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3 PM - 5 PM
3 PM - 9 PM
6 PM - 7 PM
7 PM - 9 PM
Exhibitor Area Open Salons III & IV
3:00 3:20 HEAD/Penn
3:20 3:40 Wilson
3:40 4:00 Prince*
4:00 4:20 Dunlop
4:20 4:40 Babolat*
4:40 5:00 Gamma*
* Includes Cardio Tennis
Demo Court Open
TIA Tennis Forum
Tennis Industry
Hall of Fame Induction of
Nick Bollettieri
Tennis Show Reception
Exhibitor Area Open
(cocktails, hors d'oeuvres,
prize drawings)
(see schedule at right)
The Tennis Show 2012Schedule of Events Demo Court Schedule
Salons III & IV
Salons III & IV
Salons I & II
Salons I & II
Exhibitor Map
1. TENNIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
2. 10 AND UNDER TENNIS
3. THE ACTIVE NETWORK
4. TENNIS ON CAMPUS
5. USTA TRAINING & FACILITIES
6. MINDBODY
7. DARTFISH
8. TENNIS CONCEPTS
9. VOTSA PRO
10. CLUB AUTOMATION
11. CARDIO TENNIS
12. TOTAL HEALTH INTERACTIVE
13. ZUZA
14. SPEEDFEED
15. EYEPROMISE
16. STRING TECH CORP./YTEX
17. LOVE TENNIS
18. BOLT
19. DECOTURF
20. PROFESSIONAL TENNIS REGISTRY
21. POWERANGLE RACKETS
22. INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
23. ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPORTS
24. UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION
25. SPORTS ESSENTIAL / PLAYMATE
26. PERFECT PICK UP / TENN TUBE
27. HUMAN PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE
28. HEAD PENN
29. FAST DRY COURTS 10STENNIS SUPPLY
30. DUNLOP SPORTS GROUP
31. CONNOR SPORT COURT
32. GAMMA SPORTS
33. SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS
34. TENNIS SOLUTIONS
35. PRINCE SPORTS GROUP
36. BABOLAT
37. TGA PREMIER YOUTH TENNIS
38. WILSON SPORTING GOODS
Salon l Salon ll
1 Corpus Christi, 117 Executive Center,
Hilton Head Is., SC 29928
Phone: 866-686-3036
Fax: 843-686-3078
Email: info@tennisindustry.org
Web: TennisIndustry.org
Support your industryget involved at TennisIndustry.org
EXHIBITOR LIST
23 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
I
f your business, club, parks & recreation association or com-
munity tennis group is not on Facebook (or Twitter), you are
missing a great opportunity to create a lasting impression on
your customers and grow your business and ultimately the game
of tennis.
The days of being scared about social media are over. You
should be scared if you are not on one, both or many of these
platforms. The reason is simple: People, your current and poten-
tial customers, are onlineand theyre online a lot.
According to Nielsens 3Q 2011 Social Media Report, over 80
percent of all Americans use a social network, and Americans
spend more time on Facebook than any other U.S. website.
That same Nielsen report gave two hard stats that are key to
the tennis industry: First, adults who are active on social net-
works are 19 percent more likely to attend a professional sport-
ing event when compared to an average adult internet user. Sec-
ond, those same adults on a social network are 18 percent more
likely to work out at a gym or health club. Both of those statistics
should shock you into logging onto Facebook right now.
The thing about social media is that it represents the greatest
opportunity to engagethats the key word, engageyour fans in
a way the world has never seen.
Build Your Presence
Most everyone has a website now. That is a fact. But hardly any-
one goes to your website. In the tennis industry, its news about
players, events and new products that people want and Facebook
and Twitter have the latest news. This is where the opportunity
SOCI AL MEDI A
HOW FACEBOOK
CAN GROW YOUR
BUSINESS
HOW FACEBOOK
CAN GROW YOUR
BUSINESS
Your current and potential customers are online a
lot. If youre not there too, youre missing a great
opportunity. BY RI CHARD DE DOR
24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
sits ready and waiting for you. But to get started you need to be
there. If youre just starting, claim your Facebook page and start
suggesting it to your greatest fans. You can run a few early contests
to get your fans. And as your fan base begins to grow, that is the
moment social media becomes beneficial to your business.
The ATPs Facebook fan page recently went over 1 million fans
and it is pretty clear why: tennis fans are passionate. The ATP
Facebook page has a hybrid style of content distribution: hard
news and soft news, always with a focus on engagement.
Just like with Community Tennis Associations or court contrac-
tors, its not like the ATP can sell tickets or memberships. But
sports fans and especially tennis fans are extremely loyal. And it is
that loyalty that drives the ATPs engagement. We want to reach
fans wherever they are, and that is increasingly on Facebook,
says Paul Macpherson, managing editor, ATPWorldTour.com &
ATP digital marketing.
The ATP builds that presence with engaging and highly
sharable content. Tennis fans love the inside scoop on their
favorite players and tournaments. The immediacy of Facebook is
also an attractive proposition, Macpherson says.
And it is not just the major players in the industry who have
jumped in with both feet. Some clubs across the country even post
quick updates that they have open courts, because they know their
members are likely on Facebook either at home or on their mobile
devices. Those clubs have figured out what their members want
and need, and so Facebook becomes a simple revenue driver in
that situation.
Interacting With Members
What do you know about your members, your fans and your
potential customers? The latest statistics on Facebooks member-
ship is staggering: The average age of a Facebook user is 38, there
are 425 million active mobile users, 250 million photos are
uploaded per day and there are 2.7 billion total likes and com-
ments per day. And chances are, those numbers will continue to
grow. How can you be a part of it?
Will Sikes, the marketing director of the Western & Southern
Open, says of the tournaments Facebook presence, We like to
post information on tennis that people may not be seeing that we
find humorous, interesting, off the cuff, and from there we created
a voice on the page.
Sikes last point is important to note: Be who you are. You want
your social presence to feel just like they are at your courts, in your
store and at your event. The overall goal, aside from making a sale,
must be to simply engage with your fans.
In marketing and merchandising, it is all about maximizing
touch points and the experiences therein. They (our fans) trust us
to give them fun, interesting and engaging content, Sikes says.
That is why building a great page and interacting with your fans,
especially those that begin the conversation with you, is vital.
But being on Facebook requires a commitment. Sikes went on
to say that it isnt something you can let your 13-year-old manage
for you. There has to be a strategy behind it. Once you have the
strategy, you have to execute it, religiously.
And that is where the eight-court Shavano Park Tennis Club in
San Antonio, Texas, has the right plan in place. Facebook was
used for brand awareness in the very beginning. But now it is
about getting them engaged in the culture of the club, Soeurette
Shook-Kelly says of the social media efforts of the club.
No matter the size of your business, you can start today. You
just need to log onto Facebook once in the morning, mid-day, and
then at night. If youre going to post something, be sure you have
a few minutes to stay and interact with anyone who comments
back. You can also set up Facebook so you get email notifications
when someone comments on your page.
