201109 Racquet Sports Industry

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Sept/Oct 2011

Volume 39 Number 9 $5.00

www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Court MaintenanceQ How Often Should You Replace Q Keeping Players Safe Indoors

Q Adding 10U Blended Lines

Racquets, Shoes & US Open Timing

Stringing Red Flags

Court MaintenanceQ How Often Should You Replace Q Keeping Players Safe Indoors

Q Adding 10U Blended Lines

Racquets, Shoes & US Open Timing

Stringing Red Flags


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FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

R S I S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1

INDUSTRY NEWS

7 USTA invests $1.3 millionfor 10U tennis

7 Get Your Game On atUSTPA Conference

7 TIA Board addsAdidas, ASBA

8 Amex, USTA partner forFresh Courts program

8 Har-Tru to hostMaintenance Seminarin NYC

9 Gamma debutsScor-Post Pro

9 Undefeated Kastleswin WTT title

9 PTR to host Professional

Development Weekend10 Peoplewatch10 Ashaway offers Dynamite 16

Tough tennis string

11 Sponsor package announcedfor GSS attendees

12 Short Sets14 Special 9/11 tributes before

US Open finals

4 Our Serve7 Industry News15 Junior Players17 TIA News

18 Retailing Tip

20 Pioneers In Tennis: Rick Pray & Carol Anderson22 Racquet Sports44 Tips & Techniques46 String Playtest: Gamma Zo Verve 17

48 Your Serve, by Denny Schackter

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Cover photo courtesy of FDC-The Fast-Dry Company,

Pompano Beach, FL

24 Timing GearThe US Open has always posed timingissues for new product. But if manufac-turers are not introducing racquets andshoes, theyre still raising awareness oftheir brands.

40 Stringing Red FlagsAmid the pressures of tournament string-ing, the Wilson team has identifiedandcome up with solutions forpotentialproblem areas.

27 How Often ShouldYou Replace . . .These tips from contractors can helpyou save your courts and equipment.

29 Safety MeasuresIndoor tennis facilities have uniquechallenges when it comes to keepingplayers safe.

32 Inside the LinesAdding blended lines for 10 andUnder Tennis is simple and cost-effective.

36 Court PermissionsMake sure you have help navigatingthe maze of building codes.

38 Court ProductsA sampling of new, interesting orattention-grabbing products for yourfacility.

COURT CONSTRUCTION

AND MAINTENANCE

ContentsContents


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Our Serve

(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)

Publishers

David Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial Director

Peter Francesconi

Associate Editor

Greg Raven

Design/Art Director

Kristine Thom

Technical Editor

Jonathan Wolfe

Contributing Editors

Robin Bateman

Cynthia Cantrell

Joe Dinoffer

Greg Moran

Kent Oswald

Bob Patterson

Cynthia Sherman

Mary Helen Sprecher

RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY

Corporate Offices

330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084

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Website: www.racquetTECH.com

Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time

Advertising DirectorJohn Hanna

770-650-1102, x.125

[email protected]

Apparel Advertising

Cynthia Sherman

203-263-5243

[email protected]

Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per

year: monthly January through August and com-

bined issues in September/October and Novem-

ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330

Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at

Periodicals Postage Pricesis Pendingat Vista, CA and

additional mailing offices. Sep/Oct 2011, Volume 39,

Number 9 2011 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All

rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and

logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.

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RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA


Tennis For America

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011

T

he US Open is a time for pro tennis to take center

stage, for the worlds best to come together at the

worlds biggest tournament, in front of the worldsbiggest tennis crowd, for the worlds biggest purse.

But the US Open isnt all about the pros. In fact, for all of us in the

tennis business, the US Open probably has more day-to-day relevance

not in how it influences and promotes pro tennis, but in how it influ-

ences recreational tennis in the U.S.

I think too few people realize what the US Open does for grassroots

tennis in this country, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars every

year. That money supports this entire industryit supports all of our

businesses.

Yes, the US Open is big business: Published estimates are that it gen-erates more than $200 million in revenue each year and around $100

million in profits. (Ticket revenue is estimated to be $80 million; spon-

sorships about $60 million. And lets not forget the $420 million boost

it gives to the New York economy over the two weeks.)

More than $48 million of USTA money is earmarked for grassroots

tennis this year, and most of that money, the USTA told me recently,

comes from the US Open. That money goes to build and expand public

tennis courts, provide equipment, support junior and adult program-

ming, fund scholarships and grants, promote this sport, and more. It fil-

ters to all levels of the industryCTAs, NJTLs, schools, teaching pros,

facilities, retailers, manufacturers, media, organizations, etc.and

importantly, is used to grow participation, including the 10 and Under

Tennis initiative.

The US Open also supports the grassroots by serving as a gathering

place for the industry. During the Open, the TIA holds its Tennis Forum

to talk about the state of the industry (this year, its on Saturday, Aug.

27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt New York, as part of The Tennis

Show). It also is where the long-running USTA Tennis Teachers Confer-

ence is held (Aug. 27-30). And every year, the USTA Semi-Annual Meet-

ing takes place there (Sept. 3-7), bringing together hundreds of

volunteers to share ideas about growing this sport.So when all of us in the industry, and consumers, buy tickets to the

Open, buy merchandise, watch the action on TV, and encourage our

members and customers to do the same, were not just supporting the

pros who play the event, were helping to support grassroots tennis, too.

And that makes the US Open, indeed, Tennis For America.

Peter Francesconi

Editorial Director


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I N D U S T R Y N E W SI N D U S T R Y N E W SI N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U R U N Y O U R B U S I N E S S

TIA Board Adds

Adidas, ASBA

The Tennis Industry Associationhas added David Malinowski(left), the tennis category managerfor Adidas, and Fred Stringfellow(right), the executive director ofthe American Sports BuildersAssociation (ASBA), to its board ofdirectors. Malinowski andStringfellow join Dave Miley ofthe ITF, who was named in April,as the newest members of the TIAboard.

Were pleased to have bothDavid and Fred join the TIA boardof directors, said TIA ExecutiveDirector Jolyn de Boer. David andFred, along with Dave Miley, havebroad and valuable experiencethat will help this industry and theTIA as we work toward our threekey areas of focus: frequent playergrowth, tennis economic growth,

and communications/positioningto broaden the TIAs reach withthe industry and consumers.

Malinowski joined Adidas lastyear and is responsible for all U.S.tennis products and sales. AsASBA executive director, Stringfel-low represents nearly 400 compa-nies in the sports facilityconstruction industry, includingbuilders, suppliers and designersof tennis courts, tracks, sports

fields and indoor facilities.

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Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7www.racquetsportsindustry.com

The USTA will invest $1.3 million to introduce 10 and Under Ten-

nis in 26 communities. The USTAs goal over the next five years

is to bring 10 and Under Tennis to kids in more than 100 local

markets nationwide.

Each of the 26 communities will receive $50,000 in matching

grants from the USTA to be used to build new courts and adapt cur-

rent tennis courts to accommodate 10 and Under Tennis. In addition

to the national $50,000 grant, the markets will receive an additional$50,000 grant from their respective USTA sections, for a total of $2.6

million invested in the communities.

Communities also will work with the USTA national office to

ensure local organizers are taught the proper techniques and skills to

implement 10 and Under Tennis. The USTA and its 17 sections will

work with schools, public parks and youth organizations to add ten-

nis to PE classes and after-school programs.

As kids develop their skills, they also will be encouraged to partic-

ipate in Play Days, USTA Jr. Team Tennis and USTA tournaments. The

$50,000 will be provided over a three-year period for communities to

add new programs.

With this approach, tennis has become the newest pick-upsport, and we expect to see participation numbers increase dramati-

cally in the very near future, says Kurt Kamperman, the USTAs chief

executive of Community Tennis.

The USTA has created USTA.com/facilities for groups interested in

applying for court construction or renovation grants. As part of a pub-

lic-private partnership, the USTA will build courts in places where

local officials, public parks and schools commit to building tennis into

their core programming for kids.

For more info, visit 10andundertennis.com.

Get Your Game On at USPTA Conference in Sept.

The USPTAs World Conference on TennisGet Your Game Onwill beSept. 19-24 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla. More than

1,500 tennis-teaching pros, industry leaders, media and manufac-

turer representatives are expected to attend.

This years speakers include Tracy Almeda-Singian, Dr. Martin Baroch, Loren-

zo Beltrame, Martin Blackman, Craig Jones, Kurt Kamperman, Jose Higueras,

Page Love, Rick Macci, Patrick McEnroe, Luis Mediero, Emilio Sanchez Vicario,

Dave Kozlowski, Jorge Capestany and Kerri Whitehead.

