Arm issues : Stiff Poly low tension 36 lbs or Synthetic Gut at 55 lbs ?

[tennisintheeighties]

Since my last injury on a serve return with my blade 98, I took some days to think about my future in tennis.
I decided to change radically all my settings.
I bought a couple of stiffest racquets, Pure Aero 2019 300g, and I put an Hyper G 1.30 at a very low tension 36 lbs. I string my racquets every 4/5 hours, i always play with fresh ball too.
(I was previously playing with hybrid or softer poly around 50 lbs )
Man, what a big improvement and a big difference !

I really think now that the tension is more important regarding arm issues, than strings or racquets.
I played one year with a clash tour, and always feeling pain on the golfer elbow side, why ?
I string racquets for so many players, from 2.0 to 6.0, and most of them wants tension between 48 to 60 lbs, even with rpm blast, black code, or hyper G).

I'm playing since one week, absolutely pain free, with a pure aero, hyper G 16 gauge at 36 lbs, and I love the feel, the pocketing, the huge amount of spin, and most important, no pain at all, no need to use my tens machine, gun massage, or self massage, after my sessions, even in the morning no pain.
I really enjoy playing with a good poly like Hyper G, at that tension. Absolutely no trampoline effect. Played yesterday with a 5.0 friend, and my ball was deep and heavy.

maybe this post can help some players with arm / elbow issues.
(props to @1HBHfanatic , really good advice)


Thoughts ?
Thanks !

 

[Simplicius]

.
I've bought early this year a stringing machine in order to make such experiments without stringing cost, but as you, I have not done any until now...
You've convinced me! I will test it on Sunday! Not stiff rackets for me. I'll stay with my regulars.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Your experiment would probably be more enlightening had you just switched the string tension and not a racquet at the same time.

 

[Uncoil]

Do you care about volleys? You're going to get some erratic volleys with full bed poly at 36 lbs.

 

[esm]

OP - check this thread out. I enjoy 33/31 on a fullbed of copoly.

Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too

Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today. Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out: http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154 Chris, TW

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

Do you care about volleys? You're going to get some erratic volleys with full bed poly at 36 lbs.

Have you tried it yourself to come up with this conclusion?

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

The non-linear power response with polys is not changed with tension reduction, ime.

The sweet spot does open up some, but swingspeed still needs to be maintained.

 

[Uncoil]

OP - check this thread out. I enjoy 33/31 on a fullbed of copoly.

Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too

Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today. Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out: http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154 Chris, TW

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

Have you tried it yourself to come up with this conclusion?

I have through a few low tension poly experiments

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Do you care about volleys? You're going to get some erratic volleys with full bed poly at 36 lbs.

Yes absolutely. I did sone adjustments, and it works great.
Awesome spin, very good feel overall and nice touch at the net.
( Jack Sock is agree)

 

[tennisintheeighties]

A 16 gauge and a copoly not too powerful should work better.
Hyper G1.30 for example is great

 

[tennisintheeighties]

.
I've bought early this year a stringing machine in order to make such experiments without stringing cost, but as you, I have not done any until now...
You've convinced me! I will test it on Sunday! Not stiff rackets for me. I'll stay with my regulars.

Nice
Keep us updated !

 

[AceyMan]

Well,

I have a tattoo that says "a fat 15L syngut at 25kg is always a sweet ride".

/Acey

it's on my ankle if you must know.

well not actually ... but you know my vote by how I said it .

 

[Dartagnan64]

Do you care about volleys? You're going to get some erratic volleys with full bed poly at 36 lbs.

Pretty sure Daniel Nestor ran his racket with poly in these low tensions and I wager he could volley better than anyone on this board.

 

[Uncoil]

Pretty sure Daniel Nestor ran his racket with poly in these low tensions and I wager he could volley better than anyone on this board.

Exactly my point. We are not pros. You can make any tension work for you if you have elite technique.

 

[Wheelz]

Soft poly at regular tension like cyclone tour 16. I have not tried hyper g soft but looks popular as well.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Exactly my point. We are not pros. You can make any tension work for you if you have elite technique.

Volleying technique is the least demanding of all the tennis strokes and one that rec players are most likely to achieve near pro form with. We may not react as fast but we can all hold a racket with a conti grip and strong L form.

