How to remember your tennis lessons.

[lendl1986]

Latest entry from my tennis blog:

"I just had an important tennis lesson, and this one's going to "stick."

My teacher Matt recently shared the 8 minute warmup routine that has spared him from serious injury. Injury has been on my mind since my shoulder injury, and I was eager to learn anything that could keep me "on court" late into life. There was a lot to take in: he starts with a short baseline to baseline jog, then a skip, then a high skip, then lunges, backwards lunges, arm circles (large), arm circles (tight), crossovers, etc. etc. etc. No chance could I remember even half of this. But my video camera was hanging on the curtain, recording the whole precious thing for me.

Lessons are expensive. Can you afford to take the same lesson twice?

Ever struggle with a problem, take a lesson, make some progress...only to find that you must re-take that lesson several months later? The problem with lessons is that unlike books and videos, we can't "refresh" ourselves of them.

Video solves the problem of forgetfulness and offers futher benefits:

1. Linear improvement. Your lessons should build on one another. That is, if you're going to learn to serve, you should probably proceed like this: learn the toss, add shoulder turn, add knee bend, add topspin, add slice, add placement, add power, then add disguise. These may take 3 - 5 different lessons...all of them picking up where the other left off. With video, you won't be asking your instructor to review ball tossing (lesson 1) when you're on lesson 4...you can always review that subject on video at home.
   
2. Organization. If you want to become a complete player, your lessons should be equally complete: footwork, fitness, mental, backhand, forehand, overhead, serve, etc. Edit and label your videos. Place them in folders like "slice backhand" and "overheads" until your collection becomes complete.
   
3. See the real you. Video lessons are popular because they offer the advantage of repeatability. But people are peculiar, and we all have some odd tendencies that can only be spotted in actual video of yourself. So don't just learn the perfect backhand...learn the perfect backhand that works for you.

Don't have video? Here's an effective post-lesson habit.

Keep a simple notepad in your tennis bag. Once your lesson is over, and you're loading your bag into your car do this:

1. Review the lesson in your mind. Take a good 20 seconds to really recall the beginning to the end.
   
2. Write down your 3 most vivid memories. This can be simple things like "butt cap forward on the backhand" or "8 steps before each groundstroke" or other tips and tricks at the front of your mind. Or if you can remember, write out your memories in longer form.

Don't spend more than a minute or two with your "journal." The simpler, and briefer you keep this practice, the more likely you are to continue it. It won't be long until you have an invaluable collection of thoughts and reminders, in your own words, that will help you solve the many puzzles you face as a tennis player."

 

[charliefedererer]

I love your idea of keeping a brief journal of lessons.

Video review can be incredibly helpful. I suspect more don't do it because they honestly don't believe they really will review the video.

 

[vChRiSv]

This is a great idea!

I've never really taken lessons myself, so I can't say much on that. But whenever I'm reading tips and guides on this forum or on other sites, I always put short reminders on my phone. The same for whenever I come to some sort of realization when playing.

I re-read the notes as often as I can, but I find it especially helpful to review them right before I play. That way I'm consciously thinking about them while playing, and it starts to develop them directly into my game until it becomes natural.

 

[Limpinhitter]

* * *
Don't have video? Here's an effective post-lesson habit.

Keep a simple notepad in your tennis bag. Once your lesson is over, and you're loading your bag into your car do this:

1. Review the lesson in your mind. Take a good 20 seconds to really recall the beginning to the end.
   
2. Write down your 3 most vivid memories. This can be simple things like "butt cap forward on the backhand" or "8 steps before each groundstroke" or other tips and tricks at the front of your mind. Or if you can remember, write out your memories in longer form.

Don't spend more than a minute or two with your "journal." The simpler, and briefer you keep this practice, the more likely you are to continue it. It won't be long until you have an invaluable collection of thoughts and reminders, in your own words, that will help you solve the many puzzles you face as a tennis player."

Absolutely! IMO, the easiest way to memorialize a lesson is to make a bullet list for each aspect you worked on during the lesson ie: forehand, backhand, serve, footwork, volleys, etc. Video is a great learning tool. But, it can be a distraction unless you can put it out of your mind and focus on the lesson and not the camera.

 

[lendl1986]

Business consultants, image consultants, marketing consultants, etc. cost $100+ an hour. You take notes when they speak, or they at least hand over a summary sheet.

But for some reason, when we pay a tennis consultant most of us walk away with fleeting memories.