Arm Can't Take a Full Poly Bed Anymore

[Stu]

I'm a 4.0 player (4.5 serve, 3.5 groundstrokes). For about 18 months, I've had golf elbow. Not debilitating at first, but getting worse- especially over the last 6-8 months. I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.
I've been playing a full poly set-up (Babolat RPM Blast) in some older sticks- Head iX3 MP and Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet MP.
Any suggestions for a softer string (other than natural gut) to help me get over the hump? My main concern is losing pop/kick on my serve because I rely on it so much.

Thanks in advance,
Stu

 

[Boogslice]

I recently settled on Kirschbaum Pro Line II (1.20) and it's a dream string for me. Yes, it's a poly but way softer than most. You can also lower the tension to help with that a bit too. This string, for my game and racquet, seems to offer the best of both poly and multi.

Anyway, if you like the perks and performance of a poly then I'd try some of the softer ones out there.

 

[Traffic]

I'm a 4.0 player (4.5 serve, 3.5 groundstrokes). For about 18 months, I've had golf elbow. Not debilitating at first, but getting worse- especially over the last 6-8 months. I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.
I've been playing a full poly set-up (Babolat RPM Blast) in some older sticks- Head iX3 MP and Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet MP.
Any suggestions for a softer string (other than natural gut) to help me get over the hump? My main concern is losing pop/kick on my serve because I rely on it so much.

Thanks in advance,
Stu

Why not gut/poly hybrid?
I'm running VS/Cream and getting poly level spin in a very comfortable string bed.
There are softer poly out there. But maybe you need to stay clear of poly for a bit. Still, if you are on the road to recovery, I think a softer poly like 18g HyperG or Cream are some options.

 

[Shroud]

I'm a 4.0 player (4.5 serve, 3.5 groundstrokes). For about 18 months, I've had golf elbow. Not debilitating at first, but getting worse- especially over the last 6-8 months. I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.
I've been playing a full poly set-up (Babolat RPM Blast) in some older sticks- Head iX3 MP and Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet MP.
Any suggestions for a softer string (other than natural gut) to help me get over the hump? My main concern is losing pop/kick on my serve because I rely on it so much.

Thanks in advance,
Stu

Monogut zx is soft but behaves like a poly. You could soften the rpm by doing a zx cross. But you need to prestretch it a ton or it loses tension fast and alot more tension than other strings.

Fixing my bh fixed my ge but i have a 1 hander.

 

[TennisManiac]

If you like the spin and control you get from a poly. My advice would be to use a softer poly strung in the mid 40s. And most importantly... cut it out and restring every 4 to 6 hours. Way too many people play poly until it breaks. That's the worst thing a player could ever do. Poly goes dead in a few hours give or take depending on how big you hit and how much spin you play. I personally restring my frames every other match. So that's about every 4 hours. And I use Luxilon Alu Power. The most expensive poly on the market. There's millions of people out there who are always complaining about how much it costs to buy string. I say this... If you love to play tennis and you want to play your best every time you play, then you need fresh string all the time. You simply cannot put a price on arm health. Who cares how much it costs to restring. Do you want to play or not?

 

[LeeD]

Have you tried dropping string tension?
I use 35 lbs STBite16 on 8 of my rackets, the stiff ones, and use the same strings at 47 lbs on the really soft flexing rackets like MGRadOS and 4DAero300's.

 

[LeftyJunk]

I strung up a buddies Pure Storm at 52lbs with Ytex Square-X in the mains and Wilson Sensation in the crosses and he was able to get over his elbow problems. You could also try Ytex's QuadroTwist or Gosen's Sidewinder in the mains (two really soft poly's that I have experience with) with a multi in the crosses. You will get all the spin you could ever ask for with those three poly strings!

 

[graycrait]

62 yr old geezer playing 5 times a week with lessons. Some call me a sandbagging 4.5 but I don't play USTA. Right now I am sort of having a love affair with 18G Solinco Tour Bite, 18G MSV Focus Hex and waiting for the aforementioned to die so I can try some 18G Solinco Hyper G.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Yonex Poly Tour Pro; Yonex Poly Tour Air; Volkl Cyclone Tour; Isospeed Cream; all have relatively low stiffness for polys according to Tennis Warehouse University. For arm protection I hybrid the Yonexes with a multi, usually Volkl Powerfiber II.

