Tennis Warehouse Blog

Now that winter has officially ended and the sun is out, the warm weather is the perfect motivation to get out and get moving. Since graduating college almost two years ago (where has the time gone?!), I went from playing 4 hours a day of tennis to 1 hour a day. I have had my ups and downs when it comes to working out after graduating. I had a bout with spin classes (so much fun and so much sweat!) and a bout with eating out and drinking wine (we are in wine country, I can’t help it!). However, I found a new motivation a couple weeks ago. It’s called Mud Mash X, a 10-mile obstacle course that is not for the faint of heart and, you guessed it, includes mud! I was hooked by the mud run craze after completing a 5K Warrior Dash two weeks ago with fellow TW playtesters Siobhan and Jason.

Jason, Siobhan and I at Warrior Dash

Now that the Mud Mash X is 5 weeks away, I have put in 1 week of training and let me tell you it is not easy. I do have a background in long distance running and have completed 2 half marathons in the past so I know how to get in running shape. Besides the weather, what are some good motivations to go out and go? Here is my list to get me through the tough days:

1)    New music- adding some new fast paced music to my iPod always helps

2)    Workout with buddies- I tend to hold myself more accountable to run/hike when I have set up a date with a friend. I even don’t mind my friends with bad knees riding a bike next to me!

3)    Setting a goal- mine is the Mud Mash X!

4)    New workout clothes- nothing beats it!

And luckily, Tennis Warehouse has gotten in a new crop of training and workout clothes that I am absolutely drooling over. The first outfit is the adidas Summer adiStripe Tank and adidas Summer Blitz short. I love the summery feel of the striped tank matched, and with the sporty short, it’s perfect for a long run or tennis clinic.

adidas Summer adiStripe Tank and adidas Summer Blitz Shorts

The next outfit can be found in the Puma section. The Puma Summer Faas Tank comes in two bright colors with a bonus of being reversible so you get two different color shirts in one. Pair the tank with the Puma Summer Faas Short, which is perfect for a yoga class or practice match!

Puma Summer Faas Tank and Short

Under Armour is known for its workout clothes and doesn’t let us down in the tennis department. One of my favorite shorts – the Under Armour Spring Play It Up Short is a loose short that’s perfect for a weekend hike or private tennis lesson. Match it with the Under Armour Spring Tech Sleeveless Tank to complete the look.

Under Armour Spring Tech Sleeveless Tank and Under Armour Spring Play It Up Short

Lastly, by the end of your workout kick, you will want to show off your body. Head toward the Nike Training section for a variety of workout bras and shorts and skorts. Combine the Nike Summer Racerback Bra with the Nike Summer Woven Skort to use for a beach run or throw on a Nike Summer Legend Tank to be tournament ready!

Nike Summer Racerback Bra, Nike Summer Summer Woven Skort, and Nike Summer Legend Tank

What do you like working out in?

Ad Out,

Brittany

Fine. OK. Since we’re being honest, I will admit that when it comes to stretching I have not always been the most disciplined. Old habits die hard, and you could in fact say, that as a youth, I hated stretching. My flexibility has always been varied. I can touch my toes easily, but my hips are like steel rods. So stretching always consisted of a quick quad stretch, calves, achilles. Maybe sit on the ground and stretch my butt or hamstrings but in terms of quality or quantity? It was neither. Stretching is like flossing. I know it’s good for me. I know it’s going to help me be healthier. Growing up, my parents used to yell at me for not doing it. You could even offer me incentives for doing it, and I still wouldn’t want to. It was just one of those things. It took ages, it was uncomfortable and because I was playing so much tennis and was always tight, it took a lot of effort for very little payback. I even unwittingly signed up for a yoga class in my freshman year of college and spent the entire time either in serious amounts of pain because I couldn’t cross my legs like a normal person, or asleep on my yoga mat. The solution? The Athlete Stretch Strap.

