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TennisIndustry

Contents Nov/Dec 2017

DEPARTMENTS p. 32
4 Our Serve
7 Industry News
14 Letters
16 PTR News
18 Racquet Tech
19 Ask the Experts
20 TIA News
22 Facility Design
24 Court Construction
30 Racquet Stringing
34 Your Serve, by
Denny Schackter

INDUSTRY NEWS
7 Lacoste buys racquet and
string brand Tecnifibre
7 USPTA, Playmate sign
three-year agreement
7 Wilson launches Custom p. 28
Racket Shop FEATURES
7 Rebound Ace Portable chosen 32 Order on the Court
as Laver Cup surface
8 Tennis-themed beer salutes
The innovative In/Out device calls
Bancroft, Hall of Fame lines and provides playing statistics
9 PTR opens satellite at a price facilities will appreciate.
office in Orlando
9 Industry loses Don Tisdel,
TI's 2016 Person of the Year 28 Sole Survivors
10 Chicago to host Laver The newest tennis shoes are p. 26
Cup in 2018
10 Amazon Prime Video
increasingly fashionable, technologically
to stream ATP Finals supportive, and more customizable
12 Dunlop releases new through inserts and color choices.
Srixon CX & CZ frames
12 Williamses donate $1 million
to new facility and museum 26 Style and Substance
12 Dr. Jack Groppel takes New outfits combine on-court and off-
tennis to new heights
14 USOC honors five
court looks as consumers continue to
tennis coaches expect fashionable feel with tech features.

PLUS
p.35 37 CEOs Message
39 From the Board
40 Master Pro Corner
37 40 42 46 42 Giving Back
Recap of Next Cue Phrases: A Journey of From Morocco 44 Product Review
Generation: A Adding the Self-Healing to Center Court 46 USPTA Member Feature
Tennis Innovation Correct Tools to Through at the US Open
48 USPTA Next Generation
Workshop Your Toolbox Tennis Workshop
59 Career Development
Visit ADDvantageUSPTA.com for more articles and follow us on Facebook and Twitter 60 Member News

2 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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

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

sportmaster.net

OurServe
EDITOR'S NOTE
Rally Point for Tennis
To grow our sport locally,
its time we breathed new life
into National Tennis Month.
o you remember
National Tennis
Month? Did you even
know there is such a
month?
Back in the early 2000s, the USTA
actively promoted National Tennis
Monththe month of Mayencourag-
ing providers to get people of all ages
and abilities out on court by offering
free or low-cost programs, clinics,
round robins and other tennis events.
But about seven or eight years ago,
NTM just seemed to peter outit
became an afterthought, with little
planning and no promotion.
Its time we breathed new life into
this month-long celebration and pro-
motion of tennis. This sport and
industry needs National Tennis
Monthmaybe now more than ever.
Think about what National Tennis
Month can be: a specific time of year
where all of us in this industry are
focused on promoting and developing
the growth of tennis, and creating new
players. What could be better?
Effectively growing this
game at the grassroots
level may well be a case of
keeping it simple.
National Tennis Month can be a
rallying point for tennis, a chance to
promote all the good things this sport
brings to a community. Since its at the
local level where tennis will truly grow,
NTM can be whatever we need or want
4 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
TennisIndustry
PUBLISHER
JEFF WILLIAMS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
PETER FRANCESCONI
MANAGING EDITOR
SCOTT GRAMLING
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
IAN KNOWLES
SENIOR EDITOR
ED McGROGAN
ART DIRECTOR
CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ
PRODUCTION EDITOR
SAM CHASE
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
BOB PATTERSON
it to be in our own communities. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Yet NTM also would have the CYNTHIA CANTRELL, PEG CONNOR,
KENT OSWALD, CYNTHIA SHERMAN,
strength of a huge national promo- MARY HELEN SPRECHER
tion behind it. It can be a catalyst for
business for teaching pros, retailers CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
BOB KENAS, DAVID KENAS
and facilities. It can help strengthen
the sports connection locally through WEBMASTER
awareness and advocacy. GREG RAVEN
There would be a few other impor- ASSOCIATE EDITOR
tant tie-ins at that time of yearMay is TIM McARTHUR
also National Physical Fitness & Sports EDITORIAL DIRECTION
Month. Plus, a new national event 10TEN MEDIA
designed to promote and encourage
Americans to get moving was recently TENNIS INDUSTRY
announced: PHIT America Month. 250 Park Avenue, Ste 825, NY NY 10017
We know tennis is one of the healthi- 646-402-5031
est sports to play, for both body and info@tennisindustrymag.com
mindand as an industry, we finally ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
seem to understand that the health JOHN HANNA
and fitness aspects of tennis are strong 770-650-1102, x125
selling points. There are natural ways hanna@knowatlanta.com
to connect National Tennis Month with
both National Physical Fitness & Sports APPAREL ADVERTISING
CYNTHIA SHERMAN
Month and with PHIT America Month. 203-558-5911
As Ive said before, we overcomplicate cstennisindustry@gmail.com
things in this industry. Despite the mil-
lions of dollars weve spent over the last Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year:
10 years, participation has remained monthly, January through August with combined
issues in September/October and November/
relatively flat. Effectively growing this December, by Tennis Media Company, 250 Park
game at the grassroots level may well be Avenue, Suite 825, New York NY 10017. Periodical
postage paid in Duluth, GA and at additional mailing
a case of keeping things simple. offices (USPS #004-354). Nov./Dec. 2017, Volume
Regenerating a simple, promotional
idea like National Tennis Month, which
45, Number 10 2017 by Tennis Media Company.
All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo are
has a major national component yet
trademarks of Tennis Media Company. Printed in
the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125.
drills down locally, can reap benefits for Phone circulation and editorial: 646-402-5031.
Yearly subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere.
tennis and all its dedicated providers.  POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennis
Industry, 250 Park Avenue, Suite 825, New York NY
10017. Tennis Industry is the official magazine of the
Peter Francesconi USRSA, TIA and ASBA.
Editorial Director Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/Racquet
Peter@TennisIndustryMag.com Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our website
at TennisIndustryMag.com for free digital versions.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 LETS SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TENNIS
Net Generation, powered by the USTA, makes it
easier and more fun to get kids and teens into tennis.
We provide the tools and training to empower coaches,
teachers, parents, volunteers, NJTL networks and
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NETGENERATION.COM 2017. United States Tennis Association. All rights reserved.

14597 Net_Generation_Ad_Tennis_Industry.indd 1 9/28/17 3:59 PM

 IndustryNews Information to help you run your business
ACQUISITIONS
Lacoste Buys Racquet and
String Brand Tecnifibre
A pparel brand Lacoste is
purchasing French racquet and
string manufacturer Tecnifibre.
Lacoste agreed to acquire an 80 percent
stake in Tecnifibre for an undisclosed
amount, in a deal that was expected to
close in October.
Best known for its strings, Tecnifibre
recently has started gaining traction
with its racquets and accessories,
including its growing line of tennis bags,
apparel and balls.
Tecnifibre is an authentic specialist
in the field of tennis, with recognized
know-how, says Lacoste CEO
Thierry Guibert. The acquisition fol-
lows Lacostes signing of former No. 1
Novak Djokovic to a long-term deal.
Tecnifibre offers a range of strings,
racquets and accessories for tennis,
squash and padel, as well as balls in
PARTNERSHIPS
USPTA, Playmate Announce
Three-Year Agreement
U
nder a three-year deal, Play-
mate will become the official
ball machine of the USPTA.
C O U RT E S Y T E C H N I F I B R E ; U S TA ; W I L S O N
Playmate also will donate two iSMASH
machines and one Ace Tennis Ball
machine to the USPTA Foundation.
Playmate has been a huge supporter
of the USPTAs educational programs
for over 20 years, says Alfred F. Yarur,
president of Metaltek/Playmate Tennis
Machines. USPTA CEO John Embree
(at right) recently welcomed Playmate
Marketing Specialist Stan Oley to
USPTA headquarters in Orlando.  premium cushion and comfort. It has been
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Tecnifibre offers a full line of tennis equipment.
partnership with Bridgestone.
Tecnifibre has a large presence in
France through a specialized distribu-
tion network and is now developing its
business internationally.
This will make it possible to make
use of valuable synergies for both com-
panies: the acceleration of international
development for Tecnifibre and the de-
velopment of technical products under
the Lacoste brand, says Guibert.  general manager of Wilson Racket Sports.
Wilson Launches
Custom Racket Shop
Wilson has launched its Custom Racket
Shop, an online experience that allows
players to design a Wilson performance
frame to their personal specifications.
We built this dynamic and completely
new customization experience to put
the player in control of how their racquet
looks and feels, says Hans-Martin Reh,
Players can select a 2017 Wilson Pro
Staff, Blade or Burn model that best fits
their style of play on the website
(wilson.com/customrackets), then cus-
tomize their frame by selecting options
including different finishes, frame colors,
decals, grommets, bumpers, logos,
model names, metal letterings and grips.
Prices start at $249.99.
Rebound Ace Portable Chosen
as Laver Cup Surface in Prague
The Rebound Ace Portable sport surfac-
ing system from California Sports Surfaces,
a brand under ICP Construction, was the
surface chosen for the inaugural Laver Cup in
Prague, Czech Republic, in September. Laver
Cup organizers worked with CSS to create
a black surface that would keep spectators
focused on the play.
Rebound Ace Portable is an interlocking,
temporary court system that provides
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 7
IndustryNews
NEW PRODUCTS
Tennis-Themed Beer Salutes
Bancroft, Hall of Fame
W
hen the R.I.-based
Narragansett Beer compa-
ny moved to its new brew-
ery in Pawtucket, employees discovered
plot maps nearly a century old. Upon
closer inspection, they found that the
manufacturing facility for Bancroft
former maker of wood racquets used by
Short Sets
In September, Puerto Rico took a direct
hit from Hurricane Maria, a category 5
storm that devastated the island. Pro
player and Puerto Rican native Monica
Puig, the 2016 Olympic singles gold
medalist in tennis, has been helping by
opening a fund to assist residents. Visit
www.youcaring.com/donatewithmonica
to donate to the cause.
USPTA CEO John Embree and COO Fred
Viancos spoke at the inaugural USTA
Florida High School Tennis Coaches
Workshop presented by Wilson and
Gatorade at the USTA National Campus
in Orlando on Aug.4. The event was an
opportunity for coaches to learn about
8 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
Bjorn Borg and scores of recreational
playerswas once adjacent to the site.
The bit of trivia intrigued Narragan-
sett President Mark Hellendrung, a
recreational tennis player and, at
heart, a Rhode Island historian. It also
inspired him to create a new beer,
Bancroft Up or Down Ale.
resources available to them, such as
education and memberships.
Tennis Cambodia received the inau-
gural International Tennis Hall of Fame
Global Organization of Distinction Award
in recognition of its achievements in
rebuilding tennis following the sport's
eradication during the genocide by the
Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
The inaugural Stowe Mountain Lodge
Tennis Classic in Vermont was held Aug.
21-24 and brought in 3,000 attendees.
The event featured top ATP players Albert
Ramos-Violas, who won the tourna-
ment, Frances Tiafoe, Jared Donaldson,
Its such a similar story to us, says
Hellendrung, who chose the name to
honor the pre-match tradition of spin-
ning a Bancroft frame to determine
servecalling its B logo up or down.
Like Bancroft, Narragansett expe-
rienced a downturn in fortune late in
the 20th century, but the official beer
of the clam has been revitalized in no
small part due to its craft-beer collabo-
rations with local institutions. Dels
Lemonade, a Rhode Island staple, is
used to produce Narragansetts shandy;
Autocrat Coffee Syrup is the flavor base
of the companys silky stout.
With Bancroft Up or Down Ale
brewed not unlike Narragansetts
Banquet Ale of the 1930s and 1940s,
but with Cascade and Chinook hops for
a floral and citrus flavorthe collabo-
ration was borne out of ideal timing,
filling a vacant, late-summer spot in the
beer production calendar.
We thought it was a natural tie-in
between the US Open, New York City
and the International Tennis Hall of
Fame, says Hellendrung, who met with
the last owner of Bancroft at the beers
launch party in Newport.
With yellow accents, a retro font
and even the Bancroft logo on a vibrant
green can, Narragansetts latest beer is
an homage to the past and a continua-
tion of its popular mash-up series.
Jeremy Chardy, Vasek Pospisil and
Tommy Haas. Visit stowetennis.com.
Wilson partnered with the USTA
Foundation to launch the Ultra Aces
program during the 2017 US Open. For
every ace by a Wilson-sponsored singles
player using the companys new Ultra
racquet, Wilson donated $200 and a new
Ultra frame to the USTA Foundation.
C O U RT E S Y N A R R A G A N S ET T
The USTA Foundation raised more than
$1.1 million from its 17th annual Opening
Night Gala at the US Open.
TGA Premier Tennis has added a third
franchise in the Seattle, Wash., area.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 LOVE LOVE
Club members and students will LOVE facing
off against the phenom. You will LOVE
used at several high-profile events,
including the Fed Cup, Davis Cup and offering the added advantage.
the Singapore-based WTA Finals, for
which it was specifically created.

PTR Opens Satellite follow lobste

t rsports on
te play more. win more.

Office in Orlando
For more information, please call 888.380.9460 or visit www.lobstersports.com
The PTR has opened a satellite
office in Orlando, Fla., to continue
to work closely with the USTA
at the new National Campus in
nearby Lake Nona.
PTR Director of Education Brian
Parkkonen and new Director of
Development Isaac McBroom are
headquartered at the new locale,
which is at 6900 Tavistock Lakes
Blvd., Suite 400, Orlando, FL
32827. PTR will maintain its Inter-
national Headquarters on Hilton
Head Island, S.C.

