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TennisIndustry

Contents July 2018

DEPARTMENTS FEATURES
4 Our Serve 26 Service Aces
7 Industry News
Successful tennis specialty retailers continue to
11 Letters to the Editor
15 Grassroots Tennis
up their game by focusing on local markets and players.
16 Court Lighting
18 TIA News
33 2018 TIA Research Reports
38 Ask the Experts
40 Your Serve, by Amy Choyne

INDUSTRY NEWS
7 Tennis Teachers Conference
set for Aug. 24-27
7 USPTA Certification to require
Safe Play education
7 Har-Tru teams with Tennibot,
maker of robotic ball retriever
7 PTR kicks off new mentor
program
9 Ashaway develops new
coating for badminton strings
9 Selkirk has strong results
at pickleball US Open
9 Short Sets
11 Nominate for Tennis Industry's
‘Champions of Tennis’ awards
10 James Blake, Laserfibre team
up for new string 20 Guide to Ball Machines
10 Miringoff named new K-Swiss The right ball machine can be used as a tool for
VP of Sales–Americas
12 RacquetFit, USPTA partner for
teaching pros and a profit center for clubs.
new certification
12 iTPA World Conference
set for July 21-22 in Atlanta
12 Jennifer Gregg named to lead
30 Tennis and
USTA South Carolina Pickleball
14 People Watch A pilot program
14 PTR releases new app
for tennis coaches
offers a solution
using blended lines.

PLUS
43 From the CEO
p.41 46 Vice President's Message
48 Master Pro Corner
51 Inside Coaching
43 48 51 54 54 2018 Tennis Teachers
May 15, 2017: How to Achieve 'Point 2018 Tennis Conference
A Significant Confidence, Importance' is Teachers 56 Tennis Service
Representatives
Date in USPTA And How to Real, and It's Conference 57 Tennis Thanks the Troops
History Keep It Important Preview 58 TGA Premier Tennis
59 Member News
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 60 USPTA Career Development

2 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 O F F IC IA L
S U R FAC E
O F T H E U S P TA

id e in st al le rs .
ts , w it h ex pe ri en ce d na ti on w
& re pa ir pr od uc
m en t- qu al it y sp or t su rf ac in g
To ur na

sportmaster.net
 TennisIndustry

OurServe PUBLISHER
JEFF WILLIAMS

EDITOR
PETER FRANCESCONI
EDITOR'S NOTE

Help Wanted MANAGING EDITOR

SCOTT GRAMLING

Let’s start a positive conversation CREATIVE DIRECTOR

IAN KNOWLES

with powerful and innovative ideas SENIOR EDITOR

ED McGROGAN

that can help this sport grow. ART DIRECTOR

CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ

PRODUCTION EDITOR
SAM CHASE

I 
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
BOB PATTERSON

’ve been immersed in this
industry for many years, and in
many ways, it continues to be
an exciting, dynamic business.
But it also continues to offer
many frustrations and challenges.
One of the biggest frustrations is
that no matter what we’ve tried to do
with influence over pretty much every
segment of the game.
The USTA’s mission for nearly 20
years has been to “promote and develop
the growth of tennis.” If participation is
a measure of that mission—and I main-
tain it has to be—then the USTA and
all of us who support and promote the
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
CYNTHIA CANTRELL, PEG CONNOR,
DAVID LASOTA, KENT OSWALD, NATE PAGEL,
CYNTHIA SHERMAN, MARY HELEN SPRECHER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
BOB KENAS, DAVID KENAS
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
TIM McARTHUR

as an industry over the last 10 years,
we haven’t been able to significantly
improve overall tennis participation.
In fact, a look at total participation over
the last decade shows we’re essentially
flat, if not down (see page 33).
I’ve long believed that recreational
tennis participation is the key to this
organization have failed in this mission. EDITORIAL DIRECTION
So, what can we do to fix this appar- 10TEN MEDIA
ent disconnect between the resources
TENNIS INDUSTRY
we have, and the recreational growth we 250 Park Avenue, Ste 825, NY NY 10017
don’t have? This is where you need to 646-381-8735
weigh in strongly, and take ownership in info@tennisindustrymag.com
the solutions.
Whether you’re a teaching pro, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

industry—including having fans for pro- coach, facility owner/manager, retailer,

fessional events. Certainly, for Tennis
Industry’s audience, business depends
on people getting out on court and play-
ing. The more people who play more
often, the better for everyone.
So, with the resources we can bring to
bear, why can’t we grow our most basic
statistic, tennis participation, from year
to year? Why have we allowed this non-
growth to continue for a decade?
With all the resources we
can bring to bear in
this industry, why can’t we
manufacturer, court contractor or other
provider in this industry, let’s hear your
thoughts, ideas and even actions you
may have already taken to grow this
sport. We want to foster conversation,
collaboration and change that will lead
to more people playing tennis.
Please email me, and share your
ideas and actions for growing tennis
participation with #mytennissolution
on Tennis Industry magazine’s social
channels. We’d like to track and compile
your contributions, and if you "like" and
"follow" TI’s social media, you’ll be noti-
fied when compiled results are posted.
Let’s start a positive conversation,
with innovative ideas that can help this
JOHN HANNA
770-650-1102, x125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
APPAREL ADVERTISING
CYNTHIA SHERMAN
203-558-5911
cstennisindustry@gmail.com
Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year:
monthly, January through August with combined
issues in September/October and November/
December, by Tennis Media Company, 250 Park
Avenue, Suite 825, New York NY 10017. Periodical
postage paid in Duluth, GA and at additional mailing
offices (USPS #004-354). July 2018, Volume 46,
Number 7 © 2018 by Tennis Media Company. All rights
reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo are trademarks
of Tennis Media Company. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone
advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation

grow tennis participation? sport grow. We all need to take respon-

I realize it’s up to all of us to grow this
industry and that the USTA, ultimately,
is not responsible for the success of
individual businesses in tennis. But the
reality is the USTA is the biggest player
in this industry, thanks in large part to
the revenue the US Open generates,
and editorial: 646-381-8735. Yearly subscriptions
$25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to Tennis Industry, 250 Park Avenue,
sibility for the future of this industry. Suite 825, New York NY 10017. Tennis Industry is the
official magazine of the USRSA, TIA and ASBA.
Peter Francesconi Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/Racquet
Editor Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our website
at TennisIndustryMag.com for free digital versions.
Peter@TennisIndustryMag.com

4 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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 IndustryNews Information to help you run your business
EDUCATION
Tennis Teachers Conference
Returns to New York in August
R
egister now for the
44th Tennis Teachers
Conference, which will
be held on Aug. 24-27
at the Grand Hyatt in
New York City. More than 1,000 tennis
professionals and industry leaders
are expected to gather for the confer-
ence, which is presented by the USTA
and USPTA, and also will serve as the
USPTA’s World Conference.
The conference, which is being
restarted after a three-year hiatus,
will feature more than 25 classroom
and on-court educational sessions. The
on-court sessions will take place at
SportTime Randall’s Island Tennis Club
on Aug. 25, with round-trip bus trans-
portation and a lunch voucher provided.
The cost for the four days of the
C O U RT E S Y U S TA
Tennis Teachers Conference is $399.
Day passes are available at $200 each,
and TTC registrants are qualified for
the special rate of $249 per night at the
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Grand Hyatt, located at 42nd Street and
Lexington Avenue. For more informa-
tion and to register for the conference,
go to 2018ttc.com.
Those registering for the TTC before
the early-bird Aug. 1 deadline will
receive a free ticket to the new Louis
Armstrong Stadium for the first Mon-
day of the US Open, a food voucher and
transportation to and from the USTA
Billie Jean King National Tennis Cen-
ter. Early-bird registrants also will be
able to purchase guest passes for this US
Open experience at $125 each. •
Safe Play to be Required
For USPTA Certification
Starting Jan. 1, the USPTA will require all
applicants to complete the Safe Play edu-
cation modules before they can become a
certified USPTA professional. In addition
to the 90-minute Safe Play course, USPTA
professionals also will be required to
complete Coach Youth Tennis online
training. The moves were approved by
the USPTA Executive Committee in April.
“It is important that our tennis-
teaching professionals and coaches
create a safe environment for all of their
students,” says USPTA CEO John Embree.
“Through Safe Play training, our mem-
bers will be more conscious of explicit
behaviors that could be detrimental to
the next generation of tennis players.
We want to do everything that we can to
make tennis safe for all, especially kids.”
The USTA’s Safe Play process includes
online training modules; acknowledge-
ment and acceptance of the USTA Safe
Play conduct, policies and guidelines,
and a background screen application.
Har-Tru Teams With Tennibot,
Maker of Robotic Ball Retriever
Har-Tru LLC has partnered with Tennibot,
which manufactures a robotic ball-retriever
unit. As an investment partner, Har-Tru will
assist in the launch of the product, as well as
sales and distribution.
“We love this product,” says Har-Tru Presi-
dent Pat Hanssen. “The Tennibot team has
done an extraordinary job of identifying a
pain point in our industry—picking up balls,
especially during lessons or when hitting
against the ball machine—and has used
technology to solve it. I’m pleased we’re able
to help them bring their ideas to market.”
In March 2017, Tennibot won the Ten-
nis Industry Association’s inaugural Tennis
Industry Innovation Challenge competition.
For more on Tennibot, visit tennibot.com.
PTR Kicks Off New
Mentor Program
The PTR has debuted a Mentor Program,
matching 50 mentors from the teaching
July 2018 TennisIndustry 7
Of
fi
cialBal
l
 IndustryNews

Ty McGuffin, playing
organization’s top experts and with Selkirk's Amped
International Master Professionals Series paddle, took
home the men's pro
with aspiring mentees. singles title in Naples.
The mentors were chosen based
on their expertise and knowledge in
specific areas. Mentor training was
conducted in April by David Benzel,
founder of Growing Champions for
Life. To find the 50 mentees, PTR sent
an open application to all certified
members in the U.S.
“A lot went into the pairing
process,” says Marc Stingley, PTR
Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator
and staff liaison for the program. “In
addition to matching the specific goals
and aspirations of the mentee with the PADDLE SPORTS
expertise of the mentor, we also tried
to ensure they were as close geograph-
ically as possible.”
Selkirk Has Strong Results
The program honors the legacy of
PTR Founder Dennis Van der Meer,
At Pickleball US Open

who recognized the need for industry
leaders to help guide, shape and foster
earnest professionals in the areas of
community, business and athletic
development, as well as in facility
management.
Ashaway Develops New
Coating for Badminton Strings
Ashaway Racket Strings has developed
a proprietary textured surface coating for
its ZyMax line of badminton strings. New
coated strings will be dubbed "ZyMax
S
elkirk Sport had a strong showing at the Minto US Open Pickleball
Championships, held in late April in Naples, Fla. Team Selkirk member
Ty McGuffin, the top-ranked pickleball player in the world, captured the
men’s pro singles title and took home third place in the men’s pro doubles
division, with teammate Matt Goebel. Cammy MacGregor, a former Top 100 pro
tennis player, captured the US Open Senior Women’s singles title and the 50+
doubles and 50+ mixed doubles titles. MacGregor also was second in the Senior Pro
women’s Doubles Championship. Visit selkirk.com for more info.
Pro tennis player Kaitlyn Christian, a newcomer to pickleball who acted as
Emma Stone’s tennis double in the film “Battle of the Sexes,” took home third in
open singles and open doubles. Team Selkirk players used Amped Series paddles. •

Short
Sets
The U.S. Fed Cup team defeated France
in April's semifinal round and will travel
to the Czech Republic for the final, to be
held Nov. 10-11.
The Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s
and Women’s Tennis Championships will
C O U RT E S Y S E L K I R K S P O RT
facility was built on property donated by
Berry College.
In the new book Facing Nadal: Sym-
posium of a Champion, author Scoop
Malinowski explores what it's like to play
against Rafael Nadal through interviews
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association
and Tennis Warehouse have continued
their partnership in which TW is the
Official Online Tennis Retailer of the ITA.
In addition, the ITA and Wilson have
continued their decades-long partner-
ship, with Wilson serving as Official Ball,

return to Rome, Ga., in 2020 and 2021.
The event will be held at the Rome Tennis
Center at Berry College, which opened
in 2016 and is the nation's largest
single-surface facility, with 60 hard
courts across 30 acres. This city-owned
with more than 50 ATP pros. The book is
available for $9.99 at amazon.com.
Malinowski’s previous tennis books
include Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely
Knew, Facing McEnroe, Facing Hewitt,
Facing Federer and Facing Sampras.
Racquet and Accessory Brand of the ITA.
The USPTA has signed an agreement
with BookingCommunity.com, which will
offer discounts on travel and hotel rates
to USPTA members.

www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 9

IndustryNews
L
aserfibre recently
announced the newest ad-
dition to its family of tennis
strings with JB Tour 100.
Developed in collaboration with U.S.
tennis great James Blake,
Laserfibre says the tour-grade co-poly
is designed to meet the demands of
today’s most selective tennis player
by delivering great feel and control.
“Working together with James on
the design of JB Tour 100 was a per-
fect fit,” says Curt Dailey, principal
of Laserfibre. “We were focused on
introducing a string that delivers
tour-level performance. James’
STRINGS
knowledge and direct involvement in
James Blake, the development and testing process
was invaluable.”
Laserfibre “I’m proud to work with Laserfibre
to deliver a high-quality, American-
Team Up for made tennis string to the market,”
Blake says. “JB Tour 100 checks all the
New String boxes for me in creating my signature
brand.” Visit Laserfibre.com. •
10 TennisIndustry July 2018
TX," and provide a stiffer feel and add a
measure of control, says the company.
Like its ZyMax Fire siblings, ZyMax TX
strings utilize Ashaway's proprietary BETA
polymer fibers, which the company says
provide elasticity and dynamic stiffness
for maximum shuttle speed and explosive
repulsion; optimum power and durabil-
ity, including knot and loop strength; and
exceptional tension holding ability for
consistent, reliable performance.
For more, visit ashawayusa.com.
Miringoff is New K-Swiss
VP Sales for Americas
Mike Miringoff
K-Swiss has promoted Mike Miringoff
to vice president of sales for the Ameri-
cas region. In this new role, Miringoff
will report to K-Swiss President Barney
Waters and will be responsible for all of
K-Swiss’ wholesale business in the U.S.
market, along with managing distribu-
tors in Canada, Central America and
South America.
Miringoff joined K-Swiss in October of
2016 as global director of tennis, tasked
with revamping and reigniting the ten-
nis business in the Americas. He grew
the tennis business by 40 percent in his
first full year, says K-Swiss, with similar
growth forecasted for 2018. Prior to
K-Swiss, Miringoff was the regional com-
mercial manager for the APAC region
for Wilson Sporting Goods Co., based in
C O U RT E S Y L A S E R F I B R E , K- S W I S S
Shanghai, and also held U.S.-based roles
for Wilson and Nike.
K-Swiss’ growth in the tennis category
over the past 18 months has led to the
hiring to two new, tennis-dedicated staff
members. K-Swiss tennis territory sales
manager Steve Rothstein has been ap-
pointed as U.S. national sales manager
for K-Swiss Tennis, reporting to Mirin-
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 IndustryNews

Letters
‘PLAY’ FROM THE START
In trying to educate myself better
on pickleball, I went to a local “open
play” session—19 people rotating
around on one tennis court that had
nets and lines for four pickleball
courts. I observed the “coordinator”
take about 20 minutes to explain the
basic rules and a few related issues
to a group of four women. None had
ever played pickleball.
After that brief introduction, they
proceeded to play pickleball for the
next hour or so, having so much fun
they all declared they would return
for the next session!
Therein lies perhaps one of the
biggest challenges for tennis as it
relates to the growing popularity
of pickleball. Rarely do people who
want to learn tennis get to play
tennis right away. Instead, they
are taken through an often wind-
ing path of “stroke mechanics” and
“technique.”
I’ve been teaching tennis for 35
years, and over the past several years
have been thinking, it’s okay if a
beginner doesn’t get a serve in the
right service box, or doesn’t know how
to keep score, or foot faults, or plays
out balls. Can we as tennis coaches
find better ways to have people start
“playing” tennis before we begin
“teaching” them tennis?
I will always remember how much
fun those four women were having
playing a sport for the first time ever.
Dave Kensler
San Diego
SHORT-COURT ALTERNATIVE
In the north Bay Area, we play some-
thing we call Spec Tennis, which we
consider “the tennis player's com-
petitive alternative to pickleball.”
Spec Tennis is played on a
standard pickleball court with a
low-compression tennis ball and
platform tennis paddles. Our view is
that Spec Tennis is faster-paced and
more challenging than pickleball,
but it is easier to learn than tennis.
For more information on Spec
Tennis, go to SpecTennis.com.
Nate Gross, USPTA
Mill Valley, Calif
We welcome your letters, comments
and opinions. Please email them to
info@tennisindustrymag.com.

