Wilson is SHIFTING the tennis world with a new family of racquets! Michael Schaeffer explains how they used feedback from players to create a new line of frames in 2023.
07/11/23 • 47 min
The SHIFT Racquets are almost here (launching July 14th to be exact!)! Wilson has developed their newest family of tennis racquets with extensive feedback from top coaches and elite players from around the world, including some of you! In this episode, Michael Schaeffer, the Global Product Director for Racquet Sports at WILSON joins us to talk about the process of creating a new franchise of racquets!
In this episode we cover:
How Wilson began working on the prototypes and how long it has taken to go from initial concepts to full production as well as their GLOBAL playtest (think: SHIFT origin story)
What sets Shift apart from other racquets & what is the most significant technology
Where the SHIFT racquets fit in the Wilson lineup and who these racquets are for
How important player feedback was in the development
Best string set up for SHIFT
Success stories from concept to creation
What do they feel like?! A Blade? or an Ultra?! or a Clash?!
and more!
0:00:01 intro, Michael Schaeffer, Global Product Director at WILSON Racquet Sports 0:01:00 Clash and lessons learned to create Shift
0:01:28 SHIFT concept to creation & where it fits in the Wilson Lineup
0:02:20 Wilson playtesting
0:03:47 feedback from playtesting and the next steps
0:08:00 making the prototype play even better
0:09:29 Innovation at Wilson & bending technologies
0:10:05 changing the way racquets bend! flexible & stable = vertical bending
0:12:16 definition of VERTICAL BENDING
0:14:05 Question, "Wilson says how plush and soft these racquets are but the spec says the racquet's stiffness rating is high -- EXPLAIN!"
0:16:10 explain the feel of what SHIFT is like in your hands
0:18:50 Shift 99 Pro
0:21:14 "Are we going to see this technology in more Wilson racquets?" & Wilson family segments
0:22:46 Pros testing the Shift racquets and who the pro influence (and yes, I meant Madison Brengle, not Lauren!)
0:25:10 Prototype vs. Final cosmetic & consumer feedback
0:28:30 WHEN WILL GROMMETS BE AVAILABLE?!?!?
0:29:10 What is the best string set up for the SHIFT racquets?!
0:31:10 What players are you targeting for the Shift racquets? Who should be using Shift?!
0:33:00 Michelle's playtest feedback
0:34:15 How the prototype changed due to feedback and what the racquet now offers
0:35:00 "Will more versions of the SHIFT racquets come out in 2023?"
0:37:10 Any fun stories to share from the journey of SHIFT?! & how many prototypes were there?!
0:41:20 "blind" playtesting
0:43:30 Why you should try SHIFT no matter what :) Thank you for listening!
If you have any further questions or want to continue the conversation?! Email us at [email protected]
Shop with us for all your TENNIS needs all over the WORLD:
🇺🇸 Tennis Warehouse -- http://www.tenniswarehouse.com
🇪🇺 TW Europe -- http://tenniswarehouse-europe.com
🇦🇺 Tennis Only AUS -- http://tennisonly.com.au
Happy Hitting!
The SHIFT Racquets are almost here (launching July 14th to be exact!)! Wilson has developed their newest family of tennis racquets with extensive feedback from top coaches and elite players from around the world, including some of you! In this episode, Michael Schaeffer, the Global Product Director for Racquet Sports at WILSON joins us to talk about the process of creating a new franchise of racquets!
In this episode we cover:
How Wilson began working on the prototypes and how long it has taken to go from initial concepts to full production as well as their GLOBAL playtest (think: SHIFT origin story)
What sets Shift apart from other racquets & what is the most significant technology
Where the SHIFT racquets fit in the Wilson lineup and who these racquets are for
How important player feedback was in the development
Best string set up for SHIFT
Success stories from concept to creation
What do they feel like?! A Blade? or an Ultra?! or a Clash?!
and more!
0:00:01 intro, Michael Schaeffer, Global Product Director at WILSON Racquet Sports 0:01:00 Clash and lessons learned to create Shift
0:01:28 SHIFT concept to creation & where it fits in the Wilson Lineup
0:02:20 Wilson playtesting
0:03:47 feedback from playtesting and the next steps
0:08:00 making the prototype play even better
0:09:29 Innovation at Wilson & bending technologies
0:10:05 changing the way racquets bend! flexible & stable = vertical bending
0:12:16 definition of VERTICAL BENDING
0:14:05 Question, "Wilson says how plush and soft these racquets are but the spec says the racquet's stiffness rating is high -- EXPLAIN!"
