Addvantage 1993 June

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sweeter.

Sweet

Sweetest.

The New Prince Extender? The sweetest sweet spot in tennis.

The sweeter the sweet spot, the better your tennis.

Which is precisely why we developed the Prince Extender, the racquet with the sweetest sweet spot of any racquet available.

We took a conventional racquet and made a simple change that makes an extraordinary difference in performance: We made the strings longer, extending them into the throat of the racquet. This gives you a larger hitting

Prince. Exclusively Endorsed Racquet of U.S. Professional Tennis Assoc. © 1993 Prince Manufacturing, Inc.

area and increases the size of the sweet spot for more power and control. Then we made the racquet 20% lighter for superior maneuverability and quickness. The best part? It's all happening within a frame that's no bigger than that of a normal oversize racquet.

The Prince Extender. If it were any sweeter, it would give you a cavity.

prince

In Love With The Game™

The Trade Magazine of Men and Women Tennis-Teaching Professionals™

The Voice Of The Tennis Teaching Profession

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Gordon Collins First Vice President Dave Sivertson Vice Presidents Kathy Woods Cliff Drysdale Will Hoag Joe Thompson Secretary/Treasurer Kurt Kamperman Past President Jack Justice WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO Tim Heckler Director of Operations Rich Fanning Executive Assistant Marty Bostrom Coordinator of Tennis Allan Henry Teacher Development Communications Shawna Riley Coordinator

Volume 17 —Issues

June 1993

On the cover The Boca Raton Resort and Club, located in Boca Raton, Fla. will be the site for the 1993 USPTA National Convention. Forconvention information and registration forms, seethe information beginning on page 5.

SPECIAL SECTION The USPTA Education Manual: A Career Guide to Professionalism is published as excerpts in each issue of ADDvantage magazine. The pullout chapters bring more education information to members — free of charge. The insert in this issue begins Book II — Tennis Business Operations & Management. Multi pie topics are discussed in the manual, including business plans, career development and many other subjects to helptennis professionals maintain the highest level of education.

In this edition. . .

Book II — Tennis Business Operations & Management Chapter 1 Stringing establishes a profitable second income

by Drew Sunderlin

Communications Gayden Cooper Marketing/Business John Tamborello Operations , Magazine Coordinator Donna Banse Sports Marketing Karen Unger Coordinator Corporate Services Christl Call Manager Secretary Dale Henry Computer Services and Kathy Buchanan Club Relations

FEATURES 5 6 7 7 9

Education Coordinator Susan A. Thompson Membership/Education Sharon Schmuck Assistant Membership/Education Karen Mahon Assistant Membership/Education Vicky Tristan Assistant Financial Manager Renee Heckler Bookkeeper Betty Phillips

10 11 12 13 15

Receptionist Kelty Anthony Director of Certification George Bacso and Academies Co-Director of Academies Bill Tym Advertising/Marketing Phone (713) 97-USPTA Information LEGAL COUNSEL Attorney-at-Law Paul Waldman 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: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time.

Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 1993. All rights reserved.

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

16 16 18 19 21

Convention features free Specialty Courses for pre-registrants 1993 National Convention registration form USPTA Playing School set for July 16-18 1993 convention hotel registration form USPTA's championship tournaments offer great tennis action for all ages 1993 USPTA National Championships registration form 1993 USPTA National TeamTennis Championships registration form School of Tennis Teaching analyzes instruction styles Specialty Course videos available for education credit Canadian team wins seniors World Championships at Phoenix Challenge Mexican tennis officials visit courts at World Headquarters USPTA pros pass USTA exams World Headquarters hosts first mid-year Executive Committee meeting Proposed slate of 1993-94 National Board of Directors Pro Penn quarterly discounts

DEPARTMENTS 3 President's message Daily marketing efforts make a difference in the job market 4 CEO's message Great things can be achieved if 6 Letters 20 Dates that rate 22 Industry action ADDvantage June 1993

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE nm IV^MML. DV/nnu \sr L/intVri V-TIO GORDON COLLINS President (408) 395-7111

KATHY WOODS Vice President (305) 361-9819

WILL HOAG Vice President (305) 564-1271

KURT KAMPERMAN Secretary-Treasurer (803) 842-1893

DAVE SIVERTSON First Vice President (512) 453-7246

CLIFF DRYSDALE Vice President (919) 256-6735

JOE THOMPSON Vice President (303) 278-1130

JACK JUSTICE Past President (803) 642-7171

niXAIQIOM UIVIOIwH rC'RESIDENTS

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f*F AND REGIONAL VIVxC

PFIFQIRFMTQ r riColUClN Id

CALIFORNIA DIVISION MARK HIRTLER President (714) 979-7126 DON GOMSI Regional Vice President (714) 792-4829

MIDDLE STATES DIVISION LARRY HAMPTON President (215) 459-0173 BECKY DESMOND Regional Vice President (215) 269-8037

PACIFIC NORTHWEST DIVISION TED WATSON President (206) 292-0473 SUSIE HUNT MORAN Regional Vice President (206) 256-1510

EASTERN DIVISION KAY KONOVE President (914) 762-7102 GORDON KENT Regional Vice President (212) 293-2386

MIDWEST DIVISION TOM GRAY President (313) 652-1500 MIKE OWENS Regional Vice President (517) 337-0002

SAN DIEGO DIVISION ANGEL LOPEZ President (619) 275-3270 BILL BOND Regional Vice President (619) 454-7126

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 JAIME VARGAS Regional Vice President (314) 449-1332

HAWAII DIVISION BERNARD J. GUSMAN President (808) 946-2951 DAVID PORTER Regional Vice President (808) 293-3755

NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DAVE FLEURY President (207) 846-3675 TOWNSEND GILBERT Regional Vice President (802) 479-3174

INTERMOUNTAIN DIVISION DOUG SCHOELZEL President (303) 790-7777 JOE EDLES Regional Vice President (303) 985-3240

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION BILL RAPP President (415) 364-6272

MIDDLE ATLANTIC DIVISION TED MEYER President (804) 320-3244 FRANK HATTEN Regional Vice President (301) 469-6286

2

N

ADDvantage June 1993

JIM MCLENNAN

Regional Vice President (415) 948-1656 NORTHWEST DIVISION TIM BURKE President (612) 926-4408 STEVE WILKINSON Regional Vice President (507) 931-1614

SOUTHERN DIVISION GREG GROVER President (404) 394-2628 FRED BURDICK Regional Vice President (404) 832-6570 SOUTHWEST DIVISION TOM BREECE President (602) 991-1414 MIKE MORSE Regional Vice President (602) 622-7310 TEXAS DIVISION RANDY MATTINGLEY President (817) 732-3303 RON WOODS Regional Vice President (512) 991-7561 ROD DULANY Past President (1990) (703) 524-3227 JIM REFFKIN Past President (1988) (602) 791-4896 MIKE EIKENBERRY Past President (1986) (703) 893-4428

•<

President's message

Daily marketing efforts make a difference in the job market Gordon Collins, President J_n order for tennis professionals to position themselves for career advancement at a club or facility, or to relocate to a new job, they need to start the process well before they are actively searching. In reality, every day should be treated as the final interview.

Many job openings at clubs and facilities are filled before pros ever hear about them, believe more and more clubs and facilities are conducting informal job interviews on a continuous basis. By 'informal job interviews, I mean actively watching and recruiting future personnel. A tennis professional is one of the club's most important assets, and savvy club owners, managers

A tennis professional is one of the club's most important assets, and savvy club owners, managers and tennis committee members always have their eyes open to possibilities.

and tennis committee members always have their eyes open to possibilities. The following points hopefully will prepare USPTA pros for this transition.

Tennis pros should treat every person they meet as a potential employer. It is extremely difficult to obtain an accurate picture of an employee's background just by asking a former or current employer and looking at his/her employment history.

Current laws put a damper on frank disclosure of an employee's job performance.

Since formal interview processes can be costly and time consuming, a tennis pro's day-to-day reputation must speak clearly for him or her.

If pros treat everyone they meet with kindness, courtesy and care, the odds multiply that a potential employer will hear about them.

These apostles of the tennis pro will spread the word about how he or she is such a terrific professional which will enhance greatly the pro's chances of obtaining a new position.

Professionals should take pride in every aspect of their jobs. A professional's duties in the tennis industry are very diverse, such as teaching lessons, directing pro shops, overseeing maintenance, staffing, financial accountability and programming for facilities. Every one of these aspects should speak highly of a pro's abilities. For example, if a professional provides a high-quality lesson program, but overlooks some responsibilities in staffing or facility maintenance, it will reflect directly on the pro. Positive traits and shortcomings are noticed and talked about by tennis enthusiasts every day. Just as for professional tennis players, tennisteaching professionals can't afford to have

a weakness in their game. Prospective employers might prioritize job duties differently than a tennis pro, so we must be certain that we perform all duties well!

Just as for professional tennis players, tennis-teaching professionals can't afford to have a weakness in their game.

This is just one area where USPTA's Continuing Education Program, which offers hundreds of education opportunities throughout the country, can help to enhance a pro's ability and career. Review strengths and weaknesses on an ongoing basis, and then prepare a game plan on how to become a complete professional One of USPTA's main goals is to upgrade the image of members through the Continuing Education Program, which will enable members to improve skills and perform at a higher level.

USPTA certainly appreciates members' efforts, and encourages professionals to communicate with the Executive Committee and World Headquarters staff on ways to provide a better educational program.ÂŽ ADDvantage June 1993

3

CEO's message

Great things can be achieved if.

At has been said that, 'Great things can be achieved today, if you don't care who gets the credit. Unfortunately, this does not hold true when it comes to public relations and marketing efforts.

Over the years, USPTA has done many notable deeds that have never received full credit in the eyes of its membership or the public. often complain that our best members and administrators are so busy doing good deeds for the sport that they forget to publicize'themselves or the deeds.

In this respect, have occasionally referred to two of USPTA's most notable examples, George Bacso and Bill Tym, who certainly are among the greatest tennis educators of our time. While, I am sure they have had aspirations over the years to promote their own fame and fortune, they have been caught up with the overriding and sincere desire to teach the game to others. When it came time to take credit for their efforts, it seems that there was never any time left.

Indira Gandhi once said, "My grandfather always told me that there were two types of people in the world those who work hard to do good deeds and those who take credit for them. He said should always strive to belong to the first group since there was far less competition there.

While praiseworthy, fear this humble approach has at times impeded the fortunes of some of our great members, as well as the Association in general. Yet, to do it any differently would perhaps be a contradiction of our basic behavior.

Regardless, in these times of economic malaise, it is important for the cream to rise to the top. USPTA members are recognized worldwide as business professionals both on and off the court. Our strict certification standards, mandatory continuing education program sports marketing campaigns, involvement with other industry organizations and broad-based membership services have earned the Association and its members the greatest respect. Yet, while always evident to industry insiders, these attributes have been ADDvantage June 1993

some of the best kept secrets from the tennis consumer and the general public.

It is time for all USPTA members to be openly proud of their accomplishments and promote their genuine interest in improving and increasing the participation in our great sport.

This year marks a new approach to our public relations efforts. Our PR Committee, headed by USPTA's First Vice President Dave Sivertson and Secretary/Treasurer Kurt Kamperman, plans to infiltrate the grassroots of the industry with a network of public relations efforts designed to improve the image and economic well-being of USPTA professionals.

Below is a list of just some of the projects with public relations value that were completed from January 1 to May 14. They include USPTA exposure through show attendance, presentations, editorial and advertising placements and many other activities: • Contact Point The first issue of USPTA's newsletter Contact Point was produced and distributed to all national club owners and managers.

• New promotional brochures Five attractive brochures were produced to provide information on USPTA and its programs.

• The Super Show USPTA had three booths in two prime locations.

• Tennis Industry Association Forum USPTA received publicity through promotions related to the forum and generated stronger recognition among industry leaders in attendance.

• Scholarships to Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy n cooperation with NBTA, USPTA arranged for two scholarships to be given to the American Tennis Association for players to train for free at Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy camps.

• USPTA Membership Directory • Education credit report cards

Tim Heckler, CEO USPTA Adult Tennis League and Texas Division Championships USPTA ranking certificates Advertising in Tennis magazine Editorial in Tennis Industry magazine I was invited to write an editorial for the June issue of Tennis Industry.

International Tennis Teachers Championships USPTA members competed during the event, which was held in conjunction with The Lipton Championships. We received publicity in an article in Tennis magazine about The Lipton.

