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

[Anton]

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

I finally got around to stringing my 99s with Global Natural Gut at 58 lbs. I think I should of strung it higher. I did not have time to hit with it fully other than feeding some balls. I was expecting the patter to be much wider (open), but it reminds me of an OS pattern in a MP frame.

natural gut on crosses has been found to be inferior for spin compared to having it on the mains..

[Bartelby]

The T2000 was actually a Lacoste invention and only marketed in America as a Wilson.

Originally Posted by Rabbit

there is an old adage, "one man's ceiling is another man's floor". Instead of simply saying the frame wasn't for you, you used some pretty incindiary language; i.e. rocket launcher, etc.

Simply put, there are no bad frames or strings, only bad choices. The entire tennis world said the T2000, another Wilson product, was unfit for anything but club level tennis. In 1974, Jimmy Connors won everything in sight. After that, every pro was testing or playing with a T2000. Connors kept the T2000 until his supply ran out.

Babolat launched a frame specifically designed and targeted for 3.0 - 3.5 women. A couple of pros tried it and liked it. It is now one of the most popular frames on the pro tour, the Babolat Pure Drive.

Will the 99S or 105S become a staple on the pro tour? I don't know and frankly don't care. The tennis I play has very little in common with theirs. But, the 99S is fun to play with and gets me excited about playing tennis, so it's a good thing for me.

And again, when you start using terms like 'rocket launcher' and making blanket statements like this frame is suited only for beginners and people who don't know how to play (paraphrasing) you have to expect some push back. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for everyone else.

[Stroke]

If you hold the 99s and the Babolot PD or APD side be side, it is clear thatthe 99s has a much thinner beam, no matter the TW specs.

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

The T2000 was actually a Lacoste invention and only marketed in America as a Wilson.

yes, I knew that

[royfrombigd]

Just got my pair of 99s on Wednesday. My concerns over it being a "toy" were unwarranted. This thing is for for real and my first impression was just how solid it felt overall. I was hitting with new Blade 16x19 and even though the Steam is a completely different hit, the weight/balance wasn't that far off from what I'm used to. Yes, lots of tinkering around will be required with technique and strings, but I just don't care right now. My one questions is has any dared try it with natural gut? I'm not a string breaker and usually use 17G Babs VS. Thinking 16G might work like a charm for and I won't have the concerns over tension loss. Sorry if the question has been answered in this thread, but I don't have time to look through the 77 pages of posts. What's the record for longest thread? This has to be getting close. I've not seen this level of excitement before on the boards.

[Rabbit]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yeah, I strung a couple of Head Graphene Speed MP's last night. I weighed them and they weigh the same as the 99S. The 99S is in line with some frames that have gotten more respect.

[Pro_Tour_630]

I used to be a 5.5 college player but now I am 4.5 240lbs hack who recently just got bumped back up to 5.0, don't know why

Anyway, you all know me, I bought the frame and tested it with free wilson 16g at mid, the strings moved like crazy and it was powerful, had issues with directional control on some flatter shots, cut strings off and installed lux original at mid, strings did not move, frame was a little better but not my cup of tea. My wife who played 3.5 nationals did not like it as well, she said it was heavy and powerful. My son who is 10 and nationally ranked did not like it as well. OTOH We all like the new 2013 babolat aero lite with a little lead, very soft and muted frame,

I am going to strip the bumper on the 99S and add lead at grip to make it more HL and less weight, install 17g copoly and give it one last try before it goes out for sale. had issue with grip not long enough for THBH, frame seemed too throaty for a lack of a better word,

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

there is an old adage, "one man's ceiling is another man's floor". Instead of simply saying the frame wasn't for you, you used some pretty incindiary language; i.e. rocket launcher, etc.

Simply put, there are no bad frames or strings, only bad choices. The entire tennis world said the T2000, another Wilson product, was unfit for anything but club level tennis. In 1974, Jimmy Connors won everything in sight. After that, every pro was testing or playing with a T2000. Connors kept the T2000 until his supply ran out.

