No. No. No. Don’t care. Yup, everyone’s doing it. But nope. We’re tennis. Nope. And then…wait.
I’d say that’s a quick, very simple summary of the team debate and inner dialogue we each had as we talked about expanding ADV — our brand that started with a humble and ultra-engineered tennis dampener to, most recently, practical, functional, and modern tennis bags.
You see, tennis has been a part of my life for over 25 years. It all started when I stumbled upon a hand-me-down racquet at a local yard sale. After countless hours of hitting the ball against the house and discovering sustained interest, I was hooked on a sport that would shape my formative years. It taught me discipline and how to fail, something that when I was 11 years old, I didn’t think too intently about, but now, as a founder, parent, and friend, know are important skills.
Tennis is more than a sport; it's a commitment and an addiction. Years later, as a coach in Australia during my grad school days, I remember biking 3 hours daily back and forth to the courts I coached at. I did this for a number of reasons. Fitness (and money) were factors, but my love for the sport was the primary motivation. The journey enhanced my fitness, prompted contemplation about the game and life, and improved my competitive edge. A straightforward yet profound definition of motivation I recently heard, resonates with me in the context of tennis; motivation means that you feel like doing something. No nudges needed, you just go — that’s my story with tennis.
As the pandemic unfolded and pickleball inquiries flooded our customer service inbox, transitioning from a handful to a daily deluge, we couldn't ignore it. What was this poppy sport all about?
Addressing the obvious question—why not embrace the fastest-growing sport?
However, after doing some thinking and being invited (ironically enough, during a tennis clinic), I decided to give pickleball a chance. 'Let's explore this,' I thought.
It took a few games to adapt to the nuances, from shorter swings to scoring and footwork adjustments. Once I got the basics, though, the game flowed, and I understood it. It was enjoyable. I almost immediately started winning games (which, hint: didn’t last that long). There was laughter and cheers. Strangers would celebrate my victories. It was a distinct atmosphere, focused on relationship-building. Contrary to the intensity I feel during a tennis match (but which I’ve grown to love). While different, the reason behind the sport's appeal became apparent—the social aspect, unsurprisingly.
In 2023, I played pickleball for 15 consecutive weeks. What began as an appreciation for the social dynamics of the game, evolved into a deeper understanding of the competitive side, a facet I had dismissed. During this journey, I discovered that over 70% of our sampled ADV customers engage in another racquet sport, predominantly pickleball. Similar to me, tennis players were exploring pickleball for a different experience. It initially provided an ego boost, especially after grueling tennis matches. However, facing more experienced players with tennis and non-tennis backgrounds humbled me. My tennis proficiency only took me so far, and in certain instances, ingrained habits made executing plays more challenging. I had to develop more skills and train. I had to tap into my competitive drive — and, was motivated to do so. As an aside, I discovered that strong tennis doubles skills are more applicable to pickleball than singles (where, admittedly, my experience is limited).
Immersing ourselves in this community for weeks and months has broadened our team's perspective on pickleball. Once thought to be just a quirky, lingo-infused sport just for 'fun,' has evolved into a sport we understand, appreciate, and enjoy. Yes, it still possesses a distinctive personality, but it definitely goes beyond the first blush. It's also about competition, focusing on the strategic use of control and power, and akin to tennis, it requires dedication and work.
Tennis will continue to be at the heart of what we do for ADV. The core values instilled by tennis, such as discipline and resilience in the face of failure, will undoubtedly enrich our product pipeline as we venture into new racquet sports. However, acknowledging many of our players who also enjoy additional racquet sports, particularly pickleball, and embracing the competitive spirit compels us to move forward. We are determined to make a lasting impact on the court(s).
Lavie, a passionate tennis player and entrepreneur, found himself in a recurring dilemma every few years: the search for the perfect tennis bag. Despite initially being drawn to the flashy designs inspired by top players, he soon realized none of the bags he purchased lived up to his expectations. This realization sparked an epiphany: why not design his own tennis-centric bag, leveraging his position as the owner of a racquet sports gear company?
With a background in engineering and interaction design, and experience in launching successful apps, Lavie had the skills to embark on this new venture, albeit lacking in specific bag design expertise. Enter Paul, a serendipitous encounter with a seasoned bag designer and former bag company owner, who brought invaluable experience and connections to the project.
Their collaboration led to the creation of the ADV Pro bag prototype, designed with the player in mind. This bag aimed to address common frustrations with innovative features like specialized pockets, durable materials, and a thoughtful design that prioritized organization and functionality without the unnecessary bulk.
The journey from the initial prototype to the final product was a testament to their dedication, involving multiple iterations and feedback loops with the tennis community. The first ADV Pro bag launched in 2022, and its success led to further innovation, including a tennis backpack designed to complement the Pro bag, showcasing the same attention to detail and player-focused design.
To finance this expansion, Lavie and his team turned to Kickstarter, embracing the crowdfunding approach to connect with a wider community and gather support. The campaign was a success, reaching its goal quickly and building a base of backers eager to provide feedback.
Reflecting on ADV's journey from a simple tennis dampener to a line of thoughtfully designed bags, Lavie sees it as just the beginning. With a commitment to listening to the tennis community and continually innovating, ADV's story is one of passion, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of perfection in tennis gear. Lavie invites everyone to join him on this exciting journey, promising more innovation and community-focused products in the future.
]]>Every two to three years, like clockwork, I'd find myself in a familiar situation. I'd be on the hunt for a new tennis bag, desperately seeking a replacement for my trusty old racquet-shaped duffle bag. You know, the one – it had seen better days and had somehow turned into a chaotic black hole for all sports gear. But the problem was that each new tennis bag I bought never quite met my expectations.
At first, I was lured in by flashy fabrics, Rafa-inspired neon colors, and the allure of matching what the top players were carrying. However, as my collection of tennis bags continued to expand, I realized I needed to establish some better criteria for my purchases.
And then, it hit me, like a perfectly executed Federer backhand (maybe not that perfect). "I own a tennis (now racquet sports) gear company. Why don't I just make my own bag?" The idea really hit me when I accidentally smacked my head one last time with my old duffle-style tennis bag while biking.
"Yes," I thought. I could design a tennis-centric bag that started from scratch, addressing the pains of players and coaches like me. Not some half-hearted adaptation of a basketball or baseball bag that happened to have a side pocket for tennis balls. No, I wanted a bag that holds the same passion for tennis that I do, and from discussions with many ADV members, it is also important to you.
It was 2020 when this bag-smacking idea struck me, and if there ever was a year to dive into a project fueled by energizing commitment, it was that year.
I may be an engineer with a background in interaction design, but professionally, I know the product (launched a few apps from soup to nuts, a few of which have 1 million plus users). My skills screamed strong potential for a superb tennis app game. Crafting a complex bag design, on the other hand, wasn't exactly my forte.
