About
Fix Your Tennis - Randy Lynn Rutledge
First published on 9-09-2009. Bookmark & share
by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a previously certified USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
My name is Randy Lynn Rutledge.
I am a former United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Teaching Professional.
My name is Randy Lynn Rutledge.
I am a former United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Teaching Professional.
I retired to the Philippines in 2015. |
Place of Birth: I was born in Bakersfield, California.
I first played tennis in 1971.
I love teaching tennis.
I enjoy writing tennis articles.
University Degree
Bachelor of Arts in Child, Adolescence and Family Studies with a minor in Psychology (CSU, BAkersfield - 2005).
My Early Tennis Years
I first played tennis in 1971. I read many tennis instruction books and magazines. I gained teaching and playing experience from people I met at local parks, schools, clubs, studying professional tennis matches, and private and group lessons from by qualified tennis professionals, as listed below.
Jastro Park (Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA)
Over the years, I have spent countless hours working on my tennis game on the Jastro Park hitting wall; That wall is responsible for my tennis reflexes. During my twenties, I recall jogging around the park until the regular tennis players would show up to play. Ron Harp was one of those regulars; Ron referred me to work at the Golden Bear Oil Refinery. I worked there for 22 years.
At Jastro Park, I have met and played tennis with so many people. It was always just convenient to purchase tennis balls at the nearby Bakersfield Racquet Club. [ I would eventually spend more time there. I started out with lessons and became a member (for a brief time) a little later in my life. ]
At Jastro Park, I have met and played tennis with so many people. It was always just convenient to purchase tennis balls at the nearby Bakersfield Racquet Club. [ I would eventually spend more time there. I started out with lessons and became a member (for a brief time) a little later in my life. ]
Linda Crawford
I have received private tennis instruction from Linda Crawford, the Bakersfield College women's coach at the time; Linda Crawford had been a student of Hank Pfister Sr., while he was the Bakersfield College women's tennis team coach. Linda Crawford became the next BC Women's tennis coach. I remember Linda Crawford as being a very pleasant tennis teaching professional.
Alan Hodges
I received tennis instruction from Alan Hodges. Atthe time he was Assistant Manager of the Bakersfield Racquet Club. Alan Hodges sponsored my United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) certification. Lessons with Allan were enjoyable. After my lessons, I always looked forward to ordering a cool drink and snack in the Bakersfield Racquet Club restaurant. For years, I bought all of my tennis supplies (balls, strings, racquets, etc.) from the Bakersfield Racquet Club pro shop. Allan's wife, Billie, ran the pro shop.
Art Sherwyn
I have received private tennis instruction from Art Sherwyn. He used to go to another state to teach tennis summer camp. I learned my topspin serve and tennis footwork from Art. I remember Art as being a school teacher and an artist. He was a very good tennis teacher and player.
Laurel Glenn Tennis Club
I enjoyed my years of tennis membership at the Laurel Glenn Tennis Club. Laurel Glenn was another place where I used to play all day long, literally, on my days off. When I lived in East Bakersfield, near the rolling foothills, I would run an average of ten miles per day. Before my days at Laurel Glenn, in 1977, I ran the Bakersfield Marathon. By that time, I was teaching tennis to friends and their friends.
I married in 1991 and dropped my Laurel Glenn tennis membership.
I married in 1991 and dropped my Laurel Glenn tennis membership.
Harry Hopman's Tennis Academy
I trained at Harry Hopman's Tennis Academy at the Bardmoor in Largo, Florida, in 1985. Harry Hopman was the great coach behind Australian tennis players Ken Rosewall, Tony Roche, and others.
I recall Mr. Hopman, at 79 years of age, arriving by golf cart to the clay court where I was being trained. Mr. Hopman passed away in December of 1985.
I recall Mr. Hopman, at 79 years of age, arriving by golf cart to the clay court where I was being trained. Mr. Hopman passed away in December of 1985.
Bill Tym & George Basco
I gained certification with the United States Professional Tennis Association as a teaching professional in the mid 1980s. USPTA Master Professional Bill Tym, along with George Basco, put on a very intensive one week, USPTA sponsored, Tennis Teacher Academy, in Denver, Colorado.
I was USPTA trained, tested, and certified. Although I did not renew my certification in December of 1991, I have retained the USPTA knowledge.
I was USPTA trained, tested, and certified. Although I did not renew my certification in December of 1991, I have retained the USPTA knowledge.
Jack Lynch - A Great Tennis Gentleman
I was very honored to have shared the tennis court with a great tennis player named Jack Lynch. Jack lived right next door to the Bakersfield Racquet Club.
Jack had been a National Tennis Champion, twice.
My first meeting with Jack was while playing in a tennis tournament at the Rio Bravo tennis Club (Bakersfield, CA). I would like to say that I beat Jack in that tournament, but that would be untrue.
I won the match; however, at the time, Jack was 72 years old. Age defeated Mr. Lynch in that tournament.
