201403 Tennis Industry magazine

Racquet Sports

STRING for squash, badminton, & racquetball players

Footwear

TENNIS SHOES: It’s about tech & performance

Industry

TIA presents FUTURE OF TENNIS Summit

Incorporating

MARCH 2014 / VOLUME 42/ NUMBER 3 / $5.00

Court Construction & Maintenance Guide• LED Lighting• Landscaping • Surface Stains• Personalize Courts

DEPARTMENTS

4 Our Serve

7 Industry News

14 Letters to the Editor

16 TIA news

18 Tennis Facilities

20 Retailing Tip

40 Ask the Experts

42 String Playtest: Victory Acelon Seven 16L

60 Your Serve by Bruce Knittle

PLUS

47 CEO’s Message

49 Vice President’s Message

50 Growing Your Business

53 Beyond the Court

57 Career Development

59 Member News

INDUSTRY NEWS

7 Inaugural TIA “Future of Tennis” Summit

7 Grow business with a Play Event

7 Cliff Drysdale to highlight owner/manager conference

8 Indian Wells Tennis Garden expands

8 Prince introduces “Racquet Selector,” new frames

8 Antigua offers 2014 women’s line

10 Sony unveils “smart” racquet sensor

10 People Watch

10 Industry loses SCTA’s Henry Talbert

11 New “Tennis Tuesday” digital mag launched

11 USTA considers plan to move South

11 USTA Serves awards $1.6 million

12 Short Sets

MARCH 2014Tennis Industry

22 Indoor Racquet SportsBoost your business by stringing for badminton, racquetball and squash players.

26 Performance ArtistsNew tennis shoes make a performance and technology splash.

28 Bright IdeasLED lighting is spilling over to sports venues. Is it right for your tennis facility?

31 ‘Growing’ Pains?For your facility’s greenery, and to save ‘green’ in your budget, work with a landscape pro.

34 Cleaning SolutionWhat's the best way to get rid of shoe marks and stains on your courts?

36 Mark-Up Your Courts!Tennis court contractors are adding logos, monograms and more to personalize courts.

47 “Good on ya, Mates!” USPTA Australian Open trip a fantastic adventure.

50 Tennis Across America Celebrates 25 YearsUSPTA Pros host free clinics to give back to their communities.

53 Tennis Thanks the TroopsUSPTA Pros host fundraisers for ThanksUSA, scholarships.

54 Professional Tennis ManagementCollege program prepares graduates for career in the tennis industry.

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2 TennisIndustry March 2014

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FEATURES

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COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

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Our Serve Publishers

David Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial Director Peter Francesconi [email protected]

Associate Editor Greg Raven

Design/Art Director Kristine Thom

Special Projects Manager Bob Patterson

Contributing Editors Robin Bateman Cynthia Cantrell Kent Oswald Cynthia Sherman Mary Helen Sprecher Tim Strawn

Contributing Photographers Bob Kenas David Kenas

TENNIS INDUSTRY Corporate Offices PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096 Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171 Email: [email protected] Website: www.TennisIndustryMag.com Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Advertising Director John Hanna 770-650-1102, x.125 [email protected] Apparel Advertising Cynthia Sherman 203-263-5243 [email protected]

Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year: monthly January through August and combined issues in September/October and November/ December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. Periodcal postage paid at Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offices (USPS #004-354). March 2014, Volume 42, Number 3 © 2014 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennis Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. TI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA.

Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/Racquet Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our website at TennisIndustrymag.com for free digital versions back to 2004.

How do we get more tennis consumers?

That’s the one question basic to every group involved in tennis. No matter what part of the industry you’re in—teaching pro, retailer, manufacturer, tennis asso-ciation, court builder, tournament director, etc.—your business will benefit when you get more people to consume tennis goods, services or events.

In fact, that’s what this magazine is all about—helping you reach more consumers. We need more people to play more tennis, to buy more tennis products and services, and to attend and watch more tennis tournaments and events.

Although the question—How do we get more consumers?—is simple, the answer, as we’ve found out for decades now, is not easy at all. We all have our own opinions about how best to reach more consumers and draw them in to the sport.

I believe appealing to consum-ers based on the health and fitness aspects of tennis—and how more and more people want something fun yet healthy to do—will be a clear winner for getting more people to play. Others feel that an all-out push for kids is the best way to reach more consumers, bringing both children and their parents into ten-nis. There are those who believe so-cial engagement in this digital world is what will bring more people into the game. And still others think we need to cultivate more American champions, so that star power will

attract more players to the court. All of these, and many others, are cer-tainly valid ways to reach and create more consumers for tennis.

To help this discussion along, the Tennis Industry Association is bringing together experts from many segments—including pro tennis, youth sports, health and fitness, media, technology, etc.—for the inaugural “Future of Tennis Summit,” which will be held March 11-12 in Indian Wells, Calif., during the BNP Paribas men’s and women’s pro tournament.

The idea is for the Summit to generate ideas that can help get consumers to play more, watch more, and buy more—important so we can put this industry on a path for sustainable growth.

As you should be aware, one of our industry’s goals is to reach 10 million frequent players in the U.S. by 2020 (right now we have about 5.4 million frequent players). This unique Future of Tennis Summit will help provide insight into how we can achieve that.

Visit futureoftennis.com to see the current agenda and list of high-powered speakers and panelists, including presenters from outside of the tennis industry who can help provide insight and opinions about what tennis needs to do to grow.

Since this directly affects your business, we’d like to know what you think about how to get more tennis consumers. After decades of trying, we know there are no easy answers.

Peter Francesconi, Editorial [email protected]

It’s a Simple Question, But . . .


March 2014 TennisIndustry 7

Industry NewsInformation to help you run your business

Former world No. 1 and current TV tennis analyst and Davis Cup Cap-tain Jim Courier will be a featured guest at the inaugural Tennis Indus-try Association “Future of Tennis Summit,” to be held March 11-12 in

Indian Wells, Calif., during the BNP Paribas Open.The Summit will include discussions and speakers

that take a top-level view of the industry, define goals and benchmarks, and help to chart a path that will ensure a profitable tennis marketplace and an image of tennis attractive to both recreational tennis players and tennis fans. The conference brings together experts from many segments—including pro tennis, youth sports, health and fitness, media, technology, etc.—to generate ideas and dis-cussions that can help get consumers to play more, watch more, and buy more, putting this industry on a sustain-able path for growth and helping to reach the goal of 10

million frequent players in the U.S. by 2020.Speakers and panelists were still being con-

firmed at press time, but presenters will include top executives from the USTA, WTA, ATP and ITF, tennis media, research experts, marketing experts and youth tennis experts.

The Future of Tennis Summit will be at the Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort & Spa. Additional details are available at FutureofTennis.com or email [email protected]. •

TIA ‘Future of Tennis Summit’ in Indian Wells

Grow Your Business by Hosting a Play Event

Tennis providers looking to grow their business have an opportunity in the month of March to host a Play Event and get more kids—and families—playing. The USTA is providing Play Event organizers with resources to host a successful tennis event and ensure a positive first experience for kids. Providers need to register their event by March 31 at YouthTennis.com or by call-ing 800-990-8782.

Play Events are happening across the country throughout the month, in celebra-tion of World Tennis Day on March 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York and at sites in London and Hong Kong.

Tennis providers can choose the type of event that works best for them, whether it’s an event for kids and families new to the game, or a Play Day to introduce kids to tennis. Registered Play Events and Play Days taking place in March receive a Celebra-tion Pack with a YouthTennis.com banner, 50 YouthTennis.com bracelets, and 50 copies of Bounce magazine for kids.

To help promote registered Play Events locally, providers also receive marketing resources from the USTA, including a sell sheet, web banners, a timeline checklist, customizable poster and flyer, press release and media advisory templates, newsletter copy and graph-ics. Organizers also will be featured in the searchable database on YouthTennis.com.

According to the USTA, March is the No. 1 month nationally when parents begin reg-istering their children for spring programs. By hosting a Play Event, tennis organiz-ers—whether at facilities, parks or munici-palities—have the opportunity to showcase their junior tennis programs and attract new players, and consumers, to the sport.

Drysdale to Highlight Owner/Manager Meeting

Cliff Drysdale, a 2013 International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee, will be the keynote speaker for the 2014 TIA Tennis Facility Owners &

Managers Conference in Charleston, S.C., April 3-4, during the Family Circle Cup women's tennis tourna-ment.

The conference will also feature some of the indus-try’s leading experts in tennis facility operations and management, who will present sessions and highlight resources on a variety of business topics includ-ing staffing and compensation, marketing, retailing, programming, and technology. The event will also provide attendees with networking opportunities to share their experiences and best practices.

Conference participants also will attend a VIP reception and watch the matches at the Family Circle Cup on April 3. For more information and to register for the conference, which will take place at the Charleston Marriott, visit TheTOMConference.com or call the TIA at 843-473-4504. •

Industry News

Prince Introduces ‘Racquet Selector,’ New Frames

Prince—which recently introduced a number of new frames in its Premier, Warrior, Tour and LS lines—has rolled out a new “Rac-quet Selector” on its website that, through answers to a series of six questions ranging from level of play to importance of power,

leads players to a unique “power level” num-ber that corresponds to the right Prince racquet for them.

“With the intro-duction of all these racquets, it is essen-tial that our consum-ers can easily identify the right racquet for their game,” says Peg Connor, director of global marketing for Prince Global Sports. “Our new racquet selector is a unique,

interactive web app that makes the racquet selection process fun and easy.”

In addition to the Premier, Warrior and Tour racquets that were in Tennis Indus-try’s “Outlook” story in the February issue, Prince recently unveiled its LS Series, which features a new cosmetic design with historic Prince racquet names designed for club players looking for performance at a more economical price point. The frames use Prince’s O3 Technology to help enlarge the sweetspot, says the company. The LS models will come in four racquet head sizes and five different weights (Silver LS 118, Blue LS 110, Red LS 105, Pink LS 105, and White LS 100). Top 10 WTA Tour player Jelena Jankovic is now using the Red LS 105.

For more information, and to check out the Racquet Selector, visit princetennis.com.

Antigua Offers 2014 Women’s Line

The Antigua Group Inc., which will be celebrating its 35th year in business in 2014, recently debuted its new line of women's tennis apparel, split into Performance, Essen-tials and Outerwear collec-tions. The company says the lines feature both active, contemporary looks and classic, traditional designs.

“We've revamped our women's line for 2014 with seven new styles and some great new colors,” said Antigua Group CEO Ron McPherson. “Each piece fea-tures one of our two performance fabrics, Desert Dry or Desert Dry Xtra Lite (D2XL), which enable the apparel to stand up to competitive play in the heat or cold.”

The Performance collection includes 14 items, ranging from polos to skorts to jackets, with most in at least five color options. The Essentials collection is made up of 10 tops, some available in as many as 22 colors. The Outerwear collection has five tops, including hoodies, half zip fleeces and long sleeve full zip jackets. Some are available in as many as 26 col-ors. Antigua also offers custom embroi-dery. Visit Antigua.com.

Florida One-On-One Doubles To Lead to National Championship

One-On-One Doubles, a unique half-court serve-and-volley singles competition played


Expanded Indian Wells FacilityTo Enhance BNP Paribas Open

Tennis fans will notice an expansion at the BNP Paribas Open men’s and women’s tournament, which takes place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California March 3 to 16. The tournament recently completed Stadium 2

(above), a permanent structure with 8,000 seats, and which will house three gour-met restaurants—Nobu, The Chop House and Piero’s Pizza Vino—on the concourse level overlooking the on-court action and the grounds.

In addition to the new Stadium 2 and the restaurants, the site expansion in-cludes a new East entrance with a new box office, a Walk of Palms, an additional 19,000-square-foot shade structure with video walls, four additional practice courts, additional concessions, more grass parking space for up to 2,000 cars, en-hanced landscaping, additional seats on some outside courts, and more.

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden will unveil Stadium 2 on March 1, when it will host the McEnroe Challenge for Charity, a free-admission special event that will feature John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Peter Fleming and Rick Leach. The new res-taurants in Stadium 2 also will be open during the charity event.

“In our continued effort to enhance the BNP Paribas Open experience we are very excited that we will now be able to offer this unique dining experience that all of our patrons can enjoy while taking in the matches, the spectacular mountain views and the numerous activities that are available throughout the tournament grounds,” says tournament director Steve Simon. •

Industry News


former world No. 1 doubles player Kelly Jones. “It’s great for young players to start serving and volleying again. It helps creativ-ity and feel.”

Piloted by the USTA Florida Section, One-On-One Doubles tournaments will be held March 7 at the Kiwi Tennis Club, Indian Harbour Beach; April 5 at Hawks Landing Tennis Club in Plantation; May 3 at Buckhorn Springs Tennis and Swim Club in Valrico; and Oct. 25 at Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa. Each tournament integrates “rockin’ blues music” throughout the three- to four-hour event. Players win points at each event that determines who goes to the national championship.

“One-OnOne Doubles Tournaments are a natural addition to any tennis clubs’ schedule—both for regular play and special events,” says Whitney Kraft, tennis director at the USTA BJK NTC.

For more information, contact Krass at [email protected] or call

on a doubles court and created by college tennis guru Ed Krass, returns to Florida with four events, leading to an all-expenses paid trip to New York City in November to play in the national championship at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Each tournament offers $4,000 in prize money.

One-On-One Doubles is a fast-paced game played cross-court—each player cov-ers half the court, from the baseline to net, and from center line to outside doubles line. The format requires players to use the full arsenal of shots, but emphasizes serving and volleying.

“It give players the opportunity to play a game that we always used as a drill,” says

813-684-9031 or 813-478-3384, or visit oneononedoubles.com.

Prince Opens ‘Hub’ in Melbourne

To kick-off the first Grand Slam of 2014, Prince opened a customize “Hub” at the Tennis Live Site at the Crown Entertain-ment Complex in Melbourne for tennis fans and visitors. Throughout the Aus-tralian Open, the Prince Hub featured a ground-floor merchandise store that showcased Prince’s 2014 product line and gave tennis enthusiasts the opportu-nity to find a racquet using Prince’s latest racquet selector.

The Hub also hosted Prince player signing sessions and was a prime location for viewing the action and live entertainment around the area. Player appearances included WTA No. 8 Jelena Jankovic and doubles champions Mike and Bob Bryan.

