Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
INDUSTRY NEWS
M A Y 2 0 0 8
DEPARTMENTS
4 Our Serve 23 String: Luxilon
7 Industry News 46 String Playtest: Tecnifibre Xr3
20 TIA News & Updates 48 Your Serve, By Robin Bateman
J
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
said, “For most folks, no news is good news;
Associate Editor
for the press, good news is not news.” Greg Raven
Well, we humbly disagree, at least with the second part of Design/Art Director
that quote. Kristine Thom
For tennis, there has been a lot of good news recently Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
coming out of the TIA, USTA, manufacturers and others Cynthia Cantrell
regarding how tennis, and the business of tennis, is doing. Rod Cross
Kristen Daley
And in this case, the good news is something we all should Joe Dinoffer
be talking about. Liza Horan
James Martin
In fact, in a special section in this issue that begins on
Greg Moran
page 27, we’ll tell you how this good news is affecting the Chris Nicholson
various constituents in the tennis industry and how you can Bob Patterson
Cynthia Sherman
continue to take advantage of this news to both help your Mary Helen Sprecher
business and help the sport grow as a whole.
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
The interesting part of all this is that the economy is a Corporate Offices
complete mess, yet tennis is doing well. There’s something 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
about this sport that keeps people coming back to it. Maybe Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
it’s the fact that it’s relatively inexpensive to get into and Website: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
play. Maybe it’s that there are so many great programs now
to get people into the game. Maybe it’s that so many indus- Advertising Director
John Hanna
try groups—teaching pros, organizations, associations,
770-650-1102, x.125
media, etc.—all started coming together a few years ago in hanna@knowatlanta.com
a concentrated effort to grow the game and show its bene-
Apparel Advertising
fits. Or maybe, most likely, it’s a combination of all of these, Cynthia Sherman
and many more. 203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
You all know of the benefits the sport provides, and
Racquet Sports Industry (USPS 347-8300. ISSN 0191-
you’ve all seen the numbers of increased participation, 5851) is published 10 times per year: monthly Janu-
equipment sales, play occasions and more. Now, get out ary through August and combined issues in
September/October and November/December by
there and trumpet these to your community. All are good Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA
storylines at the local level. 92084. Periodicals postage paid at Hurley, NY 12443
and additional mailing offices. May 2008, Volume
And we’ll all see that “good news” is indeed the best news 36, Number 5 © 2008 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.
of all for your business. All rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and
logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circu-
lation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscrip-
tions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry,
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA
INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS
Prince
Americas
President
P of a new strategic direction for the development of future American champions. The initiative
will provide a greater focus on top American junior players and young pros.
The USTA also will create a “Champions Advisory
Doug Board” and “Coaches Commission” to bring together the
Fonte has best in American tennis to provide input into talent iden-
retired— tification, program development, and coaching. In addi-
for the tion, the new direction will include the launch of “USTA
second time. Fonte came out Pro Track,” providing a pathway for top American juniors
of retirement in 2005 to help to achieve at the highest levels of the game.
rebuild the Prince brand in McEnroe, who led the U.S. Davis Cup team to its first
the U.S., then later added title in 12 years last December, will remain in his role as
responsibility for Canada and Davis Cup captain. He will begin his new full-time posi-
Latin America.
tion as general manager on May 12, and will report to
"This time it's permanent," Arlen Kantarian, CEO of Professional Tennis. McEnroe
Fonte says. "Getting back in will oversee the USTA’s National Coaches and coaching
the tennis industry, contribut- program, as well as the USTA Training Centers in Boca
ing to the revival of Prince, Raton, Fla., and Carson, Calif.
working with [Prince Chair- “This is one of the sport’s highest callings and I am
man and CEO] George Napier
thrilled to unify and lead a team to keep America the
and the terrific Prince team
home of champions,” says McEnroe. “The USTA has sig-
over the past three years has
been a lot of fun and very nificantly stepped up its commitment to the develop-
rewarding, but now is the ment of elite champions, and I am honored to lead this
right time to let a younger effort. I look forward to working with our past champi-
generation take the company ons, top coaches, academies, and other industry leaders.”
to the next level.” “Patrick McEnroe is one of the most respected and forward-thinking minds in tennis today, and
has achieved success at every level of the sport,” says Kantarian. “With Patrick at the helm, we look
“Working with Doug the past
three years has been really forward to building a broad coalition of support toward one common goal: creating the next gen-
good for our team and a priv- eration of American champions.”
ilege for me,” says Napier. “The USTA is clearly on the right track,” says coach Nick Bollettieri. “Patrick is a man who puts
“Although Doug is leaving his what is best for American tennis in front of everything else. We look forward to working with him
management role, he will stay and the USTA on this new effort to create American champions and inspire individuals to play the
connected to Prince as a con- game.”
sultant—through 2009—and
as a Prince ambassador to
several organizations includ- Nominations Sought for Tennis Industry Hall of Fame
ing the Arthur Ashe Youth he Tennis Industry Association is creating a “Tennis Industry Hall of Fame,” to recognize those
Tennis and Education Center
in Philadelphia and the Inter-
national Tennis Hall of Fame.” T individuals who have had a significant impact on the sport of tennis. Eligibility is open to any-
one who has been or is currently in the tennis industry. TIA membership is not required for
consideration in the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.
As for the future, "I fully To nominate someone, go to www.tennisindustry.org/hof by Friday, May 30. Nominations, and
expect to fill Doug's role those submitting nominations, will remain confidential. All nominations will be considered by the
when the time is right,” says Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, then submitted to the TIA Board of Directors.
Napier.
Inductees into the inaugural Tennis Industry Hall of Fame class will be announced in New York
City in August, in conjunction with the TIA Tennis Forum and the US Open.
T
he Southeast Michigan Tennis Association and
Texas teaching professional Mike Carter have Following For Achieving
been honored by the USTA for providing an MRT and CS Status
excellent experience for Recreational Coach Work-
New Master Racquet Technicians - MRTs
shop attendees.
The SMTA was named 2007 Host Site of the Year.
Jon Anderson Worcester, MA
It hosted two RCW events last year, catering to more Daniel Bickett Whitewater, WI
than 100 participants interested in learning and Myong-Yong Koo Incheon, KOREA
improving their tennis teaching abilities. Carter Lynn Khaing Dallas, TX
(left), the director of Community Development for Abdolreza Zarandi Houston, TX
the Texas Section, is an RCW Master Trainer and has
Larry Haugness Springfield, MO
been involved in the program for six years.
“Recreational Coach Workshops are a great tool
Peter Oman Norwalk, CT
for the on-court training of coaches working with
groups of new players,” says Kirk Anderson, director New Certified Stringers - CSs
of Recreational Coaches & Programs at the USTA. “But nothing happens without a Justin Henderson Bowling Green, KY
great leader and organizer to make a workshop happen.” Julie Farina Palm Beach Grdns, FL
Carter and a representative of the SMTA will receive an all expense-paid trip to the
Matthew Tarentino Somerville, NJ
USTA Tennis Teacher’s Conference in New York City in August.
