Been back on court again after being close to 4 months off due to partially torn tendon, muscle and UC ligament — inner elbow, golfer’s elbow side. Had been using full bed UltraCable 55 or so pounds in heavy Yonex VCORE PRO 97D. i am trying to avoid reinjury. Question #1: Any of you know of someone with this injury and what caused it? Not sure if it was late forehands with not enough spacing that caused it, or the dense full beds of poly in mid 50’s, even though Ultra Cable seemed softish, or maybe overdoing serve practice? Question 2: Got an ezone 98 with multifilament 52 lbs which feels decent so far and an EZONE 100 is on the way with ALU POWER which was on sale so I got full bed 47 lbs. A former junior level competitive player told me full bed of poly was a mistake, ALU Power is very stiff too, he said. I would hate to just cut them out right away. What do you think of the ALU power at that tension in that racquet — is that a risky proposition or should it be ok for now?
full bed ALU POWER 47 lbs in YONEX EZONE 100 2025
- Thread starter halmeida
- Start date
Cut it. It dies really quickly anyways. I'd put something like Polytour Pro or Head Hawk
Yes. IMO when your injury is that bad it’s not worth the $10 new strings cost. If I were you, I’d go 1.25 NRG2 in mains, 1.20 Polytour Pro in crosses
I am about 3.5-4.0. played a little during summers as a teen after 3 or 4 days of a clinic at age 13 or 14, then only sporadically until 4 years ago in my early 50’s, and I have been going hard at it. No real forearm strength training or stretching. Some private lessons here and there over these last four years and the most recent a week or so ago the pro said I have tendency on forehand side to hit balls beneath my knee with my racquet parallel to my leg — head facing straight down, digging the ball up and out instead of getting the ball when its high and out in front and to the side at waist or hip level. He also said it looks like I grip the racquet too hard. Probably arming it too much as well too. And if I double fault too much when playing I will go hit 100-200 serves until I am feeling better about it
That’s an awesome recommendation right there. I used black PTP 17g once in a Wilson Blade and liked it… NRG 52 lbs is what I am using in an Ezone 98 now and it’s pretty cool. And before you think me a total cheapskate, the restring cost is closer to 50 dollars for me because I have to pay the stringer! — but yes the ALU Power on sale from TW was around 10
Remember... Strings cost $50, shoes cost $150, but the surgery costs $5,000
wise words! and memorable too. thank you
am1899
Legend
No idea on the injury and what caused it.
As for ALU…that right there is one of my fav strings of all time. Everyone is different as to what they feel, but for me that one is not particularly stiff (as so far as poly’s go). It does have a very short playability window…couple hours max. But when fresh man, few setups are even close to that magic. It hasn’t bothered me to continue playing with it past its prime, but others I’m sure that would be a no go. YMMV.
Having said all that, given your injury, not sure polyester string of any kind is a wise move…for now at least.
As for ALU…that right there is one of my fav strings of all time. Everyone is different as to what they feel, but for me that one is not particularly stiff (as so far as poly’s go). It does have a very short playability window…couple hours max. But when fresh man, few setups are even close to that magic. It hasn’t bothered me to continue playing with it past its prime, but others I’m sure that would be a no go. YMMV.
Having said all that, given your injury, not sure polyester string of any kind is a wise move…for now at least.
Cool, thanks for that. Yeah i have liked Alu Power in the past. I used to use it in the crosses with gut in the mains and that setup would last and last it seemed like and felt good to me at least. Maybe I’ll put that new racquet w bed of Alu Power @47 lbs to the side a couple of weeks and work on holding the grip loosely, creating adequate spacing for forehand and getting it out front, and if I feel like that is working and I am pain free maybe then I would try to take that new racquet w alu power out for a spin. half the battle will be resisting temptation to try it out before i am sure i am ready!
Gut/PTP would be perfect for you. Little softer than Gut/ALU, similar performance without severe dropoff of the crosses
In the Ezone 100, 52/50 should be fine, maybe a bit too powerful. 2 lbs won't make a huge difference.
how would the nrg2 last durability wise with the PTP, do you think? I remember using multi — I think Wilson NXT - with a poly, maybe ALU Power, and it got shredded and snapped within a couple of weeks…
Hopefully it’s fine- go for a thick gauge of nrg2 and a thin gauge of PTP
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
If the Alu Power is fresh, you will be fine for about 3 hours. Then cut it out before it bags out and destroys your wrist, elbow and shoulder. But for the first few hours it's the best string on the market hands down. But like I said.... it must be "fresh". It's all I use. And I've been using it for 20 years now.
the racquet has been strung and unused for two plus weeks— does that still count as “fresh”?
the racquet has been strung and unused for two plus weeks— does that still count as “fresh”
another question for you when you have a moment — what about gut with nrg2 or gut with any multi ? does that not make sense? Also, is poly in crosses at 48 or 50 with gut in mains at same tension soft enough?
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
Make a full-switch to Oehms Alu Pearl Rough 1.25 and thank me later!
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
It's definitely not fresh. But you would still be able to get a couple of hours out of it.
I bought a nice Wilson K Factor Surge back in 2021 at a thrift shop for a few dollars. It was strung with Alu Power and it played amazing.
After some time I looked at the stringer sticker and it had been strung in 2007.
The whole destroy your arm theory must be based on soft arms.
After some time I looked at the stringer sticker and it had been strung in 2007.
The whole destroy your arm theory must be based on soft arms.
