What Makes Us Different

Summer Smash utilizes a unique Progression and structured Pathways to scaffold the development of fundamental technique and playing ability. This combined approach gives students a powerful foundation to excel as players for life.

Junior Pathway Adult Pathway

The
Progression

The Summer Smash Progression is a systematic approach to learning tennis developed by co-founders Spencer Mackoff and Marshall Mackoff. The Progression consists of a series of steps designed to develop modern strokes for beginner to competitive players. The Progression deepens and accelerates student learning through the creation of repeatable strokes supported by strategy.

1

Grip

Find the proper grip to begin building technique for each stroke. We start our students with the forehand semi-western grip used by the majority of active professionals.
2

Stance

Set up your stance to allow for the use of your legs and hips in the shot. We start our students in neutral stance before introducing them to variations like open and semi-open stance.
3

Wrist Control

Control the wrist to allow for smoother and more precise shots. Maintaining a laid back wrist throughout the stroke greatly improves consistency while technique is being developed.
4

Swing Path

Control the trajectory of the ball by establishing a repeatable swing path. Students are taught to start with a low to high swing to produce reliable height over the net.
5

Hitting Zone

Improve timing and consistency by establishing a long hitting zone. We teach our students to extend the racquet arm to finish far away from the body in the direction of the shot.
6

Follow Through

Create consistent acceleration by establishing a long follow through. Students are taught to have the racquet wrap around their body in a controlled manner.
7

Ready Position

Wait in an athletic ready position that allows you to quickly prepare for both forehand and backhand.
8

Happy Feet

Be ready to respond and move by waiting with happy feet. This is a great athletic habit to build for tennis.
9

Preparation

Increase the dependability of your strokes by practicing early preparation and positioning.
10

Recovery

Improve the efficiency of your positioning by learning how and where to recover after each shot.

Junior Pathway

Develop a passion for tennis and the skills to succeed through our children’s tennis programs. Our lessons use of the Progressive Tennis model to ensure your young athlete progresses confidently through each stage of their development.

Prepare your child to excel at tennis and sport. Our Mini programs focus on developing fundamental movement, tracking, and racquet skills.

Mini Fundamentals

Student Background
- Has some or no experience in tennis
- Beginning to develop technique for forehand
Development Focus
- Develop fundamental forehand technique
- Develop timing of swing with bounce of ball
- Develop ball tracking skills
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Mini aces

Student Background
- Has some or no experience in tennis
- Beginning to develop technique for groundstrokes
Development Focus
- Develop fundamental forehand and backhand technique
- Develop timing of swing with bounce of ball
- Develop ball tracking skills
Establish the ability to play with modern technique. Our Junior programs focus on developing rally skills using a game-based approach.

Junior Fundamentals

Student Background

Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop technique for groundstrokes
- Develop ability to rally consistently from the ½ court and ¾ court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Develop a solid technical foundation for groundstrokes
- Develop timing and tracking skills
- Develop ability to play cooperative and competitive rally games
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Junior aces

Student Background

Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop or refine technique for groundstrokes
- Develop consistency rallying in the ¾ court to full court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Continue to develop groundstroke technique
- Improve ability to rally with limited use of or no self-rallies
- Become familiar with shot-cycle
- Develop proper serve technique fundamentals
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Develop a tennis foundation and build confidence. Our Youth programs focus on developing technique and tactics through cooperative and competitive games.

Youth Fundamentals

Student Background

Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop technique for groundstrokes
- Develop ability to rally consistently from the ½ court and ¾ court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Develop a solid technical foundation for groundstrokes
- Develop timing and tracking skills
- Develop ability to play cooperative and competitive rally games
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Youth aces

Student Background

Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop or refine technique for groundstrokes
- Develop consistency rallying in the ¾ court to full court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Continue to develop groundstroke technique
- Improve ability to rally with limited use of or no self-rallies
- Become familiar with shot-cycle
- Develop proper serve technique fundamentals
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Youth performance

Student Background
- Can rally 10 in a row with forehand and backhand from ¾ to full court
Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop technical ability for different phases of play
- Develop technique for serve
- Develop consistency rallying in the full court settings
Development Focus
- Continue to develop or refine groundstroke technical foundation
- Improve groundstroke consistency
- Improve shot-cycle consistency and efficiency with movement in three directions
- Develop fundamental volley technique
- Develop full motion serve technique
- Develop or improve to add height and direct the ball
Develop a tennis foundation and build confidence. Our Teen programs focus on developing technique and tactics through cooperative and competitive games.

