I was lucky to find a good coach recently. I didn’t want a facilitator that feeds a ball. I wanted to become a solid 4.0 player. The coach told me I’d have to do exactly what he tells me to do for the next several months. So far it’s been two months and I love it. We improved my toss. My toss used to be somewhere between South America and Canada. My homework was a 100 tosses a day. Done. Now the toss is consistent. Huge attention to the footwork. Low wide base. Two-three big steps and then small steps to adjust. Always be balanced. Big focus on hitting quality balls. High above the net and dip on the other side of the court. My home work was a rally of 50 quality balls. I achieved a 55 shot rally last week. At least a quarter of the lesson the coach spends on the same side of the court with me feeding the balls. I send him videos with my homework and get his feedback. I like his saying ‘don’t try, just do what I tell you to do’! Btw, I’m 48 so it’s never too late to improve your game.
Having taught for 30 years i tell new coaches the most important thing is to connect with your student and find out what they want. This is relevant at every level.
For me, "hitting partner" can be an excellent reason to hire a coach. I need someone with whom I can practice what I learn on Essential Tennis. For example, after I did the ET Tennis Fusion course, I asked a coach to go through the progressions to work on my backhand. I had him throwing me fake tosses, then real tosses, working up slowly to semi-competitive points. My regular partners did not have patience for this. The coach was wonderfully cooperative, and the results were what I wanted.
Intuitive Tennis is the best coach on You Tube, and I promise you he probably could beat most of the tennis coaches on here! Tennis coaches are literally psychologists, for rich people. You are a good coach also my friend.
As a high school PE teacher and tennis coach I do use all of the "catch phrases"- they actually are really effective for beginners as easy to fix reminders.
Problem is not using them, it’s only using them, they are often used as a “cop out” method, instead of observing your student and do some proper/specific instructions
I’m a 3.5 that’s super motivated to get better. I like the other aspects too, but the most fun part for me is the improvement and progression. I definitely want more focus on long term growth than a little polish
Best coaches i've ever have are Tennis Elbow & Golfer Elbow along with support team Prestige MP (19' version). Over the last 2 years, everytime i did something wrong, these coaches would yelled "PAIN" and i snapped of daydream to make sure to do proper kinetic chain/throwing motion. Now and then i felt lazy and don't feel like moving, they would simply shake their heads, mumble something magical that would make my shots go into the net or missing the line by a foot. Highly recommend these guys, you won't be disappointed.
Another great point about not focusing on 4-5-6 different thoughts on one single stroke instead of zoning in and focusing on one thing at a time so the client doesn't get overwhelmed. Good stuff Ian
In terms of what I would want to get out of tennis lessons it would be some combination of 4) Technical insight/revelations, 6) Tactical insight/learning strategy patterns, 11) Hitting partner/match play prep and 12) Planning game improvement/progressions
This is a great point...it's important to ask the player what they want out of the lesson. Complete reconstruction of their strokes? Or just sort of working within their current game to make minor improvements? Because like Ian said, if you are completely breaking down somebody's stroke, they won't be able to really "play" tennis for a while. I've seen this problem especially if the person has a weekly competitive match. It's really hard to get better if you are worrying about beating somebody/winning the point. There needs to be time for changing technique and being OK with missing some balls. So I think, in summary, it's just important to be really really specific about asking your students what they want out of tennis lessons, and if they want a "complete rehaul" or if they just want minor improvements to help them win more points in their weekly matches.
Great Video! As a coach I would say about 1 in 10 of my lessons show any indication of wanting this type of coaching. This is unfortunate because personally the long term progress type of teaching is so much more fun to me. I think as a player looking to get better it is always important to communicate what you want out of your coaching. I start every new lesson with the question "What is your goal in tennis?". Most people reply "to stay healthy and active". The sad truth is that most people don't care if their coach is "good" or "bad".
My motivating reason for lessons is to find out how good I could be. Over the past year I’ve taken about 150 hours of lessons and group clinics (including a day at Essential Tennis in Milwaukee!). Although there were definitely some paint-by-numbers clinics sprinkled in there, I was very fortunate to find a very engaged teacher who listens well, has sharp observational skills, and encourages a process-based approach. All of which align with your philosophy, Ian. But during all that time on court, boy have I seen some mediocre coaching on the other courts! -Pippin
I like the note about not focusing on too many skills in one lesson. Good point. I do find it hard sometimes though, as a coach, because a lot of players don't seem to want to focus really hard on one thing the entire time. They want to get to do other things and put everything together and hit strokes and play points. So I guess this also goes back to the point about understanding exactly what your client is looking for our of tennis lessons. If they want big fundamental improvements or just minor tips etc.
Not a coach but a student and I think it depends on the student. I see among my peers that a lot of beginners want the instant satisfaction that let's say badminton gives them. Our coach early on told us that we needed at the minimum 6 months just to get the feel of tennis after that is a lot of work getting stronger and more competitive. Most people don't get this idea. They want to play like Alcaraz after a few lessons 😂😂😂. Uhm they need a time machine and start at 5 years old hahaha I started a year ago at 31 and so far been getting better with the small increments each training session gives me. It's been 13 months and my skills are slice in service, forehand and backhand. We have barely touched volleys and backhand slices and other stuff. Coach doesn't want to confuse us until our groundstrokes are solid enough. Throughout competitive matches.
Great video Ian...being in the tennis industry for over 35 years these concepts are the key to programming development at tennis facilities across the country. Thanks for sharing.
Great analysis of the reality of tennis coaching. It's a service and definitely driven by the large % of clients. Active change to your game is difficult and disruptive. it's not for everyone!
Timothy Gallwey wrote The Inner Game of Tennis 2 years after I quit playing. Tennis lessons were so terrible that nothing stuck. I began to play again four years ago-with TH-cam channels, I’ve made tremendous progress. No one teaches tennis within fifty miles of me. And. Having just read The Inner Game of Tennis, I have a tennis future now. Thank you Ian, et al.
Totally agree with this video. I made the mistake of buying a playyourcourt lessons package with the intention of getting better , improving fundamentals etc. starting with my serve. At least in my area the level of coaching wasn’t good. When asked how to improve my flat serve, for instance, comments like “for your level, that serve motion is fine” were abundant and never addressed how I could improve. Tried 3 different coaches and got nothing out of it.
I decided recently to pick up tennis after having not played since high school (I'm in my mid 30s so it's been twenty years), so I'm essentially back to being a beginner or maybe "advanced beginner" to put it generously. I played a half dozen times with a friend who is more intermediate, decided I needed some instruction to hang with him, so I took two private lessons this week. What I got was far different from what [I thought] I wanted. I thought I wanted some surface level polish. What I got was a complete teardown of my groundstrokes. In hindsight, I feel grateful that this coach decided that he wasn't going to let me restart my tennis playing days with crappy technique and mechanics, but there was a moment early on when I thought, "what the he11 did I get myself into?" I liked this video, and I completely agree with it in theory, but I guess there are some outlier cases where a coach might see that you need more than what you asked for. I took these lessons while on vacation, so if I decide to get some more private instruction back home, I'll know what to look for and to be more direct about what I'm looking for right from the start.
