It’s been one month since I began hitting with the Ronbus R1. After having played with the Gearbox CX14e for the past two years, I was not at all sure what to expect. I had not played with a polypropylene honeycomb core for over 4 years. I have never experienced a Torray T700 carbon fiber face nor the various technologies Ronbus has baked into their economy paddle. How would an “economy” paddle measure up against a premium paddle costing 2x as much? Honestly, I was uncertain.
After a month of on court action, I have been pleasantly surprised. This little gem is the best overall paddle I have ever had the privilege of using. My playing style is definitely not “alpha” as I strive for reliability and consistency vs power and dominant putaways. I can easily cover my area of the court, but don’t ask me to take over and cover 60%+…that’s not my game. My current level of play is somewhere between 3.5 and 4.0 due to injury related mobility issues. When healthy, I am competitive at the 4.0+ level. I play doubles almost exclusively.
What I LOVE: The soft game – – dinks, resets and drops — are smooth and consistent. At 16mm wide, this is the thickest paddle I have ever used and I freely admit, I like the feel. Balls come off the paddle face with more pace than the Gearbox, yet not uncontrollable by any stretch of the imagination. The spin is incredibly easy to access. The surface really grips the ball nicely and this leads to remarkable control.
Biggest Surprise: The power! Holy crap. On demand power is not something I had with Gearbox. If I want to rip a return (tennis player here!) I can get significant pace and drop it in with the easily accessed spin. Same is true with my serve. I can generate more speed with less effort. While this paddle is not known for being powerful, the power is definitely much more than adequate. I found overheads to have much more authority and put away shots have become more effective/dangerous when wielding this paddle at the kitchen line.
The Bad: The grip shape and size. I admit, for the first several sessions the grip was a huge distraction. I was moving from a nicely rounded Gearbox grip at approx 4″ with overgrip to a grip size that had some flat areas (not as round) and was measuring over 4 3/8″ with overwrap. I hated the grip during first session. I was constantly aware of it and it felt awkward to me. As I continued to play, I gradually became less aware of the grip and after 3 weeks, I can’t say I notice it as being awkward any longer. It seems it is something to which I have been able to adjust. Not a showstopper. That said, Ronbus has revised the grip. I have not yet seen or hit with revised grip, but going forward the extreme awkwardness if coming from different handle shape should be lessened.
Other than an overgrip, I have been playing with the paddle stock. As an experienced racquet and paddle technician, I am quite proficient with adding weighted tape to adjust paddles. This paddle has a balance that is less head heavy than most and really does not need additional power or stability. For me, it plays near perfect at stock. It is the only paddle I have ever used without adding weighted tape…except for my brief fling with the Paddleboardz PBZ.
As of this writing many are discovering the joys and playing advantages of the Ronbus R1. It is currently sold out and on backorder. We hope to replenish our stock by some point in May 2023. At a retail value of $120 it is a tremendous value. When available on sale for $100, it is an absolute steal of a deal. Look to your friends at Guts and Glory Tennis if you want one for outstanding pricing.
Guts and Glory Tennis and Audacious Pickleball, (the pickleball arm of our business), is delighted to announce that after a thorough deep dive into the current state of the pickleball paddle manufacturers, we will be partnering with Ronbus Pickleball. This partnership will prove to be the most exciting and smartest way forward to helping our customers navigate the rapidly changing paddle technology landscape. We are proud to be the exclusive Ronbus retailer for NE Georgia. We are offering paddle demos as well as paddles available for purchase directly via our Sugar Hill, GA location. We will also be selling them online through the Guts and Glory Tennis website. After initial introductory pricing we plan to offer coupon code discounts for customers wanting to support our family business by purchasing from afar.
As stated in our previous blog entry, the pickleball paddle industry is undergoing tremendous transformation. In a nutshell, there are a barrage of new companies coming on board. They are working directly with overseas manufacturers and bringing in paddles featuring updated and upgraded technology. For the most part, the paddles are high quality and the companies are distinguishing themselves via branding, marketing and pricing. However, the reality is the paddles are coming from the same factories and using common forms of technology.
