Michael S.

About Me

Hi, my name is Michael. Originally from St. Joseph, Michigan. I started playing recreational tennis at 4-years-old but soon found my competitive nature and continued to compete throughout high school as 4-years varsity and tennis collegiality at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI. I instructed beginner to advance juniors during summer tennis camps while in high school, I gave private hitting lessons with tournament-level players, and instructed at "In the Zone" tennis around Grand Rapids area.

After graduating Aquinas and moving to metro-Detroit area, I continued in the industry with stringing racquets at Total Tennis, customer experience and sales through Bloomfield Tennis front desk, Club and Assistant Property Manager at Bloomfield Tennis, teaching tennis and USTA Director of Adult and Junior Leagues at Bloomfield Tennis, and NOW TENNIS PRO at PINE LAKE COUNTRY CLUB.

I teach a variety of level juniors throughout the week, and have helped introduce UTR Organization to Pine Lake Country Club allowing for more match experience opportunities to junior members. In the past, I coordinated USTA Adult Leagues, Men's Leagues, tennis match-making, and also ran USTA Junior Team Tennis practices, teams and matches on weekends. I offer private, semi-private and group lessons as well as hitting lessons for interested juniors, adults, and seniors.

In my free time, I still like to continue hitting and playing USTA Adult leagues or competitive-friendly matches to keep in shape both physically and for my tennis skill.

Teaching Style

I like to know if there is something specific that the player would like to work on. If not, I begin the lesson with a warm-up of short-ball rally (could use foam balls or low-compression balls) and focus on positioning and footwork. Then, with player on service line working on rhythm and timing by driving fed balls from across the net. Once goal(s) (10 shots, 25 shots, 50 shots, etc.) of consistent ball-drive and technique is met, shot placement/strategy is discussed with respect to level. Finally, serve practice, serve to play situations, and return of serve at the end of lesson.

Summary:
Footwork
Rhythm/Timing
Shot Placement/Strategy (depth)
Serve practice, Serve to play, and/or return of Serve

Teaching Locations = Travel Radius = Preferred Court

Student Feedback