Balance and Shoulder

[jbdbackfan]

For some time (2 years) I used the Wilson Blade 18x20 racquets. Over time I slowly developed elbow and more noticeably shoulder pain. I rehabbed and sold the racquets with the suggestion of using a more flexible racquet. I tried many racquet and had no pain although none were the 18x20 pattern I liked. Recently I picked up Head Microgel radicalMP for it's low flex and 18x20 pattern. The shoulder pain is returning.

My question regarding racquets have most people found balance (as both Blade and Radical are both 2-3 HL balance) or the 18x20 pattern to be issue? Even my arm is experiencing some pain too after going a year with no pain. Perhaps low flex wasn't all I needed?

Any ideas would be great. I use Technifibre NRG2 16 gauge at 58 lbs usually.

 

[el sergento]

For some time (2 years) I used the Wilson Blade 18x20 racquets. Over time I slowly developed elbow and more noticeably shoulder pain. I rehabbed and sold the racquets with the suggestion of using a more flexible racquet. I tried many racquet and had no pain although none were the 18x20 pattern I liked. Recently I picked up Head Microgel radicalMP for it's low flex and 18x20 pattern. The shoulder pain is returning.

My question regarding racquets have most people found balance (as both Blade and Radical are both 2-3 HL balance) or the 18x20 pattern to be issue? Even my arm is experiencing some pain too after going a year with no pain. Perhaps low flex wasn't all I needed?

Any ideas would be great. I use Technifibre NRG2 16 gauge at 58 lbs usually.

Do some physiotherapy, doubt racket has that much to do with your pain.

 

[Surion]

Do some physiotherapy, doubt racket has that much to do with your pain.

Sorry to be rude, but a racket can cause massive pain, absolutely.

HH rackets even more.
Strings and technique as well.

Just try a Prince Tour 16/18 or ProKennex Kinetic frame to help your shoulder.

 

[el sergento]

I'm currently in rehab for the first time for an impinged shoulder, a condition I've apparently been battling on and off for like 15 years. Just prior to starting rehab I had been using a Prince EXO3 tour, with an RA of 50, in an attempt to relieve my shoulder pain, to no avail. Oh, and I used a PK kinetic 7g for a while also, and countless other soft, players frames throughout the years, again, to no avail.

If you look at his racket history, and the fact that one of the softest sticks on the market is giving him pain, there's a very good chance that there's an underlying problem with his shoulder that is completely unrelated to the rackets he's been using.

But hey, I was like you, for 10 years I blamed the rackets instead of having a professional take a look at the actual joint. Also, elbow pain is very common with a shoulder injury, so what some mistake for tennis elbow is actually a symptom of something completely unrelated.

My 0.02 cents

 

[VoodooBoot]

For some time (2 years) I used the Wilson Blade 18x20 racquets. Over time I slowly developed elbow and more noticeably shoulder pain. I rehabbed and sold the racquets with the suggestion of using a more flexible racquet. I tried many racquet and had no pain although none were the 18x20 pattern I liked. Recently I picked up Head Microgel radicalMP for it's low flex and 18x20 pattern. The shoulder pain is returning.

My question regarding racquets have most people found balance (as both Blade and Radical are both 2-3 HL balance) or the 18x20 pattern to be issue? Even my arm is experiencing some pain too after going a year with no pain. Perhaps low flex wasn't all I needed?

Any ideas would be great. I use Technifibre NRG2 16 gauge at 58 lbs usually.

Were you using NRG2 with the Blade or did you start using that string after you sold these frames?

 

[sma1001]

With some injuries/conditions any play at all will make it worse. That said, all else equal, a head heavy/balanced racquet will take more out of your shoulder than a head light racquet. Ditto a racquet that is stiff and conveys vibrations. the EXO3 Tour is an excellent choice - matched with syn gut, gut or multi. But you do need to understand the nature and extent of the condition before concluding a racquet may be a cure. It's more likely to be a secondary factor.

 

[smalahove]

Ime, tight patterns in the sweet zone, which is the case for most 18x20 frames, is as much a culprit of TE and wrist/arm/shoulder fatigue as frame vibration and stiffness (RDC).

If you pair an 18x20 pattern with a sub-100 sq in frame and a high 50s lbs tension, even in a multi, you're going to notice it. My first and only real TE experience came after the first hour of playing a Head Graphene Speed Pro (which has a supertight 18x20 pattern) with a high 50s tension with a 16g Pacific Xcite string (very stiff).

Again ime, I have to go down about 5-10 lbs when going from 18x20 to 16x19 f.inst. to get a similar experience.

Try the NRG2 string 10 lbs lower, or perhaps a poly around 40. a gut/poly hybrid is also very nice.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

For some time (2 years) I used the Wilson Blade 18x20 racquets. Over time I slowly developed elbow and more noticeably shoulder pain. I rehabbed and sold the racquets with the suggestion of using a more flexible racquet.

The Blade is a really flexible racquet. I don't think the Blade was your problem.

 

[LapsedNoob]

Weight can be a factor to consider with a shoulder impingement. The pulling and stretching of the shoulder ligaments can aggravate an impingement.

If you want to try something outside the box, use a shorter and lighter racquet with similar balance as you have been. Swing weight will go down but the hitting weight in the head of the racquet stays the same so for a given speed the result is the same. But being a shorter and lighter extension of your arm decreases the pull on the shoulder.

 

[hoodjem]

Do some physiotherapy, doubt racket has that much to do with your pain.

Racquet and strings have a great deal to do with pain.

For me with my TE, it was poly strings, 18 X 20 string pattern, and racquet stiffness.

Now I play with soft poly and soft multi hybrids, only 16 X 19 pattern, and no racquet with a RA stiffness rating above 64.

 

[el sergento]

Racquet and strings have a great deal to do with pain.

First of all, where did I say that the racket had nothing to do with pain?? What I said was that it probably didn't have that much to do with it. Second, TE and and shoulder / rotator cuff injuries are nothing alike.

For me with my TE, it was poly strings, 18 X 20 string pattern, and racquet stiffness.

Now I play with soft poly and soft multi hybrids, only 16 X 19 pattern, and no racquet with a RA stiffness rating above 64.

The guy's already playing with a soft racquet, MG Rad, and a soft string, not even a poly hybrid, and still his shoulder hurts. This, to me anyways, points towards an untreated shoulder condition and not an equipment/spec issue.

That's why, given what we know so far, unlike the usual knee-jerk reaction around here, I'm pointing him towards a doctor/physiotherapist, and not a new cure all miracle racquet or string.

 

[TennisManiac]

I'm currently in rehab for the first time for an impinged shoulder, a condition I've apparently been battling on and off for like 15 years. Just prior to starting rehab I had been using a Prince EXO3 tour, with an RA of 50, in an attempt to relieve my shoulder pain, to no avail. Oh, and I used a PK kinetic 7g for a while also, and countless other soft, players frames throughout the years, again, to no avail.

If you look at his racket history, and the fact that one of the softest sticks on the market is giving him pain, there's a very good chance that there's an underlying problem with his shoulder that is completely unrelated to the rackets he's been using.

But hey, I was like you, for 10 years I blamed the rackets instead of having a professional take a look at the actual joint. Also, elbow pain is very common with a shoulder injury, so what some mistake for tennis elbow is actually a symptom of something completely unrelated.

My 0.02 cents

Well said. :wink: