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COURTESY SLINGER BAG S platform management (website design, (websitedesign, platform management and payments software as wellasdigital to theindustry, includingoperational nology suiteprovides business services on itsplatform. individual facilitymembersregistered currently hasmorethanonemillion “connected” sportscompany. equipment, andlookingtobecomea ing game-improvement technologyand with thecompany’s focusoninnovat saysSlinger theacquisitionisinline functional userandCRMexperiences. istration andencompassinghighly Developer Foundation Tennis Slinger BagAcquiresSoftware TECHNOLOGY Foundation Tennis’ proprietary tech Foundation Tennis, started in2017, Industry club andfacilityadmin applications covering tennis developer oftennissoftware Foundation Tennis, a Baghasacquired linger Information tohelpyou runyour business
- - - platform, providing acompellingoffer Tennis] andhisteaminbuilding outhis founder andpresidentofFoundation doing sotosupportCharlieRuddy[the Tennis brandandin undertheSlinger hosting, iOSandAndroidapps). tennis facilitymarket,” says Ruddy. of toolsandsoftware tobest serve the built andaccumulatedadiverse array core ofallproductsandservices.” achieve thatby putting ourusersatthe company,” addsBallardie.“We aimto becoming aleadingconnectedsports cant step inourbrandevolution toward Mike Ballardie. single userplatform,” says CEO Slinger ing offacilityandmemberservicesona “I developed my first SaaStennis “We arethrilledtobringFoundation “Over thepast many years, wehave The acquisition“representsasignifi News
September/October 2021
- - entire industry together.” driving valueandinnovation forthe tennis market andwelookforward to tapped intosomething specialinthe franklinsports.com/pickleball. company, visitusapickleball.org and events. ships, andRegional ChampionshipSeries Series atNewportBeachChampion - corresponding NationalChampionship flagship National Tournament andits now betheofficial ballofUSAPickleball's nually worldwide, theFranklin X-40 will 200 independenttournamentsheldan- Pickleball Championshipsandmore than upcoming tournaments." can't wait toseetheX-40 ballinactionat to grow anddevelop thesport,andwe forward toworking withUSAPickleball dent ofFranklin Sports."We're looking that belief," says Adam Franklin, presi- and growing product collectionreflect a sport,andourpickleballpartnerships face ofwhatwe believe itcanbecomeas stores across thecountry. increasing thesport'spresence atretail leball programming forschoolswhilealso tions willwork togethertodevelop pick Games inLos Angeles.Thetwo organiza- tion Sportatthe2028SummerOlympic toward makingpickleballaDemonstra- initiative forthesport,includingworking USA Pickleballandtopartnerongrowth agreement tobecometheofficial ballof tive advantage. tive advantage. our customers acutting-edgecompeti nessing thelatest technologytogive the sumofourexperiencewhilehar began developing in2017, represents needs. Foundation Tennis, whichwe ket anditssoftware andtechnology tosupportthemar the intendedgoal systemmanagement backin2001 with for Official Ball,Growth Initiatives Franklin Sports,USAPInkDeal
Franklin Sportshassignedamulti-year For more informationonthesport and Already theofficial ballofthe U.S. Open "Pickleball isjustscratching thesur “Mike and the Slinger teamhave“Mike andtheSlinger RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY SPORTS RACQUET IndustryNews - - - -
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IndustryNews
ESPN Reaches TV Extension with Wimbledon Through 2035 ESPN signed a 12-year extension in July with the All England Lawn Tennis Club to con- tinue televising the Wimbledon tournament through 2035. ESPN will show weekend matches on the ABC network during the tournament and air all courts on the ESPN+ streaming service. ESPN+ will also have full match replays. The deal covers the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Brazil.
Bolle Designs Court Sunglasses With New Phantom Court Lens MANAGEMENT Tip: Collecting Tennis Balls ne of the unexpected effects team came up with a great solution. of Covid has been a shortage We purchased and placed small O of tennis balls. At the mo- baskets by every court, then sent an e- ment, none of my usual suppliers are blast to our players saying that, when Bollé is back in the tennis market with able to provide me with my regular they finished playing, if they were not a new sunglass lens called the Phantom monthly ball shipments, and I’m told planning to use their balls again, we'd Court. The company says the lens, which this may continue into the fall and appreciate them putting the balls in is Bollé’s patented, top-of-the-line per- winter months. Fortunately, through the baskets, which would be re-used formance lens, provides unique combina- other sources (and a lot of begging, for teaching purposes. tions of HD lens tints, molecular photo- borrowing and bartering), I’ve been The response has been tremendous. chromic fi lter with super wide range and able to purchase balls to sell at our In the first week following the email, I platinum anti-fog on the inside only. facility, Four Seasons Racquet Club in received nearly 1,000 balls—enough to Bollé says its lens magnifi es and high- Wilton, Conn. fill three teaching carts! lights white and yellow compared to However, acquiring teaching balls During this pandemic, in the overall surrounding colors and adjusts to chang- has presented an entirely different scheme of things, a shortage of ten- ing light conditions. The Phantom Court challenge. Anyone who has ever given nis balls is nothing. However, in my lens is available in the Lightshifter frame a lesson is well aware that, when the situation, it has provided yet another (suggested retail, $200) and Bolt 2.0 balls in the teaching cart begin to go example of people coming together, frame ($170). Contact 800-222-6553 or bad, complaints from customers are and that is a very big thing! [email protected]. soon to follow. But a member of my —Greg Moran
Short Sets
