Addvantage 1992 September

The Prince VORTEX: The only racquet that actually adjusts to improve every shot.

The staggered string bed improves sweet spot responsiveness for more control.

Prince has brought Stealth aerospace technology to racquet design with an advanced material called viscoelastic polymer-to give you unparalleled control. This space age material physically changes properties upon impact: the harder the swing, the stiffer the racquet for more power. The softer the swing (lob or drop shot), the more relaxed the racquet becomes for the softest shot possible.

Unlike any other racquet, it actually adjusts to complement the variety of strokes and swing speeds in every player's game. Plus, its unique staggered string pattern puts the entire string bed into play, enhancing the sweet spot for more response, accuracy, spin and control. Demo a VORTEX today in e either midplus or oversize. Simply see a dealer or caii1-800-2-TENNIS. , •••

nr•ftll8 ® •1111

Playing in the Zone:

@

1991 PrHlce Manulactur1ng Inc

The Trade Magazine of Men and Women Tennis-Teaching ProfessionalsTM

The Voice Of The Tennis Teaching Profession NATIONAL BOARD OF DIREGrORS President Jack Justice First Vice President Gordon Collins Vice Presidents Dave Sivertson Kathy Woods Cliff Drysdale Will Hoag Secretary!Treasurer Joe Thompson Past President Rod Dulany CEO Tirn Heckler Legal Counsel Paul Waldman WORLD HEADQUARTERS Director of Operations Rich Fanning Executive Assistant Marty Bostrom Coordinator of Tennis Allan Henry Teacher Development Education Coordinator Cheryl Gard

Volume 16 - Issue 9

September 1992

On the cover Jack Groppel of Loehr-Groppei/Saddlebrook Sport Science instructs Annabel Kelnack on proper backswing .

Photo by Melinda Phillips.

SPECIAL SECTION USPTA's newest educational manual is being published for the first time in ADDvantage magazine. Look for this exciting book in this and upcoming issues as it is excerpted in its entirety - part of our efforts to bring more education free of charge to our members. The chapters form special monthly pullout sections that are conveniently hole-punched to insert in a three-ring binder: The USPTA Education Manual: A Career Guide to Professionalism is divided into Book I - Tennis Teaching Skills and Book II - Tennis Business Operations & Management. With chapters by Vic Braden, Peter Burwash , Cliff Drysdale, Ron Holmberg and Stan Smith, these two volumes will cover teaching private and group lessons, playing strategies, business plans, career development, and a myriad of other subjects vital to the successful tennis professional. And best of all - it's free.

In this edition . ..

Communications Shawna Riley Coordinator

Book I -

Communications Gayden Cooper

Chapter 1 . Professionalism: Key to the ultimate tennis teacher

by Bill Tym

Marketing/Business John Tamborello Operations League Administrative Karen Unger Assistant Magazine Coordinator Michelle Tanner Secretary Christine Fouts Corporate Services Christi Call Manager

FEATURES 7 8

Secretary Dale Henry Computer Services and Kathy Buchanan !

Club Relations

Membership/Education Vicky Tristan Assistant Financial Manager Renee Heckler

Asahi rebates money to USPTA pros Tennis tips for tennis pros Tips to teach better tennis

11

Senior teaching pro and player examines tennis for over 50 age group

12 18

USPTA Adult Tennis League falls into shape

24

USPTA National Convention registration form

Membership/Education Sharon Schmuck Assistant Membership/Education Karen Mahon Assistant

Tennis Teaching Skills

USPTA National Convention has special interest meetings

Bookkeeper Terry Fugman Accounting and Trina Gambrell Merchandise Services Director of Certification George Bacso and Academies Co-Director of Academies Bill Tym Advertising/Marketing Phone (713) 97-USPTA Information

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

For information, write World Headquarters One USPTA Centre 3535 Briarpark Drive Houston, TX 77042 phone (713) 97-USPTA or fax (713) 978-7780 Office Hours: 8:30a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time.

Copyright Š United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 1992. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this magazine is not permitted without written permission from the publisher.

DEPARTMENTS 3

CEO's message

4

Vice President's message Future looks bright for USPTA, tennis

6

Ask the Professor Six elements create effective strokes

14 15 19 21 22

New members Pro Penn quarterly discount Dates that rate Drills Industry action

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS JACK JUSTICE Presi dent 80 3 642-7171

DAVE SIVERTSON Vice President 512) 453-7246

GORDON COLLINS First Vice President 40 8 395-7111

KATHY WOO DS Vice President (305) 361-9819

CLI FF DRYSDALE Vice President (919) 256-6 735 WILLHOAG Vice President '(305 564-1271

JOE THOMPSON Secretary ITreasu rer (303) 278-1130

PAUL WALDMAN Legal Counsel (212) 354-8330

ROD DULANY Past President (703) 524-3227

TI M HECKLER CEO (713) 97-USPTA

DIVISION PRESIDENTS AND REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS - - - - - - - . . . .

CALIFORNIA DIVISION

..

2

PACIFIC NORTHWEST DIVISION

DON GOMSI President (714 792-482.9 HANK LLOYD Reg iona l Vice President (714 535-7740

MIDDLE STATES DIVISION BECKY DESMOND President (215) 269-0738 ANDREW POGONYI Regional Vice President (215) 233-3191

EASTERN DIVISION

MIDWEST DIVISION

SAN DIEGO DIVISION

GORDON KENT Pres ident (2 12) 293-2386 STEVE DIAMOND Regional Vice President (201 857 7476

JIM DAVIS President (419) 865-1141 TOM GRAY Regional Vice President (313) 652-1500

JUDY PRESTON President (619) 565-2260 DON HENSON Regional Vice President (619) 435-7133

FLORIDA DIVISION HARRY GILBERT President (904) 437-2427 MARK McMAHON Regional Vice President (407) 488-6996

MISSOURI VALLEY DIVISION BRAD RICHISON President (913) 649-6272 JOHN WILLIAMS Regional Vice President (405) 242-5153

GREG GROVER President (404) 392-7788 FRED BURDICK Regional Vice President (404) 832-6570

HA WAll DIVISION

NEW ENGLAND DIVISION

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

DINO BONDALLIAN President (808) 322- 3441 DAVID PORTER Regi onal Vice President (808) 293-3 755

DAVE FLEURY President (207) 846-3675 JACK DUNMEAD Regional Vice President (508) 238-6210

TOM BREECE President (602) 991 1414 JOE LONG Regional Vice President (505) 822 -0455

INTERMOUNTAIN DIVISION

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION

TEXAS DIVISION

JOE EDLES Pres ident (30 3) 98 5-3240 DAVE ROMBERG Reg ional Vice President (30 3) 761 -9900

BILL RAPP President 415 364-6272 JIM McLENNAN Regiona l Vice President (415) 948-1656

RANDY MATIINGLEY President (817)731 1631 RON WOODS Regional Vice President (512)991 7561

MIDDLE ATLANTIC DIVISION TED MEYER Presi dent (804 320 -3244 FRANK HADEN Regional Vice President I (301 469-6286

NORTHWEST DIVISION TIM BURKE President (612) 926-4408 STEVE WILKINSON Reg ional Vice President 507) 931 1614

CRAIG KOESSLER President (503) 223-6251 TED WATSON Regional Vice President (206) 292-0473

SOUTHERN DIVISION

JIM REFFKIN Past President I1988) 1602 ) 791- 4896 MIKE EIKENBERRY Past Pres1dent 11986) 1703) 893-4428 BILL TYM Past Pres1dent I 1984) 1615) 297-334 0

CEO~s

message

USPTA offers increased lllelllher benefits through • Insurance prograllls T1n1 Heckler ~

~e

economy, foreign affairs and other national policies are on the minds of many during this election season . And, it seems as if the domestic concerns of health care, jobs and insurance will most influence the outcome of this country 's biggest political contest. ns:..; rance and health care have become two of the biggest business concerns during the last 10 years. And , the need for liability coverage has become a high priority for businesses :Or professionals who consider themselves· to be independent contractors or self-employed . nsurance for the average worker has grown more expensive, and , in some cases, insurance has become an unattainable lu xury for this group.

USPTA is not unlike other businesses that are involved in a constant search for the best insurance values. Our search is particularly unique since we look for ways to provide medical and other coverage to a group of people who usually are not covered through conventional employee health plans.

Tennis-teaching professionals many times find themselves working on a 'free-lance' basis, which means they are responsible for their own insurance needs. Securing insurance coverage as an individual has become increasingly more difficult. And , if these people are lucky enough to get the coverage, the cost is usually prohibitive.

USPTA, as a benefit, has provided medical insurance programs for its members for almost 20 years. Through the years, we have negotiated health insurance plans for our members. By offering insurance companies a large pool of prospective policy holders, we have been able to negotiate good rates for USPTA pros.

Realizing the need for quality health insurance coverage and acting on the many suggestions from our members~ we have spent a great deal of time and effort to design this new plan.

We increased liability coverage from $1 million to $2 million earlier this year, after which point we set out in search of a new health insurance carrier. The switch to another company was necessitated by an increase in insurance premiums for many of our members. We were determined to obtain better coverage at reduced premium rates a goal that presented quite a challenge to the staff and USPTA's officials.

After months of discussions, we found a suitable policy through Aon Direct Group

CEO

nc. which is being underwritten by USLife nsurance. am pleased that USPTA, through Aon Direct Group nc. can make available the program options in the insurance package. also urge you to take the time to explore the details of the new plan by calling a special toll-free line that has been set up to handle your inqu iries. The result greater benefits and simplified coverage. For example: • The new program has four plans from which to choose.

• ntensive care benefits.

• Full maternity coverage is treated as any other illness.

• There's no longer a one-year waiting period .

• Normal maternity coverage is not limited to $2 ,500.

• The coverage includes $10,000 of term life insurance.

The plan's administrator, Aon Direct Group Inc. can be reached at (800) 982-9489 if you have any questions or would like to receive a quotation for coverage.

Aon Direct Group nc. will be responsible for the administration and marketing of USPTA's plan. Participants of the plan will deal directly with the company, which is a nationally recognized , third-party administrator. n addition to the comprehensive major medical program , Aon Direct Group nc. is working to make term life and long-term disability coverage available n the near future. am delighted to have the opportunity to announce this program and think you will share my enthusiasm after reviewing the information. o

3

Future looks bright for USPTA~ tennis Dave Sivertson, Vice President

UsPTA received more press coverage in the past year than at any time in its history.