So, while ADV started with tennis dampeners (yup, that humble and sometimes polarizing accessor), we quickly moved into grips, wristbands, and more. But diving headfirst into the world of creating a next-gen tennis bag was a whole different ball game (pun intended). Let's just say, it required a real product designer, preferably one with bag expertise – bonus points if they could be a fellow hitting partner.
Enter Paul. You see, there are moments in life when serendipity comes knocking at your door, and you'd be a fool not to answer. Meeting Paul was one of those moments. I didn't find him through some friend of a friend who happened to know an amazing bag designer. Rather, I took the entrepreneurial route (yes, scoured contracting platforms). I filtered through candidates and slipped in sneaky call-to-actions (in the middle of a detailed job posting) to weed out the true attention-to-detail folks. Those who read through stood out. Ultimately, it led us to our product designer.
My meeting with Paul was fantastic from the start. Not only did he have previous experience running his own bag company (which he had sold), but he also had worked to build bags at a large tennis company building their bags. Not going to say which company, but I guarantee you know them. Paul was stoked at our brief as it was imaginative and daring — going beyond just focusing on the exterior bag aesthetic (something he’s seen all too often). Beyond Paul’s company building and tennis brand experience, he brought connections to production facilities, including the one we currently work with to develop the ADV bags. Most importantly, Paul is pretty cool to work with.
Getting to that first prototype was a journey that felt longer than some of the epic tennis matches I've watched (and, in my version of epic, have played). And let’s be clear, it was.
At the time, I'd only been out of the coaching game for about a year, and we were all stuck indoors due to the pandemic. So, the frustrations and feedback from players were fresh in my mind, and I had plenty of time to contemplate them (mainly inside my tiny basement “office”).
Our brief was straightforward: create the ultimate, perfect tennis bag that checked all the boxes – organization-first, top-end quality, functional, minimalistic, and novel. These weren’t just buzzwords, but really our guiding principles. We focused on inspiration outside of tennis to help us break from the traditional tennis bag mold and think broadly about how to address players' and coaches' frustrations.
The result of our creative escapade led to the ADV Pro bag prototype – it had sharper modern lines, an aesthetic that nodded to the easy-to-carry duffle shape (less so racquet shaped), but with a lot less "fluff." Yes, "fluff" is our super highly researched, technical term for all that unnecessary extra space in your typical tennis bag.
Let's talk about the bag shape. First and foremost, the bag was designed to carry the most important items — your racquets, shoes, energy/fuel source, and clothes. Estimating how much space we’d need to fit these practically (e.g we knew we wanted to fit at least four 27.5-in racquets for the first Pro bag and updated to 6 in a future iteration), we started prototyping the optimal shape and built off this starting point.
Next, we moved on to identifying materials. To deliver on our durability and practicality pillars, we trialed and tested materials that would withstand different tennis training conditions — be it being caught in a rainstorm on the way home from the courts (while on a bike…oof), or being dragged on the floor across a clay court (your bag that is, not you…hopefully).
After reviewing many books of material options with different feels, properties and looks, we landed on two and, ultimately, decided on Kodra Nylon. It was the winner because it hit all the marks — it passed our two scenarios above and also delivered the modern standout look and feel we believed our tennis lover and tech aficionado desired, and didn’t have today.
Let’s talk colors. I want to preface this section with a bit about me. I like loud-colored clothes - not sure why, but I do. It’s fun. It took a lot not to make the entire bag neon blue, yellow, and red. Anyways, from surveys, we learned that a lot of players and coaches wanted more neutral colors but still with some element of color. That’s what led us down a path of more neutral main exterior colors with brighter accents and interiors. We plan to market more exterior and interior/accent colors soon.
After honing in on these key chapters, from shape, to materials and key functionalities, the first ADV Pro prototype came to life (yes, it took a bit).
The first ADV Pro bag was ready to hit the market in the spring of 2022. We made a sizeable yet thoughtful investment, reflecting our belief in the product but also being cautious as we had no idea how this was going to go. As a team, we set a goal to sell out of the bags by the end of the year.
In terms of marketing, we dipped our toes lightly into events and paid ads (for all those marketers out there — it was mainly across Meta). But our main source of communication came from our existing network of players and coaches, thanks to my previous life as a coach and the community members who had witnessed ADV's growth from its infancy.
And, of course, forums helped us. You know how it is in tennis – people talk and want to know the truth about feel, design, and reliability. When the ADV Pro bag hit the scene, it sparked discussions (albeit few) on tennis warehouse forums and received shoutouts in private community Facebook groups and word of mouth.
This grassroots effort led to our first run selling out by the end of summer. Seeing the momentum on our side, I placed a second order that, (un)fortunately, didn't make it to the holiday season. During that first holiday season, as we navigated the pandemic, witnessing the rise of racquet sports like tennis (and yes, even Pickleball), I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. I wished we had taken a bigger risk with the order, much like a player taking a bold shot down the line, hoping for a game-changing winner.
By Thanksgiving 2022, we had enough “evidence” than a hawk-eyed line umpire to confirm we were on the right path with our Pro bag. We didn’t receive a flurry of suggestions for improvements; instead, players had six key updates in mind. These ranged from fine-tuning the racquet(s) fit (maintaining a sleek look while adding a bit of extra space) to improving the bag’s versatility in terms of carrying (we introduced removable handles) to smaller, yet impactful things like adding utility loops to the bags to allow for credentials and bag tags to be easily attached.
Our manufacturing partner quickly embraced the changes — having a great line of communication with them has been important in our speedy journey to market. Additionally, our production process combines the precision of machine (manufacturing-grade) stitching as well as meticulous manual detailing. The added organization, for example, is integrated after each bag comes off the production line.
So, that holiday season, we worked on optimizing for the Pro bag. However, we also received a number of requests asking for a more compact and flexible carry option.
It made perfect sense. We decided to work on both. That holiday season, we created prototypes for what would become the younger sibling of our Pro version (our tennis backpack). We were committed to preserving the key features that players loved — the cooler pocket (which, at the time, was as rare in the tennis bag market as a golden set (I know, I just cringed, too)), the ventilated compartment for shoes or the sweatiest of gear and multiple pockets for organization.
Now, when it came to aesthetics, we made it a matching set. With the Pro as our initial baseline, we had a clearer picture of what to target. Goodness, there were a lot of tennis puns there. Sorry, and you’re welcome.
Here’s the evolution of our ADV tennis backpack (from, again, another one of our sketches to an early sample):
We had enough to comfortably make an inventory order equal to the combined sum of our previous Pro bag orders. The backpack, we anticipated, would generate even more demand due to its portability, coupled with an early market read (aka advice we specifically received from our community). But stepping into this arena was a bigger leap, a challenge that encouraged us to explore funding options. We considered a loan, early angel investments, and a slew of alternatives. And then, there was the prospect of micro-investments or diving into a crowdfunding campaign.
