July 2010 Volume 38 Number 7 $5.00 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY FacilityFacility Management Management TennisTennis facility facility operators operators face face challengingchallenging times times 20102010 Guide Guide to to Ball Ball Machines Machines RunningRunning Tennis Tennis Camps Camps

Contents Contents RSI J U L Y 2 0 1 0 INDUSTRY NEWS FEATURES 7 USTA Tennis Teachers 20 Happy Campers Conference celebrates A tennis camp at your facility can be a valuable 40 years source of revenue in tough economic times. 23 Guide to Ball Machines 7 ASBA certifies five Three new machines have been added to our court builders exclusive ball machine guide for 2010. 32 Private Enterprise 8 PTR to deliver Etcheberry The six RSI/ASBA residential court winners show Experience Certification style and substance. 8 Illinois facility installs bubbled ClayTech courts 8 Tennis Depot to distribute Poly Star strings 9 USTA to build 4 clay SPECIAL REPORT: courts at NTC STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 9 ITA allows QuickStart 26 Facility Management lines on match courts Whether large or small, public or private, ten- 9 John McEnroe opens nis facility owners and managers face many common challenges. academy in NYC 10 Short Sets 11 TennisResortsOnline names top resorts, camps 12 Peoplewatch 12 TIA releases key measures for tennis facilities 13 College Tennis Roundup 14 Gamma launches new Private residence, Jupiter, FL TNT2 Touch string On the cover: Balboa Tennis Club, San Diego, CA by Kristine Thom DEPARTMENTS 19 Pioneers in Tennis: Gene Scott 4 Our Serve 34 String Playtest: Solinco Tour Bite 7 Industry News 36 Tips and Techniques 14 Letter 38 Ask the Experts 16 TIA News 40 Your Serve, by Kalindi Dinoffer

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Our Serve Keep the Debate a Healthy One (Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)

ately, a few things have crossed my screen that have made Publishers David Bone Jeff Williams me a bit concerned about the health of some relationships in this industry. This regards a little dust-up about a (soon- Editorial Director Peter Francesconi to-be) proposed rule change for 10-and-under tennis. Some quick background: The QuickStart Tennis format has been well accepted by Associate Editor mostL in this industry. The reasoning is pretty solid: When starting kids out, they should Greg Raven play on appropriately sized, shorter courts, with shorter racquets and lower-pressure Design/Art Director balls, and with modified scoring, eventually moving up to bigger courts and equipment. Kristine Thom In fact, many teaching pros are finding QST to be a huge moneymaker because Contributing Editors they can use a normal 78-foot court, divide it into four 36-foot courts, and have a large Robin Bateman number of kids playing in that space. Not only are the court sizes appropriate for the Cynthia Cantrell kids, but also the balls they use allow them to actually sustain rallies and learn proper Joe Dinoffer Liza Horan technique rig ht from the start. They have fun and learn at the same time. Now, many Greg Moran facilities are permanently lining regular courts with 36- and 60-foot lines, and an Bob Patterson increasing number of facilities are going beyond that and building shorter courts. Cynthia Sherman Many people, including USTA officials, feel that for 10-and-under tennis to really Mary Helen Sprecher grow there needs to be more tournament competition on 36- and 60-foot courts. The RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY USTA’s Kurt Kamperman isn’t shy about saying the lack of current 10-and-un der tour- Corporate Offices nament play isn’t just discouraging, it’s embarrassing, and for many, many years, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084 junior programs have simply failed to create an appropriate competitive pathway for Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171 10-and-under kids. It’s time, he says, to try something different. Email: [email protected] And here’s where this little “dust-up” comes into play. The ITF and USTA believe Website: www.racquetTECH.com most tournaments for 10-and-under players should take place on 60-foot courts with Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time an orange ball. Better skilled 10-year-olds could play on a 78-fo ot court with a green Advertising Director (slightly lower pressure) ball, either limited in the 10s or playing up in the 12s. How- John Hanna ever, some feel there should be an option to allow these better 10s to play on a regu- 770-650-1102, x.125 lar 78-foot court, with a regular yellow ball. All of a sudden, it seems the debate has [email protected] started to escalate. Apparel Advertising Although, as of early June, nothing has yet been formally proposed by the USTA, Cynthia Sherman there already are strong feelings on all sides, including parents, teaching pros and 203-263-5243 USTA Sections, which in some cases have already made rulings for their own sections [email protected] regarding this matter. This “back and forth” has at times been rather heated. At one Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per point, I was seeing letters and emails for and against certain aspects of this “unpro- year: monthly January through August and com- posed” change that seemed to take the opportunity to slam opposing parties on many bined issues in September/October and Novem- unrelated issues. ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330 Here’s the thing—there’s no room for bad blood in this industry. Heck, the econo- Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Vista, CA and my has battered all of us around enough; we don’t need to do it to ourselves. On this additional mailing offices. July 2010, Volume 38, particular issue, we’re all after the same thing: Let’s get more 10-and-unders playing Number 7 © 2010 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All tennis. These letters and emails I’ve been seeing—and yes, some are rather incendi- rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and ary—are all premature and mis-timed, and all leading to bad feelings. logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Differences of opinion, especially regarding a rule change, are absolutely fine. But Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circu- lation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscrip- let’s keep the debate healthy and productive. And let’s keep in mind the ultimate goal: tions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: We all want more kids to play tennis. Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.

P eter Francesconi Editorial Director RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

RSI J U L Y 2 0 1 0 INDUSTRYNEWSINDUSTRYNEWS INFORMATIONTOHELPYOURUNYOURBUSINESS USTA Tennis Teachers Conference ASBA Certifies Celebrates its 40th Year

Five Court Builders he USTA's 40th Tennis Teachers Conference will be in New Five tennis court builders have York City from Aug. 28 to 31. The event is a leading resource for earned the Certified Tennis Tteaching professionals, organizers and coaches. It will be held at the Court Builder designation from Grand Hyatt New York and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. the American Sports Builders Headlining the event is eight-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander; former top 10 play- Association, the national organi- er and popular TV broadcaster Cliff Drysdale; and junior tennis coach Judy Murray, who is the zation for builders, designers mother of two-time Grand Slam finalist Andy Murray and 2007 Wimbledon mixed-doubles and suppliers of materials for champ Jamie Murray. tennis courts, running tracks, Attendees at the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference have the opportunity to network with col- synthetic turf fields and indoor leagues and attend conference seminars, gather information and resources on the latest offerings and outdoor synthetic sports from a variety of tennis organizations and companies, and attend a "Night at the US Open" on surfaces. Monday, Aug. 30, the opening evening of the tournament at the USTA BJK National Tennis Center. The certification program, which Additionally, the TIA will hold its 3rd annual Tennis Forum on Tuesday morning, Aug. 31, high- was developed by the ASBA in lighting the latest trends in the tennis industry and the industry's efforts to grow the game. order to help raise professional For registration information for the Tennis Teachers Conference, visit www.usta.com/ttc. Reg- standards and improve the ister before July 16 and save 10 percent. practice of athletic facility con- struction, shows that an individ- ual has demonstrated or Nominate Now for USTA Outstanding Facility Awards exceeded a specific level of pro- o you know an outstand- fessional experience. To achieve Certified Builder status, an indi- ing tennis facility in your vidual is required to show docu- Darea? If so, nominate it for mented evidence of professional a 2010 USTA Outstanding Tennis experience, and is required to Facility award. Award nomina- pass a comprehensive examina- tions must be received in the tion on construction and main- USTA office by July 19. tenance of the specific type of Criteria for the awards and facility in which he or she is nomination forms are available seeking certification. (Visit at usta.com/facilityawards. sportsbuilders.org for more on Recognition will be given to out- the ASBA and certification.) standing tennis facilities under 2009 USTA award-winner Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Ga. these jurisdictions: Parks & The new Certified Tennis Court Recreation Departments, Educational Institutions, Non-Profit Corporations, and Private and/or Builders are Adam Fryor (Court Commercially Owned and Operated Facilities. One Inc., Youngsville, N.C.), Award winners will receive a wood and marble wall plaque and a large sign to display at the Matt Graft (Talbot Tennis, Mari- facility. In addition, certificates will be available for various agencies and companies recognizing etta, Ga.), Kevin Healion (Centu- the honor. Winners also receive a one-year complimentary USTA Organizational Membership, ry Tennis Inc., Deer Park, N.Y.), and may choose to attend the USTA Technical Committee meeting in New York in early Sep- Steve Horner (Advantage Courts tember for a pre sentation. Company,Amarillo, Texas), and This is the 29th year for the prestigious USTA Outstanding Facility Awards. This year, an Fred Volpacchio (North Salem, optional “Green Facility” section has been added to the nomination form. For questions, email N.Y.). [email protected] or call Jeremiah Yolkut at 914-696-7154. www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7 INDUSTRYNEWS 8 P Star Poly Distribute to Depot Tennis 0 1 0 2 Y L U J ihe hn,MriaNavratilova, Martina Chang, Michael is atpae nld Jimmy include player Sta Connors, Past fils. Zvonare- Vera Isner, John Querrey, Bryan,Sam Mike and Bob Sharapova, Maria too. “long- developed then Head, Howard a hie,Mnc ee,Jennifer Seles, Monica Shriver, Pam A Anniversary 40th Celebrates Prince a ioa ayek n alMon- Gael and Davydenko Nikolay va, equipment, sports other to the exported of hoop the in holes air are which the with out came also It frames. body” ii princetennis.com. visit info, For Sabatini. 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INDUSTRYNEWS

New Ashaway ZyMax 67 ITA to Allow QuickStart Lines on Competition Courts Badminton String he Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the governing body of college tennis, has Ashaway Racket Strings has intro- Tapproved a rule change that will allow its competition courts to have permanent duced ZyMax 67, a tournament-gauge badminton string with increased dura- USTA-approved 36-foot and 60-foot tennis lines. The rule change will allow collegiate bility and strength. The company says facilities to be used for tournaments and training sessions geared toward children ages the 22-gauge (.67 mm) ZyMax 67 10 and under using the QuickStart Tennis play format, which utilizes lower bouncing offers the lowest tension loss of any balls, smaller racquets and shorter courts, all tailored to a child’s age and size. badminton string. Key to the perform- “The rule change to allow USTA approved 36- and 60-foot lines on competition ance of the ZyMax line is a combina- courts was unanimously approved by the ITA Operating Committee at its meetings dur- tion of high-tech core and braid ing the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga.,” says ITA Executive Director David A. Ben- materials, and Ashaway's proprietary jamin. “The ITA is excited and proud to lead the way with this endorsement of the ZyWeaVe core process technology, QuickStart play format.” which allows the production of lighter, “USTA Player Development is thrilled that the ITA and its member coaches have stronger badminton strings. taken the lead in embracing 36-foot and 60-foot tennis,” says Patrick McEnroe, gener- Available in sets of 10m and 200m al manager of USTA Player Development. “Comprised of some of the top player devel- reels, ZyMax 67 strings up tighter and opment coaches in the nation, the ITA recognizes the importance of appropriate plays firmer with maximum tension training and competition for the 10-and-under population.” stability, says Ashaway, and it main- tains string tension longer and dis- plays consistent performance. Visit Mac Opens Academy in New York City www.ashawayusa.com. ohn McEnroe will open and direct the John McEnroe Tennis academy at the $18 million JSportime at Randall’s Island Tennis Center in New York City. The Hall-of-Famer and for- mer world No. 1 player, who is a native New Yorker, says the full-year programs will begin right after the 2010 US Open. Sportime, which owns 13 tennis and fitness clubs in New York State, will partner with Mac in the operation of the academy.

USTA to Install 4 Clay Courts at NTC n its effort to develop American Ichampions, the USTA is installing four clay tennis courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, home of the hard-court US Open. “Now, every player who comes through the USTA system will have a very strong grounding in clay-court tennis,” USTA CEO Gordon Smith told Bloomberg news service. According to playtheclay.com, a website developed by Lee Tennis, of the 103 men who have reached the top 10 since the ATP rankings were created, 91 of them grew up on clay.