Industry Loses Don Tisdel,

TIs 2016 Person of the Year

Don Tisdel
Former USTA Board Vice President
Don Tisdel of Mercer Island, Wash.,
passed away suddenly on Sept. 9
at age 83. An avid tennis player for
more than 60 years, Tisdel served
on the USTA Board of Directors from
2005 until his retirement at the end
of 2016, and then continued to serve
the USTA as a presidential appointee.
Tisdel was named Tennis Industry
magazines Person of the Year at the
end of 2016.
In an email to USTA staff and volun-
teer, USTA President Katrina Adams
said Tisdels unparalleled business
acumen, keen financial understand-
C O U RT E S Y U S TA

ing and clear vision were integral in

the major projects this association
has undertakenand successfully
completedin recent years, includ-
ing the transformation of the USTA

www.tennisindustrymag.com Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 9

IndustryNews
PRO TENNIS
Second Annual Laver Cup
Bound for Chicago in 2018
C
hicago will host the second edition
of the Laver Cup next year, at the
citys 23,500-seat United Center.
The inaugural Laver Cup was held in
Prague on Sept. 22-24, as Team Europe
defeated Team World, 15-9.
The Laver Cup pits six top players from
Europe against six of their rivals from the
rest of the world in a unique format, play-
ing singles and doubles under a staggered
scoring system.
10 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
Roger Federer, instrumental in the
creation of the Laver Cup, played
at the inaugural event in Prague.
The 2018 event in Chicago will take
place Sept. 21-23.
Its personally thrilling for the Laver ment and operations.
Cup to be coming to my hometown of
Chicago, says Katrina Adams, chairman,
president and CEO of the USTA, which is
a partner in the Laver Cup. To be associ-
ated with the legacy of the United Center
and working with their team will allow us
to showcase this event and attract more
players to our sport.
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
and the construction of the USTA
National Campus in Orlando. It could be
argued that without his financial leader-
ship, the USTA might not have had the
courage to tackle these major projects,
both critical to the growth of the sport.
USTA, Discovery Education
Host Careers Beyond Court
The USTA and Discovery Education,
a leading provider of digital con-
tent and professional development
for K-12 classrooms, teamed up to
host the first Careers Beyond the
Court Virtual Field Trip on Sept. 14
to inspire students to explore career
paths in the tennis industry.
The Virtual Field Trip took students
to the USTA National Campus in
Orlando and the 2017 US Open in
New York. Guest host James Blake,
USTA Foundation Chairman, along
with other executives shared experi-
ences and insider knowledge of the
diverse career paths available in the
sports industry. The Virtual Field Trip
introduced students to tennis pros
and facility management; technol-
ogy in tennis, including equipment;
mental conditioning and perfor-
mance coaching; and event manage-
Available at no cost to classrooms,
Careers Beyond the Court provides
high school students, educators and
families engaging experiences that
look into the many career opportuni-
ties available in the tennis industry.
For more information, visit
careersbeyondthecourt.com.
Amazon Prime Video
To Stream ATP Finals
Amazon Prime Video is an official
streaming partner of the ATP World
Tour. The new deal covers the world-
wide distribution of the Next Gen ATP
Finals through Amazon Prime Video.
C O U RT E S Y A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S
Starting this year, Amazon will have
worldwide internet rights (excluding
China), and the full, exclusive rights in
the U.S., to distribute the Next Gen ATP
Finals, outside of ATPs internet
channel, Tennis TV. The ATP Finals will
take place Nov. 7-11 in Milan, Italy.
The deal, which expires at the end
of 2018, includes a commitment from
www.tennisindustrymag.com

People
Watch
Wimbledon champions Pat Cash and
Michael Stich, along with Anders Jarryd,
Tom Okker and Helena Sukova, have
been named candidates for induction
into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Voting takes place this fall; the inductees
will be announced in early 2018.
USTA Chairman, CEO and President
Katrina Adams is the recipient of the 2017
Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achieve-
ment Award. In partnership with Multi-
channel News and sponsored by Scripps
Networks Interactive and Univision Com-
munications Inc., Adams was honored at
the National Association for Multi-Ethnic-
ity in Communication Conference in late
September in New York City.
TennisPaint.com
Build your dream court
Find an installer
Get product information
Pickleball
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Juan Martin del Potro and Petra
Kvitova won the sixth annual US Open
Sportsmanship Awards, presented to
the professional tennis players who best
demonstrate excellence in sportsman-
ship throughout the US Open Series and
the US Open.
Bill Mountford is the new senior direc-
tor of racquets at Chelsea Piers in Stam-
ford, Conn. Mountford most recently
served as a director in the USTAs Com-
munity Tennis department, overseeing
junior tournaments and junior competi-
tion in the U.S.
Twenty-year-old Peruvian squash
sensation Diego Elias recently signed a
IndustryNews
sponsorship agreement with Ashaway
Racket Strings. Currently ranked
No. 17, Elias joined the PSA tour in 2013
and became the first Peruvian to win a
PSA World Tour title in 2014.
Tom Gullikson has joined Snodgrass
Partners as an equity partner and will
head the firms Tennis and Golf Execu-
tive Recruiting practice. In this role, he
will find coaches for collegiate tennis
programs and tennis directors for clubs
and resorts.
Teresa Thompson has joined Welch
Tennis in a marketing/communications
role. She is the publisher and founder of
Tennis View Magazine.
Basketball
Tennis
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 11
IndustryNews

Amazon to show all Next Gen ATP Finals

matches produced by ATP Media. ATP has
also produced three documentaries that will
air on Amazon Prime Video.

ASBA Tech Meeting

Dec. 1-5 in New Orleans
The annual Technical Meeting for the
American Sports Builders Association
will be Dec. 1-5 at the Hyatt Regency New
Orleans. The meeting includes technical
programming for industry members who
work with facilities for tennis, track and
field, sports fields, and indoor and out-
door court and recreational facilities.
The Tech Meeting will again feature its
popular Trade Show with products and
services for the sports facility construc-
tion industry. Also, the winners of the
associations annual Awards program will
be announced at the event. The meeting
will include the opportunity for individu-
als to take the ASBAs exams to become a
Certified Tennis Court Builder, Certified
Track Builder or Certified Field Builder.
For more information and to register RACQUETS
for the Technical Meeting, visit www.
sportsbuilders.org or contact 866-501- Dunlop Releases New
ASBA, or email info@sportsbuilders.org.
Srixon CX & CZ Frames
D

Williamses Donate $1 Million
To New Facility & Museum unlop has released two new lines of premium racquets featuring Srixon engineering.
The six new frames in the CX and CZ lines were designed with Sonic Core technol-
ogy, including the CX 2.0 Tour LE, played by US Open finalist Kevin Anderson.
Sonic Core technology is a silicone material injected at certain points in the racquet to
maximize energy transfer and dampen vibration, says Dunlop. The CX line, featuring flashy
cosmetics and frames designed to help generate spin, consists of four Srixon frames: the CX
2.0 Tour LE with a 95-square-inch head size and 18 x 20 string pattern; CX 2.0 and CX 2.0 LS at
98 square inches and 16 x 19; and the CX 4.0 at 100 square inches and 16 x 19.
With slightly muted cosmetics, the Srixon CZ line consists of the CZ 98D, at 98 square
inches and 16 x 19, and the CZ 100S, at 100 square inches and 16 x 18. All six frames carry a
$219 suggested retail price. A limited number will be produced for U.S. distribution. 
Venus and Serena Williams

South Floridas Sun Sentinel newspaper also plans to move its offices to the center and ball out of my backpack, says Dr.
reported in August that plans are in the and hold its national championship there. Groppel, who believes it was the first time
C O U RT E S Y T R U S C O R E ; A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S

works for a 26-court tennis facility and muse-
um that would showcase the sports African-
American stars. The paper also reported that
Venus and Serena Williams have pledged
to donate $1 million toward the complex,
which will be built at Miramar Regional Park.
The facility will have clay and hard courts,
a clubhouse with locker rooms, and treat-
ment and fitness areas. The American Ten-
nis Association (ATA) Tennis and Education
Complex will include exhibitions on the
sports history and black athletes. The ATA
Dr. Jack Groppel Takes
Tennis to New Heights
Tennis made its way to the top of Mount
Kilimanjaro in August, when Dr. Jack
Groppel, the Health and Wellness Advi-
sor to the tennis industry, ascended the
19,341-foot summit with a Net Genera-
tion racquet and ball, then volleyed atop
the tallest peak on the African continent.
You should have seen the look on the
guides faces when I pulled the racquet
a tennis ball was hit at the top of Kiliman-
jaro. I had someone toss a ball for me
to volley. The lack of oxygen, however,
prevented it from being my best volley!
Dr. Groppel, who is 65 years old and
has knee replacements in both legs, said
for eight months prior to the climb, he
played tennis three times a week for his
cardio training. He ascended the moun-
tain with his 12-year-old son.
Dr. Groppel is co-founder of the
Johnson & Johnson Human Performance

12 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 www.tennisindustrymag.com

IndustryNews
Letters
Short-Court Racquet Sports
POP TENNIS INFORMATION
The article on POP Tennis (Your Serve: Hop
Into POP!) in the September/October
issue was interesting, although it would
have helped had you mentioned rules,
scoring system, equipment, etc.
Jon Jacobson, USPTA
Ellicott City, Md.
Contributing editor Peg Connor, a POP Tennis
ambassador, responds: POP Tennis is the
same as regular tennis except POP is played
on a 60-foot court with green dot balls and
POP racquets/paddles. Its rules and scoring
are also the same as tennis, except with POP
there is only one underhand serve. We have
recently relaunched the POP Tennis website,
Introducing #RacketCandy
14 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
www.POPTennis.com, where you can find out
all about rules, equipment, and events.
PICKLEBALL SPOTLIGHT
Im happy you spotlighted pickleball in the
August issue (Your Serve: The Pickleball
Advantage). As a racquets program direc-
tor at a private country club, we added pick-
leball this past summer as a pilot program.
Here's what I found:
Members were thrilled with additional
options for recreational play.
Pickleball is easy to learn and fun to play,
so players became passionate quickly.
Pickleball brought in many members who
aren't traditional racquet players.
The pickleball program created a new
Contact Vulcan Grip Co. today
for brochure and wholesale pricing
1 - 800 - 826 - 6373
sales@vulcangrips.com
vulcangrips.com
option for senior members who were some-
what underserved by our existing offerings.
There's now a pickleball community among
seniors, who enjoy the social aspect and
often stay afterward.
Pickleball created a new, profitable rev-
enue stream and additional hours for pros.
We are now exploring a permanent instal-
lation of pickleball courts in response to the
overwhelmingly positive reception.
Both private and public facilities in our
area are rapidly adding pickleball programs,
and we feel building our own program will
make us more competitive.
Marina Ohlmuller
Director of Racquet Sports, Briarwood CC
Deerfield, Ill.
Institute, and the chair of the industrys
Tennis Health & Wellness Task Force.
USOC Honors Five Coaches
Five tennis coaches were recently
honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee
(USOC) for their contributions to the sport
of tennis in 2016:
Dave Ramos, USTA Doc Councilman of
the Year Award
David Witt, USTA National Coach of
the Year
Henner Nehles, USTA Co-Developmen-
tal Coach of the Year
Mike Gennette, USTA Co-Developmen-
tal Coach of the Year
Dan James, USTA Paralympic Coach of
the Year
USRSA Names New MRTs & CSs
Master Racquet Technicians
Tony Bahn, Houston
Drew Phillips, Matthews, N.C.
Certified Stringers
Porter Emery, Denver
Zachary Leal, Corpus Christi, Texas
Jerred Pace, Spokane Valley, Wash.
Youngjik Phillip Lee, South Korea
Jake Taylor, Medical Lake, Wash.
Zun Zhou, San Francisco
Parker Kallman, Georgetown, Texas 
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Join the Leader
PTR Nov-Dec 2017.qxp_Layout 1 9/27/17 9:35 AM Page 1

in Coach Education
5
Externally Accredited Pathways to Certification

3
Specialist Programs

3
Master of Tennis Programs

PTR Certification and Education Workshops are the most successful training courses for tennis teachers and coaches.
More than 300 PTR Workshops are conducted on five continents each year. All are led by specially trained PTR Clinicians.

10 & Under 11 to 17 Adult Development

Nov 4 Conway, AR Nov 4 Gambier, OH Nov 9 Irving, TX
Nov 4 Springfield, MO Nov 4 Minneapolis, MN Nov 11 Weston, FL
Nov 7 Tempe, AZ Nov 4 Wheaton, IL Dec 1 Cayce, SC
Nov 9 Atlanta, GA Nov 11 Littleton, CO Dec 2 Bannockburn, IL
Nov 11 Menlo Park, CA Nov 11 San Francisco, CA Dec 9 Virginia Beach, VA
Nov 17 Bannockburn, IL Dec 2 East Setauket, NY
Nov 18 Ladera Ranch, CA Dec 2 Pinehurst, NC
Nov 18 Palm Harbor, FL Dec 2 Fishersville, VA
Dec 16 Colts Neck, NY Dec 16 Atlanta, GA
Dec 16 Palm Harbor, FL Senior Development
Feb 16 Hilton Head Island, SC Feb 11 Hilton Head Island, SC

Performance
Nov 18 Miami, FL
Nov 18 East Setauket, NY
Dec 2 Mesa, AZ
Dec 8 Fairhope, AL
Dec 9 Boca Raton, FL

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For the most up to date list of PTRworkshops, call or visit

