K-Claw is the the professional tennis coaching business of Shirley Mendoza, a native Houstonian and well known member of the houston tennis professional community.
Shirley has been involved in Houston tennis for the past 20 years, from early days as junior number one in Texas through to tennis teaching experience at many of Houston's top venues including West Side, Piney Point and the Houston Racquet Club.
Shirley played on the University of Wyoming’s NCAA Division I women’s tennis team on a full scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition in 2000.
It tends to be the assumption that once someone finishes college on a scholarship that the degree takes the reins and steers the direction of work... Not for Shirley! She quickly learned that tennis was an important part of her life that held so much more possibility than simply hitting balls around.
Shirley quickly found that her professional demeanor and bubbly personality drew like minded people to her. What began with a few private clients quickly exploded into a whole range of different individual and group lessons ranging from the very young to athletically old. Best of all- these people kept coming back- and bringing more people!
The USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) heard about Shirley and asked her to be involved in helping film "On Court," a series of educational shows to be aired on the Tennis Channel and sold on DVD.
Shirley's other great love is fashion and it didn't take long before she was back in studies learning the ins and outs of fashion design while still teaching up a storm. Of course the natural path for Shirley's fashion was dressed for the court and so K-Claw was born: A fashion-foward tennis brand specially designed, tested and manufactured in the USA.
But did that see the end of coaching? "No Way!" said Shirley. Her love for the court being what it is, it was decided to swing K-Claw Coaching underneath the parent brand and keep on teaching.
Shirley works with a number of accomplished Houston Pros and helpers as needed.
Everyone that hits our court comes with a different level of skill and different reason for why they are here. Our first step is to get you out on the court and get a feel for your game.
We can happily and very quickly give you a rating (for team or league placement) though we find it more important to help analyze your technique and aid you to quick improvement.
While doing this we also focus on what brought you to the court. Some people wish to become tennis ninjas, some are looking for excercise, some want college scholarships and some just want a good time. We love to cater to all these people and more.
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