NEW "LOGO" FOR APTA

By Charles E. Vasoll

"After much deliberation over many different design ideas that included screens, the Board voted overwhelmingly in favor of the new logo." President John Horine wrote to me after I had sent him a note in which I criticized the new symbol for the sport.

It is indeed true that the Directors for several years had searched for a "new look" to identify platform tennis. Most urgent, as I recall the discussions, was a need to show the "chicken wire" screens, which are unique to the sport, in the design. There was also a hope that the replacement logo would show some "action". Let’s look at what we got.

First, of course, there are no "screens". Whenever anyone asks about the game, one of the first descriptions that everybody gives is about "a small tennis court, surrounded by "chicken wire" screens. Without this enclosure, the game would be "paddle tennis". Even the word "platform" has lost its importance as the sport is played at ground level in areas where snow is unlikely to be a major deterrent to playing.

Second, I expressed my chagrin to President Horine and the Board about the words "75th Anniversary" in the drawing. I understand that from all recorded sources, the sport dates back to 1928 but this is a logo for the APTA, which was not formed until 1934. Further, no logos contain an "anniversary" date but if a date were included it would be after a word like "Established" so that it is a lasting part of the design.

Those are two very strong points but I was not done. Next I indicated the crescent moon and dots on the left side confused me. "What in the world is that all about?" someone unfamiliar with our racquet would ask. I suggested that at a minimum a handle be added to aid in the understanding that this was a depiction of the instrument we used to hit the ball.

Finally, I indicated my unhappiness with the squiggly line that is intended to put action into the logo. It makes us look like we play with a ball, which is "out of center". A straight line with some drawing to show speed of flight or bounding off a screen would be an improvement, in my opinion.

I suggested that the Board holds off on using this design and go back to the drawing board with the hope that more improvement can be made. I also sent a copy of Jack Davis' artwork entitled "Learning The Wires" (see below) to illustrate a better approach to including the screens and showing some action.

For the record, I am not opposed to change but it must be accurate and an improvement, not just something "new".