Full polyester bad for arm??

y12.pats

Rookie
Is a full bed of polyester (specifically the technifibre black code 17) bad for the arm when it is strung at high tensions (60 or 61). I feel like some of my tennis elbow and tendonitis might be coming from these. Im still a junior and im pretty fit so I shouldnt be having these isssues just randomly. thanks
 

gplracer

Hall of Fame
Yes it is bad for the arm. Keep in mind that poly goes dead fast. The pros restring after each match so it does not go dead. For you I bet you hit with the string long after it had already gone dead because the string does not break that fast. The only time I ever had elbow pains was when I played with the Aeropro. It might just be me but that was my experience.
 

quest01

Hall of Fame
It depends on how strong your arm is. I string a full bed of poly in an APDGT at over 60 pounds with no arm problems.
 

Donny0627

Professional
Is a full bed of polyester (specifically the technifibre black code 17) bad for the arm when it is strung at high tensions (60 or 61). I feel like some of my tennis elbow and tendonitis might be coming from these. Im still a junior and im pretty fit so I shouldnt be having these isssues just randomly. thanks

well certainly it could. full-poly @ any tension can be hard on the arm, let alone at such a high tension. Drop your tension to aroung 54, it will be much better on the arm and I think youll be surprised wit hthe results...
 

Donny0627

Professional
when it goes dead is it worse for the arm?

and yes, dead poly kills the arm( that is, more so than usual :) ). For best results, replace the strings every ten days or so, this coming from a junior player like you, using a 17g poly too. However my tension is much less extreme... After 8-10 days, the stringbed goes mushy, even thought it probably was only used for 8 hrs or so in tht time span, because I rotate through my rackets to keep the SBS similar.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
It depends on how strong your arm is. I string a full bed of poly in an APDGT at over 60 pounds with no arm problems.
Yes, you're right. If your arm is made of solid steel, then it should be OK to use full poly strung tight. :shock: ;-)
 
Is a full bed of polyester (specifically the technifibre black code 17) bad for the arm when it is strung at high tensions (60 or 61). I feel like some of my tennis elbow and tendonitis might be coming from these. Im still a junior and im pretty fit so I shouldnt be having these isssues just randomly. thanks

If you're a junior, you probably won't have arm problems using full poly, I'm 19 and use a racquet that's just as stiff as yours and a first gen poly strung at 60, and I've not had one inkling of arm problems. It's the geezers around here that can't swing it 8) us young guys have arms of steel, though.
 

MambaT

Rookie
Pete Townshend - "What do you mean it's too loud??"

Muhammad Ali - "I can take the hits."

TIM - "us young guys have arms of steel"
 
Pete Townshend - "What do you mean it's too loud??"

Muhammad Ali - "I can take the hits."

TIM - "us young guys have arms of steel"

How else do you explain 80% of juniors using Babolats with full Alu Power and RPM in the 60s with no arm problems? :D Not one of the juniors at my club that has been playing long enough to care about their equipment would string their racquet in the 40s, they'd give you a funny look at the thought alone.
 

ElMagoElGato

Semi-Pro
When I had an APDC, I strung it with full bed of poly at 60. One thing is that I had two dumpners on it. I had no problem on my arm this way.
 

BobFL

Hall of Fame
Is a full bed of polyester (specifically the technifibre black code 17) bad for the arm when it is strung at high tensions (60 or 61). I feel like some of my tennis elbow and tendonitis might be coming from these. Im still a junior and im pretty fit so I shouldnt be having these isssues just randomly. thanks

Polys are not designed to be strung that high. Go low and full poly will be just fine.
 
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BigT

Professional
How else do you explain 80% of juniors using Babolats with full Alu Power and RPM in the 60s with no arm problems? :D Not one of the juniors at my club that has been playing long enough to care about their equipment would string their racquet in the 40s, they'd give you a funny look at the thought alone.

Many of them have not been playing long enough to feel the side effects. All of a sudden they reach 18-19, and they can't hold up a racquet. I've seen it too many times.
Polys are not designed to be strung that high. Go low and full poly will be just fine.

