Optimal Tennis

'Optimal' - meaning best or most favourable outcome

At Optimal Tennis we seek to be the best and more importantly each player become their best. Tennis is also a game of optimals not maximums, a game full of constraints seeking Optimal solutions. 

From using video and computer analysis to help advanced players move and hit the ball better than ever whilst minimising the risk of injury to finding new and innovative ways to help our 'Bambino Tots' (2 upwards) hit the ball for the first time and develop physical literacy to help them excel throughout their lives we aim to be the best. 

We combine 'Langevad - Sports Biometrics' (Biomechanics and video / computer analysis of shots and movements) with a 'Constraints Based Approach' to help players develop tactical awareness through decision making and problem solving whilst at the same time developing the resilience and mental toughness to be ready to compete. 

3 Pillars

The 'Tennis Coach's Toolkit' (Reynolds and Dent 2009) identifies 3 Pillars (used as headings below) that we consider vitally important and are all interlinked:

1. Create Environment. We aim to create an environment that helps players of all ages and abilities flourish. We aim to inspire a love of tennis in a positive, friendly and engaging caoching community. Mistakes and defeats are essential to the learning process, particularly in a competitive sport, and can be celebrated and used as the building blocks of future suceess. 
2. Effective Working Relationships. Whilst great tennis lessons undoubtedly help players improve their tennis skills in order for a junior player to be successful there must be a positive and effecive working relationship with parents, schools and other important people in the child's life. Practicing with parents, friends and others is fantastic to help players improve. We develop positive working relationships with venues and schools which is vital and beneficial to all. 
3. Steepening the Learning Curve. This involves trying to bring about improvement in the shortest possible time. Our Skill Sheets give children a variety of exercises they can do outside of classes.  The hope is to avoid children (even new starters) playing for an hour and then not picking up their racket again for a week. Better Never Stops, we want players to continually improve and do whatever we can to assist them in this process whether from video analysis of a particular shot, constraint-based games for specific tactical skills, physical development or mental skills development. We invest heavily in our own ongoing CPD (technical, tactical, physical and mental as we as in our communication skills) to help keep improving our coaching which in turn helps our players improve more quickly.  Both players and coaches can always get better. 

Aims for New Starters

We typically have 2 aims for children or adults starting tennis:

1. Learn the skills to start playing points and matches asap. 

2. Become better at playing matches. 

The first we can achieve very quickly, the second is part of our endless pursuit of continual improvement.

More About Optimal Tennis?

• We train players to THINK and COMPETE as well as hit. Our constraint-led approach helps children develop practical tennis skills for matches quicker than ever before and accelerates skill acquisition. The Head , Heart and Legs of the player are the starting points. If the player 'Performs' they give themselves the best possible chance to play their best and regardless of the outcome, improve.  We look at whether the player is ready to perform, compete and move?  Are they able to react to whatever is thrown their way? Can they analyse and solve problems, even when the chips are down and have the resilience to fight to the end and reflect in order to continue to improve going forwards?
• Langevad Sports Biometrics - is a a pioneering system of stroke development (created by Australian Biomechist Brad Langevad) helps a player swing, position and align their body in the most effective way to optimise performance whilst minimising the risk of injury.  We offer video analysis of stroke production in either solo or split-screen so players can see what optimal stroke production looks like and identify improvements they can make to their own shots. 
• Low Group Sizes -   Quality before Quantity. Group numbers are kept low to help players improve as fast as possible. We believe in providing 'value added' tennis coaching and can help your child progress at the fastest possible rate and reach their potential. 
• Led by Head Coach John Moore, RPT International Professional, LTA CCA (Performance) Level 4 Coach, Former RPT Biomechanics Advisor and Langevad Sports Biometrics Practitioner. Utilise advanced biomechanics and video analysis to improve your play and minimise the risk of injury.
• A Gateway to County Tennis and beyond - We are committed to helping all children reach their full potential and support all children on our programme to be considered for county and national tennis and the LTA Performance Pathway, as well as UK and US University Scholarships. 

Encouraging players onto the LTA Performance pathway, to watch the video, click here