For many small businesses, hiring someone full-time to man-
age social media is not an option, but thats okay. It should really
only take you a half-hour each day to get this initiative going. From
there, you suggest your page to your friends and promote it
through your newsletter, posters and event sign-ups.
Growing Your Business
Of course social media is just one way to grow your business, and
nothing beats the personal face-to-face connection of a club, the
atmosphere of a professional event and the smile on a childs face
when they hold a racquet for the first time.
And that is the backbone to how using Facebook can grow your
business. It is an engagement platform that can be an extension of
the real-life experience someone would get from you in person.
For the ATP it is about an insiders look into the world of pro-
fessional tennis. For any tournament, it is about providing an
inside look that a casual fan cant get anywhere else. For a club,
tennis association, gym, court manufacturer and anyone else
involved in tennis, it is about providing great information,
resources and a link to the experiences you offer.
In some instances, Facebook acts as the virtual suggestion jar.
On E-Marketing Constant Contacts blog, Martin Lieberman wrote
recently, When youre deciding how to reply to a comment on
Facebook, remember: The most important thing to do is show
youre listening.
Even better, when you listen, show you care. Imagine how a
potential customer or fan would feel if they came to your Facebook
page, asked a question, and when they came to you in real-life,
you remembered them because of the online interaction!
Facebook is used to announce events at the facility, Shook-
Kelly says of the Shavano Park Tennis Club. And the goal is
always to engage potential members, but we dont scream that
very much.
The same goes for ticket sales for events. The Western & South-
ern Open planned on trying different tactics for social selling for
this years event. It has to be a value-add without becoming adver-
tising.
So, is Facebook or other social media platforms right for you?
Sikes has a simple answer: Facebook is a great customer-ser-
vice mechanism, for better or for worse. You have to be prepared
to answer every single question.
At the end of the match, the tournament, or when they need a
recommendation, your fans go to Facebook and the people they
know. Be one of the people they know and your business will
thrive. w
Richard Dedor, a former Tennis Service Representative for the USTA
Missouri Valley Section, is a social media consultant, speaker and
personal coach. His work has appeared in Sports n Spokes Magazine,
The Community Manager and SocialFresh. You can find him online at
RichardDedor.com and on Twitter @RichardDedor. He has written
one book, Anything is Possible.
Q & A
ReSponSe
TIme
ReSponSe
TIme
The USTAs top brass answer our questions on topics
that impact many segments of the tennis industry.
A
s the US Open gets under way, we thought it would be
a good time to put some important questions to top
USTA leaders about a range of topics, including 10 and
Under Tennis, the junior tournament structure, tennis participa-
tion, USTA relationships, coaching, teaching pros, college tennis,
Player Development, industry relations, the NTC, perceptions of
the USTA, and plans for the future.
Taking the time to answer our questions were Kurt Kamper-
man, the USTAs chief executive of Community Tennis; Patrick
McEnroe, general manager of USTA Player Development; and
Gordon Smith, executive director and chief operating officer.
Q: What are key challenges the USTA and the
industry face with 10 and Under Tennis? Are
teaching pros and facilities adopting the pro-
gram?
Kamperman: As far as adoption, currently we have over
6,000 facilities that have registered on our 10 and Under Tennis
website. Red, orange and green ball sales are booming, so clear-
ly its taking off.
The key challenge, and opportunity, is getting clubs to go all
in and really offer a full complement of 10 and under program-
ming. Unfortunately, the great majority of facilities are just doing
this in a partial way, which is not whats best for the kids or their
business. The facilities that have been really focused on offering
a complete 10 and Under Tennis pathway have seen significant
growth both in participation and the revenue theyve been able
to generate.
Q: How are the USTA Sections adapting to 10 and
Under Tennis, including the different balls/equip-
ment/courts and the rule changes?
Kamperman: All of the USTA Sections have made 10 and
Under Tennis a priority. However, consistency with the specs for
USTA tournaments at the section level is a challenge. Obviously,
wed love to have a more standardized, consistent approach,
and we are recommending that, for most sections, 10% of their
10 and under events should use the green ball for the very top
kids in the section. The rest of the tournaments should be orange
or red, depending on the age.
Q: There has been a lot of talk about better kids
being allowed to play with the yellow ball. Is this
a real issue with 10U? How many kids are we
talking about, and can they simply play up?
Kamperman: When we started this initiative, we had only
10,000 unique kids playing in USTA 10-and-under tournaments.
Think about that number for a moment and recognize that most
major cities have more 10-and-under soccer players than we had
tennis players in the entire country. Our numbers were that low
despite having 10-and-under tournaments available for decades
and despite having many kid-focused instructional programs like
Pee Wee Tennis, Munchkin Tennis, Little Tennis, etc. over the
past 20 years.
With several million kids 10-and-under playing the game in
schools, parks, lessons, clinic programs, etc., we had far less
than even 1% of those kids playing in USTA tournaments. Of
26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
The USTAs top brass answer our questions on topics
that impact many segments of the tennis industry.
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
that very small percentage playing tournaments, less than 1% of
those kids for their long-term development have any business at all
playing with a yellow ball on a full-size court. So is this a real issue?
Perhaps, but only for a very, very small number of kids, parents and
coaches who believe they might be the next world champion and
need to start training like Federer at age 9. And yes, those players
can play up and they always have.
Q: Do you feel the USTA is force feeding rules to
players and parents?
Kamperman: First, keep in mind my answer to the last ques-
tion. Second, the rule change was one that the ITF has required
worldwide. I would add that had the USTA not made this rule
change, we would have been neglecting our duties
as the national governing body for the U.S. The fact
that every other sport has kid-sized their competi-
tions and every member country in the ITF has sup-
ported this rule change might also be worth noting.
When you look at the population of the U.S., its
an incredibly small base of players and parents who
even knew what the rules used to be. That said, kids,
parents and coaches can train and play any way
they want and with any ball. However, when it
comes to USTA-sanctioned events, yes, they have to
play by the rules of tennis, which are set by the ITF
and in this country, the USTA.
The same thing is true for every age division and
is also true for every other sport. The sanctioning
body sets the rules. Before the rule change, the only
ball that was allowed for USTA-sanctioned events
was the yellow ballonly one choice. Now there are
three choices, and we feel they are much better
choices for the masses.
Q: What kind of increases do you expect
to see in youth tennis participation, and
when do you expect to see them?
Kamperman: : When we started this initiative,
we felt that increasing the number of kids in our
competitive system from 10,000 to 100,000 in five
years was an aggressive goal. We may reach that
goal this year.
Ball sales are a great metric for play because they
can be measured accurately. Five or six years ago,
the industry was selling less than 100,000 low-com-
pression balls. Last year, according to TIA census
reports, over 3.2 million red, orange and green balls
were sold to retailers, and we expect that to grow
significantly again this year. So whats exciting is
that with ball sales growing that dramatically, there
is obviously lots more 10-and-under play, even out-
side of our USTA competitions.
Q: There is concern that the USTA is too single-
focused on 10U, to the exclusion of other pro-
grams/audiences. What are your thoughts?
