Wilson Ultra Tour (Monfils)

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
Can be done like pneumated1 describes but it can be hard to tie a Parnell knot which is my preferred knot when the tails are really short. When the tails are too short for the Parnell knot, I will use the double half hitch knot.

I was able to do the Parnell on mine without any trouble. I can't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure I was coming just short of my tensioner, so had enough to work with. The only problem then would be if you get a pack of string that's closer to 39' than 40' or better, then, as you say, a double half hitch or Wilson Pro knot would be in order. I've used the latter when necessary, but it's small and retreats back into the grommet sometimes.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
I was able to do the Parnell on mine without any trouble. I can't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure I was coming just short of my tensioner, so had enough to work with. The only problem then would be if you get a pack of string that's closer to 39' than 40' or better, then, as you say, a double half hitch or Wilson Pro knot would be in order. I've used the latter when necessary, but it's small and retreats back into the grommet sometimes.
my post said “it can be hard”.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
My post might have come across in the wrong way; I was in total agreement. Just wanted to point out that if you don't get at least 40' of string (not always a guarantee), all bets are off ... as you stated.
I should have added “depending on one’s level of experience and expertise in tying knots” to my original post.
 

Dragy

Legend
Hey UT-guys what's up? Would you give me some talkie to get me through doubts, one way or another?

I'm using UT modded to 348g static weight, 31.8cm balance and low-330 SW, achived by ~4.8g split between 3&9 areas, and some beef inside/on top of handle. Stringjob is Solinco Revolution 1.20 mains at 21 x Kirschbaum Pro Line 2 1.25 crosses at 20. Or both 0.5kg lower in second stick.

I generally enjoy playing with it. I like swinging out from the baseline. I feel in control picking directions. Where I struggle at times is blocking the ball back under pressure - squash shots, blocky slices from the back of the court, etc. Seems I tend to hit them closer to the tip, where the hoop looses most of it's response. Well, rather expected, and possibly fixable with focus and better precision. However, I'm still wondering if couple of g of lead at 12 o'clock would improve playability. My previous racquets had a tad higher SW, and I deliberately stopped just shy of that customizing these ones. I feel some free space to bump it up, and in the meantime I'm striving to train myself to rely on execustion quality and precisive hitting more than on sheer power, so staying a bit underpowered is in line with the strategy.

So basically the doubt is if 2g at 12 o'clock will help the case with leverage over the negatives? Repair the upper hoop while keeping sweetspot power tamed and overall mass (remember 2-3g to counterbalance) serviceable?

Or should I just practice more :-D

PS: by the way, another option is to cut those 2g from 3&9 zone and move to 12...
 
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I don’t know exactly how much grams of lead tape is on my UT since I didn’t mod everything my self, but mine is 343g strung with 19 gauge hyper g and about the same balance as yours. 32cm ish. SW I don’t know. I have only 2g at 3 and 9. 1g on each side. Rest of the lead tape is underneath the entire length of the bumper. I might remove the 3 and 9 tape to make it even more whippy. I don’t feel I need it for stability because the lead at the top pretty much covers the area from 10 to 2. To counterbalance I use a Wilson leather grip and silicone in the handle.
For me this is perfect. Whippy but super stable with lots of plow through. Never do I get the feeling that I’m being pushed around and I can smack every ball back as hard as I can. Volleys and slice also feel stable. If you need more info on how to customize, I found this video to be helpful.
 
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Classic-TXP-IG MID

Hall of Fame
Played with my UT 18x20 in one of my matches tonight.

For some reason, the entire string bed felt really loose and was launching many of my shots. I chose the 18x20 rather than the UP 16x19, as I thought it would provide better control. Both racquets were strung at the same time, with the same string and at similar tension. In fact, the UT 18x20 had a slightly higher DT (38 Vs 37) than the UP 16x19, and up to this point I played more hours with the UP. It was a little puzzling, and then when I switched to the UP 16x19, it had amazing control and my shots were going in, it felt fantastic and confidence inspiring, and the tension was perfect.

Go figure... I'll have to keep playing both and comparing my experiences.
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
Hey UT-guys what's up? Would you give me some talkie to get me through doubts, one way or another?

I'm using UT modded to 348g static weight, 31.8cm balance and low-330 SW, achived by ~4.8g split between 3&9 areas, and some beef inside/on top of handle. Stringjob is Solinco Revolution 1.20 mains at 21 x Kirschbaum Pro Line 2 1.25 crosses at 20. Or both 0.5kg lower in second stick.

