How to Choose a great Tennis Instructor - Top 10 Important Considerations

1. A Difficult Process

Finding good tennis instructors and tennis coaches is difficult. The vast majority are former college or high school players who look reasonably good hitting a ball, but have little actual teaching experience.

Indeed, they've seldom studied basic principles of education, read books about proper technique, taken courses in the basic principles of teaching progressions and tennis coaching, or attained certification by either the PTR (Pro Tennis Registry) or USPTA (US Pro Tennis Association).

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors their NTRP rating, if they are nationally certified (which association and level: low, medium, or high), whether they have ever been ranked highly in the USTA, the number of years they have been teaching professionally, the ages and levels of the students they have taught, the types of locations at which they have taught (year-round indoor centers vs. part-time outdoor summer camps), and which notable authors they have read.

And, while you're talking to your potential Tennis Coaches, try to gain an understanding of their level of professionalism, dedication, level of maturity, type of personality (personable; gregarious), and their ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

2. Expect RAPID Results

You're paying good money to take tennis lessons, and you've got a right to expect good results soon. If you have difficulty understanding your Tennis Teachers during your tennis lessons and have been progressing slowly, stop crossing your fingers hoping you'll one day have a magical epiphany and suddenly improve.

Instead, demand results NOW while you're on-court, and not at some later time. If your Tennis Teachers are truly worth their grain of salt, you'll start improving with your very first tennis lesson, and will continue to improve with each successive tennis lesson.

A good Tennis Teacher is absolutely worth the price. A poor Tennis Teacher simply waists your time and money.

3. National Certification

While certification does not guarantee a GREAT Tennis Coach, it certainly guarantees a reasonable minimum level of expertise. It's unfortunate, but the vast majority of Tennis Coaches are unable to measure up to this requirement.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors and Tennis Coaches if they are nationally certified, and to which level.

The PTR and the USPTA are the only two well-respected, USTA-sanctioned, certifying bodies in the USA, and both have been certifying Tennis Coaches for almost 35 years. They certify Tennis Instructors to essentially three ascending tennis coaching levels (low; medium; high).

Good Tennis Coaches always work and study hard to periodically retest and elevate their certification to the highest level.

4. NTRP Level

It's simply impossible for a Tennis Teacher to teach you to do something he/she can not already do him/herself, regardless of what he/she might think or claim.

So, if a Tennis Teacher only has an NTRP of 4.0, he/she can not teach you to play at NTRP 4.5 or higher. If you happen to improve beyond your Tennis Teachers NTRP level, it is solely due to your own abilities, not your Tennis Teacher's.

Always ask your potential Tennis Teachers their NTRP level. It is ill-advised to settle for a lower NTRP level for the sake of a lower price. You will only get what you paid for, with little or no lasting improvement. Instead, demand a high NTRP level to better assure yourself of more rapid improvement.

5. Ranking in the USTA

While a higher USTA (United States Tennis Association) player ranking is no guarantee of getting good tennis lessons, it certainly does help. Tennis Instructors who have never been ranked, or have never even competed for a USTA ranking, should be avoided.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors about their current and/or past rankings: The higher, the better.

6. Years and Kind of Experience

There's no substitute for experience. But, tennis teaching experience can be gained in a variety of settings. These include year-round indoor and outdoor facilities, as well as outdoor summer-only institutions such as adult and junior camps, recreation department programs, and country clubs. The tennis teaching experience a Tennis Instructor gains at a summer kids' camp is greatly inferior to that gained at a year-round club. This impacts directly on the quality of your tennis lessons.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors exactly where they have gained their experience.

7. Experience Teaching Different

Ages, Levels, and Groups: Different ages and levels require different approaches and techniques when it comes to tennis instruction.

If your potential Tennis Instructor has spent the bulk of his/her time teaching children, he/she will be hard-pressed to provide proper tennis instruction to you as an adult. The skills required to teach privately to a single person are very different and more demanding than teaching a group.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors how much time they have spent teaching people of your own age and level, as well as whether they have taught group and private lessons.