The event also includes a Tennis Buying Show on Sept. 22. Exhibitors will include tennis

equipment, apparel and footwear companies, marketers and wholesalers of hard and soft goods,

video analysis, Web-based programs and software, teaching aids, court surfacing and lighting,

awards, educational materials, nutrition bars and vitamins, and more.

To register, or for more information, visit usptaworldconference.com.

USTA Invests $1.3 Million for 10U in 26 Markets

The 26marketsreceiving $50,000grants are:Amarillo, TXBay Area, CA

Boise, IDBridgeport, CTCary, NCCharlottesville,VAColumbus, OHCorpus Christi, TXGreenville/Spartanburg, SCHillsborough County, FLIndianapolis, INLexington, KYLouisville, KYMidland, MIMilwaukee, WIMontgomery County, MDNew Orleans, LAPortland, ORSan Diego, CASeminole County, FLShreveport, LASt. Paul, MNStockton, CATrenton, NJWellington, FLYonkers, NY


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Huczek To Advise Ashaway on Products

Ashaway Racket Strings has announced that recently retired racquetball

World Champion Jack Huczek has agreed to help the company steer the

development of UltraKill and other product lines.

"Jack has been an Ashaway sponsored player for most of his career,

and recently has been very instrumental in the development of Ashaway's

new UltraKill product family," says Steve Crandall, Ashaways VP of mar-keting.

"Certainly, there are few

people who understand more

about how string behaves in a

racquet than Jack. So despite

his decision to retire from

professional competition and

to pursue a new career with

Ericsson, we're pleased he is

keeping a finger in the rac-

quetba ll wor ld a w hil e

longer.""Working with and acting as an ambassador for my sponsors has

always been an enjoyable part of being a professional racquetball player,"

Huczek says. "I've worked with Ashaway on the UltraKill family since its

inception. Im very pleased with the opportunity to continue that work

with Ashaway, and perhaps help out with some other products as well."

Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., based in Ashaway, R.I., is the only

U.S. manufacturer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball and bad-

minton. Visit ashawayusa.com.

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Amex, USTA Partnerfor 2nd Annual Fresh Courts

American Express is again partnering with the

USTA for its second annual Fresh Courts pro-

gram, a community funding effort that invests

in the renovation of existing tennis facilities

across the U.S. Launched in 2010, this yearsprogram will support tennis facilities at La

Mesita Park in San Diego, Jefferson Recreation

Center in Washington D.C., North Avondale

Courts in Cincinnati and Astoria Park in

Queens, N.Y.

All work on the courts will be performed by

the USTAs Facility Assistance department and

will be funded by American Express. Work on

the facilities began in July, with the goal of hav-

ing all three sites completed by early fall. By

the end of 2011, the Fresh Courts program will

have successfully repaired 26 courts across thecountry.

American Express will join local officials and

youth tennis players in each of these commu-

nities to celebrate the new Fresh Courts and to

honor individuals in each city who have helped

to bring the game of tennis to members of their

community with the Fresh Courts Community

Leadership Award. All award recipients will

travel to the US Open in September as guests of

American Express to watch the Mens and

Womens Doubles finals.

Tennis FantasiesIsrael Schedules Camp

Tennis Fantasies Israel has scheduled its first Ten-

nis Fantasy Camp in Israel May 6-15, 2012. The

trip combines clinics, matches and sightseeing and

visits such places as Tel Aviv, Akko, Galilee and

Jerusalem, where participants will have the chance

to play at venues run by the Israel Tennis Center, in

addition to touring historic locations, museums and

other places of interest.

Tennis legends currently set to lead the groupinclude former U.S. Davis Cup players Brian Got-

tfried, Harold Solomon and Dick Stockton. For-

mer world No. 22 pro Shlomo Glickstein rounds

out the staff and will be the groups Israeli host.

The event costs $3,000, which includes all

transportation within Israel, breakfasts, two din-

ners, tennis, lodging tour guide and sightseeing

attractions. A portion of every registration fee will

benefit a new co-existence program for local Jew-

ish and Arab children involving tennis, families

and teachers.

For more information, contact program creator

Steve Contardi through tennisfantasiesisrael.net.

Sharapova, Wozniacki Top Forbes List

Maria Sharapova, who hasnt won a Grand Slam title since 2008,

remains the worlds highest paid woman in professional sports for the

seventh straight year. The annual list, from Forbes magazine, shows the

Russians earning, mostly from off-court endorsements, at an estimated

$25 million, twice as much as her nearest rival, Denmarks Caroline Woz-

niacki, currently the world No. 1. Race car driver Danica Patrick was third

with $12 million.

Seven of the top 9 female earners were tennis players: 1) Sharapova,

$25 million; 2) Wozniacki, $12.5 million; 4) Venus Williams, $11.5 mil-

lion; 5) Kim Clijsters, $11 million; 6) Serena Williams, $10.5 million; 8) Li

Na, $8 million; 9) Ana Ivanovic, $6 million.

Har-Tru to Host Maintenance SeminarH

ar-Tru Sports will host a Har-Tru Maintenance Certification Seminar on

Sept. 27-28 at Sportime at Randalls Island in New York City. The sem-

inar is designed for anyone managing, maintaining or considering

installing clay tennis courts, including club managers, teaching pros, court

builders and maintenance professionals.

The purpose of the seminar is to bring together leading experts on

indoor and outdoor clay courts to discuss the construction and mainte-

nance of clay. The seminar also will include information on the causes of

indoor and bubbled court surface compaction and what techniques are

being used to alleviate it.

For more information, contact Ed Montecalvo at 877-4HARTRU or

[email protected].


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Ashaway Adds to UltraKill Racquetball Line

A

shaway Racket Strings has introduced UltraKill

16 racquetball string, which utilizes the same

Zyex core polymer as other members of the Ultra-

Kill family, but in a special, multi-stranded monofil-

ament construction that increases power and

resilience, says the company. This Zyex construc-

tion allows UltraKill 16 to maintain tension through-

out the life of the string for consistent performance,

says Ashaway, while the 16-gauge (1.30 mm) thick-

ness maximizes durability. For more information

visit ashawayusa.com.

Gamma Debuts Scor-Post Pro

Gamma Sports has come out with the Scor-Post Pro, the next generation

scoring device which replaces the discontinued Scor-Post. The newly

designed Scor-Post Pro is more durable than its predecessor, but maintains

a similar appearance on court.

The Scor-Post Pro has an extruded center column, molded ball cups that

can be individually replaced, and top and bottom caps that secure the cen-

ter column and ball cups in place. The molded top cap has channels that sup-port Scor-Post Name Cards.

The Scor-Post Pro ($69.95 retail) uses tennis balls to score matches, with

standard scoring allowing for three traditional sets or an eight-game pro set.

The Scor-Post Pro ships with an all-metal support that attaches to the net

post with quick release hose clamps for easy court change over (no tools

needed). Scor-Post Name Cards, dry erase poly cards that identify players or

teams, are sold separately.

Top-Selling Tennis Stringsat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date units,

January - June, 2011

1. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex

2. Babolat RPM Blast

3. Wilson NXT

4. Wilson Sensation

5. Prince Lightning XX

Top-Selling Racquetsat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,

January-March 2011

Best-Sellers

1. Babolat Aero Pro Drive GT (MP)2. Babolat Pure Drive GT (MP)

3. Babolat Aero Pro Drive+ GT (MP)

4. Babolat Pure Drive Lite GT (MP)

5. Wilson BLX Six.One 95 16 x 18 (MS)

Hot New Racquets

(Introduced in the past 12 months)

1. Wilson BLX Blade (MP)

2. Prince EXO3 Red (2011) (OS)

3. Prince EXO3 Blue (2011) (OS)

4. Wilson BLX Cierzo Two (OS)

5. Prince EXO3 Tour 16 x 19 (MP)

Tennis Racquet PerformanceSpecialty Stores

January - June, 2011 vs. 2010

Units 2011 310,717

2010 320,274

% change v. 10 -3%

Dollars 2011 $44,546,000

2010 $45,248,000% change v. 10 -2%

Price 2011 $143.37

2010 $141.28

% change v. 10 1%

Top-Selling Tennis Shoesat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,

January June, 2011

1. Prince T22

2. Adidas Barricade 6.0

3. Nike Air Breathe 2K10

4. Babolat Propulse 3

5. Nike Air Breathe Free 2

(Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys)

PTR to Host Professional Development Weekend

The PTR will hold its Professional Development Weekend

Oct. 6-9 at PTR Headquarters and Van der Meer Ship-

yard Racquet Club on Hilton Head Island, S.C.Among the speakers are Iaki Balzola, Dr. Louie Cap,

Doug Cash, Colleen Cosgrove and Judy Vogt, Craig Jones,

Kurt Kamperman, Anne Pankhurst, Tito Perez, Dr. Bryce Young and Tim Dr. Dirt

Wilkison. On court and classroom topics include How to Make Money with Quick-

Start, Great Games & Drills for Your Not so Great Juniors, How to Play Better Doubles

without Hitting a Ball, Coaching Philosophy, 30 Unique Error Detections & Correc-

tions, How to Run Junior Camps, Social Media for Tennis Pros, Hard & Clay Court

Maintenance and more! The event is open to everyone; registration is $349.

