Likes:The Michelin-made outsole on Babolat’s newest women's shoe provides durability and resistance to abrasion. The V-Pro Lady is a cleanly-engineered, all-court shoe that's built lower to the ground than some of its competitors. This enhanced the feel wear testers felt when making quick cuts on court. It has a snug fit and is reasonably priced, providing good value at a lower price point than other major brands.
Dislikes: If you’re a larger woman, the shoe may feel a little light for you and may not provide as much comfort as necessary. The shoe was comfortable and stable for testers with pronated or supinated feet, but some wear testers with overly-pronated or flat feet reported discomfort. It lacks in variety, coming in just one color, and its largest size is 10.5.
Bottom Line: Like the men's V-Pro All Court, this shoe takes the opposite approach of the flagship Propulse line: It's lighter, lower to the ground and simplistic, eschewing Babolat's foot belt technology. It does include the Exact Pro technology, however, which is effective in enhancing that all-important first step. Overall, the shoe has a tendency for a snug fit and a very light feel, but is comfortable, with quick break-in time. Bigger, stronger players seeking a heavier shoe may want to try the Babolat Propulse Lady 3 instead.
Dr. David G. Sharnoff is a podiatrist practicing in Shelton, Conn. He has served as TENNIS’ shoe adviser since 1986 and as a consultant to the WTA since 1989. A graduate of Ohio State, he played on the university’s varsity tennis team for four years.
Price: $225 Head Size: 100 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 10.6 oz. Balance: 1 point headlight Ideal Swing: Long String Pattern: 16 mains/19 crosses Beam Width: 20 mm NTRP: 3.5-5.0
How It Tested: The ball came off the strings with such crisp precision that it felt like the frame had its own internal GPS system. The IG Speed MP 300 is a full 15 grams lighter than the patriarch of the IG Speed family, the IG Speed MP 18 x 20, and provides more power. The racquet was responsive to topspin, slice and flat shots and forgiving on off-center hits. Its light weight was helpful in elevating the racquet quickly on overheads.
Likes: This is a smooth frame offering both comfort and stability. Innegra, which Head touts as “the world’s lightest high-performance fiber in the industry today,” is integrated into the frame for shock absorption and improved stability. The brand’s d3o technology is designed to adapt to a variety of shots, offering stiffness or softer touch depending on the impact of the ball off the string bed. It’s a well-balanced stick that testers agreed was more maneuverable than the YouTek IG Speed Elite (which offers a wider 22-millimeter beam), the YouTek IG Speed MP 18 x 20 (Novak Djokovic’s racquet) or the YouTek IG Speed MP 16 x 19.
Dislikes: Some testers expressed concern over creating pace off of slower balls. This was apparent in players moving forward for low, slice shots. The racquet lacks a bit of heft when tested against heavier frames, though that’s not what it is designed for—for those seeking heavier options, the IG Speed Series offers the MP 18 x 20 and 16 x 19 frames, which weigh 11.1 oz., unstrung.
Bottom Line: This all-court stick is as smoothly satisfying as a sports car capable of cornering a hairpin turn with comfort and control. You can whip the racquet through the contact zone quickly and comfortably, and it performs admirably from anywhere on the court. It is ideally suited for a 3.5 to 4.5-level player, though an older 5.0 player with a longer, fluid swing would likely benefit from its comfort and maneuverability. Several testers reported this was the most responsive racquet in the YouTek IG Speed family.
TENNIS racquet advisor Bruce Levine is a former touring pro who has coached on both the men’s and women’s tours. Bruce is the general manager of Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J., has worked as a full-time teaching pro for 30 years and lectures nationally on racquets and equipment.
