Can Heavy Tennis Racquets Prevent Tennis Elbow? | Wilson Pro Staff RF 97

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In today's video, I discuss whether heavy tennis racquets can help to prevent tennis elbow. One of the most popular heavy racquets is the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph and I review whether this is a good choice for the recreational level.
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[@IntuitiveTennis]

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[@rtalac]

Hi Nick, Let me help you and your viewers with this issue. It is not complex or complicated. The truth is most tennis coaches do not understand the issue at all. I am an orthopedic surgeon and deal with tennis elbows very often. Here is why people get tennis elbow and what to do about it. 1. Generally, a heavy racquet is better than lighter racquet because during the tennis strokes ball collide with the racquet + strings. Heavier the racquet less power player needs to supply to "hold" the racquet during the contact point. The lighter racquet is easier to swing, but during contact, the player has to hold the racquet tighter to oppose the force of the ball. I do understand that it takes a better technique and timing to swing the heavier racquet to meet the ball in optimal contact point. This is important, however, it is a different issue. 2. Tennis elbow usually occurs when the player combines the following parameters: (a) stiff frame; (b) stiff poly strings (c) high tension (>45lbs), (d) lightweight frame; and (e) poor striking technique. A. Let's look at Federer's racquet and his setup first. Wilson Pro Staff RF is the heavy and stiff frame (340g and RA 68). This means that Federer needs to focus only on the timing of his swing and does not need to "muscle" the ball. Once the racquet is swung, it will collide with the ball and send it to the opponent's side with deadly power and spin. However, Roger also combines this type of frame with natural gut strings, which are most friendly to the arm. (it is also the most expensive setup that most rec players can't afford). B. If the player combines Wilson Pro Staff RF frame with poly, he or she will not strike the ball like Roger, but instead, he/she will get to the orthopedist office very soon. Stiff poly and the stiff frame are a disaster as all vibrations will go to his/her elbow and shoulder. It is plain physics. If you add a less efficient technique the result is that the ball does not fly as one would love to. As a result, most rec players will try to hit harder and exert more strain on their elbow and shoulder => tennis elbow or other problems will soon come. 3. How to prevent tennis elbow simplified: 1. Pick your frame, most importantly frame stiffness. Stiffness is the most important parameter of the frame as other parameters as swing weight, twist weight, etc can be modified with customization, but you can't change the stiffness of the frame. Choose wisely. Most light frames on market are very stiff (RA>65). See Babolat is around 70, Pro Staff 68, ... It is logical as the stiffer the frame more power is transferred into the ball. 4. IF YOU CHOOSE STIFF FRAME - PICK SOFTER STRINGS AND LOWER THE TENSION BELOW 45 lbs. Optimally, you want to combine a stiff frame with softer strings (optimally hybrid or soft poly strings). A full bed of stiff poly strings and high tension means that you have transferred the racquet into a wooden board. You may save some money on equipment but make sure you keep it as you will soon visit the doctor's office and it will cost you more. I can already hear people saying, but I can't control the ball then... Well if you generate so much power that you can't control the ball then you may need a different frame and different strings. Nadal plays with a high-powered frame, but he has to impart huge topspin on the ball to keep it in the court. It is also true for Fed. He also strikes the ball with a significant topspin. In other words, control the ball with your strokes, do not convert your tool into a "wooden" board to control the ball. It will cause health issues. I hope this will help a bit. Cheers. Robert

[@tp3293]

Thanks for the write up, is there any different advice for golfers elbow caused by tennis?

[@rsmith02]

Can you say what range a not stiff racquet falls under? Mine's about 64 or 65. Never tried poly as it didn't exist when I learned tennis and just use synthetic gut (used to use 15L nylon back in my string-breaking competitive days as everything else would snap too quickly).

[@Fernwald84]

If you look at the strokes of any open level player you will find that they have much greater racket head speed than that of the average club player. The problem with your analysis centering on how "hard" a player swings is that there are two meanings to "hard" swing. The open level players apply significant force to accelerate the racket initially but they also allow that acceleration to do its job and actually relax slightly before the ball strike. This creates that feeling of letting the racket do the work and, of course, the heavier the racket (heavier in terms of swing weight, not necessarily static weight) the greater the force applied to the ball. Club level players do not achieve nearly this level of acceleration because they maintain too much body tension throughout the stroke. Many such players also grip the racket too tightly. I think this greater amount of tension, continued over many thousands of strokes, is an important factor in tennis elbow. The fact that open level players hit the ball harder and play many more hours than club level players yet seem to have lower levels of tennis elbow injury is a significant fact.

[@rtalac]

@@rsmith02 I am not sure I understand your question. I consider frame flexible if RA is below 62, moderately stiff if RA ranges 62-66, and stiff if RA is 67 or more. Of course, this value changes when you string racquet. People usually don’t know history of tennis racquet development, We went from wooden frames that were heavy but flexible to graphite wide body frames that were very stiff. I believe each player should pick his racquet that suit him or her. In general if one prefer stiff frame (ie. Wilson Pro Staff RF) it is best to combine it with softer string (hybrid or soft poly). Light frames that most racquet manufacturer sell today are easy to swing and they are stiff so they have “power”, but if you play against decent player who hit hard ball you will struggle to control the ball as it requires more strength to hold the racquet during contact. Imagine if somebody 180lbs is run over 300lbs football player it is just pure physic. The heavy object will dominate. This is one reason why pro players have heavy racquets. (Djokovic 370 gr, Federer 365, Murray 380, Nalbanian 380grams). It helps them to deal with heavy and hard balls. They must have better timing and ability to swing (get) racquet to their contact point. Additionally, it also depends what is players grip. Western grip allow for more spin but one has to hit faster. In summary, the challenge we as a non-professional players face is that many tennis coaches does not explain physics a related issues behind proper striking of the ball. Most people copy pros and get hurt. (I.e. get high tension on poly strings).

