January 2008 Monthly Archive

A New Way to Love Tennis

An Atlanta retailer says her love of the game is complete after establishing a tournament to benefit charity. (Click here to read more...)

Playtest: Unique Big Hitter Blue 17

Unique Big Hitter Blue is a monofilament string made with polyether. According to Unique, the use of polyether in this advanced German string formulation allows for a much softer string that absorbs shock and increases comfort, while retaining the... (Click here to read more...)

Child's Play: 10 and under tennis

Tennis pros and facilities — and the sport itself — stand to gain with the upcoming launch of the QuickStart Tennis format. (Click here to read more...)

Top of the List: RSI/ASBA Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards

When it comes to excellence in court construction, it's hard to find better examples than those entered in the RSI/American Sports Builders Association Facility-of-the-Year Awards contest. Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member — whether a contractor,... (Click here to read more...)

Displays of Fashion

These retailers know how to assemble clothing to appeal to their customers. (Click here to read more...)

USRSA Members' Choice Awards 2008

Our exclusive rankings, based on responses by USRSA members, will help you pick the right strings for your shop. What string is best for your customer? It's a tricky question to answer, since there are so many different strings out... (Click here to read more...)

Tennis goes green

Industry manufacturers and organizations join in the fight to improve the environment. (Click here to read more...)

Inaugural Stringers Symposium Draws Beginners and Veterans

Last April, I participated in one of the best things the stringing business has ever seen — the first Grand Slam Stringers Symposium, which was held at the T-Bar-M Resort in Texas. This event was the brainchild of 2007 RSI... (Click here to read more...)

Bringing In the Dough

For one club in Canada, a simple promotion with a local pizza franchise is putting more kids, and adults, on court. (Click here to read more...)

Organizational Movement: Industry People

For the last 20 years, Carol Hogan has guided the ASBA to new levels of professionalism and influence. (Click here to read more...)

Spreading the Word: Facility Manager's Manual

Communication to both employees and members is the key to a successful business. (Click here to read more...)

Industry News

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

VIPs of the Tennis Industry: Our Serve

I just spent a very enjoyable and informative weekend with a group that may well be one of the most important in this industry. No, I wasn't with any of the pro players at season-ending tournaments, nor was I with... (Click here to read more...)

Frame stress and tie-off points

Q: Is there a way that the amount of pressure or stress on the frame can be measured? It seems that the stress must increase at the tie-off points. I am curious how much additional load this places on the... (Click here to read more...)

Restringing frequency

Q: What is the recommended stringing frequency for club players?... (Click here to read more...)

Hybrid options

Q: I was just wondering, what are the benefits of putting natural gut in the main strings and Luxilon in the cross strings, as Roger Federer does? I would think there is more durability needed in the main strings, thus... (Click here to read more...)

Missing String Selector listing?

Q: I was trying to use the String Selector to find strings comparable to a string that was discontinued a couple of years ago. However, when I select the manufacturer of the discontinued string, the String Selector shows only current... (Click here to read more...)

Avoiding coil memory

I'm sure that all stringers become frustrated from time to time with coil memory when measuring out a length of string. I've found that by using a simple countertop paper towel holder, you can eliminate that problem. Simply place the... (Click here to read more...)

Tying off natural gut

I use a dead man's knot whenever the anchor string is natural gut. The version I use is a double half hitch tied around a separate string and the anchor string. I've taken a page from the racquet manufacturers, which... (Click here to read more...)

Investing in Pre-stretching

Investing one minute in pre-stretching could be one of the most profitable and enjoyable investments a stringer can make. Our shop realizes big gains with pre-stretching: It saves us at least 10 percent of the time it takes to string... (Click here to read more...)

Wrap it backwards

It seems that I often get caught on court with a student who needs my help replacing her overgrip, but neither the grip tape nor the grip band are anywhere to be found. Rather than go back out to the... (Click here to read more...)

Stronger clamp cleaner

Cleaning clamps and other stringing machine parts with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol may promote rusting because it contains a percentage of water to begin with, and it's hygroscopic so it absorbs moisture from the air. When the alcohol evaporates, the water... (Click here to read more...)