201406 Tennis Industry magazine

5/26/2018 201406 Tennis Industry magazine

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Retailing

Use our RETAILCHECKLISTfor your store

Construction

Award-winningRESIDENTIALtennis courts

Programming

Opinion: HowCARDIO TENNIShelps the industry

Incorp

oratin

gUSPTA

JUNE 20 14 / VOLU ME 42/ NUMBER 6 / $5.00

Section

Stars!We honor dedicatedUSTA Section staffand volunteers whomake tennis happen

All the LatestRacquet Innovations

Tennis TeachersConference Returns

We honor dedicatedUSTA Section staffand volunteers whomake tennis happen

All the LatestRacquet Innovations

Tennis TeachersConference Returns


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DEPARTMENTS

4 Our Serve

7 Industry News

9 Letters

14 TIA news

16 Retailing Tip

32 Ask the Experts

34 String Playtest: Wilson

Optimus 16

36 Your Serve, by Ted Murray

PLUS

38 CEOs Message

40 Vice

Presidents

Message

41 USPTA News

42 Growing Your Business

44 Tennis Teachers

Conference

50 Career

Development

52 Member News

INDUSTRY NEWS

7 Tennis Teachers Conference

returns to US Open

7 USTA to host 10U

workshops during Citi Open

7 PTR moves its headquarters

8 Own the Zone offers

biodegradable overgrip

8 Adidas brings back

Laver shoe

8 Prince to give away

Tuning Center at IART

10 Peoplewatch

10 Legendary coaches honored

10 USTA awards $150,000 in

multicultural grants

12 Short Sets

13 PTR partners with

PlayYourCourt

13 ASBA facility awards

applications due

JUNE 20 14

TennisIndustry

18Dress for the Occasion

The tennis dress is hot, and in fact, some

can go from court to cocktails.

20 Tech Enabled

Want to stay up on all the latest racquet

innovations? Learn what MRTs need to know.

23 Section Stars!

These 17 USTA Section staff and volunteers

work tirelessly behind the scenes to grow

our sport

28 Private Practice

These residential winners are excellent

examples of tennis court construction.

40 Helping USPTAProfessionals Get Educated

41Call for Nominations

42 TGA: Reaching KidsThrough Tennis

44 2014 Tennis TeachersConference Register Now!

p.20

p.28

2 TennisIndustry June 2014

p.44

FEATURES

p.18

www.tennisindustrymag.com

p.23

Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com



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OurServe PublishersDavid Bone Jeff Williams

Editorial Director

Peter Francesconi

[email protected]

Associate Editor

Greg Raven

Design/Art Director

Kristine Thom

Special Projects Manager

Bob Patterson

Contributing Editors

Robin Bateman

Cynthia Cantrell

Kent Oswald

Cynthia Sherman

Mary Helen Sprecher

Tim Strawn

Contributing Photographers

Bob Kenas

David Kenas

TENNIS INDUSTRY

Corporate Offices

PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096

Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.TennisIndustryMag.com

Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Advertising Director

John Hanna

770-650-1102, x.125

[email protected]

Apparel Advertising

Cynthia Sherman

203-263-5243

[email protected]

Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year:

monthly January through August and combined

issues in September/October and November/

December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, PO

Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. Periodcal postage

paid at Duluth, GA and at additional mailing

offices (USPS #004-354). June 2014, Volume 42,

Number 6 2014 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.

All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI 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 Tennis

Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. TI is the

official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA.

Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/

Racquet Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our

website at TennisIndustrymag.com for free digital

versions back to 2004.

In March, I attended the Future of

Tennis Summit held during theIndian Wells tournament, where

the dialogue and ideas on increasing

tenniss visibility and participation

were terrific. But for me, there was one

simple moment that clearly definedwhat this industry needs to do.

During the final panel discussion,

about how to move the needle on the

adult frequent player market, PTR

CEO Dan Santorum was asked why heplays tennis. He said simply, For my

health.

We tend to overcomplicate so many

things in this industry. But the plain,

simple truth is that tennis is a healthyactivity for everyoneand too often,

we bury that uncomplicated message.

Ive said before that as an industry,we need to do a better job of promot-

ing the health and fitness aspect of

tennis, because it will bring peopleinto the sport and create frequent

players. We need to stop ceding this

health and fitness messaging to other

sports and get together on an orga-

nizedtennis and health campaign.Health and fitness is themost im-

portant thing when it comes to people

playing this sport. Yes, weall know the

health benefits of the game, but com-

municating that to the general public?We just havent done that well.

And this leads into something else

Ive said before: This industry already

has a successfulprogram geared to

health and fitnessCardio Tennis.

People want to lose weight. CardioTennis does that. People want to burn

calories and get in shape. Cardio Ten-

nis does that too. People want to im-

prove their tennis skills. Cardio Tennis

also does that. People want to have

fun and socialize. Guess what program

does that? This is not complicated.Cardio Tennis was created just nine

years ago and already has1.5 millionplayers, according to independent

research. It has already proven itself,

so why is this program not runningrampant throughout your facility, your

parks, your USTA section, the national

USTA office?

Youre going to hear more about

Cardio Tennis in this magazine, with

regular short pieces about how it canimpact your business and participa-

tion. In this issue, the Your Serve (on

page 36) by longtime teaching pro Ted

Murray is about some of the possibly

overlooked benefits Cardio Tennis of-fers both consumers and the industry.

The TIA, with limited resources, has

done an amazing job with Cardio Ten-

nis so far. But its time we all steppedup here. Its not hard to think ofcreative ways to use Cardio Tennis to

achieve your facilitys or organizations

goals. Cardio Tennis creates frequent

players. It brings in new players. It can

create members for your CTA, your

facility or club, and the USTA.Cardio Tennis can solve many of the

problems this industry faces. Its really

not that complicated.

Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director

[email protected]

Keep theMessage Simple

We need to do a betterjob of promoting thehealth and fitness aspectof tennis, because it willbring people into thesport and create frequentplayers.

4 TennisIndustry June 2014 www.tennisindustrymag.com


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June 2014 TennisIndustry

IndustryNewsInformation to help you run your business

Registration is now open for the 2014 Tennis Teachers Conference at the Grand Hyatt

New York, in conjunction with the US Open. The four-day conference, beginning on

Aug. 22, brings together the leading tennis teaching professionals and coaches in the

industry to share best practices, and will include a series of interactive on-court sessions andpresentations. Attendees can register at usta.com/ttc.

The event offers tennis teachers and coaches educational resources,

innovative teaching techniques, and networking opportunities. Keynote

speakers include Patrick McEnroe, USTA Player Development general

manager; Paul Annacone, Australian Open doubles champion and formercoach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras; Judy Murray, mother of Andy

Murray and British Fed Cup captain; and Admiral James Stavridis, U.S.

Naval Institute (Ret.) Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

In 2014, the USPTA World Conference, which has traditionally been held two weeks after

the US Open, will not be held. Instead, the USPTA will join the USTA in hosting the TennisTeachers Conference. The opportunity to combine our resources with the USTA for this

event allows us to continue elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and

coaches, said USPTA CEO John Embree.

The TTC also will include access to The Tennis Show 2014 on Aug. 24, which will feature

products and services from tennis industry companies, organizations and manufacturers. TheTennis Show is coordinated through the TIA.

In addition, attendees will receive access to the US Open and are invited to a special hospi-

tality area at the US Opens Opening Day, Aug. 25.Visit usta.com/ttc for information on the 2014 Tennis Teachers Conference. For The Tennis

Show, visit TheTennisShow.com.

Tennis Teachers ConferenceReturns to US Open

PTR RelocatesHeadquarters

The PTR has relocated its

International Headquarters

to new office space on Hilton

Head Island, S.C.

With PTRs continued

growth, we needed more

space to operate

efficiently and

effectively, said

Dan Santorum,

PTR CEO. This move will allow

us to decide our best long-term

option for PTR Headquarters.

The PTRs new physical ad-

dress is 4 Office Way, Suite 200,

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.

(For those familiar with Hilton

Head Island, PTR Headquarters

will be in the PNC Bank Build-

ing just off Sea Pines Circle.)

All other contact information,

phone, fax, etc. will remain

the same, as will the mailing

address of PO Box 4739, Hilton

Head Island, SC 29938-4739.

Tennis Media AwardWinners Named

Chuck McGill, sports editor

for the Charleston (W.Va.)

Daily Mail, is the winner of

the inaugural Tennis Media

Award, presented by the TIA in

conjunction with the National

Sportscasters and Sportswrit-

ers Association. McGills story,

about a woman who under-

went a double lung transplantin 2009 and is now back to

playing tournaments, captured

the best aspects of recreational

tennis, said the judges. McGill

will receive a cash award and

travel expenses to the NSSA

Awards Weekend. The TIA also

honored First Runner-Up Doug

Robson of USA Today, and Hon-

orable Mentions Scott Fowler of

the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer,

Jane Havsy of the Daily Record

(Parsippany, N.J.), and BlairHenley of TennisNow.com.

