200507 racquet sports industry
Post on 09-Apr-2018
231 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
1/52
2005 GUIDETO BALL MACHINESQ Find the right machineQ Generate more revenue
Cut-off lighting systemsprovide all-around solutions
Apparel accessories thatsupply the final touch
Hiring and training for
exemplary customer serviceHelp us find RSIsChampions of Tennis 2005
Q Mobile Tennis Program for Kids
Q Using Lines of Credit
Q The Master Pros Series
Q String Playtest
Q Ask the Experts
Q Tips and Techniques
July 2005
Volume 33 Number 7 $5.00
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
2/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
3/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
4/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
5/52
DEPARTMENTS
R S I J U L Y 2 0 0 5Contents
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 3
Contents
4 Our Serve16 Focus on Apparel18 Your Finances20 Customer Relations
22 Court Construction
INDUSTRY NEWS7 USTA develops new court color7 Blle de Mtch reports
strong month
7 Mens pro event added to PilotPen tourney
8 Ashaway introduces squashracquet line
8 Classic Turf expands warehouse9 PTR schedules Professional
Development Weekend
9 Gamma offers Tennis AgainstBreast Cancer products
9 Deco installs its first courtsin Australia
10 Roddick selects Babolat shoes
10 Prince O3 website wins award10 WTT, Advanta provide free
racquets for kids
11 Methodist College offers professionaMBA at Pinehurst
14 SGMA lobbies for PEP Bill14 Avenue of Aces paver project
launched
15 USPTA, USTA partner to educategrassroots coaches
24 The Master Pros26 2005 Champions of Tennis42 String Playtest: Unique Tourna Hybrid Poly Gut 1644 Ask the Experts46 Tips and Techniques
48 Your Serve, by Mark Winters
FEATURES2005 Guide to Ball Machines
28 Machine ReadyGenerate more revenue by using your ballmachine to the fullest.
31 Ball Machine SelectorUse our exclusive guide to help you find theright ball machine for your business.
40 Keep It MovingIn Virginia, a mobile program for kids keepstennis rolling along.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
6/52
verywhere you turn in this business, youre hit by
research numbersparticipation 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 a million more people played tennis in
2004 than in 2003. The criteria of 6 years of age or older, participating at least
once per year, doesnt exactly mean its time to double your racquet order,
but the SGMA says 17.3 million people fit that criteria in 2003, while in 2004
that number jumped to 18.3 million, a 5.9 percent increase.
These numbers are a bit different from the data gathered in the third annu-
al USTA/TIA Tennis Participation Study, which we reported on in the June
issue. The massive USTA/TIA study showed participation in 2004 was rela-
tively flat from the previous three years, at 23.6 million total players (playing
at least once in the past year).
But despite the discrepancies, the SGMA numbers still are a hopeful sign
for the industry, especially when combined with the USTA/TIA study figures
that show there were 5.7 million new players in 2004. And while frequent
players as defined by the USTA/TIA (21 or more times a year) are still a con-
cern at a flat 4.8 million, the participation initiatives of the last few years seem
to be having an impact, no matter whose numbers you look at.
These, of course, are the big numbers, the industry-wide figures that get
quoted in the media, that help determine whether grassroots initiatives to
increase play live or die. What might be more immediate to your business
may be the numbers you can find in the TIAs Cost of Doing Business report.
The recently released CODB tells retailers and facilities in a detailed manner
how they compare to tennis businesses of similar size and type.
For instance the 2005 CODB says that on average, retail shops of 1,000
square feet or more sell 641 tennis racquets each year. Also, 97 percent of all
facilities and shops have a computer, and 92 percent have access to the inter-
net. The CODB also includes data on racquet demo programs (97 percent of
all shops have one), including how much they charge for demos and how long
players can have a demo. This is just a fraction of the data in the CODB that
can help you benchmark your business in key operating areas. (For the full
report, call the TIA at 843-686-3036, or visit www.tennisindustry.org for moreinformation.)
All the numbers we encounter in this business can, at times, seem a bit
overwhelming. But keep in mind, its the numbers that drive this business
and keep us all in business.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
Our Serve
Playing the Numbers(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editor-in-Chief
Crawford Lindsey
Editorial DirectorPeter Francesconi
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Assistant to the Publisher
Cari Feliciano
Contributing Editors
Cynthia Cantrell
Rod Cross
Kristen DaleyJoe Dinoffer
Liza Horan
Andrew Lavallee
James Martin
Mark Mason
Chris Nicholson
Mitch Rustad
Drew Sunderlin
Jonathan Whitbourne
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
john@racquettech.com
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
Racquet Sports Industry (USPS 347-8300. ISSN 0191-
5851) is published 10 times per year: monthly January
through August and combined issues in Septem-
ber/October and November/December by Tennis
Industry and USRSA, 330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084.
Periodicals postage paid at Hurley, NY 12443 and addi-
tional mailing offices. July 2005, Volume 33, Number
7 2005 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All rights
reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logo are
trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone
advertising: 770-650-1102 x.125. Phone circulation and
editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the
U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 330 Main St.,Vista, CA 92084.
4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
E
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
7/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
8/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
9/52
he USTA has come up with a new court color scheme
for all courts at the US Open and US Open Series of
tournaments. Starting this year, the colors will be a
blue inner court surrounded by a green outer court.
The new color is designed to heighten the visibility of
the ball for players, fans attending the events, and television
viewers, in addition to providing a signature look and
identifiable link between the US Open Series and the US
Open, the USTA says.
Its the first change of court colors for the US Open since
the event moved to the USTA National Tennis Center in
Flushing Meadows, N.Y., in 1978 from Forest Hills. All
courts at the NTC will continue with a DecoTurf II hardcourt
surface.
The new court colors have been tested and proven to
enhance visibility of the ball for both players and fans, says
Arlen Kantarian, the USTAs chief executive of Professional
Tennis. In addition, it provides an instant visual link between the US Open Series tournaments
and the US Open, helping to create a unified regular season for tennis leading up to the US
Open. The new color debuted in April at the Fed Cup match in Florida (above).
The US Open Series is the six-week summer tennis season of 10 major North American tour-
naments that precede the US Open fortnight.
I N D U S T R Y N E W SI N D U S T R Y N E W S
R S I J U L Y 2 0 0 5
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7
Mens EventAdded to PilotPen TourneyThe USTA purchased the ATP
tournament formerly known as
the TD Waterhouse and com-
bined it with the womens event
in New Haven, Conn., to createthe first combined mens and
womens summer tournament
leading into the US Open. The
new mens tournament will be
added to the existing Pilot Pen
Tennis tournament, the Sony
Ericsson WTA Tour event already
owned by the USTA, and played
in New Haven.
As a result of this acquisition, the
2005 US Open Seriesthe six-
week summer tennis season thatlinks all major ATP and WTA Tour
tournaments in North America to
the US Openwill culminate
Aug. 21-28 at the Connecticut
Tennis Center at Yale University.
The mens and womens winners
of the US Open Series will com-
pete for double prize money at
the 2005 US Open. In addition,
the newly enhanced Pilot Pen
Tennis now will offer more than
$1.2 million in prize money.ESPN2 and CBS Sports will tele-
vise 18 hours of the new Pilot
Pen Tennis event as part of the
100-plus hours of live television
coverage for the US Open Series.
The womens event will conclude
with its traditional Saturday final
on Aug. 27 while the mens final
will take place Aug. 28. The US
Open begins Monday, August 29,
in Flushing, N.Y.
I N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U R U N Y O U R B U S I N E S S
lle de Mtch reports that sales in March were the best for the Southern California-based
apparel manufacturer in over three years. The company recently added three to its staff.
Bob Shafer joins the company as national promotions advisor. Shafer has 33 years of
experience in the industry and is a member of the executive board of the Southern California
Tennis Association. He also volunteers his time to the Tennis Industry Association. Currently he
is a new business development consultant for Active Network Inc., a provider of application and
marketing services for participatory activities and nonprofit events.
Shafer resides in Orange Country, Calif., and will concentrate on the West Coast at the start.
Then, he will turn his attention to programs in other sections of the country. He can be reached
at bob@balledematch.com.
Also, two new sales reps join Blle de Mtch. Bruce Hamlin, an industry veteran who spent
11 years with Wilson, eight years with Head/Penn, and is currently representing Dunlop, will
cover the state of New York. Hamlin has been working the New York metropolitan area for over
25 years in this industry. Wolfgang Jaeger will now add Northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania
to his territory of south New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Ive known Bruce for a long time. Hes an excellent apparel salesman with great relation-
ships in the industry. Im excited to have someone who really understands grassroots and knows
the key influencers in the area, said Blle de Mtch co-owner and partner John Embree.
Also joining joining the company is Mark Wigley, a sales rep for Tail and Gear for Sports. He
will cover Arkansas and Mississippi from his home base in Ridgeland, Miss. Wigley has been in
sport sales for eight years.
