March 2009

Volume 37 Number 3 $5.00

www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Contents 2009 COURT CONSTRUCTION
& MAINTENANCE GUIDE
R S I M A R C H

INDUSTRY NEWS
2 0 0 9

7 Wilson launches innovative

25 Build Your Success “Baiardo” stringing machine
Whether you’re a court contractor, facility manager or teaching pro,
our annual guide can help you build your business. 7 Monica Seles, Donald Dell to
26 Pimp Your Courts! enter Hall of Fame
You can spruce up your facility in just a few days and make it even
more appealing for players.
7 Pro Showdown, “Tennis
Night” to debut March 2
28 Find the Right Fix 8 James Blake, Fila collaborate
Your courts, whether hard or soft, will eventually need work. How
do you know what really needs to be done? on apparel, footwear
30 Your Court Maintenance Planner 8 New indoor tennis facility
This handy chart, from the ASBA and USTA, will help you plan your opens in Las Vegas
work and work your plan.

32 Short Division 9 Tourna Grip signs pro

With permanent lines and courts for QuickStart Tennis, facilities will
Azarenka
bring more kids into the game, and bring in more revenue, too.
9 USTA invests in World
34 Cracking Up? TeamTennis
All hard courts will crack eventually, and when they do, have a
professional evaluate the situation and suggest a remedy. 9 Legendary Gardiner’s Tennis
Resort closes
36 Inside Information
Maintain your indoor courts properly and you’ll ensure that players 9 USPTA tennis health
will keep coming back. campaign names advisory
38 Building a Business council
Certified Tennis Court Builders are becoming more and more
important in the construction field. 10 Award winners named
by USTA
40 Money Markets
In this shaky economy, protect yourself with a good contract to 13 USTA Serves awards
make sure you get paid for your work. $1.2 million

FEATURE 13 Deadline March 1 for Top 50

TWC nominations
20 Fashion Focus
Apparel makers are hoping performance features, details 14 Wilson launches FX
and color will grab players’ attention. technology in new frames

DEPARTMENTS
4 Our Serve 42 String Playtest: Prince Premier LT
7 Industry News 44 Tips and Techniques
17 TIA News & Updates 46 Ask the Experts
18 Facility Manager’s Manual 48 Your Serve, by Marcia Frost
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
Our Serve

Y
Change for the Better
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
ou may have noticed in our February issue a sub- Editorial Director
tle redesign of some of our pages. Our intent was Peter Francesconi
to keep things fresh in the magazine—while not Associate Editor
changing too drastically the look and feel of our award- Greg Raven

winning publication. Design/Art Director

Kristine Thom
Our wonderful design/art director, Kristine Thom, came up some
Contributing Editors
subtle changes that we feel help give our pages what we’re calling a
Robin Bateman
“facelift.” It’s not a full redesign by any means, just a dusting off and re- Cynthia Cantrell
presentation. Kristen Daley
Joe Dinoffer
And that’s also something you might want to consider for your busi-
Liza Horan
ness, too, whether you own or manage a pro shop or tennis facility or James Martin
offer tennis lessons, clinics and coaching. Every now and then, you Greg Moran
Chris Nicholson
should give your business a facelift—take stock of what you’re doing, Bob Patterson
get input from other staff, or members, or customers, then put in place Cynthia Sherman
some changes that, while not necessarily changing your core, present a Mary Helen Sprecher

fresh face to your customers and clients. RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY

With our slight redesign, Kristine asked those of us on staff what we
think we should consider changing. Our input, combined with her
expertise and practiced eye, led to different typefaces, a different color
palette and other subtle graphic changes.
Sometimes, though, your business will need more than a subtle
facelift. Think about the old saying in tennis, “Never change a winning
game; always change a losing game.” That may be more appropriate in
this economy than at any time in your business life. If your business is
in trouble, or you feel it’s heading into trouble, make some changes
now—you’ll have to if you want to survive.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
This issue contains our 2009 Court Construction & Mainte-
nance Guide, which begins on page 25, and we want to
thank Contributing Editor Mary Helen Sprecher (left) and the
American Sports Builders Association for their work in mak-
ing this section happen. Articles in our guide, written by Mary
Helen, use ASBA sources and members and provide you with
the best expert advice when it comes to tennis court construction. (For more
on the ASBA, or to join, visit www.sportsbuilders.org.)
Corporate Offices
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
year: monthly January through August and com-
bined issues in September/October and Novem-
ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330
Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at
Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Vista, CA and
additional mailing offices. March 2009, Volume 37,
Number 3 © 2009 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All
rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and
logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circu-
lation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscrip-
tions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry,
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.

RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

R S I M A R C H
INDUSTRY NEWS
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU
Seles, Dell to Enter
Hall of Fame
Nine-time Grand Slam sin-
gles champion and former
World No. 1 player Monica
Seles will lead the 2009
induction class in July at the
International Tennis Hall of
Fame in Newport, R.I.
Joining Seles is one of
Spain’s most prominent ten-
nis players of the 1960s,
Andres Gimeno, who has
been elected in the Master
Player category. In addition,
elected in the Contributor
category are Donald L. Dell,
an industry pioneer and
leader in sports marketing,
professional sports manage-
ment and sports television
and founder of ProServ; and
the late Dr. Robert “Whirl-
wind” Johnson, founder and
director of the American Ten-
nis Association (ATA) Junior
Development Program, who
worked tirelessly for decades
assisting in the development
of young African-American
tennis players while helping
to break the barriers of racial
segregation.
The Hall of Fame’s Class of
2009 Induction Ceremony is
slated for Saturday, July 11,
in Newport during the final
weekend of the Campbell’s
Hall of Fame Tennis Champi-
onships. In addition, tennis
legend Rod Laver will also be
honored that weekend. With
the addition of Seles,
Gimeno, Dell and Johnson,
the Hall of Fame will now
include 211 champions of
tennis representing 18
countries.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
2 0 0 9
RUN YOUR BUSINESS
Wilson Launches Innovative ‘Baiardo’ String Machine
ilson Racquet Sports has come out with a new stringing machine that uses Wilson’s “B.E.S.T.”
W system, which stands for Biomechanically Efficient Stringing Technology—an ergonomic sys-
tem that automatically adjusts the machine height and tilt to suit the stringer.
The new “Baiardo” machine will automatically adjust height and tilt three times during the string-
ing process: when mounting the frame, stringing the mains and stringing the
Baiardo Demo Events crosses. The machine puts the string bed “in a biomechanically perfect posi-
tion for each individual user, based on their height,” says Wilson, so stringers
Wilson is conducting
experience less stress to their lower back,
demonstration events this
spring for the Baiardo shoulders, neck and arms.
stringing machine. Visit After years of research and develop-
www.wilson.com/baiardo ment, Baiardo was tested at the 2008 US
for specific dates and loca-
tions. Open (below). Stringers said they were
less fatigued at the end of the day and were
The Baiardo tour is expect-
able to produce extremely consistent stringing for the pro
ed to stop at: Boston; New
York; Philadelphia; Washing- tour players. Wilson, the official stringer for the 2009 Aus-
ton, D.C.; Chicago; Dallas; tralian Open, used the Baiardo there, too.
Hilton Head, S.C.; Birming- “Baiardo” was the name of a
ham, Ala.; Key Biscayne,
mythical European horse that had the
Fla.; Tampa; Atlanta; Baton
Rouge; Charlotte, N.C.; Indi- ability to adjust its size to its riders.,
an Wells, Calif.; San Francis- Wilson’s Baiardo machine remem-
co; San Jose, Calif.; Los bers 13 personal settings for up to six
Angeles; San Diego; Orange
different stringers and functions with
County, Calif.; Denver; and
Seattle. a unique and easy-to-use touch-
screen.
“We researched how stringers work—how they bent for-
ward and twisted throughout the process—which leads to
fatigue and discomfort at the end of the day,” says John
Lyons, global business director of accessories. “We imple-
mented a total ergonomic design unlike any other machine
on the market. Baiardo is the first stringing machine designed completely around the stringer.”
Baiardo machines will be available for dealers in limited supply beginning in April 2009. Visit
www.wilson.com/baiardo.
Champions to Meet at MSG; ‘Tennis Night’ to Debut
erena Williams, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic will face off in the inaugural
S
“BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup,” which will be March 2 at Madison Square
Garden in New York.
The one night only single-elimination event will be broadcast live on HBO beginning at 7:30 p.m.
E.T. It will mark the return of women’s tennis to Madison Square Garden and the return of the sport
to HBO.
In partnership with the USTA, March 2 will also be “Tennis Night in America,” one the largest ever
grassroots initiatives in the sport. The USTA will make this event a major component of its first-ever
National Youth Registration Night, where kids and teenagers all over the country can begin signing
up for spring and summer league play.
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7
 M A R C H 2 0 0 9
Another Top Exec Leaves USTA
INDUSTRYNEWS
M ichelle Wilson, chief marketing officer of the USTA’s Pro-
fessional Tennis division, resigned in February. Wilson
managed all US Open and Olympus US Open Series
advertising.
She was hired by and worked closely with Arlen Kantarian,
the former chief executive of Pro Tennis who left the USTA at
the end of 2008. Before joining the USTA in 2001, Wilson had
senior management positions with Nabisco, the NBA and the
XFL.
Other executives who have left the USTA since the end of
the US Open in September include chief diversity officer Kar-
lyn Lothery, Alan Gold, who ran the US Open Series; Ronnie
Tucker and Gary Jacobus, both in sponsorship; and Tandy
O’Donoghue, the managing director of business affairs.
In January, the USTA announced a replacement for Lothery,
naming Kevin Clayton as chief diversity officer. Clayton will be
dedicated to increasing diversity initiatives throughout the
organization, including at the sections and CTAs, as well as
business relationships. He most recently served as national
vice president of diversity and inclusion at the American Can-
cer Society. He’ll report to USTA Executive Director Gordon
Smith.
New Indoor Facility Opens in Vegas
A $10 million state-of-the-art tennis facility, located min-
utes from the Las Vegas Strip, opened in January. The
90,000-square-foot International Tennis Centre features
eight indoor Deco Turf II courts, broadcast-quality lighting,
a climate-controlled environment, pro-shop, rental racquets,
an espresso bar and gourmet food service (starting March
1), luxury lockers/showers and flat-screen televisions.
“For years, Las Vegas was a popular spot for tennis
enthusiasts,” says Jim Ahearn, CEO of ITC Las Vegas, LLC.
“Over time, people started turning to other recreational
sports because of the city’s desert climate and lack of
indoor facilities. The opening of the International Tennis
Centre is bringing tennis back to Vegas for visitors, residents
and pros.”
Services at the ITC include hourly court bookings, private
and semi-private lessons, clinics, Junior Academy, Cardio
Tennis classes and corporate events. ITC also provides com-
plimentary transportation to and from major hotels. Visit
www.itclasvegas.com or call 877-ITC-5975.
8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
Azarenka Signs with Tourna Grip
U nique Sports and WTA Tour Top 15 pro Victoria Azarenka
signed a multi-year deal recently. Azarenka uses the new
high-performance overgrip Tourna Tac, from the makers of
Tourna Grip. “Tourna Tac really performs in all playing condi-
tions and doesn't slip out of my hand,” says Azarenka, who is
featured on the pink and the white Tourna Tac packages. Visit
www.uniquesports.com.
James Blake, Fila to Collaborate
on Apparel, Footwear Collection
A TP Tour pro James Blake and Fila will develop a collection of
men’s apparel and footwear in a collaborative agreement. The
yet to be named collection will target “today’s active male” and
will be the basis for a long-term licensing business for Blake, Fila
says.
The company says Blake will
collaborate with Fila’s design team
to create the co-branded collec-
tion, which will incorporate Fila
heritage with Blake’s signature
style. The collection will include
tennis, golf, fitness and lifestyle
apparel, performance and lifestyle
footwear, and accessories for
men. It will debut with a limited
Fila/Ray Giubilo
collection of tennis and fitness
apparel that will be unveiled just
before the 2009 US Open, and the
collection will officially launch for
the Spring-Summer 2010 season.
Blake will wear Fila branded or co-branded apparel and
footwear exclusively on court and will be featured in Fila’s world-
wide marketing efforts. He is the first Top 10 American male in
more than 10 years to sign with Fila. He debuted in Fila’s
Collezione Apparel Collection and the Fila Alfa shoe at the Aus-
tralian Open in January.
“Ever since Bjorn Borg graced the courts of Wimbledon in Fila,
I have always been attracted to the Italian style, grace and sophis-
tication of the Fila brand,” says Blake. “My collaboration with Fila
is much more than an endorsement arrangement. It will serve as
the foundation of a business venture that I will continue to build
for years to come.”
www.racquetsportsindustry.com

PTR Sets SoCal Coaches Workshop
T he PTR will hold a Coaches Workshop titled “PTR Kids
Tennis, Beyond QuickStart” on March 13 and 14 at Ran-
cho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The
two-day event, geared to those teaching
youth tennis, is open to everyone and
is especially recommended for ten-
nis teaching pros, coaches, physi-
cal education teachers, and
students who will be teaching ten-
nis this summer.
Experts in the field of coaching youth tennis will conduct
presentations, including Jason Jamison and Karen Ronney,
as well as Master Professionals Kirk Anderson, Jorge
Andrew and Don Henson. Each afternoon, attendees will go
to Indian Wells to enjoy the tournament’s matches. The
entire weekend, including the tournament, is $149.
For more information or to register, call 800-421-6289 or
visit www.ptrtennis.org.
USTA Invests in World TeamTennis
T he USTA announced that it will become a 25 percent owner
of Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League, the team for-
mat co-founded by Billie Jean King.
The Advanta WTT Pro League is a professional co-ed sports
league featuring top tour players from more than a dozen
countries. The League showcases three generations of ten-
nis standouts, including legends, current tour players and
up-and-coming tennis pros, competing on teams through-
out the U.S. each summer.
One of the main goals in the new partnership is to provide
an expanded marketing platform for the USTA’s Jr. Team Ten-
nis Program through the Advanta World TeamTennis Pro
League teams and players.
In each of the 11 franchise markets, Advanta WTT Pro
League teams and USTA sections will work together on youth
initiatives to broaden the reach of QuickStart and Jr.
Team Tennis programs. These recreational efforts are
becoming integrated with the WTT professional franchis-
es to encourage more young children to take up tennis as a
team sport.
“By working with the USTA, we will take World TeamTen-
nis to the next level in the U.S.,” says King. “We’ve been look-
ing for an opportunity like this for a long time and I can’t think
of a better partner than the USTA. I’m excited about what the
future holds for our partnership.”
In related news, Bill Mountford, the former director of ten-
nis at the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Cen-
ter, has entered
into an agree-
ment with World
TeamTennis to serve as a con-
sultant. His role will be divided
between the USTA and WTT.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
INDUSTRY NEWS
Tennis Health Campaign to
Name Advisory Council
T he USPTA has formed a “Tennis—for the
health of it!” advisory council designed to
ensure that all components of the campaign are
health-enhancing, developmentally appropriate,
safe and fun. The advisory council will be
chaired by Michael F. Bergeron, director of the National Institute
for Athletic Health & Performance and Center
for Youth Sports & Health, and Jack Groppel
(left), co-founder of Human Performance
Institute.
The rest of the advisory council will be
selected and named within the next month
and is expected to include tennis coaches,
physical educators, clinicians, and applied
sport scientists. Council members will spe-
cialize in pediatric to geriatric medicine, wellness, development,
training, injury risk, and behavior, with a special emphasis on
those who have experience and recognized expertise in tennis-
related development, clinical care, and research, says the USPTA.
“This is an invitation to all groups within the tennis industry
to get involved and this council is an attempt to help grow the
game for the betterment of tennis all around,” says Groppel.
Advisory council responsibilities will include working with the
American College of Sports Medicine and its supporting partners
to prompt the medical and fitness communities to recognize the
health-enhancing benefits of tennis, along with recommending
the sport as a desirable way to increase physical activity and
develop a long-term healthy lifestyle.
The council also will collaborate with the National Physical
Activity Plan leadership and supporting organizations to pro-
mote “Tennis – for the health of it!” to policymakers, health pro-
fessionals, and the public; publish position papers and
recommendations; and call for research and partner with others
in support of the mission and objectives.
Gardiner’s Tennis Resort Closes
A fter 51 years, Gardiner's Tennis Resort in Carmel Valley, Calif.,
has closed its doors. Founded by the late John Gardiner in
1957, the original John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch became a get-
away for tennis enthusiasts the world over. High-profile business
leaders, Hollywood celebrities, politicians and touring tennis
pros played at the beautiful and exclusive resort.
Gardiner sold the property in 2000, shortly before his
death, to Pristine Development LLC of Houston. A spokesman
for Pristine Development said the economic situation forced
them to shut, however, he did leave open the possibility that if
Pristine is able to reorganize in the future, they would consid-
er reopening.
The 25-acre property has eight tennis courts and a special-
ized teaching court, six individual guestrooms and five two-
bedroom homes, a spa and a restaurant, which had recently
opened its doors to the public. The closing affected more than
20 staff members.
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9
 M A R C H 2 0 0 9

ITA Coaches
INDUSTRYNEWS

USTA Names Award Winners

Meet in Florida
N early 300 men's and women's college
tennis coaches from all divisions met in
Naples, Fla., in December for the 24th
annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association
Coaches Convention. Among the clinicians
at the four-day event were tennis legend
Stan Smith, renowned tennis coach Nick
Saviano and former No. 1 in the world in
doubles Kelly Jones. Several of the nation's
top collegiate coaches were also on hand
for instructional clinics.
In addition to offering clinics, panel dis-
cussions, an awards banquet, a trade show
and a chance to exchange ideas, the ITA
Coaches Convention served as the venue
for the association's annual meetings.
Among the convention highlights was
the ITA Welcoming and Awards Banquet
honoring the 2008 Wilson/ITA National
Coaches of the Year and the USTA/ITA
National Community Outreach and Cam-
pus Recreation Award winners. Zina Garri-
son was this year's featured speaker.
T he Larry and Susan Kline Family of Prospect, Ky., is the winner of the Ralph W.
Westcott USTA Family of the Year Award. Also, Lise J. Frank of Danville, Calif., has
won the Barbara Williams Leadership Award from the USTA. Both awards will be
presented during the USTA’s Annual Meeting, which will be held in Palm Springs
March 13-15.
Four winners were named for the Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award:
Jeremy I. Efferding of Lake Worth, Fla.; Ryan Lipman of Nashville; Ryan Thacher
of Studio City, Calif.; and Gary Wang of Chesterbrook, Pa. The four winners will
be honored during the Enshrinement Ceremonies at the International Tennis Hall
of Fame in July.
Hall of Famer Sidney Wood Dies
H all of Famer and 1931 Wimbledon singles champion Sidney B. Wood died in
early January in Palm Beach, Fla. Wood, formerly the oldest living Hall of Famer,
was 97.
Wood, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964, also is credited with
inventing, designing and patenting Supreme Court, a portable synthetic playing
surface used for indoor courts. It was used by the World Championship Tennis
tour from 1973-1978.
Sundling, Mar Win Winter Nationals
J T Sundling of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Hanna Mar of Burr Ridge, Ill., captured
the 2008 USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18s Winter National Championship singles titles
on New Year’s Day at the Phoenix Tennis Center. The nation’s top junior players
competed in eight USTA Winter National Championships. The singles champions at
the 18s events will be given wild cards into a USTA Pro Circuit Futures event (men)
and a women’s $10,000 event, to be determined.
Other singles winners at the USTA Winter National Championship are: Boys’
16s: Jack, Sock, Lincoln, Neb.; Girls’ 16s: Kyle McPhillips, Willoughby, Ohio; Boys’
14s: Trey Daniel, Leawood, Kan.; Girls’ 14s: Coy Jones Hunter, Los Angeles; Boys’
12s: Christian Garay, Columbus, Ga.; Girls’ 12s: Kimberly Yee, Las Vegas.

MEMBER
CLASSIFIEDS
Congratulations To the Following
For Achieving MRT Status HELP WANTED: Full time
stringer position available
contact Brett Snyder @
Tennis Express 713-781-
4848.
New MRTs
David Sullivan
Murietta, GA
FOR SALE: Prince P-200
Zachary Greer pneumatic stringing
Snellville, GA machine. Maintained
Allen Lee well, runs in excellent
Victoria, BC CANADA
condition, all accessories
Matt Bennett
Victoria, BC CANADA included. Pics available.
Chris Maragozis Asking only 400+ship-
Victoria, BC CANADA
ping cost. Price Nego-
Wesley Fry
Fitzroy, Victoria AUSTRALIA tiable. Call
Andrew Kotnik 419-788-0142, or email
Fitxroy, Victoria AUSTRALIA bobstennis@gmail.com.

10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 INDUSTRYNEWS

SHORT
SETS
>first-round
The U.S. vs. Switzerland Davis Cup
match, to be held in Birm-
ingham, Ala., March 6-8, has sold
out. The competition is expected to
feature World No. 2 Roger Federer,
No. 8 Andy Roddick and No. 10
James Blake as well as the doubles
team of Bob and Mike Bryan.

>beenT Barselected
M Racquet Club in Dallas has
the 2008 USTA Texas
Section Organization of the Year.

> Plexicushion Prestige was again the

surface of choice for the Australian
Open, and for the half dozen pro
tournaments leading up to the Grand
Slam event.

>willTheserveComcast Family of Companies

as 2009 principal sponsor
for the Rodney Street Tennis and
Tutoring Association (www.rodney-
streettennis.org), located in Wilming-
ton, Del. The agreement will also
provide RSTTA with significant addi-
tional in-kind cable, telephone and
internet services, which will enhance
administrative operations and supple-
mental educational services.

>Pennsylvania
The website for the USTA Eastern
District was awarded
website of the year honors by the
USTA Middle States Section. EPD pres-
ident Jack Monick used TennisCon-
nect for the district’s site
(www.EPDTennis.com). “It’s been
such a useful tool for us so far and has
allowed me to easily communicate
with players all over the Eastern Dis-
trict,” he says.

> DecoTurf’s 100 percent acrylic ten-

nis surface, DecoColor, was the sur-
face selected for the Fed Cup
quarterfinal match agasint Argentina
held in early February at the Surprise
Tennis and Racquet Complex in Sur-
prise, Ariz. The complex, which
received the 2008 USTA Outstanding
Facility Award, also was RSI’s Munici-
pal Facility of the Year.

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11

 INDUSTRYNEWS M A R C H
P E O P L E W AT C H
• World No. 19 Anna
Chakvetadze has signed a
long-term agreement
with Wilson Racquet
Sports. She debuted
her Wilson [K] Blade
Team racquet and Eco Pro
Tour Super Six bag at the Aus-
tralian Open in January.
• Sixteen-year-old rac-
quetball phenom Veroni-
ca Sotomayor has
extended her contract
with Ektelon through
2011. She plays with the
Ektelon O3 RG racquet and is currently
ranked No. 11 in the world.
• Five-time US Open champ Jimmy Con-
nors will be Tennis Channel’s lead analyst
during the network’s inaugural coverage of
the US Open telecast in September. Con-
nors, who most recently worked as a part
of the BBC’s Wimbledon on-air team and
coached top American player Andy Rod-
dick, has not appeared in a televised tennis
booth for a U.S. network since 1991. Con-
nors will team with Martina Navratilova, pri-
mary commentator for all Tennis Channel
Grand Slam telecasts, as well as veteran
sportscaster and 19-year US Open anchor
Bill Macatee.
• Head has signed a long-term
agreement with Novak
Djokovic of Serbia, who
currently ranks third in
the South African Air-
ways ATP ranking.
• Adam Helfant recently
was named ATP executive chairman and
president, based in London. An MIT and
Harvard Law graduate, Helfant brings a
wealth of global sports, business and legal
experience following 12 years as a senior
executive with Nike, three years with the
NHL as an attorney and four years as an
associate at the international law firm
Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.
• India’s Yuki Bhambri beat Jarmere Jenkins
of College Park, Ga., for the Boys’ 18 sin-
12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
2 0 0 9
gles title at the 62nd annual Orange Bowl
International Championships in December.
Wild-card entry Julia Boserup of Boca
Raton, Fla., beat Christina McHale of Engle-
wood Cliffs, N.J., for the Girls’ 18 title. In
the 16s, Denis Kudla of Arlington, Va., took
the boys’ title and chanelle Van Nguyen of
Miami won the girls’.
• George MacCall, a former Davis Cup
captain and owner of one of the first pro-
fessional tennis leagues, died in December
at the age of 90. He was a captain in the
1960s and had teams that featured Arthur
Ashe, Dennis Ralston and Marty Riessen.
• Serena Williams, playing with a Wilson
[K] Blade Team, returned to the
World No. 1 ranking by winning
the Australian Open. She also
teamed with Venus Williams,
playing with the same
frame, to take the doubles
title. Men’s runner-up Roger
Federer plays with a Wilson [K]
Six.One tour.
• Four members of the tennis community
were honored with national awards as part
of the USOC Coaching Recognition Pro-
gram. Manuel Diaz of Athens, Ga., head
coach of the University of Georgia’s men’s
tennis team was named the 2008 USOC
National Coach of the Year for Tennis,
Frank Salazar of Chevy Chase, Md., director
of the Junior Tennis Champions Center in
College Park, Md., was named USOC
Developmental Coach of the Year for Ten-
nis, and Rita Gladstone of Port Orange, Fla.,
was named USOC Volunteer Coach of the
Year for Tennis. In addition, the USTA nomi-
nated Anne Smith, Ph.D. of Dallas, for the
“Doc” Counsilman Science Award for her
contributions in the areas of sports psychol-
ogy and mental training.
• Pete Sampras will join the six-player field
at the Del Mar Development Champions
Cup to be held March 18-22 at the Palmilla
Tennis Club in Los Cabos, Mexico. The Del
Mar Development Champions Cup is a first-
year event on the 2009 Outback Champi-
ons Series, the global tennis circuit for
champion tennis players age 30 and over.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 INDUSTRY NEWS

USTA Serves
Awards $1.2 Million
“U STA Serves—Foundation for Aca-
demics. Character. Excellence.,” the
philanthropic and charitable entity of the
USTA, announced that under the “Aces for
Kids” umbrella, it has awarded 39 grants,
17 in conjunction with the USTA Public
Affairs Committee, for a total of
$574,700. The funding source for the 17
grants is the U.S. Department of Justice.
The number of program grants awarded
in 2008 was 58, for a total amount of
$886,960. Combined with scholarship
awards, the Foundation distributed
almost $1.2 million in 2008.
USTA Serves awards “Aces for Kids”
grants to programs that successfully com-
bine tennis and education and help chil-
dren pursue their goals and highest
dreams by succeeding in school and
becoming responsible citizens. The non-
profit organizations selected for funding
offer a curriculum designed to address
school truancy, poor academic perform-
ance, gang activity, underage drinking
and drug abuse.
“It is extremely rewarding to see how
programs across the country are using
USTA Serves funding to help children
improve academically and learn positive
life skills,” says Karen Martin-Eliezer,
chief executive, USTA Serves.

Deadline March 1 for

Top 50 TWC Nominations
L ooking for more recognition for your
Tennis Welcome Center? Nominate
your facility, park, school, resort or
organization for “Top 50 Tennis Wel-
come Center” honors.
The TIA, USTA and RSI are looking
for the country’s best TWCs, those that
are leading the charge in t he growth of
the sport by providing well-rounded
programs to new and current players of
all ages and abilities. Nominations
close March 1. To nominate, visit
www.GrowingTennis.com and fill out a
quick survey. Categories are: private
facility; public/park & rec; resort;
school, college or university; commer-
cial facility; and Community Tennis
Association.

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13

 INDUSTRYNEWS M A R C H 2 0 0 9

Wilson Launches New FX Technology

W ilson says it has incorporated a new technology in its
[K] Factor line of frames for 2009. The next generation
of [K] Factor racquets, called FX, features a “Quad Shaft”
construction in the throat area that the company says
improves on the distribution of weight.
In [K] Factor FX frames, the throat has four shafts, versus
the conventional two, which means up to 23 percent more “tor-
sional” stability, says Wilson, and a more evenly distributed
mass resulting in added control.
The FX line also has four key technologies: [K]arophite
Black, [K]onnector, [K]ontour Yoke and [K]ompact Center,
which Wilson says results in three key benefits: increased
feel, more strength and stability, and a bigger sweetspot,
contributing to 64 percent more control.
“The new FX line offers what every level of player
needs: stability,” says Cory Springer, global business direc-
tor of racquets for Wilson. “We added this technology to
seven specific models, which we are confident will enhance
their performance.” This feature can be found in the new [K]
One.FX, [K] Three.FX, [K] Four.FX, [K] Zen Team.FX, [K]obra
Team.FX, [K] Pro Team.FX and [K] Tour Team.FX.
Wilson is hosting a sweepstakes that will award K Zen Team FX
K Cobra Team FX
one winner per month an FX racquet of their choice. K Tour Team FX
To enter the sweepstakes, visit www.wilsonten- K Four FX
nis.com/fx. For more information on the racquets, KK Three One FX
FX

visit www.wilson.com. K Pro Team FX

Serena Williams Tops WTT Draft

S erena Williams was the first pick in the Advanta WTT Pro League Marquee Play-
er Draft in early February. Williams will return for her fourth WTT season and
her second with the Washington Kastles.
The Advanta WTT Pro League, co-founded by Billie Jean King, is a professional
co-ed sports league playing in a team format in 10 U.S. markets. The 2009 season
is July 2 to 26, concluding with the Advanta WTT Championship Weekend.
The WTT lineup also will include Venus Williams playing for the Philadelphia
Freedoms. Bob and Mike Bryan will again play for the Kansas City Explorers, and
Anna Kournikova will play for the St. Louis Aces.
Other marquee players include John McEnroe (New York Sportimes), Martina
Navratilova (Boston Lobsters) and Michael Chang (Sacramento Capitals).

