Wrist Safety & Wilon Pro Staff Classic 6.1

[DoubleHanded&LovinIt]

Hi Guys,
6 years ago I played with the 6.1 Classic. I loved it. However, I ended up losing it and as I joined the high school team, I got caught up in the Babolat Pure Drive craze and used one just like all the guys on my team. Though the Pure Drive was just as stiff, it played a lot softer due to the Woofer system. Since the Babolat, I've played with mostly softer sticks such as the Wilson Pro Staff Tour 90 (thin beam and natural gut made it feel soft), Yonex RDX 500 Mid, Volkl C10 Pro MP, various 63 flex Vantages, Volkl Catapult 8 V-Engine, and the Prince 03 Tour. I really miss the crisper feel of Wilsons and also the Wilson grip shape. Ideally, I'd like to try out the 6.1 Classic again, but I'm worried about wrist pain. During one of my lessons, the instructor had me hit with the nSix-One 95 16 X 18 and it gave me some wrist pain for a couple of days after. It seems like around the board that people consider the nCodes to play more muted than the older Wilson. What would that mean in terms of wrist safety? It's been too long for me to remember if I had wrist pain with the 6.1 Classics. I do remember mis-hits feeling harsh with this stick, but that was back in the day when my mechanics were less good and I had a flatter swing trajectory, which tends to maximize shock on the arm compared to my more vertical swing trajectory now. So who here has any wrist problems with the 6.1 Classic. Oh, I really would like to hear from guys who play with smaller grip sizes. I spent most of my life using L4 grip sizes, but for some reason, the L2 Wilson really feels good in my hand. It's really easy for me to find my semi-western forehand grip and just all my grips in general. But the smaller grip could also be a potential injury causer, as NBMJ has pointed out in previous posts. Marius, I'd love to hear from you considering your expertise in health issues and Wilson racquets. Last thing, I plan to string at 60 lbs. with 16 gauge natural gut. Thanks guys!!!

-Double

 

[dcheung]

I switch between Tour 90s, PS85s and occasionally Classic 6.1, all L3 w/ 2 layers of overgrip instead of orignal leather(used to use L4). My 90s and 85s are all twisted with lead and played with a bit more weight at the head. Not long ago I hurt the muscle near elbow and can no longer handle the 90s and 85s, so I went with the 6.1 stock, strung with gut hybrid, lowered the tension from 64 to 58 lbs. I started to feel some light pain after 20 mins of causal rally. I continued to use the 6.1 for a match afterwards, a heavy serve from the other side gave me the shock and pain that I have to instantly retire to ********* and received intensive therapy for almost 2 weeks. If you have a fragile wrist, think twice before using it. Now I can only use Asian Tour 90 and the Hyper Hammer 5.3 (with some weight/balance mod). I have never liked anything w/ weight less than 350g, but these are not bad especially the 5.3.
David

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I don't know the Classic, but the HPS 6.1 is "creating" me TE each time when trying to play with it. I love it's playability, but ... My stringer reports the same.

I'd say consider Volkl or PK. Perhaps 10 V-Engine MP or Mid.
Perhaps PK Heritage C. Got some good reviews.

Wilsons are harsher then Head and definitely than Volkl or PK, but less harsh than Babolats, as a rule.
The Classic, if I remember well, has a stiffness of 70?
Run away from something like this.

I am OK with 6.0 85, but only with 15g plus of lead. But I have a sensitive elbow.
On PS Tour 90, I am also using 15g plus of lead also to reduce vibrations at impact.
I have playing partners who got TE problems with nSix-One 95, and when gets TE with a racket, getting wrist problems with it's not that far.

But I guess you are a Vantage man, aren't you?

Wrist problems can be caused by technique: wristyness, windshield washing (use it only sparely), scooping the ball. Try to eliminate them, if your more vertical trajectory means that. They can be a major source.

Read the links in Wrist Pain in my signature here:

 

[jck01]

Wilsons are harsher then Head and definitely than Volkl or PK, but less harsh than Babolats, as a rule.

I agree with Marius. I also have sensistive elbow so I use mostly Head racquets which are not as harsh on the elbow than the Wilsons overall. Most of the Volkl racquets are arm friendly also. I tried the Babolats and they were pretty stiff and I got some shocks on my arm. I got rid of all my 6 Babolats earlier this year. I tried the Wilson PS 6.0 and 6.1 and they were pretty stiff compared with the Head racquets I'm used to.

 

[skraggle]

Love can be very painful

If I didn't have elbow issues, the classic 6.1 would be IT. Love the weight, amazing for volleys, plow-through on groundies is outstanding, and after some time experimenting, really nice flat serves and decent spin serves.

Only problem is that it kills my wuss of an elbow. I had nine of these puppies, and I'm slowly selling them off.

The racquets that work really well for me are first and foremost, Volkls. I have V-Engine Mid and MP, Tour 10 MP and my current favorite, the C10. Once you get used to the extra flex, you can do some really cool things with them. Spin potential is huge (moreso with the open patterns), control is great, volleys are sweet, and both flat and spin serves are excellent. Of course, very easy on arm.

My next favorites are the ProKennex Heritage C series. I have both the 93 and 98, and they have some of the classic feel of the Prostaff 85, with great control, really nice volleys, and huge serves. The 18X20 pattern limits the spin to some degree, however.

 

[Atomic_Sheep]

I would certainly give the classic another go. Like you said it has this crisp feel to it and I loved it. To select the correct grip (donno if you know) but you should be able to fit your index finger of your left hand between your fingers and that pad on the other side if you know what I mean. On my pro staff I had a 4 and 1/4 leather grip and after comming back to tennis 2 months ago after about 5 years lol... I had the problem of the grip being to small and me not being able to hold the racket hard enough as a result. Therefore if I didnt hit the sweetspot the racket would shake. But baiscally a correct grip is very improtant (obviously) but I donno what grip you had but yeh my leather one... hmm wasnt happy with it. So maybe that was your problem... incorrect grip size inducing racket shake inducing wrist injury? Just a thought. (btw i had 17kg or 60lbs on it as well)