The best options for players suffering from tennis elbow
Beating Tennis Elbow
Anyone who's suffered from tennis elbow knows that it's enormously frustrating and can keep you off the court for long periods of time. Obviously things like rest, stretching, physio and strengthening exercise are essential however a few changes to your racquet set-up can make a huge difference.
While most of the racquet and string manufacturers claim to have a magic cure the truth is actually much more simple - the more flex in your racquet and elasticity in your strings, the better it is for your arm. In slightly more scientific terms the more flex in a racquet and more elastic a string, the more energy it can store and release into the ball.
So which racquets and strings are those?
As far as racquets are concerned be sure to take a look at the stiffness rating before making a decision - it's also important you don't get a racquet that is too heavy (for example the Wilson Pro Staff 90 comes in with a relatively low stifness rating and is a flexible frame, however at a strung weight of over 350 grams it's probably not going to do your arm too many favours...) or has a small headsize / sweetspot (which makes off-centre shots more common). As a guide we can take a look at Tennisgear's two best selling racquets of the past year - the Babolat Pure Drive and the Wilson Blade 98. Both racquets share similar specs as far as headsize and weight are concerned but will put very different levels of stress on players arms. The ever-popular Babolat Pure Drive is a much more powerful frame which can lead people to believe it will take the pressure off their elbow however this isn't the case, with a stifness rating of 72 (the higher, the stiffer) it is one of the stiffest frames on the market and will transfer a lot more of the impact onto the arm. The Blade 98 is more of a control-orientated frame however with it's stiffness rating of 65 is going to be a much better option for a player suffering from elbow trouble.
Which leads us to strings - as far as elasticity is concerned Natural Gut is at the top of the heap (but you will pay for it). Other factors such as differences in gauges, twist rates and raw materials will cause gut strings to have minor variances between brands however Natural Gut will always come out on top despite any claims from manufacturers. Next in the pecking order are Nylons and Synthetic Guts followed by Polyester and finally Kevlar which is, in my humble opinion, not only the worst string as far as looking after your arm is concerned but also the worst option for anyone who enjoys the feeling of hitting tennis balls.... As someone who has played with a full set of kevlar for a couple of months on a European tour due to being completely, utterly broke I beg of you - please never, ever use Kevlar.
Listed below is the Tennis Industry Magazine 2014 String Selector Guide (for this and more fantastic information on all things string-related please CLICK HERE and check out their site).
2014 String Selector Guide - Tennis Industry Magazine
Article by Dave Bone
1. Start by finding the string you currently use in the list below (we’ve broken the market down into four categories: Nylon, Polyester, Natural Gut and Kevlar).
2. Note the string’s stiffness and tension loss numbers.
- If you're completely satisfied with your current string and don’t want anything different from their next string, strings listed in the same neighbourhood (very close to their current string) will likely play similar.
- If you're happy with how long their string plays well, but don’t love the feel of their string, try something with similar tension loss but with a different Stifness Rating. Strings with a higher number should feel stiffer (or more crisp), while strings with a lower number should feel softer (or more comfortable).
- If your client is happy with how their string feels, but not with how long it feels that way, try something with a similar stiffness rating but a lower Tension Loss rating.
