The APTA had been asked many times why the singles game never developed in platform tennis. Singles offered certain advantages: it was more physically demanding; it appealed to the younger player; and, matches were easier to arrange.
The APTA held National Singles Championships from 1935-1938, so the idea of singles play was not new. They based the decision to abandon singles on the severe physical demands involved. However, since APTA ball specifications now allowed for a livelier ball and wire tension was greater, it was easier to reach an opponent’s shot.
As a result, the APTA Board decided that the time for singles had come. As a first step, the APTA held a singles workshop at the Apple Club in New York City on September 23. A group of top-ranked men and women players tried out several suggested formats. Two formats emerged as the most popular types. Both would be tested dur[...]
Graebner/Russell win the second Passport Scotch Grand Prix tournament of the 1978/79 season in Chicago. Grand Prix standings and prize money through 12/11/1978
On September 29th, the Region IV Board approved the change of its title from the Western Platform Tennis Association to the Midwest Platform Tennis Association.
The new APTA Region V designated the Western Platform Tennis Association, included Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 2 (Jan 1979) and Paddle World Vol. 4 Dec/Jan 1978/79
Back to TopDoug Russell and Clark Graebner compete in an early round of the 1979 Men’s Nationals at Westchester Country Club. They went on to win.
The Men’s National was again by invitation only and limited to 64 teams based on qualifying criteria. Graebner and Russell captured the Men’s title over the 1976 champions Steve and Chip Baird.
Yvonne Hackenberg won her first of five Women’s titles with Linda Wolf (1976 champion) over Hilary Hilton and her partner in their 1975 win, Annabel Lang Rogan.
Doug Russell and Hilary Hilton won their second Mixed title.
In the Senior events, Charlotte Lee won her final championship in the Women’s 50+ and St. John Bain and Bill Schneebeck beat the previous year’s champions, Bob Brown and George Reynolds, in the Men’s 50+.
This alliance between one of the country's fastest growing sports and the newly owned and managed Paddle World magazine gave real promise of accelerating the game's growth through high-quality communication. In early December, APTA president Bob Kingsbury and Paddle World editor Marilyn Nason announced the naming of the magazine as the APTA's official publication.
Commenting on the step, APTA's chief executive said, "We're delighted with this move. We've been hoping for months to improve our communications program. This is going to assure us of being able to give better service to our members, as well as telling a lot more people about the game." Through this alliance, the APTA would have regular access to the magazine's 16,000 subscribers; would save a substantial sum annually on publishing their Paddle Talk; planned to have a free page in each issue for membership solicitation; and[...]
Manufacturers Hanover sponsored a prize-money tournament on February 10 and 11 at the Apple Platform Tennis Club in New York City. Those eligible to compete were the top eight pro teams, both men and women.
The previous years tournament, also sponsored by Manufacturers Hanover, was limited to women. Its success opened up the event to men.
The previous year’s events had been highly successful. The agreement again called for Hertz sponsorship of the APTA Regional Championships (this year with the addition of the new Region V), as well as the Presidents' Cup. Once again Hertz agreed to underwrite travel expenses for the regional teams to the Presidents' Cup and the cost of a Presidents' Reception.
The Minutes of the APTA Executive Committee August 22-23, 1979 reflected the fact that Hertz decided in the summer not to continue sponsorship for the following season (1979=1980) because of the gas crunch.
The E.L. Wagner Company introduced the world's first indoor “un-platformed” platform tennis court named “The Innovator."
Their advertisement explained the benefits: “Now you can really enjoy your favorite sport, all year long, in any weather. Wagner's inexpensive, new indoor court provides you with an ideal year round recreation center - perfect for your company, club or school gymnasium. Without a raised platform, Wagner's indoor court can be installed quickly and easily, for considerably less than the cost of an outdoor court. Its special ‘Innovator’ playing surface assures you of a sure-footed grip and uniform bounce. And its superstructure is made of sturdy aluminum, to maintain taut, true wires.”
Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 2 (January)
Three years earlier, the Statutory Annual APTA business meeting was moved to May from October so that newly elected officers and Board members would have time to plan and execute programs for the following fall season. In addition, the APTA was now operating on an April 30 to May 1 fiscal year. It was only natural to turn the May meeting into the APTA Annual Meeting and free up the fall event for Regional APTA planning.
APTA President Bob Kingsbury remarked: “This will be an honest-to-goodness Corporate Annual Meeting at which members, players, enthusiasts, suppliers, the general public and the press will be warmly welcomed.”
Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 2 (January)
The October Issue carried the announcement: “We're pleased to introduce PLATFORM TENNIS NEWS, another element in the APTA's expanded communications program.”
This development had come about because the arrangement with Paddle World had not worked out as Paddle World was facing financial difficulties that precluded them from publishing enough issues each year to satisfy APTA needs - see APTA Newsletter merges with Paddle World magazine
PTN was aimed at getting pertinent information as quickly as possible to APTA members—tournament write-ups and results, updates on APTA Board actions that affected the current season, and policy decisions on national tournaments, equipment, and rules. Compared with its companion, Platform Tennis, PTN would have a shorter cycle from copy deadline to mail delivery, and short, punchy articles.
Passport Scotch decided to underwrite PTN, because [...]
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