The Speed Pro series incorporates HEAD’s newest technology, YOUTEK, into the frame. The technology infuses d3o, a “smart material” made from specially designed molecules that “lock together” upon racquet impact. Located in the shaft of the racquet, d3o reacts to the needs of a player in nano seconds, providing a softer touch and better feel to slow hits and increased stiffness necessary to create power behind fast strokes. In addition to d3oTM, the racquet series introduces Teflon® grommets by DuPont which create a bigger “sweet spot” across the string bed.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s look at a few frames some intermediate players may want to try:

YOUTEK Speed 16X19 – Modeled after Novak Djokovic’s racket this slightly lighter version has a good blend of spin and pop. Designed for players with a quick swing speed, testing shows great spin generation from the baseline which helps with shot accuracy. At the net, the balance allows good touch with little frame twist. With a strung weight of 11.8 oz, this one is a good fit for stronger, more athletic players 4.0 and higher. This frame also is offered in a 18X20 string bed setup for more accuracy. If you are a rising star in the 4.0 - 4.5 world, this may just be the frame you need to hit another gear.

YOUTEK Radical Midplus – Players looking for a slightly lighter frame than the YOUTEK Speed may want to try the YOUTEK Radical. This one is a bit more maneuverable at 11 oz. strung and 2 points head light thus giving it a bit more whip. Keeping the Agassi tradition alive, this frame allows baselines to take a bigger rip at the ball due to its relatively neutral balance and higher power rating. Most notable about this racket is the solid, powerful volleys and flat balls produced by the majority of players during the testing phase. If you are looking for a big time weapon, take this one for a spin.

YOUTEK Speed Lite – Rounding out our YOUTEK trio is the lightest, most maneuverable frame of Head’s line – the Speed Lite. At only 9.7 oz strung and evenly balanced, the Speed Lite gives players incredible racket speed and increased power in their shots. The YOUTEK smart material also provides surprising stability for such a light frame and with a larger head size of 102 sq. in., a generous sweet spot is created allowing cleaner hitting at the net and baseline. Since this frame is so light yet designed for intermediate players, this is a great platform for customization with lead tape.

Head YOUTEK rackets can be found locally at Las Vegas Golf and Tennis, stop in and demo one!

After nearly 20 years, sports shoe and clothing giant Adidas has returned to the tennis racket arena. Named after its flagship shoe, the Barricade hopes to gain popularity with accomplished players and competitive juniors. Sporting a unique design, the Barricade offers a smaller head size (95 sq/in), a heavier total weight (11.1 oz – standard, 12.2 oz –tour model), and healthy swing weight (300 – standard, 330 – tour). What makes the Barricade unique is the weighting location Adidas baked into the design. Although a head-light racket, weighting is placed at the 3 and 9 o’clock zones of the head, enlarging the sweet spot and allowing more weight on your shots. Designed for 4.5 players or higher, this stick has the makings of a popular racket.

Dunlop looking to make noise with a stick for Big Hitters – The 4D 2Hundred

Through the release of its smallest, heaviest frame to date, Dunlop is poised to capture more advanced players and touring professionals with the 4D 2Hundred. First and foremost, this stick is for accomplished, big hitters looking to sharpen their already developed game. Tipping the scales at 12 ounces, the 4D 2Hundred is a brick. Because of this, players with the strength to maneuver it will find sharper slices, heavier ground strokes and super-solid volleys. Through their 4D braiding system, off-center hits will have minimum effect on the frame twisting in your hand. If you are the real-deal, you may want to give this racket a try.

Yonex takes a different path with the new RQiS1

The team at Yonex decided to change up the formula on their new advanced level racket, the RQiS1 by incorporating a mid-level luxury. Traditionally, all tour level or advanced level rackets have an extremely low power rating, since the majority of tour players are young, strong athletes. The problem is, the majority of upper-level amateur players lack the strength and conditioning. The result is either shoulder or elbow injuries, or fatigue resulting in poor form. This year, Yonex answers the call by developing the RQiS1. This frame provides a bit more pop that the usual tour frames and combines the added power with a slightly lighter weight for better spin.

Whatever your choice is, be sure to demo a few rackets to truly figure out what is best for you and your game. Try to hit the racket as long as possible before pulling the trigger. The worst thing is dropping a few hundred on rackets you thought were right for you.

Have you ever really looked at the sea of players in your general area? For the most part, the vast majority look the same. Clothing, playing style – even personalities all sort of blend together. Now look at the pro-tour. Huge contrasts in style, appearance, temperament and language. Even if we don’t remember the players’ names, we find ourselves saying, “you know…the guy with the huge serve, or the girl who shrieks after every shot or the guy who wears those ridiculous colors.” That’s what makes tournaments fun to watch. After all, there’s only so many forehands one can watch without turning your eyes towards the crowd for some “real” entertainment.

