"Tennis elbow? Just buy a new racket!"

[TimeToPlaySets]

Is this statement slightly off-base? After reading this forum for a few weeks, I am under the impression that a blanket statement of “Just get a new stick” is incomplete. On the contrary, many modern sticks are horrible for your elbow. For example, the popular Babolat is stiff as hell, and some of the worst rackets made for elbows. AeroPro flex rating = 70. Pure Drive = 71. Terrible, right?

Supposedly, Pro Kennex makes the most arm friendly rackets out there.

My 2005 Head liquid metal 107sqin is also one of the most flex rackets made (Flex = 5 However, I am also playing with a vintage 1990s Dunlop Revelation that is max’ed out on the flex/control rating (low power, max control) I don't know the flex rating, but the Dunlop is even more comfortable than my Head, which is at 58 flex (and 52lbs tension)

So, I feel that my racket is not remotely the issue. It's my swing.

However, I am going to restring with a multi-filament string at a low tension. My current string is at 48, So I will need to adjust to ball flying off the racket (which will allow me to hit less hard)

[Vlad_C]

The flex is only part of the equation. For me, I feel the weight of the racquet is more important, as well as the string.
When I started playing with a light racquet (300g) and a stiff string, I immediately started to develop a case of tennis elbow.
Now I play with a 350g racquet with a relatively high flex rating of 68, and everything is just fine.

But you are absolutely right that your technique has a lot to do with it.
Hitting with a heavy racquet, long swing and a relaxed grip, allows the racquet to absorb all the shock of the impact, instead of transmitting it to your arm.

[TimeToPlaySets]

My brother swears by using a tennis elbow strap.
Does anyone else feel these things help?
Or just more placebo marketing snake oil?

http://tinyurl.com/8nodd3h

[TimeToPlaySets]

If I were to hit a tennis ball with a steel bar, I would never feel it. So, I agree that racket weight is a big factor. I might try wrapping a ton of lead tape around the head. Might be a cheap $10 band-aid to see if it works. I don’t need to worry about tourament violations/rules, etc. Anyone use excessive lead tape to help their elbow?

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by TimeToPlaySets

My brother swears by using a tennis elbow strap.
Does anyone else feel these things help?
Or just more placebo marketing snake oil?

http://tinyurl.com/8nodd3h

I've used a few of those things. I have 3 of those sitting in my closet now, including a $70 magnetic one. They weren't that much help.

The strings should help. I found type of string to be more important than tension. Multifilament at 65 pounds is still much more arm-friendly than poly at 30 pounds. If the ball starts to fly, go ahead and increase the tension.

[KenC]

It really isn't necessary to buy a Pro Kennex when TE occurs, but I personally just switched from the very arm friendly Pure Storm Ltd. GT and have to say that the Pro Kennex 315 does a better job of dissipating the impact than the more flexible PSLGT. Evidently flexibility is only part of the equation. I may just use the PK315 until my elbow is 100%, but on the other hand the more I play with the PK315 the more I think it is a great racquet even if one doesn't have TE.

I am playing with the elbow strap/brace and it does a decent job of taking some of the stress off the tendons. I only use it while playing and take it off immediately after and put on ice. My mild TE seems to be slowly going away.

I think the biggest help is to put natty gut at low tension in any frame. It made my PSLGT play really soft. Natty gut also has a way of dissipating the impact that multis and polys don't have.

[TimeToPlaySets]

What's the difference between the PK 315 and Ki5 ?

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by TimeToPlaySets

What's the difference between the PK 315 and Ki5 ?

It's the same thing. Here's the racquet he is talking about:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/ProK...PK-KI5N12.html

It used to be just called the Ki 5, but they added 315 to the end of the name this year. They did not change the specs.

[yemenmocha]

Racquets are stiffer AND lighter today, and both transmit more shock to the arm that occurs even with fairly good technique. Same for poly strings. You're not always going to hit the sweet spot at recreational levels, and even at higher levels of recreational play (lot of ex-college people can get elbow issues).

[slowfox]

Hey TimeToPlay - Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just start playing tennis again recently? And your elbow is now hurting already? If so, your technique is probably messing you up. An "arm-friendly" racquet may help, but...

