200403 racquet sports industry
TRANSCRIPT
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6/684 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
o 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 private universes. What are they thinking?
Well, heres a news flasha good portion of them are thinking about
tennis. How do I know this? Because Ive read, and been overwhelmed by,
the vast quantity of information in this months RSI. It would appear that
tennis, as a physical, psychological, conceptual, and business entity has
tentacles reaching out and grasping every nook and cranny of existence. It
has become entwined as one huge neural network tennis brain. We are all
ganglions in this huge super-existent tennis super-entity.
Yes, this is cosmic. People are designing, manufacturing, building,
negotiating, marketing, advertising, viewing, playing, programming, teach-
ing, administering, thinking, breathing, and living tennis every day in every
way. That guy in the car next to you is, on average, only one degree ofseparation removed from the tennis business. Either he is in it, or his sister,
uncle, best friend, or mother-in-law is somehow actively engaged in tennis.
Its the same with the guy honking at you in the rear view mirror, as well as
the guy cutting you off. The nose-picker, rear-view makeup artist, head
banging rocker, cell phone yakker, and coffee slurping commuter are, were,
or will be touched by tennis. Some are tennis junkies already, some
obsessed, and some still dont know that one day soon, uncontrollable urges
are going to consume their being.
If we could just get them all to turn the radio dial to a drive-time, 7 am
public service announcement: This is an emergencyplease exit your
nearest off-ramp to a Tennis Welcome Center. Suddenly the worldwide
tennis brain would gel into a unified tennis thought. The entire neural
network would be surging with bioelectrical energy and neuromuscular
impulses all combining in a crescendo of cascading activities culminating in
a tennis experience, realization, or happening.
Ok, perhaps Ive been sniffing new tennis ball cans. Actually, reading RSI
has the same effect.
Our Serve
D
One Degree of
Separation...From Tennis
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editor-in-Chief
Crawford Lindsey
Editorial DirectorPeter Francesconi
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Production Manager
Kristine Thom
Design Director
Amy Berger
Art Director/Production
Lorri Elton
Designers
Amy Herling, Debbie Kossoff
Assistant to the Publisher
Cari Feliciano
Contributing Editors
Cynthia Cantrell
Rod Cross
Joe Dinoffer
Liza Horan
Andrew Lavallee
James Martin
Mark Mason
Chris Nicholson
Mitch RustadDrew Sunderlin
Jonathan Whitbourne
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRYCorporate Offices
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: [email protected]: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
[email protected] Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
Racquet Sports Industry (application to mail at Period-icals Postage Rates is pending atVista, CA, and ataddi-
tional offices) is published 10 times yearly by USRSA,330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084. February 2004, Volume1, Number 1 2004 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All
rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logoare trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone
advertising: 770-650-1102 x.125. Phone circulation andeditorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscriptions $55 in theU.S., $65 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St.,Vista, CA 92084.
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SUCCESS
March 2004 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17
Everyone knows that the acquisition
of customers, or players, is much
more expensive than retaining them
in the first place. As one executive with
Club Corporation of America once told
me, You have to sell a ton of French
fries for every lost member at a club.
By now, weve all heard the dramatic
statistics from the groundbreaking 2002
tennis participation study: More than
70 million Americans have tried orsampled tennis, and of those, a whop-
ping 97 percent have no interest in trying
tennis again.
Why? asks Jim Baugh, the presi-
dent of the Tennis Industry Association.
He answers his own question: Because
their initial experience was not positive.
The Tennis Welcome Center cam-
paign is designed to improve our statis-
tics. But there is also a very simpleand
importantingredient that often is miss-
ing in tennis. That ingredient is drama-tized in this example that, for me, hit
very close to home.
A few months ago my daughter won
her first USTA-sanctioned 10-and-under
tournament. What did she get for this
tremendous accomplishment? Nothing!
No trophy, no medal, no prize. That
same week, one of her friends came
home from a soccer match that her team
lost. But she had a small trophy. Why?
Because she participated in the league
and showed up to play!
I asked a few of my daughters
friends what they thought about receiv-
ing awards. Sarah, who takes dance
classes, said that after just a few months,
she received her first trophy for a perfor-
mance. She was only 6 years old. In fact,
everyone got a medal or trophy, receiv-
ing their awards on stage in front of an
audience. Now 10, she still remembers
every detail of that first trophy, and each
one since. She now has a shelf in her
home to display her awards.
It helps me stay with it, Sarah says
of the importance of receiving
awards and recognition. It makes
me think that if I keep doing it, I will
get more awards and get better. It is
very helpful to make me stick with
the program.
Another friend, 9-year-old Sally, is
into ice skating, dance and gymnastics.
She says the children in her classes are
divided into small groups and that
most receive some type of reward or,at the least, regular small prizes and
gifts to recognize their efforts. So far,
shes received nearly 10 medals or
trophies.
Sallys younger sister is 4 and has
already received a medal for participating
in Little Gym, an after-school activity
group in Dallas. This is interesting
because its at a private business, and it
is clear that they are doing this to get an
edge over their competition, namely the
other businesses in the area who arecompeting for the childrens business.
In ice skating and dance, for example,
there is practice leading up to a perfor-
mance. For children, the performances
usually just last a few minutes. In tennis,
the children practice leading up to
competition, but the competition can last
for hours, in hundred-degree weather.
What do the tennis-playing children
receive as recognition for their efforts?
Most of the time, nothing. Frankly,
its shocking.
No wonder we lose so many children
to other activities. If you were 7 years old
and your friends who played tennis had
no awards, while your friends in soccer,
ice skating and gymnastics all had
trophies and medals on display, would
you stick with tennis? Its doubtful.
But lets take this even further. Are
participation awards only important for
children? Not by a long shot. Adults
need that sort of encouragement as well.
We actually did this test: Take two novice
adult teams that both participated in a
league. Give one team
participation awards
and dont give anything
to the second team. First,
watch their faces. Second,
track their participation.
I guarantee that
more players in thegroup who
received participa-
tion awards will stay
in the game.
Whats the cost?
For $2, $3 or $4 per
person, your player reten-
tion will increase. No doubt
about it. Its a small cost that
is easy to build into any
program.
My daughters friend
Sally may just have the last word on
receiving awards for participating: It
makes you feel good, she says, and it
makes you want to keep on going. w
Joe Dinoffer is the author of 15 books and 28videos and is currently featured on 10 programson The Tennis Channel. He is also president ofOncourt Offcourt, which designs and distributesproducts for tennis teachers and facilitymanagers. Sign up for his free monthly onlinenewsletter with marketing and teaching tips atwww.oncourtoffcourt.com. You can reach himat [email protected].
Rewards for Participation Are Goodfor Your Business B Y J O E D I N O F F E R
&marketing
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T H E E X P E R T Sask?
Your Equipment & Business HotlineNATE UPDATE
IN YOUR PIECE ON Nate Ferguson,
he says he could string Pete Sam-pras racquet with gut in 12 minutes
when he had to. What special techniques
did he use to achieve this level of speed and
accuracy?
WE CAUGHT UP WITH NATE
between tournaments (he is now
stringing for other players on the ATP tour).
He says that while it often took longer than
12 minutes to string Sampras racquet, he
could do it that quickly when circumstances
demanded it. Nate says he used an around-the-world pattern (which makes it possible
to start the crosses at the head instead of at
the throat of racquets where the mains tie
off at the throat, such as Petes Wilson Pro
Staff 6.0, when using one piece of string for
the entire racquet). Pete used very thin nat-
ural gut, which helped in some ways, but it
is so fragile that Nate had to use tubing on
every hole where the string made a turn
when passing through the frame to prevent
breakage. When we asked him to what he
attributed his amazing speed, Nate told us,For years, I used the same stringing
machine to string 700 racquets a year for
one client [Pete Sampras]. I just got very
good at it.
BALANCE POINTS
WHAT THE HECK IS A POINT? When
they say a racquet is 6 points head
light, what does that mean?
THE POINT AS A MEASUREMENT
is 1/8 (0.125 inches). The trick is
that the measurement is taken from the
mid-point of the racquet. If a racquet is the
standard 27 inches long, the mid-point is
going to be at 13.5 inches. If the racquet
balance is at 13.5 inches, then it is said to
have even balance. If the balance point is
toward the butt of the racquet, the racquet
is head
light. If the
balance
point is
more
toward the
head of the racquet, the racquet is head
heavy. In the example you give, a racquet
that is 6 points head light would have itsbalance point 6/8 of an inch closer to the
butt than the mid-point.
Although people have been using points
to refer to racquet balance for many years,
it is becoming more common now to refer
to balance in terms of the distance in cen-
timeters from the butt end of the racquet to
the balance point. Referring to balance
measurements from the butt end allows you
to more easily compare racquets of different
lengths. A 27-inch racquet that is 8 points
(1 inch) head heavy will have the same firstmoment (pick-up weight) as a 29-inch
racquet of the same weight and with even
balance, because the balance point on both
is 14.5 inches.
