Cool new and improved products from 2008
Here's a round-up of some of the coolest tennis products seen at the PTR International Tennis Symposium and the USPTA World Conference trade shows in 2008.
By Liza Horan
GripCoach: Straight from Australia comes a fun and effective way to teach proper grips. A sticker is placed on the racquet grip and lines coincide with a mark made on the webby part of the player's hand (between the thumb and forefinger). Tim Connelly, who exhibited at the USPTA show, described GripCoach as a "groovy" and "marketable" product that helps teachers teach both kids and adults. The stickers are available for left- and right-handers.
www.GripCoach.com.au
Rally for the Cure(R): Tennis players can literally "rally for the cure" of breast cancer by participating in an event that benefits the Susan G. Komen foundation. "The events are magical," said one of the woman exhibitors at the USPTA show. "It's not just about tennis, it's all the connections—the people you meet." More than $38 million has been raised through Rally events, and the organization makes it easy by providing registration kits and PR advice and support.
Among the tennis facilities that hosted a Rally for the Cure event this year were Golden Bear Tennis at Indigo Run on Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Bellingham Tennis Club in Bellingham, Wash.; USTA Northern New Mexico at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M.; Auburn CTA in Auburn, Ala.; Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa, Fla.; and Green Tennis Club in Uniontown, Ohio.
www.RallyForTheCure.com
Hop-a-razzi: When most people see Christi Turdo's invention—a ball basket on wheels with a telescoping handle—the reaction is usually along the lines of, "Why didn't I think of that?" Well, maybe they did, but it was the Chicago-based teaching pro with 25 years' experience of retrieving balls and hoisting heavy baskets who turned the idea into reality. A few years ago, Turdo got drawings crafted and patents filed for the basket that, she says, takes the pain out of picking up balls for all ages. The brightly colored baskets start at $49 each, though tennis facilities participating in the demo deal can get a basket for $29. The baskets work on any surface and are guaranteed for one year.
www.Hoparazzi.net
Mona-Vie: Seeing a wine bottle at a tennis trade show causes a double-take. One may think drinking and rallying could cause playing outside the lines. However, this wine bottle is filled with non-alcoholic antioxidants and phytonutrients "to help fight free radicals and maintain your body's overall health." The juice product is mixed of acai berry (assah-ee), cupuaçu, camu camu, aronia, acerola, blueberry, bilberry, and pomegranate. It comes in regular fluid form and gel for on-the-go takers.
"You can use this as a supplement," independent distributor Debbie Pryor says, adding that it's a great product for tennis facilities to become a distributor and sell at their clubs. She suggested that a pro shop can offer a free bottle (retail value $45) with a racquet purchase. "It's a value-add for the retailer." The functional beverage category is the fastest-growing, and Mona-Vie seems to be in the right place at the right time—appealing to health-conscious people in a sophisticated way.
www.MyMonaVie.com
Solfire: This new performance apparel brand has its roots in art and tennis. Artist Brendan Murphy is a tennis player and applied his creations to activewear with Dryfit that works on- and off-court. Last March Murphy's large-scale, multimedia art was featured in a gallery event in tony Boca Raton, Fla., just as the Solfire apparel was going into production. By September, the full line was launched.
"We've had a great response so far," says Shauna Ireland. ATP doubles players Ashley Fisher from Australia and Eric Butorac from the U.S. wear Solfire, among other players.
www.SolFireGear.com
Ace Authentic: These collectors' cards have been around for years, but in 2008 a special line for Roland Garros was developed. Each box of officially licensed French Open cards contained one original card signed by the player. And cards containing a piece of an actual jersey (right) worn by a player were randomly scattered in boxes sold at retail.
"When the kids get this, they go crazy," Max Caruana says of the signed card. Caruana secured a deal with the FFT for the Roland Garros special edition and is working toward similar deals with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
www.AceAuthentic.com
TencapTennis: You may recall the Tencap player rating system from years ago, but in 2008 it was born again. The company refined its system to provide dynamic, accurate player ratings on the Internet and added web-based software to manage players and tournaments.
"After more than 10 years of testing thousands of tennis players on the Tencap Rating System, we have now combined it with our unique and innovative technologies to provide tennis organizers with the ultimate player-management tool," CEO Steve Timperley says. While recreational players can use their "Tencap" rating to find like players or play on a handicapping basis with those of other skill levels, facilities and programs can use it to manage players and events. The latest group to sign on with Tencap is the Prince Plugged In junior development program. The system can adjust a player's rating based on match and practice results.
The company offers free info sessions online, Monday through Friday, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. CST.
www.TencapTennis.com
Tennis View: This new glossy magazine was one of 15 publications honored in November by Min (Media Industry Newsletter) and Samir Husni ("Mr. Magazine") as one of "The Hottest" magazine launches of the year. Other titles include National Geographic Green Guide, WSJ and USA Today Open Air.
