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

[racertempo]

Originally Posted by atatu

Edit post: Disregard, I was hoping for an alternative pj for the Steam.

Wow, you really got me excited to see an alternate PJ for my second racquet, fugured I might buy 1 then wait for the second......but I guess not

[racertempo]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Review posted today on tennis.com

http://www.tennis.com/gear/2012/12/p.../#.UNJLJoPAfbM

Link is to a show review, I don't see the Steam review on their website at all.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by drak

Drak to Drak (lol),

I think you said you had one strung at 45lbs lbs with a gut hybrid. If this thing is a string breaker I can't believe it lasted very long? and how did it play at 45lbs?

The 17g gut didn't last long, but played amazing. I'm currently testing different string set ups and will post findings soon.

Originally Posted by dgdawg

Hey peeps....haven't posted in a while but thought I'd chime in:

I played with the 99s and 105s yesterday for a couple hours. 4g-M's/Sensation-X's. I don't know the tension.
1st off, with the 105, I couldn't keep the ball in the court so I went to the 99. I only had a couple hours so I was rather impatient. Deff added considerable more spin but it felt like it lacked in the control department. I noticed a deeper, heavier ball. Approach shots dropped in really well and volley's seemed pretty crisp.
After a while I really started to "hit away" and was quite surprised. I purposely tried to over hit and balls dropped in. I really loved the ball that came off my 1H backhand.
I'm a 51y/o 3.5 player and thinking of replacing my Blade Team (I broke one), and I'd like to use a stick for a few years. My personal conclusion: nice frame, felt good, but not sure it would be a "main stay".
The one thing I absolutely hate about it: the paint job. It seriously reminds me of something you'd see on the shelf at Wal-Mart

Thanks for review. I'll link your review on front page of thread.

Originally Posted by racertempo

From the reviews so far it seems that it will not be a "players" frame as 4.5+ guys have not liked it thus far. However, it has been liked greatly by 3.5-4.0 players so I think it is more of a tweener racquet. Very similar audience for purchase as the folks who gobbled up the Juice 100 in mass amount last year. I see that Juice all over the place, mostly women 3.5-4.0, and senior 3.5-4.0 men as well.

I actually like the paint job of the new Steam line, glad they have removed the yellow this year......I think the new Steam line is a far far better paint job then the entire Juice line, even though that is also not saying much.

quite a few 5.0+ players in my area have tested it and love it. One thing they all do say is they wish it was a tad heavier.

Originally Posted by couch

Funny thing is my 99S came in at 304g unstrung. Exactly what the specs state. Didn't check the balance though.

Surprisingly, both of the frames I have demoed are spot on to what Wilson states the specs are.

[Federerkblade]

Hey Drak

Its great your feed back for 5.0 players. Upping the weight is easy so thats great too.

A couple have mentioned the grip size runs large on the new steams. is that your experience ?

[drak]

Originally Posted by drakulie

The 17g gut didn't last long, but played amazing. I'm currently testing different string set ups and will post findings soon.



Thanks for review. I'll link your review on front page of thread.



quite a few 5.0+ players in my area have tested it and love it. One thing they all do say is they wish it was a tad heavier.



Surprisingly, both of the frames I have demoed are spot on to what Wilson states the specs are.

so Drakulie is this a frame that will play well at low tensions? if you like a gut hybrid at 45lbs I would think Poly string at 40-45 lbs would also play well. And with less crosses doesn't 45lbs actually equate to at least 5lbs of less effective tension? - thoughts please.



I noticed they make both a Babolat and Klip GUT in a 1.35 gauge 15L, I would think this might be the ticket in this frame for those who like a gut mains hybrid with a Poly Cross.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

Hey Drak

Its great your feed back for 5.0 players. Upping the weight is easy so thats great too.

A couple have mentioned the grip size runs large on the new steams. is that your experience ?

I measured it with a tape measure and the 3/8 Steam with overgrip measured exactly 4 5/8" around 2" from the butt. That's exactly the same as 90% of my other 4 1/2 racquets.

[Federerkblade]

Jack so simply put what are you saying

[Power Player]

He is saying the grip is a size bigger.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

He is saying the grip is a size bigger.

exactly. I was saying the Steam 3/8 measures exactly the same as most other 1/2 racquets.

[Bartelby]

So they've ruined the sizing with the new amplifeel technology?

[sundaypunch]

The amplifeel has nothing to do with the size. It is strips of material recessed into the grip. It doesn't cause it to be bigger.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

So they've ruined the sizing with the new amplifeel technology?

"ruined"???

just buy 1 size down from what you usually would and move on.
just like some shoes that run a size too small or large...you make the
adjustment and that's it.

[Federerkblade]

Wow. I normally go grip 2 with overgrip on top so will be buying grip 1 ?

[Anton]

New rackets usually have a bit thicker grips because the grip material has not yet compacted from use.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Anton

New rackets usually have a bit thicker grips because the grip material has not yet compacted from use.

that is true, but mine was a demo that had been used already for over 1 month.

[Power Player]

Its none of these things.

It is the fact that they changed the hybrid grip with a new grip. The new grip sucks IMO. What I would do is buy a size down or just use the pro hybrid grip instead. It is a tough call since the pro hybrid most likely weighs more and will rebalance the stick a little.

[Federerkblade]

Or leather grip ? Yes it makes it more headlight but will that lessen the thickness

[Mig1NC]

I'm really concerned about this 333 SW. That really puts this outside the range of what I am looking for.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by racertempo

Link is to a show review, I don't see the Steam review on their website at all.

Sorry, it was a continuation of a comment about how hard Wilson was also pushing the shoe during the Steam special invitation hitting sessions.

[thecrusher956]

Swing weight in the 330's really seems to contradict most of the stats.