How to convince a parent of poly strings...

[bqian]

Hi everyone,
I have a student whose parent was born into a poor family and of my ethnicity, which is Chinese. Upon my recommendation, she bought a racquet from this site, which was strung up with full poly. I have hinted to her multiple times that she needs to get this thing restrung, but directly telling her that "your son needs a racquet restring" is awkward and she might not have another lesson with me again. I want to prevent the kid from developing problems, as he has already had some mild discomfort when serving. Fortunately it has not gotten the elbow.

I know that this kid simply cannot break the poly, and that he probably needs a new stringing as it has been almost 2 months. Is the only way to have this kid get some mild elbow pain, have the parent worry, and risk losing my student?

Another method I would resort to if any suggestions don't work is just giving him a free string job, with some synthetic gut that he might actually break. I would like to not do this, obviously.

Thanks,
BQ

 

[USERNAME]

Say simply "I noticed your son had some discomfort on serves and that he has not had his racquet restrung in awhile, the poly strings he is using is most likely dead and will only cause further discomfort and possibly an injury if it is not restrung soon". I assume you do string, offer to string with some poly at a cheaper price or recommend some cheaper strings (any type is better than dead poly).

 

[Ducker]

I would eat the cost of a super cheap nylon or sythetic gut and give the kid a string job. Tell the parent the issue about the arm, mention you giving the first string job for free because you like the kid but after that the parent has to pay for string/labor.

Kid will probably eventually break the new string and you'll have new customer in the process. Make sure to mention how cheap the new nylon/sythetic is.

 

[Joehax]

I would eat the cost of a super cheap nylon or sythetic gut and give the kid a string job. Tell the parent the issue about the arm, mention you giving the first string job for free because you like the kid but after that the parent has to pay for string/labor.

Kid will probably eventually break the new string and you'll have new customer in the process. Make sure to mention how cheap the new nylon/sythetic is.

That's not a bad idea.

If they cannot afford regular restrings, then poly is probably not the way to go anyway.

The other thing to consider is if the kid wrecks his arm, he won't be coming to get tennis lessons off you anyway. Either way you should tell the parents the poly needs to go...

 

[5263]

I'm going on a limb and say I don't think this poly is going to cause arm probs
unless his form is bad, the strings are real tight, and mostly if he is a big hitter.

I doubt the racket came with super tight strings.
Does not sound like he is that big of a hitter and hopefully you can work on his form.

I think this is more of a performance issue if the strings are in poor shape.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Good luck with that, Chinese parents are beyond reasoning. They are as absolute as parents get. And most of the time, down right stupid, annoying, and detrimental because of the death grip they have on their kids.

This may not sit well with you, but threaten them and say something like:

"If you child's arm starts hurting, don't say I didn't warn you."

Also, make them realize this, tennis is not a poor man's sport. You can't have it both ways, learn and play the sport but unwilling to eat the cost.

 

[LeeD]

Why not tell US what racket, string, and tension is used here?
Since we are the all seeing, all knowing intellect, we can judge for you.
In the meantime, if you're really that involved, bite the bullet and string him some soft strings for the good of huminity.

 

[sureshs]

I think it was RSI mag that in a recent issue talked about studies now being started to get conducted on the effects of polys on juniors' arms. There is growing concern, and the feeling that I got was the string manufacturers are cooperating. For the time being, they suggest lower tensions. But there seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence of polys harming young arms.

 

[sureshs]

Good luck with that, Chinese parents are beyond reasoning. They are as absolute as parents get. And most of the time, down right stupid, annoying, and detrimental because of the death grip they have on their kids.

This may not sit well with you, but threaten them and say something like:

"If you child's arm starts hurting, don't say I didn't warn you."

Also, make them realize this, tennis is not a poor man's sport. You can't have it both ways, learn and play the sport but unwilling to eat the cost.

Sure you can if you have the will. Pancho Segura used to sweep courts as a poor boy to make money. Pancho Gonzalez also did not come from an affluent background.

 

[LeeD]

Kid can pay for his own strings. Nowadaze, kids have it easy and get plenty of allowance.

 

[sureshs]

Kid can pay for his own strings. Nowadaze, kids have it easy and get plenty of allowance.

No, you had it easy. Kids these days face much more competition of a global nature.

 

[LeeD]

Kids are only more spoiled.