T
B
USTA Develops New Court Color For Open Series
Blle de Mtch Reports Strong March, Adds Staff
FredMullane,Camerawork
s,USA
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
10/52
J U L Y 2 0 0 5
INDUSTRYNEW
S
Ashaway Introduces Line ofFour Squash Racquets
Ashaway Racket Strings has recently introduced a line of
squash racquets, designed to work with Ashaway's line
of squash strings. The racquets feature three strategic
stringing nodes for enhanced string performance and maxi-
mum kinetic advantage, says the company. The frames alsofeature Full Motion string holes, which Ashaway says allow
the strings to pivot against the outside of the frame, rather
than the inside,
adding up t o 2
cm of active
string length.
The racquets
are available in
four models
Rad 475, Liberty
495, Destiny
490 and Hornet495each with
a frame com-
posed of Carbon
4 and high or extreme modulus graphite. Unlike traditional
racquets with uniform or tapered frame cross-sections, the
new Ashaway squash racquets employ strategically posi-
tioned nodes to boost string performance for optimum
results, says the company.
For more information, contact Ashaway at 800-556-7260
or 401-377-2221, or visit www.ashawayusa.com.
Classic Turf Expands Factory, Warehouse
C
lassic Turf, a manufacturer and supplier of cushioned
sports surfaces, including tennis courts, has expanded its
facility in Woodbury, Conn., in response to a significantincrease in interest in softer surfaces for sports and recreation,
says Classic Turf Founder and President Tumer Eren.
The expansion, which added a 4,000-square-foot struc-
ture to the existing 9-year-old 11,000-square-foot facility,
adds storage capacity for more than 600 rolls of Classic Turf
prefabricated rubber products, Eren says. With our new
warehouse, now we can fill and ship orders immediately,
which means new or renovated courts using Classic Turf
surfaces will be back in service and ready for play fastin
many cases in less than a week, he adds.
For more information, contact 800-246-7951 or 203-
263-0800 or visit www.classicturf.org
National Public Parks Championships In July
The 79th Annual National Public Parks Tennis Championships
will be July 25 to 31 at Scalzi Park in Stamford, Conn. There
is something for everyone, says Tim Curry, president of the
Greater Stamford Tennis Association (GSTA). Its the peoples
national championship.
This year, for the first time, NPPTC adult division players will
be able to earn points toward a USTA national ranking. The event
is a Category II tournament in the Adult Divisions and Level 7 in
Juniors, and it represents the only National Championship for
NTRP players in singles and doubles.
In addition to the adult division (35-and-over to 95-and-over),
competition will include Mens and Womens Open, Juniors (10-
and-under to 18-and-under), NTRP (3.5 to 4.5 singles and dou-
bles, 7.0 to 9.0 mixed doubles), Wheelchair (including up-down
doubles) and Family Doubles (Father-Son and Parent-Child).
Entry deadline for the tournament is Friday, July 15. Entry
fees for Adult, Wheelchair and Family divisions are $40 for sin-
gles and $50 per doubles team; junior competition is $25 for sin-
gles and $30 per doubles team. Proceeds will benefit the GSTAs
Junior Tennis Outreach Program. USTA members may register
online at TennisLink, on USTA.com. The tournament I.D. num-
ber is 450704005. A printable entry form is available at
www.stamfordtennis.org.
8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
NEWS FROM THE
Q Cardio TennisThe first Cardio Tennis Workshop took place at the
USPTA Southern Convention on Hilton Head Island, S.C., in May and
had more than 50 participants. Nationally, nearly 2,000 DVDs have
been distributed to teaching pros and facilities in the initial phase to
get 1,000 quality Cardio Tennis sites ready for this falls launch to
consumers. For more information, visit
www.Partners.CardioTennis.com.
Q Tennis Welcome CentersThe initiative, launched last year, is alive
and well for 2005 with a revamped website that gives facilities the
opportunity to include programming information and receive feed-
back, and sets a standard for quality control. Also, theres a new toll-
free customer service line. More than 7 million national magazine ads
and newspaper inserts hit the streets this spring, along a special ten-
nis insert (1.5 million copies) in USA Today. Hits on the website
www.TennisWelcomeCenter.comhave doubled from the same
period last year.Q TennisConnect.orgWith the goal of connecting players to facili-
ties, programs and each other, TennisConnect.org is designed to get
more people playing tennis. In one recent seven-week period, more
than 100,000 online court bookings took place, and the testimonials
are continuing to roll in on how the player-match engine, court sched-
uler, program calendar and online registration system have been suc-
cessful additions for both members and facility operators.
Q Growing Tennis 50/50This co-op funding program has been
opened up to entrepreneurs promoting new player programs to
adults as well as juniors. The website, www.GrowingTennis.com, has
also been upgraded to include USTA Section news and events.
Q TennisWire.orgFeaturing industry news from TIA members and
affiliates, www.TennisWire.org is expanding its frequency and will be
electronically distributed to more than 12,000 industry contacts, in
addition to tennis writers and publications.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
11/52
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9
PTR Schedules ProfessionalDevelopment Weekend
The Professional Tennis Registrys annual Professional
Development Weekend will be held in conjunction with
the ROHO/PTR $15,000 Wheelchair Tennis Champi-
onships on Hilton Head Island, S.C., Sept. 22 to 25. The
development weekend is open to all tennis teachers and
coaches, and will be conducted
at the PTR Headquarters.
Courses during the week-
end include Begin-
ner/Intermediate Racquet
Stringing with Fred Romanus
of Gamma Sports and Tennis Club Programming by Larry
Karageanes, Club and Resort Services. PTR Director of
Development Geoff Norton will conduct Team Coaching
Successful Singles and Doubles. Competitive/Situational
Games workshop will be led by PTR International Director
Iaki Balzola. Dr. Bryce Young and Linda LeClaire will pres-
ent a psychology course titled Mastering the Mental Side.
Norton will also conduct Instructing Wheelchair Tennis
102, which is designed for tennis professionals who wish
to earn a wheelchair tennis teaching certification. A Cardio
Tennis Workshop will also be held during the weekend.
For specific dates, times, and prices, or to register, con-
tact 800-421-6289 or 843-785-7244 or register online at
www.ptrtennis.org, or email ptr@ptrtennis.org for more
information.
Gamma Offers Tennis AgainstBreast Cancer Products
Gamma Sports has formed a partnership
with Tennis Against Breast Cancer and is
offering a TABC line consisting of a match-
ing Pink Revelation String, Pink Shockbuster,
and Pink Supreme Overgrip. Gamma Sports willdonate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of
each of the TABC products to Tennis Against
Breast Cancer.
The Gamma Pink Live Wire Revelation String
features multifilaments that are fused rather
than bonded together for a firmer yet more for-
giving feel, says Gamma. Revelation String fea-
tures a hard pearl coating on the outer surface to
prevent notching and provide longer string life.
The Gamma Pink Shockbuster is the original
worm-shaped vibration dampener that con-
tacts the critical main strings and dampens vibra-tion with its patented Zorbicon gel-filled design. And the Pink
Supreme Overgrip is Gammas best-selling overgrip, featuring a bal-
ance of tackiness and absorbency, yet is soft and durable, says the
company.
To inquire about becoming a Gamma Sports dealer and distrib-
uting Gammas TABC Products, contact Gamma Sports directly, con-
tact 800-333-0337, 412-323-0335, or email tsr@gamma
sports.com. For more information on Gamma products, visit
www.GammaSports.com.
Slinghopper Launches Rally BagSlinghopper hasintroduced asmaller Rallybag designed tohold 15 balls.Company Presi-dent Paul Tobinsays the smallerbag will allowpros greatermobility while
feeding andplaying. The larg-er version, theSlinghopper Pro,holds 40 ballsand is designedfor ball feeding.For more infor-mation, call 866-434-1600 or visit
Deco Installs Its First Courts Down Under
The Hampton Tennis Club in Melbourne, Australia, recently
installed the first DecoTurf courts in that country. Club
management opted for the four cushioned acrylic courts to
replace the previous clay-like courts.
The membership response to Hampton has been tremen-
dous, a 150 percent increase, says club manager Craig James.
DecoTurf, based in Andover, Mass., is the most widely used
acrylic court surface for professional ATP and WTA tourna-
ments and was recently the
playing surface of the 2004
Olympics.
De coTurf says t heHampton Tennis Club was
attracted to the low main-
tenance of the Deco sur-
face and the products
playability and comfort. DecoTurf can be fine-tuned to provide
the precise speed of play desired, says the company. DecoTurf
has been selected for use at the 2004 Olympic Games in
Athens, Greece, the USTA National Tennis Center, site of the US
Open since 1978, and the 10 US Open Series tournaments.
