Wilson Ultra 100 v5 Tennis Racquet Review

The Wilson Ultra 100 v5 is the friendly face of Wilson's power line. It hands an aggressive baseliner big, easy power and a huge margin for error, and for the fifth generation, Wilson made it more comfortable and more connected, so the frame no longer plays harshly.

Wilson's power line, grown up

The Ultra is Wilson's power franchise, the frame for a player who wants to swing freely and hit winners from anywhere on the court. It is built to turn defense into offense, big depth on a normal swing and the confidence to flatten a ball out from behind the baseline. On tour it is Alex de Minaur's (99 Pro) frame, and at club level it has quietly built a loyal following.

For version 5, Wilson lowered the stiffness. The Ultra had a reputation for a firm, trampoline-like response that could get away from you when the pace picked up, and the v5 reins that in. It is more comfortable, more controlled, and more connected to the ball than the frame before it, without giving up the power the line is known for. This is the most complete Ultra Wilson has made.

What version 5 changes

The headline is SI3D, which stands for stiffness integration in three dimensions. It fine-tunes how the frame flexes vertically, horizontally and torsionally at contact, and the payoff is more power, more spin and a cleaner, longer feel on the ball. Alongside it, the FORTYFIVE layup returns, adding the stability and comfort you notice most on returns and when you are absorbing pace.

The rest is about power and forgiveness. Crush Zone grommets compress on impact for longer dwell time, a bigger sweet spot and extra pop; a Dual Taper Beam drives the power, and parallel drilling opens the string bed for margin. A full carbon handle sharpens the feel and adds torsional stability. Wilson also tightened its spec tolerances this generation, so weight, balance, and swing weight are more consistent frame to frame, and wrapped the whole thing in a glossy Electric Indigo blue.

How it plays

The Ultra 100 plays exactly like what it is: an easy-power frame that lets you swing big and keeps the ball in. What surprises people is how comfortable it is for something this powerful.

Big, easy power

This is a frame you can throw at the ball. It gives free depth on a normal swing and lets an aggressive baseliner take control of a rally, turning a defensive ball into an offensive one without a huge effort. As one of our testers put it, it takes you back to when you first started playing and just wanted to hit the ball hard, except now the ball stays in.

Comfortable, not harsh

Pick it up, and it looks like a big, stout racquet, so the surprise is how it feels on contact. It is genuinely comfortable, and the lower stiffness and the FORTYFIVE layup give you arm-friendly power rather than a jarring one. That matters, because easy power that does not beat up your arm is what most club players are actually looking for.

Sam, on the Ultra 100

Forgiving and connected

The forgiveness is the other half of the story. The Crush Zone grommets and the open drilling give you a big sweet spot and a longer dwell time, so off-center balls still find depth, and the SI3D flex keeps the launch under control even when you roll heavy topspin. It is stable on pace and easy to place, which is why it suits so many players.

Suzi, on the Ultra 100

Steady on the return

The FORTYFIVE layup earns its keep on the return and when you are soaking up pace. The old Ultra could give you a little too much trampoline when the ball came in hot, and the v5 settles that down, so you can block a fast serve back deep and stay in the point rather than spraying it. Combined with the easy power on your own swing, it makes the Ultra a frame you can attack and defend with in equal measure.

Strings and setup

The Ultra 100 is a powerful, fairly stiff frame, so the strings are where you decide how much of that power to keep. A control-oriented co-poly strung toward the upper end of its range reins in the easy depth so it does not run long, while an arm-conscious player can drop to a softer poly or a multifilament to add even more comfort to an already comfortable frame. There is a lot of power on tap here, and the string job is the dial.

The blue, and the small stuff

Two details are worth a mention. The Electric Indigo cosmetic is one of the best-looking finishes of the year, and our testers loved it. And the Click-and-Go bumper system, shared with the Blade, makes replacing grommets quick and clean, with plant-based Agiplast components that lower the frame's footprint. None of it changes how the racquet plays, but it is the kind of polish that makes a frame easy to live with.

100 or 99 Pro?

The Ultra 100 is the easier, more forgiving choice, with the bigger 16x19 pattern, the thicker beam, and the softer, more accessible feel. If you are a stronger player who wants more control and spin from a thinner beam and a head-heavy balance, read our take on the Ultra 99 Pro. And if you want pure control over power, the Blade sits that way.

Who should swing it

The Ultra 100 is for strong intermediates, league players, and improvers or younger players stepping into competitive tennis who want easy, arm-friendly power. It swings big without wearing you out, forgives a mishit, and turns defense into offense, which is a lot of racquet for a lot of players. It does not pretend to be a pro frame, and that is exactly what makes it good.

If you want a smaller, more precise head or a true player's control frame, this is not the one. The Ultra 99 Pro gives you more control and spin from a thinner beam, and the Blade covers the pure-control end. But for most players who want to swing freely and hit big, the Ultra 100 is the place to start.