201303 Racquet Sports Industry

March 2013Volume 41 Number 3 $5.00www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Court Construction &Maintenance Guidew Facility Designw Post-Tensioned Concretew Annual Maintenance Plannerw Certif ied Court Buildersw and more

Industry Mourns LossOf Tim Heckler

Cardio Tennis DrivesPlay in Australia, UK

Court Construction &Maintenance Guidew Facility Designw Post-Tensioned Concretew Annual Maintenance Plannerw Certif ied Court Buildersw and more

Industry Mourns LossOf Tim Heckler

Cardio Tennis DrivesPlay in Australia, UK

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DEPARTMENTS

R S I M A R C H 2 0 1 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

7 Industry mourns loss of Tim Heckler

7 Davis Cup Legacy Program in Jacksonville

7 Wilson launches ‘SpinEffect’ demo tour

8 Five new Dunlop frames hit market

8 New Rafael Nadal smartphone app

10 Peoplewatch10 USTA offers NJTL regional

training sessions

10 K-Swiss sold to SouthKorean company

11 GSS announces namechange to IART

12 Short Sets13 Isospeed introduces

Black Fire string

13 PTR and Head continuepartnership

14 USPTA partners with Tennis on Campus

4 Our Serve7 Industry News16 TIA News19 Retailing Tip

20 Finances38 Ask the Experts40 Tips and Techniques42 String Playtest: Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro44 Your Serve, by Denny Schackter

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2013 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

COURT CONSTRUCTION &MAINTENANCE GUIDE

22 Intelligent Design When designing a new facility or mak-ing changes to an existing one, ask theright questions.

24 Concrete ThinkingPost-tensioned concrete slabs are prov-ing to be longer lasting and more resis-tant to cracks.

28 Maintaining OrderUse the Annual Maintenance Planner tokeep your courts looking and playingtheir best.

32 Annual Excellence The USTA’s Outstanding Facility AwardsProgram recognizes excellent facilitiesevery year.

34 They’re Certifiable! The ASBA’s Certified Tennis CourtBuilder program strives to raise profes-sional standards.

35 MarketplaceHere’s a quick look at some of thecourt construction and maintenanceproducts available for 2013.

ContentsContents

\ \

Our Serve(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)

PublishersDavid Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial DirectorPeter Francesconi

[email protected]

Associate EditorGreg Raven

Design/Art DirectorKristine Thom

Contributing EditorsRobin BatemanCynthia CantrellJoe DinofferKent OswaldBob Patterson

Cynthia ShermanMary Helen Sprecher

Tim Strawn

RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRYCorporate Offices

PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171

Email: [email protected]: www.racquetTECH.com

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

Advertising DirectorJohn Hanna

770-650-1102, [email protected]

Apparel AdvertisingCynthia Sherman203-263-5243

[email protected]

Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times peryear: monthly January through August and combinedissues in September/October and November/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, PO Box 3392,Duluth, GA 30096. Periodcal postage paid atDuluth, GA and at additional mailing offices (USPS#004-354). March 2013, Volume 41, Number 3 ©2013 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All rightsreserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logo aretrademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Phoneadvertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulationand editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscriptions$25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Sendaddress changes to Racquet Sports Industry, PO Box3392, Duluth, GA 30096.

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

www.racquetsportsindustry.com

It Starts With a Court

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2013

When we talk about growing the game, often it’sabout participation, or equipment sales, orleagues and lessons. But when you think about

it, growing the game starts under our feet… on the tenniscourt itself.

It sounds basic, but you need a court to play this game. I know, youcan start kids playing on temporary courts in driveways, on playgroundsand parking lots, in gyms, etc. But eventually, you need to get them ontocourts designed for tennis—whether 36-, 60- or 78-foot courts. And tocreate the frequent players that this business needs to sustain itself andto grow, you need courts for them to play on—for them to play inleagues, take lessons and clinics, participate in round-robins and CardioTennis.

That’s why it’s so important to this game to keep facilities updated,renovated and playing and looking their best. For tennis centers, it’simportant to give your players the type of surface that will keep themenjoying the game and coming back over and over. And a well-main-tained court is inviting. When you see a court with torn nets, saggingwindscreens and cracks in the surface—who’s going to want to play inthose conditions? Not only is it unappealing visually, but it can pose haz-ards to players.

When courts aren’t maintained, they probably don’t get the use theyshould. It also is easier for management—or your local park and rec if it’sa public court—to make a case for getting rid of that court. And fewercourts aren’t what we need for this industry.

These are some of the reasons why we’ve done an annual Court Con-struction & Maintenance Guide for many years, along with running otherconstruction stories throughout the year. This is a topic that all tennisproviders need to know about.

There are a number of resources available to help you maintain yourcourts—and to help in building a tennis facility, too. One of the best, inmy humble opinion, is “Tennis Courts: A Construction & MaintenanceManual,” which is co-published by the USTA and the American SportsBuilders Association. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit mybias toward this manual: I worked with an incredibly talented “Joint Edi-torial Board” of court builders and designers to help update the currentedition of the manual.

Our Court Construction Guide references topics and chapters in themanual, and we even reprint the “Annual Maintenance Planner” thatappears in the current edition. Make sure you use this handy resource tokeep your courts in top shape.

Your players, and this sport, deserve it.

Peter FrancesconiEditorial Director

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INDUSTRY NEWSINDUSTRY NEWSI 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

Davis Cup LegacyProgram to Renovate Jax CourtsThe USTA will refurbish courts atthe Clanzel T. Brown Park tennisfacility in Jacksonville, Fla., as apart of the USTA’s Davis CupLegacy program. The program,begun more than a decade ago,is designed to leave a perma-nent tennis legacy in the com-munities which host Davis Cupties in the United States.

To further develop Youth Tennisin Jacksonville, which hosted theDavis Cup World Group FirstRound against Brazil, one courtat Clanzel T. Brown Park will beconverted into four permanent36-foot courts with fencing, netsand center straps. Seven othercourts will be resurfaced andhave 60-foot blended linesplaced on them. The $42,000projected is jointly funded by theUSTA, the USTA Florida sectionand the City of Jacksonville.

“We are pleased with the waythe community has embracedtennis and the Davis Cup,” saidDavid Haggerty, USTA Chairman,CEO and President. “The USTA’smission is to grow tennis andgive all people of all ages accessto the game. We are proud towork with the City of Jack-sonville to achieve this goal andleave a permanent footprintwith the Davis Cup Legacy.”

"This is a great example of howinvesting in sports and enter-tainment can create a lastinginvestment for our community,"said Jacksonville Mayor AlvinBrown. The U.S. team defeatedBrazil in the first round in earlyFebruary.

R S I M A R C H 2 0 1 3

Industry Loses Former USPTA Chief Tim Heckler

Tim Heckler, the former chief executive officer of the USPTA, passedaway Feb. 4 in Houston after suffering a heart attack. He was 71 yearsold.

“We are shocked and saddened by this loss,” said USPTA President TomDaglis. “He will be sorely missed in the industry as the single largest con-tributor to the USPTA in its entire history. Our deepest condolences go outto his wife, Renee, his children, and the rest of his family.” Heckler retired from his position as CEO of the USPTA in December,

after 30 years in the position. He began playing tennis at age 3, attendedLamar University in Beaumont, Texas, on a tennis scholarship and playedon the international circuit, including Wimbledon in 1959 and 1961, andthe U.S. Open in 1960. He started his tennis-teaching career in 1970, thesame year he joined USPTA. He was elected president of the USPTA Texas Division in 1974 andserved as national president of the organization from 1980 to 1982, when he was tapped to be CEOof the organization."Tim had a major impact on the game throughout his life, and this reached into every area of

tennis,” said TIA President Greg Mason. “His leadership and passion made the USPTA into theorganization it is today. Anyone involved in tennis has been impacted by Tim's commitment toboth the game and the organization he loved.”

“Tennis has known very few who were more dedicated or committed to its growth and long-term health than was Tim,” said USTA President Dave Haggerty. “He was truly one-of-a-kind andwill be sorely missed by his many friends and by the sport to which he dedicated so much of hislife.”The USPTA honored Heckler in 2000 by naming him a grand inductee in the Association’s Hall

of Fame. He also received the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Tennis Educational Merit Awardin 2002 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008 he received theUSPTA’s highest honor, the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award.“His passion and commitment to tennis and the USPTA were inspiring,” said current USPTA CEO

John Embree. “The industry has lost a true giant.”Arrangements were still pending at press time, but to make a donation in Heckler’s name, visit

EarthmanBellaire.com.

March 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Wilson Launches ‘Spin Effect’ Demo Tour

Wilson announced its nationwide “Spin Effect Tour” that will visit retailers andconsumers in more than 200 venues, showcasing the brand’s Spin Effect Tech-nology. Taking place through June, the Spin Effect Tour targets avid players and

will also be featured at leading junior developmental programs.Wilson’s Spin Effect Technology racquets are the Steam 99S and Steam 105S. The com-

pany says they both increase spin for consumers of all levels, enabling players to add morethan 200 RPMs on their shots without needing to change their swing.On the Spin Effect Tour, Wilson will take players through the “TrackMan” experience, which

tracks ball rotation, height and arc of shots and was used in the development of Steam S rac-quets. Players who participate will have an opportunity to win an autographed Roger Federerracquet and Victoria Azarenka racquet. For more information about hosting a Spin Effect Tourevent, contact [email protected].

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Five New Frames Hit Market From Dunlop

Dunlop has unveiled five new frames in 2013—three for the 5.0 Series andtwo in the 2.0 Series. The company says it’s made significant design and

technology changes to the new frames in an effort to “boost control and spinpotential” without sacrificing feel. “The new 5.0s are powerful frames that add significant control," says

Hunter Hines, director of marketing and product for Dunlop Racquet Sports."Starting with the F5.0 Tour, which Nicolas Almagro will begin using this year,we went back to the drawing board with these three new frames and builtsomething from the ground up, delivering a brand new experience to players." As part of Dunlop's new racquet naming convention, the Dunlop 500

name has been dropped and the new racquets are called 5.0s. The 5.0 Seriesincludes the F5.0 Tour, M5.0 and S5.0 Lite. The new 2.0 Series, formerly the

200 Series of frames, includes the F2.0 Tour and M2.0(the M2.0 has a 16x19 string pattern).

Changes to the frames include a new, rounderhead shape and a new tapered beam which,according to Dunlop, reduces drag and producesfaster swing speeds, for more power on servesand groundstrokes.The frames also have new Biomimetic technolo-

gies, such as a reconfigured surface texture to helpreduce drag and a new dampening system, BioFibre,

comprised of natural fibers woven throughout the throatand handle to more widely distribute shock at impact,says Dunlop. Another new technology is the use of molyb-denite particles in an all-new grommet system, enablingeasier string movement and reduced string friction.For 2013, Dunlop has renamed all its new racquets to

help make the selection process easier. The main changeis the addition of a letter prior to the racquet number. Each racquet namestarts with either an F, M, or S, signifying a player’s swing speed and style:Fast/Full, Medium/Moderate or Short/Slow. The numbers have been changedfrom hundreds to a decimal system to signify the new molds. For more information, visit dunlopsports.com.

LoveAll Apparel Offers New Catalog

LoveAll Apparel, based in Arlington, TX, wasstarted in 2009 by avid tennis players KimCleary and Shelia Bishop and specializes inuniquely designed clothing for all ages. Thecompany, which recently updated its catalog,prints its shirt designs on acid-washed,burnout fabric. The 50/50 cotton/poly blend T-shirts are

double-dyed, double-needle-hemmed andfinished with 3/8-inchribbed collars. Pre-shrunk ladies’ pants aredesigned with stretch toflatter curves. For guys,there are 100 percentmicrofiber tees that fea-ture moisture wickingand covered seams fora smooth feel. Thecompany also has pro-duced “Strong is Beauti-ful” shirts for the WTATour that pros such as Samantha Stosur, Li Naand Caroline Wozniacki have worn.Bishop says LoveAll has about 150

accounts in the U.S., Canada and Europe andcontinues to grow (the company recentlymoved offices from a 300-square-foot space to900). She adds that the company is also look-ing to expand its sales rep force. VisitLoveAll.com or email [email protected].

New Nadal Tennis Academy App Available

The new Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy App, powered by Vstrator and availableat the iTunes App Store, is for all recreational players and allows them to learn

directly from the 11-time Grand Slam champion. The App offers exclusive, in-depth tennis tutorials of Rafa’s strokes, along with Vstrator’s easy-to-use videocoaching tools so players can instantly capture their strokes, analyze theirgames, and compare their technique side-by-side with Rafa’s.Fans, players, and coaches simply open the App, record or import video from

their smartphone’s camera, then “Vstrate” it using the drawing tools, whichallows them to highlight the video so they can zero in on any part of their game.They can then frame the video forward and back, and compare their techniqueto Rafa as well as other players. Then the Vstrator video can be shared via socialmedia, email or text with friends, family, coaches and other players.The Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy App features 9 tutorials of the tennis

champion’s serve and returns with a host of future tutorials of all Rafa’s strokes,along with exclusive insights from Rafa himself on what makes him one of theworld’s best tennis players. Members also can upload their own videos as wellas their own Vstrated coaching sessions to the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy onVstrator.com.

