Tennis Industry Magazine

Performance Apparel
New FABRICS
take your game
HIGH TECH
Team Spirit
JUNIOR TEAM
TENNIS is
on the rise
Racquet Service
Promote TENNIS
TUNE-UP packages
to your players
APRIL 2015 / VOLUME 43/ NUMBER 4 / $5.00
Hit The
Bulls Eye!
Take aim at the
perfect frame
with our exclusive
Racquet Selection
Map
TA
SP
U
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TennisIndustry
www.tennisindustrymag.com
APRIL 2015
DEPARTMENTS
4
Our Serve
Industry News
12 Letters
14 Racquet Tech
15 TIA News
18 Retailing Tip
p.22
20 Junior Team Tennis

36 Ask the Experts
FEATURES
38
String Playtest:
Tecnifibre XR3 17
22 T
ime for a Tune-Up
40
Your Serve
Enhance your equipment service, and keep

players playing their best, by promoting
tune-up packages.
INDUSTRY NEWS
7
James Blake named chair
of USTA Foundation
7

Sport Court, Prince form

marketing partnership
24 P
erformance Apparel
p.24
High-tech fabrics and garments, some with

sensors knitted in, are taking performance
to a higher level.
Jack Thompson honored

7
as PTR Pro of the Year
8
Register programs for

Try Tennis Free
Access Fixtures offer

triple-court LED kits
Babolat debuts new M7 string
USTA Foundation awards

8
$2.3 million
9
26 Soft Goods
p.26
These outdoor facility winners are excellent

examples of soft-court construction.
2014 racquet, string, shoes

performance
30 Finding the Perfect Fit
Peoplewatch
10
10 PTR inducts Ashe, names
2015 award winners
Our exclusive Racquet Selection Map will

help you select a diverse inventory so your
customers can choose their perfect frame.
hort Sets
12 S
12 Ashaway adds new badminton
string
p.30
PLUS
42
CEOs Message
p.41
46 U
SPTA Conferences Provide
Test Ground for Prince
48 2
XU Aids Injury Prevention
54 Surface Tournament Season

Continues with USPTA Clay
Court Championships
56 Ten Commandments of
Coaching
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

2 TennisIndustry
April 2015
44 Vice Presidents Message

Endorsee News
46
USPTA Benefits
48
Master Pro Corner
49
USPTA Spotlight
52
USPTA News
54
Inside Coaching
56
Career Development
58
60 Member News
Our Serve
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
peter@tennisindustrymag.com
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Special Projects Manager
Bob Patterson
Try It, Youll Like It
never thought Id be reciting

in this magazine that old AlkaSeltzer commercial tagline that
was used, and overused, so much in
the early 1970s. (For those of you who
werent around back then, search for
try it, youll like it and watch that
classic TV commercial.)
But you know, the simple concept
expressed in that simple phrase applies well to tennis, and to getting
more people to play this sport. When
you create the right environment for
people to try the sport, theres a very
good chance theyll like tennis and
want to continue playing.
Thats the impetus behind the
industry-wide Try Tennis Free campaign, which will run throughout the
month of May, but of course doesnt
have to be limited to just that month.
Any tennis facility or provider can
offer this at any time of year, or better
yet, offer it year-round.
The Try Tennis Free campaign
started in May 2014 then ran again in
September and is designed to bring in
new players and get returning players
back into the sport. The TIA, which is
coordinating this campaign, said tennis facilities and providers who offered
a Try Tennis Free program reported
that, on average, they saw 30 new and
returning players come to their courts
to try the sport.
Think of thatwith just some local
promotion of their free tennis offer, 30
potential new members and customers simply came to their courts to play.
After that, of course, these facilities
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director

peter@tennisindustrymag.com
4 TennisIndustry
April 2015
needed to close the deal with these

new and returning players, but the
hardest partgetting them through
the door to begin withis pretty much
done for you.
But thats not the only attraction.
Unlike other programs or campaigns
with strict rules and mandates, tennis
facilities and providers can offer any
kind of free program or programs they
want, whenever they wantits completely up to you. Do what you think
appeals to your community and potential clientele and what works best
for your facility or programming. Have
a lot of kids looking for something to
do after school? Offer a free session for
them. Want to attract adults looking
for healthy exercise? Publicize a free
Cardio Tennis clinic for new or returning players. You make the rules.
And youll have help to promote
your Try Tennis Free offer. The TIA
offers free advertising and promotional materials that you can customize. The only thing the TIA would like
to see is for providers and facilities to
registerfor freefor the Try Tennis
Free campaign on PlayTennis.com.
Its a simple sign-up that you can do
right now, and it will ensure that your
listing will pop up when consumers search for a free program, or any
tennis program. Go to PlayTennis.
com, then the Try Tennis for Free
dropdown, then For Facilities and
Teaching Pros.
So, the message to consumers in
your area? Try tennis (for free). Youll
like tennis.
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Kent Oswald
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Tim Strawn
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
TENNIS INDUSTRY
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Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@gmail.com
Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year:
monthly January through August and combined
issues in September/October and November/
December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, PO
Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. Periodcal postage
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Number 4 2015 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.
All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo
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versions back to 2004.
IndustryNews
Information to help you run your business
James Blake Named Chair

of USTA Foundation
P H O T O BY M A R C A N D R E W D E L E Y
ormer World No. 4 pro player James Blake has been named chairman of the USTA
Foundations Board of Directors. The Foundation is the USTAs national charitable
organization. In his new role, Blake will serve as the Foundations spokesperson
and ambassador to promote the mission and impact of its national
outreach efforts.
Blake will help promote the Foundations mission of providing
tennis and education opportunities to under-resourced youth and
individuals with disabilities. He succeeds former pro and longtime
tennis journalist and advocate Mary Carillo, who served as chairwoman from 2009 to 2014.
Im honored to have been selected. I admire the Foundations
pursuit to support the combination of tennis and education and the
impact it has on so many youth around the country, said Blake. I
grew up playing tennis at a young age and participated in a National
Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) program. It was there that I
learned the value and influence tennis can add to my life while being encouraged to stay academically focused.
Blakes professional career spanned 14 years, in which he won 10 ATP singles titles,
seven doubles titles and a Davis Cup Championship. He also reached the semifinals of the
Beijing Olympics in 2008 and climbed to a career-best No. 4 in the world, ranking as the
top American during that time. Blake turned pro in 1999, following his sophomore year at
Harvard.
Jack Thompson Honored as

PTR Pro of the Year
ack Thompson of Salisbury, N.C., has been named the

PTR Professional of the Year at the 2015 PTR International Tennis Symposium, held on Hilton Head Island,
S.C., in February. The award is presented to the PTR Professional who has displayed the highest standards of conduct
and service to both tennis and PTR.
A PTRInternational Master Professional, Thompson has
been a PTR member since 1983. During his 36-year career,
he has been involved in virtually every aspect of tennis
teaching, including a director of tennis, head pro, and head
mens and womens tennis coach at Catawba College in
Salisbury, N.C. Currently, Thompson is head pro at Cabarrus
Country Club, and co-director of the Performance Tennis
Academy at the Sportscenter in Concord, N.C.
From 1998 to 2004, Thompsons Catawba College teams compiled win records of 70
percent, logging the best records in school history. He has produced 17 Virginia junior
state champions and 11 North Carolina junior state champions. He also served as professional coach for Leigh Thompson in 1982-83 when she ranked No. 26 in the world. With a
graduate background in Exercise Physiology and Motor Learning, Thompson is co-author
of Power, Speed and Stamina for Tennis: AComplete Guide for the Player and Coach.
Sport Court, Prince Form

Marketing Partnership
Sport Court and Prince Global
Sports have announced a joint,
multi-year partnership designed
to enhance awareness of their respective brands and products. The
agreement will focus on marketing
strategies including co-branded
sponsorship of major tennis events
and grassroots promotion of the
sport using Sport Court modular
courts and Prince products.
Sport Court is extremely
pleased to join the prestigious
Prince brand in the promotion
of our products centered on the
engineered safety of our surfaces
and the growth of the sport of tennis, says Lee Sponaugle, director
of National Accounts and Tennis at
Connor Sport Court International.
As a centerpiece of the new alliance, Prince will use a unique Sport
Court/Prince branded 36-foot
PowerGame court as part of a variety of marketing and grassroots
initiatives and events.
As an innovative tennis brand,
we are committed to finding new
and exciting ways to grow and
promote the game of tennis. Our
alliance with Sport Court moves
us firmly towards our goals, adds
Paige Miller, Princes director of
brand marketing.
Tennis Channel to
Broadcast Squash
The Professional Squash Association
(PSA) and Tennis Channel announced
a multi-year agreement in which Tennis Channel will become the exclusive
North American broadcast partner of
the PSA and show close to 170 hours
of top-tier squash competition on the
network and its digital subscription
service, Tennis Channel Plus.
Ten PSA tournaments will appear
on Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus throughout the year, among
them prestigious events like the British Open, US Open, PSA World Series
April 2015
TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
Finals and PSA World Championship. Tennis
Channel Plus will carry all matches live and
on-demand, with delayed telecasts of select
events to follow on the linear channel, including a weekly "Squash Sunday" program.
Triple-Court LED Kits

From Access Fixtures
Access Fixtures of Worcester, Mass., has
introduced triple-court LED tennis court
lighting packages, for three adjacent tennis courts.
While Access Fixtures has been providing customized LED lighting solutions
for tennis clubs, country clubs, resorts
and schools, we created standard packages based
on repetitive
requests
for similar
LED lighting
solutions,"
says Access
Fixtures CEO
Steven Rothschild. "Our
new LED tennis court lighting packages
expand the offering from single and twin
LED tennis court lighting kits. Standardization adds value for our customers.
Compared to HID sources like metal
halide, LED has instant-on/instant-off
capabilities, reduced energy use, reduced
maintenance, and max/min factors for

more even lighting levels, says Access
Fixtures (AccessFixtures.com or 506-6578600).
Prince Signs Sponsor Deal

with BB&T Atlanta Open
Prince Global Sports, which relocated to
Atlanta within the past year, has signed a
three-year agreement with the BB&T Atlanta
Open, an ATP World Tour event, in which
the equipment brand will be the presenting
sponsor of the tournaments Family Zone.
As a centerpiece of the new Family Zone in
Atlantic Stations Central Park, Prince will lay
down its new Prince Sport Court. Additionally, Prince will be the tournaments official
racquet, string and grip and will provide the
official string service at the event. The tournament will be held July 25-Aug. 2.
BB&T Atlanta Tournament Director Eddie

Gonzalez (left) and Prince CEO Mike Ballardie
sign the new agreement.
Register Programs Now

For Try Tennis Free
ont miss this chance to boost your business and bring more people into tennis with the industry-supported Try Tennis Free (TTF) campaign, which
will run throughout the month of May.
Tennis providers who participated in the
inaugural TTF campaign last May reported that
on average, facilities saw 30 new and returning
players hitting their courts, says TIA Executive
Director Jolyn de Boer.
The free sessions can vary depending on the location, as each facility or certified
tennis professional can choose the best introductory session or program they feel
will encourage new and returning players to step onto the court. Free offers can
include lessons, clinics, Cardio Tennis, Play Days, and more.
Providers can easily sign up at PlayTennis.com to participate in TTF and receive
free customizable marketing material to download to promote the campaign locally.
8 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Babolat Offers New M7 String

Babolats newest tennis string is the
M7, a multifilament the company says offers competitive players a blend of power
and durability without compromising
comfort.
Developed in France, Babolat M7
combines a patented multifilament construction composed of seven monofilaments/100 percent polyamidethe first
of its kind. The Babolat M7 is ideal for
a competitive junior or club-level player
looking for the soft feel and power of a
multifilament, but with more durability,
says Babolat String Product Manager
Franck Fernier.
Babolat M7 is available in 17/1.25mm
and 16/1.30mmgauges. Suggested
retail price is $15.95.
WTA Sees Increase in TV,

Digital Audiences
The WTA announced 2014 year-end
global TV and digital audience figures that
are up 22.5 percent from 2013, according to
a report by SMG Insight, for the dedicated
broadcast of 22 WTA premier tournaments.
The most-watched tournament of the
year was BNP Paribas WTA Finals presented
by SC Global Singapore, attracting 26.9 million viewers across seven days of tennis. The
BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells provided
the season's most-watched day of broadcast
in 2014, with 4.6 million fans accessing the
semifinals. The event also generated the
largest growth in audience, a rise of 95.4%,
almost doubling from 11.76 million viewers
in 2013 to 22.98 million in 2014.
USTA Foundation Awards

$2.3 Million in 2014
USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the USTA, has
completed its 2014 funding cycle by
awarding $741,500 in grantsboth
program grants and capacity building
grantsto 44 organizations nationwide.
Those organizations were recognized
for their efforts in providing tennis and
education to under-resourced youth and
individuals with disabilities, as well those
organizations with a need for program
infrastructure support.
Combined with previously awarded
grants and scholarships, this latest grant
IndustryNews
Tennis Racquet Performance
Specialty Stores
January-December, 2014 vs. 2013
2014
677,157
Units
2013 690,171

% change vs. 13 -2%
Dollars 2014
$100,077,000

2013
$100,709,000

% change vs. 13 -1%
2014
$147.79
Price
2013 $145.92

% change vs. 13 1%
Top-Selling Racquets at
Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars
Jan.-Dec. 2014
1. Babolat Aero Pro Drive 2013 (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Drive GT 2012 (MP)
3. Babolat Pur Drive Lite 2012 (MP)
4. Babolat Aero Pro Team 2013 (MP)
5. Head Graphene Radical MP (MP)
Hot New Racquets

(introduced in the past 12 months)
1. Wilson Juice 100 S (MP)
2. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Auto (MP)
3. Babolat Pure Strike 100 (MP)
4. Wilson Juice 100 2014 (MP)
5. Wilson Juice 108 2014 (OS)
Top-Selling Tennis Shoes

at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars, Jan.-Dec. 2014
1. Asics Gel Resolution 5
2. Prince T22
3. Nike Air Max Cage 2013
4. Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour
5. Babolat Propulse 4
Top-Selling Strings at
Specialty Stores
By year-to-date units, Jan.-Dec. 2014
1. Babolat RPM Blast
2. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex
3. Wilson NXT
4. Wilson Sensation
5. Luxilon 4G
(Source: TIA)
April 2015
TennisIndustry 9
IndustryNews
People
Watch
The USTA announced that
USTA Chairman of the Board,
CEO and President Katrina
Adams has been named to the
2015 list of 25
Influential
Black
Women in
Business
by The
Network
Journal. She
was honored at
the 17th Annual 25 Influential
Black Women in Business
Awards Luncheon, presented
by Morgan Stanley, on March
26 at the New York Marriott
Marquis.
Godiva Chocolatier has
named Caroline Wozniacki
as its global celebrity ambassador, the first global celebrity
partnership for the brand.

