Round-up review: our score and verdict are based on published specs and reviews from across the web, not our own play-testing yet.
The Ultra 99 Pro V5 is the Steam 99 reborn: a 305 g frame with a 99 in² head and a very open 16 x 18 pattern, built for advanced players who hit with spin and generate their own pace. It is the racket for topspin baseliners and kick servers, not for flat hitters or anyone who wants a plug-and-play frame.
Power and spin on tap
Tennis Warehouse’s playtest scored it 8.5 out of 10, with power 8.8 and topspin 8.7 the standouts. The frame measured 69 RA and a 330 swingweight strung, so it is firm and carries real mass through the ball; Tennis Warehouse tester Mark said its stability “was never going to be called into question”. Michelle expected something flighty from a 16 x 18 pattern and instead found easy depth, arc and more control than she had bargained for. Serves scored 8.6, with Munish’s kick serve “very jumpy” and Michelle naming it the shot she liked most.
The slice nobody expected
Two testers named the backhand slice their favourite shot: Chris knifed a “fast and low skidding slice” that left opponents bewildered. Tennisnerd found the same, with slices that bite deep and volleys that feel planted, and measured its test frame at around 327 swingweight. Build quality draws praise too: tighter spec tolerance than past Ultras and Wilson’s click-and-go bumper system, which makes grommet swaps painless.
Where reviewers split
String sensitivity is the catch, and both reviews flag it. Chris found a fresh string job “too loose by Friday”, and Tennisnerd saw strings shifting after 30 minutes even with firm polys, so go up to 1.30 mm or pick a slick string. Munish felt a little arm fatigue after ninety minutes, and Mark wanted a more head-light balance to get over the ball on returns, which scored lowest at 8.0. Tennisnerd is blunt about who it is for: not beginners, and not flat hitters unless your name is de Minaur.
Specs
- Head size 99 in²
- Strung weight 323 g
- Balance 33.4 cm, 3 pts HL
- Swingweight 330
- Stiffness (RA) 69
- Beam width 22/23.5/21.5 mm
- String pattern 16 x 18
- Length 27 in
Verdict
A rare, exciting frame for advanced spin players who will put the work into their string setup. Flat hitters and anyone who hates straightening strings should try the Ultra 100 V5 instead.