While reading many of the articles, began to appreciate the responsibility an author has to research interpret and communicate the facts to the reader. I commend the talented authors who have gone the extra mile to produce factual and entertaining articles.

The publicity USPTA received in many newspapers and magazines highlighted the imgortant role our Association plays in the tennis industry. This exposure redefines the benefits of USPTA membership and promotes the experience and dedication of USPTA officials. It is, after all , the commitment of USPTA leaders that creates the many opportun ities available to our members.

The Association operates in a very similar style to a country club, something familiar to most tennis professionals. During my 16 years in the tennis ndustry, have been a tennis professional director of sports and a general manager. My role changed in each po.sition . As a member of the USPTA Board of Directors, I can see how the structure of the Association differs very little from my daily work experience. The direction of USPTA is set by the board , with input from the Executive Committee and the membership, and then administered by the staff As a general manager, answer to a board of directors and do my best to structure the club based on guidance from the board and member feedback .

Tim Heckler serves in the same capacity for the USPTA. The members of the Board of Directors, which includes th'e CEO, talk once or twice a week. The board consists of talented , committed individuals who are 4

independent thinkers. Every decision is intended to benefit each one of our almost 10,000 members. believe the purpose of the Association centers on five areas: To To To To

provide service and benefits to members; test and certify members; educate and inform members; promote the image of the tennis professional and of the Association ¡ and To promote the game of tennis.

With every decision, the board anticipates a positive effect in at least one of these areas.

Some of the improvements we foresee are as follows.

into ways to provide more direct benefits to each member.

Testing and certification The Certification Exam and testing procedures are upgraded constantly. The new exam covers more areas, and we are testing more applicants and returning test results more quickly.

Educate and inform The Continuing Education Program brings education to the professionals in the field, and the amount and type of classes offered has increased . ADDvantage magazine will be upgraded to give additional valuable motivation .

Image of the tennis professional and US PTA

The board plans to strengthen the resources of the divisions ...

Service and benefits The World Headquarters provides everything necessary to serve the members on a national level. The board plans to strengthen the resources of the divisions and is looking

A new national public relations program designed to further inform the public of USPTA and its programs will be unveiled in 1993. We will communicate regularly with more than 4,000 club managers nationally.

Promote the game of tennis We will work to promote the tenni s market by supporting and creating programs to increase tennis and the tennis-playing population .

From these general ideas, specific projects will develop to improve the overall image of USPTA. The future of tennis, USPTA and tennis teaching looks bright, and I am proud to be a member of this industry.

0

Ask the professor

Jack L. Gro

el~

PhD

Six elements create effective strokes Question: I have a student who prepares too early on her forehand. She uses her hand to take the racquet back quickly and sets the backswing into position in a straight-back manner. She is a good player, but I am having trouble getting her to the next level. Can you offer any suggestions?

Answer¡ Several points should be considered in an effort to solve this problem You first must determine what is limiting the student from climbing to the next skill level For example, many players throughout the history of the game have had unorthodox stroke patterns, but the uniqueness of the strokes did not prevent them from being outstanding players. At this point, only a coach can make a decision about the limitations placed on a student.

That point having been made, here is how to determine if there is a problem and how to correct a straight backswing A relaxed grip helps the rhythm of the strokes. It is possible that the student has a vise-like grip on the racquet which could impede her rhythm 2. The racquet should be taken back with the shoulders, not the hand . n fact, like to see a unit turn' where the right foot (for a right-handed player) turns out, the hips rotate and the shoulders turn to take the racquet back. If the hand takes the racquet back (as described in the question), the body may not rotate properly.

3. The backswing should be relaxed and rhythmical Its purpose is to prepare the body for swinging at the ball am not in favor of a straight-back backswing. Players are unable to generate rhythrm with an actual straight-qack and straight-forward swing. n fact, in the thousands of feet of

6

film and video of world-class players I have analyzed , have never seen a true straight-back backswing .

Vitas Gerulaitis is one player in the recent open era of tennis who is thought by many to have played with a straightback backswing , but he really used a small loop backswing. According to his former coach Tommy Thompson , Gerulaitis would take the racquet back with a good shoulder turn, but would employ a small loop just before the forward swing Therefore, recommend having the arm come back relaxed and a little higher than where ball contact will occur. The keys to a good backswing are good shoulder turn , a relaxed arm and hand and a rhythmical movement.

4. The forward swing should nvolve high racquet acceleration from the forward momentum generated by the step forward , hip and shoulder rotation and arm movement. The wrist and hand will provide some extra velocity, but play a minor role at best. The key role for the hand is controlling the racquet face to hit the ball correctly.

5. The follow-through should be smooth and full An abrupt follow-through means that deceleration occurs too early in the swing , which likely will have a negative effect on the impact. Extraneous hand and arm movement should be controlled as well.

It should be like a normal release of the arm as it finishes the stroke. It also is very important to ensure that the forehand looks like a rhythmical, relaxed stroke and not a steering or pulling movement that looks uncomfortable.

6. If the student must run to hit a ball it is not recommended that the player run with the arm and racquet back. The human

Jack Groppel, Ph.D. , is the executive vice president of Loehr-Groppei/Saddlebrook Sport Science, Inc. He is an instruction editor for Tennis magazine, and is the author of High-Tech Tennis and co-author of The Science of Coaching Tennis. Groppel is a certified Master Professional of the USPTA and was named 1987 Professional of the Year by the USPTA. Groppel is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Florida. He is chairman of the USTA National Sport Science Committee, chairman of the USPTA National Committee on Fitness and Health , and serves on the National Steering Committee of the USTA Player Development Program .

body was not made to run this way. have heard numerous track coaches say that humans are only as fast as their arms allow them The pumping action of the arms enables the rest of the body to move with tremendous rhythm So, always teach students how to run while carrying the racquet and pumping the arms.

Hopefully, some of these ideas will help the student improve her forehand . Remember, it takes time to make changes in one's game.

The student must understand that if a stroke must be changed, there probably will be a reduction in performance results for a while. <f:P.

Asahi rebates Inoney to USPTA pros Asahi has developed three programs to assist USPTA pros who buy Asahi shoes for their pro shops, and each plan gives money back to the pro. The plans also allow pros to help Asahi donate money to their respective USPTA divisions through the purchase of shoes.

'Our association with the USPTA is a partnership, Dick Conforti, Asahi executive vice president, said. 'We have developed a line of tennis shoes using technology to meet the needs of the US PTA pros. And, in conjunction with that, we want to go beyond just creating the tennis shoe; we want to support the pros individually.'

Three ways to take advantage of the cashback program are : • HaveAsahi payyourUSPTAduesfor 1993.

Purchase 50 pairs of Asahi shoes, to be delivered before December 31 1992, and Asahi will pay the first $100 of your annual dues. Purchase and have delivered the next 24 pairs of shoes before Dec. 31 and Asahi will pay $2 per pair. Purchase and have delivered a total of 75 pairs of shoes, and As h i will pay your entire 1993 USPTA membership dues.

• A pro may have an ndividual Retirement Account set up in hisorhernameandAsahi

"Our association with the USPTA is a partnership ... ""Te want to support the pros ..."

Dick Conforti As a hi will donate $2 to the RA for each pair of Asahi shoes purchased before Dec. 31 The money will be invested at a stated interest rate until the pro decides to withdraw it.

Contact Asahi for an RA agreement.

local division.

The Asahi/USPTA program works for all five USPTA shoes. The USPTA Glacier men's leather shoe, the LY4U women's canvas shoe andtheMY4U men'scanvasshoeareavailable to be sold at any store. The Prizm women's leather shoe and the Durra men's leather shoe will be sold only at pro shops. Each of the shoes has the USPTA logo distinctively placed .

Another development by Asahi for USPTA pros is the Asahi Pro Staff program , which gives a tennis pro one free pair of Asahi shoes for every six pairs purchased for resale. A pro may receive up to six free pairsofshoesduring one year.

To take advantage of these special offers, call (800) 334-8737 for the Asahi sales represen10> tative nearest you .

• Receive quarterly a $2 rebate on every pair of Asahi shoes purchased between now and Dec. 31 Pros also may help their divisions earn money. For every pair of USPTA logo Asahi shoes purchased and delivered before Dec. 31 Asahi will donate 50 cents per pair to the

Four Asahi programs I. Have Asahi pay your USPTA dues.

2. Have Asahi start an IRA account for you.

3. Receive $2 rebate per pair of Asahi shoes ordered.

4. Join the Asahi Pro Staff.

• Measures speed in MPH (from I0-100 MPH) while actually hitting balls.

• Improves service ball speed.

• Is an excellent tool for evaluating racquets and string tension.

• Is virtually indestructible. Constructed of polycarbonate & sealed airtight.

• Guaranteed accuracy of +/ -2 MPH. • Includes racquet speed to ball speed chart.

GRT, INC. 5600 Oakbrook Pkwy., Suite 120, Norcross, GA 30093 (404)416-6800 • (800)635-5042

7

USP'fA professionals Serve To get away from the back-scratch ' concept of teaching the serve, as soon as the fist passes the back leg on the backswing have the player bring the fist ¡up and drive the tip of the thumb nto the top of the shoulder. This puts the racquet head nto proper hitting position Jim Fowler Flint, Mich Vi sualize serving over a volleyball net.

This will force the student to do three things: extend the arm fully, use the legs for more power, and snap the wrist to 'slam dun k' the ball Jeff Combs Fairhope, Ala.

Groundstroke Eyes can focus on only one thing at a time. As a student focuses on the approach ng ball the next thing that should .be seen is the blur ' of the racqu et as it passes through the field of vision Encourage the student to keep his or her head steady, to not look where the shot may land and to focus on the oncom ng ball thus making a more solid shot and better contact.

Dennis C. Prinos Clinton Mass.

pretend a small flashlight is embedded in the side of each shoulder. As soon as the student knows where an opponent's shot is going have him or her shine the front shoulder flashlight across the net on the back fence to prepare for the shot. A shining flashlight translates nto glowing groundstrokes.

them pretend to swing towels nstead of racquets. If the students are able to swing the towel at any speed without jerking it , then they will be able to swing the racquet the same way

Howard R Klueter Wausau Wis.

For better direction on shots, have students visuali ze hitting through a line of three balls and the racquet squared to the target for as long as possible.

Beginners to advanced-intermediate players should try to swing forward no faster than the speed with which they brought the racquet back.

Timothy Wynne Grand Forks, N D. Encourage a student to imagine closing a bunch of dresser drawers with the shoulder. This will emphasize the importance of leaning into the backhand and keeping the shoulders level Becky Callan Gamble Boulder, Colo.

