When I turned 18 I was brutally honest with myself as I gave my game an assessment and asked the obvious question. Was I really good enough to become a tennis professional ? The answer was no. My 18 months of training in Queensland produced nothing more than a rise in ability to hit a tennis ball yet my knowledge on how to play the game was not where it was required to become successful on the Challenger Circuit.
In saying that however I did give it a red hot go in a series of events which were known back then as the 'Satellite series' which are now called Challenger Events. I played several of those tournaments in and around Queensland plus New South Wales and I saw some phenomenal players such as Fromberg, Woodbridge and Stoltenberg who were also just beginning their careers on the tough Challenger circuit.
Watching guys like that practice and play those events was an eye opener and it gave me a realistic view as to where my game needed to be and unfortunately I was not of their ability. I could practice with any player and hold my own but playing matches was not my strength. I decided to quit full time training, fly back to Western Australia and take up coaching full time as a job.
I did however still hold hope of one day having another crack at tennis but I needed to gain some knowledge and I felt that by coaching students I could teach not only them but myself how to play tennis and not just hit a ball well. I wanted to learn the art of tennis and I had only tried one form of it and that was playing so I suppose I was into the idea of crunching data in my mind. I wanted to become not only a better player but a coach who could actually teach the game with substance.
I had seen guys who I still refer to as 'ball hitters' in both WA and Queensland and I had seen some great coaches who could really teach someone how to play tennis. I wanted to be like them, a coach who could teach the game with knowledge.
I never wanted to be looked upon as a 'ball hitter' as the market is flooded with them, guys who command a hefty price for a lesson but really teach nothing of substance. In fact I refer to them also as 'hype with no substance' yet these guys make three times per hour what some hard workers do. I believe that it is because of these ball hitters that some 'real' coaches now command up to $100 per hour for an hour session as it sets them apart from the ball hitters who regularly command $70 or $80 an hour.
Back when I first started coaching in 1987 I believe that $40 an hour was the regular rate for a lesson with a 'qualified' tennis coach. Sure inflation happens but $80 now days with a 'coach' who owns a piece of paper stating he or she is a 'qualified' tennis coach with a fancy name to it really is just taking the public for a ride.
Personally I believe that lessons should be capped at a certain rate depending on the experience level of the coach or ball hitter. It would make the whole Industry more professional and would also give the public a more realistic view on who is teaching their child the finer points of the sport. I believe ball hitters do have a place in tennis particularly with large groups of kids as they can keep them moving and entertained with games but as far as one on one technique sessions ? Leave that to the qualified, experienced coaches who know how to teach the finer points of the sport.
I spent three years coaching at numerous tennis clubs around Perth as well as my home town Albany and those three years taught me much however I was not asked to do one on one lessons and neither did I expect to. They were strictly for the head coach to do. My job was to teach groups of kids which was challenging but fun.
I knew my time would come later as far as the private lessons were concerned and I was prepared to go through the education of learning the art of teaching tennis. I took a brief stint out of coaching for a two month trip to Europe to see first hand just how good the standard was over the other side of the World.
I wanted to do it for two reasons, one to test myself to the maximum with my play as I was a little smarter at age 21 and little stronger physically plus I wanted to paint a picture for my future students as to just how tough the sport was.
I didn't want a Walt Disney version, I wanted the real thing. The trip to Europe was a way for me to understand the sport better and I hope you enjoy my version of events over there from 1991. Some chapters are light hearted as far as how we amused ourselves in between tournaments and others are my personal views on just how tough the circuit was. The trip taught me a philosophical way of looking at tennis and it helped me become a better coach.
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