Exactly....
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
How else do you explain 80% of juniors using Babolats with full Alu Power and RPM in the 60s with no arm problems? :D Not one of the juniors at my club that has been playing long enough to care about their equipment would string their racquet in the 40s, they'd give you a funny look at the thought alone.

See below, speaking as a just-turned-20 year old stringing full poly at 58 lbs, I've seen the below happen before:

Many of them have not been playing long enough to feel the side effects. All of a sudden they reach 18-19, and they can't hold up a racquet. I've seen it too many times.
 

whomad15

Semi-Pro
Well.... from my experience of elbow pain, its not a gradual thing. You're playing and it's all good, and then 30minutes later you can't even make a fist because it hurts too much to clench your hand shut. Try taking a test when you can barely hold a pen/pencil. It's not a fun experience.
 

Spin-A-Lot

Rookie
As the old saying goes "Prevention is better than the cure"...in this case, why risk it?

Just because all the juniors are doing it, does that mean you have to as well??

Just because you are young now, doesn't mean you won't get old..and by then it might be too late :(
 

danno123

Rookie
Pete Townshend - "What do you mean it's too loud??"

Muhammad Ali - "I can take the hits."

TIM - "us young guys have arms of steel"

Pete Townsend first started having trouble with his ears after the infamous drum kit explosion on the Smothers Brothers. Keith Moon supposedly convinced the stagehands to put more gunpowder in than normal.
Start watching this clip at about 4:30 and look where he's standing when the explosion happens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utpjQFBuQQM

That said, why would anyone play poly at 60 pounds? It's just plain stupid. You don't gain anything by stringing that tight and you risk injuring yourself.
 

ElMagoElGato

Semi-Pro
I've had a little pain around my elbow for a long time. I tried 40s and low 50s but the pain didn't go away. I even grew pain by air swing. So I decided the string tension was not the only cause for the pain. Having full poly at 60 gives me a lot less chance of over hitting.
 

y12.pats

Rookie
Well I cant afford to restring every 10 days and I play USTA tourneys every weekend or every other weekend. Im gunna switch to a hybrid.
 

y12.pats

Rookie
Buy a stringing machine, and you can :D You'd be amazed how quickly it pays for itself.

I will in a couple of years when it will really help. But right now im still 15. And need work on my shots. Easier to get it strung by my pro shop and id rather spend the money to buy a machine to actually buy new racquets and equipment
 
I will in a couple of years when it will really help. But right now im still 15. And need work on my shots. Easier to get it strung by my pro shop and id rather spend the money to buy a machine to actually buy new racquets and equipment

I seriously saved money from paying a stringer in 3 months, it's that smart an investment.
 

Boricua

Hall of Fame
If you're a junior, you probably won't have arm problems using full poly, I'm 19 and use a racquet that's just as stiff as yours and a first gen poly strung at 60, and I've not had one inkling of arm problems. It's the geezers around here that can't swing it 8) us young guys have arms of steel, though.

I would go hybrid, with Excel or Mantis Comfort Synthetic for example. if its a stiff poly. Stringing copoly in the 40s works for many people also; depends on the racket, string and your playing style.
 

dingo

New User
It depends on how strong your arm is. I string a full bed of poly in an APDGT at over 60 pounds with no arm problems.

I don't know if it's the arm or not. I've played with Gosen (for the most part) in a Volkl V-Engine 10 frame for the last 5 years, stringing it at 60# and have no issues. Prior to this I played with Price TT Warrior for a few years and developed wrist/elbow issues. I would be more inclined to think racket stiffness has more to do with arm discomfort than strings even at higher tension.
 

ethebull

Rookie
A stiff poly in 1.25 or greater will provide excellent control well below 50 pounds. If you are hitting long still, your strings are not to blame.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
I've had a little pain around my elbow for a long time. I tried 40s and low 50s but the pain didn't go away. I even grew pain by air swing. So I decided the string tension was not the only cause for the pain. Having full poly at 60 gives me a lot less chance of over hitting.
But the type of string itself could be the cause. Have you tried to use a soft multi instead of your poly to see if it alleviates your elbow pain?
 

