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I am often asked by parents 'what type of lesson is best for my child?' when they inquire about tennis tuition, I hope this week I can shed some light.
Some children need other kids around in order to have fun, and for them group lessons are clearly best. For younger beginners, the games available in a group lesson are also a great way to enjoy the sport.
If a child is comfortable on his, or her, own with a tennis professional then private lessons will bring the quickest improvement.
Semi-private lessons can be an ideal compromise, but for most it's important that the lesson partners have similar abilities. If one child has more trouble picking up new skills than a friend then it can prove disheartening. It could discourage them and they will probably end up hating the game.
Even if the child is progressing quite well, partnering up with an above average talented player can make them think that they are doing terribly as they are comparing themselves to that talent.
If your child is taking lessons you can accelerate their progress by taking him or her out to play. Generally, the more kids play the better they get, but practicing bad habits can be counterproductive.
Ask their pro what to keep an eye on when playing, they will probably not ask you to do any teaching but the pro may want you to remind your child of certain things, like following through or meeting the ball at the full extension on the serve.
It may be helpful just to throw balls for your child to hit. Just remember to keep it fun and be patient on the court with your kids.