Babolat launched a frame specifically designed and targeted for 3.0 - 3.5 women. A couple of pros tried it and liked it. It is now one of the most popular frames on the pro tour, the Babolat Pure Drive.

Will the 99S or 105S become a staple on the pro tour? I don't know and frankly don't care. The tennis I play has very little in common with theirs. But, the 99S is fun to play with and gets me excited about playing tennis, so it's a good thing for me.

And again, when you start using terms like 'rocket launcher' and making blanket statements like this frame is suited only for beginners and people who don't know how to play (paraphrasing) you have to expect some push back. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for everyone else.

this......and this......!!!!

and now our friend Tim is quoting ever other post where someone posts negative stuff about the 99s, looking for other fellow haters to join his bandwagon. EVERY FRAME OUT THERE will have people that like it, people that hate it and everything in between. The thing is this 99s is creating a lot of interest, so EVERYONE is trying it, so naturally it will get mixed results.
Normally I think it's best to just dismiss anyone that uses termonology like "this racquet sucks..."

[JackB1]

Since the biggest issue with the 99s seems to be poly tension loss, maybe the optimum setup for it is natural gut mains and copoly cross? Nat gut is the BEST string for retaining tension and will help to "mask" the copoly when it starts losing tension. The key then is to find the best tension for this hybrid, since it will have a lot of power.
I am thinking around 64/58? Has anyone else tried a nat gut/copoly setup and what were your results?

[royfrombigd]

Originally Posted by JackB1

Since the biggest issue with the 99s seems to be poly tension loss, maybe the optimum setup for it is natural gut mains and copoly cross? Nat gut is the BEST string for retaining tension and will help to "mask" the copoly when it starts losing tension. The key then is to find the best tension for this hybrid, since it will have a lot of power.
I am thinking around 64/58? Has anyone else tried a nat gut/copoly setup and what were your results?

I've got some Babs 16G VS on the way and am going to take a leap of faith and string full bed at mid tension. The cheap,free 16g syn gut that TW strings with feels pretty good at mid and that is where I'm going to start. I'm not a string breaker and have had good luck with 17G VS in my 16x19s, so I don't this will be horrible. Even though gut is more expensive, still seems to be a cheaper path than having to restring poly so fast. I'll report back on the gut, but it will be next week before i'll get it in and be able to hit withit. Meanwhile, I'll keep a close eye on 99s posts to see if anyone has cracked "the code". Man, I'm having fun right now.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by royfrombigd

I've got some Babs 16G VS on the way and am going to take a leap of faith and string full bed at mid tension. The cheap,free 16g syn gut that TW strings with feels pretty good at mid and that is where I'm going to start. I'm not a string breaker and have had good luck with 17G VS in my 16x19s, so I don't this will be horrible. Even though gut is more expensive, still seems to be a cheaper path than having to restring poly so fast. I'll report back on the gut, but it will be next week before i'll get it in and be able to hit withit. Meanwhile, I'll keep a close eye on 99s posts to see if anyone has cracked "the code". Man, I'm having fun right now.

It's definitely more of an issue with string breakers and harder hitters. I had a 99s demo that was strung with Black Widow mains and NXT multi cross and used it for a week without any issues, even though you would think this was far from an optimum setup.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by tennis_nut

Gut/poly hybrids feel amazing in this frame. The only issue I have with it is durability. I'm only getting about 6 hours on them before the gut snaps. This is with 16g Prince gut mains.

I am testing full beds of Silverstring and Iontec salmon both in 1.25 and am really enjoying the Iontec. It's got a real nice solid feel without being to trampoliney(I know it's not a real word but that's the only way I could put it) like other polys I've tried. Not as spinny as gut/poly but way more than enough for me.

Overall, I am really liking these sticks. The spin is nice and the sweetspot is huge but the biggest reason that I will be sticking with these racquets is the comfort. The 99S is one of only 2 racquets that I can play with a full bed of poly. The EXO3 Tour is the other.

tennisnut, you seem to be the only one who has tried a gut/copoly setup. What tension did you try? I would think you need to go up to around 63,64 with the gut and around 56-58 with the copoly crosses, sicne the tension range is 55-65 on the 99s. I am not a string breaker, so I am wondering if a gut/copoly hybrid might work better for me than full 4g?

