201002 racquet sports industry

February 2010Volume 38 Number 2 $5.00www.racquetsportsindustry.com

OUTLOOK 2010Racquets, Strings,Shoes, Apparel

Facility-of-the-YearAward Winners

OUTLOOK 2010Racquets, Strings,Shoes, Apparel

Facility-of-the-YearAward Winners

DEPARTMENTS

R S I F E B 2 0 1 0

INDUSTRY NEWS

5 Kevin Kempin namedHead USA CEO/president

5 Professional tennisreturns to Atlanta

6 New courses to debutat PTR Symposium

6 PTR Foundationcelebrates 30th year

7 Indian Wells pro eventsold to Oracle boss

7 Kids visit Hall of Famefree in 2010

8 National Junior TennisConference atCARE Academy

8 Net tension is topic ofstudy by USTA tech group

10 Short Sets

11 Use your cell phoneto clock serves

11 Upcoming Industry Schedule

12 GSS plans 2010Stringers Symposium

14 Peoplewatch

5 Industry News

10 Short Sets

11 Upcoming Industry Schedule

14 Peoplewatch

16 TIA News & Updates

28 String Playtest: Head FXP Power/FXP 17

30 Ask the Experts

32 Your Serve, by Jon Muir

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

ContentsContents

FEATURES

18 Outlook 2010Despite the tough econ-omy, manufacturers arefired up about their rac-quet, string, shoe andapparel offerings.

23 On-The-JobTrainingInternships offerpositives for students,your business and thetennis industry.

26 In Peak FormRSI and the ASBA bringyou the best in tenniscourt construction anddesign.

INDUSTRYNEWSINDUSTRYNEWSKevin Kempin has been named the CEO and president of Head USA, with

responsibility for the Racquet Sport and WinterSport divisions. Kempin previously was president of

Head/Penn Racquet Sports, a position he was promoted toin the fall.Kempin has been with Head USA for 17 years, in exec-

utive positions that included global marketing and salesmanagement. He’s been in the racquet sports industry formore than 25 years.“Kevin’s work ethic, enthusiasm and team-building

skills along with his depth and breadth of experience willhelp ensure his success,“ says Johan Eliasch, chairman andCEO of Head N.V. “I look forward to working with himclosely.”Kempin takes over from Jeremy Sherwood, who held the position briefly in the fall

following Dave Haggerty’s shift to chairman of Head USA. Prior to that, Haggerty, whois on the Tennis Industry Association’s executive committee and the USTA’s board ofdirectors, had held the CEO/president slot at Head USA for 11 years.

R S I F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0

The ATP has awarded a tournament sanction to Atlanta, for an ATP 250 event to beheld July 17 to 25 and run by the USTA Southern Section. The tournament hadbeen located in Indianapolis, but Indy tourney officials decided to sell the ATP

sanction due to loss of sponsorship and waning TV dollars. It will be the first time inmore than 80 years that Indy is without a pro event.But Atlanta, one of the country’s hottest areas for recreational tennis, finally gets

a pro tournament back, and it will kick off the 2010 Olympus US Open Series.“This is a great win for the parties involved and is a wonderful example of coop-

eration and understanding between different authorities in tennis coming together toachieve the common goal of promoting and developing tennis in the U.S.,” said MarkYoung, the ATP CEO for the Americas.“USTA Southern is thrilled to be bringing professional tennis back to Atlanta,” said

Rex Maynard, president of the USTA Southern Section. “When the sport works togeth-er in a collaborative fashion, great things happen. With our vibrant member base, andthe overall appeal of tennis throughout this great region, we are convinced this eventwill be a great success.”No decision had been made early in the year on the venue for the event. Tourna-

ment director for what is being called the Atlanta Tennis Championships will be BillOakes, the USTA Southern’s marketing director.

Atlanta Finally Has a Pro Tourney Again

Kempin Named CEO/President of Head USA

(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)Publishers

David Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial DirectorPeter Francesconi

Associate EditorGreg Raven

Design/Art DirectorKristine Thom

Contributing EditorsRobin BatemanCynthia CantrellKristen DaleyJoe DinofferLiza Horan

James MartinGreg Moran

Chris NicholsonBob Patterson

Cynthia ShermanMary Helen Sprecher

RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRYCorporate Offices

330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171

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

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

Advertising DirectorJohn Hanna

770-650-1102, [email protected]

Apparel AdvertisingCynthia Sherman203-263-5243

[email protected]

Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per

year: monthly January through August and com-

bined issues in September/October and Novem-

ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330

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

Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Vista, CA and

additional mailing offices. February 2010, Volume

38, Number 2 © 2010 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.

All rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and

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

Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circu-

lation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscrip-

tions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry,

330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.

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

February 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 5www.racquetsportsindustry.com

PTR Foundation Turns 30

The PTR Foundation is celebrating its 30thyear of helping to bring tennis to every-

one. In the past year, the Foundation hasdonated more than $26,000 to worthycauses throughout the country and theworld, including to programs such as Spe-cial Olympics, NJTLs and many other pro-grams.To help support the Foundation and ten-

nis, PTR founder Dennis Vander Meer is asking PTRpros to donate the equiv-alent of one lesson to theFoundation. For a print-able donation form,visit ptrtennis.org.

New Courses to Debut at PTR Symposium

The PTR will debut several new professionaldevelopment workshops at its International Ten-

nis Symposium held Feb. 13-18 at PTR Headquar-ters on Hilton Head Island, S.C. The workshops aredesigned to enhance the knowledge and skill levelsof tennis teachers and coaches.Nearly 1,000 tennis teachers and coaches from around the world are

expected to attend the Symposium. Many of the industry’s most notable speak-ers will be among the more than 50 presenters. Subject matter ranges fromtennis business to teaching tactics to injury prevention and treatments.In addition to the on-court and classroom courses, PTR also offers 14 pro-

fessional development workshops, five of which are new this year:� Mental and Emotional Skill Development at Different Ages, presented byAnne Pankhurst

� PTR Player Development, presented by Kelly Jones and Sasha Frljanic� Growth and Maturation of Young Players, presented by Anne Pankhurst� Directors of Tennis Course, presented by Doug Cash� Best Drills from Around the World, presented by Jorge CapestanyAlso debuting at this year’s Symposium is Cardio Tennis for Kids, which

emphasizes play, fun and fitness and will provide an option to help fight child-hood obesity. Cardio Tennis for Kids complements QuickStart and PTR KidsTennis and can be incorporated into a club’s current programming. The three-hour workshop will be conducted by Michele Krause, national Cardio Tennisprogram manager, and members of the National Cardio Tennis Speakers Team.The Symposium also offers a tournament, tennis trade show, theme parties,

and networking opportunities. For more info or to register, visitwww.ptrtennis.org.


INDUSTRYNEW

SF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0

MEMBER CLASSIFIEDSGOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE: GreatDeals on tennis frames, shoes, bags,clothes, balls, grips and stringingmachines. Please call 617-548-8558and ask for Bob.


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

Indian Wells ATP-WTAEvent Sold to Oracle Boss

Larry Ellison, founder and chief executive of com-puter firm Oracle, has bought the ATP and WTA

hard-court event played at Indian Wells every March.The deal includes the stadium and grounds uponwhich the BNP Paribas Open is played, properties val-ued at $50 million to $100 million, according toSports Business Journal."Anyone who knows me knows that I love the

game of tennis,” says Ellison. “I play it regularly,watch it frequently, and now look forward to being inIndian Wells every March to host the greatest playersin the world."The tournament, to be played next March 8-21,

was previously owned by a group that included tennislegends Pete Sampras, Billie Jean King and ChrisEvert, the USTA, officials of Tennis magazine and tour-nament manager Charlie Pasarell."The previous owners and I are thrilled to have

Larry Ellison as the new owner," Pasarell says. "He isas passionate as we are and desires to continue withthe vision and the goals we have established." Theevent first came to Indian Wells in 1976 and has beenowned by the group headed by Pasarell and RayMoore since 1981. Their PM Sports Management willcontinue to manage the event for Ellison.

In 2010, Kids Visit Free at Hall of FameFor 2010, all kids under 16 will be admitted free to the InternationalTennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I. All youth admissions

for the year have been underwritten through funds raised specificallyfor that purpose at the Hall of Fame Legends Ball, an annual fundrais-ing event held in New York City during the US Open.Through the Kids Free program, the International Tennis Hall of

Fame & Museum looks forward to encouraging youth interest in tennisand to welcoming families, schools and youth groups in 2010. In addi-tion to free admission, the Hall of Fame has established a Field TripGrant Program through which schools, camps and other kids groupsmay apply for funds to cover transportation costs."I hope that visiting the museum will inspire young people to see

opportunities in tennis and the potential that exists when someonereally commits oneself to following a dream,” says 2009 Hall of Famerand nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles. At the Legends Ball,Seles and her fellow Hall of Famers as well as many others in the ten-nis industry con-tributed more than$30,000 for the pur-pose of providingchildren the opportu-nity to visit the Hallof Fame, with thegoal of encouragingyouth interest in thesport of tennis.