For more information, visit www.decoturf.com or contact
John G ra ham, director of s ales & ma rket ing , at
j.graham@decoturf.com or 800-DECO-1ST.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
12/52
J U L Y 2 0 0 5
INDUSTRYNEW
S
10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
>Amer Sports Corp., which owns Wilson Racquet Sports, has madean agreement with Adidas-Salomon AG to acquire Salomon, includ-
ing the brands Salomon, Mavic, Bonfire, Arc'Teryx, and Clich. The
new businesses supply products and apparel in the winter sports,
bicycle, skateboard, and technical outerwear areas.
> At the winter meeting of the American Sports Builders Associa-tion, the board of directors agreed to establish a separate Turf Divi-sion, which will encompass both synthetic and natural turf
installers. Bylaws and other documentation were being prepared for
possible approval in July.
> The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., is looking forvolunteers to assist with all aspects of Newport Tennis Week July 4-10,
which includes the Campbells Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and
2005 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Volunteers are needed starting
July 1 through July 11. Apply online at
www.tennisfame.com/Championship/volunteer_form.html or call 401-
849-6053.
> The U.S. drew an away tie against Belgium in the Davis Cup Play-Off Round Sept. 23-25. The winner will qualify for the 16-nation
World Group in 2006; the loser will be relegated to zonal competition.
> On Court with USPTA, a cable TV show produced by theUSPTA, received an award of excellence in The Videographer Awards
2005 competition. The award-winning episode, Fun & Fitness,
aired last April on The Tennis Channel. On Court is a 30-minute
instructional show featuring USPTA-certified pros as guest profes-
sionals. The shows provide instruction about technique, strategy
and other facets of the game, such as fun and fitness.
> The 2005 USPTA Southwest Texas Buying Show will be Aug. 26-27 at the Dallas Marriott Quorum Hotel. For more information, con-
tact Ron Woods at 888-445-0505 or ronwoods@davlin.net.
> The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, which helpsimprove the lives of lower income Washington, D.C., youth through
tennis, education, and life skills activities, celebrated its 50th
anniversary in May.
> The USTA sponsored Tennis Block Parties throughout themonth of May in 16 markets across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. The
series of tennis festivals, hosted at public parks facilities, were
designed to help increase tennis participation and featured instruc-
tion, interactive games and attractions. Tennis champions such as
Monica Seles, Tracy Austin, Patrick McEnroe, Luke Jensen, and Todd
Martin joined in, as did other celebrities and personalities.
> The Anguilla Tennis Academy is presenting the 2005 CaribbeanCup, an international junior team tennis event held July 27-30 on
the island of Anguilla. Junior teams from around the world are invit-
ed to play in the round-robin format event. This years event will
coincide with the 10th annual ATA Guest Coaches Junior Tennis
Camp. For more information, contact Bill Riddle at 615-243-6698
SHORT SETS
WTT, Advanta Provide Free Racquets for Kids
Advanta's Ready, Set, Racquet! program, established in 2003,
plans to provide a free tennis racquet to each child under the age
of 16 that attends a WTT match this season, July 4 to 24.
The brightly colored racquets, adorned with the WTT and Advanta
logos, come in three sizes. The racquets will include a tennis ball and
will be presented in a customized cover displaying WTT team logos.
The goal of this program is to encourage youth fitness through an
association with tennis. Advanta is the presenting sponsor of the WTT
Pro League and the official business credit card of WTT.
Roddick Selects Babolat ShoesAndy Roddick will be wearing Babolat shoes starting in
early 2006. The former world No. 1, who has been playingwith Babolat racquets and strings since the age of 17,made the announcement recently with Babolat Presidentand CEO Eric Babolat (below, left). Launched in Europe in2003, Babolats line of shoes, equipped with Michelin soles,was developed to meet the specific needs of tennis players,says the company.
Prince O3 Website Wins Award
P
rinces O3 mini site took home the 2005 Internet Advertising
Competition Award from the Web Marketing Association for the
Best Sports Micro Siterepresenting its second victory in theonline arena. Prince began improving its online offerings with the
revamp and relaunch of its principal site (www.princetennis.com) in
2003. That same year, the Prince Sports was recognized with an award
for the Best Sports Web Site by the Web Marketing Association.
Six Inducted Into Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association inducted six new mem-
bers into its ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame on May
25 during the NCAA Championships at Texas A&M University.
The Class of 2005 consists of: players Mike Estep (Rice), Sammy
Giammalva (Texas), Paul Haarhuis (Florida State and Armstrong
Atlantic), Jim Osborne (Utah) and John Sadri (North Carolina State),and contributor Frank Phelps (Hamilton College).
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
13/52
I N D U S T RY N E W S
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11
Methodist College Offers
Professional MBA at Pinehurst
Methodist College in Fayetteville,
N.C., will offer a Master of Busi-
ness Administration degree this
fall at Pinehurst Resort for professionals
in the tennis, golf, and resort industries.
The accredited Professional MBA at Pine-
hurst program is designed to allow stu-
dents to continue their full-time careers
while earning their degree in 24 months.
Classes will be held one weekend a
month at Pinehurst, with supplemental
coursework completed online betweenresidency sessions. In addition to core
courses in each of the recognized busi-
ness disciplines, students will take elec-
tives focused on developing the skills
required to lead organizations. Other
components include an executive
speaker series and the Capstone Expe-
rience, a final project tailored to the stu-
dents experience and career goals.
For more information, contact 800-
488-7110 x.7493, 910-630-7493 or visit
www.methodist.edu/mba.
Corrections The Industry Resources Guide in
the June issue of RSI magazine hadthe address incorrect for ATS. Thecorrect address is: ATS, 200 Water-front Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
L E T T E R S
Readers Think Its TimeTo the Editor:
I have never heard anyone talk as much sense and hit the nail on the head as Bill
Mountford did in Time for a Radical Change? in the May 2005 issue [Your
Serve]. I have been teaching tennis for more than 25 years in the fashion youdescribe. Finally, there is someone out there who agrees and can put the mes-
sage across to the tennis world. Here in Australia, I see and hear of children reg-
ularly not returning to tennis because they are completely and utterly bored. It
is so obviousbut not many can see. Keep up the fight for the better way.
Phil Hevron
Director of Tennis, Natural Tennis, Attadale, Australia
To The Editor:
I am a teaching pro in Tucson, and Mountford's article is right on target. In the
fall of 2004, I sent an email to the USTA Southern Arizona president concerning
the loss of tennis players in the state. I see that the old way of teaching is not
working. Fun should be the goal of many teaching pros. The problem as I seeit is that many teaching pros teach the same way they were taught. There must
be changes. Lets put the word fun back into tennis.
Don Turner
Gallery Sports Club, Marana, Ariz.
We welcome your letters and comments. Please email them to
rsi@racquetTECH.com or fax them to 760-536-1171.
The Real
Venus and
SerenaA six-episodereality TV seriesabout sistersVenus and Sere-na Williams,
titled Venus and Serena: For Real, airson ABC Family beginning July 21. Theshow comes just a few months after therelease of their book, Venus & Serena,Serving from the Hip: 10 Rules for
Living, Loving and Winning, with co-author Hilary Beard.The 144-page bookoffers advice to kids and is published byHoughton Mifflin Books, ($14). Visitwww.houghtonmifflinbooks.com.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
14/52
J U L Y 2 0 0 5
INDUSTRYNEW
S
12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) shocked
No. 1 BYU-Hawaii, beating the
Seasiders 5-3 in the NCAA Division II
women's tennis final in Altamonte
Springs, Fla. The loss ended BYU-Hawaii's
win streak at 130 matches and its bid for
a fourth straight national title. West Florida
captured its second straight men's cham-
pionship, beating North Florida 5-0.
BYU-Hawaii's 130-match win streak, a
Division II tennis record, was the longest
current win streak in any NCAA sport. The
Trinity (Conn.) men's squash team
reclaims that distinction with its 125 victo-
ries in a row. The all-time collegiate tennis
record for consecutive wins is 137 and
owned by the Division I Miami (Fla.)
men's team (1957-64).
Also, the ITAs national award winners
in NCAA Division II mens and womens
tennis for the 2004-2005 season are:
Men Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year: Derrick
Racine, West Florida
ITA National Senior Player of the Year: Dante Cipulli,
Southwest Baptist (Mo.)
ITA National Rookie of the Year: Eduardo Pereira,
North Florida
Armstrong Atlantic Ends BYU-Hawaii Win Streak at 130 ITA National Player to Watch: Matias Oddone,
Drury (Mo.)
ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership & Sports-
manship: Josh Berman, Florida Southern
Women ITA National Senior Player of the Year: Adrienn
Hegedus, BYU-Hawaii
ITA National Rookie of the Year: Julia Gandia,
Clayton (Ga.) College & State
ITA National Player to Watch: Dziyana Nazaruk,
Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.) State
ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership & Sports-
manship: Jessica Broadus, Indianapolis
NCAA Division I WinnersStanford beat Texas 4-0 to claim the
NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Cham-
pionships. The title is Stanford's second
in a row, fourth in the last five years and
14th overall. Today's win also completesStanford's (27-0) ninth perfect season
and is its 56th straight victory.