Andrea Cescolini San Diego, CA
Tomas Hlavaty Needham, MA
Babolat, Unique Federer, Bryans Win Kelvin Aquino San Diego, CA
R
oger Federer and Bob and Mike Bryan are
Overgrip Lawsuit the big winners in the 2007 ATP Awards,
B
abolat VS and Unique which were announced in Miami on the
Sports Products recently eve of the Sony Ericsson Open in March. Brownlee Joins Prince
settled a long-standing dis-
pute involving the blue colors of
For the fourth consecutive year, Federer
won both the Player of the Year Award and As Western Sales V.P.
M
their overgrips for tennis rac- Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award Present- ax Brownlee has joined Prince as
quets. ed by Stanford. Additionally, fans gave Federer the regional vice president of
In 2002, Unique sued Babolat the ATPtennis.com Fans’ Favorite Award Pre- sales for the western U.S. Brown-
in Atlanta Federal Court alleging sented by RICOH for the fifth consecutive year. lee was named RSI’s “Person of the
that the blue color of Babolat's The Bryan brothers, who last year finished Year” in 2005 when he was the North
“ProTeam” overgrip infringed as the No. 1 doubles team for the fourth time American general manager for Babolat
upon Unique's claimed trade- in five years, won the Doubles Team of the USA, a position he left at the end of last
mark in the blue color of its Year Award Presented by Stanford for the third year.
“TournaGrip” overgrip. The case consecutive year. The Bryans also were voted Prior to Babolat, Brownlee served in
settled in January 2008 after ATPtennis.com Fans’ Favorite for the third con- different capacities for both Prince and
Unique surrendered its damages secutive year. Wilson for more than 20 years.
claim during the trial. The settle- Other winners include Novak Djokovic of “We are extremely proud that Max is
ment allows Unique to retain its Serbia, the first player to clinch Most Improved re-joining the Prince family at this excit-
federal trademark registration Player of the Year honors in back-to-back ing time,” says Charlie Osborn, vice
for the blue color, but it does not years; Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, named president of national sales at Prince.
require Babolat to change any of Newcomer of the Year; Russian Igor Andreev, “Max’s relationships and experience in
its overgrip colors, including the Comeback Player of the Year; and Bud Collins the industry will help us build upon our
blue color of ProTeam. won the Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award. recent successes, elevate the brand to
“Because the settlement Ivan Ljubicic was named Arthur Ashe the next level and introduce genera-
means that we can continue sell- Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his tions of players to the ground-breaking
ing overgrips in the shades of support of individual, smaller charities in his products we are bringing to market.”
blue we currently offer, we are native Croatia and his sponsorship of the Brownlee succeeds Ken Diller, who
very pleased with the result,” Monaco Special Olympics, donating his entire had been with Prince for 16 years as
says Jean-Louis Boyre, Babolat Davis Cup prize money to those charities as Midwest territory sales manager and
USA’s chairman of the board. well as playing exhibitions to raise money. West regional vice president.
T
he USTA has added one more player challenge to
the electronic line-calling protocol used at the US tom-made floating court was installed in the rooftop pool of
Open and at all Olympus US Open Series events the new Gansevoort South Hotel in the South Beach section
this summer. On courts where the electronic system is of Miami before the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open in March. A
in use, players will now receive three challenges per team of 12 took five days to build the water-covered court
set plus one for tie-breaks. in the 110-foot swimming pool, using custom-built acrylic
The additional challenge per set has been added to sheets supported by 130 acrylic tubes.
increase usage of the player challenge system, known
as the “Chase Review” at the US Open, while helping
to create a uniform protocol across the pro game. The
“3 plus 1” system will now be in use at all profession-
al tennis events where an electronic line-calling system
is in place.
In 2006, the US Open became the first Grand Slam
to use the electronic line-calling technology, creating a
“2 plus 1” system. “Electronic line-calling, with its
player challenge system, has been one of the most
widely-acclaimed initiatives in tennis,” says Jim Curley,
USTA managing director of tournament operations and
the US Open tournament director. “With an additional
challenge per set, we look forward to the Chase Review
being used more frequently at this year’s US Open.”
During the 2007 US Open, 320 calls were chal-
lenged by players, and a total of 95 calls, or 30.6 per-
cent, were overturned.
U
.S. Fed Cup Captain Zina Garrison and USTA Director of
Men’s Tennis Rodney Harmon have been named the
women’s and men’s coaches for the 2008 U.S. Olympic
Tennis Teams. In addition, Dan James, Head U.S. National
Wheelchair Team Coach, has been named coach for the U.S.
Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team.
The 2008 Olympic Games tennis competition will be Aug.
10-17 in Beijing, China, at the Beijing Olympic Tennis Centre.
The 2008 Paralympic Games tennis competition will be Sept.
8-15 in Beijing at the same venue. The Olympic competition
will conclude eight days prior to the US Open and will be
played on the same DecoTurf II hard court surface as the US
Open.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic tennis team will consist of up to six
men and six women, with a maximum of four men and four
women competing in the singles competition and a maximum
of two men’s and two women’s teams competing in doubles.
Olympic team selections will made by June 23. The U.S.
Olympic Committee will approve all team and staff selections
for the Olympic Games.
U
SPTA and PTR Master Professional Joe Dinoffer, president of Oncourt Off-
court, has announced the launch of a QuickStart Tennis “36/60 Package” that
sets up 6 courts for under $100. Weighted bases and vertical poles combine
with Tennis Caution Tape to create 6 mini courts along the length of a tennis court.
The kit easily adapts to driveways, cul-de-sacs, parking lots, gymnasiums, or
any other open area. It also includes a 1,000-foot roll of durable Tennis Caution
Tape that can be reused or recycled after
each use, plus a zippered nylon carry
case.
Oncourt Offcourt also carries a full line
of transition balls designed to help begin-
ners improve faster and have more fun,
including high-density foam Spinners as
well as low-compression and slow-bouncing
pressureless Champs.
For information and to receive a free
color catalog, contact 1-88-TENNIS-11 or
visit www.oncourtoffcourt.com.
A
SBA's 2008 Awards Application is now available in the Members Only section of its website,
www.sportsbuilders.org. Print out the form to fax or mail or save it to complete it on your com-
puter. The application has been simplified and the number of photographs has been reduced.
Completed applications and payments ($150 per application submitted) are due by July 1, 2008.
If you need assistance accessing the Members Only section or if you require any other informa-
tion, contact Cynthia at 866-510-ASBA or cjordan@sportsbuilders.org.
