Diary of a Racketaholic

[JGads]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^ The work environment is a dangerous place. Especially if you're married.

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How's the shoulder going Gads? Is it muscle fatigue..ie.. soreness.... or a sharp intermittent pain?

I noticed that the YouTek tec-stuff does work and irritated my wrists and shoulder when I was demo'ng. Just a thought. The IG is supposed to be softer though.

Shoulder feels fine right now and in fact has felt pretty good for a several days now, but I haven't tested it at all. The last few days I've gotten those tennis texts from different buddies to play and I came close to cracking but didn't. I may play this weekend.

The pain was a general discomfort I felt especially when serving or when my racquet was above my shoulder. I could still hit serves at about 80, 90 percent -- but that little something just forced me to hold back. Then the shoulder was very sore (a pretty constant dull pain) for two, three days after my last hit before finally dissipating. So, it's been 8 or 9 days now since hitting and I feel good, but I'm just a little nervous. If the pain returns when I hit again, I know I'll have to see an ortho. From what I've read, I think it might be a rotator cuff or 'shoulder impingement' issue; hopeful it was just too much playing that needed a good rest, but that's just the hope.

Interesting about the Youtek irritating your shoulder/wrist -- more so than other sticks? Which Youtek were you hitting?

Initially when I return to hitting I plan on mostly wielding the flexiest of my frames, the BC20, which was the stick my shoulder seemed to be feeling the best with in the days before taking the layoff.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by PED

Anyone on here hit with the IG Radical Midplus?

It looks like they've beefed it up by around 10g and it might be a better starting platform. TW review was good on and Carol and Jason seemed to really like it. Chris not so much

I wasn't that into it but it was a very brief hit. Knew immediately that the Prestige was so much nicer for me personally - could drive the ball a lot better, whereas the Rad floated the ball a bit more. For me, my favorite Radical is still the Microgel MP version. I've always loved that little frame, had very nice feel and could destroy some serves.

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by JGads

Interesting about the Youtek irritating your shoulder/wrist -- more so than other sticks? Which Youtek were you hitting?

Initially when I return to hitting I plan on mostly wielding the flexiest of my frames, the BC20, which was the stick my shoulder seemed to be feeling the best with in the days before taking the layoff.

Sounds like muscle fatigue from too much time on the courts and maybe not enough stretching/exercising. You should be good to go. If there's a tear, you'll know it. My tendon separated from the bone- complete tear. If your movement isn't impeded, then it's likely fatigue of the muscle and/or tendons due to improper warm-up and/or over usage. Watch your rotator!

I demo'd the Yt PresMid and Mid+ and the IG PresMid+... all three left me with wrist/shoulder soreness. Especially on serve and those abrupt motions on return.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by klementine79

Sounds like muscle fatigue from too much time on the courts and maybe not enough stretching/exercising. You should be good to go. If there's a tear, you'll know it. My tendon separated from the bone- complete tear. If your movement isn't impeded, then it's likely fatigue of the muscle and/or tendons due to improper warm-up and/or over usage. Watch your rotator!

I demo'd the Yt PresMid and Mid+ and the IG PresMid+... all three left me with wrist/shoulder soreness. Especially on serve and those abrupt motions on return.

That's interesting. I mean, the one thing that is in the back of my mind: I've been talking about struggling to get the Prestige going on serve especially, feeling that the frame is just about perfect for me on groundies but I just struggled to get the thing going on serve. I also just traded my Prestige for another grip size and am wondering if a different balance might provide me some better karma on that front. (plus the one I'm getting has a NatGut/NVy setup which I feel could be great for the shoulder). But like I said, I'm thinking of concentrating on the BC20 initially until I feel like the shoulder is out of the woods.

Also, I was going to ask you guys: any particular stretches or exercises really work for you regarding the shoulder? What kind of stuff are you doing in PT, Klem? I think I need to get some of those stretch bands for some resistance work to build up that back side of the shoulder; it was certainly a constant on the practice courts at IW.

[klementine79]

^ Yes. Stretch bands are a must. I have like 3 sets lying around the house somewhere.

At the rehab center, we do a lot of resistance exercises with bands, about a dozen. From the 'football toss' motion in varying degrees...to the over the shoulder pull. Aerobic (light intensity) exercises with 1lb. bar bells. A ton of stretches, involving 'holds' on the floor and upright against a wall. Some resistance machines.

I'm outpatient once a month, on account of my quick recovery. Doc says due to my age and physical conditioning, I was a good candidate for an accelerated healing process.