February 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9www.racquetsportsindustry.com

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


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• Novak Djokovic, playing with his new YouTekGraphene Speed Pro, became the first tennis prowho captured the Australian Open three straightyears. He beat fellow Head player Andy Murray towin his sixth Grand Slam title.

• Australian tennis great Thelma Coyne Long, who won a totalof 19 Grand Slam tournament titles, will be given the highest honor in thesport of tennis—enshrinement into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.Coyne Long, age 94 and living in the Sydney area, will be honored in theMaster Player Category in the Class of 2013. The Enshrinement Ceremony isscheduled for July 13, 2013, at the Hall of Fame in Newport, RI.

• Erik Kortland is the new National Coach, Junior Development, based atthe National Training Center-East at the USTA Billie Jean King National Ten-nis Center in Flushing, N.Y. He’ll coach players in a new “Feeder Program”for boys and girls ages 9-13. Kortland was head of player development atthe Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

• Victoria Azarenka won her second AustralianOpen title in January, playing with a Wilson Juice100 frame.

• The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museumand the International Tennis Federation presented the 2013Golden Achievement Award to Geoff Pollard, the past-president and chair-man of Tennis Australia and a current vice president of the ITF. TheGolden Achievement Award is given annually to an indi-vidual who has made important contributions interna-tionally to tennis in the fields of administration,promotion, or education.

• Mary Heath has been named to the new position ofchief marketing officer at the International Hall of Fame &

Museum. She has been the senior director of sales & partnership marketingfor the Hall of Fame since 2008.

• Patrick Kearns of Charlottesville, VA, is the new executive director of theUSPTA Mid-Atlantic Section. Kearns has served in a number of capacitiesincluding Head Tennis Professional at Farmington Country Club from 1995-2012. He is currently the Executive Director and Owner of 4 StarCamps, in Charlottesville.

• Linda Mojer, the former managing editor of Rac-quetball Magazine, has been named social mediamanager for Head Penn Racquetball.

• Tracy Lynch is the new director of sales for Har-TruSports.

• Larry Novenstern is the new vice president, integrated partnerships, forTennis Channel.

• Gertrude “Gorgeous Gussie” Moran, who played the 1949 WimbledonChampionships in a dress that revealed her lacy underwear, died in Califor-nia in January at age 89.

• Former USTA President Hunter Delatour passed away in January at age95. Delatour served as USTA president from 1983 to 1984. In 2011, hereceived a USTA Service Award for 40 years of dedicated volunteer service.

• Longtime Trinity University tennis coach Clarence Mabry passed away inJanuary at age 87. Among his many accomplishments, Mabry was a founderof the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch and its predecessor, TBarM.

• Paul Flory, longtime tournament director and chairman of the Western &Southern Open in Cincinnati, died in late January.

PEOPLEWATCH

USTA Offers NJTL Regional Training Sessions

The USTA is offering two-day NJTL Regional Training sessions that combine tennis, edu-cation/life skills, and organizational development and feature experts and partners

from NJTL National staff, USTA Serves, USTA Player Development, and USTA section staff.The USTA/National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) invites all NJTL and CTA/NJTL

Chapters to attend the comprehensive sessions. The first will be held at Oglethorpe Uni-versity in Atlanta on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10.The training sessions include a USTA Player Development Workshop open to coaches

and volunteers who work with youth players; the ACE Curriculum and OrganizationalDevelopment Workshop, which focuses on creating and funding sustainable year-roundtennis and education programming for underserved youth; and USTA Serves, which willdemonstrate fundraising, grant-writing, and best practices for organizations. Attendeesalso will have the opportunity to receive focused assistance and obtain tools needed toincrease their impact and reach.Registration is $49 per person, which includes all workshops, materials, and lunch on

both days. Contact the USTA for more information. The current schedule for NJTL Region-al Training is:w March 9-10, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GAw April 13-14, Fred Wells Tennis & Education, St. Paul, MNw May 4-5, Trenton, NJw June 1-2, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

K-Swiss Sold to SouthKorean Company

South Korean apparel distributorE Land World Ltd. agreed to

acquire footwear company K-Swissin January for $4.75 per share incash. K-Swiss was founded in 1966,went public in 1990, and saw solidgrowth, especially between 2000and 2006, when shares rose fromabout $3 to $35. Revenue, nearly $500 million in

2005, fell to $216.8 million in 2010,before rebounding to $268.4 mil-lion in 2011. But the company wasunable to regain its niche and hasnot had a profitable year since2008. In recent years, K-Swiss wasfrequently trading below its net cur-rent asset value.

February 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY11



Nominate forRSI’s ‘30Under 30’Honors

Nominate now forRSI’s “30 Under

30” honors, recog-nizing some of theyoung movers andshakers in the tennisindustry. The 30individuals we pickwill be featured inan upcoming specialsection.Anyone can nom-

inate potential hon-orees (you can evennominate yourself),and nominees can come from any segment of this industry. Nominees can evenbe volunteers in tennis; they don’t have to be employed in this industry. The onlyrestriction is that the nominee cannot have turned age 30 before June 1, 2013.To nominate, send us a brief email by April 1 describing your choice for “30

Under 30” honors. Also include the nominee’s birthday (month and year is fine) ifyou know it, and contact information for both you and the nominee. Put “30 Under30” in the subject line and email [email protected].

GSS Announces Name Change to IART

Grand Slam Stringers officially became the IART, International Alliance of RacquetTechnicians, on Jan. 1. “We are a global organization with a primary focus in

hands-on training for racquet technicians of all levels,” says founder Tim Strawn. “Re-branding the organization to better reflect our global initiative was a natural progres-sion in the growth of the company. We’re also working with industry manufacturerson an ongoing basis to provide discounts to our membership.”

IART now has a worldwide membership of nearly150 racquet technicians from 18 countries who par-ticipate on the website at www.gssalliance.com. In2012, the organization completed its sixth trainingsymposium at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa. During the symposium a new sponsorship was

announced by Ashaway Racket Strings. Vice Presi-dent Steve Crandall revealed the new program thatwould give IART members a 10 percent discount onall strings purchased from the company. “Ashawayis delighted to work with the IART to help them ful-fill their mission” said Crandall. IART’s most recent member sponsorship comes

from Alpha Racquet Sports based in Austin, TX.Members can get a 10 percent discount on all

Alpha/Topspin strings as well as a 5 percent discount on all stringing machines anddiagnostic equipment priced above $750.IART is planning its seventh Symposium, to be held in September in Florida. For

more information, visit www.gssalliance.com or call Strawn at 540-632-1148.

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> The U.S. Davis Cup team defeated Brazil,3-2, in the first round of the 2013 WorldGroup in early February in Jacksonville, FL. TheAmerican team next faces Serbia, April 5-7, inthe World Group quarterfinals, which will beplayed at the Taco Bell Arena on the campusof Boise State University.

> The Pacific X Fast Pro received propsrecently from TENNIS.com gear editor JustindiFeliciantonio as a racquet that “was possi-bly the most powerful baseliner’s stick I’veever played with.”

> The ATP and Tecnifibre have announced anew five-year partnership, through which Tec-nifibre becomes an Official Partner of the ATPWorld Tour. The Paris-based global manufac-turer will provide the Official Racquet, String,Bag and Accessories of the ATP World Tour, aswell as becoming an official sponsor of theBarclays ATP World Tour Finals, through 2017.

> The American Sports Builder Association(ASBA) has become an Alliance Sponsor ofPHIT America, the new national educationalcampaign to combat the obesity and seden-tary crisis seriously affecting health care costsin the U.S. This non-profit, started by the sport& fitness industry, will promote grassrootsprograms and new legislation to influenceAmericans to be more active, fit and healthythrough the consumer website PHITAmerica.org.

SHORT SETS> The “Hybrid Open” will be the first tourna-ment to be played on a dual-surface tennis court,in which one side is clay and the other is hard. TheMen’s Division event will be March 29-31; thewomen’s tournament will be in the fall. Theunique hybrid court is in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thetournament is open for all players and costs $60.Contact Tournament Director Renata Marcinkows-ka at [email protected].

> The USTA New England Section has namedthe Marshfield Tennis Club in Massachusetts asCommunity Tennis Association of the Year for2012.

> Tennis Australia announced a five-year exten-sion of its partnership with official AustralianOpen outfitter Lacoste, through 2018. Lacoste willremain the official supplier of tournament apparelto linesmen, ball kids and chair umpires. Also, KiaMotors has extended its multi-million dollar part-nership of the Australian Open through 2018.

> Wilson has launched two new premium balls,the Tour Clay Red and Tour Clay Green, which fea-ture Element Guard technology, which the compa-ny says will help maximize performance anddurability.

> Barry Ford, the USTA’sdirector of public affairs andadvocacy, is featured in anew book titled “ExpandingMinds and Opportunities:

World TeamTennis Season to Start July 7

The 2013 schedule for Mylan World TeamTennis will start on July 7, with59 matches scheduled throughout the month. The 38th season of WTT

concludes with the Mylan WTT Finals on July 28.Eight teams will compete in two conferences during the regular sea-

son; the top two teams from each advance to the Conference Champi-onships July 25. The 2013 Mylan WTT Finals will be contested on thehome court of the Eastern Conference Champions.Team schedules for the three-week regular season will be announced

in early March. The three-time champion Washington Kastles, who wontheir second consecutive WTT title last summer with back-to-back unde-feated 16-0 seasons, will be taking a 32-match win streak into their 2013season opener.Each of the eight teams will play 14 matches—seven home, seven

away. Eastern Conference teams are the Boston Lobsters, New YorkSportimes, Philadelphia Freedoms and Washington Kastles. Western Con-ference teams are Orange County Breakers, Sacramento Capitals, Spring-field Lasers and the yet-unnamed Irving, Texas-based team, whichrecently relocated from Kansas City. For more information, visit WTT.com.

Leveraging the Power of Afterschool andSummer Learning for Student Success.” Fordcontributed a seven-page article titled,“Tennis in Afterschool and Summer Pro-grams – a Winning New Model to ExpandFitness and Learning.” The book is availableat Amazon.com.

> Har-Tru Sports will conduct a Har-Trumaintenance certificate seminar Oct. 4-5 atthe Bonita Bay Club in Florida. 1-877-4HARTRU or [email protected].

> The quarterly, worldwide Black TennisMagazine will feature the Australian Openand coverage of Sloane Stephens and Sere-na Williams in its spring (March) issue. Sincestarting the magazine in 1977, PublisherMarcus Freeman has endeavored to covermajor tennis events featuring African-Amer-ican players.

> City Sports announced it will be addingextended sizes to its CS by City Sportsbrand, with the sizes catering to plus-sizedwomen.

> “A Backhanded Gift,” a novel by Mar-shall Jon Fisher, is a funny, moving literarywork with tennis serving as the backdropand set in Munich in the 1980s. Publishedby New Chapter Press, the book is availablein paperback or as an e-book at Amazonand via other major outlets.

Tennis Court Hat Now ‘Tournament Quality’

The Tennis Court Hat, which came out in 2007,has been updat-

ed and is availablein a moisture-con-trol microfiber. Thehat has an embroi-dered “classic”emerald “centrecourt,” meshinsert, high-perfor-mance sweatband,contrast bindingand adjustable looped Velcro strap. For informa-tion, call Centre Court Tennis at 203-770-5355 [email protected].

(photo, credit Courtesy USTA)

March RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13www.racquetsportsindustry.com


Isospeed Introduces Black Fire String

Isospeed, the Austrian manufacturer of premium syn-thetic tennis strings, introduces Black Fire, a co-polyester string that provides excellent spin andcontrol for maximum precision, says the compa-ny. For a limited time, Tennis Warehouse is offer-ing a “Get 3, Pay for 2” special on Black Fire. Isospeed is a division of Isosport, which was

founded in 1969 to manufacture materials forskiing and snowboarding. Using its experiencein manufacturing and post-processing synthet-ics, Isospeed began producing tennis strings in1990. Tennis Warehouse is the U.S. distributorfor Isospeed strings.

PTR, Head Continue Long-Standing Partnership

Professional Tennis Registry and Head announced the extension of their long-standing partnership. 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the Head and PTR

relationship, which is one of the longest sponsorships in tennis. “We’re proud to be a part of PTR’s rich history and even more excited to be a

part of their exciting future,” says Greg Mason, Head’s vice president of sales andmarketing. “The teaching pro is still the best ambassador of tennis and we’re

proud to help PTR as they continue on their successful path.” Along with being the official racquet of PTR, Head will alsogain exposure through advertising and trade show exhibitspace through its sponsorship. PTR members will also get totake advantage of the contract extension with access to

the PTR Team Head Program. “PTR and Head are both on an upswing so the timing of our contract renewal

could not have come at a more perfect time, ” says PTR CEO Dan Santorum.

