As with many sports, the turn of the calendar to a new century produced a new generation of platform tennis players who infused the game with a heightened level of athleticism and rapidly changing skill sets. Elbow-bending slices turned routine overheads into unplayable winners. Vicious spin serves caromed off two and even three screens to make aces part of the game. Two-fisted backhand blasts became the norm rather than the exception. An influx of converts from the tennis community was at the forefront of the new emphasis on physical play and new-honed skills.
Source: Christina Kelly, Passing Shots: A Pictorial History of Platform Tennis, 2010
Bob Callaway had these observations:
I've often been asked, ‘how do today's players compare with the top players from the 60's and 70's?’ Back then, platform tennis was booming. Court time was at a premium. Fox Meadow closed the gates at the Nationals due to overcrowding as a reported 4,000-5,000 people packed the stands at Forest Hills. My answer is, however, today's top players are better. The following is evidence to support my point.
When I was researching material for my book, Platform Tennis (published in 1972), I charted matches at men's and women's national ranking tournaments, state tournaments, and club tournaments in order to get more information on how points were being won and lost. One finding was that, depending on the level of the players' games, 60-80% of points were determined with the serve, return, and first volley. I did the same charting this past season a[...]
The Wired 12/4 paddle is an exceptionally lightweight paddle with an average weight of 12.4 ounces. Its components consist of an aerospace-derived biaxially-woven, graphite-reinforced foam core; a highly textured two-ply cross-matched fiberglass skin; and a high-tempered aluminum full metal jacket. While designed for the two-handed backhand player, it remains a central-weighted, center-balanced paddle.
The Wired 13/6 has an average weight of 13.6 ounces and is slightly head weighted. Two years in the making, the Wired paddles have been tournament tested by some of the game's premier players. "Get Wired...Play Platform!"
Source: From the APTA, Platform Tennis Magazine Vol.2 Issue 1, September, 2000
Have you ever seen a platform tennis court installed? Have you ever even thought about it? The design of the aluminum court calls for all the actual manufacturing to take place in the factory. In theory, the subsequent on-site installation is a simple process of putting the parts together like a giant erector set. In reality, working with augers (the drill to help dig footings) concrete piers, manually carrying and precisely placing 500 pound deck panels, tightly lacing steel screen sections by hand with square comers and a perfectly flat plane, working with steep changes in grade, snow storms, torrential downpours, and sweltering heat, R. J. Reilly’s installation crews might take issue with the idea that platform tennis court installations are, in fact, simple. They will, however, categorically convey that when they are through, the court will be picture-perfect and ready for the best[...]
Professional Platform Tennis Association (PPTA) Update
Back to TopThe PPTA's first group of certified teaching professionals. L to R: Gerri Viant, Gary Horvath, Patty Hogan and Hank Irvine. (Missing: Rich Maier)
On the Friday prior to the Short Hills national ranking tournament, the PPTA Board of Officers met to finalize their testing and certification process. The effort to start the organization for teaching professionals began 18 months ago and has included a series of meetings and feedback from the country's top teaching professionals in each APTA region.
As part of the recent meeting at Beacon Hill the PPTA completed certification for its initial group of members (Gary Horvath, Hank Irvine, Patty Hogan, Gerri Viant, and Rich Maier). The PPTA tentatively plans to hold an open meeting for prospective members at the APTA Nationals in Rochester and may conduct an initial offering of the test in the Tri-State area at the end of the season.
The mission of the PPTA is to improve the standards of the teaching profession and help increase awareness in the sport. PPTA President Gary Horvath sai[...]
April 1, 2000 - Wilson Racquet Sports announced the sale of its platform tennis ball business to Viking Athletics (Lindenhurst, NY), the market leader in platform tennis balls, effective immediately. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Viking owner David Kjeldsen came to us with an offer we felt was fair and reasonable for us to exit this aspect of the business," said John Embree, Vice President/General Manager, Wilson Racquet Sports. "Because the market is so small, it probably makes sense to only have one supplier of balls. Therefore, we came to a mutually beneficial understanding.”
While Wilson Racquet Sports was no longer in the platform tennis ball business, it continued to market its platform tennis paddles and accessories.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue 5, May, 2000
Note: Wilson had decided to exit the ball business in 1999. The purchase and sale agreeme[...]
Mark Fischl had some thoughts…..
“One of the many topics of conversation at the 2000 Nationals was on what to do about those all too familiar backdraw defaults. The question arose after the teams of Conklin/Kinney and Cosimano/Haller each had to pull out due to injuries following their round of 32 losses. While these injuries were legitimate and ail four players have a proven track record for attending backdraw events (i.e. Chicago and Short Hills), many other players choose not to bother once they are out of the main draw. Backdraw defaults have long been a concern of the APTA. After the 1994-1995 season players were penalized by having to forfeit any points won in the event if they chose not to play the backdraw matches. This was deemed to be an insufficient deterrent due to the fact that the points revoked were generally insignificant if the loss was in an early round. As a res[...]
The gospel of platform tennis continues to spread beyond the borders of the good old USA. R.J. Reilly recently completed three new platform tennis courts in conjunction with European Platform Tennis AG (just outside Zurich). The Sportcenter Stork decided to complement its tennis and squash courts with three new Reilly All-Aluminum Courts. The courts are ideally sited for viewing, as they are placed inside a small stadium which allows spectators to watch play from all sides. They can simultaneously take in the beautiful surroundings in this glorious Alpine setting.
The club hosted a grand opening of the courts in which many members and local sports enthusiasts watched the game played for the first time. Following the exhibition the guests tried it themselves. Jim Reilly, Vice- President of Sales and Marketing of R. J. Reilly, paired up with accomplished player and Reilly court builder[...]
Player profiles: Bobo Mangan Delaney and Tonia Mangan
Back to TopTonia Dillon Mangan and Bobo Delaney Mangan at the 1998 National Championships
Patty Hogan, Tonia's college classmate, was responsible for getting the sister-in-law team together. Tonia had met future husband Tim Mangan at Bobo's wedding in 1983 and began playing with Bobo after getting married in 1992.
Bobo Mangan-Delaney
Born: Yakima, Washington
Profession: Head Pro at the Noe Pond Club in Chatham, New Jersey, for the past four years (tennis and platform tennis instructor for the past 14 years).
License Plate: BOBOPRO
Children: Zealand (8), Corey (7), and Trevor (3)
Marital Status: Bobo's husband, Frank, is an Investment Banker at TD Securities in New York City.
Past: When it comes to platform tennis family history, the Mangans are famous. Bobo was introduced to `paddle' as a child by her mother, Nancy, and her Uncle, John. Nancy had a high women's national ranking and John was the men's national champion. If that wasn't enough, legendary Hank Irvine[...]
Back to TopThe 'hut" at Glen View CC in Chicago is more like a palace
What's the difference between a good platform tennis facility and a truly wonderful one? More often than not, it's a warming house. While a facility can boast the best courts with the newest lighting and heating systems, history has shown that its success will be limited if there is not a central place where players and spectators can congregate and keep warm when not on the court. On the other hand, even a modest two-court facility can become a buzzing beehive of paddle activity when it is supported by a well-designed paddle house.
Paddle is by nature a social sport. A paddle house, therefore, serves a variety of purposes. It is not just a place to keep warm while you wait your turn for a court. It is perfect for carrying out those all-important side aspects of the sport like joining together for drinks and discussion and being with fellow players. Watching others play is a significa[...]
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