July 2006 Monthly Archive

Why Player Challenges Are a Bad Call

By Paul Fein and Christopher Noble Paul Hawkins, the British inventor of the revolutionary Hawk-Eye electronic line-calling technology, was speaking from his experience with other sports when he advised the ATP and WTA tours: "You've chosen this route, now... (Click here to read more...)

Wrist Snap In the Serve

Physicist Rod Cross explains that the racquet snaps the wrist, not vice versa. (Click here to read more...)

Program Director

With realistic random-play options, ball machines enter the "I, Robot" generation. (Click here to read more...)

Grab Every Opportunity You Can

You've heard it from us before, but it bears repeating: Take advantage of all the opportunities you can when it comes to furthering your knowledge in this business. And one of the best opportunities — for tennis teachers, coaches,... (Click here to read more...)

Roy Barth Makes Service Count At Award-Winning Kiawah Island

On May 1, 2006, Roy Barth celebrated his 30th year as the tennis director at Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston, S.C. Over those three decades, he has survived multiple owners, hurricanes, open-heart surgery, and a brain tumor, and... (Click here to read more...)

Industry News

Information to help you run your business. (Click here to read more...)

Feminine Allure

HEAD enters the women-only racquet market, with legend Steffi Graf waving the flag for the new Airflow frames. (Click here to read more...)

Head FXP Power 16

FXP Power is a new multifilament designed to build on the success of Head's recently introduced FXP string technology. In the past two quarters (Q4 2005 and Q1 2006), FXP has been number 15 on the best-sellers list in... (Click here to read more...)

On the Road

When it comes to shoe outsole design, here's what your customers need to know. (Click here to read more...)

Owning Assets That You Lease to Your Business Can Make Sense

It is not uncommon for the owners or shareholders in a racquet sports business to own the real estate or other assets personally, then rent them to their operation. In fact, it is often a smart move from both... (Click here to read more...)

Champions of Tennis 2006

Help us recognize the people who are making a difference in the business of tennis. Once again, we'd like to honor the champions of our sport — the many, often unheralded heroes who work tirelessly to develop tennis in... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Remote control

Remote Control Available as Option These machines do not come with a remote, but you can buy one. Look at the next several columns to find out what the remote controls and whether it is wireless. Remote Control — Cord... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Propulsion

Spinning Wheel Propulsion An "X" in this column indicates that the machine uses two spinning wheels to feed the ball to you. In almost every case the spinning wheels are stacked vertically with just enough space between them for a... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Power

Runs on Battery or Power Cord An "X" in this column means that you can power the machine with a battery or a power cord plugged into an electrical outlet. Runs on Power Cord Only Machines in this column require... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Contact information for 2006

Lobsterlobsterinc.com800-526-4041Playmateplaymatetennismachines.com800-776-6770SAMMasterSports.com800-837-1002Robot Optimizerstennisrobot.com888-8BOOMERSilent Partnersptennis.com800-662-1809Sports Attacksportsattack.com800-717-4251Sports Tutorsportstutor.com800-448-8867Super Coachtennismachine.com408-855-9644See the our complete list of contact information for ball machine manufacturers. IntroductionFeaturesContact information for 2006PowerPropulsionOscillationRemote controlMiscellaneous... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Oscillation

No Oscillation Machines with an "X" in this column are not cabable of feeding the ball in more than one direction. So, if you want to practice forehands you have to point the machine toward your forehand and vice-versa for... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Miscellaneous

Cover Comes Standard These machines come with a cover included in the price listed. Cover Available as an Option This column indicates whether the manufacturer makes an optional cover available and how much it costs. Includes Wheels for Portability Machines... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006 -- Features

Brand & Contact Info The name of the manufacturer and how to get in touch with them. You can contact them to get more information or to order the machine that looks best to you. There are eight manufacturers making... (Click here to read more...)

Ball Machine Selector 2006

No matter what kind of facility you have, a ball machine should be a key component of your business. While you may be put off by the initial investment, you'll make that money back — and much more —... (Click here to read more...)

String breakage patterns

Q: I read somewhere that if your string breaks in the mains it means one thing, and if it breaks in the crosses it means something else. Can you enlighten me?... (Click here to read more...)

String gauge differences

Q: I am in a debate with the other pro here about the advantages of thinner string. Could you please explain why thinner gauge adds more topspin and power than thicker string?... (Click here to read more...)

Calibration procedure

Q: I inherited an old Ektelon stringing machine, but it didn’t come with a manual. Do you have any information on it? It still works, I just don’t know how to ensure the calibration is correct.... (Click here to read more...)

Lockout calibration woes

Q: I acquired a lockout-type stringing machine a little more than four years ago. I've been using it to string racquets for my clients who specifically request lockout tensioning, as my main machine is a constant-pull electronic machine. I have... (Click here to read more...)

De-tangling

When you're first starting out, tangles can take what seems like forever to undo, and can be especially frustrating if you got the string out of the package properly to begin with, only to find the long side snarled after... (Click here to read more...)

Lining up Your Clamps

One key to consistent string jobs is clamping each string so that it is in alignment with the grommet hole. Aside from not forcing the clamp into position regardless of the location of the string, there is another big factor... (Click here to read more...)

Preventing Box Pattern Misweaves

I use a different method to catch misweaves on "box" patterns as discussed in the Tips & Techniques section of the May 2006 issue. After installing the first cross(es), and then the next outside main, I count the remaining number... (Click here to read more...)

Racquet Reconditioning

I try my best to recondition every racquet I re-string, and I've come up with a procedure that really works for me. First, I clean the racquet with Goof-Off to get rid of grime and stray spots of stencil ink.... (Click here to read more...)