Welcome new/renewing members: Marcia Shaeffer
David Zheng
Tournaments
We held our annual Member-Guest Tournament last weekend May 22-23. Although our Friday night social was rained out and our Saturday matches were rain delayed, we got back on track and finished on time Sunday. Thanks to all who participated!
Tournament participants received a Tega Cay Tennis Club t-shirt. If you were unable to attend but would like to represent with a nice-looking tee, we have some left, $10 each. Men's and women's sizes. Call or drop by to check availability.
Pro Shop
Speaking of t-shirts, we have a new shipment of men's and women's tennis clothing, 50% off retail price. Adidas, Nike, Gamma, and more. Come check it out!
Adult Leagues
Palmetto League teams are forming now. Last year was our first year offering Palmetto and it was a hit. It is a daytime ladies doubles league. Click here for a flyer containing more info. No USTA membership required.
USTA spring leagues are wrapping up now and mixed doubles is just starting. If you would like to captain or play on a team make sure to email us ASAP and we will help with getting you on a team. For more info on local USTA league play visit www.mid-carolinatennis.org.
Four Tega Cay teams won their flights and qualified to advance to state for the spring 2010 season:
- 3.5 Senior Men Hard Liners captain Walter Fournet (undefeated in local play!)
- 3.0 Senior Men captain Johnny Phillips
- 3.5 Adult Women captain Ann Grantham
- 4.5 Adult Men Tennisholics captain Dane Loflin (undefeated in local play!)
Congratulations, teams!
Juniors
Junior clinics run year-round and will switch to mornings once school is out for the summer. We have three summer camps scheduled for 2010. Check our Programs page for more details.
Security update
We have added an exterior video system to monitor court conditions and activities. We are hoping to work out a way to allow members to see the current status of the tennis courts so that the courts can be checked to see if they are dry and playable.
Staff update
Welcome Susie Brown to our tennis pro staff. Susie was the director of a large junior program in California and most recently was teaching at Rock Hill Tennis Center. Susie is a very strong instructor and will fit in great here at Tega Cay. She will start off teaching in a part time basis. With the addition of Susie we now have the ability to teach lessons and run programs seven days a week. Susie is available for private lessons and group lessons. You can reach Susie by email at mail@tegacaytennis.com
Membership updates
Thank you to everyone who has joined/renewed your membership. We have switched to combination locks on the courts. Staff will be in touch with you with the combination. Access to our online court reservation system at www.ReserveMyCourt.com has also been changed. Staff will contact you with the new access code. You can pay for your membership with cash, check (payable to Tega Cay Golf Club) or credit card (at the golf pro shop only). Membership applications are available here or at the tennis clubhouse. If you would like to pay with a credit card you can do that at the golf shop anytime they are open. If you would like to pay with a check you can drop that off at the golf shop or at the tennis office anytime we are open.
Non-Member Policy
Our non-member policy for the past year has been that we allow unlimited non-members unlimited play, but they must pay a $5 fee every time they play at the club. This policy was not strictly enforced in 2009 for a variety of reasons. Feedback from members indicates the policy be enforced. Effective immediately we will be actively collecting non-member fees. Members will be responsible for any non-payment of fees by their guests. Membership benefits will be suspended for any members who owe non-member fees. Check in before play to pay your fees. If the clubhouse is closed you can leave a check payable to Tega Cay Golf Club in the drop box at the rear door of the clubhouse or contact us by phone or email to make other arrangements.
Tega Cay fielded 14 USTA teams in adult and senior spring leagues. The 3.5 senior men captained by Geary Angermeier, the 3.5 senior women captained by Dianne Petrosino and the 3.5 adult women (pictured at top of page) captained by Lissa Johnston won their flights and advanced to state.
Mixed Doubles season 2009 - Tega Cay was home to eight teams. Jim Bowen's 6.0 Tega Cayans advanced to state.
Combo Doubles season 2009 - Tega Cay hosted 12 teams. 7.5 Senior Men captained by Geary Angermeier advanced to state. The 7.5 Senior Women 2009 Combo State Champs Hot Flash team included Tega Cay members Ann LaCarter, Lissa Johnston, Joanne Lehman and Cindy Darby. See our Photos section for team picture.