Public relations slide presentation: An Introduction to USPTA A four-color slide presentation was produced and is available to USPTA officials to help standardize presentations with factual nformation about our organization.

USPTA and the fight against AIDS Across America Tennis Day The fourth annual event involved more than 2,200 tennis-teaching professionals who held nationwide free clinics and 50 multicultural coast-to-coast clinics. The multicultural finale was held at the White House tennis courts for the third year.

Creation of PR Network at local level USPTA has identified more than 100 local public relations liaisons at the metropolitan level. These people will ensure that USPTA events, programs and members gain the most publicity possible in their respective areas. This portion of the network, along with national and regional representatives, will disseminate USPTA information at the national regional and local levels.

Convention features free Specialty Courses for pre-registrants

E

lach year, USPTA hosts a national convention that is deemed the tennis event of the year by teaching professionals, and 1993 is no exception.

The 66th annual USPTA National Convention will be held Sept. 18-26 at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Fla. The 1989 National Convention was held at the same facility, so this year's convention has the appropriate theme of "Back to Beaches, Backhands and Boca."

Since the focus of the convention is on educating members, USPTA will offer 18 shortened Specialty Courses to convention attendees, along with a Certification Training Course, certification testing and upgrading opportunities.

Each Specialty Course has been condensed (from the normal length of eight hours to four hours) to accommodate the convention schedule. The shortened courses will be worth two credits in the Continuing Education Program instead of the usual three points for eight hours.

The Specialty Courses offered at the convention include: USTA Tournament Referee Training, Stress Management, Time Management, Motor Learning/ Sports Psychology, Nutrition/Sports Physiology, Singles Strategy, Doubles Strategy, Sports Medicine and Biomechanics, Tips on Becoming a Master Pro, Tournament Management, System 5 Drills, Drills for all Levels, Business Management I, and Business Management II This year, a Spanish module, consisting of Specialty Courses and seminars given in Spanish, will be available. Specialty Courses that will be held are: Skills Needed to Acquire "Dream Jobs," Group Lessons, Team Drills, and Strategy and Tactics.

All Specialty Courses will be offered free of charge to those who pre-register for both the convention and the Specialty Courses.

Convention participants must preregister to attend a Specialty Course; registering only for the National Convention does not guarantee a seat in a specific course. To register for a Specialty Course, contact the World Headquarters Membership Department at (713) 97-USPTA by Aug. 17 In addition to the Specialty Courses, many of the world's top speakers will conduct seminars on topics such as methods and

The Cloister at the Boca Raton Resort and Club when viewed from the Intracoastal Waterway.

motivation, sport science, coaching and equipment, pro shop management, and business and career development. By attending these seminars, members can earn a total of eight credits that count toward the Continuing Education Program.

The USPTA National Tennis Buying Show, to be held Sept. 22-23, will allow attendees to view the latest merchandise from tennis manufacturers and retailers. Pros and other buyers may place orders for merchandise at that time.

USPTA members may register for the National Convention by completing the registration form on page 6. The conven tion fee is $190 for USPTA members, if the form is received at the World Headquarters before Aug. 17 Members who return the registration form after Aug. 17 will incur a $20 late fee. Remember that spouses and friends also are welcome to attend the convention, and must register to receive the special package of parties, products and seminars.

The Boca Raton Resort and Club, consisting of more than 900 guest rooms and 34 tennis courts, is recognized as a Mobil Five-Star Resort and an AAA Five Diamond Resort. The resort's amenities include two 18-hole golf courses, several pools, fitness centers, a private beach, a fullservice marina and a variety of water sports.

The resort is handling all hotel reservations for USPTA members, with room rates set at $89 per night for a single or double room.

Simply complete the hotel reservation form on page 7 of the magazine and return to the resort no later than Aug. 18.

For information on sharing a room, call the World Headquarters for a list of members who also are looking to share rooms. All convention attendees are responsible for making their own room reservations.

Discounts on airfare and car rentals are available through USPTA's travel agency, Superior International Services (SIS). Contact SIS for more information on airfare and rental cars at (800) 338-6996, and be certain to state you are a USPTA member to receive discounts. <o>

Register now for Specialty Courses Ail Specialty Courses will be offered free of charge to those members who pre-register for both the convention and the Specialty Courses. Convention participants must pre-register to attend a Specialty Course; registering only for the National Convention does not guarantee a seat in a specific course. To register for a Specialty Course, contact the World Headquarters Membership Department at (713) 97-USPTA by Aug. 17.

ADDvantage June 1993

LETTE Arthur and me

by Paul R. Waldman USPTA General Counsel Editor's note: Paul Wa/dman submitted the following personal anecdote about meeting Arthur Ashe.

At seems that every very important person in the tennis world has, at one time or another, met Arthur Ashe. am no exception. While the result of our meeting did not change the course of tennis history, it did illustrate one or two traits of this unique man's character and thus might be worth recording.

That our meeting wasted, perhaps, some valuable time was my fault. At the outset, must say that I- have a policy, which is that when you do not know a person, you do not

address him by his or her first name. And, in my opinion, this particularly applies to a well-known person, figure that it must gall a well-known person to be bombarded hour after hour, day after day by his first name by people he has never met or only known in a perfunctory way.

So when Arthur Ashe entered the USPTA Board of Directors meeting at Hilton Head a few years ago, was prepared. For a while, heard the usual "Arthur' this and 'Arthur' that from the assembled Board members.

Now let me pause to say that they were all entitled they had met him previously at the various mportant meetings and gettogethers throughout the world that Board members are privileged to attend.

But I, as a mere lawyer, had never met him.

Thus, when was finally introduced as USPTA general counsel, my first words were "Do you mind if call you Arthur?' Somewhat surprised by the question, he answered 'No, not at all. I did not wish to drop it there,

though, then said If can call you Arthur, why don't you call me Paul?" By now, he may have felt that the formalities were sufficiently taken care of or he wearied of my particular game. Anyhow, he then replied, 'Sure. You know, we are starting to sound a little like Simon and Garfunkel. was smart enough to let it go.

We then finally got to the substance of our conversation, and he said one further thing that has remained in my mind. We were talking about jobs for minority professionals at tennis clubs, asked him why the NAACP did not take an appealing case of job discrimination and help the professional sue the offending club a sort of Brown v.

Board of Education for the minority tennis professional His reply was to the effect that the NAACP had its particular areas of interest and apparently jobs for tennis teachers was not one of them, repeat nothing earthshaking but calm, intelligent and not playing to the gallery.

Unfortunately, at that point my time with Arthur ran out. would like to have continued, feeling that had found a person to talk to who had a sense of humor, was intelligent and had the rare quality of intellectual honesty, never did have a chance to talk to him again. <o>

This Form must be completed for convention registration, fill registrations received after flug. 17 will incur an additional $20 late fee.

Celebrate 66 yCOrS of USPTR toUSPTfl National Convention â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sept. 1 8-26, 1 993 USPTfl member #.

Division

NamŠ flddress

State

City Phone (H) (_

.Zip.

(W) C

Spouse/spouse equivalent's name USPTA National Convention Sept. 18-26, 1993

Friend's name Check applicable fees

Payment options:

D Member$ 90 D Non-member $2 5 D Spouse/spouse equivalent $ 00 D friend $190 Total fees enclosed

Make check or money order payable to USPTfl, OR charge my I I Visa I I MasterCard

Name printed on credit card

Card#

_Signature_ Cxp. date_ (Spouse/spouse equivalent must register to receive special pachage of parties and products.) i Return with payment to: USPTfl World Headquarters, One USPTfl Centre, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Houston, TX 77042

ADDvantage June 1993

HOTEL ROOM RESERVATION (This Form must be used For reservations)

USPT4 Playing School set for July 16-18 it's not too late to register for the USPTA Playing School to be held July 16-18 at the Maywood Tennis Club, 2630 W. Passaic St. May wood, N.J. The Playing School, led by Ron Holmberg, will discuss tips for the overhead, lob, drop shot, passing and approach shots, techniques for serves, volleys and groundstrokes.

The cost of the school is $225 for USPTA members and $300 for non-members. The deadline to register is July 2. Members who attend the school will receive six credits toward the Continuing Education Program Holmberg is a USPTA'Master Professional and a member of the ATP Tour, the USTA and' the Eastern Tennis Association Hall of Fame.

He directs junior development programs, corporate outings and pro/celebrity tournaments.

For registration information, contact the USPTA World Headquarters at (713) 97-USPTA. c

Playing school agenda Day one Warm-up with drill on court Basic demonstrations by instructors Videotape players' groundstrokes Review of videotape in "skull session' Day two Return of serve Approach shots Passing shots Lobs Overheads Dropshots Doubles play Free play Day three Use the covered points in singles strategy Play pressure points Course overview 9-point, tiebreaker tournament

Please complete this form and return it to Boca Raton Resort and Club no later than Rugust 18, 1993: Send to:

Boca Raton Resort and Club 501 C. Camino Real Boca Raton, FL 33432 (407) 395-3000 (800) 327-0 0

Conference:

USPTfl National Convention Sept. 18-26, 1993 flrrival date: Departure date:.

Last name (print legibly)

First nams

Street City

State

Zip

(Rrea code) Telephone

Please indicate choice of accommodations, fll rates are European plan (no meals included) Rooms: Rates:

D $89 Single hotel room D $89 Double hotel room

D D D D

Cloister Tomer Villa Beach Club

Third party in any room is $15 per day. Rollaiuay beds are available upon request. Number of rollauuays .

Deposit:

D Check

D Credit card-

D flmC-x D MC

D VISfl

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Name printed on card

fluthorization signature

General Information •

Rll reservation requests must be received by Rugust 18,1993. Requests received after this date, or for dates other than the main conference period, mill be accepted on a space-available basis only.

•

Please include one night's room revenue as a deposit (in the form of credit card number or check) which mill hold your room until 2 a.m. of the day follouuing your scheduled arrival date. Upon arrival, the deposit uuill be applied to the last confirmed night of the reser vation. In the event of your early departure, the deposit is non-refundable, unless the hotel is notified prior to, or at, the time of check-in.

Check-in time is after 3 p.m. — Check-out time is noon.

I Cancellation notice of 7 days is required for a refund. Carly departure mill result in forfeiture of deposit. UUhen canceling or changing your reservation by telephone, be sure to obtain a cancellation or confirmation number Iflpplicablesales taxes mill be added to room rates and service charges.

•

The hotel mill make every effort to honor requests for specific types and locations of rooms. Homever on occasions when such requests cannot be met, the hotel reserves the right to provide alternate accommodations.

ADDvantage June 1993

7

TENNIS FOOIWE

OLOGYJU

TSTEP

The new Asahi Intrepid'

SAHI BONES LAT-TRAC. The first andonly forefoot suspension system designed for the lateral motion footwork of tennis. 33 independent Asahi Bones traction pads react individually to the pressure and pivot motion of your foot during play. The traction is outstanding. You've never felt so sure footed on any court surface. For a look at the new Intrepid with Lat-Trac and the entire line of Asahi performance tennis footwear, see the Asahi dealer nearest you. Or call 1-800-334-8737 for information.

Asahi Bones Lat-Trac combines our unique Asahi Bones sole design with an exclusive forefoot suspension system* to provide unparalleled lateral traction.

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The official shoe of the United States Professional Tennis Association.

USPTA's championship tournaments offer great tennis action for all ages

A

.Ithough the USPTA National Convention centers around education and -professional development, there also is plenty of exciting tennis action for pros and spectators alike at three USPTA tournaments held during the event.

The National Championships, presented

by Prince Racquet Sports and beginning Sept. 18, offer singles and doubles tournament action in 12 men's and 10 women's categories for a variety of age groups. This year, a wheelchair division has been added, with competition in singles and doubles categories for men and women.

The National TeamTennis Championships, scheduled Sept. 23-25, offer USPTA divisions a chance to compete for the rights to the 1993 championship title. Senior players also have an opportunity to compete in the TeamTennis competition in a doubles-only, regular draw, single-elimination tournament, which is held as part of the TeamTenn s Championships.

Many former USPTA tournament champions are expected to participate in the National Championship tournament, which offers $20,000 in prize money. In the men's competition, Mark Fairchilds, 1992 men's open National Champion and Brian Joelson, winner of the 1993 ITTC men's title, are expected to compete in the tournament, said Will Hoag, national Tournament Committee chairman.

The clay courts at Boca Raton will favor those players whose games are suited for a clay surface, such as Joelson, Hoag said.