Hinding Completes
Private Indoor Court
Hinding Tennis of West Haven,
Conn., recently completed a pri-
vate indoor court in a Boston
suburb for former top-ranked
college player Tina Smith. The
surface is Hinding’s patented
Cushion Extreme System, a
resilient, poured-in-place cush-
ion system that can be installed
indoors, outdoors and on
cracked courts. “The court plays
fantastic,” says Smith. Contact (203) 285-3055 or visit www.hindingtennis.com.

14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 T I A N E W S M A R C H 2 0 0 9

NEWS & UPDATES

News You Can Use! Ball & Racquet Shipments Hold Steady in 2008

E
As we all keep a conomic concerns in the fourth quarter
watchful eye on of 2008 put a slight damper on gains
the economy, now made to the third quarter for ball and
is the time for us racquet shipments, but overall, the markets
to take advantage are still well ahead of five years ago. The year
finished with an increase of 1.0% for balls and
Jolyn de Boer of the popularity
of tennis. We need 1.6% for racquets. The annual total of 131 mil-
to do all we can to attract new lion ball units is 16% ahead of 2003, while 4.5
people to the sport, and to million racquet units is still an impressive 44%
bring former players back to the ahead of 2003.
game. And with
spring just around
the corner, we
GrowingTennis.com: Grow the Grassroots!
have a great vehi- At this free, comprehensive site you can eas-
Your Complete Source
Register Now ...
ily register your facility and programs, post-
ing your information on “postcards” so that
cle to use to pro-

B
ecome an official site at
itʼs searchable on consumer websites. Con-
mote the sport. GrowingTennis.com and you’ll
sumers can also have the option of enrolling
right online for one of your programs or clin-
On March 2, in receive the following:
Q Free Program & Facility listings on consumer
ics. In the second half of 2008, consumer
conjunction with
queries to the postcard and find-a-program
the live telecast of search engines.
Q Marketing kit ($100 value) that includes
the BNP Paribas features of GrowingTennis.com reached
nearly 25 million. And facilities using the sys- banners and promotional materials to help
tem increased 67% for the same time period.
Showdown for
the Billie Jean drive business to your programs and facility.
King Cup (see Q Access to free drills and video, CDs and music offerings.
page 7), the USTA Q Take advantage of sponsor offers for members, including special
is running a major pricing and discounts on equipment and merchandise to reward
promotion: those facilities that become official sites.
“Tennis Night in Q Free publicity and the opportunity to showcase your facility as a
America.” Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center.
Q From $250 to $2,500 in co-op marketing & advertising dollars to
Tennis Night will help grow your business.
feature the first-
ever National Youth Registra-
tion, encouraging kids to sign TennisConnect Retailer Now Available!
up for league play. But it’s a

great time for you to register
your facility as a Tennis Wel-
come Center, offering Cardio
Tennis, QuickStart Tennis or any
other new-player program. Plus,
you get free tools and market-
ing support to promote your
facility and programs.
Go to our revamped site—
GrowingTennis.com—and see
how easy it is to get free pub-
licity to reach thousands of
potential new players.
N
ew for 2009, TennisConnect Retailer is a comprehensive service
for tennis merchants and pro shop managers to enhance their web
presence with an online catalog, racquet demo center and string
center, in addition to all of the unique functions of TennisConnect.
TennisConnect has been proven to help facility operators grow their tennis business and rev-
enue through tools that include court scheduler, group email, e-calendar, website builder and
online player matching. Now, the new “Retailer” version allows you to display thousands of prod-
ucts that come with a centrally maintained storefront, access to manufacturer-supplied branded
plug-ins, and “pick & click” technology on your own designated web address.
As a retailer, the online catalog is designed to showcase the brands that you promote, the
demo racquet center allows you to track your inventory, and the online string center takes a work-
flow-based approach to automating the restringing process through a thorough tracking and doc-
umentation system. For more information, call the TIA at 866-686-3036 or visit
tennisconnect.com or email us at info@TennisConnect.com.

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17
&
market-
All in the Details
Ask With members, often it’s the
little things that make the
biggest difference. B Y R O D H E C K E L M A N
ou remodel a large portion of your the children bring home from school? There’s

Y club at great expense and feel very

proud of your accomplishments. A
number of members point out what an
improvement it has made, but overall, the
response is business as usual and life at
the club goes on.
Then one day you replace your weigh-
ing scale in the women’s locker room, and
it’s as if you had discovered a cure to a
major decease. Almost overnight, the atti-
tude of the club, especially from the
women, has changed. Compliments and
accolades abound, and it only took a few
dollars. In the big scheme of things, you
just spent a minimal amount of money,
yet it had a major impact on your
membership.
This is a perfect illustration of how
members perceive the quality and charac-
ter of their club. Often, it’s the little things
that make the biggest difference. The rea-
son is that these little things are not little
things to the members. Being able to
accurately measure your weight might be
the most important part of a member’s
day. They’ve been working out, trying for
months to get in shape, and that scale is
their way of measuring success or failure.
Life is full of surprises for your mem-
bers. What will the traffic be like? What
will the work day conjure up? What will
so much that your members just don’t have
control over, and it can be very exasperating.
When they come to the club, they don’t want
that same experience—they want that scale
to work the right way every day, no
exceptions.
CHANGING FUNCTIONS
If you look closely at your facility, you will
notice a number of areas and functions that
fall into this category. Try as you may, you
will never find a way to keep many of these
factors under control every day. Your best
approach is to accept the fact that your club
will have a number of functions that are vul-
nerable to change and erratic behavior.
Make a list of these areas, and create an
agenda that will allow the monitoring of
these areas.
Here’s a list that might work for you, or
at least get you started in the right direction.
We might as well start with the scales. Take
the time to check that they are adjusted cor-
rectly every day. Scales can get moved
around during cleaning and can lose their
accuracy.
Speaking of accuracy, how many clocks
do you have in your club? With classes and
court times, you need to keep everything
synchronized. This is especially important to
members because many will take off their
watches when working out, playing or swim-
ming. They become dependent on the clocks
at your facility. It can be very disruptive if
someone is playing on the tennis courts
where the clocks are off by several minutes,
and you have designated court times.
One thing that is constantly subject to
member scrutiny is the room temperatures. If
a yoga room is too cold or a spin cycle room
too warm, you will get an earful from the
members using that space. As much as you
would like to lock down the thermostats, it’s
not uncommon to have employees and even
members try to adjust them. There’s also the
possibility that the AC or heating system may
have mechanical issues that need to be
addressed.
Often more important than the tempera-
ture of the rooms is the temperature of the
swimming pools, Jacuzzi, steam room or
shower water. Any variation in the tempera-
ture of these amenities and members will take
notice. Even a single degree can be detected
by an experienced swimmer. Don’t take their
comments lightly—the pool temperature is
important to serious swimmers or those who
are using the pool for rehabilitation.
Speaking of water, do you have a way to
monitor the water pressure for your facility?
When you are filling the pool, does the pres-
sure drop in the showers? Members are acute-
ly aware of this pressure, and with water
conservation a concern, you need to let your
members know that you are on top of it.
Some will say that you should lower the water
pressure in showers to save water, while oth-
ers, especially those with long hair, will tell
you that it is wasteful not to have good water
pressure because it will take so much longer
to wash the shampoo out of their hair. What-
ever resolution you come to, you will want to
keep things consistent and stable.

18 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com


Ask Headline
CLUB AMBIENCE
BYLINE?
Stabilizing functions at the club
is always important when there
are different opinions as to what
is best. This will come up in the
area of music, not only in the vol-
ume, but also in the type of music
played. It will take some effort to find
what works best for everyone, and to make
sure that effort is not wasted, monitor the
music daily so that the issue doesn’t come
up again.
On the subject of ambience, review
your lighting daily. Are the lights staying on
too long? Have you adjusted the timers for
seasonal time changes? This is an area that
is also important for safety. A bulb that has
gone out and has not been replaced for a
few days can be a liability if it is located in
a high traffic area. Lights burn out, and
they never give you a warning when. Only
a daily check will keep you abreast of this.
If your facility has different sports avail-
able to members, many of those sports use
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
& SUCCESS
equipment that needs daily monitoring. The
height of the nets on the tennis courts, the lane
lines in the pool, or maybe the equipment used
by some of the fitness classes, all need to be
kept up to snuff so that the members are able
to enjoy the sport or class on a consistent basis.
Finally, there are a number of products that
you provide your members for their daily use.
They count on these products being available
24/7. Are the water dispensers filled and cups
available? If you provide coffee, do you also
have cream, sugar and decaf handy? Are all the
soap, towel and paper supplies kept filled? Are
the chairs around the pool stacked properly and
kept clean? Are the tennis court scorecards
available for use?
There is a myriad of items that require
inventory awareness and regulating, so you
market-
need to not only have a list, but
look toward expanding that list as
your club evolves. Creating this
walkthrough list will help you
remember things that you don’t
want to keep hearing about. On
those days when you hear nothing
from the membership, you’ll know you
have a handle on the details of your club.
The details may be the most important
aspect of your club operation, but they
essentially go unnoticed until there is a
problem. Q
Rod Heckelman is the general
manager and tennis pro at the
Mount Tam Racquet Club in
Marin County, Calif., where he
has been for the last 31 years.
His career in the industry start-
ed in 1967 at the famed John Gardiner’s
Tennis Ranch. In 1970, when Gardiner
opened his resort on Camelback Mountain
in Scottsdale, Ariz., Heckelman, at age 20,
became one of the youngest head pros in
the country. He created the “Facility Man-
ager’s Manual” based on his years of expe-
rience in the tennis business.
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 19
 TENNISWEAR

FASHION
FOCUS
Apparel makers are hoping
performance features, details
and color will grab players’
attention.
pparel manufacturers, like the rest of us, certainly

A are concerned about what the challenging economy

will mean for their sales. But that hasn’t stopped
them from continuing to ratchet up the performance fea-
tures, detailing, and eye-catching colors of their tennis
clothes.
Players always want to feel comfortable on the court, says
Fila’s Lauren Mallon. They want moisture wicking, a good fit,
and color, an important trend in itself because “people want to
stand apart and be unique.”
Here are some of the ways apparel makers are helping
players feel unique. —Cynthia Sherman

LBH
LBH Group graces the court with easy-wear
clothing in summery soft greens and yellows.
The Wimbledon Covent Garden collection fea-
tures a variety of tanks and mix-and-match
solid and print skirts in pretty florals. Outfits
are a poly/spandex performance fabric with a
50+ UV protection.
lbhgroup.com
310-768-0300

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 Bolle
Watery blues, bright limes, vibrant yellows are standout colors for
Bolle. For the Blue Lagoon group, dresses make a debut featuring flir-
ty layered hems with built-in bra, and tops and skirts in confetti
prints paired with solids. The Lime Light group also has mix-and-
match athletic-fit pieces from a mod paisley print strappy tank to a
color-blocked dress in white offset by bold flashes of lime and black.
Bolle’s Lemoncello high-performance pieces in bright yellow, comple-
mented by graphite, sport a wide selection of tops, pleated skirts,
shorts and capris for on the court as well as sporty casual wear
around town.
bolletenniswear.com
301-362-0360

Fila
Design and technology come together in Fila’s latest fashions, with details
like mesh and fabric overlays and body-mapping technology, which aids in
comfort by using seamless panels that helps breathability. Fila captures the
trendy/preppy look with a variety of blues, reds and limes. For women,
dresses continue to be popular, with details like ruffles and drawstring
hems and waists to customize fit. Micro-poly blends and poly-spandex con-
tribute to comfort and performance. Fila say men’s tennis clothing is
becoming more popular, and the company offers shorts in a variety of
lengths, T’s, polos, and go-with sweater vests. Red, white and blue and
striping and piping details are focal points for the new Heritage line. Fila
tour pros include James Blake, Dimitry Tursunov, Janko Tipsarevic, Agnes
Szavay and Anna Chakvetadze.
www.fila.com
410-773-3000

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21

 Diadora
Diadora’s fashion-oriented pieces offer a more basic, yet
colorful look that works especially well for teams. The Pas-
sione Skirt in 100 percent DiaDry comes in a variety of
bold colors; the Isabella tank for Spring is a poly/spandex
blend combined with DiaDry mesh and comes in red/navy,
white/navy and black/white. A Caprise zip jacket/pant set is
a great cover-up between sets or around town and is
offered in navy or black in 100 percent DiaDry polyester
with mesh inserts in the pants for breathability.
diadoraamerica.com

Eliza Audley
An avid tennis player herself, Eliza Audley designed clothing
for upscale St. John Knit before branching out with her own
line of tenniswear. “I make my clothing dimensional, so it’s
not cookie-cutter,” she says. Her “couture” approach
includes appliqué signature pieces using black and white as
a base. A poly/spandex tank dress in black and white with
white rose circle appliqué detail gives the illusion of being
form–fitting, but is quite figure-friendly (it also comes in
white with black appliqué). Another poly/lycra dress is a
sheer rose overlay: a printed base fabric and printed mesh
with a contrasting band at the bottom and featuring a
cupped support bra. A triangle tank camisole and sheer
overlay circle skirt is figure-flattering. Details including mak-
ing the back of the skirts slightly longer, so as it’s worn in
play, it will appear even all around.
elizaaudley.com
262-691-4770

