{"id":1203,"date":"2012-11-25T18:16:32","date_gmt":"2012-11-25T18:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/?p=1203"},"modified":"2013-11-22T23:37:36","modified_gmt":"2013-11-22T23:37:36","slug":"racquet-review-battistone-freestylediamond-by-natural-tennis-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/?p=1203","title":{"rendered":"Racquet Review: Battistone Freestyle\/Diamond, by Natural Tennis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMSRP:<\/strong> $220
\n\tAvailable:<\/strong> Now
\n\tHead Size:<\/strong> 105 sq. in.
\n\tLength:<\/strong> 27.25 in. (F.); 27.25 in. (D.)
\n\tWeight*:<\/strong> 10.8 oz.
\n\tBalance*:<\/strong> 10 pts. HL
\n\tSwingweight:<\/strong> 318
\n\tBeam Width:<\/strong> 23-26-22.5mm
\n\tString Pattern:<\/strong> 16 x 19
\n\tIdeal Swing:<\/strong> Medium to Long
\n\tNTRP:<\/strong> 3.5+
\n\tWeb:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.naturaltennis.com<\/p>\n

\n\t*NOTE: Values represent strung frames<\/em><\/p>\n

\tThe Pitch<\/strong>
\n\t\"\"Choice
\n of ATP pro Brian Battistone, the Freestyle and Diamond racquets feature
\n a double-handled design, which the company says allows players, on both
\n sides of the body, to hit with greater leverage, reach, and stability.
\n(\u201cThe modern tennis stroke,\u201d states Natural Tennis, \u201cis a combination of
\n the push-pull concept. Optimal leverage is created by pulling with the
\nfront handle and pushing with the back.\u201d) What\u2019s more, the company
\nclaims that, by discouraging lopsided stroke development and encouraging
\n more symmetrical play, the two handles reduce the types of muscle
\nimbalances that can stress the wrist, elbow, and shoulder.<\/p>\n

\tSave for a difference in length\u2014the Freestyle is 27.25 in. long, the
\nDiamond 27.5 in.\u2014what distinguishes each racquet is shape of its
\nhandles: Whereas the Freestyle\u2019s are constructed like a V, the Diamond\u2019s
\n handles conform to a more rectangular configuration. According to the
\nsticks\u2019 designers, both promote strong wrist positions at contact, as
\nwell as a wide variety of heretofore uncommon shots. (Think of two
\nsingled-handed Western forehands, or the two-handed \u201cSantoro Slice.\u201d For
\n instruction and demonstrations by Brian Battistone himself, click here<\/a>.) Both racquets are approved by the International Tennis Federation for use in sanctioned competition.<\/p>\n

\tHow It Tested<\/strong>
\n\t\"\"As
\n sui generis iconoclasts of tennis\u2019 singled-handled norms, the
\nBattistone Freestyle and Diamond are without direct context or
\nprecedence, and thus are difficult to evaluate without prejudice. In
\nother words, readers, bracket your skepticism: The Freestyle and
\nDiamond, if perhaps specialized in their appeal, are valuable additions
\nto today\u2019s racquet market.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cFor someone who grew up playing a classic, one-handed style game, like
\n myself, these racquets come off as a little bizarre,\u201d says Bruce
\nLevine, Racquet Advisor for Tennis Magazine. \u201cBut I think someone who
\nplays with two hands may really enjoy this. Keep in mind, though, that
\nthe two handle designs are going to affect where your elbows sit
\nrelative to your swing. If you use the Diamond, your elbows are forced
\nin a little bit more. Whereas if you use the Freestyle, your elbows are
\nmore comfortable bowing out. [If nothing else] there\u2019s definitely value
\nin it as a teaching tool to help people learn how to turn their hips
\ninto the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPlaytesters, for their part, approached the sticks with a combination
\nof bafflement and mirth. (\u201cThey look like hedge clippers,\u201d said one.)
\nBut after a few hits, many players, especially those with ambidextrous
\ndispositions, found the racquets growing on them; together, they
\npresented a wide range of reasons why. \u201cIt really helps you turn your
\nhips and follow through,\u201d said a 4.5 teaching professional, who went on
\nto say that, by using the Diamond, one of his 3.0 students had managed
\nto lengthen one of her previously abbreviated swings. One 4.0 player
\nsaid he found both two-handled designs offered succor during rapid-fire
\nexchanges at the net, while another claimed that, by using the handle
\nclosest to the net, the Freestyle gave him added reach when hitting
\nsquash shots stretched wide. Also with the Freestyle, this writer\u2014a
\ncollege-level, right-handed player with a semi-Western forehand and
\none-handed backhand, usually\u2014started to get a feel for two-handed
\ngroundies, and even managed a few left-handed stab volleys at net.
\nAlthough some playtesters encountered a learning curve when attempting
\nto serve\u2014Natural Tennis recommends that the handle closest to the net be
\n used to hit serves and overheads\u2014many reported the sticks presented
\nadvantages when blocking back returns.<\/p>\n

\tCertainly, the Freestyle and Diamond\u2019s unique design allows players to
\nhit a number of unique shots\u2014a tantalizing proposition for early
\nadopters. But the racquets\u2019 novelty may present a challenge to those
\nuncomfortable with public scrutiny. Naturally, one might ask, when
\ncontemplating playing a match with a doubled-handled racquet, \u201cWhat if
\nour opponents make fun of us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\tBottom Line<\/strong>
\n\tResisting clear-cut categorization, the Freestyle and Diamond are
\npromising candidates for the adventurous and ambidextrous players, not
\nto mention those who seek a more symmetrical approach to developing
\ntheir form. While tennis pedagogy incorporating the sticks is, for the
\nmost part, still in the works, players open to unorthodox means might do
\n well to give two handles a whirl.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\tMore Gear:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t– Racquet Review<\/u>: Dunlop 3.0 (F Tour, M, S Lite)<\/a>
\n\t– Product Profile Archive<\/u>: Impressions on the latest racquets, shoes, apparel, and more<\/a>
\n\t– The Gear Page<\/u>: Discuss and read about tennis equipment<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MSRP: $220 Available: Now Head Size: 105 sq. in. Length: 27.25 in. (F.); 27.25 in. (D.) Weight*: 10.8 oz. Balance*: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-other"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2R4NI-jp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1203"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1206,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1203\/revisions\/1206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodsoul.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}