Playing post injury (tennis elbow)

[Jst21121]

I took off 8 months from tennis to fix my elbow.

I came back at 100% and started hitting better then ever but… I can’t play as much as I want to anymore. I used to play 3-5x a week singles sessions and hit with normal soreness.

However I realize if I play back to back my arm starts to flare up again and I have since stopped. It’s not normal soreness.

I have put myself on a schedule of playing 3x a week with one day rest in between. 2 of those days being doubles. After a day of rest my arm feels 100% again.

I have since stopped playing singles as much I think it’s to much strain on the arm. I still play 1x week 3 set match

The question I have is - is this normal post recovery or am I still not recovered enough?

Should I be able to play 5x a week singles and not feel any discomfort? Should I be stretching after and still doing post rehab on my arm? Anyone with experience on this?

 

[yossarian]

Are you legitimately wondering if you would be able to resume your normal program after 8 months of no tennis?

Rehab does not have to be complicated. You are dealing with a mismatch between load and capacity. You need to gradually build things back up again

 

[Jst21121]

Are you legitimately wondering if you would be able to resume your normal program after 8 months of no tennis?

Rehab does not have to be complicated. You are dealing with a mismatch between load and capacity. You need to gradually build things back up again

I guess but I guess the better question is like what is a normal timeline? 1-2 years before hitting back to 100% 5 days a week… or is this a nagging injury and something I will have to live with….

is my Rafa Nadal 5 days a week training regime at 36 with two toddlers over with? And if so… I’m ok with that, I guess I just wanted to know what’s realistic after an injury like this.

If it’s doubles for like 2-3x a week then so be it.

 

[GhostDog]

I also had trouble with my elbow after I tried to go back to my normal activities too soon after an injury. What helped me was not just taking it easy but getting some exceptional help with physiotherapy. I went to see Sharon Gabison at Ace Physio, and he helped me to get rid of the elbow discomfort. They included exercises to make it more robust and more flexible and used different treatments like Shockwave Therapy and hands-on therapy, which helped ease the pain and stopped it from getting worse. You’re doing the right thing by spacing out your playing days and focusing on recovery.

 

[Jst21121]

I also had trouble with elbow discomfort after I tried to go back to my normal activities too soon after an injury. What helped me was not just taking it easy but getting some exceptional help with physiotherapy.

I've modified my playtime. I stupidly went back to 100% and that was just dumb of me.

1 day light hitting, next day PT, next day rest, 1 day hitting, next day PT, next day rest. Lots of stretching and warming up before playing... and so on.

I tried to run a marathon...the day I got clearance...and I injured myself. Now I'm taking small steps back to 100%. I hope I can make it work.

 

[socallefty]

Have you changed racquet, strings, technique etc. after you got tennis elbow?

- Most common cause is playing with dead poly as poly goes dead within 5-20 hours for most players. Cut it out before your arm hurts.
- Playing with poly at tensions above 50 lbs can lead to too stiff a stringbed that can cause injuries. Most polys play well strung in the low-mid forties.
- Playing with very stiff racquets and especially combined with stiff strings can reinjure elbows if you already had an injury previously.
- Playing with very light or very heavy racquets that cause a lot of bad timing and mishits can exacerbate arm issues.
- Many players who get injured have unconventional technique and it might be worthwhile to have a coach look at it.

Often players coming back from elbow injury will choose a flexible medium-weight racquet, string it with soft strings and also have a coach assess their technique.

 

[Jono123]

I have returned after a long lay off with GE. I'd recommend switching to a heavier racket. Im currently using one which is circa 340g.

It soaks up all the vibration, even if I frame the ball which used to hurt.

 

[Jst21121]

Have you changed racquet, strings, technique etc. after you got tennis elbow?

- Most common cause is playing with dead poly as poly goes dead within 5-20 hours for most players. Cut it out before your arm hurts.
- Playing with poly at tensions above 50 lbs can lead to too stiff a stringbed that can cause injuries. Most polys play well strung in the low-mid forties.
- Playing with very stiff racquets and especially combined with stiff strings can reinjure elbows if you already had an injury previously.
- Playing with very light or very heavy racquets that cause a lot of bad timing and mishits can exacerbate arm issues.
- Many players who get injured have unconventional technique and it might be worthwhile to have a coach look at it.

Often players coming back from elbow injury will choose a flexible medium-weight racquet, string it with soft strings and also have a coach assess their technique.

