TennisIDENTITY_YB

Now available. Tonic tennis by Martina Hingis.

2012-04-26T14:38:43-04:00

Tonic tennis fashion by Martina Hingis is now available. The new line is style directed by the 5 time Grand Slam Champion herself. Pictured above Martina wears the new Tonic Women's Spring Grand Slam Tank, $77 and Baseline Skort, $69. Right, is the top's back. Yes, the prices are indicative of the high quality garment that Tonic makes. The Canadian company is known in yoga circles for its comfort, fit and creativity with athletic style. Hingis has worked hard to make sure her line works for the rigors of the court. The new collection, made of a high-end supplex/lycra blend, comes in a variety of bright colors including a glorious pink called fuchsia rose. Can't vouch for fit as I haven't tried anything on yet. Cute line though; I like the Spring Baseline tank, left, $65. This one goes with the solid lemongrass yellow skort. Construction in all garments includes artfully placed mesh panels for ventilation and built in bras have removable pad inserts. Learn more at Tonic or buy at Tennis-Warehouse.

Kicks from a candy shop. Scream summer in new Asics.

2012-04-26T09:31:41-04:00

Just in time for summer tennis. Amp up those white-weary dogs with these colorfully jazzed tennis shoes from Asics. All performance and built for the most aggressive of players, they are a dressed up Gel Resolution 4, which happens to be a very comfortable shoe. Left is the men's color way, blue base with accents of yellow and orange. Below is the women's version, yellow base with violet, teal and pink. Don't go to crazy mixing colors up top when wearing these. Let your feet do the talking. Find these technicolor beauties only at Tennis-Warehouse, $120 USD. The 4 is available everywhere, but not the candy shop colors. Consider ordering a 1/2 size down as these run large. 6 month durability guarantee (always welcome).

Your tennis match captured. The QM-1 offers an easy way to video your game.

2012-04-24T12:26:35-04:00

Videotaping your tennis game can be eye opening (even a little disheartening) but it IS really helpful. The QM-1 Portable Camera support is a tool that mounts on a tennis court fence (inside or out) and allows you to film an entire match or a portion of it, including both sides of the court. Parents traveling with junior players can use the QM-1 to bring a match back to a coach for analysis without incurring travelling fees. Teams can see how they move together and coaches can use it to talk with students about their strokes and footwork. Mike Lamens, designer/owner, suggests a few different cameras that work well with the QM-1. The Kodak Playsport ZX5, Creative Labs VADO and The Wingman HD are all recommended as they have a wide enough lens to capture the whole court. Pay attention to battery life especially if you want to film an entire match. Download your video to your computer and you've got it to review and edit. Below is a video example of an edited filmed match. The QM-1 will run you $69 USD. It collapses to fit in your tennis bag, is lightweight and super easy to use (no photographic or technical talent needed whatsoever). Learn more or buy at MyTennisTools.

HEAD releases its lightest tennis shoe ever.

2012-04-23T09:10:06-04:00

The hot looking new Speed Pro Lite is HEAD’s lightest tennis shoe ever. It is 10% lighter than the original HEAD Speed Pro tennis shoe at only 14 oz per shoe (based on Men’s size 9). The upper is constructed using mesh and flexible TPU (like the rubber material used in some cell phone covers) and the shoe has what's called a half-sock construction which contributes to a comfy slipper-like feel. Despite all the lightening, foot friendly HEAD Vi-Pod, Energy Bridge and CXG technologies make this a stable, low to the ground, high-perfomance tennis shoe. The Speed Pro Lite is available for men in black/white/orange (pictured here) and white/black. There is a 6 month durability outsole guarantee on these, $100 USD. Ladies, they do not make this shoe in womens' sizes. Buy 2 sizes down to fit (they do run wide so if you've got a narrow foot this trick might not work for you). Hot looking shoe with a black or white outfit though. Find a retailer at HEAD or buy at Tennis-Warehouse or tennis retailers worldwide.

3 new products for your tennis or gym bag.

