www.ersa-stringers.

com
ISSUE 8-2018

NEW PRODUCTS
ASHAWAY MULTIKILL 17
ASHAWAY ZYMAX 68
INDUSTRY NEWS
YONEX FRENCH OPEN
DUNLOP NEXT GEN ATP FINALS
WTA FINALS

ERSA TIPS
STRING TESTS
SIGNUM PRO X-PERIENCE
LUXILON ELEMENT ROUGH

PRO STRINGER MAGAZINE IS FREE FOR ALL ERSA MEMBERS

1 ERSA PRO STRINGER
DISTRIBUTION // ARE
OR RESELLING ISSUE 1
NOT7-2018
ALLOWED
� @Ashaway1824 � @Ashaway � @ashawayuk
 www.ersa-stringers.com

ISSUE
8-2018

CONTENTS
04 My Serve
06 New Products
14 Industry News
22 Tips
23 SIGNUM PRO X-PERIENCE
25 LUXILON ELEMENT ROUGH

3 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018


PRO STRINGER MAGAZINE
European Racquet Stringers Association
ERSA Australia - Noel Dodds
ERSA Benelux
Timo van Driel, Rob Maessen
ERSA Brazil - ERSA Int. Headquarters
ERSA China - Roger Luo
ERSA Czech Republic & Slovakia
Vaclav Smat
ERSA Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Mark Maslowski
ERSA Indochina - Danny Deng
ERSA Italy - Marco Rossani
ERSA Ireland - Rob Leahy
ERSA Korea - Taikki Lee
ERSA Serbia - Dr. Alexander Ducic
ERSA Spain / France- Richard Parnell
ERSA Taiwan - Bernie Chen
ERSA UK
Paul Skipp, Huw Phillips
ERSA Ukraine - Sergey Konovolenko
FOUNDING MEMBERS
Ashaway Babolat
Head Isospeed
Kirschbaum Luxilon
Pacific Wilson
CORPORATE MEMBERS
Ashaway Head Babolat
Prince Isospeed Yonex
Gosen Tecnifibre
STRING SUPLIER MEMBERS
Apollo Leisure MSV String Kong
Krischbaum Signum Pro Pro-T-One
Stringlab Sergetti Stringing
ASOCIATION MEMBER
PTR Europe TIA UK
Tennis Europe
TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS
Rod Cross - Australia - Physics
Gabe Jarmillo - Pro Tennis
European Racquet Stringers Association
Lenaustr. 38 40470 Düsseldorf, Germany
Phone/Fax: +49 (0)211 688 14151
www.ersa-stringers.com
4 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018
www.ersa-stringers.com
My Serve
Welcome to Issue 8 of our magazine. I have been
busy moving to Croatia after selling my 2 shops last
month. I also had a trip to Asia leading workshops in
China and South Korea.
I think we had a record number of people taking tests
in October. We gave large workshops in Germany,
France, China, South Korea and Taiwan with almost
100 stringers taking part with 100 certifcation tests
given in tennis and badminton.
Next month I am also giving a large workshop in Sao
Paolo, Brasil and many of our managers are busy with
workshops after stringing in tournaments and in their
shops all summer. We are trying to finalize workshops
after February in South Africa, Croatia, Turkey and
more in Asia.
We have a great team helping set up the 2019
Symposium in Cambridge. Thanks to Paul, Huw, Mark
and Nick for their hard work. I will send out the sign-up
sheets in a couple of days. We have manageed to out
perform the Symposium every year and looking for the
a great time in the UK.
Our new website is online and we are testing it this
weekend. I see their are a couple of tools not working
correctly but we hope to have everything working in a
week. We will then be adding a lot of new information
on the site.
I will keep you updated as we
soon as we have everything
working correctly.
This issue is electronic only
so you will not be receiving a
printed issue. If you have any
problems with receiving either
of these items, please contact
us.
Mark Maslowski
 www.ersa-stringers.com

ERSA Pro Certified Stringers

ERSA now offers tennis, badminton and squash certification for different levels of stringers, from beginners to
the top professional stringers in the world. The first level is ERSA Stringer is for new stringers to show they have
completed a stringing course and learned to string correctly. ERSA Professional Stringer is for stringing ser-
vices, such as coaches, club stringers, shop stringers, after passing a day of practical and written tests. Master
Professional Stringer Level 1 is for shop stringers and owners who can tune rackets, string at a high level and
have a broad knowledge of products for their customers. MPS Level 2 is for shop owners and managers. Pro
Tour Stringer certification is for minimum MPS Level1 who are stringing at ATP and WTA tournaments. There
are 3 levels for this certification, Level 1, Level 2 and Master Pro Tour Stringer.