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9 J U L Y 2 0 1 0

SHORTSETS Alpha Back to Present > The U.S. Davis Cup team will play its youth and high school tennis for 15 years. World Group Playoff in Colombia Sept. 17- The book is geared to children between at GSS Symposium NEWS ages 5 and 10. For info, call 763-438-8466 19. The U.S. needs to defeat Colombia to lpha Racquet Sports or visit andyacetennis.com. retain its position within the 2011 World Aannounces their plans Group. The loser will be relegated to the > The U.S. Fed Cup team has drawn Bel- to return for a fourth Americas Zone I for 2011 and not be able gium as its opponent for the first round of straight year as a sponsor to win the Davis Cup title next year. It’s the the 2011 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World of the 2010 GSS Racquet INDUSTRY first time since 2005 that the U.S. has had Group competition. The second–seeded Stringers Symposium in to play in the World Group Playoffs. U.S. team will travel to Belgium for the Orlando, Fla., Oct. 9-13. Alpha > The digital edition of RSI will now be match. National Sales Manager Mark Gonza- emailed free to all PTR members. “When it comes to kids, tennis clearly lez will be co-presenting a four-hour > seminar titled “Machine Repair & Tournament officials for The MPS Group knows something that golf does not,” says > Maintenance” with J.C. Carpentier of Championships, the WTA Tour event that a recent Wall Street Journal article. While Tennis Machines. recently completed its second year in 2010 the golf industry worries it has lost nearly a “This is a must-attend event for in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., after a long run million kids ages 6 to 17 (a 24% drop, to any stringer looking to increase their as The Bausch & Lomb Championships at 2.9 million), the tennis industry, concludes knowledge, learn new techniques, Amelia Island, say the event will not con- the article, is an example of how to do and improve their skills” says Gonza- tinue in 2011 due to the WTA Tour realign- things right. Tennis play for that age group lez, who developed the presentation. ment of its tournament calendar. has jumped from 6.8 million to 9.5 million in five years. The goal is to provide hands-on learn- > Mercedes-Benz entered a multi-plat- ing to assist stringers in the proper form global marketing partnership with > Recently fifteen PBI pros provided care of their expensive stringing 16-time Grand Slam Champion and world instruction for the 3-day Columbus Celebri- machines and diagnostic equipment. No. 1 Roger Federer. The agreement coin- ty Classic Tennis Invitational in Columbus, “Mark has done a tremendous job cides with the start of the Mercedes-Benz Ga. It was the 12th consecutive year PBI in putting together a very useful pres- sponsorship of the US Open, beginning in pros have been involved with the event, entation for stringers who really want August. which this year raised $345,000 for the to know more about taking care of John B. Amos Cancer Research Center. > World TeamTennis and Solfire today their equipment,” says symposium announced a multi-year agreement mak- > Looking for something unique for your director Tim Strawn. “And J.C. Car- ing Solfire the official apparel provider of kid’s bedroom wall? Fathead (fathead.com) pentier of Tennis Machines is consid- World TeamTennis and an official sponsor offers life-size wall graphics of tennis play- ered to be one of the premier of the WTT Professional and Recreational ers Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas and Alek- technicians in the world when it Leagues, and WTT Smash Hits. sandra Wozniak (among other sports comes to maintaining and repairing celebs). the equipment we use, so we’re lucky The USTA is awarding more than > to have him on board.” $315,000 in Recreational Tennis Grants to Wimbledon now has an official poet-in- > For details and to register for the 38 non-profit organizations across the residence. Matt Harvey was named the first symposium, visit grandslam- country. The USTA’s Recreational Tennis “Championships Poet” and will write a stringers.com. Division has pooled financial resources to poem each day on “all things Wimbledon,” create a series of Program/Project Support attempting to capture the flavor of the U.S. Men Claim Sixth grants and Community Partnership Invest- event. Verses will be published online and in ment awards. These will be distributed on podcasts and can be about anything and Invacare World Team a bi-annual basis to non-profits that are everything—play on the grass courts, rain, Cup Title committed to increasing tennis participa- the roof, queuing spectators, strawberries tion, are well-established in their commu- and cream, tantrums on the court. he U.S. Quad Team of Nick Taylor of TWichita, Kan., David Wagner of Hills- nities, support tennis programming and The Legends Ball, which benefits the > boro, Ore., and Bryan Barten of Tucson, foster diversity among participants. In International Tennis Hall of Fame & Muse- Ariz., led Team USA to the 2010 total, the USTA awarded over $1 million in um, returns to Cipriani 42nd Street in New Invacare World Team Cup title in May, Recreational Tennis Grants to qualified York City on Friday, Sept. 10. Contact 212- defeating Israel 2-0 in the final, held in applicants in 2009. 843-1740 or [email protected]. Antalya, Turkey. “Let’s Play Tennis! A Guide for Parents > Eric Hechtman of Miami won the men’s The U.S. women’s team—Emmy and Kids by Andy Ace” is a new book > open title and Marina McCollom of West Kaiser of Fort Mitchell, Ky., Dana Math- about getting parents and their children Des Moines, Iowa, won the women’s open ewson of San Diego and Hope Lewellen started playing tennis together. The author title at the $10,000 USPTA Clay Court of Chicago—finished in sixth place in and illustrator, Patricia Egart, has coached Championships in May. the women’s division.

10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com USRSANEWS

Congratulations To the Following For Achieving MRT & CS Status

New MRTs Colton Westran Big Rapids, MI Evan Valerie Big Rapids, MI Stefano Prete Victoria, Australia Jeff Doty Sheridan, OR Daniel Howard East Lansing, MI James Thompson Austin, TX Craig Carter Asheville, NC

U • S • R • S • A CERTIFIED STRINGER New CSs Kendra Blewitt San Francisco, CA Steven Summers New Haven IN

TRO Names Top Resorts, Camps ennis Resorts Online recently Treleased its annual rankings of the Top 100 Tennis Resorts and Camps worldwide. Rankings, avail- able at tennisresortsonline.com, are based on reviews submitted by vacationers over the last year. This year they were asked to rate their experience in each of 17 cate- gories. Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina repeated as the No. 1 Resort while the Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks at the Gstaad Palace in Switzerlan d once again snared No. 1 Camp honors. Rankings are also broken out into the best in sev- eral categories, including game matching, tennis staff, instruction, lodging, cuisine and more. The top 5 resorts are: 1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, S.C. 2. Wild Dunes, S.C. 3. Topnotch Resort and Spa, Vt. 4. Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Austria 5. Rancho Valencia, Calif. The top camps are: 1. Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks, Switzer- land 2. Vic Braden Tennis College, Utah 3. New England Tennis Holid ays, N.H. (recently moved to Sugarbush, Vt.) 4. Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Vt. 5. Saddlebrook Tennis, Fla.

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11 J U L Y 2 0 1 0 PEOPLEWATCH • Former USTA President Randy Gregson of New Orleans died May • Tennis Channel has extended its French Open relationship with 23 in New Orleans. He was 91. Gregson was USTA president from John McEnroe through 2013. It has also re-signed French Open NEWS 1985-86, and a past president of the USTA Southern Section and and US Open announcer Ted Robinson, extending his role with the the Louisiana Tennis Association. After Hurricane Katrina, Gregson network through 2013. was instrumental in procuring grants from the USTA to help revamp the city’s tennis courts. • Jeanne G. Austin, the mother of Pam, Jeff, Doug, John and Tracy Austin, and wife for 64 years of George Austin, passed away May

INDUSTRY• Serena and Venus Williams, both playing with Wilson K Blade 25. She was 84 years old and lived in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. Team racquets, won the French Open doubles title, their 12th Grand Slam women’s doubles championships. The sisters are now • In May, the ITF suspended Wayne Odesnik for two years for the No. 1 doubles team in the world for the first time in their importing human growth hormone into Australia, an anti-doping careers and one of only five teams to complete a career doubles violation. The ban is backdated to December and will end on Dec. Grand Slam. 28, 2011. All his results from this year will be wiped out. Odesnik pleaded guilty in March and was fined more than $7,000, and he • Bob and Mike Bryan tied the all-time record for doubles titles on agreed to a voluntary suspension. the men’s tour, scoring their 61st win in mid-May. The twins are now tied with the Australian doubles team of Mark Woodforde • USA Racquetball’s Winter Issue of “Racquetball” Magazine was and Todd Woodbridge. Ironically, by the time the Woodies are devoted to the women of the sport, honoring 11 of racquetball’s inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July, the most influential women in 2009. Among those named was American twins may very well have eclipsed their record. renowned clinician and coach Fran Davis, Head/Penn Racquet Sports National Promotions Coordinator. • Gael Monfils has signed a multi-year deal with K-Swiss footwear and apparel. The world No. 20 player will be the highest ranked • Two American sophomores, Bradley Klahn of Stanford and men's singles player on the K-Swiss team. Chelsey Gullickson of Georgia, took the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’ singles titles in Athens, Ga. This is the second consecutive • The Association of Private Clubs and Directors, along with The year that Americans have won the NCAA singles titles. Americans BoardRoom magazine, recently honored Chuck Gill, USPTA vice also swept the doubles titles, as Virginia’s Drew Courtney and president and tennis director at Ibis Golf & Country Club in West Michael Shabaz won the men’s title while Stanford’s Hilary Barte Palm Beach, Fla., with its Distinguished Club Award. and Lindsay Burdette took the women’s.

• Wimbledon and French Open champion Jan Kodes of the Czech • Former USTA Eastern Section President Dan Dwyer died May 25. Republic has partnered with New Chapter Press for the U.S. release He had also served as tournament director of the New York City of the book “Jan Kodes: A Journey to Glory from Behind the Iron Mayor’s Cup, and he founded the National Tennis Association for Curtain.” The coffee table book, originally published in Czech, pro- the Disabled and the International Lichtenberg Buick-Mazda vides a narrative and illustrated history of Czech tennis through the Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. He was the USTA’s first Wheelchair eyes of Kodes and author Peter Kolar. Committee chair, and he was a member of the ITF Wheelchair Committee.

Key Measures for Tennis Facilities Released ennis facility owners and operators, along with others in the industry, can now get the latest trends and data for operating Ta tennis facility in the “Cost of Doing Business: Tennis Facilities” report from the TIA. The bi-annual report provides a method for facilities to measure their performance against industry averages. The data in the CoDB report is weighted by facility size and type to match the profile of tennis facilitie s in the U.S. The report contains general trends as well as data pertaining to tennis programming and facility operational costs. Also included is data on facility membership, dues, court usage fees and more. “As a facility operator, you can see where your tennis facility may be outperforming the industry and where you may have challenges or can improve,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “Comparing your operations to industry-wide averages will help you identify opportunities to maximize growth and profitability.” For tennis facilities in 2009, the cost of doing business analysis indicates many positive results, mixed with some outcomes that reflect the nature of operating a business in a down economy. The good news for tennis facilities, though, is that average revenue per court is up 18% since 2005 and the retention rate of introductory programs for new players/beginners is high, at 65%. For more information or to obtain a cop y of the CoDB report, email [email protected] or call the TIA at 866- 686-3036. For more on research available from the TIA, visit www.tennisindustry.org.

12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com INDUSTRYNEWS

COLLEGE TENNIS ROUNDUP - ITA Inducts 10 Into Men’s Hall of Fame The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) inducted 10 members into the ITA are Kent DeMars (South Carolina), Craig Tiley (Illinois) and Steve Wilkinson (Gus- Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame during the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis tavus Adolphus). The contributor inductee Gordon Smith (Georgia). Championships in May. The ITA HoF is located on the University of Georgia campus In other ITA news, Lauren Lui of Northwestern University and Daniel Canellas of in Athens. the University of Alabama-Huntsville have been selected as the 2010 Wilson/ITA The Class of 2010 consists of five players, one player/coach, three coaches and National Promoter of the Year Award winners. The award recognizes individuals one contributor. Players are Mahesh Bhupathi (Ole Miss), Daniel Courcol (Mississip- who promote the game at the collegiate level. Both student-athletes have been pi State), Zan Guerry (Rice), Rodney Harmon (Tennessee/SMU) and Leif Shiras selected to receive a paid summer internship at Wilson's global headquarters in (Princeton). The player/coach inductee is Jay Lapidus (Princeton/Duke). The coaches Chicago. ITA NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS Division I NAIA Men Division III (cont.) Men National Assistant Coach of the Year - Will Glenn, Washington Univ.-St. Louis Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year - Kris Miller, Oklahoma Christian Georgia National Rookie of the Year - Mark Kahan, Amherst College Univ. ITA/Farnsworth National Senior Player of the Year - National Player to Watch - Austin Chafetz, Amherst College Assistant Coach of the Year - David Goodman, Azusa Pacific Univ. Robert Farah, USC ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - Player of the Year - Matthijs Bolsius, Azusa Pacific Univ. National Rookie of the Year - Henrique Cunha, Duke Matt De Vlieger, Calvin College Rookie Player of the Year - Martin Poboril, Oklahoma Christian National Player to Watch - Austin Krajicek, Texas Women Univ. A&M Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year - Marty Perry, Univ.of Player to Watch - Joel Myers, Point Loma Nazarene Univ. ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sports- Chicago ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - Oliv- manship - Jason Jung, Michigan National Assistant Coach of the Year - Jason Box, Bates Col- er Sindayigaya, Lewis-Clark State College ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award - John- lege Women Patrick Smith, Tennessee Co-National Senior Player of the Year - Grace Baljon, Williams Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year - Rich Hills, Point Loma Nazarene Women College, and Siobhan Finicane, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Univ. National Assistant Coach of the Year - Dave Balogh, National Rookie of the Year - Kate Klein, Washington Univ.- Assistant Coach of the Year - Viviana Yrureta, Oklahoma Chrisitian Florida St. Louis Player of the Year - Natasa Zoricic, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. National Senior Player of the Year - Caitlin Who- National Player to Watch - Ellen Yeatman, Washington and Rookie Player of the Year - Caroline Nilsson, Embry-Riddle Aero- riskey, Tennessee Lee nautical Univ. National Rookie of the Year - Lauren Embree, Florida ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - Player to Watch - Gabriela Bergmanova, Vanguard Univ. National Player to Watch - Hilary Barte, Stanford Julia Browne, Tufts Univ. ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sports- Sheryl Bon, Azusa Pacific Univ. manship - Catherine Newman, Vanderbilt ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship - Cameron Ellis, Georgia