I had a brief chat with my team. We recognized our bias for scientific, data-backed approaches, but in this instance, we leaned more into our intuition or gut feeling. Interestingly, it served us well because, you see, Kickstarter isn’t exactly for well-renowned tennis success stories. It’s more known for highly engaging (and funny) board games and groundbreaking tech (e.g., the EcoFlow portable home battery — yes, a bit boring but helpful). However, we kept gravitating back to Kickstarter, a platform I both know and appreciate, as a nice share of my home belongings started there.
During that holiday season in Q4, 2022, as we fine-tuned the v2 Pro bag and developed the backpack, we simultaneously crafted our Kickstarter campaign, set to launch in March 2023. Spoiler alert: we hit our goal in minutes; more importantly, we gained a community of backers with whom we continue to connect for very candid and helpful feedback.
As 2023 draws to a close, reflecting on ADV's journey from the humble tennis dampener to our first Pro bag highlights a vital truth: our growth is rooted in active listening and a commitment to the tennis community. We're on a rising path, fueled by excitement for what lies ahead.
To capture the essence of ADV's burgeoning success and the growing buzz around it, consider it akin to a series of thrilling tennis matches, each more exhilarating than the last. It's like witnessing (on YouTube) the intensity of Serena Williams' historic 2019 Grand Slam victory, followed by the classic rivalry of McEnroe vs. Borg in 1980, and finally, the unforgettable Federer-Nadal duel in 2008 Wimbledon. ADV's trajectory mirrors this escalating excitement and anticipation. We're just serving the opening game, and the passion for the game within our community promises an even more thrilling match ahead.
In essence, I see ADV's journey as a steadily ascending crescendo of energy and anticipation. We're just at the beginning, and the enthusiasm, momentum, and passion that people have for the game will only continue to grow.
Thanks for accompanying me on this remarkable journey.
Happy hitting.
Lavie
These are a must for tennis lovers, especially avid, intermediate, and advanced players.
For players who frequently endure long, grueling three-set matches or multiple games in a single day, and find their recovery time excessively long, NormaTec offers a promising solution. These innovative compression boots, designed to envelop your legs, use varying pressure levels to help relieve potential injuries or strains affecting the feet, knees, and thighs. Optimal results are achieved through daily usage, ranging from 45 minutes to an hour. This routine enhances blood circulation in the legs and helps prevent lactic acid buildup. The price of NormaTec is $699 at the time of this review — and we like this; HSA covers it.
This innovative app revolutionizes how players improve their court skills. This is a game-changing solution for effortlessly monitoring essential statistics during singles and doubles practices, and it even works seamlessly with a ball machine. The app brings an objective lens to evaluating performance, minimizing subjective biases. Simply set up a camera, and let the app do the heavy lifting. You'll be able to review your play—or that of the person you're gifting this to—through comprehensive playback features and detailed statistics. For a deeper tactical analysis, take a look at this thorough review by Meike Babel, a former Top 30 WTA Pro and a member of our community. The current price of a 1-year subscription is $170 (usually $250) at the time of this review. This price includes their branded phone camera mount. Use this link for an affiliate discount.
If your player often struggles to find a tennis partner due to various reasons like schedules, the weather, or skill levels, a ball machine could be a game-changer. As an early backer of the Slinger bag, I personally favor the value given its portability and design; however, it’s worth considering other options, especially when accounting for speed and features like remote control. Here’s a concise chart comparing four popular options:
Ball Machine | Ball Speed | Ball Storage Capacity | Weight | Battery life | Differentiated Pros | Price (at time of post) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slinger Bag | 10-45 mph | 144 | 33 lbs | 3.5 hours | Easy to transport. Packed with helpful features like USB charging and a phone/camera holder. |
$799 |
Spinshot Player | 19-80 mph | 120 | 41 lbs* | 2-3 hours | Remote control options via phone or watch. Comes with 12 pre-programmed drills. |
$999 |
Lobster Elite 2 Portable | 10-80 mph | 150 | 42 lbs | 4-8 hours | Has many different oscillation settings. Longest battery life. |
$1,619 |
Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube Ball Machine (with or without oscillation) | 10-50mph | 70 | 24 lbs | 4-6 hours | Oscillation feature for practicing both forehands and backhands. Small, cube shape, making it easy to carry and also the lightest by far. 3-year warranty (most are 2). |
$769 - $859 |
*without the battery
If you’ve ever received feedback encouraging you to “brush the ball” more or if you’ve struggled with this technique, the Topspin Pro is for you. Ideal for beginners to intermediate-level players, this tool features a vertical nylon screen with a spring-loaded tennis ball. Setup is a breeze; use it outside or even in your living room or garage during those colder days. Simply slide your racquet along the screen to practice your topspin forehands and backhands. With dedication, you’ll be hitting Nadal-like shots in no time!
Yes, we won’t get into the debate of which one is hotter than the next, as the criteria of what feels and works the greatest will vary from player to player. What’d probably be more helpful is to share this nifty table we put together outlining what some of the top players own and feedback about the key pros.
2023 Racquet | Player | Key (+) | Specs |
---|---|---|---|
Babolot Pure Aero 98 | Carlos Alcaraz | Excellent spin, good control, and stability. | Head size: 98 sq in. Unstrung Weight: 10.7oz Length: 27 in. |
HEAD 339.2 | Coco Gauff | Good balance of power (from the graphene technology), control and maneuverability. | Head size: 100 sq in. Unstrung Weight: 11.4oz Length: 27 in |
Head PT346.1 (custom) | Novak Djokovic | Control, feel, and stability. | Head size: 95 sq in. Unstrung Weight: 12.7oz Length: 27.1 in |
Babolat Aero Pro Drive Original | Rafael Nadal | Heavy topspin, fast racquet head speed | Head size: 100 sq in. Unstrung Weight: 11.2oz Length: 27 in. |
Tecnifibre Tempo 298 IGA frame | Iga Swiatek | Balance of control and power. | Head size: 98 sq in. Unstrung Weight: 10.5oz Length: 27 in. |
Wilson Ultra 100 v4 | Maria Sakkari | Powerful performance, spin, and stability at the net (not just attributes from the racquet, but the use of low string weight, too). | Head size: 100 sq in Unstrung Weight: 10.6oz Length: 27 in. |
Head Innegra Radical MP (TGT 260.3) | Taylor Fritz | Effective for serves, playability, and balance. | Head size: 98 sq in. Unstrung weight: 10.6oz Length: 27 in. |
Yonex Ezone 98 | Ben Shelton | Increased power, enhanced spin, and control. | Head Size: 98 sq in. Unstrung Weight: 11.1 oz Length: 27 in. |
Decathlon Artengo TR 960 Control Tour | Gael Monfils | Enhanced control and precision. | Head Size: 98 sq in Unstrung Weight: unknown Strung Weight: 12.7 oz. Length: 27 in. |
Wilson Pro Staff 97 | Ons Jabeaur | Stability and power control in volleys. | Head Size: 97 sq in. Weight: 11.1 oz Length: 27 in. |
We know, it’s us. However, we believe we’ve introduced bags with the needs of serious players in mind — far from repurposed basketball duffles. Let's start with our Pro bag — it holds up to six racquets, has a cooler, and has a high-quality, weatherproof military-grade nylon shell. There’s, of course, a compartment for your shoes, an organization panel, and luggage-quality YKK zippers. Our backpack is an on-the-go version that allows players to easily transition from the office, home, gym, and/or a cafe, to the courts. Several of the Pro features are included in the backpack in a consolidated accessible form. Unique to the backpack, however, is the laptop pocket, a cape to cover your racquets (or use without), and it can hold up to 3 racquets (versus the standard 2 on the market). Check out our Kickstarter from earlier this year to hear more about the features and listen to our founding story.
