Wilson CV and wrist/shoulder/elbow problems

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tennisdude5

New User
I am a current teaching professional and I️ wanted to get the communities response to the Wilson countervail racquets and wrist/shoulder/elbow pain. When I️ hit with any of the new countervail racquets, I️ feel pain in my shoulder after 15 mins. However, I️ can play for 2-3 hours with the Wilson Ultra Tour (non CV) and have no problems at all. My fellow teaching professional plays with the 2015 Blade 18x20 because he starts to feel pain in his wrist after a while with the newer blade CV. Anyone else feel the same way? I️ hate to feel like a conspiracy theorist but pain is pain, and I️ will not be playing with any CV sticks as long as I have pain in my shoulder.

Thank you!
 
I have some more demos coming - 16x19, and 98s. I experienced some wrist pain with the 16x19, however I wasn't sure if it was the CV, the stiffness, or the more HH balance that caused it. I will report back after tomorrow if it happens again.
 
There has been mention of this on the Blade forum as well. Given it is unlikely that Wilson did any medical studies on this - one could conceivably believe that given the damping is so much, could that mean that MORE force is put onto ones wrist? If a racket is able to vibrate, would that mean that the force is more or less diffused? Also, what is the relation to flex versus vibration or oscillation?

I do know this. When i use my RF97 - my wrist hurts more than when i use my Donnay Pentacore. I think that this is due to the stiffness and flex ratings, versus any dampening...
 
I'm not convinced the countervail technology does what Wilson thinks it does. I would definitely agree that earlier versions of the Blade, Prostaff and Burn are more comfortable than the countervail versions, despite Wilson's claims to the contrary.
 
I was one of the Ultra CV play testers. I had also spent some time with the prior version (both my wife and 17 year old son have it). Within 15-20 minutes, the prior version immediately gave me wrist pain. I found the newer version to be more powerful, more stable and initially, more comfortable. But after a couple sessions with the Ultra CV I was feeling the same twinges as with the older one. With the older version, the discomfort was more apparent and with the CV racquet, I could say it snuck up on me. FWIW, I had the same experience demoing the newest Babolat Pure Strike.

I've concluded from my experience that while CV "hides" some of the vibrations / shock of such a stiff racquet, it did not dampen it for me to soften the blow.

I've since passed the Ultra CV on to my son as his youthful arm has no problems with it. I'm not saying CV or the Ultra CV is bad in any way, but it's not suitable to my fifty-something arm.
 
392Hemi said:
I was one of the Ultra CV play testers. I had also spent some time with the prior version (both my wife and 17 year old son have it). Within 15-20 minutes, the prior version immediately gave me wrist pain. I found the newer version to be more powerful, more stable and initially, more comfortable. But after a couple sessions with the Ultra CV I was feeling the same twinges as with the older one. With the older version, the discomfort was more apparent and with the CV racquet, I could say it snuck up on me. FWIW, I had the same experience demoing the newest Babolat Pure Strike.

I've concluded from my experience that while CV "hides" some of the vibrations / shock of such a stiff racquet, it did not dampen it for me to soften the blow.

I've since passed the Ultra CV on to my son as his youthful arm has no problems with it. I'm not saying CV or the Ultra CV is bad in any way, but it's not suitable to my fifty-something arm.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm thinking. My 49 yo arm is also unable to handle the vibes. So I had to go back to my comfy '18 PD.
 
No problem here, I have a few blade cv's 18 x 20..use occasionally ..no issues..
But here in the link below, you can see the numbers behind the cv hype
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/vibfrequency.cgi
What is funny is both older gens have a slightly lower vibration value.
Remember this cv is added to the graphite

My go to are three angells tc 97 18 x 20 customs
which are foam filled and are close 13 oz.
Add the right strings, it works best for me with absolute no arm issues.

But hey, will all the choices out there. If you can narrow it down and you can definitely point the issue to the frame, change it.
Also, in my long years experience in many be just the specs and not the frame ( or even the flex) or the end result ..the vibration.
For some reason physical/form reason, some frames just don't jelly with the player and they are just not a good match up..which causes to be off a tad...resulting in some pain...
Does not mean it is a bad frame, just a bad fit...
Also double check those strings.
 
I agree - nothing beats testing the frame given we all make slightly different strokes and arm movements, etc. And given how long we have been playing, it is likely that if a new frame causes you to engage different muscles, etc that you are used to, you are going to get fatigue. When I use the RF97, I think that it is the stiffness, but also the weight. Trying to get the same forearm muscles engaged with that racket requires more effort and strength. It certainly creates a better ball - no doubt. But I can only do it for the first match in a weekend after a couple days of rest. After my Saturday 2 hr hitting session with the RF, I have to go back to the Donnay for Sunday.

I am going to get one of these PS97 CV's to see what it is like. if it does not work out, then I will send it on it's merry way...
 
I have never had any wrist/arm/elbow issues playing tennis for years until.....I started using the Wilson CV Blades. Played mostly with the 18x20 and a little with the 98s. As another poster stated other factors could have contributed as well—I put leather grips on both(never used leather grips before but wanted to get more HL balance), never really used 12oz plus Racquets with the exception of a few months with a Duel G 330 so that may be a factor as well? Anyway all my Wilson sticks are in the for sale forum now!
 
It's really interesting that also PAT plays way more comfy than stiffness level would suggest.

I hope Wilson didn't just put CV to cover inferior and cheaper materials in their no pro line.
 
JOSHL said:
As another poster stated other factors could have contributed as well—I put leather grips on both
Click to expand...

I did the same to induce more sensibility as there was almost no feedback with the stock grip. My elbow is like seismograph; with CV 18x20, the line was always straight.
 
Both Blade 98s Cv and 16x19 Cv gave me golfers elbow which i ve never experienced before. But i don’t think it’s the countervail. In the case of new blades they are toooooo Head Heavy with high SW and that’s it....my arm couldn’t handle it. I went back to the previous 98s which i found it overall a better stick....more feel, better connected with the ball and more punch. New blades play stiffer with bigger sweat spot and more like a tweeners stick. If Wilson won’t improve the feel of CV then it’s over for me with this company. CV improved and worked ok only on Burn 100/S.
 
But Wilson claims Blade is HL and 328 is not very high SW. Has anyone checked the balance ? Maybe some of your racquets are really HH (if the rumors about Wilson QC are true)!?
 
Wasn’t the case for me, both of mine were on spec but with leather and OG were 6pts HL. Not sure if it’s the CV but I’m not taking any more chances. I really liked the 18x20, too bad.
 
tribesmen said:
But Wilson claims Blade is HL and 328 is not very high SW. Has anyone checked the balance ? Maybe some of your racquets are really HH (if the rumors about Wilson QC are true)!?
Click to expand...
Wilson claims a lot of things. I've posted many times that the CV Blades I've tried have been an average of 2-3 Pts more HH than 2015 and 2013 versions. I'm pretty sure CV Blade arm problems are from a combination of things including the HHier balance.
 
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