Why not thrust that element into the amateur scene? Saturday league is boring enough to play – let alone watch. Players should enhance their individuality and “be known” for a certain something to ultimately build a reputation. Since I opened this can of worms, it is my pleasure to throw out a few suggestions on how you can stand out in a crowd as an amateur player.

Some obvious choices:

Playing style – During match play, for most of you winning is everything. That’s totally fine. Nobody said you can't win in a memorable fashion, right? While putting on your virtuoso performance, why not “personalize” some of your shots. Like to lob? Ok. Try to become the guy who hits the highest lobs. I’m talking rain makers. While it's still on the way up, run off the courts and grab a quick drink and towel off. Not only do they get the crowd’s attention, they also are very tough to return from deep in the court. Have huge ground strokes? Why not become the head hunter who fires rockets at all who dare approach the net. As a huge UFC enthusiast, I can assure you that the crowd loves when people get hit. Have a mediocre serve? There’s lots to do in this department. Maybe perform a violent and bizarre body motion just before delivery. One that almost looks painful to perform. That will get them talking. Still not doing it for you. Time to deliver an all-out assault on the senses. Step 1: choose two non-related words (like "hungry" and "spleen") Step two: clearly and forcefully, shout the two words out just before hitting a specific shot. Step 3: Become a legend.

I assure you that you will be topic of several heated debates immediately.

Behavior/Attitude – This is the area where hero’s are made. McEnroe, Safin, Connors. All masters of questionable behavior, but as an amateur, you have the green light to go way beyond. First of all, you can convey who you are simply by adjusting how you arrive to the courts. Most arrive, quietly introduce themselves and shake hands before the match begins. Forget that. It’s time to announce your arrival. For those with a big budget, you may want to get a custom theme song recorded to play while you are walking on to the court. Have an entourage featuring a midget and/or heavily tattooed assistant escort you in playing your theme and setting the mood. For those in a tighter financial situation, a self-powered kazoo will work nearly as well. If possible, try to bring a couple of friends to join in as a trio. Very memorable. When the time comes for introductions, have a friend or assistant (preferably with an accent and/or dressed in British colonial clothing) formally announce you. Have them site wildly exaggerated accomplishments you achieved. This will prime the pump for what is to come during the match. Since playing style was discussed in the previous section, you can conclude your day of playing by hosting a mock, post-match interview (to an imaginary press room) where you answer questions about the events of the day – taking verbal shots at your opponent every now and then. Finally, approach the confused crowd with a Sharpie as if to sign autographs.

Some of you are probably thinking, “LV002, tell me something I didn’t already know.” For that I apologize. I am simply sharing these guarded secrets for the uninformed masses looking to find themselves. If this article can help just one aspiring tennis great step into the limelight, our sport is that much better.

Throughout the year, the team at Tennis Habitat receives piles of emails suggesting changes and enhancements that should be made to better enjoy the sport that we love so much. Some suggest additions to public courts and parks. Others comment on rule changes to get more out of the USTA league season experience. A select few even beg for my resignation every now and then “so they don’t have to read my stupid blogs”(by the way, I delete those emails before my boss gets them). Today I noticed several suggestions on how televised tennis matches could be improved to benefit the viewers at home. I’ll be honest. That topic was a little lame, so I decided to take your suggestions and combine them with my own. Without further delay, here are your (and my) top 4 suggestions:

1. Camera Angles –

Your Suggestion: Many suggested shooting the match from ground level, rather than from an elevated position because viewers could appreciate how fast the ball is moving in relation to the court.

My Take: I like that, but maybe add an element of uncertainty. Randomly zoom into the players face – mid-point, then pan to the chair umpire for no reason. Finally return to the normal shot. Why? If you don’t know when you are going to see good action, you will watch more carefully – hoping to see it all. It would also bring a new dimention to the commentary. (Picture McEnroe saying "I didn't realize Sharapova had such big ears..oh, there's the umpire..oh, nice backhand")

2. Atmosphere –

Your Suggestion: Some believe that a “Davis Cup” element should be encouraged at every event. Crazy, rowdy fans, music on changeovers and the wave all contribute to a energized event.

My Take: I like where you are going with this, but why stop there? If I am understanding you, and I think I am, you want to cater to the fans more than the athletes. In that case, hire a professional “motivation crew” to populate the stands and work the crowd. Allow them to irritate the athletes as well. The French do this all of the time, I am told, with great success. As far as music, maybe go with a hockey style DJ to randomly play music and sound effects during the points.