PeopleWatch

Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, along with Spanish tour player Nicolas Almagro, recently switched to Dunlop’s new M4.0 racquet. "We tested the M4.0 with Dominika and Nicolas late last year, and they gave us excel-lent feedback about its stability and control. They were both able to play their power base-line games with added confidence, which is why they switched so quickly," said Hunter Hines, director of mar-keting and product for Dunlop Racquet Sports.

Mueller Sports Medi-cine of Prairie du Sac, Wis., has signed a three-year deal with Rafael Nadal to endorse Mueller’s

ProStrips abrasion control products. Nadal says he wears the strips around the fingers of his racquet hand to protect his skin from blistering and tearing during matches. Pro Strips are pressure-sensitive mesh strips available in rolls or pre-cut shapes that help protect against turf burns, scrapes and blisters. Visit muellers-portsmed.com.

Alan Little, the honor-ary librarian of the Wimbledon Lawn Ten-nis Museum and author of the annual Wimble-don Compendium, has been awarded the MBE (Member of the British

Empire) in the Queen's New

Years' Hon-ours List for his services to tennis. Fila has

signed a multi-year endorsement

agreement with top-

ranked American player Sam Querrey.

Two coaching leg-ends—Dr. Jim Loehr and the late Jim Verdieck—were set to be inducted into the PTR Hall of Fame during the PTR International Tennis Symposium in February on Hilton Head Island. Loehr and Verdieck join Dennis Van der Meer in the PTR Hall of Fame.

Dale Caldwell, the former president of the USTA Eastern Section board of directors, has been awarded the section’s Leslie J. FitzGibbon Tennis Man of the Year Award for his sustained involvement in growing the game.

The San Diego Avia-tors, the newest World TeamTennis team, picked up Bob and Mike Bryan, the top doubles team in the world, in a trade with the Texas Wild. San Diego also announced that the Bryans’ coach, David

Macpherson, will be the head coach of the Aviators. The San Diego franchise was created when local businessman Russell Geyser bought the New York WTT fran-chise after last season and moved it west.

Peugeot, which this year marks its 30th anniversary in part-nership with Roland Garros, has chosen Novak Djokovic as its international ambas-sador.

2XU (“Two Times You”), a sports ap-parel and compression brand, has hired former tennis professional Randy Becker to head sales operations in the tennis and golf markets in the U.S. Becker played on the pro tour and coached the Maze Cup and USA v. Japan Exchange. His experi-

ence in tennis includes time as a consultant and as director of player development and board member for the USTA Northern California Section.

Steve Ayles has joined the Interna-tional Tennis Federa-tion as the Executive Commercial Consul-tant for Asia-Pacific. He formerly held the position of director of commercial for Tennis Australia, was CEO of Tennis Queensland, and was a tournament director for ATP/WTA

events. Terry

Fontana of Long Is-land, N.Y., recently

received the USTA

Eastern Section Lifetime

Achievement Award for her commitment to tennis over the past 50 years.


Industry News

end of the racquet handle and equipped with vibration and gyroscopic sensors to track where the ball strikes the strings. The sensor also records swing speed and spin you put on the ball. Bluetooth sends the data to a paired mobile device. Bat-tery life when the Bluetooth is turned on is about 90 minutes.

The device weighs 8 grams and mea-sures 31.3 mm in diameter and 17 mm in height. PC Pro magazine says the sensor will be released in Japan in May, for a price of about $170. At launch, the sensor will only be compatible with six Yonex racquets: the VCore Tour G, VCore Xi 98, VCore Xi 100, EZone AI 98, EZone Ai 100, and EZone Ai Lite. Players also need to download the free app for Android or iOS.

Industry Loses Henry Talbert After a long and courageous battle with

cancer, former USTA Southern California Sec-tion Executive Director Henry Talbert passed away on Jan. 12 at his Pacific Palisades home, surrounded by his wife, Fran, and sons, Eli

and Ethan. Talbert joined

the USTA national office in 1974 as tennis program-ming director, before moving in 1990 to the Princ-eton, N.J., office where he focused on recreation programming

and research, and then back to the national office in White Plains, N.Y., in 1993, where he supervised the USTA National Recreation Program staff.

He returned home to California in 1997 to become executive director of the Southern California Tennis Association and remained in that position for 16 years until he retired in 2013. Talbert received the prestigious Gussy Moran Humanitarian Award in 2013 for his achievements and contributions to tennis in the U.S.

Sony Unveils ‘Smart’ Racquet Sensor

Sony revealed a prototype “Smart Ten-nis Sensor” at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that is installed in the

Industry News

Tecnifibre Offers 2 New Frames

Tecnifibre, the official product sponsor of the ATP, introduces two new frames for spring, the TFlash 300 and the TFlash 315. Both graphite racquets offer a 100-square-inch head and 16 x 19 string pattern. The TFlash 300 weighs 10.6 ounces while the 315, designed for power and spin, checks in at 11.1 ounces. For more information, visit tecnifibre.com.

TMC Launches Digital Magazine ‘Tennis Tuesday’

In early January, the Tennis Media Co. launched a new weekly digital magazine, “Tennis Tuesday,” that the company says serves as a stand-alone product for desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones.

Available at TennisTuesday.net, the new publication replaces the twice-monthly digital magazine Tennis 15-30, but with some key differences. Besides the increased frequency, the technology of Tennis Tuesday is driven by Ceros, a


platform that allows publishers to create highly interactive user experiences to be delivered via web, tablet and smartphone.

“Each issue of Tennis Tuesday will continue to offer the latest insight on the pro circuit, as well as tips for the frequent players among our audience to be able to improve their games,” said Robert Miller, managing partner of the Tennis Media Co., which also publishes Tennis magazine and Tennis.com. “The weekly offering will not only do all of this with twice the frequency of Tennis 15-30, but it will do so with an enhanced user-friendly experience that

ACEing Autism Honors Duchess of York

The Duchess of York recently was honored by ACEing Autism for her interest in tennis and developing recreational opportunities for kids with autism. ACEing Autism has 30 tennis programs in 10 states serving the

needs of about 500 children with autism on a weekly basis, who represent a vari-ety of cognitive, special and physical abilities. Each child is paired with one or two volunteers based on his or her needs. This past fall ACEing Autism launched new programs in Tampa; Charlotte; Encinitas, Calif.; and Riverside Park, N.Y., with plans to expand to nine new areas in 2014. Visit acingautism.com. •

works as well on a phone as it does on a desktop—and devices of all sizes in between.”

USTA Considers Plan to Move South

In an email to USTA staff in mid-January, Executive Director Gordon Smith relayed a message from USTA President Dave Hag-gerty about “a major new initiative” to create a state-of-the-art tennis facility in Orlando, Fla., to “showcase American tennis and provide an unprecedented opportunity to further the USTA’s mission of growing and developing the sport of tennis in the United States.”

While Smith said plans are not final, the concept, which would be completed in 2016, is to build a tennis facility and complex that would house the USTA Community Tennis division and include a new Collegiate Tennis Center. The facility would also become the exclusive national headquarters of USTA Player Development.

USTA Serves Awards $1.6 Million USTA Serves, the national charitable

foundation of the USTA, recently awarded $450,000 in grants to 40 organizations that provide tennis and education to underserved youth and people with disabilities, bringing the total awarded during the 2013 grant funding cycle to more than $1.2 million. Combined with scholarships, USTA Serves awarded a total of $1.6 million in 2013.

The biannual grant process was estab-lished to award organizations that suc-cessfully combine tennis and education for underserved youth as well as people with disabilities to gain an opportunity to play tennis and improve their aca-

percent over last year.• The most popular female players based

on number of profile views were Eugenie Bouchard (372,799 views), Dominika Cib-ulkova (316,409), Ana Ivanovic (205,971), Li Na (194,304) and Agnieszka Radwanska (190,340).

• The most popular male players were Rafael Nadal (292,289), Roger Federer (275,410), Stanislas Wawrinka (222,120), Grigor Dimitrov (172,770) and Novak Djokovic (132,131).

• SlamTracker was launched more than 4.9 million times, an increase of 154 percent.

ShortSets

IBM unveiled new technologies for tennis fans during the 2014 Australian Open, includ-ing a free iPad app and the IBM ReturnServe, which used live match data to give fans at home the experience of facing serves from the world’s best players.

The USTA selected the Dunlop Fort clay ball for the Jan. 31-Feb. 2 Davis Cup tie between the U.S. and Great Britain, which was played on a red clay court set up at Petco Park, the home of MLB’s San Diego Padres.

TGA Premier Youth Tennis (TGA) has been recognized by Entre-preneur Magazine in its “Franchise 500” list. The youth sports company debuted at No. 424. The magazine’s 35th annual Franchise 500 appears in the January 2014 issue. Entrepreneur Magazine previously named TGA a “Top 10 Franchise Value” based on total startup costs.

Former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Cou-rier will be the special celebrity guest for the Rodney Street Tennis & Tutoring Association’s Annual Spring Benefit on May 8 in Wilmington, Del. The event will be held at the Greenville Country Club. Visit rod-neystreettennis.org.

Three full-time coaches have been added recently to USTA Player Develop-ment: Roger Anderson and Anibal Aranda as national coaches for women’s tennis, and Stephen Amritraj as a national coach for men’s tennis. Anderson and Aranda will be based out of Boca Raton, Fla., working under head of women’s tennis Ola Malmquist; Amritraj will be based in Carson, Ca-lif., reporting to head of men’s tennis Jay Berger.

Maria Sharapova’s candy line, Sugarpova, now has a partnership with the International

Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I. Sugarpova is the new official sponsor and an underwriter of the Hall of Fame's Kids Free program, which provides free admis-sion to the museum for children ages 16 and under, every day, year-round.

Lighting company ThinkLite says it’s sold more than 1,000 units of HammeLite, it’s proprietary indoor court lighting solution introduced in Decem-ber 2012. Customers included indoor tennis and soccer facilities in Massachusetts, Con-necticut, New York, Maine and Canada. For more information, visit ThinkLite.com or call 617-500-6689.

The Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., will again partner with the Special Olympics Maryland to provide free training facilities to Team Maryland and

its athletes who will compete at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games to be held in Princeton, N.J., in June. JTCC will train 25 to 35 Special Olympics athletes who will play for Team Maryland in the state's first represen-tation at the games.

Har-Tru Sports signed on to be a do-mestic sponsor of the U.S. vs. Great Britain Davis Cup by BNP Paribas First Round tie, which was played on a temporary red clay court in left field of PetCo Park Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in San Diego.

The USPTA has re-launched its website, uspta.com, with a new look and new navigation.

The first official sports partnership for StubHub, the world's largest secondary ticketing marketplace and part of the eBay Inc. family, is with

the 2014 World Ten-nis Day Showdown presented by the Financial Times at London Earls Court. The London showcase is a new addition to the World Tennis Day format, organized by StarGames, which will see events in New York's Madison Square Garden and Hong Kong, all on March 3. The London Showdown will feature legends Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Pat Cash and Ivan Lendl.

The ITF announced that human resources solutions company Adecco has signed a three-year extension as an international sponsor of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.

The World TeamTen-nis’s Austin Aces will play their matches at the Cedar Park Center, where the arena will be configured to seat 5,500 fans.

demic skills in a structured format. These programs also strive to help combat childhood obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles.

To date, USTA Serves has awarded more than $17 million in grants and scholar-ships to standout players and programs.

Aussie Open, By the Numbers

There are always some interesting stats and facts that come out of each of the Grand Slam tournaments. This year’s Australian Open was hit with four days of intense heat,

which tournament officials say affected the overall attendance, which was 643,280 fans vs. the record set in 2012 of 686,006. Some other interesting numbers provided by the tournament incude:• The Wilson stringers hut restrung more

than 4,200 racquets, using over 31 miles of string. More than 110 racquets were rapidly restrung for players during match-es. Serena Williams had the most racquets restrung of all players in the main draw, sending 45 racquets to the stringers.

• More than 17 million unique visitors went to ausopen.com, an increase of 12


Industry News

Industry News


The official Australian Open App was down-loaded more than 1.2 million times on mobile devices. There was a 91 percent increase in mobile site page views, with more than 35 million page views at m.ausopen.com.

• The Australian Open Facebook page had 1,158,308 likes and a total reach of 12.5 million.

College MatchDay to Highlight 22 NCAA Div. 1 Team Matches

The USTA announced that College Match-Day, the nationwide series spotlighting college tennis, will feature 22 matches on 18 different campuses in 2014, 10 of which will be delivered by ESPN3. The series kicked off in early February in Tallahassee, Fla., with the Florida State men hosting Oklahoma.

College MatchDay is a weekly series highlighting marquee team matches featuring the best programs, players and coaches around the country. In addition to the ESPN3 coverage, eight College Match-Days will feature a 53-foot, interactive Fan Experience trailer on site, where fans can engage in a number of activities before and during the match.

“College tennis is such amazing and ex-citing competition, and College MatchDay is a way to shine a light on schools, teams, players and coaches,” said Virgil Christian, the USTA’s director of collegiate tennis. “We hope that College MatchDay can change the landscape of viewing college tennis both in person and at home.”

Every MatchDay carried on ESPN3 will follow a unique, experimental format, as proposed by an advisory group of NCAA Division I athletic directors: All six singles matches will be played first, best of three tie-break sets, with each singles match worth one point toward the team total (four points are required to win the team match). Once one team reaches four points and clinches the match, the remaining matches will not be completed. In the case of a 3-3 tie after the singles matches, three doubles matches—played using 10-point super tiebreakers—will be used to determine the winner. The team that wins two of the three doubles matches wins the team match.

Ashaway Extends Crossfire Line of Hybrid Strings

Ashaway Racket Strings has extended its well-known Crossfire line of hybrid tennis strings to include its popular 100 percent


Industry News

Redone Magazine is 'A Winner'

Great job with the new Tennis Industry! I was always a big fan of the original Tennis Industry. The new publication is well laid out and very informative. Also, the ADDvantage section will be a big improvement. You definitely hit a winner with this new and improved magazine.

Philip BlackwelderUSPTA, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Congratulations on the “new” Tennis Industry magazine. I like the new look and hope this proves to be a very successful move on the part of TI and USPTA.