Teresa Thompson founded "The Ultimate Tennis Lifestyle Magazine" originally targeted to women, but the overwhelmingly positive reception by men encouraged her to remove the "Uniquely For Women" phrase from the cover.
The quarterly magazine offers rich features of the pros and practical tips for those who play and count tennis as part of their lifestyles.
www.TennisViewMag.com
Wilson's Baiardo stringing machine: The new ergonomic machine, which is set to begin shipping in January, was not shown at the trade shows listed, but was presented to the trade in a special demo during the U.S. Open and used at the tournament for stringing the competitor's racquets. The Wilson team, led by Ron Rocchi (who counts "Principal Designer" among his titles), approached the concept of the new machine from scratch. They thoroughly researched how stringers work, what their wishlists for a machine would include, and considered the challenges they faced (sore back and shoulders, among others) with existing machines.
"When we started this project people thought we were crazy," Rocchi said just outside the Wilson stringing room at the U.S. Open. "But we knew if we approved this and if we were giving the time and resources to build a groundbreaking product, we could. It doesn't help us to do a me-too product."
They got the resources and after years of compiling feedback from stringers and consulting OSHA, engineers and experts in the areas of ergonomics and biomechanics, Baiardo was born. It is named for a mythical horse whose saddle adjust to the size and build of its rider; this stringing workhorse can be programmed to the height and preferences for each stringer that uses it. By inputting a user ID code, the machine moves and tilts for that stringer. See video by clicking on image above right.
"It's like your car seat, it adjusts to you," Rocchi said of Baiardo, whose body is made in Asia and brain is made in Germany. "If you feel good you can string more racquets."
Of 14 stringers at the Open, only one didn't adjust the tilt. One who did was Scott Schneider of Desert Palm Tennis Club in Las Vegas. His reaction: "It's great. I want to buy one whenever they come out."
Stringers said tense shoulders and lower back pain can set in when standing at traditional machines for lengthy periods. One said, "You can't focus toward the end because it's so tiring." However, with this machine, "I'm not as tired. It makes it more comfortable."
While Baiardo's price was still being determined over the last few months, Wilson said that it would be priced at the high end, but within reach and also part of a program to help clubs and retailers with their overall stringing business.
"The stringing machine is a huge profit center for most shops in the world," Jon Muir, general manager of Wilson Racquet Sports. "Our goal is to maximize those profits for our dealers."
www.Wilson.com/baiardo
Have a suggestion about a cool new product? Email lhoran(at)tenniswire(dot)org.
By Liza Horan
GripCoach: Straight from Australia comes a fun and effective way to teach proper grips. A sticker is placed on the racquet grip and lines coincide with a mark made on the webby part of the player's hand (between the thumb and forefinger). Tim Connelly, who exhibited at the USPTA show, described GripCoach as a "groovy" and "marketable" product that helps teachers teach both kids and adults. The stickers are available for left- and right-handers.www.GripCoach.com.au
Rally for the Cure(R): Tennis players can literally "rally for the cure" of breast cancer by participating in an event that benefits the Susan G. Komen foundation. "The events are magical," said one of the woman exhibitors at the USPTA show. "It's not just about tennis, it's all the connections—the people you meet." More than $38 million has been raised through Rally events, and the organization makes it easy by providing registration kits and PR advice and support.Among the tennis facilities that hosted a Rally for the Cure event this year were Golden Bear Tennis at Indigo Run on Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Bellingham Tennis Club in Bellingham, Wash.; USTA Northern New Mexico at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M.; Auburn CTA in Auburn, Ala.; Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa, Fla.; and Green Tennis Club in Uniontown, Ohio.
www.RallyForTheCure.com
Hop-a-razzi: When most people see Christi Turdo's invention—a ball basket on wheels with a telescoping handle—the reaction is usually along the lines of, "Why didn't I think of that?" Well, maybe they did, but it was the Chicago-based teaching pro with 25 years' experience of retrieving balls and hoisting heavy baskets who turned the idea into reality. A few years ago, Turdo got drawings crafted and patents filed for the basket that, she says, takes the pain out of picking up balls for all ages. The brightly colored baskets start at $49 each, though tennis facilities participating in the demo deal can get a basket for $29. The baskets work on any surface and are guaranteed for one year. www.Hoparazzi.net
Mona-Vie: Seeing a wine bottle at a tennis trade show causes a double-take. One may think drinking and rallying could cause playing outside the lines. However, this wine bottle is filled with non-alcoholic antioxidants and phytonutrients "to help fight free radicals and maintain your body's overall health." The juice product is mixed of acai berry (assah-ee), cupuaçu, camu camu, aronia, acerola, blueberry, bilberry, and pomegranate. It comes in regular fluid form and gel for on-the-go takers."You can use this as a supplement," independent distributor Debbie Pryor says, adding that it's a great product for tennis facilities to become a distributor and sell at their clubs. She suggested that a pro shop can offer a free bottle (retail value $45) with a racquet purchase. "It's a value-add for the retailer." The functional beverage category is the fastest-growing, and Mona-Vie seems to be in the right place at the right time—appealing to health-conscious people in a sophisticated way.
