Alright, I'm stoked; I will get to hit the 99s in a couple of days. A Wilson rep is bringing all the new stuff to my club, and I have been invited to come and demo. I love the spec. I'm sure it will play well stock, but still have room to customize to one's liking. Should be a winner.
Wilson Hits Homerun with Wilson Steam 99S (mini review)
- Thread starter drakulie
- Start date
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
is this in usa
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
is this more spin thing, a Gimmick or is it real ? and what exactly is causing more spin ?
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
yeah nostradamus all the posts you have read in these previous pages are ppl suggesting its a gimmick get a life
Yes - Chicago area
Power Player
Bionic Poster
This is why you are a bad poster.
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
great let us know your detailed thoughts
Less number of crosses = less friction for the mains = more displacement and snapback
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I see. thank you. but only thing is in the past, if you use less number of crosses, you get more spin but you lose control due to trampoline effect. is this not true ?
Nostadumbus / Fedace is a well known spam poster. He just posts random spam to try and get a reaction and gum up threads. Most people already have him on their 'ignore lists'.
Since you are in the future you already know the answer.
That is what the new design is supposed to avoid. The whole frame has to be designed as a whole - you cannot take an existing frame and remove some crosses.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
How did people get invited to the playtest ?
Anyone know how this relates to the UK?
The local pro shop guy who is a big Wilson dealer recommended me.
I think the other people in this thread who got invited are professional stringers, pro shop owners, or coaches.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Ok that makes sense. but then why doesn't all manufacturer use that concept ?
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
Here in Sweden they will be in stock early, mid January. Should be the same in UK i presume
Why didn't all companies come up with a touch screen phone at the same time?
I heard same as USA, mid-Jan.
Asian?Oceanic countries may be a week earlier-OZ Open is targeted release.
sansaephanh
Professional
why didnt all the countries land on the moon at the same time?
bertrevert
Legend
Dr Hankesntein,
In other thread you posted that you also played with the new Blade
Because you have hit with Steam and Blade - I wonder if you might contrast them?
(perhaps TW reviewer Jason will do that with both as well...)
Disclosure: my quick hit with BLX Blade was a lump in my hands. Couldn't budge. I am hoping you will provide reassuring words that new Steam and Blade are nothing like each other! I would hope for something diff from the Steam...
In other thread you posted that you also played with the new Blade
Because you have hit with Steam and Blade - I wonder if you might contrast them?
(perhaps TW reviewer Jason will do that with both as well...)
Disclosure: my quick hit with BLX Blade was a lump in my hands. Couldn't budge. I am hoping you will provide reassuring words that new Steam and Blade are nothing like each other! I would hope for something diff from the Steam...
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
ok, so you are saying this is a breakthrough innovation. Wilson has been known for that ie PWS system from years back. but still I have hard time believing this is a real breakthrough. Mark Woodford used to do the same thing with his racket by skipping few holes when stringing. but I know the commentators saying, it is very tough to control
tennisnut09
Rookie
I think Wilson finally find out the new way to make money on their racket and make more money on their string with their new spin tech. By the way, I personally think tennis racket and string are way over-price.
nickarnold2000
Hall of Fame
It will be interesting to see if other companies do copy this stringing trend or if Wilson is protected from copying by a patent.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Vortex makes a racket that was designed for extra spin with a open pattern and it was a spin monster, but it was also way to powerful and to hard to control. It will be interesting to demo this wilson racket but I am not to hopeful, it will probably be another rocket launcher.
Ok - got a chance to hit with the new Steams and Blades earlier today. All were strung with Lux 4G, a string that I've now decided that I don't really care for. But...
The new sticks are nice. I wasn't as blown away by the Steam 99s as I hoped to be, mostly because the string was killing my arm within 5min of light hitting. I could tell that the racquet should have been more comfortable than it was, and when you were really going for extra spin the results were impressive as others have mentioned. I actually found better comfort, stability, control, and *almost* as much spin with the standard 99 which has a 16x18 pattern (still pretty open).
