Do Amplifeel and Active Cortex help with arm issues?

[Icecreamsamich]

I've demoed both a Wilson Steam 99 and the 2013 Babolat AeroPro Drive recently and found both frames to be more comfortable and not as stiff as the stiffness ratings suggest. I was wondering if the solid muted feel was an illusion and the stiffness would possibly lead to elbow issues, or do the vibration dampening technologies actually make the racquets arm friendly?

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

I've demoed both a Wilson Steam 99 and the 2013 Babolat AeroPro Drive recently and found both frames to be more comfortable and not as stiff as the stiffness ratings suggest. I was wondering if the solid muted feel was an illusion and the stiffness would possibly lead to elbow issues, or do the vibration dampening technologies actually make the racquets arm friendly?

both provide marginal dampening... far less than a vibration dampener in the strings would. The Amplifeel add some mass that mimics injecting silicone into the handle. Mass in the right place, especially vibration absorbing mass will absorb some vibrations.

 

[kingcheetah]

both provide marginal dampening... far less than a vibration dampener in the strings would. The Amplifeel add some mass that mimics injecting silicone into the handle. Mass in the right place, especially vibration absorbing mass will absorb some vibrations.

not this again... vibration dampeners don't actually reduce vibration, they just alter the noise that the racquet makes... the vibrations of the frame are what would cause arm issues.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15801498

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

I've demoed both a Wilson Steam 99 and the 2013 Babolat AeroPro Drive recently and found both frames to be more comfortable and not as stiff as the stiffness ratings suggest. I was wondering if the solid muted feel was an illusion and the stiffness would possibly lead to elbow issues, or do the vibration dampening technologies actually make the racquets arm friendly?

The stiffness will creep up on you if you don't have good form or arm the ball too much. If you have arm problems, I suggest trying prince frames such as the warrior 100 which is very similar to those rackets you listed.

 

[anubis]

No. The only technology that helps a stiff racquet feel more comfortable is Natural Gut strings.

 

[kingcheetah]

I've demoed both a Wilson Steam 99 and the 2013 Babolat AeroPro Drive recently and found both frames to be more comfortable and not as stiff as the stiffness ratings suggest. I was wondering if the solid muted feel was an illusion and the stiffness would possibly lead to elbow issues, or do the vibration dampening technologies actually make the racquets arm friendly?

The stiffness may lead to those feeling muted, but it may be the strings as well. I don't think those technologies are going to prevent arm problems that racquet stiffness may cause. If you're looking for a manageable weight that is arm friendly, I would recommend the Pro Staff 100, Blade 104 or Radical Mid plus

 

[Icecreamsamich]

Thanks for the info. I currently play with a Babolat Pure Storm gt, and haven't had arm issues in years. I'm not sure if frame, string, technique or a combination solved the occasional tenderness I used to have in my elbow, but I don't want it to come back. I tend to like the softer frames in general, but the 2013 AeroDrive I hit with didn't feel stiff and hollow like the the previous version I tried, or other stiffer frames I've used. I was just wondering if I should reevaluate my racquet choice in light of the new technologies out there.

 

[SFrazeur]

I do not think Cortex or Active Cortex do a damn thing, at least not how one would expect. Someone once cut a cortex racquet into pieces and there was nothing to it but the outer plastic collar.

 

[Icecreamsamich]

I do not think Cortex or Active Cortex do a damn thing, at least not how one would expect. Someone once cut a cortex racquet into pieces and there was nothing to it but the outer plastic collar.

I've seen the pictures, I just know the 2013 AeroPro Drive felt much more solid and dampened than the previous version I had hit with. It could just be the racquet as a whole was changed, I don't know the answer.

 

[SFrazeur]

I've seen the pictures, I just know the 2013 AeroPro Drive felt much more solid and dampened than the previous version I had hit with. It could just be the racquet as a whole was changed, I don't know the answer.

I have the same feeling as the Pure Drive. I would think it's the racquet construction as a whole.

 

[sixone90]

I've seen the pictures, I just know the 2013 AeroPro Drive felt much more solid and dampened than the previous version I had hit with. It could just be the racquet as a whole was changed, I don't know the answer.

That is correct. The handle construction is totally different to the previous APD, that is why it feels more solid. If you open up the trap door on the 2010APD and 2013 APD, you will see that the newest one is a single tube construction as opposed to a twin tube construction.

The Active Cortex isn't just that little rubber insert in the previous models, that's more just marketing and a way to differentiate itself from the ones that didn't have Cortex.