The PTR also is hosting a club and Facility Managers Conference at PTR Head-

quarters on HHI Oct. 5-7, which is designed for club owners, club managers and ten-

nis directors.

For information or to register, visit Events at ptrtennis.org or call 800-421-6289.

Undefeated Kastles Win World TeamTennis Title

The Washington Kastles completed the first perfect season in the 36-year history ofWorld TeamTennis, defeating the St. Louis Aces 23-19 in the WTT Finals in late July

in Charleston, S.C. It was the Kastles second WTT title in the last three years, in only its

fourth season as a franchise.

Three Kastles players were singled out for season honors: Leander Paes won male

MVP, Arina Rodionova won female rookie of the year and Murphy Jensen won coach of

the year. Liezel Huber of the runner-up St. Louis Aces won female MVP honors.


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The National Sporting Goods Association announced theappointment of Dale Donaldson, owner of Mallard's Source for

Sports in Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, and the reappoint-

ment of Jeff Brusati, president of T&B Sports in San Rafael, CA to

the NSGA Board of Directors.

American pro Robert Kendrick says hell appeal his suspensionfor doping violations. The ITF banded the 31-year-old for a year

after he tested positive for the banned substance known as

methylhexanamine (MHA) at the French Open.

Gamma Sports has hired Chris Nauman as national sales man-ager for the tennis specialty sales channel in the U.S. He can be

reached at [email protected].

Longtime USTA volunteer and contributor to tennis Mac Mac-Dougal passed away July 7 following a battle with cancer.

Skirt Sports, the women's fitness apparel company based inBoulder, Colo., has hired Leanne Hand as its vice president of mar-keting. She previously worked for Dunlop-Slazenger, Russell Ath-

letic and Moving Comfort.

Venus Williams is the newest spokesperson for Jamba Juice.Williams is also a Jamba Juice franchise store owner and plans to

open five stores in the Washington D.C. area over the next two

years.

Lindsay Davenport, expecting her third child, was forced towithdraw from the World TeamTennis Pro League season after

her doctor put her on travel and activity restrictions. In July, Dav-enport tweeted that things are better and looks like another

girl. She and her husband, Jonathan Leach, have a boy, 4, and

girl, 2.

James Blakes lawyers submitted a proposal to the Bridgeport,

Conn., Board of Parks Commissioners in July to build a $4 million,

private funded tennis facility with seven indoor courts. The hope is

to have the facility ready by September 2012.

USTA First Vice President Dave Haggerty will be inducted intothe USTA Middle States Section Hall of Fame in Octo-

ber. Former ATP CEO Mark Miles will be inductedinto the USTA Midwest Section Hall of Fame in

December.

Top badminton players Kyle Emerick (top) andSarun Vivatpatanakul (bottom) have joined the Wil-

son Badminton Team and have signed long-term

agreements with Wilson Sporting Goods.

George Acker, longtime mens tennis coach atKalamazoo College, died on July 20.

Former world No. 3 Elena Dementieva married her long-time boyfriend, hockey pro Maxim Afinogenov, in Moscow.

Gigi Rock is the new commissioner of the Womens ProfessionalRacquetball Tour.

Chris Walling of Atlanta has been named USTA Southern Direc-tor of Adult Tennis and Section League Coordinator. He has served

in his present position as the Local League Coordinator for USTA

Atlanta for three-and-a-half years.

Alexios Halebian of Glendale, Calif., and Luca Corinteli of

Alexandria, Va., who live together at the USTA Training Center-Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., captured the boys 18s and 16s

singles titles, respectively, at the 2011 USTA National Clay Court

Championships in Delray Beach in July. Gabrielle Andrews of

Pomona, Calif., won girls 18s singles title at the Racquet Club of

Memphis.

P E O P L E W A T C H

PTR Receives NCACE Accreditation

PTR announced that it has gained Level 5 accreditation from the

National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education

(NCACE) for its Master of Tennis Performance program.

We congratulate PTR for recognizing the value of having anaccredited coaching education program, wrote NCACE Executive

Director Christopher Hickey. PTR has shown that it is a leader

among leaders. Your Master of Tennis coaching education pro-

gram will serve as a prototype for other organizations seeking to

promote excellence in coaching preparation.

NCACE, a division of AAPHERD, promotes and facilitates

coaching competence within all levels of amateur sport by over-

seeing and evaluating the quality of coaching education programs.

In addition, NCACE endorses comprehensive standards for sport

practitioners, including: volunteer, interscholastic, collegiate, and

elite coaches. Through accreditation, NCACE provides leadership

and guidance to coaching education providers.

Ashaway Offers Dynamite 16 Tough

Ashaway Racket Strings' new Dynamite 16 Tough tennis

strings utilize Zyex core resin in a special, multi-strand-

ed monofilament

construction thatincreases power and

resilience, says the

company. Zyex con-

struction allows the

16-gauge Dynamite

16 Tough to maintain

tension throughout

the life of the string

for consistent per-

formance, according

to Ashaway. Visit ash-

awayusa.com forinfo.


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I N D U S T R Y N E W S

Sponsor Package Announced for GSS Attendees

The fifth annual GSS racquet stringers symposium, to be held Sept. 24-28 at Saddle-

brook Resort in Tampa, announces a new sponsorship, says symposium founder

and owner Tim Strawn. Babolat, Gamma, Prince and Wilson will be

involved in a joint effort to sponsor the event this year. Each symposium

attendee will receive a triple racquet thermal bag, 12 sets of premium

string, and a premium racquet from one of the four companies.Were fortunate to have such great support from these companies,

Strawn says. The retail value of this giveaway is between $350 to

$450 and this is just one part of the overall package attendees will

receive. This should go a long way in offsetting the registration

costs to attend this year.

GSS also welcomes Nathan Price, Princes global manager for

strings, grips, accessories, and stringing machines. Price will host an open round-

table session as well as conduct the popular Prince speed-stringing contest.

The symposium has added several new speakers as well as eight new seminars.

Visit grandslamstringers.com or call 540-632-1148.


ASBA Sees Record Number of Award Applicants

The American Sports Builders Association, the national organization for builders

and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has announced an all-time high

number of entrants in its annual awards program. This year, members entered a

total of 126 projects to the awards program, an increase from the pre-

vious high of 87.

Awards are given for tennis courts, running

tracks, indoor multi-purpose facilities, and sports

fields. There were 40 tennis projects submitted for

awards: 21 outdoor facilities, 16 residential courts and 3

indoor tennis facilities. For info, visit sportsbuilders.org.

USTA Serves Grants $400K in Scholarships

USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA,

will grant 78 high school students a variety of college schol-

arships totaling over $400,000. Each year, USTA Serves awards

scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA

and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated

high academic achievement, and require financial assistance for col-lege matriculation.

Among the awards are:

Q Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award (one $15,000 award): Claire Hafner, sen-

ior, St. Charles East High School, St. Charles, IL.

Q Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (two students each receive $10,000): Tyler

McGinnis, senior, home-schooled, Washington, D.C., and Christopher Hunter,

senior, Half Hollow Hills High School, Melville, NY.

Q Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (two students each receive $7,500): Grace

Trimble, senior, home-schooled, Winchester, KY, and Christopher Barnes, senior,

University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Royal Oak, MI.

Q Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (two students receive $2,500): Rachel

Knight, senior, Fife High School, Puyallup, WA, and Brandon Schlack, senior, LosAlamitos, Long Beach, CA.

Q USTA Serves College Education Scholarship (55 students each receive $6,000)

Q USTA Serves College Textbook Scholarship (16 students each receive $1,000)

Social Networking Making aMark on Fitness & Exercise

Social networking and Generation Ys

focus on technology might be having a

dramatically different impact on Americas

fitness patterns than many assume, accord-

ing to the 2011 Tracking the Fitness Move-ment, released recently by the SGMA.

