Construction Excellence - Professional Tennis Registry

Transcription

Player Development
Retail Success
Health & Fitness
USTA taps MARTIN Sometimes BACK Give them
REASONS
BLACKMAN for
TO BASICS
to play tennis
Player Development is best for sales
JUNE 2015 / VOLUME 43/ NUMBER 6 / $5.00
Construction
Excellence
Award-winning private courts
Racquet Technology
Stay up to date on the
latest in frames
Group Sales
Outfitting teams
can boost your biz
TennisIndustry
www.tennisindustrymag.com
JUNE 2015
DEPARTMENTS
4
Our Serve
7
Industry News
13 Letters
FEATURES
14 TIA News
24 B
asic Training
16 Racquet Tech
18 Retailing Tip
20 Your Players: Sun Protection
p.26
22 Facility Management
26 Advancing the Cause
36 Ask the Experts
38 String Playtest: Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 17
Stay up to date on the latest racquet
technologies, frame materials and
construction techniques.
Your Serve, by Hunter Lipscomb
40
INDUSTRY NEWS
7
Martin Blackman tapped to
head USTA Player Development
7
USTA breaks ground at Lake Nona site
7
North Carolina sportswriter wins Tennis Media Award
7
PTR adds senior, junior
educational programs
8
USTA presents awards at
Annual Meeting
8
Sport Court named USPTA
official 36’, 60’ court
p.28
30 Group Sales
p.30
Legendary coaches honored
at Easter Bowl
‘Ad-In Bin’ collects used balls
10
for recycling
Going after the team business—whether
for clubs, leagues or schools—can be
a nice boost for your store.
34 Private Enterprise
10 P
eoplewatch
10 Adidas introduces Y-3 Roland
Garros Collection
28 Adding Years to Your Life
Long known as the sport for a lifetime,
tennis is the sport of a longer, healthier,
more complete lifetime.
World TeamTennis 40th season
8
to start in July
8
Driving sales in your store often involves
a simple formula.
p.34
These residential winners are great examples
of tennis-court construction.
hort Sets
12 S
2 TennisIndustry
June 2015
Our Serve
The High School Push
O
ne of the areas USTA
President Katrina Adams has
identified as a huge opportunity for tennis is with high school
players. Right now, there are an
estimated 350,000 or more students
who play on h.s. teams, but the vast
majority of them don’t play beyond
their high school seasons.
Fifteen years ago, the USTA did an
amazing job when it realized tennis
was letting go of hundreds of thousands of players who, after graduating from high school, had few or no
opportunities to play tennis in college. That’s when the USTA created
Tennis on Campus, one of the most
successful programs in this sport.
TOC continues to grow and is now at
nearly 680 colleges and universities,
involving nearly 40,000 students.
Now, Adams has recognized the
need to do more to keep h.s. tennis
players engaged right now, during
their high school off-seasons. They
already play tennis; we should be
able to find more ways to keep them
playing year-round. It helps everyone: the players, the school teams,
local tennis retailers and facilities,
tennis manufacturers.
To tackle this, the USTA has cre-
ated a High School Task Force and,
here’s where it can get really cool.
One of the key people on this task
force is Glenn Arrington, the USTA’s
director of TSRs/High School/Tennis On Campus. Glenn will never
admit this (and I’m sure he’s cringing right now reading this), but it
was in large part his guidance starting in 2000 and continuing today
that truly drove TOC to be the fun,
engaging, tennis powerhouse it is.
Glenn loves hearing about ideas to
grow tennis—no matter where these
ideas come from—and he lets people
do what they do best when it comes
to growing this game.
Of course, the H.S. Task Force is
loaded with great talent, all with
solid credentials when it comes to
growing this sport, including its
chair, Mark Faber, a tennis director, USPTA elite pro, and National
Community Service Award winner,
among many other honors.
Over the next few years, expect
to hear much more from the High
School Task Force. And I’m sure
they’d welcome your thoughts, too,
about how to keep high-school
players engaged and on the courts
year-round.
F R E D M U L L A N E / C A M E R AW O R K U S A
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
[email protected]
As we were finishing up this issue, we received some very
sad news. Mary Lloyd Hodges Barbera, the director of
marketing, membership & special events for USTA North
Carolina, passed away unexpectedly April 22, at age 49.
Mary Lloyd was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever
met, and a true joy to work with in every way—always with
a ready smile, witty quip, encouraging words, and always
advocating and pushing for tennis. When I think of an ideal tennis person—and just a wonderful person overall—Mary Lloyd comes to mind. Our
hearts go out to her family, friends and colleagues at USTA North Carolina.
This sport, and all of us in it, will miss her.
4 TennisIndustry
June 2015
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
[email protected]
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Special Projects Manager
Bob Patterson
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Kent Oswald
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Tim Strawn
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
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John Hanna
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[email protected]
Apparel Advertising
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[email protected]
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IndustryNews
Information to help you run your business
Martin Blackman to Head
USTA Player Development
T
he speculation on who would replace Patrick McEnroe at the helm of USTA Player
Development ended in early April when the USTA tapped coach and former pro
tour player Martin Blackman.
As general manager, Blackman will oversee the Player Development staff and “partner with the U.S. tennis community to
identify and develop the next generation of world-class American tennis players,” the USTA said in a statement. He’ll report to
USTA Executive Director and COO Gordon Smith.
Blackman will oversee both the USTA’s Player Development
staff and Training Centers—including its Regional Training Center network and the Player Development facilities at the soon-tobe created USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Fla.
As a junior player, Blackman trained with Nick Bollettieri
alongside future greats Andre Agassi and Jim Courier. He won the
USTA Boys’ 16s National Championship in 1986 and reached the
Boys’ 18s final two years later, then went on to become a member
of two NCAA Championship teams at Stanford. He played on the ATP Tour from 1989 to
1995, reaching a career-high of No. 158.
Blackman was head men’s tennis coach at American University in 1998, where he was
named conference coach of the year three times. In 2004, he became director of the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md.
Blackman was hired by the USTA in 2009 as senior director of talent identification and
development. He left the USTA in late 2011 to found the Blackman Tennis Academy in
Boca Raton, Fla.
Blackman, who has an economics degree from George Washington University, also
served two terms on the USTA Board of Directors, from 2003 to 2006.•
USTA Breaks Ground in Florida
T
he USTA broke ground April 8 for what
is now being called the USTA National
Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.
The facility will have more than 100 courts
and is expected to be completed in late 2016.
It will house the USTA’s Community Tennis
and Player Development divisions.
When completed, the facility will feature
red and green clay courts, hard courts, and
youth tennis courts. The site, which will be
open to the public, also will house a collegiate tennis center capable of hosting a number
of college events and will serve as the home for the University of Central Florida’s men’s
and women’s varsity teams.
The groundbreaking was attended by senior USTA officials, officials from Tavistock
Group and Lake Nona, along with City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, as well as a number of state and regional partners. The USTA
facility will serve as a cornerstone for Lake Nona’s Sports Innovation & Performance
District, an athletic district with a focus on research, design, innovation and technology.•
N.C. Sportswriter Wins
2015 Tennis Media Award
Scott Fowler, a sports columnist
for The Charlotte
(N.C.) Observer, is
the winner of the
2015 Tennis Media
Award, presented by
the TIA in conjunction with the National Sportscasters and
Sportswriters Association (NSSA).
Fowler will be recognized at the
NSSA’s 56th annual Awards Weekend in Salisbury, N.C., June 6-8.
Fowler’s story, which was
published in August, is about his
attempts to return the serve of
tour pro John Isner. A recreational
player, Fowler managed to get his
racquet on two of the eight serves
Isner hit. For his winning entry, he
will receive a cash award and travel
expenses to the NSSA Awards
Weekend.
Two other journalists will receive runner-up awards. Chuck
McGill of the Charleston (W.Va.)
Daily Mail, who won the inaugural
Tennis Media Award last year, is a
runner-up in 2015 with his story on
a recreational player who delayed
a critical transplant of his stomach
and intestines so he could play
tennis, something doctors told
him he won’t be able to do after
the surgery. Another runner-up is
Jack Thompson, whose story about
“overly involved tennis parents”
appeared in the PTR’s TennisPro
magazine.
PTR Expands Education
With Senior, Junior
Programs
The PTR is expanding its educational
offerings with a
new Senior Development Certification pathway
and Level 3 Junior
Development Program. By the end
of 2015, PTR will have 1,000 hours of
June 2015
TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
education available to its members.
The Senior Development Certification provides on-court training workshops to help
coaches prepare for teaching senior players.
The Level 3 Junior Development Program
is for coaches who wish to progress their
coaching skills and knowledge beyond basic
certification. It’s the first program of its kind
in the U.S. that provides advanced coaching
education from the red to yellow court.
For more information, visit ptrtennis.org.
Sport Court Named USPTA
Official 36’ and 60’ Courts
Connor Sport Court International’s
Sport Court is now the official 36-foot and
60-foot court of the USPTA. In addition,
CSCI will also contribute a percentage of
sales to participating members’ USPTA
Retirement Gold+ accounts on Sport
Court purchases for their clubs and
facilities.
Connor Sport Court President and CEO.
“The USPTA is helping lead the charge
along with Sport Court to ‘Reimagine
Tennis,’ where their members can teach
longer and players can play tennis longer
on Sport Court’s engineered safe surfaces.” Visit sportcourt.com.
Sport Court will provide the surface for
the on-court demonstrations at the 2015
USPTA World Conference in New Orleans
in September. Also, CSCI will donate two
courts during the USPTA’s annual convention: One will be donated to the USPTA’s
Division of the Year award winner, and
another will be donated to be sold at
the annual silent auction for the USPTA
Foundation.
“Sport Court is excited to partner with
the world’s largest association of tennisteaching professionals,” said Ron Cerny,
USTA Presents Annual Awards
T
he USTA honored its annual award winners at the Annual Meeting and
Conference April 10-13 at the Boca Raton
Resort & Club in Florida. The honorees
were recognized for their dedication to growing
the game.
• Brad Parks Award: Harlon Matthews of
McDonough, Ga.—The award honors an individual or organization that has been instrumental in the development of wheelchair tennis around the world through playing,
coaching, sponsoring or promoting the game. The award was named after Brad
Parks, a pioneer of wheelchair tennis.
• USTA NJTL Founders’ Service Award: MaliVai Washington of Ponte Vedra, Fla.—Created by USTA Diversity in 2011, the award recognizes an individual
NJTL chapter founder who is committed to positive youth development through
tennis and education and provides free or low-cost tennis, education and lifeskills programming to thousands of underserved children each year.
• USTA Member Organization of the Year: DC Department of Parks and
Recreation, Washington D.C.—Instituted in 1981, this award recognizes the
outstanding services of a USTA member organization through its commitment to
the tennis community, the organization’s members and the game of tennis.