The ITA also announced national
award winners for NCAA Division I
women's tennis: Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year: Mark Guil-
beau, Kentucky
ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year: Carlos
Drada, Kentucky
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Megan Bradley,
Miami (Fla.)
ITA Rookie of the Year: Audra Cohen, Northwestern
National Player to Watch: Suzi Babos, California
ITA/Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award: Kendall
Cline, North Carolina
ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sports-manship: Aniela Mojzis, North Carolina
NJCAA Division I WinnersIn the Junior College Division, Tyler
(Texas) captured the National Junior Col-
lege Athletic Association (NJCAA) Divi-
sion I women's tennis title in May at the
NJCAA Championships. Its the 13th
championship for Tyler.
The ITA also announced its national
award winners for NJCAA women's ten-
nis: Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Glen Moser, John-son County (Kan.) Comm. College
ITA Player of the Year: Loli Gomez, Lee (Texas)
College
ITA Rookie of the Year: Marta Simic, Broward
(Fla.) Comm. College
ITA Player to Watch: Giang Vu, Independence
(Kan.) Comm. College
ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership & Sports-
manship: Natasa Rapo, Rock Valley (Ill.) College
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
15/52
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13
Maria Sharapovawas named one of People
magazines 50 Most
Beautiful People in the
May 9 issue of the
magazine. Other sportssuperstars to make the
list include English soc-
cer star David Beckham
and Miami Heat guard Dwayne
Wade.
The International Tennis Hall of Famehonored its president, Tony Trabert, in
New York City on May 3 with A Salute
to Tony Trabert at the 21 Club. John
McEnroe emceed the event,
with featured speakers
including Billie Jean King,Dick Savitt, and former
doubles partner Vic Seixas.
It was a 50th anniversary
celebration of sorts for Tra-
bert, a 1970 Hall of Fame inductee who
served up one of the best years in tennis
by an American in 1955, winning the
mens singles championships in France,
Wimbledon and the U.S. That year, Trabert
captured 35 titles and racked up a singles
match record of 104-5.
Butch Buchholz, Jim Courier, YannickNoah and Jana Novotna will be inducted
into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
on July 9 in Newport, R.I.
Amelie Mauresmo of the Dunlop M-Fil3Hundred Tour Team successfully defend-
ed her Italian Masters title in May to claim
her second WTA Tour win of the season
and 17th title of her career.
Fifth-year Ferris State Universitywomen's tennis head coach Dave Ramos
has relinquished his women's coaching
duties and will become the school's
men's tennis head coach. Ramos, who
was a member of the 1995 FSU men's
tennis team, will continue to serve as a
head tennis professional for Ferriss Rac-
quet and Fitness Center, the schools Pro-
fessional Tennis Management program
and direct summer camps. A search is
under way to fill the vacant
women's tennis head
coaching post.
PE
OP L
EWATCH
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
16/5214 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
J U L Y 2 0 0 5I N D U S T RY N E W S
Lander Coach Retires After 31 Years
Joe Cabri of Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., is ending his remarkable 31-year
career as coach of the mens tennis team. Cabri, a member of the NAIA Hall of
Fame, led his team to a record 12 national championships and 23 consecutive
league championships.
Why am I retiring now? asks Cabri, who is also a mathematics professor. Its
for the good of the program. As I look around the nation, I see more top-ranked
schools with young coaches who only coach. There are still a few coaches who teach,but our numbers are falling. With womens tennis on the way [in the fall of 2006], it
is important to have the best possible coach, and that can only happen by attracting
someone who will coach both sports and make a living just by coaching.
SGMA Lobbies Legislators For PEP Bill
Members of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, celebrity athletes,
retailers, phys ed teachers and others went to Washington, D.C., on May 4 to
lobby for the PEP Bill.
The Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Bill is the only federal program that
supports the development and growth of physical education classes in U.S. schools
and community-based organizations. Since its inception in 2001, nearly 500grants have been given to communities totaling more than $250 million. The
money has been spent to train P.E. teachers and purchase more equipment for P.E.
classes.
Now, though, the President wants to reduce funding for the bill by $19 mil-
lionfrom $74 million in 2005 to $55 million in 2006then to eliminate the bill
by 2008.
On May 4, the delegation of celebrity athletes included basketball legend Bill
Russell, NFL Hall of Fame inductee Steve Young, ex-Heisman Trophy winners Her-
schel Walker and Tim Brown, father-son NFL quarterbacks Archie and Peyton Man-
ning, Kentucky mens basketball coach Tubby Smith, tennis champion Stan Smith,
U.S. womens soccer player Heather Mitts, and boxing trainer Teddy Atlas. Two of
the key meetings were held with the Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL)and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.
More information is at www.sgma.com.
Avenue of Aces Paver Project Launches
The USTA Tennis & Education Foundation, the charitable and philanthropic entity of the
USTA, has launched the Avenue of Acesa series of personalized pavers that will be
built into a special walkway at the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the US Open.
The USTA T&EF will distribute all proceeds from the sale of the pavers to after-school ten-
nis programs that include mentoring and other educational assistance.
The Avenue of Aces is a tangible way to link the US Open to the benefit of at-risk
children, says Franklin R. Johnson, USTA chairman of the board and president.
Using tennis to enhance the lives of children is one of the key objectives of the USTA
and the USTA Tennis & Education Foundation.
This donor recognition program provides an enduring presence for Foundation
supporters at the National Tennis Center, says Karen Martin-Eliezer, executive direc-
tor of the USTA T&EF. Through their generous support, Foundation donors can help
build lives through tennis and education.
Founder's Court Pavers will be located at the start of the Avenue of Aces near the
East Gate along Louis Armstrong Stadium and anchored by a dedication plaque.
Pavers of various sizes can be purchased for a tax-deductible donation starting at
$1,000. USTA members can purchase pavers for a special price of $750 before June
30. Pavers purchased before July 1 will be in place for the 2005 US Open.
For more information on purchasing part of the Avenue of Aces, visit
www.usta.com or call 914-696-7223.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
17/52
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
USPTA, USTA Partner to EducateGrassroots Coaches
In 2001, the USPTA created a special
membership category for part-
time, grassroots tennis teachers.
Now part-time tennis teachers have a
new mode of entry into the associa-tionthrough USTA Recreational
Coach Workshops.
USPTA offers the Developmental
Coach membership category for people who may already be teach-
ing tennisas high school coaches, at recreational facilities or in
other part-time situationsbut who are not immediate candidates
for careers as full-time teaching professionals. By attending a USTA
Recreational Coach Workshop, these teachers may prove their com-
mitment to tennis teaching and their understanding of basic teach-
ing standards. With completion of the workshop, they are eligible to
become USPTA Developmental Coaches without attending another
workshop.
USPTA Developmental Coach benefits include on-court liability
insurance, four publications, member discounts on educational
materials and events, and membership in the national association
and a regional division.
We are happy to be a partner with USTA as both our organiza-
tions seek to provide education to grassroots tennis teachers, says
USPTA President David T. Porter, Ed.D.
Bahamian Fast Grand Slam
Guests at The Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island can now play the Fast Grand
Slam of Tennis. The resort offers Rebound Ace, red clay, grass, and DecoTurf, mimicking the surfaces at the Australian Open,French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
To celebrate the new Fast Grand Slam, Our Lucaya is offering an Unlimited Tennis Package through Dec. 31, with nightly rates
that start at $519 at the Westin and $479 at the Sheraton and include accommodations, breakfast, up to three hours of play, a ten-
nis lesson, tennis balls, and beverages. Visit www.spg.com/fastgrandslam for more information, or call 8777-OUR-LUCAYA.
Tennis in Music CityThe 32nd Annual Music City Tennis Invitational, presentedby Mercedes-Benz of Nashville, Tenn., brought out record-ing artists, songwriters, music executives and tennis playersof all abilities to raise money for the Center for Child Devel-opment at Vanderbilt Universitys Childrens Hospital inApril. Taking a break of the on-court action are (from left)country music star Shannon Brown, award-winning com-poser Bobby Etoll, and MCTI co-chairs Patsy Bradley andBill Riddle. (Photo by Teddie St. John)
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
18/52
F O C U S O N apparel
Accessories That Supply the Final Touch
/
ound out your inventory and stock up on acces-
sories that not only complement an outfit, but
multi-task as functional pieces as well. Here are
R
16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
ELLESSEEllesse sports the basic but stylish black and white look for the tennis
traditionalist with their recognizable logo on caps ($20), visors ($14),
wristbands ($7), and headbands ($9). (561-491-9000 or
www.ellesse.com)
BLLE DE MTCHBlle de Mtchs fun hats and visors are fashion-forward, flexible, and
lightweight, from the Hey Baby Hey hat ($22) with its meshy designand Velcro closure to the Yippee Da-Bomb hat ($24), featuring the
advanced technology of Flex-Fit. (800-356-1021)
LEJAYLejay brings its own brand of fun, class, and glam to its kelly
green and white twill visors and caps, which coordinate with
the Racqueteers line of clothing. This emerald Swarovski crys-
tal-trimmed headwear retails for $22. (800-932-7535 or
www.lejay.com)
some quick buys that can give your customers items
they might not think about, and can help boost your
bottom line.