LOVE LOVE
goff. Rothstein has 28 years of experi-
ence and relationships in the tennis
industry, with 22 years at K-Swiss.
Also reporting to Miringoff will be
Jackie Scarnici, in the new role of U.S. Club members and students will LOVE facing
marketing manager for K-Swiss off against the phenom. You will LOVE
Tennis. Scarnici has spent 16 years in
offering the added advantage.
the tennis industry, having worked at
the USTA, as a sports agent for SFX,
and at Prince and Asics. ®

Nominate for TI’s follow lobste

t rsports on
te play more. win more.®

‘Champions of Tennis’ For more information, please call 888.380.9460 or visit www.lobstersports.com
Our January 2019 issue will mark the
18th year that Tennis Industry maga-
zine will name its Champions of Tennis
Awards, which recognize the unheralded
heroes who go above and beyond in
helping to make a difference in our sport
and business. And we’d like your help in
identifying them.
To nominate for Tennis Industry’s
2018 Champions of Tennis, email
info@tennisindustrymag.com, and put
“Champions” in the subject line. In the
email, include the category, the name of
the person or organization you are nomi-
nating, contact info (phone and email)
for the nominee, and—briefly—some
information about the nominee, includ-

www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 11

IndustryNews

Rose, Embree and Drake (from ing a website address if appropriate. All
left) go over details of the nominations will be confidential, but we’d
USPTA-RacquetFit certification. also like your name and contact info, in
case we have questions. The deadline for
nominations is Sept. 1, 2018.
Award categories include, but aren’t
limited to: Person of the Year, Tennis
Industry Service Award, Private/Com-
mercial Facility, Sales Rep, Pro/Specialty
Retailer, Builder/Contractor, Grassroots
Tennis Champion, Municipal Tennis
Facility, Stringer of the Year, CTA of the
Year, Tennis Advocate, Wheelchair Ten-
nis Champion, Junior Tennis Champion,
Public Park of the Year, Park & Rec Agen-
cy, High School Coach, NJTL of the Year,
Innovative Tennis Event, Youth Tennis
CONTINUING EDUCATION Provider, Adult Tennis Provider, Public
Tennis Facility, PTR Member, USPTA Mem-
USPTA, RacquetFit Partner ber and USTA Section of the Year.
Thank you for your help in honoring
For New Certification those helping to grow this industry.

T
Jennifer Gregg Named
To Lead USTA South Carolina
he USPTA has partnered with RacquetFit to introduce a new certifica-
tion for tennis-teaching professionals, fitness coaches and medical
providers. The RacquetFit Certification is designed to give professionals
the tools to screen the physical limitations of a player and provide the
knowledge of how to get them back to performing at a high level.
“RacquetFit was developed by an advisory board of tennis-industry leading
experts and led by the founder of TPI (Titleist Performance Institute), Dr. Greg
Rose,” says USPTA CEO John Embree. “With TPI’s cutting-edge research and
development, we wanted to partner with RacquetFit to produce the same cutting-
edge education for the tennis industry.”
Other tennis, fitness and medical experts and instructors include Dr. Sean Drake,
Dr. Mark Kovacs and Jeff Salzenstein. Upcoming certification dates include: Jennifer Gregg
• June 22-23, USPTA Headquarters, Orlando, Fla.
• Aug. 10-11, Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge USTA South Carolina has named
• Sept. 28-29: The Westin Long Beach, Calif. Jennifer Gregg its new executive direc-
• Nov. 16-17: Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta tor. Gregg brings 22 years of USTA

C O U RT E S Y U S P TA , U S TA S O U T H CA R O L I N A , D R . M A R K KOVA C S
experience to the job, coupled with the
Certified Association Executive (CAE)
TENNIS AND FITNESS
designation from the American Society

iTPA World Conference of Association Executives.

Gregg previously served as the

July 21-22 in Atlanta USTA Maryland District executive

director and the USTA Mid-Atlantic

T
he iTPA World Tennis Fitness Conference will
be held on July 21-22 in Atlanta, focused on
improving tennis-specific fitness training.
Dr. Mark Kovacs, executive director of the
iTPA, is the conference chair. Other speakers will include
physical trainer Gil Reyes, Georgia Tech strength and con-
ditioning coach Dan Taylor, former pro Robby Ginepri and
tennis analytics expert Warren Pretorius. The conference
offers continuing education credits. Visit itpa-tennis.org. •
Section associate executive director.
She facilitates continuing education
courses and Community Tennis Devel-
opment workshops on the National,
Section and District levels, covering
various topics related to volunteerism,
personal and organizational growth,
leadership and team building.
“As we move forward,” says Gregg,
the focus will be on innovation, player
Dr. Mark Kovacs
engagement, diversity and inclusion.”

12 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 monogut-zx-third-advert-image-update.pdf 1 06/07/2016 22:23

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K
IndustryNews
People
Watch
Dunlop has added tennis industry
sales veterans Jeff Lininger and Matt
Helms to its team. Lininger, based out
of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., will be the
district sales manager for South Carolina
(excluding Charleston), North Carolina
and Georgia. Helms’s territory will
include Tennessee, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and
the Florida Panhandle.
USTA New England inducted Teryn
Ashley Fitch of Ann Arbor, Mich., Jona-
than H. Bates of Stamford, Conn., and
Heather Crowe Conner of West New-
bury, Mass., into its Hall of Fame in June.
In addition, Michael Mercier of Beverly,
Mass., received the 2018 Gardner Ward
14 TennisIndustry July 2018
PTR Releases New App
For Tennis Coaches
Chase Memorial Award, for lifetime
achievement.
German tennis legend Boris Becker
has been appointed by the Central Af-
rican Republic as its Attaché for Sports,
Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs in the
European Union. Becker, who will work
as a volunteer, will have an office at the
Central African Republic embassy in
Brussels.
The USTA Eastern Section recently in-
ducted four people into its Hall of Fame:
David Benjamin of Skillman, N.J., Lloyd
Emanuel of Rye, N.Y., Robert Kenas of
Marlboro, N.J., and Nadine Netter Levy
of Palm Beach, Fla.
PTR has launched its new Coach App,
designed to provide coaches and ath-
letes with a platform that can be used to
help players improve their games.
Built around video analysis, the
PTR Coach App was developed by PTR
Director of Education Brian Parkkonen
and Oivind Sorvald, a PTR board member
who is the director of High Performance
and Coach Education for the Norwegian
Tennis Association.
The PTR Coach App allows coaches
to easily capture technical video, then
analyze and annotate the video with
illustrator tools. Coaches can compare
strokes, and have an easy reference to
player stroke collections and technical
parameters. They can then create video,
image and voice reports to share with
students, along with tracking goals.
USRSA Names New MRTs & CS
Master Racquet Technicians
• Zachary Leal, Corpus Christi, Texas
• Peter Deering, Charlotte, N.C.
• Bart Zuralski, Charlotte, N.C.
• Dave Carroll, St. Charles, Ill.
C O U RT E S Y P T R
• Gregory Goodin, Dallas
• Jose Villegas, Victoria, BC, Canada
Certified Stringer
• Aaron Cheung, Eugene, Ore.
www.tennisindustrymag.com

GrassrootsTennis
JUNIOR PARTICIPATION
Play It Forward!
The USTA’s Net Generation puts junior
players front and center when it comes
to growing our sport in communities.
MISSOURI VALLEY
Red Ball Team Challenges a Hit in Omaha
L
P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y M I R A C L E H I L L S T E N N I S C LU B, U S TA T E X A S
arry Newton of Omaha,
Neb., quickly found suc-
cess with Red Ball Team
Challenges, a Net Gen-
eration pilot program.
The events, which
average about 30 participants, serve as
an introduction to competition, focus-
ing on level-based team play, parent
education and character development.
It can be delivered as a single event or a
series of up to six events.
“It’s a pretty innovative program,
with a very quick pace,” says Newton,
who quickly noticed how enjoyable it is
for both players and parents. “It’s a fun
www.tennisindustrymag.com
experience for first-time players with a
wide age-range. You can get 24 players
on a court, and after an hour, they’re
actually playing tennis.”
Newton, who is the chairman of the
USTA Missouri Valley’s Junior Compe-
tition Committee, anticipates running
four of the events this year. And Red
Ball Team Challenges are just one asp-
ect of Net Generation that encourage
kids to play tennis. USTA Missouri Val-
ley anticipates more than two dozen of
the events being held across the section.
“The USTA did a great job with the
programming,” he says. “This stuff is
catching on.”
TennisIndustry
TEXAS
Youth Tennis is More
Accessible, More Fun
N
et Generation is what this
industry has been waiting
for,” says Ellen Miller, the
director of coaching educa-
tion and player development for the
Houston Tennis Association NJTL.
It’s the culmination of years of work
to make tennis more accessible and fun
for children of all ages, covering the
entire spectrum of youth tennis.
“Nearly 10 years ago, QuickStart and
then 10 and Under Tennis hit the scene,
making tennis easier to learn for young
players because of the low-compres-
sion balls and modified court sizes,”
Miller notes.
“Now with Net Generation, youth
tennis is all under one roof—easy to
find, easy to get started. Adding to the
structure is new turn-key curriculum,
with lesson plans and videos that cover
all ages and levels—from red ball to
yellow ball—and that support tennis
providers from private clubs to com-
munity and school programs.”
Families win with Net Generation,
too. Parents can easily search for certi-
fied teaching professionals and coaches
online and find tennis programs in
their area.
“With Net Generation, it’s a win-win
situation for everyone in the tennis
industry,” Miller says. “Youth tennis
just got better!” •
July 2018 TennisIndustry 15
TennisIndustry
Court Lighting
TENNIS INDUSTRY INNOVATION CHALLENGE
In A New Light
The unique Tweener LED system
attaches to existing fencing, offering
reduced installation and energy costs.
T
weener Lighting, a unique
LED system that attaches
to existing fencing around
tennis and other sport
courts, took home the top
prize in the third edition of the Tennis
Industry Innovation Challenge, which
was held during the Tennis Owners
& Managers (TOM) Conference in
Charleston, S.C., in April.
Presented by the Tennis Industry
Association (TIA), the Innovation
Challenge is a “Shark Tank”-like com-
petition to identify innovative and cre-
ative products or services in the tennis
industry. In Charleston, three compa-
nies, which had been selected from 20
overall applicants, each gave a five-
minute presentation on what makes
their tennis product or service special,
16 TennisIndustry July 2018
unique and important to the growth
of the sport. The panel of five judges
then picked Tweener Lighting System
(tweener-lighting.com) of France as the
winner of the $1,000 prize.
Tweener Lighting CEO Florent Col-
liau presented to the industry audience,
plugging in and turning on one of the
LED lighting bars that attaches to the
top of the fence surrounding a court,
eliminating the need for light poles.
Colliau said the benefits of the patented
outdoor system are the lower cost to
buy, install and operate; the ease of
installation—in many cases just one day
per court; lighting with no shadows and
no glare, even on high balls; and design
integration with the fence.
“Winning this competition is very big
for us,” Colliau said. “We are recognized
by the French Tennis Federation, and
now we’ve come to the U.S. as a top in-
novation in the tennis industry.”
Colliau also met with many racquet
sports facility owners and managers in
the Resource Center at the conference.
“What I like about Tweener is that
they took something that has been
an accepted way of doing things and
looked at it in a different way,” said Dr.
Stuart Miller, senior executive director
of the ITF and one of the judges.
The other two finalists in the com-
petition were Armbeep, a portable
motion-analysis device that helps
players and coaches, and PlayByCourt,
a community-based online platform
that facilitates the process of booking
lessons, court times and clinics.
“The three finalists all had strong
presentations that connected with
the tennis industry audience,” said
Innovation Challenge moderator
Carlos Salum, president of Salum
International Resources and a member
of the SportsCouncil Silicon Valley.
“Many thanks to all those who took
part,” said TIA Executive Director
Jolyn de Boer. “The TIA is pleased to
offer this unique Innovation Challenge
platform to entrepreneurs, with an eye
toward increasing tennis participation
and enjoyment for all consumers.” •
C O U RT E S Y T W E E N E R L I G H T I N G
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tennis Industry Forum TENNIS FORUM
Set for Aug. 27 in NYC

The 11th Annual Tennis Industry Association Tennis Forum will be
on Monday, Aug. 27, at the Grand Hyatt New York in Manhattan.
The Forum will include the latest news about the state of the
tennis industry, business insights and updates on grow-the-game
initiatives including the USTA’s Net Generation.
The TIA Tennis Forum is slated to run from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the
Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt. Aug. 27 also is the first day of play at
the US Open, the final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.
In addition to presenting key tennis industry statistics, research
and initiatives, the Forum also will include recognition of 2018
inductee(s) into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. Industry leaders
presenting at the Forum will include Katrina Adams, the president
and chairman of the board of the USTA; Kurt Kamperman, chief
executive of the USTA National Campus; Craig Morris, the USTA’s
chief executive of Community Tennis; Jeff Williams, the president
of the TIA; and Jolyn de Boer, TIA executive director.
Information presented at the Forum will help to outline ways
to better define and boost the economic growth and impact of
the tennis industry; determine effective ways to distribute clear,
consistent messaging of health, fitness and the reasons to play
tennis; and discuss the business of tennis. Forum attendees will
receive a summary report on key industry research.
While the Forum is free to attend, space is limited, so registration
is required. Visit TennisIndustry.org.

