european racquet stringers association

New Products
Industry News
Wimbledon 2015
Tips

ISSUE
issue561- --2015
ISSUE 2015
2014

RACQUETTECH
 THIS IS REAL TENNIS TECHNOLOGY
YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL.
Introducing Prince® Racquets.

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• Built with TeXtreme, an advanced,
super thin carbon fiber fabric that
maximizes the strength-to-weight ratio

• This proven technology is engineered

into the shaft of the racquet to
maximize racquet stability

• 45-degree box weave, carbon fiber

pattern allows for increased stability
and enhanced hitting feeling

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Contents
04 My Serve
05 New CS, MRT,
04 My Serve
PTS, MRS
05 Certification
06 New Products
06 New Products
19 Industry News
08 Wimbledon
24 Tips
11 Player Logs
26 ERSA ATW
16 Industry News
24 Two or Four Knots
26 Tips
28 ERSA ATW
4

My Serve
RACQUETTECH EUROPE
European Racquet Stringers Association

ERSA Australia
Anthony Aley
My Serve
ERSA Benelux
Timo van Driel, Rob Maessen
Welcome to Issue 6 - 2015 of
ERSA Czech Republic & Slovakia RacquetTech Magazine.
Vaclav Smat
This issue is full of Wimbledon info as the team consisted
ERSA Germany, Austria, Switzerland of most of our managers, testers and a large number of our
Mike Emenako, Mark Maslowski Pro Tour Stringers. We all had a great time this year work-
ERSA Greece Manager ing together, exchanging ideas and showing each other
George Pahiakos new tips.
I saw that almost 40% of the players were using hybrids
ERSA Italy Manager
Marco Rossani this year, up every year at least a few percent. Also, the
number of players asking for 4 knots has gone up the last
ERSA Korea 3 years dramatically. We have an article in this issue
Taikki Lee
discussing both methods of stringing and the advantages
ERSA Latin America and disadvantages.
Andrea Amaral, Ricardo Dipold Not much in the way of new products this month, but lots
ERSA Spain coming our way in the near future. The next big product
Richard Parnell launch is in September with the Pure Aero line. This is the
new line of rackets taking over the Aero Pro line.
ERSA Taiwan
Bernie Chen Ashaway has introduced their new Zymax 69 Fire, a more
durable string in their badminton performance line of Zy-
ERSA UK max Fire strings. We will be testing the string next month
Paul Skipp, Huw Phillips, Jamie Pethick
and writing up a report on it.
ERSA UKAINE The new website is online now, www.ersa-stringers.com
Sergey Konovolenko and we will be adding new Tools in the next few months,
FOUNDING MEMBERS including a tuning tool to match and tune rackets with
Ashaway Babolat weight, balance and swingweight. Please send us any
Head Isospeed requests for the new website.
Kirschbaum Luxilon
Pacific Wilson Timo van Driel, our Benelux Manager will be overseeing
the Forum and will be getting all our managers active on
CORPORATE MEMBERS the sight. This will give stringers an opportunity to discuss
Ashaway Head Babolat
Prince Isospeed Yonex anything to do with our
GOSEN Tecnifibre business with the top
stringers in the world. You
STRING SUPPLIER MEMBERS
Apollo Leisure Bow Brand can ask anything in any
Kirschbaum Signum Pro language that our man-
agers speak and we will
ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
PTR Europe TIA UK have one of our
TENNIS EUROPE managers translate it into
English and get all the
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Rod Cross feedback. Our goal is to
have a multilingual Forum
European Racquet Stringers Association with about 12 languages
Lenaustr. 38 40470 Düsseldorf
DE Germany covered.
Phone / Fax +49(0)211-68814151
www.ersa-stringers.com Mark Maslowski
New Certified Stringers, MRT, PTS.
ERSA now offers certification for different levels of stringers, from beginners to
the top professional stringers in the world. The first level is ERSA Stringer is for
new stringers to show they have completed a stringing course and learned to
string correctly. Certified Stringer is for stringing services, such as coaches,
club stringers, shop stringers, after passing a day of practical and written tests.
Master Racquet Technician is for shop stringers and owners who can tune rac-
quets, string at a high level and have a broad knowledge of products for their
customers. Pro Tour Stringer certification is for MRTs who are stringing at ATP
and WTA tournaments. There are 3 levels for this certification, Level 1, Level 2
and Master Pro Tour Stringer.