I had a student who was just getting back into playing, similar to your situation. My reasoning was the muscle memory of all your bad habits hasn't set in yet so it's great time to work on some of the more fundamental things and get some good habits formed.
Great video, Ian! I specifically state in my profile the type of coach that I am. That filters out quite a few players! Decades ago, I vowed to never to continue feeding a tennis ball to a flawed stroke. Most particularly in children and juniors because a stroke typically lasts a lifetime. Oh, the guilt I would feel seeing that player, 10 years later, with the same messed up stroke...
thanks Ian! I couldn't help but smile throughout this video and think of Joel and his recent venting and frustrations about his recent coaching lessons in TX
Wow, so true! Ive spent a ton of money over the years on the types of coaches you're referring to. And the results have indeed been minimal. Thanks for the insights Ian.
That's all true. However, when it comes to grip changes, the one place recreational players seem to be most eager to change their grips are on strokes where it is least necessary. Yes, you need to change your grip to get significantly better if you server or volley with a wrist-behind-the-handle grip. But the one place players seen eager to change their grip is on their groundstrokes "to become more modern." The fact is, you could become better than 95% of recreational players using purely old-school grips and styles. (For senior citizens, old-school styles may actually be superior, as the last thing they need is a technique that allows -- even requires -- them to throw more calories into each shot.)
Just stopped training for a while with my 3rd coach after a year of training, all great coaches for the given phase, worked through different phases and my weaknesses, so far so good thanks :)
Very valuable overview of what to expect and what to look at. The only coach I signed up to is for my kids. I could coach them myself, but kids and father does not always work. And luckily this coach does not trigger a single warning - except for the homework part.
I’m a musician, #1 for me is arm/wrist health and efficient strokes. The moment I feel something has been off in my technique potentially endangering my playing, I go to an experienced coach. #2 is if I am lacking specific strokes, like the falling backwards overhead (needed in doubles), or the backhand slice to expand tennis vocabulary, I learn the stroke properly from a coach.
I am not looking for an onsite coach, but what I can say at least is that I see many of them during the week and sadly in most cases, what Ian says here is very visible, both from the standpoint of the coaches and the people/parents who want improvement in their tennis. From my perspective and off the top of my head, I can say that a good 8/10 people/parents are there to just get a workout and "feel" like they've done something towards improvement. Another great video. Cheers! M
I am not sure if it is a problem of bad coaches, but a problem of bad students. Tried many coaches, and they all taught me something when I asked for help. Some were more observant and better problem solvers for sure. The big problem with most players is paying for coaches for wrong reasons, and going into classes unprepared.
I coached for 5 years. Mostly to kids but it really depended on my client. I put alot of time researching different teaching techniques and there was a lot of trial and error with my coaching but I got to the point where I could fundamentally change some bad habits for some players (using alot of the tips I learned from your channel Ian) I liked teaching kids the most. Most of my clients wanted them to just "Discover" the sport and learn a technique or 2 that they hadnt yet learned. It was a lot of fun and I got to connect with many people in my community
I am so glad that I no longer teach tennis. Unfortunately, the tennis industry is filled with instructors and coaches who will all tell you that bad coaching is what's killing the game. It's the reason why their business is failing. It's the reason why they work at least one extra job (in addition to coaching.) It's just the same old negative nonsense that's spread around by people who are poisonous for the game and need to get out of coaching ASAP. I will say this much. If your tennis business is not what you want it to be. Stop wasting time complaining about how your competitor down the street is wrecking his students forehand. Your students don't care. Nobody cares. What they want to know is how can you improve their game or basically what can you offer them. Hold tournaments, organize events, leagues, competitions. That is what all players universally want. The chance to compete. Hold tournaments. It's really that simple. Don't waste time throwing rocks at other teaching pros. That accomplishes absolutely nothing.
Game improvement. Honestly, I get a lot more out of recording myself and running through progression with a ball machine more than I have with any lesson I've ever taken.
Very good insight! My 11 years-old daughter plays at a competitive level focusing on technical and tactical shots during her private lesson and squads, and I play at a recreational level. I really like the coaches I have during my tennis squads as they help me improve by giving me tips, but I would not choose these coaches for my daughter. She has a performance coach. I agree with you that when objectives are different, coaches must be different.
Excellent video. My main aim is to improve my tennis! I have definitely noticed that tennis coaches offer different things. My previous coach was a bit formulaic (matching a few points on your list) and I didn't feel I was improving that much. But I have since had some lessons with another coach, whose approach suits me better at the stage I am at now with my game.
I found some very true facts and assumptions in this video, which I can reassure after my experience with many different tennis coaches. But there are also many controversial statements: 1. Cliche phrases may annoy or discourage some players, but may be really helpful for others. Because, as you say later on: EVERY PLAYER IMPROVES DIFFERENTLY. 2. Repetitive lessons/drills. Mostly true, but there are many recreational players who can't/won't or don't want to improve, maybe because of age, body constraints etc. They just want a routine lesson schedule to have fun, enjoy the game, and may not be positive to changes. 3. Tons of skills in 1 session is actually ideal for the vast majority of recreational players; 99% of them take group lessons, rather than private lessons, so getting specialized in one skill at a time is impossible. You can do it in a small scale in one group lesson, but, since most players play 2-3 times per week, you can't totally skip forehands for 2 weeks, or serves for 3 weeks etc. You MUST cover almost every stroke in each session, because you have to keep their muscle memory at least at the same level. Of course the coach MUST try to help you focus in a different correction/deficiency at a time with tips like: "Nick, today I'd like you to focus on a sooner unit turn at every forehand you hit, Jim, you focus on lowering your serve toss today..." etc. 4. Homework is impossible if you need to make more spacing with the ball, or if your timing with the ball is bad, or if the ball recognition is poor etc. Also, most students may start considering tennis as a chore rather than a hobby if they start receiving homework from their coaches, even if it is about footwork patterns.
Completely agree with this. literally 90 % of so called teaching pros at local clubs have no clue how to teach methods that can really make a difference on stretegy and improvement. They are just expensive ball machines
My goal is to improve my technique, as I have started very old to play with poor level coaches. Because most things you mentioned I have stopped tennis lessons and I am very slowly getting better by making my own videos playing against the wall and trying to check my mistakes and repeat, repeat, repeat. But.... as I have so many things to correct, the job is tough. Thanks for your excellent videos. This and that one "TH-cam is not helping..." are masterpieces that tell us the real situation of coaches-student relationships and how difficult is to improve tennis skills for "normal recreational players".