• Ralph W. Westcott USTA Family of the Year Award: the Ponwith Family of
Scottsdale, Ariz.—Created in 1965, the award emphasizes the theme that “Tennis is a Family Game” and is given annually to the family that has done the most
to promote amateur tennis, primarily on a volunteer basis.
• Seniors’ Service Award: Connie Ebert of Abington, Pa.—Established in 1958,
the award goes to the person most deserving of the respect and honor of all senior
players. It is awarded on the basis of the recipient’s willingness, cooperation
and participation, either in play or organizational work, for the betterment and
furtherance of senior competition. •
8 TennisIndustry
June 2015
World TeamTennis Pro
League To Start July 12
Mylan World TeamTennis announced
the schedule for the 2015 season, which
is highlighted by the return of world No. 1
Serena Williams to WTT action for the first
time since 2011. This summer, Mylan WTT
becomes only the fifth major professional
team sports league in the U.S. to reach the
40th season milestone when the season
kicks off on July 12.
The 52-match schedule runs July 12-29,
with conference championships scheduled
for July 30 and the Mylan WTT Finals on Aug.
2 on the home court of the Eastern Conference Champion.
Williams will take the court on July 21 in
Washington D.C. for the defending Mylan
WTT champion Washington Kastles, which
are looking to become the first team in
league history to win five consecutive titles.
The Kastles’ lineup also includes returning
marquee players Martina Hingis and Venus
Williams and American standout Sam
Querrey.
After finishing at the bottom of the
standings in 2014, the Boston Lobsters this
year added world No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard.
The top-ranked doubles team in the world,
Bob and Mike Bryan, will play for the new
Sacramento-based California Dream, and
John Isner was picked up by the Springfield
Lasers. Visit WTT.com for the full schedule
and ticket info.
Legendary Coaches Honored
At Team USA Coaching Event
Legendary tennis coaches Jimmy Evert,
Dennis Van der Meer and John Wilkerson
were honored as Team USA Coaching
Legends at the second annual Team USA
Coaching Awards reception held April 6
at the ASICS Easter Bowl junior tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in
California.
In addition, Lynn Nabors-McNally,
coach and mother of 2014 USTA National
IndustryNews
Champions John and Caty McNally, was
recognized as the 2014 Team USA Developmental Coach of the Year, and the
Tucker Tennis Academy in Tulsa, Okla.,
was named the 2014 Team USA Developmental Program of the Year, part of
USTA Player Development’s Team USA
initiative to work collaboratively with
developmental coaches and programs
across America.
“Jimmy, Dennis and John have been
synonymous with coaching excellence
for decades, and we’re honored to be
able to recognize them as Team USA
Coaching Legends,” said USTA Player
Development General Manager Patrick
McEnroe. “On top of that, Lynn and
the team at the Tucker Tennis Academy
have done outstanding work this past
year and deserve to be acknowledged
for setting such a high standard for
coaching success.”
Oncourt Offcourt Distributes
Start Rite Grip Trainer
The Start Rite Grip Trainer will now be
distributed by Oncourt Offcourt. Formerly
distributed by another company as the
Yippee Grip Trainer, the training aid was
invented by tennis industry veteran Rod
Schroeder.
“This is the first racquet sport grip aid
that is easy to use, durable, and works
quickly,” Schroeder says. “One of the biggest challenges for players and coaches
is to start with the Continental grip on
the serve. All tennis players know that
holding the right grip allows for the fastest
improvement. The Start Rite Grip Trainer
June 2015
TennisIndustry 9
IndustryNews
People
Watch
Young American Frances Tiafoe has turned pro and signed
with the Roc Nation Sports
agency.
Australian tennis great
Thelma Coyne Long passed
away April 14. She was 96.
Long captured her first major
title in 1936 and her last, an im-
pressive 22 years later, in 1958.
Over that span, she won a total
of 19 Grand Slam tournament
titles, including championships
in singles, doubles, and mixed
doubles. She was inducted into
the International Tennis Hall of
Fame in 2013.
Nicole Jeter West, the USTA
meets this challenge.”
The Start Rite Grip Trainer is available
for under $3 each and sells in packs of one
dozen. Visit OncourtOffcourt.com or call
888-366-4711.
USOS Tix On Sale June 8
Tickets for the
2015 Emirates Airline US Open Series
go on sale across
the nation, beginning June 8. Now in
its 12th season, the
Series serves as a
true regular season
Managing Director of Ticketing and Digital Strategy, has
been named to Sports Business Journal’s 2015 “Forty
Under 40” list.
Championships in March at
the Racquet Club of Memphis. Ashley Murdock of
Memphis won the women’s
open singles division title.
For the fifth time in six
years, Tony Larson won the
men’s open singles division
at the $5,000 USPTA Indoor
Jason Joseph is the new
tennis director at the
Rhinebeck (N.Y.) Tennis
Club.
of hard court tennis, linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open.
The eight USOS tournaments run from
July 27 to Aug. 29, stopping in Atlanta;
Stanford, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Toronto; Montreal; Cincinnati; New Haven,
Conn.; and Winston-Salem, NC.
To purchase tickets, and to find out
more information on all the tournaments,
visit emiratesusopenseries.com
VA Partners With
USTA Foundation
The USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the USTA, is partnering
with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Adidas Introduces Y-3
Roland Garros Collection
A
didas has introduced its Roland Garros Collection by Y-3, which will be worn at the French
Open by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ana Ivanovic.
The collection will also be worn by the tournament’s ball
boys and girls.
The range includes functional accessories such as
socks and wristbands in classic Adidas designs, while
footwear utilizes the
brand’s ultra-light
Adizero concept,
designed to maximize clay court use.
The collection’s
colorways are firmly
rooted in the classic
Y-3 look, offering
both Yohji Yamamoto’s signature stark black-and-white
as well as vivid, electric, ultra-bright Hawaiian floral
prints that reference Y-3’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection. Visit adidas.com.•
10 TennisIndustry
June 2015
to make tennis more readily available to VA
patients. With more than 8 million veterans
enrolled, VA operates the largest integrated
health care delivery system in the U.S.
The three-year partnership will include
organizing tennis clinics for VA medical facilities, linking VA medical facilities with community resources, and providing consulting
and design services for VA facilities interested in upgrading or building tennis courts.
The USTA Foundation will support VA in the
form of coaching, instruction, equipment,
use of courts and other technical assistance
needed to sustain a tennis clinic.
In addition, the USTA Foundation recently
developed the Warrior Tennis Curriculum, an
electronic manual that provides rehabilitation therapists, tennis professionals and volunteers guidance through text, pictures and
videos on how to use tennis as a therapeutic
option to help veterans stay fit and active.
For more information on facilitating or
starting a program, getting connected to a
VA facility in your community, or to obtain
a copy of the Warrior Tennis Curriculum,
contact [email protected].
‘Ad-In Bin’ Collects Used
Tennis Balls for Recycling
Retour Tennis introduces the Ad-In Bin,
the first tennis ball collection bin designed to attach directly to court fencing
to make recycling balls at public courts
and clubs compelling and easy. Designed
with input from parks and rec staff for
easy maintenance and collection, the AdIn Bin begins tennis ball recycling at the
source: When players walk off the court
with balls they will not play with again.
Discarded tennis balls enter American
landfills at the rate of up to 125 million a
year, but there are now companies that
grind up balls to be recycled into alterna-
IndustryNews
Correction to Stringer’s Digest Due to incomplete information supplied to the USRSA for the 2015 edition of the Stringer’s
Digest, we’re printing here the correct specifications for the Tecnifibre T Fight Dynacore frames. Please copy or cut out this information and insert it into page 99 of the Stringer’s Digest.
tive surfaces, says Bill Dermody of Retour
Tennis. The Ad-In Bin, which hangs at eye
level, installs in 10 minutes and adjusts
to fit any fencing. It
can hold 200 balls
and weighs 40
pounds when full.
The bottom swings
open for easy ball
collection, and the
unit unlocks and
empties in seconds. It is made of
a durable, weatherresistant composite
and is virtually
maintenance-free.
For more information, visit retourtennis.com or call
608-218-3688.
USRSA Names New MRTs, CSs
Master Racquet Technicians
Alex Belote - Springfield, MO
Nathaniel Helmkamp - Big Rapids, MI
Nate Pagel - Berrien Springs, MI
John Radcliffe - Chandler, AZ
Daniel Rhoades - Springfield, MO
RJ Rumsey - Roswell, GA
David Terzaghi - Big Rapids, MI
Kyle Wartick - Springfield, MO
Certified Stringers
Steven Rifkin - New York, NY
Support For Military Families
ThanksUSA, in partnership with USPTA,
is appealing to tennis professionals and
enthusiasts to donate or to host a fundraising event to benefit ThanksUSA and
its mission of providing need-based
post-secondary scholarships for college,
technical and vocational school to the
children and spouses of military men and
women.
Visit uspta.com or ThanksUSA.org.
June 2015
TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews
Short
Sets
Following its 3-2 Fed
Cup World Group Playoff
loss to Italy in April, the
U.S. Fed Cup team will
be relegated to World
Group II play for 2016.
In the decisive doubles
match, Serena Williams,
partnering for the first
time with Alison Riske,
lost to Sara Erranni
and Flavia Pennetta. It
was Williams’ first loss
in Fed Cup singles or
doubles; she now has a
17-1 record overall. The
2015 Fed Cup final will
be contested Nov. 14-15
between Russia and defending champion Czech
Republic.
The PTR’s Wheelchair
Tennis Championships
has been designated an
International Tennis Federation Grade A Junior
Tournament. The event is
one of only seven events
in the world awarded
this designation for
2015. Grade A events
offer more points than
other Junior tournaments. The PTR Wheelchair Championships,
which draws players
of all level from around
the globe, has been
on Hilton Head Island,
S.C., for more than 20
years and has seen
the world’s best players
compete. This year, the
event will be Oct. 1-4.
Cliff Drysdale Tennis
has launched The Cliff
Drysdale Foundation,
a donor-advised fund
with a mission to provide support through
the game of tennis to
organizations and programs that enhance the
lives and well-being of
others.The Foundation
will raise funds through
the tennis endeavors
of Cliff Drysdale Tennis
and its partners.
Italian coffee company Lavazza has signed
a multi-year agreement
to sponsor the French
Open. Lavazza sponsors Wimbledon and
recently signed
to sponsor the US Open.
PlayYourCourt, which
introduces tennis lessons and programming
at “dead” or underutilized facilities, has
entered into a partnership with the USTA
Mid-Atlantic Section to
“grow the accessibility
of tennis” throughout
Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, and
Washington D.C. The
company says that with
its full-service software
and nationwide staff of
tennis professionals,
it makes tennis more
accessible to players in
their local community.
