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Tennis Magazine Suggests On-Court Gear for Handling Heat.

Check out Tennis Magazine's August issue or click here to see Dana Sullivan's round-up of gear for handling the heat of summer on court. All good. 

HEAD introduces the new YOUTEK Radical Series. On Deck, Andy Murray.

Radical changes are in hand for one of the world's best selling racquet frames as HEAD launches its YOUTEK™ Radical Series, one of which Andy Murray plans to switch to in the coming days.

 The YOUTEK Radical Series uses the same YOUTEK technology as  the Speed Series stick that Novak Djokovic plays with; both lines include d3o^TM and grommets with Teflon reducing polymer to reduce friction during hits. YOUTEK is a "smart material" technology that allows the racquet to respond to the specific kind of shot you are hitting,

The differences between the two lines? The new YOUTEK Radical Series offers a combination of power and control for the more classic player. It is not as stiff or heavy as the Speed Series which has a thinner beam and is more of a power choice for heavy hitters.

The three new YOUTEK Radicals include: the YOUTEK Radical Pro (Andy Murray's choice) $210 USD (pictured), the YOUTEK Radical MP/OS a mid-plus and oversized head version, both $210; and the YOUTEK Radical Lite, $200, a super light feeling racquet that makes manuverability a breeze.

New bags for the series are pictured. There are four bags ranging from the 2 racquet backpack, $50 to the 10 racquet Supercombi, $70. All except the backpack offer protection from extreme temperatures.

The HEAD Tour Team bags (orange in color) actually match the new racquet better so if you are a package look lover, that's the bag you want for this stick.

Visit HEAD for more information. Tennis-Warehouse has a demo program so you can play before you buy.

With Weapon Underfoot. Tennis Shoes for Grass Court Play.

You can't see it but when playing on grass, the pros have a key weapon hidden underfoot. Grass court specific shoes have pegged or dimpled soles that provide extra grip for the player's game and protection for the hallowed courts. Hard court or clay specific tennis shoes can be slippery on grass and bad for the surface itself.

Here is what's new on the market -- in the U.K. only -- so U.S. residents, if you want them, call a friend across the pond. There just aren't enough grass courts in the U.S. to make it worth selling them here.

 

Above is the new adidas CC Feather IV Grass shoe, £80 (app. $130 USD). Developed with the London 2012 Olympic games in mind, the outsole features an innovative dimple pattern with rubbery spikes. The spikes grip but give a flat push off area ensuring quick directional change ability for players.

Tim  Henman, reports that he  "found [the shoes] provided amazing grip and support on both dry and damp surfaces..." Dinara Safina, Novak Djokovic, Fernando Verdasco, Marat Safin and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will all wear new adidas for grass at Wimbledon (Novak's will be custom).

Fila has also released a great looking grass court version of their new new-to-market Fila Alfa Wimbledon line (above). Decked out in its namesake's  purple and green the Fila Alfa Wimbledon Grass Court (unisex) is another "dimpled sole" option. Added-value, built-in superaction inserts increase the responsiveness of this shoe, £77 (app $126 USD).

Buy the adidas shoe in the U.K. at: Tennis Nuts, Wigmore and ProDirect. Here's a little video.

The Fila Alpha Wimbledon is online at Shop Wimbledon.

For a pro's take on grass court shoes check out this clip on Travis Parrot's blog. Parrot is U.S. ATP Tour player (currently #25 in dubs). Nike unfortunately only makes their grass-court specific shoe for the pros.

Win a Trip to the 2009 U.S. Open Compliments of Wilson.

As the Official Ball of the U.S. Open, Wilson is once again giving tennis fans a chance to go to the Open and win some great Wilson tennis equipment.

Look for specially marked 3-packs of US Open Wilson tennis balls for details or simply go to Wilson's 2009 US Open Sweepstakes site to register to win. The promotion runs now through August 7, 2009.

Good luck.

The Gear that Powers Robin Söderling, Super Swede.

  

Robin Söderling of Sweden rocked Nadal and Paris all the way to the Roland Garros finals -- his first trip to the upper echelons of a Slam. Here's what powers his game besides major league drive:

His apparel? Loose fitting, bright white and lemon yellow zip front crew and black shorts, all to-be-released Lotto. Shoes? Lotto Raptor Extreme, $84.99. Racquet? The Head MicroGEL Radical MP, $210 the same racquet that Andy Murray uses.

Find Söderling's gear at Tennis-Warehouse, Head and Lotto.

The calm before the storm. Roger Federer waits in style.

 

Roger Federer waits to play Robin Söderling, who's homeland equates his Roland Garros performance with "dunder och bråk," thunder and lightening. Söderling certainly has a wilder on-court style than the Fed who's look always reflects the calm and precision that is his very intelligent game. Time will tell. Another storm ahead Sunday.

Pictured here, Federer wears the Nike Summer Classic Open Polo, $65 in sterling blue with classic charcoal and accents of team orange. The shirt has a subtle tonal herringbone woven into the body-mapped dri-fit. The shorts are the Summer Woven Short, $45 in classic charcoal, more of a traditional cut short with zip fly and hook closure but all performance. Swoosh bandana, $8.

If you are looking for the jacket Federer has been wearing in Paris, the stunner white one with the RF logo and accents of orange and blue, alas it belongs only to the court's prince. It is a beauty and if it does become available, you my friends will be the first to know.

His new Grand Slam Champions Bag champions bag is available however. The six-pack bag is adorned with the country flags of all of the Grand Slams. The bag offers thermoguard and moisture control protection, and pockets lined with gold for better visibility inside. This is a great feature as little stuff can really can be hard to find in those deep dark pockets, $80 USD.

