Diary of a Racketaholic

[Power Player]

I think it is bad sleep habits. I got an ortho pillow with the u shape and that has helped my neck, but I need to try sleeping on my back I guess. Who knows, I have a league starting up in 2 weeks, so time off will be tough, but I have already taken off 5 days and probably will not play until Wednesday or thursday. I hurt my neck on a bad pillow and it may all be connected to that. A doc told me my upper rib was out of alignment from the bad pillow. My neck was killing me, and still does a little. Tennis annoys all these little injuries but is usually not the cause for me, that is what makes tennis so tricky sometimes.

The only 2 sticks I can think of that I would demo to make sure it's not the PDR are the 95D and the RadPro. I can't really think of anything else that I'd want to try. I think the PDR is fine though.

[klementine79]

^ This is going to sound crazy but hear me out. If you believe a temporary racquet change will be necessary, go 18x20.

You can string 18x20's super low and still retain good feel and control, which I'm sure you can attest to.

I can't play with a 16x19, 100sq.in. frame in the 40's tension but my MgRads (even with full poly) at 40lbs. still have great power but are super-uber comfy. Just polarize them.

I bought them in 4-1/4 grip, so I could build the bevel (wilson like) and throw 2og's on there, the lead at the tip brought them back to stock balance.

[mawashi]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I pray I can keep the PDR. It is the best racquet I have owned.

Not sure where I will go from there. Maybe finally cross over to yy and try the 95D? It specs out really close to the same.

The thing is that I feel it in my shoulder even doing a serve motion with no racquet..not as bad as the symptoms mawashi posted..almost like a pinched nerve or something.

It feels like that initially. If you rub in between the your shoulder and arm bone, it would feel like there is a small bruise just under the muscles.

If you swing your arm around and there is a discomfort whenever you swing a bit harder you might have a slight injury.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^ This is going to sound crazy but hear me out. If you believe a temporary racquet change will be necessary, go 18x20.

You can string 18x20's super low and still retain good feel and control, which I'm sure you can attest to.

I can't play with a 16x19, 100sq.in. frame in the 40's tension but my MgRads (even with full poly) at 40lbs. still have great power but are super-uber comfy. Just polarize them.

I bought them in 4-1/4 grip, so I could build the bevel (wilson like) and throw 2og's on there, the lead at the tip brought them back to stock balance.

You think? Even though I use gut poly? Could I get away with 16x20?

Im pretty sure it's not the stick luckily. Let's see how it progresses.

[JGads]

Good luck with that shoulder, PP. You could always grab a 7G again for the bag as a frame to get you through iffy periods, or the Prince Exo. Sounds like nothing but rest and some advil is the best remedy at the moment.

[klementine79]

I hope it's not the stick or technique,considering you've just 'settled down' and gotten comfortable with the PDR. Probably a combination of an old injury, sleeping habits and overuse.

I remember hearing a comment while watching the rome tourney. 20 years ago, players were spending 5hours on court to every hour in the gym/off-court conditioning. Today the ratio is typically 1-5, 1hour of court time to every 5 hours of conditioning. If the rec player could even achieve a 1-1 ratio, I think it would be very beneficial.

I'm pullin' for ya man. It's terrible news to say the least. Even though I get on this forum during my down time (while my other friends are on reddit, facebook and youtube), I still feel a certain 'connection' with all you guys, especially in this thread. I was going to glow about the Vcore100s, but now I feel it is not the proper time. Keep us updated.

[Power Player]

Thanks man.i am hoping to be ok, but it may just be an overuse thing. It's something I need to monitor and also really do the throwers 10 as well. I could go play tennis right now and be ok, so it's not that bad, but reading about the different pains and surgeries has me always really watching myself closer than before.

Now tell us about that 100s.lol.

[BigM]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Thanks man.i am hoping to be ok, but it may just be an overuse thing. It's something I need to monitor and also really do the throwers 10 as well. I could go play tennis right now and be ok, so it's not that bad, but reading about the different pains and surgeries has me always really watching myself closer than before.

Now tell us about that 100s.lol.

