Friday 30 March 2012

Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Review

I have been using my new Dunlop Biomimetic 300 raquet for 10 days now and feel that its time for a review.
The racquet is red and black and looks fantastic, it also comes with its own bag which is equally attractive, and with a damper but I have not used this so far and don't think I will because I am not feeling any vibrations when I strike the ball. This could be down to the racquet being made from HM6 carbon. The HM6 carbon is supposed to reduce vibration and improve feel.
I have used the racquet a lot and do think it has helped my game, I have been working on ball placement and the racquet has not let me down. Although the racquet is not marketed as a powerful racquet, I can create more power with it than my previous 25' Dunlop but that could be down to the length of the racquet or the Aeroskin. Aeroskin is a technology which covers the racquet and apparently makes it more aerodynamic so will make your swing faster and create more power. I don't know if its the weight, lenth or aeroskin but I can definitely swing faster with this racquet especially when the face is closed (as it should be).
The last of the new technologys to go into the racquet is the Gecko-tac grip. This is inspired by a Gecko's foot and makes the grip very tacky. This was great when I first started using it, I had control, feel, and could really let rip on a serve but there was/is one problem, my hand has been ripped apart by it, its a small exaggeration but is has caused some very large blisters. Only now after doing research have I learned that this is a common problem for all tennis players with all makes of racquet.
Overall I am very happy with my Dunlop Biomimetic 300 and will continue to use a Dunlop raquet.

Saturday 24 March 2012

Bolton Arena 24/03/12 - Runner Up of Main Draw

This season I had 2 goals, one was to get my tennis rating to Orange 1 and the other was to get into the main draw at Bolton Arena and I have achieved them both, it was very close but I did it. This season so far before today I have played at Bolton Arena 6 times and every time I have ended up in the consolation draw. Today was the last competition of the season and all I wanted to do was get into the main draw and I did that and then went a couple of stages better and ended up in the final. I lost in the final but am so happy with my result - I was the runner up in a competition main draw final.
I am really looking forward to playing tomorrow but then I am going to have a day or possible 2 off because I fell today and hurt my elbow and I also have a large blister on my hand due to all the training I have been doing.
All is going great and I am so happy with my development, I am definitely improving.
I would like to thank Bolton Arena for letting me play in their competitions. Playing good tennis players has helped me to improve and I would not have achieved my result today without them. Thank you!

Sunday 18 March 2012

Dunlop Biomimetic 300 - Ordered

Shortly I will be starting to play in Green tennis which will be a big change, so I am going to get another change out of the way at the same time and that is I am going to go up a size in tennis racquet. I currently use a 25' and I have just ordered a 26' Dunlop Biomimetic 300.
The reason I have decided to go with a Dunlop raquet in purely because they are what I have always had. This will be my fourth racquet and the previous three have never let me down. In the past I have always gone for the budget racquet but this one is more of a premium racquet and it will be interesting to see if it makes a difference. I think it was more expensive than my previous 3 racquets put together.
I have read and watched a few reviews of the racquet and they are mostly positive but apparently its not the most powerful racquet but has lots of control. I think its better to start off light and add weight to the racquet with lead tape than it is to try and make a racquet lighter.
A lot of interesting technologies have gone into this tennis racquet, such as the graphite frame and something to make your stroke faster but I will go into these in more detail when I write my review of the Dunlop Biomimetic 300.
I am really looking forward to getting my new racquet and also competing next weekend. This week I will also be applying for more competitions and will update when I do.

Sunday 11 March 2012

Bolton Arena and Bramhall Queensgate Tennis Club - Results

What a weekend, I have had two Grade 5 competitions, one yesterday at Bolton Arena and one today at Bramhall Queensgate Tennis Club.
Yesterday was a disaster I ended up in a group of very good players and lost every match I had. I think one of the main reasons for this was because I lost control of my emotions and got upset.
Today I managed to keep control and ended up finishing in 4th position. There were a lot of good players but I managed to win matches and I feel extremely proud of my achievement. I really enjoyed myself today at Bramhall Queensgate TC and would love to play there again.
So this weekend I have had my worst and best results competing at Grade 5 and it has proven to me that part of the key to winning is emotions.
I am now looking forward to playing in Green tennis, I have only got 2 more Orange competitions left.

