November/December 2007

Volume 35 Number 10 $5.00

Contents R S I N O V / D E C 2 0 0 7

Our annual awards honor the people and organizations that are making a
difference in the business of tennis.
22 Person of the Year
George Napier
25 Private Facility of the Year
Meadow Creek Tennis & Fitness
26 Stringer of the Year
Tim Strawn
27 Builder/Contractor of the Year
Sportsline Inc.
28 Sales Rep of the Year
Hunter Hines
29 Chain Retailer/Mass Merchant
of the Year
The Sports Authority
30 Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year
Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop
31 Junior Development
Champion of the Year
Craig Jones
31 Grassroots Champion of the Year
Dan Vonk
INDUSTRY NEWS
7 Gordon Smith named new USTA
executive director
7 Max Brownlee leaves Babolat
7 Prince creates custom racquets
for Nintendo Wii
8 Sharapova debuts limited edition
racquet bags
32 Municipal Facility of the Year
Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis & Education 8 Head steps into tennis footwear
32 Wheelchair Tennis with five models
Champion of the Year
Jason Harnett 8 New apparel from Tennis Tease
9
33 Public Park of the Year USPTA honors standouts at
Fort Lauderdale Park & Rec World Conference
33 Community Tennis Association 10 Head picks winner of
of the Year “Radical” contest
Grants Pass CTA
13 Nautic Partners, management
34 PTR Member of the Year acquire Prince Sports
Luke Jensen
13 Two named to Wilson
34 USPTA Member of the Year Racquet Sports posts
Mike Van Zutphen
13
35 High School Coach of the Year PTR, MotionExpert join forces
Marian DeWane
14 Head Sportswear to feature
35 USTA Section of the Year “InFiber Technology”
Florida
14 USPTA names new board
of directors

DEPARTMENTS
4 Our Serve 42 String Playtest: Isospeed Professional Classic 17
15 TIA News & Updates 44 Tips and Techniques
20 Retailing Success: US Open 46 Ask the Experts
37 Industry Resource Guide 48 Your Serve, by Greg Raven

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 3

Our Serve
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)

Finding the ‘Best of the Best’ Publishers

David Bone Jeff Williams

I s your facility a leader in delivering tennis

programs and providing service to promote
the sport?
Editor-in-Chief
Crawford Lindsey

Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi

The TIA and the USTA, together with RSI, are once again Associate Editor
Greg Raven
looking for the “Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers” in the
Design/Art Director
U.S. These facilities—public and private—are leading the Kristine Thom
charge in the growth of the sport by providing well-round- Contributing Editors
ed programs to new and current players of all ages and Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
abilities.
Rod Cross
Facilities named to the Top 50 list will be honored with Kristen Daley
a plaque that they can display. They will also receive spe- Joe Dinoffer
Liza Horan
cial marketing materials and logos to use on their website, James Martin
in newsletters, emails, press releases, and other commu- Greg Moran
Chris Nicholson
nications. Among the Top 50 winners, special recognition Bob Patterson
will be given for the top-ranked park and recreation tennis Cynthia Sherman

facility, public facility, commercial facility, and private RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
facility. Corporate Offices
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
To be a Top 50 choice—out of the more than 2,000 offi- Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
cial TWCs in the U.S.—a facility needs to show an increase Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
in participation involving new and returning players, sup-
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
port of industry programs and community tennis devel-
opment, and be active with other TWC facility Advertising Director
John Hanna
requirements. The staff at these winning facilities creates 770-650-1102, x.125
a positive tennis experience for people in their communi- hanna@knowatlanta.com

ties. These Top 50 TWCs are, in short, the best of the best.
The TWC initiative, which is free to all facilities, is
backed by all sectors of the tennis industry and has played
a leading role in the sport's growth. If your facility is not a
Tennis Welcome Center, become one now by visiting
www.partners.tenniswelcomecenter.com or email
info@growingtennis.com. To nominate your facility for
Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center honors, visit
www.growingtennis.com and click on “News You Can
Use.” The deadline is Nov. 16.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
Racquet Sports Industry (USPS 347-8300. ISSN 0191-
5851) is published 10 times per year: monthly Janu-
ary through August and combined issues in
September/October and November/December by
Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA
92084. Periodicals postage paid at Hurley, NY 12443
and additional mailing offices. November/December
2007, Volume 35, Number 10 © 2007 by USRSA and
Tennis Industry. All rights reserved. Racquet Sports
Industry, RSI and logo are trademarks of USRSA.
Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-
1102 x 125. Phone circulation and editorial: 760-536-
1177. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40
elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA
92084.
RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007


INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU
Max
Brownlee
Leaves
Babolat
Max Brown-
lee, the gener-
al manager of
Babolat since 2000, and the per-
son widely credited with boosting
the company’s market share in
tennis specialty retail from 0 to
more than 16 percent, has left
Babolat to pursue a new venture,
the company said in a Sept. 26
statement.
Brownlee, who was named Rac-
quet Sports Industry’s “Person of
the Year” in 2005, oversaw the
introduction of the Babolat Pure
Drive racquet that became the
top-selling racquet at pro shops
and tennis specialty stores for
nearly three consecutive years.
“It's been a pleasure to be a part
of something so special,” says
Brownlee, who has more than 30
years of experience in the indus-
try. “No tennis company has ever
entered the U.S. market and
achieved the success that Babolat
has in such a short period of time.
At this point in my career, I'm
ready to take on a new challenge
and look forward to the next
chapter of my life.”
“We can’t say enough about
what Max has done for the com-
pany over the last seven years,”
says Olivier Bailliard, president
and CEO of Babolat North Ameri-
ca. “His passion for the game and
expertise in the industry will serve
him well in his continued career.”
R S I N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7
RUN YOUR BUSINESS
Gordon Smith Named New USTA Executive Director
ordon Smith of Atlanta is the new executive director and chief
G operating officer of the USTA. In his new position, Smith will
oversee the operations of the USTA and the functioning of the
USTA’s national office.
Smith will start in the position Nov. 1, upon the retirement of cur-
rent USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer D. Lee
Hamilton.
"I’ve been an avid fan and active participant in the sport of tennis
for most of my life,” says Smith, who is a lawyer. “These are very
exciting times for tennis and I look forward to leading the organiza-
tion and our incredibly committed volunteers in creating more effec-
tive and new ways to attract people to the sport."
Smith played competitively as a junior and captained a University
of Georgia team that swept four straight Southeastern Conference
titles from 1971 through 1975. He was the SEC doubles champion in 1975.
He’s been an active member of the USTA Southern Section since 1992, most recently serving
as its president. He also has served on the boards of the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation,
Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation and the Georgia Tennis Foundation. Smith began serving a
second consecutive term as vice president of the USTA in January 2007. He previously served as
a director at large.
"Gordon’s long-standing commitment to the sport, combined with business acumen and a
keen understanding of the USTA’s organization and structure, make him the perfect person to lead
the USTA,” says USTA Chairman of the Board and President Jane Brown Grimes.
Smith earned a bachelor of arts in Journalism and a law degree at the University of Georgia.
Following law school, he clerked with the federal judiciary before joining the Atlanta-based inter-
national law firm of King and Spalding, where he was a senior partner in the 800-lawyer firm.
He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been listed in the publication
The Best Lawyers in America for many years.
Prince Creates Custom Racquets for Nintendo Wii
P
rince has partnered with Qualtech Global Ltd. to create scaled-down tennis racquets to house
the Nintendo Wii remote, providing a more realistic video gaming experience for fans of the
virtual tennis game.
“Prince is a performance tennis brand excited to aid in the enjoyment of anyone who is play-
ing any form of the sport,” says Linda
Glassel, Prince’s vice president of market-
ing and brand image. “We think this game
and these racquets will encourage people,
of all ages, to get out on a real tennis court
and play some points there as well.”
Available in November at Circuit City
stores and online at www.circuitcity.com,
the custom racquets come in a variety of
colors and retail for $14.99.
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7
INDUSTRYNEWS N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7

Sharapova Debuts Limited North

Edition Racquet Bags Carolina

T
he Sharapova Collection, which pro Maria Facility
Sharapova debuted during the Open in
August, is a limited edition line of bags that Upgrade
Sharapova helped to design. Prince says her goal Classic Turf Co.
was to create fashion-inspired products that of Woodbury,
incorporate specifically constructed compart- Conn., recently
ments designed to hold and organize everyday completed
items many women carry to the court. recoating
“Racquet bags don’t have to look like gym eight indoor
bags,” says Sharapova. “I wanted to bring a courts at the Simpkins Tennis Pavilion in Greensboro, N.C. The
sense of style to the racquet bag, while at the company had installed the cushioned sheet-goods surfacing sys-
same time make it completely functional and tem five years ago, and the courts are in use about 40 hours per
durable.” All pieces in the collection have an
week. For more information, visit www.Classicturf.org or call
exterior comprised primarily of black patent
800-246-7951.
leather with splashes of deep fuchsia velour in
the Prince logo. The interior is made up of
heavy-duty nylon to protect racquets and per-
sonal belongings. New Ideas From Tennis Tease

T
The Sharapova Collection tour bag has four ennis Tease, launched by player and enthusiast Patti Berg, features
separate compartments designed to hold a cell gear for the player “who enjoys attention on and off the court.” Ten-
phone; MP3 player and earphones; personal nis Tease gear includes women’s T-shirts, tank tops with self-adjusting
items such as jewelry or makeup; and string or straps and shelf
grip tape, sweat bands or other items. lining, jackets, and
The collection includes a six-pack tour bag bikini and thong
(retail price $70) and a triple bag ($50). Other style panties.
pieces will be available starting in January. Visit Clothing fea-
www.princetennis.com. tures sassy sayings
such as “Which
part of ‘out’ do
you not under-
stand?” and “Love
means nothing to
a tennis player.”
Fabrications are 95 percent cotton/5 percent spandex and packaged in a
“court-ready” clear tennis ball can, making a clever merchandising dis-
play. Caps and visors are also available.
Visit www.tennistease.com, email info@tennistease.com or call 651-
983-6969.

Head Steps Into Tennis Footwear

H
ead says its new performance tennis footwear line for men and women will launch worldwide in January. The launch will
consist of five models: Prestige, Extreme, Tour, Fire and All Court. “We have the engineering skills, the marketing, product
expertise and worldwide distribution systems in place to enter this market in a quick and efficient manner,” says Johan
Eliasch, chairman and CEO of Head N.V. Head will introduce four new technologies in its new footwear lines:
Q Head CXG Comfort Grid technology, for traction, stability and shock
absorption.
Q Head Cooling System, which the company says creates “climate con-
trol” within the shoe by absorbing and releasing excess heat build-up.
Q Head Radial Contact for traction with flexibility.
Q Head Hybrasion, a high-abrasion rubber outsole technology for “long-
wearing performance.”
Head says the Extreme, Tour and Fire models are also available with a clay-court
outsole.

8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007


USPTA Honors Standouts
The USPTA recognized outstanding tennis coaches, players,
managers and volunteers during its annual awards breakfast
at the 80th USPTA World Conference on Tennis in September
at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
The award ceremony included the induction of Bill Tym
and Alex Gordon into the USPTA Hall of Fame. Tym, a USPTA
Master Professional and past USPTA national president, has
been a coach, player and administrator for half a century. Gor-
don, who was inducted posthumously, made lasting contribu-
tions to the game as a coach, player and USPTA member. In
fact, his legacy is so great that the USPTA Alex Gordon Profes-
sional of the Year award was named in his honor. Both join the
ranks of only seven other grand inductees into the USPTA Hall
of Fame.
Q John Joyce of Boca Raton, Fla., received the Alex Gordon Profes-
sional of the Year Award, as the top member in the association.
Joyce, who has been a USPTA Professional 1 since 1985, is the direc-
tor of tennis at Boca West Country Club, the largest equity club in
the nation.
Q Jane Hines of Omaha, Neb., received the USPTA Star Award, which
recognizes a person who leaves a lasting impression in the commu-
nity by using tennis as a vehicle to reach out.
Q Craig S. Jones of Martinez, Ga., is the winner of the USTA/USPTA
Community Service Award. He is the owner and director of tennis at
the Petersburg Racquet Club, where he also created the Futures Pro-
gram for players ages 4 to 18.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Q Sue Burke of Boulder, Colo., received the USPTA Industry Excellence
Award, which honors those who have outstanding business insight
and a charitable attitude. Burke has used various avenues to serve as
an ambassador and promote the game of tennis, including working
with the Boys and Girls Clubs and the I Have a Dream Foundation.
The award is sponsored by the TIA and supported by Tennis Tutor
ball machines.
Q Mike Doty of McGregor, Texas, received the Facility Manager of the
Year Award. Doty is the general manager of Waco Regional Tennis
& Fitness.
Other honorees are:
Q Kari Yerg, Boynton Beach, Fla.—Touring Coach of the Year
Q Michael Center, Austin, Texas—College Coach of the Year
Q Dave Steinbach, Brookfield, Wis.—High School Coach of the Year
Q Gordon Hammond, Las Vegas—High School Coach of the Year
Q Tommy Wade, Tuscaloosa, Ala.—George Bacso Tester of the Year
USPTA divisions receiving awards are:
Q Texas Division—Division of the Year
Q Southern Division—Newsletter of the Year
Q New England Division—Most Improved Division
of the Year
Also during the World Conference, Rosemary DeHoog, the
head tennis pro at Drumlins Tennis Club in Syracuse, N.Y.,
earned recognition as a USPTA Master Professional, the high-
est professional rating in the organization. DeHoog has been
a member of the USPTA for 34 years.
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9
 INDUSTRYNEWS

Head Picks
Radical Fan

T
he winner of Head’s “Are You
Radical Enough?” promotion is
John Du of Canada, who pro-
duced a rap video devoted to the
game of tennis called “Our Game is
Radical.” Du will face Andre Agassi
on the tennis court in Las Vegas in
November.
For nearly six weeks this summer,
fans submitted one- to two-minute
videos showing off their radical ten-
nis game or their loyalty as a fan to
the sport and to radical player Agas-
si. “I’ve been a fan of Andre Agassi
and Head for years,” says Du. “I look
forward to spending time with Agas-
si and learning from a real radical
pro.” In addition to a day on the
court with Agassi, Du will receive
round-trip airfare for two and a two-
night stay in Las Vegas.
Second-place winner John
Matthieu Cloitre of France will
receive a new Head MicroGel Radical
racquet signed by Agassi. Four run-
ners-up, Nicholas Pison and Bodie
Quirk of the U.S., Paul Tiberiu of
Romania, and David Jobert of
France, will receive a Radical Super-
combi bag. Videos of the top 5 win-
ners can be viewed at
www.head.com/radical.

USRSA MEMBER CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE: Alpha Edge Electronic String-
ing Machine. Turntable upgrade to New
Gamma 5800 6 point Quick Mount Sys-
tem and Action clamps. Also included:
Original turntable, string clamps, tools,
machine stand, manual, and shipping car-
tons. Well maintained & calibrated.
$1250 plus shipping. Please contact John
Zednick USRSA Certifier @ 919-859-
6788.
HELP WANTED: Full time position avail-
able for MRT Stringer at Samuels Tennis-
port in Cincinnati, Ohio. Send resume to:
Samuels Tennisport, 7796 Montgomery
Rd., Cincinnati, OH or email to tennis-
port@aol.com Phone: 513-791-4636.
FOR SALE: Gamma 5003 Stringer with
Wise 2086 tension head. Good condi-
tion. $650. Call Russ Sheh @ (209) 465-
9283.

