OUTLOOK 2014 - Professional Tennis Registry

Teaching Pros
USTA, PTR, USPTA
collaborate on
youth program
Retailing
The FUTURE
is now for
retailers
Opinion
WE NEED a
national H.S. tennis
coaches association
February 2014
Volume 42 Number 2 $5.00
www.tennisindustrymag.com
OUTLOOK
2014
• Racquets
• Shoes
• Apparel
• String
Award-Winning
Tennis Facilities
Babolat
Play Pure Drive
TennisIndustry
FEBRUARY 2014
DEPARTMENTS
p.23
4
Our Serve
7
Industry News
16 TIA news
18 Retailing Tip
20 Grassroots Game
34 Tips and Techniques
p.22
52 Your Serve
by Denny Schackter
OUTLOOK 2014
22 Racquets: Finding What Fits
The new frames are pretty much guaranteed to
help your players lift their games.
INDUSTRY NEWS
7
Groups combine to launch
“Coach Youth Tennis”
26 Shoes: Kicking It Up!
Prince, USPTA sign
7
multi-year agreement
Promote programming with
8
Tennis Play Events
8
ASBA honors sports facilities
8
Head launches custommade racquets
8
Deadline nears for hosting
NFTC event
9
PTR, Penn extend
partnership
9
Tennis rules app available
p.26
28 Apparel: Attention, Shoppers!
The looks on court this year pop with eye-catching
color and attention to details.
p.28
STA awards $65K to wheel11 U
chair programs
Y-TEX string offer for USRSA
11
members
FEATURES
32 Double Feature
12 Short Sets
2 TennisIndustry
February 2014
30 Strings: Talking a Good Game
Technology in strings continues to get better,
while marketing is getting more focused.
10 People Watch
14 Americans set USTA Pro
Circuit records
Sensing good news afoot, tennis shoe
manufacturers are offering more options for 2014.
p.30
With the Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards,
TI and the ASBA bring you the best in tennis court
construction and design.
Our Serve
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
[email protected]
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Living Up
To The Mission
O
ur Champions of Tennis
issue in January brought
out a number of people and
organizations that are doing great
things in this sport and for this
business. One that I’d like to highlight is USTA Eastern, our Section
of the Year.
What the USTA Eastern board of
directors did was, in reality, quite
simple: It reaffirmed that the section’s mission is “To Promote and
Develop the Growth of Tennis.”
Simple, clear, direct—and, as the
TIA and other industry groups
know, incredibly necessary if this
industry is to survive and thrive.
But USTA Eastern went much
further: “We take as axiomatic that
an increase in USTA membership
and in USTA program participation is a consequence of and not a
cause of the growth of tennis. We
believe it to be critical that we devote significant sectional financial
and human resources to the game’s
growth, without regard to any direct or immediate impact on USTA
membership and programs.”
Eastern put overall participation ahead of simply grubbing
for more members. They want
people to play this game, regardless of whether they’ve paid their
dues. They realize that’s the only
way this game will grow and more
people of all ages can realize the
benefits of the sport.
USTA Eastern Executive Director Jill Fonte told me that in adopting this approach, the section is
taking some risks, especially since
section financial compensation
is closely tied to membership and
USTA-based programs. But the
longer term benefit, for the section
and the sport, is building the base
of players.
This attitude needs to spread
throughout every section. The
focus must be on building overall
participation, and creating more
frequent players. For that, the
USTA at every level needs to listen
more to what this industry has
been trying to tell it for decades.
And it needs to live up to its own
mission.
I’ve heard that many sections
have on hand a rather large surplus
of funds (in some cases, millions of
dollars)—money they’ve taken in
mostly from USTA national. How
about these sections unlock some
of that funding and put it toward
overall tennis participation? Think
of the good this money can do
throughout the tennis economy.
Right now, the USTA is undergoing a membership crisis, as paid
memberships continue to fall. The
talk is of freezing current membership-related section compensation
for a few years to sort out this mess.
Now is the perfect time for the sections to take the initiative and, like
USTA Eastern, focus on growing
overall participation.
We throw around the mission
statement of the USTA frequently,
but do we really take it to heart?
USTA Eastern does.
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
[email protected]
4 TennisIndustry
February 2014
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Special Projects Manager
Bob Patterson
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Kent Oswald
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Tim Strawn
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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Website: www.racquetTECH.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]
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Number 2 © 2014 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.
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IndustryNews
Information to help you run your business
Prince, USPTA Sign
Multi-Year Agreement
USTA, PTR, USPTA,
USOC Launch ‘Coach
Youth Tennis’ Curriculum
W
orking in collaboration, the USTA, PTR, USPTA and U.S. Olympic
Committee will launch in February the educational curriculum
program “Coach Youth Tennis,” to improve the quality and standards of teaching tennis to kids and enhance the long-term development of
children in the sport. The program consists of a series of online courses and
a hands-on workshop introducing participants to the fundamentals required
for success in working with children ages 10 and under.
“Elevating the quality and standards of teaching tennis to our youth will
have lasting impact on our sport,” says USTA Player Development General
Manager Patrick McEnroe. “‘Coach Youth Tennis’ provides tennis teachers
of all levels with the tools necessary to teach the sport to children.”
The curriculum serves as a pathway to professional certification through
the PTR and USPTA. Beginning this year, all individuals who want to become
a certified teaching professional will need to complete the “Coach Youth Tennis” curriculum, which establishes a set of standards for teachers and coaches
to ensure children are taught the proper essentials of the game.
“These educational resources will impact tennis teachers and coaches
throughout the country, with information on how to best deliver the sport
to kids, as well as on maximizing their business,” says Kurt Kamperman, the
USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis.
The program consists of two stages of course work, which include six
interactive online courses. The curriculum covers several topics, including
appropriate methods on how to communicate, understanding characteristics of children, tennis activities suited for young children, effective ways to
transition children through ability progressions, and group management. In
addition, there’s a face-to-face workshop.
“We are excited about the collaborative effort the USTA organized to
expand 10 and Under education for tennis teachers,” says PTR CEO Dan
Santorum, “and look forward to supporting the USTA’s efforts to enhance 10
and Under education that can lead to PTR certification.”
“It is not too much to ask professionals who wish to become certified to
take seven hours of education prior to certification that addresses our most
important initiative, which is to grow our base of players starting with kids 6
to 10 years old,” says USPTA CEO John Embree. For more information, visit
coachyouthtennis.com. •
In September, shortly after the US
Open, Prince introduced new product
to key dealers at a two-day meeting in
Newport, R.I.
Now, the Bordentown, N.J.-based
equipment manufacturer, which had
declared bankruptcy in 2011 and went
through an ownership change in 2012,
just announced a multi-year agreement
with the USPTA, in which the teaching
pro organization will endorse Prince
racquets, balls, strings, bags and accessories.
The agreement re-introduces the two
companies, which had been affiliated
during the 1980s and through the early
1990s. Prince has actively been repositioning itself in the marketplace, including re-entering the ball market.
USPTA CEO John Embree served as
president of Prince
Sports, The Americas
from 2008 to 2010.
“Having worked
closely with [Prince
Global Sports CEO]
Mike Ballardie in the
past, I know the commitment the company
and its staff has to
the tennis-teaching
profession and the
grassroots efforts to
grow our sport,”
said Embree.
“Working
with skilled,
motivated and
performance
focused tennisteaching professionals is a critical factor in driving sales in
this industry and Prince recognizes the
significant value that an association with
the USPTA brings to that equation,” said
Ballardie.
“A key part of our 2014 brand strategy
is a focus on ensuring that all players are
‘fitted’ for the optimum equipment for
their game. This partnership with the
USPTA is a valued piece of that puzzle.”
February 2014
TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
Deadline Nears to Sign Up
as NFTC Host Site
Tennis facilities interested in becoming one
of the 250 host sites for the 2014 National
Family Tennis Championships have until
February 1 to sign-up at familytennis.com/
sanction. Local events must be held from
May through July 6. The tournament offers
thousands of amateur players the opportunity to team up with a family member to
earn the right to play for a national title in
New York City during the 2014 US Open time
period.
There are no sanctioning fees for host
sites, which receive a free tournament kit
with everything they need to promote and
run the event, including promotional posters, an NFTC banner, player premiums, finalist awards, balls, access to the NFTC online
registration system; and the opportunity
to earn a minimum of $612 in commissions
based upon participation.
“We encourage all tennis facilities to join
our family and offer their families the chance
to compete on a national stage,” said Kathleen Francis of the 2014 National Family Tennis Championships. "This program is a great
way for facilities to excite and grow their
Host a Tennis Play Event to
Promote Your Programming
I
n celebration of World
Tennis Day on March 3,
the USTA and the tennis
industry is expecting to host
thousands of USTA Tennis Play Events. The events
welcome kids and families of
all skill levels to play tennis.
World Tennis Day is a celebration of tennis around the world
that includes professional tennis matches in New York City,
Hong Kong, and London.
According to the USTA, March is the No. 1 month nationally when parents begin
registering their children for spring programs. By hosting a Tennis Play Event, tennis organizers—whether at facilities, parks or municipalities—have the opportunity
to showcase their junior tennis programs and attract new players, and consumers,
to the sport.
