Advice on arm friendly set up

[Nickaaai]

I’ve some arm pain when I play a couple of times a week with the following set up:
- angel tc95 16*19
- tier1 ghostwire @23kg

just tried velocity mlt but broke in 1 hour.

What is an other good option to try for arm friendly set up.

- ghostwire (or other poly) low tensions, 20kg perhaps?
- Or hybrid with multi mains en gw cross?
- or no poly at all

I’m fine with 5 hours durability.

 

[bob vdr]

What gauge are you using for Ghostwire? Also what gauge and tension did you use for Velocity MLT?

 

[Nickaaai]

Gw 1.22
Velocity 1.25 @25kg

 

[junior74]

Try Gosen Sidewinder, if you're fine with a twisted string. It's very soft.

Another option is your favourite poly in hybrid with Monogut Zyex. It softens the bed a lot, but also adds power...

 

[bob vdr]

Ok, for Velocity that tension seems way to high for a 95" frame, IMO. Also makes stringing very critical as any minor nick or scratch due to over-tightened clamps or technique flaws would make the strings super easy to break.
Personally, for more comfort and a bit bigger sweetspot, I would string just about any 95" frame no higher than 21-22kgs with multi/syn gut and 19-20kgs with a poly.
My recommendation for you is to try a hybrid first with the strings you already know: GW in the mains @20kg crossed with Velocity @21-22kgs and see how it feels.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

35/38 lbs - best option for an arm friendly set up

 

[Nickaaai]

Full bed poly u mean @17kg?

 

[beepee1972]

What is your main concern, durability, or being able to play tennis? I would try a 1.30 or 1.35 syngut, see if that gives you (enough) durabillity.. If not, you may give a soft co-poly a try at much lower tension, somewhere around 18k.... I switched back to using full syngut, no matter how much more I like playing with a poly.....it's just not worth it in my case. I'd rather play tennis, than not ;-)

 

[Dartagnan64]

The best ability is availability. If you can't play then your performance is going to be more adversely affected then by any positive gains from an ideal string set up.

So ditch full poly beds altogether. Look at a hybrid with nylon or gut mains and soft poly crosses. If you arm hurts, go to thick gauge nylon. If those break too soon then get a racket that isn't a string eater (thinner beam flexible 18x20 sticks are the best in that regard).

Always take arm health seriously.

 

[OldManStan]

I would skip poly altogether and switch to multi or synthetic gut if you have arm problems.

AK Pro CX 17g has been one of my favorites this year. Super plush feeling string but very powerful at the same time. You do need to string it probably 3-4 pounds higher than normal.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

My next trial is a fullbed of gw so I can’t compare, but volkl cyclone tour is the poly you’re looking for with stiffness in the multi range. String it at multi tension cause it’ll lose a bit sitting there; or not, and get some free power.

 

[Dartagnan64]

My next trial is a fullbed of gw so I can’t compare, but volkl cyclone tour is the poly you’re looking for with stiffness in the multi range. String it at multi tension cause it’ll lose a bit sitting there; or not, and get some free power.

Stiffness is not the problem with poly. It's the lack of elasticity and resilience that is the problem. The stuff, once it stretches out, has no give. Even stiffer syn gut and multis have some give until they break.

Think crumple zones in your car frame.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Stiffness is not the problem with poly. It's the lack of elasticity and resilience that is the problem. The stuff, once it stretches out, has no give. Even stiffer syn gut and multis have some give until they break.

VCT is very different in feel from most other polys. It feels springy. It feels a lot like a multi.

Once it stretches out and stops snapping back, you cut it out.

 

[EggSalad]

If you’re OK with 5 hours, put in a full bed of one of the coated synthetic guts (Head PPS, Gamma w/ Weatherguard, Prince w/ Duraflex).

Another option would be a Ghostwire/Synthetic gut hybrid. Maybe do GW mains, SynGut crosses.

 

[Nickaaai]

Yes wanting to try syn gut. Found an old head liquid metal mid with syn gut and it played fine against the wall.
U think syn gut has longer durability then velocity or other multi in a 95” 16*19 racket?

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Full bed poly u mean @17kg?

Yes it's my way to go to play healthy, even with a stiff poly
38 lbs Hyper G no pain

 

[EggSalad]

Yes wanting to try syn gut. Found an old head liquid metal mid with syn gut and it played fine against the wall.
U think syn gut has longer durability then velocity or other multi in a 95” 16*19 racket?

Yes, synthetic gut will last a little longer, especially the coated ones I mentioned.

