Tennis Lessons in Solihull and South Birmingham: Guide

Whether you want your five-year-old to try mini tennis, you fancy picking up a racket for the first time at 40, or you played years ago and want to get your serve back, this guide covers the practical side of tennis lessons in Solihull and South Birmingham: who lessons suit, what formats exist, what they cost, where you can play and how to pick a coach.

I'm Max Brazier, an LTA accredited Level 3 tennis coach based in Olton. I've been playing for more than 20 years, I play Division 1 in the West Midlands league, and I coach everyone from mini red beginners to adults. I've tried to keep this guide useful whoever you end up booking with.

Who are tennis lessons for?

Pretty much anyone who can hold a racket. Tennis is one of the few sports you can start at three and still be playing competitively at seventy, because the game scales: smaller courts and slower balls for young children, and a choice of singles or doubles for adults depending on how much running you want.

In my own coaching I split players into three broad groups:

Mini tennis (ages 3 to 7): games-based sessions with soft, slow balls on small courts.
Juniors (ages 8 to 15): building proper technique, rallying, scoring and, for those who want it, match play.
Adults (16+): complete beginners, returners and club players who want to sharpen a particular shot.

If you're a parent wondering whether your child is ready, read what age can children start tennis, which explains the LTA's red, orange, green and yellow ball stages. If you're an adult starting out, learning tennis as an adult walks through what the first five weeks look like.

What types of tennis lesson can you book?

Most coaches offer some mix of one-to-one lessons, shared lessons and short courses. Each suits a different situation, so it's worth picking the format before you pick the time slot.

Format	Best for	What it looks like with me
Intro lesson	Trying tennis, or trying a new coach	One hour, £20
One-to-one	Fast progress on your own goals	£35 per hour
Shared lesson	Friends, couples, parent and child	£45 per hour, split between two
5-week starter programme	Beginners who want structure	£165: fundamentals, rally game, serving and return, tactics and footwork, match play
3-week focused programme	Fixing one part of your game	£99, for example Serve School, spin and rally control, net play or match mindset
Corporate sessions	Workplaces and teams	Taster sessions, half or full days, weekly series, executive coaching (ask for a quote)

My honest view: one-to-one is the quickest way to improve technique, but a shared lesson is often more fun for beginners because you get a rally partner straight away. Short programmes work well because they give you a clear target and an end date.

How much do tennis lessons cost in Solihull and Birmingham?

Prices vary with the coach's qualification, the venue and whether court hire is included. Published prices from coaches around the UK commonly sit somewhere between about £25 and £45 for an hour of one-to-one coaching outside London, with central London and premium coaching higher. Bark, which collects quotes from local coaches, says a tennis lesson in Birmingham typically costs from around £30 per session, with an average of about £36.

Remember to check whether court fees are included. Solihull's council park courts are free to book, while Birmingham's park courts currently cost £7 per hour on pay and play, or £52 a year with an annual pass. There's a full breakdown, including how shared lessons and courses compare, in how much tennis lessons cost in Solihull and Birmingham.

Where can you play and have lessons locally?

There are two kinds of venue: public park courts, which anyone can book, and members' clubs, which usually need membership (sometimes with coaching open to non-members, depending on the club).

Public park courts

Solihull Council's park courts are listed on the Solihull Parks Tennis page on the LTA's ClubSpark system: Bentley Heath, Elmdon Park, Knowle Park, Malvern Park and Shirley Park. They're free to book online, you register once, and the sites have gate access systems. In Birmingham, the parks tennis programme covers 25 resurfaced courts across eight parks, including Cannon Hill Park in Moseley, booked online through ClubSpark.

The clubs where I coach

West Warwickshire Tennis Club: at West Warwickshire Sports Complex, Grange Road, Olton, Solihull B91 1DA, a multi-sport club with sections for tennis, squash, hockey, cricket and bowls.
Moseley Tennis Club: 49 Billesley Lane, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9QT.
Streetly Tennis Club: Park View Road, Streetly B74 4PT, near Sutton Coldfield. The club was founded in 1922 and has 10 artificial grass courts, nine of them floodlit.

For addresses, booking links and a fuller list of public courts, see where to play tennis in Solihull and Moseley.

What age can children start tennis?

Children can start as young as three. The LTA's youth programme uses colour-coded stages so the game fits the child: blue for the youngest, then red, orange and green, before moving on to the yellow ball used by adults. Red ball tennis is played on a small court with a ball the ITF estimates is around 75% slower than a standard ball, which means young children can actually rally rather than chase.

