Walmart tennis is cheap…
Almost anyone can drive to a superstore and pick up a cheap racquet for $20. But if you want more than simple fun & some exercise, the cost rises.
Professional tennis is not.
To really compete, there are many more things to consider which all cost exponentially more money than the basic racquet. (Yearly estimates shown)
$200
Tournament fees
$300
Tennis balls
$400
Shoes & clothes
$450
Racquets
$750
Racquet strings
$3,500
Coaching
Final thesis: Summary video (2 mins)
Though I know tennis well from my childhood, I spent the year researching the industry, talking to players, brainstorming ideas, and testing prototypes.
To wrap it all up, each student had to summarize the problem & solution we addressed within a 2-minute video. You can view that below...
I applied for a patent… 🤞
Went through the formatting and legal process, but ultimately the effort needed to gain traction among major tennis companies wasn't worth it at the time.
If you're interested in this idea, feel free to reach out.
Looking back – Going for a patent showed me how hard the industry is… And that while many designers can come up with good ideas, the real challenge is bringing an idea to life: embracing the humility and flexibility required to let an idea evolve as the real world reacts to it or rejects it.