 

[rrepp]

Synthetic gut at 48 lbs in my 93 sq in head trisys 300, 58 RA. I was surprised by how little control I lost, compared to how much softer it plays. And my elbow and wrist are happier too. I like Gosen ogsm 17 gauge but any quality synthetic gut will be fine. very minor differences between them.

 

[Westerwick]

I would skip poly altogether and switch to multi or synthetic gut if you have arm problems.

AK Pro CX 17g has been one of my favorites this year. Super plush feeling string but very powerful at the same time. You do need to string it probably 3-4 pounds higher than normal.

Or just go straight to gut. My most comfortable setup is gut mains with an alu poly cross. Great power, feel and comfort. Not that expensive—the gut will last months with some care. I replace the poly now and again

 

[OldManStan]

Or just go straight to gut. My most comfortable setup is gut mains with an alu poly cross. Great power, feel and comfort. Not that expensive—the gut will last months with some care. I replace the poly now and again

Gut mains and alu crosses is also one favorites. I would argue that it is on the pricier side if you don’t string yourself. Durability is definitely on the lower side with alu cutting into the mains IMO. I break gut/alu in about 2 weeks.

 

[junior74]

Yes wanting to try syn gut. Found an old head liquid metal mid with syn gut and it played fine against the wall.
U think syn gut has longer durability then velocity or other multi in a 95” 16*19 racket?

Velocity is a synthetic gut, technically.

Rip Control and NXT Control have decent durability and better control than most synthetic guts. Rule of thumb: The softer the string, the shorter the life span. Nat gut is the exception. And Monogut Zyex.

 

[Dartagnan64]

VCT is very different in feel from most other polys. It feels springy. It feels a lot like a multi.

Once it stretches out and stops snapping back, you cut it out.

Many newer co-polys do start out with more give but as you said, once it stretches out, you need to cut it out. Problem with a lot of people is they don't do that and play with it for 6 months or until it breaks whichever comes first. At that point it's been a potential arm killer for 5 months.

Or just go straight to gut. My most comfortable setup is gut mains with an alu poly cross. Great power, feel and comfort. Not that expensive—the gut will last months with some care. I replace the poly now and again

LOL, that was the exact setup that gave me my first case of TE in a 2015 PD. Felt great for 5 hrs, then the discomfort started but I was too cheap to cut it out. Learned my lesson the hard way.

 

[esm]

I’ve some arm pain when I play a couple of times a week with the following set up:
- angel tc95 16*19
- tier1 ghostwire @23kg

just tried velocity mlt but broke in 1 hour.

What is an other good option to try for arm friendly set up.

- ghostwire (or other poly) low tensions, 20kg perhaps?
- Or hybrid with multi mains en gw cross?
- or no poly at all

I’m fine with 5 hours durability.

Angell Halo 3 (Halo Multi) 54/50

 

[Steve Huff]

If you like that crisp feeling of a poly, but need something a little more arm-friendly, try Head FXP. It's crisp, more durable than most synthetics, very control oriented, and will hold it's tension a lot longer than a poly.

 

[Westerwick]

Velocity is a synthetic gut, technically.

Rip Control and NXT Control have decent durability and better control than most synthetic guts. Rule of thumb: The softer the string, the shorter the life span. Nat gut is the exception. And Monogut Zyex.

”Multifiber” covers a wide range of products and doesn’t seem to have a precise definition. The two general types are a sheathed fiber bundle (Wilson Sensation, Head Velocity, Ytex Microfiber) or a fiber bundle with a urethane or other non-tensile improving polymer fill (Tecnifibre xone, Signum Micronite, Tier One Triumph). They behave much differently. With the sheathed multis, once you break through the sheath, failure comes rapidly. The polymer fill types are a little more resilient.

Synthetic gut is also ill defined, but is usually made of nylon 66 or a close relative, and is usually a non filled braid or rope. This is almost always less expensive to produce than the sheath or fill found in multis.

Syn guts are thus often a special case of multifibers based on their construction and material. Head velocity reallyis an archetypical sheathed multifiber, and shares no characteristics commonly associated with synthetic gut.

 

[Nickaaai]

Ok thanks for advice u all but still break it in two hours in my tc95.

I can demo a vcp 97hd 18*20 from a friend.
Going to try this with a syn gut or multi, what tension would be best to start with?

 

[Nickaaai]

Yes it's my way to go to play healthy, even with a stiff poly
38 lbs Hyper G no pain

I tried 19kg but didn’t have the good control I’m used too. Will lowering the tension to 17kg not give me less control then 19kg?