We are excited to welcome
Caroline into the Godiva
family, and feel she is the
ideal face for the branda
vibrant, world-class talent,
with appeal well beyond the
tennis court, said Mohamed
Elsarky, Godiva CEO.
Eric Hadigian, age 15, of
Dallas is the inaugural winner
of the Jonathan Albrecht
Scholarship Award, given in
memory of the late Jonathan
Albrecht, who was a sales rep
for Babolat. The scholarship
was put together by Darren
Boyd, the general manager
of T Bar M, and presented to
Hadigian by Sandy Albrecht
at the T Bar M Dallas Pro
Challenger event in early
February.
Anthony Perkins, adult tennis director at Midtown Athletic Club in Overland Park,
was featured in the Faces in
the Crowd column in Sports
Illustrated on February 2.
Perkins was recognized for
his recent victory in a Toronto
tennis tournament, despite
his ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis.
international competitions
including the Pan American
Games this summer in
Toronto.
Paola Longoria, the worlds

top-ranked female racquetball player, took home gold
in both the Womens Singles
and Womens Doubles competitions at the Campeonato
Nacional Selectivo tournament in February. Serving
as the selection event for
the 2015 Mexican National
Team, winners will represent
their country in upcoming
World No. 1 Mohamed

Elshorbagy claimed his
fourth major PSA World
Series squash title with a
win over England Nick Matthews in January in the final
of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New
York City. Elshorbagy plays
with a Tecnifibre Carboflex
125 squash racquet and
305+ string.
Tennis Channel has

promoted longtime mediaadvertising executive
Allison Bodenmann to vice
president, head of advertising sales.
PTR Inducts Ashe, Names 2015 Award Winners
he late Arthur Ashe was inducted

into the PTR Hall of Fame at the
PTR Awards Banquet on Feb. 19.
The tennis legend and humanitarian,
who died in 1993, was inducted into the
International Tennis Hall of Fame in
1985 and posthumously received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.
He joins Dennis Van der Meer, Jim
Verdieck and Dr. Jim Loehr in the PTR
Hall of Fame.
Others honored at the 2015 PTR International Tennis Symposium are:
PTR Professional of the Year: Jack
Thompson
Clinician of the Year: Seth Walrath
PTR Tester of the Year: Sharon Cleland
Jim Verdieck Touring Coach: Nick
Saviano
Jim Verdieck College Coach: Lin
Loring
Jim Verdieck High School Coach:
Bernie McGuire
Wheelchair Professional of the Year:
Emmy Kaiser
10 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Humanitarian of the Year: Sylvia

Swartz
Volunteer of the Year: Fran Osei
Public Facility of the Year: Auburn
Private Facility of the Year: Weymouth

Club, Weymouth, Mass.
PTR/USTA Community Service
Award: Frank Adams
PTR/TIA Commitment to the Industry
Award: Jorge Capestany
Male Player of the Year: Guillermo
Alcorta
Female Player of the Year: Breaunna
Addison
Newcomer of the Year: Nima Naderi
PTR State Members of the Year:
AL: Jenny Robb; AK: Darla Brooks;
AZ: Bryan Barten; CA: Angel Lopez;
CT: Claudio Armandi; FL: Lorenzo
Beltrame; GA: Dave Dvorak; IA: Chad
Fenwick; IL: Cesar Morales; KY: Jason
Miller; MD: Alicia von Lossberg;
MI: Vanda Shadigian; MS: Milena
Araujo; MT: Michael Fehr; OH: Bruce
Stapleton; NC: Darryl Lewis; NH: Gus
Moral; NJ: Michelle Byrne; NY: Marcelo Reda; PA: Chris Leicht; SC: Toni
Young; TN: Andy Veal; TX: Jose Salas
VA: Mary Conaway; WV: Michael
Tompkins.
IndustryNews
April 2015
TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews
Short
Sets
The U.S. Fed Cup team
defeated Argentina, 4-1,
in the World Group II First
Round in Buenos Aires
in February, after Venus
Williams clinched the tie
in the fourth singles rubber. The U.S. advances to
World Group Playoff April
18-19 vs. Italy, competing for a spot in the 2016
World Group.
The USTA and Lavazza
announced a multi-year
agreement making
Italys favorite coffee
an official promotional
partner and the exclusive
coffee of the US Open.

Lavazza coffee drinks
will be available on-site
at the Open, including at the new Lavazza
Caf. Lavazza will also
have rights to activate
a US Open-themed
promotion in New York
City prior to the tournament.
Sunglass brand Maui
Jim has a new threeyear global partnership
with the ATP, in which
the Hawaiian company
becomes the Official
Eyewear of the ATP
World Tour.
For the second
funding brings the total awarded by the

USTA Foundation in 2014 to more than
$2.3 million.
The USTA Foundation is honored to
recognize such outstanding organizations around this country, which greatly
impact so many deserving students,
children in need and the communities in
which they live, says Dan Faber, executive director of the USTA Foundation. To
straight year, the

USTA Foundation, the
national charitable
organization of the
USTA, has been selected
as the official charity of the BNP Paribas
Showdown, which was
held March 10 in New
York City.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Family
Circle Cup has named
Antigua as its official apparel sponsor. Antigua
will provide the apparel
worn by umpires, staff
and ball crew throughout the tournament
April 4-12. On April 7,
the tournament will
host Dunlop/Antigua
Night, dedicated to Low
Country Tennis Association league teams.
The No. 2 Oklahoma
Sooners beat No. 1 USC
to win the 2015 ITA Division I National Men's
Team Indoor Championship hosted by the
University of Illinois at
Midtown Athletic Club
in Chicago. It was the
Sooners first appearance in the final.
Trinity University of
Texas defeated Emory
University in February
to win its first 2015 ITA
Division III National
date, the foundation has awarded more

than $19.5 million in grants and scholarships to hundreds of programs.
New Ashaway Badminton Strings

Ashaway Racket Strings has added two new
22-gauge (0.66 mm) badminton strings. Both
ZyMax 66 Fire and ZyMax 66 Fire Power use
Ashaway's proprietary BETA polymer fibers,
and are constructed using the company's
Letters
Thankful for ROG
I was so happy to read Ellen Miller's article in the February issue about Red,
Orange, and Green balls (ROG Balls and Shorter Courts Arent Just for
Kids!). At my little tennis charity, Camp Esmeralda, they are definitely not
just for the kids.
One day a week I run a little tennis program in the shuffleboard room
(yes, the shuffleboard room) of a senior center in the middle of a Milwaukee
County park. In summer, we play outdoors. The ROG balls have enabled dozens of seniors (and some in their mid-80s), who had never so much as looked
at a racquet, to play tennis. We let the ball bounce twice if need be and even
play off the rather low ceiling.
We have seniors with hip problems, arthritis, you name it, but they love
playing and tell me that the 90 minutes of tennis is the highlight of their
weekand its mine, as well! Ive seen their flexibility, reflexes and strength
improve by leaps and bounds. One of our players has lost over 100 pounds
and several are lighter by 20 or more.
Every once in a while we schedule a day for the seniors and the kidsthe
kids adjusting their games to accommodate the seniors. ROG balls definitely
make tennis big fun!
Esme Queen Ehr, Director, Camp Esmeralda, Milwaukee
12 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Men's Team Indoor

Championship,
hosted by Gustavus
Adolphus College.
In addition, Trinitys mens team
was selected as the
inaugural recipient of
the Steve Wilkinson
Team Sportsmanship Award. On
the womens side,
Johns Hopkins made
history, becoming
the first team to win
three consecutive ITA
Division III National
Women's Team Indoor Championships,
defeating Carnegie
Mellon at DePauw
University.
special ZyWeaVe string core technology. But

by varying the polymer formulation slightly,
ZyMax 66 Fire has been optimized for precision shot making, while ZyMax 66 Fire Power
maximizes power and repulsion.
USRSA Announces New MRTs

Alex Simon - Estero, FL
Thomas Sangyun Dwak - Korea
Green Solutions Can

Save You Money
The Tennis Legacy Fund is a non-profit
committed to increasing the awareness of
sustainability within the tennis industry and
community. To help tennis providers operate
a more profitable and sustainable business,
TI magazine will run occasional tips by the
Tennis Legacy Fund in partnership with
Greenlight Solutions and a sustainability initiative by students at Arizona State
University
Shoes Take-Back Program: Tennis
facility members go through many pairs
of tennis shoes, and those used shoes can
make your facility some money. Do you
ever wonder where your members old
shoes go when they arrive with a new pair
to play? Thats where shoeboxrecycling.
com can help your business. Sign-up on
their website, receive prepaid boxes/
labels, send it back and make 50 cents for
every pound of shoes. Devon Edwards
March 2015
TennisIndustry 13
Racquet Tech
Weave Your Way to Consistency
For many stringers, utilizing the one-ahead technique

can save stringing time and reduce friction on the string,
but it also has other benefits.
By Bob Patterson
eaving one-ahead is just as it

sounds. The procedure is accomplished by weaving one cross
string ahead of the cross string youre about
to, but havent yet, tensioned.
Start by weaving the top two crosses using either a starting knot or starting clamp.
Leave enough of a loop between the first two
crosses outside of the frame to reach your
tension head. Now tension and clamp the
first string. Gently pull the loop through and
weave the third cross, again leaving a loop to
reach the tension head. Tension and clamp
the second cross. Continue this method as
you work down the racquet. You may have to
abandon the technique as you get near the
end because you wont have enough string to
form the loop, but you will be able to use it for
most of the crosses.
So why use this method? First, it greatly
reduces the friction and makes weaving the
string much easier. Because every other cross
has the same weave, your last tensioned cross
string raises and lowers the appropriate main
strings, enabling you to more easily glide the
current cross through the string face. This
not only saves wear and tear on the string,
but also should speed up the process as the
strings will weave much easier with less friction. Adding a couple of other techniques to
this method can reap some added benefits.
Utilizing the additional techniques shown
in the photos, your strings should come out
much straighter, and it provides an easy
method to catch mis-weaves on the spot. Simply push the string about to be tensioned up
against the last tensioned string. It is easy to
see the alternating zigzag of a perfect weave.
Mis-weaves will stand out because they will
flat line. As tension is pulled on the string, it
will straighten out. If the string wants to bow,
it is easy to nudge it into a straight position
before clamping.
Youll still have some straightening to do
when youre done, but this will make the job
much easier and your tensions will be truer,
since your cross strings are pulled virtually
straight.
14 TennisIndustry
April 2015
1. Leave a loop of string to adequately reach your tensioner..
2. Push the string about to be tensioned up against the last tensioned string. If
your weave is correct, youll see a pronounced zigzag.
3. Mis-weaves flat line and are easy to spot and correct.
4. As the string is tensioned, it straightens out. A nudge with your fingers will
keep it straight as you clamp.
12
11
10
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Join the Industry-Wide

Try Tennis Free
Campaign for May
Driving
Consumers
To Your Business!
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Septem
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25NOW
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Go
to
PlayTennis.com
to sign up!
4
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Facilities and Teaching Pros: To offer
Try Tennis Free programs, sign up now
for free at PlayTennis.com.
26
Cardio Tennis
Authorized Provider Benefits

VIDEOS & SOFTWARE
A
ccess to the Cardio Tennis TV Channel
Where all CT video education and activities
can be found.
Cardio Tennis Interactive ($1,000 value) Online tennis/fitness challenge software.
DRILLS & ACTIVITIES

A
ccess to the Cardio Tennis activity diagrams
and educational powerpoints.
Access to the Cardio Tennis Triples Tournament Playbook.
EQUIPMENT & PRODUCT
Youll also get an Annual

Tennis Industry Association
Industry Membership
($100 value)
Youll have access to marketplace

and industry research such as
the State of the Tennis Industry,
a subscription to Tennis Industry
Magazine, an opportunity to get
business and health insurance
discounts through TennisInsure,
PartnerShip shipping discounts,
merchant card processing
discounts, and much more.
Visit tennisindustry.org/Membership
to learn more.
Gold level pricing onPolarheart rate

monitors and equipment.
Discount onBallmagnetspecialized ball
capture net.
Complimentary music and discounts on music
at powermusic.com. Two free downloads when
you renew.
MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

A
n Official Cardio Tennis Marketing Kit
($100 value).
TRX Cardio Tennis is the ultimate

ball-striking, calorie-burning workout
incorporating power, muscular endurance,
flexibility and balance. TRX Cardio Tennis
class participants alternate between hitting
hundreds of balls and completing tennisspecific TRX Suspension Training System exercises.
A listing onwww.cardiotennis.comso consumers can find you.
TRX Cardio Tennis Training Course
ccess to the PRIVATE Cardio Tennis Facebook page where

A
you can share ideas with other Cardio Tennis providers
around the world.
(CARDIO TENNIS AUTHORIZED PROVIDERS RECEIVE

$25 OFF THE TRX CARDIO TENNIS TRAINING COURSE)
Cardio Tennis Marketing Support Site ($500 value) Customize

