The trap in choosing an “arm-friendly” racquet

Try these steps in order

1. If you currently have elbow, wrist, or shoulder pain, or ordinary activities are uncomfortable, stop demoing racquets and playing. Record when symptoms began, which movements aggravate them, and how much you have played; seek an appropriate medical evaluation and staged return-to-play criteria. After you are cleared to return, record recent weekly court hours, lesson and match intensity, and rest days. If you sharply increase playing time on the day you buy a new racquet, you cannot separate the racquet's response from the increase in load.
2. Record your current racquet's actual weight, balance, swingweight, grip setup, string material and gauge, and stringing date. Compare every “arm-friendly” candidate on the same fields instead of relying on one low stiffness number. With conditions matched, play a 5-minute mini-rally, 10 minutes at the baseline, and a small number of volleys and serves. Observe late contact, whether you squeeze the grip on off-center contact, and whether normal depth requires excessive effort.
3. Within the permitted return plan, increase court time gradually and record the response during the session, immediately afterward, and the next day. If symptoms return or worsen, follow the stopping criteria instead of testing longer in an attempt to adapt. Ask a coach about preparation, contact point, and grip force; a stringer about the string setup within the racquet's recommended range; and a medical professional about symptoms and return load. Keep those roles distinct and finalize the setup only when all conditions are stable.