Head Rip Control, Hand Numbness

[Jonahan]

I strung up my Pure Drive 2012 w/ HRC @ 58 lbs. After hitting with it for 10 minutes, my hand was numb. I've searched the forum and the web, and haven't seen any similar stories.

The other major change was that I was only using 1 overwrap. I normally use 2 with this racquet, and it is admittedly slightly undersized with only 1 wrap.

I was going to cut it out and string it up w/ some NXT, but thought I'd give it another try tomorrow with a second overwrap.

Anyone have a comment on whether they think it was the strings or the grip causing my problem? Any similar experiences?

[Ramon]

I've tried RIP Control multiple times on my APDGT and my Ki 5x. In my experience, RIP Control has been a very arm-friendly string, and my arm is very sensitive. If I play with poly for more than 3 hours, my hand and wrist start getting numb. I don't get any numbness with RIP Control. Even though it is stiff for a multi, for some reason it seems more arm-friendly than other strings that feel softer. I doubt that RIP Control is the problem.

[coolblue123]

Originally Posted by Ramon

I've tried RIP Control multiple times on my APDGT and my Ki 5x. In my experience, RIP Control has been a very arm-friendly string, and my arm is very sensitive. If I play with poly for more than 3 hours, my hand and wrist start getting numb. I don't get any numbness with RIP Control. Even though it is stiff for a multi, for some reason it seems more arm-friendly than other strings that feel softer. I doubt that RIP Control is the problem.

+1 on this. That was my complaint about my RIP control as well. It was too arm friendly (it's a rare complaint) for me. Could it be the PDR's stiffness and higher tension that causes this?
But love NXT (very crispy) but hate the price. Nowadays surprised it's still so expensive for a string that's been out for such a long time. There are so many other's now.

[Smasher08]

Originally Posted by Jonahan

I strung up my Pure Drive 2012 w/ HRC @ 58 lbs. After hitting with it for 10 minutes, my hand was numb. I've searched the forum and the web, and haven't seen any similar stories.

The other major change was that I was only using 1 overwrap. I normally use 2 with this racquet, and it is admittedly slightly undersized with only 1 wrap.

I was going to cut it out and string it up w/ some NXT, but thought I'd give it another try tomorrow with a second overwrap.

Anyone have a comment on whether they think it was the strings or the grip causing my problem? Any similar experiences?

In theory, if your technique is poor, too many off-center or awkward hits could produce this.

Otherwise, RIP is a very arm-friendly string.

[Jonahan]

Originally Posted by Smasher08

In theory, if your technique is poor, too many off-center or awkward hits could produce this.

Otherwise, RIP is a very arm-friendly string.

Poor technique? Are you kidding me? I'm a 3.5. My technique is perfect. I can't believe you'd even suggest such a thing. I said I use a Pure Drive 2012. Kim Clijsters uses a Pure Drive 2012. Or at least some racquet painted to look like one. Are you saying that Kim Clijsters has poor technique?



Now, back to reality. Poor technique could very likely be the culprit. However, I added an overwrap today to get my grip back up the size it should be, and didn't experience the same issue, so I dunno. Overall, I didn't really like the HRC anyway. They came strung w/ Addiction 17, which I like pretty well. I think I'll cut out the HRC and string up some NXT 17 so I can compare it w/ Addiction.

I do appreciate the suggestions guys. It, at least, gave me the confidence to give it another try and really get to feel the string in the racquet before giving up on it.

[Hi I'm Ray]

Originally Posted by Jonahan

Poor technique? Are you kidding me? I'm a 3.5. My technique is perfect. I can't believe you'd even suggest such a thing. I said I use a Pure Drive 2012. Kim Clijsters uses a Pure Drive 2012. Or at least some racquet painted to look like one. Are you saying that Kim Clijsters has poor technique?



Now, back to reality. Poor technique could very likely be the culprit. However, I added an overwrap today to get my grip back up the size it should be, and didn't experience the same issue, so I dunno. Overall, I didn't really like the HRC anyway. They came strung w/ Addiction 17, which I like pretty well. I think I'll cut out the HRC and string up some NXT 17 so I can compare it w/ Addiction.

I do appreciate the suggestions guys. It, at least, gave me the confidence to give it another try and really get to feel the string in the racquet before giving up on it.

If the pain went away after adding the overgrip again it might have been that you were just gripping it different and maybe also having more shanks because of it. The stiffness of the frame doesn't help matters either.

[Jonahan]

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ray

If the pain went away after adding the overgrip again it might have been that you were just gripping it different and maybe also having more shanks because of it. The stiffness of the frame doesn't help matters either.

To be clear, no pain, just numbness. Like, it felt like my hand was asleep. Then, after I went back to my other racquet w/ the Addiction 17 strings, it "woke up," tingling and all.

I wasn't shanking ALL of my shots, (maybe one or two or three), nor was I blasting them as hard as I could, nor was I returning particularly hard hits. The only other time I've experienced it playing tennis was a few weeks ago when I put some lead at 10:00 and 2:00 on a Prince Warrior 100 I was demoing.