Roger's stick? Wilson [K]Six-One Tour strung with Wilson natural gut and Luxilon big banger. Find it all at Tennis-Warehouse or visit Wilson and Nike.

Image: Getty Images Sport/Ryan Pierse

Save breath and brain with a portable scoring system. Perfect for public courts.

Across the U.S. tis the season for playing outside. That means public parks for those of us looking for free court-time. For recreational teams, leagues and especially competitive match-ups (you know the kind) this portable scorecard set can save you from the disputes and "confusion" that can happen when there are no scoring systems on court. Slide it way over to the net post and it's out of the way.

There are a few styles out there but the Quik Score keeps track of sets and games, $34 USD.

Find it at OncourtOffcourt.com

Prince players Monfils, Sharapova and Bryan bring it on with raw determination and style.

True to their racquet sponsor's motto, Gael Monfils, Maria Sharapova and the brothers Bryan have been ruling the courts at Roland Garros. Monfils, fueled by Parisian passion, has stepped out with an unbelievable game; determination to chart top again has had Sharapova fighting (unfortunately just went down to Cibulkova); and the Bryan brothers, seemingly untouchable, are driving their way towards an eighth Grand Slam title.

Their collective weapons? All Prince. Monfils is using the new EXO³ Rebel 95, $189 USD (one of the Tennisidentity team switched right over after using this stick only one time), Sharapova and the Bryans are using Prince's O3 Speedport Black, $199. This is a new racquet for Maria who previously used the Speedport O3 white.

On-court style: Monfils wears Nike apparel, the Nike Men's Summer Athlete Sleeveless, $55 in electrolime and navy Summer Athlete Short, $45.

Sharapova, also in Nike, has been wearing a special edition dress made just for her. I'm not sure I'd love all that extra fabric anyway.

The Bryan brothers, always adidas. The shirt, adidas' two toned Men's Spring Competition Zip Crew, $43.99 in cyan blue and black, the shorts, Men's Spring Competition 9" short, $35.99.

Find the looks, racquet to shorts at Tennis-Warehouse, Prince, Nike and adidas Tennis .

Editors note: Stay well Maria. It was good to have you back.

Tourna Grip introduces Tourna Tac. Victoria Azarenka takes it to task at Roland Garros.

 

WTA player Victoria Azarenka is the face of the new Tourna Tac grip. Pictured here at Roland Garros you can see hints of the new "tacky" version of the original Tourna Grip. Tourna Tac comes in pink, white and light blue and offers a wet, sticky feel with good moisture absorption in a very soft feel grip. It comes in 3, 10 and 30 packs, $6.25-50.95 USD.  The bros Bryan and Vera Zvonareva also use it.

Looking around the Roland Garros courts, Tourna Grip appears to be the choice of many players. The trademark light blue color and red finishing tape can (sometimes) be seen on the racquets of: Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Dominika Cibulkova and Alexa Glatch. The company says that about 40 percent of men on the tour use Tourna Grip. I've seen it on the racquets of: Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, David Ferrer, Sam Querry, Giles Simon, Mikhail Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov, Tommy Haas, Juergen Meltzer and James Blake. Look around and see who else you spot.

We've noticed that Tourna Grip doesn't slip when wet offering great traction when the grip becomes damp or wet in hot humid conditions. The new tacky version takes it one step further -- good for cooler conditions and for those players who simply prefer tacky (many of them women).

Azarenka's style...the top is the Nike Dri-Fit Day Tank in medium blue with with a dash of electrolime as accent. Pair it with the Nike Day Women's Tennis Skirt, $60 which has a very cute, brief pleat at the bottom. She wore the white version in Miami; you've gotta be trim to wear it.

Learn more at Unique Sports, Nike or Tennis-Warehouse.

Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

New 2009 tennis backpacks. Something for every tennis identity.

 

 

If you travel to the courts via foot, subway or bike, less is definitely more. Even though most racquet bags come with backpack straps, these smaller back packs fit the bill during those times when you just don't want any extra bulk.

Top left the Wilson KTour back pack, holds two racquets with padding around them, has a separate compartent for shoes and is made without PVC (an environmentally friendly effort), $39.95;  top right, the KSwiss Ibiza Tennis Backpack in Navy -- retro-ish and fitting in an all tennis-whites setting, for one-racquet, $39.99. Bottom left the groovy "Tell it to my Heart" Whak Sak, black with rhinestones, holds a tennista's two racquets and essentials. The insulated drink holder keeps a beverage cold and handy, $79.99; Bottom right: the Babolat Classic Club Line Back Pack, $24.95 (has a racquet handle cover -- added value for transit in the rain). Some of Rafa's entourage have been spotted wearing this bag. 

Not pictured: the new Babolat Team Line back pack, $44.95, matches the new Pure Drive racquet. HEAD also makes a sharp looking Djokovic series back pack to go with his new stick, $59.95. 

Find these back-packs and a myriad of others to suit your court identity at Tennis-Warehouse Visit  Whaksak Babolat, Wilson and K-Swiss for other retailers.

Summer 2009 tennis ball promo from Penn. Get more than just yellow balls.

When shopping for tennis balls this summer be on the lookout for these specially marked 4-packs of Penn Championship ($11.99 USD) and Pro Penn+ ($15.99) tennis balls. Inside are gifts or coupons for freebies ranging from carabiner watches, HEAD tennis racquets, to tennis balls for a year! Every package has a little something inside.

