Racquet Sports Industry

August 2013
Volume 41 Number 8 $5.00

www.racquetsportsindustry.com
How Natural Gut
Strings Are Made
Red, Orange, Green
New balls are helping kids
and adults enjoy the game
Guide to Stringing Machines
w Repeat BusinessKey to Success
w Annual Stringing Machine Selector
How Natural Gut
Strings Are Made
Red, Orange, Green
New balls are helping kids
and adults enjoy the game
Guide to Stringing Machines
w Repeat BusinessKey to Success
w Annual Stringing Machine Selector
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DEPARTMENTS
R S I A U G 2 0 1 3
INDUSTRY NEWS
7 Two-day conference set
for 10 and Under Tennis
7 Tennis Show, TTC on
hiatus for 2013
7 PTR launches PTRtennis.tv
educational site
8 2 NY clubs install
analysis courts
8 USPTA board ballots
due Aug. 14
9 New 10U DeckZone
at BJK NTC
9 Bollettieri, Braden, Wilkinson
into USPTA Hall of Fame
10 Get kids playing at a
USTA Free Tennis Play Event
10 Penn, Dasani team up
on recycling effort
11 Pacific offers stringing
stats from Halle
12 Dunlop enters
racquetball market
12 Head launches new
bag collections
12 USTA redesigns,
relaunches website
4 Our Serve
7 Industry News
14 Letters
16 TIA News
18 Retailing Tip
20 Executive Points: Dave Haggerty, USTA
22 Youth Tennis
40 Ask the Experts
42 String Playtest: Gamma RZR RX 16
44 Your Serve, by Bruce Knittle
2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY August 2013 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
FEATURES
25 New Balls, Please
Red, orange and green balls are not
only helping develop young players,
theyre also helping players of all ages
enjoy the game.
28 Dont Add, Multiply
To increase your business, take advan-
tage of the social aspect of tennis.
32 How Natural Gut
Strings Are Made
From selecting the raw materials, to
treating them, drying, finishing and
packaging, heres how natural gut
gets into a racquet.
2013 GUIDE TO
STRINGING MACHINES
Contents
Contents
34 Repeat Business
Key to Success
Your stringing business depends on
convincing more players to restring
their racquet more frequently.
36 Stringing Machine Selector
Our exclusive guide offers features,
prices and more for dozens of string-
ing machines.
Our Serve
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
peter@racquettech.com
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Kent Oswald
Bob Patterson
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Tim Strawn
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
year: monthly January through August and combined
issues in September/October and November/
December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, PO Box 3392,
Duluth, GA 30096. Periodcal postage paid at
Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offices (USPS
#004-354). August 2013, Volume 41, Number 8
2013 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 U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to Racquet Sports Industry, PO Box
3392, Duluth, GA 30096.
RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA
Playing Up PlayTennis.com
4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY August 2013
W
e hope that as a part of the tennis industry, youve
been aware of the site PlayTennis.com. More than
that, we hope youve listed your business or services
on the site (its free) and that you refer people to the site to help
them get into the game and become consumers of tennis play,
products and services.
Why is PlayTennis.com important? It was created with one simple goal in
mind, to get people to do exactly what it says: Play tennis.
From its beginnings, TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer envisioned PlayTen-
nis.com as the simple url that all industry stakeholders can use to get people into
tennis, in all waysby connecting them to players, courts, facilities, programs,
instruction, teaching pros, retailers, and much more.
Importantly, PlayTennis.com is unbrandedvisitors arent assaulted by
company logos and marketing hype. The site only pushes tennis, the one thing
that all companies, organizations and people in this industry have in common.
Many executives in other sports have remarked at how unique the tennis
industry is. Under the TIA umbrella, manufacturers and others put aside the com-
petition that marks their daily business lives, and they come together to simply
grow the game, grow participation, and grow business for everyone.
PlayTennis.com does exactly thatand it belongs to this entire industry.
And the site is gaining momentum. During Wimbledon, Visa, which has more
than 7 million likes on Facebook, linked to PlayTennis.com on its Facebook
page and Twitter feed, after their research showed the site aligns nicely with the
hundreds of millions of consumers with Visa cards.
In many ways, PlayTennis.com is a social media-based marketing platform for
the sport, creating awareness and connectivity to tennis. It will provide greater
visibility for campaigns to help grow the game, it will engage retailers and con-
sumers through common promotions, and it will grow the base of players through
partnerships and expanded search and player functionality.
How can you help? Go on PlayTennis.com now and see whats there, includ-
ing marketing materials you can use. Make sure, also, that your information is in
the database of searches that consumers will use to find you. Its easy and free,
just go to the Get Listed tab. And make sure consumers youre in touch with
also get listed, so that when the Find A Game player match service goes live
in the next month or two, theyll help populate a nationwide, searchable database
of thousands, and at some point hopefully millions, of players.
PlayTennis.com will continue to be enhanced and improved, so it can offer
the best experience for providers, consumers and the industry overall. This uni-
fied, single-stop gateway to tennis is doing its part to help this industry grow
because, in the long run, if were not growing, were hurtingor dying.
Help out your industry and support PlayTennis.com. No matter what you do
in this business, it all comes down to one brand: T-E-N-N-I-S.
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
peter@racquettech.com
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I NDUSTRY NEWS
I NDUSTRY NEWS
I N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U R U N Y O U R B U S I N E S S
PTR Launches
PTRtennis.tv
Educational Site
PTR has launched PTRten-
nis.tv as an online resource
to provide members with
educational and continuing
education opportunities.
The idea behind PTRtennis.tv
is to help spread the educa-
tional content that is being
presented at PTR events
around the world beyond the
audience in attendance at
the time. With increasing job
demands, it can be difficult
for teaching professionals to
attend the PTR Symposium,
one of the PTR conferences,
or PTR Professional Develop-
ment courses. PTRtennis.tv
provides an affordable way
to view some of these pre-
sentations.
Currently, there are 20 pre-
sentations available on
PTRtennis.tv. Most are one
hour. Once a presentation is
downloaded to a computer,
smartphone or tablet, it can
be accessed at the viewers
convenience, without expira-
tion. PTR will continually
upload new videos.
PTRtennis.tv was the brain-
child of Jorge Capestany, a
PTR International Master
Professional and chairman of
the PTR Education Commit-
tee, says PTR CEO Dan San-
torum.
R S I A U G U S T 2 0 1 3
USTA, PTR, USPTA to Present 10U Conference
T
he USTA, together with the PTR and USPTA, will host a two-day 10 and Under Tennis conference
that will feature coaching/teaching presentations from world-renowned speakers on topics such
as how to work with young players, growing your business, and player competencies. Patrick
McEnroe, general manager of USTA Player Development and
the U.S. Davis Cup captain, will be a featured speaker and
presenter.
The conference, Developing Your 10 and Under Players
and Program, will be Aug. 12-13 at the Boca Raton Resort &
Club in Boca Raton, Fla.
Tennis industry experts from the U.S. and around the
world will be on hand to help educate coaches on how to use
10 and Under Tennis formats in teaching and training young
players in ways that cultivate a love for the game and maxi-
mize kids long -term development. Presenters include
Wayne Elderton (Canada), Simon Gale (U.S.), Laramie Gavin
(U.S.), Rita Gladstone (U.S.), Craig Morris (Australia), Anne
Pankhurst (England), Bernard Pestre (France), and Butch Sta-
ples (U.S.).
The conference will be held in conjunction with the Amer-
icas Games, a competition for 10 and under players featuring
teams from the Caribbean and U.S. The players from the
Americas Games will also be integrated into the on-court pre-
sentations. The conference also is in partnership with USTA Florida and with the Blackman Tennis Acad-
emy.
"Tennis is indeed a sport that grows upward from its grassroots, and by making the sport easier for
kids to play and enjoy, they're much more likely to get involved in it and stick to it, McEnroe says.
We've only begun to scratch the surface of our potential.
The two-day conference rate is $150 for USPTA/PTR members and $180 for non-members. The daily
rate is $90 for USPTA/PTR members and $100 for non-members. The two-day rate and the daily rate
include daily lunches. Hotel rates at the Boca Raton Resort and Club are $125/night plus tax. Visit
www.usta.com/youth-tennis.
August 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Tennis Show, TIA Tennis Forum on Hiatus; Will Return in 2014
T
he Tennis Show, which debuted in New York City last year just before the US Open, and tied into the
2012 USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, will not be held in 2013. However, the Tennis Show will
return to New York in 2014. The TTC, also on hiatus for 2013, will resume in 2014 with expanded
plans.
The Tennis Show, coordinated by the TIA and supported by the USTA and the tennis industry, was timed
to offer the hundreds of Teachers Conference attendees, along with all segments of the industry, a look at
upcoming products and services from dozens of tennis companies, organizations and manufacturers.
For tennis teachers, coaches and the industry in general, plans are in the works for the industry-support-
ed 2014 Tennis Show to be a bigger and broader event. In addition to the return of the Tennis Show, the
TIA Tennis Forum and Tennis Industry Hall of Fame will also return to New York in 2014.
Visit TennisIndustry.org for more information about upcoming industry events.
A U G U S T 2 0 1 3
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USPTA Board Ballots Due Aug. 14
B
allots for the election of USPTA national board
members must be postmarked on or before
Aug. 14. In mid-July, ballots were mailed out to
all certified members in good standing. USPTA-
certified pros who did not receive a ballot should
email uspta@uspta.org. The four
nominees for national vice
presidents on the
proposed 2013-2015
USPTA board of direc-
tors slate have one challenger
each. The candidates for the
vice president slots are:
w Slated nominee: Jeff
Hawes Challenger: Jack Michalko
w Slated nominee: Nancy Cox Challenger:
Diane Selke
w Slated nominee: Alan Cutler Challenger:
Bunny Bruning
w Slated nominee: Raul Saad Challenger: Dan
Moster
The positions of president and first vice pres-
ident cannot be challenged. The USPTA nominat-
ing committee submitted Tom McGraw for
president and Chuck Gill for first vice president
for the 2013-2015 term.
2 New York Clubs Install Computerized Analysis Courts
T
CR, The Club of Riverdale, N.Y., and Port Washington Tennis Acadamy are the first clubs in the U.S.
to offer PlaySight Interactive Ltd.s SmartCourt computerized tennis analysis system. Using a five-
camera system, SmartCourt digitally records and analyzes every aspect of a tennis match.
In addition to line-calling, SmartCourt gives real-time, post-match or post-lesson instant video review
with debriefing solutions, automatic stats, bio-mechanical analysis and 3D tactical game management.
SmartCourt can instantly isolate specific video segments. Players can watch video clips whenever they
want, accompanied by statistical analysis previously available only to professionals. The touch-screen
system is self-operated by the players and coaches.
TCR members who are trying to improve their game will have a distinct edge thanks to Smart-
Court, says TCR President Jeff Klipstein. All tennis players work on their game to improve. SmartCourt
gives TCR members tools like the pros use, analyzes the best and worst aspects of their game and helps
them make the necessary adjustments.
Match activity is recorded, analyzed and uploaded to Playsight.com,
where it is stored in members personal accounts. Data can be
reviewed and shared by them via email or social media.
SmartCourt will change the tennis world at the club level, said
Chen Shachar, CEO & founder of PlaySight Interactive. Starting with
tennis, we aim to globally revolutionize the coaching process in all ball
sports and enhance the game experience, making it more challenging
and fun. Shachar says CourtSense in Tenafly, N.J., was scheduled for
an installation in July.
PlaySight SmartCourt uses advanced algorithms and image-under-
standing software to know where the ball and players are, determine
whether players hit a serve, forehand or backhand and can call shots in
or out. It can even measure ball speed, player mileage and calories
burned. Visit Playsight.com.
Cardio Tennis Makes an Impact Overseas
C
ardio Tennis did a quick tour in Europe in June, with key training cours-
es held for teaching pros in Brussels, Belgium, and Dublin, Ireland,
before ending with informal meetings in London during Wimbledon.
TIA Cardio Tennis Manager Michele
Krause went to the Tennis Club La Reserve
du Roseau to deliver the first-ever Cardio
Tennis education in Belgium. The training
course, supported by the Association Fran-
cophone de Tenis (AFT), brought in 35 teaching pros. Former Belgian Davis
Cup Coach Phillipe Dehaus participated, and the administrative director of
the AFT also attended.
The course was a huge hit and the coaches were very receptive, Krause
says. Club owner Tarek Francis was responsible for bringing Cardio Tennis
to his beautiful club, and he was instrumental in the success of the course.
In Dublin, the Brookfield Lawn Tennis Club hosted the Cardio Tennis
training course, which attracted nearly 30 coaches and teaching pros. Also in
attendance was the world No. 1-ranked woman player in the 45s, Lesley
OHalloran. It was the first Cardio Tennis training in Dublin since 2006.
The course exceeded my expectations, said Irish Fed Cup Coach
Yvonne Doyle. There are so many benefits to be gained from an hour of Car-
dio Tennis. I can see why its so popular in the U.S.
It was great to see the interest for Cardio Tennis in Belgium and Dublin,
says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. Not only are more than 1.4 mil-
lion people in the U.S. participating in Cardio Tennis, but the program is in
more than 30 countries. Visit CardioTennis.com.
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
August 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Bollettieri, Braden,
Wilkinson Will Enter
USPTA Hall of Fame
N
ick Bollettieri (below), Vic Braden and
Steve Wilkinson will join the ranks of
only 13 others when they are inducted into
the USPTA Hall of Fame. They will officially
be inducted on Sept.
27 during the USPTAs
national awards lunch-
eon at the World Con-
ference.
The USPTA World
Conference will be
Sept. 23-27 at the
Hyatt Regency Grand
Cypress in Orlando,
Fla.
During the associations April Executive
Committee meeting, the USPTA Board and
Executive Committee voted unanimously to
rename the Hall of Fame Award in honor of
the late Tim Heckler, who served as the
CEO of the USPTA for 30 years, from 1982
to 2012.
Bollettieri has been one of the most
influential people in tennis. He founded the
Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now
known as IMG Academy) in Florida in 1978,
which was the first full-time tennis boarding
school to combine intense training on court
with custom-designed academic curricu-
lum. Bollettieri was inducted into the Tennis
Industry Hall of Fame in 2011.
Braden has impacted tennis as a player,
teaching professional and broadcaster. He is
the founder/director of the Vic Braden Ten-
nis College in Coto de Caza, Calif., co-
founder of Vic Braden Tennis College at Star
Island Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., and co-
founder of Vic Braden Tennis College in St.
George, Utah. He has authored numerous
books including Tennis for the Future,
Teaching Children Tennis the Vic Braden
Way, Quick Fixes and Mental Tennis.
Wilkinson was the head mens coach at
Gustavus Adolphus College for 39 years
from 1971-2009 and is the winningest
coach in the history of mens collegiate ten-
nis with 923 victories.
The awards luncheon will feature
keynote speaker Pat Williams, the co-
founder and senior VP of the Orlando
Magic. Visit www.usptaworldconference
.com or call 800-877-8248.
Sport Court Chosen for NTCs New 10U DeckZone
I
n June, the USTA formally opened its new 10 and Under Tennis area at the USTA
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Named DeckZone, the 15,000-square-
foot terrace connected to the Indoor Tennis Center on the US Open grounds is
dedicated solely to youth tennis.
Sport Courts PowerGame modular tennis surface was chosen to transform the
area from a concrete deck to a state-of-the-art junior training center. For young
players, PowerGame offers safety through its combination of shock absorption
and lateral forgiveness, Sport Court says. DeckZone has two 60-foot and three 36-
foot courts.
Our new DeckZone has provided us with the opportunity to use a space that
was not being utilized to its fullest and really make it a special place for programs
that will impact the children that play at the BJK NTC, said Virgil Christian, the
USTAs director of market devel-
opment and collegiate tennis.
This provides a huge oppor-
tunity for growth in our sec-
tion, added USTA Eastern
Executive Director Jill Fonte,
who said more than 10 percent
of non-players in the section are
between 6 and 12 years old.
During the grand opening,
the USTA provided free play-day
sessions for kids, a cookout, and
a ribbon cutting by 13-year-old
Arvind Mahankali, the current National Spelling Bee Champion, who plays tennis
and trains three times a week at the NTC.
DeckZone is a special destination for our kids. They can use these courts to
cement their learning while playing with peers or their parents, said Whitney
Kraft, director of tennis at the NTC.
Growth of US Open Prize Money
B
ack when the U.S. Championships went open in 1968, total prize money
was only $100,000. This year, the US Open will pay out $33.6 million in
prize money, and that will rise to at least $50 million in 2017a 96 percent
increase from the 2012 tournament.
Congratulations
To the Following For
Achieving MRT
and CS Status
New MRT
Holly Chomyn Bonita Springs, FL
New CSs
Scott Hinkle Alexandria, VA
Jennifer Mejasich Ambler, PA
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Jamea Jackson has been hired as a USTA National Coach, Womens Ten-
nis. Jackson will work with players in the USTA Player Development pro-
gram out of Boca Raton, Fla. Jackson, 26, was ranked as
high as No. 45 in the world before a recurring hip
injury forced her to retire before turning 23.
Hall of Famer Gene Mako, who won four major
doubles titles in the 1930s and was ranked in the
world top-10, passed away on June 14 in Los Angeles.
He was 97 years old.
Shelby Fitzpatrick has been named the director of
sales and marketing for the USTA Southern Section.
She previously worked as promotions director of 790
The Zone in Atlanta and promotions coordinator at
STAR 94. She holds a bachelors degree and MBA from Western Carolina
University, where she also played varsity tennis.
Two-time defending NCAA womens singles champion Nicole Gibbs of
Stanford and NCAA mens singles finalist Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia were
among the top American mens and womens college tennis players invit-
ed to the 2013 USTA Collegiate Team Camp/Playoffs, at which the 2013
USTA Collegiate Team was to be finalized. The womens camp was held in
late June and the mens camp in early July.
John Rushworth and Richard Mennig were named co-
winners as Babolat's Sales Reps of the Year recently at
a company meeting in Colorado. Rushworth covers the
Northern California territory and Mennig is based in
Miami.
PEOPLEWATCH
Penn, Dasani Team Up
on Recycling Effort
P
enn and Dasani have created
a limited edition tennis ball
pack that includes six cans of
Penns Championship tennis
balls and a co-branded
Dasani/Penn cooler made of
recycled materials. The tennis
ball pack also includes discount
coupons for Dasani water and
Dasani Drops flavor enhancers.
Penn and Dasani teamed up after finding they attracted
similar consumers and shared similar sustainability initia-
tives. Penn has its Keep It In Play green initiative for recy-
clable tennis ball cans. Both companies encourage tennis
players to recycle their water bottles and tennis ball cans to
reduce waste and ensure the materials are recycled to cre-
ate more coolers, bottles or tennis ball cans. For more
information, visit www.pennracquet.com.
Get Kids Playing at a Free Tennis Play Event
T
ennis providers across the country are encouraged to host a
USTA Free Tennis Play Event in an effort to get kids active and
encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle. The thousands of
events will culminate during National Childhood Obesity Aware-
ness Month in September.
USTA Free Tennis Play Events are in celebration of Nick-
elodeons Worldwide Day of Play, which will be Sept. 21, however
the events can be held at any time. Nickelodeon, the top media
brand for kids and families, is bringing tennis to more kids this
September. In 2012, tennis was Nickelodeons biggest partner by
hosting over 1,300 Free Tennis Play Events, which welcome all
ages and skill levels and encourage families.
When you register to host a USTA Free Tennis Play Events from
Sept. 1 to 30 youll receive:
w Exposure: The USTA, tennis equipment manufacturers and ten-
nis industry partners all endorse YouthTennis.com. In 2012,
