Which String Is Best For Tennis Elbow?

Which String Is Best For Tennis Elbow?

  • Gamma Live Wire 17

    Votes: 2 5.9%
  • Gamma Live Wire Professional 17

    Votes: 8 23.5%
  • Gamma Live Wire Revelation 16

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • Gamma TNT2 16

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Gamma TNT2 18

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16

    Votes: 18 52.9%
  • Wilson Hollow Core Pro 17

    Votes: 4 11.8%

  • Total voters
    34

sberman51

Rookie
I recently got Tennis Elbow, and am now needing to switch strings. Of the strings listed in the poll, which do you think is best for Tennis Elbow? Also, in the posting section, please post the reason for your string choice in the poll. Also, which string do you think is the best string in general, and why.

Thanks in advance!
 
I recently got Tennis Elbow, and am now needing to switch strings. Of the strings listed in the poll, which do you think is best for Tennis Elbow? Also, in the posting section, please post the reason for your string choice in the poll. Also, which string do you think is the best string in general, and why.

Thanks in advance!

Natural gut, because it's natural gut.

inb4poll
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
I recently got Tennis Elbow, and am now needing to switch strings. Of the strings listed in the poll, which do you think is best for Tennis Elbow? Also, in the posting section, please post the reason for your string choice in the poll. Also, which string do you think is the best string in general, and why.

Thanks in advance!

Mcs is one of the softest strings you can get except natural gut.


Its always noticeable when you have a concern because you ask for tips on several different threads.

Next time you have an issue, it would be much more convenient for you and all tt members if you keep all questions about one topic in one thread. Thanks.

Anyway, mcs does have awful durability even as a cross string. In a full bed i broke it in a little over an hour.

It's low powered, muted, and soft.
 

sberman51

Rookie
Mcs is one of the softest strings you can get except natural gut.


Its always noticeable when you have a concern because you ask for tips on several different threads.

Next time you have an issue, it would be much more convenient for you and all tt members if you keep all questions about one topic in one thread. Thanks.

Anyway, mcs does have awful durability even as a cross string. In a full bed i broke it in a little over an hour.

It's low powered, muted, and soft.

I see you use BHBR. How long does it take you to break a full-bed of BHBR? Also what gauge are you using? I am wondering so I can relate how fast we break strings and make a guess-timate of how long a full-bed of MCS will last me.
Thanks!
 

sberman51

Rookie
If you all like MCS, why aren't you putting so on the poll? Do you all think it is tied with another string? If so, please say so on the posts, as I am curious to know.
Thanks!
 

fgs

Hall of Fame
the mcs is the only string i have played with from the ones you mentioned on the poll. as i have no comparison i wouldn't find it fair to vote. my answer would be as relevant and eventually misleading as if i would say that 17gauge electrical cable would be good for te.
those having played the strings mentioned in the poll should answer. maybe not all, but at least more than one.:)
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
I see you use BHBR. How long does it take you to break a full-bed of BHBR? Also what gauge are you using? I am wondering so I can relate how fast we break strings and make a guess-timate of how long a full-bed of MCS will last me.
Thanks!

I break a full bed of bhbr in about 4-5 hours. I break most multis/synthetics at around 1 1/2 hours, and i break hybrids at about to 3 hour mark. The gut saws right through the mains.

17 gauge poly and 16 gauge gut.
 

pvaudio

Legend
MCS, then Gamma Professional 17. Both are excellent strings, but Professional is very much overpriced. If it cost as much as regular Live Wire or even around 12 bucks tops, then it'd be a good buy (considering NRG2 is higher yet).
 

sberman51

Rookie
MCS, then Gamma Professional 17. Both are excellent strings, but Professional is very much overpriced. If it cost as much as regular Live Wire or even around 12 bucks tops, then it'd be a good buy (considering NRG2 is higher yet).

If price was irrelavent, which would you choose?
 

sberman51

Rookie
To those who chose Gamma Live Wire 17 and Gamma Professional 17, please post why you chose that string. It will be very influential in my decision.
Thanks!
 

sberman51

Rookie
Just buy Mantis Comfort and end the thread. I'm not voting on a poll like this unless I have tried every string on the list.

Ok, but I am wondering why MCS is so cheap? Are Gamma Live Wire or Gamma Professional better than MCS? Also, I was wondering if using a vibration dampener would Take away some of the effects of the string. i.e., softness, special characteristics, feel, ect.
Thanks!
 
Last edited:

JavierLW

Hall of Fame
None of these!!!!!

These are all bad choices for Tennis Elbow.

Go with a softer multi, or best of all is always Natural Gut!
 

pvaudio

Legend
Ok, but I am wondering why MCS is so cheap? Are Gamma Live Wire or Gamma Professional better than MCS? Also, I was wondering if using a vibration dampener would Take away some of the effects of the string. i.e., softness, special characteristics, feel, ect.
Thanks!
Doesn't matter why it's so cheap (it really isn't...). It's just good. It does not have much power, however. And no one can say if they're better. MCS is definitely more comfortable, but the playability of Professional is higher. MCS is natural gut made from synthetic fibers, but it does not have the great usable power that gut does. Professional, however, is the opposite: not exactly gut like feel, but has power akin to natural gut.
 

sberman51

Rookie
Doesn't matter why it's so cheap (it really isn't...). It's just good. It does not have much power, however. And no one can say if they're better. MCS is definitely more comfortable, but the playability of Professional is higher. MCS is natural gut made from synthetic fibers, but it does not have the great usable power that gut does. Professional, however, is the opposite: not exactly gut like feel, but has power akin to natural gut.