Thank you👌🙏 I was an absolute beginner and on my first lesson, the coach wasted a signifucant part of the session on explaining the tennis scoring sysrem 😬 I was dying to hold the racket and start swinging it but nope he wanted to talk theory.
When I had plenty of time and my parents money, I wasn't interested in getting better. Now I have no time or money and desperately want a coach to help my get better. Life's like that sometimes haha
My primary goal with my lessons are to get from 4.0 to 4.5 in USTA leagues. So I'm looking for any technical or strategic changes that will get me there. I don't mind spending the entire lesson just working on 1 shot and would love to leave my 4.0 team behind as I get bumped to 4.5. I think the way I can get there is with an improved 2nd serve so that's what I'm working on now
Hey Ian...I love your channel ... I wish you had included that a good coach should encourage their students to utilize the backboard as the primary tool to improve....... And a good coach should teach self-reliance (gained on the wall) and therefore eliminate the need for lessons... I know this sounds counterintuitive.. I've found that I stay busy with word of mouth referrals from students who are happy that they no longer need to pay for a series of lessons because they learn to be self-reliant in one lesson or maybe two.... In my opinion that's the mark of a good coach...To teach their students how to teach themselves utilizing the Internet as a resource and not relying on their coaches to learn but rather using the tools and method that a coach teaches them and then learning at their own pace on their own schedule...(30 years coaching btw)...I conduct the first half of any lesson on the wall focusing on a mantra that builds a technically sound swing then the second half on the court implementing what we ingrained technically on the wall ....interested in your thoughts...thanks for all of your great content...btw I send all of my students a link to your channel and encourage them to trust what they see in your videos as a great way to learn...so thanks again!
Another great video Ian. I'm surprised not using video analysis didn't make your list.... You must have been feeling generous, when you recorded 😀 But seriously I talk to so many players, who get worse when they work with a coach. The player has often developed a game that works for their skill level. And then the coach tears everything apart and teaches them "pro technique" and as the player loses more and more matches (and confidence), the coach uses the cliche of "needing to take 1 step back and 2 forward". When in fact, the coaching sucked for that player. It's a such a shame, so it's great that you are raising awareness for players.
I agree with your take on coaching. However, I have struggled mightily to find the "good coach". At least in the Bay Area most coaches are fully booked and the ones that are not booked are likely not booked for many of the reasons you outline. An amazingly helpful resources would be a list of coaches you have vetted and think are good -- or even just a quick response with a recommendation. :)
I taught tennis for 20 years. The first 10 years I tried forcing students to make changes which usually went against the grain. The last 10 years I met them where they were. Some want to be pushed while others were there mostly for exercise and social reasons. They didn’t care if they had a continental grip on their serve. The trick is figuring out who fits in what category.
In addition to 11 reasons Ian mentions I'd like to add the following. The main contradiction I see in a private "tennis coach-player" relationship is the fact that the vast majority of tennis coaches (no matter how professional they are) are inherently NOT interested in a tennis player improvement. A tennis coach is mostly interested in payments for his/her lessons (at least $100/hour) that continue indefinitely.
I actually try to focus on improving one stroke at a time. Do i switch it up and take maybe 10-15min to work on serving at the end, yes. What i instill in my students is i wish i had access to all of the resources that they have access to today. It took me a very long time studying the serve on and off. My high school coach didnt help at all so if i can help a kid or teenager i feel successful
My number one concern is aesthetic improvement what comes along with improving my technique. I can only spare enough time to play with my wife, or neighbor, or work colleagues. I am playing more for the workout and social aspect. As the more experienced player (by far) amongst my tennis partners, I have to "play down" to make sure the person on the other side of the net is also having fun. I have been playing tennis seriously since my college years, I did tryout for the college team, but didn't make it. Given my current age (32) and available spare time after job and family commitments, I am not looking to compete, I just want to look good on the court.
Well, before ditching your coach you could try telling them what you're looking for - try explaining that you're not like most of the people they teach who are happy going through the motions. A lot of coaches probably give that template lesson because that's what people expect, and they don't want to put people off by explaining that making improvements takes a lot of patient, hard work. There are certainly good and bad coaches, but in my experience most are in between. All the coaches I've had have had something to offer, but don't be afraid to ask. On the subject of working on 1 thing at a time, I spent nearly a year just serving and made almost no noticeable improvement. It wasn't for lack of trying, on my part or the part of my coach, and it wasn't for lack of homework set or done, nor am I exceptional physically challenged. It's just a very hard thing to do, and most people just are not up for it. It wasn't the coach either - several coaches have tried to help me with my serve and all have failed, and I refuse to believe it was due to their lack of knowledge or teaching ability.
@@EssentialTennis Thanks. I don't want to give the impression I'm not supportive of your message here - I think it's great that more people are being made aware so they can take charge of their learning and get what they are looking for. One area that could do with more development is measuring progress. If you play a lot of matches then progressing levels can be a measure but for people who don't play much "graded" tennis or very slow learners something more basic might be useful, to understand what's working and what isn't and remind you that are progressing albeit slowly. Maybe every week hit 100 forehands in a row into the back rectangle or something, and see how many go in. I'm sure with some equipment it could become more sophisticated. People keep telling me I am improving but I don't believe them - I think they are just being polite or engaging in wishful thinking - but maybe they are right.
I take lesson to learn new things! I am also very focused on progress! I don’t want to know what I did right, I want to know what I did wrong so I can focus on improving the next thing. It is frustrating though because I am not yet seeing the benefits in matches, it feels like 2 steps back to go 3 steps forward. It is funny, I watch people at a higher level from me who still have a pancake serve and bad volley technique! 🤷🏻♀️
typical private lesson is like this: 5 min warm up, then hit 10 min, then 10 forehand, 10 backhand, 5 min volleys or approach shots, 5 to 10 min serve with coach standing aside. then some points play with coach. plus maybe 5 min rest on the whole hour. you pay $150. coach wants you to improve but most coaches don't care that much. because there are always other students. one of these students play good, the coach can become high-demand coach locally.
