String for Steam 99s?

cluelessmoose · 01-30-2013, 11:16 PM

Since getting my Steam 99s I've tried strings like Solinco Outlast, Isospeed Pulse, Polystar turbo 15, and Genesis Twisted Razor at tensions ranging from 55-65lb. Guess what, all of these lose so much tension within an hour or two of hard hitting (4.0-4.5) that the racket becomes an unplayable rocket launcher. Big surprise with this racket, right?

So below are the strings that I am looking at trying out now. Which do you guys think has the best chance of holding up tension loss wise in the toy? I string with an electric constant pull tension head (Wise 2086) by the way.

Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 16
Babolat Revenge 16
Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 16
Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue 16 (is tension loss with this string about the same as the rough version?)

Thanks guys!

Francis27 · 01-31-2013, 06:36 AM

The Luxilon 4G S 141 is specifically for the 99S it is fantastic at holding tension!

Torres · 01-31-2013, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 16
Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue 16

Will be too soft and lively for this particular application in such an open pattern.

I'd go for something stiffer/deader.

If you don't want to go the 4G route, then something like WC Silversting 16 would probably work.

Yonex PTP 16 would also probably work as well.

Both control orientated consistent strings.

I'd avoid anything too lively or springy.

cluelessmoose · 01-31-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francis27

The Luxilon 4G S 141 is specifically for the 99S it is fantastic at holding tension!

That would be my first choice but that costs lots dollars and I'm a college student.

mmk · 01-31-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

That would be my first choice but that costs lots dollars and I'm a college student.

Read through this thread, there are claims that Dunlop Ice, which is really affordable, is similar to 4G:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=447596

Doubles · 01-31-2013, 09:26 AM

SPPP holds tension well. You might want to try that.

Rabbit · 01-31-2013, 09:32 AM

I received mine yesterday and strung them today. One is strung with Wilson Spin Cycle 16L at 54/52 and the other with Luxilon Ace 18 at 55/53. I can't wait to try them. I also ordered several sets of 4g in every gauge to try.

dmcb101 · 01-31-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

That would be my first choice but that costs lots dollars and I'm a college student.

I just ordered a reel of Pro's Pro Concept (1.38mm) for $47. It is supposed to be a standard poly that is not twisted or anything and holds fairly good tension from what I read. That would be cost effective in my book!

cluelessmoose · 01-31-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubles

SPPP holds tension well. You might want to try that.

How is plasma's tension maintinance compaired to megaforce?

cluelessmoose · 01-31-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabbit

I received mine yesterday and strung them today. One is strung with Wilson Spin Cycle 16L at 54/52 and the other with Luxilon Ace 18 at 55/53. I can't wait to try them. I also ordered several sets of 4g in every gauge to try.

Wow you're adventerous trying an 18g string. The racket is a hoot to play with. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!

cluelessmoose · 01-31-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmcb101

I just ordered a reel of Pro's Pro Concept (1.38mm) for $47. It is supposed to be a standard poly that is not twisted or anything and holds fairly good tension from what I read. That would be cost effective in my book!

Where did you get the 1.38? I was only able to find concept in 1.33.

Francis27 · 01-31-2013, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

How is plasma's tension maintinance compaired to megaforce?

Plasmas tension is very similar to 4g its basically a 4g but lower price its only $8

Ross K · 01-31-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Will be too soft and lively for this particular application in such an open pattern.

I'd go for something stiffer/deader.

If you don't want to go the 4G route, then something like WC Silversting 16 would probably work.

Yonex PTP 16 would also probably work as well.

Both control orientated consistent strings.

I'd avoid anything too lively or springy.

I'll almost certainly be checking out PTP in the 99s. It's a poly I liked a lot in my previous frame, the J100.

Quote:

Read through this thread, there are claims that Dunlop Ice, which is really affordable, is similar to 4G:

I may well investigate this.

Quote:

The Luxilon 4G S 141 is specifically for the 99S it is fantastic at holding tension!

