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Getting Started
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Clothing
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To get started in tennis you need to wear loose fitting sports clothes appropriate for tennis (i.e. not jeans or football shirts) and proper tennis shoes. At our club we do not insist that your clothes are white or that they meet any high standards - only that you are decent! If you do not wear suitable tennis shoes you risk injuring yourself and damaging the court, particularly the shale courts. Some clubs and centres with indoor courts may insist you wear non-marking soles.
Here is a quick guide to suitable tennis shoes...
The general rule is that they have relatively flat, rubber soles with no "sharp" edges, heels or tread patterns which could cause damage to some types of court. Good brands include Wilson, Head, Nike and Dunlop. The shoes are generally white with leather uppers but canvas is also suitable. Here are a few examples...
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But best of all it's that good old classic - Dunlop Green Flash!
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Racquets
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If you are not certain that tennis is the game for you, you may wish to borrow a racquet from a friend or from your local club before you make an investment. We have a few spare racquets available to borrow at our club during group sessions.
Once you have decided to invest, you will find that there is a bewildering selection of tennis racquets available; ranging in price from as little as £25 to over £200. The best course of action is to seek out a specialist tennis or racquet sports shop where trained assistants can give you good advice about which racquets match your ability and style of play - they may also allow you to borrow a selection of racquets in exchange for a deposit. At our club our coach also has a selection of good racquets available to try and buy at discounted prices.
Steer clear of high street sports shop chains which are far more interested in fashion gear than sports equipment; the range of racquets is often extremely limited and the prices will not be that competitive. Many smaller independent shops also give discounts to club members. (See our shops page.) One tip is that a wider bodied racquet will generally be more forgiving, with a larger sweet spot. Thinner racquets, as used by professionals, require very good technique but can produce more power. |
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Where to Buy
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If you go shopping for any tennis clothing or equipment in Britain you will find there is very little available in the high street sports shop chains. If you are looking for proper tennis shoes or any tennis clothing - particularly women's - you are unlikely to find anything here. Once again the best places to try are independent sports shops and specialist racquet sports stores (try Ealing Sports or PWP).
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Where to Play
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Local Club
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Local, non-profit, clubs are a good place to start. They may often provide sessions for beginners or juniors if you do not feel confident playing with experienced members. There may also be coaching available. The main advantages of a local club are that generally you pay one annual fee and get to play as much as you like. There is rarely any booking of courts necessary so it is simple and economical. If you attend regular club sessions you do not need to pre-arrange a partner and balls will often be provided free - just turn up and play!
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Tennis Centres and Country Clubs
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These are generally far more expensive than a local non-profit club because you usually have to pay a joining fee and also pay each time you play. In return you will get excellent facilities: swish showers and changing rooms, possibly a gym, sauna or swimming pool. There is nearly always a bar and often a restaurant. The disadvantages are that you normally have to arrange your own partners and book courts in advance (at cost). This also means your playing time is limited and you will need to provide your own balls. Mix-in club times are far more limited. Coaching sessions will always be available from a qualified coach but this will again cost extra. The major difference is that these places are in business and need to make a profit.
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Parks and Public Places
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These are not normally book-able but you will have to pay and will be given a time limit. The quality of the courts and nets can sometimes be poor. Of course you will need playing partners. These places are probably best if you are only a very occasional player. However, even if you only play for one hour a fortnight, it could well be more economical to pay for membership of a local club.
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Coaching
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If you are just a beginner at tennis, you may feel you would like some coaching. There are several ways to go about this. Some clubs, including ours, offer weekly sessions for beginners and "rusty" players and sessions for juniors. These are often at no extra cost and include some informal group coaching, games and exercises. The coach may or may not be licensed (by the LTA or other recognized coaching institutions such as USPTA, USPTR and RPT Europe) but it is a good way to start.
In addition our club runs a free coaching course for all new adult members. New members qualify for this regardless of whether or not they are beginners. The courses are run once a week in groups. If the group is considered too large then two courses may be run. Our Club Coach, Adrian is also currently offering one free private lesson to each new member. Please see our coaching page for more information.
Private lessons - most clubs can put you in touch with a qualified coach where you can arrange private lessons. At the moment the going rate is £15+ per hour for a fully qualified, licensed, LTA coach (of Development Coach Award standard). The rate normally remains the same for any reasonable size of group, so the more in the group, the cheaper the lesson per head. Despite being extremely well qualified with decades of coaching experience our Head Coach, Adrian, offers a special rate of £10 per hour to club members.
In order for a coach to keep his/her LTA or USPTR coaching licence he needs to keep his skills up to date and regularly attend new courses. Some clubs may also be able to put you in touch with players who have qualified as LTA coaches in the past, but do not currently hold a licence. These coaches may charge as little as £10 per hour. Many coaches have good qualifications from other certified tennis organizations.
Tips for Doubles
If you are integrating into club doubles play for the first time you may like some tips on doubles tactics. Operation Doubles is the ideal place to start. It gives you all the basics so you won't find yourself doing the wrong thing when you get on court! http://www.operationdoubles.com |
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For more information on getting started in tennis or to find your most local courts, visit the LTA Web Site or see our Links page.
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