Refine Your Tennis Technique with Tennis Vacations at the Jekyll Island Tennis Center

I love tennis, but my tennis technique is nothing to brag about. When Martha and I go to Jekyll Island, however, you'll find us on the courts at the Jekyll Island Tennis Center as much as possible.

Tennis Technique on Clay -

I love to play on clay. Why? Several reasons, actually.

• For one, clay is a low-impact, forgiving surface. While tennis is a sport you can play for a life time, your aching joints will appreciate all the clay court time they can get.

• Also, as we get older our reflexes slow. Clay surfaces play slower, and we have more time to get to the ball.

  

• This comes with a price, however. Because the courts play slower, the points can last longer. So you better have a good aerobic base, and a solid tennis technique, 'cause you'll be doing plenty of running!

• Clay courts are also cooler than hard courts, and they dry faster after a rain. That's important when playing in the heat of a Jekyll Island summer, when thunderstorms are liable to crop up at any time.

• Another reason we like playing at the Jekyll Island Tennis Center is the setting. Tucked in among giant Loblolly pines, the Center gets some shade during the day. In the morning, the stadium court is cool and shaded, as are a few of the back courts in the afternoon. Tennis technique comes easier in the shade!

• Martha especially likes the variety of birds that fly by on their way to roost behind the Jekyll Island Amphitheater. On any given day, you can see herons, wood cranes, a variety of song birds - even vultures (they're probably waiting for me to keel over from heat exhaustion...).

• But our biggest reason for playing there is the staff. Pete Poole is the teaching pro, and runs the Center along with his assistant, Morgan Meacham. We've known Pete for years, and a finer man you'll never meet.

Pete was kind enough to grant me an interview and share his thoughts about his background, tennis and tennis technique in general, how they serve their players, and where the Jekyll Island Tennis Center is heading.

"The facility has received two rewards - one from USTA and another from Tennis Magazine (voted one of the 25 best municipal facilities in the country)."

Let's Play Some Tennis! -

That Spring Junior Tournament in April is now an annual event.

"It's in its 22nd year," Pete says. "We host it along with the Georgia State Open and Senior Championships in March, the Jekyll Junior Championships in June, the Adult Summer Open in July, the Junior Summer Camp Championships in August, as well as the NTRP Banana Open, a tourny flighted for all levels of players."

The Jekyll Island Tennis Center also promotes community-oriented events.

"We have a wooden racquet tournament each February," Pete says. "It's called 'Victorian Tennis'. Many players come in period dress.

"From January through March, we have Wednesday Round Robins, some of which have themes like Cupid's Court in February, and Irish Pot Luck in March. There's also tennis clinics each Tuesday morning.

"And the Jekyll Island Tennis Sign-Up Sheets, where up to 52 players put down their names for afternoon doubles Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Happy Hour at Morgan's Grill (after playing on Friday's) has become quite popular.

"We also host two Twilight Tennis mixed-doubles each month, under the lights."

All in all, a well-rounded tennis program for competitors of all levels.

Quality Players Have Passed Through Here -

The Tennis Center has hosted some famous names.

"Most recently we had (ATP Pro) Donald Young play the Summer Open," Pete explained. "He won the singles, and withdrew from the doubles after surviving some stiff competition from a few of our strongest area juniors.

"Also, the Russian Academy of Tennis brought a group of then-unknown players to play a tournament. Among them were Safin, Daveydanko, Petrova and Myskina, to mention a few."

Improve Your Tennis Technique -

Pete, along with Morgan, offers a full complement of instruction on tennis technique and strategy.

"Structure depends on the students requests. We try to be as flexible as possible. Some want to practice; others want to learn something totally new. So we listen first."

Pete and Morgan provide individual or group lessons based on ability.

According to Pete, early preparation is key to a sound game.

"We believe tennis is a first move sport, and that it's really important to use torso rotation to take the racquet back as opposed to being too "armsy".

"We also stress error management, so the student knows how to correct errors rather than just repeating them."

Want to work on your tennis technique, or grove those tennis strokes? Pete can set you up on the Center's ball machine.

"Give us a heads-up so we can put you on court 1 or 2, which has the all-important electrical outlets."

Pete's Best Tennis Tip -

Not adverse to picking the brains of the experts, I asked Pete for one tip he could give to help us hackers. Pete had a ready reply.

"Realize there are three types of errors - preparation, stroke and footwork. If you can identify the source of the error, you will be better able to correct it. In other words, don't blame all mistakes on your strokes, when improved preparation or footwork could be the answer."

The Jekyll Island Tennis Center believes in promoting and growing tennis through programs that help develop rising junior talent. Pete stresses that juniors are the future of the sport, and they work hard to develop the tennis technique of kids with promise.

"We have beginner through advanced programs on Saturdays during the school year, and camps during the summer. Two camps are followed by our USTA Junior Tournaments so they can practice with the purpose of competing.

"The Tennis Center also hosts two high school tournaments: the Jekyll Jam and the Golden Isles High School Invitational in the Spring."

They also offer league play, though leagues are small due to demographics, Pete says. "The Golden Isles Social Tennis league has quarterly events here. Game arranging is really important because we are a resort and players often arrive on Jekyll needing opponents. We're happy to help.

"Coincidentally, the locals are always looking to play with someone new, so it's a complimentary situation. Let's face it - it's the people that we do things with that make it fun and enjoyable."

Times are changing on Jekyll Island with the upcoming renovation, and the Tennis Center will be a part of that. "We're adding several stone tables," Pete says, "and a fountain on the patio behind the clubhouse where people like to hang out. We are always ready and willing to welcome new players to the tennis experience here."

Indoor Tennis on Jekyll Island? -

I closed our interview by asking Pete's opinion on the fate of the J.P. Morgan Historical Indoor Tennis Court, located in the Historic District.

"I have many fond memories of playing there, and while it was available to us, we loved to be able to count on playing rain or shine. It will play an important part in hosting Jekyll's groups while the Convention Center is being replaced, so I'm happy the building is being renovated."

I know how Pete feels. Over the years, our family has also enjoyed playing in the J.P. Morgan court. Our boys fine-tuned their tennis technique on the court's fast concrete surface.

Hopefully, after valiantly serving the cause of Jekyll Island's renovation, the old girl will be fully restored as an indoor tennis facility for Jekyll Island residents and guests to enjoy once again.

You can get daily, weekly, monthly, or annual memberships at the Jekyll Island Tennis Center for individuals or families. Pro shop hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For reservations call (912) 635-3154.

Martha and I had the privilege (or the bad luck) to play a match with Morgan (who's in his early twenties and has a 5.0 USTA rating), and a young lady who played number 3 doubles on her 5-A high school team.

We put on a good fight, but it was no contest. It was youth (speed and agility and better tennis technique) over age (touch and smarts and wily deviousness).

We weren't entirely blown away, but they beat us easily. They were gracious about it - hey, they could have really tromped us. But we'll be back, and next time - watch out, Morgan.

We've got your number...

Return from Tennis Technique Jekyll Island Tennis Center to Sports and Recreation Page