New racquet for my father with tennis elbow.

[The Seeker]

Hi guys,

My father has been a long time user of a Wilson sledge hammer, I think it's the 3.8 one. I'm not sure what the actual specs are, but I know it is very light, stiff and headheavy, all the atributes necessary for a nice case of tennis elbow.
And thats exactly what he got, recently.
And now I started looking for arm-friendly racquets for him, and I'd like to know if anyone has played with a frame like that and found an arm friendly one that didn't require much adtaptation to?

 

[mikeler]

Prince Exo Tour 16x18 is extremely arm friendly but does take some getting used to.

 

[loosegroove]

Yeah, the EXO3 Tour is awesome on the arm, and a great playing racket. But definitely quite different in spec from what your father was using. Maybe look into some slightly heavier and more flexible rackets from Prince like the 03 Red or Hybrid Shark. Also something from the Pro Kennex line with Kinetic technology. Or the Volkl V1 Classic.

 

[HRB]

Your dad needs to heal up and then use anything heavy (at least over 11.4 strung), headlight, and flex less than 68. He'll need to learn to take full swings and create his own power...once he adjust he'll never look back!

No specific model, just stay in those specs.

 

[fuzz nation]

Also keep in mind that any racquet he uses should be more arm-friendly as long as it's strung with softer stuff - stay away from the poly and Kevlar.

My dad switched into the Prince Speedport White (x2) and I set him up with Head RIP Control in both of his frames. This combo has worked great for him. Even synthetic gut can be rather cozy as long as it's not tensioned too high.

 

[Bdarb]

Volkl organix are some of the most plush racquets I've hit with. Even the older DNX was good. Check them out, just about everyone I know with te reccomends them.

 

[LafayetteHitter]

I agree with the Volkl recommendation. Order a few Volkl demos to try. If he hasn't hit with a Volkl he will be in for a treat.

 

[LeeD]

Most old farts want a big rackethead, so they don't have to look too closely at the ball. OS size for sure.
Something like MGRadOS with a restring down to 52 lbs with 15 gauge nylon can do the job. 58 flex, soft strings, 11 oz, 318 SW's.
He WILL lose some pure power, at the expense of gaining comfort for his body parts.

 

[spinovic]

Radical OS seems like a reasonable suggestion. Along that line, I would also recommend the Blade 104 as worth a look.

Other soft frames I have used - TFight 315 Ltd, Donnay X-Dual Silver 99.

Volkl is always a popular recommendation for questions like this, and maybe they are. But, my only experience with Volkl was the new Organix 10 325, which wasn't as comfortable feeling as I expected.

As far as soft, comfortable, easy to use while still being a high quality, versatile frame, the Blade has probably been the best to me.

 

[canadad]

I find ProKennex racquets very arm friendly and easy to adjust to. They make the claim to cure tennis elbow. I don't know about that, but every one I have tried has been very nice on the arm.

 

[tmc5005]

These are my current top ten arm friendly racquets. All will take getting used to after using a Wilson Sledgehammer ( a racquet I don't think anyone should use.

Babolat New Pure Storm-LTD GT (95)
DUNLOP Biomimetic Max 200G
HEAD-Youtek-IG-Prestige-MP
PACIFIC X Feel Pro 95
Prince EXO3 Rebel (95)
Prince EXO3 Tour (100) 16 x 18
Pro Kennex Kinetic KI5 315 (click for more info) 62 11.7 -6HL
Volkl Power Bridge-10 Mid (93)
Volkl Organix 10 325G (click for more info)
Wilson Prostaff Six.One BLX (95)

 

[TennisCJC]

Volkl Organix V1 Oversize or Mid+
Volkl Classic V1 Mid+
Wilson Blade 104
Head Radical OS

Use a soft multifilament string about 2-4 lbs below the mid-point of the tension range.

Also, with TE, you really need to take 30 days off and come back slowly. When pain diminishes, google TE rehab exercises and do some forearm, and arm strengthening and stretching exercises.

 

[TennisCJC]

Some of the rackets suggested by others are very good too but some are players rackets. Prince exo3 tour, volkl org 10 325, wilson prostaff 95 are all good rackets but unless you Dad has real game I don't think the transition from a Hammer to one of these will be seamless. If you Dad has good form and is strong 3.5 or better than they might be worth a shot. I am not trying to offend any else's suggestion, instead just trying to say that some of these rackets require a higher skill level.

 

[kingcheetah]

I agree with LeeD-- Radical OS and Blade 104 are both good options because they are very easy to use and aren't stiff, but retain good control.

 

[JackB1]

I agree with LeeD-- Radical OS and Blade 104 are both good options because they are very easy to use and aren't stiff, but retain good control.

^^^^

all depends on the level of player his father is? Those are 2 good choices but they both lean towards "player's" racquets IMO. If he has a long full swing, they should work fine.

 

[The Seeker]

Thanks for all the help guys!

He's a 3.5 player at least, has played for over 20 years. God knows why he settled for the sledgehammer, but I still can't beat him. Maybe that's why.
I do think he can get used to a players stick. The thing is there's no demo where I live. I was actually thinking about the prince exo3 16x18, except it was the lite version, wich I thought he would adapt to better. Would that be a good choice too?
Also, we have access to some ti. radicals, both os and mp. I'll make sure he gives them a try and we'll go from there.

 

[JackB1]

Thanks for all the help guys!

He's a 3.5 player at least, has played for over 20 years. God knows why he settled for the sledgehammer, but I still can't beat him. Maybe that's why.
I do think he can get used to a players stick. The thing is there's no demo where I live. I was actually thinking about the prince exo3 16x18, except it was the lite version, wich I thought he would adapt to better. Would that be a good choice too?
Also, we have access to some ti. radicals, both os and mp. I'll make sure he gives them a try and we'll go from there.

You mean the TEAM version? Yes that would be a great choice as well.

 

[newpball]

Hi guys,

My father has been a long time user of a Wilson sledge hammer, I think it's the 3.8 one. I'm not sure what the actual specs are, but I know it is very light, stiff and headheavy, all the atributes necessary for a nice case of tennis elbow.
And thats exactly what he got, recently.
And now I started looking for arm-friendly racquets for him, and I'd like to know if anyone has played with a frame like that and found an arm friendly one that didn't require much adtaptation to?

I think more important than the racket is the kind of strings he plays. What strings is he playing?

 

[The Seeker]

I think more important than the racket is the kind of strings he plays. What strings is he playing?

Agreed, but he has Always played with syn gut. That's why the biggest concern here is the racquet, although he doesn't restring very often.

 

[SCRAP IRON]

Anything But Babolat!

Make sure you get him him a racket that is at least 11.2 oz. that is under a 65 stiffness rating.