February 2006 Volume 34 Number 2 $5.00 OUTLOOK 2006 What’sWhat’s in in store store forfor the the new new year?year? Special Section: How the TIA is helping your business ContentsContents RSI FEBRUARY 2006 37 A Winning Year Bolstered by gains across the board, the new year looks to be a winner for your business. 38 Popular Appeal Whether high fashion or high performance, INDUSTRY NEWS tenniswear is hitting the right notes. 42 Get Your Kicks 7 Builders upbeat on In footwear, companies are cutting the weight U.S. court construction while upping the quality. 7 Top stars to play 44 Frames of Reference Tennis Channel Open Manufacturers have perfected their techniques in Vegas Outlook 2006 and are offering better products. 48 If You Build It... 8 Wilson launches Court builders, coming off a busy 2005, are Evolution footwear optimistic that 2006 will bring more of the same. line 50 Tied Up 8 James Blake signs 7- The newest racquet strings offer something for year deal with Prince TIA Special Section every player. 8 Chang joins new 21 Serve It Up! 29 Web Chemistry Champions Cup Series New TIA initiatives offer more services to TennisConnect.org is making it easy to service keep your business moving forward. members and increase play frequency. 8 Community Tennis 22 Let’s Grow This Business! 30 Market Knowledge workshop set for President Jim Baugh says the TIA has the tools, The extensive research available from the Hollywood programs, and services to help grow your business. TIA will help you increase your business, and your profits. 9 Tecnifibre introduces 23 Moving Forward Tflash 290 racquet The TIA and its industry partners are working to 32 Economic Leverage increase player participation and retention. Through benefits and services with TIA 9 SlingHopper signs affinity partners, you can reduce costs and 26 Getting to the Heart of Cardio expenses, and more. Bollettieri With the official launch of Cardio Tennis, opportunit ies abound for heart-pumping 33 Net Advantages 10 TIA plans major Cardio fitness on U.S. courts. Enhanced websites for the tennis industry Tennis promotion provide news, trends, and information to 28 Welcoming Progress help you build your business. 10 PTR Symposium set The Tennis Welcome Center initiative will for February continue strong into 2006. 34 Support Your Industry The TIA has membership levels to suit your needs. 12 Campus Championships 28 Strength in Numbers expands to all sections Growing Tennis 50/50 helps boost participation 35 Join the TIA Today! across the U.S. Help grow the game and your business. DEPARTMENTS 4 Our Serve 18 String Playtest: Tecnifibre Multifeel 16 13 Stringing Business 52 Ask the Experts 14 The Master Pros 54 Tips and Techniques 16 Science 56 Your Serve, by Charlie Hoeveler February 2006 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 3 Our Serve (Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry) Building the Future Publishers David Bone Jeff Williams n early December, I spent three days with people who Editor-in-Chief I Crawford Lindsey may well comprise the most important group involved Editorial Director in tennis in the U.S.—the members of the American Peter Francesconi Associate Editor Sports Builders Association. These are the people who Greg Raven build and repair the courts that all our businesses Design/Art Director Kristine Thom depend on. The ASBA (formerly called the U.S. Tennis Court & Track Builders Asso- Assistant to the Publisher Cari Feliciano ciation) met in Tampa for its annual Technical Meeting and Trade Show. At first blush, you may not think seminars on engineering net-post foot- Contributing Editors Cynthia Cantrell ings, or building concrete slabs for indoor facilities, or maintaining grass Rod Cross courts, can be all that exciting. But for people involved in many aspects Kristen Daley of tennis, whether construction-related or not, these presentations are Joe Dinoffer Liza Horan extremely informative. In part, it’s because of the excellent faculty that Andrew Lavallee the ASBA assembles for its meetings. But also, the presentations are inter- James Martin active, and there’s much to learn, both from presenters and peers, no Mark Mason matter how long you’ve been in the business. Chris Nicholson Mitch Rustad This year, the keynote speaker was Dr. Jim Loehr, the chairman, CEO, Drew Sunderlin and co-founder of LGE Performance Systems, which specializes in help- ing people reach their full potential or, as he calls it, “full engagement.” RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY I’ve heard Loehr speak before, and he is truly amazing, but even I was a Corporate Offices 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084 little skeptical that the 350 hardened court and track builders in the room Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171 