Smart Doubles

Ron Shields, author, and founder of Smart Doubles® grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was informally introduced to tennis around the age of eight at the nearby, historic Central High school. Without access to public sector or private club junior programming and consistent private lessons, he managed to become a top ten ranked junior in his home state of Arkansas. Upon beginning high school at Hall High in the fall of 1976, Ron joined the varsity tennis team and played all three years on an extremely competitive state championship level team. He accepted a full tennis scholarship to Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. After completing his first year at TSU in 1981, he transferred to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as a walk-on for tennis. This relocation allowed him to be closer to his mother who previously suffered from a stroke. His teaching career officially began in 1983 while attending UALR. After working as an assistant teaching instructor from 1983-1989 at the Little Rock Racquet Club, Ron became a certified teaching professional by the U.S.P.T.A in 1992. In 1993, Ron relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where he coached and trained nationally and regionally ranked juniors at the Norman Wilkerson Academy at Sugar Creek Tennis Center and the Ralston Gorman Academy. In Atlanta, he worked as a head pro/director at various facilities including Sugar Creek Tennis Center, Tucker Racquet Club, Bitsy Grant and Piedmont Park, and the Marcus Jewish Community Center. Also, Ron worked as an independent teaching professional in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. As a competitive player, he thoroughly enjoyed playing league doubles at AA1 and AA2 levels and USTA mixed doubles among other teaching pros, former collegiate players, and touring pros. Ron was regularly active as a player and coach in the #1 league tennis metropolitan area in the USA and perhaps the world where he coached many ALTA and USTA league teams per season at all levels. Ron relocated to Bradenton, Florida. In the fall of 2004, he accepted an opportunity to work as a staff professional at the #1 ranked Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key, Florida. Ron began teaching at the Longboat Key Club & Resort which later became a top ten tennis resort in the world. He has enjoyed teaching residents, club members and seasonal tourists on Longboat Key since 2004. Ron is very passionate and gifted at teaching/coaching doubles strategy and positioning clinics now known as Smart Doubles®. He has enjoyed an extensive and successful teaching career in the public, private, residential and hospitality sectors for 30 plus years. In addition, he became a Certified Health Coach in 2011 with a passion for healthy living and nutrition. In his next book to follow Smart Doubles®, he will share humbling and unique details about how his love for tennis and related relationships have greatly enriched his life. In 2021, Ron and Brenda launched a Tennis For Fun affiliate program (tennisforfun.org) in partnership with Special Olympics in Sarasota. This program provides free weekly clinics to athletes with special needs and the opportunity to compete with other athletes at regional and state Special Olympics sponsored events. In June of 2023, Ron was awarded the Regional USPTA Professional of the year award at Florida's USPTA Division Conference in Orlando. He was recognized for his dedication and involvement in the Tennis For Fun program, and his long-term professional affiliation with the USPTA. Ron resides on Longboat Key, Florida with his lovely wife Brenda, and their spunky Biewer Terrier, Ashe.