Choosing A Tennis Professional As An Adult

Choosing a tennis professional as an adult can be almost as daunting as choosing one for your son or daughter.  In Tallahassee in particular, there are numerous choices.  How can one make the best decision possible?

A few days ago I had a wonderful conversation with Gina Herring, Tallahassee's USTA adult league coordinator, about just this topic. She told me that she has taken lessons with virtually everyone in town (save yours truly). She explained that at different points in her tennis career, different pros were perfect for where she was at the time.

I know another person who is a frequent lesson taker, that has also taken from most of the pros in town, and she has told me that each pro has given her something that she finds useful to her game - even implying that in her mind every pro has their strengths, and when she feels her game could use a dose of a specific strength of a specific pro, she will do lessons with that person.

There are many ways to decide what professional is best for you.  The simplest way is to take a lesson from every person and make your best judgement based on those experiences.  However here is a simple checklist that may aid you in determining the best professional who can help improve your game.

1) Punctuality- Hopefully the professional arrives early if you are his first lesson.  Does your lesson start on time?  This is your first indication of how responsible the professional really is.

2) Brevity - Does the professional spend half the lesson explaining what he /she wants and expects of you? Do they give long winded explanations? Is half the lesson taken up with talking rather than playing and drilling? Your professional should be able to explain things succinctly and quickly, and transition you quickly between drills without needing a dissertation.  After all, you're there to hit balls, not chat.

3) Court/ player Management - Does the professional involve everyone in the activity? Do they have cooperative, interactive drills? Or, do they use lines where player stand around waiting for the person in front of them to finish the activity. The best professionals keep everyone active throughout the lesson.  The only appropriate lines during a lesson or clinic are the white ones on the court.

4) Corrective Techniques - Does the professional tell you WHAT to do, or HOW to do it? Most people know what to do, but the art of teaching is getting the student to do what it is you want them to do. That involves the HOW - how will I get Judy to poach on the deuce court? Telling her to move forward at an angle is the what, but how can I get her to remember that movement pattern? A good professional will have different HOWS for different types of learners. Some people are visual learners, while others are kinesthetic learners, and still others are auditory learners.  Your professional needs to be able to connect with the type of learner you are.

5) Progression - Does the lesson have a theme, and beginning, middle, and end?  Your lesson should be focused on one item, unless you choose to effectively take two half hour lessons in one hour.  That one item is the theme.  A theme is not "forehands."  A theme is specific to your needs.  A theme could be "cross court forehands for doubles focusing on point of contact." That's just a basic example.  In a strategy lesson, a theme could be " down the line lob returns focusing on court positioning after the lob."

6) Tailoring - Does the pro listen to what you say you want to learn or do they do what they want?  As professional and student, you are a team.  We need your guidance as much as you need ours.  At least that's how the relationship works best.  A good professional, always listens closely to your suggestions and problems, and tailors the lesson to fit your needs.

7) Price, Availability - While these things are important, they should only come into play if you feel you have two or more excellent professionals that you have taken from, and cannot decide between them because they are that close in your mind.  In that situations price and availability come into play.

As you search for the professional for you, take time to consider the above suggestions.  If nothing else, maybe it will open your mind to new possibilities.