Author: Baseline Racquets - Page 3

Posted on June 3, 2022September 19, 2023 by Baseline Racquets

Padel – The world’s fastest growing sport.

Padel: The World’s Fastest Growing Sport.

Padel emerged from humble back-yard beginnings when Mexican Enrique Corcuera altered his home tennis court to create his version of platform tennis in 1969. The fledgling sport became a sensation and spread across Latin America and was later adopted by countries across the globe. Since then, it has been named an international sport and will debut at the 2028 Olympic Games.

What is Padel?

Padel is a hybrid between tennis and squash and is usually played in doubles. The court is divided by a net and is enclosed with walls of glass and metallic mesh (players use the walls as in squash) and is roughly 25% smaller than a tennis court.

The distinctive round, short-handled racquet gives greater control than a typical tennis racquet, and the perforated head creates a less powerful stroke. The use of walls, and a slightly less pressurised ball, creates a fun and fast-paced game that requires strategy and cooperation between teammates.

Another factor in Padel’s popularity is that it can be easy to master as it borrows most of its rules from tennis, but there are some twists such as that it uses an underhand service, unlike tennis. In addition, the special court and racquet mean players do not need as much strength to hit and follow the ball around the court.

Who is Playing?

Tennis players such as Jamie Murray, the seven-time grand slam champion, have become well-known advocates for the sport even taking part in recent padel tour events.

This low-impact sport has also gained wild popularity as a recreational form of exercise with top athletes around the world. Liverpool football manager Jurgen Klopp is a regular on the padel court with his coaches – where he often uses the game as a place to discuss ideas and problem-solve.

In addition, other football legends have picked up the padel, and the likes of David Beckham, Neymar, and Zedan have been seen hitting the court. Barcelona star Lionel Messi is such a fan of the sport that he has a padel court in his garden where he often plays against former teammate Luis Suarez and others, including Zlatan, Ibrahimovic, and Gerard Pique.

Padel in South Africa

Padel only arrived in South Africa in 2019 when it was introduced at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl, but since then, it has exploded. Swathes of courts have been opened to cater to the growing number of enthusiastic South African players.

Baseline’s Padel Journey

Baseline South Africa is helping bring padel to Gauteng by partnering with the experts at Padel Lab to construct two new courts in Rivonia and Centurion. We are also excited to announce that Baseline will be exclusively debuting Mercian’s new Guerrillla range of padels. This unique range caters to players at every level.

Want to try your hand at Padel? Find a court near you:

Rotunda Hotel, Camps Bay, Cape Town
Century City, Canal Walk, Cape Town
Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
Lourensford Wine Estate, Cape Town
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Camps Bay Retreat, Cape Town
Huddle Park, Johannesburg
Pirates Sports Club, Greenside, Johannesburg
Val de Vie Estate, Paarl
Glen Beach, Cape Town
Johannesburg Country Club, Auckland Park, Johannesburg
Clearwater, Roodepoort, Johannesburg
German Country Club, Sandton, Joburg
Velocity Gym – Hilton, Kwazulu Natal

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Posted on May 18, 2022May 19, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

French Open 2022 News

What to expect at the French Open 2022

French Open 2022 News

Anticipation is high in the lead-up to the 2022 French Open – the famed clay courts and their spectator stands are expected to return to full capacity after Covid-19 restrictions meant smaller and more subdued events in 2020 and 2021. Here’s what to expect at this year’s Parisian Grand Slam…

Updates and What to Lookout for at Roland Garros:

· Completed in 2020, the retractable roof over the Phillip-Chatrier court will protect spectators from poor weather and prevent disruption to play.

· The French Tennis Federation is set to raise the Roland Garros prize money to US$46 million.

Tennis Legends: Big Names Return

The tennis stars are set to clash for victory at Roland Garros once more as the Covid 19 epidemic wanes and safety measures are relaxed.

