Category Archives: shoulder
Here now! Performance T-shirts with a message!
Our new 100% performance fabric t-shirts are already at the World Headquarters and are now available on the website!
Simply click on the “shopping” tab or right here to go to the place to buy your t-shirt and support the “Play Harder not Hurter” mission.
How exciting is that!
Here is a brief preview of the t-shirt message, our guiding principle!
No Underage Polyester, Please
White T-shirt
Bright Pink T-shirt
Purple T-shirt
Each shirt color is available in small/petite (S/P), medium (M), large (L), and Extra Large (XL).
Each shirt is $25.00 If you pick up your shirt at the World Headquarters.
Each shirt is $29.00 If shipped in the United States.
If you have a special garment you would like our message on, please let us know. We can do it in the World Headquarters.
The Elephant in the Room!
I suspect we all have heard that expression!
It means there is something that everyone tries to ignore, but it is too large to do so!
I recently read an article in Racquet Sports Industries authored by Georgetta L. Morque. The title is “Tackling Tennis Elbow.” Tennis elbow is an important topic and deserves much attention. Georgetta is writing about ways to mitigate tennis elbow after the fact.
Let’s try to prevent tennis elbow, so it does not need to be treated!
When we say stiff, it means a string with less than 4% elongation at 60 pounds which is our testing parameter. Most strings, and for this discussion, strings exhibiting that property will be monofilament PET-based (polyester).
Fully understanding this required a lot of testing, both lab and play, for many playing styles and racquets. To make a long story short, as a racquet technologies business, we decided not to promote polyester strings for most players. That sounds silly, but why take a chance when you don’t have to!
Our success is based on helping you, the player, perform the best you can, so it does not make sense to promote something contrary to that philosophy. Probably 75% of our clients have come to us for something different, so we have a “head start.”
So why do so many players use it or want to use it?
We believe it is because they have not been exposed to alternative string materials. Some outstanding players at the pro level use it, so it must be good, and it is for about 10-11 games. Of course, manufacturers and marketers of polyester string stand to make a nice profit! It is in their best interest to promote products by adding some terminology and material to make the string less stiff.
A polyester string is deficient in power and needs to be walloped, and the harder it is hit, the stiffer it becomes, which is the problem. Developing bodies can’t tolerate that level of impact for long.
New KT Tape Products!
KT Tape is probably the most recognized gear any athlete can wear! You see it on many world-class athletes typically placed where they may be experiencing discomfort or want to reduce the possibility of such!
Racquet Quest has added three (3) new KT Tape products we believe are essential to better performance.
The new Wave:
- Clinically proven and FDA cleared device for relief of chronic musculoskeletal pain
- 250 hours of battery life for consecutive or intermittent use
- Sensation-free electromagnetic pulses that are safe and effective
- Flexible loop is easy to place
- Water resistant, safe to wear during regular physical activity and during sweating
The new Chafe Safe:
- Protects friction-prone areas from blisters & hot spots for up to 24 hours
- Sweat & water resistant
- Mess-free, non-sticky, & smooth application
- No clogging of pores
The new Anti Blister tape:
- Designed to help prevent athlete blister, chafing, and hot spot formation*
- Ultra-durable, flexible, and breathable synthetic fabric
- Easily conforms to skin and extremely thin to minimize friction
- Precut 3.5” strips for convenient use in most common treatment areas
- KT Tape is proud to provide the KT PERFORMANCE + and KT RECOVERY + product lines, supporting athletes of all levels and helping them to perform at their best. Train longer, finish stronger
These important products contribute to Racquet Quest’s commitment to keeping our clients playing comfortably forever!
If you are new to KT Tape just click here and you will go to the very comprehensive “how to” page!
Dealing with Options, and What are the Options?
The little video you see above is just a reminder that we do not promote polyester based string for underage players! So, what is underage? Oh, under 100 would be a good number, I think!
OK, smart alec what are the options?
- No Polyester
PEEK/Zyex
Well, there are many, however, if the option is only relative to “no polyester” the best option is PEEK material. This material is usually referred to by the brand name Zyex which is the fiber division of Victrex of England and known by the Ashaway name as well. This material is normally found as a monofilament construction as is most polyester materials.
PEEK/Zyex offers exceptional durability and energy!
Multifilament
- Premium Playability
Natural gut still is the number one playing string available. We use Babolat and Luxilon natural gut but there are other options like Pacific, Klip, and others.
- Excellent Playability
Multifilament construction can act as a spring and return both performance, power, and comfort. Typically the more individual fibers the better. These fibers are usually bonded with a soft adhesive and show signs of “fraying” during use.
Strings in this category include Tecnifibre, Ashaway, Babolat, Head, Yonex, and Gosen and others. Expect to pay $42.00 + for these strings installed.
- Playability
These multifilament strings are typically constructed using fewer larger diameter fibers to enhance durability. The same “fraying” occurs with this grade of string as well however the larger diameter will last a bit longer usually.
Strings in the category include Tecnifibre, Babolat, Head, Yonex, IsoSpeed, Gamma, and others. Expect to pay between $35.00 and $40.00 for these strings installed.
Synthetic Gut
- Value
There are probably 10000 strings that fall under this umbrella! 9999 of these strings will be a nylon core with one or two overwraps bonded to the outer surface. This material and construction has been around for many, many years and has offered great service to millions of tennis players…and is still in major use today!
Strings in this category include at least one, and probably many more, set from every major brand! If you are really cost-conscious do not overlook this material. Expect to pay $27.00 to $35.00 for these strings installed.
And lastly, what is our gripe with polyester? Click on the link below to find out!
Click here to go to a comprehensive post that will explain our position.
As always, our position is “there are no bad strings just bad applications!”
Racquet Quest, LLC