10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007

 INDUSTRY NEWS

LEW
P • Ken DeHart, A T
O

director of tennis at the San

CH
PE

Jose Swim & Racquet Club in San

Jose, Calif., was awarded the USPTA
National Career Development Award
for the most continuing education
points of the 14,000 USPTA pros in the
U.S. It is the third consecutive year
DeHart has received the award.

• John Isner, the 6-foot, 9-

inch up-and-coming pro, has
signed with Prince Sports.
Isner, 22, graduated from
the University of Georgia in
May and plays with the Prince
O3 White.

• Nancy P. Jeffett, president and trustee

of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis
Foundation, is the 2007 recipient of the
International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Gold-
en Achievement Award.

• Peter Hurley is the 2007 recipient of

the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s
Chairman’s Award, which recognizes
outstanding service by a Hall of Fame
board member.

• Tennis Channel has named Brian Wild

to executive director, on-air creative, and
Susie Romano to executive director, ad
sales and affiliate marketing.

• Dunlop Director of Sales Steve Zalinski

is retiring after 15 years with the com-
pany. He will continue to work with
Dunlop at tennis events and shows
throughout the country as well as be
involved with testing new products.

• Mike Nishihara, USTA strength and

conditioning coach for the Player Devel-
opment division, died suddenly when he
became ill while playing tennis in Key
Biscayne, Fla. Nishihara, 45, joined the
Player Development staff in 2004.

• Americans Bob and Mike Bryan

clinched the Stanford ATP Doubles
Race for the third consecutive year
and the fourth time in the
past five years.

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11

 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
SHORT SETS
INDUSTRYNEWS
> Of the eight Grand Slam singles titles up
for grabs in 2007, seven of them went to
players using Wilson racquets. The latest
winners, at the US Open, were Roger Feder-
er playing with a [K]Six.One Tour racquet he
helped to design and Justine Henin.
> The USTA has created a leadership award
in honor of the 50th anniversary of Althea
Gibson’s U.S. National Championship title.
Each year, the Althea Gibson Leadership
12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
2 0 0 7
Award, a $2,500 grant, will be given to two
junior players between ages 14 and 18. Nom-
inations will be accepted from Nov. 1 to Dec.
31. Visit www.usta.com for information and
an application.
> The new, 72-page color catalog for
Oncourt Offcourt is now available and
includes new items, including packages part-
nering with Pat Etcheberry, legendary fitness
coach of Justine Henin and other top pros.
Visit www.oncourtoffcourt.com or call
toll-free 888-366-4711.
>increase
Tennis Life Magazine announced it will
its frequency to nine issue in
2008 and offer a special travel annual,
Tennis Life's Great Tennis Destinations. In
addition, it will launch an international
edition of the magazine in the United
Kingdom.
> The USTA says that the 2007 US Open
was the most successful tournament in
history, setting records in attendance,
website traffic and concession sales.
Attendance topped 700,000 for the first
time, coming in at 715,587, surpassing
the previous all-time high of 659,538 set
in 2005. The all-time day/night combined
attendance record of 61,083 was set on
Saturday, Sept. 1.
> The U.S. Davis Cup team will host the
2007 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final
against Russia, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Memori-
al Coliseum in Portland, Ore. It will be the
first time the U.S. has hosted the Davis
Cup final since 1992 and marks the U.S.’s
first appearance in the final since 2004.
> Viking Athletics of Lindenhurst, N.Y.,
recently introduced its new line of plat-
form tennis equipment, consisting of nine
paddles. The new paddles are the Pro V1
Plus, OZ, National, Ignite Plus, Zone, Aval-
on, GSM, Stealth, and RADical. For the
full catalog, and for details on Viking’s
new VAST technology, visit
www.vikingathletics.com, or call 631-
957-8000, or email pad-
dles@vikingathletics.com.
> Instructional DVDs produced by the
USPTA are now available at all Atlanta
PGA Tour Superstores, which carry golf
and tennis equipment and supplies. The
USPTA DVDs, which retail for just under
$20, feature instruction and drills by top
USPTA-certified tennis-teaching profes-
sionals, as well as interviews with them.
> Tennis Channel launched on DirecTV
viewer channel 217 in August, coinciding
with the start of the 2007 US Open.
 INDUSTRY NEWS

Nautic Partners, Management Acquire Prince

N
autic Partners LLC of Providence, R.I., has joined with the Prince management
team as the racquet brand’s new investment partner. Nautic is a private equity
firm focused on providing growth capital to middle-market companies.
“Along with the success we’ve had in the last few years comes the obligation of
stepping things up and becoming an even better company,” says Prince CEO George
Napier. “[Nautic has] the expertise and financial strength to help us tap the major
growth opportunities facing us and I am confident they will be great partners for
years to come.”
Four years ago the Prince management team and Lincolnshire Management
acquired Prince Sports Inc. (the parent of the Prince and Ektelon racquet sports
brands) from the Benetton Group.

Industry Loses Frank Benedict, O’Brien

McDavid Named to Wilson
F
emco Corp.
founder Frank Racquet Sports Posts

A
McDavid died ndy Benedict is the new national
Aug. 5 as a result promotions manager for Wilson
of colon cancer. Racquet Sports, and Sean
He was 61. O’Brien is the new global footwear
McDavid was an director for Racquet Sports.
avid tennis player Benedict will focus on the admin-
in the Richmond, istration and day-to-day execution of
Va., area and founded Femco 30 years Wilson’s tennis industry and grass-
ago to manufacture and distribute tennis roots initiatives, including the man-
court equipment. McDavid also served as agement of Wilson’s WTeam
commissioner and chairman of the Advisory Staff as well as association,
Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation event and strategic partnerships.
Advisory Board. O’Brien will be responsible for all
Donations may be made to ?$ Which aspects of Wilson’s footwear develop-
Dollar Inc., 235 Arcadia St. Richmond, Va. ment and marketing on a global level.
23225 or www.whichdollar.org

Lindsey Moves to Tennis Warehouse

C
rawford Lindsey is the new director of research and devel-
opment for Tennis Warehouse. Lindsey was the editor in
chief and webmaster of the USRSA and Racquet Tech Pub-
lishing, including Racquet Sports Industry magazine, for the last
10 years. He is the coauthor of "The Physics and Technology of
Tennis" and "Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Ball, Court,
Spin, and Bounce." In his new position, he will be responsible
for product testing and the development of interactive web tools and content to
help consumers make informed buying decisions.

PTR, MotionExpert Join Forces

P
TR and MotionExpert have joined forces to provide PTR tennis teachers and
coaches with video analysis software to help their players improve more quick-
ly. MotionExpert technical analysis software offers a number of tools that pro-
vide coaches with a way to analyze their player’s technique, allowing coaches to
demonstrate important technical points.
PTR members will receive a 25 percent discount on the video analysis software.
The software also comes with a free 300-shot DVD, with video clips of the world’s
top tennis players.

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13

INDUSTRYNEWS N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7
Head Sportswear, Set To Launch
In April, To Feature ‘InFiber Technology’
H
ead Tennis and Golf Sportswear will feature a proprietary fabrication called
GCool InFiber Technology, says Nex-Lvl Golf Inc., the exclusive licensee of
the apparel, which is scheduled to launch in pro and specialty shops in
April. The company says the fabrication can provide wearers with superior mois-
ture-management, UV and antibacterial protection, and more.
Nex-Lvl Golf Inc. says it’s bringing the GCool InFiber Technology to apparel
with the slogan “Head has ‘IT,’” which will be featured on hangtags and promo-
tions displays. InFiber Technology gives GCool moisture-management and wick-
ing capabilities, says Nex-Lvl Golf Inc. President Robert “Bob” Fenton.
“These inherent properties are part of the fiber itself and therefore never wash
out,” Fenton says. The construction of the high-twist proprietary filament yarns
enable perspiration to be wicked away from the body, keeping wearers dry and
comfortable, he adds. The wash and quick-dry ability also help maintain shape
and color for the life of the garment.
Additionally, GCool fabrics—created without the use of chemical treatments
or finishes—can offer UV absorbent properties, Fenton says. “This same InFiber
Technology can also provide antibacterial properties that effectively stop bacte-
ria from forming on the fabric fibers, preventing stains and odors.” Nex-Lvl Golf
Inc. Founder Gidon Fisher, a 35-year textile veteran, invented GCool.
Also, GCool can be blended with organic/natural fibers, such as bamboo. Fen-
ton says Head Sportswear will introduce these and other eco-friendly fibers
blended with GCool in 2008. For information, visit www.gcooltech.com. To
inquire about distribution, contact Fenton at 231-223-8880 or email bfen-
ton.headsportswearusa@gmail.com.
14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
USPTA Installs New Board
T
he USPTA installed a new national board
of directors that will serve the association
until September 2009. The new board
took office during the USPTA World Confer-
ence on Tennis in September and includes:
Q President Harry Gilbert, director of tennis at Ginn
Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla.
Q First Vice President Tom Daglis, director of the
Professional Tennis Management Program at Fer-
ris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., and pres-
ident of Peachtree Tennis Promotions Inc.
Q Vice President Mark Fairchilds, director of tennis
at Modesto Fitness and Racket Club in Modesto,
Calif.
Q New board member and Vice President Jack
Groppel, Ph.D., vice chairman and co-founder of
the Human Performance Institute in Orlando, Fla.
Q Vice President Randy Mattingley, head tennis pro
at Preston Manor Tennis Club in Lubbock, Texas
Q Vice President Tom McGraw, director of tennis at
the Louisville Country Club in Louisville, Ky.
Q Secretary-treasurer Paula Scheb, director of tennis
and fitness at the Bonita Bay Club in Bonita
Springs, Fla.
Q Immediate Past President Ron Woods, former
director of tennis at Corpus Christi (Texas) Coun-
try Club for 31 years.
G
retailing SUCCESS

Winning Merchandise
Justine Henin and Roger Federer brought their best to the Open this
year, and so did tennis manufacturers. BY CYNTHIA SHERMAN

ith tennis on an upswing—and

W
Anything with a Federer connection caps, visors, and hats were popular,
with two weeks of beautiful was selling, and the Air Vapor shoe but the US Open polo tennis shirts
weather—the vendors at the 2007 was no exception. The Nadal yellow were also selling, as were components
US Open had a field day. More than sleeveless “power tops” and crews of the official Open navy/
715,000 fans poured onto the grounds were also popular choices, as was the white/yellow-striped/blocked shirts.
at the USTA Billie Jean King National Ten- women’s line of aqua-dominant skirts There were the glitzy components as
nis Center, and merchandise sales and tops and the flamingo “Flirt” well, like white with gold metallic
soared. Here’s what was hot at this group of clothes. Serena Williams’ striped V-neck sweaters, zip-up hood-
year’s Open. chic black dress with pink trim was no ies, and dresses.
loser at the cash register. New York
HEAD Tennis Tee’s were a hot commodity, WILSON
While Head’s revamped branding, fea- too, as were all visors, caps and James Customers lined up at the Wilson store
turing a bright orange logo, drew in Blake’s signature blue headband. to buy K Factor racquets, especially the
crowds, it was the racquets—including Federer frame. Personnel said overall
the Microgel line which debuted in Janu- POLO RALPH LAUREN sales were up from last year, and
ary and the Metallix line—that had cus- Ralph Lauren believes in doing things beginner racquets made strong show-
tomers reaching for their wallets. Also in a big way. Its classic Polo Pony ings. Wilson also had a stringing
selling well were the performance-ori- magnified on the ball kids' uniforms machine on-site, so customers could
ented women’s Airflow frames. Head were showing up in similar amplified have their new frames strung on the
said that many customers at the booth fashion on apparel tops and bottoms spot. Other hot sellers were grips,
bought multiple frames. Accessories, in their flashy store at Flushing Mead- shoes, racquet bags, US Open back-
such as ball clips, wristbands, headbands ows. Easier-on-the-wallet tote bags, packs and the trademark jumbo Wil-
and replacement grips, son tennis balls
flew off the shelves, as (which are great for
did caps and visors. autographs from
the pros).
LACOSTE
The Andy Roddick sig- YONEX
nature cap and black Booth staff at
polo T-shirt were the HEAD Yonex said sales
LACOSTE
hot sellers for Lacoste. were up this year.
Also popular were US Big sellers included
Open-specific T-shirts in the new RQ1 Tour
pink, white, aqua, gray and RQ2 frames. As
and black with sten- an added incentive,
ciled tennis racquets Yonex packaged a
and alligator logo. set of string and a
Additionally, Lacoste tour bag with each
featured its fall line of NIKE POLO racquet purchase.
classic polos, sweaters, Also hot were the
and hooded tops. women’s yellow
dress, the men’s
NIKE game shirts worn
Nike came on strong by pros Lleyton
with a full array of chil- Hewitt and David
dren’s, men’s and Nalbandian, and
women’s wear, plus its the 305 and 304
extensive line of shoes. WILSON YONEX shoes.Q
Photos by Bob Kenas