To take your example again, a 27-inch
racquet that is 6 points head light would
have its balance point at 32.39 centimeters.
If you are doing a lot of work with rac-
quet balance, it can become tedious to do
all the measurement conversions yourself.
USRSA members can make use of our on-
line Points Converter, which can be found athttp://www.racquettech.com/members/
tools/points2cm.html.
STARTING CLAMP USES
WHEN EXACTLY is a starting clamp
needed?
A STARTING CLAMP (also known as
a bridge clamp) can be one of the
handiest tools in your tool tray. Depending
on your stringing technique, you may need
one at various points through the stringing
process.
For example, even before you get to
your machine, you can use two starting
clampsone at each end of the stringto
pre-stretch the string. Once you start string-
ing, if your machine clamps let the string
slip a little when you are pulling the first
main string, you can mount the starting
clamp right behind your machine clamp to
eliminate slippage. After you finish the
mains on a two-piece string job, you can
often use a starting clamp instead of a start-
ing knot on the first cross to avoid the pos-
sibility of pulling the starting knot throughthe grommet. Then, after you have installed
the first three crosses, you can re-tension
the first cross (removing the starting clamp
in the process), and use a tie-off knot
instead. If, on the other hand, you are using
an around-the-world pattern, you may find
that at some point you need an extra
clamp, and the starting clamp will do the
trick.
Speaking of knots, you can use a start-
ing clamp as you would use a pair of pliers,
when cinching up knots. Finally, if you get
to the end of the crosses (or the mains, for
that matter), and find that although you
have enough string to tie off, you havent
allowed enough string to reach the tension
head, you can grab the end of the string
with the starting clamp, and then run a
piece of scrap string through the holes on
the outside of the starting clamp to the ten-
sion head.Greg Raven w
We welcome your questions. Please sendthem to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St.,
Vista, CA, 92084; fax: 760-536-1171; email:[email protected].
QQ
T H E E X P E R T Sask
A
A
Q
A
Starting clamp used to prevent slippage through a
machine clamp.
Starting clamp can be used instead of a startingknot on the crosses, or as a third clamp on
around-the-world patterns.
Using a starting clamp instead of pliers to cinch
up a tie-off knot.
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YOUR finances
20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
Effective Tax Planning is aYear-Round Endeavor B Y M A R K E . B A T T E R S B Y
Every tennis-related business owner
and manager should recognize the
need forand the benefits that can
be derived fromtax planning. The objec-
tive of tax planning is to defer or reduce
taxes whenever possible. Unfortunately,
tax planning is often complicated when
state and local business taxes are brought
into the equation.
One of the most difficultand often
overlookedaspects of tax planning
involves your businesss liability for state
and local taxes. All too often, planning to
take advantage of a legitimate loophole
in the federal tax laws will reduce or even
eliminate the benefits that transaction
generates on the state tax return.
We may be in the midst of tax season
right now, but at its most basic, tax plan-
ning is an ongoing event. Every retailer
should be on the lookout for ways to
reduce their operations federal and state
tax liability. Many businesses have a lot of
ups and downs from one year to the next.
Sizable profits in one year reduced by a
big tax bill often leaves the operation
without the reserves necessary to tide it
over when business might not be so
good.
Effective tax planning for any business
involves a number of steps, including:
w Assessing the personal tax situation of
the owners, shareholders or partners;
w Developing and implementing tax-
reducing strategies on an ongoing basis;w Reviewing the form of doing business,
such as sole proprietorship, partnership,
limited liability company, S corporation,
regular C corporation or even multiple
entities;
w Reviewing your businesss accounting
period and accounting method;
w Coordinating the businesss tax strategy
with that of the owners;
w Minimizing state and local taxes; and
w Factoring tax law changes into the
ongoing tax planning process.
reportedly too large for many state legisla-tures to go along with. A majority of
states have declined to fully adopt both
the depreciation bonus and the net-
operating-loss provisions. The result will
be more tax dollars flowing into straitened
state treasuries while many businesses will
face increased complexity as they account
for their income and assets differently for
state and federal purposes.
On your businesss federal tax returns,
the 30 percent bonus depreciation is
allowed for both regular and alternativeminimum tax (AMT) purposes for the tax
year in which the property is placed in ser-
vice. Naturally, the basis of the property
and the depreciation allowance in the year
of purchase as well as in later years must
be adjusted to reflect the additional first-
year depreciation deduction. In other
words, any bonus deprecation claimed on
the tax return will reduce the book value
of the underlying asset and the amount of
depreciation deductions that can be
claimed in later years.
But since only 13 states have laws that
conform to the new federal provisions on
bonus depreciation, businesses operating
in states that choose not to conform will
find themselves compelled to keep multi-
ple sets of books on the current book
value (basis) for each asset that qualifies
for the federal provision.
Under our federal tax rules, net operat-
ing losses (NOLs) can be carried back two
years. The new law temporarily extends
that carryback period from two to five
years. In addition, certain NOLs usually
It is obvious that recent tax law
changes have
significantly
increased both
the complexity and the
rewards for tax planning. Remem-
ber, however, law changes do not impact
only the federal tax bill.
The federal Job Creation and Worker
Assistance Act of 2002, for example,
made a number of significant changes to
our basic tax law. Designed to stimulate
the economy, many retailers have already
benefited from those changes, several of
which were retroactive to the 2001 tax
year. Unfortunately, the tax authorities in
many states have been somewhat cool to
the federal stimulus efforts.
Since most states use the Internal
Revenue Code, the federal tax law, as the
base for their state income taxes, the fed-
eral cuts threatened to reduce state rev-
enues. Many state legislatures have
forestalled that possibilityand reducedthe amount of savings that many retailers
might otherwise enjoy as a result of the
economic stimulus packagewith other
tax legislation passed in 2002.
With states limiting, or taking away
completely, the benefits of JCWA, how
can any owner hope to fully stimulate the
economy of their tennis business? The
answer lies in the systemsboth federal
and state.
GIVING EM A TAX BREAK?
The JCWA included a provision that
allows businesses a bonus 30 percent
depreciation deduction on capital equip-
ment purchased between Sept. 11, 2001,
and Sept. 11, 2004, and a second one
that extended the time period for using
net operating losses to offset taxes. In
essence, it creates refunds of previously
paid taxes for many troubled retail
operations.
But the implications of the federal
stimulus package for state budgets were
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carried back for three years, such as casu-
alty losses, can also be carried back five
years under the JCWA.
This enhanced federal carryback applies
only to losses that arise in tax years ending
in 2001 and 2002. Businesses are given
one opportunity to elect out of or reject
this treatment, and the choice is final.The new law also allows a taxpayers NOL
deduction to reduce its alternative mini-
mum taxable income up to 100 percent.
Unfortunately, only seven states have
adopted the NOL provision and only four
of thoseAlaska, North Dakota, Okla-
homa and Vermonthave adopted the
provision as written in the federal law.
Delaware, New York and Wisconsin have
adopted the basic NOL provision but limit-
ed the amounts that can be carried back.
FACTORING INTO PLANNING
Faced with budget shortfalls, many states
are balking at adopting tax breaks includ-
ed in the federal economic stimulus pack-
age and other federal tax-related
legislation. The quandary for the states is
this: Should they go along with the tax
The fact that a state is out of conformity
with the JCWA and other federal tax
breaks now doesnt mean that it will
necessarily remain so in the future. A
number of states normally synchronize
their law to the federal provisions as of
Jan. 1 of each year.
Remember, however, tax law changeswhether on the federal or state levels are
not the only reasons for business tax
planning. The changing economic climate,
competition, the personal circumstances
of the owners and, of course, the goal of
both the business and its owners are
constantly changing. Tax planning should
reflect those changes.
Tax planning isor should bea year-
round endeavor. You should know what
deductions are available to your operation
and you need to keep the records neces-
sary to support and document every trans-
action.
In this manner, the resulting tax sav-
ings can be used to successfully operate
and grow the business. w
Mark E. Battersby is a tax and financial advisor,
lecturer, writer and author in Ardmore, Pa.
March 2004 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21
Every retailer should be
on the lookout for ways
to reduce their
operation's federal and
state tax liability.
breaks and suffer another revenue hit, or
refuse, thereby denying business taxpayers
some benefit and complicating an already
complex tax code?
Regardless of whether the states decide
to accept or reject tax benefits created on
the federal level, businesses can claim a
legitimate federal tax deduction for all
state, local and foreign taxes paid or
accrued within the tax yearat least tothe extent that they are directly attribut-
able to the business (or to the production
of income). In fact, even advance pay-
ments of estimated state income taxes
made by a cash-basis tennis business
under state law are tax deductible in the
year paid.