Tennis Play Event hosts will receive a Celebration Pack that includes special
giveaways for their attendees. Organizers will have access to customizable marketing materials and be featured in the searchable database on YouthTennis.com, the
one-stop destination to register all year-round junior events and programs and
where parents search for activities for their kids.
Kids are learning to play faster than ever before through USTA’s Youth Tennis
initiative, which is geared toward getting more kids to participate in tennis using
modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s size. Studies have shown that an
early, positive experience in sports is vital and creates a lifelong commitment to an
active lifestyle.
“These events help support all of our other 10 and Under Tennis programming,”
says Mike Woody of the Midland Community Tennis Center in Midland, Mich.
“The reason to offer 10 and Under Tennis is to get kids playing, and these events encourage them to bring their friends from school, church groups and different youth
organizations to just play. More kids become interested in tennis, and seek out ways
to play through you!” To host an event, visit YouthTennis.com. •
8 TennisIndustry
February 2014
customer base by offering family members
and non-club members the chance to join in
on the fun."
Head Launches Custom-Made
Racquets
In December, Head introduced “Head
Custom Made,” a website where players
can customize a Head Graphene Speed
(Pro, MP or S) or Black frame, then order it
(for $400) and have it shipped to them.
At custommade.head.com, players can
customize the weight, length and balance
of their racquet, along with choosing
the stringing pattern and type of string,
and the shape, size and type of grip. The
frame can also be personalized with the
player’s name.
ASBA Honors Distinguished
Sports Facilities
The American
Sports Builders
Association (ASBA),
the national organization for builders
and suppliers of
materials for athletic facilities, presented
awards in its various categories at the organization’s annual Technical Meeting held Dec.
7-9 in San Antonio, Texas.
Awards honoring construction excellence
are presented for Tennis Courts, Running
Tracks, Sports Fields and Track and Field
Facilities. Within each category there are
divisions; for example, the Tennis Court
category recognizes facilities in Residential
and Outdoor divisions. Additional honors
are given in the “Green” competition, for
award-winning athletic facilities that use the
most eco-friendly design, construction and
operating techniques.
The Outstanding tennis projects appear
on page 32 in this issue. For the complete list
of winners, including the “Distinguished”
facility awards, visit sportbuilders.org.
Ashaway Introduces New
PowerKill R-Ball String
Ashaway’s new PowerKill racquetball
string line feature Power Filament Technology (PFT), which the company says
creates an entirely new surface element
of Zyex filaments in the jacket of the
string that increases durability and tension holding, and optimizes power.
IndustryNews
official answers provided. According
to Wyatt, the app walks users through
real-life on-court challenges, category
by category. From “Serving & Receiving” to “Game Delays” to “Faults &
Lets,” and more, users answer on-court
situations, discovering how an official
would rule on each challenge.
Sealing the Deal With Ashaway
I
n December, PTR CEO Dan Santorum (left) and Ashaway Racket Strings
Vice President Steve Crandall signed a deal naming Ashaway as the Official
String of the PTR. Ashaway is the only U.S. manufacturer of string for squash,
tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Operated by the Crandall family since 1824,
Ashaway has been making racquet strings since 1949. •
The new line will initially consist of
two strings, PowerKill Pro, and PowerKill
17. Bright red in color, both are available
in 40-foot sets and 360-foot reels. Visit
ashawayusa.com.
PTR, Penn Extend Ball
Partnership
In a new multi-year agreement, PTR has
selected Penn to be its official endorsed tennis ball. The partnership builds on the more
than 30-year Head endorsement with PTR,
the longest lasting active sponsorship in the
tennis teaching industry.
Penn tennis balls, including the premium
Pro Penn Marathon, will be the official balls
for the PTR International Tennis Symposium
and other PTR events. PTR members will
receive discounts on all Penn balls, including
the Pro Penn with PTR logo. Discounts will
also be available on junior equipment from
racquets to Red, Orange Green and foam
balls, as well as on teaching tools like targets
and throw-down lines.
“This was an easy decision for us to make,”
said Greg Mason, senior vice president of
sales and marketing for Head Penn Racquet
Sports. “PTR is growing and it’s a great way
to send our message to the grassroots players through PTR professionals. We know the
impact they have in the market as we’ve seen
it first-hand on the racquet side. We couldn’t
be more excited to expand our partnership.”
“Pro Penn balls are the most durable balls
on the market, which is a tremendous advantage for tennis teachers and coaches,” said
PTR CEO Dan Santorum.
Tennis Rules App
Available at iTunes
“I Know Tennis!” is a tennis rules app
developed by recreational tennis player
Barbara Wyatt of Tacoma, Wash., and
available at the Apple Store for iPhone,
iPad, and iTouch for 99 cents.
The app is written for all players,
whether experienced or just beginning
in the sport. It entertains and educates
through a series of questions, with the
February 2014
TennisIndustry 9
IndustryNews
People
Watch
Tennis champion Billie
Jean King will be one of
two openly gay athletes
in the U.S. delegation
for the opening and
closing ceremonies at
the Sochi Olympics in
Russia, which begins
Feb. 7. President Barack
Obama chose King to
represent the U.S. in
what is widely seen as
a message to Russia
about its treatment
of gays and lesbians.
For the first time since
2000, the U.S. will
not send a president,
former president, first
lady or vice president to
the Games.
Caroline Wozniacki
10 TennisIndustry
February 2014
is back with Babolat,
having signed with the
company in December. The Dane played
with Babolat when she
reached World No. 1,
but had switched to
Yonex in 2011. Last
spring, she started to
play with a blacked-out
frame.
Boris Becker is the
new head coach for
World No. 2 Novak
Djokovic. Longtime
coach Marian Vajda
remains a part of the
Djokovic coaching
team.
Longtime USPTA
general legal counsel
Paul Waldman died in
December. He served
as the association’s attorney since 1974.
Dunlop squash player
Nick Matthew won the
Hong Kong Open in December and recaptured
the No. 1 ranking in the
Professional Squash
Association. Matthew
plays with a Biomimetic
Evolution 130 racquet.
The U.S.’s Serena
Williams and Novak
Djokovic of Serbia were
named the 2013 ITF
World Champions in
December, the fourth
time for Williams and
the third successive year
for Djokovic. Americans
Bob and Mike Bryan
were named Men’s
Doubles World Champions for the tenth time in
11 years, while Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of
Italy took the women’s
doubles honor for the
second successive year.
Switzerland’s Belinda
Bencic and Alexander
Zverev of Germany were
named ITF Junior World
Champions, while the
ITF Wheelchair World
Champions are Aniek
van Koot of Netherlands
and Japan’s Shingo
Kunieda.
Former tennis champion Angela Buxton
received the Ambassador Award from the UK’s
LTA recently. In 1956,
Buxton, who now runs a
tennis consultancy, won
the women’s doubles
titles at Wimbledon and
the French Championships, and also reached
the Wimbledon singles
final.
The International
Tennis Hall of Fame &
Museum and the ITF
have presented the
2014 Golden Achievement Award to David
Jude, a longtime volunteer leader in the tennis
community who served
as Honorary Treasurer of
the ITF for 37 years.
IndustryNews
Y-TEX String Offer
for USRSA Members
Y-TEX is offering all USRSA members
wholesale prices on its sets and reels.
Y-TEX is the newest brand on
the market and its Quadro Twist
was rated No. 1 for spin and
No. 2 best string ever tested
by USRSA’s playtest team and
published in RSI magazine.
Y-TEX was named Official
String Sponsor of the 2013
Junior Orange Bowl. USRSA members are
invited to e-mail [email protected],
visit the website at ytexstrings.com or
call 843-816-1440.
BNP Paribas Showdown
in NYC March 3
The 7th annual BNP Paribas Showdown
will be Monday, March 3, in New York’s
Madison Square Garden and will feature
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, as well
as, for the first time in its history, a unique
brothers doubles match with John and
Patrick McEnroe teaming up to take on
Mike and Bob Bryan. The doubles match,
which begins at 7 p.m., will be an eight-game
pro set followed by a best-of-three sets for
the singles match.
The BNP Paribas Showdown is a part of
“World Tennis Day,” a global tennis participation effort. The Showdown is produced by
MSG Sports and StarGames. Tickets start
at $50 and can be purchased at thegarden.
com and at Ticketmaster outlets. For more
information, visit worldtennisday.com.
USTA Awards $65K to 18
Wheelchair Programs
The USTA has awarded $65,000 in USTA
Wheelchair Tennis Grassroots Grants to
18 wheelchair tennis programs across the
country for the sixth consecutive year.
Grants were awarded to local organizations that promote and develop the
growth of wheelchair tennis and use the
sport of tennis to build stronger, healthier
communities. Since the inaugural grants
in 2008, the total pool of USTA wheelchair
tennis grant money has increased each
year. Organizations interested in starting
a wheelchair tennis program can email
[email protected].
February 2014
TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews
Short
Sets
Hollywood talent mega-agency William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC bought rival
talent and marketing
agency IMG Worldwide
for about $2.3 billion in
December.
