Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
I think he meant that the handle is molded with an indentation to apply lead tape into which doesn't change the size of the grip.
Wilson Ultra Tour (Monfils)
- Thread starter mpournaras
- Start date
viddal'alien
New User
Sorry for my Bad English.
Yes different from usual shape
It looks more like a head shape than a Wilson shape .
I play long Time with frames "head" but when I played babolat, the horror of the old form babolat, so I cast the handle directly on the frame (form wilson on my babolat) and they look different Of this handle. This handle seems rather rectangular than the wilson shape
viddal'alien
New User
Concerning the change of grip
(I put a leather in place of the original synthetic) The double-sided tape does not stick on the handle at all, I was forced to dare the tape on the grip (not on the grip) The frame directly)
(I put a leather in place of the original synthetic) The double-sided tape does not stick on the handle at all, I was forced to dare the tape on the grip (not on the grip) The frame directly)
moon shot
Hall of Fame
Have you played the RF97, I remember the same being said of its shape when it came out. It had slightly different and smaller dimensions.
When you hit straight with the Tec 315 Ltd 18x20 the ball goes slightly higher sort of like an aid to help you clear the net. When you hit straight with the Ultra Tour the ball goes straight where you aim for in terms of net clearance. This means if you misaim the ball, it will go straight into the net where as the Tec 315 Ltd 18x20 may just skim the net and save you from an error.
viddal'alien
New User
No sorry , since wilson introduced the amplifeel technology, I no longer touch a wilson (except H19 / H22 / H25) I can not compare with the RF97
moon shot
Hall of Fame
I didn't care for amplifeel either, FYI it is absent on the RF97. The dimensions ran 0.3 x 0.4mm smaller than I was used to but far different than the 2014 90 which had amplifeel.
RF97 Autograph 33.2 28.7
Wilson 6.1 Classic 33.5 29.1
Wilson Pro Staff 90 (2014) 33.3 29.5
Panquake
Rookie
They got rid of ampifeel a few years ago I thought
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Zoolander
Hall of Fame
I wanted to check if the handle was filled with foam as indicated on this forum, and the answer is NO !!
it's silicone and I am happy!
See the pics
Hey Vidda that reminds me of something........ popped the buttcap the other day on a RF97A and it had foam in one channel and some silicone in the other. I suspect both sides are foam filled but they leave room for silicone to try and match specs, maybe the same with the UT?
Anybody else with a RF97A popped the buttcap and can tell me if theres foam + silicone inside?
Panquake
Rookie
Many rackets are like this in order to pass quality control. In fact one of my H22s has silicone in the but, and the other doesn't. Yet they both have identical specs
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moon shot
Hall of Fame
I had three with foam and one with a narrow inject of silicone in both sides. Seemed to be for weight / balance matching.
viddal'alien
New User
Very wise decision in my opinion
viddal'alien
New User
It's highly probable
BounceHitBounceHit
Legend
Paulo Braz
Semi-Pro
Did you get to play with an ultra tour? What is the behavior compared to the pro tour? What pros and cons?I was comparing with my PT630, other than it has 1mm wider beam & slightly larger head, it looks very similar to me.
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moon shot
Hall of Fame
I'd further speculate that having the Silicone in the middle surrounded by foam provides the least dampening possible as it isn't making hard contact to mute the frame.
I've seen some people get excited like they accidentally for a pro stock since it had silicone.
Charlie Mewborne
New User
it's a little hard to explain without picking up the UT and playing with it. it has a very old school/SOLID feel. i felt with my blade i couldn't get that super solid feel until i added more weight to it. i just added 4 thick strips of the gamma lead tape to my ultra yesterday and it played even better on my serves and volleys. the four strips are the length of the handle on the UT. when you hit balls with the UT, it gives you a great pop sound. it's hard to find that with many rackets these days. i think the weight it comes in stock form is a little deceiving.
Just tested the Ultra Tour stringed with MSV HEX 1.18mm and a wilson overgrip. My previous racquets have been:
- Head Microgel Radical MP (Weight 319g with one overgrip)
- Blade 98, 2015 (Weight 339g with leathergrip and one overgrip)
I really loved the Blade 98, but it was way too headheavy for me making me late on many deep balls, strugling with swinging fast enough, so I added a leather grip to make it more headlight. However, it was rock solid and I gain a lot of plow through with this racquet when I have the time to get in position.
With the WIlson Ultra I get a much more manueverable racquet. With strings and one overgrip it weights 326g. The biggest different between the Blade and the Ultra is the power - the Ultra has less power and the sweet spot seems much smaller, but it allows me to swing much faster and control the balls. I definately have to work harder with the Ultra.