Basically anyone can approach a factory and purchase product samples. They can then choose a base model and make tweaks to things like length of handle, surface texture and type, graphics, shape and voila!, they have created their own paddle to market and sell to the pickleball world.
There is another level of interaction with the overseas manufacturers that involves more in depth customizations where brands can further distinguish themselves. This is where some of the newer companies with engineers on staff can create some features that are unique to their brand. However, they are doing so in conjunction with the factory. The factory owns the technology. The brand may have an exclusivity agreement with the factory on the technology for a set period of time (6 months/a year/etc) but then the factory can and will make it available to all customers. So today’s exclusive innovations for Brand A will, in a matter of time, be available to all brands who wish to bring it to their customer base.
The only way that paddle innovations can remain proprietary is when the Brand files for a patent on the technology BEFORE taking it to the factory for manufacturing. There are very few patented technologies in pickleball. The vast majority can be widely used and shared. Thus there are solid options being made available from multiple brands, not just the big brands that have been in the game for many years.
Ronbus Pickleball was established in 2022. Yes, they are new. But they stand out because they are powered by an energetic retired former Motorola engineer with a background in tennis and a passion for pickleball. The owner brought to market the current cornerstone paddles leading with the Ronbus R series. (Yes, it was named by an engineer so no clever name like Eagle Fang.) R1.16 refers to the first option in the Ronbus R series and .16 refers to the fact that it has a width of 16mm. They have 3 models all with the same naming convention, R2.16, R3.16. Naming should get more interesting with future models.
This series of paddles were designed and engineered as a joint project between the Ronbus owner and factory where it was produced. The technology came together in a way that created a paddle that is incredibly versatile. It is rated as one of the top spin producing paddles on the market today, generating a spin rate in excess of 2100 rpm. It offers superior control from all areas of the court and plenty of power on command. It is an all around paddle for players who appreciate playing a game with nuances, power and variety. The Ronbus owner set the price point at just $120 and has approved resellers to discount it if they choose. As a result this paddle has been widely available for as low as $99. It is a highly technical paddle that is available at a great price. Arguably the best price to performance ratio in pickleball. It easily matches/surpasses the performance of paddles from bigger brands coming in at $200+
Recently a professional picklball player teamed up with a newcomer looking to enter the paddle industry. As per the comments above, they have essentially taken the exact technologies used in the Ronbus R series paddles, gave them a head cover, some different graphics, an optional thinner core and called it their own. Because it is used and promoted by a highly ranked professional player who uses it on the PPA Tour, it sells for $160 – $180. Same great paddle just marketed differently and at a higher price. Ronbus created the model. Ronbus was first. The factory then made it available to another company who is benefitting from the engineering expertise at Ronbus. (All is fair in the pickleball technology wars!) This is a pattern we can expect to see repeated as new tweaks to design are found to be popular. It is not a question of “if it will be copied?” but really “when it will be copied?”
So, as of the writing of this blog, Ronbus has a value priced/high performing paddle line in production. It is a clear winner! It is a product we can be proud to make available to our customers. Compared to the majority of paddles being used in our area, this represents a huge upgrade at a price point that is more than reasonable. It is, in our opinion, the best value in pickleball today.
The owner/chief engineer of Ronbus is not sitting on those laurels and certainly is not satisfied. While he is proud of his current lineup, his goal is much greater. He is aiming to CHANGE PICKLEBALL. Truth told, he has a vision with the potential to revolutionize paddle technology and we want to be working with him when his vision becomes a reality…and we are confident it will. He has already patented a core for a paddle that will be unlike anything currently being used. The patent will mean the technology will be owned by Ronbus and will be exclusive to Ronbus. No other paddle companies will be able to get and use this technology without licensing or violating the patent. The question at this point is how will it perform and will it meet paddle standards for approval by the governing body of pickleball?