Penn Golden Giveaway packages will be at major sporting goods retailers and pro/specialty shops nationwide in June.

For a past review of the Pro Penn+ check out our post here.

Andy Roddick's new stick from the 2009 Babolat Pure Drive Range. An upgrade with personal flair.

 

You may have noticed, Andy Roddick has a new racquet. It's the new Babolat Pure Drive Roddick ($189 USD, unstrung), ideal for expert players with full and fast swings looking for solid feel with spin and a balance of power and control. Head size: 100 sq.in.; weight:11.1 oz; flair: Roddick's sig.

The alternate version, currently used by Sybille Bammer, is the Babolat Pure Drive ($185) again for advanced players, same head size but a tad lighter at 10.6 oz.  Both 2009 Pure Drive sticks are enhanced with what the company calls GT technology. It's a hybrid material that combines braided carbon fibers and tungsten filaments in the racquet head. This combo reduces torque at ball impact and creates power with precision. The blue color remains. Looking forward to a test drive!

The Babolat Pure Drive is available now for demo or purchase at Tennis-Warehouse and through dealers listed at Babolat. Extended and junior versions are available.

Complete your ensemble with the matching blue and black Team bag. They've got them for 3, 6, 9 or 12 racquets. The 3 pack is big enough for your average rec player who wants enough room to store a spare stick, balls and whatever other court essentials without carrying another bag.

For the scoop on Roddick's apparel from Lacoste, click here.

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anabel Medina Garrigues take Titles Using Head MicroGEL racquets.

 

In a Russian showdown Sunday, Svetlana Kuznetsova (pictured above right) won the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, defeating World No.1 Dina Safina in straight sets. This is Kuznetsova’s first WTA title since September 2007. Kuznetsova plays with the HEAD MicroGEL Extreme Pro with Teflon® polymer racquet, $200 USD and wears Fila.

Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain (above left), who plays with the same racquet as Kuznetsova, conquered the title of Fes, Morocco, winning against No. 8 seeded Ekaterina Makarova. The victory in Fes marked her ninth career title – the first one in 2009. Garrigues wears adidas.

Buy or learn more at HEAD or Tennis-Warehouse.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball and On Your Sight.

 

OnTheBaseline.com has just published my newest Tape Talk article on the importance of wearing sunglasses on court. Check it out by clicking here. Pictured here Samantha Stosur wears Oakley.

HEAD Launches YOUTEK Racquet Line. Finally, the Scoop on Novak Djokovic's New Stick.

Although we have been entertained by Novak's teaser speed lessons, class is over with the unveiling of HEAD's new YOUTEK^TM line. What's all the fuss you ask? It's actually pretty cool.

HEAD YOUTEK offers a technology that adapts to every shot you hit using d3o^TM  in the racquet shaft. d3o is a "smart material" that dramatically changes its behavior under impact. It reacts to the needs of a player in nano seconds providing a softer touch and better feel on slow speed impacts, like slices and drop shots, and increasing in stiffness to create power on high speed impacts, like serves and passing shots.

YOUTEK racquets also offer Teflon^® friction reducing polymer in the grommets which allows strings to slide with little friction or energy loss, translating to more powerful hits.

The following new HEAD racquets are part of the series: Speed Pro, $225 USD, used by Djokovic (above); the Speed MP 16/19 and 18/20 $225; Speed Elite, $210: Speed Lite $210; and Speed Junior $120. The racquets are designed for player levels in that order as well.

Learn more at HEAD or test drive and buy at Tennis-Warehouse.

Tennis Magazine Releases 2009 Shoe Buyer's Guide

Tennis Magazine has released its review of 2009 tennis shoes.

Reviewer and play-test ratings are offered by the magazine's editors as usual but writer Dr. David G. Sharnoff, D.P.M., also looks at a few foot-types (supinated, pronated, neutral)  and matches the current styles with those types of feet. Nice added value.

Check it out online or in the May print issue of Tennis Magazine.

Michelin Racing Technology in a Tennis Shoe. New from Babolat.

Auto racing technology in a tennis shoe? Tis true.  Babolat has partnered with Michelin to bring exceptional traction and durability to our on-court soles. The shoes are lower to the ground, better ventilated and lighter than previous styles; the Michelin man is unobtrusively printed on the back heels.

Pictured above is the Propulse Lady 2, worn by Nadia Petrova and this editor (absolutely no game comparison intended). These were out-of-the-box comfortable, no break in required, snug and light, a true-to-size fit for my narrow foot. The adjustable new footbelt technology gives the Propulse a 4-point super secure fit -- another racing analogy. On-court, lateral and diagonal movement felt great.

Babolat reports that the Michelin Optimized Cell System technology (OCS) in the new range makes these 40% more resistant to abrasion. This is GREAT news for hard court players who can go through up to 8 pairs of tennis shoes a year. Platform tennis players who go through even more, should rejoice at the possible savings these soles will generate.

The Propulse 2, left, worn and signed by Andy Roddick, is the men's option within the Propulse range.

Propulse Lady 2 MSRP $104 USD, Propulse 2 $109. The junior version, the Propulse Junior 2, is $59.90.

Michelin technology is also being offered in the new Babolat Team and Drive lower priced shoe ranges.

Find a retailer at Babolat or buy at Tennis-Warehouse.

Andy Murray Wins Men's Sony Ericsson Singles. Here's His Gear.

Congrats to Andy Murray who captured his third ATP title of the season Sunday winning against fellow HEAD player Novak Djokovic. 

“I think any time you win a tournament, obviously it gives you confidence,” said Murray. “The Masters 1000s... they're tough tournaments to win. Like all of your wins, it contributes to your confidence going into the slams.”

