Solinco Confidential - Elbow pain

B

BrazilianAmateur

New User
Hi guys, hope you are all doing well.

I’ve been playing tennis for the last 2 years with a blade 98 v6 2021 (non countervail). I strung it with Yonex Super Tour @55 at first, changed after a year to Luxilon Element @50 and later element rough @52 and last week I tried Solinco Confidential 1.20mm @52 as well.

I usually play 1 to 2 times a week, mostly practices, hit as hard as I can every time, but I’m not a string breaker. I usually cut the string after 10-12 hours (it is usually pretty damaged and dead, but not broken)

When I tried Element for the first time I felt some pain in my arm for a while, but I went away after 3-4 weeks.

Last week I stringed my racquet with confidential and loved it. My game improved a lot, I loved the control, but I think I made a mistake by not reducing the tension. I was so excited with the result that I played a game on Wednesday, played another one on Saturday morning, had practice on Saturday afternoon and had practice on Sunday afternoon (played way more than I’m used to).

On Wednesday I was alright, on Saturday at the end of the game I was feeling my elbow a bit while serving, during practice I started to feel a bit more and at the end I couldn’t serve properly, and really felt my elbow on Sunday and stopped practice early.

I was doing some research and I think it hurts near the medial epicondyle (the inside of my elbow, not the outiside), which I understand is not where it is supposed to hurt when you have tennis elbow.

Im currently at work and it feels like I know there is something happening in my elbow, but I don’t feel any pain whatsoever there. I only feel it with an impact, like clapping my hand really hard, but it’s not really painful, it just bothers

Do you guys think I should ditch confidential at all or maybe I just exaggerated and should try it @low 40’s first? I’m also checking if my tennis shop has the 1.15mm version as well as an alternative.

Thank you for your help.
 
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Stiff polys go dead well within 10 hours for me also - just restring. Max I get is 6-8 hours before discomfort of wrist/arm and sometimes shoulder. Soft polys last 50%-100% longer for my game before I see erratic control, soreness etc. And I string in low forties. I recommend HyperG Soft amongst Solinco strings.
 
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ditch the confidential....its stiff (although I agree with you, it is nice string). Element is quite a bit softer.
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Hi guys, hope you are all doing well.

I’ve been playing tennis for the last 2 years with a blade 98 v6 2021 (non countervail). I strung it with Yonex Super Tour @55 at first, changed after a year to Luxilon Element @50 and later @52 and last week I tried Solinco Confidential 1.20mm @52 as well.

I usually play 1 to 2 times a week, mostly practices, hit as hard as I can every time, but I’m not a string breaker. I usually cut the string after 10-12 hours (it is usually pretty damaged and dead, but not broken)

When I tried Element for the first time I felt some pain in my arm for a while, but I went away after 3-4 weeks.

Last week I stringed my racquet with confidential and loved it. My game improved a lot, I loved the control, but I think I made a mistake by not reducing the tension. I was so excited with the result that I played a game on Wednesday, played another one on Saturday morning, had practice on Saturday afternoon and had practice on Sunday afternoon (played way more than I’m used to).

On Wednesday I was alright, on Saturday at the end of the game I was feeling my elbow a bit while serving, during practice I started to feel a bit more and at the end I couldn’t serve properly, and really felt my elbow on Sunday and stopped practice early.

I was doing some research and I think it hurts near the medial epicondyle (the inside of my elbow, not the outiside), which I understand is not where it is supposed to hurt when you have tennis elbow.

Im currently at work and it feels like I know there is something happening in my elbow, but I don’t feel any pain whatsoever there. I only feel it with an impact, like clapping my hand really hard, but it’s not really painful, it just bothers

Do you guys think I should ditch confidential at all or maybe I just exaggerated and should try it @low 40’s first? I’m also checking if my tennis shop has the 1.15mm version as well as an alternative.

Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
I’ve always strung confidential in the 40’s. It is stiff, and hyper-g soft might be a good alternative for it if loosening the tension doesn’t help/you don’t like it
 
I find Lynx Tour stiffer than Confidential... I agree with Tour M8 being softer though -- you feel the ball on the strings much longer and it's very comfortable. I'd go for Tour M8 3 lbs tighter though.