ERSA PROFESSIONAL STRINGER ERSA MASTER PROFESSIONAL STRINGER

ERSA Professional Stringer Tennis - Wen Yan Chen (Taiwan) - Chang-Han Yang (Taiwan) -
PAN CHIEN TING (Ryan Pam) (Taiwan) - Kenneth Poon Sau Lai (Australia)
ERSA Professional Stringer Badminton - Chang-Han Yang - Chung Yi-Hsiu - (Taiwan) -
Wong Tak Fung - Wong Tak Chuen (Hong Kong)
ERSA Master Professional Stringer Tennis & Badminton - Adam Tsai (Taiwan)
ERSA Pro Tour Stringer Level 1 -

STRINGS
MADE IN GERMANY
SINCE 1985
 www.ersa-stringers.com
NEW PRODUCTS

Ashaway Introduces New MultiKill® 17 Polyurethane-Based

Racquetball String
-- Developed in response to market demand, string is designed for power players to cut and spin
the ball

Ashaway, RI – Ashaway Racket Strings has introduced a new polyurethane (PU) based, multifila-
ment nylon string for racquetball. Utilizing proprietary new polyurethane technology, MultiKill® 17
is designed to add toughness and durability for players who like to really cut and spin the ball.

“This line has really been developed in response to market demand,” said Ashaway’s Steve Cran-
dall. “Players kept telling us that as the Official String of USA Racquetball and the major string
supplier for the sport, we had to see what we could do with this technology, despite the fact that
there are already other PU offerings out there. So we did, and are delighted to be able to offer our
new MultiKill string to USA Racquetball members and players worldwide.”

A relatively new material for racquetball strings, polyurethane resin can be formulated to offer
many different properties, and when combined with other materials, like high tenacity nylon multi-
filament fibers, can provide strings with exceptional playing characteristics. The key difference with
Ashaway’s new PU technology, Crandall explained, is its matrix design.

With other multifilament nylon strings, like Ashaway’s popular SuperKill® XL line, the core and
sleeve, or wear layer, elements remain separate and retain some ability to move relative to one
another. New MultiKill 17 combines a high tenacity multifilament nylon sheath with a specially for-
mulated polyurethane resin that bonds the string into a single matrix. This gives the string added
strength, especially on off center hits near the edge of the frame, and improves tension holding
ability. The natural adhesive properties of the polyurethane surface add grip, while the 17-gauge
construction maximizes power. At the same time the string retains nylon’s soft feel and comfort-
able playability.

Ashaway’s MultiKill 17 strings are black in color and 1.25 mm in diameter. They come in 40 ft. indi-
vidual packages or 360 ft. reels. Recommended string tension is up to 40 lbs.

Ashaway Racket Strings are made by Asha-

way Line & Twine Mfg. Co., the only U.S.
manufacturer of string for squash, tennis,
racquetball, and badminton. Operated by the
Crandall family since 1824, Ashaway has
been making racquet strings since 1949,
and is responsible for several important
technical innovations. Ashaway has been
the Official String of USA Racquetball for
more than fifteen years. Ashaway Line &
Twine Mfg. Co. also makes braided products
for medical and industrial applications. For
more information visit

6 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 www.ersa-stringers.com
NEW PRODUCTS

Ashaway Introduces ZyMax® 68 TX Badminton String with

Textured Surface Coating
-- BETA polymer multifilament core increases dynamic stiffness and elasticity by 25%
-- BETA polymer braided construction increases knot and shear strength by 25%
-- ZyWeaVe™ core technology prevents tension loss

Ashaway, RI – Ashaway Racket Strings has introduced ZyMax® 68 TX, a new badminton string
with a proprietary textured surface coating to enhance feel and control of the shuttle. Like its Zy-
Max Fire siblings, ZyMax 68 TX utilizes Ashaway's proprietary BETA polymer fibers and is con-
structed using the company's special ZyWeaVe™ string core technology. The new string offers
sensational elasticity and dynamic stiffness for maximum shuttle speed and explosive repulsion,
as well as optimum power and durability, incredible knot and shear strength, and exceptional ten-
sion holding ability for consistent, reliable performance.

