Wilson Sporting Goods has made some changes to their tennis racquet line for 2012. One thing Wilson has done is to categorize racquet by three types: Control & Spin, Power & Spin, and Power & Comfort. I was able to play-test their new STEAM 100 BLX racquet which is placed in the “Power & Spin” category.
APPEARANCE / STYLE
The WILSON STEAM 100 BLX simply looks great! It has an exciting & colorful red/white/blue/yellow scheme and probably won’t show scratches or other “war-wounds” like some “plain” racquets often do. If you ignore the paint you’ll see that it is a bit of an “old school” design, i.e., flat-beam construction. But, as you read below, it is an “all new” product.
TECHNOLOGY
The WILSON STEAM 100 BLX features two of Wilson’s newer tech features:
1) Basalt (BLX): Basalt fibers are woven into the frame to reduced unwanted frequencies (vibrations) and to provide better feedback and feel;
2) Double Holes: Increased diameter on grommet holes to allow more string freedom which increases the “sweet spot” and adds power.
SPECIFICATIONS
The WILSON STEAM 100 BLX Mid Plus has a 100” head and weighs 10.4 oz. unstrung. It has a moderate16 x 20 pattern and is 5 points* head-light. It has a moderate 23 mm flat beam. It is rated by Wilson as appropriate for players with a medium to long swing. It is an extended-length racquet with a 27 ¼” length.* Wilson literature states 5 pts. HL, however, the frame decal states 8 pts. HL.
GROUNDSTROKES
The STEAM 100 BLX is outstanding at the baseline. It hits groundstrokes with confidence and power. Its control (ball placement) was exceptionally good—one can really swing-away and have some fun moving your opponent around! It is surprisingly quick considering its extended length—getting it around is not any problem at all. The only negative—and it is a very minor issue (I’m being picky)—is it has a slight more vibration than I anticipated. But this only occurs, however, on off-center hits. This vibration did not bother me at all—just surprised me. After about one set I forgot about it.
VOLLEYS
The WILSON STEAM 100 BLX provided excellent control on volleys and its power was above average. It reacts quickly on reflex-volleys and, again, its extended length was not a negative at the net.
OVERHEADS
The STEAM 100 BLX performed well on overhead “smashes”. It was solid and the accuracy was very good.
SERVES
The WILSON STEAM 100 BLX is really in it’s element on serves. I was able to generate excellent racquet-head speed and the extra .25” seems to provide a little more “pop”. I was very impressed with its accuracy and power. It does everything right when serving.
SPIN POTENTIAL
The STEAM 100 BLX provides sufficient spin and its 23mm beam gives enough clearance on slice shots. Whether topspin, underspin, or side-spin, it does it all well.
CONCLUSION
The WILSON STEAM 100 BLX is a racquet that has excellent “feel” and provides good power. Its accuracy is outstanding and it’s a “rock-star” when serving. It should be great for a wide range of players. i.e., “touch” players will love it as well as big-hitting baseliners. It’s a light, modern, well-designed stick that is suitable for players in the 3.0 – 5.0 range (NTRP).
Greg Christopherson is a professional tennis stringer who lives in Oceanside, Calif.
With the new shipment of Dunlop’s Biomimetic racquets and the amazing performance they suggest, let’s take a closer look at the technology and how it works for you.
The concept of Biomimetics in science is the study of nature and how we can utilize the natural ebb and flow of life around us in the technology we use in our daily lives. The oldest example of this is the aerodynamic shape of the airplane taking after a bird in flight. Another, not so recent example is Velcro, modeled after Gecko tack.
Dunlop Biomimetics takes the billions of years of evolution and natural selection and harnesses it into a sleek, stealth and effective weapon on the court.
The Cx Technology in in all Dunlop Biomimetic tennis racquets means that special consideration has been taken when considering the Cx factor, or the Drag Coefficient. The tapered beam cuts through air, reducing drag.
The anatomic construction of Dunlop Biomimetic racquets can be seen at the base of the racquet’s throat and imitates the ways in which natural bone structures move and respond to stress.
The two-part Biomimetic grommet system is made up of 3Dom pods that imitate cartilage and surround the actual (anti-friction) grommets. The pods provide cushioning, dampening and greater movement much like cartilage does for our skeletal system. The anti-friction grommets are modeled after the freedom of movement exhibited by sand sharks. Tiny ridges prevent the racquet string from digging into the grommets, providing more freedom of movement and additional power.
Dunlop Biomimetic tennis racquets have already been tested by the fiercest player in the world, Mother Nature. Take thousands of years of natural selection with you next time you step out on the court and show how natural selection works for you.
Over at the DamnGoodList they have profiled the top 25 female tennis players. The list features so big names and some ladies who are still yet to actually make their mark on tour. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Players include:
Elena Dementieva
Tatiana Golovin
Sania Mirza
Marta Domachowska
and more..
Click here for the full list.
Shanghai, China – LACOSTE, renowned lifestyle brand of relaxed Elegance, and the ATP, governing body for the men’s professional tennis circuit, today announced that they have extended their partnership. LACOSTE will continue as the official apparel and footwear partner of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals until 2013. As the exclusive provider of apparel and footwear on the court of the tournament, LACOSTE will also continue to dress the linesmen and ball kids.
As part of the restructuring of men’s tennis in 2009, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will replace the Tennis Masters Cup, currently held in Shanghai, as the year ending finale of the ATP World Tour. With only the year’s top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the world, including the Grand Slam champions, qualifying to compete, it is the year’s climactic final event that determines the official year-end South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings.
This partnership includes a sales area dedicated to the brand that will offer the next LACOSTE collection, including outfits worn by the LACOSTE champions.
With a strong and unique heritage in the world of sports due to its origins and founder, the famous “Crocodile” tennis champion René Lacoste, LACOSTE today implements an active sponsorship policy. LACOSTE’s values of integrity, performance and elegance are exemplified by a number of ambassadors, including tennis players such as Andy Roddick, Richard Gasquet, Alizé Cornet and Tatiana Golovin. LACOSTE also has a presence at prestigious international tennis tournaments such as the US Open, Roland Garros and the Australian Open; these last two together add up to a cumulative 3.19 billion TV spectators a year worldwide.
“I am delighted that LACOSTE have decided to extend their partnership with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals,” said Etienne de Villiers, Executive Chairman of ATP. “LACOSTE are one of the world’s most inspiring brands and we have had a hugely exciting and successful partnership over the last six years. I am delighted that LACOSTE share in our excitement and vision for our new end-of-season finale.”
“After signing with the Australian Open, renewing the partnership with an event that symbolizes our values of tenacity, performance and excellence such as the finals of the ATP World Tour season is a further demonstration of LACOSTE’s attachment to tennis as well as the voluntary and active policy of our brand in this sport,” said Christophe Chenut, CEO of LACOSTE.
As one of the world’s leading sporting occasions, television coverage of the 2007 Tennis Masters Cup was distributed to over 166 countries and watched by a cumulative worldwide audience of 50 million people. The 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will be held in late November at London’s O2 Arena.
Article courtesy atptennis.com