843-785-7244 www.ptrtennis.org
Advertorial.qxp_Layout 1 9/27/17 9:44 AM Page 1
PTR Partners with
Mexican Tennis Federation
PTR announced a groundbreaking
partnership with the Mexican Tennis
Federation (FMT). As part of a multi-year
agreement, PTR will be responsible for all
coach education and certification in
Mexico. PTR will conduct all Levels of
PTR education in Mexico, which will
include certification workshops (Level I
through 5) and Continuing Education
courses. PTR and FMT will collaborate on
an annual Symposium that will be held in
Guadalajara at the PTR Mexico
Headquarters.
Its an incredible opportunity for PTR to
work and partner with a Federation that
has such a long tradition in tennis as the
PTR Hires McBroom
PTR welcomes its newest staffer, Isaac
McBroom, as Director of Development.
He began coaching at just 15. After
graduating from Gustavus Adolphus
College, where he was Captain of the
mens tennis team, he co-founded a tennis
academy at the Barnes Tennis Center in
16 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
News
FMT. We will be unveiling our revised
education and certification pathway there
and look forward to helping raise the bar of
coach education in Mexico, said PTR
International Director, Iaki Balzola. We
look forward to contributing to the growth
and development of tennis in Mexico for
many years to come.
To work with the Professional Tennis
Registry allows us to have a certification
valid internationally. We are sure that this
union between FMT and PTR will bring
great benefits to everyone who plays tennis
in Mexico, said Jorge Olaya, Executive
Director of the Mexican Federation.
San Diego. McBroom became the
traveling coach for several WTA players,
some with Top 100 rankings. Most
recently, he served as National Coach's
Education Lead for Life Time Fitness.
A PTR Clinician, in 2017, McBroom
was named PTR Member of the Year for
Minnesota and earned PTR Master of
Tennis - Performance.
10K Milestone
Professional Tennis Registry is thrilled to
announce its celebrating a major milestone
today, welcoming its 10,000th member in
the United States!
Recently, PTR has been experiencing an
unprecedented uptick in new members.
Following a steady increase in membership
every year for 32 straight years, United
States membership increased 3% in 2017.
This is great news for tennis!
Great news for tennis worldwide is that
PTRs international membership has
increased 5% in 2017. With the agreement
with the Mexican Tennis Federation, a
partnership with Mouratoglou Academy,
and more in the works, PTR anticipates
international membership numbers to
continue to rise at this pace.
"When you provide quality education
leading to certification, plus outstanding
member services and benefits, membership
growth follows, said PTR President, Roy
Barth Reaching 10,000 US members, one
third of whom are coaches of color, is a
tremendous source of pride for PTR.
PTR is the largest global organization of
tennis teaching professionals with more
than 16,000 members in 125 countries. It
has the greatest percentage of multicultural
and women members of any such
organization. PTR is dedicated to
educating, certifying and serving tennis
teachers and coaches around the world in
order to grow the game.
PTR Orlando Office
With the new
USTA Campus in
Orlando, PTR has
opened an office in
the area as we
continue to work
closely with the
USTA.
PTR Director of Education, Brian Parkkonen
and Director of Development, Isaac McBroom
will be headquartered at the new PTR office.
6900 Tavistock Lakes Blvd., Suite 400
Orlando, FL 32827
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Advertorial.qxp_Layout 1 9/27/17 9:44 AM Page 2
PTR &
Mouratoglou Academy
Two titans of the tennis industry are now working
together to improve the education of tennis coaches in
Europe and around the world. The first cooperative
project between PTR and Mouratoglou was a three day
coaching certification course in September at the world
renowned Mouratoglou Academy in Nice, France. The
course was followed by six weeks of intensive training
for selected coaches.
It is an ideal partnership to combine PTRs
unparalleled coach education and certification with a
world leader in tennis coaching in the Mouratoglou
Academy, said PTR CEO, Dan Santorum.
Mouratoglou Academy is the perfect place for PTR to
have a European hub for our coaches to get quality
continuing education and practical experience.
In addition, Mouratoglou and PTR will partner to host an
annual Tennis Symposium at the Mouratoglou Academy
during the time surrounding Roland Garros in May of
2018. This will provide an additional
opportunity to be in France during this special time on
the tennis calendar.
PTR is the largest coaching certification in our sport.
It is a real institution. I am very glad that together with
Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, we contribute in the
development of new talents as future coaches, and help
others to continue to grow their knowledge, said Patrick
Mouratoglou, CEO and founder of Mouratoglou Tennis
Academy.
For information about PTR
membership,
education and certification
www.ptrtennis.org
843-785-7244
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Wheelchair Championships
Many of the worlds best players have
made the annual sojourn to Hilton
Head Island for what they often
describe as their favorite tournament
of the year. From Esther Vergeer and
David Hall to this years #1 players,
Gordon Reid and Jiske Griffioen, have
rolled across the courts of the PTR
Wheelchair Tennis Championships.
The PTR Championships, part of the
UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, is
an ITF Series II Event/Grade A Junior
Tournament, and USTA Fall Southern
Championship.
Dayle Thomas
Ten countries were represented this
year, including first time nations of
Israel and Taiwan. The Brasil Federation sent seven players and three
coaches to the September 2017 event. We were excited to have a record
number of women in the Open and A divisions this year, said Julie Jilly,
Tournament Director and Vice president of PTR. The University of
Alabama wheelchair tennis team competed this year, and PTR member
Shelby Baron won the Womens Open Doubles title!
International Tennis
Symposium
Judy Murray, Nick Bollettieri
Join Speakers
The premier coaching event will be held February 13-16, 2018, on
beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
More than 45 industry experts will conduct classroom and on court
presentations at the Symposium, including heavy hitters Leo Alonso,
Mike Barrell, Emma Doyle, Edgar Giffenig, Dr. Ben Kibler, Dr. Mark
Kovacs, Chris Lewit, Dr. Jim Loehr, Carl Maes, Marie-France Mercier,
Dave Miley, Craig OShannessy, Oivind Sorvald and Sarah Stone. Topics
range from tennis business and sport science to teaching tactics and
techniques.
In addition to unparalleled education, the Symposium boasts a Tennis
Trade Show with demo courts, and a tournament, where coaches compete.
Participants look forward to the Parade of Nations Flag Ceremony and
enjoy awards presentations during the annual banquet and membership
meeting.
Because of the Symposiums stellar reputation as a top coach education
destination, attracting participants from around the world, the STMS
(Society for Tennis Medicine and Science) has scheduled its conference
immediately following the Symposium anticipating drawing some of
PTRs high caliber attendees.
For complete information and registration, visit www.ptrtennis.org, and
click the Events tab.
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 17
TennisIndustry

RacquetTech
CUSTOMER SERVICE

Collaborative Effort
When it comes to poly strings, we all
need to make sure adult recreational players
and juniors know the facts.
By Bob Patterson

I
speak to many manufacturers,
coaches and racquet techni-
cians, and the consensus is that
recreational adult players and
junior players are using the
wrong type of string, tensionor both.
Stiff polyester strings are prevalent in
the marketplace and dominate the pro
tours, but are they suited for the aver-
age club or league player? Most in this
industry dont think so.
First, the very benefit of poly strings
is their ability to bend and snap back
faster than other materials. This snap
back enhances spin on the ball. A pro
can swing out and get more spin on the
ball while generating a heavier shot.
You might think that would be the same
for your average junior or club player,
but it is most definitely not the case.
Most players cant generate enough
racquet-head speed to bend stiff poly
strings in the first place. If the string
doesnt bend, it cant snap back, and Not only is poly string wrong for most recreational
there is little or no spin enhancement. and junior players, it can be harmful.
Many recreational players who
switch to a poly never adjust their ten-
sion. Im always amazed to hear of a 3.5
adult or junior using a full poly set-up
at high tensions. This is a surefire way
for a player to hurt his or her arm. coupled with stiffer, lighter racquets It is easy to market a string their top
Second, monofilament poly strings creates much more shock to the player sponsored player is using, but compa-
lose their elasticityor the ability to when the ball impacts the stringbed. nies need to make rec players aware
snap backmuch faster than nylon In recent years, weve seen arm and that string may not be best for every-
or other string materials. Since poly wrist injuries sideline many top pros, one. Then they need to offer a softer,
strings have a fairly dead feeling to and these athletes train and take every better suited string.
begin with, their decline is less notice- precaution to prevent injury. If we all The bottom line is that we all need to
able for recreational players, who tend know it is a problem, how do we fix it? address this issue. Injured players play
to not restring as often as they should, It starts with education: inform players less, and may stop playing altogether.
SHUTTERSTOCK

which only makes the problem worse. about why they should alter their string And thats not good for anyone.
Not only is poly string wrong for set-up. It is better for their health and
most recreational and junior players, for their game. Bob Patterson is the Executive Director of
it can be harmful. The stiffer string Manufacturers need to step up, too. the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association.

18 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 www.tennisindustrymag.com


AskTheExperts
Stringing solution
for spin racquets
Q: Im seeing quite a bit of hoop com-
pression when stringing racquets with
an 18x16 string pattern, using the same
tension for the mains and crosses. Ive
tried reducing tension on the mains by
up to 5 pounds relative to the crosses,
and the racquet still comes out shorter
by about 1/8 of an inch, which is more
than the USRSA limit.
Im seeing enough deformation to
make it tough to get the racquet off the
machine, although it doesnt seem to be
hurting the racquet. But what can I do
to mitigate the deformation?
A: It seems obvious that an 18x16
pattern has a lot more force compress-
ing the hoop from the 18 main strings
P H O T O G R E G R AV E N/ U S R S A
www.tennisindustrymag.com
than there is restorative force from
the 16 crosses, especially considering
that installing the crosses will actually
increase the tension of (and thus the
force from) the mains.
One racquet designer we consulted
said he reinforced the hoop to coun-
teract this tendency. But even pro tour
stringers are seeing the same hoop
compression you are, with various
machines, tensions and strings.
Your best approach would be to try
Liam Nolans Wimbledon around-
the-world (ATW) technique on these
racquets. Like other ATW techniques,
you use one piece of string instead of
two, but the benefit of this particular
approach is that you string two of the
mains much later in the process, which
allows the crosses to equalize the pres-
sure on the hoop before you install the
last (outside) mains. (Note: You will
TennisIndustry
need a starting clamp to employ this
technique.)
Once you master this, you will be able
to use this same technique on any rac-
quet where the mains end at the throat
and you want to install the crosses from
the head down with one piece of string.
Heres how you do it:
1. When measuring the short side,
add enough extra string to cover two
crosses.
2. Install the mains as normal, stopping
before you install the outside mains on
each side. In other words, on racquets
with 18 mains that start at the head, you
would install 16 mains, at which point
you have both ends of the string exiting
the hoop at the head.
3. Secure the short side main at the
head with a starting clamp. You can
wrap the remainder of the short side
string around the starting clamp, or
thread it through the grommet for the
outside main on the short side to keep
it out of the way.
4. Going back to the long side, leave the
top cross open and start the crosses at
the second cross from the head.
5. Continue installing the crosses as
normal until you have done an even
number and the cross string exits the
hoop in a position to install the outside
main on the long side. At this point, you
will have 14 crosses installed, with the
top and bottom crosses yet to be done
(there may be two uninstalled crosses
at the throat on other racquets). Install
the outside main on the long side. Con-
tinue from the long side outside main
to do the top cross, and then tension
and tie off as normal.
6. Re-tension the main on the short
side, and replace the starting clamp
with a machine clamp. Install the out-
side main on the short side.
7. Continue with the short-side end to
finish up the remaining bottom cross
(or crosses, depending on the racquet),
and tie off as normal.
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 19
 Tennis Forum Presents
Insights & Opportunities
The 10th Annual Tennis Industry Association
Tennis Forum was held in New York City on Aug.
28, the first day of play at the US Open, and the
audience of nearly 300 tennis industry leaders heard
the latest news about the state of the tennis industry,
updates on grow-the-game initiatives, and business
insights, along with a spotlight on tennis innovation.
TIA President Jeff Williams (left) kicked off the
event, which took place at the Intercontinental New
York Barclay, the official hotel of the mens ATP Tour.

International Tennis Federation President David
Haggerty became the 13th inductee into the Tennis
Industry Hall of Fame. Haggerty, a past president of
the USTA and TIA and former tennis manufacturing
executive, spoke about the need for organizations
in tennis to work together to grow the sport. He was
introduced by longtime friend and colleague Kevin
Kempin, the president and CEO of Head USA.
USTA President, CEO and Chairman
Katrina Adams discussed the
strategic transformation and
renovations at the USTA Billie
Jean King National Tennis Center,
the Net Generation youth tennis
platform, and the USTA National
Campus in Orlando, Fla.
Kurt Kamperman, USTA chief executive
Community Tennis and National Campus, spoke
about the need to go where the kids are
schools and after-school programs, along with
engaging both kids and parents digitally. He
also talked about the challenges of bringing more
millennials to the sporttennis needs to be
social, fun and fitness-oriented.

TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer and Sports Marketing Surveys Vice
President Keith Storey presented the latest industry research. Total U.S.
tennis participation grew 0.6 percent from 2015 to 2016, to 18.08 million
players, there was a 7.2 percent increase in youth tennis players and a 16.7
percent increase in Cardio Tennis players over the past year. However, total
play occasions fell 4.8 percent to 425 million, and equipment sales continue
to decline for racquets, balls and strings. Core participationthose who
play at least 10 times a yearwas down 13 percent over the last eight
years. But, latent demand remains strong. Nearly 15 million non-players
are interested in tennis, and another 12.7 million Americans consider
themselves players but may not have been on court in the last two years.

20 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org
Following the Tennis Forum and Innovation The winner of the Tennis Innovation Challenge was
Challenge, the SportsCouncil Silicon Valley presented SV
CONNECTING THE ELITE WORLD OF SPORTS AND TECH
Silicon Valley start-up In/Out, a $199 portable line-calling
Future of Tennis & Tech sessions, with topics FUTURE OF TENNIS and analytical device (see page 32). In/Out founder
including wearable tech, virtual reality, data analytics,
e-sports, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, &TECH Gregoire Gentils informative and entertaining
presentation won over the judges to take the $1,000
drones and more. Tech companies also displayed their products and services at a Tech prize. Two other finalists also presented: AccuTennis,
Fair event. The TIA will continue reaching out to tennis providers, owners and managers to an interactive line-calling system, and Playmate
promote the benefits of sports technology to the tennis industry at its next major event, the iGenie, a ball machine with innovative calibration
TOM Conference, which will be April 8-11 in Charleston, S.C. For more information, and programming. The Innovation Challenge
visit TennisIndustry.org or TheTOMConference.com. included (below, from left) moderator Carlos Salum,
judges Royce Wolfe, Dr. Mark Kovacs, Gentil,

PHOTOS BY DAVID KENAS/TENNIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

World-renowned retail expert Dan de Boer, Dr. Stuart Miller and Walid Fattah.
OConnor, the founder of RetailNet
Group and the 2017 Fellow with Harvards
Advanced Leadership Initiative, spoke
about Re-Inventing Commerce
Building Brands on Digital Platforms,
and discussed trends in retailing and the
changing consumer, and how it applied to
the tennis industry.

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . TennisIndustry.org Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 21
TennisIndustry
U S TA N AT I O N A L T E N N I S C E N T E R
The Armstrong Answer
Handed unique demands, Seating
Solutions gave the US Opens
temporary court a permanent feel.
By Ed McGrogan
D
uring the second week
of this years US Open,
in search of singles
matches while they were
still being held outside
Arthur Ashe Stadium, I ventured
around the bustling grounds. Sort of.
For when I sat down to watch Kaia
Kanepis fourth-round match against
Daria Kasatkina, I was actually sitting
outside the traditional boundaries of
the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center.
With a new, roofed Louis Armstrong
Stadium under construction since
22 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
FACILITY DESIGN
the original stadium was razed after
the 2016 US Open, the USTA needed
a temporary show court for this years
tournament. Problem was, there wasnt
anywhere to put such a venue inside
the teeming grounds.
In 1988, a parking lot was the site of
a revolution in mens tennis. Twenty-
nine years later, a parking lot was the
site for a temporary Louis Armstrong
Stadium, thanks to Scott Suprina, CEO
of Seating Solutions, and his creative
design team.
The parking lot backed directly up
to a building owned by the New York
City Parks Department and is not part
of the US Open site, says Suprina. We
were limited in the footprint.
The restriction posed additional
challenges to Suprina and his Com-
mack, N.Y.-based company, which has
manufactured, rented and sold seating
structures since 1998. For one, there
were no existing lighting fixtures in the
parking lot, nor could any be erected
around the space. In addition, the
configuration meant fans could only
enter the temporary stadium from one
entrance, so ample space was needed
underneath the stands to serve as a de
facto concourse.
It was clear from the onset that the
project demanded a custom build to
satisfy a number of parties.
The lights had to be built into the
seating system, which cut off some
of the paths of travel underneath,
says Suprina. So, this became a really
creative team effort between ourselves
and [Oskaloosa, Iowa-based] Musco
Lighting and the US Open. It required a
change in design for us.
Conceptually, the project began
shortly after the 2016 US Open, when
the USTA approached Seating Solu-
tions. In February 2017, the structural
and design elements were decided after
weekly calls and meetings.
www.tennisindustrymag.com

