Comeback from Tennis Elbow

xaeniac

Rookie
I plan on coming back to the game from Tennis Elbow. I will be going with a full bed of natural gut in one racquet and a full bed of multifilament in the other racquet. Not very familiar as i have been hitting full poly or poly hybrids. Also switching to this racquets as I never had arm problems with these even with full poly but I have to walk again before running. Stay safe out there and keep swinging.

1. What tension would you recommend in a Prince Textreme Tour 100 (47-58lb suggested range) multifilament
2. Prince Textreme Tour 100p (natural gut) (45-55lb suggested range)
3. Is multifilament that much easier on the arm than synthetic gut? My understanding it is natural gut --> multifilament --> synthetic gut --> poly in terms of comfort
 
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I plan on coming back to the game from Tennis Elbow. I will be going with a full bed of natural gut in one racquet and a full bed of multifilament in the other racquet. Not very familiar as i have been hitting full poly or poly hybrids. Also switching to this racquets as I never had arm problems with these even with full poly but I have to walk again before running. Stay safe out there and keep swinging.

1. What tension would you recommend in a Prince Textreme Tour 100 (47-58lb suggested range) multifilament
2. Prince Textreme Tour 100p (natural gut) (45-55lb suggested range)
3. Is multifilament that much easier on the arm than synthetic gut? My understanding it is natural gut --> multifilament --> synthetic gut --> poly in terms of comfort

I think, the 18x20 not the best for your elbow. You need to change any 16x19 or 16x18 racket, which have near RA60.
 

CostarreraGT

New User
I plan on coming back to the game from Tennis Elbow. I will be going with a full bed of natural gut in one racquet and a full bed of multifilament in the other racquet. Not very familiar as i have been hitting full poly or poly hybrids. Also switching to this racquets as I never had arm problems with these even with full poly but I have to walk again before running. Stay safe out there and keep swinging.

1. What tension would you recommend in a Prince Textreme Tour 100 (47-58lb suggested range) multifilament
2. Prince Textreme Tour 100p (natural gut) (45-55lb suggested range)
3. Is multifilament that much easier on the arm than synthetic gut? My understanding it is natural gut --> multifilament --> synthetic gut --> poly in terms of comfort
Gut is the easiest on the arm for any given gauge so in theory you should have lower tension for a multi compared to nat gut.
But some multis at 18g for example can be much softer than gut at 17 or 16g.
Yes multi is much easier on the arm than syn gut. Much.
X-one biphase has superb comfort but is very powerful and has little access to spin. NRG2 is a step up in spin but not wow.
I have tender tendons everywhere and I use Gamma Ocho XP 16mains with Head Velocity MLT 17 Crosses. Gives me great spin for a multi, great for touch shots and decent control.
Btw, Velocity is a great and very cheap multi for people who like the feeling of polys. Should be strung towards the lower end of the multi recommended tension range though.
 

Villain

Professional
I think, the 18x20 not the best for your elbow. You need to change any 16x19 or 16x18 racket, which have near RA60.
Disagree. 18x20s allow you to string at a lower tension and still maintain some semblance of control with soft strings. When strung at a lower tension than a 16 main racquet, it will feel equally soft but with much better launch angle and directional control. That being said, 18x20s are an acquired taste for most players and take getting used to if they’ve never been played before.
 

jalapeno74

Rookie
I dont think that Multis are that much softer than SynGut. I tried various combinations with Fullbeds and Hybrids and for me SynGuts are nearly on par.

When I use for expample Velocity (which I really like and can recommend) or Kischbaum SynGut (another great option) I dont really feel a big difference.

What I do feel is differences in the raquet/string combination. E.g. My Gravity Tour/Pro are so easy on the arm even with offcenter shots that there is no advantage for the multi.
When I use a Blade 16/19 v7 the multi is easier on the arm but also harder to control.

One advantage I see for SynGut is that I can usually string it a bit lower than Velocity and that is always good for the TE/GE
 

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Are you a string breaker? If not, it’s better to play with gut as the tension maintenance is more than two times better than multi. You can get 40-50 hours out of gut before you notice any loss of control whereas it happens in half that time with multi. If you break strings quickly, you might need to try soft strings in thicker gauges and lower tensions while you are recovering.

Make sure you use a Flexbar to do some eccentric exercises to strengthen your arm also.
 

VacationTennis

Semi-Pro
X-1 biphase 18 will give you access to some spin and is obviously very comfortable. It won't last long, but it could be a safe few string jobs worth as you work your way back into the game.

Remember we don't hit as clean when returning and timing is off, so you need a little extra protection.
 

muddlehead

Professional
Concur w/above. I use a 13.5 oz stick w/tension 33lbs. But, I go w/syn gut while I'm looking for real gut at a cheaper price.
 

blackfrido

Hall of Fame
Concur w/above. I use a 13.5 oz stick w/tension 33lbs. But, I go w/syn gut while I'm looking for real gut at a cheaper price.
I was kind of sarcastic in a way about Poly, that's not a good choice. I had TE many years ago, it took me many months to get healed. If I have a piece of advice is use a heavy racquet, very stable stick that at the collision with the ball transmit my low vibrations. Strings is a matter of preference, even recovering from TE I would use poly because is a predictable material to hit.
 

yonexRx32

Professional
Yeah, you listen to @blackfrido and your next option left will be amputation. Forget poly. Not any heavy racket will get you back in play. A heavy stiff racket will worsen your elbow because you'll be hitting shots late and that's probably what got you where you are to begin with. Get a dunlop max 200g or Prince Vortex and string them with either nat gut or syn gut, or half/half. Good luck and patience. It took me about 12 months.
 

