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

[couch]

Originally Posted by tlm

The racket I demoed had TNT in it and it was moving all over, this stick is made for poly. A multi will not last long, the way the new string was moving on me it had huge gaps between the mains from hitting top spin. This racket is definitely over hyped, it is not that special.

I would never, ever, put a multi in this racquet. I think a full bed of poly is about the only way to go in this racquet if you're a decent player (4.5 and up). I broke 16g 4G in 3-4 hours the first time out and I was getting more spin, not tons of spin, but enough to give me that little extra confidence to swing out a little bit more.

I don't think this racquet is over hyped at all. The proof is in the puddin'. That said, it's not going to be for everyone and everyone isn't going to be able to get the most out of this racquet. I see you use a Rebel strung at 68lbs with 4G. I could tell you that this probably isn't going to be the racquet for you. Have you tried the 99S with a good poly in it?

[tlm]

Originally Posted by couch

I would never, ever, put a multi in this racquet. I think a full bed of poly is about the only way to go in this racquet if you're a decent player (4.5 and up). I broke 16g 4G in 3-4 hours the first time out and I was getting more spin, not tons of spin, but enough to give me that little extra confidence to swing out a little bit more.

I don't think this racquet is over hyped at all. The proof is in the puddin'. That said, it's not going to be for everyone and everyone isn't going to be able to get the most out of this racquet. I see you use a Rebel strung at 68lbs with 4G. I could tell you that this probably isn't going to be the racquet for you. Have you tried the 99S with a good poly in it?

I agree this racket is made for pretty much poly only, I do need to give it a try with 16 gauge 4g at high tension. Where is the proof that this racket is not over hyped? I have used the vortex racket and if you want super spin it will beat the 99s easily.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by couch

Hit with mine three times this week. One singles match (6-0, 6-2), one doubles match (6-1, 6-3), and a 1 1/2 hour hitting session today.

Really starting to get dialed in with this racquet. Getting to a point where I can hit out and trust what the racquet is going to do. Groundstrokes with this thing are just a breeze. I hit a bending passing shot down the line in my singles match and you could see the ball kick to the outside there was so much spin on it. Never seen anything like it. Still getting adjusted to the higher swing weight but I think over time it will be a good thing because this thing hits deep, heavy balls compared to my old stick.

I have three of them now and am going to experiment with strings. My favorite so far is 4G in 16 gauge at 58lbs. I have one strung with 4G 15g mains and 16g crosses at 58lbs and didn't like it as much. I am going to stick with the 16g for now and see what kind of durability I get. The first time I hit with the 16g I only got like 3-4 hours so that made me very nervous since I only had one racquet. The current set of 16g has lasted me these three sessions but is getting close to breaking so maybe it will last a little longer than I think.

I'm going to try 15L Black Code next and see how that turns out. Has anyone found a nice 16g poly that seems durable and holds tension well enough for this racquet other than 4G? 4G seems to hold tension really well for a poly but seems a little low-powered at the same time.

couch - just to say I've been following/liking your posts on the 99s. Anyhow, unlike on that other 99s thread where any discussion of string/tensions is strictly "verboten" - I'll ask this here: how do you think 4G @ about 50 lbs would perform in this frame? Am about to get 99s strung with full 4G 16 but have never used it previously and TBH don't know a whole lot about it. Straight 50 was like my reference tension for a while, though more recently I've gone down into the 40's... btw, interested to hear about the Black Code test.

The regular Poly Tour Pro is great too. Softer and settles in nicely.

I actually had some guy, that I sold a racquet to, send me an email to ask me what kind of poly I had in the racquet.

He absolutely loved it and that string bed had more than 8 hours of play when I shipped it out, for the Poly Tour Pro.

klem - "Great minds think alike"!... I think I posted at the end of last year in the diary thread how much I liked Poly Tour Pro in my Juice 100.

16g Tour bite has excellent durability and great spin.

PED - Yes, I'm waiting to hear some feedback from others re TB in the 99s. I thought I'd play safer by initially going for the 4G as so many like it in the 99s and it's Wilson's designated string for it. Dare say it won't be long before I see if TB's a good fit though.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Ross K

PED - Yes, I'm waiting to hear some feedback from others re TB in the 99s. I thought I'd play safer by initially going for the 4G as so many like it in the 99s and it's Wilson's designated string for it. Dare say it won't be long before I see if TB's a good fit though.

