Special stringing instructions for the HEAD CrossBow and Airflow CB racquets

It never fails. No sooner did we publish a blanket statement by HEAD that the crosses on every HEAD performance racquet must be strung from the top down, than we receive word that the new HEAD CrossBow and Airflow CB racquets require a hybrid stringing technique. This technique includes special mounting instructions and a special order of installing the strings to prevent frame distortion, and it keeps the Crossbow from popping out of place.

USRSA members will find a link to the special instructions here.

Pacific Life Open pro equipment log now available

The pro equipment log for the 2008 Pacific Life Open is now available on-line to USRSA members in the Reference section. As with other years, the bulk of the information comes from David Mindell, Casey Maus, and the crew at Star Stringing in Cathedral City. However, this year, we were fortunate to get pro equipment info from off-site stringers Ron Yu (Priority One) and Billy Knight, making this one of the most comprehensive pro logs ever, with information on 307 players, coaches, and even a couple of hitting partners. Thanks to everyone who made this listing possible.

You'll note that because the pro log search results are now sortable, we changed the players' names to "lastname, firstname" so that sorting on the player column makes more sense.

New format for 'Ask the Experts' and 'Tips and Techniques'

Although it always has been possible to search for relevant items in either "Ask the Experts" or "Tips and Techniques," let's face it ... the process was a bit clunky. Whether you used the search form or used your browser to go through the list of all available items, it could have been easier.

Now, it is. With a little help from WordPress, all available "Ask the Experts" and "Tips and Techniques" items that appeared in Stringer's Assistant or RacquetTECH magazines are now readily available. The search function now works better, and there are multiple ways to get to the information. Once the conversion is complete, you'll even be able to see every "Tips and Techniques" post by any given submitter.

This conversion worked so well that we're starting to transfer other back-issue items into this system. Eventually, the goal is to have just about all of the content from back issues of Stringer's Assistant and RacquetTECH magazines available through this new interface.

New sortable columns in pro log tables

Not only are is our new pro player equipment listing searchable, it's also sortable. After you perform a search of our huge database of pro racquets, strings, and tensions, you can click on the column headers to change the sort based on the data in that column. Click once to sort it one way, click again to sort it the other way.

We'll be making other similar tables sortable, too. We've already converted the playtest results table over, so give that one a try next time you're in that area.

On-line stringing machine manuals

We've added a page to our member-only reference section for stringing machine manuals. We have 39 manuals to start, and it's our hope to expand this to include just about every machine out there. These manuals augment our existing Calibration pages.

If you have a manual for a machine we don't list, let us know.

New tool for searching pro equipment logs

USRSA members can now search our pro equipment logs. The individual event files are still available, but now this information is available from an on-line database, which allows you to search by any term in the database. There are currently more than 3,400 entries for more than 1,000 pros, with more on the way.

Check out the pro equipment log database here.

Pulling strings to make players' rackets fresher

Check out this article in the New York Times about Priority One.

RSI Magazine enhances and re-launches RacquetSportsIndustry.com

Racquet Sports Industry, the largest tennis trade magazine in the world, recently re-launched its website, www.racquetsportsindustry.com, to allow access to news from the industry as it happens.

Visitors to the new website will find continually updated information on the business of tennis and other racquet sports. The website will also offer more in-depth and extra coverage of many stories that run in the printed magazine.

"Our new website offers unlimited space for us to bring to those involved in the tennis industry the very latest information, so they can run their businesses as profitably as possible," says David Bone, co-publisher of Racquet Sports Industry. "You'll be getting more news, on a more timely basis."

The new RacquetSportsIndustry.com also offers an RSS feed that allows readers to be notified whenever a new story hits the site.

In addition to breaking news, visitors to the site will also find the greatest archive of racquet sports business related stories anywhere on the web. All the past issues of RSI magazine will be housed on the new site, with improved search capabilities that will allow searches based on text keywords, dates published, categories of information, specific issues of RSI magazine, specific months of RSI.com news, and even by author.

