Looking for the perfect tennis instructor to meet your needs? There are so many advertising their services, how will you know if it’s the right one? This quick checklist may help.

1. Decide Where You Want to Be: What’s your plan with tennis? Will you be going pro? Are you simply looking to beat your boss in an upcoming weekend match? Understanding exactly what your goals are is going to help you find the right coach.

2. Think About the When and Where: The logistics of your situation matter a lot. When are you available to practice? Is that when this coach might be available? Can you get to the coach’s preferred practice facility in good time? For example, imagine your only available time slot is Wednesdays from 6 – 9. Because you don’t get off work until 5:30, you need a facility close to your office. You need a coach with that level of availability to make it work.

3. Think Certification: Tennis coaches obtain certification just like instructors in other areas do. Ask every potential instructor about their rating. You’ll likely find they’re certified by either the Pro Tennis Registry or the US Pro Tennis Association.

4. Consider Experience: In addition to their certification level, you may want to ask what experience your potential coach has. Have they coached professionally? What kinds of students have they worked with in the past? Where have they taught previously? Questions like these will help give you a better overall picture of whether this coach might be the right one to meet your needs.

5. Your Learning Style: How do you learn best? Some people need a solid push with a bit of yelling on the side. Some people shut down when the coach starts yelling. Understanding what that coach needs to do to move you can help you find the right person.

6. Passion for the Game: How much passion does the coach you’re considering really have? If you’re just choosing a coach at the local club, he or she may not really have enough fire to move you forward. You want someone who looks at this as more than just a job.

7. Current Level of Play: A coach’s ability to play may not be the best indicator of his or her ability to coach, but it’s one that you want to consider. He or she has to be able to understanding the physics of the game to help direct you.

8. Ability to Move You Forward: How well can this coach actually get you going? Are you going to look forward to meeting him or her every session? Is it actually possible to move ahead with this coach’s help? All of these are important considerations when you choose a coach.

9. Previous Students: Has the coach been able to successfully guide other students in the right direction? If there aren’t a lot of success stories in the coach’s past, you may want to choose someone else.

10. Talk to Others: The final step in this process is to talk to other people who have worked with this coach in the past. Has his or her work paid off for them? If not, what didn’t work? Understanding the coach’s level of success based on past students can help you make the right decision.

Choosing a coach can be a frustrating process, but finding the right one will really pay off. Consider asking for a sample lesson or asking to observe the coach with another player to get the insights you need before you choose someone.