Price: $210 Head Size: 100 square inches Length: 27 inches Weight: 11 oz. Balance: 4 points headlight Ideal Swing: Long String Pattern: 18 mains/20 crosses Beam Width: 20 mm/20 mm/20 mm NTRP: 4.5-7.0
How It Tested: Players taking big cuts from the baseline said the 200 Plus hit for depth while providing control and comfort. Nikolay Davydenko switched to this frame after the 2010 U.S. Open, but even if you’re not blessed with his sharp strokes and sense of timing, advanced players can swing through the ball with confidence that it will stay in play. Dunlop’s Aeroskin technology is incorporated into the frame which, according to the brand, reduces aerodynamic drag and makes the racquet move faster through the air. Players with shorter swings sometimes saw shots fall short, particularly on service returns. The racquet’s maneuverability is an asset at net and on serve. The tighter 18 x 20 string pattern and 100-square inch head size offer enhanced control.
Likes: A control frame that provides ample feedback to skilled players. In the right hands, this racquet plays well from all areas of the court. Its weight enables players to combat the heaviest hitters while maintaining stability on off-center hits.
Dislikes: The frame is designed for players with longer swings; if your swing is short, you may feel power deficiency. Its weight caused maneuverability issues for some intermediate players, who were not as effective flicking retrieval shots when stretched out for wide balls.
Bottom Line: This is a great stick for advanced players. It’s well-balanced, stable and very responsive from all areas of the court. Offering a denser string patter than the Biomimetic 300, the frame has enough weight to bring the ball back with pace against the heaviest hitters. If you’re a 4.5 NTRP or higher, this is a racquet well worth play testing. But if you don’t have a full swing, this likely isn’t your thing.
TENNIS racquet advisor Bruce Levine is a former touring pro who has coached on both the men’s and women’s tours. Bruce is the general manager of Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J., has worked as a full-time teaching pro for 30 years and lectures nationally on racquets and equipment.
Likes: The V-Pro carries some of the same design DNA as Babolat’s popular Propulse 3, but without the heft. Continuing its successful collaboration with French brand Michelin, Babolat offers an outsole that provides strength, durability and resistance to abrasion. It’s an all-court shoe with good ventilation and quick break-in time. The flex point is an asset and the Vibrakill cushioning system in the heel is a good shock absorber, providing comfort in conjunction with the OrthoLite insoles. From a style perspective, it is a clean design that should appeal to both the country club set and public park player.
Dislikes: If you’re a larger man, the V-Pro may feel snug and a little light, and may not provide as much comfort as a heavier shoe. The shoe worked well for testers with pronated feet, however some wear-testers with overly-pronated or flat feet reported some comfort issues. The shoe comes in just one color cosmetic, which may dissuade clay-courters who prefer dark footwear.
Bottom Line: This is a somewhat simplistic, but very good and functional shoe that is lighter and lower to the ground than the Propulse 3, worn by Andy Roddick. It doesn’t offer the Propulse’s foot belt technology, either, but most wear testers felt that didn’t diminish the shoe’s performance. Babolat has done a good job in building options for its customer base: If you’re a bigger, stronger player seeking a heavier shoe designed to withstand aggressive play, try the Propulse 3. If you want Babolat’s technology in a shoe that’s lighter and closer to the ground, this is the choice for you. Another option: buy both models, use the Propulse as a match shoe and the V-Pro as a practice shoe.
Dr. David G. Sharnoff is a podiatrist practicing in Shelton, Conn. He has served as TENNIS’ shoe adviser since 1986 and as a consultant to the WTA since 1989. A graduate of Ohio State, he played on the university’s varsity tennis team for four years.
Likes: One of the world’s best-selling shoes features adidas' trademark adiwear6 outsole for traction and durability in high-wear areas. Adidas says a synthetic leather upper helps make this Barricade 10 percent lighter than its predecessor and offers increased ventilation. An extended torsion system adds midfoot and forefoot stability, and the stabilizing three stripes are now at the forefoot. Maria Kirilenko, Andrea Petkovic and the recently retired Justine Henin have all worn Barricade shoes this season.
Dislikes: Though the shoe has shed some excess weight, it could still benefit from a Jenny Craig program. Some wear testers reported diminished comfort due to the shoe's bulk, while others said it would benefit from improved ventilation. Like the men's Barricade, I’d like to see adidas incorporate a new, lighter material into the shoe aside from the standard EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) midsole, which tends to weigh the shoe down.