Entrepreneur Magazine, in its March 2015
issue, has recognized
TGA Premier Youth
among its Top New Franchises. The magazine
makes its selections from
companies that have
been franchising for the
last five years. In related
news, TGA has established a second chapter
in the Raleigh/Durham,
N.C. area.
The USTA has
launched a nationwide
online audition as part of
its ninth annual US Open
casting call. A select
number of submissions will be chosen to
participate in a call-back
that will be held at the
Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona
Park on June 30, with
those selected earning
the chance to perform
“America the Beautiful” live in Arthur Ashe
Stadium at the 2015 US
Open. Children 14 and
under are eligible.
The ITF announced
that the UNIQLO
Wheelchair Doubles
Masters will continue
to be held in Mission Viejo, Calif.,
through 2016. The
2015 event, which
is the ITF’s flagship
wheelchair tennis
doubles tournament, will be at the
Marguerite Tennis
Pavilion Nov. 3-7. The
season-ending event
currently features
the world’s top eight
men’s pairs, top six
women’s pairs and
top four quad pairs.
Gamma Sports
continued its sponsorship of Tennis
Recruiting Network
by becoming the title
sponsor of "Countdown to
Signing Day" and
"Signing Week" featured content areas
of TRN’s website.
U.S. Pros Attend Cardio Tennis Trainer Summit
T
hirty select tennis and fitness professionals from
across the U.S. took part in the Cardio Tennis Trainer
Summit in April, held at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. At the two-and-a-half-day event, attendees learned
the skills and knowledge required to be a TIA Cardio Tennis
Trainer.
“We trained the trainers,” said TIA Cardio Tennis Manager
Michele Krause. “These 30 tennis and fitness professionals
are qualified to deliver official Cardio Tennis education to
tennis and fitness professionals around the country, so that
those pros can bring quality Cardio Tennis programs to consumers and players.”
The CT Summit kicked off with a welcome from IMG Academy founder and tennis Hall-of-Famer Nick Bollettieri. Then
David Thompson of Polar USA talked to the group about the
use of heart-rate monitors for Cardio Tennis participants,
to make sure they’re receiving maximum benefit from their
on-court activity.
Over the course of the weekend, the CT Trainers were
coached and evaluated on feeding technique, delivery of Car-
12 TennisIndustry
june 2015
dio Tennis games, warm-up and cool-down activities, as well
as personal fitness. Other speakers included Cassiano Costa,
the head tennis fitness trainer at IMG; Jeff Smith from Rapid
Force; and Krause.
Also during the weekend, there was a Cardio Tennis “Triples” tournament, in which 36 professionals participated. In
addition, there were TRX Cardio Tennis workouts and IMG
protocol pro training sessions.
The third day of the Summit included a seven-hour Cardio
Tennis course delivered to 45 participants by multiple members of the CT Trainer Team.
"It was an incredible weekend of learning, bonding, teamwork and personal growth,” Krause said. “The members of
the TIA Cardio Tennis Team are the best in the business, and
their passion and energy over the weekend was off the charts.
As an educational team, we are now that much stronger and
evolved to continue providing some of the very best education
in the tennis industry.”
For more about Cardio Tennis, including training for tennis
providers, visit CardioTennis.com.•
IndustryNews
Letters
Improving Participation
In the May issue, I enjoyed reading
many terrific thoughts and suggestions concerning how we can
improve tennis participation levels.
For me, three concepts in particular are interconnected and crucial
toward increasing the popularity of
tennis.
First, in “Our Serve,” Peter Francesconi suggested we need to get
“out there” more. We must reach
people who are not currently or
have never played tennis. Most tennis communications are to current
players, which will never result in
acquiring unique players.
Second, in the Tennis Summit
summary (“Industry Addresses
Major Issues and Concerns”), Tom
Cove of the SFIA was quoted as saying, “Parents want a good experience for the whole family” when
it comes to recreation. He is spot
on. All people love their families
and want activities they can do
together. The message that people
should play tennis as a family could
resonate with millions of parents,
grandparents and siblings—if they
were to get the message….
Third, Ellen Miller’s “Your
Serve” piece discusses the importance of using low-compression
balls to help players rally, which is
essential for player development.
But the value of “rallying” goes
further than that. Rallying is what
makes every racquet sport fun.
Time spent playing versus picking up balls is a decisive factor in
determining whether new players
stick with tennis, and using lowcompression balls can make all the
difference.
If we were to do a better job of
reaching the non-tennis playing
public with the message that they
could enjoy tennis as a family, and
that using low-compression balls will
help them rally and have fun, we could
create an upsurge in the number of
people who get hooked on tennis.
Kevin Theos
Tennis Service Rep, Alabama
Appreciates String Info
I enjoyed the excellent article by Bob
Patterson (“The Evolution of Poly
Strings”) in the May issue. It did a
great job of clearly explaining string
types and benefits, as well as pitfalls
for each.
It can be a struggle to work with
customers in matching their game
to strings they will be happy playing
with. I avoid getting overly technical
and confusing, and the concise info
from this article discusses each type
in a manner that all can easily appreciate. The illustration was also an
excellent visual to demonstrate ball
and string interaction.
Keep up the great work!
Ken Fisher
Cleveland, OH
Getting Pros ‘Up to Date’
Ellen Miller’s “Your Serve” was right
on. A great tennis player feeding balls
to students does not make a good
teacher. I call it “pro-centered teaching,” vs. student-centered teaching.
I am a USPTA elite-level pro who
recently left the industry, disillusioned with club owners who require
only that their "pros" be great players.
Sure, that doesn't hurt, but there is so
much more that should be required.
When will the USPTA, PTR and USTA
send representatives to each club in
the country and sell them on the value
of having a certified teaching pro at
least lead their classes?
I've seen many head pros at clubs
who, while they may be great players,
have no teaching credentials, don't go
to conferences, don't get involved with
local USTA initiatives, and basically
teach the same way they were taught.
Sometimes decades ago. Schoolteachers don't enter the class unprepared
and without up-to-date information
and neither should tennis teachers.
Please, follow what Ellen wrote
about and keep this subject going.
Maybe some of the independent,
family-owned clubs will pay
attention.
Chris Sanford, USPTA
Toledo, Ohio
I enjoyed and totally agree with Ellen Miller’s “Your Serve” in the May
issue.
Nigel O’Rourke
Director of Tennis
Toscana Country Club
Indian Wells, Calif.
Wisdom of Lessons Past
I’m writing to say how much I liked
Mark Rearden’s column in the April
issue, “Respecting the Wisdom of a
Lesson Taught Years Ago.” Not only
was it well-written, but Rearden tells
a great story and makes an excellent
point.
I had a similar experience as a college student in the 1980s, working
as a summer counselor at the Allen
Fox Tennis Camp at Pepperdine. Like
Rearden’s friend, Mr. Charlie Fortune, Dr. Fox consistently revealed
hidden truths that still astonish
me with their profound simplicity—truths I still share with my own
students today.
I love a good memoir, and it frustrates me that most tennis magazines
don't publish much of it anymore.
Bravo.
Keith Hayes,
USPTA. Marin County, Calif.
We welcome your opinions and comments. Please email them to peter@
tennisindustrymag.com.
June 2015
TennisIndustry 13
2nd Annual T.O.M. Conference
‘Educational and Informative’
The second annual Tennis Owners & Managers
(T.O.M.) Conference played to an engaged and
connected audience in Indian Wells, Calif., in
March. The two-day conference, which started
immediately after the TIA Tennis Summit, featured
top tennis and business speakers and consultants,
along with a number of tennis facility owners and
managers who spoke on panels, in breakouts, and
in working sessions. T.O.M. Conference attendees
also spent an evening at the BNP Paribas Open pro
tournament.
“The feedback on this year’s T.O.M.
Conference has been very positive,” said TIA
Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “The tennis club
and facility owners and managers, and other tennis
providers who attended the event, have all been
commenting about how useful the presentations,
seminars and workshops have been, in addition to
the opportunity to network and share information
and best practices.”
The event included a Resource Center
where attendees could connect with companies
and organizations. “We also had legal experts,
technology consultants, compensation and staffing
experts, retail experts and more,” de Boer added.
“Our T.O.M. Conference Advisory Committee—
Doug Cash, Rod Heckelman, Greg Lappin and Mark
McMahon—put together a terrific
lineup that covered the bases for club
owners and managers.”
The TIA is making plans for
next year’s T.O.M. Conference
to be in Miami during the 2016
Miami Open.
Advisory panel (from left): Rod
Heckelman, Greg Lappin, Mark
McMahon, Doug Cash, with TIA
Executive Director Jolyn de Boer.
“The 2015 T.O.M. Conference and Summit were wonderful events that were informative and engaging, with an ‘A’
list of industry speakers and attendees. These events were examples of how all of us in the tennis industry must
work together and share information to promote our amazing sport and spread the benefits of playing tennis. Hats
off to the TIA!” —Jeff Gocke, COO, TennisCT
“Thank you for putting on such a wonderful conference. The sessions I attended were educational and
informative. During the breaks I was able to make a number of connections, develop business contacts and renew
friendships.” —Clark Corey, Director of Tennis, Carmel Valley Ranch
“I cannot thank the TIA enough for organizing the Tennis Owners & Managers Conference. I also attended the
one a year ago in Charleston, S.C. Both were terrific, with the opportunity to meet others in the industry who have
similar challenges, to meet executives with the various companies and to hear leaders in the field express their
opinions on everything tennis. It was time and money well spent. —Terry Ward, Manager, Frontenac Racquet
Club, St. Louis, Mo.
What They’re Saying
About The 2015
T.O.M. Conference
“I am so glad I went to the T.O.M. Conference.
It was very well organized, the topics were well
thought out and the seminars were well planned.
It was so informative because there were so many
great speakers who shared their experiences and
opinions. As a tennis facility manager, I am thankful
for TIA for putting this event together.” —Bram
Sada, Manager, Cerritos Tennis Center, California
“The conference did a great job of bringing several strong operators that provided expertise and perspectives
that were of great value to what we are trying to accomplish with GreatLIFE! Next year I will be bringing several
members of our team, because what I learned this year will make us better both operationally and financially.”
—Tom Walsh, GreatLIFE Malaska Golf & Fitness Clubs, South Dakota
“The TIA should be applauded. This no-nonsense T.O.M. Conference is a must for anyone who cares about the
business of tennis. Topics and speakers are highly relevant and encompass critical areas. Of course, networking
opportunities abound. The conference has successfully created an environment and informal settings where
you can meet and chat with industry giants. Simply stated, The T.O.M. is good for tennis! —Ajay Pant, General
Manager, College Park Tennis Club, Maryland
14 TennisIndustry
June 2015
Key Stats Presented At
The T.O.M. Conference
•A
verage number of participants
in intro/beginner programs is 41,
which is down from 57 in 2009.