Division II Men Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year - John Hansen, Valdos- ta State Univ. Assistant Coach of the Year - Daniel Rockhill, Con- cordia College NY Player of the Year - Alex Grubin, Concordia College NY Rookie Player of the Year - Leandro Ferreira, Univ. of West Florida Player to Watch - Dilshod Sharifi, Francis Marion Univ. ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sports- manship - Lorenzo Cava, Bentley Univ. Women Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year - Pablo Montana, Cali- fornia Univ. of PA Assistant Coach of the Year - David Secker,Arm- strong Atlantic State Univ. Player of the Year - Jenny Chin, BYU-Hawaii Rookie Player of the Year - Barbi Pocza, Barry Univ. Player to Watch - Alida Muller-Wehlau, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ. ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr.Award for Leadership and Sports- manship - Natalia Ramos, Florida Institute of Technology

Division III Men Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year - Andrew Girard, Carnegie Mellon Univ. National Assistant Coach of the Year - Brendan Kin- caid, Salisbury Univ. National Senior Player of the Year - John Watts,

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13 14 INDUSTRYNEWS AQE PRSINDUSTRY SPORTS RACQUET n ecigPoGopo Two? or Group Pro Teaching One 0 1 0 2 Y L U J ewloeyu etr n omns laelmtltest 0 od aiu.Ealte orircutEHcmo a hmt 760-536-1171. to them fax or [email protected] to them Email maximum. words 300 to letters limit Please comments. and letters your welcome We de”sy hc itee,ntoa ae aae o am.“ited hyko htte a e a Pla get strings. can they quality that using know by they simply do play “Little their Gamma. in for manager boost sales significant national Vietmeier, Chuck says edge,” uy3,Gmawl u h Fe h oc ifrne ots.Rgsrnswl e h hnet win to chance the get will Registrants contest. Difference” Touch the “Feel the run will Gamma 31, Touch.”July TNT new the with playing start they when game G String Touch TNT2 New Launches Gamma 50i am prspout.Frcnetifrain ii gammasports.com/tnt2touch. visit information, contest For products. 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TIA TENNIS FORUM ‘Roadmap for a Healthy Sport’ The fourth annual TIA Tennis Forum, with the theme, “Roadmap for a Healthy Sport,” will be Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. The Tennis Forum, presented by Tennis Magazine, will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Manhattan Ballroom and is free and open to all in the industry. While the TIA Tennis Forum is Held in conjunction with the 40th Annual USTA Tennis free for all, please register at Teachers Conference, the Forum will present the latest news TennisIndustry.org/Forum, or about the state of the tennis industry, including participation email [email protected]. growth, equipment sales data, grassroots initiatives and more. Importantly, the Forum will outline pathways to increasing the number of frequent players in the U.S., ways to better define and boost the economic growth and impact of the tennis industry, and effective ways to distribute clear, consistent messaging of health, fitness and the reasons to play tennis. The USTA Tennis Teachers Conference runs from Aug. 28 to 31 and is a leading resource for teaching professionals, organizers and coaches and includes presentations and semi- nars, an exhibitor area, and opportunities for tennis teachers to network. For more information about the TIA Tennis Forum, visit TennisIndustry.org/Forum.

The first TI Hall of Fame inductees were Dennis Van 2010 Tennis Industry Hall of Fame der Meer and Howard Head; 2009’s sole inductee to be Announced at Forum was Alan Schwartz. Plaques of Tennis Industry Hall Also at this year’s Tennis Forum, the 2010 inductees into the Tennis Industry of Fame inductees are on display at the Interna- Hall of Fame will be announced. The TI Hall of Fame was created in 2008 to tional Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on the sport, from the 1960s to the present. Nominations are made in four cate- gories: inventors, founders, innova- tors and contributors. For more information about the Tennis Indus- try Hall of Fame, visit TennisIndus- Van der Meer Head Schwartz try.org/hof.

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT First-Quarter Shipments Rebound Tennis Welcome Centers: 2,742 While first-quarter TIA racquet census reports showed racquet shipments flat (1.1% Cardio Tennis: 1,776 increase over same period ’09), wholesale dollars for the quarter were up 19%, reflect- QuickStart Tennis: 1,602 ing a growing trend in performance racquet demand and increasing price points. TIA Consumer Queries: 4 million monthly Census reports also showed unit shipments of balls (6.2%) and strings (8.0%) up for the Searchable Events: 100,000 same quarter.At pro/specialty, racquets have been increasing monthly from 4% in Janu- Online Court Reservations: 2 million ary to a high of 18% in April compared to sales in 2009.

16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org TOOLS & RESOURCES TennisConnect: ‘Components’ GrowingTennis.com: Provide Just What You Need Programs, Information and Resources TennisConnect provides access to affordable, reliable customer-service Registration, administration and fulfillment for Tennis Welcome Centers, functions such as online player matching, event enrollment, court reser- Cardio Tennis, QuickStart Tennis and the GrowingTennis 50/50 Co-op vations, group email and more. While you can still purchase TennisCon- Funding program are easy through the Growing Tennis System. With 4 nect in its “bundled” form, it has million consumer queries monthly, more and more facilities are posting now been broken out into “compo- programs and information for free so customers can nents” that are far more cost-effec- find them. Meanwhile, managers, owners and teach- tive than “going it alone.” TC ing pros are using the free tools and resources to works with any existing website help their businesses. Update your information, or and allows tennis providers the register in the 20,000-facility database now, at choice to purchase and use just GrowingTennis.com. what they need. Available components include: Contact Manager and Find-A-Game, CareersInTennis.com: Group Email, eCalendar,Tennis Court Scheduler,Web Page Builder, String Center, Demo Racquet Center, TennisCollect, and Web Site Builder, with For Job-Seekers & Employers future plans for a league/ladder component as well as a Quickbooks-inte- Attracting more young talent into this industry is a key goal, and the free grated POS software and hardware system. TennisConnect currently has Careers In Tennis website does just that. Employers—in all areas of the more than 200,000 registered users. tennis industry—can post positions they’re looking You can connect with your players through technology starting at to fill, including internships, and job-seekers can post about a dollar a day. To learn more, visit TennisConnect.com. resumes and letters. The CareersInTennis.com site includes information and descriptions of jobs and Download the PlayTennis Widget career paths in the tennis industry, tennis teaching certifications and ten- Put the PlayTennis widget on your website now, nis management degree programs. The site is designed to promote more and consumers will quickly be able to find pro- financially attractive and stable job opportunities and to create greater grams, places to play, retailers, demo racquets, awareness of the importance of hiring only certified teaching pros. game-matching, coaching and more. To down- load the widget, visit TennisIndustry.org. Cost of Doing Business–Facilities: Facility Manager and Latest Trends, Data & Performance Among the 80+ research reports available from Retailer Business Manuals the TIA is the bi-annual “Cost of Doing Business: Business resources on GrowingTennis.com include Tennis Facilities” report, which provides a method a “Facility Manager’s Manual” and a “Retailer’s for facilities to measure their performance Manual”—both free and available to download in against industry averages, identifying opportuni- whole or part.The Facility Manager’s Manual, writ- ties to maximize growth and profitability. Among ten by longtime club manager Rod Heckelman, recent data is the fact that average revenue per covers all the topics that a manager or tennis court is up 18% since 2005 and the retention director needs to know about to effectively, efficiently and profitably run rate of introductory programs for new play- a tennis facility. The Retailer’s Manual organizes the experiences of many ers/beginners is high, at 65%. Other findings include average member- retailers to cover topics critical to running an effective and profitable ten- ship prices, both for tennis-only and all-inclusive memberships, have nis retail operation. decreased since 2007, down 15% and 25% respectively. For info or to obtain a copy of the CoDB report, email [email protected], TennisInsure: Safeguarding Your Business call 866-686-3036 or visit www.TennisIndustry.org. TennisInsure is a comprehensive insurance program created specifically for the tennis industry. Tennis facilities and clubs, employees, manufac- turers, retailers, and court contractors can now receive industry-specific Stay Informed About YOUR Industry! business insurance solutions with great rates through NetQuotes.com To receive the TIA’s monthly newsletter, and Aflac. The TennisInsure™ Program will give you the opportunity to sign up at TennisIndustry.org/Contact. compare competitive rates and coverage from some of the most rep- utable insurance companies in the industry. Visit TennisInsure.com for a free quote.

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

had his first child, it was a game-chang- er. He loved every minute of being a Pioneers In Tennis husband and a father." Gene Scott In 2006, at age 68, Scott died sud- denly of previously undiagnosed amyloi- dosis, a rare illness in which protein A dynamic figure for the sport. fiber deposits impair the heart. “I miss so much the lively discus- ho was Gene Scott? Ask but had turned his attentions to the sions we used to have about issues in any number of people and future of the game. He was a co-founder tennis and how to perpetuate the you'll get any number of of the National Junior Tennis League, game,” says Ray Benton, former presi- answers. He was an outstanding play- where he mentored young players dent of Pro-Serv who is now the CEO of Wer, an outspoken publisher, a mentor including John McEnroe. the Tennis Center at College Park in to young athletes, a tournament direc- In the 1970s, he was the face and Maryland. “Things still come up, and I tor, a prolific writer and a passionate voice that the public associated with ten- think, 'I'd like to talk about that with advocate for what he considered the nis. In 1973, he served as a television Gene.’” purity of the game. He was a devoted commentator for the Billie Jean family man. And he was more. King-Bobby Riggs match. In 1974, "Tennis insiders thought of Gene he founded Tennis Week magazine, as a dynamic figure, a cataclysmic fig- and gained great notoriety as a ure," says his longtime friend Donald columnist who became in the Dell. "And I think, honestly, that there words of Dell, "the conscience of were lots and lots of people who the game." He wrote 20 books and knew about Gene Scott but not a lot innumerable magazine articles, and of people who really knew him." produced TV documentaries, on the In the 1960s, Scott was a world- sport. Between 1973 and 1977, ranked tennis player, a fierce com- Scott won five consecutive U.S. petitor with a strong serve-and-volley Open Championships in “court ten- game who reached the quarterfinals nis,” the original game upon which of the French championships and the the modern sport of tennis is built, semis of the U.S. Championships. He and in 2000, he was elected to the was rated in the U.S. top 10 a total of Court Tennis Hall of Fame. five times, and at one point was No. Scott's outspoken approach and 11 in the world. bombastic attitude could keep peo- Dell, whose experiences with Scott ple at a distance, says Bobbie Faig, date back to their three years together who worked with him for 29 years on the Yale varsity tennis team, to the both on the magazine and in the pro tour, and to their enrollment at development and administration of pro "The children were so young when the University of Virginia law school, tournaments. "He was difficult, no ques- he died," says Polly, "and I know they may have a more comprehensive tion," laughs Faig, "but working with remember him as a father, and I know view of Scott's athletic prowess than him was an unbelievable experience. He that tennis is very much interwoven into most people. was always challenging you to learn our family life. I hope that one day, Sam "Gene was maybe the best athlete more, and to be better." and Lucy go to the International Tennis who ever went to Yale, and I say that Scott spent two years on the USTA's Hall of Fame and see the plaque there very knowledgeably," says Dell. “We board of directors, she added, "but I felt [Scott was inducted in 2008], and to would play tennis, then after each like he was too outspoken and too Yale and see the court that is dedicated match, Gene would run across the strong for them. I think he actually to their father." street and high-jump with the track scared people." Her voice catches. "If I've done an team, and he would win. Finally, the By the 1990s, Scott had married inadequate job of telling them the story, track coach said, 'Gene, you're mak- Polly Eastbrook. "He was 57 when we they will know about their father's ing a mockery of this. You're not even had our first child and 59 when we had important and significant contributions, practicing, and you're winning. You our second," says Polly Scott, "and I about how much he had given to tennis, have to choose what you want to do.' have to say I don't think he was quite and how much the sport gave back to He chose tennis, but if he hadn't, he prepared for it in terms of what he felt, them. That was the cycle of it, and we would have graduated easily with 12 and in terms of how much he felt. At are all the very proud beneficiaries of letters in three years." that point, he had devoted the first 57 that special process." By 1969, Scott was still playing, years of his life to tennis. But when he —Mary Helen Sprecher Q

"Pioneers in Tennis," an occasional column in RSI, draws attention to trailblazers in the sport. Have someone to suggest? E-mail [email protected].

