Racquet Sports Industry

February 2009
Volume 37 Number 2 $5.00

www.racquetsportsindustry.com
ADVERTORIAL
Contents FEATURES
R S I F E B R U A R Y
INDUSTRY NEWS
2 0 0 9
OUTLOOK 2009 7 Prince debuts

EXO3 racquets
23 Manufacturers 7 USTA names Regional
Gear Up
Despite economic Training Centers
worries, the makers of
racquets, shoes, 8 PTR Symposium to
apparel and strings offer h.s. coaches program
are optimistic that
their products will 8 Babolat names Tim McCool
strike the right chord managing director
with consumers.
8 USPTA announces
26 Style & 2009 Certification Exams
Substance
RSI and the ASBA 9 Bob Bigelow to speak at PTR
Bring you the best in
tennis court 9 Emilio Sanchez keynotes
construction. USPTA conference
10 ATP unveils new
“Feel It” ad campaign
10 USPTA adds new DVD titles
11 New multi-purpose indoor
facility opens at NTC
12 Nominations sought for
Tennis Industry Hall of Fame
14 Derek Ameel to direct Ferris
State PTM program
15 Martin Blackman named
Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award - Pine Canyon, Flagstaff, Ariz. to USTA post
On the Cover: Pasternack Residence in 15 Prince names Dustin Perry
Orange, Calif., is the RSI/ASBA Residential rep of the year
Facility-of-the-Year winner.
DEPARTMENTS
4 Our Serve 28 String Playtest: Head ETS 16
7 Industry News 30 Ask the Experts
17 TIA News & Updates 32 Your Serve, by Kevin Theos
20 Grassroots Tennis
2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009
Our Serve
Building On a Solid Foundation
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
I
n December, I made the annual trek to the Technical Meeting
Editorial Director
of the American Sports Builders Association, which was held in Peter Francesconi
New Orleans. I really love this group, and as I’ve said before in
Associate Editor
this column, these court builders are literally the foundation of Greg Raven
our business. The fact that so many of them take time out from
Design/Art Director
their businesses to gather for educational seminars and presen- Kristine Thom
tations, and participate in roundtables and problem-solving ses-
Contributing Editors
sions, really shows the depth of their commitment to this Robin Bateman
industry. (Importantly, the ASBA also puts together construction Cynthia Cantrell
guidelines that are the “bible” of this industry, along with testing Kristen Daley
Joe Dinoffer
and designating Certified Tennis Court Builders.)
Liza Horan
Part of the meeting included a presentation to a packed house by Virgil James Martin
Christian of the USTA describing the QuickStart Tennis format for bringing kids Greg Moran
into the game using, among other things, shorter, more kid-friendly courts. Chris Nicholson
Already, many places have installed permanent QST courts. But if permanent Bob Patterson
Cynthia Sherman
short courts are not an option, a regular court can be unobtrusively lined for
Mary Helen Sprecher
QuickStart Tennis. (For more information, visit www.quickstarttennis.com.)
Thousands of facilities and parks across the country are offering programs RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
for kids using the QST format, and many rely on the pros, parents and the kids Corporate Offices
themselves to put down temporary lines on the courts. But permanent courts 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
and permanent lines mean that QST becomes ingrained in a community, and Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
the QST format is what will bring more and more people into this game. Court
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
builders are an important touchstone to communities, schools, facilities, park Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
and recs, and Community Tennis Associations, and builders can greatly influ-
ence the adoption of QST in their communities. Advertising Director
One of the things I’ve been honored to do at the ASBA meeting is present John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
the facility-of-the-year awards, which we cover in RSI in articles throughout the
hanna@knowatlanta.com
year. Also, I present RSI’s Court Builder of the Year Award, which for 2008 went
to Boston Tennis Court Construction Co. and its owners Dave Marsden and Apparel Advertising
Bruce Mahler. Cynthia Sherman
The ASBA (www.sportsbuilders.org) also recognized longtime executive v.p. 203-263-5243
Carol Hogan with its highest honor, the Industry Merit Award. Carol recently cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
retired, after leading the group for 20 years and presiding over its impressive Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
growth. Making a seamless transition into the management of the ASBA is a year: monthly January through August and com-
bined issues in September/October and Novem-
team led by association management professional Fred Stringfellow, with assis-
ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330
tance from longtime ASBA staffer Cynthia Jordan. Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at
Thanks to Carol’s leadership, a committed board of directors and member- Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Vista, CA and
ship, and an exciting transition to Fred’s management, the ASBA—which long additional mailing offices. February 2009, Volume
had been under the radar in this industry—is helping to move the dial as far as 37, Number 2 © 2009 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.
All rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and
tennis growth in this country, and the group is getting the attention it richly
logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
deserves. If you’re not a member, you should consider joining this very impor-
Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circu-
tant ggroup.
p lation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscrip-
tions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry,
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA
4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

R S I F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS
USTA Names Prince Launches New EXO3 Racquet Line

Two Regional n early January, Prince Sports launched EXO3, its newest high-performance tennis racquet line.
Training Centers
In its expanded efforts to develop
I The new line, which includes four models and six frames, is available now and features “Ener-
gy Bridge,” which suspends the string bed to provide a larger sweetspot and other playing ben-
efits, says Prince.
future American tennis champions, John Embree, president of Prince Sports Americas, says the rev-
the USTA has named the first two olutionary core technology “delivers benefits that will be appreci-
USTA Certified Regional Training ated by all levels of frequent players. We have carefully applied this
Centers—The Junior Tennis Cham-
technology to each model in the line in order to address all seg-
pions Center in Washington, D.C.,
ments of the market.”
and The Racquet Club of the South
in Atlanta. The EXO3 Silver 118 and EXO3 Red 105, which both have the
patented Energy Bridge and Energy Channel technologies, are for
The Certified Regional Training players looking for comfort with power and feature a large sweetspot
Centers will partner with acade- and up to 50 percent less frame vibration, says Prince.
mies, clubs and tennis centers that
The EXO3 Graphite (in 100 and 93) and EXO3 Rebel (in 95 and Team
have a proven record of identify-
95) are designed for more advanced-level players (the EXO3 Rebel is
ing and developing tennis players.
The USTA plans to name approxi- used by pro Gael Monfils). Prince says the frames use Energy Channel
mately a dozen regional training and provide increased spin and precision for players with faster swing
centers during the next five years. speeds.
At the heart of EXO3 is the Energy Bridge, which suspends
In addition to continuing their
almost the entire string bed from the frame, so that 77 percent of
existing programs, regional train-
the strings never come into contact with the frame, according to
ing centers will now also host
USTA training camps for players in Prince, so they move more freely. Energy Channel is a sculpted
their region ages 10 to 14. These groove within the frame that enhances the benefits of Energy
players will be selected in conjunc- Bridge to provide stability, boost ball control and increase spin,
tion with the USTA national coach- says Prince.
ing staff and their respective USTA “We conducted long and extensive research and development tri-
Section Coaches Commission. The als and elaborate playtest initiatives,” says Tyler Herring, Prince’s
centers also will help identify tal- global business director for performance racquets. “Players repeatedly
ent in players as young as 6 years said how much they were ‘feeling’ their shots with EXO3, and how this
old, run QuickStart Tennis pro- helped increase their confidence and raise their game.”
grams and host QuickStart tourna- “When a racquet and ball collide, energy gets diffused, causing play-
ments.
ers to lose some of the important attributes that make a great shot:
The camps will be staffed by top power, precision, comfort and feel,” says Roberto Gazzara, v.p. of tech-
coaches at regional training cen- nology at Prince. “EXO3 changes all that by capturing more energy—at
ters with assistance from the USTA impact—before it is wasted, and channeling it back into the ball on every
national coaching staff. Coaches at shot. The result activates a blend of power, spin and comfort with exception-
the USTA training centers also will al feel.”
serve as an extension of the USTA
Prince says EXO3 delivers up to 26 percent more energy back into the
Coaching Education program by
ball, adds up to 83 percent more to the sweetspot, and provides up to 25 From top to bottom, left to right:
working with and training the top EXO3 Graphite 93
coaches in their region and respec- percent more control and 26 percent more spin. EXO3 Graphite 100
tive USTA Section. Additionally, the Available now are the EXO3 Graphite 100 (suggested retail $200), EXO3 Rebel 95
EXO3 Rebel Team
coaches will attend training ses- Graphite 93 ($200), Rebel 95 ($200) and Rebel Team 95 ($180). The EXO3 EXO3 Red
sions at the USTA National Train- Silver 118 ($300) and Red 105 ($260) will be available Feb. 15. EXO3 prod- EXO3 Silver
ing Center in Boca Raton, Fla. ucts also include string and grips. Prince has a website dedicated to the
new line: www.princetennis.com/EXO3.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
PTR Symposium to Offer USPTA Announces

