Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship winner, Scott Lyons, gives an insight into his love of tennis…
Why do you love tennis?
I love playing tennis as it is a great test both physically and mentally. Not only do you get to run around and exercise without it being too strenuous, it is a great challenge to try and outthink your opponent in a one-on-one situation. Tennis is also great fun to just play socially and it is one of the few sports that can be played by all ages.
Do other members of your family play tennis?
All of my family have played tennis at some stage of their life, but these days they only play on the odd occasion. However, my Dad plays social tennis about once a week and is always keen to improve!
What do you like about playing with Highmoor Uniting Tennis Club?
Highmoor Tennis Club is a fantastic club with a great community feel to it. Nearly all of the members know each other and it is one of the few clubs that values the social aspect of tennis as highly as, if not higher than, the competitive side of it. When not playing competition, there is never a shortage of players who are willing to go down and have a hit. At Highmoor there is something for all members, whether they are actively playing or not.
What do you think your club will buy with the $200 Club Advantage voucher you have earned for them?
The $200 voucher will be put to great use, and may be put towards new nets or tennis balls.
What will you do with your old tennis gear now that you’ve won the Sportsmart and Wilson sponsorship package?
To be honest I’m not too sure. Now with two brand new pairs of shoes thanks to Sportsmart, my old shoes will hardly be worn! I could possibly keep them for emergency situations or perhaps find a friend of similar shoe size to give them to..? I will keep my old racquet as a spare for all those nasty times where you break a string two minutes into a match.
Which tennis racquet do you have your eye on?
I often get into bad habits of spending hours on end reading about all the new tennis racquets coming out and the various new technologies. Yet after having had Chris from Sportsmart show me the range of Wilson BLX racquets, I am very excited about trying out the Wilson BLX Pro Open!
What racquet are you using at the moment?
Before receiving Sportsmart and Wilson’s sponsorship package, I had been using the Babolat AeroPro Drive GT.
What advice do you have for other tennis players who want to improve their game?
Yep, it’s the same old boring advice that we hear from everyone – practice, practice and more practice. However, the key is that the quality of training is far more important than the amount of time trained. You will get far more out of twenty minutes of solid training while highly concentrated, rather than three hours of slogging the ball as hard as possible. Also, always try to master the basics before attempting subtler variations. Watch the ball onto the racquet, have a straight and high ball toss and don’t neglect your backhand.
What other sports do you enjoy playing?
While tennis is the only sport I play competitively, I enjoy almost any sport. I enjoy playing basketball, squash and even the very occasional run. However, I am also a huge AFL fan and a big fan of the cricket. I can watch practically any sport on TV and enjoy it, much to my family’s dismay…
What is your ultimate tennis ambition?
For me, I cannot see myself winning Wimbledon anytime soon and I am very realistic about my expectations. My ultimate tennis ambition would be to continue to improve so that I have an all-round solid game, and one which would enable me to play tennis for my entire life. Yet in the meantime, I would love to be able to serve properly!
Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program winner Scott Lyons with Sportsmart Director Gerrard Woods
The winner of Sportsmart and Kookaburra’s cricket sponsorship program, Bradley Van Twest, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – cricket …
With all the research and technology that Masuri have put into this helmet, it is no wonder that it’s number 1 on the market!
The Masuri Titanium helmet is SUPER light weight. It’s made from fibreglass and, after wearing one for about a week now, it feels almost half the weight of my old Albion Elite. The players I’ve spoken to have said they feel a lot fresher and are able to bat for a longer time.
The helmet has really good vision: there are fewer bars used on the grill and those that are there are very thin and no distraction to the batsman, making it much easier to stay focused on the ball.
The helmet comes complete with a headband to soak up sweat and an adjustable strap at the back for a perfect fit so it does not move around during stroke play.
The cost, $215 with the titanium grille @ Sportsmart, may sway you towards buying a cheaper alternative. But for its safety and player comfort it is well worth the extra cash.
Nick Karapanos was the lucky winner of Sportsmart’s $200 Gift Card promotion. He was randomly selected from the draw of Smart Card members who shopped at Sportsmart during October. We speak to a delighted Nick about his win…
How long have you been a Smart Card member for?
For about 6 years or so.
What do you like about Sportsmart’s Smart Card program?
You can get some very good discounts.
Why do you choose to shop at Sportsmart?
I generally find what I want at a good price. Sportsmart also has a good selection of brands.