22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 Tail
Standout colors for Tail are icy pinks, moving into citrusy tones. With a
variety of skirts, tops, warm-ups and dresses in pink/black/white and
foil prints, the Frosted Rose collection typifies cool and sleek and
speaks to both performance and fashion. The Meryl/Lycra jersey fabri-
cation keeps things fluid and comfortable. An athletic-fit color-block
tank and accompanying skirt with shorties means business. The Citrus
Infusion collection refreshes and dominates with apple greens, mid-
night blues with splashes of yellow. Color-blocking, strapping and mesh
add detail and variety to a game-print flouncy skirt and top. The collec-
tion also features an athletic-fit color-block dress with comfort bra.
tailinc.com • 305-638-2650

Lejay
Emphasizing fashion detail, Lejay’s graphic designs
are sharply presented in their high-tech Vertex collec-
tion. A black and white geometric tank pairs with a V-
yoke skort in white. Going forward into summer, the
Santorini collection features an ocean blue/white
color-blocked dress with a built-in bra for added
support.
lejay.com
800-932-7535

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25
 PIMP YOUR
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
COURTS! You can spruce up your facility in just
a few days and make it even more
T
he club tournament is coming up, tennis camp registrations are
coming in and membership recruitment is under way. Your
courts need a facelift—a do-it-yourself, one-weekend facelift—
if such a thing exists.
Sure thing, say professionals in the tennis court industry.
Assuming the courts are structurally sound, it’s just a matter of
COURT SURFACE CARE
cleaning off and sprucing up.
“Outdoor all-weather courts should be cleaned on a regular basis,”
says Bill Righter of Nova Sports USA in Milford, Mass. “Any loose
dirt should be removed by sweeping or blowing. If the court is
shaded and has mildew growing on it, the mildew should be
removed by washing the area with a solution of one gallon of
water, one cup of HTH, and two tablespoons of liquid dish deter-
gent. Apply the solution with a stiff nylon brush or broom and let
stand for 20 minutes, then rinse well.”
If using a power-washer, say the pros, use caution. “Power-
washing is a great way to give new life to a dirty or stained hard
court,” says Mark Brogan of Pro-Sport Construction in Devon, Pa.
“However, this should be done by a qualified person with experi-
ence using a power-washer. Surface cleaning machines connected
to a power-washer offer excellent results with minimal risk of dam-
age to the court. Owners should be
very careful about allowing persons
to power-wash with a hand-held
wand as many courts are damaged
and the final result can be very
inconsistent.”
We’ve found in some cases that
hard court owners are pleasantly
surprised after a pressure wash-
ing,” adds Lee Murray of Competi-
tion Athletic Surfaces Inc. in
Chattanooga, Tenn. “This may buy
26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
appealing for players.
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
them a year or so before they feel a recoating is needed.”
Jonnie Deremo of General Acrylics Inc. in Phoenix says the
power washer also should be used on the sidewalks around the
court. “It makes a difference,” he notes, adding that players
appreciate the clean surfaces.
Tennis court lights lose their brightness over time. Bruce Fra-
sure of LSI Courtsider Lighting in Cincinnati recommends relamp-
ing. It increases the “wow” factor of the court by improving the
NETS AND POSTS
light levels by as much as 30 to 40 percent.
Take a look at the court net, advises Brad Fandel of Douglas
Industries in Eldridge, Iowa. Consider not only how it looks, but
also how it plays.
“Make sure the tennis net, center strap and various compo-
nents are structurally sound,” he says. “Overall, if both appear-
ance and condition are acceptable, perhaps just some minor
cleaning and touching up can help make the entire court look
refreshed.
“Clean the headband of the net with a mild detergent and
warm water. Be careful of using cleaners containing bleach as
they may discolor some headbands and can harm the court sur-
face if spilled. If the headband is still too dirty or stained, consid-
er purchasing a replacement
headband that can be attached
over top of your existing net using
the replacement’s lacing eyelets
and lacing cord. It may save you
some money and buy you some
time before replacing the net, but
often it is much less hassle and
more cost-effective to go ahead
and buy a new net.”
Fandel has other suggestions,
including installation of new cen-
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
ter straps to dress up old nets.
(However, he cautions, a new
white center strap might make an
old net look more worn). New
dowels, steel cables and lacing
cord are also available from man-
ufacturers.
Check your net posts as well,
and look for signs of wear, says
Brogan. “Before re-installing the
nets, wire-brush or sand any rust
spots on the net posts. Prime the
rust spots with a stop-rust prod-
uct such as Rustoleum, then
apply a finish coat of outdoor
Rustoleum.”
Richard Zaino of Zaino Tennis
Courts in Orange, Calif., says that
often, court owners fail to
remove removable net posts
from sleeves, leading to a buildup players have as
of dirt, rust and other contaminants between the post and sleeve. they enter the
Posts should be removed from sleeves at least annually, and both court. See that
the posts and sleeves cleaned, then primed with an anti-rust prod- gates open and
uct. “This,” Zaino says, “will help to save the existing net post, get close easily and
the most from the original installation and save the owner from replace any miss-
having to replace with new net posts, core drilling and/or saw cut- ing hardware.”

WINDSCREENS
ting the slab for these new posts.” And you can
increase your facili-
ty’s appeal with
“The product that contributes the most to your court's aesthetics landscaped areas
is a 9-foot-high windscreen placed around all sides of the court,” for player to con-
says Robert Hellerson of the J.A. Cissel Manufacturing Co. in Lake- gregate. Tables,
wood, N.J. benches, cabanas
True, as long as the windscreen looks good. Fandel recom- and shade ramadas
mends hosing down windscreens to clean them, as well as all invite player
“inspecting your entire windscreen to make sure there are no rips interaction, as does
or loose attachments to the fence. Pay attention to the hem and a weather-protect-
grommet areas. When the windscreen is attached to the fence, ed posting area for
make sure every grommet is being used with whatever attach- player information.
ment device was recommended (i.e. tie-wraps, lacing cord, etc.). Don’t forget
Ripped hems, loose grommets and windscreen that has come other conve-
loose from the fence are not only unattractive, they can cause niences, too, such as scorekeepers, water coolers, trash cans and
damage to the windscreen.” court valets to hold players’ keys, towels and water bottles, says
Windscreen made of vinyl-coated polyester, says Fandel, can Hellerson. “These accessories typically come in colors to coordi-
receive serious damage if left to flap in the wind, since “the vinyl nate with your court equipment and landscaping and can go a long
coating and polyester layers separate and permanently damage way in making your courts look more user-friendly.”
the windscreen. This separation not only looks bad, but once it So grab that checklist and put in a few days of sweat equity.
starts, it then migrates throughout the entire panel, creating a real Then bring on the tennis campers, the tournament players and the
eyesore.” potential members. Your courts will be ready. 
Adds Brogan: “If re-installing windscreens ‘in house,’ consult a
qualified tennis court contractor to learn how to properly install The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) is a non-profit associ-
the screens to minimize wrinkles and also to prevent damage to ation helping designers, builders, owners, operators and users under-
stand quality sports facility construction. The ASBA sponsors informative
the fence. Properly installed windscreens can make a huge dif-
meetings and publishes newsletters, books and technical construction

WHAT ELSE?
ference in the aesthetics of the facility.”
“Check the gates,” advises Zaino. “This is the first impression
guidelines for athletic facilities including tennis courts. Available at no
charge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, as well
as the ASBA’s Membership Directory. 866-501-ASBA (2722) or
www.sportsbuilders.org

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27

 FIND THE
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
RIGHT FIX
N
o matter how well built your court is, eventually it’s going to
show its age. In a hard court, that might mean cracks, worn
spots or uneven areas. A soft court (clay or fast-dry) might
have areas where surfacing is thin or irregular.
Problem is, you’ve asked for advice from a few of your col-
leagues who went through this not too long ago with their courts.
It turns out that one person’s courts needed recoating. Another
needed an overlay, while the third required total reconstruction.
How do you know what your court really needs? How do you
avoid being oversold and get the best value for your money? Basi-
cally, say tennis court builders, it helps to have an understanding
of how a tennis court is constructed and how it wears.
HARD COURTS
According to one industry poll, more than 70 percent of the tennis
courts in the U.S. are hard courts—asphalt or concrete pavements
with an acrylic surface coating system. Asphalt courts make up the
majority of all hard courts. Asphalt is a flexible pavement, able to
“give” slightly with ground movement due to settling or
freeze/thaw cycles. As it ages and weathers, it oxidizes, shrinks and
hardens, making it less flexible and more prone to cracking. (Con-
crete, while harder and generally more expensive than asphalt, has
fewer cracking problems.)
To the untrained eye, cracks just plain look bad. To a contrac-
tor who specializes in tennis courts, however, certain cracks mean
certain things. Some signify a need for resurfacing. Some indicate
the court could be renewed using a membrane, stone screening or
overlay process. Some must be totally reconstructed.
“To explain the resurfacing vs. reconstruction issue, it’s helpful
to go over the basics,” says Lee Murray of Competition Sport Sur-
28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
Whether you have hard or
soft courts, they’ll eventually
need work. How do you know
what your courts really
need?
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
faces in Chattanooga, Tenn. “I like to remind the customer that
underneath every hard or cushioned tennis court surface is pave-
ment. A serious evaluation of any tennis court surface must
include an evaluation of the underlying pavement and the issues
that impact that pavement, most importantly drainage and com-
paction. Problems with the court surface often can be traced to
problems in the underlying pavement.”
Resurfacing
In terms of tennis courts, repair and recoating (also known as
resurfacing) is generally the least expensive option. It is normally
required during the life of the facility, and addresses the surface
of the court, where wear and tear first becomes apparent.
“Resurfacing leaves the existing substrate, typically asphalt or
concrete, intact,” says Steve Wright of Trans Texas Tennis in
Houston. “The existing surface is thoroughly cleaned by pressure
washing, cracks are filled—with the understanding that they may
reappear or lengthen beyond the current repair—birdbaths are
filled, high areas ground down, and new surface coatings are
applied over the existing surface. Resurfacing is usually done if
the courts drain reasonably well after a rainstorm, the existing
coatings may be worn down but are still bonded to the substrate,
cracking is relatively minor, and there is no extreme unevenness
in the court surface.”
Mid-Level Repair
If resurfacing is considered the lower end of tennis court rehab
work, then membranes, stone screenings and overlays are the
middle level, and may be advisable for badly cracked courts. A
geotextile membrane or a layer of stone screenings is laid over
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
the old court, followed by an overlay of asphalt or reinforced con-
crete, installed in lifts. Finally, the court is recoated.
Bob Hale of Halecon in Bridgewater, N.J., calls it “an alterna-
tive that falls between simple resurfacing and a total reconstruc-
tion.” Matt Hale, also of Halecon, says that the method is less
expensive than reconstruction, but more than resurfacing. Essen-
tially, it allows a new court to be built on top of an old base, with-
out having the cracking or instability of the old court mirrored in
the new facility.
Reconstruction
But low-level and even mid-level fixes won’t work if structural
problems are profound. Then, reconstruction is warranted. David
Clapp of Baseline Sports LLC in Knoxville, Tenn., has a list of
problems indicating a need for reconstruction: “Large structural
cracks, structural cracks throughout the slab, settlement in the
foundation in part or whole. With asphalt foundations, the
asphalt binders deteriorating exposing the rocks, stone screen-
ings, deep pockets in the asphalt. The asphalt foundation is wear-
ing out and this condition many times goes along with the
structural cracks, settlement, and also heaving of the asphalt
foundation.”
Like the other options, reconstruction is a multi-step process.
To David Marsden of Boston Tennis Court Construction Co. of
Hanover, Mass., reconstruction includes pulverizing an asphalt
surface, stripping and hauling the surface, examination of the
base materials for suitability, application of a new all-weather
surface, installation of new net posts, application of acrylic color
surface and lines, and fence repairs or replacement. (Growing in
popularity is the environmentally friendly technique of recycling
asphalt by pulverizing it and mixing it with the existing aggre-
gate, then compacting and leveling it to form a new base).
Reconstruction is the more extensive but long-term solution
to be used in courts with severe problems. “If a project is in such
condition that it needs reconstruction, I would not recommend
resurfacing with asphalt or an acrylic coating system. This will
only hide the problem temporarily,” notes Herb Osburn of Ten-
nis Courts Inc. in Aylett, Va.
Other Hard Court Ideas
While there are three main approaches to problem hard courts,
other options exist. Conversion to a different surface can be
accomplished with a modular or a roll-goods product, or a sand-
filled turf system.
Occasionally, following reconstruction of the sub-base and/or
base of a hard court, that court may be converted to clay or fast-
dry, or to post-tensioned concrete. Qualified court builders can
SOFT COURTS
provide recommendations.
In soft courts (those with clay or a fast-dry surface), a base course
of processed stone is installed over a stable sub-base. A leveling
course is installed over the base, and a layer of surfacing mater-
ial (either clay or fast-dry) is spread on top.
Regular maintenance (after each match or after three to four
hours of play) includes dragging the court with a broom and
brushing the playing lines clean. The court needs to be compact-
ed by rolling periodically, and requires at least annual removal of
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
any dried material and replacement with new surfacing, patching
of low spots and leveling of high ones.
“Fast-dry courts rarely require total reconstruction,” says Pat
Hanssen of Lee Tennis Products in Charlottesville, Va. “Most of the
time simple renovation will get the courts up and running as if
they were brand new. As long as the base layers remain stable,
compactable and porous, there is not any reason they should ever
need to be replaced or the court reconstructed.”
However, periodic renovation, Hanssen adds, is inevitable.
“Regardless of how diligently you maintain your courts, the sur-
face is going to wear. In fact, from the moment a new court is
built, the forces of nature and everyday use are altering its profile.
If left unchecked, the results are poor drainage, worn and slippery
top surface, bad bounces, and stone screenings popping up from
the base below. Hence the need for renovation in the form of sur-
face reconditioning and periodically, a laser lift.”
A lift, using a laser grader, re-establishes proper court slope and
keeps the surfacing even. Hanssen says laser grading “typically is
required every 10 to 15 years.”
PREVENTION 101
Builders advise regular maintenance and thorough documentation
to help court owners and managers prolong any facility’s useful
life.
“It’s a good idea to blow off the court on a regular basis,” says
Bill Righter of Nova Sports USA in Milford, Mass. “This will help
extend the life of the all-weather surface by keeping it clean. Dirty
courts wear prematurely.”
Richard Zaino of Zaino Tennis Courts in Orange, Calif., advo-
cates checking and cleaning drains, something “neglected too fre-
quently. Check area drains outside the court. Repair any broken
drainpipes. Was the court built over a drain sewage line? Check
these drains for breaks or leaks. Keep expansion joints caulked
and sealed to avoid water penetration below the court slab.
Unwanted water drainage under the slab can cause heaving or
settlement.”
Still not sure what your court needs? Get a second opinion. One
contractor’s recommendation might leave you puzzled, but anoth-
er could put your mind at ease. Ask questions, take notes and
most importantly, make sure both you and the professionals with
whom you speak understand your needs, your concerns and your
budget. 
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29
 YOUR COURT
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

MAINTENANCE PLANNER

30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

Use this chart—put together by the ASBA and USTA—to help you
keep your courts and facility in top shape at all times.