Ronbus has a prototype version of the core currently available to the public, though it is not approved for tournament play. (We currently do not have plans to carry this paddle since it is not officially approved and is a prototype. We can special order it if our customers are interested.) The core is primarily constructed of injected EVA foam vs the traditional polypropylene honeycomb core that is the basis of a huge majority of paddles today, including the Ronbus R series. The advantages the core will provide are easy access to power and also a balance of control. It is projected to be a power paddle with control. It will also be more comfortable than any paddle on the market today. In addition the sound will be significantly dampened which can help alleviate one of the biggest problems pickleball facilities face–too much noise which can be disturbing to neighbors. Also, the material will not break down at the same rate as current cores resulting in paddle performance lasting significantly longer than today’s technology.
The vision and engineering background of the owner/founder of Ronbus is different. It stands out. It makes Ronbus different than the flood of new companies entering the marketplace. This does not mean the other new companies are not producing interesting paddles. In fact, they are. However, by limitations of materials being used, they are unlikely to be evolutionary whereas Ronbus has that potential with their vision of the future and patents to support that vision.
Ronbus is not currently a big name in pickleball. I would bet the majority of the readers of this blog have never heard of them. However, we love their current R series and are confident that their owner/founder will use his engineering talents to continue creating great playing products whether his patented technology ends up being approved/sanctioned for official tournament use or not.
We are proud to have decided to go all in with Ronbus Pickleball and we invite you to join Team Ronbus with us. We believe they are the most intelligent choice in terms of investing in pickleball equipment that players of all levels, from beginners to professionals, can make. Visit us. Make use of our demo program. Support our family business by choosing to make your Ronbus purchases through us. If you find better pricing just reach out and we will attempt to match or beat whatever you find. We believe Ronbus technology will help you to develop your game and play better pickleball.
This post is written from the perspective of a paddle reseller who has been involved with peddling paddles since 2016.
When we began reselling pickleball paddles, we decided we wanted to work exclusively with one company. Why? Because we wanted to build a relationship and because our research showed technology at the highest level did not vary significantly from company to company. The biggest difference at that point in time was in the shape of the paddle, more so than the construction. So we happily hopped on board with Engage Pickleball. A family owned company, based in USA.
State of the art paddles were retailing for prices ranging from $70 – $85. The construction was a honeycomb core, and most companies were now favoring polypropylene (we will refer to as “poly” in this blog entry going forward) construction over aluminum or Nomex. The paddle shape/form was literally cut out of the poly honeycomb. (The entire paddle including handle.) Then some type of form was added to build up the handle, usually balsa wood, and a laminate surface, usually constructed of a fiberglass blend of materials, was glued onto both sides. The paddles had graphics added and then a protective bumper strip was glued on followed by wrapping the handle with a synthetic grip. Voila! You had a pickleball paddle. State of the art. These paddles literally could be produced as a small home based operation in a garage or basement. In fact, that is how many started.
As the popularity of the sport increased, we saw a prolific growth in the number of companies producing pickleball paddles. I have no idea how many, but I believe it safe to assume there are 100s of paddle models being produced. Why so many? Well, for one reason, the construction, as described above, was not overly complex and could be produced in a home-based or small business setting fairly easily.
While the rapidly increasing number of new brands fought it out to distinguish themselves from the crowd, the major brands were also going on a marketing and pricing offensive. Pickleball continued explosive growth, tournaments increased and prize money was introduced. A grassroots effort to broadcast tournaments via live internet feeds helped feed the popularity of the sport and the top players became more and more well known and recognized. Paddle companies were quick to latch on to the top players and offer sponsorships for those players to use their brand of paddle. This added costs and the top manufacturers, acting as one, quickly raised prices. Note, cost of raw materials was not much different, but the cost of marketing and sponsorships and adding incentives for resellers to help with product sales and promotion did increase the costs. Add to this the paddle construction was prone to premature breakage where the manufacturer was replacing them at a very high rate and the costs of running a paddle company were indeed increasing.
