Dallas Professional Tennis Association

The 2023 USTA Junior Schedule is out! The DPTA is hosting 22 Junior tournaments next year. From Level 5 to Level 7 and 10 & under green and orange ball! For a list of all our tournaments and direct links to sign up visit our website.

Sanctioned Level Tournaments The Champ-Super Challenger tournament schedule for the current competition year appears below. DPTA updates this list as tournaments are added or deleted by USTA throughout the year, so be sure to...

We’re fortunate to have a very special guest this evening.
Yes, we get to go three sets with the great author, tour player, brilliant scientist, and remarkable coach, John Williams!
Join us TONIGHT
on facebook, then twitch, YouTube, spotify, apple podcasts, etc.

https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/531433527642837468

Oak Highlands Brewery - Pickleball Tournament Tickets, Sunday, March 28 2021 | Prekindle Oak Highlands Brewery presents Oak Highlands Brewery - Pickleball Tournament on Sunday, March 28 2021 at 12:30pm, Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas, TX

Dennis Van der Meer

Applicable comments for Dennis Van der Meer being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame:

* Of course........
* Much deserved.............
* There will never be another.............
* One in a million.............................
* A little bit late, but we will take it...........
* Leading educator.........
* Original pioneer................
* Tennis teaching genius........
* Truly made a world of difference........
* His contributions should never be forgotten..............

Like literally thousands of tennis-teaching professionals, I was fortunate to be trained by Dennis Van der Meer. I first met Dennis in the late '70s and organized a number of clinics for him throughout the '80s. I also hosted or attended his Tennis University program ten times and completed several projects for him as a ghostwriter.

I have been a member of the Professional Tennis Registry since 1979 and served as a tester. For several years, the program I ran had the record for testing and certifying the most members. Fifty-five in one year was our highest number.

Ironically, just before being told the great news, I had told a story about Dennis. In doing so, I showed a small group one of Dennis Van der Meer's tricks. He was absolutely amazing with group dynamics, corrective measures, and anything and everything in tennis that demanded humor and creativity.

Congrats to his wife, Pat, and the entire PTR family.

If there were a Mount Rushmore for tennis teachers, Dennis would easily be chosen for one of the four spots.

Steve Smith
GreatBase
TENNIS

Happy Thanksgiving and be on the lookout for Pickleball with us in 2021!! Matt Laz

Craig Bell and AJ Chabria have an amazing stream with At the Net Podcast,
But give a listen to another :

GreatBase

In 1981, I was given an opportunity to revise a general recreation curriculum into a comprehensive tennis curriculum. The degree plan was for students seeking occupational competency as tennis teaching pro-managers. I was twenty-six years old. Prior to starting, I had been trained to teach tennis by Dennis Van der Meer, Welby Van Horn and Vic Braden.

Basic fundamentals need to be respected and honored for the overall welfare and growth of tennis. In our first podcast, Andy Fitzell and I talk about the start of the GreatBase, it really began in '81 when I began interfacing methods.

We have and continue to be influenced by other tennis educators. Yet we find that we cannot replace the work of our mentors, only add to it.

Please send any suggestions for podcasts to [email protected]. So far, we have categorized some of our followers's input under these sections:

* From our alumni
* Network news
* From the trenches
* I'd like to be a guest
* I'd like to recommend a guest
* Tell us what you really think
* Ways to improve American tennis
* Ways to beat the big three
* The alphabet soup (USTA, ITF, UTR & Etc.)
* If this pro or that pro went back to the drawing board, what would you have them change and why.
* When to put your racquets in your bag and run away as fast as possible.
* Money grubbing and other BS

Later this week, we will launch podcast #1. Your support as a listener or contributor will help us help tennis. Thank you.

Steve Smith & Andy Fitzell
GreatBase
TENNIS

https://youtu.be/ZD7gcYxGbEw

Episode 1 - Pete Mandeau First episode of the podcast featuring former coach at Harvard Men's Tennis Pete Mandeau.