Wilson Hits Homerun with Wilson Steam 99S (mini review)
- Thread starter drakulie
- Start date
I remember in the 70's some guys used different rackets for serving and returning. I've tried it but forgot sometimes and kept the same racket for the wrong side. I am like you as i relied on precision volleying and pinpoint serving. When i tried the 105s i made the decision to cross over to the dark side of Lendl/Courier big serve/big forehand mindset..It's not easy to change your tennis strategy mindset of moving forward but with the 105s i just hit the serve with as much spin as i can. I'm really not concerned with pinpoint accuracy. Only college 5.0 and above with 2 handed backhands can really drive the returns back on my 105 s serve. So the floating returns i'm mostly getting then set me up for the forehand, Modern tennis strategy i've avoided for years but seems like it will be the future for me. i can still move well and play very good singles. But at my age 62, this is the future, ps, i looked at the Vortex Website and would have liked to demo it but i was given the 105s as a free demo and to buy at a great price.
The Dark Knight
Legend
Funny you should mention the vortex .
I just came back from a hit with the Vortex ES 116......OMG!!!!
I was using it as a Joke but I have never volleyed this well in my entire life....not at 20 years old even.
It's feather light at 9.9 ounces and it's GIGANTIC. It's an absolute monster at the net with zero loss in mobility.
It's definitely not a ground stroke racquet .......but it's absolutely amazing at everything else.
I feel like I can serve underhanded and I will still hit a volley winner.
Return of serves are off the chart.
So in conclusion ......I'm sold on the 105 steam now .
I'm going to give it a try.
The dark knight has crossed over to the dark side
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Funny you should mention the vortex .
I just came back from a hit with the Vortex ES 116......OMG!!!!
I was using it as a Joke but I have never volleyed this well in my entire life....not at 20 years old even.
It's feather light at 9.9 ounces and it's GIGANTIC. It's an absolute monster at the net with zero loss in mobility.
It's definitely not a ground stroke racquet .......but it's absolutely amazing at everything else.
I feel like I can serve underhanded and I will still hit a volley winner.
Return of serves are off the chart.
So in conclusion ......I'm sold on the 105 steam now .
I'm going to give it a try.
The dark knight has crossed over to the dark side
Good Luck Knight, one thing i continually need to work on and think about with the 105s is stopping and getting set up for a forehand..
It takes a while
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rlau
Hall of Fame
You can think whatever you like, but I think actual measurements proof otherwise.
I measure the dynamic stringbed stiffness (DSS) after each tennis session using an ERT 300 device. With the same string and the same starting DSS value for each frame, say 30, the value drops to 28 in the 99S and to 29 in another 16x19 frame after one session. After two sessions it has dropped to 26 in the 99S and to 28 in the other frame.
This is the only gripe I have with this frame, which turned out great for me in any other respect.
rlau
Hall of Fame
Liking it very much indeed! It performs great! The only downside for me so far is string durability and stringbed predictability -- the dynamic stringbed stiffness drops sharply in this frame, especially after the first one or two hours.
I think you really need your own stringer and nice stock of poly if you use this frame as your main frame.
syke
Professional
Sorry I don't buy your logic.
I've graduated from college in Engineering (though in different line of work now), I am absolutely fine with personal preferences, how one perceives feel and what confidence the racquet brings.
However, statements like these needs to be backed up with data.
Broly4
Rookie
I share Rlau and Syke view here, the tension loss becomes too apparent, too soon, after 2-3 hours of play it really challenges my muscle memory, too unpredictable.
Pacific xcite 1.30 is probably the best poly I've tried in this frame, along with the first hour of cyclone. Lx 4g is the next to try.
Pacific xcite 1.30 is probably the best poly I've tried in this frame, along with the first hour of cyclone. Lx 4g is the next to try.
doctor dennis
Semi-Pro
Ross. Did you ever try Focus Hex? I think its the best string for maintaining tension. I think Xcite is better (slightly) for the first 2-3 hours then Focus Hex is better till the end.
I notice your now no longer blading in the Steam room. Have you given up on the blades?
My Blade and PP demo have arrived but I won't get to hit till Thursday unfortunately.
v-verb
Hall of Fame
Sweet! That's how my 99S is strung - 45 lbs but with Lux CheapO 16 ga string ($5).
Dubs Match tonight - can't wait to see how it hits
The Dark Knight
Legend
Well there's no data that there's tension loss or any logic .
On the other hand I do have the data....and logic proving the mains move on the steam more than any other racquet .
The steam is the first racquet ever made with less crosses than mains.