 

[cdrrcd]

Ok thanks for advice u all but still break it in two hours in my tc95.

I can demo a vcp 97hd 18*20 from a friend.
Going to try this with a syn gut or multi, what tension would be best to start with?

I usually start with 55lbs for 16x19 and 52lbs for 18x20, but that just me.

 

[tennis4me]

Do you usually break the main or cross? I've strung a racquet with soft co-poly on main and Gamma Marathon 15L on cross and it lasted a long time, but it was on a 18x20, though. Eventually, the main breaks first. Both were strung @ 25kg(55lb).

I've recently started using hybrid again without arm issues (except when I played too much in the week). Back when I used to hybrid I was stringing my poly @25kg. Now, my poly main is maxed @ 47lb and my multi cross@49lb. Sometimes 48lb/46lb. My string pattern is 18x20, though.

I've had success with:
Luxilon Fluoro 1.23/G AK Pro CX 17
Luxilon Fluoro 1.23/H Velocity 17
L 4g Soft 1.25/G. Marathon 15L
H RIP Control 17/G AK Pro CX 17

I generally prefer the 17g, you can try the 16g.

Arm issues can be caused by many factors as had been discussed many times here. Recent racquet change? High tension? Technique?

In my case, I suddenly over a short period developed GE (inside elbow), which I've never had before. After some troubleshooting, I found out it was because my recent racquet change was causing a change in my serve motion (racquet was slightly too heavy for me).

Sometimes even when everything is "perfect" (racquet, string, techniques, etc), if you play too much, eventually your arm will start feeling it.

 

[Nickaaai]

Do you usually break the main or cross? I've strung a racquet with soft co-poly on main and Gamma Marathon 15L on cross and it lasted a long time, but it was on a 18x20, though. Eventually, the main breaks first. Both were strung @ 25kg(55lb).

I've recently started using hybrid again without arm issues (except when I played too much in the week). Back when I used to hybrid I was stringing my poly @25kg. Now, my poly main is maxed @ 47lb and my multi cross@49lb. Sometimes 48lb/46lb. My string pattern is 18x20, though.

I've had success with:
Luxilon Fluoro 1.23/G AK Pro CX 17
Luxilon Fluoro 1.23/H Velocity 17
L 4g Soft 1.25/G. Marathon 15L
H RIP Control 17/G AK Pro CX 17

I generally prefer the 17g, you can try the 16g.

Arm issues can be caused by many factors as had been discussed many times here. Recent racquet change? High tension? Technique?

In my case, I suddenly over a short period developed GE (inside elbow), which I've never had before. After some troubleshooting, I found out it was because my recent racquet change was causing a change in my serve motion (racquet was slightly too heavy for me).

Sometimes even when everything is "perfect" (racquet, string, techniques, etc), if you play too much, eventually your arm will start feeling it.

Normally the mains, but last setup was poly/multi and cross broke.

 

[tennis4me]

Normally the mains, but last setup was poly/multi and cross broke.

Just like I suspected ... In that case, you might benefit from the Marathon 15L. I was skeptical to try the Marathon due to my preference with thinner 17g strings, but it actually felt ok as a cross hybrid in terms of 'feel'.

 

[cortado]

I found natural gut mains, poly tour pro yellow crosses was comfortable for the entire 3 months it lasted until a main broke.

 

[BlueB]

Mains: natural gut, 50lbs or up.
Crosses: cheap, round, smooth, soft poly, like Isospeed Baseline. Prestretch and string 10 lbs lower than mains.
When it gets wonky, replace the crosses only. When the mains finally brake, replace everything.

 

[Jimb33]

If you’re OK with 5 hours, put in a full bed of one of the coated synthetic guts (Head PPS, Gamma w/ Weatherguard, Prince w/ Duraflex).

Another option would be a Ghostwire/Synthetic gut hybrid. Maybe do GW mains, SynGut crosses.

Yes, I use Head pps 17 strung tight and it lasts 4-5 hours in a 16/20 frame and is both grippy and comfortable.

 

[hadoken]

I don't understand why people with arm problems use poly...or if you are gonna use a poly string it say 18kgs. If you insist on some form of poly, then use a multi or synth gut main and poly cross. I run Yonex Dynawire as my main with poly and I think that's a solid combination of comfort, power and spin. I just tried Tecnifibire NRG2 as a main and it's...interesting. It's so soft it makes my hybrid not feel like a hybrid.