The 2014 BNP Paribas
World Team Cup, the
ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event,
will be held in Alphen,
Netherlands, May 26June 1 and hosted by
the Dutch Tennis Federation at the Nieuwe
Sloot Tennis Centre in
Alphen. A total of 105
teams from 48 countries will take part.
PHIT America says
150 companies have
now pledged their
support and are behind
the national initiative
to reverse America’s
inactivity pandemic. For
more information, visit
phitamerica.org.
Roger Federer and his
agent, Tony Godsick,
have formed their own
management company,
Team8.
The BNP Paribas
Open, held in March in
Indian Wells, Calif., has
renewed its TV broadcast agreement with
Tennis Channel.
NEC Corp. has renewed its title sponsorship with the ITF for the
NEC Wheelchair Tennis
Masters and will again
be an Official Partner of
the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour for 2014.
The UK’s LTA has
signed a five-year media
rights deal with Eurosport and IMG Media
that encompass LTA-run
Read Tennis Industry on the
World’s Digital Library
Tennis Industry magazine is now available
online through Scribd, the world’s digital
library. This means that no matter whether
you want to read TI on the web or on your
mobile device, you’ll have complete access,
either through your web browser or through
the Scribd app on your iOS or Android smart
phone or tablet.
Past digital issues of Tennis Industry (and
Racquet Sports Industry) are free. Simply go
to TennisIndustrymag.com, click on Tennis
Industry magazine archive in the top right,
and find the year and month of the issue
you’d like to read. The latest issue appears
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into the mail, and all issues back to 2004 are
available. You can even search for keywords
within issues.
If you’re already a Scribd subscriber, you
12 TennisIndustry
February 2014
ATP tournaments and
the new WTA International event to be held
in Nottingham starting
in 2015.
Austin, Texas, will be
home to a new Mylan
World TeamTennis
team in 2014, with
Austin resident Andy
Roddick on the roster.
Entrepreneur Lorne
Abony purchased the
Orange County franchise and will relocate
the team, called the
Austin Aces, for the
2014 season.
Global sports and entertainment company
Octagon announced it
will donate $250,000
to USTA Serves, the
national charitable
foundation of the USTA,
over the next five years.
The Junior Tennis
Champions Center
in College Park, Md.,
was named USTA
Mid-Atlantic Section
2013 Outstanding
Member Organization
of the Year.
Peter Burwash International will direct
the tennis programs
for both The RitzCarlton, Naples and
The Ritz-Carlton Golf
Resort, Naples.
LPGA star Ryann
O’Toole, USA Water
Polo four-time Olympic medalist Heather
Petri and USA Softball
two-time Olympic
gold medalist Michele
Smith are celebrity
ambassadors for PHIT
America.
The Grand Slam
Tennis Club at Banksville, N.Y. has devel-
can also check out a selection of USRSA
books online, including “Technical Tennis,”
“Biomechanical Principles of Tennis Technique,” “Tennis Training,” “Fit to Play Tennis,”
and “The Winner’s Mind.”
USTA Board of Directors
Application
Interested in serving on the USTA Board
of Directors or USTA
Nominating Committee? Applications for the
2015-2016 term are due Feb. 1. Visit usta.
com/About-USTA/Organization/Committees/ApplicationInstructions/
Nominations Sought
for TI Hall of Fame
The Tennis Industry Association is accepting nominations for the Tennis Industry Hall
oped a new 10 And
Under Tennis program
called IGNiTE, designed to “develop the
entire child” through
tennis. IGNiTE is the
first step in Grand
Slam’s Hitting Hot
Junior Tennis Pathway,
taught using a system
founded by eight-time
Grand Slam champion
Ivan Lendl. The system
teaches a complete
understanding of how
to hit all the shots, play
from all positions and
in all game situations,
both offensively and
defensively, says the
club.
France won its first
Hopman Cup title
with a 2-1 win over
Poland in early January
in Perth, Australia.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and
Alize Cornet led the
French team.
of Fame for 2014, which honors individuals who have made a significant
impact on the sport of tennis. Nominations, which are due by June 21, can
be in any of four categories: Inventors,
Founders, Innovators or Contributors.
The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame
was created in 2008 and currently
has eight inductees: Howard Head
(2008), Dennis Van der Meer (2008),
Alan Schwartz (2009), Billie Jean King
(2010), Nick Bollettieri (2011), Howard
Gill Jr. (2013), Walter Montenegro
(2013) and Sheldon Westervelt (2013).
Plaques of Tennis Industry Hall of Fame
inductees are on permanent display at
the International Tennis Hall of Fame in
Newport, R.I.
Criteria for nominating and a short
nomination form are available at TennisIndustry.org/HOF.
IndustryNews
January 2014
TennisIndustry 13
IndustryNews
Americans Set 2013
USTA Pro Circuit Records
The 2013 season of the USTA Pro Circuit
concluded in December with recordsetting results among American players.
The 34th season of the USTA Pro Circuit,
the largest developmental tennis circuit
in the world, featured 89 events and
awarded nearly $3 million in total prize
money.
The year included a record 35 tournaments held on clay. In conjunction with
USTA Player Development, the USTA
Pro Circuit continues to emphasize the
importance of increased training and
competition for younger players on clay,
particularly at the $10,000/$25,000 level
for women and $10,000/$15,000 level
for men.
Live streaming debuted this year for
all 16 USTA Pro Circuit men’s Challengers (prize money of $50,000 and higher)
at procircuit.usta.com. Ten of the 13
women’s tournaments with prize money
of $50,000 or more were streamed live in
2013.
Notable records included:
• Bobby Reynolds now holds the record
for career singles and doubles titles on
the USTA Pro Circuit, with 31, surpassing Paul Goldstein. Reynolds won his
first title in 2002.
• Michael Russell became the oldest
USTA Pro Circuit singles champion at 35
years, 6 months, and 2 days after winning the singles title in Charlottesville,
Va., in November.
• Former Stanford standout and 2010
NCAA champion Bradley Klahn was
the 2013 USTA Pro Circuit prize money
leader with $50,606 in earnings. Four of
the top five men’s prize money leaders
in 2013 were Americans.
• Shelby Rogers was the 2013 USTA Pro
Circuit women’s prize money leader,
with $36,308 in earnings.
• The U.S. men won more than half of the
USTA Pro Circuit singles titles this year
with 29. The U.S. women won the most
singles titles of any country with 19.
• Tornado Alicia Black was the youngest
women’s singles champion of 2013 at
15 years, 4 months, and 17 days.•
USRSA Announces New MRT
Teymour Adham - Unionville, ON CANADA
14 TennisIndustry
February 2014
‘Future of Tennis Summit’
To Define Goals for Industry
Tennis champion, Davis Cup
captain and TV commentator Jim
Courier will be a featured guest
at the inaugural “TIA Future of
Tennis Summit” March 11-12 in
Indian Wells, Calif., during the
BNP Paribas Open men’s and
women’s pro tournament.
Leaders from across the
industry, as well as top executives
from some of tennis’s key
sponsors, will attend this two-day
event, which will be held at the
Renaissance Esmeralda Indian
Wells Resort & Spa.
The Future of Tennis Summit
will help define the future
landscape of tennis, chart a path
to a profitable tennis marketplace,
and discuss an image of tennis
attractive to both recreational
tennis players and tennis fans.
To find out more and to register,
visit futureoftennis.com.
“We’re bringing together
leaders and executives both inside
and outside of the tennis industry
to help us define pathways and
strategic efforts to reaching our
long-term goals, which include
impacting significant growth at
both the trade and consumer
levels,” says TIA President Greg
Mason. “As an industry, one of
our main objectives is to increase
the number of frequent players
in the U.S. from its current 5.4
million to 10 million by the year
2020, which will add nearly $4
billion to the tennis economy.”
TIA Partners with
‘Software as a
Service’ Companies
To help tennis providers manage and grow
their businesses, the TIA is partnering with
technology development companies that
offer “software as a service” (SaaS).
The newest partnership is with Play Your
Court (PlayYourCourt.com), a mobile tennis
business that helps make the sport more
accessible and convenient to players.
“In tennis, there are now many
companies that offer business solutions,
including software platforms designed for
providers and facilities,” says TIA Executive
Director Jolyn de Boer. “Our goal and
opportunity is to research and highlight
these companies and services so facilities
and providers can determine which best fit
their needs and hopefully save time and
money in the process.”
Approved TIA SaaS Business Partners
will become part of the family of TIA
Recommended Software and Business
Solutions, and also receive membership
benefits and services to help the facilities,
retailers and providers using their specific
product. The TIA maintains a network of
thousands of facilities, retailers, and tennis
businesses that can utilize SaaS products. A
key component of the partnership will be
the utilization of an API (application
programming interface) that allows SaaS
clients to select tennis information that can
be published automatically on the
PlayTennis.com website.
For more information, contact TIA
Business Manager Brian O’Donnell at
(843) 473-4504 or [email protected].
Facility Owners, Managers to Meet in Charleston
Tennis facility owners and club managers from across the country will gather April 3-4 in
Charleston, S.C., for the 2014 “TIA Facility Owners and Managers Conference,” which will
feature industry pioneer and popular tennis personality Cliff Drysdale as a special guest. The
conference, held during the Family Circle Cup women’s tennis tournament, will also feature
some of the industry’s leading experts in tennis facility operations and management, who
will present sessions and highlight resources on a variety of business topics including
staffing, retailing, programming, and technology. For more information and to register, visit
the thetomconference.com.
