There are a lot of types of coaches out there and I plan on covering as many as I can.

Disclaimer: Coaches and players all have different stats. The purpose of this category is to identify the strongest traits of coaches. Like a role playing game, I believe that certain coaches will add to correlating stats. This is a way to help you choose.

The technique coach is infatuated with technique. Either they grew up with a technique coach and this is the only way they know how to succeed OR they aren’t very experienced at playing matches but the watch a lot of videos. Its a mixed bag with them. If you are a coach, the LEAST you could be is a stroke coach LOL. EVERY TEACHER TEACHES STROKES. It is impossible not to. With that said, a GOOD stroke coach knows when they need to pass their student along.

You see, there is not much to learning a Technique other than to DO IT. So you can imagine that these coaches get really strapped for ways to teach people. They tend to bring lots of obstacles to the court to make up for this. So prepare to run through cones and hit a forehand, jump over a platform to hit a forehand, do a barrel roll, hit a forehand. Because it takes a lot of repetition to get good at something, the technique coach sometimes becomes hyperfocused. Its great if they know what they are doing.

In groups they are pretty good. Especially with Juniors. They tend to be pretty strict and if a student stays with them they get the benefit of understanding hard work and discipline. Also the continuous moving around obstacles and drills really tunes the players up. Their body becomes adapted to the way they are supposed to hit balls to the point where they can do it without thinking. Its like having a trainer.

My Favorite technique coach is Robert Lansdrop:

The drawbacks are a little harsh. A lot of technique coaches are kinda dumb LOL. Thats why they are so strict. They don’t really understand tennis past the technique part so to them, there is no point in training you in other stuff. If you get a really dumb one, they will battle you on everything but what they want to work on. Its like an artist that never thinks their painting is finished. Oddly enough, most people who comment on youtube videos are technique guys without the training part LOL.

David Ferrer, the Pitbull says that his long time coach Javier Piles locked him in the shed when he didn’t want to practice as a junior. But when people thought that was CRUEL, he said that it was only ONCE. And it was only for a few hours. So see? Hes not a jerk.

As you can see his strokes are pristine and there isn’t much variation to them.

https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/ferrer-locked-in-shed-only-one-time

“It was only one time,” Ferrer said with a laugh after his five-set victory over Janko Tipsarevic. “He lock me because I didn’t want to practice, no? I went there, and I wait two, three hours. I don’t remember that because I was very, very young. Long time ago.”

Because a lot of people have this as their first coach, they or their parents don’t know any better. So they will stick with that guy for a while. Its even worse if its a parent that trains their kids. IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT THE COACH’S SUCCESS IS BASED ON HOW THEIR STUDENT LOOKS. Students need to apply their techniques in order to win and make adjustments on the different situations. Its really hard to do that when someone is deadball feeding all the time.

Also, and this is a big one, there is a fine line between being strict in a way that the student understands and ripping apart someone’s self esteem. If the student is used to the critique of a coach, that coach’s voice and solutions will pop into their head when they need to problem solve. If the coach somehow makes it about him/herself, the student will feel the pressure of failing their coach more than the pressure of doing their best. If the student isn’t built up enough, they will choke. This happens at any level. I don’t want to be the reason my student chokes.

If the student has all the attributes but gets rolled off the court by someone with superior techniques and they need an upgrade, the goal is to compete at a high level and you need to start off with a good foundation OR you just like your tennis to be mixed with a boot camp style training session. These coaches are pretty good for that.

Personally, Technique guys are polarizing. Some of my favorite coaches are technique guys. BUT some of my least favorite coaches are technique guys too. LOL Ive been having problems teaching a student a technique and and older Technique guy will ask my permission, talk to my student for 2 minutes, and solve all their (and my) problems. Conversely I’ve had a technique coach tell me my students aren’t going to be good because we have “FUN.” My students are Dope though…hater!!

What do yall think?