Tommy Haas wearing Nike shoes for Wimbledon, not K-Swiss
Tommy Haas is supposed to be head-to-toe K-Swiss but looks like he's laced up his old sponsor, Nike, for Wimbledon. Haas isn't the first pro to switch up shoe brands for a given occasion, but I'm sure K-Swissisn't too happy.
A slight departure from our normal fare, especially during Wimbledon. But we're scifi geeks at heart, and thought this was a cool interpretation of an alternative world's tennis court.
Head has a new line of racquets out there called Youtek (odd name if you ask me). YOUTEK racquets are designed to adapt to all levels of tennis skill, YOUTEK technologies focus on individual playing styles to enhance performance and bring out the best play in "YOU"...
The Head® '09 YOUTEK Speed Pro Tennis Racquetis the racquet used by Novak Djokovic. Its heavier frame with very thin beam provides excellent touch for exceptional feel. Technology and Construction: Head® YOUTEK - d3o/Teflon®. Beam: 18mm, Head Size: 98 sq. in., Weight Unstrung: 11.8 oz. Balance Unstrung: 1-1/3"HL/310mm, Length: 27", Grip String Pattern: 16/19, Swing Style: L5.
The Head® '09 YOUTEK Speed Lite Tennis Racquetis the lightest racquet in the Speed Series and is an excellent option for players with a moderate swing style. This racquet provides the perfect combination of power, maneuverability, control and feel. Technology and Construction: Head® YOUTEK - d3o/Teflon®. Beam: 24mm, Head Size: 102 sq. in., Weight Unstrung: 9.2 oz. Balance Unstrung: even/340mm, Length: 27", String Pattern: 16/19, Swing Style: S2.
Remember Last Year's Nadal/Federer Wimbledon Final
There's no Nadal this year, unfortunately, but Federer's still in the mix and so are a host of other great players - not the least of which is Andy Murray.
Not that any of us will have a lot of free time not taken up by live Wimbledon action, but if you want to relive what many (including me) believe to be the best match ever, last year's Nadal/Federer final here are two options.
Men's adidas Barricade II - ON SALE FOR $99.45 (13% OFF)
The next generation of a modern legend. Hard-core hard-court players need the optimal blend of durability, cushion, support and grip that the new Barricade provides. Upper: adiTUFF™ for best abrasion resistance in the toe area. Synthetic leather upper for light weight and durability. Lining: ClimaLite lining for moisture management and comfort. Inlay: Molded EVA insole for anatomical comfort. Midsole: Compression-molded EVA for lightweight cushioning. 3-D TORSION® for best midfoot integrity. adiPRENE® insert for comfort and shock absorption. adiPRENE®+ maintains forefoot propulsion and efficiency. Outsole: adiWEAR® outsole for best durability in high-wear areas.
Women's adidas Barricade II - ON SALE FOR $99.45 (13% OFF)
The next generation of a modern legend. Hard-core hard-court players need the optimal blend of durability, cushion, support and grip that the new Barricade provides. Upper: adiTUFF™ for best abrasion resistance in the toe area. Synthetic leather upper for light weight and durability. Lining: ClimaLite lining for moisture management and comfort. Inlay: Molded EVA insole for anatomical comfort. . Midsole: Compression-molded EVA for lightweight cushioning. 3-D TORSION® for best midfoot integrity. adiPRENE® insert for comfort and shock absorption. adiPRENE®+ maintains forefoot propulsion and efficiency. Outsole: adiWEAR® outsole for best durability in high-wear areas.
Men's Diadora Attax DA 2 - ON SALE FOR $82.95 (13% OFF)
For the competitive player looking for a stable, durable, responsive performance shoe. Upper: Ultra-soft, lightweight Supreltech synthetic micro-fiber. Toe overlay in Diadora exclusive HAR micro-fiber synthetic, providing high resistance to abrasion doe to toe drag. Synergy-fit in padded Lycra and neoprene provides for a snug and comfortable fit around ankle. Special anti-bacterial lining throughout. Insole: Removable, anatomically shaped, cushioned Stable-ErgoFit insole. Midsole: Molded EVA foam with Double Action inserts in the forefoot and heel area for enhanced shock absorption and flexibility. The Axeler Air Flow grid ensures proper forefoot flexion while offering midfoot stability and unsurpassed breathability. Outsole: The revolutionary Axeler technology dramatically improves forefoot flexibility while ensuring maximum midfoot stability. The thread-like frame composed of Tech Alloy, which is visible in the outsole, provides the versatility required to prevent midfoot torsion while enhancing forefoot flexibility as demanded by the competitive player. Duratech 5000 special anti-abrasion rubber compound throughout to ensure excellent durability.
Check it out, we mentioned the Prince Wimbledon Guess Ball Contest yesterday, and thought we'd show you the actual container that holds the balls. Can't make it to NYC? No worries, just go to www.princetennis.com to make your guess.
Fans Get a Chance to Play on Grass Court with New EXO3 Racquets
Contest Gives Consumers On-Site and Online a Chance to Win Prince Product Pack by Guessing Number of Tennis Balls in Larger-Than-Life Container
NEW YORK, NY, June 19, 2009 - Prince, a partner of the All England Tennis Club and official global licensee of the Wimbledon® brand of tennis racquets and sports bags is helping to give fans a taste of all the tournament has to offer. Starting Monday, June 22, the global tennis equipment leader will take part in the "HSBC presents Wimbledon 2009 at Rockefeller Center" which will feature a week of complimentary activities and events, including live daily screenings of matches and free tennis for the public on Manhattan's only grass court.
