"It starts with a great base"
Tennis education for players, parents and teaching pros.
On a daily basis Steve posts information, ideas and insights. There are already hundreds of posts archived for members of our community to enjoy and reflect upon.
A free blog from Monday to Sunday; covers wide range of topics.
By subscribing to the GreatBase Tennis's Continuing Education, one will be able to follow Steve and his work on a daily basis. The educational content will cover a wide range of topics and will be beneficial to players, parents, teachers, coaches and those directing player development programs.
One may elect to take a series of quizzes and tests to verify that they are students of Steve and supporters of our mission to improve tennis.
Consulting - Submit a request to have Steve schedule time to assist you.
Video - Submit technical and/or tactical footage and Steve will analyze player's development.
Coaching, Clinics and Camps - submit a request to have a program designed to fit your timetable and location.
Тhe tennis education provided by Steve Smith is second to none. Based on his background, Steve easily is one of the most knowledgeable tennis teachers in the game. If one likes to follow the truth, know the facts and hear honesty, Steve Smith's approach should be readily accepted and thoroughly enjoyed. Steve's GreatBase Tennis pathway is rock solid and is not based on guesswork, myths and opinions.
Play our daily games by answering a set of questions after analyzing a short video clip, reading a story, or examining a photo. The purpose will be to have fun and over time, with a day by day approach, accumulate points and acquire an in-depth tennis education.
Accumulate points to compare your knowledge to people all over the World.
Steve Smith’s concept of training tennis teachers through formal academic study, will further prove to be one of the most important projects in all of tennis.
Instructor wise, Steve Smith and I, are cut from the same cloth.
I support the Great Base Tennis initiative. I started with Steve Smith, when I was seventeen years old. I worked over a five year period with him, and it has allowed me to compete in all the majors: US, Australian, French Opens, as well as Wimbledon. The Great Base work has really opened doors for me to have a successful career playing on tour, as well as spending many years traveling around the world.
"Steve Smith has been so instrumental in helping our son. We had gone through several coaches, but the minute we met Steve and saw his method of teaching tennis, we knew this was where our son would improve the most long-term. It was the best decision of our lives, and has been the best decision in helping our son work toward his tennis goals. Steve is so empathetic and cares so much about all of his students’ success. He makes sure all students get the proper information and proper attention, especially when they are just beginning. Steve’s number one priority is helping players improve their tennis. Even though he has been in this game over 40 years, he still seeks to improve and learn new things. I have never met someone so in love with and passionate about what he does. We have now been with Steve over 4 years now, and we have no regrets. He is a true tennis teacher. He can teach and coach any level player, from beginner to professional. He is with no doubt the best tennis teacher ever. "
“I would like to thank Steve Smith and The Great Base for taking the time to research and organize the abundant data on the subject of tennis. Helping, educate parents, players, and coaches on the facts that govern this great game. I recommend The Great Base to everybody and anybody interested in tennis, from a fan to a touring pro. Knowledge is power."
"Steve Smith's system has not only made me a top player in Northern California, but more importantly an educated teacher of the game. The best part about it is that Steve's work put all my coaches, players, and parents, on the same page in the developmental part of the game."
Steve has made discovering the physical laws of tennis as his life’s work to the benefit of an enormous number of developing players through out the world and including many of the champions. As Anne Shilcock with Angela Mortimer, I hold the dubious record of being the last English pair to win the Ladies Doubles at Wimbledon over sixty years ago as well as quite a few other titles in the 1950’s. My connection with Steve was through my son Mark Spann who attended Steve’s tennis teacher’s course at Tyler Junior College (Texas). Upon finishing Steve's two-year program, Mark and I both attended a Vic Braden course in LA and were more than impressed that Steve had researched every word Vic Braden had written. Most of his information was gleaned from Vic Braden who had spent years studying the Kramer men’s tour from when it started and followed up what worked and what didn’t. My son brought all this info back to us here in Johannesburg and with this new found knowledge we were asked to compile an up to date Instruction manual for the South African Union. I personally have much for which to thank Steve – even being promoted by my peers to master coach!
“Accomplishing your dreams is a nightmare of work”. This original quote from Steve sums up what he has accomplished over an unprecedented forty plus year career. Steve understands that you get further with hard work, than you do with talent alone. Steve has put in the “hard” work for tennis. From studying the great tennis teachers, such as Welby Van Horn, Dennis Van der Meer, and most notably the late great Vic Braden. Steve's name belongs with the likes of these great teachers. Steve Smith needs to be the most studied tennis coach of the 21st century."
Steve Smith is a mentor and a one of a kind coach, teacher, and educator, who helped shape my coaching career. He has the unique ability to transfer information, while guiding and fostering the development of players, parents, and coaches. With Steve's wealth of knowledge, he ensures that all involved with tennis development can get off to the right start.
Now that I direct a GreatBase Junior Program I have never been this happy knowing that I am doing everything in my power to develop tennis players. Parents, juniors and coaches all need Steve Smith's guidance. Steve Smith is the biggest treasure in the tennis teaching industry!
