Tennis Warehouse Blog

I believe it was the genius Tim “The Toolman” Taylor who said, “You need to use the right tool for the right job.” Now, I don’t know if he actually said this, but I can see him saying that while he’s talking to his trusty sidekick, Al Borland, on “Tool Time” or perhaps to his shy-but-wise neighbor, Wilson. Wow, did I really just date myself by using a “Home Improvement” reference? Regardless, there is some truth to that quote, and it applies perfectly to tennis shoes.

The herringbone tread pattern. Perfect for clay court tennis.

With the clay court season well underway, you might be inspired to try your hand (or feet) at playing on the dirty stuff. And, sure, you can probably take out your hard court tennis shoes and move around decently on clay, but I guess you could also probably hammer a nail with a wrench. It might get the job done, but it’s not the best choice, that’s all I’m saying. But if you’re even dreaming about moving and sliding around the court like Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, you need to pick up some clay court specific shoes. The right tool for the job. Simple.

What makes a clay court specific shoe different than a hard court or a grass court specific shoe is one main thing: the outsole. The outsole of a clay court shoe will usually feature a full herringbone (the zig zags) tread pattern. This pattern won’t allow the clay to lodge to the outsole so you can get a better grip when you try to start, stop or change directions. A couple of hits from your racquet between points should knock loose all the clay from the outsole. The herringbone design also makes the sliding from side to side more predictable so you can perfectly glide into a shot and recover, a la Nadal, but will provide the traction needed for moving forward and backward. So if you plan on playing on clay on a regular basis, you might want to consider picking up a pair of clay specific tennis shoes. The right shoe for the right surface.

Here at Tennis Warehouse, we carry a variety of clay specific shoes for both men and women. (Click on the image to enlarge. Click on the name to purchase.)

With the correct shoes on your feet and a bit of practice, you’ll be moving like a clay court champion in no time.

Jason, TW

Martina Hingis wears Tonic at Wimbledon.

“What’s exciting to me is taking my experience of the sport I grew up with, bringing it into the design process and fusing it with ideas from elsewhere. The Tonic brand has its heritage in yoga so combining the best from both of those traditions produces a look that is comfortable, practical and stylish – suitable for top professionals but also appropriate for club players.” – Martina Hingis on MSN Sport UK

There’s a reason to stop and take notice when a top pro, current or former, loves a yoga brand so much that she wants to bring it to tennis. Such is the story with Martina Hingis and Tonic.

Hingis was shopping and came across Tonic apparel. She liked what she saw and chose to wear it for an exhibition match at the 2010 Wimbledon. It was love from first swing. Hingis then sought out the brand to make tennis specific pieces. So just what does she find so appealing about this apparel?

The Grand Slam Tank's straps are intricately interwoven. It looks great and moves well, too.

Fit and function - The pieces look absolutely phenomenal on. Part of that is fabric, see below, and the other part is where the seams are (or aren’t), how the straps are constructed, how the fabric drapes and so much more. If you want an expert opinion on how a tennis garment must perform, Hingis, the youngest WTA No. 1 ever, certainly would be a good place to start. She described some of the musts in an interview with the Vancouver Courier. “Around the shoulders and the back, this is where you have to feel comfortable with your stroke. It can’t be restricting. If you’re stretched everywhere, you still have to perform.” (Vancouver Courier, July 29, 2011)

Fabric - Tonic makes its own fabric, dubbed Libra. The Libra fabric is soft, and the weight is not too light, not too heavy. It’s heavy enough to conceal what it needs to and light enough to wear comfortably on the court (enhancing fit and function).

Design aesthetic – There are not wild patterns, but the cuts and strap details are so intricate and so feminine that nothing else is needed.

The result of the collaboration is Tonic Tennis by Martina Hingis. The pieces are sporty and sophisticated. Tonic Tennis sets itself apart in another way. It not only manufactures in North America, but also sources its fabric from a North American mill. Keeping the entire manufacturing process in Canada certainly adds to the price, but the Tonic apparel is worth the extra dollars because the apparel makes you feel good, and we all deserve to feel good about our tennis game and ourselves. And, of course, confidence is priceless.

