Tecnifibre ERGO Machines - TIA UK

RacquetTech 

December 2009 

Tecnifibre ERGO 

Machines 

Rakuten Japan Open 2009 

Industry News 

Raw Racquet Power

Prince Has 

Discovered A New 

Source Of Energy. 

Plug Into It. 

And Turn On Your Game. 

Introducing 

Puts More Energy Where 

You Want It — Into Your Shot. 

Available in four distinct models for different player types. 

Demo An Today. 

princetennis.com 

ENERGY WHERE IT MATTERS 

Gael Monfils plays 

the Rebel.

Contents 

December 2009 

4 My Serve 

6 New Products 

9 Industry News 

14 Tecnifibre Ergo 

18 Polyester Strings 

22 Japan Open 2009 

24 ERSA Managers 

26 Raw Racquet Power

The holiday season is here and an this is our last issue of RacquetTech maga- 

zine for 2009. Lots of news for 2010. 

We are starting to send out the new Stringers Digests this month, so if you 

are not current with your membership mem you will not receive it. 

RacquetTech magazine will be published 6 times, every 2 months. in 2010 

starting with the fi rst issue the fi rst week of February. Also, the ERSA e-News 

will be sent out the fi rst week of each month in 2010. We are planning the 

annual meeting for the end of October in southern Spain so the weather will 

still be good enough to enjoy the outdoors. We will be sending a pre-sign-up 

sheet out to see how many are interested. Seminars will be given in stringing, 

racquet tuning, marketing and technolgies. 

We have the Find-a-Stringer online which will help people fi nd a qualifi ed 

stringer in their area. Please send in your web-site if you have not already. 

This is a necessary tool today and we are looking into new ways to help our 

members promote their businesses. 

The ERSA is putting out a free Beginner Stringing DVD. This will be offered 

to all workshop participants in 2010. We have found that the beginners cannot 

retain everything they learn in a 1-2 day workshop. Now they can review 

everything they were shown at the workshop at home. 

The fi rst 2010 Workshop Schedule will be sent out this month in the ERSA 

e-Newsletter. 

Also, the e-Newsletter will take on a new format for 2010. We will be adding 

more tennis tour info that has to do with the tennis industry, along with new 

products and ERSA news. 

Best wishes for the Holidays 

Mark Maslowski 

DEUTSCH 

Die Ferienzeit beginnt und dies ist unsere letzte 

Ausgabe des RacquetTech Magazins in 2009. Es 

gibt viele Neuigkeiten für 2010. 

Wir beginnen in diesem Monat mit der Zusendung 

des neuen Stringers Digests, wenn Ihre Mitgliedschaft 

noch aktuell ist. 

Das RacquetTech Magazin wird 6 mal veröffentlicht, 

also alle 2 Monate. Die erste Ausgabe erscheint 

in der ersten Februarwoche 2010. Die 

ERSA e-News werden jeweils in der ersten Woche 

4 

Racquet Tech Europe 

European Racquet Stringers 

Association 

DIRECTOR 


OFFICE MANAGER 

Sanda Maslowski 

AUSTRALIA MANAGER 

Anthony Aley Aley 

UK MANAGER 

Sam Chan 

SPAIN MANAGER 

Richard Parnell 

GREECE MANAGER 

Petros Biris 

GREECE WORKSHOP MANAGER 

George Pahiakos 

Czech Republic & Slovakia 

Vaclav Smat 

FOUNDING FOUNDING MEMBERS 

Ashaway Babolat 

Head Isospeed 

Kirschbaum Luxilon 

Pacifi c Wilson 

COPORATE MEMBERS MEMBERS 

Ashaway Head 

Prince Völkl Völkl 

Fischer 

Dunlop Slazenger Carlton 

STRING STRING SUPPLIER MEMBERS 

Apollo Leisure Leisure Bow Brand 

Kirschbaum Gosen 

Klip Europe Signum Pro 

TOA TOA Strings 

Technical Technical Consultant 

Rod Rod Cross 

CONTACT CONTACT 

European Racquet Racquet Stringers 

Association 

Lenaustr. 38 

40470 Düsseldorf, Germany 

Phone Phone - +49-(0)211-87511548 

Fax - +49-(0)211-87511549 

www.ersa-stringers.com 

Racquet Tech - December- 2009

eines i jeden j d Monats in i 2010 versaandt. 

d Wir i planen l unser jährliches j h li h Treffen ff für f Ende d Oktober k b in i Südspanien, d i so dass d wir i das d gute Wetter 

noch genießen können. Wir ve ersenden eine Vorabanmeldung, um zu sehen, wie groß das Interesse ist. Seminare werden zu folgen- 

den Themen angeboten: Bespannnung, 

Schläger-Tuning, Marketing und Technologie. 

Wir bieten online einen Find-a-St tringer Service an, um qualifi zierte Bespanner in Ihrer Umgebung zu fi nden. Bitte teilen Sie uns Ihre 

Web-Seite mit mit. Dies ist heutzutag heutzutage eine wichtige Hilfe und wir gehen neue Wege um unseren Mitgliedern bei der Fördeung ihres 

Geschäftes behilfl ich zu sein. 

