This article is part of Wimbledon’s FT Globetrotter’s Guide
For two weeks of the year, Darren Powell, co-owner of Wimbledon Park Sports in Wimbledon, southwest London, sells towels. Towel on towel. He estimates that there are around 2,500 people. Late June to Early July – Wimbledon Fouring Night – Priced at £40, the Wimbledon Court Towel is the best-selling item in the small but abundant specialist racquet sports shop celebrating 40 years this year at Wimbledon Park Road.
For the remaining 50 weeks of the year, the shop will work on its business, selling all strings, rackets, balls, grips and sports, supporting players as recreational or professionals. But “when the circus comes to town,” as Powell says, Wimbledon Park Sports is “organized chaos.” Powell, who works at Wimbledon for the 24th time this year, and a team of six part-time salespeople and stringers spent a lot of time each day keeping the shelves in stock.
“Obviously, when the best part of the 30,000 tennis fans walks past the tennis shop every day, it gets a little busy,” says Powell. “Our regular client base disappears because they don’t want to park or avoid Southfield, turning (the area) into a hot spot for tourists and tennis fans. People love to be here.
I will visit the shop during the French opening in early June, just before the tour switches from clay to grass. Already, Powell is busy stringing his rackets for professional players who arrive early for Wimbledon.
“This is important,” he says. That’s because of Harriet Dirt, the current number five in the UK. Hanging behind the counter are three newly strung blue Dunlops aimed at Australian player Alexei Popilin.
Over the years, Powell has been hit by sports legends, including all the Big 3 (Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic), Andy Murray, Emmaradukanu, Venus Williams. He usually doesn’t string for players for two weeks itself – Wimbledon has its own official stringer on the scene – but offers other emergency services, such as the supply of spare glass shoes (he asks the agents and manufacturers who ask, “Don’t we always have a size 13 for this shoe?”).
Not only did I like to support a small pro shop, I also brought a racket from East London for a long-delayed MOT. The expertise and tennis in cedar chat are worth a bit extra, but I’m stupid enough to believe something on the SW19 air will cure my sick backhand. Powell can’t help with that, but he can offer his advice on some of the questions amateur players have asked most.
How do I choose a new racket?
Even advanced players don’t necessarily know exactly which racket they want. You’ll ask a series of questions, check the player’s level, then go from there. Many stores may promote with specific rackets, but we are trying to be more fair. I think the customers appreciate that. All staff are important to us to be in such a professional environment. You need to have a little passion for what you are selling. We also offer demo services. People can remove the demo racket, hit it, feel it, or try some. It is very popular.
What is your most popular racket?
Currently, the top two brands (we sell most of the people) are Babolat and Wilson, and Yonex and Head. Our bestselling rackets are the Babolat Pure Drive and perhaps the Wilson Blade. It is very rare for players to use ready-made rackets. Their rackets are usually older frames made by manufacturers only for players painted to current models.
How many rackets do you need?
It depends on the player’s level. You only need one beginner and one recreation player. They’re not going to break the string and are not playing tournaments. Budget is a problem. Club players may need two if the string breaks mid-set. More advanced players may have three or four. The professionals are about 12.
How long will my racket last?
The average for most people is probably 3-4 years. You can continue to restrain them and continue to reorganize them. Each time you hit the ball, the frame bends very slightly. In 2-3 years, I’ll die a little and get a little tired.
How often do I need to limit my racket?
The general rule is that it should be set up multiple times a year, just like playing in a week. The strings lose their elasticity after a while. Players are not necessarily aware of the process of playing with the racket for six months, until their wrists start to get hurt or get tennis elbows. This is because in many cases the strings are dead.
Which string should I go to setup?
It is very subjective. Usually, you ask the player what game style is. From there, you can choose a string family and narrow it down to one or two specific strings within that family. Essentially, different strings (polyester, multi-filement, natural intestine, synthetic intestine, etc.) do different tasks. Some of the synthetic strings are round, twisted, or shaped or roughened to enhance the spin. Two strings can be mixed into the main (vertical string) and the cross (horizontal string) for durability, playability and spin. Tension is also important. Essentially, more relaxed tension gives you more power. The higher the tension, the more accurate it becomes.
Is it worth paying extra for your natural gut?
We twist a lot of natural gut. Most of them are professional endings. We charge about £55 for natural gut restraints (about twice the cost of polyester), but it doesn’t last very long. It’ll join soon. The sensation obtained from natural intestinal threads is much better than any synthetic string. It’s a bit like traveling first class: once you do it, you can’t go back. The majority of professional players use full polyester strings, then use natural guts in hybrids (different strings of main and cross). ”
Can I fix my tennis elbow?
Tennis elbows are due to many factors. There is one technique, the strings are different, and the racket itself is also available. A string can be the wrong type of string in the game. They could be dead. Rackets may be the wrong type of your game. Some rackets are a little stiffer than others. In fact, if the racket is too light, it is often the cause of tennis elbows. The frame of a very light racket is virtually hollow, so it’s really stiff because the frame needs to be strengthened to compensate.
Which balls do you recommend and how often should I change them?
Different surfaces have different balls. The Wilson US Open is probably the best hard court ball. They give you the most durability. The Slazenger Wimbledon is an iconic ball, an all-court ball. We stock them all year round, but sell more for two weeks. The quality of tennis balls over the past five or six years has definitely declined a bit. They match for a day, then you can’t really reuse them. Some want a fresh bowl every time, but that’s the cost at the end of the day. Usually, you use the ball twice before finishing. ”
Do you sell padel and pickleball bats?
We started selling pickleball bats literally a few weeks ago. Padel, we’ve been doing it for the last few years. We sell many padel bats. Sales aren’t growing as quickly as the game itself, as first-time players rent or rent rackets. It takes a little time to take the plunge and buy the first one. ”
Can I wear tennis running shoes?
Ideally, you should wear certain tennis shoes for several reasons. The support of tennis shoes is designed for lateral movement, while the running shoes are due to forward momentum. Tennis shoes provide lateral support to stop the ankle twisting. They also need a non-commercial outsole so you don’t leave a big mark on the coat. You can wear shoes on certain treads for clay or grass, but not needed for (amateur level). It’s really not necessary.
What can you invest in improving your game today?
A few lessons! An hour with a professional to solve techniques problems.
Wimbledon Park Sports, 260 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW19 6NW. Website; Directions
Where in London do you go for a tennis kit? I’d like to hear your recommendations in the comments below.
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