TENNIS

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Hancock who is the brand-new tennis director of Topspin Racquet and Swim Club.

As a Lexington resident, I have had the pleasure of taking a couple of tennis lessons. I will say that Topspin is great spot in the local community for tennis enthusiast of all ages.

Hancock grew up in Martinsville, Va. where there were very few tennis players. He eventually started playing tennis when a group of three brothers who happened to be his closest neighbors asked if he would be there fourth player for doubles.

Hancock hesitated to play, but only agreed if they did not tell anyone. The normal sports growing up were football, baseball, and basketball. Eventually, this led Hancock to start playing tennis, which he has now played for 38 years.

Hancock started coaching tennis while he was still a student in high school coaching 10 players even though there were only two courts. His tennis coach would drive by the tennis courts and throw the balls out and say “Hancock, I will be back in a couple of hours”, which meant Hancock had to take over practice.

This paid off as the tennis team won the state title in 1986.

Now, as the newest tennis director for Topspin, one of the reasons Hancock suggest for coming to Topspin for lessons is that it is first and foremost about tennis with instructors who have specialties all across the board.

Beginners will learn the latest techniques for fundamentals. The top junior players come for the experienced instructors who themselves were once the best junior players that went on to have extremely successful careers at the NCAA level.

For adults, it’s usually an introduction to the sport or to simply learn how to improve at the level they play and higher. Unlike most tennis clubs, Topspin takes excellent pride in the adult leagues as well as junior leagues.

In addition, Topspin has received adult players from New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and naturally all over South Carolina for league instruction. Mr. Hancock always focuses on three specific questions for anyone looking to sharpen their skills whether for tournaments or simply looking to start:

1. “What is your athletic background?”

2. “Any injuries I need to know about?”

3. “What are you looking for by being here?”, which is the most important question that he asks. One of the pleasure of being a tennis coach has meant that he has gotten to learn and work with Hall of Fame coaches and they were the type of coaches that were so good he was afraid to speak as he felt that he might miss some genius advice.

More next week.