Kamperman: : 10 and Under Tennis is a top priority for the
USTA as a whole, and for Community Tennis and Player Develop-
ment in particular. Whats exciting about this initiative is we have a
huge cross-functional team from all parts of the organization work-
ing collaboratively to make sure this is successful. That said, our
other key USTA programs for both youth and adults are receiving
about as much support as they have in the past and remain critical
for our long-term success. 10 and Under Tennis has the ability to
feed into all these other programs and to be a tipping point for
helping us fulfill our mission to promote and develop the growth of
tennis.
Q: I understand the USTA is revamping the junior
tournament structure, which would result in fewer
events and smaller draws, but events that are clos-
er to home. How is this being received?
mcenroe: We are making changes to the National
Junior Tournament Schedule (NJTS), which will take
effect in 2014. While some events have been elimi-
nated, new tournaments have been created. The new
NJTS will promote earned advancement as players
will have to be successful within their Sections in
order to advance to Regional and National competi-
tion.
There has been some criticism of the new NJTS,
which has largely focused on the reduced draw sizes
of two National Championships. Its worth noting that
there have been proposals since 2004 to restore the
traditional 128 draw to our National Championships,
and that will now take effect in the summer of 2013.
The 128 draw should make the events much more
challenging and should also make it more affordable
for families.
Were trying to help folks plan for the changes and
our experience over many years is that players, par-
ents and coaches will quickly adapt to the new sched-
ule. The most recent evidence of this is the change to
the national ranking point tables that took effect in
2012. While there were some questions about the
changes to the tables, players have adapted well to
the improvements in the tables. There will be a two-
year phase-in of the changes and families have plenty
of time to prepare.
Q: explain the importance of doubles in
the junior ranks.
mcenroe: We do think doubles is important for
young players and we are expanding doubles oppor-
tunities as a part of the changes coming in 2014. It is
worth noting that doubles is already offered at every
tournament on the National Junior Tournament
Schedule, so the promotion of doubles is nothing
new.
Its no secret that there are plenty of skills one
learns while playing doubles that can help ones sin-
gles play. In addition to the importance of doubles in
college varsity tennis, the USA has a long and strong tradition of dou-
bles play and we want to make sure that continues. Starting in 2013,
there will be a new, true National Championship for doubles and the
winning team will earn the traditional Gold Ball. Mixed doubles is
already played at our USTA Zone Team Championships (BG12,
BG14, BG16 Section team events played in July) and is very popular.
Kurt Kamperman
Patrick McEnroe
Gordon Smith
Q: explain the TGA relationship. How does this
impact local tennis providers and teaching pros?
Kamperman: TGA is a franchisor of tennis enrichment programs
delivered at schools. USTA is not a business partner with TGA, we
simply support TGA with our normal training, court, and equipment
grants if they qualify. As for teaching pros, it appears to be a great
opportunity for pros or tennis entrepreneurs to own their own busi-
nesses and earn extra money. TGA has used this model very success-
fully in introducing more kids to the game of golf, and we hope TGA
can do the same for tennis.
Q: Some critics say the USTA should not be involved
in coaching. What are your thoughts?
Kamperman: If youre referring to coaching education, the USTA
has been involved in helping coaches for many years, particularly in
the area of high performance and now 10 and Under Tennis. We will
continue to do so, working collaboratively with the USPTA and the
PTR.
If youre referring to our Player Development Department, coach-
ing players directly, thats really not for me to answer. However, I
would say this. When youre watching the French Open and a TV
announcer is talking about the lack of Americans playing in the sec-
ond week, its the USTA taking all the heat. Ive never heard individ-
ual coaches or the teaching pro organizations being blamed for our
lack of success. Its the USTA as the governing body taking the fire,
so we have a responsibility to help develop more top players, work-
ing with some players directly as well as working with the many tal-
ented coaches that develop top American players.
.
Q: Does the USTA feel there should be one unified
teaching pro organization?
Kamperman: The USTA doesnt have an official position on this.
Well leave that up to the leaders of both the PTR and the USPTA.
Q: Is the USTA going to get into the tennis teacher
certification business?
Kamperman: In many other countries, the NGBs do certify ten-
nis professionals. The USTA clearly has the resources to do this if it
wanted to, and if it wanted to, it would. However, our preference has
always been to work collaboratively with both the USPTA and the
PTR to raise the standards of teaching tennis.
Q: What is the USTAs position on college scholar-
ships for foreign players? Is this something the
USTA can/should be involved in?
mcenroe: Its not an issue where the USTA has jurisdiction. The
National Collegiate Athletic Association sets the rules for college ath-
letics. The sport is definitely global, and college tennis is a reflection
of that. We have a challenge and a responsibility to help develop
young players who will be able to compete at that level. If you were
to take a look at recent results and ranking for NCAA Division I ten-
nis, you will see that American players are doing quite well.
Q: We hear about college tennis programs being
dropped. How can the USTA help prevent this from
happening?
mcenroe: Obviously, we are not in favor of any program being
dropped, and we know these decisions are not made lightly by uni-
versities and colleges. What we can do and have been doing is trying
to help provide college coaches with tools that will help them embed
their programs in their local communities, such as Campus Quick-
Start, Campus Kids Days and Campus Showdowns. Hopefully, it will
make these decisions tougher if a president can see what the tennis
program means to the campus and to the community as a whole.
Engaged tennis alumni are also important advocates in this process.
Q: In your opinion, is USTA player Development as
effective as it could be?
mcenroe: Since the USTA made the decision five years ago to
become more directly involved in working with players by establish-
ing a full-time residence training program in Boca Raton, Fla., the
results of our younger players have been quite good, including win-
ning Junior Grand Slam Championships. With this being said, we
understand that this is a long-term project. In Player Development,
our goal is to help all American players reach their highest level,
whatever that might be and whether or not that assistance is direct
or supplemental. We are always looking for ways to improve all
facets of everything that we do. Overall, we have made some good
strides in the last five years. If you were to take a look at the results
of the players that weve supported and been working with or have
worked with on a full-time basis, they have been pretty good.
Q: Do you feel player Development is worth the
money that the USTA puts into it, or could that
money be better spent in other areas?
mcenroe: We take our responsibility very seriously. With the suc-
cess of the US Open, we have been very fortunate to receive some
great resources that enable us to carry out our daily mission of trying
to develop world-class American champions. We are always looking
at how our resources are allocated and most effective ways to use
these resources. Most countries and even most National Governing
Bodies in this country spend a significant portion of their dollars
towards player development.
28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Q: What is the accountability and measures of suc-
cess that are being used with player Development?
How is the USTA measuring its effectiveness and
impact?
mcenroe: One of our most important metrics or goals is the
number of players we have in the Top 100 of the ATP and WTA
rankings. The more players that we can help get into the Top 100,
the more players there will be in the Top 50, Top 10, contending for
major titles, etc. We also take a look at the success of younger play-
ers that we have coming up through the system.
