Dunlop`s New iDapt - Professional Tennis Registry

Transcription

Equipment
THE LATEST
in racquets,
shoes and strings
Management
Staff secrets:
Make sure you’re
HIRING SMART
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 / VOLUME 42/ NUMBER 9 / $5.00
Dunlop's
New iDapt
What It Means
• For Players
• For Retailers
Lighting Courts
With LED
Research For
Your Business
Retailing
Boost your
SHOE SALES
with these tips
TennisIndustry
www.tennisindustrymag.com
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
DEPARTMENTS
4
Our Serve
7
Industry News
11 Letters
15 Retailing Tip
16 TIA news
18
International Tennis
Hall of Fame
p.30
20 Pioneers in Tennis:
FEATURES
44 Tips and Techniques
22 G
aining a Foothold
String Playtest:
46
Tecnifibre HDX Tour 17
These retail tips can help keep your
shoe sales moving forward.
44 Your Serve, by Ellen Miller
24 State of the Industry
INDUSTRY NEWS
7
USTA chooses 12 Facility
Award Winners
p.30
ITA announces new D1
7
dual-meet format
7
30 The Sum of Its Parts
IART starts Sept. 20
8
Free Play Events
emphasize family
8
New owner for Little Miss Tennis
9
USPTA to aid in teaching
pro injury study
Dunlop’s new iDapt racquets can provide
players—and retailers—with unique
opportunities.
10 Peoplewatch
10
Nova Sports celebrates 30 years
p.34
12 Short Sets
39 Metal Halide and LED
12 Ashaway sponsors junior
national racquetball
13 10 win Ashe Essay Contest
14 Evert teams with Tail apparel
2 TennisIndustry
September/October 2014
34 New and Improved
The latest in racquets, strings and shoes
will have something for every player.
10
BowDry removes water
from courts
14 Cardio Tennis adds training
sessions
The latest research from the TIA holds clues to
how you may want to conduct business.
p.39
Metal Halide has served tennis players for
decades. But what’s on the horizon may be
game-changing.
Our Serve
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
[email protected]
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
What We Need
T
his is an exciting time for the
tennis industry.
The 2014 Tennis Show, which
took place at the end of August, had
exhibitors rushing sign up. The show
highlighted new and innovative products and services and garnered a large
industry audience. Some of the products on display, for instance, included
LED lighting innovations that could
lead to substantial energy- and costsavings for facilities. There also were
cutting-edge on-court analysis technology companies that provide players
with stats to help them improve, along
with “software as a service” companies
that help make the tennis-provider
business more efficient. And tennis
equipment manufacturers debuted
new racquets, strings, shoes and apparel designed to capture the playing
public.
Tennis participation is another reason to be excited—it’s been growing,
both overall and in the frequent player
category. Tennis has a good story to
tell—the sport is ranked in the Top 10
in terms of participant growth, as the
Youth Tennis initiative continues to
bring in more kids, our future customers. And the ground-breaking Lake
Nona project promises many benefits,
including aiding player development
in the U.S.
But there’s one area that, typically,
is a challenge when it comes to finding
consistent good news—tennis retailing. Even during good times for the
sport, it seems that tennis retailers
still have a tough time. The thing is,
we need our tennis retailers—they’re
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
[email protected]
4 TennisIndustry
important “touch points” for tennis,
which is, at heart, a game that grows
locally. Now, though, there’s a new
racquet technology that, in addition to
giving players more flexibility, may be
what tennis retailers are looking for
to help spark sales and address other
challenges in selling products.
In early August I joined about 60
retailers at a launch in New Orleans
for the newest Dunlop frames—the
iDapt racquets (see page 30). Codenamed “Project I.D.” and cloaked
in secrecy, this project has been in
development for four years, driven by
Dunlop GM Kai Nitsche and Director
'It's an exciting sign for
this industry that new,
innovative products are
in the pipeline.'
of Marketing Hunter Hines. None of
the dealers at the launch knew what
to expect. And when the product was
unveiled and the strategy described,
I have never seen a group of tennis
retailers—typically skeptical of many
things—be so unanimously amazed
and pleased.
It obviously remains to be seen
how Dunlop’s new racquet will be
received—and perceived—by players
and other retailers. A lot will depend
on how Dunlop supports this launch
through its marketing and service.
But it’s an exciting sign for this
industry that new, innovative products
are in the pipeline, helping to push this
sport forward.
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
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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). Sep/Oct 2014, Volume 42,
Number 9 © 2014 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.
All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo
are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
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website at TennisIndustrymag.com for free digital
versions back to 2004.
IndustryNews
Information to help you run your business
T
welve tennis facilities are winners in the 33rd annual USTA Facility Awards
Program, which recognizes excellence in construction and/or renovation. The
facilities were honored at the USTA’s Semi-Annual Meeting in New York City on
Aug. 30.
Of the dozen winners, the “Featured Facility” is the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in
California (left), a public facility
that is the home of the BNP Paribas Open men’s and women’s
pro tourney. To be considered
for an award, facilities must be
under the jurisdiction of a park
and rec, an educational institution, or a nonprofit corporation,
or a private or commercially
owned-and-operated facility that offers both USTA and
public programming designed
to help grow tennis.
The 2014 winners are:
• Public Courts: Small (2 to 10
courts): Claybell Park, Richland,
Wash.; Wexford Plantation, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
• Public Courts: Large (11 or more courts): Athens-Clarke Tennis Center, Athens, Ga.;
Montgomery TennisPlex, Boyds, Md.; Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center, Palm Beach
Gardens, Fla.; Samuell Grand Tennis Center, Dallas
• Educational Institution: Culver Academies Indoor Tennis Facility, Culver, Ind.
• Private Facilities: Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, Va. (Green Facility); Broken Sound Club, Boca Raton, Fla.; Indian Wells Tennis Center, Indian Wells, Calif.
(Featured Facility); LifeTime Tennis Lakeville, Lakeville, Minn.; The Salvation Army,
Greenville, S.C. •
ITA Announces New Format
T
he ITA will inaugurate a new, shorter dual-meet format for Division I college tennis beginning at the start of the 2014-15 season. Highlighting the format changes
are switches to no-ad scoring from regular scoring, one set of doubles rather
than an 8-game pro set and no warm-up with opponents. The ITA dual-meet format,
endorsed by the NCAA Division I Tennis Committee for implementation in the 2015
NCAA Division I Tennis Championships (pending approval at the September meeting of
the NCAA Championships/Sports Management Cabinet) will be played as follows:
• No-ad scoring in singles and doubles.
• Three doubles matches played with no-ad scoring, each match one set to 6, with a tiebreak at 6-all.
• Followed (after a 10-minute intermission) by six singles matches with no-ad scoring,
each match 2 out of 3 sets, with tie-breaks at 6-all.
• No warm-up with opponents (in doubles and in singles).
• Clinch/Clinch: Once the doubles point has been clinched, the remaining doubles
match shall be stopped. And in singles, once the team match has been clinched, any
remaining singles matches shall be stopped (unless otherwise agreed upon by both
coaches prior to the start of the dual-meet match). •
IART Symposium Sept. 20-24
The 8th annual IART Symposium for
racquet technicians will be Sept. 2024 at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa.
Recognized as the most comprehensive training event of its kind, the IART
conference focuses on various seminars for racquet techs working in all
settings at every level. Since it started
in 2007, the symposium has drawn
participants from over 20 countries.
“Our goal is to offer a broad range
of seminars that cover every aspect
of owning and operating a business
within the racquet sports industry,”
says IART Executive Director Tim
Strawn. “While [servicing
racquets is] certainly an important part of what we do,
our training is much more
comprehensive.”
This year’s symposium will
feature several new sessions, including pickleball, platform tennis, and
pro shop management. There will also
be a special presentation on “Ball Effect” from Lucien Nogues, manager of
Babolat’s training department. Another highlight is an expanded six-hour
seminar on racquet customization,
by Wilson’s Ron Rocchi and MRT John
Gugel of Orlando, Fla.
Visit www.gssalliance.com or call
540-772-4418.
Lawn Tennis Club
Opens in Michigan
Earlier this summer, Wessen Lawn
Tennis Club (WLTC) in Pontiac, Mich.,
became the first multi-court natural
grass tennis facility to open in the U.S.
in more than 100 years. Located 30
minutes north of Detroit, WLTC features
24 outdoor perennial rye grass courts,
P H O T O S BY JA C O B S E N
USTA Picks Facility Winners
TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
with plans to build seven hard and three clay
courts in the near future.
Local architect Bill Massie purchased
the property in 2013 for $300,000, which
included the former Pontiac Water Works
building (erected in 1919) and 48 acres of
land. In total, he spent $1.5 million to build
the tennis club. The grass courts are managed by Jeff Monette, long-time member of
the Sports Turf Managers Association, who
mows them daily at 5/16 of an inch. Monette
is the former sports turf manager at Longwood Cricket Club in Boston.
WLTC memberships start at $5,000
and include access to the courts, swimming pool and clubhouse, which features
a 7,000-square-foot cedar deck. Currently,
WLTC has 105 private members. Massie says
one of his goals is for the ATP Tour to bring a
professional tournament to the Motor City.
Free Play Events
Emphasize Family
With an emphasis on reaching and connecting with families, and in celebration of
Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, the
USTA is offering a gift-card incentive for ten-
nis providers who sign up to offer a Free Tennis Play Event for the month of September.
Providers should go to YouthTennis.com/
Host or call 800-990-8772. The promotion
ends Sept. 30.
Providers can choose the event that works
best for them, such as hosting a Play Day,
Kids’ Tennis Club, Team Play, School Tennis,
tournament, or other free play event, and
can be eligible to receive a $50 Amazon Gift
Card (see rules on the website). The events
can be for any and all ages and skill levels. By
registering your event on YouthTennis.com,
parents can find your facility or program and
connect to your event.
When you register your events, you’ll also
be able to download customizable marketing
material to help you promote your programming and bring more kids into the game.
Kastles Win Fourth
Straight WTT Title
The Washington Kastles defeated the
Springfield Lasers 25-13 at the Mylan
World TeamTennis Finals in Springfield,
Mo., on July 27 to become only the second
team in the league’s 39-year history to
Querrey Visits Players at JTCC
W
orld No. 61 pro Sam Querrey visited the Junior Tennis Champions
Center in College Park, Md., at the end of July as a part of the Fila junior
tennis mentorship program. Querrey spoke to and answered questions
from the young players, taught warm-up drills and offered tips during a clinic.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to give back to the tennis community
through Fila’s junior player mentor program,” said Querrey. “The Junior Tennis
Champions Center is an excellent training and learning environment, and it was
great to share my enthusiasm for the game with young players in their program.”
Fila outfits JTCC coaches and last year opened a concept shop at the facility.•
win four consecutive titles. The Kastles
were led by Hall of Famer Martina Hingis,
who posted a pivotal 5-2 singles win over
Olga Govortsova and was named Mylan
WTT Finals MVP. This is also Washington’s
fifth title in the past six years.
USPTA Partners with
TrueCar.com
A new benefit, the USPTA Auto Buying
Program through TrueCar.com, gives certified members dealer pricing information
when purchasing a new vehicle, to save an
average of $3,078 off MSRP. Also, there is an
added $2,000 in benefits for USPTA members—$1,000 credit against auto repairs and
$1,000 for deductible reimbursement for
the first year.
The program allows members to save
time and money by seeing what others paid
for the new car they want to purchase. In eligible states, they also receive a Guaranteed
Savings Certificate for guaranteed savings
off MSRP on new cars or a Used Vehicle Price
Certificate from one of TrueCar’s more than
8,000 TrueCar Certified Dealers nationwide.
Little Miss Tennis
Has New Owner
Little Miss Tennis, specializing in children’s court couture, is now under new
ownership. Mary Morrison of Minneapolis is now leading the brand. Morrison
comes to the role with 15 years of experience in the children’s fashion industry.
Little Miss Tennis founder Marilyn
Kosten led the company for 40 years
before deciding to turn over the reins to
Morrison.