JTT (Jr. Team Tennis)
The U12 Timberwolves were undefeated in the first Spring 2009 season, captained by Lynn Watson and Jana Alexander.The nine outstanding players of the Torpedoes, Tega Cay's first USTA Jr. Team Tennis team, were undefeated in the fall 2008 season. Members of the Torpedoes are Son Dinh, Molly Hair, Mady Katz, Danielle McCollough, Brandon McGlohon, Tyler Morris, Kyle Orsburn, Vishal Rai, and Dori Lee Wilson. The team is co-captained by Donna Whinnery, Lisa Finley, Francine Goodman, and Mark Goodman. The Torpedoes' next target is the JTT championship tournament to be held in Sumter in July 2009.
Getting a Grip on Tennis Racquet Selection
by Bryan Hartley
There are so many things to look forward to with the advent of the spring season: warmer weather, more daylight hours, trees and flowers budding and blooming. For local tennis players this also means the new racquets of the 2009 season will soon be arriving in local sporting goods stores and pro shops. The wide variety in shapes, sizes, weights, colors and of course prices can easily overwhelm the unwary shopper.
Size
Racquet size varies in length, grip, and head size. Junior lengths range from 19-26 inches long. Adult racquets are 27 to 27-1/2 inches long. Be careful when purchasing as some of the junior racquets look very much like adult racquets. Grip sizes range from 4-1/4" to 4-3/4". It is important to get the correct size grip for your hand.
Racquet head sizes generally range from 85 to 116. The sizes indicate the head size in square inches. A larger head size will give more power and a larger sweet spot. This means you do not have to be as accurate with the contact point being exactly in the middle of the strings as you do with a smaller head size. The downside of the larger head size is that the power comes from a trampoline feeling and not the solid control feeling at contact like it does with a smaller head size. A smaller head size will have more control and a more solid feel at the contact then the larger headsize, but will not have as much power or as large of a sweetspot.
Weight
The weight of the tennis racquet is very important. The lighter rackets that are on the market now feel like a feather but can stress your arm if you have a faster, large swing. Super lightweight rackets are designed for people with a slow, compact swing. If you have a larger, faster swing you will want to play with a racket that has a little more weight to it. The lighter the racquet, the more shock will go into your arm when you hit and can cause tennis elbow or other physical problems. Contrary to what a lot of people believe, a heavier racket can be more powerful than a lightweight racket because you have to swing a lot faster with a lightweight racket to get the same power as a heavier racket.
Balance
Racquets can range in overall weight from 8 to 13 ounces. Just as important as the overall weight of the racket is the weight distribution of the racket. To determine the balance of the racquet, look for a statistic indicating HL (head-light) or HH (head-heavy) given in 'points'. This indicates whether the balance point is closer to the handle or the racquet head.
A head-heavy racket will produce more power and spin then a head-light racket. Once again the problem with this greater power is the inverse relationship it has with control. The other issue that comes into play is a head-heavy racquet will not be as maneuverable for quick reactions or net play.
A head-light racquet will be better for preparation at the net and for recovering after you hit a shot. Head-light rackets are designed for more advanced players who use their larger swings to provide their own power. If you have a slower swing and do not generate much power, a head-light racquet is not for you.
Stiffness
The racquet flexibility (or stiffness) is what determines how much the racquet bends upon impact with the ball. Head-light racquets will bend more which is why they will not be as powerful as the head-heavy racquets which are more stiff and therefore put more power into the ball.
Price
Tennis racquet prices vary as much as their weights and sizes. Adult starter racquets at the big box stores can be had for $50 and up. High end racquets used by the pros cost hundreds of dollars. Good racquets are available at most price ranges. Consult your local tennis professional to learn what is the best racquet in your preferred price range.
Now after all of that, what is the best type for you? If you are a beginner you are probably best off with a lighter racket with an oversized face. This is going to be more forgiving then buying something you see the pros playing with. As you improve your game and become a better player you will then likely move into a mid-range racket that is a little heavier with a smaller head size. With all the choices out there for racquets this is really just a guide as to what is best for the majority of people. There are obviously exceptions to these rules and it is always best to try and demo different racquets from your local pro shop before making the purchase. This is truly the best way for you to feel the difference in weight, balance and stiffness.