[@albertoescobosa179]

Great explanation, very complete, and involves the shoulder too, not just tennis elbow or wrist…

[@adrianguevara1856]

As a strong 4.5 in my late 40’s (and physician), I went through a tough stretch of golfer’s elbow years ago. I had to switch to lefty because the injury lasted over 2 years, however I eventually could hold my own as a lefty at 4.0! Upon returning to my right hand, a heavier racquet with loose strings made all the difference. The plow through of a heavy racquet made the ball vibration at contact disappear, however it forced me to play less topspin, with a less vertical swing path. That’s the trade off. I’m back to right handed with a medium weighted racquet, but with less tension than ever. Just keep in mind that a very light racquet is a bad idea though. The ball dominates a light racquet causing all kinds of twisting at impact. Stay away from those!

[@Mr10usdad]

Great post! I am 55 years old. I have played as a 4.5 NTRP since I was 22 years old. Now I could probably play as a 4.0 due to age and lack of playing as much. I have been a prostaff user since I was a kid. To me heavy rackets have more power. I do not know how they are considered low power rackets. I guess you just have to have the stroke to generate the racket head speed to get what you need.

[@macbook1999]

Can you let me know what tension you have been using for elbow friendly?

[@adrianguevara1856]

40lbs, sometimes when I drop to lower altitudes down to 38 lbs. I respect the very sage options of Nicola, but I disagree on his opinion concerning stiff racquets. I believe for adults who start later in life there is zero advantage to stiff racquets and strings. The ball hits the strings and racquet, and the strings and racquet transfer the force to the arm. The more flexible the racquet and strings, the less harsh the transfer of energy. The trade off is more spring or force that the racquet and strings will shoot the ball off with, meaning less control. So, you learn to play with that added power. Lots of pros are down into the 30’s, and Mannarino goes into the 20’s! So it can be done at any level.

[@bud5027]

I really appreciate that you answered my most pressing question in the first 5 seconds. Now I'm actually happy to hang around and watch the video!

[@charlesdang2557]

Using a light racquet (295g strung), I run into occasional arm issues when defending against a high backhand, especially one with pace. With a heavier racquet (350g strung), the problem disappears. It's not a cure. I had to get my arms stronger to play with it comfortably. I agree it's not for everyone, in fact, heavier racquets are not for most people. As a teenager in the 90s, I was playing with a racquet with 370g strung weight. Looking back, I had little control on my shots and my backhand was crappy. It was simply too heavy for me. Over the years, racquets got much lighter and because of them, I was able to hit shots with much more confidence. Now that my game has improved, going back up in weight has given my shots more power (even if swing speed is reduced) and also more stability in defense. I completely agree that the strings can have a much bigger impact than the racquet itself. I can corroborate that with over 20 years of stringing my own racquets. Thanks for the video, Nick!

[@randeepbahia3216]

Cheers Nick. I played with a lighter racket - 300g, recently changed to this 340g..after I hit with a friends. It felt so good to hit with. Luckily no arm issues.

[@GrungePopRecords]

Great video. I was a former pro and returned to the game after decades and unfortunately I tried a big light racket and got tennis elbow. Then I switched back to my i prestige 90 square inch head which is “heavy” by today’s standards, and my arm healed almost instantly. Low tension of course on all rackets but it’s muscle memory like you said and I’m strong. I agree with your thoughts. Thanks!

[@thewhlchrguy]

I've heard both sides of this debate over the years, and having been down this road personally I can tell you that you're absolutely correct! In my opinion you're spot on and I thank you for pushing this message. I cannot prove that heavy stiff racquets such as the example you are using caused my tennis elbow, but what I can tell you is the only way I'm able to play today is in a very limited way (twice per week if lucky) with racquets under 10oz and absolutely no poly. I wished I could turn back the hands of time and been more cautionary in my choices, maybe today I would be playing everyday like I so wish I could. I do believe manufacturers know that there is a growing problem with modern technology stiff retail racquets (not at all like the prostock frames the pros are using) because you can see the movement over the last several years towards technology's in reducing frame stiffness and weights. The last thing tennis needs right now is passionate recreational tennis players like myself not being able to play anymore or as much as they'd like to because of this injury. I wouldn't be surprised if it's helping pickleball grow stronger 😠

[@johnp1]

I recently had tennis elbow. By accident, I switched to a lighter racquet and my tennis tennis elbow is now gone. I think the lighter racquet helps improve my timing. Since I now hit the ball at the peak of momentum of the racquet, my arm doesn't feel much vibration. I didn't think about it until I watched this video. Thanks Nick.

[@dandalee]

After trying way too many racquets, I oddly discovered that the heavier racquets (> 310g unstrung) didn't hurt my arm. Skeptical, I went back to a lighter racquet (285g) and my wrist and shoulder hurt immediately. So now I've stayed with the Head Prestige and haven't looked back.

[@dandalee]

@@generallobster Exactly! I started questioning why I was using lighter frames but weighting them up anyway with lead tape.

[@migelowsky]

It just physics. A heavier racquet wins the collision against the ball. With a lighter racquet the Impact is transferred to your arm.

[@ducnguyenthanh2831]

I suffered severe wrist injury from football right before I started learning how to play tennis (all best friends got into tennis at the time). My first 5 years playing tennis was painful whereas my wrist never stopped bothering me unless I broke away from tennis for a while which was never. The sixth year however, i started hitting the gym everyday to train my shoulder, back and forearm to help me ease into >300gram racquets (only play with 285gram before) and guess what? Wrist pains mostly go away now P/S : i got shoulder injury now though lol.. probably from incorrect gym workout

[@vimalnelson4378]

Head prestige, I felt less power than rf97.

[@chadbelgrave3033]

I just demoed the Head Prestige Pro, and that racquet is insanely comfortable on the arm. I must agree, there is no looking back from that racquet.