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Theres no denying that 2003 was a
down year for racquet sales at
pro/specialty stores. For the whole year,
sales were down in units, dollars and
average price compared to 2002.
But if you take a closer look, 2003
fourth-quarter numbers show a decided
upturn, compared to the same period in
the year before. In addition, the average
price for a premium frame recovered latein the year, unit sales were up and, as a
whole, the market exhibited a recovery
from a poor first half. Plus, dealers are
expressing optimism about future sales
going into 2004.
The numbers for the whole of 2003,
as compared with 2002, show that the
gap in unit sales continued to close,
finishing up 3 percent for the fourth
quarter. Dollar sales in the last three
quarters had a somewhat similar recovery
compared to 2002, and the average price,which had sunk well below $140 in mid-
year, recovered slightly in Q4.
Combine these signs of recovery with
the fact that racquet inventory levels are
looking better and that dealers themselves
are forecasting improved sales, and there
may possibly be good news around the
corner for tennis retailers.
Early in 2003, nearly 60 percent of
dealers said they were overstocked with
tennis racquets. But late in the year,
that figure had dropped
significantly. Now, just over
half of all dealers say they
are at the rightinventory levels.
This, as weve
seen, has
helped
push the
average
racquet price back
up, adding to dealer margin.
All of this has helped dealers feel
much better about what the current year
may bring. In early season 2003, only 17
percent of dealers were predicting anincrease in racquet sales. By the end of
last year, that figure had improved
dramatically, to 36 percent. And
significantly, while 41 percent of dealers
early last year predicted a decrease in
future racquet sales, that figure has
dropped to 21 percent who feel their
sales will decrease.
So if the current trends continue,retailersand racquet manufacturers
may indeed have reason to feel optimistic
about whats ahead. w
Keith Storey is the vice president of SportsMarketing Surveys USA, based in North PalmBeach, Fla. He has more than 20 years ofexperience in market research and businessanalysis, most of which has been spent in thesports industry.
Inventory Levels Improve
Over Under RightEarly Season 2003 57% 3% 40%
Late Season 2003 44% 4% 52%
Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys USA-Dealer Trend Reports
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
Racquet Sales, 2003 vs. 2002
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD
Units Sold
2002 110,861 170,475 245,664 145,095 672,095
2003 102,011 160,782 241,887 149,672 654,352
% Change -8% -6% -2% 3% -3%Dollars (000s)
2002 $15,763 $23,946 $33,650 $20,464 $93,824
2003 $14,432 $21,432 $31,557 $20,410 $87,832
% Change -8% -10% -6% 0% -6%
Average Price
2002 $142.19 $140.47 $136.98 $141.04 $139.60
2003 $141.48 $133.30 $130.46 $136.37 $134.23
% Change -1% -5% -5% -3% -4%
Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys USA-Retail Audit
Dealer Forecasts for Future Sales
Increase Decrease Same
Early Season 2003 17% 41% 42%
Late Season 2003 36% 21% 43%
Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys USA-Dealer Trend Reports
B Y T H E numbers
Late-Year Rally Is Leading To AnOptimistic 04 Forecast BY KEITH STOREY
#
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MEN
Round Racquet Racquet StringRank Reached Player Name Country Brand Racquet Model Headsize Brand
1 W Roger Federer SUI Wilson Pro Staff Tour 90 Luxilon/Babolat
2 S Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP Prince Tour NXGraphite MP 100 Luxilon
3 Q Andy Roddick USA Babolat Pure Drive + 100 Babolat
4 1 Guillermo Coria ARG Prince Tour NXGraphite MP 100 Luxilon
5 S Andre Agassi USA Head Liquidmetal Radical OS 107 Luxilon
6 1 Rainer Schuettler GER Head Liquidmetal Prestige Mid 93 Polystar
7 Carlos Moya ESP Did not play
8 Q David Nalbandian ARG Yonex RDX-500 98 Luxilon
9 4 Mark Philippoussis AUS Head Prestige 93 Babolat10 4 Paradorn Srichaphan THA Yonex Ultimum RD Ti-80 98 Luxilon/Babolat
11 3 Tim Henman GBR Slazenger Pro X1 95 Luxilon/Babolat
12 Q Sebastien Grosjean FRA Head Liquidmetal Prestige MP 98 Babolat
13 4 Lleyton Hewitt AUS Yonex RDX-500 90 Babolat/Luxilon
14 1 Nicolas Massu CHI Babolat Pure Control Plus 97 Luxilon
15 4 Sjeng Schalken NED Dunlop 300G 98 Babolat
16 3 Jiri Novak CZE Volkl Tour 10 MP 98 Luxilon
17 3 Gustavo Kuerten BRA Head Liquidmetal Prestige MP 98 Luxilon
18 1 Martin Verkerk NED Head Liquidmetal Prestige Mid 93 Luxilon
19 1 Tommy Robredo ESP Dunlop 300G 98 Luxilon
20 2 Agustin Calleri ARG Head Liquidmetal Prestige Mid 93 Luxilon
WOMEN
Round Racquet Racquet StringRank Reached Player Name Country Brand Racquet Model Headsize Brand
1 W Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL Wilson HTour 95 BDE
2 F Kim Clijsters BEL Babolat Pure Drive 100 Babolat
3 Q Amelie Mauresmo FRA Dunlop 300G 98 Babolat
4 Serena Williams USA Did not play
5 Jennifer Capriati USA Did not play
6 Q Lindsay Davenport USA Wilson HTour 95 Babolat
7 Q Anastasia Myskina RUS Head Liquidmetal Instinct 100 Kirschbaum
8 1 Elena Dementieva RUS Yonex MP Tour-1 98 Luxilon
9 2 Ai Sugiyama JPN Prince More Control DB 800 97 Prince
10 4 Chanda Rubin USA Head i.X6 MP 102 Gosen
11 1 Nadia Petrova RUS Prince TT Hornet MP 97 Luxilon
12 4 Vera Zvonareva RUS Fischer Pro Tour FT 98 Kirschbaum
13 3 Paola Suarez ARG Prince Experimental 100 Prince
14 3 Venus Williams USA Wilson H4 110 Wilson
15 S Patty Schnyder SUI Head Liquidmetal Prestige MP 98 Kirschbaum
16 1 Conchita Martinez ESP Wilson HTour 95 Gosen
17 Jelena Dokic AUS Did not play
18 2 Francesca Schiavone ITA Fischer Pro No. One 95 Luxilon
19 2 Anna Pistolesi ISR Babolat Pure Drive 100 Babolat
20 4 Silvia Farina Elia ITA Prince TT Graphite Oversize 107 Luxilon
player E Q U I P ME N T L O G
48 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
Australian Open
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String String Footwear ClothingString Model Gauge Tension Brand Footwear Model BrandBig Banger Alu Power Rough (M) /VS Team (X) 16L/16 Nike Air Zoom Breathe Free Nike
Big Banger Original 16 53/51 Nike Air Court Implosion Sergio Tacchini
Pro Hurricane 16/VS Team 16 16 73 Reebok Figjam DMX Reebok
Big Banger Original 16 55 Adidas Forefoot a3 Tennis Adidas
Big Banger Alu Power 16L 66 Nike Air Zoom Breathe Free Nike
Classic/Energy 16L 25/24 Fila Ventor Fila
Big Banger Original 16 64 Yonex SHT-303 Yonex
VS Touch Natural Gut 16 75 Fila Ventor FilaBig Banger Alu Power(M )/VS Touch Natural Gut (X)16L/16 64 Adidas Forefoota3 Tennis Adidas
Big Banger Timo 17 (M) /VS Team Natural Gut (X) 17 51.6 Adidas Barricade III Adidas
VS Touch 16 50.6 Nike unknown Lacoste
VS Touch Gut (M) /Big Banger Alu Power (X) 16 56 Nike Air Zoom Breathe Free Nike
Big Banger Alu Power 16 53 Adidas Barricade III Adidas
VS Touch 16 68/70 Nike Resolve Nike
Big Banger Alu Power 16L 29/28kg Australian
Big Banger Alu Power 16L 55/59.4 Nike Olympikus
Big Banger Alu Power 16L 53 Puma Puma
Big Banger Original 16L 23.5kg Sergio Tacchini Sergio Tacchini
Big Banger Alu Power 16L Diadora Champion DA Diadora
String String Footwear ClothingString Model Gauge Tension Brand Footwear Model BrandBDE Performance 16 57.5 Adidas Barricade III W Adidas
VS Touch 16 66 Fila Magna Fila
VS Touch 16 57.2 Nike Air Zoom Breathe Free Nike
VS Touch 16 63/64 Nike Air Zoom Thrive Nike
Super Smash Honey 17 26/24 Nike Air Zoom Breathe Free Nike
Big Banger Alu Power 16L 57.2/55 Yonex Power Cushion 300 Yonex
Natural Gut 16 57 Nike Air Court Motion Nike
OG Sheep Micro 16 58 Adidas Incentive III W Adidas
Monotec Supersense 16L 20kg Adidas Barricade III W Adidas
Super Smash Spikey 16 Adidas Barricade III W Adidas
Nylon 15L Lotto Lotto
Natural 16 65 Reebok VESW DMX Reebok
Super Smash Spikey 17 Adidas Barricade III W Adidas
TecGut Pro 16 Robe di Kappa Robe di Kappa
Big Banger Alu Power 18 Diadora Kynetech W DA 2 Diadora
Tour Duralast 16 77.2 Puma Puma
Big Banger Original 16 52/50 Sergio Tacchini Sergio Tacchini
March 2004 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 49
Wondering what equipment your favorite pro players used at this years Aussie Open, or how
they strung up their frames to play in the heat of a Melbourne summer on the Rebound Ace
surface? Post these pages in your shop, so your customers can check out their favorites, too.