Certified Stringer - Gerald Tjong - Netherlands, Saskia Oskam - Nether-

lands, Kevin Oskam - Netherlands
Certified Stringer Badminton -
Master Racquet Technician - Dimitri Kaijser - Netherlands, Stein
Heeren - Netherlands
Pro Tour Stringer Level 1 -

STRINGS
MADE IN GERMANY
SINCE 1985
6

New Products
Ashaway Introduces ZyMax® 69 Fire
Badminton String for Chronic String
Breakers

-- ZyMax 69 Fire constructed using proprietary

new BETA polymer technology
-- String optimized to provide maximum dynamic stiffness, power, durability, repulsion, and tension
holding

Ashaway Racket Strings has introduced ZyMax® 69 Fire, the heavyweight in its new line of ZyMax badmin-
ton strings. The line incorporates Ashaway's proprietary BETA polymer fibers, and is constructed using the
company's special ZyWeaVe™ string core technology. At 0.69 mm ZyMax 69 Fire is the heaviest string in
the line, and is designed to provide chronic string breakers with the best in dynamic stiffness for excellent
feel and repulsion; optimum power and durability; incredible knot and loop strength; and exceptional ten-
sion holding ability for consistent reliable performance.

"Some players just break a lot of strings," said Ashaway's Steve Crandall. "They're not always the biggest
players on the court and they're not always the hardest hitters. They may also play with control and finesse,
but for whatever reason -- swing speed, power, miss hits, or all three -- they're very hard on strings. We
designed ZyMax 69 Fire for these players. It stands up to the toughest swing, yet plays like a much thin-
ner softer string. And it makes that distinctive 'Ping' sound so characteristic of the superior repulsion of our
ZyMax Fire line."

ZyMax 69 Fire strings are designed for high performance players and feature a BETA polymer ZyWeaVe
core encapsulated with a high tenacity BETA polymer microfilament wear surface. As part of the ZyMax Fire
line, they are one of the first to offer the benefits of this new BETA polymer, including a 25% improvement in
elasticity and dynamic stiffness over most popular badminton strings. ZyMax strings generate excellent feel
and repulsion, as well as optimum power and durability, and incredible knot and loop strength.

Ashaway's trademarked ZyWeaVe technology generates a string core that is stronger and holds tension
better than traditional badminton strings. This allows for thinner, more playable strings that perform consis-
tently at higher tensions throughout the life of
the string.

ZyMax 69 Fire strings are available in tradition-

al Ivory White and in a distinctive "Fire" Orange
color, and in either 10-meter sets or 200-meter
reels. Recommended stringing tension is up to
40 lbs., depending on player preference and
racquet frame manufacturer's recommenda-
tions.

visit www.ashawayusa.com.
 SO M E
ADD H T O
PU N C
GA M E.
YOUR
E N E W H E AD
TH E XT
E N
GR A P H
T I N C T
INS AIS ER
AM ER
BE A #G

FASTER RACQUET.
FASTER GAME.
different racquets from the model shown.

OVA
SHARAP
M A R IA
HEAD PRO Players may play with
8

Wimbledon 2015
Apollo Lleisure Wimbledon Stringing Service
It was our 7th year of running the Stringing Service at the Championships,
Wimbledon and the busiest yet. The All England Club had spent another
year upgrading the grounds and part of this redevelopment was the mod-
ernisation of Aorangi which houses the Aorangi Pavilion and the practice
courts. We are located here also and part of the modernisation was mov-
ing us from the old stringing room to a new purpose built room which is
accessed through the pavilion. The new air conditioned space was popular with both players and
stringers alike and with the extra length we were able to accommodate another 2 machines. One
challenge we face is operating from 2 sites during the Qualifying Event, during this time we had 7
machines at Roehampton and 7 machines at Wimbledon. This was our 3rd year working in part-
nership with Babolat and again we used the Sensor Dual machine.
The extra machines were put to good use over the busy days as records were broken once again.
The stringing team included 18 European stringers - 8 from the UK, 2 from the Czech Republic, 2
from the Netherlands, 2 from Spain, 1 from Germany, 1 from Greece, 1 from Italy and 1 from Swit-
zerland. The team included 9 ERSA managers, 5 ERSA Master Pro Tour stringers and 13 ERSA
Pro Tour stringers. There were 2 new members this year to add to our impressive line-up: Tomas
Stilwell and Timo Van-Driel.
The Sunday before Qualifying started kept us working late as we took in 224 rackets, we had
previously never passed the 200 mark. Once Qualifying is completed on the Thursday the equip-
ment is moved over to Aorangi so we are fully set up on the Friday. Practice week at Aorangi had
also been busy and we dealt with a lot more customising requests than usual. By the Sunday we
had our full team in place and were well prepared for what hit us. By close of play on the eve of
the tournament the front desk team had booked in 423 rackets. The doors were finally locked at
11.45pm with an early start planned for the Monday. The extra machines helped with everyone’s
workload although 5am starts were required on quite a few days to deal with the ‘string am’ batch-
es.
Although adjustments had to be made during the event, player allocations worked well and this
was handled competently by our head
stringer Paul Skipp who was in his
2nd year in the role. By close of play
on the Sunday we had strung 3717
rackets which was 312 more than the
previous year and a 9.16% increase
on 2014. The general feeling about
our new home is positive and we now
have time to make improvements to
make it even better for next year.
10