Evolution Teaching Conference Slated for Florida

Evolution will hold its Evolution Tennis Teaching Professional Conference March25-26 at the Midtown Athletic Club in Weston, FL. Presentations explore the

needs and development of junior players at different ages and stages, explainingthe priorities at each stage. The international lineup of speakers includes: Leo Alonso, Argentina; Mike Bar-

rell, United Kingdom; Wayne Elderton, Canada; Craig Jones, U.S.; Diego Moyano,Argentina; Ronald Pothuizen, Holland; Nick Saviano, U.S.; Butch Staples, U.S.Rates are $195 for the full two days or $119 for one day, and include lunch. Con-

tact [email protected] or 786-778-3654, or visit evolve9.com.

PTR and GPTCA Sign Partnership Agreement

The PTR announced a partnership agreementwith the Global Professional Tennis Associa-

tion (GPTCA) at a meeting held during the Aus-tralian Open. The GPTCA, founded in 2010 by 49tour-level coaches, is an international organiza-tion dedicated to improving tennis coachesthrough education, interaction and networking.PTR Board Member Leo Alonso (second fromleft) and CEO Dan Santorum (second from right)met with GPTCA officials Dirk Hordorff (left) and Giorgio Di Palermo. Furtherdetails will be released in March during the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.


M A R C H 2 0 1 3IN

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WS USPTA Holds ‘Open Houses’ for

Tennis on Campus Participants

The USPTA and USTA have partnered to hostopen houses to connect USTA Tennis on

Campus participants with career opportuni-ties as tennis-teaching professionals. The pro-gram kicked off in January during the USPTANorthern, Southwest, California and Hawaiidivision conventions.A major objective of the alliance is to get

USPTA pros to partner with local TOC chap-ters. As such, every USPTA division will inviteregistered local TOC club participants toattend the division convention free of charge.At these conventions, TOC participants willget a glimpse into what the tennis-teachingprofession has to offer and will be introducedto the benefits of becoming a certified USPTAPro. They also will have the opportunity to sitin on all of the educational seminars at theconvention, network with USPTA memberswho have made a successful living fromteaching tennis, and socialize with otherattendees.“Tennis on Campus represents fertile

ground for the tennis profes-sionals of the future. Thiscollaboration is vital forUSPTA to tap into a net-work of passionate playerswho might very well wantto make teaching tennis a

career choice,” says USPTACEO John Embree.The coordinated efforts between the USTA

and USPTA also will include honoring onemale and one female TOC player at the USPTAannual awards ceremony with the TOC Teach-ing Award. In addition, the partnershipincludes sharing editorial produced by bothorganizations that will be featured in the TOCnewsletter and USPTA’s ADDvantage maga-zine, as well as providing the tools andresources for USPTA pros to connect with localTOC clubs and participants, so that the proscan help mentor those who are enthusiasticabout a career in tennis, and help them pre-pare for USPTA Certification Exams when theyare ready to take the next step.

Cardio Tennis Helps Drive Play in Australia, UK

Cardio Tennis is fast becoming a worldwide brand—receiving promi-nent play by Tennis Australia (TA) during this year’s Australian Open

and officially relaunching/rebranding in Great Britainwith new initiatives and a new spokesperson.“Tennis Australia is using Cardio Tennis as one of

its main programs to increase tennis participation inthat country,” says Jolyn de Boer, the executive director of the TIA,which created Cardio Tennis with the USTA and manages the programin the U.S. “In Great Britain, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) recentlyrelaunched Cardio Tennis and committed significant resources to theprogram.” Through partnerships and other agreements, the TIA hashelped more than 30 countries launch Cardio Tennis programs.TIA Cardio Tennis Manager Michele Krause worked with both TA

and the LTA to train their coaches and set up their Cardio Tennis pro-grams. “Tennis Australia launched Cardio Tennis last year at the Aus-tralian Open, and they’ve been seeing tennis participation increase,”she says. “This year, there was even more visibility at the Aussie Open,including signage on Rod Laver Arena itself. And TA is reaching outacross Australia.”On the other side of the world, England’s governing body of tennis,

the LTA, officially relaunched Cardio Tennis throughout the country onJan. 19 with “three days of madness at London’s largest and busiestinner city shopping centers” along with other malls throughout thecountry, according to the LTA’s Sam Richardson. The LTA is delivering the Cardio Tennis message, along with the

overall message to help more people play tennis, through a nationalcampaign driven by the website allplaytennis.com. The LTA also has a“new face of Cardio Tennis”—Kirsty Gallacher, who is a well-known TVsports personality in England. Cardio Tennis was created in 2005 by the TIA and USTA and now

has more than 1.3 million participants in the U.S. As the program hasexpanded around the world, it also continues to grow in the U.S., withenhancements that include Cardio Tennis Interactive; TRX Cardio Ten-nis, a total body workout that incorporates the TRX training system; aCardio Tennis “Authorized Provider” program; new tools and resourcesfor providers; and more. For more information, including Cardio Ten-nis training schedules, visit CardioTennis.com.

Host a Kids ‘Tennis Festival’ in March

It’s not too late to boost your business by hosting a Tennis Festival in themonth of March, designed to get kids active and excited about tennis.Tennis Festivals are a way for tennis facili-ties, parks, and municipalities to introducetennis to kids and provide a platform to reg-ister children for spring and summer programs. The events provide anopportunity for kids to experience a variety of tennis activities andgames designed for all ages and skill levels.The launch of these Tennis Festivals coincides with the annual “Ten-

nis Night in America” celebration at New York’s Madison Square Garden,which this year will feature Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro, SerenaWilliams and Victoria Azarenka. Be one of the first 1,200 registered ten-nis festivals and receive an event pack including a YouthTennis.com ban-ner and giveaway items for event attendees. Last year, more than 2,000youth tennis events took place across the country. To host an event, visitYouthTennis.com.

Congratulations To the Following For Achieving MRT Status

New MRTsTim Gibson Eagle, ID

March 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15



PHIT America Launches Consumer Fitness Campaign

In January, leading sports and fit-ness industry companies andorganizations, as well as other corpo-rate partners, launched PHIT Ameri-ca, a year-round, educational,advocacy, and social media market-ing campaign designed to reach mil-lions of Americans to help combatthe obesity and sedentary activitycrisis. PHIT America is a new non-profit

which has 118 Alliance Sponsors,including eight “founders,” includingthe USTA. The Tennis Industry Asso-ciation and many tennis equipmentmanufacturers also are AllianceSponsors.The consumer website—PHIT

America.org—covers topics includ-ing the obesity and sedentary crisis,benefits of being active and playingsports, why physical education is soimportant, ways to get active andhealthy, and U.S. legislation thatPHIT America is supporting. PHITAmerica will work with its 118Alliance Sponsors by asking them tosend two or three “news flashes” amonth about various important topics.The “news flashes” will link to

PHITAmerica.org, where there willbe three main “calls to action”:1. Advocate—to help pass key legis-lation (PHIT Act and PEP Program)that will help Americans becomemore active, play more sports, andbecome healthier.

2. Participate—use the ParticipationDatabase to get active or fit inlocal communities for more than50 sports or activities.

3. Donate—funds will be invested asgrants to support local sportsgrassroots and PE programs.

Clay Court Conditioner Available

Rejuvenate and renew fast-dry courts with Smith 3CClay Court Conditioners, the next generation in

highly engineered/powered equipment to keep fast-dry courts in like-new condition, says the maker. Man-ufactured in the U.S., and starting under $3000,they’re available for immediate shipment. The unitcan scarify a light top-dressing, mill 5/8-inch, loosenhard-packed sub-surface watered courts, and removealgae. 805-550-0149/[email protected]

... ,.

., census ..& Reta' .,., " aou ac\

TIA Conducts 2013 Tennis Facility and Retail Census Tennis facilities and retailers should soon receive a notice to update information about their business. Providers will be sent a "snapshot" of the information they currently have posted in the GrowingTennis System, which supplies consumer search engines including PlayTennis.com, TennisWelcomeCenter.com, YouthTennis.com, CardioTennis.com and about 300 other websites.

When you click the link to your provider data, you'll be able to update or add information on courts, programs, retail, and more. The information posted in the GrowingTennis System receives more than 4 million consumer queries each month, helping to drive business to your facility or retail store.

In March, PlayTennis.com will relaunch with a new look and feel, making it easy for consumers to get into the game and find playing opportunities, partners, equipment, lessons, courts and more. This free, "brand neutral" site focuses on increasing tennis play. Importantly, all the major tennis companies and organizations are supporting PlayTennis.com.

"PiayTennis.com is a unique site in the sports industry," says Jolyn de Boer, executive director of the TIA, which now administers the site. "Because it promotes the simple, unified message of playing tennis, it's a site that every company and organization in tennis can drive consumers to. Current and potential players will see PlayTennis.com messaging on product packaging, in advertising, at tournaments, and more."

On PlayTennis.com, players can find other players, but also, tennis businesses such as facilities and teaching pros can promote their court time availability, events, programming, lessons, clinics, etc. In addition, PlayTennis.com is a resource for anyone looking for more information about tennis, including equipment and court locations.

"PiayTennis.com spreads a simple message that is the core of this industry and that we all should get behind: We want people to play tennis," says TIA President Greg Mason . "The new Playtennis.com website is designed to help tennis businesses grow by helping them service more customers, more efficiently. It will help get more people playing, more frequently."

When the new site launches, it will also incorporate the current Growing Tennis System, so businesses can register and create content from the same system that users access, providing a more deeply integrated, streamlined user experience.

TIA Meetings in N.Y. and Florida to .Fo~cus on Industry Growth The TIA will hold upcoming meetings in March around the BNP Paribas Showdown event in New York and the USTA Annual Meeting in Florida, focusing on growing the industry.

The New York meetings, on Monday afternoon, March 4, will include an invited group of retailers and manufacturers and focus on the state of the tennis industry and industry efforts to help boost tennis retail, including a retail division and retail event promotions. The BNP Pari bas Showdown, which takes place in Madison Square Garden starting at 7 p.m., will feature Serena Williams vs. Victoria Azarenka and Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin del Potro.

The TIA Board of Directors will meet in Weston, Fla., at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa on Saturday, March 16, during the USTA's Annual Meeting. The board meeting will include research updates on the industry, including

Youth Tennis, along with initiatives and strategies to help grow the game and opportunities to increase tennis participation.

"We continue to engage all segments in supporting industry grow-the-game efforts, and we look forward to promoting further opportunities to create more frequent players, get more people playing and focus on growing the tennis economy," says TIA President Greg Mason. 2010

2015

16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2013 Join the TIA ... Increase Your Profits ... Grow the Game ... www.Tennislndustry.org

The tennis industry saw positive w holesale dollar growth have increased 124%. Youth tennis racquets rebounded in 2012 with 5% growth in wholesale shipment units and 10% growth in w holesale shipm ent dollars.

in 2012 in al l equipment categories measured by the TIAracquets, strings and balls, including breakout categories for championship tennis balls as well as red, orange and green (ROG) balls. The 2012 growth represents a significant rebound from the challenges the industry faced in 2011.

To help measure the overall equipment segment, the TIA has unveiled a new measure, the Tennis Industry Equipment Index, which aggregates total wholesale dollar shipments for racquets, balls, and strings. The 2012 index, which is up 7 points over the previous year to 119, is approaching the pre-recessionary levels seen by the industry in 2007 and 2008. Helping drive this growth in the index was a solid overall year for the youth tennis equipment market as well as slightly increasing average price points for the equipment categories.

TIA industry indicators for specialty tennis retai lers also showed positive results for 2012 over 2011. According to the latest data released in the TIA Specialty Store Retail Audit, year-end racquet unit sales w ere up just over 2% and were at their highest levels since late 2008.

For questions regarding TIA research, contact TIA Operations Manager Ryan Melton at [email protected] or (843) 473-4490.

Tennis Industry Equipment Index ,. 1:15

In 2012, wholesale shipments of ROG tennis balls grew 38% in both units and dollars. The green ball showed the most significant growth year-over-year, up 83% in tota l units shipped. From 2010 to 2012, ROG ball shipment units

IB

115

110

Overall, tMVIII Itrfnp. bells and rHquets showed positive growth performance in 2012:

• Wholesale dollar shipments o f strings were up 2% over 2011, however units w ere f lat.

• Wholesale dollar shipments of balls w ere up 6%, units up 1%.

• Wholesale dollar shipments o f racquets were up 7%, units up 1%.

Want to see what industry events are com ing up for this year? Visit Tennislndustry.org and click on " view upcoming events" to be taken to t he unique Tennis Industry Event Calendar. Click on a day and it w ill display the industry event; t hen click on the event to reveal details, descriptions, and direct links to registering and for more information. You can also view or download a pdf of the yearly events calendar (above).

Stay Current With Cardio Tennis & TRX Training for 2013

la'fQ'lll~~ #/ ~i!!•Jt#i

Cardia Tennis Training Courses, held at venues across the U.S. and overseas, are designed to help deliver a consistent Cardia Tennis product. Cardia Tennis Authorized Providers who complete a Training Course will then be designated a Licensed Cardia Tennis Professional.

Ten nis providers who have attended a Cardia Tennis workshop in 2009 or later are considered current and licensed. If you attended a workshop or training prior to 2009 and wou ld like to be a Licensed Cardia Tennis Professional, you will need to attend another workshop, as the Cardio Tennis product and education has changed significantly since it was introduced in 2005.