1) I bought a racket stringer- experimenting with different strings now
2) Trying NXT comfort 50 pds, and Alu power 54/Nat gut 52 on another. I used to hit with hyperg at 55.
3) When I hit with the NXT, its very "soft" but I feel like the "bite" on my topspin isn't there. I feel like there is a noticable difference in the "bite" of topspin and I hit the ball "out" more. So I'm trying alu/nat gut combo with lower tension.
4) I have a 330G racket- ezone tour 2022
5) Good advice- I will seek out a coach to evaluate my issues.

Because I have a stringer now- I will cut out my strings every 2-3 weeks and try new combos. Any suggestions? Like I said, the NXT is solid- but it just is missing that topspin bite that I loved.

 

[fuzz nation]

1) I bought a racket stringer- experimenting with different strings now
2) Trying NXT comfort 50 pds, and Alu power 54/Nat gut 52 on another. I used to hit with hyperg at 55.
3) When I hit with the NXT, its very "soft" but I feel like the "bite" on my topspin isn't there. I feel like there is a noticable difference in the "bite" of topspin and I hit the ball "out" more. So I'm trying alu/nat gut combo with lower tension.
4) I have a 330G racket- ezone tour 2022
5) Good advice- I will seek out a coach to evaluate my issues.

Because I have a stringer now- I will cut out my strings every 2-3 weeks and try new combos. Any suggestions? Like I said, the NXT is solid- but it just is missing that topspin bite that I loved.

Several years ago I was working out with a pal who was coming back from acute tennis elbow that sidelined him for at least a couple of months. This is a 30-something former solid Div-3 college player who blew up his arm when he decided to try full beds of Pro Hurricane. He had the means to do several physiotherapy treatments including acupuncture, massage, PT, and I'm not sure what else.

He also switched to full beds of natural gut in the same racquets he had when he injured himself. If you want to stack the odds in your favor as best you can, I'd say consider putting a set of natural gut in at least one of your racquets. You'll get good resilience from it right up until it physically snaps, even if you have to tension it rather high to get it to behave for you. I've seen that string work miracles for a few local sluggers through the years. Oh, and drop the poly completely for at least the time being.

If your racquet is at all sluggish for you, try placing a little weight on the handle to get maybe two extra points of head-light balance. That might remove some stress and strain right there. If it doesn't help with anything, remove the weight and go back to your stock setup.

If the softness of NXT isn't thrilling you, I'd say dabble with a couple different synthetic guts. I use Kirschbaum in my own frames all the time and I've been making many local players happy with syn. guts (including this one) for years. Although my arm can't tolerate poly, I absolutely prefer the feel and performance of syn. gut over multifiber and I like that syn. guts are also nicely affordable. Even if you shred them more quickly than your old poly setups, new sets of syn. gut only cost a couple of bucks.

Note - syn. guts are not all the same.

Most firm and tough: Gosen OG Sheep Micro (maybe try this in 17 ga.) and Prince SG w/Duraflex

Middling softness: Babolat, Prince Original, Volkl Classic, probably Head

Softer than average: Kirschbaum... the long term honeymoon continues

Softest in the family: Forten Sweet - the Sweet 17 is a bit fragile, probably only useful in a dense 18x20 pattern. Sweet 16 is soft enough to possibly work as an affordable substitute for some expensive multis.

Also great to hear that you're adopting a warm-up routine for your arm before you play. This might be the single most important step for helping you make a successful comeback. Stay patient, stick with it, and best of luck.

 

[socallefty]

1) I bought a racket stringer- experimenting with different strings now
2) Trying NXT comfort 50 pds, and Alu power 54/Nat gut 52 on another. I used to hit with hyperg at 55.
3) When I hit with the NXT, its very "soft" but I feel like the "bite" on my topspin isn't there. I feel like there is a noticable difference in the "bite" of topspin and I hit the ball "out" more. So I'm trying alu/nat gut combo with lower tension.
4) I have a 330G racket- ezone tour 2022
5) Good advice- I will seek out a coach to evaluate my issues.

Because I have a stringer now- I will cut out my strings every 2-3 weeks and try new combos. Any suggestions? Like I said, the NXT is solid- but it just is missing that topspin bite that I loved.

Note that ALU can go dead within 5-8 hours for many players - so, not exactly good for someone recovering from tennis elbow as you have to cut it out soon at the first sign (or before) of tightness in your wrist/elbow. You could try full gut as it should have more spin than NXT. You might need to bite the bullet and avoid poly for a while till your elbow is fully healthy.

