Your Tennis Coaching Questions Answered
Updated: Sep 3
Every day my Instagram DM is flooded with questions about Tennis Coaching. People want to know how to win more tennis matches. They want to know how to get more spin or power.
And they’re trying to figure out how to better rankings without the hard work.
Chances are, you probably have these same types of questions. And you’ve probably even spent some time on blogs, forums and around the web, trying to get answers. The problem is that you keep getting conflicting answers.
For example, pop onto any Tennis Coaching forum and ask this question: How to get more power on my serve?
I guarantee that you’ll get conflicting advice. Some people will tell you to work on your ball toss. Another group will advocate that you focus on the hitting phase. And to make it extra confusing, you might even get a few people telling you to focus on leg drive!
So you’re left to sort through the wheat and the chaff.
If you’re new to that particular community, it’s even more complex because you don’t know who to trust. Because the truth is, there are plenty of wannabe tennis coaches who want you to think they know what they’re talking about – but they’re just as clueless as everyone else.
And in some cases, these types of people offer downright dangerous advice.
That’s why I compiled this list of frequently asked tennis coaching questions.
I wanted to ensure you got the right advice from someone who’s successfully navigated the world of tennis coaching and coach education.
Read on…
Join Our Community
Are you a tennis coach looking to evolve your coaching techniques and achieve better results with your players? Join our online community at My Tennis Coaching! Our platform is dedicated to helping coaches like you navigate the ever-changing world of tennis coaching. By becoming a member, you'll gain access to a wealth of resources, including player-centered coaching techniques, strategies for holistic player development, and tips for effective program management. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded coaches, share experiences, and learn from each other.
Our exclusive content, webinars, and downloadable resources are designed to help you stay updated with global coaching trends and reinvigorate your coaching style. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of a community that is as passionate about tennis coaching as you are.
Join My Tennis Coaching today and unlock the potential in every player!
Q. What is the best way to get more power on my serve?
A. It depends! Every player in the world will serve differently, some players will have a low ball toss, some a higher ball toss.
It would help if you looked first at what you are trying to do with the service.
Are you going wide or centre line? Then think about spin, flat or topspin, then look at the Path, Angle and Speed.
The best advice is don't copy anyones technique.
Learn the fundamentals such as making contact in front of the body, staying relaxed and aiming for a nice slow to quick rhythm.
Q. Tennis Coaching is expensive. Is there a cheaper way to get the same results?
A. Yes, play Tennis!
Tennis Coaching will help speed up the improvement process, but you can play the game and learn by doing! Kinesthetic learning is very powerful.
Play the game and reflect on how you played. What did you accomplish that you are pleased with, and where are you making the most errors?
With Social Media now like YouTube you can get expert advice for free straight to your phone.
Q. What’s the fastest way to become a pro player?
A. No shortcuts to the top, I'm afraid - Talent, Luck, Heart and some excellent athletic skills will get you there, enjoy the journey and take your time.
Q. Every time I try to hit with more topspin, I smash the ball out! How can I avoid this in the future?
A. You're probably trying too hard! Top spin comes from racket head speed.
To move the racket quickly requires rhythm and relaxation.
Watch any top player and look how relaxed they are. They approach the ball slow, touch or make contact, and then they speed up. They make it look so easy.
That's because they are relaxed, don't try so hard and breathe.
Q. I’ve been trying to fix my ball toss for months, but I do not see good results. What am I doing wrong?
A. Putting too much pressure on your ball toss! The ball toss is just one part of the service, and I once believed it was the most crucial part.
I would get my players for hours to practice throwing the ball up into the air without hitting it!
Not great coaching!
The problem with this type of practice is that it isolates one arm, and to serve, you need two. I was also creating stress and anxiety in my players because I constantly told them the ball toss was wrong. Now, I am happy to say my coaching is much better.
My advice, again, is to relax and focus on hitting the service in front of your tennis shoes and be as tall as you can.
If you hit the ball in front of your tennis shoes, your ball toss was perfect. Focus on the contact and less about what your doing; the external focus is compelling.
Q. If you went back in time and were going to coach tennis for the first time, what would you do differently this time?
A. Talk Less! I believed my job was to give lots of information and be a fountain of wisdom.
The truth is that I was overloading my players with information, giving them too many things to think about. A player performs better when they are clear-headed, relaxed and not too fixated on how there doing something.
These days, I talk less, I encourage my players to feel more without me telling them what's happening, and I see my role as the support act, not the show's star.
Q. I don’t have much money to buy equipment etc., because I have work, family and social responsibilities. What do you suggest I do?
A. Read my blog on How to Play Tennis go over how you can play at home, highlight some reasonable equipment and share some tips for starting out. I also share lots of free coaching advice so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION - ASK IN THE CHAT BUTTON - NO BOTS, JUST ME!
In conclusion…
At last, you finally know the TRUTH about How to get more power, fix your ball toss and play tennis on a budget.
And that means that you can now play tennis more confidently because you’re armed with the knowledge you need to succeed. See you at the top!
WATCH THIS NEXT
Written by Steve Whelan
Steve has developed thousands of tennis players and tennis coaches over the past twenty years as a coach and educator.
Steve has over 20 million social media views in 2022 alone.
Read About Steve's amazing career here
Contact Steve direct at steve@mytenniscoaching.com or www.mytenniscoaching.com
steve@mytenniscoaching.com #mytenniscoaching #howtoplaytennis