In terms of technology, paddle companies used a variety of methods to create a surface that would allow for the greatest access to spin. The standards for maximum spin are closely monitored by USA Pickleball and most companies needed paddles to fall within standards before launching to public, otherwise paddle would not be classified as legal and would not bear the USA Pickleball seal of approval. For the most part, all approved paddles were near the top of the threshhold and spin was largely similar. (Note that some textured surfaces and especially when grit was used, did not have much longevity as the texture did not prove to be durable.) Technology was tweaked but performance differences were relatively minor. Paddle companies increased the width of paddles, (made them thicker…generally from approx 14mm to 16mm), in part to add durability and reduce the dreaded paddle handle snapping issue. They painted the surface laminate composites darker colors so visually it was not as easy to see the dead spots forming as honeycomb cores were breaking down. ProKennex made use of unique technology that included dampening material, but the biggest change in technology went to Gearbox. This was a company previously in the racquetball space. They burst onto the scene with a patented full carbon fiber paddle including the core. This was the first MAJOR innovation since the move away from wooden paddles to synthetic materials. To this day it is the only core, with the exception of old wooden paddles that nobody uses any longer, that is not honeycomb based.
Gearbox paddles stood out. While all honeycomb core based paddles were essentially a disposable commodity that would need to be replaced at a rate similar to tennis shoes, the Gearbox paddles were constructed to last. The handles did not snap, there was no edge guard to come loose and the core materials did not wear out and go dead. We went all in! We brought them in because in our opinion the option of selling paddles that did not have warranty issues was the way we wanted to go. We were now proudly offering the most technologically advanced paddles on the market for our customers. Gearbox pricing was, at the time, similar or lower than the disposable paddles at a price point of approximately $140 in 2018.
Meanwhile prices continued to increase and the top of the line honeycomb core poly paddles were were hitting prices of greater than $200 with some even going into $300 (with clever marketing…Selkirk) Gearbox raised prices to $200. At this point, for my customers I was skeptical about sales. I did however believe in the product and knew it offered a long term value that other paddles could simply not match, so I hung in with Gearbox and did not really pay attention to paddle technology, just watched lots of new brands entering the marketplace as a disinterested sideline observer because they were just a theme and variation on the current mainstream paddle design.
Carbon fiber surfaces started coming on strong as more and more manufacturers started offering these as options. Both advanced players and professionals embraced the control and spin. Many years back, Pro Lite introduced a carbon fiber surface. At the time Simone Jardim used and endorsed it. That was the first carbon fiber surface I can recall. Getting back to more recent usage, Electrum charged onto the scene with a carbon fiber surface that attracted a lot of attention and was one of the first to propel the movement toward this material. Advantages included great touch and feel along with excellent spin potential and great control in the soft game and with resets. Still, the raw materials could be sourced and manufactured by many of the long time/most recognized brands and created using their existing manufacturing facilities and paddle construction methods.
Along with the new carbon fiber surfaces was yet another increase in pricing. Many of the newly introduced carbon fiber faced paddles were mostly hovering around $200+. In 2022, Ben Johns was followed by a slew of professional players all jumping to raw carbon fiber surfaces. Ben and many were going with a newcomer to pickleball, Joola. Interestingly these paddles were manufactured in China vs. USA where most of the paddles professionals were using were still being made. At about this time something new and very interesting was happening. Smaller companies were popping up and were working with Chinese factories to import paddles rather than producing paddles in house. Note: The Joola paddles suffered tremendously from durability issues with many reports of handles snapping, edge guards coming loose etc…it was not a good look for a company who, powered by endorsement deals with Ben Johns and a stable of other pros, was rapidly gaining market share.