Wimbledon 2015
WIMBLEDON STRINGING FACTS 2015

18 stringers used from qualifying to finals day - 8 admin staff - 6 runners

3717 rackets strung. 9.16% up on 2014

14 Babolat Sensor machines used
Busiest day at Qualifying was Sunday 21st June – 224 rackets
Busiest day at Wimbledon was the first Sunday 28th June – 423 rackets
Most rackets strung were for Serena Williams – 77
Lowest tension – Mikhail Kukushkin 10.50/9.50 kg in Signum Pro Firestorm
Highest tension – Dustin Brown 32/32kg in Solinco Tour Bite

Total number of players strung for – 655

Total number of players using hybrids - 247

Restrung rackets for the:

Ladies Singles winner - Mens Doubles winners - Ladies Doubles winners - Mixed Dou-
bles winners
Boys Singles winner - Girls Singles winner - Boys Doubles winners - Girls Doubles win-
ners

Most used string: Most strung rackets:

1. Luxilon Alu Power 1. Babolat Pure Drive
2. Babolat RPM Blast 2. Wilson Blade
3. Wilson Natural 3. Babolat Aeropro Drive
4. Babolat VS Team 4. Head Prestige
5. Luxilon 4G 5. Head Radical
6. Luxilon Alu Power Rough 6. Wilson Pro Staff 97
7. Luxilon Original 7. Babolat Pure Strike
8. Solinco Tour Bite 8. Wilson Burn
9. Head Hawk 9. Wilson Juice
10. Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour 10. Prince Tour
 11

Wimbledon 2015
Selected Player Logs Wimbledon 2015
Here are some selected players with their rackets and strings. With 37.7 % the players using hy-
brids, the tendence is still going up every year. I think the percentage would go up if we included
P1 stringing hybrids for Djokovic, Federer and Murray.
Also, the number of rackets is going up at all the Grand Slams and major tournaments, such as
Indian Wells and Miami and many of the ATP 1000 tournaments. Wimbledon is getting close to
doubling the number of rackets from 6-7 years ago.
The smaller tournaments has been staying constant according to many of our members stringing
at Challengers, ATP 250, ATP 500 and WTA tournaments.

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DĞŶƐ
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͘WĂŝƌĞ ĂďŽůĂƚĞƌŽWƌŽƌŝǀĞ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ Ϯϯ͘ϱͬϮϯ͘ϱ
s͘WŽƐƉŝƐŝůtŝůƐŽŶƵƌŶ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ EĂƚƵƌĂů ϰϴͬϰϴ

>ĂĚŝĞƐ
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D͘<ĞLJƐ tŝůƐŽŶůĂĚĞ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ Eyd ϱϳͬϱϲ
͘^ǀŝƚŽůŝŶĂ tŝůƐŽŶƵƌŶ ϰ' ϰ' ϮϰͬϮϯ
͘ĞĐŬ WƌŝŶĐĞdŽƵƌ ĞĂƐƚ KƌŝŐŝŶĂů ϮϲͬϮϱ
'͘DƵŐƵƌƵnjĂĂďŽůĂƚWƵƌĞƌŝǀĞ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ϮϬͬϭϵ
^͘^ƚĞƉŚĞŶƐ ,ĞĂĚZĂĚŝĐĂů ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ϱϯͬϱϯ
d͘ĂďŽƐ ĂďŽůĂƚWƵƌĞ^ƚƌŝŬĞ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ϮϰͬϮϯ
<͘DůĂĚĞŶŽǀŝĐtŝůƐŽŶƵƌŶ EĂƚƵƌĂů ϰ' ϮϭͬϮϭ
͘sĂŶĚĞǁĞŐŚĞ zŽŶĞdžŽŶĞϭϬϬ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ůƵWŽǁĞƌ ϲϬͬϲϬ
,͘tĂƚƐŽŶ ĂďŽůĂƚWƵƌĞ^ƚƌŝŬĞ ůĂĐŬtŝĚŽǁ ůĂĐŬtŝĚŽǁ ϱϭͬϱϭ
12

Sign-up 2015

Sign up Now for 2015 and receive 3 sets of Test String.

Become a member today and receive:
- STRINGERS DIGEST
- RACQUETTECH MAGAZINE - 10 ISSUES
- WEB ACCESS
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- ANNUAL MEETING / SYMPOSIUM - Value 350€ for 99€ -
Minimum 100€ in Free Samples so it is at no cost to you.

2015
1 Year Membership -99€
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Name_____________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________

Postcode___________________City____________________________________

Country___________________________________________________________

1.Year Membership 99Euro____________________________________________

2.Year Membership 170Euro___________________________________________

3.Year Membership 220Euro___________________________________________

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Card Number________________________________Exp. Date_______________

Signature_____________________________________________________

Please Fax or e-Mail this form to European Racquet Stringers Association.

Phone & Fax +49(0)211-68814151; email [email protected]
 13

Wimbledon 2015

Finished Racquets to be Picked Up Members Entrance

2015 Apollo Leisure Wimbledon Team

Team Members from Italy, Spain

and Switzerland
14

Wimbledon 2015
Stringing Room Images 2015
15

Designed for Pro‘s. This monofile polyester string offers ultimate control
combined with high ball speed. Now released!

