Arm friendly racquets for flat heavey hitters?

[Lawnmower]

Hey, I've decided to ditch my Kblade. It's just too stiff and makes my arm hurt.

I'm looking for ideas of racquets to demo that are more arm friendly but still suit a hard hitting, flatter stocks game.

Thanks!

 

[TheLama]

Hey, I've decided to ditch my Kblade. It's just too stiff and makes my arm hurt.

I'm looking for ideas of racquets to demo that are more arm friendly but still suit a hard hitting, flatter stocks game.

Thanks!

What is your level of play?

If you used the KBlade, can I assume that your level was NRTP 5.0 or higher?

If not, the KBlade may not have been the issue, but mishitting probably was.

With that being said, if you want a soft stick period, look into the Volkl Classic V1, called the arm saver, or its nano tech upgrade, the PB V1. They work well with long, flat strokes.

If you want a soft player's stick, look at the following:

Volkl PB 10 MP
Volkl PB 10 Mid...16x19 but plays flat shots like an 18x20...best of both worlds.
Boris Becker Delta Core Legend
Yonex RDiS 100 MP
Yonex RQ iS 1 Tour XL 95
Yonex RQ iS 2 Tour

 

[Lawnmower]

What is your level of play?

If you used the KBlade, can I assume that your level was NRTP 5.0 or higher?

If not, the KBlade may not have been the issue, but mishitting probably was.

With that being said, if you want a soft stick period, look into the Volkl Classic V1, called the arm saver, or its nano tech upgrade, the PB V1. They work well with long, flat strokes.

If you want a soft player's stick, look at the following:

Volkl PB 10 MP
Volkl PB 10 Mid...16x19 but plays flat shots like an 18x20...best of both worlds.
Boris Becker Delta Core Legend
Yonex RDiS 100 MP
Yonex RQ iS 1 Tour XL 95
Yonex RQ iS 2 Tour

Thanks for those suggestions, I'll look into those.

I'm a 15 year old junior around 5.0 I would say.

Have you tried any of the new price racquets? My friend said to look into them because they are supposed to be arm friendly.

 

[TheLama]

Thanks for those suggestions, I'll look into those.

I'm a 15 year old junior around 5.0 I would say.

Have you tried any of the new price racquets? My friend said to look into them because they are supposed to be arm friendly.

OK. I thought that you were a senior age group player. Therefore, forget about all of the Yonex's. They just don't work for most male juniors.

I coach a lot of juniors, so I can probably really help you.

What is your style of play, compare to an active player?
Are you ranked in your section?

The Prince stick that Monfils uses is fairly soft, as well as the stick that Sharapova switched to.

 

[Lawnmower]

OK. I thought that you were a senior age group player. Therefore, forget about all of the Yonex's. They just don't work for most male juniors.

I coach a lot of juniors, so I can probably really help you.

What is your style of play, compare to an active player?
Are you ranked in your section?

The Prince stick that Monfils uses is fairly soft, as well as the stick that Sharapova switched to.

Yeah yonex's don't seen too popular in juniors

I'd say my style is something close to Del Potro's.

I have a good serve, big forehand....and a pretty solid backhand. I tend to stick to the baseline and dictate points.

I'm probably going to demo the monfils stick.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Yeah yonex's don't seen too popular in juniors

I'd say my style is something close to Del Potro's.

I have a good serve, big forehand....and a pretty solid backhand. I tend to stick to the baseline and dictate points.

I'm probably going to demo the monfils stick.

You failed to answer the ranking question. Also, which section do you play in? Some sections are less competitive than others, and therefore the general NTRP ratings at a given ranking will be lower than those of the same ranking in a more competitive section.

If you live in an area where competition isn't that great, that 5.0 level of yours should make you #1 varsity singles in your high school this coming semester. If you live in a competitive region, you should be #2 minimal, unless you're in one of the richer schools that generally get the most loaded players. In that case, you're looking at #3 JV doubles. Haha jk. But you'll be varsity sub or #1 JV singles.

 

[Lawnmower]

You failed to answer the ranking question. Also, which section do you play in? Some sections are less competitive than others, and therefore the general NTRP ratings at a given ranking will be lower than those of the same ranking in a more competitive section.

If you live in an area where competition isn't that great, that 5.0 level of yours should make you #1 varsity singles in your high school this coming semester. If you live in a competitive region, you should be #2 minimal, unless you're in one of the richer schools that generally get the most loaded players. In that case, you're looking at #3 JV doubles. Haha jk. But you'll be varsity sub or #1 JV singles.

I don't play highschool tennis, haha. I'm homeschooled.
In the pac west I'm top 20. Right now I'm living in california for a season training.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

I don't play highschool tennis, haha. I'm homeschooled.
In the pac west I'm top 20. Right now I'm living in california for a season training.

If that's what I think it is, that puts you at around 5.5-6.0 in my guess, minimal. What's your national ranking? If you could find a nBlade 98 and lead that up, you might like it. But I think you should look at Volkl first. Wilson's selections have become rather stiff recently. I heard the next line of Wilson rackets are more flexible, but I don't plan on seriously using those things. And were you using the 98 or the tour version? If you used the 98, try to find a few nBlades and lead them up to the same specs.

I know someone who was #5 in Boys 16s in Southern California (which is really competitive), and that's roughly a 6.0-6.5. He hit #25 in the 18s division about 7 months later, which is a year ago. He played #1 for Beverly Hills if I'm not mistaken.

 

[TheLama]

I don't play highschool tennis, haha. I'm homeschooled.
In the pac west I'm top 20. Right now I'm living in california for a season training.