Happy Hitting!
Tiffani, TW

Like I said in my other blog, sometimes I reap the benefits of being around these lovely people and forget that you all don’t get to chat, annoy, pester, tell jokes to and discuss worldly topics with my colleagues like I do. I decided that, in no particular topic or order, I would involve them in the blogs a little more. We heard from the men, so here is a little about the ladies in the office. The girls, or women, here are quick to lend a helping hand, are brilliant cooks (we always bring in potlucks for birthdays and those are my favorite days), clever writers, great players and generally pretty hilarious.

Victoria Azarenka hitting in a cute tee -- even the pros have their favorite training t-shirts.

T-shirts. Aha… These days we are inundated with so many tanks, cap sleeves, Dri-fit, designed, slim-fitted match tops that sometimes we get so sidetracked by the flash and flair that we forget about the basics. I love a cool match outfit, but no one can deny that nothing really beats throwing on your favorite tee and getting out on court. Whatever it’s made of, it’s usually pretty plain, extremely comfy and very well-worn — it’s your favorite training tee and it sees a lot of court time. When I asked the ladies to tell me their favorite tee right now, they were all about it because, like me, sometimes the right tee just hits the spot.

Tiffani picked the adidas Women’s Crosses Trefoil Tee, making it obvious for us, saying, “Love, love, love the retro adidas trefoil logo, so when you pair that with a tennis theme, it’s a no brainer.” Duh! OK, Tiff, aside from loving the design (which has a cool design of tennis racquets inside Trefoil) what else is working for it? She said, “I like the longer length of this top because it helps cover the midsection with the low rise shorts and skirts.” Valid point. Nothing like lifting your arms up to serve and getting distracted because you know your stomach is showing.

adidas Women's Crosses Trefoil Tee

This tee is made of cotton, so it’s super light and comfy. It has a crew neck, and it’s really easy to move in — it doesn’t restrict any swinging motion. This adidas tee is sold in white, with the trefoil design in pink and yellow. It’s got a retro look to it, making it that much cooler because you can wear it casually and on court. Tiffani’s advice on sizing? She said, “For this one, I personally would go up a size because I like my tees a little on the looser side and this one has quite a slim fit.”

Karly is a tank top girl, (“If you take a peek into my closet, 92 percent of the clothes hanging up are tank tops. I guess my arms like taking full-swings at life without being caged inside some sleeves. Plus, I’m not one who can pull off the ever-so-popular farmer’s tan.”). And for a California girl I don’t blame her (in Oregon we needed all the extra warmth we could get!), but I got her to tell me her favorite training tee.

Tank lovers like Karly, listen up. She said, “I’d have to say that my favorite t-shirt is the adidas Women’s Spring barricade Logo Tee. I might be cheating with this top since the sleeves are pretty short, but I also love the loose, relaxed fit of the shirt. I don’t feel constrained in this top and can move as freely as I want, like my favorite attributes of a tank top.”

adidas Women's Spring barricade Logo Tee in Black

The best thing about this tee (like Tiff’s favorite) is that it’s great casual as well as perfect for training in. The scoop neck and cap sleeves are really comfy, and like Karly said, easy to move in. It’s made of mostly cotton so it’s soft and the relaxed fit makes it easy to throw on and off. The adidas logo is screen printed on the front, and it also says tennis on it so people know exactly what sport you’re all about. It comes in black, red and white, and all the color combinations look sharp.

Karly said, “If there’s one thing that I learned while growing up in San Diego, it’s that I should always keep it classy like the great Ron Burgendy. So I like showing off the classic adidas logo, while representing the greatest sport ever with “Tennis” printed underneath.” Amen to that!

When I talked to Brittany about her favorite shirt and I hit myself in my head when she told me, because I already knew. “Nike Women’s Team Legend Top is my favorite workout shirt.”

This tee is lightweight and soft, and so easy to just toss on and off for practice. It is made of Dri-Fit and is a really relaxed fit, particularly around the torso. Brittany wore it in her size and it was baggy (how she likes it), but more so than other tees, this one can be ordered in a size down for a semi-fitted look around the shoulders and chest (I tried on my normal size and I wouldn’t probably drop a size down). It has a ribbed crew neck, a heat transfer Swoosh and the torso is long so it covers everything just how we like it!

Nike Women's Team Legend Top in Black

This girl loves this tee. I made her explain. “Reasons why I like it?  It is a loose comfy fit perfect for a hitting session or working out in the gym. Another reason is it is available in 11 colors! I can match it to any outfit. My favorite colors are the cardinal heather and purple heather.” As for sizing, she agreed with me saying, “I found this top to run slightly big and long (which I really like since I have a long torso!). Lastly, the fabric is soft and light feeling so I don’t feel like I am wearing a heavy cotton shirt.” Need anymore reasons to like this training tee?

