Paula Badosa racket

[TennisHound]

So, I got my Steam 100 yesterday, got it strung up and played with it a little. Surprisingly, it felt like a bigger Steam 99. It felt head heavy ish, and a little clunky. Mine was pretty much right on spec, but felt heavier than it’s 11.2 strung weight. You wouldn’t think a 100 would feel different than a 99, but it does. It actually more felt like a 102 maybe.
Of course I’m coming from an 11oz Blade Team, which is light,fast, and powerful (with added weight up top), so a bigger slower racquet will feel heavier. I need to hit fast pace to see how the extra stability plays out with hard hitting.

 

[TennisHound]

Had a hit today with a harder faster player - 20yo 4.5 lefty. Surprise - the harder the pace, the better it worked. I was able to control the heavy spin off the serves and grounders better. It was really good. It’s still sluggish on serves, but overall I hit some shots that surprised me. I’ll keep trying it

 

[hotasice]

@TennisHound

Had a hit today with a harder faster player - 20yo 4.5 lefty. Surprise - the harder the pace, the better it worked. I was able to control the heavy spin off the serves and grounders better. It was really good. It’s still sluggish on serves, but overall I hit some shots that surprised me. I’ll keep trying it

are you hitting with it in stock form?

 

[TennisHound]

@TennisHound



are you hitting with it in stock form?

Yes, at the moment. It feels pretty head heavy so I haven’t added any weight yet. If I do, I will try a heavier grip. Is yours stock?

 

[hotasice]

Yes, at the moment. It feels pretty head heavy so I haven’t added any weight yet. If I do, I will try a heavier grip. Is yours stock?

I put 5 g blu tack into the handle, 3 gm lead at 12 o'clock, 1.5 g lead at 3 and 9 o'clock each and added a leather grip.

Weight strung with overgrip: 339 gm, and it is about 8-9pts HL

I estimate how headlight it feels compared to my other standard length frames that I like at that balance. Does anyone have a simple formula to use to calculate how HL an extended length frame is?

My steam 100 weighted up hits nice and stable with lots of plow but still controllable. I love 16x20 frames and this one hits with a lot of spin. I strung mine with max power 17 in the mains at 51 lb and velocity MLT in the crosses at 53 lb. The extra .25 inches length is easy to adjust to I find.

Overall a really fun frame; I read that some feel it to be really stiff and describe it like a pure drive with more control. I don't feel pure drive level of stiffness.

 

[TennisHound]

I put 5 g blu tack into the handle, 3 gm lead at 12 o'clock, 1.5 g lead at 3 and 9 o'clock each and added a leather grip.

Weight strung with overgrip: 339 gm, and it is about 8-9pts HL

I estimate how headlight it feels compared to my other standard length frames that I like at that balance. Does anyone have a simple formula to use to calculate how HL an extended length frame is?

My steam 100 weighted up hits nice and stable with lots of plow but still controllable. I love 16x20 frames and this one hits with a lot of spin. I strung mine with max power 17 in the mains at 51 lb and velocity MLT in the crosses at 53 lb. The extra .25 inches length is easy to adjust to I find.

Overall a really fun frame; I read that some feel it to be really stiff and describe it like a pure drive with more control. I don't feel pure drive level of stiffness.

Wow, sounds nice and hefty. I’m gonna add weight to the handle. It isn’t stiff to me but the sweet spot is fairly small. I forgot it’s .25” longer, which would account for the heavier feel.

 

[cd3768]

Just bought one and it’s coming in a week or so. What string setups are you guys using?
I think I’ll start with whatever it’s strung with, then Head Hawk Touch which is what I usually use.

 

[slipgrip93]

Just bought one and it’s coming in a week or so. What string setups are you guys using?
I think I’ll start with whatever it’s strung with, then Head Hawk Touch which is what I usually use.