8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2010

INDUSTRYNEW

SF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0

www.racquetsportsindustry.com

National Junior Tennis Conference at CARE AcademyThe CARE Academy near Chicago, named an official USTA Certified Training Cen-ter in 2009, played host once again to the National Junior Tennis Conference in

November. This yearly event, organized by CARE Academy founder Mark Bey, givesparents and players a three-day exposure toexperts in junior and college tennis. The fea-tured speaker was Wayne Bryan. Others whoconducted seminars included sports psychol-ogist Allen Fox and Austin Academy founderJack Newman. A high performance juniortennis training camp was also held in con-junction with the 13th Annual National Junior Tennis Conference. —Marcia Frost

Net TensionTopic ofStudy byUSTA TechGroupHow tightlyshould you ten-

sion a tennis net?That’s been aresearch topic since the early 1990s,when the American Sports BuildersAssociation examined the effects ofvarying tension relative to the flight ofthe ball after it hit the net headband.More recently, net tension has beenstudied by the USTA Technical Commit-tee and the ITF Technical Laboratory.The studies indicate that an appro-

priate range for net tension may bebetween 400 and 600 pounds. If ten-sion is too low (under 400 pounds), theball—when fired at a specified speedand trajectory—will likely “dribble”over the net and not be playable. If ten-sion is too high (above 600 pounds), aball hitting the headband will fly out ofthe service box on a serve or out of thecourt on other shots. These tensionspecs aren’t directed at mandating nettension, but simply to create an aware-ness of its possible effects on thegame.Net tension may be of great signifi-

cance in collegiate matches, since col-lege tennis no longer recognizes “let”serves. But all facilities, especiallythose holding tournaments, may wantconsistency among their courts, soplayers might have expectations of apredictable ball flight from court tocourt. And be aware that high tensionscan result in damage to net posts, net-post footers and the surrounding courtsurface.The USTA Technical Committee is

continuing to research net tension, aswell as develop a practical and user-friendly method of measuring the ten-sion both at the time of initialinstallation and during regular courtmaintenance, especially prior to tour-nament play. Comments and concernscan be emailed to [email protected].

—Peggy Beard


INDUSTRYNEW

SF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0

S H O R TS E T S> The PTR will host a West Coast Tennis

Club and Facility Conference March 8-10

at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club in La

Jolla, Calif., designed for club owners,

managers, and directors of tennis. Cost

is $349 before Feb. 22 and $399 after

and includes all workshops, meals and

social activities. For more information or

registration, contact PTR at 800-421-

6289 or visit www.ptrtennis.org.

> The U.S. will face Serbia on an indoor

clay surface in Belgrade for its first-round

World Group Davis Cup match March 5-

7, played at the 20,000-seat Belgrade

Arena.

> Plexicushion Prestige was the surface

of choice for the Capitala World Tennis

Championships, which took place at the

start of 2010 in Abu Dhabi and brought

together six of the world’s best men’s

players, including Roger Federer and

Rafael Nadal.

> The 25th annual Intercollegiate Tennis

Association Coaches Convention took

place in Naples, Fla., Dec. 16-19 and fea-

tured four legends of the game: Dennis

Ralston, Jose Higueras, Emilio Sanchez and

Stan Smith.

> Tennis Magazine won two “Ozzie

Awards,” recognizing excellence in maga-

zine design. The magazine won a silver

award for best redesign of a consumer

magazine, as well as a bronze for best fea-

ture design for the January 2009 story

“Player of the Year: Rafael Nadal.”

> Merritt Athletic Club at Bare Hills in Bal-

timore announces several changes, says

General Manager John Mayotte. The Tennis

Institute, led by Lenny Scheuermann,

recently moved its program to MAC at Bare

Hills. The facility also recently built six new

state-of-the-art squash courts.

> Tennis Channel has introduced a new

series devoted to the latest health, exercise

and diet activities that benefit amateur and

professional tennis players. The half-hour

program, Fit to Hit, premiered in Decem-

ber and is hosted by model and actress

Danielle Dotzenrod.

> USTA Southern Public Relations Com-

mittee announced the co-winners of the

2009 USTA Southern QuickStart Facility

Award: the Cary Tennis Center, Cary,

N.C. and the Harrison Tennis Center,

Marietta, Ga.

> In 2010, The Advanta World

TeamTennis Pro League celebrates its

35th season, which will run from July 1

to 25.

> In-Shape Health Clubs, with 35 loca-

tions in California, has partnered with

Cliff Drysdale Tennis to bring Drysdale’s

tennis program to two locations, in Bak-

ersfield and Visalia.

> Peter Burwash International will man-

age the tennis operations for La Saman-

na, by Orient-Express, a luxury resort on

St. Martin, French West Indies. It’s PBI's

February 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11

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


first management agreement with Ori-

ent-Express.

> The USTA has partnered with Public

Allies, a not-for-profit organization

whose mission is to advance new leader-

ship to strengthen communities, non-

profits and civic participation. Among its

many programs, Public Allies’ Ameri-

Corps Ally Program identifies diverse

young adults and prepares them for

leadership through paid full-time non-

profit apprenticeships. With funding

from the USTA, Public Allies will place

three of its young leaders into 10-month

apprenticeships with two National Junior

Tennis and Learning chapters.

> The USPTA recently signed an agree-

ment with TennisMD.com, making Ten-

nisMD a health and fitness content

provider for tennis-health.com. Tennis-

MD will supply USPTA with articles and

video for the Tennis—for the health of it!

website as part of the year-long agree-

ment.

Turn Your Cell PhoneInto a Sports RadarNow you can turn just about any mobilephone into a sports radar with a mobile app

called Speedhero. The application measuresspeed based on the sound that themicrophone picks up, not with thephone’s camera. To measure thespeed of a tennis serve, you need toserve into a wall or fence—the appwill “hear” the sound of the racquetstriking the ball, then the sound of theball hitting the wall or fence, and calcu-late the speed based on the distance tothe wall. Visit speedhero.com for infor-mation and pricing.

Congratulations To the FollowingFor Achieving MRT Status

From San Luis Obispo:Kyle Murray Ryan PanaroKana Ribultan Alison ZikratchSummer Williams Scott CurryMitchell Simmons Jordan GuevaraSean Hemmer Stephanie YoungJose Angulo

Upcoming Industry Schedule� Jan. 22-24: USTA CommunityTennis Development Workshop,San Diego

� Jan. 28-30: USTA North CarolinaTennis Weekend, Pinehurst, NC

� Jan. 30-31: USPTA Calif. Div.Convention, Manhattan Beach,CA

� Feb. 5-6: USPTA Middle StatesDiv. Convention, Landisville, PA

� Feb. 5-7: USPTA Northern Calif.Div. Convention, Stanford, CA

� Feb. 11-14: USPTA Texas Div.Convention, Grapevine, TX

� Feb. 12-18: PTR InternationalSymposium & Championships,Hilton Head Island, SC

� Feb. 12-14: USPTA Intermoun-tain Div. Convention, Denver

� Feb. 19-21: USPTA MissouriValley Div. Convention, PrairieVillage, KS

� Feb. 22-28: Delray Beach Intl.Championships, Delray Beach,FL

� Feb. 27-Mar. 1: USPTA MidwestDiv. Convention, Columbus, OH

� Mar. 1: BNP Paribas Showdown,New York, NY


F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0I N D U S T R Y N E W S

GSS Plans 2010 Stringers SymposiumIn October 2009, racquet service professionals from acrossthe globe met once again in Orlando, Fla., for the ThirdAnnual Grand Slam Stringers Symposium. Having partici-pated in all three events, I can truly say that each year getsbetter. Tim Strawn, GSS Symposium founder, has put together a widevariety of seminars and a format that allows for interaction and net-working among the participants. Where else can technicians of all lev-els meet to swap “war stories” and share their experiences?Strawn had a vision that specifically targeted racquet technicians.

“The idea was to provide an annual event that racquet technicianscould call their own,” he says. “We’re already working on new mate-rial and a new format for 2010 and I think the changes and additionsare going to surprise a lot of people.”

