Is your tennis pro worth the money?

[Cindysphinx]

I'm off next Friday, and we might be able to find another player or two to make up some dubs. Does that work for you?

Can't. Driving oldest child to college for the first time.

I'll be in touch when I stop crying my eyes out. . . .

 

[Topaz]

Does anyone know of Teaching Pros that get paid based on results?

The one thing that I would like to see Teaching Pros do more of in addition to just lessons, is actually watch me play against a common opponent, and then break down what I do right / wrong, etc. I suppose i could ask, and pay for this, but I have not seen it done at our Club except with Juniors.

Yes! I would love this, too, but haven't really seen any pro (save one) willing to do it. I can kind of understand why, but it would be useful for them to see how you play in a match compared to how you play in a clinic/lesson. It isn't always the same.

This might be off the topic of lessons, but by RBH you mean "rich, bored, housewife". The word "bored" implies that all is not well. Maybe the grass is greener is all. You might want to keep your left leg. If you wonder what I mean watch some episodes of "Mad Men".

My gosh...

In my first post where I used the term, I clarified that I did not mean it in a derogatory way. By 'bored' I mean 'not working'. I would love to not have to work and be able to have the means to pursue my passions, of which tennis is one. I don't hold it against people who are able to do that, just because I can not.

If I just said 'rich housewife' is that better? Or will you and/or Suresh jump all over me for that?

Is "Mad Men" a TV show? Is so...uhhh...I'll pass.

 

[Cindysphinx]

You can hire your pro to come to your match. I've never done it.

Better, I think, is to do a 4-and-a-pro clinic, with four people of comparable ability. Then the pro can watch you play and see how you handle competitive situations. I've done this with my pro before. It was of limited value, I think. I know perfectly well what I'm doing wrong. I just can't stop doing it!

And Topaz? No offense meant, and none taken.

 

[Topaz]

You can hire your pro to come to your match. I've never done it.

Better, I think, is to do a 4-and-a-pro clinic, with four people of comparable ability. Then the pro can watch you play and see how you handle competitive situations. I've done this with my pro before. It was of limited value, I think. I know perfectly well what I'm doing wrong. I just can't stop doing it!

And Topaz? No offense meant, and none taken.

Good, glad to hear it! Also, wouldn't want to derail a very good thread, for the most part!

See, there are times, in matches, when I honestly have no clue what I'm doing wrong and why I'm losing the match. That's where I think a pro watching would be good...to give me some feedback. One of my old pros (CR) was actually at one of my matches this year because she works with the opposing team, and she was able to tell me exactly why I lost my giant second set lead that I had (fortunately I still pulled out the match).

Probably silly that I can't figure it out on my own (yet), but that is a weakness of my game, especially in singles.

See you tomorrow! Good luck! I lost in a 10-point tiebreak tonight...ugh!!!

 

[Steady Eddy]

My gosh...

In my first post where I used the term, I clarified that I did not mean it in a derogatory way. By 'bored' I mean 'not working'. I would love to not have to work and be able to have the means to pursue my passions, of which tennis is one. I don't hold it against people who are able to do that, just because I can not.

I thought this meant you had a "Mrs. Robinson" type in mind.

If I just said 'rich housewife' is that better? Or will you and/or Suresh jump all over me for that?

Did I jump on you for that? Just sounded to me like the word "bored" meant unhappy. I didn't pick the word. How was I to know that "bored" means "not working"?

Is "Mad Men" a TV show? Is so...uhhh...I'll pass.

TV, but it's a cable show. I've watched it on DVD. They're not mad men as in crazy, but Madison Avenue, it's about the advertising industry circa 1960. Some of the executives wives are shown to be 'bored' and unhappy living in the big house out in Connecticut. Are you sure you wouldn't miss teaching? What if you only had to do it part time? (I know, I'm way off the topic.)

 

[Topaz]

Are you sure you wouldn't miss teaching? What if you only had to do it part time? (I know, I'm way off the topic.)

Actually, I'm going back to school evenings this fall to start a career change, so I think I can very safely say I will not miss teaching at all if I didn't have to do it anymore. And if for some reason I do, I can always go back.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Actually, I'm going back to school evenings this fall to start a career change, so I think I can very safely say I will not miss teaching at all if I didn't have to do it anymore. And if for some reason I do, I can always go back.

Thanks for the reply. I like tutoring, but don't like classroom teaching. I'm always looking for where the happy people are. People complain about their jobs, but alot of retirees tell me they don't like not working either.

