String for Steam 99s?

[cluelessmoose]

Originally Posted by quest01

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.

I would go for the extra durability. The string bed is already so open that the ball will be sinking sufficiently deep into the string bed with the 1.41. Should be a minimal difference in spin potential.

[tlm]

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!

Thats exactly what I found but according to all the 99s rocket launcher fans in the other thread that I am all wrong and I am not good enough or do not use enough spin. But you are exactly right it can play pretty good for a while but then becomes way to powerful, within an hour with new strings.

I would suggest to you if you want to waste more time and money on this racket then get the 4g 15 gauge and string it at 68 lbs., maybe then you can get 2 hours out of it. I tried a lot of set ups and had the exact same experience you did.


So then i used my best control set up of gamma powerplay 18 gauge kevlar mains at 60lbs. with yonex poly tour spin x's at 65lbs and still did not like the power level. Thats when I knew I was done playing with this toy racket.

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by Francis27

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

No string holding tension on this racquet Period...

[corners]

According to lab tests 4G is by far the best copoly at holding tension.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by corners

According to lab tests 4G is by far the best copoly at holding tension.

got a link to these tests?

[cluelessmoose]

Originally Posted by JackB1

got a link to these tests?

In TW University String Performance Database.

[cluelessmoose]

Originally Posted by Centerforward71

No string holding tension on this racquet Period...

Starting to realize that...

[royfrombigd]

Has anyone tried a full bed of gut? I just got my pair and want to try 16G VS in one of them. This racquet is for real!!!

[quest01]

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

I would go for the extra durability. The string bed is already so open that the ball will be sinking sufficiently deep into the string bed with the 1.41. Should be a minimal difference in spin potential.

Yeah I'm going to try out the 16g 4g first than ill try the 15g just to get an idea how they compare. The ALU Power would have lasted a little longer if I didnt use the racquet right after stringing it. I should have waited 24 hours to allow the strings to settle.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by royfrombigd

Has anyone tried a full bed of gut? I just got my pair and want to try 16G VS in one of them. This racquet is for real!!!

I wouldn't recommend full gut....too powerful. Instead try a gut/copoly hybrid at around 62/56

[cluelessmoose]

Originally Posted by JackB1

I wouldn't recommend full gut....too powerful. Instead try a gut/copoly hybrid at around 62/56

I second this. Don't use gut if you hit with a ton of spin though. I tried gut / copoly at 65/62 and the gut broke of natural causes in <30mins.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

I second this. Don't use gut if you hit with a ton of spin though. I tried gut / copoly at 65/62 and the gut broke of natural causes in <30mins.

Are you a hard hitter / string breaker?

[cluelessmoose]

I'm going to try poly plasma, megaforce, and lux 1.41. If none of those suffice I'm going back to my APD.

[cluelessmoose]

Originally Posted by JackB1

Are you a hard hitter / string breaker?

I hit at a 5.0 pace with 4.0 consistency. Lol Yea, I hit fairly hard. I snap a fresh bed of alu power in about 6 hours on my APD.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

I'm going to try poly plasma, megaforce, and lux 1.41. If none of those suffice I'm going back to my APD.

how about considering the regular 99? Same racquet, just a more closed pattern.

[JackB1]

I think Prince Beast 16g would work well in the 99s.
It's got good durability and low tension loss.

[cluelessmoose]

Originally Posted by JackB1

how about considering the regular 99? Same racquet, just a more closed pattern.

Well if I went back to a more closed pattern I'm just going to go back to the apd since I am comfortable with it. I just wanted to see if I could get this "game changing spin" racket to work. I must admit, the frame is game changing due to it's spin untill the strings lose their tension. For professionals who can afford to change strings every 45mins, this may be the racket of the future.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by cluelessmoose

Well if I went back to a more closed pattern I'm just going to go back to the apd since I am comfortable with it. I just wanted to see if I could get this "game changing spin" racket to work. I must admit, the frame is game changing due to it's spin untill the strings lose their tension. For professionals who can afford to change strings every 45mins, this may be the racket of the future.

I'll have to see how it pans out for me, but I didn't have any issues in my one week with the demo. ALL POLY's loose tension quickly though, so the same argument could really be made for anyone who uses poly and doesn't want to restring often. I guess the extra open pattern just magnifies this issue? I would say that if the Lux 4G 15S doesn't work for you, then nothing will and you should just move on. 4G is rated the best in tesnion maintenance and the 15g is very durable.

[Buford T Justice]

As an experiment (noted in another thread on this frame somewhere......) I bought a reel of the $33.95 Gosen Polylon 16.

To my surprise.....this stuff plays great in this frame! (I strung it at 59). And, wear seems....not bad at all. Projecting out life (based on notching), Id say this string may last 10-12 sets before it goes pop....which is to say a fairly long time for this frame.

I agree with many others who have posted that Lux 4g is a great string for this frame....but the costs are just too much IMO. Regardless of whether or not someone can afford it, it just gets a little ridiculous.

With Polylon I feel like it plays 95% as good for about 15% of the cost. (I believe 4g is $245 a reel, while Polylon is $34.) This frame is going to be a string eater no matter what any of us does, so I think if we like playing with it enough, its just a matter of accepting the fact that strings wont stay in it long.

As noted by another (smart) poster.....this is probably a good thing. The hidden benefit is that none of us will ever play with a dead (arm hurting) poly. It just wont last long enough to go dead!

[Buford T Justice]

As an aside, I also strung a frame with Head Sonic Pro 17 (happened to have a pack of it) at 35 and did not like it. It was definitely easy power, but I just didnt have a comfort level with knowing where the ball was going to go. And, the strings moved on the first point....I was constantly adjusting them. Many many balls went long. I switched to the previous frame mentioned above at 59 lb, and immediately was hitting much much better shots.

With some time at the low tension I would bet, like many others, Id get used to it and adjust accordingly, but think Ill stick with smack dab in the middle of the recommended range for this frame and just have fun.