“It was an honor to work with such an esteemed group of racquetservice professionals,” says Dave Bone, executive director of theUSRSA (and RSI’s co-publisher). “Everyone there soaked up everypossible drop of knowledge to help make them better professionals.Many attendees have returned for a second or third Symposium,showing that they truly believe it’s time and money well spent.”“Tim has created a racquet technician’s mecca with incredible

instructors who are passionate about our craft,” says Larry Hackneyof TennezSport in New Jersey. “There is no better place to go andimprove yourself and meet other equally passionate participants.”“The Symposium was the highlight of 2009 for me,” says J.C. Car-

pentier of Tennis Machines in St. Louis, who attended his first GSSSymposium last fall. “Tim has put together the crème de la crème inthis profession and it certainly showed in everyone’s enthusiasm andeffort. I’m already clearing my calendar for the next one.”Adds John Elliot of Paris, France, “The GSS Symposium is a

remarkable step forward in better recognition of the real values of ourprofession.”The 2010 GSS Symposium is being planned now. Check at grand-

slamstringers.com for information as it becomes available.—Bob Patterson


INDUSTRYNEW

SF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0

P E O P L E W AT C H• French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, rankedNo. 10 in the world, has signed with Babo-lat for racquets, strings and accessories. AtBabolat, he joins top players Rafael Nadal,Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez.

• Wilson players claimed the top spots onthe ITF Junior Circuit in 2009 as KristinaMladenovic and Daniel Berta ended the yearat No. 1. Mladenovic plays with the [K] Tourframe and Berta uses the [K] Six.One 95.

• Two-time Grand Slam champion AmelieMauresmo retired from tennis in earlyDecember, saying she no longer had a burn-ing desire for competition. The former No. 1player finished the 2009 season at No. 21.

• Belgian telecommunications companyTelenet has signed a three-year agreementwith Belgian star Yanina Wickmayer, whoreached the US Open semifinals in 2009.

• Manuel Orantes won the 2009 Davis CupAward of Excellence from the InternationalTennis Hall of Fame & Museum and theInternational Tennis Federation.

• Former top-ranked pro ArantxaSanchez-Vicario has been ordered to pay$5.1 million in unpaid income tax. TheSpanish Supreme Court rejected her claimthat from 1989 to 1993, she was a resi-dent of Andorra, where the tax rate is 25percent, and not Spain, where the tax rateis twice as much.

• Sarah Taylor has been hired as a USTACoach. She’ll be based at the USTA TrainingCenter Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla.

• U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernan-dez and Silvia Farina, the player with themost Fed Cup wins in Italy's history,received the 2009 Fed Cup Award ofExcellence, presented by the InternationalTennis Hall of Fame & Museum and the ITF.

• Tracy Austin returned as host of “TennisChannel Academy,” which began its sec-ond season on Tennis Channel in Novem-ber. Austin will highlight seven newcoaches before concluding with a Best ofTennis Channel Academy: Backhandsedition.

• Mayleen Ramey is the new host of Ten-nis Channel travel series “Destination Ten-nis.” She’s appeared as a television host onnumerous networks, including ESPN2,CSTV, MTV, E!, and TV Guide.

• William Simon is the new COO of theTennis Channel, in addition to his currentrole as chief financial officer.

• Bobby Curtis, the Florida junior tennisicon who was instrumental in the careersof future pros such as Andy Roddick, JimCourier and Mary Joe Fernandez, washonored upon his retirement at the USTAFlorida 60th Annual Meeting & Anniver-sary Celebration Weekend in December inClearwater Beach, Fla.

• Ron Manilla, tournament director at theBoar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville,Va., was recently named a Master Profes-sional of the PTR.

• Jerry Caldwell of Madison, Ga., and AlParker of Claxton, Ga., were inducted intothe Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in January.


Welcometo the newyear—to anew startand target-ed focus to

improve the health of ourindustry businesses.

As the recession starts tolessen its grip and signsof recovery slowlyemerge, we truly haveunique opportunities tohelp our industry gainstrength and prosper. Andwhile there will still bebumps and challengesalong the road, it is ourability to rally togetherthat makes our sportstand apart.

Please read about ourfocus and priorities mov-ing forward in the mes-sage on page 32 from TIAPresident Jon Muir. Andthanks for your support.Here’s to a great 2010!May it bring new prosper-ity and growth to all.

Jolyn de Boer

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org

News You Can Use!

NEWS & UPDATESNEWS & UPDATEST I A N E W S F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0

March 1 is Tennis Night in America, and there will be many activities that takeplace on this important night, including a potential serve for $1 million inMadison Square Garden, the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King

Cup, and the culmination of Youth Registration for upcoming tennis programming.The winner of the tennis industry’s “Racket Up, America!” sweepstakes—Mrs.

Christine Smith of Hurst, Texas—will serve a tennis ball in Madison Square Gardenon March 1 that could win her $1 million! The serve will be hit to a target during theBNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup, which features four of theworld’s best women players. The “Racket Up, America!” promotion ran from July 15to Sept. 30. Other prizes included a trip for two to the 2010 US Open Men’s Singlesand Women’s Doubles finals and 20 $500 tennis merchandise prize packs.The BNP Paribas Showdown will bring together Serena Williams, Venus Williams,

Kim Clijsters and Svetlana Kuznetsova, vying for $1.2 million in prize money. Fortickets, call 866-858-0008 or visit Ticketmaster.com.Tennis Night in America is the culmination of four days devoted to Youth Regis-

tration for spring and summer programming. The USTA and local tennis facilitiesacross the country will host events from Feb. 26 to March 1 to help jumpstart upcom-ing junior tennis programs. Rally your community and promote youth participationin tennis by hosting a Youth Registration event (visit tennisnight.com). The USTA willprovide all registered events with:� Turn-key marketing materials, including flyers, posters, print ads and press releases.� A downloadable how-to guide that includes tips on event planning and marketing,event execution and recap.

� Access to Recreational On-Court Training Workshops. Sign up today!

Tennis Night in America Also Features $1 Million Serve!

StayInformed

Make sure youʼre inthe TIA IndustryContact Database,and youʼll receiveindustry news andupdates, so you canstay in the loop onall the importantthings happening inthis industry thataffect your business.Sign up today atTennisIndustry.org.

TIA Economic Index to Monitor U.S. Tennis Economy

One of the TIA’s major tasks going into 2010 is to monitor the U.S. tennis economy, which will helpus know not only where we’ve been, but also how we can positively affect the future for all indus-try stakeholders. Working with

our research partners, we’ve createdthe TIA Economic Index, a new meas-ure for which we will gather top-linedata from eight key sectors of the ten-nis economy.Please check your mail and partic-

ipate in this new measure of the ten-nis economy. We need yourparticipation so that the results are asaccurate as possible. And together,with your help, we can chart a prof-itable future for everyone involved inthis business.

T I A N E W S

Growing Tennis News

TENNIS WELCOME CENTER SPOTLIGHTReed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center

The 11-court Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center inMinneapolisopens its doors

to players of all abili-ties, ages, and demo-graphics, offeringsomething for every-one. But one of themost important things,says General ManagerMike Vidmar, is to always bring in new players.“Helping new players get into the game or getting for-

mer players reintroduced is huge,” says Vidmar. “Notevery beginner is at the same level, so we offer three dif-ferent programs for beginners.” The center also has exten-sive junior programming with 14 levels of play, andleagues that involve 1,300 players. In the winter, InnerCity Tennis runs free clinics and the center hosts an annu-al charity event for the organization.“Becoming a Tennis Welcome Center really

helped us put our name out there tonew players,” Vidmar adds. “Peopleknow what they’re getting when theycome to our facility,” says Vidmar.

February 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org

TECH CONNECTION: Online EnrollmentWill Help Grow Your Business

One of the greatest advantages to the GrowingTennis™System is the Online Enrollment and Quick Sign-Upoptions, which allow you to post events to popular web-

sites such as USTA.com, TennisChannel.com, Tennis.com, Car-dioTennis.com, and TennisWelcomeCenter.com, all for free. Inaddition, by using Online Enrollment and Quick Sign-Up, cus-tomers can sign-up for your programs and events at any time,from anywhere. There even are options for fee collections online,too, through Active.com.To begin using Online Enrollment and Quick Sign-Up, log in

to GrowingTennis.com and follow these simple steps:1. Make sure your facility information is up-to-date.2. Click the “Publish Events” tab and choose the facility forwhich you wish to create an event listing.

3. Choose “Current Season” tab, then “Add Event Schedule 1.”(Note: This process is the same for all event types.)

4. Input the required event information.5. By leaving “Allow quick sign-ups” selected (by default) in the“Event notification and sign-up options” section, playerswho reach your postcard can click an enrollment link thatwill send you an e-mail about their interest.

6. You can continue and include an event description, thenclick “Save Event” to publish it and be “live” for OnlineEnrollment and Quick Sign-Up.For help or more information, email [email protected].

