Before Talk Tennis

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Figure....
Lots of pros use around 50 tension. But they hit harder than us, and they face a harder incoming ball from their opponents.
If they can control their shots with 50 lbs tension, it stands to reason we should control our shots with LOWER string tension, because we not only don't hit as hard, we don't face nearly as fast an incoming ball.
I've been using 47 lbs tension with SolincoTourBite 16 for 3 months now, and it provides MORE control because I don't need to swing fast to get lots of topspin and ball speed.
Me not having to swing as fast, I can control my swings better...:shock:
I've hit with Shroud, and used his rackets. His 30 lbs tension is easy to control, and very comfortable.
While I wouldn't recommend going that low, something under 50 lbs and a nice swing through the ball with a WW finish should provide all the control you need, while giving comfort and a big powerful shot that you can hit repeatedly with less effort than you now need.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Figure....
Lots of pros use around 50 tension. But they hit harder than us, and they face a harder incoming ball from their opponents.
If they can control their shots with 50 lbs tension, it stands to reason we should control our shots with LOWER string tension, because we not only don't hit as hard, we don't face nearly as fast an incoming ball.
I've been using 47 lbs tension with SolincoTourBite 16 for 3 months now, and it provides MORE control because I don't need to swing fast to get lots of topspin and ball speed.
Me not having to swing as fast, I can control my swings better...:shock:
I've hit with Shroud, and used his rackets. His 30 lbs tension is easy to control, and very comfortable.
While I wouldn't recommend going that low, something under 50 lbs and a nice swing through the ball with a WW finish should provide all the control you need, while giving comfort and a big powerful shot that you can hit repeatedly with less effort than you now need.

Thanks LeeD. You give valid points, and I think I will try stringing my pro open with synthetic @47lbs next time!
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Your PDR with 15 gauge nylon at 46 lbs.
Damped feel, solid consistent power, lasts a long time, teaches you to hit through the ball, not brush up on it, super easy on your body parts.
No need for more tension, as some pros barely use 50 lbs., and can control their shots.

Do you use 15 gauge rope? See you are using TB. Strung a C10 at 52# w/TierOne Firewire poly. Control is awesome. Spin incredible.
 
Last edited:

Hi I'm Ray

Professional
Mike,

Sounds like its become a habit or you're just in rut and are turning to equipment. Take a few from a good coach and practice & improve on what you learn - even better if you've got a willing practice partner. When you see how much you are improving you'll probably forget about equipment and keep working on your game.

Probably not a good idea to use a racket that you know will mess up your arm.
 

palmerop

Rookie
Figure....
Lots of pros use around 50 tension. But they hit harder than us, and they face a harder incoming ball from their opponents.
If they can control their shots with 50 lbs tension, it stands to reason we should control our shots with LOWER string tension, because we not only don't hit as hard, we don't face nearly as fast an incoming ball.
I've been using 47 lbs tension with SolincoTourBite 16 for 3 months now, and it provides MORE control because I don't need to swing fast to get lots of topspin and ball speed.
Me not having to swing as fast, I can control my swings better...:shock:
I've hit with Shroud, and used his rackets. His 30 lbs tension is easy to control, and very comfortable.
While I wouldn't recommend going that low, something under 50 lbs and a nice swing through the ball with a WW finish should provide all the control you need, while giving comfort and a big powerful shot that you can hit repeatedly with less effort than you now need.

Me I'm down at 42 lbs. very comfortable with a full bed of poly. Playing three times a week two hr each time no harm problem with light and stiff racquet. I've been decreasing my string tension two pounds at a time and it feels like there is no bottom really. Worth trying before switching racquet. Apart from the frankenpog is anybody else going below 40 lbs?
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Mike,

Sounds like its become a habit or you're just in rut and are turning to equipment. Take a few from a good coach and practice & improve on what you learn - even better if you've got a willing practice partner. When you see how much you are improving you'll probably forget about equipment and keep working on your game.

Probably not a good idea to use a racket that you know will mess up your arm.

Yeah I just don't have time right now for a coach. I don't know what racket to buy, because the APD is the best style of racket for me. Like you said, don't want to kill my arm but idk lots of people use them.
 

Hi I'm Ray

Professional
Yeah I just don't have time right now for a coach. I don't know what racket to buy, because the APD is the best style of racket for me. Like you said, don't want to kill my arm but idk lots of people use them.
Yes but you mentioned you already have arm pain.

Yeah I feel I play best with those types of rackets too - APD, VC 100s, PDR.
I string right around 50-53lbs Poly mains and use syn gut or multi to soften up the string bed which really makes a big difference, esp multi's. I only use poly crosses sometimes and its a really soft one: Iontec Salmon.