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string PLAYTEST
50 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
Princes new Premier is a multifilamentstring designed for ultimate gut-like
playability. To achieve this goal, Prince
wraps their micro-filament core with
filament outer wraps made of Softflex,
which they tell us is the most elastic
material ever used in tennis string.
Premier also has a soft polyurethane
coating.
Prince says the elasticity of Softflex pro-
vides tremendous shock absorption and
dampening for an ultra-soft, enhanced
feelmaking it ideal for players with tennis
elbow. Due to Softflexs excellent recovery
from stretch and impact, Prince also claims
tremendous resiliency and minimal tension
loss.
Where a standard synthetic fiber
rebounds only partially after stretching, Soft-
flex fibers stretch and rebound almost like a
rubber band.Prince Premier with Softflex is available
in 16 and 17 gauges (1.30 and 1.25 mm) in
gold only. It is priced from $14 for sets of 40
feet. For more information or to order, con-
tact Prince at 800-2-TENNIS. Be sure to read
the conclusion for more information about
getting a free set to try for yourself.
IN THE LAB
We tested the 16-gauge Prince Premier with
Softflex. The two coils measured 40 feet 4
inches and 40 feet 3 inches. The diameter
measured 1.31 mm to 1.32 mm prior to
stringing, and 1.27 mm after stringing. We
recorded a stringbed stiffness of 68 RDC
units immediately after stringing at 60
pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18
pattern) on a constant-pull machine. After
24 hours (no playing), stringbed stiffness
measured 64 RDC units, representing a 6
percent tension loss. Our control string,
Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, mea-
sured 78 RDC units immediately after string-
ing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours,
representing a 9 percent tension loss. Prince
Premier with Softflex added 13.8 grams tothe weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by
40 USRSA playtesters with NTRP ratings
from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with
playtesters receiving unmarked strings in
unmarked packages. Average number of
hours playtested was 21.8.
Stringing Premier is notably easy. There
is virtually no coil memory, and most tan-
gles shake out. You almost have to knot it
before you have a problem. There feels to
be a light coating of lubricant on the sur-face, which is normal for a polyurethane-
coated string, as the polyurethane can
become sticky toward the end of the
crosses.
Premier cuts to a nice point, and
although supple out of the package, it
retains enough stiffness that blocked holes
are not a problem.
As noted by several of our playtesters,the surface of the string seems to deform
rather quickly at intersections, so its a good
idea to straighten your cross strings as you
work, as the longer the string sits in one
position, the more difficult it is to move it
later. Once again, though, this could be a
function of the polyurethane coating.
Thirty-five out of 40 of our playtesters
rated Premier as being as easy or easier to
install than other strings. None of the
playtesters broke his sample during string-
ing, reported problems with coil memory, orreported problems tying knots. Three
playtesters reported friction burn, which is
not unusual for string with polyurethane
coating, even one that is lubricated.
ON THE COURT
Our playtesters were pretty excited about
Premier. Perhaps not surprising given
Princes goal for Premier, playability and spin
potential garnered ratings well above aver-
age. We did not expect, however, that 34
out of 39 of our playtesters would rate Pre-
miers durability as being as good as or bet-
ter than other 16-gauge strings, or for the
16-gauge Premier to tie for second place in
Power of all the strings we have ever
playtested.
Our playtesters also felt that Premier was
above average in touch/feel and comfort, all
of which combined to give Premier an aver-
age rating well above average, putting it in
the top 20 strings weve tested.
Seven playtesters broke Premier during
play, with the breaks coming after 3, 5, 7, 8,
10, 13, and 26 hours of play.
Prince Premier 16
EASE OF STRINGING(compared to other strings)
No. of testers who said it was:
much easier 2
somewhat easier 15
about as easy 18
not quite as easy 4
not nearly as easy 1
OVERALL PLAYABILITY(compared to string played most often)
No. of testers who said it was:
much better 3
somewhat better 8
about as playable 13
not quite as playable 9
not nearly as playable 5
OVERALL DURABILITY(compared to other strings
of similar gauge)
No. of testers who said it was:
much better 2
somewhat better 13
about as durable 19
not quite as durable 4
not nearly as durable 1
RATING AVERAGESFrom 1 to 5 (best)
Playability 3.5
Durability 3.5
Power 3.6
Control 3.5
Comfort 3.5
Touch/Feel 3.4
Spin Potential 3.3
Holding Tension 3.3
Resistance to Movement 3.2
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CONCLUSION
In addition to its high scores, Premier gar-
nered high praise from a large number of
our playtesters, and we had an unusually
high number of enthusiastic responses.
For players seeking a comfortable string
with good playability for a lot less than
the price of natural gut, Premier may be
the way to go. So, if youre a USRSA
member and would like to see if you are
as impressed with Premier as our
playtesters were, make sure to complete
the coupon at right and fax or mail it
today.Greg Raven w
If there was a perfect synthetic, this would be it. It is as close to
gut as you can get, much like Babolat Xcel Premium but with better
durability. It doesnt fray like NXT Tour and it seems to hold tension
better than most multi-filaments Ive used. Its a soft string thats easy
on the arm and has great pop. This really stands out. Awesome dura-
bility. Every time I picked up the racquet it felt as though I had just
strung it. And, it strings up very easily. Kudos
to the manufacturer.4.5 male all-court player using Prince Control
DB strung at 63 pounds LO (Prince Lightning
XX 16)
A great players string. Love the overall feel
and comfort, and Im surprised by the pop it
has. Would recommend this string to higherlevel players.
5.0 male serve-and-volleyer using Wilson H2
strung at 62 pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)
Outstanding comfort! Virtually no vibration
even without a dampener. Sound is excellent,
too. This is a superior players string that
installs easily and yet resists movement very
well. Teaching was a breeze easy on the
arm even in cold weather. It did have somecontrol issues in play, especially with topspin.
I attribute this to the fact that it has more power than my normal
polyester. This should be a strong competitor for Tecnifibre- and Wil-
son NXT-type strings.
5.0 male serve-and-volleyer using Fischer Pro Extreme FT strung at 39
pounds LO (Gamma ZO 16)
This string holds tension better than any other string Ive tested.The RDC stringbed stiffness dropped only one unit (59 to 58) in the
first 24 hours after stringing. This is phenomenal. Subsequent weekly
measurements were 53, 52, 52. ERT 700 measurements substantiated
the RDC values.4.0 male all-court player using Fischer Pro Impact FT strung at 58
pounds CP (BDE Perf 17)
This string was very easy to install. Not
much in the way of coil memory, and the
lubricated coating made weaving easy. Knots
tied up with no problems. Playing-wise, this
string was slightly better than average. I had
excellent power on my serve and ground-
strokes. Control wasnt quite as good as mynormal string. I seemed to lack power on my
volleys. Overall I was satisfied with this
string.
4.0 male all-court player using Gamma Dia-
mond Fiber M6.5 strung at 61 pounds LO
(Tecnifibre NRG2 SPL 17)
This was a frustrating string to play with.
While I appreciated its feel, I was annoyed
with its seeming unpredictability and poorresistance to movement. There was also a
lack of spin/grip from the strings.
5.5 male all-court player using Volkl C10 Pro strung at 57 pounds CP
(Gamma Live Wire XP 17)
For the rest of the tester comments, USRSA members can visit RacquetTECH.com
I thoroughlyenjoyed playingwith this string.Excellent mix of control, power,
touch/feel, and spin. Strings did
not move much at all, even
after several hours of play.
With the spin I put on my serve,
I sometimes have elbow
problems, but not with this
string. Fantastic.4.0 male all-court player using
Wilson Hyper Pro Staff 6.1 strung
at 60 pounds CP (Wilson Synthetic
Gut Extreme 16)
TESTERS TALK
(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in parentheses.)
FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM
Prince has generously offered to send a free set of Premier 16 with Softflex to
the first 2000 USRSA members who request it.