The ages for each stage are a guide, not a rule. A confident seven-year-old might move to orange early, and an older beginner might spend a few weeks on a slower ball to build good habits. The full breakdown, with court sizes for each colour, is in our mini tennis explainer.

Can you learn tennis as an adult?

Yes, and adults often progress quickly because they can follow instructions, practise between sessions and understand why a technique works. The usual sticking points are confidence, timing the bounce and a tendency to swing with the arm only.

A structured block of lessons helps. My 5-week starter programme goes in this order: fundamentals, then the rally game, then serving and return, then tactics and footwork, and finally match play. By the end you should be able to serve, rally and keep score in a friendly game. There's more detail in the adult beginners guide linked above.

How do you get the most out of tennis lessons?

Lessons are where you learn; practice and play are where it sticks. A few habits make a big difference, whatever your age or level:

Practise between sessions: even half an hour on a free park court with a friend helps new skills bed in.
Have one clear goal: "a more reliable second serve" is easier to work on than "get better".
Play actual points: drills build technique, but games teach you when to use it.
Tell your coach what you enjoy: if you love doubles, or want to play in a league one day, the sessions can be shaped around that.
Be patient with the serve: it's the most technical shot in the game and usually the last to feel natural.

Most of all, keep it enjoyable. People who look forward to their tennis keep playing, and people who keep playing improve.

How do you choose a good tennis coach?

Start with the basics. "LTA accredited" means the coach is a member of the LTA's professional scheme, which requires a criminal record check (DBS), safeguarding training and face-to-face first aid training. Accredited coaches are also covered by the LTA's insurance policy. You can check a coach on the LTA's Find a Coach search.

Beyond that, look for:

A qualification level that matches what you need (the LTA pathway runs from Level 1 Assistant to Level 5).
Experience with your age group or level.
Clear prices, including whether courts and balls are included.
A sensible cancellation policy.
Someone you'd actually enjoy spending an hour with.

What LTA accredited means explains the qualification levels and what to ask before you book.

Is tennis a good option for workplaces?

Tennis works well for teams because doubles is sociable, mixed ability groups can play together, and the NHS lists doubles tennis as a moderate intensity activity. For Birmingham and Solihull employers, I offer a team taster session, half or full corporate tennis days, a weekly wellbeing-on-court series and executive one-to-one coaching. Read corporate tennis and team days in Birmingham for formats and what a day looks like.

What happens when you book with me?

It's simple. Message me on WhatsApp or call on 07914 046329, tell me a bit about your level (or your child's), what you'd like to work on and when you're free, and we'll book a one-hour intro lesson for £20. That gives us both a chance to see where you are and agree what comes next, whether that's pay-as-you-go lessons or one of the programmes.

I'm DBS checked, first aid trained and fully insured. I started playing with my brother, who is now also a coach, and I've travelled to both Wimbledon and the US Open, so you'll find I'm always happy talking tennis.

Want to combine tennis with fitness?

Alongside coaching, I'm a Level 3 qualified personal trainer, working one-to-one around Olton, Solihull and nearby areas. Some players like to add strength and conditioning to help with movement and reduce the strain of a long match. If that interests you, have a look at personal training in Solihull.

Ready to get on court?

If you're in Solihull or South Birmingham and want to start, or restart, tennis, take a look at my tennis coaching page or send me a WhatsApp. No pressure, just a friendly chat about what you'd like from the game.

Questions people ask

Do I need my own racket for my first tennis lesson?

Not usually. Most coaches can lend a racket for a first session, and it's worth trying a few before you buy. Wear trainers with a flat, non-marking sole rather than running shoes with chunky treads, plus comfortable clothes you can move in. Bring water, especially in summer.

How often should I have tennis lessons?

Once a week is a good rhythm for most people, because it gives you time to practise between sessions without forgetting what you covered. If you can add a social hit with a friend on a free park court, you'll improve noticeably faster than with lessons alone.

What happens if it rains?

Light drizzle is often playable on hard and artificial grass courts, but heavy rain makes courts slippery and unsafe. Most coaches will rearrange rather than charge for a washed-out session. Check your coach's policy when you book so you know where you stand.

Can a parent and child have a lesson together?

Yes. A shared lesson works well for a parent and an older child, and it gives you a ready-made practice partner at home. For very young children, a mini tennis session pitched at their stage is usually better, as the ball, court and games are designed for them.