3. Interviews –

Your Suggestion: Currently, most interviews are conducted just before and/or just after the match. Why not between sets to discuss strategy and adjustments that will be made? Kind of like the NBA does.

My Take: Great idea. Tennis Channel tried it for a little bit with pretty good success. I would put a different spin on it, though. How about having the opponent’s coach do the interview and attempt to dishearten the player. Maybe offer bogus advice as well. Another thought would be to do parts of it in an entirely different language.

4. Spirit –

Your suggestion: Event sponsors should supply promotional items to fans in support of their favorite player currently on the court. The NBA supplies towels, noise-makers and signs to fans supporting the home team.

My Take: Wow. It’s like we share the same brain…except I have the bigger piece. Let me expand on this for a minute. The event should run with this idea and have giant mascots who look like the players stand beside the ball kids and mock their opponents as they towel off. (picture a giant Nadal mascot verbally abusing Roger Federer - in spanish) They could also sit beside the opponent at changeovers and simply stare at them for the entire 3 minutes. Between sets, the two mascots could then square off against each other to excite the crowd and viewers at home.

I'll admit it. I struggled coming up with a title for this one. It could have been "Remember to Eat, Dummy", "Don’t Play Fat Guy Tennis", “Food Coma for Doubles Players” or even "How to Use Nutrition to Your Advantage in Sports, Particularly Tennis Without Looking like a Calorie-counter, Granola Munching Weirdo or Fitness Freak". I guess this will have to do, though.

What was I writing about? Oh yeah, nutrition and tennis. Over the past year, I have been trying to get leaner, stronger and faster for tennis. Once I got to a certain level of fitness, I noticed that I was still running out of gas on the court (and in the gym). After speaking to a friend of mine who is a trainer, he asked whether I was eating before I practiced. My answer was "hardly ever" but when I did, it was pretty much anything I could grab (nachos, some Oreos, a pretzel). Needless to say, I was on the wrong path, my friends.

As I quickly found out from my trainer, nutrition for athletes (touring pros down to you and me) finds success based on the combination of what you eat and when you eat. Neglecting either one of these seriously weakens the results.

Aside from the healthy, well-balanced diet you currently have (you do, right?), we have provide a proper mix of complex carbs and simple sugars, before and during match time. As far as complex carbs go, whole grain breads, bagels, oatmeal and cream of wheat works really well. (I know, sounds pretty bad) The truth is, you are doing it for match fuel, not your birthday dinner, so stop whining! Once you feel the effects this type of food has on your energy level, you will feel differently. Simple sugars will bring you back to your happy place. Fruit is great in this case. I like bananas but it’s a free country. Also, some balance bar-type snacks combined with pretzels work pretty well. As far as drinks go, bring some Gatorade with your water. The sugar and electrolytes will help the cause. Stocking your house with these types of foods is good, but stocking your tennis bag is essential. Starting the match feeling good doesn’t matter if you are setting yourself up to run out of gas. Show up prepared.

I found out the hard way that when you eat is just as important as what you eat. Cramping, food coma, dizziness and over all nausea are just a few joys I have experienced by eating at the wrong time and then playing a match. Who knew going all out at a Chinese buffet 30 minutes before a match in the summer was a bad idea? There had to be a better way. That being said, you should eat complex carbs and completely hydrate an hour before your match. (You should always be properly hydrated, but at this point of your day, you are topping of - so to speak). Since most league matches are in the morning, whole-grain cereals are best. Nothing overly sugary, however, for several obvious reasons (Cap’n Crunch is probably never going to be the breakfast of champions). 15 minutes before you play, take in a source of simple sugar, like half of a banana and a few sips of Gatorade (preferably watered down). Once you get to the courts, try to monitor how you feel. The complex cabs give you long-term energy and the simple sugars get you out of the blocks quickly. You are hydrated, fed and ready. Now what? Maintain. After the warm-up and side changes, take a sip or two of Gatorade (not too much), and drink water. Naturally as the days get warmer, you need to increase the amount of fluid you take in. Also, have a balance bar and a banana around to nibble on. You must keep replacing the carbs and sugars in your blood to maintain maximum power.

Naturally, nutrition is a science and I am not a scientist, although I play one on T.V. Just changing this simple element allows me energy throughout my matches with plenty to spare. This just may be the thing that allows you to deliver a world-class beatdown on your opponents.

The majority of league players I run across, like yourselves, have been playing competitively for (at the very least) a few seasons. Saying that, how many of you actually take measure of how you performed throughout the seasons of the past? Keep in mind, I am not referring to wins and losses. I am talking about the “why” factor. Why did you win your matches? Why did you lose the majority of your 3rd set tie-breakers? Why do you win at singles but get crushed in doubles every time? Regarding match losses, the majority of our problems stem from one or two fundamental problems. Whether it’s poor footwork, questionable conditioning, a weak serve or a flawed volley – do the math in your head. If you clean up half of your errors, you potentially win half the points you give away. I say “potentially” because there is no guarantee you will win the point after you properly execute the shot. That being said, the vast majority of matches at 4.5 and below are won and lost mainly on the unforced error tally.