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007


F
or George Napier, it’s all about the team. When he talks
about the recent success of Prince Sports, you rarely hear
him use the word “I.” In fact, Napier, the CEO of the Bor-
dentown, N.J., company, often seems uncomfortable when
the spotlight shines on him alone.
“Prince, at the end of the day, and without sounding
schmaltzy, is a big family,” says Napier. “We’re disciplined in
business, but we’re more than just a corporation. We have a
group of people who have a common interest in the game of
tennis and who share that interest in many ways, from prod-
uct to promotion ideas, to branding, to whatever it might be.
It is intended to be a big family.”
As CEOs go, Napier is one of the most unassuming, low-
key guys around, preferring to let his team take the credit for
the company’s success. “It all comes down to the people,” he
says. “I get out of their way and I’m just there as a sounding
board and someone they can open up to, ask questions of,
bring me opportunities, bring me problems, bring me solu-
tions—whatever it might be.”
But while Napier’s style is to remain in the background,
colleagues and other industry partners cite him as the one
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
who is leading Prince’s charge in the tennis industry and revi-
talizing the brand. And for all the success he’s had in doing
that, George Napier is Racquet Sports Industry’s 2007 Person
of the Year.
“When you look at what Prince has accomplished under
George’s leadership in the last four years, since the manage-
ment buyout from Benetton, it’s pretty significant,” says
Prince Sports President Doug Fonte. “Adding almost 10
points of market share and rebuilding a brand that was down
and out after 10 years of neglect and bad decisions is not
easy. He has a team of passionate people who believed in the
brand and helped immensely in this difficult task.”
“George takes very little credit for all that he has done in
growing Prince,” says retailer Dale Queen, the president of
Your Serve Tennis, which has seven locations in metro
Atlanta. “He’s great at gathering all the information and mak-
ing committed decisions based on the facts. He doesn’t have
a problem taking a chance on new, innovative concepts and
technology. I have great respect for George in business and
personally.”
Napier has been involved in the management of sports
 and recreation companies for about 30 years, including a stint have consistently topped the list as best-sellers.
at Wilson Sporting Goods as COO. In 2001, he was tapped by For instance, the O3 White, played by pro Maria Sharapo-
Benetton Group, based in Italy, to be the president and CEO va, was the best-selling frame in 2006. And in 33 of the 36
of Benetton Sportsystem USA Inc., which included the Prince months from September 2004 to August 2007, Prince’s dollar
tennis brand. share has increased over the same month in the previous
In May 2003, Napier formed Prince Sports Inc., a new year, according to the TIA/SMS Retail Audit of Specialty Ten-
company that acquired the rights to the brand from Benetton nis Shops. (The company also owns the racquetball brand
Group, which had owned Prince since 1990. Prince Sports Ektelon, which Prince says has dominated the U.S. racquet-
then relocated from Italy back to Bordentown, where the orig- ball market for years.)
inal company had been founded in 1970. And Prince uses its stable of pro players to help in the
This past August, as Prince stood poised to break $100 mil- development of its frames. “Some of these players are very
lion in sales for its fiscal year, the company swapped invest- knowledgeable about product,” says Napier, “and we tend to
ment backers, trading Lincolnshire Management for Nautic tap into that when they’re open and willing.” For instance,
Partners. Napier says Sharapova has been involved in developing prod-
“Four years ago, when we carved Prince out of Benetton uct “in a pretty serious way.”
Sportsystem, we linked up with Lincolnshire,” says Napier, (In addition to world No. 4 Sharapova, other top Prince
who has been on the board of directors for the Sporting Goods players include No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, No. 10 Daniela Hantu-
Manufacturers Association for five years. “We went through chova, No. 12 Marion Bartoli and No. 16 Shahar Peer. On the
an initial growth phase, underpinned by the launch of O3. men’s side, Prince claims No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No.
Today, off of that success, we felt it was an opportunity for 8 David Ferrer, along with up-and-comers Sam Querrey and
‘second-stage growth,’ tackling other opportunities like John Isner. Prince recently lost pro James Blake to the com-
footwear and apparel more aggressively, going after certain pany he formerly endorsed, but Prince picked up sponsorship
geographic markets, like in Europe, where we’re quite under- of the world’s top men’s doubles team, Bob and Mike Bryan.)
developed, I would say, and in China, where the opportunities In its footwear line in 2006, Prince came out with its M
are quite significant. Series, which introduced “Precision Tube Technology” for
“So we decided collectively that it would be the right time cushioning, stability and ventilation. In string, Prince’s Syn-
to change our investment partners,” he continues. “Lin- thetic Gut with Duraflex has been a consistent top seller. The
colnshire and the management team sold their interest to company recently introduced Synthetic Gut Multifilament
Nautic, and management has reinvested a good portion of the string.
proceeds into the new deal, so we continue to be stakehold- In the coming months, though, the big storyline from
ers in the new business, and are committed to leading this Prince may be the launch of its new apparel. “We basically re-
new round of growth.” looked at apparel,” says Napier. “We took back our apparel
Prince has grown quite a bit from its origins as a tennis ball license and decided to apply our own thinking to it. We’re
machine manufacturer. In 1976, the company came out with bringing what we know about tennis to the apparel world,
the first oversize racquet at 110 square inches. Prince intro- which is the need for comfort, ventilation, protection against
Bob Kenas

duced the “Longbody” racquet in 1995. the elements, antibacterial and UV protection, moisture man-
Under Napier’s leadership, the company has had a string agement, and more.
of successes, in part because of Prince’s commitment to “So we created a concept we call Aerotech,” Napier con-
increasing its research and tinues. “It’s stuff that other
development budget. In rac- people are doing, but we’re
quets, 2005 saw the launch of bringing our own twist to it.
O3 technology, which trans- Q Become comfortable with the situation and understand the It’s how we put it all togeth-
formed traditional string holes dynamics before trying to plot a direction. er, to provide performance
Q Don’t look at it as a job. “It’s kind of what you do,” says Napier.
into giant “O-ports,” creating for players who are discern-
a larger sweetspot, says “You’re not going to work every day, it’s just what you do. You’re ing and can compete.”
Prince. The next year, the O3 part of it, you’re leading change, you feel good about that. That’s “Our roots are primarily
Hybrid Series combined ordi- how we approach it.” in hard goods,” says Linda

Q Hard work is probably the single determining factor as to whether

nary racquet technology with Glassel, the vice president
O-ports. And earlier this year, of marketing for Prince
you’re going to make it or not make it. It may not be much fun, but
the O3 Speedport was intro- Sports. “But over the last
it is the way you’re going to beat your competitor.
duced, which Prince says is several years, George has
up to 24 percent faster challenged the team to
through the air and has a sweetspot up to 59 percent larger expand their thinking and build a strong soft-goods business
than a traditional racquet. anchored by innovative technology and cutting-edge design.”
As other manufacturers have found out in the past, it’s dif- With the new apparel line, as with racquets, string,
ficult to get consumers to accept a racquet technology that footwear and tennis balls, Napier is keenly aware of the role
looks different from traditional frames. But with O3 technolo- retailers play in Prince’s success. “I’m not a big believer that
gy, Prince, under Napier’s guidance, took a chance on chang- what we do is sell stuff to retailers,” he says. “I think what we
ing what a normal racquet looks like—and the frames try to do is partner with them, selling things that will sell

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23

 through their stores, not just selling into their stores so we can huge commitment to entry-level tennis for school-aged chil-
get it out of our warehouse. dren,” says Kirk Anderson, the USTA’s director of Recreational
“So understanding who they are and what they do, then Coaches and Programs. “This is an especially important year
bringing them products that make sense for them and their because of the success and popularity of scaled-down equip-
consumers, which may change from region to region . . . I ment and slower balls we are using for both the Schools Pro-
think we do that well and understand their needs, and make it gram and QuickStart Tennis. Prince is one of the industry
a pleasure for them to do business with Prince.” leaders with this equipment. I’m grateful to their commitment
Retailers agree. “Prince seems to have a great understand- to recreational tennis and our entry-level programs.”
ing of the tennis consumer, as well as the dealers,” says Queen In the end, though, success comes
of Your Serve Tennis, who has been in the business for more down from the top, and
than 31 years. “For instance, George has that’s where Napier may
made a commitment to raise well have the biggest
the bar for the average selling and most lasting
price of a racquet and tried to impact—first in his
maintain profitability of rac- leadership and vision in turn-
quets. He’s very straightfor- ing around a company and a
ward in his approach to the tennis brand that had been
business, as well as the neglected by its previous han-
Prince brand.” dlers, and now in leading the
“I think Prince has done a charge into the marketplace
good job coming out with with new products that are excit-
product that is unique,” says ing retailers and consumers.
John Swetka, owner of Swet- “My view is to get comfort-
ka’s Tennis Shop in Moun- able with what you’ve got,
tain View, Calif. “They pass understand the situation you’re
on good programs to retail- in, plot a direction based on the
ers throughout their lines to environment internal and external, the
grow the brand to help us opportunities, company strengths and
make it profitable to sell the resources you have available, then
Prince. I think George has get people to connect with that,” says
been instrumental in all of Napier. “So my rule is really to under-
that.” stand that, frame it out, communicate it,
“George understands the industry,” says Glas- and connect people to it and get them
sel. “He has great relationships with our dealers inspired. I don’t do it on my own, but I
and really understands the challenges of their day- lead that process.”
to-day business." “There is a strong sense of teamwork,
Beyond retailing, though, Prince also is fostered by George’s sense of leadership
involved in both high-performance and vision for the long-term growth of
training along with recreational and the organization,” says Prince’s Glassel.
entry-level programs. A few years “We all share in the wins and the losses.
ago, the company established the “It’s not often that you have the
“Prince Plugged In” program, opportunity, or the privilege, to work with some-
which ties together an exclusive one who has the type of vision and dedication as
group of about 40 high-level George,” continues Glassel. “His management style
training centers across the U.S., and leadership is inspiring and has created an envi-
including the Nick Bollettieri ronment here at Prince where the people are truly ded-
Tennis Academy and Saddlebrook icated to the growth of this brand."
Tennis Academy. Adds Fonte: “It takes vision and courage to make the
Prince says the PPI training centers offer cutting-edge decisions, sometimes nontraditional, that cause a break out
teaching, coaching and training initiatives—attracting top and a breakthrough.”
coaches and players within their communities—but also serve Through it all, though, Napier remains the friendly, under-
as product development laboratories for Prince. The PPI pro- stated chief executive who is passionate about the sport and
gram offers a series of Challenge Cups multiple times per year about the team he works with. “You hope the enthusiasm is
where students come together to train and play competitively natural and the energy is real, because if you have that, you
and are also offered workshops on topics such as playing col- can really build a lot,” he says.
lege tennis, earning a scholarship, what the pro tours are like, “I’m a common-sense guy who believes that if you’re open
nutrition, and mental and physical conditioning. and honest and hard-working, you’re going to achieve some-
The company also has committed to the USTA Schools Pro- thing. That’s kind of what I like to bring to a business.”
gram, as one of three approved vendors. “They are making a —Peter Francesconi

24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007

W
hen Adam and Debra Kahn took over Meadow
Creek Tennis & Fitness Club three years ago, they
were already well known in the Lakewood, Colo.,
tennis community as players, team captains and, in Adam’s
case, a USPTA-certified pro. As the new owners, the Kahns
felt the club could stand to be remodeled and updated to
help ensure members have a great experience. But one thing
that they didn’t want to do was fool around with a success-
ful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.
Keeping that staff in place, says Adam Kahn, not only was
instrumental in a successful transition to new ownership, but
it is also why Meadow Creek is thriving today, with nearly
1,000 members on its seven indoor and three outdoor hard
courts. Add in a fully stocked pro shop, fitness center, and
plethora of programs for all ages and levels, and you have an
award-winning facility. And that’s why the Meadow Creek
berships,” says Kahn. There are 25
Tennis and Fitness Club is RSI’s 2007 Private Facility of the
USTA teams and a number of inter-
Year.
club league teams.
A big key to membership retention, insists Kahn, is due to
“Adam is exemplary in how he
a superlative staff. “In semi-annual meetings, we discuss cur-
approaches tennis and takes
rent programs, new programs, and ways to improve,” he
advantage of the tools out there to
says. “There is always total staff involvement.”
help him grow his business,” says
For instance, Program Director Robin Dann, who’s been
TIA Executive Director Jolyn de
with Meadow Creek for 11 years, makes sure new and current
Boer. “He completely gets it.”
members get to participate in programs that are exciting to
But Kahn credits his staff for
them. By inviting new members to different functions, says
“making it fun for people to learn tennis.” With over 30 years
Kahn, “They are integrated into the club and become part of
of experience, Director of Tennis Alden Bock runs the racquet
the family.” Club socials revolve around holidays and Grand
and stringing section of the pro shop and makes sure pro-
Slam tournaments.
grams are available for every level of play. USPTA pro Gary
Opportunities to play abound, including leagues, clinics,
Alpert is a tennis stroke specialist and the “technical analyst,”
Cardio Tennis, and other instructional programming, includ-
with a degree in Applied Science in Professional Tennis Man-
ing a strong junior program. In 2006, the TIA named Meadow
agement. USPTA pro Ashley Tindle, a former all-American in
Creek one of the Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers in the coun-
college, specializes in junior development. Tindle has won the
try. The club’s QuickStart Tennis program reaches nearly 300
Denver Post’s Adversity Conquered through Excellence award
students a year.
and has been nominated for ESPN’s ARETE Award for
“Once new tennis players get involved in QuickStart, club
courage in sports.
drills and teams, it encourages camaraderie and new mem-
Other key staff include Susie Nelson, Meadow Creek’s mar-
keting manager, and Margaret Nuccio, the front-desk manag-
er. Debra Kahn runs the pro shop, which boasts one of the
Q Invest in your staff. It’s critical to have the best staff possible.
largest shoe selections in the Denver area.
Take good care of them and they’ll take good care of the customers. Whether it’s through new and innovative programs, better

Q Keeping members happy should be a top priority. Update your

ways to interact and communicate with members, or updat-
ing club facilities, “We’re constantly trying to find ways to
facility and have a clear idea of what customer service is all about. enhance the experience for members and guests,” says Kahn.
Q Innovate! Do something new every year—keep things fresh! —Cynthia Sherman

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25


W
hen it comes to getting a racquet strung, “People
can go many places,” says Dave Malinowski, Wil-
son Racquet Sports’ territory manager for the mid-
Atlantic region. “But once Tim gets his hands on someone’s
racquet for the first time, they won’t go anywhere else. You
can just feel the quality he puts into it.”
Malinowski is talking about Tim Strawn, a Master Racquet
Technician and a longtime racquet customizing expert, and
the founder and owner of GrandSlamStringers.com. Strawn
not only has a shop in Roanoke, Va., that specializes in cus-
tomization, but his website—designed for serious stringers—
provides expert advice and forums where stringers interact.
And for years, Strawn has been stringing for some of the
world’s best players at Grand Slam and other pro events.
But it’s his dedication to all aspects of his craft—and his
unfailing willingness to share his expertise with others in the
business so that pro players and recreational players alike
benefit from expert stringing and customization—that is truly
visionary. It’s for all these reasons that Tim Strawn is RSI’s
2007 Stringer of the Year.
Strawn started out in the tennis business as a teaching pro,
certified by both the USPTA and PTR. “Originally, my interest
was in teaching people to play,” he says. “But I realized that
when it came to racquet servicing, my students’ [needs]
weren’t being taken care of. So I started my business so I
could string racquets for my tennis students. I joined the U.S.
Racquet Stringers Association in the late 1980s and was one
of the first to test for the MRT.”
While Strawn still does get out on court with students, his
focus now is on making sure their equipment is perfect for
them. His store in Roanoke is mainly geared toward stringing
and customization services, rather than selling frames. And
his business is thriving—and it’s pretty much all word of
mouth. “That basically tells me I’m doing something right,” he
says. “There’s no amount of money I can place on that.”
Customers rave about the service they receive. “His pro-
fessionalism is great,” says longtime customer Don Wolthuis.
“He maintains a database and he can tell you what he used
Q Focus on quality work. A lot of people base their business on
having low prices, but most people are willing to pay a bit more
for quality.
Q Be honest with customers and put their interests first. They
deserve your attention when they lay down their hard-earned
money.
Q Be willing to share your experiences and knowledge with
others in the business.
26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
and at what tension,
going back years.
And he gives us great
advice.”
Strawn is passion-
ate when he talks
about GrandSlam-
Stringers.com—a
site dedicated to pro-
fessional racquet
stringers. He says
the site receives up
to 900,000 hits per
month and has espe-
cially active message
boards and forums.
And Strawn assem-
bled a worldwide
panel of expert racquet
technicians—including Sam Chan, Toru Yusuki, Albert Lee,
Richard Parnell, Bob Patterson and John Gugel—who all inter-
act on the website.
It was the website and the chatter on the message boards
that led to another groundbreaking venture for Strawn and
the industry: the GSS Racquet Stringers Symposium. The first
symposium was held last April in Texas. “In many ways, it
went better than anticipated,” says Strawn.
“We didn’t expect a large turnout because it had never
been done before in the industry. I contacted a lot of fellow
professionals in the field and I was really looking for the
chemistry of the group, for people willing to share their expe-
rience and their knowledge. I felt I had learned a lot over the
years from the USRSA, and if there was a way to give some-
thing back, this was a way to do it.”
Dave Bone, executive director of the USRSA (and co-pub-
lisher of RSI magazine), praises Strawn and his dedication.
“Tim really went out on a limb to make the Stringers’ Sym-
posium happen,” says Bone. “We were really excited to see
him and GSS start an event that offers great potential for the
future. And speaking for the USRSA, we’re looking forward to
getting more involved to help make it an even bigger and
stronger event next year.”
Strawn says he’s looking at moving the GSS Symposium to
October and holding it in Orlando, Fla. “We’ll put it in a loca-
tion that’s more like a destination,” he says. “Hopefully, that
will give a bit more of an impetus for people to come and
bring their families. Also, it will make it easier for people from
Europe to attend. I think it’s a worthwhile effort to help peo-
ple learn this craft.” —Peter Francesconi

