Steam 99S...Boom or Bust?

[bad_call]

Originally Posted by couch

It's so funny that people who use a dense string pattern say this racquet hits horribly. I have typically used a 16x18 pattern and that's what my game has been grooved on. For me the Steam 99S is an easy and natural fit. My business partner hits a blade and he simply said he was leaving balls short in the court because it doesn't suit his style of play. That doesn't mean it's a horrible racquet. Different strokes for different folks.

This racquet, in the right player's hands, can be a real weapon. It hits an extremely heavy ball and explodes off the court. This racquet will play well for a 3.0-5.0 if you ask me, but for different reasons.

A 3.0 - 4.0 will generate more spin, have nice power, more control and less UE if used correctly. A 5.0 who is used to a Pure Drive type racquet can make this racquet do whatever they want but with more spin and action on the ball.

That's my take on this racquet.

glad to read that you toned it down a bit otherwise i'd be flaming on you.

[Nostradamus]

Can Wilson make a lighter version of 99S called 99S Lite ?

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by couch

Yeah, I hear you. We need to find a good, cheaper, alternative to 4G. The BC 15L broke on me tonight after about 2 hours of hitting. There needs to be a 15/15L poly that is durable out there that would be a nice cheaper alternative.

I wonder if string companies will start coming out with thicker polys for sticks like this. Sounds like Prince is coming out with a similar racquet and I bet others will follow. These racquets will not be successful if you can't find a string cheap enough or durable enough to make it worth your time and money.

I've got two ordered and a 5.0 friend of mine has some. I just ordered all 3 gauges of 4G to try. I agree, if this takes off, you're going to see thicker, softer polys to go in this.

Originally Posted by couch

It's so funny that people who use a dense string pattern say this racquet hits horribly. I have typically used a 16x18 pattern and that's what my game has been grooved on. For me the Steam 99S is an easy and natural fit. My business partner hits a blade and he simply said he was leaving balls short in the court because it doesn't suit his style of play. That doesn't mean it's a horrible racquet. Different strokes for different folks.

This racquet, in the right player's hands, can be a real weapon. It hits an extremely heavy ball and explodes off the court. This racquet will play well for a 3.0-5.0 if you ask me, but for different reasons.

A 3.0 - 4.0 will generate more spin, have nice power, more control and less UE if used correctly. A 5.0 who is used to a Pure Drive type racquet can make this racquet do whatever they want but with more spin and action on the ball.

That's my take on this racquet.

And a great one it is. I much prefer open patterns. I think this frame will be good with any string, poly, hybrid, or synthetic for the kind of player you and I are. And, the 99S plays a lot softer than a Pure Drive IMO.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

it is NO good. spin is not noticeable to already nadal like player like me. and swingweight is too high. It only helps intermediate players that struggle making topspin.

No, this is patently untrue. I'm a 4.5 and saw lots more spin, different trajectories, and "bending" balls. The racquet serves like a demon and when set up to my likes, should be a ton of fun to play with.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Can Wilson make a lighter version of 99S called 99S Lite ?

But if it's "NO good" why would you want a lighter one?

[doctor dennis]

Originally Posted by quest01

I used the steam 99s strung with luxilon alu power for the first time yesterday and it felt great. In comparison to the babolat apdgt which is the racquet I usually use, I was generating considerably more spin with the 99s. I didnt notice a drastic difference power wise. Ive never broke a full poly job in a racquet so hopefully the 99s won't be my first.

I also came from an APD GT. The extra spin is definitely noticeable and a welcome arsenal to my already topspin orientated game.
For me its a winner but for others it won't do anything to there game. Luckily there's a racket out there for everyone.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

I've got two ordered and a 5.0 friend of mine has some. I just ordered all 3 gauges of 4G to try. I agree, if this takes off, you're going to see thicker, softer polys to go in this.




But if it's "NO good" why would you want a lighter one?

Well, if it is lighter and have lower Swingweight then I can customize it so I can like it.

[tennisnut09]

I've said this before. This is the smartest way to get people spending more money on strings. The racket may be great if you have fresh string on it. The string life would be cut in half when you have it on this racket.

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by racertempo

Probably the reason he posted a reply like that was because that same person started a thread stating that he has demoed 100 frames and they ARE ALL THE SAME. So this guy is looking for bites posting like he did in this thread. Based on what he has already stated it does not matter how the 99s plays, this guy will say it is no different.

Than you racer. at least Someone is reading and comprehending not just jumping to conclusions. I could care less in he's a beginner or an ATP player if all racquets the same then buy the cheapest, right ??

This is the same as the guy giving string type and tension advise and stating that he's looking for a string to last at least 8-12 months. I make this statement because its important to weed out the information that's not useful if we are to keep this forum somewhat useful and legit.

[quest01]

Originally Posted by doctor dennis

I also came from an APD GT. The extra spin is definitely noticeable and a welcome arsenal to my already topspin orientated game.
For me its a winner but for others it won't do anything to there game. Luckily there's a racket out there for everyone.

