Introducing the key players behind a top-class court…
Why Laykold’s court installer network is the best in the world
A world-class tennis court has two main ingredients. A great product and an expert installer. We caught up with tennis pro, coach and court specialist, Scott Windus to find out how Laykold has nurtured the best international-level installer network in the world.
When it comes to a court surface, how important is the product?
The quality of the product is undeniably important and has a bearing on how easy the installer’s job is. Laykold product is very forgiving in this sense. Our pre-mixed topcoats make the finished product a high-performance court, displaying the playability and performance equal to the US Open or the Miami Open. We invest hours of R&D into our topcoat innovations to ensure a quality level and consistency with every Laykold purchase.
The Laykold preparation systems are also second-to-none and support the installer work with subbases that may sometimes be well past their use-by date, bringing life back to very well-loved and worn-out courts.
But a good product is only as good as the installer who lays it?
Correct. The real marker of difference is in the final care and knowhow of our Laykold-accredited installer partner network. Our court installer partners are the best in the business, all dedicated to finishing courts to an international event standard no matter where they are – local club, backyard, public or the US Open Courts at Flushing Meadows. They match local know-how – understanding their local environment and how to adapt their application processes to the climate and conditions - with international expertise.
We pride ourselves on working with Laykold partners who care about exacting a final finish worthy of international-level play. So our installer network is such an important asset and one we have invested heavily into from a relationship and training point of view.
“One of the most enjoyable takeaways… is seeing our world-class courts go down across the globe, often in far flung places where you wouldn’t expect to see an international level tennis court. ”
You’re no stranger to coaching. How have you approached the upskilling of your installer network?
Firstly, it’s important to point out that they are the pros. Like working with a top-level tennis player, they have the expertise and talent when it comes to court installation. Our role is to help hone those skills when it comes to using our specific products and draw on our extensive cross-market expertise to knowledge-share and troubleshoot issues as they arise. Sometimes installers like clarification on how our products might react or how they tailor the product to suit a specific need. If I don’t know the answer, I have access to a world of knowledge in our team where someone will. I can go to the US, Australia and our European factories and labs for answers that can solve just about any problems that arise on site.
What does installer training entail?
Our approach is tailored by installer so that we give them the precise support they need to get the best out of our court products. I have done everything from standing on site with agents mixing paint and directing the way to hold the squeegee for optimum results, through to many on-line video sessions watching them do their installation for a few hours and giving them installation tips as they do it.
We also create documents and videos for our agents to follow and offer the full spectrum of support from informal on-site visits to formal on-site training for an agent’s full technical team.
What about training for new court innovations?
When we launched our Gel court systems, we also invested more resource into supporting their installation. Our parent company, APT sends a Technical Support field manager at our expense for the first time an agent installs a new premium type of system like this.
A good example of this is SEARA who are already the largest agent in Southeast Asia. They didn’t need me telling them how to do their job on the basic acrylic installations and finishing. However, we do send our installation technicians to SEARA for installation support when they are installing one of our premium systems, like Gel, for the first time. They are very grateful for this tech support and it means the application is second-to-none.
For standard installations we offer Laykold mobile technicians who can be contracted to either complete the installation on behalf of the agent or to train the agent’s team in how to best use and apply the Laykold products. This is done in Asia by our Laykold expert ‘Mr. Som’ who is experienced in completing event level tournament courts to meet ITF standards.
“Another key differentiator of the Laykold technical support service is that we have some of the world’s most experienced applicators and sport surface chemists on hand from across the globe – just a phone call or message away.”
How hands-on are you as a senior court specialist within the business?
All our installers know that I am available to them whenever they need me. I run an ‘open door’ policy, so they all feel free to approach me directly and ask about their impending installations. I will offer my time to work through the install with them personally where I know it may be stretching their current experience, especially for new products.
In terms of remote support, I am aware of the installation dates and I intentionally stay ‘on deck’ and available at all times of the day to receive calls and walk through any situations that the agent wants to bounce off me. This is often done via video call so I can see exactly what’s going on.
How does Laykold's level of support beat the competition?
We deliver very interactive and real-time capacity and capabilities training. Intentionally being available to support the questions and concerns of our agents during their installation process, has strengthened the bonds and loyalty of the agents to Laykold and ensured they are extremely confident using our product.
Another key differentiator of the Laykold technical support service is that we have some of the world’s most experienced applicators and sport surface chemists on hand from across the globe – just a phone call or message away. Overnight, and sometimes even immediately, I have needed to find out specific pieces of information from one of our Laykold global tech teams based at our factories and it has often saved the day for the on-site installer who is able to make the ‘right decision’ about how to proceed even when faced with very tricky situations.
“Our pre-mixed topcoats make the finished product a high-performance court, displaying the playability and performance equal to the US Open or the Miami Open.”
What does this mean for clients and end users of the courts?
The result of our superior product and installation expertise is that our agents can guarantee that the finished product of a Laykold court is in line with our Tour-level event courts. This means that our clients and their players benefit from the Laykold quality, pace precision, consistency, colors, UV resistance and long wear life that will keep that court looking brand new for many years to come.
So, despite how it looks at first glance, local court products and crews cost more?
A tennis court – whether a re-topping of an existing court or a completely new build - is a big investment. I shake my head when I come across courts where the client has saved literally a few hundred dollars by engaging an inexperienced court painter and their local product and is now paying the price with a substandard finish.
On the flip side, one of the most enjoyable takeaways in my role as Business Development Manager for Laykold is seeing our world-class courts go down across the globe, often in far flung places where you wouldn’t expect to see an international level tennis court.
Along with the Laykold Tour-level court playability, the obvious difference between Laykold and the rest, comes down to our agent partners’ dedication to achieving an international court-level finish – every time. They are our star players and they are worth every dollar.
US Open quality and consistency is available globally. Find out more here.
Find out more about the 2024 US Open and Laykold.