In early 2023, Gearbox announced a new version of their 14mm carbon fiber core paddles at $250.00 To us, this signals a price increase where we can no longer comfortably sell to our customer base. Even though Gearbox paddles will last significantly longer than any paddle currently being manufactured, the price point has moved it from a “no – brainer” to something that is restrictive.
So we began a deeper dive into the paddle manufacturing industry and what we found was surprising to us. Currently the industry is undergoing a radical transformation…a paradigm shift. The current brands that dominate the game, the brands that are essentially homemade, have competition. Competition from factories who are able to produce paddles that are more technologically advanced and in the right scenario can be made available at the same or lower price point than current composite faced, honeycomb core paddles made in the USA. Everything is about to change. The professionals want these paddles as they offer performance advantages and advanced and recreational players will be following suit. Suddenly the traditional names will find themselves needing to innovate to create paddles that are equivalent or better or risk losing their competitive customer base. They can drop back and sell to those entering the game, but pricing will need to drop. In my opinion, they are in a position that will force them to reevaluate and decide how to compete or risk going out of business.
Today the hottest technology is coming out of China. It is making use of raw carbon fiber for the face. The current preferred is T700 which can be manufactured with various textures via a heat compress. These textures meet legal requirements and help produce more spin than any previous technology and more importantly this texture lasts significantly longer than other methods of creating paddle texture. The production of the heated compress for the surface is not the only technology that is hard to replicate in a basement. Manufacturers are also creating a carbon structure around the paddle to increase stability and durability. Some manufacturers call this 360 degree molded carbon fiber and others refer to it as carbon fused edge technology. They are also making use of foam that is injected into the edges of the paddle for added dampening and feel. Using cold and heated molds and injecting foam is again something that requires equipment that most current small manufacturers do not have access to. This molding process combined with extending the face into the handle creates a unibody construction that is significantly more durable that other honeycomb core paddles. (Note: Core in these paddles remains the same, polypropelene honeycomb)
Paddles incorporating this technology are the current state of the art. Suddenly a carbon fiber surface that was previously offering spectacular control, is now paired with a construction process that creates a significant increase in both power and spin. The performance these paddles deliver is next level and though very early, it is easy to see that pickleball players of all levels will be flocking to this new technology.
The cost is one of the main variables. Some manufacturers are coming in along with the current industry norms. Around $220.00. However, this is where it gets interesting. Virtually anyone can reach out to one of the few Chinese factories producing these paddles and for a reasonable investment, create their own paddle line. We are seeing enterprising pickleball players teaming up with engineers and working with these factories to produce their own version of this technology. Since these are lean and mean start ups, with virtually no staff, and no sponsorships to pay out, some are positioning themselves as disruptors. The price point to produce is reasonable (approx $30 – $40 per paddle) They are setting retail pricing at a point where they can make a profit and also be significantly less expensive than other manufacturers who are offering either similar technology or technology that is clearly not as advanced. They then run all phases of the business and sell direct to public. With a price point that is well below $200 and the grassroots internet reviews and an army of ambassadors promoting the paddles, they will undoubtedly find an audience and traditional paddle manufacturers should be concerned because suddenly with the introduction of Chinese manufactured paddles, the paradigm is shifting and dramatically so.
We intend to bring in and recommend several of these new paddles. We will work with companies who are making informed manufacturing decisions and offer something we consider to be outstanding. We are already in contact with four that we like and will likely bring 1 or more of them in and make them available to our local pickleball players.