USTA to Host 10U WorkshopDuring D.C.s Citi Open

The USTA will host a 10 and Under Tennis Workshop on Friday, Aug. 1, in Washington,

D.C., in conjunction with the Citi Open professional tournament. It will be the first time

a 10U workshop will take place at an Emirates Airline US Open Series event.

The workshop will provide tennis teaching pros and coaches with skills needed to engage

and teach children. The USTA says its considering hosting Youth Tennis workshops at alleight Emirates Airline US Open Series tournaments starting in 2015.

At the Citi Open, the 10U workshop will take place at the tournament site, the William H.G.

FitzGerald Tennis Center, and will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $25, which includes

the workshop, lunch and a ticket to the tournaments quarterfinal matches that afternoon.10 and Under Tennis Workshops are part of the USTAs edu-

cational curriculum program, Coach Youth Tennis, aiming to

improve the quality and standards of teaching tennis to kids and

enhance the long-term development of children in the sport.

The program, in collaboration with the PTR, USPTA and USOC,

consists of a series of online courses and a hands-on workshopand serves as a pathway to certification through the PTR and

USPTA.

To register for the workshop at the Citi Open, visit CoachY-outhTennis.com.



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IndustryNews

USTAs Team USA InitiativeBrings Coaches Together

More than 30 of Southern Californias most

respected tennis coaches came together one

afternoon in April in Carson, Calif., to share

their ideas of what makes a successful coach

and, in turn, what will produce successful

American players.

Top developmental coaches from

every level of the gameincluding Robert

Lansdorp, famed coach of Pete Sampras,

Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Maria

Sharapova; USCs Peter Smith; UCLAs Billy

Martin; and USTA Player Developments Jose

Higueras and Jay Bergermet to envision a

successful training pathway.

The meeting was part of the USTA's Team

USA initiative to create an inclusive, col-

laborative, national movement to develop

world-class American players. Nine similar

meetings were to be held across the country

through early June by USTA Player Develop-

ment General Manager Patrick McEnroe,

appealing to top personal and collegiate

coaches and USTA section leadership. Theforums are designed to lead to more training

opportunities and recognition for players

and coaches, as well as more opportunities

for top instructors to share ideas for success.

We all want American tennis to be

successful, and none of us can do it alone,

McEnroe said.

Adidas Brings Back Laver Shoe

Nostalgic ephemera or harbinger

of good times? That is the question to

ponder as Adidas brings to market its rei-

magined Rod Laver shoe line ($65 retail),

which includes the classic white/green

model, along with three stylized partners

in a line updated with an air mesh upper,

suede toe and gum outsole.

The company is clear about distancing

this line from its performance-technology

enhanced shoes. And, among Adidas

other fashion offerings are an extended

Stan Smith line featuring a variety of col-

orways, and even a lemon-accented shoe

and womens high-heeled version, as well

as branded mens wear.

The new Lavers also echo the evolu-

tion of the Converse (a Nike brand) Jack

Purcell line, which became a tennis staple

during the glory years. Purcells have

morphed into a wearable token of hipster-ism, sold in a

wide palate

of stylings

tied to-

gether by the

reinforced-

rubber bump

toe featuring

the iconic

smile.

Until sales

results are in theres no telling exactly

what this means, but could it be time to

start looking for serve-and-volley to again

become the dominant strategy between

the lines? Kent Oswald

Parkkonen Named by PTR

Brian Parkkonen is the new director of de-

velopment for the PTR, a post vacated when

Steve Keller was promoted to director of edu-

cation earlier this year. Parkkonens responsi-

bilities will include scheduling and coordina-

tion of all PTR Certification Workshops in the

U.S, and ensuring that workshops are held in

all 50 states each year.

Parkkonen earned a PTR Master of Tennis

Performance rating and is a Clinician and Tes-

ter in all four PTR education and certification

pathways. Additionally, he is certified as both

an Etcheberry Strength and Conditioning

Coach and USTA High Performance Coach. In

2013, Parkkonen was awarded PTR Member

of the Year for South Carolina.

Prince to Give AwayPrecision Tuning Center

Prince is offering IART Symposium reg-

istrants chances to win a free Prince Preci-

sion Tuning Center. The IART Symposiumwill be Sept. 20-23 at Saddlebrook Resort

in Tampa, Fla. Every attendee who reg-

isters for the symposium by July 15 gets

a chance to win. To improve your odds,

register by July 8 for two chances to win,

or by July 1 for three chances to win.

During the IART Symposium, Prince will

also offer a special opening eve-

ning event with prize giveaways.

Attendees can test the latest

Prince product during round-robin

play, with the full Prince product

development team in attendance


Own the Zone Offers EcoGripBiodegradable Overgrip

Own the Zone Sporting Goods says it has developed the worlds first biode-

gradable overgrip for tennis, badminton, squash and racquetball racquets.

The EcoGrip comes in smooth or tacky, and is made with an innovative

polymer that is biodegradable.

We developed EcoGrip with two goals in mind, says David Marcus, co-presi-

dent of Own the Zone. First, the grip had to play just as well as the bestovergrips on the market. Second, when the grip was replaced and dis-

carded it had to break down naturally within one year or less. Marcus

says every year hundreds of millions of polyurethane overgrips, which

arent biodegradable, are thrown into dumps and landfills around theworld.

Players in 10 countries play-tested the product, says Marcus, to

make sure it met the first goal. And use of a new technology in polymer

chemistry ensured it was the first eco-friendly sports grip product on

the market, says co-president Julius Stockfish.

In addition to the smooth and tacky versions, EcoGrip is packagedin 120-cm lengths, rather than the typical 110 cm. Buckets of 50 Eco-

Grips are available for $62.95. For more information visit otzsports.

com, or contact [email protected] or 866-802-5550.



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IndustryNews

June 2014 TennisIndustry www.tennisindustrymag.com

Bringing on the Boom

In Mays Your Serve column,Chuck Gill

wondered

whether

a tennisboomakin

to what

we expe-

rienced in

the 1970scould be

re-created.

Here in

USTA East-

ern, we sayemphati-

cally Yes!

In fact, every staff members

office has a poster (above) that

defines our three key strategicobjectives and envisions what the

boom would look like. We have

mobilized our staff and volunteer

resources to focus on the key ob-

jectives and to evaluate decisions

based on whether the outcomewould contribute to the boom

or not.I am fully confident that we can

and will see a new Tennis Boom in

Easternas long as we continue towork toward common objectives

and set aside personal agendas in

favor of the greater good.

Jill Fonte

Executive Director and COO

USTA Eastern

Net TensionRecommendationWith the announcement by USTAthat the 2015 Friend at Court

will include an amendment that

recommends net tension be set at

400-450 pounds across a facilityscourts using a net tension device,

the last remaining variable of the

tennis court has been standard-

ized. ITF has already made a simi-

lar recommendation.

2014 will be the third year allthe courts at the US Open, West-

ern + Southern Open, and Rogers

LettersCup, the fourth year for the

BB&T Atlanta Open (the firstUS Open Series venue to use it),

and second time that the NCAA

Championships have had the net

tension variable solved by use ofthe TNT Gauge (www.tightcable.

net). This compact, durable,

certified accurate, inexpensive,

and patented Tennis Net Tension

Gauge add-on to the dead-sidenet post of each court is the only

net tension device in production.

Whether at pro tourna-

ment sites, elite clubs, colleges,

schools, or public facilities, theUSTA tension recommendation

will guarantee consistent play

across courts and events, and

help prevent net post and court

damage from inadvertently over-tightened net cords.

David Glass

President Cable Tension, LLC

HonoringJonathan AlbrechtIt is with much sadness that I

write to honor one of my col-leagues at Babolat. Jonathan

Seth Albrecht passed away onMarch 15 from a heart attack. He

was only 48 years old.

Jonathan was a tennis territo-

ry manager at Babolat for 4-1/2

years, covering North Texas andSouthern California, and he was

always trying to support and

grow the game of tennis any way

he could. His infectious person-

ality and positive attitude will be

missed throughout the Babolatfamily, and by all his accounts.

Jonathan would tell all his ac-

counts in email or in person that,

You are greatness! I was lucky

enough to be a teammate of his,and I would like to say, Jona-

than, YOU are greatness, and we

love and miss you. Our hearts go

out to his wife, Sandy, and all his

family.