T
alk to customers and suppliers about Rob Werner, the
founder and president of Sportsline Inc., and certain
phrases keep coming up—things like “professionalism,”
“attention to detail” and “takes pride in his work.”
“Rob is amazing,” says Tina Tharp, the acting executive
director of Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis & Education in Philadel-
phia, which has eight indoor and eight outdoor courts that
Sportsline put down. “His attention to detail and overall pro-
fessionalism is beyond words. He’s very specific in his work
and takes great pride in his work.”
Tharp also is impressed with the level of service that Wern-
er and his staff give to the AAYTE, even well after the job has
been completed. “He comes by just to check up on things,”
she says. “He popped in a few months ago to see how things
were running. He and his staff are very reliable.”
“Rob takes great pride in everything that bears the Sports-
line name,” echoes Tom Magner, the Eastern regional man-
ager for DecoTurf. “When I’m working with Sportsline on a
tennis court project, I have complete confidence that it’s
going to be done exactly by the book.
“Sportsline is a first-class contractor,” Magner continues,
“and the dozens of certifications and awards they have
achieved are a testament to that fact.”
In the tennis-court-building business, the Villanova, Pa.,
company has proven itself to be a leader in all the things that
customers are looking for. And beyond that, Werner has been
very involved in the industry itself. All of this is why Sportsline
Inc. is RSI’s 2007 Court Builder of the Year.
Werner, who is a Certified Tennis Court Builder and a Cer-
tified Track Builder by the American Sports Builders Associa-
tion (ASBA), started Sportsline in 1987, when he was still an
independent rep for another court construction company. In
1990, Sportsline became his full-time business.
“We do all types of courts, and a little bit of everything in
the sports-building business,” Werner says. Tennis, he adds,
Q Prepare your customers. “I try to be a bit more aggressive in
explaining upcoming steps and what to watch out for,” says Wern-
er. “I try to problem-solve ahead of the game.”
Q Share as much information as you can with others. “In our
industry, a lot of times people don’t want to share,” says Werner.
“If I can help out, I’m glad to do it.”
Q Be flexible. “If employees have a way they like to do a certain
step, I’m fine with that,” says Werner. “As long as the goal is
there, I’m flexible about how to get there.”
Q Enjoy what you do, and try to pass that on to others.
is 60 to 70
percent of
his business.
“We proba-
bly build or
resurface
close to 200
courts a
year,” using
15 to 20
employees,
depending
on the sea-
son.
While the
“Tennisline”
is the biggest
part of Sport-
sline’s business, Werner also has other divisions, including
Trackline, Turfline and Golfline, in addition to selling sports
equipment and accessories.
“Rob does everything well,” says Gordy Pierce, the ASBA’s
Tennis Division president and the owner of Cape & Island
Tennis and Track in Pocasset, Mass. “He is versatile—he
encompasses everything that the ASBA does.”
Pierce praises Werner’s involvement in the industry and
with the ASBA. Werner was on the ASBA board of directors
for four years, then the Track Division president for four
years, and has also been involved with other committees in
the organization.
“He’s never happy with the status quo and is always look-
ing for something better, something to progress the industry,”
says Pierce.
Currently, Werner says, he sees growth in installing syn-
thetic fields that can handle, tennis, soccer and other sports.
“I’m searching for a [synthetic] turf that’s easy and can be
used for multiple sports. The turf manufacturers have been
interested in the 80,000- or 90,000-square-foot fields, but
haven’t really been looking at tennis and understand that
there’s a need for a good product.”
“Rob is always looking to stay on the cutting edge of tech-
nology from a construction standpoint,” says Tracy Lynch, the
wholesale accounts manager for Lee Tennis. “He’s great to
work with and very open-minded. And he’s committed to
doing a good job in whatever he’s involved with.”
“When I’m doing a court, I like to build it as if it were
mine,” says Werner. “There’s nothing more refreshing than
putting the net up and having the owner thrilled to death.”
—Peter Francesconi
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27
 R
eturn phone calls. Fill out orders. Answer your emails.
Smile. Repeat often. This simple list adequately
describes the job requirements of a successful sales rep,
right? Well, not exactly.
“It’s not hard to be a good rep,” says Greg Mason, senior
director of sales for Head/Penn Racquet Sports, “but it’s very
difficult to be an exceptional rep. The little things like creativ-
ity and work ethic make the difference. It’s about exceeding
expectations rather than meeting expectations.”
Colleagues and customers alike agree that Hunter Hines, a
sales representative for Head/Penn in the Southern section, is
a rep who truly epitomizes that statement.
Whether he’s running an email contest for customers, per-
sonally delivering product in time for a store’s grand opening
or personally interacting with more than 220 accounts in
metro Atlanta, the rest of Georgia and most of Alabama,
Hines exceeds expectations—and then some. And that’s why
Hines is RSI’s 2007 Sales Rep of the Year.
“He's the best rep in the world,” says Bob Patterson,
owner of Player’s Choice Tennis in Birmingham, Ala. “He’s so
attentive to anything we need, whether it’s providing infor-
mation on new products or handling a special order, he steps
up and either handles it himself or finds someone who can get
it done.”
But the infectious enthusiasm that makes going that extra
mile for a customer—personally delivering a racquet for a up on that enjoyment and it makes your job a lot easier.
client because they need it in hours (not days or weeks) or “It makes it a lot easier to be on the road and away from
offering interesting prizes for charity events or raffles—the my family,” adds Hines. “If all we ever talked about was busi-
norm for Hines is also born from a selfish motive, he says. ness and work, it would be a lot more difficult. It makes it
“You’ve got to be persistent in sales,” says Hines, “but more more fun for me—and for them.”
than anything, you’ve got to enjoy it. I have fun. People pick Of course, taking care of business always comes first for
Hines. When one retailer made a last-minute request for
“Penny”—the ubiquitous, extra large, inflatable Penn tennis
ball—Hines made sure the popular, eye-grabbing ball was
Q Use creative promotions. Send out an e-mail blast asking everyone overnighted to the client in time for their grand opening.
to fill out a US Open draw. The retailer who picks the highest number "When I first started in sales and worked out of my home
of semifinalists wins a new racquet. “It’s great for me to do with my office, I thought it might be difficult to get motivated, with no
dealers, but it’s also something great dealers can do with their cus- office to go to and no one there to catch me coming in late,"
tomers,” says Hines. “I have an account who actually ran with it says Hines. "But it's the opposite, actually. There's never
after participating in my promo, and they had great success with it.”
enough time in the day to do everything I feel I need to do.
Q Don’t just get to know the managers. The decision-makers aren’t But I haven't gotten to the point where I turn my phone off at
the only ones who drive business. Stringers, floor staff, pros and 7 p.m., because I enjoy this job so much."
receptionists can be very influential with customers. “Get to know And for Hines, it’s this enjoyment of the job that carries
everyone you work with,” says Hines. over to his customers, too.
Q Know the product. “Online research is a great place to start, but I “One retailer sent me a letter saying we should clone
try my best to get out and actually use as many of my competition’s Hunter and put him in all of our territories,” says Mason, with
products—popular racquets, strings, grips, balls—as possible,” says a laugh. “For a retailer to take the time to write to me about
Hines. “That way I can speak honestly about the products in question a sales rep, it means he’s really doing what it takes to make
from personal experience.” people happy.” —Mitch Rustad

28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007

S
kiing to scooters. Paintball to basketball. In today's high-
ly competitive (and overly saturated) sporting-goods
market, a tennis player could be forgiven for feeling a lit-
tle lost in the shuffle. But don't tell that to the execs at The
Sports Authority, who are dedicated to keeping racquet-wield-
ing enthusiasts of all levels happy.
“We're kind of a Wal-Mart blended right into a specialty
store,” says Steve Dunlap, vice president and divisional mer-
chandising manager of Fitness and Racquet Sports for The
Sports Authority. “We make sure to hit all angles of the sport.”
But how can a chain store with more than 420 stores
nationwide accomplish this task? In a nutshell, by stocking
everything from pre-strung junior racquets to the latest rac-
quet technology—not to mention the mass-merchant rarity of
offering on-site stringing—with a special focus on showcasing
equipment and balls geared to juniors.
This comprehensive approach puts smiles on the faces of
customers and industry manufacturers alike, and helped The
Sports Authority earn RSI’s 2007 Chain Retailer/Mass Mer-
chant of the Year Award.
“What we really like is that they cover the bases for all of
our consumers,” says Kevin Kempin, vice president of sales
and marketing for Head/Penn Racquet Sports. “Unlike some
other chains that may focus only on the $50 frames, [TSA]
will carry the latest technology used by pro players right down
to the frames for a recreational player. It's great to have a
partner that will display our entire line.”
But Kempin is particularly impressed with the attention
TSA is giving the junior game. More floor and wall space has
been dedicated to junior frames and most stores carry foam
and/or transition balls tailored to youngsters, which ultimate-
ly benefits the health of the sport, he says.
“The fact they're giving more space to junior tennis is great
for our industry and really sets them apart,” says Kempin.
“They could have given it to soccer or other sports.”
Having former tournament players and teaching pros,
such as Dunlap, heading the tennis category gives The Sports
Authority another crucial edge, says Kempin.
Q Don’t forget the basics. Without exception, always have items
such as tennis balls, strings, grips, and junior and opening price
point racquets in stock.
Q Stock the latest and greatest. If there's a hot new racquet on
the market, make sure you're stocking it before anyone else.
Always stay on the cutting edge of new technology.
Q Be sure to feature “was, is” racquets—older but still popular
frames from previous years—at competitive prices.
“That's very helpful for all of us in the
industry, because we can talk to corporate
leaders who also have a passion for the
sport,” says Kempin. “They have a vested
interest and passion for tennis beyond just
the numbers.”
“I know what the whole industry is—
and has been—going through over the years,” says Dunlap,
“and that includes where the USTA is going and what the
teaching pro initiatives are. We have a head start on that kind
of stuff, and that helps.
“We still follow and play the sport, so we can put ourselves
in the shoes of the customer,” adds Dunlap. “We can playtest
new frames ourselves and understand what might sell, and
basically hit all angles of the sport so we know what we need
to carry in our stores.” And to keep ahead of the latest racquet
and string technology, TSA gets plenty of face time with the
leading manufacturers.
But that doesn't mean TSA is merely satisfied to stock new
technology, says another top manufacturer. “We'll sit down
with a buyer and figure out how we can build a product that
no one else has,” says Joe Keenan, vice president of
sales/national accounts for Prince Sports.
For example, when Prince came out with a national pro-
motion for one of its high-end racquets—a purchase included
a 4-pack of balls and a new tennis bag—the company asked
TSA to sweeten the deal for customers by pre-stringing each
frame. Though the move was atypical for a large chain, the
pre-string strategy was a hit, says Keenan.
“The sales of our performance category has grown thanks
to this kind of instant gratification strategy,” he says. “They're
not locked into one buying strategy, they will go outside the
box and try new things.” —Mitch Rustad
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29
 M
ichael Lynne and his wife, Mimzy, moved back to
Minnesota in 1990 after spending several years in
Arizona, where he had a small tennis shop for five
years. When the Lynnes returned to Minneapolis, Michael
scoped out places for another tennis shop, settling on a 1,700-
square-foot store in a strip mall.
“It was a terrific location, offering great parking, conve-
nient to all the tennis clubs,” he says. “That first year I put in
100 hours a week.”
Now, 17 years and 5,500 square feet later, all that hard
work has paid off. Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop is one of the
largest in the country, and each year the shop outdoes itself
in sales.
“I’ve seen them grow their business for eight years
straight, which is unheard of,” says Prince sales rep Mickey
Maule. “At year end, they treat sales reps and staff to a steak
dinner to celebrate another year of record growth. Michael
Lynne’s Tennis Shop is truly a destination for tennis fans in
the Twin Cities and upper Midwest. It’s a first-class operation
that gives nothing but exceptional customer service and like-
ly the best selection of tennis equipment you can find in one
shop anywhere in the country.”
And it’s this winning combination of service, selection,
sales and more that makes Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop RSI’s
2007 Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year.
Lynne attributes the store’s success to “lots of hard work.”
The shop carries most apparel lines as well as the major rac-
quet brands. There are more than 1,000 racquets in stock,
says Lynne, and “they are carried in depth.”
But it’s not only about sales. Fully supportive of Min-
neapolis’ large tennis community, Lynne puts kids’ and local
team photos on his back wall along with local tennis stories
and news. And he’s happy to offer tennis tips to his customers
and encourages them to “test drive” racquets for free.
Mimzy, meanwhile, keeps close tabs on apparel, carrying
lines appropriate for all age groups. “It’s important to listen to
customers and what they want,” she says. “We make it easy
for customers to get clothes that aren’t in stock by making all
the catalogs readily available. Sometimes it’s the subtle things
you do in merchandising—like changing displays to make
Q Customer service comes first. Always listen to what the cus-
tomer wants and always thank them for their business.
Q Have a well-informed staff and offer the greatest variety of mer-
chandise possible. Boost apparel sales by having staff wear the
clothing lines you carry.
Q Lots of hard work and dedication.
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
things look fresh. Women
like change, they like to wan-
der around the shop; while
men want to know they can
find what they want in the
same place.”
Clothing is grouped by
size and the price is always
visible. Racks are never
overcrowded and pieces are
displayed on the wall so customers can see them as “outfits.”
When customers try on clothes, they find large dressing
rooms with excellent lighting. Also, all the employees don var-
ious tennis outfits to work so customers can see what the
clothes actually look like “on.”
The store also has six stringing machines, so, as Michael
notes, “You can have your racquets strung while you wait.”
But even “waiting” at Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop is a
pleasure. Customers can watch the Tennis Channel on TV
while having a snack or sipping gourmet coffee the shop sup-
plies. “We’re a destination point,” Lynne says. “People have
to drive here, so we want to make sure our staff is well-
informed on the merchandise and offers great customer
service.”
“Michael and Mimzy personify customer service, and they
teach their staff to take this approach,” says Greg Mason,
senior director of sales for Head. “It's the little things like
greeting each customer, then thanking them as they leave,
writing thank-you notes to repeat customers—that really
makes the difference.”
The staff, adds Mason, is always upbeat and motivated.
“It's apparent they ‘get it,’” says Mason. “The Minneapolis
tennis market is the real winner.” —Cynthia Sherman

