What is the process involved in coaching a tennis beginner? In this piece below we try to explain the steps involved for a coach in helping a beginner grow his or her game of tennis.
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Coaching a tennis player right from the player’s early days takes special skill. While holding a tennis racquet for you probably comes naturally, for someone who has never played the game, it is a new skill to learn. Coaching beginners tennis is a process, starting off with the really small things, such as how to hold the racquet, how to bounce the ball, and slowly moving on to the various strokes, scoring, how to play an actual game, skill, and of course, motivation.
The easiest way to coach a tennis player is on the tennis court! Theoretically, you can sit with a new tennis player and discuss the fundamentals of tennis, show videos and look at photographs, but ideally, a player will learn by playing. This guide, “How to coach tennis for beginners” is a tool guide for the coach. It’s theoretical, but it will help you putting the theory into practice.
1. How to Hold the Racquet
Firstly, teach your players how to hold a tennis racquet.
Holding the tennis racquet is actually not instinctive, you do need to teach a beginner how to grip the racquet correctly. You are going to teach a beginner’s grip, where the racquet is held not too tight and not too loosely, and with the fingers along the handle in an angled position.
A v-shaped groove is what you are aiming for, between the thumb and the index finger. The thumb is towards the left of the racquet, the index finger is pointing up, and the other fingers curling around. The pinky and the thumb are almost, but not quite, connecting.
Let the players play around with their racquets and their grip, getting a feel for them, and starting to feel comfortable. Never overload a new player with a whole lot of grips. Teach them the most simple grip to start, and only once they are hitting the ball with some confidence, will you teach other grips.
2. Meeting the Racquet and the Ball
Your player has learned how to hold the tennis racquet. Now, ask them to stretch their arms out and put the ball on the face of the racquet.
You are going to need to point out the face of the racquet, and also, show them how to hold the racquet so it is parallel to the ground. Then, get them to slowly ‘dribble’ the ball from one side of the racquet face to the other, doing their best not to drop the ball!
This takes time to learn; as a tennis coach you are going to have to be super patient! And remember, keep it fun.
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3. Ball in One Hand, Racquet in Another
You can do fun exercises with your beginner players. Get them comfortable holding a tennis ball in one hand while they hold the racquet, correctly, in the other.
Tell them to bounce the ball with their hand, throw it in the air, and make contact with the ball and the racquet.
You can demonstrate the age old technique of holding the racquet, parallel to the ground, face up, arm stretched out, bouncing the ball, small bounces, ball to string, as many times as possible. This teaches control, and is a fun way for a child to start learning about managing both racquet and ball. It is also good for wrist strengthening.
4. Run the Lines
A tennis court is second nature to you, but not to a new player. You actually have to point out the base line, service lines, tram lines and net.
A fun way for a beginner tennis player to learn the game is by ‘running the lines.’ You can come up with fun exercises that will also warm up your players, starting at the base line, running to the service line, back to the base line, to the left tram, to the centre line, to the right tram, up to the net, around to the other side, and repeat in any way you want!
Make it fun, it familiarise the player with the court and helps with their fitness levels and fun levels.
5. Learning the Forehand
The forehand is the easiest stroke to teach, and the easiest stroke to play. It’s also a stroke that will inspire confidence in your new players, because they may just get it right fairly quickly. Remember, take it slowly and be encouraging; it does not matter how many errors a player makes.
- Position the player on one side of the net, in the centre of the court, and at the centre line.
- Make sure they are holding the tennis racquet correctly.
- Ensure their feet are in the right stance.
- Demonstrate the forehand stroke to them, including footwork, arm work and the follow through.
- Get the player to do a few forehand strokes, without you throwing a ball to them.
- Once you feel they have the motion correctly, go to the other side of the net.
- You are going to throw balls, well positioned, so the player does not have to run.
- Each ball will be just to the right of the player, so they can complete a good forehand, with the correct style.
- Once your player gets the grip, not just of the grip, but of the footwork and body style needed, you can throw the balls a little out of reach.