And I may well investigate this too. Would love to hear from others on how this contrasts with reg 4G, ppls overall impressions, etc.

JLK · 01-31-2013, 12:31 PM

Used Lux 4G 141 at 53lbs.
Created a slightly stiffer string bed.
Power was a littles less than Lux 4G 125 or ALU but spin increased.
Strings lasted 3 times as long as Lux 4G 125 or ALU.
Weight of racket strung with two over grips was 334 grams.

fibonacci888 · 01-31-2013, 12:45 PM

had my first hour and a half of play with the Steam 99s

setup: 59.5 lbs of Pacific Xcite
strung weight: 325 grams

Profile:
35 years, with good pace on the forehand and reasonable one handed backhand with spin. Likes to hit a hard ball from the baseline, which causes failure sometimes because not every ball is suitable for those shots. Opportunitist.
Good pace on first serve, spin on second. Level compared to US. About 4.5
Racket: Tecnifibre TFlash 315 with 57 lbs Xcite. Strung weight 345 grams

Groundstrokes
The racket comes with very easy acces to power. The sweetspot appears to be huge and lets you really rip the ball. Trajectory of the ball is indeed a bit higher but a little adjustment lets you place the ball easilly near the backline. Hitting the winner takes some getting used to because the spin takes out some speed.
Best part of the racket is getting your opponent from corner to corner with your inside out spin balls. Super!
Concern is the durabillity of the tension of the strings since you can feel them move. I'm not a real stringbreaker.

Serve
Easy access to spin but struggled a bit with pace. My current rackets are 20 grams heavier and i missed a bit of pace. Did hit a killer spin second serve ace. Didn't hit enough serves to get a solid verdict on this one.

Volley
Racket feels really stable with volleys. Easy to get into place, and great for overhead smashes. I found challenges in placing a hard return deep in the court. Control was a bit missing due to ball trajectory out of the racket. Takes some getting used to.

Touch
Hitting a a good dropshot or touch slice backhand to the back of the court takes some getting used to. Balls can sail long or come short due to the stringbed. On short volley or feedback of the racket it feels great. The feedback is solid and gives enough feel for delicate shots. Just need practice.

concerns

Needs a string that keeps it's tension longer than avarage.
Hitting the "winner" needs practice
pace on serve

conclusion so far
Very, very interesting racket. This could be my new stick if i work/train on my concerns. It suits my type of play, so it seems, but will need to test more.

I'll test some more and share my thoughts with you guys.

JackB1 · 01-31-2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

Since getting my Steam 99s I've tried strings like Solinco Outlast, Isospeed Pulse, Polystar turbo 15, and Genesis Twisted Razor at tensions ranging from 55-65lb. Guess what, all of these lose so much tension within an hour or two of hard hitting (4.0-4.5) that the racket becomes an unplayable rocket launcher. Big surprise with this racket, right?

So below are the strings that I am looking at trying out now. Which do you guys think has the best chance of holding up tension loss wise in the toy? I string with an electric constant pull tension head (Wise 2086) by the way.

Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 16
Babolat Revenge 16
Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 16
Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue 16 (is tension loss with this string about the same as the rough version?)

Thanks guys!

Obvious question...why haven't you tried 4g?

cluelessmoose · 01-31-2013, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackB1

Obvious question...why haven't you tried 4g?

Being a college student I don't have much money to put into tennis strings at the moment. However, if the 4gs string really does last 3 times as long as alu power I may have to try a set.

JackB1 · 01-31-2013, 01:09 PM

Anyone try Black Magic 15L?

quest01 · 01-31-2013, 01:40 PM

Hey I also string with a wise tension head with constant pull and I tried Luxilon ALU Power on the 99s and it only lasted me like 5 hours. That's the first time I've ever snapped a poly and I'm coming from an APDGT. I'm also testing out some of the 4G stuff like the 16g and 15g. The only thing I'm concerned with is that I might generate a lot less spin with a 15g.

