I demoed the current white Pure Strike, in both 16x19 and 18x20 patterns; did not feel any arm discomfort. 12 and 14 year boys also tried those with me; both of them felt some form of discomfort with those. They also demoed the previous gen Pure Strike, red and black version and liked it much; now playing with those. BTW, Thiem plays a customized 18x20 red and black version, in white PJ.Thanks for your insights gentlemen. I will take your advice here.
then why is Dominick Thiem doing so well with it and he isn't having any arm issues. and babolat advertised it as Easy on the arm racketI hit this as a demo and liked it.
But 30 years ago, I had rotator cuff problem; two years ago, severe tennis elbow.
What's the health-consquences of the Bab Pure Strike 98?
See the post above. He is using a customized version of the previous generation Pure Strike that is painted to look like the current one.then why is Dominick Thiem doing so well with it and he isn't having any arm issues. and babolat advertised it as Easy on the arm racket
If you think Dominic Thiem (or any top pro) is using an off the shelf retail racquet, I've got some swamp land to sell you.then why is Dominick Thiem doing so well with it and he isn't having any arm issues. and babolat advertised it as Easy on the arm racket
how many have tried using softer strings and/or lower tension, or added leather grip/weight? it would seem arm pain with a racquet RA of 67 is either from setup or from technique/timing.
Babolat advertising their racquet being easy on the arm is like Mcdonalds advertising their food doesn't make you fat.then why is Dominick Thiem doing so well with it and he isn't having any arm issues. and babolat advertised it as Easy on the arm racket
I use the same arm friendly string setup on all my racquets, Ashaway Mongut ZX mains and Gamma TNT2 crosses 54/50. On my Prince Beast 98 O3 (RA 69) and Pro Kennex Ki 5 320 (RA 67), I get no arm pain no matter how long I play. On my Pure Strike 98 16x19 (RA 67), my elbow gets sore after about 30 minutes of hitting. You can't always go by RA stiffness.how many have tried using softer strings and/or lower tension, or added leather grip/weight? it would seem arm pain with a racquet RA of 67 is either from setup or from technique/timing.
then how does Dominick hit the ball so hard with no arm issues ?Babolat advertising their racquet being easy on the arm is like Mcdonalds advertising their food doesn't make you fat.
Not yet, I've been kind of scared into changing rackets altogether. But I think I'll make adjustments to this stick so i can play with it occasionally once I'm back on the court.how many have tried using softer strings and/or lower tension, or added leather grip/weight? it would seem arm pain with a racquet RA of 67 is either from setup or from technique/timing.
He's a professional athlete lol.then how does Dominick hit the ball so hard with no arm issues ?
Honestly, I think many people must see the Babolat logo and start getting placebo arm pain.
maybe not. I'll be giving it a demo, along with the 18x20 version. I'm kind of hoping for Pure Storm Tour, if I add a little weight.I use the same arm friendly string setup on all my racquets, Ashaway Mongut ZX mains and Gamma TNT2 crosses 54/50. On my Prince Beast 98 O3 (RA 69) and Pro Kennex Ki 5 320 (RA 67), I get no arm pain no matter how long I play. On my Pure Strike 98 16x19 (RA 67), my elbow gets sore after about 30 minutes of hitting. You can't always go by RA stiffness.
Just a tip. This racquet feels awesome when you demo it. That's why I bought it. If it's possible, make sure you get a chance to play a competitive 3 sets with it. My elbow pain didn't kick in until after the first set. If your arm can take it, you'll probably love it. I hated putting it down, but I didn't have much of a choice.maybe not. I'll be giving it a demo, along with the 18x20 version. I'm kind of hoping for Pure Storm Tour, if I add a little weight.
Pure strike with rpm blast mangled my arm, was out of tennis for 6 months, and to this day I can always feel the TE lurking . Switched to PT57a clone with gut hybrid and 2hbh to help heal it.I hit this as a demo and liked it.
But 30 years ago, I had rotator cuff problem; two years ago, severe tennis elbow.
What's the health-consquences of the Bab Pure Strike 98?
I would think if you play with a Pure Drive which is RA 72 or a bit lower for the newer version, then the Pure Strike shouldn't bother you, since it is RA 67 - considerably less stiff. I just wonder how many people that have these arm issues have been using stiff Babolat racquets all along, or have they been using other racquet brands that play very differently.Just a tip. This racquet feels awesome when you demo it. That's why I bought it. If it's possible, make sure you get a chance to play a competitive 3 sets with it. My elbow pain didn't kick in until after the first set. If your arm can take it, you'll probably love it. I hated putting it down, but I didn't have much of a choice.
I played with AeroPro Drive in the past, which is probably on the same level as the Pure Drive. I'll say the Pure Strike is more arm friendly than the APD, but that's not saying much because the APD and PD probably get more complaints about TE than any other racquet. The APD was the reason I started searching for arm-friendly racquets. I've mostly been using frames from Pro Kennex and Prince, which are generally much easier on the arm than Babolat frames.I would think if you play with a Pure Drive which is RA 72 or a bit lower for the newer version, then the Pure Strike shouldn't bother you, since it is RA 67 - considerably less stiff. I just wonder how many people that have these arm issues have been using stiff Babolat racquets all along, or have they been using other racquet brands that play very differently.
Yes...precisely this. It punishes you more for bad contact.I noticed that when I hit the sweet spot it was fine, but if I hit even a tad outside of it toward the tip, I got a big shock to my elbow.
The granny sticks provide comfort by enlarging the sweet spot and then getting used by people not swinging hard.Also, it seems like lot of the game improvement racquets and brands known for comfortable racquets have high stiffness ratings but are engineered to be arm friendly for older players.
I think different people can find different things uncomfortable. What string set up do you use? Have you modded the stick in anyway from stock form?Been playing 3 times per week with the Pure Strike 98 16x19 Project One 7 for years now (since its release) with no issues. Best racquet I’ve ever used. Heavy ball. Unreal to serve with. Very comfortable compared to the APD. I have never understood what people are talking about with this racquet being uncomfortable. If you have been using a Pure Aero, APD, Pure Drive, Wilson Burn, etc then you will laugh at the reports of this racquet being uncomfortable. Will definitely buy the new version when the update comes out.
Can you expand on this? Been having some shoulder problems this week, is it likely too much weight or too little?Shoulder injuries are usually due to weight rather than stiffness.
Too much. If the racquet is too heavy for you, your shoulder will be the first to let you know.Can you expand on this? Been having some shoulder problems this week, is it likely too much weight or too little?
It's a bit hard to say. There are studies showing that heavier frames can be protective on the shoulder by encouraging more activation of the larger shoulder muscles to move the frame rather than relying too much on the rotator cuff muscles. There probably is a sweet spot where too heavy is hard on the shoulder and too light is also dangerous.Can you expand on this? Been having some shoulder problems this week, is it likely too much weight or too little?
Believe it or not, there was a poster here whose advice was to always hit the ball in the sweet spot so you'll never get TE. I actually think he was serious about that!I noticed that when I hit the sweet spot it was fine, but if I hit even a tad outside of it toward the tip, I got a big shock to my elbow. Babolat went wrong when they introduced GT (graphite tungsten). Before then, I could play with all of their racquets without pain and many of them were even pretty plush.