Reprinted with permission from “Tennis Courts: A Construction and

Maintenance Manual,” jointly published by the ASBA and USTA and
available at www.sportsbuilders.org.

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 31

 SHORT
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
DIVISION
With permanent lines and courts for
the QuickStart Tennis format, facilities
will bring more kids into the game,
and bring in more revenue, too.
T
he QuickStart Tennis format, with its shorter courts, softer balls
and smaller racquets, entered the market in early 2008,
designed to make tennis more user-friendly for kids. And like
Little League baseball, its purpose is to teach the fundamentals
without ever losing the fun.
And QuickStart is catching on. Private clubs and camps, as well
as parks and recreation facilities, are embracing the idea of using
smaller courts (see box on facing page for dimensions) to teach
children to play tennis. While the QST format ultimately is aimed
at the 10-and-under set—in an attempt to both increase overall ten-
nis participation and to create future American tennis champions—
QuickStart is having an even more immediate benefit. It’s making
money for those who implement it.
“‘Catching on’ is an understatement,” says Jim Reffkin, director
of tennis at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson. “We are doing fan-
tastic with QST.” Reffkin, whose facility was actually ahead of the
curve, put in its own shorter courts two years ago. When the USTA
introduced QuickStart, Randolph got on board. Of the facility’s 25
courts, 10 are now permanently lined with QST dimensions.
“This is right over the existing championship 10 courts that we
use for a variety of national championships we host every year,”
says Reffkin. “Yes, the courts have extra lines and are used for both
QST and regular match play.”
In 2008, Reffkin’s facility collaborated with the Tucson Com-
munity Tennis Program, its own summer NJTL program and its
ongoing junior clinics—and they saw QST explode in popularity.
“We’ve reached over a thousand chil-
For more information on the dren with QST,” he says. “We have at least
QuickStart Tennis format—includ- 15 events every year now, and we foresee
ing court specifications—visit these same kids participating in Junior
partners.quickstarttenis.com. Team Tennis, which for the last 10 years
has gotten very little participation in South-
32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
ern Arizona. In other words, we are developing infrastructure
with a broad base of young children that we will retain for future
ongoing USTA programming: Junior Team Tennis, High School
PERMANENT QST COURTS
Tennis, College Campus Tennis and adult league tennis.”
According to Virgil Christian, director of community tennis devel-
opment at the USTA, there are already nearly 200 permanent
QST courts (standalone and lined), with an additional 516 courts
in various stages of development. And theoretically, he says, that
Benefits Times Three
can translate into new income for the
facilities that use the format. As an
example, a facility lined for the QST for-
Implementing QST has a
mat has the potential to bring in four
three-way boost:
times the current programming because
one 78-foot court is made into four 36-  Creates a new generation
foot courts. of players.
This is particularly relevant in the  New programming = more
current economic climate, where rather income for facilities.
than dropping their tennis facility mem-  Allows court builders to
berships, families are using them for all reach more courts; adding
they’re worth. new playing lines allows
“Decisions made are for the long- builders to inspect facilities
term benefit,” notes Christian. “It’s and recommend any nec-
proven that participation for teens and essary repairs to manager.
young adults declines in soccer, base-
ball, football or other top youth sports after kids enter their teen
years. Parks are in the business to ‘efficiently maintain and oper-
ate park facilities, to provide recreational programs for the enjoy-
ment and health of all our citizens, and seek partnerships to
maximize recreational opportunities for our community.’ All of
that can be accomplished with help from the USTA.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 “Clubs are in the business to make money—the QST format
helps capture more players [which translates into more money
immediately] at a younger age with successful results to keep
them interested in tennis [which translates into more money
over a lifetime]. Scaled-down courts and equipment is a proven
method used by other sports and other countries for years, so
OVERCOMING RESISTANCE
the risk is minimal.”
While the benefits may be many, there may be a few obstacles
to overcome—from those who have not seen the program in
action and who fear losing playing facilities. Mary Thompson,
executive director of the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Tennis Association,
says when her organization decided to renovate a three-court
complex at Spellerberg Park to create eight short courts (photo
on facing page) and leave one regulation court, there were
complaints—at least initially.
“There has been total support from our tennis communi-
ty—once they understood what it was about,” says Thompson.
“At first, they cried that they were losing courts. We explained
that those courts were not overly used, were in a great location
for this project, and that the future of tennis would be better
met with this new layout and teaching format. We had almost
1,000 participants in our summer lesson program, with maybe
50 or so at Spellerberg. We fully anticipate a much larger par-
ticipation count in ’09.”
Success breeds success. When other children hear that their
friends are having a good time learning a new sport that was
easy to take up, they start asking their parents if they, too, can
participate. And parents, who can immediately see their chil-
dren’s progress, are more apt to encourage them to continue.
“The parents of the young players really like the new format
as they see how much fun the players are actually having,”
says J. Scott Laakso, recreation and tennis supervisor for
Roswell (Ga.) Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs
Department. “The players progress at a fairly rapid rate to
where they can play a match in only two short weeks of prac-
ADDING QST LINES
tice.”
While the enthusiasm to grow the game is there, not everyone
is eager to jump right in. The good news is that implementing
QST doesn’t have to mean dramatic and irreversible physical
changes to a facility—and (perhaps the bigger point) it can be
accomplished without a huge investment.
Depending upon the type of facility, and upon the enroll-
ment desired, a client may simply decide to have one or more
courts lined for QST play. Laakso says the lines for Roswell’s
QST courts are simply painted in light blue onto pre-existing
courts, but that “the players love them. The permanent lines
give the program more significance than rollout lines or mask-
ing tape. The players feel more important with their own courts
painted right onto the regular court surface.”
And after all, say builders, having courts that are lined for
both QST and regular play allows kids to graduate to playing on
a standard court, without switching to a new facility, when
their skills develop.
“We quoted a two-court resurfacing job that included strip-
ing courts for QuickStart in addition to regulation play,” says
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Steve Wright of Trans Texas Tennis Inc. in Houston. “The project
will probably be done this summer. One court was a 60-foot
court. The other court has four 36-foot courts perpendicular to
the net.”
The one thing QST isn’t, however, is a hands-free formula.
This is not, say the experts, a scenario for “if you build it, they
fkin, managers have to bring Courts Sized to the Kids
will come.” According to Ref-
their best game as well (see In regulation tennis, the space within the
box below) and put it into playing lines is 36 feet wide and 78 feet long,
action in order to maximize with an overall court area that is 60 feet
the return. wide and 120 feet long.
One of the most attractive
In the QuickStart Tennis format, the courts
aspects of QST for new play-
are 18 feet wide and 36 feet long for ages 5
ers is the ability to master the
to 8. Ages 9 and 10 use 60-foot-long courts.
strokes while controlling the
ball. Perhaps, then, it’s no Adult nets are 42 inches at the post and 36-
surprise that according to inches at the center strap.
Christian, senior markets
In QuickStart, for kids 8 and under, the net is
have also begun to show an
18 feet long and 2-feet, 9-inches high. Older
interest in the 60-foot courts.
kids use a regulation net if they are playing
Not a surprise at all, says
on a court with an existing net, and a net
Reffkin, who discovered that
that is 3 feet in height otherwise.
bonus when Randolph initiat-
several years back. “Beginner Not for the Passive
ed short-court programming
and advanced beginner QST isn’t just about shorter courts; it’s about
adults love it,” he says. taking a dynamic approach to bringing in
“Using the same format, we new players and ramping up enthusiasm and
also have at least one adult prestige.
QST event a month. Our
basic five-hour, one hour per According to Jim Reffkin, managers must:
week, beginner adult clinics  Recruit QST players’ parents to take lessons;
stress match play. Often- recruit the children of adult beginners to get
times, as early as in the sec- into QST format teaching.
ond lesson, (adults) are  Create “QST parent associations” like youth
playing matches and entering soccer, baseball and others have developed.
their first QuickStart adult  Have structured QST competitive events
tournament.” scheduled for the entire year, every year.
QST may well be the  Have a credible ranking of ability for QST
springboard to producing participants both junior and adult.
future champions. But for  Have appropriate marketing materials: entry
now, it’s a way to bring ten- blanks, posters, local advertising.
nis to places like the school  Solicit sponsors for QST events as is done for
gymnasium, playground, USTA sanctioned tournaments.
parking lot and even the  Recruit designated teaching professionals.
workplace.  Have annual citywide events as well as state
“We have done it tem- events to establish credibility.
porarily inside our plant for a  Continue to concentrate and focus resources
tennis day event we did for on the needs of the consumer and the future
our 40 staff associates,” says of tennis as a recreational sport.
Randy Futty of Lee Tennis
Products in Charlottesville,
Va. “It was fun as hell and not just for kids. Or maybe better said,
fun for kids of all ages.”
And it can bring the generations together. “I did see several
random players using the small courts when I would drive by,”
says Thompson, “usually an adult and child. I guess it isn't too
hard to figure out.” 
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33
 CRACKING
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

UP?
All hard courts will crack eventually, and
when they do, have a professional evaluate
the situation and suggest a remedy.

C
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER

racks in tennis courts aren’t too different from zombies in hor-
ror movies. No matter what you do to them, they just keep
coming back. It’s a problem that can drive court managers and
pros to distraction, and cause plenty of complaints among players
who want a smooth, unblemished surface for their game.
What might surprise everyone is the fact that the cracking itself
isn’t actually the problem. It is just a symptom. Another surprise?
There are different types of cracks, indicative of different problems
and conditions. Despite the fact that to the layperson, these cracks
may look similar—or even identical—they require different forms
of repair. A tennis court contractor is the best person to examine a
court in order to determine the cause of cracking, but a manager
should understand what will affect a court surface and cause cer-
tain conditions.
There are two general types of hard surface tennis courts: those
made of asphalt and those made of concrete. All courts will even-
tually show wear, and may even have different types of cracks.
Generally, cracking as seen on tennis courts falls into two cate-
gories: Surface cracks, which are relatively minor, and pavement
or structural cracks, which are more serious. (For a detailed and
ing lots, driveways and so forth, a tennis court pavement gets
only foot traffic. It lacks the constant weight of vehicle traffic,
which, contrary to what might be expected, serves to keep
asphalt pliable and delays the formation of cracks.
“Asphalt tennis courts typically last for 20 years or so before
reconstruction or some type of overlay system becomes neces-
sary,” notes Colin Donovan of Renner Sports Surfaces, based in
Denver. In many cases, he adds, the causes for the cracking are
beyond any contractor’s control.
Concrete courts, many contractors say, are harder and less
likely to crack. In particular, facilities made of post-tensioned con-
crete will hold without cracking for years because of the com-
pressive force being applied to the concrete slab.
How often cracks will appear, however, is not the point. The
most important factor is to keep up the integrity of the surface by
making sure that cracks, when they do occur, are evaluated by a
professional, who can recommend a remedy.
The one thing a court owner should not try, say contractors, is
the do-it-yourself approach, since it can result in more harm than
good. Because of the advances in tennis court repair products,

cracking, see the adjacent chart. Infor- It’ s In the Book

illustrated description of various types of there are a variety of treatment
options open to contractors that
mation on cracking, as well as other sur- “Tennis Courts: A Construction and may be considered, depending
face conditions, can also be found in Maintenance Manual,” jointly pub- upon the extent and cause of the
“Tennis Courts: A Construction and lished by the American Sports Builders

REPAIRING CRACKS
crack problem.
Maintenance Manual,” from which the Association and the USTA, has the
stated purpose of promoting quality
chart is taken. See the box at right for
construction, maintenance and repair

SURFACE INTEGRITY
more information on this manual.) “Almost any size crack can be
of tennis court facilities. The book is
written in a user-friendly format that appeals to tennis repaired with a membrane prod-
players and the general public, as well as to construction uct,” says Dave Baird of Industrial
Asphalt courts, no matter how well-built, and design professionals. The book costs $44.95 plus Surface Sealer Inc. of Cleveland. A
are going to crack. Whether indoor or postage and handling, and is available from the ASBA by membrane system is comprised of
outdoor, as the pavement ages, it going to www.sportsbuilders.org, or by calling 866-501- several layers of fabric adhered to
becomes brittle. And unlike roads, park- ASBA (2722). the court surface with bonding

34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 material that may be reinforced with fiberglass. Once the membrane is in
place, the court has to be coated with surfacing before it is again playable.
These membranes, Baird explains, act much the same way a drywall
repair does. There are several brand-name systems on the market; Baird
notes that his company has found a specific product, and has worked with
it for six years. “The customers love it,” he says, “because prior to that
the surface. Carry a camera to document any specific areas
of concern; the photos can be e-mailed to the contractor for
a quick consult, if necessary.
You can’t prevent cracks, but you can be proactive
about treating them, say professionals. And that’s half the
battle right there. 

COMMON TENNIS COURT PROBLEMS

repaving was the only option. The break-even or cost justification on indi-
vidual courts is that if a court has less than 800 lineal feet of cracks, it is
best to repair with a membrane. If the court has other issues such as bad
drainage or delamination, then paving and repair is the suggested method.
If a court is sound, drains well, no peeling, no delamination, and just has a
few cracks, then the membrane is the way to go.”
Membranes, however, are not the only methods on the market, as
Carvin Pallenberg of RiteWay Crack Repair and Cushion Tennis Courts in
West Haven, Conn., explains.
“Whatever the cause (of cracks), there are many ways to repair them,”
says Pallenberg. “If they are surface cracks, a

Do’ s and Don’ ts

good coat of acrylic resurfacer with sand may

 Do be vigilant about check-

solve the problem, depending on the depth of
the cracks. If cracks are deeper, such as cracks
ing courts for surface irreg-
ularities. along playing lines caused by the temperature
 Do take players’ concerns difference between the colored court and the
or complaints seriously and white lines, builders may want to fill with court
check out problems they patch binder made of sand, cement and latex,
might report. and buff smooth. Some contractors use a fiber-
 Don’t try self-fixes. Many glass mesh set in acrylic to cover spider cracking,
products are not made for which is when there is a lot of cracking in a given
tennis courts, and will only area. These methods are usually good for a cou-
mar the surface and make
ple of seasons.”
the problem worse.
 Don’t hesitate to call a con- With more serious structural cracks, Pallen-
tractor at the first sign of a berg notes, there are different repair options. “A
problem. temporary repair is to clean out the crack and fill
with court patch binder, buff smooth and re-
color, or fill with some kind of caulking. This, however, is temporary, and
the cracks will return in a short time—days or weeks. A more permanent
repair is an overlay system, and these methods have been around for years
and have been proven successful. Another method is an asphalt overlay,
which can be just asphalt on the existing court or used over fabric or stone

FOUNDATION WORK?
dust, etc.”

