Great East Bay Tennis Instructor

I have noticed that the ratio of blog posts/online comments giving feedback weighs heavily in favor of the negative. That is, we blog/rant when someone/something/some company has done us wrong. When you're pissed off, you're motivated. But alas, we're not nearly so diligent when it comes to giving praise, at least not to the extent of posting it.

So, in that vein I wanted to give a thumbs up to someone I just met--Bill Conway, the tennis director/instructor at Bay O Vista in San Leandro. I just finished a one-hour clinic with Bill and several other intermediate players. It was really fun, and I was wondering to myself, "Why haven't I been doing this for the past 15 years!"

I was a pretty high school tennis player. And I continued to play throughout my life, but I struggled with injuries here and there. But what seemed to really hold me back was just my own stubbornness in not being willing to take lessons or attend clinics. I figured, I knew all I needed to know, I just needed to practice. That wasn't true. First, I didn't know everything. Second, techniques and prevailing wisdom had changed. And third, there is no substitute for having someone watch you and give you feedback. I started to realize this last year, when I was reunited with an old friend and tennis partner, Leutrell MC Osborne, II. Leu gave me a couple of tips that really helped me -- and got me excited about tennis again.

Then, my other tennis buddy, Robert Wallace, took his racquet to get re-strung at Bay O Vista. I went with him to pick it up and met Bill Conway, the tennis pro there who did the stringing. It was so great to meet someone really relaxed, knowledgeable and confident in that knowledge without being overbearing. As luck would have it, my racquet popped a string that same day. I had Bill re-string it, and took his intermediate clinic the same day I picked up my racquet.

So, if you are looking for a good place to play and/or take lessons, I recommend Bay O Vista -- you don't need to be a member to attend their tennis clinics. And definitely say hi to Bill Conway.