Rather than locking young people into

an inactive lifestyle, social media may be

driving the younger generation into new

forms of fitness activities, the report says.

Highlighting Gen Ys (those born

between 1980 and 1999) physical fitness

trend is the growing interest in group exer-

cise. High-impact aerobics, step aerobics

and group stationary cycling activities

have all increased more than 20 percent in

participation within the past three years.

In tennis, the TIA-managed Cardio Ten-

nisan on-court group fitness program,

has seen rapid growth. The latest research

shows that more than 1.5 million people

have engaged in Cardio Tennis since its

inception in 2005 and that participation

has grown 81 percent from 2008 to 2010.


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DUSTRYNEW

S

> Defending US Open champs RafaelNadal and Kim Clijsters, world No. 1

Novak Djokovic, former US Open champi-

on Andy Roddick and 2010 US Open

Wheelchair champ David Wagner will

team up with actor Bradley Cooper, New

York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony, and

pop star Cody Simpson at the 16th Annu-

al Arthur Ashe Kids Day on Aug. 27 at the

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Cen-

ter in Flushing, N.Y.

> The 2011 US Open prize money pursehit a record $23.7 million. Both the mens

and womens US Open singles champions

will earn a record $1.8 million.

> Fila Luxembourg, S.a.r.l entered into amulti-year licensing agreement with Berk-

shire Fashions Incorporated for the design,

manufacture and sale of Fila branded

accessories for the US market. The line will

launch in the fall and will feature mens,

womens, boys and girls styles.

> Through July, the USTA added 15,000new 10 and under members, through its

First Year Free Membership offer for

kids, which will run through the end of the

year.

> The U.S. will host Belarus in the firstround of the 2012 Fed Cup, Feb. 4-5. The

site is still to be determined.

> The 27th annual Wimbledon Racquet,Clothing & Equipment Census carried out

by Sports Marketing Survey Inc., which

measures the brands competitors use at

each event throughout the tournament,

placed Wilson as the overall No. 1 racquet

brand at Wimbledon 2011, with 191 play-

ers (32 percent) selecting this brandanincrease of six players since 2010.

> Canadian tennis star and current worldNo. 29 Milos Raonic unveiled the Lacoste

Tribute shoe collection in downtown

Toronto in July, which honors tennis leg-

end and company founder Rene Lacoste.

Raonic, who has reached as high as No. 25

on the ATP Tour, is Canadas highest ever

ranked player.

> The National Association of Tourna-

S H O R T S E T S

ment Directors (NATD), a new association

designed to bring together tournament

directors of all sports, has named sports

industry veterans Louise Waxler as Presi-

dent/CEO and Mike Chandler as Vice Presi-

dent of Sports Industry Relations. Visit

NATDweb.org.

> The USTA is teaming up with AndreAgassi and Stefanie Graf to encourage chil-

dren to get healthy, active and into the

game through the USTAs 10 and Under

Tennis program. The collaboration includes

a new 30-second commercial, titled Story

Time, airing during the US Open.

> The Southlake Tennis Center in Texaswon the 2011 USTA Facility of the Year

Award, which will be presented during the

US Open in New York. The award recog-

nizes outstanding efforts in tennis facility,

tennis programming and contribution to the

game of tennis.

> Former pro players Katrina Adams, LeslieAllen, Rodney Harmon and Ann Koger

coached and spoke to juniors at USTA East-

erns 13th annual Camp A.C.E. (Achieving

through Coaching and Education). The

camp, which ran from July 24 -30, is a

National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL)Regional Leadership camp, which provides

world-class tennis and fitness instruction,

and sessions on finance, careers, and col-

lege admissions.

> Nike is facing new claims of workerabuse in Indonesia. The report stemmed

from interviews in March and April by the

Associated Press of dozens of workers at

Pou Chen Group factory in Sukabumi,

about 60 miles from Jakarta that make

Converse shoes. Among the charges arethat supervisors throw shoes at workers,

slap and kick them, and call them dogs and

pigs.

> Auburn, Ala. has been selected to hostthe 2012 and 2013 USTA Southern Jr. Team

Tennis Championships.

> Pressureball is a resusable, flexible pres-surized tube that its creator, Barry Mulder,

says will maintain the bounce in new balls

and will restore the bounce in balls that

have lost their pressure. The tube, which

sells for $19.90, can hold up to eight ten-

nis balls and is inflated with any pump,

such as a bicycle pump. For info, visit

pressureball.com.

> K-Swiss Inc. reported that net loss forthe six months ended June 30 was $29.9

million, or 84 cents a share, compared

with a net loss of $19.2 million, or 55

cents per share, for the six months ended

June 30, 2010.

> USTA has been named one of theCIO 100. CIO is a magazine and web-

site for information technology execu-

tives, and it honors 100 organizations

that have distinguished themselves by

creating business value through the use

of IT.

> USTA Eastern says that 4all by jofitwomens tennis apparel brand will outfit

one of the sections Adult League teams

that will advance to the USTA National

Championships in the fall.

> Are you a tennis pro or facility directorlooking for an Apple iPad2 app for lesson

tracking, video, lesson history, a chalk-

board and other features? Check out10sPro, available at the iTunes store (or at

portland10s.com for more info), devel-

oped by longtime pro Mike Stone.

> Nike signed a five-year lease for26,000 square feet at a Beaverton prop-

erty adjacent to its world headquarters.

More than 100 employees will work in

administration and lab research at the

new office space.

> Under Armour Inc. reported revenuesincreased 42.2 percent in the second

quarter, to $291.3 million from $204.8

million in the prior year. Net income

increased 77.1 percent to $6.2 million, or

12 cents a share, from $3.5 million, or 7

cents, a year ago.

> Adidas AG raised its forecast for 2011after profit and sales came in better than

expected in the second quarter. The com-

pany says its sales are now expected to

increase 10 percent.


15/52


16/5214 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1

INDUSTRYNEW

S 2011 Stringers Digest

The 2011 edition of The Stringers Digest,

containing about 6,000 stringing patterns

for all types of racquets (including 113 pat-

terns added this year), is now available for

USRSA members. This indispensable tool for

all stringers and pro shops has detailedstringing instructions for virtually ever ten-

nis, racquetball, squash and badminton

frame in circula-

tion. It is the

only source in

this industry

for this infor-

mation, and

it includes

stringing

patterns for

frames that

have long

been dis-

continued

by t heir

manufac-

turers. For more

information on The Stringers Digest,

call the USRSA at 760-536-1177 or visit

www.racquettech.com.

Congratulations To the FollowingFor Achieving MRT Status

New MRTs

Karina Prieto Orlando, FLSebastian Toro Orlando, FLTim Goetz Fayetteville, NCBrandon Arradaza Big Rapids, MIDan Leyer Bryn Mawr, PAKaren Lavi Bryn Mawr, PABrett Snyder Houston, TXOliver Jones Newton Square, PA

New CSs

Phil Gaerlan Colorado Springs, COMichelle Tran San Diego, CAChris Capps Fort Myers, FL

Nattie Chan Oberlin, OH

Special 9/11 Tributes Before US Open Finals

The US Open and the USTA will remember those whose lives were lost on

Sept. 11, 2001, with a pair of pre-match ceremonies in Arthur Ashe Stadi-

um before both the mens and womens finals.

Prior to the start of the prime-time womens singles final on Saturday

night, Sept. 10, there will be a special performance by Grammy and Emmy

Award-winner Cyndi Lauper. On Sunday, Queen Latifahmusician, televi-

sion and film actress, label president and authorwill preside over a tribute

before the start of the mens singles final. Queen Latifah performed at the

US Opens first ever Opening Night Ceremony in 2002, which was 9/11

themed.

For both the womens and mens singles championships 9-11-01 will

be inscribed on Arthur Ashe Stadium court as part of this memorial tribute.

The USTA also will include on the upper ring encircling Arthur Ashe Stadi-

um the 9/11 memorial logo developed by the City of New York.

The USTAs goal is to mark this solemn occasion in a dignified and

respectful manner, said Jon Vegosen, USTA chairman of the board and

president. We are one of this nations global stages on the 10th anniversary

of 9/11, and we have a special responsibility to honor those fallen and those

who responded heroically on that fateful day.

Each ceremony will include a moment of silence and the unfurling of a

giant American flag over the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium by a U.S. Marines

Corps color guard. On Sunday, the 10th anniversary, the two mens players

competing in the final will enter the court through an honor guard com-

prised of members of the New York Police Department, the Fire Depart-

ment of New York and the Port Authority Police, and there also will be a

military flyover at the conclusion of the ceremony.