0:16:10 explain the feel of what SHIFT is like in your hands
0:18:50 Shift 99 Pro
0:21:14 "Are we going to see this technology in more Wilson racquets?" & Wilson family segments
0:22:46 Pros testing the Shift racquets and who the pro influence (and yes, I meant Madison Brengle, not Lauren!)
0:25:10 Prototype vs. Final cosmetic & consumer feedback
0:28:30 WHEN WILL GROMMETS BE AVAILABLE?!?!?
0:29:10 What is the best string set up for the SHIFT racquets?!
0:31:10 What players are you targeting for the Shift racquets? Who should be using Shift?!
0:33:00 Michelle's playtest feedback
0:34:15 How the prototype changed due to feedback and what the racquet now offers
0:35:00 "Will more versions of the SHIFT racquets come out in 2023?"
0:37:10 Any fun stories to share from the journey of SHIFT?! & how many prototypes were there?!
0:41:20 "blind" playtesting
0:43:30 Why you should try SHIFT no matter what :) Thank you for listening!
If you have any further questions or want to continue the conversation?! Email us at [email protected]
Shop with us for all your TENNIS needs all over the WORLD:
🇺🇸 Tennis Warehouse -- http://www.tenniswarehouse.com
🇪🇺 TW Europe -- http://tenniswarehouse-europe.com
🇦🇺 Tennis Only AUS -- http://tennisonly.com.au
Happy Hitting!
Previous Episode
What’s going on ON the TOUR!? Trending tour topics; ATP & WTA mid-year gear changes; 🌱 Grass season is here; more love for RF! & some bold Wimbledon picks!
Grass season is here! Troy and Michelle discuss trending ATP & WTA Tour topics in this episode. And they also go over gear swaps being made by some of the pros mid-season and gush some more over Roger Federer with a petition to bring him back! Plus, some BOLD Wimbledon picks.
We also cover in this episode...
make tennis easier to watch on TV!
- Pro players losing their luggage when traveling to tournaments
- Bublik from Yonex to Tecnifibre
Tiafoe and Fritz in the TOP 10 (yass American Tennis!)
- Iga still in Asics Gel Resolutions; future of ON tennis
- Nike Vapor 9 stock
- Grigor Dimitrov in Lacoste
- Rybakina in YONEX
- Andy Murray winning challengers
- Kei Nishikori comeback
- Wimbledon fashion rule change
- and more!
If you have any further questions or want to continue the conversation?! Email us at [email protected]
Shop with us for all your TENNIS needs all over the WORLD:
🇺🇸 Tennis Warehouse -- http://www.tenniswarehouse.com
🇪🇺 TW Europe -- http://tenniswarehouse-europe.com
🇦🇺 Tennis Only AUS -- http://tennisonly.com.au
Happy Hitting!
Next Episode
On & off court hydration tips & tricks from tennis pro & 2-time All American at USC, Danielle Lao & Jess Cera from Salt Stick!
Just in time for the heat of the summer, we are having an open discussion around the importance of hydration during tennis training and competing!
Jess Cerra, VP Product and Community Development at Salt Stick AND pro cyclist &
Danielle Lao, aka the little giant, D.lao, pro player, 2 time All American at USC and an all around stellar athlete are sitting down to talk all about the ins and outs of hydrating for tennis, training and to ensure peak performance as any level athlete!
We talk about:
Who is SaltStick? Who started it and why?
Salt Stick partners and pro athletes
Cycling to cross train
What does your on court and off court training look like
Personal struggles of hydration
Salt Stick products explained
What items are best suited for league players or people who play tennis and still might be playing a lot but aren’t training like elite athletes
How will Salt stick help me as an athlete? If I’m not working out, can I take/use saltstick?
Sports drinks vs. salt stick products
What is Dysautonomia
Electrolyte supplementation
Sodium vs. salt
Why do we sweat? and why do some people sweat more than others – how does humidity effect this?
What do we sweat?
Any way you can change your sweat amount or type?
Debunk some hydration myths!
If you have any further questions or want to continue the conversation?! Email us at [email protected]
Shop with us for all your TENNIS needs all over the WORLD:
🇺🇸 Tennis Warehouse -- http://www.tenniswarehouse.com
🇪🇺 TW Europe -- http://tenniswarehouse-europe.com
🇦🇺 Tennis Only AUS -- http://tennisonly.com.au
Happy Hitting!
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