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 19 REVENUEGENERATION HAPPYHAPPY CAMPERSCAMPERS A tennis camp at your facility can be a valuable source of revenue

in tough economic times. BYBRUCEKNITTLE

n today’s chaotic economic environment, we’re all looking to your facility has space, bringing other camps into your venue is increase revenues and keep our businesses healthy. If you own an excellent way to increase revenue. College athletic facilities are or direct a tennis facility, you might be worried about declining prime examples of this. Frequently, these sports venues will Imembership, decreasing pro shop sales, and the loss of league or attract numerous camps over the summer, and the schools are clinic proceeds. But one valuable source of revenue—which fre- able to generate considerable income. As a tennis facility, you can quently is overlooked—are tennis and sports camps. emulate this concept, but on a smaller scale. The camps you bring If organized properly, camps can provide a reliable basis for in can be charged rent, or you can have a profit-sharing improving your profitability. Whether you already run camps at arrangement. your facility, and especially if you don’t, these suggestions can With these additional camps, new people will visit your club, improve your overall bottom line and, in the process, help you increasing the likelihood of potential customers for other pro- establish quality camps at your site. grams. You should have an arrangement with these outside Even when a family’s budget is tight, parents will spend groups to be able to market what your facility offers. money on their children. When it comes to camps, parents want their kids to go to the best, just as they want them to be at quality schools. Yes, cost usually is a factor, but parents often will make ESTABLISHINGATENNISCAMP necessary sacrifices to locate the appropriate camp for their Q Make a commitment: Whether you house a camp already or children. are thinking of starting one, form a business plan, get a mission A tennis facility can accommodate these parents by being flex- statement and determine how viable it is. If it looks good, then ible in the fees charged, weeks when camps are offered, and types you’ll need to commit your full energy going forward. of camps available. This makes it easier to attend the programs at Q Treat camps as a separate business: Even though camps will convenient times, and for the right price. For instance, offer often be part of a tennis facility, and directed by similar individ- camps in different sessions, with weekend and nightly programs. uals, there needs to be differentiation. These points will be You can run adult and kids camps, with different price ranges. addressed further, but suffice it to say that the camp and facili- This flexibility gives potential customers choices to find what ty need to be treated as two distinct entities; to make a camp would fit their budgets, and it gives you numerous avenues to successful, it needs to be a business unto itself. If you simply increase capital. think of the camp as something on the side—an addendum to In today’s economy, many people aren’t taking expensive the other business—you’ll fail. If you can’t put your full energies vacations. Instead, they’ll attend an affordable camp where they into it, put someone else in charge who has the time and will enjoy great fitness and fun. Facilities need to market their knowledge. camps as a wonderful, enjoyable option to save money. Q Licensing and accreditation: All camps need to be licensed and To maximize revenues, try to have more than one camp. If need to have a permit to operate. Each state is responsible for

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com camp licensing, and usually it is the state’s Department of Health, Some elements that work best when marketing a camp include or a similar agency, that takes care of this. The process of licens- direct mailing, advertising, internet marketing, and referrals from ing should be started early on, because often it involves a good clients. Having a website that is simple to navigate and highlights deal of paperwork. But with a licensed camp, you put yourself your camp’s features is essential. Increasingly, people seek camps out there as a professional operation and gain in credibility. You through the internet and want the ease of online registration. should also get your camp accredited with a professional camp To gain enrollment, make sure you contact everyone who is a organization, such as the American Camp Association. This will participant at your club, involved in any of the programs, or is a further your camp’s reputation. staff member. This can be by brochure or letter highlighting the Q Get insurance: Take care of this early on. Liability insurance is camp, and through email and email newsletters. These will often imperative, and you want it separate from the insurance that cov- be your first customers, and they frequently bring their friends and ers your facility. Property coverage, and transportation insur- relatives with them. ance, may also need to be explored. There are insurance brokers One vehicle that has worked well is local and regional maga- who specialize in camps, and I would recommend dealing with zines for parents, which often have camp guides. Newspapers also them. Workers compensation and disability insurance will also may have a bulletin section where you can advertise your camp for be required. Each state has its own regulations with regard to free. When I ran my camp, I was amazed at how many individu- these two types of insurance. als responded from this section. Q Employees, not independent contractors: Your instructors and The best way to increase enrollment is to be professional in counselors should be treated as employees, not independent everything you do at your facility. People see how trustworthy you contractors. You are in control of their hours and are directing are, and they will want to send their children to your programs. them on how to perform their duties. Having an excellent reputation for integrity will do more to estab- lish your camp in years to come than anything else. Isn’t this how MARKETINGYOURCAMP we all want to be perceived when building a business? Q Once the basics of setting up are completed, then the task of mar- keting your camp begins. At the outset, when you were formulat- Bruce Knittle is president of the sports consulting firm Knittle Sports ing the business plan, a marketing plan should also be Solutions (www.knittlesportssolutions.com). A former sports camp incorporated in the process. This is a strategy to help guide you for- owner, he also was a college head coach and directed sports pro- ward with the business of finding campers. grams for many years. He can be reached at [email protected].

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21

2010 GUIDE TO BALL MACHINES FINDYOURFINDYOUR BALLMACHINEFor 2010, new machines from Lobster BALLMACHINEand Silent Partner and Sports Tutor join the list. Lobster Elite Grandslam V Limited Edition nyone who's been thinking about buying a ball machine will be excited to hear that the USRSA has updated its Ball Machine Selection Guide for 2010. This is the only source anywhere that allows ball machine buy- Aers to compare the features from all the different brands in one easy-to-use guide. Three new machines have been added to the 2010 guide - one each from Lobster, Silent Partner, and Sports Tutor. To see how they compare to all the other ball machines available, check out the chart on pages 24 and 25. You'll see the specs for the 3 new machines printed in red. Remember, many machines offer options that can be added at the time of purchase. We list all the features that come standard with each machine, but we also list all the options available, along with the cost of adding each. —David Bone Q

Sports Tutor Tennis Cube

Silent Partner Sport (Edge Series)

July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23 PROPULSION 2010 GUIDE TO BALL MACHINES

Price Warranty Dimensions Manufacturer Model (MSRP) (years) (Storage inches) Elevation Control - Electronic Able to Feed Lobs Ball Capacity Spinning Wheel Propulsion Air Pressure Propulsion Feeding Interval (seconds) Elevation Control - Manual Able to Feed Topspin & Underspin Weight (lbs) Top Speed (MPH) Able to Feed Sidespin Lobster Elite Freedom $799 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 30 X 2 - 12 70 XX X X8.5* XX X $49 X 1a, 2 Elite Grandslam IV $1,899 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 9 80 XXX X X X XX X18** XX $300 X XX $49 X3 lobstersports.com Elite 1 $1,049 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 42 X 2 - 12 80 X XX X X18** XX$169 XX $49 X 1b, 2 800-526-4041 Elite 2 $1,299 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 12 80 X XX X XX X18** XX$169 XX $49 X 1c, 2 Elite 3 $1,549 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 12 80 X XX X XX X18** XX$169 XX $49 X 1d, 2 Elite Grandslam V $2,199 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 9 80 XXX X X 6 6 X XX XX X18** XX $300 X XX $49 X4 Elite Grandslam V Limited Edition $2,799 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 9 80 XXX X X 6 6 X XX XX X18** XXX X XX $49 X5

Playmate Half-Volley $1,195 2 19” x 21” x 25” 200 42 X 1 - 10 80 XX X X X 7 X X X X $85.15 X 6, 7 playmatetennis.com Volley $1,695 2 19” x 21” x 25” 200 46 X 1 - 10 80 XX X X X 2 X 15 XX X X X $85.15 X7 800-776-6770 Ace $3,495 3 35” x 21” x 38” 200 85 X 1 - 10 95 X XX X 3 X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X Smash $4,395 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 X XX XX 7 X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 9, 10, 11 Deuce $5,195 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 XXX X X 7 X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 10, 11 Genie $5,995 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 XXX X X 7 X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 9, 11 Genie PC $7,820 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 X XX XX 8∞ X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 9, 10 Grand Slam $7,495 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 110 X 1 - 10 120 XXXX X X 7 X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 9, 10, 12 Grand Slam PC $8,995 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 110 X 1 - 10 120 X XX X XX 8∞ X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X

SAM I-SAM $684 1 19” x 17.5” x 18” 250 34 X 2 - 8 65 XX X $112 XX12 XX X X X13, 14 mastersports.com Professional Portable 1 $1,073 1 19.5” x 16” x 21.5” 300 48 X 2 - 8 75 XX X X $112 XX15 XXXX XX14, 15 800-837-1002 Prof essional Portable 4 $1,749 1 19.5” x 16” x 21.5” 300 48 X 2 - 8 75 X XX XX 2 $112 XX15 XXX X XX XX14, 15 Sport $3,595 3 35” x 25” x 50” 250 87 X 1.5 - 8 85 XX X X X 3 X X X X16 Coach $3,975 3 35” x 25” x 50” 250 87 X 1.5 - 8 85 XX X X X 6 XX X X X16 Robot Optimizers tennisrobot.com Boomer $14,450 2 38.5” x 31” x 21.5” 300 124 X 1.0 - 10 100 X XX XX30 1000 X XX XX X X XXX $3,895 XX17 888-8BOOMER

Silent Partner Lite (Edge Series) $799 1 24” x 22” x 16” 200 35 X 1.5 - 10 95 XX X X X 9 X $40 X sptennis.com Sport (Edge Series) $949 1 24” x 22” x 16” 200 46 X 1.5 - 10 95 XX X X X 21 X $40 X 800-662-1809 Star (Edge Series) $1,099 1 24” x 22” x 16” 200 46 X 1.5 - 10 95 XX X X $249 $100 X 21 XX XX $40 X Rival (Scoop Series) $1,399 1 28” x 22” x 18” 300 48 X 1.5 - 10 95 X XX X 3 $249 $100 X 21 XXX X XX $60 X 23

Sports Attack Ace Attack $5,999 1 34” x 53” x 127” 200 150 X 1.5 - 12 110 XX X X X 4 X $300 XX $200 X sportsattack.com 800-717-4251

Sports Tutor Tennis Twist $229 1 10” x 11” x 23” 28 11 5 15 XX X6 D Cells Tennis Tutor ProLite - Basic $649 1 12” x 19.5” x 18” 125 22 X 1.5 - 10 60 XX X XX$50 9X X $70 X $35 sportstutor.com Tennis Tutor ProLite $749 1 12” x 19.5” x 18” 125 29 X 1.5 - 10 60 XX X XX$50 9X X $70 X $35 18 800-448-8867 Tennis Tutor $1,049 1 12” x 19.5” x 20” 150 42 X 1.5 - 12 85 XX X 4 X$50 X 18 XX $200 XX $35 X 18, 19 Tennis Tutor - Plus $1,249 1 20” x 19.5” x 20” 150 46 X 1.5 - 12 85 X XX X 4 X$50 X 18 XX $200 XX $35 X 18, 19, 20a Tennis Tutor - Plus Player $1,649 1 20” x 19.5” x 20” 150 46 X 1.5 - 12 85 X XX X 5 X X X X$50 X 18 XX $200 X XX $35 X 19, 19, 20b, 22a Tennis Tower $1,275 1 44” x 23” x 22” 225 60 X 1.5 - 8 85 XX$270 X4 X $200 XX XX Tennis Tower - Pro Player $2,195 1 44” x 23” x 22” 225 60 X 1.5 - 8 85 X XX X 5 X X X X X XX XX Shot Maker - Standard $3,100 2 38.5” x 31” x 21.5” 300 96 X 1 - 6 95 X XX XX 3 X $200 XX XX Shot Maker - Deluxe $4,200 2 38.5” x 31” x 21.5” 300 96 X 1 - 6 95 X XX XX 6 X X X XXXXX22b Wilson Portable $1,095 1 22” x 14” x 20” 110 38 X 1.5 - 10 75 X XX X$200 2 $50 X 12 XX $200 XX $35 X 18 Tennis Cube $499 1 15” x 12” x 13” 70 24 X 2 - 10 50 XX X$100 X 6X X 18 Super Coach tennismachine.com SuperCoach $11,465 1 36” x 27” x 22” 200/300 121 X 1.4 - 5.6 65 X XX XX30 32 X XX XX X X X XX21 408-660-1173 *Other Optional Accessories 5 - 6 Pre-Programmed Court Drills + 6 Custom Programmable Court 1a - Horizontal Oscillation / 1b - Horizontal Oscillation + Spin Control / 1c - Drills (with 18 possible locations) + 2 Line Narrow, Medium, Wide * Amp 2-4 hrs Triple-Oscillation / 1d - Triple-Osciillation + 2-Line Narrow, Wide 6 - Oscillation Upgrade $199, Remote Control Upgrade $275 ** Amp 4-8 Hours of Court Time 2 - Fast charger $99 7 - 6-Hour Non-Memory Battery Upgrade $149, 3-Hour Rapid New Machines in Red 3 - 3 Pre-Programmed Court Drills (6 ball sequence per drill) 3 Positional Recharger $219.70 Settings of 2-Line (Narrow, Medium, Wide) 8 - Smash Conversion Box $325 24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 4 - 6 Pre-Programmed Court Drills + 6 Custom Programmable Court Drills 9 - Deuce Conversion Box $1125 (with 6 possible locations) + 2 Line Narrow, Medium, Wide 10 - Genie Conversion Box $1925 OSCILLATION POWER REMOTE CONTROL MISC.