[@jasonbannan4024]

Thank you. Interesting because my Gravity Pro is a beast, 330 swing weight. It became tiresome after one tough set. Then I watched your video on proper circular stroke. I now pivot my body, holding the racquet high on the backward motion, then drop and rotate my body forward as in your demonstrated circular motion video, like a "C". Now the heavy racquet is not an issue. I have a more relaxed stroke and more power because of the momentum achieved following your circular pattern, and it requires less arm effort on both forehand and one arm backhand. I also am finding a larger racquet grip helps so I don't have to grip the racquet as tightly. My tendons thank you.

[@danhdang4326]

Great advice as always. Coach, any thoughts on whether a one handed backhanded will do better with a heavier vs. a lighter racket?

[@davidjefferies9214]

Another thing to consider is swing weight. I was playing with a 16x19 Pure Strike 306g. I love the racquet and it's feel, but I was consistently slightly late. The racquet has a swing weight of 330g. So I tried a bunch of racquets and settled on the new Yonex Vcore Pro 310g. It has a little more overall weight than the Strike, but is more head light resulting in a lower swing weight of 316. My timing has improved. Best advice, demo the racquet before you buy it.

[@arifmscelectronics]

Thanks for such good video. Sharing my experience. I was playing with Wilson pro-staff (270 grams) . After playing long nearly about year as my tennis skills improved i started feeling pain in my arm. So i started playing with heavy racket yonex 300 grams. But it doesn’t suit me. Then my physio said to do some exercise of bicep’s and deeps. Then after that i bought new racquet wilson prostaff countervail (315 gram). It feel even lighter than that yonex one which was of 300 grams. Now playing with it for 4 years i feel very comfortable with it. Ya but most important thing we have to do little bit of exercise of biceps , deeps and little shoulders exercise three to four time a day which will help . This was my experiences. Sir you told very correctly about string also. Here at my club they say don’t change the string till it break. But i think we have to change after it become too loose. Thanks

[@MrMSS22]

The thing is that F=m*a so a lighter racquet needs to be accelerated faster than a heavier one in order to apply the same force on the ball. Thus, given a certain acceleration a racquet with a higher swingweight (correlated to higher mass) applies more power on the ball than a lighter one. It is not so much of a problem to swing a heavier racquet as fast as a lower one on the groundstrokes. However, carrying and swinging a heavier racquet puts more stress on the muscles and tendons. In order to make lighter racquets more powerful, they are usually stiffer so that less energy is being absorbed. A higher stiffness results in vibrations with higher frequencies that are being transferred to the arm, which can again lead to pain. So for each player there is an optimum between a light and stiff and a heavy and flexible racquet.

[@MrMSS22]

Ironically, my arm didnt like the clash at all, so there is always an individual factor too

[@adrianjones5521]

I love heavy baseball bats, golf clubs, and also tennis rackets. I am good at levering against the weight of the equipment and need the weight to help ensure that my arm is still slightly bent when it strikes the ball as that is what I find to be the big contributor to elbow issues. Especially on the serve. I have a Pro Staff RF97 on the way right now and I am sure I will add weight to it even. The more important realization is that you racket needs to be heavy enough to allow you to strike the ball with your arm still slightly bent as I feel the issue mainly come from snapping the arm straight prior to striking the ball.

[@gargamel3966]

That body board looks sweet. My elbow was hurting and I think it was dead strings that was causing it. I used to play until the strings broke but now am trying to swap them earlier.

[@garfgo]

I am an older average sized 4.0 player that had elbow problems. I switched to a very flexible, fairly heavy racquet (320 gram) and I string it with comfort strings at 50lbs. I also switched my hitting style to a full loopy swing on my forehand. As a result of these changes my elbow problems are a thing of the past, not sure which change made the difference, but I believe it was a combination of all.

[@PapayBmet]

As for me I found that I apply more effort controlling the ball and push effort when hitting the ball with a lighter racket and my elbow hurts. But when I use the RF97 I feel like there is less effort and I don’t have to grip so much. I guess I’ve learned to raise the racket high on my prep and then let it drop naturally and use gravity to gain momentum and all I have to do is guide the racket to strike the ball. But it’s true that there is less maneuverability. Also I changed my racket grip size to larger and I don’t have to squeeze the handle so much helping with tennis elbow. I also have the PS 97 and it feels like it vibrates more than RF97 but that’s my experience.

[@devpatel7154]

So which one do u mainly use? I have both as well and got them recently

[@PapayBmet]

@@devpatel7154 I’m currently using RF97 and the new Percept 97H, both are heavy rackets. I have a lot of spare new RF97.

[@PapayBmet]

@@devpatel7154 I use RF97 and Percept 97H

[@dmitryprivate6558]

Hi Nikola. It would be nice to see a step-by-step drills to learn a two-handed backhand for a long time 1HBH player. Because of the elbow I stopped playing many weeks ago. The only hope that when/if the right elbow heals, I go with a 2HBH. Thanks

[@berdi4berdi4]

started playing with PS RF97. My game has greaty improved. More stability on my groundtrokes and more powerful and regular serves.

[@kugelblitz2001]

Like you said, tennis elbow is a very complex issue. After playing for several years I developed very bad tennis elbow at the end of 2020, at the age of 41. I tried everything, from arm exercises (via a physio), to technique changes (I changed from a 1H backhand to 2H), taking time off tennis, changing strings and tension, as well as adding about 15-20g to my racquet. By about November this year my tennis elbow had gone. It's impossible to say which factors helped the most, because I feel they all contributed a bit. But I would say most important was the strings (previously had poly strung at 60lbs; changed to multi at 45), followed by technique. And taking time off also was critical. I was forced to take about 6 weeks off due to lockdowns, and I think the rest allowed the arm to heal, and the change in strings and technique reduced the strain on my arm and the likelihood of re-injury. As for the effect adding weight to the racquet had, that's less clear. But I will say that when I was playing with pain, I found the added weight helped to slightly (but noticeably) reduce the vibrations, particularly when I hit a shot badly or off centre. That meant that when I hit a bad shot the stabbing pain up my arm was noticeably less. I think I'm strong enough that the reduced vibration helped more than that the added weight hurt, but it's definitely an individual thing, and I could see someone creating problems with a heavy racquet if they don't have enough strength or experience.

