The Latest in Tennis Technology

By: Tracy Rolling

Tennis has always been a beautiful blend of tradition and technology. Players have observed an unspoken etiquette, while rules and rituals have been a cornerstone of the court. But when it comes to revolutionizing the sport, tennis equipment wins the prize. It’s been 40 years since wooden framed racquets were replaced by modern day tennis racquets made of materials like aluminum and graphite, and they’re only getting better. Plus, tennis strings are the best they’ve ever been, and don’t get me started on the advancements made to tennis apparel or tennis balls! Whether you’re a rec player or seasoned pro, join me in taking a look at some of the latest technology happening to the great game of tennis.

Tennis Racquets of the Future

If you’re waiting for tennis racquets of the future to arrive, I have good news - they’re here! Today’s tennis racquets are being built with more cutting-edge technologies than ever before. Made by quality manufacturers like Wilson, Babolat, Head, Tecnifibre, Yonex, Volkl, and Dunlop, each brand offers a unique blend of high-tech features to give you more power, control, comfort, or spin, depending on your needs. There are even arm-friendly racquets to help you play your best tennis. Plus, the new age racquets come in a variety of head and grip sizes, weights, lengths, and colorways. Regardless of your skill level, if you're not playing with a modern tennis racquet, you are really missing out! I encourage you to try our DEMO PROGRAM and see what I’m talking about.

The Evolution of Tennis Strings

Another equipment upgrade has been made to tennis strings. One of the most innovative products in this space are hybrid tennis strings. They allow athletes to customize their racquets by using a combination of two different types of strings. Take for example Babolat’s *HYBRID* RPM Blast, Touch VS Natural Gut String. Here a new high-density polyester string (RPM Blast) adds more topspin and slice by using a 8-sided cross section and new silicone coating. It’s paired with the modern natural gut (Touch VS) which is made with Thermogut Technology to resist moisture and humidity. This type of hybrid string is ideal for heavy hitters looking to add power, control, and some spin to their game. Among the top selling hybrid strings are Volkl Hybrid V-Fuse and Wilson Duo Power.

Professional Tournaments

Tennis pros are evidence that the revolutionary equipment is working. They are hitting with more pace and topspin than the legends before them. Not only are their points becoming longer, but they’re harder to call, which is why science has stepped in. Electronic line calling has replaced line judges at almost all ATP and WTA tournaments. We’re even seeing some USTA tournaments use virtual line calling by companies like Hawk-Eye. The electronic systems use a combination of cameras and software to track a ball’s trajectory and deliver an instant and accurate ruling, thus reducing human error. These fully-automated systems are bringing tennis into the digital age.

Tennis Apparel

When it comes to tennis clothes the changes are undeniable. Nowadays, wearable technology is being built into men’s tennis apparel and women’s tennis apparel. Some of these innovative features reduce moisture, control temperature, and protect players from undesirable elements such as the sun and germs. More recently, top designers from Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Lacoste, Lotto, K-Swiss, and Wilson started uniting fabrics, colorways, and patterns to make fashion-forward tennis apparel that showcase a player’s personality or event, like the Adidas Melbourne Collection for the upcoming 2025 Australian Open. Whenever you want to boost your confidence or up your mental game, add new tennis apparel to your wardrobe. It will give you an advantage from the get-go.

Tennis Balls of Tomorrow

Lastly, tennis balls have made a few advancements despite their subtlety. Manufacturers are using more sustainable materials to create a sturdier core and stronger felt that adds longevity and bounce to a ball's lifespan. One illustration is Dunlop’s 2025 Australian Open tennis ball. This extra duty tennis ball was engineered with an HD Core and HD Pro Cloth that is a remastered version of the Dunlop Forte Core. Designed for consistent performance and unbeatable durability, the AO tennis ball will be flying across the court in a few weeks. Other improvements in this area include launching national tennis ball recycling programs that have diverted more than 15 million tennis balls from landfills during the past 5 years.

Find the newest tennis news and technology at MidwestRacquetSports.com!