When a student has unstable racquet preparation difficulty changing grips and a tired hand grip or forearm remind him or her to use the non-dam nant hand to prepare for grip and stroke changes, and to hold the racquet n between points to allow the dam nant hand and forearm to rest.

Larry M Smith Baltimore, Md

Eric Baer Thousand Oaks, Calif

Beverly Buckley Winter Springs, Fla. Turn the upper body first so that the student is able to prepare for the swing then have the student position the feet correctly.

Robert Green South Barrington For students who play percentage tennis, have them think 'area tennis.

Don't have the student shoot for the line or the corner when hitting three feet inside the line will get the job done.

Sally Lewis Ardmore, Pa. Hit through a tunnel and up on the backhand This is a variation on the popular 'skin a tabletop' theory that many pros use, but a tunnel ' emphasizes that the racquet must not only stay on a level plane, but also face forward through the contact zone (rather than swinging around in a circle) The racquet should then lift up at the end of the 'tunnel

Encourage students to keep thei r heads down on all groundstrokes and volleys and to keep their heads up when executing the serve and overhead Any player who moves the head before the shot is completed will hit either¡ 1) long and beyond the baseline or service line; 2) wide of the sideline or center service line ¡ or 3) into the net.

When students practice a two-handed backhand have them visualize hitting a forehand with the non-dominant arm For example: a right-hander would push the racquet through the stroke as if he or she were hitting a left-handed forehand The dam nant arm is only for control and guidance.

Charles W Wallace East Orange, N.J.

Dessie Samuels Terrel Texas

Have students practice serve and volleying high balls down the line. If the ball is low, hit crosscourt.

To faci itate early shoulder and racquet preparation ask the student to

To aid students in developing smoother, more consistent groundstrokes, have

Bill J. Blakenbaker Marshall II

8

Holden Maecker Chicago

Volley

share teaching tips If students are having trouble on the volley either swinging at the balls or not watching the balls hit their strings have them hold their racquets upside down and try to hit with the grips of the racquets. This will force the students to watch the balls and stop the swing if they want to make contact.

David Siddons Boone, N.C For a flawless forehand volley, have the players concentrate on the use of their left hands. As the racquet moves to the path of the ball the players should keep their left hands next to their racquet throats. As the racquet moves forward make sure the left hand passes n between the right sMoulder and the . racquet head This wi keep the students leading wifh the left shoulder and send them on their way to volley heaven

Have students take small adjusting steps similar to those used in bowling to move nto position when running down a shot. Have students save the long power steps for the weight shift and striking of the bal,l Donna Rae Yuritic Palos Hills, Ill

Have a student get nto position to hit a lob by visualizing him or herself as a baseball outfielder preparing to catch a fly ball Keeping the shoulders turned with the racquet n the ready position have the student simply reach up and hit the ball Gene Williams St. Louis, Mo.

Overhead Approach shot To keep the upper body steady and not pull off the ball while hitting an overhead have the student practice holding a glass of water n the nondominant hand and try to hit an over head without spilling the water.

On approach shots, have students shorten the backswing but not the follow-through Joe Csandli Orlando, Fla.

James Hobson¡ North Little Rock, Ark.

Brian R McCoy St. Pau Minn

Half-volley If a student is netting half-volleys by swin ging from high to low, have the stu dent bend the knees earlier and try hitting with a slight low to high motion Lowering the net to half its normal height during practice will speed the player 's recog nition of the low ball and of the importance of getting lower sooner. By doing so, the plane of the swing may be remedied very qu ickly.

M ke Hall Englewood Colo.

Footwork For players that shuffle their feet too much during contact, ask them to imagine that their feet are stuck n cement during contact on groundstrokes, volleys and serves.

Dan Moster Rushville, nd

Learn the most successful training methods from the leading experts in tennis today. Refine your coaching skills working with the consultants of the best players in the world!

1992 DATES October 12-14 December 9-11

Dr. Jack Groppel Biomechanics Toughness Training Pat Etcheberry For Information & Registration .Physical Toughness Please Contact: Training

Saddlebrook Resort FLORIDA L...------------'

813-973-8022 813-973-1111 Ext. 3113 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 813-973-8019 9

r\\\ i&& MATCH MAlE'" 6\J\JI,, ADIV OF CROWNMANUFACTURING

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Random Runway Awareness Drill THE DRILL

PURPOSE To strengthen player's abi ity to identify bal characteristics, location awareness, and response to different phases of play

PREPARATION Set ball mach ne n center of basel ne . The bal should be delivered at the player's rally speed at a 4 height over the net, with moderate topspin at a 3-4 second nterval Spread "Shot Selection " knobs across width of court. Press "RANDOM "

DRILL Have players return shots to Target Areas 1 or 2, call ng out the appropriate PHASE OF PLAY based on their RUNWAY and ZONE LOCATION Discuss appropriate RESPONSES to each PHASE OF PLAY

Return ed from zone

Shot1

Shot2

Shot3

Shot4

ShotS

Shot6

4

4

4

4

4

4

Ph ase of play

VAR ES ON RUNWAY LOCATION

Segmented swing Heig ht over net

4

4

4

4

4

4

RUNWAY MOVEMENT ZONE 4

PHASE OF PLAY

RUNWAY A RUNWAY A RUNWAY A c::> RUNWAY B RUNWAY A c::> RUNWAY C

RALLY / CHALLENGE COUNTERATTACK DEFENSE

Variation: Have players perform dri n each of the 5 Zones.

rrv~===~~~~~====~~

= Target Areas L::. = Player Locations â&#x20AC;¢ = Shot Locations T

= Bal

Path

A Sy~tem Five Ball Machine Drill

ZONE1

~

ZONE2

ZONE3

ZONE4

ZONES

For More nformat1on Contact

CROWN MANUFACTURING 24807 Avenue Tibbetts, Valencia , CA 91355, (805) 257-7714 or Cal Tol Free (1-800) 251-6716 USPTA PROS WILL BE PAID $100.00 FOR ANY DRILL SUBMITTED & PUBLISHED BY CROWN MFG .

â&#x20AC;˘ Senior teaching pro and player exalllllles tennis for over 50-age group

UsPTA

pro Jason Morton is no stranger to seniors and tennis. As the tennis professional in Sun Lakes, Ariz. he says that 99 percent of his members are over the age of 50.

Sun Lakes may be a little different from the average town , since it is in an area that caters to retirement communities, but what Morton has learned from his members can be passed on to other pros looking to capture part of the market of the more than 20 million people over the age of 50.

The added touch of competition makes tennis fun for the senior players . ..

Not only is Morton the tennis professional at Sun Lakes, located outside of Phoenix , he is also the consultant to Penn Racquet Sports for senior tennis. While he admits that his position was created to help Penn gather a larger market share, he plans to use this position to teach more pros about how to become: involved in senior tennis.

As Penn's consultant, Morton will conduct seminars and clinics at national senior tournaments. The message Morton wants to send to tennis professionals is that seniors are different from other groups of players.

The two things that set seniors apart from other groups is that they have money and realistic expectations for their tennis game.

'Seniors are not expecting to win a Grand Slam tournament, Morton said Morton plans to give seminars and compete at the USTA National Hard Court Championships, the USTA Clay Court Championships, the USTA ndoor Championships and the USTA Grass Court Championships in the men's 60 singles and doubles.

Morton said that senior players use a different strategy for playing tennis than younger players. Seniors will work more on placement than on hitting the ball as hard as possible, he said . He teaches seniors the¡ half-volley, the drop shot and the lob to use as effective weapons during a tennis match His students also learn that getting the ball over the net is more important than ~ow the ball is hit.

The over-50 age group takes lessons to

improve its playing ability, Morton said They realize that they need to work on something, and the real joy is that they learn because they want to, not because their parents are making them.

Morton has no idea of the exact number of programs that cater to senior tennis players in the United States, but he said there are more programs now than previously and that international senior competition is very popular in other countries.

Morton became involved n senior tennis through a natural progression n his tennis playing. He always has been a fairly good tennis player and started his title collection n high school he said He won conference titles while attending the University of Houston and later competed against such legendary players as Don Budge, Bobby Riggs, Bitsy Grant, Cliff Drysdale and Rod Laver.

Even when his attention turned to coaching and teaching tennis, he still loved the competiton. To date, he has won more than 40 senior titles, three world doubles titles and sti ll competes.

Tennis is the sport of a lifetime and Morton really believes it. People need to stay com-

petitive in spirit, and tennis helps accomplish this, he said .

A plus for pros is that there is money to be made if they are willing to tap into the senior market , Morton said. But the greatest delight is to see the senior players accomplish goals.

Morton cautions that senior players need a bit more attention than other players. He warns pros to make sure that the seniors are completely stretched before starting any serious exercise, especially in the hamstrings, shoulders and neck. This could keep many seniors returning to the courts for more tennis as they are less likely to be injured he said .

The seniors at his club are nvolved in six different teams for league play, and the club hosts a $15,000 senior tournament, Morton said The tournament features the top men , age 55 and older, and the top women, age 40 and older. The twist to the competition is that each player gets a new partner for each round.

The added touch of competition makes tennis fun for the senior players, Morton said . If a facility is lacking program ideas for seniors, look for Morton at a senior <3 tournament.

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See your Wilson Sales Rep or call Wilson Accessones at 1-800-272-6060.

11

USPTA Adult Tennis League reduces fall programming slmnp

Le

USPTA Adu lt League is having a spectacular debut, and while some sites have completed the seven weeks of competition , most areas will begin this month The reasons for the good debut are endless: September is the ideal time for the league, most summer leagues have finished , school has started , and winter leagues have not begun .

Being a Site Director is easier than anticipated . n most cases, the work is completed before the players take to the court. The main duties of a Site Director are to enlist players, collect fees and reserve court space for league competition Once the league competition begins, the main focus for the Site Director should be n money-making areas, such as team clinics and team practices or lessons. It also is important to keep the players excited about playing n the league, and promoting the significance of the team as a representative of the club and its srvonsoring pro.

Bruce Herr, the Area Director for Western Colorado, is working to create a league in his town of Montrose, Colo. Montrose has never had a league due to its small size, but Herr said that because of the small number of people needed at each level for a squad , he has created one team and is working on the next. The Montrose mixed level¡ team wi ll have to travel to other cities, such as Grand Junction and Delta, to compete with other teams, but Herr said that is not a problem 'Some people are not ready to quit playng tenn is at the end of summer,' Herr said Herr is excited about the league, which will begin at the end of September, and said that it wi ll be good for tennis and healthy for the community.