Other top USPTA pros such as Young Min Kwon, 1991 National Champion; and Pat Serret, a member of the National Champion doubles team in 1989, 1990 and 1991 also are anticipated to participate, Hoag said.

On the women's side, Pamela CasaleTelford, 1993 ITTC women's open champion, and defending National Champion Jami Yonekura are expected to compete, along with Kim Barry, the National Champion in 1990 and 1991 To register for the National Championships,

complete the registration form on page 10.

Besides the National Championships, the National TeamTennis Championsh ps, presented by Ultra Slim-Fast, offer $5,000 in prize money and consists of two doublesonly divisional team tournaments, one for open competition and one for senior team competition.

The doubles-only tournament follows the Ultra Slim-Fast TeamTennis format. Each division team consists of two men's doubles, one women's doubles, one mixed doubles and one men's 35 doubles. The TeamTennis Championships will use eight-game pro set (no-ad scoring) with a tie breaker at seven games all, and teams may substitute as desired.

The National TeamTennis Championships offer camaraderie for participants and divisions, and team members really play for pride, Hoag said.

Because of the new rule which allows teams to substitute freely, a smaller division now is able to compete with a larger division for the title.

Senior players are able to compete in the Senior TeamTennis competition. Divisions will designate two doubles teams in each category women's 35, women's 45, men's 45, men's 55 and men's 65.

The older members of USPTA participate in the national tournaments for pride and also for the thrill of competition, Hoag said.

'Since USPTA has added more age categories, more members are participating and the older draws are filling up.

To register for the TeamTennis Championships or the Senior's Championships, complete the registration form on page 11 The National Championships offer tennis competition for each member, so make plans to participate as a competitor or a spectator.

For more information about the National Championships, or the National TeamTennis Championships, contact the World Headquarters at (713) 97-USPTA. ÂŽ

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ADDvantage June 1993

1993 USPTA National Championships What: Singles and doubles competition, open and age categories When: Sept. 18-22. Starting times for first-round singles matches will be mailed Sept. 1 Where: Boca Raton Resort and Club, Boca Raton, Fla. Surface: clay court Prize money: $20,000, number of entries affect distribution Individual entry fees: $50/singles, $20/doubles. Tournament players also must register for National Convention; tournament and convention fees must be paid separately (see convention registration form, page 6) Singles entry and fees deadline, Aug. 17 Doubles may register at tournament site, preregistration encouraged.

Match scoring: Regular match scoring, two of three tie-breaker sets.

Rules: USTA. 15-minute default rule in effect. Players allowed minimum hour rest between singles matches, 30 minutes between singles and doubles matches or two doubles matches.

Dress code: Proper tennis attire. No T-shirts, tank tops or Capri tights.

Player eligibility: Current USPTA members in good standing who preregisterfor National Convention. All membership requirements must be completed by June 17 to allow for grading exam and processing application. USPTA will not be held responsible by any individual or division if entry is not accepted due to not fulfilling requirements before the 60-day deadline.

Player/event regulations: Each eligible player is limited to one singles and one doubles event. An event is two players or teams competing Men's open limited to a 128-draw Events may use block seeding, depending on size and strength of draw Mixed doubles rule: Players eliminated from, or not entered in, regular doubles play may enter mixed doubles. While limiting each player to two events, this enables players to avoid choosing between two events.

Tentative starting schedule: Sept. 18, time TBA — start MOS, M35S. Sept. 19, 9 a.m. — Start WOS. Noon — Sign up ends MOD, M35D, WOD 3 p.m. — Start M40S, MOD, M35D, WOD. Sept. 20, 9 a.m. — Start remainder men's singles and W35S. Noon — Sign-up ends, remainder men's doubles, W35D, MXD. 3 p.m. — Start remainder men's doubles, W35D 5p.m.— Start MXD. Sept. 21, 9 a.m. — start all other women's singles. Noon — Sign-up ends, all other women's doubles.

3 p.m. — Start all other women's doubles.

This schedule may change as a draw increases. Players are advised to arrive one day before scheduled first match.

Tournament staff: Will Hoag, national Tournament Committee chairman; Frank Kelly tournament director' Kathy O'Neal and Gary Scanlon, Tournament Committee.

Ranking Name Street Citv Phone# f Birthdate USPTA# Doubles partner Birthdate Mixed doubles partner Birthdate

D ATP/WTA.

State

Zip

D USPTA_

D USTA sectional

) SS#

D USTA national _

USTA#

D State D W/L record.

SS#

Attach past and present ranking information if needed.

SS#.

Note: Each player is limited to one singles and one doubles or mixed doubles event.

I, , hereby release the United States Professional Tennis Association, its officers, directors and employees, including those of the USPTA divisions and tournament sponsors, from any and all liability for injury to me, including illness, resulting from my participation in the USPTA National Championships. I assume all risks inherent in my participation.

Singles $50 $ Doubles $20 /person $ Total enclosed $.

M45S M50S M55S M60S M65S M70S M75S M80S M85S

MOD M35D M40D M45D M50D M55D M60D M65D M70D M75D M80D M85D

Women's WOS

D D D

W50S

n n D D

W35S W40S W45S W55S W60S W65S W70S W75S

n n n n n n n n n n

WOD W35D W40D W45D W50D W55D W60D W65D W70D W75D

Wheelchair D

MOS

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Signed:

ADDvantage June 1993

M40S

•n n n n n n n n n n n n

D MIXED DOUBLES

Mail this entry, along with your payment, to: USPTA National Championships One USPTA Centre • 3535 Briarpark Drive • Houston, TX 77042 10

MOS M35S

D D D

Entry deadline Aug. 17, 1993

Date:

D D D D D D D D D D D D

D

MOD

n WOD

1993 USPTA National TeamTennis Championships presented by Ultra Slim-Fast What: Two doubles-only divisional team tournaments, one for open and one for senior team competition.

When: Sept. 23-25 (to Sept. 26 if rain), starts 1 p.m. daily Where: Boca Raton Resort and Club, Boca Raton, Fla., with contingency for matches elsewhere.

Surface: Clay courts.

Prize money: $5,000 for both tournaments.

Entry fees: Open competition paid by division; senior competition is $20/doubles team paid by individuals. All tournament players must register for convention. Tournament and convention registration fees are paid separately (see convention registration form on page 6). Divisions have until Aug. 17 to submit fees and the number of teams entered into open division. Senior teams send entries and fees to World Headquarters by Aug. 17 Deadline is Sept. 21 at tournament meeting for senior entries and final open rosters.

Open TeamTennis format: Doubles-only 32-draw, Ultra Slim-Fast TeamTennis format. Each division team consists of two men's doubles, one women's doubles, one mixed doubles and one men's 35 doubles. Match scoring: Eight-game pro set (no-ad scoring) with tiebreaker at seven games all. Each division allowed two teams and may substitute as desired. Substitutes play only on one team. If incomplete draw divisions may enter more teams, which are placed in a lottery to draw for bye(s).

Senior TeamTennis format: Doubles-only regular draw, single-elimination. Divisions designate (for scoring points) two doubles teams in each category women's 35, women's 45, o men's 45, men's 55, men's 65.

Eight-game, pro set match scoring, with tiebreaker at seven games all. Team scoring: 2 points for main draw wins. All teams may enter tournament, but only teams chosen by divisions may earn points.

Each team must have players from same division.

Rules: USTA, 15-minute default, senior event players allowed minimum 30-minute rest between matches.

On-court dress code: Proper tennis attire, no T-shirts, tank tops or Capri tights.

Player eligibility: Limited to current USPTA members in good standing who have preregistered for the National Convention. All membership requirements must be fulfilled and submitted before June 17 USPTA is not responsible for not accepting an individual based on these requirements not being fulfilled by June 17 Each division selects team members, and USPTA's governing body requires that members compete only for divisions in which they physically reside. When a member moves to another division after June 21 the member may compete for either division. Members must compete for the new division if they move before June 21 Tournament meeting: 6 p.m., Sept. 21 Boca Raton Resort and Club (meeting room TBA), for team captains and divisional presidents.

Topics — seeding, draws, rules, guidelines.

Tournament staff: Will Hoag, national Tournament Committee chair- Frank Kelly, tournament director; Kathy O'Neal, Gary Scanlon, Tournament Committee.

Ranking

Senior Team Entry

Men's

D USPTA.

Name: Street Citv Phone# ( Birthdate USPTA# USPTA Division Doubles partner Birthdate

D M45D D M55D D M65D

D USTA sectional.

State

Zip

) SS# USTA#

D USTA national .

Women's

D State D W/L record Attach past and present ranking information, if needed.

D W35D D W45D

SS#

I, , hereby release the United States Professional Tennis Association, its officers, directors and employees, including those of the USPTA divisions and tournament sponsors, from any and all liability for injury to me, including illness, resulting from my participation in the USPTA National TeamTennis Championships, assume all risks inherent in my participation.

$20 /doubles team

Entry deadline Aug. 17, 1993

Date:

Signed: Mail this entry, along with your payment, to USPTA National TeamTennis Championships One USPTA Centre • 3535 Briarpark Drive • Houston, TX 77042 ADDvantage June 1993

School of Tennis Teaching analyzes instruction styles .ennis teaching professionals throughout the world have one common objective where students are concerned making them better players. USPTA's School of Tennis Teaching improves a pro's teaching style by evaluating different teaching philosophies, diagnosing various problems students encounter, and suggesting corrective methods.

The School of Tennis Teaching will be held Aug. 14-15 at the Maywood Tennis Club, 2630 W. Passaic St. Maywood, N.J. The cost of the two-day school is $150 for USPTA members and $225 for non-members.

George Bacso, USPTA's director of certification and academies, will teach the school To register for the School of Tennis Teaching, contact the World Headquarters

at (713) 97-USPTA by July 26. The school is worth six credits in USPTA's Continuing Education Program The school begins with a historical look at the early years of tennis and the progressions of playing styles. Discussions will include various teaching styles, corrective techniques, use of teaching aids, videotaping (both individual and match play) and the major changes in racquet technology and equipment design.

Professional tennis players and their playing styles have influenced the recreational public and how they perceive the game should be played. Players such as John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Bjorr>Borg, Chris Evert and many more have left characteristic playing styles for the public to

SPORTS TUTOR The Choice in Ball Machines Used by Pros at the ATP Training Center

Wireless remote control and two-line oscillator functions available

IUSPTA USPTRi I DISCOUNTS I

TENNIS TOWER TENNIS TUTOR For Portable Use

Call 1-800-448-8867 for FREE brochure 12

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2612 West Burbank Blvd.

Burbank, California 91505

George Bacso, USPTA's director of certification and academies.

emulate. Teaching pros, such as Vic Braden with his tennis tips on national television, also have influenced how people play tennis. The effect of these influences will be debated as well.

The school is designed to be an overview of modern teaching techniques, and an intellectual discussion of different teaching methods, corrective techniques and extensive on-court hitting.

As USPTA's director of certification and academies, Bacso travels the world conducting Tennis Teachers' Courses and Certification Training Courses. He graduated from Trenton (N.J.) State College with a bachelor's degree and later received a master of arts in administrative education from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. From 1978 to 1980, Bacso served as USPTA's national president. He holds a USPTA Master Professional rating and also served as president of the USPTA Eastern Division for several years, o

USKfA EDUCATION MANUAL A career guide to professionalism

BOOK lit TENNIS BUSINESS OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT

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Stringing establishes a profitable second income

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Stringing is more than an art, it is an integral part of any racquet sport enthusiast's equipment. In fact, it is the most important part of a player's equipment. A good racquet stringing can make all the difference in the way a frame plays, and has direct results in the outcome of every match played.

The purpose of this chapter is to educate tennis professionals and aspiring students on the value of knowing how to string racquets. The chapter contains string and frame information, how to set up, operate and promote a stringing business, and a general overview on how to string and re-grip a racquet.

To become a "professional stringer" requires more than reading this. Just as membership in USPTA is a giant step toward becoming the best "certified professional," professional stringers should look to the United States Racquet Stringer's Association (USRSA) to achieve those same aspirations as a Certified Racquet Technician (CRT) The Stringer's Digest, a publication of the USRSA, is essential for those who choose to be a racquet stringer and want more specifics on how to string racquets.

Professionals who teach tennis must look beyond next week in planning for their future. For example, what would a pro do if he or she broke a leg and was no longer able to teach tennis? If a pro feels uncomfortable working in an office, or does not have the necessary skill or education to transfer to a new occupation, what is the next move? It's amazing how many pros teach 40 to 60 hours of lessons each week, and that is the only occupation they know Learning to string racquets is a natural spinoff from teaching tennis. It is an opportunity for a pro to earn money during the "down time" of lessons, and stringing also gives a pro another subject to discuss with students, making him or her more professional in the student's eyes.