In fact, just yesterday we signed on with Six Zero Pickleball out of Australia. We are fans of their Diamond and Double Diamond (power and control) paddles. The company is run by an engineer who is on top of current design elements and in fact is a leader. We are impressed with their level of customer service as well as the products they are bringing to market. As a testament to their success, they have sold out of their inventory and are currently taking pre-orders for an April shipment. We do not yet have them in shop, but they are one we are excited about partnering with. We love the slightly unique shape/design they have chosen. You can save 10% by using our discount code when ordering from them online. Just use “GUTS&GLORY10” This is the first of at least 3 outstanding up and coming industry disruptors that we plan to work with in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned for more! (Note: The Double Diamond makes use of a raw carbon fiber surface while the Diamond is a raw fiberglass based surface which is different than carbon fiber…still plays great and with quite a lot of power…did not want to be misleading in any way)
Two plus years ago we waxed poetic about the Pro Stringer Claws. At the time we found them to be innovative in that they were the only flying clamps on the market with the ability to clamp off strings in frames without pinching them or leaving the string bed askew. Were they perfect? Well, not exactly, but they were pretty dang close and a lot better than anything Pro Stringer had provided in the past. In fact, they rivaled the long time king of the flying clamps, Stringway, for sure.
However, after heavy use we found the original Claws had some areas where they could be improved. Adjusting the clamping pressure required a tool. When string spacing got wide, usually at sides, top and bottom of stringbed, the main claw was not wide enough and a separate wider model had to be purchased to use in these instances. We also found with extensive use, literally 1000+ racquets, the claws would show signs of internal wear and would not hold strings as well.
The Pro Stringer design team set forth to address these issues and more. In 2021 a new prototype Claw was designed and produced. We were selected to be one of a worldwide test team to use them and share feedback.
These new prototype Claws, were wider and able to handle virtually all sized gaps between strings. The larger version was no longer needed and with a new adjustment knob it was simple to adjust them on the fly. Overall, the pleasure of using them had increased. The internals were beefier and the prototype claws themselves were oozing in quality. You could feel the precision.
We have been stringing with the prototypes for more than one year. We have strung hundreds of racquets with them and they have performed beyond our wildest expectations. In fact we have two that we have yet to clean. This is an intentional effort to see how long they can go before strings start slipping. Truth is, we can’t answer this question because the gripping power remains perfect with no slippage even though they have been intentionally neglected from a routine cleaning perspective.
The Pro Stringer design team did a fantastic job in testing, improving and bringing this polished product (literally) to market. They sourced a new manufacturer, significantly updated the look, finish and overall aesthetics and they are now ready and available for the tennis stringing public to use and enjoy.
I am in the minority, but for many years I have preferred using flying clamps when stringing. Straightening strings was always the bug in the ointment when using traditional flying clamps, but the original Claws addressed this concern. However, the new Claws 2.0 with all their precision and cosmetic splashi-ness, take this preference to an entirely new level. To me, when using them, I feel as if I have total control over the stringbed. The inner artisan flows out of me and stringing becomes more satisfying than ever before. I would often switch back and forth between the fixed clamps on my Baiardo and Star 5 and flying clamps, but with the Pro Stringer Claws 2.0 I just can’t imagine going back because it would be, IMO, taking a step backward. The beauty of using the Claws and joy of being in total control of the stringjob would be sacrificed…and that is not something I want to do.
The new Pro Stringer Claws 2.0 come in the mirror finish as in image above and a cosmetic upgrade with black and chrome (Opening images) and OOOHHH LA LA!…that black and chrome is sexy! I’d venture to say it’s the sexiest tennis clamp of any variety ever made. You will feel special when using it. My first time with this newly released model…I couldn’t stop looking at it. Admiring the beauty of it. It is truly something to behold. Of course, strings stay aligned due to design and the experience of using them is one that provides a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.
Being super sexy and attractive are not the only advantages of the chrome edition. Due to the finish these babies have fingers that have been laser treated in order to help them hold onto the strings. This treatment helps them grab the strings better with less clamping force required compared to the mirror finished claws. Mirror finished claws have their fingers treated with shot peening, which is effective and less costly to manufacture than the shot peening plus laser treatment the chrome claws receive. The mirror finish is a polished aluminum surface so eventually salts from skin and other contaminants may affect the look. The chrome protects the claws from discoloration. So, those, my friends, are the differences between mirror finish and chrome finish.