The goal of the Owners & Managers Conference is to provide its attendees with
“takeaways” they can implement at their facilities to make them competitive and profitable
in the evolving tennis marketplace. The event, held at the Charleston Marriott, will also
provide attendees with a great networking opportunity and allow tennis facility owners and
managers to share their experiences and best practices. “Providing this type of educational
and business-enrichment opportunity for owners and managers is important to the longterm success of our industry,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer.
16 TennisIndustry
February 2014
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
TIA to Launch Industry Biz Directory in 2014
The TIA is in the process of developing a comprehensive guide of tennis industry businesses
that will be launched on TennisIndustry.org in early 2014. The guide will serve as a business
directory, allowing consumers and others within the industry to quickly and easily find tennis
industry suppliers/vendors and learn more about their products and services.
Visitors to the directory will be able to quickly locate tennis companies, products and
services by keyword, location, and category (i.e. manufacturer) or subcategory (i.e. ball
manufacturer). Opportunities will also exist for tennis industry businesses and organizations
to upgrade their profile in the directory to a “premium profile,” which will allow for the
import of existing web pages, including embedding video, images, and social media. These
ry
t
s
premium profiles give tennis vendors and brands the opportunity to provide more in-depth
u
d
n
I
nis
information on their products and services within the directory and allows for enhanced
2014 Ten irectory
D
s
exposure in the directory’s search results and company listings. TIA members will also
s
e
in
s
Bu
receive enhanced exposure in the directory through custom search filters that can limit
searches to “Members Only.”
“We’re excited to launch this new resource to the trade,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer.
“As the go-to source of information within the industry, we are continuously looking for ways to increase the exposure for
tennis. This directory will serve as a great tool for our members and other industry businesses to enhance their presence.”
Stay tuned for more information regarding the directory.
COMING SOON:
An All-New CareersInTennis.com
In the next few months, CareersInTennis.com, the industry’s largest job
board, will reveal a revamped website that makes the user interface
even easier. One of the key functionalities of the revamped site will be
in its responsive design, so users on any type of device—smartphone,
tablet, or computer—will be able to view content that is optimized for
that particular device.
With more than 40,000 job views annually, CareersInTennis.com
helps connect those seeking careers in the industry with tennis
employers. The services provided on the site, such as posting a résumé
or posting open job positions, are completely free to both jobseekers
and employers. Currently, there are nearly 3,000 registered jobseekers
and more than 250 registered employers.
“The new CareersInTennis.com will be particularly suited to helping
recruit new, young talent into the industry,” says the TIA’s Ryan Melton,
who manages the Careers In Tennis effort. “Our website revamp will be
seamless, so current jobseekers and employers, and those wishing to
join CareersInTennis.com, shouldn’t wait, but should continue to use the
site and register on it.”
2014 Industry Planner
Get your copy of the 2014 Tennis Industry
Wall Planner. This 24x35 planner
includes important industry event dates
and allows space for you to include your
important dates, too. Free for TIA
members ($10 non-members). To order,
visit TennisIndustry.org/calendar.
Study Highlights Players’ Digital
Device/Social Media Usage
The 2013 TIA Tennis Consumer Study includes a new section that
measures the social media and digital device usage trends of frequent
players, who play tennis 21 or more times a year. Data tracks tennis
consumers’ engagement with social media platforms, digital devices,
and tennis websites, and how these various platforms and devices are
being utilized by the frequent player base.
“As technology and media trends continue to evolve, it’s important
that we track and measure trends in media and digital device usage and
their relevance to the industry’s consumer base, and the implications that
has for industry businesses,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer.
“Providing timely market intelligence is a key TIA focus and this addition
to the Consumer Study will help keep our members and the industry
informed of the latest trends that may be impacting their businesses and
strategic decisions.”
The special section of this report is available now. It’s free to TIA
members at the Participating Partner level, or $495 otherwise. Contact
[email protected].
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
February 2014
TennisIndustry 17
Retailing 127
‘Complaining Is Not a Strategy!’
For specialty retailers, the internet isn’t happening to
them, the future is happening to retailing.
R
ecently, Amazon CEO Jeff
Bezos got a lot of media attention for what he said about
Amazon working on developing drones
to deliver packages of 5 pounds or less
to customers within 10 miles of its
distribution centers. For some, this
concept may be a bit far-fetched; for
others, it’s an indication of innovation
and progress.
But something Bezos said resonated
with Fred Clements, executive director
of the National Bicycle Dealers Association, who wrote in his retail blog:
“When asked about the disruption to
traditional retailers from Amazon,
Bezos was straightforward … ‘When
you invent something new, if customers come to the party, it’s disruptive to
the old way. The internet is disrupting
every media industry … people can
complain about that, but complaining
is not a strategy. And Amazon is not
happening to book selling; the future is
happening to book selling.’”
Whatever you may think of Bezos
and Amazon, he is right about the impact of innovation on the “old way”—
and the simple fact that “complaining
is not a strategy.”
The internet and online retailers
aren’t happening to specialty tennis retailing…the future is happening to specialty tennis retailing. Understanding,
accepting, embracing and leveraging
the future is far more productive and
profitable than fighting the inevitable
and hoping it will go away.
For instance, smartphones are omnipresent today. Ignoring or chasing
away shoppers who use their smartphones as an integral part of their
shopping experience is a bad idea; it
will only result in unhappy shoppers
who will probably speak badly about
your store—and who will then shop
elsewhere.
As retail specialists, we’ve come to
18 TennisIndustry
February 2014
the conclusion that it really doesn’t
matter if shoppers are “showrooming”
or “webrooming.” The best strategy for
specialty tennis retailers is to welcome
everyone into your store and help them
shop with their hand-held devices as
just a part of the process and experience. It’s about customer service, and
serving the customer the way they want
to be served.
This goes hand-in-hand with your
store having an internet presence
through a website that is hand-held
compatible, and your presence on
selected social media. Part of your
strategy is deciding if your website will
be commerce-enabled or not, but a good
to great website is a given in today’s
consumer driven and dominated retail
marketplace.
The best strategy for
specialty tennis retailers is
to welcome everyone
into your store.
Here are other elements of your specialty tennis retail strategy:
• Focus on people. Being “consumercentric” means serving customer in
all ways, but also employing customer
service naturals. You want sales associates who are hard-wired to serve
and really enjoy helping shoppers
find their individual tennis lifestyle
solutions. Make sales associates a part
of the experience your store provides,
and a reason for customers to come
back.
• Create a comfortable, welcoming
environment. This is an evolutionary
process that will be constantly changing, but the bottom line is a neat, clean
store that you’re always improving.
You want, first, a warm and welcoming store that invites shoppers in, and
second, a place where shoppers feel
comfortable and want to stick around
for a while, and want to come back
to. This can be accomplished with
any size store.
• Get them playing tennis! While this
might be easier for a pro shop that is
part of a tennis facility, stand-alone
tennis facilities can make this happen, too. For instance, get players
of the same ability together and
make arrangements to play at local
faculties. Get active in promoting
Youth Tennis and in helping get
kids to play. Promote and facilitate
beginner’s orientation and lessons.
Getting more people to play tennis, more often, ensures your own
customer base.
• Choose the right vendors. Vendors
need to work with you and be interested in helping grow your specialty
retail brand and business. Vendor
selection involves the quality and
value of the product portfolio you
will be able to offer your customers
and the realized gross margins you
will be able to consistently achieve.
Select vendors that will make the
best partners now and in the future.
• Stringing and maintenance services.
A brick-and-mortar specialty tennis
retail strategy needs to not only
include stringing, but also any other
aspects, no matter how small they
may seem, of maintaining, servicing
and replacing racquets and
gear. Create added value that
differentiates your store from the
competition. •
For upcoming TIA retail webinars, and
to view previous webinars, visit TennisIndustry.org/webinars.
This is part of a series of retail tips
presented by the Tennis Industry Association and written by the Gluskin
Townley Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).
Grassroots Game
Game for All Ages
A Massachusetts high school team spreads tennis’s
message to the community.
By Carol Feingold
A
s a lifelong sport with incredible
benefits, tennis can be enjoyed
by everyone, from preschoolers
to seniors well past retirement age. In
Amesbury, Mass., the members of the
Amesbury High School Girls’ Tennis
Team not only are well on their way to
mastering the game, but they are teaching elementary school kids to enjoy it,
too. They even hold a “Summer Moms
Tennis Institute” open to all adults,
male and female.
Founded in the mid-1980s, the AHS
girls’ team finished the 2013 season
with team record wins. But most importantly, says Coach Brett Manoloff, the
team won the Sportsmanship Award for
the third year in a row. “That, to me, is a
big deal,” he says. “It says these girls are
top notch. They act professionally and
their etiquette is excellent. It’s a great
reflection on the kids in the program
and how they conduct themselves.”
Manoloff runs a no-cut tennis team.