The quality of our national coaching staff is an important measure
and consideration, as is trying to help elevate the overall level of coach-
ing in the U.S. through our High Performance Coaching Education pro-
gram. Another major effort we have undertaken in the last four years
is the establishment of USTA Certified Regional Training Centers
(RTCs). We have allocated significant resources in this area and are
partnering with existing, high-quality programs around the country to
help deliver regionally-based camps, coaching education, parent edu-
cation as well as helping to enhance the RTCs in-house programs.
Q: It seems that smaller, local tennis pro shops are
having a tough time. What is the USTA doing to
help keep local retailers in business?
Kamperman: We want all tennis businesses, large and small,
to succeed. The best thing the USTA can do to help in this area is
to grow the number of frequent players, particularly youth. We
have the opportunity to create hundreds of thousands of lifetime
players with 10 and Under Tennis. These players can help drive
the entire industry, and in particular retail, for decades to come.
Q: What is the USTAs relationship with Tennis Ware-
house?
Kamperman: Tennis Warehouse is one of several online retail-
ers listed on our 10 and Under Tennis site. Tennis Warehouse han-
dled our Jr. Team Tennis jersey fulfillment, but no longer does.
Lastly, we recently did an RFP for a company to handle our inter-
nal fulfillment orders for schools, etc., and Tennis Warehouse was
awarded that business. USTA National has no relationship with
Tennis Warehouse that offers us financial gain in any way from its
sales or orders, nor have we ever had such a relationship.
Q: Cardio Tennis has over 1.3 million participants in
just 7 years, and other countries have latched onto
the program as a way to grow participation and
get people healthy. What are your thoughts on
Cardio Tennis, and will the USTA use it more in the
future to help grow the sport?
Kamperman: The USTA has invested several million dollars in
Cardio Tennis. We funded the development and launch of Cardio
Tennis and have continued to fund efforts to educate and train the
provider network here in the U.S. For the last several years weve
provided financial support to the TIA to continue funding Cardio
Tennis. This is another program that the USTA has funded because
we believe it will help grow participation and help teaching pros.
Despite the fact that weve been the biggest funder of Cardio Ten-
nis, weve never had a USTA logo associated with it, made a penny
from it, nor tried to grow USTA membership through Cardio Ten-
nis. We feel that the TIA is overseeing it quite well and dont feel
we need to take a more active role.
Q: Where does the USTA see the playtennis.com
website in 5 years?
Kamperman: With all the changes in technology, and the run-
away growth of social media, its hard to predict what any technol-
ogy will look like in five years. That said, the primary goal of
playtennis.com is to help create more frequent players by connect-
ing players of all abilities with local play and instructional pro-
grams. We have 14 million regular players in this country who play
between 10 to 20 times a year. If we can get 20% of those players
to become frequent players, it will be a huge boom for the entire
tennis industry. We believe that playtennis.com can help accom-
plish that goal.
Q: Do you feel there are areas the TIA should
address to better help the industry grow?
Kamperman: I think the TIAs focus should remain where its
always been, which is to be a unifying force that brings individual
brands together to work collaboratively on our shared brand, TEN-
NIS. In addition, the TIA provides important and reliable industry
data and research. What has separated the tennis industry from
other sports is we have competitors working collaboratively under
the TIA umbrella to grow tennis. Thats been a huge reason why
tennis is the fastest growing traditional sport in the U.S. over the
past 10 years.
Q: A $500 million long-term strategic vision for
the national Tennis Center, yet it doesnt include a
roof. What was the rationale behind that?
Smith: Nothing would make the USTA happier than being able
to announce that we will be installing a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadi-
um. Unfortunately, the best structural engineers and architects in
the world have not yet been able to design a roof that works for
Arthur Ashe Stadium given the unique issues the stadium presents:
w Problematic underlying soil conditions.
w Design doesnt allow for the additional weight; need to construct
a building over a building.
w Span and size of stadium.
w Air handling and temperature issues.
We remain steadfast in our determination to find a solution and
will not stop until that solution is found. When a design that works
is found, we will construct a roof.
While a roof will benefit the 20,000 fans in Arthur Ashe Stadi-
um, the USTA is equally focused on improving the experience for
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
the more than 700,000 fans who attend the Open each year. The
US Open is not a one-stadium event. We need to upgrade the
entire USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in order to
continue to provide a level of excellence in entertainment and fan
experience. That is why we have announced a strategic vision
that plans for significant upgrades for the entire site, including the
replacement and rebuilding of Louis Armstrong Stadium and The
Grandstand.
Q: What are some immediate changes well see at
the nTC for this years open?
Smith: Visitors will see an emphasis on the upgrades to the fan
experience at the 2012 US Open. Court 17 is now complete. It
will be surrounded with amenities in and out of the stadium to
ensure this court becomes a very special place at the US Open.
We have torn down and rebuilt the Heineken Red Star Caf. The
new building will be two-levels with a retail component on the
ground floor and an expanded bar/restaurant on the second floor.
Moet & Chandon will build a new Moet Terrace adjacent to the
US Open Club outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium, which should be a
spectacular new offering. American Express is moving, and great-
ly expanding, the US Open American Express Fan Experience.
This experience will be located in the former Smashzone area,
and will include a full-sized tennis court, hitting bays, and innov-
ative digital experiences. In short, there will be more for fans to
do in-between matches and on the grounds than ever before.
Q: What do you think of the USTAs system of
governance, with 17 separate sections that essen-
tially function as independent businesses? Is
everyone rowing in the same direction?
Smith: As with any large organization, the USTAs structure
provides many positives and some challenges. The positives are
numerous and outweigh the challenges. With a national office
and 17 geographic sections, we can be national in scope and local
in impact. This may indeed be one of our strongest assets. Also,
with a professional staff combined with a vast and talented vol-
unteer network, we can tap into the most passionate tennis advo-
cates across the country and impart professional expertise to
move the best ideas forward.
Of course, whenever you have an organization of our size,
internal communication is critical and can be challenging. We are
putting so many great programs into the field around the country,
and it is imperative that the entire organization understands the
breadth and impact of these programs, and the rationale behind
these programs implementation.
Q: How do you think the USTA is perceived in the
industry and among consumers and players?
Kamperman: From an industry standpoint, the USTA is often
in a no-win situation. Were expected to fix/solve any and all
problems with tennis, i.e. build a roof, stop foreign players from
playing collegiate tennis, save the pro specialty store, create
American champions, etc., etc. At the same time, whenever we
take a strong stance and put resources behind initiatives that we
feel are important, we are accused of being big brother, i.e. the
USTA shouldnt be involved in coaching, the USTA shouldnt set
the rules for tennis, etc. Our guiding principle at the USTA is to
always try to do whats best for TENNIS and if sometimes that
draws some criticism, so be it.
Q: What is the strategy for growing USTA mem-
bership?
Kamperman: The No. 1 strategy is to create more frequent
players. If we can create more frequent players, well get our fair
share of members. We also need to continue to improve our value
proposition for providers, organizers and players of all abilities.
USTA membership is a more than $20 million business. It is
not a money-maker for national. It is a significant revenue source,
however, for our 17 sections. We are not looking to do away with
membership dues, but like any membership business, we are
constantly looking at new models that may help us provide a bet-
ter value proposition to players and organizers. Our governance
is based in large part on membership, so I cant see us not
remaining a member-based organization.