Low tension poly use seems to be restricted to the doubles community in the pros and I can't imagine its for any other reason than it's prowess in mid and forecourt play. I've never tried it personally as I steer clear of poly in general. But there must a be a good reason. Pros don't use something that puts them at a disadvantage.

 

[Frankc]

Do you care about volleys? You're going to get some erratic volleys with full bed poly at 36 lbs.

Volleys? Volleys? Definitely not a part of today's game... poly & volleys? Not possible... (Oh, absolute sitters are possible and swinging topspin volleys cover up the impossibility of a flat, crisp putaway...)

 

[EggSalad]

I use synthetic gut at 53lbs and find it to be more arm friendly than low tension poly. I also prefer my results serving, volleying, and hitting with spin with synthetic gut.

But there are a lot of variables going on, especially in the OP. As long as you have a set up you like that is keeping you healthy then go for it.

 

[esm]

Volleying technique is the least demanding of all the tennis strokes and one that rec players are most likely to achieve near pro form with. We may not react as fast but we can all hold a racket with a conti grip and strong L form.

Low tension poly use seems to be restricted to the doubles community in the pros and I can't imagine its for any other reason than it's prowess in mid and forecourt play. I've never tried it personally as I steer clear of poly in general. But there must a be a good reason. Pros don't use something that puts them at a disadvantage.

To be fair - I think you should give it a go yourself, then to make such assumptions above.

 

[Dartagnan64]

To be fair - I think you should give it a go yourself, then to make such assumptions above.

I wouldn't have brought up Daniel Nestor as an example if I had personal experience. But no way am i going to spend $40 and potentially hurt my arm to answer this question so that's where looking to others like Nestor come into play.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Update : still playing with this setup, pure aero / hyper G 35/38 lbs - no pain !

 

[mikeler]

I use synthetic gut at 53lbs and find it to be more arm friendly than low tension poly. I also prefer my results serving, volleying, and hitting with spin with synthetic gut.

But there are a lot of variables going on, especially in the OP. As long as you have a set up you like that is keeping you healthy then go for it.

Just curious, what is the pattern of your strings? I've got a 16x16 pattern frame.

Given the choice when I do get elbow issues, I'll go low tension poly versus normal tension multis or synthetic guts. If I had a denser pattern, then I might not make that choice. Either setup can provide some extra comfort, so if you can afford it, then I'd encourage folks to try them both to see which one works better for you.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Just curious, what is the pattern of your strings? I've got a 16x16 pattern frame.

Given the choice when I do get elbow issues, I'll go low tension poly versus normal tension multis or synthetic guts. If I had a denser pattern, then I might not make that choice. Either setup can provide some extra comfort, so if you can afford it, then I'd encourage folks to try them both to see which one works better for you.

It's a 16x19 pattern, string is 1.30 hyper G
if I hadn't had a stringing machine, I probably would never have tested this tension !

 

[mikeler]

It's a 16x19 pattern, string is 1.30 hyper G
if I hadn't had a stringing machine, I probably would never have tested this tension !

16 x 19 is still considered open pattern so I'm not surprised this setup works for that frame.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

16 x 19 is still considered open pattern so I'm not surprised this setup works for that frame.

Even a stiff racquet with 67 RA ( it’s the Pure Aero 2019)

 

[moon shot]

Nestor played with gut mains, so not really the same animal

 

[hadoken]

So I am similar to you...I used to play full synthetic gut, but now use reverse hybrid strung around 35-40 which I think is a better combo than pure poly or normal hybrid at these tensions. I find reverse hybrid at these tensions offers the right amount of comfort and spin

 

[Yamin]

Which blade do you use? Yes string and tension matter far more than racket stiffness wise.

If you can still hit your serves and block effectively low tension is fine.

 

[Happi]

So I am similar to you...I used to play full synthetic gut, but now use reverse hybrid strung around 35-40 which I think is a better combo than pure poly or normal hybrid at these tensions. I find reverse hybrid at these tensions offers the right amount of comfort and spin

Reverse hybrid, please elaborate. Thx.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Which blade do you use? Yes string and tension matter far more than racket stiffness wise.

If you can still hit your serves and block effectively low tension is fine.

I was using the blade v7 18x20, i switched recently to the pure aero 2019

 

[Slicerman]

I really think now that the tension is more important regarding arm issues, than strings or racquets.