Don CrusiusNational Sales Manager, VITALSOX

I read the new, combined Tennis In-dustry and ADDvantage magazine. Thank you for being innovative and producing such a nice product for our industry.

Greg LappinNational Tennis Director

Life Time Fitness

I just received the new magazine and the new format and love it. I like the combined aspect with the USPTA news also.

B. Scott SmithExecutive Director

Vineyard Youth TennisMartha’s Vineyard, Mass.

Zyex monofilament strings. Additions to the line include Crossfire ZX, which combines Ashaway's 17-gauge braided Aramid/PTFE Kevlar+Plus mains with MonoGut ZX Pro cross strings; and Crossfire ZX Tour, which includes Ashaway's co-polymer string, MonoGut Original, mains with MonoGut ZX for the crosses. For more information visit www.ashawayusa.com.

Nominate for TI Hall of Fame The Tennis Industry Association is

accepting nominations for the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame for 2014, which

LettersOver-50 Players Are a Key to Participation Goals

In the January 2014 issue of Tennis Industry, Kevin Theos’ “Your Serve” did an excellent job outlining some of the key steps toward achieving the Tennis Industry Association's goal of reaching 10 million frequent players by 2020. I would like to add two more important considerations.

First, we need to pay more attention to population (player) demograph-ics. By 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that roughly 35 percent of our overall population will be 50 and over. While Kevin rightly emphasizes creating new generations of frequent players, we must also pay particular attention to nurturing, motivating, and supporting those players who are "ma-turing gracefully.” And, I am not only referring to 50 and over players who are relatively new to our sport; we need to take care of existing frequent players, particularly that growing group of Baby Boomers who may well play frequently into their 80s or 90s.

Second, what can be done to really help frequent players ages 50 and over continue to play? Most simply, making court surfaces more user-friendly and less traumatic on our bodies. Out west where I play and teach, the vast major-ity of courts are asphalt or concrete; the few clay courts we do have are woefully inadequate. We need to carefully exam-ine what will happen to the numbers of frequent 50 and over players when their

bodies start breaking down because of the over-abundance of and reliance on hard courts.

I am afraid that many of us competi-tive senior players will be forced to give up the game because our bodies can no longer take the constant pounding presented by asphalt and concrete. The technology of clay courts, including the maintenance needed to keep them in good shape, has improved dramatically over the years. Many clubs and facilities that only offer hard courts and that avoid making the investments needed for more player-friendly soft courts will lose frequent players as physical mala-dies take their cumulative tolls.

While the focus on bringing new frequent players into our sport is im-portant, let’s not forget that retaining frequent players in the fastest growing segment of our population will also play a critical role in achieving the 10 million frequent player goal.

Gene Siegel USPTA Professional, Tucson, Ariz.

It’s About the Mission

“Living Up to the Mission” (Our Serve, February 2014)—great editorial! Build participation—that’s the name of the game. Think long term. Thank you, Peter.

Alan G. SchwartzChairman, TCA Holdings LLC

We welcome your comments. Please email them to [email protected].

honors individuals who have made a significant impact on the sport of ten-nis. Nominations, which are due by June 21, can be in any of four categories: Inventors, Founders, Innovators or Contributors. Criteria for nominating and a short nomination form are at Ten-nisIndustry.org/HOF.

The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame was created in 2008 and currently has eight inductees: Howard Head (2008), Den-nis Van der Meer (2008), Alan Schwartz (2009), Billie Jean King (2010), Nick Bollettieri (2011), Howard Gill Jr.

(2013), Walter Montenegro (2013) and Sheldon Westervelt (2013). Plaques of Tennis Industry Hall of Fame inductees are on permanent display at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. •

USRSA Announces New MRTs Julian Ayala - Weston, FLEric Engelsgjerd - Frisco, TXRichard Marks - San Diego, CADaniel Marongiu - Miramar Beach, FLJoseph Sisco - Brooklyn Center, MN

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org16 TennisIndustry March 2014

VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF TENNISWith the support and participation from major organizations and companies in tennis, along with important sponsors, the Future of Tennis Summit will help design the future landscape of the sport.

PARTICIPATION & SUPPORT BY KEY EXECUTIVES• TIA Board Members• USTA Top Executives and Board Members• Major Manufacturers• Key Tennis Organizations• Sponsors and Advertisers

IMPORTANT & DYNAMIC TOPICS• Pro tours and the media—creating the buzz.• The latest research, including participation, consumer

and manufacturing trends.• The USTA’s vision for the future.

• Capturing the youth market and next generations.• Health and fitness messaging.• The global tennis outreach.• Trends and insights in the consumer market.• Technology and adult recreational play.• How to motivate and remove barriers to play.• Moving the needle on adult frequent play.

ENGAGED & INFLUENTIAL AUDIENCEFrom the moment the Future of Tennis Summit was announced, the response has been tremendous. We expect the meeting room at the Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort & Spa to be filled to capacity, as registrations are received daily from tennis executives, tournament directors, media, tennis organizations, tech representatives, tennis providers, retailers, coaches, teaching pros, potential new sponsors for the sport, etc.

2014 Future of Tennis SummitThe inaugural Future of Tennis Summit will bring together top executives and experts from all segments of the industry, and from outside of tennis. The goal is to generate ideas and discussions that can put this industry on a pathway that creates more tennis players, more tennis fans, and more tennis consumers. Much like the sport itself, the Summit is designed to be fluid, dynamic and engaging, with presentations by industry and sports experts, panel discussions and opportunities to network.

More P layers , More Fans , More Tenn is Consumers

KNOWLEDGEABLE SPEAKERS & PANELISTS (Confirmed to date)

Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO, WTA Jason Bernstein, Senior Director–Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN

Kristin Carroll, V.P–Marketing, Active Network Gary Colen, CEO, AMP Agency Jim Courier, former World No. 1, current TV analyst, Davis Cup captain Jolyn de Boer, Executive Director, TIA David Egdes, Senior V.P.–Tennis Industry Relations, Tennis Channel John Embree, CEO, USPTA Dave Haggerty, President and Chairman of the Board, USTA

Kurt Kamperman, CEO, Community Tennis, USTA Ilana Kloss, CEO and Commissioner, WTT Dr. Mark Kovacs, Performance Physiologist, Coach, Author Greg Mason, President, TIA Dave Miley, Executive Director–Tennis Development, ITF Dr. Bob Pangrazi, Educational Consultant and Professor Emeritus, Arizona State

Mona Pearl, Global Business Development Expert Dan Santorum, CEO, PTR Keith Storey, President, Sports Marketing Surveys USA Jeff Williams, Group Publisher, Tennis magazine/Tennis.com

Featured Guest Jim Courier

For more information, visit FutureOfTennis.com.

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org March 2014 TennisIndustry 17

Tennis Hall-of-Famer and ESPN tennis commentator Cliff Drysdale will highlight the TIA’s inaugural “Tennis Owners & Managers Conference,” which will be held at the Charleston (S.C.) Marriott April 3-4, during the Family Circle Cup women’s professional tournament. Drysdale’s career includes leadership roles in tennis and the ATP and ownership of Cliff Drysdale Tennis, a tennis management company. He’ll be joined at the Owners & Managers Conference by some of the industry’s leading experts in tennis facility operations and management, who will cover topics and issues important to running and managing facilities.

“The goal of the T.O.M. Conference is to bring together experts from various areas and backgrounds to share their insights and provide ‘takeaways’ for conference attendees,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “We’re assembling a terrific lineup of presenters, panel discussions and networking opportunities in beautiful Charleston, plus an evening at the Family Circle Cup matches. The setting is hard to beat!”

Working with the TIA, veteran tennis club and facility management consultant Doug Cash of CashFlow Tennis helped organize speakers and will present sessions on staff compensation, navigating legal issues and increasing membership, in addition to moderating discussions.

Among the presentations will be a C-Level roundtable discussion with Greg Lappin of Life Time Fitness; Thomas Deere, COO of Five Seasons Family Sports Club; and Michael Mahoney, VP and general manager of Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago. They’ll share their views on key areas that affect our sport’s health and growth, and provide insights on what our industry should be thinking about to ensure a vibrant and profitable tennis marketplace in the future.

Other presenters and topics will include: Jim Bates of Intelligent Creativity, who

wrote the book “Business Valuation for Dummies,” on setting financial benchmarks and how to evaluate your club’s success rate.

Simon Gale, Yonkers Tennis Center general manager, on how to take advantage of the industry’s collective focus on 10 and Under Tennis to grow your business. Jeff Goeke, president of Fairfield

(Conn.) Indoor Tennis, on how to maximize revenue per court. Virgil Christian, the USTA director

of market development, and facility designer and technical consultant David Lasota, who will discuss how to make sure your facility is operating at peak efficiency and is appealing to players. Retail consultant Jay Townley of the

Gluskin Townley Group on the pros and cons of running a pro shop at your tennis facility.

There also will be a focus on the latest technology for tennis facilities that can help drive consumer engagement and retention and keep clubs and facilities on the cutting edge. TIA Software as a Service (Saas) partners will be on hand to help provide technology solutions to improve facility operations. Attendees have the opportunity to meet in small-group sessions with SaaS providers on products and services that can aid in court booking, point-of-sale software, website development and more.

Discussion panelists will include Kurt Kamperman, USTA Community Tennis chief executive; Dan Santorum, CEO of the PTR; John Embree, CEO of the USPTA; Ajay Pant, general manager of the Tennis Center at College Park (Md.); and Rod Heckelman, general manager of the Mount Tam R.C. in California, among others. The TIA, together with its research partner Sports Marketing Surveys, will present the latest research and data on tennis participation, retail, consumer and manufacturing trends; and threats and opportunities facing the business.

“One of the important aspects of our conference is that many of the presenters are club and facility owners and managers themselves,” de Boer says. “They can easily relate to the issues and challenges facing tennis facilities today, and they’ve found creative and profitable solutions, which can be shared with their fellow facility managers from around the country.”

The conference will be at the Charleston Marriott in the heart of historic Charleston, S.C., rated the No. 1 city in the U.S. (Condé Nast). Participants also will attend the Family Circle Cup tournament for the evening session on April 3, with a reception and banquet in the Legends Sky Suite. The conference also includes lunch on both days and breakfast on Friday.

For registration and for more information on the agenda and rates, including a link to the special hotel conference rate (must be booked by March 12), please visit TheTOMConference.com.

Inaugural Tennis Owners & Managers Conference

April 3-4, 2014, Charleston, S.C.THE T.O.M. CONFERENCE

ESPN tennis commentator Cliff Drysdale

TIA Tennis Facility Owners & Managers Conference

April 3-4, 2014Charleston Marriott, Charleston, S.C.

TheTOMConference.com843-473-4504

The Life Time Athletic facil-ity in Peachtree Corners, Ga., just north of Atlanta, finished

its nearly nine-month renovation in October, premiering the company’s largest indoor/outdoor tennis complex and the first in the always-hot Atlanta tennis market.

One of two locations in Atlanta, Life Time Athletic at Peachtree Corners is a more than 20-acre, 90,000-square-foot club that boasts eight indoor hard courts, 16 outdoor hard courts (includ-ing a stadium court with seating for 2,600), four outdoor clay courts, and eight 36-foot hard courts. The facility also has two platform tennis courts.

The Peachtree Corners location also offers a pro shop, stringing services and everything from nutritional expertise to a day-care center. (Parents enjoy two free hours of child care every day.) The extensive fitness center has the latest cardio equipment, a cycle studio, Pilates studio, fitness and yoga studios, free weights, and more. The locker rooms (towels are free throughout the facility) have saunas and steam rooms. There are also indoor and outdoor pools, and the facility’s on-site restau-rant offers beer and wine. Membership includes 24-hour access.

The facility was formerly known as Racquet Club of the South, and General Manager Layne McCleary, who previ-ously served as the national tennis director for Life Time Fitness in Min-nesota, says every inch of the property has been redone. Major renovations began in August 2012 as Life Time crews aimed to bring the club back to its glory days, while adding a complete-ly new vibe to the facility.

Since Atlanta has a reputation as one of the most influential tennis mar-kets in the country, Life Time further

strengthened the program by bringing more than tennis to the table.

McCleary reports that the updated Peachtree Corners facility is thriving. “Our tennis program continues to grow with more leagues, drills and mixers added on a regular basis,” he says. “Lots of ALTA and USTA leagues are form-ing to connect new members and help round out existing teams.” In addition to the influx of tennis attention, the club’s group fitness and yoga programs are also seeing success and “getting great participation from tennis players and non-tennis players.”

Of course, in Atlanta a dedicated ten-nis program is an important focus. “We have a very robust program for all ages and skill levels—from beginner adult programs through our High Perfor-mance Junior Academy,” McCleary says. With weekly drills, clinics, private

lessons, weekly mixers, inter-club leagues, ALTA and USTA leagues, members have the opportunity to keep playing regardless of weather or scheduling constraints. Life Time also offers Flex Leagues, Cardio Ten-nis and a Match Play program. The Adult Instructional Program includes Tennis 101/201/301/, which intro-duces the fundamentals of tennis in a comfortable environment, with an emphasis on developing relationships and future playing partners.

McCleary and his team want tennis players to tour the facility, and offer a deal for ALTA or USTA teams that includes “a free 90-minute team drill with one of our expert pros followed by a happy hour in our bar just to come check us out.”

In 2012, before the renovation of the Racquet Club of the South, the Life Time Fitness company itself was named Tennis Industry’s Private Facility of the Year for its dedication and investment in tennis. Life Time Athletic at Peachtree Corners is help-ing to show that investment is paying off. •

Community ServicesThe former Racquet Club of the South is reborn as a key Life Time Athletic tennis and fitness facility. By Jacqui Frasca

Tennis Facilities


To survive and thrive in specialty tennis retailing, you need to “master the basics,” meaning you

need to change your store’s strategy from the traditional product-centric focus of the last four decades to being consumer-centric. You need to take advantage of every opportunity to identify and create individual tennis lifestyle solutions—instead of just sell-ing “tennis gear.”• Happy Face: One of the basics of re-tailing is something you know well: the power of a smile. A smile by you and all of your staff establishes the founda-tion for your whole consumer-centric strategy.