 

[Icsa]

I'm a 4.0 player (4.5 serve, 3.5 groundstrokes). For about 18 months, I've had golf elbow. Not debilitating at first, but getting worse- especially over the last 6-8 months. I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.
I've been playing a full poly set-up (Babolat RPM Blast) in some older sticks- Head iX3 MP and Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet MP.
Any suggestions for a softer string (other than natural gut) to help me get over the hump? My main concern is losing pop/kick on my serve because I rely on it so much.

Thanks in advance,
Stu

You should consider taking a very long break until your elbow heals back. No change of strings will replace that. And I'm talking 3 to 6 months depending on how quickly your body recovers. Only then, you can start experimenting with softer strings, lower tension, heavier racquets, better technique.

 

[Powderwombat]

I agree, lower tension and use a softer poly.

 

[Rabbit]

Been down the poly road....now I'm back in synthetic gut land and happily so. I have also discovered what may well be the best value in stringdom, Pacific Futura TXT.

 

[MajesticMoose]

RPM Blast is your first problem. Dump it. That's one stiff string. Go with a softer poly like Yonex Poly Tour Pro in a 17 gauge or 16L. String it up around 50 lbs or upper 40s and it feels nice. Cyclone Tour is another soft one but goes dead quick.

Your Prince Hornet frame has a stiffness of 70.
Your Head frame has a stiffness of 71.

See the issue here?? Both frames AND strings are stiff.

 

[fuzz nation]

I'm a 4.0 player (4.5 serve, 3.5 groundstrokes). For about 18 months, I've had golf elbow. Not debilitating at first, but getting worse- especially over the last 6-8 months. I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.
I've been playing a full poly set-up (Babolat RPM Blast) in some older sticks- Head iX3 MP and Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet MP.
Any suggestions for a softer string (other than natural gut) to help me get over the hump? My main concern is losing pop/kick on my serve because I rely on it so much.

Thanks in advance,
Stu

Absolutely agree with the recommendation to stop playing for a little while. If your condition has been degrading since the initial onset of golfer's elbow over the course of 18 months, you may have some significant healing to do.

Don't even think about playing with that garbage string in your racquet. Go get the snippers and cut it out of there before you're tempted to play with it again - it's injuring you. First cut the crosses progressing from the center to the top and bottom, then the mains starting from the center and alternating out to the sides. Goodbye RPM!!

If a pro stringer recommended that string for you in those racquets, don't take any further advice from that person without seeking a second opinion. Your ailment - technique aside - is a direct result of the combo of that string in a light, stiff racquet.

Multifiber is generally pretty soft string and I've seen a few local cases of golfer's elbow or tennis elbow cool out rather quickly in the wake of those players making the switch away from poly into this softer string type. If you don't want to get into natural gut - which is certainly a supremely arm-friendly string option - you'd certainly be moving in a better direction with multi.

The premium multi's like Tecnifibre X-One Biphase and Wilson NXT are rather nice, but they also come with a premium price tag. I keep sets of Alpha Gut 2000 multi on hand if somebody I string for needs that string type. It's relatively affordable through TW and seems to deliver decent performance and service life. I've seen impressive durability with Yonex multi in the recent past and some players switching from poly to multi seem to enjoy the feel of Head RIP Control.

I get great bang for my buck with simple synthetic gut and it also gives me moderate softness. Kirschbaum's standard syn. gut has been my favorite lately and I've also very much liked Volkl's Classic Syn. Gut (offered in several colors, so there's that). One syn. gut that's soft enough to actually work as an affordable substitute for multi is Forten Sweet. VERY cozy string that sells for about $3 per set.

Also agree with the sentiment for sampling a racquet with a little more weight. Even a frame weighing 11.5-12.0 oz. can be quite manageable if it also has enough head-light balance for comfortable handling. When frames get lighter and more stiff, it's easier for them to transmit more impact shock into our wrists and arms. Stiffer poly string substantially contributes to this problem, too.

 

[Allcourtguy]

I have been using HyperG 18g / Volkl V-Wrap syn gut 17g for quite a while now an am still happy with it. Lots of spin when needed and plenty of pop when I want that. It is a very comfortable combo and easy on my arm.