I used to play syngut @ 55lbs and now playing poly (YPTP 125) @ 52lbs. In terms of comfort, they're both very similar. The syngut probably had a "crisper" feel.
Never thought to try any extremes in tension before. The lowest tension I tried on a poly was 45lbs, when I first transitioned towards poly.
Nowadays, I mainly choose the tension to impact playability and control, not really comfort.

Just curious, why did you switch from the Wilson Blade to the Pure Aero?

Personally, I always found the Blade to be more comfortable than Pure Aero types.

 

[Yamin]

I was using the blade v7 18x20, i switched recently to the pure aero 2019

Try Hyper G 18 in it, or hyper G soft. The v7 stiffens up a lot at high speed impact. Been using that combo for months without pain off a shoulder surgery, and control is very good.

 

[blai212]

HGS 1.20 mains with a soft smooth round cross like signum pro polaris works really well for my sensitive arm

 

[tennisintheeighties]

I used to play syngut @ 55lbs and now playing poly (YPTP 125) @ 52lbs. In terms of comfort, they're both very similar. The syngut probably had a "crisper" feel.
Never thought to try any extremes in tension before. The lowest tension I tried on a poly was 45lbs, when I first transitioned towards poly.
Nowadays, I mainly choose the tension to impact playability and control, not really comfort.

Just curious, why did you switch from the Wilson Blade to the Pure Aero?

Personally, I always found the Blade to be more comfortable than Pure Aero types.

I switched recently on a Pure Aero. The Blade is too much "head heavy", with a bigger Sw, not the most maneuvrable racquet.
I enjoy playing on a stiff racquet with stiff poly string but at a lower tension, the feeling is really great, fantastic i would say, and if you string around 35 lbs, it can"t hurt your arm / elbow

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Try Hyper G 18 in it, or hyper G soft. The v7 stiffens up a lot at high speed impact. Been using that combo for months without pain off a shoulder surgery, and control is very good.

Just before the hyper g 16, i tried the red code 18 and the bhb7 18, both strings works great on the blade v7, but i didn"t feel anything on the Pure Aero.
I definitely found a better spin, feel and control, with a 16 gauge at low tension

 

[blai212]

Just before the hyper g 16, i tried the red code 18 and the bhb7 18, both strings works great on the blade v7, but i didn"t feel anything on the Pure Aero.
I definitely found a better spin, feel and control, with a 16 gauge at low tension

Try thinner gauge HG/HGS in blade…it will feel less head heavy since HG/HGS strings add minimal weight to hoop

 

[RVT]

I do not have a sensitive arm, never had any arm issues, luckily enough. I did however experiment with Poly strung at 38lb or so (originally strung at 42, lost 4lbs after the first hour). I really like it. Previously using Velocity MLT at 58 lbs, and this--to me--offers more control. I also think it feels a bit more comfortable, though again I don't have any issues either way. This was stung with Alu power 125 mains, Yonex PTP crosses (I tried this because the guy who sold me his old Neos/Ektelon stringer gave me a bunch of free string, including a lot of half sets. I decided on this combo just because).

I actually like it quite a bit. I don't find control on volleys to be an issue at all. Not sure how long it will last? My experience with these two set-ups though is that MLT at 58 and this hybrid at 38 feel really similar. This is used in a PD+ ('21)

 

[hadoken]

Reverse hybrid, please elaborate. Thx.

Std hybrid combos poly in the mains and synthetic in the crosses. Reverse hybrid is synthetic in the mains and polys in the crosses. To me this is the best setup for a longtime synthetic user who still prefers that liveliness of a synthetic but adds the spin of a poly. The difference is not huge but noticeable enough that I like it setup reverse. The only drawback is the poly will really bite into the synthetic mains so it's not very durable for hard hitters

 

[Happi]

Std hybrid combos poly in the mains and synthetic in the crosses. Reverse hybrid is synthetic in the mains and polys in the crosses. To me this is the best setup for a longtime synthetic user who still prefers that liveliness of a synthetic but adds the spin of a poly. The difference is not huge but noticeable enough that I like it setup reverse. The only drawback is the poly will really bite into the synthetic mains so it's not very durable for hard hitters

I would think that the std hybrid would be the soft string in the mains (gut, multi or synt gut) and the smooth stiffer poly in the cross. So thank you for explaining, I prefer poly mains with multi cross, but I think most prefer a hybrid it the other way around.