Diese Monofile Polyestersaite wurde speziell für die Anforderungen auf der Profitour entwickelt. Volle Kontrolle bei
hoher Beschleunigung. Jetzt released nach erfolgreichem Einsatz auf der Tour!

www.isospeed.com
16

Industry News
Ashaway, Cliff Swain to Host Racquetball Clinic in Conjunction with US Open
Racquetball Championships

-- Clinic to feature live training drills, strategies for pros and

amateurs, and exhibition matches

Ashaway sponsored racquetball legend turned coach Cliff

Swain, along with other Ashaway sponsored players, will be hosting a racquetball clinic in conjunc-
tion with the United HealthCare US Open Racquetball Championships. The event will be on the US
Open Stadium Court at the Life Time Athletic Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, on Tuesday after-
noon, October 6, 2015, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Cliff and the Ashaway players, many of whom will be competing in the US Open, will conduct a
number of interactive training drills, suitable for both professional and amateur players, as well as
demonstrate racquetball strategies in exhibition matches.

After the most winning career in racquetball history, Hall of Famer Cliff Swain retired from the IRT
after the 2006-07 season. But he might still be the busiest guy in racquetball. He has stayed active
in doubles and outdoor racquetball; coaches top players like Maria Jose Vargas, Jose Rojas, and
Coby Iwaasa; manufactures and markets his own Cliff Swain Signature Series racquet; and hosts
clinics and training seminars nationwide.

Now Cliff has a new job as National Racquetball Coach and Training Coordinator for Life Time Fit-
ness, where he will be coaching at the local and national levels at the St Louis Park, MN, facility,
as well as conducting remote video analysis for Life Time Fitness members anywhere in the world.
Cliff swears by "the red string," Ashaway's PowerKill® 17. "Lot’s of people have seen me using it
and now are switching," he said. "We’re seeing the red string all over, especially here in MN, and
I'm stringing it in every Cliff Swain Signature racquet."

Bolivian born Maria Jose Vargas is an Argentine racquet-

ball player also sponsored by Ashaway. Maria switched to
the red PowerKill 17 before the 2014 US Open, where she
finished runner-up. Since then Maria has been on a tear
and so far has two championship victories on the Ladies
Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), one at the 2014
Christmas Classic and the other at the 2015 New Jersey
Open. She also improved her ranking from #3 last season
to the current #2.

www.ashawayusa.com
 17

1 TOUR
45 HOST NATIONS
110 NATIONALITIES
350 TOURNAMENTS
8‘500 VOLUNTEERS
12‘000 PLAYERS
50‘100 MATCHES
228‘000 BALLS
412‘000 SPECTATORS
ROGER FEDERER MARIA SHARAPOVA TOMAS BERDYCH
1997: Category 1 ‘Hauts de France Cadets’ 2001: Category 1 ‘Torneo Avvenire’ 16&U finalist 2002: European 18&U Doubles champion &
16&U champion Singles runner-up

RAFAEL NADAL ANDY MURRAY PETRA KVITOVA

2000: Tennis Europe Masters champion 14&U 2001: Tennis Europe Winter Cups winner 14&U 2006: European 16&U Doubles champion

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI NOVAK DJOKOVIC VICTORIA AZARENKA

2004: Highest 14&U ranking #3 2001: Ranked Year-End #1 14&U 2003: European 14&U Doubles champion

31 WORLD
#1 PLAYERS

WHO’S NEXT?

GRIGOR DIMITROV RICHARD GASQUET AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA

2005: Awarded 14&U Tennis Europe Player 1999: Category 1 ‘Les Petits As’ champion 14&U 2005: European Summer Cups winner 16&U
of the Year
 2016 ERSA
Symposium and Annual General Meeting
Sign-up Sheet www.ersa-symposium.eu
Friday, March 11, 2016
20:00 – Welcome Cocktail – Atalaya Park Hotel
Samstag, March 12, 2016
9:00 – 15:00 Presentations
15:00 - 17:00 String and Racquet Testing - Private Lessons
Sunday, March 13, 2016
9:00 – 15:00 Presentations
15:00 - 17:00 String and Racquet Testing - Private Lessons
Monday, March 14, 2016
9:00 – 15:00 Presentations
15:00 - 17:00 String and Racquet Testing - Private Lessons
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
9:00 - 14:00 Certificaton Testing & Private Lessons - Racquet & String Testing

ERSA Member 99€_________

ERSA e-Member 150€______
Non-Member 250€________

CS, MRT, PTS, Badminton, MRS ______119€ Members______200€ Non-Members

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e-mail or Fax to [email protected] +49-211-68814151
 19