Racquet Sports Industry is the only magazine that exclusively covers the racquet sports business, including unmatched coverage of equipment, apparel, racquet service, racquetball, squash, badminton and more. RSI, which is published 10 times a year, has become an essential tool for those in the racquet sports business.

For more information about RSI, including how to subscribe, visit www.racquetsportsindustry.com.

Wilson World Stringing Championship

By Annette Broersma, WWSC Tournament Director

At mid-day Saturday, on the plaza of the Darling Tennis Center, competitors made their way toward center court. The Tennis Channel Open was on its seventh day, and the place was packed.

Just before reaching the end of the walkway, all six men turned into a roped-off arena containing six hydraulic [sic] stringing machines on individual pedestals. A time clock was prominently displayed, an officious man was in the center of the ring holding a starter pistol, and a huge crowd gathered, as if awaiting a prize fight.

"When I give you the start, you may step onto the pedestal, open the Wilson "Reaction" string packet, place the K-Factor racquet on the machine, and string!" announced Dave Bone, Executive Director of the United States Racquet Stringer's Association (USRSA), and Referee of the Wilson World Stringing Championship. Announcer, Wayne Bryan, took over the commentary as the starter shot rang out; TV cameras were everywhere, capturing the techniques that made this group the best there is.

They are a varied group of individuals, hailing from East to West Coast, and collectively representing almost one hundred years of stringing experience. These six finalists cleared several heats to get here, and the $10,000 prize package was only 15 minutes away.

The finalists included Gilbert Gan of Northridge, CA; Rob Cortney of Voorhees, NJ; Jim Downes of Baltimore, MD; Paul Neely of Phoenix, AZ; Bryan Richter of Irvine, CA; and Joseph Heydt, of Omaha, NE.

Top seed entering this final round was Downes with a record-setting heat time of nine minutes and 30 seconds. "Less than TEN minutes?" many passers-by gasped, as they checked out the Leader Board stationed outside the Wilson booth. That time was more than a minute under last year's winner. Clocked time includes unwrapping the string, mounting the racquet, and using a 16-main, 18-cross pattern using multifilament string, which is not as easy to pull and work with as a synthetic nylon. This was truly the championship for stringing professionals, and they had the admiration of every tennis player who's had to wait hours to get their racquets strung at a local shop.

Each contestant was feverishly and systematically measuring, pulling, and weaving. Joining the hilariously funny Wayne Bryan was Jon Muir, G.M of Wilson Racquet Sports, and knowledgeable commentator on 'All Things Stringing.' As it turned out, Wayne and Jon seemed to have a contest of their own as to who could get more of the crowd laughing and involved in the event. There was no clear winner.

As most of the eyes were on Downes and Neely, side-by-side and trash-talking their way to what should have been a sure victory with their qualifying times, something unexpected happened. A quiet, long and curly-haired hippie, who did his stringing barefoot, was suddenly in the lead and on his last 3 cross strings. All eyes went to Bryan Richter as his slender arms gracefully pulled both ends simultaneously, in such a fashion that he seemed to be leading an orchestra rather than stringing a racquet.

"He's shattering the record!" shouted Muir and Bryan.

Richter removed the clamps and slammed the racket down to signal completion. "Eight minutes and forty-six seconds," came the timer's call. He had won $10,000 of prizes from Wilson and The Tennis Channel, as well as the opportunity to test to string at the U.S. Open, with high income potential and all expenses paid. "I'm stoked!" he cried as he threw his hat to the ground in the center of the ring.

As Richter took a bow, he surprised everyone by taking the microphone and singing a stringing Rap. It turns out he also produces hip hop music under a nonprofit label. Not surprising, he has a B.A. in Philosophy from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. When asked why he has chosen to be a professional stringer, he doesn't hesitate.