there were more than 33 mil-
lion media impressions.
w Support: Best industry prac-
tices, helpful resources and
customizable marketing mate-
rials to supplement your
recruitment and retention
efforts in growing the game.
w Be one of the first 1,500
events to register and youll
receive a supply of a custom
edition of Bounce, the
USTAs youth publication and
premium items to share with
your event attendees.
In addition, the USTA is offering a Schools Equipment offer.
By hosting a Kids Tennis Club and USTA Free Tennis Play Event,
you will receive an equipment package of 12 racquets, 24 youth
tennis balls, 1 portable net.
To register or for more information visit YouthTennis.com/Host
or call 800-990-8782.
PTR Joins the Safe Sport Initiative
P
TR has announced the latest addition to its education
initiativePTR Promotes a Safe Sport
for All. PTR is committed to increasing
awareness, education and hopefully,
prevention of all forms of abuse against
children, says PTR CEO Dan Santorum.
PTR will focus its education on these
seven areas:Bullying, Child Sexual Abuse, Emotional
Misconduct, Harassment, Hazing, Physical Misconduct,
and Sexual Misconduct. Updates and additions to pages
at www.ptrtennis.org/about/safesport will be ongoing.
PTR is taking a step forward to help bring to the fore-
front this troubling aspect that, unfortunately, far too
many children have to experience, said PTR Board Pres-
ident Jorge Andrew.
August 2013 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11
2013 IART Symposium Kicks off Sept. 21
I
ART has announced the schedule for the 2013 training symposium for racquet tech-
nicians, which will run from Sept. 21 to 25 at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Fla.
New courses will offer a fresh look on the training side. IART has always offered a
four-hour racquet customization course led by MRT and 2012 RSI Stringer of the Year
John Gugel, but this year, hell be joined by co-presenter Ron Rocchi, principal design-
er at Wilson who also is the team leader of the Wilson Tour Services stringing team.
New classes include a look into what it takes to successfully run a
tournament stringing operation, presented by Bob Patterson, who has
tournament stringing experience at all levels. His presentation also
will include how to work as an independent contractor, based on his
experiences running operations at professional tournaments.
Mark Gonzalez of Alpha Racquet Sports and Ben Porter of Prince
will host a class on what it takes to become a brand manager for one
of the leading companies. USRSA certification testing will once again
be conducted by USRSA Executive Director Dave Bone. Richard Parnell,
MRT from Spain, will lead the certification for ERSA.
The cost of registration for the five-day event is $495, but if you join the IART
organization you will receive a 10% discount off of your registration fee. For informa-
tion and to register, visit www.gssalliance.com or call Tim Strawn at 540-772-4418.
Pacific Offers Stringing Stats from Halle
P
acific was again the official stringing service for the Gerry Weber Open in Halle,
Germany, an ATP grass-court
event held in June that this year
was won by Roger Federer.
The company had three full-
tome stringers plus a desk person
and used two Pacific DX8 stringing
machines and one DX 6 machine.
The stringing booth at the tourna-
ment also doubled as a retail sell-
ing booth, so fans were able to get
a close-up view of technicians
stringing the pros racquets.
Pacific provided some interesting stringing stats from the tournament:
w Total number of racquets strung: 316
w Player's with the most string-jobs: 1) Roger Federer, 27; 2) Tommy Haas, 26; 3)
Philipp Kohlschreiber, 22; 4) Milos Raonic, 19
w Highest tension requested: Ernests Gulbis (64/61.5 lbs.)
w Lowest tension requested: James Cerretani (39.5 lbs.) (Pacific Poly Force
Xtreme, 1.25mm)
Correction
Information for one of the RSI/ASBA Distinguished-Facility-of-the-Year Awards
listed in the May 2013 issue of RSI was incorrect. The correct information for the
outdoor facility winner is:
Koch Tennis Center
Omaha, Neb.
(Nominated by L.E.R. Inc., dba Renner Sports Surfaces)
Architect/Engineer: Kennith W. Schmidt Jr.
General Contractor: L.E.R. Inc., dba Renner Sports Surfaces
No. of Courts: 7
Surface, Fencing: Renner Sports Surfaces
Nets, Posts, Straps: Douglas Industries
>
New Balance Athletic has launched a new
ad campaign, America is for the Makers, that
celebrates New Balances 75-year history of
domestic manufacturing.
>
Fila, the official apparel and footwear spon-
sor of the BNP Paribas Open, donated $48,000
in fitness and lifestyle apparel and footwear to
the Armed Services YMCA Twentynine Palms, a
non-profit beneficiary of The Champions Volun-
teer Foundation.
>
Ashaway Racket Strings has extended its
contract to remain the Official String of USA
Racquetball through the end of 2013. "As the
only U.S. manufacturer of racquet strings, we are
proud to continue our longstanding relationship
with USA Racquetball," said Steven Crandall,
VP of Ashaway.
>
Fastcourts is a free online court reservation
system that allows club members to book time
easily. The system is set up and controlled by an
administrator, and then each member can log-in
to book. It can be linked to a current website or
can be used as a new site, with the ability for
administrators to update and post news articles.
Visit fastcourts.com.
>
In honor of Brad Drewett, the late chairman
SHORT SETS
and CEO of the ATP Tour, the trophy at the year-
end ATP Championships has been named in his
honor.
>
The USPTA and USTA have partnered to make
the Emirates Airline US Open Series available to
the USPTA and its members. With select events,
USPTA members will be able to attend the tour-
naments early in the week as guests of the tour-
ney. Visit www.uspta.com for more.
>
At Wimbledon this year, Novak Djokovic
launched his own clothing line, through Japanese
sponsor Uniqlo. Djokovic has been with the com-
pany since May 2012.
>
The Dallas Award Program has chosen Black
Tennis Magazine for the 2013 Dallas Awards in
the Periodical Printing & Publishing classifica-
tion.
>
Tonic by Martina Hingis has been named Offi-
cial Clothing Partner of the Southern California
Open, scheduled for July 27-Aug. 4 at LaCosta
Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
>
In Interbrand's annual ranking of the 50 Best
Global Green Brands, Adidas came in first in the
apparel category, landing at 15 overall. Second
was Nike, at 31.
A U G U S T 2 0 1 3
I
N
D
U
S
T
R
Y
N
E
W
S
Head Launches New Bag
Collections
H
ead has launched
two new bag col-
lections, including a
Maria Sharapova-
designed bag that
debuted at Wimble-
don. The Maria
Sharapova Tennis
Racquet Bag Court
can fit up to four rac-
quets and includes a cos-
metic/toiletry bag and wet
clothes/shoe bag. The
Maria Sharapova
Combi bag can fit up
to five frames and
includes a shoe bag.
The limited-edition
Head White Bag collection,
which was used by Novak
Djokovic and Andy Murray at Wimble-
don, includes a White Monstercombi
that has three separate compartments
and can hold up to 12 frames. The 4
Majors Club Bag, in white with green
striped should straps, has a large main
compartment and wet clothes/shoe
compartment. Visit head.com.
Dunlop Enters Racquetball Market
with Premium Products
D
unlop is entering the racquetball field with a new line of
racquetball racquets, balls and accessories, and has added
racquetball legend Sudsy Monchik as the category manager.
With our strength in tennis, dominance in squash, and
the emergence of the Carlton brand in badminton, the next,
most natural market for us to enter was racquetball," says Kai
Nitsche, V.P. and general manager of Dunlop Sports Group
Americas. "Over the next few months we'll be delivering pre-
mium racquets, balls, and a full range of accessories. We have
focused our development on innovative product that we feel
the sport has lacked, and we've hired the most qualified per-
son in racquetball to make this happen, Sudsy Monchik."
Monchik, five-time world champion and holder of over 50
professional titles, has been in racquetball for 30 years. He
continues to compete in select events, including exhibitions
and clinics and announces racquetball on TV.
"My aim is to build on the brand's rich racquet sports tra-
dition by developing a racquetball line that matches my style
of game: exciting, innovative, disruptive, and flat-out cool,
Monchik says.
USTA Redesigns, Relaunches Website
I
n mid-June, the USTA re-launched usta.com with a new
look. This redesign is another step forward for our web-
site, and brings with it exciting new opportunities for the
USTA to make our sport and its many benefits more acces-
sible, said USTA President Dave Haggerty in announcing
the web redesign.
Haggerty said the usta.com homepage is no longer a
destinationwe are repositioning it as a pathway that will
allow people to find the right programs faster. Once inside
the site, people
will find compre-
hensive and per-
tinent
information on
the USTA and its
wide variety of
programs, all
designed to help
them find them-
selves in the
game.
USTA Serves Awards Grants, Scholarships
U
STA Serves, the USTAs national charitable foundation,
announced that it has awarded more than $324,000 in
grants to 38 community tennis and education
organizations during its 2013 spring funding
cycle. USTA Serves also has awarded $395,000 in
college scholarships to 58 high school students.
The grant recipients are chosen by a Grant Pro-
posal Review Committee. Grants are awarded to pro-
grams that successfully combine tennis and education and help
children pursue their goals and highest dreams by leading
healthier lives, succeeding in school and becoming healthier cit-
izens. To date, USTA Serves has awarded more than $11 million
to a variety of programs that support its mission.
The scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000. For many
years, USTA Serves has proudly awarded students throughout
the country for their outstanding achievements on and off the
tennis court, said Dan Faber, USTA Serves executive director.
Among the scholarships to high school seniors are:
w Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award ($15,000), to Haley Bougher
of Indianapolis.
w Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship ($10,000 each), to Vivian Hao
of Franklin, Tenn., and Vincent Ong of Cooper City, Fla.
w Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award ($10,000 each), to Angela Chen of
Bellevue, Wash., and Marvin Pagayonan of Las Vegas.
w Rosalind Walter Scholarship Award ($10,000 each), to Lauren Howe-
Kerr of Pueblo West, Colo., and James-Roland Markos of Jackson,
Tenn.
w Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship ($2,500 each), to Lara
Dedic of Jacksonville, Fla., and Cooper Josephs of State College, Pa.
For a list of recipients, visit www.ustaserves.com.
TGA Expands Franchise in Colorado
M
ark Stangeland, a former aerospace engineer, has
acquired the TGA Premier Youth Tennis franchise in Dou-
glas County, Colo. The youth sports
company TGA provides after-school
programs for youngsters with school-
based tennis programs.
We are very excited about the
continued growth of our tennis fran-
chises nationwide and attracting strong business-minded
people with a passion about the sport, says TGA COO Steve
Tanner. Having a USTA member like Mark, someone who
has been playing the game for a lifetime, is the perfect candi-
date to build a successful tennis business growing the sport
and impacting the lives of youth in Douglas County.
Ashaway Kevlar Plus Now Available In
Bulk Spools
A
shaway Racket Strings
has now made its Kevlar
Plus tennis string available
in bulk reels to allow play-
ers and stringers greater
flexibility in hybrid string-
ing combinations for all
racquet types and string patterns.
Ashaway's 1.25 mm (17 gauge) Kevlar Plus bulk reels
are available in small reels of 360 feet and large reels of
720 feet. Use of bulk reels minimizes string waste when
stringing different hybrid patterns and racquet types.
In Kevlar Plus, Kevlar fibers provide a powerful string
bed for heavy topspin players, while braided-in PTFE fila-
ments produce a softer feel and enhance playability, says
Ashaway. Using braided Kevlar/PTFE main strings also
maximizes durability and enhances string abrasion resist-
ance to increase string life. Visit www.ashawayusa.com.
Six Tennis Players Make Forbes $$$ List
T
iger Woods may have beat out his friend Roger Federer to
be No. 1 on Forbes recently released list of the Worlds 100
Highest-Paid Athletes, but tennis still had a nice showing.
Six pro tennis players made the Forbes 100 list, and Fed-
erer claimed the No. 2 spot for 2013, earning a total of $71.5
million, including $65 million off the court in endorsements
and exhibitions. (Woods totaled $78.1 million.) The top
woman tennis player on the list is Maria Sharapova, at No.
22, earning a total of $29 million ($23 million in endorse-
ments). Sharapova also was the top woman earner on the
Forbes list for all sports.
Other tennis players making the Forbes 100 are: No. 28
Novak Djokovic ($26.9M total, with $14M in endorsements);
No. 30 Rafael Nadal ($26.4M with $21M in endorsements);
No 68 Serena Williams ($20.5M; $12M) and No. 85 Li Na
($18.2M; $15M).
USPTA Southern Offers Scholarships
For Methodist Univ. PTM Students
T
he USPTA Southern Division is donating a scholarship award
to the Methodist University Professional Tennis Management
(PTM) Program that will consist of two awards, per year, for three
consecutive years to be disbursed to a total of six different award
recipients. The awards will be granted during the fall semester of
the students sophomore years and applied to their Methodist
University costs.
The purpose of the scholarship is to honor the USPTA South-
ern Division and to provide financial assistance to students who
have demonstrated an interest in a career in the tennis industry
and who are enrolled in the PTM concentration or minor at
Methodist University.
We are very grateful for the continued support and involve-
ment of the USPTA with the Methodist University PTM Program,
said Kaitlin Flaherty, assistant director of PTM, Methodist Univer-
sity. This new scholarship provided by the USPTA Southern Divi-
sion will allow for young, and passionate, teaching professionals
to pursue their dreams of entering into the tennis industry with
a college education, numerous teaching certifications, and
knowledge of the tennis business.
For more information, visit www.methodist.edu/ptm.
Grand Slams Are Star-Struck
I fully agree with Peter Francesconi's Our Serve column in the
June issue regarding "A Tennis Balancing Act." I, too, fear that
the scale is tipping too far in the direction of prize money for the
top players at Grand Slam tournaments at the expense of recre-
ational tennis.
He's correct in raising the question: Will the top pros stop
playing the Grand Slams if they only win $2 million, vs. $2.5 mil-
lion? The extra million dollars could go a long way if spread at
the community level.
The organizations that run the Grand Slam tournaments are
star-struck. They should be struck by the fact that more money
should be spent to help grow the sport.
Jim Martz
Publisher-Editor, Florida Tennis magazine
Letters
Improving Long-Term Prospects
I read the "Distress Signals" Our Serve in the July issue with
great interest. The long-term prospects for tennis both inside and
outside the USTA depend on how effectively we accomplish five
musts. First, we must strive to make tennis more diverse and
inclusive. As the demographics in the U.S. change, so too must
tennis.
Second, we must dedicate ourselves to facilitating positive
and memorable experiences so people will want to spend time
and money on tennis. Improving customer service and offering
programs that are consistently of the highest quality are crucial.
Third, we must continue pushing 10 and Under Tennis. Our
future champions and best promoters of the sport will come from
this group. Fourth, we must recruit players who are between
about 12 and 16 years old. While less likely to become champions
than the under-10 crowd, older kids are more likely to have a
healthy perspective on tennis and become our long-term frequent
players and volunteers.
Fifth, green dot ball play must eventually become the stan-
dard for beginners and intermediates who are 11 and over.
Countless people try tennis and conclude tennis is not for them
because it is too hard to sustain a rally with yellow balls. If these
players were to use green dot balls instead, it could enhance the
quality of their tennis experiences and inspire them to play more
often.
Together, by pursuing these five musts, we have the potential
to elevate tennis participation and industry revenue to heights
we have never seen.
Kevin Theos
Tennis Service Representative (Alabama), USTA Southern
Emphasizing Health & Fitness
I recently read the Tennis . . . For Your Life! opinion col-
umn in the May issue of RSI (Our Serve), which made
me realize how correct Peter Francesconi is that we don't
market tennis for its health aspects nearly enough.
When you realize the fitness business is the fastest
growing sport type business and that social media is
the hottest social trend through our obsession with our
pads and phones, you have to wonder why tennis isn't
booming. Working out on a machine has to be the most
boring and antisocial time we spend. Tennis has the social
networking we seem to crave and is one of the best exer-
cise activities to help us stay in shape.
It doesn't make sense not to add the benefit of com-
petition and skill development in a lifelong sport like ten-
nis when you step back and take a look at your time
spent working out. Those machines youre using every
day won't give you the lifelong relationships of a good
tennis foursome.
Its time to dump the boring routine and get out and
play tennis. It will reward you for years to come and keep
the weight down.
John Welborn
Director of Business Development, Har-Tru Sports
CareersInTennis.com Highlights
Industry Career Paths
S
ince its inception in 2009, the TIA's Careers In Tennis ini-
tiative has been geared toward highlighting the viable
career paths in the tennis industry. Now, with more than
2,000 registered job seekers, and a constant "pool" of more
than 1,000 jobs, the CareersInTennis.com website has
become a "go to" source for finding a career in the industry.
"Our goal was to not only develop a platform to highlight
the viability of a job in tennis, but also help to easily con-
nect talented candidates with industry employers and ulti-
mately, create more future leaders for the industry," says
TIA Research and Operations Manager Ryan Melton.
The site is a free resource for both job-seekers and
employers. Employers can post open positions on the job
board, as well as search the 2,000 candidate profiles. When
jobs are posted to they job board, they also are listed in the
TIA's weekly Careers In Tennis job alert, which goes to job
seekers.
For the first half of 2013, there were nearly 15,000 job
views on CareersInTennis.com. In addition, 350 new job-
seekers signed up on the site.
To view or post jobs, visit CareersInTennis.com. For
questions or more information, contact Melton at (843)
473-4490 or info@careersintennis.com.
Please email your letters and comments to rsi@racquettech.com.
New Scorekeeper Available
T
he new Tourn-a-Score from OnCourt
Offcourt features six score dials that
are easily
turned to
change the
score, with
large, easy to
read letters.
The rustproof
unit can be
hung on a net
(outside the
doubles side-
line) or on a
fence. For info, visit www.oncourtoff-
court.com or call 888-366-4711.
TRO Names Top Tennis
Resorts and Camps
T
ennis Resorts Online (www.tennis-
resortsonline.com) recently released
its annual rankings of the Top 100 Ten-
nis Resorts and Camps worldwide,
compiled from reviews submitted by
tennis vacationers and based on their
own first-hand experiences. This year
they were asked to rate their experi-
ence in 20 categories, including overall
tennis experience and the quality of
the teaching staff and instruction.
They were also invited to share their
opinions about a wide variety of
amenities and services.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort on
Kiawah Island in South Carolina
repeated as our No. 1 Resort while the
Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks at the
Gstaad Palace in Switzerland once
again snared the No. 1 Camp honors.
The top resorts and camps are:
Top 5 Resorts
1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, SC
2. La Quinta Resort & Club, CA
3. The Boulders, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, AZ
4. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa,
CA
5. Wild Dunes Resort, SC
Top 5 Camps
1. Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks at Gstaad
Palace, Switzerland
2. Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Omni Amelia Island
Plantation, FL
3. Topnotch Tennis Academy, Topnotch at
Stowe, VT
4. John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, TX
5. Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman), FL
PlayTennis.com Receives Social Boost
PlayTennis.com received a boost during Wimbledon when Visa linked to
PlayTennis.com on its Facebook page and Twitter feed. Accompanying the
link was the text, "Love means nothing to real players. Tighten your laces
and your strings and hit the coiUrt." Visa has over 7 million "likes" on
Facebook and 65,000 Twitter followers.
The TIA cont inues to enhance and improve PlayTennis.com for the
industry, providers and consumers. To help in efforts to promote the site
as the one-stop gateway to connect with the sport, promotional materials
such as web banners, logos, videos and other resources and tools are
being provided to all segments of the industry.
Soon to be
released wi ll
be the "find a
game" player
match service,
and throughout
2013, there wil l
be ongoing
efforts to
populate both
the free player
and provider
databases.
Tennis providers
should visit
PlayTennis.com
and click on
"Get Listed"
- --
to make sure their information is up to date, so consumers can find
them when searching for programs, courts, equipment, etc. Also in
development are consumer engagement ideas including contests,
drawings and prizes.

