What is the best approach to developing tennis talent?

[weakera]

Say you were starting from scratch with a toddler who was just becoming interested in sport.

What would, on average, be the optimal approach to developing a talented tennis player? I say on average because obviously different individuals have different needs, but there could in theory be an advantageous program or superior general approach to training.

Is it best to spend as much time on the tennis court as possible from a young age?

Is it best to divide time between two or even three sports?

How would you develop tennis abilities within this clean slate human being off the tennis court?


What say you?

 

[blablavla]

Say you were starting from scratch with a toddler who was just becoming interested in sport.

What would, on average, be the optimal approach to developing a talented tennis player? I say on average because obviously different individuals have different needs, but there could in theory be an advantageous program or superior general approach to training.

Is it best to spend as much time on the tennis court as possible from a young age?

Is it best to divide time between two or even three sports?

How would you develop tennis abilities within this clean slate human being off the tennis court?


What say you?

I would definitively keep the toddler away from Talk Tennis and from your comments in the GPPD section.

Other than this, certainly divide time.

Tennis is so much more than just ball striking, as you can see for example from your idol, one can be very successful by running along the advertising boards, and when you couple this with ball striking, then you potentially lock RG for who knows how many editions.

 

[weakera]

I would definitively keep the toddler away from Talk Tennis and from your comments in the GPPD section.

Other than this, certainly divide time.

Tennis is so much more than just ball striking, as you can see for example from your idol, one can be very successful by running along the advertising boards, and when you couple this with ball striking, then you potentially lock RG for who knows how many editions.

Thanks for bringing trolling into a serious thread. I do have you on ignore already, but I happened to unveil this particular post of yours as it is the first reply. So I will not be seeing you around.

 

[shamaho]

Don't know why you say @blablavla was trolling.... basically he said, don't come to the Talk-Tennis to get handles on how to handle talent for a toddler... leave that to seasoned professionals (alternative Read books on it by seasoned professionals who have done it), not amateurs (big majority of us)...

As for the rest of what he said, I also agree - definitely divide his time among different sports as it will give him others skills, focus at this time is having fun with the sport - eg. I think I heard McEnroe say his initial soccer practice when he was a kid was very beneficial to him... I can imagine the same for Fed - and these are just examples.

 

[shamaho]

ok so I might have skimmed over this

and from your comments in the GPPD section

;-)

 

[blablavla]

Don't know why you say @blablavla was trolling.... basically he said, don't come to the Talk-Tennis to get handles on how to handle talent for a toddler... leave that to seasoned professionals (alternative Read books on it by seasoned professionals who have done it), not amateurs (big majority of us)...

As for the rest of what he said, I also agree - definitely divide his time among different sports as it will give him others skills, focus at this time is having fun with the sport - eg. I think I heard McEnroe say his initial soccer practice when he was a kid was very beneficial to him... I can imagine the same for Fed - and these are just examples.

I think both Fed and Nadal practiced tennis and soccer till some age, and then chose tennis and focused on it.
Not sure about Djokovic and Murray, but either way, I am 100% convinced that there is and was serious preparation off court happening.

 

[blablavla]

Thanks for bringing trolling into a serious thread. I do have you on ignore already, but I happened to unveil this particular post of yours as it is the first reply. So I will not be seeing you around.

you're welcome sensei, I learned this art from you.
so don't blame the mirror for what you see there

 

[Nostradamus]

Say you were starting from scratch with a toddler who was just becoming interested in sport.

What would, on average, be the optimal approach to developing a talented tennis player? I say on average because obviously different individuals have different needs, but there could in theory be an advantageous program or superior general approach to training.

Is it best to spend as much time on the tennis court as possible from a young age?

Is it best to divide time between two or even three sports?

How would you develop tennis abilities within this clean slate human being off the tennis court?


What say you?

I think Dr. pete fischer's approach to sampras was really the best way to develop talent at early age.

Petros Sampras was born in Washington, D.C., the third child of Soterios "Sammy" and Georgia (née Vroustouris) Sampras. His mother emigrated from Sparta, Greece, and his father was born in the United States to a Greek father, Costas "Gus" Sampras and a Jewish mother, Sarah Steinberg.[3][4][5] He attended regular services of the Greek Orthodox Church on Sundays.[6][7] At the age of 3, he discovered a tennis racket in the basement of his home and spent hours hitting balls against the wall.

