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

[Mongolmike]

Originally Posted by wmilas

If you want a hybrid (gut mains) you have to string two piece. If you want to vary the tension on the mains compared to the crosses you should (although don't have to) string two piece.

If you are stringing a poly that has bad coil memory sometimes its easier to string it two piece.

Yeah, I understand the hybrid and the tension difference.... are you stringing 2 different tensions?

lol... bad coil memory is just that... I think I string 1 pc faster, but this G4 was the worst I've had in a long time. I've got 3 more packs that I'm experimenting the tension with and I will still string 1 pc... I'll just be careful and not pull as fast.

[nickarnold2000]

What do you guys think about poly mains and a 15 gauge syn gut? Will the thicker syn gut give me reasonable durability and snap back? Due to a sensitive arm I"m not a fan of full poly and using gut/poly will break the bank.

[wmilas]

Originally Posted by Mongolmike

Yeah, I understand the hybrid and the tension difference.... are you stringing 2 different tensions?

lol... bad coil memory is just that... I think I string 1 pc faster, but this G4 was the worst I've had in a long time. I've got 3 more packs that I'm experimenting the tension with and I will still string 1 pc... I'll just be careful and not pull as fast.

I string gut mains at 54-6 and poly crosses at 48 normally. If its a very soft poly I'll string the crosses at 50.

If you are asking do I string poly mains with poly crosses at different tensions, no, But I know a few people who do.

As far as coil memory, I suck at pulling that stuff through. Drives me nuts.

[Mongolmike]

Originally Posted by wmilas

I string gut mains at 54-6 and poly crosses at 48 normally. If its a very soft poly I'll string the crosses at 50.

If you are asking do I string poly mains with poly crosses at different tensions, no, But I know a few people who do.

As far as coil memory, I suck at pulling that stuff through. Drives me nuts.

I've strung polys at 2# different tensions between mains-crosses in the past... couldn't really tell the difference... but I can tell the difference between in a full poly bed strung 1 pc at 52# and an identical racquet strung at 55#. In fact I'm dropping the G4 in the 105s from 62 to 59... which is still way higher than what I've used polys in the past.

[drak]

I got a 99S coming, anyone try 15L gut for the mains? using a Poly cross of course. I ordered some Tonic 15L and I'll give it a go.

[Federerkblade]

im going to order a 99s and string champions choice gut in mains.

im gonna go 57/53 what do ppl think. I think the gauge on champions choice is 1.30 am i right or wrong ? or does it come in diff gauges


I know drak goes as low as 45lbs all over but im afraid of going that low just yet

[Federerkblade]

final question for the stringers .

Each length of champions choice is 6.1m . if i ask Tw to string the racquet will the spare of the string be enough to string another racquet???

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by g4driver

Drakulie,

Have you tried a multi main / poly cross setup?

Not yet.

Originally Posted by drak

I got a 99S coming, anyone try 15L gut for the mains? using a Poly cross of course. I ordered some Tonic 15L and I'll give it a go.

Yes, tried the Tonic with black magic 15l, and also with 4g in crosses. Played great with both, but lasted longer with the 15L black magic. Would imagine would last as long with 15 gauge 4G.

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

final question for the stringers .

Each length of champions choice is 6.1m . if i ask Tw to string the racquet will the spare of the string be enough to string another racquet???

unfortunately, it won't be enough

[syke]

Got one just to see what the hype is all about.

A little disappointed with the weight (strung) is 316g. That's 4 grams off the 320g as mentioned on TW. Poor QC.

[JGads]

^^
4 grams off and it's a Wilson? You should be popping the cork off a bottle of champagne right about now.

Plus, TW lists the average specs from a collection that they randomly pick out and test. There are loads of frames that are where your stick is, a good handful of frames that are even lighter, and the same goes for the other side of that weight spectrum.

If you didn't pay the 10 dollars extra for an exact spec requirement, four grams off of average is great, especially for Wilsons which fluctuate wildly.

[AlfaAce]

Originally Posted by syke

Got one just to see what the hype is all about.
A little disappointed with the weight (strung) is 316g. That's 4 grams off the 320g as mentioned on TW. Poor QC.

4 grams different and you are "disappointed"?!?! TW states that they average several frames before publishing frame weights. Besides, it's no secret that Wilson is INFAMOUS for QC.

Regardless of weight, what about "all the hype"? Spin, control, feel, etc?

[syke]

LOL... I am spoiled by Yonex's quality...

I will probably bring along a weighing scale if I ever decide to stock up on them.

I will be trying it out later today. Will let you guys know.

