Connect with us

Tennis

The Pros and Cons of Extended Length Tennis Racquets

Published

on


Extended Length Tennis Racquets are longer than the standard 27 inches and are often used by recreational players looking for more power and reach on their two-handed backhands.

The most common lengths used are 27-1/4″, 27-1/2″, and 28″, with the longest length allowed under current regulations being 29″.

This article will discuss the pros and cons of using an extended-length racquet and some of your purchasing options.

Pros of Extended Length Rackets

There are many pros to using racquets with a longer than standard length, with the main pro being the extra reach when you are pulled out wide on either side.

The extra reach is especially helpful if you have a two-handed backhand, as you won’t have the same reach as a player who plays with a one-handed backhand.

The extra length also helps give you more power on your serve and overheads as you will be meeting the ball at a higher point, and you will have more mass behind the ball.

Another advantage is that the extra reach will make it harder for opponents to pass you when you’re up at the net.

Cons of Extended Length Rackets

The main disadvantage to using a racket with an extended length is that it will be less maneuverable.

It also takes some time to get used to playing with an extended racket (especially if you have only ever played with a standard length).

Another drawback is that it can be tiring to play with as they often have a heavier swing weight than a similar standard-length racket.

3 Best Extended Length Tennis Rackets

Every player will have his or her own opinion on which extended length racquets they feel are the top three, but these are mine.

1. Babolat Pure Drive Plus

The Babolat Pure Drive Plus is probably the most popular extended-length racket amongst recreational players. It offers a good mix of power, control, and spin.

Specs: Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Version: 2021
Design: Yonex EZONE 100+
Head Size: 100in
Length: 27.5in
Strung Weight: 318g (11.2oz)
Swing Weight: 324g
Head Heavy or Head Light: 6 Pts Head Light
TW Stiffness Rating: 69
Power: Low to Medium
Beam Width: 23mm / 26mm / 23mm
Composition: Graphite
Colors: Blue and Black
String Pattern: 16×19
Grip Type: Babolat Syntec Pro

2. Wilson Blade 104

Venus Williams endorses the Wilson Blade 104, which her sister Serena Williams previously endorsed before she switched to playing with the Wilson Blade SW 102 Autograph before she recently retired.

Specs: Wilson Blade 104
Version: V8
Design: Yonex EZONE 100+
Head Size: 104in
Length: 27.5in
Strung Weight: 306g (10.8oz)
Swing Weight: 317g
Head Heavy or Head Light: 6 Pts Head Light
TW Stiffness Rating: 70
Power: Low to Medium
Beam Width: 22.5mm
Composition: Graphite
Colors: Green
String Pattern: 16×19
Grip Type: Wilson Pro Performance

3. Yonex EZONE 100+

The Yonex EZONE 100+ is the extended version of the popular Ezone 100 and offers similar playability and specs.

Specs: Yonex EZONE 100+
Version: 2020
Design: Yonex EZONE 100+
Head Size: 100in
Length: 27.5in
Strung Weight: 315g (11.1oz)
Swing Weight: 335g
Head Heavy or Head Light: 3 Pts Head Light
TW Stiffness Rating: 70
Power: Low to Medium
Beam Width: 23.5mm / 26mm / 22mm
Composition: HM Graphite
Colors: Blue
String Pattern: 16×19
Grip Type: Yonex Synthetic Grip

Pros Who Use Extended Length Rackets

Below is a selection of pros currently playing with an extended racket on the ATP and WTA Tours.

  • Albert Ramos-Vinolas – (27.5 inches)
  • Benoit Paire – (27.5 inches)
  • Bernard Tomic – (27.5 inches)
  • Diego Schwartzman – (28 inches)
  • Edouard Roger Vasselin – (27.5 inches)
  • Elina Svitolina – (27.5 inches)
  • Eugenie Bouchard – (27.5 inches)
  • Evgeny Donskoy – (27.5 inches)
  • Gaël Monfils – (27.5 inches)
  • Hsieh Su-wei – (29 inches)
  • Jamie Murray – (27.5 inches)
  • Jelena Ostapenko – (27.5 inches)
  • John Isner – (27.4 inches)
  • Kei Nishikori – (27.25 inches)
  • Novak Djokovic – (27.1 inches)
  • Qiang Wang – (27.5 inches)
  • Richard Gasquet – (27.5 inches)
  • Thanasi Kokkinakis – (27.5 inches)
  • Venus Williams – (27.5 inches)



Source link

Continue Reading

Tennis

Four Fabulous (And Healthy) Prep-Ahead Smoothie Recipes

Published

on

By


Today we’re sharing four fabulous, (mostly) vegan/dairy-free healthy smoothie recipes, all of which can be made ahead so you won’t be late for your tennis match or work, or wherever you need to be. Each one of these healthy AND delicious smoothies has no added sugar, which means no juice, no maple syrup, no honey…nada. Just the natural sweetness of the fruit in the smoothie!