C
raig Jones’ commitment to growing the game is evident
by his long list of awards, distinctions and volun-
teerism. A popular speaker and accomplished USTA
High Performance coach, he has also become one of the
country’s foremost advocates of the USTA’s QuickStart Tennis
format for kids 10 and under.
And for his many accomplishments bringing tennis to kids,
Q More courts, more kids. With the QuickStart format, 12 young-
sters can comfortably rally per court under the supervision of just
one teaching pro.
Q Sell modified equipment in the pro shop. Allowing parents to
purchase transition balls and racquets may generate another bene-
fit: their interest in adult lessons and equipment of their own.
Q Learn from the Europeans. While the best U.S. teaching pros are
usually reserved for the most advanced teens, Europeans have the
opposite mindset. An experienced pro can make game improve-
ment decisions more quickly and efficiently with beginners.
D
an Vonk has no problem being the local “tennis guy”—
so long as it means he’s helping bring more players to
the courts in Camden County, Ga.
When Vonk began as coach of the Camden County High
School boys’ and girls’ teams in 1995, the state of the pro-
gram was far from ideal. “My first year, I had to tell kids to go
get some friends so we could fill the roster,” he says. “I had
to show most of the kids how to hold a racquet.”
Tennis in Camden County has come a long way since then,
grown and developed through the hard work of Vonk and a
team of tennis leaders for whom he readily offers praise.
Q Develop the demand, when creating a grassroots tennis program.
Show community leaders a high level of anticipated participation
and need.
Q Enlist the help and support of tennis lovers in the community,
especially the ones with children who would benefit.
Q Start small and be patient. Try to grow a little bit every year.
Jones is RSI’s 2007 Junior Develop-
ment Champion of the Year.
Director of tennis and majority
owner of the Petersburg Racquet
Club in Martinez, Ga., Jones
embraced QuickStart (formerly
called Project 36/60) as a pilot pro-
gram in May 2006. “Ever since we
started it,” says Jones, who is certi-
fied by both the USPTA and PTR,
“it’s like our junior program has been on steroids.”
Its popularity has even surprised Jones, who has hired
another teaching pro amid plans to build additional courts—
some with permanent QuickStart lines—to keep up with
demand.
“Craig is a respected high-performance coach, but he also
sees the big picture of needing to find new ways to attract and
retain players,” says Kirk Anderson, director of the USTA’s
Recreational Coaches and Programs. “He believes in Quick-
Start and has done an excellent job of implementing it. He’s
clearly a cut above most teaching pros.” —Cynthia Cantrell
Summer tennis camps begin-
ning in 1999 led the way for
after-school, parking-lot
lessons for students at two
local middle schools. In
2002, tennis teams were
formed at the schools, and
soon both will boast four courts
on their campuses.
Last season, Vonk’s teams swept the regional champi-
onships. This year, he was honored with the USTA National
Starfish Award for his no-cut tennis program. And for his
efforts to make tennis available to all, Vonk is RSI’s 2007
Grassroots Champion of the Year.
Early this year, Vonk started organizing the Camden Area
Tennis Association. “I would like nothing more than to one
day see that out in the community kids and adults have a
place to enjoy the lifelong game of tennis,” he says.
“Dan has been the solid foundation for tennis in Camden
Country for over a decade,” says Robin Dawson, junior pro-
grams coordinator for USTA Georgia. —Kristen Daley
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 31
 Municipal Facility of the

A
rthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, as current
head Tina Tharp says, is “not just about hitting tennis Year.
balls. We are here to develop young men and young In December 2004, as
women." fundraising continued
With public and private funding, AAYTE annually serves toward the $12 million cost,
more than 11,000 children from age 4 into their teens—usu- ground was broken for a
ally at no or minimal cost to families—through after-school new home in Fairmont
and community programs stretched to nearly every Philadel- Park. The official unveiling
phia neighborhood. (Adults can play at the facility for limited took place in April 2006.
hours in summer; during the school year, it’s all for kids.) The 9.2-acre site has eight
AAYTE is not only an impressive physical structure, but the indoor courts, eight outdoor courts, and a main building with
programs are beyond compare. And for 2007, AAYTE is RSI’s offices, locker rooms, weight room, library, and the Arthur
Ashe Reading is Fundamental Room.
Children in the school district are bused in for their phys
ed requirement. The academic flagship is a life-skills curricu-
Q Form partnerships with like-minded organizations. lum. Tennis is obviously a main focus, but it is also the reward

Q Provide a consistency in staff and vision to foster strong rela-

tionships with the populations you serve.
Q Create a legacy and build a sense of internal commitment by
mentoring today's attendees so they can be tomorrow's staff.
for doing homework. Many of the staff developed their back-
hands as well as their study skills in the program.
"I often hear from people saying, ‘You can tell that's an
AAYTE kid,’” says Tharp, “‘[They're] pleasant, outgoing and
always willing to help.’” —Kent Oswald

ITF/Cruyff Foun-

F
or nearly a decade, Jason Harnett has been a mentor for
wheelchair tennis players both on and off the court. Each dation Tennis
year, Harnett, a USTA national coach, spends six to eight Camp-Americas.
weeks training and traveling with the country’s elite wheel- For his dedi-
chair athletes. As the head coach of the Quadriplegic team at cation to the
the Invacare World Team Cup, Harnett has led his team to development of
five titles. wheelchair ten-
Harnett’s work with wheelchair players began in earnest in nis and its play-
1996, when he led a clinic for about 10 players in Mission ers, Harnett is
Viejo, Calif., where he is the city’s head tennis pro. Today, this year’s RSI
thanks to his hard work, Mission Viejo is now the home of the Wheelchair Tennis Champion.
“What makes him a great coach is his understanding of
each player as an individual,” says Dan James, USTA Wheel-
chair national head coach. “He knows what to do and say to
Q Learn from the player. Talk to athletes about their disability and bring out their best performance.”
find out what they can and can’t do physically. Harnett’s relationship with his players reaches beyond the
Q Do your research. Learn about wheelchair tennis from the ITF and
court. “You’re a coach, but you’re also a counselor,” he says.
USTA websites, itftennis.com and usta.com. “You’re a friend.”
Says World No. 1 wheelchair player David Wagner, “I
Q Show the player how to learn to love the game and the challenge know that without Jason by my side and helping me along the
of it. way, I would not be where I am today.” —Kristen Daley

32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007

 grams throughout the city

N
amed in honor of Chris Evert’s father, who was tennis
director for 49 years, the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center is so transportation wouldn’t
the centerpiece of the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks be an issue” for far-spread
and Recreation Department. However, the center is just one residents.
of nine facilities offering 47 courts in every corner of the city. The Parks and Rec
Whitney Kraft, who was director of tennis for Fort Laud- Department also supports
erdale for 10 years before becoming director at the USTA Bil- the city’s youth through its
lie Jean King National Tennis Center in August, says partnership with First
improvements to city recreation facilities mirrored the gener- Serve, a life-skills program.
al downtown revitalization through a $35 million bond And this past July, the Parks
approved in 1997. The idea, he says, was “to deliver pro- and Rec Department hosted the 81st Annual USTA National
Public Parks Tennis Championships.
For all it has done in growing the sport, and keeping
youngsters engaged, Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation is
Q Share the wealth. With 47 courts at nine facilities city-wide, ten- RSI’s Public Park of the Year.
nis players in Fort Lauderdale don’t have to travel far for a match. “Fort Lauderdale has done an amazing job, including its

Q Be a good host. If your facility can’t land a national event, orga-

nize charity tournaments to raise funds as well as interest.
Q Don’t do it alone. Whitney Kraft says his job as tournament direc-
tor was significantly eased by many senior citizen volunteers.
model relationship with the schools,” says Marcia Bach, the
USTA’s Park and Recreation tennis coordinator.
“The courts are full every day,” says Vince Gizzi, a recre-
ation supervisor for the city. “We must be doing something
right.” —Cynthia Cantrell

viding them with rac-

F
or the Grants Pass Community Tennis Association in
Grants Pass, Ore., tennis is more than a sport. The CTA,
now in its 17th year, has made junior player develop-
ment a priority, with programs now serving 70 children,
some of whom hold a state ranking. This past August, the CTA
hosted its first USTA sanctioned junior tournament.
In 2008, another major focus will be outreach to at-risk
groups of youth and adults in the community, says CTA Pres-
ident Howard Wand, partly in response to methamphetamine
abuse throughout the county. “We believe our goal is to make
a dent in that, to show people that there are other things they
can be doing that are a lot more fun,” Wand says. “We’re pro-
Q Expand your team to include committed individuals. It’s said
that 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people.
Q Create a five-year plan and update it annually.
Q Run your CTA like a small business, delegating tasks and full
authority to officers, board members and volunteers.
quets and free clinics,
to get these people off
the streets and on the
courts.”
For its use of the
game to build confi-
dence and communi-
ty, RSI has chosen the Grants Pass CTA as our 2007
Community Tennis Association of the Year.
In the Pacific Northwest, shoveling snow off courts for win-
ter play isn’t unusual, but the Grants Pass CTA is advocating
for a public, indoor tennis facility on a portion of open space
recently purchased by the city. Government officials have
expressed interest, making fundraising the next step.
“The Grants Pass CTA works tirelessly to deliver tennis at
all levels,” says David Slade, USTA national manager of Com-
munity Tennis Associations. “In addition to its successful
community-wide tennis programming, they are committing
themselves to promoting tennis as a means of making their
community a better place to live.” —Kristen Daley

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33


P
assion, expertise, and enthusiasm in promoting the PTR
are just a few of the qualities that PTR executives say
make Luke Jensen a very special member. Jensen joined
the PTR two years ago, and since that time, he has actively
promoted the PTR to touring pros and the tennis community,
including taking the PTR On Campus program to Syracuse
University, where he coaches the women’s tennis team.
“Whether he’s speaking at a symposium or teaching clin-
ics, Luke is accessible and great for the game,” says PTR Inter-
national Director Inaki Balzola. “He’s smart, open-minded
and a constant ambassador for tennis.” And for all of these
qualities and more, Luke Jensen is RSI’s choice for PTR
Q Education and college is important for aspiring tennis pros.
Jensen points to James Blake and John Isner as great examples of
what hard work and persistence in tennis and school can do.
Q Understand the fundamentals of the game before moving to the
next level.
Q Practice smarter, you’ll beat the other guy.
W
ith 30 years of experience in instructional tennis
program management, USPTA Master Pro Mike
Van Zutphen of Mesa, Ariz., has a résumé that fills
four pages. Among his qualification highlights, however, one
stands out: “I know which ladies take cream in their coffee.”
“Anytime I get a beginner or new customer, I go to the nth
degree to take care of that person,” says Van Zutphen,
founder of the Arizona Tennis Association and director of ten-
nis at the Mesa Country Club for 14 years. With practice and
encouragement, he notes, a beginner evolves into an inter-
Q Introduce yourself. Share details of your tennis experience along
with your enthusiasm for teaching this particular player in this partic-
ular class.
Q Learn each player’s unique challenges. Offer encouragement
and support in addition to technical adjustments.
Q Say thank you. Tell players you hope to see them in future classes.
If they have a scheduling conflict, offer private lessons.
34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
Member of the Year.
Jensen, who won 10
pro doubles titles, includ-
ing the 1993 French
Open doubles crown with
his brother Murphy, is
currently a tennis analyst
for ESPN. He says his
teaching philosophy comes down to “having and following a
long-range plan and committing to it.” He insists that a
teacher should always “evolve” and “adapt.”
“It was important for me to get certified and learn how to
fix my own problems,” he says, adding that he wants more
young people to seek a career in tennis. “There’s a real oppor-
tunity in American tennis, and I want to make sure kids are
given the right conditions, attitude and game, along with the
willingness to commit.”
“Luke,” says PTR Executive Director and CEO Dan Santo-
rum, “represents the next generation of high-profile teaching
pros and makes a difference wherever he goes.”
—Cynthia Sherman
mediate and then advanced play-
er who may take lessons, play in
leagues and club tournaments,
purchase equipment and recruit
friends to join the fun.
While some coaches focus on
one level of player, Van Zutphen has utilized the USPTA’s
resources to offer programming for the complete spectrum:
from the players in the Arizona Special Olympics tennis divi-
sion he founded and directed for 25 years, to protégé Wesley
Whitehouse, the 1997 junior Wimbledon champion who fin-
ished within the top 400 in 2006 with wins over Marat Safin
and Justin Gimelstob.
Because of his dedication to the organization and profes-
sion, Van Zutphen is RSI’s 2007 USPTA Member of the Year.
“Mike, a former Southwest Division president, is a great
supporter of the USPTA,” says CEO Tim Heckler. “He is a
dynamic teaching pro who contributes to the sport through
teaching, administration and volunteering. We are truly
pleased to have such an outstanding member who is com-
mitted to growing the game in all aspects.” —Cynthia Cantrell

F
or Marian DeWane, more is certainly merrier. In Boise,
Idaho, DeWane has led the Centennial High School team
for two decades, and the program adopted the no-cut
concept at its inception. Each year, DeWane and her assis-
tants, both paid and volunteer, work with 85 to 120 students.
“I don’t think you can ever discount any athlete, and any-
one who wants to learn, we want to help them enjoy the
game,” says DeWane, who received the USTA No-Cut Coach
Starfish Award in 2006 for her efforts. “We want the number
Q Get commitment from coaches and players to the no-cut philoso-
phy. Every child is important and can play a vital role on the team.
Q Be flexible, be creative in scheduling and be willing to try
new things. Practices should be well-planned, including drills that
can involve a lot of players on one court.
Q Encourage team members to continue playing even when obsta-
cles present themselves. When recruiting, let students know that
their tennis ability level doesn’t matter, as long as they commit to
getting better.
T
he USTA Florida Section has taken to heart USTA Presi-
dent Jane Brown Grimes’ call to “bring tennis to where
the kids are.” The section’s goal is to introduce tennis to
both the physical education curriculum and after-school pro-
gramming in at least one school in each of Florida’s 67 coun-
ties, and it continued making strides toward that goal in 2007.
The section’s success is due, in part, to a “School Summit”
workshop held the last two years. “The idea was to have a
one- or two-day workshop, to invite school administrators to
learn about the USTA School Tennis initiative, and to go
through an in-service training,” says Andy McFarland, the sec-
tion’s associate executive director for community tennis.
Q Have a full-time coordinator focused on a specific program or
initiative.
Q Provide other field staff to support the coordinator, with spe-
cific program goals and customer relations.
Q Seek the support and resources from your section’s board of
directors and the USTA national office.
of kids who love ten-
nis and play to keep
increasing.”
DeWane’s dedication to making tennis available to
all interested students at Centennial High School
makes her RSI’s High School Coach of the Year.
DeWane manages to practice and play three
squads—Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity—on
six courts during the tennis season. Still, her team has
consistently remained at the top of the game in its district and
state, winning seven state championships and ranking among
the top four teams at state nearly every season.
“We had kids from all walks of life come out for the tennis
team, and for some it was a great, lifelong sport that they
learned and were really good at,” says Sara Swanson, a for-
mer Centennial player and former volunteer coach. “For oth-
ers, it was a great way to be involved, to learn about tennis
and to stay out of trouble.”
“The students have a good time,” says DeWane. “They get
a positive self-image from that. They can go out and, whatev-
er their level, they can enjoy the game.” —Kristen Daley
Florida’s
continued
dedication to
promoting School Tennis is among the reasons it has been
named RSI’s USTA Section of the Year—our first two-time
winner of a Champions of Tennis award (Florida also was
named our USTA Section of the Year in 2005).
“The idea of the School Summit was very successful and is
much more time effective than approaching individual
schools with only a few teachers,” says Kirk Anderson, USTA
director of Recreational Coaches and Programs. One partici-
pant was so impressed, he made sure each of the 350 PE
teachers he oversees, representing more than 200 schools,
was trained in the curriculum. During 2006 and 2007, nearly
100 schools signed on. “That was just one splinter of success
coming out of our School Summit,” says McFarland.
The section’s success goes beyond the School Tennis ini-
tiative. For instance, Florida has been active in hosting Recre-
ational Coaches Workshops—at least eight each year across
the state—training potential and existing tennis coaches and
leaders to work with large groups of players. —Kristen Daley
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 35
 ADVERTISEMENT