Friday 9 March 2012

Holcombe Brook Open Tennis Tournament 2012 - 31/03/12 - 05/04/12

I have just entered my first Green tennis competition and its at Holcombe Brook Sports Club on the 02/04/12 and if I make the final that will be held on the 05/04/12. I am jumping into Green tennis at the deep end because its a grade 4 competition. These can be difficult and thats putting it lightly, they attract very good players.
I have played at Holcombe Brook before but it was when I first started playing (I was a Red 4) and with it being winter it was indoors at a different location to the main club where this tennis competition is being held.
All I want to get out of the competition is the experience of playing Green tennis, at the moment I am still mainly training on an Orange court and finishing off with rallying on a Green court. Over the next few weeks I will be totally converting to Green even though I have still got a couple of Orange competitions lined up for this month.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Out with the Orange tennis competitions and in with the Green

I have made my mind up with a little help and have decided that from the start of next season (April) I am going to 'play up' in Green tennis competitions rather than try getting my rating to an Orange 1*. Some players (very few) can get a passport to a higher rating but I do not have one of these (I think you have to be an Orange 1* or be a 'special player' but I am not sure) so my rating will stay as an Orange 1 until I become a Green player in September. However I will become a Green 2 instead of Green 4 because I am an Orange 1. Hopefully I will get plenty of practice at Green over the next 5 months so when I do become a Green, I can move from 2 to 1 faster than I moved from Orange 2 to 1. If I get to Green 1 fast enough, I will then try for Green 1*.
So this is my last month of playing in Orange if all goes to plan, I may have to go back to playing Orange if my competitions entries for Green get declined but I will deal with that if it happens. I am looking forward to going back to playing on a full size court. Until 7/8 months ago I played on a full size court and then started to train on smaller courts because I wanted to do competitions, so I have been out of my comfort zone.
I cannot believe that I could possible only have 4 more Orange tennis competitions left and they are:-
Bolton Arena on the 10th and 24th, Bramhall Queensgate Tennis Club on the 11th and Prestbury Tennis Club on the 25th.
I am going to apply for a Green competition later on today or tomorrow and I will update when I do, fingers crossed I will have my application accepted.

Saturday 3 March 2012

Nike Air Courtballistec tennis shoes - Review

Here is my review of my new Nike Air Courtballistec tennis shoes.
Style - These tennis shoes really do look the part. They are the best looking trainers (tennis shoes) I have ever had. I choose the blue,green and white pair which have a mesh around a lot of the toe presumably to let them breath.
Comfort - From the minute I put them on they felt great and are very comfortable. I have played tennis in them for hours at a time and had no blisters or rubbing whatsoever. My feet are quite wide and I have quite a high arched foot therefore I have to pick footwear carefully.
Design - Only time will tell if the design will hold out under high performance tennis over time, but they seem to be great. In all the areas my previous trainers were wearing excessively there is extra protection which is great.
Quality - Absolutely spot on, not a stitch out of place. Sometimes when you buy new shoes/trainers if you inspect them closely there will be a bit of stray glue or something not quite right, not with these they are perfect.
Performance - Its very hard too tell if my tennis performance has improved due to wearing these shoes. I have been doing better in competitions lately but I think its down to me and not the shoes.
Cost - These are the most expensive tennis shoes/trainers I have ever owned but I think they are well worth the money because I'm sure they will last a lot longer than other trainers due to the design and quality.
Overall - I would give my Nike Air Courtballistec tennis shoes a 5/5, based on previous trainers I have owned. I'm not saying they are the best ever, just the best I have owned. I would definitely buy these tennis shoes again.