I would probably take a lesson for cleaning up some shots. My situation is kinda interesting. I’ve spent the last 6 years where out budget is all in my kids training. All of my classes have been third person 😂😂. That took me from 2.5 self rate to this year bumped to 4.0 probably. If you have any way I can get more out of this third person style. 😜. That would be helpfull. Thanks for your guys videos. I miss the match play with your guys commentary!!!! Later ✌️ from Caribbean 🏝
I need to consciously improve my backhand and volleys ..I took coaching for 3 yrs when I was a teenager and since then iv just been playing on and off without really improving any aspect of my game I'm 35 now and I still have the same weaknesses in my game that I had when I was 15 That's what I want to change
Thanks Ian! always excellent! I'll keep my eye out for those BAD Coaches, not sure I would know what to look for 😉 I'll start by checking my FB friends list haha I don't know about some of those guys! lol 😂 just kidding! ❤
I've been teaching since 2006 and playing since 1987. I think as an instructor you have to find out what kind of instructor or teacher you want to be too. If you don't progress as an instructor I feel you are limiting what you can do for the people who come to you. Sometimes I have sent students to other coaches who I felt could help them more and sometimes I've gone to individuals telling them that I don't think that they're getting adequate instruction. Usually when I see some high schooler just feeding balls to someone and blurting out all the catchphrases I can become discouraged. It's frustrating as someone who has put so much time into the game to see someone spend money on something like that. But again it's up to the individual as to what they seek. But being near them on the court I can strike up conversations with them to see if they are looking for something new. I agree with everything you talked about. I've worked with division one college players on one end of the spectrum all the way to the other end to beginners and children. I've had kids I've worked with since grade school who went on to get scholarships in college. Everyone's looking for something different and you have to be aware of what they want. My favorite is teaching the kids. ☮️💜
What's funny is that most adult beginners think that everything you said from 1 to 7 is what they don't like in a tennis coach. They want to progress as fast as possible but it's just not the case. Tennis is cleared through the correct repetitive motions mastered through time. I've had times when I only worked on my service for that day and maybe spent 15 minutes for ground stroke. They also don't take homework seriously. If we could spend 8 hours on the court daily then you progress faster but for recreational players it's not the case. So homework helps build those muscles. My coach is the opposite of those 7 things and based on the progress of his past students (training varsity kids). He brought them early on and they're good so at least we have a goal set in our minds where we want to get to. 🎉
This makes sense for the very recreational player. However, when the majority (if not all) of your clients want to compete or make bigger improvements, this is not accurate. I like your insight but maybe specify that next time. I ask every new client what their goals are to ensure they align with mine. Before I make big changes I make sure they’re committed to it. I’m at a point in my career where if a client doesn’t want to improve technically, then I would refer them to another coach. It’s all about knowing your goals as a coach as well.
It's not possible to link level of play with how serious somebody is about improving. I see "very recreational" levels almost every time I coach that also are SUPER passionate about getting better as fast as possible. I've also taught "lessons" with 4.5 players who wanted no feedback or instruction at all. Level and desire for improvement are two very different things.
@@EssentialTennis by very recreational player I mean someone who wants to just have fun. I’m saying that I’m very technically focused so I’m not the right coach for someone who doesn’t want to improve flaws that will cap their potential-like grip changes.
Great video btw. I had some of these feelings in my first year of lessons with numerous coaches. Some of them really help to grow and show new things. Others… well I just don’t come back once I can tell.
I once took a “lesson” where the instructor spent 20 minutes on the phone conducting business while feeding balls with his other hand, and then didn’t even bother to teach me anything on the serve. Talk about throwing $50 away.
@@anemicroyalty8764 For me I'm quite fortunate to meet the right coach at the right time. 1st coach through beginner phase 6 months (learned all the strokes), 2nd coach group through intermediate phase (match play) 6 months & still training on ad hoc basis, 3rd coach on weaknesses and specific training recently
Compared to other books in it's category. The week my book launched it was #1 in several Amazon categories including Tennis Coaching and Sports Psychology.
Ian, my book "Modern Tennis Instruction, A Historical Guide to Play Your Best Tennis" is going to offer real solutions to the dilemma of finding a good coach. It previews at US Open at end of month after 18 years of research. My team hopes we get to work with you in the future. You are on the right path.
Ohhh man, you do not know how this is true! My daughter started playing tennis 1,8 years ago! She took first place at the club event! And destroyed other girls who were playing for more than 5-6 years! Why was she able to do this? Because after every training with her coach I as a father was taking her for additional 2 hours training concentrating on the weaknesses and errors that i was seeing at her coach training! I would like to show you the forehand of my daughter! It changed into something that looks very strange at least to me! And I want very badly that she changes her forehand into the modern men's forehand! So if it is possible somehow that you help me with this matter? My daughter loves tennis and we play every day! She wants to become a great professional tennis payer! Can you please help us somehow with her forehand? Where can I send you a video of her forehand? Thank you in advance for your time and consideration!
If a coach shall cater to each student, then the student should be only attending private lessons. Coach who create online programs and try to sell it falls into the same bucket of teaching the same thing to all the students, isn’t it? 😂
Hi Ian, you missed one important giveaway that your coach is more interested in your wallet than in your improvement, it's when they keep saying that you need better equipment to play better, and keep trying to sell you stuff, a better racket, better shoes, obviously from their store or the clubs. It's a big giveaway.
@@EssentialTennis I should give credit where due. It is the title of a book by Ed Collins, the former University of San Diego coach. I got to be the warmup partner for his best player at one tournament.
Get 15% off ALL Diadem racquets, strings, grips and balls here: diademsports.com/discount/ET15 All their gear is incredibly high quality!
I was lucky to find a good coach recently. I didn’t want a facilitator that feeds a ball. I wanted to become a solid 4.0 player. The coach told me I’d have to do exactly what he tells me to do for the next several months. So far it’s been two months and I love it. We improved my toss. My toss used to be somewhere between South America and Canada. My homework was a 100 tosses a day. Done. Now the toss is consistent. Huge attention to the footwork. Low wide base. Two-three big steps and then small steps to adjust. Always be balanced. Big focus on hitting quality balls. High above the net and dip on the other side of the court. My home work was a rally of 50 quality balls. I achieved a 55 shot rally last week. At least a quarter of the lesson the coach spends on the same side of the court with me feeding the balls. I send him videos with my homework and get his feedback. I like his saying ‘don’t try, just do what I tell you to do’! Btw, I’m 48 so it’s never too late to improve your game.
Having taught for 30 years i tell new coaches the most important thing is to connect with your student and find out what they want. This is relevant at every level.
For me, "hitting partner" can be an excellent reason to hire a coach. I need someone with whom I can practice what I learn on Essential Tennis. For example, after I did the ET Tennis Fusion course, I asked a coach to go through the progressions to work on my backhand. I had him throwing me fake tosses, then real tosses, working up slowly to semi-competitive points. My regular partners did not have patience for this. The coach was wonderfully cooperative, and the results were what I wanted.
In the world of consulting, the number 1 rule is, "Give the client what the want, not what they need."
Intuitive Tennis is the best coach on You Tube, and I promise you he probably could beat most of the tennis coaches on here! Tennis coaches are literally psychologists, for rich people. You are a good coach also my friend.
Completey agree. Intuitive tennis is the GOAT
As a high school PE teacher and tennis coach I do use all of the "catch phrases"- they actually are really effective for beginners as easy to fix reminders.
As a coach I totally agree.Nothing wrong with cliches for the students to remember.