To get your free set, just cut out (or copy) this coupon and mail it to:
USRSA, Attn: Prince Premier 16 String Offer, 330 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
or fax to 760-536-1171 Offer expires April 15, 2004
One set of free string per USRSA membership Offer only available to USRSA members in the US
FREE! PRINCE Premier 16 with Softflex!Name:
USRSA Member number:
Phone:
Email:If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.
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string PLAYTEST
52 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
Uniques Tournafiber Irradiated is a
new and improved version of their
multifilament, multi-wrap string, the
original of which we playtested in early
2002 (see Racquet Tech magazine, May
2002, for the playtest report). Unique says
that the multifilament fiber center core
and surrounding fine monofilaments give
Tournafiber Irradiated exceptional
comfort and control.
According to Unique, the irradiation process
injects energy into the molecular structure of
the string to enhance elasticity and lower
dampening, thus giving faster rebound and
less loss of energy.
Unique Tournafiber Irradiated is available
in 16 and 17 gauges in natural only. It is
priced from $5.95 for sets of 40 feet, and
$39.95 for coils of 330 feet (16-gauge only).For more information or to order, contact
Unique at 770-442-1977, or visit their web-
site at www.uniquesports.us.
IN THE LAB
We tested the 16-gauge Unique Tournafiber
Irradiated. The two coils measured 39 feet
9.5 inches and 39 feet 10 inches. The diam-
eter measured 1.32 mm prior to stringing,
and 1.24 mm after stringing. We recorded a
stringbed stiffness of 88 RDC units immedi-
ately after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson
Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a con-
stant-pull machine. After 24 hours (no play-
ing), stringbed stiffness measured 78 RDC
units, representing an 11 percent tension
loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut
Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units
immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units
after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent ten-
sion loss. Unique Tournafiber Irradiated
added 14.95 grams to the weight of our
unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by 30
USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings from 3
to 6.5. These are blind tests, with
playtesters receiving unmarked strings in
unmarked packages. Average number of
hours playtested was 15.8.
For the most part, installing Tournafiber
Irradiated is as easy as any other high-qual-
ity multifilament string. The surface is
smooth enough that the crosses dont saw
on the mains when pulling them across,
and yet it has enough texture that you can
grab a hold of it. The string also feels clean,
with little or no surface lubricant.
Although it does not have a strong coil
memory, Tournafiber Irradiated does have a
tendency to twist, reminiscent of natural gut.
Fortunately, it doesnt tend to kink, and with
a little care the twisting can be kept under
control.
The ends cut to a nice point, and the
string is stiff enough that blocked and sharedholes are not a problem.
None of our playtesters broke his sample
during stringing, eight reported problems
with coil memory, one reported problems
tying knots, and none reported friction burn.
ON THE COURT
Our playtesters were impressed by Tour-
nafiber Irradiated, rating it well above aver-
age in playability, control, spin potential and
tension holding. Playtesters also thought
Tournafiber Irradiated was above average in
power, touch/feel and comfort. These high
ratings combine to give Tournafiber Irradiat-
ed an overall score that is well above
average.
Twelve of our playtesters broke their sam-
ples during testing, one after 20 minutes,
one after 2 hours, nine with between 6 and
16 hours of play, and one after 24 hours.
CONCLUSION
Unique has clearly hit their target of wanting
to improve on the original Tournafiber
Irradiated, as the new version rates more
Unique Tournafiber
Irradiated
EASE OF STRINGING(compared to other strings)
No. of testers who said it was:
much easier 0
somewhat easier 5
about as easy 19
not quite as easy 4
not nearly as easy 1
OVERALL PLAYABILITY(compared to string played most often)
No. of testers who said it was:much better 1
somewhat better 6
about as playable 11
not quite as playable 10
not nearly as playable 1
OVERALL DURABILITY(compared to other strings
of similar gauge)
No. of testers who said it was:
much better 1
somewhat better 5
about as durable 16
not quite as durable 5
not nearly as durable 1
RATING AVERAGESFrom 1 to 5 (best)
Playability 3.5
Durability 3.3
Power 3.3
Control 3.6
Comfort 3.4
Touch/Feel 3.3
Spin Potential 3.4
Holding Tension 3.4
Resistance to Movement 3.1
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highly than the original in every category
except resistance to movement. Further-
more, Tournafiber Irradiateds dealer price
is well below that of other irradiated strings.
I found the test sample to have crisp response throughout the playperiod. There was no significant tension loss, and the strings settled in
after about two hours of play. If I knew how well it retained tension I
would have strung it at less than the highest tension, to increase
power, the lack of which was the only limitation of the string. I would
certainly recommend it and look forward to hearing who makes it and
what it is called. 5.0 male all-court player using Head i.S6 OS strung at 61 pounds LO
(Wilson NXT 16)
I find it difficult to say anything negativeabout this string because the first time playing
with it I beat my opponent 6-0 without losing a
point. Ive never done that before. I liked this
string, too. It had a nice feel and plenty of con-trollable power. It also held tension well. Dura-
bility may be an issue, as although it
didnt break, it was notched more than average
for the amount of time I played with it.
4.5 male all-court player using Prince More
Game MP strung at 55 pounds CP (Prince Per-
fection 16)
I like it! Has a crisp and comfortable feel,
and its easy to string. Plays well. If it wouldresist movement better, it could be my string
of choice.
5.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using Wil-
son Pro Staff Surge X strung at 64 pounds LO (Wilson Sensation 16)
Easy to string except for a little kinking. The string moved a greatdeal during play, which impeded spin production. Flat balls were more
crisp. A good string for hard, flat hitters, and very comfortable. It did
start notching, though, after about two hours of play.
5.5 male all-court player using Gosen Secret Carbon strung at 62
pounds LO (Gamma Live Wire XP 16)
I used the proportional tensioning method because I have beenexperimenting with this with my normal string. Performance of the
test sample was similar to other synthetics I have tried, however con-
trol was excellent albeit with markedly reduced power. String move-
ment was more than I expected. I added string savers after
approximately 1.5 hours of singles and 4.5 hours of doubles. Serves
and volleys had some pop, but ground strokes didnt seem to have the
depth one gets from seemingly similar string at similar tension.
3.5 male all-court player using Volkl VX1 strung at 61/46 pounds CP
(Bow Brand Pro 17)
Very easy to string up. Good feel. Itmoved around more than my regular string,
but lost tension at about the same rate as
other synthetics.
5.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using
Head Liquidmetal 4 strung at 55 pounds CP
(Head Intellitour 17)
This string is average, and comparesclosest to Gamma TNT 16. It moved more
than normal for the first three hours, but
then stopped and behaved as most strings
do after settling. I see no need to add this
string to my inventory as others are as good
or better.
3.5 male all-court player using Wilson
Sledge Hammer 3.8 strung at 61 pounds CP(Gamma Professional 17)
This string had a lot of coil memory. Itkinked easily during stringing and wanted to stay that way, which
was a headache when pulling the cross strings. The string plays very
dead: I have to provide all the power myself or else the ball will barely
make it over the net. It does hold tension well and produce good spin,
but this does not compensate for the lack of power and feel. The
outer coating started peeling off after three hours of play.
4.5 male all-court player using Head Radical OS strung at 70 poundsLO (Tecnifibre 515 17)
For the rest of the tester comments, USRSA members can visit RacquetTECH.com
I really enjoyedplaying with thisstring. It held the tensionwell, very little string move-
ment, and it felt good on all
strokes. Plenty of feel and con-
trol with no loss of power. A
very all-around good string. I
would definitely carry this
string. It was easy to install,
with no problems with tying of
knots.
4.5 male all-court player using
Head i.Speed strung at 58 pounds
LO (Wilson Stamina 16)
TESTERS TALK
(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in parentheses.)
In fact, the price of the new version is the
same as that of the original Tournafiber
from two years ago. If youre looking for an
irradiated multifilament string and you
dont mind playing a lesser-known brand
name in exchange for a substantial
monetary savings, Uniques Tournafiber
Irradiated may be for you. Greg Raven w
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a n d TE C H N I Q U E S
54 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
tips
CALIBRATION VS.TECHNIQUE
I have a drop-weight stringer. For best ten-sion accuracy, the manufacturer recom-
mends keeping the tension arm level to
within plus or minus 5 degrees when ten-
sioning a string.
I created a template that allows me
quickly and easily to measure the tension
arm angle, but while I was checking my
work I noticed that string stretch caused
the tension arm to drop more than 10
degrees after tensioning had started. In
other words, waiting time for the tension
bar to come to a stop was more of a ten-
sioning factor than the plus or minus 5
degrees of the tension arm.
I connected a tension gauge to deter-
mine the effect of the tension arm being
slightly above or below the 5-degree posi-
tion and didnt see any appreciable differ-
ence in tension from horizontal.
