Table of Contents

• Ashley’s Tech Blog

  • The Tech Stack That Builds Club Culture

• PTR & PPR Partner With SPINTIP

• PTR/TrekAI Update

• Noteworthy

  • ATP/PIF, Navratilova, Global Sport Conf, Serena Wi …

The Tech Stack That Builds Club Culture

Clubs don’t grow just by adding courts or running ads. They grow when they run better. And that doesn’t happen with more effort. It happens with the right systems — ones that make operations smoother, staff happier, and player experiences easier to love.

Whether you’re managing a tennis center, a pickleball facility, or a multi-sport complex, your tech stack (the tools your club uses day-to-day) has a huge impact on how your team shows up and how your players feel.

Let’s talk about what the right tech stack actually looks like — and how it becomes the foundation for long-term growth.

Tech That Gives Your Staff Their Time (and Sanity) Back

When your staff has to chase payments, manually update schedules, or wrangle spreadsheets every day, there’s not much energy left for players.

Good tools should give time back, not take more of it.

They should:

• Automate scheduling, billing, and communications

• Let players book courts, lessons, and events without calling the front desk

• Track attendance, cancellations, and player preferences without sticky notes

• Keep your team focused on people, not paperwork

When your system handles the background noise, your staff can run a tournament, greet new members, or help a junior player feel like they belong.

That’s what keeps people coming back.

The Core Tools Every Club Needs

Every club’s different. But the most successful ones tend to use the same set of core tools — and they work together, not in silos.

Here’s what that looks like in real life:

Court Reservations and Scheduling

No more clipboards or calendar chaos. Players can see what’s available and book instantly, while staff control the rules and stay organized.

Why it matters:

Fewer no-shows, more court usage, and a smoother experience for everyone.

Lesson Scheduling

Pro calendars, group clinics, check-ins, and attendance — all in one place.

Why it matters:

Instructors focus on coaching, not scheduling. Players get clarity. Admin time shrinks.

Events and Programming

Socials, ladders, camps, tournaments — and an easy way for players to sign up, get updates, and stay involved.

Why it matters:

Better turnout, better matching, and less manual follow-up.

Membership Management

Your players are your business. A centralized system helps you onboard, renew, communicate, and understand their behavior.

Why it matters:

More retention, fewer billing issues, and a community that feels known.

Payments and Billing

Batch billing, custom invoices, refunds, prepaid packages — all without touching Excel.

Why it matters:

Faster payments, fewer errors, and cleaner finances.

Access Control

Automated door codes linked to bookings, so players can check in without staff present.

Why it matters:

Offer 24/7 access or off-peak hours — without staffing around the clock.

Reporting and Analytics

Get real data on what’s working (and what’s not), from bookings and lessons to revenue and retention.

Why it matters:

Make better decisions, spot issues early, and grow with confidence.

Pro Shop and POS

Track inventory, run promos, and see what’s selling — without guessing.

Why it matters:

Turn your shop into a profit center, not a side task.

Branded Mobile App

Give players one place to book, check in, and stay connected — all with your branding.

Why it matters:

Modern, mobile-first experiences build loyalty and brand trust.

Integrations

Let tools like payments, access control, and video-replay talk to each other in real-time.

Why it matters:

No double entry. No disconnected systems. Just one source of truth.

It’s easy to see each of these tools as separate pieces. But the real power comes when they’re connected — when a player books a court, gets a confirmation instantly, receives a personalized access code, checks in without waiting, pays automatically, and all of it flows into your reporting in real time.

That’s the foundation of what we call the Club Growth Flywheel — where five areas of club operations build on each other to create momentum:

First, you organize — simplifying day-to-day tasks like reservations, lessons, events, and billing so your staff isn’t buried in busywork.

Next, you manage — using data and reporting to make smarter decisions and run leaner.

You engage — creating a smoother, more personal experience that keeps members coming back.

Then, you customize — tailoring your tech to fit your brand and operations through mobile apps, integrations, and access control.

Finally, you expand — opening new revenue streams through pro shops or new locations, supported by tools that scale with you.

It’s not just software. It’s a system that turns operational efficiency into club culture — and long-term growth.

From Busywork to Belonging

The clubs that thrive aren’t the ones doing more. They’re the ones doing better — where staff have time to connect, systems actually help, and players feel the difference. That starts with the right tech stack — one that’s not built for features, but for people.

Because at the end of the day, technology isn’t what builds culture.

But it does make culture possible.

Want to build a club that runs smoother and grows faster?

Let us show you how a connected platform helps your team spend less time clicking and more time connecting.

CourtReserve helps clubs automate the busywork so staff can focus on what matters: players, culture, and connection.

