Two hands are better than one

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATURAL

Invented by a ski instructor turned golf pro turned TV comedy writer (really), and embraced by two professional tennis-playing brothers, the two-handled Natural Power-Grip racket might be the next big breakthrough in tennis equipment. An unusual partnership for an unusual racket Lionel Burt, a Montreal native with an interesting résumé (ski instructor, golf pro, writer on the old Red Skelton TV show) invented the racket as a way for players to play equally well from either side of their body. Brian and Dann Battistone, two struggling tennis tournament pros from , tried it and liked it so much they went into business with Burt, forming Natural Tennis Inc. A balanced attack A sharper angle Used one-handed, the racket gives extra reach and leverage on balls hit to a player’s side. When serving, Used two- the racket can handed, take some the getting used to: racket beginners often allows for hit the ball into an equal the net until forehand they get used attack to the from sharper Conventional Two-handled either angle of racket racket side. attack. Rising through the ranks Virtual unknowns two years ago, the Battistone brothers have seen their Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings rise dramatically since taking up the new racket: Dann is inside the top 300 players, and Brian has cracked the top 200.

Brian Battistone’s ranking Dann Battistone’s ranking

100 100 200 200 300 300 400 Aug. 24, 2009 400 Aug. 24, 2009 500 500 600 189 600 276 700 700 800 800 900 900 Oct. 15, 2007 Oct. 15, 2007 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,213 1,100 1,213 1,200 1,200 1,300 1,300 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009

When the brothers play together in doubles matches, Brian is the server, and he uses a radical, Volleyball serve leaping, volleyball-style serve that is unique to tennis. He began using it even before taking up the new racket, and it gives opponents one more variable to consider.

Holding the racket in his left hand, ... before Brian throws He then striking the ball the ball high switches the and delivering a into the air. racket to his serve of nearly right hand. He leaps up ...... and forward ... 140 mph.

SOURCES: naturaltennis.com; Association of Tennis Professionals GRAPHIC BY REID BROWN | THE PLAIN DEALER