O P L E W AT C
E H
P of Onalaska,• Ian Griffin
Wis., is
at the
$150,000 The Oliver
the grand-prize winner of Group Champions Cup in
the USPTA’S first-ever personal Naples, Fla., the opening event
website contest. Griffin is a USPTA on the 2008 Outback Champions
Pro 1 and 29-year member. His web- Series tennis circuit.
site, iangriffin.usptapro.com, stood out
for the creative use of colors, links to • Ashaway Racket Strings has
online lessons and club information, and signed squash great Natalie
availability of content in English, Spanish Grainger to a multi-year spon-
and French. As the grand-prize winner, Grif- sorship agreement. Grainger,
fin receives products from Head/Penn, includ- who won the US Nationals in
ing racquets, a bag and string. March after switching to Ash-
away's new SuperNick XL Micro, is
• John McEnroe will return currently ranked No. 1 in the US and No. 4
for his eighth season with on the Women's International Squash Players
the World TeamTennis Association Tour.
Pro League presented by
Advanta, playing three • College of Charleston junior Megan Man-
road matches for the New they, a member of the women’s soccer team,
York Sportimes this summer. won the $5,000 scholarship grant donated
Other top names in the WTT Pro League each year by the Family Circle Cup Commu-
include Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, nity Outreach program.
Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, Martina
Navratilova, Anna Kournikova and Bob and • Pro Nikolay Davydenko switched to Prince’s
Mike Bryan. The Pro League season runs July new Ozone Pro Tour racquet at the 2008
3-23 in 11 markets. Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in March and
took home them men’s singles title. He also
• Satoshi Ochi, of Omaha, Neb., has been started wearing Prince’s OV1 shoes, too.
named strength and conditioning specialist Other Prince champions at the Sony Erics-
for USTA Sport Science. Ochi joins the son included men’s doubles winners Bob
Player Development staff at the USTA and Mike Bryan and women’s doubles
Training Center and Player Development winners Ai Sugiyama and Katarina Sre-
Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. botnik, all playing with O3 Speedport
Black frames. In addition, women’s
• Todd Martin defeated John singles finalist Jelena Jankovic
McEnroe to win the sin- uses the O3 Speedport Pro
gles title in March White.
I
n March, Dunlop launched its newest consumer promotion, the Million Dollar
Slam, which gives recreational players a chance to win up to $1 million. Tennis
players who demo a Dunlop Aerogel racquet at participating pro shops, tennis
retailers or at events throughout North America will receive a contest Game Card with
a unique PIN code. Participants enter the sweepstakes contest online at
www.Dunlopsweepstakes.com.
Upon entering the PIN code, participants are assigned a Dunlop Tour Team play-
er, and if that player is named the Dunlop Spotlight player and wins one of the final
three Grand Slams in 2008, they will win up to $1 million. Dunlop Tour Team play-
ers are James Blake, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Robredo, Nicolas Almagro, Tommy
Haas, and Thomas Johansson.
But the $1 million Grand Prize isn’t the only prize. An all-expenses-paid trip for
two to Saddlebrook Tennis Resort in Tampa to meet James Blake, along with Dunlop
Gear packages, can be won as well. Complete rules and details of the contest can be
found at Dunlopsweepstakes.com.
SHORT SETS
>andDunlop Sports Group is the official ball
racquet for the WTA Tour’s Family Circle
USOpen.org for every new member you
refer to the USTA. Send them to
Cup, which celebrates its 35th anniversary USTA.com/MGM.
this year. Dunlop, based in Greenville, S.C.,
has also become the official ball and racquet
>historical
For the first time, the USTA Yearbook
records are available online at
of the Family Circle Tennis Center in
www.USTA.com/Yearbook. The online
Charleston, S.C.
edition of the Yearbook will serve as a
> The USTA and Evian Natural Spring Water
will extend their 22-year partnership with the
supplement to the longstanding print
edition and will be updated yearly, pro-
US Open through 2012. Beginning this year, viding access to current and former
the partnership will expand to include spon- champions, results and USTA Award-
sorship of the Olympus US Open Series for winners in both the professional and
the first time, with Evian becoming the offi- amateur ranks.
cial bottled water of each of the USOS tour-
naments held in the U.S. In related news,
> The Active Network Inc., a provider of
application services technology and mar-
Juvederm will also be an official sponsor of
keting solutions for community service
the US Open, the event’s first cosmetic indus-
and participatory sports organizations,
try sponsor.
has signed on to provide online registra-
>uctsThewasPlexipave surface by California Prod-
chosen for the 2008 Pacific Life
tion for the Intercollegiate Tennis Associ-
ation's memberships, conventions and
Open, which was played in March in Indian 85 ITA-administered college tennis tour-
Wells, Calif. naments. In addition, Active will rebuild
ITA's website, www.itatennis.com.
>Outstanding
Applications for the 27th annual USTA
Tennis Facility Awards are now
available online at www.usta.com. Recogni-
tion will be given to outstanding public ten-
nis facilities under the jurisdiction of (1) a
parks and recreation department, (2) an edu-
cational institution, (3) a non-profit corpora-
tion or (4) a private and commercially owned
and operated facility with USTA and other
growth programs open to the public. Appli-
cations are due in July.
>theThephilanthropic
USTA Tennis & Education Foundation,
and charitable entity of the
USTA, has appointed five new directors-at-
large to its board: Lucy S. Garvin of
Greenville, S.C.; Jonathan Vegosen of Chica-
go; Carol Kimmelman of Bernardsville, N.J.,
and Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Terry L. March of
Water Mill, N.Y.; and Paul Palandjian of
Boston. “Their expertise and commitment
will help support the organization’s goal to
reach as many at-risk and special-need
youngsters as possible through tennis and
education,” says Karen Martin-Eliezer, execu-
tive director of the USTA T&EF.
>“Member
Are you a USTA member? With the
Get Member” program, you can
receive $15 off your next purchase at
FREE ADMISSION
TO THE 2008 GSS STRINGERS SYMPOSIUM
GSS is waiving the $495 symposium fee for one lucky winner.
Just cut out this coupon and mail it to:
Baselines Racquet Sports LLC
4710 Norwood St SW, Roanoke, Va 24018
One entry per month, per person please. Drawing will be held July 15th, 2008.
Offer good for symposium admission only. Travel, lodging, and food not included.
Name _____________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________
Phone _____________________________________________________________
Email ______________________________________________________________
winner will be notified by phone and email - please write legibly!
Cast in Cement
During their first-round Davis Cup win over Austria in
February, the defending champion U.S. Davis Cup team of
Bob and Mike Bryan, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Cap-
tain Patrick McEnroe
took time out to
make their mark on
Vienna’s Avenue of
Champions. Each
team member laid a
hand down in a
cement casting,
while McEnroe’s feet
were immortalized.
The team’s imprints and
bronze plaque now join
those of other superstar ath-
letes such as Boris Becker,
Steffi Graf, Ernie Els, Carl
Lewis, George Foreman, Pele
and Mark Spitz.