“Even if you’ve never picked up a
racquet in your life, as long as you have
the appropriate conduct and attitude,
you’re on the team,” he says. “There are
minimum academic requirements for
all students to play sports and we keep
an eye on our kids to make sure their
grades are where they should be. They
truly are student-athletes. They have a
lot to do and they’re impressive.”
Members of the AHS girls’ team run
an after-school tennis program for
students in grades 3 and 4 based on
the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis program. “We started it last year, and it’s
been quite successful,” Manoloff says.
“We had two classes with 15 kids that
now at least know what tennis is and
hopefully will continue to enjoy it. We
plan to do it again and as demand in-
20 TennisIndustry
February 2014
creases we may expand the age range.”
The after-school tennis program is
a fundraiser for the team. The money
parents pay for their children to attend
the program goes to the AHS Boosters
Association and then directly to the
girls’ tennis team to pay for supplies and
equipment.
“The big thing is to increase opportunities for the kids,” Manoloff notes.
“Maybe they’ll love tennis and maybe
not, but tennis is a lifelong sport. If
some of these 9-year-olds enjoy it, regardless of whether or not they play for
AHS, hopefully they’ll play it for the rest
of their lives, and that’s healthy.”
“It was great to see how much of an
interest such young kids had developed
after just a few fun tennis lessons,” says
AHS senior Meghan Chines. “Not only
was it a successful fundraiser for our
team, it was a fun way to get involved
with our community.”
The Summer Moms Tennis Institute
is another fundraiser for the team. “It
started two years ago because the moms
of the AHS kids wanted to learn tennis,”
Manoloff says. “I said, ‘I’ll coach you
and teach you,’ and at the end of the
summer the moms donated money to
the after-school program. It’s called
‘Summer Moms,’ but it’s open to all
adults, male or female, who would like
to play friendly tennis in the summer.”
“I've seen people of all ages with
only basic skills enjoying the game just
as much as any experienced player,”
says AHS senior Olivia King. “This is
what the After School Enrichment
program and the Summer Moms Tennis Institute are all about. Both have
been extremely successful in spreading the love of tennis to children and
adults.”
“By teaching kids as well as adults
how to play and enjoy tennis, we are
also building our own knowledge
on how to improve our skills,” adds
AHS senior Melina Mavroforos. “I'm
so glad I joined the tennis team. If I
hadn’t, I would have missed out on
making new friends, connecting with
other players in the community, and
having fun with the sport.”•
OUTLOOK 2014: Racquets
Finding
What Fits
The new racquets are pretty
much guaranteed to help your
players lift their games.
By Kent Oswald
I
n terms of retail store square footage, retailers
have been saying there are too many racquets for
quite some time. Based on getting the perfect stick
manufactured for each player, however, there can
never be too many. Technology keeps improving and
each player has a unique game—even if forehands look similar
between hitters, for example, backhands and serves surely
won’t.
Susan DiBiase, marketing director for Babolat, puts it
simply: “The role and experience of tennis is unique to the
individual.” Each player, it seems, would best be served by a
playing tool enhancing his or her strengths and covering over
the weaknesses.
Along with most other industries, tennis is creeping ever
closer to an age of racquet customization—Head’s “Custom
Made” option (which lets players select everything from
length to string pattern) is only the splashiest, most recent
manifestation.
“[Customization] certainly seems to be something that
different segments of players are interested in,” says Hunter
Hines, Dunlop director of marketing and product develop-
ment. “It’s become quite popular in golf clubs over the past
several years, and I see it starting to trickle into tennis.
There are a lot of factors that I think will be in play for determining how far it goes—cost, scale of player interest, etc.,
but I definitely see it being a bigger part of the future.”
In that future, players will know exactly what fits their
game from video breakdowns provided by teaching pros or
other feedback, perhaps from racquets such as Babolat’s
Play Pure Drive (above), with its built-in sensors. Instead
of relying on aftermarket customizations of weight and
balance, they’ll go shopping with even more information
and among manufacturers with even more robust ways of
matching their needs.
We’re not there yet, but there continues to be leaps in
applying the understanding of what players need with their
racquets and, once again in 2014, the products being introduced are pretty much guaranteed to help players lift their
games, with the only “disappointment” being how much
they still have to practice on their own as racquets still can’t
hit winners without a human connection, a future we hope
we’ll never arrive at.
BABOLAT
babolat.com • 877-316-9435
The French company is hoping to connect players with their racquet in a more advanced manner using the information from sensors embedded within the Play Pure Drive (same 27-inch length and 100-square-inch head
as the “regular” Pure Drive) that provide real-time data, including measurements of power, spin, and where the
ball hit the string bed. Additionally, the information is easily sharable via the internet, suggesting new possibilities among players. Print, in-store video, television and, of course, social media marketing will support sales.
For 2014, Babolat unveils a Pure Strike line. The 27-inch-long, 98-square-inch frame incorporates both
square and elliptical elements into the graphite, with the racquet best paired with defenders expecting to use
their opponent’s speed against them. There is a Tour version and three other options offering different string
patterns, balances, weights and beam widths. They will also offer the new Pure Control line, with a heavier Tour
version and a lighter version of the graphite/tungsten frames (with 98-square-inch heads and 27-inch-long
bodies) for power players with long, fast strokes looking to gain extra command of their shots.
Pure Strike
22 TennisIndustry
February 2014
DUNLOP
dunlop.com • 800-768-472
Expecting 2014 to be another year of gathering impact, Dunlop will introduce three racquets. The new F4.0
Tour, M4.0 and S4.0 Lite are all 27 inches long with 100-square-inch heads and graphite/biofiber composition. The new naming convention is designed to draw attention of the players, with “F” indicating designs
that should be more appropriate for players with full or fast swings, “M” for medium/moderate swings and
“S” for shorter/slower swings. Marketing and promotion efforts featuring the additions to the company’s
Biomimetic line will be across all mediums and will include, of course, notice of the tour-level players who
will be upgrading to the new racquets.
F4.0
GAMMA
gammasports.com • 800-333-0337
Gamma adds two new, all-court, carbon-composite frames to its thin-beam, aerodynamic RZR racquet
line. The 27-inch RZR 100M (100-square-inch head) and less stiff RZR 98M (98-square-inch head) will
replace the T Series racquets. The focus for both while in design was on achieving the right the balance to
encourage maneuverability, allowing players to generate a little more head speed at the baseline and extra
touch at the net.
RZR
HEAD
head.com • 800-289-7366
Head has revised its Radical and Prestige racquet lines, adding Graphene, an extra-strong layered carbon
material, to the shaft for additional stability and rebalancing the frames for improved maneuverability.
Affected sticks include the heavy hitting Radical Pro (98-square-inch head; 27 inches long), Radical MP,
also with a new 16/19 string pattern, (98, 27), Radical S (102, 27) and the lightweight Prestige Rev Pro (93,
27). In the Prestige line new racquets include the Prestige Pro (98, 27) with the new 16/19 string pattern,
Prestige MP (98, 27), Prestige S (98, 27), Prestige PWR, (107, 27-1/3), and lightweight Radical Rev (98, 27).
In addition, Head's new Custom Made program will offer customization services via the company's
website for the Graphene Speed or inline Speed, which will allow players to personalize the weight, length
and balance of their racquets.
PACIFIC
pacific.com • 800-892-5901
Prestige PWR
Continuing to refine and enhance the technology it acquired from Fischer in 2009, Pacific is incorporating the next generation of basalt fibers, BX2, into its frames. The results are racquets that are slightly
lighter, a bit firmer, vibrate less and generate more power than their forerunners, says the company.
According to Tom Parry, global player services director, “If it is not ‘broken,’ then why fix it? The tennis
court remains the same dimension, the ball is virtually the same, and so players still seek performance
products that meet their own unique or specific personal requirements [and] we will continue to provide
them with the same.”
Among the featured models are the BX2 X Feel Pro.90 Vacuum (90-square-inch head, 27-inch length);
BX2 X Feel Pro.95 (95, 27); BX2 X Force Pro (98, 27); BX2 X Force (98, 27); the lighter tour level racquet
from Pacific, the BX2 X Force LT (98, 27); the BX2 X Feel Tour (100, 27); a racquet designed to complement the games of competitive women, the BX2 Finesse (102, 27); and the oversized, ultra light, extraforgiving BX2 Nexus (118, 27-3/4).
BX2 XFeel Pro.90
PRINCE
princetennis.com • 800-2TENNIS
In re-establishing itself as a dominant force in the market, Prince is pursuing a number of different initiatives. It’s opened the Prince Innovation Center at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., as a home to
Prince's new Racquet Services Team, which will handle equipment customization for high-performance
juniors and tour-level players. It is also directing traffic to the microsite iamprincetennis.com for people
interested in product videos, social content, technology information and help selecting a racquet.
As for the racquets themselves, they feature ESP technology, which offers a high spin-generating string
pattern and double-bridge vibration dampeners throughout the Premier (shorter, slower strokes), Warrior (moderate to full strokes) and Tour (longer, faster strokes) lines. Highlighted models include the 115L
ESP (115-square-inch head, 27-inch length), 105 ESP (105, 27-1/4), Warrior 100 (100, 27) and lighter 100L,
Tour 98 ESP (98, 27) and 100T ESP (100, 27). In addition, to reach out to all segments, particularly nostalgic boomers, Prince is focusing on racquets with a retro look and feel by leveraging the company’s history
with graphite frames.