 

[UCSF2012]

Hi everyone,
I have a student whose parent was born into a poor family and of my ethnicity, which is Chinese. Upon my recommendation, she bought a racquet from this site, which was strung up with full poly. I have hinted to her multiple times that she needs to get this thing restrung, but directly telling her that "your son needs a racquet restring" is awkward and she might not have another lesson with me again. I want to prevent the kid from developing problems, as he has already had some mild discomfort when serving. Fortunately it has not gotten the elbow.

I know that this kid simply cannot break the poly, and that he probably needs a new stringing as it has been almost 2 months. Is the only way to have this kid get some mild elbow pain, have the parent worry, and risk losing my student?

Another method I would resort to if any suggestions don't work is just giving him a free string job, with some synthetic gut that he might actually break. I would like to not do this, obviously.

Thanks,
BQ

Your job is to educate them, and he best you can do is make the recommendation. It's up to them to make a decision. If they choose to not follow the recommendation, then it's their call. Not all people develop joint problems with poly, and she may be one of them. If she develop problems, then all it takes is a few days of anti-inflammatories and all is well again. Then, she should get a restring.

 

[LeeD]

What's the racket, what's the strings, what's the tension?

 

[Ducker]

Kid can pay for his own strings. Nowadaze, kids have it easy and get plenty of allowance.

I would rather of lived in your time. You had it easy. The only nice thing about living in this age is the internet and even that is not all good. Most people my age are sitting in front of the tv or staring at their phones all day.

 

[LeeD]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Lots of kids in the early '60's stayed home, watched TV, and sat by the phone hoping for that magic call.
Some kids then decided to do something, sneaked out of the house when parent's where asleep, hung out, tried to get into things, find some excitement.
What's new?
Only we humped to school and practice, while the modern kids get rides.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Hi everyone,
I have a student whose parent was born into a poor family and of my ethnicity, which is Chinese. Upon my recommendation, she bought a racquet from this site, which was strung up with full poly. I have hinted to her multiple times that she needs to get this thing restrung, but directly telling her that "your son needs a racquet restring" is awkward and she might not have another lesson with me again. I want to prevent the kid from developing problems, as he has already had some mild discomfort when serving. Fortunately it has not gotten the elbow.

I know that this kid simply cannot break the poly, and that he probably needs a new stringing as it has been almost 2 months. Is the only way to have this kid get some mild elbow pain, have the parent worry, and risk losing my student?

Another method I would resort to if any suggestions don't work is just giving him a free string job, with some synthetic gut that he might actually break. I would like to not do this, obviously.

Thanks,
BQ

I never had tennis elbow in over 40 years of tournament and recreational tennis until I tried polyester string. It also hurt my shoulder. However, I have since CURED my tennis elbow and shoulder pain and I still use polyester string. When I transformed my ground game from old school Eastern drives to modern semi-Western technique, I also learned to keep my grip loose and relaxed throught the entire swing INCLUDING CONTACT on every shot (the opposite of what I was taught when classic Eastern technique, gut string and wood racquets prevailed).

When your grip is loose at contact, the shock of impact, which is much worse with stiff poly strings (not to mention super rigid graphite racquets), stops in your hand. It doesn't transfer to your arm. After almost a year after learning to play with a loose grip, my tennis elbow and shoulder pain have not returned.

 

[bqian]

Racket - Pure Drive
Strings - Luxilon Ace
Tension - IDK but it sounds waaayyyy low, like 35 or 40 lbs.

I know people on this board say that Babolat + Poly = Death, and I didn't really click with Babolat in the demo... student did tho, so whatever.

An to Say Chi Sin Lo...
I know about Chinese parents. In fact, I am an ABC myself!

Probably will take the hit, like some have suggested, with some cheap breakable string.

Anyway, thanks a lot!

 

[Limpinhitter]

Racket - Pure Drive
Strings - Luxilon Ace
Tension - IDK but it sounds waaayyyy low, like 35 or 40 lbs.

I know people on this board say that Babolat + Poly = Death, and I didn't really click with Babolat in the demo... student did tho, so whatever.

An to Say Chi Sin Lo...
I know about Chinese parents. In fact, I am an ABC myself!

Probably will take the hit, like some have suggested, with some cheap breakable string.

Anyway, thanks a lot!

Please scroll up and read my post. BTW, I currently use a PD+ with Luxalon Adrenaline at 58lbs.

 

[Funbun]

Actually, the kid should worry more about his technique hurting him than the strings.

Full poly doesn't hurt - especially when they're dead - if you have correct technique.

 

[USERNAME]

Actually, the kid should worry more about his technique hurting him than the strings.