Brian Hanna, Area and Site Director in Ventura County, Calif said that he thinks the league wi ll be easy to run Th e abil ity to add substitutes will accommodate players' vacations by rotating players, he said . A real plus for his clu b is that only four players will have to travel each week.

Hanna will run a mi xed-level doubles league, which was received well by the players.

If a woman is a 4.0 (NTRP rating) and her husband is a 3.0, they can play at different levels, but stil l be on the same squad Hanna said .

Recruiting players was very easy for Hanna, he hung a sign-up sheet and a poster at his club and 20 players registered during the first few days.

To see if your area is running a league soon check the partial list of registered leagues on this page. To get a league of your own cal l the National League Office at (713) 97-USPTA. If} 12

USPTA Adult Tennis League Partial list of leagues expected to start in September or October September Area San Antonio North Houston East Texas Corpus Christi Texas West Texas Dal las Myrtle Beach , Fla. Greensboro, N.C. Seattle Ft. Myers/Cape Coral Fla. Ft. Lauderdale/Miami Richmond , Va .

Denver Metro Western Colorado North Monterey Bay, Calif San Jose, Calif Oakland Calif Hartford (West) , Conn Northeast Bridgeport, Conn

Format Mixed doubles pending Mixed-level doubles Men's and women 's doubles Mixed-level doubles Men's doubles pending Mixed-level doubles pending pending Men's doubles pending Mi xed doubles Mi xed-level doubles Mi xed-level doubles pending pending Mi xed doubles pending

October New Hampshire South Boston Ft. Lauderdale/Miami Tucson Ariz.

San Diego nland San Diego County North San Diego County

pending Mi xed doubles Women's doubles pending Mixed doubles Mixed doubles Mi xed doubles

USP'"fJ.\ !DUCA"flON J'l\~\1'1 U~\t USP'fA EDUO\fJON MANUAl II career guide to professionalism

BOOK h TENNIS TEACHING SKILLS BOOK II: TENNIS BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND h\ANAGEMEN¡r

As Ths USPTA Education Manual: A Carssr Gulds to Profsss/onallsm is printed free of charge in ADDvantage, collect the more than 15 chapters and insert them in an attractive, matching three-ring binder Purchase your binder through the USPTA Gift Shoppe for only $5, plus shipping and handling.

•

USP~f~\

ED UC~\f l 0~1 J'l\~\~1 U~\t A career guide to professionalism

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Chapter 1

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Professionalism: Key to the ultimate tennis teacher

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The ultimate teacher must master three major areas understand the game, communicate that knowledge, and demonstrate that knowledge.

An adequate teacher is proficient in one of these three areas and an effective teacher in two, but the master teacher must conquer all three.

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The master teacher must have a profound knowl edge of the techniques and tactics needed to become a good player and must study the game continually to improve his or her knowledge.

A good lesson is very much like a good doubles team. If the two team members interact well, cooperate effectively, and perform to the best of their individual abilities, a marvelous synergism occurs, wherein the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. Like a good book, it has a beginning, a middle and an end that are separate, yet interwoven to form a unified whole.

In order for this to happen, it is necessary to understand that an effective lesson is not something that just happens, but is the result of an organized plan that draws many different elements together in a manner that creates an impact on the student.

Let's examine these various elements separately by starting with the professional.

2

Professional appearance, punctuality The professional must pay close attention to good appearance and punctuality when preparing for a lesson. Punctuality is the first principle of professionalism. In the world of business there is a cliche: Time is money If time is managed properly, then money can be made. People are more active than ever before, and the pro is competing for the consumer's leisure time. Being on time means arriving for an appointment at least 5 minutes early and being ready to go .

If this is the first lesson of the day, have the ball hopper, racquet, and anything else needed for the lesson either on the court, or easily accessible. Encourage the student to come to the court 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time. If the instructor has a prior lesson and is unable to talk or stretch with the next student, an assistant may be assigned to help the student prepare for the lesson, or the student may be given a handout which can serve as a review and/or preparation for the current lesson. Have the student shadow his or her strokes for 5 minutes. This serves the dual purposes of stretching out - specific to tennis -and helping to get the student's mind from the car to the court.

CopyrightŠ United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 1992.

All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this manual is not permitted

Although everyone likes to get extra time for the money, it is important to stay on schedule for ensuing lessons. It can be helpful to schedule lessons with a 10-minute leeway to spend valuable follow-up time with the student before he or she leaves. Rushing from one lesson directly into the next can maximize the use of time, but can be stressful on the professional and seem rude to the student.

Appearance has a very strong influence on people, especially during the first stage. The initial appearance of the teacher will make a long-lasting impression on the student and can either add to, or subtract from, the teacher's credibility and effectiveness. To be perceived as a professional, a person must act and look like a professional at all times.

Tennis clothes are the business suit of the tennis teacher, and although it is not necessary to wear expensive clothing, it should fit well and be neat and clean all day Heavily wrinkled or tight clothing can be uncomfortable and distracting and should be avoided. An instructor with a morning and afternoon schedule may want to shower and change clothing to be fresh for the afternoon or evening lessons.

Unkempt hair, being in need of a shave or haircut, inappropriate or poorly applied makeup all give a poor impression to the student.

.

Meeting the student for the first time Now that you're on time and dressed like a professional, it's time to take the next step meeting the student. Whether it's the first or lOth meeting, the initial contact sets the tone for that and following lessons. An enthusiastic greeting, joined by a firm handshake, a friendly smile, and a look in the eye, will go a long way toward establishing a base. It will open the door and set the tone for a more receptive student.

A good introduction should include- but is not necessarily limited to- some information about the instructor It will take the edge off an initial meeting and help relax the student if the teacher tells his or her job position, the length of time in it, and other background information. Many students feel awkward and even inadequate on a tennis court and, if they become familiar with the instructor, it will help put them at ease.

A good introduction also vyill help the instructor learn more about the student. Any prior informa-

About the author ...

Bill Tym has won three USPTA honors that epitomize this well-rounded and influential tennis professional : 1982 Professional of the Year, 1989 Coach of the Year, and 1991 Player of the Year in the over 45 division.

He has served USPTA as national president and executive director, and currently is co-director of certification and academies.

Tym holds the Association's highest ranking of Master Pro-

BiiiTym

fessional ahd conducts comprehensive USPTA Tennis Teachers ' Courses and Specialty Courses around the country.

The head tennis coach at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn .. he has coached 24 national champions and All-Americans at the intercollegiate and interscholastic levels.

As a player, Tym toured internationally in 1965-69 and has been ranked No. 1 by USPTA in the 35, 40, 45 and 50 age divisions. He was ranked No. 1 in the 50s division by both the USTA and the USPTA in 1990.

tion that may be obtained via staff, friends, a questionnaire, or through a previous meeting or phone conversation is very helpful.

The teacher should learn several things about a pupil, such as how long he or she has played tennis, prior lessons, if either singles or doubles have been played primarily, any competitive experience (ranking or rating), the style of play enjoyed and strengths/weaknesses. Discover the student's tennis goals, both during that lesson and long-term, and whether he or she wants a lesson on a specific technique or tactic, or a series of lessons to cover several areas.

A doctor needs feedback from a patient in order to understand the symptoms and diagnose the ailment. A tennis teacher is in much the same position. He or she needs to know what is bothering the student, and one of the best ways to assess this is through a question-and-answer period. This is part of the "pre-lesson" and can be very critical to success. A 5 to 10 minute period before the lesson may be used to take the student through a light to moderate stretching period and to ask questions to move into the lesson.

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The most important word in the lesson is the student's name! Proper pronunciation and repetitive use of the name is one of the most effective tools of communication. Preface remarks - especially praise - with the student's name.

3

Establish and maintain eye contact with the student whenever possible. Communication is more effec tive when the physical distance is reduced between the two parties (as opposed to shouting from one end of the court to the other) Drawing closer together on court will help establish eye contact and emphasize important points.

There is nothing m ore disconcerting than having a student's (or teacher's) eyes roving while the teacher tries to make a point. Eye contact helps convey the teacher's personal interest and sincerity

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It is a bso lutely imperative

that enthus iasm and s incere interest are shown from b eginning to en d.

It is absolutely imperative that enthusiasm and sincere interest are shown from beginning to end. Be totally preoccupied with the student and offer feedback enthusiastically Enthusiasm is contagious! If a friendly, upbeat, concerned interest in the student can be generated, progress will be considerably more effective, and the lesson will be enj oyable to both student and professional.

Communication The one area crucial to success is the ability to communicate knowledge. One can have extensive, in-depth knowledge, but without the ability to communicate it, one will be an unsuccessful teacher Remember that communication is a two-way street. Communication does not occur because one has told something to someone, communication takes place only when the other person receives the message and translates it into appropriate action.

Verbal communication, which provides one

form of effective feedback, is perhaps one of the greatest tools at our disposal. Verbal communication is not limited to words and grammar how phrases are arranged create a special impact. Verbal communication is enhanced by inflection, intonation, plan ned silence and the use of key "catch phrases." Effective verbal communication also utilizes direct or indirect eye contact and facial expressions (smiling, frowning) Any change of facial expression which accompanies verbalization would be an effective method of communicating with the student and should be used with intent and boldness. In 4

many instan ces, verbalization alone does not create th e desired impression.

At times, verbalization is inadequate in conveying a concept to a student. Another form of communication which can be very effective is the use of touch - the kinesthetic method. Guide a student's body through a motion or action with your hands. This can be an extremely effective method of communicating and picks up where the effectiveness of words stops.

Some students are sensitive about being touched, however, and may not respond positively to a blatant physical approach. They may withdraw or even flinch- when touched. Be sensitive to the student's feelings and avoid this method, if not effective.

Another means of getting a point across, which is very effective with many students, is the visual technique. Mimicry is a powerful learning tool , the learning process may be expedited if a student is given a vivid picture. If the tennis teacher also is a player and can execute the stroke, the image of the motion being performed may be sufficient. If n ot able to demonstrate, it may be useful to show videotaped examples or to point to oth er players.

Experienced professionals who are most effective in communicating often use a combination of the three m ethods -verbal, visual and kinesthetic.

It may be helpful to have access to writtert instructions, verbalized guidelines, photos or videotape to see which method is most effective with students who are difficult to teach.