Ross, mine is coming strung with tb 16l so I can get a baseline reference. I'm going with 45/44 tension wise as I've been playing with the prestige s at 42/41 for the last four months and really dig the lower tension.

I'll try out the 16g tb as well to see how it goes as it lasts a good deal longer.

I'm done with string testing, lol, only tb for me. 4g sounds good but tb is only 7.5 per set off the reel and I get the feeling the steam is going to out a new wing on my stringers house

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by drak

I got mine Thursday and had only one hit, I strung it with pacific Classic at 58 and 4G coosses at 55, both 1.30 gauge, I thought it played great with excellent spin.

Hey man, it has been a while. Today is my first day back on court since I tore my calf on October 29th. I too have noted our affinity for the same frame over the decades (??????? ) now.

I'll post a review in this thread after I've hit today. But based on everything I've preordered two without even hitting (damn dumbass me)

Hope you are well.

[couch]

Originally Posted by Ross K

couch - just to say I've been following/liking your posts on the 99s. Anyhow, unlike on that other 99s thread where any discussion of string/tensions is strictly "verboten" - I'll ask this here: how do you think 4G @ about 50 lbs would perform in this frame? Am about to get 99s strung with full 4G 16 but have never used it previously and TBH don't know a whole lot about it. Straight 50 was like my reference tension for a while, though more recently I've gone down into the 40's... btw, interested to hear about the Black Code test.

Thanks for the nice words.

4G, at least to me, seems to be somewhat low-powered and holds tension extremely well. I normally string my frames with full poly around 54-55lbs (50-60 reference range). Since the 99S has such an open string pattern I decided to go up a few pounds to compensate. Also, the rec. tension is 54-64 so I just strung 1lb below mid tension like usual.

I would start with your reference tension and maybe add 2-3 pounds given the open string pattern. 4G, even strung at 58lbs, feels comfortable to me so I wouldn't worry about the comfort level too much if you string a little higher than normal. I think it's just the open pattern that gives the extra comfort of this frame.

Will give a Black Code update when I get a chance.

[g4driver]

Originally Posted by couch

4G, at least to me, seems to be somewhat low-powered and holds tension extremely well.

Couch, thanks for all your posts. I am no where near your level of player, but would love to find a softer poly that holds tension and performs great in the 99S. I know my elbow can't take 4G so I didn't even try it. I have had bouts of TE off and on all my life and can't hit with stiff frames like PDGTs, so settled in with a Wilson BLX Pro Open (RDC measurement of 66) for the past 2.5 years. I have no issues with TE if I hybrid the Pro Opens with X-One Bi-Phase, or NRG2.

I prefer poly/multi hybrids, but the 99S isn't designed for this type of hybrid, so I have one with a full bed of Yonex Poly Pro Tour 125 (stiffness from TW University is roughly 200), and another one with Babolat Tonic / Yonex Poly Pro Tour 125. The Gut / Yonex is softer but I like the way the full poly hits.

Love any thoughts or suggestions? Now at 4.0 level, playing singles and doubles, putting about 10-12 hours a week on the courts. I break X-One Bi-Phase crosses in about 12 hours in my Pro Opens, so durability isn't really a factor.

Priorities:

1)Comfort
2)Cost
3)Power
4)Durability

The Tonic 16 / Poly Pro Tour 125 is better for my arm, but would love to find a softer poly that my elbow can manage. I love the Steam 99S but would love to see a more flexible version of a midsize with the same 16x15 pattern soon.

I played five days with it now putting in 21 sets. My arm is a little sore as I generally hit Sat-Sun-Mon then leave town for work on Tuesdays back on Friday afternoons.

Thanks for any help you might offer.

[wmilas]

Originally Posted by tlm

Sorry but any main other than poly or kevlar is not going to last very long in this racket.

And you know this because you've gone through how many gut mains? Exactly. I'll let you know what really happens after I play with the stick and wear through the gut.

[wmilas]

Originally Posted by marosmith

I wonder what this will do to wrists, elbows, and shoulders in the long run.

The stick hits pretty soft. I felt no difference between it and the RDiS. In fact, it felt softer. On the other hand the RDiS is pretty firm.

[wmilas]

Originally Posted by tlm

I agree this racket is made for pretty much poly only, I do need to give it a try with 16 gauge 4g at high tension. Where is the proof that this racket is not over hyped? I have used the vortex racket and if you want super spin it will beat the 99s easily.

