At a glance, the Ultra Pro V4’s glossy blue finish makes it fit right into Wilson’s Ultra lineup. But it’s once you start swinging that you realise what this racket is really about: control, feel, and serious customisation potential.
In this Wilson Ultra Pro V4 review, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on it after testing it extensively in stock form before dialling it in with some added weight and turning it into my new full‑time match racket, replacing my long‑time Pro Staff K Factor 90.
What We Loved
- Fantastic paintjob
- Excellent control and feel
- Great for customising
What We Didn't
- Too lightweight
- A bit unstable
About The Wilson Ultra Pro V4
- Head Size: 97 sq in
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Unstrung Weight: 305 g / 10.76 ounces
- Strung Weight: 321 g / 11.32 ounces
- Unstrung Balance: 31.5 cm (9 pts head‑light)
- Strung Balance: 32.5 cm (6 pts head-light)
- Beam Width: 20.6 mm constant
- Swingweight: 317 (Medium)
- Stiffness: 62 RA (Low)
What better place to start than with the manufacturer’s description of the racket? Here’s what Wilson say about the Wilson Ultra Pro V4:
One of two Ultra Pro frames developed for advanced players, the Ultra Pro (16x19) V4 stacks slick, alluring design with powerful performance fit for pro-caliber skills. Equipped with a thin beam and a notable head-light balance that prioritizes control and feel for the ball, this racket also offers up an open string pattern that enables more topspin and responsiveness off the string bed. Frame sports a smooth gloss finish with color-shifting blues for a look that truly wows on the court.
At first glance, the Ultra Pro V4 16×19 looks like it belongs in the same family as the regular Ultra rackets. In reality, it’s a completely different beast. This is not a power racket. This is a control frame, built for confident ball strikers who want precision, feel, and full control over their setup. Think Pro Staff DNA, not Ultra power.
The Ultra Pro V4 has a thinner beam, lower stiffness, and a much more classic response at contact. The 16×19 version is the more user‑friendly of the two Ultra Pro models, offering easier access to spin and a little more margin over the net without losing that clean, controlled response.
Testing Setup
To keep things consistent, I tested the Ultra Pro V4 using my usual setup. I strung it with a full bed of MSV Focus Hex at 53 lbs in both the mains and crosses. I first tested the frame in completely stock form as you would get it from the Wilson Pro Labs, before tweaking it with some extra weight to fine tune. I’ve continued to use the racket over the last few months, across a mix of singles and doubles play, including both casual hitting sessions and competitive match play.
On Court Performance
Before even swinging the racket, the first thing that stands out is that the Wilson Ultra Pro V4 looks fantastic. The glossy blue finish is easily one of Wilson’s best cosmetics in years and is quickly becoming one of my all-time favourites.
As for how it plays, it may look like part of the regular Wilson Ultra lineup, but it actually plays a lot more like a Pro Staff.
Groundstrokes – 9/10
From the baseline, the Ultra Pro V4 immediately felt comfortable to swing. Coming from heavier Pro Staffs, the lower swing weight made it easy to swing and allowed me to take bigger swings at the ball. That said, control was the standout feature. I rarely felt like I was going to overhit, even when swinging aggressively. That’s something I’ve rarely found when tying rackets other than my Pro Staff.
The 16×19 pattern, paired with a spin‑friendly poly, gave me plenty of net clearance and reliable depth. Spin wasn’t forced, but it was absolutely there when I committed to the shot. The backhand slice, in particular, felt excellent, staying low and skidding through the court.
In stock form, I did notice some torsional instability on off‑centre hits, especially early on. As I found the sweet spot more consistently, it became less noticeable though it never fully disappeared until I customised the frame. Importantly, even on those off‑centre shots, the racket seemed arm-friendly and never really gave me any discomfort at all.
Overall, the Wilson V4 Pro feels like a racket that demands effort on groundstrokes. Get lazy with footwork or preparation and it will let you know. Put the work in, though, and it rewards you with clean, confident ball striking.
Volleys – 9/10
At the net, the Ultra Pro V4 offered excellent feel and touch, and the head light setup made it easy enough to manoeuvre. It actually felt remarkably similar on volleys to my Wilson KSix One Tour 90. The only downside was some instability on reactive off‑centre volleys, which doubles players may notice more than singles players though I soon found the sweetspot on it and noticed it less and less.