Andy (and his brother Jamie) wore a bespoke Fred Perry top, a custom colored version of the Australian Open T, $52. USD and Men's Performance shorts, $44. Hmmm,  anyone else not happy about the custom trend in tennis? Nike is doing this and now Fred Perry. C'mon guys, we want the real deal, not versions of.

Andy's stick? Microgel Radical MP, $210 USD. Shoes? adidas Barricade V.

TennisExpress carries Fred Perry in the US. Visit HEAD for more info and where to buy on the racquet OR test drive at Tennis-Warehouse.

Victoria Azarenka Electric in Electrolime.

 

Victoria Azarenka, aka Vika, will meet Serena Williams Saturday, this time healthy (hopefully), and for the Sony Ericsson Open title.

Vika's gear: Azarenka plays with the Head MicroGEL Extreme Pro with Teflon polymer, $200 USD. Pictured above in Miami she wears the Nike Women's Slam Day Tank, $60, and Skort, $60 in white with electrolime accents. There'a cute cover-up top for this outfit too, the electrolime Nike Women's Trend Cover up, terry with a vivid pink zipper, $60. Sharp. Could she look more color coordinated?

Find a racquet retailer at Head or shop Nike or Tennis-Warehouse.

Image Matthew StockmanGetty Images. Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

Juan Martin Del Potro. The Gear That Powers His Game.

 

Juan Martin Del Potro rocked Miami by denying world #1 Rafael Nadal the chance at his first Sony Ericsson title. The shorn and sleeveless Argentine is a hot one to watch in 2009. Just last year he rose from top 40 to top 10. The guy's got game (and lots more..those eyes for ex.).

Del Potro plays with the Wilson [K} Six One 95 racquet, $200 USD.  He recently signed a long-term contract with the brand so expect to see him stocked in Wilson from strings to bags for a good long time.

Del Potro's look at the Sony Ericsson includes the Nike Summer Athlete Sleeveless in mint green with classic charcoal and white, $55 and Nike men's summer athlete shorts, 21" in dark obsidian (navy), $45. Bandanna style headband in navy. Nice to see someone still working the exposed biceps.

Find a racquet retailer at Wilson or buy Del Potro's gear at Tennis Warehouse.

Ame and Lulu's New Tennis Backpack Now Available.

 

For the recreational tennis player with prep in their step, behold the new Ame & Lulu Tucket and Hot Pink Backpack. It holds two racquets, has three interior pockets, an exterior pocket and adjustable closure and straps, 20" x 16" MSRP $88 USD (add $20 for a monogram).

Here's the image: You, Nantucket on a cruiser, riding down a sandy road on the way to your morning match, racquet bag on your back. That's this bag. Also available with grass green accents. Sweet quality.

Learn more or buy at Ame & Lulu.

Prince Premier LT 16 Rated #1 Overall Synthetic String Ever by the U.S. Stringer's Assoc.

 Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) magazine has just reported that Prince Premier LT 16 has been chosen as the #1 overall synthetic string ever tested by the United States Stringers Association. Wow. That's quite a statement seeing as the team has tested 124 kinds of synthetic string over the years. "With Premier LT, the excellence was virtually across the board," reports RSI's March issue. "The only other string we've tested with similar across-the-board scores is a natural gut."

Prince Premier LT is a multifilament string offering Linear Technology for great control, comfort and touch, like gut but without the price tag. It was included in my recent article on string choices in on THE BASELINE. Premier LT 16 is an excellent choice for players with a tendency to tennis-elbow. It is also the recommended string for the Prince EXO³Red 105 and EXO³ Silver 118.

MSRP: $16 USD per package

Learn more or find a retailer at Prince or buy at Tennis-Warehouse.

Babolat Launches New Y Racquet, An Oversize Offering Power AND Precision.

Babolat has just unveiled its newest racquet line, the Babolat Y, an oversized series offering players both power and precision, something many oversize racquets do not. These racquets were designed specifically for the club player, men and women, age 40+ who play recreationally and/or competitively several times a week. Many of these players already use an oversized head. The four key technologies in the Y's construction: side drivers, dual-graphite construction cellular grommet system and smart grip, combine to deliver optimal power in every swing and absolute precision in every shot.

The Y line includes the: Babolat Y112 Limited, $249 USD; Y112 (on left), $229.00; Y112 with smart grip, $229; and Y118 (on right) with or without smart grip, $239. Babolat VS Natural Gut String is recommended for all of the racquets for added comfort and forgiveness. The optional ergonomic smart grip, makes holding the racquet less of an effort for older hands.

The Y112 Limited is for a higher level player with a fuller swing than the other versions of the Y which will benefit a player with a shorter swing, i.e., slice and place players.

There's lots more to know so check it all out or find a retailer at Babolat. Tennis-Warehouse will also carry the Y and offers a a demo program.

Tennis Magazine Releases 2009 Racquet Guide.

Tennis Magazine has released its review of 2009 tennis racquets including the just-out stick by adidas. Player reviews by those who tested blacked out models (meaning they couldn't see cosmetics) offer real consumer oriented perspectives. Absent in the line-up is the still-to-be-released racquet currently being used by Novak Djokovic.

Click  here for Jon Levey's 2009 Racquet Guide online at Tennis.com. The reviews are in the April issue of the print publication.

mi adidas are Black, White and Slime. Tsonga's are Black and Neon Yellow. How About Yours?