I feel that I lack a little bit of plow through with the Ultra. Do you think it will help adding a leather grip even though this will result in a much more headlight balance? The total weight will then be around 335g. My Blade is 338g and it almost feels too heavy, so Im not interested in adding too much weight. Can two racquets differ in manueverability even though they are same weight?
- Head Microgel Radical MP (Weight 319g with one overgrip)
- Blade 98, 2015 (Weight 339g with leathergrip and one overgrip)
I really loved the Blade 98, but it was way too headheavy for me making me late on many deep balls, strugling with swinging fast enough, so I added a leather grip to make it more headlight. However, it was rock solid and I gain a lot of plow through with this racquet when I have the time to get in position.
With the WIlson Ultra I get a much more manueverable racquet. With strings and one overgrip it weights 326g. The biggest different between the Blade and the Ultra is the power - the Ultra has less power and the sweet spot seems much smaller, but it allows me to swing much faster and control the balls. I definately have to work harder with the Ultra.
I feel that I lack a little bit of plow through with the Ultra. Do you think it will help adding a leather grip even though this will result in a much more headlight balance? The total weight will then be around 335g. My Blade is 338g and it almost feels too heavy, so Im not interested in adding too much weight. Can two racquets differ in manueverability even though they are same weight?
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Anton
Legend
Just tested the Ultra Tour stringed with MSV HEX 1.18mm and a wilson overgrip. My previous racquets have been:
- Head Microgel Radical MP (Weight 319g with one overgrip)
- Blade 98, 2015 (Weight 339g with leathergrip and one overgrip)
I really loved the Blade 98, but it was way too headheavy for me making me late on many deep balls, strugling with swinging fast enough, so I added a leather grip to make it more headlight. However, it was rock solid and I gain a lot of plow through with this racquet when I have the time to get in position.
With the WIlson Ultra I get a much more manueverable racquet. With strings and one overgrip it weights 326g. The biggest different between the Blade and the Ultra is the power - the Ultra has less power and the sweet spot seems much smaller, but it allows me to swing much faster and control the balls. I definately have to work harder with the Ultra.
I feel that I lack a little bit of plow through with the Ultra. Do you think it will help adding a leather grip even though this will result in a much more headlight balance? The total weight will then be around 335g. My Blade is 338g and it almost feels too heavy, so Im not interested in adding too much weight. Can two racquets differ in manueverability even though they are same weight?
Just add some lead at 3+9 to increase stability and power. Adding weight at the handle doesn't really do that and is mostly for getting the balance right.
But then it will become more headheavy ?
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
Since 11.8oz seems to be the the upper limit of your preferred weight, I would stick with the synthetic and overgrip or replace the setup altogether and use a better more absorbent and tacky replacement grip like Wilson Micro-Dry Comfort and you won't need to use an overgrip.
Then place some lead at 3 and 9 o'clock and see how you like it. If you feel that you need more tail weight, add some putty inside the buttcap and adjust little by little. The problem with leather grips and overgrips is that it doesn't allow you to fine tune in smaller weight increments like you can with lead and putty.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Just got mine and only wall impressions so far but it's a good racquet no doubt, just at $250 maybe a bit much. I felt like a sucker paying that much for what is essentially the same racquet that has been around forever.
It feels solid...like it's leaded but it's not.
Tec315 users feel is almost exactly the same but I have to confirm that with full hitting because with the wall sometimes racquets feel softer than they are on the court...
My Tc95 and Tec315 both have leather grip and typhoon strings and ut has wilson revolve or whatever they call it now so that changes stiffness feel a bit in my experience.
In regards to the grip shape, my impression is that this grip is no different than my other wilson racquets six one classic 95 25th anniversary or blade 98cv or rf97. I did experience more of a head type grip with one of my pro opens reissue so I would not be surprised if wilson qc had one slip out like that.
I think biggest plus is that now we have at least few more years of good solid classic construction racquet to go to in retail form w/o worries that it's fading away into history.
It feels solid...like it's leaded but it's not.
Tec315 users feel is almost exactly the same but I have to confirm that with full hitting because with the wall sometimes racquets feel softer than they are on the court...
My Tc95 and Tec315 both have leather grip and typhoon strings and ut has wilson revolve or whatever they call it now so that changes stiffness feel a bit in my experience.
In regards to the grip shape, my impression is that this grip is no different than my other wilson racquets six one classic 95 25th anniversary or blade 98cv or rf97. I did experience more of a head type grip with one of my pro opens reissue so I would not be surprised if wilson qc had one slip out like that.
I think biggest plus is that now we have at least few more years of good solid classic construction racquet to go to in retail form w/o worries that it's fading away into history.