There are so many boss brands right now, and with my favorite tee I want to make a small statement. I like women’s t-shirts, they fit well, and have really cool designs — but there is something about the baggy and comfortable fit of a guy’s tee. So my favorite tee right now? The Puma Men’s Summer Performance Graphic T-Shirt. You can toss it on, it’s comfy, it looks cool, it’s not too tight and it looks bomb with a pair of shorts or spandex. Sometimes I just get a little tired of the slim fitting shirts that show off your body, and I just want something I can throw on without having to worry about how I look.

Puma Men's Summer Performance Graphic T-Shirt in Black w/ Blue & White

It’s made of polyester and cotton so it feels nice on your skin and functions as a high performance tee. It has a ribbed crew neck, just like the girls shirts and is obviously going to be a bit bigger than our normal sizing so toss on your boyfriends or your dad’s tee for a quick size up and see what fits. The screen print logo on the front is cool, it has the little Puma cat on the left sleeve and it comes in two colors, black and blue. Ladies, own the boys tees (we look just as good as they do in them anyway!).

That’s it for today, hope you enjoyed seeing what the ladies around the office are rocking right now (make sure you click on the links to see all the color options). Enjoy training and give your favorite tees some court time.

Siobhan

Every so often I like to spice things up by taking a risk. A good challenge now and then is good for you, right? So if asked “Chopsticks or a fork?” Handover the chopsticks. Elevator or stairs? I’ll meet you up there, I’m taking the stairs. My most recent risk involved buying shorts to play tennis in.

I was in need of a new pair and came across the Under Armour Women’s Spring Play It Up Short. The thick elastic waistband with a drawcard and “UNDER ARMOUR” printed in large type caught my eye, and I wanted to give them a try. Once the shorts were on, it was a done deal. I had to own a pair. They were so comfortable I debated whether I should ever take them off again.

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Under Armour Women's Spring Play It Up Shorts

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And that’s when the risk presented itself. No, not the risk of never buying another pair of pants again, although tempting because of how comfy they were. But instead, do I choose the neon pink color that brightens up a room (a positive would be a drop in my electric bill), or do I choose the cool graphite grey that would make any top I pair it with look good? Based on my track record, it may be no surprise that I took a risk and went with the brightly colored shorts.

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Play It Up Short in Neo Pulse

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Now I wouldn’t necessarily say I experienced risk-taker’s remorse. I was just a little out of my comfort zone since these shorts were definitely brighter than anything I ever owned. Though that feeling quickly disappeared after I wore them around for the first time and began to receive compliment after compliment about their color. It was great! I wasn’t used to this magnitude of compliments and was tempted to buy a pair for every day of the week, but I didn’t want to abuse my powerful new compliment-provoker.

So instead of buying seven pairs of the same short, I’ve been keeping a look out for other shorts that fall into the same realm. Like the Nike Women’s Phantom Shorts. The soft training shorts come in fun colors that will light up any room you walk into. Or if you’re not ready to step out of the comfort zone just yet, there’s also the more subtle, darker color that still features a bright accent. Personally, I love the added bonus of a built-in compression short for storing tennis balls. Especially since I have yet to persuade Jason to be a ball kid when I play.

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Nike Women's Summer Phantom Shorts

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Because men shouldn’t be left out in the dark, I’ve found a few options for the male risk-takers out there. Though I’d like to preface that there doesn’t appear to be as many brightly colored men’s shorts like there are for women. Instead it’s all about the bold patterns to make that same statement.

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KSwiss Men's Stretch Boardshorts

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Besides long walks on the beach, another weakness I have is bargains. Which probably explains why I’m attracted to the 2-for-1 deal the KSwiss Men’s Stretch Boardshort has to offer. After you’re done hitting on the courts, you can jump straight into the pool without wasting sunlight changing into your swimsuit. Money-saver and time-saver? I’m so glad they have some for women, too, with both versions having compliment-worthy patterns that the most experienced risk-takers would drool over.

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Fila Men's Spring Baseline Plaid Shorts

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If you’re one of those who is in limbo between taking a risk and the comfort zone, I think we have a solution: the Fila Spring Baseline Plaid Short. From a distance the pattern isn’t quite as obvious, keeping you in short range of the comfort zone. But up close, the high-energy design calls for people’s attention and will leave them with no choice but to compliment you.