T
The USTA presented honors
to various tennis organiza-
tions and people from
around the nation at the annual
Community Tennis Development
Workshop, which was held at the
Flamingo Las Vegas Feb. 22-24.
The CTDW is one of the pre-
mier gatherings in the U.S. for
community tennis leaders. The
following awards were presented:
Q NJTL of the Year (presented at three dif-
ferent budget levels): Rising Stars of Ken-
tucky Tennis, Louisville, Ky.; NJTL of
Trenton Inc., Trenton, N.J.; and Dallas
Tennis Association, Dallas, Texas.
Q Janet Louer USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organ-
izer of the Year: Rita Gladstone, Daytona
Beach, Fla.
Q Adaptive Tennis National Community
Service Award: Orthotic & Prosthetic
Assistance Fund of Langhorne, Pa.
Q Community Tennis Association of the
Year: Florence Tennis Association, Flo-
rence, S.C.
Q Eve Kraft Community Service Awards:
Sue Jollensten, Albuquerque, N.M.; Nancy
Horowitz, Pembroke Pines, Fla.; Jaime
Kaplan, Macon, Ga.; Bob Phelps, Carson
City, Nev.
A
matted file with world-class coaching concepts. t the start
The CoachingMinute is designed for anyone working with kids at any level, from of the
first-time instructors to seasoned veterans. The resource can help tennis teachers cre- 2008 Sony
ate an environment where young students enjoy their lessons at a fuller, deeper level, Ericsson Open
learn more and perform better. The concepts are grounded in play, coaching and in Miami in
behavioral success sciences. March, nearly
30 tour players
were wearing
Prince’s new
Aerotech
apparel line,
including Vania
King (top),
Vince Spadea
and Albert
Montanes (bot-
tom right). The
Aerotech line
was officially
launched this year.
“The fact that 27 world-class ath-
letes have decided to wear our new
performance apparel on tour is a
great start,” says George Napier, CEO
and chairman of Prince Sports.
"Developing Aerotech apparel has
been an intensive initiative and the
response we're getting from athletes
and consumers is rewarding.”
The Aerotech Spring 2008 line is
available in three collections:
Q Gold: The premier on-court collec-
tion featuring an athletic silhouette
and worn by ATP and WTA touring
pros.
Q Silver: A more relaxed silhouette
featuring fashion accents.
Q Black: A comprehensive line fea-
turing classic silhouettes, colors
and designs in contemporary cuts,
perfect for school teams and
leagues, says Prince.
Features of the apparel lines
include AeroFit, allowing fabrics to
move and stretch for comfort and
mobility; AeroShield, for protection
against UV rays and bacteria; and
AeroVent, technical materials with
cooling zones for ventilation and
moisture management.
To see the Aerotech line, visit
www.princetennis.com/VCAB.
T Announce Partnership
he 82nd National Public Parks Tennis Championships will take
place July 21-29 at the University Tennis Center in New Orleans.
T
The tournament is open to all USTA members and features junior, he Intercollegiate Tennis Association and the Ten-
adult, NTRP and family events in both singles and doubles. The junior nis Recruiting Network have announced a part-
events will take place on the opening four days, followed by the adult nership to help college coaches connect with
divisions. future players. All ITA member coaches will be eligi-
The deadline to register for all events is July 11. For more informa- ble to receive a special rate for the Coaching Advan-
tion on registering for the Public Parks Tennis Championships, visit tage service at the TennisRecruiting.net website.
firstservetournaments.com. TennisRecruiting.net offers content and services
for college-bound athletes, coaches and tennis enthu-
siasts. The website has player profile web pages for
Industry Cites TWCs more than 60,000 high school and middle school ten-
T
he "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers of 2007" have been recognized nis players.
by the TIA, USTA and Racquet Sports Industry as leading the charge "Our mission is to help college coaches connect
in the growth of the sport by providing well-rounded programs to with junior players, and working with the ITA should
new and current players of all ages and abilities. help us with that mission," says Julie Wrege, editor of
The facilities honored exhibited excellent participation figures TennisRecruiting.net. "The ITA can help us expand
involving new and returning players, support of industry programs and our reach with college coaches, giving both colleges
community tennis development, and were active with TWC facility and players more options with respect to recruiting."
requirements, among other criteria. To see the winners, visit The ITA is the governing body of collegiate tennis
www.GrowingTennis.com. in the U.S., comprised of nearly 1,500 member
The Tennis Welcome Center initiative is backed by all sectors of the coaches representing more than 1,200 institutions. It
industry. Popular pro player Maria Sharapova and James Blake are oversees activities involving over 25,000 college stu-
spokesmodels for the program, which is free to tennis facilities who dent-athletes. For more information, visit
wish to support industry efforts to grow participation through specific www.ITATennis.com and www.TennisRecruiting.net.
programming and marketing.
E
very year since 1999, the USTA and TIA have carried out
Health a major national survey of the number of tennis players in
Index isn’t the U.S. While this has been an important measure of the
Jolyn de Boer due until early health of tennis over the years, the industry felt that rather than
May, this new risk being over-reliant on a single survey, more measures could
measure is a welcomed be used to introduce a series of checks and balances sort of like
research addition to help creating our own Dow Jones Industrial Average for Tennis..
track player participation. So last year, the TIA/USTA created the Tennis Health Index,
which combines eight indicators to give an accurate measure of
Over the last several months,
the state of tennis in the U.S. on a yearly basis. The components
we’ve seen an increasing
of this robust index include a number of participation surveys Using four of the eight Tennis Health Index
number of facilities register-
from various sources; ball shipment data; and facility, player and indicators that were available in early April,
ing to become official
court activity monitors to give a broad and diversified view of the chart above shows a projected index for the
Tennis Welcome Centers, last eight years. The full THI will be calculated
the development of the industry. So far, five measures are in:
Tennis Participation–USTA/TIA Phone Survey: In 2007, ten-
with many offering Cardio when all indicators are available in early May.
Tennis and to date nearly
nis topped 25.1 million players, the first time since 1999 that
600 offering QuickStart Ten-
the sport has broken the 25 million barrier. In addition, since 2003, frequent players (who play 21
nis. At GrowingTen-
times a year or more) have increased 15%.
Ball Shipments: The TIA has tracked tennis ball shipments for more than 20 years. Tennis ball units
nis.com, facilities and
retailers can get involved
have historically been a good indicator of the level of play. Shipments have increased 15% since 2003.
Court Activity Monitor: For the first time in 2007, the TIA/USTA began an “audit” to measure activ-
with these initiatives by post-
ing their information for con-
ity at facilities. A panel of 628 facilities was surveyed online and by telephone. From this, a “total courts
sumers. With an average of
used” figure was calculated for 2007. A total of 137 million courts were booked/used last year.
