Most Arm Friendly Modern Player's Racquet?

B

bounce-hit

Rookie
I've developed shoulder problems and want to switch from my Wilson Six.One 95 BLX to something lighter (to help the shoulder) and more arm-friendly, but still control-oriented. Am considering the Volkl Organix V1 Pro but would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.
 
If you have arm problems the Exo torus will be the most arm friendly as their stiffness rating is very low. I would go check out the new ones just added to tennis warehouse youtube page.

I personally don't like a racquet that stiff. I am loving the Yonex VCore Tour 97 (330) it may not be as arm friendly as you like but I would say your best bet is demoing a group of four from TW and going from there.
 
The V1pro is plush and extremely Arm Friendly. It does not play like its 68 stiffness rating.
The combination of the grommet and handle system that absorbs shock work very well. I have had elbow problems but with the pro not a hint of Joint pain. It is not my regular racket at the moment but I might yet go back to playing with it. I just like playing with different sticks, for periods of time.
 
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I played blx 6.1 95 for a year about 3+ years ago. Then 2 years with volkl o10 295 customized to 335ish SW, and for last 5 months have been playing volkl v1 pro customized to 330g, 4HL, and 333ish SW. Both the o10 295 and v1 pro are great rackets in my opinion. But, both need a little weight in the head and offset with handle weight to get your desired balance. For me, o10 295 and V1 pro are best rackets I've hit in 35 years of playing.

V1 pro has a little easier pop than o10 295. o10 295 may be a touch more precise. Both are comfortable with poly/multi, multi/poly or gut/poly hybrids. I use hi-40s to mid-50s tensions. V1 pro maybe go 2-4 lbs higher than 010.

To me, both are easier to play than the 6.1 95. They handle better, both have less shock and better feel to me. 6.1 95 might have a touch more power if you can handle the sw and find the sweetspot.
 
The previous version YP is the exception. It is not arm friendly. I have played with almost every generation but developed GE with the Yt.
I sold them but still own the MG & IG.
 
I recently switched from the 6.1 95 to the Youtek Radical Pro and I'm loving it. More arm-friendly yet not too soft and springy like the Exo Tour or C10 Pro. Maybe a bit heavy for your shoulder though, but it plays much easier than its specs suggest. If you want something a bit lighter you can try the IG version.

If you really want to go lighter, you can try the Six One Team (2012). Very solid for its weight,and very comfortable. But the Rad Pro is the best choice if you don't want to sacrifice the solidness and plowthrough you get with your six one.
 
Might want to check that shoulder problem out. I played with my IG Prestige MP a year and a half ago, also having shoulder problems. I could've played with a wet noodle, it wouldn't have made a difference - needed AC joint surgery....just saying.
 
Minion said:
Might want to check that shoulder problem out. I played with my IG Prestige MP a year and a half ago, also having shoulder problems. I could've played with a wet noodle, it wouldn't have made a difference - needed AC joint surgery....just saying.
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Thank you for all of the suggestions, they are very helpful. I have seen a specialist and been diagnosed with chronic bursitis. I'm probably going to get a steroid injection into the shoulder.
 
the Prince rackets are nice- i find that the DB - double bridge models are easier than non..

im currently in between trying a Pro Kennex Q5x and the Prince ESP 100T both are more shoulder friendly than my EP2.0s final decision sometime this month
 
The IG Prestige MP is a very comfortable, soft feeling racquet as it is, so i would recommend a co-poly at around 48lbs - 52lbs.
 
To me, most comfortable racquets that I've played with were the Prince EXO3 Rebel 95, Volkl Power Bridge 10 and the Pacific X Force Pro. I initially developed the shoulder problem from serving with the stuck called the Prince Rip stick a while back. It was a long body racquet with super light weight. I think the heavier and more flexible racquets are better for your shoulder than the lighter frames. I do get shoulder pains after a long day of playing with the APD.
 
I have a sensitive arm, so I have to use arm-friendly racquets. My most recent racquet, the Prince Tour 98 ESP, is very arm-friendly, and so was my racquet before that, the Pro Kennex Ki 5x.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though the Prince ESP racquets are more arm-friendly than most racquets, many players find that they are forced to use poly because of how fast these racquets eat strings. An arm-friendly racquet with a more traditional string pattern is more arm-friendly if it lets you use softer strings.
 
