Our Serve
September 2010
Play it Forward
Tennis is experiencing a “mini-boom” in terms of participation, with more than 30 million individuals having played in 2009. That’s the good news. The bad news is that at the same time, we’ve seen a drop in the number... (Click here to read more...)
August 2010
Where’s Our Rallying Point?
I think I missed something … or maybe I didn’t. It’s hard to tell. What I think I missed is National Tennis Month. Do you know what month is National Tennis Month? Do your customers and members? Do tennis... (Click here to read more...)
July 2010
Keep the Debate a Healthy One
Lately, a few things have crossed my screen that have made me a bit concerned about the health of some relationships in this industry. This regards a little dust-up about a (soon-to-be) proposed rule change for 10-and-under tennis. Some... (Click here to read more...)
Student-Athlete, or Athlete-Student?
After being sidelined by injury, a teenage player considers her path — and tennis’s appeal. (Click here to read more...)
June 2010
Support From the ‘Tennis Family’
One sunny Saturday morning in April, I received an email that made me sit back, sigh and stare at the screen. “Dear Family and Friends,” it began. “To keep you up to date on my health condition, I created... (Click here to read more...)
May 2010
Check Out Our Digital Editions
One thing that’s always gratifying to me is when I go to industry events and people come up to me and say how much they enjoy reading RSI, how informative they find the magazine, and how it helps them... (Click here to read more...)
April 2010
Industry Gathering Points
March 1 was a busy day for tennis. The BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup was held in New York’s Madison Square Garden that evening, and earlier in the day, the TIA had a board meeting... (Click here to read more...)
March 2010
Sowing Seeds at the Grassroots
I just returned from San Diego and am all fired up. I was at the 2010 USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop (CTDW), undoubtedly one of the best things the USTA does for recreational tennis. Volunteers and USTA staff from... (Click here to read more...)
January 2010
There’s Still Much More Work to Do
The news that overall U.S. tennis participation — for the first time in more than 20 years — surpassed 30 million players in 2009 was rightfully hailed as a major achievement for the sport. Amid all the celebrating and... (Click here to read more...)
November 2009
It’s Time to Give the Foot Fault Its Due
The Serena Williams incident during the US Open shows a disappointing side of our sport. Plenty of people have already taken her to task, and I see no need to continue that. But I do want to comment on... (Click here to read more...)
September 2009
A Battle Cry For Our Sport
There’s a new rallying cry for tennis, and it’s being spread by tennis retailers, racquet manufacturers, teaching pros, tennis associations and more: “Racket UP, America!” RUA is not just a slogan, though. It’s an industry-wide promotional campaign for the... (Click here to read more...)
July 2009
A Campaign We Should All Support
Just like you, we at RSI depend on this industry, so we freely admit that we are “cheerleaders for our sport.” And we need you to be “cheerleaders for tennis,” too. That’s why this issue’s cover may look like... (Click here to read more...)
June 2009
Reaching Out to Facility Managers
In mid-May, I spent a week at the Tennis Industry Association office on Hilton Head Island, where I also was fortunate to be able to attend a few sessions at the first Tennis Club Owners and Facility Managers Conference,... (Click here to read more...)
May 2009
Take the Offensive
We’re fighting a battle in my town — and it’s probably similar to what many of you may have gone through. Our park and rec director has proposed a wonderful new public recreation area that includes tennis courts. However,... (Click here to read more...)
April 2009
Sharing Your Successes
February was a busy time on Hilton Head Island. This tennis hotbed became even hotter when the USTA’s Community Tennis Development Workshop was held there, and immediately after that, the PTR International Tennis Symposium. If you’ve read this column... (Click here to read more...)
March 2009
Change for the Better
You may have noticed in our February issue a subtle redesign of some of our pages. Our intent was to keep things fresh in the magazine — while not changing too drastically the look and feel of our award-winning... (Click here to read more...)