INDUSTRYNEWS
High School Coaches Program 2009 Certification Exams

T he PTR will offer a special program for high school tennis
coaches over President’s Weekend, Feb. 14 to 16, during its
annual International Tennis Symposium and $25,000 Champi-
T he USPTA is offering more than 110 certi-
fication exams nationwide for teaching
professionals in 2009, and will most likely add other dates,
onships, which will be held at PTR Headquarters on Hilton
too. Visit www.uspta.com for the exam schedule.
Head Island, S.C.
The exam includes an on-court evaluation of tennis strokes
The program will begin on Saturday, Feb. 14, with a PTR
and playing skills, stroke and grip analysis, private and group
Drill Exchange from 1-3 p.m., followed by a course by Pete
lesson instruction, and other skills needed in the tennis-teach-
Collins entitled Successful Doubles from 6:30-9:30 p.m. A
ing profession. It also includes a two-hour written test covering
Coaches Breakfast Reception, sponsored by the USTA, will be
teaching, playing and business management skills, rules, club
held Sunday morning followed by a special presentation.
activity programming and other topics. Applicants can now
Additional courses, including Coaching Today’s Youth with
opt to take the written exam and the grip exam online after
Bob Bigelow, Partner Practice Drills and Games,
completing the on-court portions.
Pre-Season and Rainy Day Practice Activi-
The exam process also offers a Certification Review Course
ties, Effectively Coaching the Parents, So
that covers test topics. The CRC can be taken at Regional Test-
Your Student Wants to Play College Ten-
ing Centers, which offer tests every other month on the same
nis?, Team Building - Warm-up & Practice
weekends, or it can be taken online. The course is also useful
Ending Games to Bond Your Team and Teaching Your Students
to current USPTA members who wish to review specific exam
How to Stretch Properly, are included and will be conducted on
areas before upgrading their certification ratings. CRC topics
Sunday and Monday afternoons. Also included are Cardio Ten-
include student psychology, developing student rapport, class
nis and Yoga Stretch.
organization, lesson progression and a review of teaching
The registration price of $199 includes a PTR Scholastic
techniques.
Coach Membership. Existing PTR members pay $149. For
To register for an upcoming exam (advanced registration
complete information and registration, visit www.ptrtennis.org
required) or for more information, call 800-877-8248 or e-mail
and click Upcoming Events. The full Symposium runs from
membership@uspta.org. The fee for the exam and CRC appli-
Feb. 14 to 20.
cation is $175, plus prorated USPTA membership dues.
Babolat Taps McCool Hinding Tennis Completes Conn. Job

A fter a five-month intensive recruiting
and interviewing process, Tim
McCool has been hired as the new H inding Tennis of West Haven, Conn., recently completed ren-
ovation of three courts in Darien, Conn. The courts, at the
managing director of Babolat USA, town’s Weed Beach property on Long Island Sound, originally
overseeing the US sales and marketing were built in the 1980s. “We were repairing cracks every year,
operations. without any success,” says Jim Coughlin, the town’s park and rec
McCool has worked with many large director.
brands in the sporting goods industry, Tom Hinding says his company overlayed the existing courts
including Nike and Adidas. Most recently, he served as CEO with a cushioned mat system, Nova’ProXtreme, manufactured by
for Le Coq Sportif NA, creating a US sales force and inte- NGI Sports of Chattanooga, Tenn. “I was very happy with the
grated distribution and third-party channels focused in the results,” says Hinding. “The system is very user-friendly to install
fashion and tennis business. and the surface will allow players of all levels to enjoy the game.
And the town won’t have to deal with the yearly cracking
problem.”
U.S. Juniors Win at Int’l. Event For more information, visit www.hindingtennis.com or call
203-285-3055.
A lex Domijan of Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Lauren Embree of
Marco Island, Fla., won the Boys’ and Girls’ 18-and-under
singles titles at the Eddie Herr International Junior Champi-
onships in early December, capping off a strong showing by
American players. It was the first time since the event began
in 1987 that the U.S. won both 18s titles.
In addition, the U.S. won three of the six other singles
titles. Raymond Sarmiento of Fontana, Calif., won the Boys’
16s, Alexios Halebian of Glendale, Calif., won the Boys’ 14s
and Simone Pratt of Deerfield Beach, Fla., won the Girls’
12s.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Outback Champions Series Bob Bigelow to Kick Off PTR Symposium

Announces 2009 Schedule T he PTR says one of the country’s foremost speakers on coach-
ing youth sports, Bob Bigelow, will kick off its International Ten-
T he 2009 Outback Champions Series will be comprised

of eight tournaments, highlighted by two new events in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The
nis Symposium, which will be Feb. 15-19, 2009, on Hilton Head
Island, S.C.
A former NBA first-round draft pick, Bigelow played four years
series, now in it’s fourth full season, also announced new for the Kansas City Kings, Boston Celtics and San Diego Clippers.
single-knockout tournament formats and increased prize He also played at the University of Pennsylvania for Hall of Fame
money for tournament champions Coach Chuck Daly.
The eight events each offer $150,000 in prize Bigelow advocates fully meeting the needs of children as the
money—with six events as single-knockout, six-player top priority in youth sports programs, and provides new approach-
events, while two events (Rio de Janeiro and Newport, es for positive change in youth sports. He has devoted several
R.I.) will be eight-player, round-robin format events. Tour- thousand hours to researching and lecturing about organized youth
nament champions will also receive first-prize paychecks sports and its impact on children—and adults—conducting more
of $60,000 in each single-knockout event, while unde- than 700 talks since 1993. He was selected as one of the 100 Most
feated tournament champions in the eight-player round- Influential Sports Educators by the Institute for International Sport
robin events will continue to earn $54,000. at the University of Rhode Island. Bigelow also is the co-author of
As in 2008, the player who finishes the year ranked “Just Let Kids Play.”
No. 1 in the Stanford Champions Rankings will earn a For more information, go to www.ptrtennis.org.
$100,000 bonus, courtesy of the Stanford Financial
Group. The final Stanford Champions Rankings in 2009
will be comprised of each player’s best-of-five tournament Sanchez Keynotes USPTA Conference
results.
The Outback Champions Series is a collection of glob-
al tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis
N early 130 teaching pros attended the USPTA’s Competitive Play-
er Development Conference, which took place in Naples, Fla., in
December. The conference, which is traditionally held by the asso-
over the age of 30, including former world No. 1 players ciation in Houston, was shifted to the Academia Sanchez-Casal so
Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Stefan that attendees got the added benefit of learning about some of the
Edberg. The 2009 schedule is: progressive coaching systems that have propelled Spain to its cur-
Q Champions Cup Boston—Boston, Mass., Feb. 13-15 rent tennis prominence.
Q Rio Champions Cup—Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 12- Emilio Sanchez-Vicario was on hand as a featured speaker.
15 Sanchez-Vicario led the effort to capture the Davis Cup for Spain
Q The Del Mar Development Champions Cup—Cabo San as the team’s captain just weeks before the conference. He was
Lucas, Mexico, March 18-22 ranked No. 7 in the world in men’s singles and No. 1 in doubles
Q The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Leg- with Sergio Casal as his partner. Luis Mediero, a USPTA Master
ends Championships—Grand Cayman, April 23-26 Professional and the president of Registro Profesional de Tenis
Q International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup— (RPT) in Madrid, was also on hand to assist with the conference.
Newport, R.I., Aug. 19-23
Q The Citadel Group Championships at The Palisades—
Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 25-27 Velasco Honored in Texas
Q Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Fernando Velasco (left) received the “CATA Senior Player of the Year”
Surprise—Surprise, Ariz., Nov. 6-8 from Capital Area Tennis Association incoming president Ray Delk dur-
Q Emirates NBD The Legends “Rock” Dubai—Dubai, ing the Annual Meeting and Awards Night of the CATA in December.
U.A.E., Nov. 19-21 Velasco currently is co-ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 20 in the Nation-
al USTA 65 and Over Singles Division.
Beach Tennis Schedules 2009 Events
B each Tennis USA announces its 2009 National Tour. In
addition to the dates below, other events are expected to
be added.
Q March 21-22: Clearwater Beach, Fla.
Q April 4-5, Key Biscayne, Fla.
Q May 9-10, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Q May 23-24, Long Beach, N.Y.
Q June 19-21, San Diego
Q July 18-19, Long Beach, Calif.
Q Aug. 8-9, Charleston, S.C.
Q Sept. 5-6, Long Beach, N.Y. (National Championship)
Q Sept. 11-13, Bermuda

INDUSTRYNEWS F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
ATP Unveils “Feel It” Ad Campaign

T he ATP recently unveiled the latest evolution of its advertising campaign—“Feel It.”
Now in its second year, the multimillion-dollar campaign will again feature ATP World
Tour stars including Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Andy
Murray and James Blake, showcas-
ing the sport’s core values as a one-
on-one gladiatorial battle of
world-class athletes.
Created as a flexible and adapt-
able central resource that can be
utilized in any of the ATP’s 63 tour-
nament markets, the campaign
has been designed to include any
player featured on the ATP World
Tour and is part of a global market-
ing initiative in 2009.
The 2009 version of “Feel It” will focus on bringing to life the unique global aspect
of the ATP World Tour. The evolution of the campaign will position ATP World Tour
stars as titans of the sport. The new execution will bring to life many of the locations
of the ATP World Tour and will focus on communicating the ultimate goal of the sea-
son, to become the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion.
USPTA Adds New DVD Titles

T he USPTA recently released several new DVD titles, including “On Court” shows and
several seminars. The instructional DVDs are produced in-house by the USPTA’s mul-
timedia department.
The latest TV show titles released are “Think Shots, Not Strokes,” “Secrets’ of Today’s
Serve” and “Ask the Professor” with Jack Groppel. Seminars released include Nick Bol-
lettieri on the importance of developing a solid foundation, the Mach 4 Mental Training
System, Todd Martin on all-court player training, Nick Saviano on developing world-
class fundamentals for young players, and more.
Visit usprotennisshop.com for specific pricing and special offers on DVDs and to
view more than 100 other USPTA-produced DVD titles, or call 800-877-8248 for more
information.
“Are You Sure?”

