Hints for finding a good coach

[KenC]

Over the years I have seen many forum members complain about professional coaching, and for the most part they are right. There are a lot of bad coaches out there who have no idea how to develop tennis talent. Here are the top 3 things that distinguish a good coach from a bad coach, IMHO:

1. Persistence in overcoming technical errors. They don't stop at good enough, they stop when you've nailed it consistently and are ready to move on and make it even better.
2. Knowledge on how to overcome those errors and how to take stuff to the next level. Sometimes you have to force the body and mind to adapt to a different approach. It's often not enough to say "do this this way" and instead there are proven exercises that encourage the change. This is the hidden gem of good coaching.
3. Dedication to advancement. It's not enough to learn a proper forehand, backhand and serve, they have to continually get better, more powerful and more precise. Again, knowledge is required to make quick progress.

So, what do you look for before you commit to trying a new coach?

1. Do they themselves play tennis at or above the level you want to play? Do they still play tournaments? What was the highest level they arrived at in their careers? If a coach played Futures tournaments, he probably knows what it takes to arrive at that level.

2. What is the highest level their best student arrived at? Are they capable of taking a 3.0 and eventually getting them to 5.0 or even beyond? How fast do his/her students progress typically?

3. How do they interact with their students? Are the lessons serious, intense, purposeful, or are they just enjoying the weather? Does the coach use modern techniques, like videoanalysis, to help their students? Talk to their students and ask for criticisms.

I hope this helps some people to not give up on getting proper coaching, as I see it as fundamental for playing good tennis.

 

[Bender]

Over the years I have seen many forum members complain about professional coaching, and for the most part they are right. There are a lot of bad coaches out there who have no idea how to develop tennis talent. Here are the top 3 things that distinguish a good coach from a bad coach, IMHO:

1. Persistence in overcoming technical errors. They don't stop at good enough, they stop when you've nailed it consistently and are ready to move on and make it even better.
2. Knowledge on how to overcome those errors and how to take stuff to the next level. Sometimes you have to force the body and mind to adapt to a different approach. It's often not enough to say "do this this way" and instead there are proven exercises that encourage the change. This is the hidden gem of good coaching.
3. Dedication to advancement. It's not enough to learn a proper forehand, backhand and serve, they have to continually get better, more powerful and more precise. Again, knowledge is required to make quick progress.

So, what do you look for before you commit to trying a new coach?

1. Do they themselves play tennis at or above the level you want to play? Do they still play tournaments? What was the highest level they arrived at in their careers? If a coach played Futures tournaments, he probably knows what it takes to arrive at that level.

2. What is the highest level their best student arrived at? Are they capable of taking a 3.0 and eventually getting them to 5.0 or even beyond? How fast do his/her students progress typically?

3. How do they interact with their students? Are the lessons serious, intense, purposeful, or are they just enjoying the weather? Does the coach use modern techniques, like videoanalysis, to help their students? Talk to their students and ask for criticisms.

I hope this helps some people to not give up on getting proper coaching, as I see it as fundamental for playing good tennis.

Being able to put into words that learners of the game can understand easily is one. No use spewing technical jargon if your students can't understand a word you're saying.

Another thing is price. Good and / or accomplished often command a high price. Not all expensive coaches are good, but no truly great coach comes cheap.

 

[chikoo]

Over the years I have seen many forum members complain about professional coaching, and for the most part they are right. There are a lot of bad coaches out there who have no idea how to develop tennis talent. Here are the top 3 things that distinguish a good coach from a bad coach, IMHO:

1. Persistence in overcoming technical errors. They don't stop at good enough, they stop when you've nailed it consistently and are ready to move on and make it even better.
2. Knowledge on how to overcome those errors and how to take stuff to the next level. Sometimes you have to force the body and mind to adapt to a different approach. It's often not enough to say "do this this way" and instead there are proven exercises that encourage the change. This is the hidden gem of good coaching.
3. Dedication to advancement. It's not enough to learn a proper forehand, backhand and serve, they have to continually get better, more powerful and more precise. Again, knowledge is required to make quick progress.

So, what do you look for before you commit to trying a new coach?

1. Do they themselves play tennis at or above the level you want to play? Do they still play tournaments? What was the highest level they arrived at in their careers? If a coach played Futures tournaments, he probably knows what it takes to arrive at that level.