The Blades were a nice surprise, especially the 93 (Tour) and the 98 (with the new 16x19 string pattern). The Blade 98 16x19 will definitely give the Donnay Pro One and the Dunlop Bio 200g a run for their money. The midsize Blade has a really nice "crisp but soft" thing happening, with plenty of control to swing all day and never miss the court. The only thing disappointing was that they had sort of a metallic "ping" which seemed to be mostly caused by the string.
It was definitely fun checking out the new goods. I will probably be ordering a players package with the Steam 99 (16x18 ) as this was my favorite of the bunch. Will definitely be avoiding the Luxilon 4G string in the future though. I know some will dig this string as it enhances the spin effect of the open patterns, but it is STIFF - so beware all you full-poly users.
The new sticks are nice. I wasn't as blown away by the Steam 99s as I hoped to be, mostly because the string was killing my arm within 5min of light hitting. I could tell that the racquet should have been more comfortable than it was, and when you were really going for extra spin the results were impressive as others have mentioned. I actually found better comfort, stability, control, and *almost* as much spin with the standard 99 which has a 16x18 pattern (still pretty open).
The Blades were a nice surprise, especially the 93 (Tour) and the 98 (with the new 16x19 string pattern). The Blade 98 16x19 will definitely give the Donnay Pro One and the Dunlop Bio 200g a run for their money. The midsize Blade has a really nice "crisp but soft" thing happening, with plenty of control to swing all day and never miss the court. The only thing disappointing was that they had sort of a metallic "ping" which seemed to be mostly caused by the string.
It was definitely fun checking out the new goods. I will probably be ordering a players package with the Steam 99 (16x18 ) as this was my favorite of the bunch. Will definitely be avoiding the Luxilon 4G string in the future though. I know some will dig this string as it enhances the spin effect of the open patterns, but it is STIFF - so beware all you full-poly users.
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
A small advice with the Lux 4G. I made the misstake earlier this year when trying out the new Head Extreme Pro 2.0.I strung it with 4G 1,25 in 55 lbs, and it was STIFF like kevlar, but then tried it lower, think it was 46 or 48 lbs and now it played really nice. It virtually dont loose any tension.
In the new Steam 99S that i am trying, it was also strung with 4G, but not that tight, around 50-52 lbs (came strung from Wilson-rep) it felt really good, so i reckon the 4G is very sensitive to right tension. To tight and its a killer, better try it really soft at first and i am pretty sure you still get right amount of control.
themitchmann
Hall of Fame
Besides Vortex, Prince has developed some really open pattern frames (at least one) as well. UK Skippy has mentioned to have seen one this past summer in other threads.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have the same experience with 4g. I would hate it in a full job. I love it though in the mains at 50 or less and crossed with syn gut. Massive control. Helps me out in a match where i tend to hit long sometimes and then get tentative.
50/52 in the blade is pretty low powered but it works for me.
50/52 in the blade is pretty low powered but it works for me.
I have to agree Hankenstein on the 4G. Got to do a sneak preview of the Wilson Steam 99S this week and it came strung with 4G at 55#'s for mains and crosses. They are a little stiff off the bat outdoors, but feels better indoors where it's warmer. I think that Gut + Co-poly cross will always deliver superior spin over full poly bed...but then the question becomes: how much spin is too much??
Because from my own play testing of the 99S, in order to get max spin the mains pretty much have to "snap back" the full distance between the crosses. So say on a 16x19 the space is say .5 inches and on 16x15 it is .75 inches (made up numbers)...but if the way you strike the ball only makes the mains move .5 inches even on the 99S, you're not buying that much difference...abeit a little less control
Anyhow for those interested...
More Pics and closeup of 4G strings: http://bit.ly/Wilson_Steam_99S_Sneak_Preview
Anyhow for those interested...
