Looking for arm-friendly racket.

[Ace | Yang]

Currently, I use a Pure Strike 16 * 19 (313 unstrung weight) and Bridgestone blade 305g(a Japan racket, can't find the RA), I suffered wrist pain recently, I have tried lower the tension to 46lbs, and using soft Wilson NXT comfortable now. My wrist still feels hurt after using the Pure Strike.

I am looking for a more arm-friendly racket, now I have some options:

• Prince Phantom pro 100. (100 inch, 305g, 16 * 18, 320g Swing Weight, 56 RA)
• ProKennex Ki Q+ Tour. (98 inch, 300g, 16 * 19, 323g SW, 63 RA)
• ProKennex Black Ace pro 305.
• Yonex ezone 98
• Yonex vcore 98/100
• HEAD Gravity Tour (100 inch, 305g, 18* 20, 325g SW, 61 RA)

My first target is to find an arm-friendly racket. Maybe something other good to mention. I have a moderate forehand, without a lot of topspin, and I have a top-spin one-hand backhand, maneuverability is good to have. I have a problem hitting the ball late on both sides groudstroke. I play double a lot, volley is also important. I don't use slice a lot, but I mostly use spin serve, so spin is also good to have. Did anyone use the above racket or any other racket recommendation?

Any suggestion is appreciated.

 

[socallefty]

Did your wrist start hurting when you were playing with poly and how long did you have the poly strings on? Stiff polys make my wrist hurt in 8-10 hours and softer polys in 15 hours. I string below 50 lbs and restring within a set hour limit or as soon as my wrist starts feeling slightly tight (even before pain). If you use poly properly, you might not need to change racquets. Otherwise, keep using soft strings like multi or gut. The Pure Strike Tour is more comfortable than the standard weight versions - VF at 139 is less by 7-8 Hz (about 5%) while playing very similar - maybe even better as it is more stable.

 

[Ace | Yang]

Did your wrist start hurting when you were playing with poly and how long did you have the poly strings on? Stiff polys make my wrist hurt in 8-10 hours and softer polys in 15 hours. I string below 50 lbs and restring within a set hour limit or as soon as my wrist starts feeling slightly tight (even before pain). If you use poly properly, you might not need to change racquets. Otherwise, keep using soft strings like multi or gut. The Pure Strike Tour is more comfortable than the standard weight versions - VF at 139 is less by 7-8 Hz (about 5%) while playing very similar - maybe even better as it is more stable.

Yes, I think my major cause is the poly string. I strung alu power 16 49lbs on the PS and alu smart 47lbs on another racket, I used both of them beyond 30h, maybe 40h before my wrist injury, I knew little about poly at that time. After my wrist hurt, I became much sensitive to wrist feeling, I have tried fresh alu power at 48 lbs, it’s much more soft than before, but it’s also not comfortable for me, I can feel small and high frequency vibration. Then I switched to NXT, a soft multi string, on both racket at 46 lbs, it feel more soft. But I can also feel the difference on my two racket, the PS is stiffer, when I mis-hit the ball, I felt the vibration. I felt my wrist hurt again this weekend after 3h practice, not much hurt as before. I think there are many causes to the pain, string, racket, my hitting form...some is from my side, but before fixed them, I also want to improve other things.

 

[socallefty]

I strung alu power 16 49lbs on the PS and alu smart 47lbs on another racket, I used both of them beyond 30h, maybe 40h before my wrist injury,

My wrist hurts after 7-8 hours with ALU Power even when strung in mid-forties. It plays great and then goes dead fast as it is very stiff.

 

[Steve Huff]

You seem to be stringing low enough (even though the poly is still probably contributing to the problem), and the rackets are definitely soft enough. My guess, without seeing you or the rackets, would be that you are using too small a grip. Try a size or 2 up, see how you feel.

 

[jimmy8]

My friend has wrist problems. He had some accident and his wrist is permanently messed up. His main racket is the Wilson Clash 100 (non-Tour) and he uses natural gut (full bed) or very soft multifilaments like Wilson NXT (full bed). His second racket is the Head Gravity Tour, same strings as above. He cannot, will not use poly or poly hybrid strings like Technifibre Triax.

 

[Ace | Yang]

You seem to be stringing low enough (even though the poly is still probably contributing to the problem), and the rackets are definitely soft enough. My guess, without seeing you or the rackets, would be that you are using too small a grip. Try a size or 2 up, see how you feel.

I am using G3, one finger around left when I hold it. The smaller grip tend to hold more hard?

 

[Ace | Yang]

My friend has wrist problems. He had some accident and his wrist is permanently messed up. His main racket is the Wilson Clash 100 (non-Tour) and he uses natural gut (full bed) or very soft multifilaments like Wilson NXT (full bed). His second racket is the Head Gravity Tour, same strings as above. He cannot, will not use poly or poly hybrid strings like Technifibre Triax.

Thanks! I tried the clash 100 today in a sports shop, it’s really soft, it feels I’m massaging the ball, if it works for your friend’s wrist, it’s definitely good for arm.

 

[Ace | Yang]

I have tried the Ezone 98/100, Vcore 98/100，wilson clash 98/100，I pretty love the feeling of vcore 100 and clash 100. The clash is really have a special feeling, the Vcore 100 also good, feels it’s easy to hit clean shot.

 

[jdx2112]

I can’t imagine playing with the VCore if you’ve got a sensitive arm.

 

[Ace | Yang]

I can’t imagine playing with the VCore if you’ve got a sensitive arm.

I saw in some thread, it's an overall good racket, and comfortable. But the RA is quite high, 66. Finally, I bought the clash 100.

 

[jdx2112]

I saw in some thread, it's an overall good racket, and comfortable. But the RA is quite high, 66. Finally, I bought the clash 100.

Yeah, Yonex VCore and Ezone are sneaky stiff racquets. Not everyone has issues with them, not at the same rate as Babolat, but more than their RA would imply. Can’t go wrong with Clash in terms of arm health.

 

[stephenpinkus]

Try Volkl. The VCell V1 MP is 301 strung, add an OG and is around 310. The Classic is similar. The are great for players with joint, arm and shoulder issues. NO vibration. Just fun to play withe. While supposedly they are best for intermediate players, I have seen stronger players using them. Worth a look.

 

[stephenpinkus]

PS - re the Volkl V1 MP and the Classic, they are 102s - not an oversized but a bigger mid. Should mention a friend who played at Duke who has every shot in the book (he is early 70s) uses the V1 VFeel MP and loves it.