The Tennis page has received a significant upgrade to the scheduling tool that will allow our members to see schedules specific to your club for drills, clinics, mixers and all adult and junior tennis programs.  This is an exciting step for both the Tennis department and you, the member, as Life Time Fitness Tennis continues to strive towards bringing our players the best on-line tools that allow you to put your tennis skills to work!

As you can see in the image above, the "Online Scheduling" box located in the left column of the page is where this new upgrade has been applied.  If you click on the dark green "Tennis Schedules by Club" button, you will be taken to this screen:

There are two options; one where you can view and print the entire Tennis Catalog of services offered at your club, and the other where you can view and register for Clinics, Drills, Mixers and Tennis 101/201/301.  By default, if you are logged in to your myLT account, "Find a Class" will bring up the class names, types, and times for the club location you have selected as your preferred club - but you can look through other clubs simply by using the "State" and "Club" dropdown menus on the left-hand side.  Once you have the club you want to see schedules for, you can break down the names, types, instructors, dates, and times of all the tennis classes that club offers using the dropdown and search boxes at the top of the scheduler.

On the right-hand side are two buttons - under the "Action" header - of a shopping cart and a calendar (we'll get to this one in a moment).  By clicking the shopping cart, you will be taken to this screen:

Here is where you will see details about the class you have selected, as well as how much the class costs, when the class is offered, and an email confirmation section that will send you notification of your registration for the class.

Returning to the calendar button from the previous screen: when you click it, you will have the ability to download an iCalendar event to your personal calendar program (Outlook, Google, etc.) reminding you of when the class you are interested in is available.

Lastly, let's return to the scheduling screen, where you will see a tab labeled "Print Club Schedule":

Clicking this tab will allow you to print an up-to-the-minute PDF schedule of all available tennis programs at whichever club you choose.  This real-time document gives everyone the chance to see exactly what types of classes are offered at the club and at what times they will get under way.

We're very excited about this upgrade, as we hope you are too.  So check out the new Tennis scheduler now - on the left hand side of the tennis home page - and get your tennis game going today!

With all of the new features available in the myLT web-site and specifically, options in tennis that let you; view club specific tennis schedules, reserve courts, register for leagues and tournaments, track your match results and ratings and even find other players with similar skill levels and schedules. I wanted to put together this FAQ to share answers to the most commonly asked questions I receive.  If you have more specific questions or if I can help you in any way, please feel free to contact me via email at lmccleary@lifetimefitness.com or by phone at (952) 229-7877.  Thank you for your patience as we work on improving the experience.

Layne McCleary
Tennis Leagues & Program Manager
Life Time Fitness

Q:  How Do I Find the Schedule of Available Classes / Programs For My Club?

A:  All Schedule Info For Your Club Can Currently Be Found in the "Tennis Schedule by Club" widget

(1) Login to your myLT account and navigate to the Tennis page

(2) look for the "Tennis, schedules by club" button (see image below)

(3) This will default to your home club if you are logged in.  Make your selections on the left hand side.

Q:  How Do I Book Court Time?

A:  To Book Court Time:

(1) login to your myLT account and navigate to the Tennis Page (under sports)

(2) look for the "Tennis, schedule your court" widget (see image below)

(3) this will default to your home club if you are logged in.  Make your selections or click "view schedule"

Q:  How Do I Register for A Flex League, Challenge Ladder or Club Tournament?

A:  To sign up for Leagues, Ladders & Tournaments

(1) once you have logged in and navigated to the Tennis page, click on the Tencap badges or select "see your Tencap profile" (see image below).

(2) if this is your first time in Tencap, it will take you through a rating wizard to determine your current tennis rating.  If you believe the rating assigned is incorrect, please contact the Tennis Director at your club or send me an email at lmccleary@lifetimefitness.com

(3) Tencap is where you will find registration options for Flex Leagues, Challenge Ladders and Club Tournaments.  You are also able to communicate with the Tennis Director, Pros and Tennis Players at your club.  There is even a great "Find A Match" program if you are looking for players of similar skill level and schedule.

Flex League registration has been extended to September 24th, with the league starting on September 28th, to give our Life Time members the best tennis experience out there!  Review the rules and regulations of the Flex Leagues by clicking here, and check out the Tencap widget in the left column of the National Tennis page to get ready for the September 28th Flex League launch.

Being involved with these convenient Flex Leagues allows you to work on your tennis game during your busy (and cold) winter schedule.  We put together a schedule that places you with a different opponent each week of the session, and then you and your opponent arrange the perfect time for your match.  The participants of every match enter the results on Tencap and at the end of each Flex League session, the session winners will be awarded great prizes - you could even be the next Srikanth Arumilli and win tickets for the 2010 US Open!  If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Tennis Director at your club for details. 