I'm feeling for you brother,

I have had shoulder problems off and on for the past 5 years. A few things have really helped keep things in check. A daily regime of stretches and the good old thera band stabilising exercises. Warming up properly is also a massive thing for me. Switching to Sub 60RA sticks like the Exo tour 100's I doubt I would be playing the level I do without this virtual ball cushion. I modified my Serve technique in such a way that I protect my shoulder by snapping the racket thru before the shoulder kinda like Pete Sampras. Hope its something simple and not dramatic.

BigM

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Thanks man.i am hoping to be ok, but it may just be an overuse thing. It's something I need to monitor and also really do the throwers 10 as well. I could go play tennis right now and be ok, so it's not that bad, but reading about the different pains and surgeries has me always really watching myself closer than before.

Now tell us about that 100s.lol.

^Hahahaa...

Well, today I didn't serve at all, really have to watch the frequency of serves after friday and sunday match-play. My friend and I (the ex-baseball player one) want to team up for usta doubles for the fall/winter session, so we grabbed a basket full of balls and hit the courts.

First of all, it's great having someone you can practice with (even if it's once or twice a week) and who actually wants to get better and improve. My wife, any time the temps/humidity are up, just wants to stay home and veg.

I'd feed him a basket full of balls and then he the same. I practiced ground strokes and net play with the vCore 100s.

The Yonex is just so accepting of spin it's ridiculous. I can take full advantage of more extreme grips off of both wings, which leads to some serious angles and set-up shots following.

I toned down the lead at 3&9 to just 5grams and there is still plenty of power. Just effortless depth. The only slight down-fall for me is the slicing, both back-hand and forehand. Really have to be mindful of my grip, the angle and follow the ball. An area in which my thinner-beamed, lower powered Prestiges and Radicals seem naturally adept at.

Up at net it has wonderful response. The sweet spot is just ginormous. Not as easy to wrist/punch volleys as thinner beamed sticks but way more forgiving.

The upper hoop on these vCores never ceases to amaze me. The fullest and liveliest feeling upper hoop I've ever experienced. Just so much response up there (which doesn't take well to lead), shots still have great, forgiving pace when hit up there.

I like it and for now it's got the number #1 slot. The elbow feels a little tender at the moment but I think it's just from the different grips I was experimenting with tonight, I never go full western, choked-down on the Radicals.

EDIT: A note about the flex. It's stiff but not harsh. I've seen RA's ranging from 65,66,67, and 68. The BLX90 being a bench mark 65, I'd say this one is right at 67. Feels just as comfy as the ProOpen but less dampened, more raw feeling.

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by BigM

I'm feeling for you brother,

I have had shoulder problems off and on for the past 5 years. A few things have really helped keep things in check. A daily regime of stretches and the good old thera band stabilising exercises. Warming up properly is also a massive thing for me. Switching to Sub 60RA sticks like the Exo tour 100's I doubt I would be playing the level I do without this virtual ball cushion. I modified my Serve technique in such a way that I protect my shoulder by snapping the racket thru before the shoulder kinda like Pete Sampras. Hope its something simple and not dramatic.

BigM

Completely, 100% agree. Stretch bands are a must, especially for prevention, and should be used regardless of the presence of strain/pain.

I stretch the shoulders/back/neck before I go to bed (10min), have changed my sleeping habits, stretch for 5min when I wake up. At work during lunch. If I'm hitting that day, I'll show up to the courts 15-20min earlier, attach the stretch band to the fence and stretch, then the same after I get done.

[Ross K]

PP, all,

Sorry to hear of this injury flare up and hope it passes. Re PDR, I have to say I did find the old PDR/C to be a harsh-hit, and lots of ppl seem to have experienced issues here... Power, re the VCores, which interests you more and why - 95D or 100S?

On another matter, interesting that now I have a number of APDO's to rotate and experiment with I'm now really favoring a way smaller grip size and have dropped down one. Just feels altogether better like that for me.

[JGads]

BDR and QTour heading back to TW tomorrow. Both very good frames, neither are that goldilocks "just right" fit for me, though. With the Q Tour I wanted a tad more thump, with the BDR I wanted a tad less thump.

Props to Babolat for making these feel a lot better/more muted than previous versions. Still a stiff frame, no question, but the feedback during play is not as jarringly stiff as before. Gotta say, some of the shots you can pull off from the back of the court with the Roddick are just unfair. But that springy, trampoliney feeling stringbed that allowed for some of those launching goat shots from the baseline, I just don't know if I could ever get around to trusting it on approach shots, where I never felt total control over what the ball was going to do. Super fun frame. Beastly from the back. A tad unpredictable for me when I moved closer in.

