I was hitting with a prince textreme tour 310 and recently moved to a technifibre tf40 315 18x20. I absolutely love this racquet but I have developed tennis elbow. I have experimented with different strings and lower tensions but still having issues. I have hit 18x20 in the textreme tour 305 and 2015 texrene 100p and never had issues. is it possible my arm does not get along with this racquet?
could technifibre tf40 cause tennis elbow issues?
- Thread starter xaeniac
- Start date
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Are you playing with poly and if so, what tension and how many hours do you usually play? Check this posting on things to be aware of when you use poly.
Christoforos Giatzakis
Rookie
Yes is the response to your last sentence...
t_pac
Semi-Pro
I've got a pretty sensitive arm and have hit extensively with both the TT310 and the TF40. I'd say they're pretty similar as far as arm-friendliness goes - both pretty good although I can usually start to feel a little discomfort if I've been playing a lot. The TT310 is a MUCH easier frame to use though, so it may be that with the TF40 your technique just breaks down a little more.
It's just a difficult thing to say racquet x "causes" tennis elbow. It will always be a confound of many variables leading to TE, and there will be many users of racquet x who will not develop TE from using the racquet.
So maybe ppl could be a bit more - sensitive in this regard. Otherwise it's almost libel
Edit: The OP himself writes in his last sentence "is it possible my arm does not get along with this racquet?" (bold font added by me), so he seems to be aware of the multifactorial nature of how TE develops...
So maybe ppl could be a bit more - sensitive in this regard. Otherwise it's almost libel
Edit: The OP himself writes in his last sentence "is it possible my arm does not get along with this racquet?" (bold font added by me), so he seems to be aware of the multifactorial nature of how TE develops...
Try the 305 version...
5.0 in 3.0 Body Guy
Rookie
Yeah, I'd look more at the strings and tension. Like a previous post mentioned the unstrung RA is 64 which means its probably 60 or 61 when strung. That is definitely more on the arm-friendly flexible frame end of things.
I ve typically restring my poly at 6-10 hours. I string with hyper g and a multi cross. I was stringing mains at 49 and 53 on the cross. I put natural gut in the mains with poly crosses 53/ 49. I also reverted to a 45/49 poly main and multi cross setup. I really like poly in the mains, but know I may have to transition to something else. Is a poly cross that much worse than a full multi setup?
I used to hit full poly in the prince with no issues. I have hit many racquets and have had zero issues. I may have to move on, but really loved this racquet.
I used to hit full poly in the prince with no issues. I have hit many racquets and have had zero issues. I may have to move on, but really loved this racquet.
I think that’s actually a strung RA measurement.
Villain
Professional
In my experience, yes. While I think racquets can have an effect, I think strings play a much bigger role. To me a Pure Drive with FB multi is softer and more comfortable than a Clash or Phantom with gut mains and a “soft” poly cross. YMMV.
Yeah, but then that ball is flying.
Villain
Professional
The above example is extreme on purpose, but if the ball is flying with a TF40, FB of multi at 55 lbs, then that tennis player needs to adjust his technique.
mhkeuns
Hall of Fame
It may just be that the racket change that led to TE. I developed tennis elbow from mishitting (*not shanking but not making clean contacts) my backhand (*one handed). I was switching between a heavy player’s frame and a light tweener, which caused the timing issues. That may be what you are likely experiencing.
I would try to string much lower than low 50’s, Lets say 44. I believe textreme 100 has an open pattern and the TF40 has a tight 18/20 pattern. It also does not help you string the crosses tighter than the mains, less sting movement in an already tight 18/20 racquet. Finally I would try a thin string, 1.15-1.20
5.0 in 3.0 Body Guy
Rookie
Oh is it? My bad.
I'm pretty sure that TW's stiffness ratings, on the spec section of the racquet page, is a strung measurement.
Have you tried switching your hybrid to multi main - poly cross? I've really enjoyed playing with the TF40 315 for the last 6 months, strung with Tecnifibre X-one biphase @ 52 in the mains and Head Lynx @ 48 in the crosses. Feels very comfortable, especially once the tension has settled down into the mid-40s. And spin generation is still pretty good considering there's multi in the main. I previously played with Volkl C10s, which is always an option if you want to go really easy on the elbow. Like the TF40 315, it suits a flattish hitting style, gives a controlled pocketed feel and a bit of power compared with a super-controlled frame, but you have to be OK with the higher static weight.
