Teaching tennis doesn't require certification and training to introduce someone to the game. Using problem solving, rather than show-and-tell demonstration, makes it easier for both you and a friend to learn the game. Start close to the net and move backward to help people learn tennis in manageable parts.
Basic Equipment
Use lightweight rackets to make learning the game easy. Children should use age-appropriate junior rackets, while adults should stay away from older, heavy wood or metal rackets. Adults and juniors will learn best with foam or low-compression balls, which let them take full swings without launching balls over fences or injuring partners. Move teens and adults to regulation balls after they are able to rally across the net. If you don't have mini-nets for children, string a rope between two items at a height of 36 inches.
Ball Bouncing
Start tennis lessons with ball bouncing. This will give players an understanding of the reaction between the ball and racket and help them learn ball control. Start by having players bounce balls on their rackets while standing still. Next, have them turn the racket over after each hit. When they can do this, have them try this while walking. Have players bounce the ball on the strings, then let it hit the court, then bounce it off the strings again, alternating hitting the strings and letting the ball bounce.
Rallies
Start players rallying during the first lesson after they have practiced ball bouncing. Set a ball between two players who stand several feet apart on the same side of the net. Have them practice rallies by hitting a ball upward, trying to make it land on the target ball on the ground between them. This will help them control the ball so it lands in front of them each time, allowing them to rally. Without the target ball as a reference, they'll hit balls straight at each other's bodies. When players can rally this way, move them to the doubles alley. Have them stand on opposite sides of the alley, using the lines of the alley as targets to rally, similar to the way they used the single target ball. When players can rally in the alley, move them to opposite sides of the net to introduce the concept of height. Have them start inside the service line, moving them back toward the baseline as they learn to control rallies.
Grips
Teach the Eastern forehand grip to beginners for forehand groundstrokes. Have the student place the palm of her hand flat against the racket and slide it down toward the handle, "shaking hands" with the racket. This is a Continental grip. Have her turn the racket one bevel to the left, so the bottom knuckle of her index is on the fat bevel of the grip. Don't worry if beginners stay in the Continental grip at the beginning; you can change the grip later. Teach beginners a two-handed backhand for control. For right-handers, have them duplicate the Eastern grip with the left hand, and use the Continental grip for the right hand.
Serving
Have players practice throwing balls from one service line to the opposite service line, crosscourt. Move them back to the baseline and have them practice throwing balls from the baseline into the opposite, diagonal service box. Move players back to the service line and have them practice tossing the ball with one hand, while raising their racket with the other so they make a "Y." Have them try to catch the ball in their tossing hand without moving their feet. When players can do this, have them practice hitting the ball over the net. Move them back to the baseline, having them practice serves that fly over the net, then bounce three times before they hit the fence. Let players start with a "frying pan" grip, moving to Continental grip as they become more proficient.
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