strings and recommendation for tennis elbow

[marcinr]

I've been playing with Babolat Pure Drive stringed with RPM Blast (61lbs) and my elbow can't stand it anymore. I want to switch to multifilament string and X-One seems to be good option. Before I do that have a couple of questions:

1.Is it enough for my elbow if I stick with poly but go for less tension?
1.Any other arm friendly strings recommendation?
2.If multi - is it ok if I string a full bed or should I go for hybrid?
3.What tension should I go for multi?

thanks
Marcin

 

[Devil_dog]

I suffered from tennis elbow after switching to a full bed of poly and though it played well, my arm suffered. I was turned on to Wilson NXT and no more pain. Great string for playability and feel but not durability though. As you stated, Technifibre X-One is also a very good string - maybe a bit firmer than NXT but I can't really say for sure since I have a hybrid setup with X-One and gut at the moment. I may go full X-One and see if there's a difference between it and NXT...

 

[anubis]

I've been playing with Babolat Pure Drive stringed with RPM Blast (61lbs) and my elbow can't stand it anymore. I want to switch to multifilament string and X-One seems to be good option. Before I do that have a couple of questions:

1.Is it enough for my elbow if I stick with poly but go for less tension?
1.Any other arm friendly strings recommendation?
2.If multi - is it ok if I string a full bed or should I go for hybrid?
3.What tension should I go for multi?

thanks
Marcin

61 lbs is really high for full bed poly. why don't you try 50 lbs and see how that feels on your arm. Otherwise, you could try X-1 Biphase, but I wouldn't string it lower than 65 lbs.

 

[mikeler]

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=352048

 

[marcinr]

I suffered from tennis elbow after switching to a full bed of poly and though it played well, my arm suffered. I was turned on to Wilson NXT and no more pain. Great string for playability and feel but not durability though. As you stated, Technifibre X-One is also a very good string - maybe a bit firmer than NXT but I can't really say for sure since I have a hybrid setup with X-One and gut at the moment. I may go full X-One and see if there's a difference between it and NXT...

Thanks a lot. I will take a look closer to NXT. Why did you switch from NXT to hybrid? Because of low durability of NXT?

 

[marcinr]

61 lbs is really high for full bed poly. why don't you try 50 lbs and see how that feels on your arm. Otherwise, you could try X-1 Biphase, but I wouldn't string it lower than 65 lbs.

Isn't 65lbs to high? My racket max recommended tension is 62lbs.

 

[Devil_dog]

Thanks a lot. I will take a look closer to NXT. Why did you switch from NXT to hybrid? Because of low durability of NXT?

Yes, I was trying to find something to would have a bit more durability and, frankly, was really trying to see if a gut/multi hybrid was going to make a noticeable difference for me. But I've noticed some control issues though with lots of power with the hybrid setup. I may just go to X-1 full bed or just back to tried and true NXT.

 

[marcinr]

Yes, I was trying to find something to would have a bit more durability and, frankly, was really trying to see if a gut/multi hybrid was going to make a noticeable difference for me. But I've noticed some control issues though with lots of power with the hybrid setup. I may just go to X-1 full bed or just back to tried and true NXT.

What's your tension recommendation for full bed X-One? Just got one - 65lbs. What's your opinion on that?

 

[Devil_dog]

What's your tension recommendation for full bed X-One? Just got one - 65lbs. What's your opinion on that?

I'll leave that to some who may be more experienced but typically I string my racquets toward the higher tension end anyway because I want more control on my shots.

But currently my racquet is a Head Speed Rev which has a top end recommendation of 57lbs. And that's what I have them strung at.

 

[Lukhas]

61lbs? Co-poly is much better in the low 50's or even mid to high 40's. Plus in a stiff frame such as the Pure Drive. Good recipe for tennis elbow. No wonder it hurts.

1) Rest and healing;

2) Technifibre NRG². Especially NRG² which is very comfortable but not very powerful so it will tame the power of the Pure Drive a bit, especially when pre-stretched. X-One Biphase is a rocket launcher, period. If you strung poly at high tensions to try to have control, I recommend to avoid it. It's a fine string, but not for you. Usually I'd recommend natural gut since nothing is as comfortable, but it could prove to be too powerful for you too.