Because of this exercise I have become
more aware of the need to let the tension
arm settle before clamping off each pull.
Alpha 5-string pack to:
Brian OReilly, Greenwood, SC
CALIBRATING THECALIBRATORThere is always a big discrepancy with
those spring loaded tension calibrators.
Unless you work for a calibration center, it
is difficult to find one that is accurate. I use
a force gauge, but they are a bit pricey.
Thisis what I have found tobe the best and
easiest way for the average person to get
the job done.
w First: Determine what your most com-mon tensions are (for example, 30 pounds
for racquetball, 55 pounds for tennis, etc.)
w Second: Get a loop of stout string and
tie it to one end of your calibrator, leaving
a loop on the free end.
w Third: Find a weight that most closely
corresponds with your most common ten-
sion(s). You should be able to find dumb-
bell plates at second-hand sporting goods
stores.
w Fourth: Loop your string around the end
of the dumbbell (making sure all your knotswill hold!) and lift the calibrator and dumb-
bell just off the ground. If you are using 50-
pound weights or more, you may need
some help with the lifting.
w Fifth: If your calibrator is off, mark the
shaft for future reference.
5 Prince 5-string pack (including
Polygut and Lightning XX) to:
Russ Bruns, MRT, Chesapeake, VA
ALPHA CLAMP PINNINGI used to have a problem with the clamps
on my Alpha Revo 3000 stringing machine.
The problem was that over time the hinge
pins in the clamps would slowly work their
way out of the clamp and I would have to
pound them back in. I have solved this
problem by using a center punch to put a
small dimple in the clamp at each end of
the hinge pin. The dimple is made right
next to the pins hole and deforms the
clamp metal just enough to stop the pin
from moving out.
Head briefcase to:
Bill Hughes, The Colony, TX
SHOE GOO GROMMETSTRIPSI have found a solution for old racquets
with worn-out, unobtainable head guards.
My first step is to try and get the member
to purchase a new racquet that will allow
them to take advantage of the more mod-
ern technology. If that fails, I rebuild the
head guard (not the grommets) using Shoe
Goo. Before I apply this product to the
head of the racquet I tell the member that
it is semi-permanent. I have never tried toremove it but I dont want to take a chance
of destroying the frame. I apply the Shoe
Goo along the frame taking care to keep it
out of the stringing well. I also keep the old
head guard in place. This replacement
head guard extends the life of my cus-
tomers old favorites.
Ashaway 5-string pack (including 1
set of Dynamite WB) to:
Mike Hobbs, MRT, North Olmsted, OH
BEGINNER TIPSSPEEDIER CROSSESWhen weaving crosses, I work one ahead
of course, and I do so in such a way that
the previous string, which is ready to be
pulled, is already positioned next to the
tension head. I dont rotate the racquet
until after I pull tension on the previous
string, which cuts out unnecessary move-
ment and saves time.
Klip hat, wrist bands, and decal to:
Randy Stephenson, MRT, Dallas, TX
The ideas, suggestions and techniques
found in Tips and Techniques have
all been submitted by USRSA
members. This department has run
almost every month since its inception
in 1993, recounting stringers tricks
and tales of the trade garnered from
everyday, real-life stringing and
business experiences. All these tips
have been gathered into a singlevolume of the Stringers Digest
Racquet Service Techniquesthat is
a benefit of USRSA membership.
Submit tips to: Greg Raven, USRSA,
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92804;
or email: [email protected].
Readers Know-How in Action
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and offer them a reduced stringing cost
(straight cost + $10 for example) if they
want to try any strings that I do not typi-
cally stock.
The benefits are the following:1. The customer has a convenient opportu-
nity to hit with strings that may not be typ-
ically available in my stock or any area
tennis shop.
2. I gain more experience stringing differ-
ent types of string.
3. Although you must keep the high-
demand strings in stock for your frequent
customer base, I am truly expanding my
virtual inventory by offering nearly every
available string on the market to your
customers.4. I feel this motivates certain customers to
restring prior to breakage, because this
also serves as a friendly reminder to
restring.
5. My customers and I may come across
some excellent strings that are not (yet) in
my inventory.
Gosen padded equipment bag and
t-shirt to:
Chris McGovern, Grafton, WI
A RESTRINGING IN TIMEA promotion that has worked well for me
involved giving our customers 10 percent
off if they bring their racquets to us before
the strings break. Not only does it make us
more money, it helps customers pay atten-
tion to their strings and to learn when the
string is going bad, losing tension and
notching.
5 packs of Unique Tourna Grip 5-pack
(3 overgrips per pack) to:
Randy Stephenson, MRT, Dallas, TX
Editors note: In addition to helping
customers diagnose wear patterns,
and educating them about string, this
is a good way to get customers to
bring racquets in with strings intact,
so that in cases where the customer is
using an odd-ball frame, the stringing
instructions for which are unknown,
you can immediately determine the
pattern, the tie-offs, the skips and
shared holes (if any).Greg Raven w
a n d TE C H N I Q U E S
March 2004 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 57
tipsHANDLING THE LONG SIDEIf you have wondered what to do with
that long, loose end on a one-piece job,
try tucking it under the grip band at the
top of the grip. It may or may not save you
any time, but the reduction in the nuisance
factor is priceless.
5 Prince Air Cushion Grips to:Christopher Clark, Yakima, WA
MINIMIZING TANGLESBecause of my diverse customer base, I
buy individual packets of string rather than
large coils. The convenience of a reel is
that the string rarely tangles as do individ-
ual packets, depending on the amount of
coil memory in the string. I use a Gamma
Progression II portable machine and like
most portables, they have small rubber
legs. One day I decided to put the coil ofstring under my machine so the leg was in
the center of the coil and see if it I could
just pull the string like I do on a large coil,
and sure enough it worked. Rarely do I get
a tangle, but I need to take my time. Pull it
too hard or fast and it may start to knot.
Its working for me, and it saves me from
getting frustrated over tangles.
5 sets of Volkl Power-Fiber 18 to:
Mike Trinchitella, Mahopac, NY
MARKETING TIPSPOWER OF E-MAILI know that several members have already
discussed the power of e-mail; however,
here may be a slight variation of some of
the common marketing uses of e-mail.
Prior to placing an order with my sup-
plier, Ill send an e-mail to my customer
base and fellow tennis players and refer
them to the supplier website. I give them a
couple of days to check out the available
strings, offer guidance to them if needed,
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
For more information on products and services in
this issue ofRacquet Sports Industry, please contact
the manufacturers directly.
Company Page
Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Ashaway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55ATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Babolat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Bow Brand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Classic Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Courtsider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Douglas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Fischer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Forten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Gamma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 13Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFCICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
K-Swiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BCLee Tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Novagrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,15Nova Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . insertPrince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBCRLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Silent Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Spermies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Tecnifibre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6TIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56, 58Unique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8USPTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61USRSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63USTC&TBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Vlkl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
NEW MEMBER CITY STATE/COUNTRY
David Anderson APO AE
Phillip Waugh Montgomery AL
Dixie Macias Los Altos CA
Vadim Gurman Los Angeles CA
Michael Kord San Clemente CA
Scott Nuechterlein Ridgway CO
Edward Fitzgerald Bolton CT
Mary Yoder Bradenton FL
Raphael Ongsiako Sebring FL
Jim Fineis Alpharetta GA
Edwin Matheson dunwoody GA
Steve Morche Lawrenceville GA
Shawn Zinke Sugar Hill GA
Joe Wainright Woodstock GA
Jerry Layne Greenwood IL
Charles Pitt Fairmont IN
Stan Edwards Bowling Green KY
Albert Chao Milton MA
Thomas Burghard Allegan MI
Kalamazoo Tennis Connection
Kalamazoo MI
Vic Kemming Burnsville MN
Darrell Crocker Springfield MO
Thomas LeTard, Jr. Biloxi MS
Mary Johnson Jackson MS
Beatrice Bork Flemington NJ
Stewart Bunn Lawrenceville NJ
Robert Mulligan Mays Landing NJ
Robert Veracca Saugerties NY
Brian Bateson Setauket NY
Ole Westergaard Syracuse NY
Gary Granger Toledo OH
Barb Schmitz Albany OR
Robert Lawler Gibsonia PA
Leah Goldberg Pittsburgh PA
Floyd Rowe Alamo TN
S. Patrick Flynn Memphis TN
NEW MEMBER CITY STATE/COUNTRY
Sheryl Osborn Arlington TX
Trevor Harris Austin TX
Robert Frnka Houston TX
Lane Shioji Arlington VA
Brittany Stevens Midlothian VA
Kevin Roop LaCrosse WI
Kimberly Ann Spiel Muskego WI
Greg Selby Shapardstown WV
Akihiko Aoki Chiba JAPAN
Rafael Fabregas Hato Rey PUERTO RICO
Melvin Tan Singapore SINGAPORE
Kelly Kao Kaohsiung TAIWAN
Claire Bridges Derbys UK
MASTER RACQUET TECHNICIANS
Congratulations to the following members who
recently achieved MRT status:
Nate Donath Cincinnati, OH
Frederick Lenhard Homer, NY
Kevin McGovern Boulder, CO
Josh Newton Boulder, CO
David Valencia Santa Maria, CA
CERTIFIED STRINGERS
Congratulations to the following members who
recently achieved CS status:
Gaines Hillix Marietta, GA
MRTs: 408 CSs: 2497
NEW MEMBERS
USRSA MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
USRSA membership dues: $99 annually. (CA resi-
dents add 7.75% sales tax. $106.67 total.) Canadian
Members add $20 (US) for postage costs. US Total:
$119. Mexican Members add $25 (US) for postage
costs. US Total: $124. All other International Mem-
bers add $36 (US) for airmail postage costs. US Total:
$135. Membership includes: 10 issues of Racquet
Sports Industry, the five-volume StringersDigest, free
consultation, free classified advertising and access to
the member's-only website.