2. What is the highest level their best student arrived at? Are they capable of taking a 3.0 and eventually getting them to 5.0 or even beyond? How fast do his/her students progress typically?

3. How do they interact with their students? Are the lessons serious, intense, purposeful, or are they just enjoying the weather? Does the coach use modern techniques, like videoanalysis, to help their students? Talk to their students and ask for criticisms.

I hope this helps some people to not give up on getting proper coaching, as I see it as fundamental for playing good tennis.

Most if not all Pro/coaches want their students to replicate the shots they know.

Bad way to teach. If their shots were that great, why did they not become champions themselves?

You need coaches that start with giving the students targets to achieve, not how to achieve, and then help them practice and learn the discipline.

 

[mcs1970]

There is no way one can scientifically nail down who will be a good coach or not. Two individuals might take lessons from the same coach and come to different conclusions.

Even the requirements are different. As a parent you might think that having a driven, technically sound coach is what makes the most sense for your kids. Maybe that type of coach will cause your kid to lose interest in tennis or burn out fast, whereas the more easy going, less technical coach who lets the kids have fun will keep the kids motivated so that they look forward to their lessons every week, and one day will develop their own style. OTOH, if you are a kid/person who craves to be ridden hard, then you want a different type of coach. Coaching might change depending upon the level you are at too. Maybe the coach you have today is not the one you want tomorrow when you've moved up to a different level.

Personally for me, I'd stay from coaches who instruct or yell/berate players too much. Easy going coaches who allow players to develop their own style is what I look for, because I feel a lot of your learning in any endeavor has to come from yourself via introspection/examining results/your own passion, than just expecting advice that is geared more to the masses, but might not be the best one for you. Even some easy going/technically sound coaches fall into the category of not comprehending that every individual is different and if something funky is working for someone, it's better to not tinker with it too much.

 

[chikoo]

There is no way one can scientifically nail down who will be a good coach or not. Two individuals might take lessons from the same coach and come to different conclusions.

Even the requirements are different. As a parent you might think that having a driven, technically sound coach is what makes the most sense for your kids. Maybe that type of coach will cause your kid to lose interest in tennis or burn out fast, whereas the more easy going, less technical coach who lets the kids have fun will keep the kids motivated so that they look forward to their lessons every week, and one day will develop their own style. OTOH, if you are a kid/person who craves to be ridden hard, then you want a different type of coach. Coaching might change depending upon the level you are at too. Maybe the coach you have today is not the one you want tomorrow when you've moved up to a different level.

Personally for me, I'd stay from coaches who instruct or yell/berate players too much. Easy going coaches who allow players to develop their own style is what I look for, because I feel a lot of your learning in any endeavor has to come from yourself via introspection/examining results/your own passion, than just expecting advice that is geared more to the masses, but might not be the best one for you. Even some easy going/technically sound coaches fall into the category of not comprehending that every individual is different and if something funky is working for someone, it's better to not tinker with it too much.

Ditto!

 

[sureshs]

When the student is ready, the Coach will appear.

 

[GuyClinch]

It depends on what you are looking for from a coach as well..

For a rec player you are looking for a hitter and a coach - most of the time. This means you want someone who can offer some decent advice on the big picture but also hit and play at a decent level..aka 5.0+. These gives you lots of experience - the ability to deal with pace etc.

For aspiring junior you might want someone with a strong technical knowledge of the game, the drills needed to succeed, and a proven track record of building great players. These guy might use seperate hitters.

For kids you might want someone motivational who harnesses peoples love to play. These guys should have some child psych skills and get kids to love tennis.

Personally I think rec players are all wet in their coach criticism - any decent college player should be more then enough to help a rec player improve. Rec players rarely need any serious technical coaching because their strokes are so obviously flawed that any college player can make solid corrections.. The indepth biomechanical knowledge that some players are looking for in a coach (the players that post here I think) is mostly a waste of time.

Worrying about wrist angles and ISR and such is dumb if the player isn't even in position to hit the ball with a decent stroke..

