Mike has been testing the Wilson Ultra 100 V4 for the past month. This racket offers a good portion of free power combined with a lot of playing ease and speed. A more than welcome bonus is the clearly improved comfort compared to the V3 version.
Tested racket/specifications:
Brand: Wilson
Model: Ultra 100 V4 Blade size: 100 sq/inch
Weight: 300 gr Balance: 32.0 cm
Stringing pattern: 16×19
Length: 27 inches RA: 70
Beam: 24mm / 26.5mm / 25mm
Swingweight: 317
Stringing: Diadem Pro X 17 on 23/23 kg
The Wilson Ultra 100 V4 is now available in our webshop, including free stringing of your choice.
Technology:
For the new Ultra V4 series, Wilson uses - just like with the other racket families - the Braid 45 technology. This technology ensures more ball pocketing and stability higher up in the blade. Wilson uses Color Shifting Paint which gives the racket its unique look. When you turn the racket or hold it in the light, you see the colors 'shift' from blue and purple to a copper glow. This gives the racket a beautiful and chic look. Finally, the shaft has been changed: it has become narrower and easier to 'grab' with the second hand for players with a double-handed backhand. In addition, the overall feel and comfort have (fortunately) been considerably increased, but more about that later.
Tester:
Name: Mike
Playing strength: 4/4
Player type: somewhat classic player, flat groundstrokes, doesn’t generate much spin himself. Had shoulder problems in the past.
Racket history player: including Head Ti Fire, Babolat Pure Drive, Prince EXO3 Rebel Team, Wilson Steam 100 BLX2, Head Graphene Radical MP, Prince Textreme Warrior 107 , Diadem Elevate FS 98, Tecnifibre T-Fight RS 300 and Wilson Blade 98 16x19 V7 .
Other favorite rackets: Head Speed MP 2022 and the Wilson Blade 100 V8 .
Test scores Wilson Ultra 100 V4:
Power: 9
Control: 7
Spin: 8
Comfort: 7.5
Agility/Speed: 8 Touch: 7.5
Baseline:
In this domain the Ultra 100 V4 really excels! Groundstrokes are very easy to play with more than enough length and power. You really need to have your racket head and moment of contact in order, because the balls explode off! This was also the case with the V3 version I tested earlier, but it felt a bit tinnier and stiffer. Of the previous 3 Ultra 100s, version 1 was actually my favorite. Power rackets are stiff, but the V2 (Countervail) and V3 versions were personally a bit too stiff for me. The Ultra 100 V4 therefore has a bit more feeling. From the baseline, my balls went very easily and pleasantly at speed. With my backhand slice I missed a bit of plough-through, but as I said, this is a wonderful weapon from the baseline! Furthermore, the racket is nice and quick to position and the spin potential is decent. I personally experienced a bit more (access to) spin than with the V3 version.Service:
Also the serving goes with a lot of ease and power. I did notice that I had to use a bit more slice and kick, otherwise the balls flew easily (too) long. But more than enough speed and free service power and that is always nice.
Just:
At the net you notice that the racket is a bit more refined than the V3 version. There was less touch in that version with feeling volleys/stop volleys. They flew off a bit faster. With hard incoming balls the Wilson Ultra 100 V4 is nice and steady. If you want more feeling, control and steering in general and therefore also at the net, then I would rather recommend the Blade 100 V8. The real ingenuity is lacking in that respect a bit with the Ultra 100 V4, although the racket has received a nice upgrade on this front.
Power/control Wilson Ultra 100 V4:
The Ultra 100 V4 is clearly power over control. The racket simply has an incredible amount of playability and free power. This is comparable to a Babolat Pure Drive , Diadem Nova FS 100 or Head Extreme MP or Boom MP . The trade-off with these types of rackets is that you logically compromise on control. That is also the case with this Ultra 100 V4. However, the racket definitely has more to offer than its predecessor, the Ultra 100 V3. There is more feeling in the racket and therefore also a somewhat finer control over the ball. So it remains power that prevails, but with more feeling than its predecessor and therefore also (more) comparable to the competition.
Comfort/arm friendliness :
The comfort has improved a lot with this racket. I know I said that with the V3 vs. the V2, but the difference is much bigger now. A good move by Wilson, because the previous version was a bit tough on the arm for some players. I give the comfort a 7.5, which is more than sufficient for a top power racket. Why doesn't Wilson make this racket even more comfortable? Then the racket loses its direct control and also some of its power and then the Ultra series comes too close to the Clash series. That will undoubtedly be Wilson's reasoning. The Wilson Ultra 100 V4 is now available in our webshop, including free stringing of your choice.