Reigning world champion, Novak Djokovic, returns to defend his 2021 French Open win. He will also be playing to secure his 21st Grand Slam title, which would put his Grand Slam record on par with rival, Rafael Nadal.

Despite a chronic foot injury, Nadal took the trophy at the Australian Open in 2022. Now, the 13-time French Open winner is expected to mount a fierce offensive against Djokovic and other big guns to prove that he is still the King of Clay.

Stephanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev are also firm favourites in the challenge.

Upcoming Talent: Tennis Players to Watch

The 2022 tour has seen a lot of upsets and exciting developments, as younger players in the women’s and men’s tournaments have begun to surge out in front of the pack and make their mark.

Twenty-year-old Iga Swiatek has torn up the courts in a 28-match winning streak and knocked Ash Barty out of pole position in the women’s world ranking in March. The Polish sensation will be the player to beat in the women’s singles but will not face an easy ride against other favourites such as world no.6, Ons Jabeur, who recently won her first WTA 1000 at the Madrid Open.

In the men’s, Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz has been dubbed ‘the next One’ and pundits have noted that his movement on the court has been as good as Djokovic at his best. The young player defeated Nadal, Djokovic, and German, Alexander Zverev, to win the Madrid Open and his fourth trophy of the 2022 ATP season. Djokovic has called Alcaraz the best player of the season, and all eyes will be on him as he takes to the courts in Paris.

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Posted on February 11, 2022February 11, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

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Posted on January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

Racket Sizing Guide

Our Racket Sizing Guide

Take your best shot with our Racquet Sizing Guide.

Racquet Sizing Guide

System

AGE 0-3 4-6 7-8 9-10 11-12 12+ HEIGHT (CM) <105CM 105-118CM 118-135CM 135-150CM 135-150CM >150CM
HEIGHT (INCHES”) EU 6″ 7-10″ 11-5″ 6-11″ 6-11″ HEIGHT (ft) 3ft-3ft 3ft-3ft 3ft-4ft 4ft-4ft 4ft-4ft 5ft>
RACQUET LENGTH 19 21 23 25 26 27 or adult

System

Grip Sizing Guide

System

GRIP 0 1 2 3 4 5
INCHES (“) 4 4 (1/8) 4 (1/4) 4 (3/8) 4 (1/2) 4 (5/8) MM 100-103 103-106 106-110 110-113 112-118 116-119

System

Posted on January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

Shoe Sizing Guide

Our Shoe Sizing Guide

Step into the right shoes with our guide to global shoe sizing for the local market.

Ladies Sizing Guide

System

US 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10 11
EU 36 36.5 37 37.5 38 38.5 39 40 40.5 41 42
UK 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 7 7.5 8 9
JPN 22 22.5 23 23.5 24 24.5 25 25.5 26 26.5 27
(CM) 22.2 22.5 23.0 23.5 23.8 24.1 24.6 25.4 25.9 26.3 27.1

System

Mens Sizing Guide

System

US 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 11 11.5 12 13
EU 40 40.5 41 41.5 42 42.5 43 43.5 44 44.5 45 46
UK 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 11 12
JPN 25.5 26 26.5 27 27.5 28 28.5 29 29.5 30 30.5 31
(CM) 24.4 24.8 25.4 25.7 26 26.7 27.0 27.3 27.9 28.3 28.6 29.4

System

Junior Sizing Guide

System

US 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8
EU 19 1/3 20 20 2/3 21 1/3 22 22 2/3 23 1/3 24
UK 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7
JPN 13 13.5 14 14.5 15 15.5 16 16.5
(CM) 13 13.5 14 14.5 15 15.5 16 16.5

System

Posted on January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

APPAREL SIZING GUIDE

Our Apparel Sizing Guide

Get the best fit with our guide to global apparel sizing for the local market.