Overall, I prefer softer strings at higher tensions than stiffer strings at lower tension for comfort...
gvsbdisco said:
hyper g soft as mentioned by @TheBoom plays well at low tensions. Grapplesnake TourM8 is softer than Confidential, plays well at low tensions, and is control oriented. People also seem to like Lynx Tour for control but I have not hit it myself.
Click to expand...
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Thank you for your return. Any control oriented suggestions?
Click to expand...
Lux's Element is a control oriented string and it is way softer than Confidential. You still have the same issue of playability, you won't get more than 12 hours out of that string. Anything more and they go dead.
 
Purestriker said:
Lux's Element is a control oriented string and it is way softer than Confidential. You still have the same issue of playability, you won't get more than 12 hours out of that string. Anything more and they go dead.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response Pure Striker.

Playability is not an issue, the problem right now is stiffness. I really liked the Confidential, but @52lbs it injured my elbow (I played more than usual after stringing with it as well, so it didn’t help). I’m thinking whether to restring with confidential @42-45lbs or try something less stiff but that still has as much control.

Thanks again for your input
 
I was doing a quick search at TW’s string tool and apparently Element Rough 16 (the string I’ve been using) has a similar stiffness to Hyper G 17. And Hyper G 16 has a similar stiffness to Confidential 16, so I’m assuming confidential 18 probable has a similar stiffness to both Hyper G 17 and Element Rough 16. Interesting to say the least. interesting to say the least
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Thank you! I might cut it and try it @42-45
Click to expand...
I've never gone below 46 lbs, but at 46 I found it very comfortable without sacrificing feel. If that doesn't work, like I said, Hyper G Soft will be close in playability without the harshness of Confidential.
You may even go down a gauge. I find that helps with comfort as well
 
Purestriker said:
Lux's Element is a control oriented string and it is way softer than Confidential. You still have the same issue of playability, you won't get more than 12 hours out of that string. Anything more and they go dead.
Click to expand...
My experience with element is that it loses it's playability within just a few hours 2-3. My wife (~3.5 NTRP) with moderately hard groundstrokes was complaining about a loss of tension/playability after just a few hitting sessions
 
TheBoom said:
I've never gone below 46 lbs, but at 46 I found it very comfortable without sacrificing feel. If that doesn't work, like I said, Hyper G Soft will be close in playability without the harshness of Confidential.
You may even go down a gauge. I find that helps with comfort as well
Click to expand...
Thank, The Boom.

I couldn’t find Hyper G Soft in Brazil, but my fiancée will be in the US next week and she will bring a set of Hyper G Soft 1.20 mm and Confidential 1.15mm. In the mean time, I’ll try Confidential 1.20mm @46lbs. Let’s see how it goes. I’ll be in the US in April and after testing the strings I can buy more sets.

Thanks again
 
TheBoom said:
My experience with element is that it loses its playability within just a few hours 2-3. My wife (~3.5 NTRP) with moderately hard groundstrokes was complaining about a loss of tension/playability after just a few hitting sessions
Click to expand...
Agreed. I can stretch to 8 hours max, but it is already gone by then. Confidential is magic compared to that
 
@BrazilianAmateur I agree confidential is a great string, but oh boy it can hurt.
Lower the tension, don't go above 50, I think 48 is the perfect tension for this string, but go as low as you can play it, then restring at the 9th hour, playing with it when it's about to die hurts :(
So, low tension, and re string often
 
I strung Confidential at 48 in my Vcore 98 and it was okay then I cut it out and strung at 42 and liked that much better. I have no arm pain. Could it be possible that you just overplayed a little and caused some aggravation?
 
Maybe try a hybrid with Confidential on the mains and a soft multi string in the crosses. Or maybe a soft poly in the crosses if you don't like to use multi at all.

Multi suggestion: Head Velocity 1.30 in natural color.

Soft poly cross suggestion: Tru Pro Ghostwire, Isospeed Cream, MSV Focus Hex, Volkl Cyclone Tour

Tension suggestions: Mains at 40 lbs, Multi cross at 50 lbs, soft poly cross at 44-48 lbs.
 
Inside of the elbow is golfer's elbow.
There are a few threads on this forum discussing it.
It can get quite serious so it's good that you've identified it early.

