APTA Eliminates Tiebreakers

APTA sought reaction from players to this innovation by the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA1) Note 1: The USTA was previously known as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association that was established in 1881. In 1920 the word “National” was dropped and in 1975 the word “Lawn” was dropped

Courts in New York City

The September APTA Paddle Newsletter reported: “Starting this winter, paddle in New York City is a reality. The place is the Town Tennis Club. Sports Marketing Associates Corporation1 has joined with the exclusive Town Tennis Club in a joint platform tennis venture. They have three lighted courts available for lunchtime or after work play or all the time if you live in New York or don't want to go home. Also, complete clubhouse services from cocktails to meals to locker rooms with saunas. Sounds pretty plush. By membership only and same covers the paddle facility only from November I thru March 31." Note 1: SMAC was owned by "Mr. Paddle", the future Hall of Fame inductee Dick Squires Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 2 No. 3

APTA Annual Meeting draws crowd – APTA now has eight Regional VPs. Dick Squires premiers his new video SMAC!

On November 1st, 128 people attended the meeting at the Princeton Club in New York City. The Minutes reflected the creation of satellite events to satisfy the needs of the growing interest in the game; the introduction of National rankings; the rapid growth of women’s play; and a request to the Nominating Committee to nominate a woman as Co-Tournament Chair to give women representation on the Board. The APTA also established a trophy for the “individual man or woman gaining the most points from tournament play,” with Moët Hennessey donating the cups each year. The Minutes of the meeting also included comments by outgoing APTA President Paul Molloy on the progress made over the past two years of his term, the financial statements, tournament results, Men's and Women's Rankings and a brief report of developments with the ball. The Nominating Committee report showed that the[...]

Peter A. Thistle elected APTA President (1971-1973)

Dick Squires Presents SMAC!

Another Dick Squires promotional video extolling the virtues of the game and its growing popularity. Includes instructions of how to play and footage of various matches in the 1970 including the finals of the Mixed Nationals in 1971.

APTA works on improving the ball

From the APTA Annual Minutes: “Robert Frothingham reported on efforts with Barr Rubber Company to improve the ball and asked Stan Greene of Marcraft to report on their efforts to enter this activity. Mr. Greene stated that they have a source for balls but are still working on the flocking problem. They hope to have limited quantities available this season.”

APTA policy now includes individuals as members

The Annual Minutes reported: “The APTA will have a new dues policy this year, notice of which has been sent out. Briefly, any individual who is a member of a dues paying club in the Association is eligible to play in any APTA Tournament. However, in order to be on the mailing list, he must pay annual dues of $3.00. Any individual who is not a member of a member club becomes a member of the Association upon payment of the $3.00 dues and can play in any APTA Tournament and will be put on the mailing list. (Obviously, one $3.00 payment is sufficient to cover the family).” Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter

APTA dues structure and eligibility for play in National Championships

Move to yellow ball begins

On the recommendation of Eagle Rubber Company, the APTA introduced a yellow ball (the “night ball”) in 1972. Other ball manufacturers soon followed their lead. Vittert produced the V-29 ball while Marcraft introduced both a red and yellow ball named “Big M.” Other manufacturers, like Barr, Puma and Bullet began producing orange and red balls as the game took off through the 1970’s. Source: Christina Kelly,Passing Shots: A Pictorial History of Platform Tennis, 2010 and Robert A. Brown,personal communication.

5th Anniversary of Western Pennsylvania Platform Tennis Association

At their annual dinner, the Western Pennsylvania Platform Tennis Association (WPPTA) elected Neil Van Horn as President, replacing Eldridge (Woolly) Birmingham, who was a founding member. Birmingham had been largely instrumental in the development of paddle tennis in the Pittsburgh area, from court building to initiating the Men's, Women's and Mixed Doubles Invitational Tournaments. The WPPTA now had 10 member clubs. Source:The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 3 No. 3