If you really want to level up your tennis or pickleball skills, adult camps are the ultimate game changers. Whether it’s a destination camp at a top training facility, a fab getaway at a gorgeous location or a weekend pop up close to home, these immersive sessions might be the best way to jumpstart improvements in your game--and have tons of fun at the same time.
Tennis and wine—a match made in heaven—not necessarily at the same time, of course. The Tennis and Wine Camp at the Wintergreen Resort in Wintergreen, Virginia allows you to properly enjoy both. A ski resort in the winter, this beautiful spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains is also home to the Wintergreen Tennis Academy featuring 19 courts--16 outdoor clay and three indoor hard. The Tennis and Wine Camp begins on a Friday with a tour of a nearby vineyard and a wine-pairings luncheon. Switch gears on Saturday and enjoy a full day of fast-paced clinics and instruction with a focus on winning strategies.
Wine and cheese tastings are part of the Hopman Adult Tennis Programs at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida. Good thing, because players will need a bit of R & R after the five hours of daily instruction included in the schedule for these intensive tennis getaways. Diehards can also add private lessons and complimentary extra court time. The program is tailored to fit each player’s level with a focus on strength and fitness as well as tactics and technique. Top tennis pros often train at Saddlebrook, which makes sense—the facility boasts 41 courts, featuring all the Grand Slam surfaces. If it’s good enough for them, count us in, too. Maybe they won’t take advantage of the Saddlebrook’s gorgeous pools, spa, restaurants and bars, but we sure will!
Source: John Newcombe Tennis Ranch
The adult camps at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in Texas Hill country are perhaps the most intense we’ve found, but thanks to a focus on fun and positive feedback, players might not even notice how hard they’re working. With six- and three-day options, these programs are designed to build confidence and skill, helping players to reach their specific tennis goals. Started by legendary Aussie champion John Newcombe, the ranch is all about positive vibes and sweat. Days are filled with clinics and instruction, keeping the pro-to-student ratio as low as possible for more personalized coaching. The pros also join players for family-style meals, and rumor has it, epic karaoke sessions in the evenings.
Players looking for a little more luxe in their tennis camp should consider Cliff Drysdale Tennis Programs at the Inn at Perry Cabin near the Chesapeake Bay in St. Michaels, Maryland. This stately waterside retreat is set on 26 acres of gardens, orchards and sprawling green lawns, and offers golf, sailing and croquet, as well as tennis at its beautifully appointed racquet club. While the setting is stylish and old school, the inn’s adult programs offer innovative tennis instruction complete with lessons, clinics and video analysis upon request. Access to the fitness center is included, and optional extras include treatments at the lovely spa.
The IMG Academy, one of the premier training locations for aspiring professional athletes, also hosts adult tennis camps for all levels. Players will have access to top instructors at this state-of-the-art, 55-court facility in Bradenton, Florida (formerly known as the Nick Bollettieri tennis center), where lessons and clinics focus on physical and mental aspects of the game. The 4- and 6- night programs include nutritional advice and video analysis of your groundstrokes and footwork which can be very enlightening, to say the least. Hardcore campers can upgrade to the Breakthrough package which adds an hour of private instruction to the daily schedule. Participants stay at the nearby Legacy Hotel which is the perfect place to relax and recharge after a long day on the court.
Nike Adult Tennis Camps are popping up across the country. There might be one scheduled in your area—check the website below. These weekend camps are held at various tennis facilities such as colleges, high schools and tennis clubs and feature hours of tennis instruction per day for attendees who are grouped by ability. Lodging is typically not included, so the format is more of a day camp situation, but the tennis is taken quite seriously. Net results: three continuous days of hardcore tennis can affect real improvements in your game. Pickleball players take note: similar Nike Adult Pickleball camps are offered as well, providing excellent instruction and hours of intense practice.
Source: SunCoast Pickleball Camp
Six days of non-stop pickleball… If this sounds like a dream, you should consider signing up for a SunCoast Pickleball Camp in Montreat, North Carolina. Offered in May and September, these comprehensive camps are designed improve every aspect of your game. Instruction is divided into phases, starting with Serve and Return and ending with Put Aways and Attacks (our favorite!). Dinking, third shot drops, strategy and court position are covered as well. Attendees stay at the Montreat Conference Center and all meals are included, along with nightly social activities such as trivia contests or dancing to live music.
Pickleball’s popularity is now official. USTA Adult Pickleball Camps are being offered at the USTA’s national campus in Orlando, Florida. (That’s the United States Tennis Association—so we’re talking a legitimate stamp of approval. Maybe tennis and pickleball can get along?) These three-day sessions include over 12 hours of instruction focusing on consistency and control at the net, smart approach strategies and serve/return effectiveness. (One-day camps are available as well.) Players are grouped with no more than four to a court, so be prepared to hit lots of balls. Intangibles: The facilities are part of an amazing sports complex set on 64 acres that’s dedicated to helping athletes improve so you’re sure to feed off of all the competitive energy in the air.
Players looking to customize their pickleball camp experience should check out LevelUp Pickleball which designates camps for different levels. These one and two-day sessions are divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced and are offered at resorts and pickleball facilities across the country. Participants receive instruction fine-tuned to their abilities and goals, which allows for maximum improvement and player development. A video analysis of stroke mechanics is included as well. LevelUp’s website makes it easy for players to search for camps suited to their skills in a particular location, so finding the right session is a snap.
Source: Rise Pickleball Camp
Rise Pickleball Camps feature excellent instructors including Rise’s founder, Rob Davidson. Formerly on the pro tour, Davidson now dedicates himself to teaching the game to others and he’s very good at his job. Rise Pickleball’s 3-day camps, usually held at resorts in Arizona, are extremely popular with picklers in the know. Targeted to 3.0-3.5 players, the sessions are designed to introduce a particular technical skill, drill that skill and then use it in point play. You’ll work on court awareness and communication with partners, too. For an even more immersive experience, Rise is adding five-day destinations camps to its schedule. The first one will be held in Hamilton, Montana on courts surrounded by majestic mountain skylines. (Accommodations are not included, but Rise provides info on places to stay.)