“Little Miss has a classic style and loyal
following that make it unique,” says
Morrison, who adds her plans include
expanding the brand. “Moms that wore
Little Miss are now buying our clothes for
their kids. We want to continue what has
worked for 40-plus years and at the same
time offer more options to more customers.” Visit littlemisstennis.com.
PTR to Hold Wheelchair
Tennis Workshop
The PTR will conduct an Instructing
Wheelchair Tennis Workshop on Sept. 14,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Chaplin Park Tennis Center on Hilton Head Island, S.C. This
8 TennisIndustry
P H O T O BY B R U N O M O H O V I C H O F D A N JA M E S
IndustryNews
course is for tennis teachers and coaches to
augment their existing certification with a
certificate to teach wheelchair tennis, and
will provide them with the skills required to
teach wheelchair players.
Workshop participants actually use
wheelchairs in order to understand the
special skills required to maneuver and
hit from a modified elevation. The course,
taught by Harlon Matthews, a PTR Clinician
of the Year and top national wheelchair
player, is also valuable for rehab workers
and physical therapy specialists who want
to offer tennis as a rehabilitation tool.
All attendees receive the course manual
and additional resources. Merit Achieve-
erything we can to meet this objective.”
To participate, contact the USPTA or
call Kyle Aune at ASMI at 205-918-2118.
Ashaway MonoGut ZX
Now Available in Reels
Ashaway Racket Strings has made its
popular MonoGut ZX brand tennis strings—
16L gauge (1.27 mm) MonoGut ZX, and 17
gauge (1.22 mm) MonoGut ZX Pro—available in bulk reels for more efficient hybrid
stringing. Of the two, MonoGut ZX Pro is a
thinner lighter string, designed to provide
better elongation, snap-back and playability
ment Program (MAP) and Continuing
Education Hours will be awarded. The
workshop is $75 and includes lunch. To
register, contact 843-785-7244 or ptr@
ptrtennis.org.
USPTA To Aid in Teaching Pro
Injury Study
USPTA has partnered with the
Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center and the American
Sports Medicine Institute to assist in
conducting the first major injury study
of adult tennis-teaching professionals.
The study involves the completion of a
short, confidential, online survey.
USPTA members’ names will not be
associated with the survey and individual responses will not be shared with the
USPTA or any other party. This research
will provide valuable information for
physicians and tennis players on the
risk, types and frequency of injuries to
tennis professionals.
“The USPTA has a genuine desire to
prolong the careers of its members,”
CEO John Embree said in an email to
members. “If the information gathered
can provide helpful guidelines to improve the health and well-being of our
membership, we are obligated to do ev-
TennisIndustry 9
IndustryNews
People
Watch
Longtime Bucks County
(Pa.) resident Laura Canfield
was recognized recently with
the USTA Middle States section’s Mangan Award, which
recognizes individuals who
through their actions and
example have made significant contributions to tennis
in Middle States. Canfield’s
25-plus-year employment
by the USTA, including 13
years as executive director
of Middle States and seven
years at the national office,
has been complemented
with volunteerism at the
national, sectional and local
levels.
Matt Kuhar of Smithfield
and Madison Clarke of
Phoenix, Ariz., won the
singles titles at the first-ever
New Balance High School
Tennis Championship, which
was presented by the USTA
and held in Boston in July.
Kuhar and Clarke will each
receive a wildcard spot in an
International Tennis Federation junior event held prior
to the 2014 US Open Junior
Championships.
North Carolina's Jamie
Loeb and UCLA's Marcos
Giron were honored as the
2014 ITA National College
Players of the Year in July as
part of the Rolex Hall of Fame
Enshrinement Weekend at
the International Tennis Hall
of Fame in Newport, RI. The
ITA College Player of the Year
Awards are given to the male
and female singles players who
have had the most outstanding
year in Division I college tennis.
Lotto Sport USA, distributor
for Lotto Tennis and Soccer in
the U.S., announced that Gary
Machholz will be taking on an
expanded role within the company. Machholz, who joined
the company in May 2013 as
a Territory Manager for the
Rocky Mountain Region and
VIP ambassador, will now manage the company’s sponsored
and VIP players.
Tony Trabert, a two-time U.S.
National Championships singles winner and longtime voice
of the US Open on CBS Sports,
is the 2014 inductee into the
US Open Court of Champions,
a US Open and USTA Billie Jean
King National Tennis Center
attraction honoring the greatest singles champions in the
history of the U.S. Championships/US Open. Trabert will be
for players who
do not require
the added
durability of
the 16L gauge
MonoGut ZX
string. Both
are of 100%
Zyex monofilament construction, to provide
dynamic stiffness and gut-like playability,
says the company. The lack of polyester
increases elongation and decreases stiffness
for comfortable soft power.
Nova Sports Celebrates 30 Years
Nova Sports USA Inc. of Milford, Mass.,
manufacturer of Novacrylic brand surfac-
10 TennisIndustry
inducted during an on-court
ceremony in Arthur Ashe
Stadium prior to the Men’s
Singles Final on Sept. 8.
Lynn Tilton, alumna of the
Yale University Class of 1981,
will receive the highest honor
bestowed by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association
when she is presented with
the 2014 ITA Achievement
Award on Sept. 5, at the
ITHF Board of Directors
Meeting in New York. The
ceremony will be hosted by
the International Tennis Hall
of Fame. Tilton, through her
company, Patriarch Partners,
works to end joblessness in
America by saving companies in danger of liquidation.
With revenues in excess of
$8 billion and employing
more than 120,000 people,
Tilton's platform is the largest
woman-owned business in
the country.
Longtime friends Billie Jean
King and Sir Elton John will
host Mylan World TeamTennis Smash Hits to benefit the
Elton John AIDS Foundation
on Dec. 7 at the Royal Albert
Hall. It will be the first time
the tennis charity event will
ing systems for tennis, basketball, track
and inline hockey, is celebrating its 30th
anniversary this year. The company
was founded in 1984 by former Truflex
Recreational Coatings President Ben
Righter and his wife Ruth, with the goal
of producing the highest quality acrylic
surface. Starting in a Holliston, Mass.,
manufacturing facility with five full-time
employees, the company has expanded
to a network of dealers in all 50 states and
40 countries around the world.
Still family-owned, Nova Sports now
operates a state-of-the-art facility with
advanced manufacturing, production
and research capabilities. “By not making any sacrifices in material quality and
be held in London. Former
world No. 1s John McEnroe
and Kim Clijsters, former British No. 1 Tim Henman and last
year’s Wimbledon runner-up
Sabine Lisicki will headline the
lineup for the one-night event,
staged during the final session
of the Statoil Masters Tennis
tournament.
Deborah Slaner Larkin, former executive director of the
USTA Foundation from 2010
to 2013, has been named
the new CEO of the Women’s
Sports Foundation. Larkin
has over 30 years of executive experience in corporate,
government and non-profit
leadership.
Florida teenagers Tommy
Paul and Katerina Stewart
each won singles titles recently at the USTA Boys’ and
Girls’ 18s National Clay Court
Championships, to earn wild
card entries into the 2014 US
Open Junior Championships.
Head racquetball player
Rocky Carson won the Men’s
Singles Division at the World
Outdoor Racquetball Championships in July in California, his
10th WOR title.
searching out experienced dealers with
only the highest standards, we’ve found
a long-term recipe for success,” says current President Rob Righter. Through Nova
Sports’ system of “certified” Novacrylic
installers, the company’s coatings can
be found at facilities from neighborhood
parks and clubs to NCAA, ATP, WTA and
ITF tournament sites.
For more information, contact
800-USA-NOVA or [email protected].
New BowDry Removes
Water from Courts
The BowDry is a new water removing machine designed for outdoor or indoor playing
surfaces, walkways, pool decks, etc., includ-
IndustryNews
Letters
Likes Advocacy Message
Great “Our Serve” column about
advocacy in the July issue. I
agree 100 percent with you. Keep
beating the drum.
Bruce A. Hunt
Executive Director
Southern California
Tennis Association
I want to say “thank you” for your
article on advocacy in the July
issue. It was definitely a breath of
fresh air to know you see the need
for the initiative. The USTA Texas
Advocacy Committee has some
of our most experienced and
strongest volunteers. I was given
this responsibility in January and
have enjoyed it ever since.
Todd Carlson
Assistant Director–
Community Development
USTA Texas Section
Service to the Industry
As an avid reader of Tennis
Industry (and a sometimes
contributor), I’d like to mention
how well this magazine serves
the tennis business. The addition
of the USPTA content in every
issue, along with the vast array of
subjects covered, are helping all
of us to become better educated
tennis advocates. Congrats for
doing such a great job, and I hope
this format allows the magazine
to continue to grow and provide
great service to the industry.
Denny Schackter
Tennis Priorities Company
Palatine, Ill.
Adidas Clarifies Ruling:
No U.S. 3rd-Party Sales
We would like to clarify an item
that ran in the August issue’s “Industry News” section. The legal
ruling in Germany about Adidas
opening up sales to online channels only applies to sales in Europe,
not in the U.S. or other parts of the
world.
“In the U.S., we have not changed
our policy and we will not allow
third-party sales of our product, as
we want to be sure that our product
is being sold via our quality retail
dealer networks,” a U.S. Adidas official told us. —The Editors
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[email protected]
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TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews
Short
Sets
The U.S. Davis Cup
team will host Slovakia
Sept. 12-14 in the
Chicago suburb of
Hoffman Estates, Ill., for
a World Group Playoff
that will determine
which country is
eligible to compete in
World Group competition for the 2015 Davis
Cup. The loser will
be relegated to Zone
Group competition for
2015. For tickets, visit
usta.com/daviscup or
call 888-484-USTA.
The total purse for
the 2014 US Open
increased by $4 million,
to a record $38.3 million—an 11.7 percent
increase over the 2013
US Open. Both the
men’s and women’s
singles champions will
each earn $3 million,
the largest payout in
US Open history. Each
round of the singles
competition will see
double-digit percentage increases over last
year’s record payouts,
and first-round singles
losers will receive
nearly $36,000. Both
the men’s and women’s
doubles champions
will earn $520,000,
the highest in US Open
history.
The Bryan Bros.
Foundation raised
more than $100,000 for
junior tennis at the annual V-Grid Tennis Fest
presented by Alexander
Cadillac and Esurance
in July. The all-time winningest doubles team
in history was joined
by former World No. 1
Victoria Azarenka and
other friends in presenting $16,000 checks to
the Ventura County Junior Tennis Association,
Santa Barbara Tennis
Patrons, Boys and Girls
Club of Camarillo and
the Oaks Christian High
School tennis program.
The Foundation will
distribute the remaining funds raised to
other deserving groups
throughout the year.
The USTA recently
announced the
refurbishment of the
stadium court at the
Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center in St.
Louis, as a part of the
USTA’s Fed Cup Legacy
program. The legacy
program is designed
to leave a lasting mark
in the communities
which host Fed Cup
ties in the U.S. The city
hosted the April tie
against France. The
main stadium court at
Dwight Davis, which
seats 1,700, recently
was resurfaced as a
US Open “blue” hard
court with blended
lines for youth tennis
play. The $15,000
project is jointly
funded by the USTA,
the Missouri Valley
section, and monies
generated from Fed
Cup in April.
The national afterschool youth sports
franchise company
TGA Premier Youth
Tennis has established
its first franchise
territory in Oregon.
Jeremiah Paladino, a
former banking executive, has acquired the
rights in southern
Oregon, including
Medford and Eugene.
ing tennis courts. Neither electric nor gas-powered, BowDry is pushed by the operator, with
four large wheels aiding
in maneuverability and
ease of motion, says the
manufacturer. The thick
foam roller absorbs water,
which is then pressed off
into a 16-gallon holding
tank at the rear of the
machine. Cost is $995 delivered (it arrives fully assembled except for the
handle that attaches with two thumbwheels).
Visit seagousa.com or contact 800-780-9889 or
[email protected].
Ashaway Sponsors Junior
National R-ball Team
Ashaway will sponsor the 2014-15 U.S.
Junior National Racquetball Team sanctioned
by USA Racquetball. Team members were announced on June 28th at the Awards Dinner
for the 2014 Junior Olympic Championships
in Denver.