Teen Fundamentals

Student Background

Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop technique for groundstrokes
- Develop ability to rally consistently from the ½ court and ¾ court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Develop a solid technical foundation for groundstrokes
- Develop timing and tracking skills
- Develop ability to play cooperative and competitive rally games
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Teen aces

Student Background

Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop or refine technique for groundstrokes
- Develop consistency rallying in the full court to full court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Continue to develop groundstroke technique
- Improve ability to rally with limited use of or no self-rallies
- Become familiar with shot-cycle
- Develop proper serve technique fundamentals
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment

Adult Pathway

Start or continue your tennis journey with our adult programs designed to give players a solid foundation for all strokes and phases of play. Our structured curriculum focuses on developing groundstrokes, volleys, serves, and tactics through a game-based approach.

Learn how to play tennis in a small group setting. This course provides an introduction to the game with an eventual progression to rally and play within the full court setting.

Student Background
- Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop technique for groundstrokes
- Develop ability to rally consistently from the ½ court and ¾ court settings
Development Focus
- Develop a solid technical foundation for groundstrokes
- Introduce players to cooperative and competitive rally games
- Develop a love for tennis in a positive environment
Continue developing fundamental skills in a small group setting. This course builds on technique and strategy from Adult Beginner in order to become more confident rallying and playing with serve within the full court setting.

Student Background
- Has taken Adult Beginner or;
- Can rally 10 in a row with forehand from ¾ court
- Developing ability to rally 10 in a row with forehand and backhand from full court
Continuing to:
- Develop or refine technique for groundstrokes
- Develop consistency rallying in the ¾ court to full court settings
- Develop technique for serve
Development Focus
- Continue to develop or refine groundstroke technique
- Gain / improve ability to rally with limited use of or no self-rallies
- Become familiar with shot-cycle
- Develop technical foundation for serve
- Initial exposure to volleying
Solidify your foundation for all strokes. Players who can rally consistently continue to develop ball control (direction, height, distance) and technique within cooperative and competitive contexts.

Student Background
- Can rally 10 in a row with forehand and backhand from full court
Beginning or continuing to:
- Develop technical ability for different phases of play
- Develop technique for serve
- Develop consistency rallying in the full court settings
Development Focus
- Continue to develop or refine groundstroke technical foundation
- Improve groundstroke consistency
- Improve shot-cycle consistency and efficiency with movement in three directions
- Develop fundamental volley technique
- Develop full motion serve technique
- Develop or improve to add height and direct the ball
Improve consistency of groundstrokes, volleys, and serve. An opportunity for players with experience (2.5-3.0 NTRP rating) to refine technique while improving reception of wide, high, low, deep, and short balls.

Student Background
- Can consistently rally 10 in a row from baseline with forehand and backhand controlling direction
- In the process of refining technique for groundstrokes and volleys
- In the process of developing correct movement and positioning
- In the process of developing consistent full motion serve
Development Focus
- Refine groundstroke technique
- Improve groundstroke consistency
- Improve groundstroke shot selection in singles and doubles context
- Learn or improve transition to net
Improve your shot quality, shot selection, and tactics through drills and point play. An opportunity for seasoned players (3.0-3.5 NTRP) to increase the effectiveness of their shots including groundstroke, volley, and serve.

Student Background
- Can consistently rally 10 in a row from baseline and net with depth
- Technically proficient groundstrokes, volleys, and serve
- Has experience with all phases of play and transitioning between phases
Development Focus
- Improve consistency and quality of shot production
- Improve strategic use of topspin and slice
- Refine footwork to transition between different phases of play
- Refine doubles specific strategy and shot selection

Register for Programs

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, there’s a Summer Smash class for you. Find your nearest one today!

View All Lessons

What Makes Us Different

The Progression

Grip

Stance

Wrist Control

Swing Path

Hitting Zone

Follow Through

Ready Position

Happy Feet

Preparation

Recovery

Junior Pathway

Adult Pathway

Register for Programs

The
Progression