"I work for the greatest guy in the world, Kirk Hybskmann, the owner of Irvine Tennis Shop. I love my job because I get to be around Kirk, we have a great time at the shop, and play (tennis) at the local City of Irvine public courts."

If you're Bryan Richter, it's a great life. Today was just a bit sweeter.

RSI announces USRSA's annual String Survey/Member Choice Awards

Racquet Sports Industry magazine's January issue contains a special pull-out poster listing the results of the US Racquet Stringers Association's annual String Survey/Member Choice Awards. USRSA members rate their 90 favorite tennis strings for Playability, Durability, Comfort, and Overall Average Score.

Racquet Sports Industry's January issue is shipping to subscribers now and also contains the following great articles:

• Industry News - All the latest news, announcements, and happenings in the industry
• Lee's Facility Analysis Survey offers "Roadmap" for Court Owners
• A Team Effort - Jimmy Pitkanen says both players and coaches have a lot to gain from the team experience
• New Members: Your Key to Staying in Business
• PTR on Campus Program Trains and Certifies Full-Time Students
• Against the Wall - With Rapid Rally, beginning players have a fun way to get into tennis
• Busy Making a Living? - College Courses are just a Mouse Click Away
• Strings of Success - How do you know what strings to stock for your shop?
• A Tennis Wish List - Industry Leaders tell us what they'd like to see in 2007
• Mark of Distinction - RSI and ASBA bring you the best in tennis court construction
• Spin Off the Court and Strings - Understand the forces involved in generating spin
• String Playtest - Prince Synthetic Gut Multifilament 16
• Tips & Techniques - Reader's Know-How in Action
• Ask the Experts - Your equipment hotline
• A Growing Tennis Village - The TIA's executive director says collaborations within the industry are what lead to growth of the sport

Complete coverage can be found in the January 2007 issue of RSI magazine which is already shipping to subscribers.

Racquet Sports Industry, the only magazine covering the racquet sports industry, provides unmatched coverage of the business, equipment, apparel, and racquet service of tennis, racquetball, squash, and badminton. Each one-year subscription includes 10 issues filled with the kind of stories and information about racquet sports that can't be found anywhere else. To get more information about RSI magazine or to subscribe to RSI magazine, visit www.racquetsportsindustry.com.

RSI Magazine Announces Champions of Tennis for 2006

Kirk Anderson, the U.S. Tennis Association’s director of recreational coaches and programs, has been named “Person of the Year” by Racquet Sports Industry magazine in the publication’s November/December 2006 issue. Anderson led off the magazine’s sixth annual “Champions of Tennis Awards,” which honors people and organizations dedicated to improving the sport and business of tennis. “Kirk is truly an amazing person within the tennis industry,” said Peter Francesconi, the editorial director of Racquet Sports Industry. “His creativity and advocacy has led to many programs that are bringing more people into the game, his upbeat attitude is easily shared by his very talented staff at the USTA, and he is totally dedicated to the recreational sport.”

RSI magazine lauded Anderson, of New Fairfield, Conn., for his “pivotal role within the industry as one of tennis’s premier teachers of tennis teachers.” Anderson, who has been involved in teaching tennis since the 1970s, joined the USTA’s national office in 1996. Prior to that, he spent two years as the director of education for the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, an organization of teaching professionals.

Ironically, Anderson was kicked off his college tennis team when he said he had taught tennis for money at a summer recreational program. After that, he said, he vowed to continue to teach and to “become the best teacher I possibly could.”

Some key initiatives Anderson currently is working on includes “Recreational Coach Workshops,” designed to get parents and other volunteers involved in teaching and coaching recreational players; a school tennis initiative that includes “no-cut” high school programs, where any student is welcome on the tennis team, and teams with dozens of players are common; and a “transition-ball” project, which uses foam balls and other low-compression balls, combined with shorter courts, to help get beginners into tennis.