And again, How many times have you hit with the 99s? Yea. Exactly.

[wmilas]

Originally Posted by g4driver

I prefer poly/multi hybrids, but the 99S isn't designed for this type of hybrid, so I have one with a full bed of Yonex Poly Pro Tour 125 (stiffness from TW University is roughly 200), and another one with Babolat Tonic / Yonex Poly Pro Tour 125. The Gut / Yonex is softer but I like the way the full poly hits.

Love any thoughts or suggestions? Now at 4.0 level, playing singles and doubles, putting about 10-12 hours a week on the courts. I break X-One Bi-Phase crosses in about 12 hours in my Pro Opens, so durability isn't really a factor.

Priorities:

1)Comfort
2)Cost
3)Power
4)Durability

I'm not couch, but I have had bouts of TE in the past. I found the following to be softer polys and still ok with tension. I'm assuming you will brealk or cut them in 8-12 hours. Use the string size that lets you break it in 8-12 hours. I've played with all of these:

MSV CoFocus
MSV Hex
PolyFibre TCS
Gosen Sidewinder
Topspin Cyberflash
Polystar Turbo (Loses tension fast, high power)
Mantis Power poly

[tlm]

Originally Posted by wmilas

And you know this because you've gone through how many gut mains? Exactly. I'll let you know what really happens after I play with the stick and wear through the gut.

Maybe for you it will last, but I had a brand new set of TNT ready to break and moving all over after a half hour. This racket is already to powerful so good luck with nat. gut, but it depends on if you take big cuts at the ball or short pusher swings. Any player that really swings out with a lot of spin is going to eat through strings quickly with this racket.

[drak]

Originally Posted by tlm

Maybe for you it will last, but I had a brand new set of TNT ready to break and moving all over after a half hour. This racket is already to powerful so good luck with nat. gut, but it depends on if you take big cuts at the ball or short pusher swings. Any player that really swings out with a lot of spin is going to eat through strings quickly with this racket.

I do not agree, I am a 4.5 who hits pretty hard, did gut Pacific classic mains with 4G Poly cross and strings looked great after 1.5 hrs, and not too much power at all int eh 1.30 gauge

[drak]

Originally Posted by tlm

Maybe for you it will last, but I had a brand new set of TNT ready to break and moving all over after a half hour. This racket is already to powerful so good luck with nat. gut, but it depends on if you take big cuts at the ball or short pusher swings. Any player that really swings out with a lot of spin is going to eat through strings quickly with this racket.

I think using syn is a "sin" for this frame

[tlm]

Originally Posted by wmilas

And again, How many times have you hit with the 99s? Yea. Exactly.

Look I play 5 days a week all year long, and I try a lot of different sticks. It does not take me numerous hours to know what a racket can do. I do want to give this racket another try with thick poly at high tension because then I will know for sure if this stick could work for me.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by drak

I think using syn is a "sin" for this frame

Ya I agree that is what the demo came with. But TNT is a multi, but not a very good one.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by tlm

Maybe for you it will last, but I had a brand new set of TNT ready to break and moving all over after a half hour. This racket is already to powerful so good luck with nat. gut, but it depends on if you take big cuts at the ball or short pusher swings. Any player that really swings out with a lot of spin is going to eat through strings quickly with this racket.

TNT does that in every racket I've tried it in. It's a horrible string to have by itself IMO. So the 99s is only going to amplify how bad that string is. Other soft strings are much better and much more durable.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by tlm

Ya I agree that is what the demo came with. But TNT is a multi, but not a very good one.

Sorry but TNT is a syn gut with multifilament layers.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

Sorry but TNT is a syn gut with multifilament layers.

Okay it is like a half multi, but like you mentioned it does not compliment the 99s. I will try something else but it sure won't be a soft string, more like a stiff and low powered string.

[g4driver]

Originally Posted by wmilas

I'm not couch, but I have had bouts of TE in the past. I found the following to be softer polys and still ok with tension. I'm assuming you will brealk or cut them in 8-12 hours. Use the string size that lets you break it in 8-12 hours. I've played with all of these:

MSV CoFocus
MSV Hex
PolyFibre TCS
Gosen Sidewinder
Topspin Cyberflash
Polystar Turbo (Loses tension fast, high power)
Mantis Power poly

Thanks wmilas.

I see there is a new MSV Soft Hex out now also.

Gosen Sidewinder 17 seems to be pretty soft and descent tension stability.