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

[mmk]

Drak,

How about control with the very open string pattern?

Thanks

[Mig1NC]

Still curious to know the swingweight.

I hope they kept it low enough so you can customize it the way you want.

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Was invited to the Wilson SET (Spin Effect Tour) event yesterday, where the highlight of the upcoming Wilson Products for the 2013 Year was surely the Wilson Steam 99S.

Specs:
99 square inches
27 inches length
strung weight: 11.3
balance: 2 pts HL
string pattern: 16:15
cross section: 24 mm

All attendees were able to hit with all the 2013 Wilson frames, but what made this event special, was being able to demo the 99s. Not only that, but be able to actually find out if it does in fact provide more spin.

Wilson set up one court with a computerized tracking system to determine the amount of spin, pace and height hit on ground strokes.

Racquets provided for this play test were the Babolat Aero Pro Drive, Head Speed MP 315, and Steam 99S. All were strung with Luxilon 4G. And balls were fed with a ball machine.

Here are my test results:

Most pace (average):
1. Head Speed MP
2. Steam 99S
3. Aero Pro Drive

Highest Net clearance (average):
1. Steam 99S
2. Aero Pro Drive
3. Head Speed

Most Spin (average):
1. Steam 99S
2. Head Speed
3. Aero Pro Drive


My average spin on the Steam was over 2800 RPMs, reaching up to 3,300 RPMs on a few shots.

Average on the Head was 2,500 with highest being 2800 RPMs on a few shots.

Average on the Aero was 2,300 RPMs with a few shots at 2600 Rpms.

A few more notes:

Hit a few fhs with the steam a little over 80 mph (which were the fastest I recorded), and average height over the net was 63 inches.

The frame was incredibly comfortable to swing and hit with. Has a great cushiony, but very responsive feel at impact. Easy to generate power, tons of spin, and surprisingly, easy to control the shots. Great to volley with and serves were simply amazing. The heaviness of spin shots was just sick. This frame is going to be very attractive to a very wide range of players, from recreational, to mid level players, to advanced. As far as I could tell, frame really has no weaknesses.

I definitely believe this racquet is going to absolutely dominate public courts everywhere. This frame truly is a SPIN monster. Wilson absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one and Hit a Home Run.

One more note:
Every tester I saw, hit with much more spin with the 99S than with any other frame. This was backed up by the data of every playtester.

Sorry for the short review, I'll try and answer as many questions as I can.

Thanks for this detailed review. I am particularly impressed that Wilson was able to back up their claims with the on-court computer analysis. The initial thread that popped up here on this racquet had many, many skeptics that thought the racquet was a gimmick. They are silent now.

I hope you are getting a commission because it's safe to say that this post will have sold a lot of racquets for Wilson and TW, lol.

[Torres]

It sounds interesting. Doubt that it would be my type of stick, but its interesting nonetheless.

The one doubt that I would have with this type of stick is whether you would have to change your natural stroke mechanics too much in order to flatten out the ball, and hit through the court.

[srvnvly]

Awesome info, Drak, thank you! I'm curious about 1) swing weight; and 2) can you compare it to the current Steam and Juice 100 (nothing über detailed, even a short reply would be great). I'm also psyched about the new 16x19 Blade!!!

[tedescm1]

What is the RA.

tx.

Originally Posted by Ross K

Wow, sounds great. As long as it has some oomph behind it and isn't just all about the spin (like some ppl find the Exo 100, for example), well, I'd be curious to check one of these out.

[drakulie]

Just wanted to add a couple of notes here based on some questions you all are asking:

1. I didn't find any problems with control, although it did take some "getting used to".
2. I would estimate the swing weight ot be in the 320's.
3. the racquets spin comes from the 16X15 string pattern.

Lastly, I spoke with one of the engineers and asked if they tested durability of string compared to 16X19 or 18X20 string patterns. I was informed durability was a bit less, although I would guess depending on the string and tension, this could potentially be a problem if you don't use poly.

[Federerkblade]

Drakulie Many thanks for the reviews. Any further comments on the blades alone. The look, the feel anything.......cant wait for them

[Power Player]

Drak you nailed it. I was about to ask about string durability. This is plain and simple a full poly racquet. It sounds a lot like a tfight 320 that is even more open. I would go through strings with it in no time and hybrids only lasted 3-4 hours.

That being said, I am rather sure there is mega spin with this thing.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Just wanted to add a couple of notes here based on some questions you all are asking:

1. I didn't find any problems with control, although it did take some "getting used to".
2. I would estimate the swing weight ot be in the 320's.
3. the racquets spin comes from the 16X15 string pattern.

