Welcome to Tennis Xpress – our new program for adult beginners!
Tennis Xpress is the latest initiative from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to help adults who want to take up the game of tennis learn and improve at a rapid rate. Tennis Xpress draws on the lessons learned in developing junior players through programs such as Hot Shots and applies them in a practical, fun way for adults! We aim to have all our players serving, rallying and scoring after just a handful of lessons. Tennis Xpress is an ITF endorsed program – for more information on this great concept check out the ITF website here.
Our Tennis Xpress classes currently run on
Monday: 7.30pm to 8.30pm followed by Social Tennis from 8.30pm onwards
Tuesday: 9.00am to 10.00am followed by Social Tennis from 10.00am onwards
Thursday: 7.30pm to 8.30pm followed by Social Tennis from 8.30pm onwards
Cost $20 per session (Morningside Tennis Centre members) or $25.00 per session (non-members)
If you’re interested in signing up for one of our Tennis Xpress classes visit the centre or call us on 3899 8110
What is Tennis Xpress?
If you have never played tennis before, or haven’t played in a long time, then Tennis Xpress is for you. It is an easy and fun way for adult beginners to get into the game.
During our Tennis Xpress lessons you will be taught new skills and be shown how to serve, rally and score, so that by the end, you will be able to enjoy fun matches with your friends, family or other people you meet.
How is it different to normal adult tennis coaching?
The primary difference between Tennis Xpress and our Adult Group Coaching classes is that we only use low-compression tennis balls in Tennis Xpress. The slower, lower bouncing tennis balls mean that players are able to develop their shots and ability to rally almost instantly – this gives players the opportunity to quickly develop technique, point construction, court positioning and other skills that can usually take months to even slightly grasp.
The low-compression balls have been so successful in developing junior tennis players games that it just makes sense for them to be able to fast-track adult development.
Does it actually work?
In 2012, Tennis Australia conducted a study of 19 different tennis matches from 7 different camera angles to compare several different indicators regarding the difference between the normal ‘yellow’ balls and the low-compression ‘green balls’. In summary some of the major findings of the study were:
- Rallies using Green and Yellow balls lasted the same number of shots, but were played at a higher tempo using Green.
- Players contacted the ball twice as often above shoulder level using Yellow balls.
- Players contacted the ball at ‘comfortable’ height more often using the Green ball.
- Players made more bad errors (1.5 metres +) using Yellow balls.
- Players were able to hit from a position in front of the baseline more often using Green balls.
- Players directed the ball down the middle of the court more often using Yellow balls.
- The total number of volleys was the same at Green and Yellow.
- Players were very positive in their comments when asked about using the Green ball.
From the study conducted by Tennis Australia the key findings related to players playing competition with a slower Green ball and the regular Yellow ball include:
- Players using the Green ball made less errors and had longer rallies
- The Green ball bounced lower and so the players could implement tactics that they previously could not do with the Yellow ball
- Players developed the necessary techniques faster than with a Yellow ball
What do the participants say about Tennis Xpress?
Here are just some of the responses from beginner tennis players that have taken part in the program in the UK.
“I’ve never played tennis before so it was nice to kind of just get out there and give it a go.”
“I was able to rally and I didn’t think that I would be able to do that so early on in the lesson.”
“It was so much easier with the slower balls, I couldn’t believe it. I don’t remember ever being so successful playing tennis.”
“This course has made it more accessible in terms of actually being able to score points and being able to keep rallies going for longer.”
So what do you think? Contact our staff on 07 3899 8110 to find out more!