Polyester Strings for the Pro and the Club Player

[johnyandell]

Let's get your thoughts on the Matt Previdi's interview - "Polyester Strings for the Pro and the Club Player"

[bottle]

It would be all too easy to underestimate the importance to recreational players of this interview. I found myself describing it to a complete stranger at my Friday night social, a lady who missed one entire year of tennis after wrecking her arm with the wrong copoly combination.

I myself developed arm problems on my two previous attempts to change to copoly. Finally, I said, "You know, I'm a seniors player and to hell with it. Just use synthetic 17-gauge from now on and never think about this subject again."

Well, Matt Previdi changed my mind, and I played last night with single bed Luxilon at 42 pounds. The only thing I didn't like was the noise at contact, simply because I wasn't used to it, and I'm about to put the same arrangement on my best racket now unless somebody gives me better advice.

In the midst of the whole process, the stringer phoned me and said he didn't have 18-gauge, but that 16 would be good. Not being in a position to argue, I took the chance, and then got lucky all night long (four sets).

Moral of the story: Information for the average player has been atrocious. Understandable: This is still a new subject, particularly for those who don't dwell in the charmed circles of tennis. Years have been necessary for the air to even start to clear.

But if the woman I talked to and I myself had arm problems, think of the thousands of others all ready to give up on copoly-- for life-- because of one or two bad experiences with their arm.

[GeoffWilliams]

This flex bar will rehab and prevent many elbow/arm/shoulder injuries if you use the right exercises. It costs about $12, and shipping depends on where you are, usually about $6. I bend it into a U, and then twist it, across to each shoulder, as fast as I can, for 50 reps. As if you are coiling for a shot, but very quickly, back and forth across the body to each deltoid. This I repeat for three reps. If that doesn't burn you up, nothing will!

[lobndropshot]

I went low. All the way down to 40lbs and loved it!

[bottle]

Right. Get down to where you won't hurt your arm, as Matt Previdi says, and, if you think it a good idea, make further adjustment from this new starting point.