| String | Material | Gauge | Stiffness | Tension loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babolat VS Team 17 (BT7) | Natural Gut | 1.25 | 90 | 7.74 |
| Babolat Tonic + Ball Feel (BT7) | Natural Gut | 1.29 | 94 | 8.8 |
| Babolat VS Touch 16 (BT7) | Natural Gut | 1.31 | 110 | 8.42 |
| Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro 17 | Zyex | 1.3 | 133 | 16.53 |
| Ashaway MonoGut ZX | Zyex | 1.3 | 135 | 18.31 |
| Ashaway Dynamite Natural 17 | Nylon & Zyex | 1.26 | 145 | 13.17 |
| Prince Premier Touch 16 | Nylon | 1.32 | 145 | 17.57 |
| Yonex Tour Super Solid × 125 | Nylon | 1.23 | 151 | 18.75 |
| Prince Premier Touch 15L | Nylon | 1.34 | 152 | 16.8 |
| Dunlop Pearl 17 | Nylon | 1.25 | 153 | 13.83 |
| Victory Acelon Synthetic Gut TCF 17 | Nylon | 1.24 | 155 | 16.41 |
| Victory Acelon Wildfire 17 | Polyester | 1.25 | 157 | 13.47 |
| Volkl Classic Synthetic Gut 17 | Nylon | 1.25 | 157 | 16.21 |
| Gosen TecFlex 17 | Nylon & Polyurethane | 1.23 | 158 | 9.95 |
| Prince Premier Power 18 | Nylon | 1.19 | 158 | 15.17 |
| Victory Acelon Wildfire 16 | Polyester | 1.31 | 158 | 16.64 |
| Prince Premier Control 15L | Nylon | 1.35 | 159 | 16.4 |
| Ytex MicroFiber-X 16 | Nylon | 1.29 | 161 | 14.49 |
| Wilson Optimus 16 | Nylon | 1.28 | 161 | 15.13 |
| Prince Premier Power 17 | Nylon | 1.22 | 162 | 13.21 |
| Gosen Tecflex 16 | Nylon | 1.31 | 162 | 13.45 |
| Dunlop Pearl 16 | Nylon | 1.28 | 163 | 13.61 |
| Yonex Tour Super Solid × 130 | Nylon | 1.3 | 163 | 16.28 |
| Asics Resolution 16 | Nylon & Polyurethane | 1.29 | 164 | 12.35 |
| Boris Becker Pulse 17 | Nylon | 1.25 | 164 | 12.61 |
| Prince Premier Power 16 | Nylon | 1.25 | 164 | 13.27 |
| Asics Challenger 17 | Nylon & Polyester | 1.25 | 165 | 12.61 |
| Prince Premier Control 17 | Nylon | 1.25 | 165 | 12.7 |
| Prince Premier Control 15 | Nylon | 1.37 | 165 | 14.51 |
| Head FXP Tour 16 | Nylon & Polyester | 1.33 | 165 | 14.93 |
| Gosen Tecgut Remplir 17 | Nylon & Polyurethane | 1.23 | 165 | 16.96 |
| Tourna Quasi Gut Armor 16 | Nylon | 1.29 | 166 | 12.37 |
| Victory Acelon Supermax 17 | Nylon & Polyurethane | 1.25 | 167 | 12.99 |
| Asics Resolution 17 | Nylon & Polyurethane | 1.25 | 168 | 9.59 |
| Prince Premier Control 16 | Nylon | 1.32 | 168 | 14 |
| Volkl Classic Synthetic Gut 16 | Nylon | 1.29 | 168 | 14.95 |
| Babolat SG Spiraltek 16 | Nylon | 1.27 | 170 | 13.07 |
| Asics Challenger 16 | Nylon & Polyester | 1.3 | 170 | 13.56 |
| Victory Acelon Supermax 16 | Nylon & Polyurethane | 1.29 | 170 | 13.65 |
| Victory Acelon Advanced 17 | Polyester | 1.23 | 172 | 23.11 |
| Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17 | Polyester | 1.2 | 173 | 23.74 |
| Tier One Sports Triumph 130 | Nylon | 1.32 | 174 | 12.13 |
| Victory Acelon Synthetic Gut TCF 16 | Nylon | 1.31 | 175 | 14.4 |
| Golden Set Dura Match 16 (Crosses) | Nylon | 1.29 | 177 | 14 |
| Ytex Touch 16 | Nylon | 1.31 | 179 | 11.89 |
| Tourna Synthetic Gut Armor 17 | Nylon | 1.24 | 179 | 13.63 |
| Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 17 | Polyester | 1.2 | 179 | 21.79 |
| Gamma FTX 17 | Nylon | 1.24 | 180 | 10.85 |
| Yonex Poly Tour Pro 120 | Polyester | 1.19 | 181 | 21.08 |
| Topspin Max ROTation 1.31 | Polyester | 1.27 | 182 | 19.54 |
| Tourna Synthetic Gut Armor 16 | Nylon | 1.29 | 184 | 11.44 |
| Golden Set Velvet 15L | Nylon | 1.34 | 184 | 12.65 |