Problem is not using them, it’s only using them, they are often used as a “cop out” method, instead of observing your student and do some proper/specific instructions
I’m a 3.5 that’s super motivated to get better. I like the other aspects too, but the most fun part for me is the improvement and progression. I definitely want more focus on long term growth than a little polish
Awesome, hope you can find a coach that can provide that!
As someone who’s starting out this year as a tennis instructor, this is a great guide for me! Awesome job Ian 🙌🏽
So glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!
Best coaches i've ever have are Tennis Elbow & Golfer Elbow along with support team Prestige MP (19' version). Over the last 2 years, everytime i did something wrong, these coaches would yelled "PAIN" and i snapped of daydream to make sure to do proper kinetic chain/throwing motion. Now and then i felt lazy and don't feel like moving, they would simply shake their heads, mumble something magical that would make my shots go into the net or missing the line by a foot. Highly recommend these guys, you won't be disappointed.
Haha.....this is my favorite comment in a long time
I had the same coaches and support team!
Another great point about not focusing on 4-5-6 different thoughts on one single stroke instead of zoning in and focusing on one thing at a time so the client doesn't get overwhelmed. Good stuff Ian
In terms of what I would want to get out of tennis lessons it would be some combination of 4) Technical insight/revelations, 6) Tactical insight/learning strategy patterns, 11) Hitting partner/match play prep and 12) Planning game improvement/progressions
Glad you know exactly what you want to get out of lessons!
This is a great point...it's important to ask the player what they want out of the lesson. Complete reconstruction of their strokes? Or just sort of working within their current game to make minor improvements? Because like Ian said, if you are completely breaking down somebody's stroke, they won't be able to really "play" tennis for a while. I've seen this problem especially if the person has a weekly competitive match. It's really hard to get better if you are worrying about beating somebody/winning the point. There needs to be time for changing technique and being OK with missing some balls. So I think, in summary, it's just important to be really really specific about asking your students what they want out of tennis lessons, and if they want a "complete rehaul" or if they just want minor improvements to help them win more points in their weekly matches.
Great Video! As a coach I would say about 1 in 10 of my lessons show any indication of wanting this type of coaching. This is unfortunate because personally the long term progress type of teaching is so much more fun to me. I think as a player looking to get better it is always important to communicate what you want out of your coaching. I start every new lesson with the question "What is your goal in tennis?". Most people reply "to stay healthy and active". The sad truth is that most people don't care if their coach is "good" or "bad".
Excellent video! As a Tennis Canada certified coach who coach high performance juniors I really like those type of videos🎾🎾
Alex you are a great Coach! I agree this is a great vid Ian is a legend 🙏🙋♂️
@@nathanmiller6051 thanks a lot! I try my best to improve every day!!
My motivating reason for lessons is to find out how good I could be. Over the past year I’ve taken about 150 hours of lessons and group clinics (including a day at Essential Tennis in Milwaukee!). Although there were definitely some paint-by-numbers clinics sprinkled in there, I was very fortunate to find a very engaged teacher who listens well, has sharp observational skills, and encourages a process-based approach. All of which align with your philosophy, Ian.
But during all that time on court, boy have I seen some mediocre coaching on the other courts!
-Pippin
I like the note about not focusing on too many skills in one lesson. Good point. I do find it hard sometimes though, as a coach, because a lot of players don't seem to want to focus really hard on one thing the entire time. They want to get to do other things and put everything together and hit strokes and play points. So I guess this also goes back to the point about understanding exactly what your client is looking for our of tennis lessons. If they want big fundamental improvements or just minor tips etc.
Not a coach but a student and I think it depends on the student. I see among my peers that a lot of beginners want the instant satisfaction that let's say badminton gives them. Our coach early on told us that we needed at the minimum 6 months just to get the feel of tennis after that is a lot of work getting stronger and more competitive. Most people don't get this idea. They want to play like Alcaraz after a few lessons 😂😂😂. Uhm they need a time machine and start at 5 years old hahaha I started a year ago at 31 and so far been getting better with the small increments each training session gives me. It's been 13 months and my skills are slice in service, forehand and backhand. We have barely touched volleys and backhand slices and other stuff. Coach doesn't want to confuse us until our groundstrokes are solid enough. Throughout competitive matches.
Great video Ian...being in the tennis industry for over 35 years these concepts are the key to programming development at tennis facilities across the country. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it resonated with you, Geoffrey!
Great analysis of the reality of tennis coaching. It's a service and definitely driven by the large % of clients.
Active change to your game is difficult and disruptive. it's not for everyone!
I agree completely!
Timothy Gallwey wrote The Inner Game of Tennis 2 years after I quit playing. Tennis lessons were so terrible that nothing stuck.
I began to play again four years ago-with TH-cam channels, I’ve made tremendous progress. No one teaches tennis within fifty miles of me.
And. Having just read The Inner Game of Tennis, I have a tennis future now.
Thank you Ian, et al.
Totally agree with this video. I made the mistake of buying a playyourcourt lessons package with the intention of getting better , improving fundamentals etc. starting with my serve. At least in my area the level of coaching wasn’t good. When asked how to improve my flat serve, for instance, comments like “for your level, that serve motion is fine” were abundant and never addressed how I could improve. Tried 3 different coaches and got nothing out of it.
So sorry to hear that. Frankly, some smaller tennis areas simply won't have the type of coach you're looking for. They're a pretty small minority.
I decided recently to pick up tennis after having not played since high school (I'm in my mid 30s so it's been twenty years), so I'm essentially back to being a beginner or maybe "advanced beginner" to put it generously. I played a half dozen times with a friend who is more intermediate, decided I needed some instruction to hang with him, so I took two private lessons this week. What I got was far different from what [I thought] I wanted. I thought I wanted some surface level polish. What I got was a complete teardown of my groundstrokes. In hindsight, I feel grateful that this coach decided that he wasn't going to let me restart my tennis playing days with crappy technique and mechanics, but there was a moment early on when I thought, "what the he11 did I get myself into?" I liked this video, and I completely agree with it in theory, but I guess there are some outlier cases where a coach might see that you need more than what you asked for. I took these lessons while on vacation, so if I decide to get some more private instruction back home, I'll know what to look for and to be more direct about what I'm looking for right from the start.
I had a student who was just getting back into playing, similar to your situation. My reasoning was the muscle memory of all your bad habits hasn't set in yet so it's great time to work on some of the more fundamental things and get some good habits formed.
Great video, Ian! I specifically state in my profile the type of coach that I am. That filters out quite a few players! Decades ago, I vowed to never to continue feeding a tennis ball to a flawed stroke. Most particularly in children and juniors because a stroke typically lasts a lifetime. Oh, the guilt I would feel seeing that player, 10 years later, with the same messed up stroke...
thanks Ian! I couldn't help but smile throughout this video and think of Joel and his recent venting and frustrations about his recent coaching lessons in TX
Wow, so true! Ive spent a ton of money over the years on the types of coaches you're referring to. And the results have indeed been minimal. Thanks for the insights Ian.
