‘I need to be relaxed to play with a looser string’ says Britain’s Katie Swan as she reveals all about her equipment
Britain’s Katie Swan, who is back practising after recovering from a nerve-related issue in her back, tells us about her choices of tennis equipment
What was your first racket?
“It was a Prince. I think I liked it because it was pink. I remember using it playing under-10 nationals in Bournemouth. The Prince rep was there. I ended up winning the tournament and got my first contract with Prince. I used them from when I was about that age until I was 15, when I switched to Wilson. The Wilson’s sweet spot seemed much bigger than the Prince’s. I also used the Babolat Aero for a couple of years, which gave me a lot of power. Then I was looking for something with a bit more control and tried out Yonex. I loved the E-Zone 98. That’s what I’ve been using ever since. I think it’s been maybe five years now that I’ve been using the E-Zone. I love it.”
Do you customise your rackets?
“They’re off-the-shelf and then I get them all weighted so that they’re exactly the same. But there’s not much change from off-the-shelf.”
What strings and what tension do you use?
“I’m using the Polysor Pro Yonex strings and the 125 millimetre. I used to play with a really tight racket. I would go up to 58lb both ways. Now I’m down at 46 to 48. Over the years my coaches have wanted me to work on playing with a looser racket and being more free as I play. With a tighter racket there’s more control, but it can be harder to produce power. I have quite a lot of natural power and with a looser racket I can really produce a lot. But I need to be relaxed to be able to play with a looser string.
“It’s also better for the body because I’m not having to force anything. In the winter in London I usually go down in tension a couple pounds in the cold and heavy conditions. In the summer I’ll go up a little bit if the wind’s flying.”
How much difference can strings and string tension make to your game and the games of our readers?
“I’ve hit for fun with some amateurs’ rackets that can feel like they’re from 1980 or something! I think a fresh string job is great. It’s actually something I have tried not to worry about too much. It can become a bit stressful if you’re going out for a match and worrying about the tension of your racket. I usually have a couple of rackets with different tensions in case I feel the ball is flying or if I’m a bit nervous and the ball isn’t going off my racket because I’m a bit tense.
“One of my former coaches used to go into my bag and take out a random racket in the middle of practice to try and mess up my rhythm and get me used to playing with whatever is there. He’d also give me his racket and I’d have a go with that, just so it’s not ingrained in my mind that things have to be a certain way.”
What else is in your tennis bag?
“An absolute must for me is Monopoly Deal playing cards. I take them to every event. I will play cards all day when I’m not on court. We have so much free time if we’re waiting for matches or there are rain delays. I don’t want to be on my phone all the time because I think it’s good to get out of the habit of sitting on the screen. Monopoly Deal for me is the best game ever.”
What’s most important to you about the clothes you wear on court?
“I definitely think looking and feeling good is a real thing. I love the ASICS kit, because it’s so focused on performance. Everything’s super light. I love playing in these tops in the middle of a heatwave. They feel so light. You don’t even feel like there’s anything there.
“You don’t want distractions when you’re playing tennis. The last thing you need is to be thinking about your kit. They do a great job enabling you to just focus on the tennis. And I’ve loved their shoes since I’ve switched. They’re so comfortable and light. I use the Solution Speed on-court shoes. I think they’re the lightest tennis shoes I’ve ever played in.”
Is it important to wear shoes that are specifically designed for different court surfaces?
“That’s very important. I’m a member of Roehampton Club and one of my friends there was playing in their club championships on grass with hard-court shoes. She could barely stand up. The dimples underneath the shoes help with your grip. I think it’s important to feel you can move freely without worrying about falling over or anything like that.”
Why do you choose the ASICS Solution Speed shoe?
“It’s super light. It didn’t take any wearing in for me. When we travel we’re competing so much we go through a lot of shoes, so you don’t want to feel like you have to wear in your shoe for a week before it’s ready. I literally wore this Solution Speed for my first practice and had no issues with my feet whatsoever. I tried the Gels as well, but I prefer the Solution Speed.”
How many rackets do you take to a tournament and how often do you have them restrung?
“I travel with six and I would I usually have three fresh rackets for a match. During training weeks I try not to change the racket too often – maybe after three days’ worth of practice.”
How many pairs of shoes do you travel with to tournaments?
“I take one pair of running shoes and if it’s a trip of less than six weeks I’d take three pairs of tennis shoes. If it’s longer than that, I’d probably take four or get them sent where I’m going if I don’t have space in my luggage. I’ll also travel with one or two pairs of their casual shoes. I really like them. They’re so comfortable.”
Katie Swan wears ASICS Solution Speed FF3 tennis shoes, which you can learn more about at our in-depth review.
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