Cardio Tennis artwork to fit your own club, event, or program.
Just select the artwork, add your own text, and have it printed and
shipped straight to your home or office. All from your desktop.
Pump up your Cardio Tennis workout and bridge

the gap between the tennis and fitness consumer.
TRX Cardio Tennis will increase tennis participation,
Cardio Tennis participation and create new TRX users.
A
n opportunity to have a Cardio Tennis Get Fit Challenge or
Rally for the Cure Partnership.
Visit CardioTennis.com for more information.
Retailing 136
Your Path to Profits
Top specialty shops place themselves in the consumers

path to purchase by doing four consumer-centric
things well.
By Jay Townley
rior to the great recession,

brands, retail stores and sports
specialty shops controlled the
path to purchase. Consumers came
to specialty tennis retailers to find out
about tennis products and do their
research before making a purchase
decision. At that time, the internet was
just becoming a feature of consumer
research.
After the recession, control of the
path to purchase slipped out of the control of the brands and, accordingly, out
of the hands of retailers and specialty
shops.
Today, a typical consumer uses 16 or
more touch points when they research a
purchase, and they take an average of 10
days to reach a purchase decisionand
the number of days of research goes
up as the price of the product goes up.
Empowered by the internet, consumers
can get what they want when they want
it, 24/7, and have it delivered to their
homes or workplace in 24 hours. They
are less interested in things and much
more interested in why and how retailers sell the things they do.
To be relevant and regain a position
of prominence in the consumers path
to purchase, specialty tennis shops need
to focus on becoming consumer-centric
and doing four things extremely well.
First, make it easyand funto shop
your store. It should be clean, easy to
navigate and easy to understand store
layouts. It should have well-thoughtout signage and knowledgeable
staff that are all focused on making
shoppers welcome and above all,
comfortable in the shop environment. If your specialty shop builds
a reputation for being a fun and easy
place to shop, the positive buzz will
18 TennisIndustry
April 2015
spread through word-of-mouth and

social media.
Second, top specialty sport shops
understand the art and science of being
sticky meaning that their open and
easy-to-navigate store space is focused
on keeping shoppers in the shop longer. The longer shoppers stay, the more
they purchase.
Third, top specialty sports shops work
hard at becoming their customers
third-place, a term coined by retail
guru Paco Underhill and given high
visibility by Starbucks. As Underhills
research shows (in his updated and
revised edition of Why We Buy: The
Science of Shopping), there is work,
home and the third place that consumers would prefer to be when they are
not at the other two. This is all directly
related to making shoppers comfortable and satisfied and happy with their
shopping experiences.
Fourth, top sports retail stores stop
the confusion that comes with the
tyranny of choice that many specialty
tennis shops have been talked into
believing is what consumers want. Our
research, going back before the great
recession, found that the new product
offerings, selection and merchandising
in many specialty sports shops were
confusing and overwhelming to

shoppersand were responsible for
driving away novices who wanted
to get back into a sport like tennis. Too many price points for one
model family and too many model
families are not only confusing to
shoppers, but to your sales associates as well, and in particular parttime associates.
Top specialty retail shops understand the merchandising philosophy
of Good, Better, Best and taking a
good, hard look at their product offerings and simplifying the selection to
sell more. It means fewer SKUs and
increased inventory turnsand
profitability.
Complaining about the internet
is not a strategy or a solution, but
becoming a top specialty tennis retail
shop by executing these four consumer-centric things well to will place you
prominently in the consumers Path to
Purchase!
This is part of a series of retail tips
presented by the Tennis Industry Association and written by the Gluskin
Townley Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).
Junior Play
Team Spirit
Recent changes to Junior Team Tennis are

helping more kids get into the game.
Flexibility is Key
But in recent years, Junior Team Tennis

has had its challenges, Jones says. One
of the biggest was that the program had
a rigidity that often made it difficult
to form and keep teams playing. But
also, says Jones, It ended up not being
about local play, even though that was
the intent all along. One of the unique
aspects of JTTwhich was that kids
played to advance from districts up to
a national championshipalso seemed
to be holding the program back from
growing overall.
So the USTA began surveying parents
and players to find out what can be
done to give the program a boost, and
then started to make those suggestions
happen. One of the biggest changes,
implemented this past January, was
C O U RT E S Y U S TA
et Craig Jones on the phone

talking about Junior Team
Tennis, and you can hear the
excitement in his voice. In fact, if hes on
the phone while in his car, you begin to
get a little worried for drivers that may
be around him.
Weve listened to the feedback and
changed the rules for Junior Team Tennis, and now were making it easier on
both participants and providers, says
Jones, the USTAs director of Junior
Play. And were unbelievably excited
about all of this.
Every year, Junior Team Tennis,
which was established in 1991 and is for
players ages 5 to 18, brings thousands of
kids together in teams to play singles,
doubles and mixed doubles against
their peers. In 2014, there were 88,000
unique Junior Team Tennis participants, playing in nearly 800 programs
across the U.S. In addition to helping
youngsters grow as individuals, JTT
promotes social skills and fosters a
spirit of cooperation. Participants not
only learn tennis in a fun, team environment, but they also learn that succeeding is more about how they play the
gamewin or lose.
instituting two different JTT pathways.

For competitive juniors there is Championship Junior Team Tennis, where
the competition works its way up and can
culminate in playing for a national title.
But for the vast majority of youngsters
(and their parents) who are looking for a
fun way to hang out with friends and play
some tennis, theres local Junior Team
Tennis play, where USTA membership
is optional and tennis providers have
more flexibility to make their programs
successful.
There are other important changes,
too. JTT had a restrictive format that
required equal numbers of boys and girls
on a team, which often is hard to do. We
realized half the programs simply werent
doing the format, Jones says. So we
redesigned it to give flexibility on team
composition. Basically for the younger
kids, we recommend a co-ed format. We
recommend four to six kids on a team,
but some communities might want to
have more kids.
Everything is about having playing
time, and getting equal playing time for
every youngster, Jones adds. So we cut
the format back and doubled the playing
opportunities. Our recommendation is
to play a singles and doubles match for
each round, and do it for four rounds. But
again, if you have more kids you want
to have more matches. The bottom line
is, we want guaranteed matches for the
kids.
Another change is for level-based
play, also called cooperative lineups
when the two captains get together
before the match and agree on their
strongest and weakest players, so competition doesnt become a blowout.
Impact Locally
For tennis providers, the changes

seem to be having an impact. Since
the kids are playing more, their level of
confidence, understanding of the game
and skills have noticeably increased,
says Vanessa A. Purom, a league
captain in Vincennes, Ind. In the MidAtlantic Section, league coordinator
Cathy Shields notes, Our 18U group
got to play more, and matches were
completed more quickly, and league
captain Mike Callow adds, Our teams
are more evenly balanced.
So weve made it easier to form
teams, guaranteed match play, and
made it level-based, Jones sums up.
Everything else depends on the community and on what fits the needs of
the community. We have JTT programs in all 17 sections, but we know
were nowhere close to where we could
be with this program.
The goal in the next year is to
increase by 25 percent the number of
Junior Team Tennis programs in the
U.S, he adds, then 50 percent growth
in two years. Were trying not to focus
on membership participation. Our
big goal is growth in the number of
programs.
In my opinion, this is the biggest
change in competition for kids in my
30 years of coaching tennis, Jones
notes. I think were really going to
blow it out of the water. This is very
exciting stuff.
For more information about forming Junior Team Tennis programs, contact your USTA district or section.
20 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Racquet Service
Its Time for A Tune-Up
Enhance your equipment service, and keep players playing

their best, by promoting racquet tune-up packages.
By Bob Patterson
tringing and other racquet service

items are the cornerstone of
successful tennis retailing. These
services are not only high profit centers
but also generate foot traffic in your
shop.
It is easy to let this part of the business run on auto-pilot but with a little
bit of promotion, you can give them a
boost and enhance your bottom line,
too.
Your goal is to promote your services
and get your customers to have their
racquets serviced more often.
Education is essential in getting the
22 TennisIndustry
April 2015
point across to consumers that its important to keep their equipment in shape.
Most players really dont understand the
importance of restringingeven some

of the most avid and frequent players.
A good point to make to your play-
ers and customers is that you see most

of the top pros going to a fresh string
job on every ball change. While your
customers cannot be expected to go to
that extreme and take out a new, freshly
strung racquet every nine games, it is a
way to show them that strings do make
a difference in the performance of the
racquet.
Show Em What Theyve Lost
Having a way to verify tension loss also

is a great way to show customers a measureable verification of what they are
experiencing on the court. I often hear
club and recreational players say, I am
not good enough to tell the difference,
but in fact, that isnt true. Players of all
levels can tell if a racquet doesnt seem
to be playing like it did a few weeks
earlier.
When their racquets performance
begins to decline, having a numerical
verification can show them that they
can feel the difference. For instance,
using the Babolat Racquet Diagnostic
Center, Gammas ERT Tennis Computer or a similar device to measure and
track the string-bed stiffness, and its
decline with time and use, will convince
them that a restring is needed.
When a player has a racquet freshly

strung, put it on the diagnostic machine
and get the initial tension, then make
a note of it in the players file, with the
date. Then, tell him or her to stop back
regularly to check the tension. As the
player sees the tension drop, he or she
will have to determine at what point
they should restring (and along the
way, theyll be educated as to how their
racquet plays while their tension is
declining). While its tempting to say,
You should restring when you lose
X percent of your original tension, it
really is up to the player to figure out
what percentage tension loss they can
no longer tolerate.
Instead of discounting your services
to draw more sales, try doing a valueadded promotion, such as a bundle
price for a string job, new grip and
dampener. This ensures that you will
get bigger sales and the customer is still
getting a discount but wont necessarily wait for you to have a string sale
before getting their racquet serviced
again.
An added benefit to bundling is making players aware of the importance of a
fresh grip. This is too often overlooked
and when they get their hand on a fresh
grip, the racquet feels brand new again,

especially if it also has a fresh string job.
Get the Word Out
The Tennis Industry Association is a

good resource for advertising materials
using the Tennis Tune-Up campaign.
If you go to PlayTennis.com, under
Offers, then Tennis Tune-Up, theres
a For Retailers and Stringers dropdown that takes you to materials you can
download and use to reach out to tennis
players and consumers in your area about
the importance of and need for tuning up
your equipment. Some of the signs, banners and fliers are customizable so you
can add your stores name, location and
contact information.
Use in-store signage, fliers and local
ads to present a concise and consistent
message about the importance of fresh
strings and grips.
Also important, though, is making sure
your business is listed on PlayTennis.com
so when consumers in your area search
for a place to bring their equipment, buy
new gear or seek advice, they find you. If
you go to PlayTennis.com, you can sign
up as a Provider under the Get Listed
tab. Its all free and it will direct consumers to your business when they search.
April 2015
TennisIndustry 23
Apparel Trends
High-Tech
Fabrics Take
Performance
to a Higher
Level
By Emily Walzer
t last summers US Open, several ball boys

and girls wore Polo Tech shirts made by
Ralph Lauren that featured sensors knitted into the garment to read biological and
physiological cues. Soon enough this type of
smart shirt will move off the sidelines and onto center court,
as wearable technology is emerging as one of the strongest
trends in textiles right now.
Smart materials have been in development for decades, but
according to fabric industry experts, the category is ready for
mainstream. The latest innovations are functionally sleek
fabrications that have incredibly thin yet effective sensors
integrated into normal-looking activewear garments.
This is the beginning of an era of wearables, says Davide
Vigano, CEO of Sensoria. Vigano, previously an executive
with Microsoft, is helping usher in advances in how electronic
sensors can be used into everyday products. His firms new
sock, for instance, integrates conductive threads and sensor
into knitted hosiery that is machine washable. Worn with the
compatible electronic anklet device that magnetically snaps
onto the cuff, the sock tracks not only how far and fast you go,
but provides feedback on foot strike, posture and cadence.
While self-monitoring features are fast becoming a priority,
textile execs agree that products still must look good to prove
popular. The Ralph Lauren Polo Tech hits the mark with a
stylish, snug compression fit. Fabric developers expect the
24 TennisIndustry
April 2015
next wave of innovation will include tech-wear that is even

more attractive without sacrificing any functionality.
Fabric Customization
In addition to embedded fitness monitoring, another important trend in todays performance fabric sector is customization. Increasingly, textile suppliers are introducing fabrications personalized to individuals needs. For instance, textile
maker Schoeller has recently launched a refined application
for what are known as phase change materials in a line of
products called CoolIt, BalanceIt, WarmIt. (Phase change
materials are technically engineered to absorb and release
heat as necessary to enhance comfort by regulating body
temperature.)
What Schoeller has done is advance this concept by dialing
in a specific amount of these super high-tech phase change
material capsules and temperature settings, so the technology is customized to distinct needs. CoolIt could be used in a
lightweight jacket for summer that provides a cooling effect,
for example, while WarmIt could be used in a jacket in early
spring that provides a bit of warmth. It could be used as a literal warm-up jacket for players, says Schoeller spokesperson
Shannon Walton.
Regulating body temperature continues to dominate fabric
development, as this feature is key to athletic performance.
To do that, innovations in lightweight, functional fabrics that
move moisture, dry quickly and protect from the sun are
under constant review.
Recently, athletic companies have upped their game
with functional textiles focused
on tennis. New Balance, for
instance, signed Milos Raonic
(facing page) to a multi-year
contract and the Canadian star
will showcase the companys
new Mens Tournament Crew.
The shirt is made with a lightweight textured wicking fabric,
mesh inserts for supreme
ventilation, bonded back and
shoulder seams, and UV protection. The Tournament Crew
was designed to perform, is
how New Balance describes the
high-tech top.
Seasonal Transitions
Whats also trending in textile

technology is how traditional cold-weather fabrications
are being updated for warm-weather wear. Wool has been
edging into spring collections for a while, but now lightweight performance Merino wool is completely accepted
as a warm-weather option in everything from socks to
T-shirts. The latest wool products are soft, itch-free, easy

care, and offer a roster of functional benefits, such as wicking,
breathability and anti-odor properties. The emerging category
of techno-wool blendsfabrics
that combine Merino with a
synthetic fiberbumps the performance factor even higher.
Like wool, insulations are
also making a seasonal transition. New synthetic products
such as Polartec Alpha and
PrimaLoft Active are lightweight insulations designed to
provide just the right amount
of protection on cool days, but
wont feel bulky or clammy
when worn during an aerobic
workout thanks to a high degree of breathability built into
the insulation. Even insulations
made with down are now engineered for year-round wear.
According to one activewear designer, A down vest is a perfect
garment for spring.
While tennis has long been a sport about looking good while
performing well, todays modern materials can help players
take their game up a notch.
April 2015
TennisIndustry 25
Soft Goods
These outdoor facility winners

are excellent examples of softcourt construction.
26 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards
Treviso Bay Fitness Center
Fort Myers, Fla

(Nominated by Welch Tennis Courts Inc.)
No. of Courts: 9
Specialty Contractor: Welch Tennis Courts Inc.
Surface: Har-Tru Sports/California Products
Subsurface Irrigation System: Welch Tennis
Courts HydroGrid
Nets, Posts, Windscreens, Nails: Welch Tennis
Courts
Lighting: LSI Industries Courtsider System
Line Tapes: Har-Tru Sports
here were 17 outdoor tennis facilities that took honors in

the Tennis Industry/American Sports Builders Association Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards for 2014,
and eight of those are soft-court projects.
Five of these soft-court facility winners are located in Florida, with
other winners in North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. But seven of
these winning clay-court projects are the products of just two Floridabased specialty contractors.
At the Carmel Country Club Tennis Center in Charlotte, N.C.,
the entire tennis court area was demolished then reshaped to accommodate the construction of 10 new clay courts and two new hard
courts. Retaining walls were introduced, and some of the new sloped,
landscaped areas became casual seating areas for spectators. The new
drainage system uses trench drains and swales that result in courts drying much more quickly.
As part of a Miami Beach reconstruction project, the city redesigned
the Flamingo Park Tennis Center and built 17 subsurface-irrigated
courts and a new tennis center building. Incorporated into the concrete
curb design were new fencing and trench drains.
Existing asphalt courts were converted to eight new subsurface-irrigated courts at the Mission Bay Tennis Club in Boca Raton, Fla. The
original courts were installed below the surrounding ground, so a curb
was installed to raise the new court surface above the ground. Challenged by steady rain, each court had to be built separately.
The new courts at the Parkland Golf & Country Club in Parkland,
Fla., consist of two new subsurface-irrigated Har-Tru courts and a new
asphalt court, plus a basketball court. The project included fencing,
lighting, shade cabanas and court amenities.
The tennis facility at the Portage Country Club in Akron, Ohio, had
six overhead-irrigated clay courts, which were converted to subsurfaceirrigated courts. The look of the facility was updated with new vinylcoated fencing that included cut corners and vs, and new shade
canopies. Drainage was improved with new polymer concrete drains on
the low-end of the court batteries.
Richland Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., also converted its two
courts from overhead irrigation to subsurface irrigation. Since the facility wasnt all on one elevation, getting material to and from the court
posed a slight challenge, as did the frequent rain, which stopped the job
several times.
The new construction at the Treviso Bay Fitness Center in Fort
Myers, Fla., included eight subsurface-irrigated courts (in four twocourt batteries), one asphalt court, a concrete Playmate practice court,
two bocce ball courts and a half basketball court. The court contractor
installed a red brick curb, vinyl-coated fencing, bleachers, cabanas and
lighting. Because of scheduling challenges and rain that caused access
problems due to mud, multiple tennis crews needed to be working
seven days a week to help the general contractor meet his deadline.
The nine new courts (and one basketball court) at Valencia Reserve
in Boynton Beach, Fla., were put in in two phases, which required the
contractor to match the installation down to every subtle detail during
the second phase of construction. The court contractor also added fencing, curbing, lights, cabanas and court supplies. Peter Francesconi
April 2015
TennisIndustry 27
Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards

Carmel Country Club Tennis Center
Charlotte, NC
(Nominated by Global Sports & Tennis Design Group)
No. of Courts: 12
Architect/Engineer: Global Sports & Tennis Design
Group
General/Specialty Contractor: Court One
Surface: Har-Tru Sports; Advanced Polymer Tech.
Lights: LSI Industries
Posts: Edwards
Nets, Windscreens: Putterman Athletics
Practice Walls: Rally Master
City of Miami BeachFlamingo Park Tennis Center
Miami Beach, Fla.

