Arm-Friendly Racquets? What should I look for?

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
Stiffness is only one factor, don't forget weight and balance are important as well and comfort technology (handle systems and grommet systems) and build quality . The racquet should also fit your style of game.
Usually the Pro Kennex kinetic frames are very well regarded but there are nice options available from Volkl, Pacific, Donnay Prince and Yonex.
As for the RA level I think racquets between 57ra and 65ra should be tolerable most arms. At the end of the day you need to actually go out and hit with the frames.
 

MCN

Rookie
What kind of racquet do you normally like to play with (weight, swingweight, headlight or head heavy)? Give us some more info and we'll try and help. If you don't know, then get the heaviest racquet you can swing comfortably for a couple of hours, try and not get something too stiff and perhaps avoid full poly strings. I find that most Volkl racquets tend to be arm friendly, even though they may have a high stiffness rating. But there's plenty others like that as well.
 

BlueB

Legend
Weight over 320g, SW over 320, balance over 4 HL, RA below 65.
Real shock relieving technologies are a bonus too - ports, kinetic systems, enhanced grips...
Prince Tour probably the best...
 
What kind of racquet do you normally like to play with (weight, swingweight, headlight or head heavy)? Give us some more info and we'll try and help. If you don't know, then get the heaviest racquet you can swing comfortably for a couple of hours, try and not get something too stiff and perhaps avoid full poly strings. I find that most Volkl racquets tend to be arm friendly, even though they may have a high stiffness rating. But there's plenty others like that as well.
I'm using the Pure Drive right now.. (just forearm / wrist issues). True it could be technique.. but might as well invest in a racquet that is arm-friendly so I can eliminate one factor. I'm using a soft multifilament (babolat xcel).

I tried an older racquet I have (prokennex ti titanium265) and had a lot less pain after playing for two hours than the babolat racquet.

I just play casually... once or twice a week.
 
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BorgCash

Legend
I played with three very arm-friendly sticks. Wilson Hammer Triad 4.0, Dulop Muscle Weave Integra 98, Volkl C10 Pro. All are very different but very arm-friendly, i played with them when was recovering from tennis elbow.
 

BorgCash

Legend
I'm using the Pure Drive right now.. (just forearm / wrist issues). True it could be technique.. but might as well invest in a racquet that is arm-friendly so I can eliminate one factor. I'm using a soft multifilament (babolat xcel).

I tried an older racquet I have (prokennex ti titanium265) and had a lot less pain after playing for two hours than the babolat racquet.

Babolat racquets are well known as most arm(shoulder)-unfriendly.
 

MCN

Rookie
Pure Drives are quite stiff and can cause arm problems if technique isn't sound. Similar feeling racquets (but a bit softer) include the Yonex DR98 (or Ai98) and possibly something like Volkl Super G325. Both have plenty of pop, but are much arm friendlier than the PD.
 
Low vibration frequency. For me, anything under about 145 is fine. I like racquets that are between 315g and 325g strung, so I can just go down that list and see what works for me.
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/vibfrequency.cgi

You feel that's enough to go by? I find it interesting the Burn FST 99 has a 72 Stiffness RDC but yet one of the lowest vibration frequencies.

These are a few I'm thinking about so far to demo.

ZgUAaBZ.png


Vibration Frequencies:

Tour 98 - 135
100 longbody - 130
textreme tour 100P- 139
EZONE DR 98 - 141
Graphene XT Prestige S - 136
Ki5x- 134
Tour Pro 100 - 133
 
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jonestim

Hall of Fame
I would throw the Textreme Warrior 100 in there. It has a power level closer to what you are used to, but arm friendly. Tour 100 and.DR 98 are nice, but may be too low powered. Haven't hit with the others.
 

MCN

Rookie
Vibration frequencies don't tell you much about whether the frame is arm friendly. Also depends on amplitude (how much of the vibration gets to your arm). There's no substitute for a) the mass and swingweight of the racquet and b) the stiffness of the frame and types of strings you use. And oh, whether you can hit the sweet spot on most shots or not plus your technique (especially backhands).
 
Vibration frequencies don't tell you much about whether the frame is arm friendly. Also depends on amplitude (how much of the vibration gets to your arm). There's no substitute for a) the mass and swingweight of the racquet and b) the stiffness of the frame and types of strings you use. And oh, whether you can hit the sweet spot on most shots or not plus your technique (especially backhands).

True... But is following what Blue said fine? "Weight over 320g, SW over 320, balance over 4 HL, RA below 65."

I feel like if I eliminate the Racquet + strings then I know it's a problem with my technique. Just trying eliminate anything I can at this point.
 

MCN

Rookie
True... But is following what Blue said fine? "Weight over 320g, SW over 320, balance over 4 HL, RA below 65."

I feel like if I eliminate the Racquet + strings then I know it's a problem with my technique. Just trying eliminate anything I can at this point.

Yeah ok it's a decent start. Make sure you demo some racquets. If you're used to the PD, which is a very powerful racquet, you'll have an adjustment period with softer racquets.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
True... But is following what Blue said fine? "Weight over 320g, SW over 320, balance over 4 HL, RA below 65."

I feel like if I eliminate the Racquet + strings then I know it's a problem with my technique. Just trying eliminate anything I can at this point.

I think you're doing the right thing by searching for a softer rig, since you're already using a decent soft multifiber in your Pure Drive and still not comfortable with it.