LISTING BY COMPANY
10-S Tennis Supply Century Sports Fancy Pants, div. of The LBH Kirschbaum USA
1400 NW 13th Avenue Lakewood Industrial Park, Box 2035 Group, Ltd. 401 93 St
Pompano Beach, FL 33069 Lakewood, NJ 08701 18700 Crenshaw Blvd Surfside, FL 33154
P 800-247-3907 P 800-526-7548 Torrance, CA 90504 P 866-443-4428
561-547-1772 732-905-4422 P 800-421-4474 786-287-3998
F 954-969-5451 F 732-901-7766 310-768-0300 F 305-864-4629
email: sales@10-s.com email: centurysportsinc@cs.com F 310-768-0324 email: info@kirschbaumusa.com
web: www.10-s.com web: www.centurysportsinc.com web: www.lbhgroup.com web: www.kirschbaumusa.com

Alpha Sports Classic Turf Co., LLC. Fast Dry Companies Klip America
7208 McNeil Drive, #207 437 Sherman Hill Road, PO Box 55 1400 North West 13th Avenue 6450 Lusk Blvd, Suite E-103
Austin, TX 78729 Woodbury, CT 06798 Pompano Beach, FL 33069 San Diego, CA 92109
P 800-922-9024 P 800-246-7951 P 800-432-2994 P 858-626-2720
512-250-1499 203-266-4862 F 954-979-1335 F 858-626-2721
F 512-279-9454 F 203-263-0275 email: info@fast-dry.com email: contact@klipamerica.com
email: info@alphatennis.com email: sales@classicturf.org web: www.fast-dry.com web: www.klipstrings.com
web: www.alphatennis.com web: www.classicturf.org
Gamma Sports LBH, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd.
ASBA Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment 200 Waterfront Dr. 18700 Crenshaw Blvd
(American Sports Builders Association) 3441 S. 11th Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Torrance, CA 90504
8480 Baltimore National Pike, No. 307 Eldridge, IA 52748 P 800-333-0337 P 800-421-4474
Ellicott City, MD 21043 P 800-553-8907 412-323-0335 310-768-0300
P 866-501-2722 F 800-443-8907 F 800-274-0317 F 310-768-0324
410-730-9595 email: sales@douglas-sports.com email: tsr@gammasports.com web: www.lbhgroup.com
F 410-730-8833 web: www.douglas-sports.com web: www.gammasports.com
email: info@sportsbuilders.org Lee Tennis
web: www.sportsbuilders.org Dunlop Sports Gosen America (Sportmode, Inc.) 2975 Ivy Road
25 Draper Street 5445 Oceanus St., Suite 113A Charlottesville, VA 22903
Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. Greenville, SC 29611 Huntington Beach, CA 92649 P 877-4HARTRU
P.O. Box 549 / 24 Laurel Street P 800-768-4727 P 800-538-0026 434-295-6167
Ashaway, RI 02804 F 800-766-8379 714-379-7400 F 434-971-6995
P 800-556-7260 email: cusomterser- F 714-379-7099 email: hartru@leetennis.com
401-377-2221 vice@dunlopsports.com web: email: sales@gosenamerica.com web: www.leetennis.com
F 401-377-9091 www.dunlopsports.com web: www.gosenamerica.com
email: sales@ashawayusa.com Lily's of Beverly Hills, div. of
web: www.ashawayusa.com Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific Har-Tru The LBH Group, Ltd.
1901 Diplomat Drive, PO Box 7087 2975 Ivy Road 18700 Crenshaw Blvd
ATS Sports Dallas, TX 75234 Charlottesville, VA 22903 Torrance, CA 90504
200 Waterfront Drive P 800-527-0871 P 877-4HARTRU P 800-421-4474
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 F 888-455-3551 434-295-6167 310-768-0300
P 800-866-7071 email: Pam@colpac.com F 434-971-6995 F 310-768-0324
412-323-9612 web: www.cpacsports.com email: hartru@leetennis.com web: www.lbhgroup.com
F 412-323-1320 web: www.leetennis.com
email: tennis@corp.atssports.com Ektelon Lobster Sports, Inc.
web: www.atssports.com One Advantage Court HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports 7340 Fulton Ave.
Bordentown, NJ 08505 306 S. 45th Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91605
Babolat VS North America P 800-283-6647 Phoenix, AZ 85043 P 800-210-5992
650 S. Taylor Ave. 609-291-5800 P 800-289-7366 818-764-6000
Louisville, CO 80027 F 609-291-5900 602-269-1492 F 818-764-6061
P 877-316-9435 web: www.ektelon.com F 602-484-0533 email: info@lobsterinc.com
303-444-5340 email: askus@us.head.com web: www.lobsterinc.com
F 303-444-2088 Evergreen Tennis Services web: www.head.com
email: info@babolatusa.com 109 E. Garfield St., PO Box 136 M. Putterman & Co.
web: www.babolat.com Chambersburg, PA 17201 K-Swiss, Inc. 4834 S. Oakley
P 800-511-7272 31248 Oak Crest Drive Chicago, IL 60609
717-263-4950 Westlake Village, CA 91361 P 800-621-0146
F 717-263-2969 P 800-938-8000 773-927-4120
email: evgtennis@comcast.net 818-706-5100 F 773-650-6046
F 818-706-5390 email: info@mputterman.com
email: ksmktg@k-swiss.com web: www.mputterman.com
web: www.k-swiss.com

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 37

 ADVERTISEMENT

Master Sports Pro Supex USA TIA (Tennis Industry Association) Volkl
6206 Discount Drive 510 SE Fourth Ct. P.O. Box 7845 6450 Lusk Blvd., Suite E-103
Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Dania, FL 33004 Hilton Head, Island, SC 29938 San Diego, CA 92121
P 800-837-1002 P 866-787-4644 P 866-686-3036 P 866-554-7872
260-471-0001 954-925-8875 843-686-3036 858-626-2720
F 260-490-7643 F 954-927-0228 F 843-686-3078 F 858-626-2721
email: info@mastersports.com email: info@prosupexusa.com email: info@tennisindustry.org email: contact@volklbbtennis.com
web: www.mastersports.com web: www.prosupexusa.com web: www.tennisindustry.org web: www.volkl-tennis.com

NGI Sports (Novagrass)
2807 Walker Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
P 800-835-0033
423-499-5546
F 423-499-8882
email: info@novagrass.com
web: www.novagrass.com
PTR (Professional Tennis Registry)
P.O. Box 4739, 116 Shipyard Dr.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
P 800-421-6289
843-785-7244
F 843-686-2033
email: info@ptrtennis.org
web: www.ptrtennis.org
Unique Sports Products
840 McFarland Road
Alpharetta, GA 30004
P 800-554-3707
770-442-1977
F 770-475-2065
email: sales@uniquesports.us
web: www.uniquesports.us
Welch Tennis Courts, Inc.
PO Box 7770, 4501 Old US Hwy 41
Sun City, FL 33586
P 800-282-4415
813-641-7787
F 813-641-7795
email: custsvc@welchtennis.com
web: www.welchtennis.com

Nova Sports USA Putnam Tennis and Recreation USPTA (US Professional Tennis Assn) Wilson Racquet Sports
6 Industrial Road, Building #2 PO Box 96 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One 8700 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, 10th floor
Milford, MA 01757 Harwinton, CT 06791 Houston, TX 77042 Chicago, IL 60631
P 800-872-6682 P 800-678-2490 P 800-877-8248 P 800-272-6060
F 508-473-4077 F 860-485-1568 713-978-7781 773-714-6400
email: info@novasports.com email: info@putnamtennis.com F 713-978-7780 F 773-714-4585
web: www.novasports.com web: www.putnamtennis.com email: uspta@uspta.org email: racquet@wilson.com
web: www.uspta.com web: www.wilson.com
Oncourt Offcourt Rocky Mountain Sports
5427 Philip Ave. 650 South Taylor, #A USRSA (US Racquet Stringers Assn) Wimbledon, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd.
Dallas, TX 75223 Louisville, CO 80027 330 Main Street 18700 Crenshaw Blvd
P 88-TENNIS-11 P 800-525-2852 Vista, CA 92084 Torrance, CA 90504
214-823-3078 303-444-5340 P 760-536-1177 P 800-421-4474
F 214-823-3082 F 303-444-7526 F 760-536-1171 310-768-0300
email: info@oncourtoffcourt.com email: info@rmsboulder.com email: usrsa@racquettech.com F 310-768-0324
web: www.oncourtoffcourt.com web: www.rmsboulder.com web: www.racquettech.com web: www.lbhgroup.com

Prince Sports, Inc.
One Advantage Court
Bordentown, NJ 08505
P 800-2 TENNIS
609-291-5800
F 609-291-5902
web: www.princetennis.com
Tecnifibre USTA (US Tennis Association) Yonex Corporation USA
4 S. Walker, Suite F 70 West Red Oak Lane 20140 S Western Ave
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 White Plains, NY 10604 Torrance, CA 90501
P 877-332-0825 P 800-990-8782 P 800-44-YONEX
630-321-0760 914-696-7000 310-793-3800
F 630-321-0762 F 914-696-7167 F 310-793-3899
email: sales@tecnifibreusa.com email: info@usta.com email: support@yonexusa.com
web: www.tecnifibre.com web: www.usta.com www.yonex.com

LISTING BY PRODUCT
EQUIPMENT Tecnifibre Racquetball Racquets Gamma Sports
Tennis Racquets Volkl Century Sports Gosen America (Sportmode, Inc.)
10-S Tennis Supply Wilson Racquet Sports Ektelon Master Sports
Alpha Sports Yonex Corporation USA Gamma Sports Rocky Mountain Sports
ATS Sports HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Wilson Racquet Sports
Babolat VS North America Squash Racquets Master Sports Yonex Corporation USA
Century Sports Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. Prince Sports, Inc.
Dunlop Sports Century Sports Rocky Mountain Sports Strings-Gut
Gamma Sports Dunlop Sports Wilson Racquet Sports 10-S Tennis Supply
HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Gamma Sports Alpha Sports
Master Sports HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Badminton Racquets ATS Sports
Oncourt Offcourt Prince Sports, Inc. Alpha Sports Babolat VS North America
Prince Sports, Inc. Rocky Mountain Sports Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. Century Sports
Pro Supex USA Tecnifibre Century Sports Dunlop Sports
Rocky Mountain Sports Wilson Racquet Sports Dunlop Sports Gamma Sports

38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007

 ADVERTISEMENT

Gosen America (Sportmode, Inc.) Gamma Sports Ektelon Gamma Sports

Kirschbaum USA HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Gamma Sports Rocky Mountain Sports
Klip America Kirschbaum USA Master Sports Unique Sports Products
Prince Sports, Inc. Klip America Prince Sports, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Sports Prince Sports, Inc. Rocky Mountain Sports Knee Bands
Unique Sports Products Pro Supex USA Tecnifibre ATS Sports
Wilson Racquet Sports Rocky Mountain Sports Yonex Corporation USA Babolat VS North America
Tecnifibre Gamma Sports
Strings-Synthetic Unique Sports Products Stringing Tools Rocky Mountain Sports
10-S Tennis Supply Volkl Alpha Sports Unique Sports Products
Alpha Sports Wilson Racquet Sports ATS Sports
Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. Yonex Corporation USA Babolat VS North America TENNIS APPAREL
ATS Sports Century Sports Men’s
Babolat VS North America Grips Gamma Sports ATS Sports
Century Sports 10-S Tennis Supply Rocky Mountain Sports Gamma Sports
Dunlop Sports Alpha Sports Tecnifibre K-Swiss, Inc.
Ektelon ATS Sports Yonex Corporation USA Master Sports
Gamma Sports Babolat VS North America Prince Sports, Inc.
Gosen America (Sportmode, Inc.) Century Sports Stringing Accessories Wilson Racquet Sports
HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Dunlop Sports Alpha Sports Wimbledon, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd.
Kirschbaum USA Ektelon ATS Sports Yonex Corporation USA
Klip America Gamma Sports Century Sports
Master Sports Gosen America (Sportmode, Inc.) Gamma Sports Women’s
Prince Sports, Inc. HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Kirschbaum USA ATS Sports
Pro Supex USA Kirschbaum USA Rocky Mountain Sports Gamma Sports
Rocky Mountain Sports Klip America K-Swiss, Inc.
Tecnifibre Prince Sports, Inc. Sports Bags LBH, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd.
Unique Sports Products Pro Supex USA Alpha Sports Lily's of Beverly Hills, div. of The LBH
Volkl Rocky Mountain Sports ATS Sports Group, Ltd.
Wilson Racquet Sports Tecnifibre Babolat VS North America Master Sports
Yonex Corporation USA Unique Sports Products Dunlop Sports Prince Sports, Inc.
Volkl Ektelon Wilson Racquet Sports
Strings-Hybrid Wilson Racquet Sports Gamma Sports Wimbledon, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd.
10-S Tennis Supply Yonex Corporation USA HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Yonex Corporation USA
Alpha Sports Prince Sports, Inc.
Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. Vibration Dampeners Rocky Mountain Sports Children’s
ATS Sports Alpha Sports Tecnifibre LBH, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd.
Babolat VS North America ATS Sports Volkl Wilson Racquet Sports
Century Sports Babolat VS North America Wilson Racquet Sports
Dunlop Sports Century Sports Yonex Corporation USA T-shirts
Gamma Sports Dunlop Sports ATS Sports
Gosen America (Sportmode, Inc.) Ektelon Tennis Balls Gamma Sports
HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Gamma Sports 10-S Tennis Supply Kirschbaum USA
Kirschbaum USA HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports ATS Sports Klip America
Klip America Kirschbaum USA Century Sports Rocky Mountain Sports
Master Sports Klip America Dunlop Sports Volkl
Prince Sports, Inc. Prince Sports, Inc. Gamma Sports Wilson Racquet Sports
Pro Supex USA Rocky Mountain Sports HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Yonex Corporation USA
Rocky Mountain Sports Tecnifibre Oncourt Offcourt
Unique Sports Products Unique Sports Products Prince Sports, Inc. Socks
Wilson Racquet Sports Volkl Rocky Mountain Sports ATS Sports
Yonex Corporation USA Wilson Racquet Sports Tecnifibre Century Sports
Yonex Corporation USA Unique Sports Products Gamma Sports
Accessories Wilson Racquet Sports K-Swiss, Inc.
ATS Sports Stringing Machines Prince Sports, Inc.
Babolat VS North America Alpha Sports Arm Bands Rocky Mountain Sports
Century Sports ATS Sports ATS Sports Volkl
Dunlop Sports Babolat VS North America Babolat VS North America Wilson Racquet Sports
Ektelon Century Sports Yonex Corporation USA