Bottom Line: The Barricade retains its place as a popular presence among fans who see the shoe in action on the pro circuit. It was the second best-selling tennis shoe at specialty stores in 2010, according to Racquet Sports Industry Magazine. This year’s model, like its men's counterpart, scores winning marks on flex point, traction and durability, and will withstand a pounding on all surfaces. It's particularly strong for bigger, stronger, aggressive players. Smaller, lighter wear-testers reported the shoe was not as comfortable as other models.
Dr. David G. Sharnoff is a podiatrist practicing in Shelton, Conn. He has served as TENNIS’ shoe adviser since 1986 and as a consultant to the WTA since 1989. A graduate of Ohio State, he played on the university’s varsity tennis team for four years.
Likes:Adidas has again created excellent equipment with the Barricade 6.0, which is worn by several pros including Andy Murray, Marcos Baghdatis, Ernests Gulbis, Viktor Troicki and Mikhail Youzhny. The shoe offers a good flex point, strong stability, gripping traction, durability and a long lineage of success. The TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) triple stripes in the forefoot offer lateral stability and the torsion system enhances the flex point. The Barricade 6.0 comes in three color palettes for men, four for women and four for juniors. (The junior Barricade retails for $90.)
Dislikes: Though adidas has tried to streamline the Barricade by shedding some of its weight, this is an overbuilt shoe that remains a bit too heavy for optimum comfort among recreational players. I’d like to see adidas incorporate a new, lighter material into the shoe aside from the standard EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) midsole, which tends to weigh the shoe down. Some wear testers felt it was a bit bulky. Bottom Line:The Barricade remains the shoe equivalent of a special effects-laden film franchise that continues to crank out successful sequels at the box office. This year’s model scores winning marks on flex point, traction and durability. It is a solid shoe that will withstand the pounding on all surfaces and is particularly strong in preventing aggressive players from rolling over their ankles. However, its build demands that it be worn by a bigger, stronger player. Some lighter wear testers reported their feet felt dragged down by the heft of the shoe. Every ounce of additional weight at the foot can feel like an extra pound at your hip, creating more stress. If adidas can reduce the Barricade’s weight in future models, it could enhance comfort.
Dr. David G. Sharnoff is a podiatrist practicing in Shelton, Conn. He has served as TENNIS’ shoe adviser since 1986 and as a consultant to the WTA since 1989. A graduate of Ohio State, he played on the university’s varsity tennis team for four years.
Protective white wraps are the only visible reminders of the injury that confined Sabine Lisicki to crutches last spring, robbing her of muscle, mobility and match play.
The 21-year-old was limited to 10 tournaments in 2010 after sustaining a left ankle injury in Indian Wells last March. It made the prospect of merely watching a match on television too painful for the 2009 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, who reflexively reached for the remote whenever she stumbled across tennis on TV.
“It was a very tough time for me. Even walking, in the beginning, was tough,” Lisicki recalls. “I had zero muscles in my calf so I had to rebuild them and basically had to learn how to walk and run again. Before the injury, I had no trouble running for 30, 40 or 60 minutes. When I first started to run after the injury, after 45 or 50 seconds I was dead sometimes. Those kinds of things make you wonder ‘How am I supposed to get back?’”
Bolstered by one of the biggest serves in women’s tennis, Lisicki burst onto the scene two years ago in Charleston, where she blasted her way past Venus Williams, Elena Vesnina, Marion Bartoli and Caroline Wozniacki to collect her first career title. It was an impressive run that vaulted her inside the Top 50.
A tall and powerful player, Lisicki cracks the ball off both her forehand and backhand sides. Her willingness to take risk and change direction on her shots—as well as her formidable first serve (the 124 mph missile she hit during the 2010 U.S. Open was the third-fastest serve on the WTA last season)—have formed the foundation of her aggressive baseline game.
"Lisicki is a big, strong, hard-hitting player who reminds me of a boxer throwing punches from every single direction," said coach Nick Bollettieri, who has worked with her at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. "The problem is some of the punches land in the right spot and some don’t. But she's got great power, a strong serve, she works very hard and has a big-match mentality you can't always teach."