A_Instead
Legend
Dgoran..so what you are saying the new phantom is a rebrand off the tour basically?
I get in moods for a flexly racket and reach into my collection and grab my old tours..or my tech 315 Ltd or blade 104..
I think the tech 315 Ltd is my favorite of that bunch...
I was going to get a phantom..but perhaps I'll pass and use that money and get the new ultra 97 instead..
I get in moods for a flexly racket and reach into my collection and grab my old tours..or my tech 315 Ltd or blade 104..
I think the tech 315 Ltd is my favorite of that bunch...
I was going to get a phantom..but perhaps I'll pass and use that money and get the new ultra 97 instead..
Murray_fan1
Professional
I would agree that it has a similar feel to the Tech 315 but has a little more pop and stability in stock form. I don't think it requires a ton of lead to be a useable racquet for most people.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
I did not mention Phantom in the above? Did you mean to post that in phantom thread?
But to answer your question as of now, I would get Phantom over Ultra tour and 315ltd combined...
What I was trying to say if you have 315ltd not sure you need ultra tour
TheOneHander
Professional
Yes they can. Even if the balances are the same, the distribution of weight can affect how a racquet swings. For instance, most of the weight on Racquet A could be concentrated at the tip, and on Racquet B, the weight could mostly be in the throat. This is why racquets can have the same weight and balance but different swingweights.
Yes, it will. That's what happens when you add weight to the head. You don't need a ton of lead to improve stability--I find that even 2g can make a difference, but maybe 4g (which is about the weight of a dampener, and a couple grams shy of an overgrip) between 3&9, and a lesser to equal amount of weight to counterbalance in the handle will give you the qualities you want out of the frame.
It's worth experimenting with. Lead is always cheap and easy to tinker with.
Anton
Legend
Well you are taking a 6pt hl racket and adding ~6 gram overgrip in the handle, so if you add 4 grams at 3+9 you should still be at around same headlight balance, maybe 5pt hl worst case.
I wouldn't get too hung up on specs, just try it and see how you like it - it takes a few seconds to add/remove lead.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
Botton line, is the Ultra Tour good enough comfort and control wise to be a pro stock (H19 + PT57A) alternative? How does it play compared to the real deal and is it an improvement? It was supposed to be a real H19 and now we know it's not, but I still want to know how close it comes to one.
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dgoran
Hall of Fame
It does have that pro stock feel that is hard to describe but it's not pro tour 630 soft.
You can imagine it like this:
Ultra tour is a kitkat:
And Pro tour is Kinder:
They are both very sweet but one is little crunchier
Imago
Hall of Fame
It is, for those who don't like the softish feel of PC600 or PT630, esp., if your play is not pro enough to control the shots by technique only. Of course, I have yet to string UT with NG/Poly to tell the real difference with my older Prestige rackets...
RoarTT
Semi-Pro
Haha. Nice one!It does have that pro stock feel that is hard to describe but it's not pro tour 630 soft.
You can imagine it like this:
Ultra tour is a kitkat:
And Pro tour is Kinder:
They are both very sweet but one is little crunchier
If I choose to add lead at 3 and 9 I think it will become too head heavy. If I then have to add lead to the handle also, then Im afraid it becomes too heavy. But again, it will might be more manueverable than the Blade even though its the same weight?!
Are you sure that it won't get just a bit more plow through when increasing the total weight with a leather grip?
Just to get you right... What you're saying is that eventhough the balance of my Blade and the Ultra is the same, the distribution might be different with the Blade having more weight in the tip making it less manueverable than the Ultra? If this is the case then Im not afraid of adding lead to the Ultra and get above 11.8 oz (334g) if the manueverability stays the same.
Anton
Legend
So I hit with it today.
+ very smooth feel but with nicely firm upper loop that does not wimp out like TC97 or recent Rebel 95. I could definitely play with this.
- Even with 18g Cyclone at mid tension stringbed felt somewhat hesitant to let the ball dig in. Very little "free" spin which made for a bit of inconsistent feel. Hittin flat balls seemed powerful and deep but as soon as you get more under the ball the power and depth drops drastically (so you get more control). I think this is what the other poster referred to as "more demanding", you really have to put good spin on the ball with every stroke to get results you can trust and couple it with good driving mechanics to create power.
Sweetspot is low and stringbed felt slightly boardy and a bit unstable towards the edges (could've been considerably worse considering light weight and swingweight). I've added some lead at 10+2, 3+9 and some on V throat to even out and it generally helped with stability and expanded "sweetspot" some but stringbed still felt uneven, I'll have to spend more time figuring this out.
I took out my 12.5oz LM Radical with natgut/poly and filled up handle and while it didn't feel as smooth as UT it had a much better, more comfortable stringbed response - you can put the ball anywhere on it and gave same consistent, giving feel.
