Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I place an order directly on your site?
Because I have been a user of Square for a while now, it was simpler for me to set up my ecommerce through their services. Please note that not all items listed on the site will be available for purchase online. To place an order online, go to mkt.com/TheTennisTailor. FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100.00 (before applicable taxes and fees). Enter promo code SHIP100.
Can I place a custom order online?
If you would like to place a customer order online, please contact me, and I will set it up for you. Items ordered online that do not need to be serviced, such as bags, can be drop shipped directly to you for your convenience.
What forms of payment do you accept?
All forms of payment are accepted. Credit and debit card purchases will be subject to a 3.5% processing fee. As applicable, this is in addition to sales tax.
Do you give lessons to kids?
I give tennis lessons to children as young as the age of 4. There are now 4 levels of tennis balls and 3 different sizes of tennis courts. I have the equipment to give lessons to all age ranges. Please contact me if you would like more information.
Why are your locations so scattered?
I am possibly the only independent tennis professional in the area, meaning I am not associated with a club or facility like other professionals. My pro shop is my personal residence. Therefore, I teach at multiple locations within a reasonable radius of my home.
Do you offer financing?
At this time, financing options are not avaiable.
Why am I on the waiting list, and how long will I be on it?
Even though I run this business with full dedication, I also have a day job. Therefore, the number of hours I can dedicate to teaching lessons is limited. During the summer, camps take up my weekdays, but weekday evenings will open up during the school year. The waiting list is established on a first-come, first-placed basis. You will be notified as soon as a time slot you requested becomes available.
How long in advance do I have to cancel a lesson?
Lessons must be cancelled no less than 24 hours from their scheduled start time. Less time than that does not allow me sufficient time to contact those who may be waiting for a lesson. For private lessons, cancellations within 24 hours will result in a charge of 50% of the lesson fee (i.e. if you sheduled 2 hours, you will be billed for 1). No call, no shows are subject to a 100% charge. For all other lessons, cancellations within 24 hours will result in a 100% charge of the lesson fee.
Exceptions will always be made for emergencies. However, poor scheduling and forgetfulness do NOT constitute emergencies. Contact me if you would like a full copy of my Inclement Weather and Lesson Cancellation Policy.
My son/daughter is interested in stringing racquets. Do you teach that too?
This is how I got started stringing racquets. I expressed an interest to my high school coach, and he got me started. For whatever reason, I fell in love with doing it, and the rest is history.
The answer is yes, I do give stringing lessons. However, they do come at a cost, but they are not as expensive as my tennis lessons. If he/she expresses continued interest, that interest will not go unrewarded.
What are your qualifications?
I have been playing tennis for 9 years, and 4 years of that was at the college level.
Also, I have almost five years of teaching experience, which includes time spent teaching under Diane Selke, the USPTA Vice President.
My stringing experience is the same as my playing as I started both at roughly the same time, and I was the semi-official stringer of my college team. I have been a certified Master Racquet Technician for over 2 years.
I plan to get professionally certified for teaching this June as my schedule and testing windows do not line up before then. This certification will be PTR's Performance category, which focuses on creating high-performance atmospheres for young athletes who want to realize all of their potential.
What does knowing how to string racquets have to do with teaching lessons?
My knowledge of strings and racquets goes well beyond just stringing, and it gives me an additional level of understanding when looking beyond the player to the relationship between player and racquet. After all, you can't play tennis without a racquet.
Why do people get tennis lessons? Or lessons of any kind for that matter? They want to get better, improve, find success. All too often, people play with just any racquet, not knowing much better alternatives await them. Having a "bad," racquet or "bad," strings is an inhibiting factor to your success, to the end goal you wish to achieve by getting lessons. No one is immune to this. If you gave me a light racquet and put some soft strings in it, not only would I break the strings in an hour, but I would not play nearly as well as I do with my own racquet and strings!
In order to achieve success, you have to be equipped for success. This knowledge allows me to both equip you for and help you to achieve that success.