In 1978, the Sampras family moved to Palos Verdes, California, and the warmer climate there allowed the seven-year-old Sampras to play tennis throughout most of the year. From early on, his great idol was Rod Laver, and at the age of 11, Sampras met and played tennis with the legend.[8] The Sampras family joined the Jack Kramer Club, and it was here that Sampras's talent became apparent. As a teenager, Sampras trained with tennis coach Robert Lansdorp. The forehand he learned from Lansdorp was the same forehand he used throughout his career. The key was an emphasis on driving through the ball and not hitting extreme topspin.[9] He was spotted by Dr. Peter Fischer, a pediatrician and tennis enthusiast, who coached Sampras until 1989.[8][10] Fischer was responsible for converting Sampras's double-handed backhand to single-hand with the goal of being better prepared to win Wimbledon.[11][12]

 

[shadow01]

Agassi’s dad wanted him to hit 2500 balls a day so he could hit 1 million balls a year. (From “Open”).

 

[weakera]

I think Dr. pete fischer's approach to sampras was really the best way to develop talent at early age.

Petros Sampras was born in Washington, D.C., the third child of Soterios "Sammy" and Georgia (née Vroustouris) Sampras. His mother emigrated from Sparta, Greece, and his father was born in the United States to a Greek father, Costas "Gus" Sampras and a Jewish mother, Sarah Steinberg.[3][4][5] He attended regular services of the Greek Orthodox Church on Sundays.[6][7] At the age of 3, he discovered a tennis racket in the basement of his home and spent hours hitting balls against the wall.

In 1978, the Sampras family moved to Palos Verdes, California, and the warmer climate there allowed the seven-year-old Sampras to play tennis throughout most of the year. From early on, his great idol was Rod Laver, and at the age of 11, Sampras met and played tennis with the legend.[8] The Sampras family joined the Jack Kramer Club, and it was here that Sampras's talent became apparent. As a teenager, Sampras trained with tennis coach Robert Lansdorp. The forehand he learned from Lansdorp was the same forehand he used throughout his career. The key was an emphasis on driving through the ball and not hitting extreme topspin.[9] He was spotted by Dr. Peter Fischer, a pediatrician and tennis enthusiast, who coached Sampras until 1989.[8][10] Fischer was responsible for converting Sampras's double-handed backhand to single-hand with the goal of being better prepared to win Wimbledon.[11][12]

Are you referring to year round tennis or the basement regimen? In the US today it is not difficult to find indoor courts in inclement weather unless perhaps you are in a really rural area.

 

[blablavla]

ok so I might have skimmed over this

;-)

they don't make trolls like they used to anymore.
mostly snowflakes, that are "tough" when it comes to cheap trolling of highly accomplished pro players that won't answer, but will melt down as soon as you give them a taste of their own medicine

 

[chrisb]

parents that participate in kids instruction in my 57 years of teaching generally end up better players . 2 books are a must. Bradens teaching children tennis. and Wegners better tennis in 2 hours Have fun

 

[shamaho]

Agassi’s dad wanted him to hit 2500 balls a day so he could hit 1 million balls a year. (From “Open”).

The end result was Agassi HATING tennis and not having any fun while doing it !

 

[shamaho]

parents that participate in kids instruction in my 57 years of teaching generally end up better players . 2 books are a must. Bradens teaching children tennis. and Wegners better tennis in 2 hours Have fun

and this is also highly recommended: http://thetennisparentsbible.com/ (The Tennis Parent's Bible) by Frank Giampaolo

 

[dominikk1985]

Say you were starting from scratch with a toddler who was just becoming interested in sport.

What would, on average, be the optimal approach to developing a talented tennis player? I say on average because obviously different individuals have different needs, but there could in theory be an advantageous program or superior general approach to training.

Is it best to spend as much time on the tennis court as possible from a young age?

Is it best to divide time between two or even three sports?

How would you develop tennis abilities within this clean slate human being off the tennis court?


What say you?

Nadal, federer, becker, stick, djokovic and many others were great soccer players as kids.