I have tried natural gut in the mains and multifilament and still have felt shock waves when hitting. Yesterday I hit with a head gravity tour pro with full bed of synthetic gut and did not feel any extreme pain. Granted I don't really care for the head racquet but being able to hit the ball without massive pain during and after the match was nice. I need to rest which I intend to do this week. I will be moving on from the tf40 and probably back to the prince textreme until I can get pain free again and reassess at that point.
I would try softer Poly strings like cyclone tour. But if you need a racquet change, and still want a 98, I’d look at the Blade line and maybe the Head Prestige.
Villain
Professional
Have you tried the same synthetic gut or a FB of multi in the TF40?
Yes you made quite a jump in racquets. Tendons heal slowly. Easiest solutions would be a full bed of Head Velocity or Techifibre Triax or Switching back to your old racquet and working on conditioning your elbow.(tyler twists a few times a day). My guess is it was micro miss hits combined with the 18x20 bed. Once damaged and inflamed healing often slows. One issue is often when we get a new racquet we really want to explore the ability of the racquet and we might push ourselves more...leading to extra damage...which might end up slightly to much for our body to handle.
I would treat my elbow as If I had TE for quite sometime even if I felt great. Work on Conditioning it... then maybe trying the racquet one more time. Another option is to try other racquets. Head Presitge. The New Head Radical or Speed line all stand out as good options.
Yes I am going to move back to my Prince Textreme Tour and hope that I can get this healed up. I am not going to hit at all this week and see how it feels next week. I think it has progressively got worst and agree that it could very well be mishits on the racquet bed. I did buy a flex bar, so will be doing the tyler twist. Very well said and agree with your assessment.
I would also recommend that you see a physical therapist/soft-tissue person who can help you break down the scar tissue and inflamation. Specifically, active release and Graston techniques.
Flashman92
New User
Im currently having the exact same issue. Switched from TT310 to TF40 305 and within a week i got pain in my elbow region (for the first time in my life...). Has the pain improved for you? Did u find a solution to the problem or did you make the switch back to the old TT310 for good?
speedysteve
Legend
"Use the force Luke!"
Otherwise;
I think it can be a case of the Racquet vibrations don't suit the physic / body.
I've never had ANY help from the usually claimed most arm friendly PK Kinetic line.
Others swear by them.
They just don't gel with my game and arm.
Great that you've found a stick that gives pain freedom.
Worth carefully testing others that might work better and be pain free.
Yonex, Prince, Volkl come to mind.
As others have said, the more strings, the more boardy and potentially shocking for your arm.
How the frame deals with that is the key.
Be aware this is a cumulative repetitive strain injury type of thing.
Once it's started, it's easy to over play and make it worse. It creeps up on you too.
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
Many factors. I got my first tennis elbow on clash 100!
A piece of advice to everyone-- when you change racquets, do it gradually. Play with the new frame for a few minutes and develop your timing with the new racquet. When you switch, cut down on your playing time, and increase your recovery time. And, most importantly, do some practice to groove your timing on your strokes before jumping into matchplay. mkheuns is completely correct that mishitting will cause injuries.
Also, bear in mind that the stringbed in an 18x20 is a much firmer response than a 16x19. I usually recommend dropping at least 2lbs and closer to 4lbs if using the same string setup to compensate. Also, the launch angle will be different and it will slightly alter your swing path which can cause slightly different muscle and tendon stresses-- another reason to ease into the transition.
Hopefully, your injury isn't tennis elbow and it's just an overuse or fatigue injury.
Also, bear in mind that the stringbed in an 18x20 is a much firmer response than a 16x19. I usually recommend dropping at least 2lbs and closer to 4lbs if using the same string setup to compensate. Also, the launch angle will be different and it will slightly alter your swing path which can cause slightly different muscle and tendon stresses-- another reason to ease into the transition.
Hopefully, your injury isn't tennis elbow and it's just an overuse or fatigue injury.
Similar threads