David Dwelle

RSM Team South


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PeopleWatch

Four coaches were

honored recently by the

U.S. Olympic Committeefor outstanding contribu-

tions to the sport of tennis

in 2013: University of

Virginia mens head coach

Brian Boland was named

National Coach of the

Year; Joseph Gilbert, coach

of 2013 USTA Boys 18s

national champion Collin

Altamirano, was named

Developmental Coach of

the Year; Gordon Uehling

III of CourtSense in Tenafly,

N.J., received the Doc

Counsilman Award for

sport science; and Jan

Beeman of Dallas was

recognized as Volunteer

Coach of the Year.

The Adidas Group has

appointed Mark King as

president of Adidas Group

North America, succeed-

ing Patrik Nilsson, who

has decided to leave the

company for personal rea-

sons. King, who had been

TaylorMade-Adidas Golf's

CEO, will be in charge of all

Adidas and Reebok opera-

tions in the North American

market and report directly to

Roland Auschel, member ofthe Executive Board of Adidas

AG, responsible for Global

Sales.

Serena Williams is the only

tennis player on Time maga-

zines 100 Most Influential

People list, and one of only

five athletes on the list. NBA

Player Dwayne Wade wrote

the tribute to Williams.

Jonathan Seth Albrecht,

tennis territory manager for

Babolat covering

North Texas

and South-

ern Califor-

nia, passed

away on

March 15

from a heart

attack. He was

48.

USPTA CEO and Executive

Director John Embree will

serve on the International

Tennis Hall of Fame Board of

Directors as a Tennis Associa-

tion Director.

Swiss tennis star Stanislas

Wawrinka received the Davis

Cup Commitment Awardrecently.

Head Graphene Speed

player Novak Djokovic

captured his fourth Miami

Masters title, beating Rafael

Nadal 6-3, 6-3, to become

only the second player to

win the Indian Wells-Miami

double twice after Roger

Federer.

The Greenbrier Resort in

West Virginia has named Hall

of Famer Pete Sampras as its

first Greenbrier Tennis Pro

Emeritus.

Maria Sharapova

has a new partnership,

with the Supergoop!

skincare line, which is

dedicated to UV protection

and sun safety. Visit super-

goop.com.

Tennis Channel has ap-

pointed Adam Ware to the

newly created position of

senior vice president, head of

digital media. He will report

to Ken Solomon, Tennis Chan-

nel chairman and CEO, and Bill

Simon, Tennis Channel COO andCFO.

In a multi-year partnership,

Ektelon will become the official

racquet of the sports National

Governing Body through 2015

and serve as a presenting partner

of the National Doubles, National

Intercollegiate, and National

Singles Championships.

The WTA has named Heather

Bowler its senior VP of communi-

cations, responsible for strategic

communications, media and

public relations, advertising and

will support the WTAs player and

tournament members in driving

earned media across all channels.

Esurance has signed a two-year

agreement to be an official spon-

sor of Victoria Azarenka. She will

appear on the company's behalf

along with other marketing and

social media integrations.

Francis Tiafoe, who trains at the

Junior Tennis Champions Center

in College Park, Md., won the title

at the 2014 Easter Bowl.


IndustryNews

to answer questions and talk about future

projects. There also will be a roundtable

discussion with the Prince product devel-

opment team.

For details on the IART Symposium,

visit gssalliance.com.

Legendary Coaches Honored

Legendary tennis coaches Jerry Baskin,

Nick Bollettieri, Robert Lansdorp and Jack

Sharpe were each honored as Team USA

Coaching Legends at the inaugural Team

USA

Coaching

Awards

recep-

tion held

during

the Asics

Easter


Bowl junior tournament in Indian Wells,

Calif.

Also honored during the Easter Bowl

was Joseph Gilbert, coach of 2013 USTA

Boys 18s national champion Collin

Altamirano, who was recognized as the

2013 USOC Developmental Coach of theYear. In addition, the Junior Tennis Cham-

pions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Md.,

was named the 2013 Team USA Develop-

mental Program of the Year.

USTA Awards $150,000In Multicultural Grants

The USTA has awarded $90,000

in Multicultural Individual Player

Grants and $60,000 in Multicultural

Excellence Program Grants to young

players and to organizations across

the country

More than 100 student-athletes

received individual grants to help

with national competition and train-

ing, while eight organizations each

received $7,500 grants toward their

competitive junior development pro-

grams, which train young players whoaspire to achieve national or interna-

tional rankings.

Program grant recipients are: Dal-

las Tennis Association, Addison, Texas;

Marty Hennessy Jr. Tennis, Las Vegas;

Northwest High Performance Tennis,

Seattle; Peterson School of Tennis,

College Park, Ga.; Ramp Tennis,

Carson, Calif.; South Atlanta Commu-

nity Tennis Association Inc., Atlanta;

Sportsmens Tennis & Enrichment

Center, Dorchester, Mass.; and T Bar M

Tennis Academy, Dallas.


13/56

IndustryNews

May 2014 TennisIndustry www.tennisindustrymag.com


14/56

ShortSets

France beat the U.S.,

3-2, in the Fed CupWorld Group Playoff on

April 20, which means

for 2015, the U.S. is rel-

egated to World Group

II competition, where

it must qualify to reach

the World Group to be

eligible to compete for

the Fed Cup in 2016. Its

only the second time

the U.S. has dropped

out of the World Group

since the format was

instituted in 1995.

This years final will be

between the Czech

Republic and Germany

Nov. 8-9.

The U.S. will host the

Slovak Republic in a

Davis Cup World Group

Play-Off on Sept. 12-

14, at a location to bedetermined. The win-

ner will qualify for the

2015 World Group and

be able to compete for

the Davis Cup; the loser

will compete in Zonal

competition in 2015 to

get back into the World

Group. In February, the

U.S. lost its first-round

match to Great Britain,

which threw it into the

Play-Off.

USTA New England

has appointed two

interim co-executive

directors: John Bresna-

han, director of finance

and accounting, and

Heather Anastos, direc-

tor of competitive ten-

nis. Both will continue

to serve in their currentroles while taking on the

additional responsibili-

ties.

The French Open

has boosted total prize

money this year to $34

million, an increase

of about $4.1 million.

Singles champions will

receive about $2.28 mil-

lion each, an increase

of 10 percent over last

year.

The International Ten-

nis Performance Asso-

ciation (ITPA) has a new

partnership with the

Mexican Tennis Federa-

tion. ITPA will be the of-

ficial sport science and

physical conditioning

education providerfor tennis coaches,

trainers, strength and

conditioning profes-

sionals, and physical

therapists who work

with tennis athletes

throughout Mexico.

InsideOut Sports

+ Entertainment LLC

run by former tennis

champ Jim Courier

and founding partner

Jon Venison was

acquired by Horizon

Media. Courier and

Venison will remain

as company co-

presidents. InsideOut

owns and operates

events and promo-

tions, including the

PowerShares Series,

the Legendary Night

Series of one-night

tennis exhibitions

and customized

private corporate

outings.

Andy Mur-

ray: Wimbledon

Champion: The Full

Extraordinary Story,

the new book by vet-

eran tennis journalist

Mark Hodgkinson

documenting the life

of Andy Murray and

his history-makingchampionship at

Wimbledon in 2013,

is now available in

paperback in the

U.S. at Amazon.com

and bookstores for

$19.95.

Nizuc Resort &

Spa, Cancn's new-

est deluxe resort at

Punta Nizuc, recently

announced an agree-

ment with PeterBurwash International

(PBI) to direct its

tennis program. The

resort recently com-

pleted installation of

a new tennis center

with two artificial

grass tennis courts

including lights.

Ashaway Racket

Strings has intro-

duced

a new

string for

top-level

racquetball

players

looking for

superior power and

tension stability from

Zyex filaments. New

PowerKill 17, a lighter

1.25-mm version of its

PowerKill Pro cousin,

provides superior feel

and ball control, says

the company. Visit

ashawayusa.com.

PHIT America has

formed Doctors for a

PHIT America to help

Americans under-

stand the magnitude

of the power of daily

physical activity. The

initiative will see some

of the worlds leading

doctors proclaimingthat physical inactiv-

ity is the leading

health issue for the

21st century. There

is plenty of evidence

that physical activity

is the best prescrip-

tion for total health

for the body, mind

and spirit, says Jim

Baugh, founder of

PHIT America.


IndustryNews



15/56

June 2014 TennisIndustry 1 www.tennisindustrymag.com

IndustryNewsPTR Partners withPlayYourCourt

The PTR has partnered with PlayYourCourt

to create new tennis coaching jobs and to

help fund education and certification for

aspiring tennis professionals. PlayYourCourt.com is a mobile business that allows recre-

ational players to book tennis lessons in their

neighborhood directly through PlayYour-

Court.com.

