Southwest Magazine-June 2023

INSIDE:

President’s Message 2

Southwest Conference 3

Southwest Awards 4

Southwest Hall of Fame 5

Area News 6-12

Pickleball Article 14

President’s Message

Amy Badger - USPTA Southwest President

Gree ngs fellow USPTA Southwest Pros,

I hope you are having a great start to your summer teaching and coaching. Our division conference was a great success and those that a ended enjoyed not only the beau ful Arrowhead Country Club venue but the tremendous slate of speakers and variety of topics. Seeing old friends and mee ng new were irreplaceable memories in the building and cherishing of these rela onships within our community of pros.

It’s a labor of love for our membership that we give tremendous thanks to Greg Prudhomme and Suk Ong, our conference chairs, as well as the Southwest Board and the Southwest USTA for all their me, talents, and support towards pu ng on an all-star conference. Jack Michalko, our Execu ve Director, does the lion’s share and we could not ask for a more passionate professional and leader towards everything he does.

There were 9 sessions and 13.5 hours of credit available towards our educa on credits. We were treated to hearing Na onal Vice President Jenny Gray, a southwest na ve, report on the core pillars of our current strategic ini a ves, educa on, membership, financials, alliances with industry partners, DEI. As in all worthwhile organiza ons, we have areas of strength, challenges and opportuni es and we are embracing them all head on.

It was a tremendous honor to witness the induc on of this year’s Hall of Fame selec ons. Bri Feldhausen and Larry Lineberry. Two dis nguished and hard-working teaching professionals in our division. We could not be more fortunate to have their experience and dedicaon here in the southwest. Thank you to Dave Moyer and his commi ee for their work on these outstanding selec ons. It was wonderful to see all our division award winners. Ryan Johnson and the award committee presented excellent selec ons from the division nomina ons. You can check on all our award winners on our social media and website.

If you were unable to a end our conference, you will not want to miss the World Conference in Orlando FL, September 24-28. Please go to uspta.com for registra on informa on. We hope those that s ll need to shore up their educa onal requirements will do so before the year ends. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to contact anyone on the board for assistance. I look forward to seeing you in Orlando and wish you a terrific summer on the courts!

LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD BOARD MEMBERS!

Mark Frampton - Southwest Nomina ng Commi ee Chair

The SWPTA Nomina ng Commi ee is now taking requests from any USPTA Southwest Elite or Master Professional wishing to be considered for the 2024-25 slate for the Southwest Board of Officers. This also includes any current board member who would like to be considered for the future. The nomina ng commi ee will interview all interested candidates in good standing with the USPTA. If you are interested contact nomina ng commi ee chairman, Mark Frampton, no later than Friday, July 15, 2023 to apply. Mark can be reached at mframpton22@gmail.com or by calling him at 602-790-0040. The commi ee will be interviewing prospec ve SWPTA Members throughout the summer.

Once the process is complete the nomina ng commi ee will submit a proposed slate of officers to the execu ve director by October 2023.

2023 USPTA Southwest Conference

by Greg Prudhomme, PhD

The 2023 USPTA Southwest Division Conference was held on May 19th and 20th at the Arrowhead Country Club in Glendale Arizona. The two conference co-chairpeople were Southwest Board representa ves, Suk Ong (Execu ve Vice President) and Greg Prudhomme (Vice President). The facility host/tennis director was USPTA Elite Professional, Tatum Hing. A unique and posi ve aspect of the conference is that the USPTA Southwest Division partners with the USTA Southwest Sec on in the produc on of the conference. The USTA Southwest sec on provides financial support as well as contributes to the roster of speakers. Addional collabora on included the USTA Southwest Sec on invi ng area high school coaches to the second day of the conference for oncourt seminars and lunch. Another highlight of the USTA/USPTA Southwest partnership is the annual breakfast that the two organiza ons have on the second day of the conference. One of the topics of discussion was the possibility of the two organiza ons co-hos ng a pro-am tennis event to raise money for the USPTA Southwest Division