Offers Witty T’s
C hristelle Williams of Marietta, Ga.,
spent countless hours with her daugh-
ters at junior tennis tournaments. “One
day, I heard the phrase, ‘Are you sure?’
being echoed from court to court,” she
says. “It occurred to me that ‘Are you
sure?’ is one of the most commonly used
phrases in tennis.”
And an idea—and an apparel line—was born.
Looking to put a humorous angle on the situation, Williams launched the sports-
wear line this past fall, which features spunky tees with the "are you sure?" logo and
witty taglines on the back, such as “What part of the line is out?” and “Just because
you couldn’t get it doesn’t mean it was out.”
The shirts, available in T’s, hoodies and long-sleeved pullovers, are for men,
women and children in a variety of colors. Prices range from $18 and up. For more
information and to order, and to view the styles and taglines offered, visit
www.areyousure.net, email info@areyousure.net or call 770-273-8787.

INDUSTRYNEWS
New Multi-Purpose Indoor

Facility Opens at USTA BJK NTC
T he USTA in December officially opened its new state-of-the-art indoor tennis facil-
ity. The $60 million, 245,000-square-foot facility, on the grounds of the USTA Bil-
lie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., features 12 indoor
courts on two floors, along with a fitness center, classrooms, a year-round pro shop
and more.
Funded at no cost to taxpayers through USTA financing and tax-exempt bonds,
the indoor facility will allow the USTA to expand its existing tennis programming
at the NTC and provide an opportunity to add new programming for New York area
tennis enthusiasts. And the world-class venue affords the USTA greater potential in
its Player Development program.
“This is a great investment in the sport of tennis,” said Jane Brown Grimes,
USTA president and chairman of the board. “This new facility will provide the USTA
flexibility to help grow the sport of tennis throughout the Northeast, provide much
needed operational support for the US Open, and offer us greater potential to
expand programming at all levels, including Player Development.”
The new facility is a significant expansion
and upgrade of the previous indoor facility
located at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center. Three years in construction, the
new facility now contains:
• 12 tennis courts on two floors
• Modern locker rooms
• State-of-the-art fitness center to support jun-
ior programs
• Classrooms for after-school programs
• A year-round pro shop
• A new USTA Membership booth
• New US Open retail space
• A 15,000 square foot food commissary to
support the US Open
• Expanded US Open hospitality areas
• A retail merchandise warehouse.
Nominations Sought
Congratulations To the Following For
for Top 50 TWC Honors
Achieving MRT & CS Status
T he TIA, USTA and RSI are once again looking
for the “Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers” in
the U.S. These are the tennis facilities—public
and private—that are leading the charge in the
New MRTs
growth of the sport by providing well-rounded
Casey Reynolds Elsah, IL programs to new and current players of all ages
Robin Doyle Denver, CO and abilities. As a Top 50 TWC, you can receive
Ron Guse Austin, TX
Elliott Evazkhani San Luis Obispo, CA industry recognition for your facility and for all
Tiffani Yamamoto San Luis Obispo, CA your efforts to keep this sport growing.
Paige Cameron San Luis Obispo, CA
Erin Cabral San Luis Obispo, CA To nominate your facility for Top 50 TWC
Michael Bowling San Luis Obispo, CA honors, visit GrowingTennis.com and take a
Jarryd Guevara San Luis Obispo, CA
William Rosenblatt San Luis Obispo, CA
few minutes to fill out a quick survey on or
Jackson Lee San Luis Obispo, CA before Feb. 15. Among the Top 50 winners,
Soo Se Cho San Luis Obispo, CA special recognition will be given for the top-
Aaron Sunderland San Luis Obispo, CA
Sara Aston San Luis Obispo, CA ranked park and recreation tennis facility, pub-
Mark Boone San Luis Obispo, CA lic facility, commercial facility, and private
Jennifer Salter San Luis Obispo, CA
facility.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
P E O P L E W AT C H
INDUSTRYNEWS
• Ashaway Racket Strings has signed a new two- Mid-Atlantic and the Charlottesville Tennis Patrons Association.
year sponsorship agreement with racquetball
pro Jack Huczek, who will continue to use • Head has signed Egyptian squash pro and World No.1
Ashaway Superkill II string as well as his sig- Karim Darwish. In 2008, Darwish reached six major
nature Jack Huczek/AMPS 311M racquetball World Tour finals. Since turning pro in 1999, the for-
shoes. In addition, under the new agree- mer World Junior Champion has claimed 15 PSA
ment, Huczek will become more involved with World Tour titles.
Ashaway product development and marketing
efforts. • Todd Martin of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., (formerly of East
Lansing, Mich.), Barbara Mueller of Oconomowoc, Wis., and Alan
• Jason Thoerner and Chuck Bahn have joined Head/Penn Rac- Schwartz of Chicago were inducted into the 2008 USTA Midwest
quet Sports as new sales reps. Thoerner, who will cover the Mid- Section Hall of Fame in December in Chicago.
west territory, is currently ranked in the Top 10 in the world for
racquetball. Bahn has over 22 years of experience in the • Head has signed a long-term agreement with
sporting goods industry and has represented companies like Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who currently ranks third
Louisville Slugger, Puma, Adidas/Reebok apparel and others. in the South African Airways ATP ranking.
He will cover the Southwest territory.
• Fila has signed an endorsement agreement
• Boar’s Head Inn (Charlottesville, Va.) Tournament Director Ron with WTA Tour pro Anna Chakvetadze, who
Manilla and his family have been awarded the Family of the Year ended 2008 ranked No. 18, which was her third Top
Award from the USTA/Virginia Tennis. The award will be present- 20 year in a row. In late 2007, Chakvetadze achieved
ed at the organization’s annual meeting in October. Manilla a career-high ranking of No. 5. She debuted Fila’s
served as Boar's Head Sports Club's director of racquet sports and Baseline Apparel Collection and the Fila Alfa shoe at
head professional for 15 years. He is a past president of the PTR- the Australian Open in Melbourne. Visit www.fila.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Reel Sticks Adds Singles Nominate for 2009 Tennis Industry Hall of Fame
Sticks to Doubles Net
F ew players ever play on a true sin-
gles court; most people in the U.S.
T he Tennis Industry Association is looking for nominations to the “Tennis Industry Hall
of Fame,” which was started in 2008 to recognize those individuals who have had a
significant impact on the sport of tennis. Last year, Dennis Van der Meer and Howard
play singles on a doubles court. Now, Head were the inaugural nominees into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.
the makers of a product called Reel Eligibility is open to anyone who has been or is currently in the tennis industry.
Sticks hope that players will finally be TIA membership is not required for consideration. To nominate someone, go to
playing singles on a court that meets www.tennisindustry.org/hof by Friday, May 29. Nominations, and those submitting
the rules of tennis, which call for the nominations, will remain confidential. All nominations will be considered by the Hall
net to be supported 3 feet outside of of Fame Nominating Committee, then submitted to the TIA Board of Directors.
the singles sideline at 3.5 feet high. Inductees into the inaugural Tennis Industry Hall of Fame class will be announced
(On a doubles court, the net is sup- in New York City in August, in conjunction with the TIA Tennis Forum and the US
ported 3 feet outside of the doubles Open.
sideline.)
Reel Sticks provide a simple and
foolproof way to add “singles sticks” to
a doubles net. The Reel Sticks unit is
permanently mounted onto the exist-
ing net post, without the use of tools,
and stainless-steel cable reels out to
the exact distance of the singles stick.
A net band cradles the net at the prop-
er elevation, and a wide base prevents
damage to the court surface and stabi-
lizes the stick during use and when
stored for doubles. In addition, the
Reel Sticks housing can be a platform
for advertising.
Skip Scarpa of Tennis Ventures LLC
invented and patented the product.
“For over 100 years, the sport has all
but ignored the first rules of tennis,
and players have been playing singles
on a doubles court,” says Scarpa, of
Sullivans Island, S.C. “We aim to
change this.” Scarpa says that if play-
ers don’t practice with singles sticks,
then when they are confronted with
them during a tournament, they
become a practical and psychological
performance barrier.
For information, visit www.reel
sticks.com or contact Scarpa at 843-
883-3938 or skip@scarpatennis.com.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
SHORT SETS
Ameel to Direct
INDUSTRYNEWS
> The 2009 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal

between the U.S. and Argentina will be Feb. 7-8 at
Loehr and Dr. Jack Groppel, and will operate as a
separate Johnson & Johnson company. Ferris State PTM
the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise,
Ariz. The event is being organized, staged and pro-
>glimpse
A new book, “Inside the US Open,” offers a
of the Open that few people ever see or
Program
moted by the USTA, which will construct a 4,000-
seat temporary stadium at the complex for the
experience. Author Richard Kent takes readers
inside the tournament, with stories from and
F erris State University has
named Derek Ameel as
the new director of the Pro-
best-of-five-match quarterfinal. Ticket prices range about pros, media, ushers, ball persons and more. fessional Tennis Manage-
from $50 to $200 for two-day packages and can The paperback is available at Amazon.com for ment program and the
be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by call- $12.99. manager of the FSU Racquet
ing 888-334-USTA (8782).
>season
The World TeamTennis Pro League 2009 regular & Fitness Center. Ameel
>ferson
The USTA announced that the Birmingham-Jef-
Convention Complex Arena in Birmingham,
will be from July 2 to 22 and will conclude comes to Ferris State from
Bainbridge, Ga., where he
with the WTT Championship Weekend, July 24-
Ala., has been selected as the site for the 2009 most recently served as
26. The League is expected to announce the line-
director of tennis for the City
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas first-round match up of marquee players in early February, with full
of Bainbridge, overseeing the
between the U.S. and Switzerland, March 6-8. The team rosters finalized at the WTT Player Draft on
city’s tennis programs on 26
indoor arena is expected to seat more than March 31 in Miami. courts.
17,000.
>online,
The 2009 USTA Georgia Yearbook will be an Ameel is a USPTA P1 and
> Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander,
Jim Courier and Anna Kournikova will headline a
interactive publication, available on the a PTR professional; a Certi-
fied Speed, Agility and
home page of the USTA Georgia website to its
new-look $150,000 Champions Cup Boston tennis 55,000 members in late January, nearly two Quickness Instructor; and a
championships Feb. 13-15 at Boston University's months earlier than previous years. The digital for- Professional Tennis Training
Agganis Arena. Kournikova will compete in special mat is expected to save about 2 million sheets of Consultant. He also has
mixed doubles exhibition matches on Feb. 14 with received USTA High Perform-
paper, or 240 trees, and will provide direct access
a to-be-announced female player as well as players ance Certification as a spe-
from partner ads to their websites and email
cialist in Competitive Player
from the field of six men's competitors. Visit addresses.
Development and has been
www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
> Courtside Racquet Club of Lebanon, N.J., certified by USTA Level I and
> The LGE Performance Systems, which is known
as the Human Performance Institute, has been
recently was honored by USTA Middle States as the II Sport Science.
section’s Organization of the Year. Earlier, Court- Ameel received a bache-
acquired by Johnson & Johnson to expand its Well- side R.C., whose general manager is Bruce Levine, lor of science degree in Busi-
ness & Prevention platform. HPI will continue to be was honored by the section as the New Jersey Dis- ness/Professional Tennis
managed by its current team, including Dr. Jim trict Club of the Year. Management from Ferris
State in 1994.
14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009
INDUSTRY NEWS
Perry Blackman Takes USTA Post;

