Why I Strongly Recommend Hiring a Tennis Coach When You Start (Melbourne Perspective)

I started learning tennis in 2024, here in Melbourne. Looking back, if there’s one thing I would strongly recommend to anyone who wants to start tennis, it’s this:

- Hire a proper tennis coach early.

When I first began, I paid $70 AUD for a one-on-one session. At the time, I didn’t even know that tennis coaches are supposed to be certified. I just wanted someone to hit balls with me and show me the basics.

Later on, after learning more about tennis, coaching systems, and technique, I realised how important that early stage really is.

Coaching Isn’t Cheap — But It’s Worth It

In Melbourne, the average price for a private tennis lesson is around $100 per hour.
It can be higher or lower depending on:

- Which area you’re in

- Which club you go to

- The experience and certification of the coach

At first, $100 might sound expensive. But tennis is a very technical sport. If you start with bad habits, you’ll spend much more time (and money) trying to fix them later.

I learned this the hard way.

Group Lessons vs One-on-One

Group sessions are cheaper, and they’re fine if your goal is:

- Exercise

- Socialising

- Casual hitting

But for true beginners, I honestly don’t think group lessons help much.

As a beginner, you really need:

- Someone watching your swing

- Someone correcting your grip, stance, and timing

- Immediate feedback when something is wrong

That’s very hard to get in a group.

Why Swing Form Matters So Much

If you’re new to tennis, learning the correct swing form early is critical.

Things like:

- How you prepare the racket

- How your body rotates

- How you swing from low to high

- Where your contact point is

These fundamentals shape everything later — consistency, power, injury prevention, and confidence.

Even now, after one and a half years of playing, I’m still learning and refining my technique. Tennis is not something you “finish learning.”

A Place I Recommend in Melbourne

If you’re based in Melbourne, I’d recommend Victorian Tennis Academy.

From my experience, they’re good with beginners and focus on proper fundamentals rather than just feeding balls. That makes a big difference early on.

Melbourne Is Great for Tennis — But Be Patient

One thing I love about Melbourne is that it’s very easy to find tennis courts. Public courts, club courts, indoor courts — they’re everywhere.

However, if you’re just starting:

- It takes time to get good enough for social tennis

- It takes time to rally consistently

- It takes time to feel confident playing with others

That’s normal.

Tennis has a steep learning curve at the beginning, but once you get through that phase, it becomes incredibly rewarding.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about learning tennis:

- Invest in a qualified coach

- Focus on form before results

- Be patient with yourself

Tennis is a long-term game — and that’s what makes it special.

-

Vincent