February 2009
Building On a Solid Foundation
In December, I made the annual trek to the Technical Meeting of the American Sports Builders Association, which was held in New Orleans. I really love this group, and as I’ve said before in this column, these court builders are... (Click here to read more...)
January 2009
Be a Tennis Champion
Early in November, I ran into the person who brought me into the tennis business. Alexander McNab was the editor of Tennis magazine in 1987, when he hired me as an associate editor. My tennis experience at that time... (Click here to read more...)
November 2008
Advocacy: The Biggest Issue of All?
Amid all the excitement surrounding the US Open, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed about something. What bothered me was just a tiny blip on tennis’s radar screen — and that, I feel, is the... (Click here to read more...)
September 2008
The True Grassroots
With the US Open now upon us, the focus in this sport is on the professional game. And whether you run a retail shop or facility, build courts, or teach tennis, that attention on pro tennis can clearly help... (Click here to read more...)
August 2008
Finding That Tennis Passion
I’ve been involved in the tennis business for more than 20 years. And I have to admit that when I first joined Tennis Magazine in 1987, I would not have said I was particularly passionate about the sport. I... (Click here to read more...)
July 2008
Continuing Your Education
We’re coming into the big pro tennis season in the U.S., as the Olympus US Open Series kicks off in July and leads right to the US Open. But while the pro tours provide a lot of excitement, one... (Click here to read more...)
June 2008
Boosting Your Online Game
This magazine is all about helping your business. Whether a pro shop, facility, teaching pro, coach, court builder, CTA, manufacturer—we want you to succeed. We want more people playing tennis, we want to see full courts and more being... (Click here to read more...)
May 2008
Spread the News
Journalist and commentator Gloria Borger once said, “For most folks, no news is good news; for the press, good news is not news.” Well, we humbly disagree, at least with the second part of that quote. For tennis, there has... (Click here to read more...)
April 2008
A Gathering of Champions
Once again, I felt fortunate to attend one of this industry's best workshops for those actually delivering tennis at the grassroots level. I'm talking about the USTA's Community Tennis Development Workshop, a yearly event that brings together those who... (Click here to read more...)
March 2008
A Major Link in the Chain
Sometimes I worry that teaching pros get sick of hearing about various programs touted as the best thing for the future of the game. If a group such as the USTA, TIA, PTR, or USPTA is putting money and... (Click here to read more...)
February 2008
Get your customers online
Remember when the internet was new, when simply sending and receiving email or visiting a website was a wonder of technology? Now, just about anything you do has some sort of internet component to it. And consumers have come... (Click here to read more...)
January 2008
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...)
November 2007
Finding the 'Best of the Best'
Is your facility a leader in delivering tennis programs and providing service to promote the sport? The TIA and the USTA, together with RSI, are once again looking for the "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers" in the U.S. These... (Click here to read more...)
September 2007
Strong, And Getting Stronger
We at Racquet Sports Industry are proud to be a part of the Tennis Industry Association. And now, we've taken steps to expand our partnership with the TIA — and as a result, you'll enjoy greater coverage of industry... (Click here to read more...)
August 2007
Your Source for Industry News
The recent relaunch of our website, racquetsportsindustry.com, has been doing just what we had hoped — it's keeping the industry informed about what's going on in a very timely manner. In fact, the tagline we use on the home... (Click here to read more...)
July 2007
Keep Your Business Rolling
When it comes to tennis balls, some dealers just don't get it. They treat the product almost with a kind of contempt. True, you may not be making a huge percentage of your income selling tennis balls, but the... (Click here to read more...)
June 2007
A Look Into the Future
Recently I had the good fortune to address the students in the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. If you're not familiar with this program — and the handful of others like it... (Click here to read more...)
May 2007
Two Programs Serving the Future
For years, this industry has been searching for the magic bullet that will send tennis participation through the roof, making this business profitable for everyone. Many programs and initiatives have flashed onto the scene, only to fade after a... (Click here to read more...)
