lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
Looks like another Wilson pro using a Steam 100 painted. It must be a great racket. Wilson should release the actual in more favorable specs
Paula Badosa racket
- Thread starter lidoazndiabloboi
- Start date
slipgrip93
Professional
Wilson steam BLX 100?
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain plays a forehand in the girl's singles final match against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia on day fourteen of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros on June 6, 2015 in Paris, France.
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain during her Girls' Singles first round match against Luisa Stefani of Brazil on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2014 in London, England.
Badosa at Indian Wells, Oct. 2021.
Could be the same racquet and they all seem to have the same 16x20 string pattern. She still uses a "heart" vib-dampener.
EDIT: Interesting old short 2013 thread on the Steam 100 BLX (here). And interestingly 'tennisnerd' thinks Emma is also using a Steam 100 BLX. ("Emma Raducanu's racquet" - tennisnerd)
EDIT 2: Looking at it more. I'd noticed in that pic of her in white playing in 2014 Wimbledon juniors, the racquet she's holding resembles closer to a Wilson Steam 100 "prostock" as Harry_Wild pointed out, not a BLX, where it likely shows "99" in the red box under the four white grommets, but the headsize is still 100 sq. in. -> (webpage info here)
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain plays a forehand in the girl's singles final match against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia on day fourteen of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros on June 6, 2015 in Paris, France.
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain during her Girls' Singles first round match against Luisa Stefani of Brazil on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2014 in London, England.
Badosa at Indian Wells, Oct. 2021.
Could be the same racquet and they all seem to have the same 16x20 string pattern. She still uses a "heart" vib-dampener.
EDIT: Interesting old short 2013 thread on the Steam 100 BLX (here). And interestingly 'tennisnerd' thinks Emma is also using a Steam 100 BLX. ("Emma Raducanu's racquet" - tennisnerd)
EDIT 2: Looking at it more. I'd noticed in that pic of her in white playing in 2014 Wimbledon juniors, the racquet she's holding resembles closer to a Wilson Steam 100 "prostock" as Harry_Wild pointed out, not a BLX, where it likely shows "99" in the red box under the four white grommets, but the headsize is still 100 sq. in. -> (webpage info here)
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Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
It looks like all of the tour pro that are endorsing the Blade V7 are using the Steam 100 Pro Stock frame now. You can tell by the very gloss sheen of the racquet throat.
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
anarosevoli
Semi-Pro
De Minaur plays the Steam 99 (16 x 18) like Halep and Svitolina. Ferrer used this too.
Steam still fills the hole in Wilson's lineup between the tweeners (Burn, Juice, Ultra, Clash) and the player's racquets (Pro Staff, Blade).
AceyMan
Professional
Yah,
... which begs the question of why *aren't they selling it* <thinking_face> ?
/Acey
Automatix
Legend
Svitolina playED with the Steam 99, she's switched around 2019 to Steam 100.
Subway Tennis
Legend
Wilson steam BLX 100?
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain plays a forehand in the girl's singles final match against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia on day fourteen of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros on June 6, 2015 in Paris, France.
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain during her Girls' Singles first round match against Luisa Stefani of Brazil on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2014 in London, England.
Could be the same racquet and they all seem to have the same 16x20 string pattern. She still uses a "heart" vib-dampener.
Nice detective work!
Wall Ball Wizard
Rookie
Alex de Minaur. David Ferrer at the end of his career. Who knew when Wilson put out the Steam line that it was essentially a pro-stock?!
slipgrip93
Professional
Thanks. And I think I was still a bit off. Harry_Wild pointed out It's a Wilson Steam 100 "prostock" which I was unaware of. Looking at that pic of her in white playing in the 2014 Wimbledon juniors, the racquet she's holding resembles closer the prostock steam 100, not a retail BLX (- at least not the retail BLX with the yellow stripe colors, but possibly still with a thin black "BLX" on the inner opposite red side of the inside 'wilson" lettering on the hoop), where it likely shows "99" in the red box under the four white grommets, but the headsize is still 100 sq. in. -> (webpage info of the prostock steam 100 here). It seems to match more including the throat to handle grip section with no small "wilson" letters on the throat middle and no yellow paint of the retail blx version, and the throat beams are more boxed on edge. But overall, the retail Steam 100 BLX may be the closest racquet out there still, in the public offer sites, to this prostock Steam 100.
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slipgrip93
Professional
Hearing rumors that Svitolina and Ostapenko also use a Steam 100 under the Blade paintjob. Also Raducanu from another thread. Some screenshots of their racquets at recent tournaments this year.
Svitolina at Indian Wells 2021
Ostapenko at Indian Wells 2021
Raducanu, USOpen 2021
So it seems their racquets are also 16x20, and may have the four white grommets at the bottom. And could very well be the prostock Steam 100 for all of them.