Fuji

Legend
Holy man.

You've got a ton of problems here...

1) You're using poly in a full bed at 60lbs. Awful idea.

2) You've left it in FOR SEVEN MONTHS.

3) Poly isn't meant to last more then 12 hours tops. The only time I've seen people use it for a longer time is with Natural Gut in either mains or crosses to really soften it up after the string dies.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised it you're arm just decides to quit on you! ;)

Do you really need poly? I know it seems like a trivial question, but since you can't string basically weekly, what do you gain from using poly? You say control, but stringing that high you could probably use just Synthetic gut and gain the exact same amount of control. From the sounds of it, you're not a string breaker if poly lasted you seven months.

I'm not trying to pick on you here by any means, I'm just trying to make sure you can keep playing tennis for a long time! :)

Little story here. I had a friend who was a junior back in the U16's. The guy played a Pure Drive Roddick +, Full bed of Lux BB at 64lbs. He was really confident that he was playing well. Sure he was winning and hitting really big shots. (He broke his Lux Weekly.) Guess who's not playing tennis anymore though? Once he hit 16-17, he can't even hold a tennis racket anymore. He's been going through Tennis Elbow treatment for the past 8 months, just so he can do everyday life things again. He can barely write in school, which has become a huge issue.

Needless to say he probably won't ever play tennis again, which is a shame because he's a great guy and he was a good player too.

Just be careful with you're choices! It's you're body, but just be aware what you are doing to it! :)

-Fuji
 

Erman

Rookie
How else do you explain 80% of juniors using Babolats with full Alu Power and RPM in the 60s with no arm problems? :D Not one of the juniors at my club that has been playing long enough to care about their equipment would string their racquet in the 40s, they'd give you a funny look at the thought alone.


I have a junior 16 year old that strings his at 48. Uses Big Banger Original on Babolat APDC with no arm problems.
 

y12.pats

Rookie
Holy man.

You've got a ton of problems here...

1) You're using poly in a full bed at 60lbs. Awful idea.

2) You've left it in FOR SEVEN MONTHS.

3) Poly isn't meant to last more then 12 hours tops. The only time I've seen people use it for a longer time is with Natural Gut in either mains or crosses to really soften it up after the string dies.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised it you're arm just decides to quit on you! ;)

Do you really need poly? I know it seems like a trivial question, but since you can't string basically weekly, what do you gain from using poly? You say control, but stringing that high you could probably use just Synthetic gut and gain the exact same amount of control. From the sounds of it, you're not a string breaker if poly lasted you seven months.

I'm not trying to pick on you here by any means, I'm just trying to make sure you can keep playing tennis for a long time! :)

Little story here. I had a friend who was a junior back in the U16's. The guy played a Pure Drive Roddick +, Full bed of Lux BB at 64lbs. He was really confident that he was playing well. Sure he was winning and hitting really big shots. (He broke his Lux Weekly.) Guess who's not playing tennis anymore though? Once he hit 16-17, he can't even hold a tennis racket anymore. He's been going through Tennis Elbow treatment for the past 8 months, just so he can do everyday life things again. He can barely write in school, which has become a huge issue.

Needless to say he probably won't ever play tennis again, which is a shame because he's a great guy and he was a good player too.

Just be careful with you're choices! It's you're body, but just be aware what you are doing to it! :)

-Fuji

Thanks Fuji! I wasnt really educated about strings, i just got it strung with w/e my local pro shop guy told me to at the time. of course he didnt tell me to restring every week. Now will hybrids last longer?? as in hybrids with polys in the mains or crosses?
 

Kaz00

Semi-Pro
I don't think full poly is bad for the arm. I string my solincos up to about 58-62 depending on season and weather.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
I don't think full poly is bad for the arm. I string my solincos up to about 58-62 depending on season and weather.
How old are you and how long have you been using full poly?

