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Our Serve

May 2013

Our Serve: Tennis … For Your Life!

To truly grow tennis, we need to emphasize this sport’s best selling tool: health and fitness. (Click here to read more...)

April 2013

Our Serve: Take A Second Look at 10U Tennis

I recently was talking with a very highly regarded teaching pro in the USTA Southern Section who was telling me about his first encounters with the 10 and Under Tennis initiative. In short, he was not a fan. He... (Click here to read more...)

March 2013

Our Serve: It Starts With a Court

When we talk about growing the game, often it’s about participation, or equipment sales, or leagues and lessons. But when you think about it, growing the game starts under our feet… on the tennis court itself. It sounds basic,... (Click here to read more...)

February 2013

Our Serve: New Year, New Start

We all make New Year’s resolutions in some form or another. We may not make a big deal about it, but in the back of our minds, when January rolls around, we say things to ourselves such as, it’s... (Click here to read more...)

January 2013

Our Serve: Defying the Odds

This issue again highlights our annual “Champions of Tennis” award winners, honoring the often-unsung heroes of the sport. These are incredible people doing some incredible things in tennis. Yet in many ways, these are stories of what hundreds, even... (Click here to read more...)

November 2012

Our Serve: Common Goals

At the TIA Tennis Forum, held in New York City just before the US Open, TIA President Jon Muir presented a slide to the 300-plus industry leaders, teaching pros, manufacturers, retailers and others in the room that said the... (Click here to read more...)

September 2012

Our Serve: A Celebration of Tennis

The US Open brings the best tennis players together for what many consider is the biggest and best tournament in the world. That’s a perfect reason to celebrate this sport. But now, this industry is adding another reason for... (Click here to read more...)

August 2012

Our Serve: Leveling the Field

There are 45 states that charge a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% in Colorado to 7.3% in Arizona. If you purchase something at a retailer in those states, that cost gets added to the price you pay. But in... (Click here to read more...)

July 2012

Our Serve: We Need a ‘Restring’ Campaign

It’s time we discard that old saying, “Restring your racquet as many times a year as you play in a week, but a minimum of twice a year.” Let’s consider that old saw done, dead, kaput. We all know... (Click here to read more...)

June 2012

Our Serve: The Growing Sports Travel Market

In April, I had the chance to attend the NASC Sports Event Symposium, held in Hartford, Conn. The National Association of Sports Commissions was founded in 1992 and represents more than 550 organizations. Members include cities, sports commissions, convention... (Click here to read more...)

May 2012

Our Serve: Demand More From Your Reps

In our March issue, we ran a “Retailing” tip on how manufacturers’ sales reps should be one of the best resources for tennis retailers. The tip, written by the TIA’s retailing consultants, described some of the things manufacturer reps... (Click here to read more...)

April 2012

Our Serve: Benefits of Receiving, and Giving

We all want some recognition for what we do. Pro tennis players get that recognition when they win tournaments. But for most of us, it’s sometimes hard to find ways to satisfy our need to be told that our... (Click here to read more...)

March 2012

Our Serve: Help the Sport, Help Yourself

Every business in this industry is important. When a tennis business goes out of business — whether it’s a local tennis shop or facility, a manufacturer, a court builder, a member of the tennis media, or a teaching pro... (Click here to read more...)

February 2012

Our Serve: Pushing a Health Incentive

The start of a new year always seems to be when people resolve to get healthy — to eat better, work out more, lose weight. We in the tennis business want this industry to get healthy, too — more... (Click here to read more...)

January 2012

Our Serve: The Champions around us

I had an unusual pleasure on a recent trip to Florida — I met up with two tennis industry friends and spent a wonderful few hours talking about tennis history, the business of tennis, and where things seem to... (Click here to read more...)

November 2011

Our Serve: Gaining Perspective

The US Open is inextricably linked with 9/11. The tragedy in 2001 took place two days after Lleyton Hewitt beat Pete Sampras in the US Open final in New York. Sept. 11 often will fall within the tournament’s two... (Click here to read more...)

September 2011

Our Serve: Tennis for America

The US Open is a time for pro tennis to take center stage, for the world’s best to come together at the world’s biggest tournament, in front of the world’s biggest tennis crowd, for the world’s biggest purse. But... (Click here to read more...)

August 2011

Our Serve: The Local Connection

“All politics is local,” said former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. He coined that phrase because, when you get right down to it, politicians need to appeal to the simple and everyday concerns and issues of their... (Click here to read more...)