I put mine on 60/59, gamma livewire mains, solinco tourbite crosses (although it should still be comfortable enough with full poly!).
And Kostyuk has been demonstrating hitting aces, hard backhand drives, overheads and volley winners with her Steam in her match vs. Krejcikova on the Eastbourne grass today.

 

[slipgrip93]

Two more wta players, Ylena In Albon and Ekaterine Gorgodze, wielding the Steam 100 under Blade repaints, in their 1st round matches at Wimbledon (but did not make it past).

( "JUNE 27: Ylena In-Albon of Switzerland plays a backhand against Alison Riske of United States during the Women's Singles First Round match during Day One of The Championships Wimbledon 2022" )

( "JUNE 27: Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia plays a forehand against Irina-Camelia Begu during the Women's Singles First Round match during Day One of The Championships Wimbledon 2022" )

So there are eleven wta players with Steam 100s at this Wimbledon tournament starting off in the first round. Beatriz Haddad-Maia failed to advance to the 2nd round. Svitolina skipped. The others made it to the 2nd round:
Paula Badosa, Emma Raducanu, Amanda Anisimova, Jelena Ostapenko, Petra Martic, Sara Sorribes-Tormo, Marta Kostyuk, Diane Parry.

 

[jarko111]

it’s amazing how the Blade is the most visible, most used racquet that’s hardly used at all. Who actually uses a Blade besides Tsitipas anymore?

What it does do by having the paint on steams etc is give the effect Babolat had for almost a decade. Where all you saw were Pure Aeros. Now it’s a sea of duo-chrome green

 

[jarko111]

it’s amazing how the Blade is the most visible, most used racquet that’s hardly used at all. Who actually uses a Blade besides Tsitipas anymore?

What it does do by having the paint on steams etc is give the effect Babolat had for almost a decade. Where all you saw were Pure Aeros. Now it’s a sea of duo

 

[dekxter]

where can you buy these? i've been looking around and cant seem to find anything Wilson should just chuck Raducanu as the face of a new racquet line (steam obv) or something because wow.... the amount of girls with this racquet (which we can all tell with the white grommets) shows how many on tour use this racquet.

 

[A_Instead]

One can come across a Steam 99 and 100 from time to time..
When I see them at a good price...I buy..
Most of the time... people really don't know what they actually have... they just think it's an old racket..
I got a very good condition Steam 99 in 9/10 without much use a few weeks ago on the cheap..
Just not the ideal grip size I desire..

 

[dekxter]

One can come across a Steam 99 and 100 from time to time..
When I see them at a good price...I buy..
Most of the time... people really don't know what they actually have... they just think it's an old racket..
I got a very good condition Steam 99 in 9/10 without much use a few weeks ago on the cheap..
Just not the ideal grip size I desire..

Where did you find this? on a generic marketplace site or from a tennis specific store?

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[A_Instead]

No tennis store that I am aware of still sell them anymore...
You can come across new ones at times on the e yab site.
But often at foolishly high prices..
You just gotta keep your eyes open..and buy at the price makes sense..

 

[dekxter]

No tennis store that I am aware of still sell them anymore...
You can come across new ones at times on the e yab site.
But often at foolishly high prices..
You just gotta keep your eyes open..and buy at the price makes sense..

Yeah I have kind of given up haha (Some of the prices I've seen plus shipping to AU is insanely high). I'll just pray for when Wilson realizes how popular a steam mould would be and especially with how many WTA players use it, indicates that it is a frame which could make them a lot of money. Plaster Badosa, Raducanu and what not and boom!

 

[Grafil Injection]

Do we know how close the retail version of the Steam 100 is to the Pro-Stock version? Is it similar (but not identical) like H19 and Ultra Tour/Pro, or fairly different like H22 and Blade 16/19?

 

[Automatix]

Do we know how close the retail version of the Steam 100 is to the Pro-Stock version? Is it similar (but not identical) like H19 and Ultra Tour/Pro, or fairly different like H22 and Blade 16/19?