Svitolina at Indian Wells 2021
Ostapenko at Indian Wells 2021
Raducanu, USOpen 2021
So it seems their racquets are also 16x20, and may have the four white grommets at the bottom. And could very well be the prostock Steam 100 for all of them.
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slipgrip93
Professional
Another WTA player , Anisimova, who seemed to use a repaint of the Steam 100 (16x20) during this past AO.
Full getty pic (here).
Spotted by Automatix from (this thread).
Anisimova also seems to have changed to it recently from her prior Babolat racquet in Indian Wells last October (getty pic).
Full getty pic (here).
Spotted by Automatix from (this thread).
Anisimova also seems to have changed to it recently from her prior Babolat racquet in Indian Wells last October (getty pic).
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volleynets
Hall of Fame
P
POWER haha.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Lots of racquets have power
slipgrip93
Professional
Wow, nice catch too. She seemed to have used a yonex as recently as last October at IW and the Transylvaina Open (getty pic).
And I thought this was another nice pic(haha) of her using the steam 100 with some scrubbed paintjob at AO (getty pic).
Having got one secondhand unstrung (pic), my lay guess and opinion is that perhaps the steam 100/blx (2012-4) was one of the early fully composed blx/'basalt' racquets, compared to whatever mix of materials wilson used later and with their current racquets, along with a supposed "amplifeel" handle section. Also, the middle throat section has a more semi-box beam shape which could mean more stability, still able to swing out with some plow, and also good for quick bunting on slide or reach, and the uniform beam width is 23mm. And it keeps the relatively light feel when strung, more of a relaxing swing, and perhaps less injury prone, compared to using a weightier prostaff or older tour. So, a "classic tweener"(?)
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slipgrip93
Professional
And.. another wta lady , Sorribes Tormo, using the Steam 100 with the blade paintjob, at Indian Wells yesterday. 16x20 string pattern and the telltale four white bottom grommets again this time with a full blade repaint.
There is also the "Wilson" engraved largely on the headguard which is also common on the steam 100 blx's headguards, and partially seen on the photo on the left.
( "Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain plays a volley in her match against Paula Badosa of Spain during the BNP Parisbas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2022 in Indian Wells, California." - getty images )
Also mentioned as a friend of Badosa's. So it seems some of these ladies who are friends or practice partners with each other may also be spreading word of the Steam 100 or some of them used the model as juniors too.
There is also the "Wilson" engraved largely on the headguard which is also common on the steam 100 blx's headguards, and partially seen on the photo on the left.
( "Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain plays a volley in her match against Paula Badosa of Spain during the BNP Parisbas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2022 in Indian Wells, California." - getty images )
Also mentioned as a friend of Badosa's. So it seems some of these ladies who are friends or practice partners with each other may also be spreading word of the Steam 100 or some of them used the model as juniors too.
hotasice
Semi-Pro
Wilson steamBLX100?
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain plays a forehand in the girl's singles final match against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia on day fourteen of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros on June 6, 2015 in Paris, France.
Paula Badosa Gibert of Spain during her Girls' Singles first round match against Luisa Stefani of Brazil on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2014 in London, England.
Badosa at Indian Wells, Oct. 2021.
Could be the same racquet and they all seem to have the same 16x20 string pattern. She still uses a "heart" vib-dampener.
EDIT: Interesting old short 2013 thread on the Steam 100 BLX (here). And interestingly 'tennisnerd' thinks Emma is also using a Steam 100 BLX. ("Emma Raducanu's racquet" - tennisnerd)
EDIT 2: Looking at it more. I'd noticed in that pic of her in white playing in 2014 Wimbledon juniors, the racquet she's holding resembles closer to a Wilson Steam 100 "prostock" as Harry_Wild pointed out, not a BLX, where it likely shows "99" in the red box under the four white grommets, but the headsize is still 100 sq. in. -> (webpage info here)
Does anyone have any info on Badosa's string set up? It looks like some kind of hybrid in the Indian Wells 2021 pic
puppybutts
Hall of Fame
yeah, i doubt anisimova would drop her pure drive if she was just looking for more power.
i wonder if madison keys switched to the steam and not the blade too, from the ultra (or whatever she was using)
am1899
Legend
Keys switched from the h19 to h22.
am1899
Legend
My guess is Anisimova’s racquet switch had something to do with Cahill’s influence, who was previously Halep’s coach for a number of years.
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Lot of streams 99s and 100s with Blade V8 P.Js!
GeorgeChen
New User
Anyone know Badosa’s spec and string setup?
slipgrip93
Professional
And two more! Linda Fruhvirtova, 16 yr old up and comer, the older Fruhvirtova sister.
("2022 Miami Open - Day 5 MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 25: Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic")
Petra Martic, currently in her 2nd round Madrid match vs. Anisimova , both using Steam 100 BLX under Blade repaints.
("MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 26: Petra Martic of Croatia returns a ball")
("2022 Miami Open - Day 5 MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 25: Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic")
Petra Martic, currently in her 2nd round Madrid match vs. Anisimova , both using Steam 100 BLX under Blade repaints.
("MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 26: Petra Martic of Croatia returns a ball")
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slipgrip93
Professional
So for this Madrid tournament 2022, so far two rounds of both opponents using the steam 100 (blx). Anisimova vs. Martic yesterday.
Today it's Emma Raducanu vs. Kostyuk currently playing their 2R match with their Steam 100's.
This old amazon listing has some bullet points about it which could be more clues as to why these girls like it:
Maybe they like the (then advertised) control, with the "inherited" ncode-ntour (& somewhat hammer series related,) legacy of 16x20 stringbed & the extra 1/4 inch length extension, also combined with its earlier blx mix feel. It's listed swingweight is around 311g. Not the most powerful racquet, but powerful enough. Yet it also isn't flimsy and has some plow with its 2012 semi box beam throat design. (maybe my opinionated feel with my own steam 100 blx stick, and very comfy(!) and easy/relaxed on the shoulders, elbow and joints.)
(some old tw customer reviews of the steam 100 blx on a screenshot here)
Today it's Emma Raducanu vs. Kostyuk currently playing their 2R match with their Steam 100's.
This old amazon listing has some bullet points about it which could be more clues as to why these girls like it:
(page link)
Maybe they like the (then advertised) control, with the "inherited" ncode-ntour (& somewhat hammer series related,) legacy of 16x20 stringbed & the extra 1/4 inch length extension, also combined with its earlier blx mix feel. It's listed swingweight is around 311g. Not the most powerful racquet, but powerful enough. Yet it also isn't flimsy and has some plow with its 2012 semi box beam throat design. (maybe my opinionated feel with my own steam 100 blx stick, and very comfy(!) and easy/relaxed on the shoulders, elbow and joints.)
(some old tw customer reviews of the steam 100 blx on a screenshot here)
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innoVAShaun
Legend
GeorgeChen
New User
Looks like alu power on main
slipgrip93
Professional
You're probably right. During her match in Rome, she broke a string and there was a closeup of her racquet with the broken string.
It's got that silvery ALU look on the mains, so maybe not a hybrid setup if crosses are ALU too, or I can't tell well.
It's more evidenced as the steam 100 which is 16x20 and has a slight extension of 27.25in length, plus the characteristic bottom four white grommets.
The H19 is listed as 16x19, and the H22 at 18x20.
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innoVAShaun
Legend
slipgrip93
Professional
And another, Beatriz Haddad Maia, at 6'1" (!) in her 1st round match at the FO wielding the steam 100 mold under a Blade repaint.
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 22: Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil plays a forehand against Cristina Bucsa of Spai in their first round match during the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 22, 2022 in Paris, France.")
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 22: Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil plays a backhand against Cristina Bucsa of Spain in their first round match during the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 22, 2022 in Paris, France.")
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 22: Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil plays a forehand against Cristina Bucsa of Spai in their first round match during the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 22, 2022 in Paris, France.")
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 22: Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil plays a backhand against Cristina Bucsa of Spain in their first round match during the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 22, 2022 in Paris, France.")
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slipgrip93
Professional
And here we go, Dianne Parry the 19 year old french girl with a ONE-HANDED backhand wielding the Steam 100 mold! under the blade repaint at Roland Garros.
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 23: Diane Parry of France celebrates a point against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros ")
("Diane Parry of France plays a (one handed!) backhand against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros")
Parry vs. Krejicova 1st round FO highlights. She even does a few helicopter "twirl" finishes with her 1handed backhands!
So absolutely the steam 100 (blx) can be wielded with one-handed backhand, like Justine Henin wielded her earlier ntour/ktour 95's, ancestors to the 16x20 steams.
They (the wta shown on this thread) are using the original 2012-14 model/mold of the Steam 100 (blx). The steams had been discontinued since, probably in favor of Blades and Ultras. There are still plenty of the retail Steam 100 BLX's probably of the same type of mold out there secondhand on the offer market. I'm likely wrong, but my lay guess is that Wilson doesn't mix as much of their BLX material anymore as they did these earlier BLX composite mixed models nor make that particular semi box beam throat design characteristic of the steam, since they got away from box beam for good when the steam line was dropped (and Fed "defected" to his modern beam RF97 in 2014). Also the Steam 100 mold is specifically of the old 16x20, and 27.25in extended length types of the old ktour 95, blx tour 95 limited , continuing from the ncode ntour and ntour two (95s) in the 00's (all wielded by Henin), also originally a related offshoot of the wilson hammer series.
