Has anybody ever hit a ball long with the Steam 99S?

[Deuce Bag]

Just wondering has anybody who has played with the Wilson Steam 99S ever hit a ball long?

From what I read it just drops in every time like a magnet to the baseline.

[Rabbit]

Yes.......

[racertempo]

No......every single shot I hit is short of the baseline with the Steam S, it is pure magic.

[Buford T Justice]

Its still obviously possible to hit the back fence with this racquet, but there are definitely a number of balls that land in, that would have otherwise gone out.

Wilson made a claim about how much this frame lengthens the court, but I dont recall what the value was. I do recall that they claimed it effectively lowered the net by ~2 inches (as in one can clear the net by that much more and still have the ball land in)?

[racertempo]

Originally Posted by Buford T Justice

Its still obviously possible to hit the back fence with this racquet, but there are definitely a number of balls that land in, that would have otherwise gone out.

Wilson made a claim about how much this frame lengthens the court, but I dont recall what the value was. I do recall that they claimed it effectively lowered the net by ~2 inches (as in one can clear the net by that much more and still have the ball land in)?

Lower the net by 2" and add 12" to the baseline was the claim. I have never missed a shot with the Steam.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by racertempo

Lower the net by 2" and add 12" to the baseline was the claim. I have never missed a shot with the Steam.

That sounds about right (well everything but never missing! LOL)....I know Ive had a number of balls that I thought..."Oh no! I overcooked that one!" That ended up landing in. Plus, extremely defensive shots that are hit while falling backwards and "loop" way over the net, also have a higher percentage that land in.

[acura9927]

Since I cant afford a new Ducati I am going to buy this toy. This place is bad for my wallet.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by acura9927

Since I cant afford a new Ducati I am going to buy this toy. This place is bad for my wallet.

Yes......I was content with my 1980's Wilson ceramic frames, and Babolat Duralast poly until I started frequenting this place.........

[dman72]

Just take your current 16X20 frame and skip every other cross.

You can send me a check for the money I saved you later.

[ChicagoJack]

Hi Deuce Bag -

One thing I noticed right away when hitting with this frame (and most open pattern frames) is that the ball pops off the string bed and takes a pretty high arc over the net. I think what comes next is a matter of both perception and adjustment.

Player A: Will see that high arc, and think that the racquet is just producing low powered fluffers that land short for the opponent to pounce on. If the player makes no stroke adjustment, the demo will probably end on a sour note with the idea that the racquet lacks power.

Player B: Will see the high arc over the net, and will adjust to that by closing the racquet face, which will create even more spin. Once the player sees that the ball is diving sharply down into the court, with several feet to spare, and has little fear of sending the ball deep, that's when the player might make another adjustment and will start to swing a little more freely and with more oomph. I think that second adjustment is where the magic is. When your technique opens up, and you are swinging freely with confidence, thats the golden zone right there.

I know what people mean when they say you cannot hit it deep. Balls seem to drop in that have no business dropping in. But yes you still can hit it deep. I've seen the racquet in the hands of 3.5 - 4.0 players who hit fairly flat, and this racquet seems not to matter much in that scenario. But in the hands of somebody with decent top to start with, the additional spin is easily noticeable.

Jack

[ChicagoJack]

Originally Posted by dman72

Just take your current 16X20 frame and skip every other cross. You can send me a check for the money I saved you later.

That's a common refrain as of late. This actually has been tried by a number of posters over the years here, dating back to TravelerAJM's experiments in 2008-2009 I think. None of those early, or more recent experiments have proved successful. The trouble is that skipping every other cross creates a very soft string bed, so much so, the racquet has to be strung extremely tight, in the high seventies to get any kind of predictable rebound response. Thats the same road Mark Woodforde went down 30 years ago, with his super high tensions, (hence the name Snauwert Hi Ten) requiring super fat string. Wilson has created a frame that allows the mains to slide freely at more typical typical tension ranges.

-Jack

[dman72]

Originally Posted by ChicagoJack

That's a common refrain as of late. This actually has been tried by a number of posters over the years here, dating back to TravelerAJM's experiments in 2008-2009 I think. None of those early, or more recent experiments have proved successful. The trouble is that skipping every other cross creates a very soft string bed, so much so, the racquet has to be strung extremely tight, in the high seventies to get any kind of predictable rebound response. Thats the same road Mark Woodforde went down 30 years ago, with his super high tensions, (hence the name Snauwert Hi Ten) requiring super fat string. Wilson has created a frame that allows the mains to slide freely at more typical typical tension ranges.

