FAQs Regarding Private Lessons
Are private lessons worth it?
Yes, private lessons are worth trying at all levels of tennis. If you’re new to tennis and looking to fast-track your ability to play the sport, this is the best option by far. But, like anything else, private lessons have limitations. For most players, private lessons are supplementary to group practice and match-play. Taking a lot of them will get stale if you’re not competing on the side. Private lessons also focus on the technical aspects of tennis and demand a high volume of repetition, which is less enjoyable than competing or playing in a social setting. For a more detailed answer, see here.
What does a private lesson accomplish compared to a group class?
In a private lesson, you will hit a lot more balls than you would in a group class. You will also have a much more detailed conversation with your coach about mechanics and tactical problem-solving. Group classes offer competitive and social experiences that may be more fun, but you may not learn as much.
Do private lessons make fiscal sense?
If your goal is to reach a competent level of play as quickly as possible, private lessons make a lot of sense. Yes, private lessons are more expensive but they are also more valuable, especially to a beginner. Once you reach a competent level of play, you may opt to take fewer private lessons since you will reach a point of diminishing returns.
Do children need private lessons?
Private lessons are a great way to introduce young children to tennis since there are fewer distractions. However, very young children are technically limited and may not get the full benefits of private lessons until they’re 8 or 9 years old. Once a child has the prerequisite experience, try to get them in a group. If they’re highly motivated, maintain a weekly private lesson.
Who needs private lessons and how often?
Anyone that wants to learn more about tennis and improve needs private lessons, but not necessarily all the time. Players with less than 1 year of experience should consider taking private lessons frequently until they’ve built up the prerequisite skill to join a group or compete independently. High performance players that are actively competing should also take private lessons frequently as a way to troubleshoot and strategize for upcoming matches.
Players with 1 year of experience or more that are not actively competing will do fine with periodic private lessons when they need a general tune-up. For most players in the intermediate range, this usually means 1 private lesson for every 4-6 hours of practice and competitive experience.
Do you need to be good to deserve private lessons?
Let’s be real. Private lessons are a privilege, and they’re expensive. In a sense, you need to deserve them, and you need to be highly motivated to attend one each week. Players that don’t have goals are not going to be as motivated. However, goals can be as simple as being able to play with friends or being able to join a USTA league.
How do I strike a balance between private lessons and other forms of practice?
Brand new players should take private or semi-private lessons exclusively until it is feasible to get out and play with anyone who will hit with you or join a group. At first, you might consider a 1:1 ratio of practice to instruction. Over time, you can gradually increase practice between lessons until you’re at a ratio of 4:1 or higher.