Wilson Hits Homerun with Wilson Steam 99S (mini review)

[drak]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Please post your findings. Would be great if to get a record of what strings works well, and have extended durability. Also, the tension being used will be helpful.




Being that the Extreme Pro is notorious for going thru strings quickly, this is very useful info. Thanks.

Drak to Drak (lol),

I think you said you had one strung at 45lbs lbs with a gut hybrid. If this thing is a string breaker I can't believe it lasted very long? and how did it play at 45lbs?

[couch]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Please post your findings. Would be great if to get a record of what strings works well, and have extended durability. Also, the tension being used will be helpful.

Currently Lux 4g 16g is heading the pack at about 3 1/2 - 4 hours of playtime against another 5.0 player. Lux Big Banger Alu lasted less than an hour of hard hitting with the same 5.0 player. Both were strung at 58. Again, hoping the 15g 4g makes a difference in longevity. If I can get about 5 hrs of consistent hitting with 4g then I'm pretty much sold. I really like the way this string feels in the racquet.

May look at some other options once I have 2-3 of these frames. Again, really liking the 4g just have to look at the overall durability in different gauges.

[dgdawg]

Hey peeps....haven't posted in a while but thought I'd chime in:

I played with the 99s and 105s yesterday for a couple hours. 4g-M's/Sensation-X's. I don't know the tension.
1st off, with the 105, I couldn't keep the ball in the court so I went to the 99. I only had a couple hours so I was rather impatient. Deff added considerable more spin but it felt like it lacked in the control department. I noticed a deeper, heavier ball. Approach shots dropped in really well and volley's seemed pretty crisp.
After a while I really started to "hit away" and was quite surprised. I purposely tried to over hit and balls dropped in. I really loved the ball that came off my 1H backhand.
I'm a 51y/o 3.5 player and thinking of replacing my Blade Team (I broke one), and I'd like to use a stick for a few years. My personal conclusion: nice frame, felt good, but not sure it would be a "main stay".
The one thing I absolutely hate about it: the paint job. It seriously reminds me of something you'd see on the shelf at Wal-Mart

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by dgdawg

Hey peeps....haven't posted in a while but thought I'd chime in:

I played with the 99s and 105s yesterday for a couple hours. 4g-M's/Sensation-X's. I don't know the tension.
1st off, with the 105, I couldn't keep the ball in the court so I went to the 99. I only had a couple hours so I was rather impatient. Deff added considerable more spin but it felt like it lacked in the control department. I noticed a deeper, heavier ball. Approach shots dropped in really well and volley's seemed pretty crisp.
After a while I really started to "hit away" and was quite surprised. I purposely tried to over hit and balls dropped in. I really loved the ball that came off my 1H backhand.
I'm a 51y/o 3.5 player and thinking of replacing my Blade Team (I broke one), and I'd like to use a stick for a few years. My personal conclusion: nice frame, felt good, but not sure it would be a "main stay".
The one thing I absolutely hate about it: the paint job. It seriously reminds me of something you'd see on the shelf at Wal-Mart

personally I think the paint job of the 99s is a huge improvement over the Steam 100.

[dgdawg]

Originally Posted by JackB1

personally I think the paint job of the 99s is a huge improvement over the Steam 100.

I'd have to agree with this.
I don't wanna commit sacrilege here but, does anyone feel the 99s is a "fad frame"? Is this frame thought to be a true "players" racquet?

[Relinquis]

Originally Posted by JackB1

personally I think the paint job of the 99s is a huge improvement over the Steam 100.

That's not much of an achievement, and I say this as a Steam 100 owner.

[racertempo]

Originally Posted by dgdawg

I'd have to agree with this.
I don't wanna commit sacrilege here but, does anyone feel the 99s is a "fad frame"? Is this frame thought to be a true "players" racquet?

From the reviews so far it seems that it will not be a "players" frame as 4.5+ guys have not liked it thus far. However, it has been liked greatly by 3.5-4.0 players so I think it is more of a tweener racquet. Very similar audience for purchase as the folks who gobbled up the Juice 100 in mass amount last year. I see that Juice all over the place, mostly women 3.5-4.0, and senior 3.5-4.0 men as well.

I actually like the paint job of the new Steam line, glad they have removed the yellow this year......I think the new Steam line is a far far better paint job then the entire Juice line, even though that is also not saying much.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

That's not much of an achievement, and I say this as a Steam 100 owner.

if u need another Steam 100, check this out...

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...ferrerid=59371

[dgdawg]

Originally Posted by racertempo

From the reviews so far it seems that it will not be a "players" frame as 4.5+ guys have not liked it thus far. However, it has been liked greatly by 3.5-4.0 players so I think it is more of a tweener racquet. Very similar audience for purchase as the folks who gobbled up the Juice 100 in mass amount last year. I see that Juice all over the place, mostly women 3.5-4.0, and senior 3.5-4.0 men as well.

I actually like the paint job of the new Steam line, glad they have removed the yellow this year......I think the new Steam line is a far far better paint job then the entire Juice line, even though that is also not saying much.

Gotcha....I guess at 51 with an NTRP 3.5 rating, that'd put me right in the pocket ......dunno tho....I'm gonna give the Blade 98 16x19 a serious look.

[srvnvly]

So. A TW listed 333 swingweight, seems quite a bit different from Drak et al who have tried the frame - mid-320s is where I like to be (even tho my BLX Blade 98 kills that); it seems lately, that swingweights either too low or too high, with little falling in between. Thoughts?

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-STM99S.html

[racertempo]

Originally Posted by srvnvly

So. A TW listed 333 swingweight, seems quite a bit different from Drak et al who have tried the frame - mid-320s is where I like to be (even tho my BLX Blade 98 kills that); it seems lately, that swingweights either too low or too high, with little falling in between. Thoughts?

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-STM99S.html

Even more surprising to me is the 105s:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wils...ON-ST105S.html

I cannot believe that the SW of that one is 332. It does explain why both racquets are so solid on volleys even though the string pattern is so open. Cannot wait to get 1 of each in about 4 weeks!

[Power Player]

Wow..neither of the S racquets I demoed was in the 330s. I know that for a fact.

[JackB1]

the 99s felt around 325 sw to me. Definitely not 330s.

I really liked that I could play it stock without adding any lead.

[couch]

I think Drak measured the swing weight of his 99S at 326? too lazy to go back and look. Mine feels like its around mid 320s but I haven't measured it, just a guess.

[couch]

Ok, I just checked Drak's post and his was 328 SW with gut mains and poly crosses.

[Federerkblade]

i think this typical wilson QC

[couch]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Please post your findings. Would be great if to get a record of what strings works well, and have extended durability. Also, the tension being used will be helpful.




Being that the Extreme Pro is notorious for going thru strings quickly, this is very useful info. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

i think this typical wilson QC

Funny thing is my 99S came in at 304g unstrung. Exactly what the specs state. Didn't check the balance though.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by couch

Funny thing is my 99S came in at 304g unstrung. Exactly what the specs state. Didn't check the balance though.

Mine was 330 g with over grip and dampener

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by sureshs

And did I mention the RUSH PRO shoe coming out in February?

Review posted today on tennis.com

http://www.tennis.com/gear/2012/12/p.../#.UNJLJoPAfbM

[couch]

I think ours are supposed to ship Jan. 15th. The green/yellow color not available until March though.