Here is the unfortunate truth about finding tennis coaching:
It is very hard to find a perfect tennis coach.
The good news is that if you are just starting out or want to play recreationally, any coach will be able to guide you through the basics. However, for anyone seriously looking to improve and play tournaments with a goal in mind, there are very few that can lead you to your true potential.
With the high demand for tennis lessons and the pricing being expensive, there is no question why so many have turned to a career in coaching. This has led tennis to be plagued with coaches who “ONLY TALK” – they market themselves well and are likable personalities. However, they do not possess the qualities and skillset to effectively benefit you.
The biggest issue is that all coaches themselves believe they are good. And they are good at making you believe they are good.
Also, having the USPTA certified professional or the D1 college tennis label DOES NOT guarantee that they have the skills to take your game to the next level. Even at top tennis clubs and academies, you cannot be guaranteed a good coach.
A good coach is one with a high level of observational skills, knowledge of tennis theory, and communication of knowledge.
While there is no ranking system to compare tennis coaches, there are several indications that could imply you have a bad coach.
Red Flag #1: Tells you what you need to work on, but little on how to fix it
This is the biggest and most common deficit that coaches have. Coaches are experienced players – they should be able to recognize what your weakness is and the biggest shots you can improve in. The problem is whether they can explain WHY your shot is weak. Is it a technique or footwork issue? What exactly needs to be changed? These are answers that knowledgeable coaches must have.
Red Flag #2: Too much focus on adjustments and strategies, not enough on long-term changes
If the main coaching tips your coach gives are “Aim a little higher over the net” or “Go for safer targets”, or “Focus on getting the ball deep”, you know it’s time to change coaches. Be honest, if you are an experienced player, are these things you really don’t know? These advice are merely adjustments that you are probably already doing when you play, whether there is a coach or not. Such advice makes you feel that you have improved since you will play better throughout the lesson, but most of that is only improvement in the moment, not long-term improvement.
Similarly, if you are an experienced player, you have probably heard “Go cross court on most of your shots” or “Rally over the highest part of the net” or “Change up the pace of the ball” a million times. Even if these are strategies you really can improve on, it is more worth it to practice these strategies in point play rather than lessons.
During private lessons, it is a time for players to work on aspects of their game that are more difficult to focus on during point play or drills. Therefore, a good coach is one that can personalize your experience for long term improvement, such as fixing technique and footwork.
Red Flag #3: Does not tell you anything about your game you already know
While this might sound obvious, it actually isn’t. If you are currently making a mistake, you know what the mistake is, and you know how to fix it, then you should be able to fix the mistake by yourself.
By this logic, when you take a lesson, you should be in a position where you may or may not know what mistake you are currently making, but you have no idea why you are making the mistake or how to fix it. The coach’s responsibility is to come up with the solution or at least propose possible fixes that you have not already tried. If you are hearing what you have already tried or know, the advice is not helpful.
Red Flag #4: Does not keep up with pro tennis
While this is not the strongest indicator of a bad coach, it still does raise an eyebrow. If a coach is truly passionate about their job and has good tennis knowledge, you would expect that they would be interested in recent updates on professional tennis. It is a topic that many of their students would talk about, so even if they have a busy life outside of coaching, they would be informed about the main discussion points one way or another. It is also just a plus to keep up with professional tennis because it shows they are keeping up with the trends of the sport and possible shifts players are making.
Red Flag #5: All about hype, compliments, and motivation
Too many coaches do this. The player feels good at the end simply because they were pushed to work harder. Remember: you are paying for a coach, not a trainer. Do not confuse “I worked hard, I feel good” with “I learned something new today. I improved.”
Red Flag #6: Asks at the beginning of EVERY lesson what you want to work on
This is a hot take. Some will say coaches should do this.
It is acceptable for coaches to do this sometimes because a good coach should also take into consideration what the player feels is important for their improvement. However, unless it is your first lesson, your coach should understand your game enough to know what needs improving. Even if it is something that they already focused on their last lesson, a good coach is one that is not afraid of focusing on it again if they still see it is not up to their standards.
Tip for finding the right coach:
The big question to ask yourself – what did I learn today? You CANNOT answer with something general like “backhand” or “footwork”, and it CANNOT be something you already knew. If you can answer something like “On my backhand, I was going across my body too soon rather than following through forward”, then your lesson was truly beneficial.
If not, it may be time for a new coach.
Image by By Kras22 under CC 4.0