Ladies Sizing Guide

System

UNITED STATES 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
EUROPEAN 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
STANDARD (WOMENS) SMALL SMALL MEDIUM LARGE LARGE X-LARGE XX-LARGE XX-LARGE
STANDARD (UNISEX) X-SMALL SMALL SMALL MEDIUM MEDIUM LARGE LARGE X-LARGE X-LARGE
UK (UNISEX) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

System

Mens Sizing Guide

System

Junior Sizing Guide

System

UK 4-5 Yrs 5-6 Yrs 6-7 Yrs 7-8 Yrs 8-9 Yrs 9-10 Yrs 10-11 Yrs 11-12 Yrs 12-13 Yrs 13-14 Yrs
AUSTRALIA 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
US X-SMALL X-SMALL SMALL SMALL MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM LARGE LARGE X-LARGE
EUROPEAN 110 116 122 128 134 140 146 152 158 164

System

Posted on July 25, 2021January 11, 2023 by Baseline Racquets

Racket Stringing Guide

Our Tennis Racket Stringing Guide

Choosing a tennis string can be even harder than choosing a tennis racquet. With literally hundreds of different options, it’s tough to know which is the right string for you. Finding a string that works well with your PLAY STYLE and RACQUET will make you more confident in your gear and your game when it’s time to take the court. Correct Stringing can also alleviate or avoid injury during your game.

Strings Based On Play Style

Heavy Spinners

A heavy spin-style player breaks a lot of string. A thicker gauge string and/or a monofilament polyester string will increase durability for this type of player.

Flat Hitters

A flat hitter could use a thinner more feel-orientated type of string due to them imparting less spin, thus breaking less string and not needing the durability that a thicker string provides.

Other Considerations

New Racquets

Many times the old favourite string does not play as well in the new frame you bought. This can be due to a different weight, racquet stiffness, or string pattern.

Injuries

For players who are suffering from tennis elbow or shoulder issues, a softer more elastic string like the natural gut or a multifilament will help and is recommended.

String Tensions and Considerations

Choosing your string tension is as important as choosing your string type. The tension you play with is dependent on the type of courts you play on, the temperatures or altitudes at which you play, or even to reduce injury stress.

Court Surface

On faster surfaces like grass, artificial grass, and quicker hard courts, the ball comes through faster off the surface, therefore requiring higher tension to stay in control.

On slower surfaces like clay and slow hard courts the ball won’t come through as fast and will sit up more, in this case lowering tension will help hit the ball higher over the net and with depth.

Weather

In hotter weather, the ball will fly faster through the air and some control may need to be regained meaning higher tension is needed.

In colder conditions, the ball will move more slowly through the air meaning lower tensions are required.

Locations

When playing tennis at a high altitude it will mean a faster game compared to playing at the coast. Increase tension at high altitudes to help with control at faster speeds.

Coastal play means a slower game, tension may need to be lowered to help with depth and power.

Injuries

If you suffer from an injury, particularly an arm or wrist injury, lowering tension will help reduce stress on the affected part of the body.

The slower swing speed will help the player continue playing with less discomfort.

ERSA Qualified Stringers

Reliable and functioning equipment is the starting point to play most sports. Tennis, badminton, and squash are no different – your racquet is a big investment that needs continual maintenance to give you the best game possible. Stringing your racquet is a big part of that care and it requires specialist knowledge to be done properly. Not sure who to go for the best stringing? Read on to find out why you need an ERSA-certified specialist…

Who is ERSA?

ERSA stands for The European Racquet Stringers Association. The association was created to help educate its members and consumers about the stringing of sports racquets. Founded in 2001, it now boasts over 3,000 members in over 30 countries – these members include racquet specialists, coaches, sporting goods retailers, manufacturers, and racquet sports players. ERSA has expanded its certification to include courses for tennis, badminton, and squash racquets.

Why choose an ERSA accredited stringer?

