Springfield bests Chicago in Platform Tennis innovation

Springfield, IL demonstrated yet again why it is the oasis of right-minded paddlers, opting to join its brethren from the east in embracing Premier Purple courts during resurfacing in September.

Prior to the resurfacing, Premier’s Dave Dodge, with assistance from friend and competitor Bullet Brown, re-welded two of Springfield’s courts. This eliminated dead spots that some locals referred to as a “Clark Spot,” or a “Bean There.”
“Premier and Bulletworks work together on a number of each other’s bigger projects,” said site impresario, Dan Kepner. “It’s nice to see that kind of cooperation amongst rivals in a sport so small that clashing personalities and interests could bring it down.”

The decision to go purple was difficult. Local players were evenly divided between “traditionalists” and “innovators.”………..(cont.)

[enlarge image to read full story]