The more mains the less strings move because they hold the strings in place.
The steams pattern is 16x15.....normally it is 16x19. This is four less crosses and the equal amount of mains.
As there are less strings holding the mains in place the mains move more than on any other racquet . Surely as an engineer you can will easily understand that more crosses will hold the mains stronger.
It's simple the tighter you tie something down the more it stays in place.
The Doppler radar gun proved a 20% increase in spin and confirmed by testers at TW.
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The Dark Knight
Legend
Strange because I tested it out as well. I tested a babolat APD and the 99s.
The DSS tensions were identical after the same amount of uses .
What racquet did you use to compare it to ?
Anton
Legend
Fixing strings IS NOT the point of the less-crosses technology. The point is to allow string to, yes, move more, but also to snap back into place while the ball is still on the string thereby putting more spin of the ball.
If you have to fix strings then that means frictional forces between cross and mains overcome snap back forces, strings are not snapping back and are not putting as much spin on the ball as would be possible with better string setup.
The Dark Knight
Legend
That's maybe your opinion however the Doppler radar gun proved differently .
The Dark Knight
Legend
Yes :
Gear Test: Wilson Steam 99S tennis racket
Wilson's new spin-friendly racket will be seen on the ATP & WTA Professional Tennis Tours in 2013.
Every tennis manufacturer out there claims to use the newest technology to give the best results.
Thus, every new racket is the "best yet" -- more spin, more control and certainly more power.
But do they deliver?
Well, the Steam 99S from Wilson is the latest innovative racket on the scene, with new tech designed to help players put better spin on the ball.
In this Gear Test, ESPN Playbook enlisted Andrew Carter, the University of Louisville’s three-time Big East champ and current pro, to put the new Steam through its paces and see if the hype is at all justified.
PRODUCT: Wilson Steam 99S, $219.99; available January 2013
WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO DO: Using Doppler radar technology, Wilson was able to accurately measure the spin placed on a tennis ball when hit.
By putting fewer strings on the Steam 99S -- the string pattern is a spread-out 16 x 15, as opposed to the more common 16 x 18 or 19 x 18 -- the company believes the racket can boost spin by up to 200 RPM.
More spin means more room to work the ball. Wilson claims the added spin effectively lengthens the court by a foot while making the net up to two inches lower. In theory.
What does this mean? Well, pros using the Steam will become spin wizards, and your average club regulars will start hitting shots they never dreamed they could.
DOES IT WORK? Here’s the good news: Wilson has made one heck of a racket.
For starters, for a racket that weighs only 10.7 oz., the Steam 99S has oodles of power -- something Carter found when he pummeled some balls.
“The racket produces a lot more pop,” Carter said. “Much more than usual on a Wilson racket. When you hit it in the sweet spot, it has a lot of pop.”
Wilson typically makes rackets with smaller head sizes that come with smaller sweet spots -- but everything is that much bigger with the 99S. For players who trade backcourt bombs, the 99S will be a powerful weapon.
It also delivers slice shots that Carter described as “unbelievable." They’ll stay so low your opponent will be scraping his racket along the floor the whole match, hopefully throwing in plenty of McEnroe-esque cursing to boot.
But here’s the less good news: It's that spin again. While the 99S definitely generates extra spin, for the elite player it could be the unwanted kind.
“When Nadal hits the ball, he hits rockets,” Carter explains. “With this [99S], it’s like hitting balloons. When Nadal hits it, the ball goes straight through, but this ball sits up.”
Translation: You'll get plenty of spin, but the ball may spin up at a higher vertical angle, which could give your opponent more time to hit the ball back. Against a casual player, this effect might be negligible, but against a pro it could make a big difference.
Another small complaint from Carter about the 99S is that while power isn’t lost because of the light weight, control can be. When hitting off-center shots, the racket can feel unstable.
“On volleys, if you don’t hit it exactly in the sweet spot, it’s going to twist in your hand because it’s too light,” Carter says. "Someone of a higher ability would probably need to start digging out their lead-weight tape."
PRODUCT 2.0: Wilson wants you to get oodles of spin using the 99S, and it wants you to use Luxilon strings (made by Wilson) to achieve this.
Ideally, buyers of the 99S will get it strung with Luxilon strings in lieu of the cheaper generic Wilson strings. Most people buy racquets and yet rarely restring them, but if you want to maximize your Steam experience, make sure you get the strings to do it.
In conclusion: Wilson has made a very, very good racquet, but like all things in life it isn’t quite perfect -- yet.
