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Tennis provides exercise and fun for all ages, abilities

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By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer 2:13 PM Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Kathy Ross started taking tennis lessons in college, and — five decades later — the Springboro woman is still on the court every week.

“I enjoy just knowing that I can do it,” Ross, now 71, said. “It’s also good exercise and the friendships are wonderful.”

When Ross’ husband died in 2001, her fellow players at the Tom Harrison Tennis Center were there for her.

“My tennis mates were really terrific,” she said. “It was great support.”

Young or old, rookie or veteran — tennis provides fun, exercise and camaraderie.

Cool temperatures, wet fall days and imminent frost and flurries might keep some people from their outdoor exercise routine, but tennis players can simply serve and volley on one of the Miami Valley’s 50-plus indoor tennis courts, from Tipp City to Springboro and many points in between.

“Dayton has been a really strong tennis community since the boom in the 1970s,” said Darrin Heinz, manager of Quail Run Racquet Club in Sugarcreek Twp. “And tennis is a lifelong sport. Even the 90-year-olds who come out can still be competitive because everyone can find someone at their own level.”

ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES

If you are big enough to swing a racket, then you are probably old enough to try tennis.

At Kettering Tennis Center and Quail, the Tiny Tigers program is geared for players who are just 4 and 5 years old. The Tom Harrison Tennis Center, which is predominantly a lesson facility for youth players, has as many as 140 young players on the court every week. And the Schroeder Tennis Center is one of several area centers that offers the USTA QuickStart teaching programs for players as young as 4.

There are a variety of programs and leagues for young players through high school, but it doesn’t end there because some people don’t start playing tennis until they are adults.

Discount sites like LivingSocial and Groupon have brought between 50 to 100 new players into KTC and Quail in recent months.

“A lot of them had not played tennis before, some hadn’t played since high school,” Heinz said. “But once people have kids in school, they find that they have time to do something for themselves and tennis is a great activity.”

And it’s an activity they can do for decades to come. Just ask Jane Woodford. She started taking lessons at Wright State University 40 years ago and is still an avid player today at 62.

“It’s a sport you don’t ever have to give up,” Woodford said. “The camaraderie makes it fun and the competitiveness really keeps you sharp.”

Woodford, of Springboro, plays doubles weekly with three other women who range in age from 50-65.

GETTING STARTED

Lessons can be a good starting point for beginners and are available at local tennis centers and through some community recreation centers for groups or individuals. Beginners can also find their comfort zone by signing up for clinics or classes.

The United States Tennis Association website (www.usta.com) has a variety of resources for beginners including an online version of their Introduction to Tennis for Adults publication.

Players can also find local park and club programs, tennis courts and even create a profile to help them find potential tennis partners in their neighborhood on the USTA site.

“One of the great things about tennis is that it is an individual sport; you don’t need to get a whole team together,” Tom Harrison said. “An individual can go out and pick up a game very easily and, as they get older, they can focus more on doubles if they want to reduce the amount of court they need to cover.”

If you select a club for lessons, then the staff pros can likely also match you up with players of a comparable skill level.

“We have some people who have been playing with the same doubles partner for 25 years,” Heinz said. “The camaraderie is incredible.”

And the calories burned aren’t bad either. The Mayo Clinic reports that an hour of singles tennis can burn anywhere from 584 to 872 calories based on body weight.

“It’s great exercise, but the best part is that it’s really fun,” Woodford said.

Miami Valley indoor tennis facilities

Dayton Center Courts and Tennis Academy

Address: 4801 Salem Ave., Dayton

Phone: (937) 276-3978

Facilities/services: indoor courts (10); outdoor clay courts (4); corporate tennis league; lessons; clinics.

Website: www.dccta.com

Five Seasons Family Sports Club

Address: 4242 Clyo Road, Bellbrook

Phone: (937) 719-4172

Facilities/services: indoor courts (8); outdoor courts (8); lessons; clinics; junior program; childcare center; personal training; pools, restaurant.

Kettering Tennis Center

Address: 4565 Gateway Circle, Kettering

Phone: (937) 434-6602

Facilities/services: indoor courts (8); outdoor clay courts (10); racquetball courts (2); outdoor pool; fitness weight room; sauna; locker rooms; childcare.

Website: www.ktcquail.com

Quail Run Racquet Club

Address: 4225 Brown Road, Sugarcreek Twp.

Phone: (937) 434-4082

Facilities/services: indoor air-conditioned courts (8); outdoor Plexipave courts (4); fitness weight room; sauna; locker rooms; childcare; pro shop.

Website: www.ktcquail.com

Schroeder Tennis Center

Address: 1459 Harmony Drive, Tipp City

Phone: (937) 669-5552

Facilities/services: indoor courts (7); outdoor courts (6); clinics; leagues; lessons; tennis birthday parties.

Website: www.schroedertennis.com

South Regency Tennis and Fitness Center