Battery Amp/Hour Remote Control - Standard Remote Control - Cord Remote Control - WirelessRemote Control of Oscillation Rem. Cntrl of ProgramServing Settings Tower - Standard Runs on Battery orRuns Power on Cord Power Cord Only Battery Life Indicator Serving Tower - Optional Acc. Cover - Standard Cover - Optional Accessory Includes Wheels for PortabilityOther (See Below) Runs on Battery Only Battery Swapability Smart Charger comesSmart Standard Charger avail. as option Rem. Cntrl - Optional Accessory No. of Prog. that Can Be Stored Oscillation - Random Oscillation - Programmable Number of Shots in Program Adjustable Depth within ProgramAdjustable Spin within Program Player Simulation Mode No Oscillation Adjustable Height withinAdjustable Program Interval within Prog. Elite Freedom $799 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 30 X 2 - 12 70 XX X X8.5* XX X $49 X 1a, 2 Elite Grandslam IV $1,899 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 9 80 XXX X X X XX X18** XX $300 X XX $49 X3 Elite 1 $1,049 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 42 X 2 - 12 80 X XX X X18** XX$169 XX $49 X 1b, 2 Elite 2 $1,299 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 12 80 X XX X XX X18** XX$169 XX $49 X 1c, 2 Elite 3 $1,549 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 12 80 X XX X XX X18** XX$169 XX $49 X 1d, 2 Elite Grandslam V $2,199 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 9 80 XXX X X 6 6 X XX XX X18** XX $300 X XX $49 X4 Elite Grandslam V Limited Edition $2,799 2 24” x 16” x 19” 150 44 X 2 - 9 80 XXX X X 6 6 X XX XX X18** XXX X XX $49 X5

Half-Volley $1,195 2 19” x 21” x 25” 200 42 X 1 - 10 80 XX X X X 7 X X X X $85.15 X 6, 7 Volley $1,695 2 19” x 21” x 25” 200 46 X 1 - 10 80 XX X X X 2 X 15 XX X X X $85.15 X7 Ace $3,495 3 35” x 21” x 38” 200 85 X 1 - 10 95 X XX X 3 X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X Smash $4,395 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 X XX XX 7 X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 9, 10, 11 Deuce $5,195 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 XXX X X 7 X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 10, 11 Genie $5,995 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 XXX X X 7 X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 9, 11 Genie PC $7,820 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 85 X 1 - 10 95 X XX XX 8∞ X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 9, 10 Grand Slam $7,495 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 110 X 1 - 10 120 XXXX X X 7 X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X 8, 9, 10, 12 Grand Slam PC $8,995 3 35” x 21” x 38” 300 110 X 1 - 10 120 X XX X XX 8∞ X XX XX X XXXXX $4,395 $85.15 X

I-SAM $684 1 19” x 17.5” x 18” 250 34 X 2 - 8 65 XX X $112 XX12 XX X X X13, 14 Professional Portable 1 $1,073 1 19.5” x 16” x 21.5” 300 48 X 2 - 8 75 XX X X $112 XX15 XXXX XX14, 15 Prof essional Portable 4 $1,749 1 19.5” x 16” x 21.5” 300 48 X 2 - 8 75 X XX XX 2 $112 XX15 XXX X XX XX14, 15 Sport $3,595 3 35” x 25” x 50” 250 87 X 1.5 - 8 85 XX X X X 3 X X X X16 Coach $3,975 3 35” x 25” x 50” 250 87 X 1.5 - 8 85 XX X X X 6 XX X X X16

Boomer $14,450 2 38.5” x 31” x 21.5” 300 124 X 1.0 - 10 100 X XX XX30 1000 X XX XX X X XXX $3,895 XX17

Lite (Edge Series) $799 1 24” x 22” x 16” 200 35 X 1.5 - 10 95 XX X X X 9 X $40 X Sport (Edge Series) $949 1 24” x 22” x 16” 200 46 X 1.5 - 10 95 XX X X X 21 X $40 X Star (Edge Series) $1,099 1 24” x 22” x 16” 200 46 X 1.5 - 10 95 XX X X $249 $100 X 21 XX XX $40 X Rival (Scoop Series) $1,399 1 28” x 22” x 18” 300 48 X 1.5 - 10 95 X XX X 3 $249 $100 X 21 XXX X XX $60 X 23

Ace Attack $5,999 1 34” x 53” x 127” 200 150 X 1.5 - 12 110 XX X X X 4 X $300 XX $200 X

Tennis Twist $229 1 10” x 11” x 23” 28 11 5 15 XX X6 D Cells Tennis Tutor ProLite - Basic $649 1 12” x 19.5” x 18” 125 22 X 1.5 - 10 60 XX X XX$50 9X X $70 X $35 Tennis Tutor ProLite $749 1 12” x 19.5” x 18” 125 29 X 1.5 - 10 60 XX X XX$50 9X X $70 X $35 18 Tennis Tutor $1,049 1 12” x 19.5” x 20” 150 42 X 1.5 - 12 85 XX X 4 X$50 X 18 XX $200 XX $35 X 18, 19 Tennis Tutor - Plus $1,249 1 20” x 19.5” x 20” 150 46 X 1.5 - 12 85 X XX X 4 X$50 X 18 XX $200 XX $35 X 18, 19, 20a Tennis Tutor - Plus Player $1,649 1 20” x 19.5” x 20” 150 46 X 1.5 - 12 85 X XX X 5 X X X X$50 X 18 XX $200 X XX $35 X 19, 19, 20b, 22a Tennis Tower $1,275 1 44” x 23” x 22” 225 60 X 1.5 - 8 85 XX$270 X4 X $200 XX XX Tennis Tower - Pro Player $2,195 1 44” x 23” x 22” 225 60 X 1.5 - 8 85 X XX X 5 X X X X X XX XX Shot Maker - Standard $3,100 2 38.5” x 31” x 21.5” 300 96 X 1 - 6 95 X XX XX 3 X $200 XX XX Shot Maker - Deluxe $4,200 2 38.5” x 31” x 21.5” 300 96 X 1 - 6 95 X XX XX 6 X X X XXXXX22b Wilson Portable $1,095 1 22” x 14” x 20” 110 38 X 1.5 - 10 75 X XX X$200 2 $50 X 12 XX $200 XX $35 X 18 Tennis Cube $499 1 15” x 12” x 13” 70 24 X 2 - 10 50 XX X$100 X 6X X 18

SuperCoach $11,465 1 36” x 27” x 22” 200/300 121 X 1.4 - 5.6 65 X XX XX30 32 X XX XX X X X XX21 11 - Genie PC Conversion Box $3750 18 - External Battery Pack $130, External AC Power Supply $125 12 - Grand Slam PC Conversion Box $3750 19 - Smart Fast Battery Upgrade $75 13 - Extra Heavy Duty Battery $35, Wireless Remote $100 20 - Player Simulation (20a - $200, 20b - included) 14 - 110/220 Volt AC converter $112, Water Resistant Cloth Storage Cover $68 21 - Can deliver any type of ball (topspin, underspin, flat, lob) to any place 15 - Lob Enhancer $30, adjustable oscillation width on court in any sequence, all ball parameters and timing customizable. 16 - Ships via FedEx Gnd, Feeds Balls from 30" above ground 22 - Multi-Function Remote (22a - $200, 22b - $300) 17 - Plays Games, Rates Shots, Uses a Camera, Talks to Players, Cordless Headphone System ($500 or July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25 $50/month), Wireless Printer for Analysis ($2000 or $100/month) Radar Gun, iPod input and speakers SPECIALREPORT:STATEOFTHEINDUSTRY

FACILITYMANAGEMENTFACILITYMANAGEMENTWhether large or small, public or private, tennis facility owners and managers face many common challenges.

BYMARYHELENSPRECHER Additional reporting by Peter Francesconi

n terms of tennis facilities, there are no terms—or at least none Rod Heckelman, general manager and tennis pro at the that seem to apply in every situation. Across the U.S., facilities Mount Tam Racquet Club in Marin County, Calif., calls the fric- vary widely in player demographics, staff size and budget. They tion with the USTA "the conflict no one wants to talk about," Imay be public or municipal, commercial or private, with courts since it touches on sensitive issues on both sides. And while sta- that are hard or soft (or both), indoor or outdoor, bare bones or tistics touting the growth of beginner players are good news, well-appointed and receiving extensive daily maintenance. They facility owners and managers have ongoing worries. may be tennis-only, or they may be part of larger complexes that "From the standpoint of the clubs and tennis players, the include everything from exercise rooms to golf to squash to swim- numbers being up are great: good news and increased income," ming pools to day spas. Heckelman notes. "The competition being down impacts the Just about the only common denominator is that in tennis USTA directly; in fact, competition is their main source of facilities, managers and owners have multiple responsibilities. income, especially adult leagues. For clubs, it is the reverse: We The same person who is on the court giving a lesson at 2 p.m. need more participation and less competition, more recreational may be cloistered in his or her office by 4 p.m., sweating over a tennis and more activities, less league play that steers players balance sheet and keeping away from needing a club. This puts the USTA at odds with the This is the fourth in a series of articles one eye on the clock because club industry." about the tennis industry's changing at 5 p.m., a potential teach- The USTA is aware of the complaints, says Kurt Kamperman, landscape. Future topics will deal with participation, court construction, pro ing pro is going to present the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis. Kamperman, tennis and more. We'd like to hear herself for a job interview. who recently spoke at the PTR's second annual Tennis Club your comments and concerns too. E- For them, the state of the Owners and Facility Managers Conference, also was able to lis- mail them to [email protected]. industry is all about being ten to the questions and concerns of participants, and to address Please put “state of the industry” in the ready for the next challenge, some of the issues. subject line. To view past “State of the Industry” stories, visit www.racquet- and their days are full of "A lot of things came up informally at the conference," says sportsindustry.com. those. Kamperman, "about clubs and the USTA and the different prior- This constant need to ities each has. For instance with league tennis, club owners were diversify, says Dan Santorum, executive director of the Profes- saying it doesn't really make them money so it wasn't a big pri- sional Tennis Registry, has resulted in club owners and managers ority for them." Still, he notes, "I know a lot of commercial clubs becoming almost a breed unto themselves. They are isolated, where league tennis is their huge driver. There are some clubs despite having constant interactions with staff, players and their that are clinging to the contract court time, but that's a model board of directors. It leads to inertia, to frustration and some- that is changing." times, to burnout. IHRSA (the International Health, Racquet and He fully acknowledges the USTA's recent focus on the public Sportsclub Association), he adds, has shifted its focus from strict- sector, but says it is a strategy that should ultimately work in the ly racquet sports to fitness facilities in general, and the USTA has favor of private and commercial facilities, since, "If you're hav- been emphasizing community tennis. ing a booming tennis section at the parks, it shouldn't be a dis- traction; it should act as a feeder system." 'THECONFLICTNOONEWANTSTOTALKABOUT' The focus on public tennis was well under way when the Among many facility owners and managers, there are varying recession hit. But in at least one way, Kamperman adds, the degrees of unease and resentment toward the USTA. downturn in the economy may have unexpectedly contributed to "Most club owners and managers feel a little bit disenfran- getting some more of those new players onto courts, since park chised by the USTA," says Santorum. "Their complaint is that the and school programs are available free or for a low cost—some- USTA's main focus is on the public sector, people playing in the thing that would appeal to anyone affected by job loss or other parks, and that less attention is being paid to clubs. The volume setbacks. As the economy improves, those new players will seek of tennis is in the clubs, but most of the people play in public better facilities, more enhanced learning opportunities and more parks. It's important to reach the masses, but the majority of fre- competition, and will begin joining clubs. quent players and teaching pros are going to be in the clubs." "Now the focus is on growing a stronger frequent-player

