You've hired the pro and now it's time to take the lessons you've been looking forward to. There are different types of lessons that pro's make available to adults, and in this lesson I'll describe 3 types of lessons (private, semi-private and group drills) and give you some tips on how to make the most out of each of these lessons.

Private Lessons
It's you and the pro all by yourselves and this is an amazing way to improve your game rather quickly. It's also the most expensive way but depending on what you want to accomplish, well worth the price. Here's where you can concentrate on individual strokes or all of your strokes. It's really up to you. Here are some tips to make the most out of your lesson.

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early so you can stretch and be ready to go so you don't lose a minute of your time with your pro!
• Tell the pro what you would like to work on. Don't be shy!
• Ask questions when you don't understand something your pro tries to teach you. It's ok, we don't mind!
• If you're feeling any pain when learning a new stroke, don't be afraid to tell your pro. We want to know these things!
• If you need to take a break, take one. Don't be a hero. This is also a great time to ask the pro for extra tips and to get to know your pro better!
• Keep a journal and write down what you learned that day and any questions you forgot to ask your pro for the next time you see them.

Semi-Private Lessons
Semi-private lessons (2-3 people) are, what I've found, a great way for people who have never played before to learn the game. Usually, these lessons are taken by a group of friends and are a fun way to learn how to play without the pressures of learning something new with total strangers. They're also less expensive then a private lesson and a little slower paced. I have two additional tips to add to the tips that I mentioned from the private lesson and they are:

• Don't get frustrated when one of your friends catches on a little faster then you do. Everyone learns at his or her own pace!
• Listen to what the pro is telling one of your classmates. The advice the pro is giving one of you, usually applies to all of you, so pay attention!

Group lessons or Drills
These types of lessons usually consists of people who already know how to play the game and want to do some running and hit a lot of balls from various positions on the court. Group drills are a great and economical way to keep your game sharp and to stay fit, as you will do a lot of running and hitting. Keep in mind that you won't learn much technique but you will hopefully do some doubles specific drills and some live (playing hit balls from another) and dead (fed balls from the pro) ball drills that will help your game enormously. This is also a great way to meet someone to practice with and you probably will also get the opportunity to play some doubles after the drill is finished. The only extra tip (besides the ones already previously mentioned) I can give you to help you make the most of a drill session is:

• Try and work on the strategy you learned from the drill when you are playing doubles after the clinic. Try not to focus on the competition and work to implement what you learned in the drill.

Whether you take a private, semi-private or group drill, following these simple tips will help you get the most out of your lessons. In part 3 of this series, I'll show you why practicing what you learned in your lesson is much better than competing to help you really make those lessons pay off!

Phil Naessens is the Director of Tennis/Head Professional at the Corfu Holiday Palace Hotel and Casino in Corfu, Greece. For information regarding tennis holidays, group clinics and lessons while staying in Corfu or having Phil come to your club, he can be reached at Alphitennis@hotmail.com or by calling +30 693 644 4218.