Premier 115 ESP
February 2014
TennisIndustry 23
OUTLOOK 2014: Racquets
VOLKL
volkltennis.com • 866-554-7872
Continuing to amplify the ball-striking efficiency and reduce vibration with its line of high-tech carbon nanotube frames, Volkl has upgraded the grommet system and handles in its latest models. The
German company introduces Organix 1 (115-square-inch head, 27.8 inches long), Organix 3 (110, 27.8)
and Organix 10 in a new mid-version (93, 27). Volkl also is highlighting the new Super Gs (racquets
combining the new grommet system and a bio-sensor pin in the handle that improves feel), including
the Organix 4 (105, 27.6), Organix 6 Super G (100, 27), shade heavier Organix 8 Super G (100, 27), and
control-oriented Organix 9 Super G (98, 107). The junior market will receive the Super G technology in
the form of the Organix 8 Super G Jr. (102, 25).
Organix 4 Super G1
WILSON
wilson.com • 773-714-6400
Wilson will continue to build its lines around the new Spin Effect Technology, with its tweaked frame
geometry and open string pattern allowing the mains more snapback. It is technology for both World
No. 1 Serena Williams, who wields her Blade (98-square-inch head, 27-inch length), and No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, who will be powering the new Wilson Juice 100S (100, 27), with its enhanced grommet
system. Among the year’s promotions Wilson will be rolling out at all levels of the game will be announcements of additional changes among its top racquet endorsers. •
Juice 100
24 TennisIndustry
February 2014
OUTLOOK 2014: Shoes
Kicking It Up!
Sensing good news afoot, tennis shoe manufacturers
are offering more options for 2014.
I
By Kent Oswald
t’s a new year and time for optimism, at least in
terms of the sales potential for tennis shoes. Sensing
a change in consumer interest and spending, shoe
manufacturers are offering more options in 2014—
albeit still mostly within the stability/durability or
lightweight/flexible parameters—and bumping up attempts
to discover the sweetspot of fashion, function and feet (and
finances).
The trends of the past few seasons to make greater use of
color splashes continue. Also, as with the basketball and
running shoes that dominate the sports footwear market,
manufacturers are increasingly telling a tennis shoe “story”
with external highlighting intended to draw attention to
its technological structure and features. Prices, too, seem
to have settled into a range consumers find comfortable.
The story is not black or white, and the clock isn’t turning
back to the halcyon days of tennis shoes as the definition of
fashion, but good news does look to be on the horizon.
ADIDAS
adidas.com • 971-234-2300
The German house is promoting the idea of technology and fashion with two new shoes in
particular, the stable, durable and (naturally) stylish Stella McCartney Barricade ($125) and
featherweight Adizero CC Tempaia ($120). Marketing support (in addition to being seen on
the feet of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki) will include use of social
media campaigns, particularly around the majors, and in-store promotions. Customers visiting the Adidas website can customize the cosmetics, as well as width, linings and outsole
configurations.
ASICS
asicsamerica.com • 800-678-9435
Priding itself on finding the balance between proven consumer interest and solid bio-mechanical research, Asics expects to exceed retailer expectations it reports as already high by
bolstering its line with the updated GEL-Solution Speed 2 ($130), the flagship of the Tennis
Speed Collection. Created for a higher level of stability and responsiveness, the shoe will be
promoted in print and with digital placements, by seeding the product with key influencers,
as well as through in-store support. The SS2 will debut with distinctive color combinations,
one for men and another for women; additional combos are planned for a third-quarter
introduction.
BABOLAT
babolat.com • 877-316-9435
Tennis-only company Babolat begins the year featuring its expanded Propulse 4 line ($120).
New color combinations are offered for both men and women, and while known for its low
profile, grip and durability, the company is hopeful it will be able to gain more attention for
the line’s flexibility that supports quick movement in all directions. Marketing support will
be an aggressive mix of TV, print, sponsorship, events, in-store merchandising and continuing engagement via social media.
26 TennisIndustry
February 2014
DIADORA
diadora.com • 800-768-4727
Having been on the feet of such luminaries as Bjorn Borg and Gustavo Kuerten, Diadora has
much to live up to. The Italian company re-launches a full shoe line (five models for men, four
for women to be distributed via Dunlop) in the U.S. this year. Headlining are the performanceoriented, stylish Star K, and comfortable, durable Speed ProMe shoes. In addition to taking
advantage of the brand equity created over the years, marketing will include tournament sponsorships, endorsements from top players, and aggressive dealer-incentive programs.
FILA
fila.com • 800-845-FILA
Fila expects the new Sentinel ($100), with its four color combinations for men and three for
women, to continue the positive sales trends of the last few years with its ambitious match
of playability, comfort and style—the colors align with the company’s sportswear, allowing
players not just shoes that play well but the opportunity for a fully coordinated look. Sales
support will rely on the company’s online presence, road shows, a new tennis micro-website,
and by continuing to enhance retail partnerships to create in-store awareness, events and
promotions.
HEAD
head.com • 800-289-7366
Head’s new Sprint Pro ($130) for men and women—and a junior version ($80)—are lightweight shoes with durable outsoles, enhanced heel and midsole support, breathability and
comfort. They are available in a choice of colorways and will be available for a cross-category
promotion through July as $10 discount coupons will be included in cans of Pro Penn Marathon tennis balls.
K-SWISS
kswiss.com 800-768-4727
Taking a bit more than a page from the dominant sports footwear category, California sports
company K-Swiss expands its portfolio with the Ultra Express ($110). The lightweight, flexible, cushioned and anti-microbially lined shoe is (again, inspired by running shoe design)
available in neon colorings.
NEW BALANCE
newbalance.com • 800-253-7463
Boston-based New Balance launches its 1296 ($130) as an accompaniment to its current
tennis standard-bearer, the 996 that Milos Raonic has been wearing. The new shoe will be
available for both men and women in five different combinations and again incorporates the
company’s vast experience with the demands of running shoes into a comfortable, durable
fit for serious tennis players.
PRINCE
princetennis.com • 800-2TENNIS
The best-selling T22 ($89) continues to serve as brand ambassador in the footwear category.
New colorways will be available and the shoe will play a big role in the company’s social media outreach, as well as in promotions such as the partnership with the Bright Pink organization. Additional models, new and updated, hardcourt and clay, are planned for a rollout in
time to hit the shelves prior to the summer season.
WILSON
wilson.com • 773-714-6400
The revamped, low-cut Rush Pro ($130) line has new colorways and more robust cushioning
and durability; in its women’s version there is also additional support and stability features
designed for differences with the female foot. Targeting a younger demo, the company will
also be focusing marketing muscle on the lightweight, flexible and multi-hued Rush NGX
($100) series in junior sizes. •
February 2014
TennisIndustry 27
OUTLOOK 2014: Apparel
Attention,
Shoppers!
The looks on court this
year pop with eye-catching
color and attention to the
details.
H
By Cynthia Sherman
igh fashion, attention to detail and trim, and
pops of bright colors are the signature looks
of warmer weather for 2014. In the heat of
summer, these pieces will keep your players
mobile and comfortable on the court.
TAIL
tailactivewear.com • 800-876-8245
Head into the warmer months with yummy colors of papaya and navy
in Tail’s Palmetto Dunes collection. Featured Rosalin skort in flippy
layers of navy and papaya over white in a 13.5-inch length. It’s topped
with the Frieda strappy top of moisture-wicking poly-spandex blend
with plenty of support provided by a compression bra. The collection
boasts an SPF treatment of 45+.
ADIDAS
adidas.com • 800-982-9337
Stella McCartney adds some pizzazz with a bright green Barricade
seamless tank, sporting a rounded neckline and zip neck. Made of
Climalite lightweight fabric, it boasts superior moisture management.
The accompanying Barricade skort is an attention-grabbing, light-asair mini-pleat drop-waist piece featuring a yellow and green stripe-onwhite 1.5-inch elastic waistband.
28 TennisIndustry
February 2014
BOLLE
bolletenniswear.com • 301-362-0360
Bolle's winning combination of color-blocking with pink and navy makes these outfits
stand out. The feminine cut of the tank with bands of navy across the middle is a combination of breathable poly/spandex. The skort features a layered hem, with contrast
color peeking through the pleated top layer. The long sleeve top with thumb holes offers
protection from the sun, and the pleated navy skort shows off a few flirty accent pleats
to the right side.
ANTIGUA
antigua.com • 800-528-3133
Antigua’s bold Performance Collection shows off bright
colors in a mix-and-match array of 11 pieces from T’s, to long
sleeves, to match shorts which have mesh-lined pockets,
spandex insets and adjustable waist cords. The polo pictured
features fashion-forward chest stripe pattern on white
(available in different color combinations), and each piece
utilizes Antigua’s Desert Dry or Desert Dry Xtra Lite technical fabrics for optimal movement and performance.
FILA
fila.com
410-773-3000
Classic looks and today’s
fashion trends are showcased in Fila’s reflection
of the fashion runway in
its quilted diamond jacquard Collezione Dress in
Andean toucan green and
black, sporting a scoop
neck and back with piping
at raglan seams and back
inside bra. A comfortably
sleek jersey of poly/spandex allows for freedom of
movement and breathability.