- Your player is going to use their feet a little bit more.
- Remember to encourage all aspects of the stroke, including the follow through.
This takes time.
Don’t worry how many times the player hits the ball into the net. You can point out if they are dipping the racquet, or holding the racquet too low or too high. It’s all about style and technique in the beginning, and once the player gets it, they will start making good leaps and bounds!
6. Learning the Backhand
Essentially you are going to do exactly what you did with the forehand, but you are going to demonstrate to them the backhand stroke and style.
Once they have an idea, you will go to the other side of the net and throw balls, slowly, so the beginner tennis player gets an idea of the backhand stroke. Keep it fun, keep it light, don’t do a tally (unless the player is really good and is getting balls over the net) and keep assuring them of how it gets easier and better with time!
Sometimes, you only need a new tennis player to do one good shot and they gain in so much confidence. Point out the good – great grip, wonderful follow through, fabulous footwork – rather than the bad.
Be encouraging with mistakes, pointing out how they can try and do it differently. Also, you can throw a few balls without analysing each shot. After ten shots, do a little analysis, keeping it light.
Things to teach, and point out, with the groundstrokes such as the forehand and backhand, include:-
- Holding the racquet correctly.
- Starting off with the correct foot stance.
- Moving your feet in the direction of the ball.
- Taking a side step as the ball comes.
- Keeping your eye on the ball.
- Judging where the ball will land and how it will bounce.
- Taking your racquet back in time and making racquet / ball contact in time.
- Hitting with some force, up and over the net.
- Following through with your racquet, arm and feet.
- Getting into the right position for the next ball.
7. Groundstrokes, on One Side of the Court
In this drill your player is going to position himself correctly at the centre line, just like in points 5 and 6. As a coach, put emphasis on the stance, slightly bent knees, body weight and of course, racquet held correctly and upright.
Then, rather than throw balls from the other side of the tennis court, you are going to drop balls closer to the player.
While it may not seem different to points 5 and 6 above, this way the ball is coming a little faster at the player, and he or she needs to learn to judge it correctly. You are also going to land the ball so that the player works on his footwork.
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8. Varying the Drills (Forehand and then Backhand)
Remember, don’t rush these drills.
If your beginner tennis player is struggling with a groundstroke, focus on that before putting too much pressure. Once the player has the hang of the forehand and the backhand, vary the game or the drill a little.
The player will stand in the centre of the court, at the centre line. Throw the player a forehand ball, and then a backhand ball. Repeat, so the player is moving from one stroke to another, always going back to the centre of the court between strokes.
As your tennis player improves, so he or she can move from the middle of the court towards the back of the court. Shots will become harder and faster.
You can do this drill in so many ways. One forehand, two backhands. Three forehands, one backhand.
You can move the player around the court, as they improve, giving your balls a bit more speed, making the player run around a whole lot more.
Whatever you do, do not rush your players. If they are struggling, go slower. Do fun things in-between drills. A tennis coaching practice, especially for beginner players, must never be stressful or you will lose your pupil very quickly.
9. Switch Things Around, Play with the Balls
Not everything has to be about the tennis stroke. Work on your pupil’s hand eye co-ordination.
Have them stand at the net. Hit tennis balls to them (not AT them) at different speeds, making them move a little, reach a little, sometime jump a little.
Don’t go too fast, unless they are ready for fast. This is a fun exercise and is good for fitness and hand-eye coordination. It also really teaches a tennis player to keep their eye on the ball. If you have a group of beginner tennis players, they can take it in turns to catch and throw, while running around the net. Fun, lots of laughter, and good for the eye!
Also, once your player can do the catch / throw drill, get them to use their tennis racket instead of their hands!
10. Learning to Serve
Well, this is not easy! As a tennis coach you are going to spend a lot of time with your tennis players, teaching them how to toss the ball accurately, when to hit the ball and when to leave the ball, where to get the racquet and ball to meet, to hit, and then to follow through.
