Tennis Clinics Serve Up a Wide Variety of Skills

Is your backhand a little weak, your lob a bit wobbly or your serve missing the mark? Maybe it’s time to go back to college--tennis college--and sharpen your technique.

The Vic Braden Tennis College at Coto de Caza has a reputation as the technical leader in bio-mechanical research in the field of tennis. Some professional players, such as Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors, visit the Coto Research Center to have every aspect of their game reviewed and analyzed.

“We get mostly beginning and intermediate players who are trying to make a breakthrough,” says Vic Braden, owner and founder of the facility, which opened in 1974.

“Our bread and butter is taking the data that we learn from the elite athletes and putting that into effect for the masses,” Braden says.

Concentrated two-, three- and five-day programs offer players six hours of court time per day, a maximum ratio of six players to every instructor, training films, lectures and a videotape analysis of their performance.

The two-day program, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, costs $200. The three-day program, which runs Monday through Wednesday, is $300. The five-day program runs Monday through Friday for $500.

Participants are grouped according to skill level for the daily sessions, which begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. each day. Phone two weeks in advance for reservations. Vic Braden Tennis College, 23335 Avenida la Caza, Coto de Caza. 800-CALL-VIC.

In addition to the standard private and group tennis lessons available through most tennis clubs, four Orange County tennis facilities provide clinics, matches and challenges for the public.

Battle it out for one hour against Alex Polland, manager and tennis pro at Disneyland’s Tennisland in Anaheim. The $40 hourly teaching rate is reimbursed when you “Beat the Pro” at his own game. 1330 S. Walnut Ave., Anaheim. (714) 535-4851.

The men’s singles “Shoot-out” takes place every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Anaheim Tennis Center in Anaheim. This event is open to non-members at a cost of $8.

On Sundays, non-members can participate in mixed doubles tournaments from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for $7 per person. Players will be matched with a partner of comparable skill level. Group and private lessons, rental court time and an extensive summer program from juniors are all available to non-members at the Anaheim Tennis Center. 975 S. State College Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 991-9090.

Work on your singles and doubles game strategy, footwork, stroke technique and serve at the Sunrise Clinics held at Sunny Hills Racquet Club in Fullerton.

The one-hour men’s clinic begins at 7:30 a.m. and the one-hour women’s clinic starts at 8:30 most Saturday mornings. On Sunday, from 9 to 10 a.m., a clinic for both men and women is conducted. The cost is $6 per person for non-members. Call on Friday evening to confirm and reserve a position. 1900 Camino Loma, Fullerton. (714) 992-1300.

Court time is easy to reserve at the Newport Beach Marriott Tennis Club. Non-members can reserve court time for $20 an hour, sign up for private lessons or take advantage of the partner-matching service.

During the summer, junior clinics for children ages 7 to 12 take place Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at a cost of $260 for a two-week session.