Prepare the smoothies ahead of time:

You can use freezer bags, but mason jars are perfect since they are reusable. Jars do require more space in your freezer to store, and they collect frost faster, so it’s best to prepare the smoothies no more than 2 weeks prior to drinking them.


  • Place the frozen fruit chunks at the bottom, and follow with your add-ins: extracts, flax, chia seeds, spices, etc. are all totally fine to add in!
  • Top the jars with any greens like kale or spinach (great nutrition and fiber that you CAN’T taste!!), and seal with the jar lids.
  • NOTE:  DON’T use fresh fruit as any moisture will freeze the fruit to the jar itself, making it difficult to get out of the jars.
  • These smoothies will keep for about 2 weeks in the freezer.

The Tropical Turmeric Smoothie

This smoothie is PACKED full of anti-inflammatory promoting ingredients including the turmeric, pineapple and leafy green spinach (or kale). And you can’t taste the turmeric or the leafy greens, just pure tropical bliss! This makes a perfect post-match or post-workout treat as the anti-inflammatory properties help your body to recover more quickly.

smoothie

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Michelle Bell

Serves 1  |  Total calories: 305  |  Total protein: 5g  |  Total carbs: 49g

INGREDIENTS

  • 1-1/4 cups almond milk
  • 1 cup kale or spinach, packed
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • pinch of black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen pineapple chunks

PREPARATION

  1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

  2. Add the pineapple chunks and blend again until completely smooth.


Blueberry Coconut Protein Smoothie

This smoothie is packed full of antioxidant rich blueberries, hydrating coconut water, and gets a boost of protein thanks to a scoop of hemp hearts. The blueberries, coconut water, nutty hemp hearts and greek yogurt pair perfectly together for a protein-packed post match/workout snack!

smoothie

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Michelle Bell

Serves 1  |  Total calories: 300  |  Total protein: 17g  |  Total carbs: 49g

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup spinach, packed
  • 1 cup coconut water
  • 1/2 cup yogurt (full-fat plain or Greek)
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen blueberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1 tablespoon hemp hearts

PREPARATION

  1. Combine the first three ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Add the blueberries, coconut extract, and hemp hearts. Blend again until smooth.

Green Mango Antioxidant Smoothie

This smoothie is PACKED with superfoods: mango, spinach, chia seedsground flax…so many antioxidants in one drink! A touch of almond extract pairs surprisingly well with the mango and really takes the flavor up a notch. And a big YAY for the antioxidants! We want all the antioxidants we can get because they can lower the risk of cancer and fight against aging!

smoothie

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Michelle Bell

Serves 1  |  Total calories: 289  |  Total protein: 8g  |  Total carbs: 41g

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup spinach, packed
  • 1-1/4 cups almond milk
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen ripe mango chunks
  • 1 teaspoon ground flax
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract

PREPARATION

  1. Combine the spinach and almond milk in a blender and blend until smooth.

  2. Add the mango chunks, flax, chia seeds and almond extract. Blend again until smooth.


Goji Peach Cherry  “Good Night” Smoothie

Goji berriesare linked to a huge list of health benefits including longevity, calmness and improved sleep, and weight loss. Interestingly, cherries are a good source of melatonin and are linked to improved sleep as well. What a tasty way to get a good night’s sleep before your morning match!

smoothie

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Michelle Bell

Serves 1  |  Total calories: 229  |  Total protein: 6g  |  Total carbs: 36g

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup spinach, packed
  • 1 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup frozen cherries
  • 1/2 cup frozen peach slices
  • 1 tablespoon goji berries

Optional:

  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground flax

PREPARATION

  1. Combine the spinach and almond milk in a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Add the cherries, peach slices, and goji berries. Blend again until smooth.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Goji berries can have some side effects, particularly with Warfarin and diabetes drugs, and should be avoided entirely if you’re pregnant.