PlayYourCourt will reimburse qualified

coaches who join and become PTR certified,

as well as reward them with higher commis-

sions for continued education within PTR. PTR

will provide these new members with eight

hours of education in the form of a compli-

mentary PTR certification workshop. New

members will also have to complete the USTA

Coach Youth Tennis Program.

Nominate for USPTA Awards

June 17 is the deadline for nominations

for the USPTA 2014 National Awards

Program, honoring members who are

committed to excellence as tennis teach-

ers and as ambassadors using tennis

to impact people and communities. All

Professional-level members are eligible.

Recipients will be recognized during the

Tennis Teachers Conference Aug. 22-25 at

the Grand Hyatt New York. Visit uspta.com

for more information and to nominate.

ASBA Facility AwardsApplications Due June 2

The American Sports Builders Association,

in conjunction with Tennis Industry magazine,

is accepting applications through June 2 for

its prestigious Facility Awards Program. Win-

ners will be featured in TI magazine in 2015

issues.

Photos of award-winning projects in all cat-

egories are often featured articles ASBA writes

for various magazines, and in its publications.

Also, the awards have been used successfully

in the marketing and advertising programsof ASBA members, and ASBA presents all

award winners with a free publicity kit to help

them spread the word about their win. Visit

sportsbuilders.org for more information and

for entry forms.

USRSA Announces NewMRTs & CSs

Master Racquet Technicians

Rachel HeiseDenver, CO

Certified Stringers

Byron ClearySan Rafael, CA

Bryan VoelkerYakima, WA


16/56

Mark your calendars for The Tennis Show2014, which will be held on Sunday,Aug. 24, at the Grand Hyatt New York, inconjunction with the collaborative TennisTeachers Conference. This celebration ofthe business of tennis, occurring the daybefore play starts at the US Open, willfeature an Exhibitor Show, the TIA TennisForum, and more.

The Tennis Show will be in the ManhattanBallroom and Foyer, which is on thelobby level of the Grand Hyatt, from 6 to10 p.m. Nearly 50 tennis manufacturers,organizations and businesses, displayingthe latest in tennis products and services,will be exhibiting at The Tennis Show.There will also be a cocktail receptionand prize drawings. For more informationabout the show, visit TheTennisShow.com.

The Tennis Show will be during theannual Tennis Teachers Conference,which brings together hundreds of tennisteachers, coaches, tennis advocates andindustry partners. World-class speakers

and tennis instructors will provide current,cutting-edge educational opportunities.Visit USTA.com/ttc.

The TIA Tennis Forumwill be Sunday, Aug.24, starting at 5:15p.m. on the BallroomLevel of the GrandHyatt New York, andwill present the latest news about thestate of the tennis industry, includingparticipation, equipment sales data,grassroots initiatives, Youth Tennis,and more. The Forum, which is freeto attend, also will outline pathwaysto increasing the number of frequentplayers, ways to better define and boostthe economic growth and impact of thetennis industry, and effective ways todistribute clear, consistent messagingof health, fitness and the reasons to playtennis. The Forum will conclude withan induction ceremony for the TennisIndustry Hall of Fame. To register for the

Forum, visit TennisIndustry.org/forum.

While the overall tennis economy remained flat at $5.55 billion in 2013,there were increases in overall tennis participation, frequent playerparticipation, Youth Tennis, and Cardio Tennis participation.

The detailed data, and much more, will be available soon in theupcoming edition of the TIAs annual State of the Industry report. The2014 SOI analyzes data from the previous year, collected through nearly80 TIA surveys and research studies, and presents key findings in a singleeasy-to-read report about the tennis industry.

Hundreds of tennis facilities andteaching pros have signed onto the Try Tennis for Freecampaign through PlayTennis.com,which ran throughout themonth of May. Supported by anational PR and social media

campaign that reached more than5,000 outlets around the countrywith a potential audience of about60 million Americans, Try Tennisfor Free is designed to bringbeginners and returning playersback to tennis.

The promotion, supported byboth the PTR and USPTA, is forplayers of all ages. The free sessionsoffered can vary depending onthe location, as eachindividual facility orcertified professionalcan choose the best

introductory sessionor programs they feel

will encourage new and returningplayers to step onto the court.Free offers could include lessons,clinics, Cardio Tennis, USTA PlayDays for kids, and more.

For tennis providers, its asimple and free sign-up on the

PlayTennis.com website to becomeinvolved in Try Tennis for Free,says TIA Executive Director Jolynde Boer. It will make you, yourprograms and facility easier tofind, and it will bring in morecustomers. The TIA also offersfree, customizable promotionalmaterial on PlayTennis.com thatproviders can use to promote TryTennis for Free.

The TIA is planninga second Try Tennisfor Free promotionto run throughout the

month of September.Visit PlayTennis.com.

State of Industry ShowsTennis Participation Up

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org14 TennisIndustry June 2014

Try Tennis for Free Reaches Across U.S. 7th Annual TIATennis Forum

The SOI breaks down the industry into

four segments: Economy and Tennis, including comparisonsto trends in the overall consumer economy. Demand, which highlights participationtrends, playing habits and consumerspending. Supply, which includes trends inequipment shipments, court building,facility performance, retail, and the teachingprofession. Competitive Tennis, including at therecreational, collegiate and professionallevels.

The TIAs State of the Industry report is available to

Industry Level members of the TIA and above. For more information onhow to obtain a copy of the report when it is released, contact the TIA [email protected] or via phone at 866-686-3036.

2 0 1 4


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Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org June 2014 TennisIndustry 15

In March 2014, the Tennis Industry Association presented the inauguralFuture of Tennis Summit

in Indian Wells, Calif., during the BNP Paribas Open. The Summit brought together more thantwo dozen top executives from inside and outside the tennis industry to speak about how thisindustry can get more players, more fans, and more tennis consumers. Veteran tennis journalist,commentator and industry observer Bill Simons, the editor and publisher of Inside Tennismagazine,attended the Summit and gleaned a number of informational nuggets and notable quotes, whichweve reprinted here, with his permission.

Desperation makes a poor cologne. We have lowself-esteem and are begging people to play. Weshould say, We have the best sport in the world,are you good enough to play our sport?

Its gone from Be like Mike to Be l ike Zuck.

I know it is an amazing concept, but in othercountries, kids still listen to their parents.

Tennis is a product that is absolutely fine, but it

could be absolutely great.

If we dont get the next generation into tennis,we will be like racquetball.

We have no chance unless we change.

If you dont like change, youre going to likeirrelevance a lot less.

Is yoga tennis around the corner?

The good news is that things change each week.The bad news is that things change each week.

If you cant connect with Roger Federer, Im notsure who you can connect with.

Not one interview goes by where Im not asked,Whats wrong with American tennis?

Pro tennis is the ultimate reality series.

The bad news is that were competing with theYankees, the Giants, and the Mets. The good newsis that the Mets are making it easy for us.

1. We have to spend as much time as possibleon storytelling. We need to get people engaged,to have an emotional investment in tennisthats a huge part of maintaining interest.

2. Things dont exist unless we document andshare them. Communication makes youth feel

like they are part of something that is biggerthan themselves.

3. Tennis numbers are generally flat, and notas good as lacrosse. But, they are better thansoccers and golfs, and those of most teamsports.

4. An aging population, tennis players tend tobe more affluent and educated, and more oftenlive in the suburbs and small towns rather thanrural areas or city centers.

5. Americas 5.4 million frequent playersaccount for 70% of total tennis spending, butthere are about 18 million casual players (withlatent demand) who can be moved into thefrequent-player category.

6. The US still leads the world in sports and inpopular culture.

7. We need to bring back fun, ignite passion,make people smile, and make choices aseasy as possible. We should loosen clubmembership rules, have open houses,shorter matches, childcare options, familyroundrobins, Bring a Friend days, and speedtennis, and consider fun ideas like blacklightand short court tennis where there are high-fives and people rotating in all the time. Itsdrop-in tennis on steroids.

8. Kids are dropping out of team and organizedsports. Half of the kids say sports dont reflectthem. Spontaneous free play is disappearing.

9.No parents, no coaches, and no rulessome say that is where sport is at right now.Thats why lacrosse lets kids play openly, andwhy extreme sports are increasingly popular.But others say structure and rewards are key.

10. The use of tennis balls, a key barometer, is

up a bit. Especially for youth tennis.11. The prime keys to success are having thetime to play, and having someone to play with.

12. Baby boomers have supported the game forthe last 30 years.

13. A persons first experience with tennis iskey. There isnt a second chance.

14. We should get new tennis players on ateam right away, then get them to clinics andpractices, and eventually matches.

15. People who arent into sports say they dontplay because they just dont like them, therisk is too high, and they dont need to prove

themselves anymore.16. In two generations, US physical activity willbe down 32%. For the first time, the majorityof 10-year-olds will not live longer than theirparents.