RSI (www.racquetsportsindustry.com), the world’s largest magazine geared toward the tennis industry, also named winners in 16 other categories for its 2006 Champions of Tennis Awards:

• Private Facility of the Year: Midtown Tennis Center, Chicago
• Stringer of the Year: Grant Morgan, Memphis, Tenn.
• Court Builder/Contractor of the Year: Courtsmiths, Toledo, Ohio
• Sales Rep of the Year: Jim Willwerth, Jupiter, Fla.
• Chain Retailer/Mass Merchant of the Year: PGA Tour Superstores, Atlanta
• Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year: Swetka’s Tennis Shop, Mountain View, Calif.
• Junior Development Champion of the Year: Bwana Chakar Simba, Los Angeles
• Grassroots Champion of the Year: Beverly Bourguet, Albuquerque, N.M.
• Municipal Facility of the Year: Cary Tennis Park, Cary, N.C.
• Wheelchair Champion of the Year: Bruce Karr, Boynton Beach, Fla.
• Public Park of the Year: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
• Community Tennis Association of the Year: Montgomery County (Md.) Tennis Association
• Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Member of the Year: Ajay Pant, Overland Park, Kan.
• U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Member of the Year: Brett Hobden, Naples, Fla.
• High School Coach of the Year: David Steinbach, Brookfield, Wis.
• USTA Section of the Year: Texas

Complete coverage can be found in the November/December issue of RSI magazine which is already shipping to subscribers.

Short-cut to Google tennis news feed

USRSA.com: We've created a short-cut link to Google's tennis news feature. Note that this is a completely different view of tennis news than you get with Bob Larson's professionally assembled Daily Tennis News.

Welcome Christina Kaus

Christina Kaus has been added to the USRSA team. As membership director, she will be working with Dianne Pray, and she will also be working with Barbara Smith on the certification program. You can read the press release here.

New search features

USRSA.com: We've added a search page for all the on-line text of Stringer's Assistant and Racquet Tech magazines. We've also added a special search page that covers just the "Ask the Experts" items (similar to the special search page that covers just the "Tips and Techniques" items).