Anton
Legend
oooooooooookkkk, so where in this article do you see anything about string snap back or string fixing (no snap back)?
The answer is still NO.
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Is this still the case if you're stringing low, like mid-40's?
rlau
Hall of Fame
Probably not, or to a lesser extent. I prefer to string it around 55 lbs though.
The Dark Knight
Legend
Not enough? ....here's the description of the racquet from tenniswarehouse :
Wilson is bringing the heat with the Wilson Steam 105S. Designed with fewer cross strings for a more powerful snap backfrom the main strings, the stringbed provides more spin and a heavier kick from all areas of the court. A generous sweetspot and a larger headsize provide more than enough power, although some of our playtesters wanted a little more control. There was decent stability and feel, especially for a racquet in its weight range. With enough spin to slay any opponent, Wilson's 16x15 string pattern has opened the door for all sorts of racquets to have all sorts of spin. If you are looking to take the spin on your shots to a hard-to-believe level, then this is the racquet for you.
And from Wilson :
INTRODUCING THE NEW STEAM SPIN
The modern game has changed and is all about aggressive spin. Wilson’s Steam 99s & Steam 105S tennis rackets use Spin Effect Technology (S.E.T.) to maximize “snapback.” More snapback means more spin; more spin means more balls in play. The net seems lower and the court feels longer and in a game of inches, more spin can make all the difference.
Come on man......
This is the whole idea of the 16x15 pattern . Please don't make me do any more work.
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I use the 99s with 2 layers of 1/4 inch strips of lead at the 12 and strung with luxilon 4g 15 gauge at around 58 pounds. The 15g offers so much control and dont notice a drop in spin compared to the 16 and 16l of 4g and alu power. I couldnt use a full bed of alu power with this racquet, it was too powerful and I was breaking strings like crazy.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
You have this wrong IMO. The extra open pattern exagerates the effects of tension loss and string movement. Yes the strings are "supposed" to move, but they are also supposed to move back into place. Once the tension drops and the poly strings start to die, the strings don't snap back into place as well anymore and control goes out the window.
Wilson has a good idea with the S technology, but it's major drawback is that you need fresh poly in there almost every time out if you want optimum results. This makes it a bad choice for rec players that only restring once in a while.
lostinamerica
Semi-Pro
I play with this racquet and can tell you that you will be re-stringing more than every once in awhile. The only string I can keep in it for even a few matches is a kevlar.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
that's exactly why it's not a viable option for most rec players.
Anton
Legend
Are you trolling me or something?YES SNAPBACK IS THE POINT of this technology and if you are fixing strings that means they DIDN'T SNAPBACK.
jackcrawford
Professional
Exactly. I don't know if he's joking, but it isn't funny. Any person with a triple digit IQ should get this unless he is having a very bad day.
YES SNAPBACK IS THE POINT of this technology and if you are fixing strings that means they DIDN'T SNAPBACK.
syke
Professional
OMG... Please kill me....
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
Let's not generalize too terribly much. I play with the frame and I don't have to restring that often. I have tennis buddies who play poly and restring at the same frequency I do (about 2 weeks or 10 hours). Now these guys are poly users just to be clear. I restrung my C10s when I played with Luxilon Timo or Pacific Xtreme in them.
The boards tend to be skewed in experience and toward "player" type frames. the comments then really aren't geared toward the majority of players. FYI - I'm a 4.5 and have been a 4.5 for a hundred years. I play a good bit of doubles with some younger 5.0s as well including a couple of former D1'ers. I'm just saying that to let you know where I am club-wise.
I think most rec players are prime candidates for this frame. The frame certainly fits a number of parameters that club players are looking for, it's got great zip, is easy on the arm, and enhances spin.
I understand that some people are experiencing less string life than they are accustomed to, but again, I think they are not in the majority. And for those people, there is a solution: 1) find a 15 gauge poly and there are some out there and/or 2) reduce your string tension. I've posted this around, one of the 5.0s I string for uses the 99S. He was getting 2 sets out of a string job. I asked him to let me "drive" his equipment to improve this and now he's getting 6 - 8 sets out of the same string. I reduced his tension by 8 pounds over a couple of restringings. It does make a difference.
Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
My only observation.. is that I've hit with Drakulie while he used this racquet.
Does he hit any different. No. Maybe his shanks fly in more.. but then again i think he has improved a little bit.
The one thing I did notice is that Drakulie has cursed less (spanish and english) and not thrown the racquet across the court in disgust. There should be bonus points for that.. .
Does he hit any different. No. Maybe his shanks fly in more.. but then again i think he has improved a little bit.