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Nike Men's Summer Distraction Short

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And last but not least (well, maybe least in weight) is the Nike Men’s Summer Distraction Short. It’s not quite as loud as the other two men shorts, but the sharp, edgy pattern will still give you a taste of risk-taker stardom. They’re extremely lightweight, making them perfect for training when those heat waves hit.

So go on, live a little. Grab a pair of these trendy shorts and be showered with compliments for taking a little risk.

~Karly

Men's Lotto Graphic 2 Group

Lotto certainly doesn’t!  Their new collection of apparel certainly doesn’t shy away from the color!  Pink can be seen in every piece of the Graphic 2 Group whether it is the main color of the crew or an accent on the short. And it is definitely not the girly powdery baby pink.  The color is named by Lotto to be Fluo Gloss, but I would describe the pink as neon or highlighter. Another feature of the outfit is the sporty wave graphic on the front chest of the crew, polo and warmup.

David Ferrer in Lotto

The pros  will be sporting this look out on the court as well. Keep an eye out for  players like David Ferrer to be showing off this new line at some upcoming events. Just for fun I had some willing men in my office try on the line, and to my surprise the outfits looked great on them as well. I love the Lotto Graphic 2 Trail Crew In Fluo Gloss paired with the Graphic 2 Trail Short. It definitely makes a statement on the court!

And let’s not forget about accessories! Complete your look with the Lotto Graphic Trail 2 Hat and Wristbands.

What are your thoughts on this Lotto line?

Ad Out,

Brittany

Guys. Listen up. Since most of the people in the office who blog are ladies, I decided I would appeal to my (I don’t think I have one yet, but hopefully this will appease you a little) male audience. Or in the very least make you guys feel like we haven’t forgotten you. Yes, you have master blogger and king of hilarity Jason Huang, but the man gets busy and he can’t be bloggin’ all the time. Sorry, but you’re left with me. Celebration all round!

This summer is all about sweating. We all sweat when we’re grinding and whether you’re serving aces on an indoor court or hitting winners outdoors, hard work is the flavor of the month.

If you’re working hard, you’re sweating, and if you’re sweating, you need something to wipe it away with. Try the adidas Interval Large Reversible Wristbands. They’re 5 inch, double wide wristbands — and yes, I think the double size is the best (bigger in a functional way and, yup, they look cooler). Made of cotton terry, they’re comfortably soft and absorbent — perfect for wiping away the sweat . They also have an anti-microbial finish to keep things clean and healthy. The wristbands come in a pair in black and aluminum (as well as black/white and navy/white) and the 3-Bar logo is embroidered in a contrast color.

adidas Interval Large Reversible Wristband in Black/Aluminum

If you rock a bandana, then Nike is your brand. Their Spring Swoosh Bandana comes in seven different colors and can complete any outfit. Fold it into a head band and keep the sweat out of your eyes, or get your hair off your face like Nadal. It’s made of 100 percent cotton, so will wick away any sweat, and has the Nike Swoosh on the front for a little bit of flair. The perfect accessory for any outfit, this bandana is as functional as it is cool.

Nike Spring Swoosh Bandana in Blue Abyss

Looking for classic and classy? Check out the Lacoste Men’s Trucker Hat. Keep the sun out of your eyes and the sweat from running down your forehead. Moving away from the now mainstream Nike Featherlite hats, Lacoste takes us back to the traditional trucker, and, boy, Lacoste does it well. It has a mesh back, adjustable Velcro closure and, of course, a curved bill. It has the little Croc logo on the front right and comes in black and white. Definitely the best option for a traditional trucker look.

If the bandana or the hat isn’t for you, don’t fret, I have more options. The Fila F-Box Headband works like a dream to keep your vision sweat free. With a traditional look and traditional feel, it’s stretchy enough and comfy enough to do the job. Made of stretch terry, it is 2 inches wide and has the classic Fila logo on the front. It comes in black, white and navy and give you some edge, while keeping your forehead nice and dry for some serious tennis.

Don’t be afraid to get a little sweaty out on court because hard work is what it’s all about. Sweat it out!