ERSA accredited stringing specialists have to complete several intensive courses and tests to gain accreditation. In creating these qualifications ERSA has set an industry standard for stringing and racquet knowledge. A poorly strung racquet could destroy your game or even cause you injury – having your racquet strung by an ERSA member guarantees stringing done to the highest standard and no surprises. An ERSA-certified stringer will have a full understanding of racquet service, including re-gripping, weight and balance, installing grommets and string, and how to handle sizing. ERSA helps its members keep their skills on-point and up-to-date by providing workshops, new tests, and the latest information.

ERSA stringing in South Africa

Baseline Racquets are the official testers and certifiers for ERSA in Southern Africa. Our stringers are certified as Pro Stringers and Master Pro Stringers. Want your racquet strung by the best in the business? Visit one of our Baseline Racquets stores or pop us an email at info@baselineracquets.co.za to find out more.

Posted on July 24, 2021June 8, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

Squash Stringing Guides

Squash Stringing Guide

Racket Strings deteriorate with use long before they break. Strings also gradually lose their tension even if not in use. Many players neglect their strings, even though proper stringing can make a huge difference to the way a racket performs. If you’re a frequent player (three or more times per week), you should restring your racket at least three times a year to ensure optimum performance. If you are playing less frequently you should ideally still restring your racket at least a couple of times a year.

Factors To Consider

String Tension

Recommended Tensions

Every racket comes with a recommended string tension which is sometimes listed on the racket throat.

Tensioning For Gameplay

You can either choose to restring at the same tension as recommended on the racket (or in other words take the strings back to the same tension as the day you bought it) or you can adjust your strings to improve your gameplay. A tighter string tension would help increase the control of your racket by ‘catching’ and then shooting the ball out in a more controlled way. A lower string tension would act more like a trampoline by shooting the ball out at a greater speed with greater power (but this would result in less control of your shot).

String Gauge

Thickness Range

Squash strings generally range from 1.10mm-1.30mm thickness.

Thin Vs Thick

Thin strings offer better control but tend to be less durable, and more frequent restrings will be required. Thicker strings are more resilient and can take more of a beating before needing replacement but they are generally less responsive.

Stringing Choices	Power	Control	Durability
Thin gauge / Loose tension	High	Low	Medium
Thin gauge / Tight tension	Medium	Medium	Low
Thick gauge / Loose tension	Medium	Medium	High
Thick gauge / Tight tension	Low	Medium	High

String Construction

Core Types

Squash strings can have either multifilament or monofilament construction. Monofilament strings have a single heavy nylon fiber core. Monofilament strings are durable but usually very stiff – for this reason, they are not as popular of a choice among squash players. They are however more economical and are a viable choice for recreational players.

Multifillament Cores

Multifilament cores are made from thousands of very thin fibers twisted together – this produces a soft resilient feel and better elasticity. This string type allows players to use high tension to regain more power while maintaining their control.

The jackets of most strings are made from Nylon. The nylon is either braided or twisted around the core. Twisting creates a smooth surface and is easier to restring however when the jacket takes damage the twisted jacket is more likely to unravel exposing the core. In contrast, the braided string pattern while providing a more textured surface (enhancing ball control), also locks the fibers together preventing unraveling and promoting durability.

Some strings – like the Ashaway SuperNick XL have two jackets. A multifilament inner jacket encapsulated by a high tenacity monofilament outer jacket.

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Adidas Padel Balls

ADIDAS BALL PADEL RX SPEED (3)

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32GI BOTTLE WATER 600ML

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MIZUNO SHOE WAVE ENFORCE COURT

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MIZUNO SHOE CYCLONE SPEED 4 MN

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Accessories

32GI G SHOTS CAFFEINE SACHET 4

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32GI ENDURE SPORTS GEL 27G

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32GI ENDURE BLUEBERRY SACHET 5

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TOURNA GRIP OVERGRIP PICKLEBAL

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Posted on July 24, 2021October 6, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

Squash Racket Guide

Our Guide To Choosing Your Racket

The type of squash racket you play with can deeply impact your game. Balance, Weight, Throat Shape and Beam are all factors we need to consider before selecting the perfect racket to improve your game.

