What is the Functional Tennis Saber?

The Saber is an on-court training aid that plays like a normal tennis racket but with a much smaller head size. This unique design with its 37 sq. inch head forces players to focus on ball tracking, optimize footwork, and execute a clean, efficient swing to connect with the ball. 

Made from a composite material in the same world-class factories as other major brands it comes in a weight of either 300 grams or 265 grams or the new shorter 240 grams version. One coach has said "Straight out of the bag, it feels expensive and very well made"

 

Using it for just 10 minutes as part of your normal warm-up routine will make you a much more consistent player, winning those points that make a difference in matches. 

Players have said it's a “game-changer” providing a “great feel” and a “must-have for every coach and serious player”. 

There is no need to change your grip or adjust your playing style to be efficient, simply swap your racket for the Saber and you will feel at home right away. We’ve had a top International Junior play test, and his dad reported back “he doesn’t want to play with his normal racket anymore!”.

Here are the stats of the 3 versions, side by side

 

How to use the Tennis Saber

The way I see it, the sky is the limit with the Tennis Saber training instrument.

You can use it at the start of every match. All it takes is just 10 minutes to get in the zone and hit strokes cleanly. You can do this practice drill with your hitting partner or coach as part of your warm-up routine before you step onto the court.

Moreover, you can even have practice sessions with it. Here are my suggestions on a number of drills that are viable options to train with the Saber:

Wide Ball Defense

  • Setup: Have a coach or partner feed wide balls to either side.
  • Drill: Focus on returning these wide balls with depth, aiming to push your opponent back into a neutral position. Practice hitting these returns on the run, staying balanced, and recovering quickly to the centre of the court.
  • Focus: Speed, balance, and recovery

 

Deep and Short Drill

  • Setup: Your partner or coach alternates feeding deep and short balls.
  • Drill: For the deep balls, practice hitting high, deep shots to regain court positioning. For short balls, practice attacking with control, aiming for angles or placing the ball deep again to push your opponent back.
  • Focus: Adapting to different ball heights and lengths, decision-making

Consistent Rallying

  • Setup: Start a rally with your hitting partner or coach. This can be down the centre or cross-court rallies.
  • Drill: Keep the ball going whilst aiming to hit deep balls, preferably, clearing the net by a racket’s length and hitting balls deep enough to not invite pressure. Deep balls tend to be around a racket’s length from the doubles alley or the baseline. You can set up cones to act as targets by the baseline, or else set up a mini net in the service box, prompting you to play deep and clear both nets.
  • Focus: Puts emphasis on footwork and consistency skills.