[klementine79]

This channel on the 'tube has a lot of great stretches and exercises for the shoulder. They're baseball related but it doesn't matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D7TKE9eCFA

This is kick-boxing... but I do a lot of these at the center and at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HUhJLI2aBQ

[klementine79]

When you buy the resistance bands.. there is usually an exercise chart that comes with them and a website you can visit for more exercises. I'll find my charts and post the website on there.

[JGads]

Thanks Klem. As far as resistance goes, they have those pulleys at the gym. I wonder if doing some work on those at very light weight would be resistant-band-like. Like pulling across the front of your body (essentially a backhand motion), things like that.

[klementine79]

^ Yeah, the cable-cross over. That'll work, with minimal weight 20-30lbs.

Get some bands. The chart that comes with them is 'gold'.

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Tension/injury of the shoulder is usually related to serving. Keep your toss shorter and out in front. Keep your muscles loose... shoulders/legs. On your kicker, choke the handle a little higher and use an eastern/extreme eastern grip with the toss directly above your head and make sure your making contact level with your head.

My wife is trying to become a certified teacher, as a side job teaching kids. Taking some lessons from a guy who's cleaning up her technique and showing her how to teach. She's now in the process of trying to get her papers from over seas which states she was a competing junior. Every saturday morning I'm out watching them practice and play. Don't trust french guys around my wife.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^ Yeah, the cable-cross over. That'll work, with minimal weight 20-30lbs.

Get some bands. The chart that comes with them is 'gold'.

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Tension/injury of the shoulder is usually related to serving. Keep your toss shorter and out in front. Keep your muscles loose... shoulders/legs. On your kicker, choke the handle a little higher and use an eastern/extreme eastern grip with the toss directly above your head and make sure your making contact level with your head.

My wife is trying to become a certified teacher, as a side job teaching kids. Taking some lessons from a guy who's cleaning up her technique and showing her how to teach. She's now in the process of trying to get her papers from over seas which states she was a competing junior. Every saturday morning I'm out watching them practice and play. Don't trust french guys around my wife.

Haha. Good tips on the serving. And will try to get some of those bands tomorrow or this weekend. Any particular brand of type of band preferred, or are they all the same?

[klementine79]

Just don't get any of the 'heavy' 40-50lbs. resistance. Stay light. 10 or 20lbs. You want to stretch the muscles.. not work them. Concentrate on your breathing too. When you exhale, your muscles tend to relax involuntarily. Stretch-breathe-relax-exhale.

[klementine79]

I think it's a good move going back to the bc20. We all want power-spin etc.... But consistency will make you better. And if the racquet is comfortable and easy on your body.. that just means you can play more tennis!!!

If you're serving under 100mph.. but are getting them in 90% of the time... it's better than serving 110mph and getting them in 50% of the time. Same for groundstrokes.

Reading through the NTRP rating system of the USTA, nowhere does it say... 'a 6.0 must have 120mph serve and forehands of 90mph.' It's all about consistency with a mix of escalating pace as you move through the ranks.

[ryushen21]

Gads,

The present GSOAT is Pacific Classic 16/SP Tornado 17 @ 60/56. This may just possibly be the best setup that I have played with. Plenty of pop but very controllable with unbelievable comfort and pocketing. Plus you get that nice heavy "thwack" with every shot.

The only point I'm concerned on is the price. Ordering half sets of gut is going to get really pricey really quick. I have a friend who works at a tennis center that may be able to get me a deal and that would help a lot. The only other option that I have is to look for a different main and keep the Tornado in the crosses.

So here's my question for the fellow "holics"......I need a string that my crosses won't saw through as quickly, but is just as comfortable as gut. In the past I have always hated multis because of the excess string movement and the overwhelming power. It's been too long since I played with any kind of syn. gut for me to remember but it looks like it may be worth a try. Help a brother out.

[Power Player]

There is nothing..I searched.

The closest thing is X1 biphase. The problem is that it severely drops tension and becomes a trampoline after 10 hours. Gut holds tension better than anything.

The mistake was buying a reel of tornado..if you can sell that to somebody, you want to buy msv cofocus. It is a slippery poly that will not saw through your gut and will last for a very long time. It is also 7.99.

If your string jobs last 3-4 weeks then the cofocus/ pacific classic setup will not be any more expensive than restringing poly every week.

But the setup I am proposing would be under $20 a job.

[ryushen21]

I'll just have to see how long the setup lasts. If I can get 2+ weeks it will already be saving me. More than that is a cherry on top.

