I don't agree with this because its not like teaching tennis requires an MD degree.
No, it doesn't require a degree. I think you will agree there are some horrible instructors out there, most of whom are not certified by either the
USPTA and/or
PTR.
There is no major risk associated with giving bad advice.
Hmmm ... the phrase, "do what I say, not what I do" comes to mind.
Vic Braden often says in his lectures, if people practice so much, why aren't there more recreational players at the 5.0+ level? There are lots of recreational playes who think they are at the 5.0+ level, and more than willing to give "free" advise. The risk for many players is that in the end, the free advise usually sticks people to a particular level.
On the other hand, I've been the recepient of free advise when I was a junior. I only had two private paying lessons, while the rest was from Vic Braden on TV (back in the '70s, they aired his free tennis lessons on PBS and during the majors), and a bunch of seniors at the public courts. The seniors were wise enough to know when I outgrew their advise, and told me to take the lessons to help improve my service motion.
But if you're not confident about the advice you're giving, then you shouldn't give the advice;
Very true, but you have to look at the credibility aspect. Sounds like we're now switching from critiquing, to giving advise.
Criticism is usually not well received, especially from players of the same ability. In contrast, advise is sometimes better received, but often perceived as criticism.
A trained instructor knows the words to create a positive image of what needs to be done. Unfortunately, there are many tennis instructors out there that think they're substitute ball machines, and don't possess the correct verbal skills.
but to say that someone should refer to a teaching pro for something you know how to correct yourself is unnecessary.
How much time are you willing to commit, instead of making a remark (as a critique or advise) and leaving it at that? Are you willing to go out and hit with the player several times a week to help them add to their current stroke inventory? To show them the weakness of their stroke inventory? Are you able to dominate them enough to demonstrate the need for variety?
Most certified instructors (PTR instructor or USPTA pro 2+) are at least 4.0+ level players, even former 5.0+ level players.
And I think that certain strokes need to be changed if the player ever hopes to improve. How can you add to a frying pan serve or volley without changing it? Its just bad all around.
Yes, but that is a personal decision. Some players are out to have fun. Some players are out to win. The ones out to win are most likely already taking lessons and trying to improve. The ones that are out for fun don't necessarily want to invest the time to change.
Yes, if they want to add variety, they need to change from frying pan serves/volleys that generate only flat shots. But it's not necessarily bad all around. If you watch the pros very closely, they do pronate and go flat at the last second for certain strokes. Some people refer to it as using their wrist, but it's really not that. Again, a verbal image is required to help players go from using flat to correctly hitting the ball flat at the last second.
If the receiving player doesn't trust you, then they can take it up with a pro, but if someone asks me for advice and I'm confident of the answer, I'll help them out and save them the $70/hour it costs for the pro to answer it.
I admire that you're willing to help them improve. Really, I am. I'm a certified tennis instructor, and I give free clinics to introduce tennis to people. I especially focus on the basics. I try to add to people's natural strokes, not change them. And I've found that all the best instructors try to help people add, and not change. Only the instructors with large egos think they can change people ... they can not. It has to come from within.
There are many male players at my club (around 3.0 and 3.5 level) who believe they can hit the ball much better than other players at the club. They usually offer unsolicited advice. People don't like playing against them, much less partnering with them. It's really funny to watch when they partner with each other (since noone wants to partner with them), and they spend the night criticizing each other's strokes.
They often critique players with unorthodox strokes, but who have a lot of talent and are winning. Sometimes, because of the winning at a particular level, say 3.0, they don't feel the need to change. The other part is exactly what PimpMyGame said.
Sounds like he has never asked for advice, and doesn't have regular coaching. So my suggestion is don't offer either.
BTW, once in a while at my club I hear some players giving other players advice, which is always answered by the most ridiculous reasons for why they play like they do and why they won't change what they're doing.
The only thing you can do is improve yourself, and hope they notice that you've improved. When they ask, that's when the players are receptive to change. When they seek private tennis lessons, that's also an indication the players are receptive to change.
