Most arm friendly setup for a heavy hitter

[Attila_the_gorilla]

So I'm now starting to reach a conclusion that no "control" strings can be good for your arms. The shock they absorb has to go somewhere, which will be your shoulder/wrist/elbow.
I suppose the best option is to use a flexible racket to start with.
But with regard to strings, what do you think is the best choice, that provides lower power but still be arm friendly? I'm starting to lean toward natural gut at high tensions.

 

[phishbiscuits]

You answered your own question!

Gut at max tension...

Or, a gut mains/poly cross hybrid

If you do hit hard, the really soft multis will NOT be the solution (ex-lineman here who also hits pretty damn hard). They were a nightmare for me during my arm and shoulder issues.

Other factors: form (don't "muscle"), nice relaxed grip, correct grip size, flexible frame, an elbow compression wrap, AND: lift weights!!! Strengthen your forearms and shoulders with a mix of tennis-specific exercises, cross training, and some power lifting (not too much).

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

I haven't had serious arm issues so far, but don't wanna tempt fate, so trying to come up with a setup that I can stick with long term. I'll give natural gut a go.

 

[CoachSubway]

Other than gut, any suggestions? Softer polys perhaps?

 

[SoCalJay]

I ran into this same dilemma last year and I switched to:

1. Using a racquet with an RA no higher than 62 (preferably in the 50's but you may want to try the high end if you don't like the "whippy" feeling). For me, this is either the Dunlop Bio 200 Lite (doubles) or the Volkl PB10 Mid (singles).
2. Stringing full bed poly at 48#

The result for me is an extremely comfortable setup with which I can take a big, long swing and get lots of topspin and pop without having to worry about balls flying long. If you don't mind spending the cash and prefer gut, go for it. I like gut as much as the next guy but the price/performance ratio for me is a lot better using something like BHBR, it's arm friendly enough for me at low tension, and my game seems to work better too.

 

[gsuede]

Prince tour or rebel with poly hybrid or a low powered multi no arm problems and can really hit out.

 

[mrmike]

Try a set of RIP Control 17. It's the best non poly I've tried for control & spin and it's easy on the arm. I never tried RIP 16 since I've read feedback that it doesn't play as well. This was the first synthetic multi I could put in my 16x19 C10 Pro and swing away. Nice spin also. I string it up at 60 lbs. Only caveat is it may not be durable if you're a string breaker. I hit hard, but with moderate spin and it lasted about 2.5 months playing about 3-4x a week.

 

[rodrigoamaral]

natty gut... nrg2, nxt

 

[jbm]

I second the Head Control RIP. I use the 17 g in a 16 X 20 string bed at 58 lbs. 16 g plays a little softer.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

Sounds like a natural gut in hybrid with a low powered multi may work. Which one would you guys put in the mains?

 

[andreh]

Try stringing the mains 2-4lbs tighter the crosses for the full gut job. More power, more spin.

 

[the hack]

Try stringing the mains 2-4lbs tighter the crosses for the full gut job. More power, more spin.

do you think the long strings get more snap if strung tighter than the crosses?

 

[FoldingChair]

I used to use Solinco Tour Bite in a full bed in the low to mid 50's but it was seriously murder still. Recently I've been using Tour Bite mains with Tecnifibre Multi Feel crosses at 55lbs mains and crosses on my F3.0 Tour and I like it. Still get mad spin but no discomfort so far. Just my 2 cents

 

[Shroud]

do you think the long strings get more snap if strung tighter than the crosses?

some do:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=468680&highlight=power

 

[andreh]

do you think the long strings get more snap if strung tighter than the crosses?

I'm not sure about the mechanics but I guess the idea is the same as putting polys in the mains and gut in the crosses. More power than full poly due to the soft crosses, but spin potential remains due to the stiff mains. There's a noticible difference in how the stick plays if you string full gut with tighther mains. The pros used to do this all the time back in the good ol' days when everyone played with full gut.