 Have you seen Tsonga's tennis shoes? He designed them on mi adidas. Previously only available in select adidas Sport Performance stores, mi adidas customization is now online in the U.S. I just cooked up a rad pair of adidas Barricade Vs for myself.

You pick the shoe style and colors for the top, sides, laces, grommets, bars and soles. Everything is custom, down to the shoe size. One foot smaller than the other? Order each of your dogs a different size/width. Toughest part is deciding which of the myriad of color combinations you want. Go wild. I created four designs and then made my choice after looking them over top to bottom with the 360-degree zoom and rotate buttons. You can also have a message printed on the back of each shoe. Mine say FOCUS.

Check it out at mi adidas. Custom Barricade Vs will run you $140 USD; no charge to design. Have fun but my bet is you won't be able to resist the purchase. Very cool.

For info on Tsonga's look above check out our post on Jo-Wilfried.

Speed Lessons by Novak Djokovic. Teaser # 1 of 6. Take the Test For A Chance to Win.

 Novak Djokovic and the crew at Head have come up with a little cartoon series designed to put a smile on your face and a burning desire to know what the heck Novak's new stick is all about.

Check out the first in in the series of six at Speed Lessons. Take the speed test (on the desk) and you might win one of ten Head SPEED racquets signed by the talented player and funny-man.

Enjoy. The racquets will be out in April/May 2009.

Cole Haan's New Racquet Bag. Exquisite Style With a Touch of Green.

Maria Sharapova is the face of Cole Haan's new ad campaign and one of their new bags this season is this swish little retro styled tennis bag. The Cole Haan Dylan racquet bag is made of canvas trimmed in chrome-free vegetable leather and is comprised of Bionic yarn containing fibers made from recycled plastic bottles. Each bag incorporates eleven recycled plastic bottles. Nice effort.

The bag hosts 6" and 12" shoulder straps (the 12" is detachable), zip closure tennis racquet holder, cell phone and PDA pockets and lots of monied class. Check/measure your racquet head before you buy. Oversized heads will not fit as the opening is 11" wide and 14" long.

Learn more or find a store at Cole Haan. Retail only for this baby. For the tennista who simply must tote designer, $550 USD.

In Color and Step With Rafael Nadal. More on the Man's Gear.

Rafa's Australian kit apparently has two footwear options, the Air Max Breathe Cage II that I mentioned here on January 27 and the Nike Air Max Court Ballistic pictured left, $120.00 USD -- they run a bit large so go down a half-size when ordering. The shoe includes LunarLite and DragOn X technologies which make the shoes light and durable.

These beauties, of course, go perfectly with the full -on charcoal, neon turquoise and volt color combo Rafa is wearing but would also look really hot with a dark shirt and pair of long white shorts (try the Nadal long check tennis shorts, $55.00); just in case you are hesitant to recreate Nadal's on-court look in its entirety but simply must have a piece of the action.

Check 'em out online at Nike or Tennis-Warehouse.

Wilson Launches New Visible FX Technology. Enter to Win a FX Racquet of Your Choice.

 

Wilson has just introduced its 2009 [K] Factor line of racquet frames incorporating cool, new generation technology, called FX. FX means [K] Factors multiplied. The new line utilizes a Quad Shaft construction in the throat area of the racquet, four shafts vs. the traditional two, translating to more stability so better control over your shots. Four key technologies are also incorporated, [K]arophite Black, [K]onnector, [K]ontour Yoke and [K]ompact center which contribute to improved feel, strength and stability. The racquets all offer a bigger than traditional sweet spot.

Seven new models get the new technology: [K] One.FX, [K] Three.FX, [K] Four.FX, [K] Zen Team.FX, [K]obra Team.FX (pictured), [K] Pro Team. FX and K Tour Team.FX. The [K}obra Tour and [K]obra Team FX are player's frames.The others fall into the game improvement category with varying head sizes and weights. The throat of these racquets is very unique looking with a vertical hole in each side allowing for the four shafts. Learn and see more at Wilson or test drive at Tennis-Warehouse. No Wilson sponsored tour pros are currently using these models just yet. List prices range between $180 - $300 USD.

Enter to win a free FX racquet of your choice by going to Wilson/FX, watching the quick video and then registering at the end where prompted. You must watch the video to enter. They are giving away one racquet a month. Good luck.

Elena Dementieva Heads to the Australian Open With a Perfect Record and Big Passion.

 You go girl!  Elena Dementieva heads into the Australian Open having won two for two this year. Pictured left she wears her winning combination from both Auckland and Sydney, January 2009.

The dress and matching visor are from Yonex and are part of the company's new spring collection. We've been told it won't be available until April, so we'll have to just watch the line in action a bit longer. Seems the fiery red dress has channeled some burning passion for the Russian.

Elena's 2008 Yonex dresses are still available at Tennis-Warehouse: Melbourne, Paris and New York. Her stick is the Yonex RDS 001 Midplus.

Image courtesy Sony Ericsson WTA/Getty Images.

Anna Chakvetadze To Carry Wilson and Wear Fila in Australia and Beyond.

Twenty-one year old Anna Chakvetadze, ranked 18 on the Sony Ericsson WTA tour at the end of 2008, has just signed a long term agreement with Wilson. Anna will debut her Wilson [K] Blade Team Racquet and Eco Pro Tour Super Six bag at the Australian Open.

The Russian beauty has also recently signed an apparel endorsement agreement with Fila and will step out in Melbourne wearing the new Fila Spring 2009 Baseline Apparel Collection. More to come on that line which I got to preview in November...

Look for Anna's gear soon at Wilson, Fila and Tennis-Warehouse.