 

[CopolyX]

If you value your arm > mend first completely
Dump poly based string coming back. Use a full bed of mono core high quality sync gut for a few months.
Ensure your form has not changed, video yourself or take a lesson to have the extra set of eyes.
If good to go..
Transition to a hybrid.
If you go back to poly based string, try thinner gauges / softer strings
Keep you tension down on the lower side.

I am assuming you are warming up properly, stretches, resistant exercises, not over-playing, post recovery plan in place.
Most don't and just blame the strings or the frame...

 

[Christian Olsson]

If I were you, take a break, buy a armfriendly racquet like softer Volkls or PK, soft poly strung low, a soft basegrip like Volkl vsense on it. Like in any case with any issue you have to see the whole picture. Not just the string is wrong here. The racquets are very stiff.

 

[NickJ]

I had a similar problem where I'd lost all strength in my forearm when 'palm down'. Suspect from lifting a suitcase awkwardly when returning from holiday, anyway ....
Used Pro Staffs for years with Luxilon Big Banger at about 55lbs. When I had the problem I stopped playing completely, for about 4-5mths, had physio, the usual medications and came back slowly. Switched to Yonex Ezone DR98g with Poly Tour Pro at 52/53lbs and love this combination. Frame is softer, string is softer. Ok, I may have lost a few mph on serve etc but I'll take that over not playing, or being in pain any day of the week! Good luck.

 

[RJ-L]

You've done cortisone shots and physical therapy, with only moderate success, and people are still suggesting poly's.....

I suggest you start using a quality multi like x-one biphase or wilson NXT.
Because you dont get cortisone shots for nothing, a buddy of mine had several in his shoulder and kept on playing. Resulted in surgery and 12-18 months recovery.

If you value your arm stay away from poly's for a while untill your fully recovered.
Afterwards i can suggest as above, Yonex Poly tour pro at a low tension <50 lbs.

 

[shamaho]

RPM Blast is your first problem. Dump it. That's one stiff string. Go with a softer poly like Yonex Poly Tour Pro in a 17 gauge or 16L. String it up around 50 lbs or upper 40s and it feels nice. Cyclone Tour is another soft one but goes dead quick.

Your Prince Hornet frame has a stiffness of 70.
Your Head frame has a stiffness of 71.

See the issue here?? Both frames AND strings are stiff.

Yeah! it's combo of frame and strings...
I recently played one match with an old Prince (stiffness was also 70), lighter racket than what I used, and had full bed of poly instead of my ususal poly/syngut hybrid.
after one hard match and another training session resulted also in a serious case of golfer's elbow ie. medial epycondilitis...

so I completely put aside the idea of that racket, and now (after I heal) I'm moving to PCG 100 with poly/syngut hybrid...

 

[dr325i]

Ive had elbow issues (real issues) wince 2011.
Long story short, I have been using a soft frame (60RA) and soft full bed poly (Solinco TB Soft) last 5 years and can handle heavy hitting, 4-5 times per week, 2-hour sessions. Occasionally, I do 7 or 8 days in a row and my elbow lets me know to back off...

 

[Shroud]

RPM Blast is your first problem. Dump it. That's one stiff string. Go with a softer poly like Yonex Poly Tour Pro in a 17 gauge or 16L. String it up around 50 lbs or upper 40s and it feels nice. Cyclone Tour is another soft one but goes dead quick.

Your Prince Hornet frame has a stiffness of 70.
Your Head frame has a stiffness of 71.

See the issue here?? Both frames AND strings are stiff.

Its possible to play stiff frames and stiff strings if the swing weight/ recoil weight is high enough.

 

[eelhc]

Had tennis elbow ~3 years ago. So bad that it hurt to open loosely sealed jars. Here's what it took for me:

• Took a couple of months off. From my experience, 6~8 weeks will do it most people. That's not just laying off tennis. It's any activity that can aggravate your elbow. Golf, bowling... gave it all up for a bit.
• No stiff/light racquets for me any more.
• Heavier (at least 11oz strung), Head light and flexible racquets.
• Poly at low tensions (although since I discovered the Monogut ZX/Multi Hybrid, I don't do poly any more)

I have also worked for the past couple of years on ending points quicker (less strokes, less wear/tear on the body)...

