On The Court with Ken DeHart

Ken's Tennis Tip and Business Ti[p

Author

Ken DeHart
June 26, 2026

Ken’s Tennis Tip

Spin to Win…

Players in matches are required to determine which team will

  1. serve first

  2. receive first

  3. choose which side to start the match from, or

  4. let the other team make one of the three choices before starting the warmup or the match.

Recommendation on the spin of the racquet to determine the order - tell the opponents their option to call to win the spin (M or W, up or down etc), let them make their choice then spin the racquet in your hand (spinning first allows them to read the name of the racquet on the shaft and know up or down on the butt cap) vs on the ground (avoids scratching the grip or the frame and the opponent picking the racquet up in a manner so they win the spin).

In an upcoming tip, we will address how the spin of the racquet determines how you warm up your serve and return based upon your team’s serving order.

Ken’s Business Tip

1. Overpay your best employees so they never have to leave to make more value elsewhere.

2. Ask often about your staff's family and family plans.  This shows you value them as individuals vs. revenue producers only

3. Occasionally give a staff member a gift card and a note to say "You are appreciated". A small gift card can have a big return. 

Ken DeHart

Ken DeHart

  • Co-Director of Racquets at Alpine Hills Tennis & Swimming Club in Northern California

  • PTR Hall of Fame, NorCal RSPA Hall of Fame. PTR International Master Professional. Former PTR Executive Director,

  • RSPA Master Professional. RSPA Lifetime Achievement Award

  • USA High Performance Coach

  • International Speaker at the Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open Coaches Conference

  • Author of “Master Your Tennis Game - 50 Mental Strategies and Tactics”

  • Co-author of the International Book of Drills with Dennis Van der Meer

  • Member of the Directors Club of America