I have known Steve Smith for over thirty years as the most principled, knowledgeable, and most passionate tennis coach. I have had the pleasure in nurturing both a professional and long standing friendship. My initial meetings with Steve involved sitting in a class room, receiving lectures, taking notes, and learning systems of tennis teaching. It has allowed me to provide leadership in my tennis community. It is without a doubt, that I owe my career in tennis to Steve and his teachings. It is my hope that others including our industry leaders, take notice and lean in to listen to what Steve has to say, and how he goes about improving tennis teaching globally. The Great Base Initiative is important to the well being and future health of tennis..
"Steve Smith knows tennis inside and out, like nobody I know. He is an excellent teacher who knows how to clearly teach mechanics and strategy. He has trained countless tennis instructors in addition to accomplished players. He knows tennis history and the players who have made tennis such a vibrant sport. And he is truly dedicated to growing the game by spreading credible coach training. If you want to learn anything there is to learn about tennis, Steve is the person to know."
“Steve Smith has proven expertise in teaching tennis."
“I was trained in the system under Steve Smith, over thirty years ago in Texas. That experience has been the base of my coaching, and love of coaching. Steve is a master coach, in all phases of the game. He also understands the importance of communication between player, parent, and coach. No one can be around Steve, without becoming a better and more knowledgeable person."
“Steve's work has given me a great base of knowledge, that I am confidently able to share with students, players, and parents. He has taught me how to educate myself, and develop my game in stages, where I'm able to teach that knowledge to others. Anyone who wants to learn and understand this sport, can truly benefit from Steve's work, by being able to educate themselves."
“Steve Smith has dedicated his life to the development of kids, with the dream of reaching their full potential, as people and tennis players. Steve is known by many, as a second to none coach, and has spent many years training coaches, players, and parents in a sound fundamental technical approach. As a mental performance coach and parent, I have been exposed to the Great Base training initiative, and have seen its benefits, in not only the physical side of development, but more importantly in the development of a player's character. We live in a quick fix, take a pill culture, that promises fast acting techniques and results, many of which serve as temporary band-aids without offering long-term developmental benefits. Having observed Steve on the court working with players, I appreciate his ability to drill down deep, to help players understand those character traits that will push them forward in their desire, work ethic, and passion for improving. I recommend Steve and the his training precepts to motivated coaches, players, and parents everywhere. Steve does something very difficult, he has great information on how to develop the fundamentals, and has been able to impart that information, to thousands of people simultaneously through his online training site, and daily Facebook posts. I have learned that players are able to more consistently perform mentally when their games are moving forward technically and strategically with the best information they can get their hands on. Often times people struggle to know the difference between what information is based on solid principles and what isn't.
"Steve Smith's vast knowledge, expertise, and qualifications, make him the foremost authority. For almost half a century, Steve has been educating tennis players, parents, and teachers."
“Eastern Hills Indoor Tennis Club is entering it's second full season, after adopting the Great Base system. It has helped our junior development program, and we have seen huge strides in our progress. As a tennis instructor with over twenty years of experience, learning Steve Smith’s Great Base system was down right humbling to say in the least. I can say this without a doubt, that I wish I had been exposed to this comprehensive system of systems earlier in my career, not only for my own coaching, but also as a player. I feel extremely fortunate to have the support and access to Steve’s online course, which I use regularly to guide our club members and me."
"Steve Smith's methods and techniques, have helped so many coaches, especially in Texas. Steve is so, so respected at the academy I grew up in Dallas. The work he has assembled is amazing."
“I was an athlete in other sports, but I began focusing my efforts in tennis during my early 20’s. Knowing the importance of a good instructional base, I began searching the internet for how to swing the racquet. To my dismay, there was no fact based instruction, even with the most prestigious tennis websites. When I came across Steve’s program, I quickly realized that the superb playing ability of the players around the program, was just the tip of the iceberg. I was inundated with so much fact based information, I spent the next six years soaking it up. Years later, I’m now in the educational field as a teacher. I can appreciate the attention to detail, because it allows your house to be made of bricks. The bricks in Steve’s program aren’t meant for a quick fix, but rather to set the strongest possible foundation. Truth is not subjective, you will find it here. If I have kids of my own, no matter what sport they choose, they will be immersed in this path."
"Steve Smith knows tennis. I have not come across another course, as thorough as The Great Base. His teaching provides a great foundation for coaches and players alike. "
“Steve is a "Coach's coach"...while the game itself evolves and changes, fundamentals like balance and weight transfer remain. The Great Base provides all coaches with a foundation for technique, it works for all levels."
"Character, education, passion, and tennis truth, but the list could go on for ever. The Great Base and Steve's commitment to teaching tennis is unmatched. His knowledge should be passed on to generations to come. Having a base will stand the test of time. Get the Great Base!"
"What Steve Smith has done for educating people in our sport is great."
" The Great Base is the best educational tool for all coaches, parents, and players. Tennissmith’s fact-based instruction is a forever benchmark of tennis-teaching excellence, with it's in-depth and accumulated ideas, information, and insights. "
"Best tennis education you can find hands down! No one out works Steve Smith and his passion for the game of tennis. He understands tennis backwards and forewards at all levels. Those who truly understand his information, methodology, and application simply have the ability to become great coaches and players. If you want the cold hard facts about tennis, you need to learn from The Great Base!"