Annual Facility Survey: As part of the TIA/USTA’s Court Activity Monitor, a bi-annual survey of facil-
1 million queries per month
and a 1000% increase in
ities is carried out. From the survey, 60% of facilities said new players had increased and 6% said new
facilities using this system,
players had decreased. The “net” of 54% will be included in the Tennis Health Index.
Tennis Participation–NSGA Mail Panel Survey: The National Sporting Goods Association has been
we encourage you to find
out more through the weekly
tracking participation in dozens of sports for nearly 30 years. Its 2007 survey, of participants 7 years
online Open Houses.
old and older who play more than once a year, shows a nearly 20% increase in tennis participation.
Mark Your Calendars:
The second annual TIA Ten-
nis Forum will be held Expanded RSI Partnership Includes New TIA Member News Feed
T
on Aug. 25, during the he TIA is increasing the visibility of its member companies with a new
USTA Tennis Teachers Confer- RSS feed for company press releases and news. The RSS feed, “Ten-
ence in New York. nisIndustry News,” will appear on TennisIndustry.org, RacquetSportsIn-
dustry.com and additional sites for up-to-date member news. This increased
At the Forum, the first
marketing and communications effort started in April.
inductees into the new Ten-
Any press release submitted by TIA member companies to
nis Industry Hall of Fame
news@tennisindustry.org or already on a distribution list with Racquet Sports
will be recognized for their
Industry will automatically be posted on the TennisIndustry News RSS feed,
contributions to the tennis
and it also will receive bonus email distribution to industry contacts and
industry. For more informa-
media.
tion, see page 7.
In addition, the TIA is working in conjunction with The Sherry Group, a
Thanks for your support of national public relations firm, to help direct attention to TIA member news. As
the TIA and our joint efforts a TIA media partner, The Sherry Group will deliver exposure for TennisIndus-
to grow tennis. try News to their more than 100,000 media sources.
20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY May 2008 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
TIA NEWS
I
n just 30 minutes, you can learn how to post your programs for free on key consumer web-
sites using the GrowingTennis system. It’s easy when you go to a TIA “Growing Tennis
Online Open House.”
The Open Houses are every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. EST.
When you post your information on the GrowingTennis system, it will appear on key con-
sumer websites such as USTA.com, Tennis.com, TennisWeek.com, TennisChannel.com and
others. Plus, you’ll get extra mileage as a facility participating in industry initiatives on Ten-
nisWelcomeCenter.com, CardioTennis.com or QuickStartTennis.com.
Every month, more than 1 million queries are made to facilities who post their program
information on these sites, so don’t be left out of using this system for free marketing to sell your programs and
grow your business. Online sign-up and payment features also are available.
The half-hour Open House session will take you through the easy steps to get the most out of the GrowingTennis System.
The online training includes an opportunity to “ask the expert” about the system and its features and benefits, as technol-
ogy professionals guide you through this information tutorial. All you need is a computer and phone line to call in.
To register, visit GrowingTennisTraining.com, call toll-free 866-686-3036 or email info@growingtennis.com.
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org May 2008 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21
STRING
marketing SUCCESS
W
hen it comes to the world of recreational players, just
how valuable are the equipment patterns of the pros? drastically different than with gut. The ball jumps and moves unbe-
This has always been a tricky question for shop owners. lievably. A ball that looks like it’s going way out and then drops like
Most recently, a string that’s become a standard among pros is a stone—that’s what everyone calls ‘a Luxilon shot.’”
drawing significant interest among recreational players. Luxilon is Adds Goldstein’s coach, ex-pro Scott McCain, “It’s changed pro
a string that turns the age-old notion of a racquet and a string on tennis from linear to parabolic. It’s like Ping-Pong out there.”
its head. As recently as 10 years ago, pros such as Pete Sampras With this kind of acceptance and performance among the top
often used highly resilient, lively gut strings as a means of adding pros, stringers all over the country are finding their customers
life to their frames. But Luxilon is completely different. increasingly eager to try Luxilon. Neil Rothenberg, an independent
Luxilon is a dead string. Nate Ferguson, head of Priority One, stringer based in Piedmont, Calif., who strings racquets at the
the company that strings for such pros as Roger Federer, Lleyton Berkeley Tennis Club and for the UC Berkeley men’s and women’s
Hewitt and Novak Djokovic, says, “Because the string is so dead, teams, says, “Lots of people are asking about Luxilon now. It’s very
the player can swing loose and hard. The result is much more dip, much part of my inventory.”
whip and power.” But putting this string in racquets is not so simple. Luxilon is a
W
this industry. BY PETER FRANCESCONI
e’ve all cringed at the gloomy headlines and omi- That, of course, would be the bad news. The good news is that
nous sound bites that have dominated the news in the tennis industry, things are looking good. Very good.
lately. “Gas Prices Increase Again.” “House Foreclo- In fact, there is a lot of good news coming out of the TIA, USTA,
sures Are Up.” “Consumer Confidence Down.” “Is The U.S. in a manufacturers, retailers and others regarding how tennis, and the
Recession?” What seems to dominate the news nowadays is the business of tennis, is doing. On the following pages, we’ll tell you
economy. And the economy is a mess. how this good news is affecting the various constituents in the ten-
STEADY GROWTH
And one happy consequence of QuickStart and other kid’s pro-
grams may be that parents appear to be coming back to tennis, too,
“Having four years of steady and consistent growth in both partici- realizing that no matter what their skill level, they can play tennis
pation and industry sales is the best news we could have,” says Kurt with their kids and, importantly, all family members can enjoy the
Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis. experience. Industry data shows that “rejoiners” are up 10.2 percent
TEAMS
pants to burn hundreds of
WANING COMPETITION?
knock on wood it stays like that,” says Ajay Pant, manager of the
Overland Park Club in Kansas City, Kan., and national director of ten-
nis for the Tennis Corporation of America. “We have not in any way Affordability and being family-friendly may in fact be helping the
sensed a hiccup of any nature on the tennis side in any of our clubs. industry flourish, but Billy Freer, tennis director at the Brookhaven
We’re doing exceptionally well.” Country Club in Dallas, also sees the competition from other sports
T
beginning to cash in.