----

..

-
TIA Offers State of the Industry Meeting During US Open
The TIA will hold a meeti ng on "The Stat e of the Tenni s
Industry" in New York City on Monday, Aug. 26, during
the US Open. The meeting will update attendees on
the different sectors, current tetnnis marketplace, key
i nitiatives, programs and research; plus take a closer look
at the makeup of f requent tennis players and consumers
and how to get them more engaged with tennis.
The State of the Industry meeting wil l start at 8 a.m.
Space is li mited; register and find more information at
Tennislndustry.org/Meeting. Following the State of the
Industry, the TIA wil l hold a Board Meeting, which will be
open to industry members.
The next morning, Aug. 27, the TIA Manufacturer's
Panel wil l meet to discuss industry-wide promotions,
including PlayTennis.com and youth tennis equipment,
along with a review of the resu Its from tennis equipment
and ball surveys. Also, the TIA Retai l Division will meet,
which is open to all Retail Division members. Discussions
will include Retai l Division development, promotions
to help tennis retailers, and the rollout of the TIA Retail
Certification course. Those interested in joining the TIA
Ret ail Division should visit TennisRetailers.org or emai l
retailer@tennisindustry.org.
Prior to the US Open, in early August, the TIA wi ll
meet with business media in New York to share news
about t he industry, present storyl i nes on i nitiatives, and
offer industry background for stories on tennis leading
into the Open.
In 201 4, the TIA plans to hold a meeting on the Future
of Tennis, scheduled for March 12 and 13 in Indian Wells,
Calif., during the BNP Paribas Open. This event is designed
to build on the information presented in the New York
meetings and will include both tennis and non-tennis
business and sports leaders, presentations, and networking.
16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY August 2013 Join the TIA . .. Increase Your Profits ... Grow the Game .. . www.Tenni sl ndustry.org
TIA Updates and Revises
'Retail Manager's Manual'
The TIA has updated its "Retail Manager's Manual"
with new and revised chapters, an appendix with nearly
two dozen "tips," sample worksheets and an enhanced
"resources" section.
"We added more information to the manual about
customer service, since t hat is really the lifeblood of any
retail business," says TIA Ret ai l Development Manager
Marty Mohar. "Also, we updat ed sect ions on startup costs
and inventory costs, among other areas."
Another new section in the 72-page Ret ai l Manager's
Manual is an appendix with nearly two dozen "Retai l
Ti ps"- full pages t hat run every issue in Racquet Sports
Industry magazine and are prepared by retail consult ant
Gluskin Townley Group. As more tips run in RSI, they'l l be
added to future editions of the manual.
Other new material includes information on 10 and
Under Tennis and how it can help tennis retai l businesses,
worksheets for starting or operating a small business,
a research article on how to
purchase a POS system, and an
extensive list of additional retai l
resources. The Retail Manager's
Manual also includes
information about how to be
listed in the free online Retai l
Locator at PlayTennis.com and
how to j oin the new TIA Retai l
Division.
The TIA is starting a
Retai ler Certification program
that will involve eight online
study modules and online
testing. Look for updates on
retailer certification to be added
to future editions of the manual.
The TIA also has been updating the "Faci lity
Manager's Manual" with new chapt ers and mat erial from
industry expert and club manager Rod Heckelman. Visit
Tennislndustry.org to download the TIA's Retail Manager's
Manual and Facility Manager's Manual, which current ly
are free to all TIA members.
In its continuing efforts to help drive t raffic to t ennis retai l stores, the
TIA has created "public service" advertisements to help promote the
Tennis Tune-Up campaign and the availability of Red, Orange and
Green tennis balls.
The Tennis Tune-Up campaign urges players to visit a tennis
retailer and USRSA Master Racquet Technician or
Certified Stringer to help
get the most
out of their
equipment,
and to
help them
determine
when to
restring their
racquets.
The PSA
for Red, Orange
and Green balls
points out that
tennis is now
easier to learn
and play because
of the slower,
lower bouncing
balls, which stay
in play longer
and are great
for players of all
ages. The balls
are ideal for youth
tennis, adult round-
robins and mixers,
Cardio Tennis, drill
sessions and more.
Both campaigns
urge consumers
to visit PlayTennis.
com, where they can
search for retailers in
t heir local areas.
NEW Colored Tennis Balls in Stores
There are d Fun tor b ervoael
E HfiA' an
the Game is Lt \[an. ;pc
softer bouncin; balls
, Balls are in play play together
Different skill \eves c a e
. Great lor new players Jxers workout sessions,
f
outh tenms, a u '
Ideal or Y . d \Is and more
Cardio TenniS, n '
f d them at a tennis in your area..
. lor programs, \es
Go to p\aytenn".com p\aytennis.com
Join t he TIA . .. Increase Your Profits ... Grow the Game ... www.Tenni slndustry.org
playtennis.com
August 201 3 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17
&
Retailing
provides coaching tips for education and
training after you hire.
Employee Manual and Operating
Manual: Spell out exactly how you want
the business to be run and what you
expect from part-time employees con-
cerning the level of customer service
employees provide, and the shopping
experience you expect your retail store
to deliver. Both manuals become the
textbooks for educating and training
part-time employees.
Educate and Train: Make sure you
train part-time seasonal employees as if
they are full-time employees, starting as
soon as they report for work. During the
peak summer season, it is hard to con-
duct regular staff education sessions, but
consistently meeting to educate and rein-
force your retail customer-service stan-
dards and just as importantly answering
questions and guiding staff behavior is
essential to the success of your part-time
employees.
Be Mentors and Teachers: Full-time
employees and managers need to be
mentors and teachers, and every part-
time employee should be assigned and
supervised by a qualified manager or
seasoned employee.
Part-time seasonal employee educa-
tion and training hot spots include, but
are not necessarily limited to:
w Cell phone use and texting: All employ-
ees should turn off their cell phones
during working hours and place them
in their lockers. Cell phones may only
be used during scheduled breaks in the
store break room or outside the store.
w Dress and name tag: All employees
must conform to the store dress code
and wear their name tags at all times
while on the clock.
w Music: Employees should not listen to
music on digital, electronic or other
devices while on the clock. Personal
music may be listened to using ear-
phones or similar devices during sched-
uled breaks in the store break room or
outside the store only.
art-time, seasonal employees can
make or break your selling season.
Your customers expect a great
retail shopping experience from your
store or facility, whether it is provided
by you, a full-time employee or part-time
seasonal help.
Here are some best practices weve
learned over the years from our clients
and from living and working in retail
environments where part-time summer
employees are often the only way local
businesses can make it through the
seaon.
Job Application: Make sure you have
one for applicants to fill out, and make
sure it provides a complete picture of an
applicants background and expectations
for a part-time seasonal job, and the
information needed to do a background
check.
Job Descriptions: These should accu-
rately and completely describe each
position in your business, and that you
require part-time employees to not just
fill the position, but to embrace and ful-
fill.
Interview Process: Dont hire part-
time employees without an interview
process that includes no less than two
interviews. Also, dont hire based on gut-
feel. Establish a process that asks ques-
tions about the potential part-timers
customer-service attitudes and expecta-
tions. If face-to-face interviews arent
possible, you can use Skype or a similar
system to interview applicants. Just
make sure you can look them in the eye.
Online Assessments: For an afford-
able price, small to mid-size businesses
can use pre-interview assessments and
post first-interview assessments of part-
time applicants. At a minimum we rec-
ommend an online customer service
assessment for all part-time applicants
who will be touching your customers in
any way. Youll receive a report, often
the same day, that lets you know if the
applicant is hard-wired to perform a cus-
tomer-service related job or not, and
P
This is part of a
series of retail tips
presented by the Ten-
nis Industry Associa-
tion and written by the Gluskin Townley
Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).
For upcoming TIA retail webinars,
and to view previous webinars, visit
TennisIndustry.org/webinars.
How to Find the Right
Part-Time Employees
w Language: Words that are in common
use by some generations, especially
younger folks, may be deemed inap-
propriate or even offense by other
generations that may be your stores
customers. Employees need to be
courteous and aware of their language
at all timesnot just when theyre
working, but also during scheduled
breaks and at any times that they are
within hearing of customers.
Its all about customers and shop-
pers. Every employee represents your
store brand in the eyes of customers
and you are the representative of your
store when you are wearing your store
brand and name tag. Be courteous,
friendly and responsive to customers
and fellow employees at all times, and
remember a smile goes a long way
toward welcoming shoppers and making
them comfortable in your store.
Its all about the customers, and your
mission is to provide an extraordinary
retail shopping experience every time. w
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&
Executive Points
course, priorities under those impera-
tives. The two priorities under leadership
are to listen and communicate effective-
ly, and to embrace and lead change.
Under management, we have three pri-
orities: to grow tennis participation,
improve financial performance, and
focus on fewer things but do them well.
How does listening and communi-
cating translate into building and
enhancing the USTAs relationships? I
think oftentimes, the USTA is thought of
as the 800-pound gorilla, and unfortu-
nately, people tend to think the worst of
our intentions rather than give us the
benefit of the doubt. I realize weve
earned some of that, but I dont see it as
something we cant overcome. If we
clearly state our intentions and demon-
strate consistency, that will go a long
way toward enhancing our relationships.
Were not always going to agree, but
people need to know if they have a pas-
sion for tennis, theyve got a partner in
the USTA.
From my days in tennis manufactur-
ing, Ive learned that when you have cus-
tomers, you dont just visit the ones who
tell you how great you are. You also visit
the customer who says youre an idiot.
We need to get out there and hear those
opposing views. It will only make us
stronger.
What do you see as the biggest
challenges facing the USTA? One of the
most important things is our strategic
vision for the US Open, especially given
that the Open is our primary source of
revenue. But at the same time, we have
to be smart in our decision-making.
Another challenge is player development.
The U.S. is fortunate to have a lot of
great entrepreneurial coaches and great
academies. We have to be open and
inviting to them and not feel that the
USTA is solely responsible for the devel-
opment of American players. I think if
we had more dialogue, wed solve a lot
of misunderstandings.
What are some of the USTAs
strengths? Theres an awful lot we do
hen did you first start play-
ing tennis? I started playing
at age 6 and became a
nationally ranked junior. I received a ten-
nis scholarship to George Washington
University [earning a bachelors in busi-
ness administration] and played No. 1
singles on varsity, and was captain for
three of my four years. Im still a fre-
quent player.
You come to the volunteer job of
USTA president with extensive experi-
ence in both the business side and vol-
unteer side of tennis. I started at Prince
in 1980, eventually becoming general
manager before leaving after 14 years to
join Dunlop as president of Racquet
Sports. I joined Head in 1998, serving as
president of Head/Penn Racquet Sports
and Penn Worldwide, then became
chairman and CEO of Heads U.S. busi-
nesses. As a volunteer, in addition to
many local activities, I was on the board
of the USTA Middle States Section for six
years and served as president of the TIA
from 2007 to 2009. Nationally, I was a
USTA committee chairman (2005-06),
USTA director at large (2007-08), vice
president (2009-10) and first vice presi-
dent (2011-12).
What is your approach to your role
as USTA president? Im approaching
the job in a similar style to how Ive run
businesses. I would call myself a struc-
ture and process guy. Much of my time
in the tennis business was spent build-
ing, introducing or reorganizing struc-
ture, and Ive found that having
processes and a well-defined structure
helps to create a foundation for vision
and strategy.
Do you feel the USTAs vision is
clear? Certainly, our mission is clear
to promote and develop the growth of
tennis. My role is to lead the association
in pursuit of that mission and to help
focus our vision.
How will the industry realize that
vision? I believe by focusing on three
overall imperatives: leadership, manage-
ment and partnership. There are, of
W
David A. Haggerty
Chairman of the Board, CEO, President
U.S. Tennis Association
Resides: Pennington, N.J.
Honors: Inducted into Athletic Halls of
Fame at Pennsbury H.S., George
Washington Univ., USTA Middle States,
Mercer County (N.J.) Tennis. RSIs 2008
Person of the Year.
Dave Haggerty, USTA
well. Weve shown good leadership at
every level. Many of our ideas, innova-
tions and programs help get people in
the game. Without a doubt, the USTAs
greatest strength is its people. No other
association in sports is as community-
based as we are. We could never
accomplish all that we have if it werent
for our volunteers.
Will 10 and Under Tennis continue
to be a point of emphasis? Absolutely.
A few years ago, when we looked at
how we introduced tennis to young
players, we realized it was a wonder
that we had any at all. Its not about
producing the next American champion
as much as it is about getting more kids
playing tennis, and allowing them to
have fun and be active.
When your two-year term ends in
2015, what will spell success? In a lot of
ways Id say making the 800-pound
gorilla into a 400-pound gorilla. I want
the USTA to be approachable, respected,
and looked at by all as a partner in
progress. When we accomplish that and
have our culture become more open,
transparent and inviting, that will lead to
greater growth in the sport. That will
spell success to me.w
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Youth Tennis
ranked junior is a member of a private
club. But clubs have not historically
produced athletically gifted players, nor
could they possibly provide a critical
mass of them from which would emerge
a large, permanent pool of talent.
All 17 USTA sections have tennis
introduced at selected elementary and
junior high schools where a USTA/Nation-
al Junior Tennis League follow-up sum-
mer program is available. These two
programs will help make tennis a natural
option for talented youngsters.
Along with overtures to public
schools, attention should be paid to our
public parks. 90 percent of those
claiming to be serious players said they
played primarily on public courts. It
would seem to follow that more junior
events and quality instruction in public
parks will result in more juniors in more
events at more sites.
Once this countrys youngest talent-
ed group emerges the players begin a
destructive chase for a high sectional or a
national ranking at the expense of the
long-term development of an all-around
game.
It is difficultimpossible at times
to convince parents of promising 13-
year-olds that their children need to
change their games. Yet we know that
what wins at age 12 or 14 probably will
not win at age 18 and up.
I also believe we could provide more
competition for more juniors at much
less cost if we made regional or sectional
events just as important as a handful of
national events.
I believe something must be done to
stop juniors, parents and coaches in their
ill-advised, destructive pursuit of a rank-
ing up to age 15. Another study of past
12-and-under national rankings since
1972 showed no correlation whatsoever
between a high national ranking and pro-
fessional success.
Another dilemma is the tenacity of
n 1987, Arthur Ashe wrote an opin-
ion column in the Washington Post
titled More Young Players, Less
Early Pressure Might Cure U.S. Tennis
Doldrums. Ashe said how it was
improbable that a U.S. man would win
the Wimbledon title that year (Aus-
tralian Pat Cash won), and how that
has spawned a number of opinions on
