Senior Tennis Breakthroughs: How to Change Your Technique After 50 I Stephen Bourne

Think it’s too late to fix your forehand? Think again. Former pro Stephen Bourne shares how senior tennis players can change long-standing habits using blended learning. Through visualization, tactile cues, and simple progressions, players over 50 can transform strokes without overwhelm.

Contact Coach Stephen Bourne:

Email: oneminutetennis@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@oneminutetennis

Website: www.oneminutetennis.com

Books by Stephen: www.oneminutetennis.com/general-7

Key Takeaways

·      Change is possible at any age if the learning method matches how adults absorb information

·      Blended learning (visual, tactile, auditory) is key to fast, lasting technique change

·      Seniors often struggle due to fear of failure and “last chance” thinking

·      Visualization and metaphors (like “holding a beach ball” or “thumb on the tape”) are more effective than technical step lists

·      Small progressive drills build confidence and skill with less overwhelm

·      Having a tactile “reset” position for strokes helps players retain changes under match pressure

·      Inspirational real-world story: a 72-year-old reserve player moves from team six to team one using these methods

Chapter Timeline:

·       00:00 – Intro: Why change feels hard for senior players

·       01:30 – Fear of failure and the “too late to learn” mindset

·       03:50 – Blended learning explained: How seniors learn differently

·       05:50 – Why metaphors and feel cues work better than steps

·       07:30 – What to do when players don’t want to change

·       08:45 – A 72-year-old’s transformation story

·       11:30 – The role of visualization and tactile reference points

·       14:00 – Using progressions instead of perfection to rebuild technique

·       15:45 – How to retain technique changes during matches

·       17:30 – How to work with Stephen and One Minute Tennis

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