Q: What are some of the plans for the next year?
What future directions may the USTA take?
Kamperman: For next year, 10 and Under Tennis is going to
remain a top priority. Well also be focusing on improving our
performance and results for our existing programs. We are work-
ing with the USTA Sections on a prioritization exercise so that we
can focus our human and financial resources on the areas that
will provide the biggest return on that investment. That ROI is not
money, but rather missionmore frequent players, more Amer-
ican champions, more programs that help kids on and off the
court, etc.
In terms of the future, were exploring a big idea for using
technology to better serve the millions of frequent players who
arent currently engaged with the USTA. While weve had several
excellent ideas and strategies this term, in January, well have a
new president and new leaders at the national and sectional lev-
els. This leadership change every two years always creates fertile
ground for new ideas and strategies to promote and develop the
growth of tennis. w
r Oll
ate.
-
BLACKRACQUET
LABS
32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
y
ou see your tennis facility every day. But do you really see
it? The image you think your tennis facility is projecting
that of a spiffy, well-cared-for set of courts, may fall short
of that. Over time, a facility can lose its luster, not because of one
big thing, but because of many small things that wear out, wear
down and fade. You might not notice, but players, particularly
those new to your facility, will.
Want to stay on top of those little downturns? Start by borrow-
ing a new set of eyes. Invite a colleague from a different facility
to come and walk your courts, and take note of the places where
improvement is needed. Do the same for that person in return.
Three rules: First, neither one of you is allowed to get testy
with the other over any observations made; in fact, it's probably
better if each person examines the other's facility alone. Second,
neither one of you is allowed to dismiss any of the other's recom-
mendations. If they noticed it, so have plenty of others. Third,
meet at your local watering hole or coffee shop to unwind and
trade these observations. There's something about being off the
premises that makes it easier to talk.
What kinds of things will come under scrutiny? Sometimes,
things you never thought of (or perhaps you noticed them, but
thought they weren't important). And each change you make to
correct those problems, minor as you may have thought they
were initially, will bring your courts back to life and really make
them pop.
w On the surface: Hard courts, whether inside or outside, will
get stains that mar the overall look of the court. Some stains are
faint (a Coke or other soft drink was spilled on the surface and
needs to be hosed off) and some are more noticeable (rust
stains around a net post, fence gate or light post). The person
who installed your courts can give you recommendations on
the best way to clean various types of stains
Other noticeable surface issues include blemishes such as
cracks, high or low spots, dings, etc. As with stains, repair meth-
ods can vary according to the problem; a tennis court contrac-
tor will be able to give specific advice.
w nets: An old net can make an entire facility look tired. Nets
with noticeable holes or rips, or nets that are faded and disin-
tegrating because of excess weathering, need to be replaced.
Period.
If all that is wrong with the net is one or two stains on the
white headband, these can be treated with a bleach/water solu-
tion, but only after the net has been removed from the court,
since bleach will cause spotting if it drips onto an acrylic sur-
face. New headbands can also be obtained, and laced over the
existing headband.
w Posts: According to Richard Zaino of Zaino Tennis Courts in
Orange, Calif., net posts are an often-overlooked aspect of the
court. "Nobody removes the net posts from the sleeves to clean
either the sleeve or net post in the sleeve," he says. "If possible,
the owner should remove the net post once a year to clean the
inside sleeve and paint the outside of the post with a rust
inhibitor. Then he should paint all of the net post for a fresh-
looking post. This will help to save the existing net post and get
the most from the original installation."
Another way of seeing how your net posts are working is by
checking the tension on nets. Once the tension is correct, check
to make sure the net is 36" at the center strap, and 42" at the
post. If the winding mechanism in the post has seen better days
or if the post won't hold nets to the proper setting, it's time for
a replacement or a new tensioning device. Nothing looks worse
than a net that is sagging drastically and allowing the fabric to
puddle onto the court. A court contractor can advise you.
w Windscreens: If your outdoor court uses windscreens, it
should look neat, clean and even. Inspect your entire wind-
screens to make sure there are no rips or tears in the fabric,
and no damage where it attaches to the fence. Pay extra atten-
tion to the hem and grommet areas. When the windscreen is
attached to the fence, it is imperative to make sure every grom-
met is being used with the attachment device it came with (i.e.
tie-raps, lacing cord, etc.). Ripped hems, loose grommets and
windscreen that has come loose from the fence is not only
unattractive, but can cause even further damage to the wind-
COURT CONSTRUCTI ON & MAI NTENANCE GUI DE
Image Is
everythIng
Image Is
everythIng
You may not notice things wearing out and wearing
down, but your players will. Heres how you can
keep your facility looking, and playing, its best.
BY MARY HE L E N S PRE CHE R
You may not notice things wearing out and wearing
down, but your players will. Heres how you can
keep your facility looking, and playing, its best.
BY MARY HE L E N S PRE CHE R
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
screen since loose fabric will start to flap
against the fence.
w Fence: As long as you're out looking at
the windscreen, Lee Murray of Competi-
tion Athletic Surfaces in Chattanooga,
Tenn., suggests taking some time to
examine the fence as well.
"The fencing is often overlooked," he
says. "Make sure the fence fabric is
properly tied to the posts and bottom
wire/rail. Nothing looks worse, not to
mention more hazardous, than having
the fence wire bowing out at the bottom.
Check your gates, too, since gates can
slip with time. Make certain they swing
freely and dont drag on the court sur-
face." A bonus, he notes, is the fact that
"these items can be easily fixed by the
owner."
w Lighting: If courts are lit, check to
make sure no lamps are burned out, and
that all are functioning. According to
Bruce Frasure of LSI Industries in Cincin-
nati, "Replacing the lamps in the court
lighting fixtures may improve the light
levels by as much as 30 to 40 percent."
(You can always go through the facility
with a light meter if you want to check
for light uniformity; again, you might not
think players notice, but they do).
w Court Furnishings: If there are
tables, chairs, benches, umbrellas,
awnings, etc., check to make sure
they're clean, usable and in good work-
ing order. Maintenance as simple as a
regular wipe-down can make a big dif-
ference.
w What else? Take a look around the
court. This time, direct your attention
above the surface and below the lights.
If this is an indoor court, and there are
any windows, are they clean? Are the
windowsills cluttered or clear of debris?
Indoors or out, if there are banners,
signs or other notices hung in various
places, they should be hanging straight
and be immediately readable. A droop-
ing league banner or a rule sign that is
propped against the fence at foot level
looks trashy. And speaking of trashy...
"For heaven's sakes," says Lee Murray,
"if you put out garbage containers, then
make a commitment to empty them reg-
ularly." This also applies to recycle bins
that hold empty water bottles, tennis ball
canisters and so on.
Small changes can make a big differ-
ence in the image your facility projects.