The Championship is racquetball's
premier junior event in which players from
across the U.S. compete in more than 50 divisions. Finalists in the 18 and Under, 16 and
Under, and 14 and Under singles divisions,
12 TennisIndustry
IndustryNews
‘Green’ Solutions Can
Save You Money
• The Tennis Legacy Fund is a non-profit
committed to increasing the awareness
of sustainability within the tennis industry
and community. To help tennis providers
operate a more profitable and sustainable
business, TI magazine will run occasional
tips by the Tennis Legacy Fund in partnership
with Greenlight Solutions and a sustainability initiative by students at Arizona State
University
Saving Copy Paper: Ever wonder how
much paper you use on an annual basis?
Don’t let the thinness of a single sheet
deceive you—printer paper is a major contributor to landfills and is an overlooked
expenditure for businesses. Did you know
that paper costs about 3 cents per page?
Saving paper can easily be implemented
by adopting a “double-sided” policy: print
double-sided on each sheet of paper. Remember to set computer defaults to print
double-sided and to print only the pages
you need. You’ll be surprised how big of a
difference you can make. —Vid Micevic
Norwalk Grassroots Tennis; Marion Rye,
Minneapolis, InnerCity Tennis
• 13-14: Daud Gantt-Bey, Washington, D.C.,
Leadership Council for Healthy Communities; Ana-Lei Kalawae, Charleston, S.C.,
Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association
• 15-16: Roby White, Capital Heights, Md.,
Prince George’s Tennis and Education
Foundation; Lea Bergman, Laramie, Wyo.,
University of Wyoming NJTL
• 17-18: Andreas Nolan, New York, Harlem
Junior Tennis and Education Program;
Jasmine Rivers, Eight Mile, Ala., New Lyons
Park Tennis Association.
ESPN Personality
Teams with USTA
The USTA is teaming with Mike Greenberg, host of ESPN’s Mike & Mike, and his
wife, Stacy, in an effort to get kids active
through tennis during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in Sep-
and champions in the respective doubles
divisions earn one-year appointments to
the U.S. Junior National Team.
“As part of the program, Ashaway has
provided each Junior Team Member with
a complimentary reel of string to start off
the year, and will provide an additional
reel during the middle of the season,”
said Ashaway Vice President Steve Crandall. Boys on the Junior National Team
received Ashaway's new PowerKill Pro,
girls received the new PowerKill 17, and
Esprit team members received Ashaway's
SuperKill XL.
10 Win Ashe Essay Contest
The USTA Foundation, the USTA’s national
charitable organization, announced 10
winners of the 16th annual NJTL Arthur Ashe
Essay Contest. The winners, selected out of
close to 2,600 entries, each received a trip
to New York City for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.
To enter, youngsters were asked to write a
short essay about Arthur Ashe and his great
accomplishments. The 2014 winners are:
* Age 10 and Under: Srinath Mahankali,
Bayside Hills, N.Y., N.Y. Junior Tennis and
Learning; Makda Dawit, Oakland, Youth
Tennis Advantage
• 11-12: Torianh Blakes, Norwalk, Conn.,
TennisIndustry 13
IndustryNews
tember. The couple is featured in a pair of
public service announcements (PSA) that
encourages facilities to host, and families
to attend, USTA Free Tennis Play Events or
USTA Play Days.
These events are part of the USTA’s
ongoing efforts to bring new young players into the game, and September is a key
period to register for fall programming at
tennis facilities across the country. More
than a 1,000 free events are held during
the month to bring awareness of the
sport to local communities while continuing the USTA’s commitment to ensuring a
healthier future generation.
“Stacy and I are strong advocates for
a healthy lifestyle and are happy to help
the USTA with its efforts to get kids active,” said Greenberg, a longtime tennis
player who competed with Hall of Famer
Chris Evert for a mixed-doubles wild card
into the US Open as part of the US Open
National Playoffs in 2011. “Tennis is
something we all enjoy together as a family.” To find or host a Tennis Play Event,
visit YouthTennis.com.
Evert, Tail Team Up for Apparel
T
ennis star Chris Evert and Tail Activewear have collaborated on a new line of women's tennis and active clothing.
Inspired by Evert, Tail says the line is graceful, classy and
sporty, yet suitable for fierce competition. The new line is called
"Chrissie by Tail," or "Chrissie," and will be distributed exclusively by Tail Activewear. Spring 2015 collections will be available
in November.
“Tail was extremely diligent in researching fabrics and innovating design and always open to collaborating on every detail, which
enabled us to achieve a sporty, fashion-forward look as well as
athletic performance,” Evert says. Visit TailActivewear.com.
NCAA Champs Compete at NTC
NCAA singles champions Marcos Giron of
UCLA and Danielle Collins of the University of
Virginia lead the entries of U.S. college players who will compete in the inaugural American Collegiate Invitational Sept. 4-6, during
the second week of this year’s US Open, at
the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis
Center in Flushing, N.Y. At stake are possible
2015 US Open main draw wild cards.
Eight men’s and eight women’s college
Cardio Tennis Adds Training
T
raining sessions for Cardio Tennis and TRX Cardio Tennis continue to be
added to the 2014 schedule, and the program continues to expand outside
of the U.S., as training sessions are now scheduled for China on Oct. 10 and
Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 25. The following U.S. sessions have been scheduled, but
check CardioTennis.com as the list is updated regularly. (CT means Cardio Tennis
Training Course; TRX CT is the TRX CT course.)
Atlanta—Nov. 14 (CT)
Fayetteville, N.C.—Oct. 26 (CT)
Gilford, N.H.—Sept. 27 (CT)
McLean, Va.—Sept. 13 (CT)
Naples, Fla.—Sept. 26 (CT)
New York, N.Y.—Aug. 27 (CT)
New York, N.Y.—Nov. 9 (TRX)
Palm Beach, Fla.—Sept. 13 (CT)
Pasadena, Texas—Nov. 1 (CT)
Portland, Ore.—Sept. 14 (TRX)
Rome, Ga.—Sept.13 (CT)
Seattle—Aug. 30 (CT) & 31 (TRX)
Tucson, Ariz.—Oct. 14 (CT) & 14
(TRX)•
players will compete the singles event. If the
men’s champion is ranked No. 250 or better
and the women’s champion No. 150 or better, they’ll compete in the singles main draw
at next year’s US Open. Otherwise, they’ll
compete in Qualifying. The champions will
also get wild cards into two USTA Pro Circuit
events, while each runner-up will get one
wild card.
ZOGOtennis Joins TIA
As SaaS Partner
To help tennis providers manage and
grow their businesses, the TIA is partnering with technology development companies that offer “software as a service”
(SaaS). The newest partnership is with
ZOGOtennis, an online social network
for tennis that gives players the ability to
arrange games, find new partners, and
build their tennis network.
“We want to bring tennis players
together,” says Eliot Jenkins, co-founder
of ZOGOtennis, adding that making
ZOGOtennis both free and mobile is key
to the company’s mission to connect tennis players.
Currently, ZOGOtennis is active in all
major cities in the U.S. and has more than
600 clubs on its database. “Our goal is to
add even more clubs and public courts so
that everyone can use ZOGOtennis, no
matter where they play,” Jenkins says.
USRSA Announces
New MRTs/CSs
MRT
William Foreman - Oxford, MS
Vincent Mallari - Houston, TX
Michael Yoshi Vorachak - Houston, TX
Ivan Chong Zheng Ting - Singapore
CS
Matt McGee - Los Gatos, CA
Trevor Merrill - Boulder, CO
14 TennisIndustry
Retailing 133
Hiring Smart
When 4 out of every 5 new employees turns out to be a
bad hire, it’s time to tighten up your hiring procedures.
By Jay Townley
I
s it good or bad to hire employees
who hop from job to job? This
question can cost you time and
money … or it could represent an opportunity for your store.
Job-hoppers can range from applicants who can’t hold a steady job to
those who make great employees but
will bolt when a better offer comes
along. The trick for your retail business is to quickly weed out the good
from the bad—and hang on to the best.
Even “job-hoppers” can become great
long-term employees if the fit is right.
Research shows that, for one
reason or another, 80 percent of new
hires by small businesses turn out
to be bad hires. Establishing “hiring
smart” policies and procedures is all
about reversing this.
Where Do You Start?
First, keep up-to-date job descriptions for all of your store’s positions,
including qualifications you feel are
important.
Next make sure you have a job application form. If you don’t have one,
ask the businesses around you or your
Chamber of Commerce if they have
sample forms. Also, search online and
visit your local office supply store to
see if they have “stock” application
forms.
When you have an opening, have
every candidate fill out an application. You, of course, will read each
one. Then, have a manager or trusted
advisor read through them and suggest those they think have the most
potential.
You also should consider online
screening assessments of job candidates, which are readily available
today for a reasonable cost. Such as-
sessments can help you determine if an
applicant is reliable and trustworthy.
Here is where many small businesses make a mistake: Hiring on “gut-feel”
without having the applicant take an
online assessment, or without asking
for references from former employers, or without conducting at least two
interviews.
For every applicant that has a good,
interesting, promising application, and
who has a good to great online screening assessment, conduct a preliminary
interview with you and at least one
other person. If the applicant gets
through the first interview, ask for at
least three references (and make sure
you call the references). Then set up a
second interview, again with you and at
least one other person whose opinion
you trust.
Replacement Cost
If all this sounds like a lot of work, well,
it is. But compare the costs here with
what it could cost you and your business if your “gut” leads you to make another bad hire. In addition to chasing
away customers, bad hires can create
customer-service problems and cause
other, good employees to bolt because
they’ll think your business is poorly
run. Research shows that it costs the
typical small business anywhere from
$3,500 to $5,000 to replace an $8 an
hour employee!
There’s another 80/20 rule at work
here. Retail data also shows that the
typical small retail business that
doesn’t hire smart and train and educate its staff ends up with 20 percent
of the sales floor associates making 80
percent or more of the sales. It doesn’t
take long for that 20 percent—who are
the best hires the store has made—to
become discouraged at having to carry
the rest of the store associates, and
jumping to the next job they can find.
In addition to hiring smart, your
tennis retail business can hang on to
great full- or part-time staff, including former job-hoppers, by providing
consistent training and education to
improve sales efficiency and effectiveness.
You can reverse this 80/20 rule so
the majority of your sales associates
are consistently improving their close
rates and increasing the size of their
sales tickets.•
This is part of a series of retail tips
presented by the Tennis Industry Association and written by the Gluskin
Townley Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).
TennisIndustry 15
Give Your Business a Boost with
‘Try Tennis for Free’
There’s still time to get involved with “Try Tennis for Free,” which
runs throughout September. With Try Tennis for Free, run through
the website PlayTennis.com, new and returning players of all ages
and skill levels have a chance to get into the game for free during
the month.
The inaugural Try Tennis for Free campaign took place in May
and tennis providers reported that each participating facility saw
on average 30 new and returning players hit their courts. There
were more than 25,000 unique visitors to PlayTennis.com in May
looking to get into the game. The campaign has the support of
all segments of the industry, including the PTR and USPTA.
By visiting PlayTennis.com, consumers can find facilities
and teaching pros in their areas offering Try Tennis for
Free events. The free sessions can vary depending on the
location, as each facility or certified tennis professional
has the option to choose the best introductory session
or programs they feel will encourage new and returning
players to step onto the court. Free offers can include
tennis lessons, clinics, Cardio Tennis, USTA Free Tennis
Play Events (in celebration of
Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of
Play in September), and more.
Tennis providers can easily
sign up at PlayTennis.com to
participate in Try Tennis for
Free. Customizable marketing
and promotional materials are
available for free download to
promote the campaign locally.
Take a Friend
to Court
Go to PlayTennis.com to get started!
Tennis Is a Top 10 Growth Sport
Tennis is the only traditional participation sport to be ranked in the Top
10 in terms of participation growth, out of nearly 120 sports and activities
surveyed in the Physical Activity Council (PAC) 2014 Participation Report. In
the U.S., tennis grew by 658,000 players, or 4%, in the last year, to bring total
tennis participation to 17.68 million players.