Athlete Stretch Strap

With age comes wisdom, a general tolerance for things I previously hated and the realization that my back pain (I have a chronic lumbar injury) is greatly reduced with stretching. This is where the Athlete Stretch Strap comes in. I think a lot of people are discouraged because if it’s hard to touch your toes, then where do you even start without being in a lot of pain? Yeah, we all want to do everything we can to be better athletes or tennis players, but the level of discipline needed to consistently stretch is pretty high. The Stretch Strap simplifies everything. It really works as an extension of your arms, with convenient loop holes that cater to the measurements of any athlete.

The Athlete Stretch Strap is great for both before and after practice, as an injury prevention tool or recovery aid. What I like most about it is that it can be an aid for really getting into your stretches and pushing yourself or as a way to gently stretch areas that are otherwise really hard and painful to reach. It’s particularly good for stretching legs while lying on the ground, but it’s also good for arms and back while standing up too. It has loop holes along its whole length so it’s adjustable to whatever stretch or level of difficulty you’re looking for.

Examples of just one of the ways to use the Athlete Stretch Strap

As with most of my favorite products, these come in different colors: blue and the ever-so-feminine pink. The Athlete Stretch Strap is definitely one of those products that, with a little bit of commitment to a greater cause (your flexibility), makes a mundane and annoying task really that much easier. The joy of it is that it’s not limited to a certain type of person. Use one as a way to help with your regular stretch routine or as a way to increase general flexibility for greater well-being. It’s hard not to sound like a commercial going on about the benefits of this product so let’s put it this way: Stretching makes you feel great, can reduce pain or (hopefully) prevent injury. So do it. Want to make stretching easier? Use the Athlete Stretch Strap.

If you’ve been a slacker like me, find stretching never gets you anywhere or, I’ll just say it because I’ve been there, are just plain ol’ lazy, then heed my advice: take it from the stiffest, previously-most-stretch-lazy Kiwi in the US. The Athlete Stretch Strap is worth it. And the sense of achievement you feel when you can do basic movement without hurting? Worth it, mate.

Yours,

Siobhan

With all the tennis I play weekly, I’ve developed a mild case of tendinitis in my knees over the past year. One thing I’ve found to help alleviate the next day stiffness and pain is that age old remedy of icing. Makes sense and sounds easy enough, right? Just get some ice and put it on your knees. But when icing at home, using ice from your freezer can be more trouble than you think. The ice cubes can be too big or uncomfortable, not creating even distribution of cold, not to mention the bags that hold the ice can leak, causing a mess. Yes, these things have happened to me, and it’s a real drag.

Enter Ice Down.

Re-freezable cold packs with neoprene wraps. No ice cubes or possible leaky bags to deal with. Simple, yet convenient. Just pull the cold packs out of the freezer, insert them into the neoprene wraps and wrap them around your problem areas while securing them with that old versatile Velcro enclosure.

I, along with my avid running wife, use them all the time and find them not only soothing on our aches, but highly convenient as well. With a year of regular use under our belts, they’re still in great shape, and when we Ice Down, it helps us get ready to fire up for our next workout!

Order yours today!

Spencer, TW.

“Ole ole -ole ole/ ole ole-ole ole/ feeling hot hot hot/ feeling hot hot hot”

While growing up in the desert, temperatures easily reached into the high 110s during the summer. On top of that, tennis courts can range anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the actual outdoor temperature. So when I played tennis in this type of heat, my goal was always to stay as cool as possible. Here are some helpful products to help you to not overheat.

Wearing a hat or visor is always my first go-to accessory on a sunny day. Nothing is more horrible than feeling like your face is being fried and serving directly into sunlight. At Tennis Warehouse, we have a wide selection of polyester and cotton hats and visors in all styles and colors. One of my favorite hats/visors is the Feather Light series from Nike. They feature mesh inset to keep you cool along with a lightweight feel.

Nike FeatherLight Hats and Visors

If hats and visors aren’t your thing, make sure to protect your eyes from the sun. The Bolle Competivision series of sunglasses not only offer 100% UV protection, but the teal green lenses increase the visibility of the tennis ball on the court as well. They are available in four different styles.