solutions to the current mediocre state
of U.S. tennis at the highest levels of
the game.
Ashe at the time was co-chair of the
USTAs Special Committee on Player
Development, charged with recom-
mending how to make the United
States No. 1 again. While he acknowl-
edged he needed to provide a fair hear-
ing for all points of view, I do have
some ideas of my own, he wrote.
As it turns out, many of Ashes ideas,
particularly related to youth tennis, are
as important and valid now as they
were more than 25 years ago. In fact,
some of his concerns, especially about
young players having to change their
games as they get older, are now
addressed with 10 and Under Tennis, as
kids learn the fundamentals correctly
using shorter, lighter racquets, on
shorter courts, with red, orange and
green balls.
Here, reprinted with permission, are
excerpts from his column in the June
28, 1987, edition of the Washington
Post.
The problem, I believe, is two-fold.
First, we need to create a much larger
group of junior players between the ages
of 8 and 11. This automatically will allow
for more selectivity for advanced play.
Secondly, the most talented of these
players need more and better coaching
and support earlier in their development.
Unfortunately, the United States
simply has too few superior athletes
learning tennis at an early age. Our stud-
ies show that the typical nationally
I
The More Things Change
26 years ago, Arthur Ashe wrote about what it will take to develop young
players. His ideas are as important now as they were then.
some teaching professionals in holding
onto their prized pupils. Few instructors
or coaches have all the answers. So
many of our best juniors are woefully
deficient in the basics.
One solution would be to have
groups of coaches assume responsibility
for all the talented juniors in a particular
geographical area. The collective pride
of the group would force constant reap-
praisals of their young pupils games.
This collectivist approach leads me
to my final recommendation. Our best
juniors are singled out much too early for
their own good.
The primary unit of competitive
junior programs should be a team of at
least a dozen boys and girls. Team
integrity should remain as long as possi-
ble to assure three desired outcomes: 1)
to keep a feeling of peer pressure that
forces all players to give their best efforts
all the time; 2) to create an environment
where improvement and a well-rounded
game can be institutionalized; and 3) to
create a vehicle for which fund-raising is
easier.
There are other solutions, of course,
such as more clay court play and smaller
courts for beginners. I hope our pre-
sent leading professionals can hang on
until our fortunes are revived.w
often use the orange ball, and many of our junior players in the
10-to-14 age group like the green balls. ROG balls enhance play,
points last longer, and players have more fun.
ROG As Development Tool
For 10 and Under players, most coaches recognize that using the
appropriate ROG ball will help increase participation in tennis
because they help kids enjoy the game more, sustain rallies and,
hopefully, continue on in the sport. But some coaches have been
hesitant to use ROG balls as a player development tool.
However, a recent research study by Tennis Australia, led by
that organizations Kim Kachel and Bob Leeds, compared the use
of the green ball vs. the yellow ball at a camp for Australias top
9- and 10-year-olds. The report showed interesting results that
help support the use of the lower compression balls for develop-
ing youngsters.
In the study, each young player alternated playing a match
with the green ball (at 75% compression) and the yellow ball
(100% compression), and the matches were videotaped from
seven different camera angles. Each shot was recorded, as were
how every point ended, and maps were developed to show where
players hit from and to.
After each of their matches, the players were asked questions
about their play. The coaching team was looking to compare sev-
eral indicators, including the height at which players contacted the
L
ower-pressure, lower-bouncing tennis balls have been
around for many years, but as the USTA and ITF moved to
standardize 10 and Under Tennis, the types of introduc-
tory balls and their specifications, along with rules for their use,
have become more formalized.
Now, these red, orange and green ballsor ROGare being
manufactured by a number of different companies. As many
tennis providers have found, using appropriate ROG balls will
help beginner and recreational children and adults learn the
game faster, improve faster, and increase their enjoyment of
tennis, moving them on to further tennis programming. ROG
balls are designed to be slower and bounce lower, which allows
players a greater chance to sustain, and enjoy, rallies.
It was not that long ago when red, orange and green balls
were rarely seen on tennis courts or in teaching carts, says Bill
Mountford of USTA Market Development. That has changed
dramatically. In fact, now they have become the norm and a
wider range of players, not just 10 and under kids, are benefit-
ting from using ROG balls.
We use red, orange and green balls for all types of tennis
programming, says Bruce Levine, general manager of Court-
side Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J. For instance, we use red
foam balls with our youngest playersthey can rally with it and
it doesnt hurt if it hits them. But we dont limit use of ROG balls
to just 10 and Under Tennis. Seniors and Cardio Tennis players
TENNI S BALLS
BY PE T E R F RANCE S CONI
NEW BALLS,
PLEASE!
NEW BALLS,
PLEASE!
Lower compression red, orange and green balls are not only
helping to develop young players, theyre also being used to help
players of all ages enjoy the game.
ball, the distance from the net the players
met the ball, approach shot opportunities,
etc.
Some of the major findings include:
w Rallies using green and yellow balls lasted
the same amount of shots, but were
played at a higher tempo using green
balls.
w Players contacted the ball twice as often
above shoulder level using yellow balls.
w Players contacted the ball at a comfort-
able height more often using the green
ball.
w Players made more bad errors (approx-
imately 5 feet out or more) using yellow
balls.
w Players were able to hit from a position in
front of the baseline more often using
green balls.
w Players directed the ball down the middle
of the court more often using yellow
balls.
w The total number of volleys was the same
with the green ball and yellow ballthe
conclusion is that since this study took
place on a 78-foot court, young players
are still challenged when it comes to
approaching and volleying, compared to
playing on a shorter 60-foot court.
Controlling the Ball
Importantly, when queried after their
matches the youngsters were overwhelm-
ingly positive in their reaction to using the
green ball. They said they enjoyed being
able to control the ball and therefore stay
in a rally.
Their growth mindset was instructive,
the report concludes, and demonstrated it
is often parents and coaches who have
closed mindsets and are the wall to trying
something new. If you could use a tool
that helps your players rally at a higher
tempo, hit more balls at comfortable
height, hit the ball in a more aggressive
court position and hit more often to the
corners, would you use it?
The tennis I observe being played by
10 and under children with ROG balls is
really impressive, light-years ahead of
where it was during the 1990s, for
instance, says Mountford. Change is dif-
ficult, but it is evident that teaching pros in
the U.S. have, by and large, really
embraced ROG balls and consequently
programs are growing and the success kids
enjoy is encouraging them to stick with our
sport longer. w
The Specs on ROG
Whether youre a tennis retailer, teaching pro or coach, facility
manager, or park and rec director, when it comes to growing your
tennis business, its pretty certain that red, orange and green balls
will play an increasingly important part.
The use of red, orange and green balls is extremely important
to the growth of tennis, participation and tennis businesses, says
TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. If playerswhether kids or
adultsare going to enjoy the game more, play longer, and devel-
op proper technique, it just makes sense for retailers, facilities, and
teaching pros and coaches to stock and use ROG balls.
Many manufacturers offer ROG balls, and its important to note
that, like yellow tennis balls, ROG ball specifications fall within a
range. Standard tests are conducted on all tennis balls, including
dropping them from a height of 100 inches onto a concrete surface
to determine rebound height. A standard yellow ball, which is 2.575
to 2.7 inches in diameter, will rebound to a height of between 53
and 58 inches.
w Red balls (Stage 3 balls) can be either foam or standard felt con-
struction. They have a lower rebound height, in a range of 33 to 41
inches, and are 3.15 to 3.54 inches in diameter. For kids 8 and under,
and for beginning adults, a red ball moves slower, bounces lower
and travels less distance.
w Orange balls (Stage 2) are of standard felt construction, 2.36 to 2.7
inches in diameter, and rebound between 41 and 47 inches. The
orange ball, which works well with 9- to 10-year-olds, moves a little
faster and travels farther than the red ball, but it still has a lower
bounce than the yellow ball. The orange ball also is great to use
with adult clinics and Cardio Tennis.
w Green balls (Stage 1), also of standard felt construction, are 2.48 to
2.7 inches in diameter and rebound 47 to 53 inches. Green balls are
great for youth tennis tournaments and events, particularly for
kids in the 10- to 12-year-old range. Theyre also great to use with
beginning adults, too, and for activities such as round-robins. Giv-
ing children and adults a better chance to hit the ball and keep ral-
lies going will help sustain interest in tennis.
The range of ROG specifications, like yellow balls, also include
weight, too, which we didnt include here. (You can find all the
specs on the International Tennis Federation website, www.itften-
nis.com. Click on development then Play and Stay.)
Manufacturers are being urged to make green balls with only a
green dot on them, so they look very similar to standard yellow
tennis balls. And packaging is also importantwith cans preferred
over bags. When looking for the right ball for your programs, it
would make sense to order samples from various manufacturers to
see what might work best for your players.
Even though ROG balls are lower compression than yellow
balls, its important to note that they dont last forever, de Boer
says. In fact, you may be doing your youngand adultplayers a
disservice by not changing out ROG balls regularly. Now, all sanc-
tioned 10U tournaments are required to use new balls. Also, the ITF
recommends that yellow tennis balls be replaced every 30 days, and
that ROG balls be replaced at least every 90 days.
The game seems to have had a rebirth.
This is the direct result of many organizations working togeth-
er toward a common goal. The Tennis Industry Association, the
USTA, USPTA, PTR, ITF, and others (including tennis media) have
all collaborated to create this growth. In addition, the develop-
ment of programs like Cardio Tennis, 10 and Under Tennis, Tennis
on Campus, flex leagues and many more have all contributed to
the recent tennis boom. This increase provides us with a great
opportunity to increase the number of players and reap the bene-
fits of this momentum.
To better understand this opportunity, we need to understand
a little history about recreation, health and the tennis industry.
Recreation has always, and will always, provide a wonderful
escape from the demands and pressures of our day-to-day strug-
gles. As our daily demands have become more emotionally chal-
lenging, the need for recreation has grown.
Our concerns for health have been elevated and indoctrinated
into our society for quite some time. Some say it started when
President John F. Kennedy ask Americans to walk 50 miles in a
day. Millions took on the arduous challenge of getting up by sun-
rise, taking to the road, and then hopefully getting home by sunset.
T
he recent growth in tenniss popularity has provided a
great opportunity for organizers to increase attendance in
events and activities. Now instead of adding more to a
program, we can expand exponentially, multiplying participa-
tion. Thats the nature of our sportthe more the merrier.
In the past, if you had a program with only a dozen juniors,
it was difficult to organize good matchups in the level of play
and age. With 50 juniors, it is much easier to create good
matchups and, in turn, more enjoyment. Its a simple fact about
the game; it takes at least two to tango.
This fact is highlighted every time a tournament comes to an
end. In no other mainstream sport do both the winner and the
runner-up jointly receive closing match awards. It sends the
message of recognizing the appreciation of the opponent, a hall-
mark of our sport.
In 2009 it was reported that over 30 million people enjoyed
the sport, a record number since such a statistic has been kept.
While participation had slipped a bit in following years, by the
end of 2012, tennis participation was again approaching that 30
million mark. And importantly, research continues to show that
tennis still is the fastest growing traditional sport in the country.
FACI LI TY MANAGER S MANUAL
Take advantage of the social aspect of tennis.
BY ROD HE CKE L MAN
DONT ADD,
MULTIPLY
DONT ADD,
MULTIPLY
For the tennis industry, the launch-
ing moment was the Battle of the Sexes
in 1973 between the older, but still
crafty, Bobby Riggs and the challenging
Billie Jean King. All of these events
were successful because the timing was
just right. This good timing is also
applicable to the recent growth in
tennis.
In the 70s, many took to individual
sports and recreation such as walking,
running, swimming and bikingactivi-
ties that one could do by themselves at
relatively any time of day. There was still time in the day for a
person to go their job, home to their family, interact with co-
workers and friends, and in general, enjoy a social atmosphere.
When our lives changed to the computer world, so did our
social world. Children have to make play dates; adults need to
join local community organizations in order to meet others. The
family structure is being challenged by the need for both parents
to work. Schools have dropped athletic programs and families are
trying to fill that void with local programs. Team sports provided
a social atmosphere, but are hard to organize and find proper
venues. These conditions have made it perfect for a sport like
tennis that is recreational, healthy and social.
With this in mind, the opportunity is there to capitalize on this
recent momentum, taking advantage that an increase in num-
bers is perfect for the continuing growth of the social aspect of
the game. Here are a few steps to consider as we make this move
in our industry.
Match People, Not Players
If you are in a position at a tennis facility that allows you to match
up tennis players, you need to think much more like a dating ser-
vice. Its not enough to put two 3.5 players together. You have to
match their character and personalities as well.
This is especially true for those just getting into the game. An
experienced player will realize that a bad match, or an uncom-
fortable opposing player, is a passing thing, but for someone just
getting into the game, a run-in with the wrong person can be dis-
astrous. As an example, you match up two players who are just
getting into the game at a 2.5 level. One person is very competi-
tive and the other is not. The competitive player will wonder why
you did not provide a greater challenge, and the less competitive
player will be intimidated to the point of not wanting to try anoth-
er of your recommendations.
On the flip side, if you match two people together and they
really hit it off, you have created a bond that will not only help
them pursue there tennis endeavors, but will also create a greater
attachment to your facility. Remember that matching the level of
play, along with the personalities of the players, will require you
to become more acquainted with your customers.
Dont Be a MatchMaker,
Be a GroupGatherer
We have at our disposal many new leagues and programs that
are already populated with many tennis enthusiasts. This pro-
vides a perfect opportunity to get large groups together that can
produce a greater variety of competition.
Most of these characteristics are the
result of the makeup of the community. A
facility in the suburbs would be very dif-
ferent than one located in a city. You
might focus on family activities and
events. Some communities are geared to
retired folk; this could mean programs
that cater to the 60-plus crowd are more
likely to succeed. On a more specific cri-
terion, there are clubs located in areas
where the population is very busy from 9
to 5, so you may need programs that
attract players on the weekends and evenings.
With communities that are just getting started, hooking up
with the real estate market to capture these newcomers may be