TAILThe Cosmic Tech Group features go-with colors from Tails
current lines. The visors ($18) and caps ($22) are a combo
lycra jersey and nylon; the wristbands ($7) are a breathable
cotton-nylon-spandex combination. The carry-along tote,
which retails for $42, also picks up the new colors. (800-
678-8245 or www.tailinc.com)
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
19/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
20/52
YOUR finances$
Among the most basic types of credit
used by any racquet sports business
is the line-of-credit or revolving loan.
Probably the shortest short-term financing
offered by banks, a line-of-credit is just
that, a loan agreement with the paper-
work and approval process already com-
plete. Many retail shops and tennis
facilities rely on a line-of-credit or revolv-
ing loan arrangements to help bridge the
inevitable slow periods or cash shortfalls.
A recent study conducted by the Gen-eral Accountability Office, Congresss
watchdog, recently discovered that banks
have promised to make over $1 trillion in
credit available to businesses. Although
the GAOs study found that banks may
not always properly account for those
commitments, no evidence was discov-
ered to indicate that banks systematically
underpriced these arrangements. Unfortu-
nately, fees for line-of-credit and revolving
credit arrangements may soon increase as
the effects of an international bankingaccord kick-in.
A LINE OF CREDIT
A line of credit is an agreement between
a commercial bank and a business that
states the amount of unsecured, short-
term credit that the bank will make avail-
able to the business should it need it. A
line of credit is not a guaranteed loan. It
typically represents a one-year agreement
that if the bank has enough available
funds, it will allow the tennis business to
borrow the maximum stated amount of
money.
A line-of-credit arrangement helps
speed the borrowing process for all con-
cerned because the bank does not have
to examine the creditworthiness of the
tennis business each time it borrows
money.
Similarly, a revolving credit agreement
is simply a guaranteed line of credit. The
bank guarantees that the amount shown
on the credit agreement will be available
to the business. For guaranteeing avail-
18 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
Credit Lines: Peace of Mind
for Your Business B Y M A R K E . B A T T E R S B Yability, the bank usually charges a com-
mitment fee, which applies to the unused
balance of the revolving credit agree-
ment. Interest is charged for the periods
between when the funds are drawn
upon and when they are repaid.
LINE-OF-CREDIT
LOANS
According
to many
experts,the most use-
ful type of loan for
many small retail shops is
the line-of-credit loan. In fact, its
probably the one permanent loan
arrangement every racquet sports busi-
ness should have with its banker, since it
protects the borrower from emergencies
and stalled cash-flow. Call it a line-of-
credit, a revolving credit arrangement,
check guarantees, or whatever, line-of-
credit loans are intended for purchases of
inventory and payment of operating
costs, for working capital and business
cycle needs. These loans are not intended
for purchases of equipment or real
estate.
A line-of-credit loan is a short-term
loan that extends the cash available in
the tennis businesss checking account to
the upper limit of the loan contract. Every
bank has its own method of funding, but
essentially, an amount is transferred to
the operations checking account to
cover checks. The business pays interest
on the actual amount advanced until it is
paid back.
In many cases, line-of-credit loans
carry the lowest interest rate that a bank
offers since they are viewed as fairly low-
risk. Some banks include a clause that
gives them the right to cancel the loan if
they think a business is in jeopardy. Inter-
est payments are made monthly and the
principal amount is paid off at the busi-
nesss convenience.
Banks often refer to these loans as a
revolving line of credit. A number of
experts feel that it is prudent to make
payments on the principal often. They see
these accounts and the re-payments as
an indication that the retail shop or ten-
nis facility is earning income.Many line-of-credit loans are written
for periods of one-year and are usually
renewed almost automatically for an
annual fee. Some banks require that the
operations credit line be fully paid off for
between seven and 30 days each con-
tract year.
Its difficult to put a value on the
peace of mind that having funds available
whenever they are needed can bring. So,
too, is it difficult to put a price on the
flexibility having a line-of-credit loan in
place can bring. Unfortunately, an inter-
national banking accord may soon have a
noticeable impact on the fees charged for
line-of-credit loans and other financial
transactions by many banks.
GLOBAL CHANGE
For years, banking regulations allowed
bankseven enouraged themto offer
short-term credit facilities such as so-
called 364-day lines. Because banks
were not required to maintain capital
reserves against these less-than-one-year
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
21/52July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 19
Mark E. Battersby is a tax and financialadvisor, lecturer, writer and author inArdmore, Pa.
loans, they were frequently offered at
extremely attractive rates. In fact, many
banks use them as loss leaders to attract
new customers, and many small business
owners depend on them as economical,
readily-available standby credit.
Unfortunately, thanks to the adoption
of a new international banking accord
called Basel II, and its requirement thatbanks must start setting aside capital
against these short-term loans in 2007,
the glory days of this short-term financing
may be limited. Experts warn that small
businesses should think about the conse-
quences now, because banks may seek to
pass on costs through the increased
expenses clauses that most loan agree-
ments contain.
There is increasing evidence that in
some casesparticularly if you happen to
be a small or mid-size business or your
credit rating is either non-existent or has
seen better daysthe bottom-line for
Basel II could amount to tighter credit
and higher rates.
Here in the U.S., banking regulators
have decided to apply Basel II on a
mandatory basis only to the countrys
largest, internationally-active banks.
When all is said and done, it is estimated
that only the 20 largest U.S. banks will
switch to the new system. This leaves
many banks to use current capital
requirements.
Quite apart from the impact on the
cost to borrowers, Basel II will also alter
the way that the cost of capital is calcu-lated for virtually every kind of risk
encountered by a bank, including opera-
tional risks such as fraud, and consumer
risks such as mortgage, credit card, and
personal lending. For some banks, this
will impact on their ability to lend. Every
retailer and facility operator should be
aware of this and negotiate with Basel II
in mind. Or, perhaps, find a bank that
has chosen not to comply with Basel II.
GOING LOCAL
With major banks either on the verge of
restricting or compelled to increase the
cost of line-of-credit arrangements, many
tennis businesses are turning to commu-
nity banks. According to the Independent
Bankers Association of America, in fact,
in todays banking climate it is often easi-
er to get start-up loans and other basic
short-term financing from community
banks.
Thats not to say that financing is eas-
ier at a community bank. Your business
will still have to meet the same credit and
collateral requirements demanded by
larger banks. Community banks, howev-
er, can be more flexible and are more aptto make so-called character loans,
where the banker already knows the
owner and/or the business.
Not all banks will have the same level
of fees, so it may pay to shop around.
Even if no line-of-credit loan is needed
immediately, it is often wise to talk to a
banker about how to obtain one now.
Usually, to negotiate a credit line, a
banker will ask for current financial state-
ments, the operations latest tax returns,
and a projected cash-flow statement.
With a line-of-credit loan in place,
youll discover just how little it costs for
peace of mind. Q
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
22/52
RELATIONScustomer
y all accounts, Kirsten Mendoza
(right) is the ideal front-desk person.
Her colleagues respect her, her boss
relies on her, the club members
love her.
The attributes that
make her respectable,
dependable, and
lovable were
imbued in her long
before she came to
the PGA West
Health & Racquet
Club in La Quinta, Calif.
While Kirstens boss, club manager Debbie
Douglass, cant take credit for those
strengths, she and Kirstens colleague,
Evelina Madrigal, can be credited with a
home-run hiring decision.
Kirsten brings the right attitude to
work every day, explains Douglass.
Shes happy, positive, well-organized,
and bright. She genuinely cares about her
co-workers and our members. Shes com-
pletely service-oriented. You cant train
someone to care. They either bring it or
they dont.
You dont have to visit many clubs
and shops to realize that a service orienta-
tion is a hit-or-miss proposition. Kurt Kam-
perman, the USTAs chief executive of
Community Tennis, is quite concerned
about the inconsistencies in tenniss cus-
tomer service.
Last year, we had over 4,000 Tennis
Welcome Centers in place throughout thecountry, Kamperman says. In doing our
follow-up secret shopping, we found a
profound inconsistency in the telephone
skills, program knowledge, and attitudes
of the front-desk personnel. If we want
new players to feel welcomed to our
sport, we have to do a better job hiring
and training for better customer service.
Short of cloning and placing a Kirsten
Mendoza in every tennis shop and club,
how can the industry raise its customer-
service game? Front-desk jobs typically
offer part-time hours, low pay, and little
investment from both the employer and
the employee. But the people who work
the front desk are hugely powerful in
shaping your customers perceptions and
experience with your facility. So, how can
you make home-run hiring decisions?
