| The beginning of the 2006 Tennis Pro Tour kicks off | | | | specific racquet or pair of shoes, doesn't mean just |
| this week in Australia. The Australian Open kicks off | | | | any player can use that equipment and then have the |
| the Grand Slam tournament race and offers an | | | | same skill or control. Beginning players should note that |
| incredible opportunity to tennis manufacturers to | | | | rackets especially can be hard to use without the |
| preview the newest tennis equipment technology. | | | | control and strength of the pro tennis players. |
| Millions of tennis fans are watching closely to see who | | | | Also, just because you see this equipment being used |
| will reign and to find the newest and coolest tennis | | | | today, doesn't mean that it will be available for |
| equipment and apparel. | | | | purchase right away. Premier Websites that can offer |
| Pros like Maria Sharapova are sure to show off the | | | | 95% of the equipment on the market won't have |
| newest advances in products like Prince's O3 Hybrid | | | | access to some equipment until a few months after |
| Shark. The Shark line has undergone significant design | | | | they debut at tournaments like the Australian Open. |
| changes since its last release, and where better than | | | | Here are some things to consider before you invest in |
| the Australian Open to debut their new racquet? | | | | cutting edge tennis equipment: |
| Meanwhile Andy Roddick will be sporting the Babolat | | | | 1. Are you looking for equipment to enhance your |
| Team All Court shoe which is already available for | | | | power or control? |
| purchase by the public. Roddick's racquet is sure to | | | | 2. Racquet Head Size |
| create a buzz this year since he will be using a brand | | | | 3. Weight of the Racquet |
| new racquet from Bobolat which has been kept top | | | | 4. Racquet String Pattern |
| secret until this week at the Australian Open. | | | | 5. Racquet Grip Size |
| The Australian Open also brings Lleyton Hewitt the | | | | 6. Racquet and Shoe Technologies |
| opportunity to show off his new Yonex shoes. Hewitt | | | | If you have a brand you prefer already, you may be |
| formerly used Nike, but he has recently made a | | | | able to buy without a test drive, but generally, the |
| change. His new shoes will be available in March or | | | | smart tennis equipment buyer should head to a local |
| April to the public. Barbara Schett, a European tennis | | | | sporting goods store to try grip size, racquet weight |
| powerhouse, will be using the new Wilson W6 racquet, | | | | and the overall feel of a debut racquet before you run |
| part of their new W Line, designed specifically for | | | | out to buy. Of course, you don't have to buy locally - |
| women. | | | | take the information you gather to the internet to get |
| Finally, a number of pros on tour like Guillermo Coria | | | | the best price. |
| and Marat Safin will be using new Adidas Barricade IV | | | | Why use an online tennis store? These websites will |
| shoes. Although these tennis shoes are available now | | | | introduce cutting edge tennis equipment faster than |
| for purchase in several colors, Safin and Coria will be | | | | sporting goods stores and they will probably charge |
| using special limited addition shoes. This special | | | | less due to low overhead. The best sites to buy from |
| Barricade shoe line of only 1000 pairs will be | | | | have been around for a long time and are involved in |
| showcased by players like Safin and Coria will have | | | | the industry. |
| pairs 1 and 2. | | | | If the cutting edge tennis equipment and technology |
| It doesn't matter which player or line of tennis | | | | appeals to you, you don't just have to wait for the |
| equipment, the fans and amateur players will be | | | | Grand Slam Tournaments. There are industry |
| excited to see the new technology, styles and | | | | websites like, , which give you up to date articles and |
| performance enhancement brought by this new | | | | press releases from all of the major tennis equipment |
| equipment. | | | | manufacturers. Use the information you find to start |
| When you want to shop like the pros, you need to be | | | | your web search for more information. When the new |
| smart about it. Intermediate players understand that the | | | | racquets are available for purchase, you'll be able to |
| racquets and equipment the pros use are complicated | | | | buy with confidence. |
| and multi faceted. Just because Lleyton Hewitt uses a | | | | |