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 39

 ADVERTISEMENT

Hats/Caps/Visors Century Sports Putnam Tennis and Recreation NGI Sports (Novagrass)
ATS Sports Fancy Pants, div. of The LBH Rocky Mountain Sports Nova Sports USA
Century Sports Group, Ltd. Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Oncourt Offcourt
Dunlop Sports Gamma Sports Putnam Tennis and Recreation
Gamma Sports LBH, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd. Maintenance Equipment Rocky Mountain Sports
HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Lily's of Beverly Hills, div. of The 10-S Tennis Supply Welch Tennis Courts, Inc.
K-Swiss, Inc. LBH Group, Ltd. ATS Sports Wilson Racquet Sports
Klip America Master Sports Century Sports
Master Sports Prince Sports, Inc. Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Tennis Posts
Prince Sports, Inc. Rocky Mountain Sports Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific 10-S Tennis Supply
Rocky Mountain Sports Unique Sports Products Evergreen Tennis Services ATS Sports
Unique Sports Products Wilson Racquet Sports Gamma Sports Century Sports
Volkl Wimbledon, div. of The LBH Har-Tru Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment
Wilson Racquet Sports Group, Ltd. Lee Tennis Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific
Yonex Corporation USA NGI Sports (Novagrass) Evergreen Tennis Services
FOOTWEAR Putnam Tennis and Recreation Gamma Sports
Wristbands Tennis Rocky Mountain Sports Har-Tru
ATS Sports 10-S Tennis Supply Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Lee Tennis
Babolat VS North America ATS Sports M. Putterman & Co.
Century Sports Babolat VS North America Surface Repair Products Master Sports
Ektelon Century Sports 10-S Tennis Supply NGI Sports (Novagrass)
Gamma Sports K-Swiss, Inc. ATS Sports Nova Sports USA
HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports Master Sports Century Sports Oncourt Offcourt
K-Swiss, Inc. Prince Sports, Inc. Evergreen Tennis Services Putnam Tennis and Recreation
Klip America Wilson Racquet Sports Gamma Sports Rocky Mountain Sports
Master Sports Yonex Corporation USA Har-Tru Welch Tennis Courts, Inc.
Prince Sports, Inc. Lee Tennis Wilson Racquet Sports
Rocky Mountain Sports Insoles NGI Sports (Novagrass)
Unique Sports Products ATS Sports Nova Sports USA Scorekeepers
Volkl Putnam Tennis and Recreation 10-S Tennis Supply
Wilson Racquet Sports TENNIS LIGHTING Rocky Mountain Sports ATS Sports
Yonex Corporation USA Outdoor Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Century Sports
10-S Tennis Supply Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment
Tennis Panties Classic Turf Co., LLC. Fencing Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific
ATS Sports Evergreen Tennis Services 10-S Tennis Supply Evergreen Tennis Services
Fancy Pants, div. of The LBH Har-Tru Century Sports Gamma Sports
Group, Ltd. Lee Tennis Classic Turf Co., LLC. Har-Tru
Gamma Sports Putnam Tennis and Recreation Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Lee Tennis
LBH, div. of The LBH Group, Ltd. Rocky Mountain Sports Evergreen Tennis Services Master Sports
Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Har-Tru Oncourt Offcourt
Sports Bras Lee Tennis Rocky Mountain Sports
Fancy Pants, div. of The LBH Indoor Putnam Tennis and Recreation Unique Sports Products
Group, Ltd. Classic Turf Co., LLC. Rocky Mountain Sports Welch Tennis Courts, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Sports Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Wilson Racquet Sports
Custom Cresting Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Wilson Racquet Sports
Gamma Sports Water Cooler Stands
Master Sports COURT EQUIPMENT Tennis Nets 10-S Tennis Supply
Wilson Racquet Sports Court Surfaces 10-S Tennis Supply ATS Sports
10-S Tennis Supply Alpha Sports Century Sports
Embroidery ASBA (American Sports Builders ATS Sports Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment
ATS Sports Association) Century Sports Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific
Gamma Sports Century Sports Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Evergreen Tennis Services
Master Sports Classic Turf Co., LLC. Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific Gamma Sports
Rocky Mountain Sports Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Evergreen Tennis Services Har-Tru
Unique Sports Products Evergreen Tennis Services Gamma Sports Lee Tennis
Wilson Racquet Sports Gamma Sports Har-Tru Oncourt Offcourt
Har-Tru Lee Tennis Rocky Mountain Sports
Team Business Lee Tennis M. Putterman & Co. Welch Tennis Courts, Inc.
ATS Sports NGI Sports (Novagrass) Master Sports Wilson Racquet Sports
Nova Sports USA

40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007

 ADVERTISEMENT

Windscreens Century Sports Water Removal Equipment HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports

10-S Tennis Supply Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment 10-S Tennis Supply Prince Sports, Inc.
Alpha Sports Dunlop Sports ATS Sports Rocky Mountain Sports
ATS Sports Evergreen Tennis Services Century Sports Unique Sports Products
Century Sports Gamma Sports Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Wilson Racquet Sports
Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Har-Tru Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific
Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific Lee Tennis Evergreen Tennis Services Sun Protection
Evergreen Tennis Services Lobster Sports, Inc. Gamma Sports Rocky Mountain Sports
Gamma Sports Master Sports Har-Tru
Har-Tru Rocky Mountain Sports Lee Tennis Sunglasses
Lee Tennis Unique Sports Products Lobster Sports, Inc. ATS Sports
M. Putterman & Co. Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Master Sports HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports
Master Sports Wilson Racquet Sports Oncourt Offcourt Rocky Mountain Sports
NGI Sports (Novagrass) Rocky Mountain Sports Unique Sports Products
Oncourt Offcourt Ball Machines Wilson Racquet Sports
Putnam Tennis and Recreation 10-S Tennis Supply Tournament Prizes
Rocky Mountain Sports ATS Sports BUILDERS & DESIGNERS ATS Sports
Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Century Sports Court Contractors Dunlop Sports
Wilson Racquet Sports Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment ASBA (American Sports Builders Gamma Sports
Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific Association) Rocky Mountain Sports
Backdrop Curtains Evergreen Tennis Services Classic Turf Co., LLC. Unique Sports Products
10-S Tennis Supply Gamma Sports Evergreen Tennis Services Wilson Racquet Sports
ATS Sports Har-Tru Fast Dry Companies
Century Sports Lee Tennis Har-Tru Towels
Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Lobster Sports, Inc. Lee Tennis ATS Sports
Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific Master Sports Putnam Tennis and Recreation Rocky Mountain Sports
Evergreen Tennis Services Oncourt Offcourt Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Unique Sports Products
Gamma Sports Putnam Tennis and Recreation Wilson Racquet Sports
Har-Tru Rocky Mountain Sports Facility Planners/Designers Yonex Corporation USA
Lee Tennis Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. ASBA (American Sports Builders Asso-
M. Putterman & Co. Wilson Racquet Sports ciation) Videotapes
Master Sports Classic Turf Co., LLC. 10-S Tennis Supply
NGI Sports (Novagrass) Backboards Evergreen Tennis Services ATS Sports
Putnam Tennis and Recreation 10-S Tennis Supply Fast Dry Companies Oncourt Offcourt
Rocky Mountain Sports ATS Sports Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. USRSA (US Racquet Stringers
Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Century Sports Association)
Wilson Racquet Sports Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment MISCELLANEOUS
Evergreen Tennis Services Books Water Bottles
Netting Gamma Sports ASBA (American Sports Builders ATS Sports
10-S Tennis Supply Har-Tru ssociation) Rocky Mountain Sports
ATS Sports Lee Tennis Oncourt Offcourt Wilson Racquet Sports
Century Sports NGI Sports (Novagrass) USRSA (US Racquet Stringers Yonex Corporation USA
Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Oncourt Offcourt Association)
Edwards Div. of Collegiate Pacific Putnam Tennis and Recreation Associations/Certifications
Evergreen Tennis Services Rocky Mountain Sports Computer Software ASBA (American Sports Builders
Gamma Sports Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Master Sports Association)
Har-Tru Oncourt Offcourt TIA (Tennis Industry Association)
Lee Tennis Teaching Aids PTR (Professional Tennis Registry)
M. Putterman & Co. 10-S Tennis Supply Gifts/Trinkets USPTA (United States Professional
Master Sports ATS Sports ATS Sports Tennis Association)
NGI Sports (Novagrass) Douglas Sports Nets & Equipment Kirschbaum USA USRSA (US Racquet Stringers
Oncourt Offcourt Gamma Sports Master Sports Association)
Rocky Mountain Sports Lobster Sports, Inc. Oncourt Offcourt USTA (US Tennis Association)
Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Master Sports Putnam Tennis and Recreation
Wilson Racquet Sports Oncourt Offcourt Rocky Mountain Sports Educational Workshops
Rocky Mountain Sports Unique Sports Products 10-S Tennis Supply
Ball Retrieval Equipment Unique Sports Products Har-Tru
10-S Tennis Supply Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. Sports Eyewear Lee Tennis
ATS Sports Wilson Racquet Sports Dunlop Sports PTR (Professional Tennis Registry)
Ektelon Welch Tennis Courts, Inc.

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 41

 string PLAYTEST
Isospeed
Professional Classic 17
Isospeed Professional Classic is a core-
less multifilament, where the filaments
are Isospeed’s trademarked polyolefin
ribbons. Isospeed tells us that Profes-
sional Classic is designed for players
looking for gut-like performance in
terms of speed and arm protection.
Professional Classic is available in 17
gauge (1.20) in natural. It is priced from
$12 per set. Reels are not available. For
more information or to order, contact
Isospeed at 866-554-7872, or visit
http://www.isospeed.com/en/. Stringers
who are in North America can also con-
tact Isospeed distributor Tennis Ware-
house at 800-883-6647, or check out the
Isospeed collection at www.tennis-ware-
house.com/Iso-SpeedString.html.
IN THE LAB
The coil measured 40 feet. The diameter
measured 1.22-1.25 mm prior to string-
ing, and 1.18-1.23 mm after stringing.
We recorded a stringbed stiffness of 75
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 64 RDC units, repre-
senting a 15 percent tension loss. Our
control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Origi-
nal Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units
immediately after stringing and 71 RDC
units after 24 hours, representing a 9 per-
cent tension loss. Professional Classic
added 16 grams to the weight of our
unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks
by 45 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP rat-
ings from 3.0 to 6.0. These are blind tests,
with playtesters receiving unmarked
strings in unmarked packages. Average
number of hours playtested was 23.7.
Out of the package, Isospeed Profes-
sional Classic feels thick and substantial,
which is unusual for a 17-gauge string.
42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
Our clamps left some marks at the
clamping points. Isospeed recommends
waxing the strings with a piece of wax
paper before stringing, but we did not
send that instruction to the members of
our playtest team. Without waxing, the knots, and 16 reported
string can look a little “beat up” after friction burn.
stringing, especially if you are in a hurry.
One playtester broke his sample dur- ON THE COURT
ing stringing, 15 reported problems with Isospeed Professional Classic impressed
coil memory, one reported problems tying our playtest team. Its best result was Spin
Potential — a category for which our
EASE OF STRINGING playtesters are typically stingy with praise
(compared to other strings) — where Professional Classic earned a
Number of testers who said it was: 15th-place finish out of the 115 strings
much easier 1 we’ve playtested for publication to date.
somewhat easier 1 In just about every other category, our
about as easy 19 playtest team members were only slightly
not quite as easy 21 less generous, scoring Professional Classic
not nearly as easy 3 well above average in Playability, Durabil-
OVERALL PLAYABILITY ity, Power, Control, Touch, Comfort, and
(compared to string played most often) Resistance to Movement, and above
Number of testers who said it was: average in Tension Retention. As a result,
much better 1 the overall average score for Professional
somewhat better 14 Classic was also well above average, and
about as playable 8 good enough to earn it a top-20 finish.
not quite as playable 17 Five playtesters broke Professional
not nearly as playable 2 Classic during playtesting, one at nine
OVERALL DURABILITY hours, one at 12 hours, two at 15 hours,
(compared to other strings and one at 25 hours.
of similar gauge)
Number of testers who said it was: CONCLUSION
much better 1
Isospeed is not a famous brand name in
somewhat better 16
the United States, but its strings seem to
about as durable 19
not quite as durable 6
be developing a cult following. Given our
not nearly as durable 1 playtest teams’ positive responses to Pro-
fessional Classic 17 and Professional 17
RATING AVERAGES (RSI, June 2007), it’s not difficult to see
From 1 to 5 (best) why. Our playtesters even thought Pro-
Playability 3.6
fessional Classic compared favorably to
Durability 3.7
their favorite string, which is quite a
Power 3.4
Control 3.6
compliment.
Comfort 3.6 One reason for this may be Profes-
Touch/Feel 3.4 sional Classic’s category-to-category bal-
Spin Potential (15th best to date) 3.5 ance. No matter what aspect of string
Holding Tension 3.3 response you are seeking, Professional
Resistance to Movement 3.7 Classic 17 seems to have it, without sac-
rificing in other areas. This could be a
TESTERS TALK
“ This string is a hard-hitter’s dream. The
low power level makes this a good option for
those who prefer high head speeds. For such a
comfortable string, the response is surprisingly
”
crisp and predictable. 3.5 male all-court
player using Völkl Tour 10 strung at 60 pounds
LO (Gamma Professional 17)
“ This is a durable string with a crisp
response. Recommended to hard hitters who
”
prefer some playability. 5.0 male all-court
player using Prince O3 White strung at 60
pounds CP (Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex 16)
good string to have on hand for those
customers who don’t know what they
want, but they want something good.
If you are a USRSA member who is
interested in Isospeed strings, for a limited
time, you can try three sets of Isospeed
strings (Professional Classic 17, Profession-
al 17, and Control 16) for $19.99 (a $12
savings). Go to http://www.tennis-ware-
house.com/Iso-SpeedString.html or call
Tennis Warehouse at 800-883-6647 and
ask for the Isospeed Sampler Pack.
—Greg Raven Q
.
“ If you want playability, look no further.
This string can do it all. The sticky exterior
makes for very little string movement. This
adds control and durability to what is a very
comfortable string bed. Power level is low,
making this an appealing choice for big hit-
”
ters. 4.5 male all-court player using Wilson
nSix Two strung at 61 pounds LO (Poly-
ester/Nylon 17)
“ Pulling crosses is made slightly difficult by
the sticky coating. Once you get on the court,
however, the comfort, control, and playability
”
take over. 5.5 male all-court player using
Wilson nSix One Tour strung at 57 pounds LO
(Ashaway Crossfire 17)
“ After some tension loss, this string plays
very well. Some pre-stretching would proba-
bly make this play well right out of the box.
There is pronounced ball pocketing, making it
very easy to “grip” and spin the ball. Topspin
”
and slice are a cinch. 5.0 male all-court
player using Head FXP Prestige Team strung
at 63 pounds LO (Babolat VS Touch 15L)
“ After 16 hours, there is noticeable ten-
sion loss. However, after the break-in peri-
od, it plays better and pockets the ball
nicely. This is a very comfortable control
string. Great for touch players and those
”
with tender tendons. 4.5 male all-court
player using Yonex RDX 500 Mid strung at
60 pounds CP (Babolat Xcel/Luxilon Alu
Power 17/16L)
“ This string has three very prominent
features: high dwell time, comfort, and low
power. I have the sensation that I’m catch-
ing and throwing the ball back to its target.
I think I’ve finally discovered the opposite
of “spraying.” The ball feels like its getting
sucked into a pillow. It will appeal to play-
ers who favor a deep thud over a ping.
3.5 male all-court player using Völkl DNX 8 ”
strung at 58 pounds CP (Head Intellistring
16)
For the rest of the tester comments, visit
www.racquetsportsindustry.com.
November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 43
 tips and TECHNIQUES
Readers’ Know-How in Action
MARKETING HYBRIDS
Whenever you string a hybrid for your own
racquet, use different string colors for the
mains and crosses. I've used red and orange,
orange and white, and blue and white in my
racquets, and other players will almost
always ask about why my strings are differ-
ent colors. This gives me the opening to
explain the advantages of hybrid stringing. I
would estimate that nearly half of all my
stringing is hybrid stringing now. I think
every single person who has asked me about
my strings has said, "I think I may give that a
44 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
try next string job." This technique gets onds to get the correct short-side length.
people thinking about their strings, and Forten Tour Bag to:
gives me a chance to demonstrate my Greg Pavan, Hillsborough, NJ
knowledge and expertise. It’s also a great
way to get new customers. Just make cer- RUBBER GRIP STAND
tain you know the reasons why you would I have found the perfect rubber grip dis-
use a hybrid, and the different options there play. I found an ice stick tray (top photo) at
are.
5 sets of Dunlop M-Fil Tour 16 to:
Steve Huff, Mechanicsville, VA
MEASURING
THE SHORT SIDE
I know you’ve published numerous ways to
measure string, but here’s how I measure
the short side. I bought a 5-foot fabric tape
measure for $1. They now come in vinyl,
too, but I got mine 30 years ago. Most rac-
quets require 10 feet of string on the short
side, so I simply align the ends of the string
and tape, pull the first 5 feet through, drop
the starting part of the tape while keeping
hold of the end, and then pull the other 5
feet through. It usually takes about 10 sec-
Wal-Mart, flipped it over, and put it to better
use (bottom photo).
5 sets of Yonex Tough Brid 130 to:
Carter Green, Virginia Beach, VA
ANOTHER ATW METHOD
After reading Liam Nolan’s around-the-world
(ATW) stringing method, I’d like to pass along
mine, which also eliminates misweaves,
counting crosses, and skipping multiple cross-
es. I also find my method a bit faster.
For frames that are candidates for ATW
(that is, where the mains normally end at the
throat), start off by stringing all but the outer
mains. Tie off the short side at the head.
With the long side, skip the first cross at the
head. Weave the remaining crosses, then the
last main on whichever side you wind up,
then the top cross, and the remaining main.
Tie off at the throat.
My simple approach has proven to be very
satisfactory when stringing multiple frames in
the team/tournament environment under
compressed time constraints.
5 sets of Babolat Xcel Premium 16 to:
Bill Thompson, MRT, Farmville, VA
BUILD YOUR
OWN BONE YARD
From time to time it is necessary to discard
a cracked racquet. Before you throw it out,
though, remove everything from the rac-
quet that could be useful to you in the
future. This includes the dampener, butt
cap, trim tape ring, and any grommets that
are reusable. You never know when you
may need a particular frame accessory!
5 sets of Silent Partner Headspin 15L to:
Fred S. McWilliams, CS, Arlington, TX
Editor’s note: Also make certain that
you remove any lead from the racquet
so it doesn’t go into a landfill. This
includes lead tape, fishing weights,
curtain weights, lead shot, etc. You
don’t want the lead to leach out into
the ground water, and enter the
drinking water system. You can then
dispose of the lead properly at your
community’s hazardous waste collec-
tion day. —Greg Raven Q
Tips and Techniques submitted since 2000 by
USRSA members, and appearing in this column,
have all been gathered into a single volume of
the Stringer’s Digest—Racquet Service Tech-
niques which is a benefit of USRSA membership.
Submit tips to: Greg Raven, USRSA, 330 Main St.,
Vista, CA 92804; or email greg@racquettech.com.