Attacking the net and unleashing a top-draw volley could tip any match in your favor.

You're serving for match point against a tough opponent.  The first serve lands in perfectly, and your opposition is off-balance from the get-go; all of your forehands clip the line, and with every shot that passes you feel your opponent wilting.  You're ready to end this rally and celebrate a hard-fought win - so you attack the net after your opponent flails an easy save shot right at you, and...

... your volley is buried right into the net.

I've lived through this type of scenario more often than not, as I'm sure many of you have as well.  Although many proclaim the volley as the simplest shot in tennis, it tends to be more of a hinder for its players, preventing them from feeling confident at the net.  So let's face this confounding shot head-on - here's how to get a handle on your volley shot:

1. The right time to approach the net: You want to attack your opponent with an "approach shot," one that is more placement than pace, to get your opponent running or off-balance before you make your move to the net.  For your approach shot, you need to recognize when your opponent has overcommitted to a side of the court - then place your shot to the opposite side.  Remember - this shot is about placement, not blasting home a winner (though if you deem a power winner to be possible, then go for it).  Position yourself to move towards the net following the approach shot.

2. When you get to the net... stay centered and focused.  Forget about how nice your approach shot was or how well you've played to this point, and be prepared for your opponent's response.  Give yourself a 5-foot cushion from the net, have your racket in front of you ready for the volley, and keep your feet about shoulder's width apart.

3. Avoid the temptation to swing: This is where most volleying errors occur.  The tendancy for any player is to attack the ball with an actual swing on the volley - but this usually ends with poor results.  A swing on your volley can lead to errant shots that travel beyond your opponents baseline, or a bad wrist angle that can lead to the situation described above (the ball in the net).  Instead, when you emply a volley, you want to block the ball.  See your opponent's shot to your racket and simply block it.  By keeping the volley simple, you will cut back on unforced errors and find yourself hitting more winners at the net.

At the end of every Flex League series, the top-50 point earners across all Life Time Fitness Flex League locations are entered into a raffle to win tickets to the US Open - and this year's winner is Srikanth Arumilli!

Srikanth is currently enjoying a summer vacation, but he graciously took some time out to talk with me about his experiences, his Flex League season, and his reaction to winning US Open tickets:

How long have you been playing tennis?
SRIKANTH: For about three years now.

What other sports do you play?
SRIKANTH: Cricket!  Summer weekend's are all about my favorite sport, cricket, and tennis takes over during the winters.  I still play a lot of tennis during the summer with USTA leagues, LTF drills, and other casual play.

My cricket team won the championship last year, having been one of the most consistent teams around, while making it to the playoffs this year too.  [We're] on track to defend the title, so we'll see how things pan out.

Aside from tennis, Srikanth is an avid cricket player.

What was your reaction to winning US Open tickets?
SRIKANTH: I honestly thought, from the subject of the email, that this could be one of those credit card offers from LTF club associates - 'enroll into this and you could win' type of deal.

So my first reaction was 'this could be a prank' with dis-belief written all over it.

As I opened and read through the e-mail from Layne [McCleary]... the explanation behind my selection convinced me to believe that it was all true.  I was glad and obviously thrilled.  I was like 'Wow, I've never been so lucky, so why dont I make the most out of it?' and replied to Layne about how I felt winning the tickets.

Is this the first tennis tournament you will attend?  Your first major?

SRIKANTH: Yes it is.  I had plans to go see either the Cinncinati Masters or the Indianapolis [Championships], but I never expeceted that my first pro-tourney would be a major!

Give us your thoughts on the US Open.

SRIKANTH: My favorite major after Wimbledon.  As the tournament itself is so big with tons of history and tradition, I'm looking forward to experiencing the whole package.  Personally, I'd love to see Roger [Federer] compete in the finals to make it even more special. 

How did you like the Flex Leagues?
SRIKANTH: For me, I like the Tencap system - it quantitatively measures your progress match after match, while ajusting your ratings depending on your results and your opponent's rating to give a good measure of your performance.  The more participation [in Tencap], the better it is for all to get an accurate rating.

Overall, I benefitted a lot playing in the Flex Leagues. After 20 matches in a session, I can say that the ratings are not an abberation and truly represent my playing capabilities.  I look forward to increased participation this fall, so that this initiative from Life Time Fitness works for everyone.  And with such a wonderful perk to play for, why not?

Anything you would like to add?

SRIKANTH: I can only thank Life Time Fitness for such a nice gesture!

--

Congratulations Srikanth for winning tickets to the US Open, and thanks for participating in our Flex Leagues!