17.Ninety percent of teens say they play tennisfor fun. Eighty-eight percent of adults say itsbecause of fitness.

18. Tennis is good medicine, and has positiveeffects relating to blood pressure, cancer,mortality, and the risk for stroke. Soccer andfootball are facing a serious crisis relating toconcussions.

19. Its all about entertainment. We have toerase the line between entertainment andsportstell stories that happen outside the

lines, and meld them with stories that arewithin the lines.

20.Pro tennis is critical as an inspirational andaspirational game.

21. Ratings for Serenas US Open final matchwere like NFL numbers in some markets.

22. Tennis should have a commissioner. TheDavis and Fed Cups should be played during atwo-week competition every two years. EveryMasters 1000 should be paired with a womenstour event.

23.10 and Under works. You need great athletescoming into a sport that cant be learned inschools. The green ball is like an elixir. Thereshouldnt be a race to the yellow ball.

24. Playing multiple sports helps with move-ment, balance, and mechanics, and the risk ofinjury goes down. Its not clear whether playingmultiple sports helps in elite performance

or not.25.In 1978, 33 of the top 100 were Americans.Now there are just five.

26.Whats wrong with US tennis is whats rightwith tennis in the rest of the world.

27.Our top juniors are not making the transitionto pros. Our effort and professionalism is notwhat it used to be. Our hunger is not what itshould be.

28.The average age of teaching pros in Americais 50. The lesson books of most top pros arepacked.

29. The social element is what makes tennisengaging.

30.We are successful despite ourselves.

30 NUGGETSReprinted with permission from Inside Tennis/Bill Simons

QUOTEBOOK:

FROM FUTURE OF

TENNIS SUMMIT


18/56

keep them clean throughout the

day. Make sure there is seating for

shoppers companions, too.

Even if your store is space chal-

lenged, make sure there is seating

located throughout your store for

significant others so they dontdistract shoppers!

Convene a quick morning staffmeeting before the doors are

opened to make sure the daysevents and schedule are reviewed

and discussed.

At the meeting, remind everyone:

To always wear their nametags.

That food and drink should stay

in the break area. To keep personal cell phones and

smart phones in their lockers for

use during breaks, in the break

area or outside the store.

To have a good time and deliverextraordinary shopping experi-

ences for customers!

To greet every shopper as soon

as they enter the store with a

smile and the three-letter word HOW! (as in, How can I help

you today?)

that way all day. Be prompt in pick-

ing up any litter or dirt, and instill

this in your staff, too.

Walk your aisles like shoppers will

and make sure they arent crowded

and dont give customers that

squeezed-in feeling. Also, make

sure a shopper pushing a babystroller can pass through the aisles

easily.

Look at your store displays to make

sure they arent blocking shoppers

line-of-sight and that your signsare visible and understandable as

guides to shoppers and as silent

sales tools.

Listen to the music played in yourstore and make sure it isnt too

loud, and that it is appropriate and

pleasant and sets an upbeat and

happy mood.

Inspect your stores restroom and

any other rooms to make sure they

are neat, clean and well-lighted

and make sure there is a clear plan

for keeping them that way all day,with specific staff assignments.

Inspect your dressing rooms with

the same care and make sure the

mirrors and the whole area is clean

and well-lighted. Again, assign a

staffer to check on these areas and

This is part of a series of retail tipspresented by the Tennis Industry As-

sociation and written by the Gluskin

Townley Group (www.gluskintown-

leygroup.com).

Marks of ExcellenceUse our checklist to make sure your customers alwaysfeel welcome and comfortable.

Retailing131


Shoppers will decide in the first few

minutes if they are comfortable in

a retail store environment. If theyare comfortable they will stay longer,

and the longer they stay, the more they

will shop!

This is a checklist of things, some

critical and some just important, thattennis specialty store retailers can do

every day to make shoppers feel wel-

come and comfortable in their stores.

Inspect the outside entrance (or en-trances) to your store every morn-

ing before opening to make sure

everything is neat and clean.

Inspect your parking lot or parkingarea and make sure it is clean and all

litter has been picked up.

If you have a lawn or grass and other

plantings outside, make sure they

are trimmed and watered and lookgood. Remove and replace plants

that have died or are withered. Use

mulch on flower and shrub beds to

keep them looking sharp.

If you use potted plants inside your

store, make sure theyre healthy.

Get rid of dead and dying plants, and

pick up any leaves that may have

dropped.

Look at your main doors and win-

dows and make sure they are clean.

These are the eyes into your store.

Walk into your store like shopperswill and make sure the entrance is

open, well-lighted and not crowded

or intimidatingand as welcoming

as you can make it!

Make sure the floors are clean and

well maintained, and that they stay


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20/56

Apparel


AdidasStella McCartneys

two-tone Pinky

Coral dress for Adidassports a built-in bra

and shorts. Worn byCaroline Wozniacki,

this comfortable poly-

spandex single jersey

dress is available inJune.

adidas.com800-982-9337

Dress forthe Occasion

The dress is hot. In fact, some can go from court

to cocktails. Combos of pink, coral, rich blues andtaupes are signature colors for summer and beyond.Here are a few that will add a spring to your step.By Cynthia Sherman

BolleThe Wild Fire line

in coral and taupe is

part of Bolles high-performance line.

The color-blocked,figure-flattering dress

features embossed

boxes on the taupe in-

set, which comes overthe shoulders. Avail-

able mid-July.

bolletenniswear.com

301-362-0360

Eliza AudleyEliza Audleys cute

strappy Athena navydress with hot pink andorange trim features a

fun handkerchief-type

hemline, in a moisture-

wicking poly-spandex

blend. Also comes in hotpink with orange and

navy trim. Available in

July.

elizaaudley.com

262-691-4770

FilaGinny Hilfigers Heritage

Halter dress for Filasets the style for the USOpen, with a U-shaped

neckline, princess seams,

contrast border and

elastic belt. Zips at center

back. Stretch pique in anylon-spandex fabrica-

tion. Available in Lipstick

(pink) and Peacoatboth

with white.

fila.com

410-773-3000

TailTails Ashlyn Perfor-

mance jersey dress inhot pink and blue is apoly-spandex blend.

The bright color-

blocked dress also

features a colorful

print trim aroundthe arms, neck and

keyhole back. Comes

out in July.

tailactivewear.com

800-876-8245


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22/56

Racquet Technologies


Racquet manufacturers are constantly workingto improve their products. Sometimes, new

technologies can cross through all manufac-turers, such as wide-bodies and titanium.

Other technologies, though, are proprietary

and limited to one brand. Some are all-encompassing involv-

ing a totally new design (Prince O-Ports, for instance), whileothers are minor tweaks to improve a certain racquet or

previous technology.

As part of our effort to make sure that the USRSA Master

Racquet Technician program exemplifies the highest stan-

dard of professionalism in racquet service, MRTs are requiredto take an update test each year to ensure they are keeping up

with the latest technologies being introduced in the industry.

(Visit USRSA.com for more information on certification.)

Here are brief definitionsbased on manufacturersdescriptionsof the most recent technologies introduced byracquet brands.

Babolat Evo BeamVaried thickness of the beam, which is de-

signed to produce less torque at ball impact and betterresponsiveness.

Flex CarbonNew technology featured in the PureControl line. It has less density of carbon fibers for more

flexibility and offers more control at ball impact.

Stabilizer TechnologyA hybrid frame construction andstiff carbon fiber designed for improved torsional stability

at ball impact, leading to more precise shots. Strike Hybrid Frame ConstructionA mix of square and

elliptic construction designed to offer more responsiveness

at ball impact.

Responsive WooferProvides energy restitution thanksto a new material, PEBAX, injected into the grommets and

bumper.

X-SiderNew frame design that increases the sweetspotby 10 percent, adding more forgiveness on off-center hits.

Pacific BasaltX2 (BX2)The second generation of the BasaltX

technology, with 30 percent more basalt fibers within thesame material. It is designed to be 20 percent lighter in

overall weight, 28 percent stronger, and provide 20 percent

more vibration dampening.

Prince Extreme String Pattern (ESP)More open and aggres-sive string pattern designed to deliver up to 30 percent

more spin. ESP racquets are designed specifically for differ-

ent player types by adjusting the head size, weight, balance,

swing weight and stiffness along with the string pattern to

achieve the best performance.

Tecnifibre Synergy LinkThe use of polyurethane in the bumper,

which offers 18 percent additional shock absorption and

more comfort.

Velocity Shaft Design11 percent less beam size on the

shaft, designed to allow for more speed and spin versus astandard elliptic beam.