BY KENT OSWALD
he tennis industry's front-line troops are riding the crest of For Woody, marketing the sport’s traditional benefits is paying
outstanding industry news. And while there may be no off in increased lessons and play. Thanks at least in part to the Car-
standard measure, teaching pros acknowledge the steady, dio Tennis program rolled out in 2005, consumers have
and sometimes exploding, increase in lesson hours. (re)discovered that in a couple of hours a week they can play, have
As Mike Woody puts it, "I look at our industry and I don't see fun, socialize and get their cardio health benefits. And the Quick-
barriers, I see only opportunities." Woody, a USPTA Professional 1 Start Tennis format "has really pinpointed a market that we can do
and executive director of the 32-court Midland (Mich.) Community better at,” says Woody. “That's helped us. When you have a big
Tennis Center, says 2007 was one of their best racquet-stringing national campaign, that affects us locally."
years ever and notes ball sales, lessons and "court utilization" all Even the USTA, which in years past has been a target of criti-
rose—and are continuing to do so. cism about the sport’s lackluster grassroots growth, is now receiv-
FIRING
six years ago, she says, “There was nothing nis in recent years, and in its contin-
UP THE ENGINE
going on. Now, I’m getting complaints that ued growth in the future. Here are
people can't get courts to play on." just a few ways you can continue to
SEEKING COMFORT
not only grow the game, but grow But there may be a dark cloud on the
your income, too. horizon. Dan Santorum, CEO of the PTR,
That timetable fits with what Craig Jones, Q Gain marketing muscle. Tie into is as bullish as anyone on the sport’s cur-
director of tennis at the Petersburg (Ga.) Rac- national programs launched by the rent prospects, talking up the various
quet Club, has noticed, too. He believes PTR, USPTA, USTA, TIA and other new initiatives and the public's aware-
many people stayed at home, seeking safety groups. ness of the sport's health benefits and
cally, the current credit crisis is encouraging Q Consider more group lessons.
and comfort, after Sept. 11, 2001. But, ironi- relatively low cost. Rather than hearing
complaints about business or lack of
people to go out and seek more social situa- With players in groups, you can lessons as in years past, the biggest prob-
tions. As an example, he points out that at emphasize the social aspects of the lem most people are sharing with him is
the PRC, league play has doubled measured game, keep costs down to players, finding teaching pros. Still, the econom-
against 10 years ago, when it was about 40 and maximize revenue to pros by ics for teaching pros is a bit vexing for
percent of the non-lesson business. having more players on court at Santorum.
The theory that relative bad times for the one time. Also, arrange it so friends With all the new programs, people
economy can still be good times for tennis is or teammates can be in group are going to be learning quicker and
pervasive. USPTA CEO Tim Heckler says he lessons together, making it more starting play sooner, and because of the
sees tennis lessons as recession-proof. "Peo- fun for all. emphasis on health, they will stay with it
ple want to stay healthy and fit regardless of Q Expand your relationships longer. All of it will increase the need for
the economic climate,” Heckler says. “Typi- with your players. It should be tennis professionals. But, says Santorum,
cally, when people are faced with hard eco- about more than just giving a les- "salaries are like tennis balls—they’re the
nomic times, they will have to cut out yearly son and sending them on their same as they were 20 years ago."
vacations, but they make up for that by way. Invite them to involve their He expects many of the "first genera-
spending more time at the tennis club or friends and family in the program. tion" of teaching pros—those who took it
S.C., has noticed an uptick in requests for bids not just in new MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR TENNIS
Fred Manchester of Manchester Tennis Courts in Lexington,
construction, but in reconstruction of existing facilities—a better By helping to market the game of tennis, builders and suppliers can greatly
sign than wanting to turn tennis courts into basketball courts or influence the number of players in this country.
playgrounds. “In the past three months, I have seen requests for
bids from seven different government sources,” Q Bring tennis into the schools. Supply gym teachers with court dia-
FOR YOU
asphalt overlays to new construction to enlarge Tennis format, and possibly with donations of
existing facilities.” blue painting tape or other tape to create
To keep tennis on the upswing, court temporary court lines. Hold equipment drives
Those interested in renovating or building new
builders need to make sure they continue and donate old racquets. If the schools them-
public courts have been calling places like the
to market themselves to schools, cities and selves don’t have courts, give them a list of
American Sports Builders Association and request-
more. Here are some hints from successful public facilities so kids can practice their
ing construction documents. “Tennis is on the
builders. games.
right track,” says Carol Hogan, executive vice pres-
ident of the ASBA. “Finally.” Q Reach out to municipalities. “I do Q Join your local Community Tennis
MAKING IT HAPPEN
mailings to city, county and state pur- Association. If you volunteer your exper-
chasing departments,” says Fred Man- tise in your local CTA, maybe by becoming
The bad news? There is no real bad news—just a chester. “I also try to network with tennis a consultant to the group, you’ll be helping
caveat, really. Those who want to take advantage professionals. I have found that if the to promote tennis in your area. Also,
of the new wave need to start now—not next sea- director at a tennis center has a child in though, you’ll be promoting your business,
son, not in the off-season and certainly not “some public school and they are in the know as too.
day.” to what is being considered.”
Q Promote the image of tennis. Sponsor
Q Keep lines of communication open.
Richard Zaino of Zaino Tennis Courts in
Orange, Calif., says his company regularly reaches appearances by professional athletes to give
Richard Zaino and Jonnie Deremo are demos to kids. “For tennis to survive, even
out to municipalities—without asking for a return.
among those who stay in contact with grow, it has to be fun, cool and accessible,”
“We advertise and make available guidelines
city and school construction departments. says the ASBA’s Carol Hogan. “The USTA,
and specifications to the cities and schools for
repairs, resurfacing and construction,” Zaino says. Q Help other programs grow. “I find TIA and others have it right. Get it in the
“We provide these free to the owners along with myself talking to a lot of people whose schools. Get it in the parks. Make inexpen-
inspections and budget costs.” Zaino also pro- wish list exceeds their budget,” says sive equipment available. Teach people to
vides recommendations and information to Manchester, who has donated time and play at any age, but especially the young.”
homeowners’ associations, but believes he “could equipment to facilities that have needed Q Convince tournament directors to
be more proactive in promoting the game.” to do in-house maintenance work. Tom donate blocks of tickets to rec pro-
If promoting the game itself seems to be out- Magner of Deco Turf in Andover, Mass., grams, boys and girls clubs and oth-
side the job description of builders and suppliers, notes that his company often directs ers. Richard Zaino suggests getting kids
think of the trickle-down effect: With more courts municipalities to grant opportunities that interested by letting them see tennis played
being built and rehabbed at high schools, colleges, they may not be aware of, including the well.
then at homes, there will be more players (not to NRPA's Tennis in the Parks Initiative and
mention more work for builders). Then, how the USTA's Adopt-A-Court program. Q Stress the lifelong aspect of the
sport. John Welborn and others recom-
Q Advertise in industry publications,
about more Grand Slam winners coming from the
U.S.? The possibilities are there. mend marketing to baby boomers, not just
and in those read by your target the new kids on the block.
“We in the industry would do well to contact
audience. Don’t wait until next season,
all types of entities to help promote tennis,” says
don’t wait until that big job comes in. Do Q Be a player. “By encouraging friends and
Jonnie Deremo of General Acrylics Inc. in Phoenix. associates, you too can impact the growth
it now.