Editor’s note: Longtime stringers will rec-

ognize this as the “universal method”
from the Stringer’s Digest back in the
early 1990s. In addition to the benefits
noted by Bill, it also does not require a
starting clamp, which means it also does
not require retensioning and reclamping
to remove the starting clamp. You will
need to measure the short side different-
ly, however, to avoid wasting string on
the short side and running out of string
on the long side.

PREVENT STENCIL SLIP

To make my stenciling easier I use two identi-

cal stencils and a pair of ratchet clamps from

Sears. I simply align the stencils, and clamp
them in place in one easy operation.
5 sets of Wilson Enduro Mono 16L to:
Randy Lam, West Hills, CA

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 45

 ask the EXPERTS
Your Equipment Hotline
PRE-STRETCH —
MANUAL VS. MACHINE
AFTER I UPGRADED FROM MY old
Q lockout machine to my new elec-
tronic stringing machine, I started
using the built-in machine pre-stretch
function (set at 5 percent) because I
thought it would help recover some of the
clamp drawback, and produce a more
even end-to-end tension on the crosses.
Then, I talked with a stringer I admire, and
he said that you get less consistent results
using the built-in machine pre-stretch, and
that I should always do pre-stretching by
hand, as described in The Stringer’s
Digest. If the built-in machine pre-stretch
isn’t that good, why do stringing machine
manufacturers even bother to offer it?
A PRE-STRETCH IS DEFINED AS apply-
ing tension lengthwise to the string
prior to installation. This tension helps to
align the molecules within the string. This
46 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
molecular alignment serves to lengthen
the molecules on the micro level, and to
straighten the string on the macro level.
The more times you apply tension and
then release it, the more alignment you’ll
achieve.
Comparing hand pre-stretching to
machine pre-stretching is comparing
apples to oranges, although it’s under-
standable given the fact that both tech-
niques share the same name. It would be
nice if the “pre-stretch” function on
stringing machines was called something
different, but at this point we’re probably
stuck with it.
Manual pre-stretching is most effective
at reducing coil memory, and it allows you
to tame some of the wilder strings in
order to make installation easier. Even
though the tensions used in manual pre-
stretching are relatively low, you do also
get better tension maintenance and a
slightly higher stringbed stiffness, albeit at
the expense of slightly lower longevity.
Machine pre-stretching is most effective
at recovering clamp drawback, as the addi-
tional tension helps to overcome the friction
of the string going around the outside of
the frame. When tensioning crosses, pre-
stretching can help overcome the friction of
the crosses against the mains, so that the far
end of the cross string (the one away from
the tension head) is closer to the reference
tension than it otherwise would be. In other
words, the built-in machine pre-stretch is
more an over-tension than a pre-stretch.
However, it is impossible to tension
strings without some machine pre-stretch-
ing, no matter what kind of machine you
have. Each time you pull tension on the por-
tion of the string inside the frame, you are
also pulling on the portion of the string
between the outside of the frame and the
tension head. Therefore, some portion of
each successive string has already been pre-
stretched during installation, whether or not

you performed manual pre-stretching,
and because reference tensions are
almost always higher than the tensions
you use during manual pre-stretching,
there is more molecular alignment result-
ing from this type of pre-stretch.
Therefore, manual pre-stretching and
machine pre-stretching are not inter-
changeable: Each has its function, and
you are free to use one, or both, or nei-
bunch of olefin molecules chained
together. There are also copolymers —
polymers made by the reaction of two
different monomers — that seem iden-
tical to nylon, even though they con-
tain two different sets of “similar
units” instead of just one, as in simple
nylons.
Another example of two strings that
you might erroneously think of as
Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
1. Publication Title: Racquet Sports Industry
2. Publication Number: 347-830
3. Filing Date: 10/10/2007
4. Issue Frequency: Jan-Aug Monthly, Sep-Dec Bi-Monthly
5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 10
6. Annual Subscription Price: $25
7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication:
Tennis Industry Inc., P.O. Box 428, Hurley, NY 12443
8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General
Business Office of Publisher: Same as #7
9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher
and Editor: Publisher: Jeff Williams, 79 Madison Ave, 8th
Floor, New York, NY 10016. Publisher: David Bone, 330
Main Street, Vista, CA 92084. Editor: Peter Francesconi,
937 Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.

ther. The important thing is to find a
technique that allows you to deliver con-
sistent results to your customers time
after time.
comparable in playing qualities based
on their chemical make-up are Zyex
strings, which are poly ether ether
ketone, and the Luxilon line of strings,
10. Owner: Tennis Industry Inc., P.O. Box 428, Hurley, NY
12443. USRSA, 330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages and Other Security
Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total
Amount of bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None.

which are based on poly ether ether. 12. Tax Status: Has not changed during preceding 12 months.

TOO MANY POLYS Zyex strings are much more similar to a 13. Publication TItle: Racquet Sports Industry
14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Sep/Oct 2007
I WAS READING ONE OF YOUR

Q playtest reports the other day, and

it said that the string was a
“polyamide.” The playtest made the
nylon, while Luxilon strings are superfi-
cially similar to strings made of poly-
ester.
With few exceptions, polyesters and
15. Extent and Nature of
Circulation
Average No.
Copies Each
Issue During
Preceding 12
No. Copies of
Single Issue
Published
Nearest to
Months Filing Date
string sound interesting — especially the poly ether ethers are used to make A. Total No. Copies 16,500 16,300
comfort rating — but I don’t want to rec- monofilament strings that feel very stiff (net press run)
ommend a poly to my customers and risk and wiry when you take them out of B. Paid and/or Requested circulation
causing arm problems. Are polys really the package. 1. Paid/Requested 14,643 14,686
that good these days? As you can see, seemingly tiny Outside-County Mail
Subscriptions Stated
changes at the molecular level can in

A USUALLY WHEN PEOPLE TALK

about “poly” strings, they are refer-
ring either to polyester or poly ether ether
some cases result in huge changes in
the final product, while in other cases
strings with seemingly much different
on Form 3541
2. Paid In-County
Subscriptions Stated
on form 3541
0 0

strings. These “polys” have gained a rep- chemical make-ups can perform simi- 3. Sales Through 0 0
utation of exacerbating arm problems, larly. This underscores the importance Dealers and Carriers,
but the polyamide you’re asking about is of experimenting with as many differ- Street Vendors,

a different animal. ent string types and constructions as Counter Sales, and other
Non-USPS Paid Distribution
The confusion about “poly” strings is you can — the chemical details don’t
4. Other Classes 0 0
understandable because most strings are mean anything compared to how a
Mailed Through USPS
some form of poly. Poly is short for poly- string works in the racquet. C. Total Paid and/or 14,643 14,686
mer, which is any substance that has a Requested Circulation
large number of similar units (also called MAINS AND CROSSES D. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, complimentary and
monomers) bonded together in long

Q HAS ANYONE EVER determined other free)

chains. The only string that is not a poly is what the different roles are of 1. Outside-County as 779 772
Stated on form 3541
natural gut. the mains and crosses? I want
2. In-County as 0 0
The polyamide string you read about is to start playtesting some different
Stated on Form 3541
a nylon string. Nylon is one of the most combinations of strings and tensions, 3. Other Classes 0 0
important members of the polyamide and it would be nice to know what to Mailed Through the USPS
family. Another member of the polyamide look for so I know what to change E. Free Distribution 628 624
family is aramid (AKA Kevlar), which has once I get some results. Outside the Mail
two different monomers that alternate (carriers or other means)

over and over. If you compare a piece of

nylon string with a piece of aramid string,
though, you probably won’t detect much
A ACCORDING TO BABOLAT, THE
main strings contribute durability
and spin, while the cross strings con-
F. Total Free Distribution
G. Total Distribution
H. Copies Not Distributed
1407
16,050
450
1396
16,082
218
I. Total 16,500 16,300
similarity, despite the family relationship tribute power and comfort.
—Greg Raven Q
J. Percent Paid and/or 91.23% 91.32%
between the two. Requested Circulation
There are other polys that feel closer to We welcome your questions. Please send them to 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership Printed in the
nylon than aramid does, despite differ- Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA, November/December 2007 issue of this publication.

ences in chemical ingredients. Chief 92084; fax: 760-536-1171; email: 17. Signed, Jeff Williams, Publisher, 10/10/2007

greg@racquettech.com. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true.

among these is polyolefin — which is a
and complete.

November/December 2007 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 47

 Your Serve
Boosting Customization
A longtime racquet technician says manufacturers
should push recreational players to have their frames
customized. BY GREG RAVEN
W
hen you buy clubs from a typical golf
pro shop, your salesman will
encourage you to have those clubs
customized for your game. When you buy a
tennis racquet from a typical tennis pro shop,
about the only customization you are certain to
receive is your choice of string tension. A
“pushy” salesman may try to sell you a more
expensive set of strings, but that seems to be the
limit.
This is an area where the tennis industry
can learn from the golf industry, and we
already have all the necessary tools available
to us. Not only that, but a focus on racquet
customization could benefit everyone.
WHAT WE HAVE
For those doing racquet customization, just
about every imaginable resource is already
available. At the high end, you have the all-
in-one Babolat Racquet Diagnostic Center
(RDC). If you want to put together your
own diagnostic station, you can take your
pick of individual measuring devices, such
as the Prince Precision Tuning Center (PTC),
precision scales, flex testers and balance
boards.
For those on a limited budget, with a
scale, balance board and stopwatch, you
can accurately measure many racquet char-
acteristics. Lead tape and sticky-back lead
weights are available in different widths and
thicknesses from a variety of sources.
To do the necessary math, you can cre-
ate your own spreadsheets using the formu-
las contained in books such as The Physics
and Technology of Tennis. USRSA members
can use the extensive on-line tools available
at RacquetTECH.com.
In other words, there is no shortage of
tools or information to help racquet techni-
cians do the type of matching and cus-
tomization needed by tennis players.
The problem is that most tennis players
seem to be ambivalent toward the concept
of customization.
48 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2007
WHAT WE NEED
The push for customization needs to come
from the top, that is, from the racquet
manufacturers. The two most obvious can-
didates for this are Babolat and Prince, as
each sells a major piece of diagnostic
equipment.
By pushing customization, these com-
panies could leverage existing investments,
and increase sales of high-tech, big-ticket
equipment. Racquet manufacturers
already print string and grip recommenda-
tions on the inside of the throat, why not
recommend customization there, too?
“We need the push for
customization to come
from the top, that is,
from the racquet manu-
facturers.”
I’d like to see major ad campaigns
along the lines of “We built this racquet
for Rafael Nadal (or Bob and Mike Bryan).
Let us build one for you.” Such a cam-
paign would create the impression that
the racquet must be fitted to the player,
and the way to do that is through cus-
tomization.
WHO BENEFITS
The best part is that everybody benefits.
The average player has a racquet that is
better suited to his game, and an appreci-
ation of what can be done. The racquet
technician benefits from increased busi-
ness, and the manufacturer benefits from
increased sales of diagnostic equipment. I
think racquet sales would increase, too, as
fans of high-profile players will more readi-
ly buy their idol’s racquet, knowing that
differences in physique and playing style
can be mitigated through customization.
I see another beneficiary, too: the small
pro shop. Small shops have some tough
choices when it comes to buying stock,
because there may be room in the budget
only for one line. Signing with one major
manufacturer means that players wanting
equipment or clothing from another brand
must go elsewhere. And small shops have a
hard time competing with big chains and
discount online retailers. The way the indus-
try trend is going, this probably isn’t going
to change anytime soon.
But even the tiniest pro shop is well-suit-
ed for one-on-one relationships, and that’s
a perfect environment for racquet cus-
tomization. Instead of stocking one brand
of racquet, clothing, and shoes, small shops
could stock balls, strings, and accessories,
and focus on customization. This level of
personalization would be difficult to match
online, and shops would have no more
worries about what to do with unsold mer-
chandise. No player is going to send his rac-
quet off in the mail to be restrung when a
local shop can do it. Why not extend this
local-service concept to customization?
THE FUTURE
Once the bandwagon starts rolling, expect
more competition to develop and market
diagnostic equipment. Better and more
readily available diagnostic equipment will
certainly help the move toward customiza-
tion. New approaches will make customiza-
tion even easier than it is today.
Sound unrealistic? We already have the
foundation in place. All we have to do is
build on it. Q
RSI Associate Editor Greg Raven
works with the U.S. Racquet
Stringers Association, is a certi-
fied MRT, and is a USPTA-certi-
fied teaching pro.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to rsi@racquetTECH.com or fax
them to 760-536-1171.