ERSA bringt eine kostenlose Beginner Stringing DVD heraus. Diese wird allen Workshop Teilnehmern in 2010 angeboten. Uns ist 

bewußt, dass Anfänger nicht alles, was sie in 1-2 Tagen Workshop gelernt haben, behalten können. Nun können sie alles, was ihnen 

gezeigt wurde jederzeit zu Hause nacharbeiten. 

Der erste Workshop-Plan für 2010 wird in diesem Monat im ERSA e-Newsletter mitgesandt. Der e-Newsletter wird in 2010 auch in 

einem neuen Format erscheinen. Wir werden mehr Tennis Tour Infos hinzufügen, welche sich mit der Tennis Industrie, nebst neuen 

Produkten und ERSA News beschäftigen. 

Beste Wünsche für die Ferien 


SPIKY ® 

The Kirschbaum SPIKY SHARK based on ten 

years of know how of the SUPER SMASH ASH 

SPIKY with its diagonal surface structure. The 

new SPIKY SHARK is equipped with an octactagonal profile parallel to the string. Using g a 

specially developed technique we accomplish ish 

distinctive peaks for an optimum grip to the 

ball to ensure best slice and spin transfer (US 

Patent 6,117,383). 

Kirschbaum SPIKY SHARK – a new meaning of 

spin transfer! 

– no string slipping 

– enlarged acceleration and high comfort rt 

– best spin transfer 

(available in 1,25 mm / 17 and 1,30 mm / 16, 

12 m- und 200 m-unit) 

SHARK 

THE STRI STRING WITH A BITE 

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Kirschbaum Sportartikel GmbH · Schweerstraße 1 · D-58456 Witten 

phone: +49 (0) 23 02-9 70 50 · fax: +49 (0) 23 02-7 76 76 

www.kirschbaum-strings.de · info@kirschbaum-strings.de

ucts uctss 

Tecnifi bre introduces the new T-Flash 315 Speed Flex 

The black, yellow and white colors with the new Tecnifi bre cosmetics makes the racket very attractive to 

junger players. 

This is the new racket of Marcos Baghdatis on tour. See the Press Release in our Industry News on Marcos’ 

fi rst tournament win after a number of injuries. 

The racket was designed for aggressive players taking the ball early and winning points with short rallies 

The new shaft design increases stiffness up to 10% , without sacrifi cing the comfort and control. vs standard 

elliptic cross section. 

The cross section is round for more power. 

Speciallally designed for pro players on Tour with Silicone added in the handle lay-up to limit bad vibrations 

due to a frequent use of polyester string. 

www.tecnifi bre.com 

Specifi cations Unstrung 

Weight 315 g / 11 oz 

Head Size 645 cm²/100 sq.in. 

Balance 310 mm 

Swingweight 293 Kg/cm² 

Pattern 16 x 19 

Length 68.5 cm /27 in. 

Beam 22.5 – 25 mm 

Stiffness 69 RA 

Gripsize 2,3,4,5 

6 


ucts 

PACIFIC Introduces the new 

Basalt Rackets at the ATP Finals 

At the O² Arena in London, Pacifi c introduced their fi rst rackets during 

the ATP World Tour Finals. The new rackets center around the Basalt X Technology. Their market nisch is 

positioned for high tech, sportlich and innovative rackets with cosmetics designed for high end rackets. 

Pacifi c is using the Basalt technology, which was introduced by Fischer last year using lava rocks in the 

production of the rackets. 

In January Pacifi c is planning on the rackets to be shipped out for the fi rst time. They will use their distribution 

of strings in 70 countries around the world. A complete line of rackets including children, junior and comfort 

lines will be introduced along with the players line. 

The rackets are identifi able with the well known Pacifi c X logo. 

www.pacifi c.com 

P ACIFIC schlägt mit Basalt X Rackets auf 

Bei den ATP World Tour Finals im November in der O 2 -Arena in London präsentiert Pacifi c erstmals seine brandneuen Schläger der 

Weltöffentlichkeit. Klar im Fokus der brandneuen Pacifi c-Schläger steht die neuartige Basalt X Technologie. Damit zeigt Pacifi c gleich 

beim ersten Aufschlag, wo sich die Racketsport-Marke im Tennismarkt positioniert: sehr technisch, hoch sportlich und innovativ, gepaart 

mit einem anspruchsvollen Design und dem nötigen Schuss Lifestyle. 

Basalt – Material aus Mutter Erde 

Mit Basalt X setzt Pacifi c als erster Hersteller dieses Hightech-Material ein, nachdem 

Fischer bereits zuvor Basalt-Material in seinen Rackets verarbeitet hat. Das neue Basalt 

X Gewebe stellt seine Leistungsfähigkeit auch im Präzisions-Automobilbau und in der 

Raumfahrt-Technik unter Beweis. Es wird aus Basaltgestein gewonnen. Das Naturmaterial 

ist voll recycelbar. 