You could give the Monfils Prince a shot, but I would recommend the following, in order of arm protection first, for you level and style of play:

BB Legend
Volkl PB 10 MP
Volk PB 10 Mid
Babolat Strom Ltd.
Wilson 6.1 16x19
Wilson 6.1 18x20

Also, do not use full poly. You should hybrid as a flat ball hitter, and go for a soft poly that has a lot of bite, like Volkl Cyclone.

BTW: Where in Cali are you training and what do your coaches have to say?

 

[GinoGinelli]

.........................

 

[aphex]

microgel prestige mid.

 

[pshulam]

If that's what I think it is, that puts you at around 5.5-6.0 in my guess, minimal.

How could a 5.5-6.0 player ask for advice for a tennis racquet?

 

[ksmn]

How could a 5.5-6.0 player ask for advice for a tennis racquet?

Simple answer is that most players think they are rated much higher than they are. The local high schol singles players wouldn't stand a chance in the 4.5 league and would have a losing record at 4.0

4.5 leagues are filled with teching pros and former college players.

 

[pshulam]

4.5 leagues are filled with teching pros and former college players.

Agreed - it's tough to compete in 4.5 leagues. These are very good players.

 

[TheLama]

Simple answer is that most players think they are rated much higher than they are. The local high schol singles players wouldn't stand a chance in the 4.5 league and would have a losing record at 4.0

4.5 leagues are filled with teching pros and former college players.

AND THAT IS WHY LEAGUES ARE BOGUS!

Every cheat wants to be rated lower so he could win. This is America; winning, is everything.

 

[anirut]

Arm friendly for a flat hitter?

OK, you're a junior. Are you willing to be "the odd one out" amongst your peers?

If so, take a look at Pro Kennex Redondo Mid or Black Ace Mid. Soft as a baby's butt. These are not power monsters, but, per your mentioned NTRP, you'd be putting the ball on a dime all day. Spin production, as you'd know, depends on you, not the racket. So I don't think this'd be an issue. And look at the price compared to other brands.

The PB10 mid's also very good per Lama's description.

 

[Kemitak]

Don't commit to anything until you've tried the Redondo. I think it's the best racquet out there for high-level players.

 

[Boxofweasels]

+1 on the Redondo or Black Ace.

 

[DEH]

How about the Gamma T-7. I just ordered a couple and I will see if they are as soft as people claim. BTW there is some great deals going on with these racquets until the end of the year.

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

I don't play highschool tennis, haha. I'm homeschooled.
In the pac west I'm top 20. Right now I'm living in california for a season training.

It's hard to damage a 15-yr-old arm. (At least, it used to be, before the era of full-poly setups.) Overtraining is a possibility to be considered: if you aren't that keen on switching racquets, some time off might be all you need... and might be needed even if you do switch racquets.

Long ago I managed acute tendonitis even at age 19, but all it took was a couple months of easier training to rest the arm for it to go away. Teenage arms are resilient.

 

[mawashi]

Personally the KBlades are Wilson's attempt to copy the head prestiges but they didn't do that good a job.

I would say give the MGMP n new Youtek prestige mp a try before getting any new sticks.

mawashi

 

[mela]

I coach a lot of juniors, so I can probably really help you.

OT: Dear TheLama, do You known old Wilson Pro Staff 7.1 ( http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=124499 )?

In Your opinion do is Wilson Pro Staff 7.1 even today a good racquet?

thanks and excuse me for OT

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

How could a 5.5-6.0 player ask for advice for a tennis racquet?

Ever heard of Clint Thompson? He's in the top 800 in the world, and he asked for equipment advice including rackets and strings.

Or are you saying people within that range along should never ask for advice?

You're such a ****in' idiot. There are plenty of high level players (or parents of high level players) that ask for advice on new equipment because it can help save time and money and narrow down your choices and give you a direction of where to look.

 

[threed]

Volkl PB10 MP (or MP light) stringed with Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17.

Very good control, great feel, arm friendly and in the same time, bit forgiving on of-center hits and returns.

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

You're such a ****in' idiot. There are plenty of high level players (or parents of high level players) that ask for advice on new equipment because it can help save time and money and narrow down your choices and give you a direction of where to look.

You're certainly right, but... jeez. Don't they have decaf where you are?

 

[threed]

Friend of mine, who was playing into national league as kid.
Definitely 6.0+ ratting.

So he was using stock Aero Pro Drive and was bit struggling against heavy hitters. Told him to try another racquet. He is now playing with the Storm Limited and enjoying a lot

So I gave him racquet advice, but can hardly get even single game from him.

 

[TheLama]

OT: Dear TheLama, do You known old Wilson Pro Staff 7.1 ( http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=124499 )?

In Your opinion do is Wilson Pro Staff 7.1 even today a good racquet?

thanks and excuse me for OT

Its a great frame, and real soft, partially due to the kevlar. If yours is worn-out:

Best traditional frame match: Volkl C 10 Pro 98 (has kevlar)
Best nano tech frame match" Volkl PB 10 Mid 93

 

[mela]

thanks
Wilson Pro Staff 7.1 dont have Kevlar but Fiberglass.

 

[JackB1]

Personally the KBlades are Wilson's attempt to copy the head prestiges but they didn't do that good a job.

I would say give the MGMP n new Youtek prestige mp a try before getting any new sticks.

mawashi

I dont think the KBlade is anything like the Prestige. The Blade is a much stiffer and more powerful racquet. The Prestige is a CONTROL frame requiring the user to supply all the power. Very different if you ask me.

 

[EKnee08]

I dont think the KBlade is anything like the Prestige. The Blade is a much stiffer and more powerful racquet. The Prestige is a CONTROL frame requiring the user to supply all the power. Very different if you ask me.

Look at the Youtek Prestige MP when it comes out as well as the Youtek Rad MP, for comparison purposes or the Dunlop 200. The Youteks are arm friendly.
Alternatively, could it be the string and/or tension?