What is the best age to start playing tennis?
I feel like there could be a few different answers to this very complicated question.
I started playing tennis when I was about 13.
I stumbled across an old wooden tennis racket in my grandparents garage and decided to take it over to the brick school building next door and hit balls against the wall.
I had played many sports before tennis when I was younger including basketball, softball, and volleyball.
That summer I decided to play in a community summer league which led to playing in my school league that following spring on the JV team when I was only in 7th grade.
I continued to play all through high school and college competitively.
As a busy mom of 2 I am hoping to join a summer league and play in the city tennis tournament this summer.
What is the best age to start tennis?
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In the tennis world it seems the like younger you can start playing the better.
You can start very informally when your child is 2 or 3 by introducing them to a tennis racket and ball and showing them how to hit for fun.
You will want to make sure to keep it light and developmentally appropriate.
Even just bouncing a tennis ball up and down is a way for them to get more familiar with the sport.
Once your child is a little older then you can think about starting them in private or group tennis lessons.
What is the best age to start tennis lessons for kids?
Usually around age 4 is a good time to start however, all kids are different so you will want to look at your own child’s specific skill set to see if they are indeed ready to start taking tennis lessons.
You will want to make sure that they can pay attention and follow simple directions well before entering them into private or group tennis lessons.
Private Tennis Lessons for Kids
Are private tennis lessons worth it for your child?
This is a decision only you can make so you will want to weigh the pros and cons of group and private tennis lessons.
Private tennis lessons can be a good idea for young children because they get one on one attention.
The tennis instructor will be able to teach them the strokes properly and then choose the best drills to enhance those skills.
They will also be able to spot your child’s strengths and weaknesses an make a tennis lesson that fits them the best.
Group Tennis Lessons for Kids
Group tennis lessons for kids can be fun as they will be able to meet other kids and this type of instruction tends to focus more on actual match play.
Most likely they will use some tennis drills during the practice to work on specific skills but they will also allow time for children to practice playing actual matches both singles and doubles.
Playing actual matches is an important part of learning to play tennis as it teaches them the tennis terms they need to know and how to keep score.
Which type of kids tennis lessons are best?
This will depend on your child and what you want them to get out of the experience.
If you want your child to get one on one coaching to guide them in how to hit strokes and serves then private lessons may be the way to go.
If you are looking to get them time playing actually matches, then group lessons would probably be the better choice.
You will also want to consider your child’s learning style.
Do they tend to do better on a one on one learning situation or in a group.
Lastly, you will also want to consider your budget.
Private lessons are typically going to cost more then group tennis lessons.
You may also want to talk to the different tennis clubs in your area to see if you could trial a lesson for free or at a discounted rate to make sure it is a good fit for your little one before signing them up.
You will want to make sure that they can follow simple instructions and are interested in learning the sport.
You will want to start off by introducing them to the tennis racket and ball and letting them play and explore a bit.
You will then want to demonstrate the different strokes and see if they can imitate the movements.
You may want to have your child take group or private tennis lessons if they are interested in learning more about the sport.
It is never too late to start tennis!
Tennis is a lifelong sport that has lots of benefits no matter how old you are when you start playing.
Learning any new sport or hobby can be challenging but many times it is worth the effort.
If you are learning to play tennis you will have to learn about the different types of strokes and how to hit a serve.
You will also want make sure you are familiar with tennis terms used during matches and the tennis scoring process.
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