Personally I think it's great for my game. I used the 99S today for the second time and the spin is just incredible; I'm hitting Nadal like spin from all areas of the court including my serve and my forehand cross court is like Chinese water torture. The angle I can create going cross court with my forehand is devastating.

The only downside is tension loss. I strung the 99S with a full bed of Luxilon ALU power at 59/60 and using the racquet for the 2nd time, the strings were moving all over the place where I had to constantly reposition my strings.

[couch]

Originally Posted by tennisnut09

I've said this before. This is the smartest way to get people spending more money on strings. The racket may be great if you have fresh string on it. The string life would be cut in half when you have it on this racket.

The thing about poly is most people keep it in their racquets way too long and then they wonder why they aren't getting any power, balls are flying, and their elbows and shoulders are killing them. At least with the Steam 99S the strings will break and you will avoid a trip to the doctor.

I look at it this way. I would play 2-3 times with poly or a poly hybrid and after that the strings would go dead and I would cut them out and restring. Now the strings break at about the same time my previous string jobs would go dead. Seems like a reasonable trade off to me for the additional spin.

The one potential downside is that for hard hitters 4G seems to be the best string for this racquet based on tension maintenance and durability. One thing people might have an issue with is the cost of 4G when in standard racquets there are cheaper alternatives. As I said, hopefully there will be some companies coming out with string that will rival 4G at a more reasonable cost. But then again, people spend money on Alu power when there are better/cheaper alternatives out there.

Anyway, just one mans thoughts.

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by couch

The thing about poly is most people keep it in their racquets way too long and then they wonder why they aren't getting any power, balls are flying, and their elbows and shoulders are killing them. At least with the Steam 99S the strings will break and you will avoid a trip to the doctor.

I look at it this way. I would play 2-3 times with poly or a poly hybrid and after that the strings would go dead and I would cut them out and restring. Now the strings break at about the same time my previous string jobs would go dead. Seems like a reasonable trade off to me for the additional spin.

The one potential downside is that for hard hitters 4G seems to be the best string for this racquet based on tension maintenance and durability. One thing people might have an issue with is the cost of 4G when in standard racquets there are cheaper alternatives. As I said, hopefully there will be some companies coming out with string that will rival 4G at a more reasonable cost. But then again, people spend money on Alu power when there are better/cheaper alternatives out there.

Anyway, just one mans thoughts.

Agreed but that's not the issue here. The issue is that even within the normal 4-6 hours of play that I expect from a poly during that whole time the tension never seems to settle. That meaning I can only get about 1-2 hours of in the range play because I have to either string above and let drop or string at and play for not long. It's the changing throughout that's not working for me but may work for others.

[martini1]

It's a toy for me as it will probably not replace my main stick. However I won't call it useless. It is still fun to play with. People who does not have arm issues can certainly do full load ground strokes with it all day.

[g4driver]

Originally Posted by couch

It's so funny that people who use a dense string pattern say this racquet hits horribly. I have typically used a 16x18 pattern and that's what my game has been grooved on. For me the Steam 99S is an easy and natural fit. My business partner hits a blade and he simply said he was leaving balls short in the court because it doesn't suit his style of play. That doesn't mean it's a horrible racquet. Different strokes for different folks.

This racquet, in the right player's hands, can be a real weapon. It hits an extremely heavy ball and explodes off the court. This racquet will play well for a 3.0-5.0 if you ask me, but for different reasons.

A 3.0 - 4.0 will generate more spin, have nice power, more control and less UE if used correctly. A 5.0 who is used to a Pure Drive type racquet can make this racquet do whatever they want but with more spin and action on the ball.

That's my take on this racquet.

Agreed with couch on his assessment. He's a 5.0 guy. I'm well below his level. This frame can be a weapon in the hands of a player who's style of play and skill utilize it. For guys use to 16x18 and 16x19 patterns, the switch is simply enough. Yep, I send some shots long due to a poor swing, but shot after shot dive a foot in, that appear to be going two feet long. But this frame can hit shots that are not available with my Wilson Pro Opens.

My only issue with the frame is the stiffness, so I will be adding silicone to one of the handles as my attempt to use this frame 12-15 per week continues. Right now, my elbow doesn't like this frame for more than a few sets a day. Playing four to five sets a day with my Pro Opens three days straight is not a problem. Playing four sets a day with the Steam 99S and I feel the pain instantly.

What would be the affect if Wilson made a more arm friendly (64-66 flex) version with a 16x16 pattern? ???

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/lc/s...ngracquet.html

More flexible = more control so maybe a 64 Flex version of a 99S would help. Maybe this is simply the beginning for Wilson and other companies to start experimenting in various patterns (16x15 and maybe 16x16) with more arm friendly flex ranges and standard weight ranges (300, 310, and 315 gram frames). This seems exciting to me that the Steam 99S and 105S may simply be the launch of something much bigger than just two frames. The Steam 99S / 105 S could be the equivalent of the first generation poly strings.

Kudos to Wilson!

