Can I still get better from just one, one hour/ two hours private lesson?

[yoyofly]

About ten seconds for both forehand and backhand. Please comments! thanks, maybe I can improve/practice already before going to a coach.

Forehand only

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Hello guys, need some advice here. I'm 40 years old, 3.5 level player, who always want to get better on things(at least trying to).
At this stage of life, I cannot afford to take regular lessons. I watch a lot of youtube instructions. Also I have been video recording myself and tried to correct myself, got some amazing tips from this forum. I play once a week.
Recently, my friend told me there is a great coach who is 2 hours drive away from me. I'm wondering if I take one/two hours lesson from him, can I still get better, more importantly, to know how to practice in correct ways in the future? Thank you.

 

[sureshs]

Post your videos here and wait for the tips. Then decide about a coach.

 

[user92626]

Do you have a deadline to meet? Like gotta win a 4.0 tournament in a couple years or have to dominate your group soon?

If not, just take it easy and get instructions from here, plus Youtube and your own observation. The learning process can be as fun as playing.

If you go self learning route, invest in a ball shooter.

 

[Pass750]

Try to play more, you need more than once a week to get better.

 

[Jonesy]

Just don't go the Curious route.

 

[yoyofly]

Do you have a deadline to meet? Like gotta win a 4.0 tournament in a couple years or have to dominate your group soon?

If not, just take it easy and get instructions from here, plus Youtube and your own observation. The learning process can be as fun as playing.

If you go self learning route, invest in a ball shooter.

No deadline at all. Just want to get better in a correct way instead of just purely working out/ having fun.

 

[yoyofly]

Post your videos here and wait for the tips. Then decide about a coach.

Ok I'll post in this thread

 

[ChaelAZ]

What else have you spent an hour doing that helped you, changed you, or improved something in your life? If it is posible in other aspects, it can be true of tennis. I mean, there might be one trick, technique, observation that is the ONE thing you needed to mkae progress. Rarely have I ever gone to something that ended up a complete waste of time.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

There are different ways to look at future prospects.
One way might be a statistical approach. If you are 40
and a 3.5, and play once a week, then something drastically
new needs to be added to the mix in order to advance.

Lessons with a good coach may be helpful, but, I think,
commitment and a determination to improve is more important.

1. You may need to make time for for serious practice. Once a week
is not enough.
2. Being in shape is important. Start a fitness regimen that includes
running/jogging. Work on movement to the ball so you meet it in optimum position.
3. It may be fun to just go out there and play games, or bat the ball around.
better to find a like minded partner and work on specific skills.
4. To advance you need to be able to place your serves, have a good first
serve, but also a difficult second serve. Are you working on that?
5. Evaluate your weaknesses because that is what your opponent is
doing. If you need to hit a topspin lob, or a forehand drop shot, or a low
skidding slice- and you are unsure, then add those shots to your list.
6. Don't overhit and go for risky winners because you lack the consistency and
patience to keep the ball in play.
7. If a practice partner is not available, practice with a wall or ball machine.
8. When you do play games, concentrate on having a reason for each ball you hit.
Examples: you hit the ball wide to draw him off-court, you hit to his weaker side
to force an error, if he hangs back behind the baseline- draw him to the net, he
comes to the net- you have a passing shot or lob, you hit a deep, loopy shot to gain time...
9. Players who become number one in the world, do so because they are satisfied
with nothing less, and do whatever is necessary to get there. It should be easier
to reach 4.0, but do not expect that to happen without sacrifice of time
and effort. Good luck.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

Sure. A good coach can give you some good quick feedback and direction to go in if they know you only want one or two lessons.

For about four or five years I taught at a vacation resort and nearly all of my clients turned over each week!

I would generally do a little bit of everything with the student if they didn’t know what to work on. Backhand is always a sure bet! Haha.

I appreciated the students that came in with something specific they wanted to work on.

 

[Curious]

By watching even a 20 second video of you hitting and moving I have a feeling that 4.0 is just around the corner. The only problem is you playing once a week.

 

[Mongolmike]

I completely agree with Cobra... as a 3.5 ,sure, you can absolutely improve with good instruction.

