1) Be ready. Arrive early to the lesson and warm up. Don’t waste the first 5-10 minutes of the lesson warming up. Get on the treadmill for 10-15 minutes, and hit on a free court if one is available.
2) Talk. Have a few thoughts prepared to share with your teacher at the beginning of the lesson. Think about your last few games or practice sessions and think about what has gone well, or not so well. Every bit of information helps the teacher construct a lesson designed to best meet your needs. I have often adjusted my lesson plan based on the feedback I have gotten at the beginning of a lesson.
3) Be engaged. Time goes quickly in a lesson. Focus 100% on what you are trying to achieve.
4) Stay positive. Don’t get frustrated. If you don’t pick up the skill right away, understand that learning is a process and at first you will likely not get it. Progress happens quickest with positive, not negative energy. Your teacher feeds off your energy, as you do off theirs, so keeping your energy positive brings out the best in both of you.
5) Ask questions. Don’t wait until the end of the lesson. The best lessons become a dialogue and as you push and engage your teacher you will get the best out of him or her. Always ask “why.” If your teacher cannot give a clear reason why you should do something a certain way, remain skeptical.
6) Leave with a plan. Be clear about what you should be working on until the next lesson. Write down everything you learned and are going to work on soon after your lesson while it is fresh in your head. I have sometimes gotten follow-up e-mails from a student after a lesson to clarify something from a lesson. As a teacher, I love it when I get a follow-up e-mail. A clear sign of an engaged, motivated student.
7) Practice. Get on the court at least twice to practice between lessons. Don’t expect what you did in a lesson to immediately translate into match play. You need to practice to ingrain the skill and incorporate it.
Enjoy. Talk soon!