This was the first attempt by a company with 15 crosses to my knowledge. Yes, I know about Vortex, but Vortex uses 14 mains and 18 or 19 crosses. This is different, just like gut mains/poly crosses vs poly mains / gut crosses. The latter doesn't generate snap back like that first.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...394623&page=26

From Strings and Spin: Applying What We Know About Copoly" by Joshua Speckman

Federer's setup actually bears some resemblance to spaghetti strings, as that invention also used natural gut in the mains and a synthetic in the crosses. Many players find the combination of extremely elastic gut mains with stiff, hard and slick copoly crosses to be as, or more, spin-friendly than a full bed of copoly, while also being more comfortable, powerful and giving better feel for the ball.

In string-on-string friction tests, tennis equipment researcher Crawford Lindsey found that gut mains slide with less friction along copoly crosses than any other string or string combination. And he found that - unlike other strings, where notching ramps up friction and disables the snapback mechanism – inter-string friction actually gets lower as the notches get deeper.

Why? Lindsey and Cross speculate that natural oils seep out of the gut at the notches and lubricate the string intersections. This suggests that a gut/poly hybrid might retain its spin-generating potential for longer than any other string or combination. Well, at least until the gut breaks.

Surprisingly, the opposite configuration – poly mains/gut crosses – slides much less easily. Lindsey says the two materials are sticky in reverse perhaps because the surface of the gut crosses quickly abrades, pulling up microscopic fibers that get hung up on the copoly mains as they try to slide.

The reason poly strings initially became popular with professional players was because of their inherent durability. Although modern copolymer strings are softer than "1st generation" polyester strings, they are still stiffer and harder than nylon or gut, and typically take longer to notch and break.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by couch

The thing about poly is most people keep it in their racquets way too long and then they wonder why they aren't getting any power, balls are flying, and their elbows and shoulders are killing them. At least with the Steam 99S the strings will break and you will avoid a trip to the doctor.

Thats actually a good way to look at it.

I would be one of those who probably plays with a poly too long.

As soon as I note that the mains are out of place, I dont like the stringbed, but have tended to use it a few more times "just because". I know its not good for the arm and this 99S may be like an "accountability partner"......LOL. It wont let me use dead poly as it can never get that old!

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Centerforward71

Agreed but that's not the issue here. The issue is that even within the normal 4-6 hours of play that I expect from a poly during that whole time the tension never seems to settle. That meaning I can only get about 1-2 hours of in the range play because I have to either string above and let drop or string at and play for not long. It's the changing throughout that's not working for me but may work for others.

Thats another valid point.

In the past, Ive usually strung my racquets a tad high, disliked them for the first hour or so of use (too harsh), so that they could "settle in" to the range I actually liked (and thus get maximum play time from the strings).

[Power Player]

I can make the ball bend with 18x20 patterns so when I go real open, it is too much for me.

I thought the 99s was the best tweener stick out there though. Nice feel, but not for me.

[maggmaster]

If they made a flexier version I would buy one to try.

[JackB1]

the 99s is definitely a solid, well made racquet and it's not a "toy or a gimmick" by any means. Take away the open pattern and it's still a solid racquet. But whether or not the 16x15 pattern works for you is a a personal thing. Hard hitters WILL go through a lot of strings. People that already have enough topspin probably won't benefit from it either.
For me, it was great, but I have moved away from the stiffer tweaner types of frames for now. The racquet definitely will benefit some people and hurt others. You just need to try it, but to make a defining black/white statement, like this poll calls for is pretty useless IMO. It's like asking " Is a 12 oz. racquet too heavy or too light"? No real answer.

[jjs891]

Originally Posted by JackB1

the 99s is definitely a solid, well made racquet and it's not a "toy or a gimmick" by any means. Take away the open pattern and it's still a solid racquet. But whether or not the 16x15 pattern works for you is a a personal thing. Hard hitters WILL go through a lot of strings. People that already have enough topspin probably won't benefit from it either.
For me, it was great, but I have moved away from the stiffer tweaner types of frames for now. The racquet definitely will benefit some people and hurt others. You just need to try it, but to make a defining black/white statement, like this poll calls for is pretty useless IMO. It's like asking " Is a 12 oz. racquet too heavy or too light"? No real answer.

Very well stated imo.

[jonestim]

Originally Posted by g4driver

What would be the affect if Wilson made a more arm friendly (64-66 flex) version with a 16x16 pattern? ???

I believe that (a softer 16x16) is what Prince is coming out with this summer. One of their junior players has been using a 16x16 "EXO3 Tour ESP" since last year. Their current EXO3 Tours are really soft.

[doctor dennis]

Originally Posted by jonestim

I believe that (a softer 16x16) is what Prince is coming out with this summer. One of their junior players has been using a 16x16 "EXO3 Tour ESP" since last year. Their current EXO3 Tours are really soft.

To be honest when I had an O3 tour it ate strings for fun. In an even more open pattern I can see people needing to take out a bank loan to pay for all the restrings.
I bet it will be nice though.