But it goes much further. The posi-tive influence of a smile leads to the power of word of mouth in promot-ing your store brand, and with all the electronic communication and social media there is today, word of mouth is probably the most powerful marketing tool at your disposal. And it all starts with a smile.• Hang Out the Welcome Sign: Invite everyone into your specialty tennis shop to learn about how the tennis lifestyle can lead to a healthier and happier individual and household.

For retailers, the group of best cus-tomers, or “sweet spot,” is now 11 per-cent smaller than it was 10 years ago. Baby-boomers are not being replaced one-for-one by Generation X, the cur-rent best customers of tennis shops. The only way to get out of the current slump is to increase close rates—that is, reach out and attract more shoppers from your neighborhood and commu-nity to your store so you and your staff can convert more of them to paying customers.

Hanging out the welcome sign also means your store becomes as inclusive as it can be, embracing the cultural and ethnic diversity in your neighborhood

and community. This means making everyone—women, men, children, teenagers, seniors, enthusiast tennis players, infrequent tennis players and folks who have not yet discovered the fun and enjoyment of tennis—welcome and comfortable in your store.• Invoke the Power of “How”: Right after your smile and warm greeting, “How” should be the basic beginning of each engagement with a shopper. “How can we be of service to you today?” “How can I help you?”

• Keep Up Your Prices: Never sell anything in your store below your cost of doing business—with the only exceptions being necessary inventory adjustments—and then invoke the rule that the first loss is the best loss! Learn to buy and price the merchandise your store sells for a fair profit and don’t stock any merchandise that doesn’t al-low you to operate your store as a profit-able, growing specialty retail business.• It’s All About the Customers: Make it as easy as possible to shop your store and also as easy as possible for your sales associates to sell. Keep your prod-uct portfolio as simple and easy to man-age, sell and buy as you possibly can.

The next step is adapting your prod-uct portfolio to your website and devel-oping your online strategy. Commerce-enabling your website is a strategic decision you will have to make depend-ing on your market and customer base. Ideally, you want to make it as easy as possible to buy from you.

For upcoming TIA retail webinars, and to view previous webinars, visit Ten-nisIndustry.org/webinars. This is part of a series of retail tips presented by the Tennis Industry As-sociation and written by the Gluskin Townley Group (www.gluskintownley-group.com).

• Neighborhood and Community: Your market space is essentially your neighborhood and community, and while the internet gives your store wider reach, your ability to tap into your shop local/buy local movement is vitally important to your being able to increase your store’s conversion and close rates.

Retail technology, along with hand-held and mobile technology, have changed the face of retailing, but before rushing to embrace technology, specialty tennis shops need to care-fully consider two basic factors. First, what technology is affordable and will contribute to the customer experience and satisfaction that your store will be providing? Second, what technology will differentiate your specialty tennis shop from your competitors?

Neither question is simple, but ten-nis shops need to focus on mastering the basics of providing an extraordi-nary retail shopping experience as a part of any decisions concerning bringing technology into their brick-and-mortar stores.• Invest in Your Staff: All of this leads to this last point—invest in the people who staff your store. This is the single most important to your objective of providing above-average retail shopping experiences, and making your staff one of the reasons satisfied customers come back to your shop and recommend your store to others. •

Basic TrainingTo thrive in a tennis retail environment, make sure you master the fundamentals.

Retailing 128

For retailers, the group of best customers is now 11 percent smaller than it was 10 years ago. Baby-boomers are not being replaced one-for-one by Generation X.


Racquet Sports


We all would like more business. Who wouldn’t? Yet, we frequently hear from racquet stringers who turn down business because they don’t want to string anything but tennis

racquets. Granted, badminton racquets can be a bit daunting with their thin strings and dense patterns, and racquetball rac-quets can be downright frustrating with exotic patterns.

But before you turn that business away, take a deep breath and rethink it.

You have the skills and most, if not all, of the equipment

needed to add another revenue stream. With some addi-tional tools (many stringers won’t need any) and a little pa-tience, you can become a true racquet service professional that can string any racquet. The first step is to not be intimi-dated.

Some stringers charge a higher labor fee for badminton and racquetball stringing simply because they take a little more time. With a little practice, you will find that your times are not that much different than stringing a tennis racquet, but if you feel a higher rate is justified, then by all means go for it. Just don’t turn business away!

Stringing for Indoor Racquet SportsBoost your business by stringing for badminton, racquetball and squash players.By Mark Gonzalez and Bob Patterson

BADMINTONFor badminton, first make sure your machine can accommodate the smaller head size and thin profile of the frame. Most modern ma-chines can, although you may need to change out mounting billiards or use adapters. These are included with many machines while oth-ers may offer them for an additional cost.

A valuable accessory to have on hand is an “H” adaptor or load spreader (below). This little device helps protect the fragile, thin frames by reducing stress at the 12 o’clock position, especially at higher tensions. Although you can often get by using your machine's tennis clamps, many come with extra clamps designed specifically for the dense patterns of badminton. If you have to buy clamps, most stringers find that the use of flying clamps works better and is faster.

Although the patterns are dense and the string thinner, with a little practice you’ll find that you can string a bad-minton racquet in about the same time as a tennis racquet. Badminton string-

ing requires only eight or nine more pulls than stringing an average tennis racquet. The biggest difference is that most badminton rac-quets have several shared holes. While this can be a little trouble-some, with a little patience and practice you will be an expert in no time.

RACQUETBALLIt seems that over the last decade or so, the designers of racquetball racquets have been in some sort of competition to see who can de-sign the most convoluted, confusing patterns for their racquets. At least that is the way it seems to those of us stringing these racquets.

In reality, they are all seeking one thing: more power. Longer strings equal more power and the designers are trying to achieve this within the confines of the legal size of the frame. The results are string patterns that are anything but conventional.

In our instructions in the Stringer’s Digest, we try to take a step-by-step approach to relieve some of the intimidation, but it can still be overwhelming to even an experienced stringer. The key to suc-cess is slowing down and carefully reading and understanding the instructions. Once you have strung a pattern a couple of times you will find that it gets easier.

It is important to remember to alternate between the right and left sides. This is easily overlooked when you are trying to figure out what goes where.

Tips for Shared Holes1. Use a waxed awl to lubricate and

enlarge shared grommets before you begin stringing.

2. Taper the string tip and wax the tip if needed.

3. When inserting a string into a shared hole, gently nudge the main string with the straight awl to shift the string occupying the grommet so the second string can fit through.

4. Insert the string from an angle either from the top or bottom depending on the exit from the previous grommet. Avoid crossovers.

5. Always lock the turntable and use ex-treme caution when using an awl in an occupied grommet.

The Yonex LoopThis method is standard for Yonex frames (below) but can be used on almost all bad-minton frames to reduce outside frame stress and locate the last main closer to the tie-off hole for a cleaner look and less blocked holes.

On a 22 main pattern, install the first 9 mains as normal. Go from the ninth main to the 11th main and then back to the 10th main.



Racquet Sports

When stringing racquetball frames some general consider-ations apply to almost all:• Make sure your machine can accommodate the frame or

you have the proper adapters to securely mount the frame.• A turntable brake will be required for many racquetball

frames.• If your machine doesn’t have swivel clamps, you will need

flying clamps to accommodate fan string patterns.• Many frames have narrow throats and the mains are very

close. The 6 o’clock mounting point can prevent access to the grommets. Pre-weave the first four mains in these cases.

• Some machines have limited range that will make clamping the top cross impossible. In these cases use a flying clamp.

We have highlighted some additional specific tips for the most popular brands and patterns here:• E-Force: E-Force utilizes Richter tubes that run through

the handle and then back up through the handle. Tension is pulled only from the head so you will be pulling two mains at once. Tubes and frames are color-coded to make it easier to determine the pattern. Some tips:

1. Make sure the Richter tubes in the handle are attached, unobstructed and undamaged before you start.

2. Mount the frame with the proper orientation: Red tubes on top and Green on the bottom.

3. Make sure tubes are properly divided to right and left sides at the 6 o’clock mounting point.

• Head IGS: Head Integrated Grommet System (top and middle) has holes on the inside of the frame but does not go all the way through. As you feed the string into a hole it will come out of an adjacent hole. To tension these strings, ten-sion is pulled before feeding the string into the hole either under or over the frame, whichever has the least resistance. Some tips:

1. Two-piece stringing recommended. Crosses must be started on the proper side.

2. Crosses need to be strung with the turntable brake ac-tivated.

3. Clamp short of the frame to allow room for the string to then be inserted into the hole after tension is pulled and string clamped.

• Head Power Channels: These racquets (bottom) feature two Power Channel grommets on each side of the frame at the throat. These grommets hold four strings each stacked vertically. It is important to follow the digest instructions on the proper placement of these mains. Basically you will install strings top to bottom on one side and bottom to top on the opposite side. Remember to alternate from side to side. Cross strings feature the IGS system so refer to the tips above.

SQUASHSquash racquets are surely the easiest of the indoor sports to string. You should not need any special tools. Just stock a va-riety of squash strings. Some thinner tennis strings are often used, but you will want to buy squash sets for those you don’t have reels for, since most squash frames usually require much less string. •

Tennis Footwear


After a decade where innovation often took a backseat to marketing the game’s biggest on-court stars in Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, tennis shoe makers are vowing to make

a bigger statement with their perfor-mance footwear products.

New offerings aim to strike the per-fect balance among durability, weight and speed. And in the immediate sea-sons to come, look for traditional ten-nis brand Wilson to push the innova-tion envelope and the kingpin athletic brands Nike and Adidas to incorpo-

rate more technologies and materials from their other athletic footwear categories into tennis.

“In many cases, we are designing for a game trend, more ag-gressive play on hard courts,” says Mike Hymer, a business manager for Head USA. “And we’re adapting to that style.”

Still, Hymer is the first to admit that there has always been a trade-off be-tween lightweight and durability in a shoe. But the one-time rule of thumb that said the lighter a tennis shoe the less durable it is has begun to wane due to advancements in upper and midsole materials. Shoe manufacturers’ new-

Performance ArtistsWith an eye toward making more of a performance and technology splash, new tennis shoes look to balance durability, weight and speed. By Bob McGee

Nike Ballistec

Fila Sentinel

found approach also includes improvements in shoe con-struction methods and better rubber compounds.

And Antoine Oui, product line manager for Wilson foot-wear, points out that the design of an outsole can also have a significant impact on the dura-bility of a shoe. To that end, an-other brand, Head, incorporates a “slide and durability zone” on the medial forefoot and lateral heel of its new Sprint Pro that provides more rubber material and less profile depths.

Weight ReductionNike borrows materials from its popular soccer and basketball designs via a synthetic leath-er and mesh upper to reduce weight yet provide a supportive fit for the player in the new Lu-nar Ballistec. The shoe, which also utilizes the brand’s Flywire technology to wrap the mid-foot and arch and a full-length Lunarlon midsole for added cushioning, weighs in at only 13 ounces for a men’s size 10.

“Our primary objective was to design … a shoe that makes players faster to the ball,” says Michael Hui, senior designer of tennis footwear for Nike. “It wasn’t about making a shoe lighter at all costs.”

A key focus of performance athletic shoe developers today, including those designing tennis, is reducing weight wherev-er possible without sacrificing the product’s durability, con-tends Mark Eggert, vice presi-dent of Advance Concepts and Footwear Design for Fila. The Italian brand accomplishes that goal in the toe area of its new Sentinel shoe with an in-jected polyurethane material on the toe box area that guards against excessive wear caused by toe drag.

Adidas, which recently launched the eighth-genera-tion of its popular Barricade first introduced in 2000, has a couple of technologies/ma-terials in its athletic toolbox that may soon find their way into performance tennis footwear. Springblade technology, 16 high-grade polymer blades used in the midsole/outsole for energy return and support, was introduced in high-end


running last year. But the tech faces a category crossover ob-stacle given that it can’t currently be configured for the rigors of bi-directional footwear movement needed in tennis. Boost

technology, perhaps as early as 2015 tennis shoe models, is a bet-ter bet. Boost, used in a shoe’s midsole, consists of thousands of small pebbles of thermoplas-tic polyurethane (TPU) current-ly found in the dashboards of BMWs, and is lightweight while providing a level of superior cushioning.

For its part, Wilson, too, wants to be an innovator in perfor-mance tennis shoes and is prom-ising to introduce a new shoe concept with durability tie-in after the US Open and before year-end. The brand’s current Rush Pro was introduced in new colorways in time for the Austra-lian Open.

Backing it Up Most performance tennis shoe brands offer a six-month war-ranty on their premium models in the U.S. and make every effort to assist retailers and pro shops in policing consumer returns. Shoe warranties run longer in Europe, typically two years, in part due to the softer playing surfaces there. Wil-son’s Oui says his company’s rate of return has typically been “way below” 1 percent of sales.

At Adidas North America, Dave Malinowski, category man-ager for tennis, says Adidas tennis customers are directed to

send any warranty-issue shoes directly back to the company “to take all of the (warranty) burdens off the shoulders of the tennis retailer.”

Hymer acknowledges that there is some consumer abuse of tennis shoe warranties to-day, but adds that 95 percent of today’s claims are probably legitimate, with “nothing out-rageous” passing through the pipeline. Still, Head USA per-sonnel continue to monitor and oversee the process.

But most tennis-shoe manufacturers don’t need to spend vast amounts of their time on warranty issues, which is a very good thing because now, they can continue to give perfor-mance tennis footwear more attention. •

Adidas

Head Sprint Pro


Bright IdeasLED lighting is spilling over to sports venues. Is it right for your facility?By Mary Helen Sprecher


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Court Construction & Maintenance Guide

Bright Ideas The tennis industry is used to welcoming new players

to the game. New apparel companies, new racquet technologies—even new lines on the court. And the newest kid on the block is LED (light-emitting diode)

court lighting systems. So without knocking our old friends like metal halide systems or fluorescent fixtures, let’s get to know this relatively new entrant into the market.

The technology, which was first seen in installations such as Christmas lights and traffic signals, made its way into warehouses, factories and other indoor uses. It has entered the tennis industry’s collective consciousness within the last several years. From mer-chandise cases used in pro shops, it has expanded to indoor, then to outdoor, facilities, achieving a respectable reputation due to several advantages.

Green LightingGreen is the new black, and LED lighting can boast energy-efficient technology, according to those in the industry.

