Andyroddickfan
Rookie
Wouldn't string durability be an issue with a 16x15 string pattern?
16g Tour bite has excellent durability and great spin.
Wouldn't string durability be an issue with a 16x15 string pattern?
Yes, very much so. That's the one thing that concerns me about this racquet.
About the gut mains and durability: I don't think the mains are going to be the problem. Its going to be the crosses. My mains (granted only been an hour) look just like they do after an hour on my 16x19 stick. I normally break gut mains in 8-12 hours on my RDiS. Based on my first session I don't see any difference here.
The crosses, well, that's a different story. Its poly. It looks great then snap. Who knows.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4G, at least to me, seems to be somewhat low-powered and holds tension extremely well.
Sorry but any main other than poly or kevlar is not going to last very long in this racket.
I wonder what this will do to wrists, elbows, and shoulders in the long run.
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.
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
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.
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.
And again, How many times have you hit with the 99s? Yea. Exactly.
I think using syn is a "sin" for this frame
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hi TLM - You are the umpteenth person to come into the thread, comparing the racquet to a Vortex, then wondering what all the hype is about. Anybody who puts a full bed of nylon in this frame clearly has no idea what the 99s is designed to do. Fewer crosses than mains (something none of the vortex frames have) reduces string on string friction, and promotes the sliding and snapping back of the mains as the ball exits the string bed. The extra spin comes from string movement. You need to put slippery strings in there or it defeats the whole purpose. Your full bed of TNT is sliding, which is good, but they are too sticky to snap back into place, like a Gut/Poly or full poly bed. If you want to know more about this you can check my post #1000 a few pages back.
Jack
I will try the 99s with some poly to give it a real test and then report back. But what i could tell from the first time out it does not seem produce the amount of spin as the vortex does. But after a couple of different poly set ups I am hoping that i can get this super spin that many are saying.
Yes of course. You were unimpressed with the 99s, because you were playing with full nylon. I wish you luck with your play test... but your play test... is not going to add or subtract one iota from what has already been confirmed under tightly controlled conditions.
Jack
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.
Hitting the 99s with synthetic gut or a multi almost totally negates the purpose of the racquet. I don't see how anyone would like it this way. The 16x15 pattern will turn the racquet into a rocket launcher if you are a flat hitter or if you use a string that doesn't snap back.
I have no idea if you will like it with poly but am not surprised that you hated it as demo'd.
Really what exactly has been confirmed? And under what tightly controlled conditions?
Oh good lord. Really? You and I already had that conversation on posts 998, 999, 1000 and just a few moments ago in 1283. I provided bucket fulls of information, supported with numerous links and references there. Good luck with your racquet. No more wacky matches for me. If you want to have the last word on this feel free to take it. Not worth the investment for me.
-Jack
Got one just to see what the hype is all about.
A little disappointed with the weight (strung) is 316g. That's 4 grams off the 320g as mentioned on TW. Poor QC.
Would it be possible to use a 15 gauge syn gut as a cross? I haven't hit with the 99s yet but I get nervous(as in wrist health) hitting with full poly.I have played a Signum Pro Tornado/Syn Gut hybrid for the last several years so I haven't really tried too many polys but these would be on my short list for soft polys to try:
Signum Pro Tornado- since it's shaped and twisted not sure how well it would do in the 99S. Does hold tension well.
Signum Pro Hyperion- fairly soft and good tension maintenance.
Signum Pro Poly Plasma- another softer poly that holds tension really well.
Weisscannon Black5edge- have played with this a couple times and I believe people talk about its softness.
Yonex Poly Pro Tour- hit with it once in the yellow and this one seemed like a pretty soft and elastic/powerful poly so it might be a good option
I just strung up the Black Code and hope to bit with it tomorrow so I'll give my feedback then.
Also, not sure what gauges you are using but you may try a 16L string. 4G has 16L and that may soften the stringbed up a bit. Just throwing out some options.
Any one else have any ideas as I am trying to find the right combo of power, spin, and durability in a string for this racquet.
On a side note- won my usta doubles match today 6-3, 6-2 using the steam. Probably served better than anything.
Would it be possible to use a 15 gauge syn gut as a cross? I haven't hit with the 99s yet but I get nervous(as in wrist health) hitting with full poly.