Auslieferung ab Januar 

In London werden die ersten Pacifi c Basalt X Rackets der Turnierserie der Öffentlichkeit 

vorgestellt und dort voraussichtlich auch schon zum Einsatz kommen. Ab Januar startet 

dann die Auslieferung der neuen Rackets an die Profi s und den Handel in über 70 Ländern 

weltweit. Die Schläger der neuen Technologie-Generation sind in ein durchgängiges 

Racketkonzept eingebettet. Die sportliche Linie beginnt bereits mit Modellen für Kinder 

und Jugendliche und setzt sich mit Rackets für den ambitionierten Vereinsspieler bis hin 

zum Profi bereich fort. Parallel dazu offeriert Pacifi c auch zielgruppenspezifi sche Schläger 

für Komfortspieler und anspruchsvolle Einsteiger. 

Eigenes Gesicht 

Das am Rahmen auslaufende X bildet das charakteristische Gesicht aller Pacifi c-Schläger. 

Dieses neue, eigenstänige Design sorgt für die Wiedererkennbarkeit der Rackets auf allen 

Plätzen der Welt. Auch ohne Saiten-Branding sind die Rackets aus deutsch-österreichischer 

Entwicklung dadurch unverwechselbar und sofort zu erkennen. 

8 


y News 

HEAD Extends ATP Partnership to 2012 

HEAD NV has announced the extension of their partnership with the ATP until end of 2012. The agreement 

between HEAD and the ATP was made following the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London when executives 

convened to discuss the successful partnership that began in 1994, the longest agreement of any current 

partner of the ATP. 

“This partnership strengthens HEAD’s relationship with one of the most respected organizations in the global 

tennis community,” says Johan Eliasch, CEO of HEAD N.V. “It also solidifi es our position as a leader on ATP 

tour, as HEAD currently is the number one racquet brand among the ATP Top 100 players.“ 

“The partnership between the ATP, HEAD and Penn is a natural fi t between two recognized leaders in tennis,” 

said ATP executive chairman and president Adam Helfant. 

“HEAD has been with us for many years and we hope to see the 

relationship continue to grow for many more.” 

Under the agreement, HEAD/Penn will continue to be the offi cial 

tennis racquet, tennis ball, and tennis bag of the ATP and will be 

the offi cial ball of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London 

until 2012. 

HEAD and Penn ATP Balls were the most used ball on the ATP Tour 

in 2008. 

www.head.com 

Jürgen Melzer wins ATP Tournament in Vienna 

Jurgen Melzer, Dunlop contract player, won his second ATP tournamentsince last winning in Bucharest in 

2006. He beat Marin Cilic (CRO) in the fi nal. After winning against number 13 ranked Cilic, Melzer moved into 

the top 30 with 250 aTP points at position 28. 

Jürgen Melzer triumphiert beim ATP-Turnier in Wien 

Vertragsprofi Jürgen Melzer aus Österreich erreichte in Wien gegen Marin Cilic 

(CRO) seinen zweiten ATP-Titel nach 2006 in Bukarest. Als zweiter Österreicher 

überhaupt, nach dem Turniersieg von Horst Skoff 1988, konnte sich Melzer vor 

heimischen Publikum diesen Triumph sichern. Durch den Sieg gegen Cilic, der 

aktuell als Weltranglisten-13. geführt wird, macht Melzer einen Sprung unter die 

Top 30 (Position 28) und erhält 250 Weltranglistenpunkte. 

www.dunlopsport.com 

9 


y News 

HEAD Extends Tennis Europe Partnership to 2010 

HEAD Racquet Sports has announced the extension of their partnership with Tennis Europe, the largest 

regional association of the sport’s governing body, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to 2010. The 

agreement between HEAD and Tennis Europe was made following the ATP World Tour Finals in London, 

where executives convened to discuss the successful partnership that began in 2007. 

“The popularity of the sport of tennis continues to gain momentum throughout Europe” said Robert Marte, 

Executive Vice President, Racquets Sports Division. “Since the partnership began in 2007, Tennis Europe 

has aided HEAD’s mission to introduce new technologies and products to the European market and focus 

attention on the future stars of tennis – the junior players. Due to Tennis Europe’s favorable impact on our 

business we are very happy to prolong this partnership.” 

Tennis Europe Chief Executive Offi cer Olli Mäenpää commented, «We are delighted to continue our 

partnership with HEAD for another term. Over the past three years this relationship has helped us to 

enhance our fl agship events, also establishing new ones, and has been instrumental in the continued growth 

and investment in the Tennis Europe Junior Tour. It has also been a pleasure to work with the HEAD team, 

and we look forward to exploring further ways of developing the 

partnership in 2010.» 

As part of the partnership, HEAD will continue to be the ‘Offi cial 

Racquet, Tennis Ball, String, Bag, Accessory, Footwear and Apparel’ 

partner of Tennis Europe and will be the presenting sponsor of the 

Tennis Europe Winter Cups, the largest junior indoor team tennis 

competition, and the Tennis Europe Nations Challenge. 