2012-04-20T16:05:14-04:00

Need a lift? Oxygen+ offers quick hits of portable O which can increase alertness and energy by boosting the oxygen level in your bloodstream. These lightweight (and recyclable) aluminum cans come in two sizes: the 4" tall O+ mini holds 24 breathes per can (use 3-5 breaths per time), $8 USD per can; and the 8" tall O+ skinni with 40+ breaths per can (so 8-12 occasions per can), $12 per can. You can buy O+ in 3 packs or get the Elevate pack which is a refillable delivery system. Easy to use and in three barely there "flavors," peppermint, grapefruit and natural. Learn more, find a retailer or order at OxygenPlus. Vic Braden is an ambassador for the company which says good things about the product. Please see the precautions on the O+ site if you have impaired heart or lung function or any other medical condition. Nuun offers an easy way to carry your sports drink (or make more quickly between sets). Your essential electrolytes beverage is created by dropping one nuun tablet into 16 oz. of water. Nuun contains no sugars (sorbitol is used), is under 6 calories and delivers 360 mg. sodium, 100 mg. potassium, 25 mg. magnesium, 13 mg. calcium and more including vitamins. The tablets (12 tablets per tube) come in 11 flavors. My favorites are the lemon or lime based. I like my drinks light tasting so I use 1/2 tablet per bottle. The tubes are $6.50 USD each (app .50 per serving if you use a whole tablet). Sport drinks are a must and I often forget to bring one along to the court. Keeping a tube of nuun in my bag makes it easy to make a drink in seconds since water fountains easily supply the base. Learn more or find a retailer at Nuun. Deodorize that stinky bag of yours with this bamboo charcoal filled bag from Moso Natural. Simply toss the 6 x 7" linen covered sachet in your gym or tennis bag and smell the difference. The charcoal absorbs moisture and odor. Reactivate the bag's powers monthly by setting out in the sun. Each bag lasts two years and can be cut open and safely spread in the garden when done. Go green! The 7 oz. size will do you fine: $6.99 each USD. Find a retailer at Moso Natural.

5 health tips from Aleksandra Wozniak.

2012-04-19T16:41:40-00:00

Really quick vid from Aleksandra Wozniak and her sponsor USANA. Pretty basic but good reminders:

Women's tennis and the original 9 celebrated. Video.

2012-04-16T19:08:21-00:00

Here's the link to an original photograph of the group.

Dynamic new Athletic DNA for the courts. Mens.

2012-04-16T14:35:41-04:00

Pictured above Amer Delic wears one of Athletic DNA's new color charged tennis shirts, the Spring Motion Crew in electric blue. Love the graphic! Because "... a big part of tennis is the movement and different positions a player has to be in to make clean contact with the ball," say Athletic DNA designers, "the Motion Shirt's design was meant to flow with every movement a player makes and really showcase their athleticism." I also like it in lime (back is shown here. All performance, anti-odor with a loose fit, $45 USD. Below Delic wears the brand's new Helix Crew, same price and construction detail. I like it best in white with scuba blue for the heat of summer. Nice stuff. Available at Athletic DNA and now also at Tennis-Warehouse. What's your TennisIDENTITY? Quick links to what I like in: Women's Tennis Fashion, Men's Tennis Fashion, Tennis Bags, Tennis Rackets, Shoes and String. Brands and more categories in the left-hand side bar.

Tennis and the R.M.S. Titanic

2012-04-14T23:09:54-04:00

April 15*. The world commemorates the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. Wherever you are it is likely you have caught a piece of the action. Did you know that our game has a Titanic story to tell too? The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHOF) in Newport, Rhode Island has added a new exhibit devoted to two men who not only survived the sinking but went on to become tennis Hall of Fame greats, Karl Howell Behr and Richard Norris Williams. The stories of survival are the most amazing (as you know not many guys lived to tell) but the two men actually had to play each other two years after the tragedy AT the Newport Casino (now ITHOF) and again a few more times during their careers. Cool story. Love this museum, love Newport. *On April 14, 1912 the Titanic struck an iceberg. On April 15, in the early hours of the new day, the ship sank.

Absolute Improvement: Strategy for your second serve.