www.MyMonaVie.com
Solfire: This new performance apparel brand has its roots in art and tennis. Artist Brendan Murphy is a tennis player and applied his creations to activewear with Dryfit that works on- and off-court. Last March Murphy's large-scale, multimedia art was featured in a gallery event in tony Boca Raton, Fla., just as the Solfire apparel was going into production. By September, the full line was launched."We've had a great response so far," says Shauna Ireland. ATP doubles players Ashley Fisher from Australia and Eric Butorac from the U.S. wear Solfire, among other players.
www.SolFireGear.com
Ace Authentic: These collectors' cards have been around for years, but in 2008 a special line for Roland Garros was developed. Each box of officially licensed French Open cards contained one original card signed by the player. And cards containing a piece of an actual jersey (right) worn by a player were randomly scattered in boxes sold at retail."When the kids get this, they go crazy," Max Caruana says of the signed card. Caruana secured a deal with the FFT for the Roland Garros special edition and is working toward similar deals with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
www.AceAuthentic.com
TencapTennis: You may recall the Tencap player rating system from years ago, but in 2008 it was born again. The company refined its system to provide dynamic, accurate player ratings on the Internet and added web-based software to manage players and tournaments."After more than 10 years of testing thousands of tennis players on the Tencap Rating System, we have now combined it with our unique and innovative technologies to provide tennis organizers with the ultimate player-management tool," CEO Steve Timperley says. While recreational players can use their "Tencap" rating to find like players or play on a handicapping basis with those of other skill levels, facilities and programs can use it to manage players and events. The latest group to sign on with Tencap is the Prince Plugged In junior development program. The system can adjust a player's rating based on match and practice results.
The company offers free info sessions online, Monday through Friday, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. CST.
www.TencapTennis.com
Tennis View: This new glossy magazine was one of 15 publications honored in November by Min (Media Industry Newsletter) and Samir Husni ("Mr. Magazine") as one of "The Hottest" magazine launches of the year. Other titles include National Geographic Green Guide, WSJ and USA Today Open Air.Teresa Thompson founded "The Ultimate Tennis Lifestyle Magazine" originally targeted to women, but the overwhelmingly positive reception by men encouraged her to remove the "Uniquely For Women" phrase from the cover.
The quarterly magazine offers rich features of the pros and practical tips for those who play and count tennis as part of their lifestyles.
www.TennisViewMag.com
Wilson's Baiardo stringing machine: The new ergonomic machine, which is set to begin shipping in January, was not shown at the trade shows listed, but was presented to the trade in a special demo during the U.S. Open and used at the tournament for stringing the competitor's racquets. The Wilson team, led by Ron Rocchi (who counts "Principal Designer" among his titles), approached the concept of the new machine from scratch. They thoroughly researched how stringers work, what their wishlists for a machine would include, and considered the challenges they faced (sore back and shoulders, among others) with existing machines."When we started this project people thought we were crazy," Rocchi said just outside the Wilson stringing room at the U.S. Open. "But we knew if we approved this and if we were giving the time and resources to build a groundbreaking product, we could. It doesn't help us to do a me-too product."
They got the resources and after years of compiling feedback from stringers and consulting OSHA, engineers and experts in the areas of ergonomics and biomechanics, Baiardo was born. It is named for a mythical horse whose saddle adjust to the size and build of its rider; this stringing workhorse can be programmed to the height and preferences for each stringer that uses it. By inputting a user ID code, the machine moves and tilts for that stringer. See video by clicking on image above right.
"It's like your car seat, it adjusts to you," Rocchi said of Baiardo, whose body is made in Asia and brain is made in Germany. "If you feel good you can string more racquets."
Of 14 stringers at the Open, only one didn't adjust the tilt. One who did was Scott Schneider of Desert Palm Tennis Club in Las Vegas. His reaction: "It's great. I want to buy one whenever they come out."
Stringers said tense shoulders and lower back pain can set in when standing at traditional machines for lengthy periods. One said, "You can't focus toward the end because it's so tiring." However, with this machine, "I'm not as tired. It makes it more comfortable."
While Baiardo's price was still being determined over the last few months, Wilson said that it would be priced at the high end, but within reach and also part of a program to help clubs and retailers with their overall stringing business.
"The stringing machine is a huge profit center for most shops in the world," Jon Muir, general manager of Wilson Racquet Sports. "Our goal is to maximize those profits for our dealers."
www.Wilson.com/baiardo
Have a suggestion about a cool new product? Email lhoran(at)tenniswire(dot)org.
Comments