Know someone who could not make it to the US Open this year or just loves Grand Slams? Consider getting them something from their favorite tournament as part of a curated gift. Check out the links for more:
US Open Shop
Wimbledon Shop
Roland Garros Shop
Australian Open Shop
Tennis Plaza Shop
Undoubtedly, the person you’re shopping for is watching tennis when he/she isn’t playing it! A Tennis Channel Plus or ESPN+ subscription can give your player access to tournaments year-round, especially in cases where they’re hunting down their match, as networks (like CBS or NBC) don’t have exclusive broadcasting rights anymore.
Tennis Channel Plus is a standalone streaming service that gives you access to live and on-demand tennis matches. Like other streaming services, you don’t need a cable provider to access Tennis Channel Plus. At $109.99 a year, you can catch replays of matches across networks and, most importantly, watch your favorite players compete at smaller tournaments.
ESPN+ comes in handy during grand slam season. Subscribers can watch three of the four slams live and on-demand — the US Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open. Perhaps the best commodity of ESPN+ is seeing matches on extra courts that the main networks would not normally televise. The cost is $10.99 a month (or $14.99 if you bundle with Disney+ and Hulu), or a $109.99 for the year payment for the year. For a better pricing breakdown, including options without ads, go to this very detailed Disney pricing page, here.
For the tennis athlete who appreciates (tennis) culture, loves art, and appreciates fantastic writing— a subscription to Racquet Magazine is for him/her. This is a quarterly magazine founded by Caitlin Thompson and David Shaftel — tennis players and fanatics with journalism backgrounds. To name a few, David and Caitlin have written for The NY Times, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, and the Financial Times. Their magazine is published 4X per year, described as ‘slow-cooked’ print, and is often acclaimed for its writing content and visually appealing aesthetic. Aside from their print magazine, they have a weekly newsletter that goes out. $75 for an annual subscription plus shipping at the time of this article.
For 1:1 or group coaching options, consider purchasing a gift card at your local tennis center or club. Should that not be an option, visit sites like PlayYourCourt.com, which allows patrons to create a custom profile based on preferred location and skills. This site will match your gift receiver with top-rated coaches near local tennis courts of their choosing. Players can then decide how many lessons they would like to pre-purchase with their selected pro and let the hitting begin. Note that the link above is an affiliate link with a built-in discount.
Our good friend and former top WTA 30 player, Meike Babel, offers a virtual tennis stroke analysis. If you’ve ever seen one of Meike’s YouTube videos, you’ll appreciate her expertise in improving a player’s game. All you or your tennis enthusiast need to do is record your groundstroke with a camera phone and send it to Meike; she’ll then work on your stroke frame by frame and focus on areas of improvement, all within 72 hours for $65. Kind of hard to beat virtual coaching from a former WTA-ranked player as a gift.
Whether your player works from home and needs a better backdrop or appreciates infusing tennis culture in his or her space, purchasing a tennis print or digital download is a great way to go. Here are a few modern prints we really enjoy: Racquet Patent Print, Set of 3 Tennis Prints, and Grand Slam Gallery Wall.
Tennis isn’t complete without the culture and style that goes with it (evidenced by our earlier recommendation of Racquet Magazine). There are a number of great options out there. However, we really enjoy some recent collections by two brands. First, Sigrun Tennis — based in New York, this brand focuses on a clean, modern aesthetic. It uses quality materials and sustainable production to deliver gear that ‘keeps your head in the game.’ Second, Vuori — if you’re based in CA, you know this brand intimately; however, elsewhere, you may have seen them at REI or other used in complementary sports to tennis. We enjoy the quality material and discrete branding.
If you’ve been following some of the AI-generated tennis scenes posted this year, you may not be too far off with this tournament. The Monte Carlo Masters is an ATP 1000, held on clay courts with the Mediterranean Sea as the backdrop. It’s held in April and is one of the key prep events for the French Open.
Dubbed the ‘fifth grand slam,’ the California tournament is a must and one of the few tournaments that combines both the male and female tours (ATP and WTA 1000). It’s massive, with over 20 courts and high-capacity seating. For example, Stadium 1 sits 16,000, which is second only to Arthur Ashe, which sits close to 24,000. Additionally, the amenities and infrastructure, from the luxurious lounges and dining options, make it a must-see for tennis players and/or fans.
Wheew.
A long read indeed, but maybe just long enough to get your creative juices going for gift-giving this year! To explore additional options, below are two additional lists we enjoyed.
🎾 Written by James Pressley, Staff Writer
Updated by Maybelline Sak
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Love, 15, 30, 40 — these aren’t your typical scoreboard numbers.
As a tennis coach, one of the most frequent questions I get is about this peculiar scoring method. Why these specific increments?
Let’s delve into the sequence of these scores and their significance during a match. Following that, we’ll explore the fascinating history behind tennis’s unique point system.
At the start of the game, both players begin with "love," the tennis term for zero.
Once the first point is won, the victor receives a score of 15. He/she then moves on to serve and announces their score before their opponent’s. Following this, the sequence progresses to 30 and then 40.
If a player scores again after 40, they win the game unless both players are at 40, which is termed as "deuce."
Deuce and Advantage (our favorite word here): When the game reaches deuce, the next point puts a player in the coveted “advantage” spot, bringing them only a point away from winning. You might have heard an umpire announce, “Alcatraz, Advantage” or simply “Alcatraz, Ad.” Either way, it signifies that Carlos is on the brink of securing the game. However, if Carlos were to drop the next point, the game would swing back to deuce.
Moving on to Winning a Set: Players aim is to win six games, leading at least two games over their opponent. If the score reaches 6-6, it’s time for a tiebreaker to determine the set.