Siobhan

What do you normally say when meeting someone for the first time? For me it’s generally something along the lines of, “Hi, I’m Karly. Nice to meet you.” So naturally when starting to write my introductory entry for the TW Blog, those were the first words that came to mind. But as I tried to think of other things to say, it was like I lost my entire vocabulary except for those seven words. Talk about frustrating. All I wanted to do was think of something clever. Make a good impression. Was it really that hard? The last thing I wanted was to sound cliché or use a common, boring expression to introduce myself. Desperate, I felt like if I wanted to do something clever, the only option I had was to scramble my seven words around to make a puzzle – perfect for those who can’t get enough “Jumble” from their daily paper, but not ideal for a blog. Since that won’t work, I’m playing it safe and keeping it simple. Hi, I’m Karly and this is my first blog entry. I just hope I don’t come off boring or unoriginal because I couldn’t think of any other way to start this off.

Now you may be wondering what the title is all about. Allow me to explain. And don’t worry, you didn’t land on an online dating personal ad (although this may not be a bad time to mention I have hazel eyes, like long walks on the beach and have a weakness for karaoke…). Instead I chose “Love-Struck Karly” for two reasons.

The first one deals with all the talented players I’m surrounded by here at TW. On the courts, I’m not always the winning player. And, yes, I’ll admit it. There’ve been times were I end up with a love score (Get it? “Love-Struck”). Particularly when playing against people like Brittany, Chris or Siobhan, the score is more like love to forty-thousand. Now, I’ve been playing tennis since I was 5 and can definitely hold my own against harder hitters. I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to hit with such great players every day. They constantly push me to improve my game, and with any luck, I’ll eventually be able to spread the love (score) to others.

Showing more love for the sport and its players. (Left: Gasquet. Right: Me)

Then that brings me to my second reasoning: my job. Along with playtesting, I work as an Assistant Web Editor and help write apparel descriptions for the website. I love it. I get to see all the new outfits the pros will be wearing at the upcoming tournaments and then get to describe their fit to help better our customers’ shopping experience. Since online shopping isn’t necessarily for the faint of heart – personally I know how nerve-racking it can be waiting for clothes that were bought online to see whether they fit like I expected them to. It definitely puts a damper on my day when they don’t. So this is where I ask for your help. Speak up! Let us know if you have any suggestions to make the online shopping experience better. Post a comment on Facebook, tweet us on Twitter or start a thread on our message board. We want to improve, and I’d love to help.

Uh oh, not again. Now that I have to end the entry all I can think of is, “It was a pleasure meeting you.” So please excuse me again for using a cliché phrase, but it truly was a pleasure writing this. Can’t wait to write again in the future! And let’s hope my vocabulary won’t make this disappearing act a habit…

Game. Set. Match.
~Karly

I love this time of year. The French Open is just around the corner, and that signifies to me the kick off to the summer. Shortly after will come Wimbledon, then the U.S. Open Series topped off by all the excitement in New York. Really it’s the only time I bother to turn on my TV.

Not only do we get to see our favorite pros play on three different surfaces in a relatively short period of time, but we also get to see them in new outfits. The majors are where we see the big splashes, and each of the majors possesses its own personality — and set of challenges — when it comes to dressing for the occasion.

The French Open is up first. (The main draw first round starts May 27 so set your VCR if you like to keep it old school, but more than likely set your DVR.) What are the challenges of dressing for Roland Garros? There’s the clay, for one. That terre battue gets on everything, it stains and it’s red. The last thing I want is to have to compete for attention with the color of the court. Then there’s the fact that it’s in Paris, quite possibly the most stylish city in the world. I’d think there’s quite a bit of pressure to step out in style.

Nike just launched its plans for its bevy of tennis stars. Let’s take a gander at what we can expect to see.

Rafael Nadal

Rafa will wear the Finals Crew and the Finals Short.

Rafa has obviously mastered playing on clay, so he has no fear when it comes to Roland Garros. He will face the clay court head on, dominating it by wearing the reddish hue Scarlet Fire on top and a white short. He will finish off the look with a Scarlet Fire bandana and matching Air Court Ballistec 4.3s. Just a quick aside on the actual function (it can’t all be about looking good!) on Rafa’s Finals Clay Crew. The shoulder seam sits farther forward than it does on most tops. Nike put in this feature to make the top more comfortable and to allow it to move more freely — because I’m not sure if you’ve seen Rafa’s forehand? But that guy can create insane racquet head speed and has a follow through that shouldn’t be humanly possible.

Roger Federer

Federer heads to Paris wearing all Anthracite grey.

