Want to look into specific tennis equipment designs?:
8th Febuary 2010 
HEAD introduces YOUTEK™ Extreme Series
TAGS: Tennis
According to HEAD, "YOUTEK™ combines superior technologies to give you the individual benefits you need to match your playing style. Not only does YOUTEK™ meet your individual needs but it enhances your performance on the court and brings out the best in you”.
“The new YOUTEK Extreme Racquets are able to adapt to each shot you hit,” said Roger Petersman, Senior Category Manager Tennis Racquets. “The Extreme racquets have an increased head width allowing for much greater spin generation on the ball, which is perfect for the aggressive, modern tennis player.”
The YOUTEK™ Extreme line offers two new models:
YOUTEK™ Extreme Pro – All of the benefits of the Extreme MP in a heavier, stiffer version, the Extreme Pro provides YOU with all of the extra touch, power and spin you need for an aggressive game.
YOUTEK™ Extreme MP – The Extreme MP is designed for the modern tennis player with the perfect combination of weight and balance to be quick through the air. Now with YOUTEK™ to perfectly match YOUR individual needs.
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26th January 2010
HEAD Launches YOUTEK™ Prestige Series
TAGS: Tennis
According to HEAD, "YOUTEK™ combines superior technologies to give you the individual benefits you need to match your playing style. Not only does YOUTEK™ meet your individual needs but it enhances your performance on the court and brings out the best in you”.
“HEAD has taken technology to a whole new level with YOUTEK™,” said Roger Petersman, senior business manager of tennis racquets for HEAD Penn Racquet Sports. “YOUTEK™ can actually sense the needs of the tennis player during different shots to perfectly match your game.”
In the YOUTEK™ Prestige Series, YOUTEK™ incorporates d3o™, a “smart material” which dramatically changes its behavior under dynamic loading or impact. Located in the shaft of the racquet, d3o™ reacts to the needs of a player within nano seconds, providing a softer touch and better feel on slow speed impacts, like slices and drop shots, and increases stiffness necessary to create power on high speed impacts, such as a serves and passing shots.
The Prestige series includes the following:
Prestige Pro: Features a more open string pattern providing extra pop for a more aggressive tour player and also includes a leather grip for ultimate tour performance.
Prestige Mid: A great tour racquet that offers maximum touch and control with the extra stability that is ideal for serious heavy hitters.
Prestige Mid Plus: Provides outstanding touch and control for great playability and is the racquet choice of HEAD stars Gilles Simon, Stanislas Wawrinka and Tommy Haas.
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5th January 2010
Adidas tennis training shoe
http://www.tennisidentity.com/
TAGS: Tennis shoes
Adidas have launched a tennis training shoe called the CYD reflex. Retailing for around $100 in the US, this shoe was specifically designed for training rather than competition. With specifity of sports equipment design developing, it is surprising more tennis shoe companies aren't developing match- and training-specific shoes.
Accoridng to tennisidentity:
"Normal running and gym shoes are not designed to withstand or support the sudden movements required in tennis training and so the CYD Reflex features Speedcut, an adidas technology designed to reduce the forefoot strain of extreme side-to-side movements so players can maintain speed and performance while reducing the risk of injury. The shoes are built with adiTUFF to withstand abrasion by tough-on-footwear hard courts. The Torsion® System stabilizing technology gives the overarching support of the CYD Reflex, providing the midfoot with enhanced control, support and fit to adapt to whatever surface you are training or hitting on. It's a little like a seat-belt for your foot."
For more information please visit their blog.
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2009
Dunlop sports release aerogel 4d braiding technology
http://www.dunlopsports.com/dunlop-tennis/Technology/Aerogel-4D-technology/
TAGS: Rackets
Dunlop sports have released their aerogel 4d braiding technology in time for Wimbledon. It says on their website:
"Dunlop has further enhanced its Aerogel technology by taking it to the next dimension with 4D braiding. Four directional braided material is used at key points on the racket frame to significantly increase racket stability. At 5 and 7 o'clock to minimise frame torsion and increase control. At 3 and 9 o'clock for increased stability and enhanced touch and feel.
The results are exceptional racket control without sacrificing the established Dunlop racket feel. 4D braiding has been implemented across the whole Dunlop Aerogel portfolio, offering outstanding benefits to players of all abilities.
DUNLOP AEROGEL 4D - TAKING TECHNOLOGY TO A NEW DIMENSION ".
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2009
Cool cool video by Lacoste
http://www.lacoste-future.com/en/#/equipment/
If you enjoy looking at the future of sports design then you must see this video. Its a classic!!
2009
Tennis racket that cools the hand
Text from Gizmodo.
TAGS: Rackets
"If you suffer from a debilitating case of hand sweat while playing tennis, the folks at Control Freek are offering up a solution with their new air circulating tennis racquets. Using the latest wiffle technology, Control Freek has cut some high-tech holes in their handle and added scoops to trap and circulate air to your palms while you play.
Sweat-free hands equal a sure grip, a sure grip equals better tennis, and better tennis equals a $275 racquet. Sure, there are products out there that cost less—but look at the dude pictured above. Only those who are extreme enough to wear a suit and boxing gloves while playing tennis are worthy of a Control Freek racquet."
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2009
HEAD introduces new footwear line
TAGS: Tennis shoes, Footwear
The new line incorporates the HEAD CXG™ technology which provides comfort, shock absorption, decreased foot fatigue, stability and motion control. A combination of turned polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and saran fibres are shaped to form an interlocking coil structure within the sole of the shoe. The coil is then encapsulated within a resilient polyurethane form. When the foot makes contact with the ground, the coil fibres compress and absorb shock. As the foot reaches the end of its stride, the coil structure produces an upward force, much like that of a resilient spring.
For more information please click the link. Images and information reprinted from HEAD
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2009
What causes tennis ball wear?
TAGS: Tennis balls
Very rarely do we ever see a tennis player approach a serve before studying the ball's appearance and feel intently. Is ball wear part of the game or should manufacturers aim to maintain ball performance throughout match-play, like in so many other sports?
Steele (2006) established a framework for identifying the key areas that contribute to wear. In brief, racket impact conditions, repeated impacts, precipitation, cloth construction and natural pressure loss are some of the major causes. Wear is primarily associated with a reduction in the coefficient of restitution and altered flight aerodynamics. However important differences in appearance, feel, rebound angles, friction-ball-turf interaction, ball mass, centre of mass and carcass stiffness, should also be considered and have yet to be investigated in full. Current optimisation techniques include changes in fibre type, fibre thickness, rubber stiffness, and porosity.
Following extensive interviews with players, a literature review and analysis of ball characteristics in play, Steele (2006) captured the effects of each of the characteristics named above on ball properties, particularly ball mass lost and coefficient of restitution. Improvements in racket technology offer customisation and a tailored product. Elite players often use high stringing tensions to promote increased control over power. Also, better understanding of conditioning programmes have improved fitness and strength increasing impact force and speed from the racket head. However, this is to the determent of ball performance; an increase in ball speed also increases the rate of ball mass lost causing wear.
String type and ball weave are further racket and ball properties that can affect the rate of ball mass lost. Natural gut induces wear significantly quicker than monofilament polyester whilst needle felt weave increases mass lost compared to sateen weave. Water resistant dyes, used to reduce ball water retention, significantly decrease initial mass losses whilst the rate of mass lost is unchanged. Finally a drop in internal pressure was shown to reduce the coefficient of restitution.
Ball wear as an area of research is still in its infancy; however with further understanding players can have the confidence to select any ball to achieve the appropriate response.
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