“If the court has large structural cracks, it is time to think about replacing
the foundation,” says Richard Zaino of Zaino Tennis Courts in Orange,
Calif. “Overlay the court with a post-tension slab, or remove and replace it.”
Overlays might also include covering the cracked surface with a mat of
synthetic turf, interlocking modular tiles or others.
Inevitably, there are going to be some markets, say builders, in which
customers want to save money by employing stopgap fixes. It might be a
residential court where a nervous homeowner is trying some belt-tighten-
ing, a club anticipating an off-season or a municipality that hasn’t budget-
ed for major tennis court work. In those cases, repairing cracks on a court
might appeal more.
Ellen Brattlof of Armor Crack Repair System in Farmingdale, N.J., has
seen explosive growth of requests for crack repair products over the past
year, and she says she expects that growth to continue.
It all comes back to one truth, however: Many cracks will come back.
The best tennis court managers can do, say contractors, is to stay on top of
the situation. Do a regular walk-through of the facility and keep a diagram
of each court, noting the date it was inspected and any imperfections on

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 35

 INSIDE
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
INFORMATION
I
ndoor courts can be the solution to an armload of problems.
They provide year-round play and allow for ease of program-
ming. They also offer a controlled environment—something that
really makes them popular with players.
So what's the best way to ensure that the environment stays
pleasant? Upkeep, say court builders and suppliers. Regular facility
care ensures a good place to play, and keeps players coming back.
Whether the courts are housed in an air structure (or “bubble”), a
OVERALL MAINTENANCE
fabric-frame structure or a steel building, a regimen is needed.
“Good maintenance is vital,” says Steve Wright of Trans Texas Ten-
nis in Houston. “There should be clean courts, a clean clubhouse
and locker rooms, well-lit with updated furnishings, and no trash,
towels or empty cans laying around.”
Wright cautions managers not to neglect simple cosmetic prob-
lems. Replacing burned-out light bulbs immediately, as well as
keeping nets, posts, backdrop curtains and divider nets in top
shape, all contribute to a facility that commands respect. Back-
drops and divider curtains should be kept off the floor and attached
to support cables at every grommet. In addition, he notes, “clean
and well-lit walkways behind the backdrop curtains are a must.”
Because the facility is not exposed to rain or wind, the surfaces
of hard courts require periodic cleaning. “Indoor courts, whether
permanent or portable, should be easy to clean, letting players
know they are practicing or competing on a well-maintained sur-
LIGHTING
face,” notes Robin Traum of Gerflor, S.A., in Tarare, France.
Indoor courts need uniform, glare-free lighting, according to the
36 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
Maintain your indoor
courts properly and you’ll
ensure that players will
keep coming back.
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
American Sports Builders Association. In its book, “Tennis Courts:
A Construction and Maintenance Manual,” the association notes
that all lighting systems should be designed to provide adequate
visibility of the ball along every possible path while in play, for
both players and spectators.
Different levels of lighting are required, depending upon the
level of play. For example, a facility that hosts professional play
on an international level will need a higher level of lighting than a
tennis club, which in turn requires more light than will a recre-
ational facility. (A tennis court builder who specializes in indoor
courts will be able to provide recommendations as to what light-
ing system is best, given the level of play expected).
Older players generally require more light; therefore, clubs
whose membership includes a large percentage of middle-aged or
senior players may want to investigate higher levels of lights than,
for example, a facility that hosts more teen tennis camps or chil-
dren's programs.
The most common type of lighting for indoor tennis is indirect
lighting, or uplighting, defined as the installation of fixtures aimed
at a highly reflective ceiling. Uplighting uses metal halide or other
high-intensity lamps mounted at least 6 feet from the ceiling to
avoid so-called “hot spots.” Obviously, placement of lighting fix-
tures should be such that players do not have to look directly into
the lights when serving or playing a high shot. If choosing or
replacing a lighting system, get one that lends itself to regular
cleaning and maintenance. A lighting contractor can provide
HVAC SYSTEMS
guidance.
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
building plays a huge role in the comfort of players, say builders. ufacturers, the maintenance worries of the authentic surface).
“Humidity control is extremely important in indoor facilities, Regardless of the surface, the comfort of the player must be
especially if there is a pool or hot tub area,” says Wright. “Noth- paramount, says Wright, who notes, “Air movement in the court
ing is more distracting than walking into a club and immediate- area is important and can be done through ceiling fans, ventila-

WHAT ELSE?
ly smelling chlorine and feeling the humidity.” (High humidity, tion/exhaust fans, or running the A/C on blower setting.”
he notes, leads to rust, which in turn necessitates more mainte-
nance.)
According to the ASBA's “Tennis Courts” book, an HVAC sys- Sometimes, though, the very fact that the indoor court environ-
tem for an indoor tennis enclosure should be capable of chang- ment is unchanging can be a problem, say some industry profes-
ing the air within the structure one to four times per hour with sionals. In those cases, it's important to mix things up
minimal noise or draft. In the winter, the heating system should occasionally.
be able to maintain “Sometimes just
the building tempera- changing the court
ture at between 55 colors can bring new
and 62 degrees energy to a club,”
Fahrenheit. In the says Tom Magner of
summer, air condition- DecoTurf in Andover,
ing should maintain an Mass. “It can be, ‘The
indoor temperature of new blue-and-green
10-15 degrees Fahren- courts make it easier
heit below the outside to see the ball’ that
temperature, with 55 makes a difference. A
percent to 60 percent club may not be in a
humidity. position to build new
Low-intensity gas- courts or get new
fired infrared heating lighting, but by sim-
systems that are com- ply changing the
pletely sealed and inbounds to blue, for
exhaust to the outside example, they can
can be used for indoor show their existing
tennis structures with members that the
hard courts, and can club is still fresh.”
heat the enclosure Art Tucker of Plex-
without using duct- ipave System, a divi-
work, fans or blowers. sion of California
However, they are not Products Corp. in
for use in buildings Andover, Mass.,
with granular surface agrees: “Many play-
courts, since they will ers will not recognize
cause uneven heating anything was done if
and drying of the sur- you use the same
face material in places. color at resurfacing.”
Unit heaters (which Other changes can
use forced air) can be add variety to specific
used for buildings with courts, he notes,
either hard or clay including the installa-
courts. Combined tion of cushion to
heating and air condi- existing courts to
tioning units, mounted address the needs of
outside the building, older players or oth-
with air brought in via ers who want more
ductwork, are also used. comfortable courts. A surface that changes the speed of play, using
“If you have indoor clay courts, one of the key factors both the International Tennis Federation's new pace standards, also
for comfort and for consistent maintenance is tied to humidity creates new interest.
control through a good HVAC system,” notes John Welborn of Encouraging members to vote on a new surface or a new color
Lee Tennis Court Products in Charlottesville, Va. (Recent devel- can generate excitement and a feeling of ownership, say both
opments in court surface systems have resulted in products that Tucker and Magner. Ultimately, it furthers the goal—to encourage
can give indoor courts a clay-like feel without, according to man- players to go play inside. 

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 37

 BUILDING A
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

BUSINESS Certified Tennis Court Builders—or

CTCBs—are becoming more and more
important in the construction field.
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER

T
he search for a contractor to build, rehab or just repair a tennis
court can be worrisome. After all, the court needs to look and
play the way it should. It needs to hold up to constant foot traf-
fic, withstand the weather and with any luck, not develop major
problems that will translate into headaches for the pro.
Problem is, a lot of contractors (those who build sports facilities
and those who build other structures) are selected because their
bid came in lowest. But does that really translate into a company
that is skilled in putting in a tennis court?
Those who want an extra tool in selecting a contractor might be
able to use as precedent a recent ruling by the Attorney General of
Massachusetts. The ruling allowed a local high school district to
choose not just the company with the low
the same ruling would apply on the tennis side, too.
According to George Todd Jr., CTCB and chairman of the
ASBA, the ruling is a landmark not only for ASBA and its certi-
fication program, but for those who are having facilities built or
renovated, and who want the best for the athletes who will be
using those facilities.
Both certified builder programs were developed by the
ASBA in order to help raise professional standards and improve
the practice of sports facility construction. In order to become
a certified builder, an individual must meet specific criteria set
forth by the ASBA; he or she must complete an application that
shows he or she has a set amount of construction experience
in the building of either tennis courts or

Choosing a Contractor
bid, but the one that was judged to have the running tracks, and then pass a com-
expertise to build an athletic facility. prehensive exam on either tennis court
In its In Re: Masconoment Regional School Building or improving a tennis court? While or running track construction. In order
there’s no foolproof way to find the perfect
District Running Track Resurfacing (decision to retain the designation, an individual
partner, these suggestions can help you narrow
issued Aug. 8, 2008), the Office of the AG the field: must recertify every three years by doc-
upheld the right of a local school district to  Check references. Talk to a colleague at umenting a sufficient level of continu-
mandate in its bid requirement that the bid- another club and get the name of their pre- ing education activities in the relevant
der for a running track project employ an ferred contractor. field or by passing the examination
individual with the Certified Track Builder,  Check for licensure and insurance. again.
or CTB, designation. The designation is  Look at professional affiliations and certifica- Those who are interested in hiring a
tions.
of the American Sports Builders Association.  Ask about local projects that are similar to
offered as part of the certification program tennis court contractor are always
advised to do their homework: Check
yours, and go look at them.
 Ask questions. Did the person return your
Another requirement was that the winning references, ask about professional affili-
bidder be a member in good standing of the calls promptly and answer all your questions, ations and certifications, and look for a
ASBA. or was there only vague information? company that is licensed, insured and
While this ruling involved a track con-  Go with your instinct: If you feel uneasy has a good reputation. While it’s impos-
struction project, the ASBA also issues a Cer- about a prospective contractor, look for sible to eliminate all the uncertainty, it
tified Tennis Court Builder, or CTCB, someone else. is possible to be proactive, and to bring
designation. Many in the industry believe peace of mind to the process. 