[@40rods]

Whoa, poly at 60 would absolutely do that. That is a super high tension for strings like that.

[@aaronrussell5047]

I'm 48, 6' and 220 lbs (should be 205 lbs), and I have the RF97 and love it. I demo'd several other racquets, and my shots naturally played deeper and felt more solid. I'm only a 3.5 player (hoping for 4.0 this year) just getting back into tennis the past 2 years. I have been lifting weights for 25 years, so perhaps my size lets me get away with the heavier frame. On the odd occasion where I try a friend's racquet, I definitely loose speed on my serve when I drop to a lighter frame, but I can't say it changes my game dramatically otherwise. I suspect at the 3.5 level, the racquet isn't going to be a game changer, as long as you're not using a $17 aluminum frame.

[@TobiasWurm1990]

I played with the Pro Staff 315g and had issues with my elbow. Then i tried the RF Pro Staff with 340g and it is much better now.

[@thomaswilkinson4027]

A 290g Prince Tour was vibrating my arm when I stepped up a level, so I went to the 305g model to stabilize the hard returns I started getting from better players. But it's a flexible 62, and I string 45lbs, poly. I wonder if it's okay long term but so far it feels absolutely great.

[@TimmieTennis]

I played with Wilson for 20+ years, the last five with the RF97. I loved it’s plow-through and stability, but it lacked in maneuverability in the short game, so I tried the Head Graphene+ 93 Mid Prestige at 320g u/s and love it. Just enough power, and way easier to hit short-angle and touch shots.

[@stevlehr]

I play with a Head Graphene+ Rev Pro 93. I found it by studying a frames table at Tennis Warehouse. I wanted to get a frame close to the Prince Diablo 93. By using a bit of lead tape and a heavy leather under grip, I got there. A guy I play with has an earlier Prestige 93 - it feels just like mine.

[@mejartomlinson7065]

Currently using RF97 CV v12 strung with Wilson comfort 16G @53lbs and Artengo Spin Pro with TR930 Poly string @50lbs. Personally more precise shots with RF but i can get more spin on Artengo. RF for single, Artengo for double play.

[@diamondhandsandrocketships6881]

I play with this racquet and I’m going to add a little more weight. I’m a 5.0 big strong guy, I love it. Lighter racquets actually are the ones that give me pain.

[@returntotennis706]

Looking for some input. I'm coming back to tennis after a 20+ year layoff. The racquets I used to play with when I was young were all close to 340g unstrung. Now that I'm older I'm concerned that heavier racquets may be hell on my elbow and shoulder. But the new modern racquets all feel so light. What do you think about playing with a heavier racquet, but playing 2 handed? Would that be safer on the arm?

[@jeremyrogers1247]

I bought the Pro Staff RF97 several years ago but found it too heavy. I now play with the tour level Babolat Pure Strike (320g), which is just at the weight limit I can comfortably play with, and I find it fine.

[@LupeNava23]

I’ve been using the Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 for 20 years now: Then I got this racket a month ago and it feels really good. I did added some lead tape to get it up to 405 grams: I get tons of smooth power amazing racket. Finally found a replacement for my 6.1 rackets:

[@balat77]

I have a Yonex vcore 98 and found it a great piece of stick ( unstrung 310 GM) , have the RF97 but skeptical to play as I am used to playing with 310 GM racket

[@richardking7682]

Hi Nick, thanks for the video. I was using the wilson blade 16x19 v7 and started developing elbow pain while practicing first serves (inner elbow as well as tricep tendon). I had it strung with super smash orange 17g at 52 lbs. I recently switched to the pro staff 97L v13 strung with babolat rpm blast 16 at 52 lbs. I have been playing with the pro staff for 4 weeks now and the stress on my elbow seems to be less as the pain seems to be lessening. I am not sure whether it is the racket or the strings though.

[@richardking7682]

I should also add I initially avoided the RF97 because standard model seemed too heavy even though I really liked pro staff having watched Edberg and Sampras growing up. This is why I went with the blade instead but after developing elbow pain I decided to try something new with the Pro staff 97L. I bought a reel of super smash orange so I may try that on the pro staff later.

[@Mickey_McD]

I like a heavier racquet for ground strokes, but I can have a hard time with the weight when serving -- it can be hard on my shoulder.

[@bernardoklasan6224]

Does a heavier racket affect elbow pain or vibrations transmitted by the racket? If we look at the physics of a collision, a body of less mass always takes on more collision energy, more vibration.

[@fwcustoms5997]

Hi Nick , spiele seit 30 Jahren nur Wilson Pro Staff mit 340 Gramm , in allen möglichen Schlägerkopf Größen . Habe noch nie Probleme mit dem Arm gehabt . Bin hart hitter mit top Technik , besaite selber . Tennisarm liegt meiner Meinung an Technik , Saite , Bälle und vor allem an der Fitness des Spielers . Looser complain , Champions train . Grüße aus Köln

[@rickmcphee4206]

Sehr gute, klare Erklaerung Freund!