Nominate for Tennis Industry Hall of Fame

Nominations close July 1 for the annual Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. Inductees for 2018 will be announced at the 11th Annual TIA Tennis
Forum, to be held in New York City on Monday, Aug. 27. Visit TennisIndustry.org/HoF for more information or to nominate. (All nominations
will be confidential.)
The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame was started in 2008 to honor inventors, founders, innovators
and contributors who have made a significant impact on the sport of tennis, from the 1960s to the
present. Current inductees are: Howard Head (2008), Dennis Van der Meer (2008), Alan Schwartz
(2009), Billie Jean King (2010), Nick Bollettieri (2011), Howard Gill Jr. (2013), Walter Montenegro
(2013), Sheldon Westervelt (2013), Jim Baugh (2014), Peter Burwash (2015), Eugene Scott (2016),
Eve Kraft (2016) and David Haggerty (2017).
Tennis Industry Hall of Fame inductees are recognized with their names displayed on a plaque at
the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I.

18 TennisIndustry July 2018 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org
 TOM Conference Videos
Focus on Innovation,
Growth, Leadership
The fifth annual Tennis Owners & Managers (TOM)
Conference in Charleston, S.C., in April brought
together dozens of top speakers and experts
to focus on innovation, growth, business
leadership and development in the tennis and racquet
sports industry. This year, many of the presentations throughout the three-day event were
videotaped and are available to TOM Conference attendees and others to review. Also, key takeaways were compiled after
every session. Plus, many TOM speakers are offering their presentations as part of the ongoing TIA Webinar Series.
“The feedback from the tennis business owners, managers and decision-makers about the TOM Conference agenda
and speakers has been extremely positive,” says Jolyn de Boer,
the executive director of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), Go to https://vimeo.com/tennisindustry to view videos
which developed and manages the event. “This year, we had a from the 2018 TOM Conference, which include:
professional videographer at the conference who captured many of
the key presentations. Many of these videos are free for anyone to TOM Conference Highlights (:58)
access, but others are only available to TOM Conference attendees Tennis Industry Overview (9:28)
and TIA Associate Partner level and higher.” Tennis Innovation Challenge (1:21)
The videos include highlights from a number of speakers and PHIT America—The Inactivity Pandemic in America (1:35)
events (many under 2 minutes), plus longer versions of keynote Dr. Jack Groppel’s Inspiring Journey (2:11)
presentations. There also are highlights videos and overviews
Jim Baugh—Getting America Moving and Healthy (31:43)
of the State of the Tennis Industry and the “Inactivity Pandemic”
that affects America. Communications Consultant Mike May of The Nick Bollettieri Story (1:33)
Wellington, Fla., narrates many of the videos, which were shot by May is National Play Tennis Month! (1:45)
videographer Kenny Bacchus of Grand Rapids, Mich. Tennis Channel: Play Tennis Month (1:00)

U
E • JAN ARY 23-
C 25
EN Save the Date: 2019
R

TOM Conference
FE

OR
2019 TOM CON

LAN

The TIA’s sixth annual Tennis Owners & Managers (TOM) Conference
DO, FLORID

is scheduled for Jan. 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. In an expanded format, the

popular TOM Conference will have a special focus on facilities. It will
also include a TIA Forum, the Tennis Industry Innovation Challenge,
specialty courses, “TOM Talks,” presentations, interactive sessions
and a visit to the USTA National Campus. Stay tuned for more details.
A

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org July 2018 TennisIndustry 19
TennisIndustry

D I S T I N G2
U 0I S1H8 EGDUFI A
D CE I TL O
ITB
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HEI NAERS A W A R D S

B A L L CMOAUCRHTI NC EOSN SOTNR TU HC ET I M

O NA R K E T

Double Play
Manufacturers say their ball machines are
a tool for teaching professionals
and a profit center for tennis facilities.
By Kent Oswald

T
he biggest challenge
for ball machine man-
ufacturers continues
to be overcoming the
perception that, in a
human vs. machine
scenario, they’re on
the side of the machines. But no ball
machine, the manufacturers point out,
can replace the knowledge of an experi-
enced teaching professional.
What ball machine manufacturers sell
is a tool that helps teaching pros teach
their students more effectively, and is a
means for clubs and facilities to make
more money.
“The ability to program and store in
the machine’s memory your own custom
court drills, or sequential shot patterns,
has been a great advancement in tennis
ball machine functionality,” says Tony
Potter, president of Lobster Sports. He
points to Lobster’s Phenom Two com-
mercial electric ball machine, or the Elite
Grand Five LE portable, as examples of
this technological advance.
Using various ball machine apps
allows for programming and editing
customer court drills. But to get the most
out of this functionality, says Potter,
requires working with a well-trained
teaching pro or coach who can identify
what will be most useful for a player—
and then effectively use on-court assess-
ments to monitor the work a player may
do on their own with the ball machine.
(See the chart on pages 22-25 for ball
machines currently on the market.)
Powerful Teaching Tool
Daniel Bassili, whose career in junior
tennis was supported by the Silent
Partner ball machines developed by his
father, echoes the importance of using
these machines correctly.
“Ball machines are powerful teach-
ing tools for beginners and elite players
alike,” says Bassili, who is the company
counsel for Silent Partner. “They can feed
like an underhand to a very young player,
or amp up to extremely high levels of
speed and spin. All the while, pros are
freed from feeding balls, and can provide

20 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 TennisIndustry

Director-at-Large Ken DeHart. He has
been impressed that, via a mobile phone
app, he has “the ability to program a pat-
tern of shots or game-based situations
into the machine.”
A coach’s role, DeHart adds, includes
encouraging their students to work with
a ball machine. DeHart wants teaching
pros to not just provide their students
with access to customized ball machine
drills and programs so they can work on
their own games, but also to be the
ultimate authority on assessing how
much their students have improved—as
well as what they need to do to move up
to the next level.
Tennis instruction—and pickleball
instruction, too, with Lobster, Playmate,
Sports Attack and Sports Tutor having
recently introduced pickleball-specific
products—is not human vs. machine, but
rather human and machine. 

feedback to students while standing right

next to them, controlling the machine by
remote control from across the court.”
Ball machine use isn’t just about ben-
efiting players and teaching pros. Play-
mate product marketing specialist Stan
Oley says ball machines provide revenue
streams for facilities as well.
Oley says his company’s experience
is that a demo clinic with the Playmate
iGenie often leads to enough new play-
ers or family memberships into a ball
machine-supported “club” to cover the
cost of a new machine. The Playmate
iGenie, with five motors, has the ability
to be calibrated and customized accord-
ing to altitude, atmosphere, surface and
quality of ball, among other features.
“The key for ball machine use is finding
a price point that doesn’t undercut les-
sons,” says Oley.

Gains for Pros and Students

Are more pros turning to using ball ma-
chines for their lessons and clinics? As
P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y P L AY M AT E , L O B S T E R , S P O RT S T U T O R , S I L E N T PA RT N E R

the average age of teaching pros contin-

ues to increase (TIA research says the
average age of a tennis teaching pro in
the U.S. is now 55 years old), we may well
see increased ball machine sales and use.
“Older instructors in particular are
realizing that using ball machines in
lessons can be a real arm-saver for them,
since they don’t have to feed as many
balls,” says Bill Greene, a former aero-
space engineer and founder of Sports
Tutor. “Also, using ball machines in les-
sons increases their students’ familiarity
with the machines, so players will rent
machines more often.”
It turns out that the better acquainted
both pro and student are with a ball
machine, the greater the potential gain.
“There is so much technology here
for both pros and members to use,” says
longtime teaching professional and PTR

www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 21

TennisIndustry
2018 GUIDE TO BALL MACHINES

BALL MACHINES ON THE MARKET

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Model Price Warranty Dimensions

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Lobster Sports 800-526-4041• www.lobstersports.com
Elite Freedom $839 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 35 X 2-12 65 X X X
Elite Liberty $949 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 35 X 2-12 70 X X X X
Elite One $1,139 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 40 X 2-12 80 X X X X
Elite Two $1,419 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 42 X 2-12 80 X X X X
Elite Three $1,669 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 42 X 2-12 80 X X X X
Elite Grand Four $1,999 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 44 X 2-9 80 X X X X
Elite Grand Five $2,299 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 44 x 2-9 80 X X X X X 6 6
Elite Grand Five Ltd. Edition $2,599 2 Years 21" x 14" x 20" 150 44 x 2-9 80 X X X X X 6 12
Phenom $3,149 2 Years 32" x 25" x 50" 250 99 x 2-9 85 X X X X
Phenom Two $3,595 2 Years 32" x 25" x 50" 250 99 x 2-9 85 X X X X X 6 12
Match Mate 800-837-1002 • www.matchmatetennis.com
Rookie $449 2 Year a
11" x 11" x 22" 70 22 X 2-10
35 X Topspin X
Quickstart $558 2 Year a
12.5" x 12.5" x 28" 80 29 X 2-10 30 X X
iSAM Value $759 2 Year a
19" x 17.5" x 18" 250 34 X 2-10 65 X X X
iSam Extend $799 2 Year a
19" x 17.5" x 18" 250 39 X 2-10 65 X X X
iSam Ultimate $899 2 Year a
19" x 17.5" x 18" 250 39 X 2-10 65 X X X
SAM P1 Value $1,099 2 Year a
19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2-10 85 X X X X X
Sam P1 Pro $1,199 2 Year a
19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2-10 85 X X X X X
Sam P1 Ultimate $1,299 2 Year a
19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2-10 85 X X X X X
Sam P 4 Trainer $1,599 2 Year a 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2-10 85 X X X X X X
Sam P 4 Pro Trainer $1,799 2 Year a 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2-10 85 X X X X X X
Sam P 4 Ultimate $1,899 2 Year a 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2-10 85 X X X X X X
Sam Coach $3,999 3 Year 35" x 25" x 50" 250 87 X 1.5-8 95 X X X X X X 7 7
PTS - Partner (new this year) $3,495 2 Year 30" x 24" x 24" 300+ 80 X 2-11 85 X X X X X X X 6 12
PTS - Precision Tennis System $3,995 2 Year 30" x 24" x 24" 300+ 80 X 11-Feb 85 X X X X X X X Infinite Infinite
Playmate • 800-776-6770 • www.playmatetennis.com
Half Volley $1,595 2 Year Ltd. 19" x 21" x 25" 200 42 X 1-10 70 X X X X
Volley $2,095 2 Year Ltd. 19" x 21" x 25" 200 46 X 1-10 70 X X X X X X 2
Ace $3,995 3 Year Ltd. 35" x 21" x 38" 200 85 X 1-10 90 X X X X X 3
iSmash $5,175 3 Year Ltd. 35" x 21" x 38" 300 85 X 1-10 90 X X X X X X 7
iGenie $6,945 3 Year Ltd. 35" x 21" x 38" 300 85 X 1-10 90 X X X X X X 7
iSmash w/ iPlaymate Tennis $5,995 3 Year Ltd. 35" x 21" x 38" 300 85 X 1-10 90 X X X X X X 8 Infinite
Grandslam $8,675 3 Year Ltd. 35" x 21" x 38" 300 110 X 1-10 120 X X X X X X X 7
Robot Optimizer • 888-8BOOMER • www.tennisrobot.com
Boomer (with camera) $14,450d 2 Year 38.5" x 31" x 21.5" 300 124 X 0.8-10 100 X X X X X 30 1,000
Boomer (without camera) $12,450e 2 Year 38.5" x 31" x 21.5" 300 124 X 0.8-10 100 X X X X X 30 1,000
Silent Partner • 800-662-1809 • www.sptennis.com
Lite (Edge Series) $799 2 Year 24" x 22" x 16" 200 35 X 1.5-10 95 X X X X
Lite-R (Edge Series) $949 2 Year 24" x 22" x 16" 200 35 X 1.5-11 95 X X X X
Sport (Edge Series) $949 2 Year 24" x 22" x 16" 200 46 X 1.5-10 95 X X X X
Star (Edge Series) $1,099 2 Year 24" x 22" x 16" 200 46 X 1.5-10 95 X X X X
Rival (Scoop Series) $1,399 2 Year 28" x 22" x 18" 300 48 X 1.5-10 95 X X X X 3
Quest (Scoop Series) $1,799 2 Year 28" x 22" x 18" 300 48 X 1.5-10 95 X X X X X 2 3
Smart (Scoop Series) $2,299 2 Year 28" x 22" x 18" 300 48 X 1.5-10 95 X X X X X 20 3
Spinfire • 888-244-0003 • www.spinfireusa.com
Pro 1 $1,899 2 Year 26" x 20" x 20" 200 52 X 2-15 80 X X X X
Pro 1 with Portable Battery Pack $1,899 2 Year 26" x 20" x 20" 200 40 X 2-15 80 X X X X
Pro 1 with AC Power $1,899 2 Year 26" x 20" x 20" 200 40 X 2-15 80 X X X X
Pro 2 $2,099 2 Year 26" x 20" x 20" 200 52 X 2-15 80 X X X X
Pro 2 with Portable Battery Pack $2,099 2 Year 26" x 20" x 20" 200 40 X 2-15 80 X X X X
Pro 2 with AC Power $2,099 2 Year 26" x 20" x 20" 200 40 X 2-15 80 X X X X

a
2-year parts, 1-year battery 1 Fast charger $99 11 Great for youth and beginners to work on dealing with topspin
b
2-4 Hours of Court Time 2 6 pre-programmed court drills (6-ball sequence per drill) 12 Especially designed for 10 and Under Tennis
c
4-8 Hours of Court Time 3 12 pre-programmed court drills + 6 custom programmable court drills + 13 Extra heavy-duty battery $35, 110/220-volt AC converter $135, wireless remote
d
or $600/month 2-line narrow, medium, wide $100, water-resistant cloth storage cover $68
e
or $300/month 4 12 pre-programmed court drills + 6 custom programmable court drills + 14 Comes standard with two 8-amp, 12-volt batteries
18 locations to choose from + 2-line narrow, medium, wide 15 Lob Enhancer $30,110/220-volt AC converter $135, water-resistant storage cover
5 Horizontal oscillation $68, adjustable oscillation width
6 Horizontal oscillation + spin control 16 Ships via LTL freight, feeds balls from 30" above ground
7 Triple-oscillation (horizontal + vertical oscillation) 17 Oscillation upgrade $245, remote-control upgrade $325, additional non-memory
8 Triple-oscillation + 2-line narrow, wide battery upgrade $180
9 3 position settings of 2-line (narrow, medium, wide) 18 Additional non-memory battery upgrade $180
10 iPhone/Android remote-control compatible 19 Deuce Conversion Box $1,355, Genie Conversion Box $2,305, iPlaymate Tennis $995