January 2004U S R S A
330 Main St., Vista CA 92084 Tel: 760 536 1177
President Patrick Curry
Partner/Business Development Steve Schein
Executive Director David Bone, MRT
Managing Editor/Webmaster Crawford Lindsey
Advertising Director John Hanna
Production Manager Kristine Thom
Technical Support
Dot Hogen, MRT; Greg Raven, MRT
Membership ServicesNancy Crowley, Barbara Smith
Shipping/Receiving Pat Regan
USRSA TECHNICAL ADVISORS
Warren Bosworth Professional stringer,
racquet designer and industry advisor
Dr. Howard Brody Professor Emeritus of Physics,
Univ. of Pennsylvania; Science Advisor, PTR
Ron Carr R&D Manager, Gamma Sports
Rod Cross Associate Professor of Physics,
Univ. of Sydney, Australia
Bill Severa Senior Designer,Wilson Racquet Sports
Steve Davis VP of Next Generation, Prince Sports
Dr. Simon Goodwill Research Assistant,
University of Sheffield, UK
Dr. Carl Love Professor Emeritus, Metallurgy;
President, Love Sports Enterprises
Bill Mitchell Director R&D, Powers Court
Tom Parry Product Development Manager/
Pro Tour Services Manager; Volkl Tennis GmbH
Roger Petersman Business Manager-Accessories,
Head/Penn Racquet Sports
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62/6860 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
RETAILERS Tired of looking at yourunsold merchandise? Let someone else sellit. Why not offer it to other retailers in aclassified ad here? See bottom of this page
to placea classified ad.
STRINGERSWant to sell a stringingmachine you don?t use anymore? Why notoffer it to someoneneedinga machine,suchas college teams who want to string theirown rackets? Or to an experienced stringerwho wants to open his own business? Seebottom of this page to place a classified ad.
TENNIS PROS Want to change jobsand let everyone know you are available?Place a Tennis Position Wanted classifiedhere?everyone gets RSI magazine. Seedetails at the bottom of this page.
MEMORABILIA COLLECTORS Want
to sell your duplicates? Looking for a hard-to-find item? Want to trade with other col-lectors? Place a classified ad here. Let theothercollectors know what you want. See bottomof page for details.
TENNIS CLUBS Want to add to staff?Place an ad in RSI; everyone reads it. Allinformation is at bottom of this page. Wecan help.
SUMMER CAMPS Are you looking forstaff for this summer? All college coachesget RSI 10 times a year. They can tell theirplayers or they can come and work for you.Place a classified here at RSI. See details atbottom of this page.
DO YOU WANT TO BUY OR SELL ARACQUET BUSINESS? If you don?twant to keep it a secret, place a classifiedad here. If you want confidentiality, let usadvise you. For details, see bottom of thispage.
DO YOU SELL A PRODUCT OR SER-
VICE TO TENNIS CLUBS OR
RETAILERS?Whynot contact them withaclassified ad here in RSI? It?s easy, just seedetails at bottom of this page.
DO YOU WANT TO BRAG A LITTLE?
Would you like to congratulate someonewho has excelled? Celebrating an anniver-
sary? Justplacean Announcement classifiedad and let the tennis world know.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TENNIS CELEBSis a new weekly publi-cation with stories and pictures of the richand famous tennis people. TENNIS CELEBSgets its news from reporters around theworld sending it the latest news about thestars . For a f ree sampl e, [email protected].
FREE SAMPLE TENNIS NEWSPAPER.
Get a free one-month subscription to DailyTennis, the worlds only daily tennis news-paper. Get the latest news about the play-
ers, tournaments, companies, college tennis
and even job availability. For free samplewrite [email protected].
HOW TO HIRE A TENNIS PRO
Get this free booklet that tells how to hire a
pro, step by step and avoid making a mis-take. For free copy, Call Bob Larson at 952920 8947 or by e-mail [email protected].
MERCHANDISE TO BUY/SELL
BOOKS FOR SALE We have a smallnumber of Vic Braden's book "Laugh andWin at Doubles" at a closeout price of$9.77USvs. regular price of $19.95.Postageand handling in US $6.50. If you buy beforeMarch 31, we will waive the postage andhandling. To order, [email protected].
WE BUY TENNIS BOOKS 952 9208947
WE BUY TENNIS RACKETS952 9208947
POSITION WANTED
Highly successful Tennis Director/Head ten-nis professional, seeks a position in theSouthern California area. This professionalhas extensive experience in all aspectsincluding world class instructional pro-grams, national junior development, and allduties concerning operating, maintaining,and transforming a facility into an elite classorganization. Professional is currentlyemployed, but will consider any position inSouthern Calif. Inquries to
[email protected] or 952 920 8947.
HELP WANTED
TENNIS PROFESSION -
ALS/CHAPERONES - EUROPE
AND NORTH AMERICA
Males and females are invited to coachjuniors on tournament circuits in Europe orNorthAmerica this summer. You must be21years old and have experience working withteenage tennis players.
We conduct serious-minded tournamentcircuitsdesigned to givejuniorsmatchexpe-rience and mental toughness. Each of ourteams consists of a maximum of 15 players(ages 14-18). Two coaches travel with each
team. We provide you with training andsupport to make the summer successful foryou and your players. The ability levelranges from high school varsity players tonationally ranked players with trips from 16to 31 days. We have 15 teams with our firstteam leaving on June 21st and the teamdeparting on July 24th.
Thiswill be TENNIS:EUROPE's 32ndsum-mer. Deadline for application is March 30,2004 or whenever positions are filled.Please send resume and cover letter andwrite for detailed job description to: TEN-NIS: EUROPE, 73 Rockridge Lane, StamfordCT 06903 or telephone 203 322 9803 or e-mail to [email protected].
CAMP STAFF MAINE
The Laurel Camps represent the finest inMaine=s co-ed residential summer camp-ing. Both camps are currently seeking tal-ented Tennis Instructors and Professionalswho have strong tennis backgrounds andwho have experience as instructors orcoaches. Both camps boast superb tennisfacilities, as well as a strong commitment toour programs. We offer top instruction, aswell as intercamp and tournament. Eachcamp offers state-of-the-art facilities, a pro-fessional atmosphere and excellent salary.We also welcome internships. Please visitour extensive website atwww.TheLaurelCamps.com to submit anonline application, or call us toll-free at 800-327-3509 for a staff information packet andapplication.
TENNIS COACHES CONNECTICUT
Indoor Tennis Clubs in Connecticut is seek-ing hardworking, enthusiastic and dedicat-
ed instructors. Minimum two-yearsexperience and commensurate salary. USVisa sponsorship will be considered forqualified applicants, if required. Contact JeffGocke at 203 655 2852 X 308, or via fax203 656 1091.
TENNIS ADVISORY STAFF SALES
Bancroft Sports, America's Oldest RacquetBrand, is seeking qualified tennis profes-sionals for part-time area sales positions ofour new racquet line. A successful candi-date will receive commissions from all salesin their area. There are a limited number ofterritories available. Phone 1-800-779-0807or e-mail [email protected].
SALES REPS Join the fastest growingstring company with a new fresh approachto the tennis industry. We are seekingestablished and motivated sales reps thatare looking to add a string and accessoryline to their current products. We offer a fullrange of strings including synthetics, poly-esters, natural gut an gut hybrids. Sales repsare needed across the US, Mexico andCanada. Positions are commission-basedonly. Please e-mail all resumes and/or ques-tions to [email protected] or fax us at720 559 3253.
TEACHING PROS AND COACHES
Book your dream trip NOW! Enjoy sevendays and six nights at an all inclusiveSuperClubs resortthe most exclusive
vacation destination in the Caribbean (13locations) for you and a companion (or withyour family). Small fee and limited teachingobligation required. Visit our websites atwww.superclubs.com andwww.sportsinternationaltennis.com. Tobook or for more information, call 978 4669393 or e-mail to [email protected].