[drak]

Originally Posted by JackB1

tennisnut, you seem to be the only one who has tried a gut/copoly setup. What tension did you try? I would think you need to go up to around 63,64 with the gut and around 56-58 with the copoly crosses, sicne the tension range is 55-65 on the 99s. I am not a string breaker, so I am wondering if a gut/copoly hybrid might work better for me than full 4g?

I am surprised there has been almost no one using a 15L gut for the mains, I was going to try that but I sold the frame because my shoulder was giving me trouble. The 16 gauge I tries I liked and it lasted at least 5-6 hrs before i sold it.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by royfrombigd

Just got my pair of 99s on Wednesday. My concerns over it being a "toy" were unwarranted. This thing is for for real and my first impression was just how solid it felt overall. I was hitting with new Blade 16x19 and even though the Steam is a completely different hit, the weight/balance wasn't that far off from what I'm used to. Yes, lots of tinkering around will be required with technique and strings, but I just don't care right now. My one questions is has any dared try it with natural gut? I'm not a string breaker and usually use 17G Babs VS. Thinking 16G might work like a charm for and I won't have the concerns over tension loss. Sorry if the question has been answered in this thread, but I don't have time to look through the 77 pages of posts. What's the record for longest thread? This has to be getting close. I've not seen this level of excitement before on the boards.

i tried JGads' TW demos when we hit and i completely agree with this. i had a few WTH balls that launched and landed long, but overall, it hit well until the mains started moving like crazy. it's very solid for sure and offers good meaty feel. lacks the hollowness that is characteristic of the Babs APD and PD sticks.

[Lakers4Life]

Originally Posted by Anton

natural gut on crosses has been found to be inferior for spin compared to having it on the mains..

I was going for comfort, and I did not have any 16 guage poly (that I liked). I'm going to try Ashaway Mongut ZX next time for the mains next time.

[fibonacci888]

The pacific Xcite 1.25 felt really comfy, and far from harsh.
Certainly no lack of power.

Next setup will be 4G 1.25

[racertempo]

Anyone try the IsoSpeed 15L in there yet? It stinks that it is not sold by TW in individual packs to try out, but at $39 a reel it might be worth the look.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

But, the 99S is fun to play with and gets me excited about playing tennis, so it's a good thing for me.

This is exactly what I noticed about this frame as well.

I started playing tennis in 2007, really enjoyed it for a few years, started getting alot better (ended in KSwiss 5.5...before I get flamed, this is NOT NTRP 5.5, most guys in it, IMHO would be 4.5 to low 5.0), played leagues, etc then backed off playing as much (as I started playing another sport).

For the past few weeks as Ive been using this 99S, Ive decided, or maybe remembered, how much fun tennis is, and also have been seeing how I can hit some shots with this thing that I absolutely cannot with another frame.

It also just has a fun feel to it that seems somehow effortless to play with.

So much so, that I actually decided to join back up in the league and really commit to playing more. Which is a good thing as if I dont commit to playing more the fellas in the division I am in are going to seriously kick my posterior!

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by racertempo

Anyone try the IsoSpeed 15L in there yet? It stinks that it is not sold by TW in individual packs to try out, but at $39 a reel it might be worth the look.

Racer-

I havent tried that, but I did take a similar (similar as in el cheapo route) for a reel of Gosen Polylon ($33.95 at TW). I played a few sets with it this morning, and honestly, Im sold. Its hard to believe this string is so inexpensive. It really plays great IMO and for the $, its more or less ridiculous. TW seems to agree based on their review of it as well.

[Anton]

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

I was going for comfort, and I did not have any 16 guage poly (that I liked). I'm going to try Ashaway Mongut ZX next time for the mains next time.

I'm really waiting for someone to try 15g natural gut mains with 15g poly crosses on this frame at like 65lbs. And see how it works out. Because i think that would be an idea setup for this frame.

I'd do it myself, but I really can't stand high launch angle rackets, so I don't want to spend the big $s on 99s.