Named Ray Benton to Head JTCC
Prince M artin Blackman has been hired as Senior Director
for Talent Identification and Development for USTA
Player Development. Blackman will be based at the
Rep of USTA Training Facility in Boca Raton, Fla., and will
Year report to Tom Jacobs, managing director of administra-
tion and business affairs for USTA Player Development.
D ustin Perry, based in

Kansas City, Mo., has
been named Prince Sports
In this new position, Blackman will interact with the
USTA Player Development coaching and administrative
staffs, as well as top coaches and tennis centers across
Sales Representative of the
the country to lead the USTA’s efforts in identifying and
Year for 2008. Perry serv-
developing American talent.
ices players, coaches,
Since 2004, Blackman has served as director of The
academies and clubs in
Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md.,
Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas,
one of the recently announced USTA Certified Regional
Missouri and Southern Illi-
Training Centers. As Blackman leaves the JTCC, indus-
nois. He was honored at
try veteran Ray Benton enters as the new CEO of the
the Prince International
JTCC and the Tennis Center at College Park, Md., which
Sales Conference held in
is the membership club operated at the same site.
Florida at the end of
Benton was a teaching pro, college coach, and the
November, which was
first national executive director of the NJTL. In addi-
attended by nearly 200
tion, he was president of the sports management firm
Prince representatives, dis-
ProServe, and founder and operator of the Nuveen
tributors and employees
Tour, a worldwide senior tennis circuit featuring Jimmy
from around the world.
Connors, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.

T I A N E W S F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
NEWS & UPDATES

News You Can Use! Tennis Continues Strong Participation Growth
T
The good news is he latest USTA/TIA Tennis Participation Survey shows that 1.8 million players joined the game
people continue to in 2008, which boosted total U.S. participation to nearly 26.9 million players, the highest level
play tennis in a since 1992.
down economy; fre- Nearly 6 million new players tried tennis for
quent play may the first time in 2008. And frequent players,
those who play at least 21 times a year, increased
Jolyn de Boer actually increase
(see chart). With ten- by 7% to 5.62 million in 2008. The annual sur-
nis relatively inexpensive to play vey was conducted for the TIA and USTA by the
and offering great social, exercise Taylor Research Group.
and health benefits, we have an The jump in total participation is a 7% rise
opportunity to reach those who over the previous year’s 25.1 million players, and
were lost to the “ever-growing list a 12% increase over the five-year period begin-
of competing activities” for people’s ning in 2003 through year-end 2007, when total
participation was at 24 million.
Related to the rise in tennis participation, data The TIA compared shipment and participation data vs. main
leisure time over the years. Not to
also shows that shipments of tennis racquets and economic indicators (2008 projected). Download chart at Ten-
mention, the entire family can par-
ticipate at thousands of facilities, nisIndustry.org.
parks and recs across the country. balls over that same five-year period have fol-
The USTA will kick off the season lowed this same trend. Since 2003, adult racquet shipments were up 30%, and youth racquets
with an exciting tie-in between increased a remarkable 80%. Tennis ball shipments were up 15% over that same time period.
communities and professional ten- However, total 2008 shipments are projected to be down slightly from 2007.
The combined efforts of the USTA, TIA and other groups bringing tennis Consumer queries to the
nis, on March 2 (see below), and There are many contributing factors for tennis’s growth, including:
to more and more kids through school programs and other curriculum, “postcards” on the Grow-
together with our industry partners,
we are dedicated to finding ways to ingTennis System to find
local tennis programs dou-
helping to make possible the growth in youth racquet shipments.
Our front-line of dedicated teaching professionals and facilities who bled from second quarter
help you increase your business
2008 to third quarter, from

plus attract and retain players. With
Positive role models with tennis’s professional players and increased 13 million to 26 million.
tough economic times ahead, it’s attract and keep players engaged in our sport.
And, the number of facili-

more important than ever to do
ties using the Grow-
what we do best and work togeth- tournament attendance.
The sport has developed, and continues to improve, a strong infrastruc-
ingTennis System
ture that provides more places to play, programs to learn the game, and increased by a remarkable
er. Please keep in touch and
67% in that same period.

informed at TennisIndustry.org and
involved at GrowingTennis.com. partners to play with.
Tennis is relatively inexpensive to play and promotes a healthy, active
Tennis Night lifestyle with great social benefits. And an hour of competitive tennis burns more calories than
most other sports.
In America
is your one-stop search
TennisIndustryNews.org
Share Your News and Views
S
ign up your facility now
for tennis industry news
to host a Youth Regis-
tration Night event on and information. The site
on Growth at TennisIndustryNews.org
features the latest
newfeeds from RSI,
W
March 2, which is part of e want to hear from you! This industry has had great momen-
along with TIA member

Tennis Night in America. tum. In 2009, it will be more important than ever to contin-
news, plus an official ten-

Youth Registration Night ue our best practices and find supportive ways to keep the
nis industry calendar,
events put tennis center- industry vital and strong. Please share any comments—your views and
stage in local communities GrowingTennis newslet- feedback are important to us.
ters and archives, quick- What do you feel are contributing factors for tennis’s growth?
links to industry partners,
across the country and jump-
Please share any individual or business success stories, which we
industry newsletters, and
start youth tennis signups for
a tennis media and man-