VACATION OPPORTUNITIESFOR TENNIS PROFESSIONALS
For only $250 plus airfare, your guest and
you could be vacationing at the #1 ultra all-inclusive Sandals and Beaches Resorts inJamaica and St. Lucia. Your food, drinks andaccommodations are included as well as allthe amenities of the resort. These workingvacations run from Sunday to Sunday. Formoreinformation, contact MikeRomisher at847 207 9475. E-mail [email protected].
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
TENNIS TOUR BUSINESS FOR SALE
This is a rare opportunity to own a tennistour company. Travel the world escortingyour clients to the most prestigious tenniseventsWimbledon, Roland Garros, Aus-tralian Open and the USOpen, MastersSeries events, plus Davis Cup and Fed Cup
events. Business can be re-located to wher-ever you choose! 12 successful years inbusinesshundreds of repeat clients. CallDaily Tennis for information 952 920 8947or e-mail [email protected].
TENNIS SERVICES
At no cost for clubs, ProMatch Tennis Ser-vice finds qualified tennis teaching profes-sionals. We interview, check references andcriminal background, and train. Profession-als are certified either with the USPTA or thePTR. ProMatch Tennis Service can be con-tacted by calling 770-817-0559. You canemail us for more information at [email protected].
COURT CONSTRUCTION
Is it time to resurface or repair your tenniscourt? Sport-Masters nationwide andworldwide network of professional sportsurfacing contractors are available to pro-vide free on-site assessment and recom-mendations. Phone 1 800 395 7325, [email protected]. www.sealmaster.net.
TENNIS EQUIPMENTFOR SALE
BUBBLE FOR SALE
Air supported structure bubble for a twotennis court enclosure, translucent, avail-able immediately. Used only for one season,118 by 108 by 40 high. Complete with
new heater/inflation system, doors andlighting. Contact Walter Ptaszek at MSS Inc.908 876 0146. Cell phone 908 693 6232. E-mail [email protected] .
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
INCREASE YOUR NET INCOME
WITH NO INVESTMENT!Promote the new tennis publication, TEN-
R S I C L A S S I F I E D SB Y B O B L A R S O N
TO PLACE AN AD IN RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRYCLASSIFIEDSClassified ads are $100 for up to 50 words. Additional words are $1 each. To place an ad
or for help in writing the ad, call Bob Larson, 952 920 8947. Deadline for the April issue
is March 10. E-mail [email protected].
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M a yDate Event Location
Phone Number
1-2 USPTA Certification Big Rapids, MI
713-978-7782
1-2 USPTA Certification Nashville, TN
713-978-7782
1-2 PTR Cert if icat ion Fishervil le, VA540-332-5280
1-2 PTR Cert if icat ion Mississauga, ON
905-521-4560
3-4 PTR Cert if icat ion Lexington, SC
803-754-5223
7-8 USPTA Certification Minneapolis, MN
713-978-7782
8-9 USPTA Certification St. Louis, MO
713-978-7782
8-9 USPTA Certification Conway, AK
713-978-7782
8-9 USPTA Certification Hoover, AL
713-978-7782
8-9 PTR Cert if icat ion Mishawaka, IN
574-277-1000
8-9 PTR Certification Alban y, NY
518-436-3556
15-16 USPTA Certification Burbank, CA
713-978-7782
15-16 USPTA Certification Ponte Vedra, FL
713-978-7782
15-16 USTPTA Certification Wilmington, DE
713-978-7782
15-16 PTR Certification Dallas, TX
972-253-4832
19-20 USPTA Certification Flushing, NY
713-978-7782
22-23 USPTA Certification Fremont, CA
713-978-778222-23 USPTA Certification Atlanta, GA
713-978-7782
22-23 USPTA Certification Hilton Head, SC
713-978-7782
22-23 PTR Certification Brunswick, ME
207-729-8433
22-23 PTR Certification Chambersburg, PA
717-263-0048
22-23 PTR Certification Philadelphia, PA
215-947-8370
23-24 USPTA Certification Denver, CO
713-978-7782
27-28 USPTA Certification West Orange, NJ
713-978-7782
62 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2004
E V E N T C A L E N D A RA p r i lDate Event Location
Phone Number
1-2 USPTA Certification Freeport, NY
713-978-7782
3-4 PTR Certi fication Ft. Myers, FL
239-561-4170
3-4 PTR Certi fication Seaside, CA831-394-6629
3-4 PTR Certi fication Mt. Pleasant, SC
843-971-7834
3-4 PTR Certi fication Nashvil le, TN
615-361-3242
10-11 PTR Certification Easton, MD
410-822-1515
12-13 USPTA Certification Industry Hills, CA
713-978-7782
17-18 PTR Certification Mount Laurel, NJ
856-234-2990
17-18 USPTA Certification Bonita Springs, FL
713-978-7782
17-18 USPTA Certificcation San Ramon, CA
713-978-7782
17-18 USPTA Certification Indian Wells, CA
713-978-7782
23-24 USPTA Certificcation Tyler, TX
713-978-7782
23-26 USPTA Certification Kansas City, MO
713-978-7782
24-25 PTR Certi fication Tampa, FL
813-991-9741
24-25 PTR Certification Duluth, GA
770-418-9762
24-25 PTR Certification Pittsburgh, PA
412-343-3411
24-25 USPTA Certification Aurora, IL
713-978-778224-25 USPTA Certification Fayetteville, NC
713-978-7782
24-25 USPTA Certification Atlantic Beach, NC
713-978-7782
26-27 USPTA Certification Calabasas, CA
713-978-7782
FOR SALE: Babolat Sensor stringing machine. Like new andincludes $400 badminton kit. Asking: $4800. Contact: Vince
Chiarelli, PTR, MRT, Largo, FL 33774 727/595-7068
FOR SALE: Alpha BLU-DC Plus, new in box. Features: 5-yr.
limited warranty; 360 degree racquet rotation; DDS clamps;
Spring-action levers; Dual action swivel clamping system; 6-
point MSR mounting system; Linear string gripper; Conve-
nient metal tool tray; Height adjustment; Adjustable
level-pads; Reversible crank-handle. Asking: $995 (below
cost!). Contact: Jim Wahl, Roswell, GA 30067 678/762-
1466 or 404/312-1051
FOR SALE: Volkl C-7 Pro, new condition, 4-3/8 grip w/two
sets of grommets, $75; Wilson Prostaff Mid 85 Sampras, 4-
5/8, excellent condition, New Sensation 16g, $85; Prince
Precision Approach Ti S, new, 4-3/8, strung with Prince syn-
thetic gut 16g, $75; Prince More Attack OS, 4-1/4, new,
strung w/Prince synthetic gut 16g, $145; three (3) Prince
Triple Threat Ring supersize, strung w/poly, excellent condi-tion, $35 ea; Graphite Smash 115 tennis racquet, never
string, w/pattern, best offer; two (2) Babolat Pure Drive
Team, used, $75 ea. Also: Wilson Extreme synthetic gut,
16g & 17g, $3/pkg; Wilson Hammerlast, aramid, 16g,
$6/pkg; Wilson Sensation 16g, 17g, 18g, $3.25/pkg; Wilson
NXT Sensation, 17g, $8/pkg; Extreme Control, 16g & 17g,
$4/pkg; one (1) reel Extreme Control, 16g natural, $35; two
(2) reels Wilson Performance Plus, 16g, 1 white & 1 natural,
$30 ea. Contact: James Wahl, Roswell, GA 30067
678/762-1466 Cell: 404/312-1051
WANTED: B- kit for Prince Mach 1000. Contact: Ralph
Flohre, Virginia Beach, VA 23454 757/481-0497 or Email:
WANTED: Grommet set for Pro Kennex Diamond Kinetic15G racquetball racquet. The racquet is blue and black. If
anyone has one, please contact: Bill Bertagnoli, Racine, WI53404 Email: [email protected]
USRSA CLASSI -
USRSA CERTIFICA-
TION LOCATIONS
CALL FOR DATES
Birmingham, AL 205-985-4989
Anchorage, AK 907-244-9810
or 225-767-1379
Scottsdale, AZ 480-483-5560
Mountain View, CA 650-968-8952
Ojai, CA 805-640-2109
San Diego, CA 858-272-9063
Boulder, CO 303-442-1412
Boca Raton, FL 561-997-0881
Clearwater, FL 727-442-7923
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 850-862-2023
Palm Coast, FL 386-446-6360
Winter Park, FL 407-673-9200
Snellville, GA 770-982-8989
Honolulu, HI 808-373-1212
Boise, ID 208-794-6236
or 208-345-4140
Northbrook, IL 847-480-7841
Overland Park, KS 913-491-4116
Ba