👉 Explore more at CourtReserve.com

PTR & PPR Partner With SPINTIP

PTR sent out a press release on September 18:

The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR), the world’s largest racquet sport coach education organizations, are proud to announce a new partnership with Spintip, the AI-driven video analysis platform revolutionizing the way athletes and coaches connect.

This partnership provides PTR and PPR members access to Spintip’s cutting-edge technology, designed to enhance player performance, social sharing and enjoyment at all skill levels. Spintip allows coaches to deliver professional video feedback anytime, anywhere, while also creating new revenue opportunities beyond traditional on-court lessons.

Spintip enables coaches to analyze real match moments through AI-assisted video tools, delivering targeted, high-quality feedback in minutes. Coaches can:

• Provide professional match and practice analysis remotely.

• Retain players through continuous engagement between lessons.

• Use insights from actual match play to drive smarter on-court training.

“PTR and PPR are committed to providing our members with meaningful tools to succeed in their careers,” said Martin van Daalen, interim CEO of PTR & PPR. “Spintip’s mobile-first platform not only elevates the player-coach relationship but also empowers coaches to expand their businesses and income streams in an efficient, modern and sustainable way.”

Coaches can earn in multiple ways, including video coaching, where they set their own per-minute rates and get paid for providing feedback. With Spintip, coaches control their schedule by designating specific hours of off-court time for video coaching.

"With PTR’s global reach and Spintip’s cutting-edge AI, we’re equipping coaches with tools that save time, generate revenue, and elevate player development — instantly,” said Stefan Stefanov, CEO of Spintip.

This collaboration reinforces PTR and PPR’s mission to support coaches in every stage of their careers. By bringing Spintip into the membership offering, PTR and PPR provide their global network of coaches with an innovative way to grow their businesses, connect with more players, and continue impacting communities, whether on court, online, or on the go.

We wanted more context from a user perspective and asked Caitlyn Fries, PTR Director of Marketing, to clarify what’s in it for PTR/PPR members who sign up for Spintip. Caitlyn detailed some real benefits for their members:

1. Coaches can connect and work with their current players virtually (think of player traveling and coach unable to attend, or coach is sick and unable to be on court)… this allows the player to record matches or practice within the app, the app’s AI then takes the entire recording and condenses it to major points/events within the match/practice and allows the coach to review, analyze, and provide feedback for the player. 

2. This enables coaches to earn additional income. If you are a coach and had to step away from the court for any reason (traveling, injury, etc.), you could set your availability for each day, set your rate, and players seeking a coach could connect with you to receive coaching. You would earn based on the length of the recordings/feedback you’re providing. 

With the partnership, coaches can connect their Spintip profile to their PTR/PPR profile and receive a badge AND coach listing priority on Spintip so players see that a coach is certified and at what level. 

We also talked to Spintip’s CEO, Stefan Stefanov, a tennis professional with a strong technology background. Stefan calls Spintip “the ultimate camera app” and stresses that his application is not cloud-based; it resides and operates on your smartphone. While Spintip was recently released just on IOS, the Android version is in the works and will be released soon.

Sounds like an opportunity for everybody. Let us know what your experience is with Spintip. Email Rich.

The PTR/TrekAI partnership was announced in August of last year. The partnership is creating an innovative AI-driven platform designed specifically for tennis coaches. The press release stated, “The PTR AI platform by TrekAI is not just a tool; it’s an intelligent coaching partner. Powered by AI and built to meet the unique needs of tennis professionals, this platform helps streamline administrative tasks, enhance communication with clients, and deliver customized programming to boost coaching effectiveness. TrekAI integrates seamlessly with PTR’s coaching philosophy and standards, ensuring every coach has access to the best-in-class support and resources.”

We asked PTR VP Milena Vidos, who leads the organization’s vision and strategy for education, coach development, and member engagement worldwide, for an update on this partnership. Here is Milena’s reply:

We announced the partnership with TrekAI in a press release on August 29, 2024—you can view it here: PTR Partners with TrekAI to Launch Revolutionary AI-Powered Platform for Tennis Coaches. Since then, we’ve shared updates through social posts, newsletters, and various ads.

TrekAI now has all PTR education integrated, so members can be confident that any search results provide only PTR-approved content. Coaches can use the platform to plan sessions, events, and programs, as well as access drills.

Some of the key features include:

• PTR Education & Philosophy Integration: AI-driven responses aligned with PTR’s coaching principles.

• Athlete Safeguarding: Built-in tools to help ensure safety for both coaches and players.

• Tailored Program Development: Create age-and stage-appropriate lesson plans and training programs.

• Performance Evaluation Templates: Ready-to-use tools for assessing athletes and staff.

• Seamless Communication: Support for drafting clear, concise messages to players and parents.

• Marketing Support: Step-by-step guidance to promote new programs and grow your coaching business.

Thank you, Milena.

From SBJ Power Up

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