Good to see another positive review on one of Wilson’s best sticks. I’m still on the fence as I’ll be demoing the Blade 98 v9, and Vcore 95 to determine what works best, but the Ultra Pro definitely needs a few grams of weight to up the swing weight, and add some stability. 🤙🏽
Appreciate it. I assume your trying Blade 98 16x19 v9? You have a good grouping of rackets. If you have a one handed backhand you might lean towards the Vcore 95 which actually plays more generous than the 95 tends to be.
@@SolowSports Yeah… it’s the 98 v9 16x19… I’m definitely looking forward to all 3 (the 3rd being the Prestige Tour) but whatever works best on the OHBH, serving, and capable of handling through some match play will be the racquet I probably end up with…. Wish me luck! 😎
@@ER_aka_RAMhi there. i have the same shortlist and will assume a similar game/standard. do you have any feedback on the rackets? have you settled for one yet? cheers, ian
@@IanBrunton-t9s Aloha Ian! Yes… I ended with 2 Customized Blade v9s after giving the 18x20 a demo. I have both string patterns with matched weight, swing weight, and 4pts balance. They are pretty much the Goldilocks of racquets I went through, so I have been pretty amped to play them both equally… although I tend to favor the 18x20 for all-around. The control makes you look better than you are! I’m using a hybrid setup with NXT Power on the mains and ALU Power on the crosses.
Overall I would say this Ultra is a more powerful and comfortable frame, where as the Pro Staff is a more controlled and classic feeling frame. Beyond that, given that they have the same headsize & string pattern and similar beams & balances, it splitting hairs. I think someone who plays a little flatter and comes into net more will lean towards the Pro Staff and someone who spends more time at the baseline and hits with more topspin will lean towards the Ultra.
I've had this racket (16x19) for a year now and tested countless setups with it. I used to play ITF futures tennis and can hit big so rest assured... I know what I'm talking about. This racket is SUPER head light... the amount of weight you need to add to get it to feel somewhere in the norm.... is alot. I personally think manufacturers are lightening these platform rackets way too much to appeal to the lower level players who want to play with these rackets. But this is a headache for us.... because it means we at times have to add layers and layers of tape to beef up the racket. This racket for me, needed 10g in the handle, 3g @ 3, 3g @ 9 and 3-5g at 12 to get it to feel like a racket you can defend with. It's annoyingly beautiful... because it meant that every time the setup didn't work I kept trying to make it work because i wanted to play with this beautiful stick. WITH A RUBBER BAND AS A SHOCK ABSORBER, It's got a great feel and sound when the ball strikes (almost like between WITH and WITHOUT a shock absorber). After all the setups I tried with the weight distribution..... I conclude that this racket has a very small sweetspot. It's distant relatives who it was based off (Head PT57A PT2.0) also have this issue. It could be due to the fact that it doesn't have parallel drilling. I don't know. And at this level of racket, it really SHOULD have parallel drilling. My Prince Phantom 93P played better than this racket in terms of sweetspot and that racket doesn't have parallel drilling either. Also the sweetspot of the Ultra Pro feels closer towards the throat rather than further away towards the hoop. Depending on how you feel your forehand, this can either be irritating or good. Those who try to swing like Federer and utilise the head weight won't like it. Those who have a traditional circular motion with bent elbow at impact will prefer this sweetspot arrangement. I also have been testing a Blade Pro 16x19 for the same duration. I had to put 25 GRAMS IN THE HANDLE!!!! to get it to feel normal. It's insane. Customisation should be a few grams here or there.... I shouldn't have to go that far. But the Blade Pro is more stable than the Ultra due to the thicker beam and the throat shape. As beautiful as the throat shape is on the Ultra, it is NOT the optimal throat shape for stability. I'd go for the Blade Pro. Too bad the Blade Pro doesn't come in the Ultra Pro colour. That would be theeeeee racket. There must be a reason why barely anyone plays with the Ultra Pro on the tour but yet you see nearly everyone playing with the Blade Pro.... as much as I think the Ultra is the prettier one.
I usually don’t comment on overly elaborated opinions, but you obviously chose the wrong racquet! I can’t imagine anyone is going to take your opinion seriously, because claiming to add an additional 25g in the grip of a Blade Pro is utter BS! Maybe try the Prestige Pro or Percept 97 7:34 H or D, because these Wilson molds are apparently not fit for you.
Hey! how you doing? I am using blade 98 16x19 (305g) but I dont feel as happy as I was with Prostaff97 (315g), but prostaff was really heavy for me!! I am thinking about trying Ultra pro, cuz it is not as heavy as prostaff, similar HL, and same 97. is this racket more hand friendly than Blade? Thanks for your comments and the review!
Great question! I find the Ultra Pro to be slightly more demanding w the thin beam, smaller head, etc. GOOD NEWS a new RF racket is coming which may be everything you want!! Stay tuned
Good to see another positive review on one of Wilson’s best sticks. I’m still on the fence as I’ll be demoing the Blade 98 v9, and Vcore 95 to determine what works best, but the Ultra Pro definitely needs a few grams of weight to up the swing weight, and add some stability.
