Quick Question...

[energy-101]

I know I just started playing tennis today but how long should I wait before I can start playing other people? My trainer says I couldn't beat a 2.5 yet but I could play with them just fine (well those were his thoughts). I had fun at my lesson but one hour wasn't long enough and I wanted to play more than I did (not that I mind, I like all the new things I learned today). But would it be wise to start practicing playing against other people yet or should I wait awhile? Any thoughts? And if I do start playing sooner rather than later should I stick to other 2's or try and play someone who is better than where I am? I know I ask a lot of questions but I am just so excited!!!!! So sorry, but thank you!!!

[4brotherdrive]

Lol I am not one to give you advice but i played matches before i had a backhand. But i think you should have a solid serve, forehand and backhand (or volleys if you plan on serving and volleying) before playing matches. Start playing against people your level or a little lower to get confidence but play occasionally with people that are better than you cause that is the only way to get better.

[drakulie]

The more you play the better you are going to get. In addition, as a beginner you will see big improvements in a short time if you play a lot.

Good luck, and remember to have fun!

[Solat]

get down to social tennis at your local club and they should put you with the appropriate standard

the more experience you get the better you will be

[Tennismastery]

The sooner you start playing, the more likely you will develop habits that will need to change later. The question of whether you should 'play' tennis is really a question of what your goals are. If you want to play socially and don't care if you want to reach your 'tennis potential' (progressing with proper strokes and grips that will allow you to play tennis later with more skill, better consistency, and the ability to hit more prolific strokes), then I would resist 'playing' tennis too soon.

However, if you are very diligent in using the strokes you are learning in your lessons, and not resort to using rudementary shots to simply get the ball in, then I suggest you play early on. The problem lies in when you play, you most likely will want to try and 'win'. If new strokes, grips and other learning elements are not comfortable, you will naturally avoid them for the more comfortable patterns usually associated with beginner tennis.

Don't try to specifically 'win' when you do decide to play. For the first six months, try to work the patterns you are learning on every single shot. But do them at speeds that give you the best opportunity to hit the ball clean, balanced, and with intent. Too many beginners upon learning new methods try to hit the ball too hard, too fast, and in the wrong situations. Thus, they miss and then resort to the world of dinking and pushing the ball over the net to try and win.

Trust me, this is important and critical to learning. Experience is great...but, experience hitting shots over and over that you won't want to use later is counter productive.

I wish you well in your advancement.

[Solat]

TennisMastery,

you are quite clearly one of the most valuable posters on this board, but there is one issue which i disagree with you on, that being what you have posted in the last post.

I do not question the logic of your outcomes, don't practice what isnt going to help the big picture, creating bad habits is the worst thing you cna do sure. However i think the value of rallying is paramount to the success of any tennis player.

I believe that there is only a limit to how far you can go with technique alone, i have seen it time and time again with kids especially where they get taught via a coach feeding balls straight to them so that they learn no movement and tracking abilities. Once they try to rally it all falls apart because they never position themselves to make use of good technique. It is not always possible to execute good technique so you need to be flexible enough to make the shot in all circumstances, in the end you must hit one more ball in the court, no matter how you achieve it.

I believe the value of rallying early helps to teach "tennis" not "stroke production" obviously there should be a balance between the two, but i think the earlier someone can rally the earlier they understand the tactical implications of tennis and can apply that to technical learning.

I am keen to read your response

[Mountain Ghost]

Focus mostly on finding some good hitting partners, but go ahead and “play” as much as you want to, and consider “losing” to be part of your toughening-up program. No matter what you do on the court though, always keep your mind focused on what your “trainer” has told you . . . and keep taking lessons. Practicing bad habits is certainly a concern, but finding your body’s own style and flow is also crucial, and since you just started playing you haven’t developed any bad habits yet, so they can be dealt with as they show up.

When I got started I played five hours a day with as many different players as I could, but then I hung out at a large tennis facility that attracted a big and talented crowd. I had great examples of the game to watch and be inspired by, along with a good selection of hitting partners.

Hit with little kids . . . hit with old ladies . . . hit with whoever is available.

MG

[energy-101]

Thank you everyone for your responses!!! You have all been very helpful and I really appreciate your answers!!!!

[Tennismastery]

TennisMastery,

you are quite clearly one of the most valuable posters on this board, but there is one issue which i disagree with you on, that being what you have posted in the last post.

I do not question the logic of your outcomes, don't practice what isnt going to help the big picture, creating bad habits is the worst thing you cna do sure. However i think the value of rallying is paramount to the success of any tennis player.