• Average age of tennis teaching
pros: 51. Industry needs to get
more under-30s and women into
the teaching profession.
• R etention rate following beginner
programs is 61%, which is
“quite high.”
• T he average tennis teaching pro
works 44 hours a week. 65% of
pros work over 40 hours a week.
• T he average income per court is
$33,000, which is up 12%.
• C ourt fees have declined from
$25 to $21.
•O
n the positive side, the number
of members leaving clubs has
decreased.
•O
wners and managers should
explore incentives for pros that
grow activity, not just book private
lessons. At facilities, emphasize
growing the game, not just
coaching it.
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
Nick
Bollettieri
David LaSota, Richard
Zaino, Randy Futty
Dr. Gerry Faust
Lin Conrad
Ted Robinson
Dr. Jim Loehr
T.O.M. Conference Takeaways
Ted Robinson; Sportscaster,
Tennis Channel, NBC
E mbrace techn1ology—it will bring more
people into the sport.
L ook at different ways to introduce tennis to
kids.
E very facility should have the Tennis Channel
on TV.
Bahram Akradi, Founder & President,
Life Time Fitness
T ennis is the least productive square footage
of the club, but tennis members stick around,
are loyal, social and spend two to three times
as much as other types of customers at the
club. Tennis members are the most valuable
members.
D
edication to people and senior management is
crucial…take care of them so they take care of
the customers.
Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive,
USTA Community Tennis
It is harder to get kids off their digital devices
and into sports. Free play is non-existent; every
kid is over-scheduled.
T he tennis player base is aging. We have senior
players covered but still have work to do with
getting youngsters into the game.
M
illennial parents are looking for sports that
better fit into modern family lifestyles: social,
fun, local, shorter time.
A
re we listening to the marketplace?
John Embree, CEO, USPTA
E veryone, including the club owners/managers,
has an obligation to emphasize the importance
of continuing education for tennis teachers.
Dan Santorum, CEO, PTR
A
very small percentage of college tennis
players want to teach/coach tennis as a
profession. It’s imperative to reach the kids
earlier, in high school, about considering tennis
as a profession.
Paul Lubbers, PhD, USTA Senior Director of
Coaching Education & Performance
W
e’ve got to be better at selling tennis, not just
the clinics or leagues, but selling tennis as a
lifestyle, as a way to better your family.
T here is movement toward licensing [tennis
teachers] for youth providers, not just from an
education perspective but also from a safety/
background-check perspective, because the
marketplace demands it.
Peter Burwash, Founder & President, Peter
Burwash International
T he characteristics of good leaders are:
enthusiasm, great creativity, expand horizons,
empathy, appreciation.
In the resort business, many people in the last
seven years have moved from golf to tennis due
to the time factor and cost.
T he strongest leaders are lifetime learners.
Programming That Works
• It’s important to lower barriers to entry and
get customers playing as fast as possible.
—Jorge Andrew, Director of Tennis
Operations, Lexington County, S.C.
• Stop selling lessons and clinics and start
selling a lifestyle. Over 75% of kids drop
out of activities if they only play once a
week; we need to get them playing at least
twice a week. —Simon Gale, Director of
Tennis, Yonkers Tennis Center
• Let’s start marketing tennis with a focus
on fun, fitness and forever, rather than on
lessons and clinics. Facebook is a great
lead generator. —Jeff Gocke, COO,
Tennis CT
• The value of tennis to people’s lives is
greater than the game itself… it helps
encourage a healthy lifestyle. Let’s make
tennis less complicated. —Tom Walsh,
Chairman, Dakota King
Nick Bollettieri, Hall-of-Famer,
Coaching Legend
K eep your mission top of mind at all times.
Y ou can’t be afraid to fail…it’s critical
to success.
Matthew Stevens, President & CEO,
The Bay Club Company
B ring in youngsters through internships from
high schools and colleges, both on court and on
the business side.
Dr. Jim Loehr, Human Performance Institute
H
ealth and happiness enable high performance.
Health ignites performance.
T ake cues from John Wooden, one of the
greatest coaches: Seek opportunities to show
you care. The smallest gestures often make
the biggest difference. Happiness begins with
selfless deeds.
T he No. 1 predictor of engagement is the
perception that the coach cares about the
player as a person.
R epurpose your team’s mission away from
individual performance to focus on helpingthe
team.
Lin Conrad, CEO, California Clubs of
Distinction
B e aware of independent contractor vs.
employee status—independent contractor
status may not be legal in many instances.
S tay on top of the number of hours employees
and independent contractors work per week.
Too many may open you up to legal action.
M
ake sure appropriate working conditions and
breaks are provided.
Doug Cash, Owner, Cash Flow Tennis
T he No. 1 staff job description is to grow
the game.
T ennis is a “try and buy” product—get people to
try it, and hold their hand while they try it.
G
et rid of guest fees; it will increase guest
traffic 15 to 20 percent. Offer special pricing for
members to bring guests.
Dr. Gerry Faust, Founder & President,
Faust Management Group
M
anage separately and distinctly for short
and long term. Have two separate and distinct
plans, as well as two separate meetings every
month—one for operations and one for strategy.
M
ost of the problems we work to solve every
day are symptoms, not problems.
C ustomer needs are “the rock.”
M
ost organizations are too busy playing
“whack a mole”—knocking down day-to-day
administrative issues and problems, which
takes away from focusing on customer needs.
C hange your mission statement every two to
three years or it just becomes wallpaper that
everyone ignores. Make it relevant or business
will stagnate.
Greg Lappin, Industry Consultant
W
e’re in the lifestyle change business, not the
tennis business.
A
team that is aligned, skilled and informed will
produce the desired results.
June 2015
TennisIndustry 15
Racquet Tech
One Tool,
Many Uses
1. Common starting clamp starting position.
By Bob Patterson
W
hether you are a novice stringer or a seasoned veteran,
one tool that is second only to the stringing machine
itself is the starting clamp. Obviously, it is a great tool to
start the stringing process, but it has even more uses that can help
stringers do their job. Let’s look at a few of the most commonly
used.
2. Alternate starting clamp starting position.
• Starting—This one seems obvious, but I am always surprised at
workshops and other places to see so many technicians who do
not use a starting clamp to start. Utilizing only the fixed clamps
on the machine is certainly acceptable, but using a starting clamp
is easier and faster.
The most common way is to simply place the clamp on the
3. Starting clamp position as “back up” for machine clamp.
string outside the frame. With the clamp resting against the
frame, tension is pulled (photo 1). My preferred method is to
place the clamp on the center string (or second string if your
machine mount is in the way) and pull tension for the first string
on the adjacent string (2). This allows for pulling tension on each
string only once, whereas the common method requires pulling
the first string twice (once to apply tension and then again in the
opposite direction to remove the starting clamp).
The starting clamp can also be utilized to “back up” your ma4. Starting clamp used for starting crosses in lieu of a starting knot.
chine clamps. This is especially useful if your clamps don’t have
great holding power or if you’re using a rather high tension (3).
• Starting Crosses—The starting clamp can be used instead of the
starting knot on a two-piece string job (4), as we talked about in
our Racquet Tech segment in the April issue.
• Around-the-World or Box Patterns—When using these patterns, you will often find the need to clamp off two strings on the
same side of the racquet (5). A starting clamp is the only way to
5. Starting clamp used in around-the-world pattern.
go. I have actually seen technicians utilize two starting clamps
plus the machine clamps on some patterns that require special
tie-offs that required three strings to be clamped on one side.
• Bridge or Jumper—I have heard it referred to by both names,
but whichever you choose, it can be a life-saver (or at least a job
saver) if you find yourself coming up a bit short in string length.
By placing a piece of scrap string through the eyelets on the clamp
to form a loop around the clamp (6), the clamp allows for instant
string extension to your machine’s tension head (7). If you have
6. Starting clamp and a piece of scrap string create a bridge when
strings come up a bit short. Tubing helps protect the string.
an extra clamp, you can leave it set up for this to make rescues
even quicker. A piece of tubing protects the string as it passes
through the clamp eyelets.
So, even if you don’t use it for its intended purpose, the starting
clamp is an invaluable tool. As with all your tools, make sure you
invest in a good one with strong springs and a quality jaw surface.
Otherwise, when you apply tension the clamp is likely to become a
flying object that does nothing to help you get the job done. •
16 TennisIndustry
June 2015
7. Starting clamp bridge allows tension to be applied to strings too
short to reach the tension head.
Retailing 138
Why is ‘Simple’ So Hard?
By Jay Townley
I
was conducting a webinar recently
and hammering away on one of our
themes—about making it easy to
buy from your locally owned specialty
retailer, while at the same time making
it easy to sell for your store—when a
question popped into my head: “Why is
it so hard to keep it simple?”
I waited for an attendee to ask it, and
although no one brought it up, it stuck
in my head. Local specialty retail is the
very heart of small business and small,
family-owned retailers in the U.S. You
would think keeping it simple would
be—should be—relatively easy. But too
often, the opposite it true. Why is it so
hard to keep it simple? Why is it so hard
to make it easy in specialty retail?
Product Mix
Our experience in the specialty bicycle,
outdoor and tennis channels have
uncovered the same issues relative to
the simplicity of the retail process. First
and foremost is the “product portfolio” that determines what models and
stock-keeping-units (SKUs) your store
stocks and you educate and train you
and your staff to sell day-in and day-out.
There should be only one final
authority when comes to what models
and SKUs go into your product portfolio—you! Allow staff input and seek
input from your best customers and
sales reps, but the final authority is the
person who writes the checks.
Be clear and concise in the models
and SKUs you select. Strive for a simple
Good, Better, Best selection that, wherever possible, provides logical steps in
value, features and price for your customers, is easy to understand and sell,
and returns a fair profit to your store.
For some models, you may want to
stretch to a four-step spread, adding
18 TennisIndustry
June 2015
one SKU to the mix, but do this only after
careful consideration and make sure you
run the numbers and create carefully
thought-out sales forecasts for each and
every SKU.
Remember, it isn’t your job to make
money for your sales reps and suppliers.
It is their job to help your store make a
fair profit. If they don’t agree, you need to
do some sorting and supplier selection.
What too often happens is one brand
or one sales rep does their job better than
the others, and they end up “selling” you
or your buyer on the merits of stocking
a broader selection with more inventory
commitment, which ties up your opento-buy and cuts down your inventory
turnover and your gross margin return on
investment. This may work for them, but
it has to be a win-win-win for your store,
your customers, and you and your staff.
Displays and Signage
Next is merchandising and display,
including signage. The same principles
apply here: There is one final authority—you, the store owner. You may want
to seek help with merchandising and
display and signage, but it’s not your
supplier’s final responsibility, nor do
they have final authority as to what your
store displays and how it is coordinated
with your Good, Better, Best product
portfolio. The guiding principle is, if
it’s in this season’s product portfolio,
it goes on display supported by back
stock and intelligent, well-thought-out
signs and price cards.