TechEnabled

Want to stay up on all the latestracquet innovations? Learn

what MRTs need to know tomaintain their high standards ofprofessionalism and service.By Bob Patterson



23/56


Volkl Bio-Sensor Grip PinHandle

system featuring three different

dampening pin lengths and ma-

terials for three different player

profile groupsRecreational (RedSoft Pin, 7.72 cm); Intermediate

(Yellow Medium Pin, 7.72 cm) and

Tournament (Black Hard Pin, 3.81

cm).

Speed GrommetShaped grom-mets designed to allow string

movements in all directions with

no friction at the grommet wall

and no energy loss.

Super GrommetSpeed grom-mets with V-Sponse materialproviding more control by extend-

ing receive time. It increases the

sweetspot and produces more

speed by providing the best energy

return.

V-Sponse TechnologyA visco-elastic polymer material, similar

to Sorbothane, now used in the

patented Volkl Super grommet

system and bio-feel dampeningpin. It is 20 percent more flexible

than standard grommet and pin

material, and provides additional

dampening to the bio-feel grip

pin. It generates an increased

spring effect in the grommets.Has the lowest energy loss factor

of all thermoplastic elastomers.

V-Sponse is designed to provide

the best dampening and energy

return.

Wilson Parallel DrillingDrilling the

grommet holes parallel to each

other to allow for increase string

movement, which increases the

sweetspot size by up to 27 percent.

This provides more comfort, re-sponsiveness, and a forgiving feel.

Yonex Dual Shut SystemShockless

grommets at the bottom of the

frame reduce impact vibration,and Quake Shut Gel, which is

embedded inside the handle, is

designed to remove the more

subtle discomfort from the frame,

resulting in a 50 percent reduc-tion in vibration compared to

conventional models. Designed toimprove comfort and control.

June 2014 TennisIndustry 2

New IsometricEvolved IsometricTechnology with improved grom-

met system applying both deep and

shallow grooves inside of the frame.

This new Isometric technology is

designed to provide a maximumsweetspot.

New OPS (Oval Pressed Shaft)Features rounder shaft corners,

designed to provide an ideal level of

flex, while a wider shaft face increas-es stability, resulting in extended ball

dwell time for optimized ball spinand directional control.

Trans-Weight SystemIntegratesnew Nanometric material, which

improves the bonding strength

between carbon fibers at the centerand bottom of the frame, reducing

the weight shift to the top of the

frame. This results in a racquet head

that reacts faster for quicker maneu-

verability and produces the fastest

swing speed in Yonex history.


24/56


25/56


Grassroots Game

SectionStars!We offer our thanks and appreciation to these 17 volunteersand staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to growour sport. Compiled by Cindy Cantrell and Peter Francesconi

All 17 USTA sections are

dedicated to spreading

tennis at the grassroots

to delivering the programsthat will help bring people into the

game, keep them in the sport and

have them playing more frequently.

And in each section, there are

many dedicated staff and volun-teers who truly take tennis to heart.

They want to get more people play-

ing the game because they knowthe lifelong benefits that tennis can

bring.While we wont ever be able to

honor allof these dedicated and un-

selfish heroes of the sport in these

pages, we are pleased to recognize

at least some of the many section

stars who keep this game growing.

EASTERN

JEFF ROTHSTEIN

As director of junior develop-

ment and 10 and Under Tennis

at Centercourt Athletic Clubin Chatham, N.J., Jeff Rothstein has

embraced the importance of the

USTAs youth imperative and served

the Eastern Section admirably. He

is a member of the sections Board

of Directors and serves on its JuniorCompetition Committee.

Jeff stands out because of his atti-

tude, says Jill Fonte, Easterns execu-tive director. He is truly committed to

serving the section and the sport, and

in so doing, he is thoughtful, deliberate

and generous with his time.

Rothstein is also chair of the USTAsNational Junior Sportsmanship Sub-

committee, a Zonals and USTA High

Performance coach, and a USTA- and

ITA-certified official.

Wherever Jeff can serve tennis, heserves tennis, adds Julie Bliss, East-

erns senior director of competition.

He never fails to answer whenever weput out a call for help.

CARIBBEAN

ARLIN HERNANDEZ

Arlin Hernandez, a Spanishteacher and Army Reserve

soldier, began working for

USTA Caribbean as a messen-

ger in 2004. He was called

to active duty in Iraqthe following year, and

upon his return, was

promoted to TennisService Representative

to implement tennisprograms for schools,

communities and

minimum-security jails.

Hernandez was called up two

more times by the military, for which

he most recently served as captain in

charge of a large battalion in Afghani-stan. Now the TSR manager and com-

munity coordinator, he works on all

USTA programs and promotes

the sport among the wheel-

chair population and in

disadvantaged schoolsand regions. In fact, he

helped develop OlivenciaTennis, the 2013 NJTL/

USTA Chapter of the

Year Award winner.Dedicated to serving his

country, Hernandez also is

dedicated to serving this sport,

promoting the game and developing all

individuals.


26/56


Grassroots Game

FLORIDA

SCOTT COLEBOURNE

S

oon after Scott Colebournebecame director of tennis at the

Omni Amelia Island Planta-tion in 2012, he committed to

making tournament tennis

a better entry-level

experience for youthand families. And those

discussions were the

beginning of the USTA

Florida Earned Ad-

vancement Pathway.Colebourne is PTR-

certified in adult and junior

development, and USTA-

certified in junior programming. He

is a national tester and tournament

director, and has coached nationally

ranked juniors and sectional winning

USTA adult teams. As a junior, he wasnationally ranked in the Top 5

in New Zealand.

What I admire and

respect about Scott themost is that he gets it,

says Andy McFarland,

associate executive di-

rector of USTA Florida.

He gets how we have

to offer and provide morequality play and competi-

tion opportunities for kids. Hes

a special breed of tennis teacher that

sees a bigger picture.

INTERMOUNTAIN

JON

MESSICK

Encouraging Jon Messick to dis-cuss his lifelong love of tennis is

easy. Getting him to talk about

his numerous accomplishments as

Colorado StateUniversitys

head womens

tennis coach,

or his role as a

distinguishedleader in Colo-

rados tennis

community, is

more difficult.

When Jonspeaks, people

listen, but you wont hear him tak-

ing any of the credit that he rightly

deserves for the progress of USTA

Intermountain programs, says In-termountain Executive Director Rob

Scott. Hes much too humble.

As a Division I coach for 29 years,

Messick has touched the lives of count-

less student-athletes. A board member

and former president of USTA Inter-mountain, USTA Colorado and the

Colorado Wheelchair Tennis Founda-tion, he has influenced countless others

to embrace the physical, psychological

and social benefits tennis has to offer.Im just glad I have been able to

serve those organizations, Messick

says, and hopefully contribute to what

they have been able to do.

Wendy Anderson

HAWAII PACIFIC

PETER DUNGCA

Leading the way in the latest

and greatest initiatives to grow

tennis, Peter Dungca is the ace

in the Hawaii Pacific Section.

After success in teachingadults at the local park,

Dungca turned his

focus to serving youthtennis. Six years

later, he organizedthe Makiki Junior

Tennis Club, which

has become a hub for

youngsters in Honolulu.

Dungca, who has em-

braced 10 and Under Tennis,

is involved in school tennis, tennis

festivals, Play Days, junior tourna-

ments and Junior Team Tennis, which

uses red, orange and green balls

and integrates fun games. He

welcomes parents on thecourt, developing them

into volunteer coaches tosupport the growth of the

program.

In addition, Dungcamanages the Waikiki

Tennis Club, volunteers

with the Ala Moana Park

Wheelchair Tennis program and

continues his adult programs.

MID-ATLANTIC JANET PAULSEN

How does a professionalopera singer become general

manager of the largest indoor

court tennis facility in the Mid-Atlan-

tic region? Through passion, hard workand a sense of fun.

Janet Paulsen has been running the

Green Spring Racquet Club in Lu-

therville, Md., for the past eight years,

offering a variety of USTA programs,

10 and Under Tennis, tournaments anda USTA Competitive Training Center.

In 2014, the club hosted two national-

level junior tournaments.

To give back to the tennis commu-nity, Paulsen established the nonprofit

Green Spring Tennis and Educational

Foundation, which runs USTA Adult

Leagues and USTA Junior Team Ten-

nis, in addition to a variety of commu-nity outreach and adaptive tennis pro-

grams. The foundation also provides

full and partial financial assistance for

disadvantaged participants.

Paulsen aims to continue to grow thegame of tennis, with plans to empha-

size outreach programswhich hits all

the right notes for this sport.