Assess level No matter how much information is gained from reliable sources (including the student), it is always essential to assess first-hand his or her level of play Ask the student to demonstrate the technique for which he or she is seeking help. By feeding balls, the skill level can be assessed immediately and helpful suggestions regarding technique may be made.

Progressions The use of progressions enables a pro to manage a student's progress by starting with simpler goals in order to instill confidence and success, and moving forward to challenge a student with a more difficult task. New and increasingly difficult techniques will challenge the student, but may frustrate and discourage him or her. By

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Bill Tym (right) demonstrates a proper stroke to two students.

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dual action. At first, the pro may want to drop the ball in the proper position. The objective is to make solid contact and maintain the proper technique emphasized during shadowing. When the ball is introduced, the student may have a deterioration of technique .

The instructor's job is to give immediate and constructive feedback.

returning to an easier progression, the teacher can give immediate success and raise the student's confidence. The following seven progressions are an effective method to help a student improve and continually move toward his • ' or her potential.

•

Demonstrate the stroke. The professional

demonstrates and explains the stroke in part and as a whole. Certain parts of the stroke may be emphasized verbally during the demonstration.

•

Shadow the stroke. During this stage, the

professional should emphasize certain biomechanically sound elements with which the student must become familiar and confident. These include ready position, grip, backswing, point of impact, follow-through and footwork. The student is able to be successful almost immediately by shadowing the stroke, and doesn't have to worry about hitting a ball over the net and inside the lines.

•

If necessary, return to shadowing. Since the student is working to make contact by using proper technique, the student could hit balls into the back fence or wind screen instead of in the court area. A target will be introduced only after achieving proficiency with proper technique and solid contact.

Make contact with the ball while utilizing proper technique. Although it usually is

best for the student to drop the ball and hit t it, the student may have difficulty with this

•

Hit balls that are fed. Balls should be fed

softly, perhaps by hand initially, and should bounce in a comfortable hitting zone. The distance the ball is fed and the velocity of the ball is determined by the student's success with hand and eye coordination. Once again, the primary objective of the pro is to offer immediate, appropriate and positive feedback and to readjust the progression upward or downward, depending on the student's

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success or failure. The student must not compromise proper technique in order to hit the ball. If so, return to the shadow stage. The addition of targets over the net and inside the lines will be added.

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At this stage, the student should have a sound knowledge of proper technique, and confidence that he or she is able to perform the· stroke successfully, recognize mistakes, and analyze shortcomings in technique.

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Now that the student has developed the knowledge, feeling and habit of the proper technique, he or she is ready for a very important transition. The coach now moves from techniques to tactics, so that technique is a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. However, the professional must make sure the student maintains proper technique while striving for consistency In this stage of development, the student is taught how to drill a specific stroke with other players, or with the professional. If he is trying to hit 10 consecutive forehands, are ·these shots to be crosscourt or down the line?

Deep or short? Make sure the target is clear to the student.

The ultimate objective in the point play situation is to win the point by developing a particular stroke pattern with consistency and accuracy, and to maintain sound technique while doing so.

Learn to drill.

•

Once the student has progressed to the level where he or she is able to demonstrate consistency and control, that student is ready for the ultimate challengeactual match play

Actual match play.

Diagnosis and cure It is essential to look at each stroke very carefully when working on any specific area of technique.

It often is easier to isolate the problem and offer a concise correction by breaking the diagnosis and cure into three definitive phases: preparation, execution and follow-through.

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A good guideline is to realize that there is neither good nor bad, only consequences. The role of a tennis professional is to offer the best way to get a job done.

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Drills can be created for every zone on the court and are usually the most efficient method of practicing a shot because they provide the greatest degree of repetition for a specific shot in the minimum amount of time. Goal-oriented drills also create a situation that forces the student to develop concentration. The earlier techniques are reinforced constantly, but at this stage, the pro is adding the concept of proper footwork and returning to optimal tactical position before the opponent returns the next ball.

•

Create a point play situation. The profes-

sional now shifts the emphasis to more sophisticated tactics based on some of the drills which th~ student has been practicing. The objective of point play is to win the point 6

utilizing specific techniques. With some players, basic techniques will deteriorate significantly when put under the pressure of point or match play situations. They also will begin to replace the concept of consistency and accuracy with a desire to overpower their opponent- and then compound the problem by hitting too close to the lines.

Preparation Start with preparation, which includes watc_h ing the ball, footwork and racquet preparation. If the student is not preparing for the stroke early enough, then everything else will be academic .

Early preparation for a stroke may be achieved by watching the ball leave the opponent's racquet, which allows a player to use the appropriate footwork, establish good balance and prepare for execution. This is particularly effective while volleying, when the reaction time is reduced by the distance between the players.

Is the student's footwork conducive to getting his or her body into the optimal position for executing the stroke, while maintaining good balance?

Is the student using the best grip and backswing?

These elements should be kept in synchronization. One stroke, one pattern of footwork, or one grip is not the only way to be successful. When choosing a grip, consider the direction and type of stroke (underspin, topspin, flat) and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a closed vs. an open stance.

A good guideline is to realize that there is neither good nor bad, only consequences. The role of a

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US PTA pro Arthur Ashe explains a shot to a student during an Across America Tennis Day clinic.

1

tennis professional is to offer the best way to get a job done: Explain the pros and cons of a particular stroke and allow the student to make the decision.

Execution After analyzing preparation, the next stage to consider is execution. Is the path of the racquet appropriate to the shot being attempted? Does the student know when it is best to make contact with the ball to achieve the desired result? Has every effort been made to clarify and specify which path the racquet should take in relation to the stroke being used? Is the backswing appropriate to the stroke? Does the student know the optimal point of contact for the grip and stroke being used?

Follow-through Where must the follow-through be directed? Is it a natural consequence of the stroke that preceded it?

These three parts of every stroke -preparation, execution and follow-through should be emphasized in context wi h both footwork and shot selection.

Teacher, student responsibilities A professional has two responsibilities to his student. First, he must be able to communicate the knowledge, theory, or understanding of the stroke being taught. This should be based on sound biomechanics, tactics and the psychology of the sport. But a professional must go one step further in order to be truly effective: The student must know when he or she did the task well or, at least, know when it is done incorrectly The student also has a responsibility to take the knowledge of what should be done and how to achieve it, and repeat it until the knowledge becomes deeply ingrained. The student doesn't develop habits on theory alone, he or she must put the theory with the appropriate action and repeat it often.

During this phase of habit development, the professional must keep the student on track with feedback. The more the pro can direct with positive feedback, the more effective the student will be. Sometimes, negative feedback is required to help the student develop a clear picture of the habit for which he or she is striving.

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Trying to coordinate the proper biomechanics, the footwork and the shot selection can be a difficult chore, but with a sensitive and knowledgeable pro and an enthusiastic student fulfill ing their responsibilities, any problem can be overcome with patience and hard work.

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Since most lessons range from 30 minutes to an hour, the pro should spend a few minutes near the end of the lesson to do two more things. â&#x20AC;˘

One of the major deterrents to learning, especially skill development, is the tendency of a student to violate the "Law of Dominant Effect''¡ A person can concentrate on only one dominant thought at a time. It is the role of the professional to keep the student on track at all times and deal with only one pattern at a time. It might be best to break a stroke down to its basic elements, which would include, but not be limited to grip, backswing, footwork/stance, point of contact, follow-through and tactics (shot selection- the ''where" and ''when") Breaking the stroke down to these parts may make it easier for the student to be successful and create self-confidence .

Safety Safety is very important and should pervade every lesson. An experienced professional is always sensitive about' the safety of his or her students, who are preoccupied with learning and unaware of potentially hazardous balls or baskets on the court. The problem is compounded when working with more than one student.

Proper placement of students in a group, and constant attention to dangerous situations are important priorities for a pro. Be alert to potential problems if using a ball machine during lessons or practice sessions .

Group lessons A group lesson is covered in much the same way as a private lesson, but the professional must be careful to pay equal attention to each member of the group. A successful group lesson incorporates the general principles that apply to each member of the group (i.e., consistency) and has the pro interact with each student an equal amount of time. If the pro is feeding balls, the students should be rotated rapidly Some intermediate or advanced students might feed to, or hit with, each other while the professional circulates among the group giving short one-line instructions or feedback to each student. The members of the group should stay active and receive intermittent feedback from the professional. This is 1 easier to accomplish when the group is basically homogenous in ability 8

Ending the lesson

Give a sound review of the lesson and summarize or highlight the critical points that were covered. This will enable the

student to leave the lesson with the main points in mind and will tie information together to create a more positive impact. This review is so important, that it would be good to give a handout emphasizing these points to the student, or have the student write the highlights as the professional reviews them.

We know that a student cannot be successful unless the professional does a good job, but the professional is not successful unless the student also does his or her job well. â&#x20AC;˘

End each lesson with an assignment to be completed before the ensuing lesson.

Many professionals are hesitant to assign homework- and frequently regret this oversight! Many students are under the mistaJ.<en impression that once they understand the problem and how to correct it, it will disappear Knowledge neither changes nor creates a habit.

Knowledge + action + repetition = habit.

We know that a student cannot be successful unless the professional does a good job, but the professional is not successful unless the student also does his or her job well. It is a symbiotic relationship that can, and should, be gratifying and enjoyable for both.

The successful professional is similar to a medical doctor The student comes to the professional to relieve a painful problem. If the doctor is able to diagnose the problem correctly and offer a cure, the patient will follow the prescription conscientiously That success gives confidence to the patient to return if, and when, another symptom arises. The professional should not be used as a crutch, but should teach the student how to become self-reliant and successful. The professional's ultimate success comes when the student no longer needs him or her

© 1992 Prince Manufaclunng, Inc

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•

PIIRCB® Playing in the Zone:"

USPfA welcomes new members Congratulations to the following new USPTA members who fulfilled requirements for membership between May 1 and June 30, 1992.

MEMBER

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CALIFORNIA DIVISION Leon E. December P Xanthos S. Glass Suzanne lzmirian EASTERN DIVISION J. Varricchio Joseph P Cantasano S. Carberry Charles A. DeBenedittis D. Berry George T Henry Nancy A. Jones J. Cerato Michael J. Kelly D. Strebel Henry W. Kimmel P Fiore Mary Killeen Mullen L. Meehan Mark D. Passman D. Harring A. Michalek Brian Joseph Yegidis FLORIDA DIVISION Jack M Armistead R. Lake Darren F Brewis H Moore S. Ehrlich Robert M (Bobby) Cashman J. Mon k Jeffrey C. Chandley C. Villarroel Roger C. Cypriano R. Macci Scott N Evans R Carson David A. Freiman P Knox Michel Gehin Drew T Hafets B. Rolland Thomas Richard Hamilton R. Baxt~r Jeffrey S. Hyman C. Villarroel 0. Encinas Elias Adib Khoury Brett A. Kurtz J. Dinkmeyer William C. Macon J. Ebener Craig W. McSmythe D. Caprio H O'Rourke F Scot Segesman Wayne C. Slack B. Heffernan Sahil Srivastva A. Fischer Affiliate Tennis nsights, nc.