“The big growing trend is LED,” says Steven Rothschild of Access Fixtures in Bollard, Mass. “It’s actually moving into the main-stream. The demand is growing.”

While some advantages may be viewed as pertaining to a niche market (Rothschild, for example, says that LED lighting is becom-ing the preferred solution in areas with high energy costs, such as Hawaii where electricity costs between 30 cents and 50 cents per kilowatt hour, or on Caribbean islands where power supplies are both limited and expensive), there is no getting around the overall eco- and user-friendliness.

“The LEDs—and the fluorescent fixtures—use 30 percent of the energy of metal halide lights,” notes Alex Levitsky of Global Sports & Tennis Design Group LLC in Fair Haven, N.J., “and they turn on and off instantly, which are big advantages.”

Another advantage of LED is its slower depreciation. According to Mike Lorenz of Ephesus Light-ing in Syracuse, N.Y., LED lighting depreciates at a rate of less than 1 percent per year, as compared to metal halide systems, which can lose 25 percent of their brightness in one year.

Lorenz notes that it is the energy-savings aspect of LED systems that is spurring their popularity in college and university facilities. More schools are becoming concerned with creating a smaller car-bon footprint, so they are aggressively pursuing technologies that will help them do so.

Lighting efficiency company ThinkLite of Natick, Mass., custom designs, manufactures, distributes and installs energy-efficient ret-rofit solutions, including for sports and tennis facilities. ThinkLite Founder and CEO Dinesh Wadhwani says retrofitting courts that

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According to Rothschild, LED is still mainly used in club and recreational settings, since at this point, “It is not going to emit what is required for a televised event.” (His view is not shared by Lorenz, who says LED is ideal for use in events receiving HD television coverage.) The lack of agreement—at least for now—may hinder LED’s ability to make large-scale marketing headway into facilities from which high-profile tennis events are broadcast.

Another, more immediate, factor keeping the tide from turning too rapidly is the bottom line. LED systems remain significantly more expensive to purchase and install than other products that have been in use for years. In a tennis economy still recovering from a downturn, managers may be skittish about investing in a new and costly system as they go about making long-deferred upgrades to their courts.

“At some point, there is no doubt that LED lighting will be utilized for most lighting applications, including tennis courts,” says Bruce Frasure of LSI Industries Inc. of Cincin-nati. “Today however, there is still a challenge to provide LED tennis court lighting that provides a reasonable return on investment due to the higher initial costs involved. The good news is that like your big-screen TV, LED lighting technology continues to improve rapidly while the costs are decreasing. For now, I would recommend that tennis facility owners do a thorough analysis when considering an LED lighting system to make sure that the return on investment makes sense.”

In tennis, as in any industry, technologies are constantly changing. Those who don’t read up and keep up can expect to be left behind. Levitsky advises those who are currently buy-ing lighting systems to plan for the future.

“Think ahead. Soon, outdoor lighting will be transitioning to LEDs. If you are installing a new system now, be sure that the light-pole foundations and conduit are designed to allow for the future change to LEDs.” •

have fluorescent or metal halide lamps with LED is becom-ing more commonplace.

“Our LED solutions can provide a 40 to 50 percent energy savings, offer a 10-year-plus lifespan with virtually no maintenance costs, and provide better quality lighting,” Wadhwani notes, adding that with both UL and DLC ap-provals, ThinkLite LED tubes qualify for many utility rebate programs, providing a quicker return on investment.

No TrespassingTennis court lighting, whether it is placed in a backyard, a club or a park, has long been a bone of contention with the neighbors. Light trespass, the technical term for light that spills off the primary playing area and inadvertently illumi-nates adjacent property, has been at the crux of complaints, covenants, and perhaps a few less than cordial relationships over the years.

It is here, says Rothschild, that LED lighting really, well, shines.

“There is a lot of West Coast usage of LED lighting for energy-efficiency reasons. But one of the East Coast reasons for going with LED is that it causes a lot less light trespass. We can do a light trespass analysis for 20 feet around the court, and we have seen the light falloff is far more rapid with LED than with other systems. Sometimes there are code issues in neighborhoods, so this is really important.”

The Dark Side If LED is the wave of the future, it may be, for now, a wave that moves steadily but slowly. As with all new technology, there are going to be areas of the industry it is slower to penetrate.



‘Growing’ Pains?For your facility’s greenery—and to save ‘green’ in your budget—work with a landscape design professional to avoid costly mistakes.By Mary Helen Sprecher

Ah, spring. The players are returning to the courts, lesson slots are filling up, there’s a very welcome backlog of rac-

quets to be restrung and the landscap-ing for the courts is ready to bloom.

Or perhaps the landscaping is still on the to-do list. Particularly at a time when tennis facility managers are multi-tasking and feeling as though they’re being stretched much too thin, the gardened areas around the courts may wind up being completed at the last minute. That results in (let’s be honest here) a last-minute trip to the home and garden superstore where the buyer

In this arrangement, a strip of ornamental landscaping spruces up the space behind a high school’s tennis courts without affecting the court itself. Photo courtesy of GMB Architecture + Engineering, Holland, MI

• The do-it-yourself approach, says Alex Levitsky of Global Sports & Tennis Design Group, LLC, in Fair Haven, New Jersey, is not cost-effective. Unfortu-nately, he adds, “Landscape budgets are vulnerable,” and are often the first things to be cut, particularly if other aspects of the facility need investment that season. Finding a landscape archi-tect means eliminating the mistakes that can ultimately cost money. A professionally designed landscaping plan can be implemented year after year and will add up to better looks and performance.• Not using a root barrier: Everyone has seen sidewalks that have been pushed up by tree roots. The same thing can happen to tennis courts if precautions aren’t taken. Nearby trees and shrubs can send out roots that cause damage to courts from beneath the surface. A root barrier, properly placed, will help avoid these problems. Note: Before installing the barrier, take the time to cut back any roots that are trying to sneak under your courts. A landscape architect can provide recom-mendations on how deep to install the barrier, based on the type of plant you’re trying to contain.• Too much mulch: This is one of the

winds up staring with glazed eyes at row upon row of plants.

All in all, not a promising start for the tennis garden effect.

It’s no surprise that mistakes in land-scaping are common. Here are a few to avoid:• Not consulting with a professional in order to save money: Unless you’re knowledgeable about the science of landscaping, it’s easy to make the wrong purchases. The wrong plants, the wrong soil or fertilizer, too much mulch or gravel—it can all add up to problems down the road that require even more money to correct.


The gravel edging outside the fence line of these courts prevents encroachment of vegetation and encourages drainage. Photo courtesy of Halecon Inc., Bridgewater, NJ


easiest mistakes to make—and since everyone loves mulch, it’s the advice nobody likes to hear. After all, mulch is relatively inexpensive and it’s an attractive way of delineating space, providing a nice contrast with plantings and controlling weeds. Unfortunately, it tends to be overused, usually to the detriment of the landscaping system: It can keep plant roots from getting the oxygen they need; it can slow down evapora-tion from the soil, leaving roots waterlogged and vulnerable; it can act as an incubator, encouraging the growth of fungi and bacteria. And that’s just for starters. It can also, if used too close to the court, migrate onto the surface where it can cause staining or can even present a hazard to players.• Blocking drainage from a court: A hard court drains in one true plane and has a very gradual slope: 1 inch in 10 feet, with a permissible maximum of 1 percent. That means that when water reaches the low side of the court, it needs to be able to exit the facility entirely. Unfortunately, overenthusiastic landscaping work can keep it from doing so.

Levitsky advises making sure there is a clear path for water to move. “Keeping grass 3 to 4 inches below the top of the playing surface makes it easier to maintain,” he notes. “Using a wide edging also helps.”

That overabundance of mulch mentioned earlier can create the same dam effect if packed too close to the edges of the court. Always check the perimeter of the court around the fence line and loosen any material that could trap water.

• Not using native plants: It’s easy to bring in the wrong types of plantings and learn—too late—that they are invasive, or just not suited to the soil and climate. A landscape profes-sional can identify the best plants for a given area and save you from spending money on the wrong purchases.• Not thinking through a particular choice of plant: Remember that bushes and trees that have berries, for ex-ample, may attract birds that make a mess on the court and on nearby surfaces. Other plants, such as weeping willows, beautiful though they are, constantly drop long, thin, whip-like branches that give the area a permanently littered look. Talk with a landscape architect, call a master gardener in the area or seek other professional assistance when considering accent plants.• Not understanding the soil conditions of a given area: This is another area where the expertise of a landscape archi-tect is invaluable. Some areas may not drain well because the soil has a high clay content, while others are softer and loamy. Still others may be sandy or dry. Levitsky notes that a profes-sional will determine the porosity of a surface before recom-mending any landscaping course of action.

Properly planned, landscaping can do anything from simply sprucing up an area to creating a lush, verdant tennis oasis. Find a suitable professional partner and work within the context of your climate, your soil, and your budget—and watch your garden grow. •

The entrance to this college court has been brightened with landscaping and well-kept pathways. Photo courtesy of Rettler Corporation, Stevens Point, WI

Note the extension of the paved edge of the tennis court outside the fence line, which facilitates drainage of water from the court surface. Photo courtesy of Tennis Courts Inc., Aylett, VA

The work of landscaping a tennis facility is worth it for the payoff: an aesthetically pleasing area that is as enjoyable to view as it is to play on. Photo courtesy of Welch Tennis Courts Inc., Sun City, FL



Cleaning SolutionWhat’s the best way to get rid of pesky shoe marks and stains on your courts?

They’re the ring-around-the-collar of tennis court construc-tion. The black marks made by non-court shoes may be one of

the most irksome issues plaguing tennis facility managers.

It’s not that they constitute a safety hazard or that they distract players from their game; it’s that they’re just plain ugly. And they’re not the only aesthetic annoyance.

“Black-soled shoes, gum and colored sports drinks present the biggest problems in tennis court surface stains,” says Matt Hale of Halecon Inc. of Bridgewater, N.J.

Problem is, with all the jobs a ten-nis facility manager is juggling, it’s no surprise that following players around to check for proper footwear and drinks in spill-proof containers winds up at the bottom of the list.

So once the damage is done, what is the best way to address it?

In either case, be sure to use a soft cloth, a sponge or a soft-bristled brush. It is critical to not use a hard-bristled brush or scrubbing pad or anything that might damage the surface. If neither of those cleaners works on a tough stain, we can recommend bleach, but it needs to be diluted at least 4:1 with water and must be rinsed off immediately. That may not be practical indoors and you always run the risk of fading the surface, so only do that as a last resort.”

For extremely stubborn stains, says Co-lin Donovan of Renner Sports in Denver, a little extra mechanical help might be called for. “The other method is to use a 2500 psi pressure washer. Simply wash off all areas affected holding the spray wand 12 to 18 inches away from the sur-face,” he says. “You have to be extremely careful not to hold the spray wand too close to the surface or you can potentially strip the surface off the substrate. It’s bet-ter to have an experienced person using this type of equipment to avoid damage. I tell owners not to worry too much about shoe marks since it’s a cosmetic issue, and after several rains or just one heavy rain, they typically wear off by themselves.”

In cases where marks are particularly dark or won’t come out, contractors will sometimes recommend a new coat of color on the court.

But whether the court is shiny and new, or recently cleaned, say the pros, there is one step that should be followed.

“The best and only 100 percent effec-tive way to eliminate these marks is pre-vention,” says Hale. “A proactive facility manager reminding people of the proper equipment and etiquette goes a long way to extend the luster and brilliance of the tennis court surface.” •

Start by checking the manufacturer’s recommendations. Depending upon the formulation of the coating, cleaning methods often will vary. One thing all court construction professionals agree on, however, is starting with the gentlest cleaning method available, followed by rinsing thoroughly.

“For standard cleaning or minor marks and stains, we usually recom-mend just water and a simple mild dish detergent,” such as Dawn, Palmolive, etc., says Tom Magner of DecoTurf in Andover, Mass. “Of course, sneaker and shoe marks are usually a little more stubborn, so dish detergent probably won’t be sufficient, but try that first any-way, since it’s inexpensive and relatively easy.

“If the dish detergent isn’t strong enough, we recommend that people first try TSP (trisodium phosphate), which is available at most hardware stores.

The ASBA is a non-profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators and users understand quality sports facility construc-tion. The ASBA sponsors informative meetings, publishes newsletters, books and technical con-struction guidelines for both tennis courts and running tracks, and keeps its members aware of the latest developments in the industry. It also offers voluntary certification programs in tennis court, running track and sports field construc-tion. For information on the ASBA, contact the Association at 8480 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 307, Ellicott City, MD 21043; phone 866-501-ASBA or 410-730-9595; email [email protected]. Visit sportsbuilders.org.



Mark-Up Your Courts!Tennis court contractors are adding logos, monograms and more to personalize courts. By Mary Helen Sprecher

Bumper stickers on cars. En-graving on silverware. Tattoos. Somewhere deep in the human psyche must lurk a special gene

that craves personalization of what was previously unadorned.

These days, it’s expressing itself on tennis courts.

Tennis court contractors are report-ing increased interest among court owners and facility managers in the de-velopment and placement of logos and other artwork on court surfaces. “In the past several years, we have been asked to do logos on courts,” says Matt Hale of Halecon Inc. of Bridgewater, N.J. “Some of the logos are very intricate, multi-colored and detailed.” Hale’s experience has included adding logos to basketball courts, something many contractors have also experienced.

In many cases, the contractor is fol-

entrance. We also installed a dashed line on the border, similar to what is printed on a map. This is a great example of how painted surface logos, relatively inex-pensive, can create a unique facility.”

Traditionally, club and resort courts have had their logos emblazoned on windscreens. Courts on school cam-puses have made use of logos at the net line between courts and in some cases, schools have had their courts surfaced to match the school colors. (And since schools have long put logos at midfield in football stadiums and in the centers of gymnasiums, it’s easy to see where those ideas originate.) It’s a way to express school pride—and a way for a team to let opponents know whose turf they’re on and whose house it is.