Bolle Compeitivision Sunglasses

During a changeover, my goal is to cool down my body as much as possible. I always bring two towels, one dry towel and one wet one. The Tourna Sport Towel and Liquicool Towel are perfect options. The LiquiCool is the perfect towel for instant relief from the heat. Another cooling accessory is the LiquiCool Bandana. It has crystals that expand when wet to turn into a cooling gel. You can wear this when you play to keep the back of your neck cool. And it comes in seven different colors.

Tourna Towel and Bandana

Lastly, it is very important to stay hydrated. I always make sure I drink a lot of water and also some sort of electrolyte drink on each changeover. The Tennis Warehouse Stainless Steel Water Bottle holds 26 fluid ounces, as well as being BPA free and dishwasher safe. The perfect way to keep your drink cool!

TW Stainless Steel Water Bottle

And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!

Ad Out,

Britt

GU Products- Gel, Chomps, Electrolyte Brew, and Recovery Brew

Have you ever been in the middle of match and feel like you are losing that pep in your step? And no matter how much water or how many sports drinks you consume, nothing seems to work? Well, GU might be the answer for you. GU has an assortment of gels, chews and mixes that are meant to help fuel your body and give you superior energy and provide maximum recovery.

GU Energy Gel

I will start with the original GU product, GU Energy Gel. This goo (GU)-like substance comes in small packs that are easily stored in a pocket of a tennis bag and are available in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, lemon, orange and strawberry banana. These little “shots” of energy contain amino acids, antioxidants, chamomile and ginger. It is recommended to consume one packet 15 minutes before activity and then one energy gel pack every 30-45 minutes after if needed. The playtesting team has a drawer of these gels, and whenever anyone needs a pick-me-up, the GU Energy Gel is definitely utilized. My recommendation is to drink lots of water with this product and to test it in practice before using it in a match situation to see how your body reacts.

GU Energy Chomps

My favorite of the GU products are the GU Energy Chomps. These little bites are the chewable version of the gel and taste like candy to me. The small packs will fuel between one-and-a-half hours and two hours of activity and come in flavors such as orange, strawberry and watermelon. My preference in flavors is watermelon; it tastes like a Starburst or Jolly Rancher. Each Chomp contains amino acids, vitamins, complex and simple carbs, sodium and potassium. I like the bite-size portions. During one of my matches, at the beginning of the second set I was lacking a little energy, so during a change over, I opened a package of Chomps and popped two in my mouth. As I went back onto the court, I could feel my energy returning. Throughout the match, on changeovers and when in need of energy, I would simply eat two or three Chomps and be ready to get back on the court. My one word of wisdom is to be prepared, these Chomps are very chewy.

GU Brew Electrolyte Canister

When you are sweating out on the court, you need to replace all the electrolytes you are losing. The GU Brew Electrolyte Canister fulfills this need with its easy-on-the-stomach formula. Available in two flavors, orange and lemon lime, the Brew Electrolyte replacement drink is not too sweet or sugary tasting. I tried the lemon lime flavor, and it was similar to Gatorade but not too overwhelming. The directions are simple: Just fill a 20-ounce water bottle half way, put in a scoop or two, shake until dissolved, top off the bottle with water and shake well. You can also customize the taste and strength by how much you scoop in. In addition to sodium, the brew contains complex and simple carbs. It’s also gluten and dairy free.

GU Brew Recovery Canister

The best thing to do when you are finished with a hard workout or match is to replace what you have lost. With an option of two flavors, orange pineapple and strawberry watermelon, the GU Brew Recovery mix helps you quickly replenish energy and rebuild muscles. It’s packed with protein, amino acids, carbs and vitamins — all premium quality ingredients that are good for the body. I did find that the brew was a little bit hard to mix, I had to shake it a lot to get all the clumps to dissolve. The taste was on the sweeter side when I tried the strawberry watermelon flavor, and the smell was a little on the medicinal side. Make sure to drink the mix with 16-24 ounces of water.

Have you tried any GU products?

Ad Out,

Brittany

I’ve hit only twice since my last blog entry. To me that’s shockingly infrequent as someone who played five times a week pre-baby. I thought that once I was back at work, it would be much easier to find the time to play. Like many notions about life with baby that I had while I was pregnant, I’m discovering that Mom Reality has different plans.