Pros do not have to own or operate a pro shop to become a stringer, so the initial cash outlay is minimal. Within a short period of time, pros have paid off the investment of a stringing machine and are well on their way to making a substantial contribution to their yearly income.

Learning to string is a good way for pros to test their business abilities. They have the challenge of operating a business, complete with inventory, advertising and customer service, without drain-

CopyrightŠ United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 1993.

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

ing the bank account. If pros find themselves adept at this type of business, they can look into the possibilities of owning or operating a pro shop. More importantly, tennis pros are diversifying their skills and their career options. If business is slow in one area, the loss in income can be offset in another area. Tennis professionals who don't look into racquet stringing are missing a good way to increase their earnings.

String history Before 1930, the only strings that were used by serious players were made of natural gut. Contrary to what many people believe, cat gut was never used for racquet strings; beef and lamb intestines were the sole source.

In the 1930s, silk was introduced as an ingredient in strings. Silk strings were found in most of the pre-strung, low-end racquets, but proved to be too low in tensile strength for the better players.

In 1939, the Du Pont company introduced a material that would change the course of stringing for decades. Du Pont produced la single extrusion of nylon during the war that proved to be an inexpensive substitute for natural gut.

In the 1950s, Ashaway, a major American company known for its fine fishing line and twine, developed a process that braided filaments of nylon (therefore the name multifilament) into tennis string. This braiding process gave the string B-more durability and greater resiliency (the string's ability to recover to its original size and shape after deformation caused by ball impact on the string plane).

In the late 1950s, two major Japanese string manufacturers emerged, TOA and Gosen. Gosen was the first company to develop twisted multifilament over a solid center core, producing multifilament with a center core.

Also in the late 1950s, but predominately in the 1960s, stronger nylon polymers were developed.

A polymer is a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization, which is a chemical reaction in which two or more small molecules combine to form larger molecules.

Companies also developed hollow center core strings with multifilament outer wraps.

The most popular string to hit the market during this time was TOA's Leoina 66, a double-wrapped, center core synthetic string. The extra wrap made the string more durable, held tension longer and

About the author.

Drew Sunderlin is the owner/head professional at the Fort Washington Swim and Tennis Club in Fort Washington, Pa., the owner of Strings 'n Things Pro Shop, and the president of Drew Sunderlin, Ltd. In 1991, he was named America's Top Stringer by Tennis Buyer's Guide magazine and the United States Racquet Stringer's AssociaDrew Sunderlin tion. He was recognized by the Middle States Professional Tennis Association as the Tester of the Year and Pro of the Year, has received the MSPTA Norman Bramall Service Award, was listed as one of the top six tennis-teaching professionals in the Philadelphia area by Sportswise magazine and is a USPTA Master Professional .

Sunderlin is a columnist for Tennis Industry magazine, a USRSA Certified Racquet Technician and a certification tester, a USTA clinician and a member of the USPTA Testing Committee.

was more playable than its predecessors. This development was very significant, since Leoina 66 is still one of the most popular strings in the world after 25 years. The manufacturers also filled the hollow center core of the strings with oil, and called them "oil-filled" nylons. These strings were much more popular in Europe than in the United States.

In the 1970s, tennis made a gigantic change with the introduction of the Prince oversized racquet.

The strings developed before this time were not designed for the high tension the oversized frames required. These frames needed a string that had both high tensile strength and low elongation. This is when Prince Nylon, a string that would become a staple in almost every stringer's inventory, entered the market.

Another major development in racquet strings occurred in the mid-70s. Harry M. Ferrari, Ph.D., developed and patented a process in which nylon strings were subjected to gamma and beta rays, which altered the string's molecular chain. The process gave strings greater elasticity, resiliency and strength, and produced Gamma strings.

During the same period, a company in what was then West Germany developed a string of twisted synthetic ribbons with no center core (coreless).

This string, Blue Star, wore and played like natural gut, but its greatest drawback was its inability to hold tension. Polymers (chemical bonding) were improving in the '70s and resulted in stronger strings. This enabled companies like Winn to

develop a bonded, extruded, monofilament, coreless string (Winn Gutex).

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Also during the 1970s, Kevlar was introduced into the string production process. This material, developed by Du Pont, was incredibly strong, but very stiff Holland Products introduced this product in a l6-gauge string, but unfortunately, most stringers did not know to string the product 5 to 8 pounds less than normal, and it was not widely accepted. Interestingly enough, it was an ideal string for the oversized frames and its l6-gauge (thinner) construction made it quite playable if it was strung at the correct tension.

In the 1980s, string blends or composites became popular The composites were blends of polymers of synthetic material developed to increase the elasticity of the center core, as well as increase durability in the multifilament wraps. Some of the most common string composites were Prince Synthetic (blend of different center core and outer wrap polymers), Gamma 1000 (blend of nylon/Spectra 1000 fibers/Kevlar), Prince Endurance (nylon/Vectron fibers), and Wilson Dual-Tec (Technora polymer blend).

Microfilament technology progressed to the point where hundreds, even thousands of individual

fibers could be twisted and bonded together within a 15- or l6-gauge string. An example of this was Technifibre (1,400 twisted composite fibers bonded in a polyurethane elastomer solution that provided a unique elasticity) In the 1990s, two hybrids, which are a combination of different string, burst upon the scene. Gamma Edge combines 17-gauge metallic alloy main strings with hi-tech polymer cross strings. Gamma Infinity is a main string combination of Kevlar and Spectra 1000 fibers, teamed with synthetic cross string.

Hybrid strings like Prince ProBlend (Kevlar mains, Prince synthetic gut crosses), Prince Thunderblend (Zyex main strings, Prince Endurance cross strings), and Ashaway Crossfire (Kevlar mains, synthetic crosses) appeared on the market and fulfilled a demand for stronger strings for players who were very hard on them. Textured strings, like TOA's Leoina Horn and Gamma Ruff, surfaced in the late 70s and led the way for shaped strings (oblong, angular, rectangular monofilaments and multifilaments) in the '80s. These strings, due to their rough surface or shaped configurations, offered higher coefficients of friction. This meant the strings would maintain more surface contact with the ball, thus imparting more spin to the resultant shot.

In the late 1980s a new synthetic, Zyex, entered the market with mixed reviews. Very tough Zyex fibers were blended with other synthetics to produce a more durable, resilient synthetic. The major problem incurred by stringers with the original prototypes of Zyex strings was rapid wear and difficulty in stringing, due to the string's fibers unraveling. Recent advances in the bonding agents and coatings have made this string more popular Many people believe that Zyex will be as major a force in stringing as nylon was in the late 1930s. Manufacturers like Prince (Premier, Response), Gamma (Gamma Zyex 2) and Ashaway (WB Dynamite) made major progress with their products in the early 1990s.

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Throughout this period, all the string manufacturers were designing thinner and stronger products, because thinner strings are more resilient and play better than their thicker counterparts. But, the frame manufacturers were looking for a change in racquet design that would boost a slumping market. They received that boost in widebody frames, first in the Fox Quantum, but more notably in the Kuebler or Wilson Profile frame. These frames changed the course of racquet design, and

forced a change in the trends set by string manufacturers.

Instead of becoming thinner, strings became thicker to compensate for the stiffer frames. The stiffer frames put more stress on the string bed, and the thinner strings on the market were not up to the test. As time progressed, string manufacturers saw that the widebody racquets had found a place in the market and began to design "widebody strings."

Widebody racquets require highly durable, shock absorbent, high playability strings that are thicker and have little or no center core. Some strings produced by manufacturers were thicker versions of the same string they had been manufacturing.

After much research and development, a myriad of new "widebody friendly" strings have inundated the market.

In the future, widebody strings will become thinner as manufacturers discover new polymers that will withstand the stresses imposed by stiffer, widebody frames. These strings will play better and retain their strength and durability characteristics. Recently, Prince has introduced Duraflex fibers into many of its strings, which increases string life by approximately 25 percent. This breakthrough is allowing thinner strings to be used in stiffer, widebody frames. Already, there is a new string on the market that again may change the course of natural gut sales. Bow Brand has introduced a string called Fusion that has a natural gut core with synthetic overwraps. String manufacturers and stringers anxiously await new developments.

Frames All racquets, despite shape, contours, material or head size, have their greatest power near the throat, closer to the frame's center of gravity Balls hit nearer to the center of gravity induce less rotational movement (torque) of the frame, so the racquet returns more power Frame stiffness increases at the square of the frame's height. So, small increases in height can result in significant increases in stiffness. Frame shape can vary the position of the sweet spot on a racquet. Ten-sided, angle arced, square head, oval, round and varying other frame shapes all have different playing characteristics.

Despite what manufacturers claim about their frames being the best â&#x20AC;&#x201D; common sense dictates

that there is not one racquet or design that is right for everyone. Since no two human beings are built exactly the same, consumers must be able to choose a frame. The professional racquet stringer's job is to direct the customer toward the design and construction of a frame that -would be best for that player's game. Noticing a few things about the customer's current racquet can help in making suggestions about a new purchase.

Despite what manufacturers claim about their frames being the best â&#x20AC;&#x201D; common sense dictates that there is not one racquet or design that is right for everyone.

If a customer brings a racquet to a pro with the strings broken, notice where they are broken. If broken near the tip of the frame, two things should come to mind. First, check the grommets.

Whenever a string breaks within 2 inches of the frame, a broken or cracked grommet could be the culprit. If the string is allowed to rub against the metal or graphite rim, breakage will soon occur If the grommets are good, this is an indication that this player tends to hit the ball high on the face of the racquet. Suggesting a frame whose design raises the sweet spot would be beneficial to this player Thicker frames at the tip will move the sweet spot up on a racquet. A less expensive alternative is to experiment with lead tape at the tip of the frame the player currently is using. The sweet spot follows the mass of the racquet, therefore, the sweet spot moves in the direction weight is placed.

If the player usually breaks strings in the center of the racquet, a wide-tipped racquet would not feel as good as a constant width frame â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one that is shaped wider at the throat than at the top. The sweet spot on these frames tends to stay at, or just below, center on the racquet face. These designs will give the player more power with less effort and should feel good on almost all shots. Dual taper designs also would be a good choice for this player As a professional stringer, recommend that the player try these designs on demonstrator racquets to help make an educated decision. The stringer's job is to guide and advise the customers, not pressure them into buying one particular racquet. The customer will view the stringer as a professional, if he or she is offered a variety of manufacturers' frames in styles to enhance their

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game, but not pressured into buying any particular frame. ill

It is imperative for the stringer to keep an open mind to new ideas that come on the market in frame and string construction. Simultaneously, it's wise to examine the new ideas with a very critical eye. Being capable of deciphering sales jargon and truly understanding what is "new" or "revolutionary" in a product is an art in itself Don't be afraid to ask questions. Often, salespeople who

push the new products are not knowledgeable about construction, product content or possible resulting consequences in product misuse. When a stringer deals with customers who have tennis elbow or a related problem, misinformation about a product can have serious consequences on their future well-being. It is imperative that the stringer take time to research a product before recommending or selling it to clients. The customers will blame the stringer for a problem with the product.

Classifications of synthetic strings •

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• Center core with wrapped multifilament — The center of these strings is an extruded solid core that gives the string durability and tension retention qualities.

Outer wraps are added to enhance playability. Some of the most common types of strings in this group are Leoina 66, Gamma Gut II, Prince Synthetic Gut, Ashaway, Wilson Synthetic Gut and Head Tournament 20 Elite.

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Monofilament — These nylon polymers used to be found in some low-end, prestrung frames. Monofilament strings were inexpensively produced. Polyester monofilaments like Polystar, Poly Plus and others also were tried on the market for a brief period.

Multifilament with no center core — These strings are constructed similarly to natural gut, in that multiple synthetic fibers are twisted similarly to the natural ribbons found in gut strings. These strings have greaterplayability, but tend to loose their tension faster than strings with center cores. Almost all multifilament strings are coated with polymers to aid in durability and stringing ease. These types of strings are most favored for the stiffer widebody frames due to their soft feel. The most common strings of this type are Technifibre 515 and 625, Winn Gutex, Prince Premiere, Gamma Zyex and Babolat XF Touch.

• Multifilament core with multifilament outer wrappings — These strings tend to be softer playing and feel more forgiving on off-center hits. The outer wraps help to reduce stretching and resultant tension loss.