 

[marcinr]

[QUOTE

1) Rest and healing;

[/QUOTE]

And I think that's the best advice I could get THANKS
Will look in to NRG2

 

[fuzz nation]

My arm objects to poly or poly hybrid strings in my racquets, but I do fine with synthetic gut. Both 16 and 17 gauge options work well for me, tensions are typically easy to dial in, and they're not as prone to going soft through their service life compared with multifibers.

I like using Tecnifibre syn. gut right now, but I've also had good luck with Forten Sweet (very soft stuff!), Gosen OG Sheep Micro, and Prince Original Syn. Gut (not their Duraflex product).

Natural gut will probably give you the most arm-friendly option you can get with any string, but it's expensive. Tecnifibre X-One Biphase is a great multi, Head RIP Control has a solid reputation, Wilson NXT and Sensation can deliver a soft ride, and Prince Premier Attack multi offers very good bang for the buck.

After some R&R, I agree that square one is to dump the poly.

 

[Ramon]

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=352048

Look at Mikeler's thread. He has tried X-One, NXT, NRG2, and a bunch of other multis.

I had arm problems with my APDGT and poly also. Hybrids didn't work, and stringing it down to 30 lbs only worked for about 3-5 hours; after that it was just plain old dead poly.

If you stay away from poly and Kevlar you should be fine regardless of the tension. Right now I use a hybrid of Ashaway Monogut ZX and multifilament.

 

[marcinr]

Look at Mikeler's thread. He has tried X-One, NXT, NRG2, and a bunch of other multis.

I had arm problems with my APDGT and poly also. Hybrids didn't work, and stringing it down to 30 lbs only worked for about 3-5 hours; after that it was just plain old dead poly.

If you stay away from poly and Kevlar you should be fine regardless of the tension. Right now I use a hybrid of Ashaway Monogut ZX and multifilament.

Yes, I've been reading Mikeler's thread for the past hour and Prince Premier Attack looks like something to consider in terms of playability, softness and pricing obviously.

 

[3fees]

Softer- lower tension strings, yet that's a band-aid, need to work on exercises to toughen up that area,,pronation- supination exercises like yesterday,last week , ect.

 

[bigdaddyps]

From a recovering TE sufferer that is now 95% cured, here's what worked for me.
1. Bought a Prince EX03 tour 100 racquet. Best racquet for TE. Flex rating in low 50's I believe.
2.Strung it with REAL Babo VS gut for a few months. It's expensive, but it's the best string for your condition. After that I used Babo Xcel, a very soft string.
3. Iced it at least twice a day for 20 minutes.
4. Wore a TE band when playing.
5. Did some exercises reccomended by my so, who is a Doctor of Physical therapy.

Playing now with no pain. Tennis anyone?

 

[bigdaddyps]

From a recovering TE sufferer that is now 95% cured, here's what worked for me.
1. Bought a Prince EX03 tour 100 racquet. Best racquet for TE. Flex rating in low 50's I believe.
2.Strung it with REAL Babo VS gut for a few months. It's expensive, but it's the best string for your condition. After that I used Babo Xcel, a very soft string.
3. Iced it at least twice a day for 20 minutes.
4. Wore a TE band when playing.
5. Did some exercises reccomended by my son, who is a Doctor of Physical therapy.

Playing now with no pain. Tennis anyone?

 

[kazamzaa]

Yes, I've been reading Mikeler's thread for the past hour and Prince Premier Attack looks like something to consider in terms of playability, softness and pricing obviously.

Natural gut holds tension best. So if you are not a string breaker, it is absolutely your best and most cost effective choice. Because you string at higher tensions you really should buy premium gut like Wilson's. Or if you want a cheaper option buy tonic+.
I got my TE from playing apdgt with poly at 60 lbs. After many racquet and string experiments I found best results for my game and elbow from pro kennex q5 strung with gut mains and poly crosses.
There are many threads about healing TE. I believe that the best advice are
1. rest
2 . Natural gut
3. Thera band flex bar

 

[marcinr]

Big thanks to all of you for great advice! I have learned a lot.

 

[Muppet]

The problem was that you used too high a tension for a poly string. Now the problem is resting your arm. Playing with multis for a while will be a good idea. You might want to re-visit polys in the future, but do so hesitantly. At that time, if your arm pain is a distant memory, a hybrid may be a good way to go. Just don't string a poly above 54 lbs. in that racquet.