The truss system was
custom made for the US
Open's temporary Louis
Armstrong Stadium to
allow for under-stand
walkways, including
restroom access.
It was clear from the onset that the project demanded
a custom build to satisfy a number of parties.
All of the support accommodations
needed to be on siteeven the press
box and camera positions, says
Suprina, who consulted with ESPN,
the U.S. tournament broadcast rights
holder, on the stadium design.
The Seating Solutions team even
constructed a separate player holding
area, away from the potentially dense
foot traffic.
Assembly began on site five weeks
before the start of the tournament, and
was completed with a week to spare.
Suprina visited the site throughout the
summer and during the US Open to
ensure progress and qualityparticu-
larly on the nearly 12-foot-high custom
truss system, which allowed for the
space underneath the stands.
C O U RT E S Y S E AT I N G S O LU T I O N S
While egress was, of course, a major
consideration in design, what Sup-
rinawhose goal on any seating project
is to create a permanent experience
in a temporary environmentfound
was that when fans came to temporary
Louis Armstrong Stadium, they didnt
want to leave.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
We had a real positive response,
says Suprina. The feedback for me is,
how well was it attendedhow long did
people sit there for the entire event,
and can they get in and out of the
stands without traffic turmoil?
Two weeks after the US Open, the
temporary Louis Armstrong Stadium
was disassembled; the custom truss
system will soon be used for a robot-
ics tournament. As the manufacturer,
Seating Solutions can re-use or tweak
the product if a similar job is requested.
In doing so, Seating Solutions can both
rent and sell its products, which keeps
costs down for both vendor and client.
A
s I watched Kanepi and Kasat-
kina trade shots on a court
that felt at once part of, and
removed from, the actual grounds, I
was reminded of my favorite US Open
court, the late Grandstand. That feeling
was rekindled not only because of the
intimate viewing positions that Sup-
rinas team created, but also because of
a tall tree, part of Flushing Meadows-
TennisIndustry
Corona Park, that overlooked the
stadium. Charming greenery was an
unmistakable sight from the Grand-
stand seats, years ago.
Beauty came at a potential cost,
though: if Seating Solutions damaged
the tree in any way, it would incur
heavy fines from the NYC Parks
Department. It was but another consid-
eration in this one-of-a-kind project.
I liked the intimacy of the stadium,
and I liked the trees, says Suprina. It
gave it personality.
By the 2018 US Open, a new, perma-
nent Louis Armstrong Stadium will be
ready for play. Its a unique opportunity
for the USTA to create the best court of
all at its professional tennis mecca.
As for Seating Solutions, whose client
list also includes the Kentucky Derby,
Americas Cup and Rutgers University,
it will continue to design, manufacture
and construct high-end productsor,
as Suprina puts it, creating an experi-
ence. But while the experience might
be temporary, the memories from it
will endure.
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 23
TennisIndustry
D I S T I N G U I S HCEODUFRATC C
I LOI N
FA C IOLUI RT YT ICNOFNRSATSRTURCUTCI OT UN R E
Financial Improvement
The C-PACE program is helping
tennis clubs invest in energy-saving
infrastructure improvements.
By Adam Moskowitz
I
ts a sad day when a tennis
club that has hosted so many
players and events in the
community closes, says Steve
Lusardi, recalling the day in
mid-2016 when the former
Manchester Tennis Club in Connecti-
cut closed after 42 seasons. Thats why
we were so excited to see reinvestment
in the facility and the recent reopening
of the courts.
Tennis director and academy
owner Magic Lincer purchased the
57,000-square-foot Manchester Tennis
Club this past spring, and he quickly got
to work refurbishing the eight-court
indoor facility, determined to grow ten-
nis participation in the community and
bring back former club members, many
of whom had migrated 20 minutes
north to a facility he owns in Windsor.
On the punch list for improvement:
resurfacing the courts, installing a new
roof, adding LED lighting through-
outincluding indirect lighting over
the courtsand renovating the lobby
and locker rooms. Its a facelift that will
benefit all parties.
Guest comfort and investing in the
infrastructure are as important to me
as rolling out tennis balls and providing
access to a talented team of certified
coaches, Lincer says. Not only are we
enhancing the experience for clients,
we also are making capital improve-
ments that will reduce our expenses.
24 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
TYS -TORFU- C
TTHIEO-Y
NE A R A W A R D S
Energy Efficiency
Lincers infrastructure redevelopment
plans are anchored in energy efficiency.
A new roof will save on heating in the
winter and enhance cooling in the
summer. Atop the roof, Lincer is plac-
ing a 120-kilowatt solar array, which is
projected to power 90 percent of the
facilitys electricity needs. Heating and
cooling will be driven by an energy-effi-
cient air-sourced heat-pump solution.
Over the useful life of the equipment,
estimated to be 20 years, Lincer antici-
pates the club will save approximately
$500,000 on its utility bills.
The financing for Lincers energy-
efficiency capital expenditures is
provided by a specialty firm, Green-
works Lending, which introduced
Lincer to a state program called
Commercial PACE, or C-PACE, that is
available in Connecticut and 19 other
states. C-PACE stands for Commercial
Property Assessed Clean Energy; its
an innovative program that allows for
commercial property owners to invest
in energy-saving infrastructure with
long-term repayment of funds through
a property tax assessment (similar to
what has typically existed for water line
and sidewalk extensions).
The long-term, low-interest financ-
ing, plus tax and utility incentives and
the energy savings themselves, typi-
cally allow for positive cash flow from
C-PACE investments on day one.
New Manchester Tennis Club owner Magic Lincer
placed a premium on energy efficiency in making
renovations to the facilities.
Reducing Operating Expenses
For tennis and sports facility owners,
the C-PACE program gives commercial
property owners:
Access to 100 percent financing,
including both hard and soft costs (i.e. a
new roof to support solar energy).
Private capital is offered at low fixed
rates and with terms that match the
useful life of the infrastructure invest-
ment, typically 15 to 20 years.
Financing is secured by the property
and can remain on the property upon
sale.
Borrowing capacity (equity) is
maintained and costs can be passed
along to tenants.
Financing is non-recourse and can
be paired with other types of debt
and equity on all types of commercial
development.
Weve brought this type of financ-
ing to several tennis and similar sports
facilities, such as gymnastics centers,
across the country, says Greenworks
Lending co-founder and CEO Jessica
Bailey. The fact that this is a win-win
for all involved is why C-PACE is grow-
ing state by state.
For Lusardi, the new Manchester
Tennis Club rekindles a great tradition.
Im glad to see the lights on and the
courts in such beautiful shape, Lusardi
says. If tax credits for solar and special
finance programs are helping the new
owner bring back and improve this
facility, Im all for it. Theres a vibrant
tennis community here and every court
is needed. 
Adam Moskowitz serves as the market-
ing manager for Greenworks Lending, a
finance firm specializing in Commercial
PACE (C-PACE). He can be reached at
amoskowitz@greenworkslending.com or
203-837-7816.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 TennisIndustry

Comfort
Level
Energy-efficiency improvements
financed by the C-PACE program
can address many member comfort
concerns, such as:

Temperature in the facility and on the courts

Humidity

Leaks in the roof or puddles on the courts

Lighting throughout the facility

Water temperature in showers

Fresh air and ventilation

In addition, members know that their tennis

club is doing all it can to help reduce energy
costs and save resources
Court resurfacing is just one
of the recent upgrades at the
Manchester Tennis Club.

Make someones Holiday special,

Give them a Playmate VOLLEY
playmatetennis.com

The Official Ball

(800) 776-6770 Machine of the USPTA
TM

Half Page Ad - Christmas Ad -REV3-LJ.indd 1 9/17/17 1:16 PM

www.tennisindustrymag.com Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 25

TennisIndustry

S E L LAI PNPGA FRREAL M E S

2 0 1 7S PRRAICNQGU EP TR ESVEILEEWC T O R

Style and Substance

New outfits combine on-court and off-court
looks as consumers continue to expect fashionable
feel with technical features.
By Cynthia Sherman

As winter approaches, tennis retailers and players start to plan for spring. These outfits
are sure to appeal to all types of players, offering high performance in comfortable,
easy-care fabrics that include traditional colorways along with softer, seasonal hues.

1 /Bolle / bolletenniswear.com / 2 /Wilson / wilson.com /800-800-9936 3 /Fila / fila.com / 410-773-3000

301-362-0360
Bolles Positano line is a versatile group
that mixes supreme comfort with style
and flair. Rich pinks with flashes of
orange compose a variety of pieces to
help mark the beginning of spring. The
tops in this group retail from $64 to
$66, and the skorts retail for $68.
Wilsons spring offerings for men
include the Prince Blue Condition
8-inch short with nanoWIK tech.
The 100 percent poly short retails for
$55. For women, Wilson offers a 12--
inch laser-patterned blue skort with
nanoWIK ($60), topped by a matching
racerback tank ($55).
Fila welcomes spring with its signa-
ture Heritage line. The white pleated
13--inch skort ($80) comes with navy
and red stripes and Filas F-box rubber
patch logo. The Heritage Criss-Cross
Tank ($60) in a complementary red-
navy-white format includes a built-in
bra with padded cups.

26 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 www.tennisindustrymag.com

A L L P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y O F T H E M A N U FA C T U R E R S
4 /Lucky in Love / shopluckyinlove.com /305-638-5484
Lucky In Loves offerings from its Haviana group include
the Icon Bralette tank ($68) in lemon-hued jersey grid
fabrication. The tiered, multi-colored, pastel-striped
Long Cruise Line skort ($79), in poly-Lycra jersey,
sparkles in aquamarine.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
5 / InPhorm / inphormnyc.com / 214-749-0300
Spring blooms on the court with the Melanie skort ($64) in
soothing mauve/petal pink, made of high-performance
jersey with a power-mesh pocket on the attached shorts.
The hem grips on the 13--inch shorts keep them from rid-
ing up. The accompanying Caitlin tank ($56) is of similar
fabrication with semi-fitted mesh inserts, and offers UPF
50+ sun protection.
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 27
TennisIndustry
New tennis shoes are fashionable, technologically
supportive and customizable with inserts and colors.
F
or decades, tennis shoes has
been a catch-all phrase for
any pair of active footwear.
The term brings awareness
to our sport, although it doesnt ensure
that actual tennis shoes are being
purchased. Basketball shoes continue
as the premier collectible and fash-
ion option for active footwear, and
running shoes dominate in terms of
technological advancements and unit
sales. Footwear actually designed to
28 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
S E LFLOI N
OGT WF ER AA RM E S
2 0 1 7S PRRAICNQGU EP TR ESVEILEEWC T O R
Sole Survivors
By Kent Oswald
support tennis players is an interesting
category, but its not one for retailers to
look at as the sole source of successful
retirement planning.
Unit sales would increase if court
and facility operators for sports such as
pickleball and POP Tennis mandated
tennis shoes. An education program
to get parents thinking about tennis-
specific shoes for their young players
would help with shoe sales, too.
As for the shoes themselves, they
A L L P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y O F T H E M A N U FA C T U R E R S
have become increasingly fashionable,
technologically supportive and more
customizable through various inserts
and via color choices. In fact, the color
spectrum has expanded to the point
where the market includes options
from all-black through fluorescent
flourishes, and all the way back to the
beginning of tennis: all-white.
In shoe terms, 2018 is looking good
already, with greater developments on
the way. (Prices are suggested retail.) 
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 TennisIndustry

1 /Adidas / adidas.com / 971-234-2300

Taking the game outside the court, Adidas hopes to inspire a devotion to a line
of tennis shoes bearing Pharrell Williams imprimatur, including its signature
Barricades ($150, men). For 2018, the company is updating its Barricade Boost
($160, men), a shoe the company has been committed to. They are also offering
the new Adizero Ubersonic 3 ($130, women) that provides increased stability,
minimal weight and a net mesh.

2 /Babolat / babolat.com / 877-316-9435

Babolat rebranded its Jet line by doubling down on a message of speed. The Jet
and Jet Team have been renamed the Jet Mach I ($120, men & women) and Jet
Mach II ($150, men & women), respectively. In addition to more color options,
the shoes one-piece mesh upper features more Kevlar, and its Michelin-rubber
soles are more durable. There will also be both all-court and clay-court editions
to the Jet Mach line.

3 /Head / head.com / 800-289-7366

For the coming year Head, unveiled its lightest shoe ever, the all-court Sprint
Pro 2.0 ($140, men & women). The shoe was created along themes of weight,
breathability, attention to fit and stability. Extensions of the series include a
mens Sprint Pro 2.0 Team ($120) and Sprint 2.0 Junior ($80). The all-court
premium performance Revolt Pro 2.5 ($140) is upgraded for additional comfort
and stability, and is available in two new colorways each for men and women.

4 /K-Swiss / k-swiss.com / 800-938-8000

The California-based brand, which achieved double-digit market share in 2017
riding in part on the success of its Hypercourt Express, will launch the same
lightweight, comfortable and breathable shoe in a version for the competitive
junior ($80). In January, the company also will debut the Ultrashot ($135, men
& women), a high-performance offering designed by keeping in mind the expe-
rience and demands of frequent adult players and high-level juniors.

5 /Nike / nike.com / 800-344-6453

Taking a new tack with an established model, Nike introduced its Flyleather
Tennis Classic ($85, men & women), a traditional court shoe in all-white and
clothed in a recycled leather fiber that offers more durability, greater grain
consistency and is 40 percent lighter than traditional leather.

6 /Wilson / wilson.com / 773-714-6400

Wilson amplified the benefits in its dynamic lightweight, flexible shoe for the
attacking player and brings the Kaos 2.0 SFT ($139, men & women) to market
in the new year. The goal was to use the latest technologies inside the shoe to
create feel and comfort, cushioning and rebound throughout. Colorways are
white/safety yellow/ebony and mazarine blue/white/neon red for men and
very berry/evening blue/sunny lime from those for women.