the ticket. Its the nature of people in every community to want to
socialize; you just need to know which buttons to push.
Capitalize on Success
There is seldom too much of a good thing for your members or
customers. You will be surprised how much you can provide that
will continue to grow participation and interest. When you score
big with any event, dont look just to add, look to multiply. Many
times very successful events require a tremendous amount of
work in preparation and managing. The staff, and you for that
matter, may feel the need to take a break for a while. Its under-
standable, but not good timing. Call for backups or recruit who
you need, do whatever it takes, but dont lose the momentum you
have built.
Tech It Up
Take advantage of all the new technology that is available to help
you to accomplish the task of getting players together. In recent
years the industry has introduced a number of great tools that are
available to you to help build your attendance and, in turn, mem-
bership.
Websites such as the consumer tennis portal PlayTennis.com,
online tennis software, and online tennis fitness programs like
Cardio Tennis Interactive are just a few of the newly established
industry offerings.
Even the internet can be your ally. Use mass e-mails for pass-
ing on information. Twitter or Facebook can help get the word out
about any event. Publicize the success of events and promote the
events through photos of who will, or did, attend.
With so many people flocking to the game, the sheer numbers
can work in our favor to build the social aspect tennis provides.
After all, who wants to go to a party with only a handful of people?
Its much more fun when more people attend; all we are doing is
substituting a handshake with the hit of a tennis ball. w
This article is one of the latest additions to the
Facility Managers Manual, which is available as
part of Tennis Industry Association membership at
the associate member level or above. Visit Ten-
nisIndustry.org for more information.
Lets take a closer look at the manufacturing process. The
basic process is simple, but there are many variations that
determine the characteristics of the final product. Not all man-
ufacturers follow each of these steps, and some may do the
steps in a different order than outlined here. Manufacturers
need to combine the sensibility of the artisan with the attention
to detail of the scientist.
Raw Materials
Modern racquet strings need high-tensile strength and long
lengths. Although strings have been made of sheep and lamb,
bovine or beef
intestines best meet
both of these basic cri-
teria. Without the beef
industry, there would
be no natural gut
strings, as the intestine
used in the manufac-
ture of string is a
byproduct of process-
ing beef for food.
The outer layer of
the intestine is the
serous membrane, or
serosa, that surrounds
the muscle layer.
Serosa is comprised of a fibrous protein called collagen. The
serous membrane has both highly oriented and random colla-
gen fibers: The highly oriented fibers contribute tensile
M
an has made strings out of natural gut for bows and
musical instruments for more than 3,300 years.
Pierre Babolat manufactured the first set of natural
gut string for the then-new game of tennis in 1875. Natural gut
sports strings are currently used in tennis and badminton.
The raw material, animal intestine, is the most resilient
material used to make racquet sports strings. It has better ten-
sion retention and greater softness than any other material.
Compared to synthetic strings (How Synthetic Strings Are
Made, RSI magazine, March 2011), making natural gut strings
is labor-intensive: It takes 60 days for Babolat to make each set
of natural gut.
The manufacturing
process can be broken
down into five key steps:
1) Harvesting and select-
ing the raw materials
2) Chemical treatments
3) Winding and drying
4) Finishing and coating
5) Packaging.
The characteristics of
the final string depend
on the quality of the raw
materials, the amount of
damage sustained by
the threads during pro-
cessing, the number of threads in the string, the twist applied
to the string, the quality of the bonds among threads, and the
type of coating.
STRI NGS
BY GRE G RAVE N
HOW NATURAL
GUT STRINGS
ARE MADE
HOW NATURAL
GUT STRINGS
ARE MADE
Intestine
Photos courtesy Babolat
strength; the random fibers
contribute elasticity. The
collagen fibers have
tremendous strength and
elasticity, allowing the
underlying muscle sheath
to expand to accommodate the passage of food, while prevent-
ing the muscle from becoming constricted during contractions.
Because of its role in the complex process of digestion, beef
intestine has evolved into
a very sophisticated struc-
ture. Designed to last for
the animals entire life,
this structure has to be
strong, flexible, and
durable, just like a premi-
um racquet string.
The actual collagen
molecule is a triple helix
or three strands nestled
together. This triple helix
is directly responsible for
natural guts elasticity and
ability to act as a shock
absorber. Huge numbers
of molecules combine
together to form collagen
fibrils. The lay up and the
secondary chemical bonding form a very strong elastic building
block. Natural glues bond the microscopic fibrils together into
collagen fibers. These are the little
hairs you see coming loose from the
string as it wears. These fibers are
what make serosa special.
Each animal species and to some
extent each breed within a species
has different intestinal composi-
tions. For this reason, manufacturers
have rigid standards regarding the
breed, sex, and age of the beef, and
even where the beef is raised. In a
sense, this is the first of many quali-
ty-control checks that occur through-
out the manufacturing process.
One big enemy of natural gut at
this stage is bacteria, so the slaugh-
terhouse cleans and splits the
intestines immediately after
removal. After surface cleaning, the
160-foot-long intestines are sliced
lengthwise, with roughly 40 to 60
percent of the circumference of the
original intestine going to string pro-
duction. This section can be a single
split composed of roughly 160 to
180 degrees of the original intestine, or it can be a double split
(two threads of between 80 and 90 degrees), or a triple split
(three threads of between 50
and 60 degrees). Because the
intestine can break during
splitting, the threads can
come out with different
lengths.
Groups of 80 to 100 individual threads are gathered in knots
(so-called because there is a knot at one end holding the group
together to facilitate handling), and coiled into barrels with salt as
a preservative.
Chemical
treatments
Once string manufacturers
receive the barrels of knots,
the intestines are inspected
and sorted by length, with
any that are fatty or discol-
ored being discarded. At this
point, the manufacturer has
the choice of leaving the
threads to cure in dry salt (re-
salting and re-barreling every
couple of days) that is cooled
or refrigerated, or rinsing the
threads in salt brine and
freezing them until needed.
The next step is a heavy-duty
wash to remove the preservatives, soluble proteins, fats,
carotenoids, and other miscellaneous impurities from the threads,
leaving clean, undamaged collagen.
This is done in a series of painstaking,
labor-intensive water-based baths
involving caustic soda, soda ash,
enzymes, and softening detergents.
The knots holding together the
threads have to be loosened and
moved to allow the chemical process-
es to penetrate the entire length of the
threads.
Cows are not picky eaters, so
cleaning goes on throughout the wet-
processing phase to remove bits of
sand, pebbles, small rocks, fencing
wire, and other foreign objects, along
with other non-collagenous material.
Between baths, workers squeeze
the threads by hand to remove as
much liquid as possible. Depending
on the manufacturer, chemical treat-
ments can take up to 10 days. When
finished, the wet threads feel silky
rather than slimy.
Typically, all chemical processes
are completed before assembling the
threads into strings, so the threads in the bundles are left fully
exposed to the chemicals. This includes any bleaching to mitigate
Collagen triple helix
Cleaning
Soaking
or remove the natural orange color of the threads,
and coloring if desired. Just like with human hair,
bleaching weakens the strands. Every step of the
process must be finely tuned and balanced to get the
correct final properties.
Winding and Drying
The knots of threads have now been cleaned, sort-
ed, bleached, colored, inspected for quality, and oth-
erwise readied to be made into string. Workers
loosen the knots to permit the removal of however
many threads are needed for the desired gauge,
based on the width of each thread. The average ani-
mal provides between three and 10 threads, so it
takes two to four animals to produce one string.
The thread bundles are looped at each end for
mounting on the measuring bench. For tennis
strings, the starting length must be 42 feet, as 2 feet
are lost in processing. It is critical that all threads in
the bundle have the same tension to ensure that each
thread carries its share of the load when under
tension.
The thread bundles are then mounted on the spin-
ning bench, where they are wound into something
that has begun to resemble a string. The gauge and
desired elasticity determine the number of turns.
The string then goes to a climate-controlled dry-
ing room, where it is held under tension for up to
three weeks. During this time, workers apply addi-
tional twists to the strings. This is critical to the final
product.
Next the strings go to the holding room for up to
two weeksstill under tensionuntil the gut is total-
ly dry. It is then moved to a normal, uncontrolled
environment.
Finishing and Coating
The dried string is rough at this point, more like a
rope than a finished string, so it is passed through a
sander or centerless grinder to give it a smooth finish
and uniform dimension.
Any string that fails the quality-control check at
this point can be used for other, non-sports purposes.
Strings that pass final inspection are ready for coating
and packaging.
Despite all the processing of the serosa to this
point, its still a natural material that is vulnerable to
environmental conditions, in addition to the normal
wear and tear to which all tennis strings are
subjected.
In order to improve abrasion and water resis-
tance (including reducing absorption in humid set-
tings), a special polyurethane (PU) coating is
normally applied to the string. However, some play-
ers forgo the protection of a PU coating for the extra
performance of an uncoated string; in this case the
Thread bundles
Drying
Centerless grinding
string is finished with a light coating of coconut oil.
To make it easier to weave the crosses, some manufacturers
apply a thin film of lubricant.
Packaging
To further protect the finished string from humidity and give it
a longer shelf life, natural gut strings come in airtight packages.
Seeing all the steps that go into creating a set of natural gut,
its easy to see why its more expensive than synthetic string.
For some players, though, the higher initial price is more than
made up by the feel, playability, and longevity of natural gut.w
Thanks to Babolat, Bow Brand, Pacific, and Fred Schwacke of
Performaxx Strings for supplying background information for this
article.
Babolats New BT7 String
Babolat recently introduced its BT7 line of natur-
al gut, the 7 designating that it uses seven
42mm strands of raw material instead of the
thirteen 21mm strands previously found in Babo-
lat natural gut.
This change was made possible by using a dif-
ferent layering technique that results in a more
homogeneous structure in the final string. Each
of the wider strands has more surface area for
bonding and cohesion with adjacent strands, and
the 42mm strands have more resistance to
stretch and robustness than the 21mm strands.
This change also allowed Babolat to optimize
comfort, power, and tension maintenance, while
increasing durability by 15 percent.
Inspection
Quality control
GUI DE TO STRI NGI NG MACHI NES
REPEAT BUSINESS
THE KEY TO
STRINGING SUCCESS
I
f stringing racquets is a part of your business plan, then
repeat business is a key to your success. In fact, the number
of racquets you string in any given year is not just an indica-
tor of the health of your individual business, its also one mea-
sure that can be used to determine growth in the game of tennis,
just like ball or racquet sales.
Data from the Tennis Industry Association shows there are
5.3 million frequent players in the U.S., who annually play at
least 21 times and average 68 play occasions. If this industry
could convince frequent players to restring just one more time
each year, think of the positive impact over 5 million more string
jobs would have for your stringing and retail business, for man-
ufacturers, and for players and the quality of their play.
But theres one question in this scenario that needs to be
revisited: How often should a player restring their racquet?
Some say its not that
complicated a question,
while others see it as
deeply complex. The
longtime recommenda-
tion has been to string
your racquet as many
times per year as you
play in a week. Weve
honored this axiom for
so long, I doubt anyone
can even tell us where
this idea came from.
The advantage of
that old maxim is that
its a simple concept to
grasp. But many who
service racquets believe in this day and age, that one saying sim-
ply is not going to get it done. The game has changed. Racquets
and strings have changed, the materials used have changed. It
seems that its time to retire that saying and to find something
better.
The complexities involved in this endeavor are numerous,
but if successful, the potential for a nice shot in the arm for
stringers and retailers is inevitable. But how do you convince the
playing public to restring more frequently? There still are many
players who think the only indicator for restringing is when a
string breaks.
When Should Strings Be Replaced?
In your own business, think about this: How much time is spent
presenting new strings to players each year, extolling the virtues
of the string, but without ever considering the subject of how
often that particular string should be replaced?
The selling points of string are typically conveyed from the
manufacturer representative to the stringer/retailer as new prod-
ucts are introduced. They may point to a graphic on the string
package that shows ratings on durability, power and spin. So, if
you have a player who is looking for more power and you rec-
ommend a string that has a high rating in the power category,
you might assume that youre on the right path. However, thats
merely a start.
What if we took it one step further and addressed the ques-
tion of when that string is going to need to be replaced? Right
now, we pretty much leave it up to the player to figure it out for
themselvesor wait until their current string breaks. The major-
ity of players lack both the tools and the knowledge to know
when their string is no longer performing at its best. What role
do stringers, retailers and manufacturers have in telling the con-
sumer when the string theyre thinking of purchasing no longer
will perform at its peak?
As an industry, we need to put our heads together to come
up with something that can be messaged out to all players
through the media, manufacturers, teaching pros, league cap-
tains, facilities, retailers and stringers. The TIA has taken steps in
this direction with its Tennis Tune-Up campaign (see PlayTen-
nis.com for more), which is in its beginning stages. The process
is still ongoing, and needs to be continuala never-ending cam-
paign that involves all segments of this industry to urge players
to restring their racquets regularly and frequently. To repeat
repeat business is a key to your success.
Promoting the Idea of Repeat Business
One way to look at how to increase the awareness of the impor-
tance of stringing more frequently is to take a look at what some
racquet technicians are already doing to promote this idea. We
contacted various technicians from around the world and asked
them to answer a few simple questions about how they handle
the subject of timelines on restringing.
Larry Hackney of TennezSport in Union City, N.J., said at his
business, they mark every string job per the customers tension
request in a personal file and then explain string types and lifes-
BY T I M S T RAWN
REPEAT BUSINESS
THE KEY TO
STRINGING SUCCESS
Stringing Machine Selector
Whether youve figured out the
secret to getting your customers
to restring more often, or are still
looking for ways to increase your
string business, you need to make
sure you have the right stringing
machine, with all the right features
for you. On the following pages,
RSIs annual Guide to Stringing
Machines lists dozens of models
from 12 different manufacturers,
with their features, prices and con
tact information.
pan based on their own personal knowl-
edge of the string. They also ask their
customers to track the hours of play until
breakage or they feel their strings are
dead.
As an added service, TennezSport
offers a free tension check with the
Beers ERT 300 device if the string is not
broken. They test the strings tension
immediately after the racquet is com-