27/56


MIDDLE STATES BRUCE LEVINE

MIDWEST

JEFF & BRYAN SMITH

You may catch a glimpse of Jeff

or Bryan Smith courtside at

Wimbledon or the US Open,

but youll also see themcheering on their students

who are playing at some

of the premier colleges

and universities in the

country.Jeff and Bryan, a

father and son coaching

team based on the southside of Indianapolis, are

one of the most successfulcoaching operations in the USTA

Midwest Section. Even without their

own training facility, they continually

produce nationally ranked juniors,

many of them state champions,who drive hours for their

daily or weekly lessons.

Bryan says its all about

helping kids achieve

their greatest potential.Theres a focus on get-

ting them to take pride

in working hard, he says,and thinking that theres

no other place they would want

to be. Tracy Maymon

NEW ENGLAND

MICHAELMERCIER

Michael Mercier is the head ten-

nis professional at HarvardUniversity, but his more than

two decades of

involvement in

wheelchair tennis

at every levello-cal, sectional and

nationalhas led

to many honorsand much recog-

nition, includingbeing named

Tennis Industry

magazines 2008

Wheelchair Ten-

nis Champion of the Year.

Mike has been an active, devoted,energetic and passionate volunteer for

decades, says Heather Anastos, USTA

NE director of competitive tennis and

interim co-executive director. His

efforts include growing tennis not onlythrough introducing new people to the

sport, but also by helping those with

disabilities learn how they can find a new

avenue to make friends and stay fit.

Currently, Mercier chairs New Eng-lands Wheelchair Tennis Committee

and is a member of the national Tennis

on Campus Committee. But he also

has long assisted USTA NE with many

initiatives and projects. This year, he iscoordinating the first-ever league team

at the 3.0 level with a wheelchair player

as a member.

MISSOURI VALLEY

SCOTT HANOVER

Scott Hanover, who is in his

second term as president of Mis-

souri Valley, has been a longtime

supporter of the sport through hisinvolvement in district, sec-

tional and national USTA

committees. The direc-

tor of tennis at thePlaza Tennis Center

in Kansas City, Mo.,

he is also a member

of the Section Board

of Directors, and the

USTA National CTAand Tennis in the Parks

Committee.

An accomplished 4.0 singles,

doubles and mixed doubles player,

Hanover organizes, conducts and

competes in WTT Rec Leagues, USTA

Flex Leagues, wheelchair training and10 and Under Tennis workshops.

His professional involve-

ment in tennis began in

1987, as an activities direc-

tor overseeing leaguesand tournaments at the

former Racquet Club

West in Des Moines, Iowa.

His long list of awards

and recognitions includesthe USTA Missouri Valleys

Distinguished Service Award in

2013. Andrew Robinson

Considering his vast involve-

ment throughout the tennis

community, Bruce Levinesinfluence on tennis is difficult to docu-

ment. Simply put, hes as influential asthey come.

The general manager of Courtside

Racquet Club in New Jersey, Levine

has done a bit of everything in thetennis industry. From high-level coach

and player to equipment adviser for

Tennis magazine, his involvement in-

cludes board positions at USTA Middle

States and USPTA Middle States, as

well as leadership roles within the Ten-

nis Industry Association retail group

and the Cardio Tennis Global Team.

Levines impact locally has spurred

the growth of a multitude of tennisprogramming. He speaks on the busi-

ness benefits of USTA programs, and

how those programs have been a cata-

lyst for growth in his own business.Levines special events, which

include fundraisers and special clin-

ics, are some of the strongest in the

section. A popular and highly effective

tennis instructor, his players continue

to come back for more.

Michael Gladysz


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Grassroots Game

NORTHERN

LES ZELLMANN

I

n the town of St. James, Minn., LesZellmann noticed a shift in de-

mographics as more Hispanicfamilies began relocating to the

small western town with a

population of 4,500. As the

activities administratorat the local high school,

the boys and girls ten-

nis coach and president

of the St. James CTA,

Zellmann focused oninvolving this ever-growing

community in tennis.

Through personal conversa-

tions, free clinics, Hispanic mentorships,

scholarships, discounted equipment and

special tennis events, he has sparked a

tennis revolution in St. James.

If we can get even one additionalfamily member involved with our

programs, he says, we stand a

greater chance of getting the

rest of the family involved.As his programs continue

to grow, what advice would

Zellmannwho won the

USTA Northern Community

Service Award in 2013give

to other small-town com-munities hoping to attract more

diverse populations to tennis? Em-

brace the challenge. There is no magic.

Just keep at it. Lisa Mushett

PACIFIC

NORTHWEST

JANA

HIRST

Thousands of people play

USTA League tennis in

Northern Oregon and

now, with the help of USTA LocalLeague

Coordina-

tor Jana

Hirst, a few

thousandmore are

enjoying

the ben-

efits of the

program.Hirst

earned

national honors for the USTA

league coordinator with the

highest increase of participantsfrom 2012 to 2013. The number of

player registrations in Northern

Oregon increased from 7,836 in

2012 to 9,633 in 2013. Northern

Oregon was also ranked in the top

10 nationally for highest increasein unique league players out of

approximately 330 local areas inthe 17 USTA sections.

Hirst has been a USTA league

coordinator for over a decade,and for all her help in growing the

sport, she will be honored by the

USTA at the 2014 Semiannual

Meeting in New York this sum-

mer, during the US Open.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

LINDA PELTZ

San Francisco native Linda Peltz is

the epitome of service and dedica-

tion to tennis in Northern Califor-

nia. After earning her PTR certifica-

tion in 1992, she has taughttennis to children in after-

school programs, coached a

high school novice tennisteam, and began a tennis

program at the CaliforniaSchool for the Deaf. She is

a NorCal board member

and has served on 10 USTA

NorCal committees and two

USTA National committees.

Peltz was named Leagues Volun-

teer of the Year and also presented with

the inaugural USTA Northern California

Betty Cookson Lifetime Achievement

Award. In addition, she has chaired the

annual Celebrity Tennis Classic

for five years, raising morethan $1 million for the Alta

Bates Summit MedicalCenter.

The impact Linda has

had on our tennis commu-nity has been enormous,

says Steve Leube, NorCal

executive director. She is a

great example of giving back to a

sport that has given so much to her.

SOUTHERN PAT DEVOTO

In 1980, Pat Devoto was among asmall group of volunteers who

jumpstarted USTA League Ten-

nis, a grassroots innovation that has

grown into a national program of500,000 players. But that was just the

beginning of her involvement in the

USTA.

Devoto has been vice president of

USTA Georgia, president of USTA

Atlanta, Southerns state league co-ordinator and a member of the USTA

League Committee.

She founded and has served as the

tournament director of the Atlanta-based Southern Cities Championship

for 17 years, which has raised thou-

sands of dollars for charities. The win-

ner of the 2013 Jacobs Bowl and 2005

Charlie B. Morris Jr. Service Award,she is also involved in the Reading for

Racquets program and teaches female

inmates to read and play tennis at a

state prison in Montgomery.

An accomplished author, her lat-est novel, The Team, is aboutnot

surprisinglya womens tennis team.

Ron Cioffi PHOTO

BYTREYLOVE/ALL-AMERICAN

IMAGIN

G


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SOUTHWEST TRACY LAWSON

Long hours on tennis courts in

blazing desert sun might not

sound like rewarding work tosome, but to Phoenixs Tracy

Lawson, its a life force.

Lawson, an instructor

at Ahwatukee Tennis

Center, has been amainstay in junior

tennis for a decade.

Yet her biggestinfluence has been in

the volunteer realm. Shehas served as volunteer

president of USTA Central

Arizona and on several committees

for USTA Southwest, including her

current role as the sections junior

competition chair. She has also been

a mainstay instructor and organizer

for USTA junior developmentcamps, is part of the USTA 10

& Under Tennis Workshop

Faculty nationally, hosts

local tennis Play Days and

has been instrumental inthe development of USTA

Central Arizonas success-ful 10 & Under Slam Series

of events.

Giving back, and encourag-ing kids to find their own love of

tennis, doesnt feel like work, she says.

Its what I love to do. Jeff Sikes

TEXAS EMILY COXE

In 1987, Emily Coxe played in her

first USTA League in Omaha, Neb.

She has continued participating

each year since, becoming increas-ingly involved in enriching

local tennis opportunities

along the way.

Coxe began her vol-unteer work with the

Omaha Tennis Associa-

tion and Womens In-

ner Club League. After

moving to Beaumont,

Texas, she led a strongTexas Community Tennis

Association as president for

two years, and as a board member for

eight years, while enhancing the pub-

lic tennis facilities and the Southeast

Texas Tennis Association. A league

coordinator for nine years, Coxe washonored with the USTA Texas

Section Community Service

Award in 2011.