17/52Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15

Junior Players


Dr.Robert Heller is a psychologist, sport

psychology consultant and certified tennis

teaching professional based in Boca Raton,

Florida and author of the mental training

program, TENNISMIND. He can be reached

at www.mentalskillstennis.com or

[email protected].

represent their product lines to the pub-

lic. With the potential to offer players

great rewards and financial incentives,

they have raised the bar and are seeking

not only great players, but great people. Q

Here are some of the

key questions Merritt asked

the young athletes and parents

to reflect on:

Q Do you carry yourself

proudly?

Q Do you hold your ten-

nis bag properly?

Q Do you control your-self physically and

mentally when things

arent going well?

Q Do you fight hard when

faced with adversity, or do you

check out?

Q Do you play independently or look at

your coach or parent after each point?

Q Are you fearless or do you push the

ball to win?

Q Are you mature or are you a whiner

and complainer?Q Are you respectful toward your oppo-

nent and yourself?

Q Do you demonstrate good sportsman-

ship on and off the court?

Q Do you have good pre-match prepara-

tion habits, whether it be relaxing in

solitude or jumping rope?

Q Finally, do you love to compete to win

a tough point at match point or are you

hoping your opponent double faults?

The areas that Merritt addressed are

many of the same ones I work on withmy clients in my role as a sports psy-

chology consultant. By focusing on devel-

oping these attitudes and behaviors,

young athletes will not only perform bet-

ter, theyll stand a far greater chance of

landing endorsements with sporting

good companies that can pay handsome

dividends for years to come.

If it sounds like sponsors are some-

thing of a big brother, thats probably

true. They have a lot of influence and

have decided to use it to encourage the

development of players who can best

ith the enormous finan-

cial costs associated with

pursuing a college tennis

scholarship, let alone a possible career

as a professional tennis player, most

tennis families are seeking avenues to

help defray the expenses. Getting a

sponsorship with a major sporting

goods company may be a worthwhilepath to pursue for your junior players.

But also, a lot of the qualities compa-

nies look for when deciding which

juniors to sponsor are qualities we

should be cultivating in all our young

players.

At the 2011 National Spring Clay

Court Boys and Girls 12 and Under

Championships held in Delray Beach

and Boca Raton, Fla., Ivan Baron, the

director/promoter of the tournament,

arranged a mandatory meeting forregistrants that included a talk by the

head talent scout for Prince Sports,

Ken Merritt.

I was delighted that Merritt started

his talk setting the tone for the tourna-

ment, Unsportsmanship behavior

wont get you a sponsorship, even if

you are the No. 2 junior in the coun-

try. The days of McEnroe and Con-

nors are gone.

He went on to say that rankings

accounted for less than 1 percent ofthe decision to offer players sponsor-

ships down the road. Prince, he said,

is looking for leaders and feels this

is true of many of the sporting goods

companies. Prince has a staff of six

full-time scouts along with numerous

part-time staffers who travel the junior

tennis circuit looking to develop long-

term relationships with promising

juniors. These scouts, often unnoticed

and anonymous, observe not only

matches but how players conduct

themselves off the court as well.

W

Cultivating a

Winning CharacterB Y D R . R O B E R T H E L L E R

Unsportsmanship behavior

wont get you asponsorship evenif you are the No junior in thecountry The daysof McEnroe andConnors are gone


18/52


19/52


20/5218 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011

Retailing


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).

Q Start a conversation with your cus-

tomers that includes gathering infor-

mation about them so you can better

provide what they want and need.

Gather information at the point of sale

and continue to gather info as the relation-

ship grows. It will take some time, but ide-

ally youll want to know their preferences

for products and services, how they play,

what they want their tennis equipment to

do for them, their style of play, their pref-

erences with apparel. Also note other fam-

ily members, birthdays, whether they like

playing competitive tournaments, social

round-robins, where they like to play, typeof surface they play on most frequently,

etc. There is a ton of information you can

glean just by asking the right questions

and listening to your customers.

Many specialty retailers keep this type

of customer information on file. Your

point-of-sale system may be able to store

this kind of data. Make sure everyone

working at your store is trained and edu-

cated about fully utilizing your POS system

to support your consumer-centricity.

Your stores ongoing conversation withyour customers will build loyalty and

repeat business, and it is critical to enjoy-

ing increased revenue and profitability!

Coming Up:How to keep your product portfolio easy

to understand for consumers. Q

DeliverLifestyle SolutionsThe point here is that, if you are product-

centric, youre telling a shopper all about

the tennis racquet your staff person thinksthey should buy. But that simply doesnt

work nearly as well from a revenue growth

and net profit standpoint as being con-

sumer-centricand focusing your whole

store on listening, suggesting and delivering

individual tennis lifestyle solutions to your

customers.

So, what does it mean to be a con-

sumer-centric tennis specialty store?

Q The store and the organization are built

from the customer perspective in, not

the retail perspective out.

Have an ongoing, honest, and frank

conversation with your customers who did

buy and shoppers who didnt buy from you

about what they like or dont like about

your store operations and their shopping

experience. Dont be afraid to ask them,

What can we do to make your experience

here more enjoyable and useful?

Q The retail shopping process is easy to

understand, pleasant, and customers

have more control over the entire retail

experience.

This includes your website and use of

social media, your product portfolio, mer-

chandise planning and a comfortable and

clean store environment.

Q The shopping experience is tailored and

personalized to differentcustomer

needs and shopping occasions.

Staff your store with customer-service

naturalspeople who really want to be of

service, and who are trained to really listen

to tennis shoppers wants and needs and

who make suggestions about individual

tennis lifestyle solutions.

ur case studies show that

one of the keys to Opera-

tional Excellence for inde-

pendent specialty retailers is a

commitment to being truly con-sumer-centric. From our experience

most specialty tennis retailers would

argue they are consumer-centric, but

on this count, most would be wrong.

The difference between thinking

you are consumer-centric and actual-

ly being consumer-centric is putting

the customer first and really listening

to what their wants and needs are,

and focusing on providing tennis

lifestyle solutions, not just products.

A big part of this difference is gather-

ing as much information about your

customers as possible, and using that

information to the advantage of your

customers.

It doesnt matter if your store

business plan and target consumers

are fit, athletic tennis players, or fam-

ilies, or senior players, or junior play-

ersor any combination. To achieve

and sustain any reasonable growth in

todays marketa market that is

totally controlled by consumersyou

are going to have to change the way

you do business from being product-

centric to being totally consumer-

centric.

With a consumer-centric store

strategy, the product becomes the

tail, which you then are able to

wag to attract and retain cus-

tomers. But if the tail wags the

store, youre not servicing your cus-

tomers the way they want to be ser-

viced, and you end up chasing them

to your competition.

O

Is Your Store

Consumer-Centric?From a revenue growth and net profitstandpoint, you should focus on consumersfirst rather than product.


21/52



Pioneers In Tennis


"Pioneers in Tennis," an occasional column in RSI, draws attention to trailblazers in the sport. Have someone to suggest?

E-mail [email protected].

Rick Pray & Carol Anderson:Connecting With Stringers

don't like this racquet; it doesn't play

well so I'm just going to get a different

brand.' It was very hard at first to get

people to understand that it wasn't the

dealers who needed instructions; it was

the small-business owners or indepen-

dent stringers."

It was an argument that finally

worked, and USRSA's annual Stringers

Digest was started. Each edition con-

tained the latest in racquet stringing

patterns for all racquets on the market.In 1974, Rick Pray suffered a cata-

strophic injury while hang-gliding,

which left him partially paralyzed. He

died in 1979, leaving Carol in charge of

ATS and USRSA.

It was shortly afterward, as Carol,

was struggling to manage both opera-

tions, that a woman named Jill Fonte

came into the office, seeking a job. Jill

and Carol had an instant rapport. "She

hired me to be kind of her right-hand

person," recalls Fonte. "She was run-ning the two companies and I was

young and energetic and a tennis

enthusiast."

Carol recognized Jill's innate ability

to move USRSA forward. "We were a

wonderful team together," says Fonte.

"I liked everything about working with

Carol; she was very much a mentor in

so many ways. I learned a lot from her

example."

Carol eventually left USRSA in Jill's

hands, and continued to work with ATS.

She is now fully retired, and spends her

time traveling. USRSA now has a world-

wide membership of more than 7,000.

In addition to publications, a website

and more, it offers workshops and a

certification program. ATS has contin-

ued as well, with a strong online pres-

ence.

"Carol is just amazing," says Fonte,

"and so was Rick."