| Wilson Synthetic Gut Power 16 | Nylon | 1.29 | 186 | 13.03 |
| Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 | Polyester | 1.19 | 186 | 22.18 |
| Ytex Sintex 16 | Nylon | 1.28 | 189 | 11.45 |
| Prince Tour XT 18 | Polyester | 1.22 | 189 | 21.39 |
| Gamma FTX 16 | Nylon | 1.29 | 191 | 10.3 |
| Pacific DuraTech Flex 15L | Nylon | 1.32 | 192 | 11.46 |
| Volkl Cyclone Tour 17 | Polyester | 1.24 | 193 | 22.83 |
| Tier One Sports T1 Firewire 120 | Polyester | 1.19 | 195 | 15.41 |
| Gosen AK Pro Spin 15L | Nylon | 1.37 | 196 | 11.8 |
| Volkl V Torque 18 | Polyester | 1.18 | 196 | 16.03 |
| Topspin Max ROTation 1.27 | Polyester | 1.23 | 196 | 16.78 |
| Tier One Sports DuraFluxx 118 | Polyester | 1.21 | 196 | 20.27 |
| Volkl V Torque 16 | Polyester | 1.26 | 197 | 23.46 |
| Prince Tour XP 15L | Polyester | 1.38 | 198 | 18.46 |
| Gosen AK Power 16 | Nylon | 1.32 | 200 | 11.29 |
| Ytex ProTour 1.20 | Nylon | 1.19 | 200 | 17.73 |
| Prince Tour XS 1.25+ | Polyester | 1.37 | 200 | 18.9 |
| Volkl Cyclone Tour 16 | Polyester | 1.32 | 200 | 23.26 |
| Pro Supex Ultra Spin 1.23 | Polyester | 1.27 | 201 | 20.06 |
| Wilson Synthetic Gut Power 15 | Nylon | 1.37 | 202 | 14.51 |
| Wilson NXT Power 17 | Nylon | 1.27 | 203 | 12.46 |
| Gamma RZR Rx 17 | Thermoplastic Elastomer | 1.28 | 204 | 17.11 |
| Volkl V Torque 17 | Polyester | 1.21 | 204 | 22.03 |
| Wilson Synthetic Gut Control 16 | Nylon | 1.28 | 205 | 10.3 |
| Head Sonic Pro Edge 16 | Polyester | 1.31 | 205 | 19.53 |
| Tier One Sports Tour Status 120 | Polyester | 1.2 | 206 | 15.86 |
| Prince Tour XS 1.35+ | Polyester | 1.45 | 207 | 18.81 |
| Golden Set Power Cord 17 | Polyester | 1.24 | 207 | 23.31 |
| Volkl Cyclone 18 | Polyester | 1.2 | 208 | 15.94 |
| Gosen Polylon ILD 16L | Polyester | 1.26 | 208 | 16.51 |
| Wilson NXT Power 18 | Nylon | 1.24 | 209 | 9.53 |
| Luxilon ALU Power Feel 120 | Polyester | 1.2 | 209 | 18.35 |
| Signum Pro Thunderstorm 1.30 | Polyester | 1.32 | 209 | 20.04 |
| Gamma Poly-Z 17 | Polyester | 1.22 | 209 | 22.91 |
| Wilson Synthetic Gut Control 17 | Nylon | 1.25 | 210 | 10.39 |
| Gamma iO 18 | Polyester | 1.17 | 210 | 16.78 |
| Prince Tour XP 17 | Polyester | 1.28 | 210 | 19.25 |
| Ytex Octo-Twist 1.28 | Polyester | 1.29 | 210 | 21.35 |
| Wilson NXT Duramax 16 | Nylon | 1.34 | 211 | 9.71 |
| Gosen Polylon ILD 16 | Polyester | 1.31 | 211 | 17.35 |
| Signum Pro Firestorm 1.30 | Polyester | 1.3 | 213 | 21.21 |
| Ytex Dynamic Black Power 1.18 | Polyester | 1.15 | 214 | 19.18 |
| Victory Acelon Seven 16L | Polyester | 1.26 | 215 | 17.31 |
| Pacific Poly Power Pro Black Series 16 | Polyester | 1.3 | 215 | 23.51 |
| Prince Tour XP 16 | Polyester | 1.31 | 216 | 16.21 |
| Golden Set Power Cord 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 216 | 22.38 |
| Tier One Sports Tour Status 125 | Polyester | 1.26 | 217 | 16.49 |
| Head Hawk 17 | Polyester | 1.23 | 217 | 17.61 |
| Boris Becker Bomber NYC 17 | Polyester | 1.25 | 218 | 15.15 |
| Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 1.23/17 | Polyester | 1.23 | 218 | 16.76 |
| Victory Acelon Seven 17 | Polyester | 1.21 | 218 | 19.47 |
| Wilson NXT Power 16 | Nylon | 1.31 | 219 | 8.98 |
| Gamma RZR Rx 16 | Thermoplastic Elastomer | 1.3 | 220 | 15.92 |
| Head Hawk 18 | Polyester | 1.22 | 220 | 16.78 |
| Dunlop ICE 17 | Polyester | 1.2 | 220 | 18.28 |