Glad you now know the difference!
Great video. Totally agreed.
That's all true. However, when it comes to grip changes, the one place recreational players seem to be most eager to change their grips are on strokes where it is least necessary. Yes, you need to change your grip to get significantly better if you server or volley with a wrist-behind-the-handle grip. But the one place players seen eager to change their grip is on their groundstrokes "to become more modern." The fact is, you could become better than 95% of recreational players using purely old-school grips and styles. (For senior citizens, old-school styles may actually be superior, as the last thing they need is a technique that allows -- even requires -- them to throw more calories into each shot.)
Agree 100%
Just stopped training for a while with my 3rd coach after a year of training, all great coaches for the given phase, worked through different phases and my weaknesses, so far so good thanks :)
-Hitting partner with some insight
-Coach
-Guru
Very valuable overview of what to expect and what to look at.
The only coach I signed up to is for my kids. I could coach them myself, but kids and father does not always work. And luckily this coach does not trigger a single warning - except for the homework part.
I’m a musician, #1 for me is arm/wrist health and efficient strokes. The moment I feel something has been off in my technique potentially endangering my playing, I go to an experienced coach. #2 is if I am lacking specific strokes, like the falling backwards overhead (needed in doubles), or the backhand slice to expand tennis vocabulary, I learn the stroke properly from a coach.
I am not looking for an onsite coach, but what I can say at least is that I see many of them during the week and sadly in most cases, what Ian says here is very visible, both from the standpoint of the coaches and the people/parents who want improvement in their tennis. From my perspective and off the top of my head, I can say that a good 8/10 people/parents are there to just get a workout and "feel" like they've done something towards improvement.
Another great video.
Cheers!
M
That "standard" lesson is everywhere!
I want to improve my serve, ground strokes, and tactics. I have a ton of fun. Great job on the video my friend.
I am not sure if it is a problem of bad coaches, but a problem of bad students. Tried many coaches, and they all taught me something when I asked for help. Some were more observant and better problem solvers for sure. The big problem with most players is paying for coaches for wrong reasons, and going into classes unprepared.
I coached for 5 years. Mostly to kids but it really depended on my client. I put alot of time researching different teaching techniques and there was a lot of trial and error with my coaching but I got to the point where I could fundamentally change some bad habits for some players (using alot of the tips I learned from your channel Ian) I liked teaching kids the most. Most of my clients wanted them to just "Discover" the sport and learn a technique or 2 that they hadnt yet learned. It was a lot of fun and I got to connect with many people in my community
I am so glad that I no longer teach tennis. Unfortunately, the tennis industry is filled with instructors and coaches who will all tell you that bad coaching is what's killing the game. It's the reason why their business is failing. It's the reason why they work at least one extra job (in addition to coaching.) It's just the same old negative nonsense that's spread around by people who are poisonous for the game and need to get out of coaching ASAP.
I will say this much. If your tennis business is not what you want it to be. Stop wasting time complaining about how your competitor down the street is wrecking his students forehand. Your students don't care. Nobody cares. What they want to know is how can you improve their game or basically what can you offer them.
Hold tournaments, organize events, leagues, competitions. That is what all players universally want. The chance to compete.
Hold tournaments. It's really that simple.
Don't waste time throwing rocks at other teaching pros. That accomplishes absolutely nothing.
This is gold. Thanks!
You're very welcome!
There’s nothing wrong with catch phrases as long as that’s what the students need. Why low to high is Not ok but “the face sends it” is fine?
Game improvement. Honestly, I get a lot more out of recording myself and running through progression with a ball machine more than I have with any lesson I've ever taken.
great video! you are absolutely on point!!!!
Very good insight! My 11 years-old daughter plays at a competitive level focusing on technical and tactical shots during her private lesson and squads, and I play at a recreational level. I really like the coaches I have during my tennis squads as they help me improve by giving me tips, but I would not choose these coaches for my daughter. She has a performance coach. I agree with you that when objectives are different, coaches must be different.
Excellent video. My main aim is to improve my tennis! I have definitely noticed that tennis coaches offer different things. My previous coach was a bit formulaic (matching a few points on your list) and I didn't feel I was improving that much. But I have since had some lessons with another coach, whose approach suits me better at the stage I am at now with my game.
Great content. Thanks so much. I'm a recreational player,79,a3.5.
I found some very true facts and assumptions in this video, which I can reassure after my experience with many different tennis coaches. But there are also many controversial statements:
1. Cliche phrases may annoy or discourage some players, but may be really helpful for others. Because, as you say later on: EVERY PLAYER IMPROVES DIFFERENTLY.
2. Repetitive lessons/drills. Mostly true, but there are many recreational players who can't/won't or don't want to improve, maybe because of age, body constraints etc. They just want a routine lesson schedule to have fun, enjoy the game, and may not be positive to changes.
3. Tons of skills in 1 session is actually ideal for the vast majority of recreational players; 99% of them take group lessons, rather than private lessons, so getting specialized in one skill at a time is impossible. You can do it in a small scale in one group lesson, but, since most players play 2-3 times per week, you can't totally skip forehands for 2 weeks, or serves for 3 weeks etc. You MUST cover almost every stroke in each session, because you have to keep their muscle memory at least at the same level. Of course the coach MUST try to help you focus in a different correction/deficiency at a time with tips like: "Nick, today I'd like you to focus on a sooner unit turn at every forehand you hit, Jim, you focus on lowering your serve toss today..." etc.
4. Homework is impossible if you need to make more spacing with the ball, or if your timing with the ball is bad, or if the ball recognition is poor etc. Also, most students may start considering tennis as a chore rather than a hobby if they start receiving homework from their coaches, even if it is about footwork patterns.
Completely agree with this. literally 90 % of so called teaching pros at local clubs have no clue how to teach methods that can really make a difference on stretegy and improvement. They are just expensive ball machines
Been waiting for your reply in the comments here: th-cam.com/video/nPyHdxQg4uo/w-d-xo.html
My goal is to improve my technique, as I have started very old to play with poor level coaches. Because most things you mentioned I have stopped tennis lessons and I am very slowly getting better by making my own videos playing against the wall and trying to check my mistakes and repeat, repeat, repeat. But.... as I have so many things to correct, the job is tough. Thanks for your excellent videos. This and that one "TH-cam is not helping..." are masterpieces that tell us the real situation of coaches-student relationships and how difficult is to improve tennis skills for "normal recreational players".
Thank you👌🙏
I was an absolute beginner and on my first lesson, the coach wasted a signifucant part of the session on explaining the tennis scoring sysrem 😬 I was dying to hold the racket and start swinging it but nope he wanted to talk theory.