Upcoming Cardia Tennis and TAX Cardia Tennis Training Courses are below. For the most current schedule and to register, visit CardioTennisTraining.com.

F<cb. 74: Windyke CC, Memphis, TN Apnl21 : Wheaton Sports Center, Wheaton,ll feb. 2A: Elite Squad TC, Overland Park, KS May' Van Der Meer TC, Hilton Head Island, SC MArch 16: Althea Gibson Tennis Complex at Empire May 7 Van Der Meer TC. Hilton Head Island, SC

Park,Wilmington, NC (TRX Cardia Tennis)

..-arC'b 16: las Vegas Hotel & Casino, las Vegas, NV May 11 : Forest Crest Athletic Club, Mountlake Marth 17: las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV Terrace, WA

(TRX Cardia Tennis) Mlly 17: Valley CC, Aurora, CO

tl.11rr:h 17: Dana Hills TC, Dana Point, CA P.ll1y t B: All Season TC, Acton, MA Marth 2_3: Ivory Ridge Swim & TC, Lehi, UT Jena 1 McCormack-Nagelsen TC, Williamsburg, VA

"ar~117S: USTA BJK National Tennis Center, Juna7. The Tennis Center at College Park, College Flushing, NY Park, MO

4prilfi: The Club at Carlton Woods, Juna 8 The Tennis Center at College Park, College The Woodlands, TX Park, MD (TRX Cardio Tennis)

Apr l113. Orlando TC, Orlando, Fl Sonr. 29: TBO, Orlando, Fl 4ptil11t= Wee Burn CC, Oarien, CT Sept. 30: TBO. Orlando. Fl !TRX Cardio Tennis)

Join the TIA ... Increase Your Profits . • Grow the Game ... www.Tennislndustry.org March 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17

Retailing 118

w Growing youth participation in tenniswith local partnerships with tennisfacilities, and your in-store and youthand family promotions.

w Partnering with local teaching pros topromote 10 and Under Tennis demon-strations, local Play Days and kid’sfestivals.This is just a sampling of the tremen-

dous research resources TIA is makingavailable to specialty tennis retailers. Youcan learn more about taking advantageof and using TIA research for your retailbusiness by getting the podcast of a TIARetail Webinar we gave in mid-February(email [email protected] formore information). w

are $733.This partialdemographic profileof a frequent tennisplayer allows you to:w Review your customer list to deter-

mine the demographic profile of yourstore’s frequent tennis player—andbenchmark your marketing andsales plan to attract and build aclient list that matches or exceedsthe TIA profile.

w Benchmark the estimated annual ten-nis expenditure of the typical frequenttennis player at $733 and exceed it.

The reasons frequent tennis playersgave for playing more tennis include:1. Found someone/new people to play

with.2. Had more time to play this year.3. Joined a tennis league.4. Took tennis lesions.

This is great business planning infor-mation for your store:w Facilitate tennis players finding other

tennis players at the same skill leveland help to set-up matches.

w Be the catalyst for your customer join-ing a local league and signing up forlessons with a local pro.

w Partner with your local tennis facilitiesto set-up special membership deals foryour customers.

10 and Under TennisImpact on Retailers:According to a “quick pulse” survey ofpro/specialty tennis retailers, about athird saw increases in sales of Red,Orange and Green tennis balls. Theseresearch findings help support yourstore’s vested interest in growing tennisin the youth market. To help promote 10and Under Tennis in your community,you can focus your store’s plan on:

hy do tennis retailersneed research? Greatquestion! Research has

been the stuff of big retailer strategicplanning and corporate boardrooms. But the speed of change andthe New American Consumer,empowered by technology, hasmade it essential for specialty tennisretailers of all sizes to tap into anduse research.

The good news is, the cost ofexcellent research has plummeted,and thanks to the TIA it is readilyavailable to its retail members. Visitthe TIA website, TennisIndustry.com,click on “Retail” at the top, then“Research,” and you’ll find informa-tion on the following reports:w State of The Industryw USTA/TIA Participation Studyw Cost of Doing Businessw Consumer Retail Report

The TIA makes these reportsavailable to retail members at no orlow cost. Contact TIA Retail ManagerMarty Mohar at [email protected] for details and to ordercopies.

The TIA State of theIndustry is the place for you tostart harvesting the wonderful andpowerful insights for retailers thatare available for your business plan-ning. Among the interesting stats inthe 2012 State of the Industry is thePhysical Activity Council chart thatshows tennis’ participation growthrate from 2000 to 2011, which leadsall traditional sports.

The frequent tennis player profileoffers some revealing data. The aver-age age of a frequent player is 35years old; about 52% of frequentplayers are women; median house-hold income is $83,000, and esti-mated annual tennis expenditures

W


This is part of a seriesof retail tips presentedby the Tennis IndustryAssociation and written

by the Gluskin Townley Group (www.gluskin-townleygroup.com).

The next TIA Retail Webinar will beon March 12 at 2 p.m. Easterntime, on “Using Assessment Bench-marks to Improve Your SpecialtyTennis Retail Business.”

How To Use Research toHelp Your Retail Business

Finances

over time—has long been used as aneconomic stimulus. One hundred per-cent “bonus” depreciation expired atthe end of 2011. Today, the new lawallows 50% bonus depreciation forproperty placed in service through2013. Some transportation and longer-lived property are even eligible forbonus depreciation through 2014.To be eligible for bonus depreciation,

property must be depreciable under thestandard MACRS system, and have arecovery period of less than 20 years.Code Section 179 first-year expensingremains a viable alternative especiallyfor small businesses. Property qualifyingfor the Section 179 write-off may beeither used or new in contrast to thebonus depreciation requirement that thetaxpayer be the “first to use.” The part of the tax laws that imposes

dollar limits on the annual depreciationdeductions for cars and light trucks usedin business operation is also impactedby the new bonus depreciation rules. Ifbonus depreciation had not beenextended, the 2012 tax year would havebeen the final year in which substantialfirst-year write-offs for buyers of busi-ness automobiles would be available.

Strictly BusinessAmong the business provisions in thenew law are:w Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC),a tax credit that rewards employersthat hire individuals from targetedgroups, has been extended to Dec. 31,2013, and applies to individuals whobegin work for the employer after Dec.31, 2011. Under the revised WOTC,businesses hiring an individual fromwithin a targeted group are eligible fora credit generally equal to 40 percentof first-year wages up to $6,000.

w Employer-Provided Educational Assis-tance: The new tax law extends per-

Now, the higher expensing limits ineffect in 2011 have been reinstated for2012 and extended for expendituresmade before Dec. 31, 2013. Thus, atennis business can expense and imme-diately deduct up to $500,000 ofexpenditures in 2012 and 2013. Ofcourse this is subject to a phase-out iftotal capital expenditures exceed $2million. The maximum amount thatcan be expensed in years beginningafter 2013 will, without amendment,drop to $25,000.

w Computer Software: The election toexpense off-the-shelf computer soft-ware under Section 179 has also beenextended and applies to expendituresmade before Dec. 31, 2013.

w Real Property Write-Offs: Those tennisbusinesses with expenditures in 2012and 2013 for qualified real propertysuch as land and whatever is erectedon it can now claim Section 179expensing treatment for such expendi-tures.

w Qualified Leasehold Improvements:Those in the industry who had given upon the prospect of recovering the costof improvements to leased property, orretail improvements over the formershorter 15-year period, should nowreview their capital expenditures for2012—or think about making expendi-tures that qualify before the end of2013. The new law extends the 15-yearstraight-line recovery for qualifiedimprovements made to leased proper-ty, qualified restaurant buildings, andqualified retail improvements forexpenditures made before Jan. 1, 2014.Best of all, the write-off applies to allproperty placed in service after Dec.31, 2011.

w Bonus Depreciation: The tax-break thatallows a profitable tennis facility orbusiness to write-off large capitalexpenditures immediately—rather than

The so-called “Fiscal Cliff” taxpackage recently passed by Con-gress and signed into law

renewed more than 50 temporary taxbreaks through 2013, saving individu-als and businesses an estimated $76billion. Admittedly, single individualswith incomes above the $400,000level and married couples with incomehigher than $450,000 will pay more intaxes in 2013 because of a higher 39.6percent income tax rate and a 20 per-cent maximum capital gains tax. In fact, employees will find less in

their paychecks in 2013 because theAmerican Taxpayer Relief Act did notextend the payroll tax holiday that hadreduced Social Security payroll deduc-tions from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percenton earned income up to the SocialSecurity wage base ($113,700 for2013). It is a similar story for the self-employed.For the owners and operators of

small- and medium-sized tennis retail-ers and facilities, there is good newsand bad news in the fiscal cliff taxlaws. First, the good news: Greater cer-tainty in taxes. The owners and opera-tors of many businesses have grownused to many longstanding tax breaksbut they also have had to get used tothe uncertainty of whether they will berenewed each year. While many taxbreaks were allowed to expire at theend of 2011, the new tax law renewsthem retroactively, allowing tennisfacility operators, retailers and otherbusiness owners to claim them onboth their 2012 and 2013 tax returns.

Equipment and Facilitiesw Expensing Write-Off: The AmericanTaxpayer Relief Act extendedthrough 2013 the Tax Code’s Section179, first-year expensing write-off.

‘Fiscal Cliff’ PackageOffers Tax SavingsOpportunities


B Y M A R K E . B A T T E R S B Y


manently the exclusion from incomeand employment taxes of employer-provided education assistance up to$5,250. The business may also deductup to $5,250 annually for qualifiededucation assistance paid on behalf ofan employee.

w Wage Credit for Active Duty Service-men: The employer wage credit foremployees who are active duty mem-bers of the uniformed services nowapplies to payments made after Dec.31, 2011 and before Dec. 31, 2013.

w New Markets Tax Credit: The new lawextends the New Markets Tax Creditthat has helped many within the indus-try with financing for their operations,through 2013. What’s more, the newlaw extends the carryover of the creditthrough 2018 (from 2016). The amend-ments apply to calendar years begin-ning after Dec. 31, 2011.

w S Corporation’s Built-In Gains: Althoughan S corporation is a pass-through enti-ty and not usually subject to incometaxes, it is liable for the tax imposedon built-in gains or capital gains. Thetax on built-in gains is a corporate-leveltax on S corporations that dispose ofassets that appreciated in value duringthe years when the operation was a

regular “C” corporation. The new lawprovides for a 5-year holding periodfor the sale of property with built-ingain for taxable years beginning in2012 or 2013.

Estate Taxes Never DieAlways of significant interest to family-owned businesses, the estate tax haslong been a bit of a mixed bag—the $5million per person exemption was keptin place (and indexed for inflation con-tinued), however the top rate isincreased to 40 percent—effective dateJan. 1, 2013. This change to 40 percentincreased revenues from 2012 policy by$19 billion. Other good news for estate plan-

ning—portability is kept in place andestate and gift remains unified—i.e., the$5 million stays in place for gift tax pur-poses as well. And it is all permanent.

Opportunities AboundThe majority of tennis facilities, retailersand many other businesses operate aspass-through entities, such as partner-ships and S corporations. Profits arepassed through to their individual own-ers and therefore are taxed at individualincome tax rates. A regular “C” corpora-

tion, with its current tax rate of 35 per-cent, may become more attractive withrates rising to 39.6 percent for some indi-viduals.Many popular but temporary tax

extenders relating to businesses wereincluded in the American Taxpayer ReliefAct. Unfortunately, the Act is not thegrand bargain envisioned by lawmakersand promised to taxpayers. Despite theCode Section 179 small-business expens-ing, bonus depreciation, and the WorkOpportunity Tax Credit, the new law isessentially only a stop-gap measuredesigned expressly to prevent the onusof the expiration of the Bush-era tax cutsfrom falling on middle-income taxpayers.Congress must still address spending cutsand may even tackle tax “reform.”The time is now—hopefully before fil-

ing your business’s 2012 tax returns—forevery tennis facility operator, retailer andbusiness owner or manager to consultwith their accountants and/or tax profes-sionals to focus on the potential savingsoffered by these newly revised, extendedand expanded business credits, deduc-tions and tax write-offs. w

Mark E Battersby is a tax advisor in Ardmore, PA.

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 G U I D E

When designing a new facility or making changes to your existingone, you need to ask the right questions and think it through.B Y M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R

Heart pounding? Perspiration dripping? Concentrating onyour next move? Worrying about the bottom line? Wait—we’re not talking about a tennis match?

Nope, this is how people feel about the process of designing anew tennis facility—or making significant changes to the one theyhave. Often, owners are intimidated by the whole concept: howto do it, what to consider, when to partner with someone—andwho that should be. Angst ensues, and one of two things happens:Either the process gets the bum's rush so the result isn't satisfac-tory, or nobody wants to make any decisions, leading to longdelays.

Take one deep breath and one step back. Designing a tennisfacility is a process. An outline of the facility you need will emergeif you just ask the right questions. Sometimes it helps to think ofthe process as part of a flow chart. The questions you ask, and theanswers you get, will lead you through each step.