 

[movdqa]

Over the years I have seen many forum members complain about professional coaching, and for the most part they are right. There are a lot of bad coaches out there who have no idea how to develop tennis talent. Here are the top 3 things that distinguish a good coach from a bad coach, IMHO:

1. Persistence in overcoming technical errors. They don't stop at good enough, they stop when you've nailed it consistently and are ready to move on and make it even better.
2. Knowledge on how to overcome those errors and how to take stuff to the next level. Sometimes you have to force the body and mind to adapt to a different approach. It's often not enough to say "do this this way" and instead there are proven exercises that encourage the change. This is the hidden gem of good coaching.
3. Dedication to advancement. It's not enough to learn a proper forehand, backhand and serve, they have to continually get better, more powerful and more precise. Again, knowledge is required to make quick progress.

So, what do you look for before you commit to trying a new coach?

1. Do they themselves play tennis at or above the level you want to play? Do they still play tournaments? What was the highest level they arrived at in their careers? If a coach played Futures tournaments, he probably knows what it takes to arrive at that level.

2. What is the highest level their best student arrived at? Are they capable of taking a 3.0 and eventually getting them to 5.0 or even beyond? How fast do his/her students progress typically?

3. How do they interact with their students? Are the lessons serious, intense, purposeful, or are they just enjoying the weather? Does the coach use modern techniques, like videoanalysis, to help their students? Talk to their students and ask for criticisms.

I hope this helps some people to not give up on getting proper coaching, as I see it as fundamental for playing good tennis.

A lot of good stuff there.

There is one good coach at my club. He looks like a former futures player and he gets all of the best students at the club and a few beginners. For me, him having a one-handed backhand would be a big plus for me. I've tried to get his contact info but he's always busy. I will get it eventually though. All of our club-sponsored coaches are awful (as in they play around 3.0). He mainly teaches juniors.

My other experience with coaches was when I wanted lessons for my daughter. I asked for recommendations from other tennis players and wound up at a club an hour away that only did tennis. I found a great coach for our daughter - she coached high-school tennis for one of the wealthy suburban schools and she got my daughter hitting after a few lessons. Unfortunately she was really too busy and had to drop us. So word of mouth among good tennis players can be helpful too. This was before the good coach came to our local club.

None of these guys do video analysis and I do think that video is useful but I have seen the fruits of their efforts and they are good.

There is also chemistry and I think that can make a difference in pairs.

I'd also expect a good coach to charge what he or she is worth.

 

[GuyClinch]

I never heard of a club with a 3.0 coach. That seems impossible..

 

[KenC]

Of course my suggestions above are just guidelines and every player has to make up their own mind about who is best to help them. More importantly, we have to realize that there is no such thing as a perfect coach in an imperfect world. And even more importantly, there are no perfect students in this imperfect world. Which brings me to another point:

A lot of the critisicms I see and hear about coaches actually stem from the student being a really bad student more than the coach being a bad coach. Let's face it, a lot of people are really difficult and are not open to taking advice. Some are not willing to put the required effort in to achieve progress. Some are just unrealistic and expect too much from a coach but give too little in effort themselves.

 

[KenC]

I'd also expect a good coach to charge what he or she is worth.

This is what scares a lot of people. Yes, good tennis training is very expensive. I know, I pay my coach very well, and I think he should ask me to double his salary because he is worth it. If we want a free market, every coach is allowed to charge what he is worth.

I never heard of a club with a 3.0 coach. That seems impossible..

It may be that the 3.0 coaches are really there to do a babysitting service more than teach competitive level tennis. Every now and then I play in the afternoon during tennis school hours and I have to laugh at some of the kids on the courts. 20 lbs. overweight, 1 hand on the racquet and the other hand holding an ice cream, then they start crying for the most rediculous things. Over time I bet they are all collected and put into a class together and let the best babysitters coddle them until their parents show up. Funny how the head coach has all the promising talent under him and the worst coach has all the worst potential.

 

[Crocodile]

The things I would look for in engaging the services of an excellent tennis coach are:
1. Someone who is highly qualified and up to date with their professional development with the appropriate coaching body.
2. A career coach with good experience
3. Someone with a positive attitude
4. Someone who is genuinely interested in helping you,

 

[heninfan99]

Look at their students

 

[movdqa]

I never heard of a club with a 3.0 coach. That seems impossible..

We have two of them at my club. I wouldn't be surprised if they have some certification as they've been around for a long time. They usually teach kids but they also teach adults sometimes. I would shoot some video if I didn't think it inappropriate.