And as we all know, image is everything.w
Photo courtesy of General Acrylics, Inc. Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy of Mid-America Courtworks, Wichita, KS
Photo courtesy of Fast-Dry Courts, Pompano Beach, FL
Photo courtesy of Atlas Track & Tennis, Tualatin, OR
Photo courtesy of McConnell & Associates Corp., North Kansas City, MO
34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
COURT CONSTRUCTI ON & MAI NTENANCE GUI DE
test yOUr
COUrt
KnOWLedge
test yOUr
COUrt
KnOWLedge
Take out your pencils. Put away your construction
books. Heres a pop quiz to see how much you know
about tennis courts:
1. true or False: net tension should be checked regularly.
2. true or False: Power-washing can remove stains from courts.
3. true or False: Backboards and hitting walls should be placed
on the north side of the court.
4. true or False: Cracks can be temporarily addressed with a hot-
pour rubberized crack filler so that play can continue until the
builder can look at it.
5. true or False: an oil-based stain-blocking paint can help hide
marks on the court.
6. true or False: Basketball can hurt a tennis court.
7. true or False: Lines for 10 and Under play on 78-foot courts
should be white.
8. true or False: all lines for 10 and Under play are 1-1/2" wide.
9. true or False: 10 and Under lines should stop 1" short of
regular playing lines.
Take out your pencils. Put away your construction
books. Heres a pop quiz to see how much you know
about tennis courts:
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 35
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
1. net tension should be checked regularly.
False. Net tension, set correctly, should not require con-
stant correction. "Lots of court owners are confused about
net tension," says Lee Murray of Competition Athletic Sur-
faces in Chattanooga, Tenn. "We suggest they set the net
to the proper height and tension they prefer, then remove
the handle. There's no need for adjusting and certainly no
need to allow every player to tinker with the tension."
Various net tensioning devices are available on the mar-
ket.
2. Power-washing can remove stains from
courts.
True, but power-washing shouldn't be attempted without
professional supervision. "If hosing and gentle scrubbing
won't remove a stain," says Murray, "they can try a pres-
sure washer, but they need to use common sense and to
be careful about doing damage to the surface, either cush-
ioned or hard. In the end, very few owners tackle this
effort themselves.
3. Backboards and hitting walls should be
placed on the north side of the court.
True. It's not a rule, but a recommendation, at least for
those who live in the north. "Most of the time I find that
owners who install bang boards or windscreens do not
take into consideration the shading their work will pro-
duce on the courts," says Fred Kolkmann of Fred Kolk-
mann Tennis & Sport Surfaces, LLC in Grafton, Wis. "In
our part of the country, and I'm sure the rest of the north-
ern tier, when someone installs a bang board, plants
trees, or leaves windscreens up too long (or worse-case
scenario leaves them up all winter) on the south fence
lines, the result is always peeling paint in that shade
area."
In addition, he notes, the shade keeps snow from melt-
ing, and doesn't allow surface water to evaporate as well
as it should. "When I meet with clients or give seminars,
I always mention that permanent structures should
always be placed on the north side of the courts and wind-
screens on the south fence lines should be the last up and
first down as soon as the season is over."
4. Cracks can be temporarily addressed
with a hot-pour rubberized crack filler so
that play can continue until the builder can
look at it.
False. As much as you want to hide cracks so that play
can continue, leave it open until the builder can see it and
make a diagnosis as to the cause. "A hot-pour crack-filling
product will also become tacky with heat and will not
accept acrylic coatings," says Pete Smith of the Court-
SMITHS in Toledo, Ohio.
5. an oil-based stain-blocking paint can help
hide marks on the court.
False: "Never apply oil-based products to surfaces need-
ing water-based acrylic coatings," notes Smith.
6. Basketball can hurt a tennis court.
True. The basketball itself might not hurt the court, but
players often don't wear court-friendly shoes, and those
can mark the surface. Ditto for inline skating and other
sport uses. In particular, remember that players of other
sports can sustain injuries by running into net posts, fenc-
ing and so on, and that playing area sizes will vary from
court to court. Why open athletes (not to mention yourself
as a court manager) up to that kind of risk?
7. Lines for 10 and Under tennis play on 78-
foot courts should be white.
False: On 78-foot courts with blended lines for 10U play,
the 10U lines should be distinctly different from the 78-
foot white playing lines, and should never be white. USTA
recommends they be in the same color family as the court
surface itself. In other words, if the court surface is dark
green, 10U lines should be a bright or light green.
8. all lines for 10 and Under play are 1-1/2"
wide.
True. All 10U lines are 1-1/2" wide. For 78-foot courts
marked for regular adult play, centerlines and center ser-
vice marks are 2" wide. All other lines are between 1" and
2" wide, except for the baseline, which may be up to 4"
wide.
9. 10 and Under lines should stop 1" short of
regular playing lines.
False: 10U lines must stop 3" before the white lines. (They
may not run up to, over or into the white lines, either). w
answers:
worldwide
DAY oF PLAY
EQUI PMENT
T
he US Open fortnight is a time of reflection and hope
for tennis manufacturers and retailers. Much of the
reflection focuses on dollars and how to get more of
them in the coming year. The hope is driven by how tech-
nology keeps improving the experience.
While the industrys roller-coaster ride continues, there
are signs that (perhaps) there may be a little bit more avail-
able for everyones cash register. The Sporting Goods Man-
ufacturers Association recently announced annual wholesale
spending across the entire sports marketplace increased just
over 4 percent in 2011 to $77.31 billion.
On the other hand, figures collected by Sports Marketing
Surveys for the Tennis Industry Association estimate an
audience of about 27 milliondown from 2009s approxi-
mately 30 millionplayed tennis at least once in 2011;
about 4.8 million hit frequently, slightly on the underside of
the 5 million the game has averaged the last few years.
Hopes are high for the 10 and Under Tennis initiative, but
those newcomers have not yet begun working their way
through the system in measurable numbers.
For the entire industry, racquet sales dropped 8.7 per-
cent from 2007 through 2011 to $97 million, although ten-
nis shoe sales are up to $162 million, a 3.4 percent increase
in the same period. Measuring just the high end, specialty
racquet sales are down about 100,000 units from 2007.
While sales continue to reflect the economic challenges
of the past few years, one constant is the disconnect
between Americas premier tennis viewing event and its use
as a time to focus that interest on new products, at a time
when category sales traditionally head south for a few
months (see the Timing Gear story in RSIs
September/October 2011 issue). Economic pressures have
forced manufacturers to look more closely at their market-
ing and promotion budgets, and one result is a diminishing
number of manufacturers rolling out new products or even
promoting recently tweaked products on or around the US
Open.
But, while most companies are promising their next big
product launches for the beginning of 2013, there are still
those taking the court during the Open.
37 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com www.racquetsportsindustry.com
NEW RACQUETS
AND SHOES
FOR FALL
BY KE NT OS WAL D
NEW RACQUETS
AND SHOES
FOR FALL
Adidas
adidas.com 971-234-2300
Adidas extends its Adizero series with mens and womens updates that are very
much part of the recent trend toward lightweight, durable and shockingly colorful
footwear. In addition to serving as kicks of choice for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Fernando
Verdasco, Kei Nishikori, Daniela Hantuchova and Ana Ivanovic among others, the
three stripes will be supporting sales of the shoes with in-store POP such as window
decals, Adizero booklets, Adizero specific shoe shelf wrap, a free pair of Formotion
socks with purchase and Adidas Ultimate Tees featuring the Adizero slogan Fast On
Any Surface. (Adizero Feather II, for men is in dark blue/running white; Adizero Tem-
paia II for women is in bright pink/white.)