plete to acquire a baseline measurement
and the information is tracked via a cus-
tomized log.
We have more people coming back
to check tension versus hours of play,
says Hackney (above). This really opens
their eyes on string performance and life,
especially with many co-polymer strings.
If theres a loss of 30 percent or more, we
suggest new string.
Andrea Amaral (below), from Vas-
souras in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, takes a
similar approach. She designed her own
customized computer program to track
string jobs and, like Hackney, uses the
Beers ERT 300 to take a baseline mea-
surement once the racquet is complete.
We place a label on the racquet with
the DT [dynamic tension] reading from
the ERT 300, says Amaral. We encour-
age our customers to let us check their
strings if theyre not broken. This allows
us to show them the actual tension loss
since the racquet was strung. This
method has increased our stringing rev-
enue by 30 percent.
John Gugel (below), RSIs 2012
Stringer of the Year, also developed a
program for tracking racquet data from
service to service, and which can gener-
ate and print racquet labels. Gugel uses
the program to encourage frequent
restringing; it can automatically generate
email reminders to players timed to
when they last had their frame serviced.
Gugel also utilizes the Beers ERT 300
to check a customers tension and pro-
vides more than one option for data on
labels, one of which is the DT reading
from the ERT 300. If a client shows up
and wants to know if its time for new
string, Gugel can glance at the label on
the racquet, grab his ERT 300, take a
quick reading for comparison to his orig-
inal baseline measurement and make his
recommendation.
These technicians have taken a proac-
tive approach when it comes to restring-
ing racquets for their clients. None of
them takes this issue lightly and all agree
that string as many times a year as you
play in one week is outdated. The ques-
tions, however, remain: What can we
replace that simple maxim with? Can we
do better with such a complex issue?
And beyond that: How best can this
industry as a whole encourage players to
string their racquets more frequently? w
USRSA Master Racquet
Technician and tour
stringer Tim Strawn owns
and operates the Interna-
tional Alliance of Racquet
Technicians at www.
gssalliance.com and is the founder and
owner of the IART Symposium (formerly
called the GSS Symposium). The seventh
annual IART Symposium will be Sept. 21
to 25 in Tampa, Fla. Visit www.gssal-
liance.com or contact Strawn at
tim@gssalliance.com or 540-632-1148.
Larry Hackney
Andrea Amaral
John Gugel
Alpha
info@alphatennis.com
800-922-9024
Babolat
www.babolat.com
877-316-9435
AG
www.gutermanintl.com
800-343-6096
Gamma
www.gammasports.com
800-333-0337
Klipper USA
www.klipperusa.com
800-522-5547
Price Warranty
Brand Model (MSRP) (years)
2 0 1 3 GUI DE TO STRI NGI NG MACHI NES
Sport Height Mounting Tensioning
Pacific North America LLC
www.pacific.com or
usainfo@pacific.com
941-795-1789
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1 - Magnetic auto clamp base release
2 - Flying clamp starting pins
601F $219 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
602F $269 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Pioneer DC Plus $469 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Revo 4000 $649 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Axis Pro $799 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Apex Plus $1,299 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Ghost $2,495 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Phantom $3,350 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sensor $5,795 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Sensor Expert $8,500 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1
Star 5 $3,695 3 or 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
X-2 $179 Life x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Progression 200 $174 Life x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Progression 602 $369 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
X-6 $379 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Progression 602 FC $499 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
X-6 FC $509 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Progression ST II $749 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
X-ST $759 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Progression Els $1,169 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x $
X-Els $1,179 5 x x x x $119 x x x x x x x x x x x x $
5003 w/6pt QM System $979 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
5003 w/6pt QM SC System $1,079 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
5003 w/2pt SC System $1,179 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
6004 w/6pt SM SC System $1,349 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
6004 w/2pt SC System $1,349 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
5800 Els w/6pt QM System $2,249 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
5800 Els w/6pt QM SC System $2,349 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
5800 Els w/2pt SC System $2,449 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
6900 Els w/6pt SM SC System $1,949 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
6900 Els w/2pt SC System $1,949 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
8800 Els w/6pt SM SC System $3,399 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
8800 Els w/2pt SC System $3,399 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Klippermate $159 Life x x x x $115 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
Klippermate Badton $179 Life x $115 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
280-CS $245 10 x x x x $115 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
440-CS $445 10 x x x x $115 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
Digital DX8 $9,995 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Digital 700 $7,995 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Tronic DX6 $6,495 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Tensioning Clamping Extra
Features
Weight Tools Included
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x x x x x x
6 x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x x x x x
R x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
A x x x x x x x x x $15 x x x x x x x
A x x x x x x x x x x $15 x x x x x x x
G x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
S x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
S x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1
S x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
X x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x
X x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x
X x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x x x
X x x x x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x x x
P x x x x $35 x x x x x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x x x
X x x x x $35 x x x x x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x x x
5 x x x x x x x x x x x $29 x x x x x x x x x
6 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
6 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
8 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
8 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
K x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
K x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
2 x x x x x x x x x x x x 2
4 x x x x x x x x x x x 2
D x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $895 x x x x
D x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $45 x x x $895 x x x x
T x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $895 x x x x
Prince
www.princetennis.com
800-283-6647
Stringway
www.alphatennis.com
800-922-9024
Tecnifibre
www.tecnifibre.com
888-838-3664
Wilson
www.wilson.com
800-272-6060
Wise USA
www.tennishead.com
888-836-7466
Yonex
www.yonexusa.com
800-449-6639
Price Warranty
Brand Model (MSRP) (years)
2 0 1 3 GUI DE TO STRI NGI NG MACHI NES
Sport Height Mounting Tensioning
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4 - Accessory Drawer
5 - Note 1: Electric Stand $850, Customizable Machine Color $500, Customizable Stand Color $150.
Note 2: Pro Becomes Pro Select if one or more of the following upgrades are added (Dual Swivel Single
Action Fixed Clamps $500, String Measurer $300, Multilingual Touchscreen Display $650, Electric
Turntable Lock $500)
6 - Electric Turntable Lock - Upgrades Available (Electric Stand $850, Customizable Machine Color
$500, Customizable Stand Color $150)
Neos 1000 $1,099 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Neos 1500 $1,299 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Prince 5000 $3,499 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 4
Prince 6000 $3,799 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 4
ML90 - O92 - TH $708 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML90 - O92 - T98 $903 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML90 - 092 - T92 $999 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
M100 - O92 - TH $767 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
M100 - O92 - T98 $962 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
M100 - O92 - T92 $1,058 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML100con - O92 - TH $846 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML100con - O92 - T98 $1,041 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML100con-O92 - T92 $1,137 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML120con - O92 - T98 $1,179 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ML120con - O92 - T92 $1,299 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
MS 200con T98 $1,394 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
MS 200con T92 $1,518 10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
TF-6000 $6,500 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Ergo Pro (Pro Select) $7,500 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x $
Ergo Touch $10,000 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 6
Baiardo $6,000 3 or 5 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 7
2086 Prof. Electronic Tension Head $545 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x $
ES5 Pro Tech $6,999 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 9
Tensioning Clamping Extra
Features
Weight Tools Included
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x x x x x x x x x x x x
N x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
P x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 4
P x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 4
M x x x x x
M x x x x x
M x x x x x
M x x x x x
M x x x x x
M x x x x x
M x x x x x
M x x x x x x x
M x x x x x x x
M x x x x x x
M x x x x x x
M x x x x x x x x x x x
M x x x x x x x x x x x
T x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
E x x x x x x x x x $650 x x$500 x x x x $300 x x x x 5
E x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 6
B x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 7
2 x x x x x x $40 x x x x x x x 8
E x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 9
7 - Multilingual touchscreen display, Dual roller ergonomic clamps, Automated motorized height adjust-
ment, Adjustable turntable tilt, Motorized height adjustment for mounting/mains/crosses, Customizable
with memory for up to six stringers, Angled stand for more leg room, Manager's security settings, Self
guiding puller head, Logs string pulls by user, tension jaw plate limiting screw, Visual tension notification,
Cross tension +/- by percentage, Ability to recalibrate to factory settings, Mobile phone well, Pop out plug
for quick clamp base removal, modular construction, 3-D Turntable Rotation, now ships with tool tray
extenders to increase storage capacity 2.5 times, racquetball billiard adapters available upon request
8 - Adapter available for drop weight machines ($25), Adapter available for
Gamma machines ($25)
9 - Peripheral Acccessory Platform, Lighting, Mobility System with Wheel Lock, 3-
D Turntable Rotation
?
Ask the Experts
PROS USING
DIFFERENTIAL TENSIONS
I AM WONDERING IF YOU HAVE
the info about the percentage of
professional players who are
using two different tensions in their rac-
quets, one for the mains and a different
one for the crosses?
WE TYPICALLY DON'T DO THAT
type of analysis on the data we
get. First, any data would not be com-
plete (because some players have person-
al or off-site stringers), and second,
because we'd have to winnow down the
players, so that players who had just one
racquet string would count the same as
players who had dozens of racquets
strung.
However, just looking at the raw data
in our pro equipment database (left) since
2001 (when Luxilon first appears), there
are 16,012 entries, and 8,178 of them
have differential tensions.
STAPLERS REVISITED
WHAT SIZE STAPLES ARE USED
for securing the start of a
replacement grip and what sta-
pler uses them? The guy at Home Depot
looked at me funny and shook his head.
THE IDEAL STAPLER (or tacker,
as manufacturers refer to them)
uses 3/16-inch, rounded-crown staples,
with enough power to
push the staple through
the polyurethane foam of
the handle. One example
of this is the Arrow T18
Tacker, which can handle
staples with 3/8-inch
(12F635) and 7/16-inch
(12F636) legs. If you
cant find one at your
local hardware or home
improvement store, you
can buy them on-line
through Grainger.
A less expensive option is
the Arrow T2025 Dual
Purpose Tacker, which
you can purchase
through ATS Sports. You
can use either flat (T20)
or round-crown (T25) sta-
ples in various lengths, colors, and materi-
als, but the staple width is 5/16-inches.
Q
A
A
Q
Your Equipment Hotline
Arrow T18
Staples
Arrow T2025
HYBRID THEORY
MORE AND MORE customers
are asking about hybrid string-
ing since they see many of the
pros using hybrids. One of my cus-
tomers has me install natural gut in
the mains and synthetic in the cross-
es. I have suggested the other way
around as I think the mains should
be the more durable string, and the
crosses softer for feel/control, but she
doesn't want to change.
IT DOES SEEM LOGICAL TO
use the more durable string in
the mains and the more comfortable
string in the crosses, which is why
most people who use a
hybrid string job (that is,
a string job that incorpo-
rates two different types
of string), do it this way.
However, doing things
the other way seems to
be working for players
such as Roger Federer. Of course, Fed-
erer restrings his racquets every seven
games, so durability isnt a huge issue
for him.
Even though recreational players
dont restring as often as the pros do,
they may still benefit from experi-
menting with hybrids strung both
ways. In our playtests of three differ-
ent hybrid strings from Klip, we had
one playtest team use the more
durable string in the mains, and the
other team use the more durable
string in the crosses. In the gut/poly X-
Plosive (November 2004) and
gut/nylon Screamer (June 2005), play-
testers preferred having the gut in the
mains. With the gut/nylon Lightning
(January 2006), playtesters preferred
nylon in the mains. However, with
both X-Plosive and Lightning, the dif-
ference between gut mains and gut
crosses was much smaller than it was
for Screamer.
The bottom line, then, is that you
cant be afraid to experiment, and you
never know what combination is
going to work for you until youve
tried it.
LONGER SETS
DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF
strings that are sold in sets
A
Q
longer than 40 feet? I have customers
with Weeds and Gamma Big Bubbas, as
well as some E-Force racquetball racquets.
Ive been using reels of string, but Id like
to offer my customers more choices, if
possible.
THE USRSAS NEW STRING Colors
and Lengths tool is just what youre
looking for. Currently, this tool (available
exclusively to USRSA members) shows 18
strings in lengths from 42 to 45 feet,
including some racquetball strings. Addition-
ally, it shows what strings are available in
reels as well as in sets.
This doesnt apply in your situation, but
for the future you may need the other half
of the information this tool provides: Color
options. Type in the color you need, and the
tool will show what strings are available.
Greg Raven w
We welcome your questions. Please send them to Racquet
Sports Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096; fax:
760-536-1171; email: greg@racquettech.com.
Q
A
String Playtest
EASE OF STRINGING
(compared to other strings)
Number of testers who said it was:
much easier 0
somewhat easier 1
about as easy 21
not quite as easy 8
not nearly as easy 3
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
(compared to string played most often)
much better 0
somewhat better 7
about as playable 7
not quite as playable 18
not nearly as playable 1
OVERALL DURABILITY
(compared to other strings
of similar gauge)
much better 3
somewhat better 16
about as durable 9
not quite as durable 5
not nearly as durable 0
RATING AVERAGES
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability 3.6
Durability 4.0
Power 3.5
Control 3.8
Comfort 3.4
Touch/Feel 3.2
Spin Potential (16th overall) 3.7
Holding Tension 3.5
Resistance to Movement 3.4