LOOK FOR THE SPARKLE
You want to populate your front desk
with people persons. They smile easily
and often. They look you squarely in the
eye. They listen well. They ask questions.
Theyre friendly and outgoing. If youre
not getting that in the interview, dont
expect a personality transplant once they
get behind the front desk. Just as you
cant train someone to care, you cant
train them to be friendly and outgoing,
either.
MAKE IT A TEAM EFFORT
The folks at your front desk have to work
as a team, so why not give them some
input during the hiring process? Good
chemistry behind the front desk typically
results in the most positive approach to
customers, so let the team interview
potential candidates and give you feed-
back. Chances are, youll rely on your
existing staff members to help develop
and train your new employee, and they
know what your expectations are. So, let
them provide you with some insight as
youre interviewing candidates.
Furthermore, you might rely on your
existing front-desk staff to recommend
their own colleagues. At PGA West,
Kirsten Mendoza was brought in by her
friend, Evelina Madrigal. I knew shed fit
in well here, says Madrigal. I knew
shed do a good job and that shed blend
well with the rest of our team.
INTERVIEW
MORE THAN ONCE
Anyone can turn themselves on for one
interview. Narrow your candidate pool to
the top few, and bring each one back for
another look. Specifically, look for consis-
tency in answers and behavior from one
interview to the next.
CALL THE
CANDIDATES AT HOME
Answering the phone is a big part of a
front-desk role. By calling your candi-
dates, youll get a feel for how they pro-
ject themselves over the phone. Listen for
whether they can convey their smile and
personality and positive energy when
they dont have the benefit of face-to-
face contact.
DONT JUST
FILL THE POSITION
When youre short-handed at the front
desk, its tempting to just find a personanypersonto fill the spot. Resist. While
the employee might only work part time
or on a temporary basis, he or she is cru-
cial to your customers perception. Take
the time to make a careful hiring deci-
sion, even if you have to be short-staffed
in the meantime.
Once youve put a customer service
A-team at your front desk, its important
to manage and reward the team for pro-
viding great service consistently. I make
sure our front-desk staff knows exactly
20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
Hiring and Training for Exemplary
Customer ServiceB Y J I L L F O N T E
B
3
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
23/52
what we expect, says Douglass. It can
get pretty hectic in here with players
checking in for courts, people arriving to
work out, phones ringing, and all the dis-
tractions in the background. But each
member deserves to be serviced by some-
one who can provide full attention. I
make sure our staff knows that ourmembers and guests must be their No. 1
priority.
Specifically, if you expect your front-
desk people to look up, smile, and greet
your customers (preferably by name), say
so. And, when you see them complying,
make sure they know youve noticed.
Maybe you want them to transfer
calls a certain way. May I place you on
hold while I transfer your call? is certain-
ly more service-oriented than, OK, hang
on a sec. If youd prefer they use specificlanguage during their telephone interac-
tions, say so.
If you want them to acknowledge
customers as theyre leaving your club or
shop, say so and give them the language.
Bye, Mr. Smith. Have a great day! or
Thanks for coming in, Sally! provides
one more opportunity to show that cus-
tomer that he or she has been noticed.
In short, even if youve hired right,
dont leave customer-service behavior or
language to chance. Teach your front-
desk staff how and when to acknowl-
edge your customers.
Unfortunately, Kirsten Mendoza cant
be cloned, but as a manager, you can
hire, train, and reward so the industry-
wide effect on customer service is the
same. As the industry looks for ways to
increase participation, keeping a watchful
eye on the front desk is a good place to
start. Q
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21
Jill Fonte is a speaker
and trainer specializ-ing in managementand customer service.She is a frequent pre-
senter at tennis con-ventions andworkshops through-out the U.S. An avid,frequent tennis play-
er, she is the former executive directorof the USRSA and currently serves thetennis industry as Prince's ambassadorand as the chair of the USTA's National
Tennis Innovation Committee.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
24/52
THE master pros
Pumping Up the Vital SignsWith decades of service to recreational players, Kirk Anderson says
the game is giving back to him.
After being told he was ineligible to play
college tennis because he had taught
the sport at a summer camp, Kirk
Anderson says he dedicated his career to
becoming the best teaching pro he could
be. He recently took another step toward
achieving that goal by becoming one of
only six teaching pros in the world to hold
the Master Profes-
sional rating from
both the PTR and
the USPTA.
It hasnt sunk
in yet, says 54-
year-old Anderson
of New Fairfield,
Conn., who recent-
ly added the PTRrating to the one
he has held
through the USPTA
for more than a
decade. The more
you do and the
more you partici-
pate, the better teacher youll be. This
[training] is just another way the game
gives back to you.
While the USPTA and PTR each require a
combination of playing ability, teaching
skills and experience, published research
and communications, professional develop-
ment and industry service, both organiza-
tions Master Professional designations
recognize individuals who have made sig-
nificant contributions to the game through-
out their career.
Its tough to achieve, says USPTA
Director of Certification R.J. Tessier. Kirk is
a hard worker. Youve got to give him
credit.
Kirk has earned this, agrees Geoffrey
Norton, director of development at the
PTR. He has tons of energy and unbeliev-
able dedication. Hes the kind of guy who
keeps plugging away until he nails it.
After graduating from Western Michigan
University with an undergraduate degree in
health and physical education in 1973,
Anderson taught tennis at park and recre-
ation departments, clubs in Michigan and
Ohio, and a
resort in Hawaii.
He returned toWestern Michi-
gan University,
earning a mas-
ters degree in
exercise science
in 1985, and
held positions
with the USPTA
and Head/Penn
Racquet Sports.
Formerly the
USTAs nationaldirector of com-
munity play,
Anderson says he
recently carved
out the position
of my fondest
dreams at the
USTA national headquarters.
As USTA director of recreational coaches
and programs, Anderson provides services
and resources nationwide to coaches and
tennis leaders involved in recruiting and
retaining players. While Little League and
youth soccer programs are supported by
about 300,000 volunteer and parent coach-
es, Anderson bemoans the limited impact of
the countrys 15,000 teaching pros for 5.9
million new tennis players and 4.2 million
who returned to the game in 2004, accord-
ing to the participation survey conducted by
the USTA and Tennis Industry Association.
We need more paramedics to get local
tennis programs started and keep the vital
signs going, Anderson says.
Before that can happen, however, he
B Y C Y N T H I A C A N T R E LL
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
warns a cultural change is needed. Where-
as kids get involved in sports like baseball,
soccer, and football through teams, the
perception of tennis players needing
lessons limits participation, according to
Anderson.
I ask park directors and managers, Do
you offer baseball lessons? and they look
at me like I just landed on the planet,
Anderson says. I drive by Little League
games and only one or two kids can really
play, but they practice as a team and by
the time theyre older theyre pretty good.
Meanwhile, the parents are organizing and
coaching games and running the conces-
This is the first of six installments on
the teaching pros who hold Master
Pro certifications from both the PTR
and the USPTA.
Helping to GetParents InvolvedAs the USTAs director of recreational coachesand programs, Kirk Anderson encourages par-
ents and other volunteers to get involved in
teaching and coaching players at the recre-
ational level. The USTA, in cooperation with
the USPTA and PTR, offers a training program
to help develop recreational coaches nation-
wide. Upcoming workshops include:
Q San Juan, Puerto Rico: Aug. 20-21, 8 a.m.-3
p.m. Free
Q Costa Mesa, Calif.: Aug. 26, 11 a.m.-5:30
p.m. $25; $30 after Aug. 1
Q New Haven, Conn.: Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
$40; $50 after Aug. 1 (includes lunch)
Q Bayamon, Puerto Rico: Sept. 24, 8 a.m.-3
p.m. $35
Q Vero Beach, Fla.: Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $30
(includes lunch)
For more information about 2005 USTA
Recreation Coach Workshops, visit
www.usta.com. To learn how your park and
recreation agency can host a workshop, con-tact Jason Jamison, USTA product manager,
recreational coaching, at 623-374-4905 or
Jamison@usta.com.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
25/52July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23
sions. Why cant we do the same with tennis
programs?
To boost youth and parent coach participa-
tion levels, Anderson endorses teaching tennis
in the context of match play, rather than per-
fecting strokes independently of one another.Slower, lighter balls currently being produced
give new players more control and time to get
to the ball, while modified courtspositioning
players simultaneously from the baseline to
the fence, baseline to service line, and service
line to net, for examplecreate more oppor-
tunities for players to stay active rather than
waiting for a turn to hit.
Our goal is teaching players to serve,
return, rally, and score in the first hour,
Anderson says. While technique is important
at all levels, he adds, kids just want the gameto be fun. Adults prefer more structure, and
seniors look for clinics that are social, active
and low-stress.
