Start with the free stuff and work down the list
Every option below reduces how much impact reaches your wrist. They're ordered by cost and effort, so work through them in order rather than jumping to the bottom — most players find the fix in the first two.
Restring, if your poly is old
Cheapest fixPolyester loses its shock absorption fast. Past roughly 10–15 hours of play, it stops absorbing impact and starts passing it to your arm — and it doesn't have to be broken for this to happen. If you can't remember your last restring, do this before anything else. It's the single most common equipment cause of a sudden flare-up.
Drop your string tension
FreeA looser stringbed flexes more and absorbs more of the hit. Ask for 44–50 lb with a soft co-poly, or 50–54 lb with gut or multifilament — and if you're currently above that, come down a few pounds at your next restring. More detail in our strings and tension guide.
Switch to a softer string
Cost of a restringNatural gut and multifilament are the gentlest; modern soft co-polys sit in the middle and keep the spin and durability if you don't want to give those up. Stiff poly strung tight is the setup most likely to give you trouble. Our ranked picks are in the best strings for wrist issues.
Check your frame and grip size
Bigger changeA very stiff racquet undoes a lot of what a soft string buys you, and a grip that's too small encourages a tight, twisted hold. If you've done the first three and the wrist still complains, this is the next place to look — see our guide to more forgiving frames.
Add a wrist support
If it suits your caseA support can take some load off the joint while you play. Worth knowing before you buy: wrist braces are designed for particular problems rather than for wrist pain in general, so it's worth being sure the one you pick matches yours.
WristWidget Adjustable Wrist Brace
A slim two-strap brace that supports the wrist joint without immobilising it, so you can play and train while wearing it. It's made specifically for TFCC injuries — a particular problem on the little-finger side of the wrist — so it's the right pick if that's what you're dealing with, and not the one to buy if your wrist trouble is something else. One size, fits either wrist.
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Common Questions
What should I try first?
Your strings, because it's free or close to it. If your poly is more than 10–15 hours old, cut it out. Then drop your tension. Only after that is it worth spending on a different string, frame or support.
What string tension is best if my wrist hurts?
Lower is kinder — roughly 44–50 lb for a soft co-poly, 50–54 lb for gut or multifilament. A looser bed flexes and absorbs more, so less reaches your wrist.
Which strings are easiest on the wrist?
Natural gut and multifilament are softest, with soft co-polys in the middle if you want spin and durability too. See our ranked picks. Stiff poly at high tension is the setup most likely to cause trouble.
Does a wrist brace help?
It depends on the brace and on what's wrong. Braces are built for specific problems rather than for wrist pain in general, so one designed for a different issue won't do much. If you haven't had your wrist looked at, that's worth doing before buying one.
When should I see someone about it?
If it's lasted more than a couple of weeks, or there's clicking, locking, swelling, weakness or numbness. Equipment reduces the load on your wrist; it doesn't treat an injury that's already there.
Not sure which string to pick? Our String Advisor asks about your arm and filters out the harsh options automatically, recommending only arm-friendly strings and a tension to match.
Try the String Advisor →