Question 1: Number of CourtsWhether your facility is new (as in, being designed from theground up), or whether you are contemplating changes to anexisting facility, one of the earliest questions will pertain to thenumber of courts needed. The need for more courts in any areais obvious: Symptoms include loud complaints from players andpros who want court time and can't get it. But how to decide howmany courts you ultimately need?

The book Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Man-ual (available from the ASBA at sportsbuilders.org), recommendsthe following:w Studies indicate that facilities should be planned based on thenumber of players within 6 miles or 15-20 minutes driving timefrom the site.

w In planning indoor tennis facilities, depending upon the climate,most markets can support one indoor court for every 10,000people. Depending on programming, each indoor court, if openfor 15 hours a day, can support the needs of approximately 150players.

w Court usage should be calculated based upon operating hours.For example, 30 groups of doubles players (30 x 4 = 120 play-ers) playing 1-1/2 hours at a time twice a week (3 hours/wk), use90 hours per week (30 x 3). A three-court facility open from 6

a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week has 336 available courthours per week (3 x 16 x 7). Therefore, 30 groups of doublesplayers use over 25% of the capacity of that facility (90/336= 26.7%). Lighting extends the playing day and allowscourts to host more players.

w The amount of programming will mean fluctuations in thenumber of courts needed. The more leagues, lessons, tour-naments, etc. to be scheduled, the more courts will be needed.

Question 2: Type of CourtsThe type of court, meaning the surface, should be chosen byconsidering the following:w Budget (both money and time) for maintenance, as well aspersonnel available to do maintenance work when neces-sary.

w Age of players/previous injuries.w Playing style preference.w Geographic location. If the climate is temperate, a soft courtcan be open longer in the year; in an area where there arefreeze/thaw cycles, it will have to be closed during winterand re-opened in the spring. Indoor courts may be the mostlogical choice in areas with long winters or wet weather.

Question 3: Player PopulationWhat type of players do you have? This should factor into thedesign criteria. Consider the different groups that play at yourfacility, or those playing in the area that might come to yourfacility:w Adults (in various categories: recreational, competitive, etc.)w Kids (in various categories: 10U players, high-performancejuniors, etc.)

w Teams (high schools and/or college varsity players may usethe facility, as may college club or recreational teams suchas those in Tennis On Campus)

w Leagues (either USTA leagues or any club or municipalleagues)

w Any special populations, such as players in wheelchairs,developmentally challenged groups and so on (and theaccommodations these players may need)

INTELLIGENTDESIGNINTELLIGENTDESIGN


Question 4: Court UseWhat types of programming willyou have? Make a list of currentor planned offerings, includinglessons, clinics, round-robinplay, block time for team prac-tices, Cardio Tennis and more.

Question 5:AmenitiesWhat does your existing facilityhave, and what would you liketo add? If building from theground up, prioritize the thingsyou need, the things you'd liketo have and more. A partial listfor consideration:w Utilities (electricity, water, sep-tic, etc.)

w Shaded or covered areasbetween or beside courts (orpicnic tables, benches or otherfurniture for players)

w Spectator areasw Locker rooms, showers andrest rooms

w Vending machines or conces-sions

w Room to store equipment likemaintenance equipment, ballhoppers, ball machines, pop-up nets for 10U tennis, etc.

w Lightingw Fencing (with or without wind-screen)

w Backboards or hitting wallsw Divider nets between courtsw Trash cans/recycle containersw Scorekeepersw Whiteboards, bulletin boards,etc.

w Pro shop, registration area orother conveniences

w Parkingw Public address system

Put It AllTogetherCreate a prospectus with the answers to the questions above.Once you have this information in hand, you'll be ready to workwith a design partner.

There are design-specific firms, as well as companies thatprovide both design and construction services. One of the mostpopular construction delivery methods is the Design/Bid/Build,or Competitive Bid, approach. In this format, the ownerengages a design firm to devise a facility design, prepare con-struction drawings, specifications and construction documents

March 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

and put the project out for bid. General contractors then preparebids based on these documents.

A second process is theDesign/Build construction pro-curement process, in which theowner contracts with a singlecompany that is responsible forboth the design and constructionof the project. Other methods,such as Negotiated Agreementsand Construction ManagementProjects, are also used, but theseare generally reserved for verysmall projects (Negotiated Agree-ments) and very large and com-plex projects (ConstructionManagement Projects).

Choosing theRight PartnerChoosing the correct partner foreither Design/Bid/Build orDesign/Build will be the key tosuccess. Tennis court construc-tion is a highly specialized fieldand calls for knowledge of thesport, the products and tech-niques, the surfaces and all theaccessories and amenities need-ed. A tennis court, though rela-tively flat, is not a parking lot,nor is it simply a floor. It mustbe constructed to specific toler-ances in order to be consideredappropriate for sanctioned play.

Seek out experienced con-tractors. Check references andask to visit projects they havecompleted. Contact the Ameri-can Sports Builders Association(ASBA) and ask about a directo-ry of members. In addition,ASBA conducts a voluntary certi-fication program, in which indi-viduals can earn the CertifiedTennis Court Builder (CTCB) des-

ignation. (See page 34 for more information about this program).

The professional partner you choose will work with you todesign the facility that best meets your needs. That partner willunderstand issues such as soil conditions, grading, drainage,storm-water management and more, and can help you negotiatethe maze of permitting and code enforcement.

The path from drawing board to completed facility is a com-plex one, but it is not impossible. By bringing as much informa-tion as you can to the table, you will be ready to be a partner,rather than a bystander, in the process. w

Fast-Dry Courts, Pompano Beach, FL

Lower Bros. Co. Inc., Birmingham, AL

Tennis Courts Inc., Aylett, VA



More facility owners are considering tennis courts built on post-tensioned concrete slabs because they’re proving to belonger lasting and more resistant to cracks.B Y D A V I D L A S O T A , W I T H M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R

The game of tennis is played on more surface types thanany other traditional sport. From natural and artificial grassto clay, asphalt, concrete, wood, acrylics, rubber, carpets

and tiles, the playing surface lends a unique dimension to thegame, which can be challenging and enjoyable. Like a new can ofballs, a newly constructed or recently resurfaced court allows theplayer to focus more on technique and strategy and increases thedesire to play more often.

Annually, the USTA Community Tennis Development groupworks with hundreds of tennis facility owners that manage thou-sands of tennis courts nationwide, providing consultation on plan-ning, design and construction of tennis court surfaces andsupporting infrastructure. A large percentage of those facilitiesseeking assistance from the USTA are addressing cracks that formin traditional asphalt tennis court pavements.

While most hard courts in the U.S. are asphalt, more facilityowners are considering post-tensioned concrete for a durable,long-lasting tennis court pavement. When designed and con-structed properly, post-tensioned concrete slabs can remaincrack-free for many years after they are completed.

PT concrete has been a common tennis-court constructiontechnique in Southern California for many years. “Post-tensionreinforced tennis-court slabs have been a standard for our court

building since 1985,”says Richard Zaino, pres-ident of Zaino TennisCourts in Orange, CA.“We discovered in ourearliest experience withengineered post-tensioncourts that were

designed and built due to poor soil conditions, the post-tensionedconcrete courts were performing much better then steel rebar-reinforced slabs on good soil conditions. So we took what wasgiven to us by the post-tensioned concrete engineers for specificsites and made this a standard in all our court building.

“Reinforced slabs with thicker concrete, larger size rebarand/or thicker sections of base were still not reliable and would

develop cracks,” Zaino continues. “We were seeing such a greatsuccess with the 'cable' courts that we decided in the mid-80s tomake this our standard and promote and build all courts withpost-tensioned cables. Over the years, we’ve developed andrefined this design so we can provide owners with none to veryfew cracks. The combination of the properly prepared subgrade,vapor barrier, concrete mix design and cables will provide thelongest lasting controlled crack slab possible. The post-tensioncourts built in 1985 are surpassing all other types of hard courtsfor crack control.”

"In the past,” adds Darrel Snyder of Mid-America Courtworksof Wichita, KS, “asphalt courts have been less costly to build.Now with the increasing price of oil, asphalt prices have risen tothe point that concrete prices are fairly equal."

Many areas of the country are experiencing an increase inpost-tensioned concrete court construction, due to the durabilityand long life of PT concrete slabs. Among the USTA sections thathave seen more PT courts are Intermountain, Texas, MissouriValley and Mid-Atlantic.

"Asphalt tennis courts in the Northeast will crack, there’s nogetting around it," says Michael Fortuna of Classic Turf Co. inWoodbury, CT. "The environment is too extreme. Winters arecold, summers are hot, and there is a lot of precipitation to makethe soils active and unstable. Post-tensioned concrete slabs arespecifically designed to handle these extreme conditions."

Construction ChallengesWith this growth in post-tensioned concrete slab development,the industry also has seen an increase in slab failures and courtcracking as a result of the designer or court contractor not under-standing the fundamentals of PT concrete slab construction.Once the slab fails or significant cracks form, it is nearly impos-sible to fix the problem areas of the court without significantinvestment in replacement or overlays.

“It is vitally important to get the right design from the design-er and/or builder and hire a builder who has a thorough under-standing and experience with post-tension cables, concrete mixdesign, vapor barrier and site conditions for tennis courts,” Zaino

CONCRETETHINKINGCONCRETETHINKING

The ASBA and USTA publication “Tennis Courts:A Construction & Maintenance Manual, 2012”includes a chapter on post-tensioned concretecourt construction. To obtain a copy of the manu-al, visit www.sportsbuilders.org.


says. “Tennis courts are not building foundations and crossover‘designs’ can be totally wrong. An improper or inadequate vaporbarrier could be detrimental to the concrete curing and surfacecoatings. The wrong con-crete mix design and place-ment will also have adetrimental effect to thefoundation and cable rein-forcement.”

Remember that evenamong concrete contrac-tors, there will be signifi-cant variations. A localconcrete company with noskill or experience in ten-nis-court construction willnot be suitable for the high-ly specialized workdemanded for a successfulPT concrete court installa-tion. Problems rangingfrom merely aesthetic(spotting of the surface dueto inadequate sheathing onthe cables) to total cata-strophic failure can result.

The standard PT con-crete tennis-court slab con-sists of well-compactedsubgrade soils, stone sub-base layer, a fine aggregate“cushion” layer, polyethyl-ene-sheeting layers (vaporbarrier), Portland cementconcrete and greased steelcables. “We like placing avery tight aggregate base,compacted to 95 percentwith a smooth drum vibra-tory roller, then install two10-mil sheets of vapor bar-rier,” says Zaino.

The greased steel cablesset in plastic sheathing arespaced evenly across thelength and width of the ten-nis-court pavement. Afterthe concrete is poured, thecables are stressed, whichplaces the concrete underpermanent compression.Like a rubber band, steelcables when stretchedwant to rebound to theiroriginal length. It is theforce exerted on the cables and transferred to the concrete thatkeeps the slab from forming cracks during the curing process forthe life of the concrete.

Concrete, when curing, loses water while the concrete

strengthens. This loss of water will shrink the concrete slab, andif not properly addressed with reinforcing, joints or post-ten-sioned cables, will result in cracks forming throughout the slab.

According to the Post-Tension-ing Institute's publication,Design and Construction ofPost-Tensioned Sport Courts, a"typical post-tensioned con-crete court will shorten byapproximately 1/4 inch per 40feet of length over the longterm."

For a 120-foot-long tenniscourt, this would equate to 3/4of an inch. In order to allow theslab to move during the curingprocess, the contractor shouldminimize the friction on theunderside of the slab so thatwhen the slab concrete shrinksand cracks form, the cablespull the slab sections together,thereby minimizing the impactany crack that may formwould have on play. This mini-mization of friction is accom-plished with fine stoneaggregate and polyethylenesheeting, typically in twosheeting layers just below theconcrete.

Cable Tensionand SpacingMost tennis courts include netposts, nets, center strapanchors, center straps andfencing as part of the court.Net posts, center strap anchorsand fencing typically requirefoundations below the courtsurface for structural support.Posts and anchors that pene-trate the post-tensioned con-crete slab can, if not properlyinstalled, impede the ability ofthe slab to shorten during cur-ing, thereby defeating the pur-pose of the post-tensioningprocess. A properly designedand constructed PT concretetennis court will include foamisolation material where a postor anchor must penetrate theslab. The perimeter fencing

should, when possible, be constructed independent of the slaband outside the slab footprint.

As mentioned, the steel cables, when stressed, provide thecompressive forces to hold the court together. The cables must

Courtesy of Zaino Tennis Courts, Orange, CA

Courtesy of Zaino Tennis Courts, Orange, CA

Courtesy Patriot Court Systems Inc., Houston, TX


be spaced close enough so that the cables can pull the weight ofthe slab and overcome the friction of the underside of the slab.Design and Construction ofPost-Tensioned Sport Courtsis an excellent resourcethat provides tendon spac-ing formulas to ensure thecables can properly movethe slab during the curingprocess.

When we’re asked toreview a facility that hashad slab failures, we oftenfind the tendon spacingcalculations have not beencompleted, or the contrac-tor used spacing that mayhave worked for them inthe past without consider-ing the total length of thecourt or slab thickness.