New racquet information

USRSA.com: The Digest On-line, Morphinator, and the Racquet Selector now have stringing instructions and specs (respectively) for the following new racquets: Babolat Aero Blast (tennis), Babolat Drive Z OS (tennis), Babolat Pure Drive (with Cortex) (tennis), Babolat Pure Drive + (with Cortex) (tennis), Babolat Pure Drive 107 (with Cortex) (tennis), Babolat Pure Drive Roddick (tennis), Babolat Pure Drive Roddick + (tennis), Bancroft Omni (tennis), Bancroft Rocket (tennis), Feather Classic Pro 2000 (tennis), Feather Court Ti 2000 (tennis), Fischer Beat Ti. (tennis), Head Airflow 3 (tennis), Head Airflow 5 (tennis), Head Airflow 7 (tennis), Head Flexpoint 1 OS (tennis), Head FXP Prestige Team (tennis), Head Metallix 10 (tennis), Head Nano Agassi Ti. Inferno (tennis), Prince Graphite Extreme OS (tennis), Prince O3 Hybrid Tour (16x18) (tennis), Prince O3 Citron OS (tennis), Prince O3 Spectrum Hybrid Midplus (tennis), Prince O3 Spectrum Hybrid Oversize (tennis), Slazenger Type 2 NX2 (tennis), Slazenger Type 2 NX2 (tennis), Slazenger Type 2 NX3 (tennis), Volkl DNX 1 w/Power Arm (tennis), Volkl DNX 10 Mid (tennis), Volkl DNX 9 (tennis), Wilson n2 (tennis), Wilson nTour Two 105 (tennis), Wilson nTour Two 95 (tennis), Wilson W3 Gypsy Rose (tennis), Wilson W5 Divine Iris (tennis), Yonex RQS 11 (tennis), Yonex URQ Speed 8 (tennis), E-Force Bedlam Knife 150 (racquetball), E-Force Bedlam Knife 170 (racquetball), E-Force Bedlam Knife 175 (racquetball), E-Force Lethal 160 (racquetball), E-Force Lethal 175 (racquetball), E-Force Lethal 190 (racquetball), Ektelon O3 Black (racquetball), Ektelon O3 Hybrid Diablo (racquetball), Ektelon O3 Hybrid Shark (racquetball), Ektelon Power Fan Beast (racquetball), Ektelon Power Ring Freak (racquetball), Head MX 170 (racquetball), Head MX 180 (racquetball), Head MX 190 (racquetball), Pro Kennex HC2 165 (racquetball), Pro Kennex HC2 175 (racquetball), Pro Kennex Kinetic Ti. Diamond (racquetball), Pro Kennex Shadow 170 (racquetball), Pro Kennex Shadow 180 (racquetball), Wilson nBlade (racquetball), Wilson nPro Hope (racquetball), Wilson nRage (racquetball), Black Knight Magnum Pro nXS (squash), Dunlop Hot Melt Carbon (squash), Dunlop Hotmelt Graphite (squash), Dunlop Hotmelt Pro (squash), Dunlop Hotmelt Titanium (squash), Dunlop Ice Custom Elite (squash), Dunlop IceTour Lee Beechill (squash), Dunlop M-Fil Tour (squash), Dunlop M-Fil Ultra (squash), Feather Cyclone 2003 125 (squash), Feather Cyclone 2003 135 (squash), Feather Fan - 2 (squash), Feather Heavy Hitter (squash), Feather Super Hitter (squash), Feather Titanium Drop 110 (squash), Feather Titanium Drop 130 (squash), Head Flexpoint 130 (squash), Head Flexpoint 140 (squash), Head Flexpoint 150 (squash), Head Flexpoint 160 (squash), Prince Air Drive 140 (Air TT) (squash), Prince O3 Tour (squash), Pro Kennex HC2 140 (squash), Tecnifibre Dynergy 125 (squash), Tecnifibre Supreme 140 Carbiothane (squash), Tecnifibre Supreme Carbiothane 140 TF (squash), Wilson n135 (squash), Wilson nPro (squash), and the Wilson nRage (4 Holes in Throat) (squash).

RSI wins Apex award

RSI has done it again! For the third year in a row, we've won an Apex Award for Publication Excellence, in the category "Magazines & Journals -- Printed Four-Color."

Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News now free to USRSA members

Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News e-mail service is now one of the many benefits of USRSA membership. The e-mail newsletters, which cost $97 per year by themselves, are sent each weekday, covering the men's tour, the women's tour, college tennis, business, and classifieds. See the full information here.

New Biomechanics Book from Racquet Tech Publishing

A new book by Racquet Tech Publishing, Biomechanical Principles of Tennis Technique: Using Science to Improve Your Strokes, by Duane Knudson, Ph.D., explains the science of tennis technique. The book applies the lessons learned from studying the forces and motions of tennis strokes. Through the implementation of six basic biomechanical principles, players can make subtle adjustments to their strokes, creating stroke variations that not only improve their game but also reduce their risk of injury. Detailed line drawings, stroke analysis and sequence photos of top touring pros, action photographs and high-speed video images, and an exploration of the benefits of video replay provide players with a variety of useful techniques. The book is $14.95. To order, visit RacquetTECH.com or call 760-536-1177.