[gilly2571]

I have Pro-Kennex 7g rackets and I can't say enough about them. After having tennis elbow surgery, I played with a Prince Exo3. After surgery was still having lateral epicondolitis (tennis elbow) problems. Please believe me when I tell you that the combination of the PK 7g AND natural gut has healed me completely.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by gilly2571

I have Pro-Kennex 7g rackets and I can't say enough about them. After having tennis elbow surgery, I played with a Prince Exo3. After surgery was still having lateral epicondolitis (tennis elbow) problems. Please believe me when I tell you that the combination of the PK 7g AND natural gut has healed me completely.

Which EXO3 did you use? I agree PK makes arm-friendly racquets, but the EXO3 Tour 100 is the most comfortable racquet I ever tried.

[GrandSlam45]

I am a recent example of how "just change racquets" can heal TE. I've been struggling with Babolat Pure Drives for over 10 years and I always thought that arm pain was just a "normal" part of playing tennis. I had to ice after every match, use tons of Advil, use elbow braces, etc. None of these things ever cured the problem. I always assumed the problem was me... getting old, glitches in my strokes, poor form etc.. I ignorantly never thought it was my racquet!

I recently switched to a PK Ki5 315 and I swear to you it fixed my problem. Whereas before I could only play 3 days a week max, I can now play every day if I wanted to, and I'm experiencing ZERO arm pain... either during or after. For me, it's like a miracle.

So yes, for some, switching racquets can make all the difference.

[my76]

I'd also recommend the Volkl V1 classic, for me it's even more arm friendly than the Prokennex Ionic rackets that I've used.It's stiffer but you feel no vibration because of the handle system.

[srvnvly]

Originally Posted by GrandSlam45

I am a recent example of how "just change racquets" can heal TE. I've been struggling with Babolat Pure Drives for over 10 years and I always thought that arm pain was just a "normal" part of playing tennis. I had to ice after every match, use tons of Advil, use elbow braces, etc. None of these things ever cured the problem. I always assumed the problem was me... getting old, glitches in my strokes, poor form etc.. I ignorantly never thought it was my racquet!

I recently switched to a PK Ki5 315 and I swear to you it fixed my problem. Whereas before I could only play 3 days a week max, I can now play every day if I wanted to, and I'm experiencing ZERO arm pain... either during or after. For me, it's like a miracle.

So yes, for some, switching racquets can make all the difference.

Does this Pro Kennex racquet make noise? I remember demoing one about 5 years ago, and the 'shaking' noise was a little distracting.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by srvnvly

Does this Pro Kennex racquet make noise? I remember demoing one about 5 years ago, and the 'shaking' noise was a little distracting.

I guess that shows there's a small segment of the population, with very acute hearing, who can hear the particles in a Kinetic racquet while they are playing. I can't hear it on mine unless I'm in a quiet room or putting the racquet up to my ear. The Q-series doesn't make as much noise because the kinetic particles are confined to 4 small chambers, so maybe they would be better for someone with really good ears.

[yemenmocha]

Originally Posted by Ramon

I guess that shows there's a small segment of the population, with very acute hearing, who can hear the particles in a Kinetic racquet while they are playing. I can't hear it on mine unless I'm in a quiet room or putting the racquet up to my ear. The Q-series doesn't make as much noise because the kinetic particles are confined to 4 small chambers, so maybe they would be better for someone with really good ears.

+1

Some people must have superhero abilities when it comes to hearing, or maybe they don't make any noise when moving on court and such.

[ced]

Originally Posted by Ramon

I guess that shows there's a small segment of the population, with very acute hearing, who can hear the particles in a Kinetic racquet while they are playing. I can't hear it on mine unless I'm in a quiet room or putting the racquet up to my ear. The Q-series doesn't make as much noise because the kinetic particles are confined to 4 small chambers, so maybe they would be better for someone with really good ears.

I've played the 7g, 5g, Ki5, Ki15 and now the Qtour and never been able to hear this sound people talk about. PK's are just great playing tennis racquets that happen to benefit those with TE.

I don't know, maybe my hearing is bad and I'm just not aware of it !

[Torres]

I played some old guy a couple of months back with an over sized PK stick. It sounded as if there was a rattlesnake on court everytime he swung at the ball. Kinda of distracting because the only sound you expect to hear is on contract.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by Torres

I played some old guy a couple of months back with an over sized PK stick. It sounded as if there was a rattlesnake on court everytime he swung at the ball. Kinda of distracting because the only sound you expect to hear is on contract.

I never had any complaints from my opponents about the noise. However, if the noise doesn't bother me, but it bothers him, that's a plus! LOL