Some of the more common strings of this

type are Ashaway TriCor 710, Alpha Winning Edge, and Ashaway Kevlar 16.

Geometric/textured — These strings can be shaped flat, square, raised, elliptical, oblong and angular. Shaped configurations offer a higher coefficient of friction, which means more surface contact with the ball.

As a result, this should, in theory, yield better playability. Popular examples of this type of string are Gamma Ruff, Dunlop Pro Spin, Leoina Geo Gold, Wilson Performance Plus Spin and Prince Topspin.

Gut — Gut strings are made from beef or lamb intestines, from which 12 to 17 ribbons are chosen and subjected to chemical baths to enhance their playing characteristics. Afterward, the ribbons are put through a coating process. Gut string comprises approximately 5percent to 10percent of the string market and is still preferred by most playing professionals. It also is the best string for players who suffer from tennis elbow, because of its unmatched resiliency and playability.

Hybrids —Although hybrids are not a different type of string, they are worth mentioning. Hybrids are a combination of two different types of strings, such as gut main strings with synthetic cross strings, Zyex main strings with synthetic cross strings, and Kevlar main strings with synthetic cross strings. For the perennial string breaker, the Kevlar hybrids are the way to go. For the player who is looking for the playability of gut, but is not willing to pay for a full set of gut strings, the gut/synthetic hybrid, or the Zyex/synthetic hybrid is a good alternative.

A frame is usually the most expensive piece of equipment a player must purchase, but it is not the most important. Despite the type of frame chosen, the customer must still hit the ball with the strings. Therefore, it is extremely important that the frame being used is matched properly with both string type and tension. Ultimately, this will determine the playing characteristics of the frame. Installing the right string in a player's racquet is paramount to the success of the pro's stringing business.

String construction Strings can be classified into two basic categories, synthetic and gut. Many manufacturers refer to their strings as either nylon or synthetics, but it is well known that "synthetic" means to produce artificially or to be man-made. Technically, all strings that are not "natural" can be termed synthetic. Nylons fall into the synthetic category Normally, the more manufacturing processing involved, the higher the cost and the more "super" the synthetic strings become. Whether the "super synthetics" live up to their name is a matter of debate. ~

Types of machines There are many different stringing machines on the market, ranging from electric to computerized, manual pneumatic, drop weight, spring action, and other combinations of these models.

There are professional (upright, pedestal models) and portable models available in prices ranging from $300 to $8,000, depending on features found on the stringing machine.

Regardless of the type purchased, it must provide three basic and very important functions while stringing a racquet. The first is its ability to hold the frame of the racquet securely in its vise.

Different machines have different support points for bracing the frame, up to six different ones, but the most important points to brace the frame against distortion are at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock on the racquet face. If the vise on the machine doesn't securely brace the frame, it could warp and possibly crack during stringing.

When mounting the frame in the vise, make sure the frame is straight. Mounting on an angle usually will create a distorted frame after stringing. Make sure the frame is clamped into the vise on the rim of the frame, not on the throat piece or racquet

shaft. If the vise moves or bends during stringing, the result most likely will be a warped frame.

Measure the width and length of the racquet before stringing it on the machine, then measure the width and length of the racquet after stringing.

The measurements should be the same; if they are not, the vise is not secure.

The second important function of the stringing machine is to ensure accurate tension. Different machines use different types of tension regulators, but they should be able to string any type of frame, from badminton to tennis. This means the machine should have a tension range of at least 10 pounds to 80 pounds.

It should be noted that there are two types of tension associated with stringing: reference tension and actual tension. Reference tension also is known as recommended tension. This is the tension level the customer requests, or to which the frame manufacturer suggests the machine's tension be set. Actual tension refers to the string tension in the racquet. This is the result of string stretch, friction from the 180-degree-turns the string experiences in the frame, and clamp slop and slippage. The actual tension of strings in a racquet can be 15 or more pounds less than the reference tension.

Besides the machine's vise, the tension head is the most important functional part of the machine.

The tension head must be able to pull tension straight and evenly from the frame, without crushing, nicking or allowing the string to slip. Sometimes, the angle of the pull requires the machine to hold the frame stationary Therefore, the machine should have a good break to facilitate this.

There are many different manufacturers of stringing machines on the market today.

To say which type is the best is a matter of personal preference.

The final important function of a stringing machine is to possess the ability to hold tension once the tension head has pulled the string to the desired poundage. The machine should have a minimum of two good clamps to perform this function. These clamps must hold tension without slipping, nicking, or crushing the string. With widebody frames, make sure the clamps reach high enough from the glide bars to securely hold the string in their teeth. If the machine cannot

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accomodate the width of the new widebodies, an upgrade kit must be purchased from the manufacturer Make it a habit to wipe down the inside of the clamps with alcohol after every 5 to 10 racquets. This will prevent oil and wax buildup from causing string slippage.

Alt machines should be calibrated after every 20 racquets or so, but the spring-type machines may be more prone to inaccuracy, due to the springs wearing out over time.

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There are many different stringing machines on the market. To say which type is the best is a matter of personal preference. If a stringing machine has all the qualities mentioned previously, pros are in good shape. For pros who are in the market for a machine, here are some advantages and disadvantages of different types of machines.

Manual pneumatic machines look very impressive, have good vise support systems, are accurate, and can handle all types of frames. Older models can be upgraded easily to fit the newer frames. These machines also come with a very informative manual for setup and maintenance.

The most popular machine of this type is the Prince MP-200.

the manual pneumatic, are very impressive looking and pull at a constant tension. These electric machines are very accurate, with computer chip circuitry The disadvantage of this machine is again the reliance on AC power These machines also are considerably more expensive than other types on the market. As far as weight is concerned, the electric machines are lighter than the manual pneumatics, but heavier than the spring-release type. Like the Prince machine, it has a reverse switch for the tensioning head, in case tensioning must be stopped, but it is not as controllable as the spring type. The machine also, by design, tends to snag excess string, and requires an extra foot of string to allow for the non-adjustable tensioning head.

Spring release stringing machines are the most popular by far, and include the Ektelon, Gamma, Winn, Toa, Alpha and Guterman. One advantage is their weight, which ranges from 48 to 66 pounds and renders them quite portable. They don't require electricity to operate, so they are very convenient to carry, no matter where the pro is stringing. Another advantage is price â&#x20AC;&#x201D; most spring models are priced less than $1,100.

All machines should be calibrated after every 20 racquets or so, but the spring-type machines may be more prone to inaccuracy, due to the springs wearing out over time. Another disadvantage, on some models, is the lack of padding on the side support systems. This can lead to scratching or marring of the frame during stringing.

One disadvantage to this type of machine is its weight. It is not a good traveling companion like the spring type, since it is difficult to take apart and occupies a great amount of space in a car or van. These machines also need alternating current to operate, so a power failure or no available AC will leave a pro without the ability to string. Also, since the tension head cannot be cranked closer to the frame, an extra foot of string should be measured, so the string won't come up short when pulling tension. Another point worth mentioning is that the constant pull tension head tends to string a racquet a little tighter than its spring release competition. This is because the tensioning head constantly compensates for the string stretching and relaxing. This is not true with the spring type. Though rate of speed of the pull can be adjusted, the stringer does not have the control over the pull that he does with the spring type.

Another type of stringing machine is the True Tension. This type of machine relies on a fourpoint mounting system and a tension conversion scale, which converts manufacturer recommended tension into corresponding tension for the machine. It has a very secure mounting system, a good tensioning head, and string guide pins which reduce friction burn against the frame during stringing, allowing for more accurate tension. It is somewhat bulky, and feeding string into the tension head isn't always easy The only other disadvantages are getting used to the True Tension conversion scale, having to secure the frame to the vise with a socket wrench instead of a "C" clamp or locking clamp, and its lack of portability

The electronic machines most known in the United States are the Babolat Star 2 and 3. These machines come with a six-point mounting system.

They operate smoothly, quickly, quietly, and like

There are some drop weight pedestal model machines still around, but most of them need upgrade kits to handle the newer frames. Make sure an upgrade kit can be purchased before

investing in one of these machines. Drop weights are extremely accurate, but accuracy problems sometimes occur because of sloppy string clamps or inadequate tensioning heads.

Portable machines are on the market, but if stringing will become part of a pro's livelihood, the upright, professional models are the only way to go. A professional machine also should be backed by professional service. If the manufacturer does not have immediate service, replacement parts, and upgrade kits, pros will find themselves out of potential revenue until the supplies arrive. This should be an important factor to consider when purchasing a machine.

Besides purchasing a machine, a pro also must invest in tools, which are available through some string suppliers, or at a local hardware store.

Optional tools are straight, needle-nose pliers, a badminton awl, a curved awl, a come-along (used for aiding two strings through the same hole), and a starting clamp (great for eliminating string slippage and correcting errors in measurement).

As a pro's business grows, the demand for more sophisticated equipment also may increase. It is recommended that pros start small and gradually build to more "state of the art" equipment. For a pro just beginning a stringing business, investing in very expensive equipment is neither necessary nor wise. As time goes on, invest in "high tech" equipment, if it will help increase sales and the bottom line.

Pricing When setting up a stringing business, pay particular attention to pricing. Poor planning on established pricing policies can adversely affect the bottom line at the end of the fiscal year. A lower price for the service would mean a lower profit per racquet strung, but could result in a higher volume of business, and eventually lead to an overall larger profit. A higher price for stringing would yield a greater profit per racquet, but could result in a low-volume business and a lower profit margin. How pros market themselves makes the difference between the stringer who is very successful and the stringer who just gets by When purchasing inventory, try to buy in quantity, when feasible. This will enable a pro to take advantage of quantity discounts offered by manufacturers or suppliers. Only carry a few brands, but not just the most popular ones. Many strings

Essential tools for stringing m Parallel jaw pliers — Used primarily for tie-off knots, recommended instead of needle-nose pliers.

• Curved needle-nose pliers — Excellent tool to help grab the tip of the string in hard-to-reach areas. The thinner the tool, the better.

• Blunt-tipped tennis awl — Used for examining existing grommetsfor wear, enlarging grommets to accept tubing, and assisting cross-string weaving.

•

Wax — Available at hobby shops, essential for lubricating string against friction burn.

•

Diagonal cutters — Smaller cutters will cut a finer point on string than larger cutters. Used for cutting old strings out of a frame, shaping string ends into a point, and cutting plastic tubing and excess string.

•

Plastic tubing — Available through most string suppliers in varying widths. Used for string protection in grommets,

•

Business card, swatch of felt, or soft cloth — Protects the string from rubbing against the shaft of the racquet during the stringing process.

•

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol — Used to clean clamps and tensioning head of the stringing machine.

•

Calibrator — A must. All machines should have their calibration checked every 20 racquet stringings.

on the market are made by the same string manufacturers under private labels. They are the same basic string, except for color or coating. The big-name private label may charge up to double the price of the lesser-known manufacturer, but it is the same product. If the pro educates customers about this fact, the lesser-known string can be sold for the same price as the better-known string.

The obvious advantage is that the pro makes more profit on every string job. The other advan-

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tage is that a pro may be offering a string that other stringers in the area may not carry This will help retain the customer, hopefully on a permanent basis. Make sure the manufacturers will stand behind their products. If they won't replace defective string readily, their brand is not worth carrying, regardless of price.

The synthetic string inventory should turn at least once a year, and the gut inventory twice a year.

Many string companies offer string package programs. These programs entitle pros to quantity discounts based on a projected volume of string jobs for a year Be careful when ordering in this manner The discounts are so tempting at the larger volume numbers, that it is easy to get carried away with delusions of selling far more string jobs than what is possible. Also, a large inventory of string ties up a fair amount of capital, and it is a gamble that the strings still will be in demand a year later With the rapidly changing market for strings, pros may find themselves stuck with inventory that will be difficult to sell.

A good way to figure an inventory level is is to divide the season into two time periods. The time periods will be the maximum and minimum sales volume periods. During the maximum period, the inventory on hand should be one-half the gross dollar volume the stringing business does for the year During the minimum period, the inventory should be one-fourth of the gross dollar volume.

This will help maintain a good cash flow throughout the year What inventory to stock is a matter of individual taste. But, some basic guidelines are to carry at least one type of gut string, three types of synthetics (a multifilament with a center core, a multifilament with no center core, and a textured string), and maybe one of the hybrids. This will give customers a choice and allow pros some latitude in recommending different types of strings for different types of players. As the business grows, pros can increase the number of strings carried.