Ah, I never knew that MCS was natural gut. Which is softer on the arm for Tennis Elbow, though?
Thanks!
 

joshj2112

New User
Isospeed is easily the most arm friendly string I have ever used. It has extremely soft feel and is very close to natural gut
 
None of these strings listed is close to natural gut in feel and comfort. Mantis Comfort is a good multi but it's not natural gut.

Why is the majority of the strings on this poll Gamma strings? There are other strings out there that offer better comfort for the elbow than the ones listed.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Ok, but I am wondering why MCS is so cheap? Are Gamma Live Wire or Gamma Professional better than MCS? Also, I was wondering if using a vibration dampener would Take away some of the effects of the string. i.e., softness, special characteristics, feel, ect.
Thanks!
When it comes to tennis strings (and many other things in life), price is like the least indicator of quality and performance. Heck, I find some of the cheapest strings to be the best performers. For example, I find Gosen OS Sheep Micro to be one of the best strings at any price and it costs like $2.00 a stringjob in a reel, whereas I found Wilson K-Gut Pro to be one of the worst strings ever and that cost like $23 a stringjob. I also find Prince Syn Gut Multi to perform much better than most other multis that costs well over twice the price.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
None of these strings listed is close to natural gut in feel and comfort. Mantis Comfort is a good multi but it's not natural gut.

Why is the majority of the strings on this poll Gamma strings? There are other strings out there that offer better comfort for the elbow than the ones listed.
I suspect the OP has some deal with Gamma to get them free or at a discount.

If you go a search, I think you'll find that the general consensus is that Gamma strings have some of the worst price/performance as compared to its competitors. Many think they are all crap.
 

MambaT

Rookie
Please do yourself a favor an investigate the reasons for your tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is not a disease that you 'catch' (a number of posters have said they 'got' tennis elbow last year or last month). It is typically the symptom of a muscle condition resulting sometimes from string selection, but mostly from technique (my experience... I am NOT a doctor).

Find The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook at Amazon or your local library and read about what causes tennis elbow and other muscle related issues. It literally saved me from surgery and it costs less that a pack of ALU Rough.
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
^^ agreed. Tennis elbow is generally caused by flawed technique if it just pops up all of a sudden. That being said, don't have poly in your racket for more than 10 hours of hitting.
 

aggietex08

Rookie
Even though I am obviously out numbered here, I did not like MCS. I think ISOSPEED Professional Classic 17 to be the softest string I have tried. It just feels so good.
 

pvaudio

Legend
I didn't say that I liked it either. I simply said that it fits his description. It's far from one of my favorite strings, although I do feel Professional is quite good (stupidly overpriced though).
 

COPEY

Hall of Fame
I didn't say that I liked it either. I simply said that it fits his description. It's far from one of my favorite strings, although I do feel Professional is quite good (stupidly overpriced though).


It's a buck more than MCS per set.
 

COPEY

Hall of Fame
Even though I am obviously out numbered here, I did not like MCS. I think ISOSPEED Professional Classic 17 to be the softest string I have tried. It just feels so good.

"Classic" is the operative word, I believe. Moreover, I thought we were talking about "ISOSPEED", not Gamma. If I missed something, then I certainly apologize for the oversight.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Ahh, gotcha. I didn't even read that part of his post since the thread's poll only mentions Gamma Professional. I understand now :)
 

sberman51

Rookie
MCS is so incredibly soft! It really doesn't even feel that soft, but actually very crisp and nice! It is amazingly soft on the arm without being "mushy." I highly recommend this as a Must Try to anyone with arm pain or discomfort.
Does my description sound accurate compared to the experiences of others?
Thanks!
 

mikeler

Moderator
MCS is so incredibly soft! It really doesn't even feel that soft, but actually very crisp and nice! It is amazingly soft on the arm without being "mushy." I highly recommend this as a Must Try to anyone with arm pain or discomfort.
Does my description sound accurate compared to the experiences of others?
Thanks!

It is a good kind of mushy IMO. Very unique string for sure.
 

fortun8son

Hall of Fame
Dunlop Comfort Synthetic is very similar to MCS in comfort and performance and is still available at a low price.
I've mentioned this before. The founder of Mantis used to be a top exec at Dunlop and took this design with him.
MCS is really an updated DCS(aka Comfort Max)
You might also consider TF Multifeel.
P.S. No-one ever mentions grip size or a worn grip surface as a factor in TE.
Squeezing too hard can cause this.
I've gotten it from holding a guitar pick!
 

fortun8son

Hall of Fame
MCS is natural gut made from synthetic fibers

MCS is constructed with a microfibre core and a single wrap with coatings as is Dunlop Comfort Synthetic and Alpha 2000.
The closest multis to Natural (structurally) would probably be NXT or X-1 Biphase.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Has anyone had any experience with Wilson Shock Shield?


Shock Shield was very stiff and had even less power than MCS so you really had to swing like crazy to get the ball to do anything. I would avoid it, they totally missed the mark on that string.
 
^^^
Never used shock shield but I would assume it is like a stiff, crisp hollow pro core because of similar construction. Suspicion confirmed
 
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