What type of products do you generally purchase from Sportsmart?
Tennis gear – eg. tennis shoes, racquets, balls etc… Also kids sports gear for school.
What do you plan to spend your $200 Sportsmart gift card on?
I plan to buy some new tennis shoes and maybe some casual sports tops.
Congratulations Nick!
The winner of Sportsmart and Kookaburra’s cricket sponsorship program, Bradley Van Twest, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – cricket …
Just had a run in the new Asics Gel-Gully 2!
First impression out of the box: the shoes look great, and I can happily say they feel just as good. The shoes come complete with both metal and soft spikes, which is really handy because I can change to suit the cricket pitch and ground conditions on the day.
The Asics Gel-Gully 2 is also recommended by Simon Katich – “Perfect batting shoe – good grip, durable and fits my feet well.”
Specs: http://www.asics.com.au/footwear/cricket-shoes/gel-gully-2-mens.aspx
Sportsmart sells the Asics Gel-Gully 2 shoes for $169 (or $159 for Smart Card members)
At Sportsmart, we are all about giving you more through our Smart Card member program. Every time you use your Smart Card when making a purchase at Sportsmart during October, you will go into the draw to win a $200 Sportsmart Gift Card.
Just use your Smart Card normally and you are automatically entered after you have made a purchase. The lucky winner will be drawn and contacted on 1st November 2010.
So, get down to your local Sportsmart store during October – you have to be in it to win it!
TENNIS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPORTSMART AND WILSON
For your chance to be a sponsored tennis player, go to the Tennis Sponsorship tab on Sportsmart’s Facebook page for details and to enter.
ONE LUCKY TENNIS PLAYER WILL WIN THIS SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE FROM SPORTSMART AND WILSON, TO HELP THEM PLAY AT THEIR BEST THIS SEASON:
The top six entrants, as judged by Sportsmart’s management team, will be published online where the general public will be able to vote for their favourite to determine the winner.
Entries close on Wednesday 10th November, then voting starts. Voting closes and the winner of Sportsmart’s tennis sponsorship package will be notified on Friday 19th November.
The winner of this tennis sponsorship package will be required to contribute articles and product reviews to the Sportsmart blog, to help advise and entertain other tennis players and blog readers.
The winner of Sportsmart and Kookaburra’s cricket sponsorship program, Bradley Van Twest, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – cricket …
The Kookaburra Blade Players cricket bat honestly has a great pick up and feels incredibly comfortable in my hands.
The back of the bat is scalloped but maintains its big edges, which gives it an even balance.
If you’re after a lightweight bat to help technique, or looking for that bit of extra time against fast bowling, it’s definitely worth having a look at this bat. I’m really looking forward to using it on Saturday.
Check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=447529663216&set=a.447528608216.209111.101006608216
The winner of Sportsmart and Kookaburra’s cricket sponsorship program, Bradley Van Twest, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – cricket …
Correct cricket bat preparation and maintenance will reduce the possibility of damage occurring and increase your bat’s lifespan.
Thanks to the Sportsmart team, my bat is now ready to use on Saturday. The blade was evenly oiled, pressed using their very own machine and a sheet of extra-tec applied to provide protection – and I picked it up within a week! Sportsmart offers this deluxe bat preparation package for only $40 per bat.
For more on Sportsmart’s bat preparation packages go to: https://sportsmart.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/cricket-bat-preparation/
For information on how to prepare your bat go to: https://sportsmart.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/cricket_bat-preparation/
The winner of Sportsmart and Kookaburra’s cricket sponsorship program, Bradley Van Twest, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – cricket …
On my arrival at the Moorabbin store on Cochranes Road, I was welcomed by a number of friendly staff and I was taken on a tour through the many departments in Melbourne’s largest sports warehouse.
I was very impressed by the cricket department due to their large range of quality cricket stock, especially Kookaburra’s Players range. The fact that they have a cricket expert on hand at all times makes life that much easier! They are there to answer any of your questions. I was also very lucky to meet the owner of Kookaburra who was on one of his regular visits to the store – he gave me some excellent advice on bat care.
Interesting to note, Sportsmart is a family run business, with Moorabbin being the original warehouse starting in 1983.
Sportsmart and Kookaburra’s cricket sponsorship program winner Bradley Van Twest (R) with Sportsmart Director Gerrard Woods (L)
blog.sportsmart.com.au 