Tennis is a great way to separate the men from the boys, the women from the girls, and the girls from the boys if they get too rowdy at co-ed criminal-justice camp. Today's Groupon brings some much-needed tennis to your life. For $49, you get three 90-minute group tennis lessons from the racketeers at the Tennis USA Academy (a $148 value) at its Falls Church or Alexandria locations (the Arlington location is only used for junior classes). This deal is good for all adult classes of any skill level. Lesson enrollment is rolling and scheduled weekly; call ahead or email to reserve your slot. A quick glance at the academy’s calendar reveals that the action occurs on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

You'll be led in the ways of matching and loving under director Ron "Ald" McDonald, aka Tennis the Menace, aka the Count of Volley Cristo—a US Professional Tennis Association–certified coach and 35-year veteran of successful tennis-knowledge transmission. You'll be grouped with a handful of swingers at your own skill level, allowing you to reap the benefits of group training and assign each other catchy nicknames. Through fun drills and lightly competitive scrimmaging, you'll build on fundamentals and incorporate new flourishes into your victory dance.

Absolute beginners will learn the basics of standing, grasping the racket, and keeping their eye on the ball, while intermediate and advanced players will drink deeply from the draughts of strategy, serving, and fashion. Everyone, regardless of experience, has something to learn—a nagging weakness to defeat or a nascent strength waiting to surge forth and burst into competition-scorching flame.