7 /Yonex / YonexUSA.com / 1-800-44-YONEX

Expanding the line that includes the recently released Power Cushion Eclip-
sion Clay, with a dot pattern instead of the traditional herringbone sole, Yonex
will shod Stan Wawrinka in 2018 with the Power Cushion Eclipsion 2 ($140,
men & women), which builds upon earlier models by adding improved shock
absorption and stability. The Power Cushion Fusion Rev 2 ($130, men &
women) has added support and comfort. Finally, the company will also explore
a new price point with the Power Cushion Sonicage ($110 men & women).

www.tennisindustrymag.com Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 29

TennisIndustry

RACQUET STRINGING
COURT CONSTRUCTION
CUSTOMER SERVICE

Tension Conventions
How does stringbed stiffness affect performance
on the court? Our expert breaks it
down, to help you better service your players.
By Bob Patterson

D
oes tension actually affect a
players performance?
To answer this, we first
tension applied when installing the necessarily the same as the reference
strings. We refer to this as the refer- tension. As a matter of fact, the tension
ence tension. of each individual string will vary from
SHUTTERSTOCK

must understand the defini- Once all the strings are installed, the each other.
tion of tension. resulting tension is usually referred This is a result of many factors, such
In tennis, most people understand to as the actual tension or dynamic as variance in string length, friction and
that tension usually refers to the tension of the strings, which is not the string material itself, just to name a

30 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 www.tennisindustrymag.com


What we should be saying is, String looser for more
depth on your shots and tighter for less depth.
few. Unless we are measuring individ-
ual installed strings, when we refer to
dynamic or actual tension, we are
really referring to the stringbed ten-
sion, which is actually a complex result
of the various tensions and other
factors that result with all the strings
installed in the frame.
Measuring Stringbed Tension
The stringbed tension or stiffness can
be measured in a variety of differ-
ent ways, but the two most common
methods are by deflecting the string-
bed with machines such as the Babolat
Racquet Diagnostic Center (RDC) or
an RA machine, or with harmonics,
like the Beers ERT devices. The RDC
applies a force to the center of the
stringbed and measures the deflection
that occurs. The Beers devices vibrate
the stringbed much like a guitar tuner,
and provide a reading of the resulting
tension of the stringbed.
While both methods are quite accu-
rate, what does it really mean? Before
we get into that, lets discuss what
contributes to stringbed stiffness.
While there are many contributing
factors, we have identified seven as the
most influential:
Headsize/String Length: All
1 other things being equal, the
length of the string in the
racquet will be a determining factor for
stringbed stiffness. The longer the
string, the more easily it will deflect.
String Type: The material
2 the string is made of and the
manner in which it is
constructed also will affect stringbed
stiffness. The more the string stretches
(elongation), the softer the stringbed
will be.
String Gauge: The diameter of
3 the string definitely affects the
stringbed, but not in a uniform
or predictable manner. A thinner gauge
of a certain string will not always string
www.tennisindustrymag.com
up tighter or looser than the same
string in a thicker gauge. Our research
indicates that other factors contribute,
so in some strings the thinner gauge
will end up tighter, while in others the
thicker gauge will end up tighter.
Pattern Density: Like headsize,
4 the density of the pattern
affects stringbed stiffness.
More strings in the pattern mean more
stiffness of the stringbed. This applies
not only to the number of mains and
crosses, but also to how the strings are
spaced. The closer the strings are to
each other, the stiffer the stringbed.
Think about it in terms of strings per
square inch: denser equals stiffer.
Machine Type: There are two
5 basic types of stringing
machines: constant pull and
lock-out. A constant-pull machine,
which can be either drop weight or
electric, pulls the string to the desired
tension, and then continues to pull as
the string stretches to maintain that
tension until the string is clamped. A
lockout (or hand crank) machine has a
lever that pulls the string until it
reaches the desired tension, and then a
spring-loaded device locks the string,
allowing it to stretch and loosen
slightly. While both types of stringing
machines are accurate when properly
calibrated, the resulting applied
tension will be different between the
two types because of the methods of
their operations.
Stringer Technique: Even the
6 best racquet technicians in the
world do things differently.
The way a stringer weaves the string,
the time they take and other techniques
will vary, and even the slightest
variance can contribute to the resulting
stringbed stiffness.
Tension: Of course, the applied
7 reference tension will have a
direct effect on the stringbed.
TennisIndustry
The higher the tension, the tighter the
stringbed, and vice versa.
On-Court Performance
Now that we know how the stringbed
is affected, how does it actually affect
performance on the court?
For decades, we always said, String
looser for more power, and tighter for
more control. Well, that was kind of
accurate, but not completely.
According to the book The Physics
of Tennis, stringbed stiffness really
has no effect on the speed of the ball
coming off the stringbed. Rather, what
is affected is the angle at which the ball
comes offso with a softer stringbed,
the ball leaves at a higher angle and
goes deeper in the court.
What we should be saying is, String
looser for more depth on your shots
and tighter for less depth. It doesnt
have quite the same ring to it, but it is
more accurate.
So, what else does the stringbed
stiffness affect? A stiffer stringbed will
transmit more shock at impact with the
ball. Remember, the stringbed stiffness
is a combination of the seven factors
mentioned, so if you are using a really
stiff string, you may need to drop the
tension to compensate.
While spin on the ball is somewhat
affected by the stringbed, it isnt
directly affected by the overall stiffness.
Research shows that spin is most
greatly affected by the speed of the
players swing and the angle of that
swing during ball contact. Factors such
as string snapback, gauge and pattern
density can all have an effect on spin
potential, but not the overall stiffness
of the stringbed.
So, when you consider tension
recommendations for your custom-
ers, keep in mind all of the factors that
contribute to stringbed stiffness, rather
than just the reference tension. That
way, youll be able to help them choose
a tension that will suit their racquet
and their swingand improve their
performance.
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 31
 A
TennisIndustry

rguments over
line calls are the
bane of tennis
T E N N I S I N N OVAT I O N
players every-
where, and often
a major cause of
T E C H N O L O GY
headaches for
parents, tourna-
ment directors and tennis facility staff.
But now, a new device by inventor
Grgoire Gentil may help bring order
to the court.
Called, simply enough, In/Out
(www.inout.tennis), this small, $199 Order on the Court
unit attaches to any netpost, on any type
of court, and detects whether balls are The innovative In/Out
in or out. On Aug. 28, Gentils
In/Out device won first prize in the device calls lines and provides
Tennis Industry Associations Tennis
Innovation Challenge, held in New game-improvement statisticsat
York City during the US Open.
Gentil grew up playing tennis in Paris,
where even ball marks on the red clay
a price facilities will appreciate.
courts often werent enough to prevent
arguments over whether a shot was
By Peter Francesconi
in or out. The inventor and engineer,
who now lives in Palo Alto, Calif., has
made a number of innovative consumer
products over the years, and even sold a
software company to Cisco Systems Inc.
Ive always been a tennis-lover, he
says. The In/Out device really came
about because of my passion for tennis
and my ability and background for
inventing products for consumers. The
idea was to have something for recre-
ational players that was inexpensive
that basically would be in the same
price range as a new tennis racquet.

Living Room Laboratory

Gentil spent two years developing and
designing the In/Out device from the
lab he fashioned in his homes living
room. About the size of a GoPro,
In/Out has two cameras, each of which
monitors one side of the court. The unit
attaches to the top of the net post with
a plastic strap. When a player pushes a
button on the screen on the top of the
device, In/Out scans the court to find
the lines using artificial-intelligence
softwarean auto-calibration process
that takes 10 to 15 seconds. The unit
runs on a standard battery and also has
a USB connection.
During play, in real time, you can
have a green light flash and a single,
audible beep when the ball is in, Gentil
says. If the ball is out, youll hear mul-
tiple beeps with a red light.
But the unit does much more than

32 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017 www.tennisindustrymag.com


Using technology not unlike
that in self-driving cars,
In/Out tracks a variety of
metrics in a tennis match.
The analytics generated from
those stats can help players
improve their games.
call balls in or out. It also can provide
statistics and HD video playback, which
players can use to help them improve.
For instance, after playing or practic-
ing, In/Out can show where all shots
landed, how high the ball was, how fast
it was going, the spin on the ball and
much more.
In/Out does have some limits, includ-
ing a margin of error in millimeters that
Gentil continues to work on improving.
Also, in doubles, the extra players may
block the devices line of sight, so Gentil
recommends using two In/Out devices.
But, considering the Hawk-Eye system
used by pro tournaments runs about
C O U RT E S Y I N/ O U T
www.tennisindustrymag.com
$60,000, recreational players, tennis
clubs and facilities will likely find a $199
option appealing.
Right after the US Open, Gentil trav-
eled to China to finalize details and get
the first shipment of In/Outs moving.
Its a good size first batch, and its going
out right now, he says. Weve already
sold a lot of units worldwide, and Im
hoping to do another shipment by the
end of this year.
Taking the Innovation Prize
This past summer, Gentil was con-
tacted by Julien Blin, the CEO of the
SportsCouncil Silicon Valley (SCSV),
TennisIndustry
The idea was to have
something for recreational
players that was
inexpensivein the same
price range as a new
tennis racquet.
and encouraged to apply for the Ten-
nis Innovation Challenge, which was
co-presented by the Tennis Industry
Association (TIA) and SCSV. The Inno-
vation Challenge is a Shark Tank-like
competition to identify innovative and
creative products and services in the
tennis industry.
From more than 30 applicants, three
finalists were chosen to give five-minute
presentations to a panel of judges and
an audience of nearly 300 tennis indus-
try leaders attending the 10th Annual
TIA Tennis Forum on Aug. 28.
Grgoires invention impressed our
judges panel on every levelfrom the
relevance of the concept, to his unique
solution, to the benefits it can bring
to all tennis players, to its feasibility
and affordability, says international
performance strategist Carlos Salum,
president of Salum International
Resources and a member of the SCSV,
who was the moderator for the Innova-
tion Challenge.
When Salum announced In/Out
as the Innovation Challenge winner,
Gentil fell to his knees, hands in the air,
la Andre Agassi winning Wimbledon,
as the audience cheered.
All of our finalists had excellent,
innovative products, and thats a great
sign for the future of the tennis
industry, says Jolyn de Boer, executive
director of the TIA, which sponsored
the Innovation Challenge, including the
$1,000 winners prize.
It was wonderful being recognized
by the industry, says Gentil, and its
encouraging to know that tennis is look-
ing to technology to help players of all
levels improve their games.
Nov/Dec 2017 TennisIndustry 33
TennisIndustry
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
Be Certifiable!
College players are ideal candidates
to become certified tennis teaching
professionals.
By Denny Schackter
T
he tennis industry needs
to bring in younger
people. Weve known this
for many years, but as the
average age of teaching
professionals has climbed into the late
40s, the importance of doing so has
only grown.
Im in the business of recruiting
people into this industry, and Ive
worked with college tennis players for
many years. When I see former college
players who have taken jobs in other
professions, they often tell me some-
thing is missing about their new jobs.
What they miss is not having as much
contact with other people, like they did
when they played tennis.
Both the USPTA and PTR have initia-
tives to bring young men and women
into the tennis teaching profession, and
34 TennisIndustry Nov/Dec 2017
YourServe
we all should be encouraging young
adults to get and stay in the industry.
There are many reasons I give to
college and Tennis on Campus players
on why they should consider becoming
certified tennis teaching pros:
Help people of all ages enjoy and
benefit from tennis.
Most college players come out of school
with great experiences from their time
on teams. As a certified teaching pro,
former college players can continue to
pay this forward.
Get a handle on the tennis business.
Certified pros stay informed and
updated on the tennis industry, new
teaching adaptations, rules, equip-
ment, new products, programs, facility
administration and much more.
Its a good career backup plan.
If a young person enters a profession
and then later feels it wasnt the right
choice, being certified to teach tennis
can almost guarantee a job.
Hone organization and time-
management skills.
While tennis pros work with others,
they have to set their own schedules,
organize their commitments and bud-
get their timeall skills that other jobs
and professions also require.
Gain and maintain a strong
circle of friends.
Who do high-school and college ten-
nis players often consider their best
friends? Their teammates. And these
are friendships they maintain for the
long term. On a staff with other tennis
pros, strong friendships also blossom,
and these professional connections can
reap benefits down the road.
Draw out a hidden talent.
College players who enjoyed the game
can be terrific teaching professionals
because of the wealth of experience
they gained in match play. Often, play-
ers dont realize they can be effective
teachers. Going through certification
helps bring out these talents.
Stay in shape.
How many jobs give a person the
chance to stay in shape? Teaching ten-
nis is a great way to stay healthy and
fit, while remaining aware of the bodys
limits. This shouldnt be overlooked.
Stay engaged in the game.
Most tennis players genuinely love this
sport. Becoming a certified teaching
pro keeps players connected to it.
Denny Schackter
is the owner of
Tennis Priorities
(tennispriorities.
com). Email him at
dennyschackter@
gmail.com.
SHUTTERSTOCK
We welcome your opinions. Please email
comments to info@tennisindustrymag.com
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 November/December 2017

ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 35 10/18/17 9:56 PM

 I AM

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hottest part of the sweetspot created by Power Rib and Crush
Zone technologies, the Ultra shifts the balance of power
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*Based on 2017 Wilson LABS study comparing 2017 Wilson Ultra 100 CV with Power Rib and Crush Zone versus same model without such features.
Pros often customize the rackets they use, including string patterns. Consumer racket specifications may vary from models customized by Pros for match-play.
2017 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Trademarks advertised other than those of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. are properties of their respective owners. 17-0232

ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 36 10/18/17 9:56 PM

 FROM THE CEO

TAKEAWAYS
A Recap of the NEXT Generation: A Tennis innovation workshop
John R. Embree, USPTA Chief Executive Officer

H aving just completed the Next Generation: A Tennis

Innovation Workshop, powered by the USTA and USPTA,
I am struck by the overwhelming enthusiasm the attendees
of professionals, programs, etc. It
was clearly evident that because
of the close proximity of the two
expressed to me. Yes, the registrations were strong (over, 1,070 associations and the genuine
in total) and yes, the 80+ education sessions were varied and desire to collaborate that we are
informative. But, what came through loud and clear from able to not only cooperate on
every segment of the delivery system that attended was how programs that will both grow the
collaborative this workshop was between the USTA and the game together but help elevate the
USPTA. standards of our professionals. It
As the planning phase of this joint conference developed was incredibly uplifting to feel the energy in the room!

L
during the year, I was never quite certain how our members Finally, the closing session on Sunday provided a chance
would react to combining our usual World Conference with for attendees to discuss what two or three things they learned
the USTA Tennis Development Workshop (TDW), especially at the workshop and what they were going to do differently
one month later than our traditional September dates. But, when they returned home as a result of what they learned. To
the curiosity about the USTA National Campus and a genuine listen to those who presented their takeaways was incredibly
interest to see our new worldwide headquarters (now that we motivating, not only for me but for everyone in the audience.
are operational) proved to be an enticing combination that
motivated a large segment of our membership to venture to
Lake Nona. And what a time we had!
Beautiful weather greeted the loaded buses as they arrived
at the USTA National Campus on Thursday, the first full day
of education. Three seminars ran concurrently every hour
from 8:30am to 3:30pm while tours of the campus and our
new building were conducted all day long. That night, there
was a tremendous buzz (which might have been helped by
the open bars) at our Buying Show with 70 booth spaces
occupied and our Foundation conducting its silent auction
to raise money for its worthwhile endeavors. And raise
money they did: over $15,000!
(Left to right) Todd Martin with Hall of Famers Stan Smith,
Friday was our big day with an opening general
Gigi Fernandez, and Nick Bollettieri.
session conducted by Craig Morris of the USTA about
Net Generation to a packed house. Todd Martin, CEO of After all, the purpose of providing all of the education that we
the International Tennis Hall of Fame, then hosted a panel did is to encourage members to implement some of what they
discussion with three Hall of Famers, Nick Bollettieri, Gigi heard into their daily regimes.
Fernandez, and Stan Smith, that was compelling. The shared My takeaway is simple: the collaborative effort with the USTA
Awards Luncheon with Chairman and CEO of the USTA, on this workshop is only the beginning. Both organizations are
Katrina Adams, and our President Chuck Gill, was inspiring as committed to one thing and one thing above all else: growing
both associations handed out their top awards to an incredibly tennis. We cannot do it alone or separately. We have to be
deserving group of grass roots leaders. Then, the day ended aligned and work together in order to inject new energy into
with our General Membership Meeting when we issued the our game and build our player base. This workshop was a clear
remainder of our awards to those top performing USPTA indication of what can be done when we are totally aligned.
professionals in 2016 followed by a stimulating Q&A session By relocating to Lake Nona and being a close neighbor of
with our Board of Directors. the USTA, we can accomplish so much. And we cannot thank
Saturday was highlighted by a general session with a panel the USTA enough for its significant financial support for
of USTA and USPTA staff that discussed how Lake Nona will making the Next Generation: A Tennis Innovation Workshop a
serve as an innovative laboratory to create the next generation tremendous success.*

37 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 37 10/18/17 9:56 PM

 NEVER FINISHED.
Fromuth

NEVER SATISFIED.

