Czech tennis technique

[Honza]

Less players and less facilities give better opportunities for experienced coaches to hold what few spots there are.

I wouldnt say there are less facilities and less players proportional to the size of the country.
Sport is culture in czech, so maybe even more.

 

[tennis_balla]

I meant more advanced the simply making contact with the ball for example topspin.

Ok got it. So in all fairness you need to find a better program for your kids because if that’s all they are doing then you’re paying incompetent coaches. Are there any other clubs in your area?

 

[tennis_balla]

Less players and less facilities give better opportunities for experienced coaches to hold what few spots there are.

There are a ton of coaches and clubs in Czech Republic actually.

 

[sovertennis]

There are a ton of coaches and clubs in Czech Republic actually.

A few years ago, when my business career was ending and my tennis coaching avocation was becoming my focus, I wanted to spend six months to a year in CZ (my wife is from Prague, where her family still lives), hopefully to learn more about the country/culture and also to observe how tennis is taught there. An illness (since recovered) prevented this, but each year when we visit I still get the urge to spend time at club and watch how players train and are coached. Balla-would this even be possible? If so, could you tell me what clubs in and around Prague might allow an older American to observe?

 

[FailBetter]

Why shouldnt you be allowed to hang around there? Just do it man.
Buy a coffee or a beer talk with the people there observe and then come back and share the Czech secrets here with us

 

[Honza]

National training center is in Prostejov from what i remember.

 

[tennis_balla]

A few years ago, when my business career was ending and my tennis coaching avocation was becoming my focus, I wanted to spend six months to a year in CZ (my wife is from Prague, where her family still lives), hopefully to learn more about the country/culture and also to observe how tennis is taught there. An illness (since recovered) prevented this, but each year when we visit I still get the urge to spend time at club and watch how players train and are coached. Balla-would this even be possible? If so, could you tell me what clubs in and around Prague might allow an older American to observe?

TK Sparta Praha has a lot of good juniors. National training centre, CLTK, is on Ostrov Stvanice (small island right beside Old Town). In the city of Prostejov is TK Agrofert Prostejov where Berdych, Kvitova etc came from. Sparta has good viewing areas, you can play there as well just pay for a court. It’s a normal club.
Nothing wrong with watching some top juniors train, just don’t be creepy about it and no one will mind

 

[sovertennis]

Thanks, Honza and Balla. On our next visit to Praha, we will go to TK Sparta, rent a court and hang around later if there are juniors in training. I will certainly not be a creepy old American guy--I always try to behave like a Czech, ie remain invisible at all times. In all our visits to Praha so far, we have only played on the courts at Vysherad (I'd like to know the history of those courts, because it seems like an unusual place for tennis courts) and once at a club in Praha 6.

 

[tennis_balla]

Thanks, Honza and Balla. On our next visit to Praha, we will go to TK Sparta, rent a court and hang around later if there are juniors in training. I will certainly not be a creepy old American guy--I always try to behave like a Czech, ie remain invisible at all times. In all our visits to Praha so far, we have only played on the courts at Vysherad (I'd like to know the history of those courts, because it seems like an unusual place for tennis courts) and once at a club in Praha 6.

Vysehrad? The courts with the huge wall right beside them?
Prague 6? Either Aritma or Pala Vizner Tennis?
A nice club to play at that time forgot is the tennis club on Italska street, behind the main train train station and besides Riegrovy Sady. Can see the train station and Prague castle and old town as you play.
Another fun one, though I never played there but saw it in the winter, is in Andel called Sport Mrazovka. You take the cable car up from Hotel NH Prague City, which is free, and the courts have a great lookout of the city.

Sadly, I probably know more about all the bars in the city than tennis clubs

 

[Dragy]

Sadly, I probably know more about all the bars in the city than tennis clubs

That would be valuable input as well!

 

[sovertennis]

Vysehrad? The courts with the huge wall right beside them?

Yes, those. We usually rent an apt in Vysehrad b/c that's where my wife's mother lives. Playing on a court in which the "fences" are high walls built about 900 years ago is a wonderment to me.

Prague 6? Either Aritma or Pala Vizner Tennis?

Can't recall, except it was a long walk up a hill past many nice homes. Had about a dozen clay courts.

A nice club to play at that time forgot is the tennis club on Italska street, behind the main train train station and besides Riegrovy Sady. Can see the train station and Prague castle and old town as you play.
Another fun one, though I never played there but saw it in the winter, is in Andel called Sport Mrazovka. You take the cable car up from Hotel NH Prague City, which is free, and the courts have a great lookout of the city.

Sadly, I probably know more about all the bars in the city than tennis clubs

This is very thorough and much appreciated info, Balla.