How do I know if my tennis instructor is any good?

Question

I've been playing tennis for almost 2 years now. I know thats not very long, but I have improved very quickly, even though I have never had private lessons. I feel like to get better I need to get some kind of private instruction, but I dont have much money, so I started taking lessons from a local college player for $30/hour.

This afternoon I had my first lesson. I wasn't particularly impressed, but maybe I had the wrong expectations. Of the one hour, he spent more time talking and having me swing at thin air than actually hitting balls. He went through all of my strokes, and made a lot of corrections. He didn't explain why they needed to be corrected, or why what I was doing was wrong. It's like he wanted to make every single move a perfect clone of him. Some things he changed seemed superficial, and made things worse instead of better (like changing my ball toss, even though I never felt it was a problem) What do you guys think? Do I have the wrong expectations?

Answer 1

Wow, $30 is steep man...especially just from a college kid. I would personally drop him and just go free play with people around your local health club or tennis courts. Try networking with someone that gives you a little challenge and keep working out with them. Pick up your own style and rock!

Answer 2

Well, $30 an hour is a little high for a college player, though that could depend.  Does he play at a D1 college? If so, i'm sure everything he teaches will be fine.  If he's D3, 30 is a bit high.  I'm in a D3 college, and I get $15 and hour to help teach clinics to kids 5-15.

However, in his defense, you've never had real training, and probably do have a lot (technically) wrong with your form.  (BTW, the ball toss is actually very important to having a good serve).  And I wouldn't expect your first lesson to involve tons of hitting right away.  During this first lesson, he was just analyzing where you are now, and what things he can change to make you improve as quickly as possible.  And that doesn't mean you'll just start out there hitting balls.  

Also, it will feel like you are going the wrong direction here at first.  I'm just assuming here, that like most people, you have a form that is good for hitting the ball over, but not really for much power or spin or anything.  He's teaching you what to do to get good power, spin, and placement.  And it won't feel natural or right at first, and you won't pick up these changes right away.  But it's better to keep hitting the ball into the net with the right form than to get it in every time with the wrong form.  Eventually, you'll get used to the new form, and it'll start feeling more natural.

Now, you should feel free to ask him why you are changing certain things.  Like that serve toss.  It's very important to have a good, consistent toss, and for it to be in the right spot.  Your toss has to be good before he can really work on your actual serve form, or else he'd be fighting two battles at once.

Give it some time.  Maybe stick with it for this summer and see how you progress.  Don't expect an immediate change.  But if he plays in college, he does know what he's doing.  he might not yet be great at teaching it, but he knows how to hit the ball.  Though I would say something about the whole $30/hour thing.

Answer 3

For 30 dollars an hour you should be getting lessons from a registered pro.  Look for someone through your local parks and rec. department, or through tennis clubs.  If you're in Long Beach or North Orange County, I can give you some names, but I think what's important is making sure they're certified to teach tennis.

Answer 4

hellooo there,

I am a tennis pro and a college athlete.  I will start by saying there are a lot of tennis pros AND a lot of college athlete.

I will continue to say there are incredible tennis pros who can play for anything, vice versa, there are incredible tennis players who cant COACH for anything.

Its not up me to determine the validity of your coach.  But Im curious to hear what he is teaching you!  

It sounds like he may be new to teaching but you must realize that he is coaching you based on what he has learned.  

with my students, I have about 2 things that the student should be thinking about at all times.  If there is any more, then it becomes clouded (and obviously they are the most important improvements they need).  

I think you may need bail out if your not satisfied though!  But make sure you are making the right decisions.  If he knows what he is doing, you may need to bear with the changes.  Some changes (grip changes) for example will make you feel awefull for about 2 weeks until you become used to it.  

I also cant stress enough the importance of private lessons, you need them to improve.  

Hope this was some help.  

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