Some of my favorite looks for Fed have been his night match U.S. Open ensembles. So, I must admit, the monochromatic look works for me. His solid Anthracite look will pop nicely against the red clay. He’ll be wearing the RF Smash Clay Polo with a short similar to the Match Woven Short with Cyber accents. To top it off, he has the a matching bandana and Vapor 9 Tour SLs. That SL stands for synthetic leather. For the clay season, the Vapor 9 has synthetic leather through the vamp which holds up better against the clay compared to mesh. Here’s a fun fact about Fed’s polo: If you’re a big fan, you may have already known about the no-sew seams for zero-abrasion comfort, but did you know that as a Dri-Fit UV piece that its sleeves are slightly longer than non-UV protective Nike tops? Yup. Extra length means extra coverage.’

Maria Sharapova

Masha will look sharp on court in her Statement Set Dress.

If any player knows about Paris Fashion Week, it has to be Masha. (She has her own Cole Haan shoe and handbag line.) She, like Fed, will step out in a darker color. Apparently the notion that every woman needs a little black dress also applies to tennis. The Cargo Khaki bodice of her Statement Set Dress sets off the black paneled skirt portion so nicely. This classy color combo isn’t overshadowed either any crazy designs and instead has subtle design touches such as the zig-zag stitching on the skirt. Sharapova finishes off the look with a signature Featherlight Visor and a pair of Lunar Speed 3s in White/Scarlet Fire.

Victoria Azarenka

Azarenka will be ready to leave opponents in the dust in her Tie Breaker Knit Dress.

You can’t ignore the newest WTA No. 1. She has only two singles losses, can you believe it? How dare she wear shorts at the Australian Open?! I kid, I kid. I loved that look and have a pair of those shorts myself. (Check them out in this season’s colors. So cute!) Vika’s back in a dress for the French, and like Rafa, she has the confidence to wear a color complementary to the red clay. Her Tie Breaker Knit Dress in Fruit Punch is the perfect color, too, to usher in summer, especially with its Orange Chalk accents. Unfortunately, that Nike headtie she’s making her signature look won’t be available to buy in Orange Chalk, but we can substitute a basic white one. She, too, finishes her look with the same Lunar Speed 3 shoes.

Serena Williams

Watch out for Serena in the Statement Rally Dress.

Never to be counted out of the running, Serena Williams always is a threat even when not considered among the top contenders. One of my favorite colors against the clay courts of Roland Garros is blue. Her Statement Rally Dress is a gorgeous mix of minty greens and a bluish green teal. Her Air Max Mirabella 3 shoes are a perfect match colorwise, and are some of the most comfortable tennis shoes out there. (Our testing team loved them, and I do mean love. It scored a 4.5 out of 5 overall. Read the review here.)

So there you have it. Remember to set your VCR, wait DVR and get ready to see some great tennis.

Happy Hitting!
Tiffani, TW

OK, yes, I am like a broken record about the weather. But the sun is here to stay! At the office, those of us bold enough to expose our wintery skin to the sun have been starting to hit outside. Although it’s a bit of a change with the wind, sun and faster courts (our indoor court is niceee and slow), we’re loving the change of scenery. Although our apparel finder has banished them to the undergarments section, I will pull out some of the cool sports bras that we have into the daylight for you to see.  However you like to wear them, out in the sun no shirt, colors complementing a cute tank or under a tee, the bras that are out right now are fun and colorful. There’s nothing like a sweet sports bra to give you that little bit of extra encouragement to get out on court. And, this has been my common theme, why have something plain when it can have a fun twist to it?

First up I have for you the Tonic Women’s Spring Grand Slam Bra. It comes in five unique colors and has a cut out keyhole detail on the back that make it really different to any other bra you’ll own. (It is also offered in black and white if you want a more traditional approach.) It has a double scoop neck and mesh insets to make it comfortable and ventilated. It fits really well and will be comfortable under any shirt.

Tonic Women's Spring Grand Slam Bra in Cascade with Platinum

I also like the Nike Women’s Summer Reversible Strappy Bra. It comes in two colors, pink and grey and the best part? Both are reversible. Nothing like being able to change it up when you’re bored. Love it. It has adjustable spaghetti straps, which I really like for a change because they provide a lighter fit, as well as a mesh back for ventilation. One side has the Nick Swoosh on left chest, and when you reverse it there is a large Nike Swoosh on center chest. It’s designed with Dri-Fit to wick away the moisture and keep you as sweat free as possible.