[@ginomarone8831]

Last year my 13yrs old daughter wanted to try out a light and super stiff racquet to see how it would play. She has been playing with 320gr 5PT HL Wilson for ever. B/C of the extra weight, she has been “forced” to use her upper body rotation to properly swing inside out, instead of muscling the racquet. So when she wanted to switch to a light 270gr super stiff racquet (not going to say the brand, use your imagination 😜) I said “sure, let’s try”.... well, S hit the fan in no time, unfortunately! Because she hits like a savage, and her 18yr old opponent hits even harder, it took her about 10min to get her wrist injured. The heavy ball, over-powering her racquet and her wrist caused some nasty injuries. During the match and in the heat of the moment it was all good. But let me tell you: ending up at the doc specializing in wrist and elbow injuries, getting lectured by him was no fun. Oh and by the way, this happened in May of - 2021...! Even now, during match weekends she has to wear a solid wrist brace as a preventative solution bc she’s only 13 and her joins hasn’t fully developed yet. And during match weekends it’s always “balls to the wall 100%” even though we talk about “careful when hitting”. Frankly, I have no idea how kids can play those “plywood” racquets weighing 270-290grms and not get injured. A heavier racquet will help kids swing instead of muscle the racquet. This will help them learn inside out swing technique without using “all arms”. Sure, they will get tired much sooner but it’s a trade off. All IMO by the way, I may be totally wrong but based on experience we are sticking with racquets that are on the heavier side (5-7PT HL)

[@victorkhong7654]

Manufacturer's sell ''light" rackets and often charge more for them for using "advanced" materials. This is not necessarily to help a player. Its a product differentiation strategy. Heavier rackets (higher mass) require proper kinetic sequences to swing. They produce effortless power and better impact absorption than lighter racquets thus providing another aspect of protection for the a player's body. Another marketing aspect are very large or oversize racket heads promising larger sweetspots. I don't believe these in fact make better players. They may be more forgiving on off-centre hits but they do not promote more accurate playing practices.

[@kkarx]

As a kid I played with 340 g head heavy racket and then with a 295 g head heavy racket at 23/22 kg. I had no problem with either one back then and I could even switch between them during matches. Tbh I felt just a very small difference. Nowadays the light racket is causing me troubles and pains because I have not played for 20 years and my precision is gone. It seems to me all those misses cause the most damage even at low speeds.

[@mx2323]

I use the rf97. When I switched to polyester strings (because I was breaking multifilament strings before I could even finish a match), the tennis elbow started. I noticed I had to really relax and never muscle the ball. That really helped. The other tip is that when my tennis elbow got really bad, I just put the racquet on the ground and then stepped on it a bit (this lowers the string tension without restringing), and kept doing that until the elbow pain went away. Once the pain was gone, I could focus on swinging freely. From there I just bumped the tension up one pound on every restring until I was happy with where it ended. Now, I play with zero pain, and the rf97 really encourages good fluid technique.

[@info781]

Poly vs multifiliment , I stay away from poly string they affect me much more than the racquet weight. If you have no problem , use them they last longer

[@JH-Wood]

I personally enjoy the heavier rackets, nothing feels nicer than hitting a clean shot with them. It is not just the weight though that you need to consider, a lot of "heavy" rackets like RF97 are also very stiff which is definitely noticeable and could affect your elbow.

[@sportscastercanada]

You should have Anna use the Federer racket in your next video, just for a good laugh. 😂

[@strongbrain3128]

Anyone who muscles the ball only using arm motion loves lighter rackets. Anyone who uses body rotation to initiate hittings loves heavier racquets. Tennis elbow arises from incorrect techniques.

[@hssh803]

Wrong, Tennis elbow can occur at anytime anyone, specialy to people who skipped warm up and just hit the balls hard straight away.

[@strongbrain3128]

Wrong @@hssh803

[@showtimeman5673]

Nope. Try again. Golf and tennis elbow are tendons not muscles. Please go visit a clinical research paper or 2 😊​@hssh803

[@walterht8083]

I want to ask for opinions I played tennis when I was a kid in primary school. Now I want to play tennis again as an adult, for cardio exercise. I picked the two rackets I had in my basement, a dunlop black max that as a kid in the 90s I thought was heavy, and a babolat soft drive that I got because it was lighter, and paid to get them stringed with new modern strings. Now that I'm an adult the babolat soft drive feels too light, like the racket doesn't help me drive the ball and I'm using only my arm. I feel a lot more comfortable with the dunlop black max, but it's an ancient racket that was never used by a pro tennis player, it was the cheap bad quality version of the 80s McEnroe Steffi Graf racket. What modern racket is kinda like the dunlop 200g, if I had to buy a new one? similar weight and good for hitting flat

[@WaltKurtz68]

What about all those players who have learned to play tennis in the 80s and 90s? They are all used to racquets around 375 / 400 grams. Why all of a sudden is everybody advising against 330 / 340 grams racquets? I don't get.

[@jz77096]

I've been trying to convince a guy who's got wrist problems to switch off of his 12oz six-one. Wish me luck lol. I saw your strings video, but not sure I agree that softer strings give more tennis elbow. I think it has to do with the combination of the stiffness of the racket + string type. Soft + stiff frame / stiff + soft strings = opposites go well together imo. I also started with a heavier racket - 11.7oz kfactor. My swing had no power, but a lot of moonball-type topspin. It was too heavy for me to realize that I gotta bring the racket around with my elbow more. Now I've been using the 11.1 oz prostaff for a couple of years and can generate power to hit winners from the baseline, even on a no pace ball. It's heavy enough to handle heavy balls, and light enough to accelerate. BTW, the babolot pure drive 10.6oz has a higher swing weight than the 11.1 oz prostaff. My 5.0 friend plays with it, but he cannot play with the prostaff. I'm the opposite. He's got a western grip, and I have a lot more open grip - easternish.

[@alexandern4140]

If you can stay relaxed and have great footwork and technique you can go heavy. If you don't then you should use a lighter, bigger head, and more forgiving racquet.Strings are arguably more important if you use the wrong tension or wrong type of strings. How much you play, body muscle balance, conditioning also matters a ton. Also you have to warm up properly and stretch. It's not just a simple matter of the racquet and weight

[@agradina]

how exactly a heavy racquet can inflict tennis elbow? by being late on contact? by purely of is own weight to be lift up? by muscling the ball?

[@K4R3N]

305-310g unstrung seems to be the best range for most male adult players.

[@Mr10usdad]

I am currently playing with the lighter version of that racket. The regular Pro Staff which is 11.2 ounces. I am 55 year old and have played 4.5 since I was a kid. Today I am not playing as much so the RF Pro Staff is a lot of racket. Although it is the weight that rackets were when I was growing up. I feel like lighter rackets have no power. There seems to be less mass. To me the RF racket is really powerful.