Deremo believes contractors should reach out to of the game,” says Rick Burke.
city councils, parks and recs, non-profit youth pro-
PROFIT MARGIN
By making the consumer more aware, there is a great oppor-
tunity to introduce the player to premium strings that are specifi-
cally suited for their racquet and style of play. This means the Buying programs are another important incentive manufacturers
player will not only feel better about their game, but they will like- provide to dealers. Strings sales should provide the highest profit
ly play more often. margin in a tennis store or pro shop. With the labor cost factored
MARKETING STRINGS
in, most retailers report margins of 60 to 80 percent—certainly
more than other categories.
Manufacturers are marketing stringing on several fronts. For “You can make a pretty good margin on stringing with a string
instance, Head is the official string and racquet of the USPTA. that you didn't pay very much for,” says Gugel. “We use strings
“Our affiliation with the USPTA is one of our best endeavors to that are proven and not necessarily the least expensive, but we do
promote our brand at the grassroots level,” says Ben Simons of not pass up a really valuable string program.”
Head. Simons introduced the “Please String Responsibly” cam- In addition to standard volume discount programs, many
paign for Head dealers last year. manufacturers will work with their dealers on creative ways to
“While we have been a major player in the industry with rac- promote their products. “I've entered into an agreement with one
quets, we are relatively new with strings,” says Simons. “The of my vendors to use a specific premium string in all of my
campaign is a fun way to point out the importance of putting a demos,” says Pavlich. “This vendor gave me a very good price
premium string into a premium racquet. Our sales have seen sub- and it has resulted in higher sales of this and other premium
stantial growth, especially in the premium string category.” string. It’s a good way to get premium string on the minds of the
Companies are providing dealers with point-of-sale items such customer.”
as posters, charts and floor mats to catch the eye of the stringing With all signs pointing up for our industry, don’t let your
consumers. stringing sales lag behind. With a careful buying plan and some
“We offer our dealers anti-fatigue mats with our slogan and creative marketing, you can make your No. 1 profit center soar.
T
at the local level, and more.
BY KRISTEN DALEY
he Florence Tennis Association in South Carolina has a The facility construction project is now in Florence’s proposed
problem—a very good problem. Visit any of the local pub- 2008-09 fiscal year budget, to be built on 22 acres of donated land.
lic courts in the evening, and chances are you’ll see peo- It’s proof positive that with tennis’ popularity on the upswing, now
ple waiting patiently for their turn to play. “Our community is is the perfect time for CTAs and parks to advocate for tennis needs
seeing the boom in tennis,” says FTA President Ed Sprenger. in their areas. “Advocacy is huge,” says Sprenger. “The communi-
“More kids and adults are playing, and people are coming back to ty has to know who you are and what you’re doing.”
tennis.” The best plan of action? “Be a part of your community”
Increases in play have been witnessed across the country, with Sprenger says. “Educate them as to what you are doing, the bene-
the sport riding a wave of healthy growth unseen by other tradi- fits of it, and why somebody would want to be involved.”
ment of the sport. For the last five years, the OTA has given TIPS FROM
tennis racquets and balls to encourage continued enjoy- “TSRs have two charges, to learn how we can
ECONOMIC IMPACT
there is appropriate pro- Low-cost beginner programming for juniors
gramming to serve begin- and adults at Houston’s parks are getting
Keeping players coming back will benefit other aspects of ners and any overflow from players hooked on tennis. In fact, two local
your tennis operation as well. The Copeland-Cox Tennis local clubs. NJTLs are seeing increases in participation as
Center in Mobile, Ala., recognized as a result.
Tecnifibre Xr3
Xr3 is a multifilament string from Tecnifi- the weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by
bre that is made with a core of three
38 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings
composite monofilaments surrounded by from 3.0 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with
six bundles of Elastyl micro fibers, playtesters receiving unmarked strings in
imbued with Polyurethane 400. Accord- unmarked packages. The average number
of hours playtested was 18.1.
ing to Tecnifibre, the monofilament cores
Our playtest team rated Tecnifibre Xr3
provide a firmer feel, more control, and as being the 11th easiest string to install of out, so
increased durability. The Elastyl micro the 120 strings we’ve playtested to date. we had to redress the tip
fiber bundles contribute to Xr3’s dynamic Xr3 feels very soft out of the package, and when negotiating one blocked hole.
has no coil memory. We experienced some No playtester broke his sample during
properties and power. The Polyurethane
slight burning of the mains during installa- stringing, one reported problems with coil
400, which makes up 35 percent of the tion of the crosses, which is normal with a memory, one reported problems tying
string, can stretch up to 400 percent of polyurethane-infused string such as this. knots, and three reported friction burn.
its length, providing comfort by reducing The end has a slight tendency to mush
ON THE COURT
shock and vibration. Xr3 is also coated EASE OF STRINGING Our playtest team was pretty excited
with Silicone Pyrogene Lubritec (SPL) to (compared to other strings)
about Xr3, rating it 4th overall of the 120
Number of testers who said it was:
improve durability by reducing abrasion strings we’ve playtested to date in Com-
much easier 5
that can lead to notching and wear. somewhat easier 10 fort, 9th overall in Touch/Feel, and 16th
Tecnifibre says that Xr3 offers the per- about as easy 20 overall in Power. Not stopping there, the
fect combination of power and control, not quite as easy 3 team also rated Xr3 well above average
and it is designed for the player who not nearly as easy 0 in Playability, Control, Spin Potential, and
wants a firmer stringbed from a multifila- Tension Retention. Not surprisingly, this
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
ment offered by Tecnifibre. gave Xr3 an overall rating of well above
(compared to string played most often)
Xr3 is available in 16 (1.30 mm) and average.
Number of testers who said it was:
17 (1.25 mm) in natural only. It is priced much better 1 Three playtesters broke the sample
from $12.50 per 40’ set, and $170 per somewhat better 13 during the playtest period, one after four
660’ reel. For more information or to about as playable 15 hours, one after 10 hours, and one after
order, contact Tecnifibre at 877-332-0825, not quite as playable 9 12 hours.
or visit www.tecnifibre.com. Be sure to not nearly as playable 0
read the conclusion for more information CONCLUSION
OVERALL DURABILITY
about getting a free set to try for yourself. (compared to other strings
Tecnifibre multifilaments have a well-
of similar gauge) deserved reputation for their soft feel, so
IN THE LAB Number of testers who said it was: the stiffer feel of Xr3 is a bit of a depar-
much better 1 ture from the norm. Even so, some of our
We tested the 16-gauge Xr3. The coil
somewhat better 7 playtesters compared Xr3 favorably to
measured 40’. The diameter measured
about as durable 23 natural gut, which is high praise for any
1.27-1.31 mm prior to stringing, and 1.24- not quite as durable 7
1.26 mm after stringing. We recorded a synthetic string. If you’re already using
not nearly as durable 0
stringbed stiffness of 74 RDC units imme- Tecnifibre string at the high end of the
diately after stringing at 60 pounds in a RATING AVERAGES tension range, you might find that Xr3
Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) From 1 to 5 (best) feels similar to your current string, but at
on a constant-pull machine. Playability 3.6 a lower tension setting. If you’re not
Durability 3.2 already using a Tecnifibre multi, and
After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed
Power (16th overall) 3.5 you’re looking for a premium all-around
stiffness measured 66 RDC units, repre-
Control 3.5 performer with a good blend of power
senting an 11 percent tension loss. Our Comfort (4th overall) 3.9
control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Origi- and control, Xr3 might be just the string
Touch/Feel (9th overall) 3.6
nal Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units you’re seeking.