Conversely, the Q is all about control, solid all around but fewer standout characteristics for me personally when compared to my current PKs, the 7G and Ace Mid. If they'd made this one a little lighter so as to allow for some easier access to racquet head speed to match up with that control, then I think it would have been a money stick for me personally. But as it was I had to work a little too hard to effortlessly rip the ball through the court continuously, especially on serve where I just wasn't getting any easy pace.

All in all with both frames, a close-but-no-cigar demo experience.

[Ross K]

Nice summation JG. ^^^

[PED]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I may have started the irritation doing pullups..I simply should not be doing them I dont think.

Now that I think about it, you may be onto something there. Just finished, the Big Miss about Tiger W. and IIRC, he injured his shoulder pretty good doing pullups. His trainer said they were overly stressful for golf and tennis.

[Power Player]

yes i think this is how it began to be honest.

So I took Klem's advice and slept on my back. I feel like that is going to have to be key. It was not that bad..who knows if I snored like a beast, but I have a foam bed and an ortho pillow so I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in. This could be a good thing for me, I'd imagine the rest is more efficient when you don't toss and turn.

I need to check sports authority for some stretch bands. A lot of the pros use those things before they play and I see no reason not to.

As for the BDR, yeah approach shots will not be as easy at first, but that is the PITA of demoing, you don't get enough time to adapt to the stick. All you really have to do with the approaches is swing a little more relaxed. Basically I tell myself the closer I move in, the less I need to swing. Of course the string setup I use is so conducive to spin that this helps as well, and it also helped me develop a much more controlled swing.

ross, probably the 95D. That seems like the best offering to me. Once I changed my technique, the light sticks now just feel too light when I hit. I also feel like a shoulder friendly stick would have a SW thats not super high, and so I feel like I'd have to make that up in static weight. I am curious how the stick hits in terms of spin and power and how it compares to the wilson 6.1. I hit a lot of loopers, but I also can drive the ball as well, and I could do both with the 6.1. I was shanking more though with it than normal for a while though.

I'd still use gut/poly as well. Anyway, it's just tough to go anywhere once you have the BDR with the right string setup. Kind of depressing in a way..lol.

[syke]

Originally Posted by Power Player

yes i think this is how it began to be honest.

So I took Klem's advice and slept on my back. I feel like that is going to have to be key. It was not that bad..who knows if I snored like a beast, but I have a foam bed and an ortho pillow so I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in. This could be a good thing for me, I'd imagine the rest is more efficient when you don't toss and turn.

I need to check sports authority for some stretch bands. A lot of the pros use those things before they play and I see no reason not to.

As for the BDR, yeah approach shots will not be as easy at first, but that is the PITA of demoing, you don't get enough time to adapt to the stick. All you really have to do with the approaches is swing a little more relaxed. Basically I tell myself the closer I move in, the less I need to swing. Of course the string setup I use is so conducive to spin that this helps as well, and it also helped me develop a much more controlled swing.

ross, probably the 95D. That seems like the best offering to me. Once I changed my technique, the light sticks now just feel too light when I hit. I also feel like a shoulder friendly stick would have a SW thats not super high, and so I feel like I'd have to make that up in static weight. I am curious how the stick hits in terms of spin and power and how it compares to the wilson 6.1. I hit a lot of loopers, but I also can drive the ball as well, and I could do both with the 6.1. I was shanking more though with it than normal for a while though.

I'd still use gut/poly as well. Anyway, it's just tough to go anywhere once you have the BDR with the right string setup. Kind of depressing in a way..lol.

Welcome to the Yonex family...
You take the front and I will cover the back...

[Power Player]

dude I am real far from joining the yy family, but thanks..lol. first thing is to take care of this shoulder and then Ill demo the 95 and see if that even makes a difference.

Does Bar play with a Babolat?

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Power Player

yes i think this is how it began to be honest.

So I took Klem's advice and slept on my back. I feel like that is going to have to be key. It was not that bad..who knows if I snored like a beast, but I have a foam bed and an ortho pillow so I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in. This could be a good thing for me, I'd imagine the rest is more efficient when you don't toss and turn.

