February 2016 / Volume 44/ Number 2

Transcription

Racquet Tech
Complete a great
string job by tying
a PERFECT KNOT
Community Tennis
CROWD-FUND
to help your next
tennis project
FEBRUARY 2016 / VOLUME 44/ NUMBER 2 / $5.00
OUTLOOK
2016
• Racquets
• Shoes
• Strings
• Apparel
Outstanding Tennis
Facility Awards
Your Serve
Partnering with
SCHOOLS will
grow your biz
TennisIndustry
www.tennisindustrymag.com
FEBRUARY 2016
DEPARTMENTS
4
Our Serve
7
Industry News
11 Letters
13 Racquet Service
16 Retailing Tip
18 Racquet Tech
20 Grassroots Tennis
p.24
22 Community Tennis
OUTLOOK 2016
24 R
acquets & Strings:
36 Ask the Experts
38 String Playtest:
Tourna Big Red 16
New and Improved
Your Serve, by Jason Jamison
52
INDUSTRY NEWS
7
Tennis Owners & Managers
Conference attracts top experts
7
PTR Week, Symposium set
for Feb. 15-21
7
ITF Recognized Court
program comes to U.S.
8
Bob Patterson named
USRSA executive director
8
Providers: List programs, events at RallyTheFamily.com
8
PlaySight installations
continue to increase
9
ASBA elects new officers
and directors
p.28
30 Apparel: Springing Ahead
p.30
33 Three’s Company
ateflex offers modular
10 M
court surfaces
Tennis Industry and the ASBA present the best
in tennis court construction and design.
11 B
ollettieri teams with
Pivot wearable tech
February 2016
Soft sophisticated tones and shapes are
coming back, leaving the neon brights behind.
FEATURE
eople Watch
10 P
2 TennisIndustry
28 Shoes: Stepping Forward
Colors continue in new footwear, along
with moves to either lighter weight or
more durability.
Jon Vegosen named
9
ITA chairman
11 L ongtime tennis journalist
writes ‘Safe Tennis’ book
Racquets for spring include updates of existing
models and brand new lines, while strings
offer something for all types of players.
p.33
Our Serve
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
[email protected]
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Learning Curve
I
n the fall, I had the chance to attend three national conferences
that were important in terms
of education in the tennis industry: First was the USPTA World
Conference in New Orleans in late
September, then the USTA’s Tennis
Development Workshop in San Diego in early November, and in early
December, I was at the American
Sports Builders Association’s Annual
Technical Meeting in Scottsdale,
Ariz. (Another important conference in December I wasn’t able to
be at was the Intercollegiate Tennis
Association Coaches Convention in
Naples, Fla.).
Attending these conferences once
again showed me how important
education is when it comes to being
a successful tennis provider. Not
only were the presentations packed
with great information, but the opportunities to network with peers
and exchange ideas, challenges and
solutions are a key to keeping your
tennis business vital and moving
forward.
Other tennis-specific national
conferences are coming up: Feb.
17-21 the PTR will hold its International Tennis Symposium on
Hilton Head Island, S.C., and March
23-25 in Miami, the Tennis Industry
Association will present its third
annual Tennis Owners & Managers
Conference (including a State of the
Industry Forum). The USTA holds
its Annual Meeting & Conference
March 12-14 in Carlsbad, Calif., and
its Semi-Annual Meeting & Conference in New York Sept. 3-6 (during
the US Open). And of course, there
are other sports and fitness-related
national conferences, too, such as
with the CMAA, IHRSA, NIRSA,
NRPA, etc. (For a calendar of tennis
industry events, go to TennisIndustry.org and click the “More” tab.)
Keep in mind, there’s also an
extensive list of regional and sectional conferences, conventions,
symposiums and workshops that go
on all the time around the country
by groups such as the USTA, PTR,
USPTA and USRSA. Clearly, there
are many in this industry who feel
the growth of this sport, and of your
business, is important and want to
help give you every chance to
succeed.
And this is where you need to
come in. With the tens of thousands of teaching pros, facilities and
retailers in the U.S., only a fraction
actually take advantage of these
educational and networking opportunities that are out there. While
I realize online education is growing,
necessary and incredibly important
(witness the success that Coach
Youth Tennis has had with its online
modules), there’s nothing quite like
being in the thick of a gathering
with hundreds of colleagues, hearing
presentations and insights from
renowned coaches, motivational
speakers, business leaders, community leaders, successful teaching
pros and others, and being able to
interact on a spontaneous level.
So, no matter what professional
organizations you belong to, or even
if you don’t belong to any at the moment, this is a plea to “get involved”
and take advantage of these educational and networking opportunities.
Your business, and this sport and
industry, depend on it. I hope to see
you at many of these industry events.
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
[email protected]
4 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Special Projects Manager
Bob Patterson
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Peg Connor
Kent Oswald
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
TENNIS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.TennisIndustryMag.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
[email protected]
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
[email protected]
Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year:
monthly January through August and combined
issues in September/October and November/
December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 310
Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Suite 400,
Birmingham, AL 35203. Periodcal postage paid
at Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offices
(USPS #004-354). Feb 2016, Volume 44, Number
2 © 2016 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All
rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo
are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone
circulation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennis
Industry, 310 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North,
Suite 400, Birmingham, AL 35203. TI is the official
magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA.
Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/
Racquet Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our
website at TennisIndustrymag.com for free digital
versions back to 2004.
IndustryNews
Information to help you run your business
3rd Annual T.O.M. Conference
Attracts Top Experts & Leaders
T
he third annual Tennis Owners & Managers (T.O.M.) Conference, presented by the
Tennis Industry Association, will bring together top leaders from inside and outside the tennis industry. The event will be March 23-25 at the Downtown Miami
Hilton, during the Miami Open pro tournament.
The conference will open with the State of the Tennis Industry Forum (see box). A
major focus of the T.O.M. will be on innovation and new ideas to help tennis businesses
position themselves for growth. The T.O.M. will include a Tennis Tech Fair & Resource
Center, which will give owners, managers and their staff
an opportunity to learn more about and try out the latest
products that can engage members and players. There will
also be an interactive “Idea Fair” workshop, along with
problem-solving roundtables.
Among those who are planning to present at the T.O.M. Conference are Dr. Jack Groppel, co-founder of the Human Performance Institute and V.P. of Applied Science and
Performance Training at Wellness & Prevention Inc., who will address the importance
and business imperative of being a “tennis wellness center” along with how to implement
key strategies to to help your member base. Also speaking is Dr. Gerry Faust, a worldrenowned expert at strategic planning, executive coaching and business turn-arounds.
The T.O.M. will include expert speakers and panelists on programming, management,
court construction and renovation, facility maintenance, sustainability, legal and personnel issues. There will be a number of opportunities for networking, along with an opportunity to attend the Miami Open on Thursday evening.
A major component of the T.O.M. Conference will be how tennis will look in the future,
and understanding what drives and motivates today’s consumers to get into tennis and
stay in the game. Gary Stewart, head of racquet sports at Virgin Active Health and Racquet
Clubs in the U.K., will present ideas
about successful programming, and
building and retaining members.
Ken Lindner, the president of the
Kicking off the third annual T.O.M. Conference in
U.S. POP Tennis Association, will
Miami will be the 2016 TIA State of the Industry
speak about his success rebranding
Forum, which will be March 23 from 10 to 11:45 a.m.
“paddle tennis” and how the sport
at the Downtown Miami Hilton. The Forum is free to
is looking to adopt 36- and 60-foot
attend, however, since space is limited, registration is
tennis courts to help bring people of
required at TheTomConference.com.
all ages into the sport.
The Forum will include industry executives preUSTA executives speaking at the
senting the latest news and data about the state of
T.O.M. will include Kurt Kamperthe tennis industry, including participation research,
man, Craig Morris and Scott Schultz.
consumer and tech trends, an update on initiatives,
Also presenting will be PTR CEO
and more. Prior to the start of the Forum, registered
Dan Santorum, USPTA CEO John
attendees are invited to the “Tennis Tech Fair & ReEmbree, TIA President and Tennis
source Center,” which opens at 8:30 a.m.
Media Company Managing Partner
Jeff Williams, and Sports & Fitness
Industry Association President/CEO Tom Cove. Additional speakers include Jim Baugh,
Simon Gale, Jorge Capestany, Jeff Gocke, Craig Jones, Tom Sweitzer, Greg Lappin and
Doug Cash, among other successful industry leaders and entrepreneurs.
Visit TheTomConference.com for more details and to register, or call the TIA at 843686-3036.•
State of the Industry Forum
March 23 in Miami
PTR Week, Symposium
Set for Feb. 15-21
PTR Week will be Feb. 15-21 on
Hilton Head Island,
S.C., and will include
Professional Development Courses
(Feb. 15-21), the
PTR Championships (Feb. 16-19), the
International Tennis Symposium (Feb.
17-20), Awards Banquet (Feb. 17) and
Tennis Trade Show (Feb. 18). The event,
which attracts hundreds of tennis
teachers and coaches from around the
world, will be held at the Van der Meer
Shipyard Racquet Club and Sonesta
Resort.
More than 40 tennis industry experts
will conduct classroom and on-court
presentations, with subjects ranging
from tennis business to teaching tactics
and techniques. International Tennis
Hall of Famer Billie Jean King will be
inducted into the PTR Hall of Fame at
the organization’s awards banquet on
Feb. 17. Visit ptrtennis.org for more info
and to register.
ITF Recognized Court
Program Comes to U.S.
Stuart Miller, a senior executive
director of the International Tennis
Federation, spoke in December to
the Tennis Division of the American
Sports Builders Association about
the ITF’s “Recognized Court” program.
The new program is designed to
acknowledge that a tennis court
meets the recommendations provided in the “ITF Guide to Test Methods for Tennis Court Surfaces.” In the
U.S., the recognition program will be
available for courts built by an ASBA
Certified Tennis Court Builder.
The ITF offers two levels of recognition: for a One-Star ITF Recognized
Court, the court is tested for quality
of installation. Two-Star recognition
involves determining if the average
court pace rating of the court falls
within 5 points of the ITF classified
value. For more on the ITF Recog-
February 2016
TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
nized Court program, visit itftennis.com.
List Programs, Events
At RallyTheFamily.com
Looking to boost tennis activity at your
facility or for your CTA? As a tennis provider,
sign up now at RallyTheFamily.com to participate in the industry-wide “Rally the Family” campaign. Rally the Family focuses on
tennis for all ages, using lower compression
Red, Orange and Green tennis balls, shorter
courts, shorter racquets and modified
scoring.
All tennis providers are encouraged to
sign-up to be part of the national campaign
and list their programs and events for free
at RallyTheFamily.com. The initiative, expected to launch to consumers this spring,
is designed to drive adults and kids to your
courts and programs. Registered providers
will have access to free tools and resources
to promote their business locally.
WTA Reports Audience Gains
The Women's Tennis Association announced key metrics from an audience
Patterson Named
USRSA E.D.;
Office Moves to
Birmingham
T
he U.S. Racquet Stringers Association is
excited to announce that Bob Patterson of
Birmingham, Ala., has been appointed the
executive director. Patterson, a longtime USRSA
member and Master Racquet Technician, has worked with the USRSA and Tennis
Industry magazine for the last three years as special projects manager.
Patterson began his career in the tennis industry with a home-based stringing business that grew into a successful tennis specialty store. He also has done
extensive racquet service for tour players and worked on several pro tournament
stringing teams.
“Bob’s passion for equipment and racquet service, as well as his experience as a
shop owner and tour stringer, make him the perfect fit for the executive director
position,” says David Bone, president of the USRSA. Patterson started his new position on January 1.
“I’m honored to be in this new position and I’m looking forward to meeting the
challenge of serving our members,” adds Patterson. “The USRSA just completed its
40th year and there have been a lot of changes in our industry and our organization
during that time. Our goal has always been to help stringers provide their customers with the best professional service possible, and I will make sure we continue to
do that. Our focus will be to continue to provide the very best training and information for our members. I am looking forward to working with our members to see
how we can improve their experience with us so that we can meet their needs for
the next 40 years and beyond.”
To allow the new executive director to take over all the day-to-day operations of
the USRSA, the organization has moved its main office to Birmingham.
The new USRSA address is: 310 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Suite 400,
Birmingham, AL 35203. The phone number remains 760-536-1177 and the fax
remains 760-536-1171. Email for Bob Patterson is [email protected] or usrsa@
racquettech.com. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time.•
8 TennisIndustry
February 2016
report by SMG Insight that show overall
viewership of the 2015 WTA season rose
25 percent, with 395 million cumulative
viewers in 2015 vs. 316 million in 2014—
an all-time high. For the second consecutive year the WTA registered a substantial
increase in audience, as viewership in
2014 rose by 23 percent.
The number of households reached by
WTA TV programming hit 954.4 million
in 2015, a 38 percent increase over 2014.
Digital viewership was up 44 percent,
with 44.6 million viewers watching
women's tennis through online channels,
compared to 31 million in 2014.
The top five most-viewed tournaments
in 2015 were: 1) China Open, Beijing
(34.64 million); 2) WTA Finals Singapore
(32.49 million); 3) Rogers Cup, Toronto
(29.70 million); 4) Miami Open (29.37
million); 5) BNP Paribas Open, Indian
Wells (26.81 million).
In 2015, the number of unique users
and visits to the wtatennis.com website
were up 14 percent and 15 percent,
respectively. The number of fans following official WTA and player social media
pages was up 16 percent and reached
120 million cumulatively, while video
views across official WTA website and
social pages hit 48 million.
PlaySight Installations
Continue to Increase
Since signing a key deal with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in November,
sport video and analytics technology platform PlaySight Interactive reports that it’s
planning for a number of new installations
in the new year. PlaySight offers clubs, facilities, colleges, and academies an all-in-one
solution—from live streaming to real-time
analytics to after-action video review capabilities to professional coaching tools.
Recent PlaySight installations include
IndustryNews
tion Solutions, Cincinnati; David Moxley,
Sportsfield Specialties, Delhi, N.Y.; and
Matt Strom, Leslie Coatings, Indianapolis.
Dan Wright (at left in photo) of Sports
Turf Co., Whitesburg, Ga., remains on the
board in the position of past chairman.
Ashaway Crossfire A
‘Cult Favorite’ for Hybrids
OKC Tennis Center Opens
Year-Round Courts
A
s part of its $4.2 million expansion, the OKC Tennis Center in Oklahoma City
recently completed a new 37,500-sq.-ft. tension fabric building housing six
regulation courts. The largest tennis facility in the state, OKC now has a total
of 36 courts. The final phase of the expansion project is planned for spring.
Designed and constructed by Legacy Building Solutions, the new structure is a
rigid, solid-steel frame with ceiling-mounted LED lighting fixtures. The building is
insulated and heating and air conditioning systems were installed to keep athletes
comfortable in all seasons. Legacy offers fabric in a variety of colors, and can also
custom print images and logos; OKC chose an exterior that features blue trim on
the roof and walls, which coordinate with the color of the outdoor courts. Visit
LegacyBuildingSolutions.com.•
courts at the Tennis Club of Albuquerque,
University of California, Duke University,
Midtown Tennis-Rochester, Northwestern
University, and Scarborough East Tennis &
Fitness Club in Columbus, Ohio. For more
information, visit playsight.com.
ASBA Elects New Officers and
Directors
The American
Sports Builders
Association,
the national
organization
for builders
and suppliers
of materials for
athletic facilities, has elected officers and directors for
2016-2017. Pete Smith (above, right),
a Certified Tennis Court Builder (CTCB)
with The CourtSmiths of Toledo, Ohio,
is the new chairman of ASBA. Smith,
who previously served as president of
the Tennis Division, has been active in
the association on many levels, includ-
ing serving on committees, speaking at
meetings, reviewing technical articles
and working on Association projects.
The new Tennis Division president
is Mike Edgerton, CTCB, of Copeland
Coatings in Nassau, N.Y. The new Field
Division president is Jim Catella of Clark
Companies in Delhi, N.Y.; and the new
Supplier Division president is Chris Rossi
of California Sports Surfaces of Andover, Mass. New board members include
Paul Nagle of Nagle Athletic Surfaces of
Syracuse, N.Y., and Bob Cohen of Robert
Cohen Co., of Albuquerque, N.M.
Others continuing on the board are:
Chris Sullivan, Verde Design, Folsom,
Calif.; Troy Rudolph, Sunland Sports,
Phoenix; Joe Covington Jr., Covington
Flooring, Birmingham, Ala.; Linn Lower,
Lower Bros. Co., Birmingham, Ala.; Ed
Norton, Holcombe Norton Partners,
Birmingham, Ala.; Ben Brooks, Patriot
Court Systems, Houston; Megan Buczynski, Activitas Inc., Dedham, Mass.; Randy
Futty, California Sports Surfaces, Andover, Mass.; Mark Heinlein, Turf Reclama-
Ashaway’s Crossfire hybrid family includes
six different material and string gauge combinations to suit “even the most discerning
player’s taste,” says the company. Earlier
Crossfire models,
such as
Crossfire II,
17 and 18,
utilized aramid (Kevlar)
mains and
synthetic gut
crosses. The
most recent additions to the Crossfire hybrid
line incorporate Ashaway’s 100 percent Zyex
monofilament strings. These include Crossfire ZX and Crossfire XZ Tour.
Ashaway’s Crossfire hiybrid strings have
been used for over 25 years. The first hybrid
used on the pro tour was of Ashaway’s signature aramid main string, in combination with
natural gut. “Players of all stripes are using
polyesters or aramids for stiffness and durability, but mixing them with a softer string for
playability,” says Ashaway’s Steve Crandall.
Ashaway’s Crossfire, though, has become a
“cult favorite” among hybrid fans. For more
information, visit ashawayusa.com.
Vegosen Named ITA Chairman
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s
Board of Directors has
unanimously appointed
Jon Vegosen as chairman
of the board. He succeeds
David Benjamin, who
announced his retirement
after having served as
chairman for nearly four
decades.
“I am honored to have the opportunity
to again serve collegiate varsity tennis,
especially as part of the ITA,” said Vegosen. “I am eager to work with the ITA’s
accomplished board members, dedicated
February 2016
TennisIndustry 9
IndustryNews
People
Watch
Alexandre Papineau is the
new promotion and marketing
manager for Tecnifibre USA.
After serving Tecnifibre for
seven years as head of the sport
marketing department in Spain,
Papineau will move to Miami to
develop and expand the company’s brand image in the U.S.
Sportsperson of the Year. Williams won three Grand Slam
titles in 2015 and 53 of 56
matches, and she was ranked
No. 1 every week for the second straight year. Her 21 total
Grand Slam singles titles is one
short of Steffi Graf’s record in
the Open Era.
Dr. Ann Lebedeff, professor of
physical education and athletics
and women's tennis head coach
at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, received the 2015 Intercollegiate
Tennis Association Meritorious Service Award during the
2015 ITA Convention held in
December. The award is given
annually in recognition of an ITA
coach who has gone "above and
beyond" in their commitment
and contributions to the ITA and
college tennis in general.
Pioneering tennis promoter
and Volvo International Tennis
Tournament Director Jim Westhall, of New Hampshire and
Florida, passed away on Nov.
26, 2015. He was 88.
Sports Illustrated has named
Serena Williams as its 2015
New International Tennis
Federation President Dave
Haggerty is now part of the
Tennis Industry Association’s
Global Council. In addition,
Steve Simon, who became
CEO of the Women’s Tennis
Association (WTA) in October,
is the newest member of the
TIA Board of Directors.
Taylor Helfeldt Jones, who
has served with USTA Texas
for five years, has been named
senior marketing manager
for the section, responsible
for marketing strategies and
membership.
USTA Southern has named
Cee Jai Jones as the association’s director of Diversity,
NJTL (National Junior Tennis
and Learning) and Grants.
Jones, of Atlanta, joins USTA
Southern after five years as director of Community Outreach
& Programs for the Atlanta
Youth Tennis & Education
Foundation.
Ed Norton of Holcombe
Norton Partners, Birmingham,
Ala., received the Chairman’s
Award at the American Sports
Builders Association’s annual
Technical Meeting, held in
December in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Antigua Apparel Adds New
Outerwear Pieces
A
ntigua apparel offers three
new additions to its collection. The Rebel half-zip
pullover is a long sleeve, jersey
face fleece with bold color blocking, available in five color options.
The Serenity half-zip pullover is a
brushed two-color geometric jacquard knit long sleeve, available in
three colors. And the Prime Jacket
and Pant are 100 percent polyester
double knit for warmth and freedom
of movement, available in three color options. Each piece uses Antigua’s
Desert Dry fabrics to keep players
warm and dry in the elements.
Antigua also offers in-house
embroidery, ideal for outfitting tournaments, officials and teams with
logoed apparel. Visit antigua.com.•
10 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Andy Murray has signed an
endorsement deal with British
carmaker Jaguar.
Former pro players Mary
Pierce and Mark Woodforde
have been appointed to the International Tennis Federation’s
Board of Directors for four-year
terms as athlete-members.
Longtime pro, coach and
tennis director Greg Lappin
of Chaska, Minn., has been
named PTR Minnesota Member of the Year.
Bo Gard of Laurel, Miss., and
David Despard of Parrish, Fla.,
have earned the PTR Master
of Tennis–Junior Development
certification. Earlier this year,
Gard earned Master of Tennis–
Performance, and is now one of
an elite group of coaches who
have more than one Master of
Tennis certification.
college coaches, valued partners, and
talented staff led by CEO Tim Russell and
COO Erica Perkins Jasper.”
Vegosen is a long-time volunteer,
leader, advocate, fundraiser and connector for tennis at all levels. He served as
the 2011-2012 chairman of the board,
president, and CEO of the USTA and spent
four years on the Grand Slam Committee.
In September, he completed a four-year
term on the ITF board of directors. He also
has served two years as chairman of the
USTA Collegiate Committee following two
years as the Committee’s Vice Chairman.
Vegosen co-developed PACT (Preserving
American College Tennis) and became a
leading advocate for varsity college
tennis.
Mateflex Offers Modular
Court Surface
Mateflex says its interlocking modular
tennis surface combines the comfort and
resiliency of a soft court and the durability and low maintenance of a hard court.
The company, which recently displayed its
IndustryNews
Letters
‘Fish Where the Fish Are’
I am in complete agreement with your
Our Serve on “Catching More Players”
in the November/December issue. As
tennis professionals and providers, it
is one of our duties to grow the game,
and while national initiatives are
great, it is the local level that will have
the greatest impact on the sustained
growth of the sport.
I recently spoke at the USPTA
Middle States Conference on "Working With Large Groups and Growing
The Game” and my focus was similar
to the idea of “fishing where the fish
are.” As an avid fisherman, I know
that even though my line is in the
water, I will not catch any fish if there
aren't any nearby.
products at the ASBA exhibitor show, says
its 12- by 12-inch injection-molded tiles connect with an easy to use interlocking system.
The narrow gauge ribs not only allow for fast,
flow-through drainage for quick drying and
safe footing, but also help the ball bite the
surface.
The manufacturer also says minor subbase faults won’t adversely affect play or appearance of a Mateflex court, so the surface
can be used to convert older hard courts to
a softer surface or solve ongoing sub-base
problems. For more information, call 800926-3539 or visit mateflex.com.
Bollettieri Teams with
Pivot Wearable Tech
TuringSense, a Silicon Valley pioneer of
wearable sports technology, and International Tennis Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri have partnered to bring to market
Pivot, a biomechanics-based wearable
that incorporates Bollettieri’s coaching
knowledge.
Integrated within Pivot, says the company, is access to Bollettieri’s training
techniques and instructions, which can
be customized for individuals, to help
At the club where I work, Birchwood Tennis Club in Clarks Summit, Pa., we have successfully run
programs targeting large groups and
brought more players into tennis.
Perhaps one of the largest groups is
high school tennis players. In Pennsylvania, we estimate, conservatively,
that over 25,000 play fall or spring
high school tennis. As we know, many
put their racquets down when the
season ends. In addition, every one of
those players has family, friends and
neighbors who watch and support
them and just might want to play
themselves if given the opportunity.
That’s a lot of fish!
During the cold winter months, in
between the boys’ and girls’ seasons,
we run a series of low-cost clinics for
high school players and we recruit
high school coaches to volunteer
as well. Instead of focusing on the
top players, we target the rest of the
team. It is fun, social and the kids
improve their tennis. After these
clinics we offer Junior Team Tennis,
camps, clinics and Play Days to keep
them playing!
My 8-year-old daughter is involved
in Girl Scouts and we did a tennis clinic
for her troop as a fun activity and a
badge. I registered it as a USTA Play
Day, had 60 girls that first year, and
the event grew. Soon other local troops
wanted to participate. The idea has
become so popular that the head of
the local chapter asked me to move the
date outside of cookie season so that
even more could participate.
Catching more players is not that
difficult if you know where to look.
Thanks for the great article.
Tim Haus, USPTA
Birchwood Tennis Club
Clarks Summit, Pa.
them become better players. Pivot also
allows other users or coaches to integrate
their own training techniques.
Pivot is a multi-sensor, high-speed
motion-capture and analysis system
designed to improve playing and training and to prevent injuries. Unlike other
products that attach a single sensor to a
tennis racquet, Pivot uses a pack of wearable sensors that attach to different parts
of the body or clothing.
“I’ve dedicated my life to helping players enjoy and improve in the sport of
tennis,” Bollettieri says. “Through Pivot,
I’m excited to be able to share my tennis
know-how and techniques with a much
larger swath of tennis players spanning
all ages and abilities. Now I can share my
techniques with everyone, wherever they
are in the world.” Visit turingsense.com.
properly prepare for
practice and matches
with detailed warm-up
plans and exercises that
specifically strengthen
players for tennis.
The book, with a
foreword written by
International Tennis Hall
of Famer Nick Bollettieri,
includes stretching exercises designed by
sports medicine physical therapists, proper
cool-down techniques, and many other
methods to help avoid injury. Martz, founder
and publisher of Florida Tennis magazine,
covered tennis for the Miami Herald for
21 years. The book is available through
Amazon.com, or email Martz at fltennis@
aol.com.
Longtime Tennis Journalist
Writes ‘Safe Tennis’ Book
Longtime tennis journalist Jim Martz has
authored a new book, “Safe Tennis: How
to Train and Play to Avoid Injury and Stay
Healthy” (Skyhorse Publishing) that teaches
readers how to avoid injuries and how to
Dave Miley Leaves
ITF After 24 Years
After 24 years, Executive Director of
Tennis Development Dave Miley has left
the International Tennis Federation for
personal reasons, effective at the end of
2015. Miley had visited over 140 countries worldwide and played a key role in
February 2016
TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews
Short
Sets
Davis Cup title.
Tennis Channel and USA
Today Sports partnered
to determine the best
player and match of the
2015 season. Novak
Djokovic was crowned
“Player of the Year” and
Serena Williams' US
Open semifinal upset
loss against Roberta Vinci
earned the title of “Match
of the Year.” The judging
committee included Nick
McCarvel for USA Today
and Hall of Famers Tracy
Austin and Jim Courier for
Tennis Channel.
Peter Burwash
International has a new
partnership with Four
Seasons Resort Bora
Bora, offering daily tennis activities to resort
guests. This is the first
time the resort will offer
a full-service tennis
program. PBI is also
directing award-winning tennis programs
at eleven other Four
Seasons resorts around
the world.
Great Britain beat Belgium, 3-1, to win the 2015
PlaySight, a tennis
video and analytics
the development of tennis globally.
He initiated many successful projects
including Tennis10s, which grew out of
the ITF’s Play and Stay program.
In 1993, Miley established the ITF
Coach Education Program and was
author of both the Level One manual
and co-author of the Advanced Coaches
manual that is now available in over 20
languages worldwide. The Junior Touring Team program proved very successful with many top-ranked players coming out of the teams, including Grand
Slam Champion Victoria Azarenka.
With Miley’s departure, the ITF has
promoted both Kris Dent and Stuart
Miller to senior executive directors,
with expanded duties that include the
activities of the former Development
Department. Miller will head up Integrity and Development, adding Development, Rules of Tennis, Governance
and some legal activities to his present
responsibilities for Anti-Doping, AntiCorruption, Science and Technical.
Dent will head up ITF Circuits and Professional Tennis Events that will include
all ITF Circuits (Pro Circuit, Juniors,
Seniors, Wheelchair and Beach Tennis),
Live Scoring, Davis Cup and Fed Cup by
BNP Paribas, Olympic Tennis and Hopman Cup.
12 TennisIndustry
February 2016
company, has joined the
Tennis Industry Association as a new Technology
Partner. PlaySight creates
a product that players,
facilities, coaches and
other groups in tennis
can use to enhance and
expand the tennis-playing experience.
the 2016 season with its
original name, the Orange
County Breakers.
“On This Day In Tennis
History,” the popular
tennis book, ebook and
mobile app, is now also
available as an audio
book. The calendar-like
compilation of historical
The World TeamTennis and unique anniversaries,
Pro League is returning to events and happenings
Orange County, Calif. The from the world of tennis, compiled by Randy
franchise that in 2013
Walker, is now available
moved from Orange
County to Austin, Texas— in audio form via Audible.
com and can be purand was renamed the
Austin Aces—will be back chased at Amazon.com.
The narrator is Tiffany
in Orange County for
Williams, Djokovic Named
ITF World Champions
Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic have
been named the 2015 ITF World Champions.
Williams is named Women’s World Champion for the sixth time, while this is the fifth
occasion that Djokovic has received the
honor.
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza are the
Women’s Doubles World Champions, while
Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau are Men’s
Doubles World Champions. Dalma Galfi and
the U.S.’s Taylor Fritz were named ITF Junior
World Champions, while the ITF Wheelchair
World Champions are Jiske Griffioen and
Shingo Kunieda. All will receive their awards
at the 2016 ITF World Champions Dinner on
May 31 in Paris, during Roland Garros.
Bobertz, a theatre
production veteran
graduate of Augustana
College. The audio
version is available
for $26.21 or $14.95
with an Audible.com
membership.
Tower Strategic
Group LLC is now the
official life insurance
provider of the USPTA,
providing a wide
range of value-added
services for USPTAcertified members,
including consulting
with members on their
life insurance needs.
coaches who match their candidate requirements. It was founded by WTA coach
Sven Groeneveld. For more information,
visit www.OrangeCoach.com.
ASBA Announces Blog
On Sports Facility Issues
The American Sports Builders Association
is producing a weekly blog on areas of interest to the sports facility industry, including
tennis court construction. The blog, which
is sent to ASBA members each week, also is
posted on the ASBA’s website, www.sportsbuilders.org, and will cover issues pertaining
to sports facilities in active use, as well as
those under construction, and more. In addition, the blog will cover association interests,
members’ activities and more.
PTR and OrangeCoach
Form Partnership
Arnhold Elected Chairman
of Tennis Hall of Fame
The PTR has entered into a three-year
partnership with OrangeCoach, an online
job and career platform that provides
recruitment services for tennis employers
and coaches, in which PTR members will
receive a free OrangeCoach Gold membership, valued at $150.
With its do-it-yourself or personal
services, OrangeCoach connects tennis
employers, such as managers, tennis parents, resorts, academies and clubs, with
The International Tennis Hall of Fame
has announced that John Arnhold has
been elected chairman of its Board of
Governors and Michael Goss has been
elected as vice chairman, effective
January 1, 2016. Arnhold and Goss, both
financial services executives, are avid
tennis players and devoted supporters of
the sport.
As members of the Hall of Fame's Executive Committee for the past four years,
Racquet Service
New Concept in Racquet Service
Babolat continues to transform tennis
from conventional to connected.
B
abolat is launching a new
concept that is sure to enhance
participating retailers struggling to maintain their brick-andmortar identity in an online world. My
Play Point is a multi-tiered program
with several components designed to
provide dealers an opportunity to offer
their customers a unique experience
while improving efficiency and promoting professional standards for the
dealer.
Two key components to My Play
Point will be a new stringing machine
and new software for operating a racquet service center. The new machine
will feature a more fluid and efficient
ergonomic design. The machine can
be configured to meet the needs of the
dealer with several options available,
from clamps to height adjustments.
The other key component is a software package that offers a variety of
tools to track your customers’ service
both Arnold and Goss have taken an
active leadership role in long-term planning, fundraising, and strategic efforts to
grow the organization's work to preserve
and promote the history of tennis and
to honor its great champions. Arnhold
succeeds Chairman Christopher Clouser,
who concluded his term after eight years
as chairman.
Women Pros Dominate
Forbes’ Top 10 $$$ List
Tennis players dominated Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s highest paid female
athletes, with seven of the top 10 spots. The
list takes into account prize money, appearances, licensing and endorsements between
June 2014 and June 2015. No. 1 on the list is
Maria Sharapova with $29.7 million in total
earnings, and of that total, $6.7 million came
from tournament prize money.
Serena Williams is the second highest
paid female athlete, with $24.6 million total
records. “The software is based on
the software we have used at Roland
Garros for the last five years,” says
Mickey Maule, national sales director
for Babolat USA. “We’ve honed and
tweaked it over the years it has been in
use and now have configured it for use
in a retail environment.”
The software can be used on a computer or tablet and also has a feature to
track racquets used for demo as well as
customer racquets for service. Another
feature is the availability of an app that
customers can download and have
access to their racquet service history
along with other related features.
Other components will include display modules for storing strings in both
sets and reels, a work desk, and other
displays for racquets, shoes and other
merchandise—all coordinated to provide a uniform and professional look.
Babolat plans to launch My Play
Point in February 2016 as a pilot in 16
stores in eight countries. The complete
My Play Point will available in October
2016. Pricing is yet to be determined.
—Bob Patterson
($11.6 million in prize money), and No. 3
on the list is Caroline Wozniacki with $14.6
million in total earnings ($3.6 million in prize
money).
Also in the Forbes top 10 are Ana Ivanovic
at No. 5, with $8.3 in total earnings ($1.8
million prize money). No. 6 is Petra Kvitova
at $7.7 million ($5.9 million). No. 7 is Simona
Halep at $6.8 million ($5.3 million). And No.
10 on the Forbes list is Agnieszka Radwansak
at $6 million ($2 million).
$70 million; Andy Murray, $70 million;
Victoria Azarenka, $30 million; Caroline
Wozniacki, $30 million; and Ana Ivanovic, $25 million.
Wealth-X Says Federer
Has Highest Net Worth
A Wealth-X list of the top 10 wealthiest
tennis players shows Roger Federer is
way ahead of his peers, with a net worth
of $330 million. No. 2 on the list is Maria
Sharapova, with a net worth of $160 million. Rounding out the Top 10, according
to Wealth-X, are: Serena Williams, $130
million; Novak Djokovic, $110 million; Rafael Nadal, $80 million; Venus Williams,
Is Your Cardio Tennis
Business License Current?
Are you registered as a Cardio Tennis Authorized Provider? To help ensure
quality Cardio Tennis for consumers, you
should be licensed to deliver CT sessions
and have access to valuable benefits and
services to help run the program. Since
Cardio Tennis began in 2005, more than
3,500 U.S. coaches have taken formal
Cardio Tennis education. Make sure your
2016 Cardio Tennis Authorized Provider
license is up to date. Visit CardioTennis.
com/for-providers/.
USRSA Announces
New MRT
Drew Violette - Amelia, OH
February 2016
TennisIndustry 13
TIA
State
of the
Industry
“Rally the Family” initiative,
and updates from the USTA,
including the progress at the
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
FORUM
USTA National Campus in Orlando,
Fla., and the renovations at the
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis
Center in New York. The Forum also will
outline ways to better define and boost the
economic growth and impact of the tennis
industry, and effective ways to distribute
clear, consistent messaging of health,
fitness and the reasons to play tennis.
Prior to the start of the State of the
Reserve your spot now for the 2016 TIA Industry Forum, registered attendees are
State of the Industry Forum, which will be invited to the “Tennis Tech Fair & Resource
held in Miami on March 23, in conjunction Center,” which opens at 8:30 a.m. and will
with the Tennis Owners & Managers (T.O.M. offer the opportunity to learn about key
Conference). The Forum is free to attend trends and products that will help industry
and will run from 10 to 11:45 a.m. in the business run more effectively and help
Symphony Ballroom of the Downtown Miami boost tennis participation.
Hilton on Biscayne Blvd. The event is being
While the State of the Industry Forum
held during the Miami Open professional is free to attend, registration is required,
tennis tournament.
as space is limited. To register, go to
At the Forum, industry executives TheTOMConference.com site and select
will present the latest news and data “State of the Industry Forum.” (For those
about the state of the tennis industry, also attending or exhibiting at the T.O.M.
including participation research, consumer Conference from March 23 to 25, the website
and technology trends, an update on the has registration information and details.)
March 23, 2016 in Miami
Providers: Get Involved With ‘Rally the Family’
Tennis providers can sign up now at
RallyTheFamily.com to participate in the
industry-wide “Rally the Family” campaign to
increase tennis activity and interest in the sport.
Rally the Family focuses on tennis for
all ages, using lower
compression Red, Orange
and Green tennis balls,
shorter courts, shorter
racquets and modified
scoring, along with a
focus on family time in
fun and healthy activities.
All tennis providers—facilities, parks, clubs,
teaching pros, etc.—are encouraged to signup for this initiative and list their programs
and events at RallyTheFamily.com.
“Rally the Family was developed by
this industry and its stakeholders to grow
this sport, for the benefit of all—including
the important benefits tennis brings to
14 TennisIndustry
February 2016
children and adults,” says TIA President Jeff
Williams. “We urge you to join your industry
to help revitalize tennis in America.”
Rally the Family providers will have
access to free tools and resources to promote
their
business
locally, including a
Guide to Welcoming
New Players, along
with downloadable
and customizable
promotional material
and templates.
“When you offer family tennis events
and programs with Rally the Family, you’ll
be part of a national campaign to grow our
sport,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de
Boer. “This family tennis initiative, launching
to consumers this spring, is designed to drive
adults and kids to your courts and increase
activity at your club or facility.”
2016 Owners &
Managers Conference
to Feature Interactive
Tennis Tech Fair,
Resource Center,
Idea Fair
The upcoming Tennis Owners & Managers
Conference (T.O.M. Conference) in Miami
in March will provide an opportunity for
attendees to learn about the latest products
and trends and to experience interactive
resources and ideas, as the event will
feature a Tennis Tech Fair & Resource
Center and an “Idea Fair” workshop.
The T.O.M. Conference will be
held March 23-25 at the Downtown
Miami Hilton (Biscayne Blvd.), during
the 2016 Miami Open pro tennis
tournament. To register for the event, visit
TheTOMConference.com.
Through the Tennis Tech Fair &
Resource Center and the Idea Fair
workshop, tennis facility and club owners
and managers will have the opportunity to
learn about key trends and products in the
industry that will help them manage and
run their businesses more effectively.
“It will be a very interactive, hands-on
exchange of ideas, information and best
practices that T.O.M. attendees will find
very useful for their businesses,” says TIA
Executive Director Jolyn de Boer.
The Tech Fair & Resource Center will
give owners, managers and their staff an
opportunity to learn more about and try
out the latest products that can engage
members and players. The “Idea Fair”
workshop will include expert panelists,
along with suggestions from the wealth
of knowledge among T.O.M. Conference
attendees, all with the goal of increasing
profits and participation.
Visit TheTomConference.com for more
details and to register for the conference
or call the TIA at 843-686-3036 for more
information.
Members
tennis business
T.O.M.
tennis
adult
court2016
PROGRAMMING
construction
core play
MIAMI OPEN
tech fair
INCREASING
REVENUE
& Profit
pro shop
resource centerconference
State of the Industry Forum
TENNIS OWNERS &
MANAGERS
sports facility management
YOUTH TENNIS MARKET
CONFERENCE
Tennis Owners & Managers
T.O.M
. CO
NFE
REN
CE
THETOMCONFERENCE.COM
NCE
FERE
CON
.M.
T.O
IDEA FAIR
March 23-25, 2016
Miami, FL
!
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
FORUM
TIA State of the Industry Forum
March 23, 2016
Downtown Miami Hilton (Biscayne Blvd.)
Tennis Tech Fair & Resource Center—8:30-10 a.m.
State of the Industry Forum—10-11:45 a.m.
Free to attend—but registration required at TheTOMConference.com.
Join top industry leaders and executives, manufacturers, organizations and more in support of YOUR industry.
• Latest news about the state of the tennis industry
• Updates on key initiatives, including “Rally the Family”
• USTA updates, including the USTA National Campus and NTC
• Participation, consumer and technology trends
• How to boost the “tennis economy”
• And much more…
Space is limited. Register now at TheTOMConference.com.
For more info or to register: TheTOMConference.com
contact the TIA / 843-473-4504 • [email protected]
Retailing 141
Specialty Stores Are
Alive and Well!
For customer experiences and preferences, small
retailers have attributes that online and chain
stores just can't match.
By Cynthia Sherman
L
ots of attention is given to bigger
chain stores when they close
because, presumably, these
store closings define the overall health
of brick-and-mortar retail. But that’s
too narrow a scope to take. More
often, it’s not that physical stores will
melt away into oblivion to give way to
pure e-commerce, but it’s the lack of
relevance of certain stores.
Starbucks, Wal-Mart and Apple have
planned huge new store openings this
year. Expansion in both domestic and
international markets is under way by
the largest U.S. retail chains. And global
retailers like H&M, Zara and Uniqlo
are expanding into the U.S., attracted
by the diverse consumer base, personal
income growth and resilient economy.
At this point and beyond, there seems
to be solid evidence that brick-andmortar retailing is still thriving for
those retailers with relevant offerings
and sustainable business models.
According to RBC Capital Markets
data, U.S. retailers are in the midst of
opening 76,000 stores in the next two
years.
Growing retailers are all about
relevance and niche lifestyle—specialty
sport and fitness, fast fashion,
food, and pharmacy—and focus on
what consumers care about most,
including value, quality, health, the
environment, and customer service.
These retailers focus on and promote
their differences: by rewarding loyal
customers; creating a sense of urgency;
and being savvy when it comes to social
16 TennisIndustry
February 2016
media, technology and marketing.
Shopping their stores is an exciting and
noteworthy experience.
Preference for Physical
Stores
A study done by ICSC (International
Council of Shopping Centers) found
that consumers prefer physical stores
to online shopping for nearly every
tested reason to shop. This filters down
to the specialty store, too, where you
can really play up your attributes.
Tennis-playing consumers are like
most shoppers in that they enjoy
the shopping “experience”—even if
they already know what they want.
Window and floor displays are tools
for enhancing this experience—they’re
more powerful than social media
tools for communicating product
information.
Online and omni-channel is here to
stay, and while consumers will actively
mix both online and brick-and-mortar
purchasing, they also want to shop
local. You can leverage the strength of
your physical store to deliver what the
consumer wants, so give them a reason
to:
• Focus on unique attributes like
physical displays.
• If you have great stringers on board,
great gear selection, a demo program,
a loyalty program, make it known.
• Create interactive displays, provide
mobile accessibility and payments—
that’s a big draw that enables you to
compete with the bigger guys.
Personalized Service
The enhancement of categories like
sporting goods will be extremely
important as shops distinguish
themselves from humdrum online
shopping. It’s true that while your
customers will remain price-sensitive,
you have to boldly communicate a
blended message of value, selection,
convenience, customer service and
experience.
Get to know your customers by name,
what their kids are up to … emphasize
service by offering to get equipment
back to your customers before their
next match—maybe even offer to drop
racquets off to peoples’ homes. No
online shopping source can provide that
kind of personalized service.
With manufacturers setting pricing
policies across online and brick-andmortar stores, the amount consumers
save by buying tennis gear online
isn’t much, despite the common
misconception from shoppers.
Think of the shopper who’s looking
for shoes who has bad knees and other
pains. Your experienced staff has the
ability to fit them for the proper shoes
and, perhaps, orthotics, which will
vastly improve their physical well-being
and as a result, their game, for which
they may be eternally grateful. This is a
service to publicize!
Niche specialty retailers like tennis
shops have many positive attributes—
not least is that their customers simply
don’t like faceless purchasing, and
prefer the smaller-shop experience. •
Racquet Tech
Stringing 101—Knots
By Bob Patterson
F
or new stringers, tying knots can be intimidating. But a good knot is
vital to a good job, since it holds everything in place.
When I run workshops for new stringers, nothing seems to cause
more trepidation than tying off. Although, once learned, it seems quite
easy. Tying a good knot is vital to producing a good string job. You may
have done everything correctly, but it’s all for naught if the knot isn’t
perfect.
There are several things that can go wrong, but the most common is
simply doing a sloppy job. The knot must secure the tension without
damaging the anchor string, and it must hold up during play and not come
undone.
For beginners, the double half-hitch is best as it does a great job and is
easy to tie with a bit of practice and by following simple guidelines. While
many experienced stringers may use a “signature” knot of their own, it is
hard to beat the utility of the double half-hitch.
Remember O-U-T: Over, Under, and then Through. After tensioning
and clamping your last string, lock the turntable and cut any excess string,
saving about 12 inches or so for tying off. Take the string OVER the anchor
string and then UNDER it, then THROUGH the loop the string created
around the string.
With a good pair of parallel jaw pliers, pull the loop closed around the
anchor string and slide it away from the frame to pull any excess slack out
of the string along the outside of the frame (photo 1). Once you’ve eliminated the slack, hold the string taut as you slide the loop back toward the
grommet (2).
Now repeat the O-U-T loop, taking care to go in the same direction as
the first one. The one difference in the first and second loop is one that is
often overlooked by even experienced stringers. Do not pull away from the
frame with the second loop. Instead, simply cinch the loop up against the
first.
Think about the first loop as your lock and the second as the deadbolt.
Once you have the first loop locked into place, you don’t want to “unlock”
it by pulling it away again. Once you have the second loop snugged up,
release the clamp while still holding the knot tail with your pliers. This will
ensure the knot stays tight and in place. When completed, the two loops
should lie parallel to one another around the anchor string (3). If they
don’t, something has gone wrong.
Trim the knot tail (end of the string) to about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Be
sure it is at least below the edge of the frame. Knots cut too short may
come undone and those cut too long look unprofessional and can cause
an annoying buzz during play. If you are using a poly-based or similar stiff
string, make sure the string end is cut flat. Sharp tips of strings can actually cause harm if the player hits it (4).
All knots should be tied using hand-applied tension with pliers. Never
use your machine to pull knots. •
18 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Grassroots Tennis
Play It Forward!
CTAs, public parks and NJTLs are on the front lines
when it comes to growing this sport in communities.
USTA Northern
In Hastings, Tennis is for Everyone
Nine years ago, Sadie Reiners was looking for junior competition for her
daughter, Taylor, so she could qualify for the Minnesota State High School
Tournament. Not finding much help in the surrounding communities,
Reiners took it upon herself to develop players, so she started the Hastings
Tennis Association. From its two initial members, HTA now has over 160
members and was named USTA Northern’s 2015 Member Organization of
the Year.
The HTA’s mission is to inspire people of all ages to live an active lifestyle, instill that all members are mentors and leaders, and create a love for
the game. Initially running only competitive junior offerings, the HTA now
offers recreational programming that includes drills, lessons, leagues, clinics, Play Days, adult and junior tournaments and Junior Team Tennis.
More than 110 kids participated in 2015 and the HTA fielded eight JTT teams—three advanced to the JTT Section Championships and Hastings Blue 14U won the Intermediate title. Team Blue represented USTA Northern at Nationals in December, where they finished 12th and claimed the Team Spirit Award. Player Colby Zak also took home the Boys Sportsmanship
Award.
The HTA has big plans for 2016, including bringing tennis to day-care programs operated by the school district and the
YMCA and the Hastings Senior Center. In addition, it will be hosting “Rally the Family” events starting in May.
“We believe tennis is for everyone,” Reiners says. “We try to make tennis fun. Players are encouraged to give back by mentoring youth and beginning players. And we strive to be inclusive and affordable to all interested in playing.” —Lisa Mushett
Middle States
Family Fun Day Partners with 2K Run
First there was tennis. Then running, and tennis. Then much more running, followed by much more tennis. It was all part of a day that featured
two sports and multiple organizations coming together to promote something valuable to both: an active, healthy lifestyle.
USTA Middle States and its community partners in the Philadelphia
area partnered with youth running organization iRun4Life last spring at
Central Park in Doylestown, Pa., as part of the section’s first-ever Free Family Fun Day, which took place throughout the day and offered free tennis to
families from all over the area. The partnership with iRun4Life connected
tennis to nearly 1,000 kids participating in a morning 2k run. Before and after the race, the kids were encouraged to try tennis
on the park’s public courts, which were full of local tennis professionals who donated their time to provide one-on-one training
to the kids.
When not on the tennis courts, there were prizes, giveaways and other games available for the kids. A special emphasis was
placed on families and staying active together. While kids played on some courts, there were professionals there to work with
adults as well.
Middle States also provided the chance for kids to continue playing after they left the event. Information packets were
handed out with local play opportunities and junior programs, connecting the families to local programs.
The partnership is expected to continue in the coming years, helping to introduce the sport of tennis to thousands more.
—Michael Gladysz
20 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Community Tennis
Use ‘Crowd-Funding’ to Help
With Your Next Tennis Project
By George Lowe
L
et’s say you want to resurface the
tennis courts in your town. The
contractors are saying that it’s
going to cost $70,000. You may be able
to secure up to $10,000 through the
USTA’s facility assistance program. But
how do you raise the other $60,000? In
the past, it might have looked like this:
1. Gather all the tennis advocates in
your area.
2. Plan a fundraiser
3. Invite all those in the area with the
resources to make your project happen.
4. Lobby city officials and parks committee members.
22 TennisIndustry
February 2016
5. Hope that it works out or know
someone with the means to make it
happen that also happens to owe you a
favor.
Many communities are faced with
these tasks when working on funding
a tennis project, but the process could
take months, or even years. And until
lately, there were few alternatives.
But at least one community has
turned toward crowd-funding, and to
be more specific, “crowd-granting,”
as the answer. That community is
Charlotte, Mich., a small town in midMichigan with about 9,000 residents.
The town has four tennis courts at
Bennett Park, and that’s where everything happens, from high school tennis
matches to summer community tennis
programs.
But the Bennett Park courts have
been slowly deteriorating. Because of
that, the high school teams have been
spending more time playing away
matches instead of at home. Something
needed to change, and that's when the
tennis community took action.
As the Tennis Service Rep for the
area, I received a call from Michael
Clark, a local tennis advocate and
parent helping to bring the issue of
tennis-court repairs to the city. His
initiative led him to Emily Williamson
and city councilwoman Yvonne Ridge.
Clark and I met to complete the USTA’s
facility assistance form, then discussed
funding resources. He told me about
the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation (MEDC) and their ability
to match funds for qualified civic projects. In the case of Charlotte, it was a
50 percent match, so if Charlotte could
find $35,000, the MEDC would match it
for the grand total of $70,000.
And this is where crowd-funding
came in.
Crowd-funding is a way to solicit lowdollar donations from a high number
of donors, using an online social media
campaign and one of crowd-funding’s
many platforms. According to www.
crowdfunding.com, the No. 1 crowdfunding site is GoFundMe, which raised
$470 million in 2014. Next is Kickstarter, at $444 million, then, in order,
Indiegogo, TeeSpring and Patreon.
Each platform has a unique aspect
to it, so if you’re considering crowdfunding your tennis project, make sure
you shop around to decide which may
be your best option. Some may require
a partnership with your local economic
development corporation or other
resource.
So how does crowd-funding work?
First, go to the site and create an account for your project. Next, complete
a project application online to get approved. Your application should include
a description of the project, your fundraising goal and timeline (for instance,
the average campaign on Patronicity,
another crowd-funding site, lasts nine
weeks).
Then through the use of social media,
a video, pictures and back story, which
you develop for your project, spread the
word and ask people to donate money.
In some cases, your crowd-funding
platform will do some extra legwork for
you and qualify your project for a grant
match, like Patronicity did for Charlotte
Tennis.
Most crowd-funding sites charge a
service fee of 5 percent to 15 percent.
But some offer your donors the ability
to cover this service fee as part of their
donation. If you do not raise the funds in
your allotted time frame, the money will
be refunded to the donors. In Charlotte,
the successful crowd-funding campaign
means resurfacing will begin this spring.
Crowd-funding is a viable resource for
fundraising for all tennis projects that is
free in most cases and simple to execute.
Through the power of the internet and
social media, people can now become
a donor to your project at a level that
makes sense to them. And, if you want,
you can take a break from planning
expensive fundraisers. •
George Lowe is the Tennis Service Representative for Michigan in the USTA
Midwest Section.
February 2016
TennisIndustry 23
OUTLOOK 2016: Racquets & Strings
New and
Improved
Racquets for spring include updates of existing
models and brand new lines, while new string
offerings are available for all types of players.
A
By Bob Patterson
s we start a new year, manufacturers are gearing up with new models that include tweaks of successful designs
as well as brand new racquets. They also continue to push the envelope with new string introductions to suit
players of every type.
BABOLAT
babolat.com • 877-316-9435
Babolat continues to advance technology. Its Play racquets, introduced in 2013, were the first “connected” tennis racquets. Now, the
company introduces POP, which is a wristband that can be worn
during play using any racquet, allowing players of all ages and playing levels to discover their game performance through entertaining
features and challenges. The device pairs with any IOS or Android
device.
Babolat also introduces a new family of racquets for 2016, including a new recreational range and an evolution of its predecessor, the
E-Sense line. The Flow series includes three frames—Flow Tour,
Flow Lite and Flow 105—to fit the needs of all player types.
Flow Tour
DUNLOP
dunlop.com • 800-768-4727
Dunlop is introducing five new tennis racquets for 2016: the Force
98, Force 98 Tour, Force 100, Force 100 Tour and Force 105. The new
Force racquets feature Dunlop’s new SR-X handle system, giving
them an entirely unique feel. Glass fiber rods slotted into precision
channels inside the handle help dissipate vibration, says the company, resulting in a softer feel on the hands when striking the ball. To
increase racquet control and stability, the size of the flare at the base
of the handle has been increased by 30 percent.
24 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Force 98
GAMMA
gammasports.com • 412-323-0335
Gamma launches a new string series for 2016 with the Ocho line.
The octagon-profiled strings are offered in a variety of styles to fit
most players’ needs. The 8-sided string profile is designed to bite
the ball for ultimate spin and control, says the company. Gamma
Ocho is a soft co-poly monofilament construction designed for
baseliners. The nylon Ocho TNT features an octagonal coating
with a solid center core and is suited for all-court players. The
Ocho XP features an octagonal coating with a multifilament core
providing more power and comfort. All three strings are available
in 16 (1.30 mm) and 17 (1.25 mm) in both sets and reels.
HEAD
head.com • 800-289-7366
Head continues to expand the Graphene XT line with introduction of nine new tennis racquets. The GrapheneXT Radical Pro,
GrapheneXT Radical S, GrapheneXT Radical Lite, and GrapheneXT Radical MP A, which features the Head Adaptive String
Pattern (ASP), allowing the frame to be strung either as a 16x16 or
16x19 pattern by swapping out the side grommet strip. Other new
frames are the GrapheneXT Prestige Pro, GrapheneXT Prestige
Rev Pro, GrapheneXT Prestige MP, GrapheneXT Prestige S, and
the GrapheneXT PWR Prestige. All the new racquets are compatible with the Sony Smart Tennis Sensor.
Prestige MP
PACIFIC
Pacific.com • 941-795-1789
Pacific introduces the next evolution of basalt fiber technology—
BXT—with three new racquets for spring: BXT X Force Pro.1, BXT
X Tour 97, and the BXT X Force LT. All three have Pacific’s new
PGS (Precise Grip System), which features a handle made of hightech injection molding, ensuring that every handle has the exact
same weight and size and is 80 percent stronger than traditional
foam handles.
Pacific also is adding new gauges to its two best-selling poly
strings. Poly Force and XCite will now be available in a 1.20
mm/17 gauge.
BXT X force LT
PRINCE
princetennis.com • 800-2TENNIS
Prince expands its Textreme technology with five new frames for
spring: the Premier 120, Premier 105, Warrior 100, Warrior 100T
and Warrior 100L. Textreme is an advanced super-thin material that allows for a tighter weave pattern, which packs more
carbon fibers per square inch, delivering greater control, says the
company.
A new string is also being introduced: the Warrior Response 16,
available in both sets and reels.
Premier 120
February 2016
TennisIndustry 25
OUTLOOK 2016: Racquets & Strings
VOLKL
volkltennis.com • 866-554-7872
Volkl rolls out two new frames this year. First is an updated
version of the classic C10 Pro offering continuity for the
longtime Volkl player. The racquet features a twin absorber
handle developed specifically for tournament-level players. Also new is the Team Speed, which is a 102-square-inch
head that offers a large, forgiving sweet spot, making this the
perfect transition frame for juniors moving into the adult
performance market, says the company.
C10
WILSON
wilson.com • 800-272-6060
Wilson introduces a new racquet franchise with a familiar
name—Ultra. The Ultra racquets feature octagon geometry
inside the frame and a rounded geometry outside of the
frame, which allows players to swing faster with less effort,
according to Wilson. The Ultra frames consist of four models: 97, 100, 103S and 108.
Also new from Wilson are three Burn FST (Fast Speed
Technology) models: 95, 99 and 99S. The Burn FST racquets
are built for speed, says the company, designed for baseliners to increase racquet-head speed to play a more aggressive
game. All the new Wilson frames are compatible with the
Sony Smart Tennis Sensor.
26 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Burn FST 99S
OUTLOOK 2016: Shoes
Stepping Forward
Colors continue in new shoes for 2016, along with
moves to either lighter weight or more durability.
C
By Kent Oswald
ontinuing the trends of recent years, tennis shoes in 2016 will
showcase an ever more colorful palette. Similarly, while there are
no game-changers, the construction of the shoes will continue to
take them mostly toward either end of the spectrum, with light
weight and durability serving as the poles. You’ll want to make sure
many of these models are on your shoe wall. (Prices are suggested retail.)
ADIDAS
adidas.com • 971-234-2300
Elegance, comfort and response are the key benefits for the extensively named
Adidas by Stella McCartney Barricade Boost (women, $150) debuting in 2016.
Features include a Primeknit upper, Boost technology in the midsole, an ergonomically-shaped TPU heel counter, and outsole durability backed by a sixmonth guarantee. The Energy Boost (men, $175) will also be introduced as the
company’s most comfortable tennis shoe in history. The lightweight shoe’s upper
has engineered mesh, and integrated tongue-bootie construction; Boost technology in the midsole for responsiveness; and an outsole made durable enough to
stand up to the hardest of hard courts.
BABOLAT
babolat.com • 877-316-9435
France’s singular tennis company will introduce new and even “special edition”
colorways into its Propulse All Court line of stable and durable shoes (men, $120)
that are also available with a wide “comfort fit.” There will also be new colorways
for the SFX 2 All Courts (men and women, $100) that among the cushioning
features include midsole construction focused on providing an exceptional level
of long-lasting and comfortable support.
DIADORA
diadora.com • 800-768-4727
Extending its flagship Star K line, Diadora introduces the Star K VII AG (men,
$140) dressed in kangaroo leather and featuring the brand’s proprietary technologies for maximum shock absorption, energy recovery, and interior ventilation,
as well as a six-month outsole guarantee. The Star K IV (men and women, $140)
series grows with the addition of two new colorways. Additionally, the Speed Pro
EVO II AG (men and women, $120) built to compete in the lightweight section of
the market and featuring maximum breathability and a comfortable, snug fit, will
receive three new colorways for men and two for women.
28 TennisIndustry
February 2016
FILA
fila.com • 800-845-FILA
The performance-oriented Fila Cage Delirium (men and women, $100) has been
enhanced for 2016. Designed for optimum upper support, and breathability,
comfort and stability throughout, the shoes also feature a patented “four-pivot
outsole configuration” to enhance acceleration. Additional benefits include a
flexible toe shield and carbon fiber midsole layers for improved foot comfort. The
shoes are available in outsole options created specifically for hard, clay and grass
courts.
HEAD
head.com • 800-289-7366
Nitro Pros (men and women, $139.99; junior, $79.95) are unveiled just in time
for the first ball in Melbourne. The premium lightweight shoes designed for all
surfaces showcase a low profile and feature technologies for robust flexibility
and comfort. The Revolt Pros (men and women, $139.99) created to synthesize
equally comfort, stability, durability and energy rebound gain new colorways in
2016.
K-SWISS
kswiss.com • 800-768-4727
Out of California come new colorways for the company’s high-performance Hypercourt Express (men and women, $110). The lightweight, durable player’s shoe
features a seam-free upper, padded tongue and collar for comfort, “stay-tied”
laces, a superior mid-foot support chassis, durable outsole and toe guard.
NIKE
nike.com • 800-344-6453
The NikeCourt Air Zoom Ultrafly (men, $220), which the company describes as
its “most innovative tennis shoe,” premieres in white/volt and triple black. Highlights for the ultra-lightweight shoe include maximum responsiveness, a mesh
upper, superior heel and forefoot cushioning, and an ankle cuff.
PRINCE
princetennis.com • 800-2TENNIS
2016 will see Prince continue to explore the color spectrum for its premium
performance Warrior lines (men and women, $109). Two new colorways will be
introduced in January for both men and women in this line of shoes featuring
support and stability, and backed with a six-month durability guarantee. As for
the company’s best-selling T22s (men and women, $99), colorway introductions
will be rolled out for the cushioned, breathable and durable shoes in March, June
and again later in the year.
WILSON
wilson.com • 773-714-6400
The lightweight and flexible Kaos (men and women, $125) shoes arrive in market
with attention-demanding colorways, and with an extra attention to arch support, comfort and outsole durability. The recently introduced Glide series (men
and women, $199) is designed with patented Glide Plate technology in recognition of the increasing need for players to control their slides across hard surfaces.
The shoes also feature rubber reinforced toe and internal drag pads, and an
enhanced outsole durability.
February 2016
TennisIndustry 29
OUTLOOK 2016: Apparel
Springing
Ahead
It may be frosty outside in the
northern tier, but that only means
it’s time to start stocking up on
Spring tennis gear, and courtside
never looked so good. Soft
sophisticated tones and shapes
are coming back, leaving the neon
brights behind. (Prices are suggested retail.)
By Cynthia Sherman
BOLLE
bolletenniswear.com • 301-362-0360
Bolle’s Melange fashion line shows off a sophisticated heather
gray palette, against black and yellow accents in a winning
moisture-wicking poly/spandex fabrication. A variety of pieces add to the line’s diversity. Prices ranges from $62 to $70.
ADIDAS
adidas.com/us • 800-982-9337
The Adidas by Stella McCartney Barricade collection forecasts the first comings of Spring in this Climacool dress
and matching shorties ($100) in peaches
and corals. This breathable, moisturewicking 3D fabrication with its ventilated channels and mesh inserts allow
air to circulate close to the skin. It’s sure
to be a winner on the hot courts of the
Australian Open.
30 TennisIndustry
February 2016
ELEVEN BY VENUS
elevenbyvenuswilliams.com • 855-880-7777
French Open fans will “ooh-la-la” over this soft, lightweight, breathable Geo
Swirl print dress from Eleven by Venus. The muted geometric pattern sports a
contrast waistband, which provides tummy support. With a bonus of UV protection, a built-in shelf bra and a sleek modified racer back ensure comfort ($96).
FILA
fila.com • 800-845-3452
Fila’s refreshing Net Set feminine
collection focuses on peplum shaping, baby pleats and figure-skimming
cuts in soft mint tones. High performance fabrics in cool knits, French
terry, and fine pique come to life in
a chic pieced racerback tank ($60)
that pairs beautifully with the colorblocked fine pleated skort ($55).
TAIL (facing page)
tailactivewear.com
888-906-1341
Tail makes a splash with its
Making Waves line in an ultracomfortable poly-spandex sporty
rose/navy/white color-blocking
top ($69) and complementary
print wave pattern flouncy skirt
($69) in a figure-flattering fit Tail
is famous for. The performance
jersey pieces have the added bonus of UPF 40+ protection.
LUCKY IN LOVE
shopluckyinlove.com
305-638-5484
On court or off, Lucky In Love’s
easy, breezy poly-lycra blend outfit
whispers Spring in a soft turquoise
diamond-printed pleated tiered skirt
($72) and matching bralette racerback tank ($64).
February 2016
TennisIndustry 31
Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards
Three’s Company
Tennis Industry and the ASBA bring you the best
in tennis court construction and design.
I
n 2015, there were 12 tennis project winners in the
Tennis Industry/American Sports Builders Association Facility-of-the-Year Awards program. Seven of
those winning projects were multi-court outdoor
facilities, three of which were public facilities or
schools. Four projects were residential courts, and one was an
indoor facility.
Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member
who designed or built the facility or court, the association
selects outstanding tennis facilities that meet the standard
of excellence in design and construction determined by the
judging committee. For 2015, the panel of judges deemed 12
courts or facilities to be worthy of special recognition, but
three of those winners were chosen for “Outstanding” honors:
• Bell Recreation Center in Sun City, Ariz.
• James Goldstein Residence in Los Angeles
• Tuscaloosa Tennis Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Award plaques to the three Outstanding winners and recognition for the Distinguished winners were presented at the
ASBA Technical Meeting held in December in Scottsdale, Ariz.
For more information, visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
—Peter Francesconi
Nominated by: Sunland Sports
General Contractor: Sunland Sports
Suppliers: California Sports Surfaces,
SportsEdge
Number of Courts: 10
Completed: April 2015
Outstanding Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award
Bell Recreation Center
Sun City, Ariz.
The 10 new post-tensioned concrete tennis courts, in three batteries, at the Bell Recreation Center replace nine courts that
were demolished and hauled from the site. Among the challenges were numerous buried, hidden and unknown obstacles
that were discovered during demolition of the more than 30-year-old site, including old, abandoned light footings that had
been covered with concrete. The site was substantially lower than the surrounding facilities and was surrounded by tall
block walls, but there was no original drainage around the walls, so a footing drain system was designed and retrofitted into
the site. The project also involved designing new drainage for the courts, including a slot drain in each battery, catch basins
in the landscape areas between batteries, and a small retention area—all tying into the new storm-water infrastructure
below the courts.
February 2016
TennisIndustry 33
Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards
Nominated by: Zaino Tennis Courts Inc.
Specialty Contractor: Zaino Tennis Courts
Inc.
Suppliers: California Sports Surfaces,
Edwards/Roldri Div. of Athletic Connection
Completed: June 2013
Outstanding Residential Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award
James Goldstein Residence
Los Angeles, Calif.
The original design for the tennis court was created by famed architect John Lautner decades ago. The court is situated on a
south-facing slope, with a lush, terraced garden on the northern uphill side. The western end is enclosed by a concrete wall
extending up from the office below the court, and serving as a rebound wall. (The eastern end will eventually be enclosed by
a concrete structure of the reception/home theater building.) To the south, in order to maximize the view, is a glass guardrail, resulting in an “infinity” court with no visual barriers. The tennis court is a double post-tensioned slab with waterproofing in between that allows it to serve as a roof for the office structure below.
Distinguished Tennis Facility Honors
In addition to the Bell Recreation Center in Sun City, Ariz., the James Goldstein Residence in Los Angeles, and the Tuscaloosa
Tennis Center in Alabama, these nine locations were chosen by the 2015 panel of judges for the ASBA as excellent examples
of court construction, receiving Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards. This year, the ASBA also awarded Silver and
Bronze awards in various categories. You’ll read more about these winners in upcoming issues of TI. (The nominating company is in parentheses.)
• Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, Tenn. (Welch Ten- • Xavier University Brockhoff Family Tennis Facility, Cincinnis Courts Inc.)—Silver Award, Outdoor Facility
nati, Ohio (Sportworks Field Design)
• Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, Reno, Nev. (Ten- • Nelson Residence, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (Munson Inc.)—
nis and Track Co.)—Bronze Award, Outdoor Facility
Silver Award, Residential Facility
• Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, Palm City, Fla.
• Miami Beach Residence, Miami Beach, Fla. (Fast-Dry Courts
(Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)
Inc.)—Bronze Award, Residential Facility
• Life Time Fitness Center, Centennial, Colo. (L.E.R. Inc., • Alsop Residential Court at Haven Hill, Beverly Farms, Mass.
dba Renner Sports Surfaces)
(Boston Tennis Court Construction Co. Inc.)
• Sundial Resort, Sanibel Island, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)
For details on the 2016 Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards, contact the ASBA at 866-501-ASBA or [email protected], or
visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
34 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Nominated by: Lower Bros. Co. Inc
Specialty Contractor: Lower Bros. Co. Inc
Suppliers: California Sports Surfaces, LSI
Courtsider Sports Lighting, Putterman
Athletics
Number of Courts: 3
Completed: February 2015
Outstanding Indoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award
Tuscaloosa Tennis Center - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
This new, three-court indoor tennis facility in Tuscaloosa was designed with expansion in mind. Initial construction included the indoor hard courts and six outdoor fast-dry courts, but the building and pro shop were placed in such a manner
that will allow three more indoor courts and several more outdoor courts to be built in the future. The completed facility
will complement the nearby University of Alabama complex and provide facilities capable of holding large NCAA and USTA
events. The exterior of the building is attractively landscaped and connected to the adjacent parking lot with a wide sidewalk. Inside, the walls and ceiling are well insulated and covered with a smooth layer of vinyl, providing a uniform reflective
surface and a very attractive appearance.
February 2016
TennisIndustry 35
Ask the Experts
Your Equipment Hotline
Q
Counting calories
I was wondering if anyone has determined how
many calories are burned stringing
a racquet. I've had some surgery and
will not be able to play for a few more
weeks, but can still string racquets
and would like to keep up on my calorie intake and output.
A
We weren’t able to find
anything, but for the average American male, standing
burns approximately 200 calories per
hour compared with sitting, which
burns approximately 164 calories per
hour. We do know that if you have a
wrist-mounted activity tracker such as
the Garmin Vivofit 2, even rapid stringing isn’t enough to convince the device
that you are active, although if you’ve
ever had to string three racquets in an
hour you know it takes a lot more effort
than simply standing in place, so you
may be burning a few more calories due
to the movement (and stress, if any).
We are not in a position to dispense
medical advice, but to keep from gaining weight until you recover, your best
bet seems to be to reduce your caloric
intake, and walk for a couple of minutes
every hour even when you are doing a
lot of stringing, depending on what is
allowable given your physical condition.
Q
Digest notes
Years ago, the “Stringer’s
Digest” came in a loose-leaf
binder. In those days, updates were
added by individual pages we could
insert in the binder. A bonus with
the loose-leaf binder was the ability
to make notes in the margins of the
pages and keep these through the
years.
