Wilson has recently released new versions of their popular Blade 98 (V8) and Ultra 100 (V4) tennis rackets.
And in this article, I will be looking at the specs of both rackets to see how these two rackets compare to each other.
Wilson Blade 98 vs Ultra 100 Comparison
In the comparison below I have used the V8 version of the Wilson Blade 98 (or “B98”) and the V4 version of the Wilson Ultra 100 (or “U100”).
Racket Specs
| Specs: | Blade 98 | Ultra 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | V8 | V4 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Head Size: | 98in | 100in |
| Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 320g | 318g |
| Unstrung Weight: | 305g | 300g |
| Swing Weight: | 317g | 317g |
| Balance: | 5 pts HL | 4 pts HL |
| TW Stiffness Rating: | 61 | 70 |
| Power: | Low to Medium | Low to Medium |
| Player Level: | Advanced | Advanced |
| Beam Width: | 21mm/21mm/21mm | 24mm/26.5mm/25mm |
| Colors: | Green and Black | Blue and Black |
| String Pattern: | 16 x 19 | 16 x 19 |
| Main Skips: | 8T,8H | 8T,8H |
| Grip Type: | Pro Performance Grip | Pro Performance Grip |
Head Size
The Wilson Blade 98 (98in) has a head size that is two inches smaller than the Wilson Ultra 100 (100in), so the Ultra 100 will have more power, a bigger sweet spot, and be more forgiving on off-center shots.
Racket Length
The B98 and U100 have a standard racket length of 27 inches.
Strung Weight
The stung weight of the Blade 98 (320g) is 2g heavier than the strung weight of the U100 (318g), but the difference is very small.
Both the B98 and the U100 would be considered to be relatively heavy tennis rackets.
Unstrung Weight
The B98 has an unstrung weight of 305g, while the U100 has an unstrung weight of 300g.
Swing weight
Both the B98 and U100 have a swing weight of 317g.
Balance
The B98 has a 5pts HL balance, while the U100 has a 4pts HL balance, which will suit players who have a full swing and good technique.
Stiffness Rating
The B98 (61) has a much lower stiffness rating when compared with the U100 (70).
The B98 is definitely the more arm friendly of the two tennis rackets.
Power
The B98 and U100 are both Low to Medium powered tennis rackets, so they will be better suited to advanced tennis players who have developed a full swing and have good technique on their groundstrokes.
Player Level
As mentioned above, the Ultra 100 and Blade 98 are best suited to advanced players.
Beam Width
The B98 (21mm) has a thinner beam width when compared with the U100 (24mm/26.5mm/25mm), so you will get more control from the B98 but more power from the U100.
String Pattern
Both tennis rackets have a 16 x 19 string pattern, which will help you to generate spin on your shots.
Grip Type
Both tennis rackets have a Wilson Pro Performance Grip, which is standard for most Wilson rackets.