Winning the Match: To triumph, a player typically needs to win two of the three sets. However, in intense matches like the 2012 Djokovic vs. Nadal match in Australia, it’s a best of five sets format.
Why the oddly sequenced number jumps? The origins are a bit hazy, but here’s a glimpse into history:
The modern tennis scoring system finds its roots in 12th-century France. Back then, an early ‘prototype’ of tennis, named “jeu de paume” (or ‘palm game’), was gaining popularity. Intriguingly, players hit the ball using just their palms, as racquets made their debut later, in the 16th century.
In jeu de paume, a clock face was generally used as a scoreboard. Clocks were becoming increasingly common in the Middle Ages, and the minute hands moved a quarter of the way around each time, explaining the first two scores in tennis — 15 and 30. The jump to 45 is an anomaly, and its origins remain a topic of debate.
But what about the term, ‘Love?’
There are two prevailing theories. One suggests the players begin with zero, signifying they play purely for the ‘love’ of the game — a spirited sentiment. Alternatively, some believe “love” stems from the French word for “egg,” “l’oeuf,” referencing the shape of a zero. While it might seem a stretch, sports like cricket, originating in the 17th century, have their own similar, twisty naming origins.
By the 1800s, the indoor game “jeu de paume” was losing its allure. That’s when the modern iteration of tennis began to take shape.
In England, Major Walter Clopton Wingfield developed rules for a modern version of “the palm game” intending it for outdoor play on lawns. These courts adopted an hourglass design, with points recorded incrementally.
Come 1877, the All England Croquet Club initiated a championship tournament, ingeniously blending new game principles with the traditional scoring system of “medieval tennis: 15, 30, 40.
That iconic event? It later became globally renowned as the first Wimbledon Championships.
🎾 Written by James Pressely, staff writer
Updated by Maybelline Sak
Kick the game-winning field goal and you’re instantly a legend. Hit a home run with bases loaded. Yep, that’s right. You’re a legend again. The word has been somewhat cheapened, meaning when used in the correct context, it’s less impactful than it deserves to be.
So, what is a legend? To be categorized as such requires someone to be almost unique in their sporting prowess and ability to connect with fans – someone who will be remembered in 100 years for all the right reasons.
Think LeBron James in his unforgettable pomp. Usain Bolt scorching the field at the Olympics. Or Babe Ruth, the most iconic baseball player the nation has ever seen.
These are names that aren’t only synonymous with greatness but also transcend their sports. Ask the average American about LeBron, and they’ll know the face and the name, even if they never watched him in a game.
In men’s tennis, there have been three recent greats, but only one legend. Djokovic and Nadal are undoubtedly superstars, but Roger Federer takes the mantle of legend within this modern triumvirate of tennis powerhouses - although Novak and Rafa might disagree with this statement!
So why is Federer held in higher esteem than his two rivals? The answer isn’t anything to do with his achievements but more with how he accomplished them. The patented Roger Federer backhand. The cool and calm demeanor. The humility in front of the TV cameras. The privacy of his home life, which never once caused controversy. The grace he showed not just in victory but also in defeat.
Join us as we delve into the legendary Swiss’ career and look at what formed him and why he’ll forever have his name etched into the history of the game, for all the right reasons.
To understand anyone, it’s vital to look at their formative years – the years they used to lay the bedrock for all future success.
To say Federer had a privileged upbringing would be something of an understatement. He was born into the powerful Federer family – a prominent dynasty in Switzerland with roots dating back to the 5th century. A quick search shows that Roger isn’t the only successful family member, with the Federers infiltrating many aspects of Swiss life, including politics and religion.
This natural proclivity for excellence saw Federer excelling at several sports as a boy, but he was particularly talented at soccer and tennis. He would later credit playing various sports for his phenomenal hand-eye coordination. He also idolized sportspeople from numerous niches, stating:
“I always looked up to the Michael Schumachers, Tiger Woods, all the other guys that stayed so long at the top.”
Perhaps more importantly, he idolized three massive tennis stars: Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, and Boris Becker. Sampras’ desire to win clearly rubbed off on Federer, as did Edberg’s style, particularly his serve and volley game. But Becker was his biggest inspiration, even bringing a young Federer to tears when he lost.
While many sporting legends showed prowess from the womb, Federer was something of a late bloomer, only picking up a racket seriously at the age of eight. As a comparison, Rafa Nadal was already winning tournaments by that age.
By age 10, Federer had his first coach, taking weekly lessons with Adolf Kacovsky at The Old Boys Tennis Club. His talent was evident even then, with Kacovsky later saying:
“I noticed right away that this guy was a natural talent.”
At this point in his tennis journey, Federer began to develop some of his trademark play. The spectacular backhand, immortalized in the minds of many, was being worked on, while his effortless ability was already painfully clear to his young opponents.
A time comes when any talented sportsperson needs to pick their focus. The choice for Federer was an easy one:
“I liked tennis the best of all sports. It was always exciting and winning or losing was always in my hands.”
He would then head to a Geneva tennis academy, seemingly unilaterally, without his parents’ input. This single-minded dedication to achieving greatness undoubtedly played a huge role in his future success, but even a great like Federer needs a helping hand from time to time.
While at the academy, Federer would receive coaching from Peter Carter, who became a mentor for the young player. So important was Carter that Federer credits him for his unerring and masterful technique – a hallmark of the Federer style.
Carter also helped a young Federer to overcome his hot-headedness, beginning Federer’s transformation into the calm, relaxed, and rarely flustered player we know today. His future conduct on the court and his relaxed, unflustered, and often humorous interviews can be attributed to Carter’s calming influence.
Sadly, Carter would die in a car crash in South Africa in 2002, one year before the Swiss scooped his first Grand Slam title. The event, as would be imagined, deeply moved Federer, who dedicated his first Grand Slam victory to him, hoping he’d done his childhood mentor proud.
Carter wasn’t the only inspiration to Federer during his earlier years, as the Swiss has also stated that he was hugely inspired by his time as a ballboy at the Swiss Open. At the tournament, he’d get the chance to see great players up close, encouraging him to become like them – and exceed them – during his career.
Just one year after serving as a ballboy, Federer would be in the limelight himself, where he’d remain for longer than any other tennis star in history.
Federer went pro in 1998, aged 21. His junior years were exceptionally successful – a clear indicator of his future greatness. During this time, he’d win several major prizes, and this success only made Federer even hungrier to become a tennis superstar.
Federer’s first taste of competition came at the tender age of 14, in a Grade 2 tournament in his native Switzerland. Just two years later, he was hoisting his first significant silverware, celebrating winning the Wimbledon boys’ singles title and the boys’ doubles title alongside Olivier Rochus. This early victory foresaw the success Federer would have in NW19, where he’d win a record eight titles.
Not content, he also reached the US Open final in the same year, losing to Argentine David Nalbandian – another player who would have great success. He would end his junior career later that year, much to the relief of many of his junior competitors. He’d finish as the world’s number one junior player.