(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc.)
No. of Courts: 17
Specialty Contractor: Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
Surface: Har-Tru Sports
Fencing: Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
Court Accessories: Fast-Dry & 10-S Tennis Supply
Windscreens: Aer-Flo
Mission Bay Tennis Club
Boca Raton, Fla.

No. of Courts: 8
Surface Material: Har-Tru
Subsurface Irrigation System: Welch Tennis Courts
HydroGrid
Nets, Posts, Nails: Welch Tennis Courts
Parkland Golf & Country Club
Parkland, Fla.
No. of Courts: 3
Surface: Har-Tru Sports/California Products
HydroGrid
Nets, Posts, Windscreens, Nails: Welch Tennis Courts
Portage Country Club
Akron, Ohio
No. of Courts: 6
HydroGrid
28 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Richland Country Club
Nashville, Tenn.
No. of Courts: 2
HydroGrid
Valencia Reserve
Boynton Beach, Fla.

(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc.)
No. of Courts: 9
Specialty Contractor: Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
Surface: Har-Tru Sports/Nova System (basketball
court)
Court Accessories: Fast-Dry & 10-S Tennis Supply
Lighting: LSI Industries
For details on the 2015 Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards, contact the ASBA at 866-501-ASBA or
info@sportsbuilders.org, or visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
April 2015
TennisIndustry 29
Racquet Selection
Finding the
Perfect Fit
Our exclusive Racquet Selection Map will help you
select a diverse inventory so your customers can
choose their perfect frame.
By Bob Patterson
s manufacturers continue to introduce more
racquets, it can be difficult to choose what
frames to carry in inventory. Most shops cannot afford to carry everything, so youll need
to make sure your inventory is varied enough
to accommodate all player typeswithout going overboard. If
you have 20 different frames on your wall, you want to make
sure that you dont have a lot of duplications from brand to
brand.
Our Racquet Selection Map can help you choose an inventory that covers all player types and reduces duplication.
First, take a close look at your clientele and make sure you
have something to offer everyone. Cover the gamut of power,
control and maneuverability. Use our Racquet Selection Map
to analyze your inventory offerings and fill in where needed.
30 TennisIndustry
April 2015
Knowing your customers will help tailor the inventory

mix to maximize sales. If the majority of your players fall
in one area of the Map, youll want to go a bit deeper in
these models and perhaps carry more subtle variations
such as length, head size and string pattern, if your budget
allows.
Second, use your knowledge to help your customers
hone in on the racquet that will suit them best. Find out
what they are currently using and what they would like to
change. Using the Racquet Selection Map, you can show
them frames to demo. Once they try the demos, listen to
their feedback to determine what to suggest next. Do they
need more power? More maneuverability?
The Map makes narrowing the selection easy and your
customers will appreciate your expertise.
Trends & Technologies

Smart frames, spin and customization are still some of the trends in racquets.
very year we see new technologies introduced as

racquet manufacturers strive to improve their
racquets. Their ultimate goal is to improve the
consumers game, so if their newest technology can improve a
players performance, theres a good chance they will buy. And
after all, just like you, the manufacturers are in business to sell
racquets.
As a racquet retailer, it is up to you to not only make your
customers aware of the new technology, but you must also be
able to show your customer how that technology can elevate
their performance on the court.
Some technology is easier to explain than others. What is
generally referred to as visible technology is usually simple
to explain and show, while a new material or handle system
may be more difficult since the new racquet looks pretty much
the same as the previous model. The bottom line is that you
need to learn about new technologies as they are introduced
and be able to explain what the technology is and what it can
mean to a customers game.
Some of the trends we are seeing include data technology,
spin and customization.
Smart Racquets: Babolat introduced the Play Pure Drive
model last year, and this year added the Play AeroPro Drive,
which Rafael Nadal started using at the Australian Open. The
racquets talk to your smartphone or computer, providing
stats about your performance during a match or training
session. Other products are being developed that track similar
information and attach to the strings of any racquet much
like a dampener. In fact, Sony unveiled a device last year that
attaches to the butt cap of a racquet, and Wilson and Yonex
have racquets that are set up to hook into the Sony system.
As this technology evolves, were sure to see more products
being developed.
Spin Is In: Almost every company is touting spin in their
marketing these days, with manufacturers introducing
racquets with open patterns to produce more spin.
For Prince, frames with Extreme String Pattern (ESP)
have fewer mains and crosses and claim to provide up to
30 percent more spin. Prince offers ESP racquets across
the spectrum, from a game-improvement super oversize
to tour-level mid-plus models. Wilsons Spin Effect
Technology features racquets with fewer cross strings (15 or
16 in most models). The company claims this enhances spin
with 3.3 times more string movement, 69 percent faster
string snapback and 10 percent more spin. Both Prince and
Wilson continue to add models to their ESP and Spin Effect
lines.
Customized Options: More companies are offering
customized options in many models. For the most part this
means offering the same racquets with variations in length,
weight or string pattern. But Head has several racquets with
its new Adaptive String Pattern, where, by changing out the
side grommet strips, the string pattern can be changed from
16 x 19 to 16 x 16.
Racquet Selection Map Key

1. Power/Control (columns). (formula =
length index x headsize x flex x swingweight) 1000. Length index calculation:
27" = 1.0, 27.5" = 1.05; 28" = 1.1, etc.
2. Maneuverability (rows). RDC (Babolat Racquet Diagnostic Center) swingweight units.
3. Racquet ID. The number in the grid
correlates to the accompanying racquet
list.
4. Headsize. Midsize and midplus (104
sq. in.) have no indicator.
Oversize (105-117 sq. in.) = . Superoversize ( 118 sq. in.) = :.
5. Length. x = extended length. Standard
length (27") racquets have no indicator.
6. Flex (RDC). a = < 60; b = 60-64; c =
65-69; d = 70-74; e = > 74. The higher the
number, the stiffer the racquet.
7. Company. Coded by number and
color. See accompanying racquet list on
the following pages.
32 TennisIndustry
April 2015
8. Racquet Quadrants and the Center of the

Racquet Universe. The center of the racquet
universe is located at the intersection of the
two red lines. Approximately half the racquets
lie to the right and left, and half above and
below these lines. The lines divide the racquet
universe into four color-coded quadrants
clockwise from top left: (1) quick power, (2)
quick control, (3) stable control, (4) stable
power. These characterizations provide a general vocabulary for comparing racquets.
9. Racquet Finder List. The racquet list
accompanying the map identifies all the new
racquets and gives additional information.
For a complete list of all current frames on the
map, go to TennisIndustryMag.com. The map
provides specific (very narrow ranges, anyway) swingweight, flex and power statistics,
and general size and length characteristics.
The racquet list specifies the length and size
and further specifies weight, balance, and
price.
How To Use It
1. Ask questions. What are you looking
for that your current racquet does not
provide? What do you like most and least
about your current racquet? What are the
strengths and weaknesses of your game?
2. Locate current racquet on map. If
the racquet is not in the list, take measurements.
3. Locating potential racquets. Depending on the answers to the above
questions, draw an imaginary arrow (a
wide or skinny one) from your present racquet in the desired direction for
power and maneuverability.
4. Narrowing the field. Shrink the
choices using the length, headsize, and
flex codes to match customer preferences.
5. Selecting racquet demos. Once the
choices are narrowed, locate the racquets by number in the racquet list.
34 TennisIndustry
April 2015
For a complete list of all current frames on

the map, go to TennisIndustryMag.com.
Newest Racquets on the Market

Racquet
Swing
Head
size Length Weight Weight Balance Balance Flex weight Power Retail
(gm)
(oz)
(in) (RDC) (kg x Formula Price
(cm)
(in2) (in)
cm2)
Babolat
Racquet
Swing
Head
size Length Weight Weight Balance Balance Flex weight Power Retail
(gm)
(oz)
(in) (RDC) (kg x Formula Price
(cm)
(in2) (in)
cm2)
Tecnifibre
11 Drive 115
115 27.60 264 9.31 36.30 14.29 65 298 2361 $159
169 T Flash 285 ATP
100 27.00 296 10.44 32.80 12.91 68
280
1904 $179
12 Drive Lite
100 27.00 274
36.00
14.17
68
306
2081 $169
172 T Rebound 265 Feel
105 27.00 283 9.98
34.40 13.54 70
304
2234 $179
18 Pure Drive (FSI)
100 27.00 315 11.11 32.40
12.76
71
304
2158 $199
19 Pure Drive + (FSI)
100 27.50 313 11.04 32.90 12.95 70
304
2234 $199
173 T Rebound 295 Pro
100 27.00 315 11.11 33.50 13.19 70
318
2226 $189
20 Pure Drive 107 (FSI)
107 27.13 297 10.48 34.00 13.39 67
303
2199 $189
21 Pure Drive 110 (FSI)
110 27.50 277 9.77
13.78 63
300
2183 $199
Volkl
22 Pure Drive Lite (FSI)
100 27.00 287 10.12 34.30 13.50 67
295
1977 $189
180 Organix 1 Super G
115 27.75 263 9.28
36.40 14.33 72
302
2688 $300
67
306
2050 $195
98
27.00 312 11.01 33.90 13.35 64
316
1982 $240
100 27.00 327 11.53 32.50 12.80 70
316
2212 $195
295g
25 Pure Drive Tour + (FSI) 100 27.50 313 11.04 32.60 12.83 71
325
2308 $195
98
27.00 340 11.99 32.70
67
331
2173 $240
26 Pure Strike (16x19)
311
1981 $189
325g
115 27.60 290 10.23 35.70
14.06 70
326
2782 $265
100 27.00 276
13.74
70
296
2072 $195
104 27.00 315 11.11 33.50 13.19 72
312
2336 $240
9.67
35.00
23 Pure Drive Team (FSI) 100 27.00 304 10.72 33.20

24 Pure Drive Tour (FSI)
98
27.00 321 11.32 32.70
13.07
12.87 65
(White & Orange)

(White & Orange)
Donnay 184 Organix 2 Super G
38 Gold Lite 99
99
27.00 299 10.55 33.30
13.11 68
298
2006 $249
Dunlop 189 Organix 7 Super G
9.74
34.90
12.87
52 iDapt Force 100 (27 inch) 100 27.00 322 11.36 33.70 13.27 70 321 2247 $200
295g
53 iDapt Force 100 (27.5 inch) 100 27.50 331 11.68 34.50
13.58
71
344
2565 $200
194 Organix V1 Super G MP 102 27.00 294 10.37 32.30
70
290
2071 $250
54 iDapt Force 100 S (27 inch) 100 27.00 320 11.29
33.50
13.19
71
311
2208
195 Organix V1 Super G OS 110 27.50 298 10.51 34.00 13.39 70
306
2474 $250
55 iDapt Force 100 S (27.5 inch) 100 27.50 326 11.50 34.50
13.58
70
340
2499 $200
$200
12.72
Weed
56 iDapt Force 105 (27 inch) 105 27.00 313 11.04 33.80 13.31 68 317 2263 $200
203 125-EX
125 27.50 269 9.49 36.25 14.27 69 311 2816 $209
57 iDapt Force 105 (27.5 inch) 105 27.50 317 11.18 34.50
204 EXT 125 Tour
125 28.50 265 9.35
13.58
68
335
2511 $200
36.00
14.17
64
331
3045 $250
58 iDapt Force 98 (27 inch) 98 27.00 315 11.11 33.20 13.07 66 304 1966 $200
Wilson
59 iDapt Force 98 (27.5 inch) 98 27.50 321 11.32 34.50 13.58 64 335 2206 $200
209 Blade 98 16x19
Gamma
65 RZR 100 (2015)
100 27.00 304 10.72 31.80 12.52 70
281
1967 $200
210 Blade 98 18x20
71 RZR 98 (2015)
98
313
1902 $180
27.00 315 11.11 32.80 12.91 62
98 26.90 315 11.11 33.60 13.23 63
319
1950 $230
335
2048 $230
98 26.90 311 10.97 34.30 13.50 62
327
1967 $199
104 27.50 304 10.72 33.20
305
1932 $230
2354 $220
(Braided Graphite + Basalt)

98 26.90 325 11.46 33.40 13.15 63
(Braided Graphite + Basalt)
Head 211 Blade 98 S
13.70 60
304
1824 $190
77 Graphene Extreme MP 100 27.00 313 11.04 32.90 12.95 68
309
2101 $190
212 Blade 104
78 Graphene Extreme Pro 100 27.00 328 11.57 32.10 12.64 68
318
2162 $190
79 Graphene XT
323
2100 $200
213 BLX Steam 105 S
105 27.33 300 10.58 33.70
215 Burn 100
100 26.90 299 10.55 34.70
76 Graphene Extreme Lite 100 27.00 281 9.91
100 27.00 323 11.39 32.50 12.80 65
Instinct MP
80 Graphene XT Instinct 100 26.80 247 8.71

(Black & Lime Green)

13.07
58
13.27
70
310
100 27.00 317 11.18 34.40 13.54 73
342
2497 $199
312
2162 $199
2457 $199
(Graphite Basalt Matrix)
35.20 13.86 60
299
1758 $200
216 Burn 100 LS