Most of the nine sports and activities that ranked ahead of tennis on the Top
10 list are fitness-based: walking for fitness, swimming for fitness, running/
jogging, bicycling on a non-paved surface, aerobics (high-impact), backpacking
overnight, bicycling on a paved surface, yoga, and trail running. Tennis, the
only “traditional” sport on that list, also fits nicely into the fitness arena.
“More and more people continue to realize the great workout they can get
on the tennis court, while still having a lot of fun,” says TIA Executive Director
Jolyn de Boer. “In fact, the growth this industry has seen in Cardio Tennis
over the last nine years speaks to the desire for more people to use tennis as
a way to improve their health and fitness.” Cardio Tennis, which was created
in 2005, now has 1.5 million participants.
Also adding to tennis’s overall growth in participation is an increase in the
number of youngsters playing tennis over the last few years, spearheaded by
the USTA’s Youth Tennis initiative targeting kids ages 10 and under. According
to PAC research, in 2013, more than 2 million players between the ages of 6
and 12 took to the courts, an increase of 4.8% over 2012.
16 TennisIndustry
Host a Free
Tennis Play Event
Connect with kids and their parents by
hosting a USTA Free Tennis Play Event or
Play Day in the month of September. Free
Tennis Play Events will be held across the
country in celebration of Nickelodeon’s
Worldwide Day of Play, and the events
can be for any and all ages and skill levels.
To register to host an event, and to have
your event featured on the website, visit
YouthTennis.com/Host or call 800-990-8772.
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
Thank you, Exhibitors and Attendees!
For more about The Tennis Show—and for a limited-time access to the
show’s Virtual Event Bag special offers and coupons from dozens of
exhibitors—go to TennisShow.com.
2014 Tennis Show Exhibitors
Acelon Tennis Strings
Adidas
Aer-Flo
Antigua
ASICS America
Babolat USA
California Sports Surfaces
Century Sports
Club Automation
Coach Youth Tennis / USTA Coaches
Education
Dartfish USA
Diadora
Dunlop Sports Group
Fast-Dry Courts / 10-S Tennis Supply
Ferris State University
Fromuth Tennis
Gamma Racquet Sports
Har-Tru
HEAD Penn Racquet Sports
Hoparazzi
Inphorm
Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)
Junior Tennis
Kinesio Holding Company
Lux-Craft
Metaltek/Playmate Ball Machines
Methodist University PTM
MyTennisLessons
National Family Championships
NetKnacks
Oncourt Offcourt, Ltd.
Paloma-Financial Southwest Securities
Perfect PickUp/TennTube
PlaySight
Play Your Court
Prestwick Limited
Putterman Athletics
Prince Global Sports
Professional Tennis Registry
SportsTutor
StringAdvantage
Tennis Channel
Tennis Machine Sales & Service
TennisSource.Net
ThinkLite
TGA Premier Youth Tennis
USPTA Player
USTA College Tennis
Volkl & Lotto
Welch Tennis
Wilson Sporting Goods Company
YTEX
Zepp Labs
2014 Tennis Show Virtual
Event Bag Exhibitors:
Fifth Set
Tennis Tech
San Soleil
Score at Hand
Thanks USA
Sweet Spotter
Billie Jean King’s Eye Coach
Visaline Tennis Trainer
Unick Events
ZOGOtennis
TennisDirector.com
TI Hall of Fame:
Jim Baugh Is
2014 Inductee
Former TIA President Jim Baugh was inducted
into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame during the
TIA Tennis Forum Aug. 24 in New York City, joining
Howard Head and Dennis Van der Meer (2008),
Alan Schwartz (2009), Billie Jean King (2010),
Nick Bollettieri (2011) and Howard Gill Jr., Walter
Montenegro and Sheldon Westervelt (2013). A plaque honoring Baugh (right) is
on display at a dedicated industry section at the International Tennis Hall of
Fame in Newport, R.I.
March
S
Save the Dates!
JOIN YOUR INDUSTRY, MARCH 17-20, 2015,
IN INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA
TIA TENNIS SUMMIT AND THE
2ND ANNUAL TENNIS OWNERS &
MANAGERS CONFERENCE
M
1
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15
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29
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9
30
17
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2015
13
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STAY TUNED
FOR MORE DETAILS.
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
TennisIndustry 17
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Five Who Moved This
Sport Forward
“This year’s Hall of Fame class honors
two of the greatest champions of our
sport and three individuals who have
dedicated their lives and careers to
building tennis.
“Jane Brown Grimes has selflessly dedicated her life to the growth
of tennis around the world, having held
executive roles leading three major
organizations—the Women's Tennis
Association, the USTA, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.
She has also actively served on several
committees for the ITF.
“Jane served as both Executive
Director and President and CEO of the
ITHOF, during which time she helped
to grow the organization significantly. ...
In 1986, Jane was appointed Managing
Director of the Women's Professional
Tennis Council, now known as the
WTA. ... In 2007 and 2008, Jane served
as Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA. ... A global leader
in tennis, Jane is currently pursuing a
Masters Degree in International Relations at Cambridge, where her thesis is
about the role tennis can play in global
relations.
“John Barrett of England has been
elected for his many contributions to
the sport. … For nearly 40 years, John
worked for Slazenger, where he served
in a variety of capacities, ranging from
working with tournaments and players
to designing racquets. ...
18 TennisIndustry
“John’s most
notable work in
tennis has come in
the form of writing
and reporting.
From 1963 to 2007,
he was the tennis
correspondent
for the Financial
Times in London;
between 1969 and
2001, he was editor
of World of Tennis,
the sport’s definiNew to the International Tennis Hall of Fame are (from left) Nick
tive yearbook. He
Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes, Lindsay Davenport, John Barrett and
has published
Chantal Vandierendonck.
numerous books
to come out of her home country of the
on tennis. John was the indisputable
Netherlands. Chantal was crowned the
“Voice of Wimbledon,” announcing for
first ITF World Champion in 1991, a title
the BBC from 1971 to 2006.
she also clinched in 1996 and 1997. She
“Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri has coached 10 world No. 1 play- won the women's singles gold medal
ers including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, at the 1988 Seoul Games ... then went
on to win four more medals at the 1992
Monica Seles, and Boris Becker. He has
and 1996 Games. In addition, Chantal
also worked with the Williams sisters,
won seven singles titles at the US Open
Maria Sharapova, Tommy Haas and
Wheelchair Tennis Championships. She
many more. At 82-years-old, Nick is
still active on the tennis courts for more was the world No. 1 player for a total of
136 weeks in singles.
than 10 hours a day, six days a week.
“Lindsay Davenport, a longtime
“In 1978, he forever changed the tenresident of Laguna Beach, Calif., held the
nis coaching industry when he founded
world No. 1 ranking for 98 weeks, and she
the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy,
finished the year at No. 1 four times. She
the first full-time tennis boarding
was also the No. 1-ranked doubles player,
school that integrated intense athletic
and is one of just six players to have held
training with academic curriculum. In
both top spots simultaneously. Lindsay
addition, Nick has always been active
… won the 1998 US Open, 1999 Wimblein efforts to engage children with tendon, and 2000 Australian Open, as well
nis to show them that discipline and
as three major doubles titles. … In all, she
hard work can provide opportunities
won an impressive 55 singles titles and
through the sport.
38 doubles titles.
“It is a pleasure to welcome the first
“Lindsay won the Olympic Gold Medal
female wheelchair tennis player to the
at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, and she
Hall of Fame, Chantal Vandierenwas also a dedicated Fed Cup player. She
donck. A talented national player as a
junior, Chantal got involved with wheel- compiled an extraordinary record of
33-3 in Fed Cup competition for the U.S.
chair tennis as a teenager, following a
and was a member of three championcar accident. She [inspired] a long list
ship teams.” •
of successful wheelchair tennis players
C O U RT E S Y O F I T H O F
O
n July 12, the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport,
R.I., inducted five people: Jane
Brown Grimes, John Barrett, Nick Bollettieri, Chantal Vandierendonck and
Lindsay Davenport. Before the on-court
ceremony, ITHOF Chairman Christopher Clouser introduced the inductees
to media and other guests. Here are
excerpts of his succinct descriptions of
the Class of 2014’s accomplishments:
TennisIndustry 21
Pioneers in Tennis
History Lessons
Mark Stenning turns over the reins at the Hall of Fame.
By Mike Szostak
M
ark Stenning recalls his first
day of work at the International Tennis Hall of Fame,
just a few blocks from the opulent
“summer cottages” of Newport’s
Gilded Age. “I had no idea what I was
getting myself into. I had a brand new
tie and a blue blazer. Both were about
16 hours old,” he says with a chuckle.
Colonel Bob Day, executive director
at the time, told Stenning his job was
to promote tennis. Stenning said he
knew little about tennis and nothing
about promoting it. “Sure you do,” Day
responded, handing his new aide a roll
of tape and 50 tournament posters.
“Now, go promote.”
That was May 1980, two months be-
20 TennisIndustry
fore the fifth Hall
of Fame Tennis
Championships at
the Newport Casino. Stenning found
homes for those 50
posters and, as he
puts it, “morphed
into an executive; I
was allowed to sell
advertisements in
the magazine.”
More than three
decades later, the last 14 years as CEO,
Stenning’s career at the Hall of Fame is
ending. The 2014 Hall of Fame Tennis
Championships in July was his last as
tournament director and Sept. 5 will
be his last day as CEO. Todd Martin, a
former touring pro ranked as high as
No. 4 in the world, succeeds him in both
positions.
Stenning’s departure marks the end
of an era at the Newport Casino, site
of the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis
Championships in 1881 and major
tournament tennis every year since.
When Stenning started at the HOF,
it was little more than a collection of
memorabilia displayed in glass cases
salvaged from shuttered retail stores,
the HOF induction ceremony a filler
between Saturday semifinals, and the
tournament a showcase for grasscourt players. He leaves an institution that is respected worldwide, an
enshrinement ceremony that is laced
with pageantry and televised live, and
a tournament that has outlasted more
prominent pro tennis events in New
England.
Stenning, 58, has done it all during
his 35-year career. He's done everything from picking up players and
celebrities at the airport, to negotiating contracts to attract top players, to
managing multi-year, multi-milliondollar sponsorships that have kept the
tournament afloat. He's represented
the smaller events in the Americas
on the ATP World Tour Tournament
Council and served on the USTA’s
Davis Cup, Fed Cup and Olympic
committees and USTA Nominating
Committee. He oversaw improve-
ments to the 7-acre Newport Casino
complex, and he has been a key figure
in the current $15.7-million capital
campaign that will result in a new indoor tennis facility, three additional
outdoor courts that will be covered
by a bubble in winter, and a Memorial Boulevard façade that will mimic
the shingle style on Bellevue Avenue.
He launched a racquet donation
program that has helped introduce
tennis to hundreds of kids.
As a tennis leader, he’s also been
a perfect fit for the Tennis Industry Association board of directors.
“Mark has a broad understanding
of the many facets of our industry—
recreational to professional players,
tournaments to equipment suppliers,” says TIA Executive Director
Jolyn de Boer. “We’re grateful for his
support in recognizing the value of
the industry and helping to elevate
the recently created award for the
Tennis Industry Hall of Fame with a
permanent dedicated section within
the International Tennis Hall of
Fame museum. His integrity, insight,
and solid character have helped
in guiding this industry for many
years.”
“The thing that impressed me
about him from the day I met him is
his willingness to do anything asked
of him,” says 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Jane Brown Grimes, a former
USTA president and former executive
director of the HOF until leaving to
run the Women’s Tennis Association in
2000. “In the early days we were thinly
staffed, and he did everything. He is the
ultimate step-up guy. ”
The great irony of Stenning’s longevity in tennis is that he never played the
game.
“I think that worked to my benefit,”
he says. “I was more concerned about
the business of the sport, sponsorship,
hospitality, creature comforts for fans
and sponsors.”
After a well-earned rest, Stenning will
serve as a consultant to the HOF, focusing much of his attention on the capital
projects currently under way. •
Mike Szostak was a sportswriter for The
Providence Journal from 1977 until retiring in 2013. He covered 36 Hall of Fame
Tennis Championships.
“Pioneers in Tennis,” an occasional column in Tennis Industry, draws attention
to trailblazers in the sport. Have someone
to suggest? E-mail [email protected].
