Racquet Sports Industry

Sept/Oct 2011
Volume 39 Number 9 $5.00

www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Court Maintenance
Q How Often Should You Replace
Q Keeping Players Safe Indoors
Q Adding 10U Blended Lines
Racquets, Shoes & US Open Timing
Stringing Red Flags
Court Maintenance
Q How Often Should You Replace
Q Keeping Players Safe Indoors
Q Adding 10U Blended Lines
Racquets, Shoes & US Open Timing
Stringing Red Flags
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
R S I S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1
INDUSTRY NEWS
7 USTA invests $1.3 million
for 10U tennis
7 Get Your Game On at
USTPA Conference
7 TIA Board adds
Adidas, ASBA
8 Amex, USTA partner for
Fresh Courts program
8 Har-Tru to host
Maintenance Seminar
in NYC
9 Gamma debuts
Scor-Post Pro
9 Undefeated Kastles
win WTT title
9 PTR to host Professional
Development Weekend
10 Peoplewatch
10 Ashaway offers Dynamite 16
Tough tennis string
11 Sponsor package announced
for GSS attendees
12 Short Sets
14 Special 9/11 tributes before
US Open finals
4 Our Serve
7 Industry News
15 Junior Players
17 TIA News
18 Retailing Tip
20 Pioneers In Tennis: Rick Pray & Carol Anderson
22 Racquet Sports
44 Tips & Techniques
46 String Playtest: Gamma Zo Verve 17
48 Your Serve, by Denny Schackter
2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Cover photo courtesy of FDC-The Fast-Dry Company,
Pompano Beach, FL
24 Timing Gear
The US Open has always posed timing
issues for new product. But if manufac-
turers are not introducing racquets and
shoes, theyre still raising awareness of
their brands.
40 Stringing Red Flags
Amid the pressures of tournament string-
ing, the Wilson team has identifiedand
come up with solutions forpotential
problem areas.
27 How Often Should
You Replace . . .
These tips from contractors can help
you save your courts and equipment.
29 Safety Measures
Indoor tennis facilities have unique
challenges when it comes to keeping
players safe.
32 Inside the Lines
Adding blended lines for 10 and
Under Tennis is simple and cost-
effective.
36 Court Permissions
Make sure you have help navigating
the maze of building codes.
38 Court Products
A sampling of new, interesting or
attention-grabbing products for your
facility.
COURT CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE
Contents
Contents
Our Serve
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Technical Editor
Jonathan Wolfe
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Joe Dinoffer
Greg Moran
Kent Oswald
Bob Patterson
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
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Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
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bined issues in September/October and Novem-
ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330
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Number 9 2011 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All
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RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA
Tennis For America
4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Sept/Oct 2011
T
he US Open is a time for pro tennis to take center
stage, for the worlds best to come together at the
worlds biggest tournament, in front of the worlds
biggest tennis crowd, for the worlds biggest purse.
But the US Open isnt all about the pros. In fact, for all of us in the
tennis business, the US Open probably has more day-to-day relevance
not in how it influences and promotes pro tennis, but in how it influ-
ences recreational tennis in the U.S.
I think too few people realize what the US Open does for grassroots
tennis in this country, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars every
year. That money supports this entire industryit supports all of our
businesses.
Yes, the US Open is big business: Published estimates are that it gen-
erates more than $200 million in revenue each year and around $100
million in profits. (Ticket revenue is estimated to be $80 million; spon-
sorships about $60 million. And lets not forget the $420 million boost
it gives to the New York economy over the two weeks.)
More than $48 million of USTA money is earmarked for grassroots
tennis this year, and most of that money, the USTA told me recently,
comes from the US Open. That money goes to build and expand public
tennis courts, provide equipment, support junior and adult program-
ming, fund scholarships and grants, promote this sport, and more. It fil-
ters to all levels of the industryCTAs, NJTLs, schools, teaching pros,
facilities, retailers, manufacturers, media, organizations, etc.and
importantly, is used to grow participation, including the 10 and Under
Tennis initiative.
The US Open also supports the grassroots by serving as a gathering
place for the industry. During the Open, the TIA holds its Tennis Forum
to talk about the state of the industry (this year, its on Saturday, Aug.
27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt New York, as part of The Tennis
Show). It also is where the long-running USTA Tennis Teachers Confer-
ence is held (Aug. 27-30). And every year, the USTA Semi-Annual Meet-
ing takes place there (Sept. 3-7), bringing together hundreds of
volunteers to share ideas about growing this sport.
So when all of us in the industry, and consumers, buy tickets to the
Open, buy merchandise, watch the action on TV, and encourage our
members and customers to do the same, were not just supporting the
pros who play the event, were helping to support grassroots tennis, too.
And that makes the US Open, indeed, Tennis For America.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
I NDUSTRY NEWS
I NDUSTRY NEWS
I N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U R U N Y O U R B U S I N E S S
TIA Board Adds
Adidas, ASBA
The Tennis Industry Association
has added David Malinowski
(left), the tennis category manager
for Adidas, and Fred Stringfellow
(right), the executive director of
the American Sports Builders
Association (ASBA), to its board of
directors. Malinowski and
Stringfellow join Dave Miley of
the ITF, who was named in April,
as the newest members of the TIA
board.
Were pleased to have both
David and Fred join the TIA board
of directors, said TIA Executive
Director Jolyn de Boer. David and
Fred, along with Dave Miley, have
broad and valuable experience
that will help this industry and the
TIA as we work toward our three
key areas of focus: frequent player
growth, tennis economic growth,
and communications/positioning
to broaden the TIAs reach with
the industry and consumers.
Malinowski joined Adidas last
year and is responsible for all U.S.
tennis products and sales. As
ASBA executive director, Stringfel-
low represents nearly 400 compa-
nies in the sports facility
construction industry, including
builders, suppliers and designers
of tennis courts, tracks, sports
fields and indoor facilities.
R S I S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1
Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
T
he USTA will invest $1.3 million to introduce 10 and Under Ten-
nis in 26 communities. The USTAs goal over the next five years
is to bring 10 and Under Tennis to kids in more than 100 local
markets nationwide.
Each of the 26 communities will receive $50,000 in matching
grants from the USTA to be used to build new courts and adapt cur-
rent tennis courts to accommodate 10 and Under Tennis. In addition
to the national $50,000 grant, the markets will receive an additional
$50,000 grant from their respective USTA sections, for a total of $2.6
million invested in the communities.
Communities also will work with the USTA national office to
ensure local organizers are taught the proper techniques and skills to
implement 10 and Under Tennis. The USTA and its 17 sections will
work with schools, public parks and youth organizations to add ten-
nis to PE classes and after-school programs.
As kids develop their skills, they also will be encouraged to partic-
ipate in Play Days, USTA Jr. Team Tennis and USTA tournaments. The
$50,000 will be provided over a three-year period for communities to
add new programs.
With this approach, tennis has become the newest pick-up
sport, and we expect to see participation numbers increase dramati-
cally in the very near future, says Kurt Kamperman, the USTAs chief
executive of Community Tennis.
The USTA has created USTA.com/facilities for groups interested in
applying for court construction or renovation grants. As part of a pub-
lic-private partnership, the USTA will build courts in places where
local officials, public parks and schools commit to building tennis into
their core programming for kids.
For more info, visit 10andundertennis.com.
Get Your Game On at USPTA Conference in Sept.
T
he USPTAs World Conference on TennisGet Your Game Onwill be
Sept. 19-24 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla. More than
1,500 tennis-teaching pros, industry leaders, media and manufac-
turer representatives are expected to attend.
This years speakers include Tracy Almeda-Singian, Dr. Martin Baroch, Loren-
zo Beltrame, Martin Blackman, Craig Jones, Kurt Kamperman, Jose Higueras,
Page Love, Rick Macci, Patrick McEnroe, Luis Mediero, Emilio Sanchez Vicario,
Dave Kozlowski, Jorge Capestany and Kerri Whitehead.
The event also includes a Tennis Buying Show on Sept. 22. Exhibitors will include tennis
equipment, apparel and footwear companies, marketers and wholesalers of hard and soft goods,
video analysis, Web-based programs and software, teaching aids, court surfacing and lighting,
awards, educational materials, nutrition bars and vitamins, and more.
To register, or for more information, visit usptaworldconference.com.
USTA Invests $1.3 Million for 10U in 26 Markets
The 26
markets
receiving $50,000
grants are:
Amarillo, TX
Bay Area, CA
Boise, ID
Bridgeport, CT
Cary, NC
Charlottesville, VA
Columbus, OH
Corpus Christi, TX
Greenville/Spartanburg, SC
Hillsborough County, FL
Indianapolis, IN
Lexington, KY
Louisville, KY
Midland, MI
Milwaukee, WI
Montgomery County, MD
New Orleans, LA
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
Seminole County, FL
Shreveport, LA
St. Paul, MN
Stockton, CA
Trenton, NJ
Wellington, FL
Yonkers, NY
Huczek To Advise Ashaway on Products
A
shaway Racket Strings has announced that recently retired racquetball
World Champion Jack Huczek has agreed to help the company steer the
development of UltraKill and other product lines.
"Jack has been an Ashaway sponsored player for most of his career,
and recently has been very instrumental in the development of Ashaway's
new UltraKill product family," says Steve Crandall, Ashaways VP of mar-
keting.
"Certainly, there are few
people who understand more
about how string behaves in a
racquet than Jack. So despite
his decision to retire from
professional competition and
to pursue a new career with
Ericsson, we're pleased he is
keeping a finger in the rac-
quetball world a while
longer."
"Working with and acting as an ambassador for my sponsors has
always been an enjoyable part of being a professional racquetball player,"
Huczek says. "I've worked with Ashaway on the UltraKill family since its
inception. Im very pleased with the opportunity to continue that work
with Ashaway, and perhaps help out with some other products as well."
Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., based in Ashaway, R.I., is the only
U.S. manufacturer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball and bad-
minton. Visit ashawayusa.com.
S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1
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Amex, USTA Partner
for 2nd Annual Fresh Courts
A
merican Express is again partnering with the
USTA for its second annual Fresh Courts pro-
gram, a community funding effort that invests
in the renovation of existing tennis facilities
across the U.S. Launched in 2010, this years
program will support tennis facilities at La
Mesita Park in San Diego, Jefferson Recreation
Center in Washington D.C., North Avondale
Courts in Cincinnati and Astoria Park in
Queens, N.Y.
All work on the courts will be performed by
the USTAs Facility Assistance department and
will be funded by American Express. Work on
the facilities began in July, with the goal of hav-
ing all three sites completed by early fall. By
the end of 2011, the Fresh Courts program will
have successfully repaired 26 courts across the
country.
American Express will join local officials and
youth tennis players in each of these commu-
nities to celebrate the new Fresh Courts and to
honor individuals in each city who have helped
to bring the game of tennis to members of their
community with the Fresh Courts Community
Leadership Award. All award recipients will
travel to the US Open in September as guests of
American Express to watch the Mens and
Womens Doubles finals.
Tennis Fantasies
Israel Schedules Camp
T
ennis Fantasies Israel has scheduled its first Ten-
nis Fantasy Camp in Israel May 6-15, 2012. The
trip combines clinics, matches and sightseeing and
visits such places as Tel Aviv, Akko, Galilee and
Jerusalem, where participants will have the chance
to play at venues run by the Israel Tennis Center, in
addition to touring historic locations, museums and
other places of interest.
Tennis legends currently set to lead the group
include former U.S. Davis Cup players Brian Got-
tfried, Harold Solomon and Dick Stockton. For-
mer world No. 22 pro Shlomo Glickstein rounds
out the staff and will be the groups Israeli host.
The event costs $3,000, which includes all
transportation within Israel, breakfasts, two din-
ners, tennis, lodging tour guide and sightseeing
attractions. A portion of every registration fee will
benefit a new co-existence program for local Jew-
ish and Arab children involving tennis, families
and teachers.
For more information, contact program creator
Steve Contardi through tennisfantasiesisrael.net.
Sharapova, Wozniacki Top Forbes List
M
aria Sharapova, who hasnt won a Grand Slam title since 2008,
remains the worlds highest paid woman in professional sports for the
seventh straight year. The annual list, from Forbes magazine, shows the
Russians earning, mostly from off-court endorsements, at an estimated
$25 million, twice as much as her nearest rival, Denmarks Caroline Woz-
niacki, currently the world No. 1. Race car driver Danica Patrick was third
with $12 million.
Seven of the top 9 female earners were tennis players: 1) Sharapova,
$25 million; 2) Wozniacki, $12.5 million; 4) Venus Williams, $11.5 mil-
lion; 5) Kim Clijsters, $11 million; 6) Serena Williams, $10.5 million; 8) Li
Na, $8 million; 9) Ana Ivanovic, $6 million.
Har-Tru to Host Maintenance Seminar
H
ar-Tru Sports will host a Har-Tru Maintenance Certification Seminar on
Sept. 27-28 at Sportime at Randalls Island in New York City. The sem-
inar is designed for anyone managing, maintaining or considering
installing clay tennis courts, including club managers, teaching pros, court
builders and maintenance professionals.
The purpose of the seminar is to bring together leading experts on
indoor and outdoor clay courts to discuss the construction and mainte-
nance of clay. The seminar also will include information on the causes of
indoor and bubbled court surface compaction and what techniques are
being used to alleviate it.
For more information, contact Ed Montecalvo at 877-4HARTRU or
emontecalvo@hartru.com.
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
Ashaway Adds to UltraKill Racquetball Line
A
shaway Racket Strings has introduced UltraKill
16 racquetball string, which utilizes the same
Zyex core polymer as other members of the Ultra-
Kill family, but in a special, multi-stranded monofil-
ament construction that increases power and
resilience, says the company. This Zyex construc-
tion allows UltraKill 16 to maintain tension through-
out the life of the string for consistent performance,
says Ashaway, while the 16-gauge (1.30 mm) thick-
ness maximizes durability. For more information
visit ashawayusa.com.
Gamma Debuts Scor-Post Pro
G
amma Sports has come out with the Scor-Post Pro, the next generation
scoring device which replaces the discontinued Scor-Post. The newly
designed Scor-Post Pro is more durable than its predecessor, but maintains
a similar appearance on court.
The Scor-Post Pro has an extruded center column, molded ball cups that
can be individually replaced, and top and bottom caps that secure the cen-
ter column and ball cups in place. The molded top cap has channels that sup-
port Scor-Post Name Cards.
The Scor-Post Pro ($69.95 retail) uses tennis balls to score matches, with
standard scoring allowing for three traditional sets or an eight-game pro set.
The Scor-Post Pro ships with an all-metal support that attaches to the net
post with quick release hose clamps for easy court change over (no tools
needed). Scor-Post Name Cards, dry erase poly cards that identify players or
teams, are sold separately.
Top-Selling Tennis Strings
at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date units,
January - June, 2011
1. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex
2. Babolat RPM Blast
3. Wilson NXT
4. Wilson Sensation
5. Prince Lightning XX
Top-Selling Racquets
at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars,
January-March 2011
Best-Sellers
1. Babolat Aero Pro Drive GT (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Drive GT (MP)
3. Babolat Aero Pro Drive+ GT (MP)
4. Babolat Pure Drive Lite GT (MP)
5. Wilson BLX Six.One 95 16 x 18 (MS)
Hot New Racquets
(Introduced in the past 12 months)
1. Wilson BLX Blade (MP)
2. Prince EXO3 Red (2011) (OS)
3. Prince EXO3 Blue (2011) (OS)
4. Wilson BLX Cierzo Two (OS)
5. Prince EXO3 Tour 16 x 19 (MP)
Tennis Racquet Performance
Specialty Stores
January - June, 2011 vs. 2010
Units 2011 310,717
2010 320,274
% change v. 10 -3%
Dollars 2011 $44,546,000
2010 $45,248,000
% change v. 10 -2%
Price 2011 $143.37
2010 $141.28
% change v. 10 1%
Top-Selling Tennis Shoes
at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars,
January June, 2011
1. Prince T22
2. Adidas Barricade 6.0
3. Nike Air Breathe 2K10
4. Babolat Propulse 3
5. Nike Air Breathe Free 2
(Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys)
PTR to Host Professional Development Weekend
T
he PTR will hold its Professional Development Weekend
Oct. 6-9 at PTR Headquarters and Van der Meer Ship-
yard Racquet Club on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Among the speakers are Iaki Balzola, Dr. Louie Cap,
Doug Cash, Colleen Cosgrove and Judy Vogt, Craig Jones,
Kurt Kamperman, Anne Pankhurst, Tito Perez, Dr. Bryce Young and Tim Dr. Dirt
Wilkison. On court and classroom topics include How to Make Money with Quick-
Start, Great Games & Drills for Your Not so Great Juniors, How to Play Better Doubles
without Hitting a Ball, Coaching Philosophy, 30 Unique Error Detections & Correc-
tions, How to Run Junior Camps, Social Media for Tennis Pros, Hard & Clay Court
Maintenance and more! The event is open to everyone; registration is $349.
The PTR also is hosting a club and Facility Managers Conference at PTR Head-
quarters on HHI Oct. 5-7, which is designed for club owners, club managers and ten-
nis directors.
For information or to register, visit Events at ptrtennis.org or call 800-421-6289.
Undefeated Kastles Win World TeamTennis Title
T
he Washington Kastles completed the first perfect season in the 36-year history of
World TeamTennis, defeating the St. Louis Aces 23-19 in the WTT Finals in late July
in Charleston, S.C. It was the Kastles second WTT title in the last three years, in only its
fourth season as a franchise.
Three Kastles players were singled out for season honors: Leander Paes won male
MVP, Arina Rodionova won female rookie of the year and Murphy Jensen won coach of
the year. Liezel Huber of the runner-up St. Louis Aces won female MVP honors.
S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1
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The National Sporting Goods Association announced the
appointment of Dale Donaldson, owner of Mallard's Source for
Sports in Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, and the reappoint-
ment of Jeff Brusati, president of T&B Sports in San Rafael, CA to
the NSGA Board of Directors.
American pro Robert Kendrick says hell appeal his suspension
for doping violations. The ITF banded the 31-year-old for a year
after he tested positive for the banned substance known as
methylhexanamine (MHA) at the French Open.
Gamma Sports has hired Chris Nauman as national sales man-
ager for the tennis specialty sales channel in the U.S. He can be
reached at naumanc@gammasports.com.
Longtime USTA volunteer and contributor to tennis Mac Mac-
Dougal passed away July 7 following a battle with cancer.
Skirt Sports, the women's fitness apparel company based in
Boulder, Colo., has hired Leanne Hand as its vice president of mar-
keting. She previously worked for Dunlop-Slazenger, Russell Ath-
letic and Moving Comfort.
Venus Williams is the newest spokesperson for Jamba Juice.
Williams is also a Jamba Juice franchise store owner and plans to
open five stores in the Washington D.C. area over the next two
years.
Lindsay Davenport, expecting her third child, was forced to
withdraw from the World TeamTennis Pro League season after
her doctor put her on travel and activity restrictions. In July, Dav-
enport tweeted that things are better and looks like another
girl. She and her husband, Jonathan Leach, have a boy, 4, and
girl, 2.
James Blakes lawyers submitted a proposal to the Bridgeport,
Conn., Board of Parks Commissioners in July to build a $4 million,
private funded tennis facility with seven indoor courts. The hope is
to have the facility ready by September 2012.
USTA First Vice President Dave Haggerty will be inducted into
the USTA Middle States Section Hall of Fame in Octo-
ber. Former ATP CEO Mark Miles will be inducted
into the USTA Midwest Section Hall of Fame in
December.
Top badminton players Kyle Emerick (top) and
Sarun Vivatpatanakul (bottom) have joined the Wil-
son Badminton Team and have signed long-term
agreements with Wilson Sporting Goods.
George Acker, longtime mens tennis coach at
Kalamazoo College, died on July 20.
Former world No. 3 Elena Dementieva married her long-
time boyfriend, hockey pro Maxim Afinogenov, in Moscow.
Gigi Rock is the new commissioner of the Womens Professional
Racquetball Tour.
Chris Walling of Atlanta has been named USTA Southern Direc-
tor of Adult Tennis and Section League Coordinator. He has served
in his present position as the Local League Coordinator for USTA
Atlanta for three-and-a-half years.
Alexios Halebian of Glendale, Calif., and Luca Corinteli of
Alexandria, Va., who live together at the USTA Training Center-
Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., captured the boys 18s and 16s
singles titles, respectively, at the 2011 USTA National Clay Court
Championships in Delray Beach in July. Gabrielle Andrews of
Pomona, Calif., won girls 18s singles title at the Racquet Club of
Memphis.
PE OPL E WATC H
PTR Receives NCACE Accreditation
P
TR announced that it has gained Level 5 accreditation from the
National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education
(NCACE) for its Master of Tennis Performance program.
We congratulate PTR for recognizing the value of having an
accredited coaching education program, wrote NCACE Executive
Director Christopher Hickey. PTR has shown that it is a leader
among leaders. Your Master of Tennis coaching education pro-
gram will serve as a prototype for other organizations seeking to
promote excellence in coaching preparation.
NCACE, a division of AAPHERD, promotes and facilitates
coaching competence within all levels of amateur sport by over-
seeing and evaluating the quality of coaching education programs.
In addition, NCACE endorses comprehensive standards for sport
practitioners, including: volunteer, interscholastic, collegiate, and
elite coaches. Through accreditation, NCACE provides leadership
and guidance to coaching education providers.
Ashaway Offers Dynamite 16 Tough
A
shaway Racket Strings' new Dynamite 16 Tough tennis
strings utilize Zyex core resin in a special, multi-strand-
ed monofilament
construction that
increases power and
resilience, says the
company. Zyex con-
struction allows the
16-gauge Dynamite
16 Tough to maintain
tension throughout
the life of the string
for consistent per-
formance, according
to Ashaway. Visit ash-
awayusa.com for
info.
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
Sponsor Package Announced for GSS Attendees
T
he fifth annual GSS racquet stringers symposium, to be held Sept. 24-28 at Saddle-
brook Resort in Tampa, announces a new sponsorship, says symposium founder
and owner Tim Strawn. Babolat, Gamma, Prince and Wilson will be
involved in a joint effort to sponsor the event this year. Each symposium
attendee will receive a triple racquet thermal bag, 12 sets of premium
string, and a premium racquet from one of the four companies.
Were fortunate to have such great support from these companies,
Strawn says. The retail value of this giveaway is between $350 to
$450 and this is just one part of the overall package attendees will
receive. This should go a long way in offsetting the registration
costs to attend this year.
GSS also welcomes Nathan Price, Princes global manager for
strings, grips, accessories, and stringing machines. Price will host an open round-
table session as well as conduct the popular Prince speed-stringing contest.
The symposium has added several new speakers as well as eight new seminars.
Visit grandslamstringers.com or call 540-632-1148.
ASBA Sees Record Number of Award Applicants
T
he American Sports Builders Association, the national organization for builders
and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has announced an all-time high
number of entrants in its annual awards program. This year, members entered a
total of 126 projects to the awards program, an increase from the pre-
vious high of 87.
Awards are given for tennis courts, running
tracks, indoor multi-purpose facilities, and sports
fields. There were 40 tennis projects submitted for
awards: 21 outdoor facilities, 16 residential courts and 3
indoor tennis facilities. For info, visit sportsbuilders.org.
USTA Serves Grants $400K in Scholarships
U
STA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA,
will grant 78 high school students a variety of college schol-
arships totaling over $400,000. Each year, USTA Serves awards
scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA
and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated
high academic achievement, and require financial assistance for col-
lege matriculation.
Among the awards are:
Q Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award (one $15,000 award): Claire Hafner, sen-
ior, St. Charles East High School, St. Charles, IL.
Q Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (two students each receive $10,000): Tyler
McGinnis, senior, home-schooled, Washington, D.C., and Christopher Hunter,
senior, Half Hollow Hills High School, Melville, NY.
Q Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (two students each receive $7,500): Grace
Trimble, senior, home-schooled, Winchester, KY, and Christopher Barnes, senior,
University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Royal Oak, MI.
Q Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (two students receive $2,500): Rachel
Knight, senior, Fife High School, Puyallup, WA, and Brandon Schlack, senior, Los
Alamitos, Long Beach, CA.
Q USTA Serves College Education Scholarship (55 students each receive $6,000)
Q USTA Serves College Textbook Scholarship (16 students each receive $1,000)
Social Networking Making a
Mark on Fitness & Exercise
S
ocial networking and Generation Ys
focus on technology might be having a
dramatically different impact on Americas
fitness patterns than many assume, accord-
ing to the 2011 Tracking the Fitness Move-
ment, released recently by the SGMA.
Rather than locking young people into
an inactive lifestyle, social media may be
driving the younger generation into new
forms of fitness activities, the report says.
Highlighting Gen Ys (those born
between 1980 and 1999) physical fitness
trend is the growing interest in group exer-
cise. High-impact aerobics, step aerobics
and group stationary cycling activities
have all increased more than 20 percent in
participation within the past three years.
In tennis, the TIA-managed Cardio Ten-
nisan on-court group fitness program,
has seen rapid growth. The latest research
shows that more than 1.5 million people
have engaged in Cardio Tennis since its
inception in 2005 and that participation
has grown 81 percent from 2008 to 2010.
S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 1
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>
Defending US Open champs Rafael
Nadal and Kim Clijsters, world No. 1
Novak Djokovic, former US Open champi-
on Andy Roddick and 2010 US Open
Wheelchair champ David Wagner will
team up with actor Bradley Cooper, New
York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony, and
pop star Cody Simpson at the 16th Annu-
al Arthur Ashe Kids Day on Aug. 27 at the
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Cen-
ter in Flushing, N.Y.
>
The 2011 US Open prize money purse
hit a record $23.7 million. Both the mens
and womens US Open singles champions
will earn a record $1.8 million.
>
Fila Luxembourg, S.a.r.l entered into a
multi-year licensing agreement with Berk-
shire Fashions Incorporated for the design,
manufacture and sale of Fila branded
accessories for the US market. The line will
launch in the fall and will feature mens,
womens, boys and girls styles.
>
Through July, the USTA added 15,000
new 10 and under members, through its
First Year Free Membership offer for
kids, which will run through the end of the
year.
>
The U.S. will host Belarus in the first
round of the 2012 Fed Cup, Feb. 4-5. The
site is still to be determined.
>
The 27th annual Wimbledon Racquet,
Clothing & Equipment Census carried out
by Sports Marketing Survey Inc., which
measures the brands competitors use at
each event throughout the tournament,
placed Wilson as the overall No. 1 racquet
brand at Wimbledon 2011, with 191 play-
ers (32 percent) selecting this brandan
increase of six players since 2010.
>
Canadian tennis star and current world
No. 29 Milos Raonic unveiled the Lacoste
Tribute shoe collection in downtown
Toronto in July, which honors tennis leg-
end and company founder Rene Lacoste.
Raonic, who has reached as high as No. 25
on the ATP Tour, is Canadas highest ever
ranked player.
>
The National Association of Tourna-
S HORT S E TS
ment Directors (NATD), a new association
designed to bring together tournament
directors of all sports, has named sports
industry veterans Louise Waxler as Presi-
dent/CEO and Mike Chandler as Vice Presi-
dent of Sports Industry Relations. Visit
NATDweb.org.
>
The USTA is teaming up with Andre
Agassi and Stefanie Graf to encourage chil-
dren to get healthy, active and into the
game through the USTAs 10 and Under
Tennis program. The collaboration includes
a new 30-second commercial, titled Story
Time, airing during the US Open.
>
The Southlake Tennis Center in Texas
won the 2011 USTA Facility of the Year
Award, which will be presented during the
US Open in New York. The award recog-
nizes outstanding efforts in tennis facility,
tennis programming and contribution to the
game of tennis.
>
Former pro players Katrina Adams, Leslie
Allen, Rodney Harmon and Ann Koger
coached and spoke to juniors at USTA East-
erns 13th annual Camp A.C.E. (Achieving
through Coaching and Education). The
camp, which ran from July 24 -30, is a
National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL)
Regional Leadership camp, which provides
world-class tennis and fitness instruction,
and sessions on finance, careers, and col-
lege admissions.
>
Nike is facing new claims of worker
abuse in Indonesia. The report stemmed
from interviews in March and April by the
Associated Press of dozens of workers at
Pou Chen Group factory in Sukabumi,
about 60 miles from Jakarta that make
Converse shoes. Among the charges are
that supervisors throw shoes at workers,
slap and kick them, and call them dogs and
pigs.
>
Auburn, Ala. has been selected to host
the 2012 and 2013 USTA Southern Jr. Team
Tennis Championships.
>
Pressureball is a resusable, flexible pres-
surized tube that its creator, Barry Mulder,
says will maintain the bounce in new balls
and will restore the bounce in balls that
have lost their pressure. The tube, which
sells for $19.90, can hold up to eight ten-
nis balls and is inflated with any pump,
such as a bicycle pump. For info, visit
pressureball.com.
>
K-Swiss Inc. reported that net loss for
the six months ended June 30 was $29.9
million, or 84 cents a share, compared
with a net loss of $19.2 million, or 55
cents per share, for the six months ended
June 30, 2010.
>
USTA has been named one of the
CIO 100. CIO is a magazine and web-
site for information technology execu-
tives, and it honors 100 organizations
that have distinguished themselves by
creating business value through the use
of IT.
>
USTA Eastern says that 4all by jofit
womens tennis apparel brand will outfit
one of the sections Adult League teams
that will advance to the USTA National
Championships in the fall.
>
Are you a tennis pro or facility director
looking for an Apple iPad2 app for lesson
tracking, video, lesson history, a chalk-
board and other features? Check out
10sPro, available at the iTunes store (or at
portland10s.com for more info), devel-
oped by longtime pro Mike Stone.
>
Nike signed a five-year lease for
26,000 square feet at a Beaverton prop-
erty adjacent to its world headquarters.
More than 100 employees will work in
administration and lab research at the
new office space.
>
Under Armour Inc. reported revenues
increased 42.2 percent in the second
quarter, to $291.3 million from $204.8
million in the prior year. Net income
increased 77.1 percent to $6.2 million, or
12 cents a share, from $3.5 million, or 7
cents, a year ago.
>
Adidas AG raised its forecast for 2011
after profit and sales came in better than
expected in the second quarter. The com-
pany says its sales are now expected to
increase 10 percent.
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2011 Stringers Digest
T
he 2011 edition of The Stringers Digest,
containing about 6,000 stringing patterns
for all types of racquets (including 113 pat-
terns added this year), is now available for
USRSA members. This indispensable tool for
all stringers and pro shops has detailed
stringing instructions for virtually ever ten-
nis, racquetball, squash and badminton
frame in circula-
tion. It is the
only source in
this industry
for this infor-
mation, and
it includes
stringing
patterns for
frames that
have long
been dis-
continued
by their
manufac-
turers. For more
information on The Stringers Digest,
call the USRSA at 760-536-1177 or visit
www.racquettech.com.
Congratulations To the Following
For Achieving MRT Status
New MRTs
Karina Prieto Orlando, FL
Sebastian Toro Orlando, FL
Tim Goetz Fayetteville, NC
Brandon Arradaza Big Rapids, MI
Dan Leyer Bryn Mawr, PA
Karen Lavi Bryn Mawr, PA
Brett Snyder Houston, TX
Oliver Jones Newton Square, PA
New CSs
Phil Gaerlan Colorado Springs, CO
Michelle Tran San Diego, CA
Chris Capps Fort Myers, FL
Nattie Chan Oberlin, OH
Special 9/11 Tributes Before US Open Finals
T
he US Open and the USTA will remember those whose lives were lost on
Sept. 11, 2001, with a pair of pre-match ceremonies in Arthur Ashe Stadi-
um before both the mens and womens finals.
Prior to the start of the prime-time womens singles final on Saturday
night, Sept. 10, there will be a special performance by Grammy and Emmy
Award-winner Cyndi Lauper. On Sunday, Queen Latifahmusician, televi-
sion and film actress, label president and authorwill preside over a tribute
before the start of the mens singles final. Queen Latifah performed at the
US Opens first ever Opening Night Ceremony in 2002, which was 9/11
themed.
For both the womens and mens singles championships 9-11-01 will
be inscribed on Arthur Ashe Stadium court as part of this memorial tribute.
The USTA also will include on the upper ring encircling Arthur Ashe Stadi-
um the 9/11 memorial logo developed by the City of New York.
The USTAs goal is to mark this solemn occasion in a dignified and
respectful manner, said Jon Vegosen, USTA chairman of the board and
president. We are one of this nations global stages on the 10th anniversary
of 9/11, and we have a special responsibility to honor those fallen and those
who responded heroically on that fateful day.
Each ceremony will include a moment of silence and the unfurling of a
giant American flag over the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium by a U.S. Marines
Corps color guard. On Sunday, the 10th anniversary, the two mens players
competing in the final will enter the court through an honor guard com-
prised of members of the New York Police Department, the Fire Depart-
ment of New York and the Port Authority Police, and there also will be a
military flyover at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Sept/Oct 2011 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15
Junor Payers
Dr.Robert Heller is a psychologist, sport
psychology consultant and certified tennis
teaching professional based in Boca Raton,
Florida and author of the mental training
program, TENNISMIND. He can be reached
at www.mentalskillstennis.com or
info@robertheller.net.
represent their product lines to the pub-
lic. With the potential to offer players
great rewards and financial incentives,
they have raised the bar and are seeking
not only great players, but great people. Q
Here are some of the
key questions Merritt asked
the young athletes and parents
to reflect on:
Q Do you carry yourself
proudly?
Q Do you hold your ten-
nis bag properly?
Q Do you control your-
self physically and
mentally when things
arent going well?
Q Do you fight hard when
faced with adversity, or do you
check out?
Q Do you play independently or look at
your coach or parent after each point?
Q Are you fearless or do you push the
ball to win?
Q Are you mature or are you a whiner
and complainer?
Q Are you respectful toward your oppo-
nent and yourself?
Q Do you demonstrate good sportsman-
ship on and off the court?
Q Do you have good pre-match prepara-
tion habits, whether it be relaxing in
solitude or jumping rope?
Q Finally, do you love to compete to win
a tough point at match point or are you
hoping your opponent double faults?
The areas that Merritt addressed are
many of the same ones I work on with
my clients in my role as a sports psy-
chology consultant. By focusing on devel-
oping these attitudes and behaviors,
young athletes will not only perform bet-
ter, theyll stand a far greater chance of
landing endorsements with sporting
good companies that can pay handsome
dividends for years to come.
If it sounds like sponsors are some-
thing of a big brother, thats probably
true. They have a lot of influence and
have decided to use it to encourage the
development of players who can best
ith the enormous finan-
cial costs associated with
pursuing a college tennis
scholarship, let alone a possible career
as a professional tennis player, most
tennis families are seeking avenues to
help defray the expenses. Getting a
sponsorship with a major sporting
goods company may be a worthwhile
path to pursue for your junior players.
But also, a lot of the qualities compa-
nies look for when deciding which
juniors to sponsor are qualities we
should be cultivating in all our young
players.
At the 2011 National Spring Clay
Court Boys and Girls 12 and Under
Championships held in Delray Beach
and Boca Raton, Fla., Ivan Baron, the
director/promoter of the tournament,
arranged a mandatory meeting for
registrants that included a talk by the
head talent scout for Prince Sports,
Ken Merritt.
I was delighted that Merritt started
his talk setting the tone for the tourna-
ment, Unsportsmanship behavior
wont get you a sponsorship, even if
you are the No. 2 junior in the coun-
try. The days of McEnroe and Con-
nors are gone.
He went on to say that rankings
accounted for less than 1 percent of
the decision to offer players sponsor-
ships down the road. Prince, he said,
is looking for leaders and feels this
is true of many of the sporting goods
companies. Prince has a staff of six
full-time scouts along with numerous
part-time staffers who travel the junior
tennis circuit looking to develop long-
term relationships with promising
juniors. These scouts, often unnoticed
and anonymous, observe not only
matches but how players conduct
themselves off the court as well.
v
Cultivating a
Winning Character
BY DR. ROBE RT HE L L E R
Unsportsman-
shp Lehavor
won't get you a
sponsorshp, even
you are the No.
junor n the
country. The days
o NcEnroe and
Connors are gone.
Retailing
This is part of a series of
retail tips presented by
the Tennis Industry
Association and written
by the Gluskin Townley
Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).
Q Start a conversation with your cus-
tomers that includes gathering infor-
mation about them so you can better
provide what they want and need.
Gather information at the point of sale
and continue to gather info as the relation-
ship grows. It will take some time, but ide-
ally youll want to know their preferences
for products and services, how they play,
what they want their tennis equipment to
do for them, their style of play, their pref-
erences with apparel. Also note other fam-
ily members, birthdays, whether they like
playing competitive tournaments, social
round-robins, where they like to play, type
of surface they play on most frequently,
etc. There is a ton of information you can
glean just by asking the right questions
and listening to your customers.
Many specialty retailers keep this type
of customer information on file. Your
point-of-sale system may be able to store
this kind of data. Make sure everyone
working at your store is trained and edu-
cated about fully utilizing your POS system
to support your consumer-centricity.
Your stores ongoing conversation with
your customers will build loyalty and
repeat business, and it is critical to enjoy-
ing increased revenue and profitability!
Coming Up:
How to keep your product portfolio easy
to understand for consumers. Q
Deliver
Lifestyle Solutions
The point here is that, if you are product-
centric, youre telling a shopper all about
the tennis racquet your staff person thinks
they should buy. But that simply doesnt
work nearly as well from a revenue growth
and net profit standpoint as being con-
sumer-centricand focusing your whole
store on listening, suggesting and delivering
individual tennis lifestyle solutions to your
customers.
So, what does it mean to be a con-
sumer-centric tennis specialty store?
Q The store and the organization are built
from the customer perspective in, not
the retail perspective out.
Have an ongoing, honest, and frank
conversation with your customers who did
buy and shoppers who didnt buy from you
about what they like or dont like about
your store operations and their shopping
experience. Dont be afraid to ask them,
What can we do to make your experience
here more enjoyable and useful?
Q The retail shopping process is easy to
understand, pleasant, and customers
have more control over the entire retail
experience.
This includes your website and use of
social media, your product portfolio, mer-
chandise planning and a comfortable and
clean store environment.
Q The shopping experience is tailored and
personalized to different customer
needs and shopping occasions.
Staff your store with customer-service
naturalspeople who really want to be of
service, and who are trained to really listen
to tennis shoppers wants and needs and
who make suggestions about individual
tennis lifestyle solutions.
ur case studies show that
one of the keys to Opera-
tional Excellence for inde-
pendent specialty retailers is a
commitment to being truly con-
sumer-centric. From our experience
most specialty tennis retailers would
argue they are consumer-centric, but
on this count, most would be wrong.
The difference between thinking
you are consumer-centric and actual-
ly being consumer-centric is putting
the customer first and really listening
to what their wants and needs are,
and focusing on providing tennis
lifestyle solutions, not just products.
A big part of this difference is gather-
ing as much information about your
customers as possible, and using that
information to the advantage of your
customers.
It doesnt matter if your store
business plan and target consumers
are fit, athletic tennis players, or fam-
ilies, or senior players, or junior play-
ersor any combination. To achieve
and sustain any reasonable growth in
todays marketa market that is
totally controlled by consumersyou
are going to have to change the way
you do business from being product-
centric to being totally consumer-
centric.
With a consumer-centric store
strategy, the product becomes the
tail, which you then are able to
wag to attract and retain cus-
tomers. But if the tail wags the
store, youre not servicing your cus-
tomers the way they want to be ser-
viced, and you end up chasing them
to your competition.
O
Is Your Store
Consumer-Centric?
From a revenue growth and net profit
standpoint, you should focus on consumers
first rather than product.
Pioneers In Tennis
"Pioneers in Tennis," an occasional column in RSI, draws attention to trailblazers in the sport. Have someone to suggest?
E-mail rsi@racquettech.com.
Rick Pray & Carol Anderson:
Connecting With Stringers
don't like this racquet; it doesn't play
well so I'm just going to get a different
brand.' It was very hard at first to get
people to understand that it wasn't the
dealers who needed instructions; it was
the small-business owners or indepen-
dent stringers."
It was an argument that finally
worked, and USRSA's annual Stringers
Digest was started. Each edition con-
tained the latest in racquet stringing
patterns for all racquets on the market.
In 1974, Rick Pray suffered a cata-
strophic injury while hang-gliding,
which left him partially paralyzed. He
died in 1979, leaving Carol in charge of
ATS and USRSA.
It was shortly afterward, as Carol,
was struggling to manage both opera-
tions, that a woman named Jill Fonte
came into the office, seeking a job. Jill
and Carol had an instant rapport. "She
hired me to be kind of her right-hand
person," recalls Fonte. "She was run-
ning the two companies and I was
young and energetic and a tennis
enthusiast."
Carol recognized Jill's innate ability
to move USRSA forward. "We were a
wonderful team together," says Fonte.
"I liked everything about working with
Carol; she was very much a mentor in
so many ways. I learned a lot from her
example."
Carol eventually left USRSA in Jill's
hands, and continued to work with ATS.
She is now fully retired, and spends her
time traveling. USRSA now has a world-
wide membership of more than 7,000.
In addition to publications, a website
and more, it offers workshops and a
certification program. ATS has contin-
ued as well, with a strong online pres-
ence.
"Carol is just amazing," says Fonte,
"and so was Rick."
Mary Helen Sprecher Q
mets and more to home-based stringers
and small pro shops. He also started the
U.S. Racquet Stringers Association
(USRSA). Carol took the lead role there,
but following conventional wisdom that
male executives got more respect, used
the masculine name of "Carroll" in all
her correspondence as executive director
of the association.
Both ATS and USRSA flourished. ATS
provided valuable monthly business
advice to customers along with putting
small personalized gifts in every outgo-
ing order. Catalogs were printed, first in
black-and-white, then in color. USRSA,
meanwhile, established itself as the key
source for stringing information. Monthly
member newsletters, "The Stringers
Assistant," contained information includ-
ing stringing information on new rac-
quets and strings, technical discussions,
tension information, stringing machines,
re-gripping, re-sizing, etc.
Rick and Carol would attend tennis
trade shows and lobby racquet compa-
nies to make stringing information avail-
able to the USRSA. Carol remembers it
as a challenging time.
"I would go up to Wilson and say,
"Do you have stringing patterns for the
T2000 or the T3000?' They would just
look surprised and say, 'Well, all our
dealers have that.' I would say, 'Yes, I'm
aware of that but maybe you don't know
that a player who can't get a racquet
strung the right way is going to say, 'I
he old clichsworking together
can ruin a marriage, don't take
your work home with you, etc.
never seemed to apply to Richard Pray
and Carol Anderson. In fact, their at-
home partnership fueled their entrepre-
neurial style, leading them to new joint
discoveries.
When Rick Pray, who had a lifelong
interest in sportsfootball, hang-glid-
ing, body-building, surfingplayed ten-
nis, Carol played with him. They
quickly discovered their hometown of
Chico, Calif., lacked a racquet stringer,
and that racquets had to be sent all the
way to Sacramento for stringing, usual-
ly by someone with a home-based busi-
ness. It caused needless delays and
yielded results that were uneven at
best.
"Well," says Anderson, "in business,
the rule is you find a need and you fill
it."
Pray couldn't resist the challenge, or
the inherent opportunity. He invested in
a tabletop stringing machine and began
experimenting. He strung his own rac-
quets, then Andersons, then those of
friends. Together, he and Carol uncov-
ered a disconnect in the industry.
Strings and grip material could be pur-
chased, but not in the small quantities a
small-business owner would use. Even
instructions for stringing patterns were
lacking.
As Anderson sat at home one night,
Pray watched her knit. She was using a
pattern, and as she followed those
instructions, he realized similarly easy-
to-follow material for stringers didn't
exist. The stringing industry, he decid-
ed, needed a voice, as well as a compa-
ny that catered to the many small
business owners that comprised it.
In the late 1960s, Rick started Asso-
ciated Tennis Suppliers (ATS), which
sold and shipped strings, grips, grom-
T
Racquet Sports
partners first met and where Roberts first
began to coach Shortz.
Some area teens have already begun
to make the club part of their after-school
day and, as the club sits minutes from
the train station, a few top amateurs had
already made the trip up from NYC in
the very first days after the doors
opened. Additional players are being
sought through school exhibitions and by
reaching out to local colleges with aspira-
tions to engage in the growing intercolle-
giate club play.
Roberts, who gained his international
stature despite a late start in the game at
13, says that one of his main goals is
that, I would like to get a lot of kids
involved in the sport. He also talks
about making the club a training center
for those in the area desiring to play
at the sports highest level. (To this
end, the club has hired Rawle
Alleyne, the former Barbados national
team coach.) Monday nights are
beginners nights, Tuesdays are for
kids, and there are current training
programs both for young players and
the elderly.
A four-star tournament featuring
international players and a $3,000
first prize purse is planned for early
fall, as is one for area high school and
college players. A key to success for both
the tournaments and the club will be cor-
porate sponsorships.
Despite the business requirements,
neither partner seems overwhelmed by
the money hunt. They are both in it for
love of the game, the people, and the
friendships. Says Shortz, I dont want to
lose the whole reason for starting the
club. Q
entire 40,000-square-foot building hous-
ing businesses ranging from a print shop
to a martial arts school before opening
the club. Its crazy as an investment, he
explains, [but] it works for me.
In addition to more top-of-the-line
tables than any other American club, the
$750,000 investment prior to opening
included new air conditioning, splitting
the space into a main room and five-table
party room, mens and womens show-
ers, lockers, storage space for bleachers
to come out during tournament play, and
setting aside space for a pro shop to be
stocked with high-end equipment from all
the major manufacturers and a caf.
The club opens every day from early
afternoon to late evening. The year-one
membership goalabout halfway
achieved within two months of opening
is 300, with adults paying $300 and
under-20s $200 for unlimited play. A
days play is also available for $10 ($7 for
students).
The base is expected to be the River-
towns Table Tennis Cluba nomadic
100-plus group who for years shifted
nightly through Westchester County, N.Y.,
venuesin whose membership the two
an you capture the intimacy that
makes a game special within a
cavernous 13,000 square feet of
commercial space? Thats the challenge
for the two partners in the recently
opened Westchester Table Tennis Cen-
terNew York Times crossword puzzle
editor Will Shortz and former Caribbean
table tennis champion and Barbados
Olympian Robert Roberts.
Shortz (above, right) and Roberts
(left) are gambling on a shared passion
and the wave of interest in ping pong
that has seen 10-year participation
growth of 53 percent to about 19.5 mil-
lion core players and $46 million in rev-
enues, according to a 2011 Sporting
Goods Manufacturers Association Partici-
pation Study. Then theres the celebrity
attention table tennis is getting, for
instance, with actress Susan Saran-
don and partners rolling out their
SPiN parlors around the world, mix-
ing a bar scene and the thwack,
click, thwack, of a hollow, gas-filled
celluloid ball speeding and spinning
from rubber paddle to coated table
top to paddle and back.
The pleasure Shortz and Roberts
take in the sport is obvious as the
two friends set up catty-corner to
rally for a few minutes across one
of the 18 Double Happiness Rainbow
tables that help set their Pleasantville,
N.Y., parlor far apart from the games
clichd basement venues. Not as imme-
diately clear is whether the financial
gamble to create a table tennis empori-
um catering to everyone from novice to
international paddle master will pay off.
Shortz, star of the 2006 movie
Wordplay, bought a half interest in the
C
For These Friends, a New Table
Tennis Venue Solves the Puzzle
BY KE NT OS WAL D
For These Friends, a New Table
Tennis Venue Solves the Puzzle
TIMING GEAR
RACQUETS & SHOES
BY KE NT OS WAL D
A
mericas greatest tennis event
comes at practically the worst time
on the calendar for the tennis indus-
try: The fortnight when the sport takes
center stage in this country occurs as the
selling season is in its dying ember
phase.
Imagine the sales and marketing tie-
ins missed with a late August, early Sep-
tember event coinciding with many
players stowing their tennis gear into
months-long hibernation. How many
more racquets could be sold if the US
Open took place earlier in the year,
around the time the tour touches down
in Indian Wells or Key Biscayne?
Its not that manufacturers are com-
pletely ignoring opportunities to raise
awareness of their products at the Open.
Head, for example, counts on receiving the
promotional benefit of endorsees Novak
Djokovic playing with the YouTek IG Speed
Pro and Maria Sharapova and Tomas Berdych
playing with their YouTek IG Instincts as part of
the buzz emanating from Flushing Meadows.
Although the players have been hitting with the
new sticks since spring, the company only
began in early August to ship stores the YouTek
IG Instinct MP and YouTek IG Instinct S rac-
quets. Similarly, the company also stepped up
its promotion of the newly released Radical
Pro II shoe for men.
With more than 70,000 of its US Open
balls in use during the two weeks of play,
Wilson, too, is relying on a lot of free tele-
vision face time for the brand as a
key to its Open marketing. As for
the actual faces fans will see
reminding them of who is the
largest player in the tennis industry,
the tour team includes Roger Federer
playing with the Six.One Tour BLX; Sere-
na and Venus Williams hitting with the
Blade Team BLX; and Wimbledon champ
Petra Kvitova relying on the Tour BLX. Wil-
son also has produced a special edition NYC
shoe in its top-of-the-line Tour Vision line that
incorporates NYC 2011 embroidery and a new
colorway.
Rather than officially launching a new racquet
or shoe at the Open, Prince is looking to drive sales
with a consumer campaign. Purchases in August and
September from the companys EXO 3 racquet line
with its promise of edge-to-edge responsereceive an
automatic discount of $30 off. That promotion followed on
the heels of a global Facebook campaign encouraging peo-
ple to like the company for the chance to win a 3-day, 2-
night trip for two VIPs to New York.
Babolat focused its Open-related promotional efforts on
building ties through its endorsees, inviting video posts of
kids 17 and younger hitting shots inspired by a Babolat pro.
The company scheduled weekly rounds of online voting for
fan favorites through the Open. Final votes will be cast in
the tournaments afterglow and one boy and one girl will
each win a trip to Indian Wells in the spring in recognition
of their ability to caricaturize a Babolat pro.
During last years Open, Dunlop used its outdoor voice
to launch its Biomimetic sticks. While the company will be
extending the line featuring benefits imitative of natures genius
further into the fall and claims sales have exceeded expectations,
they are using their indoor voice promoting the newest addi-
tions, the 100 and 200 Tour. Aimed at a niche player market,
the racquetsthe former with a smaller head and latter with
some added heftare scheduled for limited distribution through
specific speciality shops.
As much as any company, Yonex aligns its product rollouts
and promotions directly with the tennis calendar. Its new VCore
racquets and Power Cushion (three-layer) shoes were introduced
in the States during the spring. For the Japanese-based company,
the Open is all about star power at both ends of the age spectrum
as a marketing force. At one edge, the company stands to attract
attention if this turns out to be the first Major triumph for Caro-
line Wozniacki and her VCore 100S. At the other extreme, every
ball hit by Kimiko Date-Krumm, 40, with her S-Fit racquet will be
The US Open has always posed timing issues for new
product. But if manufacturers are not introducing
racquets and shoes, theyre still raising awareness of
their brands.
TIMING GEAR
Wilson
Six.One Tour
BLX and
special
edition NYC
2011 shoe
Dunlop
Biomimetic 200 Tour
one more clean winner in strengthening ties with players
who have left their school days far behind.
Similar to the racquet manufacturers, Adidas wont be
launching any new styles at the Open but will hope the
hoopla (and sales) come courtesy of its second-week war-
riors. Andy Murray will be wearing the Barricade 6.0; Fer-
nando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga the adiZero Feather;
and Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova the adiZero Tem-
paia.
By way of contrast, K-Swiss will launch a new shoe around
the US Open. Its goal will be to focus industry and consumer
attention on the use of its Tubes Technology cushioning for the
first time in this market with the launch of the Tubes Tennis 100.
Creating Buzz
While some larger manufacturers have marquee player endorsements and big-
time (for tennis, at least) marketing budgets, more specialized manufacturers
count on the annual gathering of insiders and tennis specialists to create word-of-
mouth buzz that will ripple out into the tennis world through the fall and encourage spe-
cialty shops and teaching pros to consider making a bigger push in the new year
for the companys racquets with their customers.
Pacific, for example, will be talking up its new X-Fast Pro 100,
released earlier this summer. Directly correlating to the companys
origins in string technology, the racquet was designed back-
wards from the interplay of ball and strings and then to the
frame, which in this case was created to complement aggres-
sive games heavy on power and spin.
Similarly, Tecnifibre rolled
out its new family of racquets
using VO2 Max (promising
exceptional control and
stability) and Tour Pre-
pared technologies (a
layer of silicon in the
handle to minimize
polyester string-relat-
ed vibration) during the
US Open Series. As with
most smaller players,
hopes for marketing pop
from the Open itself will rely
on the individual success of dark
horses. In Tecnifibres case this
means strong second-week perfor-
mances by Janko Tipsarevic or Marcos
Baghdatis, or perhaps even Roland Garros
junior champ American Bjorn Fratangelo.
And Donnay, which relaunched the brand in the
U.S. earlier in the year with the thin-framed, relatively lighter
X-P Dual frames, will release its Dual Pro in conjunction with the
Open. Following the Open, the brand will ramp up its footprint with spon-
sorship of Jim Couriers Champions Series, the 12-city, September-October
senior tour featuring Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Mats
Wilander, Bjorn Borg and Michael Chang.
With racquet, shoe and all other tennis technology improving, the US Open promises to be
a great fortnight for the game. Still, on behalf of the manufacturers, one cant help but regret that
a tennis extravaganza will never morph into a sales bonanza. Q
Yonex
VCore 100S and
Power Cushion shoe
Pacific
X-Fast Pro 100
Tecnifibre
VO2 Max
These tips from contractors can help you save
your courts and equipment. BY MARY HE L E N S P RE CHE R
Y
ou have your oil changed every three months or 3,000
miles. You see a doctor for an annual checkup. You restring
your racquet regularly.
So what is your routine for keeping your courts in good shape?
Sure, you're dragging your clay courts and blowing leaves off the
hard ones, and you know about seasonal maintenance and repairs.
But let's be honest: In a budget-conscious time, nobody goes
around looking for ways to spend money. How, then, do we know
a piece of equipment needs to be replaced?
Easy, say court builders. Look for a few unmistakable symp-
toms:
NETS
If a court net droops, is frayed or has holes or tears, or if the head-
band looks old, worn-out or dirty, it's obviously time to replace it.
The center strap, cable and other components should be struc-
turally sound at all times as well. Replacement parts such as
headbands and center straps are also available on the market.
"New nets should be purchased annually for your highest-pro-
file (most played-on) courts," says Tracy Lynch of Har-Tru Corp.
in Charlottesville, Va., "and then in year two, those nets should
be rotated to the courts that are not used as much. Its always a
good practice to store your nets inside during the winter months
if your courts are not being played on."
SURFACE
Hard courts will get play in every possible season. Look for bird-
baths (low spots on the surface where water collects after a rain)
or heaving. If lines look faded, a contractor can replace them
(which might be a good time to add those new 10 and Under
HOW OFTEN
SHOULD YOU
REPLACE . . .
COURT CONSTRUCTI ON & MAI NTENANCE
HOW OFTEN
SHOULD YOU
REPLACE . . .
These tips from contractors can help you save
your courts and equipment.
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Tennis lines you've been consider-
ingsee page 30 for details). Any
cracks should be addressed by a con-
tractor, since they can be a symptom
of any number of different problems,
both major and minor. The surface of
high-traffic areas such as the baseline
will show wear first, and a new coat
of acrylic surfacing can make the
court look new again.
"How often you'll need to resur-
face will vary, depending upon the
amount of play the courts get," says
Lee Murray of Competition Athletic
Surfaces. "When players start men-
tioning that play is a bit too fast, that
is the first tip-off. Certainly, if you
start noticing loose sand on the courts
its time to make plans to resurface.
This condition will worsen quickly
and if not addressed, can get
dangerous."
Soft courts require mainte-
nance on a regular basis, says
Lynch, who recommends
annual top-dressing with 2
tons of surface for courts that
do not receive winter play.
"In year-round play climates,
courts should be top-dressed
twice a year to ensure the
court is playing consistent
and staying in top condition."
Slick spots in the court or
areas where the subsurface
material is showing through
are symptoms that work is
needed.
LIGHTS
Lights lose their power as
they age, and lamps burn out.
Use a light meter to take read-
ings around your courts and
find out where light loss has
occurred.
"Its recommended to
replace your lamps at 8,000
hours," says Lynch. "While
most lamps have an average
life of 12,000 hours, you start
to lose significant amount of
light output at the 6,000-hour
mark. Its also recommended
that you do group replacement of
lamps as opposed to individual
lamps as they burn out. Group
replacement ensures equal distri-
bution of light and helps eliminate
any potential hot/dark spots."
WINDSCREEN
Windscreens will break down
over time, and rips and tears will
form, often around hems or
attachment points. Loose areas
that blow in the wind will result in
widespread damage.
Its a good idea to budget to
replace windscreen every four to
five years," says Lynch. "For bud-
get reasons, I would suggest rotat-
ing windscreens as you do your
nets. Replace the screen on your
high-profile courts and
rotate the old screens to the
lesser-played-on courts."
MAINTENANCE
EQUIPMENT
Look at all equipment,
checking for loose heads or
handles, cracking, rust
spots, sharp or broken
edges or splintering wood.
Repair any problems if pos-
sible, or replace when nec-
essary. Check the rubber
edges of squeegees and the
condition of foam rollers to
make sure they are in good
shape. Trying to get one
more season out of a piece
of equipment rarely pays
dividends, and letting
something go too long can
result in damage to your
court or worse, injury to
someone using the equip-
ment.
Knowing what to look
for is half the battle, say
contractors. Actually look-
ing for it on a regular
basisand then addressing
itwill keep the courts
playing well for years to
come.Q
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A
Note: The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) is a non-profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators
and users understand quality sports facility construction. The ASBA offers informative meetings and publications on tennis courts
and running tracks. Available at no charge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, as well as the ASBAs Mem-
bership Directory. Info: 866-501-ASBA (2722) or www.sportsbuilders.org.
The publication Tennis Courts: A Construction
and Maintenance Manual is an outstanding
resource for court builders, facility owners
and managers, park & rec departments,
and anyone else interested in learning the
latest about building and maintaining ten-
nis courts and facilities. You can order
the publication, which also contains
information on 10 and Under Tennis
courts, for $44.95 through the Ameri-
can Sports Builders Association
(ASBA) at 866-501-ASBA (2722) or
online at www.sportsbuilders.org. The man-
ual also is available for download from the website.
Indoor tennis facilities have unique challenges when it comes to
keeping players safe.
SAFETY
MEASURES
SAFETY
MEASURES
Indoor tennis facilities have unique challenges when it comes to
keeping players safe.
BY MARY HE L E N S P RE CHE R
T
o rephrase what your mother told you, its all fun and games
until someone runs into a support column. The indoor ten-
nis facility can offer a lot of advantages. No rain can stop the
game, no oncoming wind can affect your serve, no sun can get in
your eyes. Its the perfect way to playas long as everyone stays
safe. By far, an indoor court managers greatest worry is having a
player, in the heat of the match, run for a shot and not see an
obstacle in his or her path. The common-sense approach to pre-
venting this is threefold: (a) observe space requirements, (b) use
appropriate safety padding, and (c) use correct placement of court
furnishings.
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
The book Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Manual
notes that on a typical 60- by 120-foot court area, the sideline over-
run area (defined as the clear-playing space outside the lines) is 12
feet and the baseline overrun is 21 feet. Overruns are measured to
the nearest wall, column or other surface enclosing the court.
Many indoor facilities use backdrop curtains behind the base-
lines to minimize the distraction caused by players or staff walking
back and forth. The curtain should extend at least 10 feet above
the finished court surface, although they can be as high as the wall
itself. There should be at least 18 feet behind the baseline to the
backdrop curtain, although as mentioned, 21 feet is recommend-
ed. Between the wall of the building and the inside edge of the cur-
tain, there should be a passageway at least 3 feet wide.
Nothing should be stored behind the backdrop curtain. This
includes ball machines, maintenance equipment or anything else
that could cause tripping or injury to a player who backs into or
runs into the curtain while chasing a ball.
In addition, nothing should interfere with the overrun area
behind the baseline where it is likely to interfere with a player dur-
ing a gameno benches, racquet bags, jackets, etc. should be in
the space, and no spectators or personnel should be allowed to
stand there. Stray balls should be removed from this space as
quickly as possible without disrupting play. (Note: Indoor facilities
with courts for 10 and Under Tennis should also observe required
overrun distances.)
SAFETY PADDING
The second aspect of keeping indoor facilities as safe as possible is
proper use of safety padding. Support columns, light posts and
other fixed objects should be wrapped in shock-absorbing materi-
al to lessen the possible damage or injury that can occur if a play-
er accidentally runs into them.
From a logistical standpoint, any structural member or mason-
ry wall within 2 feet of the backdrop curtain should be padded.
That padding should begin at the court surface and should extend
at least 7 feet up.
The Tennis Courts book recommends padding be made of
foam rubber and be at least 2 inches thick, although realistically,
use of thicker padding is always acceptable. Padding can be vinyl-
covered for appearance purposes, and for easier maintenance and
cleaning.
While some indoor tennis play is held in retrofitted buildings
with interior pillars, these are not recommended because of the
inherent safety risks. Generally, buildings designed for tennis do
not have supports that could obstruct play, or which anyone mov-
ing around the court could come in contact with.
COURT FURNISHINGS
Location, location, location: Its not just the real estate agents
mantra, its the third part of keeping your players safe on the court:
proper placement of court furnishings. The recommended mini-
Photo courtesy of ICA
Sports, North Salem, NY
mum clearance from the sideline of the court to a fixed object is 12
feet. Benches may be located slightly farther in (but no closer than
10 feet from the sideline) and should be within 12 feet of the net
line.
The book notes that portable equipment, such as cooler stands,
umpires chairs and players chairs, may be located within the rec-
ommended clearance; these items should be as close to the net line
as practical and no more than 12 feet from the net line.
Multi-court indoor facilities generally use divider netting
between courts to contain balls and create a visual boundary for
players. The Tennis Courts book says, Not less than 12 feet is
required from the sideline to a fixed obstruction (i.e. sidestop, light
pole, wall, etc.). Where courts are in a battery and where netting is
used between courts, the netting is considered to be a movable
obstruction, in which case 9 feet is considered a minimum
between sideline and netting. (Only where space limitations
become a factor and the 12-foot minimum cannot be provided
may the side space from sideline to a fixed obstruction be reduced
to a minimum of 10 feet). This dimension does not restrict obstruc-
tions at the net line; for example, the net post of the adjacent court
or light standards.
A good game inside means playing it safe, too. Q
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Adding blended lines for 10 and Under Tennis is simple
and cost-effective.
INSIDE
THE LINES
INSIDE
THE LINES
Adding blended lines for 10 and Under Tennis is simple
and cost-effective.
U
nless you've been living in a cave, you know about 10 and
Under Tennis and all the benefits it can offer. What you may
not know is how to bring it to your courts. One of the best
ways is to pick up the phone and call your local court builder. Tell him
or her you want courts lined for 10 and Under Tennis. It's that sim-
ple.
Maybe, though, you have a few questions. Is it going to be a big
expense? Will 78-foot courts lined for 36- or 60-foot tennis look con-
fusing to players? Will members complain? Will it spoil the aesthet-
ics? No, no, no and no, say builders.
"It actually doesn't cost much to line a court for 10 and under
play," says Mark Brogan of Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Devon, Pa.
"On average, I think, people are charging less than $500. You have
to figure a club is going to make that up in the first set of group
lessons they book."
But even better, the national USTA will match dollar for dollar the
investment a facility makes toward the total cost of painting blend-
ed lines or converting tennis courts for 10 and Under Tennis, to a
maximum of $4,000. In many instances, between the national USTA
and the USTA section, a facility or organization adding blended lines
to 78-foot courts can have up to 75 percent of the total cost covered.
(Visit usta.com/facilities for more information on line and conversion
grants.)
Brogan, who serves on the board of the American Sports Builders
Association as the group's tennis division president, says he has yet
to hear complaints fromany customer who has had the newlines put
