March 2011

Volume 39 Number 3 $5.00

www.racquetsportsindustry.com

How
Synthetic
Strings
Are Made
Court
Court Construction
Construction
& Maintenance
Maintenance Guide
Guide
Industry
Industry Pioneer
Pioneer
Warren Bosworth
 Contents COURT CONSTRUCTION &
R S I M A R C H

INDUSTRY NEWS
2 0 1 1

MAINTENANCE GUIDE
7 Babolat teams up
24 Welcome Signs with Roland Garros
Is your facility a hospitable environment
for beginners? Here are some simple
things you can do to help welcome new
7 Converse brings back
players.
Jack Purcell tennis shoe
26 Wise Cracking 7 US Open National
What can you do when your asphalt Playoffs adds mixed doubles
courts start to crack? Consider these
options. 8 Prince adds three models
28 Equipment Check to EXO3 Tour line
Maintaining your maintenance equip-
ment is easy to do, and will save you 8 Heads YouTek frames
from small expenses that can add up. include race-car tech
32 Color Coordination 9 USTA Serves awards
Tennis doesn’t have to be a monochro-
matic game. Builders and owners are $1 million in grants
using more colorful combinations for
their courts. 10 Peoplewatch
34 Tennis To Go 10 USPTA creates new
With 10-and-Under Tennis, you can help
bring tennis to kids, and bring in more member credential
business for you, even if there are no
existing courts. 12 Dunlop adds five
Biomimetic frames
36 Reliable Resources
In court construction, good help may be
hard to find… unless you know where
13 NGI surfaces may help
to look. toward LEED certification
14 Short Sets
FEATURE
16 Clay Court Seminar
40 How Synthetic Strings Are Made set for Baton Rouge
From selecting raw materials, to creat-
Cover and Contents photo ing the filaments and putting them 16 Courier switches to
courtesy of Ashaway together, to coating, sizing and packag- Donnay X-Series
ing, here’s how your customers’ favorite
string are born.

DEPARTMENTS 22 Pioneers in Tennis: Warren Bosworth

4 Our Serve 44 Ask the Experts
7 Industry News 46 String Playtest: Prince Beast XP 16
19 TIA News 48 Your Serve, by Bob Patterson

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Our Serve

I
Get Me Out of Here! (Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)

n the Northeast, where I live, this has been Publishers

David Bone Jeff Williams
one of the toughest winters ever. Record
Editorial Director
snows and prolonged cold weather have made Peter Francesconi
life difficult for us Patriots fans. I seem to be Associate Editor
spending all my time worrying about all the snow Greg Raven

on the roof, leaks in the house caused by ice Design/Art Director

Kristine Thom
jams, and how much money I’m forced to spend
Contributing Editors
for snow removal. Robin Bateman
Not far from us, the weight of the snow caused the roof and the front Cynthia Cantrell
brick wall to collapse at the Tennis Club of Trumbull in Connecticut on Joe Dinoffer
Liza Horan
Feb. 1. Fortunately, the club had closed early that day because of the
Greg Moran
expected snowfall, so no one was in the building at the time. The owner, Bob Patterson
Ed Pagano, vows to rebuild the club, one of the most active in Fairfield Cynthia Sherman
County. Mary Helen Sprecher

Of course, five months before all this, we had arranged to spend some RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
time in the Florida Keys, an area we’ve gone to for the last six years or Corporate Offices
so. After considering staying home, our house-sitter assured me all 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
would be fine, so off we went. And I’m glad I did go. As it ends up, ten-
Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
nis has restorative properties that can make me, at least temporarily, for- Website: www.racquetTECH.com
get about things. Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Over the last few years, we’ve gotten to know the tennis community
Advertising Director
in Marathon, Fla. We’ve made many good friends and come to know this
John Hanna
area and all it offers. There’s an active group of players here—every 770-650-1102, x.125
morning many can be found on the courts at the City Park; in the clin- hanna@knowatlanta.com
ics, mixers and Cardio Tennis classes that Tim Wonderlin and Chris Bull
Apparel Advertising
run at Sombrero Resort; on the clay courts at Sombrero Country Club; or Cynthia Sherman
on the clay and hard courts at Hawk’s Cay, run by Cliff Drysdale Tennis 203-263-5243
pro Sam Keenan. (In fact, Cliff will be at Hawk’s Cay in early March to cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
give a clinic.) Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per

We watched the Super Bowl with tennis friends Rod and Carol; met
Jim for ribs one night; played in clinics with Mary Ellen, Alejandro, Wern-
er and Lorena. This past weekend, to the irritation of my RSI colleagues,
I blew off working and played in a mixed-doubles tourney on the clay
courts at nearby Sugarloaf Key. My partner Maryanne and I made it past
the first round but got dumped in the second round. But it was great.
And I didn’t think about the snow at all.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
year: monthly January through August and com-
bined issues in September/October and Novem-
ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330
Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at
Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Vista, CA and
additional mailing offices. March 2011, Volume 39,
Number 3 © 2011 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All
rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and
logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circu-
lation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscrip-
tions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry,
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.

RSI is on Facebook. Become a fan and keep up with all the

latest news and information at facebook.com/rsimagazine. RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

R S I M A R C H
INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU
US Open National Play-
offs Adds Mixed Doubles
The US Open National Playoffs
returns this year, with the addition
of mixed doubles to men’s and
women’s singles. Last year, the
USTA created the US Open Nation-
al Playoffs to provide an opportu-
nity for all players 14 years of age
and older to earn a berth into the
US Open.
The US Open National Playoffs
mixed doubles champions will
receive a main draw wild card into
the 2011 US Open. The US Open
National Playoffs men’s and
women’s singles champions again
earn a wild card into the US Open
Qualifying Tournament, held the
week prior to the US Open.
The Playoffs will again operate as
a series of sectional qualifying
tournaments, held in 16 USTA Sec-
tions throughout the country. The
16 men’s, women’s and mixed
doubles champions from each sec-
tional qualifying tournament will
advance to the US Open National
Playoffs. All three tournaments will
be held in conjunction with the
New Haven Open at Yale, an
Olympus US Open Series event.
The men’s and women’s singles
championship will be Aug. 18-21;
the mixed will be Aug. 24-27.
Registration for the sectional qual-
ifying tournaments begins March
15 at www.usta.com/tennislink.
Entry fee for each qualifying event
is $125 for singles and $150 for
each mixed doubles team ($75 per
player). All players must have a
current USTA membership valid
through Aug. 29, 2011.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
2 0 1 1
RUN YOUR BUSINESS
Babolat Teams Up With Roland Garros
abolat and Roland Garros have signed a five-year deal in which the French equipment man-
B ufacturer will provide the official ball for the French Open, stringing services for the tour-
nament and a line of Babolat-Roland Garros branded products.
“Part of our history is written on the clay courts of Roland Garros
through our team of players,” says Babolat President and
CEO Eric Babolat. “Now, a new chapter in French tennis
history is opening. All the players in the tournament will
play with a ball developed by Babolat and will benefit
from our stringing service. For tennis fans, we will
offer our first collection of Babolat and Roland Garros
products.”
Babolat, which was started in 1875 and is based
in Lyon, France, has developed the official ball for
the French Open that it says is specially designed for
playing on clay and meets the specifications of the
French Tennis Federation. The company also will be
responsible for stringing services, gathering top
stringers to work at the French Open event.
This year, Babolat will launch its first line of Roland Gar-
ros branded products. The Babolat-Roland Garros line includes adult and junior racquets, balls,
racquet bags, backpacks, strings, grips and dampeners. Products in the new line will be avail-
able starting in May.
“We are particularly proud of this partnership between Babolat and Roland-Garros, for
whom excellence has been a trademark,” says Gilbert Ysern, general manager of the FTF and
tournament director of Roland Garros.
Converse Brings Back Jack Purcell Tennis Shoe
onverse has launched the Jack Purcell Evo tennis shoe, the first modern performance
C Jack Purcell tennis shoe since the 1960s. The company says the shoe combines classic
looks with state-of-the-art Nike technologies.
The upper sports a glen plaid mono-mesh woven with Nike Flywire technology, which Con-
verse says is breathable and keeps feet cool. The trademark rubber toe sports the Jack Purcell
smile, just as it did more than 75 years ago. The Evo is built with an ergonomic foot form and
uses the lightweight Nike Lunarlon Foam. For increased support in extreme lateral movements,
the shoe has lateral rubber wraps and a composite mid-foot shank, which Converse says adds
torsional rigidity.
Tennis players have been wearing Jack Pur-
cell shoes since 1935, when world famous
badminton champion Purcell helped design
a court shoe. In the 1930s and ’40s, Purcell
gave tennis lessons to Hollywood actors,
who helped to popularize the shoe. The
new Evo is available in a crimson and
white, with a suggested retail price of $110.
Visit www.converse.com.
March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7
 M A R C H 2 0 1 1
INDUSTRYNEWS
Racquetball Champ Williams Retires
T op-ranked racquetball pro Mitch Williams has decided to retire from
the professional game, after suffering a major shoulder injury in the
quarterfinals of the US Open in October.
“Mitch has been a tremendous asset to the Wilson brand,” said Terri
Graham, Business Director Indoor Racquet Sports. “Though it saddens
me to hear this news, I am excited for his future in the pharmaceutical
world.”
Williams is a two-time National Doubles Champion 2007 and 2010
and won the amateur National Championship in 2007. He will stay
involved with Wilson racquetball by conducting clinics and playing a
limited schedule of amateur and satellite events once his shoulder is
healed.
Prince Strengthens Sales,
Promotions, Product Teams
P rince says it has strengthened its sales, promotions and product
teams through promotions and new hires, in line with its five-year
plan for growth.
Charlie Osborn has been promoted to national vice president of
sales for the U.S. specialty channel. He is joined by Jay Simmons, who
leaves his post as global business manager for recreational racquets
and tennis balls, to become national v.p. of sales for key accounts. Both
will report to Sam Cook, general manager of U.S. and Canada at Prince
Sports Inc.
On the promotions side, Ken Merritt joined Prince Sports as a full-
time employee, based out of the IMG/Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy
in Bradenton, Fla., where Prince is the official racquet, string, grip and
bag.
The company also has added two new global product managers:
Jennifer Allison has been hired for recreational racquets and bags, and
Nathan Price has been hired for strings, accessories and machines.
Head Adds Race-Car Tech to YouTek Frames
H ead’s new YouTek IG Speed Series, which world No. 2 player Novak
Djokovic used to claim the 2011 Australian Open title in January, uses
Head’s new Innegra fiber technology.
Head says Innegra, used in Formula 1 racing, is extremely
tough and light, and when combined with carbon
fiber, forms an “ultra-tough, hybrid-composite
structure” that results in improved stability and
increased shock absorption. The company says
racquet vibration from ball impact is reduced
by up to 17 percent.
For his Aussie Open win, Djokovic used the
YouTek IG Speed MP 18/20, one of five YouTek IG
Speed Series frames. The other models are the
YouTek IG Speed MP 16/19, with a more open string
pattern and slightly longer length; YouTek IG Speed
300, which the company says is slightly more power-
ful with added maneuverability; YouTek IG Speed Elite,
a Tour Light version with a slightly wider beam; and the
YouTek IG Speed Lite, a “tweener” frame for players
with moderate swing styles. Visit www.head.com.
8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
Prince Adds 3 Models
to EXO3 Tour Line
P rince has added three models
to its EXO3 Tour family of rac-
quets. The latest additions are
the EXO3 Tour 100 with a 16 x
18 string pattern, the EXO3 Tour
100 with an 18 x 20 pattern and
the EXO3 Tour Lite 100 (shown), all
designed for more advanced players
with faster swing speeds. The new
frames join newly upgraded versions of
the EXO3 Silver 115, Blue 110 and Red 105
models.
All six new racquets feature distinct, vis-
ible ThermoCarbon String Suspension
Inserts for enhanced feel and join the
EXO3 Black, White and Rebel to complete
the 2011 performance racquet collection,
says Prince.
EXO3 technology is a patented design utilizing
large holes and String Suspension Inserts, allowing
the strings to move more, which Prince says delivers
a larger, more consistent hitting area. “The real ben-
efit of EXO3 and the concept of eliminating restric-
tive grommets is to enhance string freedom to the
edge of the frame, and this engineering advantage
works and benefits all player types – from ATP and
WTA pros, to the current No.1 ranked junior boy and
junior girl, to collegiate players to recreational play-
ers,” says Roberto Gazzara, Prince’s chief engineer
and vice president of R & D.
For more info,visit www.princetennis.com.
USANA Extends WTA Partnership
U SANA Health Sciences Inc., a nutritional sup-
plements company based in Salt Lake City, is
extending its sponsorship of the WTA. The part-
nership will include increased USANA branding
and participation at WTA events over the next
three years. USANA continues to be the Official
Health Supplement Supplier of the WTA.
“We are thrilled to be supporting such a great
organization and working closely with elite female
athletes," says Dan Macuga, USANA's VP of Mar-
keting and Public Relations. "This will be our fifth
year sponsoring the WTA.”
In addition to endorsing USANA products, six
new brand ambassadors will represent USANA to
media, participate in USANA-sponsored meet-
and-greets and tennis clinics, and promote Chil-
dren's Hunger Fund, USANA's designated charity,
among many activities. The six are Kim Clijsters,
Sam Stosur, Zheng Jie, Liezel Huber, Melanie
Oudin, and Aleksandra Wozniak. For more infor-
mation, visit www.usana.com.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 INDUSTRY NEWS