217 Burn 100 S
100 27.00 318 11.22 34.00 13.39 74
332
35.30 13.90 60
300
1764 $200
218 Burn 100 Team
100 27.00 281 9.91
34.00 13.39 59
286
1687
219 Burn 100 ULS
100 27.00 276
35.00
13.78 68
301
2047 $199
Rev Pro (16x16)
81 Graphene XT Instinct 100 26.80 247 8.71

34.80
Rev Pro (16x19)
9.74
13.66 70
$99
82 Graphene XT Instinct S 102 27.00 291 10.26 35.30 13.90 71
309
2238 $200
221 Five Lite BLX
105 27.25 266 9.38
37.00
14.57 26
305
853
83 Graphene XT Speed
100 27.00 318 11.22 32.90 12.95 68
319
2169 $225
222 Four BLX
105 27.00 264 9.31
35.90 14.13 71
291
2169 $220
228 Pro Staff 95 S
95
27.00 319 11.25 32.70
12.87 64
298
1812 $250
100 27.00 318 11.22 32.90 12.95 68
319
2169 $225
229 Pro Staff 97
97
27.00 324 11.43 32.90 12.95 65
319
2011 $230
85 Graphene XT Speed Pro 100 27.00 325 11.46 31.80 12.52 66
311
2053 $225
230 Pro Staff 97 LS
97
27.00 302 10.65 33.60 13.23 65
313
1973 $230
97
27.00 352 12.42 31.80 12.52 69
330
2209 $250
MPA (16x16)

MPA (16x19)
(Black & Red)
98
27.40 267 9.42
34.50 13.58 58
306
1809 $225
231 Pro Staff RF 97
98
27.40 267 9.42
34.60 13.62 58
306
1809 $225
234 Three BLX (113)
Autograph
Rev Pro (16x16)
88 Graphene XT Speed S 100 27.00 325 11.46 31.80 12.52 66
311
2053 $225
9.67
100 27.35 302 10.65 33.50 13.19 64
304
2014
243 Vcore Si 100
PowerAngle 244 Vcore Si 100 Lite
98
27.00 345 12.17 32.90 12.95 65
313
1994 $199
17
322
649
39.00 15.35 74
37.00
14.57
323
2695 $230
$260
Yonex
Pacific 242 Ezone Ai Rally
121 Ace of Diamonds
113 27.50 274
235 Two BLX (White & Gray) 110 27.25 255 8.99
Rev Pro (16x19)
112 X Fast LT
$230
245 Vcore Si 105
Prince 246 Vcore Si 98
107 27.00 288 10.16 34.25 13.48 62
297
1970
100 27.00 314 11.08 32.80 12.91 71
315
2237 $219
$99
100 27.00 294 10.37 33.60 13.23 69
300
2070 $219
105 27.00 285 10.05 34.80
13.70 68
306
2185
98
27.00 319 11.25 32.50 12.80 68
308
2053 $219
149 Warrior 107
107 27.00 314 11.08 32.00 12.60 67
303
2172
247 Vcore Si 98 Lite
98
27.00 302 10.65 33.50 13.19 68
307
2046 $219
150 Warrior 107 T
107 27.00 297 10.48 33.50 13.19 69
306
2259
248 Vcore Si Team 98
98
27.00 290 10.23 34.00 13.39 66
294
1902
152 Warrior Pro 100T ESP 100 27.00 295 10.41 33.90 13.35 64
315
2016 $199
252 Vcore Tour G 97 (310g) 97
27.00 331 11.68 31.80 12.52 63
319
1949 $219
253 Vcore Tour G 97 (330g) 97
27.00 350 12.35 31.80 12.52 63
343
2096 $219
*MSRP was not available at the time of print.

April 2015
TennisIndustry 35
Ask the Experts

Your Equipment Hotline
Benefits of the 50/50

Pattern
A recent discussion raised

the question of why a stringer would
use the 50/50 technique. What are
the advantages? Are there any disadvantages?
I have to admit that even after the
number of years I have been stringing, I have never used the pattern and
apart from the fact that it does reduce
the length of the cross string being
pulled through the mains, I cannot
think of any other advantage. (Useful
years ago perhaps when the Natural
Gut was not as good as it is these
days.)
The 50/50 technique is a

method of installing the
crosses on a two-piece string
job that involves starting the crosses at
the midpoint of the hoop instead of the
top or bottom, akin to the way you start

the mains in the center of the racquet
with two equal-length pieces of string
on either side of the starting point.
Historically, the 50/50 technique
was employed to reduce wear and tear
on the string (both mains and crosses)
when installing natural gut. With the
modern manufacturing methods used
to make natural gut, the 50/50 method
is rarely needed these days, especially
considering how few players are using
75-square-inch racquets with an 18x20
string bed.
Still, the 50/50 technique does offer
one modern advantage, and that would
be when using a stringing machine
without a turntable brake, with Prince
racquets with O-Ports along the sides.
Because you are always working from
the center out with the 50/50 technique, the force vector on the racquet
when pulling tension is always in your
favor, making the turntable brake

unnecessary. Prince has approved the
use of the 50/50 technique with its
racquets. Theoretically, it could also
be used on racquets such as the Wilson Rollers series, although you would
be doing so at your own risk.
As for disadvantages, there are a few
big ones. First, when using the 50/50
pattern on a directional racquet (that
is, a racquet where the crosses must be
installed a certain way), you cannot be
off on your starting point because you
wont be able to finish, let alone tie off.
Second, even on clearly marked
directional racquets (or directional
racquets designed in such a way that
you cant make a mistake in starting
on the wrong side of the racquet), you
still have to determine the midpoint of
the side of the hoop if youre hoping to
save string with this method.
Third, and perhaps most important,
We welcome your questions. Please send them to Tennis Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096; fax: 760-536-1171; email: greg@racquettech.com.
36 TennisIndustry
April 2015
with all the mains in, the hoop of the

racquet is as compressed as its going
to be. When you start the crosses at the
head, which is the recommended best
practice, you are gradually easing the
hoop back to its final shape, working
from the weaker end of the racquet
toward the stronger. With the 50/50
method, you are overcoming the hoop
compression by applying force at the
midpoints of the hoop, which transfers
the stress in the hoop down toward the
shaft and up toward the shoulders. This
has the effect of squaring off the hoop,
focusing the stress in the vulnerable
shoulders of the hoop. We would expect
there to be a lot more frame failure
on racquets strung using the 50/50
method.
on the machine. Most of the racquets

youre going to run into that exhibit
this characteristic are the less-expensive aluminum frames. Apparently,
at the price point for these racquets,
which are widely available at big-box
stores, the manufacturer is assuming
that the original strings will last the
life of the racquet, so there is no provision for professional restringing.
Therefore, during your initial
inspection of the racquet, try to determine if you have an aluminum (as
opposed to the more modern carbon
fiber) racquet. It can be more difficult
to spot these racquets at a distance
given the newer manufacturing techniques and better graphics, but once
you know what you are looking for,
they are easy to spot. Used racquets
will sometimes have some of the paint
scraped off, revealing the silver color
of aluminum rather than the black
color of carbon fiber.
If the racquet turns out to be one of
the less-expensive models, check for
cracks as you normally would, and be
very careful about checking the condition of the bumper guard and grommet strip. Replacements for these will
not be available for these racquets, so

if either is in bad shape you can alert
the customer immediately that the
racquet is not suitable for restringing.
Alternately, you can point out that for
the price of a good string job, he can
replace the entire racquet with a new
one of similar quality.
If the racquet passes this muster,
check to see what tie-off holes are
available. If there are not enough for
two-piece stringing, you can either
identify the location of the tie-off hole
you will be needing, and open it up
with an awl before you start stringing,
or revert to one-piece stringing. Keep
in mind that opening up a grommet
hole with your awl might damage that
grommet hole beyond repair.
If one-piece stringing turns out to
be your best option, you dont have
to settle for the conventional method
where you install the crosses from the
bottom up. There are several aroundthe-world and box patterns that
allow top-down installation of the
crosses when using one piece of string
on racquets where the mains end at
the throat.
Greg Raven
Too Few Holes
I read in the February 2015

issue of Tennis Industry
magazine the question from the reader who was restringing racquets that
seemed to have too many holes. I have
just the opposite problem: Racquets
with only two tie-off holes at the top,
and two tie-off holes at the bottom.
Obviously, you can string these
racquets using one piece of string, but
I prefer to use two pieces for speed,
convenience, and consistency.
What do you suggest I do when confronting one of these hole-challenged
racquets?
Racquets such as the ones you

describe are a problem because
for some reason they seem always to be configured so that the mains
end at the throat. You are able to tie off
the mains with no problem, and there is
a tie-off hole at the top where you start
the crosses, so you can miss the fact
that you are missing a tie-off hole at the
throat until you have installed all of the
mains and crosses.
Your best approach on these is to
start figuring out what you are going to
do before you even mount the frame
April 2015
TennisIndustry 37
String Playtest
By Greg Raven
Tecnifibre XR3 17
Tecnifibre XR3 is a multicore multifilament nylon string, made up

of 544 fine filaments in bundles surrounding the three larger PHP
Monocores, with everything held together by Tecnifibres polyurethane.
The Monocores and surrounding filaments provide a firm feel,
while the polyurethane is Tecnifibres exclusive formula, processed to give up to 400 percent elasticity for maximum comfort,
dynamic performance, and power, Tecnifibre says. XR3 is treated
with Tecnifibres Silicium Pyrogene Lubritec (SPL) anti-abrasion
coating, to increase durability.
Tecnifibre tells us that XR3 provides more power to players
using lighter (under 300 grams), lower-power frames, and at the
same time the polyurethane construction helps to eliminate the
vibration and shock to the arm that often accompany lighter racquets.
Tecnifibre XR3 is designed for players who want a comfortable,
powerful string that also offers a firm feel and control.
XR3 is available in 16 (1.30 mm) and 17 (1.25 mm) gauges in
Natural. It is priced from $14.95 for 40-foot sets and $229 for
200-meter reels. For more information or to order, contact Tecnifibre at 888-301-7878, or visit tecnifibre.com. Be sure to read the
conclusion for more information about getting a free set to try for
yourself.
38 TennisIndustry
April 2015
In the Lab
We tested the 17-gauge XR3. (We tested

a previous incarnation of XR3 16 in the
May 2008 issue of Racquet Sports Industry magazine.) The coil measured 40
feet, 1 inch. The diameter measured 1.23
mm prior to stringing, and 1.17 mm after
stringing. We recorded a string-bed
stiffness of 80 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 75 RDC units,
representing a 6 percent tension loss.
Our control string, Prince Synthetic
Gut Original Gold 16, measured 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 Tecnifibre XR3 17
has a stiffness of 177 and a tension loss
of 10.6 pounds. XR3 17 added 13.7 grams
to the weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks
Playtester Ratings
Ease of Stringing
(compared to other strings)
much easier
somewhat easier
about as easy
not quite as easy
not nearly as easy
10
15
11
2
0
Overall Playability
(compared to the string played most often)
much better
somewhat better
about as playable
not quite as playable
not nearly as playable
3
13
10
10
2
Overall Durability
(compared to other strings of similar gauge)
much better
somewhat better
about as durable
not quite as durable
not nearly as durable
2
5
8
17
6
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability (7th overall)
Durability
Power (19th overall)
Control
Comfort (3rd overall)
Touch/Feel (6th overall)
Spin Potential
Holding Tension
Resistance to Movement
3.9
2.8
3.6
3.5
4.2
3.8
3.1
3.4
3.3
by 38 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP

ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind
tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages.
Average number of hours playtested
was 18.9.
Tecnifibre XR3 is easy to install, a
point noted by several of our playtest
team members. The SPL lube is not so
heavy that it gets all over your hands,
but it makes installing the crosses and
negotiating blocked holes a breeze.
No playtester broke the sample during stringing, none reported problems
with coil memory, tying knots, or
friction burn, and one reported other
problems.
On the Court
Living up to its promise, PolyTour Spin

Tecnifibre promises comfort from XR3,
and our playtesters agreed it delivers,
ranking it second overall (tie) behind
only natural gut for Comfortand
some members of the playtest team
use heavier racquets than XR3s target
customer.
Our playtesters also ranked XR3 sixth
overall in the Touch/Feel category, as
well as seventh overall in the Playability
category, and 19th overall in the Power
category (meeting another of Tecnifibres design targets). XR3 also scored
well above average in the Control
category.
As a result, Tecnifibre XR3 scored
well above average overall of the 185
strings weve playtested to date for
publication.
Eight playtesters reported premature
fraying or peeling, one reported buzzing, and 11 reported notching. Twelve
playtesters broke the sample during the
playtest period, one each at 4, 6, 6.5, 9,
11, 12.5, 14, 18, 19, 20, 28, and 38 hours.
Playtester
Comments
Good string! Super
easy to string. Would
recommend for anyone
wanting soft feel and
comfort. Good tension
maintenance, too.
6.0 male all-court player
using Wilson BLX Blade
16x19 strung at 50 pounds
CP (Wilson NXT 16)
An excellent string for
playability and comfort.
4.5 male serve-and-volley
player using Babolat Pure
Drive strung at 59 pounds
CP (Wilson NXT 16)
If you like a gummy
thin string, this string is
for you. Provided great
comfort with excellent
touch and feel.

using Babolat Pure Strike
strung at 55 pounds LO
(Babolat RPM Blast 16)
A great string for players looking for only playability and easy on the
arm. For touch and feel it
cant be beat. This is not
for big-hitters.
4.5 male serve-and-volley
player using Head Radical
MP strung at 56 pounds CP
(Luxilon ALU Power 18)
Nice soft feel string.
Good depth on ground
strokes.
using Volkl Organix V1 MP
strung at 58 pounds CP
(Wilson Spin Cycle 16/17)
A very nice, comfortable

string that provides some
nice power. This string
would be a great fit for
the 3.5-4.0 club player
looking to fill a lot of their
needs.
4.0 female all-court player
using Babolat Pure Drive
strung at 60 pounds CP (Natural Gut 16)
String was OK but not as
aggressive as Id like.
using Babolat Aero Pro Drive
strung at 57 pounds CP
(Solinco Tour Bite 16)
(Strings normally used by
testers are indicated in parentheses. For the rest of the
tester comments, visit www.
tennisindustrymag.com.)
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM

Tecnifibre will send a free set of XR3 17 to the first 300 USRSA members who cut
out (or copy) this coupon and send it to:USRSA, Attn: Tecnifibre String Offer
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to stringsample@racquettech.com
Offer expires 15 April 2015 Offer only available to USRSA members in the US.
Name: __________________________ USRSA Member number: _________________
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If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.
Conclusion
According to Tecnifibres Playlab,

racquets that weigh less than 300 grams
generate 43 percent less power and 18
percent more shock, and XR3 mitigates
each of these issues. As mentioned
above, though, you still get XR3s comfort, touch/feel, playability, and power
even in heavier racquets. Not only that,
but our lab test shows that XR3 17 is the
softest string offered by Tecnifibre.
If you think that Tecnifibre XR3 17
might be for you, fill out the coupon to
get a free set to try.
April 2015
TennisIndustry 39
Your Serve
Respecting the Wisdom of a
Lesson Taught Years Ago
By Mark Rearden
ears ago when I was young, I

decided I needed a tennis lesson.
To no ones surprise, there was
no tennis professional to call upon in
Edgefield, S.C. At the time Augusta, Ga.,
was the largest city I had ever frequented, so I convinced my parents to let me
make a couple of long distance calls to
see if I could line up a lesson. I eventually got a lesson time and was able to
pay a friend gas money to take me to
Augusta.
I showed up at the Augusta Tennis
Center, a six-court rag of a facility by
todays standards, and started looking around for my instructor. All of
the courts were taken by players who
seemed to be experts and who must be
about to go on tour or who had been on
tour at some point. Boy, this is great, I
thought. This is where I want to be and
what I want to do. And then my pro
spotted me.
Are you Mark? Im Mr. Charlie
Fortune. My heart sunk. This guy had
to be at least 70 years old. All of these
major tennis studs spanking balls all
around me, and Im going on court with
the tennis version of The Old Man and
the Sea. I was crestfallen. Lets go hit
some balls, he said before I could make
up a fictitious name and get the heck
out of there.
On the walk to the back teaching
court (not one of the six with actual
lines), he began asking me questions
about where I was from and how I came
to travel from Edgefield for a tennis lesson. It took the entire walk to our court
to get my arms around the fact that I
40 TennisIndustry
April 2015
was going to be paying this guy with my

own money.
The entire lesson was somewhat of a
blur, and to my surprise the hour was up
before I knew it. At the end I did what
every good Southern boy learns to doI
made eye contact and offered my hand,
not too hard and definitely not the dead
fish, the appropriate squeeze that lets
adults know you were raised right.
Before we parted, he offered one
question: Mark, do you know what the
most important shot in tennis is?
Now I listen to pundits

talk about how Rafa never
takes a point off, meaning
to him the next swing is
the most important shot
in tennis.
Well of course, I answered. Its the
serve.
Nope, he said, knowing I was not
going to get it. I guessed several times
before I gave up and asked him to
deliver the answer. It is the next one,
Mark, he said, with a gleam in his eyes.
I just stood there like a deer in the
headlights.
Recognizing he had caused me to
brain cramp, he went on to tell me what
he meant. The next shot is the only one
you can do anything about.
Oh, it was a trick question, I replied.
This is where our roles reversed. Mr.
Charlie Fortune is now disappointed
about Mark Rearden being his student.
He went on to tell me that tennis is
played one swing at a time, a concept

I was too immature to understand
at the time. He explained that until
I learned to deal with what is before
me, there is no way I will ever learn
how to construct an entire match. My
heart sunk again.
Now, 46 years later, I listen to tennis pundits talk about how Rafa never
takes a point off, meaning to him the
next swing is the most important shot
in tennis. And this is why he is considered the most difficult opponent to
put away.
Recently, I shared this story with
a student who is only a bit older than
I am. Unlike young Mark Rearden,
she absorbed the truth of what Mr.
Charlie Fortune told me years ago.
Not only did she mentally absorb it,
but she put it to use the same day and
discovered what I wish I had grasped
so long ago.
I may be a few decades late, but I
will never again sully the wisdom of
a man I should have respected when
I had the chance so many years ago.
And Id like to share Mr. Charlie
Fortunes wisdom with everyone: The
most important shot in tennis is the
next one!
Mark Rearden is the Head Tennis Professional at Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C. A career tennis professional, he
is a certified PTR pro and an Elite Pro with
the USPTA. He authors a weekly newspaper column titled Mark My Words.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to TI@racquetTECH.com.
Inside this issue

USPTA Conferences
Provide Test Ground
for Prince 46
2XU Aids Injury
Prevention 48
Ten Commandments
of Coaching 56
Departments:
42 CEOs Message
44 Vice Presidents Message
46 Endorsee News
48 USPTA Benefits
49 Master Pro Corner
52 Staff Spotlight
54 USPTA News
56 Inside Coaching
58 Career Development
60 Member News
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
On the cover: Show enthusiasm on court! If you portray
energy, your players will in turn be energetic. See Page
56 for the Ten Commandments of Coaching.
CEOs Message
A Blur of Activity
by John Embree
he first quarter of every year

is an exciting time for our association and for the industry
in general. These three months
are a time when plans are set in motion
for the year, division conferences are
conducted, endorsees begin to activate
their affiliation with our members,
and industry meetings are held. Coming out of our January Board meeting,
there are a variety of new initiatives
that will be announced as the year progresses. I am stoked about what 2015
will bring!
As the dues cycle came to a close
in the office at the end of January,
the volume of phone calls and emails
inquiring about payments, equipment contracts with Prince, insurance
requests, etc., was striking. We always
do our best to handle everyone as
quickly and efficiently as possible, but
inevitably, we fall short of the expectations that our members have to timely
responsiveness. We will evaluate what
worked and what didnt and implement
improvements next time around.
Twelve of our 17 divisions hold their
respective division conferences during
an eight-week time period. Many are
held on the same weekends so we have
divided the responsibilities to ensure
that each has a Board representative in
attendance. It is vital that Board members have visibility with our membership in order to share the progress that
is being made nationally, while also
keeping a pulse on division activity and
concerns that exist in the field. I personally was able to attend at least four
division conferences during the year,
three of which took place between Jan.
19 and March 8.
By almost all accounts, participa-
42 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
tion at these division conferences is on

the rise compared to previous years,
which is good news. We are seeing both
new members and veteran members
who have either never attended a division conference or who have not been
involved in the recent past. Whether
that is a result of the continuing education requirement or a genuine thirst
for knowledge and a desire to improve,
it is difficult to say. But, our education department is slammed trying to
process all of the scanned QR codes
and education credits that have been
streaming in. With 21 months to go for
the 6-credit requirement to be fulfilled,
it is essential that every single member
understand the value of continuing
education and take action to satisfy the
stipulation.
Core Pillar No. 4 in our Strategic
Plan deals with strong alignment with
allied organizations. As a testament to
the importance of this initiative, Tom
McGraw was invited to attend the PTR
International Symposium at a frigid
Hilton Head in mid-February. Chuck
Gill, McGraw and I were very visible
during the CMAA World Conference in
San Antonio in March, and the following week, I was in the desert for a TIA
Board meeting, the TIA Tennis Owners
and Managers Summit in conjunction
with the BNP Paribas event at the In ardens.
dian Wells Tennis G
By the time you read this, I also will
have attended a three-day Junior Competition Summit in Orlando hosted by
the USTA before heading to Big Rapids,
Mich., to attend the Ferris State spring
event that brings industry leaders
together to help educate the PTM students on what is going on in the industry. On top of all of that, we are gearing
up for the semi-annual meeting of the

Executive Committee here in Houston
in mid-April along with a Board meeting. Our division Executive Administrators and Executive Directors will
also be in for a day of training prior
to the commencement of two days of
discussion with our association leadership. These three days of meetings
come right on the heels of the USTA
Annual Meeting in Florida. So, the first
three weeks of April are just as busy, to
say the least.
Finally, it is not too early to begin
the preparations for the USPTA World
Conference in New Orleans, Sept.
21-25. We are back to our traditional
dates in mid-September and our usual
format of four days of education, socializing, networking and celebrating
all that New Orleans has to offer. Our
staff is already vetting plans and programs that indicate that this World
Conference will indeed be very special.
If you have never been to the Crescent
City, what better time to do so? And,
you get continuing education points
on top of it!
My hope is that we all can take a
deep breath in late April and reflect on
the whirlwind that is the first interim
of the year. However, we cannot rest
on our laurels for very long, knowing
what lies in the months ahead. The
USPTA has become a dynamic, vibrant
association with unlimited potential.
The challenge is always to harness that
upside and to engage each and every
member with an understanding of
what we are trying to accomplish. The
blur of activity is not going to stop. Feel
free to reach out to me if you have any
questions and thanks for all that you do
to support our association. h
Vice Presidents Message
The Time is Now
by Alan Cutler
We are still giving members continus we all know, all USPTA certraining soon to include what has been
ing education credits for any professiontified members (excluding
the on-court training workshop, which
al growth activities or events that they
international members and
is the second piece of Coach Youth Tennis. The online version is in addition
attend. All you have to do is submit the
those over 65 years of age)
date, duration and some proof of attento the live workshops that will be given
need to earn 6 educational credits
throughout the year. New members will
dance for the activity or event. You can
(12 hours) over a three-year period.
be asked to attend a live workshop unsubmit an email, letter, receipt or certifiWell, the first year is gone and many of
less there is not one
cate to verify your attendance. USPTA
you still have not
Time is ticking; take advantage
scheduled in their
typically assigns one credit for every two
started. We hear
area. Existing memhours of education or training. Divisions
all kinds of reasons of the free education with USPTA,
including, I dont through our allied groups webinars, bers are encouraged are having their conventions as well as
or at coachyouthtennis.com to
stand-alone education. The 2015 USPTA
to take the online
want to take the
National Education Day is set for Sattime off or Its too complete your continuing education version to enhance
urday, Nov. 14. There will be education
their knowledge of
expensive to travel. requirement.
activities and events regionally and all
10 and Under TenThere is good news
nis and earn some much-needed conover the country. If you are interested in
USPTA is making continuing education free and convenient.
tinuing education credits. The online
hosting and/or giving a seminar, please
The USPTA Education Commitversion should be ready in the spring.
contact your division leaders.
tee, under the direction of the Board of
David Benzel of Growing Champions If you are interested in giving a webinar, please contact me at
Directors, has concentrated on making
for Life has been offering regular webinars that our members are encouraged
playtennisforlife.info@yahoo.com with
webinars happen more often. Last year
to view. If you are interested in signing
a proposal. We are looking for educawe hosted seven webinars, and this year
tion-based PowerPoint presentations
we hope to have 12. If you listen to every up for Davids webinars, they will be
promoted in our e-news with a link to
with about 40 slides. We are also lookone of these webinars, you will have
ing for new speakers.
the sign-up page. His webinars tend to
your education requirement complete
Time is ticking; take advantage
be in the evening.
without ever leaving your home or ofof the free education with USPTA,
fice. We cannot make this more conve Tennis Industry Association has
through our allied groups webinars, or
nient. One hour of your time, and if you
periodic webinars available for free. We
at coachyouthtennis.com to complete
cannot make the time that the webinar
will list those in the e-news also when
is scheduled, many of them are being re- we have the information. These are anyour continuing education requirement.
other way to get education credits.
corded and you can listen to them when
Let's get started now! h
you have time. By the way, did I mention
these are free of charge? What a great
benefit from USPTA!
Some of the webinar subjects we have
coming up include equipment, facility
management, high performance, stroke
production, diversity, and finance, just
to name a few. These webinars are being
given by world-class speakers including
Bruce Levine, Feisal Hassan, Ramona Husaru and Chuck Gill. Check the education
calendar at uspta.com/education and look
out for the USPTA e-news for dates.
Coach Youth Tennis is also available
to you. Currently, there are the six free
online courses that will also take care
of the education requirement once you
complete the last course. You can do
these courses 24 hours a day on demand
at www.coachyouthtennis.com. They
To see how many education credits you have, go to uspta.com/education and click on View Education Report Card.
are going to expand their web-based
Endorsee News
USPTA Conferences Provide Test

Ground for Prince
he USPTA division conference

season proved to be the perfect testing ground for the new
TeXtreme racquet collection
from Prince. As the official racquet and
ball supplier for the USPTA, Prince had
representatives on-site not only to answer questions about products, but they
also provided attendees with an opportunity to test drive the new racquets before
they were available to the general public.
And the response was enthusiastic!
The four TeXtreme frames will
make it much easier for a player to
choose the right fit," said one USPTA
pro at the USPTA Texas conference.
Even though I want to play with the
Tour 95 or the Tour 100T, I will probably teach with the 107 because it is appropriate for almost any level.
In addition to the selection of four
frames, the unique look and feel of the
new TeXtreme collection did not go unnoticed.
These have a sleek and stealthy

look. Ive never seen another racquet that comes close, I really like
them.
Northern California USPTA Pro
The TeXtreme Tour 100T is sweet,
balance feels great and its incredibly stable gives me plenty of
power and I still feel great control!
Kansas USPTA Pro
Prince Brand Manager Craig Gansen shows the newest Prince TeXtreme racquet line at the USPTA Intermountain conference, Feb. 6-8, at Lifetime Fitness in
Centennial, Colo.
The hands-on support of the

USPTA conferences by Prince are
a small part of our commitment to
strengthening and growing our partnership, said Brad Wakely, Marketing Manager, Prince Global Sports.
Establishing a true partnership with
the USPTA pros will give Prince a solid
grassroots platform to build on and
we hope will help create consumer demand for our products. h
The hands-on support of the USPTA conferences

by Prince are a small part of our commitment to
strengthening and growing our partnership.
Brad Wakely, Marketing Manager,
Prince Global Sports
From left: Tyler Doty, USPTA, Taisuke Kikuchi, USPTA, and William McDonald test out the new Prince TeXtreme racquets at the USPTA Texas Annual Conference in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
THIS IS REAL TENNIS TECHNOLOGY
YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL.

