I've seen upteen thousand threads on this subject, which typically suggest that plush, soft, flexy rackets are generallty best for tennis elbow. Well here's one to go and figure out.....I've played with Pure Drive's for several years, and never, ever suffered from tennis elbow (sure, now and again my shoulder felt like exploding), yet since converting (about 6 weeks ago)to so called "player's rackets" which are reputed as being arm friendly, I am now suffering from what I guess is tennis elbow (pain on inside of elbow).....
I'm going back to my Pure Drive's.....
Long Live stiff rackets!
Tennis (outside) or golfers (inside) elbow is a mysterious thing. If the cause is tennis, one variable that takes some of the guess work out of it is the string. The vibration caused by the racquet hitting the ball, traveling up the frame, and eventually inflamming the tendons in your elbow can be alleviated with a soft string that cushions the ball impact. Other folks are right, vibration can be caused by missing the sweet spot, which is more likely with a players racquet, assuming you are talking about a 95sq. inch head or smaller.
For a long time there was a theory that lighter, stiffer racquets were the problem. I guess that's true in the sense that they vibrate more on impact. However, not all tendonitis is caused by vibration. Technique can certainly be a factor, because your arm ends up being stressed, and in a compromised position at impact. However, tendonitis is also caused by a tightening of the main muscle group attached to the tendons that are inflamed. Tight muscle development can be directly linked with playing with a heavy racquet. If the heavy racquet causes your arm to "bulk up," and the muscle fibers lose elasticity, tendon problems frequently ensue. Remember to stay loose when you swing the racquet. Gripping a heavy racquet too tightly will be an arm killer in no time.
One more thought: Sometimes tennis ends up being a red herring. If you are doing lots of activities with your playing arm, it could be a cumulative effect. When I had tendonitis in my playing arm, I stopped carrying groceries with that arm, picking up the dog with that arm, etc. I even bought an electric toothbrush and used my left arm to brush my teeth. I think that allowed my right arm to atrophy just enough to loosen up, and that helped me get over it, not to mention the fact that I went back to my Volkl, and NXT Tour 17 guage.