Nike Women's Summer Reversible Strappy Bra in Cool Grey with Tropical Twist

Another cool bra is the Under Armour Women’s Spring Seamless Essential Bra. It has a racer back and thin tank straps that are adjustable, and it is made of soft material for a lighter fit. Under Armour offers seamless compression for the best and most comfortable fit. It comes in pink and a lighter purple, and gives the sporty woman a sporty bra to match her personality. Definitely not a bra for someone looking for large amounts of support — for that you should check out the other bras that Under Armour offers.

Under Armour Women's Spring Seamless Essential Bra in Pink

To go down a different road you should also check out the adidas by Stella McCartney Performance Bra. A racer back style, sporty-looking bra that features a cut out on the back to show a little bit of extra skin. It’s soft and comfy, and it’s actually miCoach compatible — this allows you to track your workout so you know exactly what your stats are while you are playing or training. It comes in two colors, tomato (a red) and white, and they match up with the adidas by Stella McCartney line.

adidas by Stella McCartney Performance Bra in Tomato

There are also more to check out on our website, and I suggest you make a little purchase like I did (I bought the Nike Women’s Spring Pro Bra in Spark Pink for a fun addition to my wardrobe). It’s definitely now or never to vamp your bra selection up with a bit of color.

Yours,

The Kiwi (Siobhan)

Come on up, give it a spin! Where will the wheel land?! Nobody knows!

I hope you like color because, boy, is it back in a big way. It doesn’t matter where on the color wheel your preference takes you because you’re sure to find something to suit your tastes. 2012 is turning out to be a year not for the wallflower. If you’re a tennis player, it’s time again to be loud and proud with your gear. And don’t be afraid to mix and match the colors. These days, anything goes. Confidence is the only required matching accessory.

Your best accessory is always confidence.

To start things off, we have exclusive colors of the Asics Gel Resolution 4 for men and women that will match anything. It took every crayon in the box to make these! Remember, confidence is key, but that won’t be a problem when you’ve got these strapped to your feet.

Now on to women’s apparel (ladies first!)… Whether vibrant or soft sorbet in hue, orange, turquoise, teal, pink are all on trend this season. Mix and match to your heart’s desire.

Boring is out; color is in. Left to right, Puma Summer Perf Layer Tank, Nike Summer Tie Breaker Tank, Tonic Spring Grand Slam Tank, Athletic DNA Spring Sport Logo Top, Jofit Acapulco Athletic Tank, and adidas Spring barricade Tank

The Puma Women’s Summer Perf Layer Tank and Athletic DNA Sport Logo Top are perfect examples of mixing and matching the season’s colors. These top show us how it’s done by mixing three colors for a summery, bright look for those who like a laidback style.

Nike’s Summer Tie Breaker Tank and the Jofit Acupulco Sport Tank also show off a tri-color design, too, but have more of a match-ready appeal.

Still infused with color but taking on a more solid design, the adidas Spring barricade Tank and Tonic Spring Grand Slam Tank hit the mark as well.

Lime, bright yellow or green, whatever you call it, it's in style. From left, Lacoste Spring Neon Croc T-shirt, Head Spring Performance Polo, adidas Game Set Smash T-Shirt, Wilson Summer 1 Explosive Crew, Athletic DNA Spring Motion Crew, Nike Summer Distraction Hoodie.

Men who have a zest for life or like fashion with a twist are in luck. Lime is the flavor, nay color, of the season. (Did I lay it on too thick with the puns there? Sorry about that!)

For the casual guy, tees are the easy go-to. The Lacoste Neon Croc T-Shirt cools down the lime with a grey base, but adidas goes all out for the lime with the latest color of the Game Set Smash tee.

Performance fabric fans will find plenty of lime, too, as evidenced by the crop of crews and polos in the bright hue. Pictured here are the Head Spring Performance Polo, Wilson Summer 1 Explosive Crew and Athletic DNA Spring Motion Crew.

I suspect that lime’s popularity is not going to fade because Nike’s Distraction Hoodie in grey/lime is going to easily be warm enough for late spring cold fronts and the onset of fall.

Volkl V-Tac Overgrip in Orange

Just want to throw in one last hurrah for color. Have you checked out the new colors of Volkl’s V-Tac Overgrips? The orange is super bright, and the green ain’t too shabby either.

We’ll see you (get it? haha) out at the courts.

Happy Hitting!
Tiffani, TW