38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Asics
asicsamerica.com 800-678-9435
The Gel Resolution 4 tennis shoe will be available in new colors following the
Open. Recognizing trends of the past few years, the palette is a bit darker
and bolder as the company continues to build its presence at the local level.
The shoes are available for both men and women. Currently the footwear
of choice for Australias Sam Stosur and Americas Irina Falconi, this flagship
of the Asics tennis models is the most stable of the Japanese companys
footwear line with a form-fitting upper, a memory-foam collar and heel to
personalize a fit, exceptionally durable outsole and stability. The shoe also
is backed up by a six-month durability guarantee. (Available in titanium/sil-
ver/electric melon and eclipse/beetroot purple/silver.)
Dunlop
dunlopsport.com 800-768-4727
One of few companies fully leveraging the US Open to bring attention
to new products, Dunlop is introducing six new racquets in its bio-
mimetic-themed line to media and the industry during the two weeks
of play. While more than satisfied with the success its had since intro-
ducing the line of racquets built on the idea of taking from the best
ideas in nature, the company is adamant that the game has changed so
dramatically that it requires evermore radical redesigns.
The racquets feature a new naming system (F for players with
fast/fuller swings; M for medium/moderate swings and S for
short/slower swings), rounder heads, more aerodynamic profiles and
an upgrade of the aero skin that cuts down wind resistance, self-
lubricating grommets that allow freer string movement, and the addi-
tion of biofibers in the throat to further dampen vibration.
(The F 3.0 Tour has a 98-square-inch head, is 27 inches long and
weighs 11.48 ounces. The M 3.0 is 98 square inches, 27 inches, 11.02
ounces. The S 3.0 Lite is 98 square inches, 27 inches, 9.85 ounces. The
M 6.0 is 102 square inches, 27 inches, 10.5 ounces. The S 6.0 LITE is
105 square inches, 27.25 inches, 10.2 ounces. And the S 8.0 LITE is
115 square inches, 27.5 inches, 9.47 ounces.)
New Balance
newbalance.com 800-253-7463
Boston-based manufacturer New Balance is taking a new look at how to
grow its loyal tennis audience. Promising a bigger rollout in 2013, the only
major footwear company with production in the United States will be talking
up the new and different look of its low-cut, featherweight 851s for men
and women as a precursor to the additional emphasis they plan to bring to
the sport. (Womens model in blue/pink, mens in blue/yellow.)
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 39 www.racquetsportsindustry.com www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Volkl
vbtennis.com 858-626-2720
The game-improvement Organix 2 and Organix 3 racquets (at
right) are being introduced to Volkls DNX carbon nanotube frame
line. The German company is also highlighting its new graphite
frame Team Speed designed for newer players. The marketing roll-
out is a full social media press, with featured placement on Volks
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, co-op e-blasts and
newsletters, as well as placement on the newly launched website,
catalogs, in-store posters and point-of-purchase materials at tennis
events, Volkl demo days and clinics. (The Organix 2 has a 115
square inch head, is 27.6 inches long, and weighs, 9.4 ounces
unstrung. The Organix 3 is 110 square inches, 27 inches and 9.5
ounces unstrung. Team Speed is 102 square inches, 27 inches and
9.4 ounces unstrung.)
Wilson
wilson.com 773-714-6400
While the beginning of the calendar year is when the majority
of its new products are introduced, Chicago-based Wilson has
timed a few additions to both its shoe and racquet lines for
the months closer to the US Open. The Tour Ikon series, the
companys premier shoe offering, has a new choice among its
low-profile, high durability shoes featuring breathable synthet-
ic leather, mesh uppers and nanoWick moisture-management
lining. (For men, its in sport royal/black.)
The company also expands the racquet line with three new
models. The Juice series (choice of Feliciano Lopez and Victo-
ria Azarenka) and Steam group (endorsed by Kei Nishikori
and Petra Kvitova) were both introduced earlier this year and
now have mid-plus head-size options. (The Juice 100 BLX has
a head size of 100 square inches, a length of 27 inches and
weighs 11.3 oz. strung. The Steam 100 BLX is 100 square
inches, 27.25 inches and 11 ounces.)
The iconic Pro Staff has also been tweaked. The current
choice of Roger Federer and in earlier incarnations of Pete
Sampras, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier, the Pro Staff
Six.One BLX is udpated with the Amplifeel handle system, a
technology featuring foam that conforms to a players grip,
highlights the tweaks. (Pro Staff Six.One BLX is 90 square
inches, 27 inches and 12.5 ounces.)
40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012
strip of electrical tape inside the throat
of the racquet, then put the paper label
on top of it.
The electrical tape glue is generally
softer and easier to remove from the
racquet.
You can use any size label with this
and now there are even different colors
of electrical tape available in the local
hardware store; blue, yellow, white,
green, and the classic black.
When its time to remove the label,
the electrical tape comes right off, along
with the label itself.
.5 sets of Wilson Super Spin 16 to:
Cristhian R. Peredo. Manassas, VA
STringing ShoeS
Although I have a few dedicated cus-
tomers, I dont typically spend all day
on my feet stringing racquets. Thus,
when I would string at a tournament,
my feet would be screaming in agony
STicky LabeL
compromiSe
I never liked the sticky mess left by old
string labels when trying to remove
them. Some racquets come in with a
stack of many labels, making an even
bigger big mess on the racquet.
What I've done to make it easier to
remove the labels with less mess is apply
electrical tape first. I place a long enough
Tips & Techniques
after the third day. I tried taking differ-
ent kinds of shoes, different orthotics,
sitting down as much as possible
between frames, walking during breaks,
and even taking off my shoes and work-
ing in my stocking feet. It seemed that
nothing would prevent the inexorable
spread of pain up into my legs.
Then one tournament as I was get-
ting ready to go in, I realized I was tying
my shoes as though I was going to go
play tennis, which is to say that I was
making certain they were nice and
snug. In so doing, I was in effect apply-
ing tourniquets to my feet.
As a test, I loosened my shoes as
much as I could while still being able to
walk in them.
The difference was astonishing. Fif-
teen hours later when it was time to
go home, I could actually still walk
normally.
If you find yourself in this position,
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Readers Know-How in Action
my advice is to wear the loosest
footwear that still supports your feet.
5 sets of Gosen NanoSilver 17 to:
L. Hodges, Lucerne Valley, CA
DonT be a buzz-kiLL
The USRSA recommends informing your
customer immediately upon inspecting
the frame if there are any structural
issues, but I would like to propose an
exception to this otherwise excellent
rule.
If you are in a setting where the play-
er has a coach or parent who is involved
in dropping off and/or picking up rac-
quets, tell the coach or parent about any
problems, not the player. This goes dou-
ble when in a competition situation.