Mary Helen Sprecher Q

mets and more to home-based stringers

and small pro shops. He also started the

U.S. Racquet Stringers Association

(USRSA). Carol took the lead role there,

but following conventional wisdom that

male executives got more respect, used

the masculine name of "Carroll" in all

her correspondence as executive director

of the association.

Both ATS and USRSA flourished. ATS

provided valuable monthly business

advice to customers along with putting

small personalized gifts in every outgo-

ing order. Catalogs were printed, first inblack-and-white, then in color. USRSA,

meanwhile, established itself as the key

source for stringing information. Monthly

member newsletters, "The Stringers

Assistant," contained information includ-

ing stringing information on new rac-

quets and strings, technical discussions,

tension information, stringing machines,

re-gripping, re-sizing, etc.

Rick and Carol would attend tennis

trade shows and lobby racquet compa-

nies to make stringing information avail-able to the USRSA. Carol remembers it

as a challenging time.

"I would go up to Wilson and say,

"Do you have stringing patterns for the

T2000 or the T3000?' They would just

look surprised and say, 'Well, all our

dealers have that.' I would say, 'Yes, I'm

aware of that but maybe you don't know

that a player who can't get a racquet

strung the right way is going to say, 'I

he old clichsworking together

can ruin a marriage, don't take

your work home with you, etc.

never seemed to apply to Richard Pray

and Carol Anderson. In fact, their at-

home partnership fueled their entrepre-

neurial style, leading them to new joint

discoveries.

When Rick Pray, who had a lifelong

interest in sportsfootball, hang-glid-

ing, body-building, surfingplayed ten-

nis, Carol played with him. Theyquickly discovered their hometown of

Chico, Calif., lacked a racquet stringer,

and that racquets had to be sent all the

way to Sacramento for stringing, usual-

ly by someone with a home-based busi-

ness. It caused needless delays and

yielded results that were uneven at

best.

"Well," says Anderson, "in business,

the rule is you find a need and you fill

it."

Pray couldn't resist the challenge, or

the inherent opportunity. He invested in

a tabletop stringing machine and began

experimenting. He strung his own rac-

quets, then Andersons, then those of

friends. Together, he and Carol uncov-

ered a disconnect in the industry.

Strings and grip material could be pur-

chased, but not in the small quantities a

small-business owner would use. Even

instructions for stringing patterns were

lacking.

As Anderson sat at home one night,

Pray watched her knit. She was using a

pattern, and as she followed those

instructions, he realized similarly easy-

to-follow material for stringers didn't

exist. The stringing industry, he decid-

ed, needed a voice, as well as a compa-

ny that catered to the many small

business owners that comprised it.

In the late 1960s, Rick started Asso-

ciated Tennis Suppliers (ATS), which

sold and shipped strings, grips, grom-

T


23/52



Racquet Sports


partners first met and where Roberts first

began to coach Shortz.

Some area teens have already begun

to make the club part of their after-school

day and, as the club sits minutes fromthe train station, a few top amateurs had

already made the trip up from NYC in

the very first days after the doors

opened. Additional players are being

sought through school exhibitions and by

reaching out to local colleges with aspira-

tions to engage in the growing intercolle-

giate club play.

Roberts, who gained his international

stature despite a late start in the game at

13, says that one of his main goals is

that, I would like to get a lot of kidsinvolved in the sport. He also talks

about making the club a training center

for those in the area desiring to play

at the sports highest level. (To this

end, the club has hired Rawle

Alleyne, the former Barbados national

team coach.) Monday nights are

beginners nights, Tuesdays are for

kids, and there are current training

programs both for young players and

the elderly.

A four-star tournament featuring

international players and a $3,000

first prize purse is planned for early

fall, as is one for area high school and

college players. A key to success for both

the tournaments and the club will be cor-

porate sponsorships.

Despite the business requirements,

neither partner seems overwhelmed by

the money hunt. They are both in it for

love of the game, the people, and the

friendships. Says Shortz, I dont want to

lose the whole reason for starting the

club. Q

entire 40,000-square-foot building hous-

ing businesses ranging from a print shop

to a martial arts school before opening

the club. Its crazy as an investment, he

explains, [but] it works for me.In addition to more top-of-the-line

tables than any other American club, the

$750,000 investment prior to opening

included new air conditioning, splitting

the space into a main room and five-table

party room, mens and womens show-

ers, lockers, storage space for bleachers

to come out during tournament play, and

setting aside space for a pro shop to be

stocked with high-end equipment from all

the major manufacturers and a caf.

The club opens every day from earlyafternoon to late evening. The year-one

membership goalabout halfway

achieved within two months of opening

is 300, with adults paying $300 and

under-20s $200 for unlimited play. A

days play is also available for $10 ($7 for

students).

The base is expected to be the River-

towns Table Tennis Cluba nomadic

100-plus group who for years shifted

nightly through Westchester County, N.Y.,

venuesin whose membership the two

an you capture the intimacy that

makes a game special within a

cavernous 13,000 square feet of

commercial space? Thats the challenge

for the two partners in the recentlyopened Westchester Table Tennis Cen-

terNew York Times crossword puzzle

editor Will Shortz and former Caribbean

table tennis champion and Barbados

Olympian Robert Roberts.

Shortz (above, right) and Roberts

(left) are gambling on a shared passion

and the wave of interest in ping pong

that has seen 10-year participation

growth of 53 percent to about 19.5 mil-

lion core players and $46 million in rev-

enues, according to a 2011 SportingGoods Manufacturers Association Partici-

pation Study. Then theres the celebrity

attention table tennis is getting, for

instance, with actress Susan Saran-

don and partners rolling out their

SPiN parlors around the world, mix-

ing a bar scene and the thwack,

click, thwack, of a hollow, gas-filled

celluloid ball speeding and spinning

from rubber paddle to coated table

top to paddle and back.

The pleasure Shortz and Roberts

take in the sport is obvious as the

two friends set up catty-corner to

rally for a few minutes across one

of the 18 Double Happiness Rainbow

tables that help set their Pleasantville,

N.Y., parlor far apart from the games

clichd basement venues. Not as imme-

diately clear is whether the financial

gamble to create a table tennis empori-

um catering to everyone from novice to

international paddle master will pay off.

Shortz, star of the 2006 movie

Wordplay, bought a half interest in the

C

For These Friends, a New Table

Tennis Venue Solves the PuzzleB Y K E N T O S W A L D

For These Friends, a New Table

Tennis Venue Solves the Puzzle


25/52


26/52

TIMING GEAR

R A C Q U E T S & S H O E S

B Y K E N T O S W A L D

Americas greatest tennis event

comes at practically the worst time

on the calendar for the tennis indus-

try: The fortnight when the sport takes

center stage in this country occurs as theselling season is in its dying ember

phase.

Imagine the sales and marketing tie-

ins missed with a late August, early Sep-

tember event coinciding with many

players stowing their tennis gear into

months-long hibernation. How many

more racquets could be sold if the US

Open took place earlier in the year,

around the time the tour touches down

in Indian Wells or Key Biscayne?

Its not that manufacturers are com-pletely ignoring opportunities to raise

awareness of their products at the Open.

Head, for example, counts on receiving the

promotional benefit of endorsees Novak

Djokovic playing with the YouTek IG Speed

Pro and Maria Sharapova and Tomas Berdych

playing with their YouTek IG Instincts as part of

the buzz emanating from Flushing Meadows.

Although the players have been hitting with the

new sticks since spring, the company only

began in early August to ship stores the YouTek

IG Instinct MP and YouTek IG Instinct S rac-

quets. Similarly, the company also stepped up

its promotion of the newly released Radical

Pro II shoe for men.

With more than 70,000 of its US Open

balls in use during the two weeks of play,

Wilson, too, is relying on a lot of free tele-

vision face time for the brand as a

key to its Open marketing. As for

the actual faces fans will see

reminding them of who is the

largest player in the tennis industry,

the tour team includes Roger Federer

playing with the Six.One Tour BLX; Sere-

na and Venus Williams hitting with the

Blade Team BLX; and Wimbledon champ

Petra Kvitova relying on the Tour BLX. Wil-

son also has produced a special edition NYC

shoe in its top-of-the-line Tour Vision line thatincorporates NYC 2011 embroidery and a new

colorway.

Rather than officially launching a new racquet

or shoe at the Open, Prince is looking to drive sales

with a consumer campaign. Purchases in August and

September from the companys EXO 3 racquet line

with its promise of edge-to-edge responsereceive an

automatic discount of $30 off. That promotion followed on

the heels of a global Facebook campaign encouraging peo-

ple to like the company for the chance to win a 3-day, 2-

night trip for two VIPs to New York.