April 2007
Recognizing the Best
Every year, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducts three or four people who have had a major impact on tennis, whether as a pro player or as a "contributor" to the game, such as a media member, coach,... (Click here to read more...)
March 2007
Creating our image
One of this year's inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July, alongside legend Pete Sampras and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, will be longtime tennis photographer Russ Adams. The 76-year-old Adams, known as the "dean" of tennis photography, has... (Click here to read more...)
February 2007
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...)
January 2007
A Solid Foundation
There's been a lot of good news in tennis lately. Participation is rising, equipment sales are up, the number of "play occasions" has increased. And, of course, the big statistic that many people have quoted over the last six... (Click here to read more...)
November 2006
True Champions of Tennis
This issue marks our 6th Annual Champions of Tennis Awards. We're thrilled that every year, the awards that we started in 2001 to honor those often "unsung" heroes of the sport have gained more and more notice within the... (Click here to read more...)
September 2006
More Than Money Can Buy
On the one hand, it was a bold move: naming the USTA National Tennis Center in New York — home of the US Open and the world's largest public tennis facility — after Billie Jean King, and forgoing possibly... (Click here to read more...)
August 2006
Carrying On
After more than 20 years in the tennis spotlight, Andre Agassi, now the U.S.'s grand ambassador for the sport, has announced that he will retire after this year's US Open. The New York stage is a fitting place for... (Click here to read more...)
July 2006
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...)
June 2006
A Can't-Miss Marketing Strategy
Many retailers and facility managers think the Tennis Industry Association is mainly for manufacturers. But that is simply not the case. Over the last few years, the TIA has quietly been expanding its reach to facilities and retailers to... (Click here to read more...)
May 2006
Become a Tennis Advocate
We all want people on our side. As teaching pros or coaches, you want your students to think positively about you, to talk you up to others who may not know you or your talents. As retailers, you want... (Click here to read more...)
April 2006
Spotlight on stringing
I just returned from an exciting event at The Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas — the Wilson World Stringing Championships. I served as referee for the competition, which was essentially a speed-stringing contest using head-to-head competition (not just... (Click here to read more...)
March 2006
Be a 'hero' in your community
The USTA's Community Tennis Development Workshop once again drew a large, enthusiastic crowd in early February, this time in Hollywood, Calif. I was among about 650 who registered for the conference, and again, I was amazed and impressed by... (Click here to read more...)
February 2006
Building the future
In early December, I spent three days with people who may well comprise the most important group involved in tennis in the U.S. — the members of the American Sports Builders Association. These are the people who build and... (Click here to read more...)
January 2006
An Investment That Counts
If you haven't heard about it before, then when you turn to page 7 of this issue, you should be pleasantly surprised. The latest annual Tennis Participation Study shows an increase — by 1.1 million — in the number... (Click here to read more...)
November 2005
The Champion's Pursuit
The Champion's Pursuit What does it take to be a champion? No matter the field of endeavor, it takes drive, determination, sacrifice, hard work, practice, knowledge, experience, and more. Man, that sounds like a tough row to hoe. Is it... (Click here to read more...)
September 2005
Honoring Our Commitment
Well, we did this a year ago, and we're going to do it again this year. We're going to pat ourselves on the back. We recently received word that Racquet Sports Industry magazine won a 2005 Apex Award for... (Click here to read more...)
August 2005
You Gotta Have Heart!
It was vintage Jim Baugh — laser pointer in his right hand, slide projector clicker in his left, explaining the latest development in tennis. All of Baugh's excitement about the sport was there, as always, and he was thoroughly... (Click here to read more...)
July 2005
Playing the Numbers
Everywhere you turn in this business, you're hit by research numbers — participation figures, retail sales numbers, attendance and TV viewership figures. A recent addition to all the numbers is the SGMA Sports Participation Trend figures, which indicate that... (Click here to read more...)