 

[Topaz]

Thanks for the reply. I like tutoring, but don't like classroom teaching. I'm always looking for where the happy people are. People complain about their jobs, but alot of retirees tell me they don't like not working either.

To be honest, I don't think I could ever not work entirely. I would want to do *something*. But it would be nice to be in the position to choose something that you love, whether or not it pays the bills!

And, of course, it would leave you plenty of time for clinics and lessons (there...now we're back on topic!).

 

[aptennis91]

Actually, I'm going back to school evenings this fall to start a career change, so I think I can very safely say I will not miss teaching at all if I didn't have to do it anymore. And if for some reason I do, I can always go back.

What level do you teach? Students always know if their teacher doesn't like teaching.
I feel your pain though.. I'm a junior and everyone I know spend thousands of dollars on clinics, tournaments, and private lessons, while I can't even get a new racket for $100.

 

[Xisbum]

Can't. Driving oldest child to college for the first time.

I'll be in touch when I stop crying my eyes out. . . .

Know the feeling. But it's a good cry; I also wiped a tear or two when our son got his degree. Daughter was not interested in college, which was fine, too. She's happy, so we are, too.

I'm off every other Friday and sometimes take afternoons off for really, really important tennis. Let's set something up when you get back and things settle down a bit.

Gotta get ready for the mini-meet at Wakefield today. Catch you later.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Know the feeling. But it's a good cry; I also wiped a tear or two when our son got his degree. Daughter was not interested in college, which was fine, too. She's happy, so we are, too.

I'm off every other Friday and sometimes take afternoons off for really, really important tennis. Let's set something up when you get back and things settle down a bit.

Gotta get ready for the mini-meet at Wakefield today. Catch you later.

Friday is a very good day for me. I'll be in touch, assuming I can find your e-mail. If I can't, I'll hijack a thread here and ask for it!

 

[user92626]

Regarding "bored":

I've been home for 12.5 years now. There was some part-time work early on, but the last few years have been strictly non-income earning.

People have always asked me if I am bored, especially people I knew in my prior working life. The thing is, very few people I know are genuinely happy in their work lives, based on what I see and hear. I mean, people have to work, of course. There aren't very many who wouldn't relish a few years away from it, though. I base this on the fact that I rarely hear "OMG, I cannot wait to get to work in the morning, especially on Mondays. I hope there's a really big accident so I can have extra time contemplating how much I am enjoying the traffic."

So far, I've managed to restrain myself from answering the "Are you bored?" question with "No. Are you?"

Cindy -- who spent over a decade in pantyhose and who doesn't miss it

I know what you mean, Cindy, but the thing is we all don't like to have to do anything. Even with tennis, can you handle it if you have to get up at 7am, be at a same court, with almost same people, and play for 8 hours (you don't have to play until you're exhausted, but you have to play), everyday for 20, 30 years?

 

[Cindysphinx]

I know what you mean, Cindy, but the thing is we all don't like to have to do anything. Even with tennis, can you handle it if you have to get up at 7am, be at a same court, with almost same people, and play for 8 hours (you don't have to play until you're exhausted, but you have to play), everyday for 20, 30 years?

Right. Exactly. Working stinks. Doing anything you don't want to do gets old.

I don't know how tennis pros do it. It would suck my soul right out of my body. Being Larry Stefanki would be awesome. Feeding me tennis balls and watching in horror as I make the same mistakes again and again would be awful.

 

[GuyClinch]

You can get alot more out your pro with the right attitude. If your a student of the game and know what you want to work on they can help you more.

This is especially helpful if your pro is some post college kid that played div. 1 or div. II tennis. These guys know how to play but sometimes the students are so disinterested or stubborn they don't bother fixing them..

The super dedicated perfect teach costs a fortune. here in NYC even an ex satellite guy or a ex college guy can cost over a $100 bucks..

I always discuss what I want to work on and what I think I am doing wrong with the pro before hand.. Don't count on them to watch you play and make drills to fix everything. They won't do it.

 

[Sup2Dresq]

I don't know how tennis pros do it. It would suck my soul right out of my body. Being Larry Stefanki would be awesome. Feeding me tennis balls and watching in horror as I make the same mistakes again and again would be awful.

Reminds me of this popular Spongebob squarepants skit. My godson laughs and laughs at this while I think about some of my students and laugh as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28kEKrUL8b0