Just don't have too many strings, because customers will become confused and the shop will sell only a few of each of the many types of string offered. As a result, inventory will not turn as often as it should. It is a good idea to carry replacement grips, overwraps, and racquet acces-

sories such as lead tape, string shock absorbers and racquet protection tape to complete the inventory The synthetic string inventory should turn at least once a year, and the gut inventory twice a year The shelf life for natural gut is approximately six months. Recent advances in packaging have increased this time span, but a six-month turnover still is recommended. Gut strings should be kept at room temperature during storage. Allowing them to sit in a cold or extremely warm environment will shorten the life span of the gut when strung. Synthetic strings won't go bad, but will be replaced with something newer and better within a year Setting prices is, again, an individual decision. But this formula has â&#x20AC;˘worked well for me: If the wholesale cost of a set of string is less than $7, double that cost, add $10, and round off to determine the selling price. For example, if a pro purchases a set of string for $7, double that cost ($14) and add $10 for the selling price of $24. If the wholesale cost of a set of string is more than $18, multiply it by 1.4 and add $10 (a $24 set of string would sell for $44). This is a general formula, so make revisions as needed.

Cost of string

Multiplication factor

Add

Selling cost

$7

2.0

$10

$24

$8

1.9

$10

$25

$10

1.8

$10

$28

$12

1.7

$10

$30

1.6

$10

$32

$16

1.5

$10

$34

$18 and up

1.4

$10

$35 and up

$14

n

Once the prices are set and the inventory purchased, the next question a pro must answer is whether a profit is being made. Poor records are the major cause of business failure. A business, no matter how large or small, should have a checkbook (one-write system preferred), sales slips, sales journal, petty cash journal, operating statement covering each month's or each quarter's business activity, and perform an inventory at least once a year Do not try to operate a business out of a personal checking account. This rule is broken too often.

If pros expect to be able to see how successful their business is, they must rely on a separate checking account. The easiest type is the one-

write system. This system gives pros the records needed to follow every disbursement from the business and is important if ever audited by the IRS. Sales slips can be bought in a stationery store, or can be created through a local printer or a computer A sales slip does not need to be fancy, but sequential numbering helps greatly when tracing a transaction. Duplicates are essential and triplicates are even better Sales journals keep all transactions in a neat and orderly fashion. It is important to total the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly figures to keep abreast of how well the business is doing. There also are one-write systems that allow pros to write a transaction and have a permanent record just like the check-write system.

Petty cash journals are important because they keep track of all small purchases that do not require writing a check. These purchases do add up over the course of a year, so it is important to use one. Whenever possible, try to write a check.

Keeping all the receipts for proof of purchase as stated in the petty cash journal can be cumbersome.

An operating statement covering each month's or each quarter's business activity acts as a barome-

ter, gauging the profitability of a stringing business. At a minimum, this statement should be worked up once a year If pros are not familiar with operating statements, an accountant will be able to help. Once familiar with the process, it is a good idea for pros to do the statements themselves to eliminate the cost of a professional accountant.

Keeping track of inventory is a must. At least once a year, take a physical inventory of strings and grips. This will help to develop profit and loss statements, and to figure which and how many strings, grips and accessories should be ordered for the next season.

With a simple, yet adequate bookkeeping system, pros can answer questions like: How much business am I doing? What are my expenses? Which expenses appear too high? What is my profit?

How much working capital do I have on hand and in the bank? How much money do I owe others? What is my net worth (the value of my ownership of the business)? What are the trends in my revenue, expenses, profit and net worth?

Am I getting richer or poorer? How do my assets compare with my liabilities? Am I making the profit I should be?

With proper management, stringing can provide a profitable second income.

11

Marketing stringing services

111

A pro's ability to market him- or herself and the product will affect the bottom line directly If pros expect to be good at marketing their stringing business, they must have the characteristics of a successful person.

The first characteristic pros must possess is drive.

They have to want to succeed and must be willing to work to succeed. Willing to work means initially working long hours to make sure the business is on the right (and therefore profitable) track.

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Pros also must be able to size up a problem and find the correct answers. To do this successfully, pros must be innovative, especially if they are in highly competitive areas. This ability is becoming more and more critical in today's market, because the consumer is becoming more savvy about equipment and is scrutinizing every suggestion.

Good human relations is a characteristic that pros must possess. They have to like people and be able to show it, and be both diplomatic and tactful. This especially is true when a customer returns a racquet with broken strings and the pro knows the customer is at fault. Just remember that 99-9 percent of the time, the customer is always right, even if it means that you have to "eat" a string job now and then.

To be a successful businessperson, pros must have good communication skills. They must be able to explain things clearly and understand what a person is trying to tell them, as opposed to only hearing what the person is saying. For example, a customer says he wants to feel the ball more. The customer actually is asking for string and appropriate tension that will give him or her the sensation of holding the ball on the strings longer

1M â&#x20AC;˘r

O O 12

Finally, the successful businessperson must have good technical knowledge. This is the "how to" of the business. There are many books, manuals and seminars available to help pros stay abreast of the latest in stringing techniques and information. Learn to sell yourself (your knowledge of) first and your product second. And remember, good salesmanship without good product knowledge eventually will lead to the demise of a business.

Pros must be able to apply these successful characteristics to their everyday schedule. All students are potential string customers and vice versa. When questioning players about their game styles to aid in proper string selection and racquet tension, have players demonstrate their strokes.

This could lead into refining their strokes through lesson packages. Conversely, if during the course of an on-court lesson a student is hitting short constantly, but seems to work hard to get the ball over the net, a pro can suggest that the student have his or her racquet restrung. Explain that hitting short is most likely due to the strings losing their elasticity All students and clients should be informed that they should restring their racquets as many times a year as they play a week.

To be a successful businessperson, pros must have good communication skills. They must be able to explain things clearly and understand what a person is trying to tett them, as opposed to only hearing what the person is saying.

A player may complain that his or her racquet is "uncontrollable." This might be true, but quite possibly, stringing may be only part of the problem; the player may have a stroke deficiency If the player is thinking of purchasing a new racquet, and the pro has a demo program, allow the player to try racquets strung at different tensions during a lesson. This way, the player will have the benefit of feeling how the racquet performs through the use of proper stroke production, and the pro will earn lesson revenue.

Ask stringing customers if they have a National Tennis Rating Program rating, since this will offer more information for making the proper string and tension selections, and the customer may be persuaded to become involved in either a lesson, clinic, or tournament held at that particular level of play Just remember, a lesson can result from a string job, just as a string job can come out of a lesson.

(This chapter continued in next issue)

Specialty Course videos available for education credit

M

.embers who lack credits n USPTA's Continuing Education Program have another opportunity to earn those points. Specialty Courses presented at the 1992 National Convention are available on videotape for members to rent or purchase.

Competitive Doubles Patterns, Tom Martin Incorporating System 5 into Lessons, George Bacso Nutrition, Dan Halvorsen Sports Physiology, Todd Ellenbecker, Paul Roetert Strategy and Tactics, Sean Sloane Tennis Business Management, Kurt Kamperman There is a $35 fee (includes a $10 shipping and handling charge) to rent a video Specialty Course, plus a $50 deposit that will be refunded upon timely return of the cassettes. The $85 total may be processed

with a MasterCard, Visa, money order or personal check.

Videocassettes may be rented for a maximum of 21 days (from the date mailed

by USPTA), or the deposit may be forfeited, and there is a $10 fee for damaged tapes.

If the rented tapes are not returned within the deadline, a late fee of $1 per day will be deducted from the deposit. A set of Specialty Course tapes may be purchased for $46.95 (which includes $7 for shipping and handling).

For more information about video reviews, contact Education Coordinator Susan Thompson at (713) 97-USPTA. ÂŽ

LOD-STER

After viewing, members complete a questionnaire about the video and return it for education credit to the World Headquarters.

The video reviews allow members who may not be able to travel to educational events to earn the points required for the Continuing Education Program.

A completed video review is eligible for two credits in the program, and partial credit will not be given. Members may review as many videos as desired, but points may be awarded only once for the same video course. To receive credit, 80 percent of the review questions must be correct. To be counted as credit toward the first phase of the Continuing Education Program, the completed video review quiz must be received at the World Headquarters by November 1 Members may rent the videocassettes by contacting the World Headquarters Gift Shoppe. The tapes should be returned with the completed review questions to the same department.

Videotaped Specialty Courses currently available for review are:

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USPTA Logo Accessories at a special discount price Item 1: Cap — White cap is cotton twill with embroidered logo. Color caps are Supplex nylon with embroidered logo.

Item 2: Headband — White terrycloth with USPTA logo patch.

Item 3: Wristbands — White terrycloth with USPTA logo patch, two to a packet.

Item 4: Towel — 100 percent cotton hand towel in white with embroidered logo.

Item 5: Patch —Three inch embroidered circular patch with USPTA logo.

Item 6: Women's cuff socks — White, 80 percent acrylic with USPTA woven into sock in navy Item 7: Women's anklet socks — White Orion sock with USPTA logo patch.

Item 8: Men's crew socks — White Orion sock with USPTA logo patch.

Item 9: Men's anklet socks — White Orion sock with USPTA logo patch.

Item 10: Tie — Navy with the letters USPTA in diagonal design

Item*

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Colors White, black red, turquoise, neon red

Retail price

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Wristbands (2)

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White

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White

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White

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White

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Navy with red

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$10

1

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2

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3

Qty.

* Special discount price (Prices good through July 15, 1993)

Amount

SEND ORDER TO: USPTA Gift Shoppe, One USPTA Centre, 3535 Briarpark Dr., Houston, TX 77042 • TEL (713) 97-USPTA • FAX (713) 978-7780 PAYMENT METHOD:

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Canadian team wins seniors World Championships at Phoenix Challenge nlike 1992, this year's Phoenix Challenge/Love-50 National and World Championships in Palm Desert, Calif did not suffer from high temperatures or earthquakes. The 10th anniversary celebration of seniors' recreational tennis was held April 11-18 at the Marriott's Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Country Club, a Peter Burwash nternational (PBI) facility. The tournament involved more than 1,200 players from the United States, Canada and Australia.

Eric Pollard (I) and Gordon Collins at the Phoenix Challenge awards presentation.

A surprise result in the World Championships was the victory of the Canadian men's team over the U.S. team with the Australian team finishing in third place. The Canadian team put in an exceptional performance on unfamiliar courts and through difficult weather conditions (for Canadians) to capture the title.

In the women's World Championships, the team from Ballen Isles, Fla. retained the title for the United States, with Australia finishing second and Canada third.

I believe this year's tournament was the best of all, Eric Pollard, chairman and CEO of the Phoenix Challenge, said.

'Each year, we try to work out the mistakes that were made the year before. On Sunday, after the tournament, we held an 'autopsy' meeting where we discussed only problems that occurred during the tournament. We heard no complaints from participants, so we hope to also have a good tournament next year.' n addition to the round robin competition that decided the national champions at five NTRP playing levels, guests and nonqualifiers were treated to an 'All Comers' mixed doubles event. The event was sponsored by Prince Raquet Sports, and hosted

by John Powless, Prince senior consultant and captain of the U.S. Senior Davis Cup Team; and Jason Morton, senior consultant for Penn Racquet Sports and current world No. 1 in the 65 age group.

Main draw play, held April 15-17 on more than 80 courts at 12 Palm Desert area resorts and clubs, had some players still completing matches in the early evening 'At this tournament, we had a couple of problems with scheduling, such as teams not showing up to play their matches, Pollard said.

Next year, we will have a computer program to handle the scheduling and a scheduling committee to monitor the program The final matches of the tournament, held April 18 at the Marriott's Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, were extremely close and highly competitive, with clubs from Arizona, California and Australia dominating play. The matches included the highly entertaining Peter Burwash nternational Tennis Show, led by Dan Aubuchon, western regional director of PBI and the event referee.

The tournament awards were presented by Jean Benson, mayor of Palm Desert; Jason Morton, on behalf of Penn Racquet Sports; and Gordon Collins, president of USPTA. The Palm Desert Cup was donated by the city of Palm Desert, and finalist prizes were donated

by Penn Racquet Sports, the Phoenix Challenge's charter sponsor. A total of 200 prizes were presented, with donations from K-Swiss, Prince Raquet Sports, Penn Racquet Sports and the city of Palm Desert.