22 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 TennisIndustry

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X 16 X X X X X X
X X 16 X X X X X X X 15
X X 16 X X X X X X X
X X 16 X X X X X X X
X X X 16 X X X X X X X 15
X X X 16 X X X X X X X X X
X X X 16 X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X 16
X X X X X X 20 X X X X Required X X X X X 23
X X X X X X X X 20 c X X X X Required X X X TBD X X 23

X 17 X X X X $99 X 17
X 17 X X X X X $99 X 18
X X X $5,425 $99 X
X X X $5,425 $99 X 19
X X X X X X X X X X $5,425 $99 X 21
X X X X X X X X X X $5,425 $99 X
X X X X X X X X $5,425 $99 X 21

X X X X X X X X X X $3,895 X X 22
X X X X X X X X X X $3,895 X X 23

X 9 X $40 X
X 9 X X X X $40 X 24
X 18 X $40 X
$249 X 18 X X X X $40 X 24
$100 X 18 X X X X X X $40 X 25
X X X $249 $100 X 18 X X X X X X $40 X 26
X X X X X $249 $100 X 18 X X X X X X $40 X 27

X X 20 X X X $45 X 28
X X 20 X X X $45 X 28
X X 20 X X X $45 X 28
X X X 20 X X X X X X $45 X 28
X X X 20 X X X X X X $45 X 28
X X X 20 X X X X X X $45 X 28

20 iSmash Conversion Box $535, Genie Conversion Box $2,305, iPlaymate Tennis $995
21 iSmash Conversion Box $535, Deuce Conversion Box $1,355, iPlaymate Tennis $995
22 Plays games, rates shots, uses a camera, talks to players, cordless headphone system ($500
or $50/month), wireless printer for analysis ($2,000 or $100/month),radar gun, iPod input
with speakers, allows user to modify level, height, frequencyand speed
23 Talks to players, cordless headphone system ($500 or $50/month), iPod input
with speakers, allows user to modify level, height, frequency and speed
24 2-button remote
25 16-button remote
26 20-button remote
27 22-button remote
28 Internal oscillation–machine does not swivel sideways while shooting balls; optional $79 carry
case/dust cover; optional $129 fast charger; optional $149 AC charger; horizontal oscillation–
medium & wide; self-calibrates to center on start using infrared and magnetic sensors; 30-day
100% Satisfaction Guarantee; 2-line drill—narrow, medium & wide; vertical oscillation; triple/
all-court/3-D oscillation (horizontal & vertical); all-function antenna-less remote with snooze
for low-power mode; convert to portable battery with $89 upgrade; portable battery only
needed for recharge; add optional $49 internal battery to external battery to double running
time or use multiple external battery packs
29 All-in-one serving machine with variable-height release points for groundstrokes as well
30 External battery pack $150, external AC power supply $125
31 Smart-fast battery upgrade $45
32 2-line oscillation $200
33 AC/DC option $200

www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 23

TennisIndustry
2018 GUIDE TO BALL MACHINES

BALL MACHINES ON THE MARKET

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Sports Attack • 888-366-4711 • www.aceattack.com
Ace Attack Serving Ball Machine $6,995 5 Year Ltd. 34" x 53" 220 150 X 1-10 110 X X X X X X 4
Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 • www.sportstutor.com
Tennis Twist $299 3 Year 10" x 11" x 23" 28 11 5 15 X X
Tennis Tutor ProLite - Basic $749 3 Year 12" x 19.5" x 18" 125 22 X 1.5-10 60 X X X
Tennis Tutor ProLite $849 3 Year 12" x 19.5" x 18" 125 29 X 1.5-10 60 X X X
Tennis Tutor $1,149 3 Year 12" x 19.5" x 20" 150 42 X 1.5-10 85 X X X
Tennis Tutor Plus $1,349 3 Year 20" x 19.5" x 20" 150 46 X 1.5-10 85 X X X X
Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model $1,799 3 Year 20" x 19.5" x 20" 150 46 X 1.5-10 85 X X X X X 5
Tennis Tower - Competitor Classic $1,395 3 Year 36" x 23" x 22" 225 60 X 1.5-8 85 X X $270 X
Tennis Tower - Competitor $1,645 3 Year 44" x 23" x 22" 225 60 X 1.5-8 85 X X $270 X
Tennis Tower - Professional Player $2,045 3 Year 44" x 23" x 22" 225 60 X 1.5-8 85 X X X X 5
Shot Maker - Standard $3,200 3 Year 38.5" x 31" x 21.5" 300 96 X 1-6 95 X X X X X 3
Shot Maker - Deluxe $4,100 3 Year 38.5" x 31" x 21.5" 300 96 X 1-6 95 X X X X X 6 9
Wilson Portable $1,195 3 Year 22" x 14" x 20" 110 38 X 1.5-10 75 X X X X
Tennis Cube $649 3 Year 15" x 12" x 13" 70 24 X 2-10
50 X X X
Tennis Cube - Oscillation Model $729 3 Year 15" x 12" x 13" 70 24 X 2-10 50 X X X
ProLite Plus - Basic $929 3 Year 22" x 14" x 20" 110 36 X 1.5-10 60 X X X
ProLite Plus $1,029 3 Year 22" x 14" x 20" 110 36 X 1.5-10 60 X X X

34 Player simulation $200 37 Multi-function remote $300

35 Multi-function remote $200 38 External battery pack $130, external AC power supply $125
36 Player simulation included 39 Internal battery standard, or can be purchased with an external-battery-only version (in which the

24 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 TennisIndustry

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X 6 D Cells
X X 9 X X $70 X $35
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$50 X 18 X X $200 X X $35 X 30, 31, 32
$50 X 18 X X $200 X X $35 X 30, 31, 33, 34
X X X $50 X 18 X X $200 X X X $35 X 30, 31, 33, 35
X X X
X $200 X X X X
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X X 9 X X $70 X $35 X 38

internal battery is removed); external battery pack ($100) can be charged separately from models will weigh 30 to 32 pounds
the machine (so machine can remain in car while battery back is brought inside to charge); 40 Available in an A/C-only version; internal battery is removed and replaced with a power supply
external-battery-only version reduces overall weight of machine by 12 pounds, so portable 41 Apple Watch remote control capability (price varies)

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www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 25

TennisIndustry
R E TA I L S TA R S
S P E C I A LT Y S T O R E S
Service Aces
Successful specialty retailers
are upping their game by
focusing on local markets.
By Judy Leand
s the nation’s retailers and vendors struggle to adapt to the
dynamics of a rapidly and drastically changing marketplace,
purveyors of tennis products are also feeling the squeeze.
Chief among the challenges is ongoing market consolida-
tion—a.k.a. the “retail apocalypse”—that is being fueled by a
consumer shift from bricks to clicks (read: Amazon). More-
over, tennis retailers are increasingly being forced to com-
pete directly against many of their key vendors, which now
loom both online and in physical branded stores, while also
dealing with declining levels of consumer spending on tennis
equipment, an aging base of core players (who account for
the lion’s share of expenditures in the sport, according to TIA
research) and flat participation numbers.
On the bright side, a number of specialty tennis shops
are thriving in this demanding environment. The hardiest
among them have an intimate understanding of their local
tennis communities and know how to leverage that knowl-
edge to enhance customer service, boost sales and attract
new players. Here is a look at three retail stars that are keep-
ing their eyes on the ball.
26 TennisIndustry July 2018
1
Your Serve Tennis
Atlanta, Ga.
This family-owned and operated chain of tennis specialty
stores started as a stringing business in 1974, opened its first
door in 1976 and now boasts nine full-service locations in the
metro Atlanta area. Your Serve Tennis is also involved in pro
shop operations in smaller clubs and has plans to work with
more teaching pros and tennis facilities in the next few years.
The corporate growth strategy calls for an increase in store
count over the next five years.
The chain’s large retail footprint attracts a diverse clien-
tele that’s “all over the board,” says Adam Queen, VP of Your
Serve Tennis. “We cater to casual players, and beginners are
huge for us. There’s a large social tennis market in the area
and the barriers to entry are low because there are lots of
courts available. Juniors are also important, but they go dark
between the ages of 18 to 30. But the 30-plus demographic
is enthusiastic about tennis.” He adds that the majority of
Your Serve Tennis’s core customers are ages 35 to 55, divided
equally between male and female.
Your Serve Tennis has earned numerous industry com-
mendations. Its secret sauce is personal service, augmented
by an expansive product selection and many convenient
locations. One-hour stringing service and a robust racquet
demo program continue to be popular draws.
“We provide face-to-face help from store employees that
play tennis, and regardless of the size of the purchase, we
offer customers personalized service to find the right prod-
uct that will help improve their game, encourage them to
play more, and have more fun,” Queen says. “We carry as
wide a selection as possible and focus on being convenient
neighborhood stores without a superstore mentality.”
The retailer’s key vendor partners appreciate the devotion
to customer service.
“Your Serve Tennis really has the customer in mind,” says
Joe Keenan of Head Penn Racquet Sports. “They not only
offer a great product assortment and have an extensive demo
program, but their staff is very professional and wants cus-
tomers to be satisfied with their purchases.”
The sentiment is echoed by Iain Pound, national sales
director for Wilson Racquet Sports: “Two words come to my
mind: intelligent retailing. Owners Dale and Adam Queen
understand the needs of the Atlanta tennis consumer.”
Although Adam Queen admits the internet has affected
the business, he takes it in stride.
“While the internet can fulfill demand, it can’t really cre-
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 TennisIndustry

With nine locations in the

Atlanta market, Your Serve
Tennis has a large retail
footprint that attracts a
diverse clientele and offers an
extensive product selection—
along with topnotch service.

We make a point of meeting customers where they live, and of making

equipment fun and relatable. We need to take steps to not become a commodity industry.
People still long for personal interaction and service.

ate demand,” he says. “It’s harder for consumers to try new stringing, racquets, apparel, footwear and accessories, with
products via the internet, and vendors are guilty of support- each accounting for about 20 percent of sales. Wilson,
ing the internet with excess product and high volume, which Babolat and Head are strong performers in the racquet
C O U RT E S Y YO U R S E R V E T E N N I S

hurts grassroots and local shops. The internet has changed
our thinking, particularly regarding pricing, making people
think that online prices are always cheaper.”
This is why Queen believes after-sale support is key. Your
Serve Tennis doesn’t sell online, other than closeouts.
“It’s easier for a customer to come into the store than to
deal with the internet, mail stuff back and then wait days for
a resolution,” says Queen.
On the sales floor, Your Serve Tennis’s key categories are
department and Yonex is improving. K-Swiss has become
a major player in footwear and Asics is also solid. Lucky in
Love is the clear No. 2 apparel brand behind Nike.
Queen says the human connection is the most critical fac-
tor in their retail success—and in the industry as a whole.
“We make a point of meeting customers where they live
and of making equipment fun and relatable,” he says. “We
need to take steps to not become a commodity industry.
People matter.”

www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 27

TennisIndustry

R E TA I L S TA R S

S P E C I A LT Y S T O R E S

The Tennis Professionals

Westchester, N.Y.

Owned and run by teaching pros and US Open stringers,
The Tennis Professionals is based in Westchester, N.Y., and
has been in business since 1986. The retailer operates two
stores: The Tennis Professionals at Rye Racquet Club, and
Sportech, a 4,000-square-foot door specializing in tennis,
fitness, running and soccer, located in Rye Brook, N.Y.
The Tennis Professionals caters to consumers in an afflu-
ent area, and the customer base spans ages 6 to 86.
“Within a 20-mile radius, there are 100 country clubs,”
says Karen Moriarty, co-owner and buyer. “Knowing our
consumers’ specific needs is part of our customer service,
and it’s our service that differentiates us. We have employees
who’ve been with us for 20 years and who have an immedi-
ate rapport with our customers. We offer a variety of brands
and merchandise, 24-hour turnaround on stringing, and a
big racquet demo program—something that’s not offered
elsewhere in the area.”
The retailer also works with local teaching pros, and hav-
ing more than one location and dealing in multiple catego-
ries allows for greater availability of product.
“The internet has turned into a knowledge source for most
consumers, and it has made us become sharper,” Moriarty
says. “Unfortunately, it’s also forced us to be more sales-driv-
en. If I don’t price match, I’ll lose that consumer.”
Stringing plays a large role in Moriarty’s business. Making
C O U RT E S Y T H E T E N N I S P R O F E S S I O N A L S, L E S M O I S E
the in-store try-on experience for apparel and footwear more
comfortable also helps to draw customers.
“Customers may buy a racquet online but come to our
shop for stringing, and then they’ll return for other prod-
ucts,” she says. “We pay attention to what they want.”
The Tennis Professionals sells an even mix of hardgoods
and shoes. In apparel, women account for a large chunk of
sales, but men and kids perform well. Sales are spread out
fairly evenly among footwear, apparel, racquets and string-
ing. Wilson and Babolat comprise the majority of racquet
sales, and Lucky in Love is a hot brand in apparel. In foot-
wear, Nike, Asics, K-Swiss and Adidas are solid performers.
“The Tennis Professionals is an extremely well-run opera-
tion. They have consistently been a top account,” says Andrea
Cherniak, Lucky in Love's director of sales and marketing.

28 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 TennisIndustry

Les Moise encourages customers to linger and enjoy the shopping

experience. They employ knowledgeable staff who enjoy working there. The owners listen
to their customers and sales reps for advice, staying on-trend and relevant.

Les Moise
Milwaukee, Wis.