I need to check sports authority for some stretch bands. A lot of the pros use those things before they play and I see no reason not to.

As for the BDR, yeah approach shots will not be as easy at first, but that is the PITA of demoing, you don't get enough time to adapt to the stick. All you really have to do with the approaches is swing a little more relaxed. Basically I tell myself the closer I move in, the less I need to swing. Of course the string setup I use is so conducive to spin that this helps as well, and it also helped me develop a much more controlled swing.

ross, probably the 95D. That seems like the best offering to me. Once I changed my technique, the light sticks now just feel too light when I hit. I also feel like a shoulder friendly stick would have a SW thats not super high, and so I feel like I'd have to make that up in static weight. I am curious how the stick hits in terms of spin and power and how it compares to the wilson 6.1. I hit a lot of loopers, but I also can drive the ball as well, and I could do both with the 6.1. I was shanking more though with it than normal for a while though.

I'd still use gut/poly as well. Anyway, it's just tough to go anywhere once you have the BDR with the right string setup. Kind of depressing in a way..lol.

I know you're saying it isn't the frame PP, but I'm now back-tracking a bit in my desire to check out the BDR. I just recall the older PDR being too stiff and taking its toll a bit in bone-jarring way - and so many ppl seem to think it's just that kind of a frame. Also, my APDO's are 67 compared to the 70+ RA of those PDRs and maybe that's kind of where I'm happiest as I so seem to find such racs (TF 315, Extreme Pro, to name but 2) a tiny bit too stiff. We'll see anyhow.

[Power Player]

Well don't let me discourage you. I truly do not think this is the frame, but I will demo another just to see in a few weeks. I think a lot of my injuries start with weightlifting, so I have to watch what I do and what exercises annoy my joints.

I am switching to incline bench over flat..no pullups..doing more light dumbbells on the shoulders and not doing pulldowns..sleeping on my back..etc.

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by Ross K

I know you're saying it isn't the frame PP, but I'm now back-tracking a bit in my desire to check out the BDR. I just recall the older PDR being too stiff and taking its toll a bit in bone-jarring way - and so many ppl seem to think it's just that kind of a frame. Also, my APDO's are 67 compared to the 70+ RA of those PDRs and maybe that's kind of where I'm happiest as I so seem to find such racs (TF 315, Extreme Pro, to name but 2) a tiny bit too stiff. We'll see anyhow.

^ Agreed. Heavier sticks (12+oz) should not be overly stiff. The whole point of extra stiff frames is to make them more stable while cutting down on the weight. 67 is the farthest I'll go. RA numbers are subjective though, some feel their stiffness and others don't.

Originally Posted by Power Player

yes i think this is how it began to be honest.

So I took Klem's advice and slept on my back. I feel like that is going to have to be key. It was not that bad..who knows if I snored like a beast.

I need to check sports authority for some stretch bands. A lot of the pros use those things before they play and I see no reason not to.

Yeah, you'll snore but you can also turn on your stomach or fetal position on your left side w/ the pillow. Just stay away from that right side and putting pressure on it (and the tendons) for 7+ hours during sleep, I can't tell how much difference it makes. You'll notice it in 4-5 days, if not immediately. YOU DON"T HAVE ANY STRETCH BANDS!!!???!!??? GET ON THAT ASAP!!! PRONTO!!! The band type and bungee w/ clips for various exercises!!!

As far as the stick. While I think it's not the cause (especially with gut mains) it certainly is not helping. A stick like the PDR, after og and damp-no lead, is around 12.2oz and that's far too weighty for that stiffness.

It would be fine if you played once or twice a week but any more frequency than that and it gets problematic imo. Especially if you're playing 4.0-5.0 league play/competition, which are like mini-battles within themselves. They can take a toll on you.

Originally Posted by syke

Welcome to the Yonex family...
You take the front and I will cover the back...

Welcome back to TT Syke. A little disappointed when I saw you took a little vacation to ban-city. Glad you're back, strictly for avatar purposes


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At work after a 4-day holiday break. Would rather be water-boarded at this point... or worse, endure a trip to the GAP for window shopping and ponder where is the factory which pumps out all these clones.