After our initial meeting, I was honored to have been one of Jack's regular playing partners. When Jack drove across town to be my guest at the Laurel Glenn Tennis Club, the receptionist would not take Jack's money. Mr. Lynch was, and still is, highly respected in the Bakersfield tennis community.
I wrote a poem, which was published in the newsletters of two different tennis clubs - Laurel Glenn Tennis Club and Bakersfield Racquet Club - about Jack Lynch. I asked Jack if he had read the poem. He said that he had read it. His next words were, "I have never been so honored." Jack knew how to treat people.
Jack Lynch taught me as much about tennis as anyone else ever has, but Jack never uttered a word to me about how to play tennis. Bakersfield's Jack Lynch was a gentleman and a great role model for all tennis players.
Jack had been a National Tennis Champion, twice.
My first meeting with Jack was while playing in a tennis tournament at the Rio Bravo tennis Club (Bakersfield, CA). I would like to say that I beat Jack in that tournament, but that would be untrue.
I won the match; however, at the time, Jack was 72 years old. Age defeated Mr. Lynch in that tournament.
After our initial meeting, I was honored to have been one of Jack's regular playing partners. When Jack drove across town to be my guest at the Laurel Glenn Tennis Club, the receptionist would not take Jack's money. Mr. Lynch was, and still is, highly respected in the Bakersfield tennis community.
I wrote a poem, which was published in the newsletters of two different tennis clubs - Laurel Glenn Tennis Club and Bakersfield Racquet Club - about Jack Lynch. I asked Jack if he had read the poem. He said that he had read it. His next words were, "I have never been so honored." Jack knew how to treat people.
Jack Lynch taught me as much about tennis as anyone else ever has, but Jack never uttered a word to me about how to play tennis. Bakersfield's Jack Lynch was a gentleman and a great role model for all tennis players.
My Tennis Teaching Statement
Teaching tennis is both a passion and a joy. I have a passion for teaching tennis to students who envision some degree of personal greatness. My joy comes from the process of spending constructive time with a tennis student when we share a common goal of progressive achievement.
Tennis teaching and learning situations require that a teaching professional possess a keen sense of awareness concerning when and how to combine and deliver spoken words, be precise in tennis action modeling, and understand how students must combine feel with movement in each progression of every tennis skill to be learned.
About My Tennis Lessons
I enjoy teaching tennis to students who are willing to do the mental and physical work necessary to turn a desire to be accepted as a member of a high school tennis team into a reality.
Students will learn to analyze tennis strengths and weaknesses, to identify and correct tennis errors, to teach other students, and to use appropriate effort during lessons and drills.
My students are expected to be respectful, to honor all established rules of the court, and to interact cooperatively in private and group learning situations.
My students are expected to be respectful, to honor all established rules of the court, and to interact cooperatively in private and group learning situations.
Tennis Skills are Taught Progressively
Targets are used to identify stroke errors to the left or right (footwork and shoulder turn) and long or short (racquet bevel and speed). While learning new strokes or improving old ones, students are encouraged to risk making or to actually make opposite mistakes (corrections or over-corrections) for each error. Each stroke which does not hit the target area is treated as a mistake.
Students learn to apply functional variations to the execution of their tennis skills according to the needs of the present moment. Students gain an in-depth understanding of preparation (footwork and shoulder turn), execution (string-to-ball presentation), and recovery (preparing for the most likely response) for a wide variety of tennis strokes and hits. Students should expect to experience an increased ability to selectively control visual focus which will enable them to pay better attention to the important details of the moment during play and practice.
Students gain valuable teaching and playing skills by participating in station-to-station rotations as critical viewers of tennis skill execution, as executors of tennis skills, as ball feeders, and as tennis ball recovery persons.
Students learn to apply functional variations to the execution of their tennis skills according to the needs of the present moment. Students gain an in-depth understanding of preparation (footwork and shoulder turn), execution (string-to-ball presentation), and recovery (preparing for the most likely response) for a wide variety of tennis strokes and hits. Students should expect to experience an increased ability to selectively control visual focus which will enable them to pay better attention to the important details of the moment during play and practice.
Students gain valuable teaching and playing skills by participating in station-to-station rotations as critical viewers of tennis skill execution, as executors of tennis skills, as ball feeders, and as tennis ball recovery persons.
Parents:
My students must make every effort to rapidly absorb all tennis information (mental, physical, etc.) being offered, if they intend to continue as my students. Expect your child to enhance his or her listening skills.
Improper sleep and inadequate nutrition will contribute to irritability, intolerance, and a decline in the ability to pay good attention. Your well rested and nourished student will contribute to a more peaceful learning environment for all.
Improper sleep and inadequate nutrition will contribute to irritability, intolerance, and a decline in the ability to pay good attention. Your well rested and nourished student will contribute to a more peaceful learning environment for all.
Students:
I enjoy teaching students who are truly interested in learning to play tennis skillfully. You will be expected to pay close attention during all instruction and on-court activities. Be prepared to help in the process of improving your listening skills.