HEAD will also be the offi cial ball of the Tennis Europe Junior 

Championships and the Tennis Europe Junior Masters. The HEAD ATP 

tennis ball will continue as the ‘Recommended Ball’ for the Tennis 

Europe Junior Tour, which includes more than 320 junior events across 

all Tennis Europe member nations. 

Tennis Europe is comprised of 49 European member nations and 

maintains excellent relationships with the sports’ governing bodies; 

the International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA Tours. 

www.head.com 

www.tenniseurope.com 

One of the fan’s most popular players, Marcos Baghdatis wins the 2009 

Stockholm Open in Sweden after 2 years of injuries. He is now using the 

new Tecnifi bre T-Flash 315 Speed Flex. The win puts him back in the Top 50 

again after a long absense. 

www.tecnifi bre.com 

10 


y News 

Bryans Crowned ATP World Tour Doubles Champions For Fifth Time American 

Twins End Year at #1 using their new EXO3 Ignite Team 95 Rackets 

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan were crowned ATP World Tour Doubles Champions for the fi fth time in seven years after defeating Max 

Mirnyi and Andy Ram 7-6(5), 6-3 to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Sunday at The O2 in London. 

For the second year in a row, the battle for the year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles Team Ranking came down to the last match of the season, 

with the Bryans needing to win the title to reclaim the crown they previously held in 2003 and ’05-07. Last year they lost out to Daniel 

Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in a winner-take-all fi nal at the season climax in Shanghai. 

The Bryans came into the ATP World Tour Finals with only a slim chance of fi nishing No. 1 in the 2009 ATP Doubles Team Rankings. 

They trailed their rivals, Nestor and Zimonjic, by 830 points and had lost their past two matches on the ATP World Tour. The twins were 

ominously defeated by Mirnyi and Ram in their opening round-robin match, but hit back strongly and played what they later claimed 

was their best match of the year to clinch the title. 

It is the third time in six appearances that the Americans have won the year-end championships, previously winning back-to-back titles 

in 2003 (d. Llodra-Santoro) and ’04 (d. Black-Ullyett), when it was held in Houston, Texas. 

The Bryans clinched their 56th tour-level title together, the fourth-best tally in the Open Era. Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark 

Woodforde are the all-time leaders with 61 titles. The Bryans are now just one trophy behind the teams of Peter Fleming-John McEnroe 

and Bob Hewitt-Frew McMillan, who both won 57 titles. 

In a re-match of their round-robin clash Monday, both teams were denied on break point chances in a high-quality fi rst set that was 

to be decided on a tie-break. Mirnyi and Ram drew fi rst blood to lead 2-0 as Mirnyi angled a backhand cross-court winner past the 

stranded Bryans. Mike Bryan was quick to level for his team, though, rifl ing a backhand winner down the middle for 2-2. As the tiebreak 

proceeded with serve, it was the Americans who reached set point fi rst at 6-5 and they converted as a telling backhand return 

from Mike Bryan forced a volley error. 

Both teams continued to serve strongly in the second set and neither was able to garner a break point chance until the eighth game, 

when Bob Bryan made the breakthrough with a stinging return to Ram’s feet that the Israeli could not return into court. A booming 

service game from Bob Bryan followed as the twins closed out victory after one hour and 59 minutes. 

“It was a tough match,” said Mike Bryan. “I thought they played great. It was twice the match it was in the round robin. We both kind 

of rose to the occasion the fi rst set. It could have gone either way. They won more points in the fi rst set. I thought we just won the big 

points. We scraped through it.” 

The Bryans closed the 2009 season with a 68-18 match record, highlighted by titles. They opened the season with success at the 

Medibank International (d. Nestor-Zimonjic) in Sydney before clinching their seventh Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open with 

victory over Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles. The duo, who also fi nished runner-up at Wimbledon (l. to Nestor-Zimonjic) and three 

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, has won six of its seven titles on hard-court this year. 

11 

EXO3 Ignite Team 95 


y News 

Tecnifi bre offi cial 

stringer - Metz ATP tournament. 

For the sixth consecutive year, Tecnifi 

bre was the offi cial stringer at Metz 

tournament. Three stringers, Laurent, 

Mark and Ronald have strung 172 

rackets in the week. Frenchman Gael 

Monfi ls claimed the title defeating german 

P. Kohlschreiber in three sets. 

Some Facts: 

About winners: 

Gael Monfi ls (France) : 26/25 Kg - 

57/55 Lbs 

Biggest consumer: 

Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia): 14 racket 

Maximum tension: Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) : 30 Kg / 66 Lbs 

Minimum tension: Arnaud Clément (France) : 22/21 Kg - 48.5/45 Lbs 

BNP Paribas Masters - Tecnifi bre offi cial stringer 

As usual, Tecnifi bre was the offi cial stringer in Bercy for the BNP Paribas Masters. 4 stringers on the event. Thank's a lot 

to 

Ronald, Laurent, Maxime, and Benoit for their professionalism all week long.A big job from them. Please see below the 

2009 statistics of the Tecnifi bre stringing service. 340 rackets have been strung. 

