which racket?

[bluecheese55]

I'm a 45 year old male, average club player standard. I currently use a Babalot Pure drive. I understand that this is considered a power racket.

Do you think it would it be better or worse to try and play with a more 'control' type players racket like the following:-

1. Babalot pure control
2. Wilson nCode nSix One Tour or similar
3. Head Flexpoint Radical Tour tennis racket.

Thanks in advance.

[Double-fault]

You should give N6.1 tour or 95 a try, it will give you more control, little less power.

[paulkielsmith.com]

all good frames but since im 100% in love with the Prince Graphite 107 and it got the best arm safety ratings from http://racquetresearch.com and you can get it for under 100 bucks including shipping ( new 80 bucks on ebay or 99 bucks from fromuth) i would say TRY the POG (Prince Origional Graphite).

amazing control
classic feel
incredible spin
very arm friendly
cheap cost
hall of fame racquet
sexy as hell
they still make it after 25 years, and they will still make it for another 25 years, and im positive if will be hard to find any of those frames listed above in 10 years, but the POG will still be made!

[bluecheese55]

Thanks. I've just ordered one. I'll let you know how I get on.

[bluecheese55]

Just out of interest what tension do you string it at?

[paulkielsmith.com]

Hello Blue cheese,

I string my 6 prince origional graphite oversize (POG's) at different tensions. I use a full poly set up right now with signum pro poly plasma 18g. This frame already has a very open string pattern for increased spin, so you can imagine I get sick amounts of spin now.

At first I tried to string this frame over 60lbs, but noticed I had trouble sticking high volleys. This is a low power frame, with amazing control, so when you drop the tension to 54-58 LBS SEEMS TO WORK BEST FOR ME.

what string are you using, and what is your level and style of play?

Also what tension did you try?

[bluecheese55]

My POG arrives Tuesday. I had it strung with Technifibre NRG 17, but on the recommendation of Tennis Warehouse, I had it strung at 65lbs.

To date I've been using this string in my Babalot Pure Drive Team and I like it alot. I am systematically going through the top strings as choosen by the USRSA, and so far this is my favorite.

As to my level, I am very average club player.
I'm keen to see if the POG will help with my tennis elbow.

[paulkielsmith.com]

ahhhh the Babalot Pure drive Team is a total arm destroying frame. Good string choice, but I can promise you if you string at 60 instead of 65 the frame will play like heaven. I wish you lots of luck with your arm, but I can promise again that the POG oversize is the best choice for a lifetime of tennis with the least chance of injuries. Try 60 lbs next time. Also if the stringer is using a constant pull machine opposed to a crank, the constant pull machine will string about 2-5 lbs tighter. 65 lbs with tennis elbow problems sounds like a bad mix even with the POG oversize, but better then any other frame in the world thats for sure.

[bluecheese55]

Do you think the pog strung at 65lbs will be better than the babolat strung at 58lbs for my elbow or should I fit new strings as soon as the pog arrives?

[paulkielsmith.com]

aloha bluecheese

good question. its 100% better then the babolat. when you get the frame go and play with it and enjoy, and see how the arm feels. also make sure to never sleep on your bad arm , and to ice down your arm even if there is no pain right after playing.

if you feel any arm pain restring the frame at 57-60.

when you have tennis elbow, ice and the pog is your best friend!

let me know how it goes.

ps: im a physical therapist/massage therapist

[bluecheese55]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the advice. I have a question relating to tennis elbow. I always read about using cold/ice after playing. Does this mean that heat treatment should always be avoided. For example warming the elbow up before playing with a heat pack?

[paulkielsmith.com]

aloha

options:

1. heat before. ice after asap for 15 min, then off for 15, then ice again for 10-15

2. same as above but no heat before

3. after ice for 15, heat for 10, ice for 10, heat for 10, ice for 10.

ice works wonders for reducing swelling and inflammation & pain, without the need for terrible things like advil and such that destroy the inside of the body.

ice should always be done after, unless you ice 1-2 hrs before followed by heat.

heat before
ice after

heat before is not really needed as much as ice after should be done 100% of the time. every baseball pitcher will ice after, even if there is no pain or history of problems. every tennis player should ice the shoulder or elbow after,even if there is no pain , or history of problems. an ounce of prevention is worth a lifetime of tennis!

questions?

[bluecheese55]

Many thanks for the great advice. So ice it is.

[bluecheese55]

I've been playing with the POG now for a week and I am starting to get the horrible feeling that it might be too heavy for me. I just cannot get the same racket head speed that I could before and overhead smashes are proving very difficult. Perhaps it will just take me a while longer to get used to it?

[rdwtennis]

bluecheese, I would play around with the setup, 65lbs is pretty tight!

[bluecheese55]

I've just restrung it at 60lbs

[paulkielsmith.com]

you can go down to 55 with no problems.

yes the heavier frame then your normal frame is actually a +, but will take some time to get used to. It will force you to prepare early, and wont let you have bad habits. Remember when people used wood frames all racquets were 13 oz -15 oz and even children used them.

I would suggest 52-55lbs

this frame is a temporary imbalance for a permanent balance.

With a 12.3 oz frame as you have you will need to use more of your legs and core. THATS HOW IT SHOULD BE. You wont be able to arm or wrist the shots, that lighter frames allow you to do. This will cause your game to get better in the long run. Stay patient.

[bluecheese55]

Paul,

Thanks again for some excellent advice. I played with it last night, strung at 60lbs, and you're so right. It played much nicer, without any jarring at all.

Will it get even better strung at say, 55lbs?

[paulkielsmith.com]

well last night i played with mine strung at 56/56 in a full poly set up and it played great. I know 55-58 is the sweet zone for that frame. Some people will feel 52-56 the zone for them, depending on your style of play. If you come to the net often the lower tension will feel better. Since you like the 60 feel, play with that tension for a while and see how you like the way the frame plays near the end of the strings life, as the tension will have dropped to near 50.


pks