 

[Fanman]

I had similar issues. Had a full bed of RPM Blast 18 in my Babolat Pure Aero & found it too stiff & hurting my arm. Went to the VS natural gut, which was extremely arm friendly. I'm now stringing up all my racquets w/ the pre-packaged RPM Blast & VS Gut hybrid & love it. Gives me the natural gut softness but the spin & precision of the RPM Blast. If it is too pricey for you, Babolat makes a nice Hurricane Poly & Xcel Multifilament hybrid pack.

 

[EdMcMush]

social Darwinism. Let the weak arms die

 

[Shroud]

social Darwinism. Let the weak arms die

Its the way of things! Only Poly users can breed!! Throw the weak armed infants off the cliff!!

 

[Muppet]

social Darwinism. Let the weak arms die

When you consider that evolution depends on the ability to adapt, those who get hurt from using poly are failing to adapt their technique/racquets/tensions to the new environment/material.

 

[eelhc]

social Darwinism. Let the weak arms die

No... let the weak brains that don't make the switch to a more comfortable setup die.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[RyanRF]

I recently settled on Kirschbaum Pro Line II (1.20) and it's a dream string for me. Yes, it's a poly but way softer than most. You can also lower the tension to help with that a bit too. This string, for my game and racquet, seems to offer the best of both poly and multi.

Anyway, if you like the perks and performance of a poly then I'd try some of the softer ones out there.

Agreed.

Tried this string a few weeks ago and was super impressed with how soft it felt. Currently my favorite. Also it doesn't hurt that it's on sale currently... $6/ea if you buy 2+.

Only downside was how fast the 1.20mm snapped. I'm not usually a string breaker but I got less than two weeks out of this. Trying 1.25mm next.

 

[ultradr]

Monogut zx is soft but behaves like a poly. You could soften the rpm by doing a zx cross. But you need to prestretch it a ton or it loses tension fast and alot more tension than other strings.

Fixing my bh fixed my ge but i have a 1 hander.

I like ZX too.

They should sell pre-stretched version.

 

[Shroud]

I like ZX too.

They should sell pre-stretched version.

Totally agree!! I brought this up to Julian of ashaway and he said basically that some people dont like it prestretched and those that do can do it themselves. Which imho was lame but i get it

 

[ultradr]

Totally agree!! I brought this up to Julian of ashaway and he said basically that some people dont like it prestretched and those that do can do it themselves. Which imho was lame but i get it

without prestretching, i think it does feel almost like natural guts for 1st 2 hours or so
and quickly disappears. i did love it. not as controllerable as NG though.

I wonder how the string changes if they mix small amount of other material like <5% of nylon or something.
something that might make its feel less brassy, less vibrating, launch angle a bit higher.
something that would make adjusting to its nature a bit easily.
just a little bit. I'm basically ok with the string and don't want its unique characteristic change though.

 

[Shroud]

without prestretching, i think it does feel almost like natural guts for 1st 2 hours or so
and quickly disappears. i did love it. not as controllerable as NG though.

I wonder how the string changes if they mix small amount of other material like <5% of nylon or something.
something that might make its feel less brassy, less vibrating, launch angle a bit higher.
something that would make adjusting to its nature a bit easily.
just a little bit. I'm basically ok with the string and don't want its unique characteristic change though.

My two cents is that the vibration is from tension loss. Every stick has a tension where it vibrates like crazy. Its usually in the 20-40lb range depending on the stick. Zx can lose so much tension if you dont prestretch you can easily end up in that range. And ashaway recommends 10% less tension so its pretty likely people can get there pretty easily. The string elongate almost 2 feet so think of what the tension loss is like

Said another way its not the string, its the tension that causes the vibes.

Try prestretching and i but you will like it more then

 

[DonDiego]

Hybrid with poly mains. I honestly don't see the difference in spin or else vs. a full bed and it's more comfortable, cheaper (I'm a hard-hitting 4.5).

 

[ultradr]

My two cents is that the vibration is from tension loss. Every stick has a tension where it vibrates like crazy. Its usually in the 20-40lb range depending on the stick. Zx can lose so much tension if you dont prestretch you can easily end up in that range. And ashaway recommends 10% less tension so its pretty likely people can get there pretty easily. The string elongate almost 2 feet so think of what the tension loss is like

Said another way its not the string, its the tension that causes the vibes.