Both retail and prostock have a solid graphite handle as in they don't have PU foam forming the final shape of the grip and won't take pallets. Neither is foam filled. Specs are very close +0.25 inches, similar weight and balance. Hard to tell if any differences are intentional or from QC. Drill pattern is the same as retail. Subjectively speaking the feel is different to some extend and the prostock versions tend to swing heavier (feel more head heavy - do not mistake with having a more head heavy balance).

So per your analogy I'd lean towards H19 vs UT/UP. The prostocks floating around tend to have a tighter QC than the retail Steams which IIRC were all over the place.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Both retail and prostock have a solid graphite handle as in they don't have PU foam forming the final shape of the grip and won't take pallets. Neither is foam filled. Specs are very close +0.25 inches, similar weight and balance. Hard to tell if any differences are intentional or from QC. Drill pattern is the same as retail. Subjectively speaking the feel is different to some extend and the prostock versions tend to swing heavier (feel more head heavy - do not mistake with having a more head heavy balance).

So per your analogy I'd lean towards H19 vs UT/UP. The prostocks floating around tend to have a tighter QC than the retail Steams which IIRC were all over the place.

Thanks. When you say solid graphite handle, that would be a bit unique wouldn't it? Do you mean the hairpin is filled with silicone? And regarding the grip, are you saying there is just bare graphite?

 

[Automatix]

When you say solid graphite handle, that would be a bit unique wouldn't it?

No, the Clash for example has a handle like that. It has been done before eg. Dunlop Tour Revelation frames.

Do you mean the hairpin is filled with silicone?

No. What made you think that?

And regarding the grip, are you saying there is just bare graphite?

Yes. Instead of a graphite rectangle on which you mount pallets or mould foam you have a finished grip shape.

 

[Grafil Injection]

No, the Clash for example has a handle like that. It has been done before eg. Dunlop Tour Revelation frames.

No. What made you think that?

Yes. Instead of a graphite rectangle on which you mount pallets or mould foam you have a finished grip shape.

Interesting. I have never seen a solid graphite handle. How do they inflate the frame when baking? What is the solid graphite formed from (pre-preg rolled up, or chopped tow separately moulded). I'll have to look for some Clash pictures.

 

[Automatix]

Interesting. I have never seen a solid graphite handle. How do they inflate the frame when baking? What is the solid graphite formed from (pre-preg rolled up, or chopped tow separately moulded). I'll have to look for some Clash pictures.

 

[Grafil Injection]

These have hollow graphite handles. But I think I see what you mean now. The Steam has a hollow graphite handle which is not covered or filled with anything, which I suppose you could say is a 'solid' graphite handle.

 

[Automatix]

These have hollow graphite handles. But I think I see what you mean now. The Steam has a hollow graphite handle which is not covered or filled with anything, which I suppose you could say is a 'solid' graphite handle.

Sorry for the confusion. Bad choice of words.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Sorry for the confusion. Bad choice of words.

No worries, I should have worked it out quicker!

 

[TennisHound]

The Blade 101L, Blade Team 99 (CV pj 10.8oz), and the current Blade Team (9.9oz) also have the graphite (non molded) handle.

 

[slipgrip93]

Wilson also market labeled the handles for some steam and a few others "amplifeel 360 technology" back during the blx lines of 2013-14. Where the earliest steam's of 2012 may just have amplifeel or no amplifeel, but not amplifeel 360.

Yeah I have kind of given up haha (Some of the prices I've seen plus shipping to AU is insanely high). I'll just pray for when Wilson realizes how popular a steam mould would be and especially with how many WTA players use it, indicates that it is a frame which could make them a lot of money. Plaster Badosa, Raducanu and what not and boom!

