Essential Tennis is a web site run by Californian tennis coach Jim McClennan.

Jim has been in the tennis game as a player and coach for 40 years and this web site is his idea.

I first knew of Jim through the articles he wrote, and still writes for TennisOne, another tennis site that I have been a member of for the last 4 years.

In his article he always talked about one of his coaches,Tom Stowe, and anyone in the coaching world knows that this guy was good, and so much what happens in the USA today, comes from the teachings of Tom.

It was obvious to me that Jim had a "certain something" when it came to ideas on teaching the serve, and then I got a link from him regarding his own site where you can upload a video of your serve, he will look at it and then send an assessment and  ideas of what can be done to improve.

On Jim's site, once you become a member, are videos/articles that become available to you for the serving lessons.SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS ABOUT.There is also a seperate section on his web site, called the ETI Network, which once you become a member gives you access.

Now I know you are all thinking,"Hey, you are a coach, why do you want to become a member of this site"

Two reasons - you learn every day in this business, and there is so much that I do not know, and by studying sites like this you can pick what you like and use it.

Secondly, as those of you who come here to Los Gigantes know, my partner in life, Cuki, has probably the strangest serve - BUT EFFECTIVE- as it still gets her to the top spot in the ladies team.

But I have never liked it, so many points that could be improved - so....I signed up for the site, but Cuki is getting the serve lesson -and when you are the "other half" its difficult to work together - this seemed a great opportunity.

So what I am going to do, is show you a video of her serve(below) taken a few days ago, and then after the online/oncourt work, I will post another video to see if we can all see a difference.

We have had the report back from Jim, and we are starting this week on the lesson plan.I am not telling you what the plan involves, because I want you to join up and have a go.Just click on the Esential Tennis link here or above and have a look.

Stay tuned!