 

[GuyClinch]

Well if we are talking about old guys who used to be great and are now 3.0s - I suppose that's how it is. Not appropriate for most rec players because they are going to need a hitter and coach, IMHO. It sucks for the old guys but that's how it is. But even Patriots coach has some younger assistant coaches to go demonstrate technique and stuff on the field..

But again don't agree with this thread. For a rec player a good coach is not expensive - and not hard to find. Simply sign up with a former college player - and have them hit with you and teach you. Now if you have a buddy who will do the same for free - more power to you. But this is enough to take rec players up to 4.0/4.5 easily - provided you have enough talent for that and stick with it.

I don't believe for a minute rec players need special coaching to achieve ordinary levels of success. Now if you are a touring pro you might want to hire biomechanics expert to fine tune some part of your game you are getting slightly wrong. But for rec players this does not apply..

Just look around many amateurs are doing very obvious things very wrong - that even low level players can see.. College players have no issues seeing that you miss your split step or were out of position for that shot - or aren't serving with a throwing motion etc. They can spot and help fix those things.

The issue with this thread they fall into the 'timeToPlaySets' trap - the idea that tennis coaches need some magical hard to obtain knowledge to guide people up to ordinary levels of play. This is simply untrue.

The same way you can analyze your opponent and come up with a strategy to defeat them is similar to coaching. In warmups you can see stuff like - guy does not turn sideways on overheads. Guy does not use his feet to volley. Guys does not know how to hit open stance on the run etc - and then use this to craft a strategy to defeat your opponent.

College guys do the same thing - so they already have a lot of the skills needed to coach.

 

[movdqa]

Well if we are talking about old guys who used to be great and are now 3.0s - I suppose that's how it is. Not appropriate for most rec players because they are going to need a hitter and coach, IMHO. It sucks for the old guys but that's how it is. But even Patriots coach has some younger assistant coaches to go demonstrate technique and stuff on the field..

But again don't agree with this thread. For a rec player a good coach is not expensive - and not hard to find. Simply sign up with a former college player - and have them hit with you and teach you. Now if you have a buddy who will do the same for free - more power to you. But this is enough to take rec players up to 4.0/4.5 easily - provided you have enough talent for that and stick with it.

I don't believe for a minute rec players need special coaching to achieve ordinary levels of success. Now if you are a touring pro you might want to hire biomechanics expert to fine tune some part of your game you are getting slightly wrong. But for rec players this does not apply..

Just look around many amateurs are doing very obvious things very wrong - that even low level players can see.. College players have no issues seeing that you miss your split step or were out of position for that shot - or aren't serving with a throwing motion etc. They can spot and help fix those things.

The issue with this thread they fall into the 'timeToPlaySets' trap - the idea that tennis coaches need some magical hard to obtain knowledge to guide people up to ordinary levels of play. This is simply untrue.

The same way you can analyze your opponent and come up with a strategy to defeat them is similar to coaching. In warmups you can see stuff like - guy does not turn sideways on overheads. Guy does not use his feet to volley. Guys does not know how to hit open stance on the run etc - and then use this to craft a strategy to defeat your opponent.

College guys do the same thing - so they already have a lot of the skills needed to coach.

These guys were 2.0s who learned and improved to 3.0s. I saw them learning to play and was horrified when they started giving lessons.

The lessons are mostly 6-12 year-old kids but they sometimes give lessons to adults.

 

[chikoo]

We have two of them at my club. I wouldn't be surprised if they have some certification as they've been around for a long time. They usually teach kids but they also teach adults sometimes. I would shoot some video if I didn't think it inappropriate.

Are they 3.0 based upon ability to win a game or stroke mechanics?

Many a with knee/foot injuries is what I think about.

 

[movdqa]

Are they 3.0 based upon ability to win a game or stroke mechanics?

Many a with knee/foot injuries is what I think about.

Stroke mechanics.

I've watched these guys for 15 years. I have never, ever seen them hit with 3.5s. My guess is that they would be lucky to get points off 3.5s outside of errors.