Finally education and training. With
a simple product portfolio, it is also
simple to craft displays and signage
that easily point out and explain
product step-up features and price/
value differences. It all becomes part
of a simple, straightforward story…that
you and your staff will find easy to understand, commit to and tell over and
over again to shoppers and customers.
I think we sometimes lose sight of
how much more profitable “simple
and easy” is, or can be, because the
consumer-dominated digital world,
including the growing complexity
of our supply chain, keeps wanting a
“piece” of the action that is going on
in your specialty retail store. But it is
possible to keep it simple and make it
easy and profitable. •
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).
Your Players
Shady Dealings
Keep your players, and your
teaching pros, healthy and on
the courts by offering products
to protect from the sun.
By Robin Bateman
W
ith summer around the
corner, many of us will step
up our outdoor activities and
increase sun exposure. The blue skies
and warmer weather mean tennis tournaments, day camps, morning leagues,
round-robins and drills with students
and members of all ages.
As temperatures rise and the sun gets
higher in the sky, it should be an automatic reminder to grab the sunscreen
and lotion up. But the truth is, we
should pursue sun protection all year
round, not just in summer.
According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, 5 million Americans are treated
for skin cancer annually, with more
new cases reported than combined
incidences of prostate, lung, colon and
breast cancers. Think skin cancer is
reserved for those over the age of 50?
Think again. From 1973 to 2009, pediatric melanoma averaged a 2 percent
increase per year.
As facility managers and tennis
coaches, we should add the “sun protection” lecture to our lesson plans. After
all, tennis players find themselves in
the sun during the course of an entire
weekend. The tennis court isn’t exactly
sun-protection friendly (although,
as much as possible, you should have
shaded areas near and between courts).
It’s not only on court when your skin is
at risk, before the match or practice, on
the trip in the car, your skin takes a hit.
UVA rays can pass through glass.
Players aren’t the only ones who
should practice sun protection. Coaches
and spectators need to protect their
skin, too. The nature of tennis doesn’t
allow everyone to avoid the sun from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m., as guidelines suggest. So,
what can we do?
• Sunscreen: Skincancer.org recommends using a “broad spectrum water
resistant SPF 30.” You should apply 30
minutes prior to exposure and reapply every two hours. “Sunscreen is a
must,” says Huntley Sanders, a physician assistant at Georgia Dermatology
and Skin Cancer Clinic. “If you’re riding in your car, walking to your mailbox, you need sunscreen.” And not just
in summer, adds Sanders. “You should
wear sunscreen every day, regardless
of weather or the season.”
Coaches can really impact players’
habits in this area. Virginia Lane, a
25-year-old coach’s assistant, makes
a show of putting it on in front of the
8 & Under kids in her
program. “I never hit the
Comparison Between UPF and SPF Ratings
court before reapplying,”
she tells the kids as she
This chart is from the American Melanoma Foundation
(www.melanomafoundation.org).
slaps it on her cheeks.
UV Protection
Very Good
Very Good
Excellent
Excellent
20 TennisIndustry
Rating
UPF 25, 30, 35
SPF 25, 30
UPF 40, 45, 50+
SPF 30+
June 2015
%UV Blocked
96.0% - 97.4%
96.0% - 97.4%
97.5% - 98.0%
97.5%
• Clothing: While SPF
is used to rate sunscreen
lotions, when it comes
to fabric, look for clothing with a
higher “Ultraviolet Protection Factor,” or “UPF.” A shirt with a UPF
of 30 means the fabric allows only
1/30th of the sun’s harmful UVA
and UVB rays to penetrate the
skin. If the fabric says “SPF,” that
means protection against UVB
only. A number of tennis apparel
manufacturers make clothing designed to block UVA and UVB rays.
Look for garments with a high UPF
rating, such as 40 or 50 and above.
Players and spectators—and
tennis teaching pros—should
also use wide-brimmed hats, UV
protection sunglasses, umbrellas,
towels and Frogg Toggs to help
aid them in their fight against
skin cancer. Remember, typical
baseball-style hats provide no sun
protection for the ears and neck,
which are particularly vulnerable
and often overlooked.
Also keep in mind, standing near
surfaces like water or glass can
increase the intensity of exposure
because UV rays bounce off these
surfaces.
Pro shop owners should keep a
well-stocked shelf of water-resistant
sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Don’t
forget to add umbrellas, hats and
UPF clothing.
It’s not just your players who are
at risk, but tennis pros and coaches,
parents, fans and spectators, too.
Keep the products handy that will
keep them out on the courts longer.•
Facility Management
Getting the Word Out in
Today’s World
By Holly Chomyn
W
e would all agree that communication to club members as
well as among staff is crucial.
Research has shown that it takes between
10 and 30 “touches” of communication before people respond to an advertisement.
Knowing this stat, at our club, we publicize
our events multiple times in several different forms.
First, we publish an events calendar with
all the events for the season. Every member of the club receives the calendar. Then,
we personally create fliers and posters for
each upcoming event. The fliers are posted
on the event bulletin boards inside the
pro shop and on the outside patio. Fliers
are also displayed on tabletop easels on
the patio tables. We make mini fliers,
which are smaller 5.5- by 4.25-inch versions, as take-home reminders, as well
as “Save the Date” fliers that advertise
events specific to the month.
We purchased a printer designed to
print 24- by 36-inch posters. We display
our framed posters on easels next to the
water stations and walkways. We also
send out email blasts weekly. We personally call new members to invite them as
well as members who have previously
come out to events. Our pros spread
the word in their lessons and clinics.
All this may seem like overkill, but
we still have members who say, “I
didn’t know anything about it.”
Recently, we started two new approaches to get the word out. One is to
produce a promo video of an upcoming event starring our members. Once
they get talking about being in the
video, the word seems to get around
quickly. People come out to watch
the filming and are excited about the
event. It seems to stir more personal
interest and camaraderie among the
members. It also seems that people
will look at a video clip with more
interest than reading about it.
Another new communication
approach we are using is the private
social media app called Clubster.
Clubster is a social media network for
private country clubs where all communications stay within the club and
do not go out onto the internet. Members can exchange information within
small groups or they can reach out to
other members within the network.
Staff members are also using it to communicate with each other and across
departments. It is a faster, easier way
to communicate using mobile devices.
It seems we will always struggle
making every member aware of our
events, but by using calendars, emails,
posters, fliers, videos, word of mouth
and social media, we can say we have
our bases covered. •
Holly Chomyn is the Head Tennis
Professional at the Bonita Bay Club
in Bonita Springs, Fla. She is a USPTA
Master Professional, USRSA Master
Racquet Technician and a USTA High
Performance Coach.
22 TennisIndustry
June 2015
Retailing Success
Basic
Training
Driving sales in your store
often involves a simple
formula.
By Kent Oswald
W
hether trying to improve one’s game
or shortcut a path to greater sales, it
is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the search for the secret or
the new. However, as a brief roundup
of recent retail success stories suggests, the recipe for success
often is rooted in the more mundane: Execute the basics.
Be Open to Opportunities
In St. Paul, Minn., Tennis on Selby has been
the sports’ sole independent outpost on the
city’s east side for about five years. Owner
Deb Irvine welcomes both the hardcore
and non-traditional tennis customer into
her 1,000-square-foot shop with a no-pressure atmosphere
that encourages active browsing for some customers and just
gathering to watch the televised tennis for others.
That approach attracted a local Vietnamese man who saw a
need for community building and organized tennis play. On a
day soon after the roll-out of the Babolat AeroPro Drive Play,
he walked into the store while Irvine was experimenting with
24 TennisIndustry
June 2015
the racquet. His intrigue led to hitting with it, buying it and
then introducing it throughout his network. That introduction has led not just to increased string, shoe and accessories
sales, but specifically to the vending of repeated shipments of
Aero Pros and a level of customer engagement that serves as a
conduit of her store’s principles to his network.
Testimony of the bridge that has been built comes directly
from Irvine, who remembers, “Several of my customers were
anxiously awaiting their Play racquets and could see that they
were available from one of the online retailers immediately.
My shipment was stuck in the work slowdown on the West
Coast, but because they value having a local tennis shop here
in town, they waited until my stock arrived to make their
purchase.”
Listen to Your Customers
Jan David’s original plan for Tennis “R” Us,
southwest Florida’s largest tennis specialty
shop as of their 2014 move, was to allocate
floor space and inventory evenly among all
manufacturers. Before opening the Bonita
Springs store, “I bought equally from all [and] was somewhat rooting for smaller brands,” he says. The idea was to
let his customers choose what they wanted in a marketingneutral environment.
Choose they did, zeroing in on Babolat racquets, and
causing some rethinking: “If Babolat did so well without
full support,” David says, “it was time to get behind the
brand.” He embraced more opportunities to take advantage of the marketing support they offered, and, today,
while major and some smaller manufacturers all have their
wall space, it is the Babolat line that consistently increases
its presence in David’s store, satisfies his growing customer
base, and adds to the bottom line.
Have and Convey Faith in the
Products You Sell
Paradoxical to the advice to trust customers is the need to build trust with a
sales rep and convey faith in a product
to players. That is one lesson to learn
from Jeff Hawes, director of tennis at
the New Orleans Country Club, whose rep was enthusiastic when introducing Dunlop’s Black Widow co-poly string
a few years ago. Hawes’ experience playtesting was as
positive as he had been led to believe, which meant a strong
order when it became available.
“We started off recommending the 16 gauge to keep it
from breaking,” says Hawes. Members “loved” it up until
about the last 20 to 25 percent of the strings’ life. He began
stringing more racquets with the 17 gauge (often in combination with the company’s S-Gut strings), which wore
out slightly sooner and avoided giving players that “dead
string” experience.
Because of the nature of the club, Hawes is careful to
avoid seeming “to sell” the strings. A favored story is of
how he went out for a lesson with one of the better hitting
men and made the suggestion that not hitting quite as
flat might help keep a few more balls in play and help his
game. The player demoed the Black Widow string, came
back to Hawes, closed the office door and asked that all his
racquets be strung anew … and that Hawes stop selling the
string to anyone else.
“We let members play with it and go from there,” Hawes
says, a strategy that took a new string from a trusted rep to
the best selling string for players who trusted a recommendation enough to try it for themselves.
Talk Honestly with the Sales
Reps You Trust
Chuck Ellis, co-owner of Chuck & Mike’s
Tennis in Louisville, Ky., has been an
enormous advocate of Asics shoes—so
much so that he lets them crowd out other brands in his other
outlets, which also serve as a source for non-playing customers
referred to the shoes by local podiatrists. But when Asics first
introduced the BZ100 racquet, Ellis was no fan. He remembers
the prototype as a “dull-looking” stick without “shelf presence,” and he did not shrink from sharing the impression or
feedback about what he believed would work in his store. “If [a
customer is] going to spend $200 on a racquet,” he says, “it has
to look nice.”