Lastly, I spoke with one of the engineers and asked if they tested durability of string compared to 16X19 or 18X20 string patterns. I was informed durability was a bit less, although I would guess depending on the string and tension, this could potentially be a problem if you don't use poly.

I'm attending the Atlanta SET this Friday and was wondering how they were going to string the 99S. 4G is a very good choice and may explain how one can control such an open pattern.

Can you see the frame being strung with a multi or gut/poly hybrid or would one lose too much control? Seems like full poly is the only practical setup for this frame.

How was comfort? Will my arm be hurting after the test session or was it comfortable?

[tedescm1]

How stiff is the Steam 99S (RA).

Is this going to be another arm breaker with aa RA in the 70's.?

Originally Posted by drakulie

Was invited to the Wilson SET (Spin Effect Tour) event yesterday, where the highlight of the upcoming Wilson Products for the 2013 Year was surely the Wilson Steam 99S.

Specs:
99 square inches
27 inches length
strung weight: 11.3
balance: 2 pts HL
string pattern: 16:15
cross section: 24 mm

All attendees were able to hit with all the 2013 Wilson frames, but what made this event special, was being able to demo the 99s. Not only that, but be able to actually find out if it does in fact provide more spin.

Wilson set up one court with a computerized tracking system to determine the amount of spin, pace and height hit on ground strokes.

Racquets provided for this play test were the Babolat Aero Pro Drive, Head Speed MP 315, and Steam 99S. All were strung with Luxilon 4G. And balls were fed with a ball machine.

Here are my test results:

Most pace (average):
1. Head Speed MP
2. Steam 99S
3. Aero Pro Drive

Highest Net clearance (average):
1. Steam 99S
2. Aero Pro Drive
3. Head Speed

Most Spin (average):
1. Steam 99S
2. Head Speed
3. Aero Pro Drive


My average spin on the Steam was over 2800 RPMs, reaching up to 3,300 RPMs on a few shots.

Average on the Head was 2,500 with highest being 2800 RPMs on a few shots.

Average on the Aero was 2,300 RPMs with a few shots at 2600 Rpms.

A few more notes:

Hit a few fhs with the steam a little over 80 mph (which were the fastest I recorded), and average height over the net was 63 inches.

The frame was incredibly comfortable to swing and hit with. Has a great cushiony, but very responsive feel at impact. Easy to generate power, tons of spin, and surprisingly, easy to control the shots. Great to volley with and serves were simply amazing. The heaviness of spin shots was just sick. This frame is going to be very attractive to a very wide range of players, from recreational, to mid level players, to advanced. As far as I could tell, frame really has no weaknesses.

I definitely believe this racquet is going to absolutely dominate public courts everywhere. This frame truly is a SPIN monster. Wilson absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one and Hit a Home Run.

One more note:
Every tester I saw, hit with much more spin with the 99S than with any other frame. This was backed up by the data of every playtester.

Sorry for the short review, I'll try and answer as many questions as I can.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by tedescm1

How stiff is the Steam 99S (RA).

Is this going to be another arm breaker with aa RA in the 70's.?

My stringer has a Babolat RDC-machine, and the Steam 99S measured 71 unstrung. I have no idea if it will be the same when released.

[Roddickulous]

This Steam 99S, if it really does have an RA of 71, it is the best chance wilson will ever have of getting me to switch away from my beloved APD's, although considering I've already hit with the new APD and absolutely love it, I am going to have to be "wowed" by the extra spin of the 99S

[sureshs]

That is pretty stiff. Is it good for the arm? Are there some special shock absorbing mechanisms in this frame to compensate for the stiffness?

[mikeler]

Drak touched on string durability. That would be my only concern.

[Roforot]

Three questions:

1) Do you have to use a Poly/Copoly to see these benefits? (I know you can just give an opinion)

2) Have you served w/ the Pure Drive Roddick? How would this compare?

3) Will you be switching to this frame?

Thanks.

[realplayer]

I'm only using synthetic gut. How good is the steam 99s with this set-up? Durability is not an issue.

[corners]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Just wanted to add a couple of notes here based on some questions you all are asking:

1. I didn't find any problems with control, although it did take some "getting used to".
2. I would estimate the swing weight ot be in the 320's.
3. the racquets spin comes from the 16X15 string pattern.

Lastly, I spoke with one of the engineers and asked if they tested durability of string compared to 16X19 or 18X20 string patterns. I was informed durability was a bit less, although I would guess depending on the string and tension, this could potentially be a problem if you don't use poly.

Hey Drak, Do you know how the 99S was strung? Do you know what string and tension range they are recommending?

Thanks for the review.

[pepka]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Drak touched on string durability. That would be my only concern.

This... and the 71RA

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by pepka

This... and the 71RA

Yes, but the open pattern may negate the stiffness. Drak said it was comfy.