Unlike basketball or football, though, tennis is steeped in its own conserva-tive traditions, and its rules prohibit too much territoriality. Friend at Court (2013 edition) spells this out pretty clearly in Appendix III:

1. Advertising is permitted on the net as long as it is placed on the part of the net that is within 3 feet (0.914 m) from the center of the net posts and is produced in such a way that it does not interfere with the vision of the players or the playing conditions.

lowing an owner’s wish for self-expres-sion. “I have always enjoyed doing jobs with logos because it is a way to make a standard tennis surface unique,” says Lee Murray of Competition Athletic Surfaces in Chattanooga, Tenn.

And then, Murray adds, there are the times a project can speak volumes about a sense of humor. “About 20 years ago, I worked on a project for a devel-oper who was building a community that straddles the Tennessee/Georgia border. He designed the tennis courts so that the net line would be exactly on the border. If you were in Tennessee, your opponent was in Georgia. To raise awareness of this, we installed Georgia (G) and Georgia Tech (GT) logos on the Georgia side, and Tennessee (UT) and Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) on the Tennessee side. Each gate in the cut cor-ner also had a corresponding logo at the

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2. Advertising and other marks or material placed at the back and sides of the court shall be permitted unless it interferes with the vi-sion of the players or the playing conditions.

3. Advertising and other marks or material placed on the court sur-face outside the lines is permitted unless it interferes with the vision of the players or the playing conditions.

4. Notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above, any advertis-ing, marks or material placed on the net or placed at the back and sides of the court, or on the court surface outside the lines may not contain white or yellow or other light colors that may interfere with the vision of the players or the playing conditions.

5. Advertising and other marks or material are not permitted on the court surface inside the lines of the court.

Pretty explicit directions, but for all their strictness, they do seem to allow the use of appropriately colored (and non-distracting) logos outside the playing lines.

The use of logos, writing and so forth does open up the door for not merely establishing an identity and generating advertising revenues, but for listing major sponsors and donors. However, notes Art Tucker of California Products Corp. in Andover, Mass., because the area outside the lines is still used by players (for example, the clear-playing back space or the space just outside the sideline where a player might chase a ball), precautions should be observed when placing logos and decorating a court.

“Logos should be textured to avoid a slippery spot in a significant play area,” Tucker says. (Those who have ever walked across a wet parking lot in rubber-soled shoes and felt their feet slip on a painted line can attest to this hazard.)

The rules governing the placement of logos, however, don’t apply to residential courts, where sanctioned matches will never be played. In these cases, contractors have free rein, and are able to fill owners’ requests for logos, artwork, designs, monograms and more in various places on and around the court.

One person in favor of the trend of personalizing courts is Lee Murray. “Look at what they are painting on wood basketball floors now,” notes Murray. “Nearly the entire floors have artwork painted on them. Perhaps tennis would become even more exciting if they got creative with logos.” •



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QSquash racquet specs

I was doing a racquet spec search the other day on a

Head iPro Tornado squash racquet, but nothing came up. I remember previously there was the option to select Tennis, Badminton, or Squash. Are only tennis racquets listed now?

AThe Racquet Spec search nev-er had an option for different sports. You may be thinking of

the Stringers Digest Online.As for the specifications, we do not

measure or maintain a database for

squash racquets. With the exception of flex, you could generate your own speci-fications (weight, balance, and swing weight) if you are looking to match your racquets to each other. The online tool for measuring swing weight on a tennis racquet will work for squash racquets, too.

QPallet molding I’d like to have the handles on my racquets customized to

my hand. Who does this kind of work?

A Your options are lim-ited, but fortunately, one of the best cus-

tom shops in the world still offers this service: Priority One, in Florida. Check out its website at p1tennis.com.

Q Power pads

I’d like to know more about the leather “power

pads” that are installed during stringing at the throat of the racquet. I have had customers ask me this and I really do not know their history.

I use leather power pads sporadically with natural gut or sometimes on older racquets. Some pros use them on their racquets as well. When I strung Mark Philippoussis' racquet years ago at the Sybase Open in San Jose, his Head Pres-tige Mid was strung at something like 68 or 70 pounds with 16-gauge gut with tubing and pads, which makes sense considering the high tension and type of string.

Your Equipment HotlineAsk the Experts


With newer racquets having better grommets that are more rounded, what are some reasons for using pow-er pads? Why are they called “power pads”? In a wood racquet was there more power with the pads?

AThe origin of power pads is probably lost in the mists of time, but they first came into

use on wooden racquets. Back then, the predominant string was natural gut, and manufacturing techniques weren’t as advanced as they are today. To protect the gut from the racquet frame (and increase the radius of the bends where string enters the grommet holes), string-ers would install power pads on the outside of the racquet—typically on the first four or eight mains.

Almost all wooden racquets have closed throats, which means the loops for the mains are all outside the frame. With the advent of metal, fiberglass, and carbon fiber in tennis racquets, design-ers were able to leave the throat open. This change meant the center mains no longer changed direction within the frame, thus there was less side-loading on the string (or the frame, for that matter). Players using power pads still use them on the center mains, but the

location has moved from outside of the frame to inside the throat.

Some players can’t feel the difference between a racquet with power pads and one without, but given the mental aspect of the game, a few players still use power pads. String Advantage offers a mod-ern version of power pads called Pojie, which they make using fiberglass and a high-tech absorbent.

For those looking to experiment, power pads can be cut from any thick leather, and there are players who use pieces of synthetic grip material instead of leather.

None of this answers the ques-tion of how they got the name “power pads,” though, but perhaps the leather provided enough cushioning in the wooden racquets to allow players to hit with power without breaking the center mains.

Q Tension and durability

I have heard that lower reference tensions result in

tennis racquet strings lasting longer. I haven't had a desire to test this, but in some ways it does not make sense to me.

a. The looser the string, the more movement, which means the string

would notch and therefore wear more quickly.

b. Tighter strings will have less movement and therefore last longer.

Now, I could see that if one pulled a string at a much higher tension it will stretch/elongate more, reducing the diameter of the string and therefore reducing the string life. As a general rule, looser equaling more string dura-bility does not make sense to me and I would not advise a customer this way.

It seems like both ways of thought could have merit. Can you shed some light on this?

AWe don’t know of any tests on this relationship, but intui-tively it depends on the string.

A tighter string might not move as much, but there will be more pressure at the string intersections. Also, part of durability is elasticity. The higher the tension, the less elasticity remains in the string.

—Greg Raven •

We welcome your questions. Please send them to Tennis Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096; fax: 760-536-1171; email: [email protected].


Victory tells us that Acelon Seven is its premier product for top-level players. Made from premium copolyester, it features a sharp seven-sided construction to help players convert power into maximum topspin with control. According to Victory, a company with many years of experience creating polyester monofilaments, it manufactures Acelon Seven in Portugal using the most advanced machinery available.

Victory recommends Acelon Seven for advanced players who generate their own power and are able to handle a stiffer string. Victory says Acelon Seven is also good in hybrids, either with softer polys or with nylon strings.

Acelon Seven is available in 17 gauge (1.24 mm) and 16L (1.31 mm) in dark blue. It is priced at $10 for sets of 40 feet, $110 for 200-meter reels, and $225 for 600-meter “mega spools.”

For more information or to order, contact Victory at 800-824-9473, or visit victoryracquetsports.com. Be certain to read the conclusion for more information about getting a free set to try for yourself.

In the LabWe tested the 16L-gauge Acelon Seven. The coil measured 44 feet. The diameter measured 1.25-1.27 mm prior to stringing, and 1.23-1.25 mm after stringing. We recorded a stringbed stiffness of 71 RDC units immediately after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine.

After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed stiffness measured 67 RDC units, representing a 6 percent tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC

String Playtest


Victory Acelon Seven 16L

units immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original has a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of 11.67 pounds, while Victory Acelon Seven 16L has a stiffness of 166 and a tension loss of 12.37 pounds. Acelon Seven 16L added 15 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame.

The string was tested for five weeks by 31 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP rat-ings from 3.5 to 5.0. These are blind tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages. Average number of hours playtested was 27.

Victory recommends reducing the reference tension by 10 percent com-pared to a nylon string, and we passed this advice along to the members of our playtest team.

Acelon Seven is a bit unruly as you take it out of the package, and its promi-nent edges let you know right away that you are dealing with a geometric string. Pulling the crosses creates edged warfare against the mains, so if you are in a hurry the string can look a bit beat up when you are done. Burning can also be a fac-tor.

Two playtesters broke the sample dur-

Playtester Ratings Ease of Stringing(compared to other strings)

much easier 0somewhat easier 4about as easy 9not quite as easy 15not nearly as easy 3 Overall Playability(compared to the string played most often)

much better 0somewhat better 9about as playable 9not quite as playable 11not nearly as playable 1 Overall Playability(compared to other strings of similar gauge)

much better 6somewhat better 8about as durable 14not quite as durable 0not nearly as durable 2 Rating AvergagesFrom 1 to 5 (best) Playability 3.6Durability 4.1Power 3.5Control 3.7Comfort 3.2Touch/Feel 3.1Spin Potential (3rd overall) 4.3Holding Tension 3.6Resistance to Movement (15th overall) 4.1

By Greg Raven

ing stringing, eight reported problems with coil memory, three reported prob-lems tying knots, three reported friction burn, and seven reported other problems.

On the CourtNone of the stringing issues seems to make the slightest difference once you get on court.

Our playtest team rated Victory Acelon Seven 16L third best for Spin Potential of the 176 strings we’ve playtested to date for publication. They also rated it 15th best overall in Resistance to Movement, and excellent in the Power category. Ace-lon Seven 16L also garnered high marks for Durability, Control, Playability, and Tension Retention. All together, these scores place Victory Acelon Seven 16L in a tie for 7th place for the best string we’ve playtested.

One playtester reported premature fraying or peeling, two reported buzzing, and seven reported notching. Two play-ers broke the string during the playtest period, one each at 7.5 and 9 hours.

ConclusionIt’s unusual to have a string receive good scores in both Spin Potential and Power, but Victory Acelon Seven 16L nailed both categories. It’s also unusual to have so many playtesters comment on how comfortable—even soft, and arm-friendly—Acelon Seven seemed to them, considering that Victory is positioning it as a stiff string.

Not everything about Acelon Seven is anomalous, though: One completely explicable result is the number of com-ments on the spin you can generate with it.

If you think it’s no coincidence that Victory Acelon Seven placed seventh overall in our rankings, or maybe if seven is your lucky number, fill out the coupon to get a free set to try.

Playtester Comments“Awesome string if you are looking for some extra bite and spin. Great control string that still offers some nice pop when needed. Hopefully it will be a nice price point. I would love to get some."—4.5 male serve-and-volley player using

Babolat Storm Tour strung at 56 pounds CP (Luxilon 4G 1.25) “The string hit very well. Great bite on the ball to generate big spin. This shaped poly felt a little softer than other polys due to the thinner gauge. Highly recommend-ed.” —4.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using

Babolat Pure Drive Rod-dick strung at 60 pounds LO (Solinco Tour Bite 16L) “This is good string with so many good qualities that I would gladly sell it to customers and use it myself. Good feel and very good spin.” —4.0 male baseliner with moderate spin us-ing Prince OZone Tour

strung at 55 pounds CP (Tourna Big Hitter Black 17)“Good pop and control and spin for the first five hours. After that it got dull as most polys do. I’d offer this up to a player who is into hybrids. This string would make a very nice compliment to a synthetic or natural

gut cross.” —4.0 female all-court player using Babolat Pro Drive strung at 62 pounds CP (Babolat VS Touch 16)

(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in parentheses. For the rest of the tester comments, visit www.tennisindustrymag.com.)


FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAMAcelon will send a free set of Victory Seven to USRSA members

who cut out (or copy) this coupon and send it to:USRSA, Attn: Acelon String OfferPO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096

or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to [email protected]

Offer expires 15 March 2014 • Offer only available to USRSA members in the US.

Name: ______________________________________________________________

USRSA Member number: ________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.

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RSI_Prince-LoveRekindled_Jan14.pdf 1 1/27/14 1:36 PM

Host a USPTA/Prince Tennis Clinic to grow the gamePage 50

Tennis Across AmericaCelebrates 25 Years

Departments

47 CEO’s Message 49 Vice President’s Message 50 Growing Your Business

53 Beyond the Court 57 Career Development 59 Member news

53 Tennis Thanks the Troops by Mandy Johnson, ThanksUSA

Online:

Developing athletic skills through Cardio Tennis by Vivian Raj Chhetri

10 ways to move 10 and Under players into competition by Jorge Capestany, USPTA Master Professional

Preventing shoulder injuries through proper warm up by Andrew Busch and Guy Parks, USPTA Master Professional

March 2014 ADDvantage 45

ADDvantage magazine editorial offices

USPTA World Headquarters3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite OneHouston, TX 77042Phone – 713-978-7782800-USPTA-4UFax – 713-358-7794email – [email protected]

Managing editor Kimberly ForresterCirculation Kathy Buchanan

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA.

Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2014. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com


54 Professional Tennis Management: A Gateway to the Tennis Industry by Dan Beedle, USPTA

See more pics atfacebook.com/USPTA.Official

Having returned a little more than one month ago from hosting our inaugural USPTA trip to the Austra-

lian Open where a total of 34 USPTA members and their guests attended, I wanted to share my perspective on this wonderful adventure. Being that it was our maiden voyage, I was uncertain what to expect. How would the group dynamics be? Did we offer the right balance between tennis and sightsee-ing? How would the interaction be with Tennis Australia and their coach-es at the Coaches Conference prior to the start of the tournament? Would the value of the overall experience exceed the expectations of the group? On all accounts, I believe we suc-ceeded in delivering a terrific benefit to those who participated. Despite the blistering heat that set a record for four straight days of temperatures that exceeded 110 degrees F, our gang was resilient and unwavering in their interest in seeing as much tennis as possible no matter how uncomfortable it was. Despite the inconvenience of losing the air-conditioning on our tour bus one day during our visit along the Great Ocean Road, along with the hotel unable to cool the sleeping rooms as much as we would have liked because of the extreme conditions, we all man-aged to cope with those minor incon-veniences and make the most out of an unusual, historic occurrence. Our arrival into Melbourne was Thursday morning, Jan. 9. Most of us took to the tennis courts at the Na-tional Tennis Centre to fight the jet lag before attending the opening recep-tion for the International Coaches Conference. More than 300 coaches

were in attendance, including the 25 or so that were a part of our team. We were warmly welcomed by Tennis Aus-tralia and enjoyed the many seminars offered, including a Q&A with Judy Murray (Andy Murray’s mother and British Fed Cup Coach), two sessions with Tony Nadal and a myriad of other fantastic speakers. It was terrific to see USPTA members Doug Eng from New England and Jorge Capestany from Holland, Mich., on the speakers list along with Lane Evans from North Carolina who was a member of our en-tourage. Besides the various seminars that we attended that first weekend, we baked in a tour to Phillips Is-land on Saturday, which was highlighted by see-ing koalas in their natu-ral environment and the famous penguin walk at dusk as they returned to their boroughs after a day of sea hunt-ing for their families. Fascinating! A highlight of that first weekend was the banquet held at the famous Kooyong Tennis Club, which put a ribbon on the conference. Our profes-sionals had the opportunity to play on the gorgeous grass prior to a beautiful reception on the second floor balcony overlooking the grass courts and din-ner where the food was outstanding. We won’t forget the comedian who per-formed for the crowd, even though we had trouble understanding most of the jokes. We laughed hysterically anyway. Three day sessions of tennis and one night session ensued along with a visit to the scenic 12 Apostles at the end of the Great Ocean Road and a visit to en-joy some of Australia’s finest vineyards

in the Yarra Valley over the next five days. We topped off our 12-day adven-ture with a closing dinner Friday night where stories abounded and toasts were rampant. Some of the pleasant, unin-tended consequences of our journey together were the friendships created and bonding that took place with pros and people who knew nothing about each other before meeting for the first time at Los Angeles International air-port upon our departure on Tuesday, Jan. 7. I believe lifelong associations were established because of what we shared together. The emails and pic-

tures among the group have been fly-ing since our return home. Please check out the montage of photos that highlight our various activi-ties on the previous page.

A huge shout out goes to Chadwick Bryd, owner of Tennis Ventures, who orchestrated the entire itinerary from soup to nuts. I honestly can say that there isn’t anything that I or the group would have done differently. I think we now have a formula for future trips that works. I look forward to putting a similar trip together in future years, both to the Australian Open and maybe even the French Open. Stay tuned for announcements about what we might organize down the road. You don’t want to miss the next one. For those who were on the trip, thanks to each of you for making the commitment to come and for all that you do to support our terrific asso-ciation. Until our paths cross again … “good on ya, mates!” It was a blast. h

“Good on ya, Mates!”


I look forward to putting a similar trip together in future years, both to the Australian Open and maybe even the French Open. Stay tuned for announcements about what we might organize down the road.

by John Embree

CEO’s Message


of re l

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Many years ago, my division sent out scouts to observe other division conventions, their schedules, speakers

and events and report back to try to make our convention better. I envied them. The enthusiasm and knowledge that they returned with and reported on was contagious. The national board members each travel and observe dif-ferent divisions and I assure you it is the highlight of my serving on the board. The education that the divisions provide is world class and you will see many of the speakers at the World Conference as well. I am always ex-cited to see local talent on the speaker list, new ideas, new topics and new talent. Now this is where you come in: volunteer to present at your conven-tion; ask if you can introduce a speak-er; or join in a drill-sharing seminar. Share your knowledge with your peers and make a difference at your convention. Every division will tell you that they need committee members, board members and “helpers.” Our governance at the division level is one of the most important parts of our association and is our true strength. Be prepared to step up, volunteer, let your voice be heard as a committee member or try for a division board position. The knowledge and experi-ence that we observe in division board meetings is impressive, but new fresh ideas are always needed and welcome.

Make the difference at your division board level. While serving as a junior member of my division board many years ago, our president challenged us to do just one thing extra during that year:

l Host a test at your club to get local coaches to take the test without going out of town. They would feel more com-fortable taking the test at your club and you

could invite new people to test.

l Host a workshop – this would reach more professionals, gain valuable education credits for your staff and help you network. It could be as simple as a drill-sharing seminar and local speakers. These were very popular this year in the Missouri Valley after our division convention was snowed out.

l Put a bid in to host the division convention – your general manager would love to see the effort in trying to bring in more business and the esteem it would bring to your club.

l Lessons for Life™, Tennis Across America™, Adult Tennis League and Junior Circuit™ are all ready to be run at your club and your mem-bers will reap the rewards of you setting up these great programs.

Participation is key; you can make the difference by just signing up and filling the seats at your convention. Be there to support the local workshops and volunteer to coach at your neigh-bors’ events. Our strength is in our net-working, communication and individu-alism. Reach out to your local board and make the first step. You will find that it’s not that hard, they will welcome your call, and that the benefits and rewards are there for you and your staff. h

You Make the Difference at the Division Level


Our governance at the division level is one of the most important parts of our association and is our true strength.

by Gary Trost

Vice President’s Message


who haven’t hit the courts in a while. The goal is to have 50 USPTA/Prince Tennis Clinics with at least 40 people in attendance at each event. These will be held between April 1 and May 31. Those interested in host-ing a clinic should contact their Prince Brand Man-ager (uspta.com/benefits > Prince > Prince Brand Managers). The deadline to sign up to host a clinic is Feb. 28.

Build your tennis business Because May is the kickoff month for Tennis Across America, USPTA members can jump-start their sum-mer tennis programs by hosting a free clinic. They can piggyback local promotion of their own programs and businesses on the national publicity campaign administered by the World Headquarters. Holding a clinic can result in financial benefits for both the pro and the facility. Here are a few event ideas to consider: • Adult clinic• Cardio Tennis event • Junior clinic • Member-guest event • 10 and Under Tennis

Since 1990, USPTA and its mem-bers have made an invaluable impact on the community by growing the sport of ten-

nis through Tennis Across America™. Thousands of people have had the chance to pick up a racquet and fall in love with the game thanks to the efforts of USPTA Professionals who have do-nated their time throughout the years. 2014 marks the 25th annual Tennis Across America, USPTA’s free lesson program designed to introduce the game of tennis to children and adults who have never experienced it. This year, USPTA is teaming up with Prince to host USPTA/Prince Tennis Clinics as part of Tennis Across America and calling USPTA Pros from all over the country to participate. Hosting one of these clinics gives USPTA Pros a chance to not only give back to their communities, but also an opportunity to grow their business.

USPTA/Prince Tennis Clinics Prince will provide racquets and equipment for USPTA Pros who host USPTA/Prince Tennis Clinics. This is a great opportunity to allow people to try out their products, especially if the event targets former tennis players

USPTA Vice President Alan Cutler has hosted TAA events since the pro-gram’s inception, running between five to 15 events annually to help fill his programs with positive results.

“In the cur-rent economy, we are competing for people’s disposable income and time with so many other things,” Cutler said. “Tennis needs

to find a way to stand out and we all understand that in the short run you and possibly your staff are losing a few hours of paid teaching time, but in the long run you will build a new and hope-fully larger student base. “Tennis Across America is a mar-keting tool to give the participants a taste and a feel of what your upcoming events and programs will be like and to answer any questions they may have. So the question is not can I afford to do this, but can I afford not to do this?”

Increase tennis participation To meet the objective of increasing grassroots tennis participation, events should target people who would not normally have an opportunity to play. Free clinics are not restricted to new players but may also be open to former players. The multicultural segment of the program targets various communi-ties and potential players who have special needs and may not otherwise have the opportunity to play, such as senior citizens, inner-city and minority children, disabled children and adults, and many more. Our goal in this area is to have a minimum of one free clinic in every state and hopefully more.

Promotions The USPTA World Headquarters will promote Tennis Across America nationwide, but USPTA members should also promote their event locally. A program guide that contains promo-

50 ADDvantage March 2014 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Tennis Across America Celebrates 25 Years Host a USPTA/Prince Tennis Clinic to grow the game

Growing your Business

Hosting one of these clinics gives USPTA Pros a chance to not only give back to their communities, but also an opportunity to grow their business.

TAA is designed to introduce the game of tennis to children and adults who have never experienced it.

March 2014 ADDvantage 51 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

tional tips, sample lesson plan, press releases and more is avail-able at uspta.com/programs > Tennis Across America.

Register As in previous years, Tennis Across America events can be held at any time of the year as long as the event is registered before the June 1 deadline. Members can register their events at uspta.com/programs > Tennis Across America. While supplies last, USPTA members who register an event will be giv-en a free Tennis Across America banner (plus $10 for shipping and han-dling).

Recognition USPTA’s Tennis Across America™Award recognizes those USPTA-certified members who have done the most to get people to play tennis. While the award does look at individuals who have held the most free clinics with the greatest number of participants, it also recognizes indi-

viduals for hosting the most creative, original or unique free tennis event to get people to play tennis. To qualify for this award, all events listed must be free to all participants and must be registered with USPTA. More infor-mation about applying for this award will be announced in the coming months. Last year’s Tennis Across America award winner was USPTA Profes-sional John McWilliams, who has run a Tennis Across America event every

year since 1995 called Tennis Across Montgomery – Serv-ing an Ace Against Child Abuse and Domestic Vio-lence. This is a public event held at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., where he is the director of tennis. The program was created to offer tennis lessons to children without an oppor-tunity to play the game and to raise money for the Family Sunshine Center. About 100 children attend the event ev-ery year to participate in the free tennis clinic. Last year

the event raised $31,000 for the Fam-ily Sunshine Center. His message is “Let’s keep kids on the courts and not in the courts.” In addition to the individual award, USPTA divisions are recognized for hosting the greatest number of Tennis Across America events, both by number and percentage. All events must be reg-istered with USPTA to be counted. Go to uspta.com/programs >Tennis Across America to register your event. h

John McWilliams, front right, with the staff of Tennis Across Montgomery in 2012.

As participants in Tennis Thanks the Troops, Berkeley Hills Country Club hosted tennis mixers and a silent auction to raise money for the cam-paign. Their efforts not only awarded Niles a scholarship in Berkeley Hills’ name, but they also won the top fun-draising prize in 2013, which allowed them to send two club members to the 2013 US Open in New York City! “Being a member for over 20 years at the P-1 level, I was happy to support the troops through the USPTA. Berke-ley Hills Tennis values the importance of education and also understands the sacrifices the men and women of the United States Armed Forces are

Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of sum-mer and this year we want it to mark the start of a

nationwide movement from the tennis community to say thanks to the brave men and women of our U.S. military and their families. Tennis Thanks the Troops is a na-tional fundraiser between the USPTA and ThanksUSA that encourages ten-nis players and enthusiasts to thank the troops by raising funds for the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program. The campaign is about turning the love of tennis into a college education for our military families. Tennis pros or enthusiasts can support Tennis Thanks the Troops by hosting a tennis tournament, organiz-ing a round robin, adding small fees to lessons or already existing events, putting out a donation jar, or any other fundraising idea or event that best suits the supporter(s). Tennis Thanks the Troops has awarded 16 scholarships. This includes the scholarship awarded to Army spouse Clemencia Niles, who is able to continue her degree in Art Education Studies because of the fundraising ef-forts of Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, Ga. “Fortunately for me and many oth-ers, Berkeley Hills Country Club and ThanksUSA recognize not just the soldiers’ efforts, but also the family members’ endeavors to succeed,” Niles said. “Thank you very much for this thoughtful scholarship. I consider my-self fortunate to be able to continue my education.”

Tennis Thanks the Troops

making. Supporting Tennis Thanks the Troops is the least we can do,” said Todd Assini, director of tennis at Berkeley Hills Country Club. If you are interested in joining the mission to thank the men and women of our U.S. military by providing their spouses and children with college scholarships, then please become a Tennis Thanks the Troops registered facility. Go to ThanksUSA.org to reg-ister your club, or contact the Tennis Thanks the Troops Coordinator at [email protected] or 703-641-2407. Let’s show our military how Tennis Thanks the Troops. h

Beyond the Court

March 2014 ADDvantage 53www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ThanksUSA is a 501(c)(3) that provides college, technical and vocational school need-based scholarships for the children and spouses of U.S. military personnel. Since 2006, more than 3,000 scholarships have been awarded by ThanksUSA totaling $9.2 million.

Berkeley Hills Country Club Scholarship Recipient, Clemencia Niles, and her family.

USPTA Member Todd Assini is the director of tennis at Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, Ga. His club raised $3,700 for Tennis Thanks the Troops in 2013.

By Mandy Johnson, ThanksUSA

Imagine growing up in a small town in northwest Indiana, a town with two public tennis courts and an hour from the nearest “tennis facility.”

Now imagine not picking up a racquet until the first day of tennis practice your freshman year of high school and never taking a lesson. Most would agree that coming from this environment is going to make it difficult to become a good tennis player, let alone a teaching professional. How does someone from this environment end up as the head pro at one of the busiest tennis facili-ties in Louisiana just eight months after college graduation? The Professional Tennis Management (PTM) program at Ferris State University is the answer. I was very fortunate to have a great high school coach who made practices productive and fun. I knew after high school I wanted to do something with tennis, whether it was having a “regu-lar” job and coaching a high school team or being an athletic trainer and being

tied into tennis with that. Tennis was and is my passion. I knew I wanted to keep going with tennis. I played two years at a small college (NCAA DIII) in Indiana. When I say that tennis is my passion I mean it. If I wasn’t string-ing or watching the Tennis Channel, I was looking for someone to hit with. There was a running joke on the team: if it was raining or snowing outside, the guys would ask if I wanted to hit. If I saw them in class, they would ask if I wanted to hit. Tennis consumed most of my focus besides homework. Despite playing in college, I knew that it would be dif-ficult getting a teaching pro job without playing at the Division I level. Then I remembered in high school getting a pamphlet about the Ferris State tennis camps and some brief info on the PTM program. I decided to do some research. I found out about three programs. One

was in North Carolina, but I never lived more than two hours from home so l didn’t want to live that far away. There was another one in Texas and like North Carolina, I felt it was too far away. Then there was Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. With Michigan being directly north of me, I felt it could work.