Pro Stringer Claws 2.0 are currently available at www.Pro-Stringer.com and will soon be on our Guts and Glory web site. To quote a classic television show, “They are real and they are SPECTACULAR!” Get yours today. You will not be disappointed.
DISCLOSURE: When Pro Stringer was introduced many years ago, we were impressed with the innovative nature and spirit of their products. We reached out to them and eventually began working in a product testing and advisory capacity. We maintain that relationship today and we also serve as the source in the USA that warehouses and ships their products for them. While there is an affiliation, this blog entry is a personal opinion and is in no way influenced by our working relationship. I truly believe in this company and the innovations they are bringing to the stringing profession. Stay tuned because there is more in store and even more to see in 2023!
Times are changing. Paradigms are shifting. The way consumers and businesses interact are much different in 2022 than they were just 5 years ago. A dedicated family run business such as ours, must adapt to stay current and relevant. We aren’t satisfied with simply being “revelant”, so “industry leading” is what we are aiming to achieve with our new “Knot Too Far” Distance Racquet Stringing Service.
Between the meteoric rise of Amazon and the shocking cultural upheaval of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the way consumers are being serviced is changing dramatically. Amazon is a monster. Virtually anything you can think of can be ordered from the comfort of your favorite chair and delivered in just a few days. Restaurants are working with delivery companies like Door Dash to bring a fresh hot meal to your door in an hour. Heck, you can even negotiate for a new car online and have it delivered directly to your door. So why not provide racquet stringing services using this same model? A model that is simple, easy, fast and convenient. Our intent is to provide such a service to the tennis playing public.
Are we the first to offer such a service? No. Others have attempted and failed. Will we be the first to find the secret sauce to succeed? You betcha!
Our business model makes the process simple, easy, fast and convenient. A full description is on our web site but here is a quick synopsis.
Customers visit our web site and order racquet services directly from us.
We provide a prepaid shipping label to them via email to print and place on their mailing box. Racquet(s) are easily shipped to us FREE of charge.
We receive racquet(s) via FedEx and give them priority status. Racquets are professionally strung and shipped back, FREE of charge, the next business day.
You receive your professionally strung racquet, take it to the courts and immediately realize the benefits of playing with a professional and freshly strung racquet from Guts and Glory Tennis.
What makes our “Knot Too Far” distance stringing service industry leading?
Why should tennis players use it?
Convenience – We provide FREE shipping both ways via FedEx Ground Service. No worries about dropping off and picking up racquets during a restricted block of time. Your expertly strung racquet will be delivered directly to your door.
Consistency – When stringing with us, your racquets are strung by the same professional technician each and every time. This leads to a level of consistency equivalent to having your own personal stringer. Services making use of multiple stringers, regardless of level of experience, simply can not provide the same level of consistency.
Extensive Tennis Industry Expertise – Many services make use of employees who are taught how to install strings into a frame. They are generally competent, but is competent good enough when an important match is on the line? At Guts and Glory Tennis, our owner, a long time tennis industry professional, brings 20+ years experience and a national reputation for being a leading innovator in stringing services and an industry expert in the area of strings and stringing materials.
Access to Personalized Equipment Consulting – When stringing with us, you will have direct access via email, phone and text to our owner who will be serving as your personal stringer. Before the first stringing you and he will discuss your current equipment, style of play, and parts of your game you are working to improve where equipment, specifically string type and tension, can make a huge impact. We were among the first in USA to study and recognize the power of combining string characteristics of poly-based strings in hybrids to enhance and fine tune on court performance. In short, we work with you to identify and recommend a string type and tension based on your total game. We also have expertise in the area of equipment related tennis elbow and use techniques that have proven successful at getting player back on the court pain free. Our goal is to help you vitalize your racquet to provide the best possible on court performance and keep you playing pain free in regard to equipment related arm pain.
