7 Best Tennis Racquets For Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is one injury that just about any player goes through at some point in their life. Maybe they are fortunate enough to only have a mild case of tennis elbow, but others see it as a persistent problem.
To avoid the issue, Investing in a racquet that is good for the elbow is the way to go. It’s not a guarantee that the tennis elbow will go away and stay away, but it is always a good idea to be as proactive as possible with an injury like this. It might not seem serious at first, but it is something that can linger. Below are the 7 best tennis racquets for tennis elbow right now.
1. Wilson Clash 100
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11 oz / 312g
- Balance: 9pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 55
- Swing Weight: 312
The newest release of a brand new model from Wilson is the first to use technology that could very well change the game for anyone dealing with tennis elbow. The Wilson Clash comes in a variety of sizes and weights, but what makes them stand out is the FreeFlex and StableSmart technology offered by the company.
As soon as a person demos the Wilson Clash, they become believers. No matter what size or weight they go with, the racquet feels extremely comfortable on the arm. When hitting the ball on the sweet spot, a player feels next to nothing at all. Even miss-hits feel very comfortable, with minimal vibration and a softness to it that just isn’t found anywhere else.
The Clash is meant to be a performance racquet, but it works very well with slower strokes if people are still learning the game a little. That is why it is taking off as well. A player doesn’t have to be extremely advanced to see the benefits of this racquet. It actually keeps people motivated to play because they don’t feel a lot of arm issues from a racquet like they would from other performance-level racquets.
Outside of the amazing feel, people love the fact that the Wilson Clash also provides players with the ability to hit with power and spin to fit their game. It is a great, overall racquet that helps many different place styles.
It’s truly something that every single player with tennis elbow issues should try out when shopping for a new racquet. It might not work for everyone, but it’s a great starting point to really get a feel for just how much technology has advanced. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Extremely arm friendly
- Solid serving racquet
- Provides a perfect blend of power/control
Cons
- Head can lag behind at times on shots
- Tough to get a few on volleys initially
2. Wilson Blade 98
- Head Size: 98 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.4 oz / 323g
- Balance: 4pts HL
- String Pattern: 18×20
- Flex: 62
- Swing Weight: 334
Wilson initially introduced their latest technology on a new racquet, listed above. The Wilson Clash received some great reviews almost right away, which motivated Wilson to continue down this path of adding their FeelFlex technology to other racquets in their line. The first traditional line to get the treatment is the Wilson Blade.
Over the years, the Blade line has been all about precision and feel off of the racquet. It made perfect sense for Wilson to add FeelFlex technology to this racquet. The way the technology works is it has torsional stability to bend when needed. When a modern player needs that extra flex, it does exactly that. When it needs to be a little more stiff and stable, they provide that as well.
The main two sizes for the Wilson Blade are 98 and 104. Players moving from a previous generation will notice an upgrade, but not to the point that it is a totally different racquet.
Remember that the Blade has always been down for comfort, and beginner players are going to benefit a little more from the 104 square inch head model. The 98 is designed more for players who are on the intermediate to the advanced level side of tennis. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Uses the same technology as the Clash
- 18 x 20 version provides excellent control
- Something for every player with this line
Cons
- Lacks power
- Serving feels inconsistent’
3. Yonex EZONE 98
- Head Size: 98 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.4 oz / 323g
- Balance: 6pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 63
- Swing Weight: 316
The Yonex EZONE has a great feel overall, and control to go along with it. It is a racquet that feels good in a lot of different players’ hands, and it comes in many different varieties. Whether a person goes with the 98 or the 100 models, there are different weights to choose from as well, not to mention different legs.
The most popular model on tour right now is the Yonex EZONE 98. Players like Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios use the racquet, and it provides them with a great weapon that is solid all around. Not only do they have the ability to hit very controlled, powerful shots, but the peel is amazing on all types of shots.