More Pics and closeup of 4G strings: http://bit.ly/Wilson_Steam_99S_Sneak_Preview[/QUOTE]
Also for the record, I only playtested the 99S and the Blade 18x20 (also strung with 4G in the low 50's)...I really liked the Blade for its control and weight. Actually wished the Steam 99S was a tad bit heavier - I'll do a full write up on them both soon, and also took some video of my playtest today (hope to be able to visually see the evidence of extra height off bounce, loopiness, etc in the video...)
I'll post it up playtest of both rackets on YouTube asap...
http://www.youtube.com/user/JCTennisPro
More Pics and closeup of 4G strings: http://bit.ly/Wilson_Steam_99S_Sneak_Preview[/QUOTE]
Also for the record, I only playtested the 99S and the Blade 18x20 (also strung with 4G in the low 50's)...I really liked the Blade for its control and weight. Actually wished the Steam 99S was a tad bit heavier - I'll do a full write up on them both soon, and also took some video of my playtest today (hope to be able to visually see the evidence of extra height off bounce, loopiness, etc in the video...)
I'll post it up playtest of both rackets on YouTube asap...
http://www.youtube.com/user/JCTennisPro
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I was told by another rep that has tested this racket and he didn't like it at all. Ease to generate topspin more 20%, is False. Babolat pure drive generate more spin by 15% than this new racket
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
Nostrad you play tennis like a Baby and your comments are useless
Say what?! :shock: Have you read the thread? Absolutely as wrong as wrong can be.
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Broly4
Rookie
But this racquet calls for a full bed of poly, at least if you want to play competitive tennis.
How open is the stringbed really?
16*18, 18*19, 18*20, 16*18, or 16*15 does not say that much. It really depends on the space between the different strings.
For example Prince and Tecnifibre has larger space in their 16*19 then Wilson or Dunlop. Especially the Warrior and TFlash series have huge spaces and therefore really spinny.
So how spacy is the 16*15? According to the pics it is even more spacy then the Prince exo3 tour 16*18, based on my small database, has the most open pattern of all. Can anyone measure the average spacing between the 10 mains and crosses? I can compare that with the others.
And also how open is the 16*18 version in comparison with the 15*16 or current version.
I guess for my already spinny wrist, the 16*15 will lead to uncontrolled shots as I noticed already on the Warrior and the Exo Tour 16*18.
Thanks.
16*18, 18*19, 18*20, 16*18, or 16*15 does not say that much. It really depends on the space between the different strings.
For example Prince and Tecnifibre has larger space in their 16*19 then Wilson or Dunlop. Especially the Warrior and TFlash series have huge spaces and therefore really spinny.
So how spacy is the 16*15? According to the pics it is even more spacy then the Prince exo3 tour 16*18, based on my small database, has the most open pattern of all. Can anyone measure the average spacing between the 10 mains and crosses? I can compare that with the others.
And also how open is the 16*18 version in comparison with the 15*16 or current version.
I guess for my already spinny wrist, the 16*15 will lead to uncontrolled shots as I noticed already on the Warrior and the Exo Tour 16*18.
Thanks.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
it was odd about what he said. he said if are a relatively a flat hitter and was needing some help with spin production, then this racket definitely helps. but if you are heavy topspin user already, then this racket won't really add much more spin at all. Maybe little bit, but not much difference. That was bit confusing to me
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
What cross are you using PP?
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
Unlessyou're a 6.5 that may be right
I'd like to hear this too. Is Hankenstein a pro or a dealer? How's he getting these frames so early?
IIRC Hank is something like a tennis journalist/racquet reviewer in Swedan.
Why didn't everyone invent the polio vaccine at the same time?
They have filed one. Since open pattern is an old idea, I am not sure they will ge t it.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Exactly, that is why i am more excited that the blades are coming out. Also like that they have both patterns as an option too.
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
http://www.tennisthis.com/wilson-spin-friendly-tennis-racquets-coming-2013/
hardly complementary but no mention of an actual play test ???
hardly complementary but no mention of an actual play test ???
Broly4
Rookie
yes, if only the new blades were a bit softer, not the index but the feel, amplifeel 360 might make them too stiff with a full bed of poly.