But when he looked at the BZ100 Asics ended up putting
into production, he saw that his (and presumably others’)
styling recommendations had been noted. To his eyes it had
been given a “rich look,” with a throat piece that stands out
and inspires customers to touch it. Ellis was so impressed with
the look and play that he highlighted the racquet as part of the
store’s demo program—customers can try a new racquet for a
week at a time over a two-month period—and also features it
in the middle of the wall. The combination of it all has taken
the BZ100 to the second best selling racquet in his store. The
racquet isn’t yet quite as successful for the store as the shoes,
which Ellis says he no longer brings out at the end to close a
shoe sale, but as part of the first batch to save himself time, but
it is a large step forward from his initial disappointment.
Sell Products that Mesh with Your
Store’s Expertise and Customer
Expectations
New Jersey’s Tao Tennis Shops owner
Gerald Sarmiento sells his store as a place
to fine-tune a stick off the wall and “get you
the right racquet.” As a result, the brand promise of Dunlop’s
iDapt racquet line with its built-in customizing features was a
perfect complement to what the store was already providing
two large niches of customers, the more demanding adults and
high-performance kids.
Playtesting convinced Sarmiento and his staff of the iDapt’s
quality. Its conception as a product quickly de- and reconstructed helped Tao by reducing the amount of time it took to
individualize the racquets for demos. This in turn made for
easier comparisons not just within but across brands during
the week customers were given as part of the racquet demo
program.
Additionally, being able to change grip size instead of buying
new racquets when a child’s hand grew was a big selling point
for parents making large investments in their child’s development. Those selling points, as well as in-store marketing and
merchandise displays to create conversations about the new
product, resulted in an estimated eight of 10 players choosing an iDapt over other companies’ product when purchasing
from Tao in the first months after going on sale, as well as one
of its hottest launches for a new product … and continuing
strong sales. •
June 2015
TennisIndustry 25
Racquet Technologies
Advancing
the Cause
Stay up to date on the
latest racquet technologies,
materials and construction
techniques.
I
By Bob Patterson
t seems that everything in our lives is driven by
technology. Racquets are no exception. While revolutionary advances like the Babolat Play racquets
or the Sony Smart Sensor scream technology, there
are many other subtle advances in racquets.
Manufacturers continue to seek out new materials and
construction techniques to improve racquets. They are also
constantly tweaking the designs and integration between
the frame and string bed to give player better feel and better
performance.
These changes seem to come at a pace that makes it difficult
for retailers to keep up. As part of our effort to make sure the
USRSA Master Racquet Technician program exemplifies the
highest standard of professionalism in racquet service, every
MRT is required to complete an annual update test to ensure
they are keeping up with the latest technologies introduced in
the industry. (Visit USRSA.com for more information about
certification.)
Here is a list of the latest technologies being introduced,
along with a brief description provided by the manufacturers.
BABOLAT
Frame String Interaction Technology (FSI)—New frame
technology that provides a tighter stringing pattern in the
redefined sweetspot area (slightly higher than the traditional center of a racquet), along with an optimized woofer
26 TennisIndustry
June 2015
system, to offer more control and consistency on all strokes.
DUNLOP
iDapt—A revolutionary frame technology that allows players
to choose how their frame feels, plays and even looks. Players
are able to choose their head size and look, followed by their
feel, which is driven by the Shock Sleeve, available in firm, medium and soft feels. From there the player chooses their grip
size and handle length. The dealer assembles the racquet in
minutes. iDapt allows 432 different combinations to be built
from just 12 racquet heads.
GAMMA
Advanced Aerodynamic Cross Section—Aerodynamic
frame shape reduces air resistance and allows easier maneuverability. Also gives the perfect amount of flex in the head to
store power for maximum ball speed.
Recessed Bumper Guard—Bumper system built into the
frame for a seamless blend with frame. This prevents less drag
and faster racquet-head speed.
HEAD
Adaptive String Pattern (ASP)—Allows racquet to be
strung with two different patterns (16x19 and 16x16), utilizing two exchangeable grommet inserts. Changing the number
of cross strings changes the spacing between the strings in
the center of the sweetspot, allowing the player to adapt the
racquet to what they want.
GrapheneXT—Allows for an extreme distribution of weight
from the shaft to the tip and grip to increase swingweight and
raise the sweetspot to maximize power in the modern game.
Up to 30 percent stronger and 20 percent lighter and produces up to 10 percent more energy transfer.
PRINCE
TeXtreme—New Prince TeXtreme frames utilize this hightech material by positioning it in the shaft and lower hoop
with a 45˚ orientation, resulting in 25 percent less twisting
without increasing stiffness or swing weight. This provides
more power and plow-through by reducing energy loss at impact. It also provides more control and accuracy by maintaining good racquet-face positioning at impact. Lower stiffness
reduces overall racquet vibration and shock to the arm during
play, improving comfort and feel.
TECNIFIBRE
Armor Cap—A thicker, wider and longer bumper guard providing better protection with more durability.
Dynacore—Frame construction featuring unmatched combination of flexibility and torsional stability. Solid construction for long-lasting performance. A softer feel for muscle
integrity and less fatigue. Better and quicker communication
to the hand.
EZ Lock Eyelet—Extra flat and larger grommets on tie-off
holes eases stringing and improves tie-off knot.
WILSON
Braided Graphite + Basalt—An elastic and reactive material combination that
improves the racquet Advance your own cause—and
flex and increases the your business, too—by becoming a
ball’s contact with
USRSA Certified Stringer or Master
the strings to provide
Racquet Technician. Visit USRSA.
enhanced feel and
com for more information.
greater control.
Braided Graphite +
Kevlar—Provides a
solid and consistent
feel, dampens vibration, and enhances
touch and control.
High Performance Carbon Fiber—Developed for aggressive swings, this premium modulus carbon graphite provides
increased frame stiffness for power.
Sony Smart Tennis Sensor—Sensor attaches to the racquet to
gather data about shots and strokes.
X2 Shaft—Combines a longer handle for increased feel and
leverage on two-handed backhands and a rounded and narrower shaft to enable quick grip changes and optimal feel for the
opposite hand on forehands. •
June 2015
TennisIndustry 27
Health & Fitness
TENNIS –ADDING YEARS TO
YOUR LIFE, AND LIFE TO YOUR YEARS!
There are many opportunities for people of all ages to
get into tennis and continue to play this sport. But are we
doing a good enough job giving consumers reasons to
play?
whatever ails you, and if nothing is ailing you right now,
tennis will keep it that way. We need to tell people that
tennis gives you all the benefits of working out in a gym,
but it’s much more fun, exciting and social.
Tennis is one of the only sports you can play all your
life, from the youngest ages to the oldest. As tennis
providers, we all know the sport has healthy benefits
that will keep your body fit and your mind sharp.
Tennis can be the answer to virtually any type of issue.
Want to lose weight? Want to get in better shape and
tone muscles? Want to keep your mind sharp and reduce
stress? Want to make more friends and expand your
social network? Think tennis.
But how do we get that message across to regular
consumers, who don’t (yet) wake up every day thinking
about this sport? We need to give people reasons to
play tennis that are simple and direct, that everyone can
get behind. We need to tell people tennis is great for
The bottom line: Tennis not only is
the sport for a lifetime, but it’s the
sport for a longer, healthier and more
complete lifetime.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Play 3 hours of tennis a week and you’ll cut your risk
of death in half from any cause, according to a Harvard
University study of 10,000 people during a 20-year period.
• Tennis Burns Calories
An hour of singles can burn 580 to 870 calories,
depending on your weight, says the Mayo Clinic.
• Tennis Keeps Your Heart Healthy
• Tennis Increases Bone Strength
and Density
No matter what your age, weight-bearing activities like
tennis are important for bone health, according to the
National Institutes of Health.
The Cleveland Clinic says tennis is “an ideal sport for a
healthy heart.” And a Johns Hopkins study showed that
middle-aged men who played tennis—more than any
other activity—had a significantly lower incidence of
cardiovascular disease as they aged.
When you play tennis, you’re working all your limbs,
joints and muscles. An expert panel at ESPN ranked
tennis in the top 12 out of 60 sports in terms of flexibility.
• Tennis Develops, Tones and
Strengthens Muscles
• Tennis Improves Balance,
Coordination and Reaction Time
Constant movement works out both your upper and
lower body.
28 TennisIndustry
June 2015
• Tennis Improves Flexibility
By moving then adjusting to hit the ball, tennis helps
general body coordination, and by constantly judging the
timing of the ball, it improves eye-hand coordination.
MENTAL BENEFITS
Since tennis requires alertness and tactical thinking,
it may generate new connections between nerves in
the brain and thus promote a lifetime of continuing
development of the brain, according to scientists at the
University of Illinois.
• Tennis Develops Your Mind
The sport requires critical thinking and problem
solving. Tennis keeps your brain active.
• Tennis Helps Develop a Work Ethic
By improving through lessons and practice tennis
reinforces the value of hard work.
• Tennis Develops Self-Discipline
Regular practice keeps you disciplined in your
approach to improvement.
• Tennis Helps in Problem-Solving and
Managing Adversity
Players need to figure the angles, geometry and physics,
while also adjusting constantly to match conditions.
• Tennis Helps to Manage and
Reduce Stress
With the physical, mental and emotional challenges
tennis presents, you’ll increase your capacity to deal
with stress.
• Tennis Helps in Managing Mistakes
Being able to move past mistakes is critical, whether in
tennis or in life.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Tennis outperforms all other sports in developing
positive personality characteristics and physical
fitness development, according to Dr. Jim Gavin of
Concordia University, the author of The Exercise Habit.
• Tennis Develops Social Skills
You play with others both across the net and on teams
and in leagues. For players of all ages and abilities you
can make new friends and expand your social network.
• Tennis Time Is Great Family Time
It’s a great sport that the whole family can enjoy
together.
• Tennis Develops Teamwork
• Tennis Teaches Sportsmanship
You learn to compete and play fairly with others.
• Tennis Improves Your Self-Image
Tennis players scored higher in vigor, optimism and
self-esteem while scoring lower in depression, anger,
confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes or
non-athletes, according to a Southern Connecticut State
University study.
Whether it’s playing on a doubles team, or on a league
or school team, tennis helps develop your ability to
communicate and work together.
Special thanks to Dr. Jack Groppel and his “34 Reasons to Play Tennis,” on usta.com.
June 2015
TennisIndustry 29
Apparel
Group Sales
Going after the team business—whether for clubs,
leagues or schools—can be a nice boost for your store.