Perhaps the biggest reason why the racquet feels good in the hand is due to the micro offset layout technology. With this technology, the strings can absorb a lot of the impact on each shot, which adds to the comfort level.
It also helps to have a slightly larger sweet spot thanks to the isometric head shape that the company has used for quite a few years. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Big sweet spot
- Micro offset layout technology helps with arm issues
- Surprising power
Cons
- Isometric head isn’t for everyone
- Longer options lack maneuverability
4. Prince Textreme Tour 100
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.5 oz / 326g
- Balance: 7pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×18
- Flex: 65
- Swing Weight: 327
The Prince Textreme Tour offers a variety of options for players who want a very balanced racquet that feels great during the entire match. Prince decided to take some of the best qualities from the Phantom series and blend them with some of the best factors of the beast family. That has resulted in a racquet that feels great without sacrificing anything else.
Textreme is the technology used by Prince to help with the feel of the racquet. It integrates Twaron with a carbon-weave to help damp in the racquet overall. This makes the racquet feel great, despite it being stiffer than some of the other options in this article.
Not everyone is quick to jump on Prince bandwagon, but they have done a great job of making sure that they have racquets to fit nearly any style of play. They use a pretty dense string pattern on most of the racquets, which helps with control and feel a little as well. Some might think that that will eliminate the opportunity to develop spin, but this racquet is still pretty versatile.
People playing against big hitters who want to redirect the ball and play a lot of defense will get a lot out of a racquet like this. It also has enough power to provide some offense when the opportunity arises. Get a chance and see for yourself just how good it feels in the right hands. A lot of people are blown away by just how great it performs consistently.
Pros
- Easy to redirect power
- Textreme technology helps
- Borrows the best features from other Prince racquets
Cons
- A little stiff
- Hard to generate power
5. Head Graphene Touch Prestige MP
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.9 oz / 337g
- Balance: 6pts HL
- String Pattern: 18×20
- Flex: 65
- Swing Weight: 321
As the name implies, there is a great amount of touch and feel with the Head Graphene Touch Prestige line. With that comes some great comfort on every shot, allowing players with elbow problems to feel very comfortable.
The racquet does a great job of really killing as much vibration as possible, even on shots that are always the greatest. Some people have a hard time dealing with miss-hits, and that can sometimes do some damage to the elbow.
With this racquet, even balls of the frame feel completely fine. That is something that people obviously don’t want to do a lot of, but it is nice to not feel a lot of pain in the arm when it happens.
Graphene Touch is there for technology, which makes the racquet very damp and muted overall. Players do need to create their own power a lot of times, but what the racquet provides is a great amount of stability and precision on every single shot.
The racquet is currently available in smaller head sizes, for the most part, ranging from 93 square inches to 99 square inches. They have pretty closed string patterns, which help with comfort a little. In particular, the Head Graphene Touch Prestige MidPlus is 95 square inches, but has an 18 x 20 string pattern. That racquet is going to provide the most amount of control a person can ask for.
Pros
- Very closed string pattern
- Stable racquet
- Control-oriented racquet
Cons
- Must swing hard for results
- Some find it hard to get used to the muted feel
6. Prince Phantom 100
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.6 oz / 329g
- Balance: 7pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×18
- Flex: 56
- Swing Weight: 328
The Phantom line from Prince is known for having a very thin beam that provides about as flexible of a feel as a racquet out there. Thanks to the use of the L3 ports, people can expect some of the best overall feel available.
Weighing in at 11.6 ounces for the standard model, the swing weight is very comfortable with the racquet. Ball feedback is great off of the string bed, as players have a very damp and feel on every single shot. They use what is called CTS technology, which allows the racquet to start with a very thin beam in the shaft area, and then increase in the head.
Players with tennis elbow should be looking at this racquet as a great option if the issue continues to pop up again and again. They have a few different options in the line, each providing slightly different specifications.