Industry News
Ashaway Terminates Distributor Mauresmo Inducted
Arrangement with Harrow Sports Into Hall of Fame
Former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo,
Ashaway Racket Strings has terminated Harrow six-time Paralympic champion David
Sports as a distributor of Ashaway strings, the Hall, and longtime tennis industry
company has announced. In addition, Ashaway leader Nancy Jeffett were inducted into
will no longer supply SuperNick® XL squash the International Tennis Hall of Fame in
Newport, R.I., in July. Mauresmo, who
strings for factory stringing in Harrow frames.
was not present at the ceremony because
she was pregnant and unable to travel,
"It has come to our attention that Harrow rac- was recognized by Stan Smith, the HoF
quets have not been strung with Ashaway string president and chairman of the Enshrinee
for some time now," said Ashaway's Steve Nominating Committee.
Crandall, "and it is important that the squash David Hall, of Sydney, Australia, is one
market is properly informed of this change in of the world's most decorated wheelchair
Ashaway’s policy." athletes. He was ranked world No. 1 in
singles and doubles and won every major
Ashaway Racket Strings are made by Ashaway title in the sport, including the Australian
Line & Twine Mfg. Co., the only U.S. manufac- Open for Wheelchair Tennis nine times
and the US Open eight tmes. He also is a
turer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball,
six-time Paralympic medalist.
and badminton. Operated by the Crandall family
Jeffett, who dedicated her life to growing
since 1824, Ashaway has been making racquet the sport, was inducted in the Contributor
strings since 1949, and is responsible for sev- Category. She was instrumental
eral important technical innovations. Ashaway in advancing professional women's
has been the Official String of USA Racquetball tennis and in developing opportunities
for more than ten years, and is also the Official for junior tennis development. She is
String of Professional Tennis Registry. Ashaway a co-founder of the Maureen Connolly
Line & Twine Mfg. Co. also makes braided prod- Brinker Tennis Foundation and was an
ucts for medical and industrial applications. For early leader in the promotion of women's
more information visit www.ashawayusa.com. pro tennis through the Virginia Slims of
Dallas.

US Open Prize Money Hits $42.3 Million Each round of the singles competitionwill see
The total prize money for the 2015 US double-digit percentage increases over last
Open is a record $42.3 million, a 10.5 percent year’s record payouts, with the minimum in-
increase over last year’s total purse, says the crease of 10 percent for the champions and up
USTA. Both men’s and women’s singles cham- to a 14.4 percent increase in the round of 32.
pions will earn $3.3 million, the largest payout Both the men’s and women’s doubles champi-
in US Open history. In the last three years, US ons will earn $570,000, the highest in US Open
Open main draw prize money has increased history, and overall doubles prize money has
by 67 percent, and the USTA has committed to beenincreased by 8.4 percent. In addition,
reaching $50 million in prize money by 2017. the US Open Qualifying Tournament will now
offer more than $1.7 million in
prize money, a 12 percent increase over
2014.
20

Industry News
MANTIS Tour Chosen as Official Ball of the Junior Davis Cup and
Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
MANTIS has been announced as the official ball of the junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by
BNP Paribas, for 2015.
The tournaments, which are being held in Madrid from the 27 September, are the premier junior
team tennis tournaments held by the ITF.
Both the Junior Davis Cup and the Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be using the MANTIS Tour
Ball.
Martin Aldridge, Founder and Managing Director of MANTIS Sport International is proud to be sup-
porting a tournament which helps in developing the future greats of the game.
He said: “The Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup are the major highlight of junior team tennis in
the world, and we are delighted tour balls have been selected to be at the heart of the event.
“The MANTIS Tour was only launched in 2011, but has already established a strong reputation as
one of the highest quality balls in the market.
“This year will be the fifth year it has been used by tennis legends at the Champions Tour Finals
in the Royal Albert Hall, so it is only fitting that the legends of tomorrow will be using it now, at a
premium ITF competition.”
Although a young company, the MANTIS Team have a wealth of experience in the game, having
previously worked for some of the biggest brands in the industry.
They also work closely with internationally recognised stringers and technicians, in order to pro-
duce the best quality products.
The Tour ball is an ITF approved pressurised ball, suitable for all levels of play on all court surfac-
es, made of premium woven cloth, promising a high level of performance, consistency and durabil-
ity that will allow the players to perform at the highest level.
Established in 1985, the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, are the most pres-
tigious team tennis tournaments in the world.
Every tennis federation competes in regional qualifying events with the win-
ners progressing through to the finals.
This year’s finals will be held at the iconic ‘La Caja Magica’ in Madrid – the
same red clay courts that host the Madrid Masters in the run up to the
French Open Grand Slam.