July 2011

Our Serve: A Rallying Point for the Industry

One of the premier gatherings for industry professionals happens every year during the US Open in New York, at the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. This year marks the 41st annual TTC, which will be Aug. 27 to 30 at... (Click here to read more...)

June 2011

A Season of Winners

These last few months, I’ve had the privilege of working with a small group of tennis industry professionals dedicated to helping move this industry forward in a way that few would suspect, but which has a greater impact on... (Click here to read more...)

May 2011

A Redefined and Renewed TIA

RSI magazine, as many of you know, works closely with the Tennis Industry Association on a number of levels. After all, we have a similar goal — to grow your tennis business — so it only makes sense we... (Click here to read more...)

April 2011

Let’s move the needle on frequent play!

“Let’s move” the needle on frequent play! (Click here to read more...)

March 2011

Get me out of here!

In the Northeast, where I live, this has been one of the toughest winters ever. Record snows and prolonged cold weather have made life difficult for us Patriots fans. I seem to be spending all my time worrying about... (Click here to read more...)

February 2011

Why You Need to Get in the Kids’ Game!

By now, you’re probably aware of the big push by the USTA and the industry for 10-and-under tennis (see Industry News item on page 8). In all the debate before the holidays — about mandating 10U guidelines for tournaments,... (Click here to read more...)

January 2011

Looking for ways to improve

When my RSI colleagues and I go to industry events, we often hear from people in the tennis business — teaching pros, stringers, court builders, retailers, school coaches, community tennis leaders and others — that they very much like... (Click here to read more...)

November 2010

Saving a True Tennis ‘Landmark’

More than 70,000 people call the Forest Hills area of Queens, N.Y., their home. But mention the words “Forest Hills” to many, many millions around the world, and they still think of it as the storied home for tennis... (Click here to read more...)

September 2010

Play it Forward

Tennis is experiencing a “mini-boom” in terms of participation, with more than 30 million individuals having played in 2009. That’s the good news. The bad news is that at the same time, we’ve seen a drop in the number... (Click here to read more...)

August 2010

Where’s Our Rallying Point?

I think I missed something … or maybe I didn’t. It’s hard to tell. What I think I missed is National Tennis Month. Do you know what month is National Tennis Month? Do your customers and members? Do tennis... (Click here to read more...)

July 2010

Keep the Debate a Healthy One

Lately, a few things have crossed my screen that have made me a bit concerned about the health of some relationships in this industry. This regards a little dust-up about a (soon-to-be) proposed rule change for 10-and-under tennis. Some... (Click here to read more...)

Student-Athlete, or Athlete-Student?

After being sidelined by injury, a teenage player considers her path — and tennis’s appeal. (Click here to read more...)

June 2010

Support From the ‘Tennis Family’

One sunny Saturday morning in April, I received an email that made me sit back, sigh and stare at the screen. “Dear Family and Friends,” it began. “To keep you up to date on my health condition, I created... (Click here to read more...)

May 2010

Check Out Our Digital Editions

One thing that’s always gratifying to me is when I go to industry events and people come up to me and say how much they enjoy reading RSI, how informative they find the magazine, and how it helps them... (Click here to read more...)

April 2010

Industry Gathering Points

March 1 was a busy day for tennis. The BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup was held in New York’s Madison Square Garden that evening, and earlier in the day, the TIA had a board meeting... (Click here to read more...)

March 2010

Sowing Seeds at the Grassroots

I just returned from San Diego and am all fired up. I was at the 2010 USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop (CTDW), undoubtedly one of the best things the USTA does for recreational tennis. Volunteers and USTA staff from... (Click here to read more...)

January 2010

There’s Still Much More Work to Do

The news that overall U.S. tennis participation — for the first time in more than 20 years — surpassed 30 million players in 2009 was rightfully hailed as a major achievement for the sport. Amid all the celebrating and... (Click here to read more...)

November 2009

It’s Time to Give the Foot Fault Its Due

The Serena Williams incident during the US Open shows a disappointing side of our sport. Plenty of people have already taken her to task, and I see no need to continue that. But I do want to comment on... (Click here to read more...)

September 2009

A Battle Cry For Our Sport

There’s a new rallying cry for tennis, and it’s being spread by tennis retailers, racquet manufacturers, teaching pros, tennis associations and more: “Racket UP, America!” RUA is not just a slogan, though. It’s an industry-wide promotional campaign for the... (Click here to read more...)