You may have just missed it. Just a month or a few months ago, there were a bunch of steam 100 blx's on the bay and not just just the higher priced japan offers. I got mine in the fall last year for about $120 , never strung condition (the handle appears to have no amplifeel and looks like some kind of plastic pallets). Maybe there will be more on offer soon or in the months to come from others (or on stringforum.net) hopefully.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Despite having an Amplifeel (95S) and Amplifeel 360 (95L) racket, I never investigated fully. The Amplifeel always seemed a bit strange to me, just separate strips of graphite/basalt laid into the usual PU foam handle. How does that help? But it seems like Amplifeel 360 (Steam 100) is the other way around: the handle is graphite/basalt (matrix) moulded with the hoop, with some PU foam strips laid on top. I can see how that would give a more direct feel. I can also imagine that the moulds that include the handle area are more specialised than those that just terminate in a standard hairpin for wrapping with PU foam, since the former would have to be produced in 3 or 4 precise and easy to finish grip sizes.

Regarding the Steam 100, what we don't know is whether the pro-stock uses the graphite/basalt (BLX) matrix lay-up from the retail version, or a more traditional graphite only pre-preg that most pro-stocks have. It would be interesting to know the flex of the pro-stock.

 

[TennisHound]

There were also two different pjs for the Steam 100 - the rainbow one and the red black one. I wonder if the red black one had molded foam handle?

 

[slipgrip93]

Pic of my steam 100 blx handle, a retail rainbow colored probably 2012 model, which doesn't seem to have any amplifeel (yet).
edit: oh, a better pic.

 

[slipgrip93]

Oh no, according to this article from the "Telegraph", Emma is having severe blisters on her hand again, and the article is subtly or facetiously blaming the racquet!
-> ( "Could Emma Raducanu be allergic to her racket?" )

And the journalist uninformed, and erroneously states that she had been using "different models of Blades" since the u.s. open, in the article:

" Since her Flushing Meadows success, Raducanu is understood to have used different models of the Wilson Blade racket. She is currently into a four-year deal with the manufacturer, which is believed to be worth around £100,000-a-year."

When Emma has still been using the Steam 100 blx mold which she did at the U.S. Open, and since, to even this past week. Same visible physical characteristics and string pattern, same four white grommets. And of course the "different" looking Blades is because of the different "Blade" looking paintjob repaints often on the frames on tour by wilson.

("during Day 6 of the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center on August 04, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)")

In my (lay) opinion, either she needs a different overgrip, or someone should wrap it for her. (Or finding out if she has some hand skin condition(?)). And the Steam 100 isn't really rough to swing.

 

[slipgrip93]

The Steam is represented well in this Toronto WTA1000 tournament final today! Beatriz Haddad Maia using the wilson steam 100 (blx) mold while Halep reportedly uses the steam 99 mold under their Blade pj's.

 

[t-pain1991]

I found a couple on the big auction site that are in decent condition. Excited to try them out.

 

[slipgrip93]

Does anyone have any info on Badosa's string set up? It looks like some kind of hybrid in the Indian Wells 2021 pic

During Badosa's match today with Tsurenko at the USOpen 1st round, while on a break at her bench, she audibly asked for the stringer to restring one of her racquets at "27 and 27". Which I'd assume meant 27kg ~ 59.5 lbs! for crosses and mains using luxilon ALU likely, mentioned on this thread earlier. Fun to know now. (edit: I'd strung my steam 100 blx months ago at 60 gamma liwewire, and 59 solinco tourbite, so close enough!)

( Henin reportedly had her various tour 95's strung similarly at 60/59, which were also 16x20 , 27.25 length "ancestor" racquets to the Steam 100 blx & Steam 99 )

 

[slipgrip93]

Oh, I just noticed, Badosa is no longer using the Steam 100 mold! Her racquet is now 18x20 and no longer with the four white grommets.

(" Paula Badosa of Spain looks on against Petra Martic of Croatia during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 01, 2022 in New York City")

Sorry that she lost in her 2nd round usopen match, 7-6(5), 1-6, 2-6, but the winner Petra Martic is still using the Steam 100 mold frame.