 

[ey039524]

I wouldn't cut out the nat gut. Look at TW's database of strings and sort by stiffness. Start by crossing the nat gut by the softest ones. Monogut ZX allows the mains to slip like poly, but is the softest non nat gut string (according to TW's database).

I'm using this combo, but w/ frames w/ RAs <60 and tensions <50.

 

[PKorda]

I've modified my playtime. I stupidly went back to 100% and that was just dumb of me.

1 day light hitting, next day PT, next day rest, 1 day hitting, next day PT, next day rest. Lots of stretching and warming up before playing... and so on.

I tried to run a marathon...the day I got clearance...and I injured myself. Now I'm taking small steps back to 100%. I hope I can make it work.

there's video/meme on the internet where a goat gets wedged in a ditch and can't move, someone finally sets him free, goat is so excited, he gallops off and after about 5 gallops he ends up right back wedged in the ditch. That's what this reminds me of.

 

[Fintft]

Note that ALU can go dead within 5-8 hours for many players - so, not exactly good for someone recovering from tennis elbow as you have to cut it out soon at the first sign (or before) of tightness in your wrist/elbow. You could try full gut as it should have more spin than NXT. You might need to bite the bullet and avoid poly for a while till your elbow is fully healthy.

OP, or you might try a gut poly hybrid, or the sift poly poly one in my sig at 47/44.

Do you have relaxed, efortless strokes? Your palm should lag, if you do shadow swings, even without a racquet...

 

[Sudacafan]

I took off 8 months from tennis to fix my elbow.

I came back at 100% and started hitting better then ever but… I can’t play as much as I want to anymore. I used to play 3-5x a week singles sessions and hit with normal soreness.

However I realize if I play back to back my arm starts to flare up again and I have since stopped. It’s not normal soreness.

I have put myself on a schedule of playing 3x a week with one day rest in between. 2 of those days being doubles. After a day of rest my arm feels 100% again.

I have since stopped playing singles as much I think it’s to much strain on the arm. I still play 1x week 3 set match

The question I have is - is this normal post recovery or am I still not recovered enough?

Should I be able to play 5x a week singles and not feel any discomfort? Should I be stretching after and still doing post rehab on my arm? Anyone with experience on this?

How old are you, and what strings do you use?

 

[Jst21121]

OP, or you might try a gut poly hybrid, or the sift poly poly one in my sig at 47/44.

Do you have relaxed, efortless strokes? Your palm should lag, if you do shadow swings, even without a racquet...

I think it’s the serve that got me this time…

I believe my forehand and backhand is dialed in… but it’s the serve that I first noticed the discomfort again.

 

[Jst21121]

How old are you, and what strings do you use?

35, used hyperg 55, trying new strings now.

 

[Jst21121]

Note that ALU can go dead within 5-8 hours for many players - so, not exactly good for someone recovering from tennis elbow as you have to cut it out soon at the first sign (or before) of tightness in your wrist/elbow. You could try full gut as it should have more spin than NXT. You might need to bite the bullet and avoid poly for a while till your elbow is fully healthy.

Yes I’m cutting out strings weekly now. It’s affordable with my own stringer…

Just trying to find something that I click well with. I’ve read online that poly/gut is a good compromise but if I feel it happen again I might drop poly all together.

I’m done with full poly bed tho. Never again.

 

[Jst21121]

there's video/meme on the internet where a goat gets wedged in a ditch and can't move, someone finally sets him free, goat is so excited, he gallops off and after about 5 gallops he ends up right back wedged in the ditch. That's what this reminds me of.

Yep… that’s exactly me. I can’t help it. Felt invincible for 3 months and then one day woke up and felt that twinge. Stoped for 1 month. No pain now. So I’m hoping I stopped, healed just in time before doing real damage.

 

[Injured Again]

If you feel you are missing that “bite”, I’m guessing what you are missing is the launch angle that poly gives you. It’s really not possible to replicate that with anything but a poly string.

As an intermediate step, how about trying a thinner gauge Hyper-g Soft in the mains with Cream or Zyex crosses?

 

[Jst21121]

If you feel you are missing that “bite”, I’m guessing what you are missing is the launch angle that poly gives you. It’s really not possible to replicate that with anything but a poly string.

As an intermediate step, how about trying a thinner gauge Hyper-g Soft in the mains with Cream or Zyex crosses?

