Learning Tennis – Tennis Schools and Tennis Camps

Feature, Learning Guide — By admin

Whether you only recently stepped foot on a court, or feel like you were born with a racket in your hand, attending a tennis school or camp is a great way to take your game to the next level, whatever level that may be. Tennis camp is also a great choice if you want to incorporate your favorite hobby into your next vacation. Typically held at resorts or tennis clubs, tennis schools and camps vary according to what and how much they offer. To be sure that you are spending your money wisely and getting the experience you are looking for, consider these important points before choosing a program:

Be Style Savvy
Imagine embarking on what you hoped would be a leisurely afternoon on the court only to end up being run ragged, bootcamp style, waking up painfully sore the next day. Or, perhaps worse, spending a decent chunk of change on a program that didn’t challenge you at all. Some camps are more relaxed than others, so it is important to choose a camp that suits your style as a player and the goals that you hope to achieve. (And if you want a relaxing massage after your match, sore or not, make sure the facility offers spa services!)

Game On or Time Out?
It is also important to consider the structure of the school or camp that you choose. If you hope to spend all day having hands-on fun in the sun, you’ll be very disappointed if you end up stuck indoors watching hours of videotape and listening to lectures on theory. Many camps incorporate classroom instruction into their programs, so look into the balance of court time and study time. In addition, if you want some intense 1:1 action, make sure the school offers that and not just group instruction. It is also important to check the camp’s hours and schedule to see how much, if any, free time you will have. Incorporating tennis into your one vacation of the year may sound like a great idea, but be sure to consider whether or not you want some relaxation time for yourself as well.

Pro Schmo
You don’t want to shell out big bucks for a big name instructor whose face you only wind up seeing on the brochure. Star instructors have varying degrees of involvement in the camps they lend their name to, so it is important to know before you go and not choose on name alone. The credentials of the tennis pros who are actually leading day to day instruction are most important. Have they led someone like you to tennis stardom in the past? Okay maybe not, but they should at least have proven experience helping someone at your ability level improve their game. It is also important to consider whether you prefer instruction customized to the way you already play the game, or if you are willing to learn new techniques. If you are from the old dog school of thought, you don’t want to be stuck with an instructor who insists on reinventing the wheel.

Nobody Likes Soggy Tennis Shoes
When it comes to location, think about the mixture of free time and tennis time and whether or not you want to spend time venturing out of the school’s facility. Beautiful mountains or a gorgeous beach can be wonderful, unless the potential for distraction takes away from your ultimate goal of bettering your game. Also, being prepared for the weather in your destination is especially important when traveling for a sports program. Outdoor tennis camp in New Hampshire? Sounds lovely. Outdoor tennis camp in New Hampshire… in February? Not so much. If you choose a camp in a temperamental climate, you may want to look into the availability of indoor courts.

The Other Guy
Interested in a little healthy competition? You might not want to go head to head with a beginner if you are proud 4.0 player. Since the tennis camp or tennis school can’t always control who comes to a certain session, investigate the ability level of the other students in your session to ensure you aren’t stifling yawns throughout your matches, or ducking for cover as power serves whiz toward your face at impossible speeds. Ability levels can vary within a camp; being evenly matched with your peers will guarantee you the best and most helpful instruction. Group size is also an important factor in the effectiveness of instruction. Will the school stick to their advertised student teacher ratio even when faced with varying skill levels within the group? The best option is a camp that will split students into appropriately matched groups, even if that means hiring more instructors for fewer students.

Above all, consider what you are hoping to achieve by attending a tennis camp or school and what aspects of the camp contribute most importantly to that goal. Once you have decided what you are looking for, check out our online resources to find a specific camp that best suites your needs. Considering feedback from past participants in our community is a great place to start. You can learn from the mistakes of those who didn’t choose as wisely as you will – then challenge them to return the killer serve you perfected at tennis camp.

Not sure about a tennis camp or school? Check out other ways to learn, like private lessons, clinics, and more