All of these are great points, Ian!!
FYI. That 3 person training has provided me with 4 trips to national’s and one championship 😜. This year going to 3.5 18 over at Suprise AZ
I take lessons mostly to improve my technique and correct fundamental flaws (e.g. spacing).
When I had plenty of time and my parents money, I wasn't interested in getting better. Now I have no time or money and desperately want a coach to help my get better. Life's like that sometimes haha
Also interested to here what you feel about the constraints led aproach that is gaining momentum.
My primary goal with my lessons are to get from 4.0 to 4.5 in USTA leagues. So I'm looking for any technical or strategic changes that will get me there. I don't mind spending the entire lesson just working on 1 shot and would love to leave my 4.0 team behind as I get bumped to 4.5. I think the way I can get there is with an improved 2nd serve so that's what I'm working on now
Hey Ian...I love your channel ... I wish you had included that a good coach should encourage their students to utilize the backboard as the primary tool to improve....... And a good coach should teach self-reliance (gained on the wall) and therefore eliminate the need for lessons... I know this sounds counterintuitive.. I've found that I stay busy with word of mouth referrals from students who are happy that they no longer need to pay for a series of lessons because they learn to be self-reliant in one lesson or maybe two.... In my opinion that's the mark of a good coach...To teach their students how to teach themselves utilizing the Internet as a resource and not relying on their coaches to learn but rather using the tools and method that a coach teaches them and then learning at their own pace on their own schedule...(30 years coaching btw)...I conduct the first half of any lesson on the wall focusing on a mantra that builds a technically sound swing then the second half on the court implementing what we ingrained technically on the wall ....interested in your thoughts...thanks for all of your great content...btw I send all of my students a link to your channel and encourage them to trust what they see in your videos as a great way to learn...so thanks again!
love the list ✊🏾
Another great video Ian. I'm surprised not using video analysis didn't make your list.... You must have been feeling generous, when you recorded 😀
But seriously I talk to so many players, who get worse when they work with a coach. The player has often developed a game that works for their skill level. And then the coach tears everything apart and teaches them "pro technique" and as the player loses more and more matches (and confidence), the coach uses the cliche of "needing to take 1 step back and 2 forward". When in fact, the coaching sucked for that player.
It's a such a shame, so it's great that you are raising awareness for players.
I agree with your take on coaching. However, I have struggled mightily to find the "good coach". At least in the Bay Area most coaches are fully booked and the ones that are not booked are likely not booked for many of the reasons you outline. An amazingly helpful resources would be a list of coaches you have vetted and think are good -- or even just a quick response with a recommendation. :)
Right on!! Blessings
I watch and read Vic Braden,,, and I use that as my youtube His books , video, are the best
I taught tennis for 20 years. The first 10 years I tried forcing students to make changes which usually went against the grain. The last 10 years I met them where they were. Some want to be pushed while others were there mostly for exercise and social reasons. They didn’t care if they had a continental grip on their serve. The trick is figuring out who fits in what category.
To build anticipation capability to win more games.
In addition to 11 reasons Ian mentions I'd like to add the following. The main contradiction I see in a private "tennis coach-player" relationship is the fact that the vast majority of tennis coaches (no matter how professional they are) are inherently NOT interested in a tennis player improvement. A tennis coach is mostly interested in payments for his/her lessons (at least $100/hour) that continue indefinitely.
I actually try to focus on improving one stroke at a time. Do i switch it up and take maybe 10-15min to work on serving at the end, yes. What i instill in my students is i wish i had access to all of the resources that they have access to today. It took me a very long time studying the serve on and off. My high school coach didnt help at all so if i can help a kid or teenager i feel successful
Well done ,that took courage
Appreciate the support
My number one concern is aesthetic improvement what comes along with improving my technique. I can only spare enough time to play with my wife, or neighbor, or work colleagues. I am playing more for the workout and social aspect. As the more experienced player (by far) amongst my tennis partners, I have to "play down" to make sure the person on the other side of the net is also having fun. I have been playing tennis seriously since my college years, I did tryout for the college team, but didn't make it. Given my current age (32) and available spare time after job and family commitments, I am not looking to compete, I just want to look good on the court.
1. I want to improve my tennis. 2. Excerise. 3. Socialze with others. 4. Mental workout. 5. Learn something when I am playing.
Well, before ditching your coach you could try telling them what you're looking for - try explaining that you're not like most of the people they teach who are happy going through the motions. A lot of coaches probably give that template lesson because that's what people expect, and they don't want to put people off by explaining that making improvements takes a lot of patient, hard work. There are certainly good and bad coaches, but in my experience most are in between. All the coaches I've had have had something to offer, but don't be afraid to ask. On the subject of working on 1 thing at a time, I spent nearly a year just serving and made almost no noticeable improvement. It wasn't for lack of trying, on my part or the part of my coach, and it wasn't for lack of homework set or done, nor am I exceptional physically challenged. It's just a very hard thing to do, and most people just are not up for it. It wasn't the coach either - several coaches have tried to help me with my serve and all have failed, and I refuse to believe it was due to their lack of knowledge or teaching ability.
YES, very true, well said
@@EssentialTennis Thanks. I don't want to give the impression I'm not supportive of your message here - I think it's great that more people are being made aware so they can take charge of their learning and get what they are looking for. One area that could do with more development is measuring progress. If you play a lot of matches then progressing levels can be a measure but for people who don't play much "graded" tennis or very slow learners something more basic might be useful, to understand what's working and what isn't and remind you that are progressing albeit slowly. Maybe every week hit 100 forehands in a row into the back rectangle or something, and see how many go in. I'm sure with some equipment it could become more sophisticated. People keep telling me I am improving but I don't believe them - I think they are just being polite or engaging in wishful thinking - but maybe they are right.
What’s the difference between essential tennis and real tennis
ET = only posting instruction. RT = only posting matches/training.
I take lesson to learn new things! I am also very focused on progress! I don’t want to know what I did right, I want to know what I did wrong so I can focus on improving the next thing. It is frustrating though because I am not yet seeing the benefits in matches, it feels like 2 steps back to go 3 steps forward. It is funny, I watch people at a higher level from me who still have a pancake serve and bad volley technique! 🤷🏻♀️
typical private lesson is like this: 5 min warm up, then hit 10 min, then 10 forehand, 10 backhand, 5 min volleys or approach shots, 5 to 10 min serve with coach standing aside. then some points play with coach. plus maybe 5 min rest on the whole hour. you pay $150. coach wants you to improve but most coaches don't care that much. because there are always other students. one of these students play good, the coach can become high-demand coach locally.
I would probably take a lesson for cleaning up some shots.
My situation is kinda interesting.
I’ve spent the last 6 years where out budget is all in my kids training. All of my classes have been third person 😂😂.