Source link

Continue Reading

Tennis

5 Tips To Neutralize A Net Rusher In Tennis

Published

on

By


Rushing the net happens more often in doubles tennis, and occasionally you’ll come across a team in which not just one, but BOTH partners will not only serve and volley, but will also come in to the net with their returns. EVERY. FRICKIN. TIME.

Uuuuugh! It’s so frustrating! They move in to the net and mentally slap you with intimidation, putting you in defensive mode, forcing you to think fast and make a passing shot.

But DON’T FALL INTO THEIR TRAP. Only the very best volleyers cope well at the net, and even though they might seem they can handle it, the odds are strongly in your favor that they can’t. Matter of fact, sometimes this intimidation is merely masking some other weakness.

Don’t get me wrong, if you’ve got a solid ground stroke, you’ll get it by them a few times. But sooner or later (no doubt sooner), your opponent will be reading you like a cheap romance novel.

So what can you do?

You’ve gotta change up your game – and often. Call your opponent’s bluff and make her work for the point! These are some great things you can do (other than your passing shot) that will help neutralize your net rusher:

  • hit deep – keep your groundies low and close to the baseline, which will keep them back.
  • lob – force the net rusher back by lobbing over the head of the person already at net. Both players should then move back, which will allow you and your partner to take control of the net.
  • hit a dipper – using heavy topspin, hit a short return to the net rusher’s feet as she’s coming in, which will result in her hitting a shorter, higher and softer ball, thus setting up your passing shot.
  • get aggressive – give the net rusher a taste of her own medicine. As she’s coming in, hit the ball as hard as you can, keeping it low and aiming for her abdomen – and move in. At best she’ll only be able to block the ball back, setting up your passing shot.
  • mix it up – keep you opponent guessing by dishing out all of the above.

If you succeed in discouraging a net-rusher, you often find that all their ammunition miraculously disappears!





















Source link

Continue Reading

Tennis

Review: The Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19 3rd Gen Tennis Racquet

Published

on

By


I’ve been playing with the Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19 3rd Gen Tennis Racquet for a month or so, and what sets the Babolat Pure Strike series apart from many others is its wide range of styles for all play levels. The Pure Strike 16 x 19 has an 11.4 oz strung weight and 98 in² head size, making it very appealing, indeed.

The Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19 is perfect for all-court players who want a well-balanced tennis racquet that performs consistently across a wide range of strokes.

Babolat Technologies

Babolat’s Pure Strike 16 x 19 utilizes a number of key technologies that give tennis players a competitive boost on the court.

Woofer

Babolat’s patented Woofer Technology is the first dynamic system that makes the frame and the strings interact when striking the ball, allowing for a more generous sweet spot, additional power, and less shock.

Hybrid Frame Construction

The frame uses square and elliptical shapes in strategic locations, offering a highly responsive blend of control and power with excellent feel and precision.

FSI Power

Babolat also uses its patented FSI Power technology to increase the spacing of the cross strings. This results in more power, spin, and comfort when striking the ball.

C2 Pure Feel

New to this 3rd generation racquet is a thin rubber material applied at the frame’s three and nine o’clock positions. This technology creates a softer, more dampened feel.

What I Love About the Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19

Babolat Pure Strike review

Based on my evaluation, here area few of the Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19 attributes I loved the most.

Maneuverability

The Pure Strike 16 x 19 is easy to maneuver at 11.4 ounces and 327 swing weight, making it effortless to bring the racquet back for groundstrokes and transition for volleys at the net.

Groundstrokes

With its 98 in² head, the frame delivered plenty of power while its 16×19 string pattern helped produce crazy spin. Additionally, its flexible frame offered great control.

Returns

This highly maneuverable racquet delivered fantastic performance, especially when returning fast and deep serves that require you to react quickly and pull your racquet back fast.

Volleys

The Pure Strike 16 x 19 is unique because it also maintains high marks up at the net with volleys. Its light weight makes bringing the racquet head up for a quick poach a breeze!

Who is it best suited for?

Me! I’m a 4.5+ player who plays a little on the aggressive side. The Pure Strike 98 is for advanced players who like to play aggressively and go on the attack. The high swing weight makes it more suitable for players ranked NTRP 4.0 or above.

You can purchase your very own Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19 3rd Gen Racquet from Do It Tennis, or many other tennis retailers. And if you like my dampener with ‘tude, you can purchase it (and many other other styles) on Amazon!



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending