200601 Racquet Sports Industry
Content
January 2006 Volume 34 Number 1 $5.00
2006 USRSA STRING SURVEY
Our exclusive rankings, and handy poster, will help you and your customers pick the right strings
FACILITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS SPRING WARM-UPS SHOULD YOUR FACILITY HAVE A DEFIBRILLATOR? THE INCH THAT CHANGED TENNIS BREAK THE CHAIN IN COURT FENCING
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INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS
Tennis Participation Increases by 1.1 Million
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households were contacted for the study, which is designed to quantify tennis participation throughout the U.S. and to Q 24.7 million Americans identify opportunities to increase particiare playing tennis, the most since 1992 and a pation. The study, conducted by two 4.1 percent increase over independent firms, The Taylor Research 2004. & Consulting Group and Sports Marketing Surveys, is the largest participation sur- Q 5.8 million new players vey in sports. picked up the game in 2005. For retailers and facility managers, the increase in fre- Q There were 5.2 million quent players is particularly frequent players in 2005, good news, since frequent versus 4.7 million in players—defined as those 2004. who play 21 or more times a Q Total play occasions were year—are often described as up 14 percent in 2005, the “heart of the tennis marthe second straight year ket.” These are the players, the category increased. says Baugh, who spend the Q Player retention also most on equipment, stringimproved for the second ing, court time, lessons, etc. straight year, with 80 perGoing hand-in-hand with cent of players continuing the rise in frequent players is in the sport in 2005, veran increase in the frequency sus 74 percent in 2004. of play, called “total play occasions,” which is driven by the most avid tenins players. Total play occasions rose 14 percent in 2005 and was up 23 percent over the past two years. And in other good news for the industry, player retention has ball sales and increases in viewership of tennis on TV. improved over the last two years, with 80 percent of players conIndustry watchers were quick to praise the efforts of many tinuing with the sport in 2005 versus 74 percent in 2004. groups involved in tennis for coming together to help boost par“We are seeing healthy indicators across the board in the ticipation in the U.S. “The collaborative efforts across the entire industry are growing the game and positioning tennis for further sport as more people play tennis, more racquets are purchased, growth,” says Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of and more interest develops in the game,” says Baugh. Community Tennis. Many credit heavy investment by the USTA “With all of the tennis constituents—includin both initiatives to grow the game and in expoing manufacturers, retailers, teaching professure for the sport as keys to the increase in parQ Sales of junior racquets increased ticipation. The USTA has funded, and continues sionals, the TIA, and the USTA—focused on a 20 percent in 2005, while sales of to fund, initiatives such as Tennis in the Parks, single goal, the sport is growing,” adds Jim adult frames were up 14 percent. Tennis Welcome Centers, USTA League Tennis, Baugh, president of the Tennis Industry AssociQ Over the past two years, racquet and school and college tennis, along with major ation. shipments are up 29 percent in This is the fourth year of the massive Tennis advertising campaigns for recreational and prounits and 18 percent in dollars. Participation Study, sponsored by both the TIA fessional tennis, such as the US Open and US and the USTA. More than 25,500 American Q Premium racquet sales increased Open Series. 48 percent in 2005. he latest findings of the annual Tennis Participation Study show that 24.7 million Americans are playing tennis, the most since 1992 and an increase of 1.1 million players, or 4.1 percent, versus 2004. And possibly more important for tennis retailers and facilities, the study found that the number of frequent players is up 8.8 percent from a year ago, to 5.2 million. The boost in tennis participation is the latest in a string of good news for the sport that includes increases in racquet and
Key Findings of the 2005 Study
Racquets Sales Are Up
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Wilson W6 Racquet Named “Editor’s Choice” by Tennis
TTC Open Moves to Las Vegas
he 2006 Tennis Channel Open, a men’s ATP pro event that starts the week of Feb. 27, will move to Las Vegas. The tournament, founded in 1986, had been held in Scottsdale, Ariz. The move to Las Vegas marks the return of top-level pro tennis to the region after a two-decade absence. Andy Roddick has commtted to play the event. The Tennis Channel Open will take place at the new Darling Memorial Tennis Center, which features a 40-acre complex with 23 courts, among them a 2,400-seat stadium court that will expand via bleachers to a 3,000-3,500 capacity during the event. The grounds also include space for two additional, smaller stadium courts, which are currently being planned. “The vision is to create a sort of ‘tennispalooza,’ an annual tennis destination with tournament action and other tennisrelated entertainment activities, and televise the heck out of it,” says TTC Founder and President Steve Bellamy. “Las Vegas is providing resources and efforts toward this end, and after an exhaustive selection process we’ve decided that the city presents the best opportunity to build something spectacular that people are going to travel to experience each year.” The Tennis Channel, which purchased the tournament from IMG in February, says it plans to expand the event into a multifaceted gathering unique to the tennis and sports-venue calendars. Plans currently entail an annual, 10-day event with men’s, women’s, and juniors tournaments, surrounded by ancillary events that center on tennis and the lifestyle of its enthusiasts. This in turn would be supported by a number of entertainment offshoots, including other sports events, the TTC said in a statement.
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ilson’s new W6 racquet, designed specifically for women, was named an “Editor’s Choice” in the November/December 2005 issue of Tennis magazine. The W6 is part of the new W line and uses Wilson’s nCode technonogy. Wilson says the nine racquets in its W line are engineered to enhance a woman’s game with a unique construction for increased power, strength, and control and added comfort features. W racquets have an oval head shape with longer main strings for a larger sweetspot and a new throat design offering greater strength and stability, the company says. The racquets also feature distinctive cosmetics. The nCode technology uses nano-sized silicon dioxide crystals to permeate the voids between carbon fibers in the frame, resulting in added stability, strength, and power, says Wilson. For every purchase from the W line, Wilson makes a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
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Dunlop Has New Management
unlop Sports has combined the ownership of the Dunlop brand and the management of the Dunlop business. The new arrangement, under London-based Sports World Group Ltd., consolidates former licensing agreements into the new Dunlop structure. Dunlop, now operating as a fully integrated business, will centralize its U.S. and Canadian racquet sports and golf units under new management in Greenville, S.C. The new structure will distribute product from its new Greenville and Ontario, Canada, warehouses. Dunlop Sports in North America will be known as Dunlop Sports Group, Americas (DSGA) and will be led by Vice President and General Manager Robert Sameski and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ken Daiss. Rounding out Dunlop’s leadership team are Steven Zalinski, Dunlop’s director of sales–racquet sports; Chuck Peebles, director of sales–Canada; Stephen Hall, director of marketing–racquet sports; and Paul Balfour, director of sales–national accounts and special markets. New contact information for Dunlop Sports Group, Americas is: 116 South Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607; phone 800-768-4727, fax 800-766-8379.
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PTR Members to Receive Email Publications Free
tarting Jan. 1, full PTR members will receive Bob Larson’s Daily Tennis and Tennis Celebs for free. Regular subscriptions to the two publications would normally total $144. Daily Tennis, covering tennis news with sections such as Tennis Business News, Pro Tour News, College News, and Classified Ads, is delivered every business day via email. Tennis Celebs is a weekly e-publication that reports on all the big names in the game, including an Appearing Soon section that lets readers know where their favorite players can be spotted in exhibitions, clinics, or pro-ams. “With Daily Tennis and Tennis Celebs, PTR members will have the most current information available in the industry,” says PTR CEO Dan Santorum. “I believe that these will help PTR members be better tennis teachers.” For more information on the publications, visit www. dailytennis.com.
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Prince Introduces T9 Roadster Tennis Shoe
he new Prince T9 Roadster tennis shoe features advanced moisture-wicking and quick-drying technologies to help keep players’ feet dry, says Prince Sports. “The T9 combines an aggressive new look with advanced wick-away technology for a lightweight performance shoe that makes the player look as cool as their feet feel,” says James Lin, product manager at Prince. “The Roadster is available in adult and junior sizes for the player that appreciates a lightweight performance shoe that does not require a break-in period.” The T9 Roadster is part of Prince’s T-Series designed with a combination of breathable synthetics and AIRmesh, featuring forefoot lock-down overlays to ensure stable footing, says the company. The T9 was constructed for players seeking speed and agility on the court, with the added benefit of a moisture-wicking, moisture-management system for comfort. The shoe is available in men’s, women’s, and junior sizes and comes in two colorways for each gender. The adult shoes feature the PRC 1000 outsole compound that provides a six-month outsole wear guarantee. Visit www.princesports.com for more information.
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Sports InterActive Gives Retailers Web Store
ports InterActive is helping dealers create “an effective website strategy, which will dramatically increase their business,” says founder Herb Sweren, a former Prince executive. Sports InterActive is a web development and e-marketing company that, among other things, provides tennis clubs, pro shops, and specialty retailers with online sales capabilities through an “Online Tennis Mall.” Only dealers with a retail storefront qualify for the Online Mall component, and dealers receive a 20 percent net margin for every sale on the online mall. Order fulfillment is provided by Fromuth Tennis. “Most people agree that online sales have become more of a traditional retail outlet, so retailers have to find a way to compete with that,” says Sweren. “With Sports InterActive, anyone with a serious tennis business now has everything needed to truly harness the commercial power of the internet.” Sports InterActive sites are powered by the TIA’s TennisConnect.org software. A subscription to the Sports InterActive Premium SI Package for $89 a month or the Specialty Dealer package for $79 a month will also include TennisConnect.org, which allows facilities to create and manage their own websites, stay in touch with their members, schedule court time, match players online, and more. Dealers purchasing a Sports InterActive website become members of the TIA and gain access to other benefits offered to TIA members. For more information on Sports InterActive, contact Sweren at 410-358-1304 or email [email protected], or visit www.sports-interactive.net.
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PTR Launches PTR on Campus
he PTR has launched a new program to encourage college students to consider a career in tennis teaching and coaching. PTR on Campus makes PTR certification and membership available and affordable to full-time college students who are playing for their school, are competing in USA Team Tennis on Campus, are majoring in recreation, or who were high school tennis players with 4.0 NTRP. A PTR on Campus Workshop was tested last year with the University of Washington women’s tennis team’s players, coaches, and former players and is now rolling out nationwide. PTR on Campus will run from September through June and be held at various universities around the country, including, Alcorn State, Brigham Young, Colorado, Furman, Harvard, Ouachita Baptist, South Alabama, and South Carolina State. More colleges and universities are being considered and added to the program every week. “There is a big void in the number of younger people teaching tennis today,” says Dan Santorum, PTR’s CEO. “PTR on Campus addresses this issue and will help ensure a younger generation of tennis teaching professionals will continue to grow the game.” In an effort to grow the game, college students are offered the opportunity to learn to teach tennis, obtain liability insurance, and maintain PTR membership at prices most students can afford. In exchange, students are asked to give back to their communities by providing 10 hours of free tennis lessons. Through the education provided by the PTR on Campus program, students who teach tennis can help pay their tuition, supplement their income, or save for the future. In addition, they will be prepared for a full or part-time career in tennis if they choose. For further information regarding specific places and dates, college student discounts, or to host a PTR on Campus Workshop, contact PTR Director of Development Geoff Norton at 800-421-6289 or 843-785-7244 or email [email protected].
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Head Offers New Flexpoint Team Series
ead’s new Flexpoint Team Series of frames are designed for players who demand a lot from their racquet, says the company. Designed for both medium and long swing styles, the Team Series offers slightly lighter weights, larger sweetspots, and a little extra power, says Head. The Flexpoint Instinct Team has a more open string pattern for added spin. It weighs 9.3 ounces and has a 105-sq.-in. head size and an even balance. Suggested retail price is $170. The Flexpoint Radical Team has a 102-sq.-in. head, weighs 9.9 ounces, and is slightly head light. It also has a more open string pattern. Suggested retail is $190. Flexpoint technology, says Head, offers players of all levels control with no loss of power. Two small holes at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions are cradled within dimples to create a “flexpoint” when the ball makes contact with the strings, which cups the ball to make sure it leaves the strings at the angle intended, with no loss of power, says the company. Flexpoint frames also feature Liquidmetal technology. For more information, visit www.head.com.
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Ashaway Introduces New Technology For Badminton
shaway’s newest badminton strings feature a new “Power Filament Technology” design that the company says increases durability and reduces string movement. “This is a significant advance in string technology for badminton that will allow players to push their game to the limit,” says Ashaway Vice President of Marketing Steve Crandall of the new string technology. “What we’ve done with PFT is create an entirely new surface element in the jacket of the string by incorporating a proprietary power filament. This increases shuttle control and playability, and optimizes power.” Ashaway is developing two new series of PFT strings which the company says will be announced in coming months. For more information, visit ashawayusa.com.
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Mike Wilson to Lead Völkl Tennis
ike Wilson is the new vice president of sales for Völkl Tennis, replacing Chris Pearson, who has left the company. Wilson has been the New England regional territory manager for Völkl Tennis for the past five years. For more than 20 years, he was New England territory manager for such brands as Prince, Donnay, Pro Kennex, and Reebok. His new duties will include directing the sales force, product development, and inventory control. He also will work closely with Völkl Tennis’ Director of Promotions and Marketing Sarah Maynard. “I look forward to working with our loyal customer base and appreciate their support,” says Wilson. “With the introduction of our new DNX technology in the DNX V1 Mid-plus and Oversize [in late summer 2005] and the launch of the Boris Becker by Völkl BB10 [introduced in the fall], Völkl Tennis continues to develop and produce the finest, high-quality German-engineered racquets in the marketplace today.” Wilson can be reached at 800-264-4579, x. 7277, or at [email protected].
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Considine Named New Wilson President
hris Considine is the new president of Wilson Sporting Goods, including the global Racquet Sports, Golf, and Team Divisions, parent company Amer Sports Corp. announced in November. Amer Sports says it expects the appointment will consolidate the overall direction of the brand and “provide greater efficiencies to the business units,” enabling Wilson “to communicate a more consistent brand message to the consumer and trade channels.” Considine has been with Wilson for over 24 years. He has led the Team Sports Division since 1994.
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Wilson is Official Stringer for US Open
ilson Racquet Sports will be the Official Stringer at the US Open beginning in 2006. Wilson will be the on-site stringer for all Open players, which equates to about 3,000 racquets strung during the week-long qualifying tournament and the two-week Open. Wilson says the multi-year US Open deal represents a new strategic direction for the company to increase its stringing presence worldwide. The company says it will announce stringing agreements with other events at a later date. “We identified key tournaments around the world to develop a mutual partnership to help grow our stringing business and add value to their event, and the US Open is an ideal fit for Wilson,” says Brian Dillman, vice president of Wilson Racquet Sports. “Wilson is a valued partner of the US Open and has provided the Official Ball for more than two decades,” says Jim Curley, USTA managing director of tournament operations and US Open tournament director. “We expect Wilson to elevate the quality of service provided to the more than 800 athletes who compete in all aspects of the US Open.”
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Andy Roddick Calendar Hits Shelves
For die-hard Andy Roddick fans, the new 2006 Andy Roddick Calendar is available, featuring the tennis star in full-color, glossy photos on courts throughout the world. The calendar, which retails for $13.99, will be distributed worldwide through major bookstores, office supply stores, and calendar and gift stores, as well as online at www.jfturner.com and www.andyroddick.com.
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• Mike Levy is the new chief marketing officer at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He joins the Hall of Fame from the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, where he was senior vice president of sales and marketing. • Prince Sports has promoted Matthew Haley to regional vice president of the Southern Region. • For the second time in three years, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan finished the year as the No. 1 doubles team on the ATP circuit. The Bryans, who won the 2005 US Open doubles championship, have captured at least five titles a year for four straight years. They’ve won 26 career titles together. • Malaysian squash star Nicol David (above) won the British Open in October, less than two
weeks after signing with Prince Sports and switching to Prince’s O3 Tour squash racquet.
• Florida's Diana Srebrovic and UCLA's Ben Kohlloeffel captured the singles titles at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Championships at the Racquet Club of Columbus, Ohio. Collecting the doubles titles were Ohio State's Scott Green and Ross Wilson and Stanford's Alice Barnes and Anne Yelsey.
• Americans Chase Buchanan of Columbus, Ohio, and Brittany Augustine of El Segundo, Calif., overcame every challenge presented by fellow Head Team Elite members at the second annual International Head Team Elite Cup held at the SanchezCasal Academy in Barcelona, Spain. Both Buchanan and Augustine play with the Head Flexpoint Radical MP. The International Head Team Elite Cup brings together over 100 young tennis players from more than 30 countries.
USPTA Installs New National Board of Directors
on Woods, the former executive director of the USPTA Texas Division, is the new president of the USPTA’s national board of directors. Woods, along with other national board members, were installed during the 78th USPTA World Conference on Tennis, held in September in Marco Island, Fla. The new board will serve until September 2007. In addition to Woods, the board is comprised of: First Vice President—Harry Gilbert; Vice Presidents— Tom Daglis, Randy Mattingley, Paula Scheb, and Mark Fairchilds; SecretaryTreasurer—Tom McGraw; Past President—David T. Porter. The board manages the USPTA’s affairs between meetings of the larger USPTA executive committee, which includes the board, three past national presidents and elected leaders from each of USPTA’s 17 domestic divisions. Board members are nominated by a committee comprised of executive committee members, and may be individually opposed in a general membership election.
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Classic Turf Offers “4 Days to Playability”
lassic Turf Co.’s recent court installation in Atlanta demonstrates what company Founder and President Tumer H. Eren says is his product’s “four days to playability.” “The prefabricated Classic Turf surface can be put down in four days,” says Eren. “Weather permitting, if you start an installation on Monday, you’ll be applying the lines on Thursday afternoon, and the court will be ready for play on Friday morning.” Classic Turf recently was used for the rooftop court at the Waverly luxury condominiums in Miami. For the Atlanta installation in September, Eren says that once the cracks in the original court were filled and the uneven spots were leveled, the cushioned Classic Turf rubber mat was glued to the base on Monday. Joints were scraped and leveled on Tuesday, and the first coat of acrylic was put down. Color coating was applied on Wednesday and Thursday, along with the playing lines. “The Classic Turf technology allows the contractor to install the 3/8-inch prefabricated Classic Turf System over the new or prepared surface in four days, making the tennis court playable,” says Eren. “This technology saves a lot of time for the contractor and the owner.” Those interested in seeing a stepby-step installation should visit www.classicturf.org. The patented rubber cushion surface, which reduces joint stress for players, is waterproof and breathable, Eren says, and speed of play can easily be adjusted and customized to suit the customer. “We’ve installed more than 3.5 million square feet of Classic Turf worldwide,” says Eren. “And we guarantee that the surface won’t crack.” For more information, contact Classic Turf at 800-246-7951 or [email protected].
LaserFibre Offers New Line of Grips and Overgrips
aserFibre reports fast growth in sales of its new TourFit TwinTone grips. Tim Sullivan of LaserFibre says the TwinTone has been “outselling conventional grips at the rate of 4 to 1,” with customers even removing stock grips from newly purchased frames to install a matching TwinTone grip. TwinTone is available in 16 color combinations, to match and accent the racquet cosmetics. Not only can teams and leagues match colors, the grip itself features a patented stitched, hidden hem that combines two grips, providing added strength and a new comfortable feel and texture than a conventional grip, says the company. Also new in LaserFibre’s line of grips is the Pro Stock Series, a premium performance grip designed to provide comfort, moisture absorption, and extra shock absorption. And the TourFit Series of replacement grips and overgrips is designed to enhance feel for the contours of the racquet handle. Both the TourFit and Pro Stock series feature LaserFibre’s Advanced HydroTac Technology, which the company says creates millions of micro pores in the polyurethane grip surface and utilizes moisture to increase the tackiness of the grip. “The more a person perspires, the more the grip grips back,” says the company, adding that the design also allows for quick evaporation of excess perspiration. Suggested retail prices for Pro Stock grips is $8.99; for TourFit TwinTone grips, $9.99; for TourFit grips, $7.99; and for TourFit overgrips, $5.99. For more information call 888-895-2350 or visit www.laserfibre.com.
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Wilson to Distribute Luxilon Strings
tarting in 2006, Wilson Racquet Sports will be the exclusive worldwide distributor of Luxilon products. Belgium-based Luxilon makes monofilament strings and other products. More than 800 tour pros use Luxilon, and it is the official string of the ATP and WTA tours. Luxilon also is the official stringer at several international events. “Our partnership with Luxilon gives Wilson the opportunity to leverage the strength of both brands at retail,” says Brian Dillman, vice president of Wilson Racquet Sports. “Our extensive global distribution network through the Wilson and Amer Sports subsidiaries and distributors will play a major role in both companies’ future success.” Luxilon products include strings for tennis, badminton, and squash. The company is the official stringer at the Nasdaq-100, China Open, Tennis Masters Cup, ATP Junior Gold, and Luxilon Junior Cup. In a statement, Wilson says the Luxilon string designations fit with Wilson’s current strategic initiatives to increase its stringing presence at professional and amateur tennis tournaments worldwide. In November, Wilson announced it will be the official stringer at the US Open beginning in 2006. The Luxilon portfolio includes high-tech string product lines such as Big Banger, which is used by more than 60 percent of the ATP Top 100 players and about 30 percent of the WTA Top 100 players. Luxilon will continue to manage the string business in brand strategy, promotions, and product development under the direction of Bob Daelmans. For more information, visit www.wilson.com.
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Tennis Service Reps Spread Across the U.S.
he new Tennis Service Representative program got off to a fast start in the fall. As of midNovember, nearly 50 TSRs had been hired by the USTA sections. The Tennis Service Reps are under the direction of Mark McMahon, the USTA’s new national manager for TSRs, and will be a “national sales force for tennis.” The idea is for the TSRs to be wellversed in programs and resources available, so they can then assist local providers in growing the game at the grassroots level and increase tennis participation. To reach a TSR in your area, contact your USTA section. The new TSRs, listed by section, are: Caribbean: Carlos Torres, Cristina Cruz Eastern: Wayne Martin Florida: Trina Singian, Matt Graham, Rene Grifol, Kelly Tucker, Dede Allen, Jeff Davis, Shelly LicorishBynum, Janet Sprague, Susie Bessire, Cheryl Rivera, Cathy Nordlund Hawaii-Pacific: Madeleine Dreith Intermountain: Susan Burke, David Dunson, Chris Harris Mid-Atlantic: Michelle Grover, Lynn Gertzog, Susan Cook, Joe Wills, Jamaane Jahi, Jamal Hicks Middle States: Jeff Barger, Kelle Cunningham, Justin DePietropaolo Midwest: Steve Kakavetsis, Sue Selke, Eric Nelson, Jim Amick Missouri Valley: Jane Waterstradt, Jodi Gordon, Connie Robertson, Dan Bratetic, Laura Puryear New England: Jeff Graham, Nakita Zaharov Northern: Hayley Shibley Northern California: TBD Pacific Northwest: Gail Benzler, Adam Rogers, Al Thomerson Southern: Kevin Theos, Karen Zuidema, Bill Dopp, Jason Miller, Bill Phillips, Patrick Tibbs, Julie OshiroKenton Southern California: Alison Roell, Diane Brooks Southwest: Gary Druckman Texas: Eric Clay, Amanda Shaw, Cindy Benzon, Laura Gilbert, Sal Castillo, Simon Menchaca
Squash Star Forms Initiative to Grow the Game
anadian-born squash pro Jonathon Power has formed a new squash marketing and development initiative, SquashPower (www.squashpower.com), to promote growth in youth and adult squash. The newly formed company’s mission is to educate, grow, and empower the squash community through educational programs, competitive growth, and player empowerment. According to the World Squash Federation, the game is played in more than 140 countries by more than 20 million players. In the U.S., growth at the junior level has jumped 125 percent over the past two years. Forbes Magazine has rated the sport No. 1 for overall health and fitness. In Massachusetts, squash is one of the fastest growing college and high school sports of all time. Jonathon Power has won 32 Professional Squash Association Tour titles and is ranked as the No. 2 player in the world. He is the most successful squash player in North America.
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Osborn Heads Up Sales Division at Prince Sports
harles Osborne is the new vice president and USA national sales manager for Prince Sports, the company announced in November. Osborne will be responsible for the national sales organization, excluding key accounts. The regional vice presidents, with responsibility over the sales territories in the West, North Central, and Southeast regions, will report directly to him. “Prince has had a great year, from a sales and growth standpoint, and Charlie has been an integral part of this since his arrival in May,” says Prince Sports USA President Doug Fonte. “We look forward to his continued success as he leads the company in 2006 and beyond.” Osborne joined Prince in May as the regional vice president of the North Central region, after nearly 20 years at Wilson Sporting Goods.
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Competitors Work Together to Solve Community’s Court Problems
he owners of the 100-condominium Gran Liden Community in Sunapee, N.H., needed help with their two hard courts. They were in bad shape, with cracks that kept coming back. Over the life of the 35-year-old courts, the condo owners and players had resorted to what turned out to be short-term fixes. Now, they wanted a permanent solution. The community’s tennis players, all over the age of 40, wanted a softer, more forgiving surface than hard courts provided. Plus, they didn’t want to incur the costs and down time that might come from tearing up the old asphalt and preparing the site. “Clay was their first choice, but community members felt they weren’t ready to invest in the equipment and annual maintenance costs that would be required,” says Rick Burke of NGI Sports. “Also, they felt they would need to add staff to continually work the clay to keep it playable.” Gran Liden turned to Arch Weathers of New England Rec Surfaces for help. Weathers, who had worked on the community’s surfaces throughout the years, contacted Bill Rompf, the tennis director at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. A year earlier, the Hall of Fame had used a new product, Nova’ProClay, to overlay an old asphalt court and provide a clay surface for players. Weathers thought Nova’ProClay was just what the Gran Liden players were looking for. Even though the area licensee for the product was a local competitor, John Lineberry of Lineberry Tennis, Weathers called him to discuss the Gran Liden project. Then they both met with the community’s board of directors. “We described the Nova’ProClay concept, which the board seemed to grasp quickly,” says Weathers (above, right, with Lineberry). It was determined that a thin, crushed-stone, pie-shaped overlay would be placed on top of the existing asphalt to decrease the slope and buffer the deteriorated surface. A light sprinkler system would be installed. Then the Nova’ProClay base with 10 tons of Har-Tru finish would be placed over the rock wedge. “Now, they don’t need a roller, and there is no lengthy down time in wet weather,” says Burke. “The courts are usable virtually year-round, and best of all, they have a real clay court finish to play on.” For more information, contact NGI Sports at 800-835-0033 or [email protected], or visit www.novagrass.com.
New Flare-It Reshapes Grommets
lare-It LLC introduces a product for grommet maintenance and repair that is designed to “stop string damage before it happens,” says the company. Flare-It Grommet Wizard, which can be used on all types of racquets, flares and re-shapes grommets to remove pressure points that can damage string. It also will help keep newly installed grommet strips or individual repairs in place. For USRSA members, the introductory price is $19.95 per unit. Contact 502-329-7800 or visit www.flare-it.com.
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Völkl Adds Two Frames to BB Line
ölkl Sport America continues its newest product line of frames designed by former champion Boris Becker with the new BB1 and BB5 racquets, both available Feb. 1. The frames join the previously released BB10. The BB1, weighing 9.0 ounces unstrung, is the lightest frame in the BB series. It also has the largest head size, at 112 sq. in., and the thickest beam width, at 29 mm., making it the most powerful racquet in the BB range, says Völkl. The company says the racquet is ideal for recreational players 3.0 NTRP and higher. Suggested retail is $160. The new BB5 combines an oversize (105 sq. in.) with a maneuverable swing weight at a very affordable $130 suggested retail. The frame, which weighs 9.4 ounces, also is for players at the 3.0 or higher level. For more information, call 603-298-0314, email [email protected], or visit www.volkl.com.
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PTR Symposium Feb. 18-24
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he 2006 PTR International Tennis Symposium and $25,000 Championships will be Feb. 18-24 on Hilton Head, S.C. The Symposium schedule includes more than 40 presentations, a trade show, dinners, an awards banquet, and more. Register by Feb. 10 for $325 for PTR members, $395 for nonmembers. After Feb. 10, it’s $375 and $425. Prices do not include Professional Development Courses or tournaments fees. The deadline for tournament entry is Feb. 3. For more information or to register, call 800-421-6289 or visit www.ptrtennis.org.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
SHORT SETS
Sports’ > Prince ScienceO3 Technology received the > Popular “Best of What’s New” Award, which recognizes top new products and technologies. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 12 categories: Auto Tech, Aviation & Space, Cars, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health, Photography and Recreation. has new partnership > Tecnifibrefor its atennis ball business with Bridgestone and ball factory in Thailand. The new company, Bridgestone-Tecnifibre, says it expects capacity at the Thailand factory to double within two years to reach 24 million balls. The La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in La Jolla, Calif., will be the site of the 2006 Davis Cup first-round match between the U.S. and Romania, Feb. 10-12. Three-day series ticket prices range from $90 to $375, with VIP packages available. Call 888-484-USTA.
Vegas to Host Cardio Tennis Feeding Shootout
he USPTA will conduct a new, nationwide competition to find the best tennis ball feeders in the U.S. The competitions, to be held at each USPTA division convention during the coming year, will feature Cardio Tennis Feeding Shootouts among members of the USPTA. The winner from each division will be eligible to compete in the national Shootout at the USPTA World Conference in Las Vegas in September. The competition will allow teaching pros to demonstrate the accuracy and speed of their feeds for 60 seconds. Pros will be asked to feed tennis balls in a specific pattern to three targets set up at a net. Each pro will feed balls from a teaching cart while standing behind the middle of the baseline, and the objective is to get as many balls as possible into the targets in one minute. The pro who feeds the most balls into the targets will be declared the Division Shootout Winner and will go on to compete in the National Shootout at the 2006 USPTA World Conference, which is set for Sept. 16 to 23 in Las Vegas. The Division Feeding Shootout winners will receive two cases of Pro Penn tennis balls and round-trip airfare to the World Conference. USPTA President Ron Woods, is excited about the Feeding Shootout. “We see the Feeding Shootout as a great way to highlight the art of feeding and to continue to elevate USPTA’s focus on the growth of Cardio Tennis,” he says. “Competitors from all USPTA divisions will be competing to be named the best feeder in America.”
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is Midwest sales > O2Athletics forthe new and Tecnifibre, representatives Reebok covering Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan and western Pennsylvania. It also represents Viking Athletics. Contact Dave Ohlmuller, 847-283-0247 or [email protected]. board of recently > The USTAinvestment directorskeep the approved an to help Pacific Life Open in the U.S. The USTA will join other investors, including Tennismagazine owners George Mackin and Robert Miller, in a planned buyout of IMG’s 50 percent interest in the tournament. USPTA Texas Division’s > TheBuying Show will be Feb.Southwest Tennis 10-11 at The Woodlands Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, at The Woodlands, Texas. Mercedes-Benz and the ATP have extended their sports marketing partnership another three years, through 2008. Mercedes-Benz started its partnership as the Official Car of the ATP in 1996. The car company provides transportation at many of the ATP’s 64 tournaments in 31 countries. USTA National Husband & > The firstand Super Senior Grass Court Wife Senior Championships, sponsored by The Tennis Channel and Campbell’s, will be at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 6-12.
> Ashaway Racket Strings has introduced its new Racket Strings Catalog, highlighting
more than 40 different strings for tennis, badminton, squash, and racquetball. The catalog also introduces Ashaway's new Power Filament Technology, or PFT, for badminton, a proprietary design that creates a unique filament surface layer to reduce string movement and increase durability. For a copy of the catalog visit www.ashawayusa.com. Head has relaunched www.head.com with a new, cleaner look. The site features a racquet advisor and includes information on touring pros and all Head new products. Former world No. 1 player Jim Courier and his company, InsideOut Sports and Entertainment, are launching the Champions Cup Series, a collection of U.S. tennis events featuring tennis greats over the age of 30. Events are slated for Naples, Fla., March 912; Boston, April 27-30; Memphis, Oct. 5-8; and Houston, Nov. 9-12. Visit www.insideoutlive for more information.
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Bälle de Mätch is Official Apparel of Copper Bowl
outhern California-based Bälle de Mätch is the official apparel of the Copper Bowl junior tournament. The event takes place in Tucson, Ariz., in January and attracts more than 1,000 juniors every year. “We are proud to be associated with this event, which will give us tremendous visibility with the best kids of all age groups from all over the country,” says Bälle de Mätch co-owner and partner John Embree. The Copper Bowl is a USTA-sanctioned Level III tournament on the National Junior schedule and attracts ranked boys and girls 12’s to 18’s from around the world. Bälle de Mätch apparel will be worn by the staff of the Copper Bowl and will be sold on-site. It is also the Official Team Uniform of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association, the Official Apparel Supplier for Orange County Tennis Association. For more information on Bälle de Mätch, call 800-356-1021.
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January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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OUTSTANDING FACILITY-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDS
Head of the Class
RSI and the ASBA bring you the best in tennis court construction.
e have again joined forces with the American Sports Builders Association to bring you examples of excellence in court construction. Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member, whether a contractor, designer, or supplier, the association selects outstanding tennis facilities that meet the standard of excellence determined by the judging committee. For the 2005 contest, 25 courts or tennis facilities were deemed to be outstanding by the panel of judges. Two, however, were chosen for special honors: the Princeton University Tennis Complex in Princeton, N.J., was named the Tennis Facility of the Year, and the indoor facility at Sunset Athletic Club in Beaverton, Ore., was selected as the Multipurpose Indoor Facility of the Year. The Princeton Tennis Complex, completed in July 2005, added 15 new courts to the existing eight-court facility. The new courts are in two groupings, one for faculty and alumni use and the other for students. The student grouping is made up of two court batteries of four and five courts, with a spec-
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tator plaza between them. The faculty grouping is made up of two three-court batteries, one of soft courts and one of hard. Between the two student batteries is a historic pavilion that was relocated and reassembled from another location on campus. The pavilion includes a water fountain, emergency communications, and spectator areas on two levels. The tight site conditions made it necessary to use retaining walls rather than sloped landscaped areas. The Sunset Athletic Club indoor multipurpose facility was an upgrade to the existing structure and included three new indoor tennis courts, basketball courts, climbing wall, running track, and cardio and exercise rooms. The high winter water table meant that an underground drainage moat had to be built to direct water to a filter and storage tube 4 feet in diameter and 400 feet long. The project was completed in the winter of 2005. —Peter Francesconi
Princeton University Tennis Complex, Princeton, N.J.
Architect/Engineer: GLOBAL SPORTS & TENNIS DESIGN GROUP, FAIR HAVEN, N.J. Specialty Contractor: SPORTSLINE AND ALL STAR TENNIS COURT CO. Surface: CALIFORNIA PRODUCTS CORP. Lighting: COURTSIDER SPORTS LIGHTING Windscreens: J.A. CISSEL
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
Indoor Multi-Purpose Facility at Sunset Athletic Club, Beaverton, Ore.
Specialty Contractor: ATLAS TRACK & TENNIS, TUALATIN, ORE. Surface: CALIFORNIA PRODUCTS CORP. Curtains/Divider Nets: M. PUTTERMAN & CO. Tennis Nets: EDWARDS, DIV. OF COLLEGIATE PACIFIC Other Supplier: ROBBINS INC.
Q Chippewa Resort Tennis Facility, Manitowish Waters, Wis. (Munson Inc.)
In addition to the Princeton University Tennis Complex and the Sunset Athletic Club, these 23 locations were chosen by the 2005 panel of judges for the ASBA as outstanding examples of court construction. You’ll read more about them in upcoming issues of Racquet Sports Industry. (The nominating company is in parentheses.) Q Residential Court, Miami (Fast-Dry Cos.) Q Residential Court, Norwell, Mass. (Boston Tennis Court Construction Co.) Q River Oaks Country Club, Houston (Welch Tennis Courts)
Taking the Prize
Q Emory University Indoor Tennis Facility, Atlanta (Lower Bros.) Q Green Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hills, Pa. (Pro-Sport Construction)
Q Heathrow Country Estates Tennis Facility, Sorrento, Fla. (Fast-Dry Cos.) Q Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, Dade City, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts) Q Lion’s Paw, Oakley, Utah (Welch Tennis Courts) Q Oaks at Boca Raton Tennis Center, Boca Raton, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts)
Q Roxiticus Golf Club Tennis Facility, Mendham, N.J. (The Racquet Shop) Q Sacred Heart Schools Tennis Facility, Atherton, Calif. (Beals Alliance Inc.)
Q Sandhills Community College Athletic Complex, Pinehurst, N.C. (Court One)
Q Palencia Tennis Center, St. Augustine, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts)
Q Ottawa Township High School, Ottawa, Ill. (Global Sports & Tennis Design Group)
Q Sebastian Municipal Park Tennis Facility, Sebastian, Fla. (Fast-Dry Cos.)
Q St. George’s Senior Boys’ School, Vancouver, B.C. (Ocean Marker Sport Surfaces USA) Q University of Alabama Outdoor Tennis Facility, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Lower Bros.)
Q Residential Court, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas (Fast-Dry Cos.) Q Residential Court, Lemon Heights, Calif. (Zaino Tennis Courts)
Q Residential Court, Gywnedd, Pa. (Pro-Sport Construction)
Q University of Hawaii at Monoa Tennis Complex, Honolulu (Applied Surfacing Technology) Q Vanderbilt University Outdoor Tennis Facility, Nashville, Tenn. (Lower Bros.)
For details of the 2006 Outstanding Tennis Facility Awards, contact the ASBA at 866-501-ASBA or [email protected].
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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2006 STRING SURVEY
USRSA Members’ Choice Awards
Our exclusive rankings, based on responses by USRSA members, will help you pick the right strings for your shop.
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hat string is best for your customer? It’s a tricky question to are included in the total sum and average for that string. We answer, since there are so many different strings out there added the scores from each respondent to obtain a sum for that all have unique combinations of benefits. But once again, that string, then divided the sum by the number of responwe’ve gone right to the experts, the thousands of U.S. Racquet Stringers dents who rated it. To ensure that strings with a reasonable breadth of distribAssociation members, and asked them to rate strings in three categories: ution are included, each string must be rated on at least 12 playability, durability, and comquestionnaires. We feel fort. that having at least 12 Most Responses by Gauge Our 29th annual string surrespondents allows us to (percent) vey, which is on the poster include enough strings by inserted into this issue of RSI, enough manufacturers, Gauge 2006 2005 2004 2002/3 2001 2000 is a compilation of survey including smaller market 16 64.6 62.0 62.4 61.9 58.9 54.8 questionnaires sent in Sep17 24.5 28.2 23.1 26.2 27.0 31.8 share companies. Too tember to 2,500 randomly 16L 4.6 3.8 4.3 2.8 1.5 high a number will mean selected U.S. members of the 15L 3.8 4.3 5.7 5.9 7.8 11.1 the survey results will only USRSA (no chain stores). 18 1.9 1.3 1.4 1.8 2.9 0.9 include the top two or Recipients were given a list of 15 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.8 three manufacturers. every string on the market 17L 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.6 Remember, the cateand asked to rate the ones 19 1.7 0.4 0.4 gory scores for each string they are familiar with from 1 18/17 0.5 0.4 are averages of all the to 10 in each of the three catrespondents’ rankings for egories. Then an average a given string. Often, score was calculated for each these averages are very string in each category. (percent) close; the differences For a string to qualify for a between rankings can be rating, the respondent must Brand 2006 2005 2004 2002/3 2001 2000 mere hundredths of a Wilson 23.2 22.0 21.9 23.8 21.6 30.5 have strung at least 20 sets of point. Though only one Gamma 20.4 22.9 24.7 25.6 25.9 27.2 that string in the past year. Prince 19.8 19.6 19.8 19.2 20.7 23.7 string can claim the top This 20-set minimum ensures Head 9.4 7.7 7.4 7.3 4.0 7.0 spot in a category, many that respondents are rating a Babolat 9.3 7.2 7.1 6.1 6.9 6.3 of the strings close to string they know something Tecnifibre 4.5 4.8 4.1 4.1 4.7 3.4 each other in ranking are about and that has some Luxilon 3.6 3.4 3.0 of equal stature. In pracvitality in the marketplace. For Ashaway 2.0 1.6 1.8 1.7 2.2 <1.0 tice, each of these strings some businesses, 20 sets may Gosen 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.9 3.2 1.4 is one of the best of its represent 20 percent of their Forten 1.2 2.3 2.6 2.6 3.5 0.5 niche. Alpha 0.9 1.0 total business, and for others, Hang our String Survey Kirschbaum 0.8 0.8 1 percent. Some businesses TOA 0.8 0.4 poster in your shop and may only sell 20 sets of the Dunlop 0.6 1.2 1.1 let your customers deterstring; others may sell 500. Klip 0.6 0.9 mine which strings may Each ranking, however, carOthers 2.3 2.3 4.6 5.2 4.4 best help their games.Q ries the same weight, and all
Most Responses by Brand
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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Finding the Right Treatment
Emergency medical devices, such as defibrillators, are reassuring to clubs and their members.
BY CYNTHIA CANTRELL
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hen selecting a tennis club, potential members expect to size up tennis courts, ball machines, locker rooms, and other amenities. However, there is additional equipment to consider: automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and other medical gear. “Just by the nature of the sport—where people can go from complete rest to full-out activity, with some not exercising any other way—there are going to be some [cardiac] problems on a tennis court,” says Stephen Tharrett, a former senior vice president at Dallas-based ClubCorp and currently an editor of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines. When the publication’s third edition is published in April 2006, according to Tharrett, it will recommend the inclusion of AEDs in all HeartStart Onsite Defibrillator fitness centers, with the Philips Electronics intended effect of transforming what has been a growing trend into an industry standard. By 2010, he predicts installing AEDs in sports facilities will be legislated beyond the current states of Illinois, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, and Louisiana. An AED is a computerized medical device that can recognize whether a person’s heart rhythm requires an electric shock, and uses voice prompts, lights, and text messages to tell the rescuer how to deliver one.
“It’s a natural part of a facility’s duty of care to its members,” says Tharrett, noting that AEDs are joining traditional safety measures such as first aid kits, CPR-trained personnel, and even oxygen masks for members experiencing difficulty breathing. “As long as you provide appropriate training on modern equipment that is serviced regularly, these devices are absolutely in members’ best interest.” As the national tennis director and regional manager of two Tennis Corp. of America (TCA)-owned tennis clubs in the Kansas City area, Ajay Pant says he sets an example for his staff by participating in emergency training offered to all TCA employees. “There’s a certain way you have to push down on the abdomen when doing CPR, and it took me a while to get it,” Pant admits. “I’m the guy in charge and it would have been easy for me to let it go, but I held up all proceedings until I got it right. I wanted to send the message that there can be no shortcuts when safety is involved.” In addition to CPR, according to Pant, TCA clubs also train staff on AEDs, first aid and infant CPR at facilities with nurseries. Tennis pros who work with members outdoors during the summer are taught to look for heat illness symptoms such as hot, dry skin, change in skin color, hyperventilation, and confusion. If a teaching pro suspects heat exhaustion or sunstroke, for example, Pant says the lesson is immediately ended (with the fee waived) so the member can be taken inside for treatment.
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“We train our staff on what to keep AEDs in working order with look for because even when you ask fresh pads and batteries, and alert a member how they’re feeling, they them to staff whose certifications are may say they’re fine,” says Pant. set to expire. “We adhere to strict policies, but we “Though presently it is not legislatbelieve our members appreciate it.” ed that clubs be equipped with AEDs, Ed Brune, general manager and ClubCorp felt because of the potential tennis director of the Indianapolis of saving a life, that this initiative was Racquet Clubs, says the company’s worth the investment for the compatwo facilities both have first aid kits, ny,” says Woolard. ZOLL AED Plus with an employee in charge of keepHelen Durkin, director of public ZOLL Medical Corporation ing each one fully stocked. He also policy for the Boston-based Internarecently purchased an AED for each tional Health, Racquet and Sportsclub site. Association (IHRSA), cautions clubs “I’ve been studying defibrillators for and members alike from believing that two or three years, waiting for someAEDs will save every life since they are thing to come along that’s easy to use most beneficial in cases of sudden carand cost-effective,” says Brune, noting diac arrest, where the heart actually stops that the local fire department conducted beating. Liability is another common conthe training for his key employees. With cern for clubs, she says, since Good increasing publicity surrounding AEDs— Samaritan laws for businesses have not not to mention about one-quarter of the yet been enacted in all states. Indianapolis Racquet Clubs’ 3,000 mem“IHRSA is working hard to ensure that bers over 50 years of age—Brune says it all states that require AEDs provide adewas simply time to make the devices quate coverage so these businesses aren’t part of the clubs’ standard equipment. subject to liability by using these devices Ville Jansson, sports club manager at or not using them,” says Durkin, noting Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho that 25 percent of IHRSA member clubs Mirage, Calif., says his ClubCorp-owned surveyed in 2000-01 already had AEDs in PowerHeart AED G3 property is equipped with an AED, oxytheir facilities. Cardiac Science gen, and first-aid kits containing antisepDurkin also notes that studies have tics, sports injury-related bandages, and indicated that 85 percent of sudden car“everything imaginable” at both the tennis and golf portions of diac arrest cases occur in the home or hospital, with only the the property. The company strives for 100 percent employee remaining 15 percent spread out across airports, businesses, training in safety procedures including jails, dialysis centers, gaming establishAED usage, he says. ments, golf courses, homeless shelters, “It’s peace of mind for our memlarge industrial sites, nursing homes, bers,” says Jansson, a former ATP tourphysician offices, shopping malls, A prescription was once required to purchase an ing pro with 10 professional sports complexes, streets and highAED, but now the devices are offered over the tournament wins. “AEDs are coming ways, trains and ferries, urgent care counter. Royal Philips Electronics offers two over-thedown in cost so these days, you see centers, and utility trucks. counter models: the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator them in a lot of places. It makes sense “There are plenty of club owners and the HeartStart Home Defibrillator. for us to have them, too.” who have gotten AEDs and tell stories Ron Woolard, the national director of how they’ve been used to save lives, For more information about AEDs, contact manufacfor Athletics & Tennis at Dallas-based but in the case of an emergency, clubs turers such as the following: ClubCorp, says Mission Hills Country should still call 911 and follow their Q Cardiac Science (www.cardiacscience.com) Club is one of 79 ClubCorp sites that first-aid protocol in case it’s not sudden Q Medtronic (www.medtronic.com) were equipped with AEDs in 2002. cardiac arrest,” Durkin says. For their Q Philips Medical Systems (www.medical.philips.com) The investment of purchasing the part, she adds, members shouldn’t Q Zoll Medical (www.zoll.com) devices, servicing them, and dedicatpanic and cease exercising because Training is provided by manufacturers as well as by ing employee hours to repeated certifithey’re afraid their heart will give out the American Red Cross and American Heart Associacations can be significant, Woolard on the tennis court. tion. Neither organization recommends one device says. AEDs can range in price from “AEDs can be useful devices to have over another. For training information, contact your about $2,000 to $3,000, he notes, and on hand,” Durkin says, “but I’m conlocal American Red Cross chapter or the American companies may opt to pay an addicerned that all this legislation is going Heart Association’s Heartsaver AED program at 1tional monthly fee of approximately to perpetuate the idea that exercise is 877-AHA-4CPR (1-877-242-4277). $200 per site for an outside vendor to more dangerous than it is.” Q
Where to Get AEDs
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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Delivering a Quality Experience
For pro Jorge Andrew in South Carolina, it’s all about getting people BY CHRIS NICHOLSON involved—and coming back for more.
The Master Pros:
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ost head tennis professionals will confront tough challenges at some point in their careers. At times they’ll face sagging membership, over-budget court repairs, staff shortages, cranky bosses. But one of the most demanding tasks a head pro can undertake is one that few actually ever will: launching a new tennis facility. In 2000, Lexington County, S.C., had no tennis program. And the area still didn’t even have a home for public tennis, as their prized 21-court Lexington County Tennis Complex (LCTC) wasn’t due to open until the following summer. Then came Jorge Andrew, hired
This is the second of six installments on the teaching pros who hold Master Pro certifications from both the PTR and the USPTA. to be the facility’s first tennis director. “Opening a new facility is difficult—you’re really starting from scratch,” says Dan Santorum, CEO and executive director of the PTR. “Getting the people to come is obviously a challenge, but once they get there you have to make sure they have a quality experience. That’s one of the things Jorge excels at—making sure that everybody that comes to his facility has a quality experience and is eager to come back.” Andrew, designated a master pro by both the PTR and the USPTA, was raised in Caracas, Venezuela. He played for and captained the Venezuelan Davis Cup team, and reached No. 76 in the world rankings in the late 1970s. He later worked as a tennis director at clubs in Venezuela and Florida before being tapped for his post in Lexington County. From six months before the LCTC opened, Andrew was already planning the details for what would quickly become one of the most successful tennis programs in the southern U.S. One of his primary goals was to relentlessly find new players and make them stay. “We have beginner clinics that start every four weeks,” Andrew says. “Then we try to put those beginners right into the
leagues. Officers of the Lexington Area Tennis Association are right at the facility, so in just a few minutes we can get you all the information you need, sign you up over the internet, put you in a league and you’re ready to play.” The strategy has worked. In just four years, the number of league tennis teams at the LCTC has increased from 20 to 45. Impressive numbers? That’s just for the adults. “Our most successful program is the After School Tennis Club,” Andrew says. “It has three levels. At level one, we give them a racquet and a can of balls. Level two, it’s a little more advanced lessons. Level three, they play matches every Friday. After that, we start to encourage them to play tournaments.” The after-school club has a consistent attendance of 50 to 80 kids per four-week session. Other junior play at the LCTC includes the Junior Challengers, which exclude all players ranked in Top 25 in 10and-under, and the Top 50 in other divisions. “We host tournaments like that so that our people who started here can develop here,” Andrew says. As for those top-ranked players? They can still compete in the ITF World Junior Championships, which the LCTC hosts in November. “People ask me all the time, ‘How can we get a program going—do we need more junior programs, do we need to have more courts, do we need to spend more money?” says Jeff Hawes, first vice president of the USPTA Southern Division. “The answer is that first and foremost you need to have a leader. You Q Develop programs to cater to every need to have somebody who is age group and every player level. dynamic in their personality, Leave no one behind. dynamic when it comes to proQ At the end of beginners’ classes, moting, dynamic when it don’t let those new players go— comes to their teaching skills. try to get them signed up in And Jorge definitely has all leagues, where they’ll have fun those traits. That’s what makes with their new skills and keep him stand out in this industry. playing tennis. “Jorge is one of the best professionals in our association. Q Make the facility attractive in every Lexington County wasn’t even way possible: Keep it clean and on the map until he got there, well-decorated, and make sure and he made an impact just by everything is in working order. getting people involved.” Q
Creating a Quality Experience for Players
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How to Fix Your Game
he 2006 USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop comes to Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 3 to 5 with a full slate of workshops and seminars designed to educate, encourage and inspire tennis leaders and coordinators. For teaching pros, facility and park managers, and anyone else whose mission and livelihood involves getting more people playing the game, if you could go to only one workshop this year, this just may be the one you should attend. The annual CTDW, in the opinion of many who have attended previous workshops, is one of the most useful events for those who actually deliver tennis at
At the 2006 CTDW, you’ll find people, seminars and ideas that can help your business—and help the game grow.
the grassroots level. For those involved in tennis programming—whether at a Community Tennis Association, park and rec program, private facility, school, or more—the opportunity to expand your knowledge, and your business, at the CTDW is a worthwhile investment. Last year, the event brought nearly 700 people from around the country to Destin, Fla. The USTA has now realized the value of what the CTDW is able to provide, and the impact that it can have on tennis participation, and so the organization has been pumping more resources into the conference. Workshop sessions address everything from customer relations, to how to teach tennis to various groups, to building positive The USTA has different registration plans for the CTDW. relationships, to starting a nonFor the full workshop, individual registration is $295 before profit organization, how to deal Jan. 6 and $350 after. For more information on the CTDW, with volunteers, and much or to register, visit www.usta.com/communitytennis. more. This year, there also will Room rates for workshop registrants at the Renaissance be “pre-workshop sessions” (at Hollywood Hotel are $155 per night and must be booked additional cost) that are all-day directly with the hotel by Jan. 2. Contact 800-HOTELS-1, bonus sessions that go in-depth 323-856-1200 or www.renaissancehollywood.com. on various topics, such as proposal writing and developing a fundraising plan. And again the CTDW will offer “Courtside Consultants,” allowing attendees to sign up for a 25-minute slot to discuss their organization with experienced consultants and featured speakers. There also will be an exhibit area and a “Great Idea Gallery,” along with an evening Awards Banquet. The theme for this year’s CTDW is “Heroes Among Us,” designed to honor those who have shaped community tennis around the country. This year, the CTDW will feature discounted registration for CTAs and National Junior Tennis League Chapters and Programs.
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CTDW Registration and Hotel
For more on the CTDW, visit www.usta.com/communitytennis. Q
Keynote Speaker Jim MacLaren
Keynote speaker for the 2006 CTDW is the inspirational Jim MacLaren, who received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the 2005 ESPYs, given to athletes who embody a toughness of spirit and never-giveup attitude. MacLaren also spoke at the 2005 Tennis Teachers Conference in August in New York to a very enthusiastic audience. MacLaren was involved in two would-be fatal accidents. The first, at age 22, resulted in the loss of his left leg; the second, 10 years later, left him an incomplete quadriplegic. Each time, Jim has used sheer force of will and awe-inspiring courage to come back—the first time to become the fastest amputee athlete in the world, and now, as an individual with an amazing story to share.
Wanted: Great Ideas Do you have a “great idea” for tennis? At the CTDW, the USTA wants to feature great ideas. To submit one, visit www.usta.com/communitytennis. 38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
science The Inch That Changed Tennis Forever
The modern game of tennis is played at a furious pace compared with the old days when everyone used wood racquets. Just watch old film from the 1950s and you will see that the game is vastly different. Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad barely broke into a sweat. Today’s game has players grunting and screaming on every shot, calling for the towel every third shot, and launching themselves off the court with the ferocity of their strokes. The difference is obviously due to the change from wood to graphite racquets, which happened during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Everyone concluded that graphite racquets were much stronger, lighter, and more powerful, while the players themselves somehow became taller, stronger, and fitter. How else could the game have changed so drastically? in. Not only that, the added swing velocity wasn’t resulting in mis-hits, due to the larger sweet zone and extra inch or two of frame clearance. So what did they do next? The extra frame clearance allowed players to start swinging upwards at the ball to get even more spin, and they rotated the racquet in their hand to a Western grip in order to swing at even steeper angles to the ball. That grip gave them problems with their backhand, so they had to grip the handle with the both hands to tilt the frame back into a vertical position. The faster they hit the ball, the faster it spun, and the faster it spun, the harder they could hit it. That’s why players today usually have both feet off the ground when they hit the ball, and it’s why they need to grunt and scream. Players were given an inch in the 1970s and they took a mile. The ball now spins 4 or 5 times faster than it did before the 1970s. An increase in just one inch allowed an amazing increase in spin due to steeper, faster swings and a tilting of the racquet forward by up to 5 degrees, all without clipping the frame. An example will make this very clear.
BY ROD CROSS
RACQUET WIDTH, SPIN, AND POWER
The real reason for the change is more subtle. It’s because racquets got wider. Wood racquets were always 9 inches wide and 27 inches long, so players could check the 36-inch height of the net by putting one racquet on top of another. Today’s players can’t do that. Most racquets are still 27 inches long, but they are now 10 to 12 inches wide. They are also lighter, which means they are less powerful, but it also means that players can swing them faster, which they need to do just to get back the power they lost when they became lighter. When players started swinging their racquets faster, they noticed an interesting effect—they generated more topspin on the ball. A ball with topspin dives down more steeply into the court after it passes over the net compared with a ball without spin. Players noticed that the ball went in more easily, despite the fact that the ball was hit at about the same speed as with their old wood racquets. So they started hitting the ball even harder, which made the ball spin faster, and it still went
FIVE TIMES THE SPIN
When a ball bounces off the court it acquires topspin, even if it had no spin before it hit the court. In fact, it spins faster than most players can generate themselves when they hit a topspin return. In order to return the ball with topspin, a player needs to swing the racquet both forwards and upwards and fast enough to reverse the direction of the spinning ball. If the player doesn’t reverse the direction of the spin, then the ball will be returned with backspin—it is still spinning in the same direction but traveling in the opposite direction back over the net. Suppose, for example, that the ball spins at 3,000 rpm (50 revolutions/sec) after it bounces off the court. That is a typical amount of spin when a ball hits the court at around 30 or 40 mph. Returned
with a wood racquet, a player won’t be able to swing up at a very steep angle without clipping the frame. He will still be able to reverse the spin, but he will get only 200 rpm or so of topspin by swinging the racquet upwards fairly rapidly at about 20 degrees to the horizontal. A change in spin from 3,000 rpm backwards to 200 rpm forwards is a change of 3,200 rpm, which is a relatively big change, but it is only enough to return the ball with a small amount of topspin. Now suppose the player switches to a 10-inch racquet and swings up at 30 degrees to the ball. The player can do that and can also tilt the racquet head forward by about 5 degrees, with even less risk of clipping the frame than with a 9-inch wood racquet being swung at 20 degrees with the head perpendicular to the ground. In this way, the player will be able to change the spin by about 4,000 rpm instead of 3,200 rpm, with the result that the spin changes from 3,000 rpm of backspin to 1,000 rpm of topspin. The result is therefore a factor of five increase, from 200 rpm to 1,000 rpm, in the amount of topspin. That’s an amazingly big effect considering that the racquet increased in width by only one inch, or by only 11 percent.
WHY WIDTH MATTERS
A 9-inch wide racquet swung with the strings in a vertical plane has about 8 inches of string in the vertical direction and about one-half inch of wood above and below the strings. A 10-inch racquet swung in the same way has about 9 inches of string in the vertical direction. The ball is just over two and one-half inches in diameter, so 3.1 balls can fit across a 9inch racquet and 3.5 balls can fit across a 10-inch racquet. If the 10-inch racquet is tilted forward 27 degrees, then the strings extend 9 inches diagonally and 8 inches vertically, as shown in Figure 1. The racquet can therefore be swung upwards at 27 degrees or tilted forward by 27
40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
27
degrees, and it will then present to the ball exactly the same area of string as a 9inch racquet. No one tilts the racquet forward by as much as 27 degrees, but they now swing up into the ball at angles of 30 degrees or more to generate topspin. Tilting the racquet head forward slightly generates even more topspin. Giving a player an extra inch of width allows the player to swing up at a steeper angle or faster or both. In that case the ball slides further across the strings, so you really do need that extra inch. A change in 4,000 rpm rather than 3,200 rpm is therefore not surprising given the extra speed, angle, and tilt made possible by the extra one inch of width. Going from a 10-inch to an 11-inch racquet does not deliver another huge increase in topspin. The reason is that if players tried to increase the upward speed of the racquet any more than they do now, the ball would sail over the baseline. They can do that for a topspin lob, but the forward speed of the racquet and the ball remains relatively small for a topspin lob. An 11-inch racquet will work better for topspin lobs but not for any other shot. On the other hand, 9inch racquets were only just over the limit of being able to generate any topspin at all. Give a 9-inch graphite racquet to a player today and the result would be some serious clipping of the frame every few shots, though perhaps not as many as “old-timers” might expect since modern players are so practiced and skilled at steeper swings.Q
Further details are described in the new book “Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, and Bounce” by Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey, available from book store web sites or from the publisher at www.racquettech.com.
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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string Klip Lightning 16
Lightning is one of Klip’s “Pro Doubles” (hybrid) strings, combining its Legend natural gut with its Excellerator nylon. Klip’s Legend natural gut is 100 percent Australian top grade gut. Excellerator is a high-end multifilament, with 30 percent more fiber than most other multifilaments, due to a unique bonding of the filaments that uses less glue, providing more of a gut-like feel.
According to Klip, Lightning is designed for players looking for the power and comfort of natural gut, at a fraction of the price. Lightning is available in 16 and 17 in natural only. It is priced from $20. For more information or to order, contact Klip at 866554-7872, or visit www.klipstrings.com. Be sure to read the conclusion for Klip’s special offer to USRSA members. surements of the 16-gauge Klip Lightning we playtested. Lightning added 15.5 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame. The string was tested for five weeks by 65 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.5. These are blind tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages. We instructed one team to install the gut in the mains, and the other to install the nylon in the mains. We found Klip Legend natural gut slightly dry-feeling and slightly rough, as always, and the Excellerator about normal for a multifilament nylon. It is slick enough that it glides with little friction against the natural gut, and there is virtually no coil memory. Our playtesters, however, reported a bit more trouble installing Lightning than Klip’s Screamer natural gut hybrid (see RSI June 2005), which means our playtesters found that installing Klip Lightning is comparable in difficulty to installing Klip X-Plosive (see RSI January 2005). Gut mains/ nylon crosses Broke during stringing 3 Excess coil memory 8 Difficulty tying knots 5 Friction burn 2 Nylon mains/ gut crosses 1 6 2 5
PLAYTEST
Klip Lightning scored well above average in Playability and Power, no matter which way you string it, and with nylon in the mains and gut in the crosses it scored well above average for Holding Tension and Resistance to Movement. In every other category, Lightning scored above average, EASE OF STRINGING
Gut M’s Nylon M’s (compared to other strings) Number of testers who said it was: much easier 0 0 somewhat easier 5 4 about as easy 21 9 not quite as easy 10 13 not nearly as easy 1 2
IN THE LAB
We tested the 16-gauge Lightning “both ways,” that is, with the gut in the mains and Excellerator nylon in the crosses, and with the Excellerator nylon in the mains and the gut in the crosses. We recorded a stringbed stiffness of each string combination immediately after installation at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine, and then retested after 24 hours (no playing). Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. See the table for our mea-
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
(compared to string played most often) Number of testers who said it was: much better 1 7 somewhat better 8 5 about as playable 13 5 not quite as playable 9 8 not nearly as playable 3 3
OVERALL DURABILITY
ON THE COURT
Once again, these playtests show that adding a little natural gut to the mix results in a satisfying playing experience. Excellerator nylon 21’3” 1.31-1.32 mm 1.25-1.26 mm 78 (nylon mains, gut crosses) 72 (nylon mains, gut crosses) 6 RDC 7.69% 17 hours (nylon mains, gut crosses)
Coil measurements Diameter unstrung Diameter strung RDC stringbed stiffness new RDC stringbed stiffness after 24 hours Tension loss Tension loss % Average playtest duration
Legend natural gut 20’ 1.33-1.34 mm 1.28-1.30 mm 76 (gut mains, nylon crosses) 70 (gut mains, nylon crosses) 6 RDC 7.89% 19.57 hours (gut mains, nylon crosses)
(compared to other strings of similar gauge) Number of testers who said it was: much better 3 somewhat better 19 about as durable 5 not quite as durable 4 not nearly as durable 3
4 6 7 6 4
RATING AVERAGES
From 1 to 5 (best) Playability Durability Power Control Comfort Touch/Feel Spin Potential Holding Tension Resistance to Movement 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.6 3.7
42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
TESTERS
“
This string has just the right amount of pop. Very lively without being springy. A 17 gauge in this string would be fantastic for spin/touch players. The 16 gauge used in this test showed no signs of wear during the test. 4.5 male all-court player using Völkl Tour 10 strung at 62 pounds CP (Tecnifibre NRG2 17/18)
“
TALK
”
I am very impressed with this string. It is overall one of the best playtest strings I have received. Right from the beginning the control, comfort, feel, and spin potential were better than my normal string. The durability also exceeded my normal string’s. 4.0 male all-court player using Head i.X5 OS strung at 55 pounds CP (Wilson NXT 16)
”
“
Obviously, this is a natural gut/synthetic hybrid. I have never played with the gut in the mains and the nylon in the crosses, so this is a new experience for me. And you know what? It is awesome! Although my racquet feels a lot more head-heavy, the power and touch are well worth it. 6.0 male all-court player using Völkl C10 Pro strung at 63 pounds CP (Gamma Live Wire XP 17)
“This was an excellent two-piece string. The mains
seemed to be natural gut, so I was excited about playing with this sample. Unfortunately I put a kink into the mains while stringing and it broke after 1 hour of playing time.”
4.0 male all-court player using Gamma Diamond Fiber M6.5 strung at 70 pounds LO (Tecnifibre NRG2 17)
“
Excellent string! It has durability and feel. 5.0 male all-court player using Pro Kennex 7g strung at 63 pounds LO (Prince Polygut 17)
”
”
“
“
Great hybrid with all the properties that I like: Comfort, control, and playability. When you hit a groundstroke, you can count on the ball going where you aim. I would recommend this to other high-NTRP players. 5.0 male all-court player using Head Liquidmetal Radical strung at 57 pounds LO (Prince Synthetic Gut 17)
The gut section of this string is the key. It has great feel and good power. I would buy this great combo. 5.0 male all-court player using Wilson nCode strung at 63 pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)
”
”
“
This is a very good string. The feel, the ball grab, and the control are outstanding. The cross strings started to fray a bit, but the strings hold tension very well and really don’t seem to move all that much. I am eager to learn the name of this string. 5.5 male serve-and-volleyer using Wilson Pro Staff Blitz strung at 59 pounds CP (Natural gut 16 or 17)
”
An outstanding combination! Exceptionally quiet during play. I am particularly impressed by the lack of movement despite the low tension I use. The wear is obviously better than an ‘all gut’ stringing, but the response is as good as or better than any gut I’ve used. This could be a very fine string for a wide range of levels and ages. I can easily see senior players using this string, especially if they haven’t used gut before. The synthetic crosses seem to crisp up the feel even at low tensions. Great teaching string, too! 5.0 male serve-and-volleyer using Pro Kennex K15 PSE strung at 44 pounds LO (Gamma Durablast 16)
“
”
(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in parentheses.)
For the rest of the tester comments, USRSA members can visit RacquetTECH.com.
strung either way, so that in overall scores, Lightning with nylon mains was well above average, while with gut mains it was above average. Just as impressive, Lightning with nylon mains garnered an impressively high average vote for playability compared to our playtesters’ favorite strings, while Lightning with gut mains really impressed our playtesters for durability, compared to other strings of similar gauge.
CONCLUSION
In playtest after playtest, our testers indicate that there is a lot to like in Klip’s natural gut hybrids. This may not be surprising, given how well natural gut plays, but one interesting aspect is that Klip’s natural gut hybrids seem to offer superior performance whether configured with the natural gut in the crosses, or in the mains. As Klip points out (and it bears Nylon mains/gut crosses 19.24 hours 7 4, 7, 7, 7.5, 9, 10, 12
Average playtest duration Broke during play Break hours
Gut mains/nylon crosses 14.75 hours 8 1, 4, 4, 5, 13, 20, 35, 36
repeating), this superior performance comes at a discount compared to using a full set of natural gut. This discount comes not only in the form of the initial purchase price, but also in terms of the increased longevity of a hybrid set compared to a pure natural gut string job. And, depending, on how ill-at-ease you are stringing natural gut, there’s also the time benefit that comes from the often faster installation of a synthetic compared to the natural gut. If you think that Klip Lightning might be for you, Klip is offering USRSA members a special deal: Buy three sets, and get the fourth set free. —Greg Raven Q
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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ask
Q A
the EXPERTS
Your Equipment Hotline
POWER PADS
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT the dampeners that are used at the throat of racquets. Not the regular dampener on the stringbed, but material that is placed between the frame and string at the holes. What is the purpose of these dampeners, and where do you get the material? THESE “DAMPENERS” ARE called “power pads.” They are usually made of sections of rawhide, although you can use rolled-up scraps of leather grips or inner tube, depending on how professional you want the installation to look. If you don’t have a leather store nearby, or an old, heavyduty leather belt that you can cut up, Grand Slam Stringers (www.grandslamstringers.com) sells strips of leather that are just the right thickness, already cut to width. Power pads are typically used in two locations on the racquet. The first is—as you’ve noticed—inside the throat, on the center mains, where they are said to change the feel of the racquet, ostensibly due to a very small amount of “give” compared to having the string on a hard, solid grommet strip. This is probably where the “power” appellation comes from. The second location is on the first two holes outside of the throat, where the mains have to go through the frame at a sharp angle. Here, the power pads are most beneficial because they increase the radius around which the string must bend, reducing breakage. It’s worth noting that there are manufacturers offering power-pad-like benefits on select frames, such as Yonex with its Muscle Power grommet system, and Babolat with its Woofer system. Because the leather used in power pads is virtually always a different color than the frame of the racquet, use a permanent marker to tint the leather to match the frame prior to installation.
Q A
SWINGWEIGHT
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT swingweight. Let’s say I have two different racquets, one of which weighs 320 grams and has a swingweight of 300, and one that weighs 300 grams and has a swingweight of 320. Which is going to feel heavier, the lighter racquet with the higher swingweight, or the heavier racquet with the lower swingweight?
44 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
SWINGWEIGHT IS A measurement of racquet performance that is often ignored by players—assuming they even know about it in the first place—because it seems complicated, and it is difficult for the average person to measure. However, it can have a greater impact on how a racquet “feels” in play than the “pick-up weight,” which is what you feel when you grab a racquet by the handle and hold it horizontally. A typical tennis stroke involves swinging a racquet around a point of rotation that is itself also moving. That is, you are both rotating the racquet, and “translating” it through the air. (You “translate” the racquet without rotation on a punch volley, for
A
WHY DO SOME STRINGING machines have the tension head so high that it’s in the way, so you can’t rotate the racquet 360 degrees? WHEN YOU PULL TENSION ON the string with the tension head at the same level as the stringbed, you don’t have the friction of the string rubbing against the grommet. The lower the friction, the more accurately the string can be tensioned. This is why on some of the more expensive electronic machines, the tension head actually rises up to the level of the stringbed during the tensioning process, lowering again after tensioning to allow racquet rotation.
If you want to get really technical, you also get some tension loss due to the “cosine effect,” which comes from the difference in angle between the string and the angle at which you pull the string, which is whatever angle there is between the edge of the frame and the tension head. Stringing machines with the tension head at stringbed level, and those with tension heads that rise up during tensioning, pull with less angle between the stringbed and the tension head, reducing both the friction and the cosine effect, for greater accuracy. —Greg Raven Q
Wt (gm)
Swingweight (kg•cm2) 289 299 359
Bal. (cm)
300 300 300
32.7 35.0 37.3
Q
example: The entire racquet moves forward but the head does not rotate relative to the grip.) When swinging your two racquets around a fixed point of rotation, the one with the higher swingweight will feel heavier. When translating your racquets, the racquet with the higher mass will feel heavier. For strokes that involve rotation and translation, you will feel a combination of swingweight and mass, although the amount of the contribution of the mass will depend to an extent on the angle at which you are holding the racquet relative to the court surface. Keep in mind that racquet balance also changes as you change weight and swingweight. For racquets weighing the same, the higher the swingweight, the higher the balance point will be, as you can see in the accompanying table. In your case, the lighter racquet with the higher swingweight has close to even balance, while the heavier racquet with the lower swingweight is head light. If you want to delve more into swingweight and effect of other racquet characteristics, check out our books, Technical Tennis and The Physics and Technology of Tennis.
360-DEGREE ROTATION
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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Readers’ Know-How in Action
WRONG SIDE SHORT SIDE REVISITED
I wanted to expound on the tip offered by Albert Lee in the February 2005 RSI. The tip, titled "Wrong Side Short Side," can also be used when using the Around-theWorld (ATW) technique. When I string one of the Rollers models, I put the longer side of the string on the "short side" of the racquet, where the tie-off hole is. After stringing the seventh main using the short side, I string the top cross and tie off. With the long side, I string the bottom cross, continue up the other side to complete the mains, and start the crosses from the top at the second cross. It works very well. Gosen T-Shirt and 5 sets of Gosen OG Sheep Micro Super JC 16 to: Steve Huff, Mechanicsville, VA Editor’s note: The ATW technique Steve mentions is not the same as the ATW technique shown in our Racquet Service Techniques book. The ATW technique Steve uses (which is also known as the box pattern) is different for each racquet configuration, but one common aspect is that you have to be careful weaving the bottom cross: If the racquet has an even number of crosses, the bottom cross is woven opposite the weave of the top cross. If the racquet has an odd number of crosses, then the bottom weave is the same as that of the top cross. stringmeter settings where you put them, making your meter good for a few more years. 5 sets of Head FiberGel Power 16 to: Albert Lee, MRT, Potomac, MD
tips
and TECHNIQUES
CHECKING FOR CRACKS
When inspecting a racquet for problems before stringing, always run your hand around the frame of the racquet. Cracks are often hard to see, but are always easy to feel. 5 sets of Ashaway Composite XT Pro 16 to: Kane Fasolo, Perth, Australia Editor’s note: Broken edges of carbon graphite can be extremely sharp, and you don’t want to slice your hand open on a shard of graphite. Instead of using your bare hand, use a tissue or light rag. Not only will the tissue or rag snag on the edge of the crack, but it may even leave behind some material, which will allow you better to see where the crack is.
FIX A DRIFTING STRINGMETER
If you’re one of those stringers who uses a Stringmeter, you know that after years of use, your Stringmeter can start to slip, and gauge settings drift when you twist the tool to take a reading. The solution is to remove the outer measurement ring, take some Akempucky or other stringer's wax and coat the running grooves for the ring. Replace the ring and you're done. The wax provides enough friction to keep the
46 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
STRINGER’S GLOVES
I don’t like using pliers on tie-off knots. I tried wrapping the string around my forefinger twice, but quickly learned that is a mistake. So I tried a leather work glove, which is loose fitting and slips on and off with ease. I have a better feel on how much I need to pull to cinch up the tie off, and I think it's faster than using pliers. Right-handers can even sell the extra glove on Ebay as a “left-handed racquet stringer’s glove,” and vice versa. Wilson US Open Club Bag to: David Haskins, CS, Modesto, CA
MARKETING
TRACKING STRINGBED STIFFNESS
I find that serious tennis players are beginning to realize the importance of a racquet's stringbed stiffness. As Crawford Lindsey noted in the February 2005 RSI, there are two problems with establishing a universal stringbed standard: The cost of an instrument to measure stringbed stiffness, and difficulty stringing an unfamiliar racquet with an unfamiliar string to hit a target stringbed stiffness. The cost issue is not so bad, as there are now stringbed testing instruments on the market that cost less than a high-end racquet. As for the second issue, we don’t have a problem with it in our operation. We keep a log on each string job we per-
HELP YOUR STARTING KNOT
The knot at the start of the cross strings, when two-piece stringing, can sometimes get pulled into the grommet when you tension the first cross string. This especially happens if you're using a 17or 18-gauge string. Before you apply tension, place a starting clamp on the tail of the knot. You'll find you won’t lose half the knot in your grommet, and you’ll have better tension accuracy on the first cross string. Gamma T-Shirt & Hat and 5 sets of Gamma Zo Power 16L to: Mike Trinchitella, Mahopac, NY
form. This log includes make, model, and condition of the frame. Also in the log we list the string manufacturer, string gauge, string length, string type, the stringing machine used, the reference tension, and finally the stringbed stiffness, which we measure immediately after each string job. For our own records, we note the frame dimensions before the racquet is loaded in the stringing machine and after the job is completed. Once the customer specifies a stringbed stiffness, we can consult our log and arrive at an approach that yields results within a point or two of the customer’s desired stringbed stiffness. Our string jobs are guaranteed to please the customer. We probably have less than 1 percent come back. Other shops should be able to do the same! 5 sets of Prince Premeir with SoftFlex 16 to: Dr. Carl Love, Albany, OR —Greg Raven Q
Tips and Techniques submitted since 2000 by USRSA members, and appearing in this column, have all been gathered into a single volume of the Stringer’s Digest—Racquet Service Techniques which is a benefit of USRSA membership. Submit tips to: Greg Raven, USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92804; or email [email protected].
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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2006 USRSA STRING SURVEY
Our exclusive rankings, and handy poster, will help you and your customers pick the right strings
FACILITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS SPRING WARM-UPS SHOULD YOUR FACILITY HAVE A DEFIBRILLATOR? THE INCH THAT CHANGED TENNIS BREAK THE CHAIN IN COURT FENCING
R S I
J A N U A R Y
2 0 0 6
INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS
Tennis Participation Increases by 1.1 Million
T
households were contacted for the study, which is designed to quantify tennis participation throughout the U.S. and to Q 24.7 million Americans identify opportunities to increase particiare playing tennis, the most since 1992 and a pation. The study, conducted by two 4.1 percent increase over independent firms, The Taylor Research 2004. & Consulting Group and Sports Marketing Surveys, is the largest participation sur- Q 5.8 million new players vey in sports. picked up the game in 2005. For retailers and facility managers, the increase in fre- Q There were 5.2 million quent players is particularly frequent players in 2005, good news, since frequent versus 4.7 million in players—defined as those 2004. who play 21 or more times a Q Total play occasions were year—are often described as up 14 percent in 2005, the “heart of the tennis marthe second straight year ket.” These are the players, the category increased. says Baugh, who spend the Q Player retention also most on equipment, stringimproved for the second ing, court time, lessons, etc. straight year, with 80 perGoing hand-in-hand with cent of players continuing the rise in frequent players is in the sport in 2005, veran increase in the frequency sus 74 percent in 2004. of play, called “total play occasions,” which is driven by the most avid tenins players. Total play occasions rose 14 percent in 2005 and was up 23 percent over the past two years. And in other good news for the industry, player retention has ball sales and increases in viewership of tennis on TV. improved over the last two years, with 80 percent of players conIndustry watchers were quick to praise the efforts of many tinuing with the sport in 2005 versus 74 percent in 2004. groups involved in tennis for coming together to help boost par“We are seeing healthy indicators across the board in the ticipation in the U.S. “The collaborative efforts across the entire industry are growing the game and positioning tennis for further sport as more people play tennis, more racquets are purchased, growth,” says Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of and more interest develops in the game,” says Baugh. Community Tennis. Many credit heavy investment by the USTA “With all of the tennis constituents—includin both initiatives to grow the game and in expoing manufacturers, retailers, teaching professure for the sport as keys to the increase in parQ Sales of junior racquets increased ticipation. The USTA has funded, and continues sionals, the TIA, and the USTA—focused on a 20 percent in 2005, while sales of to fund, initiatives such as Tennis in the Parks, single goal, the sport is growing,” adds Jim adult frames were up 14 percent. Tennis Welcome Centers, USTA League Tennis, Baugh, president of the Tennis Industry AssociQ Over the past two years, racquet and school and college tennis, along with major ation. shipments are up 29 percent in This is the fourth year of the massive Tennis advertising campaigns for recreational and prounits and 18 percent in dollars. Participation Study, sponsored by both the TIA fessional tennis, such as the US Open and US and the USTA. More than 25,500 American Q Premium racquet sales increased Open Series. 48 percent in 2005. he latest findings of the annual Tennis Participation Study show that 24.7 million Americans are playing tennis, the most since 1992 and an increase of 1.1 million players, or 4.1 percent, versus 2004. And possibly more important for tennis retailers and facilities, the study found that the number of frequent players is up 8.8 percent from a year ago, to 5.2 million. The boost in tennis participation is the latest in a string of good news for the sport that includes increases in racquet and
Key Findings of the 2005 Study
Racquets Sales Are Up
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
7
J A N U A R Y INDUSTRYNEWS
2 0 0 6
Wilson W6 Racquet Named “Editor’s Choice” by Tennis
TTC Open Moves to Las Vegas
he 2006 Tennis Channel Open, a men’s ATP pro event that starts the week of Feb. 27, will move to Las Vegas. The tournament, founded in 1986, had been held in Scottsdale, Ariz. The move to Las Vegas marks the return of top-level pro tennis to the region after a two-decade absence. Andy Roddick has commtted to play the event. The Tennis Channel Open will take place at the new Darling Memorial Tennis Center, which features a 40-acre complex with 23 courts, among them a 2,400-seat stadium court that will expand via bleachers to a 3,000-3,500 capacity during the event. The grounds also include space for two additional, smaller stadium courts, which are currently being planned. “The vision is to create a sort of ‘tennispalooza,’ an annual tennis destination with tournament action and other tennisrelated entertainment activities, and televise the heck out of it,” says TTC Founder and President Steve Bellamy. “Las Vegas is providing resources and efforts toward this end, and after an exhaustive selection process we’ve decided that the city presents the best opportunity to build something spectacular that people are going to travel to experience each year.” The Tennis Channel, which purchased the tournament from IMG in February, says it plans to expand the event into a multifaceted gathering unique to the tennis and sports-venue calendars. Plans currently entail an annual, 10-day event with men’s, women’s, and juniors tournaments, surrounded by ancillary events that center on tennis and the lifestyle of its enthusiasts. This in turn would be supported by a number of entertainment offshoots, including other sports events, the TTC said in a statement.
W
ilson’s new W6 racquet, designed specifically for women, was named an “Editor’s Choice” in the November/December 2005 issue of Tennis magazine. The W6 is part of the new W line and uses Wilson’s nCode technonogy. Wilson says the nine racquets in its W line are engineered to enhance a woman’s game with a unique construction for increased power, strength, and control and added comfort features. W racquets have an oval head shape with longer main strings for a larger sweetspot and a new throat design offering greater strength and stability, the company says. The racquets also feature distinctive cosmetics. The nCode technology uses nano-sized silicon dioxide crystals to permeate the voids between carbon fibers in the frame, resulting in added stability, strength, and power, says Wilson. For every purchase from the W line, Wilson makes a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
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Dunlop Has New Management
unlop Sports has combined the ownership of the Dunlop brand and the management of the Dunlop business. The new arrangement, under London-based Sports World Group Ltd., consolidates former licensing agreements into the new Dunlop structure. Dunlop, now operating as a fully integrated business, will centralize its U.S. and Canadian racquet sports and golf units under new management in Greenville, S.C. The new structure will distribute product from its new Greenville and Ontario, Canada, warehouses. Dunlop Sports in North America will be known as Dunlop Sports Group, Americas (DSGA) and will be led by Vice President and General Manager Robert Sameski and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ken Daiss. Rounding out Dunlop’s leadership team are Steven Zalinski, Dunlop’s director of sales–racquet sports; Chuck Peebles, director of sales–Canada; Stephen Hall, director of marketing–racquet sports; and Paul Balfour, director of sales–national accounts and special markets. New contact information for Dunlop Sports Group, Americas is: 116 South Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607; phone 800-768-4727, fax 800-766-8379.
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PTR Members to Receive Email Publications Free
tarting Jan. 1, full PTR members will receive Bob Larson’s Daily Tennis and Tennis Celebs for free. Regular subscriptions to the two publications would normally total $144. Daily Tennis, covering tennis news with sections such as Tennis Business News, Pro Tour News, College News, and Classified Ads, is delivered every business day via email. Tennis Celebs is a weekly e-publication that reports on all the big names in the game, including an Appearing Soon section that lets readers know where their favorite players can be spotted in exhibitions, clinics, or pro-ams. “With Daily Tennis and Tennis Celebs, PTR members will have the most current information available in the industry,” says PTR CEO Dan Santorum. “I believe that these will help PTR members be better tennis teachers.” For more information on the publications, visit www. dailytennis.com.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Prince Introduces T9 Roadster Tennis Shoe
he new Prince T9 Roadster tennis shoe features advanced moisture-wicking and quick-drying technologies to help keep players’ feet dry, says Prince Sports. “The T9 combines an aggressive new look with advanced wick-away technology for a lightweight performance shoe that makes the player look as cool as their feet feel,” says James Lin, product manager at Prince. “The Roadster is available in adult and junior sizes for the player that appreciates a lightweight performance shoe that does not require a break-in period.” The T9 Roadster is part of Prince’s T-Series designed with a combination of breathable synthetics and AIRmesh, featuring forefoot lock-down overlays to ensure stable footing, says the company. The T9 was constructed for players seeking speed and agility on the court, with the added benefit of a moisture-wicking, moisture-management system for comfort. The shoe is available in men’s, women’s, and junior sizes and comes in two colorways for each gender. The adult shoes feature the PRC 1000 outsole compound that provides a six-month outsole wear guarantee. Visit www.princesports.com for more information.
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Sports InterActive Gives Retailers Web Store
ports InterActive is helping dealers create “an effective website strategy, which will dramatically increase their business,” says founder Herb Sweren, a former Prince executive. Sports InterActive is a web development and e-marketing company that, among other things, provides tennis clubs, pro shops, and specialty retailers with online sales capabilities through an “Online Tennis Mall.” Only dealers with a retail storefront qualify for the Online Mall component, and dealers receive a 20 percent net margin for every sale on the online mall. Order fulfillment is provided by Fromuth Tennis. “Most people agree that online sales have become more of a traditional retail outlet, so retailers have to find a way to compete with that,” says Sweren. “With Sports InterActive, anyone with a serious tennis business now has everything needed to truly harness the commercial power of the internet.” Sports InterActive sites are powered by the TIA’s TennisConnect.org software. A subscription to the Sports InterActive Premium SI Package for $89 a month or the Specialty Dealer package for $79 a month will also include TennisConnect.org, which allows facilities to create and manage their own websites, stay in touch with their members, schedule court time, match players online, and more. Dealers purchasing a Sports InterActive website become members of the TIA and gain access to other benefits offered to TIA members. For more information on Sports InterActive, contact Sweren at 410-358-1304 or email [email protected], or visit www.sports-interactive.net.
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PTR Launches PTR on Campus
he PTR has launched a new program to encourage college students to consider a career in tennis teaching and coaching. PTR on Campus makes PTR certification and membership available and affordable to full-time college students who are playing for their school, are competing in USA Team Tennis on Campus, are majoring in recreation, or who were high school tennis players with 4.0 NTRP. A PTR on Campus Workshop was tested last year with the University of Washington women’s tennis team’s players, coaches, and former players and is now rolling out nationwide. PTR on Campus will run from September through June and be held at various universities around the country, including, Alcorn State, Brigham Young, Colorado, Furman, Harvard, Ouachita Baptist, South Alabama, and South Carolina State. More colleges and universities are being considered and added to the program every week. “There is a big void in the number of younger people teaching tennis today,” says Dan Santorum, PTR’s CEO. “PTR on Campus addresses this issue and will help ensure a younger generation of tennis teaching professionals will continue to grow the game.” In an effort to grow the game, college students are offered the opportunity to learn to teach tennis, obtain liability insurance, and maintain PTR membership at prices most students can afford. In exchange, students are asked to give back to their communities by providing 10 hours of free tennis lessons. Through the education provided by the PTR on Campus program, students who teach tennis can help pay their tuition, supplement their income, or save for the future. In addition, they will be prepared for a full or part-time career in tennis if they choose. For further information regarding specific places and dates, college student discounts, or to host a PTR on Campus Workshop, contact PTR Director of Development Geoff Norton at 800-421-6289 or 843-785-7244 or email [email protected].
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Head Offers New Flexpoint Team Series
ead’s new Flexpoint Team Series of frames are designed for players who demand a lot from their racquet, says the company. Designed for both medium and long swing styles, the Team Series offers slightly lighter weights, larger sweetspots, and a little extra power, says Head. The Flexpoint Instinct Team has a more open string pattern for added spin. It weighs 9.3 ounces and has a 105-sq.-in. head size and an even balance. Suggested retail price is $170. The Flexpoint Radical Team has a 102-sq.-in. head, weighs 9.9 ounces, and is slightly head light. It also has a more open string pattern. Suggested retail is $190. Flexpoint technology, says Head, offers players of all levels control with no loss of power. Two small holes at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions are cradled within dimples to create a “flexpoint” when the ball makes contact with the strings, which cups the ball to make sure it leaves the strings at the angle intended, with no loss of power, says the company. Flexpoint frames also feature Liquidmetal technology. For more information, visit www.head.com.
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Ashaway Introduces New Technology For Badminton
shaway’s newest badminton strings feature a new “Power Filament Technology” design that the company says increases durability and reduces string movement. “This is a significant advance in string technology for badminton that will allow players to push their game to the limit,” says Ashaway Vice President of Marketing Steve Crandall of the new string technology. “What we’ve done with PFT is create an entirely new surface element in the jacket of the string by incorporating a proprietary power filament. This increases shuttle control and playability, and optimizes power.” Ashaway is developing two new series of PFT strings which the company says will be announced in coming months. For more information, visit ashawayusa.com.
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Mike Wilson to Lead Völkl Tennis
ike Wilson is the new vice president of sales for Völkl Tennis, replacing Chris Pearson, who has left the company. Wilson has been the New England regional territory manager for Völkl Tennis for the past five years. For more than 20 years, he was New England territory manager for such brands as Prince, Donnay, Pro Kennex, and Reebok. His new duties will include directing the sales force, product development, and inventory control. He also will work closely with Völkl Tennis’ Director of Promotions and Marketing Sarah Maynard. “I look forward to working with our loyal customer base and appreciate their support,” says Wilson. “With the introduction of our new DNX technology in the DNX V1 Mid-plus and Oversize [in late summer 2005] and the launch of the Boris Becker by Völkl BB10 [introduced in the fall], Völkl Tennis continues to develop and produce the finest, high-quality German-engineered racquets in the marketplace today.” Wilson can be reached at 800-264-4579, x. 7277, or at [email protected].
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Considine Named New Wilson President
hris Considine is the new president of Wilson Sporting Goods, including the global Racquet Sports, Golf, and Team Divisions, parent company Amer Sports Corp. announced in November. Amer Sports says it expects the appointment will consolidate the overall direction of the brand and “provide greater efficiencies to the business units,” enabling Wilson “to communicate a more consistent brand message to the consumer and trade channels.” Considine has been with Wilson for over 24 years. He has led the Team Sports Division since 1994.
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Wilson is Official Stringer for US Open
ilson Racquet Sports will be the Official Stringer at the US Open beginning in 2006. Wilson will be the on-site stringer for all Open players, which equates to about 3,000 racquets strung during the week-long qualifying tournament and the two-week Open. Wilson says the multi-year US Open deal represents a new strategic direction for the company to increase its stringing presence worldwide. The company says it will announce stringing agreements with other events at a later date. “We identified key tournaments around the world to develop a mutual partnership to help grow our stringing business and add value to their event, and the US Open is an ideal fit for Wilson,” says Brian Dillman, vice president of Wilson Racquet Sports. “Wilson is a valued partner of the US Open and has provided the Official Ball for more than two decades,” says Jim Curley, USTA managing director of tournament operations and US Open tournament director. “We expect Wilson to elevate the quality of service provided to the more than 800 athletes who compete in all aspects of the US Open.”
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10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
INDUSTRY NEWS
Andy Roddick Calendar Hits Shelves
For die-hard Andy Roddick fans, the new 2006 Andy Roddick Calendar is available, featuring the tennis star in full-color, glossy photos on courts throughout the world. The calendar, which retails for $13.99, will be distributed worldwide through major bookstores, office supply stores, and calendar and gift stores, as well as online at www.jfturner.com and www.andyroddick.com.
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• Mike Levy is the new chief marketing officer at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He joins the Hall of Fame from the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, where he was senior vice president of sales and marketing. • Prince Sports has promoted Matthew Haley to regional vice president of the Southern Region. • For the second time in three years, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan finished the year as the No. 1 doubles team on the ATP circuit. The Bryans, who won the 2005 US Open doubles championship, have captured at least five titles a year for four straight years. They’ve won 26 career titles together. • Malaysian squash star Nicol David (above) won the British Open in October, less than two
weeks after signing with Prince Sports and switching to Prince’s O3 Tour squash racquet.
• Florida's Diana Srebrovic and UCLA's Ben Kohlloeffel captured the singles titles at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Championships at the Racquet Club of Columbus, Ohio. Collecting the doubles titles were Ohio State's Scott Green and Ross Wilson and Stanford's Alice Barnes and Anne Yelsey.
• Americans Chase Buchanan of Columbus, Ohio, and Brittany Augustine of El Segundo, Calif., overcame every challenge presented by fellow Head Team Elite members at the second annual International Head Team Elite Cup held at the SanchezCasal Academy in Barcelona, Spain. Both Buchanan and Augustine play with the Head Flexpoint Radical MP. The International Head Team Elite Cup brings together over 100 young tennis players from more than 30 countries.
USPTA Installs New National Board of Directors
on Woods, the former executive director of the USPTA Texas Division, is the new president of the USPTA’s national board of directors. Woods, along with other national board members, were installed during the 78th USPTA World Conference on Tennis, held in September in Marco Island, Fla. The new board will serve until September 2007. In addition to Woods, the board is comprised of: First Vice President—Harry Gilbert; Vice Presidents— Tom Daglis, Randy Mattingley, Paula Scheb, and Mark Fairchilds; SecretaryTreasurer—Tom McGraw; Past President—David T. Porter. The board manages the USPTA’s affairs between meetings of the larger USPTA executive committee, which includes the board, three past national presidents and elected leaders from each of USPTA’s 17 domestic divisions. Board members are nominated by a committee comprised of executive committee members, and may be individually opposed in a general membership election.
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Classic Turf Offers “4 Days to Playability”
lassic Turf Co.’s recent court installation in Atlanta demonstrates what company Founder and President Tumer H. Eren says is his product’s “four days to playability.” “The prefabricated Classic Turf surface can be put down in four days,” says Eren. “Weather permitting, if you start an installation on Monday, you’ll be applying the lines on Thursday afternoon, and the court will be ready for play on Friday morning.” Classic Turf recently was used for the rooftop court at the Waverly luxury condominiums in Miami. For the Atlanta installation in September, Eren says that once the cracks in the original court were filled and the uneven spots were leveled, the cushioned Classic Turf rubber mat was glued to the base on Monday. Joints were scraped and leveled on Tuesday, and the first coat of acrylic was put down. Color coating was applied on Wednesday and Thursday, along with the playing lines. “The Classic Turf technology allows the contractor to install the 3/8-inch prefabricated Classic Turf System over the new or prepared surface in four days, making the tennis court playable,” says Eren. “This technology saves a lot of time for the contractor and the owner.” Those interested in seeing a stepby-step installation should visit www.classicturf.org. The patented rubber cushion surface, which reduces joint stress for players, is waterproof and breathable, Eren says, and speed of play can easily be adjusted and customized to suit the customer. “We’ve installed more than 3.5 million square feet of Classic Turf worldwide,” says Eren. “And we guarantee that the surface won’t crack.” For more information, contact Classic Turf at 800-246-7951 or [email protected].
LaserFibre Offers New Line of Grips and Overgrips
aserFibre reports fast growth in sales of its new TourFit TwinTone grips. Tim Sullivan of LaserFibre says the TwinTone has been “outselling conventional grips at the rate of 4 to 1,” with customers even removing stock grips from newly purchased frames to install a matching TwinTone grip. TwinTone is available in 16 color combinations, to match and accent the racquet cosmetics. Not only can teams and leagues match colors, the grip itself features a patented stitched, hidden hem that combines two grips, providing added strength and a new comfortable feel and texture than a conventional grip, says the company. Also new in LaserFibre’s line of grips is the Pro Stock Series, a premium performance grip designed to provide comfort, moisture absorption, and extra shock absorption. And the TourFit Series of replacement grips and overgrips is designed to enhance feel for the contours of the racquet handle. Both the TourFit and Pro Stock series feature LaserFibre’s Advanced HydroTac Technology, which the company says creates millions of micro pores in the polyurethane grip surface and utilizes moisture to increase the tackiness of the grip. “The more a person perspires, the more the grip grips back,” says the company, adding that the design also allows for quick evaporation of excess perspiration. Suggested retail prices for Pro Stock grips is $8.99; for TourFit TwinTone grips, $9.99; for TourFit grips, $7.99; and for TourFit overgrips, $5.99. For more information call 888-895-2350 or visit www.laserfibre.com.
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Wilson to Distribute Luxilon Strings
tarting in 2006, Wilson Racquet Sports will be the exclusive worldwide distributor of Luxilon products. Belgium-based Luxilon makes monofilament strings and other products. More than 800 tour pros use Luxilon, and it is the official string of the ATP and WTA tours. Luxilon also is the official stringer at several international events. “Our partnership with Luxilon gives Wilson the opportunity to leverage the strength of both brands at retail,” says Brian Dillman, vice president of Wilson Racquet Sports. “Our extensive global distribution network through the Wilson and Amer Sports subsidiaries and distributors will play a major role in both companies’ future success.” Luxilon products include strings for tennis, badminton, and squash. The company is the official stringer at the Nasdaq-100, China Open, Tennis Masters Cup, ATP Junior Gold, and Luxilon Junior Cup. In a statement, Wilson says the Luxilon string designations fit with Wilson’s current strategic initiatives to increase its stringing presence at professional and amateur tennis tournaments worldwide. In November, Wilson announced it will be the official stringer at the US Open beginning in 2006. The Luxilon portfolio includes high-tech string product lines such as Big Banger, which is used by more than 60 percent of the ATP Top 100 players and about 30 percent of the WTA Top 100 players. Luxilon will continue to manage the string business in brand strategy, promotions, and product development under the direction of Bob Daelmans. For more information, visit www.wilson.com.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Tennis Service Reps Spread Across the U.S.
he new Tennis Service Representative program got off to a fast start in the fall. As of midNovember, nearly 50 TSRs had been hired by the USTA sections. The Tennis Service Reps are under the direction of Mark McMahon, the USTA’s new national manager for TSRs, and will be a “national sales force for tennis.” The idea is for the TSRs to be wellversed in programs and resources available, so they can then assist local providers in growing the game at the grassroots level and increase tennis participation. To reach a TSR in your area, contact your USTA section. The new TSRs, listed by section, are: Caribbean: Carlos Torres, Cristina Cruz Eastern: Wayne Martin Florida: Trina Singian, Matt Graham, Rene Grifol, Kelly Tucker, Dede Allen, Jeff Davis, Shelly LicorishBynum, Janet Sprague, Susie Bessire, Cheryl Rivera, Cathy Nordlund Hawaii-Pacific: Madeleine Dreith Intermountain: Susan Burke, David Dunson, Chris Harris Mid-Atlantic: Michelle Grover, Lynn Gertzog, Susan Cook, Joe Wills, Jamaane Jahi, Jamal Hicks Middle States: Jeff Barger, Kelle Cunningham, Justin DePietropaolo Midwest: Steve Kakavetsis, Sue Selke, Eric Nelson, Jim Amick Missouri Valley: Jane Waterstradt, Jodi Gordon, Connie Robertson, Dan Bratetic, Laura Puryear New England: Jeff Graham, Nakita Zaharov Northern: Hayley Shibley Northern California: TBD Pacific Northwest: Gail Benzler, Adam Rogers, Al Thomerson Southern: Kevin Theos, Karen Zuidema, Bill Dopp, Jason Miller, Bill Phillips, Patrick Tibbs, Julie OshiroKenton Southern California: Alison Roell, Diane Brooks Southwest: Gary Druckman Texas: Eric Clay, Amanda Shaw, Cindy Benzon, Laura Gilbert, Sal Castillo, Simon Menchaca
Squash Star Forms Initiative to Grow the Game
anadian-born squash pro Jonathon Power has formed a new squash marketing and development initiative, SquashPower (www.squashpower.com), to promote growth in youth and adult squash. The newly formed company’s mission is to educate, grow, and empower the squash community through educational programs, competitive growth, and player empowerment. According to the World Squash Federation, the game is played in more than 140 countries by more than 20 million players. In the U.S., growth at the junior level has jumped 125 percent over the past two years. Forbes Magazine has rated the sport No. 1 for overall health and fitness. In Massachusetts, squash is one of the fastest growing college and high school sports of all time. Jonathon Power has won 32 Professional Squash Association Tour titles and is ranked as the No. 2 player in the world. He is the most successful squash player in North America.
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Osborn Heads Up Sales Division at Prince Sports
harles Osborne is the new vice president and USA national sales manager for Prince Sports, the company announced in November. Osborne will be responsible for the national sales organization, excluding key accounts. The regional vice presidents, with responsibility over the sales territories in the West, North Central, and Southeast regions, will report directly to him. “Prince has had a great year, from a sales and growth standpoint, and Charlie has been an integral part of this since his arrival in May,” says Prince Sports USA President Doug Fonte. “We look forward to his continued success as he leads the company in 2006 and beyond.” Osborne joined Prince in May as the regional vice president of the North Central region, after nearly 20 years at Wilson Sporting Goods.
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Competitors Work Together to Solve Community’s Court Problems
he owners of the 100-condominium Gran Liden Community in Sunapee, N.H., needed help with their two hard courts. They were in bad shape, with cracks that kept coming back. Over the life of the 35-year-old courts, the condo owners and players had resorted to what turned out to be short-term fixes. Now, they wanted a permanent solution. The community’s tennis players, all over the age of 40, wanted a softer, more forgiving surface than hard courts provided. Plus, they didn’t want to incur the costs and down time that might come from tearing up the old asphalt and preparing the site. “Clay was their first choice, but community members felt they weren’t ready to invest in the equipment and annual maintenance costs that would be required,” says Rick Burke of NGI Sports. “Also, they felt they would need to add staff to continually work the clay to keep it playable.” Gran Liden turned to Arch Weathers of New England Rec Surfaces for help. Weathers, who had worked on the community’s surfaces throughout the years, contacted Bill Rompf, the tennis director at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. A year earlier, the Hall of Fame had used a new product, Nova’ProClay, to overlay an old asphalt court and provide a clay surface for players. Weathers thought Nova’ProClay was just what the Gran Liden players were looking for. Even though the area licensee for the product was a local competitor, John Lineberry of Lineberry Tennis, Weathers called him to discuss the Gran Liden project. Then they both met with the community’s board of directors. “We described the Nova’ProClay concept, which the board seemed to grasp quickly,” says Weathers (above, right, with Lineberry). It was determined that a thin, crushed-stone, pie-shaped overlay would be placed on top of the existing asphalt to decrease the slope and buffer the deteriorated surface. A light sprinkler system would be installed. Then the Nova’ProClay base with 10 tons of Har-Tru finish would be placed over the rock wedge. “Now, they don’t need a roller, and there is no lengthy down time in wet weather,” says Burke. “The courts are usable virtually year-round, and best of all, they have a real clay court finish to play on.” For more information, contact NGI Sports at 800-835-0033 or [email protected], or visit www.novagrass.com.
New Flare-It Reshapes Grommets
lare-It LLC introduces a product for grommet maintenance and repair that is designed to “stop string damage before it happens,” says the company. Flare-It Grommet Wizard, which can be used on all types of racquets, flares and re-shapes grommets to remove pressure points that can damage string. It also will help keep newly installed grommet strips or individual repairs in place. For USRSA members, the introductory price is $19.95 per unit. Contact 502-329-7800 or visit www.flare-it.com.
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Völkl Adds Two Frames to BB Line
ölkl Sport America continues its newest product line of frames designed by former champion Boris Becker with the new BB1 and BB5 racquets, both available Feb. 1. The frames join the previously released BB10. The BB1, weighing 9.0 ounces unstrung, is the lightest frame in the BB series. It also has the largest head size, at 112 sq. in., and the thickest beam width, at 29 mm., making it the most powerful racquet in the BB range, says Völkl. The company says the racquet is ideal for recreational players 3.0 NTRP and higher. Suggested retail is $160. The new BB5 combines an oversize (105 sq. in.) with a maneuverable swing weight at a very affordable $130 suggested retail. The frame, which weighs 9.4 ounces, also is for players at the 3.0 or higher level. For more information, call 603-298-0314, email [email protected], or visit www.volkl.com.
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PTR Symposium Feb. 18-24
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he 2006 PTR International Tennis Symposium and $25,000 Championships will be Feb. 18-24 on Hilton Head, S.C. The Symposium schedule includes more than 40 presentations, a trade show, dinners, an awards banquet, and more. Register by Feb. 10 for $325 for PTR members, $395 for nonmembers. After Feb. 10, it’s $375 and $425. Prices do not include Professional Development Courses or tournaments fees. The deadline for tournament entry is Feb. 3. For more information or to register, call 800-421-6289 or visit www.ptrtennis.org.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
SHORT SETS
Sports’ > Prince ScienceO3 Technology received the > Popular “Best of What’s New” Award, which recognizes top new products and technologies. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 12 categories: Auto Tech, Aviation & Space, Cars, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health, Photography and Recreation. has new partnership > Tecnifibrefor its atennis ball business with Bridgestone and ball factory in Thailand. The new company, Bridgestone-Tecnifibre, says it expects capacity at the Thailand factory to double within two years to reach 24 million balls. The La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in La Jolla, Calif., will be the site of the 2006 Davis Cup first-round match between the U.S. and Romania, Feb. 10-12. Three-day series ticket prices range from $90 to $375, with VIP packages available. Call 888-484-USTA.
Vegas to Host Cardio Tennis Feeding Shootout
he USPTA will conduct a new, nationwide competition to find the best tennis ball feeders in the U.S. The competitions, to be held at each USPTA division convention during the coming year, will feature Cardio Tennis Feeding Shootouts among members of the USPTA. The winner from each division will be eligible to compete in the national Shootout at the USPTA World Conference in Las Vegas in September. The competition will allow teaching pros to demonstrate the accuracy and speed of their feeds for 60 seconds. Pros will be asked to feed tennis balls in a specific pattern to three targets set up at a net. Each pro will feed balls from a teaching cart while standing behind the middle of the baseline, and the objective is to get as many balls as possible into the targets in one minute. The pro who feeds the most balls into the targets will be declared the Division Shootout Winner and will go on to compete in the National Shootout at the 2006 USPTA World Conference, which is set for Sept. 16 to 23 in Las Vegas. The Division Feeding Shootout winners will receive two cases of Pro Penn tennis balls and round-trip airfare to the World Conference. USPTA President Ron Woods, is excited about the Feeding Shootout. “We see the Feeding Shootout as a great way to highlight the art of feeding and to continue to elevate USPTA’s focus on the growth of Cardio Tennis,” he says. “Competitors from all USPTA divisions will be competing to be named the best feeder in America.”
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is Midwest sales > O2Athletics forthe new and Tecnifibre, representatives Reebok covering Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan and western Pennsylvania. It also represents Viking Athletics. Contact Dave Ohlmuller, 847-283-0247 or [email protected]. board of recently > The USTAinvestment directorskeep the approved an to help Pacific Life Open in the U.S. The USTA will join other investors, including Tennismagazine owners George Mackin and Robert Miller, in a planned buyout of IMG’s 50 percent interest in the tournament. USPTA Texas Division’s > TheBuying Show will be Feb.Southwest Tennis 10-11 at The Woodlands Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, at The Woodlands, Texas. Mercedes-Benz and the ATP have extended their sports marketing partnership another three years, through 2008. Mercedes-Benz started its partnership as the Official Car of the ATP in 1996. The car company provides transportation at many of the ATP’s 64 tournaments in 31 countries. USTA National Husband & > The firstand Super Senior Grass Court Wife Senior Championships, sponsored by The Tennis Channel and Campbell’s, will be at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 6-12.
> Ashaway Racket Strings has introduced its new Racket Strings Catalog, highlighting
more than 40 different strings for tennis, badminton, squash, and racquetball. The catalog also introduces Ashaway's new Power Filament Technology, or PFT, for badminton, a proprietary design that creates a unique filament surface layer to reduce string movement and increase durability. For a copy of the catalog visit www.ashawayusa.com. Head has relaunched www.head.com with a new, cleaner look. The site features a racquet advisor and includes information on touring pros and all Head new products. Former world No. 1 player Jim Courier and his company, InsideOut Sports and Entertainment, are launching the Champions Cup Series, a collection of U.S. tennis events featuring tennis greats over the age of 30. Events are slated for Naples, Fla., March 912; Boston, April 27-30; Memphis, Oct. 5-8; and Houston, Nov. 9-12. Visit www.insideoutlive for more information.
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Bälle de Mätch is Official Apparel of Copper Bowl
outhern California-based Bälle de Mätch is the official apparel of the Copper Bowl junior tournament. The event takes place in Tucson, Ariz., in January and attracts more than 1,000 juniors every year. “We are proud to be associated with this event, which will give us tremendous visibility with the best kids of all age groups from all over the country,” says Bälle de Mätch co-owner and partner John Embree. The Copper Bowl is a USTA-sanctioned Level III tournament on the National Junior schedule and attracts ranked boys and girls 12’s to 18’s from around the world. Bälle de Mätch apparel will be worn by the staff of the Copper Bowl and will be sold on-site. It is also the Official Team Uniform of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association, the Official Apparel Supplier for Orange County Tennis Association. For more information on Bälle de Mätch, call 800-356-1021.
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OUTSTANDING FACILITY-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDS
Head of the Class
RSI and the ASBA bring you the best in tennis court construction.
e have again joined forces with the American Sports Builders Association to bring you examples of excellence in court construction. Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member, whether a contractor, designer, or supplier, the association selects outstanding tennis facilities that meet the standard of excellence determined by the judging committee. For the 2005 contest, 25 courts or tennis facilities were deemed to be outstanding by the panel of judges. Two, however, were chosen for special honors: the Princeton University Tennis Complex in Princeton, N.J., was named the Tennis Facility of the Year, and the indoor facility at Sunset Athletic Club in Beaverton, Ore., was selected as the Multipurpose Indoor Facility of the Year. The Princeton Tennis Complex, completed in July 2005, added 15 new courts to the existing eight-court facility. The new courts are in two groupings, one for faculty and alumni use and the other for students. The student grouping is made up of two court batteries of four and five courts, with a spec-
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tator plaza between them. The faculty grouping is made up of two three-court batteries, one of soft courts and one of hard. Between the two student batteries is a historic pavilion that was relocated and reassembled from another location on campus. The pavilion includes a water fountain, emergency communications, and spectator areas on two levels. The tight site conditions made it necessary to use retaining walls rather than sloped landscaped areas. The Sunset Athletic Club indoor multipurpose facility was an upgrade to the existing structure and included three new indoor tennis courts, basketball courts, climbing wall, running track, and cardio and exercise rooms. The high winter water table meant that an underground drainage moat had to be built to direct water to a filter and storage tube 4 feet in diameter and 400 feet long. The project was completed in the winter of 2005. —Peter Francesconi
Princeton University Tennis Complex, Princeton, N.J.
Architect/Engineer: GLOBAL SPORTS & TENNIS DESIGN GROUP, FAIR HAVEN, N.J. Specialty Contractor: SPORTSLINE AND ALL STAR TENNIS COURT CO. Surface: CALIFORNIA PRODUCTS CORP. Lighting: COURTSIDER SPORTS LIGHTING Windscreens: J.A. CISSEL
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Indoor Multi-Purpose Facility at Sunset Athletic Club, Beaverton, Ore.
Specialty Contractor: ATLAS TRACK & TENNIS, TUALATIN, ORE. Surface: CALIFORNIA PRODUCTS CORP. Curtains/Divider Nets: M. PUTTERMAN & CO. Tennis Nets: EDWARDS, DIV. OF COLLEGIATE PACIFIC Other Supplier: ROBBINS INC.
Q Chippewa Resort Tennis Facility, Manitowish Waters, Wis. (Munson Inc.)
In addition to the Princeton University Tennis Complex and the Sunset Athletic Club, these 23 locations were chosen by the 2005 panel of judges for the ASBA as outstanding examples of court construction. You’ll read more about them in upcoming issues of Racquet Sports Industry. (The nominating company is in parentheses.) Q Residential Court, Miami (Fast-Dry Cos.) Q Residential Court, Norwell, Mass. (Boston Tennis Court Construction Co.) Q River Oaks Country Club, Houston (Welch Tennis Courts)
Taking the Prize
Q Emory University Indoor Tennis Facility, Atlanta (Lower Bros.) Q Green Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hills, Pa. (Pro-Sport Construction)
Q Heathrow Country Estates Tennis Facility, Sorrento, Fla. (Fast-Dry Cos.) Q Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, Dade City, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts) Q Lion’s Paw, Oakley, Utah (Welch Tennis Courts) Q Oaks at Boca Raton Tennis Center, Boca Raton, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts)
Q Roxiticus Golf Club Tennis Facility, Mendham, N.J. (The Racquet Shop) Q Sacred Heart Schools Tennis Facility, Atherton, Calif. (Beals Alliance Inc.)
Q Sandhills Community College Athletic Complex, Pinehurst, N.C. (Court One)
Q Palencia Tennis Center, St. Augustine, Fla. (Welch Tennis Courts)
Q Ottawa Township High School, Ottawa, Ill. (Global Sports & Tennis Design Group)
Q Sebastian Municipal Park Tennis Facility, Sebastian, Fla. (Fast-Dry Cos.)
Q St. George’s Senior Boys’ School, Vancouver, B.C. (Ocean Marker Sport Surfaces USA) Q University of Alabama Outdoor Tennis Facility, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Lower Bros.)
Q Residential Court, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas (Fast-Dry Cos.) Q Residential Court, Lemon Heights, Calif. (Zaino Tennis Courts)
Q Residential Court, Gywnedd, Pa. (Pro-Sport Construction)
Q University of Hawaii at Monoa Tennis Complex, Honolulu (Applied Surfacing Technology) Q Vanderbilt University Outdoor Tennis Facility, Nashville, Tenn. (Lower Bros.)
For details of the 2006 Outstanding Tennis Facility Awards, contact the ASBA at 866-501-ASBA or [email protected].
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
31
2006 STRING SURVEY
USRSA Members’ Choice Awards
Our exclusive rankings, based on responses by USRSA members, will help you pick the right strings for your shop.
W
hat string is best for your customer? It’s a tricky question to are included in the total sum and average for that string. We answer, since there are so many different strings out there added the scores from each respondent to obtain a sum for that all have unique combinations of benefits. But once again, that string, then divided the sum by the number of responwe’ve gone right to the experts, the thousands of U.S. Racquet Stringers dents who rated it. To ensure that strings with a reasonable breadth of distribAssociation members, and asked them to rate strings in three categories: ution are included, each string must be rated on at least 12 playability, durability, and comquestionnaires. We feel fort. that having at least 12 Most Responses by Gauge Our 29th annual string surrespondents allows us to (percent) vey, which is on the poster include enough strings by inserted into this issue of RSI, enough manufacturers, Gauge 2006 2005 2004 2002/3 2001 2000 is a compilation of survey including smaller market 16 64.6 62.0 62.4 61.9 58.9 54.8 questionnaires sent in Sep17 24.5 28.2 23.1 26.2 27.0 31.8 share companies. Too tember to 2,500 randomly 16L 4.6 3.8 4.3 2.8 1.5 high a number will mean selected U.S. members of the 15L 3.8 4.3 5.7 5.9 7.8 11.1 the survey results will only USRSA (no chain stores). 18 1.9 1.3 1.4 1.8 2.9 0.9 include the top two or Recipients were given a list of 15 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.8 three manufacturers. every string on the market 17L 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.6 Remember, the cateand asked to rate the ones 19 1.7 0.4 0.4 gory scores for each string they are familiar with from 1 18/17 0.5 0.4 are averages of all the to 10 in each of the three catrespondents’ rankings for egories. Then an average a given string. Often, score was calculated for each these averages are very string in each category. (percent) close; the differences For a string to qualify for a between rankings can be rating, the respondent must Brand 2006 2005 2004 2002/3 2001 2000 mere hundredths of a Wilson 23.2 22.0 21.9 23.8 21.6 30.5 have strung at least 20 sets of point. Though only one Gamma 20.4 22.9 24.7 25.6 25.9 27.2 that string in the past year. Prince 19.8 19.6 19.8 19.2 20.7 23.7 string can claim the top This 20-set minimum ensures Head 9.4 7.7 7.4 7.3 4.0 7.0 spot in a category, many that respondents are rating a Babolat 9.3 7.2 7.1 6.1 6.9 6.3 of the strings close to string they know something Tecnifibre 4.5 4.8 4.1 4.1 4.7 3.4 each other in ranking are about and that has some Luxilon 3.6 3.4 3.0 of equal stature. In pracvitality in the marketplace. For Ashaway 2.0 1.6 1.8 1.7 2.2 <1.0 tice, each of these strings some businesses, 20 sets may Gosen 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.9 3.2 1.4 is one of the best of its represent 20 percent of their Forten 1.2 2.3 2.6 2.6 3.5 0.5 niche. Alpha 0.9 1.0 total business, and for others, Hang our String Survey Kirschbaum 0.8 0.8 1 percent. Some businesses TOA 0.8 0.4 poster in your shop and may only sell 20 sets of the Dunlop 0.6 1.2 1.1 let your customers deterstring; others may sell 500. Klip 0.6 0.9 mine which strings may Each ranking, however, carOthers 2.3 2.3 4.6 5.2 4.4 best help their games.Q ries the same weight, and all
Most Responses by Brand
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
33
Finding the Right Treatment
Emergency medical devices, such as defibrillators, are reassuring to clubs and their members.
BY CYNTHIA CANTRELL
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hen selecting a tennis club, potential members expect to size up tennis courts, ball machines, locker rooms, and other amenities. However, there is additional equipment to consider: automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and other medical gear. “Just by the nature of the sport—where people can go from complete rest to full-out activity, with some not exercising any other way—there are going to be some [cardiac] problems on a tennis court,” says Stephen Tharrett, a former senior vice president at Dallas-based ClubCorp and currently an editor of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines. When the publication’s third edition is published in April 2006, according to Tharrett, it will recommend the inclusion of AEDs in all HeartStart Onsite Defibrillator fitness centers, with the Philips Electronics intended effect of transforming what has been a growing trend into an industry standard. By 2010, he predicts installing AEDs in sports facilities will be legislated beyond the current states of Illinois, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, and Louisiana. An AED is a computerized medical device that can recognize whether a person’s heart rhythm requires an electric shock, and uses voice prompts, lights, and text messages to tell the rescuer how to deliver one.
“It’s a natural part of a facility’s duty of care to its members,” says Tharrett, noting that AEDs are joining traditional safety measures such as first aid kits, CPR-trained personnel, and even oxygen masks for members experiencing difficulty breathing. “As long as you provide appropriate training on modern equipment that is serviced regularly, these devices are absolutely in members’ best interest.” As the national tennis director and regional manager of two Tennis Corp. of America (TCA)-owned tennis clubs in the Kansas City area, Ajay Pant says he sets an example for his staff by participating in emergency training offered to all TCA employees. “There’s a certain way you have to push down on the abdomen when doing CPR, and it took me a while to get it,” Pant admits. “I’m the guy in charge and it would have been easy for me to let it go, but I held up all proceedings until I got it right. I wanted to send the message that there can be no shortcuts when safety is involved.” In addition to CPR, according to Pant, TCA clubs also train staff on AEDs, first aid and infant CPR at facilities with nurseries. Tennis pros who work with members outdoors during the summer are taught to look for heat illness symptoms such as hot, dry skin, change in skin color, hyperventilation, and confusion. If a teaching pro suspects heat exhaustion or sunstroke, for example, Pant says the lesson is immediately ended (with the fee waived) so the member can be taken inside for treatment.
34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
“We train our staff on what to keep AEDs in working order with look for because even when you ask fresh pads and batteries, and alert a member how they’re feeling, they them to staff whose certifications are may say they’re fine,” says Pant. set to expire. “We adhere to strict policies, but we “Though presently it is not legislatbelieve our members appreciate it.” ed that clubs be equipped with AEDs, Ed Brune, general manager and ClubCorp felt because of the potential tennis director of the Indianapolis of saving a life, that this initiative was Racquet Clubs, says the company’s worth the investment for the compatwo facilities both have first aid kits, ny,” says Woolard. ZOLL AED Plus with an employee in charge of keepHelen Durkin, director of public ZOLL Medical Corporation ing each one fully stocked. He also policy for the Boston-based Internarecently purchased an AED for each tional Health, Racquet and Sportsclub site. Association (IHRSA), cautions clubs “I’ve been studying defibrillators for and members alike from believing that two or three years, waiting for someAEDs will save every life since they are thing to come along that’s easy to use most beneficial in cases of sudden carand cost-effective,” says Brune, noting diac arrest, where the heart actually stops that the local fire department conducted beating. Liability is another common conthe training for his key employees. With cern for clubs, she says, since Good increasing publicity surrounding AEDs— Samaritan laws for businesses have not not to mention about one-quarter of the yet been enacted in all states. Indianapolis Racquet Clubs’ 3,000 mem“IHRSA is working hard to ensure that bers over 50 years of age—Brune says it all states that require AEDs provide adewas simply time to make the devices quate coverage so these businesses aren’t part of the clubs’ standard equipment. subject to liability by using these devices Ville Jansson, sports club manager at or not using them,” says Durkin, noting Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho that 25 percent of IHRSA member clubs Mirage, Calif., says his ClubCorp-owned surveyed in 2000-01 already had AEDs in PowerHeart AED G3 property is equipped with an AED, oxytheir facilities. Cardiac Science gen, and first-aid kits containing antisepDurkin also notes that studies have tics, sports injury-related bandages, and indicated that 85 percent of sudden car“everything imaginable” at both the tennis and golf portions of diac arrest cases occur in the home or hospital, with only the the property. The company strives for 100 percent employee remaining 15 percent spread out across airports, businesses, training in safety procedures including jails, dialysis centers, gaming establishAED usage, he says. ments, golf courses, homeless shelters, “It’s peace of mind for our memlarge industrial sites, nursing homes, bers,” says Jansson, a former ATP tourphysician offices, shopping malls, A prescription was once required to purchase an ing pro with 10 professional sports complexes, streets and highAED, but now the devices are offered over the tournament wins. “AEDs are coming ways, trains and ferries, urgent care counter. Royal Philips Electronics offers two over-thedown in cost so these days, you see centers, and utility trucks. counter models: the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator them in a lot of places. It makes sense “There are plenty of club owners and the HeartStart Home Defibrillator. for us to have them, too.” who have gotten AEDs and tell stories Ron Woolard, the national director of how they’ve been used to save lives, For more information about AEDs, contact manufacfor Athletics & Tennis at Dallas-based but in the case of an emergency, clubs turers such as the following: ClubCorp, says Mission Hills Country should still call 911 and follow their Q Cardiac Science (www.cardiacscience.com) Club is one of 79 ClubCorp sites that first-aid protocol in case it’s not sudden Q Medtronic (www.medtronic.com) were equipped with AEDs in 2002. cardiac arrest,” Durkin says. For their Q Philips Medical Systems (www.medical.philips.com) The investment of purchasing the part, she adds, members shouldn’t Q Zoll Medical (www.zoll.com) devices, servicing them, and dedicatpanic and cease exercising because Training is provided by manufacturers as well as by ing employee hours to repeated certifithey’re afraid their heart will give out the American Red Cross and American Heart Associacations can be significant, Woolard on the tennis court. tion. Neither organization recommends one device says. AEDs can range in price from “AEDs can be useful devices to have over another. For training information, contact your about $2,000 to $3,000, he notes, and on hand,” Durkin says, “but I’m conlocal American Red Cross chapter or the American companies may opt to pay an addicerned that all this legislation is going Heart Association’s Heartsaver AED program at 1tional monthly fee of approximately to perpetuate the idea that exercise is 877-AHA-4CPR (1-877-242-4277). $200 per site for an outside vendor to more dangerous than it is.” Q
Where to Get AEDs
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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Delivering a Quality Experience
For pro Jorge Andrew in South Carolina, it’s all about getting people BY CHRIS NICHOLSON involved—and coming back for more.
The Master Pros:
M
ost head tennis professionals will confront tough challenges at some point in their careers. At times they’ll face sagging membership, over-budget court repairs, staff shortages, cranky bosses. But one of the most demanding tasks a head pro can undertake is one that few actually ever will: launching a new tennis facility. In 2000, Lexington County, S.C., had no tennis program. And the area still didn’t even have a home for public tennis, as their prized 21-court Lexington County Tennis Complex (LCTC) wasn’t due to open until the following summer. Then came Jorge Andrew, hired
This is the second of six installments on the teaching pros who hold Master Pro certifications from both the PTR and the USPTA. to be the facility’s first tennis director. “Opening a new facility is difficult—you’re really starting from scratch,” says Dan Santorum, CEO and executive director of the PTR. “Getting the people to come is obviously a challenge, but once they get there you have to make sure they have a quality experience. That’s one of the things Jorge excels at—making sure that everybody that comes to his facility has a quality experience and is eager to come back.” Andrew, designated a master pro by both the PTR and the USPTA, was raised in Caracas, Venezuela. He played for and captained the Venezuelan Davis Cup team, and reached No. 76 in the world rankings in the late 1970s. He later worked as a tennis director at clubs in Venezuela and Florida before being tapped for his post in Lexington County. From six months before the LCTC opened, Andrew was already planning the details for what would quickly become one of the most successful tennis programs in the southern U.S. One of his primary goals was to relentlessly find new players and make them stay. “We have beginner clinics that start every four weeks,” Andrew says. “Then we try to put those beginners right into the
leagues. Officers of the Lexington Area Tennis Association are right at the facility, so in just a few minutes we can get you all the information you need, sign you up over the internet, put you in a league and you’re ready to play.” The strategy has worked. In just four years, the number of league tennis teams at the LCTC has increased from 20 to 45. Impressive numbers? That’s just for the adults. “Our most successful program is the After School Tennis Club,” Andrew says. “It has three levels. At level one, we give them a racquet and a can of balls. Level two, it’s a little more advanced lessons. Level three, they play matches every Friday. After that, we start to encourage them to play tournaments.” The after-school club has a consistent attendance of 50 to 80 kids per four-week session. Other junior play at the LCTC includes the Junior Challengers, which exclude all players ranked in Top 25 in 10and-under, and the Top 50 in other divisions. “We host tournaments like that so that our people who started here can develop here,” Andrew says. As for those top-ranked players? They can still compete in the ITF World Junior Championships, which the LCTC hosts in November. “People ask me all the time, ‘How can we get a program going—do we need more junior programs, do we need to have more courts, do we need to spend more money?” says Jeff Hawes, first vice president of the USPTA Southern Division. “The answer is that first and foremost you need to have a leader. You Q Develop programs to cater to every need to have somebody who is age group and every player level. dynamic in their personality, Leave no one behind. dynamic when it comes to proQ At the end of beginners’ classes, moting, dynamic when it don’t let those new players go— comes to their teaching skills. try to get them signed up in And Jorge definitely has all leagues, where they’ll have fun those traits. That’s what makes with their new skills and keep him stand out in this industry. playing tennis. “Jorge is one of the best professionals in our association. Q Make the facility attractive in every Lexington County wasn’t even way possible: Keep it clean and on the map until he got there, well-decorated, and make sure and he made an impact just by everything is in working order. getting people involved.” Q
Creating a Quality Experience for Players
36 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
How to Fix Your Game
he 2006 USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop comes to Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 3 to 5 with a full slate of workshops and seminars designed to educate, encourage and inspire tennis leaders and coordinators. For teaching pros, facility and park managers, and anyone else whose mission and livelihood involves getting more people playing the game, if you could go to only one workshop this year, this just may be the one you should attend. The annual CTDW, in the opinion of many who have attended previous workshops, is one of the most useful events for those who actually deliver tennis at
At the 2006 CTDW, you’ll find people, seminars and ideas that can help your business—and help the game grow.
the grassroots level. For those involved in tennis programming—whether at a Community Tennis Association, park and rec program, private facility, school, or more—the opportunity to expand your knowledge, and your business, at the CTDW is a worthwhile investment. Last year, the event brought nearly 700 people from around the country to Destin, Fla. The USTA has now realized the value of what the CTDW is able to provide, and the impact that it can have on tennis participation, and so the organization has been pumping more resources into the conference. Workshop sessions address everything from customer relations, to how to teach tennis to various groups, to building positive The USTA has different registration plans for the CTDW. relationships, to starting a nonFor the full workshop, individual registration is $295 before profit organization, how to deal Jan. 6 and $350 after. For more information on the CTDW, with volunteers, and much or to register, visit www.usta.com/communitytennis. more. This year, there also will Room rates for workshop registrants at the Renaissance be “pre-workshop sessions” (at Hollywood Hotel are $155 per night and must be booked additional cost) that are all-day directly with the hotel by Jan. 2. Contact 800-HOTELS-1, bonus sessions that go in-depth 323-856-1200 or www.renaissancehollywood.com. on various topics, such as proposal writing and developing a fundraising plan. And again the CTDW will offer “Courtside Consultants,” allowing attendees to sign up for a 25-minute slot to discuss their organization with experienced consultants and featured speakers. There also will be an exhibit area and a “Great Idea Gallery,” along with an evening Awards Banquet. The theme for this year’s CTDW is “Heroes Among Us,” designed to honor those who have shaped community tennis around the country. This year, the CTDW will feature discounted registration for CTAs and National Junior Tennis League Chapters and Programs.
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CTDW Registration and Hotel
For more on the CTDW, visit www.usta.com/communitytennis. Q
Keynote Speaker Jim MacLaren
Keynote speaker for the 2006 CTDW is the inspirational Jim MacLaren, who received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the 2005 ESPYs, given to athletes who embody a toughness of spirit and never-giveup attitude. MacLaren also spoke at the 2005 Tennis Teachers Conference in August in New York to a very enthusiastic audience. MacLaren was involved in two would-be fatal accidents. The first, at age 22, resulted in the loss of his left leg; the second, 10 years later, left him an incomplete quadriplegic. Each time, Jim has used sheer force of will and awe-inspiring courage to come back—the first time to become the fastest amputee athlete in the world, and now, as an individual with an amazing story to share.
Wanted: Great Ideas Do you have a “great idea” for tennis? At the CTDW, the USTA wants to feature great ideas. To submit one, visit www.usta.com/communitytennis. 38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
science The Inch That Changed Tennis Forever
The modern game of tennis is played at a furious pace compared with the old days when everyone used wood racquets. Just watch old film from the 1950s and you will see that the game is vastly different. Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad barely broke into a sweat. Today’s game has players grunting and screaming on every shot, calling for the towel every third shot, and launching themselves off the court with the ferocity of their strokes. The difference is obviously due to the change from wood to graphite racquets, which happened during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Everyone concluded that graphite racquets were much stronger, lighter, and more powerful, while the players themselves somehow became taller, stronger, and fitter. How else could the game have changed so drastically? in. Not only that, the added swing velocity wasn’t resulting in mis-hits, due to the larger sweet zone and extra inch or two of frame clearance. So what did they do next? The extra frame clearance allowed players to start swinging upwards at the ball to get even more spin, and they rotated the racquet in their hand to a Western grip in order to swing at even steeper angles to the ball. That grip gave them problems with their backhand, so they had to grip the handle with the both hands to tilt the frame back into a vertical position. The faster they hit the ball, the faster it spun, and the faster it spun, the harder they could hit it. That’s why players today usually have both feet off the ground when they hit the ball, and it’s why they need to grunt and scream. Players were given an inch in the 1970s and they took a mile. The ball now spins 4 or 5 times faster than it did before the 1970s. An increase in just one inch allowed an amazing increase in spin due to steeper, faster swings and a tilting of the racquet forward by up to 5 degrees, all without clipping the frame. An example will make this very clear.
BY ROD CROSS
RACQUET WIDTH, SPIN, AND POWER
The real reason for the change is more subtle. It’s because racquets got wider. Wood racquets were always 9 inches wide and 27 inches long, so players could check the 36-inch height of the net by putting one racquet on top of another. Today’s players can’t do that. Most racquets are still 27 inches long, but they are now 10 to 12 inches wide. They are also lighter, which means they are less powerful, but it also means that players can swing them faster, which they need to do just to get back the power they lost when they became lighter. When players started swinging their racquets faster, they noticed an interesting effect—they generated more topspin on the ball. A ball with topspin dives down more steeply into the court after it passes over the net compared with a ball without spin. Players noticed that the ball went in more easily, despite the fact that the ball was hit at about the same speed as with their old wood racquets. So they started hitting the ball even harder, which made the ball spin faster, and it still went
FIVE TIMES THE SPIN
When a ball bounces off the court it acquires topspin, even if it had no spin before it hit the court. In fact, it spins faster than most players can generate themselves when they hit a topspin return. In order to return the ball with topspin, a player needs to swing the racquet both forwards and upwards and fast enough to reverse the direction of the spinning ball. If the player doesn’t reverse the direction of the spin, then the ball will be returned with backspin—it is still spinning in the same direction but traveling in the opposite direction back over the net. Suppose, for example, that the ball spins at 3,000 rpm (50 revolutions/sec) after it bounces off the court. That is a typical amount of spin when a ball hits the court at around 30 or 40 mph. Returned
with a wood racquet, a player won’t be able to swing up at a very steep angle without clipping the frame. He will still be able to reverse the spin, but he will get only 200 rpm or so of topspin by swinging the racquet upwards fairly rapidly at about 20 degrees to the horizontal. A change in spin from 3,000 rpm backwards to 200 rpm forwards is a change of 3,200 rpm, which is a relatively big change, but it is only enough to return the ball with a small amount of topspin. Now suppose the player switches to a 10-inch racquet and swings up at 30 degrees to the ball. The player can do that and can also tilt the racquet head forward by about 5 degrees, with even less risk of clipping the frame than with a 9-inch wood racquet being swung at 20 degrees with the head perpendicular to the ground. In this way, the player will be able to change the spin by about 4,000 rpm instead of 3,200 rpm, with the result that the spin changes from 3,000 rpm of backspin to 1,000 rpm of topspin. The result is therefore a factor of five increase, from 200 rpm to 1,000 rpm, in the amount of topspin. That’s an amazingly big effect considering that the racquet increased in width by only one inch, or by only 11 percent.
