Shane Mikic has been invited to attend this years US Open as part of the official Wilson Global Stringing Team. Again Shane will be sharing his experiences inside the room with insights into what is happening on the pro tour when it comes to tension, customisation and new strings. Stay tuned for more information.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Staying in the Tennis Business
Tennis Gear recently celebrated 40 years in the tennis business, originally the business was owned and operated by Geoff Olsson and then by Mark Bloomfield. A lot has changed over that time with the introduction of our online store www.tennisgear.com.au and also our latest Tennis Centre at Shaw Park. The one thing that hasn't changed however is our commitment to remain a tennis specialist and offer the best range, quality and advice in the industry.
The following article by Richard Neher http://www.examiner.com/tennis-in-los-angeles/how-to-survive-34-years-the-ten...
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Cardio Tennis at Shaw Park Tennis
On January the ninth Adrian O’Sullivan was invited to participate in the inaugural Cardio Tennis Australia workshop in Melbourne presented by U.S. Cardio Tennis guru Michelle Krause. As a part of a highly motivated group of individuals from all over Australia the workshop covered all aspects of Cardio Tennis classes and involved participating in and designing lessons that covered all aspects of what Cardio Tennis is renowned for. “It was an unreal experience” Adrian states. “I really understood how I could improve the lessons I’d been doing and am looking forward to growing this aspect of tennis within Tennis Gear”. “It really is the most fun way to play tennis for any individual and standard, very social and not dependant on standard at all”.
At the end of the two days Adrian was actually glad to get on the plane back to Brisbane. “I was buggered after two days of constant cardio exercise, and I’m pretty fit!” Secretly though, I can’t wait to get into it again.
Cardio Tennis is available at Shaw Park Tennis Centre every Wednesday night at 6.30pm. Details are available on our website at www.tennisgear.com.au
Yonex VCore Racquets now available!!!
www.tennisgear.com.au have just released the new Yonex VCore racquets for sale. Caroline Wozniacki has just started using the VCore 100S, Naldandian will be using the VCore 98D and Hewitt will be using the VCore 95D.
The VCore frames are very competitively priced at $239 and demos are available at both the Everton Tennis & Gear and the Shaw Park Tennis & Gear Store. Be first to demo this racquet and write a reveiw on our site.
Pictured below is photo of Wasniacki and her new VCore 100S.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
OZ Open Stringing Room - Day 16
Day 16 Sat 22nd January
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Today is my last day stringing. I was originally rostered to finish yesterday but I still had a couple of players in the tournament so decided to come in. It is Pin's last day as well which leaves 6 stringers from Sunday onwards.
Arrived at 8.15am. Had one Raonic rkt due at 9am and then another 2 due right before his match. Went to breakfast at 8.50am and came back to find more rkts waiting for me. From 9.10 to 10.30 I did 5 rkts. 2 for Raonic which had been dropped off Fri night plus another he dropped in while I was at breakfast and 2 for Morita which were due at 11am. Busy morning. Then from 10.40am i had 2 RDis 100's to do which were due at 2pm, but I had to do them before Raonic got into his 11am match so that I would be free for his on courts. He sent in 3 on-courts during the first 2 sets of his match with Youzhny. I did each one in 15 minutes. Cut, strung, stencilled, bagged and out the door in 15 minutes. Pretty fast for that rkt. It is a K Blade 98, 18 x 20 pattern with Luxilon M2 Pro at 42/44lbs. I then sat down to watch some of his match. He sent another on-court at the start of the 4th set but we didn't receive it. I sat there waiting with my cutters at the ready and the string measured out but it never came. He won in 4 sets.
Mid afternoon was pretty quiet then it picked up again later on. I was done by 8pm. I went around the room saying my goodbyes. I felt sad leaving. It has been a good tournament. Lots of laughs.
