| " Approaching someone that you never have played tennis with before can be somewhat intimidating, regardless of what level player you are. There are many unknown factors: how good are the other players? How well will I play that day? How will my game stack up to theirs? What if I don’t play well? What is they are way better than me? What if I am way better than they are (I generally don’t have to worry about this one)?
When approaching an unknown teaching situation with an unknown instructor, especially with a group, many of these questions arise. Imagine how much that increases in a setting with other tennis enthusiast, knowing their online persona and game, but not having met in person. I had all this in mind when I traveled to Baltimore, MD for the inaugural Essential Tennis clinic.
I could have not been more pleasantly surprised at the conclusion of the day of instruction! Ian’s skill at tennis instruction is closely rivaled by his ability to comfortably coordinate the multiple personalities that you would expect at such a clinic. The first ‘official’ meeting of tennis enthusiasts from almost coast to coast also brought together almost as wide a geography of tennis skills. Ian masterfully orchestrated drills and instruction that were applicable and relevant to the diverse array of talent as well as anyone I have ever seen. The level of instruction received was top notch, and the disciplines were not only designed to promote proper form and technique, but proper tennis thinking as well.
You would thing that over six hours of scheduled tennis instruction would not only be physically but mentally challenging, but the day virtually flew by. I can honestly say that I was more eager to play tennis at the end of the day than when we began! I was so eager to put into practice all the new skills that I had learned. I came away form the clinic with a not only some new physical skills, but a new mental outlook on the game and how to apply my strengths to garner the maximum results. I did not become a better player or raise my NTRP level overnight, but I am confident that I now have the tools and mindset that when properly applied will net that result.
Don’t miss the opportunity to attend an Essential Tennis clinic. It is a fantastic value and will continue to yield benefit to your game no matter what level a player you are. " Steve from Wake Forest, North Carolina |