WHY WIDTH MATTERS
A 9-inch wide racquet swung with the strings in a vertical plane has about 8 inches of string in the vertical direction and about one-half inch of wood above and below the strings. A 10-inch racquet swung in the same way has about 9 inches of string in the vertical direction. The ball is just over two and one-half inches in diameter, so 3.1 balls can fit across a 9inch racquet and 3.5 balls can fit across a 10-inch racquet. If the 10-inch racquet is tilted forward 27 degrees, then the strings extend 9 inches diagonally and 8 inches vertically, as shown in Figure 1. The racquet can therefore be swung upwards at 27 degrees or tilted forward by 27
40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
27
degrees, and it will then present to the ball exactly the same area of string as a 9inch racquet. No one tilts the racquet forward by as much as 27 degrees, but they now swing up into the ball at angles of 30 degrees or more to generate topspin. Tilting the racquet head forward slightly generates even more topspin. Giving a player an extra inch of width allows the player to swing up at a steeper angle or faster or both. In that case the ball slides further across the strings, so you really do need that extra inch. A change in 4,000 rpm rather than 3,200 rpm is therefore not surprising given the extra speed, angle, and tilt made possible by the extra one inch of width. Going from a 10-inch to an 11-inch racquet does not deliver another huge increase in topspin. The reason is that if players tried to increase the upward speed of the racquet any more than they do now, the ball would sail over the baseline. They can do that for a topspin lob, but the forward speed of the racquet and the ball remains relatively small for a topspin lob. An 11-inch racquet will work better for topspin lobs but not for any other shot. On the other hand, 9inch racquets were only just over the limit of being able to generate any topspin at all. Give a 9-inch graphite racquet to a player today and the result would be some serious clipping of the frame every few shots, though perhaps not as many as “old-timers” might expect since modern players are so practiced and skilled at steeper swings.Q
Further details are described in the new book “Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, and Bounce” by Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey, available from book store web sites or from the publisher at www.racquettech.com.
January 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
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string Klip Lightning 16
Lightning is one of Klip’s “Pro Doubles” (hybrid) strings, combining its Legend natural gut with its Excellerator nylon. Klip’s Legend natural gut is 100 percent Australian top grade gut. Excellerator is a high-end multifilament, with 30 percent more fiber than most other multifilaments, due to a unique bonding of the filaments that uses less glue, providing more of a gut-like feel.
According to Klip, Lightning is designed for players looking for the power and comfort of natural gut, at a fraction of the price. Lightning is available in 16 and 17 in natural only. It is priced from $20. For more information or to order, contact Klip at 866554-7872, or visit www.klipstrings.com. Be sure to read the conclusion for Klip’s special offer to USRSA members. surements of the 16-gauge Klip Lightning we playtested. Lightning added 15.5 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame. The string was tested for five weeks by 65 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.5. These are blind tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages. We instructed one team to install the gut in the mains, and the other to install the nylon in the mains. We found Klip Legend natural gut slightly dry-feeling and slightly rough, as always, and the Excellerator about normal for a multifilament nylon. It is slick enough that it glides with little friction against the natural gut, and there is virtually no coil memory. Our playtesters, however, reported a bit more trouble installing Lightning than Klip’s Screamer natural gut hybrid (see RSI June 2005), which means our playtesters found that installing Klip Lightning is comparable in difficulty to installing Klip X-Plosive (see RSI January 2005). Gut mains/ nylon crosses Broke during stringing 3 Excess coil memory 8 Difficulty tying knots 5 Friction burn 2 Nylon mains/ gut crosses 1 6 2 5
PLAYTEST
Klip Lightning scored well above average in Playability and Power, no matter which way you string it, and with nylon in the mains and gut in the crosses it scored well above average for Holding Tension and Resistance to Movement. In every other category, Lightning scored above average, EASE OF STRINGING
Gut M’s Nylon M’s (compared to other strings) Number of testers who said it was: much easier 0 0 somewhat easier 5 4 about as easy 21 9 not quite as easy 10 13 not nearly as easy 1 2
IN THE LAB
We tested the 16-gauge Lightning “both ways,” that is, with the gut in the mains and Excellerator nylon in the crosses, and with the Excellerator nylon in the mains and the gut in the crosses. We recorded a stringbed stiffness of each string combination immediately after installation at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine, and then retested after 24 hours (no playing). Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. See the table for our mea-
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
(compared to string played most often) Number of testers who said it was: much better 1 7 somewhat better 8 5 about as playable 13 5 not quite as playable 9 8 not nearly as playable 3 3
OVERALL DURABILITY
ON THE COURT
Once again, these playtests show that adding a little natural gut to the mix results in a satisfying playing experience. Excellerator nylon 21’3” 1.31-1.32 mm 1.25-1.26 mm 78 (nylon mains, gut crosses) 72 (nylon mains, gut crosses) 6 RDC 7.69% 17 hours (nylon mains, gut crosses)
Coil measurements Diameter unstrung Diameter strung RDC stringbed stiffness new RDC stringbed stiffness after 24 hours Tension loss Tension loss % Average playtest duration
Legend natural gut 20’ 1.33-1.34 mm 1.28-1.30 mm 76 (gut mains, nylon crosses) 70 (gut mains, nylon crosses) 6 RDC 7.89% 19.57 hours (gut mains, nylon crosses)
(compared to other strings of similar gauge) Number of testers who said it was: much better 3 somewhat better 19 about as durable 5 not quite as durable 4 not nearly as durable 3
4 6 7 6 4
RATING AVERAGES
From 1 to 5 (best) Playability Durability Power Control Comfort Touch/Feel Spin Potential Holding Tension Resistance to Movement 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.6 3.7
42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
TESTERS
“
This string has just the right amount of pop. Very lively without being springy. A 17 gauge in this string would be fantastic for spin/touch players. The 16 gauge used in this test showed no signs of wear during the test. 4.5 male all-court player using Völkl Tour 10 strung at 62 pounds CP (Tecnifibre NRG2 17/18)
“
TALK
”
I am very impressed with this string. It is overall one of the best playtest strings I have received. Right from the beginning the control, comfort, feel, and spin potential were better than my normal string. The durability also exceeded my normal string’s. 4.0 male all-court player using Head i.X5 OS strung at 55 pounds CP (Wilson NXT 16)
”
“
Obviously, this is a natural gut/synthetic hybrid. I have never played with the gut in the mains and the nylon in the crosses, so this is a new experience for me. And you know what? It is awesome! Although my racquet feels a lot more head-heavy, the power and touch are well worth it. 6.0 male all-court player using Völkl C10 Pro strung at 63 pounds CP (Gamma Live Wire XP 17)
“This was an excellent two-piece string. The mains
seemed to be natural gut, so I was excited about playing with this sample. Unfortunately I put a kink into the mains while stringing and it broke after 1 hour of playing time.”
4.0 male all-court player using Gamma Diamond Fiber M6.5 strung at 70 pounds LO (Tecnifibre NRG2 17)
“
Excellent string! It has durability and feel. 5.0 male all-court player using Pro Kennex 7g strung at 63 pounds LO (Prince Polygut 17)
”
”
“
“
Great hybrid with all the properties that I like: Comfort, control, and playability. When you hit a groundstroke, you can count on the ball going where you aim. I would recommend this to other high-NTRP players. 5.0 male all-court player using Head Liquidmetal Radical strung at 57 pounds LO (Prince Synthetic Gut 17)
The gut section of this string is the key. It has great feel and good power. I would buy this great combo. 5.0 male all-court player using Wilson nCode strung at 63 pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)
”
”
“
This is a very good string. The feel, the ball grab, and the control are outstanding. The cross strings started to fray a bit, but the strings hold tension very well and really don’t seem to move all that much. I am eager to learn the name of this string. 5.5 male serve-and-volleyer using Wilson Pro Staff Blitz strung at 59 pounds CP (Natural gut 16 or 17)
”
An outstanding combination! Exceptionally quiet during play. I am particularly impressed by the lack of movement despite the low tension I use. The wear is obviously better than an ‘all gut’ stringing, but the response is as good as or better than any gut I’ve used. This could be a very fine string for a wide range of levels and ages. I can easily see senior players using this string, especially if they haven’t used gut before. The synthetic crosses seem to crisp up the feel even at low tensions. Great teaching string, too! 5.0 male serve-and-volleyer using Pro Kennex K15 PSE strung at 44 pounds LO (Gamma Durablast 16)
“
”
(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in parentheses.)
For the rest of the tester comments, USRSA members can visit RacquetTECH.com.
strung either way, so that in overall scores, Lightning with nylon mains was well above average, while with gut mains it was above average. Just as impressive, Lightning with nylon mains garnered an impressively high average vote for playability compared to our playtesters’ favorite strings, while Lightning with gut mains really impressed our playtesters for durability, compared to other strings of similar gauge.
CONCLUSION
In playtest after playtest, our testers indicate that there is a lot to like in Klip’s natural gut hybrids. This may not be surprising, given how well natural gut plays, but one interesting aspect is that Klip’s natural gut hybrids seem to offer superior performance whether configured with the natural gut in the crosses, or in the mains. As Klip points out (and it bears Nylon mains/gut crosses 19.24 hours 7 4, 7, 7, 7.5, 9, 10, 12
Average playtest duration Broke during play Break hours
Gut mains/nylon crosses 14.75 hours 8 1, 4, 4, 5, 13, 20, 35, 36
repeating), this superior performance comes at a discount compared to using a full set of natural gut. This discount comes not only in the form of the initial purchase price, but also in terms of the increased longevity of a hybrid set compared to a pure natural gut string job. And, depending, on how ill-at-ease you are stringing natural gut, there’s also the time benefit that comes from the often faster installation of a synthetic compared to the natural gut. If you think that Klip Lightning might be for you, Klip is offering USRSA members a special deal: Buy three sets, and get the fourth set free. —Greg Raven Q
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ask
Q A
the EXPERTS
Your Equipment Hotline
POWER PADS
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT the dampeners that are used at the throat of racquets. Not the regular dampener on the stringbed, but material that is placed between the frame and string at the holes. What is the purpose of these dampeners, and where do you get the material? THESE “DAMPENERS” ARE called “power pads.” They are usually made of sections of rawhide, although you can use rolled-up scraps of leather grips or inner tube, depending on how professional you want the installation to look. If you don’t have a leather store nearby, or an old, heavyduty leather belt that you can cut up, Grand Slam Stringers (www.grandslamstringers.com) sells strips of leather that are just the right thickness, already cut to width. Power pads are typically used in two locations on the racquet. The first is—as you’ve noticed—inside the throat, on the center mains, where they are said to change the feel of the racquet, ostensibly due to a very small amount of “give” compared to having the string on a hard, solid grommet strip. This is probably where the “power” appellation comes from. The second location is on the first two holes outside of the throat, where the mains have to go through the frame at a sharp angle. Here, the power pads are most beneficial because they increase the radius around which the string must bend, reducing breakage. It’s worth noting that there are manufacturers offering power-pad-like benefits on select frames, such as Yonex with its Muscle Power grommet system, and Babolat with its Woofer system. Because the leather used in power pads is virtually always a different color than the frame of the racquet, use a permanent marker to tint the leather to match the frame prior to installation.
Q A
SWINGWEIGHT
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT swingweight. Let’s say I have two different racquets, one of which weighs 320 grams and has a swingweight of 300, and one that weighs 300 grams and has a swingweight of 320. Which is going to feel heavier, the lighter racquet with the higher swingweight, or the heavier racquet with the lower swingweight?
44 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
SWINGWEIGHT IS A measurement of racquet performance that is often ignored by players—assuming they even know about it in the first place—because it seems complicated, and it is difficult for the average person to measure. However, it can have a greater impact on how a racquet “feels” in play than the “pick-up weight,” which is what you feel when you grab a racquet by the handle and hold it horizontally. A typical tennis stroke involves swinging a racquet around a point of rotation that is itself also moving. That is, you are both rotating the racquet, and “translating” it through the air. (You “translate” the racquet without rotation on a punch volley, for
A
WHY DO SOME STRINGING machines have the tension head so high that it’s in the way, so you can’t rotate the racquet 360 degrees? WHEN YOU PULL TENSION ON the string with the tension head at the same level as the stringbed, you don’t have the friction of the string rubbing against the grommet. The lower the friction, the more accurately the string can be tensioned. This is why on some of the more expensive electronic machines, the tension head actually rises up to the level of the stringbed during the tensioning process, lowering again after tensioning to allow racquet rotation.
If you want to get really technical, you also get some tension loss due to the “cosine effect,” which comes from the difference in angle between the string and the angle at which you pull the string, which is whatever angle there is between the edge of the frame and the tension head. Stringing machines with the tension head at stringbed level, and those with tension heads that rise up during tensioning, pull with less angle between the stringbed and the tension head, reducing both the friction and the cosine effect, for greater accuracy. —Greg Raven Q
Wt (gm)
Swingweight (kg•cm2) 289 299 359
Bal. (cm)
300 300 300
32.7 35.0 37.3
Q
example: The entire racquet moves forward but the head does not rotate relative to the grip.) When swinging your two racquets around a fixed point of rotation, the one with the higher swingweight will feel heavier. When translating your racquets, the racquet with the higher mass will feel heavier. For strokes that involve rotation and translation, you will feel a combination of swingweight and mass, although the amount of the contribution of the mass will depend to an extent on the angle at which you are holding the racquet relative to the court surface. Keep in mind that racquet balance also changes as you change weight and swingweight. For racquets weighing the same, the higher the swingweight, the higher the balance point will be, as you can see in the accompanying table. In your case, the lighter racquet with the higher swingweight has close to even balance, while the heavier racquet with the lower swingweight is head light. If you want to delve more into swingweight and effect of other racquet characteristics, check out our books, Technical Tennis and The Physics and Technology of Tennis.
360-DEGREE ROTATION
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Readers’ Know-How in Action
WRONG SIDE SHORT SIDE REVISITED
I wanted to expound on the tip offered by Albert Lee in the February 2005 RSI. The tip, titled "Wrong Side Short Side," can also be used when using the Around-theWorld (ATW) technique. When I string one of the Rollers models, I put the longer side of the string on the "short side" of the racquet, where the tie-off hole is. After stringing the seventh main using the short side, I string the top cross and tie off. With the long side, I string the bottom cross, continue up the other side to complete the mains, and start the crosses from the top at the second cross. It works very well. Gosen T-Shirt and 5 sets of Gosen OG Sheep Micro Super JC 16 to: Steve Huff, Mechanicsville, VA Editor’s note: The ATW technique Steve mentions is not the same as the ATW technique shown in our Racquet Service Techniques book. The ATW technique Steve uses (which is also known as the box pattern) is different for each racquet configuration, but one common aspect is that you have to be careful weaving the bottom cross: If the racquet has an even number of crosses, the bottom cross is woven opposite the weave of the top cross. If the racquet has an odd number of crosses, then the bottom weave is the same as that of the top cross. stringmeter settings where you put them, making your meter good for a few more years. 5 sets of Head FiberGel Power 16 to: Albert Lee, MRT, Potomac, MD
tips
and TECHNIQUES
CHECKING FOR CRACKS
When inspecting a racquet for problems before stringing, always run your hand around the frame of the racquet. Cracks are often hard to see, but are always easy to feel. 5 sets of Ashaway Composite XT Pro 16 to: Kane Fasolo, Perth, Australia Editor’s note: Broken edges of carbon graphite can be extremely sharp, and you don’t want to slice your hand open on a shard of graphite. Instead of using your bare hand, use a tissue or light rag. Not only will the tissue or rag snag on the edge of the crack, but it may even leave behind some material, which will allow you better to see where the crack is.
FIX A DRIFTING STRINGMETER
If you’re one of those stringers who uses a Stringmeter, you know that after years of use, your Stringmeter can start to slip, and gauge settings drift when you twist the tool to take a reading. The solution is to remove the outer measurement ring, take some Akempucky or other stringer's wax and coat the running grooves for the ring. Replace the ring and you're done. The wax provides enough friction to keep the
46 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2006
STRINGER’S GLOVES
I don’t like using pliers on tie-off knots. I tried wrapping the string around my forefinger twice, but quickly learned that is a mistake. So I tried a leather work glove, which is loose fitting and slips on and off with ease. I have a better feel on how much I need to pull to cinch up the tie off, and I think it's faster than using pliers. Right-handers can even sell the extra glove on Ebay as a “left-handed racquet stringer’s glove,” and vice versa. Wilson US Open Club Bag to: David Haskins, CS, Modesto, CA
MARKETING
TRACKING STRINGBED STIFFNESS
I find that serious tennis players are beginning to realize the importance of a racquet's stringbed stiffness. As Crawford Lindsey noted in the February 2005 RSI, there are two problems with establishing a universal stringbed standard: The cost of an instrument to measure stringbed stiffness, and difficulty stringing an unfamiliar racquet with an unfamiliar string to hit a target stringbed stiffness. The cost issue is not so bad, as there are now stringbed testing instruments on the market that cost less than a high-end racquet. As for the second issue, we don’t have a problem with it in our operation. We keep a log on each string job we per-
HELP YOUR STARTING KNOT
The knot at the start of the cross strings, when two-piece stringing, can sometimes get pulled into the grommet when you tension the first cross string. This especially happens if you're using a 17or 18-gauge string. Before you apply tension, place a starting clamp on the tail of the knot. You'll find you won’t lose half the knot in your grommet, and you’ll have better tension accuracy on the first cross string. Gamma T-Shirt & Hat and 5 sets of Gamma Zo Power 16L to: Mike Trinchitella, Mahopac, NY
form. This log includes make, model, and condition of the frame. Also in the log we list the string manufacturer, string gauge, string length, string type, the stringing machine used, the reference tension, and finally the stringbed stiffness, which we measure immediately after each string job. For our own records, we note the frame dimensions before the racquet is loaded in the stringing machine and after the job is completed. Once the customer specifies a stringbed stiffness, we can consult our log and arrive at an approach that yields results within a point or two of the customer’s desired stringbed stiffness. Our string jobs are guaranteed to please the customer. We probably have less than 1 percent come back. Other shops should be able to do the same! 5 sets of Prince Premeir with SoftFlex 16 to: Dr. Carl Love, Albany, OR —Greg Raven Q
Tips and Techniques submitted since 2000 by USRSA members, and appearing in this column, have all been gathered into a single volume of the Stringer’s Digest—Racquet Service Techniques which is a benefit of USRSA membership. Submit tips to: Greg Raven, USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92804; or email [email protected].
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