Had my first real match match with the Alu/Nat gut combo. 3 sets tiebreakers.

Arm feels 100% no issues next day. My legs are more in pain. The gut looks frayed already after one day of heavy use…

How often do I gotta string this? When it breaks or when it looks super frayed? Every week?

I’m gonna string my backup with the same specs for now.

54 alu 52 nat gut- but did I string it wrong? I did alu main, gut in cross… should it be the opposite?

Very satisfied with the setup. Plush feel with good feedback. Great control. Spin is there but not a heavy spin like hyper g. I can def tell a difference between full poly versus the mixed. Full poly you can feel sometimes the feedback literally reverberate into your elbow.

Finally is there any CHEAPER options to get sorta the same result as this current setup. It looks very expensive to string.

 

[Crocodile]

You have to go back gradually and continue to strengthen your arm and monitor feedback.

 

[Jst21121]

You have to go back gradually and continue to strengthen your arm and monitor feedback.

So I'm 4 days post match. Day 1 was all body sore- but no real arm pain.
Day 2 was soreness in forearm, legs still sore.
Day 3 was slight soreness in forearm, legs fine.
Day 4 (today), the soreness is gone everywhere but the arm feels slightly off. I can lift and do everything like I want to do...but it's def. "different" then my pre-injury. I wouldn't describe it as a full on ache- but it does have a little ache. If tennis elbow is 10/10 on the ache scale- I'm at a 1/10. If I don't "focus on my arm" I wouldn't even notice it. But since I'm hypersensitive about it- I am more focused on it and notice it.

Pre-injury I could play 100% everyday, and today I feel like if I were to do a match- I would have to basically rest 3 days post-op while doing PT etc and managing it. I DO NOT THINK, I could play a Match sunday- and go to practice Monday without damaging it. Prior- I could do a match and play the next day 100%.

I have another match coming up sunday- so plan on hitting tommorow. PT friday, rest saturday, play sunday.

I do wonder if I'm doing more damage like this or is it normal to come back after injury and have residual symptoms that have to be worked through?

I can lift everything, turn a doorknob, literally everything. This isn't like full blown tennis elbow, but at the same time- I'm not 100% does that make sense? And I wonder if my gameplan of tennis, pt, rest will strengthen it- or worsen it?

 

[Injured Again]

@Jst21121 With gut, you only need to restring when it breaks, but with a poly/gut hybrid, restringing should still be along the timelines of a full poly string job. Because the gut is more elastic, the poly sees greater stresses from every hit So it will lose elasticity as fast or faster than in a full poly string bed.

Your symptoms sound like you have some light nerve impingement. Continuing to play when it still feels off may result in chronic issues at the worst, and it will probably take a doctor to tell you with certainty.

Good luck with it and hope it feels better.

 

[Jst21121]

@Jst21121 With gut, you only need to restring when it breaks, but with a poly/gut hybrid, restringing should still be along the timelines of a full poly string job. Because the gut is more elastic, the poly sees greater stresses from every hit So it will lose elasticity as fast or faster than in a full poly string bed.

Your symptoms sound like you have some light nerve impingement. Continuing to play when it still feels off may result in chronic issues at the worst, and it will probably take a doctor to tell you with certainty.

Good luck with it and hope it feels better.

I guess its worth a shot visiting a doctor. So frustrating. I know for a fact that this isn't my full blown tennis elbow all over again- but at the same time- I am concerned that I can't play back to back to back like how I used to. It likes 1 day of hitting- 3 days break- 1 day of hitting- 3 days of break.

Plus its so wierd that I can play a hard 3 set match- tie breakers- and all- and come out swinging at 100% no issues during the match. When I had my full blown tennis elbow I could barely swing a forehand.

 

[Jst21121]

Update. I decided to do some flex bar exercises and guess what all the pain is gone! Ache gone, pain gone etc.

I know it will “come back tommorow” but it’s wierd- it’s like the flex bar is helping a lot but then the next day it returns to a slight residual ache.

I’m hoping that I’m doing the right thing and getting stronger and healing.

 

[LuckyR]

Update. I decided to do some flex bar exercises and guess what all the pain is gone! Ache gone, pain gone etc.

I know it will “come back tommorow” but it’s wierd- it’s like the flex bar is helping a lot but then the next day it returns to a slight residual ache.

I’m hoping that I’m doing the right thing and getting stronger and healing.