 

[alanl228]

I also vote for RIP Control 17 which is my regular string.
I am also testing soft copoly/sync gut hybrid and found Weiss Cannon SilverString 17/OGSM 17 at 54/56lb play very crisp and arm friendly with better control. It also hold tension well.

 

[Frankc]

Thought that I had to give up the game with rotator soreness and wrist soreness with a typical lighter, moderately stiff frame strung pretty tight. Picked up a 55-60 stiffness rated frame- on the heavy end of today's frames, and within three weeks the soreness vanished. That was two years ago.
Now, play a Prestige Pro with tight 17 natural gut mains and synthetic crosses tuned to stiffen up the gut. I like great pop on the serve, so a firmer multi cross works for me. But a 15L stiff syngut cross will really stiffen up the stringbed for more heavy stroking. No pain since the shift...

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

Frankc, sounds interesting. What tensions are u using?

 

[tball]

Isospeed Professional.
It's both soft and low-powered. Slippery too, so generates a surprising amount of spin (less than poly's obviously, but more than syn guts).

 

[Johnny-Cage]

I had tennis elbow last year. I'm now using Luxilon M2 Pro strung at 40 lbs (mains) and technifibre biphase strung at 45 lbs (cross). The set-up seems to work for me even if my current racket, Steam 96, has a high stiffness index (RA 70).

 

[Gut4Tennis]

tonic + long gut mains 60lbs / weiss cannon scorpion cross 56lbs

nirvana

 

[NLBwell]

For a heavy hitter it may be difficult to control and all-gut setup. Even gut/poly can be a problem when the poly loosens up, but it might be a good solution if you put a lot of spin on the ball.
For me, all poly at mid 50's works best so that's what I use in tournaments, but I practice with gut/poly to save my arm.

 

[Frankc]

Frankc, sounds interesting. What tensions are u using?

By my drop weight, 49 lbs - the 17 gut tightens quickly with tension...

 

[Lack]

You should get a wilson shock shield hybrid replacement grip and a damper. I use this replacement grip on my wilson steam 100 blx, and i hardly feel any vibration.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

You should get a wilson shock shield hybrid replacement grip and a damper. I use this replacement grip on my wilson steam 100 blx, and i hardly feel any vibration.

Sounds like a good option. Do you still use a overgrip too, or would that make the grip too big?

 

[Lack]

Sounds like a good option. Do you still use a overgrip too, or would that make the grip too big?

No overgrip, shock shield is a really thick and heavy grip.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

Right, just ordered a couple, look forward to trying it out, thanks for the suggestion

 

[Lack]

But if you need an extra less vibration, I guess you can put a shock shield overgrip. However, I haven't used it before, so I'm not sure if it helps or not.

 

[Lack]

Right, just ordered a couple, look forward to trying it out, thanks for the suggestion

No problem

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

But if you need an extra less vibration, I guess you can put a shock shield overgrip. However, I haven't used it before, so I'm not sure if it helps or not.

What do u think about just using the Shock shield overgrip instead of my regular Wilson Pro overgrip?

 

[Lack]

What do u think about just using the Shock shield overgrip instead of my regular Wilson Pro overgrip?

Well, what grip size do you have on your racquet, because I believe shock shield overgrip is the thickest overgrip out there, and since you are also applying one of the thickest replacement grip... Hmm, if you are okay with the grip thickness, then I guess it'll help.

 

[Lack]

But first try hitting with just the replacement grip and then put the overgrip on it if you feel like you need it. Big grips might hurt your wrist so be careful

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

What I meant is keep my existing grip and use the shock shield overgrip instead of the basic wilson pro. Would that give good cushioning?

 

[Lack]

What I meant is keep my existing grip and use the shock shield overgrip instead of the basic wilson pro. Would that give good cushioning?

Oh, I'm not sure, I haven't used shock shield overgrip before, but I have it with me and by the look of it, it's a really thick overgrip, I think it'll give good cushioning.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

I think I'll try that first and if I'm still not happy I'll put on the replacement grip.

 

[Lack]

Good luck, hope you get what you need.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

Thanks mate