G
amma RZR Rx is an oval-shaped
co-extruded monofilament made
of proprietary thermoplastic elas-
tomer (TPE), a material that can be
thought of as being halfway between plas-
tic and rubber.
RZR Rx is like a composite polyester
string but the TPE is engineered to stretch
more upon impact for enhanced comfort
and control. The TPE used in RZR Rx is
more resilient than a typical polyester
string. Thus RZR Rx transfers more energy
to the ball and less impact to a players
arm. The oval shape provides excellent
spin for the baseline player. Gamma tells
us that RZR Rx is designed for players
who want the control and spin of a
monofilament polyester string without the
harshness and arm problems associated
with the typical polyester string.
RZR RX is available in 16 and 17
gauges in black only. It is priced from
$13.46 per set of 40 feet, $121.10 per
360-foot reel. For more information or to
order, contact Gamma at 800-274-0317,
or visit gammasports.com. Be sure to read
the conclusion for more information about
getting a free set to try for yourself.
IN THE LAB
We tested the 16-gauge RZR RX. The coil
measured 40 feet. The diameter measured
1.24-1.36 mm prior to stringing, and 1.19-
1.25 mm after stringing, although at least
some of this variation is due to the oval
shape of RZR Rx. We recorded a stringbed
stiffness of 77 RDC units immediately
after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson
Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a
constant-pull machine.
After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed
stiffness measured 69 RDC units, repre-
senting a 10 percent tension loss. Our con-
trol string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original
Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immedi-
ately after stringing and 71 RDC units
after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent
tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthet-
ic Gut Original had a stiffness of 217 and a
tension loss of 11.67 pounds, while
Gamma RZR RX 16 had a stiffness of 217
and a tension loss of 15.7 pounds. RZR RX
16 added 16 grams to the weight of our
unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by
33 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings
from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with
playtesters receiving unmarked strings in
unmarked packages. Average number of
hours playtested was 26.9.
None of our playtesters mentioned
noticing the shape of RZR Rx, but it is
noticeable without changing the way you
string. The biggest clue that there is some-
thing going on is that your clamps grab the
string differently depending on whether
you are clamping on the short axis, the
long axis, or somewhere in between. RZR
Rx also offers an intriguing clue
about itself when you cut the end, as you
can clearly see the light-colored core
inside the black shell.
No playtester broke the sample during
stringing, five reported problems with coil
memory, three reported problems tying
knots, three reported friction burn, and
four reported other problems.
ON THE COURT
The extra flexibility of RZR Rx seemed
not to detract from it in the Control or
Spin Potential categories, as the members
of our playtest team rated it 16th best of
the 173 strings weve playtested to date
for publication in each of these two poly-
ester strongholds. However, our
playtesters also rated RZR Rx excellent in
the Playability category, which would be
highly unusual for a poly. Our playtesters
liked the balance of RZR RX, rating it well
above average in the Durability, Tension
Retention, Power, Comfort, and
Touch/Feel categories.
One playtester reported premature
fraying or peeling, none reported buzzing,
and two reported notching.
Two playtesters broke the sample dur-
ing the playtest period, one each at eight
and 29 hours.
CONCLUSION
There seem to be a lot of players who
really love certain aspects of traditional
polys, although they have to forgo them
because they need the softer feel of nylon
strings. According to our playtesters,
Gamma RZR Rx provides a string option
for these on the fence players, without
having to resort to hybrid stringing.
If you think that Gamma RZR RX
might be for you, fill out the coupon to
get a free set to try. Greg Raven
Gamma RZR RX 16
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM
Gamma will send a free set of RZR RX 16 to USRSA members who cut out (or copy)
this coupon and send it to:
Offer expires 15 August 2013 Offer only available to USRSA members in the US.
Name:
USRSA Member number:
Phone:
Email:
If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.
USRSA, Attn: Gamma String Offer
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to stringsample@racquettech.com
(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in paren-
theses.) For the rest of the tester comments, visit
www.racquetsportsindustry.com.
TESTERS
TALK
This string plays softer than its peers.