 

[Chadillac]

The uspta and ptr are now more about paperwork than tennis. Its used to be respected, now it means little, aside from insurance

 

[Limpinhitter]

Over the years I have seen many forum members complain about professional coaching, and for the most part they are right. There are a lot of bad coaches out there who have no idea how to develop tennis talent. Here are the top 3 things that distinguish a good coach from a bad coach, IMHO:

1. Persistence in overcoming technical errors. They don't stop at good enough, they stop when you've nailed it consistently and are ready to move on and make it even better.
2. Knowledge on how to overcome those errors and how to take stuff to the next level. Sometimes you have to force the body and mind to adapt to a different approach. It's often not enough to say "do this this way" and instead there are proven exercises that encourage the change. This is the hidden gem of good coaching.
3. Dedication to advancement. It's not enough to learn a proper forehand, backhand and serve, they have to continually get better, more powerful and more precise. Again, knowledge is required to make quick progress.

So, what do you look for before you commit to trying a new coach?

1. Do they themselves play tennis at or above the level you want to play? Do they still play tournaments? What was the highest level they arrived at in their careers? If a coach played Futures tournaments, he probably knows what it takes to arrive at that level.

2. What is the highest level their best student arrived at? Are they capable of taking a 3.0 and eventually getting them to 5.0 or even beyond? How fast do his/her students progress typically?

3. How do they interact with their students? Are the lessons serious, intense, purposeful, or are they just enjoying the weather? Does the coach use modern techniques, like videoanalysis, to help their students? Talk to their students and ask for criticisms.

I hope this helps some people to not give up on getting proper coaching, as I see it as fundamental for playing good tennis.

Good tennis coaches come in all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Playing and/or teaching credentials don't always equate to knowledge, or the ability to communicate that knowledge effectively to students. In any event, in my view, your best chance of finding a good coach is to look for one who teaches the top juniors in your area. Even then, if you don't think you are getting what you need, keep looking.

 

[GuyClinch]

Good tennis coaches come in all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Playing and/or teaching credentials don't always equate to knowledge, or the ability to communicate that knowledge effectively to students. In any event, in my view, your best chance of finding a good coach is to look for one who teaches the top juniors in your area. Even then, if you don't think you are getting what you need, keep looking.

Most rec players shouldn't get a coach - they should get a hitter that can coach a little. Nick Bolleteri would be fairly useless without his academy.. In tennis you learn mostly by doing.. So you need someone who can hit with you to show you the ropes.

It's the same with the pros. Federer can certainly get by without his coach - but he is going to need someone to hit with to stay sharp. And many of the women hire a hitter full time to go with their coach.

 

[KenC]

Most rec players shouldn't get a coach - they should get a hitter that can coach a little. Nick Bolleteri would be fairly useless without his academy.. In tennis you learn mostly by doing.. So you need someone who can hit with you to show you the ropes.

It's the same with the pros. Federer can certainly get by without his coach - but he is going to need someone to hit with to stay sharp. And many of the women hire a hitter full time to go with their coach.

Of course it all depends on what your goals are. If you just want to play rec tennis at the local park on the weekends, you can probably get by with youtube videos and TT. If you want to win a few matches at the local park, maybe a good hitting partner who was trained by a competent coach can eventually get you there, but I am not so sure how far a good hitting partner can go with a casual approach. I play tennis at a pretty high level, yet I am sure I would be a lousy coach just because my focus is different from that of a real coach. I think only in terms of winning matches, while my coach has to do all the background work to make that happen. I would have to stop the hitting practice and get serious about making sure the fundamentals of good tennis are there and essentially transform myself from a player to a teacher, which would take some time.

So if you want to play in tournaments, win in tournaments, and play at the higher levels in tournaments, I doubt just getting a better hitting partner will get you there. You will most likely need a coach with a proven track record of taking rec level players and transforming them into competition level players. If you want to progress from a lousy tennis player to a good tennis player quickly, you will need a real coach. If you really want to hit a forehand like Federer, you will need a real coach, as it is not so easy and there are many things that have to be in place before a player can hit strokes like Federer. If you want to play casually I agree hitting with better player who was trained by a coach can make you a better player over more time.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Well if we are talking about old guys who used to be great and are now 3.0s - I suppose that's how it is. Not appropriate for most rec players because they are going to need a hitter and coach, IMHO. It sucks for the old guys but that's how it is. But even Patriots coach has some younger assistant coaches to go demonstrate technique and stuff on the field..