For 1 or only 2 lessons, pick one thing to work on. Doesn't matter. 2nd serve, backhand, overhead, volley, whatever. Tell him/her the ONE thing you want to focus on, and that you can only afford 1 or 2 sessions.
If during the lesson, something they are saying does not click with you physically or mentally, speak up.
Ask them if they can explain that aspect differently.
A good coach can adapt their teaching and find something that 1) works for you 2) resonates with you 3) you will remember easily

 

[tendency]

================================================================
Hello guys, need some advice here. I'm 40 years old, 3.5 level player, who always want to get better on things(at least trying to).
At this stage of life, I cannot afford to take regular lessons. I watch a lot of youtube instructions. Also I have been video recording myself and tried to correct myself, got some amazing tips from this forum. I play once a week.
Recently, my friend told me there is a great coach who is 2 hours drive away from me. I'm wondering if I take one/two hours lesson from him, can I still get better, more importantly, to know how to practice in correct ways in the future? Thank you.

Personally, I'd aim for at least 3 X 1 hr. practice sessions per week. That'll make a big difference if you practice correctly.

As for the coaching.. if you're a good natural athlete who grew up playing ball sports (baseball I've found translates especially well) you can develop very good mechanics watching reputable coaches online (Inuitive Tennis/Play Your Court etc.) and video yourself religiously (as you're doing) to analyze.

 

[LuckyR]

In your overall situation 1) you can definitely improve 2) you don't have to spend a lot of money to improve. Either figure what to do differently from a single coaching lesson, or a free source, be it online, a friend whatever. But what is going to be the source of the improvement is drilling the new technique, which should not be in a paid "lesson".

 

[socallefty]

In first lesson, coach will likely diagnose and tell you what are the biggest things you need to fix for 2 or 3 shots at best. What will you do with that information as it is hard then to figure out drills to fix it on your own afterward? Coaches help more when they diagnose and then are able to do subsequent lessons to fix the major issues with necessary feeds and drills.

I used to do infrequent lessons once every few months and it didn’t help to improve my level. Only weekly lessons on a regular basis has helped with that.

 

[travlerajm]

Personally, I'd aim for at least 3 X 1 hr. practice sessions per week. That'll make a big difference if you practice correctly.

As for the coaching.. if you're a good natural athlete who grew up playing ball sports (baseball I've found translates especially well) you can develop very good mechanics watching reputable coaches online (Inuitive Tennis/Play Your Court etc.) and video yourself religiously (as you're doing) to analyze.

This. Reps are the way to improve. Even if the reps are solidifying bad technique, you will get better at controlling the ball with whatever technique you have, and improving is fun.

My advice for testing out and honing new techniques efficiently, is to find yourself a hitting wall. The wall gives you a self-correcting feedback loop. The better you get, the easier it will be to keep a rally going with yourself. you can practice every shot on the wall. Then find an open court for serves.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Videos Posted!! About ten seconds for both forehand and backhand.

Forehand only

================================================================
Hello guys, need some advice here. I'm 40 years old, 3.5 level player, who always want to get better on things(at least trying to).
At this stage of life, I cannot afford to take regular lessons. I watch a lot of youtube instructions. Also I have been video recording myself and tried to correct myself, got some amazing tips from this forum. I play once a week.
Recently, my friend told me there is a great coach who is 2 hours drive away from me. I'm wondering if I take one/two hours lesson from him, can I still get better, more importantly, to know how to practice in correct ways in the future? Thank you.

Are you trying to copy anyone in particular with the forehand? Maybe someone that hits with a straight arm?

 

[ppma]

I think that from a particular level, in order to improve one needs specific drills to correct things here and there, and fix them in the brain through repetition and creating feel. I think that is your case.

IMHO what you will need is someone hat helps you practice in such a way, to achieve small goals. Either they are coaches or not is not relevant. There is plenty of useful info of tennis in the web.

 

[Dragy]

Ш

Recently, my friend told me there is a great coach who is 2 hours drive away from me.

I think if you really consider getting benefit from just a couple of sessions, you should figure out why exactly is that coach great? What he can deliver? Is he improving players’ techniques? Is he helping them win more matches on their level? Is he motivational to work hard and enjoy improvemet?

And what particularly you want to improve.

If you meet him with particular request, and you are confident he is the one with success record of solving this request, he can diagnose you and give you key pointers, and you keep working on those on your own, because you know what you want and are sure the pointers are of best quality to get there.

If you go with vague idea of improvement, and don’t know what exactly he may help you with… your best bet would be to have a deep talk in nearby cafe to figure some things out before you hit the court

 

[tendency]

Personally, I'd aim for at least 3 X 1 hr. practice sessions per week. That'll make a big difference if you practice correctly.

