Sports News

Admit it, each year when Wimbeldon comes around you wonder where your tennis racket has gone and say to yourself ‘hey, I wasn’t so bad, I should start playing again.’ There have certainly been worse reasons to get up and do a little exercise, and just as many think of champagne when they think of the event, so your aspirations of playing like Roger Federer are commendable (if slightly delusional!).

If you can’t find that dusty old racket, it may be time to choose a new one. Tennis rackets of today’s generation are lighter, faster and more fun to play with. So it may be a good idea to invest in a new piece of equipment regardless of whether you find the one you swung around at university.

On the high-end, a racket will cost anywhere from £70 - £120 and this is where you’ll find some of the most advanced materials and technologies even for the beginner or intermediate player. The Prince Air-0 is such a racket – made of graphite composite and weighing just 270 grams, it’s a midplus-sized racket aimed at those players who have past skill under their belt, but who maybe haven’t played in a few years (or decades). Head Ti. S6 Original is also made of a light titanium and graphite mix and is geared toward a player with a slow-to-moderate swing. The Head model also has the patented ShockStop technology that reduces vibrations which goes a long way to protecting you from the aches and pains that come after playing a few games.

If you are interested in a new racket but plan to play so infrequently that you don’t want to spend much, Wilson has a number of rackets in the £30 range. Ideal for beginners or those re-entering the sport, Wilson’s lower cost range incorporate a number of the features of the higher end Wilson models. Made of the same titanium and graphite composite that compose rackets of the pros, these rackets will get you excited about the game again.

And if you have hung up your tennis trainers but would like to encourage the sport with your kids, there are many excellent rackets to choose from. Wilson inspires with its Roger Federer range of rackets easily marked by age so that children age 5-9 know exactly which of the four sizes (ranging 21” – 27”) to chose from based on how old they are. Prince also seeks to inspire the young ones with its Prince Airl-0 Sharapova line. Also with four sizes, the rackets are suitable for kids ranging in age from 4-11 years old.

Regardless of the racket you choose, tennis is a great sport for getting fit, enjoying the fresh air and gaining inspiration during the Wimbledon season.

With the first peek of Spring (okay, not that much, and certainly nothing compared to last year) it’s easy to start fantasising about a warm weather holiday getaway. Why not begin with an easy hiking weekend? Embracing the outdoor is a great way to get your fill of fresh air, relaxation and time with friends and family. Even if you haven’t camped before, there are a number of great gadgets and products that can make you feel as comfortable as home (well, almost). Read more »