2012-04-05T10:53:38-04:00

First in a series of tennis tips from David Lewis, Director of Instruction at Ivan Lendl Junior Tennis Academy on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina: The topspin or “American twist” is a stroke many players struggle to master. With limited options, a weak second-serve leaves players vulnerable to hitting double-faults or being attacked by the returner. The American Twist is the most reliable to use as a second serve. It allows the server to apply topspin with the confidence to land the ball in the service box, similar to a topspin forehand or backhand. Here’s how to master this weapon: Use the Continental or Eastern Backhand* grip. Make sure to aim high over the net, allowing spin on the ball to drop it into the service box. Toss the ball above and slightly behind your head so you can hit up on the ball (use your legs to move up towards it) to generate spin. For a right-handed player, impact should occur at 7 o’clock on the ball and aiming out towards 1 o’clock, which generates the combination of topspin and a reverse slice spin. When the ball hits the ground, it bounces high and kicks to the right. After impact, the racquet should finish towards the right-hand side of the body. Stefan Edberg often used the American twist to establish good net position. Topspin travels slower through the air, compared to a flat serve. With ample topspin on the ball, the serve will bounce high for the returner, allowing the server more time to get to the net. This gives the serve-and-volley player the opportunity to hit a high volley (pic below) to finish the point early or set up for an easy smash on the next shot. The American twist serve allows the server to control the point by hitting either a volley or big forehand with the second shot, if they stay back after the serve, The combination of mixing serve-and-volley tennis with staying back will keep the returner guessing whether to hit at the feet as their opponent approaches the net or strike it deep if they stay back looking for the big forehand. Either way, it will force the returner out of their comfort zone with the server continually applying pressure. When playing doubles, the topspin serve also allows the server to establish good net position by aiming at the backhand of their opponent. The server’s partner can get into good position and poach the return since the serve will produce a high bounce from the topspin. For the past twenty years, David Lewis, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, has coached top juniors and professionals around the world including Marina Erakovic, ranked as high as No.49 on the WTA world tour. The Ivan Lendl IJTA focuses on classic fundamentals, leading-edge biomechanics, strength training / fitness and mental preparation. *The Continental grip is obtained by placing the base knuckle of the index finger right on the second bevel. The Eastern Backhand grip places the...

Maria "Sugarpova" on her candy line, dancing and flossing.

2012-04-05T14:17:02-00:00

Sounds like Maria Sharapova's new candy line will launch towards the end of this year plus some pretty random topics as asked by Dominika Cibulkova for Tennis Kids Zone.

Does your tennis racquet need a LBD? New string for your stick.

2012-04-03T12:11:06-04:00

Black string is dressing many a tennis racquet these days and with its popularity has grown a number of new game-improving releases. The color has nothing to do with performance, it just looks tougher. Take a look at a few new-to-market strings. Mitchell Lvovsky, managing director of ALM Sports Group offers a quick peek at some stand-out lines you might want to consider: Select by Still in Black from France. The company makes a variety of polyester-based string for the competitive player. It's newest release offers feel, tension retention and power in a co-polyester string. The brand is the official string of the ITF Junior Under 10 Club as well as the official string for a number of top ATP Touring pros. Select comes in a very cool looking deep steel blue as well as black. $13 per set. Hexonic by Genesis is a third generation hexagonal shaped co-poly string. This string offers solid tension maintenance and long lasting performance with a softer string. The six edges bite the ball, offering what they call impresssive spin potential (especially with the thinnest one). Hexonic is available in 16L, 18 and 18L Gauge (1.09mm) making it the thinnest co-polyester string on the market today. $7. Genesis also makes a string called Twisted Razor , a co-poly with "tri blade technology" (it has a bit of a kinked look to it when out of the package) a triangular shaped profile providing excellent ball bite. This string provides the combination of spin, power, and control. Used by ATP Touring Pro Wayne Odesnik and many top colleges and junior players worldwide. $10. Find a Genesis or Still in Black retailer at ALM Sports Group. Read write ups on retailer sites for more info on each.

Agnieszka Radwanska in the bubbly.

2012-04-03T14:54:56-00:00

Congratulations to Agnieszka Radwanska who won the women's singles title at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open this past weekend. Champagne bubbles for all. Pretty shot.

Her dress is the the same as she wore at the Australian Open but in a beautiful new blue. Perfect for Miami.

Unfortunately Aga has pulled out of the Family Circle Cup this week. Apparently the Florida win got the best of her back. Get well soon girl!

Image courtesy of the Sony Ericsson Open -- now renamed the Sony Open so I'll note both.

Watch: Rafael Nadal v. Cristiano Ronaldo on court. Yes tennis...or is it football?

2012-03-30T13:42:04-04:00

Rafael Nadal plays Cristiano Ronaldo on court...it's not what you think. Watch. Awesome promo for Nike's new Mercurial Vapor II soccer boot. Not tennis but who cares, it's Rafa. P.S -- Just heard Rafa has withdrawn from the Sony Ericsson Open with a knee injury. This will video have to do until he's back. Get well soon RN.