(" Petra Martic of Croatia plays a forehand against Paula Badosa of Spain during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 01, 2022 ")

I checked back, and saw that Badosa was last seen using her steam 100 on July 4th, in her Wimbledon 2nd round match (loss) vs. Halep. Then she started using the 18x20 Blade mold
during the Silicon Valley Classic on Aug. 5th. So she seemed to have changed racquets sometime in July, within a month. Oh well.

(" Paula Badosa of Spain gestures to the crowd after defeating Coco Gauff during the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at Spartan Tennis Complex on August 05, 2022 in San Jose, California. ")

So, Paula Badosa is now playing with some wilson 18x20 frame, at 27 x 27 kg string tension, which seems to be a major change in her equipment of the last seven years of her tennis career.

 

[Rabbit]

Anyone know Badosa’s spec and string setup?

It's been a while, but when I strung for her in 2016 she was swinging a Blade with an all-ALU string bed at 24 kilos as the tournament progressed, she went to 23.5 kilos.

 

[WacTennis2017]

Two more wta players, Ylena In Albon and Ekaterine Gorgodze, wielding the Steam 100 under Blade repaints, in their 1st round matches at Wimbledon (but did not make it past).

( "JUNE 27: Ylena In-Albon of Switzerland plays a backhand against Alison Riske of United States during the Women's Singles First Round match during Day One of The Championships Wimbledon 2022" )

( "JUNE 27: Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia plays a forehand against Irina-Camelia Begu during the Women's Singles First Round match during Day One of The Championships Wimbledon 2022" )

So there are eleven wta players with Steam 100s at this Wimbledon tournament starting off in the first round. Beatriz Haddad-Maia failed to advance to the 2nd round. Svitolina skipped. The others made it to the 2nd round:
Paula Badosa, Emma Raducanu, Amanda Anisimova, Jelena Ostapenko, Petra Martic, Sara Sorribes-Tormo, Marta Kostyuk, Diane Parry.

To add to this list:
Just saw over the weekend that Linda Fruhvirtova is using a Steam 100 16 X 20 with white grommets. The racket has the current Blade paint.

 

[slipgrip93]

To add to this list:
Just saw over the weekend that Linda Fruhvirtova is using a Steam 100 16 X 20 with white grommets. The racket has the current Blade paint.

yes, nice to see Linda Fruhvirtova still using the steam 100 this year, while unfortunately Badosa has moved on to some other Blade since the USOpen!

this year so far, for wta players using the steam 100 making it to finals: (if i didn't miss some other lady wielding the steam 100)

WTA1000
Canadian Open, Beatriz Haddad Maia(runner up)

WTA500
Sydney Intl, Badosa
Dubai, Ostapenko
Eastbourne, Ostapenko (runner-up)

WTA250
Melbourne Summer Set 2, Amanda Anisimova
Nottingham Open, Beatriz Haddad Maia
Birmingham Classic, Beatriz Haddad Maia
Lausanne ladies open, Petra Martic
Chennai Open, Linda Fruhvirtova
Seoul, Ostapenko (runner up)

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I found a couple on the big auction site that are in decent condition. Excited to try them out.

Looks like the Toalson Fourty Love.
I don't know which looks like which anymore.
So many rackets look identical in their head shape, their beam shape, their throat...
Artengo TR960 Tour also looks like a blade. The Diadem Elevate too.
Is it my impression or many rackets are made in the same Taiwanese or Chinese factory (-ies) to each brand's standards?
At least with tennis strings, most of the brands are giving away some clues about in which country their strings are made "to their standards".

 

[Automatix]

Looks like the Toalson Fourty Love.
I don't know which looks like which anymore.
So many rackets look identical in their head shape, their beam shape, their throat...
Artengo TR960 Tour also looks like a blade. The Diadem Elevate too.
Is it my impression or many rackets are made in the same Taiwanese or Chinese factory (-ies) to each brand's standards?
At least with tennis strings, most of the brands are giving away some clues about in which country their strings are made "to their standards".