Besides her involve-

ment in three Texas sec-tion committees, as well

as the City of Beaumont

Parks and Rec Commit-

tee, Coxe enjoys playing

the sport with her familyand friends and vacationing

to tennis-related events such

as the US Open. Janet Wuerpel

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

MARK McCAMPBELL

M

ark McCampbell has beenMr. Oxnard Tennis Center

(OTC) since he took overthe eight lighted courts,

clubhouse, pro shop and

locker-room facility

from his brother, John,in 1989. OTC is public

park to its Southern

California core.

I am proudest of the

fact that we have takenso many LA84/NJTL

beginners to Junior Team

Tennis to tournament competi-

tors, he says, while noting the myriad

of lesson, league tennis and tourna-

ment opportunities for adults.

Elite juniors have showcased hisTennis mAcademy. OTC is

also the home of the Cen-

tral Coast area Competi-

tive Training Center.A Zonal coach for 15

years, McCampbell has

served on the Ventura

County Junior Tennis

Association board, host-

ed college and universityseminars and co-founded the

All-Star Tennis League.

Mark Winters


30/56

Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards


Private PracticeThese residential winners areexcellent examples of tennis-courtconstruction.

Harrison Residence

Hobart, Wis.

(Nominated by Munson Inc., Glendale, Wis.)

General Contractor: Munson Inc.

Consultant: Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sports Surfaces

Lighting: Har-Tru Sports

Backboard: Bakko

Windscreen, Net, Posts:J.A. Cissel

For details on the 2014 Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards, contact the ASBAat 866-501-ASBA or [email protected], or visit www.sportsbuilders.org.



31/56

The six residential winners of the Tennis Industry/AmericanSports Builders Association distinguished Facility-of-the-Year

Awards for 2013 are all new construction, and two of them

are unique in that they involved building two-court facilities.

One involves a residence with two clay courts, for training pro

and aspiring players, and the other is a residence that now has a clay court and

a hard court, for training a top junior. So, five of the eight courts in these six

projects are clay.

In Boca Raton, Fla.,the customer wanted to accommodate his childrens

sporting desires, including his daughter, who is a nationally ranked junior

player. Since much of the girl's time was spent traveling and playing tourna-

ments on different surfaces, the owner decided to maximize her court time and

build new hard and clay courts at home. The all-weather cushioned hard court

and the sub-irrigated clay court at their residence are tournament quality, as is

the court lighting. The fencing system allows for easy preparation and retrac-

tion of the windscreens in case of strong winds. The customer also included

a video system with an all-weather courtside monitor to analyze play on the

courts, and which doubles as a security surveillance system.

After much discussion with the town, the Harrison Residence in Hobart,

Wis., got a new hard court, but due to setback requirements, the overall court

dimensions had to be reduced slightly from the standard 120 by 60 feet to fit

against two existing property lines. Elevation difference between the court

surface and the owners access point at driveway level, which was several feet

higher, also posed challenges, including facility and site drainage issues. The

result, though, meets all codes and blends well into the surrounding area. To

top it off, a personalized logo was added.

The site for the Har-Tru court at the Keith Residence in Cookeville,

Tenn., was a former horse pen, but the owner sold the horses and decided tobuild a tennis court, which has live, or angled, corners. Consequently, there

already was a firmly compacted crush screenings base prior to construction,

which was close to being on grade. Space was tight in the 120-foot direction due

to an access road on one side and a hill on the other side. Rip-rap backfill was

used to shore up the slopes.

The project at Southwest Ranches, Fla.,involved building a battery of two

new Har-Tru courts, both with conventional sprinkler irrigation. The owner

is a tennis pro and uses the courts to train and condition professional and

prospective tour players, including his own daughter. A courtside entertaining

area was built around a large tree, which includes an elevated viewing platform.

A custom fence system allows for the retraction of the fence/screens to open

the court up for parties and also allows for easier preparation for hurricanes.

The new HydroGrid sub-surface irrigated court atVilla Terese in Braden-ton, Fla.,also included installing lighting, fencing and 6-foot green wind-

screen, on a beautiful piece of property with great access for construction.

Angled corners soften the look. The subbase material is of existing soils, and for

drainage around the exterior, a 24-inch poly drain moves water to a large catch

basin.

The new post-tensioned concrete court at the Welch Residencein Scott-

sdale, Ariz., which also includes high-end basketball goals, had only one pos-

sible location in the suburban setting. Unfortunately, access to the area was

extremely limited due to concrete block walls that divided several properties,

essentially creating a narrow corridor with several tight turns that required

precise manipulation of large equipment with experienced drivers and opera-

tors. But this design-build project turned out great.

Peter Francesconi

June 2014 TennisIndustry 2 www.tennisindustrymag.com


32/56


Keith Residence

Cookeville, Tenn.

(Nominated by Baseline Sports Construction LLC, Knoxville, Tenn.)

General Contractor:Baseline Sports Construction LLC

Surface, Lines:Har-Tru SportsLights:LSI Industries

Windscreen:Putterman Athletics

Net Posts:Edwards/Athletic Connection

Southwest Ranches Residence

Southwest Ranches, Fla.

(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.)

Architect/Engineer/General Contractor:Fast-Dry Courts Inc.

Surface: Har-Tru Sports

Lighting:Techlight

Court Equipment: Fast-Dry Courts/10-S Tennis Supply

Villa Terese

Bradenton, Fla.

(Nominated by Welch Tennis Courts Inc., Sun City, Fla.)

General/Specialty Contractor:Welch Tennis Courts Inc.

Surface: Har-Tru Sports

Sub-Surface Irrigation:Welch HydroGrid System

Nets, Posts, Windscreen:Welch Tennis Courts

Welch Residence

Scottsdale, Ariz.

(Nominated by General Acrylics Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.)

General Contractor:General Acrylics Inc.

Lighting:LSI Industries

Nets, Posts:Douglas Industries

Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards


Boca Raton Residence

Boca Raton, Fla.

(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.)

Architect/Engineer/Contractor:Fast-Dry Courts Inc.

Surface:Har-Tru Sports, DecoTurfLighting:Techlight

Court Accessories: Fast-Dry Courts/10-S Tennis Supply


33/56


34/56

QBabolat Playmodifications

If I add weight to the upper

end of the hoop of my Babolat Play

racquet, I should get more power, just

like on a normal racquet. However,BabolatPlay.com says: If you use lead

tape, you could lower your power

rating. The Power index is related to

the speed of the racquet's head. If you

add weight, the speed will decreaseslightly and your movement will be

slower.

But what happens if I swing the

racquet at the same speed even with

the additional weight?

AYoull get more power, but the

racquet-head speed you are

generating is not the same

racquet-head speed Babolat is referringto in the text you quote.

The more mass you add to your

racquet, the more difficult it is to ac-

celerate and decelerate. Your Babolat

Play racquet does measure the speed ofyour swing, but it also measures racquet

deceleration on impact. This is where it

becomes a bit counter-intuitive.

The power to which you refer isdue to the force you impart to the ball

thanks to Newtons Second Law of Mo-

tion, which states that force equals mass

times acceleration. On impact, the rac-

quet decelerates slightly, as it transfersenergy to the ball. The more mass you

add to the upper end of the hoop, the less

your racquet will decelerate on impact,

which fools Babolat Play, because it is

precisely calibrated to the mass andmass distribution of the racquet as

shipped from the factory.

If there was a way of measuring the

acceleration and deceleration of the ball

at the same time as Babolat Play was

measuring the acceleration and decel-eration of the racquet, youd have the

complete picture. But without sensors

in the ball, Babolat Play can tell you only

its side of the story.The good news is that, unless you add

a lot of mass to the hoop, the numbers

you get from Babolat Play will still be

close to those you get from an unmodi-fied racquet.

QBabolat PlaypercentagesBabolat Play rates the power

on my strokes as a percentage. Per-centage of what?

AYour strokes

are rated as apercentage of

the highest reading in

the Babolat Play com-

munity. Babolat does

not officially state whohas the highest read-

ing in most categories,

although weve been told

Your Equipment Hotline

Ask theExperts



35/56

that your serve is shown as a percent-

age of an Andy Roddick serve (136.7mph), and your forehand is shown as a

percentage of a Rafael Nadal forehand.

The only known person behind the

data is in the case of the Pulse, the

highest reading of which is currently

held by Rafael Nadal. Keep in mind

that to maximize your Pulse rating youneed to play as often as possible, for as

long as possible.

QBabolat Playdata retention

Does the Play racquet

delete data from hitting sessions

after transfer to the display device

or does it retain data from previoussessions?

AYes, the Babolat Play racquet

conserves space on the rac-

quet and deletes the sessionafter downloading the data from any

recent sessions.

QBabolat Playdata location

Where is the data stored

after you transfer it to my display

device? In other words, is it just on

201406 Tennis Industry magazine

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