I've used tornado for a while, know that I like it and I got the reel cheap. Image very well look at another cross though. I have never hit with an MSVstring that I liked. They all felt cheap and plasticky to me.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by klementine79

Just don't get any of the 'heavy' 40-50lbs. resistance. Stay light. 10 or 20lbs. You want to stretch the muscles.. not work them. Concentrate on your breathing too. When you exhale, your muscles tend to relax involuntarily. Stretch-breathe-relax-exhale.

Originally Posted by klementine79

I think it's a good move going back to the bc20. We all want power-spin etc.... But consistency will make you better. And if the racquet is comfortable and easy on your body.. that just means you can play more tennis!!!

Thanks for all the advice on the shoulder today, Klem. Much appreciated. Small chance of a hit tomorrow, but more likely Saturday or Sunday I'll test myself for the first time.

Originally Posted by ryushen21

Gads,

The present GSOAT is Pacific Classic 16/SP Tornado 17 @ 60/56. This may just possibly be the best setup that I have played with. Plenty of pop but very controllable with unbelievable comfort and pocketing. Plus you get that nice heavy "thwack" with every shot.

Makes sense to me that Tornado would work as a cross with Gut because I recall that string being very, very controlled, in a way that let you really hit out.

Btw, just watched a vid of Tipsaravic on tennis.com where he supposedly 'talks about his gear,' but in truth he gives a bunch of vague answers. Best part, though, is he ends the video -- after being questioned about racquet and string, tension on day vs. night, and about the tennis balls in Miami -- by saying he didn't want to overthink gear and conditions, etc., and says something to this effect: "To summarize, I don't really care." Just made me laugh.

Anyway, methinks Juan Monaco will not have a very good day tomorrow.

[Ross K]

More re the touch stuff and APD and how this isn't a great match up...

It was really noticeable yesterday how my lobs just aren't happening anymore. It's always been one of the few more all court little things I had a certain feel for, keeping players who advance to the net busy as I try to send a cute lob high over their bh side... I don't have a feel for it anymore though.

The 2 or 3 I attempted didn't get the right up and over and trajectory and they were clinically dispatched. I'm almost certain that my polarized set up has a lot to do with this. Of course though, as we've been discussing, the APD isn't noted in the general touch department... and the 1 dropper I tried predictably dumped short into the net.

Thankfully I found (and always have done actually) the APD very good for powerful block back volleys and the like.

Anyhow, the more all court game isn't what I play the frame for, but, yes...

[Fed Kennedy]

Strange days for a racaholic...pretty settled on a frame. Still want rdis 100, 200 maybe a 100s...curious about ti80,, rd7, kind of want the new fed frame...but the urge is milder...why go backwards? I look at my k90 sometimes and feel something...
No, best to stay the course

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Strange days for a racaholic...pretty settled on a frame. Still want rdis 100, 200 maybe a 100s...curious about ti80,, rd7, kind of want the new fed frame...but the urge is milder...why go backwards? I look at my k90 sometimes and feel something...
No, best to stay the course

I hear you, brother. That current Fed 90 is a beautiful frame. Seems like the general consensus amongst the 90 lifers is that the K90 is still the goat.

It's funny, in this short playing absence I'm less racaholic and more gear-holic, stalking shoes lately even though I'm more than happy with my Res4s (though I could be 3 good playing weeks from wearing through them). The white/blue Vapors that are due out in a few days are just so sweet looking, I may get them for gym use. Those or the Asics Speeds for some elliptical goating and such.

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by JGads

I hear you, brother. That current Fed 90 is a beautiful frame. Seems like the general consensus amongst the 90 lifers is that the K90 is still the goat.

It's funny, in this short playing absence I'm less racaholic and more gear-holic, stalking shoes lately even though I'm more than happy with my Res4s (though I could be 3 good playing weeks from wearing through them). The white/blue Vapors that are due out in a few days are just so sweet looking, I may get them for gym use. Those or the Asics Speeds for some elliptical goating and such.

Its amazing how we all have a slightly different feel for a racket and I think it can all boil down to fed's stick. There is a lot of love for the point and shoot, stiffer hoop of the k90. Personally I love the pro staff 90 and its softer hoop/feel. I think the majority of us would find ourselves in one bracket or the other.

I've also been looking at shoes again, on court mobility my ability lies in my lateral movement and wingspan, my weakness lies in my forward and back due to my lumbering size and big feet! I'm wearing head radical pro II and they are heavy, much heavier than stated in the tw stats, but they are very stable and comfortable. Ideally id wear them laterally and a pair of vapor tours front to back