Serves – 8.5/10
Serving was one of the biggest surprises. Compared to my Pro Staff, the lower swingweight made it easier to swing faster. Combine that with a significantly larger head size and the Ultra Pro V4 gave me noticeably more easy power on flat serves. Placement was still excellent thanks to the head light setup and I felt more confident hitting my spots than with frames like the Blade 98 16×19 or VCORE Pro 97. I did initially struggle getting as much kick on my second serve and hit a fair few double faults before adjusting the weight a little which helped.
Returns – 8.5/10
On returns, the racket really shone. When facing big first serves, the 97 sq. inch head size was forgiving enough and the flexible frame meant it was comfortable and predictable, even on off‑centre returns. Against second serves, I felt like the racket was a little bit easier to manoeuvre than my Pro Staff, which really encouraged me to go for big swings and attack my opponent’s serve.
Customising the racket
For me, one of the standout features is just how much customisation headroom you get. At 305g unstrung with a very head‑light balance and a low swing weight, it gives advanced players plenty of room to add weight and tune the racket exactly how they like it.
In stock form, I found the Ultra Pro V4 too light for a control racket, so I had a go at customising it. Adding 14g of weight to the head at 2 & 10 o’clock provided a little more torsional stability and plough-through. I then restored a bit of the balance by adding 5 grams of tungsten putty to the handle effectively pushing it a little bit closer to the specs of my Wilson KSix-One-Tour 90 racket – but with a bigger head size and more forgiveness.
With strings included and an overgrip, the total weight of the racket after customising it was 349 grams, which is about 20-25 grams lighter than my Wilson KSix-One-Tour 90 setup. It was exactly what I was aiming for and after a few weeks of playing with it, I’ve decided to make the switch and use it full-time.
My advice:
- Add weight at 2 & 10 o’clock for extra swingweight and a bit more stability
- Balance it with weight in the handle
- Use a spin‑friendly poly at a sensible tension
Who's It For?
The Wilson Ultra Pro V4 16×19 is best suited to advanced club and competitive players with solid technique who are comfortable generating their own pace. If you enjoy the classic, connected feel of Pro Staff-style rackets and like the idea of dialling in your setup with customisation, this frame will feel right at home. It rewards full swings, good footwork, and confident shot-making, making it a great option for players who want control and precision without sacrificing feel.
On the flip side, this racket will be a challenge for players who rely on the frame to supply power or who struggle with consistency. If your technique breaks down under pressure, or if you prefer stiff, lively rackets that offer easy depth and pop, the Ultra Pro V4 is likely to feel underpowered and unforgiving.
Final Verdict – 8.8/10
The Wilson Ultra Pro V4 16×19 is a control racket built for advanced players. It’s honest, demanding, and incredibly rewarding. In stock form, it may feel a touch underpowered or unstable for some, but its real strength lies in how well it responds to customisation.
With a bit of added weight, it has become my full-time replacement for the Pro Staff K Factor 90. In many ways, it’s a slightly lighter, more forgiving Pro Staff-style racket with a bigger head size and a bit more easy power. If you love the classic Pro Staff feel but want something that’s a little more forgiving, the Wilson Ultra V4 is absolutely worth your attention.
Wilson Ultra Pro V4 - FAQs
Is the Wilson Ultra Pro V4 good for beginners?
No, the Wilson Ultra Pro V4 is not designed for beginners. It’s a low‑powered, control‑focused racket aimed at advanced club and competitive players with solid technique. Beginners and early intermediates will likely find it too demanding, especially when it comes to generating depth and handling off‑centre contact. If you are still developing your strokes, you’ll will be better served by a lighter, more forgiving frame with built‑in power.
Do any pros play with Wilson Ultra rackets?
Yes, Wilson Ultra rackets are used on tour, most notably by players like Alex de Minaur and Marta Kostyuk, who endorse the Ultra line. That said, it’s important to note that professionals typically use heavily customised pro‑stock versions rather than retail frames. The Ultra Pro V4 itself is not widely used by touring pros, but its design and feel are very much inspired by the kind of control‑oriented frames advanced players and professionals prefer.
When did the Wilson Ultra v4 come out?
The Wilson Ultra Pro V4 was released as part of Wilson’s Pro Labs programme in late 2022.
