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The phone rings and it's someone inquiring about taking lessons. I ask which days would be best for the appointment, and whether the morning or afternoon would be better.

I always ask new students what they might like to work on. More often than not, I get an answer to that question and make a note so I can prepare a plan for the first lesson. Other students prefer that I look at their strokes when they get to the club and select something I think needs work.

Still others say they've lost confidence and want to hit some balls to get a confidence boost. These students are a coach's big challenge.

These students have a mind-set that just hitting balls fosters improvement. This is mostly true if technical competence is already in place. However, errors are usually the offspring of faulty technique.

The ironclad laws of physics and mathematics rule the game of tennis, and as much as you might try ignoring them, they are irrefutable.

Trying harder won't help you, and neither will practicing more, unless you have a basic understanding of ball flight and the racket skills that produce specific ball flights.

Students who say they need a confidence boost likely need a competence boost.

When your confidence is low, it's a great time to take a lesson because your stroke flaw is rearing its ugly head and is ripe to be slain.

Competence creates confidence!

Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. To reach Burnett, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.