Racket Throat Shape

There are two types of racket throat which are referred to as Open or Closed. Usually, a closed throat is one that has a bridge at the top of the throat.

Classic throat squash rackets have a smaller string-bed and sweet spot. For this reason, the strings have less give. The trampoline effect, therefore, springs back with less force – and thus less variance. As a general rule, this racket will suit a more experienced player, one who already has a powerful swing, looking for enhanced control.

Open throat squash rackets sometimes known as Teardrop rackets have a larger string-bed area, a larger sweet spot, and therefore tend to be more forgiving and offer more power. Most of the top pros use teardrop-shaped rackets including Ali Farag (Dunlop Hyper fiber XT Revelation Pro), Nick Matthew (Dunlop Hyperfibre+ Evolution Pro), and Miguel Rodriguez (Tecnifibre Carboflex Cannonball), and Mohamed El Shorbagy and Marwan El Shorbagy (Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 Airshaft).

Racket Balance

Rackets can be head-light, head-heavy, or evenly balanced. When we talk about a racket being head heavy we are referring to the weight of the head being heavier than the shaft. An evenly balanced racket has a similar weighting in both the shaft and the head and lastly, a head-light racket has a heavier shaft and a lighter head.

Head-heavy rackets are easy to control whereas head-light rackets offer great maneuverability for a fast-paced game but can be harder to control at speed. As today’s game has become so fast-paced with plenty of quick volleys and attacking play many Pro players have started opting for head-light frames.

Racket Weight

Squash rackets generally weigh 110 – 145g. The weights marked on the racket frames are usually the unstrung weights and are often before paint, grommets and the grip are added so expect your actual racket to weigh a few grams more.

The unstrung weight is often included in the product title e.g Wilson Hammer 110. A lighter-weight racket will suit a more attacking player as it can be maneuvered quickly. Lighter rackets can also be great for juniors who want to play with a full-size racket without being weighed down. Heavier weight rackets suit a more traditional style player with a slower swing.

Racket Beam

Beam width (measured in millimeters) represents the thickness of the racket frame. The measurement is taken as the width of the racket when viewed from the side. Rackets with a thicker (wider) beam width are usually stiffer and more powerful due to the extra material in the frame, while rackets with a thinner (narrower) beam width offer greater maneuverability, flexibility, and feedback. The beam width of squash rackets is generally between 16-21mm.

Narrow Beams (16-17mm), offer greater maneuverability and are generally suited to skilled players.

Average beam (18-19 mm), rackets have a beam width within this range, which is suited to the majority of players.

Wide beams (20-21 mm), are recommended for less skilled players

Racket Stiffness

The stiffness of a racket frame is measured by its ability to flex on its longitudinal axis. Stiffer rackets bend less on contact with the ball, absorbing less impact energy from the ball and resulting in greater power. Flexible rackets bend more, leading to greater energy loss from the ball and reduced power, with an increased dwell time on the string bed during impact.

The material of a racket frame has the biggest overall effect on stiffness. The majority of squash rackets are made from (or contain) graphite. Some composite graphite rackets are hybrids with materials such as titanium to increase frame stiffness, providing greater power at a lighter weight.

Aluminum rackets are stiffer, more durable, and often significantly heavier than graphite rackets. The rackets are usually cheaper and advisable for beginners as they are more likely to withstand repeated contact with the walls and floor. They absorb less vibration from shots compared with graphite frames so are not advisable for people with elbow injuries.

Posted on July 19, 2021June 8, 2022 by Baseline Racquets

Squash Ball Guides

Our Guide To Choosing Your Squash Ball

It’s important to remember the temperature on the court influences the bouncing qualities of a squash ball: when it´s very cold, it´s a good idea to choose a ball with more bounce even if you´re an advanced player.