TennisIndustry 21
Tennis Research
State of
the
Industry
The latest research from
the TIA holds clues to how
you may want to conduct
business.
By Ryan Melton
E
ach year, the Tennis Industry Association
conducts more than 70 research surveys and
studies to provide the industry with market
intelligence to make the most informed business decisions possible. The key document
of the TIA’s research is its annual “State of the Industry”
report—a narrative of the industry for the previous year
that highlights much of the TIA's research and can provide
insights into what's happening in all segments of the tennis
business.
Here’s an outline of some of the data contained in the 2014
edition of the State of the Industry, and what it can mean for
your business.
Key Stat #1: The Tennis Economy in 2013 Was
Flat at $5.55 billion
Last year the tennis industry saw very little movement in its
total “value” to the overall U.S. economy, indicating a flat year
for the industry as a whole. Being “flat” isn’t necessarily bad
in today’s economy, since many industries are seeing declines.
But in many segments, to get ahead, you need to take a bigger
slice of the pie.
What this means for your business...
You need to generate a competitive advantage, so, depending
24 TennisIndustry
on your market segment, think product innovation, programming innovation, customer service, etc. And make sure you
market that advantage in a way that draws a response. Focus
on what makes your business, products, or services unique
and relay this message to consumers. For instance, you may
be a facility with certified tennis pros who have received national accolades. Put this in your marketing messages. These
advantages can help you grow your business.
Key Stat #2: Tennis Participation Grew 4%, and
Millions More Are Interested in Tennis
The growth in participation over 2012 is a positive sign that
initiatives to grow the sport—such as Youth Tennis, Cardio
Tennis, PlayTennis.com, and more—are taking hold. In addition, research indicates a pool of over 15 million consumers
who haven't played tennis, but are interested in the sport!
The great news is that tennis participation is growing—tennis is a top-10 sport in total participant growth in 2013. The
not-so-great news is that it is often a challenge to get new and
current players to spend money.
That said, a growth in participation has direct implications on all facets of the industry. Facilities can see more play
and increased revenue, retailers may see more foot traffic
Tennis Research
and sales, manufacturers may sell more product, and teaching pros may be giving more lessons. The most important
factor to consider with this growth is retention! In whatever
way your business can, it should focus some of its efforts on
retaining this new business.
For facilities, research shows 65% of beginners who start
in a structured program continue with tennis. Focus on developing these beginner programs.
For retailers, find innovative ways to create repeat customers, maybe by offering a free can of balls with their first
purchase, or a discounted price on their first restring job with
your business, or a “frequent restringing” program.
For tennis pros, participate in trade-based initiatives
such as Try Tennis Free, Free Play Days, and more that bring
these new players to your door and give you an opportunity to
convert them to lifelong customers.
The latent demand of 15 million players is “low-hanging
fruit.” Take advantage of the opportunity to grab these
consumers with the various industry-supported grassroots
efforts.
Key Stat #3: Frequent Players Grew 5%, But
They Are Aging
Frequent players (those playing at least 21 times year) are
the “core” of this industry. They play the most tennis and
spend the most money, more than 70% of annual consumer
dollars spent on tennis. The great news is the total number of
frequent players grew 5% in 2013! But, frequent players aren't
spending as much as they used to. Consumer discretionary
dollars are down and consumer confidence continues to
fluctuate.
Another concern: Frequent players are aging. Nearly 44%
of all frequent players are now over age 45.
Frequent play is up, which normally spells more revenue
generation in all channels. But in 2013, consumers just didn't
seem willing to let go of their cash.
For tennis providers (including facilities, pros and retailers), loyalty programs or frequent guest/customer programs
may help loosen the wallets of frequent players, grow your
player base, and increase your business. If you run a memberdriven club, consider a points program where every dollar
spent earns points toward items in the pro shop, discounted
court fees, or food and beverage. Retailers can do the same
with restringing programs and low cost product.
The aging frequent player base should be a concern. Tennis providers should not only be on board with programs to
boost youth play, but also should think about how Gen Y and
Millennials interact with one another and businesses. These
generational cohorts have grown up in a society of social
and “on demand,” with shorter attention spans. They expect
immediate responses. For tennis facilities, that may mean
26 TennisIndustry
taking your court booking online, and marketing via social
and digital channels. For retailers it means merchandising for
this generation and having a web/mobile presence. The more
visual appeal you can create in your retail environment, the
more likely you'll make a sale to the “younger crowd.”
Key Stat #4: Time & Partner Availability Drive
Tennis Play Habits
We live in a world where time is limited. When asked why
they played more or less tennis in 2013, the recurring themes
among tennis players were "time" and "having someone to
play with."
For facilities there are several implications. One is programming—consider programming that can be done quickly
(within an hour, such as Cardio Tennis) and scheduled at
times that may be on the way to or from your members/consumers normal daily routines (i.e. in the morning before or
in the afternoon after work). Secondly, think about how you
package your court time. Have you considered any other time
increments, which may not only help reduce individual fees
but increase volume and available time on the court sheet?
For facilities and retailers, become a go-to source of
matchmaking for your customers. You see a variety of people
on a daily basis and you not only get to know their playing
style, but also their personalities. Consider recommending
suitable playing partners. Down the road, they may both
thank you with more play and more purchases.
For tennis pros, think about how you sell your clinics and
lessons. Maybe it's time the hour-long lesson is cut into multiple 30-minute sessions, or maybe even 20-minute "tuneups." Consider other innovative ways to address the time and
partner availability issues.
Key Stat #5: Youth Tennis Participation
Was Up 5%
Five percent more kids aged 6 to 12 took to the courts in 2013,
a sign that the industry's collaborative efforts to grow this
segment are taking hold.
If you've been reluctant to get on board with the Youth Tennis
initiative, let the research evidence speak for itself. Not only
is participation up, but the sale of red, orange, and green balls
are up 375% since 2008, and more than 10,000 shorter courts
have been built or lined in the past five years.
For facilities, it may be time to consider adding 36- and
60-foot courts or lines, if you haven't done so already. From a
staffing perspective, more tennis providers are adding roles
specifically for Youth Tennis coordinators.
Retailers can become experts in the Youth Tennis category
from both a products and program knowledge perspec-
Tennis Research
tive, recommending the appropriate equipment to parents
and their kids and helping to establish a rapport with your
customers that could lead to long-term business. Retailers
and facilities can work together on cooperative marketing
campaigns to get more kids on the courts, such as a discount
on product and/or lessons for a kid’s first trip to the courts or
a retail store.
For court contractors, more youth players mean more
opportunity for court lining and short-court construction.
Key Stat #6: Pro/Specialty Racquet Sales
Were Down 5.6%
The competitive landscape of tennis retail is continuously
evolving. It's a simple fact that more consumers are buying
online, "showrooming" is still a concern, and specialty retail is
becoming more challenging.
In today’s marketplace, a tennis business with no online presence has little chance of being competitive. Make sure you
have an online presence with a website, and you're active on
social media, too. You need to engage with today's consumers.
While your business may not conduct "commerce" online,
having a presence where consumers can find out information
about your store, the products you carry and the services you
offer is a necessity.
Another key factor is equipping yourself with product
knowledge. Learn as much as you can about the products
you’re selling so consumers see you as the "go-to" source. Yes,
they may be able to find it online, but often there's nothing like human interaction when purchasing these types of
products. And while it may be tough to do in some cases, try to
price-match or offer some type of consumer incentives.
Key Stat #7: It Was ‘Status Quo’ for Teaching
Pros in 2013
In 2013, teaching pros rated the "current state" of the teaching pro industry just above average, which is very similar to
the responses received since the survey was first conducted in
2010. Sentiment for 2014 is fairly evenly split with half of all
teaching pros expecting increased business and the other half
expecting business to stay the same as 2013.
Surveys of pros’ current outlook on the industry and their
future business tends to indicate there isn't a ton of new
excitement in how teaching pros feel. Finding ways to keep
yourself or your staff pros motivated will play an important
part in your business. When was the last time you looked at
your pros’ compensation packages? Has your facility been
successful in the past several years? Are you rewarding the
staff or finding ways to highlight good performance?
28 TennisIndustry
Key Stat #8: League Play Was Flat, Tournament
Play Was Down
With consumers’ discretionary time limited, it is no surprise
to see a somewhat waning interest in the typically structured league play and adult tournaments. On the other hand,
World TeamTennis league participation was up nearly 9%
as consumers continue to gravitate to more "group"-focused
activities that take place in fun environments.
Expect to see more "independent" leagues and groups on the
courts, as they typically allow for more flexible match scheduling and rules as compared to traditional league formats. Being a part of a team seems to be helping drive growth in World
TeamTennis rec leagues. Create communities around your
facility and programming where consumers feel like they are
part of something greater!
Key Stat #9:
Viewership of Tennis on TV Declined in 2013
Tennis viewership was down 22% in 2013, definitely a concerning trend. But, keep in mind the way content is being
consumed by today's consumers. Live streaming continues to
grow and more and more
A copy of the full TIA State of
households are dropthe Industry is available to
ping cable altogether and
Industry Members of the asreplacing it with other alternatives such as Netflix, sociation and above. To learn
more about membership and
Hulu Plus, and more.
to join, visit TennisIndustry.
Despite the decline in
TV viewership, interest in org/membership. For questions about TIA research, email
the nation's major [email protected].
pionship continues to remain high with more than
700,000 fans attending last year’s US Open. Consumption of
US Open content digitally was up 53% in 2013 compared to
2012.
For certain parts of the industry, these stats could mean a
fundamental shift in how you reach consumers, but only
time will tell. For the pro tours it can mean a redevelopment
in how they deliver content and how they engage the tennis
consumer. For retailers and facilities, it may be beneficial to
capitalize on the excitement of the US Open by running your
own concurrent promotions. •
Ryan Melton is the Research & Operations Manager for the
TIA, working closely with the association's multinational
research partner to enhance and deliver key industry metrics
to the tennis industry.
Fall Introductions
The Sum
of Its Parts
Dunlop’s new iDapt racquets
can provide players—and
retailers—with unique
opportunities.
B
By Peter Francesconi and Bob Patterson
y now, you’ve probably heard about the new
Dunlop iDapt racquets. You may not have had
a chance to see this product yet, but you may
have heard some of the descriptive words
being used, such as “revolutionary,” “innovative,” “exciting,” “unique,” “impressive.” And there is the often
heard, “game-changing.”
These aren’t just coming from Dunlop’s marketing and p.r.
people—this is what retailers had to say at a Dunlop launch
event held in early August in New Orleans. The company
gathered about 60 top dealers and 30 others, including Dunlop staff and media, at the event.
The group first playtested whited-out models. Then shortly
after that, Kai Nitsche, V.P. and general manager of Dunlop
Sports Group Americas, unveiled what it was the group had
hit with—to a completely surprised crowd. As Nitsche continued to describe the product, the audience’s surprise turned
into nothing short of amazement, and even gratitude for the
support for the pro/specialty retail business.
Putting It Together
Basically, iDapt is a racquet that comes in three pieces: the
head, the handle, and a rubber piece in between called a
“Shock Sleeve.” There are four different head options (98
square inches, two 100s—one with a more open string pattern—and a 105), three different Shock Sleeves (Soft for
cushioning and forgiveness, Medium for a blend of response
and comfort, and Firm for maximum response and feedback),
and, all told, 12 different handle options (six grip sizes, each in
27- and 27.5-inch lengths).
All the pieces are interchangeable, and, with the different
cosmetics available, Dunlop says a total of 432 different rac-
30 TennisIndustry
quets can be made up of the parts. Once a customer picks the
components he or she wants, it takes a certified Dunlop iDapt
retailer just 60 seconds to assemble the frame.
During the playtest in New Orleans, none of the dealers had
a clue the frames they were using had just been put together
a few hours earlier. They said the racquets felt solid during
their hitting sessions. Because the string and tension were
consistent among each of the different head sizes, the differences they noticed in feel and performance were due to the
different Shock Sleeves in the frames.
How does this work for consumers? They’ll pick the components that suit their style of play, along with the cosmetics
they want, then pay for the completed frame, which the certified retailer will assemble right there, using a special, custommade tool that only authorized retailers will have. It takes less
than a minute. And the suggested retail price is $199.