New Facility Manager Section Added To The GrowingTennis™ System

Sharpen and expand your tennis facility management skills at GrowingTennis.com/Resources. Thecomplete “Facility Manager’s Manual” is now the cornerstone of the new Facility Manager sec-tion under Tools & Resources.

The illustrated manual was put together by Rod Heckelman, drawing from his many years as a headpro, tennis director and general manager. The 90-page guide covers all the topics that a manager ortennis director needs know about to effectively, efficiently—and profitably—run a tennis facility. Themanual, in a pdf format, will be updated regularly to reflect changing conditions, ideas and methods.You’ll find the “Facility Manager’s Manual” useful in promoting and increasing your business.

Please refer to it frequently, print out chapters that are important and relevant, and pass along toyour colleagues the information—and the web link, GrowingTennis.com/Resources.

Nominate Your FacilityTo Become a Top 50 TWC

Is your tennis facility a leader in delivering programsand promoting the sport? The TIA, USTA and RSI areonce again looking for the “Top 50 Tennis Welcome

Centers” in the U.S.—public and private facilities that areleading the charge in the growth of the sport.Nominate your facility to be a Top 50 TWC by going

to GrowingTennis.com and clicking the link at the topleft. Applications must be received no later than Jan. 31.Before you fill out the nomination form, though, makesure your TWC and other programs are up-to-date onlineat www.GrowingTennis.com.

74-Court Mega Complex Proposed

Aformal economic impactstudy is under way on aproposed 74-court tennis

complex in Rome, Ga., but officialsestimate the $13 million facilitycould bring in as much as $20 mil-lion a year to the community. Thelatest design of the mega tenniscenter boasts 60 regulation courts,

including six stadium courts and four covered courts, plus 14smaller QuickStart Tennis courts. A 12,000-square-foot club-house would anchor the complex.

O U T L O O K 2 0 1 0

Despite the tough economy, manufacturersare fired up about their racquet, string, shoeand apparel offerings.

OUTLOOK 2010


RACQUETS Even though some 30 million Americans are play-ing tennis these days according to the Tennis Indus-

try Association and USTA, these recession-wary consumers seem to be hanging on totheir old racquets longer, just like they’re try-ing to squeeze more mileage out of theircars. Racquet manufacturers have appar-ently taken heed, and are giving these folksnervous about the economy a reason totrade in Old Faithful for one of the new wave

of hybrid racquets—or “‘twixt sticks”—thatfall in between pricy game-improvement

frames and player racquets. Many have suggest-ed retail prices below $200.

Hybrid racquets dominate this spring’s newofferings. They blend the game-improvementframes with their jumbo hitting areas, light weights,power-producing wide beams and head-heavy bal-ances with player sticks characterized by narrowbeams, substantial weights and smaller heads.

They appeal to the widest range of premium-racquet buying player levels, those in the 3.0 and4.0 NTRP range. The frames are characterized bymid-level stationary weights from 10.4 to 11.4ounces, providing adequate mass to overpowerthe incoming ball. And they have 98- to 102-square-inch hitting areas and slightly head-lightbalance points that come close to the stability,control and maneuverability of player sticks.

Best of all, they have enlarged prime hittingareas—sweetspots—and have greatly diminished

the dead areas around the outer frame, giving play-ers with medium to long swings more true bounce,

power and comfort of the old 108-square-inchjumbos.“The economy has had a dramatic effect on the expen-

sive big-headed game-improvement racquets,” says Paul Kid,General Manager of Tecnifibre USA. “And at the same time,technology has progressed so you’ve got stiffer materials thatcan give players power without resorting to the big head.”

The racquet brands accomplish this in different ways—from

more creature-comfort materials built intothe frames themselves (Wilson’s new BLXmade from volcanic ash fibers called basalt,Dunlop’s Aerogel, Head’s MicroGEL and Babo-lat’s Tungsten), to creating more string move-ment to cradle the ball and catapult it off thestring bed (Prince’s EXO3, Volkl’s Big Grom-mets and Yonex’s S-Fit technologies).

The hybrid really took off with the AndyRoddick endorsed Babolat Pure Drive andRafael Nadal’s Aeropro Drive in the 2000s. TheAeropro Drive, introduced in 2004, isstill the best-selling racquet at ten-nis specialty stores, according tothe latest figures from the TIA.

For this spring, you canexpect the new half-inch longerversion of the Aeropro Drive (theGT Plus) to fly off the shelves,along with these contenders: TheHead YouTek Extreme MP, thePrince EXO3 White 100, the Tecnifi-bre T-Flash 300 Speed Flex, the BorisBecker DC Sportster, the Volkl Power-bridge 5, the Wilson Pro Open BLX and theYonex S-Fit 1 Light.

In addition to the hybrids, player frames thisspring will include the Boris Becker DC Pro, Dun-lop Aerogel 4D2Hundred Tour, Gamma Tour340X, Head YouTek Prestige Pro, Mid and MP,Tecnifibre Flash 315 Speed Flex, Wilson Six.OneTour BLX, Wilson Pro Tour BLX and Wilson TourBLX.

While their presence is diminishing, game-improvement racquets this spring will be representedby the Boris Becker DC Power, Volkl Powerbridge 2and Wilson Cirrus One BLX. And entering the marketthis year will be racquets from string-maker Pacific,which took over Fischer last fall and is introducing thePacific X Force Pro, it’s top player frame, and the Rap-tor, among other frames. —Bill Gray

PACIFICX-Force Pro

BABOLATAeropro Drive

HEADYouTek Prestige Mid

PRINCEEXO3 White 100

WILSONPro Tour BLX

STRING Players are spending more time get-ting to know strings, probably because they’vedelayed buying new racquets, and instead arelooking to their strings to improve their games.

Retailers and manufacturers are seeing anincreased interest in hybrid stringing, recreationalplayers trying out polyester strings, and consumersare using more multifilaments. Other trendsinclude an increased use of thinner strings as playerslook to their strings to provide more control.

“Players are coming back to gut,” adds TomParry of Pacific, “and even more so in a hybrid,where they can mix gut with something else andrealize it’s affordable.”

“We continue to see a shift in the markettoward hybrids and polyester strings,” says BenSimons, senior business manager of accessoriesfor Head/Penn. “Most popular hydrids consist ofpolyester mains with a more playable cross stringlike natural gut or a soft multifilament like HeadFXP Power.” Head also is promoting its HybridString Program. “We tried to simplify it for theconsumer so they could better understand whatthe hybrid is doing for them,” Simons adds.

“The trend, or need, is the increased demandfor thinner, softer strings,” says Steve Crandall, v.p.of sales and marketing for Ashaway. “Competitiveplayers find that thinner strings increase 'bite' on theball, and give them better overall control. But the othergroup angling for thinner, softer strings is the increas-ingly active senior set, looking for that extra edge.”

Crandall says both groups are increasingly turningto softer-playing, more economical alternatives suchas multifilament and synthetic gut strings. “Untilrecently, however, thinner multifilament stringswere neither soft nor durable,” he says, adding thatrecent advances in technology are producingZyex filaments that are “finer and stronger thanbefore.” In 2010, Ashaway plans to introduce anew line of multifilament Zyex strings called Dyna-mite Soft, in several different gauges.

Prince is addressing players’ concerns with anew string called Poly Spin 3D, a “co-extruded”string that Global Business Director of Strings DaveMalinowski says will play a lot like a monofilamentpoly. It has a 17-gauge core and three outer extru-sions on the outside, “making it almost triangular; theedges grab the ball, helping to generate spin.” AndPrince’s Hybrid Spin 3D offers players “the feel of polywith a bit more durability, but without a superstifffeel.”

“Our main goal in 2010 is to educate dealers andstringers on how we can customize strings to takeaway the disadvantages of polys,” says Malinows-ki. “Co-extruded technology allows us to take twodifferent poly materials, a high-density and a low- ormedium-density, and combine them in differentpercentages. The high density gives it a crisp feel; themedium density absorbs more shock.”

Babolat is offering its Revenge string, for play-ers looking for more power and control. Multiplepre-stretching at high temperatures improves ten-sion hold as well, says the company. And Babolatsays Revenge has a “softer” more forgiving feelthan a traditional poly.

Tecnifibre will be introducing at least onenew string in 2010, but hasn’t yet revealed thelaunch date. “Poly has been around a long time,and is filtering to the recreational level,” saysTecnifibre USA General Manager Paul Kid. “Butwe want to find a better solution to poly becauseit’s not necessarily the most comfortable string.We’ve developed a new concept that we’re plan-ning to put into the market, hopefully by this sum-mer.”