Some Facts: 

About winners: 

W : Novak Djokovic: 25/24 kg (55/53 lbs) 

F : Gael Monfi ls: 27 kg (59.5 lbs) 

Biggest consumer: 

Rafael Nadal : 27 rackets 

Robin Soderling : 13 rackets 

Juan Martin Del Potro : 12 rackets 

12 


y News 

US Tennis tops 30 million 

The annual survey of 6,000 Americans showed that tennis participation grew in all age groups under the age of 50 and within all ethnicities. 

With 30.1 million people hitting the courts, tennis participation has grown 12% over 2008 and climbed 25% since 2003. 

The survey is conducted annually by the Taylor Research Group on behalf of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) and the United States Tennis 

Association. 

New players comprised 7.1 million of the total, and the majority of tennis players consider themselves “regular players” (14.8 million). 

Though 15 of the 17 USTA sections were affected by record rainfall in the spring, total play occasions surpassed 560 million for only the second time in 

more than 20 years. 

The greatest percentage growth in participation was in players 12-17 which grew from 15.7% of the total participants in 2008 to 20.5% of the participants 

in 2009. 

“The USTA continues to work closely with the entire tennis industry to grow our game, and we are extremely gratifi ed that our collective efforts have 

generated such strong growth,” said Lucy S. Garvin, USTA President and Chairman of the Board. 

“We continue to strive to make tennis easier to learn and more fun to play, and this commitment has led to millions of more Americans playing the game. 

I am proud of our network of sections, states/districts, and community programs who have worked so hard to increase participation.” 

“Over the past several years, we’ve strived to make the game more accessible, particularly at parks and schools across the country,” said Kurt 

Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. 

“Combine this with the health benefi ts of tennis, and you get surging interest in the sport.” 

“The TIA (industry) and the USTA have been focused on growing participation since the mid 90s and this is the result of a consistent and sustained effort 

that is now paying dividends,” said TIA President Jon Muir. 

“Our ongoing challenge is to continue to build our frequent player base, the economic lifeline for the sport.” 

The TIA/USTA survey results include: 

�� Total participation broke the 30 million mark in 2009 (a 12% increase to 30.1 million, against 26.9 million in 2008). 

�� New players reached 7.1 million (up 19.5% from 5.9 million in 2008). 

�� Regular Players, those playing 4 to 20 times per year, increased 26% to 14.8 million players in 2009. 

�� Participation in 2009 is up in every major ethnic group, but especially among African Americans (+19%) and Hispanics (+32%) 

Age groups comprising the greatest percentage of players are: 

�� 12-17 years at 20.5% of the total (more than 6 million players) 

�� 18-24 years at18.4% of the total (more than 5.5 million players) 

�� 6-11 years at 16.25% of the total (4.9 million players) 

Tennis is doing a better job at retention with continuing players up 6.3% to 16 million 

Former players rejoining to the game is up for the third year in a row, with nearly 7 million coming back to tennis 

The TIA/USTA results compare favourably to other recent research released from industry organizations over the past 12 months. 

In the 2009 Sports and Fitness Participation Report conducted by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), results showed tennis was 

the only traditional sport to enjoy growth in grassroots participation. 

13 


e 

Ergo Touch 

Tecnifi bre has introduced their new line of machines replacing the TF7000 and TF8000. There are 

three variations, the ERGO Select, ERGO Touch and ERGO Pro. 

You can choose the machine and options you prefer offering a 336 different combinations. 

The selections offered are: 

Right handed or left handed machine. 

Multi-color touch screen or graphic display. 

Single action or dual action clamps. 

Turntable lock electrical or mechanical. 

7 different colors and graphics. 

Electric automatic or Pneumatic height adjustment. 

String Measurer 

Changes from the previous models: 

3 pre-confi gured setting, tennis, badminton and squash. 

Improved Turntable 

New improved design with larger tool tray. 

New improved tensioning head. 

Improved Clamps. 

Silent tensioning motor. 

Self-calibrating. 

The ERGO Select model lets you choose all the options you wish. 

The ERGO Touch model comes with color touch screen, 5 tensioning speeds, stopwatch, new single 

action clamps and electric turntable. 

The ERGO Pro is the standard workhorse of the line with dual action clamps, pneumatic height adjustment, 

graphic display and manual turntable lock. 

14 

Ergo Pro 


REVIEW 

I was invited to string at the Open de Moselle in Metz, France to test a prototype of the new ERGO 

machine. The model tested was the same as an ERGO Touch but with dual action clamps. Tecnifi 

bre was still working on the single action clamps at the time. The machine is lighter than the 

TF7000. The machine had the fi rst color touch screen for a stringing machine, electrical turntable 

lock and electrical height adjustment. The machine arrived the last day I was there so I had only one 

day to test it. 

The price was not set yet but I was told it would be around the TF7000 price depending on the 

model and which options you have. 

The clamps and mounting system have been improved, but still maintaining Tecnifi bre’s best moving 

clamps in the world. The clamps were improved but the base locking was the same as the 

TF7000 dual action clamps. The new single action are smoother and easier to use than the TF8000 

clamps. The clamps are multi-sport for badminton, squash and tennis. The quality of the French 

made clamps are very good. The mounting system uses polyurethane pads to protect the frame. 

