If you’ve been playing tennis for a while, can rally, and can get a serve in—but still don’t feel reliable—you’re probably sitting at the improver level.
You’re not a beginner anymore.
But you’re not quite intermediate either.
This is one of the most frustrating phases of adult tennis. You know more. You care more. And you’re hungry to improve—but something still isn’t clicking.
That’s exactly the player we work with every week at Costa del Tennis.
What “Improver” Actually Means (for Adults)
The term improver is used mostly in the UK and Ireland, so let’s clear this up.
An improver adult player:
- Knows how to rally
- Understands basic scoring
- Can serve the ball in (sometimes)
- Can keep points going… until they can’t
Your rallies are longer than before, but unforced errors still creep in. You miss long. You miss the net. And confidence comes and goes.
You’re aware of your mistakes now—which is actually a good thing. It means you’re ready to move forward.
The Real Goal at This Stage: Depth + Net Clearance
At the improver level, most adults think they need:
- More power
- More spin
- Better shots
They don’t.
What you need first is depth and margin.
Deep balls that clear the net keep you in points, push your opponent back, and buy you time. Without depth, nothing else works—no matter how “nice” the swing looks.
This is where most adult players stall. They aim low, swing short, and play scared. The ball ends up in the net, and confidence drops fast.
Our first job is to fix that.
Technique Tweaks That Actually Matter
You don’t need a full rebuild.
You need a few key corrections that stick.
1. Swing Path: Low to High, Every Time
Depth starts with your swing path.
If you’re not swinging low to high and finishing your stroke, there’s almost no chance the ball goes deep consistently.
Collapsing early—finishing across your chest or stopping mid-swing—is one of the biggest issues we see with improver adults. It kills depth and confidence.
Finish your stroke. Let the racket travel. Give yourself permission to swing.
2. Follow-Through Is Not Optional
Think of the follow-through as the grand finale.
If your forehand, backhand, or serve doesn’t finish properly, the shot has no chance of holding up under pressure.
Low to high. Finish high.
That’s your consistency recipe.
3. Grip Awareness (Not Constant Grip Changes)
Most improver adults use one grip for everything. That’s limiting.
We’re not forcing grip changes mid-week—but we do make you aware of what grip you’re using and how it affects your contact point.
Depth comes from solid technique first. Spin and variety come later.
You’re Allowed to Miss (This Matters)
Here’s the truth:
When you’re learning, no one expects anything from you.
This is the phase where you should be experimenting—swinging longer, hitting higher, and making mistakes without fear.
Hitting a ball long is information.
Hitting into the net over and over means we need to go back to basics.
Clear the net first. Everything builds from there.
Footwork: Balance Over “Modern Tennis”
Footwork isn’t about looking flashy.
It’s about being balanced when you hit.
Most improver adults feel rushed because they react after the ball bounces. Start moving with the incoming ball instead. That alone changes everything.
And no—you don’t need to hit every shot in open stance because YouTube says so.
If you hit better side-on, do that.
If open stance works for you, great.
When you’re balanced, you’re in control. And that’s what adults actually want.
Court Positioning: Stop Living in No-Man’s Land
This is a big one.
Standing just inside the baseline and not recovering back causes chaos. You have no space, no time, and no setup.
A few simple rules:
- Stay near the baseline unless you’re moving forward with purpose
- If you get a short ball, go to the net fully
- Don’t stop halfway and panic-swing
- After every shot, recover to a neutral position
Commit. Half-movements create full problems.
Match Skills Adults Often Ignore (But Shouldn’t)
Improving isn’t just technique.
Adult improvers often struggle with:
- Calling the score
- Knowing when a point is over
- Speaking up on line calls
- Feeling comfortable at the net
These aren’t small things. They affect confidence and flow.
Call the score out loud.
Call balls clearly.
Ask if you forget—no drama.
This is part of becoming an intermediate player.
Why Adults Improve Faster on a Tennis Holiday
This is where things really click.
On a tennis holiday:
- You play every day
- You repeat the same corrections
- You’re relaxed off court
- You’re grouped by level
- You’re not rushing off to work
That’s why improvement sticks.
At Costa del Tennis, we cap court ratios at 1:4, always. Adults need reps, feedback, and space to learn. Big groups don’t do that.
Is This the Right Level for You?
Our camps start at improver (beginner-intermediate) and move through intermediate levels. We run them by playing level on purpose so everyone improves together.
Here you can see our Mallorca & Andalucia dates for 2026.
If our dates or your current level don’t line up when you can travel, we’ll always point you in the right direction. Our trusted partner, the Rafa Nadal Academy, operates year-round and suits all levels. When you book through promo code: Costadeltennis, you’ll receive up to 15% off any training program and accommodation.
Either way, the goal is the same:
help you move forward in your tennis—calmly, confidently, and for the long run.