your spring and summer hope to publish in future issues.
How can we make our industry stronger?
ufacturer search.
programs. Go to Tennis-
Night.com to register. How is this current economy affecting your business?
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17
TIA NEWS
Q&A with New TIA President Jon Muir
J on Muir, the worldwide general manager of Wilson Racquet Sports, began a two-year term as president
of the TIA on Jan. 1. Muir grew up in Southern California and has been a lifetime USTA member since
his junior tennis playing days and went on to play high school and college varsity tennis. Muir, who is
a certified professional by both the USPTA and PTR, began his tennis career as a private tennis coach work-
ing mainly with junior players. He joined Wilson over 11 years ago as a Territory Sales Manager and has
had various positions in Wilson management, where he was promoted to his current position in 2006.
Q: What are your priorities as you begin your term? the future opportunities and growth of our industry. Lastly, I
A: The TIA needs to continue to focus on the growth of ten- think we need to continually challenge ourselves to ensure
nis from a business and economic perspective. Sustaining we are staying focused on what really will make the differ-
our growth and continually improving our infrastructure are ence in our industry and in our sport longer term.
vital. We must further define and communicate our initia-
tives to ensure we continue to work closely with both the Q: Where do you see growth opportunities for the sport?
USTA and all of our partners throughout the industry. It’s A: We need to improve awareness that tennis is relatively
important to maintain the momentum we have collectively inexpensive to play and truly is a lifetime sport. If we look
worked towards the past few years. at all sports, there are very few where the majority base of
Another major area is in technology, especially in how it players can continue to play and excel even further after
can address our 24/7 society today and improve our effi- high school or college. Our challenge is to help accelerate
ciencies for capturing and retaining new players. The TIA the younger base of new and continuing players prior to
along with the USTA are taking a lead role in this area, help- high school.
ing potential tennis consumers easily find places to play and The QuickStart Tennis format is beginning to show early
programs in their area. We will place a big emphasis towards success and get real traction at this key time. Expanding the
online enrollment access for all facilities and programs with awareness of this approach and format for entry-level play-
our focus on communicating and enhancing the tools that ers is a huge opportunity to not just get more kids in the 6
have already been developed. Integrating these tools and to 10 age range into our sport (and their families), but also
technology can help retailers and facilities manage their an opportunity to increase revenue per court and revenue
business more efficiently and profitably. overall coming into our industry. If we can get more kids
started and staying in our sport, our core serious player base
Q: What are some of the key issues facing the industry? will continue to grow in the years ahead.
A: Given the current economic conditions, we need to
ensure we are balancing the reality of our short-term chal- Q: What do you think is important in terms of keeping every-
lenges with longer term opportunities for our sport and one—manufacturers, teaching pros, retailers, etc.—focused
industry to expand to even higher levels in the years ahead. on growing the brand of tennis?
As an association, we need to work better in general with A: Having strong research that shows our joint efforts are
our tennis retailers, including communication and continu- making a difference. No other sport pulls together both in
ing to provide tools that can directly support their business our research and efforts like our industry. We need to main-
day to day. tain open and direct communication with everyone to main-
We also need to begin a concerted effort to develop a tain a clear focus on the growth of tennis and economic
clearer career path in tennis in all areas (teaching profes- vitality of our sport. In working together, we will continue
sionals, associations, manufacturers, etc.) that will support the success we have already experienced.
Our Focus for 2009—And Beyond
A
s we start this year, our goal is to take an increased focus on strengthening the industry—building stronger businesses,
retailers and facilities—to further the economic vitality of tennis, and to work with our industry partners to aggressive-
ly promote the positive messaging for our sport.
New Research Analytics—for greater insight and trend- your profits, and in 2009, TennisConnect Retailer adds an
lines in the marketplace. online catalog, string center and racquet demo center to
Business Advantages—to reduce your costs and expenses, make your website the ultimate in customer service.
including TennisInsure, a comprehensive insurance pro- Online Registration—including TennisCollect, an online
gram specifically for the tennis industry (does not include payment system to help streamline your business.
personal liability insurance), shipping discounts, merchant Technology through the GrowingTennis System—Log in
card processing discounts, travel and media discounts. to update your free facility listing and programs for con-
TennisConnect—Powerful online software for any size sumers to find you, sign up for workshops, apply for fund-
tennis business, designed to save you time and increase ing, and much more at GrowingTennis.com.
18 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
Grassroots Game
Grips Program
Takes Hold
A unique program uses grip colors to
help push new players to higher levels.
I
BY COLETTE LEWIS
t's a scenario that has played out
countless times at tennis facilities
across the country. Riviera Tennis
Club junior development director Craig
Cignarelli was approached by the mother
of a young player. She asked that her site, he or she can take the on-court ing, and receive 12 books with all the
son be included in his class. Cignarelli exam. If successful at demonstrating the drills and tests included. The cost, $6 a
said the boy lacked the skills for that skills pegged to that level, the player month or $60 a year, is generally paid
level of play. receives a certificate of achievement, by the player, and is set intentionally
But when the mother accused him of recognition on the website and, most low to encourage participation not just at
being unfair, Cignarelli took action. importantly, the next grip color for their country clubs, but also at public parks
"I told her, you're right. Let me write racquet. and in recreation programs. With nation-
a skills test for him, and if he can pass, "It's a structured curriculum with al interest in the concept growing, Fox
I'll put him in the class," Cignarelli recalls objective benchmarks which makes and Cignarelli are now hiring regional
of that 2006 conversation. "Well, the kid administering a junior program easier commission-based representatives to aid
failed the test. But six weeks later he for coaches," says Cignarelli, 38, who the expansion.
came back and retook the test and has been teaching tennis for 13 years. Dale Miller, regional director for Club-
passed. And his mom said to me, you "But mostly, it's effective at capturing Sport, a group of five fitness clubs in Cal-
know, that really inspired my child. It's a new players and pushing them to higher ifornia, Oregon and Nevada, believes the
great idea, and it was totally fair." levels, because it provides a path to skill Grips Program has brought additional
Six months later Cignarelli and his development that rests in the hands of objectivity and focus to his juniors at
colleague, Aaron Fox, also a teaching the player. They have a path to improve- ClubSport Valley Vista in Walnut Creek,
professional at the Los Angeles-area club, ment independent of the coach." Calif.
had developed 11 on-court skills tests, Clubs adopting the program, which "It was an easy decision for us,
each more difficult than the previous now number more than 100, pay noth- because we have a very active junior
one. program of about 80 kids," says Miller,
Augmented by 11 off- who learned about
court exams that incorpo- the Grips Program via
rate history, the USPTA and has
sportsmanship, rules, been using it for
strategy and fitness, those nearly a year.
tests marked the birth of "It helps you to
the Grips Program see patterns on what
(www.gripsprogram.com). the kids are doing
Based on the belts well and what the
associated with martial kids are struggling
arts proficiency, the pro- with," Miller says.
gram's 11 stages ascend "The great majority
from beginner's white to of our kids and par-
expert's black. Once a stu- ents see it as a really
dent has taken and nice addition to our
passed an online test for a program."
specific level via the pro- It's a system that
gram's interactive web- co-founder Fox

believes fills two voids. "The informa- motivated to get her next
tion and the structure that we're pro- grip and catch her brother."
viding the kids is definitely something I "That's not going to
wish I would have had," says Fox, 29, happen," chimes in the
who was a nationally ranked junior in young Stanley, who has
Pennsylvania and a standout at Drake earned a green grip,
University in Des Moines. squarely in the middle of
"And, in my mind, the play, the fun the spectrum. But he’s
in the game, has sort of been lost to determined to keep pro-
the opportunities that are there now. I gressing toward the black
just took the gray grip (one level below grip.
black) test myself, which I have now "Last time I heard, no
not passed for the third time, and it is one had done it. But I hope
just fun. When I was taking the test, to be the first one." Q
the kids were on the sideline cheering
and we were having fun."
But aside from injecting some fun
into tennis practice and drills, Cignarelli
and Fox are also serious about provid-
ing a connection between the world's
top players and those aspiring to join
them.
"If we had stopped at the green
grip, which is where most kids at the
highest level at the club were, we
wouldn't have put it in relationship to
the best players in the world," says
Fox.
Lester Cook, ranked around 300 on
the ATP tour, has yet to pass his black
grip test in three tries, and for Cignarel-
li, who has worked with Cook for over
a dozen years, that typifies the pro-
gram's ability to motivate.
"He's still out on the practice courts,
working to get better and get to that
level," says Cignarelli, who also works
with touring professionals Shane
LaPorte, Maureen Diaz and Prakash
Amritraj. "I think it inspires people at
all levels."
That's certainly true of 6-year-old
Samantha Corrigan Morris and her
brother, 8-year-old Stanley. Stanley was
one of the first participants in the Grips
Program, while Samantha has graduat-
ed from the Little Grips, a program for
young beginners, to a white grip.
(Cignarelli and Fox are also developing
an assessment for QuickStart Tennis
participants).
Their father, Stanley Morris, has
seen the difference it has made in the
children's attitude toward practice.
"Anything you can do to motivate kids,
especially to do something that is a lit-
tle bit of drudgery, is good," says Mor-
ris. "I know my daughter is very

GEAR UP
MANUFACTURERS
OUTLOOK 2009
Despite worries about

the economy, the
makers of racquets,
shoes, apparel and
strings are optimistic that
their products will strike the
W
right chord with consumers.
hile tennis participation continues to be strong—and by the For Prince (www.princesports.com; 800-2-TEN-
latest research, growing—clearly manufacturers of tennis NIS), the EXO3 line, which launched in the begin-
products are worried about the economy, and concerned ning of January in the U.S., is the big story (see
that consumers will continue to cut back on their pur- page 7). The initial line includes the EXO3 Silver
chases. But that hasn’t stopped manufacturers from 118, EXO3 Red 105, EXO3 Graphite 100 (shown
coming out with new and innovative products. at right) and 93, and EXO3 Rebel 95 and Rebel
Many are searching for that holy grail of Team 95. Tyler Herring, global business director
marketing—tremendous value for the money for performance racquets, says Prince will intro-
and a unique product that offers consumers a duce additional models to the EXO3 line “in the
reason to spend. Here is a brief, and by no back half of the year, in a continued effort to tar-
means complete, look at what you might get the growing players sector, while providing rac-
RACQUETS
expect in the new year. quets for all player types.”
It’s all about control for Wilson (www.wil-
son.com; 773-714-6400). “Power has been where it
Head (www.head.com; 800-237-5497), which was at for many years,” says Marketing Manager Cory
just signed world No. 3 Novak Djokovic, is opti- Springer, “but we took a closer look at control and it
mistic about 2009, says Roger Petersman, senior became clear that the player who was more controlled,
business manager of tennis racquets. The company which we took to mean fewer unforced errors, won their
also has pro Andy Murray, and he’s been hot lately, matches a larger percent of the time.” Wilson set about
playing with his popular MicroGel Radical MP (at left). enhancing control in its newest [K] Factor fames: the
Planned for first quarter are new products, including K3 FX, the Cobra and Cobra Team FX, and the K Tour
racquets, that Head says will provide retailers with Team FX (shown next page top left). All start shipping
“great opportunities to motivate their consumers to in the first quarter.
buy.” New frames from Babolat (www.babolat.com;