June 2005
'Tis the Season
For tennis fans in the U.S., it's like being a kid again, with Christmas fast approaching. We're coming into the Tennis Holiday Season. So many things are happening in June, July, and August — all culminating with the greatest... (Click here to read more...)
May 2005
Don't Expect a Magic bullet
Something came up at the last TIA board meeting in March, held during the USTA's Annual Meeting in La Quinta, Calif., that got me a little concerned. As TIA President Jim Baugh was updating members about some key programs... (Click here to read more...)
April 2005
What's on Your Business Learning Calendar?
What did you learn last week that will accelerate the continuous reinvention of yourself and your business in order to survive, compete, and prosper in today's and tomorrow's business environment? Approximately 800 PTR pros spent the last week in... (Click here to read more...)
March 2005
Lessons From a USTA Section
In January, I was invited to the USTA Southern Section Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The nice folks on their Media/Public Relations Committee (Marc Kaplan, Ron Cioffi, and Marcy Hirshberg) asked me and Seth Sylvan, director of communications for the... (Click here to read more...)
February 2005
Continuing Ed That Connects
Continuing education is a big key to helping you succeed in this business. And there are a number of excellent choices when it comes to adding to your business knowledge and honing your skills in tennis teaching, programming, and... (Click here to read more...)
January 2005
Tennis NOW Through 'Coopetition'
There is nothing wrong with trying to sell the most racquets, build the most courts, recruit the most members, or teach the most players. In fact, that is what guarantees that the best products and services will be available... (Click here to read more...)
November 2004
Winning Lessons
Once again, you responded -- with e-mails, faxes, and letters -- to our call to honor the people and organizations that are making a difference in the business of tennis. This issue contains our fourth annual "Champions of Tennis"... (Click here to read more...)
October 2004
What does tennis need?
Has anyone noticed that tennis is fun to watch ... again? Well, fun for me at least, because I like rallies and lots of running. And these are back! And this, desspite all the talk about the fate of... (Click here to read more...)
September 2004
Off to a Good Start!
We'd like to do something that, in many ways, we don't do enough of. We'd like to pat ourselves on the back. Recently, we were notified that Racquet Sports Industry magazine, won an Apex 2004 Award of Excellence. Of... (Click here to read more...)
August 2004
Now, It's Your Turn
Chances are, you've been bombarded lately with messages about how the sport of tennis needs the involvement of everyone -- teaching pros, court builders, manufacturers, facility owners, pro shops, etc. Those of us who have been in this business... (Click here to read more...)
July 2004
A winning game
There's a well-known saying in tennis: Don't change a winning game. You get ahead in a match, your strategy seems to be working -- why deviate from that path? Right now, the USTA has been on a path that... (Click here to read more...)
June 2004
Use All Your Tools of the Trade
It doesn't matter what profession you're in -- carpenter, sales executive, tennis teaching pro, lawyer, retail shop owner -- you need to have the right tools for the job you do. The bottom line, naturally, is the bottom line:... (Click here to read more...)
May 2004
Start Where You Are
Sports stars often stun us with their skill and sometimes make us laugh at their TV commercials, yet rarely do they inspire us or provide something to think about. One notable exception was Arthur Ashe, both a consummate champion... (Click here to read more...)
April 2004
It's about more than just the job
Every business has its movers and shakers -- the high-profile types who keep pushing, get a lot of things done, and, because of their effectiveness, tend to receive a lot of attention. Right now in tennis, it is an... (Click here to read more...)
March 2004
One Degree of Separation … from Tennis
Do you ever wonder what all those people are thinking about as you sit bumper-locked in morning rush hour traffic? Millions of separate consciousnesses all doing the same thing, encased in their metal shells, as if in their own... (Click here to read more...)
February 2004
Writing Our Own Tennis History
In your hands is a little bit of tennis history — the premiere issue of Racquet Sports Industry. This new magazine, which we're calling RSI, comes about as a merger between two industry stalwarts: Tennis Industry magazine and the... (Click here to read more...)
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