The way things are now, a few players
become champions, but we lose everyone
else, Anderson says. Thats not good
enough.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
26/5224 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
ANNUAL awards
Wed like your help in recognizing the people and organizations that are
making a difference in the business of tennis.
nce again, wed like to honor the
champions of our sportthe
many, often unheralded heroes
who work tirelessly to develop tennis in
the U.S. But once again, we need your
help in identifying these men and
women, businesses and organizations,
and how their accomplishments have
helped the game, whether in their local
areas or nationally.
Please take a look at the categoriesat the right and email your nominations
to RSI@racquettech.com (please put
Champions in the subject line).
Include:
Q Nominees name;
Q Where they work or what they do
related to tennis;
Q Phone (if possible);
O
Persons of the Year2004: Arlen Kantarian
2003: Jim Baugh & Kurt Kamperman
2002: Alan Schwartz
Mass Merchant/Chain of the Year
2004: City Sports
2003: Sport Chalet
2002: Dicks Sporting Goods
2001: Galyans
Municipal Facility of the Year
2004: Lexington County Tennis Complex
2003: Midland Community Tennis Center
2002: Cooper Tennis Complex
2001: George E. Barnes Tennis Center
Pro/Specialty Retailer
2004: Players Choice Tennis
2003: Advantage Yours
2002: Chicago Tennis & Golf
2001: Dale Queen
Private Facility of the Year
2004: Indian Creek Racquet Club
Champions of Tennis Honor Roll Private Facility of the Year cont.2003: New Albany Country Club
2002: Woodfield Country Club
Builder of the Year
2004: Zaino Tennis Courts
2003: General Acrylics
2002: Cape & Island Tennis and Track
2001: Welch Tennis Courts
Sales Rep of the Year
2004: Dustin Perry
2003: Bob Strimel
2002: Bob Pfaender
2001: Sheri Norris & David Blakeley
Grassroots Champion
2004: Gwen & Dan Ramras
2003: Scott Biron
2002: Mark Platt
2001: Donna Owens
Junior Development Champion
2004: Emma Hubbs
2003: Phyllis Greene
2002: LaMont Bryant
2001: Ned Eames
Champions of Tennis 2005
Q Brief description of why you believe
they are the champions in their areas.
Wed also appreciate your name and
contact information, for confirmation
purposes only. All nominations will be
confidential, and you may nominate for
as many categories as youd like. And, if
theres a category that we dont list that
you think we should include, please let
us know.
We need your nominations byAug. 5, 2005. Email is preferred, but you
may fax them to 760-536-1171 or mail
them to: Racquet Sports Industry, 300
Main St., Vista, CA 92084.
In our November/December issue,
well include a special section acknowl-
edging the dedication of those who
work to keep tennis vital in the U.S.
2005 CHAMPIONS OF
TENNIS CATEGORIES
Q Person of the Year
Q Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year
Q Mass Merchant/Chain Retailer of the Year
Q Builder/Contractor of the Year
Q Municipal Facility of the Year
Q Private Facility of the Year
Q Sales Rep of the Year
Q Stringer of the YearQ Grassroots Champion of the Year
Q Junior Development Champion of the Year
Q Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year
Q USTA Section of the Year
Q Community Tennis Association of the Year
Q PTR Division of the Year
Q USPTA Division of the Year
Wheelchair Tennis Champion
2004: Julie Jilly
2003: Dan James2002: Tina Dale
2001: Nancy Olson
USTA Section of Year
2004: Pacific Northwest
2003: Southern
2002: Northern
2001: New England
CTA of the Year
2004: Pikes Peak CTA
2003: Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation
2002: Macon Tennis Association2001: Homewood-Flossmoor
Stringer of the Year
2004: Randy Stephenson
PTR Division of the Year
2002: Eastern
2001: New England
USPTA Division of the Year
2002: Midwest
2001: Texas
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
27/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
28/52
nently post a picture of the new machine in your facility,
describing all the bells and whistles. Then offer to pre-sell
blocks of time using the machine at a substantial discount. Try
offering six- and 12-month blocks of time during specific
hours of the day.
Lesson PackagesEvery coach will agree that to increase student improvement,
you should get him or her to practice in between lessons on a
ball machine. The first step is to use the ball machine regular-
ly during the actual lesson. The second step is to include
scheduled ball machine rental time within the lesson package
itself. The result will be ball-machine practice in the lessons
and in between lessons. Then, once they see the benefits of
this type of drilling, offer additional ball machine rentals at a
discount for their on-going use.
Weekly Ball Machine ClinicsTo generate excitement about ball-machine use, schedule a
26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
all machines are one of the most underused assets at
tennis facilities across the country. While the benefits
of ball-machine use are broadly understood, only a small
percentage of teaching professionals, tennis coaches, and
facility managers use them regularly. Not only are your
players missing out on a great chance to improve their
games, but also youre missing out on a potential revenue
stream.
Consider this: In a normal tennis match, you hit the ball
about 150 times per hour. But against a ball machine throw-
ing the ball every 4 seconds, youll hit about 650 balls in an
hour, including down time for ball pick-up. In addition to
using ball machines in lessons and renting your machine to
players for regular practice, here are 12 ideas to get more
bang from your machine.
Ball Machine Fund-RaisingIf you want to raise money for a top-flight ball machine in
advance of purchasing it, heres a winning idea. Promi-
B
G U I D E T O B A L L M A C H I N E S
Machine
READY!Generate more revenue by using your ball machine
to the fullest.Generate more revenue by using your ball machine
to the fullest.
Machine
READYB Y J O E D I N O F F E R
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
29/52July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27
weekly drop-in ball-machine drill session. Its a great way
to introduce and get players hooked on training with ball
machines. But be careful, you may find this weekly ses-
sion becoming so popular that youll have to purchase
extra machines!
Ball Machine Mini-LessonsIt happens all the time. A recreational player rents themachine and ends up enthusiastically getting a great
workout, but practicing the wrong technique! How about
promoting a 10- to 15-minute Mini-Lesson at a nomi-
nal cost for the beginning of their one-hour ball machine
rental? The benefits are tremendous: The coaches can
develop relationships with more players, it generates
increases in overall lesson taking and, most important,
its a unique service that really helps players improve.
Target Training Services
Players renting ball machines are the cream of thecrop, those dedicated souls who are self-disciplined and
highly motivated. How about charging 10 percent more
for all ball machine rentals? Then, have a staff member
go on the court with the player to set up a target system
for theman air target, ropes, rubber lines, cones, or
whatever you want to help them become more visually
focused during their workout. They will really appreciate
this extra touch.
High-VisibilityCourt for Ball Machines
This little trick works wonders to generate increased ball-machine interest and use. Instead of setting up your ball
machine on a back, low-visibility court, how about
putting it up front, on the most visible court of your facil-
ity? Another benefit besides generating increased
onlooker interest is that it allows your staff to notice and
quickly respond whenever a user may need assistance.
Use Videos toGenerate Ball Machine InterestAlmost every facility has a public area where players con-
gregate or at least pass through. In this lounge or pro
shop area, try playing various videos to generate and
increase interest in a specific program. For example,
how about playing the popular ball-machine drill video
Millennium Tennis to generate interest in ball-machine
use? Just remember to put a sign by the TV and VCR with
a catchy phrase like: Ball Machines are the No. 1 train-
ing partner in the world. Contact the front desk to
arrange a convenient time for both of you!
New Member PerkIf you work at a country club or facility charging initiation
fees and dues, try offering an incentive or perk to new
members. In addition to the typical 30-minute introduc-
tory lesson, how about a one-month or three-month pass
for ball-machine use. But remember, its not enough to
hand new members a piece of paper, call them to set up
a time for their first ball-machine session to make it a
friendly first experience.
Rent 10 Times, Get 11th FreeThis basic but consistently winning promotional idea caneasily be adjusted to all situations. For ball-machine
rentals, simply promote that a certain amount of rentals
entitles the player to one more rental free. Options to
this would include the reverse: Take 10 lessons and
receive a ball machine rental free. Just use a little cre-
ativity and the interest you can generate will be signifi-
cant.
Team RentalsPractically every club or facility has teams: womens
teams, mens teams, junior teams, and so on. The attrac-
tion of these teams is the fun that comes from groupinteraction. How about extending that fun to ball-
machine rentals with a group rental program? For exam-
ple, have a league team rental price that would allow any
member or combination of members to rent the
machine. Its a winning idea thats sure to generate some
enthusiasm along with additional income.
Ball Machine RafflesRadio promotions use it all the time. You know, the sixth
caller receives a trip to Hawaii. Well, forget Hawaii, but
how about promoting that the sixth person to sign up for
a clinic or the sixth person to have their racquet restrungin a certain month gets a free ball machine pass. This
promotional idea is very versatile and can help put some
added pop into any program.
Beat the MachineAt a club party or special event, put your machine on
your highest visibility court and play Beat the Machine.