The other day a guy at the window asked "how much do you hate stringing?" I replied that I loved it. Speaking to the other stringers here I know they all feel the same. It sounds crazy but this was a holiday for me. Working 14-15 hour days in an environment where the smallest mistake is a very big deal. Last year I remember thinking that it was the hardest thing I had ever done. This year it all seems so easy. Hard work, but easy. Maybe it was all of the red bull I was drinking. I know that I can't wait for the next tournament. Whether it's the US Open later this year or Melbourne again next year. Either way I look forward to catching up with the stringing team again.
Shane Mikic is the proshop manager for the Tennis Gear stores and their online store www.tennisgear.com.au in Brisbane. He has over 16 years racquet stringing experience and is currently part of the Wilson Global Stringing Team at the 2011 Australian Open. The following blog shares his experiences during his time in the Wilson Stringing room.
OZ Open Stringing Room - Day 15
Day 15 - Friday 21st January
Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4Steady day today. Juniors all checking in with rkts. Some of them are giving us 5 and 6 rkts at a time. This is more than most of the senior players will give in at a time. So we are getting busy again. Had one on court rkt today. I was halfway through another rkt when it came in. No phone call. Just a ball kid turning up at the counter with it. I left the rkt I was doing and did it on a free machine. The clamps on the machine I used were much better than the clamps on the machine I have been using since the start. I just figured the clamp design was bad. Turns out the machine I had been on was one of the originals and the clamps have changed since then. The new clamps are fantastic. Our machines at work still have the original clamps so that is the feel I was used to. I have swapped the newer clamps onto my machine. They make a massive difference.
I made my first and only mistake today. Although it wasn't my fault (I always need a scapegoat).
A rkts came in during the morning and it was needed in 20 minutes. I was still on another rkt. I was given the rkt with no print out listing string or tension. The counter told me Alu Power at 25kg and handed me an alu power spool. I was given the print out after I had measured the rkt and started stringing but didn'y look at it because it was needed in a hurry. As I was bagging the rkt I looked at the print ou on the bag and it said Alu power mains and Sensation crosses!!!!!!!! The rkt was being picked up in about 5 minutes. Quickest string job I have ever done. Mains and half the crosses done in around 7 minutes. The player was late so the rkt was done stencilled straightened and bagged as they walked in the door. Close call. There were a few mistakes today. Misweaving, forgotten power pads, incorrect stencilling, gut breaking at the tie off. Most of the guys have been here since early January and are getting tired. Limited sleep and long hours over a period of time take a toll. Fortunately no rkts have gone out to players with mistakes in them. They all get caught ahead of time.
I was asked to close. It means that I was the on-duty stringer for the last match of the night. Everyone was done around 10pm. Fortunately matches were quick so I got out of there around midnight. Tomorrow is my last day. Raonic is playing first up. I am expecting a few on court rkts from him. I have 3 to string in the morning immediately before his match.
Shane Mikic is the proshop manager for the Tennis Gear stores and their online store www.tennisgear.com.au in Brisbane. He has over 16 years racquet stringing experience and is currently part of the Wilson Global Stringing Team at the 2011 Australian Open. The following blog shares his experiences during his time in the Wilson Stringing room.
OZ Open Stringing Room - Day 14
Day 14 - Thursday 20th Jan
Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4151 rkts. Slow, slow day. I spent most of the day trying to get my internet connection to work. No dice. Vodafone mobile broadband is without a doubt the single biggest frustration in my life. I suspect that my stress induced heart attack will no doubt result from dealing with these idiots.
Did 2 on courts for Raonic. I string 3 rkts immediately before he goes on court and then he sends in a rkt at the end of each set. He cruised in his match today so only the 2 on courts from him. If his nxt match goes to 5 then he is going to keep me busy.
Early night. Back to the room at 9pm. Went next door to buy timtams and grain waves. Ate the tim tams for dinner. Food of champions. Watched some tennis on TV. In bed by midnight. Tomorrow will be busier. The juniors will start checking in.
Shane Mikic is the proshop manager for the Tennis Gear stores and their online store www.tennisgear.com.au in Brisbane. He has over 16 years racquet stringing experience and is currently part of the Wilson Global Stringing Team at the 2011 Australian Open. The following blog shares his experiences during his time in the Wilson Stringing room.
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