During his junior years, Federer had gone from impetuous youth to all-conquering junior and was well set to burst onto the senior tour – the hard work throughout his childhood was paying off. The foundation had been perfectly laid, and the Swiss now needed to jump to the next level, which he’d do with ease.
When Federer began his professional career, the top dog was Pete Sampras – 14-time Grand Slam champion, a record at the time. Even the most optimistic fan of Federer in his early years would have scoffed at the suggestion the Swiss newcomer would obliterate that record, along with two other players from his generation.
Federer would spend two years grafting on the tour before finally reaching the final of his first ATP Tour event – the Marseille Open. He lost. He then went on to lose in the Swiss Indoors final before finally scooping the first prize of his illustrious career, beating Julien Boutter in the final of the Milan Indoor.
This title, while insignificant compared to the championships won since, was the first of 103 ATP Tour tournament wins and undoubtedly an inspiring moment for Federer. By the time the 2003 Wimbledon tournament came around, he had reached an additional 12 finals, winning seven. Not bad for a young player just finding his feet on the Tour.
It was the 2003 Wimbledon tournament that put Federer on the map, announcing him to the world stage. He would take his first title on the hallowed turf, beating Mark Philippoussis to lift the famous trophy. Federer was now a household name – winner of the world’s most famous Grand Slam tournament, aged just 21 years old.
From there, the sky was the limit. Momentum is a vital aspect of any sportsperson’s success, and Federer made the most of his early momentum by capturing more titles early in his career. But unlike other players, Federer’s momentum never seemed to slow.
The crowd favorite won titles at a startling rate, and it soon became evident that Federer was a generational talent – the man to take the mantle from Pete Sampras and lead the men’s game.
For many professional sports stars, outside influences have an undue effect on their ability. Marital scandals see them appearing in the news for the wrong reasons. Drug rumors place question marks over how deserving they are of greatness. Stories of diva-like behavior cause them to lose the respect of fans and peers. All inevitably cause a drop in their game.
None of this would happen with Federer. Instead, the Swiss’ private life stayed exactly that – private. His marriage to Mirka rarely made the papers, except for the right reasons, such as the birth of two sets of twins. This happy, balanced home life undoubtedly leveled Federer out, allowing him to focus and thrive on the court.
And greatness was certainly something Federer quickly achieved. But he’d have to carve his name into the history books alongside two other giants, making Federer’s generation the most remarkable to ever set foot on the court.
Greatness is often a lonely pursuit. The best don’t usually have peers and instead only see the competition disappearing in the rear-view mirror. To have the company of a fellow great is unusual, and to be accompanied by two peers is almost unheard of.
The world was fortunate enough to see Federer during a golden age for men’s tennis – a time when the Swiss superstar battled against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for supremacy.
Lesser men would have balked at the challenge, but Federer embraced it. He went toe-to-toe with his two competitors and other big names of the era, like Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, and regularly prevailed.
His two big rivals only further augmented Federer’s status as a legend. Without them, he would have shined bright, but questions could have been asked of him. Would he have beaten other great names? Did he get lucky and play during a time devoid of other top talents?
By having Nadal and Djokovic around, these questions were dispelled – nobody could argue that Federer couldn’t hold his own against the best. His place in the golden age of men’s tennis was pivotal, and the Swiss regularly played the starring role.
Roger Federer retired from the game in 2022, his last match taking place at the Laver Cup in London. He left with the moniker of the greatest men’s player of all time – greater even than Nadal and Djokovic, despite winning fewer Grand Slam titles.
He won a staggering 103 titles – more than any other man in history – plus he reached a further 54 finals. Twenty of these titles were Grand Slams. But two men from Federer’s generation won more Grand Slams, and they must be credited with inspiring the Swiss to reach the heights he achieved.
Roger Federer managed to do what many others couldn’t. He reached the pinnacle of his sport without making enemies and taking shortcuts. He’ll forever be known as the most extraordinary man to set foot on a tennis court. Well, until the next legend comes around, of course.
🎾 James Wright, Staff Writer
]]>There are several aspects which combine to complete a tennis racket, one of which is the grip. You may choose to go with the grip that comes on the tennis racket at the time of purchase or you may wish to add your own. Even if you decide to use the grip that is already on the racket, this will wear away overtime. You should never allow your grip to wear away completely before deciding to act. As soon as it begins to show signs of wear you must decide whether you are going to purchase a replacement grip or an overgrip.
However, while a replacement grip tends to only be used when the previous grip has started to wear away, an over grip can be added to a tennis racket at any time. This is because overgrips are often applied to increase the grip size or to provide a specific type of grip desired by the player. You will find that a huge selection of both amateur and professional tennis players use overgrips on their tennis racket.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the benefits of using a tennis racket overgrip and how to put on a tennis racket grip tape.
The two major benefits of using a tennis racket overgrip, also called grip tape or overwrap, are increased sweat absorption and adhesion (or tack). The original grips that come on a tennis racket at the time of purchase are not good at absorbing moisture. If you feel your hands sweat a lot during a game of tennis this can become a problem if your grip does not have the necessary absorption qualities. This can be solved by adding an overgrip as they have been designed to absorb moisture.
Our favorite dry overgrips are the Dunlop U-Sweat and ADV Tennis FeltTac (we actually think our grips stay dry really well 🙂) as they have both been designed using ultra absorbent material. These grips will certainly keep your grip dry throughout the match, regardless of the duration. If you sweat a lot when playing tennis or play regularly in humid conditions, give either a shot.
If you have ever felt the need to improve the strength or adhesion of the grip on your tennis racket, a tacky grip, such as the Solinco Wonder Overgrip or ADV Tennis MaxTac(again, we think ours is a great option 🙂) is perfect. Tacky overgrips such as the two highlighted here will provide all the extra grip you need and they are extremely comfortable to use.
Honestly, no one yet has cracked the nut of finding an overgrip with both extreme tackiness and sweat absorption. We're working on it!
Here are 3 quick overgrip tips & tricks:
If your grip size is too small, one trick is to add an overgrip (or two) to increase the grip size without having to get a new racket.
Often times (not all the time), a casual player will benefit from an overgrip that provides tackiness whereas a competitive player will more like prefer sweat moisture absorption.
An overgrip is a great way to customize your racket to meet your own style. They often come in a wide variety of colors.
It is vitally important you overgrip a tennis racket in the proper manner. Failure to do so will mean you lose the benefits of having the overgrip on your tennis racket. You can follow these steps below to put on a tennis racket overgrip perfectly.
1) If you already have an overgrip on the tennis racket this is the time to completely remove it from the handle. Having done so, it is important to check the quality of the grip underneath to ensure it is still in good condition. If you are unsure use a tape measure and compare the measurements against the stated size.