“Progress in string R&D is often incremental, but occasionally the result is greater than the sum
of its parts,” said Ashaway Vice President Steve Crandall. “With our Beta polymer, ZyWeaVe core
technology and now a new textured surface coating, our ZyMax 68 TX offers players truly out-
standing performance and durability.

ZyMax 68 TX is geared for professional players and advanced amateurs, as well as players desir-
ing the durability of a heavier gauge string along with better feel and control. The string's BETA
polymer multifilament core provides 25% better stiffness and elasticity than comparable strings,
and its BETA polymer braided construction provides 25% better knot and shear strength. In ad-
dition, Ashaway's trademarked ZyWeaVe technology generates a string core that is stronger and
holds tension better than traditional badminton strings. This allows for thinner, more playable
strings that perform consistently at higher tensions throughout the life of the string.

White, orange or optic yellow in color, ZyMax 68 TX is 0.68 mm thick (21 gauge) and is available in
10 meter (33 ft) sets and 200-meter (660 ft) reels. Recommended stringing tension is up to 40 lbs.

For more information visit www.ashawayusa.com.

For additional product information, contact:

Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co.
PO Box 549
Ashaway, RI 02804 USA
Tel: (800) 556-7260 (U.S. only) or +1 (401) 377-
2221
Fax: +1 (401) 377-9091
Website: http://www.ashawayusa.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashaway/
Twitter: @Ashaway1824

7 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 www.ersa-stringers.com
INDUSTRY NEWS

DUNLOP SECURES MULTI-YEAR NEXT GEN ATP FINALS

PARTNERSHIP
Dunlop to be Gold Partner for flagship event as well as official tournament ball

Dunlop will be a Gold Partner of the Next Gen ATP Finals, commencing immediately. The multi-
year partnership will see Dunlop provide the official ball for the tournament, as well as receiving a
number of promotional rights for the innovative event.
The 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals take place in Milan from November 6-10, with the world’s top 21
and under tennis players to compete using the Dunlop Fort All Court Tournament Select ball.
The partnership adds to Dunlop’s recent official ball partner agreement with the Australian Open
as well as existing partnerships with high-profile events on the tennis calendar. Supporting these
events, the Next Gen ATP Finals provides Dunlop with the platform to focus on one of its key ob-
jectives of targeting and engaging with younger tennis fans to develop their love of the game and
ultimately grow participation of the sport globally.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the Next Gen ATP Finals, an event that is taking tennis to
new audiences,” said Kiyoshi Ikawa, Head of Product Planning & Promotion for SRI. “The passion
for innovation fits perfectly with our brand values and provides a great opportunity for us to engage
with younger tennis fans and consumers. The ATP understands the need to make the game more
appealing to new fans and we’re really excited to be a part of it in the upcoming years.”
Now in its second year, the Next Gen ATP Finals has been praised for the introduction of several
innovative rules to raise the tempo of matches. Unique to the event, it features first to four game
sets, shorter warm-ups, shot clock, a no-let rule and Hawk-Eye Live which removes the need for
line judges. The inaugural event in 2017 was won by South Korean Chung Hyeon, who enjoyed
a breakthrough 2018, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and registering wins over
Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Dunlop because we believe they pro-
vide the best ball on the professional tennis circuit,” said Sergio Palmieri, Tournament Director
Next Gen ATP Finals 2018. “To demonstrate how much we appreciate the quality of the Dunlop
ball, in addition to the Next Gen ATP Finals, we have also finalized a multi-year extension for the
ATP Masters 1000 Rome – BNL Internazionali D’Italia.”
As a Gold Partner, Dunlop will have strong branding presence with its logo present across the in-
Dunlop is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries and has its headquarters in Kobe, Japan. Dun-
lop Tennis has a legendary history in the sport of tennis. Current players on Tour using Dunlop
rackets include Kevin Anderson, Agnieszka Radwanska, Donald Young, Heather Watson, Jamie
Murray, Taylor Townsend, Zarina Diyas, Kurumi Nara and U.S. legends James Blake and Michael
Chang. Learn more at

www.DunlopSports.com.

ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 MORE THAN A STRINGING MACHINE
AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE STRINGER AND THE PLAYER

CLAMPS TRACTION HEAD

Auto-adjusting clamps Auto-Lock & ergonomic system
Task simplification Instinctive

SCREEN
Brand new software
User friendly

AVAILABLE MODELS
TURNTABLE
360° rotating clamp holder PERF LINK
Smooth movement

Touch screen Electric

PERF

BASE
Self-adjusting electronic stand Monochrom screen Manual
Comfort
 www.ersa-stringers.com
INDUSTRY NEWS

Macau Open 2018: Lee Yong Dae and Kim Gi Jung victori-
ous, Team Yonex wins three categories
Lee Yong Dae and Kim Gi Jung (KOR) added their second title since their return this year at the past
week’s Macau Open 2018. Canada’s Michelle Li and Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong also
took the top of the podium in Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles, respectively.
Lee, who is hosting the next Legends’ Vision event in his home country later this month, and partner were
up against countrymen Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Chol. Though they lost the first game by a 4-point
deficit, they were able to rally in the second, and decided the match after one hour and nine minutes, 17-
21, 21-13, 21-19.
In women’s singles, Michelle Li also took three games and one and a quarter hours to battle past her oppo-
nent, Han Yue (CHN). The first game went to a grueling 23-25 in Yue’s favor, before Li took things in hand,
winning 23-25, 21-17, 21-15.
Macau Open 2018: Lee Yong Dae and Kim Gi Jung victorious, Team Yonex wins three categories

Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet, on the other hand, seemed to be in control from the very start. They
beat fellow Hong Kong pair Lee Chun Hei Reginald and Chau Hoi Wah 21-14, 21-15 in just over half an
hour.

YONEX French Open 2018: Akane Yamaguchi victorious in

upset of World No. 1
Paris — Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) may have held her World No. 1 ranking for just two weeks back in April of
this year, but at the YONEX French Open 2018, she made a compelling case for why she’s still in the con-
versation after defeating Tai Tsu Ying (TPE) — who’s held the number one spot for nearly two years, with
the exception of those two weeks in April — in a pitched, one-hour-and-17-minute match.
The match was clearly going to be close from the start, as both women traded points, with Yamaguchi
maintaining a slim lead through the first game. Tai levelled towards the end but Yamaguchi hung on to take
it at 22-20. The momentum swung in Tai’s favor for the second game and forced the match to go to a decid-
ing third. It was here that Yamaguchi’s inexhaustible stamina won out, and she eventually closed out the
match, 22-20, 17-21, 21-13, for her second title of the year.
“I’ve lost to her on many occasions, so of course it was a big
challenge for me against Tai Tzu Ying, since she’s the top
player in the world,” she told BWF.
In women’s doubles, World Champions Mayu Matsumoto and
Wakana Nagahara (JPN) took the podium for their second major
win since the World Championships in August. They faced a fel-
low #TeamYonex pair in Bulgarian sisters, Stefani and Gabriela
Stoeva, who were appearing in their first major final. The Stoeva
sisters fought well but it was not enough to effectively threaten the
eventual victory of one of Japan’s top women’s doubles pairs, as
Matsumoto and Nagahara won in straight games, 21-14, 21-19.

10 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 Designed for Pro‘s. This monofile polyester string offers ultimate control
combined with high ball speed. Now released!

Diese Monofile Polyestersaite wurde speziell für die Anforderungen auf der Profitour entwickelt. Volle Kontrolle bei
hoher Beschleunigung. Jetzt released nach erfolgreichem Einsatz auf der Tour!

www.isospeed.com
 www.ersa-stringers.com
INDUSTRY NEWS

World number 6, Kevin Anderson, celebrated his biggest career title yesterday in
Austria by winning the ATP 500 Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Anderson powered to victory over Kei
Nishikori winning 6-3, 7-6(3) to lift his second trophy of 2018 and the 5th title of his career.

This victory was also enough to book him a place in the season ending ATP Finals in London for
the first time where he will be among the 8 best players in the world competing for the title.

“It’s fantastic. It’s been a huge goal of mine all year,” said Anderson. “I felt I came pretty close the
two previous seasons, but I missed out on it. I think it’s one of our biggest tournaments of the year,
really celebrates the Top 8 players of the year. You have to win a lot of big matches against the
best opponents in the world to book your spot there, so it’s fantastic to be amongst the best eight
players in the world.”

Kevin’s recent success has coincided with him switching rackets to Dunlop’s new CX 200 Tour
18×20 racket, the design of which he collaborated on with Dunlop and is scheduled for a global
market release on 1st November 2018.

The big-serving South African has worked closely with Dunlop to develop the premium
performance racket that provides him with increased control and allows for more aggressive shots
without fear of overhitting.