The conference included two days of on-court and off-court con nuing educa on seminars that discussed topics such as club programming, player development, working with large groups on court, and planning for the future in the tennis industry. Notable speakers included Ken DeHart, Johnny Parkes, Ray Wendeln, and Lane Evans. There were 83 people in a endance that included cer fied a endees, USPTA Southwest board members, USTA Southwest staff, high school coaches, and speakers. Jennifer Gray, the USPTA Vice President, was also in a endance to provide the USPTA na onal update. Another highlight of the conference was the awards lunch and the second annual Hall of Fame ceremony. Long- me USPTA cerfied pros, Bri Feldhausen and Larry Lineberry, were the 2023 inductees.

2023 Southwest Award Winners

Leslie Banks Lessons for Life award

Paul Burns Southwest Proud Award

Amanda Fink Industry Excellence Award

Mark Pachtner Professional of the Year

Nancy Hosford Star Award

Ryan Shomo Elevate award

Karen Fleissner

Laurie Mar n High School Coach of the Year

2023 Southwest Hall of Fame Inductees

Bri Feldhausen was born in Wyoming and grew up in Illinois. His first job was in 1968, as a hi er for Earl Buchholz, he earned $10 a day. In 1975 he became one of the first tested USPTA members. Bri has worked in the private tennis club, country club, Public Park, and resort tennis industry.

In 1991 he helped found the Tucson Community Tennis Program. TCTP has since then taught tennis to over 25,000 public school students in popula ons that would not have ever been exposed to tennis. Bri has served as the SWPTA district coordinator, treasurer, and regional vice-president, president, past president is now pro emeritus. He was awarded the SWPTA Pro of The Year on two different occasions by the division, SWPTA Diversity Award in 2015 and in 2003 the USPTA Na onal Star Award.

Bri currently owns and operates Bri ’s Tennis Academy, working with all ages and skills: 3-87, toddler to na onally ranked. Besides having the same staff for many years his greeter is Othello, a golden retriever.

His favorite moments are playing na onal and local doubles with his wife and children.

Larry Lineberry is a 47-year member of the USPTA, a Master Professional since 1990 and a 32-year resident of Sedona.

In his career, has promoted and directed 24 professional tennis tournaments and dozens of amateur events which has raised over $200,000 for various charies.

His students have earned tennis scholarships to many colleges including: Stanford, Virginia Tech, William and Mary, the US Air Force Academy, the US Naval Academy, Marymount of Santa Barbara, Davidson and coached two Arizona state high school tennis champions.

Larry promoted and directed two music concerts (1997, 2011) by lifelong friend, Grammy Award winner, Bruce Hornsby, which raised money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona and the Northern Arizona Tennis Associaon.

He is an inaugural 2015 inductee of the Presco (AZ) Park of Fame, an inaugural 2021 inductee of the Roanoke Regional Tennis Hall of Fame and a 2017 inductee of the Southwest Tennis Associa on Hall of Fame.

He is the SWPTA representa ve for this year’s USPTA George Basco Life me Achievement Award.

Phoenix, Arizona

by Leslie Banks

Dear Fellow Southwest Tennis Pros!

Summer feels like it’s here! Spring has been lovely with the cool weather but it’s slowly ge ng warmer and warmer.

Meet some of the Pros from the Valley! Ryan Shomo recently became the Director of Racquet Sports at Arizona Country Club. Tariq Khan is the Head of Junior Programming at Phoenix Country Club and gives us a different perspec ve on PCC hosting the Arizona Tennis Classic. Karen Fleissner lends her exper se to the town of Gilbert and spends her free me as Arcadia HS’s Boys’ Tennis Coach.

Ryan Shomo

Anyone in the racquet sports industry can tell you we are in the people business. Depending on your facility, you may work with a membership, local community, or private clientele but the focus is always the people. One important group of people we work with, however, exists outside of the students and clients. I am of course talking about our community of racquet sports professionals, and none has proven to be more influen al or beneficial to my career than that of the USPTA.