I generally enjoy playing with it. I like swinging out from the baseline. I feel in control picking directions. Where I struggle at times is blocking the ball back under pressure - squash shots, blocky slices from the back of the court, etc. Seems I tend to hit them closer to the tip, where the hoop looses most of it's response. Well, rather expected, and possibly fixable with focus and better precision. However, I'm still wondering if couple of g of lead at 12 o'clock would improve playability. My previous racquets had a tad higher SW, and I deliberately stopped just shy of that customizing these ones. I feel some free space to bump it up, and in the meantime I'm striving to train myself to rely on execustion quality and precisive hitting more than on sheer power, so staying a bit underpowered is in line with the strategy.

So basically the doubt is if 2g at 12 o'clock will help the case with leverage over the negatives? Repair the upper hoop while keeping sweetspot power tamed and overall mass (remember 2-3g to counterbalance) serviceable?

Or should I just practice more :-D

PS: by the way, another option is to cut those 2g from 3&9 zone and move to 12...

Hi. If you hit high in the hoop, then adding a few grams at 12 is an easy experiment. If you have any head tape, you can center two 5" pieces of it at 12, which in my experience is close to 2g and easy to remove. Personally, I don't like weight at the tip because I hit center to just below center in the hoop, so the highest I ever put lead is at the sweet spot 'node,' closer to 2/10 but prefer 3/9, 5/7, throat, and top of the grip, but all of those in the lightest amounts (spread out) I can get away with. I just prefer the way a racquet swings with that distribution, and it matches my style and what I'm trying to do with the ball. Maybe start with a gram at 12 before removing anything from 3/9. You'll figure it out.
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
Played with my UT 18x20 in one of my matches tonight.

For some reason, the entire string bed felt really loose and was launching many of my shots. I chose the 18x20 rather than the UP 16x19, as I thought it would provide better control. Both racquets were strung at the same time, with the same string and at similar tension. In fact, the UT 18x20 had a slightly higher DT (38 Vs 37) than the UP 16x19, and up to this point I played more hours with the UP. It was a little puzzling, and then when I switched to the UP 16x19, it had amazing control and my shots were going in, it felt fantastic and confidence inspiring, and the tension was perfect.

Go figure... I'll have to keep playing both and comparing my experiences.

We keep going back-and-forth, haha. I honestly can't choose between my UTs and UP 16x19 at this point and don't intend to. I Can for all intents and purposes play them interchangeably, but there's just something about the UT that lets you play a raw and aggressive game. And I've noticed the majority of people facing the UTs ball don't like that laser push. But the UP 16x19 has benefits all its own. Very similar frame and response, but it opens things up and makes everything a little easier. Both sublime.
 

Vicious49

Legend
We keep going back-and-forth, haha. I honestly can't choose between my UTs and UP 16x19 at this point and don't intend to. I Can for all intents and purposes play them interchangeably, but there's just something about the UT that lets you play a raw and aggressive game. And I've noticed the majority of people facing the UTs ball don't like that laser push. But the UP 16x19 has benefits all its own. Very similar frame and response, but it opens things up and makes everything a little easier. Both sublime.

I played better with the UT last night. It’s strange that it switches from day to day. The way I was swinging last night I preferred a bit Less power and more control.
 

Classic-TXP-IG MID

Hall of Fame
We keep going back-and-forth, haha. I honestly can't choose between my UTs and UP 16x19 at this point and don't intend to. I Can for all intents and purposes play them interchangeably, but there's just something about the UT that lets you play a raw and aggressive game. And I've noticed the majority of people facing the UTs ball don't like that laser push. But the UP 16x19 has benefits all its own. Very similar frame and response, but it opens things up and makes everything a little easier. Both sublime.

Completely agree with you on all points.
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
I played better with the UT last night. It’s strange that it switches from day to day. The way I was swinging last night I preferred a bit Less power and more control.

I suspect day-in and day-out, I'll prefer the UP 16x19, but that's no guarantee. I've been hitting a box of tweenerish demo frames, and the UT was just what I needed to groove my strokes and shots again after frame swapping and erratic results. They're both very good.
 

junbun

New User
Just got my hands on 3 matched frames w 60RA! SW290/ static 305/9HL!

