On Mechanics and the Need for Good Coaching

There are many ways to hit a tennis ball. But the number of best ways to hit a tennis ball are few. Therefore mechanics are all important.

Even the best players (Andy Murray, left)
get coaching (Brad Gilbert, right).

In my weekly tennis schedule I see many players (most, in fact) who can objectively be rated 3.5 or below. Many of these players believe incorrectly that they are at the 4.0 level. These 3.5-and-below players as well as the few 4.0 players that I see, are unlikely to advance much no matter how much they play and practice.

The reason is found in the initial paragraph of this article. Mechanics. Oh, you can try to emulate your favorite pro by watching slo-mo videos. You can take virtual lessons by watching the myriad free instructional videos on YouTube. But these methods usually fail. And the vast majority of players who deserve an NTRP rating of 4.0 or below have poor mechanics and little hope of rising above them.

What is needed is a great teacher, who must be able to do several things:

• Know the correct technique (many don't)
• Objectively observe a student's technique
• Effectively communicate in words as necessary
• Know the drills, exercises, and tricks to get you using the correct technique



Coach Tom Herb in action

• Know and share the practice routines and schedules to make your corrected technique habitual and implemented in the appropriate situations

One of the best teachers that I've seen (and who has a resume of students' success) is Tom Herb, who currently works out of the Wessen Indoor Tennis Club in Pontiac, MI. The Wessen-Indoor facility is nice in that it's new, has a fresh, clean locker-room, and has six hard courts and three clay courts to accommodate different players' needs and preferences. It is not expensive to join and is a place that seems to be drawing some good and up-and-coming players. 

I encourage you to seek coaching -- that is, if you really desire to improve your tennis play. Tom Herb is a great coach, and if you're in or near Southeastern Michigan, I encourage you to contact him via the Wessen Indoor Tennis Club. If you feel that private lessons may be outside your budget, get together with some tennis friends and do semi-private or small-group lessons.

As the motto of the Wessen Indoor club says: Play Big!