Image courtesy of Wilson.

Grip Gripe? Try Something New.

As with racquets and gear, everyone likes something a little different. There are around nineteen retailers selling overgrips, each one offering multiple choices so no excuses, there is something out there for you. The point is to make your racquet feel fresh and familiar every time you step out to play. Sweaty hands? Go with something absorbent like Tournagrip. Dry hands? Go tacky. Gamma offers Smart Grip. Want a little something extra to hold onto? Try something with treads. Wilson sells the new Pro Overgrip Perforated. 

Overgrips do wear out. When yours doesn't feel right anymore, unwrap and pop on a fresh one. Some rec players really let theirs get dirty before they make a change. Puhleeze...at under $4 for a pack of 3, that's cheap refreshment for anyone's game.

We've had a few inquiries about the grip Caroline Wozniacki is currently using in New Zealand. It's the yellow Babolat VS Original, the thinnest overgrip on the market today. With a smooth uninhibiting surface and a .4 mm thickness, this is the choice of many pros who require total feel and control over their racquet -- nothing extra.  Kind of a "nothing comes between between me and my Calvins" thing. The yellow version Caroline is using looks snap with the bright yellow tops adidas has her in this season. Tennistas, look around, overgrips come in a multitude of colors; just another way to look put together on court.

PS The Babolat VS three pack comes in a little case you can toss in your racquet bag, keeping the fresh overgrips together and clean. Nice extra.

Find a retailer at Babolat, Gamma or Wilson or find them all at Tennis-Warehouse.

HEAD Signs Novak Djokovic. New Racquet Technology Coming in April.

 Novak Djokovic has signed with HEAD and is playing with the company's newest, not-yet-released technology in Brisbane this week. "This gives me an exciting opportunity to play with a racquet that has the technology with the right feel to compliment my aggressive style of play," says Djokovic.

We mere mortals must wait until April for a chance to check it out. We'll keep you posted.

Image: Courtesy of HEAD

Prince Unveils its EXO3 Racquet Line for 2009.

 

Prince has announced EXO³ its 2009 high performance racquet line. EXO³ features a patented Energy Bridge^TM which suspends the string bed, expands the sweet spot (83%bigger than usual) and delivers a 26% increase in spin(ability), a 50% reduction in frame vibration and 25% more control. These are not a cosmetic upgrade from last year's O series.

The hot looking line-up includes four models and six frames: EXO³ Silver 118, EXO³ Red 105,  EXO³ Graphite 100, EXO³ Graphite 93, EXO³ Rebel 95 and EXO³ Rebel Team 95.

Two of the line come with calfskin leather grips for a little new school meets old school attitude, a nice touch.

The racquets range in price from $180 USD for the Rebel Team 95 to $300 for the Silver 118. Check out the new site Prince has set up dedicated to the EXO³ line. You'll find everything you need to know about the line there -- in particular, how to match one of these racquets with your game.

Find a retailer at PrinceTennis or demo and shop at Tennis-Warehouse. The racquets begin hitting US stores January 15.

Gael Monfils uses the EXO³ Rebel 95. Our team loves it too.

Image courtesy of Prince Tennis.

2008 Best Tennis Gear of the Year. Jon Levey Makes His Picks.

Watch here as Jon Levey, Senior Gear Editor at TENNIS magazine, makes his Best of 2008 Gear picks. Among them a racquet, racquet bag, court shoes and more. Agree with Jon? What are your picks for the year?

John McEnroe Serves Up A Treat For The Dunlop D Squad And Introduces The New Dunlop 2009 Aerogel 4D Racquet Range

Dunlop's D-Squad program is a grassroots initiative to encourage racquet usage amongst junior players worldwide. The program also identifies future potential players for international Dunlop sponsorship. Pictured here is John McEnroe who brought his expertise to coach the next generation of tennis stars at the Chelsea Harbour Club in London, England this past weekend.

The kids got to hit with the former Wimbledon champ and had the chance to try out the new Dunlop 2009 Aerogel 4D racquet range, the: 2HUNDRED, 2HUNDRED 16x19, 3HUNDRED, 5HUNDRED, 5HUNDRED Tour, 5FIFTY LITE, 5FIFTY SUPER-LITE, 7HUNDRED, 9HUNDRED and the SUPER-LITE series. All AEROGEL 4D racquets offer the new 4D technology to enable them to perform four times better than standard carbon racquets. Go to Dunlop to learn more or find a retailer. On sale now in the U.K., and coming soon to the U.S. Check Tennis-Warehouse. We'll get an image up shortly so you can take a look.

Calling all Prince Fans. New Racquet Technology Coming Our Way?

"Can you feel the energy," Prince asks. From the looks of this little clip something good is brewing for 2009. A new technology and racquet line maybe?  Watch here. We'll keep you posted.

Clay Courters. Your Shoes Could Make A Difference.

The only way that your tennis equipment can make a difference in your clay court game is on your feet. Most players wear tennis shoes designed for all around play, meaning both hard and clay courts. Surprisingly there are very few clay court specific shoes. We spoke with Thomas Otton, Product Manager at Babolat, on the subject. "Playing on clay requires a better grip than on hard courts, due to a more slippery and movable surface," said Otton. "The specificity of clay court shoes is that they have deeper herringbones in order to increase grip. Hard courts require less grip but more durability, which explains why hard court shoes have thinner herringbones so they wear out more slowly."

