How old were you when you started serious lessons ?

atatu · 11-30-2006, 07:23 PM

Just wondering, my son is now 7 years old and he's had few lessons and I hit with him once in awhile, now I'm wondernig when I should start him with some serious lessons, assuming he wants to. I was thinking 10.

TheTennisKid · 11-30-2006, 08:22 PM

Now is the time if you want him to have a bright future. Pros started at this age.

power_play21 · 11-30-2006, 08:29 PM

My experience:

I train an 8 year old girl who started about 6 months ago and last week won her first girls 12 challenger. Im sure if she continues, she will have a great future ahead of her in tennis. So it is my experience that 7 to 8 is a good age to start some more serious training, without compromising the child's love for the sport though (making them jump rope, hit a million forehands). you have to know how to properly train and coach someone that age appropriately.

looseswing · 11-30-2006, 09:08 PM

I started playing seriously late, in eight grade, so when I was thirteen. However, like the other two posters have stated, I think you should start earlier than that.

Dashbarr · 11-30-2006, 09:16 PM

id start him now. i would have loved to have serious classes when i was 7. ive been playing tennis since then, but not for a cause until 11.

SFrazeur · 11-30-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atatu

Just wondering, my son is now 7 years old and he's had few lessons and I hit with him once in awhile, now I'm wondernig when I should start him with some serious lessons, assuming he wants to. I was thinking 10.

Seven year old is fine age to start. Do not get a Drill Sargent of an instructor, though. I would suggest finding some group lessons for him with like aged children, to bring out some healthy competitiveness.

I would consider an hour group lesson and a half hour private lesson, a week.

andyroddick's mojo · 11-30-2006, 09:51 PM

i say as early as possible. Its important to instill their groundstrokes and court movement early so it becomes second nature. That's what makes for great tennis players. Playing tennis and holding a racket, and moving on the court, all has to be like second nature to you.

Duzza · 12-01-2006, 12:27 AM

16. Serious? Yeah 16.

IT WAS IN!!! · 12-01-2006, 05:45 AM

this is the ideal time because he has developed his learning ability and you still have enough time to start him when he may later be a real cometitor

theace21 · 12-01-2006, 06:53 AM

I think 7 is a good age. Make sure the lessons are fun, find a good teaching pro and don't let it get serious. When/If she really wants to play - you will know. Either way, athletically this will help her in any sport she plays.

krprunitennis2 · 12-01-2006, 07:09 AM

I don't think that age really matters. I think that what matters is determination, love, and seriousness for the sport(edit: I know, sounds so cheesy =\). In my school, I know two guys that only played for two years and they match two other guys that have been playing since they were 4, so that's like an 11 year difference between playing years (they're 4.0-4.5s).

alberto007 · 12-01-2006, 09:52 AM

My son star at 8 years old. Now He is 10. I follow the advise of my club tennis pro. He is doing great. He play with a group and one on one tennis classes. I have a 6 year old son that plays soccer and tennis. I let them taste a little of both sports and see what kind of sport they like the best. By the way, my 10 year old play his first 10 years old offical tournment and won. He move from Venezuela to North Carolina just few months ago. He is going to star playing 12 years old tourments next 2007, lets see.

GRANITECHIEF · 12-01-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atatu

Just wondering, my son is now 7 years old and he's had few lessons and I hit with him once in awhile, now I'm wondernig when I should start him with some serious lessons, assuming he wants to. I was thinking 10.

The kids are so good now (at least in SoCal and i'm sure some other sections are very tough too), that if you wait to start solid training until he's 10, he'll be way behind.

eunjam · 12-01-2006, 01:46 PM

i started 'serious' lessons at age 10.

once a month.....then at age 12 it became once a week, with clinics at least 3x a week.

i continued 1 lesson/week until boy's 16's.

i was lucky to have been a member of a tennis club and that was what i did everyday after school. parents arranged for me to get a ride to the tennis club every day. i did my homework there and then played until 7:30PM every mon-fri until my working parents picked me up.

12-01-2006, 02:11 PM

I started playing when I was 5 years old.

Voltron · 12-01-2006, 02:22 PM

I started at 13, and yes, I'm a 4.0++.

Jr. · 12-01-2006, 04:12 PM

i have been playing for like 9 months now, and started "serious lessons" about two months ago. it's pretty stupid since im 15 already. i would have loved to started earlier. i'm only 3.0, but ill manage to get on the school team at least. for a serious career, kids should start before 10.

but the bad part about is that i see that kids that start intense sports and workout at an early age tend to be short. As for me, i was a lazy boy who started sports around 13, and i'm 6'1". I must say that's pretty tall for a 15 year old asian. (not to be stereotypical, but asian are short)

SATennis · 12-02-2006, 03:32 PM

I wouldn't say kids that start intense sports tend to be short. I've been playing since I was 3, more intensly since about 7 or 8, and I'm 6'3''. You do have to be careful of the weight room at an early age. Lifting heavy weights when your body hasn't has a chance to develop can stunt your growth, but playing tennis seriously definitely will not.

Atatu, I would start your son now if he is interested. Make sure the pro keeps in competitive and FUN!! No matter how good he gets, it has to be fun between ages 7-13, otherwise there is a big chance of burning out. Hopefully it will be fun the whole time, of course. But after 12, if the kids are very keen to get better and make something of it, the hard core training can start.

jonajjs · 12-03-2006, 04:35 PM

Yeah... start him as early as possible! I am 14 now and top 50 in the province...5.0 plus... but I play Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Friday,Saturday, Sunday... IMAGINE IF I STARTED AT 7!!!

xtremerunnerars · 12-03-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATennis

You do have to be careful of the weight room at an early age. Lifting heavy weights when your body hasn't has a chance to develop can stunt your growth, but playing tennis seriously definitely will not.

Playing contact sports is 10x more stressful on bones and growth plate areas than lifting weights. If you do it under the guidance of a certified professional, the stress on bones is even less. I really wish people would stop giving weights such a bad rep and idly passing on knowledge they've heard from people on message boards and their peers.

11-30-2006, 07:23 PM	#1
atatu Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,852	How old were you when you started serious lessons ? Just wondering, my son is now 7 years old and he's had few lessons and I hit with him once in awhile, now I'm wondernig when I should start him with some serious lessons, assuming he wants to. I was thinking 10.

11-30-2006, 09:08 PM	#4
looseswing Professional Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden State Posts: 1,341	I started playing seriously late, in eight grade, so when I was thirteen. However, like the other two posters have stated, I think you should start earlier than that. __________________ "I got dosed by you and Closer than most to you and What am I supposed to do, take it away ." -Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dosed

12-01-2006, 12:27 AM	#8
Duzza Legend Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,306	16. Serious? Yeah 16. __________________ I have no signature(son)!!

12-01-2006, 02:22 PM	#16
Voltron Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pffft, like I'd know Posts: 3,908	I started at 13, and yes, I'm a 4.0++. __________________ Bread slice x 2 with peanut butter and jelly @ 5 lbs

12-01-2006, 04:12 PM	#17
Jr. New User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 82	i have been playing for like 9 months now, and started "serious lessons" about two months ago. it's pretty stupid since im 15 already. i would have loved to started earlier. i'm only 3.0, but ill manage to get on the school team at least. for a serious career, kids should start before 10. but the bad part about is that i see that kids that start intense sports and workout at an early age tend to be short. As for me, i was a lazy boy who started sports around 13, and i'm 6'1". I must say that's pretty tall for a 15 year old asian. (not to be stereotypical, but asian are short) Last edited by Jr. : 12-01-2006 at 04:17 PM.