I have been fortunate enough to begin recently as the Director of Racquet Sports at Arizona Country Club and could not be more excited for the opportunity to join and help build another great community of tennis and pickleball players alike. One reason for all the excitement is the steps I was able to take to feel prepared for this next chapter. It was through Ryan Roeth that I was able to get cer -

fied and plugged into the USPTA, which ul mately led to a great next step here in Arizona. A er mee ng what would become another great mentor, director, and friend in Dave Moyer at the USPTA world conference in New York, I soon a er moved down to Arizona to take the next step in my career. Learning another side of the industry at the Country Club at DC Ranch presented countless opportuni es to learn and grow yet again. In a new environment filled with ladies’ leagues and big club events in addi on to the junior programs I was trained in, I once again found myself observing and learning from the experience of Dave and many others around me. With a goal of becoming a director myself, there was no shortage of learning opportuni es or aspects of the industry to understand. Working hard to earn opportuni es to expand my responsibili es and experiences, as well as having team leaders willing to expend these opportuni es to manage teams of my own again put me in the posi on to be ready for the next challenge.

Star ng my next chapter now as a team leader, I get the pleasure of bringing the philosophies and programs I have learned along the way to Arizona Country Club. Excited to create the same opportuni es for others that I was able to benefit from, I will be a part in helping build the programs and culture that I have learned from and would want to be a part of. Having a great organiza on to be a part of like the USPTA allows not just a great avenue to help my team develop but also the resources and people to con nue to learn from as I go. I am excited to see what this next chapter will bring here in the USPTA Southwest and Arizona Country Club!

Karen Fleissner

Eight years ago when I passed my USPTA cer fica on exam, I was beyond excited to be star ng my new career. I envisioned so many job opportuni es, different levels and ages of students, networking with fellow tennis pros, and working in the sunshine all day. But nothing gave me more excitement than when I pictured myself as a high school coach.

My first experience with tennis was when I was a freshman in high school. My older brother had convinced me that I should pick up tennis and be on the team that year. I grew up following in both of my

brothers’ footsteps, so naturally I went along with it. He and I would go out and he would try and teach me some techniques, rules of the game and how to play a match. These were fun and memorable mes for me since he would be going off to college the following year. My brother would also talk about the camaraderie of his tennis team, the experiences he had, games and matches he had won and had only good things to say about Coach Gary.

Three years into my tennis career, my then boss talked me into applying for the Head Coach posi on at Arcadia High School. It was a posi on that I had always dreamt of but didn’t believe I was ever actually good enough to do. Six seasons in and I am so happy he pushed me into this role. I absolutely love my job as a high school tennis coach, and I look forward to the high school tennis season all year long. I think back to my high school days 25 years ago and I try to recreate the same fun learning environment and community I was given. As a cer fied tennis professional, my passion is teaching the game to new students. I have a nocut program and never turn away students who have never played because I know how much courage and effort it took to come out to the court that day. Just like my high school coach, I may not be the best player, but I try to be a good mentor, provide guidance during tough matches, teach new strategies and skills as well as being a good listener to them. When it comes me to celebrate our season, I take special care to recognize each player as an individual, giving out cer ficates, le ers and some tennis gi s. I also love how the cycle repeats and I get to hear from my players how nervous I make them, when all I’m doing is walking around the courts and watching them play.

Leslie Banks: Serve the Future AZ’s Updates

The Arizona Tennis Classic was so exci ng this year with big names such as Monfils, Schwartzmann, and Berre ni. It gave valley tennis enthusiasts a chance to roam the Phoenix Country Club and enjoy close encounters with amazing athletes. It also gave students of the nonprofit, Serve the Future AZ, free ckets to the Professional tournament. Over 50 students, coaches and a few parents were able to take advantage of the opportunity and see the awesome display of world-class athle cism in basically front-row seats. The nonprofit I founded and administered was also

awarded $10,000 from the Arizona Tennis Classic and its founder Jonny Levine. The Sponsorship allows Serve the Future to con nue to find partners in the Valley and give students from our underserved communi es a chance to play our sport. The presence of underserved students at the ATC hopefully inspires community enthusiasm in our sport and grows par cipa on through opportuni es like this. The ATC gave STFAZ exposure through Channel4 news and a couple weeks later a longer interview on FOX10 Phoenix which aired on Easter Sunday.