🤙🏽
Appreciate it. I assume your trying Blade 98 16x19 v9? You have a good grouping of rackets. If you have a one handed backhand you might lean towards the Vcore 95 which actually plays more generous than the 95 tends to be.
@@SolowSports Yeah… it’s the 98 v9 16x19… I’m definitely looking forward to all 3 (the 3rd being the Prestige Tour) but whatever works best on the OHBH, serving, and capable of handling through some match play will be the racquet I probably end up with…. Wish me luck! 😎
@@ER_aka_RAM good luck!
@@ER_aka_RAMhi there. i have the same shortlist and will assume a similar game/standard. do you have any feedback on the rackets? have you settled for one yet? cheers, ian
@@IanBrunton-t9s Aloha Ian! Yes… I ended with 2 Customized Blade v9s after giving the 18x20 a demo. I have both string patterns with matched weight, swing weight, and 4pts balance. They are pretty much the Goldilocks of racquets I went through, so I have been pretty amped to play them both equally… although I tend to favor the 18x20 for all-around. The control makes you look better than you are! I’m using a hybrid setup with NXT Power on the mains and ALU Power on the crosses.
How do you compare this to a PS 315 V13? I mean this one has thicker beam, but what about balance, control, spin potential, feel?
Overall I would say this Ultra is a more powerful and comfortable frame, where as the Pro Staff is a more controlled and classic feeling frame. Beyond that, given that they have the same headsize & string pattern and similar beams & balances, it splitting hairs. I think someone who plays a little flatter and comes into net more will lean towards the Pro Staff and someone who spends more time at the baseline and hits with more topspin will lean towards the Ultra.
I've had this racket (16x19) for a year now and tested countless setups with it. I used to play ITF futures tennis and can hit big so rest assured... I know what I'm talking about. This racket is SUPER head light... the amount of weight you need to add to get it to feel somewhere in the norm.... is alot. I personally think manufacturers are lightening these platform rackets way too much to appeal to the lower level players who want to play with these rackets. But this is a headache for us.... because it means we at times have to add layers and layers of tape to beef up the racket. This racket for me, needed 10g in the handle, 3g @ 3, 3g @ 9 and 3-5g at 12 to get it to feel like a racket you can defend with. It's annoyingly beautiful... because it meant that every time the setup didn't work I kept trying to make it work because i wanted to play with this beautiful stick. WITH A RUBBER BAND AS A SHOCK ABSORBER, It's got a great feel and sound when the ball strikes (almost like between WITH and WITHOUT a shock absorber).
After all the setups I tried with the weight distribution..... I conclude that this racket has a very small sweetspot. It's distant relatives who it was based off (Head PT57A PT2.0) also have this issue. It could be due to the fact that it doesn't have parallel drilling. I don't know. And at this level of racket, it really SHOULD have parallel drilling. My Prince Phantom 93P played better than this racket in terms of sweetspot and that racket doesn't have parallel drilling either. Also the sweetspot of the Ultra Pro feels closer towards the throat rather than further away towards the hoop. Depending on how you feel your forehand, this can either be irritating or good. Those who try to swing like Federer and utilise the head weight won't like it. Those who have a traditional circular motion with bent elbow at impact will prefer this sweetspot arrangement.
I also have been testing a Blade Pro 16x19 for the same duration. I had to put 25 GRAMS IN THE HANDLE!!!! to get it to feel normal. It's insane. Customisation should be a few grams here or there.... I shouldn't have to go that far. But the Blade Pro is more stable than the Ultra due to the thicker beam and the throat shape. As beautiful as the throat shape is on the Ultra, it is NOT the optimal throat shape for stability. I'd go for the Blade Pro. Too bad the Blade Pro doesn't come in the Ultra Pro colour. That would be theeeeee racket. There must be a reason why barely anyone plays with the Ultra Pro on the tour but yet you see nearly everyone playing with the Blade Pro.... as much as I think the Ultra is the prettier one.
Cheers for all the feedback and info! Very helpful. I agree, far more blade cosmetic on tour vs ultra.
I usually don’t comment on overly elaborated opinions, but you obviously chose the wrong racquet! I can’t imagine anyone is going to take your opinion seriously, because claiming to add an additional 25g in the grip of a Blade Pro is utter BS!
Maybe try the Prestige Pro or Percept 97 7:34 H or D, because these Wilson molds are apparently not fit for you.
Hey! how you doing?
I am using blade 98 16x19 (305g) but I dont feel as happy as I was with Prostaff97 (315g), but prostaff was really heavy for me!!
I am thinking about trying Ultra pro, cuz it is not as heavy as prostaff, similar HL, and same 97.
is this racket more hand friendly than Blade?
Thanks for your comments and the review!
Great question! I find the Ultra Pro to be slightly more demanding w the thin beam, smaller head, etc. GOOD NEWS a new RF racket is coming which may be everything you want!! Stay tuned
My racket!❤but needs customization.
How did you customize it?
it needs WAY too much customisation
@@OldSkoolLegend not too much
the racket is way too light. a high level player would not even be close to that lightness. Its too light.@@Tennissensitive
@@OldSkoolLegend 🙄
Control is 7????? More like 9
The ultra line offers power. What string do you use on it?
@@SolowSports poly tour pro
With a leather grip and small leadtape on the hoop.
🤩