Wrist Advice, Please help..

[hgt]

I have been having problems with my right wrist ulnar area since Nov-05. The pain just came suddenly, not from a fall. But very painful, could not even turn a can-opener. So in Jan-06, I had a cortisone shot there and it helped for a couple months but the pain came back. I think it may be my tennis gear or my tennis form. My forehand may be to wristy. I use a Head IX6 OS with kevlar strings@61. I feel this racquet is very light and great for groundstrokes but too fragile for a net game which my contribute to my wrist pain. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have looked at all the previous wrist threads.
Thanks.

[Marius_Hancu]

It could both gear and form (yes, FH too wristy, too much windshield wipering, scooping the ball, etc). You must correct that or else you might be off for months.

FWIW
check my posting here:

Best arm friendly racquets?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=77937

check my signature here:

Great fitness sites
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=33800

esp the Wrist Pain sections

[Marius_Hancu]

Not sure about the data for your exact racquet, but:

Head Intelligence i.X3 Oversize Racquets
Strung Weight: 9.9oz / 281g
Balance: 2 pts Head Heavy
Swingweight: 316
Stiffness: 70

This weight and this stiffness would take anyone in the area "I deserve and will be punished for my stupidity"

Use heavier, head light, less stiff, racquets.

[Marius_Hancu]

Get some FH lessons from a good coach to which you explain your problems. I can bet you're all wrist. Need to use your legs, your torso, your racquet trajectory, to get topspin in other ways.

Don't go the cortison way, that will only weaken your tissues.

[hgt]

Marius, this is the racquet I use.
I assume I should change racquets???

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCHEAD-IX6.html

Thanks for your straight forwardness.

[hgt]

Since my wrist didn't get better in 2 months, I decided to try something different so I got a cortisone shot. I knew it wasn't a long term solution but I wanted to try something different. I will NOT get another shot.
Thanks for your advice.

[Marius_Hancu]

Marius, this is the racquet I use.
I assume I should change racquets???

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCHEAD-IX6.html

Yes. It's even worse.

Strung Weight: 9.8oz / 278g
Balance: 6 pts Head Heavy
Swingweight: 316
Stiffness: 73

[kicker75]

Probably both your racquet and form (though impossible for me to tell the specifics). Have you tried using natural gut in a heavier frame? That combo should help lessen vibration and add stability, and hopefully will relieve stress in your wrist when hitting shots.

[Swissv2]

carpel tunnel?

[Marius_Hancu]

Check the recommendations at the end of this article (part of my Sticky above):

CLINICAL ASPECTS OF EXTENSOR CARPI ULNARIS (ECU) INJURIES IN THE PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER
B. Montalvan, J. Parier, J.P. Cousteau, D. le Viet, French Tennis Federation, Paris
http://www.stms.nl/june2001/artikel23.htm

then watch the Figures 1 and 2 in it.

If you do that windshield wiper on a consistent basis from the baseline, your wrist will be finished long-term. I mean this is valid on a statistical basis for many of those playing this way .

Don't risk your health.

[hgt]

Thanks for caring...
Can I add weight to the handle of my current racquet to make it heavier and head light? I tried other racquets but this one feels more comfortable and I can generate alot of pace on my forehand. Since the racquet is so light, my wrist may have taken a pounding playing with players that generate alot of pace also. Especially on volleys.

[slewisoh]

Leading up your racquet is not going to address the fact that you are using a stiff frame. 73 is way too high...

I'm a Marius-convert. I switched from a super light but head heavy racquet to a Volkl Catapult 8 and my wrist pain disappeared.

I know your head heavy racquet makes it easy to hit powerful shots but eventually your wrist pain will keep you from hitting any shots. Make a change that will keep you on the courts long term. And please stay away from the cortisone...:(

[Marius_Hancu]

IMO, you need to give up on those kind of racquets. Federer generates lots of ball speed with a heavy racquet. Improve your technique: use your legs, etc. Tennis isn't supposed to be played mainly with your wrists.