Episode Details

Carlos Pinel, head pro of racket sports at Wilson Lawn and Racket Club, shares his journey from Brazil to Palmetto Bluff and reveals strategies for playing tennis for decades while staying injury-free.

• Originally from Brazil, Carlos discovered tennis at a free clinic and fell in love with the sport immediately
• Made the journey to the US on a tennis scholarship without speaking English
• Found his passion in coaching after brief experience with professional tournaments
• Works to create genuine relationships with members beyond just improving their tennis
• Emphasizes technique as protection for the body – proper form prevents injuries
• Recommends always warming up properly and listening to your body's signals
• Suggests watching how professionals reset mentally between points using physical triggers
• Explains the differences between singles and doubles strategy and how each improves different skills
• Advises partners to discuss who takes middle shots before matches – "middle solves the riddle"
• Believes staying curious and brave enough to try new approaches keeps improvement ongoing

Stay curious and don't be afraid to change your game. The pros adjust their techniques yearly – if they're changing, why can't we?