All week, players will have the chance to take to the grass court with any of the new racquets from Prince's groundbreaking EXO3 line. For those looking for a little more instruction, certified Prince tennis professionals will host free on-court clinics during designated times (June 23 & 24 from 11:30am- 1:00pm and 5:30- 7:00pm, and on June 25 & 26 from 1:00-2:30pm and 4:00- 5:30pm) to those in attendance. Regardless of skill level, the Prince teaching pro will provide an authentic on-court Wimbledon experience.
"We are extremely proud to be a part of the effort to bring the Wimbledon experience to New York City. The opportunity to provide the general public with a sense of what it feels like to not only attend one of the world's most premier sporting events but actually play in it is very unique," said Linda Glassel, Vice President of Marketing at Prince Sports, Inc. "Whether you are an advanced-level competitor or a beginner, the chance to get out on a grass court with one of our new Prince racquets in the middle of Rockefeller Center is a once in a lifetime experience."
PRINCE WIMBLEDON BALL GUESS CONTEST
In addition to taking to the grass court in Rockefeller Center, Prince is giving those who are on-site, as well as those unable to attend, the chance to come away a winner. In addition to other on site activities such as Wii Tennis, live match screenings and complimentary strawberries and cream, Prince will be giving fans both in Rockefeller Center, and on-line, the chance to guess the number Prince tennis balls housed in a larger-than-life container. The container will remain on display at Rockefeller Center throughout the event where passersby can fill out a form to submit their guess. For those not in attendance, a high resolution photograph of the same container, with its dimensions, will also be featured online at
www.princetennis.com throughout Wimbledon. By simply logging on to the Prince homepage, consumers around the country, can submit a guess for a chance to win. The person closest to guessing the exact number of tennis balls in the container, without going over, will receive a special Prince prize package including a new EXO3 racquet, premium racquet bag and an autographed racquet from 2004 Wimbledon Champion, Maria Sharapova.
Prince will promote its Wimbledon Ball Guess contest through its corporate website as well as by reaching out to consumers via its Official Prince Tennis Facebook page and recently launched Prince Twitter page.
Said Glassel, "While fans will certainly get two weeks of thrilling Wimbledon match play from Prince ATP and WTA touring pros, we wanted to also provide an engaging interactive offer that would help to make the 2009 Championships even more exciting. The promotion could not be easier - simply log on and guess. The unique aspect is the fact that we have taken what is typically an offline promotion and made it available to players and fans online."
A cool project out of MIT called PingPong Plus. "The surface that visually reacts to the game as it happens. Projectors work in conjunction with sensors that detect the movement of the ball, causing effects such as water ripples upon impact. The ball's motion also influences the rhythm of the accompanying music."
Wilson US Open 23
Wilson's US Open 23" Racket features I-Beam construction for solid power and stability. Lightweight so it's easy to swing. Titanium Alloy for added strength. 95" Midplus headsize. Average strung weight 6.7 oz. 3 5/8" grip. It comes without a cover.
Beginner Tennis Racquet Week: Wilson Dora the Explorer
Wilson Dora Racquet
Wilson's Dora 19" Racket features C-Beam construction for increased power and stability. Lightweight so it's easy to swing. Titanium alloy for added strength. Features the highly recognizable cartoon character Dora the Explorer. 82" headsize. Average strung weight 6.3 oz. 3 1/2" grip.
The Dora the Explorer racquet comes with a 19` headsize which is ideal for young players of the age of 4. patented C-Beam Frame technology has increased the stability of the racquet which in turn outputs solid power. The racquet`s Titanium Alloy composite provides our younger players for lightweight strength that enhances the easiness of a proper tennis swing.
Head Liquidmetal 4 Tennis Racquet
The Head Liquidmetal 4 still offers some of the controlled feel of Head's player's racquets, but with a more forgiving sweetspot and significantly lighter weight. More forgiving than the Liquidmetal 2, but more controlled than the Liquidmetal 8, the Liquidmetal 4 is geared toward an intermediate player with a moderate to fast swing who requires a slightly larger sweetspot than traditional player's racquets. Open string pattern further enhances spin and size of the sweetspot. NoShox handle reduces vibrations by 27% without dampening feel.
Will "King of Clay" Ferrell to Wield Prince EXO3 Racquets Vs. Mats Wilander
This Saturday, May 2, Will "King of Clay" Ferrell will take to the court to settle his long-standing tennis "feud" with tennis legend, and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Mats Wilander at the K-Swiss Global Tennis Showdown in Los Angeles. There is no telling what will come out of his tennis bag, but one thing is for certain, the "King" will be playing with Prince. The challenger, has decided to take to the court wielding a Prince EXO3 racquet.
In fact, Prince has been named the official racquet and ball of the event - providing its top of the line Tour tennis balls for the match as well as a host of products for fans and the live and silent auction taking place after the match - to benefit the Swedish School of Los Angeles.
"This is a fun event for a good cause and we are proud to have Will carry an EXO3racquet, represent the brand, and to offer our products to fans and the charity. Some of the world's greatest athletes in the world play our products - including Gael Monfils, Maria Sharapova, the Bryan Brothers - and now, we can add Ferrell to that list. He has the ability to raise awareness for the sport and help grow the game, something we are always interested in," said Zach Perles, Senior Communications Manager at Prince Sports, Inc.