The 93 square inch head size might be too small for some players, but the 100 square size is perfect for anyone who is trying to play a more modern style of game. It gives a player a little more room to work with hitting the sweet spot and still provides the same amount of overall comfort.
Pros
- Comfortable swingweight
- CTS technology helps with feel
- Multiple head sizes
Cons
- Low power level
7. ProKennex Ki Q+ 15
- Head Size: 105 sq. in
- Length: 27.5 in
- Strung Weight: 10.6 oz / 301g
- Balance: 5pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 70
- Swing Weight: 322
The ProKennex Q+ Series line of tennis racquets specifically helps people who are looking for great control and feel on every type of shot. It is also made for players who are dealing with tennis elbow issues, thanks to all the different technologies used throughout the racquet.
Their QuadFocus technology provides some great protection from racquet vibration, overall shock, and torque. It also uses a very thin and flexible game on the racquet, which makes them feel amazing.
Players could take huge swings at the ball and still keep it in with relative ease. It is a racquet that just feels very comfortable for any person who is playing with it every single day.
ProKennex is a little hard to track down at times for people who might not know exactly where to look, but the great news is that it is a pretty affordable racquet even at full price.
It performs at a very high level, and people can find it in different sizes as well. In fact, the huge 119 square inch option that is 27.5 inches in length is a very popular model for senior players. Most senior players are looking for as much comfort as possible because they can’t afford arm issues.
Pros
- QuadFocus technology really works
- Soft feel with any type of string
- Available in large sizes for senior players
Cons
- Somewhat hard to find in stock
- Most unfamiliar with the brand compared to more popular ones
Tackling Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is definitely a challenge for a lot of people who play the game and play a lot. It usually happens when there is a slight change in a racquet set up, or if a player is extending themselves too much. Always be aware of that, and listen to the body when it is dealing with pain.
What Might Be Causing Tennis Elbow
The number one cause of tennis elbow is overuse. Even if a tennis player plays every single day, they might hit a particular shot more on a certain day that triggers tennis elbow. Sometimes, there is no definite rhyme or reason to the injury, but it is still something that needs to be dealt with nonetheless.
Tennis elbow can also be caused by miss hitting the ball on a consistent basis. Every time a player doesn’t hit the ball on a sweet spot, it sends more vibrations up and down the arm. If this is done A lot, the arm is going to start to feel the pain quite a bit.
It’s easy to blame tennis elbow on heavy equipment, but there are pros and cons to using heavy or light racquets. A heavy racquet might have a higher swing weight, but it usually is capable of absorbing a lot more vibration.
A lighter racquet feels easy enough to move around, but sometimes a player needs to swing harder to get the same results. Not only that, but it usually lacks the same type of dampening capability.
How Can Tennis Elbow Be Cured?
Since tennis elbow is such a prevalent injury in the sport, the number one way to stay away from it is to be as proactive as possible. That means making sure to try out and fit all new equipment before jumping in. If a new racquet is being used, gradually work into it instead of playing with it for three or four hours the very first day.
Solid grip
Make sure that any new racquet purchased fits in the hand properly. A player shouldn’t have a racquet grip size that is too big or too small, because it puts the hand in an awkward position. If a player has huge hands and they are trying to grip a small racquet, they can put some unneeded strain on the rest of the arm.
The grip also needs to be fresh and dry as well. If the hand is moving around quite a bit on the racquet, they can twist the elbow the wrong way and really start to cause some pain. It might not seem like much of an issue at first, but it begins to wear on a player
Soft String and Low Tension
If some minor pain is beginning to form, or a player just wants to completely stay away from tennis elbow issues, looking into a soft string with a low string tension is the way to go.
There are a lot of professional players these days that use polyester strings, and while they have some benefits, they are generally pretty rough. This might not be the best string choice for players who are dealing with elbow issues.
Instead, look at something like gut strings to help with the overall feel. Any of the racquets above can be turned into a pretty stiff racquet overall if they are not strong the right way. At the same time, a relatively stiff and tough racquet on the arm can be softened up with a decent string and tension.