ELIZA AUDLEY
elizaaudley.com
262-691-4770
Eliza Audley brings couture and
function to the court with an invogue Paige purple Triple Loop
Dress. The signature side detail
emphasizes a stylishly slimming
feminine silhouette and flattering curves. Three side-inset petal-like loops of white trimmed in
vibrant greens and orange show
off this flattering racer-back
dress with built-in bra.
PURE LIME
purelime.com • 516-468-1722
Pure Lime shoots off sparks of color with its Zest collection. A tank in white
and Brite lime pairs off with a knife-pleated 12.5-inch skort. The “Breathe-Dri”
87% polyamide 13% elastane blend allows for a soft feel in a mix of quick-drying
breathability, a must for a heated match. •
February 2014
TennisIndustry 29
OUTLOOK 2014: Strings
Talking a Good
Game
Technology in strings continues
to get better, while marketing is
getting more focused.
S
By Kent Oswald
trings continue to lack the name and feature
recognition of racquets among the tennis-playing population. Players are, however, becoming—at least incrementally—more interested and
knowledgeable regarding their choices. To drive
that trend (and attempt to claim a bit more market share in
the very crowded market), manufacturers are upping their
advertising dollars and social media interactions in this niche.
The increased focus dovetails with more discussion among
television commentators about the influence and types of
string the top-tier players use, as well as the Tennis Indus-
try Association’s “Tennis Tune-Up” campaign to encourage
players to drop into their local retailer and tune-up/restring
their racquets. With discretionary spending picking up slowly
in the economy at large, it seems unlikely this is the “year of
string.” However, the technology is getting better, the marketing more focused, and, at least anecdotally, more players are
talking about how much their game picks up for relatively few
dollars spent on a good restring job. We could be just a year or
maybe two from a big breakthrough in the market.
In the meantime, manufacturers are shaping up their line
and getting themselves in place to capture that wave.
ASHAWAY
ashawayusa.com • 800-556-7260
The American string manufacturer is expanding its line of PEEK hybrids in the new year. Crossfire ZX (17
gauge Kevlar +Plus Mains with MonoGut ZX Pro Crosses) is the synthetic equivalent of Andre Agassi's
original hybrid on the pro tour and Crossfire ZX Tour (1.27 mm MonoGut Original co-polymer monofilament
strings in the mains with 1.27 mm MonoGut ZX for the crosses) is the synthetic equivalent of the current
tour hybrid Roger Federer popularized. Packaging was not available at press time.
BABOLAT
babolat.com • 877-316-9435
The French string pioneer unveils Origin. The monofilament string is created with the naturally sourced polyamide “Pure Combo,” for a comfortable, but powerful, feel, the company says.
Available in white and 125, 130 and 135 gauges, the string is also part of a flashy multimedia
campaign promoted as the “Endless Revolution,” and at events similar to last year’s Faster to
the Ball Festival and the Summer of Love cross category promotion.
DUNLOP
dunlop.com • 800-768-472
Complementing the line that includes the well-received Silk and Black Widow strings, Dunlop
rolls out its Pearl in both black and white, and in 16 and 17 gauge. Already on the racquets of
some of their pros, the multifilament’s name is supposed to evoke something firm (powerful),
but also luxurious (controlled). They will be reaching out to consumers via social media and
television and have a promo running through the middle of February offering an $80 value
mini-reel of Black Widow string (72m) free with the purchase of select Dunlop racquets.
30 TennisIndustry
February 2014
GENESIS
genesis-tennis.com • 888-750-1011
Riding a wave of success that has seen same-store sales of their string increase year-overyear as much as 750 percent, Genesis is releasing the co-polyester True Grit. The 10-sided,
metallic blue string is created for spin and power generation and will be offered in 16 and 17
gauge. Promotion will take place at individual retailer locations and through the Facebook
page with its continual audience engagement through company news, product giveaways,
contests and information about retail partners.
HEAD
head.com • 800-289-7366
Getting a big push in stores and through social media in 2014 will be Head’s Hawk string. This
monofilament, available in 16 or 17 gauge, and white or platinum, offers a string providing
power, in addition to vibration dampening and an extra sense of touch, says Head.
PRINCE
princetennis.com • 800-2TENNIS
The company will continue to promote through its various channels the initiative begun
in the fall linking racquets and strings in the categories of “Premier,” “Warrior” and “Tour,”
with strings further defined as featuring extra “touch,” “power,” or “control.
TOURNA
uniquesports.us • 800-554-3707
Promoting its line to the increasingly educated string consumer through social media, seedings and on-site promotions, Tourna launches three new strings in 2014. Big Hitter Black Zone,
available in 16 and 17 gauge, is a durable, smooth, big-playing co-poly, that can also make for a
nice pairing with softer strings. Quasi Gut Armor is a comfortable-playing multifilament, available in 16 and 17 gauge, whose blue spiral outside echoes the fiber wrappings within the string
itself. The all-black Synthetic Gut Armor multifilament is available in 16 and 17 gauge and
designed for exceptional touch.
Y-TEX
ytexstrings.com • 786-280-2138
As part of its growth strategy, Y-Tex ended 2013 reaching out to juniors with an Orange Bowl
Sponsorship. It begins the new year launching three new products. Touch is a 16 gauge,
responsive nylon multifilament in natural. Sintex is a mint, 16 gauge synthetic gut offering
touch and comfort. Finally, Microfiber-X is a 16 gauge, black, gut-like string featuring both
durability and control.
WILSON
wilson.com • 773-714-6400
New Year highlights from the Chicago sporting goods empire are two strings that are an integral part of the company’s push to dominate in any conversation about topspin. The co-poly
RipSpin—available in both black and white, and 16 and 17 gauge—is coated to promote an ultralow friction surface promoting easy movement and snapback. The latest from the Luxilon series is the gold 16L gauge 4G Rough, which combines the line’s signature feel with an increased
ability to maintain tension. •
February 2014
TennisIndustry 31
Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards
Double Feature
Tennis Industry and the ASBA bring you the best
in tennis court construction and design.
I
n 2013, there were 21 tennis project winners in the
Tennis Industry/American Sports Builders Association Facility-of-the-Year Awards program. Fourteen
of those winning projects were multi-court outdoor
facilities, about evenly split between private and
public facilities. The other seven were excellent private residential courts.
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 2013, the panel of judges deemed 21
courts or facilities to be worthy of special recognition, but
two of those winners were chosen for “Outstanding” honors:
theridge Tennis Complex–Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium
•E
Courts at Hope College in Holland, Mich.
• Fairbanks Residence private court in Marshfield, Mass.
Award plaques to the two Outstanding winners and recognition for the Distinguished winners were presented at the
ASBA Technical Meeting held in December in San Antonio,
Texas. For more information, visit sportsbuilders.org.
Nominated by: GMB Architecture +
Engineering
Architect/Engineer: GMB Architecture + Engineering
Specialty Contractor: Global Sports &
Tennis Design Group
Suppliers: Edwards/Roldri, Zurn
Industries
Number of Courts: 12
Completed: June 2012
Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award
Etheridge Tennis Complex–Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts at Hope College
Holland, Mich.
The new Etheridge Tennis Complex at Hope College is a premier facility designed not only to maximize the ability to hold
collegiate matches, but also to accommodate USTA tournaments and the tennis-playing community overall. The complex
is on a narrow, tight site, between an existing stadium and wetlands that required extreme care to protect. The 12 courts
are arranged six on a side, with an elevated central spine for spectators that doubles as a shelter for players and for storage.
A trench drain system runs between pairs of courts, and rainwater collects into both an underground chamber system on
the north end and a detention pond on the south side. The facility also includes restroom/locker rooms, player seating and
spectator viewing areas.
32 TennisIndustry
February 2014
Nominated by: Boston Tennis Court
Construction Co. Inc.
Specialty Contractor: Boston Tennis
Court Construction Co. Inc.
Suppliers: J.A. Cissel, LSI Lighting
Surface: Nova Sports USA
Completed: June 2012
Residential Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award
Fairbanks Residence
Marshfield, Mass.
The new tennis court at the Fairbanks residence also included drainage, retaining walls, lights and fencing. But first, the
contractor had to figure out how to work in the tight site, which is surrounded by a right of way, property line, driveway and
garage—and also had an 8-foot elevation change along with unsuitable subsoil. The contractor removed the bad subsoil,
balanced the remaining native gravel, installed a retaining wall ranging from 1 foot to 8 feet above the perimeter grade, and
installed and compacted more than 1,500 cubic yards of acceptable gravel base. The court is near the bottom of a long slope,
so a French drain keeps water out. The ground surrounding the court was shaped with swales.
Distinguished Tennis Facility Honors
In addition to the Etheridge Tennis Complex–Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts at Hope College in Michigan and the Fairbanks residential court in Massachusetts, these 19 locations were chosen by the 2013 panel of judges for the ASBA as excellent
examples of court construction, receiving Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards. You’ll read more about them in upcoming
issues of TI. (The nominating company is in parentheses.)
• Belmont Recreational Center, Henrico County, Va. (Tennis
Courts Inc.)