USTA Serves Awards $1 Million+ in 2010

U STA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA, has awarded 33 year-end
grants totaling $420,650. The number of program grants awarded in 2010 was 59,
totaling $855,150. Combined with scholarship awards, USTA Serves distributed more
than $1 million in 2010.
The bi-annual granting process was developed to provide people with disabilities
and disadvantaged, at-risk children in underserved communities the opportunity to
learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format, and also
to help combat obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles. To date, USTA Serves has dis-
bursed more than $10 million to a variety of programs. These programs received 2010
year-end grants by USTA Serves:
Q Abundant Waters Inc., New York, Q HERO Inc., Purchase, N.Y. Q Project Lovematch Inc., Saddle
N.Y. Q I Have a Dream Foundation of River, N.J.
Q A’s & Aces, New Orleans Boulder County, Boulder, Colo. Q Reach for College Inc., Washing-
Q Azleway Inc., Tyler, Texas Q International Rescue Committee ton, D.C.
Q Boston Inner City Youth Tennis Inc., San Diego Q Rodney Street Tennis & Tutoring
Program, Dorchester, Mass. Q KIPP Endeavor Academy, Kansas Association, Wilmington, Del.
Q Boys & Girls Clubs of Camden City, Mo. Q Say Yes to Education Inc., Syra-
County Inc., Camden, N.J. Q Latin American Youth Center, cuse, N.Y.
Q Boys & Girls Club of Martin Washington, D.C. Q Sportsmens Tennis Club Inc.,
County Inc., Hobe Sound, Fla. Q MACH Academy Inc., Augusta, Ga. Dorchester, Mass.
Q CREATE Tennis Inc., Washington, Q Mentoring USA Inc., New York Q Tennis for Charity Inc., Cincinnati
D.C. Q New York Junior Tennis League, Q United Neighbors Inc., Daven-
Q Ethel Walker School Inc., Sims- Woodside, N.Y. port, Iowa
bury, Conn. Q Orthotic and Prosthetic Assis- Q University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
Q Harlem Junior Tennis Program tance Fund, Waterloo, Iowa Q Up A Break Inc., Marietta, Ga.
Inc., New York Q Our Military Kids Inc., McLean, Q Youth Tennis Advantage, Oak-
Q Harper for Kids, San Francisco Va. land, Calif.
Q Hebni Nutrition Consultants Inc., Q Portland After-School Tennis & Q Zina Garrison All Court Tennis
Orlando, Fla. Education Inc., Portland, Ore. Academy, Houston

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9

 M A R C H 2 0 1 1
P E O P L E W AT C H
INDUSTRYNEWS
• Justine Henin is saying goodbye to the
pro game for good, after aggravating an
injury to her right elbow during the Aus-
tralian Open. “The exams are clear and
the doctors definitive,” the 28-year-old
said. “My elbow is too damaged and
too fragile for me to be able to continue
to follow my passion and practice my
profession at the highest level.” Henin
has won seven Grand Slam titles.
• Ashaway Racket Strings has extended
its long-term sponsor-
ship agreement with
two-time World
Open squash cham-
pion David Palmer.
Palmer, who recently
started playing with the
company's new PowerNick
19, the world's thinnest squash string, is
currently ranked No. 15 in the world.
• Former world No. 1 player and seven-
time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilan-
der has joined the Junior Tennis
Champions Center in College Park, Md.,
as the staff’s senior advisor. Wilander will
provide guidance and mentoring to
JTCC’s staff and youngsters, emphasiz-
ing mental toughness and commitment
to high performance training on a quar-
terly basis. He will also provide top JTCC
talent with tournament preparation,
training sessions and coaching at major
tournaments.
• Novak Djokovic won his sec-
ond Grand Slam event at the
Australian open, playing
with the Head YouTek IG
Speed MP. He beat fellow
Head player Andy Murray,
playing with a YouTek Radi-
cal Pro, in the final.
• Bill Oakes is leaving his position as the
USTA Southern Section’s director of pro-
fessional tennis, sales and marketing to
become the tournament director of the
Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina.
Oakes will coordinate all tournament
operations and will assist with construc-
tion oversight for the new tennis facility
being built at Wake Forest University to
10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
house the tournament. The Winston- USPTA Creates New
Salem Open, an ATP World Tour 250
event with a total purse of $625,000, Member Credential
will be Aug. 21-27 and is part of the US
Open Series. T he USPTA has
announced the launch of its
Accredited Professional Coach
• Beatrice Capra, an 18-year-old from classification, an opportunity to obtain an
Ellicott City, Md., has signed a letter of added credential to enhance current mem-
intent to play at Duke University in the bership status. The new classification is
fall. Capra gained national media atten- effective now.
tion last summer when she won a USTA The classification is open to USPTA Pro-
Wild Card Playoff to gain entry into the fessional 1, 2 and 3 members and Master
US Open, where she upset two Top-100 Professionals. USPTA Professional mem-
players en route to the third round, bers are required to take continuing educa-
where she lost to former world No. 1 tion in order to earn and maintain APC
Maria Sharapova. status. Continuing education credits can be
earned in a variety of ways, including
• Jim McManus, a driving force behind attending educational presentations and
the ATP World Tour, died in Ponte Vedra viewing DVD seminars. For more informa-
Beach, Fla., in January at age 70. A tion on earning and verification of credits,
world-class pro player, McManus was a visit uspta.com and click on “Become a
member of the original ATP board of USPTA Accredited Professional Coach” in
directors in 1972, and over the decades the blue box.
played a major role in developing the
ranking system, entry system and more.
• Henrik Wiersholm, a 13-year-old from
Kirkland, Wash., captured the boys’ sin-
gles title at Les Petits As in Tarbes, Congratulations To the Following
France, to become the first American For Achieving MRT Status
boy to win the prestigious 14-and-under
title since Chase Buchanan in 2005, and
just the seventh U.S. boy to win the
championship since the tournament’s
inception in 1983. New MRTs
Ryan Pulliam Morgantown, WV
• Bruce Flory will no longer be the tour- Ben Porter Fayetteville, NC
nament director for the Western & Anthony Bonanno San Luis Obispo, CA
Southern Open event, but will remain a Brian Fein San Luis Obispo, CA
consultant for 2011. The USTA made EricFore San Luis Obispo, CA
the change as the event becomes a co- Andrew Garabedian San Luis Obispo, CA
ed tourney starting this year. The new Daniel Lara San Luis Obispo, CA
format will unfold Aug. 13-21 at the Jessica Lockhart San Luis Obispo, CA
Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, MichaelMarquez San Luis Obispo, CA
Ohio, as part of the US Open Series. Tom Newman San Luis Obispo, CA
Flory was named tourney director in ReannaRobinson San Luis Obispo, CA
1999. LindsayRoman San Luis Obispo, CA
AmandaRosin San Luis Obispo, CA
• Tennis legend Stan Smith is the RayTruman San Luis Obispo, CA
newest addition to the advisory board of
the online tennis club BoomerTennis.net.
Smith will provide instructional advice to
BoomerTennis.net members. Other advi- New CSs
sory board members include Tony Tra- Abby Looi San Diego, CA
bert and Cliff Drysdale. Marcell Rengifo Copiague, NY
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
INDUSTRYNEWS M A R C H 2 0 1 1

Dunlop Adds 5 Frames to Biomimetic Line

D unlop has added five new frames to its initial five racquets in the Biomimetic racquet line. The new Bio-
mimetic 200 and 200 Lite (shown) were available in February, and the 500, 500 Tour and 500 Plus will
be available March 15. Each frame incorporates the same three Biomimetic technologies of the initial five
frames: Aeroskin, HM6 Carbon and Gecko Tac grip.
The 200 is designed for advanced players with long, powerful swings. The frame has a 95-square-inch head an an 18
x 20 string pattern. The 95-square-inch 200 Lite is for intermediate to advanced players and has a 16 x 19 string pattern.
The Biomimetic 500 Tour, at more than 11 ounces strung, is the heaviest in the 500 series and is for intermediate to
advanced players looking for a powerful frame. It has a 100-square-inch head, tapered beam, and 16 x 18 pattern. The 500, also
for intermediate to advanced players, is 10.3 ounces. The 500 Plus if for game-improvers or players with shorter swings, and fea-
tures a 110-square-inch head at 9.2 ounces, with a 16 x 19 pattern. For more info, visit www.dunlopsport.com.

RMS Now Offers

Online Sales
R ocky Mountain Sports of Boulder, Colo.,
Inc. has opened its new website store,
www.RMSBoulder.com, for both retail cus-
tomers as well as established RMS cus-
tomers who may request a wholesale login.
“As times change we want to offer the
customer what they need to make shop-
ping simple and convenient,” says RSM
co-founder CD Bodam. The site lists all
sorts of products for tennis retailers,
including racquets, shoes, strings, string-
ing machines, apparel and other acces-
sories and court equipment. RMS is the
exclusive US distributor for Tretorn tennis
balls and the official wholesale acces-
sories distributor for Babolat in the US.

Belgium Dashes
U.S. Fed Cup Hopes
R eigning US Open and Australian Open
champion Kim Clijsters came from
behind to defeat Bethanie Mattek-Sands
in three sets and lead Belgium to a 4-1
win over the U.S. in the 2011 Fed Cup by
BNP Paribas quarterfinal on Feb. 6.
It was the first time in 10 years and
only the third time in the history of com-
petition that the U.S. has lost in the first
round. Belgium will face the Czech
Republic in semifinals, April 16-17, the
same weekend the U.S. will play in the
World Group Playoffs, against an oppo-
nent and in a location to be determined.
In the World Group Playoffs, the four
World Group first-round losers—Aus-
tralia, France, Slovak Republic and the
U.S.—will be joined by the four World
Group II first-round winners—Germany,
Serbia, Spain and Ukraine.

12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 INDUSTRY NEWS

NGI Surfaces May Help

Toward LEED Certification
N GI Sports says that recent rulings from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
qualify high-performance NGI tennis
court surfaces—utilizing soy-based
polyurethane—for federal purchasing
preference as a designated bio-based
item under the USDA’s BioPreferred pro-
gram. NGI Sports, based in Chattanooga,
Tenn., supplies eco-friendly surfaces for
park, school, municipal, club, commer-
cial and residential use.
NGI says its Nova’ProTennis surfaces
have a soy-based polyurethane backing
and in many cases the materials also use
recycled components. According to the
company, the tennis systems may be uti-
lized on projects in obtaining up to 18
points toward LEED (Leadership in Ener-
gy and Environmental Design) certifica-
tion.
Falling under categories of “Water
Efficient Landscaping,” “Recycled Con-
tent” and “Innovation in Design,” NGI
Sports’ court surfaces incorporate several
green features. Both the surface content
and its utilization for water conservation
may qualify an installation for LEED
points on new and existing construction
projects. Visit www.ngisports.com and
www.usgbc.org/LEED.

MEMBER CLASSIFIEDS
INVENTORY CLEARANCE! NEW
Yonex. Dunlop, Volkl, Gamma,
Avery and Fischer frames. Every-
thing must go. Make me an offer!
Call Bob at 617-548-8558.
PRINCE NEOS 1000 FLOOR
MODEL. Manual, crank tension
mechanism. Single action string
clamps and a large tool tray with
new floating clamp included. THIS
GENTLY USED MACHINE IS IN
EXCELLENT CONDITION. $599 +
shipping. Contact Terry at
10shome@q.com.
WANTED: new or slightly used
Tread Blaster Shoe Cleaner. Con-
tact Mike at mpuc@gleneagles.cc

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13

 M A R C H 2 0 1 1

SHORT SETS
INDUSTRYNEWS

>dealPrince has extended its equipment ton Sport System, is helping Fila lead the USTA Awards $45,000 for
with top-ranked Russian player Vera transition. Ares Capital Europe Ltd., the
Zvonareva. The current world No. 3 former majority owner of Integrix, has
Local Wheelchair Programs
switched to the Prince EXO3 Black early retained a 25% interest in ISGL and will be
last year. She reached her first Grand providing new financing to the business. T he USTA has awarded $45,000 in
USTA Grassroots Wheelchair Pro-
gram Grants to 21 wheelchair tennis
Slam finals last year at Wimbledon and
the US Open and a career-high ranking > New Balance Foundation donated a $7
million gift to Children’s Hospital Boston to
programs across the country for the
of No. 2. third consecutive year. Grants were award-
establish the New Balance Foundation ed to local organizations that promote and
> Luxilon reports that its strings were Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention,
present in all the Aussie Open doubles Clinical Research and Care.
develop the growth of wheelchair tennis and
use the sport of tennis to build stronger, health-
finals: Bob and Mike Bryan used Timo
110 in their racquets and won their 10th > Sunglasses maker Maui Jim is a corpo-
rate sponsor of the new Roger Rasheed
ier communities.
“These grants are just a part of the contin-
career Grand Slam doubles title; Flavia ued effort in implementing important pro-
Sporting Fund, which grants financial sup-
Pannetta used ALU Power 125 in her grams that reach out to the wheelchair
port to organizations that give sporting
Blade 98 Pink BLX and won her first community through tennis,” says Dan James,
opportunities, experiences and products to
Grand Slam doubles title; Daniel Nestor USTA national manager of Wheelchair Tennis.
children who would not otherwise have
used ALU Power to win the Mixed Dou- Additional USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grant
access to them. Former pro player Rasheed
bles title. Also, six of the eight men’s opportunities will be announced in 2011.
was the coach of Lleyton Hewitt and is the
quarterfinalists used Luxilon. Organizations interested in starting a wheel-
current coach of Gaël Monfils.
> At the Australian Open, play was held
up for 45 minutes on Hisense Arena > Novo Nordisk is adding four more schol-
chair program or for more information should
email wheelchairinfo@usta.com. Grants will
arships to World TeamTennis’s Novo
before the Maria Sharapova-Julia go to:
Q Adaptive Athletics Q Mid Atlantic Wheel-
Nordisk Donnelly Awards program, which
Georges third-round match when the
supports youth tennis players with dia-
players noticed a “dead” spot on the Association, Moun- chair Athletic Asso-
betes. The 2011 program will grant
court near the net during the warm-up. tain Center, Calif. ciation, Stuarts
Q Ala Moana Wheel-
$25,000 in scholarships to male and
The condition was caused by an air bub- Draft, Va.
Q Midland Communi-
female athletes ages 12-21 who have dia-
ble under the court surface, and it was chair Tennis Club,
betes and play tennis competitively in tour-
remedied quickly when a few small holes Honolulu ty Tennis Center,
Q Apex Park & Recre-
naments or on their school team.
were drilled into the court to relieve the Midland, Mich.
Q Orthotic & Pros-
Application deadline is April 15; visit
pressure. ation Dis-
www.WTT.com/DonnellyAwards.
trict–Arvada Tennis thetic Assistance
> Apple recently unveiled a new USTA
League app for iPhone, iPod Touch and > What can happen when your players Center, Arvada, Fund, Inc., Water-
bang their racquets on the court in frustra- Colo. loo, Iowa
Q Colorado Wheel- Q Prospect Park
iPad, designed to simplify and maximize
tion? In the first round of the Australian
the way league participants can commu-
Open, Agnieszka Radwanska, who had chair Tennis Foun- Alliance Inc.,
nicate with teammates and organize
been banging her racquet on the court in dation, Denver Brooklyn, N.Y.
matches. The application is free and can
the third set, was returning serve when her Q County of Maui Q RHI Foundation
be downloaded through iTunes. Department of Inc., Indianapolis
racquet “exploded,” leaving just part of
> Dunlop now has a Facebook app that the handle in her hands. The ball sailed Parks and Rec, Q Richmond Tennis
allows fans to design their own Bio- long, and fortunately no one was hurt by Kahului, Hawaii Association, Rich-
mimetic racquet. Dunlop FB friends can the flying racquet head. Radwanska Q Far West Wheel- mond, Va.
color, place logos and add text to the grabbed another Babolat frame and fin- chair Athletic Asso- Q SportAbility of
frame. Completed designs will be judged ished off the match against Kimiko Date- ciation, San Jose, Iowa, Solon, Iowa
by Dunlop, and the winning designer will Krumm three points later. Calif. Q Turnstone Center
have his or her racquet made to their Q Gerald West Coast for Children and
chosen Biomimetic specifications. Visit > To mark the start of the 2011 season,
the ATP has unveiled a new advertising
Wheelchair Tennis Adults with Disabili-
www.facebook.com/dunlopsport. Association, Wood- ties, Fort Wayne,
campaign featuring stars such as Rafael land Hills, Calif. Ind.
> Fila Luxembourg S.a.r.l. has bought Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Q Idaho Wheelchair Q Utah Tennis Associ-
Integrix Sports Group Ltd., the master Andy Murray and Andy Roddick. The Tennis Association, ation, Salt Lake
licensee of the Fila brand for Europe, the “Game On” campaign is designed to cap- Boise City, Utah
Middle East and Africa. With the pur- ture the emotion, athleticism and individu- Q IMPAKT Tennis, Q Walton Foundation
chase, the parent company regains con- ality of the world’s greatest tennis players, Corte Madera, Calif. for Independence,
trol of the brand in these areas. George as they compete in 63 events covering 32 Q Magee Rehabilita- Augusta, Ga.
Napier, former CEO of Prince and Benet- countries and six continents. tion Hospital Foun- Q Wheelchair Sports,
dation, Philadelphia Inc., Wichita, Kan.

14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 M A R C H 2 0 1 1

Clay Court Seminar Set for Baton Rouge Courier Switches to

INDUSTRYNEWS

H
ar-Tru will be conducting a clay court maintenance certifica-
tion seminar March 28-29 in Baton Rouge, La. The seminar Donnay X-Series Frame
will bring together leading experts on clay courts to discuss the
construction and maintenance of clay.
The event, co-sponsored by All Star Tennis Courts and held
T ennis Hall-Of-Famer, Champions
Series star and U.S. Davis Cup Cap-
tain Jim Courier will exclusively play
at the Bocage Racquet Club, 7600 Jefferson Highway, Baton and represent Donnay and its new
Rouge, LA 70809, is designed for anyone managing, maintain- ultra-thin-beamed X-Series Red 99.
ing or considering installing clay tennis courts including Club “I am proud to become a
Managers, Teaching Professionals, Court Builders and Mainte- Donnay brand ambassa-
nance Professionals. For more information contact Ed Monte- dor,” says the four-time
calvo at 1-877-4HARTRU or emontecalvo@hartru.com. Grand Slam Champion
and former world No. 1.
The X-Series Red 99
is one of 10 new Donnay
X-Series models that have
various string patterns,
head sizes (94- and 99-
square-inches), stiffness levels
and different weights and head-
light balances, but all share the
ultra-thin beam that measures
15 millimeters at the base.
The racquets also have
XeneCore, a high-tensile strength
material that fills the inside of the
frame to improve performance and
comfort, says the company. The X-
Series also features a customizing kit
consisting of three differently weighted
butt caps and optional weighted slides
for the top and sides of the hoop. For
more info, visit www.donnayusa.com.

Ashaway Introduces
Thinnest Squash String
Ashaway Racket Strings says its new
PowerNick 19 is the thinnest squash
string ever. The new 1.05 mm string uti-
lizes a monofilament core, based on a
special formula-
tion developed for
Ashaway by Zyex
Limited. Designed
to provide
improved power
and performance
for both amateur
and professional
players, Power-
Nick 19 provides
excellent resilience and response, along
with a dramatic increase in the ability to
grip, cut, slice, and work the ball, says
Ashaway. Visit ashawayusa.com.

16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 Get Involved With
10 And Under Tennis
At Retail

The USTA is investing significantly

in media, advertising, PR and events
to support this revolution
in kids tennis.
Visit 10andundertennis.com
to learn more about this whole
new ball game for kids!
The next pages will give you a quick
overview. Make sure your retail
business is ready!
Sign-up to receive a free Participating
Retail Kit at TennisIndustry.org/retail

With major investment by the USTA, the 10 and Under Tennis initiative will continue to grow, and with it,
you have the opportunity to grow your retail business—and create players to help ensure future customers.

Retail shops attached to tennis facilities that offer 10U programming may have an easier time selling youth-
sized racquets, shoes, the red, orange and green tennis balls and other equipment, apparel and accessories
for kids. But if you have a standalone tennis shop, you can easily get in on the kids’ action.

Many parents looking to get their kids into tennis are players themselves, and now with 10U programs,
parents can actually play with their children. Plus, when parents come into your shop, if you stock 10U
products, it will make it much easier for them to get their kids playing. But many teaching pros and shops
are finding that when kids get into the game, parents who don’t play may follow.

Kids’ tennis racquets are, of course, much less expensive than adult frames, but in most instances, the
percentage markup is greater for the kids’ racquets. And the volume of kids’ racquets you can move can be
tremendous. Plus, as kids age, you’ll want to “step up” their equipment, shoes and apparel, so you’re
building customer loyalty too. And remember, in many cases, parents may want to play tennis with their
children, which provides even more opportunities for higher margin sales.

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 19
 1. It's About...the New Rules for
Kids 10 & Under
The ITF and USTA have mandated kids’-sized equipment and courts—that's
what all the buzz is about as the USTA and the industry get ready for a historic
change in the way kids play tennis. The more retailers can help consumers
understand this game change, the better engaged they can become with their
customers and future customers.
You need to become a 10U resource in your community, someone parents
can turn to for information, equipment and where to get youngsters into the game.
Find out all you can about tennis for kids by going to 10andundertennis.com.

2. It's About...the Equipment

Kids should not be playing with the same size equipment that adults play with. When a child learns with adult
equipment, they develop the wrong techniques that will hamper their enjoyment
of the game, and potentially turn them off to tennis.

Tennis Balls Kids need a ball that is sized and paced to their abilities. (A yellow tennis
ball moves too fast, bounces too high and is too heavy for kids.) For 10U tennis, new
low-compression balls have been developed and are designed to move slower, bounce
lower and travel less distance.
• For 8-and-under kids: Use the Red foam or low-compression Red felt ball.
• For 9- to 10-year-olds: The Orange ball moves a little faster and travels farther than
the Red ball, but it still has a lower bounce than the Yellow ball.
• The Green ball is slightly slower than the Yellow ball and is the final transition ball,
for players to use on full-size 78-foot courts to slow down play.

Racquets Racquets need to be scaled to size, proportionate in length and weight,

and with a grip that fits smaller hands to give them more control, and therefore
greater success.
• If you are supplying young (5 and under) children
with racquets, consider stocking 19-inch models.
• Generally, a mix of 21-, 23- and 25-inch racquets will help
ensure the appropriate sizes are being used. Frame Size Height of Player Age of Player
(Note: Since 23-inch racquets can be utilized for both 19" Up to 3' up to age 5
36- (red ball) and 60-foot (orange ball) courts, consider 21" 3' - 3'11" 5-6 years
stocking more of them.)
23" 4' - 4' 5" 7-8 years
• Most youth-sized racquets will be pre-strung,
so you may not have an opportunity to sell stringing, at 25" 4' 6" - 5" 9-10 years
least not right off the bat.
• Kids’ racquets range in quality and performance. The
better the quality, the easier it will be for a junior to transition to a graphite adult frame when the time comes.
• A child’s height is the best criteria for determining the proper racquet size. Manufacturers may have an attractive
“size-up” chart, with height marks to indicate what size racquets work best for youngsters.

36- and 60-Foot Courts Many communities are

permanently lining courts for 10U tennis, but courts also
can be put down on driveways, in parking lots,
gymnasiums—anywhere there might be some open space.
If there aren’t permanently lined courts in your area, start
the ball rolling—it will help ensure the 10U market is a vital
part of your business.
• Stock portable nets and throw-down lines so parents and
organizers can create the smaller courts for 10U play.

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
 It's About...the Show
•
3. • Create a 10U equipment area, showcasing the racquets, balls, portable nets and
lines—anything a parent may need to buy to get their kids playing tennis.
Don’t forget kids’ apparel, accessories and shoes. As more and more kids get in the
game, this will undoubtedly be a growing market—and in fact, kids grow fast, too, so they’ll be
outgrowing their current gear!
• Have a “size-up” chart near your kids’ racquets, so parents and kids can easily find the right
frame. Check with your manufacturer’s sales rep for promotional materials.
• Near your checkout counter, have 10U fliers and posters so other customers see what you
carry for kids and can help distribute to friends and family. (The USTA has materials you can
download for free to help you with 10U marketing efforts. Go to 10andundertennis.com.
• Distribute 10U posters and fliers in high-traffic areas around your community (including schools,
fitness centers and other retailers), directing people to your shop.
• Use e-mail blasts to current customers to tell family and friends that you have 10U equipment
and can help direct kids into the game.
• Advertise on local community websites, in local newspapers, even in school newsletters and fliers.

It's About...Developing Relationships

•
4. To grow the 10U market in your area, develop relationships within your
community and with the people who deliver tennis.
Give local tennis teachers a “pro discount” on merchandise with the
understanding that they’ll refer parents to your shop to buy 10U equipment.
(In return, support that pro by having their business cards or other information on
your counter and website.)
• Become involved in the local tennis community. Help out at tournaments and events,
let parks or other tennis facilities know that you’re willing to help them.
• Local tennis facilities that may have a small tennis shop can’t stock all the inventory
a standalone store can; develop relationships so tennis facilities refer customers to
your shop for a wider selection of 10U equipment.
• Partner with youth organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club,
and local school PTAs. Let them know you have the equipment needed to get 10U
kids into a healthy, lifetime sport.
• Get your manufacturers’ reps on board with your 10U goals. They can help with
signage and other material you may need, and in forecasting items to stock.

It’s About...Becoming a 10 and Under

5.
•
Participating Retailer
Sign up and receive a FREE Kit that includes:
Counter Display for 10 and Under Tennis
Send us your 10U
retailing success stories!
We want to know what you’re doing
• Parents' Guide to Tennis that works when it comes to selling
• Access to Retail Webinar Series 10 and Under Tennis and equipment—
• Retail Tips on marketing 10U and may feature your business in
Go to TennisIndustry.org/Retail to register or email us an upcoming issue. Email
at retail@tennisindustry.org for more info! retail@tennisindustry.org.

Don't Miss Out on this NEW Opportunity at Retail!
Retailers can be part of the largest national marketing and advertising
campaign EVER to get more kids in the game and staying in the
game! 10 and under Tennis will be promoted through …
Tennis Night in America/Youth Registration – February 28th
• USTA is leveraging BNP Paribas Showdown (Agassi vs. Sampras to
generate awareness)
• TV Advertising on ESPN, Tennis Channel and other targeted media
High-Impact, Parent and Provider
Targeted Print
• Inserts in 9 leading publications including
Redbook reaching 6M+ consumers
• Advertorials & Print ads featuring top
coaches like Bollettieri endorsing
10 and under Tennis
Youth Mobile Tour
• This summer, a mobile Smash Zone tour will visit key market
events/festivals, top US Tournaments and retail locations to allow
kids and families to experience kids tennis
Leveraging the Power of the US Open and Olympus US Open Series
• Broad reach awareness of 10 and under Tennis will continue to
push this message to consumers
• Stay tuned for future promotions to drive consumers
Ongoing promotion
• To date, more than 100 stories have been generated for the
QuickStart Tennis play format, reaching nearly 25M consumers
• 20,000 Promotional Packets have been sent to certified teaching pros,
tennis facilities, school and after-school programs across the country
Join the Revolution – support 10 and Under Tennis!

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21
 Pioneers In Tennis
Warren Bosworth
W
The ‘racquet-maker to the stars’ blazed
a path for expert customization.
hen a toddler asks “Why?”
over and over, it can lead
to some pretty exasperat-
ing conversations. But Warren
Bosworth never outgrew his fascina-
tion with asking why. In fact, he fos-
tered the habit in his own son.
"My dad was always asking why,
and as a result, I grew up obsessed
with why," says Jay Bosworth. "'Why'
is in my head 24 hours a day, just as it
was with my dad."
"Why" is what led Warren
Bosworth into the world of tennis.
There, his all-consuming curiosity over
why and how a racquet could
influence a player's game would
catapult him into the business of
building customized racquets, a
35-year odyssey during which he
would become advisor, sounding
board and even mentor to a host
of players recognizable by their
first names. Martina. Andre.
Ivan. Venus. Boris.
As founder of Bosworth Ten-
nis, Warren Bosworth was joking-
ly (but accurately) referred to as
“racquet-maker to the stars.” As Bosworth with clients Brian Gottfried and Andre Agassi.
far back as the 1970s, he was
dissecting racquets from pro shops
and sporting goods stores, trying to fig- one of them played identically,”
ure out what differentiated them.
Too much, he decided. The fact
that a dozen frames of the exact same
model could be strung the same way
using the same string, yet still play dif- good
ferently enough to affect a player's
game, was a source of both curiosity
and irritation to Bosworth. He hadn't
grown up with the game of tennis, but
he certainly could tell when something
could be built better. And using the
very potent combination of his curiosi-
ty, his meticulous craftsmanship and
his charisma in reaching out to the
right people for advice, he began the
process of building not just a better
"Pioneers in Tennis," an occasional column in RSI, draws attention to trailblazers in the sport. Have someone to suggest?
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
quet up to the phone and tap the strings
so that he could listen. From thousands of
miles away, Bosworth was able to diag-
nose the problem, create racquets that
played the way Lendl wanted, and put
them on a plane in time for the next
racquet, but a dozen better racquets. And match.
eventually, all of them played exactly the "That is a true story," says Jay
same, and all could be customized to Bosworth, who joined his father's compa-
enhance a specific athlete's strengths, ny in 1982. "My father was that obser-
and downplay his or her weaknesses. vant." Jay Bosworth grew up watching his
Long before his company became father hold consultations with players.
public knowledge, it was Bosworth's abili- "Martina Navratilova—she would literally
ty to develop consistency in equipment have a meeting with us the day after a
that caught the attention of engineer and final. She'd say, 'I just won Wimbledon.
product developer Fred Schwacke. How do I do it next year?' She wasn't
Schwacke, who was working with a string angry or grumpy; it was more like, 'I'm so
company, was trying to find a way to test happy, please tell me how I can do this
his product. even better.'"
"At the time, one of the big things "You have to understand what those
Warren had to offer was the fact that racquets could do," says Schwacke.
"Something like Warren's
skill was the tie-breaker that
can put a player over the
edge."
Lendl, says Jay Bosworth,
was one of the athletes who
stayed with Bosworth Tennis
over the years, always seek-
ing the tools to help him
maintain his competitive
advantage.
"Warren and I were
always working on my rac-
quets," recalls Lendl. "As I
got stronger, he would
when he did 10 racquets, every single adjust the racquets, strings, etc., so it was
always a work in progress, but he under-
Schwacke says. “That takes an extremely stood what I needed right from the begin-
high level of technology and craftsman- ning, and I saw results right away."
ship." Warren Bosworth died in July, leaving
Schwacke and Bosworth remained his company to Jay, who continues the
friends. "What Warren didn't know work of quietly creating an evolution in
wasn't worth knowing," says Schwacke. the sport.
"He was an extremely good mentor and "About 35 or 40 years ago, my dad
he was very happy to share his knowl- started something here, but I think we’ve
edge." still got a long way to go. In terms of cus-
Warren's skill at fine-tuning racquets tomizing racquets for players, I think my
to meet players' needs was legendary. dad has been a pioneer. He made money
One of the stories that circulated was that at it and it was a good business, but busi-
the great Ivan Lendl had called Bosworth ness wasn't why he went into it. He went
from an overseas tournament to com- into it out of interest, because he loved
plain that something was wrong with his asking questions and learning new
racquet. Bosworth had Lendl hold the rac- things." —Mary Helen Sprecher Q
E-mail rsi@racquettech.com.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 WELCOME
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
SIGNS
environment for beginners? Here are
some simple things you can do to help
welcome new players to the game.
T
eaching the skills of tennis is only half the battle. Making
new players feel like part of the community, however, is
where many facilities and staffs have fallen down through
the years. In part, say industry pros, it's because facilities need to
be made more user-friendly. A person who hasn't taken a lesson
yet, for example, can find a tennis court pretty darn intimidating.
"It's a big factor, especially to a person who is really new,
brand new to tennis," says Jolyn de Boer, executive director of the
Tennis Industry Association. "Just imagine going into a shop for a
sport you don't play—a golf pro shop or a ski store or anything
else—everything's a really different language."
The importance of making new players welcome, she adds,
starts with a friendly, courteous and interested staff, but has to
extend through the whole facility. Assuming you're holding begin-
ner clinics and that those new players can borrow racquets free
Courts for New Players
of charge, what else should be done to help them along?
Over the years, contractors have given suggestions for ways to
furnish tennis facilities in order to enhance the experience. Creat-
ing an environment conducive to learning has always been at the
top of their list:
Q Courts used by beginners should be set up to make allowances
for the occasional (and often more than occasional) wild shot.
Higher fencing or divider netting will contain most balls and
allow the player to feel less intimidated about the possibility of
disturbing players on adjacent courts. (The use of equipment
advocated by the QuickStart Tennis format, including low-com-
pression balls, can further encourage players to learn shots with-
24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
Is your facility a hospitable
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
out fear of losing balls). Consider making courts that are off by
themselves, in more isolated areas, the “instruction” courts—
many beginners may feel uncomfortable if other players are
easily able to eye them as they learn the game.
Q The availability of training aids like backboards or hitting
walls, or ball machines, can encourage players to come in on
their spare time and practice.
Q Supervision is key: Those who come for a lesson expect to
have an instructor, but new players who are still learning the
basics will appreciate a pro's tips on their form or stroke if
they come in to practice. (They'll also benefit from a welcom-
ing atmosphere from established players who understand that
everyone was a beginner once, and who don't make them feel
self-conscious because of their lack of skill.)
Non-playing areas can also be set up to create a nicer envi-
ronment for beginners, says de Boer. For instance, get extra
copies of tennis- and racquet sports-related magazines to set out
around the area. "People can pick up free magazines and get
tips and instruction from them," she notes. (Bonus: Catalogues
or magazines showing apparel and equipment can convince
Think Comfort
new players to invest in the game.)
If there are nice places to relax, people will take advantage of
the chance to unwind. Lockers or a safe place to store keys,
phones and mp3 players will allow people to relax and enjoy
their game. If this is an indoor facility, a TV tuned to tennis is a
nice touch, while players are waiting for a court or relaxing after
a match. In an outdoor area, a shaded bench or patio will be
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
appreciated. If there is child care at a club, great; if the courts are
in a park, a playground situated near the court can also be put to
good use.
If there are courtside spectator seating areas, having lemon-
ade or other refreshments can encourage new players to stick
around and watch others play or receive instruction. The longer a
person spends in the area, the more likely they are to meet oth-
ers and feel like they're part of a community—and the more like-
The Tennis Welcome Center
ly they are to play even more tennis.
The Tennis Welcome Center initiative, which has been in exis-
tence since 2003, uses introductory programming for various age
groups, from children through adults, and capitalizes on making
the sport accessible and fun for new players. Banners publicizing
the initiative are hung around the facility, and those interested
can find a TWC at www.tenniswelcomecenter.com.
Tennis Welcome Centers may be neighborhood parks, com-
mercial tennis clubs, health clubs, resorts, high schools and col-
leges, although de Boer says that under the right circumstances,
even those settings can be expanded upon, if a pro or director
wants to think outside the court. "A tennis retail shop could be a
Tennis Welcome Center, and so could a tournament," she says.
Clean, pleasant playing areas with room to relax are key to the
experience, but so are other amenities. As the player grows in
skills and experience, he or she may elect to try other programs,
such as Cardio Tennis. Making a court conducive to this program
is easy; it just takes attention to detail (see box).
In addition, says de Boer, those in charge of programming
should never lose sight of the fact that players are hungry to learn,
and that keeping them coming back can turn them into that cov-
eted “frequent player” demographic—those who play at least 21
times a year and buy the majority of court time, equipment and
apparel. Having tennis mixers, weekly clinics dedicated to specif-
ic strokes, round-robin play, leagues and ladders are all ways to
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Pumping Up Cardio Tennis
According to Michele Krause, National Cardio Tennis Program
Manager for the TIA, a good Cardio Tennis program can be a
great selling point in any facility, so...
Q Keep it in the public eye: Put your Cardio Tennis classes on a
show court, or a front court, so that everyone sees how much
fun they are. New players will get interested immediately.
Q Room to play: Keep as much clear space behind the baseline
and on the sides as possible, says Krause. This will create a
safer environment since so much court is being covered by the
players.
Q Sound ideas: "A good sound system is a big part of a Cardio
Tennis class, so easy access to electrical outlets is good,
although there are great portable systems that run on battery."
Q Storage space: Krause recommends having a safe place to
store the different types of balls, agility ladders, and other side-
line tools such as spots, cones, etc.
involve newcomers and bring them back again and again.
"The industry is recognizing the role the tennis instructor
plays," de Boer notes. "It's not just about getting them in the
door, it's about keeping them there. And that's about making
them feel welcome and taking care of them."
Non-playing activities can also interest your new players.
For example, try holding a discussion from a sports medicine
specialist about tennis elbow, with tips from your pro on how
to avoid it. Any activities that create a social dynamic and make
players feel like the tennis facility is a fun place, a good escape,
and sometimes even a second home, are what grow the game
and keep new players coming back.
"We attract a lot of people to our sport, but what we've
noticed is that we have a leaky bucket," says de Boer. "Now we
know what we have to do to get them in and keep them in." Q
March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25
 WISE
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

CRACKING
What
What can
can you
you do
do when
when your
your asphalt
asphalt courts
courts start
start to
to crack?
crack?

D
Here
Here are
are some
some options.
options.
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER

eath, taxes ... and cracks in asphalt tennis courts. Some lems), your budget and other factors. Check references and do all the

Armor Crack Repair System

things in life are unavoidable, and a natural part of the
aging process, which your tennis court is going to under-
go, no matter who builds it or where it is.
The good thing about tennis court cracks (unlike death and
taxes) is that these days, you have a chance for a do-over. And
while you can't have a completely new court without reconstruc-
tion, you certainly can have a court that looks better and plays
better.
This article includes crack repair systems that are applied to
the affected area of a court. These are recommended for courts
with minor to moderate structural cracks that can be filled and
patched, then recoated. More severe or widespread cracking
often is addressed with another system such as an overlay; these
products and others will be in a future article in RSI. (Note that all
are multi-stage systems and differ from commercially available
compounds purchased by the tube and squirted into cracks.) The
systems discussed here are proprietary, and are installed by a net-
work of contractors nationwide.
There are many different types of cracks in tennis courts, and
while some are relatively minor, others can indicate more serious
underlying problems. A facility owner may not be adept at iden-
tifying different types of cracks, so be sure to have all court prob-
lems examined by a tennis court contractor who can tell you what
type of cracking you have, and what is causing it.
(To learn more about types of cracking and causes, get a copy
of the book, Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Manu-
al, available from the ASBA. The book includes a diagram show-
ing different court problems, including various cracks and
recommendations for them.)
Pricing for systems shown here is based on the lineal foot of
cracking on the court; company owners note that once there is
more than a set amount of cracking, court owners should consid-
er more comprehensive approaches including those to be dis-
cussed in future articles. No product or system can stop a new
crack from forming elsewhere on the court.
Your choice of repair method should be predicated on the type
and extent of cracking your court has (and any underlying prob-
necessary research, then select a method that fits your needs.
On the market since: 2000
What it works on: Structural cracks
What it doesn't work on: Spider cracking or hairline cracking
Description: The Armor Crack Repair System is a multi-layered
flexible repair that goes over a crack but does not cover the entire
court. "Unlike fiberglass," says company President Dan Clapp, "the
Armor system utilizes two layers of a T-shirt-like fabric that covers the
filled crack and expands as the crack widens in cold weather."
How it works: Contractors fill a crack, then put a 6-inch-wide slip-
sheet over it. Two layers of Armor's crack repair fabric follow, and
then both sides are secured down with a yellow mesh reinforcement
fabric. Once the system has been put into place, the tennis court can
be resurfaced; according to company materials, the process renders
cracks invisible and undetectable to players.
Important advice: According to Clapp, figuring out the cost-effec-
tiveness of the Armor system means figuring out how many feet of
cracking the court has. "If you have a 60-foot crack, it's a no brainer;
it's the best option. But when you get up higher, we tell people any-
thing more than 500 feet, it's more responsible to do something
requiring reconstruction. For example, if you have 800 lineal feet of
cracking in your court, it is going to cost you the same to put Armor
on it as to put new asphalt down."
Notes: According to Clapp, structural cracking is caused by condi-

26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

tions under the court. Armor's system repairs existing cracks. It does patented micro sealant tape with an
not keep new cracks from forming on other areas of the court. adhesive that does not harden or

Guardian Crack Repair Product

Information: www.armorcrackrepair.com crystallize. This is followed by a
stress mat, then the edges
are bonded down to the
On the market since: 2003 court. Finally, the edges
What it works on: All types of cracks, including structural are buffed smooth and
What it doesn't work on: Company owner Chris Rossi says the a layer of color coating
system "works on all cracks, no limitations." is put on top.
Description: Guardian is described as a "peel and seal" system Important advice: "We've
that covers a crack on the court. been seeing a lot of school systems interested in this product,"
How it works: Contractors clean and fill a crack, then put down notes Pallenberg. "They don't have it in their budget to fix
an 18" wide laminated flexible fabric that bonds to the court with a cracks year after year. A lot of contractors will write into their
strong adhesive. The edges of the seal are beveled with court patch contracts that the cracks will come back but people don't hear
binder between 6" to 8" it. We're now seeing that the crack repair systems are starting
beyond the edge of the to take over the repair end of that market because people
seal. A fabric patch is then want something cost-effective that lasts for years."
put on top of that. Finally, Notes: As with all crack repair systems, Pallenberg is quick
multiple layers of acrylic to caution court owners that repairing a crack on one part of
color coating are applied the court does not guarantee that new cracks won't form in
to the court, rendering the other areas, or that repaired cracks can't get longer over the
patch invisible. Inventor course of time.

and company owner Chris
Rossi notes that once a
court has been properly
finished, players are
unable to tell where cracks
have been patched once a
court has been recoated.
Important advice:
"Everyone waits too long
to have cracks fixed," says
Rossi. "Once you have a
crack, water starts pene-
trating into it, and makes it
worse. The acrylic caulks
and traditional crack-filling
products people buy don't
really seal the crack, so the
problem comes right back.
The key to any crack repair system is that it has to be waterproof."
Notes: All proprietary crack repair systems have specific multi-
year warranties that cover work performed on the affected area. But,
cautions Rossi, "The ground is going to move and shift and eventu-
ally new cracks are going to develop. Nobody can control ground
movement and prevent expansion and contraction."
TitanTrax Shield
Information: www.ritewaytennis.com
On the market since: 2010
Description: According to president Rick Burke, TitanTrax
Shield is a dimensionally stable membrane crack repair sys-
tem applied over either the entire asphalt or concrete tennis
court or just the affected section, to mask cracking in the
underlying surface. The product covers the existing pavement
and conforms to it, giving the court a new look and feel.
How it works: Once a crack has been filled, the TitanTrax
Shield membrane, which is approximately 1/8" thick, is laid in
place and anchored at the edges so that it “floats” over the sur-
face. Acrylic surfacing can then be applied on top of it.
What it doesn't work on: A problematic court is still going to
have problems under the mem-
brane. "If you put the shield on
something that has major
defects—high spots, low
spots or a crack that
opens up again after
it's been filled," says
Burke, "you can end
up with a dead spot on

Riteway Crack Repair

Information: www. guardiancrackrepair.com
On the market since: 2006
What it works on: Multiple types of cracks, including structural
What it doesn't work on: Spider cracks which, according to com-
pany owner Carvin Pallenberg, "are a complete deterioration of the
asphalt and should be replaced."
Description: The Riteway Crack Repair system is a flexible system
that covers a crack and allows players to use a court without know-
ing the system is in place. Pallenberg says the system "gives a true
bounce with no bubbles, dead spots or hollow sounds."
How it works: Contractors clean and fill a crack, then put down a
the court." (Like all
crack repair systems, it
can't keep new cracks from forming.) However it can be
removed so that the pavement can be repaired and then re-
laid.
Important advice: "This product is designed as a light-
weight overlay," says Burke. "The market for it includes park
districts and municipal facilities, where people are looking for
something very affordable.”
Notes: The system is durable with heavy loads, but can be
damaged by careless use, or someone dragging a heavy piece
of equipment over the surface.
Information: www.ngisports.com Q

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27

 EQUIPMENT
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

CHECK Maintaining your maintenance

equipment
can
can save
save you
maintenance
equipment isis easy
easy to
to do,
you from
do, and
and
from small
small
expenses
expenses that
that can
can add
add up.
up.
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER

B
ig-ticket items get all the attention when it comes to your
tennis facility. Resurfacing a court, putting in a new fence,
upgrading the lighting—you can do painstaking planning
and oversight to keep those within budget.
Then there are the nickel-and-dime items that throw things
completely out of whack. You suddenly need two new line sweep-
ers. The pole keeps detaching from the head of the squeegee. Oh,
and your maintenance crew just informed you that a lot of the
tools they regularly use are getting rusty.
Small expenses can knock your bottom line for a loop. The
irony is that with all the maintenance you do to keep your courts
in good repair, it's sometimes the maintenance equipment itself
that suffers. And why? Because it's not maintained.
or rack," says David Marsden of Boston Tennis Court Construc-
tion Company in Hanover, Mass.
Having a special rack for court maintenance tools will encour-
age users (whether players or working personnel) to return equip-
ment to its proper place. (Hanging equipment haphazardly on the
fence might not get the message across.) If possible, have some
sort of shelter that will keep equipment from getting wet in the
rain, since allowing it to get wet, or worse, letting the whole tool
rest in dirty water, will rust metal components.
As long as we're on the subject, think about protecting all your
equipment from the elements. "Clay-court rollers should be
stored under cover, or if kept outdoors, they should be put under
a waterproof cover when not in use," says Marsden. "Ditto for

Winter Preparations
According to court contractors and suppliers of materials, pre- leaf blowers."
ventive measures can be taken in order to make court equipment
last longer. Some actions might seem self-evident; others less so.

Hang Them Up
But all can help save dollars here and there.
Hang up line sweepers and push brooms so that they are off the
court surface. Leaving them to sit head down on the court or to rest
longwise on the path or ground outside the fence can bend the
bristles, rendering them all but useless over time. (Plus, if they're
on the ground, someone stands the chance of tripping on them.).
Tap the equipment before hanging up to knock any loose material
out of the bristles; putting equipment away dirty just means that
it'll put debris back on the court the next time it's used.
"Sponge rollers and squeegees should also be hung on a fence
In cold areas where soft courts won't be maintained, and where
there isn't likely to be play until spring, take maintenance one
step further by taking inside all court maintenance equipment. It
won't be needed, so there's no reason for it to be outside and
exposed to winter weather.
Water ballast rollers should be protected from the elements by
either: storing them in an area guaranteed not to freeze; draining
the water out; or adding antifreeze to the drums in order to keep
them from freezing and bulging. Regular rollers should be
cleaned and lubricated, and stored for next spring. Change
engine oil and transmission fluid in power rollers so that they are
ready for action when playing weather arrives.

28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
Check Your Equipment
Look at maintenance equipment closely on a
regular basis. Check for loose heads or han-
dles, cracking, rust spots, sharp or broken
edges or splintering wood. Repair any prob-
lems if possible, or replace when necessary.
Check the rubber edges of squeegees and
the condition of foam rollers to make sure
these are in good shape. If your larger or
more expensive equipment is stored in a
shed or garage onsite, check periodically to
make sure that structure is still sound and not
experiencing any leaking (or doesn't show
signs of having been tampered with).
Trying to get “one more season” out of a
piece of equipment rarely pays dividends,
and letting something go too long can result
in damage to your courts or worse, injury to
someone using the equipment. Ask your
pros, your players and your maintenance per-
sonnel to report any developing problems so
you can check them out right away. Whether
the equipment is as small as a rake or as large
as a riding mower, you'll want to keep it in
good shape.
The old ounce of prevention may be worth
not just a pound of cure, but a few dollars on
the balance sheet. Q
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
Maintain Other Court Components
In addition to keeping up maintenance equipment, contractors and suppliers
encourage court owners and managers to be proactive in taking care of all areas
of the court, not just the surface, for a better long-term financial picture.
Q Take down windscreens and store them indoors, says Matt Strom of Leslie Coat-
ings in Indianapolis.
Q David Marsden recommends using waterproof covers for ball machines, or storing
them in a shed or garage.
Q “On hard surface courts that are not being used during winter, we suggest low-
ering the net to take tension off the net posts," says Thomas DeRosa of DeRosa
Tennis Contractors in Mamaroneck, N.Y. "The stress to the asphalt during
freeze/thaw can cause cracking from post to post due to the tension from the net.
It also may cause your footings to lift or cracks to form around the footing."
Q "We constantly recommend that tennis court owners remove the handles from the
net post winding mechanisms," says Lee Murray of Competition Athletic Surfaces
in Chattanooga, Tenn. "Setting the nets to the correct height and removing the
ability for the players to adjust the net tension will save the owner potential main-
tenance issues."
Photos Courtesy Lee Tennis,
Charlottesville, Va., and
Edwards RolDri, Athletic
Connection, Dallas
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 COLOR
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
COORDINATION
Builders and owners are using more colorful
combinations
combinations for
for their
their courts.
courts.
L
ike TVs, tennis courts have gone high-def. Using unexpected
colors, often in combination with one another, court builders
are creating more eye-catching facilities that work with new
player initiatives to help bump up interest in the sport.
World TeamTennis was one of the first to think outside of the
monochromatic box, introducing a multi-colored court in the early
1970s. The blue/green courts of the US Open gained a huge fol-
lowing almost immediately, and remain popular today. With
expanded options in surfacing colors (and with court builders and
coating manufacturers who are always happy to oblige a customer
with a potentially high-visibility facility), aesthetic aspects of the
hard court are becoming ever more varied.
A few things aren't open to negotiation. The standard court has-
n’t changed. The rules of tennis state that regulation playing lines
must be "of the same color clearly contrasting with the color of the
surface," and that they must be of certain widths and lengths. For
sanctioned matches on 78-foot QuickStart Tennis format courts
(when painted on an existing 60 x 120 court), the lines should be
a color other than the regular lines (preferably in a color family
close to that of the surface), and their placement (in relation to the
regulation lines) is specified as well.
After that ... well, it’s not necessarily true that all bets are off,
but let’s just say the betting pool is getting more colorful.
Photo courtesy of Sportsline, Inc., Exton, Pennsylvania
32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
Photo courtesy of ICA, North Salem, New York
Science, or Aesthetics?
The Plexipave courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Califor-
nia, home of the BNP Paribas Open, are painted in a color called
Pro Purple. The science behind it is fairly simple—on a standard
“color wheel,” yellow (the color of the ball) is directly opposite pur-
ple, so the two colors together are “complementary” and create
maximum contrast, allowing players, fans and TV viewers to see
the ball better against the court surface. But, of course, court color
decisions aren’t necessarily made based on the “color wheel.”
“Color decisions still seem to be primarily motivated by popu-
larity and personal aesthetics, rather than by anything scientific,”
notes Gerry Wright of Court One in Youngsville, N.C. Wright is far
from the only one to see this phenomenon at work. Through the
years, much study has gone into the science of which colors, or
combinations of colors, allow players to better track the moving
ball. However, many court builders say that players generally
come back to what they find aesthetically pleasing.
“Occasionally, someone might ask about heat coming off the
surface, and the best colors for seeing the ball, but not often,” says
David Moore of Cape & Island Tennis & Track in Pocassett, Mass.
“A majority of people like two colors and I think they believe they
can see the ball better. Personally, I do not think that is true; strict-
ly in my opinion, the solid color is less distracting to the eye.”
Then there are the tennis enthusiasts who use the court to
make a personal statement. Rob Werner of Sportsline in Exton,
Pa., has found a groundswell of support for using NFL colors. “I’ve
been suggesting home team colors,” notes Werner, “and I’ve
gained some very positive feedback. I live and work primarily in
football colors: Eagles green and a medium silver-gray. The Eagles
green I’ve been doing is a very close match to the football team
color and it has some bluish tints, so it really complements the US
School Spirit
Open blue when we do two-tone colors.”
Werner also is seeing requests for courts coated in school colors,
as well as requests for logos. Unlike sports fields, where it is com-
mon to see team or school logos placed at mid-field, tennis courts
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
cannot have commercial graphics on the playing surface. Therefore,
says Werner, logos are generally located outside the lines. The rules
of tennis state where advertising, logos and other printing may be
placed on a court, as well as the colors that can be used. Those who
manage a surface that will be used for sanctioned competition
should check to make sure they are in compliance.
Werner says he has also been toying with other creative ideas—
using fluorescent paint for court lines for his own personal facility
(possibly in combination with a black-light for night play) and creat-
ing subtle artistic patterns in the areas outside the playing lines.
A court for private home use, however, varies greatly from a bat-
tery of municipal courts, or for sanctioned competition use, where
more conservative color theories prevail and rules must be followed.
“The vast majority of public projects [i.e. schools and park & rec
courts] are still going predominantly blue/green,” says Fred Kolk-
mann of Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sport Surfaces, LLC in Grafton,
Wis. “The private courts are going about 50/50 with blue/green or
dark green/light green.”
Sometimes, says Lee Murray of Competition Athletic Surfaces in
Chattanooga, Tenn., what court owners are actually looking for is
not so much a specific color, but a difference in general. “I’ve found
that when these courts get resurfaced, the facility directors like the
ally, we tell them a two-color court makes it easier to call shots
and makes the court appear smaller, and that greens, tans and
blues can blend with the landscape.”
There is no doubt in any contractor’s mind that the US Open
court colors (blue in-bounds and green outside the lines) remain
wildly popular. And of course, the fact that those courts see top-
notch performance makes tennis players want them for them-
selves.
“Even though the physiological aspects of color are addressed,
the psychological aspects are hardly ever discussed,” says Alex
Levitsky of Global Sports and Tennis Design Group in Fair Haven,
N.J. “What makes a court ‘easy on the eyes’ psychologically?
That’s an open question worth exploring. One current line of
thinking is that the psychological aspect has more to do with
using ‘accepted’ colors than the use of any particular colors. If a
player is used to the court and its colors, they don’t complain.
That’s why it is important to have some device, or sometimes a
gimmick, when introducing new color combinations.”
He laughs. “Something like ‘These are the colors of the US
Open’ is one of those devices that help players bridge the dis-
comfort gap. Oh, and obviously, it helps to win one’s matches on
that court. That always makes a court color acceptable.” Q