1 : 56/51 Tourna quasi armor 17g: proline evolution 17g
2 : 45/48 proline evolution 17g: Tourna quasi armor 17g
3 : 52/48 Klip legend 17g : proline evolution

Next experiment will be with 16g VS touch / poly

I'm expecting the first one to be too tight and will check tension as it goes down.

What other string combinations would you guys suggest i try?
 

Crozzer95

Hall of Fame
Managed to get hold of the Ultra Pro via a giveaway I won. Already added some Leather to it but yet to string it.
Would like to know what you guys are using string wise?
Previous history of Gut / Poly hybrids int he mid 50’s
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
Managed to get hold of the Ultra Pro via a giveaway I won. Already added some Leather to it but yet to string it.
Would like to know what you guys are using string wise?
Previous history of Gut / Poly hybrids int he mid 50’s
I'm playing NXT 17 mains and Element 16L crosses at 52/49 currently. I have a leather grip and 2.5 grams at 12 on both my UT and UP 18m.
 

Dragy

Legend
I use Solinco Revolution 1.20 at 20.5kg as mains and Kirschbaum Pro Line II 1.25 at 19.5kg as crosses. Power is on the relatively low side with SW in low 330s. Launch angle is quite versatile - can get some air under the ball, can hit relatively low. Never go to skim the net though.
 

Classic-TXP-IG MID

Hall of Fame
Managed to get hold of the Ultra Pro via a giveaway I won. Already added some Leather to it but yet to string it.
Would like to know what you guys are using string wise?
Previous history of Gut / Poly hybrids int he mid 50’s

Since this is the Ultra Tour thread, I'm presuming you have the UP 18x20, therefore my current UT string setup is Tier One Black Knight 1.18mm Mains and Babolat Origin 1.25mm Crosses @ 46/43 (I have the same setup in my UP 16M but at a different tension).

Produces great spin and comfort, yet is powerful enough to produce a heavier penetrating ball, and a flat shot when needed. Hope that helps.
 

junbun

New User
Please let us know if u have the 16x 19 or 18x20

I have the UT

Tried 3 setups the one I like the most so far is klip legend 17 / proline evolution 17 @ 52 / 48

played very well at the start (standing on the service line I can hit to the same spot of the opposing court within 3 inches consistently)

I then added about 7 grams to the head , counter balanced at the handle am now at 350g 31cm balance sw not measured but should be around 333 according to approx calculations. Vibration frequency is 130hz !

While I can still get almost the same control as before on softer swings it seems I’ve lost enough rhs to lose spin and launch the ball further by about 2 feet sometimes.

The positives are better plow and shock absorption, control on volleys. My max service speed prob went up almost 10mph but I currently am nursing te on my wrist so my usual serve / forehand doesn’t have as much spin as before:

it could be or In combination of my cross losing too much tension. RacquetTune measured my string bed at 46.4 after the job and now 44 but I think I need to get a string meter.

Am considering going 56/52 legend cream
on my next restring prob start of spring.

I had strung all 3 of my UT 2lbs less than my usual because of winter .
 
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travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
Really loving my UT 18x20 now with

Kevlar 16g / zx pro black
Prestretched 56 / 50 lbs

Great combination of excellent spin, great launch angle control, and comfort.
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
I've now got 3 UTs, and two are still set up the same - leather and 2.5gm at 12 with a swing weight of around 332 (TWU method). I have the third set up with 2gm at 12 and 3gm each of 3 and 9. I haven't measure the swing weight yet, but maybe 335? It's only about 1 pt less headlight (6 vs 7 for the others) but since we are in the offseason I just want to see if I get additional stability on serve returns.
 

ryushen21

Legend
I've now got 3 UTs, and two are still set up the same - leather and 2.5gm at 12 with a swing weight of around 332 (TWU method). I have the third set up with 2gm at 12 and 3gm each of 3 and 9. I haven't measure the swing weight yet, but maybe 335? It's only about 1 pt less headlight (6 vs 7 for the others) but since we are in the offseason I just want to see if I get additional stability on serve returns.
The way that you have your third frame setup is very similar to the final setup I landed on with my UT. Mine swings pretty nice. Enough plow without being unwieldy and the added stability that the UT can sometimes lack.
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
The way that you have your third frame setup is very similar to the final setup I landed on with my UT. Mine swings pretty nice. Enough plow without being unwieldy and the added stability that the UT can sometimes lack.
Ah, good to know. I'm hoping for a tiny amount more pop, but I string with a hybrid setup and the NXT mains definitely help with power. I was going to try this tonight, but I'll wait until my ball machine gets here later this week and experiment against a non-human.
 

ryushen21

Legend
Ah, good to know. I'm hoping for a tiny amount more pop, but I string with a hybrid setup and the NXT mains definitely help with power. I was going to try this tonight, but I'll wait until my ball machine gets here later this week and experiment against a non-human.
The hybrid should give the pop you're looking for. The lead at 12 helps as long as you come through the shot strong and clean. Should be a good hit for you.
 