Collins was awarded the Phoenix Chal-

lenge Most Valuable Player Award 1992-1993, for his long-time dedication to the promotion of senior recreational tennis and for the dedication and support of USPTA. Cocktail parties and receptions marked the evening activities and a wealth of raffle prizes were won by participants. The 'Star Prize' drawing, which consists of a trip to Paris and tickets to the French Open, was given to a lucky participant.

The best thing about the Phoenix Challenge is that when you wander around the tournament, everyone is happy,' Pollard said.

The competition is intense and the players want to win, but at the end, everyone is friends and exchanging addresses. This tournament is what tennis should be good competition combined with social aspects. $

WHY? "Aren't You Playing Tennis Right Now?" "Don't let ram, snow or cold weather stop you!"

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Mexican tennis officials visit courts at World Headquarters

Vila, (l-r) Coude, Salas and Bacso discuss testing procedures.

.he Association of Professors and Instructors of Tennis of Mexico (APITMAC) officially has become an international division of USPTA. An exclusiv,e agreement, signed in January, links USPTA's education and membership benefits to the Mexican tennisteaching organization.

Vila and Salas warm up before a mock lesson.

Professor Jorge Vila, APITMAC president, visited the World Headquarters during March to become a certified USPTA tester. He was accompanied by two other APITMAC members, Leopoldo Salas and Alan Ballesteros Coude. Because of this visit, Vila will be able to test his own members in

Mexico.

George Bacso, USPTA's director of certification and academies, will travel to Mexico in order to assist in the training and upgrading of teaching techniques, train APITMAC testers, and supervise the testing of new members, o

USPTA pros pass USTA exams USPTA pros who passed USTA Level I of the Sport Science Competency Test David Bailey Tharakes Basappa Dave Beerman Martin Berryman Earl Blanchard Doug Boswell Harry Burrus Dale Campbell Thomas Carey Bill Castillo Thomas Chorney USPTA pros

Curt Condon Keith Cox James Elwing Jon Flagg Paul Fontana Joseph Fortunate Barbara Fowler Paul Gastonguay David Geatz Michael Gennette Todd Hall

Bruce Heeder Joe Hignight Robert Hollis Scott Honig Mark Krebs Steve Layton Bob Mooty Mark Nayden Geoffrey Norton Dinesh Rajagopalan Kenneth Robinson

Donald Rueff Amre Sammakia John Spears William Struck John Trump Robert Wagner Robert Wagstaff Tomm Warneke Russell Warner Glenn Williams Bob Wright

who passed USTA Level II-A Sport Science Competency Testâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Motor Learning and Sport Psychology

George Amaya Steve Annacone Tracy Chappell Lowell Coffman

Barry Curley Marcelo Ferreira Bruce Gullikson Josiah Hatt

James Krimbill Henner Lenhardt Cecil Clare North David Romberg

Colin Smith Michael Ware

USPTA pros who passed the USTA Level II-B Sport Science Competency Testâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nutrition and Sport Physiology Turhan Berne Rick Billings Colleen Cosgrove Vicki Datlow Edgar Giffenig

16

ADDvantage June 1993

Ian Griffin Rodney Harmon Larry Haugness Bruce Holbrook Frank nn Jr.

Bob Osi power Guy Parks Jimmy Pitkanen John Raker Sally Schwartz

John Simms David Steinbach Eric Voges Ted Warner

' !

i Light n' Lively is a registered trademark of Kraft General Foods

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Introducing the Light I™ tennis shoe. It's pure lean muscle.

When we decided to put our tennis shoe on a diet, our weight reduction plan was based on one very important principle: Lose the fat, keep the muscle.

Twenty-percent lighter than the average tennis shoe, the Light I makes you feel as if you've lost 5 Ibs., without sacrificing any of the performance of a heavyweight shoe. How did we do it? We combined a form-fitting inner sleeve with a lightweight external frame that

replaces the usual leather sides of a conventional shoe. The flexible sleeve hugs your foot comfortably, while the external frame gives you the strength and support you need to turn on a dime. Lightening things up even more is revolutionary, super-light Rezlite, which we used for cushioning in the midsole. And for durability and longer life—M43 Endurance™ rubber in the sole.

Wings on your feet? Not quite. But it's the next best thing.

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World Headquarters hosts first mid-year Executive Committee m

T

Lh .he USPTA Executive Committee held its first mid-year meeting April 22-25 to establish programs and policies for the Association. Attendees at the World Headquarters discussed topics such as public relations, education and finances. Formerly, the committee met only once a year during the National Convention.

Since the number of meetings of the committee has been increased to twice a year, committee members will have more time to network and meet with USPTA professionals during the 1993 National Convention.

At previous conventions, committee members often had an extremely busy schedule and very little time to hear what USPTA pros had to say about the Association.

Executive Committee activities that will take Executive Committee members (l-r) Ron Williams, Larry Hampton, Bill Bond, Bill Rapp and Angel place at the National Convention include Lopez study the agenda at the start of the meeting. meetings with USPTA's exclusive endorsees to hear special presentations, and installation of the Board of Directors for 1993-94.

Make plans now to attend the 1993 National Convention to meet all of the members of the Executive Committee and establish contacts with the Mark Hirtler of the California Division (I) and Randy Mattingley of the Texas Division listen tennis industry, o to introductions.

Will Hoag (far right) is ready for a challenge.

18

ADDvantage June 1993

Breaks in tennis action allowed time for discussion.

Kay Konove, Eastern Division president, studies handouts, while Gordon Collins, USPTA president, listens to speaker.

Executive Committee members found time for tennis on the newly completed courts at the World Headquarters.

PROPOSED SLATE OP NATIONAL BOARD OP DIRECTORS The National Nominating Committee has completed its task and proudly submits the following slate for the USPTA National Board of Directors

GORDON COLLINS FIRST VICE, PRESIDE N'T VICE PRESIDENTS .

' S T H Y WOODS

SECRETARY/TREASURER

WILL HOAG «*.;|r JOE THOMPSON KURT K AM PERM AN JIM DAVIS

Additional nominations may be made by the general membership and submitted to the CEO by July 21 In order for a new candidate to be added to the ballot, he or she must be nominated by at least 20 members Only one nominee per office will be added to the slate Send other nominations to Tim Heckler, CEO, USPTA World Headquarters, One USPTA Centre, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77042

If you want to order Foundation logo patches coordinate Foundation activities at your local club, or make a contribution, please write to

The Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, Inc. TOO Park Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10017 U.S.A. Phone (212)922-0096

1993 Membership Directory Correction Robert Ryland and Jim Auchant were omitted inadvertently from the 7993 USPTA Membership Directory.

The two men should have been listed as USPTA National Champions in the Men's 70 doubles division

USPTA would like to give special thanks to Mark Munson and the Miami Airport Marriott for all of their help and support with the 1993 nternational Tennis Teachers Championships, held n conjunction with The Lipton Championships.

Checks should be made payable to The Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDSJnc

ADDvantage June 1993

19

Dates that rate —j Specialty Courses

Jhjxams., upgrades and Certification Training Courses June 12-13

Hamden, Conn.

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June 13-14

Baltimore, Md.

June 13-14

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(CTC)

June 19-20

Camarillo, Calif.

(CTC)

June 25-26

Detroit, Mich.

(CTC)

(CTC)

July 9-10

Laie, Hawaii

(CTC)

July 16-17

Danville, III.

(CTC)

July 17-18

Bethlehem, N.H.

(CTC)

July 17-18

Flushing, NY.

(CTC)

July 22-24

Mesa, Ariz.

(CTC)

July 24-25

Pittsburgh, Pa.

(CTC)

July 24-25

Nashville, Tenn.

July 25

Redlands, Calif.

July 25-26

McLean, Va.

(CTC) -

Date July 11 July 20 July 24 July 25 Aug. 7 Aug. 14-15 Aug. 15 Aug. 28

Aug. 7-8

Cherry Hill, N.J. New Orleans, La.

(CTC) 1

Aug. 15

Costa Mesa, Calif.

Aug. 15-16

Corpus Christi, Texas (CTC)

Aug. 20-21

Cincinnati, Ohio

(CTC)

Aug. 22-23

Marietta, Ga.

(CTC)

Sept. 3-4

Bloomington, Minn.

(CTC)

Sept. 4-5

Fort Myers, Fla.

(CTC)

Sept. 9-10

Narragansett, R.I.

(CTC)

Sept. 11-12

Boca Raton, Fla.

(CTC)

Sept. 11-12

Chicago, III.

(CTC)

Sept. 12-13

Murrieta, Calif.

(CTC)

Sept. 12-13

McLean, Va.

(CTC)

Sept. 22-26

National Convention, Boca Raton, Fia. (CTC)

Parker, 'Colo.

The above schedule is subject to change.

The deadline for registering for an exam, upgrade or CTC is 21 days in advance.

Exams which are accompanied by a CTC are indicated in the right margin. For more information, call the USPTA Membership Department at (713) 97-USPTA. 20

ADD vantage June 1993

Hours 24 24 24

Location Nashville, Tenn.

Houston, Texas Los Gatos, Calif.

ionventions

Aug. 14-15

Aug. 1-2

Location Fountain Valley, Calif Washington, D.C. Phoenix, Ariz.

Pittsburgh Pa. Hershey, Pa. Corpus Christi Texas Richfield, Minn.

Vancouver, Wash.

lennis Teachers' Courses Date July 21-23 Oct. 7-9 Nov. 11-13

Date (CTC) | 8 Aug. • (CTC) 1 Aug. 29-30 (CTC) | Sept . 18-26 (CTC) | Nov. 10-14

July 31-Aug. 1 Aiken, S.C.

Course Title Stroke Analysis Advanced Stroke Production Mental Toughness Competitive Singles Patterns Junior Development Quality Management Motor Learning Competitive Doubles Patterns

Date July 16-18 Aug. 14-15 Oct. 17-18 Oct. 30-31

Division Middle States Northwest USPTA National Convention Southern

School USPTA Playing School School of Tennis Teaching Business School Business School

Location Hershey, Pa. Brainerd, Minn.

Boca Raton, Fla. Little Rock, Ark.

Location Maywood, N.J, Maywood, N.J. San Diego, Calif.

Arlington, Texas

JLlrvision meetings/activities Date June 29 July 6 July 16 July 22

Division Mid-Atlantic Mid-Atlantic Midwest Mid-Atlantic

City Chevy Chase, Md. Fairfax, Va. Peoria, III. Washington, D.C.

v^ioaches Workshops Date Aug. 6 Aug. 16 Oct. 23

Division Intermountain Northwest California

City Colorado Springs, Colo.

Richfield, Minn.

Covina, Calif. ,

USPTA June Discount Program

®

FOR USPTA MEMBERS ONLY

Save 20C per dozen on Regular and Extra Duty Felt tennis balls! All orders shipped and invoiced during June qualify for discounts.

Normal Price

Regular/Extra Duty Felt

6-114 dz. $10.04/dz.

(24-456 cans) $2.51/can

120-1194 dz. $9.96/dz.

(480-4776 cans) $2.49/can

6-114 dz. $9.84/dz.

(24-456 cans) $2.46/can

120-1194 dz. $9 76/dz.

(480-4776 .cans) $2.44/can

USPTA Discount Price

Regular/Extra Duty Felt

Freight: Prepaid 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 also will make a donation of IOC per dozen to your divisional USPTA office, and another IOC per dozen to the USPTA World 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 June 1 and June 30, 1993

DON'T DELAY, ORDER NOW! CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-BUY-PENN

jr

Ur-HUIAL OFFICIAL bALL BALL

OTfPTA ADDvantage June 1993

21

Industry action

Tennis Tech program for three years. He is the Junior Davis Cup coach in the USTA Western Section, a USTA clinician, a member • Ed "Scooter" Henson, USPTA pro, has of the Prince National Advisory Board, and a tennis analyst for Prime Network and NBC. been named director of tennis at the Hotel • The American College of Sports Medidel Coronado in Coronado, Calif His cine has named USPTA pro Jack Groppel responsibilities include planning year-round as a 993 fellow. The institution boasts more youth and adult tennis activities, organizing than 10,000 members and selects approxijunior and senior tournaments and coordinatmately 25 fellows each year. ing the beach and tennis club membership.

• USPTA pro Jim Haugh is the new operUSPTA pro Ben Press will continue his job ations director for the Nick Bollettieri as head professional at the hotel Tennis Academy's (NBTA) worldwide oper• USPTA pro Mark Jacques has been ations, based in Bradenton, Fla. according appointed director of tennis at the newly to USPTA pro Greg Breunich, NBTA execuopened Sugar Bay Plantation Resort on tive director. Haugh served as director of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He will serve tennis at the Turtle Bay Hilton Golf & in the same position for the newest Vic Tennis Resort in Oahu Hawaii, for more Braden Tennis College, located at the than two years and achieved top honors for resort. The resort features tennis packages the resort's tennis programs and facilities. for adults, a junior program, clinics and Randy Kop, USPTA pro, who has served lessons.