 

[Rob1]

I wouldn't play tennis for 2 weeks.
Get the Theraflex Bar.
ice, Ice, ice, Stretch, and later after the pain goes do light weights.

You have a very stiff frame so never do full poly.

I would do gut as it the safest then any multi then say
in 4 months do a hybrid.
Be careful many people have gotten TE with this frame here.

 

[marcinr]

I wouldn't play tennis for 2 weeks.
Get the Theraflex Bar.
ice, Ice, ice, Stretch, and later after the pain goes do light weights.

You have a very stiff frame so never do full poly.

I would do gut as it the safest then any multi then say
in 4 months do a hybrid.
Be careful many people have gotten TE with this frame here.

Yes, I know that now but didn't realize while I was picking up the racket. And didn't know I would develop TE.

 

[drgchen]

RPM is a stiff poly.
If you go full poly you may want to pick a softer poly and string lower. For example topspin cyber flash at 55.

You can try to string RPM at 50 but wait until the elbow is healed.

Full multi or full gut are also good choices.

 

[marcinr]

I wouldn't play tennis for 2 weeks.
Get the Theraflex Bar.
ice, Ice, ice, Stretch, and later after the pain goes do light weights.

You have a very stiff frame so never do full poly.

I would do gut as it the safest then any multi then say
in 4 months do a hybrid.
Be careful many people have gotten TE with this frame here.

What's teraflex bar? Googled it but nothing familiar came up. Thx

 

[marcinr]

What's teraflex bar? Googled it but nothing familiar came up. Thx

Got it! Misspelled it...

 

[Hui]

Try poly 17g or 18g at about 50 and nxt 16g on the cross about 56

 

[Johnny-Cage]

I used to play with Signum Pro Poly Plasma at 55 pounds and my elbow hurt. Now, I play with Technifibre Bi Phase 16g (mains) at 47 pounds and Wilson Enduro Tour 18g at 42 pounds (cross). This set up did not hurt my elbow at all and I have been serving better. A full bed of multifilament did not do well for me as my ground strokes frequently sailed long.

 

[texacali]

Used full poly at 62 lbs. in a stiff frame. Was just looking for strings that lasted longer more than anything. Worst TE ever and still recovering from it. Switched to a multi (Dunlop Hexy Fiber 17g). Also dropped tension to 60 lbs. and definitely feel a great difference (elbow does not hurt at all like it did with poly). Resting the elbow helped a lot also. Purchased a more flexible racket to see if that helps, but it appears old frame with softer strings and less tension may work out OK.

 

[marcinr]

I played today ladder match (unfortunately dont have a time to rest) Restrung my racket with full bed X-One (57lbs) and the difference was huge for my elbow. Very comfortable even on Babolat PD racket. It took me a while to get used to a new strings but overall I have positive impression.

 

[kazamzaa]

If you like x-one you'll love gut. String Gut at the same tension or +2 lbs next time around. Eventually it will be more cost effective.

 

[AsianArnold1]

i too suffered TE after jumping on the Bab PD w/ poly bandwagon. i'm a classic sampras/agassi era player. i used to laugh at TE people, until now. even woke me up at night throbbing.
sold 3 of those PDs, and bought a TW PS85 with Wilson gut/Alu Rough.
wow!! now i can sleep mostly thru the night (with occasional pee breaks, no line judge accompany at 2am :mrgreen: )

 

[lcalamar]

When I developed tennis elbow here's what I did:
- REST AND HEALING, don't play for a minimum of 2 weeks (sorry, but it will only get much worse, switching gear won't help heal, only help with recurrence)
- Use the TheraBand (FlexBar) - once you've rested and iced (it will hurt good)
- Used a Band-IT (just for a while, but at first I kept it on all the time)
- Stopped using a full poly
- went to a more arm friendly racquet (for me - a Volkl)
- Switched to the PacGut/MSV Co-Focus hybrid at approx. 50/47 lbs (read that thread)
- continue to use my theraband
- continue to ice as needed

 

[marcinr]

Thanks again to all of you giving me advice. This forum is a great place to learn things