Unless youre on really great terms
with the player, you may be unaware of
how obsessive he is about his equip-
ment, and you probably dont know
how many other racquets he has in
reserve.
I recently had a situation where a
WTA pro dropped off two racquets the
day before the tournament started, and
on each of them the grommet for the
fourth main (the first one outside of the
throat) was pulling through the carbon
fiber. The frames had failed to the point
that the spacing on the mains was way
off.
Instead of contacting the player who
had dropped off the racquets, however, I
tracked down the coach. On examining
the six racquets the player had with her
for the tournament, it turned out that
each of them had this same issue to
varying degrees.
We wound up restringing the rac-
quets as best we could without telling
the player. The player went on to win
matches in both singles and doubles
with racquets that should have gone
straight to the dumpster.
5 sets of Babolat Revenge 16 to:
Alan Yoshida, Ocean Park, CA
bumperguarDS for
beginnerS
One thing Ive learned from talking with
other racquet technicians is that every-
one has his own way of mounting
replacement bumperguards and grom-
met strips. Some use heat guns, some
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 41
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
use hot water, and still others resort to
the time-honored technique of brute
force and strong language.
My personal preference is to install
the bumperguard and grommet strip
using just an awl and a bit of patience.
For me, the best approach is to start the
grommet strip at the end with the
longest grommets and work toward the
short grommets, when possible. For
example, on racquets where the grom-
mets come in two long pieces (not
counting the replacement throat grom-
met), I start at the throat end and work
my way toward the head.
On racquets with side grommets,
often there will be interlocking ends
where the grommet sections meet.
These help determine the order of instal-
lation.
On racquets with side grommets that
do not interlock, I do the side grommets
first, starting again at the throat. On
these racquets, the top grommet piece
usually has longer grommets at each
end, with the shortest grommets in the
center. On these racquets, I normally try
mounting the top piece at the center first
and working out. If this works, you can
ensure that the bumperguard and grom-
met strip are centered on the racquet,
which sometimes is difficult to do when
starting at the end. If that doesnt work,
and if its easy to tell where the top sec-
tion of bumperguard and grommet strip
meet the side pieces, Ill try working
from one end to the other and then
Ill make a note so that next time I con-
front that racquet Ill be able to refer
back to whats worked better for me in
the past.
5 sets of Luxilon Savage White 127 to:
Doug Denton, San Diego, CA
Tips and Techniques submitted since 1992
by USRSA members and appearing in this
column, have all ben gathered into a
searchable database on www.racquet-
tech.com the official member-only website
of the USRSA. Submit tips to: Greg Raven,
USRSA, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096; or
email greg@racquettech.com
42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY September/October 2012
String Playtest
EASE OF STRINGING
(compared to other strings)
Number of testers who said it was:
much easier 1
somewhat easier 2
about as easy 22
not quite as easy 7
not nearly as easy 0
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
(compared to string played most often)
Number of testers who said it was:
much better 0
somewhat better 7
about as playable 15
not quite as playable 7
not nearly as playable 2
OVERALL DURABILITY
(compared to other strings
of similar gauge)
Number of testers who said it was:
much better 2
somewhat better 16
about as durable 17
not quite as durable 0
not nearly as durable 0
RATING AVERAGES
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability 3.5
Durability 4.1
Power 3.5
Control 3.5
Comfort 3.1
Touch/Feel 3.0
Spin Potential (9th overall) 3.8
Holding Tension 3.3
Resistance to Movement 4.0
G
osen Sidewinder is new geo-
metric monofilament polyester
string that is made from high
tech polyester resin combined with a
chemical additive to increase power,
control, and spin. Gosen tells us that
Sidewinder utilizes the latest innova-
tion in co-polyester technology. The
Sidewinder appellation means it is
extruded with a rectangular shape and
then twisted, providing a string with
maximum return of energy from the
string to the ball and massive amounts
of spin. Gosen designed Sidewinder for
advanced players looking for a power-
ful poly that provides extra spin perfor-
mance and power.
Sidewinder is available in 17-gauge
(1.22mm-1.24mm) in yellow and in
black, and in 16-gauge (1.30mm-
1.32mm) in orange. It is priced from
$13.50 for sets of 40 feet, and $155 in
reels of 660 feet. For more information
or to order, contact Sportmode at 714-
379-7400, or visit gosenamerica.com/
sportmode. Be sure to read the conclu-
sion for more information about get-
ting a free set to try for yourself.
IN THE LAB
We tested the 17-gauge Sidewinder in
black. The coil measured 40 feet. The
diameter measured 1.24-1.21 mm
prior to stringing, and 1.16-1.19 mm
after stringing. We recorded a
stringbed stiffness of 74 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 68 RDC
units, representing an 8 percent ten-
sion loss. Our control string, Prince
Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, mea-
sured 78 RDC units immediately after
stringing and 71 RDC units after 24
hours, representing a 9 percent tension
loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut
Original has a stiffness of 217 and a
tension loss of 11.67 pounds, while
Gosen Sidewinder 17 has a stiffness of
221 and a tension loss of 21.26
pounds. Sidewinder added 16
grams to the weight of our
unstrung frame.
The string was tested for
five weeks by 32 USRSA
playtesters, with NTRP rat-
ings from 3.5 to 6.0. These
are blind tests, with
playtesters receiving
unmarked strings in
unmarked packages. Average
number of hours playtested was 28.1.
Gosen Sidewinder has a surface
appearance that lets you know right off
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
the bat that it
isnt a typical cylindrical string,
although it feels more like a textured
string than a geometric. It also seems
thick, with 17-gauge Sidewinder feeling
more like a 16-gauge string. On our elec-
tronic machine, the tension head didnt
stop abruptly on reaching reference ten-
sion, but rather eased up to the final ten-
sion as the string stretched more than
poly strings normally do. Even with its
shape, Sidewinder crosses seemed to
glide across the mains: Its no surprise
that our playtesters rated it highly in
Resistance to Movement. We found
installing Gosen Sidewinder very easy
for a polyester string.
One member of the playtest team
broke the sample during stringing, four
reported problems with coil memory,
one reported problems tying knots, and
none reported friction burn.
ON THE COURT
Gosen Sidewinder lived up to its name.
Our playtest team rated Sidewinder the
9th best string for Spin Potential of the
166 strings weve playtested to date for
publication. As mentioned above,
Sidewinder also garnered excellent rat-
ings for Resistance to Movement, often
a key component for generating spin.
Sidewinder also ranked well above aver-
age in Durability, Playability, and Power,
placing it well above average in the over-
all rankings, too.
Three playtesters broke the sample
during the playtest period, one each at
10, 12, and 15 hours.
Gosen Sidewinder 17
September/October 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 43
FREE PLAYTEST
STRING PROGRAM
Gosen will send a free set of Sidewinder to USRSA
members who cut out (or copy) this coupon and send it to:
Offer expires 15 September 2012 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.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
USRSA, Attn: Gosen String Offer
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to stringsample@racquettech.com
For the rest of the tester comments, visit www.racquet-
sportsindustry.com.