Try prestretching and i but you will like it more then

I think you are right about the vibration.
It did not vibrate as much during 1st a few hours.
I'm now pre-stretching more and lowering tension until I find the right formula.
How much % of tension do you think I should lower from the tension for unstretched?

 

[Shroud]

I think you are right about the vibration.
It did not vibrate as much during 1st a few hours.
I'm now pre-stretching more and lowering tension until I find the right formula.
How much % of tension do you think I should lower from the tension for unstretched?

Hey Ultradr!
A bit confused here. If you are not prestretching i would string higher. Also if you prestretch it just helps with tension loss. So if you want it at 55, and you prestretch you can probably string it at 55 or more and be ok up to its limit of 60lbs.
So to your question i would go 10-20% more if you are not prestretching up to its limit of 60-65lbs

 

[smalahove]

I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.

You should consider taking a very long break until your elbow heals back. No change of strings will replace that. And I'm talking 3 to 6 months depending on how quickly your body recovers. Only then, you can start experimenting with softer strings, lower tension, heavier racquets, better technique.

Had tennis elbow ~3 years ago. So bad that it hurt to open loosely sealed jars. Here's what it took for me:

• Took a couple of months off. From my experience, 6~8 weeks will do it most people. That's not just laying off tennis. It's any activity that can aggravate your elbow. Golf, bowling... gave it all up for a bit.
• No stiff/light racquets for me any more.
• Heavier (at least 11oz strung), Head light and flexible racquets.
• Poly at low tensions (although since I discovered the Monogut ZX/Multi Hybrid, I don't do poly any more)

I have also worked for the past couple of years on ending points quicker (less strokes, less wear/tear on the body)...

Some good advice above. Just a few very important points:

• If you have a diagnosed TE/GE (epicondylitis) cortizone shots are NOT going to help you, other than relieve the pain and symptomes temporarily. The tendon is "sick" as a result of beingstrained by over-use (like a climber's rope frictionning against the rock); it is not inflamed.
  
  
• It will take time. I got my first case of TE (thought I experienced it before, but apparently no) and two months without tennis, it still hanging on. I am getting better, but the sports dr and the physio both said 3-12 months - and apparently my case was very gentle.
  
  
• Laying off all activities that aggravate the elbow also includes computer and mobile use. Unf. I haven't been as diligent there as I should have, but sitting here writing on my laptop I can feel it's not optimal. So if you're able to use the phone with your other hand, and try to use the PC to a min. you might be able to cut things down to fewer months.

Good luck!

 

[USPTARF97]

I'm a 4.0 player (4.5 serve, 3.5 groundstrokes). For about 18 months, I've had golf elbow. Not debilitating at first, but getting worse- especially over the last 6-8 months. I've had the cortisone shots and done the physical therapy, with only moderate success.
I've been playing a full poly set-up (Babolat RPM Blast) in some older sticks- Head iX3 MP and Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet MP.
Any suggestions for a softer string (other than natural gut) to help me get over the hump? My main concern is losing pop/kick on my serve because I rely on it so much.

Thanks in advance,
Stu

Stop playing for a period and get a stretch/ massage routine. Avoid anything that aggravates the elbow. Get a soft poly and string low tension or poly main/ Syn-gut cross strung at low tension. I hurt my elbow and went through this process. Started back with a more flexible racquet strung in the 40's with a hybrid of the softest poly and syn-gut I could find. Never had another problem.
Helps to narrow it down to what shot exactly is hurting your elbow and have your local pro tweak that shot. Money well spent. Any technique issues with your strokes and RPM among other stiff polys will shred your arm long term.

 

[zaskar1]

stu

sorry to hear you have arm problems, its very common for tennis players
lower the poly tension, go to a softer poly, hybrid the poly, or go to multifilament or gut.
you might want to consider lifting light weights, many reps to strengthen your arm
after you have fully recovered.
if you use a light racquet, you might want to consider a heavier one, as with offcenter hits
the vibration damping of light racquets affects some people.
but you have to do what works for you.

z