Introducing Prince
KEY FEATURES:
Built with TeXtreme, an advanced,

super thin material that packs more
carbon fibers per square inch
This proven technology is infused

into the racquets throat and head,
optimizing racquet dynamics
Tighter, 45-degree weave of the

carbon material maximizes the
stiffness-to-weight ratio
princetennis.com
Racquets.
USPTA Benefits
2XU Aids Injury Prevention
By Mark Schminke, USPTA
ts no surprise that compression gear

is regarded as the go-to for athletes.
It seems like every clothing company
makes it, and every box store seems to
sell it. But with the over-abundance of options, one can get lost in appearance, while
forgetting the true intended purpose of
compression. Apparel company 2XU
brings compression to a whole new level;
one that most of us didnt know existed.
In order to adequately review 2XUs
compression gear, I need to define what
makes compression gear so beneficial.
Compression clothing has been proven to
improve athlete performance before, during and after activity through improved
circulation, muscle containment and
reduced muscle vibration, all of which
is dependent on the type, thickness and
weave of the material. Just because a fabric
is stretching and form fitting, doesnt make
power. Their Recovery line is a thicker
it a good compression. 2XUs fabric is what
material, composed entirely of the 105
sets it leagues apart from other compression apparel brands. Their fabric, PWX,
Denier PWX weight fabric, providing the
stands for power, weight and flexibility. Its maximum amount of blood circulation for
a collection of three premium compresreduced muscle soreness post workout.
sion fabrics, all woven
These three
with a superior medi- Compression clothing has been proven
lines encompass
to improve athlete performance before,
cal grade circular
the complete
knit structure. This during and after activity through improved possibilities
allows for 360-degree circulation, muscle containment and
that compression provides.
stretch, greater flex- reduced muscle vibration
I tested a
ibility, unsurpassed
few pieces from 2XUs Elite and Recovery
power and increased durability.
2XU offers four lines of compreslines during one of the most tiring and
sion gear: Standard, Elite, Recovery and
work-intense two weeks of 2014. Not
Thermal. For this review, we will save
only was I teaching more than 40 hours a
the Thermal line for another review.
week, I was training for a tournament. My
Both Standard and Elite are intended for morning started with three to four hours
use during the workout, while Recovery
of hitting, an hour lunch break, and then
is intended for post workout. They are all seven to eight hours of teaching. Before
extremely functional in all aspects, but
wearing compression, my ability to teach
each has its own specialty.
in the afternoon was diminishing because
The difference between the three lines
of the morning hitting sessions. Each
is the material thickness. The thicker the
morning I wore 2XUs Elite compression
material, the more strength and support;
shorts and Elite long sleeve compression
the thinner the material, the more flexibiltop. I felt great after the hitting session.
ity. 2XUs Standard line uses a 70 Denier
The shorts kept my quads and hamstrings
PWX weight fabric through the entire
well compressed for all of my clay court
product, while their Elite line uses an extra sliding, while the compression top helped
powerful 105 Denier PWX weight fabric in
keep my body temperature up. After my
specific places that require strength and
lunch and cool down, the fatigue started
to kick in. My upper body felt good, but

my calves and forearms were completely
dead. I felt as if I had no control over the
two muscles. Before work, I put on 2XUs
compression socks and arm sleeves. Seconds after putting on both pieces, I felt an
immediate relief. The increased blood circulation decreased the throbbing, and the
compression created a sense of strength
and composure. These two pieces made it
possible to teach the rest of the day.
After dinner and a shower, I put on
the Recovery tights. I slept in these every
night, wore them around my house at all
available moments, and if cold enough,
wore them to work in the afternoons.
The 105 Denier PWX fabric created the
most amazing compression, as if someone was permanently massaging your leg
muscles. From then on, my main purpose
of wearing compression was for postworkout recovery. By the end of the week
my body was exhausted, so I gave myself
a full two days of rest before competing
in the tournament. After three days of
matches, I lost in the finals, but greeting
me when I walked through my front door
were my Recovery pants.
I cant say I wouldnt have made it
as far in the tournament without these
compression pieces, but I can say that
the training involved to make it to the
finals would not have been possible
without all five pieces. My body could not
endure the stress placed upon it through
hitting sessions and lessons without
the aid of 2XUs compression gear. The
confinement of muscles let me perform
above and beyond my capabilities. The
circulation of blood helped my muscles
recover over night from a days beating.
I can honestly say that I will never train
without the aid of 2XUs gear. Theyre the
best in the industry, and when it comes
to injury prevention for my profession, I
would never wear anything else. h
Mark Schminke is a USPTA Elite Professional and
a graduate from the University of Virginia. He has
more than 10 years of teaching experience, served
as the USPTA South Carolina President, and is the
owner of the Schminke Tennis Academy.
Master Pro Corner
My Search for Mission Accomplished
By Bob Love, USPTA Master Professional
here is no such thing as teaching called backward chaining. Instead of go only learning! Your mission
ing A-B-C, we taught going C-A-swing to
is to create a positive learning
C. It allowed me to take total beginners
environment for your students. and have them produce repetitive strokes
with the ball going over the net every
Those were the opening words of Dr.
Eugene Smith, president of the National time in 10 minutes maximum.
Council of Teachers of Mathematics, to my math methods class at
Preparing and Presenting
Wayne State University, Detroit, in
is a fabulous way to enrich
the fall of 1967. They hit me like a
your knowledge and share it.
sledge hammer! That mission statement has stuck with me for 48 years
as I still seek to create a positive
learning environment. The journey
has been long, challenging and continues today.
Because of my background in
education and engineering, I resolved to use a step-by-step process
for my professional growth.
Step 4: Target objective results. Positive learning comes from positive reinforcement, either internal or external.
Master Pro Guy Parks, Director of Tennis,
Racquet Club of Columbus, and I designed
objective skills tests for all levels of our
junior instruction. Results
were amazing as the children had the fulfillment of
acquiring new skills.

We had four distinct
lesson sequences for children 10 and under. The
approach we used came
from a powerful program of
objectives-based learning.
Robert Mager wrote a series of six books that were
the foundation for our curriculum development.
Step 1: Curriculum develop and

lesson plans. In 1967, I resolved
that I would never step on the court for
a lesson without a clear-cut lesson plan
that was part of a positive curriculum. I
created handouts for my students so they
could take home information and place it
in a file for courtside use during matches.
Master Idea 5: Use objectives-based testing for

positive development.
Master Idea 1: Preparation helps pros

grow!
Step 2: Form-based learning. In 1972
I had the biggest AHA! moment of my
entire tennis-teaching life. I was searching for a method that would allow me
to introduce strokes instantly or at
least extremely quickly. While observing a golfer with no tennis experience
stroke the ball perfectly, I noticed that
he finished every stroke with a vertical racquet. I tried that technique and
found my strokes were going over the net
with ease! I then used that as a learning
method in some beginner clinics, and
the results were truly amazing. I taught
the stroke from finish to start to finish!
We would have the student learn the
pose for the finish, take the racquet back,
and swing to the finish. This method is
Master Idea 2: For competition, function precedes form. For skill acquisition
(learning), form precedes function.
Master Idea 3: Know that a ball goes
over the net because is has to. If the path
of a racquet is correct, the ball must go
over the net.
Step 3: Speak the game. Dozens of pros
have asked me. How can I become a really good teacher? My answer is simple,
Teach the game to other tennis educators.
I was offered opportunities to speak to high
school coaching groups and later at many
USTA and USPTA conferences. Preparing and Presenting is a fabulous way to
enrich your knowledge and share it. Once
I had a good program, then I could add it to
my Presentation Menu and work to create something else. My greatest personal
environment for growth came in the Prepare and Present process. Start out with a
25-minute presentation with handouts for a
local clinic and see how much fun it can be.
Master Idea 4: Prepare and present for
professional growth.
Step 5: Learn! A master teacher is a

master learner. With the resources we
have today, especially from the USPTA,
every pro and coach can acquire incredible information. Observe your students
not just watch them. Learn how to
chart and provide competitive feedback
to your players.
Master Idea 6: Competitive feedback is
the true key to a successful coach-player
relationship.
My journey will go on as long as I
have eyes for observation and studying
tennis resources. For me, tennis is truly
the sport of a lifetime! h
Bob Love has been a national clinician for the USTA and at USPTA
conferences. He has made presentations in Spain and Egypt and has
been a tennis teacher for 48 years,
a 44-year member of the USPTA, and a 31-year
member of the Southern Division. He can be
reached at boblovetennis@windstream.net.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 49
Staff Spotlight
Randy Jenks
Manager of USPTAPlayer.com
What do you do at USPTA? My job
is to manage, support and promote the
business of our members and divisions
on USPTAPlayer.com, our club and
community website content, and tennis
program management platform.
to be late or not respond to someone. I

try my best to respond to every email,
text message and phone call. I also operate on Lombardi time, 15 minutes early
is on time and 10 minutes early is 5 minutes late.
Whats your education background?

I attended Coastal Carolina University
and University of North Florida. I graduated from University of North Florida
in 94 with a bachelors degree and in 96
with a masters degree.
Where have you lived? I have lived in

over a dozen different cities across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
What do you like best about your

job? What I like best is becoming
friends professionally and personally
with people from all over the country
and learning about the differences in
our business from club to club and from
one part of the country to another. I am
always interested in how things can be
nearly identical at clubs separated by
thousands of miles and also so different.
I think it has made me stronger in my
ability to manage a range of things, not
just as it relates to club management.

Do you have a specific work ethic or
personal philosophy that you live
by? One is a short phrase that I have
always used with my former club staffs
What would people be surprised to

know about you? Maybe that I worked
for IBM for six years after college before
coming back to tennis. Or that I have a
career win over Vince Spadea lol. (Hey
Spadea, I aint afraida ya!)
Randy with his wife, Karen, and daughter,

Charlotte.
and that I remind myself of whenever it
seems easier to take a shortcut. Details
Matter! When shortcuts are taken or
we think that some small detail could
never matter, then it will most likely
pop up and bite us. I believe it is better
to spend double the amount of time
on the small details and make sure
they dont cause a problem than to
later spend half the
amount of time cleaning up a mess that has
made us look bad.
A couple other
work ethics or philosophies I have are
punctuality and responding to people.
There are many great
things about the Internet age, but there
are also some things
that I find frustrating
that the Internet has
made so informal and
insignificant. Today
it seems almost common and acceptable
If you could go anywhere in the world

or do anything, where/what would it
be? Its very hard to give only one answer.
I definitely hope to see many parts of the
world and do many things. The first thing
to come to mind at the moment, if I could
do anything, is that I would like to drive
in the Indy 500, Daytona 500 or Rolex 24.
I guess I have that male go fast gene.
What are your hobbies? My personal
time is largely spent doing family things.
My wife, Karen, and I have a 9-year-old
daughter, Charlotte. She is presently in
softball season, so some evenings and
weekends we try to get a little extra time
in the batting cages. I am a huge fan of
the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles. I
am also a car nut. I like looking at cars,
talking about them, washing/detailing,
working on them, and of course, driving!
What event in your life would you like
to live over and why? The first thing to
come to mind would be going to spring
training at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., with my parents and being
lucky enough to get back into the player
clubhouse area. I got every autograph
from the roster of the 1980 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Mike Schmidt,
Steve Carlton, Pete Rose, etc. It doesnt
get any better than that for a kid. h
USPTA News
Surface Tournament Season Continues

with USPTA Clay Court Championships
he third tournament in the Mas- tennis members, but it is best known for
ters Invitational Series takes
hosting the Florida Open. The national
place in April in Fort Myers,
junior tournament began in 1990 by the
Fla., at the USPTA Clay Court
USTA to improve the competitiveness
Championships. This four-day tournaof Americas young tennis player on
ment takes place April 30-May 3 at the
clay court surfaces. Former participants
Landings Yacht, Golf & Tennis Club and have played professionally, including
is open for registration to USPTA-cerAndy Roddick, M
onique Viele, Levar
tified Professionals
Harper Griffith,
As a benefit to certified members, Carly Gullickson,
through April 19.
the surface championships provide Amer Delic, Goran
Total prize
money for the tour- an opportunity to play against other Dragicevic and Jesse
USPTA Professionals, showcase
nament is $10,000
Witten. The Florida
skills, and win prize money.
and will feature
Open has received
events in the followrecognition as the
ing categories: men's and women's open
most outstanding junior tournament in
singles and doubles competition, mens
the USTA/Florida Section.
and womens 35 singles, men's and wom As a benefit to certified members,
en's 45 singles and 45 doubles, mens 55
the surface championships provide
singles and doubles, mens 65 singles and
an opportunity to play against other
doubles, and mixed open and 45 doubles.
USPTA Professionals, showcase skills,
The Landings will host the Clay
and win prize money. Members who
Court Championships for the second
play in the surface championships
consecutive year, and the tournament
have the opportunity to play their way
is sponsored by Fort Myers Realty &
into the USPTA Masters Invitational.
Property Management, LLC, USPTA
The brand new event will be held at
Florida Division and the Landings.
the 2015 USPTA World Conference in
The club is home to 13 lighted Har-Tru
New Orleans. This tournament, which
courts and boasts 500 active playing
replaces the International Champion-
ships, gives USPTA-certified Professionals an added opportunity to showcase their skills and earn a portion
of the $15,000 prize money, which is
the largest amount awarded of all the
USPTA tournaments.
Players receive points in both the
main draw (if they win at least one
match) and in consolation play (if it
is offered). In consolation matches, a
player or team advancing by default will
receive credit for a win as long as that
player or team does not default the next
match. Doubles players will receive individual rankings. See the chart at uspta.
com/tournaments for points earned.
Entry deadline for the 2015 USPTA
Clay Court Championships is April 19.
Register online at www.usptaplayer.
com/tournaments/799.
The USPTA Surface Championships are open to all USPTA-certified
Professionals in good standing. To see
the current rankings or learn more
about ranking rules, sanctioned tournaments, and tournament regulations
and requirements, go to uspta.com/
tournaments. All tournaments are run
through usptaplayer.com. h
USPTA Clay Court Championships

April 30-May 3, 2015
Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club
Fort Myers, FL
USPTA Grass Court Championships

May 29-31, 2015
Desert Highlands
Scottsdale, AZ
USPTA Masters Invitational

Sept. 21-23, 2015
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans, LA
USPTA Hard Court Championships

Nov. 6-8, 2015
Hollytree Country Club
Tyler, TX
Visit uspta.com/tournaments for more information.
USPTA News
2015 USPTA Annual Awards Program

Open for Nominations
he USPTA is accepting nominations for its 2015 National Awards

