Lateral epicondylitis or more commonly
known as tennis elbow can be a painful, chronic ailment for tennis enthusiasts
around the world. Having the time to take a good look at your tennis racquet to
see if it is at the root of why you have this agonizing irritation can save you
time, money, effort in enduring all that pain!
Having a tennis elbow does not happen
overnight. There are several factors that can predispose a player to suffer
from such. They are the following:
1. Stiffness of
racquet frame
2. Racquet head size
3. String related
issues such as type of string, string size, tension, pattern and the number of
cross row
4. Racquet handle
grip size
5. Swing weight
6. Balance point
Racquet stiffness can be a major problem
when talking about tennis elbow. Tennis racquets that are larger and stiffer
require tennis players to use less energy since they produce power, pop and
pace. It is because when the tennis ball comes into contact with a racquet that
is stiff, the latter could not completely absorb the force. Instead, the vibration
and force reaches the elbow through the region of the ERCL and the ECRB, which
helps us understand why it is linked to tennis elbow.
Comparing racquet types to determine the
power level of stiffness for a tennis racquet can be difficult for some.
However, comparing the features of new racquets including the length, the
string’s tension and pattern, swing weight, and power level can be helpful
according to the Tennis Magazine.
Racquet strings also contribute to
lateral epicondylitis. It is due to certain types of strings that produce a lot of pace and force, which are
also stiff. This results in poor absorption of shock therefore requiring a lot
of force from the elbow.
To prevent a tennis elbow from occurring,
a natural gut is recommended. A natural
gut is a type of string that can be very forgiving but expensive. It can
cost between $40 and $60 a set. Albeit it is much better to go for the blended
string type instead of monofilament, since strings with a higher gauge are good
but they can break easily.
If you are recovering from tennis elbow,
consider a grip overwrap since a small grip may aggravate a tennis elbow. To do
this, wrap your tennis racquet grip by one or two layers.
If all fails, consider getting an advice
from a Certified Racquet Technician in picking the right tennis racquet for you
that won’t hurt. They would provide guidance on the right racquet, string type,
gauge, tension and grip size that is suitable for you.
Since technique is at the heart of tennis
elbow, simple technique corrections can alleviate symptoms – and this can be
the best prevention you can ever give yourself.