on. In part, this is because lines for 10U play are generally a different
color fromthe existing lines and are unobtrusive and within the same
color family of the 78-foot court surface, for instance, light blue 10U
lines on a dark blue court surface. (If adding 10U lines to a 78-foot
court, the lines should never be white, or any color, such as gray, that
might be mistaken for white.)
"We have striped a lot of shared lines on various colored courts,"
says Lee Murray of Competition Athletic Surfaces in Chattanooga,
Tenn. "Using a color several shades darker than the playing area is
the best solution. Adult players arent as distracted when the 10 and
under lines are darker than the playing area and further from the
color of the white lines."
CROSSED LINES
When 36- and 60-foot lines are superimposed on an existing regula-
tion court, some of the boundaries will be the same. Some of the
important points about shared lines:
Q Since a 78-foot court is 36 feet wide, the 78-foot court doubles side-
lines can be used as the baseline for a 36-foot court.
Q Since a 78-foot singles court is 27 feet wide, the 78-foot singles lines
can be used as the doubles sidelines for a 60-foot court.
To further differentiate 10 and Under playing lines from the lines
of the 78-foot court, 10U playing lines are terminated 3 inches from
the white 78-foot playing lines where the 10 and Under playing lines
intersect the 78-foot lines.
DIFFERENT FROM THE GROUND UP
One of the advantages of teaching 10 and Under Tennis is the abili-
ty to create courts anywhere, including gymnasiums, parking lots
and rec centers. Resourceful Tennis Service Representatives (TSRs),
gym teachers and rec directors have used materials such as painter's
tape to mark indoor court lines, and washable spray paint to make
temporary courts outside.
The Tennis Courts book notes that in fact, with portable nets and
lines available, children are playing driveway tennis, and that
neighborhood competitions and mini-tournaments are springing up
around the country.
The latest venue to add short courts has been the fast-dry facili-
ty. Pat Hanssen of Har-Tru Sports in Charlottesville, Va., notes tem-
porary lines for soft courts are now on the market, and that instruc-
tions and information are available on YouTube. "The lines can be put
down and taken up by one person in five to seven minutes," he adds.
"They are easy to see and safe to use."
PLAYING IT SAFE
Guidelines also cover the space outside the courts. For a 36-foot court,
the USTA recommends an overrun area of 10 feet from the baseline
and 8 feet from the sideline to a fixed object (or to the sideline of an
adjacent 36-foot court) be provided, making the overall playing area
56 feet long by 34 feet wide. For a 60-foot court, the recommended
overrun distance is 14 feet from the baseline and 10 feet from the
sideline to a fixed object (or to the sideline of an adjacent 60 foot ten-
nis court), making the overall size of the playing area 88 by 47 feet.
Overall, say builders, adding lines is a simple matter. It can be
done as a standalone operation, or it can be done when courts are
resurfaced.
"It's easy and it brings more income to the facility," says Brogan.
"There's really no down side." Q
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Make sure you have knowledgeable people helping you to
navigate the maze of zoning and building codes.
PERMISSION
SLIPS
PERMISSION
SLIPS
Make sure you have knowledgeable people helping you to
navigate the maze of zoning and building codes.
D
o-it-yourself is a great philosophy. In fact, home improve-
ment stores wouldn't exist without it. It's just not a great
philosophy when it comes to making plans to add a new
tennis facility.
Much time and space has been devoted to the fact that the actu-
al design and construction of a court takes specialized knowledge
and expertise. But so does working with what comes before that
the maze of zoning, permitting, codes and authorities that have to
be dealt with before the first shovel hits the dirt. Navigating your
way through that maze is best done with a partner, someone who
has experience in the processwhich can be complex.
"The first stop should be the local zoning or land-use office,
which has the responsibility to assist citizens with respect to zon-
ing and land-use regulation," says David Pettit, Esq., of Feil, Pettit
& Williams in Charlottesville, Va., and corporate counsel for the
American Sports Builders Association. "But unless the owner of the
project is very comfortable dealing with the land-use authorities,
it's best to engage an architect, surveyor or civil engineer to assist
with the permitting process. Don't forget to take permitting costs
into account in determining the budget.
Because a tennis facility, whether for one court or several, will
cover a large area, strict attention must be paid to a number of
important aspects of the proposed site. A properly zoned site must
be available for any tennis facility project. It may be necessary, for
example, to obtain a zoning variance or special exception from
local, municipal, county, state or federal governments or from
property owners associations.
"If an architect is involved in the design of the court, that per-
son would be the most likely candidate," notes Pettit. "If the
owner does not intend to engage an architect, many land survey-
ors and civil engineers are highly competent in this area.
For most projects, state and local codes will have the most
affect on a proposed project. These might cover fence location
and height, erosion control and drainage considerations, flood
plains, access roads, parking requirements, light spill, utilities, set-
backs, etc. Conservation, wetlands, and historic preservation reg-
ulations will affect some sites. Standalone organizations such as
historical societies, community associations and architectural
boards also may be involved in reviewing plans. An environmen-
tal impact statement may be required. In some situations, feder-
al environmental requirements also may apply. These may
encompass storm-water management, solid waste handling (i.e.,
disposal of demolition or construction debris) including haz-
ardous materials, air pollution (i.e., diesel emissions and dust) and
endangered species protection.
According to Pettit, an owner should allow plenty of time for
the various authorities to sign off on the project, but should be
prepared for delays as well. "While the time frame for permitting
is important and can be expected to take months, in my opinion
the most likely problem area is compliance with regulation of set-
Photo courtesy of McConnell & Associates Corp., Kansas City, Missouri
backs from property lines. The
question of whether you have the
space to locate the court on the
property will be essential, as will
compliance regarding drainage,
erosion control and light regula-
tions."
The red tape of a project does-
n't stop with zoning or local build-
ing codes, however. Once those
hurdles have been crossed, addi-
tional permits may be needed for
site preparation, excavation, build-
ing and more. Your court contrac-
tor will have expertise in this. Note
that permits often require certified
surveys or stamped architectural
drawings. In order to avoid need-
less delays, the contract docu-
ments should specify whether the
owner or the contractor is respon-
sible for securing the proper per-
mits.
Local governments vary in their
requirements of information from
those planning, or even just con-
sidering, newconstruction or prop-
erty improvement projects. Some
have complex regulations; others
are easier to understand. The
biggest mistake a landowner can
make, however, is underestimat-
ing the amount of time, and the
level of involvement needed, in
order to satisfy all the require-
ments. Remember, too, that
although the process of obtaining
permission to add courts might
have been relatively simple 10
years ago, it can be very different
now.
"There really is no rule of
thumb because different jurisdic-
tions have different approaches,"
says Pettit. "The best approach for
the owner is to visit the zoning
office as soon as there is a serious
interest in building a court in order
to get advice on how to move for-
ward with land-use issues includ-
ing the requirements for
permitting and the likely time
frames.
Working with authorities might
seem complex and problematic,
but when the day comes that you
can cut the ribbon to allow your
first players onto that new facility,
it will all be worthwhile. Q
Photo courtesy of Gale Associates, Inc., Weymouth, Massachusetts
Photo courtesy of Atlas Track & Tennis, Tualatin, Oregon
COURT
PRODUCTS
We asked our suppliers what tennis court products were new,
interesting or attention-grabbing this season. Here are some of
the things they had to say.
COURT
PRODUCTS
We asked our suppliers what tennis court products were new,
interesting or attention-grabbing this season. Here are some of
the things they had to say.
MONDO
www.mondoworldwide.com
Mondoten (not shown) is a high-performance surface system that
uses two primary components: an acrylic coating system made with
premium raw materials, able to be formulated for customized coef-
ficients of friction for desired play speed; and a shock-absorption
layer with dual durometer rubber baselast construction to provide
optimumshock absorption and energy return. Mondoten is available
in 10 non-glare, UV-stable colors.
HAR-TRU SPORTS
www.hartru.com
Har-Tru Sports has added several new products this year. The Har-Tru
Gator Rake line (middle) simplifies the maintenance of Har-Tru courts and
improves traction, safety and performance, says the company. One of the
most innovative features is that the tines are adjustable. Other rakes see a
deterioration in performance as the tines wear, but the Har-Tru Gator Rake
tines are loaded in an adjustable cartridge so the tines remain
at optimum length.
Har-Tru is also offering new temporary lines (bottom) to
allow soft court managers to add 60-foot and 36-foot lines to
their existing regulation courts. Lines can easily be installed
and removed in minutes; the company has posted YouTube
videos for demonstration purposes.
Har-Tru's Advantage lighting systems (top) provide higher
lighting levels with lower wattage lamps, meaning better light
for players while using less electricity. The Advantage fixture,
while producing high foot-candle power, has a full cut-off flat
lens, which is approved by the International Dark Sky asso-
ciation for neighborhood-friendly lighting.
AER-FLO
www.aerflo.com
Tuffy Ballasted Windscreen (left) is intended to protect chain-
link fence from high wind damage. Available in individual 5-
foot wide by 6-foot tall units in 20 colors, the windscreens are
attached to chain link fence along their grommeted tops, but
the units are installed alternately on both sides of the fence.
The bottom of each section has a weighted PVC pipe inserted
thru its entire width in a reinforced pocket, engineered to pro-
vide correct ballast to keep the windscreen unit vertical during
lighter winds. It automatically opens up to let higher velocity
winds flow through, significantly reducing wind stress on the
fence.
SPORTSEDGE
www.sportsedge.com
The SportsEdge XT Slot Drain (right) provides drainage for
hard courts. Using a continuous line drain can simplify design
and aid in providing sufficient drainage either between courts
or along fence lines. The slot opening is 12mm (15/32 in.) and
is ADA-compliant, creating a clean and inconspicuous way to
drain tennis courts.
PUTTERMAN ATHLETICS
www.puttermanathletics.com
Recently, Putterman Athletics expanded its product line to
include German-made, high-quality tennis court products.
Putterman Athletics is the sole source to North America of the
new line of Universal Sport benches (left), umpire chairs,
court dryers, and court and line brushes.
CONNOR SPORT
COURT INTERNATIONAL
www.sportcourt.com
Connor Sport Court International is now offering PowerGame
(right), which the company notes is a stable surface with good
ball bounce quality, excellent shock absorption, and attractive
lifecycle costs in comparison to other products.
STRINGING
RED FLAGS
THE STRI NGER S FI LE
BY RON ROCCHI
P
roblem-solving skills come from experience, and a sea-
soned stringer can avoid problems by recognizing poten-
tial issues and applying an appropriate solution. In the
world of tournament stringing, avoiding these problems can be
the difference between success and failure.
The most important and critical aspect of this tournament-
stringing world happens in only a single moment, when the play-
er picks up the racquet. That moment must go smoothly, with a
perfectly finished racquet, delivered on time. It is paramount that
the player (or customer) has total confidence in your ability, and
in your service as a stringer. This is not the moment to bring up
problems, or fail to deliver the racquet.
Remember, players, as well as your customers, will talk
about your service more when it is bad, not when it is good.
In a tournament stringing room, up to 350 racquets can pass
through for stringing in a single day. This creates a tremendous
challenge to keep track of string, tensions, special instructions,
and various parts. In addition, up to three or four staff members
will touch the racquet from beginning to end of the stringing
process. This means that the potential for things to get lost or
confused is extremely high.
The Wilson Stringing Team has developed a group of Red
Flags that we use while stringing at tournaments. By anticipat-
ing and recognizing these problem situations, we avoid missing
that ever-important delivery time. Here are just some of our solu-
tions:
Amid the pressures of tournament stringing, the Wilson team
has identifiedand come up with solutions for--potential
problem areas.
This is the last article in a series by Ron Rocchi, RSIs 2009 Stringer of the Year and
the Global Tour Equipment Manager at Wilson Sporting Goods, and the person behind
the Wilson/Luxilon tournament stringing team. Rocchis, and RSIs, goal is to share
what hes learned in a way that will help you improve your stringing business.
Amid the pressures of tournament stringing, the Wilson team
has identifiedand come up with solutions forpotential
problem areas.
STRINGING
RED FLAGS
RED FLAG: Prince EXO3 Black
(and other models)
Problem: Yoke grommet is held in place with string tension, fre-
quently is removed with old strings and/or falls into trash.
Solution: Prior to removing old strings, wrap a loop of grip fin-
ishing tape to hold piece securely in place.
Weve found that using a color of tape such as red or yellow
not only draws the stringers attention to the situation, but also
keeps the yoke grommet from being lost. This piece of tape can
simply be removed after the first two mains are installed, or at
the completion of the stringing process. Once we implemented