26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com base," he says. "That's next: Let's now do whatever we can to cre- family," says Hunter Gallaway of the Lafayette Tennis Club in ate that base. I think that bodes well for clubs." Lafayette, Calif. "That's who we're catering to. You're always look- ing to bring new blood in, and we want to keep growing our other SURVEYSAYS... programs, including our super seniors, but the family is the mar- In a survey conducted by the Tennis Industry Association in the ket we're trying to bring in." fourth quarter of 2009, 76 percent of facility owners and man- The problem, say managers, is that families have changed. agers reported that their outlook for the industry was "good" or More children have scheduled activities during what used to be "very good," a 7 percent increase since 2005. In addition, they free time, and children who once would be enrolled in tennis noted, the average number of participants in introductory or lessons are going into other sports such as soccer or basketball. beginner programs was up 16 percent since 2005 and 50 percent Juniors who play at the high school level are often seduced by since 2007, and that the retention rate for those new players had lacrosse, which plays in the fall and spring, and are choosing that remained high. over tennis. And, managers add, parents seem to be driving their But there are worrisome signs too. Average all-inclusive dues children into popular sports in the hope of excelling and scoring a are 25 percent lower now than they were in 2005 as more facili- college scholarship, rather than finding a sport that is enjoyable ties struggle to compete and healthy. with not only other fitness "When it comes to kids programs and opportuni- “As 2010 hits, the attrition rate has become better,” who could be playing as ties, but against an econo- says Doug Cash. “Clubs are growing their membership juniors, I think other activi- my that has many families ties are the main competi- and individuals cutting back again. New membership sales are about 70 percent of tion," says Allison on discretionary spending. McLendon, retail manager Among those facilities indi- what th ey were in 2007.” at Bentwater Country Club cating their court usage was down, most blamed membership in Montgomery, Texas. "We have a lot of kids who tell me, 'I have shortfalls, with less league play and lowered demand for group gymnastics on Monday, soccer on Tuesday and tennis on lessons and clinics (two things normally counted on as the big Wednesday.'" money-makers) also being cited. "Tennis and the whole country-club lifestyle has changed According to Doug Cash, a business consultant with CashFlow because families are putting their kids into other sports," says Tennis, the drop-off can be attributed to two types of cutbacks on George Kustas of the Poughkeepsie Tennis Club in Poughkeepsie, the part of players. "Probably the peak year for membership was N.Y. "They're not only putting these kids into these sports, but 2007," he notes, "and then there was a reaction to the economy. they're putting them in full force. They join travel teams and they People who belonged to a club and who were low users down- play all year round. They're on the field from Saturday morning to graded; that is, they went to a less expensive membership, and Sunday afternoon. The family isn't going to the club and hanging those who weren't using the club as much dropped their mem- around the pool. And the kids aren't picking up their racquets and bership. As a result, there was an increase in attrition rates at that heading down to the park to play tennis with their friends on the point. Normal attrition is 20 percent, and it probably jumped to 30 public courts. They see the court from the minivan as they drive percent during 2008-2009, which also included the number of by on their way to soccer practice, but that's it." downgrades. “As 2010 hits, the attrition rate has become better,“ Cash adds. MEMBERSONLY? “There aren't as many fringe people, meaning the people who are As the economy has tightened, facility managers have become there are really into tennis. Clubs are growing their membership more creative in the options they offer potential members—and again. New membership sales are about 70 percent of what they the ways they get them in the door. were in 2007." "People have several options here," says Dr. Sophie Woorons- Even at a time when statistics say tennis has never been Johnston of Performance Meadows at Brookstone Tennis in stronger, managers remain concerned about the economy and Anderson, N.C. "Our initiation fee is very low, but having it pre- are trying to be as conservative as possible in their own spending. vents people from coming in and out. We also have a beginner Only 20 percent of facilities planned for capital improvements in discount right now so that people can join without paying initia- 2009; less than half of those improvements will be made to ten- tion fees. For returning players, people who were members but nis courts, while the remaining percentages include equipment, who left for a while, we will also waive the initiation fee one time." interior building, exterior building and landscaping (in descending Some facilities offer reduced dues or a “price-match” with dues amount of funding allocated). advertised at nearby facilities. Other incentives include the first Facility managers and owners want to capitalize on the growth month (or first several months) free, discounts to friends who join of tennis and translate it into a better bottom line for their orga- at the same time, and free months to members who refer new nization. But unlike the retailers and the manufacturers who want members. to capture the business of the frequent tennis players, many facil- At the same time, some organizations are finding ways to get ity managers are concerned about the next generation of frequent individuals in the door by using a seasonal aspect of the facility, players. They want to know, where are the kids? such as just the pool in the summer months. Many of these peo- "The key to any successful tennis club is the tennis-playing ple can be persuaded to trade up once cool weather hits, they add, www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27 SPECIALREPORT:STATEOFTHEINDUSTRY particularly if they're given a taste of the other amenities. Greg events such as mixers, match play nights, and drop-in format pro- Moran, director of tennis at the Four Seasons Racquet Club in grams such as Matinee Tennis, Early Bird Tennis and Cardio Ten- Wilton, Conn., gives individuals with pool-only memberships an nis. New members receive a dozen coupons either discounting the invitation to a free tennis clinic. "Once we get them on the tennis fee or offering the activity free altogether for trial participation." courts, we're confident we can hook them," he notes. At the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz., "I think tennis is a try and buy sport," says Cash, "which means director John Austin has implemented the “Tennis University” you have to get people in the door of your club. You can give peo- learning program. "The concept is that we'll have you playing on ple a trial membership whether they're beginner or advanced. If a 2.5 league by the time we're done," he says. "We don't want les- they like it, they'll get involved. I don't know if more people are son-takers, we want players." trying that, but more people should be." According to the TIA's survey, a decreasing number of clubs is WHO'SMINDINGTHESTORE? offering “tennis-only” memberships. In 2005, 57 percent of all One point of discussion among facility owners and managers is facilities offered dedicated tennis privileges, as compared to 50 the need for a pro shop—or, to be more accurate, the lack of need percent in 2007 and 46 percent in 2009. The average dues for ten- for one. While there are a few facilities that still have flourishing nis-only memberships has also dropped 15 percent since 2005. shops, most owners and managers we surveyed say that keeping "The best thing we’ve done is make things more inclusive," a fully stocked (and fully staffed) store is no longer a profitable says Sean McQuillan, director of tennis at Norton Pines in Spring venture. Lake, Mich. He notes that by creating a program in which players "We have two pro shops, one at our athletic club over the ten- try two organized activities offered at the club, they receive enroll- nis courts and one at our golf course," says Rob Goldman, chief ment in a third activity free. operating officer of the Columbia Association in Columbia, Md. "We put the incentives out there for people to play more often “But we’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that with the and try more things," McQuillan adds. "We didn’t have a lot of major e-commerce opportunities out there for people, we should competitive juniors playing, so we started a challenge ladder. If just stick with providing necessity items. We've been trying to you win, you get a racquet, if you come in second, you get a bag. reduce our inventory. We still carry some racquets, and the pros Now, we have juniors playing again." can still sell racquets, but we don't sell shoes or clothing at all any longer." KEEPINGPLAYERSINTHEFOLD Racquet stringing remains profitable for many clubs. The TIA Member retention is another concern for facility owners and man- survey found that in a typical month during 2009, the average agers. Keeping a member happy is easier than facility expected to sell 10 racquets, but to spending the money and energy to find a new restring 30. Grips and balls are always in one. And at a time when there are multiple QUICK FACTS demand, say managers, and some facilities options for exercise (including walking or run- The TIA survey of facilities revealed the stock clothing with their logo on it, but very ning, which are free), keeping players in the following trends few keep tennis skirts, tops or dresses in fold takes more work than it used to. stock. • Group lessons and private clinics Owners and managers agree that it is "Really, with clothing, the only time we combined accounted for about 60% essential to get new players involved immedi- did well was when it was on sale," says of expected tennis revenue. ately, and to make them feel welcome. Goodman of the Club at Rawls Creek. "I had Woorons-Johnston stresses upon her staff the • A typical facility will have two to to discontinue it." need to foster a family atmosphere in the club, three staff members affiliated with More and more facilities report having and to make sure new members do not feel USPTA and/or PTR. their front desk personnel handle the sale of that a cliquish atmosphere exists. merchandise, and pros taking orders for • There was an 18% reported increase "The most important thing you can do to restringing. The rise of online court reserva- in the annual tennis revenue per keep the person in the club is to get them into tion systems, say owners and managers, court. a group of peers and friends," says Freddy has freed up those individuals to perform Goodman, director of tennis at the Club at more in-person customer-service functions Rawls Creek in Irmo, S.C. "Whenever we get a new member, we and allowed court bookings to operate more efficiently. try to get them on league teams. They need to be in a social group Ray Major, tennis director of the Fretz Tennis Center in Dallas, and you need them to participate. If we don't get them involved, is an enthusiastic proponent of technology in tennis. Upon arriving if we don't get them to come to the mixers, they don't stay at Fretz a little less than a decade ago, Major found himself faced around. I found that out a long time ago." with a system "where everything was done on paper and there According to Michael Mahoney, general manager of Midtown was an old-fashioned cash register." Major wasted no time in tak- Tennis Club in Chicago, participation is the key to retention efforts. ing the program online. Today, he uses TennisConnect, which he "Upon joining the club, our objective is to get a new member says "streamlines everything and makes it a lot easier." involved in club activities by introducing them to group program- The ability of players to log in, make court reservations, and ming with an emphasis on introducing them to other members at sign up for leagues and lessons on their own time is a benefit to the same playing level and with similar availability," says facilities as well as a convenience to players. "It significantly Mahoney. "We invite new members to participate in special reduces costs and manpower, and it allows me to go out and clean

28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com courts, knowing that I don't have to be there in case someone Rob Goldman. But when members at the Courtside Athletic Club wants to book a lesson," says Tim Jachymowski, owner of the in Greenville, S.C., were given the choice of losing the towels or Spring Lake Park, Minn.-based PublicIndoorTennis.com. "I get taking a dues increase, says Randy Bailey, the director of tennis, court reservations that come in at midnight, 1 a.m., and people "They said get rid of the towels. It wasn't really a big deal to have used their credit card, so it's all paid for. If that person does- them." n't show up, I already have my money." When budget cuts at the Dunes West Golf & River Club in Mount Pleasant, S.C., resulted in having fewer staff available to NETGAME care for the facility's three soft courts, management instituted a While all facilities interviewed had websites, the complexity and do-it-yourself policy among members, requiring players to drag amount of use varied widely. Some were strictly informational, the courts after playing. "We got a little resistance in the begin- listing only the basics: facility features, operating hours, address, ning," says Jack Miller, director of tennis. “But once people saw directions and so forth, while others were more interactive, includ- how well the courts were playing, they were fine with it." ing links to online court reservation systems and the ability to sign "The key to keeping members is always their perception," says up for notification of future events. Cash. "The perception of, 'Am I getting enough value for what I'm According to the TIA, 53 percent more of the facilities that have paying?' People have started looking at every dollar they are pay- a tennis-specific website now have their programming listed on ing, so you have to be careful when you're cutting." their website as well. A total of 27 percent use online registration, Overall, the bottom line is at the top of everyone's list of con- and 35 percent indicated an interest in offering online registration cerns, forcing managers to get, in their words, “lean and mean.” directly from program listings on the Tennis Welcome Center Phil Feidelseit of Brattleboro Racquet Sports in Brattleboro, Vt., website or the Cardio Tennis website. (Cardio Tennis program- reports that his operation and two affiliated clubs employ a core ming was popular in 2009, offered by 61 percent of all respon- group of volunteers to help do maintenance and open courts for dents, and outpacing even the popularity of swimming pools, the year. Virtually all facilities have slashed their marketing and fitness centers and group exercise classes.) advertising budgets, doing most of their external promotions Communication with players and members has gone electron- through e-mail and word of mouth. ic as well: E-mail is the preferred method of notification of new programs, upcoming events and breaking news on rainouts or RANGEOFCOST-SAVINGSMEASURES cancellations. Very few facilities still use a printed newsletter as Cost-saving measures employed by facility owners and managers their primary means of communication. Jachymowski says that ranged from barely noticeable to drastic. Conservative measures he, like most, has an e-mail list, and "we do quite a few mass e- included using energy-efficient light fixtures, having court lights on mails, but we're careful not to get to the point of overwhelming timers and going with less expensive soap or paper towels. More people." severe cutbacks involved the elimination of full-time positions and And the TIA, says Executive Director Jolyn de Boer, has long increased reliance on part-time help. Cutting staff hours, while been a proponent of using technology to increase business for always an unpopular decision, was unavoidable in many cases. clubs and facilities. “The TIA’s TennisConnect has recently come The TIA survey found that in comparing wages and independent out with modifications that make it even easier for facilities to use contractors in 2009 to wages in previous survey periods, wages just the features they need,” she says. “Our websites, including consistently accounted for approximately 40 percent of tennis- GrowingTennis.com, include easy links for facilities to post their related business expenses. programs and information for free into a national database search- At Norton Pines, McQuillan was one of those who made the able by consumers everywhere.” choice to go with less expensive help. "It’s changed my staff a lit- Some facility owners and managers have ventured into social tle, but for the better, I think. I have some pros who are young, media. Mahoney reports that Midtown is on Facebook and has right out of college. They're really hungry to work, and they're nearly 1,000 fans. Through Facebook, he adds, Midtown "can pro- always recruiting more private lessons." mote club events and social connections between members, such Private clubs are not the only ones feeling the economic pinch. as arranging a game. A subscriber can also watch Midtown-specif- According to Austin, municipal facilities like his are no different. ic video clips." "Our city is having its problems like all cities are. We've reduced our part-time staff. The squeeze is on and we're watching every THEBOTTOMLINE nickel." While no club owner or manager likes the actual work of it, keep- "You really worry when you have a facility," says Gallaway at ing a balanced budget is key to long-term success. Statistics that Lafayette Tennis Club. "You do worry about that one major disas- show tennis participation is on the uptick aren't much help if ter—a roof collapse, things like that—but mostly you worry that you're running in the red. The TIA survey found that the annual the little things will start piling up at once: You need a new pool profit/loss ratio was down 50 percent since 2005. Owners and pump, you need two new windscreens, you need a new bench, managers are turning to creative ways to cut costs, and are meet- your lights need to be replaced, and all of a sudden it's $25,000 ing with varying levels of success. later. That kind of thing can put a small club out of business. You When the Columbia Association announced that it would be have to plan for things to go wrong. You have to stay current on discontinuing the free towel service at its three health clubs, mem- maintaining equipment." bers' complaints forced them to reverse the decision, according to Virgil Christian, USTA's director of community tennis develop- www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29 SPECIALREPORT:STATEOFTHEINDUSTRY ment, says that his organization's message to pay attention to did," he notes. "We found they really enjoyed meeting other detail at the beginning of a project can pay dividends in the club owners and sharing best practices." future. Unfortunately, he adds, people don't always listen. For a number of years, the TIA has been increasing the "We advise people to build it right, and to get a profession- resources and tools available for tennis facility owners and al involved, too. Don't go investing money and then come back managers when it comes to networking and running their busi- because something failed. Get it right the first time and do the nesses, says de Boer. “We offer online technology webinars, maintenance. It's amazing how much it will save you in the and we’re working on setting up expert panels for facility and long run." retail advisory councils. We started taking these steps last year, All facilities surveyed carry liability insurance. Many carry along with our efforts to help jumpstart the market at retail.” an umbrella policy, while other managers and owners have on- court pros who carry additional insurance. All try to keep STAYINGHUNGRY unnecessary risks at bay by doing daily walk-throughs of their No matter whether a facility serves families in the suburbs or is courts. situated in the middle of a retirement community, no matter "We're in an area where the land shifts a lot, so there are whether it's a high-end club in a gated community or a public always going to be cracks in our courts," says Gallaway, whose facility in the middle of a major city, owners and managers say facility is in Northern California. "I know that cracks can that the key to survival is staying fresh and ready for whatever become a danger situation. If I have one major crack and it's a shot the economy puts over the net next. hazard and one person could trip on it, I'll have someone go Ray Major says that at the Fretz Tennis Center, "We're con- down and fix it. If I wait until my members tell me it's time to stantly trying to think of new ways to reach our customers, to resurface, it's too late." give them good service and give them things they'll enjoy. We The need to ensure member safety, the need to balance the offer specials and ways to help them stretch their dollars a little budget, and the need to keep courts busy are all topics familiar further. We want them to know that we understand the econo- to facility managers, although it's not often they get the chance my's bad too, and that we're with them on this." to have a dialogue on those subjects. In 2009, the PTR offered "I'm always trying to stay involved and keep myself fresh," its first Tennis Club Owners and Facility Managers Conference. says Miller. "We're always trying to get better and not sit back According to Santorum, the conference was a revelation to the and enjoy having the clients; that's not the way we operate. I'm PTR as well as to the participants. just a tennis nerd through and through, I guess, but our mem- “The most important part to them was the networking they bers seem to like that and they keep coming back." Q