[@nico89SFX]

If for the cool factor you can get the 290-gram version or the 315 countervail (I've had those for years and they're amazing, only racquet I got used to after my nCode 95 accidentally hit a net post and died)

[@likhithm3097]

i was thinking to upgrade my racquet i currently play with an older version of prostaff which is around 330g strung . I am very comfortable with that racquet but i need a new racquet so i can keep my old racquet as my secondary one was thinking to upgrade to prostaff itself i love playing with heavy racquets but have a huge doubt that 20 to 30g difference could affect my game a lot.

[@davidpayumo23]

It's the Roger Federer effect. My tennis store couldn't get enough of them at one point. The swing weight is very high for this racquet. I think it's 335. I've used the Volkl C10Pro. That racquet has a lower swing weight. I think the old school serve and volley is better with a heavy racquet. The new semi and western grips needs a fast racquet. Remember Roger use to use a heavy Wilson 6.0 85. So the RF 97 a tweener for Roger.

[@LL-kz1qe]

I switched 16 rackets as a hobby and tennis elbow happened when i bought v core 95 with grip three. I think it has to do bigger grips dont help and yonex have stiffer filling in the handle and throat . To my suprise the most arm friendly was pure aero 98 2023 there something about their new technology although i dont like the racket overall

[@pencilcheck]

heavy racquet forces the player to hit without using elbow and arm. You are able to use the entire body for the swing. Because with heavier racquet, you can swing harder, thus can handle faster balls. using entire body to swing, is that your arm will be looser than usual, thus using lighter racquet will cause elbow because of the twist and vibration from those lighter racquets. Those who uses arms to hit, or have better upper body strength, use lighter racquet helps. but i'm just simplifying things. As in heavier racquet class, there are different parameters such as flex rating that will also impact how it feels when hitting balls. most people have issues with roger's racquet is due to flex rating. that racquet is just too stiff, and thus all balls vibrate to the arm. so if your arm is not strong, you cannot handle that vibration. Thus having injuries and tennis elbow.

[@pencilcheck]

The string also affacts elbow. If you use hard poly, the vibration will be even more apparant. I would recommend using soft poly and it will solve a lot of tennis elbow issues.

[@pencilcheck]

@@bournejason66 if you actually tried heavy racquet you will know that is impossible. Lighter racquet causes grip to be hard and cannot be relaxed since it is too light. The lighter racquet naturally have different torque that causes body to hit differently. Why do you think pros generally uses heavier racquet when they are all very buffed? Isn’t increasing racquet head speed the most important thing? Turns out it is a no. Pros don’t care about racquet head speed, they care more about body and racquet swing path and weight distribution

[@danieltowers9328]

I use a lighter version of this racket at 305 grams. Helps my reflexes at the net, which I need as I play a lot of doubles, yet it is still a really powerful racket

[@Bikerbeest]

Lots of people are playing with a tight grip , the ball has a bigger impact when you play with a tight grip I am playing with the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V13 and I have no elbow issues , and I not a 6ft 4 inch guy ( 176 cm weight 71 kilo's )

[@stephanpetersen8386]

Hi Nikola! Two months ago I was practising with a ball machine which produced a lot of heavy topspin and as a result I gained a 'golfelbow'. I'm now on a pause from tennis and trying to fix my elbow. I have always preferred 315-ish grams rackets and haven't had issues with my arm before. Do you think I can go back to this weight or do you think it's better for me to find a lighter racket? Best regards, Stephan

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I don’t know enough details to give advice. Try and see

[@stephanpetersen8386]

@@IntuitiveTennis Thank you for answering! Best regards

[@bud5027]

Do you have any videos where you talk about dampeners? If we should use them or not?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnKlaHp5q9OUeMk

[@stylistxxx]

Focus on your arm strenght and good technique , I'am old and play with racket 345 G strung inclusive overgrip + dampener + 7G lead tape Lower tension is better for arm around 45 lb Head extreme pro

[@RobManser77]

Not heavy, no; but heavier, perhaps, yes. If you can swing a racket ok, then when it contacts the ball, a heavier racket has more momentum (mv), so moves less in reaction and transmits less to your arm. I’ve just returned to tennis after not playing since my teens and developed a very sore shoulder playing with a stock 300g Blade, strung sympathetically for an older guy (soft poly & multifilament at 51lbs). I’d been taking it easy, but recently I’ve added a little weight and it’s made a huge difference, both to how it feels hitting the ball, and to my shoulder niggle. I’ve only added 6g, but you can really feel the difference.

[@Dom-yv4nq]

With the type of convenience provided by most Tennis stores, online or otherwise, by offering demo racquets I don't know why people have such issues choosing racquets. I also suggest people go to a tennis specific shop to purchase/demo racquets as these stores usually have qualified staff to suggest 2 or 3 demo racquets.

[@MJTIbes]

I was 13 and wanted (and got) a Dunlop MaX 200g for my birthday (because of John McEnroe/Steffie Graf).. played with it for many years as a kid. Can you imagine? Never had issues fortunately but not a clever choice. Guess I was to fixated. In 2008 I made the same "mistake" I chose the Wilson K factor Six One 95 because....Rodger played with the 90 version. Got to have that one too. Played many years with it. But quit playing in 2010. Started this summer again. Got older. Six One 95 perfect control but got too heavy after one hour playing. So. This time I choose the total opposite. I choose the "labrador" of all tennisrackets. The clash. So much fun. Little too easy actually. But first I wanted to get the basics right again and then probably choosing a more heavy one. However. the Clash makes me really smile. Ow and before the Clash, I bought a Babolat Pure Drive (300gr). Just because you have it. For some reason, It just doesn't work for me. Horrible. 100% sure, it is just my disablities and the the Babolat fault. Cheers!!

