What we take, and what we don't.

Policy

Affiliate links

Some links on tennisyard are affiliate links. When you click a link to Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Express, Amazon, or another retailer and buy something, we may receive a small commission. You pay the same price either way.

The affiliate relationship is one-way: we link out, the retailer pays a percentage on sales. The retailer has no editorial role. They do not see drafts. They do not approve scores. They cannot pull a review they dislike. Sales numbers do not factor into the scoring rubric, and our writers are not paid per click.

Why we use affiliate links anyway

Subscription paywalls would lock out the readers we exist for. Display advertising compromises the page design. Brand sponsorship would compromise the reviews themselves. Affiliate links — paid by the retailer, not the manufacturer — are the cleanest model we've found.

What we accept from brands

• Loaner gear for review. Brands send us strings, racquets, and shoes. We test them. We return racquets if asked; strings are consumed. Receiving a product does not buy a positive review and we say so explicitly on the review page.
• Pre-release embargo briefings. Occasionally a manufacturer briefs us under embargo on an upcoming product. We attend; we ask questions; we ignore the talking points when we test the thing.
• Demo days & press events. We may attend industry events at the brand's expense (travel, badge). We disclose attendance on any piece that touches the event.

What we don't accept

• Sponsored posts. No "this article was made possible by…" Ever.
• Paid placement in buying guides. The order in a Best-X list reflects the rubric. Brands cannot buy a higher slot. Brands cannot buy into the list.
• Brand-written copy, including "expert quotes" supplied by manufacturers.
• Free retail-value gifts that aren't being reviewed (apparel, swag, off-cycle product). Returned or donated.
• Ambassadorships, signature deals, or staff endorsements. Writers and editors cannot hold a paid relationship with any brand we cover.

How we handle mistakes

We get things wrong. When we do, we correct the page, add a dated correction note at the bottom, and — if the error materially changed the verdict — flag it in the next newsletter. We do not silently rewrite reviews to make them look better in hindsight. Original versions are archived.

Ownership

tennisyard is independently owned and operated. We are not affiliated with any racquet, string, or footwear manufacturer, and not owned by a retailer or holding company.