New racquet information

USRSA.com: The Digest On-line, Morphinator, and the Racquet Selector now have stringing instructions and specs (respectively) for the following new racquets: Avery M5 (tennis), Head Barbie 25 (tennis), Head Barbie 23 (tennis), Head Barbie 21 (tennis), Head Ti.Agassi 25 (tennis), Head Ti.Agassi 23 (tennis), Head Ti.Agassi 21 (tennis), Head Ti.Crush 25 (tennis), Head Ti.Crush 23 (tennis), Head Ti.Crush 21 (tennis), Head nano ti.Elite (tennis), Head nano Ti.Extreme (tennis), Head FXP Radical Junior (tennis), Head Liquidmetal Prestige Junior (tennis), Tecnifibre T Flash 290 (tennis), Weed EXT 135 Blue (tennis), Weed EXT 135 Green (tennis), Weed EXT 135 Pink (tennis), Weed EXT 135 Tour (tennis), PowerAngle Power 115 (Red) (tennis), PowerAngle Power 102 (Navy Blue) (tennis), Wilson US Open (tennis), Wilson Impact (tennis), Wilson H26 (tennis), Wilson nTour 26 (tennis), Wilson Sponge Bob 19 (tennis), Wilson Sponge Bob 21 (tennis), Wilson US Open 21 (tennis), Wilson Pro Surge 25 (tennis), Wilson Grand Slam (tennis), Wilson Federer (tennis), Wilson n26 (tennis), Wilson nSix One 26 (tennis), Wilson Federer 26 (tennis), Pro Kennex Ki 20 PSE (tennis), Pro Kennex Type C 93 Redondo Edition (tennis), Fischer M GDS Rally (tennis), Fischer M Twin Tec Motion (tennis), Dunlop M Fil Lady G (tennis), Dunlop M Fil 400 (tennis), Dunlop M Fil 600 (tennis), Head Flexpoint Prestige XL MP (tennis), Prince Air Freak Oversize (tennis), Prince Air Freak Midplus (tennis), Prince O3 Tour MS (tennis), Prince O3 Tour OS (tennis), Prince O3 Shark Hybrid Oversize (tennis), Prince O3 Shark Hybrid Midplus (tennis), Prince O3 Hornet Hybrid Midplus (tennis), Prince O3 Hornet Hybrid Oversize (tennis), Prince O3 White MP (tennis), Volkl DNX 10 (tennis), Volkl DNX 8 (tennis), Volkl DNX 3 (tennis), Prince Pro Ti (tennis), Prince Rebel Ti (tennis), Prince Lob Ti (tennis), Prince PL Synergy (tennis), Prince Ace Ti (tennis), Prince Air Tight (tennis), Prince Air Flash (tennis), Prince Air Light (tennis), Prince Wimbledon Tournament (tennis), Prince Arch Rival (tennis), Prince Arch Rebel (tennis), Prince Arch invader (tennis), Head Flexpoint Prestige MP (tennis), Head Flexpoint Prestige Mid (tennis), Gamma IPEX 7.0 MP (tennis), Gamma IPEX 2.0 SOS (tennis), Gamma IPEX 5.0 OS (tennis), Gamma IPEX 5.0 MP (tennis), Gamma IPEX 3.0 OS (tennis), Gamma IPEX 7.0 OS (tennis), Pro Kennex Type C 98 Redondo Edition (tennis), Wilson n5 Force 110 (tennis), Wilson n5 Force 98 (tennis), Wilson nBlade 106 (tennis), Wilson nBlade 98 (tennis), Wilson nFury 100 (tennis), Wilson nFury 110 (tennis), Wilson nPro Open (tennis), Wilson nPro Open X (tennis), Wilson nSix Two 100 (tennis), Wilson nSix Two 113 (tennis), Yonex RDS 001 98 (tennis), Yonex RDS 001 90 (tennis), Head Flexpoint Fire (tennis), Head Flexpoint Heat (tennis), Prince TT Air Rip (tennis), Prince Great White (tennis), Yonex RDS 003 100 (tennis), Fischer M GDS Vision FT (tennis), Fischer M Tour 100 (tennis), Babolat Pure Drive 110 (with Cortex) (tennis), Tecnifibre T Fight 335 (16x20) (tennis), Tecnifibre T Fight 335 (18x20) (tennis), Tecnifibre T Fight 320 (16x20) (tennis), and the Tecnifibre T Fight 320 (18x20) (tennis).

Goodbye, Nancy!

Long-time USRSA employee Nancy Crowley is retiring today. Goodbye, Nancy, we'll each miss you.