New Tennis Rackets for Spring 2016!

Katelyn Caniford | Towpath Tennis Pro

With the start of a new year, comes a new line of rackets from some of the most popular dealers from around the world! Starting with the new Babolat Pure Aero line all the way to the club exclusive Wilson Ultra XP’s, these rackets are sure to enhance the level of play for anyone who is serious about their game! Check out these rackets that are available for sale online at towpathtennisshop.com or straight from our pro shop!

Babolat Pure Aero

Specs

Headsize: 100 sq. in.

Length: 27"

Beam Width: 23/26/23mm

Weight Strung: 315g/(11 oz.)

Racquet/Player Type: Advanced

Color(s): Black/Florescent Yellow

Composition/Construction: Graphite

String Pattern (Mains X Crosses): 16 x 19

Recommended String Tension: 50-59 lbs

Balance: 32cm/ (12.6 in.)

Stiffness/Flex: 72 RA

Grommet Technology: FSI Spin

Frame Technology: Aeromodular 2

Grip Type: Syntec Pro

Swing Weight: 290 kgcm

Swing Type: Fast, Long

Towpath Recommended String: Babolat RPM Blast

What’s so great about it?

Coming straight from Babolat’s previous generation of Aero Rackets, the new Pure Aero Line offers an aerodynamic frame which enables the racket head to move much faster, therefore increasing ball speed. This is due to the combination of woofer and cortex technologies that have been integrated into the racket. The brand new redesigned grommets allow the string bed to move freely which optimizes the lift on the ball. The pure aero comes in the original Pure Aero, the Pure Aero Team, and the Pure Aero Lite. The Pure Aero Play, Pure Aero +, Pure Aero Tour, and the junior rackets will also be available in November 2015!

Why do we like it?

The spin! The new Pure Aero, compared to the older models of Aero rackets, has more interaction between the ball and the strings which increases the amount of spin being generated. Players are able to maximize their spin on the ball without losing any power in their swing. It's perfect for the players who want optimum spin and have more aggressive play styles. Not only is this racket made up of the latest in tennis technology, but with the matte fluorescent yellow finish, it looks great!

Wilson Pro Staff 97 ULS

Specs

Headsize: 97 sq. in.

Length: 27"

Beam Width: 23mm Flat Beam

Weight Strung: 285g/ (10 oz.)

Color(s): Black/Red

Composition/Construction: Braided Graphite + Kevlar

String Pattern (Mains X Crosses): 18 x 16 (S.E.T.)

Recommended String Tension: 50-60 lbs.

Balance: 32.5cm/ (12.8 in.)

Grommet Technology: Spin Effect Technology

Grip Type: Sublime Grip

Swing Type: Moderate to Full

Towpath Recommended String: Luxilon Big Banger

What’s so great about it?

Not only does this racket have better maneuverability compared to its heavier pro-staff counterpart (donned by Roger Federer), but it is a great ultra-lightweight alternative that is able to generate lots of power as well! With the new 18x16 Spin Effect Technology, players are able to generate spin by placing a tighter grip on the ball. With this latest model, you also don’t have to worry about sacrificing power for control because the ULS offers players the perfect combination of power, spin, speed, and control!

Why do we like it?

The lighter weight! This racket is a great choice for players who love the control of the original pro staff, but need a lighter weight frame. It's also perfect for beginner or intermediate level players who are learning to generate their own spin and power. This racket is a great alternative for players that love to hit lots of balls from the baseline. The extreme maneuverability is also excellent for controlling the rackets speed and angle through contact with the ball.

Wilson “Club Exclusive” Ultra XP 

Specs (Ultra XP 100S)                                                      

Headsize: 100 sq. inches

Length: 27.25”

Weight Strung: 290 g/ (10.2 oz)

Racquet/Player Type: beginner

Color(s): black/blue/grey

String Pattern (Mains X Crosses): 16 x 15

Recommended String Tension: 50-60 lbs (53)

Balance: 33 cm/ 5 pts HL

Grip Type: Wilson Sublime

Swing Type: Fast, Long

Towpath Recommended String: Wilson Sensation 16

What’s so great about it?

Not only is this racket modeled after the classic Wilson Profile, but it is very versatile and easy to use. The new technology in this racket makes controlling the ball an easy task especially for beginner and older players who need a racket that is not only lightweight, but has a bigger head size for better ball control. The new technology also allows for easier access to good power without having to exert too much effort.

Why do we like it?

Head size and ease! This racket is obviously a great choice for players that are a fan of the classic Wilson Profile.  Not only is this racket a popular choice among beginners and 55+ players, but it's incredibly maneuverable and easy to swing with. It's also a nice alternative for tennis pros who are looking for an easy racket that can feed balls quickly and with lots of depth.

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When to replace old grommets

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Online Shop Manager

You might have strung your racquet to have it returned with a note indicating you need new grommets. Let's be honest, you may be a diligent student of the game and follow suit but most likely you're probably thinking why bother or saying, "I need what?"
 
Grommet strips are what line the top of your racquet for additional protection. Think of it like a helmet, they're there to keep your frame in tip top shape from the abuse it gets on the court. When your grommets get worn, your frame gets a lot of wear and tear which can be very abrasive against your strings. This eventually leads to destructive cracks causing issues with future stringing and playability. It would be like driving around with your tires down to the rims--no way you'd let that happen!
 
If you are in need of new grommets, make sure to have your stringer find out if they can even order grommets for your racquet. If not, it might be time to turn your racquet in for a new model. 



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Do vibration dampeners work?

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Legit Tennis Fanatic

Do you really want to find out if vibration dampeners work?

Well let's go into the inner workings and physics of how they operate--ha, yeah right! We're tennis players not physicists, so we're going to go ahead and skip all that scientific mumbo jumbo and tell you what we know. You see, there's a lot of debate on whether dampeners work: They don't reduce shock, they do nothing but change the sound of your racquet when hitting the ball, they solve tennis elbow, etc. Two things we know for sure: They DO rid of that annoying 'ping' sound when you hit the ball, and they do NOT solve tennis elbow-sorry hopeful victims!             

                                             

So the big question is do dampeners reduce string vibration? Let's point out the obvious--they call them vibration dampeners and shock absorbers for a reason. No matter how much scientific data states they do not reduce shock, we say they DO reduce string vibration even if it's only by a small percentage, but that leaves the frame to fend for itself. It's nearly impossible to prevent us players from feeling the shock that our racquets produce when hitting a ball. However, there are ways to reduce it like lowering your string tension or playing with a heavier racquet (wooden racquets never had this problem), but the quickest and least expensive solution is to use a dampener.

But many ask, how does it reduce shock if the dampener is only between 2 strings? Because that's where you're generally going to hit (unless you're a true beginner who regularly shanks the ball). Utilizing a worm shock absorber is best for covering a wider sweet spot but are less popular because they are more prone to breakage. What's great is even if you don't have a dampener, something as minuscule as a thick rubber band (a trend that Andre Agassi used) will do the same job.

So I guess the bigger (and more important) question is how does it feel to you? Try playing with and without a shock absorber, and feel the difference yourself. Our guess is the majority of you will prefer playing with one, but we encourage you to put more thought into your strings and tension first before depending too much on the use of a dampener. And whether you feel it reduces string vibration is up to your discretion but lets face it, we know the real reason players use dampeners is just to add some fun personality to your racquet.

(*fyi-If your dampener were ever to fly off during a point, remember it does not warrant a let and it's not the end of the world if you can't find it.)

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