Of course, there are rackets that play very similar to the APD/PD but with much better comfort: XV1 MP, Pure Storm, Blade 98, etc... Of course that doesn't help the racket addiction but at least its easier on your arm.
 
Last edited:

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Yes but you mentioned you already have arm pain.

Yeah I feel I play best with those types of rackets too - APD, VC 100s, PDR.
I string right around 50-53lbs Poly mains and use syn gut or multi to soften up the string bed which really makes a big difference, esp multi's. I only use poly crosses sometimes and its a really soft one: Iontec Salmon.

Of course, there are rackets that play very similar to the APD/PD but with much better comfort: XV1 MP, Pure Storm, Blade 98, etc... Of course that doesn't help the racket addiction but at least its easier on your arm.

What about the v1Pro? Jack, I know you had it for a while. TW Andy says its like a more comfy APD in his review and that's enough for me to buy it without demoing. Love volkl feel.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
What about the v1Pro? Jack, I know you had it for a while. TW Andy says its like a more comfy APD in his review and that's enough for me to buy it without demoing. Love volkl feel.

I found it harder to use than I would like, but in the right hands,a very good racquet. Felt very tip heavy to me and wasn't as manuevarable as I like. Power is also nowhere near APD levels.
Spin generation was also very average. Better for semi-flat hitters. I think a leaded up V1 MP would be a better choice for you.

If you want something APD - like with comfort, I think the Prince Warrior 100 or the Donnay Formula 100 are perfect choices. Also the Solinco 300.
 
Last edited:

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
I found it harder to use than I would like, but in the right hands,a very good racquet. Felt very tip heavy to me and wasn't as manuevarable as I like. Power is also nowhere near APD levels.
Spin generation was also very average. Better for semi-flat hitters. I think a leaded up V1 MP would be a better choice for you.

If you want something APD - like with comfort, I think the Prince Warrior 100 or the Donnay Formula 100 are perfect choices. Also the Solinco 300.

Good to know. Thanks.
 

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
Mike you probably have received more racquet advice then anyone in the history of TT .

The only way to stop the obsession is to stop posting.

I've given you my advice and enjoyed the banter... I have seen your hitting video and know it would be love at first hit, I even offered to buy the racquet from you if you didn't like it.

I also believe dropping the tension on your PDR to 46 # with light gauge string ( poly ) like MSV focus hex or cyclone would produce great results too.... I have seen many trusted posters suggest that as well.

But you my young friend I gotta let it go....you remind me of Mr. Toad and his manias from the wind in the willows " a motorcar, eee gads what have I been missing....I must have it!"
:)
 
Last edited:

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Mike you probably have received more racquet advice then anyone in the history of TT .

The only way to stop the obsession is to stop posting.

I've given you my advice and enjoyed the banter... I have seen your hitting video and know it would be love at first hit, I even offered to buy the racquet from you if you didn't like it.

I also believe dropping the tension on your PDR to 46 # with light gauge string ( poly ) like MSV focus hex or cyclone would produce great results too.... I have seen many trusted posters suggest that as well.

But you my young friend I gotta let it go....you remind me of Mr. Toad and his manias from the wind in the willows " a motorcar, eee gads what have I been missing....I must have it!"
:)

Yeah, well to be quite honest here I legitimately have ADD and take meds for it. I attribute that and my addictive nature to my shenanigans. Guess what though.....played amazingly tonight with a great group of older people at a cardio and drills session. Realized that I need look no further for equipment. It was up to me when it came to what I wanted the ball to do. It had nothing to do with the equipment. Also, the RPM blast went through its breakin phase and feels phenomenal now.

I'm taking a leave of absence from TT.
 

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
Good luck Mike.

I suffer from "too much stuff syndrome" working hard to get it under control myself big sell off of lots of stuff is well underway, been going on all summer.

.....this forum has helped me a lot fine tune my racquet set up but luckily for me I had already found the unquestionably best frames for my game.....or I could easily have whipped up the same mania and been chasing my tail in a frantic frame quest.

I think I will sell off the 2012 PDR+ just to make certain I don't go off on a new, unnecessary quest.

Consolidate your collection, cull the herd down to a few special frames and go get "em!

Thanks for all your enjoyable posts!!
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Too much stuff syndrome....
5 surfboards, 7 if you count my surf/kiteboards.
6 snowboards.
11 tennis rackets.
23 windsurf boards, and I"m buying another one soon!
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Thank you, both! It's been fun, and I will probably eventually come back to talk about my endeavors and some new racket that came out. Strat, glad TT has helped you and good luck getting yourself to sell all the extra "stuff" :)
 

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
Too much stuff syndrome....
5 surfboards, 7 if you count my surf/kiteboards.
6 snowboards.
11 tennis rackets.
23 windsurf boards, and I"m buying another one soon!

Ha ha, impressive but not even close to the absurd ridiculous amounts of stuff I had/have....

Had 25+ stratocasters at one point...down to 2 keepers, plus one les paul and one tele. Had 6 acoustic guitars down to 1 vintage Gibson. Down to one G/L electric bass from several and down to 2 combo amps from several. Making big progress there but I still get the shakes driving by Guitar Center. A new high end vintage guitar shop opened up next town over....bad, bad for me cold sweats driving by that place...but haven't gone in!!

Had over 25 pairs of skis at one point down to about 4 (dunno need to count em) was an instructor and pro formed 2 pair a year for years....

Lotsa camera stuff but use most of it tho some cull is needed....

Had 6 road bikes down to 2 keepers....

6 sets of golf irons, all ready to be put into play culled down from over 10....needs to be culled. All high ended forged stuff of course Mizuno etc, no junk....the golf gear is a problem.....

Stereo gear, yep got too much of that too....

Making progress, tennis racquets? Got a lot of work to do culling that herd!

I guess step one is realizing how ridiculous it is......

Step one achieved.
 

princema920

New User
On a serious note, though, Talk Tennis is like an addiction sometimes. I'll occasionally feel like checking through each and every section just to hear people's opinions. Not to get too deep. But I actually purchased my IG Prestige Mid on the recommendation of vsbabolat. I don't know who's in charge of sales and marketing at TW. But I'm sure their profits skyrocketed after this forum was introduced.

It's a conspiracy !:evil:
 

hrstrat57

Hall of Fame
Thank you, both! It's been fun, and I will probably eventually come back to talk about my endeavors and some new racket that came out. Strat, glad TT has helped you and good luck getting yourself to sell all the extra "stuff" :)

Ha ha, c/list has been my friend lately!

You never mind the new racquets.

Just remember one last suggestion.

ELT is magic!

Commence string mania!!

A lot cheaper than racquet mania!

:twisted:
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
I see you point, and bow to thee....
But I have 14 windsurf boards on Oahu, and I haven't been there in 20 years!
All bought new, of course, and pro form, team rider, or employee discount.
I do work (gardening) for a guy who has 12 high end guitars, possibly 15, but he got his butt blown off on that Cutter out in Iraq that caught the Exocet amidships.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
I couldn't stay away. Lol

I've had tennis elbow for three days, and have been doing some thinking. Gonna try multi first in the pdr because I love the ball this frame hits.
 

brokenRPM

Rookie
Before talk tennis, I NEVER worried about my equipment. I blamed losses on my performance, not my equipment. I played number 1 doubles on varsity and I was the team captain...what did I use back then? A prince oversize o3. Yep. NEVER had arm issues. I used syngut and I was happy!

So, here's my question to you all: should I sell my pure drive roddick and all the frames I don't like and go back to an oversize, maeuverable frame like I used to use back in high school?

same here. when i am in strip joints, i think about what tension I should use on my new pure drives' hybrids next week. and i have already known i can't use babolats and yet i got more new ones. it's weird kind of addiction...just one more time LOL.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
I couldn't stay away. Lol

I've had tennis elbow for three days, and have been doing some thinking. Gonna try multi first in the pdr because I love the ball this frame hits.

Get PP to send you the flexbar that I sent him. It should keep circulationg to fellow TT members that need it :) Best thing for TE...period.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Get PP to send you the flexbar that I sent him. It should keep circulationg to fellow TT members that need it :) Best thing for TE...period.

Just curious, was your tennis elbow hurting at that muscle that's like a ball right on top of your forearm? Like when you flex your wrist back, is it that muscle?
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
Just curious, was your tennis elbow hurting at that muscle that's like a ball right on top of your forearm? Like when you flex your wrist back, is it that muscle?

Yes that's the spot. it's the tendon that is inflamed or overused.

elbow_latepi_symptoms01.jpg


If you hold out your arm straight in fromt of you, palm down, does it hurt when you flex your wrist downwards and pull your fingers towards you?
if so, that's TE.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Yes that's the spot. it's the tendon that is inflamed or overused.

elbow_latepi_symptoms01.jpg


If you hold out your arm straight in fromt of you, palm down, does it hurt when you flex your wrist downwards and pull your fingers towards you?
if so, that's TE.

Yup, that's what I got. I actually have changed my technique on my forehand side, and my other arm hurts as well, which means to me that it's an equipment problem. My backhand is pretty solid IMO.
 

BlueB

Legend
Ha ha, impressive but not even close to the absurd ridiculous amounts of stuff I had/have....

Had 25+ stratocasters at one point...down to 2 keepers, plus one les paul and one tele. Had 6 acoustic guitars down to 1 vintage Gibson. Down to one G/L electric bass from several and down to 2 combo amps from several. Making big progress there but I still get the shakes driving by Guitar Center. A new high end vintage guitar shop opened up next town over....bad, bad for me cold sweats driving by that place...but haven't gone in!!

Had over 25 pairs of skis at one point down to about 4 (dunno need to count em) was an instructor and pro formed 2 pair a year for years....

Lotsa camera stuff but use most of it tho some cull is needed....

Had 6 road bikes down to 2 keepers....

6 sets of golf irons, all ready to be put into play culled down from over 10....needs to be culled. All high ended forged stuff of course Mizuno etc, no junk....the golf gear is a problem.....

Stereo gear, yep got too much of that too....

Making progress, tennis racquets? Got a lot of work to do culling that herd!

I guess step one is realizing how ridiculous it is......

Step one achieved.
He, he, ridiculous but nice :)
40+ snowboards
5 pairs of skis,
15+ fly and other fishing rods,
15 racquets,
8 slalom and longboard skateboards + few boxes of wheels and trucks...
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
There's ZERO outdoors tennis by this time of year lol. I have to resort to playing at the MSU tennis facility once every other week or so.

That bites. Played outdoors 4 days/row this week. Only missed Halloween, thunder and lightning, very.............you know the rest.
 

loubapache

Professional
You guys need to move a little north to where I am (about 50 miles north of you). :) We are still playing outdoor tennis. It rained out today but we are playing again on Sunday afternoon.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
You guys need to move a little north to where I am (about 50 miles north of you). :) We are still playing outdoor tennis. It rained out today but we are playing again on Sunday afternoon.

Are you near Midland? May play Sunday but time will fall back, dark before 5:30 pm.
 

loubapache

Professional
Wait, where are you? It's been freezing here in mid Michigan.

Big Rapids. Not too bad this week, about 50 degrees high temp. We switch to pressureless balls if it is too cold. There is also one of the very few Pro Tennis Mgmt programs in town so lots of tennis opportunities.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Big Rapids. Not too bad this week, about 50 degrees high temp. We switch to pressureless balls if it is too cold. There is also one of the very few Pro Tennis Mgmt programs in town so lots of tennis opportunities.

Dude I have a friend that just got accepted to Ferris States Tennis mgmt program! Small world. Seriously though, I hate playing in this weather lol. Ever come to the Lansing area?
 

loubapache

Professional
Dude I have a friend that just got accepted to Ferris States Tennis mgmt program! Small world. Seriously though, I hate playing in this weather lol. Ever come to the Lansing area?

There are many good players in the program. Its DII program is also pretty good.

Not too often to the Lansing area but one of the best players here moved to the Lansing area last year. He is playing out of Court One Athletic Club East.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
If I play 100 days of tennis a year, for sure, at least 60 is below 57 degrees, at least 15 below 50 degrees, and for sure, at least 10 are below 45 degrees air temp at the time I'm on court. NO days warmer than 80, because I don't play in heat spells.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
There are many good players in the program. Its DII program is also pretty good.

Not too often to the Lansing area but one of the best players here moved to the Lansing area last year. He is playing out of Court One Athletic Club East.

My friend is a 3.5 that can compete at 4.0 just fine. Me and him are pretty evenly matched.

I actually had a membership there for a month, but it's ungodly expensive and not worth it for me. I have a friend that teaches young beginners there.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
If I play 100 days of tennis a year, for sure, at least 60 is below 57 degrees, at least 15 below 50 degrees, and for sure, at least 10 are below 45 degrees air temp at the time I'm on court. NO days warmer than 80, because I don't play in heat spells.

LeeD I have played in 95 degree heat haha. I was dead for the rest of the day though....
 

loubapache

Professional
My friend is a 3.5 that can compete at 4.0 just fine. Me and him are pretty evenly matched.

I actually had a membership there for a month, but it's ungodly expensive and not worth it for me. I have a friend that teaches young beginners there.

When they graduate, the goal is to get them to about 4.5 level with a USPTA certification.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Bro-in-law played bball for Ferris State. Midland has a $100,000 ITF tennis tourney in Feb. Saw Alexandria Stevenson there last yr.
 
Top