Want to play tennis but can’t get to a court? The innovative Twisternet, brainchild of Elliott Mould, the world No. 1 Touchtennis champion (2011 to 2016) and created with his business partner David Free, is lightweight, portable and requires no assembly. It simply pops up and folds down. The patented design can be set up in a matter of seconds – the net is unfolded, the legs put into position and you’re ready to play. This means you can take the Twisternet with you and play anywhere such as in the garden, park or beach.
Marcus Willis, the amazing Wimbledon Cinderella from 2016, who has just become a first-time father with the birth of his daughter Martha, says “I’ve been trying out the new Twisternet. It’s a fantastic idea because it’s lightweight, portable and simple to put up – so you can play tennis anywhere. This is great because it will encourage more people to take up tennis. I wish I’d had one when I was growing up.”
Mould, 26, who first came up with the idea for a pop up net when he was coaching youngsters at schools, says “I use the Twisternet to give tennis demonstrations to children and they just love the way it pops up and twists down in a matter of seconds. It can also be used as a rebound net for practising rallies. Most importantly, it engages children in tennis which grows their co-ordination skills and gets them out doing some physical activity. The Twisternet is so easy to put up, the whole family can play in the garden or out and about.”
Inventor and business partner Free adds “The net is lighter than traditional ones so it’s much easier to carry around. When folded, the net lays flat for easy storage. The net retains its shape and the patented design means there is no sagging.”
Twisternet has patents granted in the UK and pending in Europe, USA, Japan and Australia.
The Twisternet costs £49.95 (including VAT and free delivery) for the net and ball. A family pack (a net, two racquets and a ball) costs £59.95 (including VAT and free delivery). Available from www.Twisternet.co.uk
Willis made his tour debut at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships having qualified for the main draw via a pre-qualifying tournament. In the first round, Willis defeated Ričardas Berankis, a player ranked more than 700 places above him, to set up a clash with seven-times champion Roger Federer. Willis was defeated by Federer on Centre Court, but received a standing ovation nevertheless.
Mould’s vision is to inspire children to learn about how they can get the best out of themselves and live happy and fulfilling lives. Twisternet is one of the ways he is promoting this vision – getting kids outside using their bodies and developing essential physical and life skills. Elliott is the world number one Touchtennis champion, 2011 to 2016. He was fifth in the World Schools Championships representing Great Britain and a Surrey County Cup and County Closed Winner in tennis.
He is LTA Qualified and a fully licenced level 3 tennis coach with a First Class Honours Degree in Psychology. He is also Founder of Mind Zone and its Mini Minds tennis programme that teaches children tennis and various life skills through a unique teaching approach and learning culture (see www.mindzone.org).
Free’s vision is to help the global growth of tennis as a sport by increasing both interest and awareness through making tennis available to everyone anywhere, even if a court is not available or practical. He invented Twisternet which is the world’s first pop-up tennis net. The lightweight pop up nature of the product creates an instant indoor or outdoor court.
Free is an entrepreneur and inventor experienced in product development, sales and technical operations working in Europe the USA and Australia. He has also worked in TV production and was a TV presenter on the Discovery Channel. Early in his career, he was a professional ice dancer and ice skating coach at the ‘Ice Dance Academy’ headed up by Betty Calloway, coach to Torvill and Dean. Throughout his career Free has embraced his passions for sport, coaching, teaching and designing innovative products that create new solutions.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE TWISTERNET
“The New Twisternet is the perfect net for small children to learn to play tennis. It’s so incredibly light to carry, it’s fast and easy to assemble taking about 20 seconds to be ready to play. It is also so well made that the net itself can be used as rebound net for practising on your own as well!”
Richard Bean
Director of Teddy Tennis
“We recently used the Twisternet at the All England Touchtennis Championships and were very impressed with its durability and ease of deployment. Most nets are complicated processes to open or put away and the Twisternet provides the perfect solution to this problem. It’s a fantastic idea and incredibly hard wearing. With a 30 gram ball hitting it at 120kmh it still continued to impress.
Rashid Ahmad
Founder of touchtennis