I usually try to workout or playtest during lunchtime, but before baby, I didn’t need those lunch hours to run errands. Technically, I guess, I don’t have to run my errands during lunch now, but as a mom who works full time, I want to spend as many off hours with my daughter as possible and make those hours count. For me that means not running errands like going to the grocery store and post office after work and instead trying to do them during the day while she is at day care. As I see it, I am not only relearning my balance on the tennis court, but also learning to balance my new life.

Those two times I did get out on court, though, I have noticed marked improvement. I am feeling much less alien on the court and have worked out my spacing and timing. I don’t feel like I’m on my heels as much as I was those first couple of times out, but I’m still not getting down and don’t feel like I’m committing enough on my groundstrokes. I feel like I might have picked up a habit from when I was playing pregnant by playing too upright and being overly cautious. So during a hitting session with Spencer earlier this week, we worked on cross court forehands and backhands. I used this opportunity to work on bending my knees and stepping into the ball. We finished up our hour doing the cross court and down-the-line control drills at net with volleys, and I know how much fitness work I have to do because my quads were burning from those net drills.

I feel like I’m regaining some feel with racquets as well. I restrung the Yonex V Core 100 S at mid tension with a new WeissCANNON string that we’ll be carrying. It’s called 6StarString Supercharged. It’s a unique mono-multifilament, according to WeissCANNON. Monofilaments and multifilaments are twisted together to form the string. While stringing it showed some nice elasticity, but not quite as much as some multifilaments I’ve strung. On court, I enjoyed the comfort most of all. I didn’t find loads of spin, but I’m not much of a spin player. This change in string setup is just what I needed for the racquet, too. The V Core 100 is delivering me a softer feel that I enjoy, and I’m glad Yonex has brought back that feel. I prefer it to the crisper response I felt I got from the RDiS series. I’m working to sharpen my strokes right now, and I’ve noticed I’m catching the leading edge of the 24.5mm beam of the V Core. I’ve also been playtesting the Volkl Organix 10 295g, which has a thinner 20mm beam, and haven’t had this problem. I didn’t have this problem before, so it means more time drilling those groundstrokes.

I’m playing Jason today, and this weekend my husband wants to play some tennis, so I’ll bring home the playtest racquets. We’ll wheel the baby out there in her stroller and hit some balls. Maybe that’s the ticket to more court time: making tennis a family affair!

Happy Hitting!
Tiffani, TW

They say having a child changes your life. And my daughter has. She’s beautiful, and she’s everything my husband and I dreamed she could be and more. She was born in December, and I’m just now returning to work.

Future TW playtester

Returning to work for me also means returning to the tennis court. My doctor cleared me for exercise six weeks after she was born, so I could have played before I came back to work, but I didn’t. It’s not that I hadn’t wanted to get back out there earlier. Rather as a new mom, I just was not yet ready to leave her in someone else’s care while I went to play. Instead, I took my baby girl on daily walks, and my route inevitably would swing by the tennis courts. Trying to entertain my little one, I would tell her about tennis and how mommy liked to play for fun and to stay fit.

Now it’s time for this new mommy to make good on that and begin playing again — and regain some level of physical fitness. My fitness has taken a big hit. I played until the start of my third trimester, but honestly those last few weeks of playing were not intense. I exercised to the end, with my doctor’s permission, lightly using the elliptical machine and walking. Since the baby’s birth, I’ve been walking and going on small hikes. My body has changed, and so has my mindset as a new mom. No longer do I want to get in extra exercise after work. My No. 1 priority is to get home to spend the evening with my family. That, however, is no excuse.

So, today I put on my new shoes, the adidas adiPure Pro, and went down to the TW tennis court to play. I’m on the playtest squad for the Yonex V Core 100 S, so I took that down as well. I borrowed a racquet from Brittany, a fellow playtester and much better tennis player, and she had it strung up with Adrenaline. I prefer multis to begin with, so returning after about six months off, the poly setup was a little brutal since I was shanking more than I’d like to admit. Initial impressions are that I’ll like this stick as a Yonex fan, but I am going to have to try a different, softer string setup.