+ very smooth feel but with nicely firm upper loop that does not wimp out like TC97 or recent Rebel 95. I could definitely play with this.
- Even with 18g Cyclone at mid tension stringbed felt somewhat hesitant to let the ball dig in. Very little "free" spin which made for a bit of inconsistent feel. Hittin flat balls seemed powerful and deep but as soon as you get more under the ball the power and depth drops drastically (so you get more control). I think this is what the other poster referred to as "more demanding", you really have to put good spin on the ball with every stroke to get results you can trust and couple it with good driving mechanics to create power.
Sweetspot is low and stringbed felt slightly boardy and a bit unstable towards the edges (could've been considerably worse considering light weight and swingweight). I've added some lead at 10+2, 3+9 and some on V throat to even out and it generally helped with stability and expanded "sweetspot" some but stringbed still felt uneven, I'll have to spend more time figuring this out.
I took out my 12.5oz LM Radical with natgut/poly and filled up handle and while it didn't feel as smooth as UT it had a much better, more comfortable stringbed response - you can put the ball anywhere on it and gave same consistent, giving feel.
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Anton
Legend
There are two axis of stability - lateral and longitudinal. Weight in the handle will add a bit of stability in length but not in width which is mostly associated with "plow-through"
zalive
Hall of Fame
With the lower weight option you have more freedom to distribute the added weight in the best way for the maneuverability and swing. It takes some trial&error sometimes, though.
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
Maybe I really am a freak, but I can't use mix brands for racquet and dempener
That's why the rubber band works so well... always matches the brand of racquet....in some cases you might just need a permanent marker if you want to complete the branding process...
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
Does that mean that in your opinion, @dgoran, that if you already have the PT630 you don't need the Tfibre 315ltd or the ultra tour... or the phantom?
zalive
Hall of Fame
Then you go with some lead at 12 o'clock (instead of 10+2 lead preferrably, possibly this amped up too much the power for the groundstrokes). Say, 2 grams at 12 o'clock, 4 grams at the top of the handle for a swing compensation. Will shift the sweet spot.
n8dawg6
Legend
i hit with one at a demo day friday night. they strung it with multi in the mains (sensation?) and alu power in the crosses. i couldnt get a good take on it bc there was no overgrip and i cant hold onto a racquet in the southeast during the summer without one. initial impression was that i was pretty light and very low-powered. interested to get one set up with poly mains, overgrip, and a dampener
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Received a demo Friday evening. Played Saturday morning and in a local tournament Friday night. I found the UT to be an answer to some prayers and an enigma in other ways.
I can serve and volley very effectively. Pinpoint midcourt shots. Overheads...niiiiice. But baseline exchanges, particularly when stretched out wide resulted in UEs. Perhaps it was me, more than
likely so. What I liked the most was the feel was so wildly different from the DR100s I have been using. More solid, more comfortable, more feel. I had some trouble adjusting to the 18x20 as I have been hitting 16x19 for so long. I have the racquet for a few more days.
I can serve and volley very effectively. Pinpoint midcourt shots. Overheads...niiiiice. But baseline exchanges, particularly when stretched out wide resulted in UEs. Perhaps it was me, more than
likely so. What I liked the most was the feel was so wildly different from the DR100s I have been using. More solid, more comfortable, more feel. I had some trouble adjusting to the 18x20 as I have been hitting 16x19 for so long. I have the racquet for a few more days.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
I could never add lead at 12 o'clock because the lead tape always gets messed up from stringing machine mounts. I also don't want to add it underneath the bumper guard because it's hard to remove and I essentially waste a bumper guard if I had to take it off.
I just had my match frame's bumper guard replaced and it would not go back on correctly and had to use grommet tubing. This is probably the fourth time I've replaced the bumper guard and the first time that it's happened. I think the older your racquet gets and then more you restring it, the graphite fibers break and the hoop gets larger over time.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Just leave a small gap in the lead tape at 12 o'clock or wherever the mount/s is/are.
moon shot
Hall of Fame
Lead with a gap tooth between the center mains!
Anton
Legend
Lateral Stability would suffer and I want all I can get here.
AMGF
Hall of Fame
Or put lead on the front of the frame instead of inside where the grommets are. Works for me on my MG Radical where I added so much weight and didn't want to triple stack the lead.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
Is the Ultra Tour better with lead at 3 and 9 or 12 o'clock and where would you counter weight to maintain balance? Above the handle or at the buttcap?
I hit a SW FH and plow through more than windshield wipe, so I don't care for the polarized setup much, but I do hit with an ATP FH, similar to Delpo's flat FH stroke.
