Israeli tennis start- up Slinger Bag nets Dunlop partnership

Israeli tech company Slinger Bag, a sports brand focused on innovating game improvement equipment for all ball sports with an initial focus on the global tennis market, announced this week an unprecedented multi- year, distribution agreement across nine key markets in Europe with global tennis giant Dunlop. This announcement follows similar global strategic agreements in key tennis markets including Ireland, Japan, UK, Ireland, Switzerland and all four Scandinavian markets, bringing the total value of Slinger Bag's international distribution partnerships to a cumulative five year retail value of $ 200 million.

Reviewing the company's origins, Slinger Bag founder Joe Kalfa, an avid tennis player, had an idea that quickly became a core mission for him – that everyone should be able to own a tennisball launcher. He loved the concept of tennis- ball launchers, and always used them when he was at the club and they were available. The problem was that they weren't always available, or easy to use, or even good for that matter.

“The Slinger Bag is a 24/ 7 playing partner that will enable tennis players, from grassroots to pro tours, to hit more quality balls whenever they want and without the need for having to constantly find playing partners,” said Slinger Bag CEO Mike Ballardie, a former Prince CEO and Wilson executive. “All the greatest products provide a solution to a problem – Slinger Bag is no exception. It is the answer to an age- old problem in tennis, enabling players to hit quality balls without the need of a partner, wherever, whenever.”

Dunlop has clearly bought into the concept, literally and figuratively.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Dunlop International Europe Ltd, whose parent company is Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Japan, will be granted exclusive distribution rights for Slinger Bag's innovative tennis ball launcher in the core European markets of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg Portugal, Netherlands, and Spain.

“There is no bigger endorsement of how far Slinger Bag has come in a short period of time than this new commercial association with Dunlop, a global giant in tennis with an unequaled market reach and a reputation to match,” said Ballardie.

The strategic alliance will see the two companies working closely together on a daily basis to maximize the potential of Slinger Bag across these key territories, with Dunlop leveraging Slinger Bag growth supporting its comprehensive tennis ball market share, brand presence across European tennis and its recognition as a highly respected tennis brand. In addition, Dunlop will adopt Slinger Bag's preferred direct to consumer go- to- market sales strategy and will establish its own e- commerce platform ( to be launched Q1 2021) to complement direct to consumer sales currently made via www. slingerbag. com.

Dunlop is investing heavily into supporting its brand with player sponsorships and strategic partnerships, including being the official tennis ball of both the ATP and the Australian Open and is the No. 1 ball brand in Asia, Australasia and Europe.

Slinger Bag – which is publicly traded on the OTC market under the ticker symbol SLBG – is now widely recognized as the hot new product in tennis since launching in early 2020, and continues to receive widespread acclaim. The product has surpassed all order forecasts in each market where it has already been launched, none more important than the world's largest tennis market, the US, where orders have reached $ 2 million over the past three months.

“Slinger Bag is a next generation technology for tennis enthusiasts who want to continue to engage in their passion during the new normal,” noted Slinger Bag CMO Juda Honickman. “Unlike any other product on the market, Slinger Bag is the first true portable tennis ball launcher that can be used anywhere, anytime, serving as one's tennis partner on a minute's notice. With tennis in decline, this proprietary design will not only go a long way to encourage participation from existing devotees, but also provides easy access for newcomers to the game.”