Oh, the flex bar definitely works.

 

[Jst21121]

Oh, the flex bar definitely works.

Yes it looks to be that way. Do you know why? Like is it just loading unloading and “stretching” the muscle tendon out while promoting blood flow to come in along with strengthening it?

Played another 2 set match. Zero pain. Maybe the odd “twinge” if I mishit it.

Ironically, tennis elbow has promoted me to play better as I am trying to avoid arming the ball/being late to the ball etc. according to my partners I’m hitting better then ever but… my balls are a lil more flat and penetrating and not a heavy ball with topspin… I’m guessing that’s due to poly/gut combo

Let’s see what tommorow brings. Currently doing more flex bar and cooling down.

 

[LuckyR]

Yes it looks to be that way. Do you know why? Like is it just loading unloading and “stretching” the muscle tendon out while promoting blood flow to come in along with strengthening it?

Played another 2 set match. Zero pain. Maybe the odd “twinge” if I mishit it.

Ironically, tennis elbow has promoted me to play better as I am trying to avoid arming the ball/being late to the ball etc. according to my partners I’m hitting better then ever but… my balls are a lil more flat and penetrating and not a heavy ball with topspin… I’m guessing that’s due to poly/gut combo

Let’s see what tommorow brings. Currently doing more flex bar and cooling down.

Nope. It kind of doesn't make sense since you can't "strengthen" a tendon. Magic, maybe?

 

[ey039524]

If you're using the flex bar for eccentric exercises, the PT told me that it lengthens muscle fibers and helps them to realign.

You should also dig in w your thumb after playing and massage the en of your forearm muscles/tendons. This was the only thing that helped my TE, and I continue to do this if I feel the slightest bit of pain (I almost never do now).

 

[LuckyR]

If you're using the flex bar for eccentric exercises, the PT told me that it lengthens muscle fibers and helps them to realign.

You should also dig in w your thumb after playing and massage the en of your forearm muscles/tendons. This was the only thing that helped my TE, and I continue to do this if I feel the slightest bit of pain (I almost never do now).

Okay, makes sense, but how does a stronger muscle help with an inflamed tendon?

 

[ey039524]

Okay, makes sense, but how does a stronger muscle help with an inflamed tendon?

If it's been a few months, is the tendon still inflamed?

My pain was from the scar tissue that needed breaking up. I took a year off hitting w my right hand.

 

[Jst21121]

If it's been a few months, is the tendon still inflamed?

My pain was from the scar tissue that needed breaking up. I took a year off hitting w my right hand.

Interesting thing to note- was doing my elbow exercises and could physically feel and hear a crackling. It felt good to “stretch it out.” Tried doing the exercises again today and the crackling was gone.

Maybe it was scar tissue and muscle fibers that needed to be rearranged.

Today no discomfort at all after my match.

I think I might of escaped tennis elbow! Lower strings tension, continual pt, and self care.

 

[LuckyR]

If it's been a few months, is the tendon still inflamed?

My pain was from the scar tissue that needed breaking up. I took a year off hitting w my right hand.

Well if you don't have an inflamed tendon, you don't have tendonitis (which is what tennis elbow is).

 

[ey039524]

Well if you don't have an inflamed tendon, you don't have tendonitis (which is what tennis elbow is).

After a few months, I saw the PT. He tested my grip strength, and said it was strong. It still took me a year total to finally get rid of the pain, though (not counting the 2 months after cortisone shots from the Ortho surgeon). Only thing that got rid of it for good was fascial manipulation to break up the scar tissue.

What do you call it when your outside part of your elbow hurts when you hit a ball, hammer a nail, etc.?

 

[Injured Again]

After a few months, I saw the PT. He tested my grip strength, and said it was strong. It still took me a year total to finally get rid of the pain, though (not counting the 2 months after cortisone shots from the Ortho surgeon). Only thing that got rid of it for good was fascial manipulation to break up the scar tissue.

What do you call it when your outside part of your elbow hurts when you hit a ball, hammer a nail, etc.?

When the outside part hurts, that’s traditional tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis.

When the inside part of the elbow hurts, that’s traditionally called golfer’s elbow, and as medial epicondylitis.

 

[ey039524]

When the outside part hurts, that’s traditional tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis.

When the inside part of the elbow hurts, that’s traditionally called golfer’s elbow, and as medial epicondylitis.

Thanks, let Lucky know that. I know it from a year of experience.