Learn technique fundamentals and otherwise try to get a well rounded athlete playing many sports, then around 10-11 focus on tennis.

 

[Blackwellacad]

I agree with the others who say to raise an athlete instead of a tennis player. Quickness, agility, balance, speed, lateral movement, endurance, willpower - these are the indicators you want to examine, not how many hours they spent on a tennis court from age 5-10.

Tennis basically measures how well your legs work.

 

[RyanRF]

For every tennis player that starts early, gets good coaching and dedicates themselves to the sport resulting in a successful pro career (>top 100) ... there are a dozen more that followed the exact same path and yet didn't make it.

The perfect plan will get a player to a certain point, but how far they go beyond that is fate/luck.

 

[giantschwinn]

If you can get a kid to catch and throw a ball before age 4 you have prepared him for future success in tennis. Soccer you can start at 3. Trying to teach proper tennis strokes to a 3 year old is too much effort. I tried and gave up

 

[giantschwinn]

parents that participate in kids instruction in my 57 years of teaching generally end up better players .

This is true. My volley got a lot better from feeding my kid balls from the net.

 

[toth]

Agassi’s dad wanted him to hit 2500 balls a day so he could hit 1 million balls a year. (From “Open”).

I am wondering, he could it do without permanent injuries.

 

[RiverRat]

All of the caveats and one quote from Jose Higueras, "You can't want it more than your kid does." That said, make tennis visible to the kid. Bring him/her around the courts. Toddler is way too young though.

Comeback in a few years when the kid is asking how to get better and I'll gladly share about how to properly use a backboard. But if the kid wants to be a champion he'll/she'll play for seven hours until his/her hands are bloody and come home asking how to bandage them up, so he/she can go back to the backboard for another two hours. Maybe it's just me.

 

[HuusHould]

I think both Fed and Nadal practiced tennis and soccer till some age, and then chose tennis and focused on it.
Not sure about Djokovic and Murray, but either way, I am 100% convinced that there is and was serious preparation off court happening.

I remember at Wimbledon they had a tennis ball juggling contest that the players and a pro soccer player from the EPL participated in. Murray got 70 odd juggles of the tennis ball on his first attempt.

 

[shamaho]

For every tennis player that starts early, gets good coaching and dedicates themselves to the sport resulting in a successful pro career (>top 100) ... there are a dozen more that followed the exact same path and yet didn't make it.

The perfect plan will get a player to a certain point, but how far they go beyond that is fate/luck.

No, it's not a dozen, it's more like several thousands - really ! it's important to set expectations right

In a coaching conference, somebody from a given tennis federation very specifically stated they needed something like more then 20 thousand athletes to produce a top 50 player.

 

[WNB93]

Just talked with the parents of a pro player not too long ago...they did all kinds of ball sports since a very early age and were determined to master them all. But the kid wanted it, not the parents. I think that's key.
Only around the ages of 9-10 the kid focused more on tennis and along with doing some winter sports decided to stick to only tennis around age 12.

I think as tennis fans we'll want our kids to play tennis. But we have to face the reality that the kid might not be into tennis.

 

[HuusHould]

It's a good question you ask OP and I don't really know the answer. I can just give a few thoughts;

• I'd say as a toddler you'd focus on general motor skills as opposed to getting too tennis specific.
• I wouldn't leave it too late to spend a lot of time on court though, as I think the players that spend a lot of time on court at a young age have an advantage
• At the same time you have to ensure you don't overdo it in order to prevent injury and burnout.
• Focus on fun and effort, not results. Try to instil a love of the game in the child, not just a love of winning. Obviously Agassi's a well documented exception, but it's rare that someone will become a champion in a sport they don't enjoy.

I know it's fairly general, not sure of the specifics. But I'd bear in mind those general principles.

 

[giantschwinn]

If you are serious about developing a talent, you will think group lessons are a waste of time/not efficient in learning the strokes. But I strongly encourage to put the kid in a group lesson once a week for the social aspect. It will keep the kid engaged especially if he is technically superior than his peers. Just to give you an idea it takes 1.5 years to get a 4 year old to rally 20 times with top spin and proper mechanics with orange balls. And this is playing 3 times a week.

 

[Cashman]

Teaching them baseball instead. Much better chance of going pro and better money when you get there.