The next session of Flex Leagues begins in September, and registration closes on September 2nd!  So get involved with Life Time's convenient Flex Leagues which cater to your schedule.  We put together a schedule that has you playing a different opponent each week of the session, and then you arrange the perfect match time that fits in with both of your schedules.  Players enter the results on Tencap and at the end of the league, session winners will be awarded great prizes - you could even be the next Srikanth Arumilli and win tickets for the 2010 US Open!  If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Tennis Director at your club or click on the image below:

Proceeds from the 2009 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic will be donated to the cancer research program at Children's Hospitals and Clinics (click here to see the main event schedule and draw).

The 2009 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic begins next weekend, and registration for the premier tennis tournament of the Upper Midwest is open!  This is the 24th edition of the PTATC, and with over $3.3 million raised over the 24 years of this event (including $200,000 last year alone), 2009 is sure to be another huge success.

The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic begins on Friday, July 24th at the White Bear Lake LTF club, when the Junior Tournament kicks off.  Boys and girls, ages 14-18, can register by clicking here ($40 per entrant).  Continuing on that Friday is the NTRP Adult Tournament, which will be hosted at the Lakeville Life Time Fitness through Sunday, July 26th (click here to register, $33 per entrant).

The main event follows two weekends later, from August 6-9, when the invitational tournament will be played at White Bear Lake.  Tickets are still available, with 4-day individual passes at $15 and 4-day Family Packs (2 adults, 2 children) at $30.  You can also sponsor a player by clicking here.  Pre-empting the invitational's final matchday, the PTATC 5K Run & Walk gets under way at 9am.

Join Life Time Fitness and the Children's Hospitals and Clincis of Minnesota for this fun-filled tennis event to promote and support the research of a cure for Cancer!

If last year's Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was the exciting, dramatic, thrilling final that many tab the greatest match of all-time, then yesterday's Federer/Roddick Wimbeldon final was it's younger sibling.

Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 in a classic match between two wizards of the serve.  Federer had a career-high 50 aces - unleashing many when he was down or in peril of losing his grip on the match - falling one shy of the Wimbledon record.  Andy Roddick was no slouch either, recording 27 aces and blasting one to the tune of 143 MPH.  Federer was clearly uncomfortable fielding Roddick's serve throughout, while Roddick found a pair of lulls in Federer's service to win break points.  Other than that, Federer's serve was unhittable, unrivaled, and utterly overpowering.

The Federer/Roddick clash set records for longest fifth set (30 games) and most games in a match (77) in Grand Slam history - and it gave Federer his 15th Grand Slam title, breaking the 14-title tie between he and Pete Sampras for all-time Grand Slam victories.  This staggering match had everything.  Neither competitior would back down in the fifth set, as Federer and Roddick held serve for 29 straight games; in the 30th, Federer cracked Roddick's service for the first time in the match to earn glory at the All-England club.  Roddick stayed in it with relentless effort and more than a handful of beautiful backhands that singed the sidelines - all of which, though he may not like to hear it now, were Federer-esque.

Roger Federer's endless stamina persevered starting in the 20th game of the epic fifth set.  Roddick began losing his forehand (mishits and shots buried in the net) and he was visibly tired from a draining contest.  By the time Roddick had pushed himself to a 14-14 tie, there was, understandably, nothing left for him to give.  Federer cleanly handled the final two games.  It was and is a deserved 15th Grand Slam for Federer.  Meanwhile, Andy Roddick will wait until August 31st, the beginning of the US Open, for his chance to forget a tough loss.

A thank you is deserved to both Roddick and Federer for giving tennis fans around the world such a fantastic final to Wimbledon.  For Federer, he no longer has to remember the pain of the 2008 classic; instead, he can exult in the joy of 15 and 2009.  Congrats Roger!

Robin Soderling had a fantastic run to the French Open final, capturing the eyes (and even some headlines) along the way.  The pinpoint control of every shot in Soderling's arsenal sent his opponents wallowing out at Roland Garros.  He was a thrill to watch; he provided an upset for the ages; and he did it all as an underdog who "never had a chance."

But none of it quite competes with a career Grand Slam.

Roger Federer ended that miracle run of Soderling's, sweeping the Swede 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4.  The match was rarely in doubt, even in the second set when Soderling forced a tiebreak.  Federer walked on the clay as a man of pure focus, clearly determined to raise the trophy for the first time in four French Open final appearances.  His serve was unparalleled - recording 16 aces on the day - while he sullied Soderling's service by breaking it four times.  It was a deserved Grand Slam for the man from Switzerland.

Winning the French earned Roger Federer two distinct titles in the hallowed history of tennis: 14 career Grand Slam titles (which ties him with Pete Sampras for most all-time) and a career Grand Slam (winning all four Grand Slams at some point in your career, which has only been done by five other men's players - none of them named "Sampras").  Roger Federer has certainly entered the pantheon of all-time greats (if not the all-time great), and will look to solely own the Grand Slam record at Wimbledon on June 22nd.