TennisOne Staff

Jim McLennan

I have played tennis for most of my life. My first coach, Blackie Jones, showed me both the fun as well as the mystery of tennis. He was a friend, motivator, teacher, scientist, and tennis technician. I am following in his footsteps.

I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley in 1970, and earned a Masters Degree in Sport Psychology from the University of West Florida 1992. I am the past president of the Northern California division of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). I have been an active contributor at tennis conferences and have spoken at the USTA National Teachers Conference in New York.

In partnership with Don Kerr and Rick Davis, I have patented and continue to develop an electromechanical swing trainer known as the Whistler. The Whistler measures swinging rhythm and produces an audible "whistle" at the moment of peak force. This biomechanical feedback creates a languageless learning system, something like swimming or riding a bike, where you can "feel" how to swim but would be very hard pressed to describe it to another.

I have published and am trying to advance the idea of "Gravity Motion." Detailed analysis of the footwork of Sanchez, Seles, Edberg, McEnroe, and others reveals an unusual starting technique. Their initial "gravity step" produces a quick yet effortless start. There has been some discussion of this within the tennis community, but the controversy as it were frames the strength trainers (and they are legion) against the gravity advocates (just a handful). This technique grew from the work of Don Kerr, who developed these ideas while teaching amputees how to walk again on artificial limbs.

I am the head professional at the Fremont Hills Country Club in Los Altos Hills, California, and the oldest and least computer able member of the TennisOne team.