I believe that there is only a limit to how far you can go with technique alone, i have seen it time and time again with kids especially where they get taught via a coach feeding balls straight to them so that they learn no movement and tracking abilities. Once they try to rally it all falls apart because they never position themselves to make use of good technique. It is not always possible to execute good technique so you need to be flexible enough to make the shot in all circumstances, in the end you must hit one more ball in the court, no matter how you achieve it.

I believe the value of rallying early helps to teach "tennis" not "stroke production" obviously there should be a balance between the two, but i think the earlier someone can rally the earlier they understand the tactical implications of tennis and can apply that to technical learning.

I am keen to read your response

I agree with your stance on a balance between developing good stroke patterns and playing within the context of both 'learning' tennis and trying to apply good habits within such play.

From my experience in observing tens of thousands 'play' tennis, there is one defining feature: those who simply 'played' tennis failed to reach more prolific levels of 'skilled' tennis. Yes, those who 'played' tennis learn to compete, learn to adjust, learned to get the ball over the net. Yet, most--no all--developed stroke patterns that did just that: got the ball over the net. Then these players come by the hundreds of thousands, to get lessons to fix, correct, and 'learn' what they are doing wrong.

If this individual really wants to become a solid, highly skilled practicioner of tennis, then I stand by my response since I have solid proof of my explanation.

Now, can a teaching pro develop a player through situational learning so that when said student does get into a match, they will be more likely to respond with the correct footwork, stroke and strategy to play the game well? Absolutely. And, any pro that simply stands in the middle of the court feeding balls to a person standing in one place day in and day out, isn't worth a dime of anyone's money...(unless they are simply working on one particular shot that particular day.)

A student has the rest of their life to 'play' tennis. Too many want to get out there and bunt the ball back and forth to 'play' tennis...because they don't know anything better to try. When strokes are mastered, when footwork patterns are mastered, when strategic understanding is mastered, then a player is so much better prepared to go out and 'play' tennis. Yes they will make mistakes...but, such mistakes are far different than the mistakes commonly associated with unskilled players.

That make sense to anyone?

[Cindysphinx]

Yeah, it makes sense, Dave, but I'm not sure I'm on board totally.

I think one of the hard things for some players is making the transition from lessons/drills to actual play. I have met players who tell me they aren't confident enough to play or join a team. The only way to get that confidence is to get out there and play, I think.

I do think you're right that bad habits can be learned by doing whatever takes to poke the ball back in. But if a player understand that the purpose of the match is to try to hit the ball correctly, I think playing would be highly beneficial.

I also think it is helpful for the student to be able to show up at the lesson and report on how the last match went. The student can provide some valuable input on whether what has been taught has actually been learned.

That said, I come at this from the perspective of a student, not a teacher. I had the same concerns as OP about whether I should jump into 7.0 mixed, which is probably over my head. My pro's feeling was that the experience (and all experience, for that matter) would be invaluable.

To OP, I'd say to be sure to tell your prospective opponent that you are just learning. Also, you might ask your coach for the name of another of her students at your level so you two can play.

[Tennismastery]

Cindy...Yes, I think I may have been unclear on my intention: I agree wholeheartedly that players need to get out there and play. The point that I guess I was not making clear enough was that if the goal is to become as good of a player as I can, (defined by my athleticism, opportunity, desire, and what I know about the game--aka: education) then I will want to play as much as I can APPLYING the principles that I know will help me meet my goal.

Anyone can go out and play tennis without a single lesson. In fact, people who go out and do 'what comes natural' tend to 'play' better initially than those who are working on proper grips and strokes...for the obvious reason: they are playing within a context of familiar, comfortable and confidence within simple, easy and whatever-comes-natural platform.

But coming from a teaching perspective, (and that I was a highly competitive college player in southern California), the vast majority of students who fail at reaching their potential...and those who simply stagnate at lower levels are notoriously those who jumped in with minimal to no understanding of 'skilled tennis technques' and started playing tennis.

People really need to understand the complexity and ramification of 'playing' tennis. The desire to win, to not let our partner down in doubles, to not play using unfamiliar--and ultimately techniques that are not initially confident, is so strong that it is extremely rare that even a person who understands what they should be doing will resort to doing what ever is most comfortable because of this need to FEEL like they are not playing badly.

This is why I offer this caution to players because I see it every single day at courts all around the country...and then I deal with the players who want so despretly to change their game so they can indeed, progress to what they know are skill levels they are capable of. But, I face people daily with the adversion to wanting to change from their ol' reliable strokes, (if you can even call them that) to something else that takes time to not only master--but to gain confidence with.

Just trying to help others avoid that which I have seen over a thousand times...