2020

EQUIPMENT & APPAREL STRINGS Extended 2020 Coverage String manufacturers are expanding lines of their proven Equipment products, giving players more options. Outlook By Bob Patterson New strings, apparel, shoes and Rather than create completely new offerings to begin the decade, manu- racquets are designed to give your facturers have added new gauges, shapes and compositions to string customers the winning edge on court. lines that have already been suc- cessful. The hope is that players will be more comfortable in purchasing something they already know.

ears ago, cell phones shoes and apparel through their own turned on by flipping the websites, where retailers and consum- physical face up, rather ers had access to the information. than by detecting the user This has, of course, led to its own with Face ID. And equipment challenges. Namely that for consum- manufacturers would make sure new ers, and even many retailers, there is products were first introduced to the an awful lot of product out there to trade media before being shown in choose from. How do you make intel- consumer publications. ligent choices on what to stock? How Gosen But as the internet changed the can you take advantage of developing gosen-usa.com / 424-999-8683 nature of retailing, manufacturers re- trends to best your customers, alized that the lines between trade and and anticipate what they’ll want or Gosen introduces the G-Spin3 Crim- consumer were getting blurred. Many need in the short- and long-term? son Red 17 gauge, a soft brands seemed to rely less on giv- Our annual Outlook section is monofilament with a hexagonal shape ing the press two to three months of designed to help. A throwback and to provide more spin. Also new is lead time to make sure pro-shop and a look-ahead, these nine pages will Polylon 18 Black, a specially blended specialty-store staff were well-versed examine some of the latest and soon- monofilament polyester, previously in their new product, and instead to-be introduced equipment that your available only in 17 gauge. Both are chose to roll out new racquets, strings, customers will want to know about. available in sets and reels.

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2020 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com Gamma

babolat.com / 877-316-9435 gammasports.com / 800-333-0337 yonexusa.com / 424-201-4800 Babolat expands its popular RPM Gamma’s TNT2 Fat Core XL features Yonex launches a new color—blue— string line with the introduction of a high capacity synthetic core that as well as the new 18-gauge version RPM Power featuring a new Co-PET- is 15 percent larger, which enhances for the popular PolyTour Pro lineup. C construction. The special coating string strength, while the outer wrap This string line now comes in four allows more power and a crisper feel is designed to resist notching. The di erent gauges and four colors, so than the original RPM Blast. The design, says Gamma, yields a string players can fi nd what looks and works string is a unique bronze color and that is durable and o ers long-lasting best for them. will be available in both 16 and 17 performance. It’s available in 16 and gauges, in both sets and reels. 17 gauges, in both sets and reels.

Dunlop

dunloptennis.us / 888-215-1530 Dunlop introduces the Explosive Spin, a new shaped polyester string available in 16 and 17 gauges, in both sets and reels.

Tecnifi bre

.com / 888-301-7878 Tecnifi bre is launching a new squash string, Dynamix V.P., which the Solinco company says is its most powerful. head.com / 800-289-7366 solincosports.com / 310-201-0166 The string is available in 17, 17L, and 18 gauges, in both sets and reels. Head's new Lynx Tour is designed The latest addition to the Solinco for hard-hitting intermediate to lineup is a string named Confi dential, Volkl advanced players. The six-sided which expands the company’s high- volkltennis.com / 866-554-7872 co-poly provides a blend of comfort performance line of co-. and spin. The monofi lament is made Confi dential is available in 16, 16L, 17 Volkl introduces two new strings, the with a new co-polymer mixture and 18 gauges. V-Square 19 (a thinner version of the designed to increase durability while popular V-Square) and the Power

PHOTOS COURTESY GOSEN, BABOLAT, GAMMA, YONEX, HEAD, SOLINCO HEAD, GAMMA, YONEX, BABOLAT, GOSEN, PHOTOS COURTESY still comfortable to play. Pro 18 multifi lament.

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com February 2020 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21