One Lesson With A Stranger

[Cindysphinx]

I recently attended a USTPA clinic in which tennis pro hopefuls were trying to earn their certifications. One thing they have to do is teach a one-hour private lesson, with an evaluator deciding whether they teach it well. I believe the way it works is that the student decides what the lesson will cover, and the pro does his best on the fly. I got the idea that the student picks just one skill for the lesson.

OK. Say you were the student. This pro is a stranger to you and a novice too, and you'll never see him again after the lesson. What skill would you choose to cover?

 

[flash9]

Here's a thought

If this person taking the lesson attends regular clinics or take private lessons already. Then I would recommend they choose whatever they feel their current instructor do not do a very good job covering. This way they can see this stroke from someone else point of view.

 

[tbini87]

hmm. at first i thought the serve, because there is a lot that goes into it. also because you could take their advice and work on it by yourself with a basket. but then i thought that maybe you should just take your weakest stroke and let them work with you on that one. for me it would probably be volleys, but it could be backhand or anything else!

 

[Cindysphinx]

Mmmm, I think I'd go with overhead. It's difficult to practice overheads by yourself, and it is definitely a shot that doesn't get enough practice. And even if the feeds were horrible, so much the better because then I'd have to learn to move.

Also, the mechanics on the overhead are kind of straightforward, so even a bad pro couldn't mess up your strokes too much. I actually did take one of these certification clinics as a group lesson, and we worked on BH groundstroke. The pro didn't like my loop takeback. I didn't take his advice, because I prefer to do a loop on my BH and my current pro is OK with it. So doing a whole clinic with this novice pro telling me the opposite what my own pro is telling me would be a problem.

 

[skiracer55]

I'd just play points...

...and work on the skills of constructing points and finishing them (either with a winner or via an error from the other player). This obviously expands into how to win games, how to close out a set, how to close out a match.

Why? Two reasons:

- I'm not gonna get anything useful from anybody in an hour about any of my strokes.

- Most players work incessantly on their strokes, but never work on the vital skills of winning points, games, and matches.

 

[Swissv2]

Let your own coach work on your strokes, because differences of opinion may confuse you. One thing you could ask assistance for is all the questions for doubles strategy that you ask us on a daily basis.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Let your own coach work on your strokes, because differences of opinion may confuse you. One thing you could ask assistance for is all the questions for doubles strategy that you ask us on a daily basis.

Meow!!

Nah, I'd go with overhead, but thanks for the suggestion . . . .

 

[LawnChairGeneral]

...and work on the skills of constructing points and finishing them (either with a winner or via an error from the other player). This obviously expands into how to win games, how to close out a set, how to close out a match.

Why? Two reasons:

- I'm not gonna get anything useful from anybody in an hour about any of my strokes.

- Most players work incessantly on their strokes, but never work on the vital skills of winning points, games, and matches.

i like this approach too. most pros can deconstruct the mechanics of a particular stroke and in some cases confuse their students if they think it should be different. rather, i'd be interested to see what this guy knows about the game, strategy, mental confidence, etc.

maybe that is too broad for an hour. if i had to choose one shot it would be the drop. what is his opinion on when to use a drop shot? how best/better to disguise it?

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Most players work incessantly on their strokes, but never work on the vital skills of winning points, games, and matches.

Right on the money. You can hit all the balls you like in structured drills, but that ain't how the game is played. In fact too much structured drilling can kill your movement skills. CC

 

[Swissv2]

Meow!!

Nah, I'd go with overhead, but thanks for the suggestion . . . .

You must regale us with the new tips you learn about smashing the fuzzy yellow ball.

 

[LuckyR]

I recently attended a USTPA clinic in which tennis pro hopefuls were trying to earn their certifications. One thing they have to do is teach a one-hour private lesson, with an evaluator deciding whether they teach it well. I believe the way it works is that the student decides what the lesson will cover, and the pro does his best on the fly. I got the idea that the student picks just one skill for the lesson.

OK. Say you were the student. This pro is a stranger to you and a novice too, and you'll never see him again after the lesson. What skill would you choose to cover?

I'd go with returns of serve. Why? Because having folks who are way better servers than you, hit lots of serves for you to return, is uncommon and this guy will be motivated. Secondly your goal of ROS will vary from server to server, so having a guy you will see only once, is no big deal.

 

[Cindysphinx]

You must regale us with the new tips you learn about smashing the fuzzy yellow ball.

I can't! It's a *hypothetical question.* Such a lesson will never happen.

 

[skiracer55]

Yep, and your ability...

Right on the money. You can hit all the balls you like in structured drills, but that ain't how the game is played. In fact too much structured drilling can kill your movement skills. CC

...to know how to fight off break points, take advantage of break point opportunities, change tactics when whatever you're doing isn't working, and so forth. The guy who currently coaches me is a former #2 at CU Boulder, and he's a great coach and a great player (is from Argentina, worked out with David Nalbandian when they were juniors, etc.)...and he's a monster
(6' 4", 220 pounds, moves like a gymnast).

When we first started last year, I needed some changes to my forehand, volley, and serve. So for a long time, it was just him feeding me balls to get the changes down. Then it became point construction, no score. Now, after a good warmup and check of my current skill level...with corrections as needed... we play sets, where as I improve, he increases his level just enough to stay ahead of me and make me increase my level. After a big point, he'll stop and tell me what I did well or not so well, also on the change games, at the end of a set, and so forth.