Wearing a Brace
Since tennis elbow is a pretty common injury, there are braces that deal directly with the problem. Some people feel like they can play with this on at all times, while others feel like it is only a temporary thing. It does provide a good amount of support in the elbow area, helping to reduce pain and prevent inflammation.
When coming back from injury, wear the brace as much as possible. After playing, do the proper amount of ice and recovery so that it does not become a prevalent issue. If the pain continues to be there, it’s time to just give it the proper amount of rest.
If there is any good news with tennis elbow, it is that it will go away in time if a person puts in the effort. No one needs to be hurting themselves by not trying to provide as much rest as necessary. It’s better to take a week or two off of playing instead of trying to constantly push the body in new ways.
Racquet Buying Tips To Prevent Tennis Elbow
The racquets listed above are all great options for people to turn to if they are looking to stay in the game and not feel that much pain in the elbow. In general, there are some buying tips to keep in mind as well.
Static Weight & Balance
A heavy racquet that is easy to control for a player will absorb a good amount of shock. Don’t get anything too heavy, but it pays to have that extra heft behind shots at times.
Using a heavy racquet will generally put more torque on the arm. This can lead to tennis elbow and other arms issues. Players who are consistently not hitting quality shots will also struggle a bit with this. Keep that in mind before going with anything too heavy.
Swingweight & Head Size
Play should be looking for a decent swing weight so that they can make solid contact and not feel completely overwhelmed with balls.
Just keep in mind that a high swingweight will slow the swing down a bit, and that could lead to some poor contact. If the poor contact isn’t figured out, it can lead to additional vibration throughout the arm.
Generally speaking, a larger head size will be a little softer on the arm. That is because there is a little more forgiveness and a bigger sweet spot. What people lose with a big head size is a certain level of control. Some people simply can’t play without having that level of control.
Racquet Length & Flexibility
Players should generally stay away from extremely long racquets if they are having arm issues, because it puts more torque on the arm. It’s also harder to adjust for people who are moving from a standard size, putting them in vulnerable positions to hit consistently.
A stiff racquet can be troublesome for people with arm issues because of the force it puts on the elbow. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a racquet that is not stiff is better. While more shock is absorbed, it has the chance to give off more vibration.
The best way to test what type of flexibility works is the demo racquet beforehand.
String Pattern
A lot of people prefer to have a closed string pattern, even though it does have a higher chance of vibration throughout the arm. That is because there is additional control with a closed string pattern, and they can usually be strung at pretty low tension.
It really comes down to personal preference as far as arm health in concerned. Try to demo different patterns to really get a better feel on how everything plays.
The Importance of Demoing a Racquet
Whether a person is shopping online or in stores, It is always important to demo any type of racquet. When dealing with elbow issues, it is especially important, because no one will know for sure if it works for them unless they use it in person.
There are plenty of ways to demo racquet, and some will even be shipped directly to a person’s house. The most convenient way to do a demo is to find a local tennis shop and ask about their options.
Just because a person demos a racquet from that store does not mean they have to purchase a racquet in the end. A lot of people will demo racquets in person from a local shop and then look online for the best deal possible.
Making the Final Decision
If the racquet feels comfortable, plays well, and is priced correctly, jump on the opportunity to switch. Tennis players are usually reluctant to switch racquets from time to time, but it should be done sooner rather than later with tennis elbow issues.
Don’t be held back by a racquet that doesn’t help keep the arm as healthy as possible. Of all the racquets listed above, the Wilson Clash 100 is the most arm-friendly option.
Here is the full list of the best racquets for tennis elbow.
- Wilson Clash 100
- Wilson Blade 98
- Yonex EZONE 98
- Prince Textreme Tour 100
- Head Graphene Touch Prestige
- Prince Phantom 100
- ProKennex Ki Q+ 15