But again don't agree with this thread. For a rec player a good coach is not expensive - and not hard to find. Simply sign up with a former college player - and have them hit with you and teach you. Now if you have a buddy who will do the same for free - more power to you. But this is enough to take rec players up to 4.0/4.5 easily - provided you have enough talent for that and stick with it.

I don't believe for a minute rec players need special coaching to achieve ordinary levels of success. Now if you are a touring pro you might want to hire biomechanics expert to fine tune some part of your game you are getting slightly wrong. But for rec players this does not apply..

Just look around many amateurs are doing very obvious things very wrong - that even low level players can see.. College players have no issues seeing that you miss your split step or were out of position for that shot - or aren't serving with a throwing motion etc. They can spot and help fix those things.

The issue with this thread they fall into the 'timeToPlaySets' trap - the idea that tennis coaches need some magical hard to obtain knowledge to guide people up to ordinary levels of play. This is simply untrue.

The same way you can analyze your opponent and come up with a strategy to defeat them is similar to coaching. In warmups you can see stuff like - guy does not turn sideways on overheads. Guy does not use his feet to volley. Guys does not know how to hit open stance on the run etc - and then use this to craft a strategy to defeat your opponent.

College guys do the same thing - so they already have a lot of the skills needed to coach.

The ex-college players know how to play but don't necessarily know how to teach. Those are different skill sets. Some are not very self-aware or perhaps they don't remember a time when they weren't proficient and thus have a hard time breaking things down to fundamentals and progressions.

 

[GuyClinch]

The ex-college players know how to play but don't necessarily know how to teach. Those are different skill sets. Some are not very self-aware or perhaps they don't remember a time when they weren't proficient and thus have a hard time breaking things down to fundamentals and progressions.

They learned themselves and can usually break down the stroke just like they learned it. This is how teaching really works. People who know how to do something explain how they do it..

Again this idea that you need some 'super teacher' to learn tennis as a rec player is just hogwash. Can a super teacher do better? Perhaps. But its not necessary.

Again if you just HIT with a 5.0 every day - you would be a much better player then some guy who just "learned' but never hit with a super teaching pro. It's the doing that teaches - not the fancy explanation.

Its not any different then academics. Maybe a student understands math a bit better/faster from his professor. But most smart kids make excellent tutors with zero 'teaching' experience. How?

How does this tutor perform this magic?! They understand the subject themselves so they can explain how they figure it out to the student. Same deal with the college kid as coach. It's like a tennis tutor..

 

[r2473]

Just say POMO.

If they don't know what that means, look elsewhere.

 

[sureshs]

All of our club-sponsored coaches are awful (as in they play around 3.0).

That is not possible.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

i've found all my coaches via word of mouth...
IMO:
* most folks really just want a hitting partner, not really a coach (ie. to get used to hitting against heavy spin, or big pace)
* best coach for me is someone who's played at a high level (not necessarily any more) D1+, but is good technically, tactically and strategically.
* best coach for me is NOT hitting with they are just watching me hit, under pressure (some have brought their own juniors, others have required me to bring someone)... but either way, if you are hiring a coach to hit with you are literally cutting your lesson time in half, because when the ball is on their side of the court, they are watching the ball, and not you...
* if you're not in shape... fix that first.. because all the technical stuff will be a waste if you're winded 5 balls into a rally (ie. most common advice will be move your feet, to get into position... and of course, you're probably taking shortcuts cuz i/you are getting tired)

 

[movdqa]

That is not possible.

Back when our kids were taking music lessons, our kids' teacher was asked to teach music there. She has a considerable background as a music teacher. They offered her less than minimum wage for her services. I wouldn't be surprised if they did that with the club-sponsored coaches.

In most cases, you get what you paid for.

She taught there for a year or two and then dropped it.

 

[KenC]

* best coach for me is NOT hitting with they are just watching me hit, under pressure (some have brought their own juniors, others have required me to bring someone)... but either way, if you are hiring a coach to hit with you are literally cutting your lesson time in half, because when the ball is on their side of the court, they are watching the ball, and not you...

My coach collaborates with all the other coaches in the area and we end up setting up sessions with another coach and their student. We do drills for the first hour and there the coaches can work on ironing out problems. Then we play a couple of sets so that we iron out problems during point play. One of the big problems with always sparring with your coach is that you become too accustomed to their ball and then when you face another opponent things go off again and there is a tendency to revert back to the old way. Always having a different sparring partner helps avoid this problem.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

1. Persistence in overcoming technical errors. They don't stop at good enough, they stop when you've nailed it consistently and are ready to move on and make it even better.
.