It's great training, and I'd encourage everyone, regardless of level, to do the same...with your coach and/or hitting partners. Can my serve, forehand, volleys improve? Of course, just as everyone has stroke issues he or she needs to work on. But at whatever level you currently happen to be, you always need to work on the skills of movement on the court, good tactics, and playing your way through a match point by point, game by game. The opposite, of course, is players who do nothing but play matches and never work on their strokes, strategies, physical conditioning, or mental game. A blend of all of the above works best...and it's also, IMHO, the most fun...

 

[Swissv2]

...to know how to fight off break points, take advantage of break point opportunities, change tactics when whatever you're doing isn't working, and so forth. The guy who currently coaches me is a former #2 at CU Boulder, and he's a great coach and a great player (is from Argentina, worked out with David Nalbandian when they were juniors, etc.)...and he's a monster
(6' 4", 220 pounds, moves like a gymnast).

When we first started last year, I needed some changes to my forehand, volley, and serve. So for a long time, it was just him feeding me balls to get the changes down. Then it became point construction, no score. Now, after a good warmup and check of my current skill level...with corrections as needed... we play sets, where as I improve, he increases his level just enough to stay ahead of me and make me increase my level. After a big point, he'll stop and tell me what I did well or not so well, also on the change games, at the end of a set, and so forth.

It's great training, and I'd encourage everyone, regardless of level, to do the same...with your coach and/or hitting partners. Can my serve, forehand, volleys improve? Of course, just as everyone has stroke issues he or she needs to work on. But at whatever level you currently happen to be, you always need to work on the skills of movement on the court, good tactics, and playing your way through a match point by point, game by game. The opposite, of course, is players who do nothing but play matches and never work on their strokes, strategies, physical conditioning, or mental game. A blend of all of the above works best...and it's also, IMHO, the most fun...

..and I have.....


nothing more to add.
Well said!

 

[Volkl warrior]

Lol

Originally Posted by Swissv2
Let your own coach work on your strokes, because differences of opinion may confuse you. One thing you could ask assistance for is all the questions for doubles strategy that you ask us on a daily basis.

I always figured that she was paid by TW to keep the message boards going. I thought to myself..There's no way that anyone could have that much free time on their hands! She has to be the most frequent poster ever. It doesn't matter what time I log on to the TW message forum..There she is, online as always. I am thinking her life goes like this...wake, eat, post TW message, play tennis, post TW message, lunch, check TW message, reconfigure possible USTA team lineup, think about possible new TW message board topics.. log on to TW, post random question, etc etc Just kidding!

 

[Sakkijarvi]

I would have them put the racquet down and we'd discuss the mental game for half an hour. Then I'd have them play balls that I'd hit them sans racquet, moving to each ball bare-handed to work on footwork without getting it all tangled up with that stick in hand.

 

[jserve]

Having gone through the USPTA certification process I have given one of these lessons to a 3.5 lady. We decided to work on her lob for doubles and it went great. I think it worked well because it wasn't anything that required major technique changes. Any changes were very minor and progress could be made in a short amount of time.

I would recommend saving serving lessons or any major stroke for your local pro that you see on a regular basis because those adjustments will take more than 30 minutes.

 

[saram]

Point construction...invaluable in singles play.

 

[Vermillion]

Originally Posted by Swissv2
Let your own coach work on your strokes, because differences of opinion may confuse you. One thing you could ask assistance for is all the questions for doubles strategy that you ask us on a daily basis.

I always figured that she was paid by TW to keep the message boards going. I thought to myself..There's no way that anyone could have that much free time on their hands! She has to be the most frequent poster ever. It doesn't matter what time I log on to the TW message forum..There she is, online as always. I am thinking her life goes like this...wake, eat, post TW message, play tennis, post TW message, lunch, check TW message, reconfigure possible USTA team lineup, think about possible new TW message board topics.. log on to TW, post random question, etc etc Just kidding!

that's not a bad life... except for the TW forum part.

eat, play tennis, eat, sleep. repeat.

 

[ichibanosaru]

I could be wrong, but I think the USPTA Tester decides the "stroke of the day" for the lesson. Also, I am pretty sure it is only a 30 minute lesson opposed to a full hour lesson (as with the group lesson).

Good luck and take care-

 

[lilminihorse]

I'd work on the easiest thing there is for the person to teach.... you're not there for yourself, you're there for the other person to get their certificate. ask them what their specialty is and work on that.

 

[origmarm]

I would play 30 points against them, half me serving, half him/her serving and then would ask them what we should work on for the rest of the hour.

For me the best thing about strangers is that they look at your game without prejudice. I would love to know what they thought I needed most work on

 

[sphinx780]

I would play 30 points against them, half me serving, half him/her serving and then would ask them what we should work on for the rest of the hour.

For me the best thing about strangers is that they look at your game without prejudice. I would love to know what they thought I needed most work on

I have to agree with that plan, it would be a good way to get an unbiased view on how/when you lose points so you can get to work on focusing on the the strengths of what you should be doing to win.

 

[JoshDragon]

I recently attended a USTPA clinic in which tennis pro hopefuls were trying to earn their certifications. One thing they have to do is teach a one-hour private lesson, with an evaluator deciding whether they teach it well. I believe the way it works is that the student decides what the lesson will cover, and the pro does his best on the fly. I got the idea that the student picks just one skill for the lesson.

OK. Say you were the student. This pro is a stranger to you and a novice too, and you'll never see him again after the lesson. What skill would you choose to cover?

The skill of beating Rafa Nadal at the French Open.

 

[burosky]

The skill of beating Rafa Nadal at the French Open.

I suppose you will be at the French Open next year and expecting to play against Rafa? Wait......Are you Roger?

 

[JoshDragon]

I suppose you will be at the French Open next year and expecting to play against Rafa? Wait......Are you Roger?

Yes, I do plan on playing there next year. Am I Roger, I'm better than Roger.