38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

 Certified Tennis Court Builders
These 46 court contractors have earned the right to put the “CTCB” designation after their names by demonstrating their expertise through their expe-
rience in the field and by passing rigorous exams.
 David Baird, Industrial Surface Sealer, Inc.,
Cleveland, 216-341-2662, corpo-
rate@insustrialsurface.com
 Richard Benson, Tenni-Trac Sport Surfaces,
Louisville, KY, 502-815-4121, Rben-
sob567@insightbb.com
 Mark Brogan, Pro-Sport Construction, Inc.,
Devon, Pa., 610-296-3033, prosportten-
nis@yahoo.com
 David Clapp, Baseline Sports Construction,
Knoxville, Tenn., 865-588-4320,
david@baselinellc.com
 Jonnie Deremo, General Acrylics, Inc.,
Phoenix, Ariz., 602-569-9377, jdere-
mo@generalacrylics.com
 Tom DeRosa, DeRosa Tennis Contractors,
Inc., Mamaroneck, N.Y., 914-698-2404,
dtennisinc@aol.com
 Colin Donovan, Renner Sports Surfaces,
Denver, 303-825-3435, cdono-
van@rennersports.com
 Mike Edgerton, DeRosa Tennis Contractors,
Inc., Mamaroneck, N.Y., 914-698-2404,
mike@derosatennis.com
 J. Russ Edman, The Tennis Company, Salt
Lake City, Utah, 800-233-2970,
russ@thetenniscompany.com
 Tony Edwards, Fraser Edwards Co., San
Francisco, 415-826-9595,
info@fraseredwards.com
 Will Ferguson, Baseline Sports Construc-
tion, Knoxville, Tenn., 865-588-4320,
will@baselinellc.com
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 Jerry Gray, Leslie Coatings, Inc., Indianapo-
lis, 317-926-3411,
jerry@lesliecoatings.com
 Matt Hale, Halecon, Inc., Bridgewater, N.J.,
732-302-1234, Matt.halecon@verizon.net
 Corey Hardick, C.H. Court Tech, Spring Val-
ley, Calif., 619-540-3456, tennis-
courts@cox.net
 John Henzel, John Henzel Tennis Court Sys-
tems Inc., Tulsa, 918-587-1575,
john@tenniscourtsystems.com
 Tom Josephs, Renner Sports Surfaces, Den-
ver, 303-825-3435,
tjosephs@rennersports.com
 Fred Kolkmann, Larson Engineering, West
Allis, Wis., 414-475-2350, fkolk-
mann@larsonengr.com
 Nat Lee, Lee Sports Surfacing, Little Cana-
da, Minn., 612-597-0544,
natlee@leesportsurfacing.com
 Mark Litrico, Carolina Courtworks, Char-
lotte, N.C., 704-392-6556, marklcourt-
works@bellsouth.net
 Linn Lower, Lower Bros. Co., Inc., Birming-
ham, Ala., 205-967-3901,
linn@lowerbros.com
 Tony Mackay, Court Care Systems, Inc.,
Wantagh, N.Y., 516-326-6759, tonymack-
ay@aol.com
 Carla Magers, Gerald Perry Tennis Courts,
Springfield, Mo., 417-865-1217,
Carla@gptennis.com
 Bruce Mahler, Boston Tennis Court Con-
struction Co., Inc., Hanover, Mass., 781-
826-2303, bostontennis@earthlink.net
 Fred Manchester, Manchester Courts, Lex-
ington, S.C., 803-446-1622, tennisman-
ctcb@aol.com
 David Marsden, Boston Tennis Court Con-
struction Co., Inc., Hanover, Mass., 781-
826-2303, demarsden@hotmail.com
 Joe Matoskey, General Acrylics, Inc.,
Phoenix, 602-569-9377,
jmatoskey@generalacrylics.com
 Miles Minson, The Tennis Company, Salt
Lake City, Utah, 801-328-1111,
miles@thetenniscompany.com
 David Moore, Cape & Island Tennis &
Track, Pocasset, Mass., 508-759-5636,
dmoore@tennisandtrack.com
 Herb Osburn, Tennis Courts, Inc., Aylett,
Va., 804-769-3030, tciherb@erols.com
 Steve Pappas, Papico Construction, Inc.,
Palm City, Fla., 772-288-1826, Papi-
co1@aol.com
 Gerry Perry, Gerald Perry Tennis Courts,
Springfield, Mo., 417-865-1217,
gerry@gptennis.com
 Gordy Pierce, Cape & Island Tennis &
Track, Pocasset, Mass., 508-759-5636,
gpierce@tennisandtrack.com
 Bob Pratsch, American Surfaces Corp. of
MN, Suamico, Wis., 920-434-8272, amer-
systm@aol.com
 Ben Rennolds, Tennis Courts, Inc., Aylett,
Va., 804-769-3030, tciben@erols.com
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
 Basil Sabbak, M-C Sport Systems, Inc.,
Franklin Park, Ill., 847-455-4700,
Mcsport1951@sbcglobal.net
 Bill Shaughnessy, The Racquet Shop, Inc.,
Colts Neck, N.J., 732-462-8866, ten-
nis@theracquetshop.com
 Darrel Snyder, Mid American Courts,
Wichita, Kan., 316-558-5920, midameri-
cacts@cox.net
 Scott Starman, Renner Sports Surfaces,
Denver, 303-825-3435, sstar-
man@rennersports.com
 Matt Strom, Leslie Coatings, Inc., Indi-
anapolis, 317-926-3411,
matt@lesliecoatings.com
 George Todd, Jr., Welch Tennis Courts,
Inc., Sun City, Fla., 813-641-7787,
george@welchtennis.com
 Mike Vinton, Vasco Sports Contractors,
Massillon, Ohio, 330-832-5151, mvin-
ton@vascoasphalt.com
 Rob Werner, Sportsline, Inc., Villanova, Pa.,
610-526-9476, Track10s@aol.com
 Brian Wright, Court One, Granite Quarry,
N.C., 704-209-3329, cour-
tone@dialpoint.net
 Gerry Wright, Court One, Youngsville, N.C.,
919-570-9255, Gw123@bellsouth.net
 Steve Wright, Trans Texas Tennis, Inc.,
Houston, 713-691-1006,
swright@transtexastennis.com
 Richard Zaino, Zaino Tennis Courts, Inc.,
Orange, Calif., 714-744-1885,
Richard@zainotennis.com
39
 MONEY
COURT CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
MARKETS
contractors need to protect themselves.
A good contract goes a long way to
making sure you get paid for your work.
I
f a good tennis match starts with a good court, where does
a good court start? With a good contract, says David H. Pet-
tit, Esq. Pettit, a partner with Feil, Pettit & Williams in Char-
lottesville, Va., has served as legal counsel to the American
Sports Builders Association since 1984.
A good contract, he adds, spells out exactly what is expect-
ed of the client and of the builder. “You want to make sure
your contract is clear and concise, and sets out the terms of the
agreement precisely,” he says.
The contract should define the scope of work and the terms
of payment, as well as what will happen should the client—or
the contractor—fail to live up to the expectations.
In an economy that has taken a downturn, says Pettit, it’s
imperative for contractors to protect themselves, since owners
and developers are more likely to have cash-flow problems
themselves. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize exposure,
and maximize the possibilities of on-time payments. In addi-
tion to that good contract, builders should be looking for the
following:
 Cash payment up front: There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how
much contractors should ask for. It may depend, to some
extent, on whether the contractor has worked with the client
previously.
 Progressive payments: Basing payments on progress made
throughout the job can help payments stay on schedule. “It is
preferable to have a standard plan for progress payments,
that can be customized to fit the circumstances of a particu-
lar job or owner,” says Pettit. “From the contractor’s point of
view, the purpose of the plan is to give the contractor an early
warning if there are going to be payment problems, mini-
40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
In this shaky economy,
BY MARY HELEN SPRECHER
mize the contractor’s exposure, and keep the owner incen-
tivized to pay the contractor.”
One contractor who agrees with this? Rob Werner of Sport-
sline Inc. of Villanova, Pa. “Progressive payments are common.
On average, there are three to four payments for the project.
We prefer a first payment of 20 percent to schedule and order
materials, and the last payment of 10 percent.”
 Right to stop work if payment terms are not met: The termination
clause, says Pettit, is critical. Without it, a contractor might be
held responsible for walking off a job. “The contractor should
always make sure the contract gives it the right to stop work
promptly if payment is not made. If the contractor does stop
work, it should review the contract to determine when title
passes to materials on the site. Materials which still belong to
the contractor should be removed.”
 Interest or late fees on overdue payments: There should be conse-
quences to missing a payment.
 Attorney’s fees provisions: It’s simple, says Pettit: “If I have to sue
in order to collect my money, you’re responsible for paying
my attorney’s fees.” (The fact that a long legal fight can rack
up not just those back payments and late fees but substantial
attorney’s fees will give the client more incentive to pay on
time).
 Lien rights: Under the laws of every state, says Pettit, there are
mechanic’s lien rights. “If you work on someone else’s real
property and they don’t pay you, you can file a mechanic’s
lien memorandum in the local land records.” Because it was
the contractor’s labor that improved the property, the client
will not be able to sell, refinance or improve it without first
paying the contractor. A lien is grounds for a lawsuit and can
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
 allow the contractor to have the
Contract Helpers early stages, it may be in the contrac-
property sold in order for that con- tor’s best interest to cut its losses and
Pettit says these tips can help any contract or job

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
tractor to receive payment. situation: terminate the job. If the contractor has a
 Know your client. The risk is certainly greater significant investment in the project, or
with a new client than a familiar one. It is rea- if it is nearly completed, it may be in the
Pettit advises ongoing documenta- sonable to run a credit check or ask for refer- contractor’s best interest to complete
tion in order to avoid billing prob- ences on a new client.
 Stay on top of things. The contractor who fol-
the job.”
lems. For example, if a customer Werner says that in more than 20
keeps making additions to a project, lows up on payment problems quickly and
years in the industry, he has experi-
“The change should be reflected in a effectively will have a much greater chance of
getting paid in full and sooner rather than later. enced few problems. If one does crop
 Don't be afraid to pass on a job. If the owner or
written change order, which should up, however, it is frustrating “because it
state when the charges for the contractor appears shaky or unethical, don’t get comes with high fees that have to be
change will be billed and paid. As a involved. It takes the profit from a lot of jobs to dished out, timely of course, to the
general rule, the charges should be as make up for the one on which you don’t get lawyer teams, and months and months
close in time to the work as possible. paid. Be wary of taking jobs that may be of no payment at all happening because
If the change will require a substan- beyond your expertise. Construction problems or each side doesn't budge off their offers
tial outlay for materials, it may be delays can almost guarantee payment problems.
for their own reasons.”
appropriate to bill in advance for that Clients can protect their interests by
charge.” the risk presented by stopping work or using liquidated damages clauses: con-
In an ideal world, of course, instituting collection action. tractual language defining the penalties,
builders and clients create a contract, “Threatening to stop work may put should the builder not live up to the pro-
the work is done, bills are paid and pressure on the owner to pay in order to visions of the contract. For example,
everyone is happy. But what hap- get the job completed, but stopping work should the project not be finished when
pens when something goes wrong? before the job is completed may make it promised, the contractor could be billed
“The best first step is to commu- more difficult for the owner to come up a specific amount for each day (week,
nicate with the owner as soon as pay- with the money to pay. If the job is in the etc.) past due. 
ments fall behind,” says Pettit. “Ask
for an explanation, and when the
payment can be expected. Often the
delay is due to temporary factors and
a satisfactory arrangement can be
negotiated. The arrangement should
be documented in a written agree-
ment if it represents a significant
deviation from the contract terms.
Most payment issues can be resolved
by working with the owner, but the
contractor has to exercise good judg-
ment and know when it is necessary
to become more firm in its
approach.”
If the contractor is working on a
subcontract basis, notes Pettit, “It
may be beneficial to advise the
owner that the general contractor is
not making payment, and the owner
may require the general to pay or
make arrangements to pay directly.”

STOP? OR GO?
At some point, however, it all comes
down to the contractor’s decision,
says Pettit. “If an arrangement can-
not be negotiated, then the contrac-
tor has to assess the risk presented
by going forward, as compared by

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 41

 String Playtest
Prince Premier LT
Prince Premier LT is a multifilament
that advances the Prince Premier line
with new features. The “LT” stands for
Linear Technology, a reference to the
parallel alignment of the 900+ fibers
in the core of Premier LT. Prince tells
us that this linear alignment gives Pre-
mier LT exceptional comfort, power,
and gut-like playability. Around the
inner fibers is a multifilament wrap,
with a special polyamide outer coating.
This outer coating is a high strength,
wear- and abrasion-resistant mem-
brane comprised of thermoplastic
nylon compounds, which improve per-
formance at elevated temperatures.
The smooth surface reportedly helps
the strings stay straight during play,
and make installation easier, as well.
Prince’s polyamide coating technology
Feature Benefit
Tensile strength Better tension
improved 24% maintenance
Elasticity improved Closer feel to
by 18% Natural Gut
Improved melting Increased
point 31% durability
Smooth now friction Reduced string
outer coating movement
Prince says that Premier LT is for any
player looking for exceptional comfort,
power, and playability.
Premier LT is available in 16 and 17
in natural only. It is priced from $16 for
sets of 40 feet (reels may be available in
the future). For more information or to
order, contact Prince at 800-2-TENNIS, or
visit princetennis.com. Be sure to read
the conclusion for more information
about getting a free set to try for yourself.
IN THE LAB
We tested the 17-gauge Premier LT. The
coil measured 40’. The diameter mea-
sured 1.26-1.28 mm prior to stringing,
and 1.23-1.24 mm after stringing. We
recorded a stringbed stiffness of 74 RDC
units immediately after stringing at 60
pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x
18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine.
42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed
stiffness measured 64 RDC units, repre-
senting a 14 percent tension loss. Our con-
trol string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original
Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immedi-
ately after stringing and 71 RDC units
after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent
tension loss. Premier LT added 15 grams
to the weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by soft to the touch, with low coil memory.
39 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings Although the coating is mostly smooth,
from 3.0 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with there still is enough texture that you can
playtesters receiving unmarked strings in feel it pulling through grommet holes and
unmarked packages. Average number of across the mains.
hours playtested was 22.5. No playtester broke his sample during
Out of the package, Premier LT feels stringing, two reported problems with coil
memory, none reported problems tying
EASE OF STRINGING knots, and none reported friction burn.
ON THE COURT
(compared to other strings)
Number of testers who said it was:
much easier 5
To say our playtest team loved Prince Pre-
somewhat easier 16
mier LT is an understatement. Premier
about as easy 17
LT’s score in the Control category place it
not quite as easy 1
second of the 129 strings we have
not nearly as easy 0
playtest for publication to date, and the
OVERALL PLAYABILITY
same goes for the Touch/Feel category. In
(compared to string played most often)
the Playability category, Premier LT is the
Number of testers who said it was:
third best string we have tested to date,
much better 4
somewhat better 12
and in the Comfort category, Premier LT
about as playable 8 is also third best. Premier LT is also the
not quite as playable 15 sixth-best string we have playtested in the
not nearly as playable 0 category of Spin Potential, and it is well
above average in Tension Retention. If
OVERALL DURABILITY you weren’t keeping count, that makes an
(compared to other strings
of similar gauge) astonishing six top-ten placements. These
Number of testers who said it was: individual scores give Prince Premier LT a
much better 0 top-ten overall score, where it ranks as
somewhat better 8 the fourth best string we’ve playtested for
about as durable 16 publication.
not quite as durable 11 As if that weren’t enough, 84 percent
not nearly as durable 4 of our playtesters gave us positive or very
RATING AVERAGES positive feedback about the experience of
From 1 to 5 (best) using Prince Premier LT.
CONCLUSION
Playability (3rd overall) 4.1
Durability 3.1
Power (8th overall) 3.7 Given that we typically test the best
Control (2nd overall) 4.0 strings manufacturers have to offer, we
Comfort (3rd overall) 4.0 have come to expect that strings submit-
Touch/Feel (2nd overall) 4.0
ted to the playtest program are going to
Spin Potential (6th overall) 3.6
excel in some way. With Premier LT, the
Holding Tension 3.5
excellence was virtually across the board.
Resistance to Movement 3.2
The only other string we’ve tested with
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
TESTERS TALK
“ Remarkable feel. Very lively. The string
bed feels fresh even after several hours of
”
play. 5.0 male all-court player using Prince
O3 Speedport Black (Hole Inserts) strung at
60 pounds CP (Gamma Professional 16)
“ High dwell time. I can feel the ball getting
sucked into the string bed and compressing.
Very impressive. Great power and spin. I
”
would definitely buy this string. 4.0 male
all-court player using Wilson Sledge Hammer
3.8 strung at 64 pounds CP (Gamma Live
Wire 17)
“ I really like this string. It is very powerful.
Drop shots, half-volleys, lobs, and touch vol-
leys come off the strings with pinpoint accu-
racy. I would definitely carry this string.
4.0 male baseliner with moderate spin using ”
Prince O3 Blue strung at 65 pounds LO
(Gamma TNT2 17)
“ Once in a while a string comes along and
male all-court player using Head MicroGEL ”
you just say 'wow.' This is that string. 5.0
Extreme Pro strung at 58 pounds CP (Klip
Legend 16)
“ Great playability and comfort. Touch shots
are very easy to control. This strings makes
”
for some heavy spin. 4.0 male baseliner
with heavy spin using Prince Triple Threat
Hornet OS strung at 62 pounds CP (Wilson
NXT 16)
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
FREE PLAYTEST
“ Exceptional touch and decent comfort.
” STRING PROGRAM
4.5 male serve-and-volley player using Babo- Prince will send a free set of
lat Aeropro Drive strung at 70 pounds LO
(Wilson Sensation 16)
Premier LT to USRSA members who cut
out (or copy) this coupon and mail it to:
USRSA
“ This a very arm-friendly string with great Attn: Prince String Offer,
control. I would carry it as an option for my 330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
or fax to 760-536-1171,
”
players with tendon issues. 3.5 male all-
court player using Wilson KPro Open strung
or email the info below to
stringsample@racquettech.com
at 60 pounds LO (Wilson Sensation 17)
Offer expires 15 March 2009
Offer only available to USRSA members in
“ Very crisp volleys and great spin poten-
tial. Solid impact on ground strokes. There is Name:
the US.
definitely some power when needed. Great USRSA Member number:
feel! Some premature wear on the outer Phone:
”
cover. 4.5 male all-court player using
Wilson n5 Force strung at 62 pounds CP
Email:
If you print your email clearly, we will notify
you when your sample will be sent.
(Wilson NXT 16)
similar across-the-board scores is a natur-
“ The feel is a little dead. Perhaps lower
tensions would liven things up. Durability is
al gut, which goes a long way toward
putting Premier LT’s scores into perspec-
higher than expected for a multifilament tive.
”
nylon. 5.0 male all-court player using Of course, it is no trick to get super
Prince O3 White MP strung at 62 pounds CP
(Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex 16)
performance in a super-expensive string.
While Premier LT isn’t cheap, there are
more expensive strings available, and not
all of them are natural gut. Thus, where
“ Very easy to install. Low coil memory.
Great spin and power. I would definitely add
there are a lot of players who would like
to try natural gut but are put off by the
this to my inventory.
” 4.0 male all-court
player using Wilson KFour strung at 62
price, your customers will not need to
petition for TARP funds to try a set.
pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)
If you think that Prince Premier LT
might be for you, fill out the coupon to
For the rest of the tester comments, visit get a free set. —Greg Raven Q
www.racquetsportsindustry.com.
March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 43
 Tips & Techniques
Readers’ Know-How in Action
ENLARGING THE
STARTING KNOT
When using 17 or 18 gauge string, a nor-
mal starting knot is sometimes smaller
than the grommet hole. A simple solu-
tion is to tie the normal starting knot and
then add a standard tie off knot. This
enlarges the starting knot and it will not
With the ERT in the right position, I
also use the head size selector to get the
results that are closest to my reference
tension. While with many racquets you
can set the head size ahead of time,
there are those that for whatever reason
give much higher or much lower read-
ings with the “correct” head size setting
without smearing the ink.
My technique for getting around this
issue is to make out the label before I
start stringing. After 20 minutes, the ink
is much less prone to smearing, so
applying the label is that much easier.
10 3-packs of Unique Tourna Grip to:
James Sly, Carpinteria, CA