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MEMBER

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M Hirano Yuuki Yatsuchi M Hirano Masayuki Yoshida MIDDLE ATLANTIC DIVISION S. Schultz Michael R. Avers E. McQuillin Edmund R. Chilton L. Hampton Holly D. Chomyn D. Marshall Daniel Lee Cook B. Alexander Linda M Davis E McMullen Thomas Andrew Fontalbert S. Schultz David M Johnson John P Kelly R. Flohre MIDDLE STATES DIVISION A. Reilingh Carlos Carrillo P Soliz James Grant Fisher S. Schu ltz Scott Hinkle H Hoffman Charles G (Chubb) Price S. Schultz Jeffrey P Puhan L. Schloss Jack A. Sujovolsky G Sailes Dawn M Th omas MIDWEST DIVISION R. Anderson Stephen A. Betts L. Perez Sara Marie Borgstrom C. Ellis Eoin P Collins S. Schultz Fred L. Craprotta D. Briggs James M Dallas S. Schultz Dena Frier S. Schultz Amy R. Glowaz J. Whitman Joseph Ross Graham M Bey Michael J. Gudwien D. Smith Robert M Gurolnick S. Schultz Darrell R Haines T Scott Daniel J. Kiernan S. Storey Michael H Kiewiet T Heshey Matthew M Kli ne G William Lori Maxwell Krimbill D. Elsasser Gregory Laemmer J. Smallfield Don G Mitchell G Aten Greg E. Prevette D. Aleman John N Ru sso R Cona Brad D. Scholtz S. Schultz Michael E. S. Snyder S. Schultz Jeff A. Soffa P Elder Steven C. Sterthman J. Heil Donald J. Tom ko M McClure Martin P Topli ss S. Schultz Brian Tukachinsky S. Schultz Victor H Urzua B. Willing Raymond J. Vassas S. Schultz Jody Ann Wentress S. Schultz Michael David Wissi nk MISSOURI VALLEY DIVISION J. Bricka Richard J. (Rich) Chappuis J. Henderson Patrick H Looney C. Acosta Santiago Rodriguez NEW ENGLAND DIVISION A. Michalek Marvin Gene Chappell C Kinyon Jill S. Firstbrook P Campbell James F Frazier A. Barnett Cheryl Lynn Froh P Jutras James A. Goodman S Dauro Kim R. Marzewski M Sommer Sean W. Moran L. Zacharias-Verdi Stephen 0. Schoffley P Soliz Michael P Slattery M Sommer Paul D. Sochin E Norris Barry J. Wad sworth A. Murray Claudine R Watson

MEMBER

SPONSOR

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION Kevin M Hall R. Crawford C. Legler Phillip A. Johnson David M Lu V. Hooks Steven W. W. Vogt E. Henson NORTHWEST DIVISION Kris A. Kluis S Schultz PACIFIC NORTHWEST DIVISION David V Giza R. Kenisky SAN DIEGO DIVISION Peter W. Buntemeyer A. Lopez A. Lopez Gregg A. Caledonia R. Besubien Philip D. Hopkins A. Shapter Cynthia B. MacGregor B. Humphreys Thomas A. Pirodsky SOUTHEAST ASIA Dimiter Armenkow D. Oon D. Oon Alias Awang D. Oon Yang Hiang Chin D. Oon Ellie T S. Hiu D. Houston Jerry Heok Chye Koh D. Oon Siow Ngea Kob D. Oon Bob Kwai Sum Tang D. Oon Eddy Lim D. Houston Mark Seng Wah Lui D. Oon Ron C C Pang D. Oon Dieter Schroeder D. Oon Harry Tan Eng Kwang D. Oon Lim Char (Steven) Tiong D. Houston Richard T H Tng D. Oon Ken Wan Wong D. Oon Kenneth L. Y Wong SOUTHERN DIVISION D. Siddons Carol L. Almond G Rincon Douglas Anderson M Cissel Todd M Assini P Harrison Chad A. Auchard A. Standfield Donna S. Banks M Gardiner James E. Blanton H Hostetler Kim E Clark Tim othy J. Corrigan S Gothard W Sluice Greg C. Drysdale L. Sneed B. Gail Faubus M Bales James T Frederick B. Maxwell A. David Kossover R Keller Krister Anders Larsson Dan iel Mitchell Rencher IV G Cudahy M Kiser Reese F Rhem J. Kelly Weldon D. Rogers R Ru ssell Ronnie W Walters SOUTHWEST DIVISION T Barnes Eric M Mitchell K. Collins Benson Nelson Payne K. Collins David Matthew Rutherford C. Langd on James C Trestrail TEXAS DIVISION R Woods Shawn G Anderson P Soliz Anthony Chesak G Alexander Eric C Crowson P Soliz Jeffrey (Jeff) Pau l Jacobsen P Soliz Nobuko Kobayashi K. Foster Edmund A. Price P Soliz Robert R Rynearson Jr. P Soliz Frank C. Sanguinetti U.S. TERRITORIES AND CANADA T Kern Gary W. ngram

US PTA September Discount Program

'FOR USPTA MEMBERS ONLYI

Save 20¢ per dozen on Regular and Extra Duty tennis balls! Save 40¢ per dozen on Long Play!

All orders shipped and invoiced during September qualify for discounts.

Normal Price

Regular/Extra Duty Long Play

6-114 Dz $10.04/Dz $10.44/Dz

(24-456 Cans) $2.51/Can $2.61/Can

120-1194 Dz $9.96/Dz $10.36/Dz

(480-4776 Cans) $2.59/Can $2.59/Can

6-114 Dz $9.84/Dz $9.84/Dz

(24-456 Cans) $2.46/Can $2.46/Can

120-1194 Dz $9 76/Dz $9 76/Dz

(480-4776 Cans) $2.44/Can $2.44/Can

USPJA Discount Price

Regular/Extra Duty Long Play • Freieht:

Prepatd on 96 dozen (384 cans) tennis balls shipped at one time to one location.

Terms:

3% 30 days, 2% 60 days, Net 90 days.

In addition to the discounted price, Penn will also make a donation of 10¢ per dozen to your divisional USPT A office, and another 10¢ per dozen to the USPT A National Headquarters. These funds will be used to help support programs for your association. Take "Addvantage" of this offer today

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

• Discount good only on orders placed for shipment • : between September 1 and September 30, 1992 :

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

usp-,rll\

DON'T DELAY, ORDER NOW! • . OFFICIAL BALL CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-BUY-PENN 1-tlli 1/1'.\®

'T'!'

[Z].

15

Your body is thirsty even before you are.

Endurance athletes often experience fluid loss of more than 2 percent of body weight. A fluid loss that high can adversely affect judgment, aerobic efficiency reaction time, and speed.

Stay tough under pressure with Tough,. , Energy and Fluid-Replacement Drink.

Formulated for optimum performance, Tough Energy Drink is charged with GlucopoJ"' concentrate-a proven performance enhancer Tough energy and fluid replacement. It s something to think about.

Think Low-Osmolality Fluid Repla,emenl

During an event, the paramount concern for endurance athletes is fluid replacement.

But a fluid is not always as fluid as it may appear.

A true fluid-replacement drink should guarantee low osmolality A guarantee of low osmolality is a guarantee of fluid replacement.

And that s where Tough Energy Drink comes in. In single-strength concentration,* Tough Energy Drink is guaranteed to be less than 249 mOsm/1a crucial detail for a serious athlete! â&#x20AC;˘ Think Energy Enhan(emenl with Glu,ose Polymers

Tough Energy Drink is made with Glucopol concentrate-its 7 percent total carbohydrate is 5 percent from glucose polymers and 2 percent from fructose. Studies of endurance athletes indicate that this formulation is optimum for maximizing carbohydrate absorption without compromising fluid replacement.

The glucose polymers in Tough products are at high levels and are direct precursors for muscle glycogen, and the fructose helps

in the maintenance of normal liver

glycogen. Unlike muscle glycogen, liver

glycogen assists in maintaining

normal blood and brain-sugar levels. This

balanced approach helps sustain

physical and mental toughness throughout the day Tough Energy Drink is formulated for performance.

Think Like the ExpertsrM

Think like Dr Jack Groppel, sport scientist specializing in human performance.

Think like Dr James Loehr, sports psychologist for world-class athletes striving to achieve peak performance.

Think like. Peter J McLaughlin, peak-performance educator for athletes at all levels of experience and skill.

Athletes push themselves to achieve maximum performance, and their energy and fluid-replacement needs are very high. With that in mind, Tough products are used and recommended by sport-science experts, Dr Jack Groppel, Dr James Loehr and Peter J McLaughlin. Formulated in consultation with these experts, Tough products provide the right kinds of carbohydrate while ensuring optimum rehydration.

Look for Tough products, distributed by Solaray Inc., at finer independent health food stores.

â&#x20AC;˘ In triple-strength concentration, Tough Energy Drink is uniquely formulated to provide efficient carbohydrate loading.

USPTA National Convention has special interest meetings ~e

USPTA National Convention will offer more than tennis education and tournaments. Many committees will host annual meetings to determine their direction for 1993. n addition, other meetings will be held for members of special nterest groups. These nclude:

Women members' open meeting, 6-7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23 Head testers' meeting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24 Division executive directors/ secretaries meeting, 9-10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 25 Division treasurers' meeting, 9:45-11:45 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 26 Minority affairs ¡open forum, 10-11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 26

Y 0

U R

PARTICIPATION 18

Roundtable discussions will be held 7:30 8.30 a.m Friday, Sept. 25 with table leaders representing each committee or topic. All USPTA pros are nvited to join the discussion on the topic of their choice.