“As a tennis player, the racket is the single most important piece of equipment to me,” said Kevin
Anderson. “I’ve worked very closely with Dunlop to ensure that the racket is perfect for me and
helps me to do what I love doing most, winning tennis matches. The game is changing all the time
and I need to make sure the racket I’m using allows me to perform to the best of my ability.”

www.dunlopsports.com

12 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 www.ersa-stringers.com

SIGN-UP 2018
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Become a member today and receive:
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13 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 www.ersa-stringers.com
INDUSTRY NEWS

Parkkonen Promoted to Chief Operating Officer for PTR

Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) announced that Brian Parkkonen has been promoted to Chief Operat-
ing Officer. As COO, Parkkonen will oversee organizational development and staff collaboration. His main
priorities will be to ensure the highest quality standards are in place and upheld creating a unified and ef-
ficient approach to the overall member experience.

“Brian has done a stellar job during his tenure at PTR,” said CEO, Dan Santorum. “Moving forward, tech-
nology, education and our delivery system will be key components. Brian has the knowledge and experi-
ence in this area to help PTR continue to grow and improve.”

Parkkonen, who joined the PTR staff in May 2014, has had a series of promotions during his tenure. Prior
to his new post as COO, Parkkonen served as Director of Education, where he was responsible for the
direction and content of the organization’s four education pathways to certification, as well as Level 3 Spe-
cialist and Master of Tennis programs. In addition, he developed new courses and opportunities, including
PTR’s Education Dashboard that provides hundreds of hours of free online video presentations, and was a
key player in the evolution of the PTR Coach App. Working with Sarah Ansboury, Parkkonen was also in-
strumental in the organization’s new PPR pickleball certification curriculum, workshop preparation materials
and clinician training. Parkkonen started at PTR as Director of Development where he oversaw the delivery
of PTR education and managed scores of clinicians across the United States. Before leading the clinicians,
he was one himself.

Parkkonen’s evolution in the organization began long before he joined the staff. Coincidentally, he started
his career as Head Pro and Director of College Placement at the Van der Meer World Class Academy
(Dennis Van der Meer founded PTR), before going on to serve as director of some of the largest public and
private clubs in the country.

Tennis Channel to Launch New Series 'The Ten'

Tennis Channel will debut the original series The Tenon Sunday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. ET. The count-
down show highlights a different debate-spurring list each week, and begins with The Ten: Men, an
episode dedicated to ranking the 10 best men’s tennis players of all time. The first season of The
Ten will feature eight hour-long episodes with a new countdown for viewers to discuss and debate
each week.

Jason Biggs (American Pie, Orange Is the New Black), will reveal The Ten lists over the course
of the season as Tennis Channel ranks the sport’s greatest, most exciting, and most controversial
players and moments. The first season’s lists will include, The Ten: Women, The Ten: Seasons,
The Ten: Hotheads, The Ten: Upsets and The Ten: Rivalries. Where do John McEnroe and Jimmy
Connors rank on the list of all-time hotheads? Does any rivalry beat Chris Evert and Martina
Navratilova? Who had the greatest tennis year of all time? If Robin Soderling’s 2009 defeat of
four-time defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal is not the greatest upset in history, what
is? Viewers can find previews and join the debate online at Tennis Channel’s website, TENNIS.
com, and on social media by using #TennisChannelTen. Full episodes will also be available on the
network’s app, as well as its digital subscription service Tennis Channel Plus.

“The Ten brings the never-ending debates from sports bars, tennis courts and living rooms to Ten-
nis Channel,” said John MacDonald, senior vice president, programming. “We’re excited to give
fans the opportunity to rank their favorites against Tennis Channel in this new multiplatform series.”

14 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 INDUSTRY NEWS

Tennis Europe has revealed the programme for the 2018 Top Executives’ Meeting, which
is due to be hosted by the Czech Tennis Association in Prague from 28th to 30th November.

A record 17 speakers will be taking to the stage during the event, which, while retaining a broad focus on tennis, has
this year been upgraded to showcase real-life experiences and success stories from across the sports industry.

The two-day meeting will examine three main topics - Fundraising & Sponsorship, Digitalisation and Event Manage-
ment – and will see speakers sharing the knowledge and best practices from each field that are essential for the
Executive Directors and General Managers from Tennis Europe’s constituent national tennis associations due to be in
attendance.

