The video was shot at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Briarcliff, NY and produced by Fox Meadow member and indie film producer Eric Taylor. It shows the fun of paddle competition and the spirit of the players. The foursome involved were: David Ohlmuller, Chris Gambino, Mike Cochrane and John Schmitt. Source: Eric Taylor
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During his tenure as the chair of the APTA Rules and Equipment Committee Robert A Brown had conducted a number of surveys of service holds and breaks, in part because of the no-let decision in the late 1990s. In 2003 he updated his earlier work with and analysis on the 20003 Senior Men's 50+, 60+ and 70+ championships and filed the following report with PTM. In discussions with players about the "pros" and "cons" of the no-Jet on net cord serve rule, the conversation usually progresses to a question as to whether the server In platform tennis has an advantage in serving. The "con" proponent will generally comment that this is the case and that the no-let rule further favors the server. While there Is a modicum of truth to the latter comment, It is not a significant factor, since most of the net-cord serves are returnable and the Incidence of the "dribbler" occurs on less than one-half[...]
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The first platform was built in Scarsdale, NY and was ready for play in late November, 1928. Initially it was used for badminton and deck tennis but the discovery, soon afterwards, of the racquets and balls used in paddle tennis1 lead to the creation of the game we know today. Despite a number of experiments with modifying the physical dimensions of the court over the years the court configuration adopted by the Founders has stood the test of time, as did the one-serve rule and playing the ball off the wires. For more details on the initial experiments with the game please see The Early Years 1928-1934. Note 1: Paddle Tennis was developed by the Reverend Frank P. Beal as a child in Albion MI. Later in life when he had moved to New York City and was the Associate Minister of the Judson Memorial Church he introduced the game to New York City playgrounds in the early 1920s
Read MoreViking Athletics announced Viking Kids' Day 2003 would take place Friday, October 31st at the Chicago Charities Platform Tennis Tournament. Dave Ohlmuller, National Sales Manager, Viking Athletics had this to say: "Viking Kids' Day is going to be a wonderful experience for all the kids that participate in the event. We are thrilled to have such incredible support from the top regional and national teaching professionals and top ranked players for this event. The extent of the player commitment is a testament to what a worthwhile experience Kids' Day is going to be for the participants. The kids will have the opportunity to receive instruction from many of the top instructors and players in the game of platform tennis." The following Viking Professionals and top players committed to participate in the Viking Kids' Day: Mike Rahaley, Mike Marino, Tim Mangan, John Milbank, Sco[...]
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Henry Burchenal (Summit, NJ) and John Donnally (Madison, NJ) have played together now for three years. Henry • and John won the 12-and-under Nationals in 2002 and lost in the semi-finals of the 14-and-under Nationals in 2003. They are both 8th graders who also excel in tennis, hockey and lacrosse. They are looking to improve on their semi-final finish in last year's nationals by practicing more before this year's tournament! Henry plays the ad court but his strength is at the net where he loves to hit his favorite shot, which is his backhand volley. John's strength from the deuce court is his return of serve. Both players love the challenge of difficult screen shots. Henry keeps his 2002 Viking National Championship chair in his room along with his gold medal prominently displayed. John doesn't know where his gold medal is and thinks his brother traded him something for the ch[...]
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Gary led the way for the first five years of the Association's existence and with his energy and leadership the PPTA had made great strides in its mission of raising the standards of teaching platform tennis as a profession and increasing interest and awareness of the sport. Patty Hogan stepped in to fill his shoes.
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Terry (Fairfield, CT) and Liam (Westport, CT) are headed into their third year as partners on the junior circuit. Both competitive tennis players, Liam has given up playing competitive hockey to be able to play more paddle. He still plays baseball and soccer, but paddle is his favorite! He loves the different tournaments on the Viking junior circuit and getting the chance to meet other juniors from outside his region. Terry spends plenty of his time playing many sports including soccer and water polo. He is currently in training for his first triathlon and figures the 3-mile run will be the hardest part. His favorite athlete is Andre Agassi and he loves the Yankees. His favorite classes are gym and geography, while Liam enjoys math class the most and says Arthur Ashe is his favorite athlete! Terry and Liam played many of the Viking junior events last year and look forward to playin[...]
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PTM Editor Wayne Dollard had these observations: This issue is a tribute to women and their changing role in platform tennis. When I first jumped on the tournament scene in 1997, I was amazed at the talent level among the top women players. As a newcomer to tournaments, it helped me to improve by watching their form, technique, preparation, and intensity. Gerri Viant showed me the ready position I use today. Patty Hogan drilled a steady and more compact volley out of me. And Sue Aery taught me that consistent groundstrokes are more valuable than powerful ones. Looking back through the pages of paddle history, women such as Charlotte Lee, Hilary Hilton, and Robin Fulton have also added so much to the sport. Powerful one- handed backhands, backflips off the screens, blitzing the net, and more. These women showed the paddle community that they could do it all. The women of yesterday c[...]
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In the October 13, 2003 issue of Business Week, platform tennis got another plug. Staff writer Marilyn Harris wrote about the wintertime enjoyment that we look forward to in her article entitled, "Paddle, Anyone?" The night air was beyond bitter, the wind cut like a buzz saw. Light flooded a metal platform enclosed by chicken wire, on which four figures, bundled in fleece, chased a yellow ball and smashed it across the net. A car screeched up, and out jumped a man. "She has been crying since you left!" he shouted. His wife dropped her graphite paddle with a clang, raced into the car, and as soon as she could peel away the layers, was nursing her infant daughter. A short while later, play resumed. What would make a mom run out on her newborn? "Neither rain, nor snow, nor crying babies keep me away from platform tennis," says the athletic mother of three. Male or female, old or young[...]
Read MoreHall of Fame member Walt Peckinpaugh, Jr. filed the story with PTM: Platform tennis made its debut in Cleveland shortly after World War II when the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club built the first courts. Even the arrival of Witherbee Black, the 1940 National Champion from Rye, New York, could not stir the interest in "paddle." The facility faltered from neglect until 1968 when two new courts were built and the "modern era' of platform tennis began. Members of the Hunt Club then arranged a paddle exhibition and clinic featuring four top ranked players from the East: Roger Lankenau, Don Miller, Oliver Kimberly, and Dick Squires. Members of all east side clubs attended the, exhibition and from cooperative relationships, paddle began to gain momentum in Cleveland. A most important contribution to the growth of Cleveland paddle was the decision by John Bernet, Carrington Clark, David Dickenson[...]
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