[@nijiak]

PS97 v11 (305gms unstrung, not the RF97 340gms) actually gave me tennis elbow (also because i wasn't hitting with the right technique)... I changed to a 18x20 racquet (also 305 gms unstrung) and improved my technique as well so the tennis elbow is pretty much gone now. String tension has always been lower as well (48 pounds on the PS97, 46 pounds on the 18x20 racquet) but i'm not sure how to account for this. While technique is probably still more important, I can't help but feel that open string patterns are more harsh on the elbow (assuming same strings and similar tension) if recreational players are not hitting correctly.

[@codygainz6981]

I really throw out my shoulder and arm with a lighter weight. I have bad shoulders and elbows from weight lifting though but some weeks i have no pain at all

[@TheEriclikeseatin]

I have never been beaten by an opponent who uses the RF97 version of the ProStaff. Most players using this racquet are putting themselves at an automatic disadvantage with it.

[@vimalnelson4378]

In tournaments I see most of them using rf97 or babolot Rafa.

[@uchihasasuke7436]

True as hell

[@shroud1390]

The rf97a was too light for me and i couldnt serve well with it until i weighted it up to 422g

[@IntuitiveTennis]

😂😂 You are joking I hope

[@shroud1390]

@@IntuitiveTennis seems like a joke. But its not. RF97a stock was more headlight than i was using and the serve timing was off. Lots of balls in the bottom of the net. Probably would have adjusted. It was a playtest and not a stick i bought. That frame would flex too much once i weighted it up. Long story

[@petrtamler4484]

I had baught Estuza racket 30 years ano, thinking when it was good for Becker it would've been good for myself , utmost disaster, many players are playing with too heavy rackets I believe and too much tight strings, not having enough control and injuring their arms and hands

[@gomriria2197]

Exactly my case i cant play with a light racket I play with the rf97 autograph

[@pjcdm]

5'8''/64 kg., 4.5 level, 270 unstrung, no tennis elbow. String solinco, 55 lbs. No tennis elbow (2 year use).I leave them until they break (2 months). I play about 10 hours/week, albeit 5 with my wife (3.0). I had tennis elbow before (5 years ago) and it was due to wrong one-half backhand grip I think (different strings), but frame shots could be the cause. Bad diet could ave played a role:too much sugar, processed wheat/pasta, not enough animal fat,... Now on a keto diet. Lost 8 kg.

[@randomtask9029]

It's quite an omission that the balance of the racket is not discussed in this debate - the balance is just as crucial as the weight. Imagine 2 hammers of exactly the same weight - one has a heavy head but a light handle, the other a lighter head with a heavier handle. Two completely different feelings when held still or swung, but exactly the same weight. When the racket is heavy and the weight is concentrated in the head, it will be quite a beast to tame. But if the weight is more towards the handle, it will be a different animal altogether. Generally speaking there is much more stress on the arm when the weight is further away from the handle - try picking up a hammer by the head and see how it feels compared to using the handle.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I talk balance here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJbJfHxnbZJ7oa8si=oW0wXeqqRcX-5z7W

[@kilohu2006]

for my style of play, light racquets dont work for me. i cant even hit the ball back with lighter racquets. currently i am using a Wilson Blade Pro 98 with about 20gms of lead in the hoop. tried the RF97, its a great racquet, but i guess i am not the fit and tall guy that Nick describes in the video, so after about a set or so i got tired, so i stop using it. i think that light racquets can give arm and elbow problems if you hit off center and the vibration or shock is transmitted to you. my opinion is that people should play with the heaviest racquet that they can use. many players at our club play with lighter racquets, and they have all sorts of arm appliances that the wear to address the arm issues that they have developed. i am certain that the light racquets they use are contributing to their problems. just my opinion

[@ricfernandez8318]

In my opinion playing with dead strings is the main cause of tennis elbow for most players.

[@Fernwald84]

The most important weight of a racket is its swing weight. This is the amount of energy ("effort") required to swing the racket laterally. The weight of a racket as measured by a scale is its static weight. It is quite possible that a lighter static weight racket can have a higher swing weight than a heavier one. The difference is how much of the static weight is distributed toward the head rather than toward the handle. The difference between a light racket, e.g. 300g, and Federer's racket (retail model around 360g--these are strung weights) is only 60g, or 2.1oz. This is about half the weight of a banana. BTW, an average string weighs about 15g, so the difference between a heavier and a lighter string is only a few grams. I believe this shows that something more important than just the static weight of a racket is involved in tennis elbow. I would suggest that poor mechanics is a more important factor. Leading in that category are constant ball mishits and problems with the 1HBH stroke. Constantly mishitting the ball toward the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions causes the racket to twist. This causes stress on the tendons and ligaments of the racket arm to resist this force. A smaller head racket (which is often a lighter static weight racket) is more susceptible to this twisting force, everything else being equal. "Twist weight" is the technical term for how resistant a racket is to this kind of twisting. A racket with extra weight around the 3 and 9 positions is also more resistant to this twisting, hence Wilson's "Perimeter Weighting System" found on their ProStaff line of rackets. Many 1HBH players lead with their elbow during the forward swing and then try and square up the trailing racket head by accelerating the forearm around the axis of the elbow, putting an extreme amount of stress on that joint. Actually, any stroke where you use the elbow as the primary hinge rather than the shoulder will increase the stress on the elbow joint.

[@rsmith02]

The difference isn't just weight but racket construction and stiffness which manufacturers use to counteract the lightness of the frame and still transfer energy to the ball. But I agree for lower level players assuming a reasonable choice in frames, compensating for poor technique is the biggest issue.

[@verdell]

I’m stronger than the typical tennis player. light racquets are hard for me to control. I actually didn’t start playing well until I started using Sampras’ 85 sq in racquet in 2002 😂 I use the pro staff RF. I’ve tried other racquets, just doesn’t work.