Doubles · 01-31-2013, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francis27

Plasmas tension is very similar to 4g its basically a 4g but lower price its only $8

The only thing that similar is its ability to hold tension. SPPP is softer and has less spin potential than 4G.

01-30-2013, 11:16 PM	#1
cluelessmoose Rookie Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 145	String for Steam 99s? Since getting my Steam 99s I've tried strings like Solinco Outlast, Isospeed Pulse, Polystar turbo 15, and Genesis Twisted Razor at tensions ranging from 55-65lb. Guess what, all of these lose so much tension within an hour or two of hard hitting (4.0-4.5) that the racket becomes an unplayable rocket launcher. Big surprise with this racket, right? So below are the strings that I am looking at trying out now. Which do you guys think has the best chance of holding up tension loss wise in the toy? I string with an electric constant pull tension head (Wise 2086) by the way. Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 16 Babolat Revenge 16 Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 16 Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue 16 (is tension loss with this string about the same as the rough version?) Thanks guys!

01-31-2013, 06:36 AM	#2
Francis27 Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Canada Ontario Posts: 536	The Luxilon 4G S 141 is specifically for the 99S it is fantastic at holding tension! __________________ Babolat Pure Drive 2012 \| RPM Team 16g @ 55lbs

01-31-2013, 09:26 AM	#6
Doubles Hall Of Fame Join Date: May 2010 Location: Approaching the net Posts: 3,284	SPPP holds tension well. You might want to try that. __________________ All aboard the Gulbis bandwagon!

01-31-2013, 09:32 AM	#7
Rabbit G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: at the bottom of every hill I come to Posts: 11,115	I received mine yesterday and strung them today. One is strung with Wilson Spin Cycle 16L at 54/52 and the other with Luxilon Ace 18 at 55/53. I can't wait to try them. I also ordered several sets of 4g in every gauge to try. __________________ Wilson Steam 99S poly Luxilon 4G 1.25 @ 45

01-31-2013, 12:45 PM	#15
fibonacci888 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Netherlands Posts: 131	had my first hour and a half of play with the Steam 99s setup: 59.5 lbs of Pacific Xcite strung weight: 325 grams Profile: 35 years, with good pace on the forehand and reasonable one handed backhand with spin. Likes to hit a hard ball from the baseline, which causes failure sometimes because not every ball is suitable for those shots. Opportunitist. Good pace on first serve, spin on second. Level compared to US. About 4.5 Racket: Tecnifibre TFlash 315 with 57 lbs Xcite. Strung weight 345 grams Groundstrokes The racket comes with very easy acces to power. The sweetspot appears to be huge and lets you really rip the ball. Trajectory of the ball is indeed a bit higher but a little adjustment lets you place the ball easilly near the backline. Hitting the winner takes some getting used to because the spin takes out some speed. Best part of the racket is getting your opponent from corner to corner with your inside out spin balls. Super! Concern is the durabillity of the tension of the strings since you can feel them move. I'm not a real stringbreaker. Serve Easy access to spin but struggled a bit with pace. My current rackets are 20 grams heavier and i missed a bit of pace. Did hit a killer spin second serve ace. Didn't hit enough serves to get a solid verdict on this one. Volley Racket feels really stable with volleys. Easy to get into place, and great for overhead smashes. I found challenges in placing a hard return deep in the court. Control was a bit missing due to ball trajectory out of the racket. Takes some getting used to. Touch Hitting a a good dropshot or touch slice backhand to the back of the court takes some getting used to. Balls can sail long or come short due to the stringbed. On short volley or feedback of the racket it feels great. The feedback is solid and gives enough feel for delicate shots. Just need practice. concerns Needs a string that keeps it's tension longer than avarage. Hitting the "winner" needs practice pace on serve conclusion so far Very, very interesting racket. This could be my new stick if i work/train on my concerns. It suits my type of play, so it seems, but will need to test more. I'll test some more and share my thoughts with you guys. __________________ Steam 99s with Pacific Xcite 1.25 Last edited by fibonacci888 : 01-31-2013 at 12:49 PM.