Full poly doesn't hurt - especially when they're dead - if you have correct technique.

That's your opinion, I've used a racquet after letting it sit for awhile (around 2 months) and could tell the strings were very dead. Always got a slightly stiff arm while using the dead string but the real problem came a few hours after and especially the next morning, arm and shoulder were SORE. Got that feeling every day for the 4 days I used it till it broke, the soreness went away as soon as I started using fresh string. I think if you don't break strings before say 36 hours of use you should restring around that time. That is 36 hours of USE, as in time hitting. IMO poly strings are jarring on the arm even fresh so only a high level and skilled player should use it and they should restring at least once a month to avoid using overly dead string and avoid unnecessary injury or discomfort.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Actually, the kid should worry more about his technique hurting him than the strings.

Full poly doesn't hurt - especially when they're dead - if you have correct technique.

I sort of agree with that. I hardly ever cut strings out until it pops, even if I don't like them. Therefore, I am sure I have hit with dead strings before. Matter of fact, when I was in high school, I wasn't even aware of concept of "dead strings".

I have played with 5 or 6 months old syn gut, played through 1st gen cardboard polyester strings, zero elbow problems.

And yes, Chinese parents are great in their own way, but stubbornly annoying. Mine were the prime example when I was growing up.

 

[fuzz nation]

Strange thread here...

All that this kid is experiencing is mild discomfort when serving, but from the sounds of things, this discomfort isn't in his elbow.

If the "hurt" is in his shoulder, there could easily be a hitch or rush in his technique that's straining that shoulder and working it too hard. Yes, I fully agree that poly puts many of us at greater risk for irritation that can include tennis elbow and I'm extremely cautious about letting any of my high school kids take up with that string type. If this discomfort doesn't seem to be progressive though, there may not be too much to worry about.

You're certainly doing the right thing in terms of being vigilant and cautious, but it sounds as though this young student's condition isn't getting worse and worse. Hopefully that remains the case and your wisdom will eventually sink in. If it bugs you too much, just swallow the couple of bucks and give the young gun a free re-string with a softer option. If you get yourself a reel or two of Gosen's syn. gut, you'll be able to donate one or two stringings with plenty left over.

 

[813wilson]

What is REALLY strange to me is the OP has told a story of a poor family. One that can afford tennis lessons but not string?

If this has been laid out accurately, you have two choices:

1) warn the parents about potential of injury and or.....

2) increase your fees for teaching by the amount needed for you to replace the strings on a regular basis without other additional cost. IE: replaced every 12th lesson, add $2/hour to your fee - or whatever works.....

 

[5263]

Racket - Pure Drive
Strings - Luxilon Ace
Tension - IDK but it sounds waaayyyy low, like 35 or 40 lbs.

I know people on this board say that Babolat + Poly = Death,

Anyway, thanks a lot!

And most likely have horrid technique from an injury point of view.

 

[LuckyR]

Hi everyone,
I have a student whose parent was born into a poor family and of my ethnicity, which is Chinese. Upon my recommendation, she bought a racquet from this site, which was strung up with full poly. I have hinted to her multiple times that she needs to get this thing restrung, but directly telling her that "your son needs a racquet restring" is awkward and she might not have another lesson with me again. I want to prevent the kid from developing problems, as he has already had some mild discomfort when serving. Fortunately it has not gotten the elbow.

I know that this kid simply cannot break the poly, and that he probably needs a new stringing as it has been almost 2 months. Is the only way to have this kid get some mild elbow pain, have the parent worry, and risk losing my student?

Another method I would resort to if any suggestions don't work is just giving him a free string job, with some synthetic gut that he might actually break. I would like to not do this, obviously.

Thanks,
BQ

Uummm... why not be forthright and just explain your reasoning for the change? You are making the assumption that this parent either doesn't care about their child's welfare or are unable to process the information. Either of which are pretty highly insulting, if you really think about it.

 

[TennisCJC]

When no one is looking, nick the strings with a knife so they bust on the next hit. Problem solved.

The more honest approach would be to just tell the parents the truth. Poly strings are best for intemediate+ players with good form, should be strung at low tensions, and are bad for the arm. Tell them you are concerned that the stiff poly strings may be beginning to cause some discomfort for their child. Tell them syn gut are the least expensive strings and are absolutely fine to learn to play with. If you string, offer them a very good price on syn gut and suggest other shops where they can also get a string job.

If they still keep the poly strings, well, you have done all you can to educate them and they will be responsible for the kid's pain.