this solution, stringers saved precious time by not searching for
the grommet piece, and we also enhanced our service by not hav-
ing to chase players down to see if they had an additional replace-
ment part.
RED FLAG: Prince EXO3 Black
(and other models)
Problem: Yoke grommet has tiny holes that are easy to miss.
Solution: The mere presence of the temporary tape loop men-
tioned above signals the stringer to double-check the first six
main strings.
It is difficult to measure the string and start the stringing
process while holding the yoke grommet, clamps and perhaps a
starting clamp, and apply tension to the first few main strings.
Even some of the finest stringers have made this mistake and
failed to correct the error until way too late in the string installa-
tion. When someone hands you a Prince EXO3 to string, secure
the yoke grommet and double-check your work on the first main
strings.
RED FLAG: RPM, Red Code, Revenge soft polys
Problem: String has a tendency to break prematurely due to materials and construction.
Solution: Eliminate starting clamp usage, check pressure of tension-puller head jaws, clamp pressure and consider two-piece stringing.
To provide a sure-fire solution that will keep the string from breaking prematurely, the Wilson team employs multiple techniques to
limit string breakage. First, we slow down and take a little extra time; this is the definition of Red Flag in my opinion. Second, we typ-
ically use a two-piece method, which eliminates the need for an external starting clamp that flattens the soft poly. Lastly, check the
pressure of the tension head jaws and clamps on a scrap piece of string. This will tell you if you are over-tightening and causing dam-
age to the soft poly.
RED FLAG: Power
Pads/Tubing
Problem: String has a tendency to break pre-
maturely due to worn or cracked grommets.
Solution: For tubing, remove and inspect the
condition. Re-use power pads whenever possi-
ble.
Tubing and power pads always give
stringers trouble. They slow the stringing
down, and frequently get lost or discarded. For
power pads, we always try to bond the pad to
the grommet strip using double-sided tape or a
drop of super glue. In many cases, this will
keep the pads from getting lost as well as pro-
viding a nice worn groove for the string to rest
upon. Right before you apply tension to the
string, place one drop of super glue to the pad
and let the pulled tension hold it in place.
The presence of tubing is a huge Red Flag
for all stringers: This means the grommet is
worn to the point of causing string failure.
Stringers should always remove and inspect
the tubing for wear, and replace if necessary.
RED FLAG: Yonex S-FIT
Racquets
Problem: Racquet can be strung two different
ways, Comfort or Speed pattern.
Solution: Stringing instructions now have two
elements, tension and pattern.
Racquet manufacturers are continually
looking to enhance racquet performance to fit
a specific player type, and the Yonex S-FIT
system is a great example. As a stringer, it is
easy to miss the fact that these racquets can
be strung two different ways, based on where
and how you start the mains. More important-
ly, does the player or customer know which
way they want? At tournaments we have built
an extra field in the tension area of our work
orders to ensure that the player gets asked
which way they prefer. This extra information
ensures we string exactly the way the cus-
tomer/player wants.
RED FLAG: Worn-Out Overgrips
Problem: The overgrip is severely worn and needs replacing.
Solution: Resist the urge to replace a worn out grip.
Tennis players have a special relationship with their racquets.
As a stringer we must respect and understand that what looks like
a worn-out grip to us, could actually be a good luck charm for the
player. While most customers in your shop would really appreci-
ate a fresh grip with each restring, tournament players do not
want you to mess with their grips generally speaking. In one case
at the US Open this year, a player had a terribly worn-out grip but
had not lost serve since it was installed. He actually believed he
would start serving poorly if we changed the overgrip! So the les-
son here is, before you make any changes to a players racquet,
make sure you have a verbal communication with the player
directly.
RED FLAG: Mystery String
Problem: Player walks in and hands you an unknown string.
Solution: Ask questions and get a second set.
It never ceases to amaze us how some professional players do
not have a better understanding of their equipment needs. During
a tournament, there are at least two or three instances where a
player has dropped off a mystery set of string for their racquet,
usually without packaging and balled up in a tangled coil. Our job
is to professionally install the string at the requested tension. We
first ask questions about where they got the string, when was it
purchased, what type of string is it and so on. Then we always ask
for a spare set should something go wrong during the installation
process. We simply tell the player that we cannot possibly know
how this mystery string will install, or if it will break prematurely.
So getting a spare set is really a necessary precaution. Q
and crease the string at all.
Also, when I string synthetics, I weave
one-ahead and leave about one foot of
string hanging outside the racquet so I
don't have to hunt for the end of the
string on the next weave. With gut, I
don't do this. I pull the gut almost the
entire way through, leaving just enough
of a loop to reach the tension head. This
way, Im pulling the new cross through
as little hard weave as possible.
5 sets of Babolat Revenge 16 to:
Ed Goldzweig, Garden City Park, NY
STEEL HANDLE WEIGHTS
I've found 1/4 ounce (7 gram) zinc-coat-
ed steel adhesive-backed stick-on
weights, approximately 13/16" x 3/8" x
3/16" (20.6mm x 9.5mm x 4.75mm),
which are great for the narrow passages
inside the typically hollow racquet pallet.
I get them in packages of 24 from
Klopfenstein's in Portland, Oregon, and
CROSSSTRING
STRAIGHTENING
Sometimes certain strings and string pat-
terns create a drift on the crosses that
forces you to straighten the strings. To
make life easy I simply give the clamp a
little bump and straighten the strings as I
go. It's quick and easy on the fingertips.
5 sets of Head Sonic Pro 17 to:
Terry Boyle, Highlands Ranch, CO
BEING GENTLE WITH GUT
Under the heading of being gentle with
natural gut, I think a lot of stringers over-
look what they are doing with their
"pulling" hand (the hand that is pulling the
crosses through while they are fanning the
string with the other hand). When I am
handling synthetics, I don't think twice
about curling the string around the fingers
of my pulling hand. With gut though, I
pretty much pull with thumb and forefin-
ger only, being very careful not to bend
Tips & Techniques
they are available through EBay. They fit
nicely between the staples used to hold
the butt cap in place. You can even
Readers Know-How in Action
Tips and Techniques submitted since 1992 by USRSA mem-
bers and appearing in this column, have all been gathered
into a searchable database on www.racquettech.com, the
official member-only website of the USRSA. Submit tips to:
Greg Raven, USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084; or
email greg@racquettech.com.
bend the staples to help to retain the
weights as the client tries out the new
setup(s), using needle-nose pliers to
adjust the staples as required.
I've found that going up by a quar-
ter ounce is a good way to standardize
the change process during customiza-
tion for my clients and this much
weight makes it easy for them to iden-
tify that a change has been made.
Once they find their perfect fit, glue
them into the internals of the handle.
Note: To make them all match exact-
ly, nothing beats finishing off with a
little lead, hot glue, and cotton. My
clients feel better knowing that the
racquet is not stuffed with a bunch of
lead.
5 sets of Dunlop Explosive
Polyester 16 to:
Michael Mock, Mililani, Hawaii
FITTING LEAD TAPE
UNDER THE BUMPER
GUARD
When removing the existing bumper-
guard in preparation for placing lead
tape on the outside of the racquet, try
to save the bumperguard intact if pos-
sible. You wont be able to reuse it as
a bumperguard, but you will be able
to use it to check to see if the place-
ment of the lead tape will interfere
with the seating of the new bumper-
guard. If need be, you can cut the
grommet barrels off of the old
bumperguard to make it easier to
handle.
5 sets of Gamma Synthetic Gut with
WearGuard 16 to:
Beau Smith, Del Oro, CA
UNSNARLING STRING
One of the big frustrations for begin-
ning stringers is unsnarling tangled
string, especially when youve just
woven a cross string and pulling the
string through creates what appears to
be a Gordian Knot.
The first thing to do is to remain
patient, as tearing at the string typical-
ly doesnt help.
Once youre calm, keep in mind as
you examine the tangle that it is
almost always some form of slipknot.
That is, as opposed to a true knot,
there is an end somewhere that
when pulled will cause the knot to
disappear.
The third thing to keep in mind is that
in many cases if you start untying the
snarl by passing the end back through
loops, you will almost certainly create a
true knot, which means you will have to
continue passing the end back through
loops until the entire tangle is straight-
ened out.
It might take some twisting and turn-
ing before the slipknot reveals itself, but
if you know its there, it will be that
much easier to find.
5 sets of Luxilon Supersense 125 to:
Rick Golden, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Greg Raven Q
String Playtest
EASE OF STRINGING
(compared to other strings)
Number of testers who said it was:
much easier 1
somewhat easier 1
about as easy 16
not quite as easy 21
not nearly as easy 4
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
(compared to string played most often)
much better 1
somewhat better 7
about as playable 7
not quite as playable 25
not nearly as playable 3
OVERALL DURABILITY
(compared to other strings
of similar gauge)
much better 13
somewhat better 17
about as durable 11
not quite as durable 1
not nearly as durable 1
RATING AVERAGES
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability 3.5
Durability (11th overall) 4.4
Power (20th overall) 3.6
Control (5th overall) 3.9
Comfort 3.0
Touch/Feel 3.0
Spin Potential (5th overall) 3.9
Holding Tension 3.6
Resistance to Movement (18th overall) 4.0
Gamma Zo Verve is a unique co-extru-
sion polyester string that combines two
types of material. At the core is a softer,
more elastic, and resilient red polyester.
Embedded around the periphery of the
red core are three sections (on 120-
degree centers) of a stiffer black material
that has a higher molecular weight. The
black sections stand out slightly from
the red core, giving Zo Verve an innate
texture in the form of longitudinal
ridges.
Gamma tells us this blend of materials
allows for a more forgiving feel yet pro-
vides massive amounts of spin. Gamma
tells us that Zo Verve is designed for play-
ers looking for maximum topspin, and
polyester users of all levels.
Zo Verve is available in 16 (1.32 mm)
and 17 gauge (1.25 mm) in black/red. It is
priced from $17.45 for sets of 40 feet,
$157.05 for reels of 360 feet. For more
information or to order, contact Gamma at
800-333-0337, or visit gammasports.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 17-gauge Zo Verve. The coil
measured 40 feet. The diameter measured
1.24-1.27 mm prior to stringing, and 1.20-
1.22 mm after stringing. We recorded a
stringbed stiffness of 73 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 67 RDC units, repre-
senting an 8 percent tension loss. Our con-
trol string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original
Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immedi-
ately after stringing and 71 RDC units after
24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension
loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut
Original has a stiffness of 217 and a ten-
sion loss of 11.67 pounds, while Gamma
Zo Verve 17 has a stiffness of 236 and a
tension loss of 16.92 pounds. Zo Verve
added 16 grams to the weight of our
unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks
by 43 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP rat-
ings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind
tests, with playtesters receiving
unmarked strings in unmarked packages.
Average number of hours playtested was
29. Gamma recommends 5-10 percent
reduction in reference tension compared
to a typical nylon reference tension. We
passed this recommendation along to our
playtest team.
Gamma Zo Verve feels thicker out of
the package than the gauge would indi-
cate, which may be a result of the three
black ridge inserts. However, installing
Gamma Zo Verve is little different from
installing other
polyester strings, which is a
pleasant surprise because textured strings
sometimes can present problems for the
stringing technician.
No playtester broke his sample during
stringing, 19 reported problems with coil
memory, 10 reported problems tying
knots, and one reported friction burn.
ON THE COURT
Our playtest team found a lot to like in
Gamma Zo Verve, giving it five top-twen-
ty ratings out of nine categories. These
included fifth place overall of the 156
strings weve playtested to date both in
the Control and Spin Potential categories,
11th overall in Durability, 18th overall in
Resistance to Movement, and 20th over-
all in the Power category. Additionally, Zo
Verve garnered ratings well above aver-
age in two categories: Playability and
Tension Retention.
Three players broke the sample during
play: Two at 6 hours and one at 9 hours.
One of the playtesters who broke the
sample at 6 hours rating the durability as
excellent.
CONCLUSION
Its easy to extrude a textured poly when
the entire string is composed of the same
material, but the trade-off is that any
material strong enough to retain its edges
as manufactured has that same material
throughout the entire string. In Zo Verve,
Gamma has gone to the extra effort of co-
extruding a harder material for the edges,
in such a way that it doesnt compromise
the basic playability of the string.
If you think that Gamma Zo Verve
might be for you, fill out the coupon to
get a free set to try.
Greg Raven Q
Gamma Zo Verve 17
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM
Gamma will send a free set of Zo Verve 17 to USRSA members who cut
out (or copy) this coupon and send it to:
Offer expires 15 Sep 2011
Offer only available to USRSA members in the US.
Name:
USRSA Member number:
Phone:
Email:
If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.
USRSA, Attn: Gamma String Offer
330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to
stringsample@racquettech.com
Excellent control and durability. Plays