-Jack

I'm thinking if you get some 15L poly and string it relatively tight in a 100 or smaller head the results wouldn't be THAT far off from the 99S. Maybe put in some prince tournament nylon and grease it up before stringing.

Of course 15 vs 10 crosses is significant, but it's the same idea...if you use the thickest strings available it might de-mush the string bed.

But yes, I think Wilson is definitely doing some pioneering here. Others will follow suit shortly I assume.

[coachrick]

Does all this mean a heavily sliced ball will never land?

Sounds like if you install Prince TopSpin strings, the ball would roll to the net!

Where's that 'funkiest technology' thread when we need it?

[LeeD]

Great racket for a target specific customer base.
Flat hitter reap little benefits.
Strong topspin hitters reap little benefits.
Target is 4-5.0's with good strokes, but not fast strokes like pro mens.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Great racket for a target specific customer base.
Flat hitter reap little benefits.
Strong topspin hitters reap little benefits.
Target is 4-5.0's with good strokes, but not fast strokes like pro mens.

Probably a good assessment. If one had Nadals swingspeed, probably no need for this frame.

I would say though that even strong topspin hitters will notice a difference. I have alot of trouble flattening out a ball (and rarely do it) and this frame still makes my shots better. Those few extra rpm are just enough. If I was already hitting 5000 rpm, then 5200 probably wouldnt matter. But (and I am guessing here) that the average rec player who hits what would be called "heavy topsin" is maybe 2000-2500 rpm????, and therefore 200 rpm increase is noticed.

Now, rec players can probably exceed those rpm numbers, but at the expense of significant pace, as there is only so fast we can swing the racquet reliably.

[Rabbit]

yeah, I think Wilson stated that above a certain level, there were definitely diminishing returns with this frame. translation, they have such good technique that they won't benefit and probably would wind up changing frames every 3 games due to breakage.

but for us mortals who love an open string pattern, it's definitely a boon!

[dgoran]

As a matter of fact I cannot hit over the net this piece of crap has so much spin that ball suddenly dips in to the net every time

[Deuce Bag]

Originally Posted by ChicagoJack

Hi Deuce Bag -

One thing I noticed right away when hitting with this frame (and most open pattern frames) is that the ball pops off the string bed and takes a pretty high arc over the net. I think what comes next is a matter of both perception and adjustment.

Player A: Will see that high arc, and think that the racquet is just producing low powered fluffers that land short for the opponent to pounce on. If the player makes no stroke adjustment, the demo will probably end on a sour note with the idea that the racquet lacks power.

Player B: Will see the high arc over the net, and will adjust to that by closing the racquet face, which will create even more spin. Once the player sees that the ball is diving sharply down into the court, with several feet to spare, and has little fear of sending the ball deep, that's when the player might make another adjustment and will start to swing a little more freely and with more oomph. I think that second adjustment is where the magic is. When your technique opens up, and you are swinging freely with confidence, thats the golden zone right there.

I know what people mean when they say you cannot hit it deep. Balls seem to drop in that have no business dropping in. But yes you still can hit it deep. I've seen the racquet in the hands of 3.5 - 4.0 players who hit fairly flat, and this racquet seems not to matter much in that scenario. But in the hands of somebody with decent top to start with, the additional spin is easily noticeable.

Jack

Thanks for the detailed response Jack. I have one on order so I will take your comments into consideration.

Cheers, Ben

[dman72]

Originally Posted by Buford T Justice

Probably a good assessment. If one had Nadals swingspeed, probably no need for this frame.

I would say though that even strong topspin hitters will notice a difference. I have alot of trouble flattening out a ball (and rarely do it) and this frame still makes my shots better. Those few extra rpm are just enough. If I was already hitting 5000 rpm, then 5200 probably wouldnt matter. But (and I am guessing here) that the average rec player who hits what would be called "heavy topsin" is maybe 2000-2500 rpm????, and therefore 200 rpm increase is noticed.

Now, rec players can probably exceed those rpm numbers, but at the expense of significant pace, as there is only so fast we can swing the racquet reliably.

Federer averages around 2500 rpm.....

[syke]

if you are flat hitter... don't bother with this racquet.
Everything (well almost...) will go long... There will no noticeable difference in spin.

I hit everything with top spin, and this racquet is amazing... except for the string durability bit and ugly PJ.