The complete speaker line-up is as follows:

Benjamin Steen, Head of Digital Projects and CRM, FC Bayern München

Mats Merkel, Independent Consultant, adidas
Achim Ittner, Global Business Development Director Sports, SAP
Herwig Straka, CEO & Founder, e|motion management gmbh
Stéphane Gurov, Executive Managing Director, Top Five Management
Christian Wilbers, Director of Advertising and Communications, HEAD
Ben Gittus, Director of Standards, EOSE
Attila Richter, General Secretary, Hungarian Tennis Association
Kelly Fairweather, Chief Operating Officer, ITF
Luca Santilli, Executive Director, Development, ITF
Paul Lifton, ITF Rating Project Manager
Stéphane Morel, Deputy CEO, Marketing & Business Development, FFT
Magdalena Rejniak-Romer, Chief Executive Officer, Polish Tennis Association

ENTDECKE Die Int. Plattform für alle

DIE WELT
DER
Trainer und Coaches
die professionell
unterrichten

WE MAKE
A WORLD OF INFO: PTR European Headquarters

DIFFERENCE Leichtergasse 28 - 39012 MERAN

Fon: +39 0473 230097 - www.ptrtennis.de - info@ptrtennis.de

15 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 www.ersa-stringers.com
INDUSTRY NEWS

ITF Launches ITF World Tennis Tour

The ITF announced the launch of the ITF World Tennis Tour in 2019 that will serve as a player pathway
between the junior game and elite levels of professional tennis.

The launch of the tour is the culmination of a series of ITF reforms designed to support talented junior play-
ers in their progression to the senior game, and target the prize money effectively at professional tourna-
ments to enable more players to make a living. The tour will also increase the number of nations hosting
ITF tournaments in 2019, providing opportunities for more players.

The ITF World Tennis Tour forms part of a new worldwide tournament structure that has been agreed be-
tween the ITF, ATP and WTA in order to address the current challenges at entry level. Under the ITF World
Tennis Tour umbrella, tournaments will be split into the following categories:

The ITF has unveiled the ITF World Tennis Tour™ logo and sub-brands that have been created to unify the
look and feel of the ITF World Tennis Tour across over 1,600 tournaments that are expected to be staged in
2019.

The reforms followed a three-year ITF review of professional and junior tennis that included an analysis of
player and event data from 2001-13, and a survey of more than 50,000 stakeholders. They address funda-
mental issues in the existing player pathway and changing trends in tennis that include too many players
trying to compete on the professional circuit; too few players breaking even; longer playing careers at the
top of the game; and the difficulty for many talented junior players in transitioning to professional tennis.

The first phase of the reforms saw an extensive programme of prize money increases on the ITF Pro Circuit
in 2016 and 2017, with total prize money increasing by around $1.5 million.

The reforms announced today include the new tournament at entry-level - ITF World Tennis Tour 15s
category - that will be staged within a more localised circuit structure with cheaper hosting requirements
that reduce costs for players and tournament organisers. Offering ITF World Tennis Ranking points, these
tournaments will also increase opportunities for players from more countries to join the pathway and be
supported in their transition to professional tennis.

The introduction of the ITF World Tennis Ranking will ensure a consistent approach for entries into all
events, with players using their ATP/WTA ranking followed by ITF ranking.

In order that successful players in juniors, 15s and men’s 25s tournaments are able to progress more quick-
ly to the next level, there will be reserved places in higher-level tournaments for highly-ranked players on
the ITF Junior World Ranking and ITF World Tennis Ranking. This includes reserved places for ITF-ranked
players in the main draw and qualifying of ATP Challenger tournaments.

The implementation of the new ATP, WTA and ITF ranking systems will take place at the end of 2018. Any
ATP or WTA ranking points earned at $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit tournaments (as well ATP points earned in
early rounds of $25,000 Pro Circuit events) in 2018 will be converted into ITF World Tennis Ranking points.

ITF President David Haggerty said: “The ITF World Tennis Tour provides a clear and integrated pathway
designed to attract and retain the best new talent. As part of our ITF2024 strategy, it is our mission to deliv-
er for the next generation of players, and the new Tour will help address the issues of progression between
the junior and senior game, and potentially enable more professional players to make a living.”

Thomas Konigsfeldt, Chair of the ITF Men’s and Women’s Circuit Committees, said: “It is vital that we
provide opportunities for players of any nation or background to start their journey towards the top 100.
The inclusion of the 15s tournaments as part of a new Tour will allow players to take the first steps towards
becoming a future champion within a more targeted and affordable circuit structure.”