better after a few hours.
4.5 male all-

court player using Wilson BLX Blade strung
at 57 pounds LO (Wilson Hyperlast Spin
19)
This poly has all the advantages of a

hybrid in a single string!
4.0 male all-

court player using Head TXP strung at 57
pounds LO (Gamma Professional 18)
Performs with remarkable control at a

low tension. No trampoline here.
3.5
male all-court player using Pro Kennex
Acclaim strung at 40 pounds CP (Head
FXP/Babolat VS Team 17/17)
This is a high quality durability string.

The thin gauge increases spin.
4.0 male
all-court player using Wilson nTour strung
at 53 pounds LO (Solinco Tour Bite 18)
Above average comfort for a polyester.

There is definitely a little extra power.
4.0 male all-court player using Prince O3

Hybrid Hornet OS strung at 55 pounds LO
(Natural Gut 16)
This is a stiff string with pop. The

shape adds bite.
5.0 male all-court

player using Wilson BLX Tour strung at 52
pounds CP (Wilson Sensation 16)
This comfortable poly grabs the ball.

Durability is lacking.
5.0 male all-court

player using Head Youtek Radical Pro
strung at 55 pounds CP (Tecnifibre Black
Code 17)
This string is a little underpowered.

Feel on volleys is exceptional. Bite is also
impressive.
4.0 male all-court player

using Babolat AeroPro Drive Cortex strung
at 62 pounds CP (Gamma TNT2 16)
This string loses tension very rapidly

and becomes too springy.
4.5 male all-

court player using Wilson nTour strung at
58 pounds LO (Wilson NXT 17)
For the rest of the tester comments, visit
www.racquetsportsindustry.com.
TESTERS
TALK
T
he tennis industry today is blessed
with thousands of students playing
high school tennis. No-Cut tennis
and dramatically improved coaching
over the last 20 years have helped about
350,000 students continue to play in high
school. Most states have high school ten-
nis coaches associations with yearly clin-
ics, newsletters and websites.
Ive had some wonderful tennis expe-
riences in my adult life, including coach-
ing high school and college tennis, and
being involved with the growth of the
USTAs very successful Tennis on Cam-
pus program for over 10 years. As I see
participation grow in high school tennis, I
also see the opportunities for play
beyond high school growing as well. This
is important for our industry because the
tennis players coming out of college are
hungry to continue tennis in their lives.
Here are my reasons why high school
players should be encouraged to play in
college, either on a varsity team or in a
club or intramural program:
Q Social Needs: When students arrive on
campus, they need to make friends and
belong. What greater way than being
on a tennis team with kids who share a
love for the game? Timon Corwin, chair
of the USTA Collegiate Varsity Commit-
tee, says, Weve seen it around the
country where both varsity and recre-
ational club teams [Tennis on Campus]
co-exist on the same campus and build
strong social bonds.
Q Stay In Shape: Singles tennis is rated
in the top 10 sports for physical condi-
tioning. What better way to work out
than hitting a tennis ball for several
hours a week, especially if its with peo-
ple you like.
Q Networking: Many of my former play-
ers have maintained strong relation-
ships past college and into adulthood,
often playing together if they live close
by. And lets face it, tennis players, for
the most part, are very successful people.
A college tennis experience will most like-
ly be a conduit to your adult working life.
Tennis players gravitate to tennis players.
Q Time Management: Playing tennis on a
team in college gives you structure. Prac-
tices, matches and travel need to be
scheduled with classes and studying,
requiring you to budget your time, which
is a key when you begin your working
life.
Q Travel: College tennis at all levels gives
students an opportunity to see the coun-
try. While club tennis may be limited to
regional sites, the national events have
been in terrific locations. Varsity pro-
grams at all levels have opportunities to
travel coast to coast.
Q Community Service: Tennis is an oppor-
tunity to give back and many programs
require hours of community service.
Many teach tennis to underprivileged
kids. Other requirements may be helping
with a community building project or vol-
unteer work at a hospital.
Q Establish Identity: Many young people
struggle with being lost in the crowd or
not fitting in. Being part of a tennis pro-
gram gives you stature, higher self-
esteem and confidence. College tennis is
for everyone, says Corwin. Whether
you are a top junior or the No. 4 singles
player on your high school team, there is
a spot on either a varsity or club team for
you.
Q Teamwork and Leadership Skills: I
always say tennis is an individual sport,
but a team game. Hence, teamwork and
selflessness is a requirement in a college
program. People lead in many different
ways, and a college team, whether intra-
mural or varsity, promotes leadership
skills.
Q ConsensusBuilding: While teamwork is
working together for the common good,
Tennis industry veteran Denny
Schackter is a member of the
USTA's Tennis on Campus
Committee and an active vol-
unteer of the USTA Midwest
Section. He formerly coached
men's tennis at Wisconsin
and was a 22-year territory manager for Wil-
son Racquet Sports. He is a PTR and PTA
member, teaches tennis part-time and owns
Tennis Priorities, a recruiting firm working on
finding young talent for tennis teaching.
consensus-building reaches agreements.
Doubles team selection, extra work
goals, relationship with advisors and
coaches all teach us consensus-building.
Q Competitive Fulfillment: Many of us
have a need to compete. High school
sports provided an outlet to achieve lots
of competitive experiences, but in col-
lege, if sports are absent, that need is
never fulfilled.
Q Goal Setting: Participation in college
tennis can parallel other goals needed to
become a successful adult. The collabo-
rative effort of being on a college tennis
team and the laser focus on specific goals
serves as a guide for our student-athletes
in all walks of life, says Brad Dancer,
mens tennis coach at Illinois.
Tennis club owners, tennis directors,
teaching professionals and facilities all
have a vested interest in college tennis.
Future players and members of tennis
facilities are the byproduct of college ten-
nis. Whether a facilitys young people are
Division I, II or 111 or Tennis on Campus
candidates, you simply cant measure the
maturity, bonding, and lifetime relation-
ships that will emerge at the end of their
college experience.
Those who participate in college tennis
will find benefits that last a lifetime. Q
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to RSI@racquetTECH.com.
Your Serve
Why Playing College
Tennis Is a Good Choice
BY DE NNY S CHACKT E R

Racquet Sports Industry

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Sept/Oct 2011

Volume 39 Number 9 $5.00

Excellent control and durability. Plays

4.5 male all-

This poly has all the advantages of a

4.0 male all-

Performs with remarkable control at a

This is a high quality durability string.

Above average comfort for a polyester.

4.0 male all-court player using Prince O3

This is a stiff string with pop. The

5.0 male all-court

This comfortable poly grabs the ball.

5.0 male all-court

This string is a little underpowered.

4.0 male all-court player

This string loses tension very rapidly

4.5 male all-

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