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7:12 pm
September 6, 2012
Offline
I recently bought a new racket. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing with it, it has given me an injection of power that seemed lacking, particularly for the singles that I was mostly playing until very recently. However, I now find myself in different circumstances playing club doubles with feathers rather than plastics and I’m struggling a little with a bit of shoulder and elbow pain. The more I play the less the aggravation and shorter the duration, presumeably just down to conditioning. Which racket property, head heaviness, shaft stiffness or overall weight, is likely to be the greatest contributing factor in my discomfort?
The racket concerned is a Voltric 9 (3U, Stiff) with factory stringing. I am toying with the prospect of buying a Voltric 7 (4U, Mid Flex), even if only for doubles. However, I’m wondering whether a higher tension re-string of my existing VT9 might alleviate some of my issues, particularly regarding playing with feathers.
What say those with far more experience than I?
9:29 pm
March 2, 2010
Offline I played a while with a AT700, and found it too heavy to have a good defense in doubles. I swapped it for a VT7 but restrung with BG65Ti @ 10kg. Works great for me, good mixture of power and maneuverability.
I'm still not sure if I have the best racket/strings that suits me, but I'm rather sure of my grip and tension. Strings and racket I believe are close. By now the posts on this forum convinced me it can take a long time to find the perfect match of racket/strings.
Pain is often a good indicator, I wouldn't ignore it. If it sustains, perhaps that VT9 is too heavy ?
All the best, ED
12:09 pm
January 9, 2012
Offline 
Hi Guys
I found exactly the same thing when I purchased and started playing with Voltric 80, you can see my comments and, more importantly Paul’s response here:
/1936/yonex-voltric-80-badminton-racquet-review/
specifically the second last comment as ‘AWT April 25, 2012 at 1:06 pm’ with Paul’s currently being the last.
As Ed has mentioned, I’m finding it a long process to actually find the combination of components that ‘feel’ absolutely correct for me.
After much trial and error, BG65Ti, BG66UM, BG80P, BG66M, I’ve finally settled back to BG65Ti strings at 22lbs, and with two overwraps on the handle, wrapped a particular way.
In the posting linked above, I mentioned that VT5 was the racket that suited me best, however that changed back to Arcsaber 008. With the VT5 I still had to wear my elbow wrap for tennis elbow pain, with Arcsaber 008 I don’t and I have never suffered any elbow pain since moving back to it.
I also struggled with control issues with VT5, with Arcsaber 008, I don’t.
So after some pain and patience, I’ve reached a stage where Arcsaber 008 is the racket that suits me, BG65Ti at 22lbs is the string with two overwraps applied to the handle. It makes no difference to me if it's plastic or feather shuttles, that's the set up that seems to suit me and I play well with it.
That set up gives me no pain and my game keeps improving, it’s taken a while, just over two years, but I’m getting there.
Stay well
Allan
12:40 pm
April 15, 2010
Offline Although your racket could be a contributing factor I would look at your technique as well. I hurt my elbow a little while back when working on my backhand, it was because I wasn't playing the shot properly and I was straining my arm.
If you can, get a coach or experienced player to have a look at your technique and see if they can identify any areas that may be causing you to strain your arm.
Rob
9:40 pm
September 6, 2012
Offline Rob,
would the fact that I wasn't experiencing any pain when playing before getting the new racket not suggest that it isn't a question of technique, per se? Don't get me wrong though, I'm not trying to suggest that I wouldn't benefit from coaching or couldn't improve my technique.
12:00 pm
April 15, 2010
Offline Yeah I see your point. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you may be compensating for the change in racket, rather than the racket itself causing the discomfort. A head heavy racket may require more forearm strength (and technique) to push the racket through, if you are not used to doing that then you may well be inadvertently compensating by swinging harder with your arm, thus causing discomfort. As you point out this could be down to conditioning.
On reading your initial post again I notice you have changed from plastic to feathers as well? They fly differently, and you play differently with them. If you have feathers that are slow then you may well be straining to hit them as far as you would hit quick plastic shuttles.
It may well be that a change in racket, shuttles and type of games all happening at once has just lead to new strains on your body. Make sure that you have sufficient rest time, and of course you're already doing the right thing by not ignoring recurring pains.
Rob
10:59 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline
Sam
Reading your initial question again, there are a number of possibilities. However, to isolate one is very difficult. What I will pick up on is your comment that the new racket has “given you an injection of power.”
This suggests to me that changes are happening in your game as a result of this new power. My guess would be you are smashing the shuttle more often because of this sudden revelation. As a result, you may have overstrained in certain areas, hence your current injuries.
Rest is a good cure because without it you will not heal. Perhaps when you return fully recovered, you consider more what is happening on court regards your style of play. It's very likely your new aggressive style of play has contributed to your injuries and now you have to learn to manage what is going on.
To your success
Paul
7:35 pm
September 6, 2012
Offline Paul said:
My guess would be you are smashing the shuttle more often because of this sudden revelation. As a result, you may have overstrained in certain areas, hence your current injuries.
Interesting and a distinct possiblity, but definitely not something I’m consciously doing.
However, I bought the VT9 instead of blindly splashing the cash on a VT80/70, deliberately not spending top whack, just in case. As much as I’ve enjoyed the VT9, there’s not much point if it’s hurting me. Having held back on the spending a little I had the latitude to try a VT7. Lo and behold, one full club night later and zero painfull after effects. The only downside is that I felt that I’d lost a bit of accuracy. Power in smashes was retained. I’ve no idea whether weight (4U compared to 3U), shaft stiffness (med compared to stiff) or the degree of head heaviness was the deciding factor.
12:01 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Sam
Interesting discovery. Something has changed but it's not easy to qualify. Perhaps the additional flexibility has brought about better timing on the shot and therefore you are not throwing as much into it.
Whatever the reason, I am delighted your shoulder pain has vanished!
Paul
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