Not in this case. Steam 100 has a D shaped beam in the head but you need the right angle to see it.

Spoiler

 

[slipgrip93]

I'm not certain, but my guess is Badosa has changed racquets to a wilson blade 98 18x20 , v8 ? oh well.

("2022 US Open - Day 4 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Paula Badosa of Spain")

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

I'm not certain, but my guess is Badosa has changed racquets to a wilson blade 98 18x20 , v8 ? oh well.

("2022 US Open - Day 4 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Paula Badosa of Spain")

Looking at the headguard with the big Wilson printed on one side, this is more likely the v4 or v5 version of the blade

 

[LOBALOT]

Yah,

... which begs the question of why *aren't they selling it* <thinking_face> ?

/Acey

I agree that generation of stick along with the Ultra 97/100 of that era were great racquets and then they changed the Ultra into this thingy they have now which I have no idea what they are thinking.

About 2 years ago we traveled to an ITA event and low and behold there was a college kid still using the Ultra 97. My son used to use the same stick so I started chatting with him and he was talking about how much he enjoyed the racquet and was buying them off of fleabay and adding a little weight to them.

They had great feel to them.

 

[t-pain1991]

 

[GeorgeChen]

Looks like Paula back to steam 100

 

[Rayzor]

Yeah I have kind of given up haha (Some of the prices I've seen plus shipping to AU is insanely high). I'll just pray for when Wilson realizes how popular a steam mould would be and especially with how many WTA players use it, indicates that it is a frame which could make them a lot of money. Plaster Badosa, Raducanu and what not and boom!

Yeah I have kind of given up haha (Some of the prices I've seen plus shipping to AU is insanely high). I'll just pray for when Wilson realizes how popular a steam mould would be and especially with how many WTA players use it, indicates that it is a frame which could make them a lot of money. Plaster Badosa, Raducanu and what not and boom!

I just bought 3 of these in relatively good condition at the online marketplace that Offers items Up. Two are size L2 grip and one is L3. All three of them are the same non-Amplifeel versions like @slipgrip93

 

[slipgrip93]

Badosa missed AO due to her thigh injury at Adelaide, unfortunately, where she was using her steam 100 again (getty image).

For the AO 1st round participants, getty images show these players are using their steam 100 molds, under blade paintjobs, (links to getty images) :

Raducanu,
Linda Fruhvirtova,
Ostapenko,
Petra Martic,
Anisimova,
Haddad Maia, - match may be going on, no getty images yet. She was using the steam 100 mold at united cup, brisbane at end of Dec.
Oksana Selekhmeteva , edit: 20yo russian who made it through the qualifiers, out 1st round.

Kostyuk, who d. Anisimova this 1st round, seems to have moved on from the steam 100 mold to a 16x18 blade painted frame, maybe a steam 99(?)
Samsonova seems to have moved on from her Steam 99 mold to a Head racquet in her 1st round AO.

(edit) & Kateryna Baindl, another ukrainian player who made it to the 3rd round AO (gettypic).

(edit) So ten wta players at this AO used a steam 100 or a steam 99. They have all been eliminated as of now (1/24), but it goes to show these 2012-2014 steam frames are still used sometimes for decent round results at GS's and on tour for these ladies. The last time that a steam 100 was used in winning a gs major was Emma at USO 2021. And Badosa winning Indian Wells 2021 with her steam 100.

 

[dekxter]

Linda's younger sister, Brenda looks to also use the Steam 100 (16x20, however it doesn't have the white grommets.. so maybe something different but I'd find that hard to believe given the sisters have very similar play style)

 

[dekxter]

I just bought 3 of these in relatively good condition at the online marketplace that Offers items Up. Two are size L2 grip and one is L3. All three of them are the same non-Amplifeel versions like @slipgrip93

Was it off the bay and from Japan? I am half tempted again.... But given I am an 18x20.. I wonder how much different a 16x20 would feel.