New offerings from Wilson for 2010 includetwo hybrids: NXT Duo II and Pro Duo. The NXTDuo II hybrid is an upgraded version of the high-performance Duo and features 16L-gauge LuxilonAdrenaline 125 paired with 16-gauge ImprovedPerformance Polymer NXT. The super-thin ProDuo has 18-gauge Luxilon Timo 110 and 17-gauge Hollow Core Pro.

Also new from Wilson is the Hollow Core, asynthetic gut with a triangular air-filled core thatWilson says provides power, comfort and con-trol, and the Hollow Core Pro, which has athinner triangular core for a more “crisp” feel,with outer wraps of fluorocarbon and nylon.

New for Luxilon is the Adrenaline line in 16and 17 gauge for aggressive hard-hitters, pro-viding “tour-quality performance,” says the com-pany. The strings feature liquid crystallinepolymer.

Gamma has two new strings for 2010, TNTTouch and Ice. TNT Touch, in 16 and 17 gauge, isthe first multifilament with Gamma’s TNT process-ing, which is a thermal process that increases elas-ticity and resiliency. “It’s probably the mostresponsive multifilament we’ve ever come outwith,” says Gamma’s Chuck Vietmeier. GammaIce is a crystal-clear 16-gauge poly that offersdurability but is a forgiving poly, says Vietmeier.“It’s along the lines of finding the right balancebetween stiffness and forgiveness.”

Pacific is excited about its new Poly PowerPro, a double-coated monofilament. The high-modulus polymers combine with two layers of aspecial coating for ball control, elasticity, anddurability, says Parry. Pacific also is introducingtwo new gut strings. Prime Gut Orange Spiral is14 threads of prime gut, and a 15th thread that is,as Parry says, “the best of the best” gut. That extrathread is colored orange and is intertwined with theothers. Bull Gut, says Parry, is a level above—15fibers of the absolute premium gut fibers. “It will bethe ‘premium premium’ of all sets of gut ever man-ufactured—fast, comfortable, and durable.”


FOOTWEAR In footwear, trends have been pret-ty consistent: “Lightweight is the key component,”says Jerome Jackson, Prince’s global product direc-tor for footwear. The challenge, he adds, is to reduceweight while still retaining features such as comfort,cushioning, breathability and durability.

Prince believes it has the answer with its newLightSpeed series. “Lower, lighter, faster—that’sthe new direction for us in building a shoe that’smore responsive,” says Jackson. The LightSpeedshoes include the men’s Rebel and Renegade andwomen’s Poise and Grace and are a different lookfrom previous Prince shoes. Not only are the cosmeticsmore toward a younger demographic, but theshoes are built lower to the ground, for stabilityand response. Other changes include a more snugfit in the heel for the Rebel and Poise.

Babolat’s update of the Propulse includes thePropulse Titanium and Propulse Lady Parma. ThePropulse line is designed to aid players looking forankle or foot support. Babolat’s Foot Belt technolo-

gy, combined with TPU heel counters, pro-vides for a secure fit, with straps that allowfor adjusting the instep and support. The

Propulse range also has high-tech, durableMichelin soles.

New from Head is the Speed Pro, for menand women, which includes all of Head’s perfor-

mance footwear technologies, including theCXG Comfort Grid cushioning system, an

interlocking coil structure encapsulated withina resilient polyurethane form. When the shoecontacts the ground, says Head, the coil fiberscompress and absorb shock. As the footreaches the end of its stride, the comfort gridrebounds, like a resilient spring.

Wilson’s Tour Collection includes updatesof the Tour Vision, Tour Spin and Tour Strike

for fall (delivery in June), adding a third cosmet-ic choice to these poplar models. The Tour Vision, forboth men and women, includes a six-month guarantee

on the Duralast Supreme outsole.

APPAREL Clothing trends continue to be toward bold and vibrant colors, says Rob Grow,director of apparel for Prince. “However, many consumers are also looking for the basics thatcan be worn off the court as well.” And high-performance fabrics offering technical aspects—such as anti-microbial, UV protective, anti-static, and water and wind resistance—continue to

appear in clothing lines.Prince’s Gold and Black lines will have enhanced technical features in 2010,

including taped seams, laser-cut mesh, seamless styles and aerotech stretchmesh for fit and ventilation. Prince offers a classic white and black colorscheme in the Gold Collection for men and women that will be launched in

February, then a hot pink for the women and a bold red for the men in April.Bolle’s Purple Rain High-Performance group will be delivered to

stores in March. Included in the group is a racer-back top withbuilt-in bra and a pull-on skirt with attached shorts. Bolle’s

High-Performance line is geared toward ayounger market, with silhouettes cut closer to

the body, skirts slightly shorter, and vibrant col-ors.

Fila’s debuted its Heritage collection last spring,combining classic styling with state of the art perfor-mance fabrications for men and women. The cleandesigns in navy, red and white continue to appeal toplayers of all levels, says Fila, and are worn by prosAgi Szavay, Marin Cilic and Svetlana Kuznetsova,among others.

For Wilson, the 2010 line is focused on cre-ating performance quality apparel with innov-ative technologies and an athletic fit, saysthe company. The line was created withcareful attention to smart design anddetails. It’s Core Performance Collection fea-tures “body mapped” pieces that maximizecooling and ventilation. “We feel stronglyabout creating gear for the athlete whileintegrating style and design,” says

Wilson. �


FILAPRINCE BOLLE

WILSON

PRINCE Rebel

BABOLAT Propulse Lady Parma

HEAD Speed Pro

WILSON Tour Strike

Ask Headline B Y L I N E ?

C A R E E R S I N T E N N I S

ON-THE-JOBTRAINING

Internships offerpositives for students,your business, and the

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

It's all about the American Dream: Kid comes out of college,lands an entry-level job and starts working in his or her chosenfield.But what if the kid's dream is a job in the tennis industry?

Maybe this grad loves the game but is realistic about his or herability: a competitive career isn't in the cards, but another tennis-related job could be. Maybe as a teaching pro. Maybe in mediacoverage of the sport. Perhaps in tournament management, salesor service of equipment, design or construction of facilities. Thereare a lot of job possibilities out there, but how can you get a footin the door?

“It's interesting,” says Glenn Arrington,who manages the USTA's Tennis On Cam-pus program. “We keep getting notes fromkids, saying, ‘This is what I'd really like todo, work in tennis, so what can I do to get ajob?’ We do want more people to be teach-ing professionals, but we also want to beable to say, ‘Did you know that there arelots of opportunities in tennis, and howmuch you can make?’”

The question, then, becomes how to getfrom Point A (loving tennis) to Point B (hav-ing a full-time career in it). The answer, saymembers of the industry, is for the studentto seek out an internship in a segment ofthe tennis industry that interests him or her.The dynamic, they add, is that in manycases, a down economy, combined with adesire to grow the game, has resulted in anumber of opportunities for grads and stu-dents. Internships are out there, and in allprobability, will multiply in number.

“I think the market for internships is

growing,” says David Benjamin, executive director of the Intercolle-giate Tennis Association. “I think it's infinitely harder for peopleleaving college to find positions, and the people who are in thosepositions are holding onto them longer, and companies are hiringfewer people. A lot of companies are downsizing, and internshipsoffer the opportunity to have a good person work for you andlearn.”

THE CHANCE TO DO MOREThe ITA offers one full-time internship position that lasts for a year.It is a paid slot, adds Benjamin, but the pay isn't extravagant. The

intern, therefore, has to be devoted to thefield, and has to be interested in makingthe most of the learning experience. TheITA, he adds, as a relatively small organi-zation, is able to provide interns with avariety of experiences in the tennis indus-try, including the organization and man-agement of national and regionalchampionships, working with rankings,interacting with members and watchingthe day-to-day workings of the office andits personnel, and the way employeeswork with other organizations and gov-erning bodies in the sport.

And that, says Jodi Neuhauser, salesand marketing manager of Tennis Com-pany (which publishes Tennis Magazine,Smash Magazine, USTA Magazine andothers) is one of the chief appeals of aninternship. Her company offers summerinternship programs in both its editorialand business departments.

“Internships offer students the ability

ON-THE-JOBTRAINING

Offering InternshipsWant to give a kid a peek at the tennis industry?Here are a few tips:� Credit Risk: Establishing an internship programisn't hard, but getting colleges to give credit for itcan be challenging. A local college may be able tohelp you develop a program, or can at least makeyou aware of those who are interested.

� Just Do It: Alternatively, non-credit internships(for work experience only) can be offered duringschool breaks or over the summer.

� The Job: Have enough meaningful work to keepan intern busy and learning. Talk with staff before-hand to create schedules and responsibilities.

� Learn Interns' Interests: “We find out whatthey're interested in—marketing, event planning,etc.,” says Schaechterle, who then tries to helpcustomize a learning experience with Wilson.

� Marketing: List your internship on the TIA'sCareers In Tennis website (careersintennis.com).