Learning to serve can be the most frustrating part of learning tennis. You, the coach, need to be patient. Your players need to be patient. Teach them that learning a serve takes discipline and it takes resilience, but once they’ve learned it, they will never forget it!
As we all know, the service can make or break a game. A good strong serve, and a smart second serve, can win you the game. Spend time on:-
- Body position for the serve, from both sides of the service line.
- How to angle the body, the feet, and the hands.
- Swinging the racquet down, back and up, in a smooth motion.
- Tossing the ball at the right time.
- Tossing the ball to the right height.
- When to bring the racquet down, and at what angle.
- How hard to hit the serve.
- Following through.
- Getting ready for the return shot.
Work firstly on the technique, without using a ball.
Demonstrate to the player how to stand, swing and serve. You may have to help them get into position. Ask them to practice getting in and out of the serve position. Then, work on the swing and the ball toss, individually.
Don’t let learning the serve become monotonous. Do ten ball tosses, then a few swings. Do a few ball bounces too.
Demonstrate again and again. It is important that you do not let your pupil get despondent. And actually, once the tennis serve has been done correctly a few time, muscle memory kicks in. Remind your pupil of that!
When you do start serving, it’s a good idea to do it from the service line and not the baseline. This is less daunting for the player. Once they have mastered the serve from closer to the net, you can move to the baseline.
A few tennis serve steps for a coach to follow:-
- Have a big bucket of balls with you
- Use the service line, or the base line, to teach the serve, depending on the strength of the player.
- Motivate the player; the serve is the hardest shot to master.
- Teach the first and second serve.
- Use a target on the other side of the court
11. Teaching the Lob
Actually, this is one of the last shots you are going to teach a player, but given it can be so similar to a serve, we are going to mention it straight after the serve.
It’s all about positioning your body correctly, under the ball, keeping your eye on the ball, and making contact with the racquet and ball at the same time. It’s also about placing your lob correctly. Lobs are fun, and new players love them!
12. Volleys
It’s a pretty good idea to spend time on volleys, simply because they are often an easy shot and one that give a player, especially a new player, confidence. You can teach volleys on their own, with the player at the net and you on the other side, or you can do it with a serve, run to the net, and volley.
Given that your player is a beginner, we will do it as if the player has never volleyed before. First, you will explain, like with all shots, what a volley is. Basically, a shot that you hit without a bounce, while you are close to the net, approximately three or four feet away.
Given a volley is done close to the net, you will position the player close to the net, ensuring they are holding their racquet in a continental grip.
Start with them in the centre of the court, but with time, you can move them to the left or the right. You are going to hit or throw a ball to the player, same as you do for a groundstroke, getting the player to position their body and racket correctly. This is something you can demonstrate, side by side with your pupil.
The ball is not going to bounce. You, as the coach, will throw the ball towards them so the player needs to step towards the ball and hit a forehand, or backhand, volley. The ball need to be punched, not just returned or tapped, and the footwork, and follow through are super important.
Volleys are fun, including split step volleys, left to right and right to left volleys, a lob thrown into the mix, and running forwards, or backwards towards the ball.
Go slowly, demonstrate to the players how the movement should be, help them with their positioning and alignment, and remember, it’s all about repetition, practice, muscle memory and motivation too.
13. Slice and Top Spin
With time you are going to teach your tennis pupils various grips, how to put incredible top spin on to a ball and how to slice a ball.
Do this slowly.
You want to ensure that your tennis players understand the basics of tennis first and that includes understanding the game of tennis, knowing how to score and having good manners on the court! Slowly, you can get into different grips, slice, top spin, drop shots and strategy but for now, with your beginner pupils, focus on:-
- Holding a racquet correctly.
- Teaching the groundstrokes.
- Focusing on the serve.
- Having fun with volleys and lobs.
- Learning the rules.
- Learning how to score.
- Teaching tennis etiquette.
- Growing a love for the game!
Buy your tennis coaching equipment with beginners in mind – cones are good, donuts are great, a tennis ladder is helpful – and watch a few videos on how to coach beginners.