Originally Posted by JGads

^^
4 grams off and it's a Wilson? You should be popping the cork off a bottle of champagne right about now.

Plus, TW lists the average specs from a collection that they randomly pick out and test. There are loads of frames that are where your stick is, a good handful of frames that are even lighter, and the same goes for the other side of that weight spectrum.

If you didn't pay the 10 dollars extra for an exact spec requirement, four grams off of average is great, especially for Wilsons which fluctuate wildly.

Originally Posted by AlfaAce

4 grams different and you are "disappointed"?!?! TW states that they average several frames before publishing frame weights. Besides, it's no secret that Wilson is INFAMOUS for QC.

Regardless of weight, what about "all the hype"? Spin, control, feel, etc?

[syke]

Just played 2 hours with the Steam 99s.
It's a SPIN MONSTER!

There is a lot more power compared to my Vcore 100. Much bigger sweet spot, ROS is forgiving. Control and serve could be better though. Very muted feel, balance is a little weird, but the spin is amazing... It's almost like cheating. I could stay on the baseline all day just hitting topspin shots.

Think I will dumping my Vcore Tours on the resale market.

[martini1]

I got one too, at the stringers now. Will pick it up Fri. Damn TT. After reading all the hype I got to pick one up.

[drak]

Originally Posted by syke

Just played 2 hours with the Steam 99s.
It's a SPIN MONSTER!

There is a lot more power compared to my Vcore 100. Much bigger sweet spot, ROS is forgiving. Control and serve could be better though. Very muted feel, balance is a little weird, but the spin is amazing... It's almost like cheating. I could stay on the baseline all day just hitting topspin shots.

Think I will dumping my Vcore Tours on the resale market.

what did you string it with and at what tension?

[Federerkblade]

yes what string and tension ??

and do you think the control and the serve is an issue in singles matches. If you cant control the serve its not a match play stick ??

[wmilas]

Wilson responded back to an email I sent to their customer service. They forwarded me the official stringing PDF for the 99s along with the normal pictorials (the ones ya find in the book) Verbatim:


String Length
One 35' (10.7m) length (ss: 9'5") or 19' (5.8m) mains and 16' (4.9m) crosses. Start mains at throat.
Mains Skip 8T and 8H. Tie of mains at 6T
if one-piece stringing: Start Xs at bottom at 8T. Tie off Xs at 5H.
if two piece stringing: Start Xs at top 8H. Tie off Xs at 5H and 11T.

Tension:
54-64 lbs (24-28 kgs)

Hope this helps someone It helped me.

[racertempo]

Originally Posted by wmilas

Wilson responded back to an email I sent to their customer service. They forwarded me the official stringing PDF for the 99s along with the normal pictorials (the ones ya find in the book) Verbatim:


String Length
One 35' (10.7m) length (ss: 9'5") or 19' (5.8m) mains and 16' (4.9m) crosses. Start mains at throat.
Mains Skip 8T and 8H. Tie of mains at 6T
if one-piece stringing: Start Xs at bottom at 8T. Tie off Xs at 5H.
if two piece stringing: Start Xs at top 8H. Tie off Xs at 5H and 11T.

Tension:
54-64 lbs (24-28 kgs)

Hope this helps someone It helped me.

Wow, interesting to see 11T. Even surprised to see 6T for the mains and not 7T, mine were 1 piece strung from TW but when I redo them I will follow these instructions, thanks so much for sharing the reply from Wilson!

[Federerkblade]

ok now my stringer never looks at stringing instructions for my wilson and i doubt he does for any racquet he strings

How serious is it to not go by stringing instructions. what effect will it have ?

[dmcb101]

Hello TT Readers,

I know this is probably a little bit soon, but has anyone though of customization for this frame? When I play tested this racquet back in October I liked the balance and weight of the racquet but was interested in the thought of how the racquet may perform given some extra weight. I currently play with a 2012 Six.one 95 18X20 which is a bit different in balance and weight to the 99s (12.3 oz compared to 11.4 oz/ 8pts HL compared to 3pts HL). I really like the heft and balance of the six.one 95 and was curious how the 99s would perform under similar specs. As most of you know, any racquet that has a higher swingweight/static weight will produce a heavier ball compared to a lighter/lower swingweight racquet. I was thinking that an increase in weight would force the "snap-back" to occur more violently thus producing even more spin.

What are all of your thoughts on this idea? Again I want to stress that I did like the 99s stock and not saying that I would change it once I get my racquet through my teaching pro contract, but interested in the idea and keeping this option open.

Thanks for reading!