SHOP HOLIDAY COLLECTIONS.

Preferred USPTA MEMBER Pricing online at uspta.fromuthtennis.com.

The Official Distributor of Nike Footwear & Apparel to the USPTA.

ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 38 10/18/17 9:56 PM

 FROM THE Board
Introducing the USPTA Leadership Academy
By Alan Cutler, USPTA Vice President
T he United States Professional Tennis
Association is proud to announce a two-and-
a-half-day event tailored for experienced tennis-
teaching professionals. The 2018 Leadership
Academy, will be hosted at the USPTA National
Headquarters in Lake Nona, Florida in Spring 2018.
The Leadership Academy will provide attendees
with the skills needed to transition from teaching
on the court into managerial roles.
Designed like an intensive Masters Certificate
program, The Leadership Academy offers 18
one-hour sessions on more than 18 topics ranging
from human resources management, conflict
management, presentation skills, and
more. Learn skills from
USPTA Professionals
such as Feisal
Hassan, Ajay Pant,
and Jose Pastrello.
Each of these speakers
LEADERSHIP
ACADEMY
started out as tennis-teaching
professionals and have worked
their way to becoming a general
manager or multi-departmental
managers in successful entities. These instructors
have experiences in different types of tennis
employment and all share the common trait of
being among todays industry leaders.
Aspiring tennis leaders will find the
Leadership Academy useful in identifying
the skills and abilities they should develop
to become successful in the field, hopefully
avoiding pitfalls and mistakes that most new
managers make. Experienced tennis-teaching
professionals will be exposed to new concepts
and trends in supervision, management, and
leadership that they can utilize in their current
and future positions. In addition, they will have
opportunities to further develop their skills and
sharpen the tools they already have in their
tool box. Whether you work for a country club,
commercial club, home owners association,
municipality, or a resort, this intensive two-and-
a-half-day Leadership Academy will provide an
ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 39
in-depth training of the skills and
knowledge required for general
manager and multi departmental
manager positions within a club or
organization.
Each hour of this inaugural event
will include mini-lectures, class
discussions, and group presentations.
Attendees will have the opportunity to
work individually and in groups to
solve real-life scenarios and day to day
management issues. These sessions
were created with the intent to challenge
the critical thinking
of the modern-day
tennis-teaching
professional, while
offering them the ability to
TM
further their career on the
management side.
All participants
who complete the
Leadership Academy
will be awarded a certificate
that can be added to your resume or portfolio.
Possessing this certificate from the Leadership
Academy is one more indication that you have
the knowledge and experience to advance in
your career. Registration for the 2018 Leadership
Academy will be announced at a later date along
with application requirements and we ask that all
interested members be on the lookout for future
announcements.
The mission of the Leadership Academy is
to provide tennis-teaching professionals with
valuable resources to personally and professionally
grow within your career and increase your
participation with the USPTA as a leader on the
local and national level. If youre looking to become
a renowned tennis-teaching professional or just
looking to improve your personal brand, then
the Leadership Academy is where you want to
be. Come visit Orlando and dare to be great at the
Leadership Academy.*
39 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
10/18/17 9:57 PM
 MASTER PRO CORNER
Cue phrases
ADDINg THE CORRECT TOOLS TO THE PROS TOOLBOX
Bob Love, USPTA Master Professional
C
ue phrases are used by every teaching pro and coach. We need
cues to elicit the behaviors necessary for skills acquisition
and during competition. Cues have become an essential part
of every pros communications tool box. Cue phrases are not always
good news, some can be bad news. Lets take a look at cue phrases
and my personal journey with a few of them.
Good news phrases are grounded in sport science
and high-level observations. In my case, I was so
motivated by Dr. Jack Groppel and others that I
returned to graduate school at age 40 to do graduate
studies and learn why my learning methods seemed
to work, and additionally, how I could be better in the
future. This is my 50th year of teaching tennis, and I still
try and make certain that anything I say on the court is
valid from scientific and performance perspectives. To
me, to be professional is to be an on-going student of
the game!
Phrases become bad news when the pros or
coaches using them fail to understand the mixed
messages they send. Follow through high is an
example of a phrase with multiple negatives. I stopped
using follow through over four decades ago due to a
variety of definitions and learned that the word finish
elicited a much quicker learning response. Also high
varies as pros fail to define what a high position is as
it has different meanings.
Changing the bad news cue phrase follow
through high into the good news phrase finish
high worked when I clearly taught what I meant
by high, low, and even Rafa positions. Results
were enhanced when I used the backward chaining
method of showing the finishing position first and
had the student swing from the finish to the start
and then reconnect to the finish. The motor-learning
process seemed to be accelerated, and results were
remarkable!
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ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 40
More bad news appears when coaches and pros give
instructions like focus or concentrate. Players MUST
be able to respond physically to any cue of this type!
Players need to be trained in stress management
(a physical process) to prepare for performing mental
rehearsal and imagery. Relaxation is the key to the
doorway of mind-body integration.
Personal journey: My favorite cue phrase is,
Reach with your feet and let the strings do the work.
It has become a cornerstone for building lower-body
(reach with your feet) and upper-body mechanics (let
the strings do the work). My training programs are
based on this phrase, and it has proven highly effective!
Origin: This phrase was created in response to my
observations during a semi-finals match in the 1972 US
Open. I was one of the service-line umpires and had an
ample opportunity to observe the stroking mastery of
Ilie Nastase versus Tom Gorman. For the four sets it
took Nastase to win, I was amazed at the fluidity and
effectiveness of his footwork and form. As a tennis
educator, my personal challenge has always been
to develop learning tools so my players can acquire
high levels of skill. I wanted my students to play like
Nastase. A lofty goal, indeed!
Therefore I had to ask myself a major question.
Why was Ilie able to manipulate his racket with such
ease? He moved into every shot and always seemed on
balance. Obviously he was able to make all these terrific
shots because he was in position to produce them.
How? Talent was an obvious response, but I wanted to
10/18/17 9:57 PM
 Reach with your feet and
let the strings do the work.
analyze his mastery in terms from which my students
could benefit. Knowing that every shot is the result of
the eyes-feet-hands linkage, I decided to look at the
three components.
Eyes: Ilie really saw the ball well. He never seemed to
be surprised and covered Gormans responses with ease in
spite of the variables on the West Side Tennis Clubs grass
courts. By the semis, the grass courts were dicey.
Reach with the feet.: Ilies facility in stroke
production was based on getting in position to produce
strokes. He was light footed and seemed to get the jump
on every shot so his racket could execute a competitive
shot. At the baseline, he rotated his hips, hopped up into
strokes, and used his entire lower body to establish a
power-stroking linkage. In retrospect, he was loading
and exploding before I ever heard of that phrase. I
KNEW that I had to find some way to share that skill set
with my students.
Let the strings do the work.: Ilie seemed like a
magician as he would streak toward the net, place his
racket horizontally about one foot from the ground,
let Gormans short ball simply bounce off of it, and
produce a dazzling drop shot. He did this several times.
I was dumbfounded and eager to get on the court and
try that technique. Volleying was SO easy for Ilie as he
simply placed his racket in the path of the ball and let
the strings do the work to produce clean, crisp shots.
Also, I noticed that he always had a slight lower-body
weight going forward as he volleyed. Moreover when
he finished his other strokes, he had his racket in the
same position consistently for each type of shot. Clearly,
creating consistent racket paths was an essential
element of his stroking prowess.
Head shift: The classic cue phrase Keep your eye
on the ball has been upgraded as research in head shifts
has demonstrated the necessity for training players to
minimize turning of their heads while stroking. Eye
coaching through head stabilization has become part
of basic competitive skills training. Fortunately, the Eye
Coach training device has proven a major asset in this
effort.
Footwork is NOT enough! I urge all pros to study
the extensive video resources the USPTA provides to
make your cue phrases valid. The modern game requires
that players use footwork skills that promote hip
rotation while the upper body generates a valid racket
path. Then, the player MUST get into position for the
next shot or response. No shot is complete until a player
is ready for the next shot!
Summary: Cue phrases need to be valid and
understandable. Physical elements such as arm
positions on finishes need to be clearly defined.
Dynamic movement must be patiently learned as
students can get easily confused. Use strong cue phrases
to declutter the learning process.
Also, please remember the following: For
competition, function precedes form. For skills
acquisition, form precedes function, because form-
based strokes are repetitive. If we are going to retain
players for the future of tennis, we must promote
repetitive stroking which is the foundation of enjoyable
tennisour sport of a lifetime.*

Bob Love, Kentucky, is a USPTA Master Professional, international tennis clinician, and personal
coach. A member of the U. S. Professional Tennis Association since 1971, Bob was one of the first 18
USPTA professionals to be named a Master Professional in 1983. He then served the USPTA for six
years as chairman of the Master Pro Screening Committee. Bob served as president of USPTA-Kentucky
for 2005 and 2006. He, a native of Port Huron, Michigan, is a member of the American Legion, a life
member of the Disabled American Veterans, lives in Elizabethtown with his lovely wife JoAnn, and is a
member of Valley View Baptist Church.

41 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

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 Giving Back
A Journey of Self-Healing Through Tennis
Tennis Thanks the Troops sends Veteran Isaac Cortes to US Open 2017
By Stefanie Bannon, ThanksUSA
A nyone who plays tennis knows that
the game is so much more than
what happens on the court. No one
knows this better than Isaac Cortes,
an Army, Air Force and Navy Veteran
who suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder and a Traumatic Brain Injury
as a result of a deployment to Iraq in
2003.
For years Isaac struggled to manage
his anger and depression, which had
taken a heavy toll on his relationships
with his family.
He was skeptical about the game at
first, but as time went on he felt the
stress melt away and he began to open up
to the people around him. Following the
camp, Isaac began to dedicate himself
to the sport. He detected that there are
many similarities between tennis and his
experience in the military: The military
requires a lot of discipline and hard work
to overcome obstacles and the same
applies to tennis. The instructional
nature of tennis reminded Isaac of the
instruction he received while serving in
three branches of the military, and so it
seemed natural that he should gravitate
towards it.
On May 21, 2017, the San Diego
District Tennis Association (SDDTA)
and Balboa Tennis Club held their
17th Annual Tennis Fest one of, if not
the largest free tennis festivals in the
country. For many years the SDDTA,
Balboa Tennis Club staff and volunteers,
with assistance from the San Diego
community and on-court instruction by
over 60 USPTA tennis pros have been
N
A K
H
S
T
U S A
42 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 42
important supporters of Tennis Thanks
the Troops. Tennis Thanks The Troops
is a partnership with ThanksUSA
and the United States Professional
Tennis Association to raise money for
scholarships given to the families of
U.S. military personnel. All funds raised
through a silent auction of over 50
beautifully arranged baskets, a labor of
love by Manuela Griffin, were donated
to ThanksUSA.
This year they were the top
fundraiser and grand prize winner
of Tennis Thanks the Troops trip to
the US Open, and it was not a difficult
decision to choose their recipient
for the prize. According to Steve
Kappes, the Associations Director for
Military Outreach, Isaac deserved the Isaac and his wife Anna Cortes at the 2017
exciting trip not only because of his US Open.
military service, but because tennis
has become central to his well-being. It September, and made memories that will
was an exciting opportunity for Isaac last a lifetime. Isaacs most memorable
to strengthen his ties to the tennis moment? Watching Canadian tennis
community. star Dennis Shapovalov. For Isaac,
Steve Kappes and Balboa Tennis Club attending the US Open was more than
Director of Tennis, Geoff Griffin, have a just a vacation. It was a chance for him to
special bond with Isaac. As co-founders, get out of his comfort zone to share his
they lead the Wounded Warrior Tennis passion for tennis with others who love
Camps where Isaac fell in love with the the sport.
game and, as Steve emphasizes, they are It was also a reminder of how far
personally invested in his recovery and he has come physically, mentally and
his access to tennis. Thats why Tennis emotionally since his first tennis camp in
Thanks the Troops and their California San Diego. But this is just the beginning
Ambassadors were thrilled to send Isaac for Isaac. He has no regrets about his
and his wife to New York for their first choice to serve our nation in the military,
US Open. and with the support of his family and
Isaac and his wife Anna attended fellow tennis enthusiasts there are bright
their first major tennis tournament this days ahead of him!*
With inspiration from the SDDTA Wounded Warriors Tennis Program, Tennis
Thanks the Troops is supporting wounded Service Members through our very
own Veterans Adaptive Tennis Clinic Program in Washington D.C. Learn more
at http://www.thanksusa.org/veterans-adaptive-clinic.html. ThanksUSA in
partnership with the USPTA continues to support scholarships for military
families. To learn more, visit www.ThanksUSA.org.
10/18/17 9:57 PM
 WILSON.COM/CUSTOMRACKETS
Pros often customize the rackets they use, including string patterns. Consumer racket specifications may vary from models customized by Pros for match-play.
2017 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Trademarks advertised other than those of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. are properties of their respective owners. 17-0859

ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 43 10/18/17 9:57 PM

 Product review
Wilson Ultra USPTA Tennis Ball
By David Robinson, USPTA Elite Professional, Wilson Advisory Staff, ACSM & NSPA certified fitness trainer
B eing a longtime Wilson Ad Staff Team
member and longtime USPTA pro, I
am very pleased that USPTA and Wilson
are together once again.
That said; I confess to having bought
some (many) of my teaching balls from
anywhere, often Amazon and Costco to
get a deal on a major brand.
A New and Old Ball Story
At the March 2017 USPTA Mid Atlantic
convention I was both hopeful and
apprehensive when attending pros were
introduced to the new Wilson Ultra
USPTA tennis ball; a premium grade
teaching ball designed for match-play.
Our East Coast Regional Wilson rep,
Steve Huber and our Mid-Atlantic rep
Preston Lemon, presented all the new
Wilson products during an on-court
meeting at the division convention.
I took advantage of the buy 16 cases
get 4 cases free with free shipping
convention offer, breaking down to $50
per case. I ordered 40 cases on split
shipment with option to cancel the second
shipment if my staff, my clients, or I didnt
like the ball.
The first shipment arrived mid-March
and the second shipment was scheduled
for delivery June 1 to mesh with my usual
two-month teaching ball duty-cycle.
Play-Test: Days 1-14
Day one; I immediately noticed the
brighter yellow Wilson Optic Felt
technology. The balls were on the firm
side; a concern at first and a blessing later.
That firmness softened slightly over the
week, then stabilized, much the way new
strings might.
The Ultra USPTA ball played slightly
faster than a typical all-court, durable
design ball. Therefore, it played better on
clay relative to the other all-court design
ball I have tried.
44 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 44
Play-Test: Weeks 2-8 and beyond
This is where the Wilson Ultra USPTA
balls literally shined. Even after eight
weeks of daily hardcourt play, the balls
were in great shape; still firm, still
very yellow, labels fully intact, and a
surprisingly consistent speed and bounce
amongst the many balls in my teaching
cart.
Mid-May, I emailed Wilson rep Preston
Lemon to delay 2nd shipment arrival for
another month asking for a July 1 delivery.
Why? The balls we opened in April for
the teaching baskets were still way too
good to down-cycle into summer kids
program baskets.
August, after four months, none have
become pop-sound dead and balls still
bounce well enough for general uses. In
37 years of teaching tennis, I cant say that
about any other ball, EVER!
Seeing is believing: You can see in
these photos after four weeks and at 16
weeks on hardcourts; the 16-week-old ball
is still yellow, but not as yellow as the four-
week ball. The labels on both balls remain
perfectly defined from a new Wilson
imprint technology.
Neither ball has gone bald due to
Wilson Duraweave felt blend, which also
resists staining via tighter weave rather
than greater thickness typical in Extra-
Duty Felt type balls.
Feeling is believing: What you cant
see in this photo is how firm these balls
remain. Well, feeling is believing, and I still
couldnt believe.
Game Changer
Because of the
Wilson Ultra USPTA
balls, my teaching
ball budget has improved dramatically for
the first time in decades due to extended
playability.
Steve Huber explained the Ultra USPTA
price-point as halfway between Wilson
Practice and US OPEN balls, and a little
less than Wilson Championship after the
special that was offered.
The take-home point is Wilson Ultra
USPTA balls really demonstrate their
superiority during the latter half-life
cycle providing extended high-quality
playability which other balls do not.
The Ultra USPTA balls seem to lose
pressure evenly and slowly thus the speed
and bounce consistency is superior to
many other ball types in later stages.
Resultantly, that undesirable mixed-
basket effect is minimized. The Good,
the Bad, and the Ugly can now be retitled
The Very Good, the Good and the Pretty
Good
Executive Summary
My bottom line: 30% reduction in
teaching ball budget and much better
playing old balls.
PROS: O
Excellent price. le
Outstanding durability with consistent C
quality over extended use. V
Clay or hardcourt use. p
CONS:
A bit firm when first opened. Might open
day before use to soften up a bit.* P# - U
David Robinson is the Vice President
and co-founder of the Lafayette Tennis
Association. Lafayette is a USTA
Community Tennis Association which
offers tennis programming at 11 facilities
in Washington DC Metro area.
10/18/17 9:57 PM
 Tuffy WINDSCREEN
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New from Aer-Flo. Utilizing the latest state-of-the-art digital
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P# - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
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ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 45 10/18/17 9:57 PM

 USPTA MEMBER FEATURE

Above and Beyond

From Morocco to the Stadium court at the US Open
By DeVonte Martin, USPTA Staff

T he mission of the United States

Professional Tennis Association,
(USPTA) is to elevate the standards of
tennis-teaching professionals and coaches.
The members go above and beyond our
mission statement from teaching junior
players how to perfect their serve to
providing guidance to advanced tennis
players and one USPTA professional has
continued to rise to the challenge. His name
is Othmane Garma.
Originally from Morocco, it was here that his
passion for tennis began to come full circle.
Othmane Garma with
2017 US Open Champion Sloane Stevens

46 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine

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 USPTA MEMBER FEATURE
I started playing tennis at the age of seven and when I first
picked up that racquet, I just fell in love with the sport, Garma
said. I played other sports like Karate and Soccer as a kid but I
ended up sticking with tennis.
As a teenager, Garmas family moved 3,874 miles from
Morocco to Washington D.C. and had to quickly adjust to their
new lifestyle.
At that age I had two goals in mind, Garma said. The first
was to get a full tennis scholarship at a university and the
second was to fully learn the English language.
At the end of his high school year, Garma had received offers
from NCAA Division I colleges such as the United States Naval
Academy, UNC Wilmington, and Florida State University.
Garma said that with him being
new to the country, he didnt know If youre positive and bring
much about the different NCAA
divisions but one school caught his excitement to the court day
attention.
After visiting the campus in and day out, that will
and seeing the college culture of
Howard University, I ended up help you in the long run...
falling in love, Garma said. It
also allowed me to stay close to my parents in Washington D.C.
When I first got to Howard, everything was different. I was so
used to playing tennis individually, but now was part of the
Howard team. I loved every minute of it. I was very fortunate to
receive a scholarship.
Throughout his career at Howard University, Garmas
growth as a collegiate tennis player began. His biggest career
achievement was when he led the team to the finals of the
MEAC Conference Championship.
During his time here at Howard, Othmane led by example,
Coach Strickland said. He had a strong drive for getting better
as a player and was very well liked by all his teammates during
his collegiate career. We here at Howard are very proud of his
accomplishments.
After graduating from Howard University, Garma wanted to
find a way to keep growing as a tennis professional. One option
that was available to him was to play on the ATP World Tour
but limited resources steered him to become a tennis coach.
Garma said at the time, he wasnt quite sure what kind of coach
he wanted to become but he knew that he wanted to stay as
close to the pros as possible.
I had to decide whether I wanted to be a coach at either an
academy, country club, or have my own facility, Garma said. I
ended up becoming a high performance coach because if youre
around the best tennis players and coaches in the world, your
knowledge of the game will only increase.
Garma got his start on the professional level for a term of
six months by becoming a hitting coach for ATP World Tour
ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 47
doubles player Treat Huey, who was also a childhood friend.
They met in Virginia when he was 15 and their childhood
friendship extended into their adult years. The two would meet
at tennis courts and hit balls daily. After six months of being the
hitting coach, Huey promoted Garma to his full time staff.
When he approached me to be his coach, it was almost like
a family affair, Garma said. I saw the potential and the talent
and I knew I could push him and bring some positive feedback
to his game.
As Garma excelled, he worked on the ATP World Tour as a
touring coach for seven years; working with players such as
Somdev Devvarman, Treat Huey, Dominic Inglot, Max Mirnyi,
and Sanam Singh. In 2016, he led the doubles team of Treat
Huey and Max Mirnyi to win
the 2016 Abierto Mexicano
Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico. The
duo also reached the semifinals
at Wimbledon and finished the
year ranked among the top 20
in the world in doubles.
At the end of the 2017
Australian Open, Garma moved
from D.C. to Los Angeles and decided he wanted to take some
time off and explore his new home. It was in Los Angeles where
he would find his next coaching opportunity.
Around the end of May, Sloane Stephens mother, Sybil
Smith, reached out to me and asked if I was available to work
with Sloane. I took the chance and told Sloanes mother that I
would give it two week trial run and if there was chemistry, I
would stay on as one of her coaches, Garma said.
During the two-week process, Sloane was receptive to his style
and method of coaching. He was added to her staff alongside
Coach Kamau Murray. After Wimbledon, Garma traveled with
her to WTA tournaments and he was by her side when she
captured her first Grand Slam title at the 2017 US Open.
I always knew that Sloane Stephens was one of the most
talented players in the world. Its great that the three of us are
working towards one common goal. Garma said.
At the 2017 Next Generation: A Tennis Innovation Workshop
powered by USTA & USPTA, Garma was honored with the Tim
Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year Award; which is bestowed
upon those who currently coach a playing professional on the
ATP World Tour, the WTA Tour, touring juniors, and adult
teams. When asked if there was any advice he received from
any players throughout his career, Garma said he learned one
important lesson from Max Mirnyi:
90% of life is how we react to the 10% that happens to us.
I learned from Max that if youre positive and bring
excitement to the court day in and day out, that will help you in
the long run. *
47 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
10/18/17 9:57 PM
 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop
2017 USPTA Hall of fame inductee
Rick Macci
R ick Macci is an iconic tennis-teachinggiant. Over
the past 40 years his overall innovative, unique, and
powerful on court philosophies and passionhave inspired
millions of players and coachesat each level. Macci has
coached players such as Karim Alami, Jennifer Capriati,
Tommy Ho, Sonia Kenin, Bethani Mattek, Anastaysia
Myskina, Mary Pierce, Tina Pisnik, Andy Roddick,
Christan Rudd, Maria Sharapova, Vince Spadea, Venus and
Serena Williams. Since 1985, Macci and his academy of
USPTA professionals have produced 247 USTA national
championships in singles and doubles. Rick has been
an instructional editor for Tennis Magazine for over
the past30 years. A high demandmotivational speaker,
clinician, and author, his award winning book, Macci
48 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine
ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 48
Magic , a self-help novel and a snapshot of players Rick has
coached, is one of the most readtennis books ever. Macci
also consulted for TrumpManagement from 1998 to 2004.
Macci, along with the USPTA, has produced many award-
winning videos and hisImproved Forehand Technique
with Rick Macci videodelivered more than a million views
on YouTube. Macci is in the Hall of Fame for Basketball and
Tennis in his hometown of Greenville, Ohio. He was honored
recentlyby the USTAwith theUSALegendary Coach Award.
He is also a member of the USPTA Florida Hall of Fame and
has been named Coach of the Year numerous times in Florida.
In 2006, he received the USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of
the Year Award. Macci now coaches at The Rick Macci Tennis
Academy in Boca Raton, Florida.*
10/18/17 9:57 PM
 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

2017 USPTA Hall of fame inductee

Harry Hopman

Harry Hopman was my coach, mentor,

Davis Cup captain and stalwart of
amateur tennis. A porickly customer
with a big heart, he insisted on the
highest standards of behavior on and
off the court, and was one of the reasons
behind Australias golden age of tennis.
Rod Laver

H arry Hopman is known throughout

the tennis industry as the most
successful Davis Cup captain, leading
the Australian contingent to 16 World
Championships from 1939-1967.
Hopman inspired a host of Aussie
tennis greats, including players like Mal
Anderson, Ashley Cooper, Roy Emerson,
Neale Fraser, Rex Hartwig, Lew Hoad,
Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Tony
Roche, Mervyn Rose, Ken Rosewall,
Frank Sedgman, and Fred Stolle.
Hopman was known on the ATP World
Tour for capturing the 1929 & 1930
Australian Mens doubles title alongside
Jack Crawford and four mixed doubles
titles. After consecutive years of success
in the Davis Cup, Hopman moved to
the United States in 1969 and became
a highly successful tennis-teaching
professional at the Port Washington
Tennis Academy in New York. He later
moved to Largo, Florida with his wife
Lucy and opened the Hopman Tennis
Academy and lived in the city until his
death in 1985.*

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 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

USPTA Award Winners

USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year
Anthony DeCecco

A nthony DeCecco first began as a tennis-teaching professional at

a local country club and eventually worked his way up to Tennis
Director. He later became Head Professional at Pickering Valley
Racquet Club, where he served as tennis director for 10 years before
ultimately buying the business in 1997. In 2004, he purchased the
surrounding land and buildings, which have since become Tennis
Addiction Sports Club. Tennis Addiction, which boasts more than
1,000 adult members and 400+ juniors, has won the USTAs Premier
Facility award every year since its inception in 2013.
DeCecco has served as the USPTA Middle States District
President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Past
President. In 2016, he coached Downingtown East High School
tennis team to a 14-2 overall record with the doubles team making it
to the semifinals of the state championships.
For more than two decades, Anthony partnered with Camphill
Special Needs School, hosting an annual Gala/Pro-Am Tennis
Tournament which has raised more than $3 million dollars with the Anthony DeCecco with Chuck Gill
proceeds going to building a kindergarten and an additional wing
at the school. DeCecco currently coaches boys and girls high school
tennis and is on court up to 40 hours a week, running programs at
the West Chester Golf and Country Club in addition to being the
Chief Executive Officer at Tennis Addiction.

USPTA Presidents Paul Waldman Award

Jack Michalko

J ack Michalko was awarded the USPTA

Presidents Paul Waldman Award. Michalko
has been a USPTA member for more than 47 years
and has held multiple roles within the association.
He has been a member of the USPTA Executive
Committee, National Jobs Committee, National
Nominating Committee, National Awards
Committee, and National Membership Committee.
Michalko has also served the USPTA on a local
level, having held several positions with the USPTA
Southwest Division board, including roles as
President and Regional Vice President and has been
the Executive Director of the USPTA Southwest
Division for 23 years. Jack Michalko

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 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

USPTA Award Winners

The George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award
Fernando Velasco

F ernando Velasco is a 40-year veteran in the Tennis

Management business and has served as General Manager
and Director of Tennis at top-notch clubs in Chicago, Phoenix,
Dallas, Savannah, Boca Raton, Florida, and in Austin at the Grey
Rock Tennis Club. He is presently the Executive Director of the
Capital Area Tennis Association and teaches part-time at the Polo
Tennis and Fitness Club in Austin. He is considered one of the top
teaching professionals and managers in the country, having been
selected as National Pro of the Year by the USPTA
He is a sought after speaker at national and international tennis
professional conventions. He is currently a USPTA and the USTA
ranked player. In 2014, he was selected as the CATA Tennis Legend
for his contributions to tennis in Austin since his arrival in 2000. Fernando Velasco with Chuck Gill
He was a personal close friend of George Bacso. Together, they
were members of the USPTA National Board for over 10 years.
Velasco was instrumental in translating the USPTA Certification
Exam in Spanish and aided Bacso in grading the Spanish applicant
exams by sending audios to him with their responses in English.

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 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

USPTA Award Winners

USTA/USPTA Community Service Award
Dale Evans (Oakland, California) received the USTA/USPTA
Community Service Award. The award recognizes a USPTA
member for exceptional community service through the game of
tennis. He is a volunteer at USTA NorCal giving countless hours of
his personal time. He has served as chair of the Diversity Committee
and Junior Council and now sits on the USTA NorCal Board of Dale Evans with USPTA President Chuck
Directors. Gill and USTA President Katrina Adams

USPTA Industry Excellence Award

In recognition of his business acumen and advancing the sport of
tennis in his community, Juan Selle (Rome, Georgia) received the
USPTAs Industry Excellence Award. Selle created an after-school
program called Teach Me Tennis, which set goals to create a tennis
culture and awareness in the community, place a tennis racquet in
every students hand, and to impact the lives of children through
the game of tennis. In 2016, the Teach Me Tennis program affected
14,000 students in four counties through tennis presentations, Juan Selle with Chuck Gill
equipment donations, and classroom experiences.

USPTA Star Award

Tom Sweitzer (Orlando, Florida) was awarded the USPTA Star
Award for his efforts to bring tennis to socioeconomically challenged
communities as the tennis program director at the Orlando Tennis
Centre. Sweitzer submitted a proposal to the City of Orlando
to provide free beginner tennis lessons to inner city children
of Orlando who participate in the summer Community Center
programs. His efforts led to the Orlando Free Lesson Program which Tom Sweitzer with Chuck Gill
started in 2013 and over the course of four years has partnered with
30 community centers that held events for 6,000 kids.

Top Education Credit Earner for 2016

Levander Kelley (Richmond, Virginia) was named the Top
Education Credit Earner for 2016 after earning 320.5 education
credits as part of the USPTA Career Development Program.

Lessons for Life Award

Michael Dombrowski (Orlando, Florida) was awarded the Levander Kelly with Tom McGraw (Photo from 2014)
Lessons for Life award for hosting the La Amistad 26th Annual
Tennis, Golf, and Silent Auction fundraiser at the Interlachen
Country Club. This one-day fundraising event included a morning
co-ed tennis round robin, players luncheon/awards, afternoon golf,
a doubles tournament, and an evening cocktail reception and silent
auction. This event not only raised $20,000, but 85% of the proceeds
went to the La Amistad Foundation, which is a long term residential
treatment center for adults with chronic mental illnesses.

