Racquet Technologies

BABOLAT:

Aero Modular: A frame design adapted to the evolution of modern tennis with +10% air penetration compared to a traditional frame design. It helps in faster swing speed which increases power while maintaining excellent ball control. The technology used by Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Aerobeam Technology: The world's most aerodynamic racquet. +15% air penetration thanks to the aerobeam technology.

GT (Graphite Tungsten): Hybrid material, combining braided carbon fibers and tungsten filaments, throughout the entire racquet. Improves racket performance, based on the concentration of Tungsten fibers at various strategic parts of the frame. Main benefits: control and feel Value-added aspects of GT technology: A greater concentration of Tungsten in the core of the racket. 10% additional energy recovery for even more power.

Cortex: Babolat's Cortex shaft vibration dampening system is designed to offer greater comfort during play. Available in two versions, the Cortex system used in the Pure series of racquets reduces harmful racquet vibrations without filtering out the feedback required for feel. The result of filtering unnecessary vibrations results in what Babolat calls a "pure feel." The Cortex system used in other Babolat racquets filters and dampens for maximum comfort.

Cortex Active: The Active Cortex Technology reduces shock and vibration, leaving the player with a cleaner feel at impact.

Woofer System: Patented innovation by Babolat, Woofer is the first technology which makes the frame and the string interact when striking the ball.

Provides 25% more contact time between the balls and strings which means more control and comfortable feel.

HEAD:

Graphene: Graphene is an ultra-light and ultra-strong substance which is 200 times stronger than steel. Through the use of Graphene™ in the shaft, the weight in the middle part of the tennis racquet can be reduced. Instead, weight can be shifted to more functionally relevant areas in the grip and racquet head. This unique construction provides players with an unmatched maneuverability and an increased swingweight. In other words, a racquet with Graphene™ is easier to swing and enables even more powerful shots. And it will give opponents a really hard time.

Innegra: Innegra is the world's lightest high performance fiber. Its extreme toughness together with Head's advanced carbon composite technology leads to an ultra tough hybrid composite.

This Head Innegra hybrid-composite structure is integrated into the racquet for shock absorption and improved stability. As a result vibrations are reduced by up to 17% on ball impact for improved control and precision -- protecting the player from the forces of a ball impact. On top of this, Head's new hybrid-composite structure with the ultra tough Innegra fiber considerably extends the performance of a Head racquet. With Innegra, racquets remain in perfect condition without losing any performance properties.

Youtek: Head combines superior technologies within the YouTek family to perfectly match your individual needs.

Utilizing d3o a smart material which possesses abnormal behavior characteristics, more specifically under dynamic loading or impact, integrated within the lay-up and shaft of the racquet, new d3o offers players new possibilities.

d3o can sense on high-speed impacts (aggressive shots), the smart molecules lock together within nanoseconds and dramatically increase the stiffness of the whole racquet frame to provide maximum power. On slow-speed impacts (slice or drop shots), the d3o molecules absorb the impact to provide a softer touch for better feel.

Passing shots are even harder and drop shots more precise, rewarding your spontaneity and supporting your courageous decisions.

Microgel: When combined with carbon composite fibers in the racquet head, MicroGel deforms and compresses upon ball impact, uniformly absorbing and distributing the impact load around the entire frame. According to HEAD, MicroGel creates a rock-solid feel and improved comfort while offering extra stability against twisting.

Flexpoint: Head continues to revolutionize the tennis racquet by turning traditional design upside down. Head Flexpoint is designed to make the racquet frame "flex" in multiple positions instead of the simple shaft flexibility that is currently widespread in tennis racket design. According to this leading tennis equipment manufacturer, Flexpoint technology provides a cupping motion for the ball which increases player control and a more stable feeling.

Liquidmetal: Developed by the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), LiquidMetal® alloy provides 29% more power than Titanium. Just as its name implies, LiquidMetal® alloy is different from conventional materials because of its liquid (or "amorphous") atomic structure. This means that LiquidMetal® alloy does not deform on impact, resulting in ultimate energy return. Head places LiquidMetal® at four strategic areas of the racquet's head, integrated in the main layer of the frame's construction. This allows all of the energy from ball impact to be used for a power return - so what a player puts into his or her swing is exactly what they get out. The result is what Head calls Pure Energy. Perfect Power™

Titanium: A composite weave of ultra-strong titanium and ultra-light graphite fibers which help with weight reduction, while maintaining stiffness and power. Better frame maneuverability. Improves overall racquet stability.

D3O: D3O belongs to the "smart materials" category, which is a futuristic material with abnormal behavior characteristics. More specifically, d3o belongs to a subcategory of "dilatant foams", which dramatically change their behavior under dynamic loading or impact. Integrated in the lay-up and positioned in the shaft of the racquet, d3o offers new possibilities for tennis players.

The d3o technology is able to sense the needs of the players during different strokes (it's able to adapt to you). On high-speed impacts (aggressive shots), the smart molecules lock together within nanoseconds and dramatically increase the stiffness of the whole racquet frame to provide maximum power. On slow-speed impacts (slice or drop shots), the d3o molecules absorb the impact to provide a softer touch for better feel. What does this mean to a tennis player? Passing shots are even harder and drop shots more precise, rewarding your spontaneity and supporting your courageous decisions.