REEL SUBSTITUTE
slip through the starting tie off hole. than with an adjacent setting. By match-
5 sets of Pro Supex PF Blend 17/16 to: ing the head size adjustment via the ten-
Tom Young, MRT, Poway, CA sion reading, I feel I’m better able to do Have you ever been frustrated taking

ERT FOR QA
accurate quality assurance. string off a broken or cracked cus-
5 sets of Wilson Stamina 16 to: tomer’s string reel? Simply remove the
I check every racquet I restring for L. Hodges, Fresno, CA string completely from the reel and keep

stringbed stiffness using an ERT-700.
This device clips to the stringbed and, by
analyzing the vibrations of the strings,
determines the stiffness.
The trick is that the ERT’s measure-
ments are fairly sensitive to where you
mount the transducer. Therefore, I try
always to mount the ERT transducer to
the same cross strings each time.
LABEL PREPARATION
I label customer racquets with the string
type, tension, and date, as I’m sure
many other stringers do, too. However,
the ballpoint pen that leaves the best
markings on the labels also has ink that
doesn’t dry right away. This means it’s
almost impossible to apply a fresh label

44 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009 www.racquetsportsindustry.com

the coil intact using one or two re-usable dends for me over the years. The easy way to unwind a coil of string
Velcro wire ties. You can also take this a 5 sets of Head Sonic Pro Control 17 to: is to use this winding / unwinding tool,
step further and attach your business Darrell Crocker, Springfield, MO one could get it from most fly fishing

TANGLE-FREE
card to the Velcro tie with a normal tackle shops, around $17.

UNWINDING TOOL
small zip-tie. The Velcro ties are very 5 sets of Lightning XX 16 to:
affordable; I bought a 50 pack from Sam Chan, MRT, Middlesex, England
Office Depot for $6. Many office supply, —Greg Raven Q
electronics, and home improvement
stores carry them in various sizes and Tips and Techniques submitted since 2000 by
quantities. USRSA members, and appearing in this col-
5 sets of Dunlop M-Fil Tour 16 to: umn, have all been gathered into a single vol-
Gary Marken, CS, Woodland, CA ume of the Stringer’s Digest—Racquet
Service Techniques which is a benefit of

SPIFFIER DEMOS
USRSA membership. Submit tips to: Greg
Raven, USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92804;
When I sell my demo racquets at the or email greg@racquettech.com.
end of the year, I try to give the cus-
tomer the best product I can. I do this
by always putting an overgrip on demos
when I first get them. When I do sell the
demo I take the overgrip off and the grip
is still new. I also put a new stencil on
the strings to give the racquet a better
appearance. And, because it's difficult to
determine the life of the strings in the
demo, I always include a free stringing
after the existing strings break. Cus-
tomers appreciate this built-in value.
5 sets of Babolat Xcel Premium 16 to:
Kevin Kimm Fisher, Milford, CT

EXPECT INSPECTION
I had a racquet come into the shop for
stringing. After an inspection of the
hoop, I began to string the racquet. After
completion of the mains, I noticed a
crack just above the handle of the
frame. As it turns out, the customer
knew about the crack, but wanted the
frame strung anyway. The lesson here is
to thoroughly inspect the entire frame
from tip to butt cap, not just the hoop.
5 sets of Ashaway MonoGut 16 to:
Fred S. McWilliams, Arlington, TX

WEAR IS YOUR STENCIL?

I always stencil the racquet logo on a
new string job. Not only does it provide
a professional finish to the restringing
job, but also it serves as a kind of wear
indication, showing how much the
strings have been used. Many customers
don’t realize how much use they have
out of a set of strings, but if the stencil
ink has worn off, they (and I) know it is
time to restring. This is particularly
apparent on monofilament strings that
do not fray before breaking. This mar-
keting technique has paid huge divi-

www.racquetsportsindustry.com March 2009 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 45

 Ask the Experts
Your Equipment Hotline
Q
GETTING STARTED
WITH CUSTOMIZATION
I’M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING
A
information about how to cus-
tomize racquets. Is there a book
you can recommend, or other materials?
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN about
customization is by doing. Also,
going through the on-line archives of our
science articles, Ask the Experts, and Tips
and Techniques will provide a wealth of
information. The on-line tools on Rac-
quetTECH.com will help with the math.
Once you get serious, you should look
into buying a Babolat RDC, Prince PTC, or
some combination of tools that will allow
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
you to perform accurate measurements of
your racquets, before, during, and after
customization.
Don’t forget to keep detailed logs of
your customizations, so you can refer back
to them later.
Q
WHERE!S MY
FAVORITE STRING?
I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MY
favorite string was not included in
the 2009 Members’ Choice Awards.
I've found them to be just as good as com-
parable strings, but at much less cost.
A
Everyone I have installed them for has
been positive in their response. How did
they happen to go unmentioned?
AS IT STATES IN THE ARTICLE
about the Members’ Choice
Awards:
“For a string to qualify for a rating, it
must be rated by at least 13 different
respondents and each of the respondents
must have strung at least 20 sets of that
string in the past year.”
Probably what happened is that too few
of this year's respondents used enough of
that string to meet this requirement.
As with our playtest reports and string
lab tests, the Members’ Choice Awards are
best thought of as another way of familiar-
izing yourself with string options you have
as a stringer. There is no one perfect way
of describing string characteristics, so we
offer as many different views of the string
market that we can, in hopes that at least
some of the information helps you as a
stringer determine the best string for each
of your customers. Of course, you as the
stringer are also adding to the decision-
making process based on your personal
experiences and those of your customers.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com

What this all means is that there is
absolutely no reason to stop using your
favorite string. For you, the Members’
Choice Awards are kind of a look at how
the “other half” lives. As we select partici-
pants in the Members’ Choice Awards at
random from among our membership,
maybe next year more of the respondents
will give us some feedback on your
favorite string.
Q
EZ PROPORTIONAL
STRINGING
DOES THE USRSA MAKE available
the lengths of every main and
cross string for those of us who
want to do proportional stringing? It would
A
be great to have accurate information so I
won’t have to measure each string before
I start stringing.
THAT INFORMATION IS NOT avail-
able from the manufacturer, and
USRSA neither measures nor maintains
this information. You must measure each
main and cross yourself if you wish to do
Q
a true proportional stringing.
TENSION AND LONGEVITY
HOW MUCH DO LOWER tensions
relate to longevity, given a particu-
ment, because your customer is restring-
lar string? I've got a customer for whom
ing so frequently. It’s more difficult to
I string 3-5 racquets weekly at 63
A
find a durable string for a customer who
pounds. If I could get him to change to
strings one racquet every three to four
58 or so, what would you think would be
weeks.
Q
the result in longevity?
COMPARING POWER
RATINGS
TENSION AND LONGEVITY ARE
not usually thought of in terms of
A
PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW
trade-offs. If he's going through that
those power ratings from Prince
many racquets a week, it should be a
compare to the USRSA ratings.
simple matter to try a lower tension and
see how it goes.
WE USED THE PRINCE POWER
What you will probably wind up
formula as the basis for the
doing, though, is switching to a different
USRSA power formula, but our formula
and/or thicker string. Typically, you
considers other factors as well. Of
would go from a nylon to a poly (or
course, we feel our power rating is more
aramid in extreme cases), but don’t auto-
accurate, but each is still more represen-
matically avoid heavy-duty nylon strings,
tative than definitive. It would be
which are not only easier to install than
extremely difficult for any manageable
poly or aramid, but are often less expen-
formula to give you a single-number
sive, and offer a bit more comfort.
result that would tell you all you need to
Speaking of price, don’t automatically
know about a racquet. Power formulae
assume that lower-price strings are less
are designed to get you into the ballpark
durable. There are some great, reason-
with your racquet choice, but ultimately
ably-priced, durable strings available.
you have to playtest any candidate rac-
If you don’t have a huge stock of
quet to see if it’s the one for you.
strings to try out, check the USRSA Mem-
—Greg Raven Q
bers’ Choice Awards for strings that
other members believe are durable, as We welcome your questions. Please send them to Rac-
well as the playtest reports. quet Sports Industry, 330 Main St., Vista, CA, 92084;
You are in a good position to experi- fax: 760-536-1171; email: greg@racquettech.com.
 Your Serve
Tennis’ ‘Hidden Jewel’
An author and longtime tennis journalist says
that on the pro and recreational sides,
I
doubles is becoming more important. BY MARCIA
n the past, the game of doubles hasn't
received the respect it deserves. But
now, its importance is becoming more
recognized.
It was the win by Bob and Mike Bryan
that gave the U.S. its first Davis Cup trophy
in 12 years. Arlen Kantarian, the former
CEO of Professional Tennis for the USTA,
felt it was a significant statement. “You
have the entire stadium focused on dou-
bles to see how exciting that game is,” he
said. “We want it to translate to the recre-
ational level, where 75 percent of the peo-
ple who play tennis are playing doubles.
We’ve got that hidden jewel—doubles."
Doubles is less stressful to the body
than singles and can be played at any age.
Even professional players are getting bet-
ter at it as they get older. The Bryan broth-
ers have continued dominating the world
after their 30th birthday; Martina
Navratilova won a Grand Slam event just
before her 50th; John McEnroe, who is just
a few years younger, keeps it going at pro
and charity events; and Stan Smith has
continued to play doubles competitively
after his 60th year. On the recreational
side, there are tournaments for players
into their 90s.
The ATP and WTA started initiatives to
make people more aware of the excite-
ment of doubles. In 2009, the campaign
from the men's circuit is called "Feel It,"
and for the women, "Love It." The idea is
to get people to become spectators and
players of an event they can continue
throughout their lives. Bob Bryan thinks it
is working. “We’ve felt a renewed interest
in doubles the past few years,” he said
recently. “We love the dynamics of the
team thing.”
The interest in doubles in the U.S. has
been propelled by this country's domina-
tion. While the U.S. has struggled in singles
(only one man—Andy Roddick at No. 6—
and two women—Serena Williams at No.
48 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2009
FROST
2 and sister Venus at No. 6—finished in the
top 10 in 2008), the country has been lead-
ing the world in doubles:
Q At the 2009 Australian Open, Americans
dominated in doubles with the Bryans tak-
ing the men's title, the Williams' the
women's, and Christina McHale capturing
the junior girls doubles (with Croatian part-
ner Ajla Tomljanovic).
Q From 1997 to 2007, American boys made
the finals of nearly half of all the Grand
Slam junior doubles events, winning nine
events.
Q Americans have been in every women’s
NCAA doubles final (28 in total). Of the 33
years of the NCAA men’s doubles finals,
there have only been three teams that did
not have Americans on them.
Q Americans are leading the wheelchair dou-
bles circuit, with the teams of David Wag-
ner and Nick Taylor and Beth
Arnoult-Ritthaler and Kaitlyn Verfuerth.
“The interest in
doubles in the U.S.
has been propelled by
this country's
domination.”
At the start of 2009, the U.S. controlled
the No. 1 position in the world for both
men's and women's doubles with the
Bryans and Williams. For 2008, in addition
to the No. 2 rankings by the twins, the team
of Scott Lipsky and David Martin, who
remain the leaders on the USTA Pro Circuit
with the most doubles titles won, were
ranked No. 14 in the world and nine Ameri-
can women are in the top 25. Also last year,
the Williams sisters won Olympic gold in
Beijing, while the Bryans took bronze.
The combination of personality and
court surface have made Americans winners
in doubles. American players have been
known to show a lack of patience on the
court, and while that doesn’t help in singles
on a clay court, it’s an asset in doubles. In
general, we play much more hard-court ten-
nis in the U.S. and it's great practice for the
serve-and-volley game of doubles. Also, we
have a collegiate system where doubles is
played at every dual match.
The USTA also is heading in the right
direction of promoting the game with the
next generation in Jr. Team Tennis (for
which the Bryans are spokespersons) and
by changing to a combined ranking to the
national juniors, giving players a percentage
of their points for doubles play, which has
increased the number of juniors playing
doubles.
With league tennis for adults becoming
more popular, doubles continues to get a
boost among recreational players. And for
facilities, doubles is a winner: You can get
twice as many players on court at one time,
and players themselves enjoy the teamwork
and socialization, which aids in bringing
more people into the game.
Whether it's winning a Grand Slam
event or playing in a league with your
friends, doubles is the game for your entire
lifetime—to watch and play.
In the past, the game of doubles hasn't
received the respect it deserves. But now, its
importance is becoming more recognized. Q
Marcia Frost is the author of
"American Doubles… the Tri-
als… the Triumphs… the Domi-
nation," published by Mansion
Grove House and available at
Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble
and AmericanDoublesBook.net. She fre-
quently writes for USTA Magazine, SMASH,
Tennis Life and Tennis Championships Mag-
azine and has previously contributed to Rac-
quet Sports Industry.
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to RSI@racquetTECH.com or
fax them to 760-536-1171.
www.racquetsportsindustry.com