July 2009

A Campaign We Should All Support

Just like you, we at RSI depend on this industry, so we freely admit that we are “cheerleaders for our sport.” And we need you to be “cheerleaders for tennis,” too. That’s why this issue’s cover may look like... (Click here to read more...)

June 2009

Reaching Out to Facility Managers

In mid-May, I spent a week at the Tennis Industry Association office on Hilton Head Island, where I also was fortunate to be able to attend a few sessions at the first Tennis Club Owners and Facility Managers Conference,... (Click here to read more...)

May 2009

Take the Offensive

We’re fighting a battle in my town — and it’s probably similar to what many of you may have gone through. Our park and rec director has proposed a wonderful new public recreation area that includes tennis courts. However,... (Click here to read more...)

April 2009

Sharing Your Successes

February was a busy time on Hilton Head Island. This tennis hotbed became even hotter when the USTA’s Community Tennis Development Workshop was held there, and immediately after that, the PTR International Tennis Symposium. If you’ve read this column... (Click here to read more...)

March 2009

Change for the Better

You may have noticed in our February issue a subtle redesign of some of our pages. Our intent was to keep things fresh in the magazine — while not changing too drastically the look and feel of our award-winning... (Click here to read more...)

February 2009

Building On a Solid Foundation

In December, I made the annual trek to the Technical Meeting of the American Sports Builders Association, which was held in New Orleans. I really love this group, and as I’ve said before in this column, these court builders are... (Click here to read more...)

January 2009

Be a Tennis Champion

Early in November, I ran into the person who brought me into the tennis business. Alexander McNab was the editor of Tennis magazine in 1987, when he hired me as an associate editor. My tennis experience at that time... (Click here to read more...)

November 2008

Advocacy: The Biggest Issue of All?

Amid all the excitement surrounding the US Open, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed about something. What bothered me was just a tiny blip on tennis’s radar screen — and that, I feel, is the... (Click here to read more...)

September 2008

The True Grassroots

With the US Open now upon us, the focus in this sport is on the professional game. And whether you run a retail shop or facility, build courts, or teach tennis, that attention on pro tennis can clearly help... (Click here to read more...)

August 2008

Finding That Tennis Passion

I’ve been involved in the tennis business for more than 20 years. And I have to admit that when I first joined Tennis Magazine in 1987, I would not have said I was particularly passionate about the sport. I... (Click here to read more...)

July 2008

Continuing Your Education

We’re coming into the big pro tennis season in the U.S., as the Olympus US Open Series kicks off in July and leads right to the US Open. But while the pro tours provide a lot of excitement, one... (Click here to read more...)

June 2008

Boosting Your Online Game

This magazine is all about helping your business. Whether a pro shop, facility, teaching pro, coach, court builder, CTA, manufacturer—we want you to succeed. We want more people playing tennis, we want to see full courts and more being... (Click here to read more...)

May 2008

Spread the News

Journalist and commentator Gloria Borger once said, “For most folks, no news is good news; for the press, good news is not news.” Well, we humbly disagree, at least with the second part of that quote. For tennis, there has... (Click here to read more...)

April 2008

A Gathering of Champions

Once again, I felt fortunate to attend one of this industry's best workshops for those actually delivering tennis at the grassroots level. I'm talking about the USTA's Community Tennis Development Workshop, a yearly event that brings together those who... (Click here to read more...)

March 2008

A Major Link in the Chain

Sometimes I worry that teaching pros get sick of hearing about various programs touted as the best thing for the future of the game. If a group such as the USTA, TIA, PTR, or USPTA is putting money and... (Click here to read more...)

February 2008

Get your customers online

Remember when the internet was new, when simply sending and receiving email or visiting a website was a wonder of technology? Now, just about anything you do has some sort of internet component to it. And consumers have come... (Click here to read more...)

January 2008

VIPs of the Tennis Industry: Our Serve

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

November 2007

Finding the 'Best of the Best'

Is your facility a leader in delivering tennis programs and providing service to promote the sport? The TIA and the USTA, together with RSI, are once again looking for the "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers" in the U.S. These... (Click here to read more...)

September 2007

Strong, And Getting Stronger

We at Racquet Sports Industry are proud to be a part of the Tennis Industry Association. And now, we've taken steps to expand our partnership with the TIA — and as a result, you'll enjoy greater coverage of industry... (Click here to read more...)

