For the past, like, forever, I've been playing with the Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet. As a matter of fact, this racket has worked so well for me, that I have 5 of them in my bag at this very moment. I've been so happy with it that I've never given another type of racket a second thought until Nicole with Wilson Sports asked if I'd like to demo a Wilson BURN FST 99S racket. And all I can say, is that I'm in love!

I first played with it during my Saturday drill and in a practice match afterward, so I could really get the feel of it. Though it weighs a mere 11.1 oz., this aerodynamic, carbon fiber graphite racket, with its "grippy", 18-17 string pattern was designed for both power and spin, allowing me to hit my groundies much deeper and with more topspin, but with less effort (this video from Wilson explains it better). Unfortunately, it was also easier to hit balls long, which made me wonder if it was just me, or if maybe the racket had something to do with it, (which means, yep... more time with it on the courts! Yaaassss!!)

Then there's the ergonomic grip. Notice how the shaft is a little longer than mine, maybe by a half inch, or so. That might not seem like much, but for a two-hander like me, it makes a HUGE difference in ball control! And get this... The top half has special inserts (in two different sizes) which slightly enlarge the grip for my non-dominant hand, giving me even more control. Love, love, LOVE that feature! It's sensor-ready, too!

It's hard to get a true feel for such a unique racket based on just a one time play, so last week, I took it out on the court a few more times. A practice match after work on Monday, a two hour marathon with the ball machine on Thursday night, and drills again on the following Saturday. My tennis life is SO good! The more I hit with it, the more comfortable I got, and fewer were the balls that went long.

In my opinion, this racket is a baseliner's dream. Aside from it's sexy styling and matte finish, it has a nice blend of power and control, easily generating lots of topspin and slice. The longer shaft and comfortable ergonomic grip with not one, but two sets of inserts is a huge plus for two-handers, too, adding even more control to our backhands. I played with the ones that came pre-installed, but I think I would prefer the slightly larger ones (sweet - more "testing" on the courts!). And lastly, it's has sensor compatibility, perfect for the tennis techies looking to improve their game. Man! Tennis rackets have come a long way, baby!

This racket was designed for players who like to grip it and rip it, and will be available at tennis specialty retailers and on www.wilson.com on Monday, February 15, for $249.00 (USD).

Overall, this tennis chick gives the Wilson BURN FST 99S a 5 out of 5 stars Here's a quick summary of all that you get, the rest is up to you!

• HIGH PERFORMANCE CARBON FIBER offers increased frame stiffness for aggressive, explosive power.
• FST OCTAGON FRAME GEOMETRY allows air to flow around the frame so it cuts through the air at any angle of attack for fast racket head speed.
• WILSON X2ERGO SHAFT offers a longer, customizable grip (with two set of inserts), creating more control for the two-handed backhand.
• SENSOR COMPATIBILITY offers easy attachment of the SONY Smart Sensor.
• SPIN EFFECT TECHNOLOGY is the first of its kind, using a unique string pattern that "grips" the ball for more spin.