February 2007 Monthly Archive

An international flavor

A longtime observer of junior and college tennis says limiting foreign players at U.S. colleges is a bad idea. (Click here to read more...)

U.S. Coach Helps to Bring Wheelchair Tennis to Developing Nations

As wheelchair tennis grows in popularity and relevance in American sports, steps are being taken to introduce the sport in developing nations, where other wheelchair sports are already on the scene. For nearly two weeks this past summer, wheelchair... (Click here to read more...)

Sharing the Knowledge

Fitness training guru Pat Etcheberry teaches coaches how to assess a player and devise a winning program. (Click here to read more...)

Order on Your Courts!

A few bad apples can spoil the fun for all. Help your players by posting these Seven Sins of Social Tennis at your facility. (Click here to read more...)

Change of Pace

The industry needs to create an environment that will better serve the changing market and culture of today. (Click here to read more...)

Outlook 2007 -- Introduction

With equipment sales growing and more people trying — and coming back to — tennis, the new year looks to be another good one for your business. It's been a nice couple of years for tennis equipment retailers and... (Click here to read more...)

Hitching a Ride

You're probably seeing it everywhere: Tennis on TV. Tennis in the movies. Tennis in popular magazines. Tennis in commercials and advertisements. In fact, the crowning achievement may have been last fall, when Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek revealed the "Final... (Click here to read more...)

Kicking it up

With some creative marketing and promotions, you can drive participation in your programs. (Click here to read more...)

Klip Armour Pro 17

Klip Armour Pro is a natural gut string with an unusual feature: The gut is completely coated with a hard shell. Klip says that Armour Pro takes natural gut to the next level, increasing durability and control, while reducing... (Click here to read more...)

Industry News

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

Nice Touch

Cushioning comes into play for these hard-court award-winners. (Click here to read more...)

Outlook 2007 -- Getting Serious

Footwear manufacturers are designing tennis shoes to meet the needs of hard-core players. (Click here to read more...)

Outlook 2007 -- Living in the fast lane

For spring, frame manufacturers are looking to boost swing speed to help players generate more power and spin. (Click here to read more...)

Outlook 2007 -- Court Couture

Apparel makers are giving players exactly what they need to perform their best on court. (Click here to read more...)

Looking to serve

Throughout the country, Tennis Service Representatives are finding out what local tennis leaders need to grow the game. (Click here to read more...)

Raising the sweet spot

Q: I have noticed that my daughter hits the ball most of the time just above the sweet spot, and I was thinking of putting lead tape at the 2 and 10 o'clock positions of the head. Should I counterweight... (Click here to read more...)

Babolat Clamp Replacement

Q: I've got to get new clamps for my Babolat Star 3 and I'm finding it difficult to justify spending $525 on a pair of replacement clamps. I have read many good things about the clamps on the Silent Partner... (Click here to read more...)

Babolat Star 5 Clamp Base Adjustment

Q: In your review of the Babolat Star 5, you say that locking the clamp bases requires a small rotation of the ergonomic handle. However, on mine, I have to turn the handle nearly 90 degrees. Is there an adjustment... (Click here to read more...)

Ever-lasting stringbed tension

After years of being plagued with tension loss, I have found a method of tensioning that gives racquets months of consistent string bed stiffness. Here is how I reduce tension loss to a minimum: a. Reduce reference tension 10 to... (Click here to read more...)

Colorizing lead tape

Lead tape works wonders when customizing sticks. Unsightly as it may be on a racquet's hoop, we just accepted its drab gray color because there was no other choice. Not anymore. I found a way to dress up lead tape... (Click here to read more...)

Replacement stencil tips

A couple of years ago, you ran a tip that started out with the words, "Is there any one else out there who dislikes stenciling racquets as much as I do?" At the time, I was thinking I could give... (Click here to read more...)

Stenciling with toothbrushes

I gave up fighting with worn stencil ink applicator tips, and now use toothbrushes, which distribute ink to the very edges of the stencil. Toothbrushes also prevent excess ink from being deposited on the side of the stencil that will... (Click here to read more...)

Clamp slippage checker

I finally have a device to detect any string slipping through the clamp after tensioning. I disassembled a spring-loaded clothespin and filed down the clamping areas to create two flat surfaces. I then took some scraps of replacement grips that... (Click here to read more...)