Serve the Future AZ has grown substan ally since its incep on in 2021 just 2 years ago. We are now partnering with the Phoenix Union High School District which has a 95% minority popula on with 77% of students on free or reduced lunches. This partnership will ensure that we see more compe ve tennis where there has been li le to no interest. Addi onally, some PXU high school coaches are signing up to take the USTA High School Workshop Course that is being offered at the SW PTA Conference this year. This also gives me hope that we can grow li le by li le our USPTA community and increase its diversity.

Northern New Mexico

by Dick Johnson

Hi everybody!

Wow! This spring has been a whirlwind of ac vity for my high school team. I just completed my 33rd year of coaching at La Cueva High School and it was quite a year.

Since 2007, my teams have won 12 state championships, 9 of which in the last 11 years. This year my doubles team won for the 7th consecu ve year, a new state record for 5-A teams. In the team compe on, we finished 14 and 1 and at state did not lose a match.

division. This was a first in my 23 seasons coaching at the Academy. A very special team that brought our 4th consecu ve team tle. What I treasure most is the improvement in the players’ resolve on the court. They worked hard all season and came to play. Each lived up to all their expecta ons of figh ng a good ba le. EDC (Early Development Camps) are back! I have run two of a three series for the 10u orange and green ball players. The kids are learning what’s possible as we covered the Expert Rallyer and Net Dominator curriculum. We’ll be tying the two together with our final All Court Player camp in June. DJ and I were also coaches of the postseason NM All Star Compe on. I look forward to a great summer of teaching, running USTA events and of course… seeing everyone at our conference and the world conference!

John Damgaard

The self-described luckiest guy in the world walked off into the sunset Saturday. Fi ngly, he did so with a tear in his eye and a trophy in his hands. Ralph Bolton re red as Santa Fe Prep’s tennis coach Saturday, saying “adios” to 30 amazing years and his life me of memories.

I am looking forward to our summer tennis camps. We have seen over 3500 kids go through our camps in the past 23 years.

Looking forward also to seeing all of you at our Southwest USPTA Conference. This is always such a great me for networking and exchanging ideas. I will miss our Na onal Execu ve Director, John Embry, who has been the guiding light for our organiza on. All the best, John! Have a great summer everyone!

Amy

Badger

It’s been a thankful, busy spring. It was a trifecta + 1 this year for the Albuquerque Academy girls’ varsity team. We won team state and individual state and doubles (and second in doubles too) in the class 1A-4A

Bolton says it’s the rela onships he’s built over the years he’ll remember most. It’s the players he once coached who have grown into their 40’s, a handful of whom he calls some of his closest friends. Of those, a few have had their own kids play for him. “And it’s the friendships I’ve had with opposing coaches, opposing players, the respect we’ve grown to have for one another that’s so special to me.”

Anyone who knows Bolton knows he can’t go a minute or two without bringing up Case, a half-boxer, half-lab dog who grew to 85 lbs and was, for all intents and purposes, a ached to Bolton’s hip for 14 years. Case died last November. He is forever enshrined with a memorial at the Santa Fe Tennis and Swim Club where Bolton is the director of tennis.

Dave Shambach

Dave Shambach, in his 41st year as a USPTA member, is looking forward to his return to the Regional Conference, a er missing last year due to a severe bout of COVID.

He is fresh off volunteering for Rio Rancho High School’s varsity and JV teams. JV boys won their divi-

sion of the Northern New Mexico USTA tourney, and the girls finished 3rd in their division. The varsity boys returned to the State Tournament for the second year in a row and sent 5 individual players to the State tourney. The girls won their first-round team match before eventually losing to the champs, La Cueva. They placed three girls in individual States, including Samantha Baltz, who finished runner-up in singles. He will compete in his first USTA doubles tournament in mid-May. It is becoming harder to USTA leagues due to teaching and Coaching.