August 2007

Your Source for Industry News

The recent relaunch of our website, racquetsportsindustry.com, has been doing just what we had hoped — it's keeping the industry informed about what's going on in a very timely manner. In fact, the tagline we use on the home... (Click here to read more...)

July 2007

Keep Your Business Rolling

When it comes to tennis balls, some dealers just don't get it. They treat the product almost with a kind of contempt. True, you may not be making a huge percentage of your income selling tennis balls, but the... (Click here to read more...)

June 2007

A Look Into the Future

Recently I had the good fortune to address the students in the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. If you're not familiar with this program — and the handful of others like it... (Click here to read more...)

May 2007

Two Programs Serving the Future

For years, this industry has been searching for the magic bullet that will send tennis participation through the roof, making this business profitable for everyone. Many programs and initiatives have flashed onto the scene, only to fade after a... (Click here to read more...)

April 2007

Recognizing the Best

Every year, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducts three or four people who have had a major impact on tennis, whether as a pro player or as a "contributor" to the game, such as a media member, coach,... (Click here to read more...)

March 2007

Creating our image

One of this year's inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July, alongside legend Pete Sampras and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, will be longtime tennis photographer Russ Adams. The 76-year-old Adams, known as the "dean" of tennis photography, has... (Click here to read more...)

February 2007

Hitching a Ride

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

January 2007

A Solid Foundation

There's been a lot of good news in tennis lately. Participation is rising, equipment sales are up, the number of "play occasions" has increased. And, of course, the big statistic that many people have quoted over the last six... (Click here to read more...)

November 2006

True Champions of Tennis

This issue marks our 6th Annual Champions of Tennis Awards. We're thrilled that every year, the awards that we started in 2001 to honor those often "unsung" heroes of the sport have gained more and more notice within the... (Click here to read more...)

September 2006

More Than Money Can Buy

On the one hand, it was a bold move: naming the USTA National Tennis Center in New York — home of the US Open and the world's largest public tennis facility — after Billie Jean King, and forgoing possibly... (Click here to read more...)

August 2006

Carrying On

After more than 20 years in the tennis spotlight, Andre Agassi, now the U.S.'s grand ambassador for the sport, has announced that he will retire after this year's US Open. The New York stage is a fitting place for... (Click here to read more...)

July 2006

Grab Every Opportunity You Can

You've heard it from us before, but it bears repeating: Take advantage of all the opportunities you can when it comes to furthering your knowledge in this business. And one of the best opportunities — for tennis teachers, coaches,... (Click here to read more...)

June 2006

A Can't-Miss Marketing Strategy

Many retailers and facility managers think the Tennis Industry Association is mainly for manufacturers. But that is simply not the case. Over the last few years, the TIA has quietly been expanding its reach to facilities and retailers to... (Click here to read more...)

May 2006

Become a Tennis Advocate

We all want people on our side. As teaching pros or coaches, you want your students to think positively about you, to talk you up to others who may not know you or your talents. As retailers, you want... (Click here to read more...)

April 2006

Spotlight on stringing

I just returned from an exciting event at The Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas — the Wilson World Stringing Championships. I served as referee for the competition, which was essentially a speed-stringing contest using head-to-head competition (not just... (Click here to read more...)

March 2006

Be a 'hero' in your community

The USTA's Community Tennis Development Workshop once again drew a large, enthusiastic crowd in early February, this time in Hollywood, Calif. I was among about 650 who registered for the conference, and again, I was amazed and impressed by... (Click here to read more...)

February 2006

Building the future

In early December, I spent three days with people who may well comprise the most important group involved in tennis in the U.S. — the members of the American Sports Builders Association. These are the people who build and... (Click here to read more...)

January 2006

An Investment That Counts

If you haven't heard about it before, then when you turn to page 7 of this issue, you should be pleasantly surprised. The latest annual Tennis Participation Study shows an increase — by 1.1 million — in the number... (Click here to read more...)

November 2005

The Champion's Pursuit

The Champion's Pursuit What does it take to be a champion? No matter the field of endeavor, it takes drive, determination, sacrifice, hard work, practice, knowledge, experience, and more. Man, that sounds like a tough row to hoe. Is it... (Click here to read more...)

September 2005

Honoring Our Commitment

Well, we did this a year ago, and we're going to do it again this year. We're going to pat ourselves on the back. We recently received word that Racquet Sports Industry magazine won a 2005 Apex Award for... (Click here to read more...)

August 2005

You Gotta Have Heart!