I got a minor case of it a couple of times in my first year of tennis.
Two causes I could identify
- My serve was a Frankenstein's monster of continental grip with frying pan mentality, forcing an awkward bent arm delivery
- I hit my forehand very close to my body, in front of me but no space to the side
Hitting my serve with a properly extended arm and doing the same with my forehand improved things greatly.

Good luck with your recovery!

I understand it's not easy getting some strings where you are.
What string options do you have locally?
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Hi guys, hope you are all doing well.

I’ve been playing tennis for the last 2 years with a blade 98 v6 2021 (non countervail). I strung it with Yonex Super Tour @55 at first, changed after a year to Luxilon Element @50 and later element rough @52 and last week I tried Solinco Confidential 1.20mm @52 as well.

I usually play 1 to 2 times a week, mostly practices, hit as hard as I can every time, but I’m not a string breaker. I usually cut the string after 10-12 hours (it is usually pretty damaged and dead, but not broken)

When I tried Element for the first time I felt some pain in my arm for a while, but I went away after 3-4 weeks.

Last week I stringed my racquet with confidential and loved it. My game improved a lot, I loved the control, but I think I made a mistake by not reducing the tension. I was so excited with the result that I played a game on Wednesday, played another one on Saturday morning, had practice on Saturday afternoon and had practice on Sunday afternoon (played way more than I’m used to).

On Wednesday I was alright, on Saturday at the end of the game I was feeling my elbow a bit while serving, during practice I started to feel a bit more and at the end I couldn’t serve properly, and really felt my elbow on Sunday and stopped practice early.

I was doing some research and I think it hurts near the medial epicondyle (the inside of my elbow, not the outiside), which I understand is not where it is supposed to hurt when you have tennis elbow.

Im currently at work and it feels like I know there is something happening in my elbow, but I don’t feel any pain whatsoever there. I only feel it with an impact, like clapping my hand really hard, but it’s not really painful, it just bothers

Do you guys think I should ditch confidential at all or maybe I just exaggerated and should try it @low 40’s first? I’m also checking if my tennis shop has the 1.15mm version as well as an alternative.

Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
I suggest you try Solinco Hyper G Soft 17G, or Head Sonic Pro 17G, or Volkl Cyclone Orange 18G - at low 40 lbs. I string my Yonex Vcore Pro 97D at 42lbs. You should also consider to rest for a few days and ice the elbow area to bring down the inflammation. I would also recommend you to look into tennis elbow stretching, exercises, massage, and anti-inflammatory cream. If pain persists, consider switching to multifilament strings, and thereafter try moving to poly/multifilament hybrid strings.
 
Probably a western FH causing inside of the elbow to hurt.
It's hard to say if it's the strings or that you played a lot more than usual.
I tend to be cautious as this can turn into a drawn out injury.
Suggest you go w/ Natural Gut or X- 1 or Xcel after resting the arm. When there's no pain w/ this, you can
try returning to Poly.
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Hi guys, hope you are all doing well.

I’ve been playing tennis for the last 2 years with a blade 98 v6 2021 (non countervail). I strung it with Yonex Super Tour @55 at first, changed after a year to Luxilon Element @50 and later element rough @52 and last week I tried Solinco Confidential 1.20mm @52 as well.

I usually play 1 to 2 times a week, mostly practices, hit as hard as I can every time, but I’m not a string breaker. I usually cut the string after 10-12 hours (it is usually pretty damaged and dead, but not broken)

When I tried Element for the first time I felt some pain in my arm for a while, but I went away after 3-4 weeks.

Last week I stringed my racquet with confidential and loved it. My game improved a lot, I loved the control, but I think I made a mistake by not reducing the tension. I was so excited with the result that I played a game on Wednesday, played another one on Saturday morning, had practice on Saturday afternoon and had practice on Sunday afternoon (played way more than I’m used to).

On Wednesday I was alright, on Saturday at the end of the game I was feeling my elbow a bit while serving, during practice I started to feel a bit more and at the end I couldn’t serve properly, and really felt my elbow on Sunday and stopped practice early.

I was doing some research and I think it hurts near the medial epicondyle (the inside of my elbow, not the outiside), which I understand is not where it is supposed to hurt when you have tennis elbow.