• Boca Raton Residence, Boca Raton, Fla. (Fast-Dry Courts)
• Cedarburg School District JV Complex, Cedarburg, Wis.
(Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sport Surfaces LLC)
• Court Terese at Villa Terese, Bradenton, Fla. (Welch Tennis
Courts Inc.)
• DeBot Tennis Facility at University of Wisconsin–Stevens
Point, Stevens Point, Wis. (Rettler Corp.)
• European Tennis Academy Parkland Golf & Country Club,
Parkland, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)
• Executive Health & Sports Center, Manchester, N.H. (Boston Tennis Court Construction Co. Inc.)
• Harrison Residence, Hobart, Wis. (Munson Inc.)
• Holland Public Schools Tennis Complex, Holland, Mich.
(GMB Architecture + Engineering)
• Keith Residence, Cookeville, Tenn. (Baseline Sports Construction LLC)
• Lake Jeanette Swim & Tennis Club, Greensboro, N.C.
(Court One)
• Memphis Country Club, Memphis, Tenn. (Welch Tennis
Courts Inc.)
• Montgomery Tennis Plex, Boyds, Md. (Bishop’s Tennis
Inc.)
• Oasis Tennis Center, Ave Maria, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts
Inc.)
• Olympic Club Tennis Courts, San Francisco, Calif. (Vintage
Contractors Inc.)
• Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort, Naples, Fla. (Fast-Dry
Courts)
• Southwest Ranches Residence, Southwest Ranches, Fla.
(Fast-Dry Courts)
• Tenth Street Park, Altoona, Wis. (Fred Kolkmann Tennis &
Sport Surfaces LLC)
• Welch Residence, Scottsdale, Ariz. (General Acrylics Inc.)
For details on the 2014 Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards, contact the ASBA at 866-501-ASBA or [email protected], or
visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
February 2014
TennisIndustry 33
Tips and Techniques
Readers' Know-How in Action
Specialty Tools
I find it handy to include in my tool
kit a couple of items that allow me
to better manipulate string in tight
places on the racquet while stringing.
Drill a blind hole with a 2-inchdiameter hole saw in the side of your
workbench. Place the butt of the
racquet in the hole and the other end
of the racquet against your body. Now
you can hold the racquet while you
turn and file the bevels.
5 sets of Dunlop Explosive 16 to:
Ron Condio, Ashville, NY
Preparing Grommets
for Installation
I found that rug hooks in relatively
small sizes (I have 2.75 and 3.75 mm)
are much more useful in extracting
that piece of string that just doesn't
want to cooperate and can't be
handled by my ham-sized fingernails.
The hooks are well polished and very
smooth, and do not damage the string
or racquet.
I also keep a small knitting needle,
also polished aluminum, for poking
things. It is not as sharp as the awl in
the kits, but much smoother and less
likely to pierce my foot if dropped.
Each of these items can be purchased at a local fabric or hobby store
for a very low price.
5 sets of Wilson Super Spin 16 to:
Dan Hannah, Gardnerville, NV
Filing Pallets
Did you ever try to file down the grip
or handle of a racquet but had no way
of holding the racquet while you were
working? If you clamp it in a vise you
could damage the pallet. Here is a
simple solution.
34 TennisIndustry
February 2014
In addition to heating grommets with
a hair dryer or placing them in warm
water, I have found placing the grommets in warm water with a rubber
band around the two ends with the
approximate curvature of the frame
makes for an easier install.
In the past I tried just heating them
in water without the rubber band, but
still struggled with some racquets.
With the extra curvature, the process
went very smoothly. I let the replacement grommets soak for the period of
time it takes me to remove the old set.
5 sets of Babolat Revenge 16 to:
Leigh C. Cherveny, Sheboygan Falls, WI
racket and then use zip ties or string to
tie the wound string set in the middle
of the racquet face on both sides of the
racquet. You can then move the string
set toward the racquet handle or head
and tie off opposite the previous ties if
needed.
The best racquet for this is an old
wooden racquet or racquet with a small
head size. This will minimize the size of
your finished string set. Any racquet will
work, however.
5 sets of Head Sonic Pro Edge 16 to:
John Hempel, Tucson, AZ
Checking Tension Drop
All strings lose tension with time and
playing hours. Special stringing techniques can decrease the rate of tension
loss, but tension loss is a fact of life.
The affluent string shops have instruments to measure string-bed stiffness,
which is associated with tension, but
these instruments can cost several
thousand dollars. I have a technique
that allows anyone to determine tension
loss at home.
Have a racquet strung, take a medium-length screwdriver with a round
handle and tap the handle against the
Rewinding String
Rewinding string into full or half sets,
especially stiff polyester strings, after
they have been removed from a reel
can be difficult and exasperating. This
is a particularly good tip for those who
trade string sets cut from reels.
Simply wrap the string around the
widest part of the face of a tennis
strings, then record the sound of the
vibrations. Now, on a piano or keyboard,
play the sound back for comparison.
When the sound drops by four whole
notes, it is time for another string job.
5 sets of Luxilon Savage White 127 to:
Dr. Carl Love, Albany, OR
—Greg Raven •
Tips and Techniques submitted since
1992 by USRSA members and appearing
in this column have all been gathered
into a searchable database on www.
racquettech.com, the official member
only website of the USRSA. Submit tips
to: Greg Raven, USRSA, PO Box 3392,
Duluth, GA 30096 or email greg @racquettech.com.
Your Serve
TennisIndustry
Influence Peddlers
This industry needs to embrace an organized, national
group of high school tennis coaches.
By Denny Schackter
I
n my long career in this industry,
I had the privilege of coaching
high school tennis when I was at
the University of Wisconsin. Later, I
became the college coach at Wisconsin
and in the mid-1970s was part of a team
of coaches that helped organize the
Wisconsin High School Tennis Coaches
Association, which is still going strong.
Then, as the area rep for Wilson, I
tried to embrace high school coaches by
supporting their activities. I felt then,
and still feel, high school tennis coaches
are vitally important when it comes
to starting students on a solid tennis
pathway.
Currently, as a volunteer member of
the USTA’s national Tennis on Campus
Committee, I see firsthand how our
commitment to promoting tennis on
college campuses is helping to bring
more young professionals into this industry. While TOC students are a great
breeding ground for industry leaders,
we have an even larger base out there
that can help move this industry forward—high school tennis players—and
the key to this group is the large number
of high school tennis coaches in the U.S.
As an industry, we need to embrace
high school coaches better. The USTA
realizes the influence high school and
middle school coaches have on creating
more players, which is why the association has long been pushing school
coaches to run no-cut teams.
According to the National Federation
of State High School Associations, in the
2011-2012 school year, there were 11,253
high schools providing tennis as an interscholastic sport, with about 340,600
students participating. I would guess
there were probably 11,000 men and
women coaching these teams. These
coaches can be a great influence in the
52 TennisIndustry
February 2014
lives of these young players. But not
only that, these coaches can influence
this industry in a big way, too, since their
players need court time, balls, racquets,
strings, shoes, apparel and accessories.
High school tennis coaches are organized in some states, but not all, with
annual meetings and clinics for coaches
that promote, monitor and improve
the high school tennis experience for
student-athletes. What we need in this
industry is a viable national organization of high school tennis coaches that
can be embraced by the Tennis Industry Association—and therefore by this
industry as a whole.
Why should high school tennis coaches organize into their own nationwide
trade group? Collectively, their influence would be vast—it would permeate
virtually every aspect of this business
and influence future generations of
players. For instance:
• Many high school coaches are lifelong
mentors to their students and can
steer them to give back to the game.
They can, and should, be a huge factor
in helping bring young people into the
tennis industry and building for this
sport’s future.
• High school coaches are tennis advocates with a common goal, and they
span the whole nation.
• Their influence covers tennis players
in season, in the classroom and out of
season. Often, they can influence high
school athletes in other sports to play
tennis.
• High school tennis coaches often are
the pulse of tennis in a community.
Many are part- or full-time tennis
teachers at local facilities. Many are
USTA volunteers or league officials.
Many simply are the driving force for
tennis in a community.
• Their experience and leadership with
all aspects of tennis, including building and maintaining courts and facilities, influences and drives the tennis
infrastructure.
• They can influence their players’
equipment purchases, including how
often players need to “tune up” or
restring their racquets.
Yes, both the PTR and USPTA have
certification programs for high school
coaches, as does the USTA. But coaches
themselves need to take the bull by the
horns and realize the positive influence
they can have collectively. And the TIA
needs to get involved—realizing how
important this group is to the future of
the sport.
We’re all concerned about the aging
of tennis teachers in this country—but
think about the fresh, young teaching
talent we could have if we had a mechanism, through a high school coaches association, to influence passionate high
school players to join the ranks of our
professional tennis teaching groups.
If tennis is going to grow—and grow
with a solid “tennis teacher” foundation—all facets of the “influencers”
should be involved in the overall trade
group that governs the business of tennis. •
Denny Schackter resides
in Palatine, IL, where he
is the owner of Tennis
Priorities, a firm whose
focus is recruiting young
people into tennis
teaching. Check out his website www.
tennispriorities.com or email him at
[email protected].
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to [email protected].