January 31, 2009
Apparel
Australian Open
Grips
Head Products
Ping Pong Tables
Prince Products
Products of the Pros
Random Tennis Stuff
Sergio Tacchini
Strings
Tennis Books & Magazines
Tennis Equipment Deals
Training Tools
Wilson Products
January 30, 2009
On Wednesday January 28, the New York exhibition space Nyehaus will present its first-ever invitational table-tennis tournament in conjunction with its current exhibition, "Rirkrit Tiravanija: Reflection," on view through February 21.
Celebrities of the ping-pong world, including Marty Reisman, the U.S. men's singles champion in 1958 and '60, and the identical twins Brad & Brandon Belle, will play matches against one other and with spectators on Tiravanija's mirrored, regulation-sized table, Untitled (The Future will be Chrome) (2008).
Should you choose to come and see the match, you'll be joined by art-worlders Phillipe Parreno, Pierre Huyghe, Liam Gillick, and Hans Ulrich Obrist -- puppet versions of whom appear on a grandstand installation surrounding the table.
In addition to Wednesday night's event, Filipino table tennis star Ernesto Ebuen will be available for private or group lessons for the duration of the exhibit.
Tiravanija's table was produced by Cumulus Studios, a company that collaborates with artists on functional outdoor objects.
From ArtInfo via NOTCOT
January 30, 2009
TV spot from Prince featuring #13 ranked Gael Monfils and his Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 racquet - one of the newest releases from Prince featuring EXO3 technology.
This TV spot has just started to air, this is an early look:
NEW GAEL MONFILS - EXO3 REBEL :30 TV SPOT
January 28, 2009
Unique Sports is proud to announce a multi-year agreement with WTA Top 15 player Victoria Azarenka. The 19 year old rising star Azarenka uses the new high performance overgrip Tourna Tac from the makers of the world famous Tourna Grip. Both Unique and Victoria are excited about the partnership and potential to market high performance gear specifically to women. Azarenka said of the new grip, "...Tourna Tac it is definitely my grip of choice, it really performs in all playing conditions and doesn't slip out of my hand like other grips". Azarenka is featured on the packaging of the Pink and White colors of Tourna Tac.
Check out Tourna Grip here
January 27, 2009
Tiffany & Co. is offering the 1837 Tennis Ball Can for a mere $1500 - here.
From Tennis Served Fresh
January 23, 2009
Tennis fans who can't get enough of the Australian Open action now can visit TennisPuzzles.com to play tournament-themed crossword, word search and wordoku* puzzles. The website features three puzzles that include clues about the season's first major, which is being played in Melbourne Jan. 19-Feb. 1.
TennisPuzzles.com offers free interactive games, which can be printed for offline play. The website offer fans a cool way to stay mentally sharp, learn tennis history and have "tennis fun off the court!" It launched in May 2008, and featured themed puzzles for the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
"Tennis is a mind game and so are these Australian Open-themed puzzles," says editor Liza Horan. "The sport draws thinking types who love a bit of competition and fans can time their puzzle-solving abilities to compete against themselves or friends. TennisPuzzles.com offers fun off the court and also teaches tennis history."
Continue reading: "TennisPuzzles.com Launches Free Online Games with Australian Open Theme"
Wilson Racquet Sports has incorporated a new technology in their [K] Factor Line of frames for 2009.
The next generation of [K] Factor tennis rackets is called FX which means, [K] Factors multiplied. It utilizes a "Quad Shaft" construction in the throat area of the racket with improved distribution of weight. Quad Shaft means the throat of the racket has 4 shafts vs. the conventional 2, which ultimately means more stability. This technology provides the racket with 23% more "torsional" stability and more evenly distributed mass resulting in more control. Four key technologies are incorporated in the FX line: [K]arophite Black, [K]onnector, [K]ontour Yoke, [K]ompact Center. As a result of these technologies, there are three key benefits: increased feel, more strength and stability, and bigger sweet spot. All of these factors contribute to 64% more [K]ontrol.
More on Wilson [K] Factor Products
Continue reading: "Wilson Launches New Visible FX Technology"
Wilson Racquet Sports announced that they have signed a long term agreement with Anna Chakvetadze. The 21 year old ended 2008 with a WTA Tour ranking of 18, which was her third Top 20 year in a row. In late 2007, Chakvetadze achieved a career high world ranking of number 5. She reached the quarterfinals in three out of four Grand Slams, and got to the semifinals of the WTA Tour Sony Ericsson Championships.
"I am thrilled to be playing with Wilson equipment," said Chakvetadze. "I know that my racket, bag, strings all have the highest quality to support on my quest for the Top 10". Anna will debut her Wilson [K] Blade Team racket and Eco Pro Tour Super Six bag next week at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Continue reading: "Wilson Racquet Sports Signs Anna Chakvetadze to Long Term Agreement"
January 19, 2009
#12 seed Gael Monfils has switched to the new Prince EXO3 Rebel
Monfils has recently knocked off world #1 Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick in weeks leading up to Melbourne and is hoping to continue his inspired play with his new frame Down Under.
Prince's EXO3 (See WATR's posts) ground-breaking racquet technology is being used by others in addition to Monfils - qualifier Xavier Malisse and Shahar Peer among others.
This Australian Open markes the first time in Prince history that the brand has a significant presence in footwear and apparel at the grand slam tournament.
Check out Prince tennis products
January 12, 2009
01/06/09 - Kennelbach - Austria - HEAD announced that the company has signed a long term agreement with tennis superstar Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who currently ranks third in the South African Airways ATP ranking. Djokovic will make his debut as a HEAD athlete at the Brisbane International this week. The partnership became effective on January 1st, 2009.