My timing was slightly off; I was catching balls late off both sides, but I noticed an improvement toward the end of the hitting session with some good rallies. Though what’s painfully obvious — and I do mean painful as I’m fully expecting to be aching tomorrow — is that my footwork and stamina have fallen off dramatically.

Lindsay Davenport and Kim Clijsters are moms who can really kick butt on the tennis court. I don’t have their games, but I am inspired by them. What I don’t have in tennis skill, I have in determination.

Happy Hitting!
Tiffani, TW

I recently just had my very first clinic at Tennis Warehouse. Like I said in my first blog, part of my job is educate our TW employees about upcoming products and products that customers will call and ask questions about. After each clinic, I will share the information on these products, so you better understand them as well.

For my first clinic, the theme was about living a healthy lifestyle along with fitness. Since I have grown up with parents who were professional players and playing my entire life, I have experienced and seen countless tennis related injuries. At TW, we sell many products that help with rehab, injury prevention, and different type of treatments that can make you healthier, more flexible, and become the quickest tennis player on the court. Most of the products in this clinic, I have used and really believe benefited my body.

The first product I introduced was the Resistance Tube, which sells for $16.95. This medium strength resistance band has been my go to product for the past 5 weeks because I strained my rotator cuff. This green tube helps strengthen and stretch your shoulders, wrists, and elbows. I actually make the Cal Poly women’s team do it every morning after their dynamic warm up. It is really good to warm up your arms prior to work out, especially if you are planning to play for more than a few hours.

Resistance Tube

The Athlete Stretch Strap (which come in black, blue, red or pink) also sells for $16.95. This strap is the perfect way to remove lactic acid after a vigorous work out, as well as increasing flexibility and range of motion. The reason why I use this after a match or a tough day on the courts is because it includes stretches for your lower body, rather than the resistance tubes, which is more for your arms.

Athlete Stretch Strap

The next product, Kinesio Tex Gold Tape, I believe will be one of the biggest trends in the next few years. This elastic therapeutic tape comes in 3 sizes, the bulk 2” ×103” for $67.99, the 2”× 16.4” for $12.99 and the 3” × 16.4 for $18.99. The reason this tape is so effective is that it has an elasticity of 140%, which is the elasticity found in skin or muscles, so the tape works with your body. The way to use this tape is by taping around your injury, which tightens the skin, supporting it, allowing increased blood circulation to your injury. I know that may seem confusing, however, you can watch how to use Kinesio tape on our youtube site as well as on learning center, which I recommend all of you check out! You can keep the tape on for 3-5 days, and even our play testers benefited from it.

Kinesio Tape on Serena Williams

The China Gel Topical Reliever has been my “knight in shining armor” ever since I hurt my rotator cuff. The 4 ounce China Gel sells for $12.95 and the 6 ounce for $18.95. The easiest way for me to explain this therapeutic gel is to compare it to a Bengay or Icyhot. However, the reason why I recommend it over the others is that it is organic and the 7 herbal ingredients come from ancient Chinese medicine. Every morning I take ibuprofen as well as rub China Gel on my shoulder. I soon get a tingling warm feeling in my shoulder, and by the time I warm up, the tingling feeling is gone, but the ibuprofen has kicked in. It is a perfect combination to ease my pain.

China Gel

I was hoping I could find a book that could tie this clinic together and “From Breakpoint to Advantage” does it more than justice. This book sells for $29.95, which does not seem too expensive, considering it is all about tennis related injuries, including: prevention, treatment approaches, and how to return to play. The best part of the book is it is so easy to find what you are looking for and then there is vital information. For instance I looked up rotator cuff, found the symptoms, the treatment principles I needed, strength training to get back on the court, and even types of stretches to use. I also liked how there were pictures in the book for all of us who are visual learners.