M nority affairs World Headquarters USPTA leagues USPTA tournaments USPTA politics Education Sports marketing Division concerns A daily schedule of events will be shown on closed circuit television n the hotel rooms of Loews Ventana Canyon Resort during the USPTA National Convention. o

Dates that rate

Specialty Courses Date Oct. 17 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Nov. 3 Nov. 7 Nov. 7-8 Nov. 14 Nov. 16

Course title Personal & Professional Development Sport Psychology Tennis Business Management 5 Keys to Tennis Group Lessons Skills Needed to Acquire Dream Jobs Quality Management Group Lessons

Location La Quinta, Calif Richmond Va. Richmond, Va. Nashville, Tenn .

Santa Maria, Calif Nashville, Tenn .

Farmington, Conn.

Los Gatos, Calif

Exams., upgrades and Certification Training Courses Oct. 3-4 Oct. 3-4 *Oct. 8 Oct. 10-11 Oct. 1718 Oct. 1718 Oct. 23-24 *Oct. 25-26 Oct. 29-30 Nov. 1-2 Nov. 5-6 Nov. 7-8 * Nov. 8 Nov. 8-9 * Nov. 12 Nov. 14-15 * Nov. 14;15 Nov. 15-16 Nov. 15-16 Nov. 20-21 Nov. 21-22 Nov. 22-23 * Nov. 22-23 Nov. 29-30 Dec. 3-4 Dec. 4-5 Dec. 4-5 * Dec. 4-5 Dec. 4-5 Dec. 5-6 Dec. 6-7 * Dec. 10 Dec. 12-13 Dec. 13-14

Ft. Washington , Pa. Goldsboro, N.C. Freeport, NY Oahu Hawaii Boca Raton , Fla. Detroit, Mich Bradenton , Fla. Austin , Texas Hot Springs, Ark. La Jolla, Calif Tampa, Fla. Nastilville, Tenn .

Redlands, Calif Santa Maria, Calif Freeport, NY Milwaukee, Wis. Portland , Ore. Oklahoma City, Okla.

Los Gatos, Calif Myrtle Beach S.C. Portland , Maine Mobile, Ala. Parker, Colo.

Atlanta, Ga. Lexington , Ky. Bloomington , Minn .

Gastonia, N.C. Kansas City, Kan. Naples, Fla. Birmingham , Ala. New Braunfels, Texas Freeport, NY Jackson, Miss.

Palm Desert, Calif

*exam or upgrade only

The above schedule of USPTA Certification Exams and courses is subject to chan!J)e. For more information, call the USPTA Membership Department at (713) 97-USPTA.

Conventions Date Nov. 4-8

Location Nashville, Tenn .

Division Southern

U SPfA Schools of Teachi:rig Date

Oct. 10-11 Nov. 13-15 Dec. 4-6 Dec. 6-7

School Business School USPTA Playing Schoql USPTA Playing Schoo.l School of Computers

Location Southfield, Mich .

Lauderhill, Fla. Hilton ¡Head Island, SD tiduston, Texas

Division meetings Date Oct. 2 Oct. 11 Oct. 21 Oct. 24-25 Nov. 5 Nov. 14-15 Nov. 15-16 Nov. 20 Dec. 4-5 Dec. 10 Dec. 11

City Grand Rapids, Mich Destin, Fla. Cincinnati Ohio Chicago, Ill. Kettering, Ohio West Covina, Calif Kansas City, Mo. East Lansing Mich Baltimore, Md .

Cincinnati Ohio Grand Rapids, Mich

Division Midwest Florida Midwest Midwest Midwest California Missouri Valley Midwest Middle Atlantic Midwest Midwest

National Convention education dates Date Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

Sept.

19-27 20 21 21 22 22 22 23 25 26 27 27

Event National Convention Specialty Course Specialty Course Specialty Course Specialty Course Specialty Course USTA Level Sport Science Exam Exam Exam Certification Training Course Exam Specialty Course

Description Strategy & Tactics Sports Physiology ncorporating System 5 into Lessons Competitive Doubles Patterns Nutrition Parts 1 and 2 Upgrade only, on-court portion Written portion only Half-day On-court portion only Tennis Business Management 19

10 lE NN~ S The 5 KEYS TO TENNISSMseries offers two books, a videotape (VHS and PAL formats) and an on-court accessory package for tennis players and tennis teachers of all ages and ability levels. It is a common language approach that simplifies and greatly enhances the learning process in sports, while allowing instructors to utilize their individual teaching styles.

8

The 5 KEYS TO TENNIS book introduces the reader to the 5 KEYS Mand the SYSTEM 51earning concept. The 5 KEYS TO TENNIS video presents the 5 KEYS in a full-color format utilizing live action coupled with 2-D and 3-0 animation.

The 5 KEYS TO TENNIS implementation manual is a "user's guide" companion to the book providing over 100 diagrams, illustrations, and implementations for the coach, teacher parent, or self-learner to effectively work with the 5 KEYS TO TENNIS. It is a "how to" approach compatible with any instructional program presented in an easy-to-use series of progressions. This is the ideal manual produced with the tennis teacher in mind!

The 5 KEYS TO TENNIS court package consists of 16-color-coded and numbered zone markers, 16 orange target markers, one adjustable and numbered height marker and one target window.

book. videotape. ~nanual and court package Retail price

Item

Discount

Discount

Price

Qty.

For quantity discounts call (713) 97-US PTA

Amount

The 5 Keys to Tennis book

$29.95

15%

$24.45

The 5 Keys Implementation manual

$19.95

15%

$16.95

The 5 Keys book & manual

$49.90

25%

$37.45

The 5 Keys to Tennis videotape (VHS)

$29.95

15%

$24.45

The 5 Keys to Tennis videotape (PAL)

$39.95

15%

$33.95

The 5 Keys book, manual and videotape (VHS)

$79.85

25%

$59.90

Name as It appears on credit card

The 5 Keys book, manual and videotape (PAL)

$89.85

25%

$67.40

Credit card#

System 5 court package

$180.00

SEND ORDER TO:

17% $150.00

USPTA Gift Shoppe, One USPTA Centre, 3535 Briarpark Dr., Houston, TX n042 TEL (713) 97-USPTA â&#x20AC;˘ FAX (713) 978-nso

PAYMENT METHOD:

D

VISA

D

MASTERCARD

D

CHECK

Exp. date

Signature

Subtotal Houston (MTA) residents add 8.25% tax other Texas residents add 7.25% tax Shipping and handling (book, videotape or manual) Shipping and handling (court package)

SHIPPING ADDRESS (No P.O. boxes, please): Name Address

To.tal order City

Shipping and handling charges

State

Zip

Phone (area code)

I

Books, tapes & manuals Court package Continental U.S., add $ 4.95 $ 10.95 Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada, add $10.95 $42.50 FOR INTERNATIONAL ORDERS, PLEASE ADD 40% OF TOTAL PURCHASE.

_Da~yt_im_e....:.p_ho_n_e_#_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M_em_b_e_ r #_ _ _ _ ____...:

Five ball conditioning drill Purpose: To practice footwork and stamina.

Place five balls on the baseline center marker. A student takes one ball at a time and runs to the first marked location, places the ball then returns to the group of balls and repeats the sequence until all five marked locations have a ball. The student then touches the center mark, runs to pick up each ball and returns it to the beginning spot.

Have the student try to complete the drill in less than 40 seconds.

For a competitive option , have a race between teams using both sides of the court .

Player movement

- - - = Ball movement

..

ApP.roach volley drill Purpose: To practice recognizing and executing a ball taken early to open the court, and singles positioning after crosscourt shot placements.

Players line up behind center of baseline.

The ball machine feeds the first ball to the player's forehand side. While on the move, the player takes the ball early and hits a crosscourt approach then follows up the crosscourt shot. The ball machine immediately delivers a second ball for a backhand volley placement crosscourt. The player quickly recovers to the right to prepare for a final passing shot attempt. The ball machine finishes the drill with a third ball to the player, who sharply angles a crosscourt forehand putaway. The sequence is repeated for the next player.

Options include varying the sequence to backhand approach , forehand volley and backhand volley. The instructor may choose to have a contest to place all three shots ¡past the service line.

Scott Pennington Hilton Head Island , S.C.

#1 ,3

t

~2

INDUSTRY ACTION 793-9200, or write to him at Camargo Racquet Club, 8215 Camargo Road , Cincin nati Ohio 45243.

US PTA • David J. Contois has been named director of tennis at Woodridge Lake Resort in Goshen, Conn. He is also the head tennisteaching professional at Pinewoods Health and Racquet Club in Torrington , Conn .

• Bill Bos was honored. with the National ntercollegiate Golf/Tennis Citizen Award for his work promoting tennis in the Dallas area.

• Hemel Meghani-Cosme is the tennis director and head professional at the new Central Park Tennis Center in New York. The center is a part of the City Park Foundation , a nonprofit organization that provides private support for the New York City parks. Proceeds from the Central Park Tennis Center will be used to fund the parks department's public tennis programs.

• The Camargo Racquet Club in Cincinnati Ohio, will host a pro-am on Nov. 14.

USPTA pros who are interested in playing in the eight-game round robin should register before Nov. 2 with Keith Haigh, (513)

USTA • The U.S. National Team members Brian Dunn, Pam Nelson, Chanda Rubin and Julie Steven reached the finals of their events at the 1992 Wimbledon Junior Championships. Rubin won the girls' singles crown , Dunn lost in the boys' singles finals to David Skoch of Czec hoslovakia, and Nelson and Steven lost n the girls' doubles finals to Maija Avontins and Lisa McShea of Australia.

• Save the dates! The 1992 United States Tennis Association Recreational Tennis Leadership Workshop will be held Nov. 6-8 at the Dallas/Fort Worth Hilton Executive Conference Center. Tennis leaders may learn the latest ideas on programming , developing community support, publicity and marketing.

J,ENNIS TUTOR TURNS EMPTY COURTS INTO SS Quickly Pays for Itself • $$for machine rental • $$for court rental

Use On Any Court • Portable • Rechargeable Battery

'

for FREE brochure 22

Associations • More than 300 wheelchair tennis players will participate in the 13th annual Everest and Jennings U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship. The tournament will be held Oct. 10-18 at the Racquet Club of rvine, Calif and is organized by the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis.

• Dick Schultz will speak during the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association's annual meeting , Oct. 24-27 at the Marriott Sawgrass Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach , Fla. Schultz is the executive director of the NCAA and will appear at an Oct. 26 brunch. To register for the SGMA meeting, call the SGMA at (407) 840-1140.

Manufacturers

USPTA USPTR DISCOUNTS

Calll-800-448-8867

For registration nformation write to: USTA Recreational Tennis Leadership Workshop, 707 Alexander Road , Princeton , N.J. 08540, or call (800) 223-0456.