Shortly before the Truist Atlanta Open in part-time Cashiers resident Andy Roddick, ship with the Pro Pickleball Association July, Dunlop reached a multi-year agree- will be run by PBI pro Wendell McConnie. through 2023. The Dura Fast 40 Pickleball ment to become the offi cial ball and rac- The Club at High Hampton has four Har-Tru will continue to be the Offi cial Ball of PPA quet provider of the tournament. Players courts, one hard court and four pickleball Tour events through 2023. used the ATP Extra Duty Ball; Dunlop also courts. is the offi cial ball of the ATP Tour. The grass courts at the International Ten- Beyond the Baselines has been con- nis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., will be the Peter Burwash International is managing tracted by the East Chop Tennis Club on venue for the Sept. 17-18 Davis Cup World the tennis and pickleball programs at The Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., to complete a Group 1 tie between New Zealand and the Club at High Hampton in Cashiers, N.C., “pickleball feasibility study” as part of a Republic of Korea. With New Zealand’s in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Moun- long-term strategic plan. borders closed to international visitors due tains. The program, developed under to Covid-19, a neutral host was required, the direction of former champion and Onix Pickleball has extended its partner- and the Hall of Fame offered its support. COURTESY BOLLLE; PHOTO BY MIKE MORAN BOLLLE; PHOTO BY COURTESY
8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2021 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com SWITCH ON
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COURTESY ROAD TO PRO, DONN GOBBIE www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com
COURTESY ROAD TO PRO, DONN GOBBIE handbook—which isfree todownload— Advocacy Committee, the54-page DollarDreamBook.net. Fame. For ordering information,visit into theInternationalTennis Hallof summer, theOriginal9were inducted own women'sprofessional circuit. This tennis establishmentandstartedtheir Heldman andtheOriginal9braved the by BillieJeanKing,explainshowGladys Donn Gobbie,withaforeword written vations andmore. the caseforcourts,programs, reno- cacy Handbook”canhelpyou make world, the“USTA Community Advo- in thetennisindustryorpark&rec parent orteacher;aprofessional with anNJTL,CTA orparksboard; a munity? Whetheryou’re avolunteer local communities.” that NJTLchapters doevery dayin of thetremendously impactful work Wu. “Thesegrants are areflection USTA Foundation President Kathleen these difficult economictimes,” says under-resourced children during their essential programming for to helptheseNJTLchapters fund NJTL network members. $100,000 ofthegrants toward 20new USTA Foundation alsodesignated Tennis Advocacy Handbook Download theFree USTA Start oftheWomen’s Pro Tour New BookDiscusses Original9, " Looking togrow tennisinyour com- “We're thrilledtoprovide grants Developed bytheUSTA’s National A Dollar&Dream, "anewbookby programming andmuchmore. supporters andsponsors, connect with work withpublicoffi cialsandmedia,fi nd state thecasefortennisinyour community, contains vitalinformationandtipstohelp in schools,andcollegetennis. ics, suchastennisonpubliccourts, shorter advocacy “briefs”onspecific top- left side.Alsoavailable todownload are click onthe“Tennis Advocacy” linkonthe Visit tennisindustryunited.com and Visit tennisindustryunited.comand
September/October 2021 since 2008,willproduce adaily showwith Channel, whichhasbroadcast Wimbledon been settorunthrough 2024. years totheexistingrelationship, whichhad of theWimbledontournament,adding12 rights partnershipthrough the2036 edition Tennis Clubhaveagreed toanewmedia Sign NewDealThrough 2036 Tennis Channel,Wimbledon Tennis ChannelandtheAllEnglandLawn Under thenewarrangement, Tennis RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY SPORTS RACQUET IndustryNews
11 IndustryNews
highlights, match segments, original fea- tures, exclusive interviews and commentary. People It will also maintain a roster of Hall of Fame analysts. Watch “Tennis Channel is humbled to deepen our long-term commitment to growing and Legendary Florida junior tennis Shirley Fry Irvin, one of only 10 evolving the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s organizer Bobby Curtis, the man who women to have won the singles titles crown jewel—Wimbledon,” says Tennis helped defi ne what junior tennis in at all four of tennis’ major champion- Channel President Ken Solomon. “Our job as a dedicated media partner is to refl ect all Florida looks like today, passed away ships, passed away July 13 in Naples, that the club and this storied annual event July 14, at the age of 93. A true champi- Fla., at age 94. A 1970 International stand for in everything that we do, both on of grassroots tennis, Curtis touched Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, she during the tournament and throughout the the lives of thousands of Florida juniors earned a sweep of the singles majors in entire year.” throughout his decades of service. the 1950s.
Nominate for RSI’s Richard “Dick” Zausner, president Slinger Bag has added two big names ‘Champions of Tennis' and director of the Port Washington to its brand ambassador program: Racquet Sports Industry’s January 2021 (N.Y.) Tennis Academy for the past 40 coach Patrick Mouratoglou and WTA issue marked the 20th year we’ve named years, died in July, at age 87. Under Za- pro Eugenie Bouchard. They join our Champions of Tennis award winners, usner’s leadership, the Port Washing- Tommy Haas, Mike and Bob Bryan, and as we continue the process for choos- ton academy fl ourished and grew into Nick Bollettieri and Darren Cahill. ing our next Champions, we’d like your a major international tennis center, help in the nomination process. training champions including John Panasonic Corporation has signed To see the nearly two dozen categories McEnroe, Vitas Gerulaitis and Mary a brand ambassador agreement with that we typically honor, please see any Carillo, among others. Naomi Osaka through April 2023. of our recent January issues (available
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COURTESY PAUL FEIN