Milwaukee-based Les Moise, family-owned and oper-
ated since 1946, boasts two locations: Mequon, with about
10,000 square feet of retail space, and Brookfield, with more
than 11,000 square feet. Les Moise specializes in tennis, ski/
snowboard and activewear, with tennis comprising about 25
percent of the overall business. The company stakes its repu-
tation on service, selection and ease of shopping, and caters
to juniors, frequent adult players and families.
“Les Moise is inviting and encourages customers to linger
and enjoy the shopping experience,” says Lucky in Love sales
rep Liz Flanagan. "They employ knowledgeable staff who
enjoy working there. The owners listen to their customers
and sales reps for advice, staying on-trend and relevant.”
The internet doesn’t figure into Les Moise’s corporate
strategy, except as a competitive obstacle to overcome.
“Online shopping has changed how I position things
price-wise and how I do markdowns,” says David Rosmann,
president of Les Moise. “But we provide services that online
retailers can’t or don’t. We have a big racquet demo pro-
gram, a large selection of shoes and racquets, a 24-hour
turnaround on stringing, and a frequent stringer discount
program.”
While keeping tabs on the internet, Rosmann and his team
place a higher priority on enhancing the in-store experience.
“We sell fun in our industry. We want the store experience to
be positive every time and to make it easy for people to shop.”
Les Moise sells more hardgoods than apparel, with foot-
wear and racquets accounting for similar portions of sales,
and stringing providing the greatest profit margin. In the rac-
quet category, $200 is the bread-and-butter price point, and
Rosmann is enthusiastic about Babolat’s solid sales, Wilson’s
growth over the past year and Yonex’s steady performance.
In footwear, key price points range from $105 to $110, with
K-Swiss being the retailer’s fastest-growing shoe brand and
Asics proving to be a consistent performer. Lucky in Love
continues to be a standout brand on the apparel side.
“Les Moise has been a trusted Babolat partner for many
years,” says Bryan Ogle, Babolat’s national sales director.
“The staff is fantastic at keeping up on the latest products in
an ongoing effort to be the local expert in their field.” 

www.tennisindustrymag.com July 2018 TennisIndustry 29

TennisIndustry

D I S T I N G U I S HCEODUFRATC C
I LOI N
T Y-
S TORFU- C
TTHIEO-Y
NE A R A W A R D S

TC EONUNR ITS C&O NPSI CT RK UL EC BT AI OLNL

60-foot courts (or to new blended-line

applicants). The non-volley line is 7 feet
from the net on each side.
On 78- and 60-foot courts, the distance
from service line to service line is 42 feet,
and the width of the singles sidelines on a
60-foot court is 21 feet—both just slightly
off from pickleball’s 44- by 20-foot court.
But the USAPA has agreed that recre-
ational pickleball, which accounts for the
vast majority of play, can take place on a
60-foot tennis court. (The pickleball net
height is different, too—34 inches at the
center and 36 inches at the posts, as op-
posed to a tennis net height of 36 and 42
inches. Temporary net adjusters are avail-
able to pull it down to pickleball height.)
For pickleball players, they’ll be on a
court that is a foot shorter on each end,
and 6 inches wider on each side. But since
much of pickleball takes place in the fore-
court, the shorter court for recreational
play should not be a concern, says Kurt
Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive
for the USTA National Campus, who has
A Blended-Court Solution? been looking at solutions for accommo-
dating pickleball. Kamperman met with
A cooperative pilot program using USAPA Executive Director Justin Maloof
in April to present this pilot concept.
60-foot courts for pickleball “Our interest is in helping tennis
facilities and parks that have a demand

may offer opportunities for both for pickleball, so they have an option that
doesn’t involve having excessive lines on

players and tennis facilities. a tennis court, or worse, potentially los-

ing tennis courts,” Kamperman says.
The USTA has been promoting 36- and
By Peter Francesconi

F
60-foot blended-line courts for almost
a decade. Today, there are an estimated
25,000 of these courts across the U.S.
A 60-foot court can be used for several
or tennis facilities, one court, and aren’t quite the same as lines racquet sports: youth and adult tennis,
of the more challeng- for a 36- or 60-foot court. pickleball and POP Tennis.
ing aspects of accom- But a potential solution, suggested by “We can look at pickleball as a com-
modating the needs the USTA with the support of the USA petitor or as a racquet sport cousin,”
of pickleball players Pickleball Association, may be at hand, Kamperman notes. “Many older tennis
is how to handle the and may offer advantages and opportu- players are considering moving or have
lines on the court. A nities for players and facilities. In a free moved to activities that might require
pickleball court is 44 feet long and 20 pilot program, the USTA has offered to less court coverage, such as pickleball.
feet wide, dimensions that don’t fit neatly add the pickleball “non-volley” line (also This blended-line solution allows long-
into the lines of a standard 78-foot tennis called the “kitchen” line) to existing time tennis players to continue playing

30 TennisIndustry July 2018 www.tennisindustrymag.com


Our interest is in helping facilities and parks that have a demand
for pickleball, so they have an option that doesn’t involve having excessive
lines on a tennis court, or worse, potentially losing tennis courts.
racquet sports at their tennis facilities.”
For facilities, adding 60-foot blended
lines for pickleball can help fill off-peak
court time. Pickleball’s 3.11 million
players (according to PAC data) include
a strong contingent of retirees who can
play during middle-of-the-day hours.
Plus, facilities and shops can increase
retail, lesson and clinic revenue.
In the pilot program, which ends July
31, the USTA will provide free lines for up
to 50 tennis facilities.
“If you have existing 60-foot courts,
D I A G R A M C O U RT E S Y U S TA ; S H U T T E R S T O C K
we’ll add the lines for the pickleball
kitchen,” Kamperman says. “If your
facility doesn’t yet have 60-foot blended
lines, we’ll add them for you and include
the kitchen line.”
In early May, Kamperman presented
the concept to USTA Section executive
directors, who have been recommending
parks and tennis facilities for the pilot
program. Facilities apply for the grants
online through the USTA Facilities
Assistance Program (usta.com/facili-
www.tennisindustrymag.com
ties). Kamperman says the USTA, includ-
ing the sections, will evaluate the pilots
and then, along with USAPA, decide if the
program should continue.
David LaSota, a top facility designer
who works with the USTA, says this is a
solution that could work for everyone.
“It’s very easy to add a blended line in
the service box as a kitchen line,” he says.
“So we can accommodate pickleball play
without having lines all over the place.”
“This solution makes sense because it
gives businesses flexibility,” says Chuck
Gill, the director of sports at The Club at
Ibis in West Palm Beach, Fla. Ibis has 16
tennis courts and four pickleball courts.
“I was worried pickleball could take
players away from our tennis program,
but the reality is you get a whole different
person playing pickleball. We get golfers
who may be a bit intimidated by a full-
size tennis court, and people who maybe
can’t move as well as they used to. We
find pickleball complements tennis well.”
John Kerr, director of tennis and pick-
TennisIndustry
1. Pickleball
Non-Volley Lines
leball at Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head
Island, S.C., echoes this. “Pickleball has
turned out to be a totally new revenue
stream for us. Adding something with
such wide appeal is a breath of fresh air.”
“We put in four pickleball courts last
fall and immediately started making
money,” adds Nancy Ehrola, business
operations director at The Atlantic Club
in Manasquan, N.J. “From Nov. 1 to April
30, we did $28,000 in pickleball income—
and that’s in off-peak times.”
Kamperman realizes accommodating
pickleball play can be a sensitive issue for
diehard tennis players. “From infrastruc-
ture and business points of view,” he says,
“it makes sense to try and find a solution
where everyone benefits—the USTA,
USAPA, existing tennis facilities looking
to keep their players and add a revenue
stream, and especially players looking to
get out on the courts and be active.” 
July 2018 TennisIndustry 31
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 Tennis Research

2018 TIA
Research
Reports
While youth tennis and The 2018
State of the Industry report and the
Cardio Tennis are among 2018 Tennis Insider report are available at
various TIA membership levels.
the bright spots, the latest For information, visit
TennisIndustry.org or call
research shows a number 866-686-3036.
of continuing challenges
we must address. Total Tennis Participation 2000-2017

T
20.0M
18.0M
he most recent data by the Physical
16.0M
Activity Council shows that total U.S.
14.0M
tennis participation fell 2.2 percent from
Millions of tennis players

12.0M
2016 to 2017, to a total of 17.68 million players. Growth 2000 to 2010: 44% Growth 2010 to 2017: -6%
10.0M
The sport’s five-year average annual growth 8.0M
maintains a positive increase at 0.8%, with the 6.0M
total number of participants staying above 4.0M
2007 numbers. 2.0M
Among the bright spots is a 4.5 percent 0.0M
increase in Cardio Tennis players and a nearly 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
1 percent increase in youth tennis players over
the past year. In addition, “latent demand” for TIA Tennis Equipment Index (2003-2017)
tennis remains strong. The PAC study shows Nominal Dollars
that nearly 16 million non-players are interested 140
in tennis, and another 13.7 million Americans 125 122
114 116 118 119 115 115
120 112 113
“consider themselves players” but may not have 100 103
109
101 98
been on court in the last two years. 100
That said, total “play occasions” slipped in 80
the past year, down 6.6 percent to 397 million.
60
And equipment sales, as indicated by the “Tennis
Equipment Index” at right, continues to slide. 40 The Equipment Index summarizes the census data by adding the
wholesale value of racquets, balls, and strings.
The most recent industry research is available 20 Index reference year is 2003.
from the TIA at various membership levels.
0
Visit TennisIndustry.org or call 866-686-3036. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org July 2018 TennisIndustry 33
 Tennis Research

The Industry at a Glance (2017 data)

Total Participation 17.68 Million Manufacturer Year-End Wholesale Shipments (units)
Youth Tennis Participation Tennis Racquets 2.35 Million
Ages 6-12 2.39 Million Tennis Strings 2.83 Million
Ages 13-17 2.18 Million Tennis Balls (including ROG) 111.6 Million
Core Tennis Players (10+ times a year) 9.52 Million Red, Orange, Green Balls 4.44 Million
Cardio Tennis Players 2.22 Million Tennis Equipment Index 98
Total Play Occasions 397 Million

Participation
Tennis participation has remained fairly constant since are ‘samplers’ of multiple sports and activities, but it is a
2010. While the trend in overall participation has been concern for our industry. Fortunately, Cardio Tennis is
slight increases in each of the last five years through 2016, following the positive trends in fitness and group exercise.”
“core” tennis participants— those who play 10 or more For youth tennis, the increase in participation was
times a year—declined slightly in 2017 to 9.52 million. driven by the youngest players, ages 6 to 12, which were up
“Core players account for 86 percent of the money spent 1.2 percent, while ages 13 to 17 increased 0.6 percent.
in the ‘tennis economy’ and 93 percent of all tennis play Within the total number of young players, “core” youth
occasions,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. players, those who play at least 10 times a year, decreased by
“This slip in core players is in line with a trend toward more 0.9 percent to 2.65 million. And importantly, “new” youth
casual play for sports overall, rising inactivity levels, aging players rose 6.2 percent in 2017—up 7.6 percent in the 6 to
baby-boomers, and new generations of players who 12 age category and 2.8 percent in the 13 to 17 age group.

Total Cardio Tennis Participation 2008-2017 Youth Tennis Participation 2012-2017 (PAC Study)
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
2.50 M
3.00 M
2.12 M 2.22 M
2.00 M 1.82 M 2.50 M
1.62 M
Millions of tennis players

1.44 M 1.54 M 2.00 M

Millions of players

1.50 M 1.34 M 1.29 M

1.00 M 1.50 M
1.00 M 0.83 M
1.00 M
0.50 M 0.50 M

0.00 M 0.00 M
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 All Players 6~12 All Players 13~17 New Players 6~12 New Players 13~17

Total Play Occasions (Millions) by Play Frequency – PAC Study Tennis Players and Latent Demand - Total Players by Age
PAC Study
20.00 M
500.0 464
443 6.6 443 446 18.00 M
6.6 7.5 7.8 425 1.80 M
84.6 8.4 397 15.74 M 16.00 M
400.0 79.6 83.0 82.2 9.8 Latent Demand (Number 2.03 M 55+
84.7 14.00 M
Millions of play occasions

of non-players who are

Millions of individuals

87.6 interested in tennis) 3.12 M 45~54

1-3 times/year 12.00 M
300.0
Millions of players

35~44
4-20 times/year 13.72 M 10.00 M
Intermittent (consider 3.61 M 25~34
200.0 21+times/year themselves players) 8.00 M
356.3 372.7 352.5 356.5 18~24
331.9 299.8 6.00 M 2.56 M
Total 13~17
Total Active Tennis 4.00 M
100.0 17.68 M Players 2.18 M 6~12
2.00 M
2.39 M
0.0 0.00 M
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2017 2017

34 TennisIndustry July 2018 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org
 Tennis Research

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org July 2018 TennisIndustry 35
Tennis Research
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TennisIndustry
AskTheExperts
Name That
String
Q: Some tennis friends and I were
talking recently about strings and
realized that none of us knew what the
“VS” stands for in Babolat VS. Can you
help us out?
A: Babolat has been producing tennis
strings since 1875. The Babolat
website tells us: “In 1925 VS quality was
introduced, on the initiative of Albert
Babolat. Originally developed with
the ‘Musketeers,’ VS has equipped the
racket heads of the greatest champi-
ons ever since. The world benchmark
for strings was born. To this day, the
performance of VS natural gut string
remains unrivaled.”
Back then, the name of the company
was Babolat Maillot (a.k.a. Babolat-
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ments for various applications,
including tennis, musical instruments
38 TennisIndustry July 2018
and medical sutures. As Babolat
engineers were working at improving
tennis strings, they went through many
rounds of prototypes, and the best
string ended up being the “V” produc-
tion batch. So “V” designates the batch,
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Switching
to Clay
Q: After a lifetime spent on hard courts,
I just started playing regularly on green
clay. Should I consider making any
adjustments to my equipment, such as
my shoes, racquets or strings? In what
ways is green clay different from the
red clay used at Roland Garros? Are
these differences large enough to affect
equipment choices?
A: Both green and red clay are tough on
strings, so consider using polyester for
better durability. A denser string pat-
tern will also improve durability.
If you often find yourself bang-
ing away from the baseline, consider
lowering your string tension for more
power and added depth to your shots.
Lower tensions will also help when the
ball gets heavier from picking up dirt
and moisture from the court.
At the end of the day, if you like your
racquet, you should keep your racquet.
As for footwear, there are shoes specifi-
cally made for clay-court play.
Racquet Choice
Considerations
Q: One of my customers wants to buy a
racquet that will improve the accuracy,
penetration and consistency of his
serve. What should I look for in helping
him find a new racquet?
A: Selecting a racquet to optimize
one’s serve is not much different than
selecting a racquet for one’s overall
game. You will need to find the heaviest
racquet your customer can use without
altering stroke timing. For comfort
and maneuverability, look for racquets
that are head-light—that is, with the
balance point of the racquet closer to
the butt cap than to the head. Because
of the motion of the racquet during the
serve, see how much you can increase
the swingweight and twist weight—
again, as long as neither increase
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TennisIndustry
US OPEN
New Logo for a New Era
With the 50th anniversary of
Open tennis, the US Open
completes its transformation.
By Amy Choyne
T
his is a special year for the
US Open. Not only is it the
50th anniversary of the
Open Era, but this year also
marks the completion of
our five-year transformation of the USTA
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Recognizing those two milestones
puts us in an incredible position to both
celebrate our heritage and innovate
for the future. Leading up to the 2018
US Open, the USTA will be unveiling a
number of initiatives, one of which is an
updated, modernized US Open logo.
Our previous US Open logo was
launched 20 years ago and has served us
well, so many people may be wondering
why we felt a need to change the logo.
One reason is that two decades ago,
digital use and display was not even a
40 TennisIndustry July 2018
YourServe
consideration. In today’s world, our old
logo simply did not work digitally, due
to the delicate serif font choice and its
lack of scalability for tiny screens, such
as a mobile device. Today, and looking
toward the future, adults and millenni-
als alike are consuming more media on
mobile devices, so our logos and brand-
ing must take that into consideration.
The US Open is the world’s most
exciting stage, and we needed a logo
that would both celebrate the event
and position us for the future. We did
an extensive audit and interviews with
key stakeholders, as well as significant
research on the recognition of the
previous mark. An interesting fact is
that only 9 percent of the respondents
recognized the old flaming ball logo, and
when speaking of the US Open, only 42
percent associated it with tennis.
So, we developed specific criteria,
distilled from what we learned, for
updating the US Open logo, including:
• A nod to tennis
• A bold silhouette with visual impact
• The enabling of consistent use
• Dynamism and implied movement
• Appropriateness for an entertainment
brand
• Effectiveness in broadcast, digital and
social media
• A balance of premium appearance
with youth appeal
• Modern and innovative
We then worked the logo into that
framework and the real world with
extensive testing. It shined in every way.
Our new logo had to have the flexibility
to be “premium” (with the use of gold on
premium products) and had to appeal
to youth through its bold design and
approachable lowercase lettering.
The new logo, of course, figures
prominently in the US Open’s “Built
for Glory” campaign, which includes
vignettes narrated by Alec Baldwin that
celebrate the US Open story, digital pro-
gramming, 50th anniversary merchan-
dise, a commemorative book, and more.
The “US Open Experience” will again be
in downtown New York, and “Fan Week”
is Aug. 21-26—with free access to the US
Open Qualifying Tournament.
It’s important that the US Open
have a modern, streamlined logo that
addresses the design demands of the
digital world and attracts the new
generation of fans. •
Amy Choyne is the USTA’s Chief
Marketing Officer.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
U S TA
comments to info@tennisindustrymag.com.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 JULY 2018

