November/December 2010 Volume 38 Number 10 $5.00 www.racquetsportsindustry.com STATE OF THE INDUSTRY UnderUnder Construction Construction HitHit hard hard by by the the economy, economy, courtcourt builders builders remain remain wary wary BillieBillie Jean Jean King King JoinsJoins TI TI Hall Hall of of Fame Fame RacquetsRacquets for for JuniorJunior Players Players Contents Contents RSI NOV/DEC 2010 INDUSTRY NEWS SPECIAL REPORT: 7 Dunlop introduces STATE OF THE ‘Biomimetic’ frames INDUSTRY 7 Jon Muir confirmed for 2nd term as TIA prez 25 Under Construction 7 Jim Baugh joins Sporting Court builders are unsure of Goods Hall of Fame whether the rollercoaster ride is still heading down- 9 Wilson debuts 2011 ward, or will start the slow climb out of the hole. apparel and footwear 9 Brooklyn courts FEATURES get re-‘freshed’ 18 Igniting the Tennis Boom 9 New rules for 10-and-under In many ways, Billie Jean King competition was the spark that 9 Charleston wins 2010 created ‘Best Tennis Town’ the tennis industry as 9 H.S. tennis players, school we know it. programs increase 20 Junior Class Frames for younger players 10 Short Sets are bringing in technology from adult racquets, and 10 TIA Forum outlines key hope to promote brand platforms for growth loyalty early on. 23 ‘Padel’ Tennis 11 Peoplewatch Immensely popular in 12 Ron Woods named Argentina, the sport of ‘padel,’ played on a smaller USPTA pro of year outdoor court with walls, jumps to the U.S. 12 Four earn USPTA Master Pro status 14 TennisConnect goes mobile DEPARTMENTS 4 Our Serve 29 Tips and Techniques 7 Industry News 30 String Playtest: Genesis Typhoon 16L 16 TIA News 32 Your Serve, by Allison Halbert 2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com Our Serve Saving a True Tennis ‘Landmark’ (Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry) ore than 70,000 people call the Forest Hills area of Queens, N.Y., their home. But mention the words “For- Publishers est Hills” to many, many millions around the world, and David Bone Jeff Williams they still think of it as the storied home for tennis in the U.S. Editorial Director MThe private West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills was founded in 1892 and was Peter Francesconi the home to the U.S. Championships (later renamed the US Open) from 1915 to Associate Editor 1977, when it moved 4 miles away to Flushing Meadows. In 1923, as the event’s Greg Raven popularity grew, a 14,000-seat tennis stadium was built at the club. It was the first Design/Art Director concrete stadium of its type in the country, unique for its time and representing a Kristine Thom new era in stadium design. Nearly every great tennis player of the last century played on stadium court at Contributing Editors Robin Bateman Forest Hills. It was the place where racial barriers in tennis first started to come Cynthia Cantrell down. It helped lay the groundwork for what tennis is today, the fastest growing Joe Dinoffer traditional sport in America. But the s tadium was more than just tennis. There were Liza Horan concerts there, too: the Beatles, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Greg Moran Barbra Streisand and many more. Bob Patterson Cynthia Sherman A lot of tennis and cultural history passed through the gates at the Forest Hills Mary Helen Sprecher tennis stadium. Yet the stadium that has been a landmark for our sport is, in fact, not a “landmark”—it does not have “landmark” status, so if members of the West RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY Side Tennis Club ever decide to sell the property, they can. Corporate Offices This past summer th at became an issue, when a developer wanted the site, now 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084 neglected and in disrepair, to build luxury condos, and the West Side Tennis Club Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171 Email: [email protected] hoped selling the property for $9 million would shore up their shaky financial situ- Website: www.racquetTECH.com ation. Thankfully, in early October, the 300 voting club members shot down the Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time sale by a narrow margin. It was a hot topic, both inside and outside of that exclu- sive club, and some are hoping to continue to push to sell the property. Advertising Director To prevent this, we need to make the Forest Hills stadium an official landmark. John Hanna 770-650-1102, x.125 Some involved in the preservation process want to possibly revitalize the stadium [email protected] as a concert venue and community center—and a place in which tennis again can be played. Apparel Advertising But the preservation effort needs our help and support. We need to write to the Cynthia Sherman New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission urging that this irreplaceable 203-263-5243 piece of tennis history and cultural history be given landmark status. [email protected] Yes, there are details that would need to be worked out—such as how much it Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per would cost to maintain the old stadium and where that money would come from. year: monthly January through August and com- bined issues in September/October and Novem- But let’s not let a small group of private club members ever again determine what ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330 is important and worth saving in the tennis world, and let’s never again risk the Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at possible destruction of something that means so much to all of us in this business. Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Vista, CA and The Forest Hills Tennis Stadium is a landmark, and we need to make sure it has additional mailing offices. November/December that official status. 2010, Volume 38, Number 10 © 2010 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All rights reserved. Racquet Sports To find out more, and to find email addresses of members of the NYC Land- Industry, RSI and logo are trademarks of USRSA. marks Preservation Commission, visit http://regoforestpreservation.blogspot.com/ Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650- 2010/07/save-forest-hills-tennis-stadium.html. 1102 x 125. Phone circulation and editorial: 760-536- The ball is in our court now to safeguard this home of U.S. tennis. 1177. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Peter Francesconi Editorial Director RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA 4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com RSI NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010 INDUSTRYINDUSTRY NEWS NEWS INFORMATIONTOHELPYOURUNYOURBUSINESS Jon Muir Confirmed for Dunlop Introduces ‘Biomimetic’ Frames 2nd Term as TIA President unlop Racket Sports debuted five new “Biomimetic” racquets at a launch party in Jon Muir will New York City just before the US Open that included John McEnroe, Nikolay Davy- remain on as presi- Ddenko, Fernando Verdasco and other top Dun- dent of the Tennis lop pros. Biomimetic means to “imitate life,” and Industry Association Dunlop says the new frames draw their key for a second term, design features from some of nature’s most following recom- evolved creatures. mendations from The three technologies of the Biomimetic the TIA board of frames are: directors and its executive committee, to Q Aeroskin: Like the skin of a shark, Aeroskin fea- help see through platforms and projects tures tiny “riblets” that reduce aerodynamic drag under way that help support growth for ten- by up to 25 percent for increased racquet-head nis and industry businesses. speed and power, says the company. “I’m happy to continue our collective, Q HM6 Carbon: A newly designed carbon compound ongoing efforts supporting the three plat- that mimics the hexagonal structure of a bee’s hon- forms we have been developing: increasing eycomb, one of nature’s strongest and most efficient the number of frequent players, measuring structures. The substance, says Dunlop, reduces vibra tion by up to 10 percent. and impacting more clearly the economic Biomimetic 200 Plus Q Gecko-Tac: The name given to Dunlop’s new grip sur- growth of the collective tennis industry, and Biomimetic 300 face treatment, which provides up to 50 percent more grip and tack developing our communication channels to Biomimetic 300 Tour distribute clear, consistent messaging about than previous grips, according to the company. Biomimetic 600 Lite our industry and most importantly about “The Biomimetic range gives Dunlop some tremendous momentum Biomimetic 600 tennis and the reasons to play,” Muir said. heading into 2011,” says Kai Nitsche, vice president and general manag- Muir’s decision to remain as president er of Dunlop. “Each racquet combines a tangible technological benefit with a sharp took place during the TIA board of directors cosmetic. Our entire Tour Team is excited to switch to them for the 2 011 season.” meeting held in New York City during the The racquets that will feature the new technology are the Biomimetic 200 Plus, the 2010 US Open and signifies a strong com- Biomimetic 300, the Biomimetic 300 Tour, the Biomimetic 600 and the Biomimetic mitment by industry partner organizations 600 Lite. For more information, visit www.dunlopsports.com or call 800-768-4727. to TIA goals and initiatives, according to Jolyn de Boer, the TIA executive director. Sporting Goods Industry Honors Baugh Muir’s second term will continue through im Baugh will be inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall Dec. 31, 2012.