Group vs Private Tennis Lessons in Sarasota: Which Fits?
Group vs Private Tennis Lessons in Sarasota: Which Fits Your Junior?
Parents ask me this almost every week at Potter Park and Pineview Park. Should their kid be in a group, in private lessons, or both? Coach Michael Boothman here, and at SRQ Tennis in Sarasota the honest answer is that it depends on the player, the goal, and the budget. Here is a straight breakdown so you can decide with real information instead of a guess.
What a group lesson actually gives your junior
Our groups cap at 6 players. That number is not a marketing line. It is the most kids I can give real feedback to while keeping everyone moving and hitting. In a group your junior gets rounds of live ball, real rallies, and other players to compete against. That competition matters. Reading a real ball off a real opponent is the skill tennis is actually made of, which is why Live Ball Is the Method sits at the center of how we coach.
A group also builds something quieter. Kids see where they stand next to peers, they win some and lose some, and they learn to keep their head when a drill does not go their way. That is the kind of evidence that builds confidence, not empty praise. Confidence Is Built, Not Given, and a group gives a player a steady stream of real moments to build it on.
Groups are also the better value per hour. Our 10 and Under program at Potter Park runs $150 every 4 weeks for one session a week, $275 every 4 weeks for two, or $40 for a drop in. Our Youth Development program at Pineview Park runs $225 every 4 weeks for one session a week, $425 for two, or $60 for a drop in. Both cap at 6 players.
What a private lesson actually gives your junior
A private is one on one with me. No waiting for a turn, no sharing the feed. If your player has one specific thing holding them back, a serve toss that drifts, a forehand contact point that is late, footwork that arrives a half step slow, a private is the fastest way to isolate it and fix it. We can slow the rep down, add video when it helps, and rebuild the piece before putting it back into a live setting.
Privates cost more per hour for a reason. You are buying my full attention for the full hour. The rate is $110 per hour with a 60 minute minimum, and a 6 lesson package is $570, which works out to $95 an hour. For a player chasing a particular gate in their development, that focused time can be worth every dollar.
The tradeoff is that a private cannot give your junior an opponent. I can feed, I can rally, but I am not 12 years old swinging for the lines. So a steady diet of only privates can leave a player polished in practice and rattled in a match.
How I decide which one fits, or whether it is both
For most juniors I point to a group as the base. It is where they get live ball, real competition, and the social side of the sport, at a price that lets them play often. Reps and real decisions are what move a player up a stage, and a group delivers both, week after week.
I add a private when a player hits a specific wall. Maybe the serve has stalled, maybe a tournament is coming and we want to sharpen one pattern, maybe a kid is ready to push past where the group can take them. A private is a scalpel. A group is the gym. Used together, the private fixes the piece and the group pressure tests it against real opponents.
If budget only allows one, start with the group. The reps, the competition, and the cost all point that way for a developing junior. Then layer in a private when there is a clear reason, not just because it sounds like the premium option. My job is to point you toward what actually fits your player, not to sell you the most expensive line on the menu.
Common questions from Sarasota parents
Can my child do both? Yes, and many of our players do. A common setup is two group sessions a week plus a private every week or two when we are working on something specific.
Which is better for a true beginner? A group, almost always. Beginners need volume, play, and other kids more than they need one on one technical work. Save the private for when there is a defined skill to isolate.
My kid is shy. Is a group still right? Usually yes. A small group of 6 is a soft place to come out of a shell, and the other kids often do more for a quiet player than I can.
How do I know it is working? Ask for numbers. At SRQ Tennis we track real targets and compare week over week, so progress is something you can see, not just something you are told.
Wrap up
Group or private is not really a contest. A group is the base most juniors should build on, and a private is the tool you add when there is a specific job to do. Want help deciding what fits your player? Text 941-239-4703 or take a look at our Sarasota junior tennis programs.
Coach Michael Boothman is a USPTA Elite Professional and the founder of SRQ Tennis in Sarasota, Florida. He coaches juniors and adults at Potter Park and Pineview Park. Text 941-239-4703 or email [email protected] to talk about your player.
Related reading: Private Tennis Lessons in Sarasota: What $110 an Hour Gets, The Six Pillars: SRQ Tennis Coaching Philosophy, and the USTA youth tennis guide.