16 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 www.ersa-stringers.com
ERSA ATW

ERSA China and ERSA Korea organized workshops in their countries in October.
ERSA China held a 3 day Workshop and 1 day of testing for 32 people in Shanghai just after the
ATP Shanghai Masters. Mark Maslowski was there to help with the workshops and testing which
was half badminton and half tennis.
Taekki Lee, ERSA Korea manager organized a 1 day tennis workshop for 10 shop owners in
Busan, Korea run be Mark Maslowski. Five MPS stringers took their Pro Tour Stringer Level 1
tests and 5 stringers took the MPS Level 1 test.
The workshop in Korea is planned for next year in October for 25 shop owners and an ERSA
Asian Symposium is planned for Shanghai just after the Masters tournament.
 www.ersa-stringers.com
ERSA ATW

Bernie Chen, our ERSA Taiwan manager organized another great workshop
with his MST team. Pin Lay, a top badminton and tennis stringer, came over from Melbourne to
help out with the workshop.
The workshop was for tennis and badminton stringers from beginner to advanced level with
presentations in a wide range of subjects.

Bernie has great relations with the stringing machine manufacturers in Taiwan and always has
around one machine to participant.

Members came mostly from Taiwan but also several international particpants from Hong Kong and
Australia.

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TIPS

Fluorescent P-Touch Labels

If you are looking for a brighter label than the normal
Brother labels you can look on eBay UK. They are
available in fluorescent green, yellow and orange. They
really stick out on the racket frame. The orange labels are
the best color. The other two are not so bright. The labels
stick well on the frames, quality is good and much less ex-
pensive than the brother labels. These are a little wrinkled
as they were put on and taken off the frames a few times
for people to see which were better looking.

Symposium 2019
The Symposium dates are set along with the rooms, meeting rooms and our program is getting
close to finished. I separate newsletter will be sent out in the next few days with a writable PDF
registration formula.
The program will be much larger than last year. The same number of presentations, workshops
and manufacturer product presentations will be offered in tennis.
In addition, we will be offering badminton and squash presentations, workshops and
manufacturers product presentations. The badminton and squash will be offered in a second
meeting room. If you are only interested in tennis, the program will be as large, if not larger than
last year.
A couple of members thought this was going to be mostly badminton and squash. This is not
correct and will be done in separate meeting rooms.

The dates will be April 5-9, 2018 in Cambridge, England. It is a very historical area and many extra
activities will be organized for the partners who do not attend the Symposium.

The venue is St. Catharine’s College. Founded in 1473, St Catharine’s is one of the oldest of the
University Colleges and is easily idenfiable by its unique open court and beauful red brick facade.
Affeconately known as Catz, the College is set in the heart of Cambridge and close to all the cites
amenites.

Standard single room (shared bathroom) £57.00+VAT pppn

Ensuite single room £78.00+VAT pppn

they have a choice of 110 single rooms with en suite facilies

and 135 single rooms with a basin and shared bathroom
facilities.
They also have a very limited number of doubles and twin en suite rooms.
Alternativelythey can also offer 4 and 5 bedroom flats located off the main site at St Chad’s on
Grange Road.

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TEST

SIGNUM PRO X-PERIENCE - STRING TEST

SIGNUM PRO is the new release from the German factory well known for high-tech and high-quality polyester
strings. The string is made with a blend of new co-polyester mixture studied and developed to mix the
combination of power, control, spin and durability.
Available in green color, round shaped section, smooth and sliding coating and three gauges 1.18-1.24-1.30 to
cover the widest range of players and technical needs.
We tested the 1.25mm 17 gauge string with our pro-t-one string-lab machine for the traction test and for the
hysteresis test and with pro-t-one string-killer to get semi-dynamic stiffness of the poly extrusion.

