Whether you’ve been playing tennis for some years, started recently, or just planning to step on the court for the first time, I’m sure you want to improve in one way or another.
In this article, I compare the 2 most common ways of tennis training: individual and group coaching.
Let’s dive into it!
Individual vs. Group Tennis Coaching (comparison)
Besides hitting balls with friends, you might want to think about taking training classes with a professional trainer.
A good coach can correct technical errors, give tactical advice as well as introduce you to other players at your level.
There are 2 traditional ways in tennis how you can work together with a coach: individually or as part of a group. I think there is no absolute truth in this question. It depends on what your level is, what you want to get out of it, and of course your budget.
Let’s compare them so that you can choose which type fits you best.
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING | | GROUP TRAINING |
Specific attention to you and your needs
Great for learning/perfecting a technique or correcting an error
e.g. mastering your backhand volley technique | Focus | Attention on the group’s collective needs
Great for practising a particular hit and sparring
e.g. hitting hundreds of backhand volleys |
Mentor: possibility to debrief your matches and work on areas of improvement together
Sparring partner: the trainer will surely get in the ball consistently | Role of the coach | Teacher: educator for many
Facilitator: creative organiser of the training setup |
No exposure to other players, you will only experience one style of tennis | Exposure to other players | You can play with different styles of players
You can often find future sparring partners of your level |
You have more control over the schedule | Schedule flexibility | You have to adjust to others’ availability |
More expensive
35-50 EUR/hour in Barcelona | Price | Less expensive
12-20 EUR/hour in a 6-8-people group in Barcelona |
A healthy mix of the two methods
The question of individual vs. group classes really does not have a black and white answer. What fits me, might not fit you. If you ask me,
I’d go for a healthy combination of the two: having weekly 1-2 individual classes and 1-2 with a group so that you can enjoy the benefits of both at the same time.
In fact, I did a mix of them for long years while I was a junior. With my teammates, we had the same coaches for both the individual and group classes, so they had a really good understanding which hits to make us repeat a thousand times when we had group training.
After retiring from playing competitions, while attending university in Hungary I had a period when I trained 2x a week with a coach (focusing on the volley) and played in the local league in a team during the weekends. Later, I switched to group classes only where I could train with my team members in a great atmosphere.
At the tennis clubs in Barcelona, you usually have to prepay 1 month (if you do more, you usually get a discount) so there will be no harm in experimenting with them.
Don’t forget: finding the trainer and training that fits you is like finding your wife/husband: it can take longer but it is definitely worth it.
And you? Which method of training do you prefer?
Leave me a comment about it!