• The University of Illinois has named as Turtle Bay's director of programs and head pro, has assumed the director of tennis Craig Tiley, USPTA pro, as men's tennis position there. coach. Tiley has been the interim coach • Kathy O'Neal, USPTA pro and president since July, after the resignation of former of Aces Unlimited, assisted Seena Hamilton head coach Neil Adams. & Associates during the Easter Bowl tournaTiley, a native of South Africa, came to ment held at the Doral Resort in Miami The Illinois from the Stephen Smith Tennis event's proceeds were dedicated to the Connection in Tyler, Texas, where he served Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat as co-director from 1988 to 1991 Prior to that, of AIDS. Activities were held to educate teen Tiley was a student, assistant coach and players about AIDS and raise awareness of student teacher at Tyler Junior College's the disease.

O'Neal again has been named the women's tour director for the ATC Club Players World Cup, to be held in October in Delray Beach Fla. • The Southern Tennis Association has hired USPTA pro Kelly Coleman as a schools director. Her primary responsibility will be to convince schools to include tennis n their physical education programs.

Coleman is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received a master's degree in sports management.

• Ferris State University's Professional Tennis Management (PTM) program recently held its fourth annual awards banquet at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Big Rapids, Mich. Speakers included Kathy Woods, a vice president of USPTA, Tom West, regional sales manager of Prince Raquet Sports; and Jill Workman, executive director of the U.S. Racquet Craig Tiley

USPTA

22

ADDvantage June 1993

Stringers Association.

The PTM program was developed by USPTA and Ferris State to meet the increasing demand for trained tennis professionals, by offering a bachelor's degree in marketing specializing n tenn s management.

• Several USPTA professionals participated in the USTA National Senior Women's Clay Court Championships, held April 19-25 at the Houston Racquet Club. USPTA professional Suzi Swartman of Kaneohe, Hawaii captured the 45 singles title. USPTA pro Sandy Samuelson and her partner Rae Perkola defeated Sheryl Behne and Sissy Skinner, both USPTA pros, to take fifth place in the 45 doubles. Other USPTA pros participating in the tournament were Marsha Bladel-Wolak, Sarasota, Fla. Alice Middleton, Santa Monica, Calif and Judy Scarborough, Houston.

• Pat Serret, USPTA pro, teamed with Shaun Stafford to win the mixed doubles competition at the fifth annual Schaeffer Buick BMW Pro Tennis Tournament, held April 16-18 at the Landfall Sports Center in Wilmington, N.C. The tournament raised more than $5,000 for the Wilmington Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Foundation, which is dedicated to the education and rehabilitation of people with heart disease.

• Greg Lappin, USPTA professional, is part of a group that is developing the Rochester (Minn.) Athletic Club. The large multipur pose athletic and social club will feature entertainment for the family, as well as 17 tennis courts and three permanent ball machine lanes. Lappin previously developed the Flagship Athletic Club in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Member product showcase • The Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy of Bradenton, Fla., and Vic Braden Tennis College Inc. of Goto de Caza, Calif will collaborate on various projects and programs worldwide, an NBTA spokesman said. The association will include high tech sports research- sports psychology joint instructional programs for players, instruc-

tional video production, and the development of tennis-specific teaching concepts.

Both Bollettieri and Braden are USPTA members.

• Science of Coaching Tennis, a how-to book that brings together the four disciplines of biomechanics, motor learning, exercise physiology and sport psychology, now is available n paperback from Human Kinetics Publishers.

USPTA pros Jack Groppel, Ph.D., James E. Loehr, Ed.D., and Ann M. Quinn, who holds a master's degree, teamed with Scott Melville, Ph.D., to examine the sport science techniques used by winning coaches. These techniques can be customized for any player, regardless of age or skill level USPTA pro Stan Smith wrote the foreword for the book. For more information contact Elaine Symanski Human Kinetics Publishers, (217) 351-5076.

• USPTA pros Albert Mora and Desi Pierre, former tennis directors at the Fountainbleau Hilton Resort & Spa in Miami Beach, Fla. have started a tennis company called DM Tennis, also located in Miami Beach The company specializes in managing and consulting tennis facilities at resorts, condominiums, clubs and public tennis centers. DM's goal is to promote and provide top quality service at its tennis facilities. For more information, call (305) 935-5286.

Manufacturers • Art Bylin, president and CEO of Prince Sports Group, has announced a series of promotions and departmental changes, continuing the decentralization of Prince's North American operations.

Kevin Kempin has been promoted to vice president, national accounts and the mountain region, a new area formed from four sales territories. Bob Fenton, named vice president, northeast region, will oversee Prince's relationship as the official racquet of the USPTA, act as the company's liaison with Benetton Sportsystem Canada, and service Herman's and Footlocker, two of Prince's largest accounts.

The two vice presidents and Prince's western hemisphere regional managers will report to David Haggerty, senior vice presi-

dent and general manager of the company's western hemisphere region.

Mike Grafeld, promoted to vice president, information systems technologies and logistics, will be responsible for the application of new information systems and technologies to enhance sales and distribution of Prince products.

David T Holland has been appointed director of product management, planning and development for Prince tennis racquets.

Holland will market Prince's entire line of tennis racquets throughout the world.

David T. Holland

• DDB Needham Chicago has been named agency of record for Wilson Sporting Goods in Europe, and will coordinate all Wilson advertising throughout Europe.

Wilson Racquet Sports recently added John Lyons, previously with Donnay, who will work in Wilson's Chicago headquarters to coordinate its international sourcing and marketing in footwear.

Wilson has reported a growth in sales of tennis accessories. According to a press release, Wilson's string business is up 40 percent, with the Hammertec string sales increasing more than 100 percent from the previous year.

• Unique Sports Products Inc. has introduced thicker headbands to its product line. The headbands are constructed of 94 percent cotton and 6 percent elastic. For more information, contact Connie Smith (404) 442-1977 • Tennis professional MaliVai Washington, this year's runner-up in The Lipton Championships, has joined the PowerBar sponsorship team. PowerBar is a low-fat combination of grains and other natural ingredients in a chewy bar.

• The first America's Red Clay Championship, held May 10-16 in Coral Springs, Fla. named ProKennex and Tecnifibre as the official racquet and string of the event.

The $225,000 tournament is the only red clay-court tournament for men in the United States.

• Penn Racquet Sports has introduced the 22-by-12 inch Centre Court bag that features self-mending zippers, a padded, adjustable shoulder strap, shoe compartment with ventilation grommets and two pockets.

• There are two new shoes in the Asahi USPTA lineup: the Asahi Intrepid and the Dimension. The all-leather ntrepid features the Asahi Lat-Trac system, compression lightweight midsole, and a removable tripledensity PU sock liner. The Dimension embodies all the patented Lat-Trac features in Asahi's first mid-cut tennis shoe.

When buyers make an appointment to see an Asahi sales representative, they each automatically receive a free pair of Asahi tennis shoes for their personal use. In addition, they will be enrolled in a sweepstakes to win a free trip for two to the U.S. tennis tournament of their choice.

For more information about Asahi shoes or to make an appointment with a sales Penn Centre Court bag representative, contact Asahi at (800) 334-8737 (continued on page 24) ADDvantage June 1993

23

Industry action (continued from page 23)

matches and analyzing player performance.

The Tournament Player's Package II interactive player evaluation program includes a new computer written scouting report and comparative statistics for players of all ages and rankings. For more information, contact Jean Summers, (800) 733-6363.

Associations Master Tensometer

• Beers Technique electronic racquet test products has named GRT Inc. in Norcross, Ga. as its North American distributor. GRT Inc. introduced and demonstrated the new Master Tensometer and ERT-4000 at The Super Show. The devices feature technology for measuring static and dynamic string tension, as well as racquet dynamic stiffness.

For more information, contact GRT Inc. (404) 416-6800.

• Spalding Professional Racket Sports entered its second year as title sponsor of "Spalding Play Tennis New York," a low cost, six-month program that teaches beginning tennis to more than 2,100 adults from all five New York boroughs.

• Earl N. Merriman has been appointed as the Florida representative for Snad Rackets. The new worldwide, patented, twopiece racquet recently was introduced in the United States and Canada through nternational Sports & Equipment Corp. of Stanfordville, NY For more information, contact Earl Merriman at (800) 299-2813.

The Gateway 2000 Handbook

• Two new products have been released by Sports Software Inc. the PC Computennis II and the Tournament Player's Package III software programs. The PC Computennis is sold with the Gateway 2000 Handbook notebook computer. The program is a method of charting tennis

24

ADDvantage June 1993

• The United States Tennis Court & Track Builders Association (USTC & TEA) has announced the publication of its 1993-94 Membership Directory. To order a free copy, call (410) 752-3500.

The USTC & TBA also announced annual award winners during its recent meeting in The Bahamas. The Russell B. Goddard Memorial Award, recognizing aesthetic excellence in a completed tennis court or running track project, was won by Welch Tennis Courts of St. Petersburg, Fla. for its construction of the tennis facility at the Stouffer Vinoy Resort Hotel in St. Peters burg. This facility has been chosen as the official home of the Women's Tennis Association.

The Harry Humphries Memorial Award, recognizing technical excellence n a completed tennis court or running track project, was captured by Dalton Enterprises Inc. of Cheshire, Conn, for its emergency resurfacing work on the stadium court of the Connecticut Tennis Center, the site of the Volvo International Tournament.

• The Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) will add a new department, Club Services, in June. The department's mission will be to provide innovative programs, products and services to club managers.

The Club Foundation, created in 1988

by CMAA, announced successful completion of its first phase of the Campaign for Excellence. The campaign exceeded its goal for the first year by raising more than $1 million in pledges primarily from CMAA members and chapters. The Club Foundation provides funds for education and professional development programs, grants and scholarships.

• The American Tennis Association National Championships will be held Aug. 1-7 in Richmond, Va. Workshops and a USTA Minority Participation Committee meeting will be held n addition to the tournament.

• The USTA National Tennis Teachers Conference will be held Sept. 1-3 at the Marriott-Marquis Hotel in New York City. A pre-conference for fund-raising and sport science competency testing will be held Aug. 31 For more information, contact Henry Talbert at 70 West Red Oak Lane, White Plains, NY 10604, or (914) 696-7000.

The USTA Recreational Tennis Leadership Workshop will be held Nov. 12-14 at the Stouffer Hotel and USTA National Office in White Plains, NY For a registration brochure and more information, contact Gloria Nadile at (914) 696-7036.

Miscellany • The 1993 Jamie Harder/Brian Kofman Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Stephanie K. Herbert of Houston, who will receive $2,000 to cover overseas tennis circuit costs, Tennis: Europe announced.

Andre Cheney of Chandler, Ariz, and John "Hogan" Gidley of El Dorado, Ark. will share the award for boys, receiving $1,000 each These student athletes were chosen from a record number of applicants from throughout the country and will represent the United States this summer at major international tournaments in Europe. USPTA professional Martin Vinokur is the director of Tennis: Europe.

• The Super Show officials are promoting the 1994 show to exhibitors by using a colorful self-adhering sticker for exhibitors to attach to outgoing mail. In addition to highlighting the show dates for 1994, the sticker lets buyers know about the exhibitors' participation in the show. <o>

USPTA

0/oJ)onn 1

It's not just a game. So when rt's your turn to bring the balls, you bring Pro Penn. If you have to ask why you don't get it. Hey the USPTA doesn't endorse it for its good looks.

For more information call -800-BUY-PENN.

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There is no greater experience for tennis professionals, coaches or tennis teachers than the United States Professional Tennis Association's National Convention. Fun and informative, the convention will feature the first USPTA National Tennis Buying Show, internationally renown seminar speakers, Specialty Courses, business meetings, social gatherings and prize-money tournaments.

^ USPTA National Convention Sept. 18-26, 1993

BOCA RATON RESORT & Club, BOCA RATOIN, Fk.

SEPT. 1 8-26 CAll(715)974JSPTA MEMbERS, NON'MEMbERS Aisd qUESTS

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Tennis Professionals

UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION, INC. World Headquarters One USPTA Centre 3535 Briarpark Drive Houston, TX 77042-5235

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