877-316-9435) will hit retail in March, but Tim McCool, lasting and comfortable cushioning, says K-Swiss. The Light 1.0
managing director for North America, says the brand is insole for match days provides a springier feel and extra support,
not flooding the market with new models. “It’s about among other features. K-Swiss is planning additional MiSoul Tech
positioning and keeping our inventory under control insoles that help with added stability, for those who wear orthotics
and managing our product lifecy- and more.
cles,” he says. “It’s better for retail- Spring footwear for Prince includes
ers because they can get the two new colorways in the men’s (fourth
residuals from their investment with down) and women’s T22 shoe, says
longer lifecycles, and it’s better for George Poulos, the global director of
consumers, too.” McCool says the footwear. Also, the company launched the new
new racquets will target new con- Cobra, a lightweight, low-silhouette shoe
sumer groups, to bring participants in with lateral support, built on Prince’s NFS
FOOTWEAR
the game. last. And the updated NFS Viper V has
mesh for breathability and lighter weight.
Three new Prince shoes are slated for later this
Adidas (www.adidasus.com; 800-448-1796) says it expects year: an addition to the T Series, an “aggressive”
color to continue to be popular in men’s and women’s ten- update to the original M and O Series shoes
nis shoes in 2009. Its black and dark-based Barricade V featuring second-generation Precision Tube
that came out late last year has been very strong, cushioning system, and a women’s shoe
says the company. Adidas also makes that combines a performance outsole with
traditional a white-based version contemporary styling.
(shown at right), too, to satisfy all play- For Wilson, new shoes for 2009
ers. New models for ’09 include the CC include the all-court Tour Spin (bottom), a
Genius and Feather IV, which will contin- lightweight high-performance shoe that
APPAREL
ue the color trend. emphasizes comfort.
Babolat says it is bringing its years of
R&D working with expert players to the
club-level player. This tennis-only compa- At Bolle (www.bolleten-niswear.com; 301-
ny says that its shoe designs take into 362-0360), product manager Shawn
account that 80 percent of movement in Chesney says players are looking for
tennis is lateral and diagonal and that quality and a good value, with an edgy,
players need effective “relaunch.” The fashion-forward look. “We’re trying to look
company’s new Propulse shoe, worn out for the consumer,” Chesney says, “so
by Andy Roddick, features “Footbelt” we’re not raising any prices, we’re keeping things
technology for a secure fit and the same. And we want our clothes to look great on the court
emphasizes “relaunch” and as well as in the gym. Chesney says pink has been a sta-
durability. For women, the ple for Bolle. “Every season, we do pink, and people
new Team Lady has a new love it,” she says. In addition to the Tennis
design and improved com- line, the High-Performance line (facing
fort, says Babolat, with an page) is geared toward a younger mar-
exclusive last that is thinner ket, with silhouettes cut closer to the
in the forefoot and shaped to body, skirts slightly shorter, and more
fit a women’s foot, for perfor- vibrant, loud colors.
mance, comfort and light weight. Lauren Mallon, the global marketing man-
Greg Mason of Head says retail ager at Fila (previous page) (www.fila.com; 410-773-3000),
price points at $100 and below will be says women are looking for performance and feminin-
critical in today’s marketplace. “In product ity, with dresses continuing to be popular. “Lay-
performance and value to shoppers, Head ering and mesh details incorporated into
competes exceptionally well,” he says. the design make it look more feminine,
New shoes for ’09 include the Prestige but performance is the most impor-
Pro for men (shown at right, second tant,” she says. “Products are
down) and women. designed with the player in mind.” For
K-Swiss (www.kswiss.com; 800-714-4477) is hoping its men, color is a huge trend, she adds. And men are
new shoe, the Defier MiSoul Tech (third down), which launched moving away from collared shirts—“most of our business is in
in January, will be a runaway favorite among tennis players. It’s crewneck.”
the first in a planned tennis line that allows players to customize Fila is building more products in its Eco category and intro-
the shoe for practice days and match days, using switchable ducing them into the tennis category. “The trend toward eco and
insoles. The Cushion 1.0 insole is for practice days, providing long- green is here to say,” Mallon says. “It’s important that products

perform and are eco-friendly.” Fila has that in 2008, the company found players
a large “basics” business—led by team were focusing on playing more tennis and
STRING
and league wear purchases. regripping and restringing their old
frames more often. “It seems that in ’09,
this trend is growing stronger,” he says.
Steve Crandall of Ashaway And in his travels around the world,
(www.ashawayusa.com; 800-556- Parry says it’s the stringing business
7260) says that possibly as a func- that is keeping the doors open at
tion of the aging population, many tennis shops. Pacific, which
“Recreational players are losing their offers popular models such as Hybrid
infatuation with high-end poly- Power 16L, PolyForce and Xtrack, is the official
ester—‘gut on steroids.’ They’re real- string of the ATP World Tour.
izing that normal, everyday players Prince has a number of new strings out, some designed for
just don’t get enough benefit from its new EXO3 line of racquets. “We’ve taken poly strings to a
that type of string to warrant the new level with a co-extrusion technology that gives the player all
cost.” Crandall says that instead, the benefits of poly with 50 percent less shock to the arm,” says
“They’re turning to more traditional Dave Malinowski, global director of strings and accessories. In
multi-filament and synthetic gut the multifilament segment, Prince’s Premier LT, which stands for
strings, which offer a good combination “linear technology,” aligns the inner fibers and allows the string
of performance, economy and durabili- to play more like natural gut, says Malinowski. Twisted is a new,
ty, and they play softer.” Ashaway’s line fun two-toned performance string. Other new Prince string
includes multifilaments such as Dyna- includes the Poly EXP and Recoil.
mite WB and 17, and its classic Synthetic At Tecnifibre USA (877-336-1613), Paul Kid
Gut 16 and 17, among many other models. expects players to be more cautious with their
Gamma (www.gammasports .com; equipment purchases in the current eco-
800-333-0337) is finding that more players nomic climate and more inquisitive regard-
want to use polyester strings, like their ing the features and benefits of products.
favorite pros. “But most polys are too stiff “This is a great opportunity for retailers
for the average club player,” says Gamma to better educate players about the per-
Sport’s Chuck Vietmeier. “We’re intro- formance characteristics of prod-
ducing softer, more forgiving polyesters ucts, especially strings,”
that still offer good control but are much says Kid. “Our concern is
easier on the arm.” Vietmeier says that players may look
Gamma’s Twist Technology poly con- for more durable
struction, where the string is twisted strings [opting to
right after extrusion, creates a textured restring less often],
poly for maximum ball bite. For 2009, but that might not
two new strings will use this process, Zo be the best choice
Twist and Zo Tour Rough. for that particular
In March, Head will introduce its Per- player. Also,
fect Match stringing system, which indoor though, a player
court sports and accessories business may want to
manager Ben Simons says is designed to hold off on some-
help all players make their racquets play thing as important
better. Simons says last year, the indus- as restringing by
try saw string sales continue to increase. using a product past
“I feel optimistic for the string business its prime perfor-
in 2009,” he says, “even with the chal- mance, diminishing the
lenges we all will be facing. For Head player’s on-court perfor-
string and accessories, 2009 will be an mance.” Kid says that
exciting year.” Tecnifibre’s NRG2
Luxilon (www.wilson.com; 773- string, introduced in
714-6400) is adding a new product 1999 and used by
this year, M2, a multi-monofilament the Bryan Broth-
that uses a unique manufacturing process to com- ers, is still the
bine the best qualities of a monofilament and a multi, says company’s
Wilson. most popular
Tom Parry at Pacific (www. pacific.com; 941-795-1789) says string. Q

RSI/ASBA FACILITY-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDS
RSI and the ASBA bring you the best in tennis court
construction.
Distinguishing Honors
In addition to the Pasternack Residence
private court, the Pine Canyon facility,
and the Larson Sports Center at
Jamestown College, these 19 locations
were chosen by the 2008 panel of judges
for the ASBA as excellent examples of
court construction, receiving Distin-
ne of the striking things about the most recent crop of tennis facility winners in the guished Facility-of-the-Year Awards.
O RSI/American Sports Builders Association Facility-of-the-Year Awards is the number

of facilities that have soft-court surfaces. Of the 22 total winners, 13 have soft sur-
faces. That includes some predominantly hard-court facilities that also offer players a
You’ll read more about them in upcoming
issues of Racquet Sports Industry. (The
nominating company is in parentheses.)
Q Brian Piccolo Park Tennis Center, Cooper City, Fla.
few softer courts. (And there are additional winners that use a cushioned hard-court sur- (Fast-Dry Courts)
face, too.) Q City of Auburn/Auburn Univ. Yarbrough Tennis
Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member—whether a contractor, Center, Auburn, Ala. (Welch Tennis Courts)
designer or supplier—the association selects outstanding tennis facilities that meet the Q Constant at Diamond Mountain Vineyards, Calis-
toga, Calif. (Vintage Contractors Inc.)
standard of excellence determined by the judging committee. For 2008, the panel of Q Fertita Tennis Complex, Univ. of Nevada–Las
judges deemed 22 courts or tennis facilities to be outstanding, or “distinguished,” as the Vegas (L.E.R. Inc./Renner Sports Surfaces)
award reads. Q Greenville-Greene County Tennis Center,
Greenville, Tenn. (Baseline Sports Construction)
Q Homewood Middle School, Homewood, Ala. (Hol-
Three of those winners, however, were chosen for special “Facility-of-the-Year” hon-
ors: the Pasternack Residence in Orange County, Calif., received the Residential Ten- combe Norton Partners)
nis Facility-of-the-Year Award; Pine Canyon in Flagstaff, Ariz., was honored with the Q Islandwalk at the West Villages, Northport, Fla.
Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award; and the Larson Sports Center at Jamestown (Welch Tennis Courts)
College in North Dakota received the Indoor Multi-Purpose Facility-of-the Year Award. Q Ortwein Residence, High Meadow Ranch, Magno-
lia, Texas (Patriot Court Systems)
The Pasternack Residence, new construction by Zaino Tennis Courts of Orange, Q Palm Coast Tennis Center, Palm Coast, Fla. (Welch
Calif., uses a post-tension concrete foundation and Plexicushion surface in the popular Tennis Courts)
US Open blue color. Zaino also handled installation of a channel drain and the lighting Q Palmilla Tennis Club at Villas de Oro, Los Cabos,
Mexico (Global Sports & Tennis Design Group)
Q Paseo-Fort Myers Facility, Fort Myers, Fla. (Welch
system, among many other tasks.
Pine Canyon is an exquisite private community in Flagstaff, Ariz., known for it’s Tennis Courts)
great golf and scenery. Now, it has two new hard courts at its “Camp Pine Canyon” com- Q Pilara Tenis Club Facility, Pilar, Argentina (Global
plex, which also includes three swimming pools. General Acrylics of Phoenix built the Sports & Tennis Design Group)
post-tension concrete courts and supplied the surface, in a kind of “design as we go” sit- Q Private Residence, Boca Raton, Fla. (Fast-Dry
Courts)
uation, where they worked closely with the general contractor to meet the changing Q Private Residence, Las Vegas, Nev. (Fast-Dry
ideas of the owner during construction. Courts)
The award-winning Larson Sports Center at Jamestown College in North Dakota has Q Private Residence, Napa, Calif. (Vintage Contrac-
tors Inc.)
Q Samford University Outdoor Tennis Facility, Home-
a multi-purpose indoor facility offering three tennis courts, among other uses, on a pre-
fab rubber surface, put down by Kiefer Specialty Flooring. The installation included an wood, Ala. (Lower Bros. Co.)
overlay of an existing sports floor and the installation of a new sports floor on a new Q Samford University Indoor Tennis Facility, Home-
concrete slab, requiring contractors to resolve elevation differences between the two. wood, Ala. (Lower Bros. Co.)
And the tight schedule also posed problems with the curing of the concrete. But, in true Q Southeast Park & Tennis Complex, Columbia, S.C.
(Global Sports & Tennis Design Group)
winning fashion, the project was brought in on schedule, and within budget. Q Turnberry Isle Tennis Facility, Aventura, Fla. (Fast-
—Peter Francesconi Dry Courts)