Years in the Making
Nitsche approached his superiors in the U.K. seven years ago
with this concept, which was green-lighted four years ago,
and since then, the company has managed to not only keep
this secret, but to constantly tinker with, change, and playtest
dozens of iterations.
“Whether it’s mobile phones, skis, golf clubs, or any number
of products on the market today, consumers have come to
expect the ability to have direct input into what they use,”
Nitsche says. “Dunlop is a brand with a tremendous history
of innovation. With iDapt, we’re giving players of all levels
access to individualized technology that has historically been
available to an elite few.”
Simplicity is the key with iDapt. The main connection,
where the throat meets the handle, with the rubber Shock
Sleeve in between,
is held firmly by an
aircraft-grade aluminum bolt, which
also has a dab of a
specially formulated
locking compound
to help form a solid
connection. Authorized Dunlop dealers
will receive a custom
tool, actually a long
torque wrench, to
assemble and, if a customer wants to swap components, disassemble the frame. (The adhesive on the bolt does not hinder
disassembly.) Dunlop says its testing shows that the area
where the handle joins the head is stronger in iDapt than in
conventionally built racquets.
Dunlop even changed and simplified its naming convention
for its frames, to make it easily understandable based on head
sizes: iDapt Force 98, iDapt Force 100, iDapt Force 100S (open
string pattern for more spin) and iDapt Force 105. The Shock
Sleeve, too, isn’t couched in marketing terms or magic; it’s just
a form-fitting piece of rubber in different thicknesses that
changes the feel and response of the frame.
To build an iDapt racquet, dealers simply use an awl to
remove a small plug in the butt cap, insert the desired Shock
Sleeve on the end of the desired racquet head, insert the bolt
into the bottom of the handle, then tighten with the special
torque wrench until it clicks into place. Put the grip band
and handle plug in place, and the racquet can go right out on
court.
Player and Retailer Benefits
For consumers, it’s all about choice. Players choose the right
size head for them,
and the look they
want (each of the
four different
heads come in
three cosmetics,
from somewhat
conservative to
a bit more wild).
Then they choose
the Shock Sleeve
to determine the
feel and shock
absorption they
want. Then they
pick the handle,
either 27 inches or
27.5 inches, in grip
sizes 0 (4 inches)
to 5 (4-5/8 inches).
Frames can even
be “handed down”
to family or friends
who can just spend
$30 for a different
grip or a few bucks
for a new Shock
Sleeve to change
the feel and performance for the new
owner.
For retailers,
there could be
major ramifications and benefits. First, the amount of inventory and the number of different models to stock can be vastly
reduced with iDapt. There’s no need to stock dozens of demo
frames since they can be created on the spot for customers,
then tinkered with instantly to give players an even closer
match to their style of play, increasing the chances for a sale.
Wall space is reduced, because Dunlop has developed a 5-foot
by 7-foot wall display that can show all the components to
make up all 432 racquet combinations. Shipping is in smaller
packages, and stockroom space is reduced.
Importantly for pro and specialty retailers, the custom tool
needed to put together and change the frame will not be available to consumers, so players need to come to your store if
they want a quick adjustment. That’s even a potential advantage over online retailing—while the frames will be available
online, chances are players won’t want to wait days for it to
return to them if they want to make changes; they’ll stop in to
a local retailer for a 60-second fix.
Another feature of the iDapt frames are the Aero Boost
Grommets, which are wider holes that are “spring-loaded.”
Dunlop says that will increase the sweetspot, power and
touch. The frames also use “parallel drilling” for the grommet holes, which
the company says
also enlarges the
sweetspot, allowing
the strings to move
more freely for
more snapback and
more spin.
Players can take
the customization
even further if they
use “Blast Zone”
strips. Each racquet
has five Blast Zones
delineated on the
frame, where players can place Blast
Zone strips made of
non-toxic silicone
(rather than tradi-
TennisIndustry 31
Fall Introductions
tional lead tape) to enhance
power, sweetspot and/or
stability. The strips weigh 3
grams, but are scored so they
can be cut to 1- or 2-gram
lengths.
“This will renew the interest of the consumer,” says
retailer Horacio Tamborini, owner/director of Flint
Canyon Tennis Club in La
Canada, Calif. “It seems to
be a very solid product and a
good concept.”
A Retail
‘Game-Changer’?
While only time will tell if retailers and players go for this
new type of racquet customization and choice, all of these
traits—and not least the pricing—had retailers at the New
Orleans launch transfixed.
“When I was told that
Dunlop had a ‘game-changer,’
well, that’s wrong,” says Jim
Augis, owner of Racquets Etc.
in Westfield, N.J. “This is an
industry-changer. In all my years in
The retail
this business, I’ve never seen a group of
wall display
retailers that is so fired up. What makes
(above) holds
racquets sell is the simplicity of the
all the pieces.
story. Everyone was so mesmerized by
Nitsche’s
the whole concept and simplicity of it.”
vision came to
“There’s so little risk—it’s a small
fruition after
dollar investment and such a versatile
seven years.
product,” says Rachel Heise, general
manager of Game Set Match, with
four stores in the Denver area. “I think
everyone’s been waiting for something
like this. I’m so excited to have one of
the vendors finally care about specialty
retailing, instead of the big boxes.”
Dunlop says the iDapt line, which
started shipping to retailers in midAugust, won’t be available everywhere.
“We’re selecting dealers that have a
good understanding of racquets,” says
Hunter Hines, Dunlop’s director of
marketing and product development. “We’re particularly
targeting dealers that have USRSA Certified Stringers and
Master Racquet Technicians on staff. The iDapt line requires
people that understand racquets and can help the consumer
choose the best fit for them. There are a lot of choices and we
feel that having qualified dealers is essential in getting the
right combination for players.”
Hines says that with its pricing, the iDapt line will “reduce
32 TennisIndustry
financial exposure for retailers by over 70 percent, while
still being able to offer more
options and truly unique
specialty service to customers.”
Marketing
Support
Right now, the iDapt frames
will only be available in the
U.S. Dunlop is supporting
the launch with the in-store
wall display, court and
store banners, customized
in-store hanging graphics,
and more. The Dunlop sales
team will develop specific
tennis events for each iDapt
certified retailer, to be held
from August to December
either in-store or on-court.
Equipment for teaching
pros will go through the
retailers, not to the pros
directly. In fact, Hines says
teaching pros will not have
the special torque wrench
required to assemble or
modify the frames.
The iDapt specific website, dunlopidapt.com, will feature an interactive
“build-it” module for players to create
their own frames. They can then email
the specs to others, including a dealer
who can build it for them. The website
will have a dealer locator zip code
search feature.
“I love the way they thought this
through,” says Kin Roseborough, a
tennis professional and stringer in
Charleston, S.C., and at Daniel Island/
Family Circle Cup. “The whole concept of the colors and styles and individuality is great. It’s like a consumer
going to Starbucks and ordering
exactly what they want. And there’s no
way you’ll know the difference when
hitting with it. I think we’ll have a lot
of interest in this.”
“The origin of this really came from dealers,” Hines says.
“For years we have heard dealers that were overwhelmed
with so many different models. Even knowing that players
have different needs and wants, dealing with so many different frames is an inventory nightmare.
“iDapt technology gives players hundreds of choices to
have a frame to best fit the way they play. It’s all about giving
players the ability to truly choose what best fits them.” •
Fall Introductions
New and
Improved
W
The latest in racquets,
strings and shoes will have
something for every player.
By Bob Patterson
hile not as busy as the spring usually is, there are still a lot of new products being introduced for the fall and
holiday seasons. Here is a brief look at what you will be seeing in the coming months.
Adidas
The iconic Barricade takes another step forward with the Barricade 8+. The seamless upper
improves durability while retaining the flexibility and breathability of its predecessor. Also
new is the Adidas by Stella McCartney Barricade for women. The foot-conforming upper
provides lightweight comfort and support with winning style.
Babolat
The French company has designated 2015 as “The Year of the Pure Drive.” The model has been
among the top-selling racquets for more than a decade and is still going strong. The Pure Drive
lineup will get a head start on the New Year with all new technology and graphics, and will come
in several variations, including the Pure Drive Team, Pure Drive Lite, Pure Drive Tour and Pure
Drive 107. Additions will also include an oversize model, Pure Drive 110, that is reported to play
like a smaller frame with tons of control, along with the Pure Drive power, according to the
company. The new line is scheduled to ship to dealers in November in time for the holiday season.
Babolat will also introduce an all-new redesigned footwear
line that is lighter and designed for an “out of the box” superior
fit. The Propulse BPM introduces the Babolat Pure Motion System, which focuses on three key aspects of the shoe’s construction: the forefoot, the lateral support section and the exclusive
Michelin outsole.
34 TennisIndustry
Fall Introductions
A new line of bags is also coming with designs to compliment
each family of racquets in the Babolat lineup.
Of course, the oldest company in tennis also has a new string, the
M7 that is billed as a durable multifilament that maintains a good
level of comfort and power. It is available in 16 and 17 gauges.
Ektelon
Ektelon launches a new line of racquetball racquets with reinforced with TeXtreme, an advanced carbon-fiber fabric designed
to be thinner and more durable than traditional woven fibers.
The new 400 series of frames combines TeXtreme with EXO3
and ESP technology along with the powerful DPR string pattern to produce the most powerful racquets in the line. Models
include EXO3 Toron 150 ESP, EXO3 Toron 160, Toron PRO 170
ESP, Toron PRO 180 ESP and EXO3 Re-Ignite 180.
Head
Head continues to expand the Graphene line with
introduction of three new racquets: Graphene
Extreme MP, Graphene Pro and Graphene Lite. The
newest addition to the Head string line is Lynx, a
durable polyester available in 16, 17, and 18 gauges
and two colors—anthracite and neon yellow.
In footwear, Head introduces the Revolt Pro, designed for the serious tennis player. Head transferred some of the stability and comfort
technologies used in its world-class ski boots in the new shoe. Men’s will ship to dealers
in November and the women’s version will debut in early 2015.
In squash, the Graphene Xenon 135, 140 and 145 are the latest additions to the line
up. Five new racquetball racquets are also being introduced: Radical Pro, Radical Edge,
Radical 160, Radical 170 and Radical 180 all feature a 106 head size along with Head’s
Patented Power Channels.
Lotto
Lotto introduces the Raptor Ultra IV shoe, loaded with technology. The men’s version
is available in two sole patterns: The “Speed” is designed for hard courts and the Clay
is designed for—you guessed it—clay. The women’s model is only available in the Clay
version.
Prince
Prince rolls out two new tennis frames for fall, the Tour Pro 100
ESP and the Warrior Pro 100T ESP. There are two new frames
for squash: Pro Beast 750 and Pro Shark 650.
Volkl
Volkl introduces a 20th anniversary edition of the V1 Classic with
four different paint schemes featuring flags from the U.S., Japan,
Germany and Spain. A racquet that has remained on the market
for 20 years is definitely something to celebrate, but Volkl doesn’t
stop there. New racquets being introduced are the Super G2,
36 TennisIndustry
Fall Introductions
Super G5, Super G10, and the Super G10 26 for juniors. There is also a
new string, the VStar, which is a smooth co-polymer designed to give
more snap back.
Wilson
You have probably seen the “tease” ads of the coming of the “Betterer” racquet. Wilson finally unveiled the new racquet of Roger
Federer, Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph. The new racquet is the first
autograph model in more than 40 years for Wilson and will be the
centerpiece for the new and evolved Pro Staff line. The
new line will be available October 1.
Reflecting on the changing dynamics and increased
speed of today’s game, Wilson is expanding its successful footwear line with additional styles, enhanced
performance features, and modern designs. The latest
introductions are the Rush Pro and the Women’s Rush
NGX.
Tennis isn’t all that is new for fall. Wilson is introducing a new racquetball technology with the debut of
the Whip 170 racquet. The breakthrough technology
dramatically expands the sweetspot and maximizes string movement
to create explosive power, according to the company.
Yonex
Yonex is following up the successful summer launch of the VCore
Tour G racquets used by Stan Warinka with a new line of VCore
Si frames with several new technologies to enhance stability and
spin. The racquets are being tested by top pros Juan Monaco and
Angelique Kerber. The VCore Si 100G and 98G will launch at the US
Open with other models to follow soon. •
38 TennisIndustry
Court Construction & Maintenance
Tennis Lighting:
The Life and
Slow Death of
Metal Halide
By Jonathan Bailin, Ph.D., USPTA
Tennis Coaching & Sport Science
F
or over 50 years, most tennis courts around the world have been lighted with Metal Halide (MH) fixtures, yet
few who use them understand their unique qualities. They may seem to last endlessly, but that’s far from the
truth. More importantly, the long reign of MH may be coming to an end in favor of new, more efficient, “green”
technology.
First, though, a little background. Metal Halide technology is a member of a family of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting systems, which includes street and shopping center lighting. In HID lighting, electricity heats a metal for
several minutes until it vaporizes inside a bulb to give off light, and plenty of heat, which is energy lost. In this case over 6,000
degrees Fahrenheit, which is a lot of lost energy!
MH bulbs are housed inside a fixture, or “can,” which has reflectors that focus the light from the back and sides of the bulb
downward and outward. Most current MH light is not direct light; it is reflected from the back and sides of the bulb. This makes
a difference in its actual and perceived intensity compared to the direct LED lighting you see in office and home lamps.
For a shopping center or highway, the HID metal to be heated is sodium, which comes in two types, Low Pressure Sodium
(LPS) or High Pressure Sodium (HPS). Each gives off a “champagne” or yellowish color. LPS and HPS are great for black and
white security cameras but not very pleasant for the human eye as it washes out color. This makes people a bit uncomfortable
and they do not want to loiter too long in this light. On the other hand, LPS/HPS is very cheap and long-lasting, so it is great for
parking lots, alleys, and highways.
For sports, the metal of choice inside the bulb is mercury. Older players might remember the name “mercury vapor.” Since
mercury gave off a bluish light, trace amounts of other metals (or halides) were added to help stimulate our eye’s sense of color,
so Metal Halide was born. MH is also much better for television, so prime-time sports went “cha-ching”!
Jonathan Bailin, Ph.D., USPTA, received his doctorate in Biomechanics/Exercise Physiology while coaching for the
women’s tennis team at the University of Southern California. In 1995, he founded and moderated the first panel of
physicians and specialists on the web to address the epidemic of Repetitive Strain Injuries, such as Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome. A nationally noted author, speaker, and consultant on sports medicine and ergonomics topics for over 20
years, he coaches in Marina Del Rey, Calif., and can be reached at TennisDr.com or ErgonomicsDr.com.
TennisIndustry 39
Downside of Metal Halide
But, there are some negatives to MH. First, experts tell us MH
bulbs lose 5 to 10 percent of their illumination per year. This
is according to Ricc Bieber of Bieber Lighting Consultants
and Greg Moreland of Moreland Lighting LLC. Most lamps
we know are either fully on performing near maximum, off,
or burned out. But MH is different in that it degrades quickly
then levels off for years. Also, most lamps familiar to the public do not require warm up. That 6,000 degrees takes a while!
Why do the experts say 5 to 10 percent degradation? Because a hot MH bulb attracts dust and particulates, like the
warm computer at your desk, and some environments have
more particulates in the air than others. Either way, it’s a
significant drop in performance.
I recently conducted an experiment with Bieber Lighting
and Moreland Lighting and confirmed this and more. We
compared the illumination of old 1,000-watt MH bulbs behind
dirty lenses, clean lenses, and new 1,000-watt MH bulbs, all
with two types of light meters.
Our results showed that just cleaning the lenses can result
in up to 24% more light,
and replacing the old
bulbs created up to another 40% more light to
the court. Plus, it’s smart
to do both at once. My
vendor charges $105 for
the trip, $95 per lamp (for
six or more per court),
which includes labor.
At that time, all capacitors should be checked
and changed if needed
and noisy transformers
replaced. For an eightlight court, I would plan
to budget $900 to clean
the lenses and replace the
bulbs from my vendor.
MH performance
drops then flat-lines at
A technician cleans a cloudy lens,
what lighting experts call
leaving a clean lens and bulb.
“mean lumens,” which is
around 40 percent of new
bulb capacity. This is despite the fact that it often still ignites
and might “appear” to work for many years after that. Here
are our MH lighting tips:
1) Clean lenses and properly operating MH bulbs should be
uncomfortable to look at directly.
2) Bulbs and lenses can be cleaned, but never the reflectors.
3) Budget for MH bulb replacement and lens cleaning at the
same time, between three to five years max.
to make some assumptions, but this analysis will give you a
point of comparison between an MH court and its most likely
successor, LED technology.
Let’s assume a typical tennis court with eight 1,000-watt
MH fixtures, or 8,000 total watts. That’s like eight hair dryers
going full blast. A busy outdoor facility might run them an
average of four hours a night (an indoor club obviously much
more) and 180 nights a year (some climates more, some less).
In my city, a kilowatt-hour of electricity costs about 15
cents, times eight fixtures, or $1.20 per hour to light one court.
Multiply by four hours and you get $4.80 for the night, times
180 nights a year is $864 in electricity costs to light one court.
For seven years, then, electricity cost is $6,048.
As mentioned earlier, plan on $900 per court for MH
maintenance. (Individual bulbs may burn out sooner, but this
is a reasonable average vendor cost to maintain appropriate
light levels.) Over a seven-year period, you should replace all
eight bulbs twice near the beginning and end of this period,
or $1,800. So we have $1,800 in maintenance plus $6,048 of
electricity over seven years, for a total operating cost of $7,848
per court.
What Can We Expect Next?
Instead of a bulb that loses enormous amounts of energy to
heat and sends light in all directions, the likely successor to
MH is based on a light-emitting diode, or LED. You know
them from the screens in your TV, phone, and computer. So,
why hasn’t LED technology jumped into sports as quickly?
Even the major lighting companies have struggled trying to
push enough electricity into the light emitter for sports. But
unlike the heat in your computer, the heat for a sports light
must be dissipated passively, without a fan.
It’s been a tricky problem but there are also obvious and
huge incentives to get it right. Direct light is much more efficient; over 50 percent of MH light is reflected and tends to
spill where it is not wanted. LED light can be easily directed to
where it’s needed most. Because this single light source is only
4 inches wide, the chances of significant glare are extremely
low compared to the 24-inch tube and reflectors used in MH.
In the new LED sports lamps, the light emitter is encased
behind 3 inches of shatterproof, solid glass without an air gap.
The manufacturer calls it “explosion proof.”
Since there is no air in the LEDs, there is no air pollution,
dust, or condensation to block its light over time, like in MH.
The clear glass lens and the spokes of LED fixtures passively
draw heat away.
LED technology lends itself to an open architecture of
customized mounting design choices. This customization also
favors American, medium-sized companies that are able to
Life After Metal Halide
MH has served us well for a long time, but it may be time for
some changes. Let’s start with the hard costs of MH. We have
40 TennisIndustry
quickly adapt to end-user needs. These companies could use
American raw materials, employees, and new factories serving a large new market. Investment, anyone?
Savings With LED
The best innovation, though, may be the savings. LED
technology is an impressive environmental alternative to
MH power consumption because there is very little wasted
electricity.
To give you more than 1,000 watts of equivalent light with
better distribution, you would need to change each MH can
and pole arm to a fixture for your court that holds one or two
LED fixtures. Let’s assume two for now. (Right now, we don’t
know if one or two LED fixtures will be equivalent to one MH
1,000-watt fixture. One complication is that the two light
sources cannot be compared with a standard light meter.)
The double lamp LED fixtures pictured on this page, for instance, use only 300 watts, so with 16 LED’s per court (2,400
watts vs. 8,000 watts), there’s 70 percent savings, or $5,494, in
just electricity over seven years. That’s very “green” news, and
there’s more.
Because the LED emitter is encased in shatterproof glass, mounted
to a heavy-gauge aluminum base,
the parts/bulbs are unconditionally, 100 percent guaranteed for five
years, but the expected life is 10 years
for the LED chip and the housing is
guaranteed for 20 years. (That’s why
the manufacturer advises a conservative, budgeting choice of seven years
maintenance-free.)
So, we have another $1,800 saved in maintenance. Add
that to the $5,494 saved in electricity, and you have a total of
$7,294 in savings per court over seven years. Pretty impressive.
Again, unlike an MH “can,” the LED lamp stays room temperature, saving on air-conditioning for indoor use. It won’t
break or explode, won’t attract dust or condensation, is instant on/off, does not degrade in performance, can be placed
on a motion sensor or a dimmer for mood lighting a party, and
can even be remotely controlled from a smart phone!
LED fixtures are designed so that any licensed electrician
can do the retrofit job. To remove the eight old MH arms/cans
and install the new LEDs on eight poles, in parts and labor, is
around $15,000, so over seven years about 50 percent of those
costs are returned, at current electric rates. Most general contractors will agree that‘s pretty impressive for any construction upgrade.
What if only one LED fixture is needed to replace an MH
can? Can solar panels run LEDs? Stay tuned for more on
this impressive and innovative green technology in sports
lighting. •
42 TennisIndustry
40 TennisIndustry
Tips and Techniques
Readers' Know-How in Action
Unwinding a coil
At the risk of being obvious, I've found
one of the best ways to uncoil a set of
string is to use your arm. After removing the string set from its container,
slide the entire set of string over your
hand and wrist and onto your forearm.
Then, find the end of the string closest
to your hand and start to pull, rolling
your arm and hand as necessary to
keep the string coming off without any
kinks.
Works well every time if you ensure
you get the string end nearest your
hand and use the rolling motion of
your arm to facilitate the unwinding.
Keep it simple.
5 3-packs of Head Xtremesoft Overgrip to:
John Hempel, Tucson, AZ
Improved string job
Here is our shop's secret to completing
an improved string job with nearly the
same time that it takes to string using
44 TennisIndustry
traditional techniques. We've found
these advantages:
• Less tension loss (as much as 10:1)
• More control
• More elasticity
• More first serves as winners
• More ball returns on target
• Builds player's confidence
Mount the frame in stringing
machine, attach initial clamp to first
left main. With the reference tension
at 48 pounds (set on constant-pull
and 15 percent pre-stretch), pull the
first right main string and permit it
to continue pulling while threading
the next four right side mains (try for
a constant time of 25 seconds), then
clamp the first right main. Duplicate
for the other side. There will now be
10 strings in the frame, but only the 2
center mains will be tensioned.
Go back to right side, pull tension and clamp the second and third
mains using the same longer (25
seconds) pull time. Go back to the left
side, pull tension and clamp the second and third mains using the same
longer (25 seconds) pull time. Go back
to right side, pull tension and clamp
the fourth and fifth mains using the
same longer (25 seconds) pull time.
Go back to the left side, pull tension
and clamp the fourth and fifth mains
using the same longer (25 seconds)
pull time.
Now there will be 10 tensioned
strings in the frame. Install the sixth
main on each side using the same
longer (25 seconds) pull time on each.
Then turn off "pre-stretch" and install
the rest of the mains strings (with no
pre-stretch) and tie off the mains.
Start installing the crosses with no
pre-stretch. Tension the first cross
at 30 pounds, and add 3 pounds
to each cross until the sixth cross
(second cross at 33, third cross at 36,
fourth cross at 39, fifth cross at 42,
and sixth cross at 45).
Before installing the seventh cross,
turn the pre-stretch on to 15 percent. Tension the seventh cross at 45
pounds with pre-stretch at 15 percent
and permit it to continue pulling
while threading the next two crosses.
Continue installing crosses at 45
pounds with 15 percent pre-stretch
and 25-second pull times until there
are six more crosses to be done. Then,
turn off the pre-stretch and install the
last six mains using the same tensions
used to start the crosses (sixth-to-last
cross at 45, fifth-to-last cross at 42,
fourth-to-last cross at 39, third-tolast at 36, second-to-last at 33, and
last cross at 30). Tie off the last cross
and the job is finished!
The tensions I've suggested are
designed for a player who has been
stringing their racquets at 60 pounds
with no pre-stretch on a constant-pull
machine. The tensions can be adjusted up or down for players who are
used to higher or lower tensions.
