Rick is joined by one of the all-time greats. Former ATP No. 1 Mats Wilander.
He was ranked as the world No. 1 in men’s singles by the ATP for 20 weeks, including as the year-end No. 1 in 1988. Wilander won 33 career singles titles, including seven majors (three each at the French Open and Australian Open, and one at the US Open), and seven career doubles titles, including a major in men’s doubles at Wimbledon.
Mats was appearing at the Grand Opening of the Game, Set, Match tennis and pickleball store in Henderson, NV.
Rick talks with a young entrepreneur in Ryan Burbary of Velociti Tennis.
The future of tennis and tennis products.
From Ryan:
When it comes to the environment, every piece of waste counts. That’s why I started with small steps as we worked up to industry-changing evolutions.
Single-use packaging: We started eliminating product packaging wherever possible. Sure, product packaging can help with marketing, but we don’t feel it’s always worth the environmental cost. So, we’re testing removing packaging to eliminate single-use waste on some of our products. That’s why our TurboPoly string and NEH string are sold without traditional packaging that is thrown away.
Greenhouse gases: We’re selling some of our products in bulk in hopes of reducing emissions. For example, our NEH string can be purchased in sets of 5 and Velociti Catalyst can be purchased as a reel so that players who know and love these products can reduce pollution from additional shipments.
Product duration: Making products last longer is another great way to reduce waste. Our Grip-Enhancing Towel can help prolong the life of tennis grips so they don’t need to be replaced as often. Durability is also a top priority in our tennis string manufacturing.
Biodegradable products: The first three steps are all great small steps to an eco-friendlier world of tennis, but the real game-changer came in late 2022. In 2022, we invented the first-ever fully biodegradable polyester string, Velociti Catalyst. Catalyst biodegrades in just 3 to 5 years compared with the 400 to 600 years it takes other synthetic tennis strings to decompose. Velociti is continuing to research other uses for our biodegradable additive, and we hope to launch new biodegradable products in the near future.
Velociti Tennis is the worldwide leader in environmentally sustainable tennis string. The products feature biodegradable materials and minimal single-use packaging to reduce tennis waste. Give Velociti tennis string a try and you’ll find it plays just as well as the top brands.
At Diadem Sports, our journey began in 2015 with a vision that transcends tennis rackets and pickleball paddles. Founded Pompano Beach, Florida—the heartbeat of the sports industry—we set out to redefine what it means to play.
As the last American tennis brand, we’ve built our legacy on innovation. Our team, boasting over a century of combined experience as collegiate and pro players and coaches, saw beyond the status quo. We didn’t just see strings and rackets; we saw untapped potential. This insight led to breakthroughs like our Solstice Power string with patented Star Core Technology, offering unparalleled spin and control.
But our mission goes deeper than creating top-tier products. We believe in “Live to Play”—a philosophy that shapes everything we do. It’s about recognizing that when we pick up a racket or paddle, we’re engaging in something profoundly human. We play for physical fitness and nurturing our health and wellness. We play for the joy of social interaction, satisfying our innate desire to connect with others.
This belief has guided our expansion from tennis into the vibrant world of pickleball. It’s why we’ve diversified our product line with a full range of pickleball gear. Each product is a testament to our commitment to innovation, designed in-house to help you play better.
Yet, “Live to Play” is more than a tagline; it’s a call to action. In a world that often feels disconnected, we’re using sports as a bridge. Tennis and pickleball aren’t just games; they’re platforms for human connection. They’re opportunities to step away from screens, engage with others, and remember the simple joy of play.
As we continue to grow, partnering with distributors worldwide, our vision remains unchanged. We’re here to innovate, to redefine the game, but more importantly, to remind you of why you play. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, when you choose Diadem, you’re choosing more than equipment. You’re embracing a lifestyle that celebrates movement, connection, and the sheer delight of being active.
Join us in this journey. Live to Play, and let’s make every serve, every volley, and every point a celebration of what makes us human.
Rick talks to the very unique, Jeff Diamond this week. Jeff owns On Tour Golf.
Diamond has been making unique items for the past twenty-plus years, as well as furniture and other functional items from recycled golf clubs with no end in sight. His creations, are the only ones like it in the world and all made in America. Jack Nicklaus, one of the most famous golfers ever, has Jeff’s Big Turtle sculpture in his collection.
Jeff has successfully exhibited at major trade shows across the country including Atlanta and Las Vegas. Jeff also exhibits every year in Augusta, Georgia during the Masters golf tournament and a few years ago sold an 8 foot diameter sphere, sculptured completely from recycled golf club heads, for $30,000.00. Of course most of his unique products are priced for the general public to enjoy. So let’s “play through” and view a sampling of his great works!
Jeff is now venturing into the tennis world, recycling vintage wooden rackets into tables and table lamps.
Rick talks with tennis racquet collector, Mike Barrell this week.
There are 1000’s of tennis racquets out there. Where you are looking for a racquet that is functional or something to put on your wall as a piece of art, Mike helps guide you through the tennis racquet collecting universe.
As a collector, Mike feels that part of his responsibility is education others about the history and value of racquets. We then talk about Mike’s collection, how scarcity and values are determined. In the age of social media, Mike is very active with other racquet enthusiasts on Facebook.
From wood to racquets made with all sorts of materials, Mike says, it’s about the hunt and discovering something that he’s never seen before.
Enjoy this talk with tennis racquet collector, Mike Barrell. Maybe you’ll start a collection of your own!
Rick is joined by David Marcus, the founder of EcoGrip this week.
Note: A biodegradable tennis / pickleball grip: a high performance grip for racket sports, which decomposes naturally within one year.
David had the idea for a biodegradable overgrip while traveling around eco-friendly Ireland in 2008. In 2010 I finally found a highly skilled industrial chemist in Australia and told him about my green idea. He joined our company. After several years of trial and error together our small team developed a great patent pending polymer for the overgrips. During the very hot summer of 2013 we play-tested EcoGRIP Smooth and Hi-Tac in 10 different countries with 30 excellent tennis coaches and players including a young teen player from California named Cici Bellis. No players were told the grips were eco-friendly. Every one of the players told us the grip played excellent, felt great and lasted longer than their current overgrips.* When we told them the grips would safely biodegrade in one year after changeout … they were blown away.
EcoGrip Hi–Tac overgrips use a slow-release formula and small perforations to offer much longer tack and superior sweat absorption.
Decomposes naturally in the environment within 1 year. Good for your game & great for the environment.
Makes a great holiday gift for a tennis/pickleball player.