| Dunlop ICE 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 220 | 22.44 |
| Tier One Sports T1 Firewire 125 | Polyester | 1.29 | 221 | 13.85 |
| Kirschbaum Black Shark 1.25/17 | Polyester | 1.23 | 222 | 19.49 |
| Babolat RPM Team 17 | Polyester | 1.27 | 224 | 16.54 |
| Head Hawk 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 224 | 18.46 |
| Gamma Poly-Z 16 | Polyester | 1.28 | 224 | 23.44 |
| Kirschbaum Pro Line × 1.25/17 | Polyester | 1.23 | 225 | 15.61 |
| Ytex Trivolution Black 1.25 | Polyester | 1.24 | 225 | 19.18 |
| Genesis Typhoon 16 | Polyester | 1.3 | 225 | 21.94 |
| Prince Tour XC 15 | Polyester | 1.4 | 226 | 22.36 |
| Luxilon 4G Rough 125 | Polyester | 1.28 | 227 | 17.57 |
| Gamma iO 17 | Polyester | 1.22 | 228 | 15.41 |
| Boris Becker Bomber NYC 16 | Polyester | 1.25 | 228 | 15.61 |
| Ytex ProTour 1.25 | Nylon | 1.25 | 230 | 15.92 |
| Wilson Ripspin 17 | Polyester | 1.26 | 230 | 18.39 |
| Gamma Moto 17 | Polyester | 1.24 | 231 | 15.35 |
| Tier One Sports DuraFluxx 123 | Polyester | 1.3 | 231 | 15.67 |
| Victory Acelon Advanced 16 | Polyester | 1.28 | 232 | 16.19 |
| Prince Tour XC 17L | Polyester | 1.2 | 232 | 18.85 |
| Wilson Shock Shield Mono 17 | Polyester | 1.24 | 232 | 20.66 |
| Wilson Ripspin 15 | Polyester | 1.34 | 232 | 21.69 |
| Kirschbaum Black Shark 1.30/16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 233 | 20.22 |
| Yonex Poly Tour HS 130 16 | Polyester | 1.27 | 235 | 17.2 |
| Wilson Ripspin 16 | Polyester | 1.28 | 235 | 20.18 |
| Tier One Sports T1 Firewire 130 | Polyester | 1.35 | 236 | 14.18 |
| Tier One Sports Tour Status 130 | Polyester | 1.27 | 236 | 14.66 |
| Yonex Poly Tour Spin 125 16L | Polyester | 1.29 | 236 | 15.79 |
| Ytex Dynamic Black Power 1.23 | Polyester | 1.23 | 236 | 16.83 |
| Kirschbaum Pro Line × 1.30/16 | Polyester | 1.32 | 236 | 16.92 |
| Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 1.28/16L | Polyester | 1.28 | 237 | 17.86 |
| Prince Tour XC 16L | Polyester | 1.26 | 238 | 19.09 |
| Tecnifibre ATP Razor Code 18 | Polyester | 1.2 | 239 | 16.14 |
| Gamma Moto 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 240 | 13.83 |
| Gamma Zo Dart 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 242 | 15.1 |
| Gamma iO 16 | Polyester | 1.27 | 242 | 15.51 |
| Victory Acelon Seven 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 243 | 16.09 |
| Tier One Sports DuraFluxx 128 | Polyester | 1.27 | 244 | 16.87 |
| Babolat RPM Dual 17 | Polyester | 1.26 | 245 | 14.37 |
| Babolat RPM Dual 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 245 | 16.03 |
| Luxilon ALU Power 138 | Polyester | 1.37 | 247 | 19.94 |
| Luxilon 4G 125 | Polyester | 1.24 | 249 | 13.3 |
| Gamma Zo Dart 17 | Polyester | 1.24 | 250 | 15.06 |
| Tecnifibre ATP Razor Code 17 | Polyester | 1.25 | 252 | 16.43 |
| Gamma Zo Verve 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 256 | 14.53 |
| Genesis Black Magic 1.33 | Polyester | 1.37 | 266 | 18.7 |
| Wilson Synthetic Gut Duramax 16L | Polyester | 1.27 | 267 | 19.16 |
| Luxilon 4G 130 | Polyester | 1.29 | 269 | 13.74 |
| Ytex Dynamic Black Power 1.28 | Polyester | 1.28 | 270 | 15.85 |
| Tecnifibre ATP Razor Code 16 | Polyester | 1.29 | 278 | 18.59 |
| Luxilon 4G S 141 | Polyester | 1.46 | 287 | 15.65 |
| Golden Set Dura Match 16 (Kevlar Mains) | Kevlar | 1.27 | 336 | 10.81 |