Dragy

Legend
Guys has anyone directly measured the headsize of UT/UP? Inside the hoop? My current method lacks precision quite a bit because of digital scale only showing decimals of grams, and paper I used to cut the stencil of is quite light, but still it seems less than 95 sq.in. It also corresponds to how it looks on official images compared to other brands 95s.

ziWDO6j.png
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
Guys has anyone directly measured the headsize of UT/UP? Inside the hoop? My current method lacks precision quite a bit because of digital scale only showing decimals of grams, and paper I used to cut the stencil of is quite light, but still it seems less than 95 sq.in. It also corresponds to how it looks on official images compared to other brands 95s.

ziWDO6j.png
Interesting thought. I’ve never measured before but it doesn’t seem much different from my Dunlop Biomemetic 200 in head size. I’m not saying I agree bc I haven’t laid them over each other, but it’s possible.

also though, I didn’t notice much difference from the 93p to the 95 either
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
Yeah, 93P looks actually wider than many 95. It's been also reported to play not-that-unforgiving as one may expect from Mid frame.
It is wider than my Dunlop’s and 6.1 but shorter too. It isn’t too unforgiving but has a lack of punch.
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
Same, but want to try how it goes with some more powerful alteration - like Gravity Pro, or 16x19 95 option (Dunlop?), or slightly thicker beam (Textreme Tour 100P? Radical Pro?)
I have an incoming prestige pro that I should get in a month or so. Sounds weird but traded my cousin and he already had the Dunlop’s I traded for. Can’t go near him currently due to lockdown and his wife’s cancer treatments

that said, I think the touch Prestige pro with similar flex, 1mm thicker beam and 16x19 could add some punch to my ground strikes
 

mark b.

Rookie
Have two of these frames. Both weighted to 12.1oz. Strung with Ashway. Tried other strings and poly just felt dead to me. Put Natural Gut in another and foolishly didn't pre-stretch only to have the cheap natty gut stretch to unplayability.
Enjoying the superb playability duration with these strings and the only experimentation I might do is to try a 18gauge at 45lbs just to see what I'll get. Down-side for me of using poly is lack of playability duration. :confused:
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Guys has anyone directly measured the headsize of UT/UP? Inside the hoop? My current method lacks precision quite a bit because of digital scale only showing decimals of grams, and paper I used to cut the stencil of is quite light, but still it seems less than 95 sq.in. It also corresponds to how it looks on official images compared to other brands 95s.

ziWDO6j.png
I’ve compared my UT and UP to my old head prestige mp frames which are 95” and the UT/UPs are slightly longer from tip to throat.
 

moon shot

Hall of Fame
Guys has anyone directly measured the headsize of UT/UP? Inside the hoop? My current method lacks precision quite a bit because of digital scale only showing decimals of grams, and paper I used to cut the stencil of is quite light, but still it seems less than 95 sq.in. It also corresponds to how it looks on official images compared to other brands 95s.

ziWDO6j.png

I have some photos that I took at identical distances and split the frame.

 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Guys has anyone directly measured the headsize of UT/UP? Inside the hoop? My current method lacks precision quite a bit because of digital scale only showing decimals of grams, and paper I used to cut the stencil of is quite light, but still it seems less than 95 sq.in. It also corresponds to how it looks on official images compared to other brands 95s.

ziWDO6j.png
Just laid my UT/UP on top of my Graphene Prestige MP...the UT/UP is wider than the Prestige MP from 3-9 and very slightly longer from 12 to 6
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
Changed my setup on one UT a bit just for kicks. Went from 2.5g at 12 to 2.5 at each of 3/9/12. Swongweight is now up from 333 to 339 and weight is 340gm. Balance I can’t remember off hand. Felt good on ball machine, going to see how it holds up in match play tonight
 

Classic-TXP-IG MID

Hall of Fame
Changed my setup on one UT a bit just for kicks. Went from 2.5g at 12 to 2.5 at each of 3/9/12. Swongweight is now up from 333 to 339 and weight is 340gm. Balance I can’t remember off hand. Felt good on ball machine, going to see how it holds up in match play tonight

Let us know... I have a similar set-up, but I also added 5-6g worth of weight at 7" above the butt cap. Plays great for me, but eager to hear your thoughts and impressions.
 

