Beginner training plan
Your first lessonMy primary goal for the first lesson is to build confidence, establish comfort with the racket, and guarantee the student leaves having fun. We start off the court with the absolute fundamentals: proper ready position, the Eastern forehand grip, and basic ball-tracking skills. I focus on keeping technical jargon to a minimum so the student doesn't feel overwhelmed.
Favorite Drill: “Drop, Bounce, Catch & Hit”
Instead of immediately feeding live balls from across the net, I stand right next to the student. I drop a ball, have them let it bounce, and practice a relaxed, low-to-high shadow swing to guide the ball over the net. This builds immediate muscle memory for the point of contact without the pressure of movement.
Lesson 2-3Lessons 2 and 3 are all about establishing the core groundstrokes and introducing fundamental footwork. We break down the distinct preparation and follow-through paths for both the forehand and the backhand. Students will learn the “split-step” and how to actively move their feet to adjust to a moving ball, rather than standing stationary.
Favorite Drill: “The Turn and Burn”
I feed easy, predictable balls from across the net to alternating sides. The focus is purely on early preparation by turning the shoulders the moment the ball leaves my racket. This drill teaches students how to transition smoothly from a dynamic ready position into a balanced hitting stance.
Lesson 4-10This block is where we build consistency and expand the toolkit. We move beyond isolated hits and work on sustaining short, cooperative rallies. Over these weeks, we also introduce the mechanics of the overhead serve (using a simplified continental grip) and basic net play (volleys).
Favorite Drill: “The 10-Ball Co-op Challenge”
We start in the service boxes (short court) and try to hit 10 consecutive, controlled balls back and forth to each other without missing. Once mastered, we gradually step back to the baseline. It shifts the mindset from just “hitting” the ball to controlling depth, height, and pace.