“We have found suc-cess placing cables closerthan required and usingthe higher standard formu-las,” Zaino says. “The otherpractical benefit for closerspaced cables are the addi-tional cable intersectionsfor chair supports, provid-ing better support of thecables in the middle of theslab, particularly during theconcrete placement.”

The major benefit ofpost-tensioned concreteconstruction over the oldstandard reinforced con-crete is PT concrete slabsdo not need the sameamount of pavement jointsto control cracking. A rein-forced concrete pavementwill require joints to con-trol cracking as close as 12feet in all directions, whichresult in joints being locat-ed within the playing linesof the court. While a PTconcrete slab does notrequire the same jointspacing as a reinforced slab, metal key joints should be installedat the net line and between courts of a post-tensioned concreteslab to allow for horizontal movement.

One misunderstanding we often find of post-tensioned con-crete construction is that many think PT concrete tennis courtscan bridge over poor soils and therefore proper preparation and

compaction of the soils under the court is not necessary. Westrongly recommend all poor and expansive soils beneath a PT

concrete court be removedand the soils be properly com-pacted before the court isbuilt. As with all pavements,efforts must be made to directwater away from the courtpavement so that the pave-ment sub-base and subgraderemain dry.

Many contractors in theindustry install a 2-inch-thicklayer of sand under the post-tensioned slab to provide abase for the slab and reducefriction on the underside ofthe slab. We have found thatstone fines provide a firmerbase than sand, because thesand tends to deform whenconstruction personnel walkon it to set the cables and pourand finish the concrete.

While asphalt tennis courtswill most likely remain thepredominant court pavementthroughout the U.S. for thenext several years, a properlydesigned and constructedpost-tensioned concrete courtwill emerge as the most cost-effective long-term life-cyclealternative. w

The American Sports BuildersAssociation (ASBA) is a non-profit association helpingdesigners, builders, owners,operators and users understandquality sports facility construc-tion. The ASBA sponsors infor-

mative meetings and publishes newsletters, books and technicalconstruction guidelines for athletic facilities including tennis courts,running tracks, athletic fields and indoor structures. Available at nocharge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, aswell as the ASBA’s Membership Directory. Info: 866-501-ASBA(2722) or www.sportsbuilders.org.

Courtesy Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Devon, PA

Courtesy Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Devon, PA

Courtesy Stantec Sport, Boston, MA


Regular care and maintenance is cost-effective and will keepcourts looking and playing great. The Annual Maintenance Planneron the following pages, excerpted from the “Tennis Courts” manual, is essential for your courts.

Awell-constructed and well-maintained tennis court willoffer years of play. To maximize the useful life of any typeof court, facility owners

and managers should develop andimplement a regular schedule ofmaintenance.

Regular inspection of the courtand repair of minor irregularitiesis more cost-effective than allow-ing the court to deteriorate to thepoint where it requires majorrepair or reconstruction. Evenwith regular maintenance, overtime, all courts will need somerepair.

The most important step inmaintaining all types of court sur-faces is to keep them clean byremoving debris immediately andby spot-cleaning spills as soon asthey occur. Practice preventivemaintenance by prohibiting foodand beverages (except water) onthe court area and by prohibitingsmoking on the court. Providewastebaskets to encourage playersand spectators to keep the surfaceclean. Pick up stray balls, ball cansand “pop-tops,” which can dam-age the court surface, become atripping hazard and make thecourt area unsightly. At the end ofthe playing season, inspect allcourt equipment and order anyreplacement parts so that theequipment can be repaired duringthe off season.

The amount of maintenance

required by a particular tennis facility will vary depending on thegeographic location, the amount and type of use, player conduct

and alternative use, if any. In anycase, the owner should develop anappropriate maintenance plan, ensurethat maintenance is performed attimely intervals and keep records ofmaintenance procedures and condi-tions or problems noted. The need forexcessive maintenance may be anindicator of more serious problems.

The chart on the following pages,excerpted with permission from the2012 edition of “Tennis Courts: AConstruction & Maintenance Manual,”covers maintenance issues for manytypes of courts and includes pre-sea-son, post-season, daily, weekly andlong-term maintenance. However, tomake sure you’re hitting the mainte-nance bull’s-eye for your facility,make sure youhave the com-plete “TennisCourts” manualon hand, whichgive compre-hensive infor-mation formaintain-ing alltypes ofcourts.

To order ordownload “Tennis Courts: AConstruction & Maintenance Manual,”visit www.sportsbuilders.org or call443-640-1042. w

MAINTAININGORDERMAINTAININGORDER



Reprinted with permission from "Tennis Courts: A Construction & Maintenance Manual, 2012"


Reprinted with permission from "Tennis Courts: A Construction & Maintenance Manual, 2012"



The USTA’s Outstanding Facility Awards Program recognizesexcellent facilities every year.

Each year the USTA honors tennis facilities thatmeet criteria that includes overall excellence insuch areas as site layout, accommodations, aes-

thetics, amenities and programs that support the growthof tennis. For 2012, the 31st Annual USTA FacilityAwards program honored seven facilities, and one ofthose was selected for special recognition.

The Courts at Gabe Nesbitt Community Park in McK-inney, TX, was named the USTA’s Outstanding Facility ofthe Year and honored during the Awards Breakfast at theUSTA’s Semi-Annual Meeting held in New York duringthe US Open. Earlier, that facility along with the six otherOutstanding Facilities were recognized during the USTATechnical Committee meeting.

Each of the winning facilities were praised for theirimplementation of USTA programs, including 10 andUnder Tennis. “We are proud to recognize these facilitiesfor their continued devotion to the sport," said Kurt Kam-perman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Ten-nis. “The facilities have embraced 10 and Under Tennisand other initiatives that help grow the game, exposingthousands of new players to the sport each year.”

To be considered for an award, facilities must beunder the jurisdiction of a parks and recreation depart-ment, an educational institution, a non-profit corporation,or private or commercially-owned and -operated facilitiesthat offer both USTA and public programming designedto help grow tennis.

The 2012 recipients were selected based on criteriathat included the following:w Overall layout and adaptation to the site.w Excellence of court surface and lights.w Ease of maintenance.w Accommodations for players, spectators, press/officials.w Aesthetics: Graphical representation of facility, use ofsigns, landscaping, etc.

w Amenities: Casual seating for spectators, food services,and social area.

w Programs supporting the USTA and the growth of tennisoverall. w

ANNUALEXCELLENCEANNUALEXCELLENCE

2012 USTA Facility Awards Program WinnersLarge Tennis Centers (11 or more courts)w The Courts at Gabe Nesbitt Community Park, McKinney, TX

Educational Institutionw Wake Forest Tennis Complex, Winston-Salem, NC

Private Facilitiesw Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte, NCw Ellis Tennis Center, El Paso, TXw Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, Tucson, AZw Sea Colony Resort, Bethany Beach, DEw The Haig Point Club, Daufuskie Island, SC

Is Your Tennis Facility Outstanding?The USTA’s Facility Awards Program, now in its 32nd year, is designedto acknowledge excellence in design, construction and programmingof tennis facilities. Recognition is not a competition among applicants,but rather a recognition of those facilities that meet the criteria of theprogram.

Recipients will be honored at the USTA Technical Committee meetingduring the Semi-Annual Meeting held in New York City during the USOpen. In addition to a sign to display at their facility, recipients willreceive a free one-year USTA organizational membership, and onefacility will be recognized as the “USTA 2013 Featured Facility,” withits name on a permanent plaque at the USTA Billie Jean King NationalTennis Center.

For more information on the USTA’s 2013 Outstanding Facility Awardsprogram, and to find out how to nominate facilities, visitusta.com/facilityawards, or email [email protected].


The Courts at Gabe Nesbitt Community ParkMcKinney, TX

Sea Colony Resort, Bethany Beach, DE The Haig Point Club, Daufuskie Island, SC

Ellis Tennis Center, El Paso, TX Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort,Tucson, AZ

Wake Forest Tennis Complex, Winston-Salem, NC Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte, NC



The ASBA’s Certified Tennis Court Builder program strives toraise professional standards in court construction.

The Certified Tennis Court Builder (CTCB) program offeredby ASBA is a means of allowing individuals to demonstrateexpertise in the field of tennis court construction. It was

developed to help raise professional standards and to improve thepractice of court construction.

Certification is a voluntary program and is undertaken by anindividual, rather than a company. In order to become a certifiedbuilder, and to use the designation of CTCB, an individual mustmeet specific criteria set forth by ASBA, including showing a setamount of experience in the construction and maintenance of ten-nis courts and passing a comprehensive exam on tennis court con-struction and maintenance. To maintain the CTCB designation,

builders must recertify every three years, which can be achievedby documenting a sufficient level of continuing education activitiesin the sports facility construction industry, or by passing the exam-ination again.

We’d like to give a shout-out to the following list of 66 courtbuilders who currently hold the designation of Certified TennisCourt Builder. When looking for a builder for your next court pro-ject, renovation, or maintenance, consider a CTCB.

For information about the CTCB program—and to find morecomplete contact information for the CTCBs listed here, go towww.sportsbuilders.org, and select "Certification" from the tool-bar at the top of the page. w

THEY’RECERTIFIABLE!THEY’RECERTIFIABLE!

Danny Amonett, CTCBAmerican TennisCourts Inc.Mobile, AL

David Baird, CTCBIndustrial Surface Sealer, Inc.Cleveland, OH

Burnham Beard, CTCB(Ret.)

Peggy Beard, CTCB(Ret.)

Mark Brogan, CTCBPro-Sport Construction,Inc.Devon, PA

James Burdett, CTCBConnor Sport Court –Sport Court WestSalt Lake City, UT

David Clapp, CTB,CTCBBaseline Sports ConstructionKnoxville, TN

John Coll, CTCBTop-A-Court Co.Hatsfield, PA

Jonnie Deremo, CTCBGeneral Acrylics, Inc.Phoenix, AZ

Thomas DeRosa, CTCBDeRosa Sports ConstructionMamaroneck, NY

Bruce Dobson, CTCBChesapeake CourtBuilders, Inc.Baltimore, MD

Colin Donovan, CTCBRenner Sports SurfacesDenver, CO

Mike Edgerton, CTCBCopeland Coating Co.,Inc.Nassau, NY

Tony Edwards, CTCBVintage Contractors,Inc.San Francisco, CA

Jimmy Fox, CTCBSport Court of ArizonaScottsdale, AZ

Adam Fryor, CTCBCourt One, Inc.Youngsville, NC

Albert Giamei, Jr.,CTCBCopeland Coating Co.,Inc.Nassau, NY

Matt Graft, CTCBTalbot TennisMarietta, GA

Matt Hale, CTB, CTCBHalecon, Inc.Bridgewater, NJ

Corey Hardick, CTCBC. H. Court TechSpring Valley, CA

Kevin Healion, CTCBCentury Tennis, Inc.Deer Park, NY

Dale Hendrickson,CTCBTD Sports, Inc.Simi Valley, CA

John Henzel, CTCBJohn Henzel TennisCourt Systems Inc.Tulsa, OK

Shawn Hollingsworth,CTCBSportsline, Inc.Exton, PA

Thomas Joseph, CTCBCoatings, Inc.Arvada, CO

Michael Kingsburg,CTCBFowler ConstructionBracebridge, OntarioCanada

Fred Kolkmann, CTCBFred Kolkmann Tennis& Sport Surfaces, LLCGrafton, WI

Sean Larsen, CTCBParkin ConstructionCo.Woodscross, UT

Linn Lower, CTCBLower Bros. Co., Inc.Birmingham, AL

Tony Mackay, CTCBCourt Care Systems,Inc.Wantagh, NY

Carla Magers, CTCBGerald Perry TennisCourtsOzark, MO

L. Bruce Mahler, CTCBBoston Tennis CourtConstruction Co., Inc.Hanover, MA

Fred Manchester,CTCBManchester Courts,LLCLexington, SC

David Marsden, CTCBBoston Tennis CourtConstruction Co., Inc.Hanover, MA

Michael McGrath,CTCBTalbot TennisMarietta, GA

Miles Minson, CTCBRenner Sports Surfaces Salt Lake City, UT

David Moore, CTCBCape & Island Tennis& TrackPocasset, MA

Paul Fritz Myers, CTCB(Ret.)

Carlos Navas, CTCBSport Court MidwestBensenville, IL

Herb Osburn, CTCBTennis Courts, Inc.Aylett, VA

Philip Park, CTCBAll Sport America, Inc.Walnut Creek, CA

Carl Paylor, CTCB(Ret.)