Im currently at work and it feels like I know there is something happening in my elbow, but I don’t feel any pain whatsoever there. I only feel it with an impact, like clapping my hand really hard, but it’s not really painful, it just bothers

Do you guys think I should ditch confidential at all or maybe I just exaggerated and should try it @low 40’s first? I’m also checking if my tennis shop has the 1.15mm version as well as an alternative.

Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
In case you're still having these troubles, I can say that the pain that you're describing sounds like golfer's elbow, not tennis elbow. Lots of hard serving with a stiff string bed is one thing that can set this off.

So if your elbow is still hurting, even here and there, don't be subtle in terms of staying with Confidential at a lower tension or using a different poly that will hopefully be less harsh on your arm. Stop using poly for a little while. You may see significant improvements in only a few weeks.

I'd say switch to a full bed of multifiber or a moderately soft synthetic gut to give you a softer layout. Syn. gut is soft enough for me to use every day during the busy portion of my year without bothering my arm at all, but even a "softer" poly installed at low tension makes a mess of my arm after only one or two sessions on the practice courts.

You mentioned that you're not a string breaker and that you like to hit really hard during your practice sessions. I think that aside from a potential boost in arm comfort, syn. gut could be worth a try because you could find a little free power with it. Anytime I've tried poly in either a full bed or a hybrid, I've noticed at least a mild drop in my racquet's power or "liveliness" compared with my typical beds of syn. gut. And even if you restring with syn. gut on the same schedule as when you use poly, the syn. gut will probably cost less than a "premium" poly like Confidential.
 
Yes, i am also using Confidential since months and its a very nice dampened and comfortable string for a stiffer type string.
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Thanks everyone for your answers. Quick update: I strung my racquet with confidential @45lbs and changed the serve technique a little bit and the problem was solved. Now I'm currently using confidential @54lbs (higher than before) and no problem at all.
Click to expand...
Good to hear!
Keep that tension low, well at least for me I don't like that break in period it has
 
M Pillai said:
Is there any specific reason for going back to higher tension, especially since you mentioned you were @45lbs for sometime already.
Click to expand...
Stupidity, to be honest. I went as high as 56 with confidential 1.15mm and my balls kept hitting the top of the net frequently. When it didn’t, it was awesome, lots of control, but it was hurting my game a lot.
After playing again with the racquet that was strung in march @45lbs with confidential 1.20 mm (I used it for 3-4 hours) I realized that I was making a mistake.
Next string job will be confidential 1.15mm @45 lbs and we’ll see. I’ve been enjoying some help from the racquet/string when I have to play defensively against better players. I even considered trying the new blade 100, but for now I‘ll try reducing the tension to 45lbs and then going hybrid or changing strings if I feel that I need more power
 
BrazilianAmateur said:
Stupidity, to be honest. I went as high as 56 with confidential 1.15mm and my balls kept hitting the top of the net frequently. When it didn’t, it was awesome, lots of control, but it was hurting my game a lot.
After playing again with the racquet that was strung in march @45lbs with confidential 1.20 mm (I used it for 3-4 hours) I realized that I was making a mistake.
Next string job will be confidential 1.15mm @45 lbs and we’ll see. I’ve been enjoying some help from the racquet/string when I have to play defensively against better players. I even considered trying the new blade 100, but for now I‘ll try reducing the tension to 45lbs and then going hybrid or changing strings if I feel that I need more power
Click to expand...
You'll get plenty of power with confidential at 45
 
VanDerVaart23 said:
You'll get plenty of power with confidential at 45
Click to expand...
In the end it is a "feel". Theoretically confidential (like most poly strings), does not create more "energy return" even when strung low (or does not create a trampoline effect). This is one reason polys are very playable even at ultra low tensions. The main difference when strung low on confidential is the "softer" string bed, increased launch angle and delayed response timing (which sometimes is referred as ball pocketing feel). But of course these changes are enough to throw off someone of their timing, which leads to lost control. At the same time, an increased launch angle also may lead to easier depth.

In summary, there may not be "plenty" of extra power just because confidential is strung at 45lb. But it does change the way strokes are felt, and how the ball trajectory is.
 
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