2) It is best to do this sitting down. So, make sure you are sitting comfortably as this will give you the stability required to complete a good job.
3) Having taken the overgrip out of the packaging, you will notice there is a thin plastic covering one side. Remove this covering to reveal a sticky surface.
4) You will notice one end of the overgrip is narrower than the rest of the grip. This end of the grip may come with a sticker and this needs to be removed. Picking up your tennis racket with the handle facing upwards, you will notice at the bottom of the handle there is a bevel. With the longest side of the bevel facing you, stick the narrowest part of the overgrip to the bevel of the tennis racket. You should do this at an angle of roughly 30 degrees away from the bottom of the handle.
5) Keeping the tennis racket in the same position, wrap the overgrip once fully around the handle.
6) Continue doing this, working your way along the handle towards the head of the tennis racket. Each overlap of the overgrip should be 1.25 millimetres. It is important to try and maintain a consistent overlap because if it becomes too thick you will run out of length before reaching the end of the handle.
7) You must try to maintain the same tension in the overgrip throughout the process. You can achieve this by rotating the tennis racket in one hand and guiding the grip in the other hand.
8) Having completed the process, you may have some overgrip left and this can be cut away using a scissors. Do this while ensuring the end of the overgrip matches up perfectly with the end of the handle.
9) There will be a piece of tape included with the overgrip and you can now use this to secure the end of the overgrip with the handle of the racket. If you have a rubber ring on you racket, you can use this to cover up the tape.
🎾 Written by Daniel Jones, staff writer
SO You're thinking of customizing your racket? Awesome! Here's the 411 on racket customization - why to do it, who it's for and how to do it. Let's start with why you should customize your tennis racquet.
Below is a run down of different playing levels and if you should customize your racket or not. That being said, if you want to give it a shot, by all means, please do!
Swings at this level are generally shorter with lower racquet head speeds. Ideal rackets for this level are lighter weight rackets with larger racket heads. So, we'd recommend not investing in customizing your racket just yet - but, if you're intrigued, give it a shot.
At this level, the swing path is longer with a medium/fast swing speed. Rackets here are a bit heavier (10 - 11oz, 285g-310g). Players at this level understand their swings and mechanics. With higher racket head speeds, customization recommendations include increasing stability with lead or tungsten tape, modifying stringing properties and/or adding weight for power. Players could also consider changing the balance of the racket too.
Swings at this level are the most controlled and the fastest. Rackets here are heavy (11 - 12oz, 310g-340g). Players in this level are generally making significant changes and doing less common customizations. Key areas of focus here are to adjust maneuverability, adding stability and exploring stringing properties for added feel/control, instead of focusing on extra power.
Common racket customizations:
- Change strings material, size and tension
- Change replacement grips and overgrips
Less common racket customizations:
- Add weight various parts of the racket on the frame, throat or handle.
- Changing grip size using heat shrinking.
Rare common racket customizations:
- Adding silicone to the handle for increased weight and improved dampening.
- Adding epoxy to the handle for increased weight but no change to dampening.
- Nails for rackets with a foam core for added weight.
Tungsten putty and lead weight added to the racket butt cap for more weight and maneuverability.
Adding cotton to the butt cap of the racket to secure the added weight.
Adding epoxy instead of lead tape for added weight in the butt cap.
Lead tape at 10 and 2 o'clock for more weight and stability. It's put under the head guard to it's more discrete.
Example of lead tape positioning on different racket.
Another racket closing the head guard on added lead tape.
Adding tennis dampeners for vibration reduction and new overgrips.
Another racket with added dampeners for vibration reduction and new overgrips from ADV.
- Weighing scale
- Balance board [google for image]
- Swing weight mobile apps (Racquet Tune, Swing Tool)
- Weight tape (lead or tungsten) [google for image]
- Tungsten putty or silicone [google for image]
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pliers
- Pen
- Cotton balls
For me as a coach, the most exciting and satisfying part of coaching, at any level is to see when your player is improving in something that we have been working on. I always try not to get to caught up with results. I tried to make my players improve and that is more exciting than just focusing on the results.
Of course there are nice memories that will always be with me due to some results, for example when Yuichi Sugita qualified for Wimbledon for the first time, it was a great emotion and satisfaction because I knew that it meant a lot to him and of course for me as well.
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I have been based in Cambodia for almost 11 years. Life in Cambodia is very nice in some ways and very challenging at the same time in other ways. Challenging because it’s a very different culture when it comes to sports, but thankfully I have been able to adapt and accept the differences.
I got to Cambodia in September of 2009. I was working in Thailand for about a year with the South East Asian Tennis Federation (SEATF) and in July of 2009 I met through one of my mentors Robert Davis, the Secretary General of Tennis Cambodia, Mr. Rithivit Tep (Rithi). He was looking at the time for a Technical Director and also a National Coach who could still play and workout with the National Team players. I thought that it was a good opportunity for me to get that type of experience working with a National Association, so I accepted the challenge right away.
When I first got here in 2009, there was very little competition and the players were only from Phnom Penh or from abroad. Thanks to the efforts of many people, especially Rithi, right now there's tennis in six provinces and many kids playing at public schools, private schools and orphanages. All the programs are run by Tennis Cambodia.
Also there are four ITF junior tournaments being held in Cambodia every year where the local juniors have a chance to show their skills against players from all over Asia and even Europe.
We also participate in Davis Cup since 2012 and are suppose to start playing Fed Cup this year. So I think the growth have been amazing in the past 10 years.
For me as a coach, the most exciting and satisfying part of coaching, at any level is to see when your player is improving in something that we have been working on. I always try not to get to caught up with results. I tried to make my players improve and that is more exciting than just focusing on the results.
Of course there are nice memories that will always be with me due to some results, for example when Yuichi Sugita qualified for Wimbledon for the first time, it was a great emotion and satisfaction because I knew that it meant a lot to him and of course for me as well.
I think that just like any other job, nobody expected the pandemic It has obviously changed the life for many people on the tour, not only for players and coaches, but also to tournaments organizers and staff as well as umpires and ATP and WTA staff.
Yes, being a tour coach, I'm constantly on the move. I was traveling at least 25 to 30 weeks per year for the past 8 years.
I am not sure yet how things will turn out on the Tour, we will have to wait until late August or September when things tournaments might open again. But for sure it has affected many people as I mentioned before.
I think the hardest part for everyone involved has been the financial part. Tennis players, tennis coaches, umpires and many other people involved with competitive tennis make a living week by week, so obviously this has been a tough situation.
I really miss competition, I have been able to train for the past three months with Cambodian players, but it’s the competition that drives this sport and I really miss it.
I believe that it will change a lot at least for the next 12 months because of the traveling restrictions that each country will have. I hope I am wrong, but it won’t be easy to have a normal tour when people have to be in quarantine for 14 days upon arrival to a country. I also believe that it will probably have a big impact on some of the doubles players that have an advanced age and this situation might put a stop to their playing days unfortunately.