You should also look at the Prince Response 97 and the Prince POG 100 and POG LB. All are soft, plush sticks that provide ample pace yet great vibration protection. I would recommend the Respnse 97 over the POG PERSONALLY asi feel the double bridge give just a tad more comfort that the sticks without it. These are not as soft as the exo frames but they are softer than most other sticks on the market. The exos are good but they can get pushed around in really heavy hitting. A POG or Response 97 will not get pushed at all by anything on the market whatsoever. Period
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions! I'm intrigued by the recommendations about the Prince ESP Tour 98 and 100. I'd like to demo these but understand that most people will play full poly in these spin-oriented racquets. I definitely want to stay away from full poly. How well do more durable multis or synthetic guts play in the ESP racquets?
 
bounce-hit said:
I've developed shoulder problems and want to switch from my Wilson Six.One 95 BLX to something lighter (to help the shoulder) and more arm-friendly, but still control-oriented. Am considering the Volkl Organix V1 Pro but would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.
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If you like the power level of your 6.1 95 then the XV1 Pro is a good choice but I would add a leather grip or some weight to the handle to get the balance more HL. I own the 6.1 95 and the XV1 Pro and the former has a snappier faster stringbed where the XV1 Pro is more plush with greater ball dwell time. Feel is more muted but there is still feel.

I would also suggest the Dunlop F2.0 tour. It is lighter and more HL, has some pop but is still very much control oriented. It has feel but with the full foam handle it is comfortable. Power level is a little lower than the XV1 but it serves better for me. The stringbed is snappy like the 6.1 95. Would be an easier transition from your current frame.
 
tom4ny said:
If you like the power level of your 6.1 95 then the XV1 Pro is a good choice but I would add a leather grip or some weight to the handle to get the balance more HL. I own the 6.1 95 and the XV1 Pro and the former has a snappier faster stringbed where the XV1 Pro is more plush with greater ball dwell time. Feel is more muted but there is still feel.

I would also suggest the Dunlop F2.0 tour. It is lighter and more HL, has some pop but is still very much control oriented. It has feel but with the full foam handle it is comfortable. Power level is a little lower than the XV1 but it serves better for me. The stringbed is snappy like the 6.1 95. Would be an easier transition from your current frame.
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Thanks Tom. Do you feel the XV1 pro does not serve well? One of the TW play testers mentioned he had an issue serving with this racquet. Thanks.
 
bounce-hit said:
Thanks Tom. Do you feel the XV1 pro does not serve well? One of the TW play testers mentioned he had an issue serving with this racquet. Thanks.
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It is more of a balance thing but adding tail weight helps. Flat serves are fine but spin serves seem to require a bit more effort. The F2.0 is easier to snap through and may even be better at spin generation overall.
 
My Pacific x Feel pro 95 is very comfy european style frame. I think the Dunlop Bio 200 Tour and regular 200 are both super comfy.

Problem is most "modern" style player's frames are too stiff.
 
Backhanded Compliment said:
My Pacific x Feel pro 95 is very comfy european style frame. I think the Dunlop Bio 200 Tour and regular 200 are both super comfy.
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These are probably your best bet if you want to stay in the 95 sq in range. If you want to move up to the 98-100, then the Pro Kennex Q5 315, Pacific X Feel Tour/X Force Pro, Volkl O 10, and Prince 100 Tour are good choices.

I recently demoed the ESP 98 & 100 Tours, and while they were 'comfy', neither were for me. It just seemed that most of my shots were landing short, and that I had to swing real hard to get depth. There's no way I could keep that swing up for 2-3 sets.

I think if you have relatively flat strokes they are great for getting you more spin, or if you're younger & can swing away for hours on end, but for the older people, its tough to keep that pace up for long periods.
 
McLovin said:
These are probably your best bet if you want to stay in the 95 sq in range. If you want to move up to the 98-100, then the Pro Kennex Q5 315, Pacific X Feel Tour/X Force Pro, Volkl O 10, and Prince 100 Tour are good choices.

I recently demoed the ESP 98 & 100 Tours, and while they were 'comfy', neither were for me. It just seemed that most of my shots were landing short, and that I had to swing real hard to get depth. There's no way I could keep that swing up for 2-3 sets.

I think if you have relatively flat strokes they are great for getting you more spin, or if you're younger & can swing away for hours on end, but for the older people, its tough to keep that pace up for long periods.
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Can anyone comment on the current PK lineup, particualry Q5 295 and 315? I've seen several threads on the PK Q Tour as well. Might any of these 3 racquets fit what I'm looking for? I played regularly with the PK 7G for several years but gave it up since my shoulder didn't like the extended length. Thanks.
 
My understanding is that for shoulder injuries a lighter frame is better. For elbow, a heavier more flexible frame is helpful.
 
bounce-hit said:
Can anyone comment on the current PK lineup, particualry Q5 295 and 315? I've seen several threads on the PK Q Tour as well. Might any of these 3 racquets fit what I'm looking for? I played regularly with the PK 7G for several years but gave it up since my shoulder didn't like the extended length. Thanks.
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Can't comment personally, but friend & fellow TT poster downs_chris has recently switched to the Q5 315 and is loving it. He tinkered for almost a year with other frames, as well as different string jobs on his Babolat Pure Storm Tour, but continued to have arm problems (not shoulder as you, but still). He's two months into the Q5 and loving it. He's even using full bed of Lux Fluoro with no problems.
 
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