‘Facility directors like the idea of changing color

idea of changing color scheme to
make the complex pop. They want the

scheme to make the complex pop. … [The]

public to notice the change. For older

change says “Look at me!” and encourages new

courts that are two-tone green, all
green, or red/green, a resurfacing job

players to notice and use the facility.’

with the blue/green color scheme real-
ly makes for a noticeable change. This
change says ‘Look at me!’ and encour-
ages new players to notice and use the

New and Different

facility.”

“I try to steer people into doing some-

thing different, like a maroon playing
area/light green boundary combina-
tion, or a red playing area with a light
green boundary combination,” says
Colin Donovan of L.E. Renner Sports
Surfaces in Denver. “Darker colors
should always be inside the playing
area to reduce glare. I see very few
one-color courts for whatever reason,
and they are almost always a shade of
green.”
Fred Manchester of Manchester
Tennis Courts in Lexington, S.C., tries
to walk court owners through the
process of color selection by recount-
ing the various properties of shades
available. “In terms of heat, the lighter
the color of the surface, the cooler the
court will be, and the darker the color,
the hotter it will be. In terms of stains
or aging, we know that lighter colors
Photo courtesy of Atlas Track & Tennis, Photo courtesy of Leslie Coatings, Inc.,
show stains more than dark, but that Indianapolis, Indiana
Tualatin, Oregon
both age at about the same rate. Visu-

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33

 COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

TENNIS TO GO
With
With the
the 10-and-Under
10-and-Under Tennis
Tennis initiative,
initiative, you
you can
can help
help bring
bring tennis
tennis
to
to kids,
kids, and
and bring
bring inin more
more business
business for
for you,
you, even
even ifif there
there are
are no
no
existing
existing courts.
courts. BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER

T
hanks to a lot of great instructional materials, we know Cincinnati Reds game was the scene of a tennis promo by TSR Jim
how to set up QuickStart Tennis courts on existing tennis Amick. The program included the setup of a QST format playing
facilities. Thanks to a lot of positive publicity, we know the area in the “FanZone” along the first base line between the pre-
push for 10-and-Under Tennis works to bring kids, and even game and third inning as well as an information booth. About 500
adults, into the game. But what about setting up shorter courts in youngsters and adults wound up trying tennis for the first time,
places where there are no existing tennis courts? and others took home promotional materials on where to find pro-
USTA Tennis Service Representatives (TSRs) have been ahead grams, lessons and more. (In addition, the 27,455 fans in atten-
of the curve, understanding that bringing tennis to the uninitiated dance during the game saw the QST demonstration, either in
means just that: actually bringing tennis. Now it's time for clubs, person or on the StadiumCam screen).
rec programs, camp directors and others to step up. Getting Players Without Borders: In Miami, USTA Florida TSRs Shelly
brand-new players into the game is going to require you to think Licorish and Cathy Nordlund set up QST courts at street fairs in
outside the box, and outside your facility. Go out into the com- order to reach out to the 4 million-strong Hispanic population in
munity and convince the state. They also wanted
newbies how much fun to increase USTA Junior
tennis can be by using and Adult membership
QST in some new and from the Hispanic popula-
unexpected settings. tion. It is a community,
A court builder can Nordlund notes, "where
help you with ideas for children often play baseball
layout and design, or or soccer, but most never
with any technical ques- even enter a tennis court.”
tions you might have In March 2009, Licorish
regarding the surface and Nordlund were part of
you are thinking of the Carnival On the Mile, a
using. Here are some two-day event in Miami
ideas, courtesy of TSRs, that included jazz, art, food
whose job it is to help and children’s activities.
grow tennis locally. The booth set up by the
Take Tennis Out to the TSRs included information
Ball Game: In Ohio, a on USTA Florida program-

34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

ming as well as on QST, and a QuickStart court. “It was a great
idea,” said Nordlund, “and everyone loved it. The line was so
long; everyone wanted to try to play, and we had kids coming
back over and over.” Children who participated took home
foam balls and a bandana reading “Juega Tenis” (Play Tennis)
as well as literature on a QuickStart party that would be held in
two weeks.
The following month, Licorish and Nordlund set up shop at
the three-day Hispanic Business and Consumer Expo in Orlan-
do, with similar results. They used e-mail, phone calls and the
QST parties to follow up. As a result, both children and adults
have become involved in lessons and league play and USTA
membership has increased. According to Licorish and Nord-
lund, Region 4 had its largest monthly increase in membership
in the months following the promotions.
After-School Special: When the Milwaukee Public School
System (MPS) had to make cuts to P.E., the local rec depart-
ment had been scrambling to create programs that would
encourage students to remain active. TSR Erika Wentz worked
with MPS to implement an after-school QST program at 20 local
Community Learning Centers (CLCs). All participating sites
received a USTA Organizational membership, one mini-net, 20
racquets and two dozen foam balls. Each instructor received a
USTA Schools Curriculum Guide. A total of 1,150 children par-
ticipated in the community center program, which has contin-
ued to flourish.
Playground Games: The Tennis Patrons of Santa Monica, the
local CTA, had created after-school tennis classes on the play-
grounds of seven elementary schools in the Santa Monica Mal-
ibu Unified School District, but lacking courts, was unable to
help kids visualize and focus on the game. Using the guidance
of TSR Diane Brooks, the school district applied for a USTA
Facility Assistance Grant, and with it, was able to paint perma-
nent QST lines on the playgrounds. P.E. teachers who helped
with the program reported immediate improvements in stu-
dents' enjoyment of the sport, and an easier time organizing
games overall. In fact, it wasn't long before the kids were ready
to take the next step and enter TPSM's QuickStart Tennis Rally-
ball tournaments at their local recreation center. In addition,
there are now two USTA JTT teams competing in Santa Moni-
ca. Brooks says the program has two goals. The first was to cre-
ate enough excitement among after-school tennis players to
encourage them to stick with the game and graduate to USTA
JTT. Next, she would like to see kids play on their high school
teams.
In addition, tennis court builders have played a role in bring-
ing tennis into the community. Tom Hinding of Hinding Tennis
in West Haven, Conn., helped build a temporary court in a
parking lot in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Former NYC Mayor David
Dinkins was on hand for the festival, which introduced tennis
to a large number of inner-city children.
Hinding notes that he has also put QST courts in such non-
traditional settings as a warehouse associated with a health
club, which can be rented out for tennis parties as well as other
recreation and health events. "We've even done quotes on
rooftop courts for QuickStart," he adds.
QuickStart courts on top of buildings? Sounds like the sky is
the limit these days. Q

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 35

 RELIABLE
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
RESOURCES
Good help
help is hard to find...unless you
you know
know where
where to look.
Starting from the ground up: Want to learn everything there is to
know about planning for, building or improving a tennis court? The
book Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Manual,
Sixth Edition, can answer all your questions and more. The book,
co-written by the ASBA and USTA, has chapters that include Plan-
ning and Design Considerations, The Construction Process, Choos-
ing a Surface, Accessories and Amenities, Indoor Tennis, Care and
Maintenance, Repair/Reconstruction/Renovation, and more. Dia-
grams of court layouts also include those for 10-and-Under Tennis.
The manual is available for $44.95 by contacting ASBA at 866-501-
ASBA (2722) or online at www.sportsbuilders.org.
Facilities 101: Looking for information about resources for
building a facility in your community? Get on the USTA's website,
www.usta.com, and use the top toolbar that says “Facilities.” USTA
has information on how to get free technical support from its staff
experts, assistance on facility planning, diagrams of court layouts,
information on advocacy initiatives and more. The ASBA site
(www.sportsbuilders.org) also has Frequently Asked Questions
about tennis courts (including dimensions, space requirements,
etc.), numbers of courts needed and more.
Financial Aid: The USTA, as part of its Facility Assistance Ser-
vices, has a funding program available to help benefit tennis in
communities. Funding is available on three levels, but be aware
that not all communities are eligible for financial assistance. Infor-
mation on how to become involved is available at www.usta.com,
again using the "Facilities" button on the toolbar.
The site www.federalgrantswire.com contains information on a
governmental grant that can be used for land acquisition and
development for a range of recreational facilities. Go to the site
and in the Google search box, type "tennis court."
36 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
Finding a Builder: The American Sports Builders Association
offers its Certified Tennis Court Builder (CTCB) program, which is
a voluntary program allowing builders of tennis courts to demon-
strate proof of their experience, as well as their knowledge of
sports-facility-specific construction. A list of certified builders is
available at www.sportsbuilders.org (choose "Certification" on
the top toolbar, then "Certified Tennis Court Builders" from the
drop-down menu). For those who are unable to find a CTCB in
their area, but who would like to speak to a local tennis court
builder, the ASBA site has a free "Find A
Builder/Designer/Supplier" feature that can search by state, com-
pany name, type of organization (builder, designer or supplier)
and other criteria.
Have other questions? The ASBA site (www.sportsbuilders.org)
has a “press room” containing a list of articles on specific aspects
of sports facilities, including tennis courts.
Have a project coming up or just want some input? Go to the
ASBA site then select "Request Info" from the top toolbar. On the
form that appears, input your address and other information, and
some basic info about your project. ASBA will send you its mem-
bership directory, which includes information about the associa-
tion, its policies, publications, programs, awards and more.Q
Note: The American Sports Builders Association is a non-profit asso-
ciation helping designers, builders, owners, operators and users
understand quality sports facility construction. The ASBA sponsors
informative meetings and publishes newsletters, books and technical
construction guidelines for athletic facilities including tennis courts.
Available at no charge is a listing of all publications offered by the
Association, as well as the ASBA’s Membership Directory. Info: 866-
501-ASBA (2722) or www.sportsbuilders.org
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 HOW
STRINGS

SYNTHETIC
STRINGS ARE
MADE
S
BY GREG RAVEN

trings for racquet sports come in all

shapes, sizes, configurations and
colors. String construction involves
three basic steps:
1. Design
2. Manufacturing
3. Packaging
However, the manufacturing step itself
can be broken down further into five key

1. Selecting the raw materials and

steps:

other ingredients
2. Creating the filaments from
which strings are made
3. Multifilament construction
4. Coating and sizing (in the case
of multifilaments)
5. Post-processing, if any
Here’s a closer look at the basic five-

Raw Materials
step manufacturing phase.