� Spread the Word: Talk to coaches of collegetennis teams, to pros at clubs and others whowould have contact with student-athletes whomight be interested.


to explore a number of career opportunities in the safe environ-ment of a college education,” says Neuhauser. “Students whohave had multiple internships by the time they graduate from col-lege not only have a more defined career path, but also have hadthe experiences needed in the publishing world to contributeimmediately.”

Some programs, which run during spring or summer months,can be accomplished while students are still enrolled in college.World TeamTennis used the USTA's Tennis On Campus programas a recruitment tool for its internship program, and was able tofind a number of undergrads who were exactly what organizerswere looking for.

“The idea was to attract and retain the best and brightestyoung minds for the tennis industry,” says Bill Mountford, seniorvice president of WTT. “This is a tricky business to break into, andproviding foot-in-the-door opportunities for young people is partof the responsibility to our sport that WTT takes seriously.”

THE ELECTRONIC AGEWTT interns wrote press releases, did grant applications, andresearched venues for events. They also helped with websites andplayer blogs. In other organizations, such as Tennis Company,interns manage Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts and interactwith junior players online. The fact that a younger generation hasa better grasp of technology than many established executiveshas made their skills especially marketable. Other media outletsalso have found having tech-savvy interns to be an asset.

“It's valuable for employers, givenhow fast communication is changing.Younger folks are so embedded withtechnology that they can bring a lot tothe table,” says Jennifer Arianas, direc-tor of tennis industry public relations atthe Tennis Channel. “In our department,all interns have played tennis, and theylike to stay connected to the tennisworld.” Like WTT, the Tennis Channeluses a number of interns, and spreadsthem among various departments,including production, marketing andothers.

Tennis manufacturing companiesalso offer opportunities. Wilson SportingGoods Co. offers two types of intern-ships: one during the summer and oneduring the school year. Its three-month summer program uses anapplication process that the ITA coordinates. According to AdamSchaechterle, Wilson’s tour and juniors manager, Americas, oneof the summer internships is open to a student-athlete who hasworked to promote tennis in the area. A second is offered to ateam manager.

“There are opportunities in marketing, sales, promotions,product development, event planning, graphic design and more,”Schaechterle says. “And while you're interning, you have theopportunity to be exposed to many of these different careerpaths. This is a great opportunity to open a college student’seyes.”

For students already on a career path in tennis, internships

can offer real-world experience that supplements their curriculum.Derek Ameel, the Professional Tennis Management program direc-tor at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., notes that eachstudent in the program is required to complete three internships inorder to graduate.

“One of the internships is ongoing with our Ferris Racquet andFitness Center, accumulating 400 hours in the four years as a stu-dent,” he says. “The two outside internships are mainly done dur-ing the summers at various country clubs, resorts, private andpublic racquet facilities, park and recreation departments, manu-facturers, tennis companies, and tennis industry organizations.”

EXTERNAL CHALLENGES FOR INTERNSHIPSInternships vary greatly among organizations in terms of pay(some do, some don't), complexity of the application process(some are formal and rigorous, others less so) and willingness of acollege to promote the internship to its students, or to offer acade-mic credit for it. Schaechterle was successful at establishing a rela-tionship with Northwestern University, and as a result, the college'scareer center forwards resumes of qualified students who are inter-ested in Wilson internships before the start of each academicquarter.

One of the problems for those seeking internships has been thefact that many colleges and students remain unaware of the pro-grams offered because there has been no centralized locationwhere such information is stored. The Tennis Industry Association,in its Careers In Tennis initiative (www.careersintennis.com) is

working to create a mechanism that willmake interested students and gradsaware of the various opportunities in thetennis industry, including internships.

The website creates a pipeline to helpmove potential industry members towardopportunities. (While the segment of thesite that relates to available internships isstill under construction, TIA ExecutiveDirector Jolyn de Boer is working withorganizations and corporations in theindustry to supply information that canbe posted.)

Ultimately, says Arianas, internshipscan and do lead those who are interestedback into the industry. She should know.

“I think it's an extremely valuableexperience, and I'm speaking from per-

sonal experience,” she says. “My first job was as an intern after col-lege. I was working with the Virginia Slims Championship, and oneof the things I wound up doing was following the tournament direc-tor around and doing everything she needed. That meant makingsure all the flowers and trophies were in place, that the music wascued up, that the nameplates were on the box seats—everything. Ihad experience with doing everything from sponsorship services tooperations.”

Bill Mountford, who expects to expand the WTT internship pro-gram in years to come, doesn't doubt the value of the program, norits potential impact. “I expect that someday there will be an indus-try leader who eventually emerges from this internship program,and we will be able to say, ‘Do you remember when...?’” �

No Business is Too SmallThink your business is too small to offer internships?Think again. Whether you run a tennis facility or aretail shop, or are a court construction company, CTA,NJTL or park and rec, an internship with your organi-zation can offer students a wealth of experience, anda leg up in getting started in this industry.

No matter what size your business is, bringing in anintern can provide you with an affordable and enthu-siastic worker, and they get a chance to gain valuableexperience in a field that they hope to grow into.And, you’ll be helping this industry build for its future.

Check with local colleges to see if there are programsthat could offer college credit, and again, make sureyou have meaningful work for an intern.


R S I / A S B A F A C I L I T Y - O F - T H E - Y E A R A W A R D S


RSI and the ASBA bring you the best in tenniscourt construction and design.

The 2009 winners of the RSI/American Sports Builders Association Facili-ty-of-the-Year Awards include seven residential court winners—thelargest number for that category in a long time—and they truly show off

the skill and attention to detail ASBA members devote to their projects. Also,though, there’s a large crop of public and school facilities, with 10 of the26 winners falling into those categories, possibly indicating a willingnessto spend for excellent tennis facilities to help increase overall tennisparticipation.

Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member—whether acontractor, designer or supplier—the association selects outstanding tennisfacilities that meet the standard of excellence determined by the judgingcommittee. For 2009, the panel of judges deemed 26 courts or facilities to beworthy of special recognition. Three of those winners, however, were chosenfor “Outstanding” honors:� The Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif., received the Out-standing Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award. A premier collegiatefacility, the new Biszantz center is located at Claremont McKenna Collegeand was the site of the 2009 NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Champi-onships (hosted by Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps col-leges). All 12 hard courts are lighted, each features permanent seating,there’s an observation deck, players’ lounge, locker rooms, offices andmore. Recently, two state-of-the-art electronic scoreboards were installedand are visible from almost any spot on the site.

� The Berger Residence in Blue Bell, Pa., is the Outstanding Residential Ten-nis Facility of the Year. This new court was built into the side of a naturalhill, using large boulders found on the property to anchor retaining walls.Additional landscaping creates a private setting, while the large coveredpavilion is ideal for viewing and entertaining courtside. Along with lighting,there’s an outdoor speaker system, shed for court accessories, power out-lets for a ball machine and small refrigerator, and low-level landscape light-ing leading to the court.

� The Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center in New Haven, Conn., is the Out-standing Indoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award winner. This upgradeadded four more courts to the Yale University indoor facility in a uniquedesign that fit on a tight, sloping site. A wedge-shaped central viewinglobby, washed in daylight, connects the new court building to the old, andthe staff desk has views of the entryway and all the courts. The lobby, whichis open directly to the courts, is one story above, allowing seating close tothe action, yet the unique acoustical treatment contains audience noise.

—Peter Francesconi

IN PEAK FORMIN PEAK FORM


Distinguished Facility HonorsIn addition to the Berger Residence privatecourt, the Biszantz Family Tennis Center and theCullman-Heyman Indoor Facility at Yale, these23 locations were chosen by the 2009 panel ofjudges for the ASBA as excellent examples ofcourt construction, receiving DistinguishedFacility-of-the-Year Awards. You’ll read moreabout them in upcoming issues of RSI. (Thenominating company is in parentheses.)� Anderson Residence, Beach Lake, Pa.(Pro-Sport Construction Inc.)

� Bennett Park Facility, Liberty, Mo.(McConnell and Associates Corp.)

� Blair Academy, Blairstown, N.J. (Sasaki Associates)� The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo.(Renner Sports Surfaces)

� Campion Residence, Carlton, Ore. (Atlas Track & Tennis)� The Field Club, Edgartown, Mass., (Global Sports & TennisDesign Group LLC)

� Fisher Island Club, Fisher Island, Miami, Fla.(Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)

� Fordson High School, Dearborn, Mich.(Foresite Design Inc.)

� Four Seasons Resort & Club, Championship Court, Irving,Texas (Mid-America Courtworks)

� Ienner Residence, Greenwich, Conn.(DeRosa Tennis Contractors Inc.)

