Best Racquet for continual sore wrist

Beach

Rookie
My girlfriend and I play at least 3-5 times per week, singles and doubles. Lately she has been complaining of a nagging sore wrist. She has been playing for the last several years with the 2015 Wilson Blade 98s and had no problems up until a couple of months ago when she noticed her wrist was sore after each time she played. She uses a hybrid of poly and synthetic gut most of the time ( I occasionally experiment with similar string combinations for her). Thinking of getting some demo's for her to try and wondering what would be good choices that might not aggravate her wrist or may even help to heal. Thanks
 

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
Might not be the answer you want to hear, but it sounds like she might just need rest. The other thing I thought about was to make sure she has the correct grip size. If it's too large/small that could contribute to wrist soreness as well. To answer the actual question I suggest the Clash.
 

Jakesteroni

Semi-Pro
Why not just change to a softer string like full bed of multi? Cheaper route.

Not judging how she plays but could it be mechanics? Too much wrist? Racket too heavy causing wrist to take blows on heavy shots?
 

Beach

Rookie
She has tried resting it recently(more over the winter months) but so far that hasn't really helped much. It doesn't seem to be bad enough for her to seek out Dr's care or give tennis up, just a nagging soreness after play. I have thought about giving the Clash a try. I hit with both versions briefly and they seemed pretty arm friendly. I think her mechanics are sound. she has good form and strokes. I have thought that the Blade might be just a bit heavy for her and contributing to the problem. I use a Prince 100T and the times when I have hit with her Blade it feels heavier, especially a bit head heavy to me.
 

IowaGuy

Hall of Fame
My girlfriend and I play at least 3-5 times per week, singles and doubles. Lately she has been complaining of a nagging sore wrist. She has been playing for the last several years with the 2015 Wilson Blade 98s and had no problems up until a couple of months ago when she noticed her wrist was sore after each time she played. She uses a hybrid of poly and synthetic gut most of the time ( I occasionally experiment with similar string combinations for her). Thinking of getting some demo's for her to try and wondering what would be good choices that might not aggravate her wrist or may even help to heal. Thanks

What level player is she?

Get rid of the poly and go full bed natural gut - that can only help.

Poly is tough on my elbow and wrist, even in a hybrid.
 

Beach

Rookie
She is USTA rated as a 4.0. Lefty, hits a hard topspin forehand with a two handed backhand. I haven't tried natural gut or a full bed of multi or synthetic gut but I will give that a try.
 

Znak

Hall of Fame
I usually always tape my wrist before games now, find it helps. I would say that plus wrist exercises to strengthen the area. But I agree with the previous comments, changing to a softer string setup can make all the difference. Or even a racquet with a different balance.
 

Beach

Rookie
She has just begun to tape her wrist before playing and I think it does help. Any racquets that come to mind that might be more wrist friendly than the 2015 Blade 98s? The Clash is on the trial list, just wondering about other choices. How about Pro Kennex?
 

IowaGuy

Hall of Fame
She is USTA rated as a 4.0. Lefty, hits a hard topspin forehand with a two handed backhand. I haven't tried natural gut or a full bed of multi or synthetic gut but I will give that a try.

Yeah, I only asked because at that level she might not notice a huge difference in string performance, but she would likely notice a difference in string comfort...

I have a hitting partner 5.0 whose wrist is also sensitive to poly. I think it's fairly common...
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
She has just begun to tape her wrist before playing and I think it does help. Any racquets that come to mind that might be more wrist friendly than the 2015 Blade 98s? The Clash is on the trial list, just wondering about other choices. How about Pro Kennex?
Clash, I would also consider the Yonex Vcore pro 100. Thinnish beam, reasonable flex it'll require her to generate the power but all of my guys that use it say its pretty soft. Also consider ditching the poly main at least short term. I play gut mains with poly cross in the winter to soften the string bed. During the summer I play poly mains with a multi cross. You may also want to go thinner if keeping the poly. If she's using a 16 or 17 go down to an 18, 19, even 20g. A full bed of Tourbite 20 plays similar to a hybrid as far as comfort and power IMO.
 

Znak

Hall of Fame
She has just begun to tape her wrist before playing and I think it does help. Any racquets that come to mind that might be more wrist friendly than the 2015 Blade 98s? The Clash is on the trial list, just wondering about other choices. How about Pro Kennex?
I know some people that switched over to Pro Kennex (but for tennis elbow) and swear by it. If you can still find a Yonex DR 98, that'd be the one I'd vouch for. But I think try one variable at a time, see if strings help first — if not try a possible change in racquet. Looking up the Blade's RA it seems relatively soft: http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/vibfrequency.cgi
 

hurworld

Hall of Fame
She has just begun to tape her wrist before playing and I think it does help. Any racquets that come to mind that might be more wrist friendly than the 2015 Blade 98s? The Clash is on the trial list, just wondering about other choices. How about Pro Kennex?
Try Clash?

