially forehand, is a little loopier, old-school on the take back and that could definitely make the racquet feel slower.
-Absolutely brilliant paintjob, it is nothing like the ezone even though pictures kind of look that way. This is a nice royal blue. Paint seems durabe too, no scuffs or scrapes.
-This is kind of a unique racquet, there are some comps but they aren't parallels. Kind of reminds me of a Speed and a little bit Gravity but also the Tfight 305. Playing it though it kind of reminded me of the new Pure Drive 98. The firmer feel, the stability, the power, both have decent all-court versatility, main difference is launch angle. The caveat there is when I used the PD98 it was strung at 48lbs with a powerful string. With a shaped string in the 99 and strung lower you'd get more launch.
Finally, this was a shockingly good frame and a really [really] tempting switch. I went into this not even remotely considering a switch. I'd been playing really good tennis with my Blades and was content with what they gave me. But, I'll tell ya, between the paintjob and the power, there is something to keep you coming back for more. The power is addicting. I have a few more strings to test and this leather grip on so we'll see. Likely I'll go back to my Blades but if for some reason my game is then worse or feels like it's missing something this may be a switch.
HUGE thank you to @TW Staff. I'd been off the playtests for awhile and this was such an awesome return. An unsuspecting racquet that has nearly triggered a switch and may still.
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3timesfaster
New User
Not on the test, but picked one up and have been using it for a few weeks now - coming from a Tfight 305s. Low 4.0 level player. Honestly just bought one because I loved the look of the frame so much, but I’m actually considering the switch now. It’s taken a bit to get used to the power, but now that it’s started to click…wow.
Serves are huge, and I’m getting a ton of easy depth/net clearance off the forehand side. But what has me looking at a switch is my OHBH. I don’t know what it is about this frame, but I’m crushing my backhands and feeling way, WAY more confident using that shot to attack, which has added another layer to my game. Volleys and slices continue to be an adjustment. If I don’t really focus on my form, it’s easy to pop the ball up. Forehands can also fly on me, though that’s mostly down to lazy footwork in the summer heat, lol.
Overall though, I’ve been very impressed. I’ve found O-Toro Tour mains and Snap crosses to work the best, since they keep the launch angle down but still put a ton of bite on the ball. Feel is also excellent: rock solid, with a really satisfying pop. Strung specs are 327g, 6pts headlight and 325 SW - definitely got an off-spec copy, so worth keeping that in mind.
Serves are huge, and I’m getting a ton of easy depth/net clearance off the forehand side. But what has me looking at a switch is my OHBH. I don’t know what it is about this frame, but I’m crushing my backhands and feeling way, WAY more confident using that shot to attack, which has added another layer to my game. Volleys and slices continue to be an adjustment. If I don’t really focus on my form, it’s easy to pop the ball up. Forehands can also fly on me, though that’s mostly down to lazy footwork in the summer heat, lol.
Overall though, I’ve been very impressed. I’ve found O-Toro Tour mains and Snap crosses to work the best, since they keep the launch angle down but still put a ton of bite on the ball. Feel is also excellent: rock solid, with a really satisfying pop. Strung specs are 327g, 6pts headlight and 325 SW - definitely got an off-spec copy, so worth keeping that in mind.
codonnell
Semi-Pro
I’m also interested to know how the leather grip/playability alters this frame. It seems like its balance plays a role in its playing characteristics of solid/stable but I’d love to see how it performs with a high hl balance. Let me know how it’s goes!
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
99 pro I’m guessing?
3timesfaster
New User
Yes, sorry! Can’t believe I missed that.
I'll throw in another update after using Poly Tour Strike 1.20 strung st 50lbs.
Also the leather grip
Very good control but very low lift. Going from Mach10 even the thicker 1.25 to PT Strike took a good adjustment. i was netting alot of balls the first hour or two.
Once I trusted the swing it came back and I could crush some balls again. But Mach10 is definitely livelier and I think it suits this racquet really well. As I said before, in this racquet, round strings just seem to produce really low launch, almost too low.
Where as Mach10 had good shape and pace.
You could probably string PT Strike a little lower too for more spin, power, and comfort. Toward the end it started to feel a little stiff but some of that I think is brought on by the leather grip and more direct feel in your hand. I didn't break the strings and played to about 11 hours but they were pretty notched. Heavier spin players would have probably already broke them.
In other racquets I get 15-16 hours out of Strike, so the open pattern definitely took its toll on tension maintenance.
I think a shaped/round hybrid would be really nice.
The laat string I'm trying before going back to my normal racquets is Element Soft IR. I wavered alot on where to go thinner, shaped, hybrid, lower tension...
Ultimately I wanted a softer string to see how the feel would change. Especially with Strike being a little stiff, which it usually is not at all in my normal racquets.
On the leather, I think it's a worthwhile addition if you like using leather. I don't notice a dramatic shift in maneuverability but sometimes those quick little wristy shots seem easier, same with the inside out forehands.
But at the same time, I think you feel the stiffness a bit more and that could bother some.