� Jonesville Tennis Center, Gainesville, Fla.(Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)

� Keating Residence, Gladwyne, Pa.(Pro-Sport Construction Inc.)

� Longboat Key Club & Resort, Longboat Key, Fla.(Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)

� Mountain View Tennis Center, Phoenix, Ariz.(General Acrylics Inc.)

� Pacific University, Forest Grove, Ore.(Atlas Track & Tennis)

� Penn State Abington, Abington, Pa.(Pro-Sport Construction Inc.)

� Placencia Hotel, Placencia, Belize(Ritzman Tennis Courts Inc.)

� Private Residence, Jupiter, Fla. (Fast-Dry Courts)� Private Residence, Parkland, Fla. (Fast-Dry Courts)� St. Andrews Country Club, Boca Raton, Fla.(Fast-Dry Courts)

� Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.(Global Sports & Tennis Design Group LLC)

� Wequassett Resort & Golf Course, Chatham, Mass.(Cape & Island Tennis & Track)

� West Morris Mendham H.S., Mendham, N.J. (Halecon Inc.)

RSI and the ASBA bring you the best in tenniscourt construction and design.


Residential TennisFacility-of-the-Year AwardBerger ResidenceBlue Bell, Pa.Contractor: Pro Sport Construction Inc.Lights: LSI Courtsider Sports LightingNets, Posts, Windscreen: J.A. Cissel

Outdoor TennisFacility-of-the-Year AwardBiszantz Family Tennis CenterClaremont, Calif.Contractor: Zaino Tennis Courts Inc.Surface: PlexipaveLights: Visionaire LightingNet Posts: Edwards/RolDri div. of Athletic ConnectionNo. of Courts: 12


For details on the 2010 Outstand-ing Facility-of-the-Year Awards,contact the ASBA at 866-501-ASBA or [email protected],or visit www.sportsbuilders.org.

Indoor TennisFacility-of-the-Year AwardCullman-Heyman Tennis CenterYale University, New Haven, Conn.Design Consultant: Global Sports & Tennis DesignGroup Inc.Contractor: Dalton ContractingSurface: DecoTurfNets, Posts, Curtains, Dividers: CourtmasterNo. of Courts: 8


String Playtest

EASE OF STRINGING(compared to other strings)Number of testers who said it was:much easier 4somewhat easier 9about as easy 19not quite as easy 3not nearly as easy 0

OVERALL PLAYABILITY(compared to string played most often)Number of testers who said it was:much better 2somewhat better 12about as playable 8not quite as playable 12not nearly as playable 0

OVERALL DURABILITY(compared to other stringsof similar gauge)Number of testers who said it was:much better 1somewhat better 10about as durable 14not quite as durable 9not nearly as durable 0

RATING AVERAGESFrom 1 to 5 (best)Playability (13th overall) 3.8Durability 3.0Power 3.5Control 3.6Comfort (11th overall) 3.8Touch/Feel 3.5Spin Potential 3.3Holding Tension 3.2Resistance to Movement 3.2

Head FXP Power/FXP is a hybrid fromHead’s Perfect Match Hybrid program.With Head’s unique system and easy-to-follow matrix, the player can findthe perfect match for his chosen bene-fits. The combination of FXP Powerand FXP is aimed at players looking forpower as the primary benefit, withcontrol as the additional benefit. Previ-ously, we’ve playtested two other Per-fect Match combinations (August 2009and November 2009 RSI).

FXP Power is a 17-gauge soft multifil-ament. It contains a high-tech micro-fibercore with a single wrap with each fila-ment in the wrap containing a “tri-clus-ter” of FiberGEL filaments. According toHead, this combination provides ultimateelasticity unleashing unprecedentedpower. USRSA members ranked FXPPower the fifth best synthetic string inthe 2008 USRSA members’ ChoiceAwards String Survey.

FXP 17 has a special “tri-cluster” ofFiberGEL filaments that are integratedinto the polyamide core creating maxi-mum ball pocket for superior control andgreat power. A special “tri-cluster” ofpolyester fibers also are incorporated intothe polyamide wrap creating a crisp feel,durability, and additional control.

FXP Power and FXP are available in17-gauge half sets (16-gauge available infull sets) in natural only. It is priced from$12 (FXP Power $6.25 half set, FXP$5.75 half set). For more information orto order, contact Head at 800-289-7366,or visit www.head.com. Be sure to readthe conclusion for more informationabout getting a free set to try for your-self.

IN THE LABThe coils each measured 20 feet. Thediameters measured 1.22-1.23 mm (FXPPower) and 1.24-1.25 mm (FXP) beforestringing, and 1.18-1.19 mm and 1.21-1.22 mm after stringing, respectively. Werecorded a stringbed stiffness of 77 RDCunits immediately after stringing at 60pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x

18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine.After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed

stiffness measured 71 RDC units, repre-senting an 8 percent tension loss. Ourcontrol string, Prince Synthetic Gut Origi-nal Gold 16, measured 78 RDC unitsimmediately after stringing and 71 RDCunits after 24 hours, representing a 9 per-cent tension loss. FXP Power/FXP added15 grams to the weight of our unstrungframe.

The string was tested for five weeksby 35 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP rat-ings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blindtests, with playtesters receiving unmarkedstrings in unmarked packages. Average

number of hours playtested was 27.3.FXP Power and FXP are each very

easy to install, and working with halfsets only makes them that much nicer.Despite the softness of these strings,blocked holes were no problem.

One playtester broke his sample dur-ing stringing, none reported problemswith coil memory, one reported prob-lems tying knots, and none reportedfriction burn.

ON THE COURTOur playtest team was really impressedby the comfort and playability of thishybrid combination, ranking it 11thoverall in the Comfort category and 13thoverall in the Playability category. Ourplaytesters also ranked FXP Power/FXPwell above average in Power, Control,and Touch/Feel. As a result, FXPPower/FXP as a hybrid ranks well aboveaverage overall compared to the 138strings we’ve playtested to date for pub-lication.

Six playtesters broke the sample dur-ing the playtest period, one at threehours, one at four hours, two at sixhours, one at eight hours, and one at 12hours.

CONCLUSIONIt’s a rarity to test a hybrid of two nylonstrings, and our playtest team appreciat-ed the opportunity, judging by the com-ments. Easy to string, easy on the arm,and with plenty of plusses to recom-mend it, Head FXP Power 17 mainswith FXP 17 crosses seems to do exactlywhat Head promises in its Perfect Matchprogram.

If you think that Head FXPPower/FXP might be for you, fill out thecoupon to get a free set to try.

—Greg Raven �


Head FXP Power/FXP 17


“ Extremely easy to install. High marks forplayability, tension maintenance, comfort, andpower. Very smooth ride.” 4.5 male all-courtplayer using Wilson K Zen Team strung at 60pounds LO (Wilson Hyperlast Spin 19/16)

“ Nice feel! I usually have trouble playingwith anything but natural gut mains and poly-ester crosses. This string is an exception.” 5.5male serve-and-volley player using DunlopAerogel 4D 2 Hundred strung at 55 pounds CP(natural gut/polyester 17)

“ This string has great feel, power, and playa-bility.” 4.5 male serve-and-volley playerusing Prince O3 Hybrid Lite OS strung at 63pounds (Prince Premier LT 16)

“ This combination works well. Solid pop onserves. Great feel on volleys. String plays freshthrough several sessions. Very impressive.”3.5 male serve-and-volley player using WilsonHyper Pro Staff 6.1 Stretch strung at 58 poundsLO (Gamma TNT Fatcore 17)

“ This a very comfortable string. Great fortouch players in search of feel andplayability.” 4.5 male all-court player usingPrince O3 Speedport Black (hole inserts) strungat 58 pounds LO (Prince Poly EXP 18)

“ This string plays great from the first hit.Great control, comfort, and power.” 5.0 maleall-court player using Wilson Kobra Team FXstrung at 62 pounds LO (Wilson Sensation 16)

“ This is an arm-friendly string with great feel.It has an abundance of pop and spin. Theabsence of off-center shock makes groundiesand volleys a pleasure. This is just a great all-around string.” 4.0 male all-court playerusing Prince O3 Red MP strung at 54 poundsCP (Gamma TNT2 Pro Plus 17L)

“ These strings stretch a lot during installa-tion. The playability, power, and control areexcellent. I would definitely stock and use thisstring.” 4.0 male all-court player usingGamma Diamond Fiber M 6.5 MP strung at 70pounds LO (Gamma Professional 16)

TESTERS TALK

FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAMHead will send a free set of FXP Power/FXP to the first 500 USRSA members who

cut out (or copy) this coupon and mail it to:

Offer expires 15 Feb 2010Offer only available to USRSA members in the US.

Name: USRSA Member number: Phone:Email:

If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.