"Steve is the best mentor and inspirational coach around the world. Coaches should ponder their ego and learn from somebody like him."
"Steve Smith is the most comprehensive and effective coach in the country!!"
"If you are interested in believing as many true things as possible in tennis, and want be be as good as you can, then there is only one answer. Immerse yourself in Steve Smith's Great Base initiative. Once you discover Steve Smith's Great Base Initiative, you found the god father of junior development. If you leave the one and only voice that is correct, you will be in peril, because it is based on science, not opinion."
"In my 30+ years of competitive tennis, coaching, and a lifetime student of the game of tennis, I've never met anyone more knowledgeable and passionate about tennis than Steve Smith. I've seen him countless times turn below average tennis players, into excellent players in 2 years.
Steve Smith is to tennis what Warren Buffett is to the investment community."
“There are many tennis coaches out there that are great people, great motivators, and great role models; but not the best tennis coaches because they do not have all the knowledge that is required to build a tennis player. I wish everyone the opportunity to be introduced to Steve Smith.
"Steve is the only coach I met, who has a sincere desire to help kids, parents, and American tennis. He has the determination that comes through as a superb professional coach. If you are lucky to get a class with him for your kids, do it. Then you will understand, my sincere respect and admiration to him."
"No one in America is more dedicated to share knowledge than Steve Smith. He is truly dedicated to growing the game, the base and the proper fundamentals that all kids need. Learning tennis with a solid foundation is the key to a lifetime of health, fitness, competition and tennis mastery. I know Steve has helped our champ and daughter and not only do I recommend you follow his programs and teaching , I absolutely, positively can tell you very few people know what he knows and he is a wealth of information willing to help. It does not get any better than that. Two thumbs up! really up!"
"Awesome coaching!!! If you want your kids to learn to play like a pro, there is no other place to send them! A+++++++"
"I have read Steve’s stuff. It is some of the best stuff out there. Great stuff."
"I love Steve Smith’s approach to teaching; his program is the best!"
"The number one tennis "in"site."
"I have been studying Steve Smith’s “Great Base Initiative” for the last 5 years. I would like to think I am a student of the game, and always looking for better ways to teach, that will help my students develop consistent and efficient strokes. They will not break down under pressure! I have found the Great Base teaching methodology to be a huge asset for improving my teaching skills along with my personal tennis game. Steve has real science behind the Great Base. There are hundreds if not thousands of tennis instructors on YouTube. It is very difficult to distinguish the good from the bad information, on how to hit a tennis ball. People watch Roger Federer’s forehand and think they can see what he is really doing. What they are not seeing is thousands and thousands of hours Roger put into developing his forehand. Whatever it is, he didn’t start with the form he has today. I also want to add that besides being a gigantic talent, hitting millions of tennis balls, and working unimaginably hard over years and years, his early training gave him a base to evolve from. Tennis players today need a solid foundation from which to develop their game. The “Great Base” exceeds the standard for that foundation. Steve knows what he is doing, and if you embrace his methodology, you will not be disappointed. He is a strong voice in a sea of confusing options and opinions."
"If I had not spent eighteen months training with Steve Smith, I would not have had the opportunity to play tennis for Rice University (Houston, Texas). I lived the Great Base. I now teach the Great Base at my tennis academy in Japan, and it has allowed my students to have the best chance to have competitive success in tennis."
"The Great Base by Steve Smith is the greatest system to help any coach to develop young players. It has been proven to have a permanent and sound effect on any serious young tennis player. This is not a hit and giggle coaching system, but it can really have a life long effect to help young players by getting a good understanding of solid and sound strokes. I took pupils from a pro that worked on this system recently. It was so easy, because I had to make no technical adjustments. I could really move on, because there were no serious flaws around. As a passionate player and coach for nearly 30 years, I would have loved to be in this system as a junior. I would have been a much more complete player."
Steve Smith has influenced tennis instruction in ways that will be felt for decades. Steve's ability to teach tennis (knowledge transfer), teach people how to teach tennis, (such as me) is unparalleled. His straightforward, take responsibility for yourself approach, is welcome in an industry lacking this critical element. Steve's analytical eye backed by decades of practical experience through scientifically proven methods, make him the greatest tennis instructor I’ve ever known.
Steve Smith and the Great Base have been the essence of my tennis teaching for the past 28 years here in Montreal. As a developmental specialist, I use the scientific facts the Great Base provides to teach sound technical and tactical fundamentals. As a result and over a ten-year period, three dozen of my junior development students were recruited to our multi-championship winning John Abbott College team, with six of these players going on to receive NCAA Division I and Division II scholarships. Thanks to the Great Base, I am also able to identify inefficient movements that cause repetitive motion injuries in high performance and recreational players, provide video analysis and stroke reprogramming, and ensure that my clientele is able to return to tennis and remain pain and injury free.
"The Great Base Initiative is the 'shot in the arm' that the tennis teaching industry desperately needs."