A Babolat Tennis Bag… Perfect for a Road Trip

My husband and my dog snuggled in the backseat.

Road trips are always an adventure; you start out with a plan but there are always some detours along the way. This Christmas, my husband, my brother-in-law and I decided to go to Texas to visit their side of the family. Rather than paying the high plane ticket prices that come with flying in the holiday season, we decided to rent a car and drive to Austin, Texas and, of course, we made a few stops along the way.

The first problem we ran into, however, was the size of the rental car. We thought the mid-size would be big enough to fit the three of us, our 85 pound Labrador retriever, our luggage and all the presents for the family. The mid-size, although great for gas mileage, was a tight squeeze. We had to leave some of our stuff behind but thanks to my Babolat tennis bag, I was able to take all of necessities along with me. I was able to fit 2 pairs of shoes, my makeup bag, toiletries, jacket, sweatshirt, gloves, hair straightener (because I never travel without it) and my tennis racquet, just in case I needed to teach the in-laws a thing or two about how to win a match. I even managed a few snacks, a jug of water and small bag of dog food for Dakota.

Our foggy view of the snowy Grand Canyon.

We started off leaving our home in San Diego, California at midnight and decided to go four hours out of the way to the Grand Canyon. When we got there, although it was a beautiful site, there was too much fog to see very far down. Disappointed and frustrated that we added all that time on to our already 20 hour drive, we continued on our journey.

After another 6 hours of driving we stopped at a small town called Springerville in Arizona to stay overnight at my step-grandma`s house. The next morning we continued on our way to Carlsbad, New Mexico and stopped to hike through the Carlsbad Caverns, 750 feet underground.

I was thankful to have my Babolat bag with me because I needed something that I could carry like a backpack during the hike. I packed water bottles for all three of us, my camera and our sweatshirts because when you are that far underground, it gets pretty chilly!ut of the way to the Grand Canyon. When we got there, although it was a beautiful site, there was too much fog to see very far down. Disappointed and frustrated that we added all that time on to our already 20 hour drive, we continued on our journey.

Stalagmites and Stalactites at the Carlsbad Caverns, NM

After our hike through the caverns we were on the road again. Another 10 hours to Austin, Texas, our final destination. We arrived at my in-laws house around 1 am. The next morning we got up and explored the town, again, thankful that I brought my tennis bag with me as we walked everywhere from the capital building to a small café probably about a mile away.

Overall, the road trip was exciting and full of adventure; although, I have to say I am not looking forward to the 20 hour drive home but at least I will have my trusty bag to keep all my belongings safe and organized for the long trip back.

My New Year`s Resolution: To Follow Through with my New Year`s Resolutions

I have never really been a person to set New Year`s resolutions because I feel it is something that everybody does with full intention of keeping them yet they are typically forgotten by February of the New Year. Gym memberships sky rocket and work out accessories like expensive Lululemon Yoga pants and tennis bags for girls fly off the shelves just to be put in that drawer that you put things in that you never use but you don`t have the heart to get rid of. Sales of stop smoking aides increase but as soon as you miss your aerobics class a few times or buy just one more pack of cigarettes, those resolutions quickly become failed attempts of self-improvement.

I have been recently thinking about ways to make my New Year`s resolutions actual  solutions. How do I lose that extra weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle for longer than a few weeks? How do I actually save money rather than just throwing some extra cash in an envelope and then borrowing from the envelope whenever I need a five dollar bill and promising to pay it back when I know that’s never going to happen? How do I start to travel more when my resolution to save money failed miserably?

My other issue with New Year`s resolutions is that I feel like it`s an excuse for people to do whatever they want in the current year and feel okay about it because they have sworn to change in the year to come. “Oh yeah I smoke, but I`m quitting on  January 1<sup>st</sup>!” “Sure I can have some pizza, after all, I start my strict diet on New Year`s, I might as well enjoy it while I can.” To me, it is a crutch.

I thought to myself that really, the reason I don`t set resolutions is because I don`t have enough faith in myself to follow through with them. So rather than fail, I just don`t try. The thought upset me because in my opinion, failing and not trying are one in the same. But how do I stick to my goals? Will my new tennis bag and expensive Yoga pants give me more motivation? Will opening an actual savings account rather than the empty envelope hidden under my bed actually help me save money? I don`t know the answer but this year, I am at least going to try and if I fail, hey– there`s always next year! LOL!