Otton explained that the new Babolat Team Clay III shoe (pictured left, the choice of Igor Andreev) takes into account the need for grip with large and deep herringbones on the internal side of the outsole and features thinner herringbones on the medial side of the outsole which is used for sliding. Another nice feature is the clay stopping tongue that prevents little bits of the surface from entering the shoe.The Team Clay III is available in men's sizes only (sorry ladies) and has a $89.00 USD price.

Other clay court specific shoes include the adidas Clima Cool IVY III $75 (pictured right -- to be released in January 09) for women, the adidas Clima Cool Feather IV, $100 for men (also Jan 09, but the CC Feather III is available now) and the Wilson Trance II, $79.00, available now for both men and women.

Hey you've got more than one pair of day shoes in your closet, why settle for just one pair for tennis, especially if one of these specialists could make a difference in your game?

Learn more or buy at Tennis-Warehouse You can also shop at adidas or look for retailers at  Wilson and  Babolat.

Intermediates Not Moving at Age 20 Speed, Add Power and Control To Your Game With The HEAD Crossbow 4

Intermediates (USTA 3.0 to 3.5) looking for more power and control may want to check out the CrossBow 4, the newest in the popular HEAD CrossBow line. This is a excellent choice for the person who doesn't use an over the shoulder, topspin generating swing, someone whose slices and volleys are go-to favorites. The larger than conventional sweetspot is an added bonus and CrossBow technology* adds nice power. Give it a try. Look for it beginning in November at Tennis-Warehouse or find a retailer at HEAD.

*CrossBow technology helps the racquet to store and release power while you hit like a loaded spring or bow.

Lacoste Performance Footwear And A What's Up (?) On Women's Style.

Add a little gator bite to your tennis wardrobe with these shoes. Lacoste's newest performance footwear styles are great looking, lightweight and super comfortable. The women's colors are unique gotta haves including the bahamas blue (above right) and pale yellow. The men's come in black (above left), navy and white. The Lacoste Repel retails for $135 USD, the higher end of the tennis sneaker price range, but they offer many performance features including memory foam, gel support and moisture wicking lining. Really nice.

Next, sorry but we have a gripe. We've all seen Andy Roddick's Lacoste kit on the market, but the women's styles on Nathalie Dechy, Emilie Loit, Alize Cornet and Dominika Cibulkova are simply not available for purchase ANYWHERE. What is up with that? The only piece available that the WTA ladies are wearing is the skirt we've seen on Dominika (Active Tipped Interlock Tennis Skirt, $125 USD).

With Lacoste becoming the Official Sponsor of the 2009 Australian Open, including being tournament outfitter, hopefully the company will begin to expand its line to allow more female players to get some of the great alligator style we've seen on the courts this year. Come on Lacoste, serve it up! We're waiting.

Buy the new Repel at Tennis-Warehouse or  Lacoste.

A Racquet Bag One Step Closer to Being Fine Luggage

Maria Sharapova's bag, like Maria, did not make it to the US Open. It's a nice one. Simple, sleek and classy, ladies it goes with anything you wear. The Prince Sharapova US Open bag comes in two sizes, a six pack ($100.00 USD) and the 3 pack ($90.00). You really don't want a smaller bag than that. It's nice to be able to pack everything in one place: balls, towel, hat, sunglasses, etc. Why do tennis racquet retailers make those single bags anyway? 

These black and white beauties are well thought out. The six pack has one climate control racquet pocket, a removable wet/dry bag and an outside pocket for storing cell phone and keys. The purselike flap on top and embroidered Sharapova crest renders it attractive luggage, not just any old racquet bag. Buy at Tennis Warehouse or find a retailer at Prince Tennis.

This Is It. The Weapon of Choice Among Ranked Seniors.

Talk about sweet spots! This racquet has the largest allowable headsize in tennis, 135 square inches (compare with more standard 100 sq. in.). It is hugely popular among seniors, 65s. 70s and 75s, both men and women, who enjoy the benefits of the larger than usual hitting area. It's called The Weed and ranked senior players who use this brand stick include Jim Nelson of California who has earned 98 USTA golden balls and George McCabe of Ohio, an International 75's doubles champion.

The Weed is lightweight and comes in six colors and a variety of lengths, 27" to 28 1/2" (to increase reach). The EXT is their bestselling model, $228 USD strung and shipped. The manufacturer recommends calling them prior to purchasing so that they can guide you to the racquet that will suit your game and level. Go to Weed USA to learn more or call 1-800-WEED-RKT.

Babolat Introduces the XS Line of Racquets for Intermediate Players

If you are an intermediate level player looking to change racquets, check these out. Babolat has just introduced its new XS line featuring the company's new Xtra Sweetspot technology.  These are lightweight, maneuverable racquets with a grommet design that significantly increases the sweet spot, which is helpful to those among us who don't hit dead center on every single ball. You can see the new Pebax grommets on each side of the racquet face above. The new technology means that you really don't have to go to an oversized head if off-center hits are a problem. Both the Babolat XS 102 and 105 are MSRP $119 USD unstrung. String recommendation: Babolat Addiction (comfort). There appears to be very little difference between the two models; color is one and the 105 has a slightly larger head size. Learn more at Babolat or go to Tennis-Warehouse to buy or demo.

Please note, the yellow XS 102 shown above is only available in Europe. The U.S. distributed version is blue.

adidas, Swinging Back Into Racquets

Are you old enough to remember adidas racquets? This is a classic shot. Tennis legends Ivan Lendl (pictured) and Ilie Nastase wore the tip to toe adidas package with obvious success but soon after the racquets slipped from the company's line. Well they're back and we're dying to check them out. New for Spring 2009, six new racquets total: four Barricade models, The Response, and the Feather. All are named after benchmark adidas tennis shoes.

