Tennis in No Time (TNT) is soon making its annual arrival at the club and if you’re a new member, you might wonder what all the buzz is about. How can you learn tennis in “no time?” It seems like such a complicated game, it should take you months to learn, right? Nope. You’ll be playing tennis (real tennis) in just three weeks.
TNT is a patented program Midtown has developed to turn beginners into players in just three weeks or six lessons. No other tennis club in the area has a program quite like it. Beginner student are taught together using graduated progressions designed to promote success.
You meet twice a week for an hour and a half, and the last half hour is spent off the court going over what you learned on the court. That way, you get ample time to ask questions and go over your moves without feeling like you are interrupting the lesson and everyone’s tennis groove. We also provide you with snacks and beverages to refuel you after your lesson. Tennis and snacks? It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
Even working at Midtown, a huge tennis club, I was always scared to even walk onto the tennis courts. It’s sort of like golf, which I do play. There are certain rules and courtesies you need to know (such as you never walk behind someone that is getting ready to swing.) So a few years back, I decided to seize the opportunity to learn the game and feel more comfortable talking about it.
As an associate, I can hop into the class as long as it’s not full (because of course, our members do come first!). I ended up jumping into different classes each week so I had the pleasure of working with Kathy, Bill, Jackie, and Charlie (who sadly doesn’t work at Midtown anymore). It was such an amazing experience and there was so much to learn. Boy, was it fun! And hard. Yep, definitely more challenging than I had ever thought.
Now that I’m a “tennis player” (I’m not currently practicing right now, but I am still a player), I feel more comfortable talking about tennis and the benefits of the game. It’s a life-long sport. We can only play soccer or baseball or football for so long but we can play tennis way into our golden years.
So if you’re looking for something new to add to your workout regimen, an active game to play with family and friends, or an avenue to meet new people, Tennis in No Time is the program. And at only $65 for members, $115 for non-members, it’s a truly affordable way to bring something new and exciting into your life. Here’s an added bonus: if you’re a member and you refer a non-member friend, you’ll receive a $50 gift card to use towards group programming.
So get going. Classes start May 5, and you can find registration information, including class schedules, here. What are you waiting for?
Head Pro Kathy Neil has been at our club for decades, first as a player in our juniors program, and then later as the Head Pro, the position she still holds today. I sat down with Kathy to talk about her career, and what has kept her a part of the Midtown family for so many years.
When and how did you start playing tennis?
I started in sports as a swimmer and when I was about 10 years old, I followed one of my friends to a tennis court. I picked up a racquet and started playing. I wasn’t that good right away so I took lessons. At the age of 12 I started playing in tournaments. I probably didn’t get very good until I was 16.
Did tennis come naturally to you?
Yes. I kept swimming until I was 12, then I gave that up and continued with tennis, while also playing softball. I was an athletic kid.
Where did you play tennis?
I grew up in River Forest so I started playing at Oak Park Country Club. I played singles in high school, at Oak Park River Forest, and during that time I was taking lessons at our club (which was called Willowbrook Athletic Club, at the time). I was here as a junior, and my instructors were Bill Thomas, Tom Dunlap, and Milt Newman. And then I went off to college, and played singles and doubles at the University of Illinois. I studied Program Management and Leisure Services, the management side of the fitness industry.
What did you do after college?
I went to Hilton Head Island for two years and worked there for a recreation company. Then I came back and started my career here. In 1990 I began working as the Head Pro and did that for seven years, and then I went to Kansas City and worked at Bally Racquet Club as a Club Manager for a year. I didn’t like it so they brought me back to Chicago and I went to Four Lakes Athletic Club where I was the Adult Director. After they closed Four Lakes, I came back here and Jeff Newman was the Head Pro and I was his assistant. When he left, I became the Head Pro again. And I’m still the Head Pro today.
Do you still play tennis and what else do you do in your leisure time?
I don’t play much anymore. I enjoy teaching and would rather do other things outside now. I enjoy bike-riding, gardening, vacationing, and going to the kids’ activities.
You’ve been at Midtown for a long time. What do you like about being here?
It’s kind of my home away from home. I grew up here. I’ve been here since I was 16 years old. I feel comfortable here. I also like to use the fitness side of the Club. I use the machines, I enjoy personal training, Pilates, and TRX; I get massages. I’ve tried everything. Midtown is great because it’s not a tennis club. I never wanted to work at a “tennis club.” I wanted a multi-facility. It gives our members more variety. At a “tennis club” you get the competitive tennis players, the high-level players. I enjoy teaching and I can do more of that here.
Also, there are members here that played junior tennis with me that are still here. And the staff stays.
What is your favorite student level to teach?
A student who wants to improve. Anyone who has the desire.
How about your favorite move?
Volleys. Most women are afraid of the net, so they don’t like to go to the net. So I make everyone go to the net. You can win the point faster from up there.
Thanks, Kathy!
Do you have a question for our head pro, Kathy Neil? Post your question as a comment to this post, and she’ll answer it.
Fall is here again, and many of us take our workouts back indoors and into Midtown.
While some consider this a negative, it can actually be pretty awesome. With all of the variety in the club, it’s hard to choose what to do next! Of course, there are lots of machines and great classes held daily, but there are also some hidden treasures you may not know about, and ways to make fitness fun without dreaming about next summer.
Give these routine-busters a try:
Cardio Tennis
What is Cardio Tennis? It’s a fun, group activity featuring drills to give players of all abilities an ultimate, high-energy workout. It includes a warm-up, cardio segment, and a cool-down phase. If you want to find a great new way to get in shape and burn calories, give it a try.
Even if you’re not the best tennis player and find yourself unable to reach ANY ball (which is pretty much how I feel when I play), with Cardio Tennis, you’ll experience short cycles of a high-intensity workout and periods of rest, almost like interval training.
You’ll consistently elevate your heart rates into your aerobic training zone and burn more calories than just playing singles or doubles tennis. When you are playing tennis you are focusing on, well, winning at tennis, but Cardio Tennis focuses primarily on getting a great workout.
Group Training
Group training is a great way to personal train without a huge cost. When you split the 
trainer with three or more people, it can cost as little as $25 for a 25-minute session. Personal training in a group can add many elements to your workout.
First, a trainer can push you harder than you would push yourself; and we all know we can be pushed just a LITTLE bit harder! You may also push yourself harder to compete with the other group members.
There is also more accountability when you group train. If you know someone’s waiting for you (the trainer and your group) and you know you’ve paid for the class, you WILL show up! You may also learn a few new exercises you can do on the days you’re not with your trainer.
At Midtown there are many options available for group training; TRX, Kinesis, Kettlebells, Pilates, or even traditional group training that may mix in a few of the ab combine a few of these. Monthly sessions are in full swing, so join one today to shake up your weekly routine.
Laps and Drills
Another way to shake up your routine is our Laps and Drills class. This is not your ordinary aquatics class.
This class uses the strokes you learned in high school swim class to really get your heart racing. It’s a one-hour class filled with form instruction and mini-competitions to increase your endurance. If you regularly run or cycle and think you have great lung capacity and endurance, try the Laps and Drills class. You might be surprised. It’s a completely different way to train your heart and lungs and will only help you run faster or bike smoother.
So, how will you shake it up next week?