Not all Tennis Backboards are Created Equal

Just as tennis ball machines or a rebound nets, tennis backboards make great partners when humans partners are unavailable.

When looking to purchase a tennis backboard it is important to remember that not all backboards are created equal in the sense that different manufactures use different materials and technology to design them.

Tennis backboards are typically made out of fiberglass, UV treated plastics, polyurethane, wood, brick and even foam.

Wood and brick tennis backboards typically wear faster than other materials soto get the most out of your money, it is wise to invest in a backboard that is made to last with more durable materials.

For those who want make the best investment and buy long-lasting, durable tennis backboards, manufactures like Bakko Backboards, Rally Master and Court Master offer some great options whether it is for a private home court or a busy tennis club.

Tennis backboards come in different styles like flat and curved; each has advantages but it really just depends on personal preference.

Traditional tennis backboards are flat and meant to protect walls like a garage from damage as they aren’t meant to be used as tennis equipment. Flat backboards are typically easier to install and are perfect for entertaining the kids, easy warm-ups before a match or exercise drills.

Curved tennis backboards are more advantageous for practice because they can better simulate playing in a real match. The curved backboards return the ball similar to how an opponent would; if you hit low, the ball will return high, hitting the ball high will give you a low return.

With busy schedules it is not always easy to find a practice partner. Tennis backboards can make great practice partners and are especially convenient if they are installed right in your backyard.

No matter what you are looking for, be it small, big, curved or flat, manufacturers like Bakko, Rally Master and Court Master offer a variety of tennis backboards that will surely meet your needs.

Victoria Azarenka Undefeated With the Juice 100 Wilson BLX Racquet

Wilson BLX tennis racquets are used by many pros throughout the tennis community such as Alexander Dolgopolov, Feliciano Lopez, Mardy Fish and many more, but the most notable player might be Roger Federer, who prefers  the Wilson BLX ProStaff Six.One 90.

The newest member of Wilson`s team, Victoria Azarenka, known for her relentless grunting on the court, is making her mark on the tennis world with a whole new kind of racquet; the Juice 100, one of the racquets from the Wilson BLX line.

Since switching to the Juice 100  Wilson BLX tennis racquet, “Vika the Shrieka,” as she is sometimes called, is 12-0, undefeated in 2012. At the Australian Open she beat defending champion, Kim Clijsters, in the semifinals and before that, she won the Sydney International title.

Renaud Vallon, global tour director of Wilson Racquet Sports is extremely happy that Azarenka is promoting the new Wilson BLX Juice 100, “We are tremendously proud of Vika and could not have asked for a better way to showcase the power of our new Juice racket than her performance here in Melbourne.” He went on to say,  “It is phenomenal to see her achieve her goal of winning a Grand Slam title. She has done everything necessary to get to this point in her tennis career and has an incredibly bright future.”

Azarenka`s win with the new Wilson BLX racquet over Maria Sharapova at the 2012 Australian Open in Melbourne has not only given her the WTA world no.1 ranking but gives Wilson more Grand Slam titles than any other tennis equipment manufacturer; more than 500!

Azarenka`s streak in 2012 has the tennis community wondering what will be next for the Belarusian tennis star. Her skills, along with the power of her new racquet, the Juice 100 Wilson BLX, the forecast for her future in the tennis world is extremely bright!

Serving You Tennis News

My name is Courtney, I am a San Diego native and a lover of all sports; a varsity soccer player on my high school team and a charger fan for life. Now on to something extremely important to me; tennis. Although I am not an expert at the game, I love the sport. Sports are not only great for physical health but challenge the mind as well. On the soccer field you have to be tricky, although not always the quickest, I could tackle the ball away from any opponent. Football requires pure force from the defense and great mental ability from the quarterback to place the ball right where he wants it under extreme pressure. Tennis is a game that depends on agility, speed, intelligence and finding that “sweet spot.” Nothing is more satisfying than swinging that racquet and hitting the ball with the perfect amount of power that you know will make your competitor’s head spin; all in good sportsmanship of course. As I said earlier, tennis is a game that requires intuition, skill, agility and speed. Any activities that you choose to participate in, you need the right tools. Tennis is no different; the game depends upon having the right equipment to ensure that the player is performing to best of their ability.  Racquets, shoes, bags, string, grips, accessories and gear are all key elements to the game. Here, I will tell you all you need to know about these components; the best racquet for you, how to choose the right pair of shoes, the bags that will protect your racquet and much more.