Gordy Pierce, CTCBCape & Island Tennis& TrackPocasset, MA

Larry Pitts, CTCBCourt Surfaces, Inc.Green Cove Springs, FL

Bob Pratsch, CTB,CTCBAmerican SystemsCorp.Suamico, WI

Ben Rennolds, CTCBRennolds Tennis CourtConstruction, Inc.Tappahannock, VA

JR Rockenfield, CTCBMcConnell & Associ-ates Corp.Kansas City, MO

Todd Rudolph, CTCBSunland SportsPhoenix, AZ

Bill Shaughnessy,CTCBThe Racquet Shop, Inc.Colts Neck, NJ

Pete Smith, CTCBThe CourtSmithsToledo, OH

Darrel Snyder, CTCBMid American Court-worksWichita, KS

George Stahlin, CTCBEvergreen TennisCourts, Inc.Loveland, CO

Scott Starman, CTCBRenner Sports SurfacesDenver, CO

Matt Strom, CTCBLeslie Coatings, Inc.Indianapolis, IN

Jacin Sutch, CTCBSutch ConcreteBenjamin, UT

Michael Taylor, CTCBSport Court of OregonPortland, OR

George Todd, Jr., CTCBWelch Tennis Courts,Inc.Sun City, FL

Joe Ure, CTCBConnor Sport CourtInternationalMurray, UT

Mike Vinton, CTCBVasco Sports Contrac-torsMassillon, OH

Fred Volpacchio, CTCBHudson Design BuildGroupPeekskill, NY

Pat Walker, CTCBSport Court MidwestBensenville, IL

Rob Werner, CTB,CTCBSportsline, Inc.Exton, PA

Brian Wright, CTCBCourt OneGranite Quarry, NC

Gerry Wright, CTCBCourt OneYoungsville, NC

Steve Wright, CTCBTrans Texas Tennis,Ltd.Hot Springs, AR

Richard Zaino, CTCBZaino Tennis Courts,Inc.Orange, CA



Here’s a quick look at some of the court construction and maintenance products available for 2013, from many companiesthat displayed their wares at the trade show during the ASBA’sannual Technical Meeting in December.

CourtPro Score PostWelch Tennis Courts Inc. is featuring the CourtPro line of tennis accessories, including thenew CourtPro Score Post. The all-in-one compact scoreboard has a heavy-duty extrudedbody with the traditional two-color design for home and visitors, and it will hold up to eventhe most extreme weather. Includes sturdy metal base and hose clamps for easy mountingto either net post or fence post. 813-641-7787/welchtennis.com

MARKETPLACEMARKETPLACE

Deluxe Courtsider BenchThis 5-foot-long bench, in Open Tournament Blue, is constructed of extruded high-density plastic resin, making it maintenance-free, weatherproof and lightweight.From Douglas Industries, the Deluxe model offers more slats for greater stability andis contoured for comfort. Durable plastic legs can be bolted down for permanentpositioning. 800-553-8907/douglas-sports.com

DuraPlay Synthetic Turf DuraPlay’s synthetic turf surface for tennis courts can simulate tennis on hard andclay court surfaces, lowers maintenance costs and is easy on the knees. Plus, there’sno need for yearly repainting, says the maker. It comes with five- and eight-year war-ranties. Duraplaysports.com

Edwards Classic Round Net PostsAvailable for permanent Youth Tennis court installations, Edwards Classic Round Net Posts aremade of 11-gauge steel with 3-inch O.D. Installed at 36-inch height, the posts are fitted with alu-minum caps with stainless steel fixing pins, welded lacing rods, internal brass winder and remov-able handle. The posts are zinc-dipped inside and out for rust protection, and the green polyesterpowder-coated finish is chip- and fade-resistant. 800-527-0871, ext. 9044


Premium ArmorMesh and Standard MeshWindscreensEnhance your court’s appearance while blocking wind and distractions with Premi-um ArmorMesh and Standard mesh windscreens from Humphrys-CoverSports. Thewindscreens feature heat-sealed hems, a seamless look and no thread breaks. Cus-tom-made to your fence dimensions, the screens also can be customizable with let-tering and logos. 800-445-6680/coversports.com/humphrys.biz

Pulastic® Comfort Court 50Now available in the U.S. and Canada is Pulastic Comfort Court 50 surface fromDescol, made of polyurethane and recycled rubber. Distributed by Robbins Inc.Comfort Court 50 utilizes a prefabricated, recycled rubber base to provide resilience,coupled with a tough, UV-resistant, seamless polyurethane surface for durability. It’savailable in a wide range of standard colors. 513-871-8988/robbinsfloor.com

Slam Strap Tennis Net Center StrapUsed on courts at the US Open, the new Slam Strap by 10-S Tennis Supply ensures the net is at regu-lation height. Just align the seam on the top of the strap to the top of the net’s headband then adjustthe strong Velcro fastening strip to align the metal tab with the ground. The internal fastening systemlocks in the perfect height and is guaranteed not to slip—with no measuring and no buckles. It installsin 60 seconds and works on all court surfaces and net anchors. 800-247-3907/10-S.com

Green Tennis MachineUse the Greencycle Ball Savers’ revolutionary Rebounces technology to restore dead tennis balls to their orig-inal bounce. The new Green Tennis Machine extends the life of practice balls and reduces waste. There arethree sizes to meet any facility’s needs. The Greencycle Ball Saver KT400 re-pressurizes 400 balls every 72hours with a weekly capacity of 800 balls; the KT250 re-pressurizes 250 balls every 72 hours; and the KT150re-pressurizes 150 balls every 72 hours. 800-247-3907/10-S.com

Premier™ XS in Open Tournament BlueThe 2-7/8-inch O.D. Premier net post from Douglas Industries is made of 8-gauge steel with a baked-onpolyester powder-coat finish that features Allieds Flo Coat process. The durable post has a jam-free cabletensioning hardware system with hardened gears and case. The post, which comes with plated steel gearhardware and welded lacing rods, is easy to operate with a 30:1 self-locking gear ratio. 800-553-8907/dou-glas-sports.com


Rebound Ace RomeRebound Ace Rome features the shock absorption of an area elastic HARO subfloor,a Nike Grind underlayment and an acrylic finish. Ongoing development has pro-duced improvements and options to provide flexibility of speed, playing characteris-tics and player comfort. Nike Grind materials provide the core of the underlayment,with wood harvested by FSC-certified manufacturers to reduce the environmentalimpact at the production of the HARO subfloors. 407-865-6279/reboundace.com

? Ask the Experts

BABOLAT VSWHAT DO THE LETTERS VS standfor in the VS brand of string? Ikeep thinking of a very old string

Victor Superb.

VS IS A BABOLAT DESIGNATIONfor its natural gut. Around 1875

when Babolat starting making tennisstrings, it was trying various raw materialsand processes. To keep track, the rawmaterials received one tracking letter andthe process received another. As it turnsout, the raw material "V" along with theprocess "S" turned out to be the best. Therest is history.

There also used to be Victor natural gutstrings (including the famous Victor Imperi-al), but Victor was not connected withBabolat or with VS.

GRIP SIZESI NOTED WITH INTEREST Wil-son’s introduction of the newSteam 99S, but from what I can

tell, it’s not available in a 4-5/8-inch (L5)grip. Does this mean it’s only for smallerplayers?

ACCORDING TO CORY SPRINGER,global business director for tennis

racquets at Wilson, “We have seen thedemand for 4-5/8-inch grips shrink sub-stantially in recent years. In an ongoingeffort to streamline our offering and focus,the Steam 99S is not offered in 4-5/8. If wedetermine there is a significant demand inthe coming months we will look at thisagain.”

STRING STIFFNESS MEASUREMENTS

I'VE NOTICED IN SOME RECENTstring reviews you have notincluded an important stat in the

article. You have posted this informationin the past string reviews and I, for one,appreciated having this information. Theitem that has been eliminated is the actu-al string stiffness number. I think this isan important feature that allows the read-er to know if this is softer, stiffer, or basi-cally the same as the string they are

using, or that they may be looking for. Inthe past articles you posted that number.Please include that little bit of informationin future articles.

WHILE IT IS OUR GOAL TO publishthe results of our lab tests in each

playtest report, it is not always possible fora variety of reasons. For lab test resultsthat become available after the playtestreport is written, USRSA members cancheck online here: http://www.racquettech.com/members/tools/string_specs.html

VIBRATION DAMPENERSWHAT ARE ADVANTAGES (ANDdisadvantages) of using vibrationdampeners? Where should they be

placed in the stringbed? In what sense dothey “dampen” vibration? Will they affectthe way my racquet feels? Ultimately,who should use them?

THERE IS A GREAT DEAL ABOUTchoosing tennis equipment that is

subjective, including the use of a vibrationdampener. Therefore, primary benefit is ifthe player feels he plays better with adampener, he definitely should use one.Dampeners primarily reduce string vibra-tions, not frame vibrations. In dampeningstring vibrations, they dampen the soundof the impact, which is probably the most influential aspect of using a stringdampener.

The Rules of Tennis are quite specificabout the placement of string dampeners:They must be mounted outside the outsidemain or cross on the string bed, or as therules put it, "outside the pattern of thecrossed strings."

STRINGING FOR CONTROL AND COMFORT

I HAVE READ THAT THE MAINSon the racquet are actually thecontrol strings and the crosses are

for comfort. Is this true? If so, then does itmean that if I were to string my crosses ata higher tension compared to my mains(both the same type of strings), e.g. 50pounds / 55 pounds, would this give meless control and more comfort?

ACCORDING TO BABOLAT, THEmain strings contribute durability

and spin, while the crosses contributepower and control. Therefore, the answerto your question is no. In fact, by increas-ing the reference tension on the crosses,you should be gaining control (because thestring bed will be stiffer), and perhaps lesscomfortable for the same reason.Because the roles that Babolat assigns thestrings are complementary instead of con-tradictory, there is no simple trade-off ofthe type you’re trying to achieve, such asdurability vs. control, or spin vs. power.

STRING SELECTOR MAPIS THERE A WAY TO SELECT par-ticular stringsfrom the String

Selector Map and have itgenerate a new map thatdisplays tension loss andstiffness for the selectedstrings?

NO, THERE IS NOT. THE PURPOSEof the

String SelectorMap is to givean overview ofthe universe ofavailablestrings, lookingat stiffness andtension loss.

To zero inon a particularstring (orstrings), USRSAmembers can look up the stiffness and ten-sion loss here:http://www.racquettech.com/members/tools/string_specs.html

To find one string based on the stiffnessand tension loss of another string, we dooffer the String Selector:http://www.racquettech.com/members/tools/string_selector.html

—Greg Raven w

We welcome your questions. Please send them to Rac-quet Sports Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096;fax: 760-536-1171; email: [email protected].


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January 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 39www.racquetsportsindustry.com


because most alcohols contain someamounts of water, from 5%to a whopping 30%, plus themoisture picked from the air(the alcohol is extremelyhygroscopic). Even after thealcohol evaporates, the waterremains, and rusting mayoccur.

I prefer the use of acetone(dimethyl ketone) or acetone-based nail enamel remover. Itis a much stronger solvent, itis readily available, and it real-ly does the job. You do haveto be careful to avoid any spills over paint-ed or plastic surfaces. You should protectthe surroundings with any towel or cloth.5 3-packs of Unique TournaGrip 2 to:Luis De Santis T., Venezuela

Editor’s note: Acetone will indeed cleanmetal surfaces, but you do have to be morecareful with it than with rubbing alcohol.Acetone is flammable in both its liquid andvapor forms, and you will want to limitbreathing the fumes and skin contact. Insome cases, acetone is said to attack thecentral nervous system.

os racqueTs and Thegamma progression iiExtremely large, oversized tennis racquetsmay require the stringer to open the GammaProgression II stringing machine’s shouldersupport arms to near their maximum. Addi-tionally, every once in a while the stringermay open the suspension arms into a reallyexcessively wide position. This can result inthe adjustment knob becoming unscrewedfrom the suspension arm’s pivot nut. Theresult may be an inability for the stringer tosubsequently adjust the support arms upagainst the body of the racquet duringmounting. This problem can be corrected byphysically rethreading the shaft of the screw-adjusting knob back into the threads of theadjusting pivot nut.

On the rare occasion that this situationoccurs, it is easily resolved by completingthe following actions:1. With a screwdriver, pry off the top black

Wax on, Wax offJust a few passing thoughts on the use ofwax lubes on tennis strings (Ask theExperts, February 2013): Having strungracquets for over 30 years, I'm a firmbeliever in the use of wax in lubing certainstrings in today's racquets. Natural gutalways, and many of the polys also war-rant this action.

I however do not use bee’s wax. I haveused surfboard wax better known and soldas "Mr. Zogs Sex Wax." This product canbe found at any surf or beach store and isvery inexpensive. The puck-shaped boardwax also lasts a long time. The other fea-ture of this wax is the tacky residue left on

your fingers, whichalso makes thestring process muchfriendlier!

You do need toattend to clampcleaning a little moreoften but how longdoes this really take?My clamps arecleaned after every

fifteen string jobs whether wax is used oris not used. Today's synthetic strings areusually coated with some sort of siliconetype lubricant and this builds up on theclamps and should be eliminated periodi-cally anyway.5 3-packs of Wilson Profile overgrip to:Igor K. Maas, Naples, FL

[Wax] paper chaseTo help getting the tie off string into a tightspot, cut a small piece of wax paper, fold itin half, and then draw the string through itas you apply pressure to the wax paper.It’s an easy way to put a light coating ofwax on the string.5 3-packs of Klip Python G1 overgrip to:Don Donati, Clinton, CT

cleaner clamp cleaningThe use of “rubbing alcohol” (isopropylalcohol or ethyl alcohol) is normally therecommended agent to clean clamps.However, it may pose some rust problems

Tips & Techniques

pad that covers the mounting plate.Once this pad is removed, you will seefour hex head cap bolts. Remove thefour hex head cap bolts and lift off themountingarm assem-bly. Now,invert theassembly toview themechanicsof the shoul-der supportscrew-adjust-ments, thelocation ofproblem.