This mindset is equally important when you win a match. Asking yourself “why did I win?” is a question seldom explored. Sometimes, the other team double-faults themselves off the court and you really didn’t win the match. They simply lost it. Since that doesn’t happen too often, when the match is over think about how you moved, served, communicated with your partner, kept your emotions in check (or not). Even notice how you felt when you first walked on the court. Did you feel stronger, more relaxed, happy? All of these factors contribute to wins at any level. Once you recognize it, you will key in on it for future matches.

To sum it up, start thinking more when you practice and play. Notice your habits when things are going well and when it’s just not happening. Be honest with yourself. Simply saying "I sucked today" isn't good enough. Maybe your opponent was a pusher and that causes you to overhit. Finding that out through a loss is a valuable lesson - one that you can build on. Once you get the hang of it, start analyzing your opponents. Notice when they are slowing down. What shots frustrate them. What pace they like to play at. Become a thinker and your game will reach another level. It works for the pros and it will work for you.

You know what bugs me? Ok, the list is longer than...well, it's really long. This week, I am bothered by liars in our game. Not the person who said they almost beat a top ranked player in a "very tight" 0 and 2 loss. Not the player who said they hit a serve 130 MPH - last summer. No, I am particularly annoyed with the player who says they are one or two levels higher than they are. Why? Partially because I generally don't like most people to begin with. The real reason is that they are usually the players who does one or more of the following:

1. Says they are a 5.0 on a good day, but a 3.0 on a bad day.

2. Claims they used to play open, but entered the 3.5 just to get back into tennis again.

3. Announces that they are a 4.5 singles player, but only a 3.0 doubles player

4. Rates themselves as a 4.5 player who practices "hitting against a wall".

5. Plays in the 4.0 league and regularly lobs their ground strokes for no reason.

6. Advertises themselves as an "advanced player, then shows up to the court wearing a tennis-elbow brace, taped knees, rafa clam-digger shorts, green-lens tennis glasses, a visor, a sleeveless moya-esque shirt and carries a super-oversized racket.

The list goes on and on, but you get the idea. I am sure you know a few of these characters yourselves, but it's best not to say anything. They outnumber us 1000 to 1, and who wants an uprising.

After witnessing the high-level play, colorful characters and energized crowd, I couldn’t help but wonder why there aren’t more events like this in Las Vegas throughout the year. With such a large group of talented teaching pros, ex-tour and ex-college players living in our city combined with a robust tennis community, events like this are sure to be a hit every time. It is my humble, yet sometimes correct opinion that we have an underestimated resource of talent and support for the game we love. I honestly believe that in a city like Las Vegas, if you build it…they will come.

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Festive parties, decorating the house and most importantly – holiday shopping. Maybe you need a little help finding the right gift for that special tennis player in your life. You have spent months praying for an answer. Well, look no further. Out of the goodness of my heart (and a few physical threats), I have compiled a list of ideas that should steer you in the right direction.

Under $10 – Looking for some stocking stuffers? Maybe a gift that says “I like you…as a friend”. Perhaps a gesture that urges you to get off the couch and pick up a racket again? These simple, but necessary items are sure to bring a smile to anyone.

$20-$40 range – These gifts of substance actually require a box or a gift bag. Not too shabby! Clothing items make up the majority of this section. What better way to say “You should show off those legs more often”, or “It’s about time someone taught you some style”.

$100-$150 range – Now we are talking! At this range, you can purchase almost any piece of gear required to play the game and look like a player. You might even have some change left over to send me a holiday card or a bottle of wine (red only, please).

Above $250 – Now you are making me blush. You really shouldn’t have, but who am I to say “no”? At this level, you can get pretty serious. Multiple items listed as well as travel and/or intensive training are included here. If you cross this line you were either very naughty or extremely nice.

Just a few quick thoughts when buying tennis gear as a gift. First, unless you are a player, yourself – take note of specific brands they use. Athletic clothing fits differently from brand to brand. Rackets have head sizes, grip sizes and specific string tensions. Tennis shoes also have unique fits, so be careful. Tennis bags hold a set amount of rackets and stringing machines are only a good idea for those who truly want to string their own rackets. When in doubt, the two safest options are gift cards or the autographed picture of me. Neither will ever be returned or re-gifted.

On behalf of Tennis Habitat, enjoy your holiday season.