Residential Tennis
Facility-of-the-Year Award
Pasternack Residence
Orange County, Calif.
Specialty Contractor: Zaino Tennis Courts
General Contractor: Hobson Construction Inc.
Architect: Steven Phillips
Surface: Plexipave Plexicushion Prestige
Lights: Visionaire Lighting, Advantage Light Fixtures
Net, Net Posts: Edwards
Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award

Pine Canyon
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Specialty Contractor: General Acrylics Inc.
Surface: Gameco Products by General Acrylics
Nets, Straps, Posts, Windscreens: Douglas Industries
Indoor Multi-Purpose
Facility-of-the-Year Award
Larson Sports Center
Jamestown College, Jamestown, N.D.
Specialty Contractor: Kiefer Specialty Flooring Inc.
Architect/Engineer: EAPC of Fargo, N.D.
General Contractor: Hillerud Construction
Surface: Mondo Rubber Sports Flooring
For details on the 2009 Distin-

guished Facility-of-the-Year
Awards, contact the ASBA at
866-501-ASBA or
info@sportsbuilders.org.

String Playtest
Head ETS 16
Head ETS is a wrapped multifilament
nylon string. According to Head, the
highly elastic multifilament core moves
freely within its unique polypropylene
outer wrap, providing optimal elasticity
and energy transfer for unprecedented
power, playability, and perfect sound.
The outer wrap is abrasion resistant for
excellent durability.
Head ETS has been specially
designed for oversized racquets and for string job. The texture referred to
players looking to add more power to by our playtesters is not so much of a
their game. roughness as it is a pronounced lumpi-
ETS is available in 16 (1.31 mm) and ness. This texture isn’t the kind that
17 (1.24 mm) in white only. It is priced sounds as if it is sawing through the
from $11.50 per 40’ set (no reels avail- grommets and across the mains. Finally,
able). For more information or to order, EASE OF STRINGING because of the texture, knots feel oddly
contact Head at 800-289-7366, or visit (compared to other strings) when you’re pulling them tight, but they
www.head.com. Be sure to read the con- Number of testers who said it was:
cinch up just fine.
much easier 0
clusion for more information about get- No playtester broke his sample dur-
somewhat easier 2
ting a free set to try for yourself. ing stringing, 14 reported problems with
about as easy 23
IN THE LAB
not quite as easy 10
coil memory, none reported a problem
not nearly as easy 0 tying knots, and one reported friction
The coil measured 40’. The diameter burn.
ON THE COURT
measured 1.29-1.33 mm prior to string- OVERALL PLAYABILITY
ing, and 1.24-1.26 mm after stringing. (compared to string played most often)
Number of testers who said it was:
We recorded a stringbed stiffness of 74 Our playtest team scored ETS well
much better 2
RDC units immediately after stringing at above average in Playability, Touch/Feel,
somewhat better 7
60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 Spin Potential, and Resistance to Move-
about as playable 10
(16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull not quite as playable 14 ment. Additionally, many of our
machine. not nearly as playable 2 playtesters commented on how comfort-
After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed able ETS is in play. The score for power
stiffness measured 64 RDC units, repre- OVERALL DURABILITY is about average, but this is appropriate
(compared to other strings
senting a 14 percent tension loss. Our in this string, given its target market of
of similar gauge)
control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Origi- Number of testers who said it was: players using oversize racquets.
nal Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units much better 3 Three playtesters broke the sample
immediately after stringing and 71 RDC somewhat better 10 during the playtest, one each at four, 17,
units after 24 hours, representing a 9 about as durable 18 and 24 hours of play.
CONCLUSION
percent tension loss. ETS added 15 not quite as durable 4
grams to the weight of our unstrung not nearly as durable 0
frame. RATING AVERAGES It is sometimes difficult to find the right
The string was tested for five weeks From 1 to 5 (best) string for customers with oversize rac-
by 35 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP rat- Playability 3.5 quets, especially those with open string
ings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind Durability 3.4 patterns, because they want a durable
tests, with playtesters receiving Power 3.1 string that doesn’t move all over the
unmarked strings in unmarked packages. Control 3.3 place, and has great feel and playability.
Average number of hours playtested was Comfort 3.3 According to our playtest results, this
27.6. Touch/Feel 3.2 describes Head ETS 16.
Out of the package, there is a tight Spin Potential 3.3
If you think that Head ETS might be
Holding Tension 3.4
but not aggressive coil memory, so you for you, fill out the coupon to get a free
—Greg Raven Q
Resistance to Movement 3.5
have to watch for kinks through the set to try.

TESTERS TALK
FREE PLAYTEST
STRING PROGRAM
“ This is a crisp, predictable string. Spin
potential is very pronounced. It has high ten-
”
there is refreshingly little tension loss. 5.0
male all-court player using Head MicroGEL
sion maintenance and low string movement. It Extreme strung at 60 pounds CP (Wilson Natural Head will send a free set of
”
is easily one of the best strings I’ve tested.
4.5 male serve-and-volleyer using Wilson nSix-
Gut 16) ETS 16 to the first 500 USRSA
members who cut out (or copy)
this coupon and mail it to:
One (68 Holes) strung at 58 pounds CP (Wilson
NXT 16) “ This string plays surprisingly crisp. Control
and comfort are there from start to finish. Hard
hitters and string breakers might have some USRSA
“ This is the best string I’ve tested. Holds ten-
sion extremely well. There is no string move-
durability issues. This string is a good option for
those who prefer the crisp and firm feel of poly-
Attn: Head String Offer,
330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
ment. It handles a wide range of shots with
remarkable ease, from drop volleys to heavy
”
ester without the harsh response. 4.5 male
all-court player using Babolat Pure Storm strung
or fax to 760-536-1171,
or email the info below to
ground strokes. This string is as good as it at 65 pounds CP (Gamma Zo Tour 16) stringsample@racquettech.com
”
gets. 4.5 male all-court player using Prince
OZone Pro Tour MP strung at 58 pounds LO
(Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex 16) “ This string has a soft feel without being
mushy. There is some string movement. Spin Offer expires 15 February 2009
Offer only available to USRSA members
”
potential is excellent. 4.0 male all-court play-
in the US.
“ This is a comfortable multifilament that er using Babolat Aeropro Drive + (with Cortex)
”
reduces shock very effectively. 5.0 male all-
court player using Prince O3 White MP strung
strung at 60 pounds CP (Luxilon Big Banger Alu
Power 16L)
Name:
at 55 pounds LO (Luxilon Big Banger Original USRSA Member number:
Phone:
130 16L)
“ Stringing gets easier after the initial coil
memory recedes. Playability, resistance to move- Email:
“ This string seems to make the sweetspot ment, control, and durability are all very If you print your email clearly, we will notify
bigger. The entire string bed feels comfortable.
Shots in the upper hoop are not punished with
”
good. 4.5 male all-court player using Prince
O3 Blue strung at 57 pounds LO (Gamma Live
you when your sample will be sent.
War Pro 17) For the rest of the tester comments, visit
anemic responses. Considering the string type,
www.racquetsportsindustry.com.