Dave con nues to serve as unofficial tennis coordinator and head instructor for the City of Rio Rancho’s Parks and Recrea on Tennis Program. He will be one of three instructors for the summer session, running from June through mid-July. He will also help with the Rio Rancho High summer tennis camp in June.

He will also be co-coaching two JTT teams for the first me—a 14-under and a 17-under team. In his spare me, he will teach private lessons to local and area youth and adults.

Doug MacCurdy:

Gree ngs from Atlanta. Here is what I’m up to:

I am currently at the beginning of playing a series of senior tournaments in the 75 + category. Since I’ve been involved in tennis for about 60 years, one might ask why I would possibly want to play tennis compe vely now. A wise person once told me that many coaches are above all just frustrated players. Senior tennis gives you a second chance at fame, but rarely fortune. This week I am at the Atlanta Senior Invita onal, a Category 2 na onal tournament. It a racts one of the best fields of all the men’s senior tournaments in the US. The host club is the Cherokee Town Club which really is beau ful. Your entry fee includes numerous ameni es such as fresh fruit available at all mes, sports drinks and water in on-court coolers, a high-quality collared shirt, an excellent buffet lunch each day, a dinner party, and $20,000 in prize money. There is a long list of sponsors and a small army of volunteers. It is a happening.

The best part for me was watching and talking with USPTA Southwest legends Jimmy Parker (Santa Fe) and Brian Cheney (Chandler). At the end of 2022, Jim held the all- me male record for US na onal championships won at 153. That means 153 Category 1 events in which a Gold Ball is awarded. That is enough balls, in this case golden ones, to fill a large teaching basket. Among living male players Brian is in second place behind Jim with a mere 94 Category 1 na onal tles. These gentlemen are phenomenal.

Another legend with a Southwest background is Fred Drilling. He is currently ranked #1 in the world in the men’s 80s. Last year he won the world championship in singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles, as well as the team event. He played at the University of Arizona. Coincidentally, one freshman to join Fred’s outstanding team at the U of A was none other than Brian Cheney. Fred is a superstar. His only problem is that Jimmy Parker is entering his age group this year and that always spells trouble.

These living legends are great ambassadors for the game and just keep adding to their collec ons of tles.

Southeastern Arizona

by Amanda Fink

Bri Feldhausen:

Thank you, Dunlop, for a great deal on our Tucson Community Tennis Program rackets for the next season Summer Camp is looking l to run two months instead of one at the Pueblo HS loca on.

west for tournaments and events. We have also been running and hos ng numerous events at Re in Tennis Center from Level 3 to Level 7 including The Cupid Classic in February.

We hosted the Arizona Open Wheelchair tournament in March drawing players from around the country.

PS Bri ’s Tennis Academy hosted 20 orange ball players for doubles play. Great fun and thank you Renee Lopez for ta oos, slap bracelets and bag tags in goodie bag net generaon items.

Nancy Hosford: PICKLEBALL NEWS

La Paloma and Tucson Country Club 3.0 and 3.5 women joined

forces this winter and competed in the Arizona Pickleball Players League, APPL. Congratula ons to the 3.5 women, placing second in the state!

John Perry:

John Perry and Ronnie Smith have been busy with juniors at all levels traveling around the South-

We recently held the 2023 Aussie Open entry level event in April at Re in as well, with parent and child sportsmanship educa on for all.

Bryan Dirk:

Farewell to Tucson

Gree ng Southwest Friends,

I want to take a minute to thank everyone for their support over the years. I’ve spent 9 of my 28-year career in the Southwest Sec on, all at Tucson Country Club. I’m resigning from the Racquet Sports Industry at the end of May 2023. It’s me to go home and help with my Family’s Offshore Fishing business, h ps:// dolphindocks.com/ <h p://dolphindocks.com/> . It’s been going strong for over 45 years, and now that my dad has passed, I need to step in and help my Mother. This is a very exci ng move for my family, back to my roots, Fishing and playing Tennis for fun! If you’re ever in South Texas and want to experience Island Life, stop in for a visit, I’lI steer you in the right direc on. With that said, I’m pleased to announce that Sean Miller, our long- me Head Professional at Tucson Country Club, will be stepping into the Director role.