That took me from 2.5 self rate to this year bumped to 4.0 probably.
If you have any way I can get more out of this third person style. 😜.
That would be helpfull.
Thanks for your guys videos. I miss the match play with your guys commentary!!!!
Later ✌️ from Caribbean 🏝
Number 4 and 13 come closest. Easiest way to always have playing time in the week and a reserved court.
What should they do?
I need to consciously improve my backhand and volleys ..I took coaching for 3 yrs when I was a teenager and since then iv just been playing on and off without really improving any aspect of my game I'm 35 now and I still have the same weaknesses in my game that I had when I was 15
That's what I want to change
2. Fun/entertainment/enjoy
Real Fun
something like I can’t play from laughing
is the kicker sign of the best coach.
mental toughness. my nerves during a USTA match causes me to make errors
My current coach matched all seven items. Maybe isn't a hard issue taking in account i'm a beginner, but good know that.
How often should I get my daughter private tennis lessons if she is also in classes 3 times a week.
Thanks Ian! always excellent! I'll keep my eye out for those BAD Coaches, not sure I would know what to look for 😉 I'll start by checking my FB friends list haha I don't know about some of those guys! lol 😂 just kidding! ❤
😆
I've been teaching since 2006 and playing since 1987. I think as an instructor you have to find out what kind of instructor or teacher you want to be too. If you don't progress as an instructor I feel you are limiting what you can do for the people who come to you. Sometimes I have sent students to other coaches who I felt could help them more and sometimes I've gone to individuals telling them that I don't think that they're getting adequate instruction. Usually when I see some high schooler just feeding balls to someone and blurting out all the catchphrases I can become discouraged. It's frustrating as someone who has put so much time into the game to see someone spend money on something like that. But again it's up to the individual as to what they seek. But being near them on the court I can strike up conversations with them to see if they are looking for something new. I agree with everything you talked about. I've worked with division one college players on one end of the spectrum all the way to the other end to beginners and children. I've had kids I've worked with since grade school who went on to get scholarships in college. Everyone's looking for something different and you have to be aware of what they want. My favorite is teaching the kids. ☮️💜
Very well said, great perspective!
What's funny is that most adult beginners think that everything you said from 1 to 7 is what they don't like in a tennis coach. They want to progress as fast as possible but it's just not the case. Tennis is cleared through the correct repetitive motions mastered through time. I've had times when I only worked on my service for that day and maybe spent 15 minutes for ground stroke. They also don't take homework seriously. If we could spend 8 hours on the court daily then you progress faster but for recreational players it's not the case. So homework helps build those muscles. My coach is the opposite of those 7 things and based on the progress of his past students (training varsity kids). He brought them early on and they're good so at least we have a goal set in our minds where we want to get to. 🎉
Does online video stroke analysis work very well? It is not that easy to find a good in persin tennis coach!!!
This makes sense for the very recreational player. However, when the majority (if not all) of your clients want to compete or make bigger improvements, this is not accurate. I like your insight but maybe specify that next time. I ask every new client what their goals are to ensure they align with mine. Before I make big changes I make sure they’re committed to it. I’m at a point in my career where if a client doesn’t want to improve technically, then I would refer them to another coach. It’s all about knowing your goals as a coach as well.
It's not possible to link level of play with how serious somebody is about improving. I see "very recreational" levels almost every time I coach that also are SUPER passionate about getting better as fast as possible. I've also taught "lessons" with 4.5 players who wanted no feedback or instruction at all. Level and desire for improvement are two very different things.
@@EssentialTennis by very recreational player I mean someone who wants to just have fun. I’m saying that I’m very technically focused so I’m not the right coach for someone who doesn’t want to improve flaws that will cap their potential-like grip changes.
Perfect, so glad you recognize who you're a good fit for and who you're not!
No 6 is a dealbreaker 😊
Great video btw. I had some of these feelings in my first year of lessons with numerous coaches. Some of them really help to grow and show new things. Others… well I just don’t come back once I can tell.
I once took a “lesson” where the instructor spent 20 minutes on the phone conducting business while feeding balls with his other hand, and then didn’t even bother to teach me anything on the serve. Talk about throwing $50 away.
What ? Unprofessional. . get a new coach man
@@CarlUsana-o3l Wasn’t a coach, just a one-off lesson. Needless to say I never went back.
@@anemicroyalty8764 For me I'm quite fortunate to meet the right coach at the right time. 1st coach through beginner phase 6 months (learned all the strokes), 2nd coach group through intermediate phase (match play) 6 months & still training on ad hoc basis, 3rd coach on weaknesses and specific training recently
best selling book? compared to what?
Compared to other books in it's category. The week my book launched it was #1 in several Amazon categories including Tennis Coaching and Sports Psychology.
tennis journey is lonely, the better you get the less people will want to play with you, you have to actively seek better player out as well
I want to get better.
What if your coach is only 7 UTR
Like Ian
I hope my son doesn’t find this video. He just started playing and I’m his coach lol
Ian, my book "Modern Tennis Instruction, A Historical Guide to Play Your Best Tennis" is going to offer real solutions to the dilemma of finding a good coach. It previews at US Open at end of month after 18 years of research. My team hopes we get to work with you in the future. You are on the right path.
12
Ohhh man, you do not know how this is true! My daughter started playing tennis 1,8 years ago! She took first place at the club event! And destroyed other girls who were playing for more than 5-6 years! Why was she able to do this? Because after every training with her coach I as a father was taking her for additional 2 hours training concentrating on the weaknesses and errors that i was seeing at her coach training! I would like to show you the forehand of my daughter! It changed into something that looks very strange at least to me! And I want very badly that she changes her forehand into the modern men's forehand! So if it is possible somehow that you help me with this matter? My daughter loves tennis and we play every day! She wants to become a great professional tennis payer! Can you please help us somehow with her forehand? Where can I send you a video of her forehand? Thank you in advance for your time and consideration!
I watch these videos to catch a glimpse of Mark Sansait 😍
Do you consider yourself a good coach?
If a coach shall cater to each student, then the student should be only attending private lessons. Coach who create online programs and try to sell it falls into the same bucket of teaching the same thing to all the students, isn’t it? 😂
Well....I suck at coaching
Hi Ian, you missed one important giveaway that your coach is more interested in your wallet than in your improvement, it's when they keep saying that you need better equipment to play better, and keep trying to sell you stuff, a better racket, better shoes, obviously from their store or the clubs. It's a big giveaway.
Watch the ball, bend your knees, that’ll be $20 please.
You mean $80!!
@@EssentialTennis My age is showing.
😆
@@EssentialTennis I should give credit where due. It is the title of a book by Ed Collins, the former University of San Diego coach. I got to be the warmup partner for his best player at one tournament.
How do you politely tell a coach u need a better coach? 😅