All synthetic strings are made from poly-

mers, which are essentially long chains of
monomers. Monomers are small, single
molecules. Bonding these single (mono-)
molecules into long-chain (poly-) mole-
cules is called polymerization.
For “nylon” strings, manufacturers
typically use polymers comprised of
amide functional groups such as aliphatic
polyamides (including Nylon 6 and Nylon
66), and polymers comprised of ketone
functional groups such as Zyex (aka poly-
etheretherketone, or PEEK). The amide
family of polymers can also be blended,
Babolat factory in Lyon, France where
Babolat strings are manufactured

39 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 mixing Nylon 6 with Nylon 66 to make copolymer Nylon
6/66, for example.
“Synthetic gut” is another name for nylon strings,
although it can be misleading when used as a generic term
because no synthetic string is constructed using the same
manufacturing techniques as natural gut, let alone the raw
materials.
For “poly” strings, manufacturers typically use poly-
esters comprised of ester functional groups—such as poly-
ethylene terephthalate (aka PET polyester), co-PET, and
thermoplastic polyester elastomers (TPE). There are also
“poly” strings made from polyolefins, which are polymers
such as polyethylenes and polypropylenes, comprised of
alkene functional groups, and which have different proper-
ties (including molecular weight) compared to polyesters.
As with the ingredients for “nylon” strings, these ingre-
dients can also be blended, as would be the case when mix-
ing PET polyester with thermoplastic polyester elastomers.
The words “nylon” and “poly” are in quotes because
these are not so much descriptions of strings as they are
broad classes of filaments. For example, the aramid used in
bulletproof vests and in some extreme-duty strings is also
in the polyamide family along with nylon, although it is an
aromatic polyamide. If that’s not confusing enough, there
are ultra-high molecular weight polyethylenes that have
mechanical properties similar to aramid despite being in a
different polymer family.
String manufacturers have two options when it comes
to sourcing ingredients for their products: They can buy
ready-made filaments from companies such as DuPont, or
they can make their own filaments from raw materials. In
either case, manufacturers choose ingredients (either
ready-made filaments or raw materials) to meet design
goals that include strength, elongation, flexibility, abrasion
resistance, friction properties, stress relaxation (tension
maintenance), elasticity, resiliency, and color.
Ready-made filaments arrive at the factory on 5-pound
bobbins. As filaments, they have already gone through the
extrusion and drawing stage (described in the next section),
and go directly to the construction stage if the end product
is a multifilament. When making monofilaments, the
ready-made filament can be packaged more or less as-is, or
it can undergo a further drawing. Manufacturers use addi-
tional drawing stages to fine-tune the characteristics of the
string in-house, and it allows them to create different final
products from one “base” string.
Raw materials arrive at the factory as pellets or beads
(“chips”) in 100-pound bags and look something like grains
of rice. These pellets go to the extrusion and drawing
stages, along with additives in the form of powders and
liquids used for coloring the string and giving it different

Creation:
properties.

Extrusion and Drawing

Making filaments from raw materials is a complex process
Babolat factory in Lyon, France where using costly machinery, but it gives the manufacturer a lot
Babolat strings are manufactured of control over the end product. The machine that makes

40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 the filaments is called an extruder, and it consists of a hopper, a
heated barrel, an extrusion screw, an extrusion die, and a water
bath.
The pellets and additives are poured into a hopper. Depend-
ing on the process, the materials also can be modified before
being added to the hopper, as Luxilon does with its Big Banger
line of strings. The ingredients are blended together in the hop-
per, and then fed at a controlled rate into the barrel section that
typically lies beneath the hopper.
The extrusion screw moves the raw materials through vari-
ous zones inside the barrel. At the hopper end is the feed zone,
where the extrusion screw has deep channels to pull in the mix-
ture. The channels in the extrusion screw
gradually become smaller along its length,
so that they are shallower where they carry
the mixture through the heating or “melt”
zone. Melting the pellets alters the charac-
teristics of the polymer so it flows more eas-
ily, although the temperature must be
controlled to prevent irreversible degrada-
tion of the basic polymer structure.
In the final section, the metering zone,
the channels become shallower still, which
pressurizes the mixture, allowing for a con-
trolled feed of the material through the
extrusion die.
The extrusion die is a plate located at the A shaped string (Poly Star)
end of the barrel that has at least one hole
through which the extrusion screw forces
the molten materials. Of course, there can
be several holes to allow the manufacture of
multiple strands at the same time. The
holes themselves can be cylindrical as
would be the case for standard strings, or
they can have a polygonal, oval, or other
cross-section to influence the final shape of
the extruded filament. This is where shaped
strings—such as the octagonal Babolat Pro
Hurricane Tour and RPM Blast, and the 16-
pointed Poly Star Turbo—begin, but even
the flat ribbons used in Head’s RIP strings
are extruded as flat sheets and then cut to
width. The holes in the die are larger than
the finished size of the filaments that are
being made. Ultra-fine filaments are called
microfilaments.
Babolat factory in Lyon, France where
Filaments can also be co-extruded,
Babolat strings are manufactured
where the extrusion machine has two or
more barrels and extrusion screws delivering different molten
raw materials to different ports within the same filament posi-
tion in the extrusion die. By extruding different materials togeth-
er within the same filament, unique performance characteristics
can be achieved.
In the case of Gamma TNT2 Tour nylon string, the center
core filament is a co-extrusion that surrounds a high-elasticity
nylon in six central sections of the filament with a high-modulus
nylon material, to provide a combination of elasticity and
resiliency that cannot be achieved by blending the two materi-
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
als together or by another construction method.
In the case of the Gamma Zo Tour polyester string, a softer,
more elastic polyester is co-extruded within a stiffer, harder
polyester to create a polyester monofilament string that is
elastic and still has good abrasion resistance and tension
maintenance.
As the extruded filaments exit the die, they immediately
enter a water bath for cooling, which solidifies them enough to
make them easy to handle. It would be nice if the long polymer
chains were all stretched out and aligned in a neat laminar flow
throughout the string, but what is more likely is that they are
kinked, coiled, and folded every which way.
At this point, the filaments have most of
their shape but only a rough size. To com-
plete the process, the filaments move to the
drawing machine. The drawing machine
can either be in-line with the extruder as
shown in the illustration on page 42, or the
raw filaments can be taken up on spools for
later drawing or for transport to a drawing
machine at another location.
The drawing machine is a series of sets
of rollers. There can be any number of sets
of rollers, but typically there are three to
five sets. The rollers control the movement
and temperature of the filaments. Between
sets of rollers is the drawing zone, so if
there are four sets of rollers, there are three
drawing zones.
Each successive set of rollers in the
drawing machine rotates slightly faster than
the previous one. The speed differential
between the sets of rollers progressively
stretches and thins the filaments. The more
differential there is between any two sets of
rollers, the higher the “draw ratio,” and the
more the filaments will be stretched and
thinned.
The repeated cycles of heating, stretch-
ing, and cooling in the drawing stage align
and compact the polymer chains, making
the string harder (more abrasion-resistant)
and stiffer, but also increasing its strength
and ability to hold tension.
Even so, the string is still pliable at this
stage, which allows the manufacturer to
apply a lasting twist, or to run the string
between forming “gears” to give it latitudi-
nal texture (as seen in Luxilon Alu Power Rough, for example).
Twisting the strings can be done either to give the string a dif-
ferent final shape, or to introduce additional springiness into the
filament.
As important as the initial raw materials selection is, the
drawing stage is just as important, as the draw ratio, heating and
cooling of the filaments each have tremendous influence on the
final product, as does the time over which the filaments are in
the drawing stage.
At the end of the drawing machine, the filaments will have
March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 41
 filament and microfilaments, both in the
core and in the wraps. Thicker filaments in
the wraps can even give the finished string
a stronger surface texture. One limit is the
speed at which the string is made: Some
machines make as few as three 40-foot sets
of string per hour. This means that manu-
facturers must have multiples of any given

Coating and Sizing

machine to keep up with demand.

Multifilament strings can be coated in an

extruder that is similar to the extruder that
makes the filaments in the first place, but
for coating, the raw string runs through the
center of an extrusion die, which applies
the melted coating material around it. The
coated string then runs through a funnel-
type device to ensure uniformity of the
coating, and to set the final size (or gauge)
of the string.
In this stage, the manufacturer can
Braiding machine (Ashaway) choose the coating material based on the
characteristics it desires in the final string,
their shape, size, and twist. The finished filaments come off the
whether harder for better abrasion resistance and durability, or
final set of rollers onto large spools. Monofilament strings are

Post-Processing
softer to increase the friction between the strings.
ready for printing, cutting, packaging, and shipping at this point,
unless the manufacturer opts to apply an outer coating or lubrica-
tion to the string.
For many strings, post-processing involves little more than printing
Filaments that were created to be part of a multifilament string
identifying information to the string with a special ink-jet printer
are transferred from the spools to smaller bobbins that can be
and applying a lubricant (of which Tecnifibre’s SPL is one example)
mounted into the machines used to combine the filaments. The
to the string to ease handling during installation.
tension on the filaments is closely calibrated as differences in ten-
Perhaps the most involved post-processing occurs with Gamma
sion when winding the bobbins can produce different results in the
strings, which undergo bombardment by gamma radiation to split

Multifilament Construction
finished string.
the long-chain polymer molecules so they connect to one another
at the molecular level through covalent bonds. According to
Gamma, the shorter molecular chains are able to move more freely
Multifilament strings use two or more filaments. During the con-
relative to one another, making the material more elastic, while the
struction process, these filaments are wound, twisted, braided,
additional bonds between the molecules aide in returning the mol-
woven or wrapped together, and bonded to each other.
ecules to their original positions after the material is stretched and
Bonding is accomplished either by using solvent to partially dis-
released. However, as the alignment of the molecular chains and
solve the outer surfaces of the filaments so they will stick to each
compaction of the molecular chains are unaffected by this process,
other and fuse as the solvent evaporates, or by bathing the fila-
ments in a two-part resin that holds the filaments in
place after it cures. Microfilaments are so thin that
solvent would cause their deterioration, so they are
bonded—typically with polyurethane (as popularized
by Tecnifibre), although other materials are some-
times used (as in Wilson Sensation).
As twisting the filaments increases springiness,
manufacturers can change the flexibility and elastici-
ty of the string by varying the angle at which they
wind the filaments together. Higher angles produce
tighter twists, which creates more flexible and elastic
string, while lower angles produce looser twists and
firmer, stiffer string.
As you might guess, there are few limits on how
filaments can be combined, so that filaments of dif-
ferent materials can be configured in the same string. The extrusion and drawing stages
The manufacturer can also combine various sizes of (Gamma)

42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 the strength and hardness of the material remain
the same, with no reduction in durability.
There is one additional step that could be con-
sidered post-processing: testing. Manufacturers
continuously test filaments and strings during
production. Various visual examinations, tensile
tests, dynamic tests and tests for tension main-
tenance are done with samples taken out of the
ongoing production. When multiple machines
are involved, samples must be tested from each
machine. On finished strings, dynamic testing
starts off in the lab with the hammer, cannon
and repetitive impact tests, and some manufac-
turers use high-speed cameras to check spin and
string-bed deformation during impact. Static
tests employ a dynamometer to check linear,
loop and knot resistance. At this point, the fin-
ished string is ready for playtesting.
After post-processing, the finished strings are Ink-jet printer (Ashaway)
ready for cutting, packaging, and shipping.
When you consider all the ingredients and
combinations of ingredients, and all the process-
ing and variations in processing, you can see
how different one model of string can be from
another. If you love your current string, you
might have a deeper appreciation for all the fac-
tors that had to be just right for that string to be
perfect for you. If you are looking to change
strings, you can take hope that no matter what
power, spin, control, stiffness, comfort or dura-
bility you need from your string, there is quite
possibly a string out there for you.
Of course, whether you are looking for a new
string for yourself or for a customer, USRSA tools
such as the String Selector online, String Specifi-
cations online, and String Selector Maps in RSI
magazine can help. Q

Thanks to Ashaway, Babolat, Gamma, Head,

Luxilon, Pacific, Poly Star, and Wilson for
supplying background information for this
article.
Rolls of finished string (Ashaway)

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 43

? Ask the Experts
Your Equipment Hotline
Q
RELATIVE
TENSION LOSS
WILL ALL STRINGS OF virtually
identical diameter, stiffness, and
tension loss (as measured in the
A
lab) experience the same relative tension
loss when strung in the same racquet at
the same reference tension?
ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT, unless
the strings in question are similar
in construction and outer coating. Although
the lab tests provide some insight into how
any given string will behave, strings
behave differently in the stringbed. For
example, two strings with similar lab test
numbers but with different surface rough-
ness, hardness, or anti-friction coating will
Q
each have a different stringbed stiffness.
BOWING STRINGS
ONE OF OUR TOP-10 nationally-
ranked girl players had one of her
coaches tell her that we needed to
be bowing her strings when we strung her
racquets. She was told that we should push
the cross strings toward the head of the
racquet in order to “lock” in the main
strings so they wouldn't move during play.


 I have been stringing racquets for more
than 15 years—an MRT for nearly five of
those years stringing roughly 1,000 rac-
quets a year, and have never heard of the
term. I’ve seen curved cross strings—
towards the throat when stringing head to
throat, towards the head when stringing
throat to head—in racquets strung by
beginning stringers who don’t straighten
the strings afterwards. I always assumed
that the strings should run straight from
one grommet to the other for the string
bed to play its best. Does bowing the cross
strings really provide a benefit? 