8. Expert Knowledge of Proper Technique

Knowledge is critical, and a great Tennis Instructor gains it only from the great effort he/she has made to educate himself/herself. He/she needs to have read a large quantity and variety of tennis instruction books, viewed a sufficient number of instructional videos, and attended many salient courses and workshops on proper stroke technique. There are no short-cuts.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructor how he/she has gained his/her knowledge.

9. Communication Ability

Regardless of the depth of your Tennis Coach's knowledge of proper technique, this information is useless if he/she is unable to communicate it to you clearly and concisely.

When you speak with your potential Tennis Instructor, always listen to the manner in which he/she expresses him/herself. If you are unable to clearly understand him/her during your initial discovery process, chances are you will be just as bewildered while on court.

10. Personality

Although Personality is presented here last, it is by no means less important than the other considerations. Indeed, a personable, gregarious, punctual, reliable, mature professional who is also upbeat, encouraging, enthusiastic, and animated makes for a fun time on the court.

When you have your initial conversation to discuss tennis lessons, always remember to look for these inviting traits.

For more information, visit the Tennis Lessons Boston website at http://tennislessonsboston.tripod.com

How To Choose Tennis Equipment

The right tennis equipment, gear and apparel can definitely affect the way athletes play. Using the right equipment can spell the difference between winning and losing. In tennis, there are several tennis equipments and all should be chosen carefully.

In tennis, the equipments that are frequently used include racquets, balls, court and practice equipment, clothing and shoes. All this equipment can help players improve their game. Sponsors of top tennis players study each tennis player before giving them their gears to make sure that the equipment they provided matches the player's playing style.

For amateur players who want to improve their game, there are some tips they should consider when buying their tennis gear.

The tennis racquet is one of the basics of tennis equipment. Without it, you cannot play tennis. There are several tennis makers such as Wilson, Babolat, Dunlop, Gamma and many more. Choosing the right tennis racquet does not depend on the price of the racquet.

Just because it is expensive does not mean that it is the right one for you. Usually, the playing style of each player determines the right kind of racquet for them. The size, head weight, frame material and strings of the racquet can affect your shot. For instance, a stiffer racquet with a heavier head is less likely to send the ball into unexpected angles.

This means that players who use this kind of racquet can control the angle of the ball easily. On the other hand a racquet with a stiffer frame is more powerful. Therefore, it is a choice between power and control. Normally, when you pick one, you have to give up the other. Fortunately, racquet makers are finding ways so that players can have both without sacrificing any of the two.

Tennis balls are also important. One of the early popular balls are the Slazenger tennis balls. Slazenger is a British company which produces all kinds of sports equipment, one of which is the famous Slazenger balls for tennis. The popular tennis ball manufacturers on the other hand, include Wilson, Dunlop, Gamma, Penn and Slazenger.

Tennis balls are 2.7 inches in diameter and are usually yellow green in color. Traditionally, there are two types of tennis balls: pressurized balls and pressure-less balls. However, in theory, there are 24 different kinds of balls varying in speed, felt and bounce production.

There are many brands of tennis balls that are being used in different tournaments tournaments. One of which are the Slazenger balls. The Slazenger Company is the appointed ball supplier of Wimbledon since 1902 until 2015.

When buying tennis balls either for practice or tennis tournaments, it is best to try all the available balls so that you can pick one that suits your game. The durability of the ball is also a crucial factor. A tennis ball with good quality normally lasts for a month. The type of surface you are playing will also determine which ball is best for you.

In the case of tennis clothing and shoes, there are several brands which also produce all kinds of tennis shoes and clothing for different types of players. Just like other tennis equipments, the right shoes and clothes for you depend on your playing style and other characteristics such as your body built. Those who want to fully enjoy tennis should make sure that they have the right equipment, apparel or gears.

For more information on tennis equipment and slazenger tennis balls, you can visit thetennisshop.com.au All your tennis equipments and accessories are here!