Well if you don't have an inflamed tendon, you don't have tendonitis (which is what tennis elbow is).

 

[yossarian]

Well if you don't have an inflamed tendon, you don't have tendonitis (which is what tennis elbow is).

Tendinitis is a misnomer. Inflammation is not the issue

 

[LuckyR]

Thanks, let Lucky know that. I know it from a year of experience.

When the outside part hurts, that’s traditional tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis.

When the inside part of the elbow hurts, that’s traditionally called golfer’s elbow, and as medial epicondylitis.

"Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. Not surprisingly, playing tennis or other racquet sports can cause this condition. However, several other sports and activities besides sports can also put you at risk.

Tennis elbow is inflammation or, in some cases, microtearing of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow".

What did you say again?

 

[fullgarage]

Well, the most important is to try to cure it - it's so long - but daily (or very regular) PT seems the only way out of this (and not a given in the long run...).

Was able to play a single (2 sets + super tie break) and a double today (and was able to iron my shirt for tomorrow back home - the best test to see if it flares up again) - would have not vouched on that 6 months ago. Dont give up on PT.

 

[Jst21121]

Played a third match today. No pain but wow… my alu/gut combo is dead strings. Almost lost cuz the spin was pretty much not there, over hit to many times and it was just a mess.

Alu goes dead that quickly? It’s been about 3 matches… about 6-8 hours of heavy use.

Jeez I can’t afford this

 

[Jst21121]

Note that ALU can go dead within 5-8 hours for many players - so, not exactly good for someone recovering from tennis elbow as you have to cut it out soon at the first sign (or before) of tightness in your wrist/elbow. You could try full gut as it should have more spin than NXT. You might need to bite the bullet and avoid poly for a while till your elbow is fully healthy.

I think my Alu was dead. 3rd match after 2 weeks of use. Was overhitting and spin was def not there. Was a messy win. Need to find a new combo… I can’t afford to string every 2 weeks with alu/gut.

To be honest I’m reaaaaaly missing that hyper g topspin bite. It was so satisfying to hit a heavy ball.

 

[Injured Again]

Played a third match today. No pain but wow… my alu/gut combo is dead strings. Almost lost cuz the spin was pretty much not there, over hit to many times and it was just a mess.

Alu goes dead that quickly? It’s been about 3 matches… about 6-8 hours of heavy use.

Jeez I can’t afford this

Yup. Alu changes playing characteristics pretty significantly at around the four hour mark. In a gut poly hybrid, the gut is much more elastic so your half stringbed of poly bears the brunt of the impact forces, which means it will go dead faster than if it was a full bed.

Maybe try Hyper-G Soft in the mains with Zyex or Cream in the crosses?

 

[LuckyR]

Played a third match today. No pain but wow… my alu/gut combo is dead strings. Almost lost cuz the spin was pretty much not there, over hit to many times and it was just a mess.

Alu goes dead that quickly? It’s been about 3 matches… about 6-8 hours of heavy use.

Jeez I can’t afford this

Well it plays differently in 9 games (which is the average set).

 

[Fintft]

I think my Alu was dead. 3rd match after 2 weeks of use. Was overhitting and spin was def not there. Was a messy win. Need to find a new combo… I can’t afford to string every 2 weeks with alu/gut.

To be honest I’m reaaaaaly missing that hyper g topspin bite. It was so satisfying to hit a heavy ball.

Mayami Tour Hex maintains tension well and it is soft enough, but I usually use it as a cross, with even a sofer, mushy Mayami poly, Big Spin in the mains...

 

[ey039524]

I think my Alu was dead. 3rd match after 2 weeks of use. Was overhitting and spin was def not there. Was a messy win. Need to find a new combo… I can’t afford to string every 2 weeks with alu/gut.

To be honest I’m reaaaaaly missing that hyper g topspin bite. It was so satisfying to hit a heavy ball.

If you string yourself, you can replace the poly crosses and leave your gut mains in until they break.

 

[cheesehead]

I saw some guy on Reddit playing with his off hand. That’s what I started. Playing with my left. It’s a lot of fun. Basketball players play with their left. I am 53. Had a decent serve but lot of wear and tear on my right arm. Finally recently had tennis elbow. Mentally I know all the techniques and everything. Just a matter of repetition. And mirroring what I did with my right. Fun to play with a pristine rotator cuff and elbows. Johnny Mac always my favorite player anyways. Now I get to practice slice serves into the ad court !