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| David Wagner (USA) is sponsored by Invacare |
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| Michael Jeremiasz (FRA) uses an Invacare chair |
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| Robin Ammerlaan (NED) at the 2005 Invacare World Team Cup |
Invacare associates enjoy seeing the “Yes, You Can” attitude in action at wheelchair tennis events throughout the world. Each athlete’s championship effort helps enrich the worldwide legacy of the competition and continues to bring people with disabilities closer to the center of sport and mainstream life.
Invacare currently sponsors 12 wheelchair tennis athletes, including Michael Jeremiasz (FRA) and David Wagner (USA), who are ranked number one in the world in their respective divisions.
About Invacare
Choosing a Tennis Chair to Fit Your Needs
Wheelchair tennis is a great sport for all wheelchair users. Improvements in the technology and performance of wheelchairs in recent years have helped increase the popularity of the sport. Now more players are reviewing their tennis chair options to decide what type of chair works best for them.
In 1992, tennis athletes were still playing in chairs that were multi-purpose and could be used for everyday, basketball or tennis. After the Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain, Invacare Top End introduced a patented three-wheel chair that was designed specifically for the tennis court.
Three versus Four-Wheel Tennis Chairs
Since then, the three-wheel chair has become the sport standard for players who like to sit low in their chairs. It has many advantages. With only three-wheels, the chair is lighter and it rolls well. It also turns more quickly and has helped speed up the game immensely. It performs well on clay and soft court surfaces. Another way it has helped the players is the position. With the older multi-purpose chair, it was difficult to get feet positioned correctly. With a three or four-wheel sport specific tennis chair, you can get your feet back toward the axle in a compact position. This helps the chair turn more quickly.
For players who have good balance and want to sit tall so that they can stay on top of the ball when they serve, a specialized four-wheel tennis chair is preferred. Four-wheel chairs offer more stability than their three-wheeled counterparts.
Fixed versus Adjustable
Experienced players like everything on their chair to be fixed or welded to perfection. This includes the center of gravity, front and rear seat heights, camber and backrest. Fixed chairs are customized to fit the player, and by leaving out the adjustability there is no extra hardware, which makes the chair lighter. A fixed chair does well in holding up to the game, requires less maintenance and travels well. Fixed chairs have adjustments only where it is really needed: backrest height, footrest height and adjustable upholstery for fine-tuning.
Less experienced tennis players may prefer adjustable tennis wheelchairs that will allow them to adjust the seat heights, front and rear, center of gravity, foot rest height and angle and back and seat upholstery. This is available in both three-wheel and four-wheel chairs. It allows players to fine-tune their position infinitely, which is a great feature for players who are still trying to find the best position.
Benefits to Anti-Tip
Another consideration when choosing a tennis chair is the option of an anti-tip. Invacare Top End has added a swivel anti-tip to its three-wheel and four-wheel design. This is an anti-tipper that has a caster with a three-inch skate wheel. It works like a regular anti-tipper, but because of the swivel, you can place it closer to the ground. It is designed to move with the chair, so it doesn’t slow the player down. It prevents the player from falling backward when hitting overheads and serving.
Options in Materials
Tennis chairs are typically made from two materials: aluminum and titanium. Both materials are strong, light and durable. Titanium is the premium material, and is often more expensive.
If you're an accomplished player looking for a new tennis chair, or a beginner who is just getting into the sport, feel free to call Invacare Top End at 1-800-532-8677 or 727-522-8677 for more information. You also can visit www.invacare.eu.com to see the company’s full line of tennis chairs.