For the rest of the tester comments, visitwww.racquetsportsindustry.com.

USRSA Attn: Head String Offer, 330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084

or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to [email protected]

? Ask the Experts

PALLET FOAMI’M THINKING ABOUT TRYING MYhand at molding my own pallets,but none of the foams at my local

home improvement store is dense enough.What do you recommend?

WE RECOMMEND YOU EITHERpursue other options or pay some-

one else to do your pallets. None of thefoams sold in the U.S. works really well forthis, and handling the material is messy,time-consuming, tedious, and dangerous.In fact, this description holds true for mostof this process.

First, you have to remove the existingfoam. You can do this physically usingsandpaper and various tools, but this is a lotof work. If you are comfortable workingwith chemicals you can “melt” the foam off,but this is messy and dangerous, as well.

Second, you will need a mold. This canbe done in heavy silicone rubber (asopposed to machining one out of metal). A

silicone rubber mold will last for around100 racquets, but you’ll still need a way ofcentering it on the racquet and affixing itwhile you pour the foam.

Third, after you mix the two compo-nents that create the foam, the reaction ofthe ingredients of the foam generatesenough heat to melt a plastic cup. Oncethe reaction starts, you have only a fewseconds to get the pour right. The foamwill harden in three to five minutes.

Fourth, you have to remove your moldfrom the newly poured pallet.

Finally, if your pallet shape and/or sizeare much different from standard-issue pal-lets, you’ll have to figure out how to get a

butt cap to fit, although you can, likeRobin Soderling, mold the butt cap flareas part of the pallet.

TRIPLE BOX TECHNIQUE FOR 18X20

HOW DO YOU STRING AN 18X20racquet using the triple boxmethod?

THE TRIPLE BOX METHOD ISonly needed on 18x20 racquets

where the mains end at the throat (that is,the mains start at the head), although thisdoes describe the majority of the 18x20racquet models, including (as examples):

• Head Prestige mids• Yonex RDX 500 HD• Volkl DNX 10• Other 18x20 racquets with skips at

8 and 10 at both the head and throat.The purpose of the triple box pattern

(as with other box and around-the-worldpatterns) is to enable stringing of the

AQ

QA


Your Equipment Hotline

crosses from the tip of the racquettoward the throat, even though themains end at the throat.

Optional: Before starting, open upthe 14th grommet hole (the one for thefifth cross at the bottom) from the throaton the short side for tying off.

There is no change in measurementfor the short side: 4-1/2 lengths shouldbe enough.

String and tension seven mains oneach side. Each main will now be exitingthe frame at the throat.

With the short side, install the eighthmain, tension, and clamp. Then contin-ue on to do the top cross, starting overthe top of the seventh main. Tensionand apply a starting clamp outside theframe to free up your short-side machineclamp.

With the long side, weave the bot-tom cross, starting over the top of theseventh main, tension, clamp, and thenweave the second cross from the bot-tom, tension and clamp.

Continuing with the long side, installthe eighth main, tension, and clamp,and then weave the second cross fromthe top, tension and clamp.

Continue with the long side to install,tension, and clamp the outside main onthe short side. Then weave, tension, andclamp the third cross from the bottom.Continue to install the outside main onthe long side, tension and clamp.

Fill in the crosses from the top, start-ing at the third cross. The final cross youinstall will be the fourth cross from thebottom. If you previously opened up the14th grommet hole, tie off there. Other-wise, tie off at the normal location. Notethat because this cross is a hard weave,and close to the center of the stringbed,you’ll have to exercise caution to ensurethat it isn’t looser than the surroundingstrings.

Retension the top cross, removingthe starting clamp, and clamp with themachine clamp. Tie off as normal.

If this seems a bit complex, checkout the “Easy ATW Stringing” techniquein the May 2007 issue of RSI magazine,which accomplishes virtually the samething but with less effort. Keep in mind,though, that each of these stringingmethods voids the warranty on Headracquets. —Greg RavenWe welcome your questions. Please send them to Rac-quet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA, 92084;fax: 760-536-1171; email: [email protected].


This has obviously been a very chal-lenging year, with the weight of theeconomy being felt throughout the

tennis industry. However we continue toexperience a very positive developmentin total tennis participation—we’veexceeded 30 million total players in 2009,including a 16% increase in 6- to 11-year-olds and a 20% increase in 12- to 17-year-olds. Tennis continues to be the fastestgrowing traditional sport in America andthis certainly is a positive position to be incompared to many other sports. But in2009 we also experienced a decline in fre-quent players (down 3% to 5.4 million)and with the economic realities our indus-try faces, we must all address commonchallenges if we are going to be in ahealthier economic position and thrivingindustry in the years ahead.

The mission of the Tennis IndustryAssociation is “to promote the growth andeconomic vitality of the sport,” and weneed to focus the TIA and all industrystakeholders to work toward some com-mon economic goals. While we all sup-port the participation efforts of the USTA,the TIA needs to clearly define how wecan further support growth in this indus-try as a whole, increasing the economicimpact for all stakeholders. What are ourpriorities moving forward that can have abroader positive impact?

Frequent players are the economiclifeblood of our sport and industry. Theymake up 18% of overall players, yet stud-ies show they purchase 68% of all tennisproducts and account for 79% of all playoccasions, which drive lessons andleagues as well as facilities and member-ship revenues. Frequent consumers of oursport also drive professional event atten-dance, media consumption, and even theneed for added infrastructure investmentin courts and ongoing facility mainte-nance. We must grow our frequent-playerbase. If we can increase the number offrequent players from 5.4 million to 10

million by 2020, we will effectively doublethe size of the tennis economy.

In order to better support new con-sumers getting onto the pathway of becom-ing frequent tennis consumers, the TIA isdeveloping a new “PlayTennis” widget,which is a powerful tennis pathway searchengine. Any website can display this freewidget, which will lead new players as wellas re-joining or current players to find localprograms, certified tennis pros, QuickStart-related programs, and other informationthat supports getting players on the path-way to becoming frequent players.

Consistent communication, providingbasic facts and figures, and developing keymessage points that everyone in the indus-try can share and utilize is essential. TheTIA will be consolidating its websites andre-organizing all sites within our primarysite (www.tennisindustry.org) to provide acentral site supporting everyone in theindustry with statistics, basic research find-ings, and key message points that can beused by all, including to solicit further non-endemic revenue streams into our industry.We will generate a quarterly e-newsletterthat all sales reps, retailers, tennis pros, ten-nis providers and stakeholders can opt-in toreceive to stay current on news and infor-mation. We will also shift to this same quar-terly update within RSI.

The TIA will still of course serve as thecentral research source for the industry, butwe must expand this beyond manufactur-ers to better understand the total economicimpact of our industry. If we are to thrive inthe years ahead, it’s imperative we estab-lish some basic measurements and look atall aspects of the industry—retail, lessons,facilities, events, organizations, and eventhe economic impact from the tennismedia. The true measure of TIA effortsshould be seeing the total tennis economicpie growing.

Another step toward evolving the TIA’spush behind a broader impact was the“Racket Up, America!” promotion in 2009.

Jon Muir is the president ofthe Tennis Industry Associa-tion and the General Manag-er of Wilson Racquet SportsWorldwide.


This was a first step to rally the industrywith a simple message of getting peopleplaying tennis by driving consumers to buya new racquet then enter a contest to win achance to serve for $1 million. We willexplore ways to expand the Racket Up,America! promotion in 2010 for broaderawareness and a larger impact throughoutthe industry.

The TIA will continue to work closelywith the USTA to support our growing par-ticipation base, but we need to evolve ourefforts to have a stronger and more directimpact on the number of frequent play-ers/consumers and on ensuring the eco-nomic growth for all stakeholders. We mustreach out further to all stakeholders anddevelop additional support areas, tools, andcommunication efforts that are clear andaligned to our objectives. As another firststep, the TIA will focus more efforts indeveloping a tennis retailer support initia-tive as well as focusing on communicatingthe awareness of quality, certified tennisprofessionals among club owners, man-agers, and the general playing public. Hav-ing a strong delivery and distributionnetwork is of paramount importance if weare going to increase our frequent playerand consumer base for the future.

Over the past 10 years of workingtogether, we’ve grown our sport overall andare positioned well—relative to othersports. But we must focus the next decadeon dramatically improving the economichealth of our industry for all stakeholders,ensuring there are even more frequent-playing consumers of our sport in the yearsahead. �

We welcome your opinions. Please emailcomments to [email protected] or faxthem to 760-536-1171.

Your Serve


Meeting Our ChallengesB Y J O N M U I R

The TIA president says creating frequent players, clear messaging aboutthe sport and boosting retail are keys for tennis going forward.

201002 racquet sports industry

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