The tensioning head is without a diablo but does not damage the strings when pulling due to the 

longer extended design. The string guides easily into the tensioning head with the tensioning button 

right where it should be, close to the back of the tensioning head. The tool tray is very large going 

around the machine. I had plenty of room for all my tools for the fi rst time on a stringing machine. 

The machine is SILENT. This is a big improvement on the old machines which were often complained 

about being too noisy. I had zero adjustment time to string on the machine. It is very smooth 

and everything in the right place and easy to use. I noticed with the fi rst racket I was stringing rackets 

faster on this machine than the TF7000. 

15 

I found the options very well thought out. I am 

ambedexterous so I do not know if it is a problem 

stringing for a left hander on a right handed 

machine or not. The seven colors are great to 

choose from if your shop colors clash with the 

machine. It could stick out like a sore thumb. 

With the Ergo Select, you can order which options 

you prefer and do not have to take things 

you do not want. Every stringer fi nds something 

on every machine not necessary or something 

lacking. I can only recommend this machine as 

a great improvement on an already very good 

machine. 


Safe Start Up 

I always double pull the fi rst two 

strings when I start out to stretch the 

string before putting the clamps on 

it. For safety, I place a clamp on the 

one side normally. Then I place a 

starting clamp on the same string at 

the other side on the outside of the 

frame. This insures there is no slippage 

on a limp string. 

Classifi ed Ads 

Kazakhstan Private Tennis Academy and 

Club is seeking to recruit Sport Manager 

and Tennic Coachers for long-term 

contract. contract. 

Good salary and accomondation are 

guaranteed. All details by e-mail:tennis. 

kz@gmail.com 

@g or phone +77272922860 

Makhsat 

Using the ERT 300 

- The ERT 300 is a great for 

quality control. We use it all the 

time in the shop and and at tournatournaments. I saw the instructions 

have changed after testing it 

for for a few years. It was shown 

before to hold the grip and have 

the racket pointing up in front 

on on you. Now you should hold it 

on on the frame above the grip and 

horizontal infront of you to get 

the correct readings. 

16 

Trimming the knot tails - 

In workshops around the world, 

I often see the knot tails being 

trimmed off level with the racquet 

frame. This is the quickest was 

to do it, but if it the string is a stiff 

poly, it can stick in the players 

fi nger. Also, I hold the tail over 

the frame tightly when releasing 

the clamps. The knot sets into 

the grommet and fi xes the tail 

up against the frame. This keeps 

the tail from pointing out into the 

stringbed. 

The ERSA is looking for an offi ce 

manager trainee to work in Düsseldorf. 

The position will lead to ERSA Manager 

working working directly under the Director. The 

position requires tennis and stringing 

background, computor skills, fl uency in 

English and any other languages a plus. 

For complete info contact the ERSA at : 

mmaslo3330@aol.com 

or Telephone Telephone +49-211-87511548 


Bow Brand 

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For more information contact 

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+44 (0) 1553 772943 

sales@bowbrand.co.uk, www.bowbrand.co.uk 

T: +44 (0) 1553 772943 W: www. bowbrand. co. uk

Some research has been done by ESP Consulting together with Tecnifi bre to see what differences take place when playring 

and a multifi lament string. Tecnifi bre sent me the results to publish even though they 

ing a match with a polyester str 

are now a major j manufacturer f t of polys with their Red Code and Black Code. 

The Quality Tests were carried out by Cousin Composites, the maker of Tecnifi bre Multifi lament Strings. 

The results show as exected, natural gut was better than the other 3 string types in Power, Shock Absorbtion and Ten- 

sion Maintenance, and the lowest in Durability. Polyester string won, as expected, the Durability test. Power was about 

the same for multifi laments and nylons, but the multifi laments beat out nylon string in the Tension Maintenance and Durability. 

I do not have the data exactly which strings were used in the tests for the nylon and gut. The poly were Tecnifi bre 

was RedCode and the Multifi lament was X-one. 

Performance Tests were carried out by ESP Consulting with the Ligue de Provence in 2008 and 2009. 

The tests show a large difference in arm fatigue between a monofi lament and a PU multifi lament. The test were carried 

out on the same level of ranked players with the same racket, strings and tensions. A match was simulated with a ball 

machine for 1h 24 mins (average time). Before and after the match, the player was put through a fatigue test of their 

forearm (25 contractions of 10 seconds with a 5 second pause in between each contraction). You can see on the graph 

below that the forearm test came out with a 2% Power difference for PU Multifi laments and 22% Power difference for a 

monofi liament. 

Results show that you need suffi cient conditioning and strength to use monofi lments and should not be recommended 

to younger players, older players and beginners. 

Positioning of the forearm during the 

Positioning of the forearm during the 

fatigue test : the gauge is held in the arm 

as shown. This measures the force of 

isometric prehension. Electrodes which 

are depositied on the surface of the skin 

gather data from the fl exor muscles in the 

fi ngers and wrist. 