Is taping better than using a wrist support brace like the one from Babolat?
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
I use a wrist wrap and I'd also suggest fooling around with grip sizes. Take away or add an extra overripe and see if that helps.
 

1HBHfanatic

Legend
tape/brace the wrist
change the poly to something softer
make sure she hits out in front and does not use so much wrist to hit the ball
consider a thicker beam racquet with more flex,
post by @SavvyStringer and others, good advise
 

J D

Semi-Pro
Wrist problems can be caused by many things: improper form, change in technique, too heavy a frame, too light a frame, too high swingweight, too head heavy, too low swingweight, too stiff a frame, too stiff strings, too underpowered a frame (overswinging), and overuse (repetitive use) injury,. Her wrist problems may not be completely caused by tennis. Does she spend a lot of time using a keyboard or mouse?

With the Blade S, we can rule out stiff frame, too low weight and swingweight, and too underpowered. It very well may be too high a swing weight and too head heavy. Of course the two are related, but a higher swingweight frame without mass in the handle really can put extra strain on the wrist.

+1 on trying other strings first. By switching to a full bed of thinner gauge multi (17), you can help two possible causes at the same time by reducing string stiffness and swingweight (since multis are softer and lighter). Of course multis are typically strung a little tighter then polys to harness their power. There are some lower powered multis like Velocity that play a little more like polys if she wants more control.

String weight can really make a difference. I reduced the weight of my Blade 18x20 by 5 grams (10 swingweight points) just by going from a 16 to a 19 gauge poly, which is about the same weight as most 17 gauge multis. It's much easier to handle, especially on volleys. Since gut is heavier than poly I would avoid it.

If changing strings doesn't work, then try some lighter swingweight/more headlight frames that aren't too stiff or underpowered. In addition to the Clash, the Head 360 MP and Dunlop Revo CV 3.0 are a couple of frames that would be similar to her Blade S but easier to handle. The Dunlop plays much softer than its RA would suggest.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Y'all allergic to the doctor's office or something?

Doctor will tell you to rest, ice and take some advil. And charge you $50. If you really whine he'll do some non-informative Xrays that will cost you $200. If you keep whining, he'll send you for an MRI at $1500 and an orthopedic specialist at $500 who will tell you to rest, ice and take some advil.
 
Lol, not allergic to them, but try to stay away as much as possible.;)

So you'd rather have a bunch of people online, who haven't had the knowledge or the proper certifications to give you and your girlfriend health advise, they're telling you to tape this and that ALL without an actual diagnosis of the underlying problem.

And it's because you want to stay away from the doctors. Seems counter intuitive to me.
 

A_Instead

Legend
I found success to my sensitive wrist with the ProKennex Ki 10...as well as the Clash.. at least I can put decent strings in these at the tensions I prefer..
 

Addxyz

Hall of Fame
So you'd rather have a bunch of people online, who haven't had the knowledge or the proper certifications to give you and your girlfriend health advise, they're telling you to tape this and that ALL without an actual diagnosis of the underlying problem.

And it's because you want to stay away from the doctors. Seems counter intuitive to me.

The same way we accept all of the free tennis tips and stroke advice from TTW instead of a real, certified coach. ;)

 
The same way we accept all of the free tennis tips and stroke advice from TTW instead of a real, certified coach. ;)


Speak for yourself please. I'm not about to take advice from all the 3.0 lurking in those sections of the message boards. They got algorithm on how to execute a forehand. Working out their sins, cosines, and tangent line before they toss the ball up for a serve.
 

kailash

Hall of Fame
She has just begun to tape her wrist before playing and I think it does help. Any racquets that come to mind that might be more wrist friendly than the 2015 Blade 98s? The Clash is on the trial list, just wondering about other choices. How about Pro Kennex?
Definitely try Prokennex. Not just the wrist, but protection from othet potential future arm problems! PK Q+5 (std or pro) would be a good choice.

Alternate option:try tail weighting the Blade. By adding some lead tape or blutak/silicone in the handle. That will make it more Head light; easier on wrist.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
So you'd rather have a bunch of people online, who haven't had the knowledge or the proper certifications to give you and your girlfriend health advise, they're telling you to tape this and that ALL without an actual diagnosis of the underlying problem.

And it's because you want to stay away from the doctors. Seems counter intuitive to me.

There is high likelihood it’s a minor sports injury affecting the wrist. What diagnosis do you think a family doctor is going to give? As a doctor, if a body part hurts during an activity, I tell them to rest from the activity until it heals then gradual return and adjust technique, equipment and bracing as necessary.
If something felt like it tore and hurts beyond the activity, then investigation is necessary.
 
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