Great overall performance!
3.5 male
all-court player using Pro Kennex
Graphite Acclaim strung at 47 pounds CP
(Head FXP/Babolat Tonic + 16/16)
Great feel and very easy access to

spin!

5.5 male all-court player using
Head Youtek IG Prestige MP strung at 58
pounds LO (Tecnifibre Black Code 16)
Great bite for the topspin player, and

very nice feel!
4.0 male baseliner with

heavy spin using Prince Triple Threat Hor-
net strung at 60 pounds CP (Tecnifibre
Black Code 17)
For a firm string, performance is

impressive. There is ample power with-
out a corresponding loss of control.
4.0 male all-court player using Wilson

BLX Pro Staff Six One strung at 50
pounds CP (Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 17)
This is a good all around string with

decent comfort, control, spin, and power.
There is some string movement
though.
4.0 male all-court player using Wilson

nSix Two strung at 50 pounds CP (Tourna
Big Hitter Black 7 16)
This string has good power, spin, and

durability. Comfort is pretty good for a
poly. Suffice it to say, polys have come a
long way!
4.0 male all-court player

using Head Flexpoint Prestige MP strung
at 55 pounds LO (Gamma Professional
18)
Holds tension well. Feels like a very

responsive copolymer monofilament.
Above average comfort and touch. The
strings move a lot on spin shots.
4.0
male all-court player using Prince Triple
Threat Viper strung at 60 pounds LO
(Gamma Ruff 16)
A
re tennis pros, coaches and
administrators doing enough as
role models for the tennis public?
Are they positively influencing juniors
regarding sportsmanship, and how to act
on and off the court?
Concerning sportsmanship, in recent
years many governing organizations in
tennis have imposed stricter guidelines
and sanctions. Junior associations, school
conferences, professional federations,
and others have all imposed their own
standards. With this being the case, why
does it seem as if these guidelines have
not had the desired effect?
Last year, while attending the US
Open, I was having a conversation about
sportsmanship with a former college
teammate of mine. He has daughters
who play competitively, and I asked him
if things have improved with this issue
over the years. He said it has been quite
the opposite, with blatant cheating by
playersand their coaches looking the
other way.
This took me by surprise, but increas-
ingly I keep hearing of similar incidents,
from all levels of the tennis world. With
social media such as Twitter and
YouTube, these occurrences are frequent-
ly difficult to keep private.
Tennis instructors and coaches, assist-
ed by parents, have a responsibility to
inform their younger students how they
should behave. When behavior goes
awry, juniors have to realize this cannot
be tolerated. While working to develop
the individuals tennis game is their
prime responsibility, helping him or her
to behave with class and dignity should
be equally significant.
One of the first steps a tennis pro can
take to show his pupils how to comport
themselves is to remind them of how
players they admire behave, especially
when facing adversity. What better exam-
ples to use than Roger Federer on the
mens side, and the recently retired Kim Cli-
jsters from the womens tour.
As great a champion as Federer is, his
true character reveals itself when he loses.
There is almost always praise for his oppo-
nent, and rarely any excuses. It is easy to
exhibit class when you win, but ones
integrity is displayed when defeated.
In 2010, Federer was named the top
male sports role model in a survey by the
Barclays company. His fine reputation
extends throughout the sports world.
Regarding Clijsters, through her many
injuries, she never complained or employed
them as excuses, but instead they served as
motivational fuel. This was a prime reason
that during her comeback attempts, she
was cheered by fans and players alike.
If tennis pros and coaches are to preach
about representing oneself on the tennis
court, these same individuals need to make
sure they are living up to this ideal them-
selves. They cannot be discussing sports-
manship, and then berating officials and
not respecting opponents. The bar is set
high for coaches, and they need to be
accountable for their own behavior. Model-
ing sound ethics is always the right path for
any tennis coach.
Perhaps as significant, there needs to be
sufficient educational tools available for
pros and coaches. The information that
The bar is set high for
coaches, and they
need to be account-
able for their own
behavior. Modeling
sound ethics is always
the right path for any
tennis coach.
Pros and Coaches as Role Models
A sports consultant says tennis teachers and coaches need to do more
to develop sportsmanship and good behavior in their young charges.
BY BRUCE KNI T T L E
Bruce Knittle is the president of
consulting firm Knittle Sports
Solutions Inc. (www.knittle-
sportssolutions.com), which
offers advisory services to ten-
nis and sports organizations. A
former highly ranked player and
captain of the Florida State University tennis
team, he was a successful tennis camp owner,
college tennis coach/pro, and director of sports
programs.
exists today is more concentrated on
strokes and drills. There is not enough out
there, however, that pinpoints how spe-
cific communication methods affect ten-
nis students. Even when this data is
available, not enough emphasis is focused
here.
I would even suggest a more standard-
ized approach for how tennis coaches
gain rapport with players. Though each
individual is different, the coach should
know what works best for a particular
player. Notably, too many of these coach-
es come from other sports, where the
communication skills required are quite
different from tennis.
I have frequently seen coaches well-
versed in one particular sport, but without
the prerequisite knowledge of working
with tennis players. Supplied with more
standardized educational tools addressing
tennis issues, coaches would be more
aware of the subtle differences in com-
municating with tennis players, rather
than football or soccer participants.
Overall, while tennis administrators
have taken measures to restore sports-
manship and decorum to appropriate lev-
els, our teaching pros and coaches still
must take on more responsibility for their
role in this process. Once they realize it is
not just winning that counts, but how the
game is played, improvements will
follow. w
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to RSI@racquetTECH.com.
Your Serve
0
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August 2013

Volume 41 Number 8 $5.00

This string plays softer than its peers.

Great feel and very easy access to

Great bite for the topspin player, and

4.0 male baseliner with

For a firm string, performance is

4.0 male all-court player using Wilson

This is a good all around string with

4.0 male all-court player using Wilson

This string has good power, spin, and

4.0 male all-court player

Holds tension well. Feels like a very

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