"From Breakpoint to Advantage"

The next product I have never tried, but many employees at TW recommended it to me. The Superfeet Premium Insoles come in blue and green for $31.50 and orange for $34.50. The blue insoles are for low to medium arched feet, while the green insoles are for medium to high arched feet. The orange insoles are for medium to high arched feet with maximum shock absorption. These insoles are really good because of the high-density foam that gives you long-lasting support. Many of our employees that tested them out said to give it a week or so for your feet and body to adjust. The insoles are designed for the center heel to stand up, in order to balance your body’s weight, and therefore taking stress off of your joints and muscles.

Superfeet Premium Insoles

My absolute favorite product is the Power Balance bracelet for $29.95. I am staring at my hot pink Power Balance as I type this ☺. It comes in almost every color! The holograms in the bracelet are embedded with frequencies that react positively with your natural energy and therefore increase your balance, strength, and flexibility. I know a lot of people are skeptical about this bracelet, but we even did the Power Balance test in our clinic. If you stretch without the bracelet on and then put it on, you will see improved results immediately. Even Lakers star, Lamar Odom, wears Power Balance on his wrist! However, we only sell Power Balance on our Racquetball Warehouse website.

Power Balance

I use the Head Quick Start Tennis Dome Cones almost everyday at practice with the women’s team at Cal Poly. These 10 orange cones and 10 yellow cones for a price of $29.95, are perfect for specific drills and on-court games. I use this for serving targets to deep baseline crosscourt points, but most importantly, I love it for quick movement drills. There are many speed drills that can be used with these cones that can make you quicker, leaner, and faster on the court.

Head Quick Start Tennis Dome Cones

These are the 8 products that I explained in detail at my clinic. I hope you enjoyed learning about them, and maybe even have an urge to purchase one online! I will be back next week to share insight on the new Yonex E-Zone racquets!

Living the Dream,

Suz

If in addition to being a tennis player you’re a runner, cyclist or a triathlete, you may have already heard about and even tried Skins. These aren’t your average compression shorts, tops or sleeves. Skins items are designed with a specially engineered gradient compression to deliver oxygen to an athlete’s working muscles. Just the right amount of compression in just the right areas improves circulation, keeping your muscles primed for competition.

Skins engineered gradient compression applies the right amount of surface pressure to enhance circulation to key muscles.

We’ve just added this unique brand to our wide range of apparel options at Tennis Warehouse. Skins got its start in Australia and has made its way into the US market. Its popularity has grown in the endurance sport categories, but the testing team here at Tennis Warehouse sees plenty of benefit to wearing these on court, too.

Followers of our videos may have seen Chris “Vlogman” Edwards, Spencer “The Blade” Boller or Jason “The Forehand” Huang sporting Skins sleeves in their Gotta Want It series videos as well as review videos. Chris wore his during the Vince Dente Memorial Tournament. He played doubles with Spencer and men’s singles, and this tournament experience made Chris a Skins devotee. I put on my journalist hat for a brief moment to ask Chris about why he likes them so much.

“I like the fact that my arm warms up much faster when I’m wearing it,” Chris told me. “The compression definitely does support the muscles and tendons when I’m wearing it. The biggest benefit for me is if I’m playing in a tournament situation with multiple matches a day, I recover much quicker for my next match and warm-up much quicker when I wear my Skins. It reduces fatigue. I can play in comfort from the first ball where it could take a couple of games to feel loose again without the Skins.”

Skins creates garments with no-chafe seams. The outside of the garment, left, and the inside, right, have flat seams for comfort. (Click to see larger image)

But how does it do that? Let’s look a little further into the technology behind it all. Skins calls it engineered gradient compression with BioAcceleration Technology. The Skins compression is designed to apply just the right amount of compression and surface pressure over key areas to trigger increased blood flow. This in turn increases how much oxygen reaches these key muscles to enhance their performance. The improved circulation also aids the body in getting rid of lactic acid and other waste that might hinder your muscle performance. All this together should let you work harder for longer.

And the reducing fatigue part that Chris experienced?

According to the Skins USA web site, “The improved oxygenation is most marked in recovery from exercise. As a result, muscle repair is accelerated, with a greater effect if your Skins are worn for longer. The best effects on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which can last for more than 48 hours, are seen after 8 hours during which time pain, muscle weakness and alertness are dramatically improved.”