Some of the biggest names in tennis have competed in the tournaments

before going on to success in the senior game, including Llleyton Hewitt,
Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who between them have
won more than half of the Grand Slams this Millennium.
Luca Santilli, ITF head of juniors and seniors tennis, said: “It is very good
news for the Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, that we will
be using the high quality MANTIS Tour ball for
the 2015 competition, which will be staged at
the iconic Caja Magica in Madrid.
Follow MANTIS Sport on Twitter (@MANTIS-
sport), Facebook (Mantis Sport International)
and Instagram (@MANTIS_sport), or visit the
website at www.mantis-sport.com.
 21

Industry News
USTA New Tennis Center
A little over a year from now, the
“New Home for American Tennis”
at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla., should be com-
pleted and open for business, with a total of 102
courts, along with office space and much more.
The Lake Nona project (which is still searching
for a “real” name) was announced
in May 2014 and ground was broken this past on, including DecoTurf, Plexipave,
April. Taking up about 300 acres, the USTA Har-Tru and red clay. In addition,
facility, which will cost at least $60 million, will Sport Court will have its PowerGame
also house the USTA’s Community Tennis and surface. The indoor facility will have six
Player Development divisions. About Rebound Ace courts.
150 to 200 USTA staffers will be based e about 40
at the facility and some USTA events there,” Christian says. “Once we
employees have already relocated to the get going, we may have 80 or more. Some
Lake Nona area, working out of temporary will rotate through, but some might want
offices. to find a permanent home.” The USTA
Among the 102 courts will be eight estimates that more than 100,000 people
36-foot and eight 60-foot courts. There will use the facility each year.
will also be a range of surfaces to play

Former world No. 7 Mardy Fish will retire Wimbledon junior champion Reilly Opelka
after the 2015 US Open. has signed a deal with New Balance.

World No. 62 Denis Istomin won his first ATP WTA world No. 7 Ana Ivanovic is a co-owner
World Tour title in June at the Aegon Open in Eng- of sports platform Trainers4Me.com, which gives
land. consumers access to thousands of sports trainers
The 28-year-old Uzbek uses a Tecnifibre T-Fight 325 across the globe.
racquet and the company’s Black Code string. The media room at the US Open will be named
in honor of longtime tennis journalist
The International Tennis Hall of Fame has Bud Collins
named Martina Hingis as the organization’s first
Global Ambassador, in which she’ll play an active Rolex, in an agreement with the ITF, will continue
part in the Hall of Fame’s effort to preserve and as an international sponsor of Davis Cup. The com-
promote the history of tennis, and to educate and pany will be the Official Timekeeper
engage the global tennis community. A former world of Davis Cup through 2018.
No. 1, Hingiswas inducted into the HOF in 2013.
Tennis Warehouse has renewed its partnership
with the ATP World Tour as the Official Online
Tennis Store of the ATP through 2017. Tennis
Warehouse has powered the online tennis
store for the ATP World Tour via the ATP’s website,
ATPWorld-Tour.com, since 2000.
22

Industry News
Tourna Partners with Pospisil tions of the grounds for the 2015 tournament
Tourna’s latest partnership is with rising star could begin.
Vasek Pospisil. The final construction will be finished for the
The Canadian standout has risen in the 2016 US Open.
rankings to a career-high World No. 25 singles
ranking and No. 4 in doubles. Most notably, he
won the Wimbledon doubles title with partner Howard Brody, one of the world’s
Jack Sock in 2014 and Indian Wells in 2015. foremost tennis scientists, who pioneered much
Vasek has used Light Blue Tourna Grip for his of the modern understanding of tennis equip-
entire pro career. Connect with Tourna Tennis at ment and its effects on how the game is played,
facebook. died on 11 August aged 83 in his home town of
com/TournaTennis and instagram.com/ Philadelphia.
tourna_tennis. Brody was an emeritus Professor of Physics at
the University of Pennsylvania, where he spent
his entire academic career, having begun his
professional life as a particle physicist (including
working at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland)
before a chance encounter in the 1970s led him
to change focus to tennis.
An ardent amateur player, he also coached the
university tennis team, but is best known for his
academic contribution to the sport. He authored
two of the most important books on tennis
science, “Tennis Science for Tennis Players”
Things are definitely looking up at the home of (1987) and, with Rod Cross and Crawford Lind-
the US Open, as the construction work winds sey, “The Physics and Technology of Tennis”
down at the USTA Billie Jean King National Ten- (2002), as well as scores of scientific articles.
nis Center (NTC) so the facility can get ready Brody was a leading contributor at the series of
for the start of this year’s tournament on Aug. ITF Tennis Science & Technology congresses,
31. at which the most outstanding research paper
Since the first steel column for the retract- was presented with an award named after him.
able roof above Arthur Ashe Stadium was put Among his many tennis-related responsibilities,
in place last November, work has progressed Professor Brody was a member of the ITF Tech-
steadily in the face nical Commission from 1997-2009, as well as
of snow, sleet, rain and high winds. The last the USTA Technical Committee and sat on the
major piece of steel was installed in late May, technical advisory panel of Tennis Magazine.
and the final piece of steel was installed in the In a tribute to Brody, ITF President Francesco
roof’s superstructure in mid-June. All told, the Ricci Bitti said: "Howard Brody was a scien-
superstructure has required 6,000 tons of steel. tist and a pioneer. Curious about the technical
By late June, the three giant cranes that were side of tennis, he launched research into tennis
employed to raise the steel were dismantled equipment that, among other things, led the ITF
and removed from the site so the final prepara- to consider the creation of the ITF Technical
Centre at our base in Roehampton.
"I knew Howard as a member of the ITF Techni-
cal Committee for over a decade and admired
his curiosity and enthusiasm for the technical
aspects of tennis. He will be greatly missed."
 23