Also, what level do you play at, how often do you play, and do you use a two-handed backhand?
 

Kaz00

Semi-Pro
How old are you and how long have you been using full poly?

Also, what level do you play at, how often do you play, and do you use a two-handed backhand?

I play at a 4.5-5.0 level and play 2 hrs a day 6 days a week. I am 17 yrs old and I've been using full poly for 4 years now. and yes I do use a two handed backhand but slice my backhand more than hitting two hands.
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
I will in a couple of years when it will really help. But right now im still 15. And need work on my shots. Easier to get it strung by my pro shop and id rather spend the money to buy a machine to actually buy new racquets and equipment

I got my first stringer when I was 14. It payed off for itself in a month and a half. I was making profit from there on out.
 

Fuji

Legend
Thanks Fuji! I wasnt really educated about strings, i just got it strung with w/e my local pro shop guy told me to at the time. of course he didnt tell me to restring every week. Now will hybrids last longer?? as in hybrids with polys in the mains or crosses?

For sure! String education is something a lot of people overlook when getting seriously into tennis. :)

Hybrids will last approx the same amount of time, because poly does die regardless of set up. Of course if you do a hybrid with a REALLY soft multi or gut, it will probably last upwards of twice as long, at the most. Although depending on the set up, (such as gut mains and poly crosses), I've heard of some people keeping it in up to a month or so without too much harm.

-Fuji
 

Doubles

Legend
For sure! String education is something a lot of people overlook when getting seriously into tennis. :)

Hybrids will last approx the same amount of time, because poly does die regardless of set up. Of course if you do a hybrid with a REALLY soft multi or gut, it will probably last upwards of twice as long, at the most. Although depending on the set up, (such as gut mains and poly crosses), I've heard of some people keeping it in up to a month or so without too much harm.

-Fuji

My B5E PSGM hybrid lasted an entire month, playing 8 hours a week, with no problems with control or arm pain, whatsoever...
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
I play at a 4.5-5.0 level and play 2 hrs a day 6 days a week. I am 17 yrs old and I've been using full poly for 4 years now. and yes I do use a two handed backhand but slice my backhand more than hitting two hands.
OK, I thought so. You're very young. Wait until you're 40 years old and your tendons become brittle and easy to tear and hard to heal. :(

Also, you are much, much less likely to get tennis elbow (outer part of elbow) with a two-handed backhand than with a one-handed backhand. Slicing is not stressful on the elbow. It's flat drives with one-handed backhands that does the damage.
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
Wait to see what happens when he's 18.

My guess is he'll be perfectly fine. Lux at 48 lbs isn't very extreme at all, even if it is strung up in a Babolat. As long as you have correct technique and aren't arming the ball, I don't see why someone couldn't play with full Lux or poly over 55 lbs at an older age.
 

Kaz00

Semi-Pro
OK, I thought so. You're very young. Wait until you're 40 years old and your tendons become brittle and easy to tear and hard to heal. :(

Also, you are much, much less likely to get tennis elbow (outer part of elbow) with a two-handed backhand than with a one-handed backhand. Slicing is not stressful on the elbow. It's flat drives with one-handed backhands that does the damage.

I've tried a lot of polys but the Solinco Tour Bites I think are the best imho. The Babolat PHT and RPM's were really bad. I tore something in my shoulder using the RPM's. But with the Solincos my shoulder has been fine.
 

Doubles

Legend
Wow, you played 32 hours/1 month with one string job! You are my idol! :)

I'm not actually sure how it happened. The PSGM started to fray after about three days, but it wouldn't break. I normally break poly in half that time. But I didn't notice much of a drop in the playability, so I'm pretty sure that this is my new string set up...
 

y12.pats

Rookie
does poly weaken just automatically like from sitting in my bag or just from playing? cuz in the winter I only play 3 times a week so it could last longer. Im gunna try out a really good multi first to get my arm back in shape. And then move to a hybrid anyone hav good suggestions for a full bed of multi??? One with good spin potential and would work well with APDGT
 
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