18 


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I was invited back to the Rakuten Japan Open 2009 (last year the AIG Japan Open) along with Sam 

Chan,our UK Tester and Instructor. We were previously stringing outdoors in a tent until this year. It 

was always a problem when a Typhoon came by and diffi cult for the players to come by and discuss 

their stringing with us. This year we were moved into the stadium next to the players changing rooms 

and lounge. This was great as a large typhoon came and everything outdoors in the tents had to 

be taken apart and packed up for two days. We had four Gosen machines in the room and about 6 

stringers everyday. There are always more than enough stringers and not the stress we have in many 

other tournaments. Even with the night session, we took turns working early mornings or late evenings. 

The Japanese stringers are all very qualifi ed and never rush too much to loose the quality of 

their stringing. 

GOSEN, the number one string in Japan with almost half the market share, runs most of the tournament 

stringing in Japan. It is very friendly atmosphere and everyone is helpful. 

The draw was very strong, as it is every year, with Del Potro, Tsonga, Simon and Monfi ls being the 

top seeds. The tournament was won by Tsonga 6-3, 6-3 against a very strong Youzney, who upset 

Simon, Berdych and Hewitt on his was to the fi nal. 

20 


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22 


Roger Dalton - Instructor/Tester UK 

s/ Managers 

We would like to introduce some managers and testers this 

month. All of our managers and testers are some of the top 

stringers in the world with international stringing experiance. 

Having worked for the offi cial stringing team at Wimbledon Tennis 

Championships every year since 1997, I am now head stringer managing 

an international team of around 20 stringers. My claim to fame is having 

strung over 50 racquets for Nadal in his winning year at Wimbledon. I also 

provided the customising service at Wimbledon in 2008 and 9. 

I obtained the ERSA’s Pro-Tour Stringer Certifi cation when it was 

introduced some years ago.Having been a “Master Racquet Technician” 

(US/European Racquet Stringers Associations) for a decade, I was delighted 

to to become an MRT instructor/tester and help others on their way in the 

stringing world. 

Tennis, badminton and squash are all important to me; I’ve been part of 

the Yonex International Badminton Stringing team since 2000, run stringing 

services at professional squash events and am a qualifed badminton and 

tennis coach. 

Petros Biris - Manager/Tester Greece 

Petros has been a USRSA / ERSA Tester in Greece 

since 2001. He is a Master Raquet Technician and Pro Tour 

Stringer. 

He is also the owner of RacketSpecialist.gr, his stringing and 

tuning service company. Petros has strung in Roland Garros, 

Wimbledon and many other international tournaments. He is 

also active stringing in ATP and WTA tournaments in Greece. 

Sam Chan - Instructor / Tester UK 

Sam is an MRT and Pro Tour Stringer and has been 

stringing in tournaments around the world for the last decade. 

He has strung all four Grand Slams, the Olympics and numerous 

other ATP and WTA. He is also working for the CRSA doing 

workshops and testing in China. 

23 


gy 

Raw Racquet Power 

By Rod Cross 

When Crawford Lindsey and I were writing Technical Tennis, our biggest single problem was to fi nd 

a meaningful word or phrase to replace “Apparent Coeffi cient of Restitution,” or ACOR. This is the technically 

correct phrase used to describe how well a ball bounces off a stationary racquet. The average tennis player 

would probably tune out if we used that phrase. 

We eventually decided to call it “Rebound Power,” or RP, which was suggested by Howard Brody. In any case, 

catchy name or not, why would anyone care how well a ball bounces off a racquet that is not being swung at 

the ball? The answer is that the power built into the racquet needs to be carefully distinguished from the power 

that a player can get out of it. 

When a player talks about racquet power, he usually has in mind the power that is built into the racquet by the 

manufacturer using whatever technical tricks it can come up with, such as an improved string suspension system 

or some clever way of constructing the frame. When a manufacturer designs a new racquet, it might take 

an existing frame, modify it in some way, and end up with a racquet that it hope will be a better, perhaps more 

powerful version of the original. How would one test the racquet to see if it is more powerful or not? The obvious 

way would be to serve a ball at a fi xed racquet speed and use a radar gun to see if the ball is served any 

faster with the modifi ed racquet. If it is, then the modifi ed racquet is indeed more powerful. 

A simpler test is to fi re a ball at a stationary, freely-suspended or hand-held racquet and see if the ball bounces 

off the racquet any faster. This test is simpler because it is easier to measure the speed of a ball than to measure 

the speed of a racquet. A problem with measuring racquet speed is that different parts of the racquet 

travel at different speeds. Another problem is ensuring that the racquet is swung at the same speed each time. 

In fact, both tests are entirely equivalent and yield the same answer. In a stationary racquet test, one measures 

the speed of the incoming ball and the speed of the outgoing ball. The ratio of these two speeds (speed out/ 

speed in) is rebound power (RP). It is a number that doesn’t involve the player or his ability to swing the racquet. 

The RP is a measure of the power built into the racquet. In general, heavy racquets have a bigger RP 

than light racquets, so an increase in RP without an increase in racquet weight is an indication that the manufacturer 

has come up with an improved, more powerful design. 