The racquet search will take a little time, so be ready for a couple of ups and downs. Even if you demo a racquet that's better for you, it's also entirely possible that the sampling sessions will give you a little soreness just because you're using unfamiliar racquets. Whenever we try new frames, it's typically the case that we'll rack up a few extra mis-hits while making adjustments. The frame may be ultimately more comfortable in the long run, but the getting-used-to-it process can be a little irritating.

Even a racquet with an arm-friendly reputation can be significantly harder on the wrist and elbow when strung with a poly or poly hybrid. If you need more comfort with any new racquet, I strongly recommend sticking with synthetic gut or multifiber to help stack the odds of success more in your favor.

What Blue said is fine, but we all have our own best fit. Even if the specs of a certain racquet are right in general terms, you'll probably recognize your better setups when you have a good hit on the courts. You may benefit from keeping notes on your demos. I've personally always enjoyed a heavier racquet, but I also have a better time with handling that extra weight when I have more HL balance. One model I routinely use weighs 12.8 oz. and balances at 10 pts. HL. The greater heft is more stable through the ball and the HL balance gives me better maneuvering, especially around the net. My setup isn't for everybody, but lots of players prefer more HL balance when playing a heavier frame - something to be aware of when demoing.

If you can eventually get a test drive with the DR 98, that might be a good one. That Prince Tour Pro 100 ought to be a nice soft hitter - I have an ESP version of that racquet among my loaners and it's very cozy. Since I'm a big Volkl nerd, I'll also recommend a look at their options. The Super G 10 295g and 325g might have something to offer in terms of comfort and performance, plus they're marked down.
 

jonestim

Hall of Fame
100p is nice. It is open for an 18x20, but you will want to string it a few pounds less. Warrior 100 has more power and spin, which is closer to what you are Accustomed to. Both are nice and fine for the arm.
 

bageldog

Semi-Pro
A racket I j
Alright.. well might demo these for now:

8SBtp5O.png


DR 98 + Ki 5x are out of stock or something.
A racket that gives a pure drive like response and feel, but is comfortable, is the prokennex q5 and the new yellow ki5's. They are stiff, but the kinetic tech is the real deal, they give you 95% of the pure drive power, but so easy on the arm. I am very impressed with them. The previous ki5 were too soft, the comfort came at the cost of performance, especially the upper hoop
 

jbdbackfan

Semi-Pro
You feel that's enough to go by? I find it interesting the Burn FST 99 has a 72 Stiffness RDC but yet one of the lowest vibration frequencies.

These are a few I'm thinking about so far to demo.

ZgUAaBZ.png


Vibration Frequencies:

Tour 98 - 135
100 longbody - 130
textreme tour 100P- 139
EZONE DR 98 - 141
Graphene XT Prestige S - 136
Ki5x- 134
Tour Pro 100 - 133

I played with the tour pro 100 briefly, it doesn't have the mass and is very unstable. If you can find a prince graphite 100 I've been using those for a year and no arm or shoulder issues, even with a soft poly.

If you prefer more dense pattern, the head radical microgel with some added weight can be a good option too.

Also, Ezone DR is sworn by many here.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
It always comes down to technique.

Using all arm, or gripping the racquet very tight will cause TE.

My father has found a way to get tennis elbow using a Prince racquet from the early 2000s, strung with a multi strung at 55 lbs (now probably at the high 40s at the very least).

Although it may be the fact that racquets do get stiffer over time.
 

Pmasterfunk

Hall of Fame
Low vibration frequency. For me, anything under about 145 is fine. I like racquets that are between 315g and 325g strung, so I can just go down that list and see what works for me.
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/vibfrequency.cgi

I haven't tried that many racquets recently, but all the racquets I did try could be classified by comfort directly in line with the numbers from this table.

Personnally, Unless you go for the 315 Ltd I'd skip the Tecnifibres. I played with the TFight 325 (2013) for a while and I got arm pain. I'd never gotten arm pain from tennis before. A few racquets that I tried that I thought were quite comfortable were the Babolat Pure Control 95, Pro Kennex Redondo, Pacific X-Force Pro 18x20.
 

graycrait

Legend
Old tennis TE sufferer and shoulder issue for reasons other than tennis. My problem with TE "specialty" rackets is that they didn't work well for me. Want to play tennis while you heal get a PCG 107, string with Ash Kev x Ash Zyex or Soft Poly x syn gut. If that doesn't suit you then get a Dunlop M3.1 for $99.put a leather grip on it and 4-6 grams at 3&9. Make sure your racket is 12.2 oz or heavier at 8+ pts HL with as big a grip as you can handle. One of the problems I have found with the conventional wisdom of TE rackets that most folks want to string these mainly hoop or throat flexy sticks with a lame multi or syn gut and then swat at balls for 6 months or year, using some twisty piece of rubber as an off tennis cure. Believe me I have tried them all. However, if you are a <4.0 who is trying to emulate Jack Sock forehands with little good training then heaven help you. You need lessons, a "heavy" racket, a racket that flexes along the entire length, at least a 16x19 open pattern and do hard massage on the tendons.
 

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
Maybe I should've wrote it like this $11.50 < $20.00, which equals stfu. :)

That would have been more coherent than "$1.50.". TW demos are one of the best deals in tennis, with distance from SLO being the only cost factor. I had to take a look at his invoice to see the $10.00 credit because my initial though was "WTF?".
 
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