Industry News
Tecnifibre has been busy with their
stringing services in Gstaad as Official Ball
and Official Stringer and Hamburg as Official
Stringer.
Here are some facts and photos from Hamburg ATP 500 Tournament:
String used 3.945m on 352 Rackets
Lowest Tension: 38 lbs = 17,2 kp (Pablo Cuevas)
Highest Tension: 29/28 kp (Ernest Gulbis)
Most rackets strung:
1. Rafael Nadal (32 Rackets, 25,5/25,5kp)
2. Fabio Fognini (21 Rackets, 27/25kp)
3. Simone Bolelli (20 Rackets, most at 28/27kp)
---
Most rackets used in a match was a first round loss
against Nadal from Fernando Verdasco with 14 rackets
at 24/22 Kilos ---
Best TF-Spieler in Hamburg: Aljaz Bedene (GBR)
Quarter finals, T.Fight 305 ATP Racket, TF Black Code
1.28 Saite, most at 24/23 kp, 8 Rackets

Tecnifibre was Offiical Ball and Official Stringing Service at the 100th Swiss Open Gstaad.
This was their fourth year as Official Ball and fifth year as Official Stringing Service.
Tecnifibre player Denis Istomin won the doubles tournament and was a singles quarterfinalist.

275 rackets were strung by three stringers at the stringing booth in the village, up slightly each of
the last three years.

Feliciano Lopez was the biggest customer with 18 rackets strung at 27/25 Kilos.
The winner Dominic Thiem, had 10 rackets strung at 26/27 Kilos.

6,000 X-One balls were used and personalized with the Swiss Open logo.

In the Tecnifibre booth, sales were up 25% this year,

with 2,200 X-One balls and 300 large autograph balls
sold.

www.tecnifibre.com
24

2 or 4 Knots
Lots of debate is going on whether to string with 2 knots or 4 knots.
As Shakespeare said “2 knots or 4 knots, that is the question”, or something similar.
In 2000, only 15 years ago, almost no one was using Hybrids and almost every pro player using
2 knots. A lot of stringing services were even stringing from the bottom to top at that time in ATP,
WTA tournaments and Grand Slams.
In the last three to four years, the pendulum has swung extremely in the other direction. This year
at Wimbledon, I have never had so few ATWs to string at any tournament in the last 15 years. This
has come about as almost 40% of the players are using Hybrids, so when another player asks
them what they use, they tell them four knots. You also have Head and Yonex stating that all rack-
ets should be strung with four knots. I think this started to force the shop stringers to string from
the top to bottom to reduce breakage. Another reason is that Babolat is running a lot of stringing
services again today and they recommend stringing with 4 knots.
I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods. The most imporstant thing for
stringers is that the strings are installed correctly, the frame maintains it’s shape and is not dam-
aged and the strings are not damaged. Everyone remember this for the CS and MRT test!
ERSA recommends teaching first with four knots as all rackets can be strung this way. This simpli-
fies it for beginner stringers. We also recommend this for normal shop stringing for beginner to lo-
cal tournament players. The next step would be stringing 2 knots when the mains finish at the top,
then learning ATW patterns for tournament players.
ERSA recommends stringing almost all frames from the top to bottom. The yoke at the throat is
much stronger than the top of the head. As more crosses are done more pressure is put on the
other side of the frame, and the top of the frame is wider with no support.

Four Knot Advantages -

1. Easier not to make mistakes. You do not have to be a highly experience stringer to install with 4
knots.
2. Better for natural gut as the cross strings are not pulled through the main grommets.
3. Easier to string from top to bottom. You do not have to figure which ATW to use and count the
crosses. Everyone in tournaments has made this mistake under pressure.
4. Many players say the strings have a softer feel with 4 knots, which makes sense as there is a
lot more tension loss on four strings.

Two Knot Advantages -

1. Outside strings are not loose. Sometimes the players pull on the outside strings. 4 knots allow
for 4 mistakes. We have tested the tension on knots It is almost impossible for 99% of stringers to
get the same tension on the knoted strings. Also difficult to tension knots using thick polys.
2. Tighter stringbed as only the top and bottom cross strings are tied off. Maiins are not tied off.
3. Many pros told me the string tension loss is less with 2 knots, which I also found in many cases
I tested.
4. A shorter length of string is necessary to string ATW than with 4 knots.
 Is String
your
Business?