I
By Cynthia Sherman
t all boils down to the outfits, and the right outfits
are crucial to success. No other sport boasts better
clothing options than tennis. Yoga and fitness wear
might come close, but tennis has the goods.
For a tennis team, there’s not much worse than encountering an opposing team wearing the same outfits. But
teams, and retailers, can take heart knowing there are more
and more choices out there. There are the obvious go-to apparel players that many teams stick to, but in recent years there
have been some movers and shakers who are making an impact
on team wear and they all are adept at the customization that
many teams, particularly schools, require.
While team wear can be big business for apparel companies,
there’s also a very practical reason retailers should consider
outfitting teams—it can be profitable. Getting a team of six or
eight women all ordering from the same menu from your store,
consistently, year after year, easily can help your bottom line.
And think about the possibilities if your local middle school or
high school has a no-cut tennis team, where potentially dozens
of team members could be visiting your shop—which means
plenty of other, non-apparel sales, too.
“Team wear is a great business niche because it brings in
more business as a whole, especially with women’s club teams,”
says Jen Cunningham, buyer for The Racket Man in Des Peres
and Chesterfield, Mo. “Ladies come in for their team uniforms
and end up buying more fashion-oriented pieces.”
Joyce Capuzzi, owner of The Tennis Shop in Collegeville,
Pa., notes her store does a great team business year-round between women’s USTA, club and high school teams. “Servicing
30 TennisIndustry
June 2015
teams bring back a lot of individuals who buy more clothing
and equipment,” she says. “Team business encourages more
foot traffic, and that’s what you need in a store.”
The Indianapolis Racquet Club takes servicing teams extremely seriously—it works with between 2,000 and 4,000
teams yearly, from middle school to college, in 48 states. With
all that volume, Patty Jones, who works on the team-wear side
of the business, tends to notice what’s working and any trends
with team apparel. “Pieces have remained pretty consistent
over the years,” she says. “The big changes have been in the silhouettes.”
Asics and DUC Sport have been coming on strong with styles
geared toward school teams. Some of DUC’s styles are reversible for more options. The style and fit is designed specifically
for a high school girls’ tennis team. Asics has aligned with “developing young athletes,” who it believes will be loyal to their
brand for life.
Antigua is a relative newcomer to the team wear arena, but
company officials say that team sales are picking up. A lot of
Antigua’s focus has been on embroidered apparel sales to clubs
and retailers.
Some teams are going a different route to lines that have
been more fashion-oriented, such as Tail and Bolle. Both
manufacturers feature stylish graphics and color-blocking
that is appealing to both school and league teams. Tail’s "Electric Rush" line has been a popular choice for teams this year,
and Bolle’s fashion pieces and High Performance line, such as
“All That Jazz,” are becoming signature team standouts on the
court. •
ASICS
asics.com
[email protected]
800-333-8404
BOLLE
bolletennisapparel.com
[email protected]
301-362-0360, 888-977-7272
ANTIGUA (facing page)
antiguatennis.com
[email protected]
800-562-9777 ext. 2221
June 2015
TennisIndustry 31
Apparel
DUC SPORT
ducsport.com
[email protected]
888-307-4567
TAIL
tailactivewear.com
[email protected]
800-876-8245
32 TennisIndustry
June 2015
Private
Enterprise
These residential winners are great examples
of tennis-court construction.
Fort Lauderdale Residence
(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc.)
Architect/Engineer/Specialty Contractor: Fast-Dry Courts
Inc.
Surface: Har-Tru Sports (ClayTech Membrane, HydroBlend Clay)
Court Accessories: Fast-Dry Courts Inc. & 10-S Tennis Supply
Fencing: Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
34 TennisIndustry
June 2015
Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards
I
n 2014, the panel of judges for the Tennis Industry/American
Sports Builders Association picked out three residential courts as
winners in the Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards. One, a
private court in Newton, Mass., was singled out for “outstanding”
honors. That new, all-weather cushioned acrylic court—surrounded by a
custom-designed fence of Western red cedar—was honored with the other
outstanding award-winners in our February issue. The other two “distinguished” award winners for 2014 are both in Florida, and both were built
by the same company.
The owner for the Fort Lauderdale residence court chose a synthetic
clay surface with a HydroBlend infill, which requires less maintenance
and water than typical clay courts (the court is conventionally irrigated).
The property is nearly surrounded by water, so due to the court’s proximity to the water table, the court required a thickened concrete slab because
of possible unstable soils. Natural retention swales are used for stormwater management. Vinyl-coated fencing, which is lower at the sides and
includes angled corners, complete the award-winning package.
The new residential court in Palm Beach County, which also has a basketball hoop at one end, is a cushioned system over an asphalt base. The
owner wanted the court to feel open, so the solution was to use open mesh
netting for the “fencing,” affixed to imported custom marble columns. The
netting is a white, high-tenacity polypropylene knotless netting with a
white sewn rope border, with high-quality marine-grade cable tensioning
mechanisms on the top. The construction site was extremely busy, with
other contractors performing other jobs on the property, so the court contractor had to juggle schedules and deliveries, but the final product proved
a winner. —Peter Francesconi •
For details on the 2015 Outstanding Facilityof-the-Year Awards, contact the ASBA at
866-501-ASBA or [email protected],
or visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
Palm Beach County Residence
(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc.)
Architect/Engineer/Specialty Contractor: Fast-Dry
Courts Inc.
Surface: Laykold
Court Accessories: Fast-Dry Courts Inc. & 10-S Tennis
Supply
Fencing: Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
June 2015
TennisIndustry 35
Ask the Experts
Your Equipment Hotline
Q
Clamp Replacement
How often should the clamps
be replaced on a stringing
machine? I clean them with a toothbrush when I see build-up on them. I
bought my machine used.
A
They're expensive, so don't
replace them until they wear
out. Some manufacturers refurbish their clamps, so you get a slight
break on the price, but they get your old
clamps in exchange.
Q
Playtest Stiffness
In the conclusion of a recent
playtest report, you wrote,
"although it feels stiff during installation … it has a soft feeling during
play." Then I compared this to the
section on Overall Playability. Here, it
seems that many more people rate the
string as being not as playable. How
do you explain that?
A
The reference to “stiff” in the
conclusion is based on how
it feels coming out of the
package.
The reference to “soft” in the conclusion is based on some of the comments
of how the string felt in play, and is a
subjective comment probably based on
comparisons to other polyester strings.
It is not related to the Overall Playability section. You will note that in the
Overall Playability section, we’re asking
the playtesters to compare the string
sample against the string they use most
often, which is typically going to be
their favorite string.
Q
Playtest Tension Loss
I just read a playtest where
you strung a racquet at 60
pounds. After 24 hours (no playing) the string-bed stiffness went
from 79 to 64, and you refer to that
as tension loss. How do you convert
Babolat Racquet Diagnostic Center
(RDC) stiffness readings to tension,
for the purposes of calculating tension loss?
A
The exact wording is “representing a 7 percent tension
loss.” Because it is impossible
(as far as we know) to
measure actual installed
tension of the string in a
normal racquet, we relate
the decrease in string-bed
stiffness to tension loss.
The actual tension-loss
number appears farther
down in the paragraph.
In the case of the string in
this playtest, the tension
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
June 2015
loss was 15.41 pounds, per our testing
protocol.
In other words, there are two tests.
One tests the overall string-bed
stiffness, which we perform using
a Babolat RDC. The second tests an
individual string, which we perform
using our custom string-tester, using
our own test suite and test protocols.
Q
Babolat Star 5 Overpull
After I bought my Babolat
Star 5 stringing machine,
a buddy of mine said he would have
gotten a different machine because
the Star 5 is notorious for overpulling. The racquets seem fine to
me after I finish stringing, and my
customers have been happy. Am I
missing something?
A
Yes and no. Before we get
into it, though, let’s be clear
that over-pulling is different
from machine pre-stretch. Machine
pre-stretch occurs when you set the
machine to pull a certain number
of pounds (or a percentage of the
reference tension) above the
reference tension,
and then back off
to the reference
tension. This prestretch not only
takes some of the
elasticity out of
the string, but also
can overcome friction between the string and grommets,
as well as some of the friction between
the crosses and the mains. The result
is a tighter string bed and better tension maintenance, at the expense of
that “new string feel.” It is not recommended, but some players request it,
especially with natural gut.
Over-pulling is when the tension
head pulls the string beyond the reference tension briefly, and then returns
to the reference tension, even when
the machine is set for zero pre-stretch.
Compare this to a machine where the
tension head slows as the string ap-
proaches reference tension, and then
stops immediately upon reaching reference tension. In either case, with a
constant-pull machine, this machine
will then maintain the reference tension. Of course, a machine might also
over-pull even when it is already set
for pre-stretch.
The Babolat Star 5 does over-pull
by what looks to be about half a
millimeter, which by general rule
of thumb should equate to about 2
pounds of tension above the reference tension, before quickly returning to the reference tension. This
is why if you string two identical
racquets with two identical pieces
of string, one on a Star 5 and one on
another machine, the racquet strung
on the Star 5 can have a higher stringbed stiffness.
But there is another aspect of
electronic machines to be considered, and that is the distance between
the tension head and the frame. The
greater the distance to the tension
head, the more string needs to be
brought up to reference tension on
each pull. However, pulling a longer
string at the same reference tension
as a shorter string results in a lower
“installed” tension, even at the same
reference tension. Musicians who
play stringed instruments with different scale lengths know this well.
With many of the popular lock-out
machines, you can get the tension
head right up next to the frame to
start your pull, if you want, but on
constant-pull machines the tension
head is in a fixed position to start,
so the machine is always tensioning
some amount of “extra” string.
We are not privy to Babolat’s
design process, but it is possible
that the over-pull built into the Star
5’s tensioning program is there to
compensate for the average amount
of “extra” string between the frame
and the nosecone, resulting in a final
string-bed tension that more accurately reflects the reference tension
setting.
Therefore, if you compared the
string-bed stiffness of two identical
racquets strung at the same time
with identical string at the same
reference tension, one of which
was done on a Star 5 and the other
done on another constant-pull
machine with a greater distance
between the frame and nosecone
but with no over-pull or prestretch, the racquet done on the
Star 5 should always come out with
a stiffer string bed.
If you have followed this explanation thus far, you can see that
although there is a difference,
that doesn’t necessarily mean the
string-bed stiffness of the racquet
strung on the Star 5 is wrong. It
could be that the string bed on
the other racquet is lower than it
should be, because of the additional frame-to-nosecone distance,
and the way the tensioning system
is programmed.
—Greg Raven •
June 2015
TennisIndustry 37
String Playtest
By Greg Raven
In the Lab
Tecnifibre
Black Code 4S 17
Black is back. Tecnifibre Black Code 4S is a geometric monofilament polyester with a square cross-section. Like the original Black
Code, Black Code 4S is produced using Thermocore Technology,
a process that varies temperature in stages during manufacturing, allowing a softening of the matrix’s structure. According to
Tecnifibre, this gives the string higher flexibility for greater shock
absorption and reducing vibration.