Program. As the leader in tennisteacher education and certification, each year the USPTA honors members who are committed to excellence as
tennis teachers and as ambassadors using
tennis to impact people and communities.
The USPTA is accepting nominations until the July 7 deadline. All
Professional-level members are eligible.
Recipients will be recognized during the
USPTA World Conference, Sept. 21-25,
at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in
New Orleans. The awards categories are:
USPTA Stars are members who have
dedicated many years to volunteering in
grassroots tennis and through initiatives
incorporating multicultural and other
aspects, and who bring the sport and
sportsmanship to the players they touch.
Their giving spirits have made them stars
in their own communities.
The USPTA Industry Excellence
Award is given to teaching professionals
who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They
use resources to build programs that bring
tennis to more people. The recipient of this
award will receive a $1,000 grant from the
Tennis Industry Association and a Tennis
Tutor ball machine from Sports Tutor for
use in his or her grassroots programs.
The Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year recognizes a member
who, over a career, has demonstrated
exemplary achievement in seven areas,
including: contributions to USPTA and
USTA; as a teaching professional, player
and coach; in education, research and
publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions.
The only USPTA award available
to nonmembers is for Manager of the
Year, Large and Small Facility. Applicants/nominees must be the general
manager (in function, if not in title) of a
club or tennis facility.
College Coach of the Year and
High School Coach of the Year award
recipients are usually selected based on
Tom McGraw and Randy Mattingley, 2014 USPTA Professional of the Year
their results as team coaches, however,

individual coaches may be considered.
The Tim Gullikson Touring Coach
of the Year is selected on the basis of his
or her work with a playing professional
on the ATP World Tour or the WTA Tour
and/or touring juniors.
The George Bacso Tester of the
Year Award recognizes the USPTA tester who does the most to advance certification opportunities and the certification process.
The USPTA Lessons for Life
Award recognizes members who have
done the most to raise money for charities
through tennis events. While the award
spotlights individuals who have raised
large amounts of money, it also honors
those hosting the most creative, original
or unique tennis event to raise money.
The USPTA Tennis Across
America Award recognizes members
who have done the most to get people to
play tennis. It also has a multicultural segment that targets various communities
and potential players who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play. While
the award does look at individuals who
have held the most free clinics with the
greatest number of participants, it also
looks at individuals hosting the most creative, original or unique free tennis event.
The USPTA Diversity Award
recognizes USPTA members who have

demonstrated an outstanding ability to
unite diverse populations within their
community through tennis.
All Player of the Year awards will
now be awarded to the No. 1-ranked
player for each category (listed below) in
singles and doubles, or combined when
applicable, based on year-end USPTA
rankings and not current USPTA rankings. There will no longer be an application process for Player of the Year Awards
in every category. The categories for this
award are: mens open, womens open,
mens 35-and-over, womens 35-andover, mens 45-and-over, womens
45-and-over, and mens 55-and-over
and womens 55-and-over.
Award nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.uspta.com/
awards, by calling 800-877-8248 or
by sending a request to pr@uspta.org.
Since changes have been made to some
individual categories, as well as Division of the Year criteria, please be sure
to read the general rules and requirements for each award carefully. Also
there are changes to the awards format
and presentation at the conference, so
please note that while all awards will be
announced in writing at the conference,
not all awards will be presented formally
as they have in the past. h
Inside Coaching
Ten Commandments of Coaching
By Jimmy Royalty, USPTA
s a USPTA tennis professional

it is very important to put your
best foot forward. This will in
turn grow your business and
you as a professional. So many times I
see common mistakes made by teaching
pros that can directly affect the way they
are viewed by the tennis community.
This is what sparked, The Ten Commandments of Coaching. The following is a list of 10 things that can make or
break you and your tennis program.
Attire
It is very important that you portray
someone who looks the look. Having the
proper clothing is a very important part in
fulfilling your role as a tennis coach. Most
teaching pros have some sort of sponsorship that may provide clothing. Maybe the
facility where you work provides attire
for you, including a name tag. A collared
shirt is considered the most professional
look. Whatever your situation may be, it is
important that you stand by your sponsor
or facility and promote them.
This does not only apply for your
clothing, but shoes as well. Having tennis shoes is very important. Again, if
you have a sponsor, you have an obligaYour goal as a USPTA Pro is not to be
average, but set the bar for the rest
of the tennis community.
tion to wear and sell these shoes to your

clients. It is also part of the USPTA exam
to have clean tennis shoes. I have seen
teaching pros teach in running shoes,
flip flops or sandals. Why would we ever
stray from what we were taught?
By not adhering to these guidelines
you are disrespecting those who are taking care of you and it is a reflection of
how much you care. Most importantly
you must always wear a smile.
Preparation
Whether you are the director of tennis or
an assistant part-time employee, it is important to be prepared. This means arriving at least 10 minutes before the scheduled lesson or clinic. Have your teaching
supplies ready for action. Targets and
teaching aids should be with the baskets.
Have hoppers or tubes ready for students
to pick up the balls. The pro should also
have his/her sunscreen on and be ready
to go. Go to the restroom ahead of this
time as well the pro should never have
to leave the court 10 minutes in to go to
the restroom. When the session is scheduled to start, this is the start time for the
students, not the pro.
As students are picking up balls, be
preparing for the next drill. Ask the leader

what is coming next. Nothing is more annoying than sending students to a court
for a drill and seeing them wait for the assistant to set up the court. This should be
done prior to the students getting to the
court, if there is time.
Targets
Targets should be used on every court
when applicable. This also may include
ladders, jump ropes, balls, etc. I use
these teaching tools as stations on the
court. This prevents anyone from ever
standing during a clinic session. You can
have two to four players hitting and have
two jumping rope. Then switch the students out as needed.
The most annoying thing about targets and teaching devices is when staff
leaves them on the court after the session. This is extremely frustrating when
you are teaching at an outdoor facility.
Weather can deteriorate these items
costing your facility financially in replacing these items. This also applies to
ball hoppers and ball tubes. Be sure you
leave the court as you found the court.
Feeding
It is important that you feed to the level
of the student. For example, when working with beginners, dont hit with massive
amounts of spin. Maybe you should be
hand tossing to certain students. Your
job as a coach is to make your players feel
successful and confident when leaving
your program. The ball should be fed into
the strike zone (waist high) of the player.
The higher the level, the tougher the feed
can be. Make sure you are feeding with
a continental grip as this will allow the
ball to sit. Feeding with a semi-western or
western grip will not allow for your players to succeed. Using these grips will also
more than likely fatigue your arm and
energy in the long run.
Verbal
My philosophy is that it is better to over
coach than under coach. The student
should be able to hear you at all times.

I can always tell when a coach is not
involved and from my perspective, does
not care. Being quiet or silent will send
the wrong message to not only the student but also to everyone else that may
be watching. This may be the parent of
a junior player or a potential client who
will now go elsewhere due to your perceived lack of energy. Communication is
key in our sport. Lack of communication
will send the wrong message.
Be Involved
In clinic/camp situations,
make sure you are always
involved as a coach. When
the group is picking up balls,
this is the best time to coach.
Pulling a child over during
the ball pick up can make
all the difference to their
experience. If you pull over
just one student during each
ball pick up, it will build each
childs confidence and your
reputation as a coach.
When doing group demonstrations, be involved.
This may mean that you are physically
in the demo hitting a certain shot, while
the leader is explaining what he may or
may not want. It may entail checking
grips or technique as players demonstrate. The main focus is to be involved
and be part of the group. When I see
coaches standing around and not joining in the demonstrations, it sends a
clear message. It is time for that pro
to find something else to do instead of
coaching tennis.
Safety
The top priority in any teaching environment is that safety comes first. It is solely
the coachs job to ensure that all drills and
court activity take place in a safe manner.
One of the biggest injuries in tennis is
stepping on a ball. It sounds silly that an
avoidable injury is at the top of the list. It
is the teaching professionals job to move
any and all balls that might be in a players way. Never trust that the player sees
a ball in his or her way. Many times they
are focused on what we are communicating/teaching and not the area around
them. When in doubt stop the drill and
always err on the side of safety.
The other main safety issue is running all drills in a safe manner. Never
have a student pick up on the other side

of the court while other players are hitting. All it takes is one ball to the eye
and they can have an injury that will
last a lifetime. Another common injury
is being hit by another players racquet.
This may happen in a players followthrough, backswing or when they walk
behind someone who is serving. It is
always important to set up every drill so
there is no potential for injury.
whatever is around. You want to look

involved and this cant happen if you are
sitting. This includes when students are
picking up tennis balls. Remember, this
is one of the best times to coach.
During match play is when I see
most coaches look for the most relaxing spot with shade. This is the best
time to coach and build your reputation
as a coach. If you have four courts of
matches you are watching, simply coach
the server in one full game;
after that coach the other
server the next game. Then
Make sure you are always
rotate to the next court.
involved as a coach.
After you have coached every player do the same, but
coach on the returners side.
When coaching this way,
stand at the back fence, not
at the net post. Standing at
the net post signifies you are
the umpire/referee. Be the
coach!
Cell Phones
It is important that a coach does not
talk on a cell phone or text while on the
court. Mobile phones should only be
used in emergency situations. If there
is a chance you might receive an emergency call, let the head coach or director
know. If you do have to take a call, do it
off the court and away from the client.
The message that you want to send
your clients is that they are top priority when you are with them. I had a pro
interviewing for a position and he asked
to take a phone call while feeding the
first drill. He was told politely that the
interview was over. By sending texts
during a practice or taking a call on the
court, is says that you are not engaged.
The task at hand is the client.
Stand Strong
One of my biggest pet peeves is when I
see a coach sitting down during an oncourt session. A coach should never sit
down on the court. This also includes
leaning on fences, poles, awnings, or
Energy
As a coach you must be exciting. Most people want to be
around energetic people. If
you portray energy, your players will in
turn be energetic. If you look bored, it is
no coincidence that your players will be
bored. I was once told to coach as if I had
just won the lottery. I live by that saying
every day. By being upbeat, it keeps my
players on their toes and prepared for a
great session.
We have a saying that the player is
a reflection of the coach. If your class
is boring, then the retention of that
group will be poor. Not only will retention be poor, but the number of new
players in the group will be low. Lastly,
as a coach you will get a reputation for
being boring.
By following these simple Ten
Commandments we can raise the bar
of teaching pros not only in your facility but across the country. This list will
take the expectation of your staff and
program to another level. Your goal as
a USPTA Pro is not to be average, but
set the bar for the rest of the tennis
community. h
Jimmy Royalty has worked in the tennis industry since the mid-1990s. Since
2010, Jimmy has been a group leader for tennis at the IMG Academy. He also
traveled to many countries with IMG ITF players as well as performed clinics.
Jimmy is currently the Head of Adult Tennis at IMG.
Career Development
Exams,
Upgrades
& PTCA I
April 11
Free Webinars
(5 credits)
(.5 APC credits)
May 14-16
Southern Division Convention

May 26-31
(4 credits for PTCA I segment)

April 6-7
Conventions
San Francisco
April 23
Charlotte, N.C.
2 p.m. EST
Florida Division Convention
Naples, Fla.
USPTAPlayer.com
Tournament Module
To register, contact Randy Jenks at randy.jenks@uspta.org.
Albuquerque, N.M.
Aurora, Ill.
April 11-12
April 11-12 Atlanta

April 11-12
April 12
Orlando, Fla.
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
April 12-13
Upland, Calif.
April 16-17
Chatham, N.J.
April 20-21
Tyler, Texas
April 25
Des Moines, Iowa
April 26
San Diego
* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.

Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days
prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam,
upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations
must be received no later than 14 days before the
exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly.
Applicant: late cancellation fee $95; failure to cancel
application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late
cancellation fee $25; failure to cancel $25 plus the
upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam
will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.
Accredited
Professional
Coach
Register your Accredited Professional
Coach (APC) and specialty
course credits earned with
the USPTA SmartCode
Education System. This
uses your smartphone
to instantly register your
attendance to all seminars
and specialty courses earning APC.
To use the system at a seminar, general
session or specialty course, you must scan two
QR codes. One QR code is on your conference
badge. The second QR code will be in your
conference notebook and cannot be scanned
until the end of the session or the beginning of
the next session.
If you do not have a smartphone, you may
use someone elses. Forms are available upon
request.
TAUT
Workshops
May 9
(2 credits)
Freemont, Calif.
May 15
Charlotte, N.C.
May 16
Springfield, Mo.
May 18
Sioux Falls, S.D.
April 10
Atlanta, Ga.
May 28
Fargo, N.D.
April 25
Durham, N.C.
May 29
Bismarck, N.D.
April 26
Bentonville, Ark.
May 30
Denver
April 26
Madison, Wis.
June 6
Barrington, Ill.
May 9
Staunton, Va.
June 6
Edina, Minn.
May 9
Lewisburg, Pa.
June 6
Mayodan, N.C.
Go to www.coachyouthtennis.com for more workshops or to register.
Education requirements
All USPTA-certified Professionals must earn 6 education credits in a threeyear period to remain current. Go to USPTA.com/Education for a partial list
of eligible activities. Please send verification (email, letter, certificate, receipt,
etc.) that shows you attended the event/activity and submit it along with the
date and agenda to education@uspta.org to receive your credit. (International
members, Recreational Coaches and those over the age of 65 are exempt.)
Questions? Write to education@uspta.org or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS REAL.
THE FEEL IS UNREAL.

Introducing Prince
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WARRIOR 107
WARRIOR 107T
Member News
USPTA Master Professional Fernando
Velasco (pictured left), received the
Capital Area Tennis Association 2014 Legend Award during the CATA Awards Night
in Austin,
Texas. It is
only the
second
time that
this award
has been
given to the
individual
who has
contributed to Austin Tennis. Upon receiving the award, Fernando thanked his
family for allowing him to continue with
his passion of teaching, coaching, playing
and promoting this great game to all players, and also to the members and staff of
his club for supporting the programs and
club goals.
USPTA Professional Derek Sabedra was
named the new tennis boys' head coach at
St. Mary's Ryken High School in Maryland.
Dan Beedle (pictured right) was recently

awarded 2014
USTA Louisiana
Program of the
Year for the Cardio Tennis program at Querbes
Tennis Center in
Shreveport, La.
He is a USPTA
Elite Professional and an Authorized Cardio
Tennis and TRX Cardio Tennis Provider.
Currently, he is the assistant head pro at
Windyke Country Club in Memphis, Tenn.
He is also a member of the USPTA Southern
U30 team.
USPTA Elite Professional Bruce Angeli
asks Do you have
students over 40
years old? Do they
play tennis to get
healthy and fit or
do they get healthy
and fit to play
tennis? Either way, his new book Late

Call Healthy Tennis for the Older Young
at Heart has the answers. Available on
Amazon, this is an easy and fun read with
great tips on health, nutrition, on and
off-court strategies, tactics and insights
for remaining free from injury and staying
competitive. Have some fun! Learn more
at www.LateCallTennis.com.
The University of Central Florida recently
hosted a job fair that saw more than 1,000
students and
50 sports vendors from all
over the state.
USPTA Florida
and USTA
Florida teamed
up in an effort
to promote
both organizations. Its so
important to
let our U30s
know all the
exciting career
opportunities
involved in tennis and how USPTA and USTA
Florida can assist in that career path, said
Jason Gilbert, USPTA. I cant tell you how
refreshing it is that both our organizations
have such a strong partnership that we can
work together to promote and grow our
great sport. Pictured: Jason Gilbert, USPTA,
(right) and USPTA Florida U30 member Ryan
B
auman at the UCF Job Fair.
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
First Vice
President
Tom McGraw
Chuck Gill
Vice Presidents

Past President
CEO
Legal Counsel
Alan Cutler
Jack Michalko
Dan Moster
Diane Selke
Gary Trost
TM
On February 12th, a group of USPTA Pros including Anthony DeCecco and Matt Bonds (Tennis Addiction - Exton, Pa.) travelled with 18 high performance junior players to Orlando, Fla., to compete against
players from the OTC (Orlando Tennis Center). Former USPTA Middle States Pro Tom Sweitzer is the
Tennis Director at OTC and was the perfect host. The teams played 48 individual matches over 2 days and
enjoyed the city and warm weather over the weekend. Plans to make this an annual trip are in the works!
ADDvantage magazine editorial offices
USPTA World Headquarters
3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202
Houston, TX 77042
Phone 713-978-7782 / 800-USPTA-4U
Fax 713-358-7794
email magazine@uspta.org
Managing editor
Circulation
Kimberly Forrester
Kathy Buchanan
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time

ADDvantage is published monthly by the
United States Professional Tennis Association.
Tom Daglis
John Embree
George Parnell
The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the

authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the
USPTA.
Copyright United States Professional Tennis
Association, Inc. 2015. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not
permitted without written permission from USPTA.

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