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 FROM THE CEO
MAY 15, 2017
by John R. Embree, USPTA Chief Executive Officer
W hy is this date significant in the annals of the USPTA?
Simple: on that Monday, the new staff of the USPTA
came together for the first time at the Guidewell Innovation
Center in Lake Nona, Florida to begin the next chapter of the
association’s history. While we had anticipated that our new
building across the street from the USTA National Campus
would be completed by this date, we were still a long way
away from taking occupancy, which meant we had to convene
somewhere. With the office in Houston expected to close for
good in late May, we had to keep to our original timeline and
bring the team together. And, with only two weeks remaining
before the Houston staff would no longer be operating, we had
to dive right into learning our business through an intense
training period so that we could be ready once the phones
turned on June 1.
So, there we were in a crowded conference room, all 19 of
us sitting at five round tables with telephone and computer
cables all over the floor that were hooked up to make-shift
workstations. At one table sat membership, communications at
a second, finance at another, education and testing at their own
and finally operations rounded out the group.
Remember, only five people relocated from Houston (Sid
Newcomb moved from Nor Cal) which meant that 13 were
brand spanking new. In addition, many knew nothing about
tennis, which required education about the sport, let alone
about our business. This was a critical time for all of us, as we
not only got to know each other but the veterans could help
with phone calls and questions that inevitably would come up
during a normal day.
In many respects, it proved to be a challenge to work in such
close quarters. But, in hindsight, the unintended consequences
were such that everyone benefited from being together and the
baptism by fire that everyone experienced. By the time we were
able to move into our new home three months later, the team
understood their respective roles and we were off to the races!
Plus, each employee had their own space in which to work and
the comfort of an ultra-modern office environment.
I am incredibly proud to have this team behind me. While
we did have a few misses early on, the people that are now
in place are terrific. While we did lose a ton of institutional
knowledge with the departure of our Houston group, the fresh
perspective and new energy that this team has brought with
them has made us that much better. Let me take a moment to
recognize each of them:
Membership Team: Amy Buchanan, Risa Epstein, Kelli
Ferry , Sarah Fisher and Trevor Trudelle. The customer
ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 43
service that this team brings each day
is awesome. They are on the front lines
with our membership and you can hear
the smile on the other end of the phone
when you call.
Finance Team: Michael Tomassini,
Ashley Walker and Ellen Weatherford.
Mike has stabilized this department, Ellen
can now live a normal life after working 15 hour days for the past
three years and Ashley has our merchandising program on a roll.
Multimedia: One of the benefits of being adjacent to the
National Campus are the collaborative opportunities that keep
coming our way. John Gerard and Rico Edwards have so many
projects on the docket, it is going to be fun to see their creativity
come through their work.
Education Team: Jacquelyn Dahre and Ramona Husaru have
hit their stride which is allowing Ramona to take on a variety of
new roles within the organization.
Human Resources: Dana Dasch has added so much to our
team with her calming influence and effervescent smile. As
you know, HR is not glamorous, but Dana has garnered the
respect of everyone.
Communications Team: John Cornell, DeVonte’ Martin and
Gustavo Reyes. Under John’s leadership, DeVonte’ and Gus
have ramped up our social media presence, our brand has a
more consistent look and we have expanded USPTA messaging
across all channels.
National Head Tester: Sid Newcomb has done a wonderful
job managing our 71 testers, upgraded our PTCA, established a
testing discipline which was long needed and is now rolling out
a tablet to all testers to make our test results more efficient.
Chief Operating Officer: Fred Viancos has contributed in
more ways than one in his new role: dealing with building and
IT issues, handling much of the relocation from Houston, and
managing his team. We would not be where we are without his
guidance and expertise.
Full Dimension IT: Finally, Scott Bucic and Dan Wilson
made our transition seamless from an IT perspective, even
though they remain in Houston. They had our new servers
and computers all configured and ready to go once we
commenced operations.
Thus, we celebrate our one-year anniversary together. Please
take a moment to call the office and thank this group for all that
they do to exceed the customer expectations of our membership.
And, if you have not been to visit us yet, come see us……as that
famous ad jingle states, “we will leave the light on for you!” *
43 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
5/22/2018 10:14:16 AM
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 PLAY YOUR HEART OUT
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you go. And when it’s time to play, put your whole heart into it with the
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45 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 45 5/8/18
5/22/2018 4:04
10:14:17 AMPM
 Vice President Message
Our Competitive Edge
by Rich Slivocka, USPTA Vice President
A s we are through the first half of the year I want to start
off by saying how honored I am to be on the national
board and to represent our great organization. Our greatest
asset is our membership and I am proud to be a part of that
membership and extremely excited about where it will
take us into the future. After serving on the Missouri Valley
board for the past eight years, I know that our organization
has had a history of very strong leadership and I believe
that our current leadership from our President, Gary Trost
through our national board and our Executive Committee
will continue with that tradition. I can assure you that the
national board and the Executive Committee has the best
interest of our membership and organization in mind. We
will have some interesting challenges moving forward but
they are ones that I believe will move the USPTA into a
stronger position within our sport and our industry.
The USPTA has created so many great traditions over the
years from our commitment to education, philanthropic
contributions, our commitment to growing the game,
etc. However, one of the great traditions that often gets
overlooked is the USPTA’s commitment
to giving our members competitive
opportunities to showcase and develop
their playing
abilities.
The USPTA
was founded in 1927
and our first men’s
tournament was offered
to our membership in the
same year. We’ve had legends of the game
like Don Budge, Jack Kramer, Pancho Segura
and Bill Tilden compete in our tournaments. The
first women’s tournament was held in 1969. During the early
years non-members of the USPTA were allowed to compete
in the tournament. In 1983, the executive committee made
the decision to only allow USPTA members to participate in
the tournament. Even after this decision was made we still
saw many top touring professionals that were also USPTA
members compete in the event such as Kim Barry, Viktoria
Beggs, Peter Doohan, Cammy MacGregor, Jim Parker and
Pat Serret are just a few. I don’t think that many of our
members know the history of our tournaments and how
they not only provided a competitive outlet but also how
they created camaraderie amongst our professionals. The
ability to meet new professionals from all over the country,
to network and bounce ideas off each other, and share their
46 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 46
professional experiences amongst
one another.
I believe that playing competitively
has been overlooked by many of us.
I started playing competitive tennis
again about two years ago and I feel
that the benefits have far outweighed
the potential revenue lost from being
away from my club. As teaching
professionals, we all get wrapped up in the technical side of
the sport whether from a stroke production stand point or
from a strategic stand point. Issues can start to arise when
we try to bridge the gap between what we have taught our
students in a lesson or clinic and then the application of
those skills in a competitive scenario. I feel that since I
have begun competing again, I have become more in tune
with the potential pitfalls that a player can experience
when bridging the gap between the learning of skills and
then the application of those skills. We all can understand
the game but to refresh our own memories in regards to
the difficulty that goes into application (match play) is
very motivating. I’ve also
found that my club members
have gotten behind the fact that I
had started competing again.
They love to hear about my
successes and my failures when
I’ve gone out and competed in
events. They enjoy the fact that
they feel more connected to me
and that even though the level of play is
very different that we can relate to each other
about the emotions and struggles that go into
competition. These are all positives that can help us in our
day to day lessons and clinics.
The Tournament and Rankings Committee is currently
reviewing our current tournament structure. We are
committed to try and rekindle this tradition but we need the
support of you the membership. Everything is on the table
for discussion. We are currently looking at every potential
option. We are looking into going into more rating based
events versus aged events, short formats, team events, U30
events, etc.. I urge everyone if you have a USPTA Surface
Championship in your area get out and compete. See if we
can once again get those competitive juices flowing. If you
have any questions or ideas please feel free to get in contact
with me at richs@prairiedunes.com.*
5/22/2018 10:14:18 AM
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 Master Pro Corner

Confidence: Achieving It and Keeping It?

by Dexter Fong, USPTA Master Professional

T he most successful tennis players walk, talk and ooze

confidence. Confidence shines through these players.
You see “it” off-court as well as on-court. The confident
3. Develop all your tennis strokes so that you can
implement a plan B when necessary.
4. Train to compete in ways that will complement your
player will generally show the following characteristics: physical and mental attributes.
5. Taking a break is necessary, return to tournament play
•Wins matches •Strong will after appropriate practice time.
•Positive attitude •Independent thinking 6. Maintain physical training to pull out those three setters,
•Positive energy •Calm under pressure two matches per day and to prevent injury
•Problem solver •Focused 7. Maintain a positive environment from family members,
•Goal oriented •Fearless coaches, teachers and friends.
•Open-mindedness 8. Consistency in training and coaching.
9. Set short term, mid range and long-range goals that are
It is a universal belief that confidence is vital to winning. the child’s goals and not the parents.
In the same context, lack of confidence generally will 10. Take personal ownership of your tennis game. It is not
produce less than desirable results. Most tennis players the parent’s tennis game, it is the child’s.
ride a roller coaster while developing their tennis game.
Sometimes you’re confident, sometimes you’re not. Against Ten Ways How to Lose Confidence?
certain players you are, against others you’re not.
When you lack confidence, things just do not go your way. 1. A negative environment will crush one’s will, desire,
Everything seems to go wrong. You don’t get any breaks. You motivation and fight. Many times, the negative
don’t know what to do. When you’re not confident players environment is not implemented on purpose.
will generally show the following characteristics: 2. Losing too many tournament and practice matches.
Players build confidence by winning. Play the
•Does not know what to do •Negative attitude appropriate tournament level at the appropriate times.
•Negative energy •Disoriented 3. Strokes fail you because strokes are not sound and
•Can’t think clearly •Frustrated strong. Player does not get enough repetition.
•Disinterested •Lack focus 4. Lack certain shots in your game.
•Out of control under pressure •Scared 5. Player does not take advantage of their strength. Using
•Lose matches •No fight the wrong style for their body structure and abilities.
6. Taking too long of a break.
Ten Ways to Achieve and Keep Confidence Up! 7. Injuries hurt physically and mentally. Poor technique
and poor training schedule could lead to injury.
1. Winning! Arrange your practice matches to achieve a 8. Inconsistent training and coaching. The player becomes
winning formula. confused and unsure of themselves.
2. Develop fundamentally sound strokes. Focus on making 9. Not having a road map, an overall plan for development.
your big shot bigger, improving your weaker shot The junior does not see where he/she is headed. A
INST
to become more reliable, and adding new strokes to 10. Expecting to have everything done for you. Juniors who ACT
INSTAL
compliment your style of play. take no ownership of their tennis losses. *

Dexter Fong has over 43 years of teaching experience. He has his Masters Degree in Physical Education and
California Teaching Credentials, certified as a USTA High Performance Coach, and hosted one of five national
pilot USTA Area Training Center programs in the 1980s. In addition to being selected USPTA Nor Cal Pro of
the Year and the Nor Cal Wilson Pro of the Year, he has received the USTA Eve Kraft Community Service Award
among others.

48 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

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 inside coaching

Point Importance is Real and Important!

by Bob Schewior, USPTA Professional

The following article is a response to USPTA Master

Professional Ron Woods’ article, “Why There Are No
Key Points In Tennis”, which appeared in the March
2018 issue of ADDvantage. ADDvantage Magazine and
the USPTA welcome the discourse and advancement of
differing points of view promoting a healthy exchange
of ideas and coaching philosophies. As with all article
submissions, the opinion of the writer do not necessarily
reflect the views of the USPTA.