The Barricade Tour is designed for the tournament player, the Barricade Tour Light for strong juniors, the Barricade (pictured below), a more forgiving racquet, for the recreational player, and the Barricade junior for budding tennis stars. All Barricades feature adidas' power structure technology to improve torsional stability -- more simply, it adds pop and a larger sweetspot.

The Response offers a combination of power and control for most club players. A higher frame height gives greater power while the stiffness and string pattern bring control. The Feather is the lightest of the new adidas tennis racquet range but with the thickest frame it offers a little extra power for the recreational or older club player seeking an easy to handle racket.

The Barricade range of rackets will be out in the US February 2009 and will retail between $145 and $185 USD. They will be sold through adidas' own retail as well as tennis specialty stores worldwide. We'll keep you posted. 

Lendl image courtesy of the Information Research Center at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport, Rhode Island.www.tennisfame.com

Tennisidentity Gear Review: Groove Your Ground Strokes and Volleys with the WristAssist

The WristAssist lived up to Brad Gilbert's billing. Both our teaching pros and players agreed it was an effective tool in learning proper wrist positioning when hitting ground strokes and volleys.

After a few awkward tries, our hits felt solid and we could feel the motion that the device strives to communicate. At net the WristAssist will not allow you to drop your wrist, a common problem for recreational players. The company suggests wearing the WristAssist frequently in the beginning, grooving different kinds of shots until you feel the positioning and stroke naturally in order to replicate it on your own; they call it brain training. This is not a one and done; it is a training device that seems quite effective.

The WristAssist is quick and easy to put on. It is made of comfortable, quality materials that maintain an adjustable hold. The device doesn't give in to tension so the hit you get is the same one, time after time.  Learn more or buy at Square Hit Tennis. Retail price is $69.95 USD.

The Gear that Rocked With Andy Murray's Game

Following in the footsteps of Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray wore Fred Perry at the U.S. Open. This top and short are part of Fred Perry's 2008 Grand Slam range. Activeair fabric, ergonomic seams and a clean, loose silhouette make this performance line comfy on court, a great choice for the player who likes more of an untailored, everyday style. Pictured here is the limestone and french navy US Open Match tee, L 35 (app. $61 USD) and the Fred Perry Short 08, L 30 (app. $53 USD).

Andy's racquet is the HEAD MicroGEL Radical MP, his brand of choice since age 12. This was his first career grand-slam final.

Check out more on Andy's racquet at Tennis-Warehouse or HEAD.

You can buy the Fred Perry pieces online at PWP Sport, England. Learn more about the line at Fred Perry.

Babolat Launches New Line of Nadal Junior Racquets -- Just Like the Big Guy's

Babolat just unveiled a new line of Nadal inspired junior racquets. Most kids want to play with what their favorite pro uses but it really isn't a good idea unless they are ready level-wise. This new line solves the problem by offering the adult Aeropro Drive cosmetic, looking just like Nadal's, but in a version suited to a beginner's game, ages 4-9.

The new line, out this month, offers five versions, the Nadal 100,110, 125, 140 and 145. Head size, weight and length increase with each model number. All are made of a lightweight aluminum construction and are great for learning top-spin, one of Raphael's biggest weapons. MSR prices start at $24.95 USD. Get your kid one of these and grow some champion game.

Learn more at Babolat. Available through Babolat authorized tennis retailers and soon at Tennis-Warehouse.

A two handled tennis racquet? Check it out. Yup, it's legal.

We first spotted this racquet, the "Natural Power Grip," in Newport this summer at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. You can see it in action now at the Pilot Pen in New Haven. Yes it IS legal and it's the racquet of choice for brothers Brian and Dann Battisone, ranked doubles tour players who also rep the unusual stick.

The Natural Power Grip was designed to position the hand, elbow and arm during hitting in a way that helps to reduce stress related joint injuries, allowing players to hit at various contact points, maximizing power, disguise, reach  and spin. There are four different lengths each with a 110 sq. in. head. The racquet retails for $200 USD. So far, more than twenty junior, open and professional titles have been won with this racquet -- it's beginning to get some respect in the hands of these guys. Learn more and watch the tutorials at Natural Tennis. You can also view a newsclip on them HERE.

HEAD's Wawrinka Brings Home Gold From Beijing

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka (pictured here) and Roger Federer earned an Olympic Gold Medal in men's doubles after a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 victory over the Swedish team of Thomas Johansson and Simon Aspelin.

On their way, Wawrinka and Fed defeated the No. 1 seeded Bryan brothers, playing for the US, 7-6(6), 6-4. That was a surprise.

Wawrinka plays with the HEAD Flexpoint Prestige MP, a favorite of one of our team members.

Find a retailer or learn more at HEAD. Tennis-Warehouse carries the racquet and offers more info as well.

"My life is pretty much packed into my racquet bag." New Number, New Bag

Jelena has a new ranking and a new bag. Her jump to #1 is official on August 11.

She still plays with the Prince O3 Speedport Pro White but has changed bags and will now carry the new Prince Pro Team 100 Bag (see below) which comes in black and green and black and white. JJ will sport the latter which, of course, matches her racquet.

The bags (3, 6 and 12 packs) are sharp with athletic piping and accents of durable black patent, fully loaded, top-quality. Note: only the 6 and 12 packs have the thermal foil lining that is crucial to temperature control. Nikolay Davydenko will carry the black and green model. Prices have not yet been released. The bags will be available in mid-September at Tennis-Warehouse . Learn more soon or find a retailer at Prince.