Videos Posted!! About ten seconds for both forehand and backhand.

Forehand only

================================================================
Hello guys, need some advice here. I'm 40 years old, 3.5 level player, who always want to get better on things(at least trying to).
At this stage of life, I cannot afford to take regular lessons. I watch a lot of youtube instructions. Also I have been video recording myself and tried to correct myself, got some amazing tips from this forum. I play once a week.
Recently, my friend told me there is a great coach who is 2 hours drive away from me. I'm wondering if I take one/two hours lesson from him, can I still get better, more importantly, to know how to practice in correct ways in the future? Thank you.

Your forehand at the 5 second mark is not bad at all. Just keep working on getting additional trunk rotation to start the unload and lagging the racquet to create the whip. Thinking of your arm being a bull whip can help, how do you need to control the body to maximize arm whip?

Oh, and, nice split steps and footwork for 3.5 - much better than most at that level. Great bounce in step.

 

[sureshs]

Don't fall back that much after hitting the forehand

 

[Jonesy]

Don't fall back that much after hitting the forehand

The sureshs hath spoken.

 

[yoyofly]

Are you trying to copy anyone in particular with the forehand? Maybe someone that hits with a straight arm?

Federer of course...Where did I do wrong?

 

[yoyofly]

Ш

I think if you really consider getting benefit from just a couple of sessions, you should figure out why exactly is that coach great? What he can deliver? Is he improving players’ techniques? Is he helping them win more matches on their level? Is he motivational to work hard and enjoy improvemet?

And what particularly you want to improve.

If you meet him with particular request, and you are confident he is the one with success record of solving this request, he can diagnose you and give you key pointers, and you keep working on those on your own, because you know what you want and are sure the pointers are of best quality to get there.

If you go with vague idea of improvement, and don’t know what exactly he may help you with… your best bet would be to have a deep talk in nearby cafe to figure some things out before you hit the court

I don't really have anything specific. I guess I want more consistency and more racket lag for speed.

 

[yoyofly]

Don't fall back that much after hitting the forehand

I do feel falling back, when I play with a better partner, I feel more falling and rushed and congested, unable to hit in front. Any suggestions? Should I back off more? Prepare early? I guess I know what's wrong, but don't know how to correct.

 

[sureshs]

I do feel falling back, when I play with a better partner, I feel more falling and rushed and congested, unable to hit in front. Any suggestions? Should I back off more? Prepare early? I guess I know what's wrong, but don't know how to correct.

Both

 

[nyta2]

2 hours drive away from me. I'm wondering if I take two hours lesson from him

if you can afford this time to drive+lesson+return drive, you can up your 1h/week to 7-8h a week (maybe 10h?)... that alone would improve your tennis say 3x, just by repetition...
then go up to that coach once a month... and let him know you want "homework" to practice for the next month before you go up to him again...
why don't you play more often?
presuming logistics of finding a court&partner on your sched... you can still practice serve 1-2h a day... just placing your server consistently to the bh (with a decent serve+1 followup) would probably get your bumped to 4.0

 

[slipgrip93]

I do feel falling back, when I play with a better partner, I feel more falling and rushed and congested, unable to hit in front. Any suggestions? Should I back off more? Prepare early? I guess I know what's wrong, but don't know how to correct.

Meike has some nice videos that may help with those questions:

(how to hit every tennis ball in your strike zone)
(timing your tennis forehand - 10 drills)
(How to deal with High balls to your forehand)
(how to move back on high, heavy balls)
(how to handle low hard balls to the fh)
(how to handle low hard balls to the bh)

,and plenty more videos on various tennis aspects on her channel. Almost like free pro instructor like lessons and helpful to intermediates wanting to progress imo. Overall, your strokes and movement already look good too in general, in my 2c opinion.

 

[dannyslicer]

Do not drive 2 hours for a lesson, waste of time
Use more spin on your flat backhand.
But, you can not get better playing only once a week.

 

[Crocodile]

There is no harm in trying things out with an excellent coach. I would rather do that than listen to a YouTube video where there is no direct interaction or personal instruction.
In Australia people in regional areas travel hours to have a lesson with a great coach or sometimes the coach him or herself will drive out to the player.
Make a day of it and have a great time. People appreciate this type of dedication.

 

[Pumpkin]

A good coach can speed up your progress and you don't have to go regularly, because you will learn things that you have to go away and practice.