About
Howdy everyone, the name's indeed Adam Snow. My tennis background began early with my Dad, then Pro Brendan Sheehan at Westover Club in NW Austin. 2004-2008 I played Varsity for L.C Anderson High School. I actually began teaching my physics teacher during high school and then teaching kids onward. My methodology is simple: reward with praise, coach through frustration, & reinforce fundamentals Tennis can be frustrating, but it's actually fairly simple, there's just a few key factors you have to drill into one's mind to make it habit. Then through habit comes efficiency with consistency!
Seeing what I like to call "Clicks" happen. The face people make when something "Clicks" is simply priceless! Synonymous with the light bulb principle.
Photos and videos
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I assess their level of knowledge. I ask them a few background questions regarding sports experience, how tennis works, familiarity with any techniques, and why they are interested in tennis. Then I'll simply toss them a few balls for a visual determination and begin a specific structure of drills tailored to their level.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I was an all around sports enthusiast playing basketball, baseball, and soccer. I used to help run a sports camp at Westover Club Inc. in Northwest Austin, as well as help with tennis clinics with Brendan Sheehan (the pro there). I have also coached personal lessons off and on since I was in high school. I have coached summer swim team with Sandy Nielson Bell (3 time olympic gold swimmer), as well as personal swim lessons for kiddos. I picked up yoga in the last few years and actually became a certified instructor for that too! However, tennis was the one that did stick with me the most.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Yes, normally I do 50$/hr lessons. $70/1.5hrs. If you can stand a 2hr, then it's $80! However, I do also do bulk monthly packages of 8 lessons for $300. 10 lessons for $350. Payment plans can be arranged based on your budget. This allows us to set up a variable schedule in advance. For tennis, ideally you're going to want to play at least once a week. If you are liking what's happening, then we can set an even larger custom deal!
How did you get started teaching?
Well it's funny, my mom suggested I do it for extra money in the Summer of 2006. So I took her up on it, turned out I loved it.
What types of students have you worked with?
Adolescents, adults, and kids alike.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I'm very fond of seiing sudden moments of what I like to call "Clicks." Recently I have been coaching this 6th grader named Carter, he's a lefty. He's on about his 10th lesson and had no previous tennis experience. The other day, I witnessed him strike 5 hard, topspinny balls off my feeds. I swear a lesson or two before he still couldn't even handle normal feeding. Something had "Clicked" for him and he was much more sprightly and enthusiastic that day! He was actually having fun and smiled! In previous lessons, he would get real frustrated and quickly down on himself. This lesson was MUCH different. I love seeing those moments where kids get a strong sudden clarity, where something just "Clicks!"
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure you they are knowledgeable and have experience teaching and have a very positively reinforcing attitude. There are a lot of technicalities to this game that are easily overlooked. Ask them where and who they learned from. Did they learn from a professional? Tennis can be very frustrating, possibly one of the most frustrating sports in my opinion, it's important to know this going in, and a positive and knowledgeable coach is vital.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What kind of tennis racquet should I get? Why do I want to play? What are the benefits of tennis? How much should I practice? Are there any medical conditions my coach should be aware of? What do I want to get out of my tennis lessons - I.e. general improvement, weaknesses, strengths, specific areas to tweak, tournament/competition future? What can I do outside of my lessons for self improvement?