Would it be possible to use a 15 gauge syn gut as a cross? I haven't hit with the 99s yet but I get nervous(as in wrist health) hitting with full poly.
I tried it, and you are right.
I suspect the calculation model does not take this open string pattern into account, yet.
Let me ask TWU prof
Probably not a bad idea.
I hit with the 99S yesterday. At the request of its owner, I strung it at 58.5 mains and 55.5 crosses. It was strung with MSV Focus Hex 17L. First, I think it was strung a little too tight for my tastes, but I was really amazed at how well it played strung with poly at what I consider too high a tension for me. Three of us, 2 4.5s and 1 5.0, hit for two hours and played some Canadian doubles.
Overall
The thing that really struck me was, as others have said, how much more clearance you get over the net. Once you get used to the frame, you can keep the ball lower for times when your opponent is at net. The other striking thing about this racquet was how the ball "dove" at the end of well hit strokes. This caused the 5.0 on the other side of the net (ProKennex about 15 years old) to mishit ball after ball. He remarked more than once about how cleanly I was hitting the ball.
Comfort, especially considering an all poly string job at 58, was excellent. Control was great and touch was as good as any other frame save possibly the C10 that I've hit with of late.
Serves
I was really impressed with serves. I arrived earlier than the other two and took some serves. I started off just limbering up, hitting some easy kick serves. I then hit a couple of harder serves. I was able to hit the corners, and with more pace than I've been getting with my Prince frames. This frame is much firmer playing than the O3's, but not necessarily in a bad way. Serves were definitely a plus with this frame.
Forehand
If struck properly, the ball really has a nice trajectory. Crosscourt forehands were for the most part unreturnable if I made it a point to step into them. On all shots, it seemed that the ball was coming down into the court much faster and at a steeper angle.
Backhand
One-handed backhand here and it was sublime. I hit a couple of balls that had so much spin on them they literally shot off the court after hitting it. And the really good news is that slices were effortless and "dug" into the court more. I was able to really hit the ball without worrying about this being a new frame. It was like I had played with the frame before.
Net
This frame is nice and fast around the net. Proper technique is rewarded with some good stick on volleys. Touch was great with half-volleys going back and angled volleys were pretty good too. I think my net game was a little off due to the all-poly string job and I did club a few.
Service Returns
The one thing to keep in mind with this frame is "swing". You really need to give the ball a good cut to get the proper response out of it. This is really most true for service returns at least 1st hit. I may, after some time with this frame, figure out how to hit a softer return, but out of the gate, if you swung aggressively, you were rewarded with a great return.
Downsides
The 5.0 who owns the frame called me to check on how I liked it. I basically loved it. He said there is a downside. He had the other one and strung it with ALU 16L. He said that he broke strings right after the 1st set. I took a look at the MSV in my frame and it was notched about a quarter through. I think a soft, cheap, thick poly may be in order here. That said, I'm probably going to string mine with Lux Ace or Pacific PF 18 or Isospeed Pulse 17 when they come in. I know for sure that I'll string it at 54 or 55 and the crosses at 52 or 53. I suspect from previous experience the BB Original may be a good candidate for this frame as well.
From my experience, this frame plays great right out of the gate. I didn't have to make any big adjustments.
And, I'm going to try a few hybrids in this frame ----- Draulike?
But this is a great frame. Maybe Mark Woodforde and Felix Mantilla did know something none of the rest of us did!
Make sure you get the plain synthetic, not with duraflex or wearguard. I don't think those types offer the snap back as plain synthetic.
Thanks for the post. Since I'm not a big string expert, does anyone have any suggestions for a 15 gauge syn gut that would allow snapback but is also some what durable?I think it would certainly be worth a try. Lots of guys I know use poly mains and a simple synthetic cross. I think the synthetic cross would still allow some of the snap back that you need to take advantage of this racquet. I used Gamma synthetic gut a bit and it seemed to work really well. One of the guys in the string forum likes this a lot too. But Gamma, Prince, or Gosen OGSM I think would be good options. Make sure you get the plain synthetic, not with duraflex or wearguard. I don't think those types offer the snap back as plain synthetic.