We are there for you, driving tennis business in

support of growing the game throughout the
Benefits
country. * Your business profile online
in the searchable TRS
The TIA UK is the trade body for all tennis
directory on www.tiauk.org
businesses, including yours - independent
stringers and coaches dependent on the well- * Access to workshops,
credits and certification
being of our sport - and, collectively, we are the courses at preferential
authorative voice of tennis commerce. rates
* Networking opportunities
via Member Forums and
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* Industry contacts and news
* Access to TIA UK Preferred
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Phone 01737 831 707 Phone 020 8398 3232
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Phone 020 8979 4666 / Fax 020 8979 5934 / Email [email protected]
26

Tips
Cutting Grips and Adhesive Tapes

We used to have problems with adhesive sticking to the scissors we used

in the shop. I run into stringers and shop owners with the same problem.
It is also very difficult to clean off the glue from the scissors. The scissors
shown to the right are Fiskars non-sticking scissors. We also carry in the
shop and with the ERSA, Leitz Titanium scissors. They are so sharp they
easily slice through grips and do not have any adhesive stuck to them. Both
these scissors run under 15€ and are well worth the money.
If you cannot find any in your area, you can order them through the ERSA.
We will have them online on the new website shortly.

Single String Sets

Single sets always have more coil memory than reels. When
we have single sets to string the next morning, I unpack
them and hang them over the grip. Most of the sets will
“relax” and loosen up, with less coil memory. Some, like Alu
Rough, stay coiled up and do not uncoil at all.
We do this everyday in team match season in the evening,
cutting out all the strings, opening single sets and wrapping
them around the handle, then putting out all the rackets in
the order they have to be strung.

Measuring your String

We have seen some stringers running short on their strings and having to use the starting clamps
to reach the jaws with a scrap piece of string. I have also seen this with stringers stringing in
Grand Slams. They measure the same length for every tension and string material. Another prob-
lem is that some stiff strings at low tensions have almost no elongation.
The manufacturers give a suggested length, which could be for nylon strings at higher tensions,
which are not relavent for strings with low elongations and low tensions.
A better idea would be to learn the elongation of different strings and adjust the string lengths ac-
cordingly.
The strings that elongate the least are Kevlar or aramid, then thick stiff
polys, followed by soft polys, nylons with center cores, and the most
elongation are soft multifilaments.
Try measuring these strings on your machines at high and low tensions
and see the differences, which could be over 50cm on a string job.
 27

Symposium Schedule
The 2016 ERSA Symposium Schedule will be updated as we get more presentations con-
firmed. As of now the schedule includes:

Hands-On - Beginner/Intermediate Stringing Course

Hands-On – How to become a Master Pro Tour Stringer. Master Pro Tour Stringers will work with
you on your weaknesses to become a great stringer.

Hands-On – Racket Grip Moulding

Hands-On – Racquet Tuning

Social Media – How to use it to build up your shop and / or stringing business

Managing Your Shop Presentation

Free Private Lessons with the Top Stringers in the World

CS, MRT and PTS Tennis, Badminton and Squash Certification Testing

On Court Racket Testing – Prince, Head Yonex, etc.

On Court Smart Tennis Devices Testing

ENTDECKE Die Int. Plattform für alle

DIE WELT
DER
Trainer und Coaches
die professionell
unterrichten

WE MAKE
A WORLD OF INFO: PTR European Headquarters

DIFFERENCE Leichtergasse 28 - 39012 MERAN

Fon: +39 0473 230097 - www.ptrtennis.de - [email protected]
28

ERSA ATW
In an effort to allow more stringers to get into tournament
stringing, we are making the following changes starting
January 1:
Level 1 - 3 ATW 16 x 19 rackets in 1 hour
1 Natural Gut under 30 minutes ATW
Matching 2 Rackets

Level 2 - 3 ATW 18 x 20 rackets in 1 hour

45 minute written test
Tuning 2 rackets to our specifications.

The new www.ersa-stringers.com website is

online. We have data from the last six months to update
and we are planning a number of new tools including
Racket Tuning to help match and tune rackets with
swingweight, balance and weight.

Most important is for everyone to try the FORUM next

month. Our managers will contribute, which will make it
by far the highest quality online Forum in the world. We
also will have our managers translate any items from
non-english entries to english. This means non-english
speaking members can get advice in their language
from any other language. i.e. If a Spanish member asks
a question in Spanish, Richard Parnell can put it also in
English and get advice and tips from all members. Our
Benelux manager, Timo van Driel will be taking care of
the FORUM starting next month.

Member News -
Taiwan Manager Bernie Chen has been named to the US Open stringing team.

Mark Maslowski will be giving workshops and testing in South Korea and Taiwan in October with
over 20 stringers signed up to each workshop.

Paul Skipp, ERSA UK Manager will be filling in as Australian Davis Cup

Stringer while Mark Maslowski is in Asia with ERSA UK tester Roger
Dalton stringing for Great Briton.

Xavi Segura, ERSA Pro Tour Stringer, is organizing the stringing team
for the ATP tournament in Valencia.
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 SE E N
EVER LIMIT
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G R A

AM ER AIS ER
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different racquets from the model shown.

IC
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HEAD PRO Players may play with