I read Ron Woods’ article, “Why There Are No Key Points

In Tennis” in the March edition of ADDvantage with
great interest. I could not agree more with his talking points
about process vs. outcome. However, his message about “key
points”, the main idea of the article, is something I would
like to discuss. Economists have studied “point importance”
in tennis to see how people respond to increased levels of
stress. Their research indicates that “point importance” can
be quantified and it is real. This contrasts with Woods’ claim:
“Adding more value or importance to any one point over
another is simply a trick of your mind that often leads to failure.”
I suspect, and I will go on to argue, that it is not that points do
not differ in importance, but rather that some players are not
very good at handling the increased stress. Our goal as teachers
is to help our students to handle the high levels of stress which
important points may elicit. I say may because good practice
habits and a well-disciplined between points regimen can
definitely change the way that players prepare for and handle
the important moments.
There is an obvious difference between the value of the
0-0, 40-0 point and the value of a point at 5-all and deuce.
Intuitively, all serious players understand this. As I noted
above, these differences may actually be quantified using a
concept called the “Importance of the Point.” The importance
of a point is equal to the probability of winning a match
given that a player wins that point minus the probability of
winning the match given that he loses the point. Because
point importance generates a quantifiable result, it is a fact
based upon probabilities. The actual numerical values are
not important. However, these values do serve the purpose
of illustrating the relative importance of points at different
scores. Any competitive player should familiarize himself
with the relative values of points so that he is able to make
a near instantaneous assessment of their importance. As I
explain below, this will be an invaluable ingredient in helping
your players to set the correct level of risk-taking - the correct
balance between aggression and patience.
Point importance values rise at the end of a game (higher
at deuce than at 15-all), at the end of a set (higher at 5-all than
1-all), and at the end of a match (higher in the third set than
either of the first two).
Understanding the score and incorporating this
understanding into your game plan and shot selection by
adjusting the gear at which you play and the target which you
choose at any given moment of a match is a crucial element in
winning matches. Here is an example from a match between
Roger Federer and David Ferrer at the year-end championships
in London in 2011 which illustrates a change in target based
upon the score.
At 5-all 15-40 in the first set, Ferrer missed his first serve.
Point importance considerations should have Federer
attempting to be extra aggressive at this moment. He was. He
hit a high pace forehand right down the middle, but missed
the shot long by a couple of inches. By attacking down the
middle, Federer was taking away the possibility of a sideline
error. He was attempting to make Ferrer play from a weakened
position without going for a winner. Although he missed
this shot, he went on to break and win the first set 7-5. In the
first game of the second set, Ferrer again went down 15-40
and second serve. Federer again was very aggressive, but this
time he hit his forehand right in the corner for a winner! The
point importance at this moment was lower than the prior
15-40 point and Federer took advantage of this by choosing
a riskier target. Top players go for their riskiest shots at the

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 Inside coaching
least important moments (most of the time – pros can’t be too
predictable!) The causal chain looks like this: lower importance
means less pressure means better chance of hitting one’s target.
Point importance is real because all of the underlying
principles of good tennis, like Percentage Tennis, are grounded
in probabilities. The 4-D System which I’ve developed in my
book Deconstructing Tennis provides a simple four -step
process which players should always go through during the time
between points.
1. See what happened
2. Adjust/plan for the next point
3. Relax
4. Remind yourself to see the blur of the racquet at contact
The score is a part of Step #2. But once the score has been
used to set the appropriate gear/target, it is forgotten! Steps #3
and #4, which are crucial for executing the plan, help to mitigate
against trying too hard (Relax!) and not watching the ball until
contact (play the opponent and not the ball!)
Finally, consider the following thought experiment: You and
I are very evenly-matched and we are each given three points
that we can claim at any time. I will assign you the first point
in each of your first three service games. I, on the other hand,
will wait until a break point (or maybe even 30-all if you are a
big server) until I use my points (or not?). Or, I may wait to use
them when I am down 30-40 on my own serve. Remember, we
are evenly matched and we both get three free points. Who do
you think is going to win most of our matches?*

Bob Schewior has been a USPTA professional for over 25 years and has been director of tennis at the
Chestnut Ridge Racquet Club in Mt. Kisco, New York since 1976. His playing accomplishments include
playing No. 1 at Rutgers University 1971-73 and ranked in the Top 20 Men’s Singles in the ETA six times
between 1976 and 1985. In 1988 and 1991, he was ranked in the Top 20 nationally in Men’s 35 and 40
Singles respectively as well as a No. 6 national ranking in Men’s 35 Doubles in 1988. Bob oversees all
lessons and programs at CRRC.

USPTA Partners with RacquetFit to Introduce Body-Tennis Certification

U SPTA has partnered with
RacquetFit to introduce a new
certification for tennis-teaching
professionals, fitness coaches and
medical providers. RacquetFit, an
educational organization dedicated
to the study of how the human body
functions in relation to tennis, will
be offering seminars throughout the
United States for these providers
who wish to earn the RacquetFit
Certification.
“What RacquetFit has developed
is game changing for the tennis
industry,” said John Embree, USPTA
CEO. “RacquetFit was developed by
an Advisory Board of tennis-industry
leading experts and led by the founder
of TPI (Titleist Performance Institute),
Dr. Greg Rose. With TPI’s cutting
edge research and development and
over 21,000 professionals certified
through their network, we wanted to
partner with RacquetFit to produce
the same cutting-edge
education for the
tennis industry.”
Attendees will have
the opportunity to
learn from leading
experts in the
tennis, fitness, and
medical profession.
Upon completion
of the certification,
professionals will
Dr. Greg Rose(left) Signs RacquetFit Agreement with USPTA
have the tools to CEO John Embree and RacquetFit Vice President Dr. Sean Drake.
screen the physical
limitations of a player “Up until today, tennis specific fitness
along with the knowledge of how to get and medical professionals could not
them back to performing at a high level. obtain recognition from the global
“By being able to assess a leader in tennis-teacher certification,
player’s physical abilities, and then the USPTA. Now, fitness and medical
understanding how those attributes providers can proudly display and
relate to their tennis-specific skills, announce to the world, that they are
is what separates an average coach educated and recognized as a tennis-
from a great coach,” said Dr. Sean specific expert through the RacquetFit
Drake, Vice President of RacquetFit. Certification and the USPTA.” *

52 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 52 5/22/2018 10:14:24 AM

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 JOIN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST MINDS IN TENNIS
The 2018 Tennis Teachers Conference returns to New York’s Grand Hyatt
Hotel Aug. 24-27. Join the USTA and USPTA for an outstanding tennis
educational experience for all coaches and providers looking to raise their
game with world-class speakers, networking opportunities, and interactive on-
court sessions. The cost for the four days of the TTC is $399. Day passes for the
TTC will be available at $175 each and registrants are qualified for the special
rate of $249 per night at the Grand Hyatt. Register before early bird date of
August 1 and enjoy world-class tennis in the new Louis Armstrong Stadium on
Opening Day at the US Open.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Gigi Fernandez Jason Harnett Kraig Kann

Hall of Famer USTA National Manager Renowned Speaker in
17-time Grand Slam Doubles and Head Coach of Strategic Communications,
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FR I DAY - MO N DAY G r a n d H y a t t N e w Yo r k
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TO REGISTER, VISIT 2018TTC.COM

ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 54 5/22/2018 10:14:41 AM

 ON-COURT
SESSSIONS
ON COURT SEMINARS AT
SPORTIME RANDALL’S ISLAND
Saturday’s on-court sessions will take place at SPORTIME
Randall’s Island. Randall’s Island is the largest tennis facility
to open in NYC in the past 30 years. Opened in 2009, the
award-winning, $19 million facility immediately became
one of New York City’s premier tennis destinations and is
the Manhattan home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy.
The Club Features:
• 160,000 square feet of tennis courts and support facilities
• 20 courts: 10 Deco-Turf hard tennis courts and 10
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state-of-the-art air structures during the indoor season and are
available for outdoor play during the outdoor season

C O M E W AT C H
FREE TICKET TO DAY ONE OF US OPEN
Everyone who registers for the TTC before the “early
bird” August 1 deadline will receive a free ticket to
the first Monday of US Open competition, making
TTC registrants among the very first to experience the
excitement of this remarkable world-class venue. A food
voucher and transportation to and from the US Open
that day are also included. All early-bird registrants are
able to purchase guest passes for this incredible US
Open experience. These are available for $125 each.

Photo Courtesy USTA/ Darren Carroll

55 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

TO REGISTER, VISIT 2018TTC.COM

ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 55 5/24/2018 1:25:00 PM

 Tennis service representative
:
Here to Help how USPTA Pros can take advantage of their TSR
by Bill Phillips, USPTA Elite Professional
E ven though I had some excellent
mentors, having a Tennis Service
Representative (TSR) to assist me in my
early years as a young teaching pro could
have helped me in so many ways that
would have made a positive difference.
I would have been a much better pro
by taking advantage of the opportunities
to further my tennis education. I would
have been able to learn how to develop
grassroots tennis programs, how to
market myself in the community, and
how to keep and retain players through
appropriate competition pathways.
40 + years ago, when I started
teaching what I would now consider
USPTA Elite Professional Bill Phillips with student Kirk Harrison.
very mediocre tennis lessons, I did
not have that opportunity. Today, I
encourage you to take advantage of it.
TSRs are your personal tennis
industry consultants. As a TSR for
Louisiana in the USTA Southern
section, my role is to help anybody
who is involved with tennis to be
more successful, particularly tennis
professionals. It is a broad description,
but my goal truly is to help in any way
that I can.
56 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 56
Whether it’s improving player
retention or hiring coaches at a local
club, implementing a new program at a
school or securing funding to refurbish
public park courts, TSRs are here for you
as a clearinghouse for all things tennis.
Here in Louisiana, I worked with
Crowley parks and local advocates to
secure a $38,000 grant to help build
the Glady Trahan Tennis Centre, a
six-court public complex. I also helped
the Lake Charles CTA work with a new
Public Parks Commission to build an
eight-court tennis complex there. Once
the facility was built, I assisted with the
programming models and in keeping
them connected to the CTA.
One of my favorite examples of
helping a pro was at Lake Charles
Racquet Club. When I started working
with USPTA Pro Bobby Walker, the club
had 235 members, a number that was
declining. We identified that the 10-and-
Under Tennis pathway could be a key
strategy to help the club grow.
After working with Bobby through
education and training, I was thrilled
to see him develop a large base of red
ball and orange ball entry-level players
at the club, highlighted by a large
group of tournament 10-and-Under
players, some ranked as high as Top 5
in the south. There is now a 75-family
waiting list for membership and Bobby
attributes much of that to the success of
this program.
As Bobby explains: “Our club was the
place to bring young children to learn
and play tennis. The parents knew
we had a fully-developed plan to turn
them into tennis players and not just
perpetual lesson-takers.”
Separately, after a flood in Baton
Rouge in 2016, I was able to assist the
YMCA Lamar Tennis Center with much-
needed facility grants through USTA
Facility Assistance and USTA Southern.
Additional success stories are popping
up across the country. In Florida,
local tennis pros resurrected the JTT
program in the Jacksonville area.
Working along with their TSR, they grew
the program to 500 players in 2017.
Also with the help of TSRs, the USTA
Eastern section created a once-in-a-
lifetime experience for children by
having them on Arthur Ashe Stadium for
a Net Generation Tennis demonstration
during the 2017 US Open. USTA Eastern
worked along with regional certified
pros to organize the demos as part of
the launch for the new youth brand.
Finally, USTA Mid-Atlantic TSRs
worked closely with USPTA pros to
launch an adult beginner program
in ACAC Midlothian in Richmond,
Virginia. Today, this has become a
great feeder system for USTA League.
I hope that you can work with your
local TSR to add to these wonderful
stories and to establish a great
partnership. To learn more and to
find contact information, visit
USTA.com/TSR.*
5/22/2018 10:14:54 AM
 TENNIS THANKS THE TROOPS
Tennis Thanks the Troops All-American Family Day Bash
Junior Tennis Champions Center, College Park, MD
M ay was Military Appreciation
Month where we honor the
service and sacrifice of America’s
military families. Several anniversaries
during the month celebrate the different
branches, military spouses and children,
culminating in Memorial Day when
we pay tribute to those who made the
ultimate sacrifice.
Since 2012, USPTA has partnered with
ThanksUSA through Tennis Thanks the
Troops to honor and support military
families. And, for the fifth year the Junior
Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in
College Park, Maryland, voluntarily
hosted an All-American Family Day Bash
(May 26) of tournaments and events
on Memorial Day weekend. Under the
management of Bonnie Vona, USTA
MAS, the Bash supports ThanksUSA,
the national non-profit providing need-
based scholarships and pathways to
employment to children and spouses of
U.S. military personnel. ThanksUSA also
runs a weekly tennis clinic in Maryland
for wounded warriors who will be
recognized with their own competition
at the Bash.
Vesa Ponkka, JTCC’s senior director of
tennis, is a top international junior coach
with a proud military heritage: Both his
grandfathers served in the Army of his
native Finland; one was killed in action,
the other lost a leg during World War II.
Asked about the JTCC-supported Bash
he says, “It is simply the right thing to
do to support military families any way
possible”.
Ponkka answered more questions
for ThanksUSA and challenged tennis
enthusiasts across the country: “I will
encourage and challenge all the tennis
training facilities to become leaders in
their community to grow the game of
tennis through inspiration and social
inclusion.”
ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 57
How does your military
background relate to
tennis, if at all?
Ponkka: Military
mindset is all about
service, commitment,
discipline, and respect.
Those are also the main
character attributes
that we try to teach our
players at the JTCC on a
daily basis.
How important is it Veterans receive special recognition at the Thanks USA
to recognize military Adaptive Tennis Tournament at the Bash.
families and why?
Ponkka: Military training and spending time in the one
families deserve everyone’s full support facility inspiring, mentoring, and
and ultimate respect through their learning from each other on daily basis.
service, commitment, and sacrifice. This I want our youngsters to grow up in this
is the least that we can do here on the kind of environment understanding,
home front. supporting, and promoting real social
inclusion. I strongly believe that creating
What have the young people in your these kinds of informal mentoring
center taken from these ThanksUSA relationships on a daily basis will
bashes and honoring military families? transform the lives of everyone involved
Ponkka: We want our young players in the long run.
to be inspired by these real heroes who
demonstrate all the qualities that are How would you describe your
important in life. These events give our commitment and that of your
youngsters a chance to interact with these organization to ThanksUSA?
heroes on the tennis court, and some great Ponkka: There will be a lot of learning
learning takes place both ways! going on through this special weekend
event, but this should only be a start of
What do you want young people to a lifelong journey of becoming a tennis
take from these events at your Center? player for wounded veterans. There are
Ponkka: I want JTCC to be an example so many health benefits associated with
and a leader promoting the right values being an active tennis player. JTCC
for young people. Our action statement wants to be a big part of that learning
is: Growing the game of tennis through process on a daily basis, and of course
inspiration and social inclusion. JTCC through these special events.
will be a training center where high-
performance tennis players, everyday All-American Family Day Bash :
hackers, Special Olympics athletes, bit.ly/ttttaafdb
Paralympic athletes, Wheelchair Tennis Thanks The Troops :
players, and Wounded Warriors are bit.ly/ttttmain
57 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
5/22/2018 10:14:56 AM
 TGA Premier Tennis

Honors Black Level Students

TGA Premier Tennis and the USPTA would like to congratulate the Class of 2018 students who achieved Black Level
in TGA’s afterschool enrichment program. These students climbed to the top of TGA’s 5-level program that combines
tennis skill development, rules and etiquette, and academic and life lessons. Keep Playing!™

