OCCUPATION: PROFESSIONAL TENNIS INSTRUCTOR

Name: Judy Louie

Company: Lindborg Racquet Club, Huntington Beach

Job description: Tennis professionals give private and group lessons to people of all ages and abilities. They run local and national tournaments, demonstrate name-brand tennis equipment and may represent their tennis club in international tournaments.

Thumbs up: “It’s a challenge teaching students of varying playing levels. I enjoy coaching during matches because it involves the whole picture . . . not just grooving a single tennis stroke.”

Thumbs down: “If you love tennis, there’s not much to dislike about this job. If it rains, you don’t work. Unfortunately, all those hours on the tennis court take a large physical and mental toll.”

Advice: “The best instructors have a basic love of the game. It feels good when I see student improvement because of lessons. The best instructors are always improving their own game and learning new teaching methods.”

Salary range: Paid by commission. An average full-time instructor can earn $15,000 to $45,000.

Hours: Mornings and evenings; instructors create their own schedule.

Educational and training requirements: Extensive experience and certification in match play, lessons and rules of the game. The United States Professional Tennis Assn. provides education, teaching standards and instructor certification.

Expected demand: The tennis business seems to follow the economy. As the economy picks up, so does the demand for tennis lessons. As long as tennis tournaments are on television, people will want to play.

Major employers: Tennis clubs, resorts, city- or county-run recreational facilities and some fitness centers.

For more information: Southern California division of the United States Professional Tennis Assn. in Fountain Valley at (714) 546-8560, Ext. 222.