Today we take a look at the most popular, versatile and powerful racket in the Wilson Ultra v4 lineup, the Ultra 100 v4.
Fact sheet
Head 645 cm2 / 100 sq
Length 68.58 cm / 27 in
String Pattern 16 X 19
Strung balance 33 cm / -4 pts
Strung weight 316g / 11.15 oz
Taper System 24-26.5-24.25
Unstrung balance 32 cm / -7 pts
Unstrung weight 300g / 10.58 oz
*Please note, specs may vary from frame to frame due to manufacturing process*
Release date : 14/09/22
Available versions (in Canada) : 100, 100L
Pro players endorsement : Kei Nishikori, Borna Coric, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari
The background
The flagship “Power” racquet from Wilson, the Ultra racquet series, was first introduced in the mid-1980s. It gained popularity for its power-oriented design and large sweet spot as opposed to the more common control-oriented racquets. The Ultra has somewhat always been in the shadow of the Blade and the Pro Staff from a pro players perspective which tend to affect sales, especially influenced in the case of the latter by a certain Swiss guy. Yet the Wilson Ultra, especially the new v4 generation, is one of the most user friendly racquet on the market, a great fit for a wide range of players, especially with the more common style of backline players.
What’s new
The biggest addition to the racquet is the FORTYFIVE material technology, first seen on the Clash v1. The material has been strategically placed to improve its horizontal flexibility while stiffening its torsion to make it a softer frame than the Ultra V3 while maintaining its high energy return, or power.
The look
blue with colour-shifting from a teal blue to a light purple, in a matte finish.
As seen previously with the Blade and now all the new generations of racquet series at Wilson, the Ultra abandoned the striped colour-block pattern for a single, uniform paint job that looks a whole lot better. The same can be said for the switch from the glossy finish to the matte, as the glossy v3 tended to scratch very easily and the gloss made the usage much more apparent. The shade of purple is a nice addition to the blue colour scheme, which stays in line with the seemingly unwritten rule that blue = power tennis racquets, as fellow rival manufacturers Babolat, Yonex and Head do (might have something to do with colour theory, or just coincidence).
The test
The test was performed by Nicolas Dumesnil, tennis instructor and Tenniszon employee over a period of 10 months.
- Serves: 9/10
- Returns: 8/10
- Volleys: 7.5/10
- Groundstrokes: 8.5/10
- Control: 7.5/10
- Topspin: 9/10
- Slice: 7.5/10
- Feel: 8/10
- Comfort: 7.5/10 (much better than v3, totally playable in comparison)
- Manoeuvrability: 8.5/10
- Power: 9/10
Thoughts : “For me, the Wilson Ultra v4 is a big improvement over the v3. The sweet spot seems much more approachable and more forgiving. Comfort is also far superior. Power is the strongest selling point of the racquet, but I don't feel like I'm sacrificing control in any significant way. There may be a question of improved technique in there, but I find the racket particularly effective on the serve, especially on a kick serve.”
The verdict
Overall, the Wilson Ultra 100 is simply a fun, stable and beautiful racquet. While the v3 suffered from a rigid frame, the addition of the FORTYFIVE material gives the racquet much better comfort and makes it that much more playable. The Ultra 100 v4 racquet will suit most “advanced” beginners to intermediate baseline players, meaning it suits the majority of casual and enthusiast players. We would suggest the 100L or 100UL for transitioning junior players or for players who like for even more manoeuvrability (while sacrificing some stability).
Find the racquet right here.