It was vintage Jim Baugh — laser pointer in his right hand, slide projector clicker in his left, explaining the latest development in tennis. All of Baugh's excitement about the sport was there, as always, and he was thoroughly... (Click here to read more...)

July 2005

Playing the Numbers

Everywhere you turn in this business, you're hit by research numbers — participation figures, retail sales numbers, attendance and TV viewership figures. A recent addition to all the numbers is the SGMA Sports Participation Trend figures, which indicate that... (Click here to read more...)

June 2005

'Tis the Season

For tennis fans in the U.S., it's like being a kid again, with Christmas fast approaching. We're coming into the Tennis Holiday Season. So many things are happening in June, July, and August — all culminating with the greatest... (Click here to read more...)

May 2005

Don't Expect a Magic bullet

Something came up at the last TIA board meeting in March, held during the USTA's Annual Meeting in La Quinta, Calif., that got me a little concerned. As TIA President Jim Baugh was updating members about some key programs... (Click here to read more...)

April 2005

What's on Your Business Learning Calendar?

What did you learn last week that will accelerate the continuous reinvention of yourself and your business in order to survive, compete, and prosper in today's and tomorrow's business environment? Approximately 800 PTR pros spent the last week in... (Click here to read more...)

March 2005

Lessons From a USTA Section

In January, I was invited to the USTA Southern Section Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The nice folks on their Media/Public Relations Committee (Marc Kaplan, Ron Cioffi, and Marcy Hirshberg) asked me and Seth Sylvan, director of communications for the... (Click here to read more...)

February 2005

Continuing Ed That Connects

Continuing education is a big key to helping you succeed in this business. And there are a number of excellent choices when it comes to adding to your business knowledge and honing your skills in tennis teaching, programming, and... (Click here to read more...)

January 2005

Tennis NOW Through 'Coopetition'

There is nothing wrong with trying to sell the most racquets, build the most courts, recruit the most members, or teach the most players. In fact, that is what guarantees that the best products and services will be available... (Click here to read more...)

November 2004

Winning Lessons

Once again, you responded -- with e-mails, faxes, and letters -- to our call to honor the people and organizations that are making a difference in the business of tennis. This issue contains our fourth annual "Champions of Tennis"... (Click here to read more...)

October 2004

What does tennis need?

Has anyone noticed that tennis is fun to watch ... again? Well, fun for me at least, because I like rallies and lots of running. And these are back! And this, desspite all the talk about the fate of... (Click here to read more...)

September 2004

Off to a Good Start!

We'd like to do something that, in many ways, we don't do enough of. We'd like to pat ourselves on the back. Recently, we were notified that Racquet Sports Industry magazine, won an Apex 2004 Award of Excellence. Of... (Click here to read more...)

August 2004

Now, It's Your Turn

Chances are, you've been bombarded lately with messages about how the sport of tennis needs the involvement of everyone -- teaching pros, court builders, manufacturers, facility owners, pro shops, etc. Those of us who have been in this business... (Click here to read more...)

July 2004

A winning game

There's a well-known saying in tennis: Don't change a winning game. You get ahead in a match, your strategy seems to be working -- why deviate from that path? Right now, the USTA has been on a path that... (Click here to read more...)

June 2004

Use All Your Tools of the Trade

It doesn't matter what profession you're in -- carpenter, sales executive, tennis teaching pro, lawyer, retail shop owner -- you need to have the right tools for the job you do. The bottom line, naturally, is the bottom line:... (Click here to read more...)

May 2004

Start Where You Are

Sports stars often stun us with their skill and sometimes make us laugh at their TV commercials, yet rarely do they inspire us or provide something to think about. One notable exception was Arthur Ashe, both a consummate champion... (Click here to read more...)

April 2004

It's about more than just the job

Every business has its movers and shakers -- the high-profile types who keep pushing, get a lot of things done, and, because of their effectiveness, tend to receive a lot of attention. Right now in tennis, it is an... (Click here to read more...)

March 2004

One Degree of Separation … from Tennis

Do you ever wonder what all those people are thinking about as you sit bumper-locked in morning rush hour traffic? Millions of separate consciousnesses all doing the same thing, encased in their metal shells, as if in their own... (Click here to read more...)

February 2004

Writing Our Own Tennis History

In your hands is a little bit of tennis history — the premiere issue of Racquet Sports Industry. This new magazine, which we're calling RSI, comes about as a merger between two industry stalwarts: Tennis Industry magazine and the... (Click here to read more...)