Metallix: Made of a specially designed matrix of carbon fibers and a new crystalline metal alloy. This alloy's grain-size is 1000 times smaller than that of a typical metal. The decreases grain size means increased performance, or, as the Hall-Petch Effect states: smaller grains = stronger material. The result is a lighter, stronger and more powerful racquet than ever before.

Dynamic String Pattern: This Dyanimc 16x19 String Pattern puts 8 mains in the heart of the racquet to provide the control of a tight string pattern with the spin and forgiveness of an oppen pattern.

Wilson:

BLX: BL=Basalt. Basalt is a natural volcanic rock. It can be used in manufacturing where it is made into fine gold fibers with incredible vibration resistance. These new fibers are woven longitudinally with [K}arophite Black to create one of the most advanced composites in the industry.

[K]arophite Black: [K]arophite Black is a proprietary next generation structure created through a unique process at the nanoscopic level resulting in more feel and a stronger and more stable racquet.

Amplifeel: Amplifeel handle technology provides an even cleaner and enhanced feel int he racquet. Amplifeel also allows for a more customized handle system providing additional handle comfort to further support maximizing the feel in each racquet and player segment.

Amplifeel 360: Provides a superior, enhanced feel while increasing racquet power and reducing weight with a full Basalt expanded handle and a new shock-absorbing engineered urethane polymer. The full Basalt handle filters out unwanted vibrations and transmits a cleaner feel, giving the player a heightened sense of the ball. The specially engineered urethane absorbs some of the shock for more of an arm-friendly feel.

Spin Effect Technology (S.E.T): Using a super open 16x15 string pattern, this technology allows the main strings to deflect more for maximum snapback. The result is massive spin punctuated by balls that dive very sharply. This is the first racquet system that actually increases ball RPM without players needing to radically change their swing speed.

Dual Taper Beam: Wilson's varying width of a racquet's cross-section. From a side view, the cross-section of a Dual Taper Beam racquet varies from thin-to-thick-to thin in the racquet's head-to-shoulder-to-handle regions respectively. This tapered design concentrates racquet stiffness in the primary area where the racquet bends during ball contact.

Parallel Drilling: Provides a consistent, more forgiving stringbed response while dramatically increasing the sweetspot.

Yonex:

Isometric: This exclusive Yonex innovation results in a sweet spot up to 48% larger than a traditional oval head shape. According to Yonex, it ensures more power and control with fewer off-center shots.

OPS System: This unique feature is designed to give you more spin, control and feel for the ball. The narrow shaft flexes on impact, minimizing shock to the arm and increasing dwell time, or the amount of time the ball is in contact with the string bed.

X-Fullerene: The revolutionary material X-Fullerene is also inserted into the upper sides of the frame in all EZONE racquets. The cross-linking structure of X-Fullerene improves the internal strength of the frame for superior stiffness and therefore greater power.

Inner Isometric System: Yonex updates its ISOMETRIC Technology with an improved grommet system, applying both deep and shallow grooves inside the frame. The new ISOMETRIC technology provides a 7% larger sweetspot.

Dual Shut System: Features Shockless Grommets in the throat combined with a Quake Shut Gel embedded in the grip to reduce impact vibration.

New OPS System: Improved Yonex O.P.S. (Oval Pressed Shaft) manufacturing Technology introduces rounder shaft corners providing an ideal level of flex, increased stability and extended ball dwell time.

Prince:

EXO3 Grommets:

What is EXO3 Technology ?

A high-tech patented racquet design utilizing large holes and String Suspension Inserts to deliver a superior effective hitting area compared to conventional racquets with the same headsize.

How Does EXO3 Technology Work ?

Strings are completely liberated from restrictive, response-strangling grommets, allowing the strings to respond more freely - even at the outer edges of the string plane for balls you may hit off-center.

How does EXO3 Technology Benefit You ?

A larger, more consistent hitting area- at ANY headsize - allowing all players the advantage to take their game to the next level. Now, even shots hit off center will feel and respond as through they were hit direct center.

O3 Speedport: Prince O3 Speedport racquets are up to 24% more aerodynamic giving players faster strokes for more power, spin and precision.

Increased racquet speed helps players:

  • Develop faster strokes.
  • Get the racquet through the ball faster.
  • Hit with more power, spin and precision.
  • Play Better.
  • Speedports provide total string freedom of movement increasing sweetspot size up to 59%.
  • Increases power.
  • Increase Sweetspot to Sweet Zone.

O3 Technology:

  • O-Ports provide total string freedom Increases sweetspot size by 54%
  • Generates a livelier response across the entire string bed
  • Dramatically improves play for all player levels
  • O-Ports reduce drag, producing faster swing speeds
  • Increases power from anywhere on the court
  • Provides maximum maneuverability

Double Bridge: Clear dampener inserted between two parallel graphite bridges reduces string and frame vibration.

ESP (Extreme String Pattern): Aggressive string pattern designed to deliver up to 30% more spin.

Cross Bar Stabilizer: 100% graphite stabilizing bar midway in the throat of the racquet to reduce twisting and provide a more solid feel.

Tungsten Triple Threat: A weighting system that promotes balance and stability with Triple Braid - woven titanium, copper and carbon that's placed in three critical racquet locations: 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock and in the bottom of the handle. Benefits include an expanded sweet spot with less shock to the arm.

Tungsten is a strong, dense metal used in the production of missiles. By fortifying Triple Braid with this tenacious metal, stability is improved for more power and precision.