Michael Dombrowski with Chuck Gill

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 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

USPTA Award Winners

USPTA Diversity Award
Lynn Bender (Zeeland, Michigan) received the associations Diversity
Award for her work to increase diversity within the USPTA. Bender
volunteered at the USTA/ITF Jr. Wheelchair camp for the past four years,
donating her time as a camp instructor with kids from around the world to
educate and teach them the game of tennis. She also raised $30,000 to help Lynn Bender with Chuck Gill
purchase tennis chairs for individuals in the town of Lima, Ohio and traveled
to conduct workshops with tennis leaders, a rehab sports center, and a school
all within the country of Haiti.

Tim Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year

Othmane Garma (Los Angeles) received the Tim Gullikson Touring Coach
of the Year Award. He coached Treat Huey, who with his doubles partner
Max Mirnyi, won the Doubles Championship at the 2016 Abierto Mexicano
Telcel. The duo then reached the semifinals of Wimbledon and finished
the year being ranked in the top 20 in the world in doubles. Garma has also
Othmane Garma
worked with ATP World Tour players such as Somdev Devvarman, Dominic
Inglot, and Sanam Singh. He is the current hitting coach of 2017 US Open
Womens Singles Champion Sloane Stephens.

USPTA High School Coach of the Year

Jonathan Betts (McHenry, Illinois) was named the High School Coach of
the Year. As the head boys tennis coach at Jacobs High School in Algonquin,
Illinois, Betts led the team to a 21-2 overall record. Betts also coached the
girls tennis team to a 24-1 overall record in 2016. Both teams went on to
T win both district titles while the boys team went on to win the regional title
and place 10th in the state tournament. The girls team placed second in the Jonathan Betts with Chuck Gill
regional tournament and placed 39th overall in the state tournament.

Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year

Sheila McInerney (Tempe, Arizona) was named the Steve Wilkinson
College Coach of the Year after leading the Arizona State University womens
tennis team to an 18-6 overall mark last season along with capturing the
Pac-12 team title for the first time in program history. The title is awarded to
the team who wins the most singles and doubles matches in the main draw of
the Pac-12 Tournament. McInerney is entering her 34th season as the head
coach for the womens tennis team at Arizona State University. Sheila McInerney

George Bacso Tester of the Year

Hassan Humayun (Las Vegas) was named the George Bacso Tester of
the Year. Humayun is a USPTA Elite Professional, USPTA Intermountain
President, and the USPTA Head Tester for the Intermountain Division. He
has been a USPTA member for 17 years, four of which he has been a tester.
In 2016, he administered the USPTA certification exam to 28 people and
was instrumental in reorganizing the Intermountain certification process
by adding and training three additional testers in prominent locations to
provide for better applicant service. Hassan Mumayun with Chuck Gill

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 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

USPTA Award WinnerS

Large Facility Manager of the Year
Glenn William (Rochester, New York) was named the Large Facility Manager
of the Year. William is a USPTA Master Professional and has been the General
Manager of the Midtown Athletic Club in Rochester, New York for the past 24 years
and has more than 38 years of private club management experience. His facility
has 3,900 memberships, a total of 7,300 members, 18 tennis courts, and requires all
tennis-teaching professionals to be USPTA certified. Glenn William with Chuck Gill

U30 Award
Ryan Knarr (Robesonia, Pennsylvania) is the third recipient of the U30
Award. The U30 Award recognizes a USPTA Professional aged 30 or under
for their contributions to tennis. Knarr helped increase tennis visibility as the
Director of Tennis at the Conrad Weiser Tennis Association. He also placed
tennis into the Conrad Weiser School District which introduced over 1,200
students to the game. This accomplishment won Knarr the Community Tennis
Association of the Year award from both the USTA Middle States and Eastern PA
District in 2014. He also serves as the USPTA Middle States Recruiting Chair and
Ryan Knarr with Chuck Gill
for the past two years, Knarr was influential in certifying 15 USPTA professionals,
all under the age of 30.

Small Facility Manager of the Year

Kevin MacDonald (Berkeley, California) was named this years Small Facility
Manager of the Year. MacDonald has been the general manager of the Claremont
Club and Spa at Fairmont Hotel for 17 years and his facility has 5,000 members
with 10 tennis courts and requires all tennis-teaching professionals to be USPTA
certified. MacDonalds facility has won numerous awards such as the USPTA
NorCal Facility of the Year in 2016, the USPTA Facility of the Year in 2011, and the
USTA Member Organization of the Year in 2008. Kevin MacDonald with Chuck Gill

Division Award winners

Large Division of the Year and Newsletter Small Division of the Year was presentod Lessons for Life award was presented to
of the Year were presented to Texas. to Missouri Valley. Southern.
Pictured Above: Texas President Jenny Pictured Above: Missouri Valley President Pictured Above: Southern Past President
Gray with Chuck Gill. Rick Slivocka with Chuck Gill Todd Upchurch with Chuck Gill.

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 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop
NEXT GEneration College tailgate WELCOME PARTY
USPTA Foundation Silent Auction raises $15,000
T he USPTA Foundation raised $15,000 from the Silent Auction that
took place during the 2017 USPTA Buying Show on Thursday, Oct.
And the Winners Are...
12. The Silent Auction benefits the USPTA Foundation, which through
grants supports various programs in the community that help to grow
tennis and bring the game to those who might not otherwise have the
chance to play.
The USPTA Foundations Silent Auction was a great success, said
USPTA Foundation President Warren Lem. The event is a wonderful
example of what a combined team effort can accomplish.*
Clockwise from top left: Chris Stevens, Lane Evans, Anna Norris,
Stan Oley, Brian McCoy.
ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 57
Kyle Allen........................................................100 Antigua Hats
Brian McCoy ................................. 10-S Tennis Supply Package
Tamara Jarrett.............................Online Education Package #1
Venton Lee..................................Online Education Package #2
Kie Foreman.......................US Open/Mandarin Hotel Package
Chris Stevens..... Autographs - Sharapova, Agassi, Jack Kramer
Lane Evans ............................. Playmate iSMASH Ball Machine
Scott Hutchinson ......................... I Love NY - Yankees Package
Sue Jollenston....... Cincy Tournament, Marriott, HOF Package
Kevin Theos ...................Rebounces Mini Green, Tourna, 2XU,
Vulcan Tennis Grips, YTEX, Havana Bobs Package
Pat Whitworth........................................ Athletic DNA Package
Don Gomsi........... Nike Tennis Shoes for a Year from Fromuth
Penny Maingot................................ Topsl Wyndham Vacation
Tom Daglis....................................... I Love NY - Knicks Package
Cari Buck................................................................ Arizona Trip
Dave Dvorak..............................DIsney & Hyatt Grand Cypress
Spike Gonzales......................................Wilson Tennis Package
Carols Triana........................Pop Tennis, CP Vineyards Package
Kyle LaCroix.........................OnCourtOffCourt, BATT Court Dry
Chris Bull................................................................Book Basket
Amy Brandon..............NetKnacks, Dunlop, EyeCoach Package
Mike Mercier............................................... Tecnifibre Package
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10/18/17 9:58 PM
 USPTA NEXT Generation Workshop

Images from the NEXT GENERATION WORKSHOP

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 USPTA CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Exams, Upgrades & PTCA I Cardio Tennis 2018 USPTA Division

Conference Schedule
4 Credits for PTCA I Segment Dec. 1 ................... Level 2 Training Course Division Conferences - 6 Credits
Nov. 3 ..........................Saratoga Springs, NY Two Athletic Club; Toledo, OH January 26-28..............................Northern
Nov. 3-4........................................ Azusa, CA Lifetime Fitness & Athletics
Dec. 2 ................... Level 1 Training Course Fridley, MN
Nov. 3-4.....................................Boulder, CO
Nov. 5-6 .........................Miramar Beach, FL Frog Hollow Racket Club; Lansdale, PA January 27-28..............Northern California
Nov. 10 .............................. Lafayette Hill, PA Taube Tennis Center
Dec. 10 ................. Level 1 Training Course Stanford, CA
Nov. 10-11 ...................................... Rye, NH
Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt; Austria
Nov. 11 .....................................Mequon, WI February 10-11................... Intermountain
Nov. 11-12 ............................. Charlotte, NC Lifetime Fitness;
Jan.29 ................... Level 1 Training Course
Nov. 13-14 ................................ Orlando, FL Stanford University, Stanford, CA Centennial, CO
Nov. 13-14 .......................San Francisco, CA
Nov. 17-18 ....................... Westminster, CO. February 5......................... Hawaii Division
Maui, Hawaii
Nov. 18-19 ...........................Big Rapids, MI.
Nov. 18-19 ...................................Rome, GA February 22-24.................. Missouri Valley
Nov. 25-26 ............................... Flushing, NY Kansas City Country Club
Dec. 2-3 ....................................Camden, SC Mission Hills, KS
Dec. 3 ...................................Midlothian, VA February 22-25................................. Texas
Dec. 3 .................................. Brentwood, TN Horseshoe Bay Resort
Dec. 4 ...................................... Carlsbad, CA Horseshoe Bay, TX
Dec. 7 ............................... Minneapolis, MN
Visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register. February 25-26............................ Midwest
Dec. 8 .................................Nichols Hills, OK
Columbus Marriot
Dec. 9-10 ............................. Boca Raton, FL Columbus, Ohio
Dec. 9-10 .................................Burbank, CA
Dec. 9-10 ..................................... Dallas, TX March 1-4...............................Mid-Atlantic
Dec. 9-10 .................................. Atlanta, GA Army Navy Country Club
Arlington, VA
Dec. 10 ................................Hilton Head, SC
Dec. 30-31 ............................... Flushing, NY March 4..................................... San Diego
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior La Jolla, CA
to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade
and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations must be
received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a can-
May 5-6................... Eastern/New England
cellation fee will be charged accordingly. National Tennis Center
Flushing, NY
Applicant: late cancellation fee $95; failure to cancel
application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late
cancellation fee $25; failure to cancel $25 plus the May 17-19...................................Southern
upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam TBD; Atlanta, GA
will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.
May 18-20................................ Southwest
La Camarilla Racquet, Swim & Fitness Club

USPTA requires all certified members to earn 6 credits Phoenix, AZ

of continuing education in a three-year period. May 30-June 3................................ Florida
(International members, recreational coaches and those 65 or older are exempt.) The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
time period coincides with the date you completed the certification exam or reinstated Orlando, FL
your membership. Please login to My USPTA to check your Professional Development
June 1-2..........................Pacific Northwest
Program end date to see if your credits are due by Dec. 31, 2017. Yakima Tennis Club
If the requirement is not met, you will have your membership suspended. To help Yakima, WA
you meet that goal, USPTA provides hundreds of hours of education every year in the
form of conferences, workshops, webinars, DVDs and more. TennisResources.com is an August 22-23...... USPTA World Conference
Grand Hyatt
excellent resource for free education opportunities. In addition, the Coach Youth Tennis New York, NY
website offers six free online courses that earn a 1/2 education credit each.
Upon completion of the sixth course, you will receive 3 bonus credits(one-time only), April/May....................Southern California
bringing the total to 6 credits and completing the continuing education requirement TBD
(you do not need to complete the online workshop unless you are completing your November............................Middle States
USPTA certification). Go to coachyouthtennis.com for more information. TBD

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 USPTA MEMBER NEWS
2017 USPTA Election Results
The 2017 Board of Directors Election results were announced on Friday,
Oct. 6. Slated nominee for vice president Bill Mountford defeated
challenger Diane Selke with 59.5% of the vote. Slated nominee for
vice president Cari Buck defeated challenger Jenny Gray with 56% of
the vote. Nominees Gary Trost (President), Feisal Hassan (First Vice
President), Alan Cutler (Vice President), Mark Faber (Vice President) and New Board Members: (left to right) Cari Buck, Mark Faber,
Bill Mountford, Rich Slivocka.
Rich Slivocka (Vice President) were all unopposed. The new board term
will start on January 1 and run for two years.
Todd Upchurch (pictured with Chuck Gill) was honored at the Awards
Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 13 during the Next Generation: A Tennis
Innovation Workshop powered by USTA & USPTA for achieving Master
Professional status, the highest professional rating within the tennis
profession.
USPTA Master Professional Becky Desmond is set to
be honored at the 2017 Chester County Sports Hall
of Fame. A tennis coach for the Downingtown School
District for 52 years from 1961-2014, Desmonds
teams won 15 Ches-Mont league championships. The
tennis courts at Downingtown West are named in her
honor and she authored a book titled How to Coach
Tennis Successfully for the United States Tennis Association. Desmond
is a two-time Daily Local News and USTA Middle States Coach of the
Year and was named the USPTA High School Coach of the Year in 2003.
USPTA Professionals Beverley Bowes-Hackney
and Tommy Connell are the newest additions to
the 2017 Hall of Fame Class for the Texas Tennis
Museum and Hall of Fame. Bowes-Hackney is a
former WTA Tour player who won more than 250
matches and competed in the main draw of 30 grand
slam tournaments. After her retirement she became
a touring professional at the Ballenisles Country Club in Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida and worked for the USTA . She served as head coach
for Southern Methodist before returning to her alma mater ,Texas, as
assistant head coach. She is currently the Director of Tennis at River Place
Country Club in Austin.
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ADDvantageNovOct2017.indd 60
Connell has been teaching tennis for more than 25
years. He began teaching in 1972 and has served as
the director of tennis at Lakeside Country Club in
Houston since 1974. As a player, Tommy has been
ranked No. 1 in Texas five times in singles, three times
in doubles, and three times in husband/wife doubles
in his age division. He won the national USPTA 40-and-
over singles and doubles championships in 1992, the doubles again in
1994, and the 45-and-over singles and doubles titles in 1996. In 2000,
he received the USPTA Texas Division Professional of the Year award.
USPTA Elite Professional Eric Wammock was named
Head Tennis Professional at Hilton Head Islands
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Wammock has
been in the tennis industry for 33 years. Wammock
previously was the owner of Hilton Head Island
Tennis, a company that provided tennis programming
for Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort, and
previously worked at Sea Pines Resort.
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President............................................................................... Chuck Gill
First Vice President............................................................... Gary Trost
Vice Presidents..................... Alan Cutler, Feisal Hassan, Ken McAllister,
Jack Michalko, Diane Selke
Past President...................................................................Tom McGraw
CEO.................................................................................. John Embree
Legal Counsel................................................................. George Parnell
The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not
necessarily those of ADDvantage or the United States Professional Tennis
Association.
Copyright United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2017.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not
permitted without written permission from USPTA.
Managing Editor ....................................................................... John Cornell
Editorial Assistance............................................................ DeVonte Martin
Ellen Weatherford, Amy Buchanan
Circulation............................................................................ Trevor Trudelle
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time
ADDvantage is published monthly by the USPTA
USPTA World Headquarters
11961 Performance Dr.
Orlando, FL 32827
Phone 407-634-3050
email magazine@uspta.org
www.uspta.org
10/18/17 9:58 PM
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