I think that it’s very important to be honest with players and get on the same page as soon as possible so both the player and coach can work towards the same goals. I think from there you can start looking at different aspects of the game and see which areas I can make an impact on the player's development. It could be something technical, mental, tactical, etc.
There are two ways for me to identify problems, the first one is during practice, sometimes as a coach I am able to see if there is a technical problem or a footwork problem that we can work on. The second way is during matches. In competition, I try to see what type of decisions the players are making, especially on important points and under pressure. So this is something very important for me to analyze with high performance players especially.
I do a few drills with all my players to have them understanding the importance of shot selection. Basically, I want my players to be able to cut the amount of errors that they make in matches and having good shot selection will help tremendously.
The main drill that I would recommend to some of the players that are making too many mistakes is to try to think to hit the ball across their body as much as possible so they can hit lower risk shots and improve their consistency. Obviously this is just a base that it works for me and my players and can start from there to get into more difficult shots after they can control this basic shots.
Again, it's about being honest with the players that you are working with and always be ready to learn more. We can always continue educating ourselves and improving our coaching skills.
Everything! Tennis has given me the opportunity to go around the world and meet wonderful people along the way. It has giving me a life style doing what I loved to do since I was a little kid. So I feel really blessed.
🎾 Braen Aneiros interviewed by Lavie Sak
Hi there, my name is Bill Dow, I am a USPTA Elite Coach, and a USTA Wheelchair tennis certified coach and I wanted to give you my top 5 learnings from coaching wheelchair tennis.
If there is anyone interested in becoming a Wheelchair coach, I have to say this has been one of the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. So, today, I wanted to give you my top five learnings from being a wheelchair coach.
That’s all I have for now. Check back with me soon to learn more tricks and tips from a newbie wheelchair tennis coach!
🎾 Written by Bill Dow, Guest Contributor
]]>Purchasing tennis equipment can seem like a fairly straight-forward affair. Basically, all you need to begin playing the game is a tennis racket and ball. However, there is more to it than that and as your game develops you will need to tailor your equipment. One of the key aspects to consider is the strings of the racket and there are different tennis string types available depending on your style and level of play.
In terms of tennis string construction, there are four different material compositions. The material you decide to use should be based on your level of play, type of shots you employ and also your budget. Let's take a closer look at each of the four tennis string types and you can then decide which is most suitable for your racket.
If your grip size is too small, one trick is to add an overgrip (or two) to increase the grip size without having to get a new racket.
Often times (not all the time), a casual player will benefit from an overgrip that provides tackiness whereas a competitive player will more like prefer sweat moisture absorption.
An overgrip is a great way to customize your racket to meet your own style. They often come in a wide variety of colors.
If you are new to the sport or you simply have no idea where to begin the best option is to use synthetic gut tennis strings. This is a nylon based string and it is often surrounded by additional layers to improve performance. The greater the number of additional layers wrapped around the string the more durable it becomes. The cushioning effect of the string also improves as more layers are added.
Synthetic gut tennis strings offer the best value and provide a solid all round performance. Many beginner tennis players will choose this tennis string type and although it does not excel in any particular category, it is a great way to start. However, some professional players have been known to use synthetic gut tennis strings, including multiple Grand Slam winner Jim Courier.
When discussing or choosing tennis string types, it is important not to confuse synthetic gut with natural gut. They are completely different in every way beginning with the material used in their construction. Natural gut tennis strings are made from the serous membrane of cow intestines. So, when we say ‘natural gut’ we really mean natural gut!
It is possible to trace the history of natural gut back almost 200 years yet it remains one of the most popular tennis string types available today. Using the individual strands of fibers from the membrane of cow intestines, natural gut tennis strings are extremely elastic. That means they offer a tremendous combination of feel, power, and comfort. That's why you will find many of the world’s leading players choosing to use natural gut tennis strings.
However, they do not come cheap, plus the durability is questionable meaning you will have to replace natural gut strings sooner than synthetic gut strings.
For those players who like the sound of natural gut strings and the benefits they provide but would like to use something a little cheaper and more durable, multifilament strings could be the answer. It may be the case you simply do not like the fact natural gut strings are made from cow intestines, which is understandable! Therefore, multifilament is the best alternative.
Multifilament tennis strings are created using individual nylon string filaments bonded together by a polyurethane agent. The construction allows these strings to absorb the impact of the ball on the tennis racket yet provide plenty of power when playing shots. If you enjoy hitting the ball deep in the court, multifilament strings are ideal although they are not so good for those who like to play a variety of shots. You can rely on the tension of multifilament tennis strings to remain constant for a longer period of time than the two tennis string type highlighted above. However, if you like to hit the ball hard, you may find durability becomes an issue.
Now we come to the last of our tennis string types and polyester strings provide a great comparison to multifilament strings. Polyester strings have grown in popularity over the past 20 years and you only have to look at the style of play employed by Rafael Nadal to understand the benefits they provide.
Now, we are not saying you are going to start playing like Nadal by using polyester strings! However, if you are the type of player who likes to play with spin and control, you will enjoy using this type of tennis string. Polyester strings are also noted for their durability but generating power on shots does not come easy and they are less forgiving on the arm.
You must always consider your style of play when deciding which of the tennis string types to use. Think about the shots you enjoy playing on the court and how each of the different tennis string types highlighted above are suited to the shots you like to play.
🎾 Written by Daniel Jones, staff writer
Tennis has changed my life. It's a passion that has driven me and has given me opportunities that I would otherwise have never had. For this reason, I want ADV Tennis to be a vehicle to help grow tennis and enrich lives in areas of the world where tennis isn't as prevalent - starting with Cambodia.
So, I'm extremely proud and excited to announce that we have partnered with the Tennis Federation of Cambodia offering free tennis gear to their grassroots programs throughout the country. This is only the beginning!
As a first generation Cambodian-American having parents who lived through and escaped the horrors of war and genocide, I am naturally passionate, loyal, and relentlessly motivated to help.
Years ago, I visited Cambodia and produced a documentary to help spread awareness of an absolutely amazing story. The documentary illustrates tennis as a microcosm of the restoration of Khmer society. Tennis is not just a game, but truly has become a new way of life. I have not seen such motivation and love for tennis as I do in Khmer coaches and players. You'll discover Cambodian grassroots tennis, the dedication of the coaches, and even their newly formed Davis Cup team, who play within the Oceania group.
If you have a moment, please give the documentary a watch. I'd love to hear any thoughts or questions, so please don't hesitate to reach out. It would be amazing if you could help share this story with anyone else who loves tennis, Cambodia or simply an inspiring story.
ITF honors Tennis Cambodia:
Lavie
ADV Tennis Founder