2. Rethreading procedures may require afurther opening of the arm(s) by addi-tionally turning the adjustment knob ina counter-clockwise motion. It may alsobe necessary to gently, and very careful-ly, move the shoulder arm(s) out as faras possible. These two actions providethe additional space necessary to alignthe adjusting knob’s threaded shaft withthe threads of the suspension arm pivotnut, and thus facilitate the insertion ofthe adjustment knob’s threads into thesuspension arm pivot nut.

3. You must not permit the cap nut tounscrew during the resultant rethread-ing action. To prevent this, use a 3/8-inch wrench to hold the nut in place.Once the threaded shaft begins tothread itself into the pivot nut, theshoulder arm will start moving (closing)back in. After completing, if the adjust-ment knob now appears loose, tightenthe “underside” cap nut gently but firm-ly up against the housing, thereby takingup any slack and eliminating the loose-ness of the adjusting knob.

5 3-packs of Prince No Sweat overgrip to:Mathew Calendar, Wellington, FL

—Greg Raven ◗


Tips and Techniques submitted since 1992 by USRSA membersand appearing in this column, have all been gathered into asearchable database on www.racquettech.com, the official mem-ber-only website of the USRSA. Submit tips to: Greg Raven,USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084; or email [email protected].

Readers’ Know-How in Action

January 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 41www.racquetsportsindustry.com


String Playtest

EASE OF STRINGING (compared to other strings) Number of testers who said it was:much easier 0somewhat easier 3about as easy 22not quite as easy 7not nearly as easy 1

OVERALL PLAYABILITY (compared to string played most often)Number of testers who said it was:much better 0somewhat better 5about as playable 5not quite as playable 20not nearly as playable 2

OVERALL DURABILITY (compared to other strings of similar gauge)Number of testers who said it was:much better 9somewhat better 9about as durable 12not quite as durable 2not nearly as durable 0

RATING AVERAGESFrom 1 to 5 (best)Playability 3.3Durability (9th overall) 4.4Power (8th overal) 3.8Control 3.3Comfort 3.2Touch/Feel 2.8Spin Potential 3.3Holding Tension 3.4Resistance to Movement 3.7

Ashaway MonoGut® ZX Pro is amonofilament string — like Ash-away MonoGut ZX — made from

polyetheretherketone, a high tempera-ture, engineering-grade polymer alsoknown as PEEK and polyketone. The ver-sion used by Ashaway goes by the tradename Zyex®. Zyex molecules form com-plex chains with three aromatic bonds,compared to nylon with its simple cova-lent bonds that tend to break down, andpolyester with its single aromatic bond.Ashaway claims that as a result of thebetter molecular bonding, MonoGut ZXPro holds tension better, longer, andmore consistently than other strings.

Ashaway tells us that the Zyex con-struction represents a revolution inmonofilament technology, offering maxi-mum comfort, gut-like playability, superi-or durability, and exceptional power for amonofilament — all with no polyester.

Ashaway’s target customers are play-ers looking for a string that has thepower and comfort of natural gut butwith superior durability, at less than halfthe cost.

MonoGut ZX Pro is available in 1.22mm in red or natural. It is priced from$14.25 for sets of 40 feet. 360-foot (110meter) reels are available for $125, and720-foot (220 meter) reels for $235.

For more information or to order,contact Ashaway at 800-556-7260, orvisit ashawayusa.com. Be sure to readthe conclusion for a special offer fromAshaway on MonoGut ZX Pro.

IN THE LABThe coil measured 40 feet. The diametermeasured 1.21-1.24 mm prior to string-ing, and 1.16-1.18 mm after stringing.We recorded a string bed stiffness of 76RDC units immediately after stringing at60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95(16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pullmachine.

After 24 hours (no playing), string bedstiffness measured 69 RDC units, repre-senting a 9 percent tension loss. Our con-trol string, Prince Synthetic Gut OriginalGold 16, measured 78 RDC units imme-

diately after stringing and 71 RDC unitsafter 24 hours, representing a 9 percenttension loss. MonoGut ZX Pro added 15grams to the weight of our unstrungframe.

The string was tested for five weeksby 33 USRSA testers, with NTRP ratingsfrom 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests,with testers receiving unmarked stringsin unmarked packages. Average num-ber of hours tested was 27.

During installation, MonoGut ZXPro seemed to have “anti-coil memory,”as it kept attempting to straighten out.Despite the thin gauge, it felt thick. Withits smooth surface, crosses were easy to


weave. Knots didn’t feel asthough they are cinching down, but theyweren’t loose. Overall, MonoGut ZX Prois a great string to install.

Three testers broke the sample dur-ing stringing, five reported problemswith coil memory, seven reported prob-lems tying knots, and one reported fric-tion burn.

ON THE COURTAshaway recommends a 5 to 10 percenttension reduction compared to nylon, sowe advised our testers accordingly.

MonoGut ZX Pro scored 8th best inthe Power category of the 169 stringswe’ve playtested to date, and 9th best inthe Durability category. In addition, itwas well above average in Resistance toMovement. As a result, MonoGut ZX Proscored well above average overall.

Three testers broke the sample dur-ing the playtest period, one each at 4.5,14, and 40 hours.

CONCLUSIONSynthetic strings that are said to playlike natural gut are not new, but it’s notoften that a manufacturer will make thisclaim about a monofilament. Ashawayhas been working on developing Zyexstrings for a long time now though, bothwith monofilaments such as MonoGutZX Pro and with its famous Dynamite(tennis), PowerNick and UltraNick(squash), and UltraKill (racquetball) lines.

If MonoGut ZX Pro sounds interest-ing, Ashaway has a special offer for

Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro


(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in paren-theses.) For the rest of the tester comments, visitwww.racquetsportsindustry.com.

er using Wilson K Six One (16x18) strung at 56pounds LO (Tecnifibre NRG2 16)

“ This plays like an average 16 gauge poly.The feel is a little lacking. Power is above aver-age.” 5.5 male all-court player using WilsonBLX Six.One (16x18) strung at 50 pounds CP(Luxilon ALU Power/Natural Gut 16L/17)

“ With a 5% tension reduction this stringplays too powerful for me. Control is lacking. Idid not notice any extra spin.” 4.0 male all-court player using Pacific Raptor strung at 54pounds LO (Pacific X Force/Pacific Power Line18/16L)

“ High marks for power and feel. Control isexcellent.” 4.5 male all-court player usingWilson Juice MP strung at 55 pounds CP (WilsonNXT 16)

“ Impressive overall playability. Quite power-ful with decent control and Incredible spin.”4.0 male all-court player using Head MicroGELPrestige Pro Mid strung at 50 pounds LO

(Gamma Professional 18)

“ Massive spin! This monofilament has avery crisp response with no string movement.Zero soreness on the arm. Volleys feel firm.”4.0 male all-court player using Wilson BLX ProStaff Six.One strung at 57 pounds LO (WilsonNXT 16)

“ This string has great combination of dura-bility and playability. After a short break-inperiod, comfort improves and is closer to thatof a multifilament nylon.” 4.5 male serve-and-volley player using Dunlop Biomimetic 600strung at 53 pounds LO (Gamma Live Wire 17)

“ In the hands of a more advanced playerthis string should provide plenty of power, spinand control.” 3.5 male all-court player usingPrince O3 Hybrid Shark OS strung at 50pounds CP (Head FXP/Babolat Tonic+ 17/16)

TESTERS TALK

“ High marks for power and feel. Con-trol is excellent.”4.5 male all-court player using WilsonJuice MP strung at 55 pounds CP (Wil-son NXT 16)

“ Impressive overall playability. Quitepowerful with decent control andIncredible spin.” 4.0 male all-courtplayer using Head MicroGEL PrestigePro Mid strung at 50 pounds LO(Gamma Professional 18)

“ Massive spin! This monofilamenthas a very crisp response with no stringmovement. Zero soreness on the arm.Volleys feel firm.” 4.0 male all-courtplayer using Wilson BLX Pro StaffSix.One strung at 57 pounds LO (WilsonNXT 16)

“ In the hands of a more advancedplayer this string should provide plentyof power, spin and control.” 3.5 maleall-court player using Prince O3 HybridShark OS strung at 50 pounds CP (HeadFXP/Babolat Tonic+ 17/16)

“ More power and spin than my typi-cal setup. Great durability. Slightly lack-ing in control and touch.”4.5 male serve-and-volley player usingWilson BLX Tempest Four strung at 60pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)

“ This is a good string for 3.5 to 4.5level players. It’s quite durable. It woulddefinitely add power to a hybrid. Over-all, this a good string.” 4.5 male all-court player using Wilson BLX Fivestrung at 60 pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)

“ This string is ideal for players whowant more power and spin. Durability isexceptional.” 5.0 male all-court play-

—Greg Raven◗

USRSA members: One set of MZX ProRed and add two free sets for $20(including delivery). All you need to do isprepay by check, Visa, or MasterCardbefore shipping.

Zyex® is a trademark of Zyex Ltd.

Idon’t claim to be an expert on father-hood, since I have never had thegood fortune of being a father. But I

have observed thousands of fathers overthe last 45 years as a teacher, collegetennis coach, teaching pro, industry rep-resentative, and now as a USTA volun-teer and part-time pro.

From this unique perspective, I haveconcluded that fathers are extremelyimportant to the stability and continuedgrowth of the game of tennis. Why?w Fathers can mold an aspiring tennisson or daughter to great heights bynurturing, consoling, disciplining andencouraging them.

w Fathers have an innate ability to seethe silver lining after a close loss andbuild confidence back in their child.

w Fathers can hit with their kids, offeringpractice time and bonding, even a bitof coaching, while keeping things inperspective.

w Fathers can be a vital complement to acoach or teaching pro.Now … before you jump all over me

for playing up the role of dads in thegrowth of tennis, I know it’s a teameffort on the home front—moms areincredibly important, too, and we can’tignore that. But over my tennis career,my observation is that the father oftencan be the catalyst, that intangible forceto help make it happen, and can helpkeep kids playing this sport.

I recently attended a conference col-lege tennis meet where I watched aninteraction between father and daugh-ter. I happened to know the father andnoticed how, after the competition, aconstructive conversation ensued aboutthe match. It was only after the daughterhad connected with her father that she

went to hang with her teammates andcoach.

I said to the dad, “Every time I see youwith Susan, I quickly see a very tight bondthe two of you have.”

He replied, “If it weren’t for tennis, Iwould not have that bond. Even more so, Idon’t think I would have much of a rela-tionship with my daughters. For every-thing outside of tennis, they are moreclosely bonded with my wife.”

I think we often woefully underesti-mate the bond between father and child.Fathers, of course, can really interact andimpart lessons in life to their children.Since tennis is such a mental game, fatherscan have the ability to have many conver-sations to bring forth the positive dialogueplayers need to have when playing.

We often extol the virtues of tennis—exercise and fitness, decision-making,social growth, family sport, fun, etc. Butbecause of the individual nature of thesport, we can sometimes be blind to thebond of father and child.

Many of my former college tennis play-ers have kids of their own playing in col-lege now. I have been fortunate to see myformer players as fathers. I am sure theytook on their own persona and took onsome of their own father’s traits. Now, Isee a wonderful bond that both dad andchild developed.

It’s great to see the Father-Son andFather-Daughter tournaments in action.The players compete, but they laugh,cajole, support, high-five. No question,kids play many times because dad playsand certainly, many kids rebel becausedad plays. But when they accept thevirtues of tennis, kids often see that theroad to bonding with their dad, and viceversa, is on the court. That bond is a life-


time glue that cannot be cracked.As we market our great game, imple-

menting father/daughter/son activitiescould be a key to the continuance of ten-nis growth. The Youth Tennis emphasiswill be well-served by bringing fathersinto a more impactful role that will sus-tain the attachment between tennis andfamilies for a lifetime.

If you are in a position of influence,incorporate dads in your programming.What can we do to aid this? Here aresome ideas; I’m sure you can think ofmany more:w Lesson formats that are family in naturecould be a starting point. Father/daugh-ter/son group lessons with otherfather/daughter/son combinationscould be fun.

w “Stroke of the Week” clinics for fami-lies.

w A one-day father/daughter/son clubtournament with the emphasis onround-robin play and fun (rather thantrophies and rankings).

w Teaching dads how to set up drivewaytennis, and conditioning that the familycan do together.

w Going to local college or professionalmatches together to watch advancedplayers.Tennis is truly a lifetime sport, and

fathers can play an important role inmaking sure it remains so for their chil-dren. w

Your Serve


The Fathers of TennisWhen it comes to children, let’s make sure wedon’t underestimate the role that fathers playin the sport of a lifetime.B Y D E N N Y S C H A C K T E R

Denny Schackter resides in Palatine, IL, wherehe is the owner of Tennis Priorities, a firmwhose focus is recruiting young people intotennis teaching. Check out his websitewww.tennispriorities.com or email him [email protected].

We welcome your opinions. Please email comments to [email protected].

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201303 Racquet Sports Industry