A balanced attack Used two- handed, the racket allows for an equal forehand attack from either side. Used one-handed, the racket gives extra reach and leverage on balls hit to a player’s side. Two-handled racket When serving, the racket can take some getting used to: beginners often hit the ball into the net until they get used to the sharper angle of attack. A sharper angle Two hands one are better than 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 California, tried it and liked it so much they went into business with Burt, forming Natural Tennis Inc. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATURAL TENNIS 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 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 2009 2008 2007 Oct. 15, 2007 1,213 Aug. 24, 2009 189 Dann Battistone’s ranking 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 2009 2008 2007 Oct. 15, 2007 1,213 Aug. 24, 2009 276 Volleyball serve When the brothers play together in doubles matches, Brian is the server, and he uses a radical, 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, Brian throws the ball high into the air. He then switches the racket to his right hand. He leaps up ... ... and forward ... ... before striking the ball and delivering a serve of nearly 140 mph. SOURCES: naturaltennis.com; Association of Tennis Professionals GRAPHIC BY REID BROWN | THE PLAIN DEALER Conventional racket

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Page 1: tennis racket 5 - clevelandmedia.cleveland.com/business_impact/other/26SGRACKET.pdf · racket might be the next big breakthrough in tennis equipment. An unusual partnership for an

A balanced attack

Used two-handed,

theracket

allows for an equal forehand

attack from either side.

Used one-handed, the racket gives extra reach and leverage on balls hit to a player’s side.

Two-handled racket

Whenserving,the racket can take some getting used to: beginners often hit the ball into the net until they get usedto thesharperangle ofattack.

A sharper angle

Two handsone

are better than

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 racketLionel 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 California, tried it and liked it so much they went into business with Burt, forming Natural Tennis Inc.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATURAL TENNIS

Rising through the ranksVirtual 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

100200300400500600700800900

1,0001,1001,2001,300

200920082007

Oct. 15, 20071,213

Aug. 24, 2009189

Dann Battistone’s ranking

100200300400500600700800900

1,0001,1001,2001,300

200920082007

Oct. 15, 20071,213

Aug. 24, 2009276

Volleyball serveWhen the brothers play together in doubles matches, Brian is the server, and he uses a radical, 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, Brian throws the ball high into the air.

He then switches the racket to his right hand. He leaps up ... ... and forward ...

... before striking the ball and delivering a serve of nearly 140 mph.

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

Conventional racket