When the Digest became a
bound publication, which I realize
is probably a function of cost, I
wrote to you about how trying to
retain notes from the old Digest to
the new Digest is now pretty much
impossible.
A
Thanks for your feedback.
From what we hear, the
overwhelming majority of
our members have told us they appreciate the new format because the
pages don't fall out and new racquets
are included alphabetically among
the old frames, so they have to look
in only one place, instead of two.
One way to make the best use of
the new format while retaining your
notes is to keep your notes with
We welcome your questions. Please send them to Tennis Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096; fax: 760-536-1171; email: [email protected].
36 TennisIndustry
February 2016
your other customer records. That
way when the customer comes in,
you see any special notes on his
customer record before even referring to the Digest, so replacing
your Digest doesn’t mean having
to copy over all your notes. You
can do this in your own loose-leaf
notebook, or in a simple computer
spreadsheet or database.
Q
Tie-off tangle
I just finished a racquet
for which the Digest
lists the mains tie off at 6T. I used
6T on one side, but on the other
side I accidentally tied off at 8T. I
am afraid that if I undo the knot,
my string may be damaged in
that area, so it may be better to
just leave it.
In the future, should I stick to
the 6T tie off, because the 8T tie
off appears to be cleaner/shorter,
with less string going on the outside of the frame?
A
As long as you have a tieoff hole for the crosses,
you should be able to
complete the string job even using
the “wrong” tie-off holes. To avoid
problems in this particular situation, you can start your crosses
in such a way that they end (and
tie off ) on the side of the racquet
where you tied the mains off at the
correct hole.
In the future, if using the
“wrong” holes works better for
you, that’s great. Usually, however,
swapping the tie-off holes for the
mains and crosses means your
main tie-off is blocking the hole
for the cross tie-off, so you are
creating more work for yourself
in that respect. As long as you can
negotiate the tie-off string around
the string blocking the hole, you
should be fine.
Whatever you decide, stick with
it so you are stringing that frame
consistently each time the customer brings it in. —Greg Raven •
February 2016
TennisIndustry 37
String Playtest
By Greg Raven
The string was tested for five weeks
by 31 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP
ratings from 3.5 to 5.5. These are blind
tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages.
Average number of hours playtested was
23.4.
Tourna Big Red feels stiff out of the
package, which is not unusual for a poly.
Coil memory made it a bit unruly on the
mains, but installing the crosses was
nice, as the mains offered just the right
deflection during weaving. Even before
getting the lab test results, it became
obvious that Big Red wasn’t as stiff as it
seemed, because we had to trim the end
twice while negotiating a blocked hole.
Finally, Big Red offers great feedback
when cinching down knots.
One playtester broke the sample during stringing, 11 reported problems with
coil memory, five reported problems
tying knots, two reported friction burn,
and none reported other problems.
On the Court
Tourna Big Red 16
Tourna Big Red is a monofilament poly. According to Tourna,
Big Red is a soft, comfortable, playable poly that is easy on the
arm. Tourna designed Big Red as a control-oriented string with
outstanding feel, with medium power to give players excellent
accuracy and directional control. Additionally, Tourna tells us that
Big Red has great tension maintenance and durability.
Tourna Big Red is intended for intermediate to advanced
players.
Big Red is available in 16 and 17 gauges in red only. It is priced
from $7.95 for 40-foot sets, and $79.95 for 660-foot reels. For more
information or to order, contact Tourna at 800-554-3707, or visit
uniquesports.us. Be sure to read the conclusion for more information about a special offer on Big Red from Tourna.
In the Lab
We tested the 16-gauge Big Red. The coil measured 41 feet 10 inches. The diameter
measured 1.27 mm prior to stringing, and 1.26 mm after stringing. We recorded a
string bed stiffness of 74 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), string-bed stiffness measured 69 RDC units, representing a 6.8 percent tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original
Gold 16, measured 84 RDC units immediately after stringing and 77 RDC units
after 24 hours, representing an 8.3 percent tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original has a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of 11.67 pounds, while
Tourna Big Red 16 has a stiffness of 194 and a tension loss of 16.32 pounds. Big Red
16 added 16.3 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame.
38 TennisIndustry
February 2016
Our playtest team found Durability to be
excellent in Tourna Big Red, and Resistance to Movement and Control each to
be well above average.
No playtester reported premature
Playtester Ratings
Ease of Stringing
(compared to other strings)
much easier
somewhat easier
about as easy
not quite as easy
not nearly as easy
1
1
16
12
1
Overall Playability
(compared to the string played most often)
much better
somewhat better
about as playable
not quite as playable
not nearly as playable
1
3
5
15
6
Overall Durability
(compared to other strings of similar gauge)
much better
somewhat better
about as durable
not quite as durable
not nearly as durable
7
14
7
2
0
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability
Durability
Power
Control
Comfort
Touch/Feel
Spin Potential
Holding Tension
Resistance to Movement
3.2
4.1
3.4
3.5
2.7
2.7
3.3
3.3
3.8
Playtester
Comments
"String has great control and resistance to movement. Plays fairly stiff
with average power, but very good
for putting spin on the ball. Has a firm
feel on volleys and is great for hitting
aggressive serves. Easy to keep the
ball in the court.”
—4.5 male all-court player using Wilson
Steam Spin strung at 64 pounds CP (Head
Reflex MLT 16)
“Very good power from the baseline.
Good spin production. Slight loss of
control probably due to lower tension. Very good tension retention.”
—3.5 male baseliner with heavy spin using
Prince O3 White strung at 51 pounds CP
(Ytex Square X/Ytex Touch 16)
“This string hit well! Recommended
for anyone looking for a more durable
string either in a full poly setup or in a
hybrid. The hybrid would provide the
durability and control of a polyester
with a softer feel and power of a multifilament.”
—3.5 male baseliner with heavy spin using
Babolat Pure Drive Roddick strung at 60
pounds LO (Solinco Tour Bite 16L)
“While it still had a poly feel, the playability was better than expected. This
is one of the few strings that I would
be willing to switch from a hybrid for.”
—4.5 male all-court player using Prince
Textreme Tour strung at 49 pounds CP
(Prince Tour XC/Prince Premier Control
16L/16)
(Strings normally used by testers are
indicated in parentheses. For the rest of
the tester comments, visit www.tennisindustrymag.com.)
fraying or peeling, or buzzing, and five
reported notching. Three members of
the playtest team broke the sample during the playtest period, one each at 6, 12
and 27 hours.
Conclusion
Big Red’s higher-than-normal installed
weight implies a denser material, which
might help explain its great durability
and truly impressive measured tension
maintenance. These characteristics at
this price point should be exceptionally
attractive to budget-conscious players.
If you think Tourna Big Red might
be for you, Unique is offering a special
buy one, get one free offer to USRSA
members.
February 2016
TennisIndustry 39
Your Serve
Getting Ahead of the Class
A grassroots tennis expert says partnering with local
schools will grow your business and generate revenue.
By Jason Jamison
W
ant more kids and families
in your programs? There is
no better place to look than
your local schools.
But, how do you go about getting
permission to promote your programs?
And how do you get kids and families
excited about tennis and aware of what
your facility has to offer?
The USTA has developed a Partner
with Schools Handbook to help facility
and program leaders understand how
to make connections with schools, conduct fun demonstrations and events,
and link kids and families to follow-up
programs. This resource is available for
free at usta.com/schoolshandbook.
In addition to tips and techniques
for meeting with decision-makers, the
handbook provides several options for
creating interest for tennis on school
grounds, including assemblies, lunchtime demos, class visits and festivals.
There are a wide variety of games
and activities, too, along with tips for
conducting Kids’ Tennis Clubs and Play
Days for school kids.
Do Your Homework
Before approaching school decisionmakers, though, connect with your
local USTA office to let them know of
your interest in partnering with a local
school or schools. They may have existing contacts and relationships that can
benefit your facility, and they’ll have access to resources and support that can
complement your outreach efforts. This
often includes equipment discounts,
program grants, training, curriculum
and more.
Once you’ve made contact with your
40 TennisIndustry
February 2016
local USTA office, this recipe can help
you get on a fast track for creating
school and facility partnerships to grow
your programs:
1. Create a program flier for distribution at the schools.
2. Get to know the targeted school
administrators, teachers and personnel and promote the benefits of the
program. You can do this in a number
of ways, including attending PTO/PTA
meetings; conducting an assembly or
demo (with permission); offering to
assist with P.E. classes; assisting with a
USTA School Tennis Workshop. (usta.
com/schools has more information on
materials and resources available for
conducting PE programs, Kids’ Tennis
Clubs, and School Workshops).
3. Organize a Play Event to kick off
the program at your facility.
Generating Income
Around the country, many pros and
youth program providers have created
successful partnerships with schools
and have grown their business, resulting in new members and customers for
their facility and thousands of dollars in
additional income.
PTR pro Mark Smith from Greenville, S.C., for example, targeted a school
near his club in an effort to grow his
junior program and gain new members.
In working with just one school, he
generated over $30,000 in additional
income through lessons, clinics, pro
shop sales, league teams and memberships.
“The USTA Schools program is a
great vehicle for creating partnerships
with local schools,” Smith told me.
USPTA pro Chris Michalowski of
Traverse City, Mich., has been targeting schools in his community for many
years. His school-based strategies have
resulted in reaching thousands of kids
through on-site schools programs that
have generated significant revenue and
brought new players into his facility.
I’ve benefitted from targeting
schools, too. Prior to joining the USTA
as the National Schools Program Manager in 2004, I worked with schools
that connected to my youth development program. I conducted assemblies, class visits, school trainings, and
taught lessons for schoolteachers to
establish long-term relationships as a
foundation for my programs.
With a little effort, you’ll find unlimited opportunities to transition kids
from school-based programs to facilities. It’s good for the game, and it will
be great for your bottom line! •
PTR and USPTA professional
Jason Jamison is a tennis
industry consultant with
over 25 years of experience
with USTA and facility programs. He serves regularly
as a trainer and presenter for conferences
and workshops around the country. From
2004 through 2015, Jamison served as
National Manager for School Tennis for
the USTA. He and his team were responsible for quadrupling program participation and creating on-court and program
delivery resources used throughout the
industry. He can reached at [email protected] and through his website,
coveringthecourt.net.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to [email protected].

February 2016 / Volume 44/ Number 2

Transcription

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