would be “fully engaged” in the presentation. Was I ever wrong. For two Email: [email protected] hours, Loehr simply captivated the audience. Website: www.racquetTECH.com Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time Over the last two years, under the chairmanship of David Marsden of Hanover, Mass., the ASBA has experienced much growth and change. At Advertising Director the end of the ASBA meeting, Marsden turned over the gavel to a new John Hanna chairman, Gerry Wright of Raleigh, N.C. Working with many committed 770-650-1102, x.125 [email protected] volunteers, along with a very competent and caring staff (Executive Vice President Carol Hogan, Association Coordinator Cynthia Jordan, and Apparel Advertising Financial Manager Judy Mellendick), Wright will no doubt continue the Cynthia Sherman cycle of growth for the ASBA—and for the sport, as well. 203-263-5243 [email protected] If you’re not familiar with the ASBA, visit the group’s website, Racquet Sports Industry (USPS 347-8300. ISSN 0191- www.sportsbuilders.org. If you’re a court builder and not a member of 5851) is published 10 times per year: monthly January the ASBA, you really should consider joining. From court awards, to con- through August and combined issues in Septem- ber/October and November/December by Tennis tinuing education, to construction standards and guidelines, to court Industry and USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084. builder certification, and much more—there’s so much good stuff going Periodicals postage paid at Hurley, NY 12443 and addi- on here, it would be a shame for you to miss out on it. tional mailing offices. February 2006, Volume 34, Number 2 © 2006 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the Peter Francesconi U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address Editorial Director changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084. 4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2006 RSI is the “official magazine” of the USRSA, TIA, and ASBA RSI FEBRUARY 2006 INDUSTRYINDUSTRY NEWS NEWS INFORMATIONTOHELPYOURUNYOURBUSINESS Top Stars to Play 2006 Builders Upbeat on U.S. Court Construction Tennis Channel Open in Vegas ttendees and exhibitors alike nis & Track, Pocasset, Mass., is the new Tennis The U.S.’s top player,Andy Roddick, were upbeat about the tennis Division president; Ron Nemeth of Hillsdale, joins other top Americans Robby Ginepri, James Blake, and Bob and A business at the American Sports Mich., was elected president of the Associ- Mike Bryan in playing The Tennis Chan- Builders Association’s 2005 Technical ate/Affiliate Division; and John Schedler is the nel Open, to be held Feb. 27 to March Meeting and Trade Show, held Dec. 4 to 6, president of the newly formed Turf Division. Re- 5 in Las Vegas, the Tennis Channel in Tampa. About 350 tennis court and elected as secretary-treasurer is George Todd Jr. announced in December. track builders, designers, and product of Welch Tennis Courts, Sun City, Fla. Also committed to play the event are suppliers registered for the meeting, the Newly elected members of the board of direc- Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, Spain’s largest attendance in decades, according tors are: Pete Smith of the CourtSmiths, Toledo, Tommy Robredo, Belarus’ Max Mirnyi, to meeting organizers. Belgium’s Xavier Malisse, Britain’s Andy Generally, court builders Murray, Australia’s Mark Philippoussis, report increased business in and American’s Mardy Fish and Vince 2005 and are optimistic about Spadea. The 2006 Tennis Channel Open 2006 (see page 42). “We’ve will take place at the new Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center. seen a gra dual resurgence of interest in tennis,” says Mark “I’m looking forward to playing,” says Brogan of Pro Sport Construc- Roddick. “The excitement of the city tion of Devon, Pa., “and I should be a tremendous draw for guys expect it to continue.” on the tour, and The Tennis Channel’s plan to build a tennis-festival atmos- “In 2005, we had our high- phere is a great idea that’s going to be est volume in resurfacing and a lot of fun to visit each year.” repair,” adds Richard Zaino of Zaino Tennis Courts of The Darling Memorial Tennis Center Orange, Calif. “The economy opened in the fall with 23 courts, including a 2,400-seat stadium court is still pretty good here and that will expand to 3,300 seats during interest rates are low. If 2006 the event. In the future, the 40-acre is like 2005, I’ll be happy.” complex will eventually include two The annual meeting smaller stadium courts. brought together court Tennis Channel Founder and President builders, court surfacing man- Steve Bellamy plans to build a “Tennis- ufacturers, court products palooza” around the men’s pro event.