Determining Rebound Power 

Crawford had the hopeful idea that it would be nice to measure the RP of every performance racquet on the 

market and publish the results each year in RSI. The problem is that it takes several hours to measure the 

RP properly, taking the average of perhaps 5 or 10 bounces at each of several different spots on the strings. 

It is a lot simpler to calculate the RP using other measured properties of a racquet. The RP can be calculated 

quite accurately for an impact in the middle of the strings, but RP calculations are less accurate at other impact 

points because it is diffi cult to estimate energy losses due to frame vibrations. This is not a problem in 

the middle of the strings because the frame doesn’t vibrate at all for such an impact. I measured the RP in the 

middle of the strings for fi ve radically different racquets and got the same answers as the calculated values, 

demonstrating that it is easier to calculate the RP than measuring it and the answer will be the same, at least 

for impacts near the middle of the strings. 

24 


gy 

Racquet power vs. Racquet weight 

Figure 1: Calculated values of RP at a point 16 cm from the tip of the racquet, vs. racquet weight, for 268 differ 

ent racquets. 

Using these formulas (which can be found in The Physics and Technology of Tennis), I calculated the RP for an 

impact 16 cm from the tip of the 268 different racquets listed in the March 2004 and March 2005 issues of RSI. 

The results are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows a graph of RP vs. racquet weight. The points on the 

graph are scattered all over the place, but it is clear that the RP for heavy racquets is generally larger than the 

RP for light racquets, as expected. A tennis ball bounces higher off a heavy slab of concrete than a light sheet 

of paper. The RP for a concrete slab is about 0.75, as specifi ed by the rules of tennis. The RP for a hand-held 

racquet, when the ball impacts the middle of the strings, varies from about 0.31 to about 0.43. In Figure 1 the 

points are scattered all over the place because the RP depends mainly on the weight of the head rather than 

the weight of the whole racquet. Two racquets of the same weight will have different values of RP if one is 

head- heavy and the other is head light. The head heavy racquet will have a larger RP, so it has more inbuilt 

power. If both racquets are swung at the same speed, the ball will come off the head-heavy racquet faster. 

Amazing Results 

Figure 2 shows RP vs. swingweight for all racquets. The result is simply amazing. Instead of having the 268 

dots scattered all over the place, the dots line up perfectly along four different curved lines. The four curves 

correspond to different racquet lengths. All racquets of the same length lie on the same curve, with short racquets 

having a bigger RP than long racquets. The result in Figure 2 shows that any two racquets of the same 

length and the same swingweight will have exactly the same RP, regardless of their weights and regardless of 

their balance points. The inbuilt power of a racquet in the middle of the strings therefore depends only on the 

length and swingweight of the racquet, and on nothing else. 

25 


gy 

Rebound power vs. Swingweight 

Figure 2: Calculated values of RP at a point 16 cm from the tip of the racquet, vs. swingweight, for the same racquets as 

those in Fig. 1. 

There is a simple reason that long racquets have a smaller RP. In order for a long racquet to have the same swingweight 

as a short racquet, weight has to move out of the head and relocated closer to the handle. Since RP is determined mainly 

by weight in the head, a long racquet must therefore have a smaller RP than a short racquet (at any given swingweight). 

The inbuilt power can be increased slightly by reducing string tension, but it was assumed in Figures 1 and 2 that all racquets 

had the same stringbed stiffness when calculating the RP. In other words, the string tension was adjusted for every 

racquet to compensate for differences in head size and string pattern so that the stringbed stiffness would be the same. 

This was not done on an individual basis. Rather, it was assumed in the calculations. 

The RP for impact points away from the middle of the strings might tell a different story, but it won’t be a radically different 

story. If a racquet has a large RP in the middle of the strings, then in principle it should be large everywhere else over 

the stringbed. However, it won’t be proportionally larger because there are other factors to consider when a ball impacts 

away from the middle of the strings. Impacts near the tip and throat result in frame vibrations that act to reduce the RP 

compared with that of an infi nitely stiff racquet. Consequently, if two racquets have the same length and swingweight, then 

the stiffer of the two will have a higher RP near the tip and the throat (but they will have the same RP in the middle of the 

strings). 

Impacts away from the long axis, near the edge of the frame at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, cause the racquet to twist 

around the long axis, which also results in a lowering of the RP. In this case, if two racquets have the same length and 

swingweight, then the one with the higher twistweight will be the most powerful on impacts towards the sides of the frame. 

There is plenty that a manufacturer can do, apart from increasing swingweight, to increase the inbuilt power of a racquet 

outside of the middle of the strings. Whether or not the result is a racquet that feels good in the hands of a particular 

player is a completely different story. There is no way that I can calculate the feel of a racquet. It just doesn’t compute. 

About the Author 

Rod Cross retired in 2003 as an honorary member of the Sydney University staff and continues to work on the physics of 

sport and forensic physics. He is a physicist and co-author of The Physics and Technology of Tennis available from the 

USRSA. 

26 


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