History

Paul Butcher and Ben Knight have worked alongside each other for the past two years and in January 2010 combined their skills to develop PBK incorporated. By coming together they combine a vast wealth of knowledge, experience and above all, an unrivaled enthusiasm and passion for the sport of tennis. In coming together Paul and Ben are now able to offer players of all age the opportunity to access the exclusive tennisMAD training system – which is guaranteed to rapidly develop a player’s potential.

The tennisMAD philosophy started way back in 1985 when Paul Butcher established himself at the South Devon Tennis Centre in Ivybridge; now the flagship site for PBK incorporated. PBK incorporated use a multi site approach to provide numerous benefits to all players. Specifically, you have a choice of venues/facilities, days and times, with the added bonus of both variety and most importantly similar standard players. We’re able to create a comprehensive weekly programme tailored specifically for you, helping you become 100% tennisMAD.

Paul and the South Devon Tennis Centre

Having relocated from Sheffield (Yorkshire) in 1985, Paul was appointed as Tennis Director of the Ivybridge Tennis Club a small outdoor four court members club, with a very forward thinking and go ahead committee. Within a year Ivybridge Tennis Club lead the way and became the first club in Devon to build two indoor carpet courts. Paul has worked tirelessly to develop both his academy and the club, producing countless junior county champions at all age groups as well as Regional and National standard players. The tennisMAD Academy currently trains a whole host of county players and a top nationally ranked 12 year old boy. The joint motivation of Paul and the current club chairman Mr. Stephen Hitch has enabled the club to blossom into the re-named South Devon Tennis Centre boasting some of the best and most impressive facilities in the South west. South Devon Tennis Centre has 4 indoor carpet courts (plus viewing gallery) and 4 outdoor floodlit rubber courts.

Ben and his tennis travels

Ben has been a professional coach for over 10 years. Having learnt his trade coaching under a number of very experienced and well regarded coaches in the UK. Ben moved to Australia and coached at The Easter Subrubs Tennis Club, one of the largest clubs in Sydney. Ben worked as the lead coach overseeing a team of coaches operating a large scale club programme. He also worked at a number of other clubs and gained a great insight into the way tennis coaches operate in Australia.

On his return to the UK Ben spent a number of years at the Esporta club in Plymouth setting up and developing a Plymouth Academy of Excellence, and working with a number of top county players. Throughout this time he was heavily involved in raising the profile of tennis in the Plymouth area. With this in mind, in 2006, Ben set up the first Plymouth based tennis company named ‘KGS Tennis’.

From 2006 through to 2009 KGS Tennis was responsible for delivering a massive schools programme across Plymouth and giving thousands of children access to the sport of tennis. Through KGS Tennis Ben was also heavily involved with re-establishing coaching programmes at a number of the city’s clubs where tennis and membership to these clubs was on the decline. One of these sites was Hill Lane Junior Tennis Club. Prior to KGS Tennis’ involvement in April 2008 the courts had been left to ruin and the club’s membership was almost non existent. With hard work and perseverance KGS tennis was able to turn this around and at the time of writing the club had a successful coaching programme and now boasts a membership of well over 100 players. On top of the company’s success with revitalising Plymouth tennis, in 2008, KGS Tennis was also responsible for getting more children competing in mini tennis competition than any other provider in the county.

tennisMAD the future (PBK inc.)

Paul and Ben share a lot of the same beliefs and their passion to help players reach their full potential what ever that may be is paramount. Their philosophy say’s it all: “We’re 100% tennisMAD – that’s our aim for you!”