Continue reading: "HEAD Signs World No. 3 Novak Djokovic"
January 11, 2009
Austria - Kennelbach - January 2009 - HEAD proudly presents the endorsement of the Egyptian squash pro and World No.1 Karim Darwish. The partnership became effective on January 1st 2009.
Continue reading: "HEAD Signs Squash World No. 1 Karim Darwish"
January 9, 2009
Ace Authentic isn't a new company, although admittedly I didn't know about them - their collectors' cards have been around for years. In 2008 they put out special line for Roland Garros was developed. Each box of officially licensed French Open cards contained one original card signed by the player. And cards containing a piece of an actual jersey (right) worn by a player were randomly scattered in boxes sold at retail.
I sure wish I could've added this to the Holiday Gift Guide, it surely would have made young tennis players very happy.
FYI, they're working toward similar deals with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
Check out their website
Via HelloTennis
January 8, 2009
This new performance apparel brand has its roots in art and tennis. Artist Brendan Murphy is a tennis player and applied his creations to activewear with Dryfit that works on- and off-court. Last March Murphy's large-scale, multimedia art was featured in a gallery event in tony Boca Raton, Fla., just as the Solfire apparel was going into production. By September, the full line was launched.
Check out Solfire's website.
Via HelloTennis
January 7, 2009
The new ergonomic machine, which is set to begin shipping in January, was not shown at the trade shows this year, but was presented to the trade in a special demo during the U.S. Open and used at the tournament for stringing the competitor's racquets. The Wilson team, led by Ron Rocchi (who counts "Principal Designer" among his titles), approached the concept of the new machine from scratch. They thoroughly researched how stringers work, what their wishlists for a machine would include, and considered the challenges they faced (sore back and shoulders, among others) with existing machines.
It is named for a mythical horse whose saddle adjust to the size and build of its rider; this stringing workhorse can be programmed to the height and preferences for each stringer that uses it. By inputting a user ID code, the machine moves and tilts for that stringer. See video by clicking on image above right.
Learn more at www.Wilson.com/baiardo.
Check out other stringing machines here.
Via HelloTennis
January 6, 2009
Following up on the release of Prince's EXO3 technology, here are some frequently asked questions to help you understand the technology more.
What is EXO3 technology?
EXO3 technology is a game-changing, patented racquet design concept found only in Prince's 2009 line of performance frames. The heart of EXO3 is an engineering breakthrough called the Energy BridgeTM - an exo skeletal structure made from a blend of multiple strands of carbon fiber that creates tennis' first suspended string bed. This radical new design technology re-writes the laws of physics to actually capture more wasted energy at the crucial moment of impact and channel it back into the ball where players need it most. The result is a never-before-realized blend of power, spin, comfort and feel.
Continue reading: "Prince EXO3 Fact Sheet"
A Chicago-based teaching pro with 25 years' experience retrieving balls and hoisting heavy baskets came up with Hop-a-razzi. The baskets are on wheels and have telescoping handles, which take the pain out of picking up balls. Plus they come in bright colors. The baskets start at $49 each, though tennis facilities participating in the demo deal can get a basket for $29. The baskets work on any surface and are guaranteed for one year.
Via HelloTennis
January 5, 2009
Prince Sports, Inc. announces the launch of EXO3, its newest high performance tennis racquet line. EXO3 features the patented, revolutionary engineering feat called the Energy BridgeTM which suspends the string bed, expands the sweet spot and delivers a myriad of playing benefits. The line-up includes four models and will be available in tennis shops nationwide and online beginning this week.
[For an incredible interactive experience with EXO3, download-able hi-res and web-ready product photos, videos and much more, be sure to visit the NEW EXO3 website]
Continue reading: "Prince Launches EXO3 - New Racquet Line Features Patented Energy Bridge"
This new glossy magazine was one of 15 publications honored in November by Min (Media Industry Newsletter) and Samir Husni ("Mr. Magazine") as one of "The Hottest" magazine launches of the year. Other titles include National Geographic Green Guide, WSJ and USA Today Open Air.
Teresa Thompson founded "The Ultimate Tennis Lifestyle Magazine" originally targeted to women, but the overwhelmingly positive reception by men encouraged her to remove the "Uniquely For Women" phrase from the cover.
The quarterly magazine offers rich features of the pros and practical tips for those who play and count tennis as part of their lifestyles.
Check it out here. Or check out other tennis mags like Tennis Magazine,
Tennis Life
or Tennis Week.
Via HelloTennis
January 4, 2009
Do It Tennis is running a special on Sergio Tacchini gear - spend $100 on Sergio Tacchini gear, and you'll receive a Benny Hat and Fantin Socks.
Tencap Tennis isn't entirely new, but it is newly reincarnated. The company refined its system to provide dynamic, accurate player ratings on the Internet and added web-based software to manage players and tournaments. As someone who continues to be a bit confused by the point rating system, it seems like a good idea.
"After more than 10 years of testing thousands of tennis players on the Tencap Rating System, we have now combined it with our unique and innovative technologies to provide tennis organizers with the ultimate player-management tool," CEO Steve Timperley says. While recreational players can use their "Tencap" rating to find like players or play on a handicapping basis with those of other skill levels, facilities and programs can use it to manage players and events. The latest group to sign on with Tencap is the Prince Plugged In junior development program. The system can adjust a player's rating based on match and practice results.
Via HelloTennis
January 3, 2009
Leave it to the Aussies to develop a simple, fun, and apparently effective way to teach tennis grips. Grip Coach is essentially a sticker that is placed on the racquet grip and lines coincide with a mark made on the webby part of the player's hand (between the thumb and forefinger). They have them for adults and juniors, and also lefties and righties.
Check out the Grip Coach website.
Via HelloTennis
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