TGA of Douglas County, CO Aniya Mehta Audrey Spencer Kate Dickinson Raelyn Lyons Cole Tetterton
Sarah Appel Alexander Padilla Amelia Wagner Kayla Dimmick Evan Machos Jace Thompson
Emilee Appel Aesha Patel TGA of Wake County, NC Natalie Dougherty Luke Machos Linc Thompson
Ella Archambault Benjamin Willis Hannah Abraczinskas Alex Douglas Jenna Maddox Aedan Thorne
Tyler Bettner Antonio Acosta Taylor Douglas Nina Magee Reagan Tomczak
Devin Bigley TGA of Mercer County, NJ Emily Adkins Madeline Dulin Paris Magee Blake Troskey
Lauren Brummer Max Achtau Margot Allen Sophia Dulin Maria Malgicheva Hunter Troskey
Maya Frolov Benjamin Cruz Audrey Ella Anderson Maximo Durden Iglesias Javier Martin Alos Lorenzo Trovero
Samantha Jacot Nathaniel Campbell Avery Andolsek Aaron Eckstein Paloma Martin Alos Ashley Turner
Kendall Kapralos Noah Chen Brendan Apple Sarah Eckstein Gregorio Martinez Madison Uhrig
Liam Kinnaird Victoria Gormczak Jasmine Arias Samuel Essner Sarina Matai Reese Vick
Mila Kinnaird Richard Hao Jack Arkin Renna Farthing Keegan McCann Ethan Vicuna
Adelaide Lord Lucas Horowitz Adwita Arvind Ivy Felts Leah McClure Grace Wachtel
Jocelyn MacCormack Lincoln Hwang Arjun Athavale Keira Fernandes Gracyn McCullen Maggie Weller
Isabela Michelena Vikram Karamsetty Soham Athavale Vanessa Fields Kayla McMurdie Ryan West
Dean Newman Pranav Swarna Christian Augustus Thomas Fisher Alice Medoff Maggie Whitham
Benjamin Purchase Hasan Talukdar Katherine Avery Heidi Ford Matthew Mercer Senuk Wijesinghe
Claire Reyhle Raghavan Upasana Sophie Bachmann Sara Forte Maxwell Miller Delwyn Williams
Jackson Reyhle Alice Wang Chase Baker Grant Franklin Amelia (Mia) Minick Ella Williams
Freddie Shi Michael Wang Jonas Ballard Matthew Franzese Emmery Minton Hannah Williams
Reina Shibata Valerie Banaszak Ivan Fuentes Delaney Mize Claire Yates
Mason Shutter TGA of San Fernando Valley, CA Sophia Battaglia Liam Garner Samantha Monroe Alexis Yeung
Tyler Souhrada Elinor Berggavy Harrison Baublitz Elio Gasparini Lillian Moore Connor Yu
Scott Stevens Raef Deguzman Evan Beaver Gabrielle Girardeau Ngaire Moore Terrie Yu
Benjamin Determan Eliana Betz Elijah Godoy Ryan Mousavi Avery Zapata
TGA of North Seattle Reeya Dhanani Alec Bickmore Jordan Goeders Jessica Muentener
Michael Alber Luca Diaz Robert Bigan Jr Olivia Gomez Aidan Murray TGA of Gwinnett County, GA
Amelia Allen Jonathan Elad Logan Biggs Catharine Gredvig Colin Murray Kelechi Ekwueme
Gabe Bransford Luca Epps Esha Bireddy Chloe Greenhaw Nathan Naseim Madelynn Partiss
Ben Bransford Kiana Esmaeili Willow Blaze Mia Gregg-Kearns Sebastian Nicholas Nicholas Partiss
Kezia Bransford Jake Feder Akhilesh Boppudi Grace Gunther Leah Nikhil Johnathan Zhan
Hunter Carlson Luke Ford Nate Borkush Namish Gurram Aidan O’Brien
Angela Chen Pascal Ho Claire Brenegan Amanda Hallacher Amelie Ohlsson TGA of North Houston, TX
Yuran He Tyler Johnston Isabella Brown Janeece (Evie) Hampson Katelyn Olson Charlotte Cooke
Oliver Iannotti Rokus Kam Theo Bruch Alex Handest Cameron Osborne Rylee Cooke
Mateo Iannotti Halyn Kim Grace Bues Nathan Hardesty Meredith Overcash McKenzie Hawkins
Ryan Kennedy Stephen Lattuca Joseph Bulebush Mary Elizabeth Harrison Caleb Owen Adelaide Latimer
Tyler Kirkpatrick Yitong Lian Mason Burks Benjamin Hawken Isaiah Owen Jack Mueke
Alex Kirkpatrick Cole Maranville Colin Burts Leah Heidepriem Yana Papalava Evan Obabkov
Max Mansour Alex Mcriley Anthony Busi Madeleine Hemmer Brayden Peacher Reese Wiseman
Ginger Oberg Natalie Medina Annika Byzek Luke Henderson Stella Pepin
Oliver Tam Nicholas Medina Karina Byzek Stone Hensley Benjamin Perla TGA of Bergen County, NJ
Rohan Tobey Matias Oliva Sophie Cain Addison High Molly Perla Anton Badushov
Nina Wright Nicholas Romanose Adam Campbell Ada Hillstrand Marie Perry Kevin Barnes
Alex Schneider Susan Cantrell Emma Holmes Alexandra Pettaris Julia Bernard
TGA of Southern Oregon Doreen Shabtai Chloe Carita Kaley House Martin Peytchev Sienna Bhatia
Eli Bishko Maleeha Siddique Emma Carter Kalina Ilieva Sofia Polsinelli Courtney Boyle
Zoe Clark Aranav Sreen Juliana Castro Finley Jenks Makenna Purcell Xander Bucher
Parker Cole Wesley Stein Lara Caugherty Francis Jennings Landon Quigley Aidan Carpenter
Kyan Delaney Patrick Thayer Caitlin Chamberlain Steven Jin Simon Quinn Maria Costello
Katelyn Doerner Jackson Thayer Peter Chaney Lucy Johnson Shehzad Riaz Rachel Dagher
Madeleine Faraoni Chinua Ulmer Thomas Chaney Everett Jones Elias Robinson Olivier Desdunes
Anthony He Yasmin Yadegari Davis Clarke Navya Jonnalagadda Isaac Rogers Abigail Diaz
AnnaLisa Hisamoto Darby Claybrook Olivia Kaplan Zoe Rogers Mia Doughney
Berkeley Kim TGA of Los Angeles Andrew Cline Claire Keelor Remy Roussin Keelin Driscoll
Xanna Mortimer Sawyer Chang Daniel Cline Oliver Keen Zoe Russler Leonardo S Fernandez
Cody Norgaard-Stroich Ezra “Nico” Ryan Bella Cobb Hasan Khan Aanya Ruwanpura Gregory Foote
Jack Post Isabel Ryan Maryn Cole Yusuf Khan Natalie Sapienza James Griglio
Emmett Robison Aryeh Topp Marielle Conlon TJ Kiel Logan Sesler Ryan Gurtman
Jude Rodrigues Patrick Cook Gavin Killebrew Nicholas Sgouros Ellie Higgins
Anthony Ruh TGA of Loudoun County, VA Gavin Cowley Nicholas Kolodzieski Kyla Shaw Nicholas Karpenko
Samantha Salgado Brayden Bradshaw Lia Coyne Samantha Kordus Katelyn Sheridan Yuto Kumai
Wilfred Schmitz Frank Pisano Noah Dahlin Jordan Krueger Terrence Sheridan Kadence Moy
Yufei Su Jackson Dalton Anna Lainez Rubi Viraja Shivhare Chloe Parsi
Scarlett Travis TGA of West Virginia Alex D’Anna Shane Lauver Jan Solar Maya Pomeranke
Cameron Wade Ada Lin Andrew Davis Layla Lawson Hayden Stafford Daniel Pulumbarit
Philip Lin William Davis Emma Leddy Naomi Stafford Emma Pulumbarit
TGA of Central Hennepin Andrew Morgan Brady DeAngelo Ian Lewis Elizabeth Stocum Michael Rezendes
County, MN Jackson Nardella Ava DeCamp Christopher Linton Samuel Stolz Elijah Samala
Mercedes Calenta Roman Patsy Jacob Delaney Nicolas Lombardo Holden Sweeney Oliver Tapia
Saikat Chakrabarty Harper Randolph Sophia Dell’Osso Evan Long Tala Tahmaseb Haruna Tomiyasu

58 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

ADDvantageJuly2018GUS.indd 58 5/22/2018 10:14:57 AM

 Member News

USPTA Member News

Shawn Hedrick was named director of Jack Foster was featured in the LMT Online
tennis at Naples Grande Beach Resort article titled Laredoan Jack Foster is a
in Naples, Florida. Hedrick has 20 years tennis legend. He’s been a certified USPTA
serving in the tennis industry, gaining professional since 1991 and became a
experience and expertise in all areas master professional in 2016. He has served
of coaching, program planning and on USPTA national committees such as
administration, and court maintenance. the Education, Conference, Awards and
He has been named USPTA District Diversity and Inclusion committees along
Professional of the Year, and while serving as USPTA with serving on the USPTA Texas Board of directors
District President for Collier County, the region was from 2007-08 and being the USPTA Texas Conference
voted District of the Year by the USPTA Florida board Chairman for six years. Foster is currently the director
of directors. of Tennis for FCCA, a subdivision in Sugar Land.

Mike Lange hosted a Play It Safe event at Tracy Austin was named Tournament
the Rush Copley Healthplex in Aurora, Honoree for the 118th Ojai Tennis
Illinois for Play Tennis Month with over Tournament. Austin won the Women’s Open
300 hundred families attending the Singles title when she was just 14-years-old
event. Mike is the owner of MTL Tennis in 1977. A Hall of Famer and former World
Management Group, which provides No.1 WTA player, Austin won 35 career titles
lectures to facilities and coaches. including three Grand Slam titles.

Fred Layman III was named director of Sean Sloane announced that he will
operations at The Windermere Club at retire from being the men’s tennis coach
in Blythewood, South Carolina. In his at Haverford College after the 2017 –
new role, Layman will lead operational 2018 season. Sloane is currently in his
efforts to enhance public relations, 21st season leading the men’s tennis
membership sales and retention as well program and previously served as head
as assist, mentor and support the team coach of both the men’s and women’s
of employees. In years prior to joining squash programs at Haverford from the
The Windermere Club, Layman was operations director fall of 1997 until the end of the 2009 season. Sloane
of multiple clubs and businesses including; iBuddy has compiled a 213-142 career record as men’s
Club, Inc. Earth Smart Media, LLC, North Augusta Golf tennis coach. His teams have made the Centennial
and Country Club, The Club at Rae’s Creek and Mount Conference Tournament during 11 of the past 12
Vintage Plantation Golf and Athletic Club. seasons.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE ADDvantage is published monthly by the USPTA
Managing Editor ................................................... DeVonte’ Martin The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are
President.....................................................................Gary Trost those of the authors and not necessarily those
Editor.............................................................................John Cornell
First Vice President................................................Feisal Hassan of ADDvantage or the United States Professional
Layout/Design........................................................... Gustavo Reyes
Vice Presidents................Cari Buck, Mark Faber, Trish Faulkner Tennis Association.
Bill Mountford, Richard Slivocka Editorial Assistance...................................................... Risa Epstein,
Ashley Walker, Ellen Weatherford
Immediate Past President...........................................Chuck Gill Copyright© United States Professional Tennis
Circulation................................................................ Trevor Trudelle Association, Inc. 2018. All rights reserved.
CEO.........................................................................John Embree
USPTA World Headquarters Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not
Legal Counsel......................................................George Parnell 11961 Performance Dr.
Orlando, FL 32827 permitted without written permission from USPTA.

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 USPTA CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Exams, Upgrades & PTCA Wheelchair Certification
4 Credits for PTCA I Segment Exams,
Upgrades & PTCA
July 7 ................................Indianapolis, IN
July 7 - 8 ................................... Naples, FL
July 13 - 14 ................................Dallas, TX
July 14 ...............................Des Moines, IA
July 14 - 15 .............................Boston, MA
July 15 .................................. Clayton, MO
July 20 - 21 ...........................Asheville, NC
July 21 - 22 .............................Camden, SC
July 27 ....................................... Exton, PA
Aug 3 ........................................Darien, CT
Aug 3 - 4 ...............................Granbury, TX
Aug 4 - 5 ................. Huntington Beach, CA
August 23 - 24........................... Lincoln, NE
USPTA Certification in conjunction with
USTA “Train the Trainer”
October 18 - 19......................... Orlando, FL
USPTA Certification in conjunction with
USTA “Train the Trainer”
November 7 - 8........................Lafayette, IN
USPTA Certification in conjunction with
USTA “Train the Trainer”
Spanish Tennis
2018 USPTA Division
Conference Schedule
Division Conferences - 6 Credits
August 24 - 27 ................................2018 TTC
Grand Hyatt, New York, NY
November 16 - 17....................Middle States
Wilmington Country Club, Wilmington, DE
Cardio Tennis
Aug 19 ..................... Level 1 Training Course
Meadow Creek Tennis Club; Lakewood, CO
Sep 8 ....................... Level 1 Training Course
Preakness Hills Country Club; Wayne, NJ

Aug 4 - 5 ............................ Tallahassee, FL

Aug 6 - 7 ........................ San Francisco, CA
Teaching System Nov 10 ..................... Level 1 Training Course
Methodist University; Fayetteville, NC
Aug 11 - 12 ............................. Atlanta, GA
Aug 11 - 12 .............................Seattle, WA Nov 10 ..................... Level 1 Training Course
Sea Pines Racquet Club; Hilton Head Island, SC
Aug 15 - 16 .........................Cincinnati, OH
Aug 17 .............................Nichols Hills, OK
Aug 20 - 21 ............................. Orlando, FL
Aug 24 - 25 ................................... Laie, HI
Aug 25 ................................ Eau Claire, WI
Aug 25 ................................ Rochester, NY
Aug 26 .............................. Brentwood, TN
Aug 28 - 29 .............................Queens, NY
At Academia Sanchez-Casal
Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days USPTA professionals can earn 10
prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an
Education Credits by participating in the
exam, upgrade. PTCA I is included in the two day
exam. Exam cancellations must be received no lat- Level 1 or Level 2 course of the Spanish
er than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation Tennis Teaching System hosted by the
fee will be charged accordingly.
International Coaches Institute.
Applicant: late cancellation fee – $95; failure to
cancel – application fee is forfeited. Certified Oct. 24 – 26............................... Naples, FL
members: late cancellation fee – $25; failure to Competitive Coaching Course Level 1
cancel – $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited.
Registration for another exam will not be accepted Oct. 26 – 28............................... Naples, FL
until cancellation fees are paid. Pro Coaching Course Level 2

USPTA requires all certified members to earn 6 credits of

continuing education in a three-year period. (International
members, recreational coaches and those 65 or older are exempt.) The time period coincides
Online education
with the date you completed the certification exam or reinstated your membership. Please
login to My USPTA to check your Professional Development Program end date.
If the requirement is not met, you will have your membership suspended. To help you
meet that goal, USPTA provides hundreds of hours of education every year in the form of
conferences, workshops, webinars, DVDs and more. TennisResources.com is an excellent
resource for free education opportunities. In addition, the Coach Youth Tennis website offers
six free online courses that earn a 1/2 education credit each.
Upon completion of the sixth course, you will receive 3 bonus credits (one-time only),
Watch webinars, seminars, On Court with USPTA
bringing the total to 6 credits and completing the continuing education requirement. (You do episodes, specialty courses and much more on
not need to complete the online workshop unless you are completing your USPTA certification) TennisResources.com to earn your education
Go to coachyouthtennis.com for more information. credits.

60 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

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