I dunno. Anyway, I really liked the NXT I played with this morning, so I'll probably just go back to using it in the mains, and Micro Sheep in the crosses like I did w/ my Tour Teams.

Thanks y'all.

[Hi I'm Ray]

Originally Posted by Jonahan

To be clear, no pain, just numbness. Like, it felt like my hand was asleep. Then, after I went back to my other racquet w/ the Addiction 17 strings, it "woke up," tingling and all.

I wasn't shanking ALL of my shots, (maybe one or two or three), nor was I blasting them as hard as I could, nor was I returning particularly hard hits. The only other time I've experienced it playing tennis was a few weeks ago when I put some lead at 10:00 and 2:00 on a Prince Warrior 100 I was demoing.

I dunno. Anyway, I really liked the NXT I played with this morning, so I'll probably just go back to using it in the mains, and Micro Sheep in the crosses like I did w/ my Tour Teams.

Thanks y'all.

I wasn't suggesting there were a lot of ball shanks but when it happens with a very stiff racket with stiff strings it feels really bad/uncomfortable so I can see how it would be bad for the arm/hand.

Actually my index finger occasionally went numb during play when I first got back into tennis and was using an APDGT + Polylon/PSG or full Polylon at low tension. Of course I wasn't playing so well then but the string and frame were also both stiff. Actually it only occured when using this string/frame combo. I still play with the same frames and the numbness never came back after switching to softer (and better) polys so I do think the stiffness of the strings has a lot to do with this.

[smirker]

Originally Posted by Jonahan

Poor technique? Are you kidding me? I'm a 3.5. My technique is perfect. I can't believe you'd even suggest such a thing. I said I use a Pure Drive 2012. Kim Clijsters uses a Pure Drive 2012. Or at least some racquet painted to look like one. Are you saying that Kim Clijsters has poor technique?



Now, back to reality. Poor technique could very likely be the culprit. However, I added an overwrap today to get my grip back up the size it should be, and didn't experience the same issue, so I dunno. Overall, I didn't really like the HRC anyway. They came strung w/ Addiction 17, which I like pretty well. I think I'll cut out the HRC and string up some NXT 17 so I can compare it w/ Addiction.

I do appreciate the suggestions guys. It, at least, gave me the confidence to give it another try and really get to feel the string in the racquet before giving up on it.

Lol, at last someone with a sense of humor who doesn't take themselves too seriously.

[Korso]

I replaced the stock grip with a softer synthetic grip on my PDR and it helped a lot with the comfort. I normaly like a leather grip but the stifness in the PD rackets give me enough feel without leather.

[Wuppy]

dear christ I've never heard of hand numbness, are you hitting as hard as you can, have poor circulation, a pacemaker, what?

[Jonahan]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

dear christ I've never heard of hand numbness, are you hitting as hard as you can, have poor circulation, a pacemaker, what?

No, no, no, and I dunno.

[Wuppy]

soreness is one thing, but numbness is something completely different. Unless you were returning a bunch of Isner first-serves or something

[Fuji]

I had the same thing happen today as well, it was off a shanked forehand in the upper hoop however. It was in a HPS6.1 strung with full RIP @ 50lbs.

This happens with hard shanks on poly much more often however!

-Fuji

[latershow]

Actually the very first time I used Rip Control, strung in my Donnay Pro One OS, I had some numbness in a couple of my fingers, but not my whole hand. It was the first time I used that racket, string, and overgrip, so that might have had something to do with it. However every time since, with a slew of different rackets, I have found it to be one of the most arm friendly strings I have ever used, if a little underpowered. I really like it.

Try the Rip in a different racket and get back to us.

[netguy]

I've hit 4 hours with Rip Control. I like the string; no problems of any kind so far.

[mawashi]

58lbs... no wonder.

Try 55lbs

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by mawashi

58lbs... no wonder.

Try 55lbs

RIP actually handles high tensions quite well. I've strung it well into the 60's on my PSC6.1 and it's played great!

-Fuji

[3fees]

Originally Posted by mawashi

58lbs... no wonder.

Try 55lbs

Concur,,Rip Control are Control Strings,,I use 53/51,,they are very good strings at lower tensions, head attempts with these strings to blend the best of three worlds,,textured for bite,hard poly outside, softer multi inside,,arm friendly strings.

I think Wuppy is a Guppy swimming with sharks.

Cheers
3fees

[levy1]

Originally Posted by 3fees

Concur,,Rip Control are Control Strings,,I use 53/51,,they are very good strings at lower tensions, head attempts with these strings to blend the best of three worlds,,textured for bite,hard poly outside, softer multi inside,,arm friendly strings.

I think Wuppy is a Guppy swimming with sharks.

Cheers
3fees

I agree and think rip control is one of the stiffest multis out there as far as feel. I use it for a cross for polys. I string my own and it feels like wire when doing a racket. I am around 50/48 with it. Great control and great feel with a poly at low tensions.