Just divide players into A, B, and C groups. Create three
target areas, appropriately challenging for each level.
Have each person hit 10 balls. Offer prizes if they hit
eight out of 10 in the target for their level of play. Have
them pay $10 to enter and give them a gift certificate in
the pro shop for $20 if they win.
But, heres the way you can guarantee that a lot of peo-
ple sign up for the challenge. Even if they lose, give them
a gift certificate for $10 in the shop. This way, everyone
wins and since you have double mark-ups on most pro
shop items, there is no risk on your part, either. Q
Joe Dinoffer is a Master Professional for both the PTR andUSPTA. He speaks frequently at national and international ten-nis teacher workshops as a member of both the Head/Penn and
Reebok National Speakers Bureaus. He is president of OncourtOffcourt Inc. and has written 16 books and produced morethan 30 instructional videos.
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
30/52
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
31/52July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29
o matter what kind of facility
you have, a ball machine
should be a key component of
your business. While you may be
put off by the initial investment,
youll make that money backandmuch morewhen you have a ball
machine available for your mem-
bers and students. For example,
you can let players rent time on
the machine by themselves, freeing
up teaching pros to work on other
courts, or you can use the
machine to spice up clinics by
working alongside the pro.Whether youre part of the Tennis
Welcome Center initiative or not,
as more students come into the
game, theyll be looking for ways
to hone their strokes, and thats
what a ball machine will provide,
while keeping them on your courts.
(For more on making money with
ball machines, see page 26.)
Our 2005 Guide to Ball Machines
has all the information you need to
help you find the right machine for
your business. The Ball Machine
Selector on page 30 charts all the
machines available today and what
features they offer. Keep in mindthat with ball machines, there are
a lot of things that you can change
about the unit at the time of pur-
chase or later. In our chart, weve
listed the specs and prices for the
most basic model of each machine.
Then, if options are offered, weve
listed the additional cost of adding
that feature.
2 0 0 5 G U I D E T O B A L L M A C H I N E S
BALLMACHINE
SELECTOR
N
BALLMACHINE
SELECTOR
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
32/52
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY July 2005
PROPULSION
Twins Lease $900/Month Full 20"x26"x40" 200 140 X 0.25 - 4 100 X X X
Economy Ball Bucket 202 $469 2 12" x 12" x 27" 50 20 X 3, 6, 12 55 X X $50
Ball Bucket 201 $549 2 12" x 12" x 31" 50 28 X 3, 6, 12 55 X X $50
Hybrid Model 301 $689 2 36" x 13" x 21" 150 31 X 3, 6, 12 70 X X $50
Tournament 401 $789 2 36" x 13" x 21" 150 32 X 3, 6, 12 70 X X $50Elite Model 1 $1,049 1 24" x 16" x 19" 150 42 X 2 - 12 80 X X X
Elite Model 2 $1,299 1 24" x 16" x 19" 150 44 X 2 - 12 80 X X X
Portable $1,495 1 19" x 21" x 25" 200 65 X 1 - 10 80 X X X
BP-X $2,995 3 35" x 21" x 38" 200 115 X 1 - 10 90 X X
Ace $3,169 3 35" x 21" x 38" 200 115 X 1 - 10 90 X X X
Smash $3,995 3 35" x 21" x 38" 300 115 X 1 - 10 90 X X X
Deuce $4,995 3 35" x 21" x 38" 300 115 X 1 - 10 90 X X X
Genie $5,995 3 35" x 21" x 38" 300 115 X 1 - 10 90 X X X
Genie PC $7,995 3 35" x 21" x 38" 300 115 X 1 - 10 90 X X X
Grand Slam $7,495 3 35" x 21" x 38" 300 125 X 1 - 10 120 X X X
Grand Slam PC $8,995 3 35" x 21" x 38" 300 125 X 1 - 10 120 X X X
Little Prince Portable Model 1 $699 1 19" x 17.5" x 18" 250 29 X 2 - 7 60 X X
Little Prince Portable Model 2 $949 1 19" x 17.5" x 18" 250 34 X 2 - 7 60 X X
Prince Portable Model 1 $1,099 1 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 2 - 13 80 X X X
Prince Portable Model 2 $1,299 1 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2 - 13 80 X X X
Prince Portable Model 3 $1,599 1 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2 - 13 80 X X X
Prince Portable Model 4 $1,899 1 19.5" x 16" x 21.5" 300 48 X 2 - 13 80 X X X
Prince Surefire $2,995 3 35" x 25" x 50" 250 87 X 1.5 - 8 90 X X X
Prince Hot Shot $3,595 3 35" x 25" x 50" 250 87 X 1.5 - 8 90 X X X
Prince Prodigy $4,995 3 31" x 26" x 56" 250 143 X 1.5 - 8 90 X X X
Big SAM $29,999 1 60" x 48" x 108" 200 398 X 2 - 20 100 X X X X
Boomer $14,450 1 38.5" x 31" x 21.5" 300 124 X 10-Jan 100 X X X
Ultra Lite $699 1 22" x 18" x 14" 200 35 X 1.0 - 15 95 X X X
Sport $849 1 22" x 18" x 14" 200 46 X 1.0 - 15 95 X X X
Pro $1,099 1 22" x 18" x 14" 200 48 X 1.0 - 15 95 X X X
Ace Attack $5,499 1 34" x 53" 200 150 X 1.5 - 12 110 X X X X
Lobsterwww.lobsterinc.com800-526-4041
Playmatewww.playmatetennis
machines.com800-776-6770
Princewww.mastersports.com800-837-1002
Silent Partnerwww.sptennis.com
800-662-1809
Sp
inn
ing
Wh
ee
lP
ropu
lsio
n
Air
Pressure
Propu
lsio
n
Fee
din
gInte
rva
l(s
econ
ds
)
Top
Speed
(MPH)
Ele
vati
on
Con
tro
l-E
lec
tron
ic
Ele
va
tion
Co
ntr
ol
-M
anua
l
Able
toF
eed
Lo
bs
Able
toFee
dT
opsp
in&
Un
dersp
in
Ba
llC
apaci
ty
We
ight
(lbs)
Dimensions(Storage inches)
Warranty(years)
Price(MSRP)ModelBrand
Sports Attackwww.sportsattack.com
800-717-4251
2 0 0 5 G U I D E T O B A L L M A C H I N E S
Global TennisTeaching Systemwww.globaltennisteaching.com561-243-9522
Robot Optimizerswww.tennisrobot.com
888-8BOOMER
Able
toF
eed
Sid
esp
in
*Other Optional Accessories
1 - Spin Adaptor $50
2 - Fast Charger $99
3 - 3 Hour Rapid Recharger $1454 - Smart Charge Technology comes standard
5 - Built-in Transformer for International Power Standards $111
6 - External Extended Life Battery $189, 110/220 Volt AC Converter $199
7 - 110/220 Volt AC Converter $149
8 - Additional Removable Battery $409 - Extra Heavy Duty Battery $25
-
8/8/2019 200507 Racquet Sports Industry
33/52
MISC.
July 2005 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 31
REMOTE CONTROLPOWEROSCILLATION
No
Osc
illatio
n
Osc
illatio
n -
Ran
dom
Osc
illation -
Programma
ble
Num
ber
of S
hots
inP
rogram
Adju
sta
bleD
epth
With
inP
rogram
Adju
sta
bleS
pin
Within
Program
Adju
sta
bleH
eig
ht
With
inP
rogram
Runs
on
Battery
orP
ower
Cord
Runs
onPo
wer
Cor
dO
nly
Runs
on
Battery
On
ly
Battery
Amp
/Hour
Battery
Life
Indic
ator
Battery
Swa
pa
bili
ty
Rem
ote
Contro
l-S
tan
dar
d
Remote
Con
tro
l-O
ptiona
lA
ccessory
Rem
ote
Contro
l-C
ord
Rem
ote
Control
-W
ireless
Rem
ote
Control
of
Osc
illation
Rem
ote
Control
of
ProgramS
ett
ings
Serv
ing
Tow
er
-S
tan
dar
d
Serving
Tow
er-O
ptiona
lA
ccessory
Cover
-Sta
nd
ard
Cover
-Opt
ional
Accessory
Inclu
des
Wh
eels
for
Portab
ility
Oth
er
Op
tiona
lA
ccessories
*(s
ee
be
low
)
X X 9 X X X X X X X X X X
X $70 X $49 1
X X $70 X $49 1
X X $70 X $49 X 1
X X X X $70 X $49 X 1X X 18 X $199 X X $49 X 2
X X X X 18 X $199 X X $49 X 2
3 X 15 X X X X $85.15 3
X 3 X X X $3,995 $85.15 5
X 3 X X X $3,995 $85.15 5
X X 7 X X X X X X $3,995 $85.15 5
X X 7 X X X X X X X X X $3,995 $8
top related