Racket sports on Black Friday
The racket sports selection from the Black Friday includes equipment for tennis, padel, and badminton: badminton shoes Yonex Power Cushion and Babolat Shadow, tennis shoes Head Revolt, Sprint and Endure, padel shoes Head Motion Pro, as well as headbands Tecnifibre, sponge wristbands Head, textiles, and bags to complete each player's gear.
A gift for racket players, at a reduced price.
Badminton: rubber sole and cushioning for the court
Badminton is played on wooden or synthetic floor, with deep lunges and repeated jumps: the shoe must provide a non-marking rubber sole that grips without slipping, a low profile for stability, and cushioning at the heel. Yonex has developed the Power Cushion for this purpose, a material that absorbs shock and then returns some of the energy for the next step; it is found on the Cascade, Eclipsion, Aerus or Strider, the latter being available in a wide fit. Danish player Viktor Axelsen, the Olympic champion, has his own version with Yonex. Babolat, founded in Lyon in 1875, offers its Shadow range for male and female players.
By sport and by product
The selection is organised by sport and by type:
- Tennis.
- Table tennis.
- Shoes, tennis, padel and badminton.
- Textiles.
- Bags.
Indoor sports also include handball and volleyball, combat sports, on the indoor sports page.
Tennis: choosing your shoe according to the surface
In tennis, the sole depends on the surface. On clay, a tight herringbone pattern grips the crushed brick without picking it up too much and allows for controlled sliding. On hard courts, a sole that is more resistant to abrasion, with a mixed pattern, withstands the friction from concrete or resin. All court soles compromise for players who play everywhere. At Head, the Revolt Pro and Revolt Court, low and responsive, are suited to aggressive players. The Endure Pro, available with a BOA dial tightening system, focuses on durability, while the Sprint with Velcro is easy for children to put on without assistance.
Padel: the sole for sanded grass
Padel is played on a synthetic grass court with sand, surrounded by glass: movements are short, lateral, with plenty of braking. The padel shoe adopts a herringbone or hybrid sole that grips into the sand without retaining it, and enhanced lateral support around the heel and forefoot. The Head Motion Pro, available for men and women and with BOA tightening, combines herringbone patterns with studs to grip both well-sanded and drier courts. A tennis shoe for clay can work in a pinch, but a dedicated pair provides better ankle protection.
Headbands, wristbands and bags: player accessories
The wristband, like the Head Wristband, absorbs sweat running down the forearm before it reaches the hand and grip: the hold remains secure until the end of the match. The headband Tecnifibre does the same at the forehead to keep eyes dry during long rallies in the sun. These accessories, which wear out and get lost quickly, often need replacing and make useful gifts for all racket players. The sac for rackets, with a heat-insulating compartment, protects the strings during transport and keeps the clothes separate.
Frequently asked questions
Which racket sport is the most physical?
Badminton is often cited as the most intense, with explosive movements and very fast exchanges. Tennis demands a lot from your cardio over time, while padel, more accessible, relies more on positioning.
Which racket sport requires the fastest reaction times?
In badminton, the shuttlecock travels at very high speeds from the string bed and then slows down suddenly, requiring anticipation for every trajectory. Table tennis also demands quick reflexes, with the ball travelling across a short table in a fraction of a second.
Can you play badminton in running shoes?
This is not advised: their thick, rounded soles can lead to ankle twists during lateral movements, and their rubber may leave marks or slip on the court. A low, flat indoor shoe is much safer.
How to choose the right tennis shoe size?
You should measure your foot at the end of the day and keep about half a centimetre in front of your big toe, as the foot moves forward during braking. Your heel shouldn't lift; wider feet should choose a wide fit.
Which racket sport is best to start with?
Padel is often considered the most accessible: short racket, slower ball, and glass that prolongs rallies allow you to play from the first session. Tennis takes more time to master the exchanges.