Babolatfocused its Open-related promotional efforts onbuilding ties through its endorsees, inviting video posts of

kids 17 and younger hitting shots inspired by a Babolat pro.

The company scheduled weekly rounds of online voting for

fan favorites through the Open. Final votes will be cast in

the tournaments afterglow and one boy and one girl will

each win a trip to Indian Wells in the spring in recognition

of their ability to caricaturize a Babolat pro.

During last years Open, Dunlop used its outdoor voice

to launch its Biomimetic sticks. While the company will be

extending the line featuring benefits imitative of natures genius

further into the fall and claims sales have exceeded expectations,

they are using their indoor voice promoting the newest addi-

tions, the 100 and 200 Tour. Aimed at a niche player market,

the racquetsthe former with a smaller head and latter with

some added heftare scheduled for limited distribution through

specific speciality shops.

As much as any company, Yonex aligns its product rollouts

and promotions directly with the tennis calendar. Its new VCore

racquets and Power Cushion (three-layer) shoes were introduced

in the States during the spring. For the Japanese-based company,

the Open is all about star power at both ends of the age spectrum

as a marketing force. At one edge, the company stands to attract

attention if this turns out to be the first Major triumph for Caro-

line Wozniacki and her VCore 100S. At the other extreme, every

ball hit by Kimiko Date-Krumm, 40, with her S-Fit racquet will be

The US Open has always posed timing issues for new

product. But if manufacturers are not introducingracquets and shoes, theyre still raising awareness of

their brands.

TIMING GEAR


Wilson

Six.One Tour

BLX and

special

edition NYC

2011 shoe

Dunlop

Biomimetic 200 To


27/52Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25www.racquetsportsindustry.com

one more clean winner in strengthening ties with players

who have left their school days far behind.

Similar to the racquet manufacturers, Adidas wont be

launching any new styles at the Open but will hope the

hoopla (and sales) come courtesy of its second-week war-

riors. Andy Murray will be wearing the Barricade 6.0; Fer-

nando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga the adiZero Feather;

and Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova the adiZero Tem-

paia.By way of contrast, K-Swiss will launch a new shoe around

the US Open. Its goal will be to focus industry and consumer

attention on the use of its Tubes Technology cushioning for the

first time in this market with the launch of the Tubes Tennis 100.

Creating BuzzWhile some larger manufacturers have marquee player endorsements and big-

time (for tennis, at least) marketing budgets, more specialized manufacturers

count on the annual gathering of insiders and tennis specialists to create word-of-

mouth buzz that will ripple out into the tennis world through the fall and encourage spe-

cialty shops and teaching pros to consider making a bigger push in the new yearfor the companys racquets with their customers.

Pacific, for example, will be talking up its new X-Fast Pro 100,

released earlier this summer. Directly correlating to the companys

origins in string technology, the racquet was designed back-

wards from the interplay of ball and strings and then to the

frame, which in this case was created to complement aggres-

sive games heavy on power and spin.

Similarly, Tecnifibre rolled

out its new family of racquets

using VO2 Max (promising

exceptional control and

stability) and Tour Pre-pared technologies (a

layer of silicon in the

handle to minimize

polyester string-relat-

ed vibration) during the

US Open Series. As with

most smaller players,

hopes for marketing pop

from the Open itself will rely

on the individual success of dark

horses. In Tecnifibres case this

means strong second-week perfor-

mances by Janko Tipsarevic or Marcos

Baghdatis, or perhaps even Roland Garros

junior champ American Bjorn Fratangelo.

And Donnay, which relaunched the brand in the

U.S. earlier in the year with the thin-framed, relatively lighter

X-P Dual frames, will release its Dual Pro in conjunction with the

Open. Following the Open, the brand will ramp up its footprint with spon-

sorship of Jim Couriers Champions Series, the 12-city, September-October

senior tour featuring Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Mats

Wilander, Bjorn Borg and Michael Chang.

With racquet, shoe and all other tennis technology improving, the US Open promises to be

a great fortnight for the game. Still, on behalf of the manufacturers, one cant help but regret that

a tennis extravaganza will never morph into a sales bonanza. Q

Yonex

VCore 100S and

Power Cushion shoe

Pacific

X-Fast Pro 100

Tecnifibre

VO2 Max


28/52


29/52Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27www.racquetsportsindustry.com

These tips from contractors can help you save

your courts and equipment. B Y M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R

You have your oil changed every three months or 3,000

miles. You see a doctor for an annual checkup. You restringyour racquet regularly.

So what is your routine for keeping your courts in good shape?

Sure, you're dragging your clay courts and blowing leaves off the

hard ones, and you know about seasonal maintenance and repairs.

But let's be honest: In a budget-conscious time, nobody goes

around looking for ways to spend money. How, then, do we know

a piece of equipment needs to be replaced?

Easy, say court builders. Look for a few unmistakable symp-

toms:

NETSIf a court net droops, is frayed or has holes or tears, or if the head-

band looks old, worn-out or dirty, it's obviously time to replace it.

The center strap, cable and other components should be struc-

turally sound at all times as well. Replacement parts such as

headbands and center straps are also available on the market.

"New nets should be purchased annually for your highest-pro-

file (most played-on) courts," says Tracy Lynch of Har-Tru Corp.

in Charlottesville, Va., "and then in year two, those nets should

be rotated to the courts that are not used as much. Its always a

good practice to store your nets inside during the winter months

if your courts are not being played on."

SURFACEHard courts will get play in every possible season. Look for bird-

baths (low spots on the surface where water collects after a rain)

or heaving. If lines look faded, a contractor can replace them

(which might be a good time to add those new 10 and Under

HOW OFTEN

SHOULD YOUREPLACE . . .

C O U R T C O N S T R U C T I O N & M A I N T E N A N C E

HOW OFTEN

SHOULD YOUREPLACE . . .These tips from contractors can help you save

your courts and equipment.

Ph

otocourtesyofFDC-TheFast-DryCom

pany,

PompanoBeach,

FL



Tennis lines you've been consider-

ingsee page 30 for details). Any

cracks should be addressed by a con-

tractor, since they can be a symptom

of any number of different problems,

both major and minor. The surface of

high-traffic areas such as the baseline

will show wear first, and a new coat

of acrylic surfacing can make thecourt look new again.

"How often you'll need to resur-

face will vary, depending upon the

amount of play the courts get," says

Lee Murray of Competition Athletic

Surfaces. "When players start men-

tioning that play is a bit too fast, that

is the first tip-off. Certainly, if you

start noticing loose sand on the courts

its time to make plans to resurface.

This condition will worsen quickly

and if not addressed, can get

dangerous."

Soft courts require mainte-

nance on a regular basis, says

Lynch, who recommends

annual top-dressing with 2

tons of surface for courts that

do not receive winter play.

"In year-round play climates,

courts should be top-dressed

twice a year to ensure the

court is playing consistent

and staying in top condition."

Slick spots in the court or

areas where the subsurface

material is showing through

are symptoms that work is

needed.

LIGHTSLights lose their power as

they age, and lamps burn out.

Use a light meter to take read-

ings around your courts and

find out where light loss has

occurred.

"Its recommended to

replace your lamps at 8,000

hours," says Lynch. "While

most lamps have an average

life of 12,000 hours, you start

to lose significant amount of

light output at the 6,000-hour

mark. Its also recommended

that you do group replacement of

lamps as opposed to individual

lamps as they burn out. Group

replacement ensures equal distri-

bution of light and helps eliminate

any potential hot/dark spots."

WINDSCREENWindscreens will break downover time, and rips and tears will

form, often around hems or

attachment points. Loose areas

that blow in the wind will result in

widespread damage.

Its a good idea to budget to

replace windscreen every four to

five years," says Lynch. "For bud-

get reasons, I would suggest rotat-

ing windscreens as you do your

nets. Replace the screen on your

high-profile courts androtate the old screens to the

lesser-played-on courts."

MAINTENANCEEQUIPMENTLook at all equipment,

checking for loose heads or

handles, cracking, rust

spots, sharp or broken

edges or splintering wood.

Repair any problems if pos-

sible, or replace when nec-essary. Check the rubber

edges of squeegees and the

condition of foam rollers to

make sure they are in good

shape. Trying to get one

more season out of a piece

of equipment rarely pays

dividends, and letting

something go too long can

result in damage to your

court or worse, injury to

someone using the equip-

ment.

