Tennis traction.

• Position: What's New? - Tennis shoes/equipment - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

* Playing tennis is all about sudden starts and stops, as well as moving quickly from side to side. The trouble is that, during extreme stopping, cornering, and pivoting, if your sneaker's outsole is too rigid, you lose contact with the playing surface, which results in a loss of footing. Wilson Sporting Goods, Chicago, Ill., tackles this dilemma head-on with what it calls Independent Traction Control Technology, whereby a flexible groove running laterally the entire length of its Surge DSTo2 shoe ($89.99) provides maximum surface contact. Moreover, by design, the heel pad and midsole provide shock absorption while the linings wick moisture away from the foot.

Wilson's innovations go beyond the feet, though, such as its Double Core tennis balls ($3.49 for a three-pack), which hold their original air pressure two times longer than do standard ones. The ball's inner core is coated with a barrier substance that restricts airflow from escaping it, and to keep the cover lasting as long as the core, Wilson utilizes felt with the highest wool content ever seen in tennis balls. Moreover, for convenience's sake, there's the Premium Rolling Racquet Bag...