I encourage everyone to get two
similar racquets. String one using
traditional techniques and the other
using my technique, and make your
own decision.
5 sets of Wilson K-Gut Pro 17 to:
Dr. Carl Love, Albany, OR
Keep the dampener in your
strings
I’ve found a great way to keep vibration dampeners in place in your
racquet, even with the open string
patterns of today's frames: Tie a rubber band underneath it.
5 3-packs of Tourna Grip Original to:
Dan Weant, Cary, NC
Offset starter clamp pad
I like to pad my starting clamp. Most
stringers cut the pad so the gap is
right at the center of the scrap of
leather. I’ve found that it works better
to make an offset cut. My “offset”
leather pad has the advantage when
using it between two strings with narrow gap.
5 sets of Luxilon Savage White 127 to:
Sam Chan, Victoria, Australia
—Greg Raven •
Tips and Techniques submitted since
1992 by USRSA members and appearing in this column have all been
gathered into a searchable database
on www.racquettech.com, the official
member only website of the USRSA.
Submit tips to: Greg Raven, USRSA,
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096 or
email greg @racquettech.com.
TennisIndustry 45
String Playtest
By Greg Raven
Tecnifibre offers qualified retailers an
Ecobox of 20 pieces of 40-foot sets, in
the same color and gauges as individually packaged sets. For more information or to order, contact Tecnifibre at
888-TFTennis (888-838-3664), or visit
tecnifibre.com. Be sure to read the
conclusion for more information about
getting a free set to try for yourself.
In the Lab
Tecnifibre
HDX
Tour 17
Tecnifibre HDX Tour is a multifilament string constructed of
thousands of fibers in multiple separate bundles held together by
an exclusive Tecnifibre polyurethane-infusing process. The combination of the unique fibers involved and the polyurethane process creates a string with that expected Tecnifibre feel, improved
longevity, enhanced spin potential and increased absorption of
impact shock.
Each bundle consists of sub-bundles of three different fibers: 34
percent Elastyl fibers for elasticity and power, 33 percent polyester
fibers for firmer feel, and 33 percent Thermostabyl fibers for spin
and snap-back. The outer surface has a light coating of SPL lubricant, for anti-abrasion and durability.
According to Tecnifibre, the development of HDX Tour came
out of the reality that lighter racquets (that is, those under 300
grams/10.5 ounces) transmit more impact shock to the player,
and generate less power, making them less suitable for polyester
strings. After three years of R&D, Tecnifibre claims HDX Tour
gives all types of players the sensation of using polyester strings,
with the power and comfort of the multifilaments for which Tecnifibre has become famous.
Tecnifibre says that HDX Tour is also 15 percent more durable
than its next most durable multifilament string.
Tecnifibre designed this string for competitive players who want
controlled power and spin in a durable string, but who cannot use
stiff poly strings due to physical limitations or discomfort. HDX
Tour is also for those who want more durability out of their current
multifilament string without sacrificing comfort and playability.
HDX Tour is available in 16 (1.30 mm) and 17 (1.24 mm) in natural. It is priced from $20.95 for sets of 40 feet. Instead of reels,
46 TennisIndustry
We tested the 17-gauge HDX Tour. The
coil measured 40 feet. The diameter
measured 1.23 mm prior to stringing, and 1.21 mm after stringing. We
recorded a stringbed stiffness of 81 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 73 RDC units,
representing a 10 percent tension loss.
Our control string, Prince Synthetic
Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC
units immediately after stringing and
71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. In lab
testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original
Playtester Ratings
Ease of Stringing
(compared to other strings)
much easier
somewhat easier
about as easy
not quite as easy
not nearly as easy
10
12
14
2
0
Overall Playability
(compared to the string played most often)
much better
somewhat better
about as playable
not quite as playable
not nearly as playable
2
11
14
10
1
Overall Durability
(compared to other strings of similar gauge)
much better
somewhat better
about as durable
not quite as durable
not nearly as durable
2
9
18
7
2
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability (3rd overall)
Durability
Power (11th overall)
Control
Comfort (3rd overal)
Touch/Feel (5th overall)
Spin Potential
Holding Tension
Resistance to Movement
4.0
3.3
3.7
3.8
4.1
3.9
3.4
3.6
3.6
Playtester
Comments
has a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss
of 11.67 pounds, while Tecnifibre HDX
Tour 17 has a stiffness of 142 and a tension loss of 11.73 pounds. (HDX Tour 16
has a stiffness of 148 and tension loss of
10.56.) HDX Tour 17 added 13.7 grams to
the weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks
by 38 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP
ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind
tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages.
Average number of hours playtested
was 27.4.
Tecnifibre HDX Tour has that familiar “grippy” feel of a polyurethane
string, which sometimes contributes to
creaking noises coming from the loop of
string outside of the frame when pulling
tension. It is soft enough that you may
have a problem with severely blocked
holes, but it has little coil memory, and
is generally very easy to install. We had
no problems pulling HDX Tour through
tiny grommets, weaving crosses, tying
knots, or straightening. The SPL coating
is so light you may not notice it.
No playtester broke the sample during stringing, one reported problems
with coil memory, one reported problems tying knots, one reported friction
burn, and one reported other problems.
On the Court
Tecnifibre HDX Tour ranked highly
with our playtest team. It garnered
third place in Comfort (first place is
a natural gut string), third place in
Playability (first place is a natural gut
string), fifth place in Touch/Feel, and
11th place in Power, out of the 180
strings we’ve playtested to date for
publication. It also earned excellent
rankings in both Control and Tension
Retention, and well-above-average
rankings in Resistance to Movement
and Spin Potential. Overall, Tecnifibre
HDX Tour is the sixth-best string on
the list, making it the highest-ranked
synthetic multifilament to date.
Six playtesters reported premature
fraying or peeling, two reported buzzing, and 10 reported notching.
Eight playtesters broke the string
during the playtest period, two at five
hours, and one each at 8, 16.5, 18, 26, 49,
and 72 hours.
“Great feel. Shots feel
crisp and vibrationfree. String played
exceptionally well from
start to finish.”
—4.0 male baseliner with
heavy spin using Dunlop
200G strung at 65 pounds
CP (Prince Synthetic Gut
16)
"I really enjoyed playing with this string. I
thought it provided
good power, control,
and feel. I would rate
the string’s overall
playability high.”
—4.0 female all-court
player using Prince Warrior 100L ESP strung at 58
Conclusion
pounds CP (Tecnifibre 17)
“Nice, soft feeling,
comfortable stringbed.
Plenty of power with
no noticeable string
movement.”
—3.5 male all-court player
using Head YouTek Four
Star strung at 54 pounds
CP (Head PPS 18)
“Great feel and
comfort string. Would
recommend to other
players. Good playing
string that allows you
to feel in control of
your shots.”
—5.0 male all-court
player using Head Graphene Instinct MP strung
at 62 pounds LO (Head
Sonic Pro 16)
“I was surprised at the
Tecnifibre’s polyurethane strings always
seem special, and HDX Tour continues
the tradition. With seemingly the best
features of both polyester and high-quality nylon strings, it is almost a one-piece
hybrid that you will love to install.
elasticity that this string
produced when serving
and trying to hit hard
ground strokes. It was
especially pleasing on
the first serve.”
—3.5 male all court player
using Wilson strung at 50
pounds CP (Wilson Sensation 17)
“Felt like a soft string to
hit with. Lots of control.”
—5.0 male all-court player
using Head Prestige strung
at 55 pounds CP (Prince
Synthetic Gut 15)
(Strings normally used by
testers are indicated in
parentheses. For the rest
of the tester comments,
visit www.tennisindustrymag.com.)
Tecnifibre is making 300 free sets
of HDX Tour available for USRSA
members to try for themselves. So if
you think Tecnifibre HDX Tour might
be for you, fill out the coupon and
send it in right away.
—Greg Raven
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM
Tecnifibre will send a free set of HDX Tour to the first 300 USRSA members
who cut out (or copy) this coupon and send it to:
USRSA, Attn: Tecnifibre String Offer
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to
[email protected]
Offer expires 15 September 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.
TennisIndustry 47
Your Serve
Basic Training
A Youth Tennis professional says red, orange and green
balls are essential for getting kids to play, and enjoy,
By Ellen Miller
tennis. J
ust over 5 years ago, I was coaching tennis part-time. I had just
completed a Masters in Elementary Education and was ready for a
classroom adventure. Before I could
do that, I was offered the opportunity
to stay where I was and create a junior
program based on the new USTA 10 and
Under Tennis initiative.
The timing was perfect. I had spent
two years learning about the development of young children—how they process information, what they are capable
of learning at various ages. Now I could
use that knowledge on the tennis court.
At the time, sports like soccer and
baseball, which offer kid-sized equipment, smaller playing fields and immediate competition, lured children
from tennis, a sport considered difficult
for youngsters to play. But 10 and Under
Tennis made the sport kid-friendly and
increased the fun factor; the impact
has been substantial. Research shows
nearly 2 million kids ages 6 to 12 played
tennis in 2013, up nearly 5 percent from
2012. Not only has player participation
increased, but sales of red, orange and
green balls were up a healthy 17% over
the previous year. Clearly, scaling the
equipment to kids and using teaching
methods that gets them playing quickly
is making tennis more enjoyable.
However, there are still pros who
think low-compression balls “ruin”
a child's chances of becoming great.
They continue to push young children
to use the yellow ball, which is not only
heavy on a child's racquet, but tends to
bounce higher than the child himself.
The result of this “rush to the yellow
ball” is radical grips and faulty stroke
mechanics.
As I’ve found as an educator, the key
48 TennisIndustry
to success is solid fundamentals. We
must teach children fundamental footwork and stroke patterns so they have
a firm foundation on which to build.
Many children leave the sport simply
because they can’t keep the ball in the
court; the reason behind that may be
as simple as flawed mechanics or poor
movement patterns.
Because of the low bounce of a red
ball, children as young as 3 can hit. The
ball bounces in their strike zone, allowing for a sound grip and optimal stroke
mechanics. These youngsters can learn
to rally! Soon, they take part in Play
Days on a 36-foot court and compete
with other kids. There is plenty of time
to introduce the yellow ball … after we
introduce the orange and green balls.
'Children want to "play
tennis." The sooner we can
facilitate that, the better,
and red, orange and green
balls make that happen.'
With the orange ball on a 60-foot
court, they’ll learn how to transition to
the net, hit volleys and overheads and
learn doubles strategies. Then, with a
green ball, they’ll learn directional hitting and work on live ball consistency
and point play.
Points tend to last longer and involve more all-around court play when
using red, orange and green balls.
Think about how this will improve
footwork, shot selection, cardiovascular conditioning and concentration
skills. When kids get to the yellow ball,
the work can then focus on strategy,
mental toughness and match play. It
simply doesn’t make sense to rush this
developmental pathway.
The most important point of all,
however, has to do with the expectation
of every child taking up the game. They
want to “play tennis.” The sooner we
can facilitate that, the better, and red,
orange and green balls make that happen. Is this a big deal? You bet! Children
play sports because they have fun,
and rallying with a friend is fun. If you
don’t understand how important that
is, you need to rethink your teaching
strategy—and how you will sustain your
business in the future.
Fortunately the USTA has partnered
with the PTR, USPTA and U.S. Olympic Committee to create a pathway
for educating professionals in 10 and
Under Tennis. The result: Coach Youth
Tennis (www.coachyouthtennis.com).
This initiative provides coaches with
high-quality instruction in Youth Tennis through online courses, videos and
workshops. Completion of the curriculum is a prerequisite for PTR and
USPTA certification.
Using red, orange and green balls
to get kids into the game just makes
sense—for kids, for future players and
for your business.•
Ellen Miller is the executive director of West Winds
Tennis and Fitness Center
in New Market, Md. and a
frequent presenter at 10
and Under events. She also
works for USTA Player Development as a
10 and Under faculty coach. Miller played
tennis at Rice University and is USTA High
Performance-, PTR- and USPTA Elitecertified.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to [email protected].

Dunlop`s New iDapt - Professional Tennis Registry

Transcription

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