I have enjoyed giving tours recently of our fine

facility, as it always so wonderful to hear and reinforce

what a special place we have. Over the

past couple of weeks I have shown the club to

members of the USTA SouthWest section executive

board, and also delegates from the Laureate

Education Inc. Both parties are very excited to

explore new and creative ways to fulfill the potential

for this facility.

Being in the building day in and day out, it is easy

to overlook our good fortune. You only have to

look at the faces of someone seeing the courts

for the first time and you’ll understand that this is

truly unique. It is comforting to know that we also

have a very active membership to accompany

this space. The percentage of court usage and

number of USTA teams verify this fact alone.

Our jobs here at the STC revolve around your

needs, and we will always do everything we can

to facilitate your enjoyment, improvement and

understanding of this remarkable sport. Please

let us know if we can do more.

- Brad Trost, Director STC

What is probably the most important shot in tennis

and what do we practice the least? The first

answer is the serve and the second is the serve

toss. When you have the opportunity to put a ball

into play by means of your serve, you have total

control of the start of the point; it is critical for

your on-court success that you take advantage

of this opportunity. The key to a successful and

effective serve is the ball toss. Try this for two

weeks and see if you can improve the impact

your serve has on your opponent and increase

your percentage of first serves in the court. Practice

your toss and your serve backswing for 5

minutes five times each week. To find the proper

height for your toss just extend your racquet

straight up in the air and add about 3” to that

height to estimate the maximum height for your

service toss. Place a target the size of a dinner

plate about 12”-18” in front of your left foot (for

right-handed players) and 12”-18” to the right of

your left foot (left-handed players place the target

in front and to the left of their right foot). Don’t hit

the ball; just practice the toss and backswing so

that you can simulate the experience as accurately

as possible. Add an even bigger challenge

by trying this indoors and outdoors to prepare

for different conditions. You should be able to

practice your toss fifty times in five minutes. 10

target tosses (OK); 15 target tosses (decent); 20

target tosses (good); 25 target tosses (great); 30

+ target tosses (expect an increase in your NTRP

ranking!!).

Your serve is your most important shot and it all

begins with the toss....so practice your toss just

like you would any other part of your game and

your opponents will feel the difference!!

The STC has a new Ping Pong Pig Champ for

2008. After some furious battles on Sunday June

29, our own Zach Remis showed he had the

goods and remained undefeated. So Zach gets

his name immortalised on the belly of the pig, and

placed into the trophy cabinet, until the next event

and worthy challenger.

Mark your calendars now for the USTA Mixed

Playoffs being hosted right here at the STC on

August 16,17 on the indoor courts. This will be

the first time that Shellaberger has hosted any

USTA League playoffs, and there promises to be

some great tennis.