On spring break of my sophomore year of college, my parents and I took a trip to visit Ferris State. On my visit I took the tour of the

campus and learned about the college of business and the activities offered on campus. My previous college had a student population of about 1,200 in a small town with very little in the form of entertainment. Ferris State had a student population of nearly 13,000 and had many activities on campus. Then I met with Derek Ameel, the new direc-tor of the PTM program, and Collin Cadwell, the administrative assistant. They told me about Ferris being the first four-year and largest PTM program and about the courses that are part of the program. Most importantly, they talked about the internships and 100 percent job placement after graduation. In this economy there are many people that are not working in their fields of study so it was extremely important that I find a good job that I enjoy. The program has a very good pro-gression of classes that educate on everything from on-court teaching to running a pro shop and the manage-rial side of things. The program is part of the College of Business with a concentration in marketing or resort management. Apart from the classroom learning, there are many workshops that expand the learning even more. Many of the industry’s top professionals come to Ferris to present. Just while I

Professional Tennis Management: A Gateway to the Tennis Industry

Beyond the Court

By Dan Beedle, USPTA

After attending Ferris State I have an immense knowledge of how to be a successful player as well as how to teach players.

Beedle with one of his 10 and Under students.

54 ADDvantage March 2014 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

was there (2010-2012), I was able to see Jorge Capestany, Ajay Pant and Todd Martin, just to name a few. There were also stringing workshops and clay court maintenance workshops. The ability to attend the USPTA Midwest Division conferences and network was yet another benefit to the PTM program. Networking with teaching pros from the Midwest gave me a group of professionals I could talk to if I had questions about teaching or programming or any other aspect of the industry. One thing I have found true about the industry is that there is something you can learn from every-one. I was able to attend three Midwest conferences and have pages upon pages of notes. I was able to help with presen-tations at each one, which allowed me to make even more contacts. I am a young pro and have a lot to learn, but I truly believe that I have a head start on most pros that were just good college players. Ferris allowed me to get hands-on experience teaching at the Racquet and Fitness Center. The best part of this hands-on experience is that you can talk to the head pro or assistant pro about how to fix certain problems that players are having. There

is an incredible amount of resources at your disposal. Not only do you have the amazing staff but also there is the resource library, which is full of books, videos and articles about tennis. Fer-ris State does not teach you everything about tennis, but it points you in the right direction. I spent many nights reading articles or watching stroke anal-ysis videos, and of course pro matches, and continue to do so to this day. This unique program gives you the tools to become a better instructor as well as a better player. With four indoor courts you are able to play pretty much anytime during the day and on week-ends. There are 10 outdoor hard courts and two Har-Tru clay courts as well. The player development clinics are designed to improve on-court tactics and strat-egy. I did not understand how to prop-erly play the game until I went through the program. I did not know about di-rectionals, the offense/neutral/defense areas of the court or how to adjust to my opponent’s style of play. After attending Ferris State, I have an immense knowl-edge of how to be a successful player as well as how to teach players. The friendships I made at Fer-ris were great. In fact, one of my best

friends went with me on a 2,800-mile road trip for three job interviews. Start-ing in Indiana we went over to Ohio, down to Georgia, west to Louisiana and back to Indiana. With the PTM program it is easy to get along because every-one shares similar interests. The PTM Alumni are great as well. They are very willing to help out in any way that they can. I was fortunate to attend the 2013 USPTA World Conference in Orlando, Fla., in September and in every presen-tation I met someone that was a Ferris PTM grad or employs a Ferris grad. Our network of alumni is second to none. If you are considering a career in tennis, then the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State is the way to go. It is truly a gateway to the tennis industry. h

Dan Beedle is a 2012 graduate of the Pro-fessional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. Before going to Ferris, he played two years of varsity tennis (NCAA DIII) at Manches-ter College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Ind. Beedle was the 2013 USTA Louisiana - Tennis Professional of the Year and the 2013 USTA Southern - Tennis Professional of the Year.


Beedle with Rick Macci.

Begun in 1986, the Professional Tennis Management program has been the leader in training and educating students seeking outstanding careers in the tennis industry. The four-year program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in business, with a choice of a marketing or resort management concentration. Visit http://www.ferris.edu/business/programs/tennis-management for more information.

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* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters. Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Applicant: late cancellation fee – $95; failure to cancel – application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee – $25; failure to cancel – $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.

(4 credits for PTCA I segment)

Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC) and specialty course credits

earned with the USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses your smartphone

to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and specialty courses earning APC.

To use the system at a seminar, general session or specialty course, you must scan two QR codes. One QR code is on your conference badge. The second QR code will be in your

conference notebook and cannot be scanned until the end of the session or the beginning of the next session.

If you do not have a smartphone, you may use someone else’s. Forms are available upon request.

March 1 Midwest Division

Columbus, Ohio

Cardio Tennis

Accredited Professional Coach

March 2 CT San Francisco

March 3 TRX CT San Francisco

March 9 CT Honolulu

March 10 TRX CT Palm Desert, Calif.

March 22 CT Wexford, Pa.

April 17 CT Darien, Conn.

April 19 CT Birmingham, Ala.

April 27 CT Cleveland

May 5 CT Philadelphia

Conventions(Division conventions, 5 credits; World Conference 8 credits; dates subject to change)

March 1-3 Midwest Division Columbus, Ohio

March 2 San Diego Division La Jolla, Calif.

March 8-9 Intermountain Division Denver

Career Development

Exams, Upgrades & PTCA I

March 1-2 Paradise Valley, Ariz.

March 9 Birmingham, Ala.

March 9 Clearwater, Fla.

March 13 Minneapolis

March 14 Rochester, N.Y.

March 15 Oklahoma City

March 15-16 Huntington Beach, Calif.

March 15-16 Boca Raton, Fla.

March 21-22 Houston*

April 6 Richmond, Va.

TAUT workshop

Please visit www.cardiotennis.com to register online.


March 1 Management: a learned skill

Columbus, Ohio; A. Pant

Specialtycourses

May 16 CT Denver

May 17 TRX CT Denver

May 17 CT Austin, Texas

May 18 TRX CT Austin, Texas

May 18 TRX CT Cleveland

June 14 CT New York

Oct. 9 CT Fayetteville, N.C.

Nov. 8 CT New York

Nov. 9 TRX CT New York

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Member News• Arizona Special Olympians took to the courts at Troon Country Club in the 4th annual Tennis Fun Day on Jan. 25. Mark Pachtner, USPTA Professional and director of tennis at Troon, coordinated the event, which attracted more than 170 partici-pants. Tennis Fun Day is also a well-established fundraiser for the Special Olympics Arizona, raising nearly $8,000 at this year’s event. During the free Tennis Fun Day of clinics and exhibitions, local tennis professionals covered the basics of the sport of tennis and taught certain groundstrokes for the Special Olympians using 10 and Under teaching equipment with low compression balls and adjusted net heights. Each athlete received a com-memorative Fun Day T-shirt, a free tennis racquet and a gold medal for participation during the post-event awards luncheon. Athletes and volunteers also got time away from the courts to explore a fully-equipped fire engine, courtesy of the Scottsdale Fire department, and three police cars, courtesy of the Scottsdale Police department.

• USPTA Professional Bernie McGuire, the Hammond School varsity boys’ & girls’ ten-nis coach, held a holiday round robin on Dec. 28, where the team raised $800 for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Columbia, S.C. More than 35 players competed in two doubles divisions and were served pancakes with all the trimmings.

• Tom Sweitzer and Marty Devlin were inducted in the USPTA Middle States Hall of Fame at the recent USPTA Middle States Conference held in Princeton, N.J. Devlin

and Sweitzer join previous inductees Ron Woods, Ph.D., Bob Ruzanic, Ed Garcia, Larry Hampton and

Becky Desmond. In prior years, both Devlin and Sweitzer were

honored with USTA Middle States HOF Inductions. • Longtime Dunwoody tennis pro Ty Fuller, USPTA, recently

retired from coaching after 50 years. He started in 1963

working in the New England area for about 10 years. In 1971, after

a meeting with Bud Collins and Arthur Ashe, he did a stint for the U.S. State Depart-ment touring around West Africa setting up programs at various schools and universi-ties. In 1973, he was the tennis director/club manager at the Dunwoody Radisson Inn in Atlanta. He remained there for almost nine years before starting his Dunwoody Tennis School, which ran for 30 years. During his coaching tenure in Atlanta, many of his ALTA/USTA league teams won city titles. He also developed more than 50 youngsters into regional as well as sectional champions. Over the years, he created many innovative instructional programs such as: Tennis to Music, Tennis for Tykes and a series on both Georgia Cable and CBS Atlanta. In addi-tion, he donated his time developing programs for the physically disabled, prison inmates and for Atlanta’s schools. In 2007 he was named Pro of the Year by the Georgia Professional Tennis Association, an organization he helped form in 1977. As a player, his USTA Senior League Team won city titles in 2010 and 2013 and the state championship in 2005.

• abc123 Tennis introduces an innovative, turnkey curriculum designed for teachers and coaches to incorpo-rate fun movement activities with learning the foun-dations of math and reading on the ten-nis court, playground, gym or in the class-room. Founded by USPTA Recreational Coach Patricia (Pat) Theriault in 2012, the company’s vision is to bring fitness and education together to

fight childhood obesity, as well as improve basic math and literacy skills for children ages 4 to 10. The abc123 Tennis program encourages learning through cooperative game play and is an easy, engaging addi-tion to youth physical education classes, adapted physical education classes, sports instructional programs, or after-school and summer recreation programs. Visit www.abc123tennis.com to learn more.

• Edgar Giffenig USPTA, former national coach in the U.S., Germany and Mexico, released “Developing High Performance Tennis Play-ers” in paperback and as an e-book. The book explores tennis from the perspective of a player development coach, presenting an in-depth analysis of the key elements of the game and how they need to be addressed to help players reach their po-tential. This full-color book with more than 140 pictures, 200 drills and various videos (iPad version only) is a wonderful resource for coaches, players and parents. For more information, visit Amazon.com or visit the iTunes store.

• Author, clinician and performance specialist Scott Ford, USPTA, announced the release of

“Welcome to the Zone, Peak Performance Redefined.” Ford’s new tennis guide is about learning to play tennis “In the Zone” all the time, by choice, and in a state of continual peak performance. Ford introduces readers to

his radically different approach to optimum performance and shows that the elusive mys-

tery of moving into “The Zone” is no longer a mystery or even an unrepeatable

quirk of fate. By learning Ford’s step-by-step Parallel Mode Process, ten-

nis players of all levels can learn to create their own enhanced consciousness, the entry point to “The Zone.” He shows how to get into the zone, how to maintain

the zone and how to compete in the zone, not just for extraordinary

tennis, but for an extraordinary life. “Welcome to the Zone” is available in

a paperback edition through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more information, visit www.tennisinthezone.com.


Why is it that tennis programs at country clubs are often considered “second-class

citizens” to their golf counterparts? Why is tennis diminishing at many of these clubs, and how can this dynamic be repaired? How can tennis actually increase its role at these clubs?

I am not referring to clubs that offer tennis as the lone sport; I’m talking about the co-existence of tennis and golf at country clubs. The reality, which is certainly not new, is that tennis programs at country clubs often take a secondary role to golf. This has been go-ing on for so long, it is thought to be the natural order. Country clubs started out originally as solely golf oriented, and tennis was added in later years.

Less money goes into tennis than golf at these clubs, and tennis pros are not compensated as well as their golf counterparts. One reason is that golf courses are considerably more expen-sive to maintain. While this is true, the investment accorded to tennis is rarely commensurate to its true value.

At many country clubs, the employ-ees hired are mainly trained for working on golf courses. When I was the head pro at a country club many years ago, there was a superintendent in charge of maintaining the golf course and tennis courts. Because his knowledge of clay courts was minimal, I had to step in and direct the proper court maintenance.

Country clubs have also experienced declining memberships in recent years. Due to numerous factors such as aging members and economic uncertainty, many clubs have found themselves in precarious situations.

With this declining enrollment at country clubs, here are some ways tennis programs can improve this situation, and at the same time coexist

better with their golf cohorts.• Be Proactive: With tennis member-ships down, there has to be specific tar-geted goals, and an action plan to recruit members. When setting up this plan, there needs to be a realistic recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the present tennis programs. No longer can tennis committees sit stagnant while losing members.

Consider discounted “tennis only” memberships as one method for both recruiting and keeping tennis players. With costs considerably more reason-able, clubs have a better chance to grow their tennis programs, while bringing in members not just for tennis, but to the restaurant, pool, children’s programs, etc.• Attract Younger Members: Whether tennis or golf, when older members leave, there needs to be a cycle of younger individuals to replace them. One suggestion is to appeal more to younger working families. By offering family activities, clubs can attract a market not previously attended to. Hav-ing varied youth and after-work tennis activities will entice a younger core of prospective members.

Adding to this family emphasis, having the spouses of golf members engaged in the tennis operations can be essential. Especially if these spouses are not golf-oriented, having them involved would benefit both the tennis program and club.• Tennis and Golf Should Work To-gether: Instead of having an adversarial relationship, it would be wise for both programs to support each other. There are shared goals of increased enroll-ment, and club growth. When recruiting potential members, having healthy golf and tennis programs will enhance the club’s marketability, and help separate

itself from the competition. It is in the best interests of the programs to form a shared marketing strategy, with the club’s support.• Hold Open Houses: When recruit-ing for new tennis members, use your facilities to help market the sport. Once people view facilities firsthand, there is a greater chance of enrollment. These open houses can be on a group or indi-vidual basis.• Offer Clinics and Special Events: Providing free clinics and other instruc-tional classes will help bring in new members to the club, and help promote the tennis program to existing members and spouses. At these functions, the club pros have a chance to interact with prospective members. Additionally, being creative with events can result in new members, and generate interest in tennis. A couple of examples are round-robin mixers and clinics centered on Grand Slam events, or theme-oriented tennis parties.

With a little effort, tennis, even though it might never stand on an equal footing with golf at country clubs, can coexist very nicely. With highly func-tioning tennis programs, country clubs will surely reap the benefits. •

Relationship Advice Tennis has played second fiddle to golf at country clubs for decades. How can tennis increase its role?By Bruce Knittle

Your Serve

Bruce Knittle is the president of consult-ing firm Knittle Sports Solutions Inc. (www.knittlesportssolutions.com), which offers

advisory services to tennis and sports organizations. A former highly ranked player and captain of the Florida State University tennis team, he was a suc-cessful tennis camp owner, college tennis coach/pro, and director of sports programs.

We welcome your opinions. Please email comments to [email protected].


201403 Tennis Industry magazine

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