HIT ATLANTA, Atlanta

A setting sun isn't enough to halt play on the Hit Atlanta Tennis Center's 14 courts. Floodlights on each court allow director Scott Rose and his team of teaching pros to build love between their students and the game of tennis. Clinics for adults and juniors—split into groups according to skill level and age—form the backbone of the curriculum. As adults advance from beginner to intermediate clinics, they learn how to apply basic shots and scoring skills into the realm of pressure play and volleying. The junior academy starts kids out on sized-down equipment before graduating them to championship-quality gear when they’re deemed ready. The center sets itself apart from most tennis facilities by offering both hard and clay courts, whereas most feature hard courts that reveal a soft clay heart after you get to know them.