• The 1992 USTA Tennis Facility Awards announced 11 winners for superior architectural design of a public tennis facility. The small facility category (four to 10 courts) winners are: Centennial Tennis, Wilmette, Ill. Incline Tennis Complex, ncline Village, Nev. Memorial Park Tennis Center, Boca Raton , Fla. and the Simpson Tennis Complex, Alton , Ill The large facility category (11 or more courts) winners are: The University of Illinois' Atkins Center, Champaign , Ill Burns Park Tennis Center, N Little Rock, Ark. La Cienega Park Tennis Center, Beverly Hills, Calif Mountain View Tennis Center, Phoeni x, Ariz. Paseo Racquet Center, Glendale, Ariz. and the Tim Korth Tennis Courts at St. Mary's College, Moraga, Cal if The Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University in New Haven , Conn was chosen as the best facility with permanent stadium seating and field courts.

The winning facilities received a wooden plaque, a sign for placement outside the facility and a free one-year USTA membership.

~SPORTS ~TUTOR 26 12 West Burbank Blvd.

Burbank . Ca liforn ia 9 1505

• Spalding Sports Worldwide has signed a multiyear contract with Billie Jean King and World TeamTennis. King will play with a Spalding Assault 110 racquet. Spalding was named the official racquet of five World TeamTennis professional teams and will support the recreational league program through special promotions.

• Head Sports Inc. introduced the Ventoris DS, the latest model in the injury-prevention IDS racquet series. The Ventoris DS features Head's integrated dampening system grip technology, a thinner cross section , high modulus graphite and Twaron racquet composition , dynamic string pattern , and the Head double power wedge design. It is available for $149.

• Will Shelley of Hartsville, S.C. is the first winner of the Dunlop Palmetto Championships Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes an incoming college freshman who participated in junior tennis in South Carolina.

Selection is based on scholarship, activities, leadership, honors, sportsmanship, character, tennis record , Palmetto Championships' record and an essay. Shelley will attend Furman University with the assistance of the scholarship, presented by Dunlop Slazenger Corporation.

• The Anatom Pro tennis shoe is now available from Head Sports Inc. The shoe differs from others because it has no midsole and includes an anatomically molded unit which fits inside the shoe. This unit combines a cushioning shock absorbent area that provides air circulation . The shoe wil l be available for delivery Sept. 1 and wi ll retail for $99.95.

• Dunlop Slazenger Corporation has announced the availability of Critters tennis balls. The Milliken tennis felt, which uses the Millitron dyeing process, creates unique, dynamic colored designs on these tennis balls. Regular production of the balls will begin in late fall1992. Consumers also may look forward to Jingle Bal ls appearing in holiday colors in November.

• The Technifibre official U.S. Open stringing te8Jll expects to top last year 's record of 1,829 racquets strung during the tournament. The eight-person team plans to average 14 hours of stringing each day and will use electronic stringing machines to shorten stringing time per racquet.

Professional • Vijay Armitraj was elected to a fourth consecutive term as president of the ATP Players Council. He is the only person to hold the title since the inception of the Tour in 1990. Tim Mayotte was elected vice president of the Players Council. Guy Forget, Emilio Sanchez, Martin Jaite, Paul Annacone, Nudka Odizor, Horacio de Ia Pena, John Sobel and Patrick Gailbraith also were elected to the council.

Miscellany • The book, Outstanding Wom~n Athletes, details the achievements of women athletes and how they influenced American

sports. The publication is a combination of biographies, history and statistics of 60 leading athletes from 19 sports. For more information, call (800) 279-0RYX. • The Phoenix Challenge/Love-50 National and World Championships will take place April 1118 at the Marriott's Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, Calif For more information, contact Bob Dacy at (602) 956-4238.

• The 75th annual Fiji Open Tennis Championships were held July 23-27 at the Denarau Tennis Club. The tournament attracted professional collegiate, club and national representative players from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

The Fiji Lawn Tennis Association hopes the ATP will sanction the tournament in 1993.

• A rematch of the Wimbledon semifinals match between Andre Agassi and John McEnroe will be held Sept. 19 at the America West Arena in Phoeni x, Ariz. For more information , call (602) 514-TENN • Stanford 's Alex O' Brien and Florida's Lisa Raymond are the Tennis magazine/Volvo Tennis College Players of the Year.

O'Brien and Raymond both won NCAA singles crowns and led their schools to team titles.

• The North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) will host the Sports Medicine Institute, a series of half-hour presentations by physicians specializing n shoulders, upper extremities and spines. During the two-day event , time will be allotted to visit sports medicine business booths. The program will be held Oct. 29-30 at the Amoco Building in Chicago. For more information , contact Betty Roth at (708) 420-4019.

• Dade County has been awarded permission to build a permanent stadium on Key Biscayne, Fla. for the Lipton tournament, the International Tennis Center and the USTA Player Development program.

Member product showcase • USPTA member Vic Braden has completed three new videos for tennis coaches and professionals. The Science and Myths of Tennis with Dr. Howard Brody and Vic Braden , Vic Braden Presents Women's Doubles, and Motor Learning and Tennis with Dr. Richard Schmidt and Vic Braden . n addition , The Biomechanics of Tennis with Dr. Gideon Ariel and Vic Braden and The Psychology of Tennis with Vic Braden are scheduled to be released later this year. Braden's fourth Sports Illustrated book, The Mental Game of Tennis will be released in spring of 1993.

For more information on these tapes, call the Vic Braden Col lege, open year-round , at (800) 42-COURT in California, call (800) CALL-VIC.

Pam Shriver, 1991 U.S. Open Doubles champion, uses PowerBars to raise and sustain her energy.

Fuel for Optimum Tennis "PowerBars are healthful, nutritious snacks that taste good, have almost no fat anq give me a sustained energy lift."

"I always have a couple in my tennis bag. I even eat them instead of airline food when I'm traveling."

-Pam Shriver At tennis and health food stores.

For your nearest dealer, call 800-444-5154

$1.69 each $35/box of 24 Protein: 10 g.

Fat: less than 2 g.

Carbohydrate: 40 g.

In Malt-Nut, Chocolate and Wild Berry flavors CJ992 Powerfood Inc.

23

65 years of USPTA

Celebrate

The Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, just outside of Tucson, Ariz., is the setting for the 1992 USPTAN ational Convention. Enjoy all the luxurious surroundings of this desert paradise while benefiting from a renown list of seminar speakers who will provide the latest information on tennis teaching and business skills for use in the 21st century. Join us for the USPTA National Championships, the Manufacturers' Exhibit Show and more than 100 hours of education. If you are interested in sharing a room, contact the USPTA World Headquarters for details at (713) 97-USPTA.

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"Tennis Excellence in Tucson"

It's not too late to register at the door.

Nmne ___________________________________________________________________ Address

------------------------------------------------------------------

City ------------------------------------- State _______Zip _________________ Phone (H) ( ___~) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (W) ( ____.) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Spou~hpou~equ~~n~nmne

Friend's name

______________________________________________~

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Division - - - - - - - - - - - - -

USPTA member#

Check applicable fees

Payment options:

D D D D

Member $180

Make check or money order payable to USPTA, OR charge my

Non-member $205

D

Spouse/spouse equivalent $100

Friend $180 Total fees enclosed- - - - -

Visa

Card#

D

MasterCard

------------------------------------

Exp. date _______Signature ___________________

(Spouse/spouse equivalent must register to receive special package of parties and products.)

L ______________B_r~g- ~~ 24

~~~~o_n_ t~-t~~ !l_s::~ _c_o~~~~t!~~ ~~~~~~~~~ _d_e~~¡-

___________ -¡ _

j

© 1992 Pe nn Racquet Sports

Recently, our competitors ran an ad

it for various lengths of time as a

ball has consistent dwell time, stiffness

touting some dubious claims of superi

way of calling out the characteristics of

and pliability.

ority. We say dubious partly because a

a felt ) Durability is important And

4.) BOUNCE All three balls in every

ball 's felt isn't the final measure of a

both our Pro Penn®and Championship

can have consistent bounce character-

ball 's playability. And partly because

balls are required to last 90 minutes in

istics : Again, we use both lab tests

tennis is not played inside an " a bras ibn

the box. But it is only through actual

as well as play-testing to ensure each

box," but on courts, and by people, not

play, or play-testing as we call it , that

Penn tennis ball has a dependable,

rotating paddles. Their ad asked you to

one can obtain a true measure of how

uniform bounce.

believe that their extra ten minutes in

a ball will wear

5.) SEAM Cracks, crooked seams, over-

an abrasion box makes for a better

2.) CONSISTENCY Our competi

extended seams with too much rubber

tor 's ad, interestingly, makes no prom

aren't just cosmetic problems , they affect

elusion that

ises about consistency arguably

the playability of a ball. So we monitor

we differ

an important part of a ball 's overall

our seams as well as play-test them

with whole

performance rating . At Penn , we do

under actual court conditions.

heartedly

make promises All our balls are

We befieve the true measure of a ball

Balls have

tested for consistent size in the lab,

isn't just durability. Like tennis, it's more

at least five

and then play-tested for consistency

complex. Durability is important. Con

character i s

on the court

sistency is important So are a ball's

tics that can affect how they play. Five

3.) FEEL How a ball feels against

bounce, feel , and seam . And they ' re

characteristics that make up a ball 's

your racquet and up through your arm

all characteristics you II find engi

Actual Court Performance (A.C.P'" ).

at impact as well as its " dwell time "

And it is by these measures that you

(the split second the ball spends

should choose a ball.

in contact with the racquet strings)

1.) DURABLE We should know about

thes e are all important characteristics

abrasion boxes. Penn invented them

of a ball 's overall .f eel. Longer dwell

back in 1955 to test the consistencies

time gives a player more control of

of different kinds of felt. (Basically,

the ball's spin , and more control of its

We think you II agree that at least

it's a box lined with sandpaper or a

speed and direction Penn balls are

one of the claims in our competitor's ad

hard rubber. A ball is batted about in

play-tested to ensure each and every

was true. " Not all balls are created equal."

Penn balls have to last 90 minwes

in abrasio;~b::,·;~~~~~:·,:;e:,~ c:7.~7. rhey have

Penn tennis

-=···L

balls-Piftftft

* Mcc1 s USTA spccificatil>ns.

You ·ve see n o ne.

You·ve see n th em a ll.

For more informalion.caiii-XOO-BUY-PEN .

BULK RATE U.S. POST AGE

Tennis ProfessioTWls

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