We Are Different and Different is Good! – We are well-known for being innovative. For example, we offer a proprietary method of Proportional Stringing that is available at no extra charge when it can help with either arm pain or increased racquet performance. Our base stringing service does include innovative stringing techniques, unique to us, that we have learned through years of experience. The result is a stringed performance that is distinct in a very good way. Many of our customers tell us that our racquets feel good and they don’t get the same feel or performance when others perform the stringing services. We specialize in stringing poly-based strings using methods to help them maximize their playing properties.
Equipment – Your racquet is strung on professional grade equipment. The same equipment is used at professional tennis matches and by tour level professionals. However, we make use of a precise clamping system that most in the industry do not use. We also regularly use a string spacing tool, (again not commonly used by most stringers), to eliminate any chances of string burn or notching during the installation process. We have expensive, sophisticated tools to help us measure string bed and racquet characteristics to assure the result of your stringing is EXACTLY the same as previous stringings…assuming no changes to string type or tension are made.
We Care – We take a tremendous amount of pride in helping our customers play better tennis. It is important to us to provide world class customer service in a friendly and comfortable manner. Toward that end, we expect this level of personal service may eventually become private once capacity reaches a certain level so if you think you may benefit, now is the perfect time to become a customer.
WHY WILL WE SUCCEED WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED?
A well-conceived business model that leverages our high volume postal activity to make free shipping possible both ways.
Turnaround time is as fast or faster than going to a local big box retailer, especially for our target market, those in GA and surrounding areas where shipping is just 1 day travel time.
Consistency of working exclusively with a tennis equipment professional who literally becomes your personal stringer.
The quality, diversity and performance advantages of the strings we use combined with expert installation.
Plus a FREE overgrip, if desired, is the cherry on top!
Ready to order? This link will take you directly to a page on our web site where you can initiate your order and learn more about how it works. If you have questions, please reach out to us in our shoppe. We have not been actively responding to questions posted in blog entries because there are just so many hours in the day.
NOTE: This service is currently only open to customers with delivery addresses in the continental USA.
Starting February 20, 2021 we are delighted to announce we will become an official Prince Tennis Dealer…YOUR OFFICIAL PRINCE DEALER! How did this happen? What does this mean? Read on… For the past several years, Prince Tennis has been in a tailspin. Spiraling downward since the introduction of the port design frames when nearly their […]
Through the years I have gone from stringing at high tensions (mid to upper 60’s) gradually dropping to accommodate the optimal performance of poly based strings. My current preferred tension is in the low 40’s, (40 – 44)…depending upon playing conditions. I tested mid to upper 30’s but could not really seem to dial things […]
Attention Stringers and Tennis Enthusiasts… May we have your attention please? A brand new, highly innovative product has hit the tennis marketplace. We believe this product offers the potential to change the way you go about stringing; making it easier, more pleasurable and more precise than ever before. Introducing the Pro Stringer Claws! Nowadays, it […]
Guts and Glory Tennis is a leader in optimizing your equipment to enhance your game. We combine extensive knowledge of our MSV and WeissCANNON string offerings with information about your preferred racquet frame and style of play to design a personal setup that will help you #PlayBetterTennis. If you are not currently using our strings, […]
In 2011 a brash and bold new stringing upstart thrust itself upon the US stringing market. The strings represented the very best work of John Elliot, who is known in the profession as the “Father of Polyester Strings” At the time, Mr. Elliot had a hand in developing a huge number of poly and copoly […]
In my last post I reviewed the new StringWeaver tool. Since then I have continued making use of it and enjoying it more each and every day. Since the review, there have been some newer developments that are worth sharing. I have found for me, I get best results using the method I described in […]
It is indeed an extremely rare occurance for racquet technicians/stringers to be presented with new tool options. Sure the standard cutters can be improved and premium string clippers and awls can be introduced, but I can not recall the last time a tool was created that generated so much excitement for me when stringing. I […]