Tecnifibre tells us that 4S stands for:
•Spin—four sides as opposed to five in the original Black Code
(see the July 2009 issue).
•Speed—20 percent more power than Pro Redcode (see the September 2006 issue).
•Stability—The same tension maintenance as Razor Code (see the
April 2013 issue).
•Strength—15 percent more durable than Black Code.
Tecnifibre developed Black Code 4S for high-level and competition players using racquets weighing more than 300 grams, or 10.4
oz., who are physically strong and want a string that provides spin,
power and more durability.
Black Code 4S is available in 16-, 17-, and 18-gauge in black. It is
priced from $14.95 per 40-foot set, and $189 per 200-meter reel.
For more information or to order, contact Tecnifibre at 800-3017878, or visit tecnifibre.com. Be sure to read the conclusion for
more information about getting a free set to try for yourself.
38 TennisIndustry
June 2015
We tested the 17-gauge Black Code 4S.
The coil measured 40 feet, 4 inches. The
diameter measured 1.22 mm prior to
stringing, and 1.18 mm after stringing.
We recorded a string-bed stiffness of 77
RDC units immediately after stringing
at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1
95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull
machine.
After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed stiffness measured 74 RDC units,
representing a 4 percent tension loss.
Our control string, Prince Synthetic
Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC
units immediately after stringing and 71
RDC units after 24 hours, representing
a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original has
a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of
11.67 pounds, while Tecnifibre Black
Code 4S 17 has a stiffness of 199 and a
tension loss of 16.69 pounds. Black Code
4S 17 added 16.4 grams to the weight of
our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks
Playtester Ratings
Ease of Stringing
(compared to other strings)
much easier
somewhat easier
about as easy
not quite as easy
not nearly as easy
0
4
13
15
2
Overall Playability
(compared to the string played most often)
much better
somewhat better
about as playable
not quite as playable
not nearly as playable
0
7
5
15
7
Overall Durability
(compared to other strings of similar gauge)
much better
somewhat better
about as durable
not quite as durable
not nearly as durable
6
14
11
2
1
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability
Durability
Power
Control
Comfort
Touch/Feel
Spin Potential (10th overall)
Holding Tension
Resistance to Movement
3.3
4.0
3.3
3.6
2.9
2.9
3.9
3.3
3.8
by 36 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP
ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind
tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages.
Average number of hours playtested
was 29.6.
Tecnifibre recommends stringing
Black Code 4S 5 percent looser than a
typical nylon string, and we passed this
along to the members of our playtest
team.
The edges of the string are obvious as
soon as you take Black Code 4S out of
the package. Although the mains get a
little bruised when pulling the crosses,
Black Code 4S is not as aggressive
on your fingers as some of the other
geometrics.
Three playtesters broke the sample
during stringing, nine reported problems with coil memory, eight reported
problems tying knots, three reported
friction burn, and three reported other
problems.
On the Court
According to Tecnifibre, the first “S”
of the 4S is spin, and our playtest team
agreed, giving it the 10th highest rating
for spin of the 186 playtests we have
conducted for publication. This is the
highest spin rating of any Tecnifibre
string we’ve tested. Black Code 4S also
rated well above average in Durability,
Resistance to Movement, and Control.
As a result, Black Code 4S overall rated
well above average.
No playtester reported premature
fraying, peeling, or buzzing, and three
reported notching. Three broke the
sample during the playtest period, one
at 4.5 hours, and two at 12 hours.
Playtester
Comments
“Very good string. It had
a great feel to it. I was
able to generate more
topspin."
—5.0 male serve-and-volley
player using Babolat Aero
Pro Drive GT strung at 57
pounds CP (Babolat RPM
Blast 16)
“This is a very comfortable string that plays
well right away.”
—4.0 male all-court player
using Prince Premier ESP
strung at 58 pounds CP
(Prince Tour XP 15L)
“Very sharp edges, lots
of spin potential and bite
on the ball!”
—5.0 male baseliner with
moderate spin using Babolat Pure Drive + strung at 50
pounds CP (Babolat RPM
Blast/Babolat Xcel 17/17)
“String was good. I
played 12 hours of hard
tennis singles matches,
etc. So, it was a good
string.”
using Head Prestige strung
at 56 pounds LO (Prince or
Tecnifibre Poly/Synthetic
Gut 16)
“Bites the ball well. Slips
nicely. More durable
than I need!”
using Babolat Pure Strike
16x19 strung at 52/50
pounds CP (Babolat VS Gut/
Babolat RPM Blast 17/18)
“This string allows
one to develop a lot of
spin. Average polyester
string.”
using Babolat AeroPro Drive
strung at 57 pounds CP
(Babolat Origin 17)
“This is a very brittle
string with lots of coil
memory. It is definitely
a power string I would
use with hybrid patterns
with a soft woven syn-
thetic in the crosses.”
—4.5 male all-court player using Wilson BLX Five Lite strung
at 53 pounds LO (Wilson NXT
17)
“Loved how it played,
did not love how long it
lasted.”
using Prince Tour ESP strung
at 53/56 pounds LO (Prince
Tour XC 17)
“Stiff and boardy. Below
average power, feel, and
comfort. Other than being
durable, it disappointed in
all other areas. Would only
recommend to chronic
string breakers.”
—4.0 male baseliner with
heavy spin using Dunlop 200G
strung at 58/56 pounds CP
(Prince Synthetic Gut with
Duraflex 16/17)
(Strings normally used by
testers are indicated in parentheses. For the rest of the
tester comments, visit www.
tennisindustrymag.com.)
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM
Tecnifibre will send a free set of Black Code 4S 17 to the first 300 USRSA
members who cut out (or copy) this coupon and send it to:
USRSA, Attn: Tecnifibre String Offer
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to [email protected]
Offer expires 15 June 2015 • Offer only available to USRSA members in the US.
Name: __________________________ USRSA Member number: _________________
Phone: __________________________ Email: _______________________________
If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.
Conclusion
Tecnifibre Black Code 4S delivers on its
promises, offering more spin potential
than any other Tecnifibre string, garnering a higher rating in the Power category
than Pro Redcode 16, and testing higher
in our lab for Tension Retention than
Razor Code 16. And, according to our lab
tests, Tecnifibre Black Code 4S is actually softer than our reference nylon.
If you think Tecnifibre Black Code 4S
might be for you, fill out the coupon to
get a free set to try. •
June 2015
TennisIndustry 39
Your Serve
Blast
from
the
Past
A veteran stringer helps his customer link his tennis past
with a path to the future.
By Hunter Lipscomb
L
ike many of us, I run a small pro
shop at the heart of a busy multicourt facility. I’ve been stringing
racquets for 25 years, and have repaired
many different frames on my stringing
machine over that time. Even after this
long in the tennis industry, I still appreciate being the one to help bring a great
tennis experience to the people I serve.
A recent Monday, however, was a
challenging day. My “to-do” list was
growing by the minute, we were shortstaffed, and racquets were coming in
faster than we could queue them up.
In the midst of all this, an older
gentleman came in with his racquet—in
a wooden press! As he removed the
press and unzipped the canvas cover, a
thin layer of dust shook off and revealed
a wooden TAD Davis Olympyan with
broken strings. Sure enough, he was
looking for a restring.
Upon closer inspection, it appeared
that the crusty, whitened natural gut
strings were about a decade older
than I was—this was confirmed by the
browned, worn sticker on the butt cap:
“Strung May 22, 1958 Delmer Israel
Palo Alto, Calif.” The string was broken
in three places, and there were eight
tie-offs, indicating multiple patch jobs
during the racquet’s active days.
I asked why we were going to embark
on stringing this racquet—was it for
decoration? No, the man indicated,
he intended to play with it. He hadn’t
picked up his racquet since the 1960s,
he said, when he had been an active
player in the Bay Area and was taking
lessons with the legendary Dick Gould.
“It’s from a time when tennis was more
art than science,” he said, then needing
40 TennisIndustry
June 2015
to be on his way, he left me there with
his frame.
Although my day was already overloaded, I was intrigued. I chose to string
this racquet right away, in an effort to
reset my day. As I prepped it, I felt like
an art historian: Examining the grip’s
condition and the laminated wood
layers, removing the strings through
smooth wooden holes (no brittle plastic
grommets!).
I removed the leather power pads, remembering how I used to trim leather
grips to create these pads back in the
day. I looked at the frame’s graphics: a
diamond-shaped TAD logo on one side,
the Davis crest on the other, a ribbon
with the words “Duce Comite Virtute
Fortuna” rippling atop the crest.
The clear finish over the wood had
darkened over time, and exhibited a
uniform, desert-like cracking pattern
over the surface. Midway between the
grip and strings, where the nondominant hand would have supported the
racquet in between shots, the finish
was worn away completely, exposing
the smooth wood—but just on one side!
Clearly, my customer didn’t like spinning his racquet, and hit forehands off
one side of the stringbed and backhands
off the other (“spinning the racquet is
for sissies,” he later told me).
I tried to glean more information
about his game from the frame: The
wood was not worn down too much at
the top, which indicated pretty good
footwork, and the half-century-old
scrapes were pretty evenly divided
between green and red. A serve-andvolleyer, perhaps?
The racquet strung beautifully, the
grooves at the top perfectly sized and
the tie-off holes very accommodating.
I opted for a nice multifilament instead
of natural gut, because I wasn’t certain
how the frame was going to react to the
restring nor did I know how long this
new phase of my customer’s tennis life
would last.
I lingered on the string job, going
slowly and letting this conversation with
the TAD Davis re-invigorate my passion
for stringing racquets, a passion that
had occasionally been clouded by goofy
frames, cheaply made plastic grommet
sets, and painful polyester strings. As I
thought about the pile of racquets still to
be done, I wondered if I could coax stories out of them. I might not be wondering if Dick Gould was the prior stringer
of the frame, but there might be some
interesting tales nonetheless.
I tied and trimmed down the final
knots, and logged the racquet in our database, an island among the sea of EX0s
and BLXs and Graphenes. I set it on the
“repaired” rack and went about my day.
When its owner came in to pick it up, we
chatted for a while longer, recognizing
that the racquet was both a link to his
past and a path to his future.
Oddly enough, we ended up thanking
each other for the restring. I hoped that
his TAD Davis would re-ignite his passion for tennis again, but I insisted that
he take one of our new Head demos—just
in case. •
Hunter Lipscomb is the director of tennis
operations at the Timberhill Tennis Club
in Corvallis, Ore.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to [email protected].

Construction Excellence - Professional Tennis Registry

Transcription

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