30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

DISTINGUISHEDFACILITY-OF-THE-YEARAWARDS PRIVATEPRIVATE

ENTERPRISEENTERPRISETheseThese six six residential residential court court winners winners show show style style andand substance. substance.

rivate courts really show off style and creativity—both of bottom of a severely Campion Residence, Carlton, Ore. Pthe owners and of the court contractors. These six winners sloped yard. (Nominated by Atlas Track & Tennis, Tualatin, Ore.) of the Racquet Sports Industry/American Sports Builders The hard court at General Contactor: Atlas Track & Tennis Association 2009 Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards the Keating Resi- Surface: California Products-Plexipave show some wonderful details, in both the finished product and dence in Gladwyne, Fencing: Atlas Track & Tennis in the construction. Pa., was built on a Net, Center Strap: Douglas Industries Five of these courts are new construction, including an steep hill and amazing “sports complex” at a private residence in Jupiter, required retaining Fla., that has two courts—hard and clay—along with a bocce walls on three sides. The township required a storm-water ball court and half-court basketball court. The owner has kids management system under the court with 2 inches of sub-base who are nationally ranked, traveling and playing tournaments materials separating the system from the stone base of the on different surfaces. The family decid- court. Limited access meant that large-wheeled loaders had to For details on the 2010 Outstand- ed, after years of having the kids train be used to transport stone and asphalt to the construction site. ing Facility-of-the-Year Awards, at other facilities and camps between The new court at the I enner Residence in Greenwich, contact the ASBA at 866-501- events, that it would be better for them Conn., is adjacent to the existing pool house, which itself posed ASBA or [email protected], or visit www.sportsbuilders.org. to train at home, so they needed tour- some challenges. The contractor needed to remove and redi- nament-quality courts. The clay court rect all the pool filter lines, including HVAC and gas lines, under has sub-surface irrigation, and both courts have tournament- the court. He also needed to put in electrical lines for the lights quality lighting for play at all hours. under the pool house foundation. The driveway didn’t allow The other five winners are all hard courts, including the only large dump trucks, so material had to be delivered in six-wheel upgrade in the group, the Anderson Residence in Beach Lake, vehicles. The court was designed as it was being built, with Pa. The contractor widened the existing, undersized court area, decisions made by the owner as the project unfolded. installed new fencing and lighting, along with a post-tensioned The Campion Residence in Carleton, Ore., was built adja- concrete slab. The court now has a cushioned surface and a hit- cent to an outdoor patio, allowing for player seating and shade. ting wall. Time was spent on a perimeter drainage system But the area had soft soil, from the many trees and decayed because the original court was built close to a river and at the vegetation that had built up over many years, which required extensive excavation of the site. The new court in Parkland, Fla., also had to contend with nature. The customer wanted the court close to the Anderson Residence, Beach Lake, Pa. property line, but there was a line of (Nominated by Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Berwyn, Pa.) General Contractor: Pro-Sport Construction pine trees in the Surface: California Products-DecoTurf area that had a Lights: LSI shallow root sys- Net, Center Strap: J.A. Cissell tem that would Posts: Lee Tennis destroy concrete and asphalt. The contractor had to cut out roots and built up the site. —Peter Francesconi

32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com Ienner Residence, Greenwich, Conn. (Nominated by DeRosa Tennis Contractors Inc., Mamaroneck, N.Y.) Architect/Engineer: Sasaki Associates Inc. General Contractor: DeRosa Tennis Contractors Inc. Surface: California Products-Pro DecoTurf Lighting: LSI Courtsider XL Windscreens, Net, Posts, Center Strap: J.A. Cissel

Private Residence, Jupiter, Fla. (Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts, Pompano Beach, Fla.) Architect/Engineer: Fast-Dry Courts General Contractor: Fast-Dry Courts No. of Courts: 2 Hard Court: Nova Sports Combination with Deco Cushion Clay Court: Lee Tennis Hydroblend Sub-Surface Irrigation: Lee Tennis Net Posts: J.A. Cissel Windscreens: Putterman Lighting: RLS TE 2000EC Nets: Superior Court Supplies

Keating Residence, Gladwyne, Pa. (Nominated by Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Berwyn, Pa.) Surface: Laykold Lights: LSI Net, Posts, Windscreen: J.A. Cissel

Private Residence, Parkland, Fla. (Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts, Pompano Beach, Fla.) Architect/Engineer: Fast-Dry Courts General Contractor: Fast-Dry Courts Surface: Nova Sports Combination with Deco Cushion Net Posts: J.A. Cissel Windscreens: Putterman Lighting: RLS TE1000EC Net: Superior Court Supplies

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33 StringSolinco Playtest Tour Bite

Solinco tells us that Tour Bite is a newly developed, high-performance, IN THE LAB and versatile monofilament co-poly- We tested both the 17 and 18 gauges of ester string designed to generate Tour Bite. The coils measured 40 feet. extreme power, and intense spin and We recorded stringbed stiffness imme- diately after stringing at 60 pounds in a bite. According to Solinco, Tour Bite Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) uses an innovative, proprietary com- on a constant-pull machine. We remea- sured after 24 hours (no playing) for ten- posite formula of high-tech polyester sion loss, as shown in the table. Our Solinco Tour Bite 17 gauge 18 gauge resin compounded with new, perfor- control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Diameter unstrung (mm) 1.22-1.25 1.18-1.20 mance enhancing additives. The dis- Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC Diameter strung (mm) 1.18-1.22 1.15-1.16 tinct composition and make-up of units immediately after stringing and String weight (grams) 14 13 Solinco’s co-polyester strings provide 71 RDC units after 24 hours, repre- RDC stringbed stiffness new 74 72 the basis for their unique feel and senting a 9 percent tension loss. RDC stringbed stiffness after 24 hours 68 66 playing characteristics. The string was tested for five Tension loss percentage after 24 hours 98 Solinco says its co-polyester strings weeks by USRSA playtesters with Number of playtesters 36 39 use the most innovative and cutting- NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These edge engineering procedures that are blind tests, with playtesters receiv- involve the mastering of three or more EASE OF STRINGING 17gauge 18 gauge ing unmarked strings in unmarked pack- separate heating and cooling stages. (compared to other strings) ages. We did advise playtesters to reduce Each distinct stage is carefully executed Number of testers who said it was: tension by 7-12 percent compared to at specifically designed temperatures, much easier 01 nylon, as recommended by Solinco. somewhat easier 32 durations, and with specialized extru- Tour Bite seems more ornery to han- about as easy 16 24 sion techniques and molds to improve dle than other polys, but only a little. We not quite as easy 16 11 had more problems weaving the last specific playing characteristics of each not nearly as easy 11 string. Solinco even matches the materi- crosses than we did with coil memory. al with the shape of the string for maxi- OVERALL PLAYABILITY Solinco Tour Bite 17 gauge 18 gauge mum performance. (compared to string played most often) Broke during stringing 00 Solinco tells us its strings are quickly Number of testers who said it was: Excess coil memory 12 9 gaining popularity. Solinco is the official much better 31 somewhat better 57 Difficulty tying knots 24 string of the 2005 NCAA Champion about as playable 16 8 Friction burn 32 UCLA Men’s Tennis Team, the 2006 not quite as playable 8 20 NCAA Champion Pepperdine Men’s not nearly as playable 43 Tennis Team, Virginia Tech Men’s Ten- ON THE COURT nis Team, and East Tennessee State OVERALL DURABILITY Solinco made it a good day to be a University. Touring pros such as Kevin (compared to other strings USRSA string tester. Tour Bite 17 finished of similar gauge) with an incredible seven ratings of well Kim, Lester Cook, Cecil Mamiit, and Number of testers who said it was: above average in Playability, Durability, Leonardo Tavares have also adopted much better 87 Solinco. somewhat better 8 15 Power, Control, Spin Potential, Tension It is recommended for competitive about as durable 18 14 Retention, and Resistance to Movement. and performance-focused players not quite as durable 23 Of these, the results for Spin Potential demanding the absolute highest levels not nearly as durable 00 make Tour Bite 17 the best string we’ve of spin, bite, power, and control. ever tested for Spin Potential. To back RATING AVERAGES that up, Tour Bite 17 also came in 13th Tour Bite is available in 16, 16L, 17, From 1 to 5 (best) best in the Power category and 15th best and 18 gauges in silver only. It is priced Playability 3.4 3.5 from $11.50 for 40-foot sets, $155 for Durability 4.2 4.2 for Resistance to Movement. The overall 656-foot reels. For more information or Power 3.6 (13th) 3.6 score for Tour Bite 17 was well above to order, contact Solinco at 310-922- Control 3.7 3.5 average. 7775, email sales at Comfort 2.8 3.2 Not to be outdone, Tour Bite 18 also [email protected], or visit solin- Touch/Feel 2.9 3.0 received ratings that were well above cosports.com. Be sure to read the con- Spin Potential 4.1 (1st) 3.7 average for those same seven categories clusion for more information about Holding Tension 3.4 3.7 (14th) of Playability, Durability, Power, Control, Resistance to Movement 4.0 (15th) 4.0 (12th) getting a free set to try for yourself. Spin Potential, Tension Retention, and

34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com TALK TETourST BiteE 17RS Tour Bite 18 FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM “ Spin! Power! Control! I have found “ Bottom line: I love these strings! It is hard Solinco will send a free set of Tour Bite to my new string.” 4.0 male all-court to find a string that has this combination of the first 500 USRSA members who cuts player using Babolat Pure Drive Roddick power, control, comfort, and feel without also out (or copies) this coupon: strung at 56 pounds LO (Luxilon Alu possessing some negative qualities. Perhaps Power Fluoro 17) it’s time to switch from natural gut.” 5.5 USRSA Attn: Solinco String Offer male all-court player using Head Liquidmetal 330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084 Radical OS strung at 57 pounds CP (Babolat This string has the bite of a Great or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the “ VS Touch 16) White Shark! It’s just as comfortable as info below to my typical hybrid set up. 4.5 male all- ” [email protected] court player using Babolat Pure Drive “ Amazing bite! Outstanding control! Players Roddick strung at 54 pounds CP (Luxilon who hit with heavy spin will love this string. Offer expires 15 July 2010 Alu Power Rough/Babolat Xcel 16L/17) 5.0 male all-court player using Wilson BLX ” Offer only available to USRSA members Tour strung at 63 pounds LO (Wilson Hollow in the US. This is a control string with a large, Core 16) comfortable“ sweet spot. The interesting Name: shape definitely promotes spin. Big spin. Sign me up! This string would make a great I’m not quick to jump on any bandwag- hybrid“ main. Spin is phenomenal. Shock absorp- USRSA Member number: tion is impressive. This is a really nice surprise on, but this is just a darn good string. Phone: 3.5 male all-court player using Prince ”O3 for a poly.” 4.0 male baseliner with moder- Citron OS strung at 58 pounds CP (Lux- ate spin using” Head Youtek Prestige Mid strung Email: ilon Timo/Tecnifibre NRG2 17/17) at 57 pounds CP (Signum Poly Plasma 16) If you print your email clearly, we will notify For the rest of the tester comments, visit www.racquetsportsindustry.com. you when your sample will be sent.

Resistance to Movement. Of these, the rating for Resistance to Movement was our 12th best result, and the rating for Tension Retention was our 14th best result. Tour Bite 18’s overall score was also 14th best of all the strings we’ve playtested for publication.

Solinco Tour Bite 17 gauge 18 gauge Average playtest duration 20.2 26.5 Broke during play 22 Breakage at (hours) 8, 15 5, 11

CONCLUSION After looking at all the data and reading each of the comments, you’ll probably wish that we’d tested these strings one at a time, so you wouldn’t have to choose between them. Sorry. Not only is there little to separate these strings from each other, there’s little if anything to separate them from the top of the heap. Not bad for a string company that has been doing business in the U.S. for just over a year. If you think that Solinco Tour Bite might be for you, fill out the coupon to get a free set to try. —Greg Raven Q

www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 35 TipsReaders’ & Techniques Know-How in Action

TWIST AND SHOUT COOL CLIPPERS The best way to ease any string through My flush cutters had gotten so old they a blocked hole is to hold the string with were barely cutting any longer, but my your needle nose pliers and push it into local Lowe’s home improvement store the hole repeatedly using gentle pres- didn’t seem to carry anything even sure. Poly strings are stiff enough that remotely compa- there’s not usually a problem getting rable in the tool through a blocked hole, but when there section. Fortu- is a problem, the stiffness can help you nately, I hap- another way. Again holding the string pened to wander with your needle nose pliers twist the machine, you can down the elec- string from back and forth, clockwise use stick-on mag- tronics aisle, and counter-clockwise, while gently net strips to hold because that’s pushing. If you’ve cut the tip of the them. I paid about where I found string to a point, as you should, that a buck for a huge the Kobalt Assorted Precision Pliers and point will find a way around the block package of these Snip Set (Item number 294654, model lickety-split. magnets at Walmart. I use one to hold number PI2448). 5 sets of Unique Big Hitter Blue 17 to: one of the billiard adaptors for my Babo- The clippers are a nice size, have cush- L. Hodges, Apple Valley, CA lat Star 4 to the shell of my machine ioned handles and spring loading, and beneath the turntable. It’s always avail- feature an extra thing that grabs the end MAGNETS able, and always out of the way. of string you’re cutting off, so it doesn’t If you have any small ferrous items you 5 sets of HEAD FXP Control 16 to: go flying around the room. The needle- need to have around your stringing James Sly, Carpinteria, CA nose pliers seem custom-built for remov-

36 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com ing the old strings from Head racquets SZ360 3.6-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Power with the CAP system grommets: Scissors cutting out a stringbed. Perfect! STRING SAVER Between the spring loading, the plier The handle is offset from the cutters, teeth and the cushioned handles, you and the cutters themselves are so small should be able to pull out the strings in that they easily get into the stringbed to under a minute. I paid less than $15 for get you started. On top of this, the the set. Power Scissors are incredibly fast: It If you need a handy place to store 5 sets of Babolat Revenge 16 to: takes about three seconds to cut out unused pieces of string, your old Babolat Jeff Officer, Del Mar, CA both the mains and the crosses, once string packages are perfect for this task. you get the technique. I paid less than Peel the stickers off both sides, close the COOL $20 for mine. case fully, and feed the string through STRINGBED CUTTERS 5 sets of Wilson K-Gut Pro 16 to: the big hole on the side. The string Rob Hartmann, Jess Ranch, CA won’t get loose, and there’s plenty of room on the outside to write what’s CUT THE CROSSES FIRST inside. I use them to store sets I cut I like to cut the string for both the mains from reels so I’ll have them in my bag, and the crosses before starting stringing, as well as for returning leftovers to so I don’t have to interrupt the flow of clients. Even though my heavy-duty shears were stringing between the mains and the 5 sets of Tecnifibre Multi Feel 15L to: perfectly capable of cutting out old crosses. I found that it saves a few sec- Dimas Mendez, MRT stringbeds, I’d been envious of my fellow onds to cut the string for the crosses Ponce, Puerto Rico stringers’ Babolat stringbed cutters first. This way, you have the section for —Greg Raven Q because of the offset handle. I couldn’t the mains in your hands when you finish Tips and Techniques submitted since 2000 by USRSA mem- find anything like them outside of Babo- cutting, ready for stringing, and the sec- bers, and appearing in this column, have all been gathered lat, but I was trying to avoid spending tion for the crosses is already set aside, into a single volume of the Stringer’s Digest—Racquet Ser- vice Techniques which is a benefit of USRSA membership. that much dough on a pair of scissors. waiting for you. Submit tips to: Greg Raven, USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA Fortunately, I saw a short video on 5 sets of Gamma Zo Pro Spin 16 to: 92804; or email [email protected]. YouTube showing the Black and Decker Ted Ruthling, Santa Fe, NM

July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY ? AskYour the Equipment Experts Hotline

“heavy” racquet will not have much of POWER DIFFERENCES IT IS SAID THAT THE HEAVIER A its mass in the hoop. Conversely, you POLY VS NYLON TENSIONS racquet the more powerful it is can have a “light” racquet with a hollow RECENTLY ONE OF MY USTA because of the mass. Please handle and a high percentage of its mass League teammates asked me to explain how a racquet that weighs 280 in the hoop. For the “heavy” racquet, the re-string his racquet. He said that Qgrams with a flex of 72 is more powerful balance point will be low on the frame, he normally has it strung with a nylon (2218 power rating) than another racquet and for the “light” racquet, the balance Qstring at 63-64 pounds (1-2 pounds above that weighs 337 grams with a flex of 70 point will be high on the frame. As a the recommended tension range). This (2209 power rating)? result, the “heavy” frame will not have time we are going to use a poly in the has much mass in the hitting zone as the mains and nylon in the crosses (17 gauge MASS IS AN IMPORTANT factor “light” frame. in both cases). I rarely string with poly, in racquet performance, but it is USRSA members can experiment to but I've always heard that you should not part of our power formula, which is: see the relationships among the various drop the tension by some percentage PowerA formula = (length index × head- racquet characteristics using the on-line when using it, compared to a nylon size × flex × swingweight) ÷ 1000 Hitting Weight Calculator at USRSA.com. string. What is your recommendation? The second racquet in your example Our Racquet Selection Maps (which comes off as more powerful because it is usually appear in RSI magazine in April FIRST, CHECK WITH THE string slightly stiffer with a slightly larger head each year) have more information about manufacturer to see if it recom- size. the Power formula. mends dropping tension on its poly, as It is important to keep in mind that By the way, the difference in power Asome do not. Because you’re not doing overall racquet mass alone is far less between 2218 and 2209 is negligible. the whole stringbed in poly, it won’t be important for power than the as important to drop tension on the poly, distribution of that mass on Racquet Mass Balance Hitting wt. Impact point as the nylon is going to provide a mitigat- the frame. If most of the “Heavy” 350 grams 29 cm 135 grams 54 cm ing effect. “Light 272 grams 38 cm 180 grams 54 cm mass is in the handle, even a Our lab tests show that although poly

38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com strings typically lose tension faster know normally don’t do it. Some of this really soft string that refuses to go through than nylon strings, they are still depends on how easily your turntable the grommet. In each of these instances, much stiffer in play. Reducing the rotates, as some turntables have just having one thing that’s the way you want it reference tension doesn’t really enough drag to keep them where you want (the locked turntable) can reduce your frus- compensate for the difference in them to be while you are tying off. If your tration level. Otherwise, if the turntable is installed tension. However, your turntable spins more freely, you might feel staying put on its own, there’s no sense in customer seems to be attempting to that you need to use the turntable brake so locking it unnecessarily. Simpler is better. gain a stiffer stringbed through the you don’t have to chase the racquet around —Greg Raven Q use of over-tensions, so the move to in circles. a poly (or, in this case, a poly Another case where you might want to We welcome your questions. Please send them to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA, 92084; fax: 760- hybrid) might give him what he’s lock the turntable would be when you’re 536-1171; email: [email protected]. seeking — with or without reducing dealing with a difficult tie-off hole, and/or a the tension on the poly mains. If you do go with a different ten- sions for the mains and crosses, keep an eye on the frame deforma- tion. If the hoop isn’t holding its shape with the tensions you’re using, you need to inform the cus- tomer that each stringing is dramati- cally reducing the life expectancy of his frame. Aside from that, your best approach (with this and other strings) is to remind the customer that you're dealing with a string job, not open-heart surgery. If you don’t guess right the first time (on the ten- sion or the string), no one is going to die. He can always try something else next time.

LOCKING THE TURNTABLE I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH a fellow stringer about the use of the turntable brake to tie-off the knots while stringing. He Qtells me that there is no advantage in locking the turntable brake to tie- off the knots. My position is that it is much easier and takes less arm strength to tie off the knots with the table locked. I also told him that tying off a moving object is more difficult than tying off one that is sit- ting still. I have searched the Internet for information regarding the turntable brake’s usage for tying knots and found nothing. Do you have any information I can use to convince my friend?

LOCKING THE TURNTABLE while tying off is a personal Apreference, and most stringers we www.racquetsportsindustry.com July 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 39 Your Serve Student-Athlete, or Athlete-Student? After being sidelined by injury, a teenage player considers her

path—and tennis’s appeal. BYKALINDIDINOFFER

caught the tennis bug when I was 10 coach and the value of the scholarship— doubles match and two singles matches!” years old, and like so many competitive without also considering the location, At the time, I never thought injury juniors, I dreamed of playing college academics or social scene of the place would ever apply to me. Now, though, I am tennis. I’ve lost count of the number of they will be spending the next four years struck by the sheer statistics on that day— Itimes I’ve cheered on my local college ten- of their lives. half the team’s players injured at once! nis team, the SMU Mustangs, envisioning Coach Allen highlighted the impor- While that drastic number might be an myself closing out the decisive third-set tie- tance of evaluating a school holistically uncommon occurrence, when I think back breaker. because injury can strike an athlete at over the years, most of the time I remem- When I was 15, I was right on track to any time. “What happens if you get ber seeing at least one SMU player on the accomplishing my dream—perhaps even injured in your freshman year on the sidelines, icing a knee or taping an ankle. on an athletic scholarship. That summer I team and then find yourself stuck at a Injuries really can strike anyone at any- got a taste of team competition when I school that, aside from the athletics, you time. qualified for the National 16’s Zonals, a don’t really like?” she asked the group of Toughing out long, grueling deuce team competition held in Waco, Texas. It teens. “It’s vital that you judge a school games with my injury, I have been able to was so much fun that I couldn’t wait to play from all standpoints. You are a prospec- expand my attitude toward tennis. on a college team! tive student-athlete, not a prospective Although pre-injury me was blind to the Like many teenage athletes, I fancied athlete-student.” multitudes of adults enjoying the sport at myself invulnerable to injuries; “other” recreational, national and even interna- players got injured, not the well-muscled 'Injury has opened my tional levels, I now realize that tennis does athlete I had trained to become. But fate eyes to the sport of a life- not reach its zenith in college. For fear of had other ideas. In practice one steamy sounding trite, injury has opened my eyes August morning following the 16’s Zonals, time that tennis truly is.' to the sport of a lifetime that tennis truly is. I sprinted in for a drop-shot only to pull up As a 12-and-under player, I imagined with a gasp of pain. Right now, I can hear my peers: “You the top group of 14-and-unders to be the Now, a year and a half, one hip surgery, may have a point, but I won’t get injured pinnacle of achievement. Well, the 14s and numerous physical therapy sessions … I’m too fit … I’ve never gotten injured have come and gone, and now the 16s are later, I hover at the tail end of a slow recov- before.” And who wouldn’t scorn the waving their goodbyes. Today, the 18s and ery. Junior tennis and college athletic schol- lone voice of one injured player? college tennis dominate my thoughts—or arship opportunities have expired for this Well, optimists, here’s something to at least they would be if my injury had not soon-to-be high school senior. consider: A few years ago, I attended a broadened my perspective on tennis and While many of my junior tennis match- home match of my beloved SMU Mus- on life. es are now just a hazy blur, one tennis tangs. Eager not to miss a minute of the I hope to play this sport—at whatever event jumps to mind when I think about action, I arrived at the 11:30 a.m. start- level—for many years to come. But this college tennis. It was February 2007, and I time. But something was wrong—there summer, like so many high school juniors, was participating in a weeklong tennis were only four Mustangs on the courts. I will start exploring potential colleges. camp at the Van Der Meer Tennis Academy “Hi,” said a voice behind me. I Thanks to Coach Allen’s advice, academics in Hilton Head Island, S.C. In addition to turned around to find two Mustang-clad and athletics as well as social and geo- belting balls from dawn until dusk, I attend- athletes, one sporting an ankle brace graphical intangibles will weigh equally in ed lectures by a sports psychologist, a nutri- and crutches and the other nursing a my decision. Q tionist . . . and a college tennis coach. heavily taped right wrist. “What hap- Kalindi Dinoffer, 17, of Dallas Dede Allen, women’s coach at Wake pened?” I asked. “Well,” the tall will be a high school senior this Forest University, discussed not only the brunette on crutches responded, “I fall. In addition to tennis, she nuances of NCAA rules but also the criteria rolled my ankle pretty badly a couple of enjoys playing guitar, reading on which athletes should evaluate their weeks ago, and she (gesturing to her and writing poetry. prospective colleges. Most junior tennis teammate) sprained her wrist. Unfortu- players consider only the athletics—the nately, our two reserves are out with We welcome your opinions. Please email comments to [email protected] or fax ability of the team, the qualifications of the injuries as well. We have t o forfeit one them to 760-536-1171.

40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com