The RY400 recovery items can be worn beneath your street clothes after a workout. The fabric is lightweight and ventilated in key areas. (Click to see larger image)

Though the gradient compression pieces help with recovery, there are special tops and tights that aid muscle recovery even more. They are meant to be worn after your workouts and can be worn beneath your street clothes. I have a pair of recovery tights and find them comfortable to wear under my work clothes. Skins says you can even wear them to bed, but I haven’t tried that yet. I’ve sidelined them for now since I’m pregnant and not working out very hard these days. Jason, though, wears his sleeves for his daily tennis sessions as well as the recovery items after he plays or goes to the gym to lift weights. He was really excited to test the Skins, and he’s been wearing them for months now and is still just as jazzed about them.

“After a long, hard workout, I love to wear my recovery gear to bed,” Jason explained to me. “It’s actually pretty cooling and has compression in all the right places. Movement is not restricted at all. Whether it actually works or if it’s just in my head, I don’t know, but I do feel better the next day.”

It's the details that count. The RY400 hem is seen from the outside, left, and the inside, right. The inside of the hem has a tacky material to keep the top in place so it won't ride up. (Click to see larger image)

In stock we currently have gradient compression gear for men and women as well as recovery items for women. We’ll also be carrying recovery items for men.

If you’re interested in any of the items, be sure to check what size you should wear. There’s very specific sizing to ensure you get the right amount of compression. Click on our Apparel Sizing links from the product pages for detailed charts for tops, half tights, full tights, shorts and sleeves.

For those of you have tried them, please feel free to share your stories. We’d love to hear them.

Happy hitting!
Tiffani, TW

Half-man, half-animal, Tony Horton and the rest of the Beachbody crew are what I like to call, MANIMALS.

Power 90 Extreme, more known as P90X, has become a daily routine for some of us working at Tennis Warehouse. We wanted to see if this was the “Mother of all workouts” and if it actually benefited our abilities on the tennis court.

You don’t need a full gym to do this program. All you need are push-up bars (if you have wrist injuries), pull-up bar, weights, and/or bands (which is what I use when it comes to pull-ups). I did a search on Talk Tennis to see if others had jumped on the same bandwagon. It looks like a lot of people are interested in its hype. Some attempt it, some do it, but only some have completed it. As for myself and Chris, we are currently in Week 7 and still going strong.

There’s a total of three phases, each consisting different workouts spread out over 4 weeks. Once your body starts getting used to the first three weeks, it changes in the fourth week focusing on different groups, then body shock again into the next phase. They refer to it as Muscle Confusion. Basically, the program keeps introducing new routines preventing a workout plateau.

Your results truly depend on what you’re willing to put into the program. Since I’m doing most of the workouts with Chris, we push each other due to our competitive nature. It’s always a competition between us and the Beachbody crew; comparing our strength to them. At the beginning, I came out of every exercise exhausted, sometimes to the point of vomiting. Going into Week 7, I now come out of every exercise completely energized because my fitness level has risen. Take that Dreya Webber and one-legged Plyo man! I’m doing legs with more weights and Plyos is like a walk in the park!

Along with the P90x workouts, I’ve bumped my tennis to three days a week and the shoulder is doing pretty well. I still have to use bands most of the time for pull-ups, but push-ups have gotten much easier. On the court, I can hit a more aggressive shot on my back foot or if I’m pulled into a defensive position. The core strengthening exercises are transitioning well into helping me have a stronger coiling action. With all of the exploding leg exercises, I can speedily get to most of Chris’s drop shots now… only to find that he’ll usually lob me afterward! That guy and his drop shots… make me .. sooo.. frustrated.

Anyways, I have yet to jump on the P90x diet, because I admit it, I love my foods! Other than that, I give the developers and the program of P90x two-thumbs up! Have you jumped on the P90x hype? Diet or no diet? If so, how’s it been going? Can you see the results transitioning onto the tennis court like Chris and I have?

Peace Sign,
Kana