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
No one including myself would ever have thought it, but Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 has been an amazing string. I had been using polys for the longest time and suffering from a little golfer’s elbow. I made to the switch to SG and I’m not missing the polys at all. I get everything I need spin, power and control from $3.50 set of string.
 

blackfrido

Hall of Fame
No one including myself would ever have thought it, but Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 has been an amazing string. I had been using polys for the longest time and suffering from a little golfer’s elbow. I made to the switch to SG and I’m not missing the polys at all. I get everything I need spin, power and control from $3.50 set of string.
I grew up playing only nylon and Prince synthetic gut, not other option available. Polyester takes the game of tennis to a different level undeniably
 

Miguelin

New User
In any thread talking about gear vs. tennis elbow, there would be people giving advices that sound crazy to others.
Going for a heavy racket is, imo, a horrible advice, as it is very possible the problem is in its root caused by bad technique and swing mechanics, and if that is the case, a heavier racket will most likely worsen it. It will dampen those shock and vibrations that hurt your elbow, yes, but they are most likely NOT the cause of your TE (they just hurt because your TE is there, prolly).
Although you may be a player that after a few hits with a heavy racket, feels the power and stability and it encourages him to swing more loosely, and that actually can help your TE. Who knows.
So the bottom line is, actually every case of TE seems to be different from another, and every player experiences it in their own way.
So, start working on those very simple things that can actually fix your technique (holding your racket head up most of the time, being in the ready position with non-dominant hand on the throat of the racket any time you're not swinging it, raising the racket butt first on your serve up to shoulder height, loosening your grip, unlocking your wrist instead of wristing the racket, leaving an angle between racket and forearm when swinging –as you would swing a hammer, etc).
Then see what racket specs (weight, balance, Swingweight, string, and tension) seem to make it easier for you to develop that proper technique.
Or at least allows you to play your game without too much effort and stress.
If you have a very short swing, maybe your ideal racket is a very light, very stiff one.
If you have a very loose and full swing, maybe you're better off with a heavy and flexy one.
But don't blindly listen to a very specific advise from someone who has never seen you play.
 

Frankc

Professional
Yeah, you listen to @blackfrido and your next option left will be amputation. Forget poly. Not any heavy racket will get you back in play. A heavy stiff racket will worsen your elbow because you'll be hitting shots late and that's probably what got you where you are to begin with. Get a dunlop max 200g or Prince Vortex and string them with either nat gut or syn gut, or half/half. Good luck and patience. It took me about 12 months.
Very Good advice - Sorry, but all modern racquets are very stiff compared to the above classics. RA #s mean little... today's frames are just plain stiff and stiffer in feel as compared to the above.
The max 200g is still a true revelation - unique in feel and power... and construction. Let those frames heal you...
Problem is that the soft & dynamic natural gut of the 80s - early 90s is long gone. Really too bad - that has been stiffened, also...
Added a Max 200G to the bag a few months ago - strung with 16L Bow gut - beyond belief comfort, easy power and control. We used to have a thought that a truly "medium flex" frame and powerful, dynamic gut at medium tension was a combo that just needed good timing and you had it all - and comfort. But everything is stiff and stiffer now and stiffest...
Again, super advice above - with the 200G and Bow gut, my racquet hand stopped talking back to me on the court. Previously, I thought that chronic hand pain would force me off the court. Not so, now...
 
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ey039524

Hall of Fame
Former TE sufferer here. Am currently playing poly at 30 lbs. Started back w nat gut hybrid w monogut zx at 40 lbs. These in Prince phantoms (100, 97p, 93p) and old flexible pro staff 7.5s. Found some old Prince powerflexes from the 80s, which I've been using.
 

blackfrido

Hall of Fame
Yeah, you listen to @blackfrido and your next option left will be amputation. Forget poly. Not any heavy racket will get you back in play. A heavy stiff racket will worsen your elbow because you'll be hitting shots late and that's probably what got you where you are to begin with. Get a dunlop max 200g or Prince Vortex and string them with either nat gut or syn gut, or half/half. Good luck and patience. It took me about 12 months.
Still three or four years later from your comment, my arm stronger than ever.
Poly still my preference, just don’t keep playing with the strings forever. New fresh string job every month or so
 

mike schiffer

Semi-Pro
you have to wind your way through the layers of advice you get from all these sincere experienced players and TE sufferers....I did that 8 years ago and got to the world of no pain and a working plan to stay out of the docs office because they are poorly equipped to deal with this persistent nagging injury that will rear it's head again if one component (racquet, string, technique) is off....For me....very soft string (isospeed classic), moderate tension...racquet RA at 60 or under,...even balance or head light....11.6 oz frame....and massage whenever those forearm muscles tense up (see video on Ytube) and constant practice against the wall to improve technique does the trick.....big sweetspot racquet with 100+ headsize (mine is 102 Head radical graphite S) and be on your guard for any change in your arm health.....Again my battle with TE was aided by listening to these conversations on this blog and gleaning the info that worked for me...we are all different....in closing I will stress massage as the most important therapy that keeps my arm healthy....if you go out there with a tense set of forearm muscle....it will aggravate the TE tendon and muscle groups ....and please no poly!!!
 
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