Ask the Experts
Your Equipment Hotline
Q
EKTELON O3
WHITE PATTERNS
install the short side on the side opposite of mets for that “factory” look (or even
the markings on the frame. just to help retain the bumpguard),
ADDING LEAD TAPE

THE 16X17 STRINGING PATTERN check out the Flare-It™ Grommet Wiz-
Q
UNDER THE
you have listed for the Ektelon O3 ard, which is available at ATS Sports
Q
BUMPERGUARD
White racquetball racquet is the (www.atssports.com).
RACQUET SHORTENING
optional pattern for this frame. The stock
stringing pattern (the one that comes pre- I JUST RECEIVED TWO BRAND NEW
A
strung) is 14x17. You might want to men- racquets today. However, after tak- HOW DO YOU SHORTEN A rac-
A
tion this in the Digest for those who are ing grommet strips off to add weight quet by ¼ or even ½ inches?
unfamiliar with this new racquetball under the bumper guard, I found it impossi-
A
frame. ble to put the grommets back through the THE TRICKY PART OF shorten-
racquet holes because some of the grommet ing a racquet is usually getting
WE CONTACTED SCOTT Winters ends are flared. Any suggestions? the butt cap back on securely.
at Ektelon before we printed the On most racquets, you remove the
new Digest. Ektelon recommends the MANY NEW RACQUETS COME with replacement grip (and overgrip, if fit-
16x17 pattern because it is less confusing grommets that are flared after the ted), remove the butt cap, measure how
as it doesn’t leave any holes empty. Also, bumperguard and grommet strip have been much you want to cut off, do your cut
it is a little easier to install. As you may mounted on the racquet. Even if removing (making very certain to perform a
be aware, there is also a 12x17 pattern these flared grommets didn’t destroy them, square cut), reattached the butt cap,
option for this frame. We’ll provide the you’d still have to throw away the grommet and then rewrap the grip (and overgrip,
instructions for each of the three patterns strip and replace it with a new one, for just if desired).
in both the Digest and the Digest On-line. the reason you’ve discovered. The trick with reattaching the butt
Finally, the 14x17 pattern used by the If, after adding your lead tape and cap is that most people don’t have a
factory is the most complicated because it installing the replacement bumperguard and stapler that can penetrate the carbon
involves empty holes, and you need to grommet kit, you want to re-flare the grom- fiber in the handle area. Sometimes,

the carbon fiber is inside of a foam pallet, but sometimes not. Either way, your
staples have to penetrate the carbon fiber to hold the butt cap securely. For extra
hold on the butt cap, you can try Super Glue gel. The normal warnings apply for
Q
working with Super Glue.
GUESTIMATING TENSION RANGE
A
I HAVE A SNAUWAERT Graphite Composite and a Wilson Butch Buchholz
Signature racquet made for Sears Roebuck & Co. Any idea as to recom-
mended stringing range on these?
USRSA MEMBERS CAN guesstimate the tension for any racquet with the
on-line tool we have here:
www.usrsa.com/members/tools/tension_guess.html
The figures returned by this tool come from looking at hundreds of racquets
with known head size and stringbed density. You simply plug in the head size,
number of mains, and number of crosses from your racquet, and the tool will rec-
ommend a normal tension range for a typical racquet with those characteristics.
Q
TYING OFF NATURAL GUT
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE MAIN STRING BREAKING AT
A
the point where the cross string is tied off such as 7H. In two instances it
happened in the bag, that is, not during play. I use a double granny knot. I
do tend to pull the knot fairly hard. Any suggestions?
FIRST, USE A DOUBLE HALF HITCH. THE GRANNY KNOT IS NOT A good
knot for any application. If you’re unclear on how to tie a double half
hitch, refer to the section on “Forming Your Tie-Off Knot” in the Stringer’s Digest,
page 59.
Second, generally speaking you don’t need to pull knots as tight as you might
think. In specific, you cannot pull hard on natural gut anchor strings, as you will
damage the anchor string, causing it to break prematurely. Try gently pulling the
loose end of the knot until the slack is just out of the string you’re tying off, and
then stop. If the anchor string is breaking while the racquet is in the bag, you’re
Q
pulling too hard.
HYBRID WEIGHT DIFFERENCES
A
I NOTICED IN YOUR PLAYTEST REPORT OF PACIFIC POWER HYBRID
that the total racquet weight was different depending on which string was
used in the mains. How is that possible?
THE REASON WE PUBLISH THE CHANGE IN RACQUET WEIGHT DUE TO

stringing is that strings don’t all weigh the same, whether because of diam-
eter, materials, construction, or all three. On a hybrid such as Pacific Power
Hybrid, we noted a fairly significant difference in mass between the two strings
(Poly Force and Power Line). When you use the heavier of the two strings in the
longer mains, the total racquet weight is slightly higher than when you use the
heavier of the two strings in the shorter crosses.
—Greg Raven Q
We welcome your questions. Please send them to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA, 92084; fax:
760-536-1171; email: greg@racquettech.com.
Your Serve
New Lessons
for Teaching Pros
C
An industry insider says it’s time the USPTA and PTR fully embrace modified tennis
for youngsters by requiring knowledge of it for certification. BY KEVIN THEOS
onsumers expect “certified” tennis format in our programming and view it as or to traditional instruction in terms of
teaching professionals to be knowl- critical to the growth of tennis. Adaptive meeting consumer demands. But they are
edgeable about the latest advances equipment for youth has to be a major only offered as specialty courses.
in tennis instruction. The use of adaptive player, and educating the professionals on In contrast, under Level 1 of ITF certifi-
equipment and formats are modern the usage of such equipment is para- cation, one must undertake nine days of
improvements to youth tennis, but neither mount.” training, the first two of which are entirely
USPTA nor PTR pros need to know any- Manufacturers also indicate that the devoted to learning how to teach with
thing about their use in order to become tennis market is different than it used to adaptive equipment on smaller tennis
certified. It is time for that to change. be. "The market has changed tremendous- courts. No doubt, the success of former
Adaptive play formats, equipment, and ly in recent years," says Dunlop Regional World No. 1 Justine Henin, who competed
playing areas are nothing new to youth Sales Manager Hunter Hines of Georgia. on shorter tennis courts as a junior, has
sports. Baseball, basketball and soccer are "Five years ago, there were few options hastened the acceptance of modified ten-
just a few sports in which enthusiasts long for purchasing modified equipment for nis outside the U.S. But the PTR and
ago recognized the value of adapting formats like QuickStart Tennis. Today, USPTA need not wait for a similar Ameri-
sports to the modest strength and abilities Dunlop produces a wide variety of balls, can champion to emerge to accept the
of young athletes. Beyond making intu- portable nets and other teaching aids tai- modern direction of youth tennis.
itive sense, youth-based modifications are lored to helping young beginners learn Modified tennis for juniors is here to
now time-tested, and it is hard to imagine tennis faster and easier, and other compa- stay. Manufacturers are selling more adap-
any sports that have made such adjust- nies are doing the same. The rapidly tive equipment and producing a greater
ments going back to their previous ways expanding market absolutely demands it.” variety all the time. Clubs are increasingly
of operating. While slow to change, the It should come as no surprise that using modified equipment and formats in
tennis market is now adopting the use of manufacturers, pros, and players are grav- their programs. More and more facilities
different equipment, court sizes and for- itating toward modified tennis. Today, are installing permanent QST courts and
mats for younger athletes. children in many communities have an lines. Short courts and modified teaching
In 2008, over a thousand locations reg- almost endless array of recreational methods are observably and profoundly
istered as QuickStart Tennis sites. More options. To sustain any kind of commit- superior to traditional instruction in terms
importantly, experienced tennis pros are ment, children must be engaged while of player engagement and enjoyment, and
now embracing the use of adaptive equip- feeling a considerable measure of success are sorely needed to compete with alterna-
ment and formats. and enjoyment from the outset. Adaptive tive youth recreational activities.
"I am completely blown away by the tennis provides children with the engage- It is time for the USPTA and the PTR to
response to the QuickStart Tennis play for- ment and early success that they demand, require certification candidates to under-
mat from certified tennis professionals,” while traditional tennis instruction involv- stand modified tennis in order to become
says PTR and USPTA professional and ing the monotony of spending excessive certified. Q
club owner Craig S. Jones of Martinez, Ga. time standing in line waiting to be fed ten-
“I have done trainings and presentations nis balls does not. To their credit, while Kevin Theos is the USTA Southern
to over a thousand teaching pros in Amer- they have not gone as far as the Interna- Section Tennis Service Representa-
tive for Alabama. He is a USPTA
ica this past year. Everywhere I go, teach- tional Tennis Federation in evolving, the
member with more than 17 years
ing pros comment on the substantial PTR and USPTA have moved in the right of teaching experience and is the former execu-
increases in revenue they are experienc- direction. tive director of the Birmingham Area Tennis
ing and incredible technical and tactical “LittleTennis” and “PTR Kids Tennis” Association. He may be reached at
transformations in their young students." are youth instructional formats of the ktheos@hotmail.com.
Former USPTA tester and current Lake USPTA and PTR, respectively. Both of
Charles (La.) Racquet Club Tennis Director these teaching formats involve modified We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to RSI@racquetTECH.com or fax
Bobby Walker adds, “I use the QuickStart equipment and courts, and are far superi- them to 760-536-1171.

Racquet Sports Industry

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February 2009

Volume 37 Number 2 $5.00

OUTLOOK 2009 7 Prince debuts

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

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

USTA Names Prince Launches New EXO3 Racquet Line

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7

PTR Symposium to Offer USPTA Announces

High School Coaches Program 2009 Certification Exams

Babolat Taps McCool Hinding Tennis Completes Conn. Job

8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Outback Champions Series Bob Bigelow to Kick Off PTR Symposium

T he 2009 Outback Champions Series will be comprised

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9

ATP Unveils “Feel It” Ad Campaign

USPTA Adds New DVD Titles

“Are You Sure?”

10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

New Multi-Purpose Indoor

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11

12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13

> The 2009 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal

Perry Blackman Takes USTA Post;

D ustin Perry, based in

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15

NEWS & UPDATES

2008 to third quarter, from

And, the number of facili-

67% in that same period.

along with TIA member

news, plus an official ten-

a tennis media and man-

Q&A with New TIA President Jon Muir

Our Focus for 2009—And Beyond

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21

Despite worries about

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23

24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25

O RSI/American Sports Builders Association Facility-of-the-Year Awards is the number

26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2008 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Outdoor Tennis Facility-of-the-Year Award

For details on the 2009 Distin-

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2008 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27

28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

www.racquetsportsindustry.com February 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29

ADDING LEAD TAPE

30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

GUESTIMATING TENSION RANGE

HYBRID WEIGHT DIFFERENCES

THE REASON WE PUBLISH THE CHANGE IN RACQUET WEIGHT DUE TO

32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

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