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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2022 59 Many tennis players have developed the dreaded tennis elbow. I had experienced it myself. So, how can we avoid it? It's not a simple answer. When a player uses improper stroke techniques, the unnecessary pressure on the arm may cause unwanted inflammation and discomfort, resulting in tennis elbow. This could be due to the improper strokes and/or the tennis racket. It's important to make appropriate adjustments to lessen damage to the elbow. Here are some factors to consider. Racket Weight – Generally, a heavier racket will absorb greater shock. However, be careful not to overdo it. A racket that's too heavy could also cause undue stress on the arm. So, choose a racket weight that you can swing comfortably. Balance – A head-heavy racket will provide stability when striking the ball, but at the same time, it will also increase shock and vibration to the arm. So, select a racket that is a few points head-light while ensuring the overall weight is heavy enough and still allows a comfortable swing. Swing Weight – Swing weight is the weight of a racket when one swings it through the air. Choose a racket that has a high enough swing weight but not too high that could result in poor techniques and stress on the arm. Stiffness – Stiffer racket frames tend to be harsher on the arm as the shock and vibration travel from the racket to the arm. More flexible rackets will generally be more forgiving for tennis elbow. Head Size and Racket Length – Rackets with larger head size tend to absorb more shock and deflect energy better than smaller ones due to the string flexibility. As the length of the racket increases, so will the pressure on the arm when swinging. String Material & Construction – Nylon strings are softer and are better for tennis elbow, as opposed to the stiffer polyester. Also, string construction such as multifilament strings, which have a softer and more forgiving feel, are better for tennis elbow. String Tension – Lower string tension tends to reduce the overall stiffness of the racket, which will absorb more shock and vibration to the arm, thus is easier on the elbow. Bottom line, there is no "best" racket for tennis elbow. Each player should follow these guidelines and decide what will help to alleviate his/her tennis elbow. See you all at The Courts! For more information, visit our website at https://sites.google. com/view/tennis-fourseasons/home. ~ Stan Lam, (714) 757-2141, slamcpa@gmail.com Tennis Club OUCH!