The one thing I did notice is that Drakulie has cursed less (spanish and english) and not thrown the racquet across the court in disgust. There should be bonus points for that.. .
doctor dennis
Semi-Pro
Just finished demoing the IG Prestige Pro and Blade 98 (16x19)
The 99S beats them both for me hands down.
I'm trying the new APD and if i dont like that i'll be sticking with this string eating racket.
String life aside, this racket really is amazing and versatile.
The 99S beats them both for me hands down.
I'm trying the new APD and if i dont like that i'll be sticking with this string eating racket.
String life aside, this racket really is amazing and versatile.
The Dark Knight
Legend
YES SNAPBACK IS THE POINT of this technology and if you are fixing strings that means they DIDN'T SNAPBACK.
Sorry your confused . Let me be a little more clear. Here is your original quote:
You were wrong as I showed that the technology is all about snapping back. However admitting you we're wrong is something too hard for you to do.
Now as to the rest of your distorted statement.....let me clear the waters which which you have filled with mud yet again.
Your original contention was that there was a loss of tension because you constantly had to fix the strings.
I explained that the reason you had to fix the strings is because they move more than any other string. I did not use the term "snap back" you did . And you asked me to show it to you so I did .
The term "snap back" is an illustration of what the strings do. The term is not "snap back perfectly into position every time"
and that is why you have to put them back into place ....and not because of any tension loss .
Cleared up for you now?
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racertempo
Semi-Pro
Clears it up for me, but only because you used large bold font, and if anyone uses large bold font then they MUST be right.
The Dark Knight
Legend
Glad to help out.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
2 weeks or 10 hours is fine and, but that's still WAAAYYYY more frequently than most rec players are willing to restring. Most rec players I talk to don't even realize you are supposed to replace poly due to it dying after 8-15 hours. They just wait until it breaks or for the "new season".
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Dark Night....didn't you proclaim the 99s lost out to your other open racquet about a week ago, with another one of your "bold face/huge font" threads???
Why are you continuing on this rant regarding "snap back" that seems to be annoying everyone? You are so determined to prove yourself correct to an audience that really could care less. Just let it go....
Why are you continuing on this rant regarding "snap back" that seems to be annoying everyone? You are so determined to prove yourself correct to an audience that really could care less. Just let it go....
The Dark Knight
Legend
Jack,
It takes two to tango .
I didn't rant ....if you look back actually this guy claimed that there was more tension loss than on steam than other racquets and he said he thought this because he had to place the strings back in place.
I explained that is not the reason but rather that the strings move more on these sticks more than other sticks. That was the entire point . Zero about snap back.
I was then told to prove it....I listed an article showing that the strings moved more.
But that was not enough rather HE asked now to prove "snap back".....his words. So I politely posted yet another article .
After that I was attacked for no apparent reason . So I used enlarged letters .....big deal ? I never hurled insults or did anything offensive and I question why is it that you chose to take his side rather than mine.
All I said was there was no proof that there was more tension loos on the steam and the strings moving more doesn't really prove anything .
As far as Vortex or Steam.....I am actually still on the fence .
I think that truthfully tennis is a very conservative sport and people hate anything different . I have a feeling a lot of people never even tried the steam and just come up with BS.
If they truly tried the stick and didnt like it why not just move on? Why this campaign ? I personally don't like the blade ....but I never post anywhere about because frankly I don't care.
But these guys just go on and on with hate.....
It's the same with vortex .....it was too different and there's a lot of hate towards that . Weird to hate a racquet ......now that Wilson has come out with a similar technology vortex is a little more accepted .....though not quite there.
But again my friend .....it takes two to tango ......I'm not alone here .
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Yes, but by continuing with an argument that isn't going anywhere doesn't make a lot of sense either...for either one of you. Drop it and the other person will hopefully give it a rest.
Sometimes we get so intent on proving a point, we go way overboard trying to do so.
The Dark Knight
Legend
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Yep lets just be done with it now. Wouldn't want to spoil such a great thread!
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
Got about 4 hours with BBO 17 g. Will try 16 g as I really liked the string.
charliefedererer
Legend
Have you tried lead on the Steam yet?
I am up to 4 gms at the top of the handle, 3 grams on the inside throat just above the handle, and one gram at 3, 9 and 12 o'clock on the hoop.
The frame still seems maneuverable, but less like a too-light tweeners stick.
The Dark Knight
Legend
The Dark Knight
Legend
Nope have not bought the 105 yet.....but very interested I'm the stick. VERY!!
Charlie, are you talking about the 99s or 105s ?