Injury-induced inactivity has caused the former world No. 23’s ranking to plummet to No. 186, but she started taking comeback steps in qualifying for Auckland last month. We caught up with Lisicki as she came off the practice court at the Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland, Mich. for this Gear Talk interview. Playing this USTA Pro Circuit event has also enabled Lisicki to reconnect with the same family that hosted her when she first visited Midland as an alternate for qualifying four years ago.
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TENNIS.com: Sabine, what was the first racquet you ever owned?
Sabine Lisicki: My first real racquet was a Wilson racquet. Before that, I had some kind of metal racquet. I have no clue the brand name; I don’t think it was any brand. Wilson was my first real racquet.
TENNIS.com: Who gave you the racquet?
Sabine Lisicki: One of my parents gave it to me. My dad was teaching tennis and I was begging him to give me some lessons. I think my mom first took me on [court] so it might have been my mom who gave me my first racquet.
TENNIS.com: Have you always played with Wilson?
Sabine Lisicki: No, I played with Wilson for a long time and then I switched to Prince and now I’m back to Wilson. I play with the BLX Blade 98.
TENNIS.com: What string do you use and what tension do you string?
Sabine Lisicki: It really depends on the weather and if we’re playing outdoors or indoors, and so the string tension can really change a lot. I would say on average, I string between 24 and 27 kilograms (about 53-59 pounds). I string half gut and half Luxilon.
TENNIS.com: I know you wore adidas for years and saw you recently wearing Under Armour. What is your apparel brand?
Sabine Lisicki: I used to wear adidas for seven years and my contract went up. So right now I wear whatever.
TENNIS.com: Who was the most stylish player you liked growing up? Which players influenced your style?
Sabine Lisicki: Mary Pierce influenced my hair style. I’m braiding my hair because that's how she did it. I used to have shorter hair and I told my mom I’d let it grow because I liked Mary Pierce and her playing style. Growing up, I really liked to watch Jennifer Capriati, Pierce and Martina Hingis. I really liked all three of them because of their power and aggressive games, but I like to play drop shots and try to use variety like Martina. On the men’s side, I always liked Andre Agassi’s style.
TENNIS.com: You’re coming off a left ankle injury that limited you to 10 tournaments last year. Are you healthy now? Are you taping your ankles, wearing braces, doing anything with equipment to protect them?
Sabine Lisicki: I’m over the injury now. It was a very, very, very hard time during the injury. I’m an active person so being on crutches for six weeks and having the foot on the cast was not fun. The doctors helped me and made a special cast that allowed me to do some things. I became a pretty good swimmer since I could not run for a while. I’m absolutely over it and I don’t want to risk any injury anymore so I decided to wear braces on both ankles. It doesn’t look as pretty, but it’s not about that. It’s about being secure and having confidence on the court. I missed so much time and because of that there is the mental strain. But I think I’m a fitter player, because I worked so hard on my fitness to come back, and a better overall player now because I’m more patient.
TENNIS.com: What did you learn from your time away from tennis and how did you deal with your time away from the game?
Sabine Lisicki: I really, really missed the game. It's been my passion since I am little and that is also probably visible in that I happy to be on court. But I feel I’m a hard worker, I have put a lot of time and effort into coming back. At first, you’d feel sore and feel like this hurts or that hurts so you know getting back to where you were before is not easy. It’s a process and I’m trying to take the right steps in the process. It takes a lot of time to get back but I really enjoy playing and appreciate it and I think my game is better now.
TENNIS.com: Last question, you seem to have a positive attitude on court. Have you ever smashed or thrown a racquet?
Sabine Lisicki: I’ve not thrown or broken a racquet in my life.
Carbon has pumped a proliferation of power into tennis racquets. But it compromises comfort, says a mechanical engineer from Montreal, who is taking tennis back to the garden by using flax fiber to enhance feel and build a greener frame.
Billed as an eco- (and elbow-) friendly frame, the Origine is the brain child of Benoit Balmana, a Canadian mechanical engineer who has worked in the composite industry. He launched Group Origine last September with the concept of using flax fibers in combination with commonly used carbon fibers to build a frame offering both comfort and control. The company, which plans to provide a full range of eco-friendly sporting good products, is based in Canada; the frames are manufactured in Asia.