ChrisG

Professional
Awesome! Amazing how the i.prestige and ultra tour line up. Not just head but throat, etc.
Had a hit today with my UT and 3 of my I.Prestige (each has a different mod), and I confirm what I've already said here, UT is just a better Prestige.
Don't get me wrong, I love the I.Prestige particularly, but UT pushed the classic feel into the modern world.
On a perfect tennis day, I.Prestige is glorious, but you need to be on your A game all the time. Granted my best results this year in tournaments have come with it. But also my worst.
UT is a more realistic choice nowadays for those who like that classic feel but want to keep up with the youngsters.
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
I also have to thank the shady Wilson QC who gave me a beefy UT, so finally I play it with 1g at 12 and I'm almost @ 340 SW

One of mine fits the 'beefy' category. It's never been strung/hit, and while only 2-3g over listed specs for static weight, it'll come in at 33.4cm balance and hefty swing weight once strung.
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
Let us know... I have a similar set-up, but I also added 5-6g worth of weight at 7" above the butt cap. Plays great for me, but eager to hear your thoughts and impressions.
Played really well, I have leather grips so that adds a bit to the handle, probably matching closer to your setup. I felt like I was finding better depth on my forehand and able to hit better touch/drop shots. I barely noticed the swing weight until late in the set. We played the set after a few hundred balls on the machine and an hour of demoing frames. After all of that my service motion started getting lazy.
I finally got to hit the PT2.0 which is one I’ve wanted to hit for a while. I really enjoyed it but felt so good to get back to the UT.
I felt good enough with this setup that I’m matching my other two frames to it.
 

Classic-TXP-IG MID

Hall of Fame
Played really well, I have leather grips so that adds a bit to the handle, probably matching closer to your setup. I felt like I was finding better depth on my forehand and able to hit better touch/drop shots. I barely noticed the swing weight until late in the set. We played the set after a few hundred balls on the machine and an hour of demoing frames. After all of that my service motion started getting lazy.
I finally got to hit the PT2.0 which is one I’ve wanted to hit for a while. I really enjoyed it but felt so good to get back to the UT.
I felt good enough with this setup that I’m matching my other two frames to it.

Great to hear (y) Mine I got in grip size 3 because I use 2 overgrips (first with no overlap and second as normal), so mine are around the 353g static weight mark when strung (depending on strings used). They do play very well. Great feel, very precise, awesome comfort.
 

Dragy

Legend
Accidentally, I’ve been experimenting just yesterday. My default setup has 6-something g of lead as long strips at 8-10:30 and 1:30-4 o’clock areas. Balance is 31.8cm, mass is 348g, SW is around 335.

I’ve picked a spare one, unmodded, strung with some MSV multi long ago by previous owner... I was interested in trying multi again as a long time poly user to figure out what I actually loose this way. I’ll maybe try again with fresh stringjob.

I also got it to same static, balance and SW by slapping blu tac all over the racquet :-D the difference from default setup was that I put nothing to 3&9 zones, hence dropping TW by 0.6 pts, I believe - lower mass stringjob also contributed. Was curios how it comes out.

Some conclusions:
- Stick with same SW but lower TW expectedly felt less sluggish, however, it mostly stayed in the feel department - not so much altered the swing timing.
- Off-center hits were noticeably worse. No margin. Tough choice if playing on-the-rise, off the air, or overall more challenging balls.
- Could keep the ball in with moderately relaxed swinging, but spin shots required conscious focus. Back to poly, spin difference was evident, faster swinging was fruitful - while going a bit wild with multi. However, I cannot say multi was a complete rocket launcher. Playable to some degree. One big con was lack of lift ability when playing low balls - no grip unless getting RF open.
- Feel-wise, my shaped poly felt more solid and elastic. It gripped the ball and launched it to where it should go. Multi more of “cracked” at collision and hit more “woody”, if I can say...

Actually I was wondering if I should beef up 12 o’clock zone for my current setup to improve upper hoop playability, by moving a bit from 3&9... I’ll try, with my go-to string, but maybe keep some for TW. Cannot afford to drop that too low.
 
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