Welcome to the Original Sports virtual tour. Check out our showroom and experience a great range of products and unique services including GAIT analysis and racket testing zones.

Our FREE Gait Analysis service simply establishes the appropriate footwear for your style of running and training. Wearing the correct shoes significantly reduces the risk of injury, improves comfort and enhances performance. The process involves a gentle run on our treadmill whilst we video your running style or gait. Ben and Dan will explain how it works so call us today on 01702-718944 for an appointment. We look forward to seeing you.

All types of tennis racket strings fall under five main categories these are; natural gut, standard synthetic, mono filament, multi filament and hybrid.

Natural gut tennis racket strings, formed from the intestines of a cow, were primarily the only form of string available. Yet still today its properties have never been matched. Whilst most find these too expensive they can still be popular on the PRO tennis court for its superior performance. Manufacturers are always trying to make the next synthetic string that has characteristics as close to natural gut as possible. Being the most efficient string is has the ability to remain soft at high tension whereas many other strings will stiffen. This reduces impact shock which can lead to tennis related injuries.

Standard synthetic strings are the basic buy and will come supplied with many low to mid cost tennis rackets. Nearly always made of nylon, these are fine for beginners until they begin to refine their game.

Mono filament strings, as the name suggests, are made from a single strand. Thinner strings provide more control and these strings will move less than standard synthetic, which is an advantage. Often made from polyester or polyether, these strings are suitable for players who break strings frequently and love top spin in their shots. This however comes at a price as these types of strings are notorious for being a very unforgiving string and if any arm problems develop the use of mono filament tennis racket strings should be stopped.

Multi filament strings have no central core and are made from hunderds of fine strands to provide better performance and help reduce shock and vibration. For this reason most tennis players will use these strings if they suffer from tennis elbow. These strings are the closest match to natural gut although they can lose tension quickly and may need stretching before fitting.

Hybrid tennis racket strings are made from a combination of two strings, with main strings varying to cross strings. The most popular combination being mono filament for durability combined with multi filament to provide response. Although you can install a hybrid combination with any strings, these are now available to buy in half and half packs.

If you require any help or advice with choosing the right tennis racket string for you then contact the Original Sports Showroom.

After almost 5 years of development and research Yonex have finally released the World exclusive ‘Nanopreme’ Nanoscience material. ‘Nanopreme’ provides an original combination of amplified strength, flexibility and repulsion in response to the demands of todays modern badminton players. By installing the ‘Nanopreme’ throughout the racket shaft, Yonex Badminton have created their thinnest ever shaft in the Voltric 80 Badminton Racket. It delivers an explosion of power with every swing. Made with a TriVoltage System that combines power smashes with a heavy head weight and is easy to manipulate for your gameplay. Yonex Voltric technology performs in a variety of ways.

Producing a 5% increase in power when smashing. The ‘ten to two’ positions of the Voltric frame are formed with a stiff framework that maximizes the bending strength of the head. The side of the frame is thinner allowing it to give more. Meanwhile, the weight is balanced on the top of the frame and at the joint area which allows good handling while also maintaining power. These two characteristics work together to transfer paramount energy to the shuttle, allowing the player to discharge heavy power smashes.

The Control Support Cap provides 88% wider flat surface compared with an ordinary racket for easy gripping, quick swing-through and faster manoeuvrability by reducing friction through the air. Moving some of the mass at the top of the frame to the T-Joint area expels any off-balance feeling while retaining flexibility at the head and allowing free and effortless handling. The thin sides of the frame and at the top of the head reduced air resistance and improve the handling even further. Players can now make a full swing even during short range rallies as the Voltric 80 Badminton Racket responds instantly to even subtle movements.

The Yonex Voltric 80 has a sound filter built into the racket, reducing dull and high-pitched soundwaves. Instead a strong and forcible sound is created on impact, reinforcing more dynamic and masterful play, unsettling your opponents and making hitting more comfortable. Engraved deep into the layers of graphite where the frame connects with the shaft, the built-in T-Joint creates a sturdy and high-strength one-piece frame that is torque-free.

Being a very ‘good looking’ racket its popularity will continue to increase!

Stocked at the Original Sports Showroom where a demo racket will also be available to ‘try before you buy’.

We met with local clubs on a regular basis and implemented promotions by setting up market days, we had invested in a custom stand and marketing materials to reach out to our customers whilst at the same time promoting and selling stock. This was very difficult and took up time and valuable resources. For two members of our small team to be out on this project put pressure on all the workforce. Sometimes we would sell alot but on other days it would be almost nothing. We were becoming tired of 6/7 day weeks, working every saturday and bank holidays whilst the realisation dawned that more than half of what we were doing was making us no profit.

People were eventually visiting us weeks later as a result of this promotion, and We noticed that each month our racketsports equipment such as tennis rackets and running equipment like running shoes were by far our strongest and most profitable niches. Then the lease on our premisis became due for renewal. It was decision time… Time to re-invent ourselves.

So we have concentrated on our strengths and provided extensive training for our team in both of these areas. We also took advice on customer service, and all of our sales team have completed an NVQ in retail. We gave up the high street shop. We gave up all sports except for running and racketsports and relocated to a fantastic new showroom situated within our warehouse just down the road. With things so tough in retail at the moment we have also launched our brand new shopping website, which we see as a vital way of moving forward. Everyone seems to be buying online nowadays! We are also running social media networking campaigns and a website blog so our customers have somewhere to comment on their own experiences.

Although this has been exhausting for all concerned we can now see a brighter future emerging. Moving from a high street location was always going to be an enormous gamble, and although its early days we feel this was the right move for us. We re-launched on January 4th 2011 with a unique racket testing area, a ‘same day’ restringing service, and a brand new video gait analysis department for runners which is now so busy on a Saturday it has become by appointment only!

Because of this dramatic downsizing we are now able to offer a far more comprehensive clothing range for both running and racketsports including Adidas, Nike, Babolat, Asics, Under Armour New Balance, and many, many more. A friendly and enthusiastic sales team awaits all customers at Original Sports, to offer advice and technical information as required. In fact, we are very encouraged at how many people comment on way they have been treated when the come to the showroom. Its going to be an uphill struggle again this year! But at least we will now be enjoying the challenge.

Whether you are just starting out as a runner or about to run your first marathon, just joining your first tennis club or a seasoned league player, a visit to Original Sports will pay dividends. We stock and sell all major brands including Wilson, Carlton, Bablobat, Head, Asics, Mizuno and many, many more. So, if you already know what you are looking for, our online shopping site is easy to navigate and will make your purchase hassle free! If you require any amount of help with your sports equipment purchase our friendly expert staff are always just a phone call away. We will strive to provide you with the most useful and up-to-date information to help aide you in buying the right sports equipment for your own individual needs. After all, choosing the right equipment will help give you an edge over your competitors and can make all the difference between enjoying your chosen sport or not.

We will also be publishing some buying guide advice online in up and coming press releases via our Original Sports Blog which we hope will answer lots of your FAQ’s and help you make a more informed decision when choosing your sporting equipment. Within this we hope to encourage our customers to become an active part of the Original Sports community.