“The main benefit of natural fiber is that it is less rigid then carbon, so it’s better for vibration absorption,” Balmana says. “Reducing the vibration improves comfort. The carbon ensures the strength of the racquet while the flax fibers are natural and renewable resources, resulting in a racquet more respectful of the environment.”
One of the oldest fibers, flax has been used to create cloth, linen, rope and is often used as a nutritional supplement. Canada is one of the world’s leading flax producers, and the frame brings the fiber to the forefront of its basic black-and-white cosmetic.
“We did different designs of the racquet, changing the configuration by combining flax fibers and carbon fibers until it was right,” Balmana says. “The flax was a little bit rough looking, so we spent some time working on the cosmetics: We want players to see the flax fibers because that is a very unique performance and cosmetic aspect of the frame.”
Balmana says the frame name was selected “because it means ‘back to basics,’ by the use of natural fibers,” and because it gives “priority to pleasure and feeling. Our motto is powerful by nature.”
Flax fosters flex: The frame registers a soft 58 on the stiffness scale. TENNIS racquet adviser Bruce Levine has hit with the Origine and says, unsurprisingly, that it could benefit from a power boost, but believes the frame offers the comfort it’s designed to deliver.
“It’s a low-powered frame so you’re not going to blow anyone off the baseline with it,” Levine says. “From a performance perspective, the racquet could use more giddy-up. It is cool to see the fibers, but cosmetically it is a bit bland. It’s a good idea and it will be interesting to see how they improve it in the future. They designed it for a specific player in mind; the question is will it find its target audience?”
That target audience is players who value “performance, pleasure and greener solutions,” says Balmana.
“We know that by using the flax fibers we lose some power that the powerful carbon racquets offer, but we believe we have improved the comfort and the feel of the racquet,” Balmana says. “We want to address the people who play tennis to have fun, enjoy the game and have a pleasurable experience. If people want power, they can find that by playing with [Rafael] Nadal’s racquet.”
Group Origine is aiming to go green in other sports; Balmana says the company will launch a golf club this spring and plans to eventually expand its technology to archery, baseball, cycling and fishing.
“In sports like tennis, golf and archery, feel is very important, so I think our product can be successful for its intended audience,” Balmana says. “Today, there is a growing trend in the composite industry to use more and more natural fibers, so I think you’ll see that trend grow even more over the next five or 10 years and become a more conventional part of the process in tennis and sporting good production.”
The new 100 square-inch head Origine weights 10.2 ounces (unstrung), is 27.25 inches long with a 24-millimeter beam and has a swing weight of 319. The racquet retails for $134.99 and can be ordered on Groupe Origine’s website. The brand is working to procure distributors in Canada, the USA and France.
Roland Garros will come with a new bounce this year.
French brand Babolat will serve as the official ball supplier of the French Open starting this May and signed five-year pact with the French Tennis Federation through 2015. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Babolat succeeds Dunlop as the official ball supplier of the French Open. A year ago, Dunlop's ball was the first to be used for the entire spring clay-court season and Roland Garros. Dunlop will continue to produce the official ball for the clay tune-up tournaments.
Babolat’s partnership with the French Open comes a decade after the birth of its European tennis ball range. Babolat made its major breakthrough at Roland Garros when Carlos Moya defeated compatriot Alex Corretja in the 1998 French Open final to become the first player to win a Grand Slam title playing with a Babolat racquet. Reigning Roland Garros singles champions Rafael Nadal and Francesca Schiavone both play with Babolat racquets and strings.
In addition, Babolat will also provide stringing services for all players at Roland Garros and offer a complete line of Babolat Roland Garros-branded products, including adult and junior racquets, racquet bags, backpacks, balls, strings, grips and dampeners. These products will be available in May at retail stores and in the Roland Garros boutique.
As American tennis fans reset their body clocks after a fortnight of late-night matches, the Australian Open continues to compel consumer interest days after the last shot was struck.
Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters collected the silverware and seven-figure checks for claiming Australian Open singles titles. Scratching beneath the surface of the draw sheets, did any clear gear winners emerge from the Melbourne major?
We asked some of the nation’s top tennis retailers how consumers responded to the results Down Under, and found that champions, contenders and even early-round casualties piqued purchaser interests.
The third-seeded Djokovic tossed his customized version of the Head YouTek IG Speed 18 x 20 racquet into the crowd after sweeping Andy Murray in straight sets in Sunday’s final. Consumers have been picking the Speed up for a demo test drive since seeing him dismantle three Top 6-ranked players—Tomas Berdych, defending champion Roger Federer and Murray—in straight-sets succession to earn his second career major.
“We’ve definitely seen a little bump in interest with Djokovic’s gear,” says Midwest Sports’ product manager Dave Limke. “The fact it was not a Federer-Nadal final meant people saw more of Djokovic and he’s an entertaining player. Head rolled out the new YouTek IG Speed frame, which is selling on its own merit. But when you have someone of Djokovic’s caliber play so well and win the title, it has created a lot of demo interest from people who want to play with that frame.”
Racquets resonate with fans even if they don’t make a final appearance.
“People have been demoing the Djokovic IG Speed frame so his performance generated interest,” says Woody Schneider, who owns Grand Central Racquet in New York City. “Everybody’s excited about the new Wilson BLX Blade series as well. People are demoing those frames and seem to be really impressed with its cosmetics.”
Though world No. 1 Rafael Nadal’s quest to capture four consecutive Grand Slam crowns was denied by compatriot David Ferrer, Rafa’s Babolat frame remains the top-ranked draw for some retailers.
“We always see a bump in business during the Aussie Open. This year we were busier than last and noticed a significant bump in racquet sales,” Tennis Warehouse’s Chris Edwards says. “Novak’s YouTek IG Speed 18 x 20 was popular, but Rafa still reigns supreme as his Babolat Aeropro Drive was much more popular with our customers.”
The women’s final was an all-Babolat affair between Kim Clijsters and Li Na, who both play with Babolat’s Pure Drive GT, a frame that sells in all seasons and did not see a significant sales spike after playing a starring role in the final.
“The Pure Drive is an annuity—it’s a steady seller all the time and we really didn’t see a whole lot of increase due to the women’s final,” Limke says. “With Kim Clijsters, there was more interest in the way of her Fila apparel based on the vintage Evonne Goolagong Fila outfit. We saw pretty good sales through a sort of perfect storm in the second week as Clijsters continued to win. Sometimes, the heritage apparel skews a little bit older, but in this case it attracted interest from all age groups. I’ve heard Fila will roll out some vintage Monica Seles-throwback apparel for Clijsters to wear later this year so it will be interesting to see how that does.”
Adidas boasted a men’s finalist in Murray and a women’s doubles champion in Flavia Pennetta, but it was former Aussie finalist Ana Ivanovic who appeared to nudge the needle in sales for some retailers.
“The biggest winner that I have seen from the Australian Open here at Holabird is adidas’ clothing,” says Sol Schwartz, Holabird Sports’ retail manager. “I have not seen a whole lot of reaction racquet- or string-wise. Ladies adizero tanks in the purplish color and the matching skirt have totally flown out the door. The funny thing is, Ana Ivanovic is the main player wearing it, and she went out extremely early in the tournament. Somehow people must have seen her in it.”
Apparel aficionados may have noticed Djokovic looking a little different in Melbourne. The dragon design that marked his U.S. Open Sergio Tacchini outfit was MIA, but his all-black ensemble with gray and orange accents, and the white, blue and red Tacchini outfit that he wore in the final has attracted attention.
“The dragon stuff did well for us—I’ve got a pair of the dragon shorts and people think I’m a mixed martial arts fighter when I wear them,” Limke says. “The Tacchini clothes Djokovic wore in Australia have a little broader appeal and we’ve see a little bump in sales on that line, though Tacchini could work on their delivery dates a bit more as we don’t have the clothes yet but put them online for back order and deliver once we receive the clothes.”