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 23: Diane Parry of France celebrates a point against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros ")
("Diane Parry of France plays a (one handed!) backhand against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros")
So absolutely the steam 100 (blx) can be wielded with one-handed backhand, like Justine Henin wielded her earlier ntour/ktour 95's, ancestors to the 16x20 steams.
They (the wta shown on this thread) are using the original 2012-14 model/mold of the Steam 100 (blx). The steams had been discontinued since, probably in favor of Blades and Ultras. There are still plenty of the retail Steam 100 BLX's probably of the same type of mold out there secondhand on the offer market. I'm likely wrong, but my lay guess is that Wilson doesn't mix as much of their BLX material anymore as they did these earlier BLX composite mixed models nor make that particular semi box beam throat design characteristic of the steam, since they got away from box beam for good when the steam line was dropped (and Fed "defected" to his modern beam RF97 in 2014). Also the Steam 100 mold is specifically of the old 16x20, and 27.25in extended length types of the old ktour 95, blx tour 95 limited , continuing from the ncode ntour and ntour two (95s) in the 00's (all wielded by Henin), also originally a related offshoot of the wilson hammer series.
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innoVAShaun
Legend
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Maybe they should christen her 'Gasquette'?And here we go, Dianne Parry the 19 year old french girl with a ONE-HANDED backhand wielding the Steam 100 mold! under the blade repaint at Roland Garros.
(" PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 23: Diane Parry of France celebrates a point against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros ")
("Diane Parry of France plays a (one handed!) backhand against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros")
Parry vs. Krejicova 1st round FO highlights. She even does a few helicopter "twirl" finishes with her 1handed backhands!
So absolutely the steam 100 (blx) can be wielded with one-handed backhand, like Justine Henin wielded her earlier ntour/ktour 95's, ancestors to the 16x20 steams.
They (the wta shown on this thread) are using the original 2012-14 model/mold of the Steam 100 (blx). The steams had been discontinued since, probably in favor of Blades and Ultras. There are still plenty of the retail Steam 100 BLX's probably of the same type of mold out there secondhand on the offer market. I'm likely wrong, but my lay guess is that Wilson doesn't mix as much of their BLX material anymore as they did these earlier BLX composite mixed models nor make that particular semi box beam throat design characteristic of the steam, since they got away from box beam for good when the steam line was dropped (and Fed "defected" to his modern beam RF97 in 2014). Also the Steam 100 mold is specifically of the old 16x20, and 27.25in extended length types of the old ktour 95, blx tour 95 limited , continuing from the ncode ntour and ntour two (95s) in the 00's (all wielded by Henin), also originally a related offshoot of the wilson hammer series.
Brando
Professional
FYI, we happen to be discussing this very topic over at this thread, and folks have come up with a couple of interesting answers...
CUSTOMIZATION ALERT: A Platform Racquet Overlooked?
Every few years a racquet maker releases a true platform frame, light and yet thin-beamed. But specs ideal for customization tend to feel flimsy in stock form and the public rejects the racquet, which ends up sold at a discount as a starter stick. I believe this rare opportunity exists today in...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
TennisHound
Legend
The Steam 100 and 99 headshape comes through fast, and the 16x20/ 16x18 are nicely spaced string patterns. In my experience, the Blade Team (Steam 99 shape) is just about the perfect blend of power, control, and fast swinging. Plus, they seem to take weight really well and remain light and stable.
GeorgeChen
New User
Me too,got two steam 100 under v6 and v7 pj.want to customize to her spec.
slipgrip93
Professional
I'm curious how often does Badosa or other wta players need to have their racquets restrung; do they have them done as often as the men's?
The pro stringer mentioned it's full ALU strings on Badosa's steam. So she doesn't use hybrid to soften the stringbed more. Perhaps another reason why those wta players like using this frame, because its particular combination of its flex and overall support, is still or more feeling comfortable and nice hitting enough on poly for less potential arm injury?
The pro stringer mentioned it's full ALU strings on Badosa's steam. So she doesn't use hybrid to soften the stringbed more. Perhaps another reason why those wta players like using this frame, because its particular combination of its flex and overall support, is still or more feeling comfortable and nice hitting enough on poly for less potential arm injury?
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I think it's all player preference at the end of the day on how much they string. I remember doing roughly 4 a match for her when she was in the draw and she was VERY partiuclar about her tensions which was fine with me.
slipgrip93
Professional
Thanks for these first hand professional details. Interesting and fun to hear about! All those racquets restrung per match on tour of these pros, wow. I wouldn't usually be motivated to restring my racquet for months or more than half a year trying to save on strings, or just not taking the time, of my amateur rec play and self-stringing..
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TennisHound
Legend
Wow, that’s cool to find the pro stocks. I also found a Steam 100 that should arrive next week.
(One thing to be aware of when buying used is small stress cracks underneath the bridge.)
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TennisHound
Legend
Just got my Steam 100 in today (from the bay, came from Japan and arrived 2 days early).