Spin Potential 3.4
immediately after stringing and 71 RDC Holding Tension 3.4
If you think that Tecnifibre Xr3 might
be for you, fill out the coupon to get a
—Greg Raven Q
units after 24 hours, representing a 9 per- Resistance to Movement 3.3
cent tension loss. Xr3 added 14 grams to free set to try.
”
ment. This is a keeper. 3.0 male all-court pounds LO (Gamma Synthetic Gut w/Wearguard “ Great feel and very easy on the arm. Low
string movement, with some slight notching.
player using Prince O3 Citron OS strung at 16)
61 pounds LO (polyester 17)
Very durable for such an arm-friendly string.
6.0 male all-court player using Wilson nTour ”
“ This string is so easy to play with. Too bad it Two strung at 57 pounds CP (Wilson NXT 17)
“ Great playability and feel. Remarkable broke. The power is awesome and the spin is
control and tons of bite. I’m able to experi-
ment with different trajectories because the
heavy. Very similar in playability to natural gut.
5.5 male all-court player using Prince AirStick ” For the rest of the tester comments, visit
www.racquetsportsindustry.com.
ball comes down very sharply and pre-
dictably. Volleys are effortless. Merely block-
ing the ball produces a deep, controlled
”
response. 5.0 male all-court player using
Head Liquidmetal Radical OS strung at 58
pounds CP (Head RIP Control 16)
”
than most, it has incredible control. 5.0
male all-court player using Wilson nSix One
Team strung at 53 pounds CP (Luxilon Big
Banger Alu Power Rough 16L)
FREE PLAYTEST
STRING PROGRAM
Tecnifibre will send a free set of
Xr3 to USRSA members who
cut out (or copy) this coupon
and mail it to:
USRSA,
Attn: Tecnifibre Xr3 String Offer,
330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
or fax to 760-536-1171,
or email the info below to
stringsample@racquettech.com
Offer expires 15 May 2008
Offer only available to USRSA
members in the US.
Name:
Phone:
Email:
If you print your email clearly, we will
notify you when your sample will be sent.
W
hen I was a kid in the early 1970s, I
attended a summer camp about a
mile from home. My sisters, brother
and I loved going. Lots of our friends attended continued efforts to grow the game. ers,” she says. “What a great life!”
and the camp offered many opportunities we Through these organizations, tennis pro- The good news is, players want more
might not otherwise have experienced on our grams and formats exist to bring young than a pastime. They want a social outlet,
own in a single-parent household. kids into the game, keep them in the game physical exercise, mental challenges and
On Fridays, the camp scheduled visitors in school and through high school, on into an opportunity to compete. They want to
to come in to “teach” us stuff like arts college, then into adult and senior pro- lose weight, or network for their business-
and crafts, along with various sports and gramming. There are leagues and tourna- es. Tennis answers all these wants, and
other activities. Once, “tennis” marked ments for juniors and adults, and don’t then some. And as an industry employee,
our summer camp calendar. Since the forget World TeamTennis and the new Flex you satisfy these wants.
main site didn’t have a suitable tennis leagues. Add in your own programming "What means the most to me,” says
area, camp counselors led us on a 20- and clinics, along with local grassroots Carl Hodge, the tennis director for the city
minute walk to my elementary school advocates for tennis, and you have the of Macon, Ga., “is that I have the ability
playground to set up a makeshift tennis tools to provide tennis in your community to impact somebody's life in such a posi-
court. to anyone—at any level. tive way—relieve stress, gain or maintain
Back then tennis was boring to me. But what does all this good news mean physical fitness, feel good about them-
After all, who wanted to chase down a lit- to you as a tennis coach? Programs coordi- selves. That’s huge to me."
tle ball when the Jersey Shore was right nator? Facility manager? Teaching pro? It Hodge teaches beginners on courts
there? The instructors were teenagers who means now is the time, while you have near the parking lot. He gets a great rush
did nothing to entice me into the game. community and industry support, to go when he sees his students graduate from
Most of us sat down on hot asphalt with after the things you want and need to the beginner Play Tennis Macon to “real”
our backs up against the chain-link fence make this sport grow even more. tennis player status. Walking past the
to watch two lucky campers attempt to “Everyone is doing such a great job to courts, they yell, “Hey, Coach Hodge,”
stroke the ball. get tennis out there that it makes my job while carrying bona fide tennis bags. Not
Years flew by before I gave tennis easier,” says Donna Bailey, president of many things make his day better.
another glance. Then one afternoon my USTA Georgia. Bailey, who’s been involved In the end, it’s about more than the
daughter came home from fourth grade in promoting the game at the grassroots bottom line. The good news about tennis
excited because tennis instructors had vis- level for the past 24 years, says her commu- is that the lines are drawn deep in the
ited her gym class. Suddenly, I looked at nity support comes from everywhere. “Pro- hearts of its players, the joy of the game
the little yellow ball with new eyes. Today, gram participation, increases in new wraps around their souls, and it is firmly
I’m a frequent player at the 3.0 level, a programs offered, even things like grounded by those of us who offer them
Parks and Rec tennis center facility manag- bankrolling major court renovations—you the opportunities for play. Q
er, tournament director, junior team cap- name it, our community endorses it.”
tain, schools program coordinator and Marian Wharton knows first-hand of Contributing Editor Robin Bate-
sometimes schools instructor. this “good news.” She first picked up a man is the site coordinator for the
With tennis on the upswing, those of Tattnall Tennis Center in Macon,
racquet about two years ago. Then she
Ga., where she coordinates tennis
us in the industry are in a wonderful posi- decided to start making her own tennis programs and leagues, is a tour-
tion. Even better, we’ve reached this posi- skirts. At the urging of friends, and oppo- nament director, serves as a team
tion with enormous help from others: the nents, she started making skirts for others. captain and assists junior teams competing at dis-
TIA, USTA, PTR, USPTA and manufactur- Now, she runs her own business, Sassy Girl trict, regional and section events.
ers, to name a few. These organizations Tennis Skirts, complete with an online
We welcome your opinions. Please email
are a mouse click or phone call away, store. “I have the luxury of playing a sport comments to rsi@racquetTECH.com or fax
offering a wide array of assistance, in their that I love and offering a service to oth- them to 760-536-1171.