Wilson Steam string set up for a 13 yr old

[10ismom]

Need suggestions on string setup for a Wilson Steam racquet.

Player info: 13 yo girl, NRTP~4-4.5, aggressive baseliner, good serves, good tecnique, hits hard with good spins, depth and loves using touch shots. Looking to improve spins.
Current setup is hybrid NXT max16 cross/ Wilson Enduro Pro 16L at 54 lbs. Breaks cross ~ every 3 wk in training or after about 6 matches in a tourney.

Never had an arm or elbow issue, but never wanted to have any.
Thinking of going
1. Hybrid with Natural Gut main and poly cross but not sure what brands and tension. or
2. a full set poly at low tension?

Your suggestion and/or experience is appreciated.

 

[Up&comer]

What exactly are you looking to improve on with a new hybrid? To clarify, she uses enduro pro mains and nxt crosses, right?

 

[10ismom]

What exactly are you looking to improve on with a new hybrid? To clarify, she uses enduro pro mains and nxt crosses, right?

Looking to improve on hitting heavy topspin balls to pull opponents off the court eg. short cross-court angle or deep heavy balls. She likes to hit through the court with spin and pace but not very high clearance over the net.
She has compact take back on both forehand and backhand.
Part of not producing high topspin maybe she forgets to make bigger loop/rhs to create high bouncy topspins.

We recently changed from Blade lite to Steam 100. Been using nxt crosses and enduro pro mains strung at 56 or 54 for over a year now.

 

[10ismom]

Wilson Steam spec

Forgot to mention Wilson Steam spec.

100 sq inch, 3 pt HL, Flex 65
String pattern 16/20
Swing wt 316 gm

Thanks in advance for anyone's help!

 

[Up&comer]

Have you tried lowering the tension first, such as dropping to 48 or 50? That would give her more spin and power, giving a heavier ball.

 

[10ismom]

Have you tried lowering the tension first, such as dropping to 48 or 50? That would give her more spin and power, giving a heavier ball.

Have not tried lowering the tension than manufact. suggestion yet. Certainly could try that. I am afraid that she mihght lose control because her balls are already deep.

With the current set up, do you think changing the Enduro pro to thinner, 17 gauge in the main might help generate more spin? NXT 16 already shreded easily so going to 17 will break easier.

 

[Up&comer]

Have not tried lowering the tension than manufact. suggestion yet. Certainly could try that. I am afraid that she mihght lose control because her balls are already deep.

With the current set up, do you think changing the Enduro pro to thinner, 17 gauge in the main might help generate more spin? NXT 16 already shreded easily so going to 17 will break easier.

It would certainly be worth trying. I'd try one or the other, though, as to not change more than one variable at a time. As long as she keeps her racket head speed up, lowering the tension will only help produce more spin, and yes, a slightly higher launch angle. The lower tension would also encourage her to do what you seem to want her to do: generate the slightly loopier topspin swing. I might try lowering the tension first, and see if she likes that. The thinner gauge would also help give a little more power and spin.

 

[10ismom]

^^will give this option a try after her upcoming tournament.
Thank you.

 

[maggmaster]

I love the fact that one of the most helpful, well spoken posters in this forum is a junior player. This gives me some hope for the future. I agree with the lower tension suggestion.

 

[Up&comer]

^^will give this option a try after her upcoming tournament.
Thank you.

Let us know how it goes. I hope she likes it!

I love the fact that one of the most helpful, well spoken posters in this forum is a junior player. This gives me some hope for the future. I agree with the lower tension suggestion.

 

[10ismom]

Still wonder if there are any other suggestions out there?

We would like to try a few things to compare after her next tournament.

Any suggestions on natural gut/ poly set up or very low tension full poly that is arm- friendly (and will not break the bank) for the Wilson Steam?

 

[Up&comer]

Others will be better to ask about gut poly, but I will go ahead and warn you that full poly, even at a low tension, will be less arm friendly than your or virtually any hybrid. The hot setup with gut poly is gut/msv co focus and it seems Signum pro poly plasma is popular as well. Others have more experience with them than me, though.

 

[10ismom]

^^thanks a lot up&comer. I am concerned about full poly too. Never use that but from reading the board and from hearing others, I am afraid we might lose track and leave poly dead too long. It is easy right now to tell when NXT is real bad.
A friend suggested gut/poly he strings for his 15 and 10 yo boys. I just want a couple more suggested combo to try on her racquet.

 

[shell]

From a female perspective:
I'm about the same rating level as your daughter, but possibly hit a bit more spin than her. She probably hits through the ball better than me.

I would try these set ups as an experiment after tournaments.

Gut main, ploy cross. Pick your poison. She may very well get a bit of extra spin and keep the power along for the ride. I, personally, don't find much additional spin. But yet, I am a spin player anyway, and need the help more hitting through the ball. She sounds opposite, and so it may benefit her.

Try a poly main 18g, such as Big Ace Micro, with a multi cross. This may be where it is at for her. Arm safe, decent power hitting through the ball, but yet a bit more spin.

Avoid full poly. Her game does not sound like it would benefit greatly from this set up, and the risk is too high. When you read these boards, these guys are hitting harder than me or she will. The arm safety is not worth it. You won't get hugh benefits, but will have some liability for a young player's arm.

Just my thoughts. Those are good places to start some experiments for her, and should be similar enough to keep her game relatively similar. She might very well see a benefit in one or the other.

 

[10ismom]

^^ Thanks very much Shell. Will definitely try your suggestion as well.