Knowing what to look

for is half the battle, say

contractors. Actually look-

ing for it on a regular

basisand then addressing

itwill keep the courts

playing well for years to

come.Q

PhotocourtesyofFDC-TheFast-DryC

ompany,

PompanoBeach,

FL

Photocourte

syofHar-Tru,

Charlottesville,VA

PhotocourtesyofHar-Tru,

Note: The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) is a non-profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators

and users understand quality sports facility construction. The ASBA offers informative meetings and publications on tennis courts

and running tracks. Available at no charge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, as well as the ASBAs Mem-bership Directory. Info: 866-501-ASBA (2722) or www.sportsbuilders.org.


The publication Tennis Courts: A Constructionand Maintenance Manual is an outstandingresource for court builders, facility ownersand managers, park & rec departments,and anyone else interested in learning the

latest about building and maintaining ten-nis courts and facilities. You can orderthe publication, which also containsinformation on 10 and Under Tenniscourts, for $44.95 through the Ameri-can Sports Builders Association(ASBA) at 866-501-ASBA (2722) oronline at www.sportsbuilders.org. The man-ual also is available for download from the website.


31/52Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29

Indoor tennis facilities have unique challenges when it comes to

keeping players safe.

SAFETY

MEASURES


SAFETY

MEASURESIndoor tennis facilities have unique challenges when it comes tokeeping players safe.

B Y M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R

To rephrase what your mother told you, its all fun and games

until someone runs into a support column. The indoor ten-

nis facility can offer a lot of advantages. No rain can stop the

game, no oncoming wind can affect your serve, no sun can get in

your eyes. Its the perfect way to playas long as everyone stays

safe. By far, an indoor court managers greatest worry is having a

player, in the heat of the match, run for a shot and not see anobstacle in his or her path. The common-sense approach to pre-

venting this is threefold: (a) observe space requirements, (b) use

appropriate safety padding, and (c) use correct placement of court

furnishings.

SPACE REQUIREMENTSThe book Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Manual

notes that on a typical 60- by 120-foot court area, the sideline over-

run area (defined as the clear-playing space outside the lines) is 12

feet and the baseline overrun is 21 feet. Overruns are measured to

the nearest wall, column or other surface enclosing the court.

Many indoor facilities use backdrop curtains behind the base-

lines to minimize the distraction caused by players or staff walking

back and forth. The curtain should extend at least 10 feet above

the finished court surface, although they can be as high as the wall

itself. There should be at least 18 feet behind the baseline to the

backdrop curtain, although as mentioned, 21 feet is recommend-

ed. Between the wall of the building and the inside edge of the cur-

tain, there should be a passageway at least 3 feet wide.

Nothing should be stored behind the backdrop curtain. This

includes ball machines, maintenance equipment or anything else

that could cause tripping or injury to a player who backs into or

runs into the curtain while chasing a ball.

In addition, nothing should interfere with the overrun area

behind the baseline where it is likely to interfere with a player dur-

ing a gameno benches, racquet bags, jackets, etc. should be in

the space, and no spectators or personnel should be allowed to

stand there. Stray balls should be removed from this space as

quickly as possible without disrupting play. (Note: Indoor facilities

with courts for 10 and Under Tennis should also observe required

overrun distances.)

SAFETY PADDINGThe second aspect of keeping indoor facilities as safe as possible is

proper use of safety padding. Support columns, light posts and

other fixed objects should be wrapped in shock-absorbing materi-

al to lessen the possible damage or injury that can occur if a play-

er accidentally runs into them.

From a logistical standpoint, any structural member or mason-

ry wall within 2 feet of the backdrop curtain should be padded.

That padding should begin at the court surface and should extend

at least 7 feet up.

The Tennis Courts book recommends padding be made of

foam rubber and be at least 2 inches thick, although realistically,

use of thicker padding is always acceptable. Padding can be vinyl-

covered for appearance purposes, and for easier maintenance and

cleaning.

While some indoor tennis play is held in retrofitted buildings

with interior pillars, these are not recommended because of the

inherent safety risks. Generally, buildings designed for tennis do

not have supports that could obstruct play, or which anyone mov-

ing around the court could come in contact with.

COURT FURNISHINGSLocation, location, location: Its not just the real estate agents

mantra, its the third part of keeping your players safe on the court:

proper placement of court furnishings. The recommended mini-

Photo courtesy of ICASports, North Salem, NY



32/52

mum clearance from the sideline of the court to a fixed object is 12

feet. Benches may be located slightly farther in (but no closer than

10 feet from the sideline) and should be within 12 feet of the net

line.

The book notes that portable equipment, such as cooler stands,

umpires chairs and players chairs, may be located within the rec-

ommended clearance; these items should be as close to the net line

as practical and no more than 12 feet from the net line.

Multi-court indoor facilities generally use divider nettingbetween courts to contain balls and create a visual boundary for

players. The Tennis Courts book says, Not less than 12 feet is

required from the sideline to a fixed obstruction (i.e. sidestop, light

pole, wall, etc.). Where courts are in a battery and where netting is

used between courts, the netting is considered to be a movable

obstruction, in which case 9 feet is considered a minimum

between sideline and netting. (Only where space limitations

become a factor and the 12-foot minimum cannot be provided

may the side space from sideline to a fixed obstruction be reduced

to a minimum of 10 feet). This dimension does not restrict obstruc-

tions at the net line; for example, the net post of the adjacent courtor light standards.

A good game inside means playing it safe, too. Q

30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011

PhotocourtesyofLower

Bros.

Co.

Inc.,

Birmingham,

AL

P

hotocourtesyofSportsline

In

c.,

Exton,

PA



33/52



Adding blended lines for 10 and Under Tennis is simple

and cost-effective.

INSIDE

THE LINES


INSIDE

THE LINESAdding blended lines for 10 and Under Tennis is simpleand cost-effective. B Y M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R

Unless you've been living in a cave, you know about 10 and

Under Tennis and all the benefits it can offer. What you may

not know is how to bring it to your courts. One of the best

ways is to pick up the phone and call your local court builder. Tell him

or her you want courts lined for 10 and Under Tennis. It's that sim-

ple.

Maybe, though, you have a few questions. Is it going to be a bigexpense? Will 78-foot courts lined for 36- or 60-foot tennis look con-

fusing to players? Will members complain? Will it spoil the aesthet-

ics? No, no, no and no, say builders.

"It actually doesn't cost much to line a court for 10 and under

play," says Mark Brogan of Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Devon, Pa.

"On average, I think, people are charging less than $500. You have

to figure a club is going to make that up in the first set of group

lessons they book."

But even better, the national USTA will match dollar for dollar the

investment a facility makes toward the total cost of painting blend-

ed lines or converting tennis courts for 10 and Under Tennis, to a

maximum of $4,000. In many instances, between the national USTA

and the USTA section, a facility or organization adding blended lines

to 78-foot courts can have up to 75 percent of the total cost covered.

(Visit usta.com/facilities for more information on line and conversion

grants.)

Brogan, who serves on the board of the American Sports Builders

Association as the group's tennis division president, says he has yet

to hear complaints from any customer who has had the new lines put

on. In part, this is because lines for 10U play are generally a different

color from the existing lines and are unobtrusive and within the same

color family of the 78-foot court surface, for instance, light blue 10U

lines on a dark blue court surface. (If adding 10U lines to a 78-foot

court, the lines should never be white, or any color, such as gray, that

might be mistaken for white.)

"We have striped a lot of shared lines on various colored courts,"

says Lee Murray of Competition Athletic Surfaces in Chattanooga,

Tenn. "Using a color several shades darker than the playing area is

the best solution. Adult players arent as distracted when the 10 and

under lines are darker than the playing area and further from the

color of the white lines."

CROSSED LINESWhen 36- and 60-foot lines are superimposed on an existing regula-

tion court, some of the boundaries will be the same. Some of the

important points about shared lines:

Q Since a 78-foot court is 36 feet wide, the 78-foot court doubles side-

lines can be used as the baseline for a 36-foot court.

Q Since a 78-foot singles court is 27 feet wide, the 78-foot singles lines

can be used as the doubles sidelines for a 60-foot court.

To further differentiate 10 and Under playing lines from the lines

of the 78-foot court, 10U playing lines are terminated 3 inches from

the white 78-foot playing lines where the 10 and Under playing lines

intersect the 78-foot lines.

DIFFERENT FROM THE GROUND UPOne of the advantages of teaching 10 and Under Tennis is the abili-

ty to create courts anywhere, including gymnasiums, parking lots

and rec centers. Resourceful Tennis Service Representatives (TSRs),

Documents

201109 Racquet Sports Industry