While I am going back to my normal racquets after the next stringjob, because I wasn't looking to switch, this racquet is extremely tempting. With its open pattern, stiffer layup, and thicker beam, it isn't the type of racquet I gravitate toward, but boy did it surprise me with how well I played. It is definitely staying in the bag and we'll see, if I start playing poorly with my normal racquets this is an obvious switch.
I'll update again after using element soft.
Also the leather grip
Very good control but very low lift. Going from Mach10 even the thicker 1.25 to PT Strike took a good adjustment. i was netting alot of balls the first hour or two.
Once I trusted the swing it came back and I could crush some balls again. But Mach10 is definitely livelier and I think it suits this racquet really well. As I said before, in this racquet, round strings just seem to produce really low launch, almost too low.
Where as Mach10 had good shape and pace.
You could probably string PT Strike a little lower too for more spin, power, and comfort. Toward the end it started to feel a little stiff but some of that I think is brought on by the leather grip and more direct feel in your hand. I didn't break the strings and played to about 11 hours but they were pretty notched. Heavier spin players would have probably already broke them.
In other racquets I get 15-16 hours out of Strike, so the open pattern definitely took its toll on tension maintenance.
I think a shaped/round hybrid would be really nice.
The laat string I'm trying before going back to my normal racquets is Element Soft IR. I wavered alot on where to go thinner, shaped, hybrid, lower tension...
Ultimately I wanted a softer string to see how the feel would change. Especially with Strike being a little stiff, which it usually is not at all in my normal racquets.
On the leather, I think it's a worthwhile addition if you like using leather. I don't notice a dramatic shift in maneuverability but sometimes those quick little wristy shots seem easier, same with the inside out forehands.
But at the same time, I think you feel the stiffness a bit more and that could bother some.
While I am going back to my normal racquets after the next stringjob, because I wasn't looking to switch, this racquet is extremely tempting. With its open pattern, stiffer layup, and thicker beam, it isn't the type of racquet I gravitate toward, but boy did it surprise me with how well I played. It is definitely staying in the bag and we'll see, if I start playing poorly with my normal racquets this is an obvious switch.
I'll update again after using element soft.
Probably my last update.
Finished off PT Strike 1.20. If you get a stiffer string you can definitely use a thinner guage, didn't seem to help the launch angle much and definitely lost performance quicker due to the open pattern.
Currently strung with Element Soft IR at 50lbs. Element Soft IR is a super good string if you've never tried it, actually softer and more pocketing than regular element.
I wanted something a little softer and this isn't bad, I'd say it works ok with the frame although it does seem like it's notching early.
Control is decent and power and feel are good but this frame is pretty string sensitive.
All three round strings I've used have given me such a low trajectory and not that predictable launch when you try to go more windshield wiper and get more topspin. Obviously YMMV with technique etc. etc.
Mach10 has definitely been the best string performance by far, so credit to that string.
My final thoughts are shaped/round hybrids are probably going to be the best. Get some predictability and consistency from the round cross but lift and spin from the shaped main.
I'd love to endlessly test hybrids but not enough hours in the day.
Maybe I'll come up with a hybrid and string this and one of my normal racquets and compare, we'll see what happens.
Finished off PT Strike 1.20. If you get a stiffer string you can definitely use a thinner guage, didn't seem to help the launch angle much and definitely lost performance quicker due to the open pattern.
Currently strung with Element Soft IR at 50lbs. Element Soft IR is a super good string if you've never tried it, actually softer and more pocketing than regular element.
I wanted something a little softer and this isn't bad, I'd say it works ok with the frame although it does seem like it's notching early.
Control is decent and power and feel are good but this frame is pretty string sensitive.
All three round strings I've used have given me such a low trajectory and not that predictable launch when you try to go more windshield wiper and get more topspin. Obviously YMMV with technique etc. etc.
Mach10 has definitely been the best string performance by far, so credit to that string.
My final thoughts are shaped/round hybrids are probably going to be the best. Get some predictability and consistency from the round cross but lift and spin from the shaped main.
I'd love to endlessly test hybrids but not enough hours in the day.
Maybe I'll come up with a hybrid and string this and one of my normal racquets and compare, we'll see what happens.
Phantasm
Semi-Pro
Echo a lotta the sentiments here. The SW is high on this racket unless you purposely pick or get a lighter one. Can be a little unforgiving in this sense. But if you can generate good RHS, the racket rewards you.
Debating adding a leather grip or weight to the handle to make it a little more headlight but haven't struggled enough yet to do it.
I added one to mine and my racquet was already a little underspec on balance, so more HL.
I haven't felt it dramatically changed maneuverability. The racquet just doesn't swing super fast, at least for me. The main difference with the leather is feel.
But it's worth trying.
Phantasm
Semi-Pro
Good to know. Thanks I feel like I get enough mass through the ball despite the 305g static unstrung weight so haven't the need to mess with it. Plus sweaty hands + leather grip = slippy racket
Go for the Fairway, they have a tackier feel especially when it is humid.Good to know. Thanks I feel like I get enough mass through the ball despite the 305g static unstrung weight so haven't the need to mess with it. Plus sweaty hands + leather grip = slippy racket