Sean has been with TCC for 20 years. We are all excited about his new role and about the future of TCC. Over the past couple of years, we have laid the groundwork for some major improvements. By the end of 2024, the

TCC Racquet Sports facili es will be be er than ever... star ng with our New 8 court Pickleball facility, breaking ground in the next couple of months! All my best,

Bryan M. Dirk Director of Racquet Sports Tucson Country Club

Amanda Fink:

La Paloma has had a lady’s invita onal and St. Patricks Day Mixer in addi on to all its normal leagues and programs. We also hosted the Goo er Jensen founda on Goo er Grand Slam event featuring the Bryan brothers and the Jen-

sen Brothers. Money was raised to fight against sudden cardiac arrest. The founda on has a goal to put an AED in every tennis facility in the country.

Amanda is also expecting an addi on to her family due in October!

SOUTHWEST OFFICERS

President

Amy Badger 505-379-6728

badgertennis505@gmail.com

Regional VP

Suk Ong 602-881-0467

sukong.uspta@gmail.com

Vice President

Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394

pruperformance@gmail.com

Secretary

Ryan Johnson 480-267-0725

m.ryanjohnson@gmail.com

Treasurer

John Perry 520-403-8290

jptennis25@gmail.com

Past President

Dave Moyer 480-342-7240

davemoyertennis@gmail.com

Execu ve Director

Jack Michalko 602-740-0126

jack.michalko@uspta.org

SOUTHWEST COORDINATORS

Northern New Mexico

Dick Johnson 505-507-6795

lctenniscamps@gmail.com

Phoenix

Leslie Banks 419-302-7663

lesliealison16@gmail.com

Southeastern Arizona

Amanda Fink Moore 818-624-7107

afink15@gmail.com

Northern Arizona

Andrea Meyer 928-300-4352

andreameyertennis@gmail.com

Southern New Mexico & l Paso

TBD

Head Tester

Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394

pruperformance@gmail.com

The Southwest Magazine is the official Publica on of the USPTA Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Associa on.

Northern Arizona

by Andrea Meyer

Director of Racquet Sports

Nicole Chambers begins her season at Forest Highlands with Head Professional, Garre Lakey, USPTA, on May 12. They have lots in store this season for both members and guests. Nicole has started a FAST-4-TENNIS series of events to offer more match prac ce to Northern Arizona USTA adult players. Members and guest can look forward to holiday socials, member/member, and member/guest events for both men and women, triples events, clinics and more.

The Flagstaff High School boys’ team made it to the final of the State Team Championships, losing to Catalina Foothills who have now won the tle nine seasons in a row. This was the first me in decades that Flagstaff had made it to the finals. Captain Camden Hagerman, a student of Nicole’s, proudly holds the very large runner-up trophy!

The Flagstaff Tennis Associa on is hos ng the Flagstaff Open for adults, June 10 - 11th at Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff pros are also providing plenty of junior events, together with the USTA, to foster match prac ce for both developing and elite juniors from the Northern Arizona area.

In Presco , Pro Sterling Fe y, who managed the en re high school tennis season with only three courts total for his PHS boys’ and girls’ teams, was honored by his

fellow coaches as Division 2 Sec on 2 Coach of the Year. Sterling’s selec on was richly deserved, especially as members of his teams performed so well at State despite the cramped court space and this season’s unusually inclement weather. Senior Ava Strasser was a singles quarterfinalist and was crowned Division 2 Sec on 2 Singles Player of the Year; teammate Somer Hu man and Strasser were recognized as Sec on Doubles Team of the Year. Sterling’s son Leyton with dubs partner Luke Raber narrowly lost their state quarterfinals match in an 8-10 third-set e breaker. Sterling has a full summer of JTT and local tournaments in the works. His efforts con nue to include outlying NAZ communi es such as Lake Havasu and Kingman in fostering the growth of junior tennis in those communi es. As proof, Kohen Juelfs of Kingman’s Lee Williams HS was a doubles Semifinalist at State. Sterling has coached Kohen on numerous JTT teams.

