At MyTennisLessons.com we have are fortunate to work with some highly experienced tennis pros who are not only willing to help out students but fellow and aspiring tennis coaches as well. Roger, an accomplished tennis coach in Alexandria, VA, has a wealth of knowledge to share considering he has been teaching tennis lessons for over 25 years. We feel that it is important to promote an open marketplace of ideas for instructors and Roger has been kind enough to offer advice to prospective tennis instructors.
Roger’s “Gain the Advantage” teaching tips:
- Before hitting, encourage your student to take a minute to swing the racket in its cover using the forehand, backhand, and service motions. This short warm-up will loosen up the body and make the racket feel lighter when initially starting to hit balls.
- When introducing the serve to a beginner, practice having the student throw balls from the service line into the proper service court using an overhand throwing motion. Continue to teach the mechanics of the serve from the service line to keep the student’s focus more on the proper movements and less on just getting the ball over the net. Using the shorter distance to the service box from the service line, as opposed to initially attempting serves from the baseline, will allow the student to gain more confidence in the serve.
- When introducing the backhand, explain and demonstrate both the single and double backhand strokes and grips, break down the pros and cons of both, and allow the student to experiment with both strokes before choosing the more comfortable approach for them.
- For a new player looking to rapidly improve their game, stress the importance of stroke repetition to establish muscle memory by practicing the footwork and swinging motions without a ball and by drop hitting to practice ground strokes. At the beginning, emphasize this approach over trying to play full court or hitting balls off a backboard, which require more precise timing and will be less productive at this stage.
- Be flexible in how you communicate information to your students. Because each of your students processes information differently, it’s important to adapt your teaching style to accommodate the various learning styles of your students. You will be more effective if you are able to grab their attention, make learning fun, and motivate your students to achieve their goals.
– Roger C. is a tennis instructor with MyTennisLessons located in Arlington, VA. He is an extremely active pro working all over Northern Virginia and has taught for various tennis establishments and tennis teams. His over 25 years of teaching experience and extensive playing background come through in each of his lessons. Visit Roger’s Profile for more information.
