My name is David Gabb. I have been appointed as Head Tennis Coach to Hurst Green Tennis Club. I am absolutely thrilled to be here. I will be helping Patrick and the Committee to further develop the Club into an even better place to both learn, play and enjoy the wonderful game of tennis.

Here are just a few things you might want to know about me:

o   I am qualified as a Level 5 Master Performance Coach (the highest tennis coaching qualification) by the Lawn Tennis Association. I am also qualified as a Tennis Director by the RPT (Registro Profesional de Tenis) - this is the coaching system of Spain.

o   I have been a County Coach for three counties.

o   I have worked for many years as a Tennis Director for the David Lloyd Group of Clubs.

o   In my long career as a coach, I have developed many players who have gone on to have full time careers in Tennis. I have also helped develop a large number of nationally ranked junior players – including quite a few that have reached top ten status in their age groups.

o   My daughter is a highly paid lawyer working in Denver Colorado. She graduated in law after attending University on a tennis scholarship.

o   I learnt to string my first tennis racquet (by hand) at the age of 9! I am now a qualified Master Racquet Technician and a Professional Racquet Stringer. My current stringing machine is worth more than my car!

o   I am married and my wife (who is a lot younger than me) originally hails from Türkiye.

Now a few facts that you might find interesting:

o   String your racquet looser for more power and tighter for more control.

o   Don’t leave your racquet in your car! Sudden changes in temperature kill tennis strings.

o   Use an overgrip on your racquet. Change it regularly. It’s probably best not to dwell too long on the number of germs living on the average club player’s racquet grip!!

o   In doubles, 80% of the balls cross the net in the middle three metres. Successful players primarily concern themselves with that part of the court. They worry less about the tramlines!

o   The understanding of the theory of CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS is essential to good doubles players.

o   On average, players with great ground strokes ‘lose’ the ball after impact and pick it up again (as part of seeing the ‘bigger picture) at about the time the ball crosses the net. This gives the lie to the advice of ‘watch the ball’. It’s when you watch the ball that really counts.

If you see me on court, please don’t be a stranger! Please feel free to come and say hello. I am always happy to help with any tennis related question that you have. I started playing when I was three, so there aren’t too many things that happen on a tennis court that I haven’t seen at least few times before!

Enjoy your tennis.

David H Gabb

LTA Master Performance Coach (Level 5)

RPT Registro Profesional de Tenis : Tennis Director

Bollettieri Institute Level 5 Master Pro Coach

British Tennis Coaches Association Master Professional 

ERSA and UKRSA Master Racquet Technician & Pro Stringer

07753 817333

david@dhgts.com