Also in Presco , Elite Pro Chris Howard sends news that his star student Andrew Bogdanov and Andrew’s USA Wheelchair Team won the bronze medal at the World Cup May 5 by defea ng Japan, 1-6, 6-4, 10-6. In Co onwood, Pro Andrea Meyer’s work teaching mini tennis in the Verde Valley’s k-8 schools con nues to pay off. She had nine freshman girls on her team of 19 JV and varsity this season. Andrea’s summer schedule will include some parent-child instruc on as well as Live Ball and Triples under the lights for high school and community players.

Sedona Elite Pro Jake Worseldine has been coaching elite junior siblings George and Grace Hakopian as they climb the Southwest rankings. In April the Hakopians went deep into Level 3 draws in Phoenix tournaments.

Bre Hall, USPTA Elite Professional

Tennis Must Learn From and Work With Pickleball

by USPTA Southwest Pro Bre Hall

I was fortunate to learn and compete in the tennis boom in Texas in the 1960’s and 70’s. Tennis had no compe on back then and even the fitness craze didn’t start un l the 80’s. Fast forward to today and we have a pickleball boom. It came out of nowhere and it does not look like it is a fad or will decrease in popularity anyme soon. The tennis industry was reluctant to jump on board at first thinking ini ally it wasn’t a threat to our sport.

I would have never thought even a year ago as a USPTA Elite tennis professional I would get cerfied to teach beginning pickleball. Most of my lesson income is from tennis, but it is a nice addi onal income stream. Our USPTA organiza on sees a world where both sports need to coexist and work together for tennis clubs to survive and thrive. We must give the members what they want at our facili es, and it is obvious they

want both tennis and pickleball. My fellow professionals are having great success by welcoming pickleball either teaching it themselves or hiring a pickleball pro to meet the demand.

A simple idea is to have your tennis professional go meet and play pickleball with the pickleball players and invite them to a free tennis clinic.

Finally, there is always opportunity in any challenge. It is vital for our tennis facili es to hire quality tennis professionals who can fill their courts with tennis lessons and programs. The tennis professional of the present and future must be cer fied to teach pickleball. Hopefully, we can build new pickleball courts in the future instead of conver ng tennis courts to pickleball. Today it is more important than ever for all ages to improve their wellness by exercising and experiencing healthy socializa on. Both sports are great for promo ng this healthy lifestyle.

So, what can tennis learn from pickleball?

1. Shorten the tennis scoring system to allow a quicker rota on of different ability levels.

•Beginners: orange ball

•Intermediates: Green ball

•Advanced: Yellow ball

How can both sports work together to increase par cipa on in both tennis and pickleball?

1. Invite pickleball players to begin tennis clinics for free.

2. Invite tennis players for free beginning pickleball clinics.

3. Offer beginning tennis/ pickball classes (combined pickleball and tennis clinics).

4. Hold a fun tennis and pickleball/tennis social. An experienced tennis professional can get pickleball players (total tennis beginners to have fun with an elementary form of a rally in the first day.)

2. Use the pressureless tennis balls to allow longer rallies where beginning and intermediate tennis players can have more fun.

5. The teaching pro should be the catalyst in diffusing any animosity towards either sport.

APublication of the USPTASouthwest Division

Jack Michalko / editor

77 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 62, Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-740-0126 / e-mail: jack.michalko@uspta.org

The Southwest Magazine is published quarterly by the Southwest Division of the United States Professional TennisAssociation.

The opinions expressed in the Southwest Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Southwest Magazine or the USPTASouthwest Division.

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