Spot on. Most coaches let the student keep hitting and reinforce bad mechanics. Serve toss is perfect example. Is toss is bad, to low, not deep, turn do not let student hit the ball! Even if it takes FIFTY tosses

 

[ChaelAZ]

3. How do they interact with their students? Are the lessons serious, intense, purposeful, or are they just enjoying the weather? Does the coach use modern techniques, like videoanalysis, to help their students? Talk to their students and ask for criticisms.

I always recommend you watch a coach give a few lessons before deciding on them. While many are good at selling themselves and all the things they can do for your game, watching a lesson they give and how they apply themselves (such as mentioned above) is a great indicator. You also get to see their personality and how responsive they are to students. Do they give enough instruction or are they essential and organic ball feeder for students? Do they give too much instruction and constantly confuse the basics of what is being worked on with too much talk? Do they let the students try and fail a few times before giving corrections or do they constantly try to correct (and confuse) a student? Do they overlook error becuase their lesson plans doesn't allow them to customize to each individual student?

Stuff like that.

 

[kiteboard]

You are always going to be your own best coach.

 

[PittsburghDad]

A lot of good stuff there.

There is one good coach at my club. He looks like a former futures player and he gets all of the best students at the club and a few beginners. For me, him having a one-handed backhand would be a big plus for me. I've tried to get his contact info but he's always busy. I will get it eventually though. All of our club-sponsored coaches are awful (as in they play around 3.0). He mainly teaches juniors.

My other experience with coaches was when I wanted lessons for my daughter. I asked for recommendations from other tennis players and wound up at a club an hour away that only did tennis. I found a great coach for our daughter - she coached high-school tennis for one of the wealthy suburban schools and she got my daughter hitting after a few lessons. Unfortunately she was really too busy and had to drop us. So word of mouth among good tennis players can be helpful too. This was before the good coach came to our local club.

None of these guys do video analysis and I do think that video is useful but I have seen the fruits of their efforts and they are good.

There is also chemistry and I think that can make a difference in pairs.

I'd also expect a good coach to charge what he or she is worth.

Ummmmm. Thats the worst club in history.

 

[KenC]

Spot on. Most coaches let the student keep hitting and reinforce bad mechanics. Serve toss is perfect example. Is toss is bad, to low, not deep, turn do not let student hit the ball! Even if it takes FIFTY tosses

I wish I had a dollar for everytime I would tell my coach that I am doing the technique right and he insists that I am not. Just before I get to the point where he is about to get a racquet colonoscopy, he pulls out the Ipad and proceeds to show me that I am wrong.

Ummmmm. Thats the worst club in history.

I think there are a few clubs here where tennis is not so serious, and the tennis school is really just an afterschool babysitting session for chunky butt kids. I sometimes wonder if it is the coaching staff's fault, or is it really the player's fault?

 

[kramer woodie]

How about letting coaches refuse to teach students with helicopter parents, students lacking in respect or thankfulness, students stubbornly intent
on doing everything their own way expecting a different results, students incapable of following directions, students with only enough coordination
to sit on their butts and manipulate their thumbs, and the inability to focus for even 2 seconds before their mind wanders or is distracted by a bug?
Oh, I left out an all important situation, students only there to socialize and don't really care if they get better, just appease mom or dad or both, plus
chatter on and distract other students who want to learn.

Maybe it's not all the coaches that are at fault. However, how would a person dedicated to helping students learn, ever make a living turning away
income? Also, those coaches that teach for free, don't really do teaching for free, tennis balls, courts, nets, and racquets costs money.

I have found that it is easier for most people to be critics. As most people sit on the sidelines and shout their worth to the world only as a critic
without the earned expertise to perform. Easy to be a critic. Get their butts on the court and let them bleed before they earn the right to criticize.
Plus, no matter what parents think, their little Johnny or Mary, ain't even all that special. Just another Tom, Dick, or Junebug.

Aloha

 

[ulfee]

Can you recommend anyone for my 3 kids ages 7, 8, and 10 in northern NJ? Thanks.