If it has
any relevance to your answer, our player
A
uses a Prince Graphite Classic OS, and
strings her racquet two piece with two dif-
ferent polyester strings at 76 pounds.
YOUR ASSUMPTION IS correct:
The strings should be straight
between grommets when you're done
stringing. When you install the strings this
way, they are as tight as possible for a
44 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
given reference tension, and thus any
“locking in” will be at its maximum.
It sounds as if this coach doesn’t under-
stand that strings move as a normal part of
the impact with the ball. Of course,
smoother strings (including “polys”) will
move back into position as soon as the ball
leaves the strings, which can lead to the
impression that they haven’t moved.
“Bowing” the strings on purpose is not
common, and none of the pros ask for it,
so it must be possible to play the game
with some degree of success without
Q
resorting to this technique.
FUTURE MACHINES
WHY DON’T YOU PUBLISH infor-
mation about stringing machines
while they are still in the develop-
mental stage? It would be great to know
what is on the horizon, and if we knew in
A
advance what was coming out, we could
provide some input about features and
price.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES that
make it highly unlikely that this will
ever happen.
First, no reputable company with string-
ing machines already on the market is
going to want to undercut its own sales by
talking about a machine that’s not ready
for sale.
Second, some companies put a great
deal of thought and effort into developing a
new machine. To broadcast news of new
features and innovations would make it
possible for other companies to beat them
to market with seemingly similar features
and innovations.
Third, from our experience, everyone
involved in bringing a new stringing
machine to market is typically bound by a
non-disclosure agreement, so that divulging
information about a new machine before
its release would be grounds for legal
action. Therefore, when we learn about
products before their release, this informa-
tion is told to us in confidence, and is not
to be shared.
Fourth, there are still those who feel it is
dishonest and an unfair business practice
to start advertising a product that is not
available, especially when this is done to
prevent customers from buying from the
competition.
Fifth, there are any numbers of inci-
dences when products are designed and
prototyped, but for whatever reasons
don’t make it to market. We feel it would
be a disservice to everyone to report on
products before they are on the market.
Most people get all the vaporware they
need following the computer hardware
and software industry. Let’s hope this
practice never gains a foothold in our
industry.
Q
PLAYTEST RESULT
COMPENDIUM
I ENJOY READING THE STRING
playtest reports in Racquet Sports
Industry magazine. The reports
always refer to the strings placing a cer-
tain ranking in durability, control, etc.,
A
but I can't find a composite ranking list-
ing all strings in each category, including
overall. Where can I find that?
THIS INFORMATION IS available
to USRSA members, and can be
found at: usrsa.com/members/tocs/tennis
_playtests.html. The table of results can
be sorted by string, date of publication,
or score in each of our nine categories.
There are also links to the full text of the
Q
playtest report, where available.
WHICH PATTERN?
THE 2010 STRINGERS DIGEST
shows two listings for the Wilson
Triad 2.2 OS. One starts on the
throat, the other starts at the head, and
A
the skips don’t match. Is this the same
racquet with different string patterns, or
are they two different racquets?
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT
racquets that share a name. This
is one reason why you always should
compare the information in the Digest
with the actual racquet before you start
stringing. —Greg Raven Q
We welcome your questions. Please send them to Rac-
quet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA, 92084;
fax: 760-536-1171; email: greg@racquettech.com.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 String Playtest
Prince Beast XP 16
Prince Beast XP is a brand new monofila-
ment string, which Prince refers to as a
precision tuned thermo-poly featuring a
secret alloy additive. According to Prince,
Beast XP offers advanced performance
characteristics not found in conventional
polyester strings, including consistent
dynamic response over a wide range of
tensions and string patterns, providing
unsurpassed precision.
According to Prince, it developed Beast
XP over a period of two years using high-
speed video shot at 5,000 frames per second
to determine the optimum properties for a
control-producing string. Prince engineers
claim to have optimized ball trajectories and
maximized ball spin to achieve the ultimate
control-producing string. Beast XP withstood
rigorous on-court testing from world-class
players at the IMG/Bollettieri Academies and
elsewhere to confirm the findings in the lab.
Two finalists at the 2010 Eddie Herr Interna-
tional Junior Tennis Championships were
using Prince Beast XP.
To validate its design methodology,
Prince took the innovative step of seeding
20,000 sets to players around the world, out-
side of normal Prince channels, under the
name “361 Nation.” These players reported
preferring “361 Nation”/Beast XP over the
best name-brand strings from the competi-
tion, in terms of providing better control,
spin, feel, and tension maintenance.
According to Prince, the target customer
for Beast XP is the aggressive player looking
for maximum control and spin so he can
unleash his power game.
Beast XP is available in 16 gauge (1.30
mm) in green only (to heighten the identity
with Prince), although 15 (1.35 mm) and 17
(1.25 mm) gauges are in the works. It is
priced from $15 for sets of 40 feet, and
$240 for reels of 720 feet. For more infor-
mation or to order, contact Prince at 800-2-
TENNIS, or visit beastxp.com. Be sure to
read the conclusion for more information
about getting a free set to try for yourself.
IN THE LAB
We tested the 16-gauge Beast XP. The coil
measured 40 feet. The diameter measured
1.33-1.35 mm prior to stringing, and 1.29-
46 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
1.31 mm after stringing. We recorded a
stringbed stiffness of 76 RDC units imme-
diately after stringing at 60 pounds in a
Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern)
on a constant-pull machine.
After 24 hours (no playing),
stringbed stiffness measured 70 RDC units,
to the
representing an 8 percent tension loss. Our
weight of our unstrung
control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original
frame.
Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immedi-
The string was tested for five weeks by
ately after stringing and 71 RDC units after
36 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings
24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension
from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with
loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut
playtesters receiving unmarked strings in
Original has a stiffness of 217 and a tension
unmarked packages. Prince recommends
loss of 11.67 pounds, while Prince Beast XP
stringing Beast XP 1-2 pounds lower than
16 has a stiffness of 247 and a tension loss
other poly strings, but we instructed our
of 17.68 pounds. Beast XP added 17 grams
playtesters to string 5-10 percent lower
EASE OF STRINGING than a typical nylon string. Average number
(compared to other strings) of hours playtested was 19.1.
Number of testers who said it was: No playtester broke his sample during
much easier 1 stringing, six reported problems with coil
somewhat easier 6 memory, one reported problems tying
about as easy 19 knots, and none reported friction burn.
ON THE COURT
not quite as easy 8
not nearly as easy 2
OVERALL PLAYABILITY Out of the 150 strings we’ve playtested for
(compared to string played most often) publication to date, Prince Beast XP fin-
Number of testers who said it was: ished 8th overall in Resistance to Move-
much better 0 ment, 16th overall in Durability, and 17th
somewhat better 4 overall in Tension Retention. These rank-
about as playable 11 ings give Prince Beast XP a well-above-aver-
not quite as playable 17 age overall score.
not nearly as playable 4
Three playtesters broke the sample dur-
OVERALL DURABILITY ing testing, one at six hours and two at
(compared to other strings eight hours.
CONCLUSION
of similar gauge)
Number of testers who said it was:
much better 3
Prince has really made a commitment in
somewhat better 17
the development of Beast XP, from invest-
about as durable 13
not quite as durable 3 ing years in defining and refining it, to
not nearly as durable 0 using high-speed cameras to determine
exactly how the ball comes off the strings,
RATING AVERAGES to surreptitiously rolling out Beast XP as the
From 1 to 5 (best) unknown “361 Nation” against the best and
Playability 3.1
most respected strings from the competi-
Durability (16th overall) 4.3
tion. The effort seems to have paid off
Power 3.2
Control 3.6
already amongst junior players, who must
Comfort 3.0 be pleased with the durability of Beast XP,
Touch/Feel 2.7 on top of its other qualities.
Spin Potential 3.2 If you think that Prince Beast XP might
Holding Tension 3.6 be for you, fill out the coupon to get a free
—Greg Raven Q
Resistance to Movement (17th overall) 4.1 set to try.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 TESTERS TALK
“ Remarkable power for a polyester.
These strings snap back with force to create
”
a heavy ball. 3.5 male baseliner with
heavy spin using Babolat Pure Drive Cortex
strung at 60 pounds CP (Babolat RPM Blast
16))
“ Given the high comfort level, this is des-
tined to become a very popular polyester.
”
This is not just for hard hitting juniors.
4.5 male serve-and-volley player using
Head Youtek Extreme MP strung at 58
pounds CP (Gamma Professional 17)
“ This is a very comfortable polyester with
excellent control and spin.
” 5.0 male all-
court player using Wilson BLX Tour strung
at 50 pounds CP (Babolat VS Team 17)
“ “
Good power and spin on serves. Excel-
lent resistance to movement. Depth control
”
is outstanding. Feel is slightly lacking.
4.5 male all-court player using Wilson K Six
One Tour strung at 58 pounds CP (Gosen
OG Sheep Micro 16)
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
FREE PLAYTEST
“ This string increased both my ace and
double fault percentages. The durability
STRING PROGRAM
Prince will send a free set of Beast
and resistance to movement are excel-
lent.
” 5.0 male all-court player using
Babolat Drive Z Cortex strung at 58
XP to the first 500 USRSA mem-
bers who cut out (or copy) this
pounds CP (Luxilon Original 16)
coupon and send it to:
“ This is lively polyester with good dura-
USRSA, Attn: Prince String Offer
bility.
” 5.0 male all-court player using
Head MicroGEL Extreme Pro strung at 48
330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
pounds LO (Prince Poly EXP 16) or fax to 760-536-1171,
or email the info below to
stringsample@racquettech.com
“ The harsh and ‘pingy’ response is eas-
ily countered with some well placed
Offer expires 15 March 2011
lead.
” 5.0 male all-court player using
Offer only available to USRSA members in
Head Flexpoint Radical MP strung at 40
pounds CP (Polyester/Nylon 16)
Name:
the US.
This poly has decent control, but it USRSA Member number:
does not really shine in any one area.
6.0 male all-court player using Wilson ” Phone:
BLX Tour strung at 53.5 pounds CP (Wil-
son NXT 17) Email:
If you print your email clearly, we will notify
For the rest of the tester comments, visit
www.racquetsportsindustry.com. you when your sample will be sent.
March 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 47
 Your Serve
What Racquets Do
the Pros Use?
A world-class customizer says the majority
A
of racquets used by tour pros aren’t much
different from what’s in your shop.
s a stringer working on the pro
tours, I often get asked about the
equipment the pro players use.
“What racquet is he really using?” The
answer is usually surprising to most peo-
ple. The majority of racquets being used
by the pros are not much different from
those used by you and me, or the ones for
sale in your shops. The common excep-
tion is that almost all of those used by the
pros have been customized to meet their
specific needs.
How complex these customizations
are varies from player to player. Almost
all have their racquets adjusted to a spe-
cific swing weight and overall weight. All
the racquets in their bag are matched to
these specs, so that there is no change
when they switch to a new stick in the
middle of a match. Some will go beyond
the simple customization and have cus-
tom-molded handles, but most players
are using the standard factory handles
just like on the racquets in your shops.
Occasionally we will see a length that is
different from that available on that same
model in your shop.
If you follow the pro game closely you
may have heard the “conspiracy theo-
rists” discussing all the “paint job” rac-
quets that the players are using. If you
believe these reports, then the racquets
that the pros use are nothing like the ones
available to the playing public. The specu-
lation is that they are specially created
racquets that are like the ones available at
retail in appearance only—that these spe-
cial racquets simply bear the cosmetics of
a popular racquet but are nothing like the
real thing.
In reality, that is not usually the case
at all. Don’t get me wrong; there are
exceptions. But, for the most part, the
48 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2011
conspiracy theorists are off
the mark by quite a bit.
In my experience, the “paint
jobs” are usually an older model of the
same racquet. Pro players are very reluc-
tant to change, especially if they have
something that is working for them. For
this reason, if their manufacturer intro-
duces a new technology and a new model
of their stick, they may opt to stay with old
faithful. Rarely have I seen a racquet
whose appearance (shape, size, etc.) looks
nothing like the cosmetic appearance it
bears. It does happen, but it is very, very
rare.
‘For the most part, the
“conspiracy theorists”
are off the mark by
quite a bit.’
Is the practice of making a racquet in a
special length or disguising an older rac-
quet to look like a new model a deceitful
ploy by the manufacturer? I will let you be
the judge, but if so, then all are guilty on
occasion. Keep in mind that almost all the
pros playing in the top tier of the game get
their racquets free and many get paid
endorsement fees that often reach the
seven-figure mark. In short, the companies
invest a lot of money in endorsements to
drive consumers to their brand and in turn
through your doors to buy the newest, lat-
est and greatest. Would it make sense for
them to keep old cosmetics on their
endorsed pros racquets when that particu-
lar racquet is no longer available in the
marketplace?
How are the racquets customized? That
depends on the player, the racquet and
BY BOB PATTERSON
what the player requires. Some companies
have in-house customizations where models
are tweaked to the player’s own specs of
weight, balance and swing weight. There are
companies that specialize in customization and
offer their services to the pros, such as Priority
One of Tampa, Fla., and RPNY in New York.
These companies offer a variety of customiza-
tions and services to touring professionals
including traveling with players to provide
stringing and gripping services at tournaments.
Most players are content with racquets that
are matched to their specs—weight, balance
and swing weight. Others also need special
shaped and sized handles. These customizing
companies work with the player and their rac-
quet manufacturer to make sure that the play-
er has exactly what he or she needs. The
customizer receives racquets from the manu-
facturer and prepares them specifically for
their clients, and often holds racquets in
reserve. If a player should need new racquets
while at a tournament, the customizer has
them ready to ship.
So the next time your customer asks for the
same racquet that a top player is using, you
can provide them with that model with a clear
conscience! Q
Contributing Editor Bob Patterson is
a 25-year veteran of the tennis
industry with experience in the retail
and manufacturing sectors. He
owned and operated a successful
tennis retail store for 15 years, writes for other
tennis publications and works as a consultant in
the industry.
We welcome your opinions. Please email com-
ments to RSI@racquetTECH.com.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com