[@migelowsky]

I'm about your age, so I was wondering what racquet did you use when you were a Kid? I was 10 and my first racquet was a Head Arthur Ashe . Imagine that, and I was using already a western grip. I don't remember people from that era getting hurt so easily as today. Maybe as you say, is more the combination of bad technique and strings.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I started with Donnay

[@migelowsky]

@@IntuitiveTennis I wanted one as a kid. And now as an adult I collect them 🙂

[@Doty6String]

I hit with an RF once. Got a few balls in the sweet spot and really smacked them. Man it’s a beast when you nail it. But yea that’s not me lol.

[@tatsf226]

I am 3.5, my racket weight 440 grams leaded adidas gtx pro, string 15L babolat rmp poly 60 lbs, have no problem, I need weight to plow through. if you want to play heavy racket, do weight lifting, get stronger, my training racket over 500 grams. Tennis is sport, strengthen yourself.

[@Lance54689]

Halifax is so windy, I've been know to use two different racquets. Into the wind, I'll use a higher power racquet, say a modern Babolat. With the wind I'll use a lower power racquet, like my '88 Prestige Pro.

[@movdqa]

I had an injury back in 2010 which took me out for six months. I came back using an IG Prestige MP at 375 grams and I've been using it since. The aspects that contribute to arm health are 1) that it will win any collision, 2) it's a soft frame, 3) it has a high twistweight. You can literally hit the ball anywhere on the strings or the frame and your arm won't feel any shock or twist. I was able to get a set of four of these matched and customized and could see using them for another decade.

[@niceguy5430]

Opposite happened with me...i got rid of my head youtek prestige MP,after repeatedly getting tennis elbow....i was ok with it,6 years back,but with age (44 now),i started having trouble,first with my wrist and then elbow....

[@stevlehr]

I volley better at the net with a low twist weight frame.

[@movdqa]

@@niceguy5430 The YT's had very low twistweight and I had arm problems with them too. The IG pushed up the twistweight and is just an much more stable racquet. You can still find pro stock IG Prestige MPs with newer paintjobs.

[@ricfernandez8318]

In my opinion very few rec level players have the racquet speed to be helped by poly strings and leave them on the racquet way too long..... much better to use a good multi.

[@stevlehr]

Several years ago, I played doubles a couple times against a strong player. He had an average size/weight racket. Then he showed up with a new racket which had both a larger head size and was much lighter. He let me handle it. I thought, oboy, he won't play well with his new frame. Maybe we can win some games. No, he played better with his new racket. I had tried the same kind of big head, light frame racket a few years earlier and, perhaps tempted by its easy power, played worse. As a recreational player, my preferences may not be relevant to another recreational player. I know another good, older, player who has hit with Prince Original Graphite frames, forever. His frame choice may have led him naturally to his style of play. Or, maybe, it was the other way around? What's in my bag? Preferred 93" Head Prestige, plus a 103 and a 107. If I'm feeling the game, I use the 93. But if I'm not steady enough, 107. Getting over powered, 103. I doubt Nick would recommend what I do.

[@chilledoutnotdead]

Dunlop 200g in your top 5 rackets? Flex is so comfortable

[@bushmenaa]

I play with it :)

[@babbo507]

For me heavier rackets definitely got rid of elbow pain, The tennis balls you use also make my arm feel different. the lighter rackets on contact would make the racket recoil, on clean hits you can still hit through the ball but off center or especially when hitting defensive type shots you would feel the ball overpower the racket.

[@shitaocheng1527]

It's something called swing weight thats actually affecting the elbows. The higher the swing weight, the more prone to get tennis elbow.

[@Javi_C]

👍

[@shroud1390]

I play with a heavy racquet and no tennis elbow

[@bigdaddy812]

It doesn’t take a racquet scientist to know…..

[@iceman1125]

playing with even too light weight racket too gets you tennis elbow

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

TENNIS ELBOW IS CAUSED BY WEAK WRIST AND GRIP. If you are not stiffening your wrist and squeezing the grip, esp on single handed backhand, you will get tennis elbow. Your wrist and hand have to be like stone at the moment of impact. A heavy racquet is probably helpful, less recoil.

[@crsantin]

All the hot shots in the comments playing with the RF. 😂. I used to be one of those guys. It’s a beautiful racquet but rec players have no business playing with it. I feel it in my shoulder when a racquet is not good for me. I’m older now, 54, so I play with the regular Pro Staff at 315 grams. I’m going to be dropping again down to about 305 grams with the Blade. If that doesn’t work then I’ll go back to the Pro Staff. I play well with it.

[@quinby123]

It's always hilarious to see 2.0 player using the RF97. Kinda like my grandpa driving his new Corvette.

[@uchihasasuke7436]

More like your grandpa driving a porsche GT

[@TheBronzika]

Roger... the most beloved!? hmm Nick, you can try to say it freely... the best player by far! It is liberating! :)

[@claude7473]

All of the concepts are fine but wrong, according to Nick and the general consensus... i.e. rackets should be tuned to player and NOT the other way around. Lets not be simplistic about it or claim to have the truth, or to be the illuminated genius. I love tennis complexity and tune for many people for the purpose of: to play better or to reduce arm/elbow pain. It is possible and works. Arm and elbow issues are 'fatigue' related, so high frequencies should be minimized. Cheers.

[@darrensurrey]

Humblebrag incoming. I was doing strength training before I started playing tennis so I play better with a heavier racket and tend to play with proper form. When I used a lighter beginner's racket I was doing more slices and wristing the ball like I was playing badminton! And frankly, a 400g racket is going to be a light racket when you're able to do kettlebell swings with 2x40kg. :D

[@peterbedford2610]

350 grams strung. No problems at all.

[@MRS759]

Tennis is the #1 cause of tennis elbow.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Believe it or not the vast majority of people suffering from tennis elbow do not play tennis

[@MRS759]

@@IntuitiveTennis that's not intuitive.

[@RondelayAOK]

I'm at 349 grams.

[@edusimamorajw]

Bottom line: racket 🎾 science > rocket 🚀 science

[@MikeSmith-go8wk]

I like a heavy racket..makes me feel more manly