The traction test from 5 to 35kg shows a linear and constant behavior of the co-polyester extrusion, with
consistency and medium-high static stiffness (average value around=1.05kg/mm), good for racing players with
fast strokes and good technique.
The dynamic stiffness, with used string, measure of comfort and impact perception on the arm during the play
but also spin production, stands at high values with 250g/mm  235lb/inch, who tells about a string with a
strong attitude to competition.
21 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018
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TEST

From the hysteresis and semi-dynamic test done we get a top level control attitude combined with an excellent
spin production due to the stiffness, the external coating and the very high resilience peak.
The ball exit is very good, fast and lively but the pure power is not the main feature of this string.
The dynamic string life settles around 8-12 hours, good for a polyester string, but the dynamic stability is not
very strong and an appreciable tension decay and string response variation is appreciable in the first 3-4 hours
of play.
Recommended tensions are low, due to the static and dynamic stability, and a good advice is not to go over
18-21kg, considering the string works well with a very low tension range. If you want to apply pre-strech to get
more long-time stability and consistency, remember to go down with tension of 1-2kg from your reference
tension.
A RACING STRING FOR MEDIUM TO ADVANCED PLAYERS WHO WANT A HIGH PERFORMANCE
BLEND OF CONTROL, SPIN AND REACTIVITY; GOOD FOR BASELINERS, BIG HITTERS, COUNTER-
PUNCHER AND POWERFUL PLAYERS WHO'S LOOKING FOR A HIGH LEVEL STRING WITH
TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE.
Check also the string in hybrid combination with 1.30mm on mains and 1.25mm on crosses, (or 1.25mm on
1.20mm), to maximize spin and enhance power, or in standard hybrid combination with a high quality
multifilament to give the string plane a high performance combination of power and feel.

for more info please check the website www.stringingpedia.com

Ing. Gabriele Medri

pro-t-one tech lab

data and test provided by pro-t-one & www.stringingpedia.com

22 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

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TEST

LUXILON ELEMENT ROUGH - STRING TEST

LUXILON doesn't need presentation….

The famous Belgian Brand well known around the world for polyester strings become a reference point for
tennis players and ATP-WTA professionals, is renewing the string-line with new and interesting products.
One of these is the new LUXILON ELEMENT ROUGH, roughened version of the ELEMENT we all know and
appreciate for the soft but racing feeling and the unique bronze colour.
We tested the 1.30mm 16 gauge string with our pro-t-one string-lab machine for the traction test and for the
hysteresis test and with pro-t-one string-killer to get semi-dynamic stiffness of the poly extrusion.

The traction test from 5 to 35kg shows a progressive behavior becoming softer with the load increase,
probably due to the superficial finish that give the string a softer static response under traction. The static
stiffness in the normal tension range is 0.8kg/mm, quite soft for a poly string and tells about a comfortable
string but with a good attitude to competition.
From the load-unload test and semi-dynamic deflection test we get a medium tension stability attitude; some
tension decay and string adjustment is expected in the first two-three hours of play, but we can limit it using
longer traction time or a little pre-strech on stringing machine.

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TEST

The ball response is very fast and lively but the power is not so remarkable and the string behavior is
progressive and with a slingshot feel probably due to the "islands" poly-polyamide string structure.

The expected spin production is very high, due to the resilience peak,
to the dynamic stiffness, progressive plasticization and the Luxilon
unique superficial rough finish.
Recommended tensions are medium-low to better appreciate the string
and also considering the initial tension decay of the string, it would be
better not going above 22-23kg.

A RACING MEDIUM-SOFT POLY STRING FOR INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED PLAYERS WHO ARE
SEEKING FOR A COMFORTABLE POLY STRING WITH A STRONG SPIN AND CONTROL ORIENTED
FEEL. A GOOD OPTION FOR STRONG COMPETITIVE JUNIORS BUT ALSO FOR GOOD COMPETITIVE
PLAYERS, MEN AND WOMEN, WHO WANT A NICE BLEND OF PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT.
EXCELLENT SOLUTION FOR HYBRIDS COMBINATION WITH MULTIFILAMENTS AND NATURAL GUTS;
IN STANDARD SOLUTION FOR MORE POWER OR IN REVERSE SOLUTION FOR MORE CONTROL.

for more info please check the website www.stringingpedia.com

Ing. Gabriele Medri

pro-t-one tech lab

data and test provided by pro-t-one & www.stringingpedia.com

24 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018

 BLINK
AND
YOU
MISS
IT
HEAD PRO PLAYERS MAY PLAY WITH DIFFERENT RACQUETS FROM THE MODEL SHOWN.

THE NEW HEAD SPEED SERIES

A fast game needs a fast racquet. With its advanced Graphene 360 technology, the new HEAD Speed series offers incredible stability
and enhanced energy transfer from racquet to ball. If you play fast, congratulations - you just got faster.

ENDORSED BY NOVAK DJOKOVIC

.COM