Tennis Racket Holder

The instructions below will cover the development of a tennis racket holder.

It can be used for persons who are in a wheelchair and who are unable to hold the tennis racket while moving on the tennis court.

The tool can be used for people who react less quickly, are clumsy or experience little strength in the hands or arms.

It is easy to apply on the tennis court. In addition, it is subtle, inconspicuous and trendy.

It is a simple tool that can ensure that wheelchair users are still able to play the sport they love.

Step 1: Supplies & Gear

Supplies

• Leg Protectors (with an outer fabric)
• A roll of sturdy Velcro
• Strong sewing thread
• Self-adhesive velcro

Gear

• Dremel (Drill)
• Head pins
• Ruler or tape measure
• Scissors
• Needle
• Tennis racket
• Pad (wood)

Step 2: Measure

In the first step it is necessary to measure the length of the patient's lower legs.

This is necessary to purchase the correct size of leg protection. It is important that the leg protectors are as long as possible, so that the patient is not able to hurt his legs with the tennis racket.

Step 3: The Tennis Racket

We start this project with the tennis racket.

We use the self-adhesive velcro in this step.This must be attached to the racket. The place where the velcro is attached depends on each individual. It is recommended to stick both the right and the left side of the racket. If you subsequently notice that this does not provide sufficient support, you can always attach extra velcro at the top and bottom.

An important tip here is that you should always stick both sides of the tennis racket. The racket turns in the hand while playing. If only one side is pasted, the tool will not always be usable during the game.Always clean your tennis racket before sticking the velcro. Dry your tennis racket well after cleaning. It should no longer feel clammy when you stick the velcro on it. This would ensure that the velcro does not stick properly.

You can easily apply the velcro by pulling the strip off the velcro and immediately sticking it on in the correct place. Do not wait too long, otherwise the glue can dry.

Step 4: Velcro

The soft side of the velcro was attached to the tennis racket in the previous step.

We will now get to work with the hard side of the velcro. It is important that you measure the full length of the leg protectors. You need this measurement to cut the correct length of the velcro. You should cut at least three strips per leg protector. It is necessary to check where the person's tennis racket ends up when hitting. Always use a margin of error, since you will not always hit the same place.

Because the velcro is quite thick and you can not just sew, we will make the holes in advance.
It's best to use a dremel. This fine drill can help you to create the same size of holes everywhere. It is important to pin the velcro with head pins so that it does not move.

After you have provided the entire velcro with holes, place the velcro in the right place on the leg protector and pin the velcro with the help of head pins. When the location of the strips has been determined, you can start sewing the velcro onto the top fabric of the leg protector. You are not supposed to sew through the entire leg protection, as this is not possible. Always use extra strong thread when sewing. You have to apply the velcro to the fabric completely manually.

Step 5: Test

Now test the tool. The place where you hang the aid depends from person to person.
Always hang the leg protectors as close to the knees as possible. This will make the person hit the protectors for sure.

If the person has limited coordination, it is also possible to apply the leg protectors to the upper legs. The tool still has the same purpose here. The tennis racket must be placed on the upper legs. It ensures that the tennis racket cannot slide off its legs.

The tennis racket releases with both techniques by means of a lever effect.